The American Baseball League

[gehrig38]

12/14:
AUSTIN, BROOKLYN ANNOUNCE SWAP
The Austin Rustlers have sent 23-year-old RF Travis Harrison to the Brooklyn Blackhearts in exchange for 24-year-old SP Jake Pierce in a 2 player deal. Brooklyn will also send 300K in cash to Austin to complete the deal.
Harrison was apparently going to be an extra outfielder heading into 2015 and the LHH wanted an everyday job.
Pierce, coming off a fantastic 2014 (12-5 3.71) looks to be one of the candidates to fill the rotation spot vacated by recently traded star Rich Whittaker. Austin season ticket sales spiked on the news as Pierce is a wildly popular player with a cult following amongst teenage fans.

BACKROOM CHATTER
An outstanding young pitcher with options for a very talented young OF'er. Our OF is crowded and this kid can both hit and defend and isn't too expensive, yet.
Pierce is a legitimate mid-rotation to top half guy who's vacillated between the Blackhearts bullpen and rotation prior to last season. He will likely take one of the 2 spots up for grabs.

12/14:

• The NY Punishers signed FA SP Pat Svensson to a 4 year 13.36m dollar deal. The 29-year-old is 80-66 4.11
• San Diego sent 3B Mike Weller to Charlotte for OF Arthur Vaughn in a straight 1 for 1 deal. Weller, 28, has one year remaining before free agency and would not agree to terms with the Missions and Charlotte was seeking a stop-gap measure at 3B. They gave up a 25-year-old OF in Vaughn who has 3 years of team control left and is supremely talented. We'd actually talked to SD a few times about Vaughn. Weller is a career .220 hitter with 97 HR and 253 RBI's in 547 games and Vaughn has hit .326 with 17 HR in 176 games.

12/15:
RUSTLERS SEND LEE TO PUNISHERS FOR HUTCHINS
Austin and New York have swapped young pitching in a 1 for 1 deal. Austin sends 26-year-old Sung-Hyun Lee to the Punishers for 23-year-old Tristan Hutchins. Less was expected to take one of the rotation spots at the end of the Rustlers staff. Hutchins was the 46th overall selection in the 2009 draft out of Jacksonville HS and was the game's #3 ranked prospect in 2012, dropping to #22 last year. Missed much of the year with shoulder issues. Lee was signed by the San Diego Missions in 2012 out of South Korea and was the #55 ranked prospect in the ABA this past year. The Punishers are planning to have Lee as their #5 behind another former Rustler P prospect, Tashfin Sassi.

RUSTLERS SEND LARKIN, LIPSKY, TO NEW ENGLAND, THEN DEAL WITH MEMPHIS
In their efforts to trim payroll Austin found a taker for IF Brett Larkin and his 5.2m dollar contract but they had to include RP Jason Lipsky to make the deal happen. New England sent 30 year old IF David Corcoran to the Rustlers to complete the deal.
Corcoran was then sent, along with the Rustler's 6th and 7th round picks in the 2015 June Draft, to Memphis for the Blue Sox 2015 5th round selection.

BACKROOM CHATTER
Lee for Hutchins was a deal done by scouts. Our guys love Hutchins more than Lee, and he's 3 years younger with more club control. Rumors around Lee both off the field and in the clubhouse were surfacing as well. Hutchins has a legitimate shot to be a top of the rotation arm.
The Larkin deal was purely financial. Memphis was the only team that didn't force us to retain some of his salary but the addition of Lipsky had to be met. We have enough arms to keep our pen solid.

12/15:
Detroit signed RP Jose Herrera to a 2 year 2.2m deal. Herrera appeared in 22 games for Austin back in 2004 and is 64-86 3.98 with 353 Career saves in his 15 year career.

12/17:
MURPHY LEAVES LA
The most prolific power hitter in ABL history is changing addresses for just the 2nd time in his 1st ballot HOF 17 year career. The ABL's all-time HR leader (875) will head to Philadelphia on a 2 year 11.4m deal. The 40-year-old 3x MVP and former Rookie of the Year (1997) was doggedly pursued by the Patriots as they look to fill the offensive hole left by FA Abdul-Muta'al Rhodes.
In his 17 years, Murphy has hit 40+ HR 14x, 50+ 9x, and 60+ 3x including the ABL single-season record of 65 in 1999. He owns a record 9 HR Titles and has won 5 Silver Slugger Awards and made 11 all-star game appearances and won 3 World Series, including a WS MVP in 1997 (his rookie year). He won his 3 MVP's in succession: 1999 (.287-65-144) 2000 (.277-60-125) and 2001 (.293-53-123).

The remainder of the 2014 Winter

12/19:
Pittsburgh signed FA SP Tim Keen to a 3 year 10.56m dollar deal. The 31 year old is 86-74 3.93 over 1455 IP with 1465 K and 1369 hits allowed.

12/24:
Philadelphia signed 33-year-old Closer Alex Cuevas to a 3 year 8.6 million dollar deal. The 2011 Rivera Award winner is 28-36 182 SV 2.86 ERA with 584 K's in 380.1 IP. He's gone 8-12 with 87 SV the past 2 seasons with Montreal.

12/30:
Philadelphia signed SP Mike Crawford to a 2 year 2.36m dollar deal. The 32-year-old is 78-107 4.38 in his career and is coming off a rough 12-15 5.73 season in Houston.
Charlotte announced the signing of 32-year-old SP Yermolay Zhulyabin to a 4 year 7.6m dollar deal. Zhulyabin is 80-75 3.72 lifetime. Last year was the first since 2008 that he didn't win 10 or more games going 6-9 3.74 in just 21 starts as he battled through the season with various ailments.

1/3:
Philadelphia announced another FA signing. This time 40-year-old RP Jesus Banuelos to a 2 year 3.72m dollar deal. The 40-year-old is 87-76 with 228 SV and a 2.84 ERA over his 16 years and 887 games. He's a 2x All-star, 2x Rivera Award winner, and 2x Rolaids Award winner. He's also been part of 3 world championship clubs. He spent 2 seasons (2005-6) in Austin as a setup man.

