2011 REGULAR SEASON SIM 17 Complete - Next SIM Wed 05/06

[Matt]

Next SIM: Wed 05/06

- Files due by 8am ET | 5am PT, any later and you run the risk of missing the sim
- HTML and utility in a bit
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Roster:
DFA: Indy, Paw, Phi, LAD
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- Check all trades
- Watch your DFA please!

[Sully]

Poor Fred Schubert. You tease.

[funclown]

Pawtucket 3-4.

Really guys? You lost a series to Indy? Sigh. Split with Dallas. Not sure how was continue to be #1 in the power poll rankings.

We seem to be a bit streaky again since Allstar break. Also look a bit dinged up in the IF. Time to take IF David Santoyo out for a spin and see what he can do. We didn't confirm the trade until early this morning and I was on my way to work.

On the positive side McDade won both rookie and pitcher of the month in the DL.

[Hank]

Discussing the ML is boring.
Lets discuss the Bush League where the Nitro Explosives are on fire!
Since the draft, they have gone 34-20, with many of their young, new arms leading the way - no thanks to Tommy "Gascan" Towler.
What a bust!

[umd]

Another poor sim. Nara back though and Honea looking good.

[funclown]

Discussing the ML is boring.

Agreed. This is why we discuss the BLB.

[funclown]

Just noticed we lost SS Jonathan Herrera for 2 weeks (one now). Doesn't seem "Ironman" isnt what it use to be.

[Lintyfresh85]

How bad is the IL rookie race this year? Arbini is having a 'down' year and yet he's won ROtM three times already.

[Pat]

(54-51; 2nd in Stout, 5 GB)

The Week
2-2 @ BAT: L 3-5, L 2-3, W 10-6, W 2-1, 2-1 @ PHI: W 4-3, W 10-2, L 3-6. The Muckdogs proved they are going to battle for that #2 wild card spot down to the wire. Not only by splitting the very important four game series but also by making a deadline deal to improve the club. However, the Bats had a good showing in Philadelphia, including SP Troy Martin's revenge game.

The Good: In 2003, with the 38th overall pick, Washington selected 3B Alex Rendon of the Dominican Republic. It was a head scratching pick that a lot of scouts didn't like nor did OSA. At the time the then Washington scout loved Rendon and after he posted a .926 OPS in one year of college then .864 OPS first year in Single-A, the Bats thought they landed a potential gem. Then he regressed. Scouting reports worsened. He was cut at 25-years-old after hitting at a .539 OPS at Double-A. That's when he got motivated. He was re-signed that off-season and posted OPS: .899 (2008), .842 (2009), .823 (2010), .891 (2011) in Double-A and Triple-A. He got a September call up last year but this season in 22 games in the BLB this year he is hitting .308 with a 1.017 OPS. He's also playing DWI level defense at 1B/3B. He's 29 now but is starting to look like a late bloomer.

The Bad: It happens every year, so I should be more prepared now that SS Antonio Cardenas broke his thumb and will spend the next four weeks on the DL. The 36-year-old is having his worst season at the plate since 1999. Still getting it done in the field but with a $15M team option looming, Cardenas' days in a Bats uniform could be numbered. Washington has depth at catcher, 1B, 2B, 3B, LF, CF, RF....but not really at SS. He's not the most valuable Bat but there is no clear backup plan.

The Ugly: Even after a good week from the six-man rotation, the Bats rank 8th in the IL in SP ERA. Embarrassing for a franchise with a long history of aces and the ability to find diamonds in the rough. It will be the 2011 teams downfall but hopefully it will be on the rise going forward.

The Minors: I might have just landed my best 7th round pick in franchise history. SP Jayden Emery was selected 7.23, 167th overall out of Orleans college. In 22 collegiate starts, he went 6-10 with a 3.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 1.5 WAR but a .232 BABIP. OSA rates his potential 7-4-5. So far, thru six starts in Single-A: 4-1, .66 ERA, .80 WHIP, 39 K, 9 BB, 575 ERA+, 1.9 WAR...and again, .224 BABIP. Is he just lucky?

Next Two Weeks: Stout! Stout! Let it all out! 3 vs MOR, 3 vs DVS, 4 @ SEA, 3 @ DVS...Come on.

