DELMARVA Baseball League

[illeracula]

DelMarVa Championship Series - Game 3

The Series is tied at 1, so now it comes down to a best of 5 and the next two games in Lewes we have our #1 and #2 on the hill. Marcos Estrada goes up against the Braves today, so hopefully he can hold down teh fort and get use to Paul Brown in game 4 with an advantage.

Robinson Lopez is out, looks like he will miss the rest of the series with a concussion. And playing in Lewes means we lose our DH, so one of our OF'ers will have to sit. At least we will have 2 big-bats on the bench.

Luis Deleon was 12-10 2.95 on the season and many of our guys have seen him before. He played with Ocean City for 5 seasons. He matches up very well with Estrada, it 'should' be a low scoring game.

This is going to be a tough one...



Brock hits his 2nd HR of the series in the top of the first to give the Cav's an early lead. A 437 ft blast down the RF line... The Cav's managed to load the bases with 2 outs, but Deleon got Mario Gomez to ground out to end the threat.

In the top of the 2nd, Augusto Rodriguez started the inning off with a double. He was then thrown out at 3B on a botched bunt by Estrada... Leaving the Cav's with a missed opportunity.

The game remained 1-0 until the top of the 8th when Henry Hamer gave the Cavaliers a much-wanted/needed insurance run. Hamer drove a 1-1 fastball 444ft to dead center. Janchez singled to follow Hamer, which chased Deleon from the game. After a Janchez steal Granados singled him home giving the Cav's another insurance run.

I left Estrada hit in the 9th, with Martinez and Moran in the bullpen ready to go. He has a 4-hit shut-out going, only 2 runners have made it to 2nd. I figured he deserves a go after the shut-out... that might of been a mistake as the first two Braves hitters singled... David Moran comes into the game to try to get us out of this mess.

Situation:
Bottom 9th Salinas on second, Davis on first
-- Totoya Ogawa, Ogawa K's, 1 out
-- Eric Harper, PH, Haper hits into ta 5-4-3 double play

The Cav's go up 2 games to 1.



Marcos Estrada threw 104 pitches over 8.0+ innings, allowing just 6 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 4. Luis Deleon didn't do too bad himself, going 7.2 Innings, allowing 7 hits and 3 runs. The difference was Estrada keeping the Braves quiet. A big HR in the first set the tone and shifted the momentum to the Cav's. Brock has stepped it up here in the series.

Estrada was on point from the beginning of the game, there really wasn't a time in the game, till the 9th I felt nervous. I probably shouldn't of brought him out for the 9th, espeically since he batted in the top half. Just felt it was right to do, at least try to get him that shut out.

Other Things:
The Braves had a runner reach 2nd base only 3 times. The 9th inning was the only time they did it with less than 2 outs.

The Braves had 6 hits, including a double. Ogawa hit a double in the 2nd inning.

David Moran closed the game for the Cavaliers. Recording his only save of the post-season.

Henry Hamer went 3-4, with a HR and an RBI

King Brock had 2 hits. A HR and a double.

Javier Janchez stole the 2nd base of the series, stealing easily off of Rodriguez.

Jeff Lewis went 0-5 with 2 K's, as his playoff slump continues.

Leonard Davis lead the Braves with 2 hits.

The Cav's left 5 on, the Braves 7.

Up next: Paul Brown goes up against tough lefty Jorge Moran

[illeracula]

DelMarVa Championship Series - Game 4

Paul Brown is on the hill coming off a big win in Game 7 of the Conference Championships, and he will look to continue that success. He goes up against lefty Jorge Moran, a one time Golden Arm winner. He isn't the same Jorge Moran that won that award, but he still is a pretty solid pitcher. Plus Moran is a lefty, and the Cav's have a history of struggling against lefties during the playoffs... The key to this game is to not let Moran keep the lefties in check. Brock, Lambert, Hamer, Janchez, Galvez all have to do something.

The lineup looks a little different today with the lefty on the hill. Hamer is in the game over Lambert and Galvez, so we have 2 solid bats on the bench. I miss the DH... does Paul Brown have another solid start in him? Lets find out.



After the Cav's went down 1-2-3 in the first, Janchez got them going in the second with a lead-off double. With Granados up, and no outs, I had him lay down the bunt. The Braves 3B Don White threw the ball away, Janchez scored and Granados ended up at 2nd. Hamer moved Granados to third on a ground out and with 2 outs, Jose Rodriguez lost control of a Moran fastball and Granados crossed the plate with the 2nd run.

The Braves mounted a come back in the bottom half of the second as Errol Williams drew a walk with 1-out and then Scott Barnes popped out to short, but Augusto Rodriguez dropped the ball, moving Williams up to second and putting Barnes on first. With two outs and runners on first and second, Jorge Moran singled to right, scoring Williams. Brown was able to get out of the inning with out further damage.

In the bottom half of the 4th the Braves tied things up on a Errol Williams 351ft blast. That was all the Braves could get it, but it was huge. Tie game after 4.

The top of the 7th, the Cavaliers started to mount a rally... With 2 runners on (first and second) and Paul Brown up to bat, I decided to pull him. He is at 98 pitches and this is an opportunity that may not come around again. PH is lefty Sergio Galvez (.293-3-14 vs LHP this season). Galvez grounded out to end the inning. Galvez stays in the game to play 1B and Armando Lopez enters on the hill.

A lead-off single goes for naught in the bottom of the 7th. Lopez did his job.

The top of the 8th began with Jeff Lewis reaching on an error. With Armando Lopez up to bad. I decided to keep him in to lay down the bunt. After a perfect bunt by Lopez, Alejandro Diaz was IBB. A weak bouncer to third, moved Lewis and Diaz up. But Granados flies out to end the threat.

The 9th inning of the game starts with the teams tied up at 2, and the Cav's at the plate. Henry Hamer leads off with a weak grounder to first, who throws the ball away moving Hamer to second. The third error of the game for the Braves. Gomez walks to put runners on first and second. Augusto Rodriguez lays down the sac bunt, moving Hamer and Gomez up. Galvez grounds out. Jeff Lewis pops out. The Cav's waste an opportunity.

Lopez set the Braves down in order 1-2-3. He gets pulled for a PH in the top of the 10th. The Cav's go down 1-2-3, and Luis Martinez comes into pitch for the Cav's.

Luis Martinez gives up a single to Jose Rodriguez to start things off. After a strike out, Felipe Marquez singles, moving Rodriguez to third. With runners on 1st and 3rd, Don White walks to load the bases. With one out and the bases loaded Andres Salinas comes to the plate. Salinas strikes out, bring up lefty Leonard Davis... Claudio Luna comes into the game to face the lefty... Luna processed to plunk PH Ryan Warrender to end the game... the Braves tied the series on a walk-off hit-by-pitch!!



Paul Brown did his job going 6 strong allowing 3 hits and 2 runs, only one earned. He did strike out 8 and walk 2. Claudio Luna has had a nice post-season and I thought he would be able to get out of the jam. In hindsight I should of gone with David Moran, my trusted closer. Armando Lopez was lights out in relief and continues to impress me, he may end up as the #5 starter next season. Despite the bad fielding, the Braves tied the series up thanks to great pitching. Jorge Moran gave up 2 runs, both unearned. They owned the Cav's today allowing just 4 hits. The Cav's continue to struggle against lefties.

