"Name 3" - 1985 BLB Hot Stove Edition

[Clay]

OK... came up with a new "game" called "Name 3"... clever... I know... here it is.... I'll give a topic... the next person who comes along and names three people/teams/things that fit the topic... and then leaves the next topic... we'll keep going as long as it has legs....

Examples... of possible topics... feel free to borrow from these if you can't come up with one:

Name 3 Key Player Acquisitions
Name 3 Players to Watch in '85
Name 3 Rookies to Watch in '85
Name 3 Teams on the Rise/Decline

You get the point....

Ok..... I'll start....

Name 3 BLB Superstars Likely to "Hit the Wall" in '85

[Lintyfresh85]

1. Jeff Franklin
2. Joe Chavarraga
3. Alberto Grandon

Name 3 rookie of the year candidates in the IL.

[Clay]

Name 3 rookie of the year candidates in the IL.

Tough one because I'm not sure of everyone's eligibility... but... off the top of my head....

- Padilla (WSH)
- Poling (VIR)
- Carillo (WC)


NAME 3 Teams on the Decline in '85

[Sully]

Tough one because I'm not sure of everyone's eligibility... but... off the top of my head....

- Padilla (WSH)
- Poling (VIR)
- Carillo (WC)


NAME 3 Teams on the Decline in '85

lol, that's exactly what I was thinking. I have no idea who is eligible for ROY or what minor leaguers will crack the big league squad.

3 Teams on the Decline in '85
Baltimore
Sin City
Los Lunas

Oh, almost forgot....

Name the 3 most underrated players in the BLB.

[Lintyfresh85]

1. Pedro Eires
2. Carel Fonkert
3. Jared Kirby

Name the 3 teams most likely to win the 1985 Championship.

[Clay]

Name the 3 most underrated players in the BLB.

Good one.... would need more time to do both.... I'll do IL...

- Jared Kirby - Might be the best Catcher in the league... IL for sure... but you never see his name on the boards.
- Ezequiel Parongao - Puts up awesome numbers every year... can be dominant... never talk about him. May have something to do with being in quiet Carolina.
- Brian Greenham - Homer pick... but Greenham shouldn't be as good as he is based on his ratings. He's gotten better every season since going Pro. He is an EXBH machine... and gives you the versatility of playing C, 1B and RF.

Name the 3 teams most likely to win the 1985 Championship.

- Maine
- Wilmington
- Philly


NAME 3 New acquisitions that will have the biggest impact on their new team

[Sully]

Nice job, Clay. The first two on your list are two that I had on mine. One for the DL is Charlie MacCabe. I don't think the guy gets enough recognition for all that he does.

3 acquisitions...
1 - T. Sato, PIT - Losing Grant Lewis hurts. It'll be interesting to see if Sato can sniff the numbers Lewis put up last year. If not, it could be a long season in Pittsburgh.
2 - G. Lewis, WAS - It was no secret that Washington's weakness was their pen. Adding one of the best closers in the game will surely help matters.
3 - A. Gugierrez, WIL - Arguably the best offensive team in the league, and outstanding bullpen, and a horrific starting rotation. Gugs gives Wilmington a legit number 1, but we need the young guys to fulfill their potential if we want to get back to the playoffs.

I'd also like to comment on Linty's...

3 teams likely to win the championship
1. Maine
2. Philadelphia
3. Dallas

Name 3 Free Agent acquisitions that left you scratching your head...

[Lintyfresh85]

Stapley to Philly for 40 million
Grandon to Cali for 100 million
Bing to Batavia for 42 million

Name three players headed for a sophomore slump?

[Clay]

Stapley to Philly for 40 million
Grandon to Cali for 100 million
Bing to Batavia for 42 million

Did you just pick your own signing as one that left you scratching your head?

Name three players headed for a sophomore slump?

