2012 REGULAR SEASON SIM 21 Complete - Next SIM Sat 07/25

[Matt]

Next SIM: Sat 7/25

- Files due by 11 am ET | 8 am PT, any later and you run the risk of missing the sim
- HTML and utility in a bit
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Roster:
DFA: Phi, Pit (5), Syr (3), WC
Single A:
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- Check all trades please
- Watch your DFA/Roster/Single A please!

[Z]

Great sim for us.

We won the first two games versus Washington by a total of 11 runs. We fell in game three when Robby Aten threw eight innings of one-run ball but our offense couldn't score.

Then we swept Wilmington in three games.

We lead the Ale by a half-game over Pittsburgh, with a pivotal road trip to play at the Millers' and Patriots' parks this week. Four against Pittsburgh. Three versus Pawtucket.

A challenging week.

But if we can survive this week, I feel optimistic. Our remaining schedule following these two series looks very friendly.

Another tremendous week for Steve Suarez, who won Player of the Week honors once again and merits a spot atop your Stout Slugger ballot.

[Delandis]

When you promote in September, does that use one of their option years?

[Pat]

I forgot what a two win week feels like.

Ale > Stout

[Delandis]

Don't look now but Batavia making a late run!!!

2 WCs is best and most significant addition to the league in a while.

[Matt]

We've had months of 15-12, 15-12, and 16-11 this year, to go with 9-11 and 13-14..so we play a little above .500. We were near dead last in SP and hitting for a long while so if things even out we have a chance.

12-4 in X-inning and 26-14 in one-run make me realize it's mostly luck though. Also we are terrible on the road and have 15 road games left this year to 17 at home.

[funclown]

Pawtucket seems honed in for the wildcard at 3-3. Missing 1B Hidetoshi Haraguchi for the entire series and OF Ron Harward for 2 games tipped the scales against us for DV. Injuries happen so no complaints.

I think the division is not meant to be though historically Pawtucket has outstanding Septembers probably due to our call ups from our mini dyanasty at our AAA level. Ironically Lynn going for its 2nd Futures title in 3 season. Just to many struggles with our offense this season despite having as many as 3 top hitter throughout the season. Pitching has never been the issue.

Considering the division we play in and also watching the Philly & Denver falls from grace probably not to bad. Its not like our window is closed or anything and in a one game series with our pitching I think we can play with anyone.

Time will tell.

[BradZ]

Worst time of the year for the have-nots. Waiver deadline deals are in the rear view mirror and no chance of doing anything other than screwing up draft position for next year. Offseason comes a month early in Philly this year. Sigh.

[Z]

Worst time of the year for the have-nots. Waiver deadline deals are in the rear view mirror and no chance of doing anything other than screwing up draft position for next year. Offseason comes a month early in Philly this year. Sigh.

September call-ups?

[umd]

This Week:

4-2 2nd Place Stout, 2nd WC.
2-1 @ HAR
2-1 vs PAW

The Good:

We close the gap on WAS to 2 games and get them at home for a 3 game set at the end of the week. Our late season veteran acquisitions are paying off. Victor Alvarez (.256/.341/.359), Rogelio Guadamuz (.417/.533/.500), Willie Garcia (.360/.429/.800 2 HRs 6 RBIs) and Fred Evers (solid first week) are all contributing since arriving in the desert.

Tyler Clarke is back from injury and will rejoin the rotation. Dave Bryan and his .321/.352/.418 slash returns next week to be the RH hitter and PH specialist we're lacking.

Rich Pena, signed as a cheap FA, will join the Vegas club as part of the September 40 man. Our AAA and AAAA players will come up to add depth and specialization to our roster. Zack Mayne and Alex Godinez add speed and defense to our IF and OF. Chris Navarette and Jonathon Burns will rejoin the bullpen to keep everyone fresh after throwing well in AAA.

The Bad:

Matt and BAT are making their move in the WC chase. DAV still holds a 3 game lead on us for the #1 WC spot. Hopefully, September begins our turnaround from a terrible summer.

Tommy Bell continues to struggle. This looks like a lost year for the talented lefty set-up man and it's my fault for trying to start him. He hasn't recovered. He's one tough week from being moved out of the set-up spot and replaced with our many other options, but we'll give him a shot.

Masao Nara has struggled this season. Luckily, our OF acquisitions give us plenty of match-up options while Nara looks to recover from his cold streak.

On the Farm:

With all our minor league seasons over, we have the option of bringing up Melvin Hurtado (4-2, 10 SV, 2.51 ERA, 1.12 WHIP) and Jonathon Arnholt (9-6, 3.12 ERA, 1.35 WHIP) as both are ready for their BLB debuts. I can bring both up at anytime, but I'll wait and go with the veterans for now. They'll be part of the BLB team from Spring Training next season and I'm excited about both.

Coming Up:

We get WIL at home in a 3 game set and then WAS comes to town in a series that will impact all the races in the IL. We need a strong 6 game homestand this week to get ourselves on a September roll.

[Ryan]

3-3 sim to keep us treading water, but here comes Syracuse!

[Pat]

3-3 sim to keep us treading water, but here comes Syracuse!

Chutz...Chutz...Chutz...Chutz....Chutz

[Delandis]

3-3 as we had a mixed bag of results against the Pilsner to close our interleague schedule for the year. We pitched and hit very poorly as a team in Syracuse, but were very good at home. Borrowing the broom Syracuse used on us, we took all three at home against Denver.

-Terumoto Chiba (1B) has quietly been rounding back into form. He's got the little "HE'S ON FIRE" symbol, hitting .480 with 3 HR in his last 7 games. He may be starting to find that 2-time Stout Slugger swing again and if that's the case, we are a much more dangerous team offensively now.

-It has been a tale of two seasons for Laurent Boutin (SP). Until the All-Star break, it looked like he wasn't going to be able to break out of his funk. He had gone 6-7 with a 5.30 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. After the break, he's gone 4-4 with a 3.01 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. I'm very proud of this guy and his resolve to turn it around and be a big contributor to our success this season.

-We promoted 12 players from AAA this week just to have a bit of depth. It is nice to have this many guys on the roster to help when those unavoidable times when Batavia wants to have a 16 or 17 inning yawner that screws up our pitching staff for the remainder of the sim.

Speaking of Batavia, they went 5-1 against the Pilsner this week, cutting our lead in the Porter to just 5 games. We have a big divisional week coming up with two games at home versus California then four at home vs. Philly. All six of Batavia's games are on the road and they have to play California four of those six. We need to create as much cushion as possible because our next 4 opponents include 4 @ Batavia, 3 @ Carolina and 3@ DVS and 3 vs. Washington.

We could easily find ourselves going from leading our division to missing the playoffs in the next two weeks. We have to be at the top of our game and it all starts by going at least 4-2 this week.

[Jake]

Eh. Too little too late. We lollygagged around too long. Chutz looks good. The pitching has been solid enough but we have no stand out. Could have used a top line starter and a top line hitter to really separate ourselves.

That being said I like where we are going into next year. We probably lose Gamboa and Smalley, but I feel good enough about our backfill and we'll have a little financial flexibility in FA, if there is anyone.

[Z]

Eh. Too little too late. We lollygagged around too long. Chutz looks good. The pitching has been solid enough but we have no stand out. Could have used a top line starter and a top line hitter to really separate ourselves.

That being said I like where we are going into next year. We probably lose Gamboa and Smalley, but I feel good enough about our backfill and we'll have a little financial flexibility in FA, if there is anyone.

Your team is very good. Your bullpen hurt you this year. With a stronger bullpen, I think you probably win the Pilsner.