Venus Baseball League

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The American League's best player of the month was Detroit's Amy Smart, who wins the award for the 3rd time in her career. She had an on base percentage of .420 and hit .323, while driving in 27 runs. Smart has hit for a .332 average this season. She has 63 extra base hits along with 300 total bases, resulting in a .622 slugging percentage. She's 2nd in the American League in batting, 1st in homeruns and 1st in RBI!

It's the 1st time that the National League Batter of the Month award goes to Atlanta's second basemanKatherine Heigl. Katherine pounded opposing pitchers, hitting .364 with 8 and 26 RBI while slugging .692. Katherine has gone 135 for 482 (.280) this season, hitting 25 homeruns and driving in 102 runs. She has scored 83 runs on her own. She's 2nd in the National League in RBIs and 6th in homeruns!

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Who Wants to Be VBL Champs?
2006 Champion Divas Only Repeat Playoff Contender

The 2006 VBL Champs, the Detroit Divas, were getting a little anxious. Trailing the New York Nighthawks much of the season, the Divas finally caught the 'Hawks during late August. The two teams then traded first and second places in early September until Detroit got hot and blew NY out, winning the AL East going away, by 8 games.

"It took us a while, huh," said the Divas, star CF Angelina Jolie. "Amy Smart and our pitching staff carried us most of the year and then our bats perked up and we showed why were are the defending VBL champs."

The Divas will take on the Texas Wildcats in the AL League Championship. The Wildcats led the Dallas Diamonds by 9.5 games going into September and then had to withstand a furious comeback by the Diamonds to win the AL West division. The Wildcats escaped to the playoffs with a 1 game margin.

In the NL, the Atlanta Vixens finished the season with the same 6 game lead that they started with on September 1. The Philadelphia Liberty Belles and the Miami Beach Flamingos were never able to mount a serious charge. The Vixens will take on the Seattle Emeralds for the NL Championship. The Emeralds kept the hot pace they had heading into September, winning the NL West by 3 games.

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Pitchers of the Month
September 2007 - Mack (AL) and Kreuk (NL)

Smallville Ladies Prove to be Super in September

Winner of this month' s American League Pitcher of the Month award is Detroit's Allison Mack (Smallville's Chloe Sullivan). She started 6 games in September, going 4-2 and compiling an ERA of 2.79 in 42 innings. Allison fanned 30 hitters. This season, Mack has compiled an ERA of 3.27, going 18-6 in 35 starts. She has fanned 189 while giving up 220 hits in 244.2 innings. She's 2nd in the American League in ERA and 2nd in wins!

Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang) couldn't have pitched much better than she did in September, and the National League thought so as well, naming the right-hander Pitcher of the Month. She went 5-0 in September and finished the month with an ERA of 1.24. She struck out 45 in 50.2 innings. Kristin pitched a shutout as well. Kristin has a record of 20-8 this season, with an ERA of 3.04. In 254.1 innings, she has struck out 236 batters. She has 6 complete games and 2 shutouts. She's 2nd in the National League in ERA and 2nd in wins!

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Batters of the Month
September 2007 - Cummings (AL) and Higgins (NL)

Baltimore's third baseman, Ehrinn Cummings had some reason to celebrate, as the league named her the American League Batter of the Month. Cummings helped her team with an average of .392 and 33 RBI in 102 at bats. This year, Cummings has driven in 124 and scored 114 runs while batting .330 with 42 taters. She's 2nd in the American League in batting, 1st in homeruns and 3rd in RBI!

It's the 2nd time that the National League Batter of the Month award goes to St. Louis' second baseman Cleopatra Higgins. Cleopatra pounded opposing pitchers, hitting .404 with 13 and 22 RBI while slugging .894. Higgins has walked 66 times this year and posts a .443 OBP. While batting .357, 149 for 417, she has driven in 95 runs.

[venusbaseball]

Help Me Pick the Next New Stars of the VBL

The 2007 season is coming to an end. This means that it soon will be time to add new free agents before the 2008 season begins and prep a list of new prospects for the 2008 First Year Player Draft, which happens in June.

Here is a link to the list of current players. Venus Baseball League Complete Active Player List - Out of the Park Baseball Report I have started a list of new free agents and prospects that have not been added yet, but how about some help?

Anyone I missed or overlooked? Any of your favorites missing? Please let me know.

