Q&A With Lake Champlain GM Steve Beard

Burlington, VT

Here's the actual transcript between a new Burlington Free Press blogger and GM Beard.


Hello Steve. My name is Dinosaur Jib Tux, I am the NASBL Blogger for the Burlington Free Press. My (a-hole) editor asked I get an official comment from you regarding the upcoming season and the recent trades made by the perennial Taste Great East Cellar Dweller Illinois Chow Chows. So:
Q: Mr. Beard, in light of the aggressive moves made by Brad "The New Elder" Sherlag, do you feel your three-year stranglehold on 3rd place in the TG East is in jeopardy? Have the fans expressed anxiety?

As I said prior to this year's draft, I'm supremely confident LCC can return to its rightful 90+ win / 3rd place spot in the TGE. At the risk of angering a sleeping giant, I'm pretty sure 4th place in our division will once again be nailed down by a Sherlag with a good record. Have the fans expressed anxiety? Not in the least. Sales of giant LCC foam souvenir "thringers" (a slip-on sponge hand with three fingers proudly extended) have never been higher.


Q: In case the rumors from FireSteveBeard.com, a rabid LCC fan site, are true and your head has actually been in the sand, here are the deals for your review:

• GRK sends Carlos Zambrano and GRK #4 to ILL for James Shields and ILL #1

• LVI sends Angel Pagan to ILL for Chad Gaudin and ILL #2

  
  

Your comment?

I was surprised to see former Cannibal James Shields go. Just a few months ago, Brad had told me he was a believer in Shields. I actually was wondering who got the better end of the deal on this one just in terms of 2010 pitcher performance, but that was only until GRK GM Johnny Miller cued me in that Shields was getting consistently shelled in spring training action. We've seen Big Z before, in a Hawaiian cerulean wave shirt. But he may be a bit tougher on this year's Cannibal squad, as we've gone more RHB-heavy than normal.

Angel Pagan doesn't raise too many concerns in a strictly head-to-head sense. He's very tough against right-handed pitchers, but here at Lake Champlain we teach all our pitchers to throw with the left hand (except for the intransigent Edwin Jackson, who makes up for his right-handedness by having a left-hander's stuff: in an effort to fit in he gives up more bombs to RHB).

Q: LCC GM Steve Beard used to have the handle Trader Beard. But in recent years LCC has taken a more passive approach to the trade market. Should the CanniFans, as they call themselves, expect a swift and decisive response to ILL's statement moves?

I intend to act with a swift and decisive level of passiveness. Inaction, after all, is a form of action. I took the long view on this year's team, and had a plan for it almost from the day the 2009 season ended (for us that day was August 1st). Despite one somewhat more than casual flirtation with "that really hot girl who you know just wouldn't be good for you, but still" (Albert Pujols), I've been sticking with that plan pretty much straight through.

Q: It used to be hard enough to keep up with HHA and SPR. Now ILL is nipping at your heels. Will the realization that the TG East is getting even stronger rekindle the long-rumored realignment talks at the NASBL Head Offices in St. Albans, VT? Is it true that you commissioned a Blue Ribbon Panel of experts to examine how to broaden NASBL's appeal and one of their suggestions was a radical floating realignment plan?

Only one team in the TGE has ever proposed realignment, and it wasn't LCC. The proposal was several years ago, and the NASBL's annual Blue Ribbon Panel rightfully responded to the suggestion with much the same revulsion as Joe Buck responding to Randy Moss's moondance at Lambeau field several years ago. (Editor's Note: Ironic that GM Beard would drop a mooning reference, many in the FSB.com camp think that's exactly what he's been doing to his fanbase for the last 4 years)

Q: Additionally, a recent addition to ILL's rotation was 1st round pick Brett Anderson. Anderson was acquired with LCC's former #1 round pick and is seen by scouts as someone with a great future who also possesses a quality card for the upcoming season. We know how LCC historically adores 'backward cards', and Anderson certainly is a backward lefty. How do you feel now that in hindsight it's obvious LCC let a prototypical LCC-style player get through the cracks?

