2011 Around the League News

[Matt]

BLB News: Opening Day: Brewers League Baseball fans have been pining for Opening Day ever since the league published its 2011 schedule several months ago. It is finally here! The slate for the first day of the new season includes:

Toronto Canadians @ Pittsburgh Millers
Los Alamos Amigos @ Washington Bats
Syracuse Slammers @ Indianapolis Clowns
Hartford Whalers @ Los Angeles Dinos
Seattle Reign @ Windy City Playboys
Dallas Snappers @ Denver BC
Death Valley Scorpions @ Davenport Brawlers
Carolina Tobs @ Morgantown Mohawks
New York Knights @ Maine Guides
Pawtucket Patriots @ New Orleans Dukes
California Kodiaks @ Philadelphia Freedom
Batavia Muckdogs @ Baltimore Bulldogs


BNN Stats: Single-Season Records: Who holds the single season record in the Brewers League Baseball for strikeouts?

David Rumsey, -, 319, 1978
Joe Chavarraga, -, 294, 1978
David Rumsey, -, 293, 1979
Jamie Herberholz, CHI, 292, 2010
Jason Peyton, -, 289, 1978


Top 100 Prospects List Published: The season is about to start, so it's time to publish the annual Top 100 Prospects list. This year 23-year-old right fielder Ernie Arbini of the California Kodiaks is the #1 prospect overall.

Here is the top 10:
1) RF Ernie Arbini, 23, California Kodiaks
2) SP Johnny McDade, 23, Pawtucket Patriots
3) SS Rory Page, 22, Seattle Reign
4) SP Ian Brooks, 23, Dallas Snappers
5) SP Willie Fajardo, 21, Indianapolis Clowns
6) C Stephen Pierce, 25, Washington Bats
7) SP Jaylen Mitchell, 21, Pawtucket Patriots
8) MR Regin Baisden, 21, Morgantown Mohawks
9) 1B Darryl Dellinger, 23, Toronto Canadians
10) MR Israel Rodriguez, 23, Washington Bats


Bell Goes 5-5 Against California: It was a hits blitz for Taylor Bell at Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower Field. The Philadelphia Freedom left fielder tore into California for 5 hits in 5 at-bats to pace the Freedom to a 13-2 victory and wrote his name into the baseball record book. The manager for the Kodiaks bemoaned his pitching, saying, "We fell behind and weren't locating well. Once you get behind in the count, you have to make real good pitches, rather than good pitches, and we weren't able to do that today." He added, "Not to take anything away from Bell, but bad location was the story of the ballgame. That's why we lost the game." Taylor Bell doubled in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, hit a solo-shot off Dave Hardy in the 4th, singled in the 6th and singled in the 8th.


Suspensions Handed Out for Bench-Clearing Brawl: Following a mass brawl, the league has suspended Seth Herrington of Pittsburgh and David Palomares of Los Angeles. The players will have to sit out 5 games each after trouble flared up between the Millers and the Dinos at a recent game at Kennywood Park.

Herrington is hitting .214 this season with 1 home run, 1 RBIs and 3 runs scored. He has 3 hits in 14 at-bats.


BC Perkins Suffers Injury: It was announced today in Denver that BC right fielder Dave Perkins will be out 5 weeks. Perkins suffered an intercostal strain that occurred during a game against the Indianapolis Clowns.

[Pat]

BNN Stats: Single-Season Records: Who holds the single season record in the Brewers League Baseball for strikeouts?

David Rumsey, -, 319, 1978
Joe Chavarraga, -, 294, 1978
David Rumsey, -, 293, 1979
Jamie Herberholz, CHI, 292, 2010
Jason Peyton, -, 289, 1978

All the leaders are in the first or second seasons of the BLB...and then Herberholz nearly breaks the record in 2010. Amazing.

[Carlos]

Pat Yahn wants to break the record. I think he's on the juice.

If we had drug suspensions on, I bet that storyline would continue to him being caught.

sent from my mobile device

[Jistic]

All the leaders are in the first or second seasons of the BLB...and then Herberholz nearly breaks the record in 2010. Amazing.

