Power Rankings, Week 2

Week 2 of the Power Rankings sees a lot of shuffling, as expected. We have a new #1 and 5 teams making their debut in the rankings.

1. Vancouver Renegades (24-7)
Previous: 6 Change: +5 Last Week: 18-4
It's been an amazing week for the Renegades. After a somewhat slow start, they enjoyed an 8-game win streak and have an active 6-game win streak.


2. Montgomery Biscuits (21-9)
Previous: 1 Change: -1 Last Week: 14-7
Dethroned mainly because of Vancouver's surge, the Biscuits can still enjoy a position of power. The top of the rotation has been very impressive with SP Julio Batista and SP Russ Nelson both off to 5-1 starts.

3. Tucson Pilots (20-10)
Previous: 2 Change: -1 Last Week: 14-7
Though the AL West looks tougher than it's ever been, the Pilots remain the early pacers. Their 205 runs scored is tops in all of baseball, and SP Colby Cunningham (5-0) and SP Sam Swann (4-0) are loving the run support.

4. Baltimore Wild Rumpus (19-11)
Previous: NR Change: N/A Last Week: 14-7
Their stingy pitching staff has allowed a paltry 88 runs in 30 games, which is 26 better than any other team. If it weren't for SP Rex Price, who is 0-3 with a 6.55 ERA, that number could be even lower--which is just scary.

5. Helena Caribou Barbies (18-12)
Previous: NR Change: N/A Last Week: 13-7
Kudos to SP Bret Young, who threw 8 innings of a no-hitter against the New York Monarchs. Young is by far the early favorite for AL Cy Young, as he is 6-0 with 2 CG shutouts, a 0.73 WHIP and a 0.49 ERA. Those are not typos.


6. Minnesota Antichrists (19-12)
Previous: 3 Change: -3 Last Week: 12-9
Even with SP Dale Howe not quite his usual self (3-3, 4.06), the Antichrists have been able to stay afloat atop the NL North. Last year's Rookie of the Year, LF Matthew Payton, has not suffered any sort of sophomore slump, with numbers nearly identical to what he had a year ago.

7. Huntington Guyandottes (19-12)
Previous: 4 Change: -3 Last Week: 13-8
1B Ivan DeSoto is trying to end the AL MVP race as fast as possible. He's hitting .379 with 16 HRs and 46 RBI. It's early, but those kind of numbers have started some Triple Crown buzz about the slugger.


8. Ottawa Filibusters (18-12)
Previous: NR Change: N/A Last Week: 13-8
The offense is nothing flashy, but the pitching has been strong enough to bring the Filibusters within a half game of the Antichrists. RP Bill Witte has pitched 20.1 brilliant innings resulting in a 0.87 ERA and a 0.77 WHIP.

9. Buffalo Bulldozers (16-14)
Previous: NR Change: N/A Last Week: 12-9
With a team ERA of 5.09, it's anybody's guess as to how they sustained a winning record over the last week. Perhaps the secret is LF Esteban Merced, who is hitting .350 and has driven in 24 this season.

10. Chicago Gangsta' Chimps (16-15)
Previous: NR Change: N/A Last Week: 13-8
The Gangsta' Chimps seem to have recovered from a rocky start, and their trademark offense is in full swing. They've scored 202 runs, which is just 3 behind Tucson. LF Clarence Pratt (.374, 11 HR, 36 RBI) and 2B James Martin (.397, 11 HR, 34 RBI) are the reasons for the offensive success.

New Faces Around The League

A flurry of potentially key roster moves have been made within the past 24 hours, and in case you missed them, the Double Mendoza Blog is here to fill you in.

Helena Promotes A Trio
With 20 games in the books, the Helena Caribou Barbies promoted 3 prospects to their ML squad now that arbitration will be delayed for them. The headlining player now ready to make his ML debut is SP Chin-Hui Martin. Martin is a 20-year-old phenom who received a $27.4M signing bonus as an International Free Agent, the most expensive bonus ever at the time the deal was inked. But he is a worldbeater, to say the least. One AL GM said, "He could win Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young both this season. But even if he doesn't, the future is bright for this kid." For a team 0.5 games back in the AL West, this is a significant move.

But the reinforcements don't stop there. The 2nd overall pick from the Season 2 draft, SP Trey Marshall has also received the call. Young himself at 21, Marshall may not be suited to start games yet. "He'll get his outs, but I don't think he's built the arm strength to go deep into ballgames," said one scout. This problem is likely to be exacerbated by Helena's attempts to run a 4-man rotation, at least temporarily. But when that rotation already features Pitcher of the Week, SP Bret Young, it is certain to become more fearsome with these two rookies joining it.

Lastly, SS Marty Crane is also on the cusp of making his ML debut after getting called up. Crane is a defensive specialist and should solidify the infield defense for the Caribou Barbies.

Crackers Collect Casey
SP/RP Christian Casey is returning to the senior circuit via waivers. The Atlanta Crackers won the claim for the former Cy Young pitcher, and hope that his arrival will stabilize a starting rotation in need of a shot in the arm. Casey will take SP Arthur Kielty's spot in the rotation, who was 1-2 with a 4.79 ERA in 4 starts. Lots of Atlanta starters have trudged out of the gate, but critics say Casey is not the answer. With SP/RP Ray Waters already in the rotation (who has averaged 4.0 IP in 3 starts), the Crackers now have two starters who seem more suited to long relief. The Crackers are hoping to reproduce their success of a year ago, when they were the top NL Wild Card and won their opening playoff matchup against the Cincinnati Boomers, but have started just 9-11, 2.5 games back of the NL South leading Montgomery Biscuits.