C'mon, this is a Barbara Walters style softball of a question. The pick with which we could've gotten Brett Anderson was the same pick that yielded us Troy Tulowitzki. As much as I would've like to have added a 7th left-handed starter to our rotation (seriously - we already have 6), it was definitely past time to replace Edgar Renteria at short. While Tulo didn't add much last year other than defense and occasional power (6hr in 204 ab with LCC), that's 2 more things than Edgar was bringing to the table. Okay, maybe that's not fair. Edgar was bringing several things to the table, not least of which were a fork, a knife, and a beer gut. But none of that was really translating as well on the field as we had hoped.

Q: Another LCC-mantra is to not value corner OFers and 1b-men too much. Players at these positions are easy to obtain and should not have too much invested in them in terms of salary, draft position, etc. Yet, with LCC's first 2 picks in the 2010 NASBL Rookie/Free Agent Draft, GM Beard pulled the trigger on Garrett Jones and Nick Johnson. Both of whom are defensive liability, 1b/OF/DH types. The exact type of player that has littered the Cannibals roster in the past. Fans were promised a shift away from this beer league softball roster management, but here we go again. Can you please explain why a) you seemingly reverted to the old beer league school and b) you used valuable draft picks on otherwise easy to obtain skill sets.

This in part goes back to the Tulowitzki deal - we actually spent our 1st round pick on defense at a critical up the middle position. Combined with the other big LCC in-season trade in 2009 where offensive and defensive OBA machine Chipper Jones went south (about 30 minutes south) for defensive whiz Ryan Zimmerman, and the defensive skills of incumbent flycatchers Curtis Granderson, JD Drew, and Chris Young, this could be one of the better defensive LCC teams ever. With regard to why GI Jones and Nick Johnson are now on board, they as well as fellow defensive liability Luis Castillo represented what we like to think of as singularities in the Strat world: The best at one phase of the game at one position. In the case of Jones, we looked at him as the best power-hitting corner guy in the deck. We looked at Johnson as the best OBA guy in the deck. And while Castillo isn't the best OBA guy in the deck, he's the best at one of those "add a bunch of categories together" comparisons that Bill James abhors so much: Best OBA guy vsR at 2b. Johnson and Castillo were 2 of the guys that were in The Plan for quite some time. Johnson since last fall, and Castillo after we were unable to pull of a Felipe Lopez trade with NJT prior to the roster cutbacks.

So while it's true LCC doesn't like to spend big on easy to obtain skill sets, on draft day the thought in the War Room was that "highest OBA card in the deck" wasn't so much an easy to obtain skillset as a unique skillset we only had one chance at grabbing. It could certainly be argued that we overpaid for that skillset, but I looked at it like it was a planned expense that was in the budget.

As far as old-school beer league softball is concerned, I guess ultimately I'm guilty as charged. I'm genuinely interested in seeing how close the LCC offensive plan of "two OBA guys followed by seven 20+ HR guys" can come to the annual Cannibal goal of 1,000 runs scored.

Sioux Offseason Update - Hot Stove Edition

Burlington, VT -

The dust has finally settled (well, almost) on the travesty that was the 2009 Less Filling League Championship Series. For the first time since they blew a 3-0 series lead against Pennylegion's game Pilots squad, Vermont Fighting Sioux management and players have been seen in actual daylight. The hangover and hibernation were long and wrought with grief and Dewars.

But it's the dawn of a new day (/keeps telling himself that). Sioux GM Justin Rabidoux is proud to announce that he recently received his Stage 6 Merit Badge from the local chapter of Brotherhood of the 7 Stages of Grief. Stage 6 is Reconstruction and Working Through. And gosh darnit, that's just what we'll do. Stages 1 to 3 were so hard on the Sioux front office, that rumors of a possible liquidation of all assets, including Albert Pujols himself, were being considered. However, as they made "The Upward Turn", or Stage 5 to you fellow Merit Badge holders, the Sioux soon realized the folly of such thinking.

With that out of the way, it's time for the Sioux to evaluate their roster and off-season options. Vermont certainly has 17 worthy keepers, but they also have a need come draft day. That need is mainly picks. In the mad race for the (elusive) NASBL World Series trophy, the Sioux traded picks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 away. 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, eh Mr. Tennyson?