1/6:
Detroit sent 3 prospects to Memphis for CL Kaleb Castle. Castle has 50 Saves over the past 2 years.

[gehrig38]

1B Jorge Cavazos and SS Rob Foster were elected by narrow margins.

Jorge Cavazos (77.5%) 2003 MVP 5x All-Star 3x Silver Slugger 560 Career HR's 3rd All-Time 1348 RBI's 11th all-time

Rob Foster (76.8%) .308/.367/.434 career slash line with 2181 hits 514 2. 11x Gold Glove winner, 9x All-star, and 4 time Silver Slugger. Spent 11 years with New England before finishing his career with 2 years in Austin (2004-5)

[gehrig38]

1/7:
Detroit inked one of their own as former Charger RP Danny Mann signed a 1 year 2.36m dollar deal. Mann was dealt early last year to Dallas where he went 5-9 33 SV 4.92. The 35-year-old is 52-78 353 SV 3.82 ERA over 871 IP with 883 K's and 244 BB
Philadelphia continued their aggressive winter announcing they'd signed RP Jesse Picklesimer to a 3 year 10.68m dollar FA deal. The former Roadrunner closer is just 28 years old and has saved 75 games with a 2.55 ERA the past two years. Last year he punched out 107 and walked just 14 in 71 IP and was 0-4 with 42 SV and a 2.31 ERA

1/15:
Buffalo announced the signing of PL Saves leader Dusty Pink to a 3 year 3.48m dollar FA Contract. The 32-year-old was 3-10 47 SV 4.48 last year. He's 35-53 130 SV 4.68 over his career.

[gehrig38]

Austin fans hailed the signing of 29-year-old 2014 Rolaids Award winner Chris Haske to a 3 year 14.25m dollar deal. The 29-year-old is 44-51 265 SV 3.54 ERA over 615 IP with 1062 K's and 218 BB while opponents have managed to hit just .192 against him.

BACKROOM CHATTER
He's the goods and in his prime. His insane start last year evened out a bit but he's still a lockdown arm that allows a ton of flexibility at the back end of the game. A new Manager will be worth watching in how he mixes and matches the bullpen. I got him for less than our arbitration expectations next year (4.5m) and he makes 4.75 and 5.0 the next two seasons. Not too long of a deal and certainly not too expensive. He's a 4x all-star and took home both the Rivera and Rolaids last year.

[gehrig38]

1/25:
Las Vegas signed former Charger 1B Nelson Carrillo to a 5 year 15.72m dollar deal. The 30-year-old is a career .300 hitter with 90 HR and 310 RBI's over parts of 5 years. He won the SS in 2013 hitting .314/.360/.614 with 46 2B 44 HR and a league-leading 145 RBI's.

2/3:
Denver announced the signing of FA 2B Nagahisa Takagi. The 27-year-old 5x all-star and 4x Silver Slugger winner will receive 34.4m over 4 years with a player opt-out after year 2. He won the batting title in 2009 (.356) with a 212 H season and led the league with 51 SB and a .422 OBP.

[gehrig38]

2/9:
Austin announced that they had dealt RP Mathew Drynan to Mexico for 24-year-old IF Matt Hed. Drynan spent his lone season in Austin on the 60 day DL after tearing an elbow ligament. Word out of Mexico is that the Black Bandits are putting him in their rotation.

BACKROOM CHATTER
He had a 2.6m price tag and was one of many RH options down there. Hed plays the middle of the IF and hits RH. Insurance or possible trade chip.

[gehrig38]

• 2/24:
• World Champion Sung-Hyun Jung leaves Mexico to sign a 1-year 900K deal with LA
  
• 3/3:
• Lexington announced the signing of two-way star Steve Griggs to a 5 year 48.5m contract extension.
  
• 3/11:
• LA inked C Andrew Lopez to a 1-year deal. The 32-year old hit .265-19-45 in Lexington last season.
• Green Bay announced the signing of 32-year-old SS Jimmy Lillquist to a 2 year 5.6m dollar deal.
• Houston signed 3B Adam Rasmussen to a 1 year 3.6m dollar deal. He's a career .265 hitter with 1926 hits and 411 HR's. He hit .284-33-95 last season in Philadelphia.
• Dallas managed to convince 1B Terukatsu Yoshino to sign a 1-year 6.3m dollar deal. He hit .279 with a career high 34 HR and 96 RBI last year. The 29 year old was seeking a monster deal and apparently there was no market.
• Philadelphia signed RP Glenn Power to a 1-year 2.36m dollar deal. Power, 38, was 6-7 42 SV 3.38 ERA last year after winning the World Series with Lexington in 2013.
  
• 3/15:
• Mexico announced the signing of 2005's 1st overall pick LF Brian Gracie to a 1 year 7.8m dollar deal. Gracie hit .267-27-73 last season. All career highs.
  
• 3/16:
• Lexington signed OF Decker Blue to a 5 year 62m dollar extension. Blue is a career .316 hitter with 1974 H 361 2B 367 HR and 1035 RBI's.
  
• Barrett Lopez and Jose Hernandez are both out of options and there is no rotation spots open for either at the end of camp. Neither will clear waivers so the hunt is on to find equal talent in return for both with options remaining. One thing I do not do and haven't done is pay enough attention to options when acquiring talent. 2/9:

[gehrig38]

The Austin Rustlers today announced two trades.
The first with the Buffalo Bisons. Austin sent 24-year-old LHP Barrett Lopez to the Bisons for 25-year-old reliever Manny DeSanto.
Buffalo has said that Lopez will open the year in their bullpen. DeSanto was optioned to AAA Warren.
In the second deal, the Rustlers sent 26-year-old Jose Hernandez and p prospect Nick Hartley to the Brooklyn Blackhearts for 23-year-old top P prospect John Stanley. Stanley is ranked as the game's #95 prospect and was optioned to Warren where he will start for them while Hernandez was informed he would open the season in the Blackheart bullpen.

