Putting Together the Wales

Here's how the Outlaw Josey Wales were put together over the years. These are my players ordered by seniority along with their years of service and how they were acquired.

• Manny Ramirez, 13, 1995 Old NASBL rookie protection
• Omar Vizquel, 12, 1996 trade for Mark Langston
• Aramis Ramirez, 9, 1999 2nd round
• Tim Hudson, 8, 2000 1st round
• Ramon Hernandez, 7, 2001 2nd round
• Alfonso Soriano, 4, 2004 trade, Pettitte & Soriano for Bartolo Colon and 1st round pick
• Andy Pettitte, 4, 2004 trade, Soriano & Pettitte for Bartolo Colon and 1st round pick
• Jake Peavy, 4, 2004 2nd round
• Garret Anderson, 3, 2008 7th round (also 2003-2005)
• Jason Bay, 3, 2005 1st round
• Scott Kazmir, 2, 2006 1st round
• Willy Taveras, 2, 2006 3rd round
• Tim Wakefield, 1, 2007 supp 1st round
• Adrian Gonzalez, 1, 2007 1st round
• Jonathon Broxton, 1, 2007 2nd round
• Mike Napoli, 0, 2008 supp 1st round
• Scott Downs, 0, 2008 supp 2nd round
• Josh Bard, 0, 2008 supp 3rd round
• Dustin Pedroia, 0, 2008 1st round
• Joakim Soria, 0, 2008 2nd round
• Ryan Ludwick, 0, 2008 3rd round
• Jared Burton, 0, 2008 4th round
• Brendan Harris, 0, 2008 5th round
• Melvin Mora, 0, 2008 6th round
• J.C. Romero, 0, 2008 8th round
• Ryan Theroit, 0, 2008 9th round
• Ryan Dempster, 0, 2008 10th round
• Cla Meredith, 0, 2008 11th round
• Kevin Cameron, 0, 2008 12th round
• Sammy Sosa, 0, 2008 13th round

I guess I don't do a lot of trading! I remember being asked in 1995 what it'd take to get Manny Ramirez, and my response was something along the lines of "pry him out of my cold, dead fingers." I'm just glad the other manager didn't want him too badly!

Interview of 1st Place Griz Owner - Jack Howard

The Grundy County Times interview Griz owner, Jack Howard.

Times - to Mr. Howard, "You must be pretty happy, your team is in first place after Block 1, that is a first. What do you have to say to that?"

Howard - "We are thrilled. We are not surprised, at least not as surprised as the rest of the league and our fans. We knew we had a pretty good team after the draft - our field manager played four simulated seasons after the draft and we won 3 of four division titles. "

Times - "Well that is surprising. That being said, why would you trade a World Series Hero - Mike Lowell and so much pitching, if you think you could challenge for the division's top spot?"

Howard - "Well, ----------------------- this is a multi part answer.
1. We had a chance to get the best prospect in this year's draft, Alex Gordon. He had had a rough first mlb season and we had hoped he would some how float into the second round. He didn't. We did not choose him or Brian Braun with the 1st or 3rd overall picks because we had the dilemma of having two top 3B ahead of them on our roster, and our needs are OF and Pitching.

2. Trading Lowell was necessary to open up a spot to get Gordon. We did not want to trade Mike. He was a major part of an infield that gobbled up every X-chance and turned it into an out or double-play. He also was one of our top batters, hitting over .300 and driving in important runs. He will help his new team immediately, and his departure will hurt our chances, no doubt, but we could not pass on the chance to get Gordon.

3. Trading so much pitching was extremely difficult, our bullpen, which was huge and filled with quality relievers was in place to take over any rough outing of our not so sound starting rotation. However, that was part of the cost to get Gordon, and we could not refuse the offer.

Times - "if the future was now, for the first time in Griz history, why hurt it?"

Howard - "Again, we asked if Gordon could be worked into a trade and when we were given the chance, we could not resist.

After playing through the first Block, we saw that Pocono was the best managed team in the division. That will get them some important wins. We felt that they probably would beat us out in the long run this season, and while Lowell is awesome, we felt Gordon would be the teams next Lowell, and for years after Lowell retired. We feel Pocono might be reaching the end of its long heyday as our division leader, and we may be poised to step up in the future with Gordon.

