We wanted a World Series run with Bryce Harper in the fold, but injuries down the stretch and poor pitching and hitting led to a disappointing 2nd place finish. Yankees prevailed over Cubs. Looking at the roster we have huge holes developing in LF and CF. With Pham's decline and Almora's limitations. Is Rooker ready? We need another top pitcher as DeLeon showed he isn't a number 2 and will miss part of the season anyway. Could the Dragon (Devenski) be stretched into a starter? The bullpen could use a refresher, its the same group from the inaugural season. Can we get a catcher better than Nido? Should we just wait on Elih Marrero? Is it time to move Tellez and is Candelario a piece we are truly happy with? Segura and Bauer are looking for paydays so they are both gone. I guess this roster isn't as ready as we had hoped.
League Rule Changes
Wild Card is back. It was gone since the 2019 expansion, but its back. There will now be a 5th playoff team in each league. The Wild Card team will be the team with the best record without a division title. This team will play a 5 game series with the worst division winner for a chance to play the #1 seed in a seven game series. The #1, #2, #3 teams will get a week break during the Wild Card round.
Retirements- Manager Terry Francona
- Robinson Cano
- Felix Hernandez
- Tommy Pham
Owners Report
He was unsatisfied with our 2nd lace finish. He was thrilled with Tann at SS. We matched his attendance expectations. He still sees us as having time to win.
His new goals are to win a championship, upgrade 2B (doesn't like All-Star Brandon Lowe???), Improve Steals (we are 13th), and continue to build a championship by 2025.
With what money? 110M, a 15M increase. However, 13 players are arbitration eligible and we expect 11M in raises if we don't move players of negotiate cheaper deals. The eligible players are very interested in long term contracts on an expansion team with turn-style managers (Maddon/Francona).
I was given 3 more years as GM.
We raised ticket prices to $16
Awards
AL Silver Slugger - Bruce Harper
AL Rookie of the Year- Twig Macia
AL MVP- Bryce Harper
Team Transactions
We traded CF Albert Almora and Rp Carl Edwards Jr. to White Sox for gold glove candidate CF Charlie Tilson.
Signed new manager Luis "Auggie" Alguacil to a 5 year deal. At age 59 he isn't a retirement risk. He has been Cleveland's bench coach for the last three seasons with win totals of 103, 102, and 96. He favors kids and speed and is a new school sabermetrics manager. We are hoping Auggie represents a bright future for the Mist.
Signed free agent OF Tyrone Taylor to minor league deal
Signed free agent SS Nick Ahmed to minor league deal
Signed international free agent OF Kein-lung 'KL' Thum. The 25 year ld has an amazing eye and good speed, he has the potential to be a starter on the Mist by seasons end.
Signed free agent C Elias Diaz to compete for backup
League Transactions
Arenado with LAD
Stroman with LAD
Donaldson with DET
Posey with TB
Marte with STL
Kluber with SF
Spring Training
Trying to make sense of this roster and get healthy for the season. Word out of re-season camp is how major league ready 1B/LF Blake Billinger is anyhow he might be the best looking prospect in baseball. We will wait for spring injuries to others and have them all around in case injuries find us. DeLeon is injured. Nido and Lowe do not look as good as a year ago. We have more battles than a contender typically has but we are still hopeful.
Signed LHP Jerry West, 2B Corey Spangenberg, LHP Tony Cingrani, and SS Jean Segura
INJ- SP Miguel Lahera out for season with torn labrum. He will be missed.
