The former Honolulu Hawaiians franchise has new leadership...

The former Honolulu Hawaiians franchise has new leadership;

EdCouch New Potatoes GM says that he thinks he can compete right away as well as build a good young nucleus for the future at the same time. After the acquisition of Eric Aybar to sure up shortstop, EdCouch was able to trade for some draft picks, that in part, will be used to acquire some pitching help. He also adds that the team is open to trading some of it's veteran players to reshape it's roster.

EdCouch inherited the first pick in the 2013 draft and will use that to  build a good young nucleus for the future. The team looks forward to the 2013 draft as a means to build the current roster for both being competitive in 2013 and beyond. This means that when EdCouch is on the clock for their picks, fellow GM's feel free to make offers and exchange trading idea's as the New Potatoes will be reshaping it's roster for today and beyond.

IronPig Hot Stove

Act now, supplies are limited!  First come, first served!  For a limited time only!  I picture the New Jersey Boardwalk when I hear that kind of thing and it makes me cringe.  LVI has some pieces that are borderline keepers and cuts that could be had for a low price.

Catcher Russell Martin, great vsL with good defense and a good throwing arm
Utility Sean Rodriguez, plays nice defense at ss, 2b and 3b with good on base vsL
OF Grady Sizemore, DL with vague memories of how to play baseball at an All Star level.  Good guy to stash on DL if you don't have anyone.
Goon Jim Thome, Still mashin' taters at age 63.
SP Carlos Zambrano, nice card with low HR numbers
C Brett Meyers, decent closer card
C Matt Thornton, nice balanced numbers with low HR numbers

I would not be looking for much in return.  Inquire within.

Outlaw Career RBI Leaders

Twenty-two years of Outlaw All-Time
 RBI leaders from 1991 to 2012 including
the predecessor NASBL Cleveland Indians
and San Diego Padres:

1. 1604, Manny Ramirez, 1995 - 2011
2. 1156, Albert Belle, 1992 - 2001
3.  634, Omar Vizquel, 1996 - 2011
4.  553, Kenny Lofton, 1993 - 2001
5.  527, Adrian Gonzalez, 2007 - 2012

Adrian Gonzalez passes Tony Gwynn for the fifth spot.  Adrian only needs 11 100 RBI seasons to pass Manny for the top spot.

IronPigs Improve Pitching Staff

The IronPigs are pleased to welcome pitcher Brandon Beachy. Anytime you can add someone of his quality to your staff you have to do it. We are excited to see what his version of low on base pitching can do in our pitcher friendly ballpark. He enjoyed very nice success last season in NASBL and we look forward to watching his future growth. After signing the contract with the IronPigs, he felt a tweak in his pitching arm. Hopefully it will not amount to much. Stay tuned for further details.

IronPigs Looking for Ideas for New Promotions

Due to fan complaints with recent Moose Taco promotions, the promotion have been canceled. Numerous patrons became ill while attempting to choke down the poor product this past season.  Since the promotion was Mike's idea, we decided it was in the best interest of our fan base to cancel him as well. The unpopular infielder never quite hit it off with his teammates. We believed it was in the best interests of the team to make a move. Management is currently considering reinstating previously successful promotions such as Topless Tuesday's, Dress Like Longoria Day and Free Beer Friday's.  Stay tuned for further details.

    

       

IronPigs Shore Up Infield Defense

    

In a surprising move, the IronPigs have traded former All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez in exchange for upcoming shortstop Ian Desmond. We are disappointed to see Hanley go but in the end we believe that having some defense of acumen is a useful character trait for a shortstop. The position will be manned by young defensive minded shortstop Ian Desmond. Desmond brings an intriguing combination of defense and power for the IronPigs infield. Since we are in a win now mode, our pitchers were very reluctant to base their hopes upon Hanley's defense at shortstop.

Outlaw Career Saves Leaders

Twenty-two years of Outlaw All-Time
saves leaders from 1991 to 2012 including
the predecessor NASBL Cleveland Indians
and San Diego Padres:

1. 128, Keith Foulke, 1999 -2005
2. 117, Trevor Hoffman, 1994 - 1999
3. 104, Joakim Soria, 2008 - 2011
4.  74, Armando Benitez, 1998 - 2005
5.  71, Jeff Russell, 1993 - 1996

The throw-in in the Trevor Hoffman for Mark McGwire and Raul Mondesi trade remains Outlaw's save king for the foreseeable future.