B.C. Dransfeldt Finds 5th Team
LF B.C. Dransfeldt has played for one team, and one team only, every year of his major league career. Thanks to the Oklahoma City Kingfishers signing him to a new $495K, 1-year deal, that will remain true for at least another year. Dransfeldt's world tour has the NL West as its epicenter, but he has played for the Vancouver Mammoths, Toronto Talons, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Richmond Wild Rumpus in the past. He is a .283 career hitter, and the Kingfishers plan to use him as a pinch-hitting weapon off the bench, and also as a utility outfielder.

Casey Designated For Assignment

It's not every day a former Cy Young winner gets exposed to the Waiver Wire, but that is the news off the presses from Colorado Springs. RP Christian Casey, who was voted the National League's best pitcher from Season 2, has been designated for minor league assignment and is ripe for the taking.

Casey spent 3 years pitching for the Montreal Expos. During the first 2, he was as dominant as any starter in the National League. He posted an ERA under 3 and ate up more than 230 innings each year. But at the age of 34, his fastball lost some life, and his arm wore out earlier each outing. In Season 3, we went just 13-9 with a 4.40 ERA and pitched only 182 innings despite making 37 starts.

The Expos past on resigning their aging ace, but Casey found a home with the Anaheim Angels. He took the ball every 5 days, but posted a career-worst 7 wins against 10 losses. His prime obviously behind him, the new management in town (which also moved the team to Colorado Springs and renamed it the Millennium) hoped he could find a way to get his outs out of the bullpen this season. But in 3 outings, he has an unheard of WHIP of 3.55, and an ERA of 19.64. Thus the designation to the minors, to give him a chance to find his stuff either in AAA or for another team.

The Millennium will have to eat the majority of the $5.2M Casey is owed this season, but it is his last under contract. Casey himself offered the following perspective, "I'll find another home this season and I'm going to throw some effective innings. I still have an arm, and I think a lot of teams know that. All I want to do is prove to myself I can still do this."

Is the move premature on the part of Colorado Springs? 3.2 innings of work is a small sample size, and Casey could come back to hurt them if he lands in the wrong hands. But the NL West race is off to a competitive start, and management didn't have time to idle by while an aging pitcher worked out his mechanical issues.

The Week Ahead

Included below are all the Top 10 Matchups, as determined by the Power Rankings, over the next week of play. The date and cycle listed are the first game of the series.

Sept. 1 PM - #5 Cincinnati Boomers @ #3 Minnesota Antichrists, 4 games
Sept. 2 AM - #7 New York Monarchs @ #2 Tucson Pilots, 3 games
Sept. 2 PM2 - #5 Cincinnati Boomers @ #1 Montgomery Biscuits, 3 games
Sept. 2 PM2 - #9 Los Angeles Dodgers @ #3 Minnesota Antichrists, 3 games
Sept. 3 PM2 - #1 Montgomery Biscuits @ #9 Los Angeles Dodgers, 4 games
Sept. 3 PM2 - #8 Memphis Blues @ #2 Tucson Pilots, 4 games
Sept. 5 AM - #9 Los Angeles Dodgers @ #5 Cincinnati Boomers, 3 games
Sept. 6 AM - #5 Cincinnati Boomers @ #6 Vancouver Renegades, 4 games
Sept. 6 PM - #8 Memphis Blues @ #10 Colorado Springs Millenium, 3 games

Toughest Schedule: #5 Cincinnati Boomers
Easiest Schedule: #4 Huntington Guyandottes

Power Rankings, Week 1

Every Sunday we will try and release a new issue of the Power Rankings: an assemblage of the Top 10 teams in the Double Mendoza Baseball League based purely on performance on the field. Though the season has just begun and Opening Week often features a lot of unique storylines, there is often no better barometer of how the division standings will shake out than to look at teams against their division-mates. As 2 such series are in the books for all teams, we can draw some early conclusions about this year's races.

1. Montgomery Biscuits (7-2)
The early pacesetter of the Double Mendoza Baseball League in terms of trophies, the Biscuits look poised to infiltrate the nightmares of NL also-rans yet again this season. Rookie CF Lonny Radmanovich has announced his arrival to the big leagues with authority, hitting .407 with 6 HRs and 11 RBIs through the first 9 games. The Biscuits starting staff is as staunch as ever; they are a combined 7-0 thus far.

2. Tucson Pilots (6-3)
Yes they've only played 2 games at home to this point, but the Pilots team ERA of 2.74 is still turning heads. They have allowed the fewest runs of any AL team, and a lot of the thanks goes to SP Colby Cunningham who has jumped to a 2-0 start with a 1.29 ERA. The far-feared offense looks in tact still, as 8 different players have already gone deep. Their schedule may have been a bit soft out of the gate, but you can only beat who you play, and the Pilots have taken care of business in that regard.

3. Minnesota Antichrists (7-3)
The Antichrists have been lurking quietly in the NL North for a few seasons, and now they may have finally turned the corner. 2B Alex Gonzalez, who has already solidified himself as a star in this league, is tied for the most RBIs in all of baseball with Huntington's Ivan DeSoto at 17. A player to keep an eye on on this team is SP Dale Howe. In an effort to reward the acclaimed pitcher with a Cy Young award, GM DodgerBlue13 is getting him as many reps as he can: so far that's resulted in 3 starts and 17.2 innings of work.

4. Huntington Guyandottes (6-4)
Rewarded this spot mainly for their 3-to-1 series win over the always gritty Hartford Hartattacks, Huntington is hoping the series win is a launching pad towards dethroning the Hartattacks from their 4-year hold on the AL East crown. DeSoto's fast start has already been mentioned, but the pitching has been a little suspect. Their team ERA is 4.96, which is managable in the AL if their offense can keep up with it. So far, so good as 3 players are hitting better than .400, including newcomer 2B Danny Brunette, formerly of the Nashville Sounds.

