Pilots to Face Sioux in LFCS

Game 1: MSU's Derek Lowe (17-5, 1.81) vs SPL's Cliff Lee (13-12, 4.01). The owner of one of the best ERA's in league history is spotted to a 4-run lead in the bottom of the 1st, when a flurry of Surf hits plate David Wright, Carlos Delgado, Mike Cameron, and Ryan Doumit. The lead, more than twice what Lowe allowed per 9 innings this year, looked safe until the top of the 4th, when a solo shot by Joe Mauer and a 3-run job by Miguel Tejada tied the game. From that point, both starters once again found their strides, trading zeroes until the top of the 7th. The difference in the game was a bases-empty big fly in the bottom of the 8th, giving MSU a 1-run lead. The team with the largest number of 1-run games and 1-run wins in NASBL 2009 (37-17) then took care of business, with Brian Fuentes closing out the 7-6 win. MSU led the series 1-0.

Game 2: MSU's Josh Beckett (10-10, 4.05) vs SPL's Shaun Marcum (9-8, 3.50). In a game where Seattle actually had a pitching edge on paper against the 2nd best pitching team in the league, young starter Shaun Marcum did not disappoint. The 2nd-year starter went 6 strong, striking out 2 and allowing just 1 run on 4 hits. Meanwhile the Pilots offense was going to work on Josh Beckett, scoring one run in the 4th, then strafing him for 2 in both the 5th and 6th innings. Brian Giles and Randy Winn went yard in the 5-1 Pilots win. Series tied at 1-1.

Game 3: SPL's Wandy Rodriguez (6-4, 4.59) hosting MSU's Cole Hamels (13-11, 4.01). Both starters give their teams all that can be expected. Wandy's magic ends in the 6th when he gives up a 2nd run and leaves the game tied 2-2, while Cole is king through 9, when he too leaves the game tied at 3. The game moves to extra innings, a forum where MSU's regular season record was an unparalleled 15-3 (.833). Game 1 closer Brian Fuentes, author of 5 late-inning wins in the regular season, puts up 2 scoreless innings. But despite threatening, MSU's offense is unable to break through against SPL's Latroy Hawkins and Leo Nunez. Finally in the bottom of the 12th, Seattle's aptly named Randy Winn goes yard for the 4-3 win and the 2-1 series lead.

Game 4: D-Lowe vs Cliff Lee II looks like anything but a pitching duel early, as the Surf leads 3-2 after the 1st. But Lowe is practically perfect the rest of the way out. Mike Cameron of the Surf hits his 3rd homerun of the postseason, and David Wright, Ryan Braun, and Carlos Lee add circuit clouts of their own in the 7-2 Surf win. Series tied at 2-2.

Game 5: Daisuke Matsuzaka (11-9, 3.69) of the Surf vs Felix Hernandez (8-12, 5.45). The much-heralded 3rd year man King Felix has never been able to get much traction in the regular season (20-40 career record), but on this October day against an equally highly touted 2nd year man, the King earns his appellation. Hernandez goes 7-1/3, allowing 4 runs (3 earned), while the Pilots put 9 baserunners aboard against Daisuke, plating 5 of them. The Pilots continue to pile it on against the pen, ultimately pushing the score to 8-4, and taking a 3-2 series lead.

Game 6: The series goes back to Miami, with SPL's Shaun Marcum facing MSU's Cole Hamels. Both starters pitch magnificently, turning a 1-1 game over to their respective pens. At the end of 9, the score is still tied at 1 apiece. And also at the end of 10. Finally, in the bottom of the 11th with a man on, veteran post-season hero Carlos Delgado lashes the bat, reversing an Edwar Ramirez pitch for a 2-run walkoff to tie the series up for the 3rd time and forcing a game 7.

Game 7: Cliff Lee vs D-Lowe III. The first two times the teams' aces met, Lee came out on the short end of the hickory stick. In game 7 though, Lee was flawless. The Pilot's ace never allowed the Surf offense to get off the ground, as he scattered 6 hits and a walk while striking out 9 in the deciding game. RBI by Ichiro, Joe Mauer, and Troy Glaus seal the deal for Seattle, who will advance to face Justin Rabidoux's Vermont Fighting Sioux in the Less Filling Championship Series.