The following players are hereby available for trade in return for draft picks.

RHRP - Ramon Ramirez - RR put together another great season out of the pen. Posting 69.2 IP with a great 0.623 OPS vs. RHB. Has proven himself a valuable SOM commodity. For the Sioux in '09 he posted a 2.89 ERA and held RHB to a sick .180 avg. and only 1 HR in 133 ABs. Perfect fit for a contender. I want to keep him, but he may be worth more to you than to the rebuilding Sioux.

LHRP - Hideki Okajima - Very productive 61 IP at your disposable. But did you know this, he held LHB to a 0.467 OPS. That's not a misprint, 0.467 OPS. Even the Royals think that sucks. Hideki continues to be a dependable workhorse into his 30s, posting his 3rd straight 60+ IP MLB season. Once. Again. 0.467 OPS. Same story as Ramon, I'll gladly keep him, but you should want him more than I do.

1b/DH - Aubrey Huff - He continues to hit and hit. The Sioux have Lyle Overbay locked into the backup 1b/DH slot, making Huff expendable.

2b/3b - Akinori Iwamura - An injury cut his season short, but he did return and play in the last 25 MLB games, and did so well enough to get acquired by the Pirates as their everyday 2b. Only one year removed from his season as a "1" at 2b, all signs point to a solid rebound for Aki. Only available due to Robinson Cano's great '09 MLB season. And don't look at Aki simply as a down the road chip, he still has 231 ABs for you with a 2 range at 2b and a sick 0.942 OPS vs. LHP. Perfect platoon player at 2b, and with that OPS even good enough to be a DH vs. LHP.

SP/RP - Francisco Liriano - Now a full two years removed from Tommy John surgery, he's a great low risk/high reward candidate for a team with excess picks or the gambling jones. Don't forget how good he was his rookie season, no reason to think that given adequate recovery time, which he's had, he can't produce for you in the future. Liriano had his troubles last year, but he still produced a 8.0 K/9 ratio, good stuff indeed. Had 5 relief appearance, so could be a decent 140 IP reliever to fill in for usage issues also.

Sioux Shore Up for Stretch Run

Burlington, VT

The Vermont Fighting Sioux capped off a frenzied few days on the trade market early this morning by acquiring burnt-out reliever Cory Wade from Lake Champlain. Wade fits nicely into the last but least category, as he's by far the least splash-worthy acquisition.

To recap, in order of splashy to Wade:

1. Vermont trades the future for playoff nirvana (possible copyright infrigement), sending the 7th overall pick in the 2007 draft Ryan Zimmerman to Lake Champlain in exchange for the ageless Chipper Jones. Zimmerman was producing a .262 average for Vermont; Chipper .375 up on the Lake. Zimmerman finished his 2.5 year VFS career with a .253 batting average, 45 HRs and 201 RBIs along with some darn good defense. Ryan also littered the Top 10 in a dozen plus career Sioux offensive categories and was an all-around good egg.
2. Gone is Cliff Floyd, he of the .195 batting average for VFS (fun Floyd fact, he has a -14 OPS+ for the Padres this year). In return Vermont acquires Aubrey Huff from the Illinois Chow Chows. Huff has been chowing down on NASBL pitching all year to a .320 clip and will figure prominently at both the DH and 1b (fixing Albert Pujols overusage issues along the way!!) spots. Vermont also surrendered their 2nd and 5th round picks to ILL in the deal.
3. In a trade featuring players with zero future value, Brett Myers was sent packing to Troy in exchange for Jesse Litsch. This year Myers was 8-6, 5.45 for VFS and Litsch 5-7, 4.85 in TRY. The hope is Vermont's offense will give Litsch the run support he needs to become the #3 option in the rotation behind Ervin Santana & Jeff Suppan (no joke, 6-1, 4.42). TRY gained a 3rd round pick from the Sioux in addition to Myers' pleasant disposition. In 4.5 seasons as a middle-of-the-rotation guy, Myers produced the exact type of numbers you'd expect, a 38-37 record to go with a 5.60 ERA and a decent 6.9 K/9 ratio. Brett's 38 wins are sadly good enough for #3 on the all-time VFS wins list, edging former gamer Brian Lawrence by 1 win. His 593 Ks make puts him atop the Sioux career leader list in that category. 良い不戦勝者〔付け足し〕の野茂英雄、私たちはあなたがいなくて残念に思います (or good-bye Hideo Nomo, we miss you).
4. Wade for Joel Hanrahan and a #8 pick. Jockey/GM Steve Beard whipped Wade like Mine That Bird after 5 furlongs and he offers no value to VFS this regular season. This, along with all other moves, is clearly a move made with an eye toward the playoffs.