5. Cincinnati Boomers (7-3)
The alternating of NL and AL teams here in the Rankings continues at 5, where the Boomers check in. SP Junior Posada has been a pleasant surprise, as he of the 4.50 career ERA has spun 2 gems, including a complete game shutout of the Toledo Mud Hens. Offensively, 10+ RBI contributions from RF Ben Mohler, 1B Sherman Seo, and LF Ed Parnell have led the way. After tasting the playoffs despite a losing record a year ago, these Boomers are experienced and hungry.

6. Vancouver Renegades (6-3)
A couple of lopsided losses are the only blemishes so far for the NL's 2nd best team from a year ago. The offense has yet to start churning at full speed, but when it catches up to the efforts the Renegades are getting from reigning Cy Young SP Jerome Guerrero and rookie RP Blaine Fife, watch out. Guerrero has a WHIP of just 1.00 and Fife has started his major league career with 8.1 scoreless innings thanks to an 8-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio. Impressive stuff from the 24-year-old.

7. New York Monarchs (5-4)
The record probably isn't where GM themojoking wants it, but the Monarchs are 2 games up on last year's division winner, Chicago, so not all is bad in the Bronx. 1B Rafael Canseco is the lone standout thus far, hitting .400 with 3 HRs and 11 RBIs, all 3 of which lead the team. LF Armando Romo and DH Charlie Freeman can't stay cold forever, as both are boneified sluggers.

8. Memphis Blues (5-4)
It's been very tough to handicap the AL South thus far, as the teams have been cannibalizing each other into mediocre records. Memphis still looks like the frontrunner though, despite the offseason noise from the Nashville Sounds and the respectable starts from the New Orleans Pelicans and Little Rock Lobsters. Memphis has yet to lose a series, and that's with 2-time Cy Young SP Rico Parra off to a 1-2 start, and an ERA near 5.

9. Los Angeles Dodgers (5-4)
The defending World Champions didn't make it easy on themselves a year ago, winning from the 6-seed. And so far this season, they aren't making it easy on themselves either. The offense has been anemic, scoring just 37 runs, good for 15th in the National League. SP Charles Martin and SP Wil Sele are carrying the team though, as they are responsible for all 5 Dodger wins. Sele's 0.95 WHIP has been most impressive, and the 26-year-old's ERA is an equally noteworthy 1.98.

10. Colorado Springs Millenium (6-4)
They've allowed more runs than any other team in the American League, but when a team takes 2 of 3 from both Tucson and Huntington, they deserve some acknowledgment. Their bullpen has been the true culprit in terms of the Millenium allowing 6.9 runs per game. But with veteran and former Cy Young winner RP Christian Casey in the fold, management is hoping things get better. SP Oswaldo Guerrero has forced the flimsy bullpen into a lot of action--in 2 starts, he's never lasted more than 2.2 innings.

Where Are They Now?

The #1 overall pick every year in the Amateur Draft has a lot to live up to. If the right player comes along, an entire city's fortune can shift. When drafting at #1, it is critical to select a "can't-miss" type player. In addition to the skills that make scouts salivate, GMs also like to see good work ethic and healthy living habits, to ensure those skills will survive for many years to come. So, let's find out how that has worked out for top picks overall of seasons' past.

Season 1 - SS Lawrence Shelley, drafted by the Boston Beaneaters
The Beaneaters, who have since moved and become the Durham Blue Devils, took Shelley ahead of a trio of impressive SPs due to his impressive discipline at the plate. Though he's still learning the ins and outs of the SS position, he hit .349 in his first full campaign to ensure his playing time. He actually cracked the majors as early as Season 2, in September call-up fashion. Shelley has already proven worthy of the 1st overall pick, but those selected behind him, SP Brady Reed of the New York Monarchs and SP Nomar Johnson of the Ottawa Filibusters, are making their debut this year. So true judgment on his value against the rest of his class can now begin in earnest.

Season 2 - SP Houston Clark, drafted by the Cincinnati Boomers
Clark has not yet reached the Major League, but at just 21, that's no surprise. He is an impenetrable prospect: it is impossible to nitpick any flaw in Clark's golden arm. Beginning this season in AAA, it is rather likely he'll toss some innings for the big club by the time 162 games have gone by. Though SP Trey Marshall of the Helena Caribou Barbies at pick #2 and RF Rick Vander Wal of the Chicago Gangsta' Chimps at #3 were equally impressive, there's no faulting the Boomers' choice in Season 2.

Season 3 - 1B Sherman Seo, drafted by the Cincinnati Boomers
Cincinnati was back for more a year later and got another gem in Seo. Seo provides a powerful bat from the right side of the plate, and even has some speed on the basepaths, though he has never quite gotten the hang of getting good enough jumps to steal bases. Seo is actually 2 years older than Clark, and is on the Opening Day roster for the Boomers this season. Though it's early, Seo has 3 jacks in 4 games, and has his average at .357. Obviously a pace this torrid is unsustainable, but Seo has MVP potential, so atmospheric numbers will not be unfamiliar territory for Seo as his Major League career unfolds. And it's always saying something when a 1B goes before 2 SS's, as did Seo in front of SS Gus Harper of the Oakland Oaks and SS Geronimo Pena of the Jackson Ardillas de Muerte

Season 4 - SP Derrick Mitchell, drafted by the Charlotte Knights
Last year's draft was pretty bizarre. The Richmond Wild Rumpus (who have since moved to Baltimore) actually had the top overall pick, but thought the top of the class was rather lacking in star power. As such, they selected P Alton Estes, who they knew was unsignable, in order to get a compensation pick the following year. So SP Derrick Mitchell became the highest draft pick to sign, and he is currently at the AA level. Mitchell is a finesse pitcher, relying on control and movement rather than gas. Though he can put pitches where he wants to, his offspeed pitches don't appear to have as much bite as scouts would like. After Mitchell, the strange draft continued, as two RP went back to back in RP Vic Chase to the Texas Longhorns and RP Omar Cruz to the Cincinnati Boomers. The thin-at-the-top Season 4 draft class will have a lot to prove as they move forward.