Thanks,

[venusbaseball]

It's Sweet 2 Repeat
Divas Sweep Vixens to Win Second Straight Title

The Detroit Divas are the Venus Baseball Champions for the second consecutive season. Putting an exclamation point on their storybook run to becoming repeat winners of the VBL crown, they swept the Atlanta Vixens in four games, winning the finale, 12-0.

"What a wonderful feeling," said Divas Manager Angie Dickinson. "It is such an accomplishment for this team and they were a team in every sense, from beginning to end. They never gave up and once we got rolling, we could not be stopped."

During the two rounds of the playoffs, the Divas outscored their opponents, 79-43 (in ten games). They scored more than 10 runs in five games, including in 3 of the 4 World Series games.

Team captain, Angelina Jolie, was ecstatic: "I love these ladies - they never got down and just kept moving ahead. At the end, it was like we had all this pent up energy that we just released. I am so happy for the whole team and we should be proud of what we have accomplished."

Pitcher Allison Mack won the first and last games of the series, and was named MVP. Mack pitched 8 innings in each game. In the first game of the series, she gave up 5 hits and 2 earned runs in a 4-3 Diva victory. In the series clincher, Mack gave up 5 hits and no earned runs. Her final line: 16 innings, 10 hits, 14 K's and only 4 walks. Her WHIP was an astounding 0.875.

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2007 American League Babe Didrikson Award

Mischa Barton, Texas Wildcats



Mischa Barton will never forget this year. Her dominating season convinced the American League to name the Texas' right-hander the Babe Didrikson Award winner of 2007. In 35 starts this year, Mischa struck out 259 batters in 221.2 innings of work. She topped the AL with an ERA of 3.25. Her record was 18-7 and she finished tied for 2nd in wins!

[venusbaseball]

2007 National League Babe Didrikson Award

Amanda Bynes, Seattle Emeralds



Amanda Bynes was named the National League Babe Didrikson Award winner today. Seattle's right-hander put up fabulous numbers this year which earned her the award. This season, Bynes compiled an ERA of 2.82, going 21-7 in 35 starts. She fanned 258 while giving up 203 hits in 258.1 innings. She had 4 complete games and 2 shutouts. She was 1st in the National League in ERA and 1st in wins!

[venusbaseball]

2007 American League Most Valuable Player Award

Amy Smart, Detroit Divas



Detroit's rightfielder Amy Smart will never forget this day. A great season convinced the voters that she is the worthy American League Most Valuable Player winner. This year, Smart drove in 138 and scored 139 runs while batting .325 with 42 bombs. She was 3rd in the American League in batting, 1st in homeruns and 1st in RBI!

[venusbaseball]

2007 National League Most Valuable Player Award

Laura Harris, Atlanta Vixens



Atlanta's first baseman Laura Harris will never forget this day as well. She was named the National League Most Valuable Player.
While compiling an on base percentage of .348, Laura hit .278 and slugged .543. She has collected 128 runs batted in this year, and was 1st in the National League in RBIs and 2nd in homeruns!

[venusbaseball]

2007 American League Rookie of the Year Award

Lena Headey, New York Nighthawks



The American League Rookie of the Year winner was announced today, with New York's centerfielder Lena Headey earning the trophy for putting up the best numbers among rookies in her league. Lena hit .301 this year, with 165 hits in 548 at bats. She drove in 118 runs, slugging .573. She finished 4th in the American League in RBIs and 4th in homeruns!

[venusbaseball]

2007 National League Rookie of the Year Award

Emerald Ignacio, St. Louis Unicorns



The 2007 National League Rookie of the Year winner is from St. Louis this season. Emerald Ignacio put together impressive numbers for a rookie en route to win the first major award of her young career. Let's hope more will follow for this 26 year old ballplayer. Her season numbers: .306 AVG, 182 hits, 27 doubles, 3 triples and 24 taters, along with 95 RBI and 117 runs scored. She finished 6th in the National League in batting!

[venusbaseball]

Phew! That was a quick one. Now let's see if I can things in order to get the league to real time.

Thanks for reading.

Ready for 2008 Spring Training?

Remember, if you have suggestions for players, please let know!

[venusbaseball]

It's Spring Again

Can Divas Three-Peat in 2008?

Don't think for one moment that the Detroit Divas are unaware of the huge target on their back.

"Being the defending champs and having everyone aim to knock you off the top of the mountain is tough enough," acknowledges Divas Manager Angie Dickinson. "But having won the last two (VBL Championships), only makes the other teams even hungrier. Their resolve is even greater."