That right there was a heartbreaker. We had so many opportunities we just couldn't capitalize. Now we have to win 2 out of 3 and one of those games is against Diaz, who owned us in game 1. I am hoping that Cornell Pearson gets his stuff together and can lead us to a win. One more game without the DH and then 2 at home. Its a big game, 2-2, in Lewes, facing the best lefty in the game on the hill. I need someone to step up...

Other Things:
Javier Janchez had the Cav's only extrabase hit, a double.

Alejandro Diaz, a righty, went 0-4 with 3 K's.

Jose Rodriguez struck out 3 times, but he got a big single in the 10th to tart things off. I am sure the 3 K's and PB will be long forgotten tomorrow.

Eroll Williams scored 2 runs and had an RBI to lead the Braves.

The Braves struck out 13 times, the Cav's 7.

The Cav's left 7 on the Braves 5.

Two of the three Braves runs were scored with 2 outs.

Up next: A rematch of game 1, lefty Cristobal Diaz versus Cornell Pearson.

[illeracula]

DelMarVa Championship Series - Game 5

Game 5 of a 2-2 series, seems like a must win to me. The good thing is we have home field in games 6 and 7 if it goes that far, but my goal is to win this game, game 5. If we could beat Cristobal Diaz I would feel great, it would give us a nice confidence boost and the tinest cushion going into the final 2 games of the series.

All Diaz did in game 1 was dominiate is. Holding us to 5 hits over 8 innings. I want revenge for that shut-out, that is for sure. Pearson had control problems in game 1, and he kept the Braves from hitting th ball. Those 6 walks, however, were killers. I am going to go with my lineup, nothing special, Brock at 1B, Hamer in LF, Lewis in RF. I would like to get Lambert and Galvez so playing time, but the way Hamer, Brock and Janchez are hitting it just doesn't make sense.

Going into this game I am a little worried, about Pearson. After having a great September, he has really struggled to find himself in the playoffs. Just have to have faith...

My Keys to win:
1) Get Diaz out of the game, he has stamina of 7. So if we can make him throw a lot of pitches we should be good.
2) Find a way to score. We need to score runs, there is no other way to put it. The offense has to come through with the big hit.
3) Throw strikes! Pearson walked 1.7/9 during the regular season, but has struggled with his control (16) during the playoffs.



The Cav's went down swinging in the first, with Diaz racking up 3 K's. The Braves went scoreless, with 2 Cornell Pearson walks mixed in, a very interesting first inning. Vaughan Griffith is rested, do I bring him in? He has to have better control that Pearson!!

The Cav's made a little noise in the 3rd, with a 1-out error, Augusto Rodriguez was on first. Pearson moved him up with a sac, but Jeff Lewis went down swinging again. Ending any threat.

The Braves answered with a minor threat of their own. Felipe Marquez singled with one out, stole second with two outs, but was left on second with a Salinas K.

The Cav's answerd back in the 4th, with a lead-off baserunner. Ramon Granados was safe when SS Errol Williams dropped a line drive. Granados then stole second... With 2 outs the Braves decided to walk the #8 hitter Augusto Rodrigez to get the pitcher up to bat. After a first pitch strike Pearson was up with runners on 2nd and 3rd, but struck out ending the threat.

The Braves answered right back with a lead-off single by Scott Barnes and a walk to Jose Rodriguez, brought up Cristobal Diaz who laid down a perfect sac-bunt. Barnes would then score on a sac-fly, giving them the lead.

After 5 innings, the Cav's are down 1-0 and are hitless...

In the 6th things got interesting... with 1-out King Brock grounded out to first, but that big news was Cristobal Diaz appeared hurt. He had to be removed from the game. The next batter Henry Hamer walked, then Alejandro broke up the no-hitter with a single. But Ramon Granados couldn't come through and popped out to end the inning.

A lead-off walk to Javier Janchez got the 7th inning started. He couldn't get a jump on the first two pitches, leaving Mario Reyes in the whole. Reyes flew out. After another botched steal attempt, Augusto Rodriguez was given the hit-and-run. He lined out to center, Janchez was lucky to get back to first. With the pitcher up again Janchez tried to steal yet again and was gunned down.

After 7-solid innings Cornell Pearons will be pulled for a pinch hitter. Pearson had a solid game, allowing just 3 hits, but his control, once again, got the best of him walking 5!!

In the bottom of the 8th, Don White greeted new pitcher Vaughan Griffith with a 343ft HR to give the Braves some insurance.

The Cav's tried to answer in the 9th, but to no avail.. a lead-off walk by Henry Hamer was erased by a Alejandro 3-6 DP and a 2-out walk to Ramon Granados was erased by a Javier Janchez by a grounder to second.



The Braves pitching give us chances, but we just couldn't come through. Diaz was amazing yet again, it would of been interesting to see what would of happened had he not gotten injuried. Amazing performace. You just can't win games when games when you don't score runs.

Pearson, yet again, didn't have his best stuff, but he made it work. He only gave up 1 run over 7 innings. However a big walk in the fifth cost him. However you can't blame him for that lost. The anemic offense was at it agian.

Other Things:
The Cav's have been trying to take advantage of Jose Rodriguez and his 8.8% CS ratio. And today they finally had some runners on with speed, stealing 3 bases (Granados (2), A. Rodriguez). However the biggest play might of been Javier Janchez and his inability to steal. He was even thrown out.

Vaughan Griffith was removed from the starting rotation because he likes to give up pop-flies. Today it cost him in a solo-HR.

The Braves had 4 hits, only one for extra-bases, the solo-HR by Don White.

The Braves left 6 on and the Cav's 5.

The Cav's continue to struggle with the bat: Jeff Lewis (.095), Augusto Rodriguez (.067) and Alejandro Diaz (.105).

The Braves aren't doing much better: Andres Salinas (.100), Totoya Ogawa (.077) and Errol Williams (.125).

Up next Robert Albert vs Miguel Angel Gonzalez. The game heads back to Norfolk and the DH will be welcomed back.

[illeracula]

DelMarVa Championship Series - Game 6

Game 6, a must win for us, and we are putting out there 23 year old (and one day), Miguel Angel Gonzalez, who has 9.1 innings of big league experience, not including his playoff start... pressure? Hmm... He is felling 100% so hopefully he can repeat his performance form game 2... if MAG doesn't have it, its all hands on deck, the only pitcher that is truly unable to go today is Marcos Estrada, he has to be saved for tomorrow.

The line is going to look a little different for this game, with the righty on the hill I am going to sit down Jeff Lewis and have the lefties in his place. Mark Bolton is also going to get the start behind the plate, and Steve Wallace will be starting at SS. Too many changes? Does it look like someone has hit the panic button? Well it shoud, because I have.



The top half of the first wasn't very smooth, a lead-off double, a stolen base and a walk and another walk to load the bases... but MAG was able to escape the inning without any damage being done.

The Cav's were able to get a base runner in the second when Javier Janchez singled. He stole second, but that was all she wrote for the Cav's, as we failed to get him home with 1 out.

The Cav's finally broke the streak of scoreless innings in the 4th when King Brock hit a 437ft solo-blast over the CF wall to lead things off.