The Toledo Mud Hens will make the historic first selection in this year's upcoming Amateur Draft, and they will be followed by the Baltimore Wild Rumpus and Charlotte Knights. Only time will tell if the Season 5 draft will go down as one that changed the entire landscape of the Double Mendoza Baseball League, or if Season 4 will repeat itself.

Caveat Emptor

Baseball teams are always looking to strike gold by sending scouts overseas. But, like gold, these prospects are not cheap. A couple of signings have already made a splash at this early junction of Double Mendoza's 5th season. The Line on Mendoza is here to pass judgment on both.

18-year-old SP/RP Victor Jose
acquired by the Toledo Mud Hens for $8.7M
This right-handed hurler commanded a hefty sum, and a lot of GMs we surveyed are wondering why the Mud hens forked it over. Scouts think Jose will have a difficult time eating enough innings to become a starter in the bigs someday. He relies on his control, but batters put a lot of balls in play off of him. His sinker will induce some groundballs, but he also has a habit of leaving it too high in the zone, which is always bad news. He'll likely earn a roster spot some day, but there are far better ways to spend $8.7M


18-year-old C Ignacio Lee
acquired by the Chicago Gangsta' Chimps for $9.0M
Speaking of better ways to spend almost $9.0M, we have Ignacio Lee. For an extra $300K compared to Jose, most scouts tout Lee as a potential all-star slugger some day. He is defensively sound enough to play C, but if he remains in the AL, is a perfectly good option to DH. He's a patient hitter already who victimizes left-handed pitching rather routinely. He'll need to hit the weight room if he hopes to be an everyday player someday, but Chicago's coaching staff will see to that, I'm sure.

So, buyer beware on the international market. It's very easy to overspend on unproven talent, so make sure the bang is really there when you part from your buck.

Memphis looking for season V

The Blues start their first season in Double Mendoza with a team record of 111 wins. Since that, their wins total is decreasing.
The last season was their worst season, with 94 wins, but they manage to win their division title.

The fifth season is starting soon, and the Blues will be on the run to win another division title, but the improvements of Nashville may give them hard time.

The Blues GM made some interesting moves. He decides to trade the second baseman Felipe Gonzalez, and catcher Hideo Suzuki for starting pitcher Timothy Lanning.
Gonzalez is a future ML infielder, and Suzuki may reach the same level soon.
Memphis has improved their pitching staff with Lanning, but this one may start the season in AAA. Therefore, there's a big chance to see him in the ML rotation somewhere in the season.

Also, the Blues recently trade Del Marquez for Will Koehlert and D'Angelo Castro. The trade is in the process to be approuve by the other owners of Double Mendoza.

On the free agent market, Memphis gave a two years contract to third baseman Nigel Kelly for a total value of 10.8 millions. A recent addition was Louie Villano who may help the ML bullpen as a setup man or closer.

Rico Parra, Roosevelt Gant and Christy Gold will be the top 3 starting pitchers for the Blues. The remaining spot are still not decided. Napoleon Tapani will start as the official closer of the team. Tapani got more than 40 saves in his last three seasons.

The Blues got some power at bat with Donte Kirwan, Andres Vizcaino, D.T. James and Pablo Suarez. Three of them hit more than 40 home runs, and Kirwan was near to reach that stage with 38.
Rafael Montanez and Nigel Kelly may produce a lot of RBI. With his new contract of 22 millions for three years, Von Byrne will have a more important role this year.

Bryan Guerrero and Victor Bonds may split time in the left field and also as leadoff hitter.

With all this being said, the Blues are looking positively at the fifth season of Double Mendoza. There will be a race with Nashville for the division title.
We may also see New Orleans and Little Rock involve in that race. In any case, it will be interesting.

New faces in Nashville.

Lots of changes in Nashville this winter, they trade one of the best hitter in both leagues, Danny Brunette, in order to improve their rotation.
They gave a lot? But, they hope they get a lot in return too.

Let's take a look.

Brunette, Ray Randolph, Steve Withem, Sal Saunders, Glenn Sisler and Taylor Black are all gone.

But Coco Casey, Benji Reyes, Robert Knight, Marino Berroa and Bonk Lieber are coming.

Of course, Brunette, a 2 times All-Star, a 1 time MVP and in the top 5 in hits, runs and RBI's, will be hard to replace but the Sounds GM, thinks that Christopher Goldberg, Adam Huff, Dernell Carpenter and Cy Crawford should lead the offence, with help coming from rookie power hitting catcher Tim Barnes and newly acquire Reyes and Berroa.

The rotation should be much better with the acquisition of Casey and Knight who will join Ron Moran in one of the best top three SP in both leagues.

The Sounds also lost Bartolo Ortega to free agency, but they hope Lieber will be able to replace him effectively.

After 4 seasons finishing second to Memphis in the AL South, the Sounds hope this year they will finish first and that they will play late in the playoffs.

The Race for 125 -- Update!

With 69 games on the books in season three, several teams have already won 125+ games for seasons two and three combined. They have immunity and cannot be voted off the Double Mendoza Ranch. Eleven other teams need less than 25 wins and are vitual locks to reach the magic mark. That leaves five teams on the "less-than-a-sure-thing" bubble. Two teams -- Cincinnati and Richmond -- need to post significantly higher winning percentages the rest of the way than they have so far this season (note that I included Charlotte in the table for reference, but because they are now owned by Animal7 they are not on the bubble):

Payton's Historic Day

Minnesota Antichrist LF Matthew Payton's major league career is only 19 games old, but already he has earned a distinction that few hitters achieve. In a 4-0 win over the Jackson Magnolias, Payton came to the plate 4 times: triple, double, single, home run. The cycle.

