American Baseball Association.

[gehrig38]

Pittsburgh @ Washington

• Pittsburgh 2 Washington 1
• W-Escobedo (1-1) L-Almaguer (0-1) S-Ross (4)
• POTG Escobedo 7 IP 7 H 1 ER 3 K
• HR PIT: Peterson (1)
• Pittsburgh leads the series 1-0

[gehrig38]

Ohio-Osario (17-9 4.25) @ Florida-Pollock (18-7 4.34)
Kody Pollock was sensational. Entered the 8th having given up just one single. Matsui, Turner and Galindo got the final 5 outs with 3 K's and two solo homers were all the scoring.

• Florida 2 Ohio 1
• W-Pollock (1-0) L-Osorio (0-1) S-Galindo (4)
• HR FLA: Christman (2) Chase (2)
• POTG Pollock 7.1 IP 2 H 0 ER 2 K
• Florida leads series 1-0

[gehrig38]

Pittsburgh @ Washington

• Washington 11 Pittsburgh 3
• W-Santander (3-0) L-Anguiano (0-1)
• HR WAS: Beltre (1) Yasuda (1) Cephus (1) Valle (1)
• POTG Yasuda 3-5 HR (1) 4 RBI (5)
• Series tied 1-1

Ohio-Rone (22-6 4.11) @ Florida-Sugihara (14-7 3.65)
Trouble strikes in the 2nd as Sugihara comes out of the game after grabbing his elbow making a pitch. Chad Willoughby makes a 2nd appearance of the postseason in the 2nd inning out of the bullpen. He manages 4.1 IP giving up 2 and striking out 5 before handing a 4-2 lead to our ace Brad Turner. Turner blows a save opportunity for just the 2nd time all year long as Layne Cosman hits his 3rd postseason HR to make it a 4-4 game. It stayed that way until the 14th. Tyson Umroh came on in the 13th and after a scoreless inning, he loaded the bases with no outs in the 14th. He would then get a comebacker and throw home for the 1st out and then record back to back full count strikeouts to end the top half of the inning. That paved the way for Ben Chase to hit his 2nd walk-off home run of the postseason with 1 out in the 14th.

• Florida 5 Ohio 4
• W-Umroh (1-0) L-Uribe (0-1)
• HR OH: Cosman (3) FLA: Funicello (1) Chase (3)
• POTG Chase 3-6 HR RBI (6) SB (1)
• Florida leads the series 2-0

[gehrig38]

GAME THREE
Washington @ Pittsburgh

• Washington 3 Pittsburgh 1
• W-Aris (1-0) L-Riggs (0-2) S-Alburquerque (1)
• HR WAS: Haupt (3)
• Washington leads the series 2-1

Florida-Alatorre (8-10 3.89) @ Ohio-Banderas (14-7 4.24)

• Game entered the 8th and we were ahead 2-1, Alatorre was throwing a masterpiece. With 2 outs, at 100 pitches I was waffling. Luis Paredes was up and Sergio Robles was on deck. Did I want to try and get one more hitter? If he got on I'd bring in Galindo. 2 pitches later Paredes hits a game tying solo HR.
• Matsui, Yamada and Galindo followed up as we went extras. They went 2.1 yielding a walk and no hits striking out 2. Super sub Wilton Montalbetti who was starting at 2B for Flores given his horrid #'s off Banderas (1-16) hit a 2 out 2 strike 2 run double off former Tarpon Sam Ginn to win it.
• Florida 4 Ohio 2 (10)
• W-Yamada (1-0) L-Miles (1-1) S-Galindo (5)
• HR OH: Robles (2) Paredes (2)
• POTG Alatorre 7.2 IP 7 H 2 ER 4 K
• Florida leads the series 3-0
• No chance I saw this coming. Alatorre has been dominant so far this post-season but I didn't think we'd shut them down this well.

