1st Installment- GBC Tres Gazette

Recte44 · 04-03-2002, 04:25 PM

Tres Gazette

Vol. 1 No.1 Thursday, April 4, 2002

Virginia holds off Syracuse, Hartford

VIRGINIA -- With the Tres League's first season winding down, no battle for a division title rages more violently than the one in the Patriot Division. The Virginia Wahoos have staked out a tenuous two-game lead over Hartford and a three-game lead over Syracuse. The Wahoos swept a three-game series against Syracuse to reinforce its lead last week. None of the three teams will play each other for the rest of the season.

Fargo passes Spokane, takes 3-game lead

FARGO, N.D. -- The Frontier Division has a new leader. The Fargo River Rats wrestled first place from Spokane this week. The rivals will play what could be a division-deciding game Sept. 27. The River Rats and Spokane aren't the only teams fighting for the Frontier title. Colorado Springs is just five games out and Hollywood trails by six with a few weeks left in the season.

Savannah closest to clinching

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- The Sunshine Division hasn't been the most exciting place to watch a division race this season, but it may be where the Tres League's first playoff spot is claimed. The run-away Sharks have whittled their magic number to seven games and pushed their division lead to 12 games over Melbourne. Ace Mark Agustin has led the Sharks to their dominant position, recording a 21-5 record and a 2.25 ERA this season. Memphis' magic number has dropped to 10 as its lead in the Blue Grass Division seems well secured. Memphis leads Little Rock by nine games. Gulf Coast leading Mississippi, largely with the help of Philip Bart's .375 average and 33 dingers, has earned an 11-game lead over Tulsa and has a magic number of eight. Madison 's magic number is 14 as it continues to fend off Springfield in Great Lakes Division.

* * *

League-by-League Dispatches

Frontier Division

SYRACUSE -- The Syracuse Blizzard are hurtin' in a major way. Durig the last two weeks, they have dropped 10 of 14 games to fall into third place in the BL Patriot division, 3 games behind Virginia and 1 behind Hartford. Three of those four wins have come in a row, with three extra-inning victories at Mississippi. Three straight losses at home Virginia did not help matters last week for the Blizzard.

-- Michael Lynch

COLORADO SPRINGS -- 143 games down, 19 to go, and the Colorado Springs FireStorm find themselves, 2 games behind in the Wild Card race. Winning 7 of their last 10 games, including taking 2/3 from Sunshine division leading Savannah, 2 of 3 from always tough Melbourne, The Firestorm shot for their goal from all year. Playoffs. Riding their pitching staff, the Firestorm pitched 2 complete games in the past week. Engles and Harrison each went the distance verussthe Energy.

-- Jon Lyons

Gulf Coast Division

MISSISSIPPI -- Overall: Mississippi has been coasting along and preparing for the playoffs. As of the end of the 23rd sim, we are 11 games up in our division and our magic number has been reduced to 8. Over the past 20 games, Mississippi has posted a record of 8-12 as expanded below. We brought up several solid performers from the AAA level to give them a tryout in the majors over the past couple sims. We tried to concentrate on players that were already playing on major league contracts, but did call up two notable minor league stars, CL Dizzy Prendergrast and 3B Brandon Calderone. We feel these guys have a decent shot at making the post-season roster and we wanted to give them more than a one week tryout.

AUSTIN, TX -- The Rattlers continue to improve as the season wraps up. The Rattlers have no chance at the post season but that has not coused the players to give in. "These guys are still fighting hard every day," Manager Tom Dotter said. "I'm really proud of them." 3B Eli Ekstrom continues to blast the baseball and sits at 49 HR's on the year. "I'm seeing the ball well," he said. "I'm making good contact and the ball is jumping."

-- Steven Offenbaker

DALLAS -- The wheels have officially fallen off of the Destroyers bus. The team has lost a pitiful 10 games in a row and have fallen 8 games back of the wild card. When asked about the current losing streak team owner Mike Timmons had this to say "We don't know what the ##$% is going on around here but we need to get our heads out of our @#$es and start looking to start next season strong. We had a legitimate shot at a playoff spot and have played like a little league team the last few weeks. Maybe I shouldn't be talking about this right now." The team has given up all hope for a playoff spot and can now just look forward to the draft and hope to improve a team that should have promise for the next few seasons to come.

-- Mike Timmons

Great Lakes Division

MADISON -- The Muskies have picked up the play in the last month and now are tied for the best record in the league. They hold a tight 5 game lead over Springfield, who has also been a much improved team since the acquistition of Ritter, who recently won pitcher of the month. The magic number is 14 and the team is expecting SS Bertram to be back for the last two weeks as well. While no one has really been talking about Muskies, they boast one of the best offenses in the league and may just have enough pitching to take them all the way as well.

