The American Baseball League

[gehrig38]

The ABL Hall of Fame welcomes three new members this year. All three inductees were in the first year of eligibility.

1B Tony Romero fell 7 votes short in his 1st year on the ballot.

LF Micah Tufts .319/.383/.606 488 2B 589 HR 1535 RBI 1384 R 26x PotW 14x PotM 2x RotM 3x MVP (with 1 2nd and 1 3rd) 7x Silver Slugger 8x All-Star runner up in the RotY vote. His 26 Player of the Week awards equals an entire season.
Led the league in Hits x2 HR x3 RBI x2 Avg x1 OBP x1 SLG% x4 OPS x3 and WAR x3
Received 99.0% of the vote, the highest total ever. He will go in wearing the Austin Wrangler hat, the club's first inductee. He has just recently announced he will enter the coaching ranks as a bench coach. I've already reached out.

RF Jordan Rincon .299/.375/.601 450 2B 79 3B 491 HR 1350 RBI 1331 R 198-257 SB 2x MVP 7x All Star 4x Silver Slugger 12x PotW 10x PotM 1x RotM
led the league 2x R 1x HR 2x RBI 1x SB 3x AVG 2x OBP 5x SLG% 4x OPS 2x WAR
Received 93% of the vote and will wear the crimson red of the San Jose Hawks

RP Kevon “The Pigeon” Hunter 57-49 453 Saves 2.16 852 G 948 IP 587 H 1599 K 287 BB 15.2 K/9 0.92 WHIP 88 HR 1x PotM 4x Rivera 2x World Champion 12x All-Star
Led the league in Saves 3x
Received 91.6% of the vote and will wear the New York Punishers hat into the hall as their first ever inductee.

[gehrig38]

“I could not be happier with the way things have gone this first month.”
That was how Mr. Wilson opened our hastily called unexpected meeting.
“Getting Micah to agree to coach in this organization is a hell of a move”
Recently anointed Hall of Famer Micah Tufts had mentioned his desire to get into coaching at the press conference for the hall of fame vote and an ensuing conversation led to him accepting the hitting coaches job at AA Modesto with an understanding his ultimate goal was to be a bench coach at the big league level.
“Word around the league is that you've talked to every GM twice about every player in the league twice!”
That was close to true. I've talked with most every GM about every player on my roster. No one is untouchable.
“I appreciate the appreciation Mr. Wilson but with our organizational buy into this 5-year plan comes some work in making right some of the mistakes I think were made. The first of which is the fact we entered this year with just 2 draft picks in the 1st four rounds. That cannot be the case and I've made it known our desire to get picks in any deal or discussion.”
He then mentioned he had 'noticed' an allocation of almost 6 million “extra” dollars to scouting and player development.
“And that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I think it would be a good thing to allow you access to a larger budget now that I know your plans to spend. So I've informed the other owners that as of today I am increasing the 2010 budget from 62 million to 70.”

BACKROOM CHATTER
The player dev and scouting budgets are given enough to get them both to 5 million this year. The money will be earmarked for those departments and the draft. It's not nearly enough to go wild in the market nor is that the best direction for the plan. Getting form Rustler and Hall of Famer Micah Tufts to join the organization was huge. I am hoping to groom him to one day manage the big club.
Pitching coach Mike Ligon has accepted an offer of 5 years and 550K and will take over the pitching staff.
Hitting coach Alejandro Aguirre also accepts the offer and will coach the offense here for at least the next 4 years.

[gehrig38]

Starting with day 1 on the job, here are the transactions that have been made through the end of spring training games.

1. Traded C Hector Colon 20 year old P Zheng-Xin Guo + 5th round pick to Brooklyn for 24-year old P Eric Allen + 3rd round pick
   
2. Traded P Brent Hobbs 19 year old P, Alejandro Lopez, +7th round pick to San Jose Hawks for 30-year old C Jose Montes + 4th round pick
   
3. Traded 2B Chris Johnston 25 year old P Sean Lavy + 6th round pick to Lexington Rebels 26 year old P Brett Gerber 28 year old P Dustin Bax + 2nd round pick
   
   • Signed two international free agents:
   1. 17 year old OF Hiroshi Suzuki 600K bonus
   2. 17-year-old OF Pacio Bertrand 980K bonus
4. Signed Hitting Coach Alejandro Aguirre 4 years 99K per year
   
5. Traded OF Chris Taft, 25-year old P Ron Robinson 22 year old P Jason Pointer 20-year-old 2B Adam Fredrickson + 8th round pick to New England Minutemen for 27-year old P Chris Miller 23 year old C Luis Gutierrez + 2nd round pick
   
6. Signed Pitching coach Mike Ligon 5 years 110K per year
   
7. Signed C Mike Jensen to 1-year contract 400K
   
8. Traded C Luis Gutierrez P Dustin Bax P Walt Deschamps OF Luis Reyes + 4th round pick to New York Punishers for 3B Ernesto Ortega IF Steve Worthing OF Mike Chapman +2nd round pick

[Sizeman21]

Originally Posted by gehrig38

Starting with day 1 on the job, here are the transactions that have been made through the end of spring training games.

