Orcin's Story

[5cards]

Originally Posted by Sal, The Barber

But Sal will also point out that in Pittsburgh there is a team with the same nickname. Where did that come from? Pittsburgh is not too far from Youngstown--75 miles. Perhaps that part of the country just had a passing fascination at one time?

The (Pittsburgh) Penguins were named because the nickname for their arena at the time, Pittsburgh Civic Arena, was "The Igloo". The name itself was put forward by the wife of part-owner Jack McGregor, Carol Dangerfield, based on this reasoning.

Of course... Youngstown had the name well before the hockey team did. Youngstown's name was chosen in 1933. Pittsburgh's came in 1966-1967. Clearly Pittsburgh was in awe of Youngstown for their excellent naming choice.

[Orcin]

2005 Mid-Season Recap: Louisville Colonels
(courtesy of cbatraderumors.com)

The world champion Louisville Colonels did not stand pat over the winter, sending fan favorite Todd Fletcher and two other pitchers to Charlotte for young ace Antonio Luna. The trade has not helped the Colonels so far, because Luna spent most of the first half on the disabled list. In addition, several key players had subpar first half performances and a couple of others spent time with Luna on the disabled list. Still, the Colonels have virtually the same record and standing as at the midpoint last season, and they are hot. The smart money is betting on them to make another of their patented second half runs and be the team to beat in October.

No team wants to face Louisville pitching in a playoff series. Robert Westaway is having his best season ever, and that is saying something. Westaway is 11-1 with a 2.83 ERA and seems likely to capture the Outstanding Pitcher trophy that teammate Brian Wilson won last year. Wilson and Chip Davidson started slowly, but they have pitched well in the past few weeks. Luna is on a rehab assignment, and his return could make this the best starting rotation in baseball over the second half. The bullpen, led by all-star closer George King, has been solid and ranks #2 in the Federal League with a 2.34 ERA.

The offense is ranked in the top five in every major category despite having only one all-star (SS Pierre-Louis Simon) and no one among the league leaders. The Colonels have a balanced lineup with no weaknesses, and a strong bench to give the regulars plenty of rest. The defense is superb too, making that stellar pitching staff even better. Star LF Dennis Morgan started slowly and spent a month on the disabled list. His return should make the entire lineup even better. Expect Louisville to lead the CBA in homers again.

The Colonels won their first championship in franchise history last year. They set a team record for wins and broke almost every club record for offense and pitching along the way. What can they do for an encore? There is only one ending that will satisfy the team and their fans… winning their last game in late October.

[Orcin]

July 18, 2005

Subject: Week 15 Notes

Record: 61-31 .663, - GB
Position: 1st place (9.5 game lead over Milwaukee)
Runs Scored: 460 – 2nd in Federal
Runs Allowed: 354 – 3rd in Federal
Defense: .700 – 7th in Federal
Power Ranking: 129.3 (2nd in CBA)
Owner Mood: Ecstatic; Fan Interest: 95/100


• Last week (3-1): 1-1 vs. Detroit, 2-0 at Detroit
• The Federal League won the All-Star Game 11-2. Pierre-Louis Simon played the entire game and was 2-5. Westaway and King each pitched a scoreless inning.
• Washington RF Terrence Banks was diagnosed with a torn labrum and is out for the season. Tough break for him.
• 07/14: LOU 7, DET 1 – Westaway 9 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 4 K; Olivares 2-4, DBL, inside-the-park HR, 2 RBI
• 07/15: DET 4, LOU 3 – Olivares 2-4, HR, RBI
• 07/16: LOU 7, DET 3 – Simon 2-4, HR, 3 RBI, SB
• 07/17: LOU 5, DET 4 – Bland 3-4, 2 RBI, drove in winning run with two-out hit
• This week: 4 at Salt Lake City, 3 at Milwaukee

[SkyeWalker]

Finally caught up to this great dynasty! I must say you have done a great job both managing your team and writing this report. All the details a reader would want, yet none of the clutter that drags down some other reports. Congrats on finally winning the World Series, you had it a long time coming. Eagerly staying tuned to see if you can build a dynasty out of the Colonels.