We feel we can still compete with Gordon, and after VFS threw in the towel with their trades, we think we will make this a 2 team race. Red Robbbins (and probably the rest of the league) recognizes some of our many weaknesses and Gordon for Lowell actually is a way to make up for one of those weaknesses."

Times - "Are you saying - you expect to stay in contention for a division title?"

Howard - "Why not. Yeah we gave up a lot and our chances have been reduced, but we are still extremely deep. Our ballpark is tough to play in. We still have a stellar infield, and Cuddyer/Upton have been awesome in the OF. We are still looking for ways to improve the team. We play to win. We will see what happens as the season unfolds."

Times - "Did you just drop a hint that there are more trades to come?"

Howard - "I do not rule that out. Our GM has made a couple inquiries. We look to improve whenever we can."

Times - Thanks for your time. To our readers - watch for our Gordon article.

Chows to Stand Pat --- For Now

Our team is on the Field.

Last year Chows GM/Owner Brad Sherlag was among the NASBL’s busiest at the end of each Block. This year he has been sitting on the sidelines, watching others make big deals. This sitting out has not been easy for Sherlag.

“We really like our club. Right now we are in last place, but we are in a tough division. Some of the teams ahead of us are going to run into usage problems. We also played well against LCC and Springfield in Block I. I think over time our depth will get us in this thing. Contrary to popular belief on sports talk radio, there will be both players and picks still remaining to acquire after Block II. If we have a better Block, we will be aggressively looking to add a starting pitcher and a corner outfielder. If we are still in the cellar we have chips that can be dealt to improve us for the future.”

Chips that the Chows could be ready to move after Block II to get some horses for this season could include Billy Butler, Josh Fields, Micah Owings and Draft Picks. If the Chows fall out of the race they may look to deal Carlos Pena, Joe Blanton, their bullpen (excluding Marmol and Nathan), and Kelly Johnson.

Asked for his best advice to Chows Fans – Sherlag says “Have patience. Our goal is not, nor will ever be, to be a .500 team that misses the play-offs. My favorite time to trade has always been after Block II. Sure we made a big deal at the end of Block I last season, but we made three deals after Block II. If I am a seller, I have more data on the players coming back. How are they progressing in their career? Do I think they can help us as soon as next year? If I am a buyer, I can feel better about mortgaging a bit of the future after our club has performed for the majority of the season.”

Pigs Welcome New Hog

Lehigh Valley Iron Pig management is pleased to welcome new arrival Reggie Willits to the sty. Willits, 5'-11", 185#, and a switch hitting outfielder replaces historical first pick Juan Pierre, 5'-11", 180#, LH outfielder. Iron Pig management believes that the additional 5 pounds that Willits brings to the team will be instrumental in carrying the Pigs to at least a 0.500 record this season.

We believe that Willits will also provide slightly more discouragement to baserunning liberties than Pierre. It had been suggested (by our fan) that Pierre was so fast that he would be better off running the ball in rather than throwing it in. Lehigh Valley management, always ready to recieve input from our valued fan, tested this theory extensively and have decided conclusively that Pierre saves about 0.2 seconds by "throwing" it into the infielder. Gone are the days when the announcers would say, "there's a sharp single to right, Pierre has the ball, Bonds is limping round third.... he is being waved home.... it looks like there might be a play at the plate...... Bonds scores standing up!"

One additional value that Willits brings to our team is a discerning batting eye. Pierre had a very good batting eye, but chose never to use it. He rarely strikes out, but similarly, rarely walks. Willits on the other hand is a "dangerous intellectual" and realizes that he has no power and that a walk is as good as a single.

Players rumored to be on the Lehigh Valley trading block include: Derosa, Uggla, Quentin, Howard, Alou. Inquire within.

John Lackey says Au Revoir to Vermont Fans

Burlington, VT

The Vermont Fighting Sioux are at it again, this time sending star pitcher John Lackey to the Georgia Roadkill. In return, 'Kill GM Johnny Miller coughed up #1 and #3 picks, along with SP Brandon Looper. The move now gives the Sioux 7 picks in the first 3 rounds of the 2009 draft (2 #1s, 3 #2s and 2 #3s).

Miller gets a staff ace with a NASBL career record of 49-24 with an ERA near 4.00. Parting with Lackey was a tough choice for Vermont, but in Sioux Nation this year it's all about next year. Lackey's utility next year is unknown as Vermont doctors were unable to predict continued success for Lackey in light of recent tricep issues.