GAME FOUR
Washington @ Pittsburgh

• Pittsburgh 7 Washington 4
• W-Yuen (1-0) L-Nakagawa (1-1)
• HR WAS: Haupt (4) PIT: Bodkin (1)
• POTG Bodkin 3-4 HR 2 RBI R BB
• Series tied 2-2

• Florida-Samvdio (16-4 3.73) @ Ohio-Rose (16-8 4.54)

• Florida 8 Ohio 2
• W-Samvdio (2-0) L-Rose (0-1) S-Turner (1)
• HR FLA: Christman (3) OH: Paredes (3)
• Series MVP Chris Christman .417-2-2
• Florida wins series 4-0

GAME FIVE
Washington @ Pittsburgh

• Pittsburgh 3 Washington 2
• Luis Villaneda, with the Miners down 2-0 in the 8th, hit a 2 out game winning 3 run homer.
• W-Escobedo (2-1) L-Almaguer (1-2) S-Ross (5)
• HR WAS: Kellerman (1) PIT: Villaneda (1)
• POTG Escobedo 7 IP 3 H 1 ER 7 K
• Pittsburgh leads the series 3-2

GAME 6
Pittsburgh @ Washington

• Washington 4 Pittsburgh 2
• W-Santander (4-0) L-Anguiano (0-2) S-Alburquerque (2)
• HR NONE
• POTG Santander 6.1 IP 5 H 1 ER 5 BB 8 K
• Series tied 3-3

GAME 7
Pittsburgh @ Washington

• Pittsburgh 5 Washington 1
• W-Riggs (1-2) L-Aris (1-1)
• HR PIT: Gilliand (2)
• Series MVP Pat Peterson .393-1-4
• Pittsburgh wins the series 4-3

[gehrig38]

The visual of both teams, side by side. I outlined some of the potentially interesting stories.

[gehrig38]

Pittsburgh- Man-keung Yuen (12-6 3.26) @ Florida- Kody Pollock (18-7 4.34)

• Kody Pollock goes 1 IP 6 H 5 ER and Chad Willoughby once again makes a 2nd inning appearance. He goes 5 IP 4 H 1 ER 6 K and leaves with us down 6-0. Yuen gets pulled after a 2 run Hayashi double gets us on the board. At 6-2 Steve Cooke comes in and gives up a run.
• We enter the bottom of 8 down 7-2, and the inning ends with us up 8-7!!
• How?
• Hallamore walks to lead it off. Bursey grounds out. Steve Morris relieves and Chase flies to center. DJ Adams lines a single and Hallamore goes through a stop sign and is barely safe at home, making it 7-3.
• Bobby Ross trots in from the Pen. He promptly walks Funicello on 4 pitches.
• Juan Flores then lines a 3-2 pitch to the left-center gap for a 2 run double making it 7-5.
• Hayashi follows with a run-scoring triple that was inches from being a HR making it 7-6, 2 outs, runner on 3rd.
• Rookie Andy Elizondo steps up, Burgess does NOT pinch hit, and on a 1-2 pitch, the kid hits a 371 foot 2 run home run!
• Turner opens the 9th walking Joe Wendt (just his 2nd walk the entire year vs a LHH). Andy Domingue strikes out on a 3-2 pitch.
• LHH Sincere Preece then lines a single to right center and the Miners have 1st and 2nd 1 out. Galindo trots in to face former Tarpon and Rookie of the Year Harland Daig.
• 4 pitches later he swings and misses at strike 3 for the 2nd out.
• Former Tarpon Pat Peterson comes up, and on a 0-2 pitch hits a 1 hopper to Flores for the games final out and once again a completely improbable comeback and win.

