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.

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.

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....