1. Traded C Hector Colon 20 year old P Zheng-Xin Guo + 5th round pick to Brooklyn for 24-year old P Eric Allen + 3rd round pick
   
2. Traded P Brent Hobbs 19 year old P, Alejandro Lopez, +7th round pick to San Jose Hawks for 30-year old C Jose Montes + 4th round pick
   
3. Traded 2B Chris Johnston 25 year old P Sean Lavy + 6th round pick to Lexington Rebels 26 year old P Brett Gerber 28 year old P Dustin Bax + 2nd round pick
   
   • Signed two international free agents:
   1. 17 year old OF Hiroshi Suzuki 600K bonus
   2. 17-year-old OF Pacio Bertrand 980K bonus
4. Signed Hitting Coach Alejandro Aguirre 4 years 99K per year
   
5. Traded OF Chris Taft, 25-year old P Ron Robinson 22 year old P Jason Pointer 20-year-old 2B Adam Fredrickson + 8th round pick to New England Minutemen for 27-year old P Chris Miller 23 year old C Luis Gutierrez + 2nd round pick
   
6. Signed Pitching coach Mike Ligon 5 years 110K per year
   
7. Signed C Mike Jensen to 1-year contract 400K
   
8. Traded C Luis Gutierrez P Dustin Bax P Walt Deschamps OF Luis Reyes + 4th round pick to New York Punishers for 3B Ernesto Ortega IF Steve Worthing OF Mike Chapman +2nd round pick

Looks like a major overhaul is happening! Excited to see what the season brings for you in Austin.

[gehrig38]

• 15-15 with one major injury. Huge injury actually.
• Closer Tom Barrett tore his UCL and will undergo surgery and be out 9-10 months.
• OF Chris Rowan pulled a quad and will be out for a few weeks in April
  
• San Francisco signed 2x Koufax winner William Marcial to a 2 year 6.72 million dollar deal. Marcial is 225-135 3.25 with 3573 strikeouts. That total is the highest in ABL history. His ERA ranks 16th all-time and his 225 wins are 2nd all-time.
• San Jose signed former Stallion catcher Jamie Hensley to an 8 year 53.9 million dollar deal. Hensley is coming off a career-high 31 HR season.
• LA resigned 29-year-old starter Rusty McCarthy to a 5 year 44.4 million dollar deal. He's 48-42 3.34 with 1030 K's in 875.1 IP
• Denver lost 24-year-old, SP Allen Gies, to an elbow injury. He'll likely miss the 2010 season.
• Phoenix Roadrunner reliever George Grubel was involved in a 1-car accident and suffered a major concussion. He will miss the entire season. Reports were that he fell asleep at the wheel
• Detroit signed free agent C Moromao Hashimoto to a 4 year 15.2 million dollar contract.
  
• And on the final day of camp....

[gehrig38]

• Austin, LA swap
• The Austin Rustlers have announced a trade with the Los Angeles Storm. Austin will send 31-year-old star Chiang-hui Xu, 18-year-old minor league P prospect Matt Gross and the 9th and 10th picks in this year's draft to the Storm and receive 23-year old P Joe Blake, 18-year-old OF Andy Adrian and the Storms 3rd round selection in this year's draft.
  
  
  
• BACKROOM CHATTER
• This was all about finances. The 4.3 million Xu was due this year certainly wasn't a budget breaker but I want as much room in the budget as possible to do whatever may need to be done. Financial flexibility drives almost every decision when you work for a team that will not be at the top of the league in revenues or payroll.
• Both players I received are talented, but neither is a top-rated prospect.
• On day 1 of this job the team had the 1st overall pick, the 1st pick in the 2nd round (picks 1 and 37), and then did not select another player until the 6th round. That to me was the most glaring hole to address.
• As of today we now have the following picks:
• 1, 37, 53, 55, 62, 75, and 90, and then we do not pick until the 11th round. 7 of the top 90 picks are where you put down a foundation.
• As of today the top-ranked player in the upcoming draft is the College of Southern Idaho IF Sam Reyes. He's an 18-year-old freshman who projects to be a middle of the order bat. He's a baseball rat too and a physical specimen with off the charts intangibles. I would very much like to put a crop of good young talented infielders together out of this draft.

[gehrig38]

• (Out of game note: I am ceding a huge amount of control for the first time. I want the manager/GM dynamic to be real. Not to mention it's clear to me that doing this forces me to look at every aspect of a coach from likes, dislikes to strategy. It does no good giving a manager a ton of talent if they don't use it)
  
• So the roster is cut, these are the 25 guys heading west to Austin for the 1:05 opening day game vs Charlotte. Spring training stats included

• ROTATION:

1. Kerry Davis L (30) 5.4m 1-2 3.60 20 IP 19 H 16 K 7 BB 1.30 WHIP
2. Matt Dickes R (30) 550K 1-2 3.54 20.1 IP 16 H 20 K 10 BB 1.28 WHIP
3. Eric Cox L (28) 352K 2-0 4.58 17.2 IP 16 H 19 K 13 BB 1.64 WHIP
4. Trevor Pope L (22) 169K 1-0 1 SV 2.13 12.2 IP 8 H 15 K 5 BB 1.03 WHIP
5. Travis Brooks R (25) 426K 3-0 5.49 19.2 IP 24 H 15 K 5 BB 1.47 WHIP