I just hope he can hold on and break the all time record. He really is a "throwback" pitcher. Just a freak. But the clock is ticking!

[Matt]

BLB News: Draft Pool Revealed: The biggest anxiety for 2011 new young players is getting drafted. For the young man with something to prove, simple entrance into the draft does not guarantee a big league contract. Some will suffer the excruciating torment of having to stand by as their competitors get picked before them, hoping that they get a slim chance to prove their skills anywhere. At any rate, teams now have 65 days to scout the draft pool before the draft is held.

The Transactions page also gets a new section dedicated to the draft pool, which will be available for 65 days prior to the draft.

The top players available (in no particular order) seem to be:
1. Joe Cofield, 19 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
2. Brendan Hurst, 21 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
3. Maru Ame, 20 year-old center fielder out of college.
4. Ervin Ventura, 20 year-old shortstop out of college.
5. Ed Carroll, 17 year-old starting pitcher out of high-school.
6. Jimmy Douglas, 20 year-old second baseman out of college.
7. Jimmy Gray, 20 year-old center fielder out of college.
8. Ron Bynum, 19 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
9. Geoff Perritt, 20 year-old second baseman out of college.
10. Jamie Davis, 21 year-old third baseman out of college.


Griffiths Receives Updated Diagnosis: Tom Griffiths could soon be placed on the disabled list. The Philadelphia third baseman told reporters that he expects to be "out of commission" for 5-6 weeks because of an oblique strain. He hasn't played since 04/10/2011 and, he said, he's "itchin' to get back out there."

For the year Griffiths is batting .261 with no home runs, 4 RBIs and 1 run scored.


BNN Stats: Active Career Batting Leaders: So, who is the active leader in the Brewers League Baseball in career sacrifice hits?

Jamie Herberholz, CHI, 121
Ted Dickerson, PRT, 112
Troy Hanback, LAD, 112
Dani Trujillo, CAL, 101
Travis DuFour, TOR, 95


Garner Shuts out Patriots: According to Tyler Garner of the Maine Guides, "There are three important elements in pitching success: location, location, and location." He told his pitching philosophy to sportswriters in the postgame interview after his 5-0 victory over Pawtucket.

He blanked them on a 4-hitter, allowed 3 walks and had 6 strikeouts. "I really felt comfortable the whole game," Garner said.

His manager echoed his comments, saying, "He hit his spots time and time again."


5-Hit Game for Bachleda: J.R. Bachleda was unstoppable, but his club, the Knights, was not unbeatable. Despite his hitting heroics they lost to the Indianapolis Clowns 6-5. He battered them for 5 hits in 5 at-bats. His only consolation will be a boost in his batting average and a brief mention in the record book. Bachleda just shook his head after the game, saying to the BNN reporters, "It's the team with the most runs that wins... not the most hits." J.R. Bachleda singled in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, singled in the 4th, singled in the 7th and singled in the 9th.

This year Bachleda is batting .429 with 1 home run and 8 RBIs. In 14 games he has scored 6 times.


BNN Stats: Single-Season Records: Who holds the single season record in the Brewers League Baseball for losses?

Ruben Aparicio, -, 23, 2007
Filiberto Delrosario, -, 22, 1979
Robby Pearce, -, 21, 2004
R.J. Brookman, MNT, 21, 2010
Sadao Yoshino, -, 21, 2001

[Carlos]

Herberholz does it all.

[Matt]

Pulido Shackles Seattle: Adrian Pulido put a hex on Seattle in a sparkling 7-0 shutout performance, mesmerizing them on a 4-hit gem.

"I feel good physically," he said. "Everything's comfortable. You should pitch well when that's the case."

It was anything but comfortable for Seattle.

"Pulido used his changeup very well, very effectively," the opposing manager said. "He threw it in hitter's counts."

The Death Valley Scorpions hurler fanned 4 and walked 2.


