SIM COMPLETE - 1991 SIM 1

[Jake]

Disagree. I offered him over $6M. You still got a pretty good deal. I don't think he's done yet.

Thanks. I was worried I might have been bidding against myself. I certainly think (and hope) he can out pitch Chip Snow.

[liquidcrash]

2-4 for the Tobs and our lineup loses Jimmy Joy. He's nothing special and has fallen off since his All-Star form, but we can't lose anyone in this lineup. It's a rebuilding year as we wait on some of our young talent to come along (I'm not optimistic on that front), but it'd be nice to surprise a little bit.

Hector Castre pitched well in both of his starts. Unfortunately we only scored 2 runs for him over both and he's 0-2.

[Gyrodork]

I'm anticipating a lousy April. The old farts in my rotation need the extra month to warm up.

I hope Coyote has a little pop left in his bat. Had some money sitting around doing nothing, and C - Pancho Negron has never been more than a .250 hitter.

Apparently I need to fire my equipment manager. My best fielders played like they were getting paid by the error.

[spot]

Pateshall has fallen hard.

But the pen was outstanding. I think we can do well in a very winnable Bock.

[umd]

4-2. This will surely not last. Chuck Lindsey w/ the 33 ERA. My pitching staff and bullpen are awful - though through 6 games you'd think we are decent.

[Jistic]

Wouters back with a vengeance.

[Pat]

Wouters back with a vengeance.

[Lintyfresh85]

Seriously... did anyone else in the IL have a problem with their coach double switching everytime they took out a pitcher?

I never had that problem in OOTPX and none of my settings changed.

[Spectre]

Good start for the Storm

Llombart, Rojas, and Dodson all with impressive starts this year. McEvoy, on the other hand, got roughed up a bit but still worked deep into both games he pitched. Feels good to be back into the swing of things in BLB land.

[BradZ]

Philly Freedom - SIM 1(4-2; 1st)
2-1 @ DAV: W: 6-2,W: 13-5, l: 7-8
2-1 vs CAR: L: 2-3, W: 4-3, W: 3-2

Not a bad week overall, but we gave away our two losses late in games where we had a lead. You’d like to see at least one of those closed out, but it’s early and the bullpen should settle down as we go along.

The Good

- Ben Irvin - Nails. Off to a great 2-0 start in the first week of the season. Two fine outings for the anchor of our staff.

- Dan Jones - Got a no decision in his start (Chad Mullen with the blown save) but he is off to a fine start, 8IP | 3H | 1ER | 5K. If he can be a solid contributor this year I think our rotation will be alright.

- Raul Velez - Nice to see the young OFer get off to a good start. .357 | .400 | .571, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 3 R, 1 SB


The Bad

- Joe Sanchez and Chad Mullen had a direct hand in our two losses. We need to convert as many late inning leads as possible into W’s so it hurts to lose 2 of those types of games in the first week. Not worried about these two long term, but we need our bullpen to be top of the league to compete.

- Pete Summers - playing 3B in Newlin’s absence, didn’t do much at the plate in the first week. .125 | .250 | .167. We’ll need more than that for the next two months as he gets regular time.

What’s Next

A day off and then 20 straight days without a break. 3 @ LAM and 3 vs. WC. Looking for another winning week to build some early season momentum.

[Jistic]

The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end.

[Lintyfresh85]

Seriously, I had 13 double switches in six games.

WHAT THE FUCK!

[Carlos]

I can't help you, Linty...

I'm ok with 3-3 for this sim. As expected: The Julio's pitched well and are 2-0. Chet Poole lost his start but continues to defy his ratings. Don McDonald's return to the rotation was not too bad. Williamson is consistently inconsistent so it is expected. Greene is the polar opposite of Poole which is frustrating.

Browning continues to just hit. Hit. Hit. Guys are swiping bags which makes me proud.

Gave up a league low 20 runs, but also scored a lowly 21 runs. There's 3-3 for you.

[Pat]

The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end.

Sorry...I couldn't hear you...

I was busy sweeping.

[Pat]

Washington Bats - SIM 1 - (5-1; 1st)
2-1 @ LAM: W 10-1, W 9-2, L 3-4
3-0 vs WC: W 9-5, W 4-2, W 2-1
Very impressive first week. Taking two of three on the road and sweeping at home. The loss to the Bandits was by one run and we had multiple chances to tie it up and just missed.

The Good
Martin Carlton is the same old "Eager Beaver." Two starts, two wins (for the team), 13.2 IP, 2 ER, 11 K, 1 BB. The defending and two-time IL Pale Ale winner looks like he is motivated in a contract year.

Not sure if you all noticed, but Derrek Tucker looks damn good. An arm injury cut his spring short so I was a bit nervous about the "rust" factor. What rust? Tucker struckout ten in seven innings in Los Alamos for the Bats 9-2 win.

My bullpen 1st in the BLB with a 0.52 bullpen ERA. It's only been six games but I think my pen might just be one of the best when it's all said and done.


The Bad
Could this be the beginning of the end for Cristofor Villazon? After a poor spring, and career worst season in '90, the 35-year-old veteran is solely responsible for the one loss this week. Three innings, 4 ER, 5 BB, 5 H. Awful. Sadly, Villazon is on the books for $8,000,000 this year and $8,000,000 next year, so hopefully he can turn it around.

I hate seeing a young player waste an opportunity. This week, Tex Briggs, did just that. The 24-year-old third basemen was not expected to earn a starting spot this year but injuries have placed in him the starting lineup versus RH-starting pitching. He proceeded by going 4/23 and an error at third.

The Farm
My three minor league clubs, the Rams, Venom and Sting, went a combined 16-5. A handful of really, really good performances... Rod Coston, outfielder, missed all but 19 games last year with a back injury, hit .464, with a 1.174 OPS this week, to go with four stolen bases...Brad Sanford, after not making the cut for the 25 man roster, went to Triple-A upset, but pitched his ass off striking out eight in seven innings...Like Sanford, Hector Castillo went from Spring Training to Triple-A to tearing the cover off the ball... Jared Weeks had five steals to go with his .387 average...top SP prospect Cy Prior made his Double-A debut and pitched a gem...All-Time Double-A saves leader Hector Gonzalez added three more to his 134 total...In Single-A, top international prospects Adrian Prado and Yoshinori Shibutani finally began to show signs of my previous scouts high praise...and last years 2nd Round Pick, Shawn Burton had 12 hits in seven games. Last year, he had only 9 hits in 21 games.

What's Next?
Opened with the Bock, second week is the Porter. Three versus the Batavia Muckdogs. Three at the Baltimore Bulldogs. A little early in the year for predictions, as I'm not sure what to expect from my squad or either pair of "dog" opponents. I should take care of business at home and expect struggles on the road.