[Orcin]

July 25, 2005

Subject: Week 16 Notes

Record: 67-32 .677, - GB
Position: 1st place (14 game lead over Milwaukee)
Runs Scored: 518 – 2nd in Federal
Runs Allowed: 377 – 3rd in Federal
Defense: .700 – 7th in Federal
Power Ranking: 130.8 (3rd in CBA)
Owner Mood: Ecstatic; Fan Interest: 95/100


• Last week (6-1): 3-1 at Salt Lake City, 3-0 at Milwaukee
• 07/18: LOU 11, SLC 2 – Olivares 2-2, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB; MacLain 6.1 IP, 1 ER
• 07/19: LOU 4, SLC 2 – Westaway 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K; King SV(21)
• Dallas SP Dan Todd (13-1, 1.71 ERA) is out for the season with a shoulder injury.
• 07/20: LOU 14, SLC 5 – Olivares 2-2, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 BB
• Sal’s favorite reliever, Nathaniel Jones, is now 5-0 with a 1.99 ERA.
• 07/21: SLC 4, LOU 1 – Simon 2-4, DBL, RBI
• 07/22: LOU 17, MIL 6 – Morgan 5-6, DBL, HR, 6 RBI; Martinez 5-6, DBL, 5 RBI
• 07/23: LOU 6, MIL 2 – Olivares 3-4, HR; MacLain 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 6 K
• After the game, Ron MacLain was assigned to AAA and Antonio Luna was activated from his rehab assignment. MacLain accepted the demotion.
• During his stint with the Colonels, MacLain was 3-1 with a 4.17 ERA in six starts.
• 07/24: LOU 5, MIL 2 – Westaway 8 IP, 1 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 11 K (14-1, 2.49 ERA)
• Atlanta’s star CF Angel Quintero will miss six weeks with a broken hand.
• This week: 3 vs. Chicago, 4 vs. Phoenix



Subject: Super Week for Louisville’s Olivares

There's nothing like being in the prime of your baseball career -- and playing like it. Just ask Lorenzo Olivares, the Louisville right fielder, who swung a sweet bat all week to not only aid his team, but also pick up the Federal League Player of the Week honors. The 26-year-old Olivares piled up 11 hits in 25 at-bats, 6 home runs and 13 RBIs while hitting .440. This season Olivares has hit at a .287 clip with 62 RBIs, 21 home runs and 59 runs scored.

[MizzouRah]

Going strong!

[Orcin]

August 1, 2005

Subject: Week 17 Notes

Record: 70-36 .660, - GB (19-9 in July)
Position: 1st place (12 game lead over St. Louis)
Runs Scored: 542 – 2nd in Federal
Runs Allowed: 406 – 4th in Federal
Defense: .700 – 7th in Federal
Power Ranking: 121.9 (3rd in CBA)
Owner Mood: Ecstatic; Fan Interest: 95/100

• Last week (3-4): 1-2 vs. Chicago, 2-2 vs. Phoenix
• 07/25: CHI 2, LOU 1 – Wilson 7 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 9 K, no decision
• Atlanta traded star 1B Ramon Lopez (.272/.363/.491) to Houston to obtain former Colonels SP Jim Poole (3-14, 6.35). I told you they were desperate for pitching.
• 07/26: CHI 6, LOU 1 – Luna 2.1 IP, 6 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 3 HR
• Washington fired manager John Wright. They are 52-55, but only 2-10 since the all-star break.
• 07/27: LOU 2, CHI 1 – Davidson 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 6 K
• 07/28: LOU 4, PHX 3 – two-run pinch triple by McGlone tied it; pinch single by Archuleta wins it
• 07/29: PHX 5, LOU 4 – Olivares 2-4, HR, 2 RBI
• 07/30: PHX 4, LOU 1 – we had 11 hits but left 10 men on base
• 07/31: LOU 11, PHX 8 – Bland 3-3, DBL, HR, 2 RBI
• Lexington LF Juan Moran was the AAA Player of the Week, going 10-20 with 6 HR.
• Dayton 1B Jesus Ramos (10-19, 4 HR) was AA Player of the Week.
• Robert Westaway was our Pitcher of the Month for July. He was 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA. Player of the Month was Lorenzo Olivares (see below).
• This week: 3 at Dallas, 3 vs. Salt Lake City


Subject: Federal League Player of the Month

Louisville RF Lorenzo Olivares was named the Federal League Batter of the Month for July. He punished Federal hurlers hard all month long, collecting 33 hits in 99 at-bats. With a .333 batting average, 11 home runs, 23 RBIs and 26 runs scored, he was an easy choice. For the season Olivares is hitting .286 with 23 home runs and 65 RBIs.

[GoBucsGo]

I can't even begin to explain how much this dynasty has entertained me after reading it from the beginning. Please keep this going, you're doing a great job!

[Orcin]

August 1, 2005 (cbatraderumors.com)

Breaking News! The Louisville Colonels and Sacramento Outlaws completed a trade just minutes before last night’s deadline. Louisville has traded for 23-year-old minor league starting pitcher Juan Hernández and in return Sacramento will receive 24-year-old minor league closer Bill Ward, 24-year-old minor league infielder Guillermo Romano, and $1,000,000 in cash. Ward and Romano were placed on Sacramento’s active roster. Hernandez was assigned to Louisville’s AAA team at Lexington.