The lead, however, didn't last long. Felipe Marquez lead off the 5th with a walk, went to second on a wild-pitch then scored on a Don White single. The Braves were able to continue going with a signle, hit batter and another single. To take a 2-1 lead. MAG was able to get out of another bases-loaded jam, luckily.

The Cav's battled back in the bottom of the 5th, with a lead-off walk to Mark Bolton, a fielders choice, a nice sac-bunt and then a single by Sergio Galvez to tie the game up. After a stolen base, King Brock gave the Cav's the lead with his 2nd HR of the this. This time a 422 ft to right-center.

With the Cav's leading by 2 MAG has settled into a groove and retired the Braves in the 6th, 7th and 8th, facing only 10 batters... after plunking Jose Rodriguez to start the 9th, MAG was pulled for closer David Moran, to face the top of the lineup.

Situation: Runner on first
At-bat: Felipe Marquez: Ground-out 5-4 (FC)
At-bat: Done white: 2-run HR (364ft) tie game.

That was all in the 9th, now the Cav's are fighting their way back. Tie game bottom of the 9th...

In the 10th the Cav's walked off with the game, Sergio Galvez walked with 1-out, then stole second, and King Brock didn't disappoint, doubling to left-center for the game winning hit.



Miguel Angel Gonzalez put together another solid game, he didn't have his best stuff but he was able to pitch himself out of the jams. It could of been a lot worse for him, but he got the outs when he needed. The Braves left 10 runners on this game!

However you really have to give it up to the kid, after only 9.1 innings of big-league ball he comes out and has two solid Championship starts. His line for the series: 2 GS, 15.2 IP, 12 H, 3 R, 6 BB, 11 K

I keep saying someone on offense has to step up big and today King Brock did, 4 hits including 3 for XB and 2 HR's. What a game, it got a little dicey there for a few, but as soon as Brock gave us the lead MAG turned it out and it was all she wrote.

I have to admit, that after Moran gave up the 2-run HR in the 9th to tie the game I thought it was over. I didn't think there was going to be a way for us to come back from that.

Other Things:
The Cav's had 9 hits, 4 by King Brock. Brock was 4-5 with 4 RBI's and 2 Runs.

Sergio Galvez lead off this game, the first time the Cav's didn't have Jeff Lewis leading off. Galvez went 2-4, with 2 Runs and an RBI. Jeff Lewis? PH-K.

Steve Wallace got the start at short, he went 0-2. It was the frist time this playoff that Augusto Rodriguez didn't start.

The Cav's took advantage of Jose Rodriguez behind the plate, stealing 3 bases. Janchez 1, Galvez 2.

Don White went 3-4 with 2 Runs and 3 RBI's including the game-tying HR in the 9th.

Number 9 hitter Jose Rodriguez had 2 singles.

Errol Williams went 0-3 stranding 6 runners.

On the game the game the Cav's left 3 on, the Braves 10.

The 9 runs combined were the most in any game this series.

This was the 2nd extra-inning game of the series.

Up Next: Luis Deleon faces Marcos Estrada for the winner takes all 7th game!

[NYY #23]

I'm starting to really like Gonzalez. Too bad he was a victim of a blown save, but I'm glad that you were able to walk off in the tenth!

Good luck in Game 7!

[illeracula]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

I'm starting to really like Gonzalez. Too bad he was a victim of a blown save, but I'm glad that you were able to walk off in the tenth!

Good luck in Game 7!

Yes I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, since he only has 2 solid pitches, but he impressed me quite a bit. So much in fact that he will be given a rotation slot for next season and Marcos Estrada (and his $20+ million contract) will be moved on... I think...

Thanks, the way this team has been hitting I need as much luck as possible.

[illeracula]

DelMarVa Championship Series - Game 7

This is it, winner takes all and its a rematch of Game 3. The Cav's struggled against Luis Deleon but were lucky enough to pull out the win. He goes up against Marcos Estrada who has had 2 so great outings and one awful outing in this years playoffs. I am hoping the great guy shows up for this game, we need him. Estrada and Deleon both are groundball pitchers, so the teams will need to manufacture some runs if they want the win.

The Cav's lineup is going to look like it did in game 6. I thought about putting Augusto Rodriguez back in the #9 slot as the SS, but why? We won with this lineup in game 6, against a righty, so we will bring out the same one for game 7.

Jeff Lewis is sitting ont the bench for the 2nd game in a row. He is a career .238 playoff hitter, but most of that is due to his huge 2018 playoff season. The past 3 years he hasn't broke the .200 mark. Crazy to think, since he is a career .330 hitter.



After striking out the first 2 hitters, Estrada gets touch by Andres Salinas, who delivers a 426ft HR over the left-field wall. The Cav's fall back 1-0 in the first.

In the 2nd the Braves threatend again, after a double by Scott Barnes put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out, Estrada struck out Derek Campbell (yes the ex-Cav) and got Jose Rodriguez (correct, the ex-Cav) to ground out.

Bottom of the 2nd the Cav's put together a minor threat. Henry Hamer lead-off with a single, went to second on a PB. But Janchez struck out, Granados grounded out moving Hamer to 3rd and Bolton went down swinging.

In the 7th, With Lambert leading off and a lefty on the Hill I decided to bring in Jeff Lewis to hit. Lewis would walk, then get gunned out trying to steal. Lewis was 27-31 during the regular season, but got gunned out by Jose Rodriguez, who threw out only 5.8% of the baserunners this season. Wilson on the hill holds runners well, however (14) which might of aided in Lewis getting gunned down.

In the 8th light hitting Felipe Marquez (9 regular season HR's) gave the Braves an insurance run hitting an Estrada fastball 419ft over the CF wall. The Braves would add another one. Andres Salinas singled with 1 out, chasing Estrada, then the lefty David Moran came into face two lefties. Moran would give up a single to Leonard Davis, which moved Salinas to third and then Salinas would score on the sac-fly by Ogawa.

The Cav's tried to mount a comeback in the 8th, with a lead-off single by Granados and a PH single by Alejandro Diaz put runners on 1st and 3rd. Mario Gomez laid down the perfect bunt, moving the runners up. With only one position player left on the bench, Mario Reyes, who is "cold", I elected to let Augusto Rodriguez hit. Rodriguez grounded out, but Granados was able to score cutting the Braves lead to 3-1. Sergio Galvez would end the threat by flying out to the warning track in LF.

David Moran allowed a leadoff single to Scott Barnes, and then walked Derek Campbell to get the 9th started. He was yanked, and Armando Lopez was called in to hopefully stop any damage from being done. After a strike out, Felipe Marquez would load the bases on a grounder to short that Augusto Rodriguez would flub. Don White would hit in to the 6-4 FC, as the Cav's elected to try to turn the DP, which didn't work out. But that is all the Braves would get...

Bottom of the 9th Cav's are down 1 to 4
AB: King Brock > lines out to second on a diving play by 2B Scott Barnes.
AB: Jeff Lewis > grounds out to second.
AB: Henry Hamer > Homerun over the RF wall (2-4)
AB: Javier Janchez > flies out to shallow center

The Lewes Braves are the DelMarVa League Baseball Champions!!!!!!



That was a good game, but wow am I disappointed. We just coudldn't get anything done. We had chances to score, but we let the get away from us. The pitching staff did everythign they could to keep us in the game, but the Braves pitching staff just did more. Holding our offense to just 6 hits! They were the better team this series that is for sure. We just have to wait another year, fill some holes and come out trying to win in 2025. Heartbreak city in Norfolk, once again...

To me this series was full of what-if's. What if Miguel Contreras was healthy, what if we had Estrada and Brown ready to go in games 1 and 2. A lot of things could of been different, but in the end we just didn't hit the ball enough. That says a lot about how good this Lewes pitching staff was.

Other Things:
The Cav's have 6 hits, two by Henry Hamer.

The Cav's 1, 2 and 3 hitters went 1-7, with a walk and 2 K's.

The Braves had 10 hits, with Felipe Marquez, Andres Salinas and Scott Barnes all collecting two. The had 3 for extra-bases.

The Braves stuck out 10 times.

The Braves left 8 runners on, the Cav's left 2.

This was the first time the Cav's lost in the Champsionship series, they are now 5-1.

The Braves won the Championship for the 3rd time in their history, 2015 and 2020.

Series MVP: Cristobal Diaz, Lewes Braves, 2 GS, 2-0, 13.2 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 16 K's, 0 Runs, 0.00 ERA.

Notable Performances:
Don White: .300-3-7 (30 AB's)
Luis Deleon: 1-1 13.0 IP, 10 HA, 2 BB, 8 K, 2.08 ERA
Arturo Herrera: 1-1 5.1 IP, 3 H, 5 BB, 3 K, 1.69 ERA, 1 SV

King Brock: .375-4-7 (24 AB's)
Miguel Angel Gonzalez: 1-0, 15.2 IP, 12 H, 6 BB, 11 K, 1.72 ERA
Marcos Estrada 1-1, 15.1 IP, 14 H, 2 HR, 4, BB, 12 K, 1.76

Un-notable Performances:
The hitting was just anemic, the Cav's had 4 players hit under .150:
Alejandro Diaz: .150 (20 AB's, 0 RBI's)
Jeff Lewis: .087 (23 AB's, 0 RBI's)
Mario Gomez: .059 (17 AB's, 0 RBI's)
Augusto Rodriguez: .063 (16 AB's, 1 RBI)

The Braves had 4 under .200:
Leonard Davis: .192 (26 AB's)
Andres Salinas: .185 (27 AB's, HR, 2 RBI's)
Errol Williams: .130 (23 AB's, HR, 3 RBI's)
Totoya Ogawa: .056 (18 AB's, 2 RBI's)

The big difference is the Braves got the hits when they needed them most.

[NYY #23]

That looks like it was a good game, but losing Game 7 sucks. I was hoping your were going to pull this one off. I hate games like that where you get to the bullpen early, and then they just shut you down.

[illeracula]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

That looks like it was a good game, but losing Game 7 sucks. I was hoping your were going to pull this one off. I hate games like that where you get to the bullpen early, and then they just shut you down.

Losing game's 7 are awful, but they fact is we just couldn't hit their pitching. Maybe I need to look at how I am building my teams and try to find a player who is going to hit during the playoffs, seems like the past 4 seasons we just can't hit in October.

Now the fun begins, trying to figure out what this team has for 2025.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by illeracula

Losing game's 7 are awful, but they fact is we just couldn't hit their pitching. Maybe I need to look at how I am building my teams and try to find a player who is going to hit during the playoffs, seems like the past 4 seasons we just can't hit in October.

Now the fun begins, trying to figure out what this team has for 2025.

Good luck, and if you figure out how to know who can hit in October let me know! Nothing more frustrating than hitting all year, and then stopping in the playoffs.

[illeracula]

The heartbreak of the playoffs are over and now its right back to business.

Options:
Our first line of business is to give Marcos Estrada an answer on his team option. If we execute the option Estrada is due $22,800,000, or we can buy him out for $3,200,000. My original thought is execute the option and try to trade him, but that is a huge chunk of money to trade. Estrada is coming off a 20 win season however, so his stock should be high, despite his age (36 start of 2024 season). I will have to make a decision quickly on him.

Budget:
Bill Parker didn't do much with the budget rolling out the same $138,000,000 budget as last season. Before arbitration and with Estrada we stand at $129 M, so we don't have a whole lot of room for movement. Our highest paid players in 2024 are currently:
1) Estrada: $22.8 M
2) Jeff Lewis: $15.4 M
3) Miguel Contreras: $14.3 M
4) King Brock: 11.8 M

They are the only players set to make over $10 M this season.

Free Agents:
We have 17 minor league free-agents, and 2 big-league free agents. We may offer some of the minor league guys deals, but the big-league guys we will let walk. We have the option to offer them arbitration, but at this time I am going to pass.

1) Mauro Candelara (Demand: $1,300,000): .273-0-7 (73 G, 110 AB's)
2) Cluadio Luna (Demand: $1,176,000): 2-0 1.20 (7 G, 1 SV)

Luna saved our bullpen during the second half, I am glad we were able to trade away Pat Brooks and get him. He provided some leadership that Brooks just wasn't given and he turned his season around. He should get a nice deal out his 2nd half performance. We just have too many arms without options coming up in 2024, so I will need as much space as possible on the roster.

Arbitration:
This year arbitration isn't' as bad as the last few, we only have 7 players posting. We have a few players that are due big raises, and depending how they pan out might mean a different look for 2024.
1) SP Vaughan Griffith (18-5 3.43): Current: $3,120,000, Offer: $6,500,000
2) SS Mario Reyes (.298/.385/.433, 5 HR): Current: $490,000, Offer: $3,600,000
3) SS Steve Wallace (.261/.346/.391, 0 HR): Current: $490,000, Offer: $750,000
4) 1B Sergio Galvez (.296/.350/.493, 21 HR): Current: $3,800,000, Offer: $6,500,000
5) 2B Ramon Granados (.279/.370/.454, 13 HR): Current: $4,800,000, Offer: $6,000,000
6) RF Wally Lambert (.324/.378/.536, 31 HR): Current: $490,000, Offer: $5,775,000

The curious position of Ramon Granados. We drafted Granados with pick #12 in the first round of the 2017 draft. He came up through the minors as an outfielder, but with the plethora of outfield talent he elected to play 2B. He ended up starting 104 games at 2B this season, posting a .986 FPct and a .991 EFF. He committed only 6 errors, and had a ZR of -1.6. Overall he was really solid for a guy who isn't a 2B. He still has no rating as a 2B, but he may end up being our everyday 2B for 2024. This is something that will have to be given some serious thought. Because if he isn't going to play 2B it may make sense to move him, and he may be easier to move before the arbitration hearings.

I signed Wallace just for back-up to finish 2023, I may end up withdrawing his offer. Do I need him on the team? Won't I have the depth I need? Something to review.

Roster Overview:
We had a solid roster in 2023, with good depth. In 2024 we should have the same basic configuration. The only questions will be, once again, the bullpen.

Catching:
We return Alejandro Diaz and Mark Bolton who did a solid job behind the plate, and with both making the rookie minimum there is no need to make any changes.

First Base:
This is an interesting position with King Brock playing a full-season there this year, but we have 2 other guys who deserve some playing time. Sergio Galvez is by far our best fielding 1B, but he is also a Glove Wizard caliber outfielder. Then there is the AAA Silver Slugger winner Francisco Gallegos, who doesn't have an option in 2024.