Bye-bye John, we will miss you.

Sioux Trade Away 2 Franchise Legends

Burlington, VT

With the prospects of a deep playoff run bleak, the Vermont Fighting Sioux management team pulled the deal on two separate trades, each involving a 36 year old Franchise All-Star.

In the first move, VFS sent former closer and current setup man Billy Wagner down south to the Miami Surf in exchange for MSU's #2 pick in the 2008 Rookie/FA Draft and Ryan Langerhans.


Wagner was a member of Sioux Nation from 2005-2008, racking up a franchise record (by a long shot) 96 saves to go with a 12-16 record and 3.26 ERA. This year Wagner passed the closing reigns to rookie Hideki Okajima and served as a setup man. Wagner, while 36, still possesses his dangerous fastball and should provide the division leading Miami with another relief option in their drive to the playoffs.

The other move saw the franchise's best catcher, Jorge Posada, get shipped to the Springfield Isotopes. The fact that SPR already owns NASBL's best record should be unsettling to their division rivals, as the rich only got richer with this move. Vermont also sent LH specialist Ron Mahay along with their #9 draft pick to SPR. In return Vermont received SPR's #2 and #7 picks as well as catcher Carlos Ruiz and promising reliever Santiago Casilla.



Posada (seen above during his recent rehab activities) leaves Vermont with a career that spanned 2004-2008 in which he hit 60 HRs (5th all-time for VFS), knocked in 217 runs (6th) and hit .273. He gives SPR a solid bat to use either at DH or catcher.

Asked about the perception that he's giving up on his team for this year, Sioux GM Justin Rabidoux said "You, sir are correct, we indeed are throwing in the towel. This team lacks the necessary pitching depth to make playoff noise and to think otherwise would be foolish. Last year we made a run at a title (eventually falling in the LF LCS) and were aggressive buyers in the trade market, if we thought we had the same chance again, we'd be trading picks for talent instead of the other way around. It was the right thing for us to do giving Wags and the Great Gazoo a chance to play meaningful baseball late in their careers and it allows us to get younger for next year".

Staff ace John Lackey (6-2, 3.80 in '08 w/VFS) may be the next man out the door.

Cannibals hang 10-spot on Suppan in 1st, then nearly gak up lead

Fighting Sioux starter Jeff Suppan, perhaps unnerved by pitching on Franklin County Correctional Center Day (aka, "Take a prisoner to the ballpark day"), made an early exit. Said Suppan, "Look, when they started that 'hey Soup, toss my salad' chant, I really just wanted to get out of there. So I was basically just putting it on a tee at that point. And when I saw the batboy sharpening the fungo to make the Mother of All Shanks, I was done. Maybe Ugueth Urbina can handle that kind of sh**, but not me man. Not me." With the lead "securely" in hand at 14-3 after the 3rd, the hometown Cannibals began a parade of defensive substititutions. However, the Sioux weren't done yet, as their offense staged a 13-run jailbreak from the 4th inning on. Luckily for LCC, their 18 runs and 6 homers (including a 1st inning inside-the-park job by Rickie Weeks) were just enough to carry the day.

Strat-O-Matic Report

---

BOXSCORE: 2008 Vermont Fighting Sioux At 2008 Lake Champlain Canniba 5/9/2008
 
  Fighting Sioux     AB  R  H RBI AVG     Cannibals          AB  R  H RBI AVG
  M.Loretta 2B        2  3  0  0 .318     K.Lofton LF         2  1  1  0 .344  
  D.Jeter SS          5  0  0  1 .302   B-J.Francoeur PH,RF   4  2  2  3 .209  
  A.Pujols 1B         6  1  1  1 .305     C.Granderson CF     6  1  1  2 .400  
  F.Thomas DH         4  4  4  6 .262     C.Jones SS,3B       6  4  3  3 .342  
  R.Zimmerman 3B      3  2  1  1 .267     D.Ortiz 1B          4  1  1  1 .381  
  C.Snyder C          5  0  2  2 .300     J.Thome DH          1  1  1  0 .350  
  E.Byrnes LF         5  0  1  1 .253   C-J.Gomes PH          2  1  0  0 .225  
  C.Blake RF          4  1  0  0 .275     J.Drew RF,LF        2  1  1  1 .293  
  C.Crisp CF          3  3  2  0 .221   D-C.Hart PH,LF        3  2  3  1 .241  
                                          R.Doumit C          1  1  1  4 .333  
                                        A-B.McCann PH,C       4  1  3  2 .270  
                                          R.Weeks 2B          4  1  1  1 .270  
                                        E-A.Cora 2B           1  0  1  0 .216  
                                          E.Encarnacion 3B    5  1  1  0 .172  
                                        F-E.Renteria SS       0  0  0  0 .306  
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      37 14 11 12                 Totals      45 18 20 18
 