BACKROOM CHATTER
Both deals netted me what I wanted. Talented pitchers who are young and with options remaining. DeSanto is a future bullpen piece, not far off and Stanley is a legitimate starting piece not far off either.

[gehrig38]

AUSTIN EXTENDS BEHRENS
The Austin Rustlers and Ace Matt Behrens have announced they came to terms on a 7 year 93.95 million dollar extension. The largest contract ever given to an ABL pitcher in terms of total money. Behrens will make 11.09m through arbitration this year and then 12.85 over the first 4 seasons of the contract. He has an opt-out after season 4 and then base salaries of 13.85 in 202 13.85 with a player option in 2021 and 14.85 with an opt-out in 2022.

BACKROOM CHATTER
Had to be done. With the change to the CBA and players being FA after 5 years, he was headed to FA this winter and the only thing I accomplish by letting him go is the opening of the ace slot in our rotation and the need to go find another one. He's healthy, and a legit top of the rotation ace. The good ones cost, and it's a cost any team wishing to consistently contend has to pay at some point.

[gehrig38]

16-14 with no injuries to anyone on the 25 man roster. P prospect Nick Hawker was hurt and will miss most of April before heading to Warren.
The 25 man roster out of camp

STARTING ROTATION

1. -Matt Behrens-R (26) 11.09M signed through 2022 (105m total)
2. -Steve Forney-R (29) 8.5M signed through 2020 (63m total)
3. -Chris Lach-R (31) 5.56M signed through 2017 (27.8m total)
4. -Dave Steele-R (27) 419K 2015 Arbitration
5. -Dave Miller-R (27) 437K 2015 Arbitration

BULLPEN

• Bobby Antonelli-L (27) 169K 2015 Arbitration
• Pat Hobart-L (23) 270K 2015 Arbitration
• Nate Scott-L (23) 169K 2015 Renewal
• Chris Haske-R (29) 3.96M signed through 2018 (14.25m total)
• Ranan Laskey-R (30) 1.5M 2015 Free Agent (comp eligible)
• Cody Lytle-R (28) 1.3M 1.3M for 2016 (final year of contract)

CATCHING

• Scott Comerford-RH (29) 10.8M signed through 2019 (64.8m total)
• Matt Becker-RH (29) 169K 2015 Renewal

INFIELDERS

• 1B-Nick Archer-RH (28) 8.25M signed through 2022 (82.25m total)
• 2B/3B/SS-Skyler Joshua-RH (29) 4.4M 2015 Free Agent
• 2B/SS-Brian McLaughlin-LH (26) 1.4M 2015 Arbitration
• 2B/SS-Sam Reyes-RH (23) 5.86M 2015 Arbitration
• 3B-Luis Orozco-RH (28) 7.15M 7.5M 2016 (2017/18 7.5M team options)
• SS/2B/3B-Joe Tighe-SH (25) 7.5M 2015 Arbitration

OUTFIELDERS

• LF-Steve Bradbury-RH (24) 930K 2015 Arbitration
• LF-Tommy Dziedzic-LH (21) 169K 2015 Renewal
• CF-Andy Adrian-LH (23) 2.75M 2015 Arbitration
• CF-Jesse Kuchar-RH (28) 850K 2015 Free Agent
• RF-Jeff Hanna-SH (23) 169K 2015 Renewal
• RF/LF-Dave Nolasco-RH (26) 6M 2015 Free Agent

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 5-1
• STANDINGS: 5-1 +1.5
• RUNS SCORED: 31 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 26 (t-11th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .696 (5th)
• ZONE RATING: +2.5 (1st)
• ERRORS: 1 (t-2nd)
• OWNERS MOOD: Happy
• FAN INTEREST: 91
• POWER RANKINGS: 3rd

THIS WEEK: OFF DAY 2-1 @ New England 3-0 @ Ft Worth

3/30: OFF DAY
3/31: AUS 6 NE 5 (10) Behrens ND 7 IP 6 H 6 K 3 ER Lytle 2 ER 1 IP SV (1) Tighe 3-5 2B (1) 3B (1) 2 RBI (2) Becker PH HR (1)
4/1: NE 7 AUS 3 Forney (L) 6 IP 9 K 4 H 4 ER Bradbury 2-4 2B (1) HR (1) 3 RBI (3) Kucher 3-4 2B (1) CS (1) Abdul-Muta'al Rhodes (NE) 3R HR in the 1st
4/2: AUS 4 NE 2 Lach (W) 8 IP 5 K 6 H 2 ER Lytle SV (2) Adrian 2-4 2B (1) SB (2) RBI Orozco 2B (2) 2 RBI (3)
4/3: AUS 6 FW 3 Tighe 4-5 2B (2) LO HR (1) 2 R RBI (3) Nolasco 3-5 2B (2) HR (1) 2 R 2 RBI (2) Steele (W) 6 IP 7 K 2 ER Lytle SV (3)
4/4: AUS 5 FW 3 Miller (W) 8 IP 6 K 0 BB 3 ER 2-4 2B (1) Lytle SV (4) Orozco 2-2 HR (1) 2 R 2 RBI (5) Adrian 2B (2) SB (4)
4/5: AUS 7 FW 6 (14) Behrens ND 5 ER 5.2 IP 'Pen 8.1 IP 6 H 13 K 4 BB 1 ER Hobart (W) Bradbury 8th inning PH 3R HR to tie it (2) Orozco 3-5 2 2B (4) RBI (6) Tighe 3-7 HR (2) RBI (4) Archer 3-6 2 R


NEXT WEEK: 1 @ Ft Worth 3 @ Buffalo 3 @ Providence

ABL HAPPENINGS:
3/31:
Jonathan Ray (MEX) got the defending world champions off on the right foot by fanning 16 San Jose Hawks in an 8-3 win on opening day.
4/3:
Jamie Wren (SJ) fanned 11 in a CG 6-hit SHO of San Francisco as the Hawks won 10-0.
4/5:
Rico Castro (LV) struck out 9, walked 2 and scattered 5 hits in a 1-0 win over Denver.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ferdinando Brandini (BAL) 9-15 HR 5 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Joe Tighe (AUS) 14-28 2 HR 4 RBI (Since 2011 Joe has hit 2, 11, 4, and 3 HR total each season)