• BULLPEN:
• Stefan Filizat R (26) 169K 0-1 1 SV 5.11 12.1 IP 17 H 15 K 6 BB 1.86 WHIP
• Brett Gerber L (26) 169K 1-3 7.79 17.1 IP 19 H 17 K 5 BB 1.38 WHIP (started all spring, moved into the pen to handle left-handers and also being talked about in a couple of deals in the works)
• Jordan Gomez L (27) 169K 1-0 1.86 9.2 IP 8 H 8 K 5 BB 1.34 WHIP
• Arjan McDonald R (25) 0-0 2.57 14 IP 12 H 17 K 0 BB 0.86 WHIP
• Bobby Thompson R (26) 1-1 1 SV 3.38 13.1 IP 9 H 12 K 4 BB 0.97 WHIP
• Jeremy Wagner R (21) 0-1 2.76 16.1 IP 16 H 13 K 3 BB 1.16 WHIP
• Chris Miller L (27) 1-0 5 SV 1.80 15 IP 6 H 19 K 4 BB 0.67 WHIP (Closer)
• Tom Barrett went 10.1 IP with a 1.74 ERA punching out 15 and walking 5 before he blew out his elbow. Huge loss for the bullpen and the team.

• CATCHERS: (all 4 in camp had abysmal springs offensively)
• Mike Jensen R (33) 400K .194/.275/.306 1 HR 4 RBI 5 K 4 BB Will hit 6th against LHP and spell Kelly every now and then
• Craig Kelly L (26) 169K .156/.325/.188 18 K 7 BB Hoping this was an aberration but history says no. This is a position of dire need up and down the organization. Will hit 6th vs RHP

• INFIELDERS:
• 1B Mark Correa R (26) 169K .259.382/.519 2 HR 6 RBI 14 K 6 BB Will hit 5th vs RHP 4th vs LHP
• 2B Donovan Kavanaugh R (29) 169K .265/.297/.382 HR 3 RBI 11 K 1 BB Backup 2B
• IF Edgar Pantojas R (32) 270K .230/.288/.443 3 HR 7 RBI 22 K 5 BB hit 8th and play 2B vs RHP
• IF Ryan Crabtree S (26) 169K .300/.356/.475 2 HR 6 RBI 10 K 4 BB Will spell Correa at 1B and Orozco at 3B and be a late-inning D replacement at 1B
• 3B Luis Orozco R (23) 169K .306/.377/.548 3 HR 14 RBI 15 K 6 BB everyday 3B hitting 2nd vs RHP
• IF Jeremy Rohrer R (28) 570K .189/.268/.270 1 HR 6 RBI 18 K 7 BB everyday SS hitting 7th vs RHP

• OUTFIELDERS
• LF Dave Green L (28) 4.84m .167/.333/.361 2 HR 3 RBI 13 K 3 BB 1st bat off the bench, backup LF
• LF Chris Kardell R (25) 169K .241/.294/.241 7 1B 7 K 3 BB everyday LF hitting 3rd. Our most sought after player in every trade discussion
• CF Kazuma Kodama R (27) 169K .316/.361/.474 4 2B 3B HR 2 RBI 3 SB everyday CF
• RF Ray Marshall L (27) 169K .262/.360/.405 HR 4 RBI 13 K 6 BB 2 SB backup RF will spell Murphy
• RF Robby Murphy L (30) 6.5m .342/.395/.737 4 HR 11 RBI 12 K 4 BB everyday RF and someone I will trade in a heartbeat if I can get ample return. Will hit cleanup vs RHP 5th vs LHP

• BACKROOM CHATTER
• I have no illusions as to how many wins to expect. I view a .500 season as an astounding success. The most important day of the season will be June 5th, the amateur draft. But before that fans need to be entertained and show up.
• I would almost say no player is untouchable but Orozco is as close as that gets.
  
• The payroll is now ranked last in the league at 33.28 million (Philadelphia is #1 at 113m) with projected revenues of 67 million + and an end of the season balance of 10+ million. Both the scouting department and player development have been raised to the league cap of 5.22 million apiece.....

[gehrig38]

• As the Austin Wranglers prepared to board their charter flight home for tomorrow's season opener GM Curt Schilling held a press conference inside the FBO's lobby.
• “I apologize for the hastiness in all this but I would like to announce two trades we have just consummated, both with the Charlotte Cyclones.
• First, we have sent Matt Rincker to Charlotte for P Jonathan Bailey. Matt had a rough spring (hit .185) and was out of options and we agreed, he and I, that a fresh start was warranted. Jonathan will be sent to Warren to bolster our organizational pitching depth and start for the Roar.
• Second, we have agreed to terms with Charlotte on a second deal that 'accidentally' came about as Matt and I were about to hang up.
• The Cyclones have agreed to a deal that sends Matt Sandoval to Charlotte with us retaining a portion of his remaining contract and in turn, we are excited to announce we've acquired 33-year-old Efrain Colon and the Cyclones #2 draft choice this summer. We wish Matt nothing but the best and he gave us everything he had while wearing the Wrangler brown. Efrain will bring a veteran presence to a young rebuilding club as well as depth in center and right with a left-handed bat that's versatile coming off the bench as well as starting.

BACKROOM CHATTER
There was no chance anyone was claiming Matt and his 30.6 million owed to him over the next 3 years. We ate 25% of the, 2.5, per year and took on 100% of Colon's remaining 3 years and 17.1 million. It shaves another 6 million off the books over 3 years and does provide a hard-working veteran presence into the mix. Efrain is a very popular player on the field and off.

[gehrig38]

“ been raised to the league cap of 5.22 million apiece.”
Picking up where I left off I now need to amend some numbers. Our payroll has dropped from 33.28 to 31.33 million this year. Next year we have just 28.7 in committed salaries. A recent (unscientific) poll has seen fan interest drop a bit (75 to 72) but that's completely understandable. The fans are ALWAYS the last to 'buy' into a rebuild until they see you are actually committed. All they see right now is payroll shedding like the house is on fire. Season ticket sales are down 4%.

[gehrig38]

Gentleman, we have a plethora of long-range goals and we have already gone over them in-depth. Our more immediate goals are to put a respectable product on the field this year with less than a full roster of ABL quality players.
Individually there are a few things I am looking for.
Jon, I want Orozco to play every day and hitting in every spot. No pinch-hitting for him, he needs exposure to late and close at-bats as soon and as often as possible. The fans might not like it but when we leave this room I know the mandate and will understand moves made, not made, as a result of this meeting. We also need Kardell to get at-bats, as many as possible. His ceiling is high and the sooner he gets exposure the better.
I know Efrain expects to be an everyday guy but that's just not going to happen. Having said that let's make sure he stays fresh, gets his at bats and is the presence we need on the bench and in the clubhouse. Josh I would like to know how that goes as the season progresses.
Mike, both Pope and Wagner are as young as they come and I know you know that. I'd prefer Trevor stays in the 100 pitch range at least for the first month or two until we see how his arm bounces back. But in saying that the sooner he gets to make pitches in later game situations with the score close the better. You know that's not teachable, that's all about the experience.
I know you two both agreed that Jeremy should start from the bottom up in the bullpen, with long relief innings to start and go from there.
The injury to Tommy is huge, but it's done and we have to focus on moving ahead. I know you guys are going to go with Chris as the closer and I absolutely back you on this. Our pen is setup to provide you with L/R options later game but that's clearly on you as the games and situations present themselves.
Guys this is the definition of the 'long haul'. I expect within 5 years to be contenders and that starts tomorrow. I want a team that plays the game in a fashion that leaves our opponents, win or lose, knowing who they played.
If for any reason we run into discipline issues I have your backs 100%. But that comes with a huge caveat. I have to trust that when and where those things crop up they're taken care of IN the clubhouse or in the manager's office and I don't have to deal with media questions about **** they should have never heard in the first place.
There aren't many men in that locker room that will likely be here 5 years from now when this gets fun, but that does not change the approach for a second. It's about playing the game right and winning every single night. I know and you know that's not going to happen, but that should never change the player's perception of your expectations.
Good luck gentleman.

[gehrig38]

• The experts have weighed in. Detroit is expected to take home the Patriot League title. With Dallas, Philadelphia and Brooklyn the other clubs to make it to October.
• The Patriot league Babe Ruth contenders? Nagahisa Takagi 2B from Detroit, Romeo Pirelli LF New England, Ryan Nuttall LF Brooklyn.
• The Koufax candidates are Josh Veins of the NY Punishers, Mark Holmes of San Jose, and John Del Bianco of San Antonio.
  
  
• In the Continental it looks like they don't think we can win 70 games. Picking us to finish last with Houston at 67-95. Lexington, Ft Worth and Charlotte are picked as the division winners with Phoenix as the Wild Card.
• The prediction is a Lexington/Detroit world series.
• 24 year old 1B Josh Sims of Montreal is the peoples choice for MVP with Empire 2B Ricky Gutierrez close on his heels.
• Lexington is picked as the leagues best I am guessing because the top 2 Koufax candidates are Rebels. Lefty Tomohiro Masuda and fellow lefty Xie-li Au-Yong make up the Asian Aces of that staff and both are expected to have huge seasons.
  
  
• TOP PROSPECTS
• San Diego ranks #1 in the annual top systems report with #2 Charlotte having the leagues top prospect in 22 year old lefty Cameron Mears.
• Austin is ranked #4 with P Matt Behrens moving up to the #5 spot in the rankings.
• We have 3 of the top 50 (Behrens #5, SP Trevor Pope #40, SP Pat Madison #45) 5 of the top 75 (SP Tashfin Sassi #52, CF Pacio Bertrand #73 (just signed as an Int'l free agent and just 16 years old) and 11 of the top 200.
• LF Chris Kardell 25 (ABL) #87
• CF Heriberto Perez 21 (AA) #112
• SP Angelo Ortega 19 (R ) #121
• SP Ryan Ruch 22 (A) #136
• RF Sean Greenwald 20 (SA) #163
• CF Andy Adrian 18 (R ) #189

[eck.nicholas]

You've peaked my interest with this. Great start to what I can tell will be an amazing series.

[gehrig38]

• Opening day lineup:

1. L Colon CF
2. R Kardell LF
3. L Murphy RF
4. R Correa 1B
5. R Orozco 3B
6. L Kelly C
7. R Rohrer SS
8. R Pantojas 2B
9. P Davis

• RECORD: 1-6
• STANDINGS: 4th (3 GB)
• RUNS SCORED: 20 (13th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 36 (t-11th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .696 (7th)
• ZONE RATING: -0.1 (9th)
• ERRORS: 4 (11th)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 72
  
  
• LAST WEEK: (1-6) 1-2 vs Charlotte 0-3 @ Memphis 0-1 vs Providence
• 3/29: CHA 10 AUS 6 (10) Sandoval (CHA) 10th inn grand slam off Miller 1 IP 4 ER L (0-1) Murphy 3 R HR in the 7th tied it. Zerbe (CHA) ND 11 K's 6 IP
• 3/30: AUS 7 CHA 2 Murphy 2 HR 4 RBI Colon 3-5 3B 1 RBI Orozco 3 H Dickes W (1-0) 6 IP 6 H 2 ER Gerber 2 IP 0 R (see NEWS)
• 3/31: CHA 4 AUS 0 Taylor (CHA) W (1-0) CG 3 H 9 K 1 BB Cox L (0-1) 4 IP 5 H 2 ER 93 pitches
• 4/1: MEM 7 AUS 2 Pattison (MEM) W (1-0) 6.2 IP 10 K Pope L (0-1) 7 IP 4 ER 7 K Kelly 2-4 2B HR (2)
• 4/2: MEM 8 AUS 3 Brooks L (0-1) 4.2 IP 7 H 2 HR 6 ER Orozco 2-2 2B (1) 2 BB Colon HR (1) Murphy 2 2B (4)
• 4/3: MEM 1 AUS 0 Memphis walk off 1B. Davis L (0-1) 8 IP 5 H 7 K 1 ER Peric (MEM) ND 7.1 IP 3 H 11 K 0 BB
• 4/4: PRO 4 AUS 2 Lopez (PRO) 3-5 HR (1) 2 RBI Kardell 3-3 Dickes 4 ER 6.1 IP L (1-1)
• NEXT WEEK: 2 vs Providence 3 vs Mexico City 1 @ Pittsburgh

PATRIOT LEAGUE POTW: Ruben Parsons (SF) 10-26 6 HR 12 RBI (5 game HR streak)
COLONIAL LEAGUE POTW: Robby Murphy (AUS) 10-26 3 HR 9 RBI

• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 3/29: Montreal's Jon Jones tossed a 4-hit shutout on opening day to bet the Broncos 8-0. The 25-year-old is 35-8 2.55 in the past two seasons. He struck out 10 and walked none.
• 3/31: CF Seung-Hyeon Kim (PHI) hit for the cycle in the Patriots 7-0 win over New England. The teams cleared benches 3 times and 4 suspensions were handed out.
• 3/31: The NY Punishers lost reliever JJ Vera for the next 4-5 months after it was learned he has bone chips in his elbow that will require surgery
• 4/1: LA Storm P Time Keen struck out 5 in a 5-hitter to beat Buffalo 4-0
• 4/3: Lexington Rebel Tomohiro Masuda struck out a career-high 16 Montreal batters in a 3-1 4-hit CG. Masuda is 2-0 1.93 with 28 K's in 14 IP
• 4/3: San Francisco LF Ruben Parsons homered and drove in a run in the Bears 5-4 loss to the Punishers. It was the 5th consecutive game he homered this year. The all-time record is 7 set last year by Providence Black Sox RF Chris Ladd.

RUSTLER NEWS:
Immediately following the game I called P Brett Gerber into the office.
“Brett, I wanted to let you know that we have traded you. You are heading to Mexico. Thanks for all the hard work and best of luck!”
He was traded for 25-year-old minor-league OF Hyun-woo Kang. A potential big league outfielder who plays the corners is a + runner and a legitimate option for the 2 hole if he continues to progress. He will start and lead off in Modesto.
The move was made as a waiver claim put in 3 days ago came to fruition. Ft Worth lefty Mason Britton was claimed and will head to the bullpen. The staff wants him to close, and I disagree (though I did it quietly.) He tops out at 91 with a FB/Split combo. I don't believe it's a knee jerk to Chris Miller's opening day nightmare but we shall see.

