SIM COMPLETE - 2001 - SIM 12

[Jistic]

Pitching is getting a bit thin.

Have I got a guy for you!

[Carlos]

We have the third best record in the BLB. Let that sink in for a second.

Good pitching because I don't know what that lineup is giving you.

[spot]

2-4 week and we increase out lead in the Bock by one, gotta love that.

Yes, if by increase you mean re-take.

[umd]

I have pitchers - feel free to inquire.

[Lintyfresh85]

Unless you're California.

[fsquid]

Yes, if by increase you mean re-take.

0 game to 1 game is an increase of 1 for you math majors.

[spot]

0 game to 1 game is an increase of 1 for you math majors.

Yes but the devil in the details and all that: You couldn't increase your lead unless you started out with one.

And be warned, now is the time for you to take the Bock. We are very much a late season team.

[fsquid]

Yes but the devil in the details and all that: You couldn't increase your lead unless you started out with one.

And be warned, now is the time for you to take the Bock. We are very much a late season team.

I was in the lead simply based on coming first in the alphabet.

[spot]

I was in the lead simply based on coming first in the alphabet.

Ah, I see...

I can't believe that I am even close at this point. I have one 0-6 sim and at least 1-5 sim.

[Jake]

Good luck with Heath. Super high on the guy in the minors, but his Control started falling and when the K's and BB's started running in sync, we just had to expose him. Hopefully the change of scenery does him well. He at least brings a ring to your young clubhouse.

Happy Birthday.

We'll see on Heath. I plan on starting him which may or may not make a difference. The last thing I needed was a RHP with bad control, but I tihnk he's worth a shot.

He is quite a present.

[Matt]

5-1 (34-42 overall)

We won 45 games last season so we are doing a lot better to say the least. This team though is mostly just placeholders until some new life can get to the BLB in a few seasons.

C Bill Hardwick did win the IL ROTM for June. He's now hitting .281/.372/.496 with 7 HR's, 39 RBI's, and 31 BB to 33 K's. He's also thrown out 11 of 28 trying to steal for a 39.3%.

I'll write up a more in depth All-Star break piece detailing the minors which just hit 200 points and are firmly entrenched in 3rd. Hopefully the future is bright in Batavia.

[Ryan]

We are awfuuuuuuuul!

[Delandis]

Baltimore Bulldogs (44-26, 2nd in the Porter )
5-1 for the week
3-0 at CAR
2-1 at LAM

• Definitely surprised to see a 5-1 week against the best in the Bock, but I'll take it. We we also surprised to see the lead in California cut by 2 games, while our lead in the WC race moved to 5 games over Philly.

The Good

• The most significant stat for this year's squad would be the amazing road record we've achieved to date. We are a league best 27-8 on the road this year, a stark contrast to last years' team that was left out of the playoffs because of their inability to consistently win away from home. Another significant stat has to be our record in close games. We are 17-6 in 1-run games and 8-4 in X-innings games. Although the team batting and pitching stats don't bear it out, this is probably one the best teams we've ever fielded.

• Overpaid for SP Doug Coates? Maybe not. Last week, the former Mohawks star pitched 16 innings in 2 starts, striking out 19 and with 0 walks. He also only gave up 2 ER in those starts and we won both games.

The Bad

• When do you know its going to be a long game? You know when your starting pitcher comes out and walks five batters in the first 1.2 IP and is pulled after giving up 5 ER. That's what struggling starter, SP Sadaharu Katsura did against the Carolina Tobs. In fact, we gave up 9 ER by the end of the 3rd inning. Miraculously our offense caught fire in the 4th scoring 8 runs in a high scoring affair, that we went on to win 13-11.

The Ugly

• MR Don Newman has struggled mightily during the month of June. Giving up 3 more runs in just .3 IP last week, his ERA has ballooned to a disappointing 5.19. Newman struggled last year as well and we may see changes for his role soon after the All-Star break.

• C Kyoden Kubota saw no action last week as Bulldogs' manager, Caden Finch didn't think Kubota even had the skills to hit in pinch hitting situations. Unfortunately for the 5X All-Star the writing is on the wall as the Bulldogs may be looking to make a change at catcher, giving the majority of at-bats to C Jonah McCarthy while looking for a lefty behind the plate that can at least play defense at a high level.

The Farm

• After a paperwork error saw SP Jimmy Whitworth placed on DFA's for a week, Whitworth set out to prove his worth to the organization by pitching back to back gems. In 2 games the Palm Beach native pitched 17 innings giving up just 4 ER, walking just 3 with 19K including one complete game. The sad part is we lost both games.

The Week Ahead

• One more week before we head into the All-Star break and it would be nice to go into the break with a lead in the Porter. However, it will be a tough test as we face the surging Colonials who grabbed the leagues' 2nd best record in the month of June (18-9). We also play 3 more against the Blue Wave who always seem to play us tough. I'm hoping for a 4-2 week.

[Jake]

4-2 this week with 2/3 over Pitt and Maine.

Like Carlos said, our offense is truly terrible. Torres is the only consistent contributor. Coronel as well, but he's not the guy he used to be. Corral, Adame, and Luna are having mediocre years at best. Everyone else sucks.

Bullpen still extremely solid. In the rotation, Skinner, Martinez, and Reber are all having nice years. Mills is at the end of his BLB road. McDonald just got back and I hope he's still got something. We'll see about Heath.

Olivo is diagnosis pending after a dominant first half. Hope he gets the ASG nod. I'm not one to call out other players but Olivo has, IMO, a better argument than some of the others above him in voting. 1.76 ERA, 0.83 WHIP. If that's not ASG worthy I'm in the wrong league. 46-8 K-BB ratio.

8 games up. We'll need all the cushion we can get because I don't think this keeps up much longer.

[Z]

I drafted four starting pitchers between the second round and the second supplemental round.

Combined in single-A ball, they have pitched 114 innings, striking out 105, walking 10, and giving up four home runs. And they have a record of 12-1.

I'm content.