Second Base:
This is Ramon Granados slot as of now. But we do ahve Bernardo Velez, Robinson Lopez and Mario Reyes who will be fighting for that slot. Granados isn't a 2B, but he played solid in 2023 and is the incumbent. I like Lopez, but most likely he will end up at 3B.

Third Base:
Mario Gomez was given the 3B job, but after an injury plauged season and the emergence of Robinson Lopez he has fallen out of favor. If he doesn't win the position back, he will make a solid bat off the bench.

Shortstop:
Augusto Rodriguez bounced back and had a solid fielding season, posting a .984 FPct, +9.3 ZR and a 1.041 EFF, after 2 sub-par fielding years. Rodriguez has 5 years left on his contract, he is "fragile", his hitting is average at best, and he has a no-trade clause in his contract. So as long as he plays decent defense and hits, the SS slot is his. Last season he played in 120 games, posting a .244-2-44 line. Reyes is the only other capable short-stop on the roster. The only thing for certain we are stuck with Rodriguez.

Outfield:
We have too much and may have to move some players this off-season. We have 5 solid outfielders on the big-league roster Henry Hamer, Jeff Lewis, Javier Janchez, Wally Lambert and Sergio Galvez (6 if you include Granados). We also have Tom Dundee and John Stewart, who aren't starters, but will make very solid back-ups running out of options. So something will have to give in the outfield.

Trading a player like Janchez, who has an awful contract, could be very smart, it would free up a lot of money and removes an injury prone player from the roster. The downfall is he is an ex-Silver Slugger so we know what kind of numbers he is capable off, plus he is our best defender in CF.

Outfield is definitely a concern.

Pitching:
Another place we have just way too many players. Last season we had Armando Lopez and Jesus Ramirez, but starters by trade, in the bullpen all season, and most likely that is where he will end up again, as our rotation is pretty much filled out.
1) Miguel Contreras
2) Paul Brown
3) Miguel Angel Gonzalez
4) Cornell Perason
5) Vaughn Griffith or Claudio Perez

Closer:
David Moran or Luis Martinez

Middle Men
Eric Helton
Jesus Ramirez
Armando Lopez
Alberto Sancehz
Dalton Whitaker
Jimmy Jones

Coming off the DL in 6 months is Carlos Coronado, who will make a solid lefty in the rotation, but he has missed the past year. So who knows how he will return.

Injury Concerns:
Getting players to return to top level after an injury is always a concern, and this season we have 3 guys who are spending some extended time on the DL, and I curious how they will return.

Carlos Coronado is a lefty and a starter, and is out for 6 more months, after missing 7 already. He is supposed to give me a lefty in the rotation, but I am not sure what to expect when he returns. At 24, he should be able to return healthy and come back, but 13 months is a lot of time to miss.

Miguel Contreras is out for 2 months with a partially torn labrum. Contreras makes starts and when I see him get hurt I get nervous. He is my ace and I am hoping these 2 months won't hurt him too much. He is under contract for 4 more seasons and I'd like to see him make a run for 300 wins.

Robinson Lopez struggled with the Cav's at the start of the season but came on at the end and during the playoffs won the 3B job. However his season and his playoffs came to an abrupt ending after suffering a concussion. Concussions are always a concern, and at 22 we hope that Lopez has a long career ahead of him. He took a development hit at the end of October, but I am hoping that is something he will bounce back from and not something I should be overly concerned with.

Cav's GM Corner:
I have my hands full for 2024. I will need to make some moves and fill some holes. We don't have that "many" holes, but we do have some. My targets for this off-season is to solidify this team. Meaning making a decision for 2B, cleaning up the OF/1B depth issue, and make sure our bullpen is better than it was last season.

One thing is for sure, my hands are full. Time to make a decision on Estrada and get this postseason going. I'd like to keep Estrada, but that 22M is just too much for my blood and budget, but will I be able to trade him? And the thing is if I do trade him it'd be for multiple players who I would just need to trade away... is it worth it? Hmm

Time to get started.

[illeracula]

DelMarVa Baseball League Off-Season Report

League News:
For the first time in the history of the DelMarVa Baseball League, the Delaware Conference and the MarVa Conference will be utilizing the DH. The vote wasn't unamimous, but the DH won out. Starting in 2024 the Delaware Conference lineups will include the designated hitter.

For the past 2 seasons there have been 10 teams in the DBL that only had 1 single-A affiliate, that is changing. With the new Short-season A ball league. Ten "A" ball teams have been demoted and ten more were added. The DBL now consists of a AAA, AA, A and SS-A league. With each team having 4 minor league affiliates, one at each level.

Firings:
Daniel Roberson, the GM of the Seaford Blue Jays for the past 2 seasons was let go by the team after his second consective 96+ loss season. Roberson came in with a plan, and according to him he was right on track, according the Blue Jays they weren't anywhere close.

Jose Carrillo, decided to leave the Wilmington Iron Pigs after one season, when Blue Jays owner Enrique Castro reached out and asked him to return. Carrillo returns to the Blue Jays where he spent 2017-2020. In 2020 the Blue Jays won a franchise high 70 games.

The Ellicott City Express have decided to change their plans again. After one year with Adriao Lcarrillo as their GM, the Express have let him go and are searchng for his successor. Lcarrillo's only season in Ellicott City was a dismal one, as the Express loss a Franchise record 106 games.

Felipe Gonzales has been coaching since the league started in 2013. He spent 4 years as the bench coach in Ocean City, then moved to the Richmond Cardinals, where he was the bench coach for another 5 seasons. In 2022 the Cardinals promoted him be their manager, and after two seasons, two second place finishes and a 172-152 record the Cardinals let him go... Gonzales wasn't without a job for long, coming to an agreement with the Milford Clippers to be their manager in 2024.

Trades:
There were a couple of minor deals made during the first week off the off-season. The first deal of the off-season between the Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs and the Ocean City Tourists. The Tourists sent away little used 1B Donald Kane (.278/.332/.514, 23 HR) in return for RF Paco Torres (.170/.235/.191) and prospect 1B Ryan Urbina (#104).

The second deal saw new Blue Jays GM Jose Carrillo bring in a questionable SP Brian Erickson (3-9 4.72, 1 SV) from the Annapolis Admirals for a top prospect SP Brian Smith (#51).

Cav's Corner:
The decision was made to execute the team option for Marcos Eastrada, so now we are out on the limb for $22 million unless we can deal him. Trying to trade away $22 million isn't going to be easy.

Doing a quick shop around the only team willing to pull off a 1 for 1 deal is the Milford Clippers and I am sort of torn if I should go for it or not. The only problem is, the player they are offering, Seth Bennett, is signed for $15M per year for the next 5. The plus is he would be easier to trade, the negative is, he is 28 and I may want to keep him... but in all reality he would be easier to trade, I just need to figure out what I want/need and make some deals.

Another player I am looking at to possible move is Javier Janchez. I am not sure what I was thinking, but after his Silver Slugger Award season I got a little excited and signed him to a big deal. He gets $7.7 M next season, but then its a jump to $12.4 M and then a couple of seasons at $16.8 M. He is talented, so I should be able to get some good talent/prospects for him. I just really need to sit back and evaluate what I have and what is out there.

