Best offseason?

[Lintyfresh85]

What team in your mind has had the best offseason to date?

I know a few big name FA guys are still out there... but what's the general feeling of who's been a winner, and who's been a loser this past offseason.

[Guest]

If I would've been able to keep Lewis I'd say me, but I digress...

I like what Indy did landing Geake...Sin City got McNeilage and Arpad which makes their rotation better.

And of course the god damn Bats who took G-Lew away.

[Clay]

-- I'd say Wilmington and Wasington made themselves legit Brewmaster contenders...

-- I'd say Indy made itself a legit playoff contender....

-- I'd say California made itself a legit .500+ record contender....

-- Denver got better at the plate, worse on the mound

-- I'd say Sin City is a push... I think they lost more talent than they signed... but they also opened up some cash

-- I think Pittsburgh regressed just by virtue of losing one of the best closers in the game... but still has time to fix that

-- Los Lunas is worse

-- Pawtucket improved a little

-- Philly is maybe a little better with Stapley

-- Baltimore is worse. Didn't lose anyone but Latham (so far) but haven't added anyone either.

Maine is the same... Hyundai is the same... Mississippi, Morgantown and Batavia are about the same.... Virginia is the same.... WC and Carolina are about the same...

[Sully]

I'm very optimistic about my team's chances this year. We lost McVean early last season for the entire year. At that time, he was by far our best pitcher. We get him back this year, add Gugs, and the natural progression of Makungu. Joe Soto was my number 1 last year, and projects to be my 3 or 4 this year. We also have hopes that guys like Wombwell and Tsu will finally fulfill their potential. The bullpen and offense should be great once again. My starting pitching destroyed my team last year.

[Lintyfresh85]

What did Washington add besides a legit closer? Albeit their bullpen was Pat's biggest weakness.

[Clay]

What did Washington add besides a legit closer? Albeit their bullpen was Pat's biggest weakness.

The return of Sierra from injury + one of the best closers in the game makes them a Contender.

[Lintyfresh85]

I'm curious on the decision of Sin City to sign Arpad to a 4 million a year deal... he was awful last year... what played into the decision to make a run at him?

[Clay]

-- I'd say Wilmington and Wasington made themselves legit Brewmaster contenders...

-- I'd say Indy made itself a legit playoff contender....

-- I'd say California made itself a legit .500+ record contender....

-- Denver got better at the plate, worse on the mound

-- I'd say Sin City is a push... I think they lost more talent than they signed... but they also opened up some cash

-- I think Pittsburgh regressed just by virtue of losing one of the best closers in the game... but still has time to fix that

-- Los Lunas is worse

-- Pawtucket improved a little

-- Philly is maybe a little better with Stapley

-- Baltimore is worse. Didn't lose anyone but Latham (so far) but haven't added anyone either.

Maine is the same... Hyundai is the same... Mississippi, Morgantown and Batavia are about the same.... Virginia is the same.... WC and Carolina are about the same...

Left out 3 teams....

-- Davenport stayed the same... which isn't a bad thing.

-- Hartford... see Davenport

-- Los Alamos probably got a little bit better... but maybe not as much as they needed to.

[Jake]

Left out 3 teams....

-- Davenport stayed the same... which isn't a bad thing.

-- Hartford... see Davenport

-- Los Alamos probably got a little bit better... but maybe not as much as they needed to.

you always leave out Syracuse! Of course, we didn't do much anyways.

[BradleyB]

I'm curious on the decision of Sin City to sign Arpad to a 4 million a year deal... he was awful last year... what played into the decision to make a run at him?

i needed SP depth after trading geake/o'connelan....and i know 4 mil a year sounds like a lot...but i have the cash... and it's only 2 years... i also wasn't paying attention to FA that well (i was in trade mode)... so i just hit "meet demand" and expected to hear a request for another offer... i didn't expect to sign those guys first try.

[Clay]

you always leave out Syracuse! Of course, we didn't do much anyways.

I do always forget Syracuse... for some reason I always mentally mix Syracuse with Denver.... kind of like Jistic and Pared on OS.

[Jake]

That's cool, because I'd rather have denver's offseason.

[Pat]

What did Washington add besides a legit closer? Albeit their bullpen was Pat's biggest weakness.

And what a legit closer he is. He instantly comes in and rates as my best overall player. But besides Grant Lewis, I also signed two under the radar outfielders. And I just got a waiver claim on a much needed LH RP.

I landed LF/RF Odilio Farelo to a 1-year guaranteed contract (mutual for two) for $1.45 mill. My scout loves him. The past two seasons in Carolina he quietly hit .285 with a .350 OBP. He will be great as a #4 OF. He is 35, so I am lowering my expectations a little bit, but I think he should be solid in a platoon role.

I also just signed (this sim) CF Innis Merriam formerly of Hyundai. He signed a 1-year guaranteed contract (mutual for two) for just $400K. I needed a LH bat on the bench. For a 162 game average Merriam hits .250, .333 OBP, 27 HRs, 27 Doubles, 101 RBI and 18 SB. He is only 31, so maybe he can bounce back.

I only had one LH arm in my pen, so I made a waiver claim on Syracuse MR Phil Gibson. My scout has him 5-4-5 with 5 endurance and 8 hold runners. His numbers haven't been the best in Syracuse, but he only costs $900K, and there wasn't any good lefties on the FA market for that cheap.

I also have former Stout Slugger 1B Joe Sierra coming back from a shattered ankle at the end of April. And my 1984 Closer Dave Beard will return to the pen in June.

Plus my team has some very young players, RF Michio Nago, 2B RA Grounds, RP Zoilo Lambarria, RP Wilber Nickerson, LF Oscar Paulet, SS Pete Summers and 3B Brody Whiteley who should of all progress and have much improved 1985 campaigns.

And lastly, I am keeping my fingers crossed for a bounce-back year from SP Romano Gonzalez. After three straight seasons of sub-3 ERAs, the 35-year-old Gonzalez posted a 4.04 ERA.

Plus...I'm not done dealing.

[Delandis]

-- Baltimore is worse. Didn't lose anyone but Latham (so far) but haven't added anyone either.

Need money to spend money. Two million to spend wouldn't buy a cough.

[spot]

-- Los Alamos probably got a little bit better... but maybe not as much as they needed to.

Agreed.

My thinking was that I needed to get alot better and I just didn't have the means to get there. This season will be all about seeing how some young guys can do in the bigs and hoping there are some journeymen that can keep us competitive.