The United States of Baseball: an online league Battle Royale

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Trade happy in the early going

4 days into the 2018 season and few teams are already working out deals to fill holes. I don't know if there was talks during the offseason are not but apparently something these teams saw in the first 4 games made them pull the trigger.

Brooklyn and Havana work deal centered around Willin Rosario and Rob Quinn

Brooklyn receives

C Willin Rosario
OF Armando Banda

Havana gets

Ron Quinn 2B

Quinn will fill a hole at 2b for the Trogons and do it very well. He is more of a slap hitter but he has the discipline and gap power do be a very very good 2nd hole hitter. He simply gets on base at the plate and that is a valuable commodity in any player, plus at 25 he has a long future in front of him and is still very cheap.

Brooklyn gets

Willin Rosario C

Rosario is nothing more than an league average catcher but when you lack even that at the position this deals starts to make a lot of sense. The aces were trotting out there with Jose Perez every day and tbh that was an achilles heel for the team in my opinion as he is more of a backup/defensive sub guy.
Rosario will bat around .250 and hit 15-20 Hr's and that is a huge upgrade in my opinion

Armando Banda CF AA

Banda is more of a lottery pick in my opinion as he lacks the eye and discipline at the plate, but he does have some amazing power potential and at only 22 has a lot of room for improvement if the Aces are patient with him. I feel this equals out the deal nicely.

Winners/Losers – well tbh I like this deal for both teams and I feel it is fairly even. If the Aces were gonna compete this year catcher had to be addressed and soon and I feel this does that, On Havana side they are not trying to compete this year so trading a older player and a young prospect for a star talent young 2b makes sense.

Ok so that was the first trade the next one involved New Boston Gm Snoblits with relative newcomer too the league Threesportgeek and Jacksonville.

Jacksonville gets

Stephen Strahsburg SP
Lyndon Connoly CF
and
Brett Morel 3b

New Boston gets
3b Robert Weston and
2,000,000 cash

This one I hate for personal reasons as I really don't need New Boston to get more bats but that being said they did give Jacksonville a lot of talented but not superstar qaulity for there ML team

Strasburg has always struggled to reach his super high ceiling and the Jaguars apparently feel it is something that they can change. If not then this guy's stats say he is at best 5th starter and not a very good one.

Connoly stuggled last year but he has the potential to immediately improve this offense and help replace the predicted impact of young stud Robert Weston. He also plays a very good CF with good range which should help the defense and pitching.

Brett Morel is filler for the vacant 3b position and to be honest should provide league average production and nothing more. By no means is this guy anything more than average to below average but he will not embarrass himself out there.

New Boston gave up some talent to get Weston and taking a look at the player it is easy to see why. Weston is a true impact bat with MVP/HOF type potential. In fact I wish I had known he was available I may have tried to make a play myself. Of course all this is based on potential not production but if he is even ¾ the player he could be then he will be the best 3b in the game sooner rather than later

Winner/Loser

New Boston gets a superstar potential at a weak 3b and Jacksonville gets immediately better on both sides of the ball. I wish jacksonville had gotten a little more youth in the deal but I feel they filled 2 holes while creating one which I would think is a win for them. Weston was not going to make them competitive all by himself but Connolly and Strasburg might be able to help get them to above average sooner rather than later. If strasburg were too live up to his ratings ( finally) then this could skew this trade in Jacksonville favor but as of right now I just love SnoBlitz going out and getting the guy at the one weakness on a very good team. Winner: Sno and Boston although it is very very close

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Week 2 3-4
Overall 6-5 GB -

Game 5 Reno vs STL (STL 7-Reno 3)

Champion took the mound for us and gave us 6 solid innings of 3 run ball while striking out 6 and walking 3. Brewer and Gregory led the offense with 2-run Homers and our offense found a way to score 7 runs total, Andres Blanco took over in the 6th inning and pitched 3 innings of scoreless ball to cap off the 7-3 win.


Game 6 Reno Vs STL ( STL 5-Reno 4)

Hernandez got his second start and went 8 innings giving up just 4 runs, 3 earned while striking out 5. Joey Votto was the Hero of the day bashing 2 Hr's in the first and 5th innings for a total of 5 rbi's. We endend up pushing another run across in the fifth and won the game 5-4. Erique Ocascio pitched a scoreless 9th for the save.

Game 7 Las Vegas @ STL (LV 4-STL3)

Cubi on the mound and he was fairly good going all 9 giving up 4 runs while striking out 7. Ismael Gonzales and Phil Warner of the LV squad seemed to have his number as they both touched him up for long balls as did Francisco Vidal in the top of the 9th for the game winner. I really question the decision to leave him in for the 8th and 9th innings as he gave up 3 runs there and cost us the game.

Game 8 Las Vegas @ STL ( LV 8 STL 2)

Rapheal Bridges laid another egg here in the early going as he gave up 5 in 7.1 innings including HR's to Tony Moore and Enrico Vega. Our offense struggled today although Ernie Berry did hit his 2nd Hr of the season while swiping his 6th base.