Cavaliers Front Office:
Budget: 11th / $138,000,000
Payroll: 3rd / $132,355,000
Projected Budget Room: (22,070,000)
Fan Interest: 100
Fan Loyalty: Good
Ticket Price: $27.00 (up from $26.75 in 2023)

Up Next:
- Award Announcements
- Off-Season Report #3
-- Arbitration Hearings
-- Free Agency Filings

[illeracula]

The Delaware Conference Honors Top Glovemen for 2023: Defense is a critical element in the game of baseball. Many times late in the game, a light-hitting defensive specialist will be inserted in place of a superstar hitter. Good defenders are worth their weight in gold and today the best of them for 2023 have been recognized. These players will receive the Delaware Conference Glove Wizard Award:

Pitcher: Takayuki Iemochi (Dover Generals)
Catcher: Alfredo Marín (Wilmington Iron Pigs)
First Baseman: Enzo Allard (Newark Millers) - 3x
Second Baseman: Jeremy Jones (Milford Clippers)
Third Baseman: António Maldonado (Christiana Blue Hens)
Shortstop: Anthony Lucarelli (Seaford Blue Jays) - 2x
Left Fielder: Ken Fletcher (Dover Generals)
Center Fielder: Walt Martin (Christiana Blue Hens)
Right Fielder: Leonard Davis (Lewes Braves)

Notes:
Enzo Allard won the award for the first time in the DE Conf, after winning it 2 times with the Washington Senators.


The MarVa Conference Announces 2023 Top Gloves: The Glove Wizard Award winners don't get the recognition of the home run hitters, but they are very much appreciated by managers, their teammates and by the fans, who know the value of defensive excellence. Great defense makes a difference in baseball. This year's top glovemen in the MarVa Conference are:

Pitcher: Chris Steele (Washington Senators)
Catcher: António Castaneda (Chesapeake Blue Crabs) - 2x
First Baseman: Adrián Hernández (Washington Senators)
Second Baseman: Jerry Jones (Chesapeake Blue Crabs)
Third Baseman: José Rivera (Washington Senators) - 2x
Shortstop: Augusto Rodríguez (Norfolk Cavaliers) - 4x
Left Fielder: Mike Simmons (Chesapeake Blue Crabs) - 4x
Center Fielder: Tyler Forrest (Ocean City Tourists)
Right Fielder: Jeff Lewis (Norfolk Cavaliers) - 4x

Notes:
Tyler Forrest won the Glove Wizard award breaking a 4 year streak by Kent Davis. Davis is a 6 time winner, but was hampered by injuries this season.

Augusto Rodriguez won the Glove Wizard award 3 times in a row, but missed out the past 2 seasons.

Overall, between the DC and the MC there were 11 first time winners. A new breed of Glove Wizards are making their way into the DBL.

[illeracula]

Younger Hits His Way to Newcomer Award: Alexander Younger of the Dover Generals enjoyed a fine rookie season in 2023, culminating today with his announcement as the winner of the Delaware Conference Newcomer Award.

During the regular season the 25-year-old budding star played in 138 games, hit .275, collected 130 hits in 472 at-bats with 15 home runs, 55 RBIs and 66 runs scored.

MarVa Conference's Best Rookie Acclaimed: It was a good season for Annapolis's Yong-gwan Chong, capped off today by the announcement that he has been named the MarVa Conference Newcomer Award winner.

The talented first baseman hit .327 in 134 games this season, racking up 159 hits, 29 home runs, 97 RBIs and 68 runs scored.

News:
Many "experts" out there believe that the Norfolk Cavaliers Henry Hamer deserved the Newcomer Award over Chong. Chong a 7 year veteran of the Korean Baseball League decided to come over DBL at the beginning of the 2023 season. Chong put up solid numbers, but many "experts" believe he shouldn't be considered a rookie... Henry Hamer's numbers were very similar to Chong's. Hamer hit .301-31-90 65 R, posting a 4.6 WAR in his rookie campaign. Chong's WAR was 4.7 for reference.

It wouldn't be award season without controversy.

[illeracula]

DE Conference Best Manager, Hopper of the New Castle Colonials: The New Castle Colonials called a press conference to announce that field manager Vernon Hopper had been named Delaware Conference Manager of the Year earlier in the day. Staffers congratulated the 58-year-old baseball guru as he approached the podium.

"This city has allowed me to craft a winning ball club," said Hopper. "When you take on a new job, there's always some adjustment period, but everyone here has been cooperative. From the bat boys on up. Here's to many more successful seasons for the New Castle Colonials!"

Hopper led New Castle to a 96-66 record this year and a first place finish in the Delaware Conference Northern Division.

Norfolk's Arthur Ray Named Top MVDIV Manager: The Norfolk Cavaliers had an outstanding season, much of it due to their astute and gifted skipper. For his managerial excellence, Arthur Ray reaped the reward of being voted MarVa Conference Manager of the Year.

"A manager is only as good as the players he's managing," Ray told reporters. "If I didn't have the talent to work with, making all the right moves wouldn't have helped a bit."

Under Ray the Cavaliers finished first in the MarVa Conference Western Division with a record of 123-39.


Notes:
Vernon Hopper and Arthur Ray have both been around the DBL since 2013, but 2023 was their first time managing a team.

Hopper was a pitching coach with the Georgetown Sixteens for 6 seasons, then was hired as the bench coach for the New Castle Colonials. After 4 seasons as Bench coach Hopper was brought on as their manager. All he did was guide them to a 96-66 record.

Arthur Ray served as the bench coach for the Newark Millers from 2013-2016, when they decided not to renew his contract. In 2017 he reached an agreement with the Cavaliers to be their bench coach with the understanding he would one day be the manager here in Norfolk. The Cavaliers let Allistar Turcotte's contract run out in 2022 and Ray was promoted to be their manger prior to the 2023 season.

[illeracula]

DE Conference's Best Pitcher is Díaz: 25-year-old Cristóbal Díaz of the Lewes Braves put together a good year in 2023 for such a young player. Díaz was named today as the winner of the Delaware Conference Golden Arm Award.

Díaz crafted an impressive 17-4 record and a 2.19 ERA. In 210 innings he allowed 158 hits, struck out 238, and walked 44.

Norfolk's Brown Nets MV Conference Golden Arm Award: The Norfolk clubhouse staff referred to him as "the kid" this season. Next year Paul Brown will have to have a new nickname. He earned it after winning the 2023 MarVa Conference Golden Arm Award.

Brown made 32 starts this year, winning 22 and losing 4. He threw 228.1 innings, fanned 250, allowed 152 hits and 40 walks, while holding opposing teams to a .185 average as he logged an impressive 2.33 ERA.

Notes:
Both of these guys deserved the award this season. Diaz could of made a case for it last year, but in 2023 they are both first time winners. Both players are young and could end up walking away with more hardware in the future. Technically, Paul Brown wasn't a rookie this year, but it was his first full season in the bigs, and all he did was walk away with the pitching triple crown. Diaz is know as the games brightest lefty starters, last season he posted a sub-2 ERA.

It will be fun watching these 2 kids mature, they both should have very bright futures ahead of them.

[illeracula]

Delaware Conference Names Top Hitter: Claude Bond got just what he wanted after deciding to enter the free-agent market: a strong offensive performance in 2023, highlighted by his selection as the Delaware Conference Silver Slugger Award.

The 28-year-old third baseman for New Castle churned out a .293 batting average while amassing 155 hits, 39 doubles, 1 triple, 27 home runs, 113 runs and 89 RBIs.