The game itself didn't have the feel of one in which a cycle was in the making. Minnesota SP Damaso Carrasco and Jackson SP Storm McCallum were dueling to a scoreless tie through the 5th inning. Each had given up just 5 hits. But already, Payton was on pace.

Batting 3rd, he ripped an opposite field triple deep into the right field corner in the 1st inning. But with 2 outs already, 1B Rob Springer couldn't get him home. Payton did not get a chance to hit again until the 4th, when he recorded another extra base hit. This time it was a 1-out double, and despite RF Alex Gonzalez' single later in the inning, McCallum still preserved the shutout.

When the 6th inning rolled around, Payton had to lead off. His approach at the plate was selfless, as he inside-outted a ball through the hole for a single instead of swining for the fences. His hitting would finally be rewarded, as the Antichrists loaded the bases 2 batters later. After McCallum struck out the next two batters and looked like he might get out of it, C Kevin Nichols got Minnesota on the board with a 2 RBI single.

His teammates were buzzing between innings about what he was on the verge of accomplishing, but he still had to hit one out of the park--something he had not done all season. RP Jody Allen was on the mound for the Magnolias when Payton got ready to take his 7th inning cuts. Allen knew what Payton needed to complete the cycle, and was determined not to give him anything on the inner half, where he likes it. But on a 1-1 count, Allen tried to bury a curveball, only to have it hang up on him. Payton's eyes lit up as he turned the pitch around in a hurry. As he finished his follow through, he put both hands in the air, pumped them a couple of times, and started his jog to first base with a huge smile on his face.

Payton has a long, bright career ahead of him. But he may be hard-pressed to generate a baseball memory he'll be more fond of than the night he hit for the cycle in front of the Minnesota crowd.

Team Profile: Arizona Flip-Floppers

Between the Oklahoma City Kingfishers being the defending National League West Champs, and the Los Angeles Dodgers making the most noise in Free Agency, many people overlooked the Arizona Flip-Floppers this preseason. But those in the know have seen a steadily-increasing team since the Double Mendoza League's inception that is ready to take the next step. A quiet, but impressive offseason has Arizona ready to challenge in the NL West, and their 11-5 start means they are well on their way.

Their highest profile offseason move was acquiring SP John Burroughs from the Nashville Sounds in a 3-player trade. Burroughs is a young, developing ace, who has pitched for both the Atanta Crackers and the Sounds in the past. A year ago he went 13-12 with a 3.32 ERA--very solid numbers for a 24-year-old. Since heading west, he's started this season 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA, and has been the workhorse Arizona wanted and needed. They sent some promising young talent to the Sounds, but this move was meant to signal Arizona's desire to contend at the big leauge level, and it has panned out well for them so far.


Of course, you can't talk about the Flip-Floppers without mentioning 1B Joe Thompson, who bagged not only National League Rookie of the Year honors last season, but also National League Most Valuable Player. Sometimes it can be hard on a player once his expectations are lofted to such heights, but not Thompson. He's started April off on fire, hitting .373 with 7 home runs and 13 RBIs in 16 games. His OBPS is a stratospheric 1.237. He'll be anchoring this Arizona lineup for years to come, but his supporting staff is pretty impressive too. Across the diamond, 3B Jose Pujols has 6 long balls of his own, and LF Sherm Ledesma, a long-time Flip-Flopper, is mashing balls out of parks as frequently as ever.

Losing SP Hooks Perisho in Spring Training was quite a disappointment, but this young squad looks prepared to fight for the NL West title without him. It may be early, but seeing their names perched atop the leaderboard has to be pretty good motivation for a team used to lounging in the cellar. The dogfight between Los Angeles and Arizona is going to be tight throughout the campaign, and is one worth keeping an eye on as the season continues.

Rule 5 Roundup

The Rule 5 Draft is behind us and Spring Training is underway, but a lot of important transactions often go down in the annual transfer of talent that kicks off the season. Though there were some nice selections throughout the draft, here is a quick roundup of all of the 1st Round selections:

1st Pick: SS Ed Parnell, Cincinnati Boomers
Former Franchise: New Orleans Pelicans
Comments: Won't fool anyone as a shortstop, he is a poor defender. Talented when he puts the ball in play but might be overwhelmed by major league pitching. Has a high ceiling.

2nd Pick: SP Damon Cosby, Oakland Oaks
Former Franchise: New Orleans Pelicans
Comments: Won't blow away hitters with his stuff, but very cerebral on the mound. He'll find a way to get his outs. Should easily develop into a nice back-of-the-rotation starter.

3rd Pick: SP Ruben Pineda, Jackson Magnolias
Former Franchise: Cincinnati Boomers
Comments: Vulnerable against right-handed hitters, but some of the best raw stuff in this draft. He has impeccable health and work ethic, so even at 24, he's got some developing left to do.

4th Pick: SP/RP Josh Thome, Syracuse Stars
Former Franchise: Charlotte Knights
Comments: Has had trouble staying on the field in his career, and is probably going to top out as a long reliever instead of a starter. Can eat innings, relying mostly on a masterful 4-seamer to get hitters out.

5th Pick: CF Hipolito Feliz, Richmond Spider Monkey
Former Franchise: Atlanta Crackers
Comments: Really nice do-it-all player for the Spider Monkey. Very capable in center field, can get around the basepaths when he wants to, can play every day, and isn't a total slouch with a bat in his hands. Gives lots of versatility and flexibility to Richmond.