New Centerfielder Comes to Town

Troy, NY:  The Haymakers thought they were in trouble when their centerfielder for the past two years Brett Gardner wound up with an elbow injury and is expected to be out for all of 2013.  Instead, Troy moved the young SS Ruben Tejada with an ILL# 4 pick to the Grizzlies for Dexter Fowler.
  Fowler, a 6'4" lanky player who has tools to spare, will take over the job of CF for Troy with a career batting average of .216 with a .315 on-base and 53 stolen bases.  He'll have big shoes to fill as Gardner has been consistent, hitting .270 with a .360 on base and averaged 50 stolen bases over the past two seasons.
  "We feel Fowler has shown exceptional ability and have no doubts that he can handle centerfield in Troy," said the Haymakers GM, "he may not steal as many bases as Gardner, but I'm confident that he will fit in nicely as our leadoff hitter in 2013."
   The move allows slugger Josh Hamilton to stay in left field where he is more comfortable while Corey Hart moves back to right field after splitting time at DH and RF in 2012.
   The addition of Fowler and Carlos Beltran leaves 2012 second round pick Peter Bourjos out in the cold, who is most likely looking to be released.

Chows add Another Pick, Lose OF Depth

Illinois Times - The Chows entered the offseason with a plethora of OF.  Keepers included Upton, Bourn, Beltran, Ross, DeJesus, Pierre and possible Morse.  Today the Chows dealt DeJesus for the Shawnee 5th Round Pick.

"We had a situation where we had a full OF and then made the deal for Upton.  There was no way we could keep all these guys close to happy if we kept them all.  While we expect both Beltran and DeJesus to have fine seasons, there just weren't enough bats to go around."

Illinois could still trade one more OF before they are done, but no longer feel they have to make a deal. Rumor has the Chows listening to offers on Ross and Pierre.

Outlaw Career Batting Average Leaders

Twenty-two years of Outlaw All-Time batting
average leaders (3000 AB minimum), from 1991
to 2012 including the predecessor NASBL
Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres:

1. .360, Tony Gwynn, 1994 - 2000
2. .301, Kenny Lofton, 1993 -2001
3. .299, Manny Ramirez, 1995 -2011
4. .296, Albert Belle, 1992 - 2001
5. .276, Adrian Gonzalez, 2007 - 2012

WAR Rant Continued: or why it doesn't translate to Strat

1995 Dante Bitchette:  .340 batting average with a .984 OPS, 38 doubles 40 homeruns with 128 RBI's.  He hit .367 with RISP that year with 98 RBI's.  His total WAR? 1.0...you have got to be kidding me.  Even taking into account he is a horrible fielder and playing in Colorado, he hit .300 with a .804 OPS away from Coors.

I call bullshit.  There is no way you can find a replacement player that has remotely the same value this season, and I'm sure if he played a full season in Petco ( I don't have the 95 season), he would still have a ton of value in the league.

I still say OPS is the best way to compare players, but then again what do I know.  I don't get paid to do any analysis, and I sit in front of my computer and shake my fist at these fancy stats....

Outlaw Career Winning Percentage Leaders

Twenty-two years of Outlaw All-Time winning percentage leaders (100 decisions minimum), from 1991 to 2012 including the predecessor NASBL Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres:

1. .599 (103-69), Jake Peavy, 2004 - 2012
2. .580 (58-38*), Mark Clark, 1994 - 1998
3. .572 (83-62), Mark Langston, 1991 - 1995
4. .562 (113-88), Andy Ashby, 1994 - 2003
5. .560 (56-24*), Ryan Dempster, 2008 - 2011

* imputed losses added to reach 100 decision minimum

Outlaw Career Stolen Base Leaders

Twenty-two years of Outlaw All-Time stolen base leaders, from 1991 to 2012 including the predecessor NASBL Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres:

1. 613, Kenny Lofton, 1993 - 2001
2. 395, Omar Vizquel,1996 - 2011
3. 128, Elvis Andrus, 2010 - 2012
4. 115, Willy Taveras, 2004 - 2008
5. 111, Alfonso "We don't need no steenkin' deefense" Soriano

Elvis has entered the building.

Class of One – Big Unit Joins NASBL HOF in 2013

The famously well-guarded gates of the NASBL Hall of Fame opened briefly today to a man bearing an unmatched 5 NASBL Cy Young awards and an undeniable “Admit One” ticket.

6’10” power pitcher Randy “Big Unit” Johnson punched his HOF ticket in no small part due to his ability to consistently punch out NASBL hitters. On his way to accumulating a league record 3156 strikeouts (800 more than 2^nd place K-artist / fellow HOF’er Pedro Martinez,) Unit posted each of the 5 highest single-season strikeout totals ever recorded.

Johnson also retired as the winningest pitcher in NASBL history, both for his career (189 Ws, and for a single season (27 in 2003.)

Completing his similarities to MLB’s Walter “Big Train” Johnson, Big Unit wasn’t just the most dominant and winningest pitcher of his era, he was also the most durable. Randy Johnson retired as the all-time leader in innings pitched (2783,) complete games (162) and shutouts (20.)

Others Receiving Votes:

-Jeff Bagwell, 68.75%. The 2000 MVP gained from his 2012 total of 62.50%, but the career-long Texas Thunderbird still fell one vote short of induction.

