Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Need Left-Handed Relief Help?

Anyone looking for good young relievers this offseason? I have a surplus of relievers in the bullpen. Specifically, I'd like to move either the proven Joshua Stoker or the promising Bong-ok Ch'On. Both are great lefthanders.

Stoker's 25 years old and pitched 165 innings out of the bullpen over the last three seasons. During that time, he struck out 163 hitters and posted a 2.67 ERA. He's just entering his first year of arbitration, so he's under team control for at least a few more years. My scout has him as 5*/5* and with 73/8, 69/8, 64/7 ratings.

Ch'On was an international signing last year and put up a 2.87 ERA in AAA Tacoma before throwing 10.1 scoreless innings, with 13Ks, in the majors. He's got oodles of club control left. (If you're looking for him in the game, I moved him back to AAA in the offseason for roster management reasons.) My scout has him at 4*/4.5* with ratings of 78(8), 74(8), 49(8). And, come on, how often can you acquire a guy named Bong-Ok? What a fantastic moniker.

I'm looking for either infield prospects or a pretty high draft pick in return. Both guys would be more than suitable as closers and even offer a fan interest bump to a new team due to their popularity. Drop me an email if you have any interest.

P.S. I'd also really like to find William Haner a major league home this offseason. He's won the AAA version of the Cy Young award two years in a row, going a combined 35-8 with a 3.13 ERA and 345 Ks in 392 IP. He even had a good start in September for the Monarchs, throwing 7.2 innings and giving up three runs on four hits, one walk, and seven Ks. Unfortunately, I don't have room for him in the major league rotation. So, if you're interested in a guy who's done everything there is to do in AAA, let me know.

Sim Done (Monday night)

 Next sim will be on Thursday night, June 2, covering one week.

The sim after that will be on Saturday night and will cover ten days.  This is to make future off-season sims start/end on Monday -- the start of the "game week."

Zev

Friday, May 27, 2011

Upcoming Schedule

The sim schedule for the next two weeks will be:

  • Monday  May 30
  • Thursday Jun 2
  • Saturday Jun 4
  • Monday Jun 6
  • Thursday Jun 9
  • Saturday Jun 11
All sims will be at night, not before 6PM.  After this schedule, we should be able to return to doing 4-5 sims a week for the rest of the off-season.

Zev

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Sim Done (Wednesday night)

Game Date:  11/15/2018.

I'll announce the date of the next sim shortly, but it likely will not be before the day after Memorial Day.

Zev

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Sim Done

My apologies... I did run the sim last night, but then was distracted before I could post to the blog.

Game Date:  11/8/2018.

Next sim:  Tonight.

Zev Steinhardt

Monday, May 23, 2011

Sim's Done (Monday)

Game Date:  11/1/2018

This is your last chance to re-sign potential free agents.

Next sim:  tomorrow night.

Award Season!!

Game Date:  10/25/2018

The league handed out the following awards this year:

Outstanding Batter:  Rufus Murray, of the champion Saskatoon Amigos.  This is his second Outstanding Batter Award, having won previously in 2016.

Outstanding Pitcher:  Ronald Placencia of the Seattle Monarchs was named Outstanding Pitcher this year, earning his third award.  His previous two awards were in 2014 and 2017.

Outstanding Newcomer:  Carlos Martinez of the Cleveland Steamers.

Slick Fielders:
P  Alan Blessing, Danville
C  Alberto Granado, Seattle (4th award)
1B  Dion Castaneda, Ohio
2B Luis Cedeno, Brooklyn
3B  Ronald Quijada, Seattle (2nd award)
SS Callum Gaynon, Ohio
LF Carlos Martinez, Cleveland
CF Bas Bijkerk, Seattle
RF Patrick Valdez, River Cities

There will be three sims this week, each covering one week.  The sims will happen on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night.  After that, we will break for a few days to accommodate an owner who will be without internet access for a few days.

Zev

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Sim Done

Game Date:  Oct 18, 2018

My apologies on the lack of sim last night.  One owner asked me to do some research on an issue, and I didn't want to run the sim until I had an answer for him.

Next sim (covering one week): Saturday night.