6th Pick: 1B/DH Jamie Kim, Helena Caribou Barbies
Former Franchise: Memphis Blues
Comments: Probably better suited to DH than man first, until his skills develop. Lots of power, especially against right-handers. Could make a nice platoon option for Helena, a solid hitter all-around.

9th Pick: 2B Connie Johnson, Texas Longhorns
Former Franchise: New Orleans Pelicans
Comments: I'm sensing a theme with all these ex-Pelican selections. Not going to make it as a second baseman unless he works very hard at it. Not a good baserunner for a player of his position. Very effective at the plate, though. Highest value appears to be pinch-hitting.

10th Pick: RP Vince Monahan, Atlanta Crackers
Former Franchise: Cincinnati Boomers
Comments: Has a rubber arm. Middle and long relief appear to be his calling. Not a player you write home about, but there are certainly worse options to eat innings when a starter has a rough day. At 23-years-old, he should still improve over time.

11th Pick: RP Bob Bellinger, Kansas City Masterpiece
Former Franchise: New Orleans Pelicans
Comments: He throws hard (and a bit wild at times), but it takes him a long time to recover after he makes an appearance. He could actually make a good starter if not for his poor recovery times. The Masterpiece are hoping to use him in brief relief stints so that his arm does not wear down a lot all at once. Risky pick from this position, there were more reliable relievers, though perhaps none quite as talented.

13th Pick: SP/RP Luis Perez, Buffalo Bulldozers
Former Franchise: Syracuse Stars
Comments: Very young at just 22, he has lots of room to get better. And he already makes a decent option both to pitch long relief and spot start. Throws hard and with lots of accuracy, but opposing hitters have always been able to pick up his breaking pitches and spray them all over the park. Intriguing selection.

16th Pick: SP James Hull, New Orleans Pelicans
Former Franchise: Hartford Hartattacks
Comments: The Pelicans finally got to replenish some of the talent they lost with this pick. Hull is a boneified starter, and will fit in quite nicely at the back end of rotations throughout his career. Especially for mid-first round, this is a nice pick.

17th Pick: SP Damaso Carasco, Minnesota Antichrists
Former Franchise: Texas Longhorns
Comments: Another lefty starter who really has a tough time getting right-handers out. Carasco can certainly fill a spot in the rotation, though his penchant to ask for an extra day off is somewhat distressing. If he hits his ceiling, he'll do just fine in the bigs someday.

20th Pick: CF Zeus Houston, Norfolk Tides
Former Franchise: Anaheim Angels
Comments: Sort of similar to Richmond's pick. Covers a lot of ground in center field, making him an excellent defensive option. Also, not a bad bat to have off the bench. Sort of makes you wonder why Anaheim let this guy slip off their 40-man.

21st Pick: SP/RP Jamie Chang, New York Monarchs
Former Franchise: Cincinnati Boomers
Comments: The defending AL East Champs add some depth to their starting rotation. Likely to pitch in long relief this season, Chang has a tendency to lose control of his pitches from time to time. If he can work on fixing that, he could be a 5th starter some day.

22nd Pick: SP Ray Fontenot, Vancouver Renegades
Former Franchise: Kansas City Masterpiece
Comments: Not wild about this pick. There were better starting options still on the board, and Fontenot appears to be little more than an innings-eater, a job scouts think he'll have a tough time doing in the bigs at this point in his development. None of his pitches have much life, either.

23rd Pick: RP Watty Collins, Ottawa Filibusters
Former Franchise: Jackson Magnolias
Comments: Though he was selected more on potential than prowess at the moment, Collins will still be a wise choice if the Filibusters can find playing time for the 20-year-old. Scouts think he could be a wonderful long reliever some day, but this selection now puts his career at a crossroads. Can he handle the bigs and keep getting better?

25th Pick: RP Benj Evans, Oklahoma City Kingfishers
Former Franchise: Chicago Gangsta' Chimps
Comments: Though he can get a bit wild, Evans has a very tough Curveball and Slider, throws both of them hard, and keeps the ball in the ballpark. If he can limit his walks, he'll be a very effective reliever for the Kingfishers, especially in their ballpark.

26th Pick: RP Murray McGee, Los Angeles Dodgers
Former Franchise: Tucson Pilots
Comments: Not a flashy reliever, but he can certainly hold his own in a big league roster spot. Talent started to thin out at this point in the draft, so this is a reasonable selection from this line.

29th Pick: SP/RP Ray Elarton, Tucson Pilots
Former Franchise: Hartford Hartattacks
Comments: The Pilots grabbed a lot of players from the Hartattacks over the course of the entire draft. As for Elarton, he will pitch some long relief for the Pilots, but considering the hitters' park they play in, it may be a struggle for him in that role. Seems more like a mopup pitcher.

30th Pick: SP Weldon Forrest, Memphis Blues
Former Franchise: Kansas City Masterpiece
Comments: He remains unassigned, which is probably where he should stay. Forrest is a very fine minor league pitcher, but major league hitters would chew him up and spit him out in a heartbeat.

31st Pick: RP Eugene Buckley, Montgomery Biscuits
Former Franchise: Minnesota Antichrists
Comments: He won't be a total disaster if he pitches a few innings for the defending champions this year, but the Biscuits are probably hoping he turns into the player scouts thought he could be out of college. If so, he could easily pitch long relief in the bigs.

Free Agency Recap

Open Free Agency has come and gone yet again, and quite a few bank accounts shed some 0's in the wake. As always, there was a fair share of bargains to be had, banks to be broken, and heads to be scratched. Here's a closer look of a few of the high-profile deals signed over the winter.

