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gehrig38 · 12-11-2025, 04:30 PM

I'll say it before the obvious becomes known. I have not a single left handed arm on the staff, not one. And the arms in AAA that are lefty aren't good enough or ready.
With the DH and dearth of quality starting arms I can count on to eat innings we will open with an 8 man bullpen.

Joey Morris (RHP) 23 years old making minimum Expansion draft Boston (33rd pick 66th overall)
A 3rd round pick out of highschool in 2005 by Oklahoma City. Traded in 2008 to Boston. A low to mid 90's side arm guy who has room to grow velocity wise. Devastating cutter. Was 1-1 in 5 starts with Boston last year. In 31.2 IP allowed 33 hits, 24 K's to 5 walks. Will be a rotation option but our scouts feel there's room to grow and the consensus was he can do that with more outings from the pen than every 5 days. Biggest concern is that lefties see the ball very well off him and have given him trouble.
Brian Pennington (RHP) 21 years old making minimum Expansion draft Philadelphia (3rd pick 6th overall).
Ranked 48th in baseballs top prospects. Philadelphia took him in 2007 our of Blue Springs HS with the 81st overall pick. Took home Short Season pitcher of the year, and the gold glove. At AAA Honolulu he made 28 starts going 7-12 4.01 over 164 innings. 166 hits, 95 K's amd 55 walks. Our scouts are adamant that he is on his way to having elite control. His curveball is keeping him in the bullpen. Our scouts consider it to potentially be a + pitch but he has no feel for it yet. He's over the top with low 90's consistently. Absolute gym rat who teammates love.
Luke Artino (RHP) 22 years old making minimum Signed as a minor league FA
Works 93-95 with a 4 seamer, cutter and sinker. Has big time issues holding runners. Was not in big league camp for long but the lack of options opened the door. I would imagine he starts slowly before getting any high leverage innings.
Dan Ferguson (RHP) 19 years old making minimum Signed as a minor league FA
Made the team with a solid spring, did not walk a batter in 12 innings. Huge risk putting him into the fire at 19 but it was felt like he had the right makeup to do this. Could be a starter down the road or in a pinch now if need be. He doesn't get past 90-91 often but his control is already + and believed to be getting better. Will be on a short leash.
Nate Gross (RHP) 23 years old making minimum Expansion draft Cleveland (5th pick 10th overall)
Steal of the draft to most. Was the AAA reliever of the year going 2-2 with 42 saves and a 1.17 ERA over 53.2 innings allowing just 27 hits, walking 22 while fanning 64. Mid 90's with more to come. His fastball and curve are rated 20s by our scouts. The overriding concern is command. His ability to miss bats keeps his WHIP down but if he can harness his control he's a legit stopper back there. Was ranked 77th last year before losing rookie qualifications. Drafted 100th overall by Jacksonville in 2006. His other qualifier is that he's by far the best pitcher on the staff vs LHH. A job he'll likely be called on to do, often.
Brian JaJe (RHP) 24 years old making minimum Expansion draft Staten Island (25th pick 50th overall)
Drafted 36th overall out of Gregory-Portland HS in 2004 by the Sharks. Rose to 30 on the prospect list in 2005. Had a great run in the IBL last year going 1-0 1 Save 2.73 in 15 games, 2 starts, and 33 innings. Fanned 26 to 8 walks. Mid 90s arm with his fastball as his calling card. Until his knuckle curve becomes serviceable he's destined for the pen. 6'4” 200 pounder.
Chris Becker (RHP) 22 years old making minimum Expansion draft Boston (15th pick 30th overall)
2 cups of coffee last 2 years but has been exceptional. 1-1 1 Save 1.59 ERA over 22.2 innings. 24 K's 5 walks and 14 hits allowed. He is destined to relieve based on his size combined with the max effort delivery. But he's a potential shut down closer with a ++ fastball that hits 97 and one of the better curve balls in the game. The only other righty whose stuff is as effective vs LHH as it is vs RHH. Unfortunately reminds me of me, not allowing his ears to work enough because his yap won't stop.
Mario Mendoza (RHP) 31 years old 1.34 million arbitration eligible. Expansion draft Las Vegas (29th pick 58th overall)
The only pitcher making above the minimum. Has 5 years and 22 days of service. A 2009 all-star who finished 2nd in the Rivera voting last year. Was 7-3 18 Saves 1.87 ERA after a 2009 in which he lead the league with 41 saves. 23-23 143 career saves (in 168 opportunities 85%) with a 3.13 ERA. In 342.1 IP he's fanned 383 and walked 138. RHH slash .215/.283/.347 vs LHH hitting .252/.347/.406.
By far the most valuable commodity at the deadline, if we make it there with him still on this roster. Definite leader in the clubhouse and moreso down in the pen.

So it's quite clear the first and biggest need is a couple of left handed pitchers. I will devour the waiver wire to see if I can find a couple.

12-11-2025, 04:30 PM	#32
gehrig38 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Medfield, Mass Posts: 5,615	Bullpen I'll say it before the obvious becomes known. I have not a single left handed arm on the staff, not one. And the arms in AAA that are lefty aren't good enough or ready. With the DH and dearth of quality starting arms I can count on to eat innings we will open with an 8 man bullpen. Joey Morris (RHP) 23 years old making minimum Expansion draft Boston (33rd pick 66th overall) A 3rd round pick out of highschool in 2005 by Oklahoma City. Traded in 2008 to Boston. A low to mid 90's side arm guy who has room to grow velocity wise. Devastating cutter. Was 1-1 in 5 starts with Boston last year. In 31.2 IP allowed 33 hits, 24 K's to 5 walks. Will be a rotation option but our scouts feel there's room to grow and the consensus was he can do that with more outings from the pen than every 5 days. Biggest concern is that lefties see the ball very well off him and have given him trouble. Brian Pennington (RHP) 21 years old making minimum Expansion draft Philadelphia (3rd pick 6th overall). Ranked 48th in baseballs top prospects. Philadelphia took him in 2007 our of Blue Springs HS with the 81st overall pick. Took home Short Season pitcher of the year, and the gold glove. At AAA Honolulu he made 28 starts going 7-12 4.01 over 164 innings. 166 hits, 95 K's amd 55 walks. Our scouts are adamant that he is on his way to having elite control. His curveball is keeping him in the bullpen. Our scouts consider it to potentially be a + pitch but he has no feel for it yet. He's over the top with low 90's consistently. Absolute gym rat who teammates love. Luke Artino (RHP) 22 years old making minimum Signed as a minor league FA Works 93-95 with a 4 seamer, cutter and sinker. Has big time issues holding runners. Was not in big league camp for long but the lack of options opened the door. I would imagine he starts slowly before getting any high leverage innings. Dan Ferguson (RHP) 19 years old making minimum Signed as a minor league FA Made the team with a solid spring, did not walk a batter in 12 innings. Huge risk putting him into the fire at 19 but it was felt like he had the right makeup to do this. Could be a starter down the road or in a pinch now if need be. He doesn't get past 90-91 often but his control is already + and believed to be getting better. Will be on a short leash. Nate Gross (RHP) 23 years old making minimum Expansion draft Cleveland (5th pick 10th overall) Steal of the draft to most. Was the AAA reliever of the year going 2-2 with 42 saves and a 1.17 ERA over 53.2 innings allowing just 27 hits, walking 22 while fanning 64. Mid 90's with more to come. His fastball and curve are rated 20s by our scouts. The overriding concern is command. His ability to miss bats keeps his WHIP down but if he can harness his control he's a legit stopper back there. Was ranked 77th last year before losing rookie qualifications. Drafted 100th overall by Jacksonville in 2006. His other qualifier is that he's by far the best pitcher on the staff vs LHH. A job he'll likely be called on to do, often. Brian JaJe (RHP) 24 years old making minimum Expansion draft Staten Island (25th pick 50th overall) Drafted 36th overall out of Gregory-Portland HS in 2004 by the Sharks. Rose to 30 on the prospect list in 2005. Had a great run in the IBL last year going 1-0 1 Save 2.73 in 15 games, 2 starts, and 33 innings. Fanned 26 to 8 walks. Mid 90s arm with his fastball as his calling card. Until his knuckle curve becomes serviceable he's destined for the pen. 6'4” 200 pounder. Chris Becker (RHP) 22 years old making minimum Expansion draft Boston (15th pick 30th overall) 2 cups of coffee last 2 years but has been exceptional. 1-1 1 Save 1.59 ERA over 22.2 innings. 24 K's 5 walks and 14 hits allowed. He is destined to relieve based on his size combined with the max effort delivery. But he's a potential shut down closer with a ++ fastball that hits 97 and one of the better curve balls in the game. The only other righty whose stuff is as effective vs LHH as it is vs RHH. Unfortunately reminds me of me, not allowing his ears to work enough because his yap won't stop. Mario Mendoza (RHP) 31 years old 1.34 million arbitration eligible. Expansion draft Las Vegas (29th pick 58th overall) The only pitcher making above the minimum. Has 5 years and 22 days of service. A 2009 all-star who finished 2nd in the Rivera voting last year. Was 7-3 18 Saves 1.87 ERA after a 2009 in which he lead the league with 41 saves. 23-23 143 career saves (in 168 opportunities 85%) with a 3.13 ERA. In 342.1 IP he's fanned 383 and walked 138. RHH slash .215/.283/.347 vs LHH hitting .252/.347/.406. By far the most valuable commodity at the deadline, if we make it there with him still on this roster. Definite leader in the clubhouse and moreso down in the pen. So it's quite clear the first and biggest need is a couple of left handed pitchers. I will devour the waiver wire to see if I can find a couple. __________________ The Chicago Iron Pigs 2012-2024 The IBL's first 13 years The Alaska Avalanche 2024-2030 Moving on to my birthplace The San Antonio Silver Stars 2030-2034 From one big state, Alaska, to another, Texas!