Zev

Monday, May 16, 2011

Demarcus Ramirez to the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame added it's third member today when Saskatoon starter Demarcus Ramirez announced his retirement following Saskatoon's capture of the Cecil Cup.

Ramirez is one of the last (if not THE last) 2002 player still in the league today.  He pitched in three games in 2002 before being sent back to the minors, not to reappear in the majors until 2005.  After having decent seasons in 2005 and 2006, he finally achieved stardom in 2007 when he won 20 games (against only 7 losses) and had a 2.28 ERA.  He won 20 games for four consecutive years, including the 2009 campaign when we was 28-3 with a 1.86 ERA, 259 strikeouts and a stingy 0.90 WHIP.

Many people thought his career was coming to an end after a mediocre season in 2013 and an 8-17 record in 2014.  However, he managed to bounce back and have three more very good years (and one more mediocre year) in Saskatoon.  Ramirez, however, managed to go out on top.  In his final season, he won 19 games, had an ERA of 2.76 and struck out 242 batters and won the Cecil Cup.

Ramirez retires with four Outstanding Pitcher Awards (including three in a row from 2007-2009).  He also retires in second place on the all-time victory ladder (232 wins), second in innings pitched (3212.2), second in strikeouts (3178), second in ERA (2.79) and first in shutouts (24).

Amigos Overthrow Monarchs, Win 2018 Cecil Cup

The Saskatoon Amigos are the champions of the Unofficial SDMB OOTP League for the second time.  They achieved the title by winning Game 6 of the Cecil Cup series, defeating Seattle 5-4 (yes, another one-run game) in 14 innings.

Seattle started things off with a bang in the bottom of the first when lead-off batter James Dodd stroked a single to left.  After Gregorio Reyna flied out and Bruce Frison reached first on a fielder's choice which eliminated Dodd, Alberto Granado hit a 380-foot shot to left field to give Seattle a 2-0 lead.

Saskatoon tried to get even in the top of the second, putting two runners on base against starter Ronald Placencia, but they failed to score when switch-hitter Timothy Mendiola flied out to center to end the inning.

Placencia finally did surrender a run to Saskatoon in the fourth, giving up a lead-off double to Rufus Murray.  Murray went to third on a sac grounder and scored when Johnny Dash hit a double to left.

The Amigos managed to get a runner on third with one out in both the fifth and sixth innings, but failed to score.

Seattle added another run in the seventh when Granado hit Brunton's first pitch to short and beat the throw for an infield hit.  Two pitches later, Richard Bender hit a triple to bring Granado home.  But with a runner on third and no one out, Seattle was unable to further capitalize on the situation.  Brunton buckled down and got center fielder Bas Bajkirk and right fielder Pedro Martinez to strike out.  He then got out of the inning by getting Toshinobu Mizutani to fly out to right on the first pitch.

The Amigos got back into the game in the bottom of the seventh when a lead-off single to Albert Peavey, a wild pitch, a double by Luis Ramon, a stolen base and a single by Rufus Murray put two runs on the board to tie the game at 3-3.

Seattle once again took the lead in the eighth.  Jose Guzman led off the inning with a double against Brunton.   Guzman.  After an intentional walk to James Dodd, Roberto Ferrer came up as a pinch hitter and laid down a sacrifice bunt.  Ferrer managed to beat out the throw, loading the bases.  The next batter, Granado managed to work the count full before finally drawing a walk to force in a run, giving the Monarchs a 4-3 lead.  Yet, once again, the Monarchs did not take full advantage of their situation.  With the bases loaded and only one out, they failed to score any additional runs.

The Amigos came up in the bottom of the eighth to face reliever Robert Riddick.  The first batter, Royal Wilson hit a fly ball to deep left center that wasn't caught.  When play stopped, Wilson was on second with a double.  A double switch by Seattle brought in lefty Josh Stoker to pitch to Johnny Dash.  Dash grounded out, advancing Wilson to third with one out.  However, Stoker managed to get out of the inning and hold the slim Monarch lead by striking out back-to-back pinch hitters Daniel Burdine and Santiago Salazar.

In the top of the ninth, the Monarchs brought in Dalton Davis to pitch.  Davis gave up a leadoff single to Peavy who scored two batters later when Marzanno beat out an infield single.

And then it went into extra innings.  From the 10th through the 13th, neither team got a runner past second base.  In the top of the fourteenth, Peavy led off with a single against Fai-hsien Bao.  Peavy went to third on a ground out and came home to score on a sacrifice fly by Billy Pla.

In the bottom of the inning, Seattle led off with an infield single by Steve Keo.  He was replaced at first on a fielder's choice by Frison.  But that's where it ended.  Granado flied out to center on the first pitch and Bender  grounded out to second to end the game and the season.

Congrats to Eric on winning his second championship!

Now it's on to the off-season.  Most (if not all) owners have decisions to make regarding option years.  Those choices must be made now.  The next sim will be on Wednesday night where we will advance one week.

Zev

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Saskatoon Takes Game 5 in 10

Once again, we were treated to a nail-biter as the Saskatoon Amigos defeated the Seattle Monarchs 3-2 in 10 innings.  It's the fifth one-run game of the series (out of five) and the third to be decided in extra innings.  The victory gives the Amigos a 3-2 lead in the Cecil Cup series.

It started out with a bang in the first inning when Gregorio Reyna hit a one-out single to right.  After Alberto Granado struck out swinging, Brian Frison hit a line-drive double down the right field line.  Right fielder Maximo Rodriguez returned the ball to the infield too late to get Reyna as he crossed the plate, but managed to nail Frison for the third out as he tried to take third base.

Seattle's one run lead lasted exactly three batters.  In the bottom of the first Albert Peavy led off with a full-count base on balls against Nicolas Vargas.  Luis Ramon followed that up with a single, sending Peavy to third with Ramon himself taking second on the throw to third.  Gregorio Marzano then lifted a sac fly to left bringing Peavy home.

The score stood at 1-1 until the Saskatoon half of the fourth.  After retiring Gregorio Marzano on a grounder to short, Vargas gave up an infield single to Rufus Murray.  Vargas then got Rodriguez to strike out.  Following Rodriguez was Royal Wilson.  Wilson hit a double to right, leading to a replay of what we saw in the first inning, this time with Saskatoon being the victim.  Murray scampered home and Wilson tried to take third on the throw, being thrown out for the third out.

This time it was Seattle's turn to play catch-up, which they did in the top of the sixth.  Reyna led off with a single.  Four pitches later, Thomas Cohen uncorked a wild pitch, sending Reyna to second.  Alberto Granado  advanced him to third on a groundout.  With two out, Bas Bijkerk came up and hit a line drive single to second, bringing Reyna home again, and tying the score at 2-2.

That's how things stood until the bottom of the tenth when Seattle had Dalton Davis pitching in relief.  The lead-off batter, pinch hitter Daniel Burdine, not normally known for his power, launched a 405 foot homerun to right-center field to win the game for the Amigos.

Game 6:  Monday night.

Zev

(Note:  I was unable to post a game review of Game 5 because Blogger was down on Thursday night and Friday morning).

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Saskatoon Comes From Behind, Series Stands at 2-1

In the Battle of the Pitching Titans (as Mack previewed for us last time) and both sides did not disappoint.

Demarcus Ramirez pitched eight innings of four-hit, one-run ball, with the only run scored against him coming in the third inning, when a triple and an errant pickoff throw* brought home the first (and only) run for Seattle.

Christopher Hester, meanwhile, was just as brilliant for the Amigos, pitching seven innings of four-hit shutout ball, during which only two runners made it to second base.

The Amigos finally pushed a run across in the eighth with three singles and scored the winning run on a walk-off single by Dan Burdine.

Game 4: Thursday night

* Oddly enough, the game charged this to Ramirez as an earned run...

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Game 2 Goes To Seattle

Seattle took a 2-0 lead in their Cecil Cup Series against the Saskatoon Amigos today with a 5-4 victory in Seattle.

Saskatoon started things off right away against starter Ronald Placencia in the first when the first two hitters led off with singles.  By the time the frame was over, the Amigos had two runs and three hits on the board.

The Monarchs struck back in the bottom of the first when, with two outs, Brian Frison and Alberto Granado both walked against Jeffrey Brunton.  Richard Benton followed that up with a single to center, bringing home Frison.  The next hitter, Bas Bijkerk, the hero of Game 1, hit a 2 RBI single, giving Seattle a 3-2 lead.