SP Jack Torres, Atlanta Crackers, 31-years-old
5 years, $54.0 million
Though he is a fine pitcher in his own right, Torres is far from a legitimate starter. Though he was able to take the mound 32 times for the Fargo Fightin' Sioux a year ago, he only ate 164.0 innings. His numbers were good, but not overpowering. He went 10-9 with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Then, the Crackers, who are trying to re-tool in a hurry and contend in the NL South again, dropped wheelbarrows of money on his front porch step. Not only will Torres make 8 digits every year of this contract, but there is no option in this deal, so he'll be in Hotlanta until he's 35-years-old. And he definitely won't be able to start regularly at that age.
Rating: Headscratcher

SP Gerald Stanley, Los Angeles Dodgers, 29-years-old
2 years, $9.8 million
The Dodgers were collecting Type A Free Agents this offseason like they were Easter Eggs, and while almost all of them were good moves, this one was an absolute steal. Stanley is likely to have a great season as he transfers both from the American League to the National League, and from Fenway to Dodgers Stadium. He was already 14-12 with a 3.98 a year ago. He's 29-years-old and was a very economical signing for LA. This deal has so much bang for the buck, especially for a Type A, that Stanley really ought to consider firing his agent. Especially for a team that wasn't worried about surrendering draft picks, this move made a world of sense.
Rating: Bargain Basement

SP Brendan Norton, Cincinnati Boomers, 35-years-old
1 year, $11.0 million ($8.0 million mutual option)
Norton is a great pitcher on the downslope of his career, but he still has plenty of fire in his arm and will be the Boomers' ace. For the most part, this is a pretty good signing when you look at the numerics and the value Norton is likely to bring to the franchise. My biggest qualm with it, though, is the timing. Cincinnati has been a downtrodden franchise, and they still don't look quite ready to contend. So why give up a draft pick (granted, the 59th pick) for a good starter who will be gone just as quickly as he arrived? If Norton declines his option, maybe he becomes Type A/B again next year, so there's always that, I suppose. Regardless, Norton will bring some energy to a franchise that needs it, so it's hard to harp on this signing too much.
Rating: Right Place, Wrong Time

SP Delino Mendoza, Anaheim Angels, 32-years-old
5 years, $86.0 million
This deal procured the most talk around the water cooler, as it was the richest deal of the offseason. Mendoza, who seems to have found the fountain of youth at 32-years-old, actually was not a full-time starter last season. The Nashville Sounds used him in relief and to spot start, and he threw 163.0 innings in that role with a 3.64 ERA. He has to make sure he keeps the ball in the park, but when he does, he's as tough to hit as anyone in the league. Of course, with a contract this large, the Angels have to pray that he continues his intense strength regimen and will be able to throw lots of innings, even when he's 36-years-old: that's how old he will be in the final year of this deal.
Rating: Under the Microscope

RP Russ Edwards, Charlotte Knights, 33-years-old
2 years, $11.2 million
The Knights were looking to improve their bullpen this offseason, and the biggest acquisition they made in that regard was inking the Huntington Guyandottes' former closer, Edwards. Edwards converted 66 of 83 save opportunities for a 79.5% success rate in 2 years in West Virginia. It seems low, but his ERA was a respectable 3.58 over that span. When you consider the tightrope walk Eble Park can be for pitchers, Edwards is likely to be a notch better in Charlotte. For a closer, the deal was not too pricey, and only cost the Knights the 65th pick. He's not too old yet, either.
Rating: Just Made Sense

3B Dweezil Jefferson, Atlanta Crackers, 33-years-old
2 years, $15.0 million
While Jefferson won't produce a lot of power out of one of the corner infield spots, he should hit for a high average. However, he never quite found his groove while on the Jackson Magnolias. There's plenty more to like about Jefferson beyond his stick, so if he hovers around a .270 average as he has done in the past, he won't be a total wash. He's a great defender at third, rarely requests a day off, and can even snag a base here and there if the Crackers ask him to. All in all, a nice calculated risk here by the Crackers, especially since they only had to surrender the 100th pick.
Rating: Low Risk, High Reward

2B Tito McKinley, Atlanta Crackers, 30-years-old
2 years, $17.0 million ($10.0 million player option)
McKinley had a couple of very nice seasons setting the table for the Charlotte Knights, and the Atlanta Crackers grabbed him in yet another large signing. Their player payroll is $92.5 million this year, which actually is not much lower than a year ago. However, a lot of money came off the books for them, allowing all these big signings. McKinley completes an absolutely fearsome infield for the Crackers, and should be able to get on base at a good clip in front of some of the heavy hitters down in the order. He's going to be cashing a lot of big checks for 2-3 years, and the Crackers are hoping he can stabilize the top of their lineup over that span.
Rating: Overpaid, Barely

C Alex Forest, Los Angeles Dodgers, 30-years-old
4 years, $18 million
Because the Dodgers were not afraid to surrender draft picks this offseason, they made a number of intelligent signings, and Forest is another example of that. Forest was underutilized by the Memphis Blues, which is surprising considering they could have used him at catcher or designated hiter. Over 2 seasons he had only 671 at-bats but hit .335 with 21 HRs and 98 RBIs. He's an offensive-oriented catcher, to be sure, but is not a dunce behind the plate, either. At $4.5 million per year, this contract is one knucklebones can smile about for a while.
Rating: Genius

2B Mandy Greisinger, Chicago Gangsta' Chimps, 32-years-old
4 years, $25.2 million
While the pitching talent on the northside of Chicago is still thin, they bolstered their stockpile of hitters this offseason by signing Greisinger away from the Vancouver Renegades. Greisinger is a patient hitter who loves to get on base any way he can. In 2 seasons with Vancouver, his OBP was .384, making him an excellent choice near the top of any lineup. Scouts say he's not going to get to as many balls as he used to if he plays second, and as he'll be in Chicago until he's 35, they may have to find new spots for him to play over the course of the deal. But when you can't pitch, you might as well hit, so I still like this signing, especially in exchange for the 72nd pick only.
Rating: Why Not?

