BLB Confidential - 2023

[Pat]

BLB Confidential - 2023

During Spring Training every season, the BNN asks over 300 BLB players, GMs and scouts an assortment of questions in regards to the upcoming season. However, for decades the players union has fought for these to be kept confidential until all answers were left anonymous. As a result, no of the polling information was ever made public. This season the BNN finally agreed to keep the names confidential. Here is a look at the 2023 results.

Who was your sports hero growing up?
OF Rex Knight - 12.5%
SP Jamie Herberholz - 8.2%
IF Dani Trujillo - 5.5%
OF Jose Guzman - 4.3%
IF Antonio Cardenas - 3.5%
10 other players with at least 2%

Who is the BLB's best manager?
Ismael Lopes (BAL) - 7.4%
Martin Nigo (DAL) - 6%
Jerry Russell (PIT) - 5.1%
Ed Boyer (IND) - 3.8%
Tommy Keatts (PHI) - 3.5%
Gene Legere (WAS) - 2.6%
Zane Bolton (BAT formerly Toronto) - 2.5%
Estefan Ziballa (PHO formerly BAT) - 2.3%

What team would you take less money to play for?
Maine Guides - 9.4%
Washington Bats - 7.5%
None (money is most important factor) - 6.4%
Phoenix Roadrunners - 4.2%
Baltimore Bulldogs - 3%
California Kodiaks - 2.5%
Batavia Riders - 1.5%

What team would you never play for?
None (would play for all teams) - 40.5%
Syracuse Slammers - 10.4%
Montreal Exports - 9.1%
Davenport Brawlers - 7.5%
Denver BC - 2.5%

Who is the best pure hitter?
2B Mike Morla (CAL) - 9.2%
1B Dylan Owens (TOR) - 4%
IF Geoff Yonke (WAS) - 3.2%
1B Andy Ulloa (SEA) - 1.8%
10 others with 1%

Who is the best defender?
CF Dave Goen (WC) - 12%
3B Jamie Kitchen (TOR) - 11.1%
C Willie Lara (DEN) - 9.5%
SS Ian Schneider (IND) - 7.8%
OF Willie Londono (MON) - 7.2%
3B Dave Seibert (WAS) - 6.5%
C Ted Sandy (SEA) - 4.4%

Percent of BLB players who are faithful to their spouses?
80 - 52.5%
90 - 20.2%
100 - 5.5%
50 - 4.9%

Which city should have a team?
Miami - 8%
Portland - 7.3%
Minneapolis - 6.4%
Vancouver - 5.9%
Atlanta - 5.5&

Which city should be relocated?
None - 82.5%
Syracuse - 4.1%
Davenport - 2.2%

Which player would you want to marry your daughter/son?
3B Jamie Kitchen (TOR)
SP Ed Carroll (WAS)
OF C.J. Stripling (BAL)
OF C.J. Viger (KC)
SP C.J. Baase (WIL)

Which player would I NEVER want my daughter/son to marry?
None - Free to marry whomever - 60.6%
DH Jamie McPherson (FA) - 32.5%
10 other players with 1%

Which player would make the best manager?
SP Adrian Pulido (FA) - 7.8%
SP Ron Bynum (PHI) - 5.5%
OF Jamie O'Hearn (PIT) - 4.8%
SP Dave Honea (WAS) - 3.9%
C Norm Deiwart (CAL) - 3.8%
1B TJ Dunn (FA) - 3.5%
RP Reynaldo Jimenez (FA) - 3.2%
RP Marco Aguirre (DVS) - 2.8%
OF Erik Surmeir (WIL) - 1.5%

Player most likely to be breakthrough hitter?
C Erik MacDonough (KC) - 15.6%
OF Tom Clark (LAD) - 10.1%
3B Geoff Dail (DAL) - 4.5%
CF Ernie Naylon (NY) - 4.2%
2B Colin Niebauer (SEA) - 2.2%

Player most likely to be breakthrough pitcher?
SP Jacob Stokes (DAV) - 25.5%
SP Mark DeGennaro (SYR) - 8.5%
RP Jimmy George (DVS) - 4.5%

IL team most likely to stop Phoenix from a third straight IL crown?
Themselves (injuries/chemistry) - 34.4%
Batavia - 17.1%
Washington - 15.7%
Baltimore - 8.8%
Philadelphia - 7.4%
Seattle - 5.5%

IL team most likely to stop Toronto from a third straight DL crown?
Kansas City - 32.2%
Pittsburgh - 24.4%
California - 18.5%
Themselves (injuries/chemistry) - 12.4%
Five other teams with less than 2%

The following portion is GM specific. Due to the small number of GMs for the poll, the percentages were removed, with just the most popular results in order.