There are 59 games left this year on the Sioux calendar. The 4 trades resulted in +40 Win Shares for Vermont, roughly equating to 13 wins over a 162 game season, or 5 more wins the rest of the way. Will those 5 extra wins be enough to get the Sioux a coveted 1st round bye in the playoffs? They better given the value (Zimmerman and 4 draft picks) that was doled out to acquire the additional wins. Win shares are only one metric and their Strat relevance is questionable at best, but it's an easy one to apply.

In summary, Vermont shored up their rotation, added a great arm out of the pen and picked up two hitters who can flat-out mash. In fact, if one were to use LCC-like lineup setting skills (defense be damned!!), here's what a future Sioux lineup could look like:

RF Raul Ibanez

3b Chipper Jones

2b Albert Pujols (yes, he's rated there)

LF Carlos Quentin

DH Aubrey Huff

SS Mike Aviles

1b Lyle Overbay

C Kelly Shoppach

CF Grab bag of poop (Crisp, Pacman, Gerut)

Plenty of defensive subs remain to fill in at late innings if need be. As a wise Canadian beer swilling philospher once said, "Flags fly forever."

LVI Slugger Packs Bags for New England

Burlington, VT



The Vermont Fighting Sioux have acquired slugging LF Carlos Quentin from the Leigh Valley Iron Pigs as well as LVI's 4th round pick in exchange for the Sioux's coveted 1st and 2nd round picks (#3 in each round). Quentin's bat will be immediately plugged into the cleanup spot to provide protection for all-world 1b Albert Pujols.



Accused of overpaying in the blogoshpere, Sioux GM Justin Rabidoux responded by saying "Any time you can add a young player the caliber of Carlos, 26, you do what you can. If that means paying a bit too much, then that's what we'll do. Besides, we still have Georgia's #1 pick from the [John] Lackey deal, so we still have a chance to strike it rich in the draft. Plus, after we missed out on Matt Holliday, we got beat up in the media. Now, we make a move, and get hammered. Go figure."



LVI GM Kevin Burns is sure to be a happy Pig. In only one season in NASBL, Burns has established himself as an astute evaluator of talent and will surely make wise decisions with his new found draft picks.

Vermont Welcomes Raúl Ibañez

Burlington, VT



In a short press release today, the Vermont Fighting Sioux announced the acquisition of LF/DH Raúl Ibañez from the Less Filling Champions Miami Surf in exchange for a 2nd round pick. The press release droned on about the 5 straight MLB seasons of an OBP over .350 and an OPS+ above 1.15 but conveniently left out Raúl's shortcomings in the field, thus the dual positional notation of LF/DH.

The Sioux currently have no DH or LF under contract, so Ibañez is a welcomed addition, regardless of his "range".

スー tribe, gets 2b that attached to smooth defense

Burlington, VT

For the second time in two days, a Less Filling Central club eager to improve on their dismal 2008 performance, made a trade involving a 1-rated second sacker. Instead of shipping one out of town like division rival GCG, the Vermont Fighting Sioux acquired Akinori Iwamura from the Springfield Isotopes in exchange for a 2nd round draft pick (LVI's #2) in the 2009 NASBL Rookie/Free Agent draft.

In addition to flashing his leather, the presumptive American League Gold Glove runner-up will be part of a platoon at 2b with the incumbent, Robinson Cano. Switch hitting Aki will face RHP (.356 obp in '08 MLB) while the lefty Cano will oppose LHP (.349).