[Sharkn20]

What is the meaning of BABIP and what measures?? :)

[Pat]

What is the meaning of BABIP and what measures?? :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batting..._balls_in_play

Because a normal BABIP is around .300, if you have a pitcher well below that mark, they are getting a lot of help from defense and luck. If you have a pitcher above that mark, he has poor defense and/or has been unlucky.

[Sharkn20]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batting..._balls_in_play

Because a normal BABIP is around .300, if you have a pitcher well below that mark, they are getting a lot of help from defense and luck. If you have a pitcher above that mark, he has poor defense and/or has been unlucky.

Thanks! Another quick one...

I guess a fly ball pitcher requires big walls in the stadium and stand-out OFs...
However a ground ball pitcher requires really good IFs...

Am i right or very wrong?? :)

[Pat]

Thanks! Another quick one...

I guess a fly ball pitcher requires big walls in the stadium and stand-out OFs...
However a ground ball pitcher requires really good IFs...

Am i right or very wrong?? :)

A ground ball pitcher will benefit greatly from a really good defensive infield. A flyball pitcher will benefit greatly from a good defensive outfield.

When I can, if I have a "very high" groundball/flyball pitcher, I will make defensive changes to my lineup to help the pitcher out. It really helps. Some of the pitchers are 65%+ flyball or groundball.

[Sharkn20]

A ground ball pitcher will benefit greatly from a really good defensive infield. A flyball pitcher will benefit greatly from a good defensive outfield.

When I can, if I have a "very high" groundball/flyball pitcher, I will make defensive changes to my lineup to help the pitcher out. It really helps. Some of the pitchers are 65%+ flyball or groundball.

Excellent, many thanks for your quick answers Mr. :)

[Delandis]

Baltimore Bulldogs
(55-51; 2nd in Porter, 9.5 GB)

The Week
We played surprisingly splitting the series with Seattle and sweeping Morgantown in Phillips Field. You've got to love to see your guys continue to show up even though they could easily decided to sulk and pack it in.

The Good:
Todd Taylor rarely gets mentioned with the Top Pitchers in the BLB but he is carrying us right now. The man 8-0 in his last 8 starts and undefeated in his last 9. This performance is eerily similar to what he did in 2006 when we won the division and snuck into the playoffs with a masterful second half of the season.

The young guys in our rotation surprised us with a couple of decent outings last week. Hector Delgadillo put together his 3rd QS this season in a 6 IP, 1 ER effort in Seattle while Quincy Lacombe went 7 innings, giving up 3 ER in a no-decision win over Morgantown. I'll have to see more of Lacombe before we make a decision on who he'll become, but I am very encouraged by what Hector has brought to the table since being promoted this year.

Abraham Santana comes off the DL this week. He's been out for a month and a half recovering from a broken arm after getting beaned by Philly. He should be a huge shot in the arm for us offensively and I'd like to commend Gil Rader for playing as well as he did during Santana's absence. He wasn't great but he wasn't completely terrible either. I just hope that the game is coded to realize that although Santana did break his arm, he shouldn't be "more injury prone" because of this injury.

And we didn't forget who did this to him.

The Bad:
Tex Watts has been a bit of a disappointment for us this season. We didn't expect a lot, a few walks and good defense. This past week he went 1-19 with 10 strikeouts. Unfortunately, I think this future Hall of Famer should probably hang it up after this year. He'll stay on the roster for us because he brings fans who remember what a force this man used to be and would like to see him ride off in the sunset.

The Ugly:
Marco Perez is an idiot. If you didn't see the story, (here) this dude crashed a 500K whip flying around a curve.

The Minors:
We demoted Malik Roberson from Camden (AA) back to Orlando (A). He struggled all year against that level of competition and I'm tired of seeing it. He did OPS .995 in Orlando last week but he'll finish the year there and we'll give him another chance to prove himself at the next level, next year.

Next 2 Weeks:
Carolina (home) is a handful and Los Alamos (home) can beat us. We've struggled all year against California (away) and we owe Philly (away) for what they did to Santana. I wouldn't be surprised to see a suspension or two after this week. I'd be happy for 7-5 over the next 12.