Hernandez was rated the #25 prospect in the CBA at the start of the season. He is 7-7 with a 3.93 ERA this season in 21 starts with AAA Fresno, after making the jump from Class-A where he was 6-1 with a 2.39 ERA in 2004. The 6’ 6” right-hander was the eighth overall pick in the 2004 draft out of South Alabama.

**********

It is not clear to me why Sacramento was willing to trade Hernandez after paying him a $3.5 million signing bonus out of college. Perhaps their scout’s opinion had soured on him after having him in their organization for a while. OSA says he will be a bust, but Candelaria rates him as a 5-star future #1 starter.

Sacramento got two young players for their major league roster and $1 million in cash that they seemed to value, but I think I won this one. I expect Hernandez to compete with Castro for the fifth starter spot next season.

[Orcin]

August 8, 2005

Subject: Week 18 Notes

Record: 72-40 .643, - GB
Position: 1st place (10 game lead over St. Louis)
Runs Scored: 565 – 2nd in Federal
Runs Allowed: 424 – 3rd in Federal
Defense: .702 – 5th in Federal
Power Ranking: 112.7 (4th in CBA)
Owner Mood: Ecstatic; Fan Interest: 95/100


• Last week (2-4): 0-3 at Dallas, 2-1 vs. Salt Lake City
• 08/02: DAL 3, LOU 2 (15) – Davidson 7 IP, 2 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 7 K, allowed two base runners and both scored
• Dayton AA coaches Colin Galtey (pitching) and Tony Duffy (hitting) signed contract extensions.
• 08/03: DAL 3, LOU 2 (13) – Alexander 8 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 7 K; King BS(4)
• 08/04: DAL 7, LOU 6 – Brown 2-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI; King BS(5)
• Barry Werrett says he has received a better offer (after waiting for two months) and asks me to increase the salary in my next offer. It’s your turn to wait, Barry.
• 08/05: LOU 9, SLC 2 – Jackson 4-5, 3 DBL, 3 RBI
• Chris Brown was hit by a pitch and had to leave the game with a shin bruise. He is day-to-day and will be held out of the lineup for a few days as a precaution.
• 08/06: LOU 3, SLC 0 – shutout by Luna 9 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K
• 08/07: SLC 3, LOU 1 – Jaramillo 2-4, DBL, SB
• Byrne threatened to bench Jaramillo and has started Jackson in center a couple of times. Since then, Jaramillo is 11-28 with 6 doubles.
• SP Artie Foster, our fourth-round draft pick, threw a no-hitter in Rookie League with 11 K’s. He had been struggling with > 5.00 ERA.
• This week: 3 vs. Los Angeles, 3 at San Diego

[Orcin]

August 15, 2005

Subject: Week 19 Notes

Record: 75-43 .636, - GB
Position: 1st place (9 game lead over St. Louis)
Runs Scored: 577 – 2nd in Federal
Runs Allowed: 440 – 3rd in Federal
Defense: .704 – 5th in Federal
Power Ranking: 115.4 (5th in CBA)
Owner Mood: Ecstatic; Fan Interest: 95/100

• Last week (3-3): 1-2 vs. Los Angeles, 2-1 at San Diego
• 08/08: LA 3, LOU 0 – only 4 hits, 7 LOB, Alexander = hard-luck loser
• 08/09: LOU 4, LA 0 – Westaway 8.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 8 K; King SV(24)
• 08/10: LA 5, LOU 1 - only 3 hits, offense is really sputtering and needs a shakeup
• Tom John batting leadoff = 215AB .270/.329/.358; Tom John batting eighth = 120AB .333/.388/.433; Simon is back in the leadoff spot
• 08/12: LOU 5, SD 3 – Bland 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, SB; Brown 2-4, HR, 2 RBI
• LF Juan Moran (.294/.359/.634, 25 HR, 62 RBI) had a five-hit game for Lexington.
• 08/13: SD 5, LOU 0 – only 1 hit by the starting lineup
• 08/14: LOU 2, SD 0 – Alexander 7 IP, 0 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 5 K; Garza/Jones H(11); King SV(26) – that’s Colonels baseball right there
• Dallas SP Carlos De La Cruz posted win #200 (130 losses, 3.55 career ERA)
• Juan Moran was AAA Player of the Week (12-30, 4 HR, 13 RBI)
• This week: 3 vs. Indianapolis, 3 at Pittsburgh


I begin to plan for personnel changes about mid-August. I still need a manager for Class-A Evansville. After signing my good personnel to extensions, no other contracts expire at the end of this season. This is the only position that I need to fill.