Wind of change in Nashville!

Spring training is here and it's time to take a look at the changes the Nashville Sounds made during winter, to try to play a little bit longer in playoffs. Even if The Sounds did very well the last two seasons with 91 and 99 wins, Sounds GM, jeanpaul22, feels that it was not enough.

Since the beginning of season one, the Sounds want to get a great defensive CF. They get him in Cy Crawford, along with RF Todd Alexander and a minor league starter Orlando Santiago from the Kansas City Masterpiece against Jorel Benson.
After that, the Nashville GM try to fill a hole that the first 2 seasons showed, a lack of power behind Danny Brunette and Adam Huff . Last season, Benson was their fifth hitter but he was not the solution.
The second trade of the winter will bring Christopher Goldberg in the line up to fill that hole but it cost a lot in John Burroughs. In return Nashville get another minor league starter in Sal Saunders from Arizona Flip-Floppers.

Last minute trade: SP Harry Ford from Kansas City Masterpiece against RP Louie Guerrero.

With these changes, Mr 22 thinks his team will be better equipped for the playoffs.

Season 3.

On the mound, with Jimmie Cannon , Hugh Douglas, John Suzuki, Harry Ford and Tony Crespo the rotation should be solid and with Sonny Bell to close, and Bartolo Ortega, the bullpen should be OK.

The defense, 7th last season, should be very strong with the addition of Crawford in centerfield.

Offensively, the Sounds should score many runs with MVP second baseman Danny Brunette, third bagger Adam Huff and first baseman Chistopher Goldberg in the middle of the line-up.

The line up should look like this:

Benji Reyes, LF
Cy Crawford, CF
Danny Brunette, 2B
Adam Huff, 3B
Christopher Goldberg, 1B
Omar Balboa, Matt Taylor, Dernell Carpenter or Dion Thompson, DH
Larry Hurst, SS
Todd Alexander, RF
Ted Lomasney, C

Of course it is too soon to predict anything but it should be another very fun season for the fans.

Los Angeles Dodger Preview

The Los Angeles Dodgers come into season 3 hoping to do something to put them over the top with some major names leaving and some others on the way in.

The Dodgers have fought hard and have done well in the playoffs until the enevitable meeting with Montgomery. Montgomery has ended their season two years running. What can be done to match the stingy pitching of the Biscuits? GM KB thinks more offense and a move to youth in the rotation is in order. The Dodgers expect to return to the playoffs as a wildcard or the division winner and hopefully thier moves will take them to the WS. Anything short of that is running in place or worse, a failure.

Here are your season 3 Los Angeles Dodgers:

C- Alex Forest will start with Ariel Cruz waiting in the wings. This is a switch from the Dodgers philosphy of having a defensive guy back there. The Dodgers will start Forest and expect a .300 average and about 100 walks.

1b- B.C. Dransfeldt was first thought of as a pinch hitter and backup 1b/lf, but the Dodgers like the way he drives the ball and will give him a chance to lose the job with power guy Russ Chapman doing the backup role at 1b/lf. The Dodgers hope that Dransfeldt will produce a near .300 avg with 30 double and 20 hrs. If he fails, Chapman is sure to provide power and lots of walks.

2b- Louis Bevil will be playing his first full season as a Dodger. Management expects him to frequent the All Star game many times in the forseeable future. Great all around player and one of the best 2bs in the league.

3b- Yonder Martis will be the starter at 3b. Martis was a last minute aquistion and the Dodgers are hoping he'll provide some offense and stability at 3b. He has a chance to put up all star numbers with the stick anyway. Hes an average fielder. Julio Ozuna a rookie, will backup 3b/rf and provide some pop and youth to the lineup.

SS- Jay Bailey was at 3b last season and moves to SS with Martis taking over at 3b. Bailey should provide power and speed at the position although his glove is well below average. The Dodgers have many options and interchangeable players so SS/3b/of positions will be contantly changing no doubt. Other SSs include Curt Murphy & Ernest Looper. Both of these guys should see time at CF and wherever needed. Provide great insurance and nice bats off the bench.

lf- Mandy Chace Chace will be back in lf and hopes to make another run at the MVP. Great hitter.

cf- Vern Hamelin will man cf again. Hes a consumate pro with an excellent glove. He'll hit some line drives, steal a base here and there and not screw anything up. A company soldier.

rf- Donald Fujiwara is a budding superstar. He has all the tools to be the best offensive player on the team and in the league. Might have an MVP or two in his future. Lot of pressure for a kid, but hes handled it well so far. A rookie at 20, hes now starting to come into his own in his 3rd ML season. Look for big things out of Fujiwara.

sps- Andre Hubbard
Wil Sele
Joel Wheeler
Gerald Stanley
Paul Norton

Starting pitching was overhauled and is now a lot younger if slightly less talented. The Dodgers expect them to be very good and get better as the year wears on.

rps- Gus Garvin
Will Weston
Jerome Ross
Polin Rodriguez
Juan Camacho

The Bullpen is is solid and youthful with FA signee Ross anchoring the pen. This is the stronger end of the staff which is different from years past. The team expects the pitching as a whole to end up with nearly the same stats as seasons 1 and 2. They wont be the top pitching in the league, but they'll be very good.

Overall the Dodgers look to be contenders again is spite of the flurry of trades and signings. We'd really like to proclaim ourselves the team to beat, but theres Hartford & Montgomery in the way and no doubt just as good or better than they have been. Obviously anything less than the playoffs is failure, and from there its a crapshoot.