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 4-3
• STANDINGS: 9-4 ½ GB
• RUNS SCORED: 78 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 51 (4th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .707 (3rd)
• ZONE RATING: +4.6 (1st)
• ERRORS: 5 (t-4th)
• OWNERS MOOD: Happy
• FAN INTEREST: 91
• POWER RANKINGS: 5th

THIS WEEK: 0-1 @ Ft Worth (0-6) 2-1 @ Buffalo (3-2) 2-1 @ Providence (3-3)

4/6: FW 5 AUS 4 (10) Lytle (L) BS (1) 1.2 IP 2 HR 2 ER Forney ND 7 IP 11 K 2 ER Dziedzic 3-4 2B (1) 2 HR (2) 3 R 2 RBI (2)
4/7: AUS 14 BUF 2 Dziedzic 1st inning GS (3) 4 RBI (6) Orozco 3-5 3B (1) HR (2) 5 RBI (11) 1-2-3 Tighe, Adrian, Archer 6-14 8 R 3 RBI Lach (W) 7 IP 7 K 2 ER (2-0 2.40)
4/8: AUS 6 BUF 3 Steele (W) 7.2 IP 9 H 7 K 3 ER (2-0 3.29) Lytle SV (5) Reyes 2-3 2 HR (3) 3 R 3 RBI (6) SB (3)
4/9: BUF 6 AUS 5 Miller ND 7 IP 10 K 0 BB 4 ER Dziedzic HR (4) RBI (7)
4/10: AUS 11 PRO 3 Behrens (W) 8.1 IP 8 K 3 ER led 11-1 into the 9th. 3-4 R RBI (1) Adrian 3-5 2B (4) HR (4) 2 R 4 RBI (11) Archer 4-5 2B (2) 2 RBI (6) Dziedzic 3-5
4/11: AUS 5 PRO 1 Forney (W) 7 IP 8 K 3 H 1 ER (1-1 3.15) Kucher 3-4 2B (2)
4/12: PRO 5 AUS 2 Lach (L) 7 IP 8 H 4 ER (2-1 3.27) tied into the 8th 1-1.

NEXT WEEK: OFF DAY 3 @ Houston (4-8) OFF DAY 2 vs Pittsburgh (8-4)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
4/6:
25-year-old Anthony Bobbitt (DEN) whiffed 11 and walked 4 in a 7-0 CG SHO win over Las Vegas.
4/8:
Jason Keeton (DET) allowed 6 hits and struck out 8, going the distance in a 6-0 win over Pittsburgh
4/11:
Mexico's Jonathan Ray tossed another gem, this time a 2-hitter to beat Montreal 4-0. He struck out 10 and walked 2, moving to 2-1 1.73 on the year.
Memphis righty CJ Clinton tossed a CG 3-hitter to beat the New York Empire 6-0.



PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Isaias Kikkert CF (LA) 11-25 2 HR 4 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tommy Dziedzic LF (AUS) 8-18 4 HR 7 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 2-3
• STANDINGS: 11-7 +1
• RUNS SCORED: 109 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 74 (t-5th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .716 (2nd)
• ZONE RATING: +8.1 (1st)
• ERRORS: 5 (t-1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Happy
• FAN INTEREST: 91
• POWER RANKINGS: 6th

THIS WEEK: OFF DAY 0-3 @ Houston (4-8) OFF DAY 2-0 vs Pittsburgh (8-4)

4/13: OFF DAY
4/14: HOU 8 AUS 4 Steele ND 4 ER 6 IP 9 K Haske (L) 4 ER 2 IP (1-1 5.63) Nolasco 2R HR (2)
4/15: HOU 7 AUS 4 (11) Miller ND 8 IP 7 K 5 BB 3 H 4 ER Lytle 2 ER 6 K 2 IP (L) (0-2 6.00) Nolasco HR (3)
4/16: HOU 2 AUS 1 (13) Behrens ND up 1-0 into the 8th 9.1 IP 6 K 4 H 1 ER HR Nolasco (4) Carpenter (HOU) 9-5-1-1-1-7 ND
4/17: OFF DAY
4/18: AUS 12 PIT 3 Forney (W) 6 IP 11 K 3 ER (2-1 3.46) Haske SV 3 IP 0 BR 5 K Tighe 2-4 2B (5) 4 R 2 SB (4) Archer 2-5 3 RBI (9) Dziedzic 3-5 HR (5) 2 RBI (9) Nolasco HR (5) 3 RBI (10) 4th straight game w/HR Reyes 2-4 2B (2) HR (4) 2 R RBI (9)
4/19: AUS 10 PIT 3 Hanna 4-5 2 HR (2) 7 RBI (10) 2x 3R HR (1st and 3rd innings) Lach CG 8 H 9 K 0 BB (3-1 3.19)

NEXT WEEK: 1 vs Pittsburgh (11-7) 3 vs Ft Worth (6-13) 3 vs Green Bay (11-7)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
4/14:

• Brian Hefley (MEX) lost a no-hitter in the 8th and settled for a 1-hit 11-0 win over Denver.
• Lexington RP Pat Rienstra has announced he will retire at the season's end. The 39-year-old is 180-143 3.73 over his 17-year career. He was a member of the Empire from being drafted in the 5th round in 1994 until he left after the 2010 season. His 180 wins rank 13th all-time, 143 losses rank 21st, 486 GS are tied with Mel Fonseca for 10th all-time, 2928 IP rank 13th, 412 HR rank 8th, and his 3798 K's rank 5th all-time, 79 behind Jeff Hall's 3877. He is the ABL's all-time leader in walks allowed with 1022, and his career WAR of 55.35 is 20th all-time.