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 3-10
• STANDINGS: 5th (5 GB)
• RUNS SCORED: 41 (13th )
• RUNS AGAINST: 69 (11th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .674 (9th)
• ZONE RATING: -2.0 (10th)
• ERRORS: 6 t-9th
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 72

• THIS WEEK: (2-4) 1-1 vs Providence 0-3 vs Mexico 1-0 @ Pittsburgh
• 4/5: AUS 5 PRO 3 Murphy 3-4 2B (5) HR (4) 2 R 2 RBI POTG Correa 2-4 HR (1) Pantojas HR (2) Cox W (1-1) 5 IP 1 ER 8 K Britton .2 IP 2 K Save (1)
• 4/6: PRO 12 AUS 7 (10) Dover (PRO) 4-5 2 HR 3 R 4 RBI 2 BB POTG Marvel (PRO) 3-5 HR 2 R 3 RBI Correa 2-3 2 HR (3) 3 RBI Kavanagh PH HR Austin P's 17 H 12 BB 5 run 10th
• 4/7: MEX 3 AUS 0 Shrader (MEX) W 1-0 7 IP 3 H 6 K Brooks L (0-2) 6 IP 5 H 9 K 3 ER
• 4/8: MEX 10 AUS 2 Anderson (MEX) 2-4 2 HR (3) 3 R 4 RBI (5) Tiley (MEX) 3 H 3B HR (2) 4 RBI (5) Logan (MEX) W (2-0) 7 IP 6 H 2 ER 9 K Davis L (0-2) 3.2 IP 6 H 5 K 7 R 4 ER Rohrer 2B (2) HR (1)
• 4/9: MEX 5 AUS 4 Orozco 3-4 HR (1) RBI (2) POTG Murphy 2-4 HR (5) Dickes 4 IP 5 H 6 K 5 BB 3 ER 96 pitches
• 4/10: OFF DAY
• 4/11: AUS 3 PIT 0 Cox W (2-1 1.59) 8 IP 8 K 4 H 2 BB POTG Murphy HR (6) RBI (14) Crabtree HR (1) 2 RBI (2)
• NEXT WEEK:2 @ Pittsburgh 3 vs Montreal 2 @ Ft Worth

• PATRIOT LEAGUE POTW: Sean Hoffman (SD) 10-19 7 HR 10 RBI
• COLONIAL LEAGUE POTW: Caleb Begand (MEM) 12-22 3 HR 10 RBI
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 4/5: Montreal Paragon OF Frank Mendez went 4-4 hitting 3 home runs and driving in 5 in their 7-6 win over Charlotte.
• 4/5: Anthony Mcleod (DET) will miss the remainder of the 2010 season after taking a line drive off his throwing shoulder and fracturing his Coracoid bone. The 31-year-old was 26-13 3.55 in the past two years.
• 4/6: Dallas Texans closer Deshawn Smith will miss at least four months after tearing his meniscus in a game last night. The 23-year-old was fielding a bunt when he turned awkwardly on his knee and was injured. He went 4-1 27 Saves 2.57 last year and was looking ready to become the breakout star many had been predicting.
• 4/8: Lexington Rebel catcher Scott Comerford went 5-5 in their 6-4 win over Houston.
• 4/11: Arturo Baltazar (PHX) went 5-5 in the Roadrunners 11-3 thrashing of San Antonio.
• 4/11: The Memphis Blue Sox are off to an 11-2 start. While that would be in front of every division in the ABL but theirs. The Asian Aces in Lexington have propelled them to a 12-1 start. The duo of Xie-li Au-Yong and Tomohiro Masuda are 5-1 0.95 in 38 IP 24 H 44 K 10 BB 0.89 WHIP. Au-Yong is 3-0 0.00 in 21 IP with 31 K 2 BB and 13 H. The Rebels starting rotation has a 1.80 ERA and the Pen has a .1.91 ERA. Their offense is 2nd in runs (74) and 1st in every other offensive category.
  
  
• RUSTLER NEWS:
• 4/6: AAA Warren opened with a 5-3 win over the Athens Vandals (PIT). Most prognosticators see Warren as stacked with talent and en route to a monster season.
• 4/8: Top P prospect Matt Behrens opened AA Modesto's season going 5.1 IP 6 H 7 K in a 3-2 loss.
• 4/8: OF TJ Humphrey went 3-4 and slammed 3 solo homers for AAA Warren in an 8-2 win. TJ was the 2nd pick (41st overall) in the 2003 draft out of Dodge City HS.
• 4/9: Another top prospect, Pat Madison, got the Salt Lake City (A) club their 1st win of 2010. He went 7.2 IP allowing 5 H striking out 6 in a 7-2 win.

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 6-14
• STANDINGS: 5th (6 GB)
• RUNS SCORED: 74 (10th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 106 (13th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .666 (9th)
• ZONE RATING: -1.2 (10th)
• ERRORS: 10 (t-10th)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 74 (fans were very excited about the trade)
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (3-4) 1-1 @ Pittsburgh 1-2 vs Montreal 1-1 @ Ft Worth
• 4/12: PIT 6 AUS 5 (10) Britton L (0-1) Correa (4) Pantojas (4) Colon (3) all homer. Pope ND 6 IP 3 ER
• 4/13: AUS 10 PIT 4 Brooks W (1-2) 6 IP 4 H 6 K 1 ER POTG Murphy GS (7) 4 RBI (18) Correa HR (5) 3 RBI (9) Colon HR (4)
• 4/14: AUS 6 MON 5 Correa 8th inning GW PH HR (6) Murphy HR (8) 3 RBI (21) Pantojas game-tying 2 R HR in the 7th (5) Britton Save (3) Down 5-0 into the 6th.
• 4/15: MON 9 AUS 1 Cawthon (MON) W (2-0 2.10) 7 IP 7 K 1 ER POTG Dickes L (1-2) 4 IP 6 H 2 BB 6 ER
• 4/16: MON 2 AUS 1 Dejesus (MON) W (1-0) 7 IP 8 K 3 H 1 ER POTG Cox L (2-2 1.96) 6 IP 6 K 0 BB 2 ER
• 4/17: AUS 4 FW 3 Pope W (1-1) 5.1 IP 5 K 5 H 1 ER 1-2 HR See News Correa 2-3 HR (7) R 3 RBI (13) Britton Save (4)
• 4/18: FW 8 AUS 6 Alexander L (0-1) 6 IP 8 H 9 K 2 HR 6 ER Kardell 3-5 R RBI Correa HR (8)
• NEXT WEEK: 1 @ Ft Worth 3 vs Houston OFF DAY 2 @ NY Empire
  
  
• PATRIOT LEAGUE POTW: David Shanahan (LA) 10-26 6 HR 12 RBI 8 R
• COLONIAL LEAGUE POTW: Ricky Gutierrez (NYE) 11-24 3 HR 10 RBI 6 R
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 4/13: The New York Punishers beat the Baltimore Blackbirds 11-3 to extend their winning streak to 8. They are 9-1 in their last 10 after an 0-5 start.
• 4/18: Shortstop Scott Kaler (DET) went 4-4 in a 5-3 loss to LA. He hit for the cycle, doubling in the 9th to complete the feat.
  
  
• RUSTLER NEWS:
• 4/13: Matt Behrens (AA) went 5.2 scoreless striking out 8 in a 6-0 Modesto win.
• 4/16: OF Chris Rowan comes off the DL and struggling OF Kazuma Kodama (1-18) will be sent down.
• 4/17: Trevor Pope came out in the 6th inning of Saturday's game. It appears to be a hamstring issue, diagnosis pending.
• 4/18: Pope strained his hamstring and it looks like 4-5 weeks. He's DL'd and Jaheim Alexander is recalled.

[gehrig38]

Reports have surfaced that Austin has agreed to send RHP Jim Dreisbach and 33-year old C Mike Jensen to the Lexington Rebels for 28-year old C Ryan Bermudez and the Rebels 2010 1st round draft choice.
“It's a done deal,” said one executive speaking on the condition of anonymity. “I'm surprised word got around so quickly, we just signed off on this an hour ago.” The deal is awaiting completion of physicals.

• BACKROOM CHATTER
• Dreisbach is a starter on most ABL teams but Lexington optioned him to AAA and will use him out of the pen. Jensen becomes the Rebels backup.
• Lexington was unable to come to terms with Bermudez on a contract extension and was openly looking for a partner. So much so that they were willing to part with their 1st rounder this year.
• He's a legitimate everyday catcher who has gold glove skills and is going to hit. He's my everyday guy behind the plate.
• He's making 3.64 million this year and I already sent an offer sheet to his agent in hopes of signing him to an extension.

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 8-18
• STANDINGS: 4th (6 GB)
• RUNS SCORED: 94 (12th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 138 (13th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .674 (9th)
• ZONE RATING: -3.6 (12th)
• ERRORS:14 (t-11th)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 75
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (2-4) 0-1 @ Ft Worth 2-1 vs Houston 0-2 @ NY Empire
• 4/19: FW 6 AUS 0 Jackson (FW) W (1-0) 7.1 IP 6 H 10 K POTG Brooks L (1-3 6.35) 6 IP 3 HR 7 K 6 ER Murphy 3-4 (.355-8-22)
• 4/20: AUS 6 HOU 5 5 run bottom of the 9th Colon 2R PH walk-off single. Pantoja's 3-4 2B Murphy HR (9)
• 4/21: HOU 6 AUS 4 Dickes L (1-3) 3.2 IP 3 HR 7 H 6 ER Murphy 4-5 2B (7) 2 RBI (25) Rowan HR (1)
• 4/22: AUS 6 HOU 2 Cox W (3-2 1.86) 6 IP 8 K 6 H 1 ER MacDonald Save (1) 3 IP 3 H 1 ER Orozco 2-4 2B 3 RBI (6) Rowan HR (2)
• 4/23: OFF DAY
• 4/24: NYE 3 AUS 2 (11) Gutierrez (NYE) 4-6 walk-off HR Alexander 1.2 IP hurt in the 2nd. See News
• 4/25: NYE 10 AUS 2 Gutierrez (NYE) 2-3 HR (12) 5 RBI (31) POTG Bermudez HR (1) 2-3 2 RBI (5) down 4-2 entering the 8th, 4 unearned runs
• NEXT WEEK: 1 @ NY Empire 3 vs Phoenix 3 vs Denver
  
  
• PATRIOT LEAGUE POTW: Seung-Hyeon Kim (PHI) 9-21 4 HR 9 RBI
• COLONIAL LEAGUE POTW: Ricky Gutierrez (NYE) 15-25 3 HR 7 RBI (you're welcome)
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• Last week's trade gives us another top pick in the draft. We are now selecting 1, 26, 37, 50, 51, 58, 71, and 86 in the 1st 3 rounds of this year's draft.
• 4/22: The Punishers have resigned 35 year old closer Leo Montes to a 2 year 7 million dollar extension. The two-time all-star is 83-86 with 433 Saves (20 behind all-time leader and hall of famer Kevon Hunter). Montes won the Rivera Award 14 years ago with Brooklyn. He's twice led the league in saves with 51 in 1995 and 44 last year. In 1125.1 innings he has allowed 932 H struck out 1388 to 404 walks.
  
