2023 Offseason News

[Guest]

Yeah, it's gonna depend on if my owner increases my budget and arbitration. Hoping to have enough to make at least one marquee signing.

[Delandis]

You know what's enjoyable? Searching through the free agent coaches to find names that mean something to you. We have filled our minor league coaching positions with old Davenport players that I had during my tenure there. It's all about who you know! Just ask Vern Branch, Pat Danford and Jayson Madocks. They now have jobs in the Toronto system.

We also brought journeyman Wade Flint back as our hitting coach in AAA.

Honestly - this might be my favorite part of OOTP...

I agree. I really enjoy seeing those guys who were marginally talented (at the BLB level) or just never made it, end up as talented managers.


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[Hank]

Saw former Kodiak and Mohawk, Danny Torres, trying to make it as a hitting coach. Pretty cool.
I'd love to see Feliciano add his name to the list.

[Spear]

Saw former Kodiak and Mohawk, Danny Torres, trying to make it as a hitting coach. Pretty cool.
I'd love to see Feliciano add his name to the list.

Guys like Feliciano might be sitting on a beach somewhere.

[Matt]

[Pat]

One of the best three-year runs in BLB history.

[PaulC]

One of the best three-year runs in BLB history.

I see what you did there... meep! meep!

[Pat]

I see what you did there... meep! meep!

No, I mean it.

Considering how competitive the BLB is now, you could argue this Phoenix three-year run is impressive as any in BLB history.

[Sully]

We've had some great playoff runs. One win shy of a 3 peat, but there's also some great comebacks in there. We are fortunate to have the 2 titles.

[Matt]

Import League Announces Best Manager: Estéfan Ziballa has molded the Phoenix Roadrunners into a top-flight Import League team. The 2023 Skipper of the Year came into spring training with a commitment to getting the most out of his Roadrunners.

"I told them I had no preconceived notions about them, that all of them were blank slates as far as I was concerned. I told them to learn my system and we would win. I told them all the spots on the roster were open, that the best players would play -- young or old, rookie or vet -- and that I expected them to hustle, to work hard, and play as a team. They bought into it and made me look good."

And Estéfan Ziballa certainly got the most out of his ballclub. The Roadrunners wrapped up the season in first place in the Import League Bock Division with a 102-60 record.

Kansas City's Loong Cops DL Best Manager Award: Kansas City Comets field manager Fei-hsien Loong has brought a winning attitude to the team and the city. His no-nonsense approach, work ethic and baseball experience has paved the way for success.

This season the Comets parlayed his managerial skills and some talented ballplayers into a first place spot in the Domestic League Lager Division standings. Kansas City finished the year with a 116-46 record.

To everybody's delight Loong was voted the 2023 Domestic League Manager of the Year by the baseball writers.

"Mr. Loong doesn't take any stuff. If you aren't doing your job, he's not afraid to call you on it," noted one of his ballplayers. "But the team wouldn't want to play for anyone else. He's tough, demanding, but he treats everyone fairly and doesn't play favorites. Nobody gets pampered on his ballclub."

[funclown]

Import League Announces Best Manager: Estéfan Ziballa has molded the Phoenix Roadrunners into a top-flight Import League team. The 2023 Skipper of the Year came into spring training with a commitment to getting the most out of his Roadrunners.

"I told them I had no preconceived notions about them, that all of them were blank slates as far as I was concerned. I told them to learn my system and we would win. I told them all the spots on the roster were open, that the best players would play -- young or old, rookie or vet -- and that I expected them to hustle, to work hard, and play as a team. They bought into it and made me look good."

And Estéfan Ziballa certainly got the most out of his ballclub. The Roadrunners wrapped up the season in first place in the Import League Bock Division with a 102-60 record.

Kansas City's Loong Cops DL Best Manager Award: Kansas City Comets field manager Fei-hsien Loong has brought a winning attitude to the team and the city. His no-nonsense approach, work ethic and baseball experience has paved the way for success.

This season the Comets parlayed his managerial skills and some talented ballplayers into a first place spot in the Domestic League Lager Division standings. Kansas City finished the year with a 116-46 record.

To everybody's delight Loong was voted the 2023 Domestic League Manager of the Year by the baseball writers.

"Mr. Loong doesn't take any stuff. If you aren't doing your job, he's not afraid to call you on it," noted one of his ballplayers. "But the team wouldn't want to play for anyone else. He's tough, demanding, but he treats everyone fairly and doesn't play favorites. Nobody gets pampered on his ballclub."

So basically whoever when they're respected league will always be manager of the year.

[Matt]

Ulloa Injured in Charity Softball Game: Andy Ulloa was injured today in a charity softball game. He suffered a sprained ankle in the 3rd inning when he tried to stretch a double into a triple and stumbled over third base.

The injury will likely heal before the start of spring training, but the incident cast a shadow over the game, which was organized to help raise money for local charities and youth leagues. It was the 2nd annual edition of the Andy Ulloa All-Star Charity Classic, which pits a team of major leaguers against a squad of local celebrities, athletes, and media personalities.

Ulloa's ML All-Stars did end up beating the Celebrity All-Stars squad for the second year in a row by a score of 9-8. It was the injury to Ulloa, however, that was on the minds of most of the participants after the game.

"I feel really bad about what happened to Andy," said Pilots teammate, Roberto Valle. "I talked to him earlier though, and he reassured me that he has no regrets about participating. He's just a really competitive guy and that's just how he plays every game. Besides, he's pleased we were able to exceed our goals this year. We managed to raise nearly double the amount we raised during last year's inaugural event."

[Matt]

BLB News: Free Agents File: Brewers League Baseball announced the start of the free agency period today.

Players with expiring contracts began to file as the clock struck midnight and general managers were already making the rounds. With the opening of free agency came a predictable chorus of speculation from the media.

While most teams are likely to make at least some small moves, it's still uncertain who the movers and shakers will be. Reporters expect a lot of attention to be lavished on the cream of the free agent crop, including these players:


Enrique Ortiz, 33 year-old RH SP
Tom Calligan, 31 year-old RH SP
David Loya, 29 year-old RH SP
Jamie Urmson, 38 year-old CF
Chris Aguilar, 34 year-old RH SP
Joey Kopp, 28 year-old RH SP
Adrian Pulido, 40 year-old LH SP
Ian Clark, 34 year-old RH SP
T.J. Davis, 35 year-old RH SP
Dave Honea, 36 year-old RH SP

Signings can continue throughout the offseason, although most of the high quality players are expected to conclude negotiations long before then. Most players want to be well paid, but they also want to get settled so they can start the process of moving family across town or across the country.

[Matt]

International Free Agents Enter Market: League officials have been informed that the following international free agents have indicated interest in playing in the Brewers League Baseball next season, and are now visible in the free agents list:

RHP Decheng Zhào out of China
C Robby Schumacher out of Mexico
2B Huo-tu Hua out of China
2B Tom Sotelo out of Mexico
3B Caspar Pankhurst out of Australia
SS Edwin Rojas out of Mexico
LF Joey Munoz out of Puerto Rico
CF Ruben Jimenez out of Panama

[Carlos]

So basically whoever when they're respected league will always be manager of the year.

No. But it's most likely.

I know because I've seen managers win the award while winning a wild card in other leagues.

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