OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Making The Move Upstate: A Buffalo Nickels Story

dward1 · 03-20-2020, 06:18 PM

Overall Record: 16-17
Run Differential: -25
Place: 7/12

We've played all our opponents once now and we end the first half basically where we expected to be: right around the middle of the pack and right around .500. We are in 7th place out of 12 and one game below .500. But just because we are right where we expected to be does not mean we are some soothsayers who know how the season will go, the carnage after the Richmond series shows that clearly. We won the opener against the Eagles behind Bamesberger's 2 HRs (finally waking up from a horrific 1-40 start to the season) and another great Jared Farr start but then we got blanked on Saturday and absolutely trounced on Sunday.

That Monday morning was decision day for a lot. Chris Bello had allowed 8 HRs and struck out 7 in 21 innings, we admitted our mistake and released him. Another decision we made was to trade two big bats in Willie Rayo and Chad Bamesberger. Big contracts, big bats yes, but big egos and from what we had seen, had totally checked out on the season. While some stereotype us as number crunching nerds, that's not true at all. Makeup, work ethic, and intelligence play really big in what we look for. In a season we didn't see as developing into a team with the quality to make the jump, it was time to get rid of those two guys. We got back a fringey prospect or two but it's more about clearing out space. Now there is room for potential young contributors like Adam Stromgren and a Winter Market signing of ours Josh Cross gets a full time role. These guys could become starters on a good team, and we want to see if they can show that now.

Positives
-We've won 8 of our last 9 Sunday games, all started by Ben Buchanan. His K rate has disappeared (5.3 per 9) so that's a bit concerning but he's avoiding runs and getting wins.

-Farr continues to pitch very well, that looks to be a shrewd move making up a bit for the Bello whiff. That 1-14, 6.79 season scared off a lot but we could profit from it.

Negatives
-The offense is just so lethargic. No power, no speed, no pop. Focusing on defense by signing Stewart and Mallow (who are both hitting adequately) and trading away now 4 of our 5 highest paid hitters has led to an offense that doesn't pop.

We are still pushing to win every game and aren't far off the playoff chase in the typically crowded USBL2 (3 games off third place and final playoff spot) but this isn't the quality team we want when we push for a spot in the USBL. Not yet. Maybe Cross or Stromgren will turn out to be a part, we want to find pieces now. Maybe Buchanan is working his way into that picture? 33 games and an American Cup to go.

03-20-2020, 06:18 PM	#12
dward1 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 931	End of the First Half Overall Record: 16-17 Run Differential: -25 Place: 7/12 We've played all our opponents once now and we end the first half basically where we expected to be: right around the middle of the pack and right around .500. We are in 7th place out of 12 and one game below .500. But just because we are right where we expected to be does not mean we are some soothsayers who know how the season will go, the carnage after the Richmond series shows that clearly. We won the opener against the Eagles behind Bamesberger's 2 HRs (finally waking up from a horrific 1-40 start to the season) and another great Jared Farr start but then we got blanked on Saturday and absolutely trounced on Sunday. That Monday morning was decision day for a lot. Chris Bello had allowed 8 HRs and struck out 7 in 21 innings, we admitted our mistake and released him. Another decision we made was to trade two big bats in Willie Rayo and Chad Bamesberger. Big contracts, big bats yes, but big egos and from what we had seen, had totally checked out on the season. While some stereotype us as number crunching nerds, that's not true at all. Makeup, work ethic, and intelligence play really big in what we look for. In a season we didn't see as developing into a team with the quality to make the jump, it was time to get rid of those two guys. We got back a fringey prospect or two but it's more about clearing out space. Now there is room for potential young contributors like Adam Stromgren and a Winter Market signing of ours Josh Cross gets a full time role. These guys could become starters on a good team, and we want to see if they can show that now. Positives -We've won 8 of our last 9 Sunday games, all started by Ben Buchanan. His K rate has disappeared (5.3 per 9) so that's a bit concerning but he's avoiding runs and getting wins. -Farr continues to pitch very well, that looks to be a shrewd move making up a bit for the Bello whiff. That 1-14, 6.79 season scared off a lot but we could profit from it. Negatives -The offense is just so lethargic. No power, no speed, no pop. Focusing on defense by signing Stewart and Mallow (who are both hitting adequately) and trading away now 4 of our 5 highest paid hitters has led to an offense that doesn't pop. We are still pushing to win every game and aren't far off the playoff chase in the typically crowded USBL2 (3 games off third place and final playoff spot) but this isn't the quality team we want when we push for a spot in the USBL. Not yet. Maybe Cross or Stromgren will turn out to be a part, we want to find pieces now. Maybe Buchanan is working his way into that picture? 33 games and an American Cup to go.