Barry Werrett is still waiting for me to increase my offer, and he has not accepted that other offer. In fact, he now says he favors my offer. Was he bluffing? Is he never going to sign for my $580K/year salary offer? He is playing a dangerous game. He has until a better candidate comes on the market to make a decision.

(Note: This has nothing to do with the bug from version 4. I am still on version 3, and that bug related to extension offers rather than new hire offers.)

[5cards]

It looks like St. Louis is trying to catch up.

[Stromson]

• Tom John batting leadoff = 215AB .270/.329/.358; Tom John batting eighth = 120AB .333/.388/.433; Simon is back in the leadoff spot

Wow, talk about an effective move! It always surprises me when moving a guy down (or up) the order can have that big of an impact on his numbers.

[Orcin]

CBA STANDINGS
Thursday, August 18, 2005




The four leaders are comfortably in front. Phoenix and San Diego are the only teams within single digits of a playoff spot.




The Eastern Division and wild card are the only races in doubt here.

[Orcin]

LEAGUE LEADERS
Thursday, August 18, 2005





RF Anthony Gettingby of Seattle is a cinch for Federal League Rookie of the Year. He was Rookie of the Month in April, May, and July. Gettingby was discovered by Seattle scouts in Australia and signed to a minor league contract in 1999 at age 17. OSA began to notice him in 2003 and he was rated the CBA’s #99 prospect in April 2005.

[Orcin]

LOUISVILLE COLONELS
Thursday, August 18, 2005



Tom John has been hitting consistently in the two-spot behind Simon, so maybe that is his best place in the order. His on-base is too good to bury at the bottom of the lineup.

The temptation is there to switch Bland with Morgan. I am trying to be patient and hope that I catch Morgan’s hot streak soon.




Howard Archuleta has played second base against left-handers and done a great job. I don’t think Mariano Gonzalez will be able to push him off the playoff roster. Juan Aponte is another matter. Aponte is out of options, so I would have to risk him being claimed to activate Gonzalez in his place. It will depend upon how Gonzalez does on his rehab assignment.

[beachbomer]

Hey Orcin,

Could you give me a picture off Jon Schultz's career. Would like to see how he has done year by year.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by beachbomer

Hey Orcin,

Could you give me a picture off Jon Schultz's career. Would like to see how he has done year by year.

Yep. I'll do it at the end of the regular season so we can capture this full year in it too.

[Orcin]

August 22, 2005

Subject: Week 20 Notes

Record: 80-44 .645, - GB
Position: 1st place (10 game lead over St. Louis)
Runs Scored: 610 – 2nd in Federal
Runs Allowed: 457 – 2nd in Federal
Defense: .705 – 5th in Federal
Power Ranking: 122.1 (2nd in CBA)
Owner Mood: Ecstatic; Fan Interest: 95/100

• Last week (5-1): 3-0 vs. Indianapolis, 2-1 at Pittsburgh
• 08/15: LOU 10, IND 3 – Brown 2-4, HR, 3 RBI
• 08/16: LOU 9, IND 3 – Brown 3-4, DBL, 3 RBI
• 08/17: LOU 5, IND 3 (11) – Brown 2-5, HR, 3 RBI
• Dayton SS Octavio Mata was 4-4 with 3 HR, 5 RBI in a 8-7 win over Santa Ana
• LF Walid Gras announced that he will retire at the end of the season after a 17-year career with the Dallas Rattlers. His 510 career homers ranks #4 all-time.
• 2B Mariano Gonzalez began a rehab assignment at Lexington.
• 08/19: PIT 4, LOU 2 – Davidson gave up 3 unearned runs in the 5th via his own error, 2 hits, 3 walks, and a wild pitch
• 08/20: LOU 3, PIT 2 – Alexander 7.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 5 BB, 3 K; King SV(27)
• 08/21: LOU 4, PIT 2 – Westaway 8 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 3 K; King SV(28)
• Westaway is now 17-2 with a 2.67 ERA. He has pitched 178 innings (leads the team, 12th in our league) with a 1.12 WHIP (7th in the Federal League).
• We are 39-26 (.600) at home and an impressive 41-18 (.695) on the road.
• We are 15-4 against left-handed pitchers, which has been a problem in the past.
• This week: 3 at Phoenix, 3 at St. Louis


Jennifer wants to know, “Who’s hot?”

Ray Alexander 4G, 2-1, 1.24 ERA (check)
Duncan Bland 7G, .333, 4 HR, 7 RBI (check)
Chris Brown 6G, .522, 2 HR, 11 RBI (double-check!)

[MizzouRah]

You need the v12 vera font installed. Those numbers are hard on my eyes.