4/15:

• Javy Canales (PRO) went 5-5 in the Black Sox 14-2 win over the Empire.
• Brad Ullrich (PHI) tossed a 6-hit CG SHO in an 11-0 win over the NY Punishers.
• 24-year-old Carlos Mora (DEN) went 4-5 and hit for the cycle in the Saints 13-1 win over Mexico.

4/16:

• Josh Viens (NYP) returned the favor as the Punishers shut out the Patriots 6-0. Viens K'd 7 and allowed just 3 hits.
• Juan Rio (NYE) fanned 14 in an 8-0 win over Providence.

RUSTLER NEWS:
4/14:

• Recently acquired P prospect Jake Pierce tossed a 5 hit shutout for AAA Warren.

4/20:

• 2B prospect Ken Bruins took home POTW honors for Class (A) Salt Lake city going 14-24 HR 11 RBI.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Josh Sims 1B (MON) 13-24 3 HR 7 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Domingo Castellanos RF (MEM) 12-26 2 HR 5 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 6-1
• STANDINGS: 17-8 +2.5
• RUNS SCORED: 157 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 92 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .711 (2nd)
• ZONE RATING: +9.5 (1st)
• ERRORS: 11 (t-6th)
• OWNERS MOOD: Happy
• FAN INTEREST: 91
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 1-0 vs Pittsburgh 2-1 vs Ft Worth 3-0 vs Green Bay

4/20: AUS 6 PIT 3 Steele (W) 8 IP 7 K 2 ER (3-0 3.58) Tighe 3-4 2 SB (6) 3 R Archer 2B (4) 4 RBI (13) Lytle SV (6)
4/21: AUS 7 FW 1 Miller CG 1 H 10 K 0 ER (2-0 3.09) Nolasco 3-4 2B (3) Dziedzic HR (6) 2 RBI (11) Archer 2B (5) 2 RBI (15) Adrian 2B (6) 2R
4/22: AUS 11 FW 5 Behrens (W) 8 IP 5 K 1 ER (2-0 3.13) Tighe 3-5 2B (6) 3 R 2 RBI (9) Archer 2-5 2B (6) HR (1) 5 RBI (20) Adrian 1st inning HR (6) 2 RBI (16)
4/23: FW 5 AUS 2 Forney (L) 13 K 7 IP 4 ER (2-2 3.82) Adrian 2 2B (9)
4/24: AUS 4 GB 0 Lach (W) 6 IP 5 H 10 K (4-1 2.68) 1-3 Joshua 3-4 HR (1) 2 RBI (3) Hanna HR (3) RBI(11)
4/25: AUS 5 GB 2 Steele (W) 8 IP 6 H 6 K 1 ER (4-0 3.03) Tighe 3-5 2B (7) SB (7) 2 R Archer HR (3) 2 RBI (24) Reyes 1-1 3 BB
4/26: AUS 13 GB 2 Miller CG 8 H 2 ER 10 K (3-0 2.85) 1-2 2B (2) 2 R 2 BB Kucher 3-4 2B (4) 3B (1) 3 R RBI (2) Nolasco 2 HR (7) 2 RBI (14) Archer HR (4) RBI (25) Becker HR (2) 2 RBI (5) Orozco HR (3) 2 RBI (17) Bradbury HR (4) 2 RBI (16)

NEXT WEEK: OFF DAY 3 vs Houston OFF DAY 2 @ Memphis

ABL HAPPENINGS:
4/21:

• Pittsburgh announced the signing of Closer Danny Mann to a 1 year 1.26 million dollar deal. The 36 year old Mann was 5-9 33 SV 4.92 for Dallas last season.
• Danny Sanchez (SF) fanned 5, walked none and allowed just 4 hits in a 4-0 win over Detroit.

4/22:

• Tony Santamaria (CHI) tossed a CG 3-hit shutout in beating LA 11-0.

4/23:

• David Guillion (MEM) lost a no-hit bid with 1 out in the 9th but finished the 1-hitter fanning 6 in a 1-0 win over Green Bay.

4/26:

• Dave Skelly (BUF) went 5-5 in the Bison's 9-1 win over New England.
• Travis Wollen (SJ) also went 5-5 as San Jose drubbed San Francisco 15-4.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jamie Truncellito RF (LA) 13-27 HR 4 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Nick Archer 1B (AUS) 10-28 4 HR 16 RBI

[gehrig38]

It's been almost a full baseball calendar year since I decided to deal star 1B and former MVP, Rookie of the year Aaron Chisholm and his bad attitude, and sign FA Nick Archer.
In that year here is the stat lines for both players

• Aaron Chisholm 153 G 114 GS 523 PA 445 AB 74 R 132 H 24 2B 2 3B 28 HR 76 RBI 67 BB 112 K .297/.392/.548 OPS .940
• Nick Archer 137 G 132 GS 610 PA 544 AB 80 R 169 H 40 2B 3 3B 21 HR 103 RBI 51 BB 112 K .311/.373/.511 OPS .884

Looks to be somewhat even. 7M to 8.25m leans to Chisholm but he'll increase his base to 8+ over the final years of his deal. Archer has been a far better defender to date too. Archer's 28 to Chisholm's 26, and there is the fact that Nick Archer is 6'9” and Chisholm is 5'11”....