Vermont now boasts an impressive defensive infield with 1s at 1b (Albert Pujols), 2b (Aki), ss (Jack Wilson) and a 2 at 3b (Ryan Zimmerman). Lord knows the pitching staff will need all the help it can get.

"This move was made necessary by Robbie posting a career low OPS+ for the parent club this past season. If he bounces back this year, we'll be in the enviable position of having two talented second basemen", said Sioux GM Justin Rabidoux. When relayed that quote, a miffed Cano stated, "Bounce back, I've got your bounce back right here" while pointing to his nether region.

Hurt feelings aside, this move improves the Vermont club, but is the dealing done? "Hopefully not yet", replied a weary Rabidoux from his stool at the local saloon. Rabidoux is rumored to be upset at himself as a result of being late in the Matt Holliday sweepstakes but is definitely in the market for a big bat and has the draft picks to get a deal done.

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.

Big Hurt packs bags for Vermont

Burlington, VT -

In an effort to improve their production from the DH spot the Vermont Fighting Sioux have acquired Frank Thomas from the Illinois Chow Chows in exchange for a 4th round pick. Last year in Illinois Thomas had 28 HRs and 86 RBIs.

Vermont GM Justin Rabidoux would gladly take that production in 2008. The DH spot was vacant after Vermont sent longtime Sioux hero Carlos Delgado to Miami for a 3rd round pick. "All in all, it was a great swap for us", said Rabidoux, "By every measure Frank was more productive than Carlos in 2007 and we improved our overall draft picks in the process", referring to the fact that in addition to the personnel swapped Vermont added a #3 pick in the Delgado trade and gave up a #4 pick for Thomas.

For Thomas, who will be joining his 6th NASBL team in 10 years, joining Vermont has always been a dream, "I've hopped all around the league, but my real goal has been to enjoy my IHOP triple stack with real maple syrup, yum"! The Big Hurt is projected to bat cleanup in Delgado's old place behind Albert Pujols.

Sioux Bid Adieu to Slugger Carlos Delgado

Burlington, VT -

The Vermont Fighting Sioux have reached a deal with the Miami Surf to send Carlos Delgado south in exchange for a 3rd round draft pick. Carlos, who had a no trade clause in his contract, had this to say "While I am sad to leave, will be refreshing for have not that to move with spade the snow already. I expect to see all those fine southern women of Beach (sic)".

Local blogs are already hammering home the "there is no royalty in big time sports" angle. They point to Carlos' 5 great seasons as Vermont's cleanup hitter (and King Albert's protection) when he averaged 33 HRs and 93 RBIs. His greatest individual moment came amidst a tough time for his team, the 2007 NASBL playoffs. Delgado was a beast during the Sioux's run to the Less Filling LCS hammering 8 HRs and driving in 19 in Vermont's 11 playoff games.

Throughout his tenure in Vermont he made pitchers pay for pitching around Pujols, including a game winning grand slam in the playoffs this past season. Carlos came to Vermont in an early season trade in 2003 with the Georgia Roadkill. In what eventually became on of the better trades in Vermont's history, Carlos was acquired (along with a 1st and 3rd round draft pick) for the aging needle addict Sammy Sosa. GM Justin Rabidoux used that first round pick to acquire Rocco Baldelli. While Baldelli didn't accomplish much in a Sioux uniform, he was packaged in a trade that netted Vermont's all time saves leader, Billy Wagner.

SavetheSioux.ca/blogspot, the most fanatical off the Sioux fan blogs (which originates from Sherbrooke, Quebec, about 45 minutes north of Vermont's home offices) posted this comment today, "First we divided our well-loved Expos with the Puerto Rico, only finally to lose them. This most of recent disgrace is an insult to the basis of fan of northern Vermont. Carlos was a local hero in top here, and we powerful torqued off by his departure. GM Rabidoux has a lot to do to win return our support. Indeed, we can begin just to pull for the Cannibals, that have a file of good proved track border relations as testified by their matter of love of all things Larry the Walker".

The team wished Carlos well and he is sure to be enshrined in the Ring of Honor where all Vermont's baseball heroes of yesterday reside.

Good bye Carlos, we will miss you for moments like these: