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BaseballGoodToMe · 08-03-2018, 01:49 PM

2019 - Cubs beat Red Sox in Series

Meddlesome but forgiving owner Mark Belanger(really?) gives my below average market team a slight boost to scouting and player development budgets, and some room for free agents, so I start working on improving the team to fulfill the owner goal of not sucking completely.

Trades

I move my 2nd and 3rd round picks from last year for packages to build a better future team.

2nd round pick Kevin Mickle(23, RH CL) to the Cubs for 5 minor leaguers, an OF who projects to be Rob Deer with speed, 3 slick glove middle infielders, and a fireballer with possible control issues.

3rd round pick Chris Flynn(23, RH SP) to the Orioles for a less flashy but more consistent OF prospect.

Free Agency

Eddy Carranza(2B, 33 SH) 2 year veteran from the Champion Pirates, .254/.330/.408 in 2017, .271/.362/.405 in 2018, with 15 and 11 HRs respectively. Performs as expected in 2019 going .274/.361/.434 with 15 HRs.

Bryan Wegner(37, Corner OF/DH, RHB) Owner said get a power hitter, so I grabbed a guy who should go for mid 20s, having hit 26 and 27 the previous years, with averages of .247 and .299. Disappoints in 69 games hitting .220 with 12 HRs, I ship him to Cubs along with minor league filler for 2 back of rotation prospects.

And yay I'll have some PITCHING this year!! I grab myself an upgraded rotation in the form of

Kenny Dahlen(30, RH SP) Posted the lowest HR/9 in the league's inaugural season of 2017 with 0.3, sporting low 4 ERAs and 1.2-1.3 WHIP numbers, he's not a fireballer but he's not too wild. Goes 14-10 in 32 starts, posting a 3.74 ERA with 6.4 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, and a 1.36 WHIP.

Sean Wilner(27, RH SP) Coming from my division rivals the juggernaut Boston Red Sox, he was the winningest pitcher in the Majors with 18, sporting 7.5 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, and a 3.96 ERA in 27 starts, steadily improving off an injury plagued 14 start 2017 and coming into his prime. Expected to start Opening Day but goes down in Spring Training. Looks promising in 3 September starts, K/9 of 7.0, BB/9 2.9, 1.50 WHIP. Better luck next year.

Paul Moreau(30, LH SP) A 33 start workhorse for the Padres in 2018, he doesn't strike many guys out or give up walks or the longball. Posts impressive 3.35 ERA and 1.25 WHIP n 18 starts before an injury takes him down for the second half.

Eddie Evans(30, RH SP) A last second gamble for a relatively cheap #4 or 5 starter, this injury prone(5 starts in 2017, 11 in 2018) starter does make it out of spring and onto the roster, struggling through 5 starts and nagging injuries before the Oakland A's take a chance on him, a struggling Vincent Rodriguez, and slugging minor league corner infielder Carlos Acosta, sending me some minor league filler along with

Jerry Johnson(SS/CF, 26, LHB) Looks like a light hitting defensive specialist, but man can he play the field. An 18 rated shortstop, his lowest defensive rating outside of catcher is a 14 OF arm. Not only that but he shows some surprising promise as a batter with the Rebels, going from .200/.236/.280 with 1 HR in 106 at bats in Oakland, to .269/.319/.437 with 10 HRs and 5 triples in 307 at bats for Charlotte.

And finally the Rule 5 nets me

Carlos Cantu(RF/3B, 28, LHB) A tools guy with questions about putting it all together, he brings blazing speed and a cannon arm, earning his place in my plans with a .275/.319/.375 line hitting 10 HRs. He proves not much of an asset in the running game, stealing 17 bases while getting caught 14 times.

My free agent binge makes my owner change the budget before spring, from a slight increase over last year in player development and scouting, to a slight decrease.

An early injury to Matt Kimmey moves the error prone Fuentes from 1B to DH, and the equally error prone Vasquez from 3B to 1B, where he shines, taking my defense from a minus to a plus.

Fuentes(.294/.370/.444, 21 HRs 83 RBIs) and Vasquez(.291/.345/.398, 16 HRs 80 RBIs) keep hitting, joined by Cantu, Carranza, Johnson, and 27 year old RH C Ian Gingras, and afterthought pickup in a package deal for a utility man to fill the catcher position, who improves immensely on his previous year with Cleveland(going from .257/.320/.340 with 6 HRs to .281/.337/.427 with 11 in 40 fewer at bats), earning himself a 1 year extension.

Thurlow goes .247/.314/.377 with 14 HRs in 494 at bats as the starting 3B.

Ramirez falls off the map with a .221/.273/.334 line in 317 at bats, getting bumped from the starting lineup into a utility man and locker room leader role, not being offered arbitration after the season.

Angel Hurtado emerges as the team's closer, saving 30 of 33 with a 1.69 ERA, allowing a .176 AVG, and a 1.10 WHIP over 48.0 innings.

The #2 pick in the 2019 draft nets

Zach Kohler(22, RH SP) More polished but with a little less upside than Jacobo coming in, he had actually failed to sign with the other expansion team in Maine as last year's #2. He goes straight to AAA and looks solid, with a 4.01 ERA but 7.7 K/9 and 1.37 WHIP. Scout tells me he's major league ready during the offseason, he's expected to compete for it in Spring Training.

Jacobo impresses in a full year at AAA, leading the Lebanon Eagles to an IL championship with a 2.88 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 30 starts. He's not looking like the fireballer everyone expected out of college, getting it done with 5.6 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9. He may get a call up in 2020 if he'll be a difference maker, but want to polish him up a bit more.

Team improves to a 73-89 record, with AVG rising to .259 and ERA dropping to 4.46. Going into the offseason I feel like I've got some pieces in place to make a run for the AL wildcard spot.

08-03-2018, 01:49 PM	#2
BaseballGoodToMe Minors (Single A) Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 97	2019 - Cubs beat Red Sox in Series Meddlesome but forgiving owner Mark Belanger(really?) gives my below average market team a slight boost to scouting and player development budgets, and some room for free agents, so I start working on improving the team to fulfill the owner goal of not sucking completely. Trades I move my 2nd and 3rd round picks from last year for packages to build a better future team. 2nd round pick Kevin Mickle(23, RH CL) to the Cubs for 5 minor leaguers, an OF who projects to be Rob Deer with speed, 3 slick glove middle infielders, and a fireballer with possible control issues. 3rd round pick Chris Flynn(23, RH SP) to the Orioles for a less flashy but more consistent OF prospect. Free Agency Eddy Carranza(2B, 33 SH) 2 year veteran from the Champion Pirates, .254/.330/.408 in 2017, .271/.362/.405 in 2018, with 15 and 11 HRs respectively. Performs as expected in 2019 going .274/.361/.434 with 15 HRs. Bryan Wegner(37, Corner OF/DH, RHB) Owner said get a power hitter, so I grabbed a guy who should go for mid 20s, having hit 26 and 27 the previous years, with averages of .247 and .299. Disappoints in 69 games hitting .220 with 12 HRs, I ship him to Cubs along with minor league filler for 2 back of rotation prospects. And yay I'll have some PITCHING this year!! I grab myself an upgraded rotation in the form of Kenny Dahlen(30, RH SP) Posted the lowest HR/9 in the league's inaugural season of 2017 with 0.3, sporting low 4 ERAs and 1.2-1.3 WHIP numbers, he's not a fireballer but he's not too wild. Goes 14-10 in 32 starts, posting a 3.74 ERA with 6.4 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, and a 1.36 WHIP. Sean Wilner(27, RH SP) Coming from my division rivals the juggernaut Boston Red Sox, he was the winningest pitcher in the Majors with 18, sporting 7.5 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, and a 3.96 ERA in 27 starts, steadily improving off an injury plagued 14 start 2017 and coming into his prime. Expected to start Opening Day but goes down in Spring Training. Looks promising in 3 September starts, K/9 of 7.0, BB/9 2.9, 1.50 WHIP. Better luck next year. Paul Moreau(30, LH SP) A 33 start workhorse for the Padres in 2018, he doesn't strike many guys out or give up walks or the longball. Posts impressive 3.35 ERA and 1.25 WHIP n 18 starts before an injury takes him down for the second half. Eddie Evans(30, RH SP) A last second gamble for a relatively cheap #4 or 5 starter, this injury prone(5 starts in 2017, 11 in 2018) starter does make it out of spring and onto the roster, struggling through 5 starts and nagging injuries before the Oakland A's take a chance on him, a struggling Vincent Rodriguez, and slugging minor league corner infielder Carlos Acosta, sending me some minor league filler along with Jerry Johnson(SS/CF, 26, LHB) Looks like a light hitting defensive specialist, but man can he play the field. An 18 rated shortstop, his lowest defensive rating outside of catcher is a 14 OF arm. Not only that but he shows some surprising promise as a batter with the Rebels, going from .200/.236/.280 with 1 HR in 106 at bats in Oakland, to .269/.319/.437 with 10 HRs and 5 triples in 307 at bats for Charlotte. And finally the Rule 5 nets me Carlos Cantu(RF/3B, 28, LHB) A tools guy with questions about putting it all together, he brings blazing speed and a cannon arm, earning his place in my plans with a .275/.319/.375 line hitting 10 HRs. He proves not much of an asset in the running game, stealing 17 bases while getting caught 14 times. My free agent binge makes my owner change the budget before spring, from a slight increase over last year in player development and scouting, to a slight decrease. An early injury to Matt Kimmey moves the error prone Fuentes from 1B to DH, and the equally error prone Vasquez from 3B to 1B, where he shines, taking my defense from a minus to a plus. Fuentes(.294/.370/.444, 21 HRs 83 RBIs) and Vasquez(.291/.345/.398, 16 HRs 80 RBIs) keep hitting, joined by Cantu, Carranza, Johnson, and 27 year old RH C Ian Gingras, and afterthought pickup in a package deal for a utility man to fill the catcher position, who improves immensely on his previous year with Cleveland(going from .257/.320/.340 with 6 HRs to .281/.337/.427 with 11 in 40 fewer at bats), earning himself a 1 year extension. Thurlow goes .247/.314/.377 with 14 HRs in 494 at bats as the starting 3B. Ramirez falls off the map with a .221/.273/.334 line in 317 at bats, getting bumped from the starting lineup into a utility man and locker room leader role, not being offered arbitration after the season. Angel Hurtado emerges as the team's closer, saving 30 of 33 with a 1.69 ERA, allowing a .176 AVG, and a 1.10 WHIP over 48.0 innings. The #2 pick in the 2019 draft nets Zach Kohler(22, RH SP) More polished but with a little less upside than Jacobo coming in, he had actually failed to sign with the other expansion team in Maine as last year's #2. He goes straight to AAA and looks solid, with a 4.01 ERA but 7.7 K/9 and 1.37 WHIP. Scout tells me he's major league ready during the offseason, he's expected to compete for it in Spring Training. Jacobo impresses in a full year at AAA, leading the Lebanon Eagles to an IL championship with a 2.88 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 30 starts. He's not looking like the fireballer everyone expected out of college, getting it done with 5.6 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9. He may get a call up in 2020 if he'll be a difference maker, but want to polish him up a bit more. Team improves to a 73-89 record, with AVG rising to .259 and ERA dropping to 4.46. Going into the offseason I feel like I've got some pieces in place to make a run for the AL wildcard spot.