- Elieis Vizcarra (CAL) - Had a great season... but it looked like smoke and mirrors. I'd be shocked to see it again.
- Alexander Rivera (DAV) - Ratings didn't improve and injuries keep racking up.
- Dani Alvarez (WIL) - This one is with an asterisk... his '84 was so statistically impressive... there's almost no where to go but down.

***

Name 3 Players Who Will Take the Leap to Stardom in '85

[Lintyfresh85]

Did you just pick your own signing as one that left you scratching your head?

Yes... I saw Sanchez signed for 80 million over the same period... or, only 16 million a year compared to 20 for what will likely turn out to be a better player.

Name 3 Players Who Will Take the Leap to Stardom in '85

1. Robby Shannon- Cal: His contact jumped to a six in the off season. I'm expecting above .300 average with 75+ RBI's and runs.

2. Mac Avery- Ind: Love this kid... I think when he returns to health in Indy, he'll be just flithy.

3. Gil Melgoza- Dal: Sophomore slump really hurt this guy... I'm betting big that he'll break out in his third year and get back on track like his rookie year suggested.

Name three Pale Ale Pitcher candidates (either league is fine).

[Clay]

Name three Pale Ale Pitcher Candidates

DL

- Teagan Corrigan - IMO the best in the league
- Donato Guardamagni - Best pitcher on a bad team isn't always a good recipe, but this guy is that good
- Mapalo - If all the innings don't kill him, he's getting better.


IL

- Joe Aurillo - Because he always is
- "Gugs" - I think he's going to eat up some of these big parks in the IL
- Grant Lewis - Washington should return to closer to their '83 style.. I expect a lot of save ops for Lewis


NAME 3 Players that will be traded before the deadline

[Pat]

DL

- Teagan Corrigan - IMO the best in the league
- Donato Guardamagni - Best pitcher on a bad team isn't always a good recipe, but this guy is that good
- Mapalo - If all the innings don't kill him, he's getting better.


IL

- Joe Aurillo - Because he always is
- "Gugs" - I think he's going to eat up some of these big parks in the IL
- Grant Lewis - Washington should return to closer to their '83 style.. I expect a lot of save ops for Lewis


NAME 3 Players that will be traded before the deadline

1. OF Abran Lanbin - California - He turns 39 in April, but the guy is still very solid all around. Plus, he is a FA at years end and it is highly unlikely that the Kodiaks will be competing.

2. Frank Dallyn - Virginia - I know he was just acquired by Virginia. But when mid-season rolls around, and Virginia is 20 games out of first place, and Dallyn is "angry" and refusing to re-sign, I don't see anyway he isn't dealt.

3. 1B Pedro Eires - Pawtucket - Similar to the situations above. Old player who is a FA at years end for a non-contender. Pawtucket is looking to get younger and build around all those top five picks they have had. Eires might have slipped a bit, but he is still one of the biggest power threats in all of the BLB.

---

NAME the 3 most improved teams in 1985

[Clay]

I knew Smear would play when he woke up...

NAME the 3 most improved teams in 1985

- Indy - Loved them last year and I think they got even better this season after a dissappointing '84

- Wilmington - Great offense adds one of the best arms in the league

- Washington - Sierra is back + Legit Closer = Improvement


NAME 3 Records the could fall in '85 and who will break them

[Clay]

BTW - If anyone wants to jump in and answer old ones...feel free... there's no limit.

[Lintyfresh85]

I don't have a clue as to how to answer Clay's last question so I'll throw one out there as well.

Name your three top position battles within your own team.

1. Closer - Paul Scott or Bing-de She? I'm going with Bing here as his ratings keep improving and Scott's continue to fall.

2. 4th and 5th rotation spots - Two out of the three in this grop are going to get a rotation spot: Jeff Flynn, Jorge Lorral or Mack McMurdo.

3. LF - Currently I have Owen Gilbertson manning the post, but the way Oscar Saldanha has hit in limited duty the past three years, and how he's hitting in the WBC... I might have a contest on my hands.