A-Pinch Hit For Doumit In 2nd Inning
B-Pinch Hit For Lofton In 2nd Inning
C-Pinch Hit For Thome In 3rd Inning
D-Pinch Hit For Drew In 3rd Inning
E-Subbed Defensively (2B) For Weeks In 6th Inning
F-Subbed Defensively (SS) For Encarnacion In 9th Inning
 
Fighting Sioux.. 0 1 0  1 4 3  0 5 0  - 14 11  1
Cannibals.......10 2 2  1 1 0  2 0    - 18 20  1
 
Fighting Sioux (21-24)   IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA
J.Suppan LOSS(2-2)        0       6   7   7   1   0   1   7.19
E.Santana                 2 1/3   7   7   6   2   3   3   6.91
D.Oliver                  3 2/3   3   2   2   0   2   1   2.28
O.Villarreal              0 2/3   2   2   2   0   0   1   4.50
B.Wagner                  1 1/3   2   0   0   0   1   0   5.96
Totals                    8      20  18  17   3   6   6
 
Cannibals (23-13)        IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA
E.Bedard WIN(4-2)         5       6   9   9   6   5   2   7.42
J.Cruz HOLD(2nd)          3       4   5   3   3   3   0   5.70
R.Franklin                1       1   0   0   0   2   0   4.32
Totals                    9      11  14  12   9  10   2
 
ATTENDANCE- 39,285 DATE- Monday, May 9th 2008 TIME- Day 
T- 4:00
LEFT ON BASE- Fighting Sioux: 7  Cannibals: 6
DOUBLE PLAYS- Fighting Sioux: 0  Cannibals: 1
ERRORS- A.Pujols, C.Granderson
DOUBLES- A.Pujols(11th), R.Zimmerman(13th), C.Snyder(2nd), C.Granderson(12th),
         C.Jones(10th), D.Ortiz(9th), C.Hart-3(6th), B.McCann-2(8th),
         E.Encarnacion(2nd)
TRIPLES- E.Byrnes(3rd)
HOME RUNS- F.Thomas-2(9th), J.Francoeur-2(3rd), C.Jones-2(11th), R.Doumit(4th),
           R.Weeks(5th)
SACRIFICE FLIES- F.Thomas
WALKS- M.Loretta-4, D.Jeter, R.Zimmerman, C.Blake, C.Crisp-2, D.Ortiz, J.Thome,
       J.Gomes
HIT BY PITCH- R.Zimmerman
STRIKE OUTS- M.Loretta, D.Jeter-2, A.Pujols-2, C.Snyder, E.Byrnes, C.Blake-2,
             C.Crisp, C.Granderson-2, D.Ortiz, J.Drew, B.McCann, R.Weeks
GIDP- A.Pujols
WILD PITCHES- D.Oliver
 
Shortstop Chipper Jones blasted 2 homeruns and had 3 RBI as the Lake Champlain
Cannibals topped the Vermont Fighting Sioux by a score of 18 to 14 at
Creutzfeldt-Jakob's.
 
Jones provided much of the offense.  He doubled resulting in a run in the 1st
inning, lofted a solo-blast 'downtown' in the 3rd inning and smashed a
solo-shot out of the park (his 11th of the season) in the 7th inning.  Lake
Champlain kept the scorekeepers busy in the 1st inning with 10 runs on 9
hits.  Vermont was not lacking for run support as they scored in 5 separate
innings, yet victory eluded them as they seemed to forget that pitching is
also needed to win ballgames.  
 
Erik Bedard(4-2) was the winner allowing 9 runs in 5 innings. Jeff Suppan(2-2)
was given the loss.

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