His performance virtually guarantees him a lucrative payday from whichever team he signs with during the offseason.

Notes:
Bond had the best WAR and OPS in the DE Conf, and that being said I was still surprised to see him walk away with the award. After a slow start, he picked it up following a trade from Dover to New Castle. Andy Kohl, the runner up, was rightfully disappointed: .286-43-125, 102 runs. This is Bond's 2nd time winning the Silver Slugger and it should pay dividend during his walk season.

Lewis Tops MV Conf Best Batter List: What a way to finish off the year -- being honored with the 2023 Silver Slugger Award in the MarVa Conference. It had already been a very special season for Norfolk's Jeff Lewis, but today's announcement really put the icing on his cake.

All season long Jeff Lewis gave opposing pitchers fits by hitting .358 as he collected 236 hits, 30 doubles, 9 triples, 23 home runs and 71 RBIs.

Notes:
Its not often when you see a lead-off man walk away with the Silver Slugger award, but this year you did. Lewis finally wins the award. He was close a few times, and has put up some solid numbers over the past 6 seasons. Its goo to see him walk away with the award. Mr consistency. No real controversy in the MarVa conference, but King Brock, the runner-up, could of won it as well. Brock put together one of his finest years of his career .329-39-112, 107 R, 7.1 WAR. The 10.2 WAR and Glove Wizard Award put Lewis on top.

I am happy to see Lewis walk away with the award, he probably should of won it 1 or 2 times before. I knew Bond was going to be a star and I have had my eye on him for the past 5 seasons. I tried to pull of a deal for him but Parker wouldn't allow me to go over budget to make it happen. If he wasn't a free agent this season I would make a run at him, I'd like to get him in Norfolk, but with our budget issues and Estrada still on the roster we don't have the money to give him.

[illeracula]

DelMarVa Baseball League Off-Season Report

Free Agency:
The free-agents file and are ready to find a new team. Here is a list of some of the bigger named free-agents.
1. Paul Randolph, 38 year-old starting pitcher
2. Totoya Ogawa, 38 year-old first baseman
3. Francisco Durango, 40 year-old left fielder
4. Claude Bond, 28 year-old third baseman
5. Jerry Copeland, 35 year-old starting pitcher
6. Cliff Jones, 40 year-old third baseman
7. Jorge Padilla, 39 year-old starting pitcher
8. Matt Fisher, 30 year-old left fielder
9. Tony García, 37 year-old starting pitcher
10. Will Riley, 28 year-old catcher

There are some big names on that list, such as Claude Bond who will be looking to cash in on a lucrative deal, early beliefs are that he is askign for a 9 year deal worth $21M a season. Will Riley is another ex-Silver Slugger who is looking to leave the Express and find a team he can win a title with, he is also looking for a long term 8-9 year deal worth over $20M a season.

Other Free Agents not on that list include:
Leonard Davis, 31 yrs-old (Lewes Braves): .256-22-78
Pepe Sanatana, 26 yrs-old (Richmond Cardinals): .322-29-96
Matt Fisher, 30 yrs-old (Richmond Cardinals): .298-19-76

Another interesting name on that list is 38 yr-old Abraham Thomas (.274-24-67). Thomas is chasing down 500 HR's, only 23 more to go, but is also listed as "Fragile". He hasn't been the same power hitter after a hamstring injury 2 seasons ago. But with the Delaware Conference implmenting the DH this season, he may spark some interest. He is rumored to be asking for $16M, which is a little high in my book.

Along with the batch of DBL Free agent some international players have decided to give the DBL a shot. Two of the biggest players are CL Naofumi Hashimoto from Japan and 1B Alonso Martinez out of Cuba.

Free Agent Signings:
LF Pepe Santana, signed with the Wilmington Iron Pigs. Satnata had a career season last year with the Cardinals hitting .322-29-96. (4 yrs, $67,500,000)

SP Jerry Copeland and the Georgetown Sixteens came to terms on a deal that will keep Copeland in Georgetown for 3 seasons. Copeland went 11-11 last season splitting time between the Dover Generals and the Richmond Cardinals. (3 yrs, $43,500,000)

CL Ed Yoder signs with the Lewes Braves. The Braves seem to be a hot bed for pitching. Yoder saved 40 games last season, splitting time with the Admirals and the Sixteens. He is one of the best rated closers around, and will solidfy the back-end of the Braves staff. (2 yrs, $25,800,000)

C Will Riley is moving on to the New Castle Colonails. With Claude Bond not interested in returning the Colonials needed a bat to take his place. All they did was sign one of the top hitting catchers in the game. Will Riley won the Silver Slugger award and will give the Colonials a formiddable lineup along with Peter Peters. (6 yrs, $106,800,000)

CF Leonard Davis signed a 2 year deal to play with the Annapolis Admirals. The Admirals were looking to add some pop to their line-up and they did it when they acquired Leonard Davis. Davs has hit 203 HR's during his career and has hit at least 20 since 2017. (2 yrs, $33,800,000)

Trades:
The Washington Senators looking to sure up their outfield shipped LF Melvin Riley (.235/.325/.348, 5 HR), prospect Rf Ron MacKinley (#165) and a 5th round pick to the New Castle Colonials for CF Marcos Nieto (.256/.328/.480, 22 HR).

The Baltimore Barons aquired SP Vicente Rosas (3-14 5.21), who they beleive will bounce back from a down year, and $3 M to help cover his salary for SS Colin Thompson (.253/.317/.385) and minor league C Saverio Pozziano.

With losing Claude Bond to free agency the New Castle Colonials are trying to fill some voids, and they beleive trading for 34 yr-old RF Allen Britt (.194/.321/.348) will help. Britt is better than those stats show, at least that is what the Colonials believe. In return the Dover Generals received two minor leaguers RF Manuel Marquez and 2B Jason Fox.

The Georgetown Sixteens and the Milford Clippers exchanged outfielders. The Clippers received CF Javier Dominguez (.268/.317/.416, 16 HR) and the Sixteens received LF Chad Campbell (.329/.366/.411, 2 HR).

Looking for some infield depth the Newark Millers acquired SS Emory Cameron (.271/.356/.413, 4 HR), C Nick McKinney (AA) and $759,500 (to over Cameron's contract) for minor league 1B Martin Hurst. Hurst was the fulltime 1B for the Millers in '21 and '22, but spent all of '23 in AAA.

The Lewes Braves acquired some pitching help, getting MR Marty Carr (3-5 5.18, 1 SV) from the Milton Brewers for 2 minor leaguers, C Samuel Darcy (A) and RF Neil Middlebrooks (A).

The New Castle Colonials continue to solidfy their line-up with the acquistion of 2B Adrian Hernandez (.286/.351/.440, 17 HRs). Adding their 2nd power hitter this month. The Washington Senators didn't give Hernandez up for nothing, however, receiving 2 top prospects in return: SP Julius Henry (#18) and SP Matt Dudley (#61).

Cav's Corner:
The Arbitration results are in and they aren't good... We lost all, but one, of our hearings.

