2008 OFFSEASON SIM 2 Complete - Next SIM Mon 11/3

[Matt]

Next SIM: Monday 11/03

- Files due by 10 am ET | 7 am PT, any later and you run the risk of missing the sim.
- HTML and utility in a bit
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11/3 Mon AM - Free Agency 2 - Dec 16 to Jan 1
11/4 Tues AM - Free Agency 3 - Jan 1 to Jan 16
11/5 Wed AM - Free Agency 4 - Jan 16 to Feb 1
11/6 Thurs AM - Free Agency 5 - Feb 1 to March 6 (ST)
11/8 Sat AM - Spring Training 1
11/9 Sun AM - Spring Training 2
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- Watch your DFA's.
- Most of the Rule 5 players were protected. Also you must have room on your 40 man to draft a player, so that is what happened N.O. Think I did them all correctly. I have a master list of all the lists so any issues I can fix if needed.

[Spear]

Damn got nobody I wanted. Different story this year from last.

[Matt]

Running sims in my MLB league for suspensions and came across this storyline. This is only when you have Storylines turned on.

Cardinals' Adam Wainwright, Just One of the Fans?: Tailgaters and fans of the St. Louis got the surprise of their life before yesterday's game as fan favorite, Adam Wainwright, drove into the stadium parking lot in a custom built luxury RV. He chose a parking spot amongst the many other tailgating fans and joined them for some pre-game revelries. "These are hands down, the coolest fans in all of baseball. How could you not want to come hang out here," Wainwright said while grilling brats on the RVs custom fold out grill station.

By the time he had to depart for pre-game warm-ups and exercises, the bus was swarming with several dozen fans, all trying to get a chance to shake his hand and get a picture with the humble star. Wainwright went on to say, "I love coming down here. I feed off the energy of the crowd. It's great to shake some hands, hear some stories and have that positive energy going into the ballpark." When asked, Wainwright confirmed that he plans to make pre and post game tailgating at his RV a regular occurrence.

Then this was released about a month later...

Adam Wainwright Told No More RV Tailgating Parties: While no official word has been released on the situation, rumors have begun circulating that Adam Wainwright has been ordered by the Cardinals front office to "knock off the tailgating parties." Many believe this is the result of the popularity of Wainwright's RV parties which have attracted several hundred fans before each game. Fellow team mate, Addison Russell, expressed dismay if that were the case, but had concerns nonetheless. "With that many people, the drinking and what not, it can get a bit out of hand. We have a game to play and there's no real security out there. We all went out to check it out last time and I can say, it was a bit crazy." While Wainwright has seemingly been told he can no longer drive his RV into the teams parking lot, he casually stated, "No one has said I can't park it around the block, have they?"

I laughed.

[umd]

Damn got nobody I wanted. Different story this year from last.

That's cause Pat's in the FA game.

Spoiler

Nice add in Flores (I was just a bit lower than you on $$$) and Aten.

If anyone is selling a big name SP or an elite hitter (non OF variety), I'm willing to pay in picks and prospects. Just PM me, I'm in buy mode and wiling to move the pieces. The sooner the better so I can get my scouting/PD budget set.

[Delandis]

We don't have a whole lot of money to spend in FA, but we're happy to sign Chiba up long term. I think the price is pretty good since he's only 26 and he'll be here until at least 34. May bite me in the arse if he gets an injury that derails his career, but he's a great player and on the path to HOF with the numbers he's putting up.

[Z]

We signed the Canadian second baseman Gabriel Vachon to an incentive-laden one-year deal. He projects to start at second, at least against right-handers. If it doesn't work out, he has a lot of positional flexibility that will be an asset.

We also brought in former Syracuse utility man Yasuhiko Nakayama. He's probably a 25th man for us who has good character and excels defensively at every position but pitcher and catcher.

I'm thinking more about how I'm going to keep this core together than about adding big names in this offseason.

[funclown]

Boy those Intl players can be head scratchers. Got two emails saying they prefer Indys offer better (minor league offers) only to sign with two other teams (again minor league offers) crazy.

Pawtucket welcomes back 1B Jon Montalbo and IF Norm Dalton.

[Pat]

That's cause Pat's in the FA game.

Spoiler

Nice add in Flores (I was just a bit lower than you on $$$) and Aten.

If anyone is selling a big name SP or an elite hitter (non OF variety), I'm willing to pay in picks and prospects. Just PM me, I'm in buy mode and wiling to move the pieces. The sooner the better so I can get my scouting/PD budget set.

Thanks.

These two signings...along with maybe one or two more...really complete the "sale" of last years team. I was at a crossroads. I was over budget with a team I thought was maybe 3rd or 4th best in the IL. So I traded away some key pieces to get younger and cheaper...and to give myself an opportunity to participate in this years Free-Agency.

I've always loved Robby Aten...mainly because of his "Shameless" nickname. He's a leader who works hard and immediately becomes the ace of my staff. He is however, "fragile," 31-years-old and is going to cost $63M guaranteed the next three seasons...but I think he's worth the risk. I haven't had a strikeout pitcher like this since....Derek Tucker?

I felt like I over-payed for Diego Flores a bit but the switch-hitting catcher gives me at least a solid starter at catcher...a position I have struggled to find a mainstay since the Mal Brady days.

[Carlos]

My off season question is will teams respond to pms?

There are already a couple guys I never trade with because they never respond to pms or back out of agreed deals. Don't add yourself to this list.

sent from my mobile device

[funclown]

Thanks.

These two signings...along with maybe one or two more...really complete the "sale" of last years team. I was at a crossroads. I was over budget with a team I thought was maybe 3rd or 4th best in the IL. So I traded away some key pieces to get younger and cheaper...and to give myself an opportunity to participate in this years Free-Agency.

I've always loved Robby Aten...mainly because of his "Shameless" nickname. He's a leader who works hard and immediately becomes the ace of my staff. He is however, "fragile," 31-years-old and is going to cost $63M guaranteed the next three seasons...but I think he's worth the risk. I haven't had a strikeout pitcher like this since....Derek Tucker?

I felt like I over-payed for Diego Flores a bit but the switch-hitting catcher gives me at least a solid starter at catcher...a position I have struggled to find a mainstay since the Mal Brady days.

Love 'Shamless'. Flores.......there's a reason Jistic went another direction.

Looks like a better team, just not enough to overtake DV.

[Spear]

I was after Flores and Aten like many others. But they aren't going to sign with a 100 loss team.

[Guest]

Damn, lesson learned for me for having space on my 40man for Rule 5. Probably missed out on a couple good players!

[Delandis]

It has been a while since i HAD to my roster with cats from Rule V.

Picked up Zack Griffith (SS) from Los Alamos. He's a DWI type infielder to replace 34 year old Dave Sherrod (who guys should be getting for a cheap utility option in FA).

Next we picked up Dave Patron (SS) from Morgantown. He was being groomed to be a shortstop but his natural and best position is in center field. His level of defense with decent enough offense will make for a good 4/5 outfielder.

Finally we picked up MR who probably won't make the squad. I did this just to f with Funclown since he's been destroying our minors over the years.

[Pat]

Added IF Jon Romero...lost IF Jimmy Lamb.

[funclown]

Finally we picked up MR who probably won't make the squad. I did this just to f with Funclown since he's been destroying our minors over the years.

That's so funny I had two guys on my list and one of them were yours! Good job protecting him BTW. WE're at a stage in our process right now where roster flexibility is more important so we only swung for the fences on this list. Oh well.