-Sammy Sosa, 50%. Fighting Sioux slugger peaked in HRs with 73 in 2002, and may have peaked in HOF vote% with 62.50% in 2012.

-Greg Maddux, 50%. The 2-time Cy Young award winner for the Georgia Roadkill debuted strong in his first year of eligibility.

-Roberto Alomar, 31.25%. On the ballot for 4 years, the slick-fielding Robby hasn’t yet come within spitting distance of induction. His support dropped from 37.50% in 2012.

-Carlos Delgado, 31.25%. Roadkill and Sioux compiler (397 HR, 1090 RBI) still needs to compile a lot more votes to attain entry to the Hall.

-Roger Clemens, 25.00%. Looking for a new injection of votes after his 43.75% showing in 2012, the 2-time Cy Young award winner instead saw his HOF chances burst like an inflated balloon jabbed with a needle.

- John Smoltz, 18.75%. The 2-time Cy Young / 1-time Fireman of the Year winner with Pocono was perhaps harmed by his own versatility?

-Jeff Kent, 18.75%. 2003 MVP with the Canyon Country Cannons swung a heavy bat, and an even heavier glove.

-Larry Walker, 18.75%. One of the greatest players ever to sometimes play the game, the man who once hit .383 over a (sort of) full season saw his vote count triple from 2012’s 6.25%.

-Edgar Martinez, 18.75%. Hampered by his relatively short career and less than sterling defensive reputation, Edgar extends his modest hit streak with NASBL HOF voters.

-Frank Thomas, 12.50%. The Big Hurt saw his vote total double from 2012, but still has a Big Climb ahead of him.

Players receiving 1 vote (6.25%) included: Mike Mussina (2002 Cy Young), Moises Alou (.302 career BA, 209 HR), Nomar Garciaparra (1998 ROY, .297 career BA), Bret Boone (186HR), Rafael Palmeiro (2000 MVP), Mark McGwire (70HR / 164 RBI in 1999, .647 career SLG), Cliff Floyd (213HR), Brian Giles (.391 OBA / .511 SLG), and Ray Durham (209 SB, scored 100 runs 3 times).

Lofton Drops Off the Ballot

Perhaps overshadowed by the arrival of the PED power crowd, OJW speedster Kenny Lofton (.306 career BA, 250 SB, 100 runs scored 3 times) dropped from 18.75% in 2012 down to zero votes, and will not appear on future ballots.

2013 NASBL Draft Order Announced

The 2013 NASBL regular draft order (used for all rounds except rounds 3 and 4, which are ordered by Free Agent Money) will be:


1.  EdCouch New Potatoes
2.  Dallas Fort Worth Spurs
3.  Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs
4.  Pocono Chin Music
5.  Grundy County Grizzlies
6.  Vermont Fighting Sioux
7.  Springfield Isotopes
8.  Georgia Roadkill
9.  Canyon Country Cannons
10.  Seattle Pilots
11.  Troy Haymakers
12.  Illinois Chow Chows
13.  Shawnee Crows
14.  Lake Champlain Cannibals
15.  Outlaw Josey Wales
16.  Slatington Bulldogs


Teams moving down in the draft due to overusage were:
-Vermont Fighting Sioux dropped 1 slot (22 points for Koji Uehara, 4 points for Rich Thompson.)
-Seattle Pilots dropped 2 slots (29 points for Casey Janssen, 6 points for Joel Peralta, 2 points for Matt Guerrier, 26 points for Rafael Betancourt.)

Illinois and Troy had the exact same record and exited the playoffs in the same round, and neither team had any overusage.  As a result of a coin-toss tiebreaker conducted at the league office, Troy will pick 11th and Illinois will pick 12th in the 2013 draft.

Outlaw Career Strikeout Leaders

Twenty-two years of Outlaw All-Time strikeout leaders, from 1991 to 2012 including the predecessor NASBL Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres:

1. 1709, Tim Hudson, 2000 - 2012
2. 1535, Jake Peavy, 2004-2012
3. 1153, Andy Ashby, 1994-2003
4. 1056, Mark Langston, 1991-1995
5. 1003, Charles Nagy, 1992-1999

Tim Hudson increased his lead over the injured Jake Peavy this year.

Outlaw Career Hits Leaders

Twenty-two years of Outlaw All-Time hits leaders, from 1991 to 2012 including the predecessor NASBL Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres:

1. 2474, Manny Ramirez, 1995 - 2011
2. 1879, Omar Vizquel, 1996-2011
3. 1631, Albert Belle, 1992-2001
4. 1625, Kenny Lofton, 1993-2001
5. 1255, Tony Gwynn, 1994-2000

There was no change in the top five this year, although Adrian Gonzalez displaced Sandy Alomar in the sixth spot, almost 300 hits behind Tony Gwynn.