Soon after sweeping the NL Champs, the Atlanta Vixens, in four games, the talk of a three-peat began. But Dickinson went quick to work to try to put it out of her team's minds. "We talked about our accomplishments of the past two years, and yes, ultimately, our goal to win the championship each and every year. But we have to treat it as another year, making sure to prepare properly, come to work with the right attitude, and put in the sweat and effort needed to be this year's champs. It is not about winning three in a row, it is about winning the 2008 Championship. And we do not think it will be an easy task in any way."

The biggest challenge to the defense of their title may be within their own division: the New York Nighthawks held the lead in the AL East nearly the entire season until Detroit overtook them in late August.

"It was so disappointing," Nighthawks Manager Carrie Fisher recalled. "We faltered at the end, but do not take anything away from Detroit. Once they got on a roll, they were unstoppable. But we hope to build on our record from 2007 and put up a challenge."

[venusbaseball]

Free Agents Up for Grabs

Draft Starts Today

The 2008 Free Agency begins today and teams are anxious to find the missing piece or pieces that could complete their team and lead to their being crowned the 2008 VBL Champs. Could be the experienced veteran who pulls the clubhouse together or the energetic youngster who provides the team some spark. There will always be the big ticket free agents who give their new team exactly what they paid for, but sometimes it is the hidden gem, the player who signs a low dollar contract, that comes out of the blue and gives a team that little extra to put them over the top.

Top Free Agents by Position

Catchers Age B/T 2007 Team China Chow 33 L/R Philadelphia Alicia Keys 27 R/R Baltimore Jennifer Morrison 28 R/R Atlanta Michelle Rodriguez 29 R/R Detroit Ellen Woglom 27 R/R First Base Age B/T 2007 Team Tatyana Ali 21 R/R Los Angeles Diane Farr 34 S/R Boston Ana Claudia Michels 26 S/R Sacramento Allison Sweeney 31 R/R Detroit Second Base Age B/T 2007 Team Hilary Swank 33 S/R Baltimore Third Base Age B/T Home Mia Maestro 29 S/R Shortstop Age B/T Home Mindy Kaling 28 R/R Josie Maran 29 S/R Boston April Scott 29 R/R Outfield Age B/T Home Hillary Lindsey 22 R/R Colorado Melanie Lynskey 30 L/L Boston Lisa Snowdon 33 L/L Colorado Starting Pitchers Age B/T Home Lauren Ambrose 29 R/R Miami Beach Victoria Beckham 33 R/R New York Thora Birch 25 R/R Boston Caprice Bourret 33 R/R Chicago Tamrya Gray 28 R/R Mylene Klass 29 L/R Olga Kurylenko 28 R/R Mandy Moore 23 L/L Miami Beach Becki Newton 29 R/R Gwyneth Paltrow 35 R/R Detroit Rebecca Romijn 35 R/R Seattle Victoria Silvstedt 33 R/R Detroit Karina Smirnoff 29 R/R Amber Tamblyn 24 L/R Philadelphia Relief Pitchers Age B/T Home Laetitia Casta 29 R/R Detroit Kelly Clarkson 25 R/R Seattle Yamila Diaz 30 R/R Kristina Klebe 25 R/R Philadelphia Mila Kunis 24 R/R Los Angeles Michelle Kwan 27 L/R Sacramento Virginie Ledoyen 31 R/R Chicago Jill Manas 28 R/R Ashley Massaro 28 L/L Mindy McCready 32 R/R Chicago Maria Menounos 29 L/L Baltimore Rhona Mitra 31 L/L St. Louis Barbara Mori 30 R/R Kate Moss 34 S/R New York Brittany Murphy 30 R/R Boston Petra Nemacova 26 L/L Boston Christy Romano 23 R/R Los Angeles Alicia Silverstone 31 R/R Miami Tara Summers 28 R/R Audrey Tautou 29 R/R Phoenix Fernanda Tavares 27 R/R Phoenix Kaila Yu 28 R/R Los Angeles Closers Age B/T Home Ali Landry 34 L/R St. Louis Kimberley Locke 30 S/R Korina Longin 25 S/R Boston Melissa Theuriau 29 R/R

[venusbaseball]

Chaos in Beantown

Wagner Out - Tierney In

With attendance and fan interest at an all time low, and the team coming off a second consecutive 90+ loss season, the Boston Shamrocks axed Manager Lindsay Wagner on Monday, just days after spring training had begun. She is the first manager to be fired in the three year history of the Venus Baseball League. Taking her place will be Boston native, Maura Tierney, 43, who enjoyed a short stint in the VBL as a player.