• Florida 8 Pittsburgh 7
• W-Cooke (1-0) L-Ross (2-1) S-Galindo (6)
• HR FLA: Elizondo (1)
• POTG Chad Willoughby 5 IP 4 H 1 ER 1 BB 6 K
• Florida leads the series 1-0

[gehrig38]

Pittsburgh Federico Escobedo (14-8 4.66) @ Florida- Yasushi Sugihara (14-7 3.65)

We managed to jump out in front on a Hallamore 2 R HR (POTG), but Sugihara gave up a world sereies record four doubles in one inning to allow the Miners to get back and eventually tie the game.
Miner pitching set a record in the 5th. After a leadoff single by Leith Bursey, then Chase and Funicello strikeouts, Pittsburgh pitchers, with the bases full of Tarpon, walked three consecutive hitters to force in 3 runs and turn a 4-4 tie into a 7-4 lead. Sugihara got the win, but it was four scoreless from the Pen that sealed it.

• Florida 9 Pittsburgh 4
• W-Sugihara (2-0) L-Escobedo (2-2) S-Turner (2)
• HR FLA: Hallamore (3)
• POTG Hallamore 2-4 2B (2) HR (3) 2 RBI (10)
• Florida leads the series 2-0

[gehrig38]

Florida-Alatorre (8-10 3.89) @ Pittsburgh-Riggs (19-8 3.31)


Sean Riggs set a world series record striking out 16 hitters. He also threw a complete game. Unfortunately for him that game included 2 home runs and a Tarpon staff that permitted just 2 runs on 5 hits.

• Florida 5 Pittsburgh 2
• W-Alatorre (2-0) L-Riggs (1-3) S-Galindo (7)
• HR FLA-Funicello (2) Hayashi (2)
• POTG Alatorre 7 IP 4 H 2 ER 6 K
• Florida leads the series 3-0

[gehrig38]

Florida-Samvdio (16-4 3.73) @ Pittsburgh-Anguiano (7-6 4.45)

• Words fall short. We just won 12 straight post season games. Sweeping for 3 straight rounds. Complete and utter domination and also record-setting in every way possible.
• Florida 5 Pittsburgh 0
• W-Samvdio (3-0) L-Anguiano (0-3)
• HR FLA-Chase (4)
• Florida wins the series 4-0
• World Series MVP Makata Hayashi 6-15 HR 6 RBI

[gehrig38]

Vegas resigned Closer Domenic Helmrich to a two year 5.52 million dollar extension. He's saved 388 games with a 3.01 ERA over 1056 innings.

MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Kevin Burgess won his 2nd consecutive manager of the year award, and Kansas City's Ned Yost took home his 1st.

ARBITRATION
Some very tough decisions. Right now I have a projected payroll of 49.3 million with a new budget of 52 million. With 13 million in expenses that put me in the red, big time. Not to mention a new edict from up top of wanting to show 3+ million in profit next year.

• Mike Allen (1.3) Jorge Longoria (250K) Andy Luman (274K) and Hisanobu Matsui (1.3) are all going to have their arbitration offers withdrawn. Jake Grab (350K) will not be tendered a 4.24 m contract offer.
• Ernesto Galindo, our most popular and one of the games most popular players, will be tendered that same offer in hopes he does NOT accept. He's currently making 1.845, and while more than worth it, he's asking for an AAV of 3.48 over 4-5 years and with our budget it is just not doable.
• The hope is that he refuses the offer and signs on with an NL team. I have the arms to build a bullpen with Turner now the closer. Busey (1.625 last year and a # of 2.31) and Chase (2.96 last year and a # of 4.452) are the big ones. Neither is very interested in a longer-term deal right now.
• Yamada asked 812K offered 483 Player won
• Balderas asked 405K offered 240K Player won
• Christman asked 316K offered 200K Team won
• Busey asked 2.75M offered 2.31M Player won
• Chase asked 4.452 offered 4.452
• Umoh asked 279K offered 192K Team won
• Makowski asked 320K offered 240K Team won
• Cooke asked 1.25M offered 1.05M Team won
• Legion asked 571K offered 470K Team won
• Adams asked 263K offered 192K Team won
• Ernesto Galindo has declined his qualifying offer and will become a free agent.

FLORIDA, PITTSBURGH CONFIRM SWAP
The Florida Tarpons announced they had reached an agreement with the Pittsburgh Miners on a three-player trade today. Florida has sent 31-year-old Juan Alatorre to the Miners for 21-year-old OF Talbot Linseman and 24 years old IF Dan McCullen. The discussions leaked a few weeks ago, but apparently, everything came to a head late last night when the Miners offered McCullen as a second piece.
Others thought Pittsburgh should have waited as it is now no secret that Gehrig Schilling is trying to pare down their 2011 and beyond payroll even with ownership moving his budget north of 50 million. Before this deal, the Tarpons ranked #1 in salary.

GM'S OFFICE

• I can replace Alatorre and his postseason and world series performance against the Miners didn't hurt. I've got a few young pitchers that will battle for that rotation spot this spring.
• Having said that this is a fantastic trade. Linseman is a future star center fielder. He was called up last year for 43 games, and the consensus among our guys is that it was far too early. He'll head to AAA and play every day. McCullen is no different. He is a pure 2B, but a good, going to be great, player. He was a September call-up and has two options remaining, but this trade continues to stack our system top to bottom with potential star talent. The other major factor is Alatorre is in the final two seasons of a 3.675M dollar a year deal. We have to cut back, and this was one of the few ways I thought we could do it and stay where we are talent wise. The deal puts our payroll at 43.6 which is 4th in the league. Our 52 million dollar budget is 8th in the league.

Son of a biscuit. Guess it shouldn't surprise after their poor finish last year.

PHANTOM WIN OGARRO SWEEPSTAKES
Detroit fans were lining up outside the season ticket office after the announcement that star 1B Tyshawn Ogarro had agreed to a 4-year 17.6M dollar deal. Ogarro has an opt-out after 2012. The 26-year-old is a two-time gold glove winner and two-time all-star. He was the 2010 AL HR Leader with 47.

STORM LAY OUT 45 MILLION FOR LONGORIA, HANNING
30-year-old 3B Evan Longoria and 30-year-old SP Curt Hanning both agreed to deals with the LA Surge today. Longoria will receive 17.12 over four years while Hanning, who many believe is the prized arm on the market this winter will receive 28.12 million over the next six seasons.

WINTER MEETINGS OFF WITH A BANG

• It appears the Storm is willing to spend as much as they need, if not more. They kicked off the 2010 meetings by announcing their 3rd signing in 2 days. Former Chicago star Raita Yamada agreed to terms on a six-year 27.8M dollar deal today. The final season is 5.4M dollar player option. Yamada is coming off a 14-11 4.15 season and is 60-38 3.62 in his 5-year career. He's won 16, 17, and 14 games the past three years going 47-31. The Storm has outlayed 45.92 million dollars in free agent contracts in the past 24 hours.
• Meanwhile across the lobby of the Mandalay Bay, the Las Vegas Aces were announcing their big signing. Star 3B Luis Castaneda to a 6-year 20.8M dollar deal. The 28-year-old four-time gold glover is coming off a career-high 99 RBI's and 24 HRs. He hit .279/.348/.428 in 145 games.

[gehrig38]

2011 HALL OF FAME VOTING



ABA ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF THE CAROLINA LEAGUE
That ABA has agreed to create a 30 team rookie league that will be called the Carolina League. It will mimic the New York Penn League in structure and format. The Tarpon franchise entry will reside in South Valley, New Mexico and be known as the South Valley Foxes.

FLORIDA FIRED UP OVER SIGNING OF CLOSER CARR
The Tarpons pulled out all stops to announce the signing of 27 year old closer Jim Carr. Carr is one of the game's preeminent relievers and was the subject of an intense competition to sign. The contract agreed to is a 4 year 8 million dollar deal. Carr is 25-27 with 110 saves in 316 games he's fanned 333 batters in 358.1 innings.

GM'S OFFICE
It was too cheap not to. The signing brings our 2011 payroll to 45.5 million which ranks 5th in the league. He's in the prime of what should be a great career and most importantly this allows Kevin to move Turner back into an “as needed” role. I believe he's planning on implementing what he calls a “stopper” role. Not necessarily a true setup or middle man, but a guy he can call in from the 6th inning on if he feels the outcome of the game is at stake outside of the normal closers timeframe.

[gehrig38]

Here's a look at the signings, trades, and evaluations of the winter moves and deals.

[gehrig38]

Another luck spring as we leave with no injuries. Chase did miss most of camp with a leg injury suffered in the 1st game.
That record says it all. And that was after a 19-0 start! We pitched we hit and we did what we had to do.

[gehrig38]

PITCHING STAFF

STARTING ROTATION

Kody Pollock 27 5'11” 200 LHP
ACQUIRED: TRADE with Las Vegas 7/31/06
SERVICE TIME: 3 years 73 days
CONTRACT: Year 2 of 6 year 19.15 million dollar deal. 2.2 million this season

Yasushi Sugihara 26 6'1” 190 RHP
ACQUIRED: TRADE with Ohio 7/11/08
SERVICE TIME: 5 years
CONTRACT: Year 1 of a 6 year 18 million dollar deal. 3 million this season

Luis Samvdio 28 6'3” 215 RHP
ACQUIRED: FREE AGENT SIGNING 12/5/06
SERVICE TIME: 5 years 156 days
CONTRACT Year 3 of 4 year 9.6 million dollar deal with 2012 a 3.5 million dollar team option w/470K buyout. 2.5 million this season

Chad Willoughby 29 6'3” 205 RHP
ACQUIRED: TRADE with Las Vegas 7/31/06 same deal we acquired Pollock
SERVICE TIME: 3 years 102 days
CONTRACT: Year 2 of a 7 year 19.15 million dollar deal. 1.8 million this year

Luis Balderas 26 6'5” 220 RHP
ACQUIRED: TRADE with Oklahoma 12/14/08
SERVICE TIME: 2 years 97 days
CONTRACT: 405,000 this year. Arbitration eligible

4 trades and 1 free agent signing make up the starting rotation. Average age 27.2 years old with all under control for at least 2 more seasons should I exercise Samvdio's option. Notice that there are no home grown arms. Got a couple in the wings in Flores and Thompson but I lost Brendan Huffine in the Rule 5 draft.

BULLPEN

Sergio Coronado 26 6'3” 205 LHP
ACQUIRED: TRADE with Alaska 7/28/10
SERVICE TIME: 159 days
CONTRACT: 211,00

Joe Ballard 25 6'5” 210 RHP
ACQUIRED: TRADE with Austin 4/4/10
SERVICE TIME: 1 year 16 days
CONTRACT: 211,00

Steve Cooke 26 6'2” 205 RHP
ACQUIRED: TRADE with Texas 11/06/09
SERVICE TIME: 3 years 35 days
CONTRACT: 1.05 million 1 year deal arbitration eligible

Tsunesuke Yamada 25 6'3” 205 LHP
ACQUIRED: TRADE with Buffalo 4/3/09
SERVICE TIME: 4 year 108 days
CONTRACT: 812,000 1 year deal. Free agent after this season

Brad Turner 29 6'7” 220 LHP
ACQUIRED: TRADE with Minnesota 5/5/05
SERVICE TIME: 5 years 143 days
CONTRACT: 1st year of 5 year 12.34 million dollar deal. 1.89 million this year

Jim Carr 27 5'9” 190 RHP
ACQUIRED: FREE AGENT SIGNING 1/5/11
SERVICE TIME: 5 years 57 days
CONTRACT: 1st year of 4 year 8 million dollar deal. 2 million this year

5 trades and 1 free agent signing. Still not a single home grown arm on the staff. Average age of the 'Pen is 26.3 years.