Chows On the Block

GM Brad Sherlag is actively shopping a couple of Chows and willing to listen to offers on a few others. The Chows have some roster room this offseason and could potentially deal draft picks for players.

On the Block

Joe Blanton - Blanton is a workhorse who logged 195 innings again this season in MLB. His strikeout rate represents he may have turned a corner. Should be a solid middle of the rotation guy.

John Maine - A nice 1.29 WHIP and a reverse split for his 15 starts make Maine useful next year while you wait for him to recover. He is a definite keeper for the Chows, but paired with Volquez, Maine will force the Chows to carry a lot of starters next year.

Francisco Cordero - Figures to be a set-up man for the Chows, but can easily close for someone. Has a nice ERA and only gave up 2 HR all season. Another guy that is a sure keeper.

Kosuke Fukudome - Fukudome will start for the Chows in RF and play a little CF as well. However, if you need a CF would be willing to deal for a corner outfielder with a better card and similar age.

Chows needs include 2B, OF, and DH. Would also like to upgrade at SP.

LCC Tradewire

Lake Champlain would like to trade 2 for 1, or pick up a draft pick for the following:

Jim Thome: as always, old fella walks and hits homers (.265/.383/.498 vsR)

Jose Valverde: 54ip closer is completely lethal vsR (.144/.231/.269). 2.33 ERA, 1.13 WHIP

Jason "The Razor" Frasor: 57.1ip, solid vsL (.712 OPS), and stupid good vsR (.140/.209/.180). 2.50 ERA, 1.02 WHIP

Takashi Saito: best LOOGY in a right-hand package (.195/.273/.257). 55.2 IP, 2.43 ERA

Jarrod Saltalamacchia: "Armpits" has the longest name in baseball history, and an equally long career ahead of him.

Rickie Weeks: had it going on before the injury that turned...

Craig Counsell: into a starting infielder. Nice defense, nice OBA, very flexible.

David Ortiz: hit 1 HR in the first 2 months, and still ended up with 28. Plenty of spit left in the tank.

Paul Konerko: 28 bombs, and the kind of guy a lefty-loving pitching team probably shouldn't let get loose in the league (1.009 OPS vsL)

Chris B. Young: awful overall season is mitigated by a .920 OPS vsL. Again, very handy for slaying SPR and (alas) LCC starting pitchers.

Hideki Matsui: yet another 28hr guy, the 3rd one we have on the block. Balanced DH card with good OBA and power.

GCG - Post Season Decisions

Trade a 1B? or two??
Next Season does not look as hopeful as this season dd - so where will draft leave me? What will my draft philosphy be? Best Available? Prospect for the future? Stupid pick? Can't wait.

See someone you like - make an offer

Keepers:
1B/3B/OF – Kevin Youkilis BAvg-.305 / 27 HRs
1B – Miguel Cabrera BAvg-.324 / 34 Jacks
1B – Ryan Howard BAvg-.279 / 45 Bombs
1B – Justin Morneau BAvg-.274 / 30 Dingers
OF – Matt Holliday BAvg-.313 / 24 Long Goners
OF – BJ Upton BAvg-.241 / 11 Four Baggers
SS – Stephen Drew BAvg-.261 / 12 Roundtrippers
2B – Dan Uggla BAvg-.243 / 31 Fence Toppers
3B – Alex Gordon BAvg-.232 / 6 Left the Yard
RHSP – Zack Greinke ERA 2.16 / WHIP (it Good) 1.07
RHSP – Matt Garza ERA 3.95 / WHIP 1.26
RHSP – Hiroki Kuroda ERA 3.76 / WHIP 1.14
RHRP – Brian Wilson Saves – 38 / ERA 2.74 / WHIP 1.20
LHRP – George Sherrill Saves – 21 / ERA 1.70 / WHIP 1.12
IL - LHSP - Greg Smith - pitched about 50 minor league innings after injury