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 5-0 (8 game winning streak)
• STANDINGS: 22-8 +6
• RUNS SCORED: 192 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 101 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .720 (2nd)
• ZONE RATING: +10.9 (1st)
• ERRORS: 13 (t-4th)
• OWNERS MOOD: Happy
• FAN INTEREST: 91
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: OFF DAY 3 vs Houston (11-13) OFF DAY 2 @ Memphis (14-10)

4/27: OFF DAY
4/28: AUS 6 HOU 0 Behrens CG 2 H 9 K (3-0 2.53) 1-2 Tighe 2-3 BB HR (3) 2 R 3 RBI (12) Adrian 2-4 HR (7) RBI (17)
4/29: AUS 5 HOU 2 Forney (W) 7 IP 12 K 2 ER (3-2 3.60) Orozco 3-4 2B (10) R Reyes 2-4 HR (5) R RBI (11)
4/30: AUS 2 HOU 1 Lach (W) 8 IP 7 K 4 H 1 ER (5-1 2.40) Comerford 2B (7) GW 2 R HR bottom 8 (1) 2 RBI (7)
5/1: OFF DAY
5/2: AUS 17 MEM 2 Archer 4-6 2B (9) HR (5) 4 R 2 RBI (29) Joshua 4-6 4 R 2 RBI (8) Kucher 3-6 3 RBI (7) Orozco 3-6 2 R 3 RBI (20) Becker 3-5 HR (3) 2 R 5 RBI (10) Steele (W) 7.2 IP 9 K 2 ER (5-0 2.91)
5/3: AUS 5 MEM 4 Comerford 3-5 3 2B (10) RBI (8) Orozco 2-4 HR (4) RBI (21) Dziedzic HR (7) Miller (W) 7.1 IP 6 K 4 ER (4-0 3.17) Lytle SV (9)

NEXT WEEK: 1 @ Memphis (15-15) 3 @ Charlotte (18-14) 2 vs Los Angeles (14-17)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
4/27:

• Bronco SS Abel Ward went 4-5 and hit for the cycle in a 9-7 win over Dallas.

4/28:

• Josh Viens (NYP) struck out 14 in a 3-hitter as NY downed Pittsburgh 9-0.
• Frank Glebocki (LA) tossed a CG SHO to beat San Francisco 1-0.

4/29:

• 1B Khalil Harris (BAL) went 3-4 and hit 3 HR's in a 6-3 win over Detroit.
• Lefty Wayne Noe (PHX) went the distance with a 4-hitter to beat Denver 6-0

4/30:

• Fort Worth and Lexington played 6hr 55 minute 20 inning game today. Lexington tied it with 2 in the bottom of the 8th and it remained 2-2 through 18 innings. Both teams scored a run in the 19th before RJ Beckworth drew a bases loaded walk to end it in the 20th. Mario Luna (LEX) was 6-10 with 6 singles. The Rebels had 19 hits in the game, 17 singles.

5/1:

• Neil Molloy (SF) went 5-5 in a 13-5 LOSS to Pittsburgh

5/2:

• Aaron Hancock (NYP) went 5-5 in a 10-7 win over San Diego. He 2B twice and homered, driving in 4.
• Dakota Eddleman (BRK) fanned 9 in a 5-hit shutout of Los Angeles.

5/3:

• Charlotte announced it had reached a 2 year 14.9 million dollar deal with FA closer Adam Jenney. Jenney, 31-29 80 SV 3.86 lifetime, was 9-0 3.03 last season for Philadelphia after saving 74 games the previous 2 years in Denver.

RUSTLER NEWS:
5/4:

• Kyle Brill (AAA) took home PotW honors going 14-19 4 RBI's

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Aaron Hancock LF (NYP) 10-21 2 HR 6 RBI 5 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Mike Murray CF (CHA) 8-19 4 HR 7 RBI


RUSTLER PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Andy Adrian .321-7-17 23 R
RUSTLER PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Chris Lach 5-1 2.40 45 IP 37 H 44 K 12 BB .222 AVG
RUSTLER MiL PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Brock Stoll (A) .368-9-18 17 R
RUSTLER MiL PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Dave Ball (AAA) 3-0 2.16 25 IP 16 H 16 K 3 BB

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Heriberto Perez RF (PHX) .339-7-21 .392 OBP 24 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Andy Adrian CF (AUS) .321-7-17 23 R (this guy is going to sneak into the MVP conversation at some point in his career, maybe even this year.
PATRIOT LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Jeremy Stuever (BAL) 4-0 2.05 41/12 K/BB 44 IP
COLONIAL LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: David Bolls (DAL) 5-0 1.63 42/13 K/BB 38.2 IP
PATRIOT LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Ron York RP (SJ) 3-2 6 SV 3.14 ERA
COLONIAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: William Livingston SP (HOU) 3-0 4.72

[gehrig38]

Not to jinx anything but this might be the best all around team I've ever built in OOTP. I'm betting by mid-season we'll be the best offense, stingiest pitching and best defensive club in the game as well as the best base running and base stealing team as well.
The one ENORMOUS caveat is health. If this team stays healthy I expect records to fall.

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 2-4
• STANDINGS: 26-10 +5.5
• RUNS SCORED: 203 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 126 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .716 (3rd)
• ZONE RATING: +12.1 (1st)
• ERRORS: 14 (t-1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Happy
• FAN INTEREST: 91
• POWER RANKINGS: 2nd

THIS WEEK: 0-1 @ Memphis (15-15) 1-2 @ Charlotte (18-14) 1-1 vs Los Angeles (14-17)

5/4: MEM 6 AUS 1 tied 1-1 bottom 8 Behrens (L) 7.1 IP 11 H 6 ER (3-1 3.19)
5/5: AUS 7 CHA 1 Forney (W) 8.1 IP 12 K 1 ER (4-2 3.17) Hanna 3-4 2B (1) 2 HR (5) 2 R 3 RBI Dziedzic HR (7)
5/6: CHA 5 AUS 4 Lach ND 7.1 IP 7 K 8 H 3 ER Lytle BS (2) (L 0-3 5.40) 2 H 2 ER 0.1 IP Mike Weller (CHA) 2 HR (4) walk off 2R HR bottom 9
5/7: CHA 1 AUS 0 Zerbe (CHA) CG SHO 3 H 15 K (2-2 4.25) Steele (L) CG 8 IP 4 H 7 K 1 ER
5/8: OFF DAY
5/9: AUS 9 LA 4 Tighe 3-4 SB (12) 3 R Comerford 2-4 3B (1) HR (3) RBI (9) Archer 2 RBI (34) Miller (W) 6-6-4-4-1-7 (5-0 3.07) 1-2 R
5/10: LA 7 AUS 3 Behrens (L) 2.2 IP 6 R 2 ER 6 H 3 HR Error leads to 4 unearned. Tighe 3-5 2B (10) R league leading .392

NEXT WEEK: 1 vs Los Angeles (18-18) 3 @ Ohio (16-21) 3 @ Dallas (21-16)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
5/5:

• Josh Holifield (SAN) fanned 7 and walked 1 in a 7-hit CG SHO of the Empire in New York.