PITCHING PROSPECTS

Arturo Flores 24 6'4” 205 RHP (Starter) 13-7 3.75 AAA 2-0 3.46 ABA
ACQUIRED: TRADE with Pittsburgh 12/10/09
PROSPECT RANKING: 27th ABA #12 Pitcher #3 Florida #1 SP Florida

Bobby Hill 20 6'6” 190 RHP (Starter)
ACQUIRED: DRAFT 2nd Round 59th overall 2010
PROSPECT RANKING: 125th ABA #6 Florida #2 SP Florida

Jeff Ledoux 25 6' 200 RHP (Starter)
ACQUIRED: TRADE with Minnesota 2/11/09
PROSPECT RANKING: 151st ABA #8 Florida #3 SP Florida

Keizo Sato 19 6'6” 205 RHP (Starter)
ACQUIRED: FREE AGENT SIGNING 4/22/09
PROSPECT RANKING: 154th ABA #9 Florida #4 SP Florida

NOT RANKED PROSPECTS: TJ Gaskill (AA) Josh Thompson (AAA) Randy Metcalf (A) Chris Skeens (AAA) Tetsuya Kanda (R)


OFFENSE

CATCHERS

Giobbe Funicello 35 6'1” 215 RHH
ACQUIRED: FREE AGENT SIGNING 12/14/08
SERVICE TIME: 13 years 118 days
CONTRACT: Year 3 of 5 year 24.425 million dollar deal. 4.885 million next 3 years

Jeremy Mackowski 27 6' 210 RHH
ACQUIRED: TRADE with New England 12/13/08
SERVICE TIME: 2 years 64 days
CONTRACT: 240,000 arbitration eligible

PROSPECTS
Eddie Ellerbee (AAA)

INFIELDERS/OUTFIELDERS

1B Guiomar Cortezo 30 92 days 5'11” 205 RHH
ACQUIRED: TRADE with Los Angeles 12/7/07
SERVICE TIME: 7 years 71 days
CONTRACT: Year 1 of 6 year 25 million dollar deal. 4.17 million base x 6years

2B/3B /SS Juan Flores 29 2 days 6'1” 185 RHH
ACQUIRED: FREE AGENT SIGNING 12/30/08
SERVICE TIME: 7 years 59 days
CONTRACT: 3rd year of 6 year 12.545 million dollar deal. 1.995 salary this year

3B/RF Ben Chase 26 307 days 6' 205 RHH
ACQUIRED: TRADE with St Louis 7/5/10
SERVICE TIME: 4 years
CONTRACT: 1 year 4.52 million. Free agent at the end of the season. Currently in negotiations on an extension

3B/1B Yuusei Nakamura 24 132 days 6' 190 RHH
ACQUIRED: RULE 5 DRAFT 2010
SERVICE TIME: 45 days
CONTRACT: League Minimum

SS Kennan Hallamore 24 235 days 6'1” 195 RHH
ACQUIRED: TRADE with San Diego 2/14/08
SERVICE TIME: 4 years 35 days
CONTRACT: 2nd year of 6 year 20.55 million dollar deal. 2.45 million base this year

2B/3B/SS/CF/RF Davon Legion 27 80 days 6' 190 RHH
ACQUIRED: TRADE with Chicago 12/10/09
SERVICE TIME: 1 year 137 days
CONTRACT: 1 year 470K arbitration eligible. In talks about an extension

LF/RF Andy Elizondo 24 293 days 6' 190 RHH
ACQUIRED: DRAFT 1st round 15th overall in 2008
SERVICE TIME: 12 days
CONTRACT: 128K league minimum

1B/LF Ismael Saldana 27 174 days 6' 195 LHH
ACQUIRED: DRAFT 1st round 1st overall pick 2006
SERVICE TIME: 3 years 148 days
CONTRACT: 2nd year of 5 year 11.15 million dollar deal 2.2 million base this year