Brummett Shackles Seattle: Magic was in the air and on the mound at The Sandbox today as Gil Brummett held Seattle spellbound in his 11-0 shutout victory. The Death Valley pitcher went the route, ran up 6 strikeouts, walked 1 and held the Reign to 6 hits to garner the win.

So far this season Brummett has a record of 4-1 with 27 strikeouts and 4 walks in 40 innings and a 0.68 ERA.


Hartford Skipper DiMaggio Blasts Media Over Bad Press: Whalers manager, Jerry Holleman, had some choice words for the Hartford media today. "Whatever happened to journalistic integrity?" the Whalers skipper asked during a live radio interview. "No one cares about reporting the facts anymore. It's all about sensationalism these days. All you guys care about is selling newspapers and driving up ratings. And I'm getting pretty damn sick of it." Holleman seemed to be referring to recent stories that have suggested the Whalers struggles as of late have been the result of off-field distractions.

One article, which accuses T.J. DiMaggio of numerous "extracurricular indiscretions", has been a particularly sore subject for Holleman. "What players do on their own time is their business, but to imply that any of my players aren't giving it their all on the field is absolutely ridiculous," Holleman said, "and to make these kinds of accusations against someone without any proof is just plain irresponsible!"

Team officials had no comment when asked about Holleman's remarks.


Duffy Has Words With Fan After Loss: After losing tonight, Washington Bats's starting pitcher Robby Duffy exchanged words with a heckling fan outside the ballpark. The fan taunted Duffy about his performance and Duffy lashed out with a tirade of expletives. Fans were upset by Duffy's reaction and many have asked for an apology. Duffy chose to make no comment on the matter.


Goto Sidelined for 4-5 Weeks: Philadelphia Freedom first baseman Roberto Goto left yesterday's game against the Toronto Canadians after suffering a strained oblique running the bases. Goto was taken to the clubhouse for examination by team doctors. A team spokesman told BNN today Goto is expected to miss 4-5 weeks.

This year Goto is batting .217 with no home runs and 4 RBIs.


BNN Stats: Active Career Batting Leaders: So, who is the active leader in the Brewers League Baseball in career triples?

Zak Gaston, -, 106
Tex Watts, BAL, 93
Dani Trujillo, CAL, 88
Ron Wessel, HAR, 84
Johnathan Morris, LAD, 72

[funclown]

Hartford Skipper DiMaggio Blasts Media Over Bad Press: Whalers manager, Jerry Holleman, had some choice words for the Hartford media today. "Whatever happened to journalistic integrity?" the Whalers skipper asked during a live radio interview. "No one cares about reporting the facts anymore. It's all about sensationalism these days. All you guys care about is selling newspapers and driving up ratings. And I'm getting pretty damn sick of it." Holleman seemed to be referring to recent stories that have suggested the Whalers struggles as of late have been the result of off-field distractions.

One article, which accuses T.J. DiMaggio of numerous "extracurricular indiscretions", has been a particularly sore subject for Holleman. "What players do on their own time is their business, but to imply that any of my players aren't giving it their all on the field is absolutely ridiculous," Holleman said, "and to make these kinds of accusations against someone without any proof is just plain irresponsible!"

Team officials had no comment when asked about Holleman's remarks.

Wonder if he gets suspended?

[Carlos]

What about Duffy? Things getting interesting in Washington.

sent from my mobile device

[funclown]

Lol...really Chow????

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...news_3176.html

[Pat]

What about Duffy? Things getting interesting in Washington.

sent from my mobile device

Someone is getting fired.

[Carlos]

Lol...really Chow????

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...news_3176.html

Even Finkler won a DL POTW. It happens.

[funclown]

Even Finkler won a DL POTW. It happens.

Another former Patriot.

Now is a great time to advertise to the new owners if you trade with Funclown glory awaits your team.

Trade with UMD and you get players like SP Wences.

[Delandis]

These story lines are awesome. The way we struggle to score runs, I'm sure we'll appear soon enough.

[Carlos]

These story lines are awesome. The way we struggle to score runs, I'm sure we'll appear soon enough.

I'm waiting for one where my pitchers throw subtle jabs at my outfield.