On Bubble:
2B/3B/SS – Alberto Callaspo BAvg-.300 / 11 HRs
2B/3B/OF – Jamey Carroll BAvg-.276 / 2 HRs
SS/3B/2B – Jed Lowrie BAvg-.147 / 2 HRs
CA – Ivan Rodriguez BAvg-.249 / 10 HRs
OF – Vernon Wells BAvg-.260 / 15 HRs
RHRP – Jon Rauch – Saves 2 / ERA – 3.60 / WHIP 1.33
RHRP – Brad Ziegler – Saves 7 / ERA 3.07 / WHIP 1.50
RHSP - Braden Looper - ERA 5.22 / WHIP 1.49

Probable Cuts:
CA – Gerald Laird BAvg-.225 / 4 HRs
OF – Fred Lewis* BAvg-.258 / 4 HRs
RHRP – Chad Durbin Saves – 2 / ERA 4.39 / WHIP 1.48
RHRP – Joe Nelson Saves – 3 / ERA 4.02 / WHIP 1.46
LHSP – Odalis Perez – did not pitch in 2009
RHSP – Mark Prior – has not pitched for several years
RHRP – Steve Shell – ERA 5.40 / WHIP 1.40
LHRP – Brian Shouse – ERA 4.50 / WHIP 1.36

GCG’s Mediocrity Replaces Usual Ineptness

Grundy County joined the NASBL in 2001. For years GCG has been the cellar dwellers or perhaps bomb shelter dwellers as we got blasted day-in and day-out. Fortunes may have turned around for the Bears after winning our most games (75) of our nine year history and taking 2nd place in the weakest division in the NASBL for the second year in a row. The Grizzlies were a preseason favorite and possible pick for their first ever playoff. The Fighting Sioux were even so worried that the Bears could be a challenger that they paid a huge price to acquire Carlos Quentin as the 2009 rookie draft was about to begin.

Well, the Griz were viewed by their fans as failures again – but this time it was not because they were bad with no hope. We left spring training as a challenger. We ended the season as a pretender.

This Year’s Plusses/Highlights
1st ever 100+ RBI Season – Ryan Howard – 103
1st ever 30+ Homeruns Season (previous high 27) – Ryan Howard – 37 (in a park rated 0)
2nd on Season High Runs scored – BJ Upton 100 (Pierre 1st w/ 101 Runs)
Tied for 2nd Season Batting Average – Matt Holliday .311 (tied with Pierre/Pierre also No.1 w/ .350)
1st in Season Doubles – Justin Morneau - 41
Ryan Howard set anew Griz most extra base hits season record with 61
BJ Upton (81) edged Matt Holliday (76) as the new season high on free passes
Odalis Perez (a trash pick this year) Best ever Season ERA 3.05 and Winning Percentage .733 (11-4)

This year’s failures:
Longest winning streak 6 games (once/4 @ home & 2 on road), then four games twice, three games twice. Can’t win a pennant if you can’t string some Ws. Major league comparable – 2009 Griz pretty similar to 2008 Tigers.

Knights Ship Out Kendall, Reacquire Guzman in First Deal of 2010

(New York Daily Mirror - October 7, 2009)

NEW YORK - The Knights certainly aren't waiting for the demolition to begin on old Empire Field before starting to prepare for the 2010 season. The club didn't even wait for catcher Jason Kendall to completely clean out his locker after the Knights' recently completed 2009 campaign in which Kendall caught every inning of every game, thanks to the ineptitude of the front office.

While the scaffolding is going up around Empire Field and last minute preparations are being made for the grand opening of spanking-new Knights Field next door, the Knights have already made their first move of the '10 season, trading the stalwart backstop Kendall, an NASBL All-Star in 2009, and the team's fourth round pick in 2010 to Springfield for shortstop Cristian Guzman.