-- Justin Q Lorenz

Sunshine Division

COCOA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Roman McLaughlin ices his arm daily, walks as if he were in pain and couldn't be happier. The WaveRiders' 30-year-old life-time relief pitcher got his chance to be a regular starting pitcher for the first time last month, and the results have been encouraging for the 62-81 WaveRiders. "It's been nice," McLaughlin said. "I'm still working to get my endurance up, but this is truly the dream of most relief pitchers. I couldn't be happier." McLaughlin is 3-1 with 36 strikeouts and a 2.95 ERA in 37 2/3 innings as a starter. He appeared in 66 games as a reliver this season before getting his spot in the rotation. The WaveRiders were able to pull McLaughlin from the bullpen when they acquired Stephen Gailey in a trade with Tulsa in mid-July. Cocoa Beach won four of seven games this week, winning two of three against playoff contender Spokane.

-- Jared Schroeder

EDITOR'S NOTE: Dispatches are taken directly from posts and attributed when the owner's name is immediatly available. Only posts made after the Monday sim will be included. This is done to be certain all reports are still timely and information has not been made invalid because.

* * *

Players of the Week

Melbourne's Junior Vosburg was named the Gray League's Player of the Week Sunday. Vosburg, who plays leftfield batted .500 during the week and hit dingers in three game's in a row for the Energy.

Hartford's David Hurst was named the Blue League's Player of the Week Sunday. Hurst, who plays third base, batted .613 last week and has hit .302 for the season.

* * *

For an interview with Syracuse owner Michael Lynch, an indepth analysis of who has the league's best pitching and much more, see the <a href="http://216.247.185.27/tres/" target="_blank">Tres Web Site</a>.

--------------------------------------------------

The Tres Gazette is published weekly on Thursdays at the offices of the Cocoa Beach WaveRiders. This publication is a work in progress. Please send suggestions, articles or constructive criticisms on how we can serve you better to: wt_wildcat@verizonmail.com

To inquire about openings for the GBC Tres League, please contact the GBC's Chairman, Matt Rectenwald at:
chairman@globalbaseball.net [