Game 9 Las Vegas @ STL ( LV 6-STL 3)

Acuna got touched for 6 runs in 6.2 innings while our offense outside of Votto and Semitecolo struggled to do anything. Velasquez and Riley have struggled to do anything in the early going and are quickly running out of time to improve. Vegas takes the 3rd and sweep us at home, yuck

Game 10 STL @ GTY ( GTY 6 STL 3)

Champion showed his expected level of play today as he gave up 5 in 5.2 innings, striking out 10 but walking 5 and giving up 5 knocks. His control is the question with this guy and may be his achilles heel. On offense nothing much went our way although Revelez did hit his 2nd homer of the season, still it was too little too late and we lose our 4th straight game.

Game 11 STL @ GTY ( STL 6 GTY 5)

Our offense finally gets going a little bit as we pushed across 6 runs today, Brewer launched his 3 dinger of the season and Semi went 3-5 with a RBI. Hernandez went 8 more innings giving up 4 runs and taking a one run lead into the 9th. Ocascio came in and promptly blew the lead giving up the tying run but luckily we were able to score in the top of the 10th inning and he pitched a scoreless bottom for the win.

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Sim 3 5-1
Overall record 11.-6 1st place in the Kennedy division

Game 12 STL @ Gettysburg

Cubi pitched a masterpiece thru 7 and 1/3 innings giving up two runs on 10 hits with 7 K's but our usually nails closer blew it in the 9th giving up a 2 on 2 out double to Tim Bates and we go down 4-3.
The offense got hits but couldn't string them together as they left 10 men on base including Ernie Berry 3 times in scoring position. Another 3 hit game for Ercole semitecolo as he is thriving at the top of this lineup.

Game 13 Cincinnati @ STL (STL 5-Cin 3)

The Rapheal Bridges of last year made an appearance as he gave up just 3 runs in 6 innings while stiking out 8. Unfortunately our offense did nothing until the 7th when we busted out with 4 runs to take a 4-3 lead and never looked back. Brewer drove in 2 with a 2 out double in the 7th followed by another double by Ernie Berry in the 5 hole, Carlos Revelez singled driving in Berry and we took the lead.

Game 14 Cincinnati @ STL ( STL 5 Cin 4)

Acuna did solid work giving up 4 runs but keeping us in the game until we finally took the lead for good in the bottom of the 7th inning. Ocascio got a bounce back save after the Gettysburg snafu and Brewer smacked his 4th of the year.

Game 15 Cincinnati @ STL ( STL 9- Cin 0)

Hernandez made his bid for the early Young gun favorite as he shutout the Steeds, going the distance giving up just 6 hits while striking out 8. Ernie Berry, John Riley, and Bob Gregory all homered in the run-away win for the sweep.

Game 16 STL @ Brooklyn (STL 5-Brooklyn 2)

Cubi does his job 7.2 IP 9 H 1 R 11 K's

Votto hits his 4th Hr
SB's by Semi (2) Brewer and Carrol


Game 17 STL @ Brooklyn (STL 3 Brooklyn 1)

Bridges gets the ball for the 2nd time this week and is even better going 7.1 ip 0 ER 3 H 14 K's
Yeah fourteen strikeout just under 2 an inning
Votto hits his fifth HR
Semi swipes 2 more bags giving him 7 on the year

Overall we went 11-6 in April and I am pretty happy with the team although I would like to get some guys going a little better. Brewer is still looking a little uncomfortable at the plate, Revelez and Vasquez are needing to pick it up at the dish.

Pitching is still a concern as we lack a true 3rd starter but Bridges has been better there of late and Cubi and Hernandez have been lights out. Acuna needed to be better than he has shown so far as does Champion who looks lost out there.

Crusader of the Month: Joey Votto .375/.481/.672 for the month with 5 bombs and 15 RBI's
Crusader pitcher of the Month: Felix Hernandez 3-0 with 2.91 ERA and a ridiculous 34 IP's in 4 starts

Triple AAA batter: Victorio Gomez 1B .390/.422/.563 with 2 Hr's and 13 RBI's
Triple AA pitcher: Scott Clay GS 4 1-2 27.2 IP 2.28 Era 35 K's 4 BB

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Sim 4 0-7
Overall 11-13 2nd in the division to minny(-1)

Game 18 STL VS Brooklyn (STL 3 Brooklyn 8)

No in depth report needed our starting pitcher Champion gave up 5 R's in 5 innings, Hoover replaced him and gave up 3 more while only recording an out. Horrible pitching performance

Game 19 Scottsdale Vs STL (Stl 11 Snakes 15)

Too bad pitching performances in a row as the Snakes lineup crushed our weak staff all over the park. Our offense battled back with Hr's by Semi, Votto Berry and Riley but in the end we were just not able to do enough.