  
• RUSTLER NEWS:
• 4/24: Alexander strained his back and will be down for 5-7 days.
• 4/25: Matt Behrens is 3-0 1.78 after a 4-hit 9-1 win. He's being promoted to AAA. Pat Madison (3-1 3.04 at Salt Lake will move up to Modesto)

[gehrig38]

Recently acquired catcher Ryan Bermudez and the Austin Wranglers announced they had come to terms on a 3 year 11.4 million dollar contract extension just days after GM Curt Schilling had acquired the backstop in a 3 player swap with the Lexington Rebels.
“We made that deal because we believed we could keep Ryan beyond this year. He's exactly the type of player on and off the field that this organization is looking for now, we couldn't be happier”.
“It's nice to be wanted,” said the 28-year-old. “I didn't get that feeling with my last team and it feels good.”

[gehrig38]

I expect to have a team that can contend in three years. To that end here's that roster:

• Rotation (level now and age in 3 years)

1. Matt Behrens RH (AA 24)
2. Trevor Pope RH (ABL 25)
3. Chris Miller LH (ABL 30)
4. Pat Madison RH (A 26)
5. Tashfin Sassi RH (R 22)

• Bullpen

• Mason Britton RH (ABL 29)
• Tom Barrett LH (ABL 27) Alot depends on how he comes back from TJ surgery
• Jeremy Wagner RH (ABL 24)

• Catchers

• Ryan Bermudez RH (ABL 31)
• ?

• Infield
• 1B ?
• 2B ?
• SS ?
• 3B Luis Orozco RH (ABL 26)

• Outfield
• LF Chris Cardell (ABL 28)
• CF ?
• RF ?

Lots of holes to fill. I'll keep this updated with new players as I think they fit.

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 10-23
• STANDINGS: 5th (9 GB)
• RUNS SCORED: 111 (14th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 173 (14th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .683 (6th)
• ZONE RATING: -4.5 (12th)
• ERRORS: 17 (t-10th)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 74
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (2-5) 1-0 @ NY Empire 0-3 vs Phoenix 1-2 vs Denver
• 4/26: AUS 4 NYE 2 (10) Bermudez 3-4 2 2B GWH Davis ND 7.1 IP 5 H 3 K 0 BB 1 ER POTG Britton W (1-1) 2 IP 4 K
• 4/27: PHX 5 AUS 1 Nakata (PHX) W (3-0 2.06) 7 IP 3 H 1 ER POTG Orozco HR (3) See news
• 4/28: PHX 6 AUS 1 Adams (PHX) W (5-0 4.03) CG 6 H 12 K POTG Cox L (3-3 2.83) 6 IP 9 H 5 ER
• 4/29: PHX 5 AUS 3 Gonzalez (PHX) W (2-0 3.63) 8 IP 5 H 9 K 3 ER
• 4/30: DEN 5 AUS 1 Flores (DEN) CG W (4-3 2.47) 3 H 8 K 0 BB 1 ER Thompson 3.2 IP 0 H 8 K Archer DEN GS (6)
• 5/1: DEN 7 AUS 0 Lach (DEN) CG 5 H 6 K POTG POTD Davis L (0-3) 4 IP 7 H 2 HR 6 ER
• 5/2: AUS 7 DEN 5 Dickes W (2-4) 6.2 IP 2 H 6 K 2 ER Laskey Save (1) Bermudez 2-4 HR (2) 3 RBI (10)
• NEXT WEEK: 3 @ San Antonio OFF DAY 3 vs Lexington
  
  
• PATRIOT LEAGUE POTW: Greg Jaggi (BAL) 16-32 3 HR 11 RBI 7 R
• COLONIAL LEAGUE POTW: Tyler Maxwell (PHX) 12-23 2 HR 6 RBI
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 4/27: Omar Nieto (FW) struck out 8 en route to a 5-0 win over Montreal.
• 4/27: Adam Rasmussen (LA) hit 3 home runs and drove in 5 in a 9-6 win over the Punishers.
• 4/27: Steve Breitbarth (PHI) struck out 7 in a 6 hit shutout of Detroit. He's 2-2 1.82
• 4/30: Luis Rivera (SAN) tossed a 2-hit shutout, striking out 9 to down Providence in his 1st win of the year. (1-4 3.13)
• 4/30: Josh Veins (NYP) struck out 12 in a 3-hit 1-0 win over San Diego.
• 5/1: Tasuki Nakata (PHX) upped his record to 4-0 1.68 with a 4-hit 4-0 win over Pittsburgh. He struck out 9 and walked 2