5/6:

• Todd Bean (LEX) struck out 9 and allowed just 4 hits in a 4-0 win over Buffalo.
• Desmond Horning (DET) lost a no-hitter in the 9th but settled on a 1-hit 6-0 win over San Antonio.7-6 win

5/7:

• Brooklyn's Ben Davis went 5-5 with 3 2B's and a HR driving in 4 in the Blackhearts 7-6 win over Las Vegas.

5/8:

• Dakota Eddleman (BRK) fanned 13 and walked just 2 in his second consecutive 5-hit CG SHO. In his last 2 starts he's thrown 18 IP 10 H 4 BB 22 K to move to 3-2 and lower his ERA from 2.90 to 2.13.
• Jonathan Ray (MEX) fanned 16 in a 6-2 win over Memphis. It was his 2nd start this year with 16 K's as he fanned 16 in an opening day 8-3 win over San Jose.

5/9:

• Former Rustler Sam Rhoads (BUF) tossed a CG SHO to bet Chicago 2-0. It was his 1st win of the year after a rough 2-14 5.41 2014.

5/10:

• Alex Garcia (PHX) went 5-5 with an RBI in the Roadrunners 7-3 win over Denver.

RUSTLER NEWS:

• Ryan Avant (A) went 14-24 with 5 HR and 10 RBI to take home Mid-West league PotW. The 1B was the 29th overall pick in last year's June Draft.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ben Davis LF (BRK) 12-24 4 HR 8 RBI 8 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Amir White LF (HOU) 12-27 4 HR 7 RBI 9 R

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 2-5
• STANDINGS: 28-15 +6.5
• RUNS SCORED: 253 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 160 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .705 (3rd)
• ZONE RATING: +12.4 (1st)
• ERRORS: 17 (t-1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Happy
• FAN INTEREST: 91
• POWER RANKINGS: 2nd

THIS WEEK: 0-1 vs Los Angeles (16-20) 0-3 @ Ohio (14-23) 2-1 @ Dallas (18-19)

5/11: LA 2 AUS 1 Forney (L) 7 IP 16 K 2 ER (3-4 4.33) Robledo (LA) (W) 8 IP 5 H 1 ER (4-3 4.04) just 6 singles
5/12: OH 5 AUS 3 Lach ND 6.1 IP 9 H 2 ER Lytle BS (2) Archer 3-4 HR (7) 2 RBI (35) Dziedzic 2-3 2 2B (3) RBI (15)
5/13: OH 5 AUS 0 Carlson (OH) (W) 7 IP 12 K 5 H (1-0 3.47) Steele (L) 7 IP 10 H 8 K 0 BB 5 ER 1-3 2B
5/14: OH 5 AUS 2 Miller (L) 9 H 5 ER 4 IP (4-1 4.07) Orozco 2-4 2B (12) HR (6) RBI (27) Zape (OH) (W) 7.2 IP 6 H 1 ER 7 K (3-5 4.38)
5/15: AUS 7 DAL 2 Behrens (W) 7 IP 7 K 4 H 2 ER 1-3 (5-1 3.14) 1-3 R Orozco 3-5 2 HR (8) 4 RBI (31) 2 R Kucher 4-4 2 2B (7) 3B (2) R RBI (8) (.412)
5/16: DAL 3 AUS 2 (11) Forney ND 7-6-2-2-3-5 Lytle BS (3)
5/17: AUS 9 DAL 8 (10) Reyes 2-4 GW HR (7) 2 R 2 RBI (16) 3 SB (11) Dziedzic 3-6 HR (8) 2 R 2 RBI (17) Hanna GS (5) 4 RBI (21) Lytle BS (4) W 3 ER 3 H 1 IP


NEXT WEEK: OFF DAY 3 @ Green Bay (20-22) 3 vs Memphis (24-19)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
5/12:

• Lexington lefty Todd Bean tossed his 2nd consecutive shutout today beating Green Bay 1-0. He fanned 9 and walked 5 in the 5-hitter.

5/13:

• John Del Bianco (DET) struck out 15 Chicago Hitmen batters in a 5-1 win. He walked none and allowed just 5 hits. He's 6-3 4.06
• Zach Jamie (PHX) went the distance in a 1-0 win over Las Vegas. He scattered 7 hits and struck out 6.

5/14:

• Dakota Eddleman (BRK) tossed his 3rd consecutive CG SHO and almost no-hit the Pittsburgh Miners as the Blackhearts won 7-0. For the 2nd straight game, he fanned 13 and walked just 2. In his past 3 starts he is 3-0 0.00 27 IP 11 H 6 BB 35 K and has lowered his ERA to a league-leading 1.88. The 28-year-old was the 100th overall selection (4th round) in the 2015 June Draft out of UMASS.

5/15:

• Former Rustler prospect and 1st round draft choice (8th overall) Pat Madison (BUF) whiffed 5 and walked 3 in a 6-hit CG SHO of the Empire.
• Sandy Nieves (FW) rang up 11 Roughrider batters in an 11-0 pasting. He allowed just 3 hits to move to 3-1 2.69

5/16:

• 23-year-old righty Jim Duffy (MEX) also tossed a 3-hitter, striking out 8 in a 7-0 win over Phoenix. The win moves his record to 6-2 2.83. Duffy was a 6th round selection (150th overall) out of Central Arizona JUCO.