Who will finish with the worst record?
Syracuse
Montreal
Death Valley
Los Angeles
Carolina
New Orleans

Who will finish with the best record?
Phoenix
Toronto
Kansas City
Pittsburgh
Batavia
Baltimore
Washington

DL darkhorse team?
Pawtucket
Maine
Dallas

IL darkhorse team?
Philadelphia
Seattle
Davenport

DL contender most likely to flop?
Hartford
Indianapolis
Maine
California

IL contender most likely to flop?
Baltimore
Washington
Seattle
Philadelphia

Brewmaster's prediction?
Toronto over Phoenix
Phoenix over Toronto
Phoenix over Pittsburgh
Phoenix over Kansas City
Pittsburgh over Phoenix
Kansas City over Phoenix
Phoenix over California
California over Phoenix
Toronto over Washington
Toronto over Philadelphia
Toronto over Baltimore

Who will be the #1 pick in the 2023 draft?
CF Dusty Jansen (OKSU)
SP Elliot Paul (ASU)
C Ian James (TXAM)
1B Pat Bamford (HS)

Best player who still doesn't get enough recognition?
SS Erik Jackson (KC)
C Willie Lara (DEN)
C Zack Fowler (BAT)
2B Bobby Marrero (WC)
2B Tom Lewis (PHI)
SP Dave Harmony (PHO)
SP Ron Osbourn (NY)
SP Ron Bynum (PHI)

Most overrated player?
OF Stu Stark (BAT)
SP John Talley (WC)
OF Willie Salazar (DAL)
SP Willie Fajardo (BAL)

Manager on the hot seat?
Michael Dussault (CAR)
Lanny Hopkins (NY)
Norm Winters (MON)
Bao Cahn (SYR)
Jerry Russel (PIT)
Ismael Lopez (BAL)
Estefan Ziballa (PHO)


Prediction results:

1. Toronto -
2. Pittsburgh -
3. Maine -
4. Hartford
5. Pawtucket
6. Syracuse

1. Kansas City -
2. California -
3. Indianapolis -
4. Dallas
5. Los Angeles
6. Montreal

1. Batavia -
2. Washington -
3. Baltimore -
4. Philadelphia -
5. New York
6. Carolina

1. Phoenix -
2. Seattle -
3. Davenport
4. Denver
5. Windy City
6. Death Valley

---

Phoenix over Batavia
Toronto over Kansas City

Toronto over Phoenix in 6


---

Scouts/GM interview excerpts:

"What Philadelphia did this off-season was incredibly impressive. When you consider that in August, they flipped the face of their franchise for an impressive haul, only to sign Pat Evans back a few months later at about half his original asking price? On top of that they traded for one of the best hitting infielders in the game in Tom Lewis? The Stout is stacked but this is the best Freedom team in years."

"I don't think enough people are talking about Davenport. They have had a deep farm system for years and made some big signings in Free-Agency. I don't think they are a true title contender but for a team that hasn't made the post-season in a decade, their fans should be excited to play relevant baseball again. Oh and Jacob Stokes is going to tear up this league."

"Don't be surprised to see Dallas bounce back. Maybe not to Brewmaster level but pitching and defense man, it's the key to success."

"What's going on in Seattle? Their best season in five years and they are completely silent during Free-Agency? They even let a lot of their players walk they could have brought back cheap."

"I know Death Valley brought in a lot of new faces but I don't think they are a .500 team again, not yet."

"If anyone is going to get the Bats over the hump again it's Ed Carroll. He needs to show up when it matters most."


(INSERT YOUR TAKES HERE)

[funclown]

Wholly shit that was awesome!

[Carlos]

I loved it.

[Delandis]

Great stuff.

[Sharkn20]

This is awesome. Where did u get this from?

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[Z]

Really enjoyed this. Thanks, Pat!

P.S. Fuck Jamie McPherson. He's the worst.

[BradZ]

This is awesome. Where did u get this from?

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

You're not from around here, are you?

[Carlos]

Really enjoyed this. Thanks, Pat!

P.S. Fuck Jamie McPherson. He's the worst.

Ladies man.

I imagine him having a painting of himself in his bedroom, and screaming "feel the phenom!" when he enters a woman.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

[Matt]

Very nice Pat! As far as most over rated I'd say Stark no longer should be rated at all...much less overrated. At least his $28m isn't really hurting us this year, all though we probably would have kept Ackers. (Which we should have anyway but underestimated the dark horse Philly since we figured DVS would throw $10m at him just for grins).

[umd]

Very nice Pat! As far as most over rated I'd say Stark no longer should be rated at all...much less overrated. At least his $28m isn't really hurting us this year, all though we probably would have kept Ackers. (Which we should have anyway but underestimated the dark horse Philly since we figured DVS would throw $10m at him just for grins).

No shot at any hitters - this offseason turned into a bust. Owner took money, no cash for a stadium upgrade, no IFA, and outbid all over the place in a weak FA class.

Gonna trade everyone June 15 and take another 1.1 cause this is a 50 win roster. Lineup is almost unwatchable and fan interest has plummeted and just keeps on dropping. Gonna be a 5-6-7 year rebuild.

[mike]

I'd put Russell higher on the hot seat list but that's just me.

[PaulC]

No shot at any hitters - this offseason turned into a bust. Owner took money, no cash for a stadium upgrade, no IFA, and outbid all over the place in a weak FA class.

Gonna trade everyone June 15 and take another 1.1 cause this is a 50 win roster. Lineup is almost unwatchable and fan interest has plummeted and just keeps on dropping. Gonna be a 5-6-7 year rebuild.

Montreal may disagree with you about the 1.1...

[Hank]

Ladies man.

I imagine him having a painting of himself in his bedroom, and screaming "feel the phenom!" when he enters a woman.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

And whispering "Yeah Mac" as he releases his seed.

[Pat]

Any predictions out there?

Bold takes?

[Sharkn20]

What do I do to move to Miami? Do I have to buy / pay for a new Stadium? Can I just move mine with helicopters over there? It's not that far from Dallas...