04-03-2002, 04:25 PM	#1
Recte44 Global Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Oconomowoc, WI Posts: 2,805	1st Installment- GBC Tres Gazette Tres Gazette Vol. 1 No.1 Thursday, April 4, 2002 Virginia holds off Syracuse, Hartford VIRGINIA -- With the Tres League's first season winding down, no battle for a division title rages more violently than the one in the Patriot Division. The Virginia Wahoos have staked out a tenuous two-game lead over Hartford and a three-game lead over Syracuse. The Wahoos swept a three-game series against Syracuse to reinforce its lead last week. None of the three teams will play each other for the rest of the season. Fargo passes Spokane, takes 3-game lead FARGO, N.D. -- The Frontier Division has a new leader. The Fargo River Rats wrestled first place from Spokane this week. The rivals will play what could be a division-deciding game Sept. 27. The River Rats and Spokane aren't the only teams fighting for the Frontier title. Colorado Springs is just five games out and Hollywood trails by six with a few weeks left in the season. Savannah closest to clinching SAVANNAH, Ga. -- The Sunshine Division hasn't been the most exciting place to watch a division race this season, but it may be where the Tres League's first playoff spot is claimed. The run-away Sharks have whittled their magic number to seven games and pushed their division lead to 12 games over Melbourne. Ace Mark Agustin has led the Sharks to their dominant position, recording a 21-5 record and a 2.25 ERA this season. Memphis' magic number has dropped to 10 as its lead in the Blue Grass Division seems well secured. Memphis leads Little Rock by nine games. Gulf Coast leading Mississippi, largely with the help of Philip Bart's .375 average and 33 dingers, has earned an 11-game lead over Tulsa and has a magic number of eight. Madison 's magic number is 14 as it continues to fend off Springfield in Great Lakes Division. * * * League-by-League Dispatches Frontier Division SYRACUSE -- The Syracuse Blizzard are hurtin' in a major way. Durig the last two weeks, they have dropped 10 of 14 games to fall into third place in the BL Patriot division, 3 games behind Virginia and 1 behind Hartford. Three of those four wins have come in a row, with three extra-inning victories at Mississippi. Three straight losses at home Virginia did not help matters last week for the Blizzard. -- Michael Lynch COLORADO SPRINGS -- 143 games down, 19 to go, and the Colorado Springs FireStorm find themselves, 2 games behind in the Wild Card race. Winning 7 of their last 10 games, including taking 2/3 from Sunshine division leading Savannah, 2 of 3 from always tough Melbourne, The Firestorm shot for their goal from all year. Playoffs. Riding their pitching staff, the Firestorm pitched 2 complete games in the past week. Engles and Harrison each went the distance verussthe Energy. -- Jon Lyons Gulf Coast Division MISSISSIPPI -- Overall: Mississippi has been coasting along and preparing for the playoffs. As of the end of the 23rd sim, we are 11 games up in our division and our magic number has been reduced to 8. Over the past 20 games, Mississippi has posted a record of 8-12 as expanded below. We brought up several solid performers from the AAA level to give them a tryout in the majors over the past couple sims. We tried to concentrate on players that were already playing on major league contracts, but did call up two notable minor league stars, CL Dizzy Prendergrast and 3B Brandon Calderone. We feel these guys have a decent shot at making the post-season roster and we wanted to give them more than a one week tryout. AUSTIN, TX -- The Rattlers continue to improve as the season wraps up. The Rattlers have no chance at the post season but that has not coused the players to give in. "These guys are still fighting hard every day," Manager Tom Dotter said. "I'm really proud of them." 3B Eli Ekstrom continues to blast the baseball and sits at 49 HR's on the year. "I'm seeing the ball well," he said. "I'm making good contact and the ball is jumping." -- Steven Offenbaker DALLAS -- The wheels have officially fallen off of the Destroyers bus. The team has lost a pitiful 10 games in a row and have fallen 8 games back of the wild card. When asked about the current losing streak team owner Mike Timmons had this to say "We don't know what the ##$% is going on around here but we need to get our heads out of our @#$es and start looking to start next season strong. We had a legitimate shot at a playoff spot and have played like a little league team the last few weeks. Maybe I shouldn't be talking about this right now." The team has given up all hope for a playoff spot and can now just look forward to the draft and hope to improve a team that should have promise for the next few seasons to come. -- Mike Timmons Great Lakes Division MADISON -- The Muskies have picked up the play in the last month and now are tied for the best record in the league. They hold a tight 5 game lead over Springfield, who has also been a much improved team since the acquistition of Ritter, who recently won pitcher of the month. The magic number is 14 and the team is expecting SS Bertram to be back for the last two weeks as well. While no one has really been talking about Muskies, they boast one of the best offenses in the league and may just have enough pitching to take them all the way as well. -- Justin Q Lorenz Sunshine Division COCOA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Roman McLaughlin ices his arm daily, walks as if he were in pain and couldn't be happier. The WaveRiders' 30-year-old life-time relief pitcher got his chance to be a regular starting pitcher for the first time last month, and the results have been encouraging for the 62-81 WaveRiders. "It's been nice," McLaughlin said. "I'm still working to get my endurance up, but this is truly the dream of most relief pitchers. I couldn't be happier." McLaughlin is 3-1 with 36 strikeouts and a 2.95 ERA in 37 2/3 innings as a starter. He appeared in 66 games as a reliver this season before getting his spot in the rotation. The WaveRiders were able to pull McLaughlin from the bullpen when they acquired Stephen Gailey in a trade with Tulsa in mid-July. Cocoa Beach won four of seven games this week, winning two of three against playoff contender Spokane. -- Jared Schroeder EDITOR'S NOTE: Dispatches are taken directly from posts and attributed when the owner's name is immediatly available. Only posts made after the Monday sim will be included. This is done to be certain all reports are still timely and information has not been made invalid because. * * * Players of the Week Melbourne's Junior Vosburg was named the Gray League's Player of the Week Sunday. Vosburg, who plays leftfield batted .500 during the week and hit dingers in three game's in a row for the Energy. Hartford's David Hurst was named the Blue League's Player of the Week Sunday. Hurst, who plays third base, batted .613 last week and has hit .302 for the season. * * * For an interview with Syracuse owner Michael Lynch, an indepth analysis of who has the league's best pitching and much more, see the <a href="http://216.247.185.27/tres/" target="_blank">Tres Web Site</a>. -------------------------------------------------- The Tres Gazette is published weekly on Thursdays at the offices of the Cocoa Beach WaveRiders. This publication is a work in progress. Please send suggestions, articles or constructive criticisms on how we can serve you better to: wt_wildcat@verizonmail.com To inquire about openings for the GBC Tres League, please contact the GBC's Chairman, Matt Rectenwald at: chairman@globalbaseball.net [ __________________ Matt Rectenwald Commissioner, GM: Las Vegas Hustlers, The Brewster Baseball Association- fictional league (JOIN NOW)