"I look forward to the opportunity to build on what Lindsay has started," said Tierney at the press conference announcing her hire. "The team has had a really rough three years, and money has been tight. But hopefully we can get the fans of the New England interested in coming out to the park once again with a young and exciting team."

The Wagner-led Shamrocks never finished above third in the AL East during her 3 year stint and she finished with a 218-267 record (.449 pct). Rumors also persist that the team may be considering a move: the team finished last in the VBL with an attendance of 1,734,309. The team was over $18 million in the red for 2007.

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Free Agents Signings

Top signees (by average salary):

• P Olga Kurylenko, $9,614,000, 6 years, Los Angeles
• P Mandy Moore, $7,280,000, 5 years, Phoenix
• P Thora Birch, $6,529,100, 4 years, Atlanta
• P Kimberley Locke, $6,246,900, 4 years, Los Angeles
• 2B Hilary Swank, $6,076,200, 5 years, Boston
• P Christy Romano, $5,529,000, 4 years, Los Angeles
• 1B Tatyana Ali, $5,077,400, 3 years, Atlanta
• P Laetitia Casta, $5,061,600, 3 years, Miami Beach
• P Tamyra Gray, $4,830,000, 5 years, Texas
• C Alicia Keys, $4,752,400, 5 years, Philadelphia
• SS April Scott, $4,306,000, 2 years, Los Angeles
• 3B Mia Maestro, $4,213,000, 2 years, Philadelphia
• P Becki Newton, $4,155,200, 4 years, Colorado
• P Gwyneth Paltrow, $3,739,200, 4 years, Los Angeles
• C Michelle Rodriguez, $3,682,200, 4 years, Phoenix
• RF Melanie Lynskey, $3,164,000, 4 years, Texas
• P Rhona Mitra, $3,013,000, 2 years, Detroit

[venusbaseball]

Let's Play Ball

The Girls of Summer Begin Their Fourth Season

For a league not expected to last even one season, the Venus Baseball League is exceeding everyone's wildest dreams, kicking off its fourth season on April 4.

"We were hoping to give it one good year," said VBL Commissioner, Tom Hanks. "If anything, we were hoping that the first season would pique people's interest in the VBL with the stars as players and then move on to using other players. But it became so popular with the stars that we continued the league as it was," said Hanks. "The enthusiasm of the stars is still the league's driving force."

The Detroit Divas are the defending champions; they have won the last two VBL championships.

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Opening Day Schedules

Tuesday, April 4, 2008

American League
Chicago Banshees @ Detroit Divas
Colorado Valykries @ Baltimore Robins
Dallas Diamonds @ Boston Shamrocks

National League
Atlanta Vixens @ Phoenix Firebirds
Miami Beach Flamingos @ Sacramento Sirens
St. Louis Unicorns @ Seattle Emeralds

Wednesday, April 5, 2008

American League
Texas Wildcats @ New York Nighthawks
Chicago Banshees @ Detroit Divas
Colorado Valykries @ Baltimore Robins
Dallas Diamonds @ Boston Shamrocks

National League
Atlanta Vixens @ Phoenix Firebirds
Miami Beach Flamingos @ Sacramento Sirens
St. Louis Unicorns @ Seattle Emeralds
Philadelphia Liberty Belles @ Los Angeles Amazons

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Pricey Pay Off
Amazons' Free Agent Binge Changes Fortunes

The Los Angeles Amazons did not want a repeat of their 2007 performance. Finishing last in the NL West did not sit well with management or their fans. So they went shopping during the off season. And so far in the young 2008 season, it is paying off - they possess a VBL best 17-8 record.

Though 14 of the 18 players the Amazons signed were pitchers, their biggest prize is proving to be SS April Scott. Scott, moved to 3B to stabilize the left side of the infield, is hitting .375 with six homers. Scott and 2007 draft pick SS Mallika Sherawat (.340, 4 hr, 8 rbi), have given the Amazons one of the most potent SS-3B combos in the VBL.

Closer Christy Romano (8 saves) has helped stabilize the bullpen and starter Olga Kurylenko leads a staff that leads the VBL with a 4.21 era.
"Things are looking up," said Amazons' Manager, Jane Fonda. "The newcomers not only are performing on the field, but have brought some great intangibles and leadership to the team. The atmosphere in the clubhouse is a complete 180 from last year."