Game 20 Scottsdale Vs STL ( STL4- Snakes 6)

Hernandez is up and I hoped he could stop the bleeding instead he goes 7 giving up 6 R with 3 big flies. My offense again comes up short although we did get another HR from Brewer but not enough

Game 21 Scottsdale Vs STL ( STL 2- Snakes 6 )

Well they sweeped us which should suprise no one who has watched the first two games as they seem to be pounding any pitcher they see right now. Kershaw was as usual dominant for the snakes

Game 22 New Boston Vs STL ( STL 7 – Heros 8)

Our pitching this week is atrocious and I for one am not going to stand for it. Bridges gave up 6 R's in 4 IP today and that is a sign maybe these guys need a wake up call. Semi hit another HR from the leadoff position and has 5 on the season but overall this whole week has sucked

Game 23 New Boston Vs STL ( Stl 2 – Heros 5)

Champion once again goes 5 giving up 5 and his ERA is now over 7 for the season, I know it is early but I cant stand what I am seeing from him this is his last start with the Cru. After the Game I tell him to pack his bags and catch the first bus back to Triple AAA and the really sad thing is he almost looked relieved. Catcher Bob Gregory Homered but that was about the extent of our offense against the amazing Bob Reed.

Game 24 New Boston Vs STL STL 4 Hero's 10

I am just gonna say our starter gave up 7 runs and our offense couldn't keep up. Just a pathetic week for us.

So who will start in Champion's place next week well read the next post to find out the answer. I would also point out our offense put up 29 runs in 7 games this week and we could not win any of them that is unacceptable.

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Scott Clay gets the call up/ Ron Champion sent back to Duverge


The pitching struggles in St. Louis are no secret as the back end of their rotation has been getting beat up on a regular basis. That being said many felt that there lack of young arms in AAA would keep the same 5 guys out there as there is really no one who looks USOB ready in the minors right now. That is what the pundits said before the start of the season and many still feel that way 5 weeks in. The Cru Front Office on the other hand, seems to believe they have at least one USOB ready arm in AAA as they called up a young right-handed pitcher Scott Clay. Clay came over in the trade with the Snakes that shipped crowd favorite Eric Braun out of town and while no one expects him to meet those lofty standards there is some reason to think that he is at least capable rotation piece. The 24 year old righty has started five games at the AAA level so far this season and has absolutely dominated hitters there, striking out an impressive 49 batters in just 34.1 innings while only walking 5. Clay posted a 2.10 ERA in those 5 starts, giving up a total of 8 ER and a k/BB rate of 9.80. He will take the rotation spot of young Ron Champion who has seemingly been getting shelled on a nightly basis as the Cru's 5th Starter.

Clay is from Belleville, IL, a small town just a stone's throw from the Archway Stadium and the City the Crusader's call home. A child of a single mother, his father was killed doing his part in the infamous Crew-Sades that swept the Ruskies out of the Mid-west back in 2004. His mother now raising a son by herself became both mother and Father to the then 10 year old Clay. By the time Scott was twelve he was dominating the competition in the new youth baseball foundation and there was his mother, behind the plate, cheering on her young son. Scott has had an uphill climb to the Usob as many scouts wrote him off as not quite good enough to make it to these lofty heights and 2012 he was signed by the Scottsdale Snakes to a minor league deal in a move that definitely did not get national attention. Scott Clay did not let the lack of hype around his abilities get him down and in 2014 he made an appearance on the Bnn top 100 prospect list and many felt he was destined to be a dominant closer in the near future. Unfortunately Scott seemed to struggle with hitters at the higher levels and as his ERA climbed his prospect status once again vanished in a puff of smoke. Then came the trade that would change everything, Scottsdale starter Neftali Feliz injured his back (herniated disk) and suddenly the Snakes needed another big pitcher to feel out there rotation. Talks ensued between the GM's of the Crusader's and Copperheads and within days a deal was struck. Scottsdale would get Eric Braun, the best pitcher on the Cru's very respectable 2017 staff and the Cru would in return receive Joey Votto, Uber Prospect Grant Skinner, and a couple arms too even out the deal. One of those other arms was Scott Clay. Clay was sent to AAA to see if he could figure things out in the offseason, but not much was expected of the young man and many felt he would never make it to the bigs. Then he sat down with Pitching Guru and overall bright guy, Johnny Fuentes, the Crusader's Minor league Development specialist.

Fuentes noticed Clay seemed more competent on the mound when he was able to settle into a game. His stuff actually seemed to be better in his 2nd or 3rd inning of work than it was in the first. With this unique insight in mind Fuentes set about working with Clay on the transition to starting games and by the time the AAA season was ready to open Clay had shot up the rankings once again climbing all the way too number 2 in the Crusader's organization and number 35 nationally. With the call to the show and his first big league start looming Clay will once again get his chance to prove he is a USOB player, and if you are a fan of the Crusader's you will be right there along with Mrs. Clay on Saturday afternoon at Archway stadium rooting him on