Mist predicted to win 107 games! Top 10 hype around Harper, Macia, Billinger, Salter, Tann, Quintana, Devenski, Alexander, Banda, and Cutitta
Top 200 Prospects
System ranked 2nd- last year 1st
1. SP Henler De Jesus 6 AAA
2. LF Blake Billinger 8 MLB
3. LF KL Thum 16 MLB
4. SP Freddy Tarnok 48 AA
5. 2B Luis Espinoza 69 R
6. RF Luis Zamora 90 R
7. 1B Andrew Vaughn 127 AA
8. 1B Tim Breyer 131 R
Opening Day Roster 2022
Manager: Auggie Alguacil
1. Steve Alxender
2. Jose Quintana
3. Chris Devenski
4. Anthony Banda
5. Guilano Cutitta
CL Michael Feliz
SU Lincoln Henzman
LH Paco Rodriguez
LH Joe Jensen
RH Mason McCullough
RH Tony Zych
RH Sammy Tuivailala
C Tomas Nido
C Elias Diaz
1B Blaise Salter
2B Brandon Lowe
3B Twig Macia
SS Yao-Pang Tann
IF Jean Segura
IF Nick Ahmed
LF KL Thum
CF Charlie Tilson
RF Bryce Harper
OF Brent Rooker
DH Blake Billinger
2022 Regular Season
APRIL
Record 13-8 1st
AL Pitcher of the Month- Jose Quintana
MAY
1 LHP Joe Jensen re-assigned to AAA, SS Ahmed re-assigned to AAA
LHP Tony Cingrani called up, OF Tyrone Taylor called up
2 AL Player of the Week- Bryce Harper
6. SP Cutitta torn labrum- placed on DL, SP Brad Dupler called up
9 SP Banda tossed shutout vs Angels
13 CL Feliz out 2 weeks with finger blister (DL), RP Takamu Tigers called up
26 SP Banda tossed shutout vs A's
30 AL Player of the Week- Twig Macia
31 CL Michael Feliz activated from DL, SP Dupler re-assigned
Record- 28-20
AL Pitcher of the Month- Anthony Banda
AL Rookie of the Month- Blake Billinger
JUNE
6 RF Harper placed on DL with sprained knee, OF Greg Deichmann called up, C Diaz waived, C Elih Marrero called up
10 DH Billinger hit streak reaches 20 games
12 SP Rogers slipped in bath tub an has undisclosed injury (DL), SP Shelby Miller signed
Drafted RF Kevin Bortnick with 1st round pick (20th)
14 CF Tilson placed on DL with forearm strain, OF Leudys Baez called up
17 OF Taylor placed on DL with chronic back soreness. We have no CFs
20 Signed CF Kevin Pillar, OF Baez re-assigned to AAA, SS Orlando Garcia called up
AL Player of the Week- KL Thum (leading off for Tilson)
29 We traded RP Greg Deichmann, (A) CF Ted Clymer and (A) C Isaias Quiroz to Astros for top reliever Koda Glover and minor league RP Jon Luster.
We traded R Mason McCUllough to Marlins for (AAA) LF Jordan Paroubeck, (R) RP Pat Newberry, and (A) LF Kea'von Edward.
Record- 41-34
AL Rookie of the Month- KL Thum
JULY
5 Scouting Director Tom Allison signed 5 year extension
Assistant GM Jeff Kingston signed 3 year extension
Bench Coach Zack Cozart signed 1 year extension
7 RF Harper activated from DL, Paroubeck re-assigned
9 SP Alexander placed on DL
13 OF Taylor activated from DL
7 Mist Selected as All-Stars: Quintana, Feliz, Alexander, Banda, Macia, Tann, and Harper
17 RP Rogers placed on DL with bicep tear
18 CF Pillar placed on DL (sprained elbow)
20 SP Alexander and Cf Tilson activated from DL
26 CF Tilson placed on DL with herniated disc in his back, OF Taylor re-called
Record- 61-41. 1st
AL Rookie of the Month- Blake Billinger
AUGUST
8 DH Billinger hits 3 HR in one game
10 CF Tilson activated from DL, Taylor reassigned
SS Garcia re-assigned, OF Paroubeck re-called
24 SP Shelby Miller signed a 2 year extension at 1.5M per. He has been a life saver.
OF KL Thum placed on DL with strained oblique. CF Pillar activated
27 SP Banda placed on DL with herniated disc, SP De Jesus called up
RF Harper playing through sprained elbow
30 SP Chris Devenski tossed a shutout vs Mariners
Record: 79-51 1st
AL Player of the Month- Bryce Harper
AL Rookie of the Month- Blake Billinger
SEPTEMER
1. Roster Expands: Dupler, Rogers, Garcia, Taylor, Diaz, Ahmed, Baez, plus SP Freddy Tarnok, RP Connor Lillis-White, and SS AJ Graffanino
2 OF Thum placed on DL
18 OF Thum activated
21 SP Banda activated from DL, Devenski back to bullpen
25 Mist clinch division title
27 SP Guiliano Cutitta activated from DL
Word from SP Jose DeLeon's rehab is that he is completely wrecked and might never be a MLB pitcher again
Record- 98-60 1st
AL Rookie of the Month- Blake Billinger
OCTOBER
3. SP Miller sprained elbow
Record- 99-63
Team Leaders 2022
AVG: Macia (.305), Billinger (.298), Harper (.294)
HR: Billinger (38), Macia (34), Salter (29)
RBI: Salter (117), Billinger (110), Macia (109)
ERA: Banda (3.27), Quintana (3.70), Alexander (4.13)
W: Quintana (19), Devenski (13), Banda (12)
K: Quintana (206), Devenski (191), Banda (154)
Quintana led league in BB/9 and BB/K
Billinger led the league n HR hit at home with 29
2022 Playoff Roster
Manager: Auggie Alguacil
1. Jose Quintana
2. Steve Alexander
3. Anthony Banda
4. Henler DeJesus
CL Michael Feliz
SU Koda Glover
LH Paco Rodrguez
LH Kennan Pippy
RH Chris Devenski
RH Lincoln Henzman
RH Tony Zych
RH Sammy Tuivailala
C Elih Marrero
C Tomas Nido
1B Blaise Salter
2B Jean Segura
3B Twig Macia
SS Yao-Pang Tann
IF Brandon Lowe
LF KL Thum
CF Charlie Tilson
RF Bryce Harper
OF Brent Rooker
OF Kevin Pillar
DH Blake Billinger
We are ready for a run at this thing. This team appears ready. We have the three tough lefties in the four man rotation, a strengthen bullpen, and four 100 RBI hitters not named Bryce Harper who had a mid-season injury.