The Amigos tied it up in the top of the second when Albert Peavy hit a single bringing home John Dash, who walked to start the inning.

That's how things stood until the bottom of the seventh when Placencia beat out an infield single and was brought home on two run home run by Brian Frison.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Amigos rallied, putting one run on the board against Dalton Davis with back to back doubles by Maximo Rodriguez and pinch-hitter Daniel Burdine.  But Burdine was stranded at second when the next three batters were retired on two fly balls and a strikeout.

The online league files have been updated.

Game 3 on Wednesday night

Seattle Takes Game 1 in 10

The Seattle Monarchs took the first game of the Cecil Cup series with a 2-1 victory against the Saskatoon Amigos in 10 innings.

Seattle scored first with a run in the third with a solo home run by Bas Bijkerk.  Saskatoon responded in the sixth with a solo home run by Luis Ramon.  That's how things stood until the bottom of the tenth when Bas Bijkerk led off the bottom of the 10th with a solo home run to give Seattle the victory.

Game 2 will be Tuesday night.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

On To The Cecil Cup!!

Seattle and Saskatoon both advanced to the Cecil Cup round today.

Saskatoon defeated Maui 5-2 after 14 innings.  Interestingly, Saskatoon scored all three runs in the top of the 14th after there were two outs and no one on base.

Seattle, meanwhile, defeated Hickory by a score of 5-4.  Starting pitcher Christopher Hester won his 12th career postseason game (against only two losses), defeating Jesus Morales.

Preliminary Cecil Cup schedule:

Game 1:  Monday night
Game 2:  Tuesday night
Game 3:  Wednesday night
Game 4:  Thursday night
Game 5:  Saturday night
Games 6-7:  TBA

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Saskatoon, Seattle Take 3-1 Leads

Saskatoon's Dario Lopez shut down the Maui hitters, throwing a 2-hit shutout.

Seattle defeated Hickory 3-2.

Game 5 on Saturday night

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Seattle, Saskatoon Hold 2-1 Leads

Maui defeated Saskatoon by a 3-2 score in 11 innings.  Seattle defeated Hickory 9-8 after a wild 9th inning.

Game 4 tomorrow night.

Game 2 Done

Saskatoon took a two game lead with a four hit shutout over Maui.  Hard luck Maui starter John Okane goes to 0-4 in playoff history.

Hickory tied their series with Seattle with a 3-2 victory powered by first inning home runs by Michael Slye and George LaBarre.

Game 3 will be Wednesday night.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Game 1

Game 1 of the playoffs goes to Saskatoon and Seattle.

Game 2 on Tuesday night

Monday, May 2, 2011

SDMB History Project: Team Records

And, in a post that is perenially of interest only to myself, here are the team records that were established in the 2018 season.

Most 3B: Cleveland, 56 (Houston had 55 in 2016).

Most strikeouts by pitching staff: Seattle, 1,444 (Brooklyn had 1,395 in 2008)

Most shutouts by a team: Maui, 19 (Maui had 18 in 2016)

Best ERA+ (ERA relative to league): Seattle, 146 (River Cities was 142 in 2011)

Worst FIP: Cleveland, 5.27 (Covington was 5.21 in 2009)

Fewest double plays turned: River Cities, 77 (New York had 84 in 2018)

As always, if you have any questions, drop them in the comments or send me an email.

And the Zotti Division Winner Is...

... Seattle, with an 11-3 victory.   Of course, both teams end up in the playoffs anyway as Saskatoon wins the wild card.

Playoff Round Match-ups:
Maui (104-58) vs. Saskatoon (106-57)
Hickory (86-76) vs. Seattle (107-56)

(No offense to Frank and Mack, but I think the interesting series to watch will be Maui/Saskatoon).

Preliminary Schedule:
Game 1:  Monday night
Game 2:  Tuesday night
Game 3:  Wednesday night
Game 4:  Thursday night
Game 5:  Saturday night
Games 6-7:  TBA

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Virus Delay

I'm sorry, but my computer caught a nasty virus last night.  As a result, I couldn't run the sim.  I think we're good now, but I have some schoolwork to catch up on.

I hope to get Game 163 done tonight.

Zev