5/17:

• The Green Bay Blizzard have sent 33-year-old SP Bobby Dare to Dallas in exchange for two P prospects. 23-year-old Dave Vance and 22-year-old Arturo Sanchez will head to the Blizzard. Vance is one of the better young RP prospects in the game after being selected 47th overall in 2011 out of Wabash HS.
• Dare is 128-108 3.68 lifetime. He was 15-10 3.39 last year for Brooklyn and has pitched very well this season (1-5 3.57) despite just one win. He has won 10+ games 8 different times in his career and has also had a 20 loss season when he went 9-20 4.37 for Providence in 2010. He's made 30+ starts the past 9 years. He led the PL in WHIP and BB/9 going 10-14 3.44 for Brooklyn in 2012. He is making just 1.36 million and due to hit free agency this winter.

RUSTLER NEWS:
5/14:

• 21 year old OF Kevin Clevenger went 5-5 for AAA Warren in a 7-2 win over the Anchorage Ice Wolves. He hit 3 singles a double and a grand slam to drive in 4 in the win. Kevin was a 2012 2nd round draft pick (44th overall) out of the College of Southern Idaho JUCO.

5/18:
LYTLE OUT, HASKE IN
Rustler Manager Rickey Sanford announced in a post-game press conference that closer Cody Lytle would revert to a setup role for a week or so to give the struggling RH (1-2 10-14 SV 4.95) a chance to regain his confidence. Rivera and Rolaids Award Winner Chris Haske will assume the role for the foreseeable future.
“Late inning losses are killers. Cody's a bit 'off' right now and he just needs a few innings to right his ship.”
Lytle was unavailable for comment while Haske responded “whatever they need me to do. I felt I should have been the guy from opening day but I just work here”.
Sanford caused more than a few sideways glances when he named Lytle the closer before camp even started this past February.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Zach Bernhardt RF (BAL) 9-26 4 HR 10 RBI 8 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Mario Luna RF (LEX) 19-32 4 HR 7 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 4-2
• STANDINGS: 32-17 +7
• RUNS SCORED: 283 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 173 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .707 (1st)
• ZONE RATING: +13.3 (1st)
• ERRORS: 21 (3rd)
• OWNERS MOOD: Happy
• FAN INTEREST: 90
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: OFF DAY 3 @ Green Bay (20-22) 3 vs Memphis (24-19)

5/18: OFF DAY
5/19: GB 2 AUS 1 Muta (GB) (W) 8 IP 4 H 7 K 1 ER Steele (L) 7 IP 6 K 2 ER (6-2 3.38) Archer HR (8) RBI (37)
5/20: AUS 6 GB 1 Miller CG (W) 12 K 8 H 1 ER 1-4 2 RBI Tighe 3-5 2B (10) RBI SB (11) Adrian 2-4 2B (12) 3 R
5/21: GB 5 AUS 3 Behrens (L) 6.1 IP 5 H 4 BB 4 ER (5-2 3.38) Tighe 3-5 2 R 3 SB (14) Adrian 305 2B (13) R 2 SB (18)
5/22: AUS 3 MEM 1 Forney ND 7.2 IP 4 H 1 ER 11 K Haske SV (2) Bradbury HR (5) RBI (17)
5/23: AUS 4 MEM 3 Lach (W) 8 IP 4 H 11 K 2 ER (7-1 2.53) Haske SV (3) 1 IP HR 1 ER Bradbury HR (6) 2 RBI (19) Archer HR (9) RBI (40)
5/24: AUS 13 MEM 1 Steele (W) 8.1 IP 4 H 9 K 1 ER 1-4 2 R 2 RBI (2) Tighe 3-4 2B (11) 2 R 2 RBI (21) SB (16) Archer 2B (14) 3 RBI 43) Reyes 2-5 HR (8) 2 R 3 RBI (19) SB (14) 13 hits, team record 9 2B's and a HR.

NEXT WEEK: 4 @ Ft Worth (18-31) OFF DAY 2 vs Phoenix (25-24)



ABL HAPPENINGS:
5/18:

• Ron Robinson (SAN) fanned 11 and walked 2 in a 5-hitter as the Broncos beat Charlotte 9-0.
• 24-year-old Chris Whisner (LA) also fanned 11 and walked 2 in a CG 3-hitter to beat San Diego.

5/19:

• William Livingston (HOU) outpitched Mike Spitler (NYE) as the Roughriders held on for a 1-0 win. He allowed 3 hits and fanned 9 and Spitler went the distance in the loss allowing 5 hits and fanning 8. Spitler is 2-1 1.88 and Livingston moves to 5-1 4.15.
• Spitler is a two-way star for NY and for some reason they're interested in trading him. He hits 3rd in their lineup (hitting .429) when he pitches.

5/20:

• Montreal pounded Pittsburgh 12-2 and Paragon 3B Chad Curtis went 5-5 homering and driving in 4.
• Ohio fired GM Luke Hately and manager Matt Thomson today. The Generals are 19-31 and already 11.5 games out. They announced they'd hired former San Diego Missions GM Fred Reese to a 4-year deal and bench coach Charlie Cournoyer will serve as interim manager.

5/21:

• Ian Gurr (HOU) went the distance on a 5-hitter to beat the New York Empire 3-0. Gurr is just 2-6 5.06 on the year.

5/22:

• Rusty McCarthy (PRO) fanned 12 and walked 1 in a 4-hit 10-0 win over Houston, one day after the Roughriders shut out the Empire.

5/24:

• In the series finale former Rustler Rich Whittaker (PRO) shut out the Roughriders. This time allowing 6 hits while striking out 9 in another 10-0 beat down. Whittaker is 7-3 3.49.
• David Anderson (MON) threw a CG 3-hit shutout to beat Phoenix 6-0 and win his 1st game of the year.

RUSTLER NEWS:

• Veteran OF Steve Keating (AAA) went 10-19 to take home PotW honors for Warren. The 33-year-old switch hitter is hitting .333-4-12.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jose Rivera 2B (MEX) 14-27 4 HR 14 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chris Whitten RF (PRO) 10-24 3 HR 5 RBI