Playoff
WILDCARD
Rockies lost to White Sox
Braves defeated Phillies
DIVISIONAL
White Sox @ Astros
Red Sox @ Mist
Braves @ Padres
Cardinals @ Dodgers
ALDS- Boston Red Sox vs Portland Mist
Game 1- Fujinami @ Quintana
BOS 3 7 2 L- Fujinami 0-1
POR 7 11 0 W- Quintana 1-0 H- Glover Sv- Feliz
POG- Quintana 7.2IP. 6H. 3R. 11K
HR- Harper, Rooker
INJ- Thum (will miss game 2)
Game 2- Sale @ Alexander
BOS 9 13 0. L- Sale 0-1
POR 11 13 0. W- Devenski 1-0 Sv- Feliz (2)
POG- Salter. 3/3 2 HR
HR- Rooker (2), Billinger, Nido, Salter 2(2)
Thum diagnosed with partially torn labrum. Out for playoffs.
Game 3- Banda @ Price
POR 5. 7. 0 L- Banda 0-1
BOS. 8 11. 2 W- Eickoff 1-0 Sv- Therrien
POG- Dalbec 2/3 HR
HR- Tann, Billinger (2)
Game 4- DeJesus @ Perez
POR 2. 5. 1. L- DeJesus 0-1
BOS 3. 8. 0. W- Perez 1-0 Sv- Therrien (2)
POG- Perez. 7IP. 3H. 1R. 4K
HR- Macia, Salter (3)
Series tied 2-2
Game 5- Quintana @ Fujinami
POR 11. 15. 0. W- Devenski 2-0 Sv- Feliz (3)
BOS. 8. 10. 0. L- Fujinami 0-1
POG- Bogearts 3/4. 2 HR
HR- Tann (2), Tilson
INJ- Macia and Billinger (not serious)
Game 6- Sale @ Alexander
BOS. 6. 5. 0. L- Sale 0-2
POR. 9. 7. 0 W- Alexander 1-0 Sv- Feliz (4)
POG- Macia 2/4. 2 HR. 4 RBI
HR- Macia 2(3), Harper (2)
Portland Mist win our first playoff series in franchise history, defeating tough Red Sox team.
ALDS MVP- Twig Macia
OF KL Thum taken off playoff roster
OF Jordan Paroubeck added
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Mist @ Astros
Dodgers @ Padres
ALCS- Portland Mist @ Houston Astros
Game 1- Banda @ Carrasco
POR. 10. 15. 0. W- Banda 1-1
HOU. 2. 6. 4. L- Carraco 1-1
POG- Banda 7IP 4H 1R 6K
HR- Rooker (3), Marrero (2)
Astros defense gives Mist a big inning to build on, while All-Star pitcher Banda beat the Stros bats down
Game 2- De Jesus @ Whitley
POR 5. 6. 0. W- De Jesus 1-1
HOU. 0. 4. 0. L- Whitley 1-2
POG- DeJesus 7IP. 3H. 0R. 8K
HR- Macia (4), Lowe
23 year old August callus Henler DeJesus silences a hostile Houston crowd
Game 3- McCullers @ Quintana
HOU 2. 11. 0. W- McCuller 2-0 Sv- Ramos
POR. 0. 7. 1. L- Quintana 1-1
POG- McCullers 7IP. 7H. 0R. 6K
INJ- Billinger
McCUllers Jr steps into spotlight and stops the bleeding. Mist lead series 2-1
Game 4- Graveman @ Alexander
HOU 5. 8. 1. W- Paulino 2-0 Sv- Ramos
POR. 1. 4. 1 L- Alexander 1-1
POG- Sano 2/3. 2 RBI
Astros hold Mist bats in check and even the Series. Will a home team win a home game?
Game 5- Carrasco @ Banda
HOU. 3. 6. 0 W- Carrasco 2-1 Sv- Giles
POR. 2. 6. 0. L- Banda 1-2
POG- Carrasco. 7IP. 6H. 2R. 1K
HR- Billinger (3)
Astros slip past its and head home with a. 3-2 lead. Mist turn to De Jesus.
Game 6- DeJesus @ Whitley
POR. 3. 11. 1 L- De Jesus 1-2
HOU. 7. 11. 0. W- Whitley 2-2 Sv- Ramos
POG- Sano 2/3 HR
Astros take care of business and win 4th in a row to close out Mist
That was a painful end but a good showing and we have room to grow with our young stars.
The Padres defeated the Astros in the World Series