2001 BLB Debut Thread

[umd]

CF Tyler Delp
Sup 1.11 35th Overall Maine (1997)

The 25 year old Delp will move into the 4th outfield spot while Dane Browning heals. He's currently batting .356/.410/.522 at AAA New Haven. Delp was acquired in the deal that sent Rex Morgan and Pat Stewart to Indy for Travis Neal and Jimmy Hackett, among others. If he performs well, there's no reason to think he can't become a fixture in the Hartford outfield as the team continues to turn over it's roster this season. Viewed primarily as a CF, Delp will split time in LF while Browning recovers.

[Pat]

Manny Medina - SP
Drafted 2.15 in 1994

Former Top 100 guy for years who seems to have lost some momentum. He is 25 now and playing his worst season since 1995. Seems due for a debut.

[funclown]

Bobby Lopez - LF
9.24 -1994 Draft Virginia

With Tyler Quinn struggling to find his BLB footing early in the year, we still felt we needed to find a kid who can hit right handed pitching. Enter Bobby Lopez!!!

Drafted from the organization that makes champions, switch hitting Bobby got cut about a month later. Had a brief tour in Wilmington and after his release our scout noticed some raw power potiental so decided to take a chance. After posting so-so numbers in A he exploded for 23 homeruns in 99. Improved his average to .303 in 2000 before being promoted to AAA where he's since struggled some. Our scout has his hitting versus righties at 5-6-6-5-4, but sucks against lefties to this pt.

So why now?? He's 24 and seems to have maxed out against right handed pitching. Maybe he gets lefty pitching, maybe he wont. Never really has made a big move on the top org chart where in our organization he stays at the bottom half.

The kids a fighter, worst case he's a nice stop gap til Quinn gets it together.

Early stat line at 16 games: 3 homeruns/ 7 rbi/ 8 walks/ 12 so's with a .190 batting average. Like all kids, time to take some beatings.

[Pat]

Manny Medina - SP
Drafted 2.15 in 1994

Former Top 100 guy for years who seems to have lost some momentum. He is 25 now and playing his worst season since 1995. Seems due for a debut.

6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 6 BB, 1 K in a 5-3 win over Windy City.

[Jistic]

6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 6 BB, 1 K in a 5-3 win over Windy City.

That's nothing to brag about.

[Pat]

Played a matchup. Got good results. Excited.

[Clay]

Sandy Franco (P)

Analysis: "Couldn't hurt"

[Lintyfresh85]

J.R. Neel
3.2 pick by California in 1996 draft

Neel will be joining the rotation as we need an extra arm for the seven games this sim. Neel has earned his way to the show by going 7-1 with a 1.68 ERA and 73 K's in 80 innings at AAA. Neel has been extremely slow cooked and I'm really hopeful he can hold his own on the BLB level.

[Pat]

Ruben Sanchez - OF
Drafted 5.17 in 1992

Originally drafted by Indy, Sanchez has been in the Bats farm system for the last eight years. Never a top prospect but now at 27-years-old he appears to be fully developed. He expects to be playing in the majors. A decent defender who prefers CF. He isn't an impact player and really struggles with striking out. Where he does excel is base running (12:1), his eye (26 BB in 56 GM) and this seasons has shown surprising pop (9 HR). After the trade of Gene Roberson and the injury to Heishi Shiraishi, Sanchez is needed at the BLB level.

[Clay]

Danny Salcedo (C/1B)
Drafted 1.8 in 1999

Had him earmarked for 2002, but he just kept hitting and earned a taste. Responded by not only hitting in all 6 games in his first week, but, his very first BLB AB he takes Curt Warren yard for a 3R blast. A lot to like about this kid.

[Delandis]

Danny Salcedo (C/1B)
Drafted 1.8 in 1999

Had him earmarked for 2002, but he just kept hitting and earned a taste. Responded by not only hitting in all 6 games in his first week, but, his very first BLB AB he takes Curt Warren yard for a 3R blast. A lot to like about this kid.

Been keeping an eye on him. I've been comparing him to my own C/1B pick of the 1999 draft, Diego Flores who is probably just a year behind Salcedo.

[Jistic]

Danny Salcedo (C/1B)
Drafted 1.8 in 1999

Had him earmarked for 2002, but he just kept hitting and earned a taste. Responded by not only hitting in all 6 games in his first week, but, his very first BLB AB he takes Curt Warren yard for a 3R blast. A lot to like about this kid.

I remember having trade negotiations for that pick. I wanted to draft him. Ended up keeping my picks which got me Liam Ingle and Tom Arrington. Will be interesting over the years to follow their careers. Salcedo is a no doubter to me though.

[tomr1962]

Bobby Castillo Not really a debut but only extended stay . Check out his August production. 3-0 1.11 era. He will have to lose his spot now.

[funclown]

LF Octavio Valdez
11.2 pick by Wilmington in 1991 draft

At 28, I really didn't realize this kid never played in the big leagues before. The way he's playing I sort of owed this to him. Drafted at the end of the 91 draft Octavio "my name is cool" Valdez worked his way up the Wilmington system never really making a name for himself, just went to work each day. Picked off of waivers from Batavia stayed in they're AAA where once again never really did anything special. We claimed him in 2001 to have some AAAA at our disposal. Well due an unusual amount of outfield injuries, Octovia finally at age 28 got his shot and in 12 game so far has made the most of his time with his .324 batting average/ .837 OPS and a knack for dazzling the ladies side show roman act

Not really sure we have a place for him longterm with most of our players coming back next season add on an improving Bobby Lopez and Tyler Quinn, but figured I'd share this feel good story with everyone.


He's our "Rudy"(He also wanted to wear a "Texas" Jersey for this article???)

[Ryan]

Jimmy Jones

Excited to see what he can do for us Clowns. Jimmy's been itching to get the call all season long, so here goes.