1) SP Vaughan Griffith (18-5 3.43): Current: $3,120,000, Offer: $6,500,000 / LOST: $6,760,000
2) SS Mario Reyes (.298/.385/.433, 5 HR): Current: $490,000, Offer: $3,600,000 / LOST: $3,861,000
3) SS Steve Wallace (.261/.346/.391, 0 HR): Current: $490,000, Offer: $750,000 / WON (demand $2,000,000)
4) 1B Sergio Galvez (.296/.350/.493, 21 HR): Current: $3,800,000, Offer: $6,500,000 / LOST: $8,125,000
5) 2B Ramon Granados (.279/.370/.454, 13 HR): Current: $4,800,000, Offer: $6,000,000 / LOST: $7,245,000
6) RF Wally Lambert (.324/.378/.536, 31 HR): Current: $490,000, Offer: $5,775,000 / LOST: $6,875,000

The big bucks that came back from arbitration will change the way this team looks next season. We will have to first get under budget, and then second make sure we have the best team possible on the field. This may mean that players like Mario Gomez, who I was ready to let go, get a stay. Robinson Lopez may end up at second or hopefully Bernardo Velez will step up and be ready this season.

I decided to offer Wallace arbitration mainly for back-up. He will play the role that Candelaria has played, just in a better defensive capacity. I will miss the Candyman, but he has just aged too much over the years. I am guessing maybe its time to "retire" a number in Norfolk... well once he retires... Anayways, Wallace has decent speed and plays all 4 infield positions at a +10 defense skill. Can't really beat that.

One crazy thing I have been thinking about is moving Tom Dundee, a AAA outfielder, to the infield. He has good infield ratings, but as always played the OF. This move would sort of be like the Ramon Granados move, just planned by me and not the manager. If Granados played a decent 2B, I am guessing Dundee could play a little better than decent. Plus Ramon is getting paid over $7M this season... Hmmm...

That being said, I put Marcos Estrada, Javier Janchez and Ramon Granados on the trading block. Doesn't mean I will trade them (just yet), but right now I have to figure out something I am over budget and need to get back down. I like to have some extra money to sign spare parts to cover injuries, instead of using my minor league system.

The Deals:
We made two deals in November and the fans werne't very happy about the first one...

In a deal with the Christiana Blue Hens we recieved CL Ryan Williams (#188), LF Leonard Lawson (.227/.293/.351, #9), RF Byung-hyun Chong (.257/.308/.343) and the Blue Hens first round pick, in exchnage for SP Ignacio Gallow (AAA), LF Raul Rubio (AAA), $1,344,000 in cash, our first round pick and ex-Silver Slugger award winner Javier Janchez.

After that deal was made we sent Byung-hyun Chong to the Washington Senators for minor league SS Mario Vazquez.

The big prize in the deal is Leonard Lawson. He is 22-yrs-old and matches up pretty good talent wise with Janchez. But there are 3 reasons why I like him more. 1) he is durable vs fragile, 2) he is right-handed and 3) he isn't arbitration eligbile for 4 more seasons. One thing about our line-up is we have a lot of lefties, and now with Lawson we can hopefully balance that out. Lawson played in 83 games with the Blue Hens last season and should play in that many if not more with us this year. He only plays LF, but will get some time in RF to try to learn the position.

Ratings: Contact: 10/11, Gap: 13/13, Power: 10/14, Eye: 8/10, Avoid K's 12/15
Speed: 16, Stealing: 16, Baserunning: 18

Ryan Williams will spend some time down in AAA where he will need to concentrate on his control, but it does seem like he will have a promising career as a middle man. I don't think he will be a closer at the big league level, but I see a future in him.

Ratings: Stuff: 10/11, Movement: 12/13, Control: 7/14, GB %: 54%, Velocity: 90-92.

The swap of the 1st round picks is big for us. Moving us up to #3 or 4 in the draft next season.

The players we lost. Ignacio Gallo. He was rule 5 eligible and we had no room for him. Gallo has decent ratings, but was never overly impressive through our system. He may end up surprising however in the future. Raul Rubio split time in AAA and AA last season and he was just a toss in, that the Blue Hens liked. Then Javier Janchez. Janchez is only 26 and decent ratings. I overpaid for him on the extension. If he stays healthy he is one of the best in the game. We wish him luck. I will miss him and I will keep an eye on in him to see how he does. I brought him up with the Cav's in 2017 as a 19 year old, and watched him develop into the 2022 Silver Slugger Award winner.

Current State:
We are still over budget, we still have to make some deals, but I feel like we are heading in the right direction. I do have to look at this roster and make some tough choices. I still have too many 1B/OF types.

1B: King Brock (L) / Francisco Gallegos (S) / Sergio Galvez (L)
OF: Wally Lambert (L) / Henry Hamer (L) / Jeff Lewis (R) / Leonard Lawson (R)

I could go with these 6 players and just platoon them all at 1B/DH and the OF, but if I do go with those 6, that will only leave 5 slots for 2 catchers and 3 IF's. I could make it work, but I think it would be wiser to move one more of that bunch. Just who?

I keep on tinkering with the idea of moving Estrada. I want to, to fee up that money, but do I "have" to? Think about that rotation? Contreras, Brown, Estrada, Pearson, Gonzalez. Pretty solid... but that means we will have 3-4 starters taking up BP slots. Is it worth it to sacrifice youth to keep Estrada on the roster one more season? Maybe I should of denied that option...

On a side note, I tried to take Dalton Whitaker away, he slapped that 10/5 flag on me and said nope I am staying. Maybe when he isn't pitching much in 2024 he will ask to be dealt, but till then I am stuck with him. Of all the moves I have made as the GM of the Cavaliers, signing him to a 5 year extension might of been the worst one. I just got attached to the idea of him closing out games for the rest of his career in Norfolk... but if you noticed when he was removed from the closer role, the team won a lot more games.

During December I will have to evaluate my team. I plan on moving 1 or 2 more players (at least) and go from there. I do need to trim some of the extra players, figure out who I like playing where. Who I think can "hack" it or not and start putting together the final roster with the proper amount of depth for 2024. The deal for Lawson was a start, but it wasn't anywhere close to being the end.

Cavaliers Front Office:
Budget: 11th / $138,000,000
Payroll: 3rd / $130,186,000
Projected Budget Room: (19,001,000)
Fan Interest: 95 (-5)
Fan Loyalty: Good
Ticket Price: $27.00

Up Next:
- Rule 5 Draft
- Winter Meetings

[illeracula]

Jánchez, Lawson Swap Teams: The Cavaliers and the Blue Hens finalized a deal this afternoon. Norfolk has traded for 20-year-old minor league closer Ryan Williams, 22-year-old left fielder Leonard Lawson, 27-year-old center fielder Byung-hyun Chong and a 1st round draft pick and in return Christiana will receive 26-year-old minor league starting pitcher Ignacio Galló, 26-year-old center fielder Javier Jánchez, 26-year-old minor league center fielder Raúl Rúbio, a 1st round draft pick and $1,344,000 in cash.

Lifetime Jánchez has played in 662 games, batted .270 with 85 home runs and 611 base hits.

Looking at his career stats, Lawson is batting .220 and has totaled 8 home runs.

[Big Six]

I just saw your dynasty got its 20,000th view today. I guess I was #20,001.

That's a great run, illeracula. I know I've enjoyed reading your dynasty, even if I haven't always taken the time to post comments. I'll do that more often from now on.

Anyway, congratulations on a long-running, engaging dynasty that, as a Marylander who now lives in Virginia, I find especially interesting.