The trade immediately fills a gaping hole in the Knights infield, but the team doesn't appear to be all that concerned about the creation of another one. With captain Michael Young moving to third next season and Clint Barmes manning second, the Knights needed a shortstop. The 'Topes needed a catcher and a higher-level draft pick for 2010, so a match was born.

Guzman, 31, is not a stranger to New York, having played for the Knights in their inaugural season in 2001. He batted a meager .224 then but did smack 13 triples, a team record that still stands. The Knights cut him after the 2001 season, but he was picked up by the Roadkill and had several solid seasons in Georgia. In limited playing time for the 'Topes in '09, Guzman hit .281 with 8 homers, 38 RBI and a .727 OPS.

Kendall, 35, just completed his 11th season in the NASBL, but surely none was more taxing on his abilities. Long-known for his durability, Kendall was forced to catch all of the Knights' 162 games in 2009 due to a front-office error that caused the club to carry only one catcher this season - him. The team's efforts to land a second catcher via a mid-season trade were not successful. A career .304 batter in the NASBL, Kendall has hit over .300 in all but two seasons and has over 1,500 career hits. But the grind of catching 162 games wore him down, causing his offensive production to drop off prohibitively. His .233 average is a career low and he managed just a .599 OPS in 2009.

Apparently, the Knights did not have Kendall in their future plans, even as a backstop. This raised the hackles of some Knights, who felt that the club owed him a debt of gratitude and shouldn't have given him the bum's rush. "It ain't right," said CF Matt Kemp earlier this afternoon when told of the trade. "The man busted his horns for the team and they just throw him out? Sheeeit." Captain Michael Young was more diplomatic about it: "Jason's a great guy and a great teammate, but I know that the club is looking to get younger at catcher. Over the past few years, we've had some older catcher like Javy (Lopez), Varitek and now Jason. The club's looking for someone to anchor that spot for years to come."

Some in the media were surprised when the Knights passed on Geovany Soto with the overall first pick in the draft, but Mitch Pak's instincts in this case were right; while Soto had an OK rookie season with Troy, the team's first pick, Jon Lester, was a 12-game winner with a 3.81 ERA and will probably garner some Rookie of the Year votes.

Chows Season a Mixed Bag

News and Notes from Around the Chows

The Doctor is In – Roy Halladay was a horse for the Chows setting franchise marks in pretty much every category. Below are the franchise single season records set by Halladay with the old record in parenthesis. Doc has an outside chance of becoming the first Chow to win the Cy Young Award.

Wins – 19 (15)
CG – 22 (13)
Sho – 4 (2)
ERA 3.28 (4.24)
IP 268.2 (246.1)
K 221 (183 – also broken by Volquez)

Is That how You Spell Shawn? – Morandini was convinced all season that Chone Figgins would turn things around and start getting on base. Figgins continued to lead-off against RHP all season despite batting just .234. Chone’s On-Base percentage was only .312 and his OPS was a barely believable .576. “We kept waiting for Chone to approach his MLB numbers but he never came close.” In the majors in 2008, Chone had an OBP of .378.

Driving Them In – The Chows failed to have anyone on the club drive in 100 runs. Beltran came close with 93. The worst part is that departed chow Huff still managed to come in 4th on the club with 64 despite only playing in 82 games. Ramirez and Pena were barely able to best Huff – driving in 69 and 76.

Too Bad you Can’t Steal 1st Base – Rushed into the starting line-up late in the year after the departure of DeJesus, Bourn was clearly not ready for prime time. He batted only .204 with an OBP of .248 but still managed to lead the Chows with 23 steals.

Power Arm – Rookie hurler Edinson Volquez struck out 219 hitters in 213 innings and won 13 games for the Chows. He was either very good or very bad finishing the year with a 5.43 ERA but hurling 5 complete games and posting a winning record.

Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, K-E-L-L-Y – Why did GM Brad Sherlag think Kelly was a 1st Round talent? Johnson essentially lost his job to Mark Ellis by the end of the year. Kelly was supposed to be the heavy hitter of the Chows 2B combo but posted an OPS of only .696 for the season. Rumor has Prado moving over from 3B and Johnson being cut. Can you say bust?