CF Leith Bursey 24 326 days 6'3” 210 SWITCH
ACQUIRED: TRADE with Texas 7/31/09
SERVICE TIME: 3 years
CONTRACT: 2.75 million Arbitration eligible

LF/RF Makata Hayashi 26 310 days 6'4” 225 LHH
ACQUIRED: FREE AGENT SIGNING 1/3/06
SERVICE TIME: 5 years
CONTRACT:1st year of 5 year 19 million dollar deal 3.8 million base salary x 6

DH DJ Adams 26 304 days 5'11” 210 SWITCH
ACQUIRED: RULE 5 DRAFT 2008
SERVICE TIME: 2 years
CONTRACT:192K arbitration eligible

DH Chris Christman 26 345 days 6' 215 SWITCH
ACQUIRED: TRADE with New York 5/6/09
SERVICE TIME: 1 year 132 days
CONTRACT: 200K arbitration eligible

TOP PROSPECTS

• Gregorio Figueroa SS (17) 9th ranked ABA prospect #1 Florida #1 hitter Florida International Complex IFA
• Andy Elizondo LF (24) 22nd ranked ABA prospect #2 Florida #2 hitter ABA DRAFT 1st round 15th overall 2008
• Chris Linn RF (24) 66th ranked ABA prospect #4 Florida #3 hitter AAA TRADE
• Dan McCullen 2B (25) 72nd ranked ABA prospect #5 Florida #4 hitter AAA TRADE
• Yuusei Nakamura 1B/3B (24) 128th ranked ABA prospect #7 Florida #5 hitter ABA RULE 5
• Sergio Rivera OF (18) 163rd ranked ABA prospect #10 Florida #6 hitter Rookie IFA
• Danny Sharp SS (24) 175th ranked ABA prospect #11 Florida #7 hitter AAA DRAFT 2nd round 59th overall
• Sergio Luna SS (22) 193rd ranked ABA prospect #12 Florida #8 hitter Short Season IFA

Top prospects
3 International Free Agents
2 Draft picks
2 Trade
1 Rule 5

[gehrig38]

SCHEDULE:
3 @ New York
3 vs Detroit
1 @ Las Vegas

Alaska announces the signing of 30-year-old Job Carruth to a 1 year 1.8 million dollar deal

RESULTS:

• 4/4: New York 5 Florida 2
• W-Kantor (1-0 2.25) L-Pollock (0-1 4.50) S-Genus (1)
• HR: FLA-Bursey (1) NY-Carpenter (1)
• POTG: Kantor 8 IP 7 H 2 ER 7 K
• Hayashi 4-4

DENVER INKS GALINDO, TARPONS DEAL CHRISTMAN TO KANSAS CITY
Former Tarpon closer Ernesto Galindo has agreed to a 1 year 1.58 million dollar deal with the Denver Saints.
Florida also sent DH Chris Christman to Kansas City for catching prospect Tim Grimes and 26 year old OF Jonathan Ogden. Grimes is considered one the minors best offensive catchers and at 23 is still blossoming. He will report to AA Clovis. Ogden is a 26-year-old super sub in the outfield. An elite defender across the OF he's a left-handed bat with good power. He'll head to AAA Alamogordo.

GM'S OFFICE
Christman and Adams are almost exact mirrors. Both are limited to DH and both are switch hitters with big-time power. The only difference, and it's a major one, is DJ Adams can handle RH and LH pitching and while Christman shows a bit better bat vs RHP he's a wreck vs even the weakest LH arms.
Both players I got in this deal are potential front-line players. Grimes is a legit top 10 catching prospect who has the tools but is still developing his defensive game. He hit 28 homers in 77 games between short-season A ball and Class A. He'll catch at Clovis. Ogden will float all over the outfield for Alamogordo getting at-bats and continuing to refine his offensive game.

• 4/5: Florida 3 New York 2
• W-Ballard (1-0) L-Haynes (0-1) S-Carr (1)
• HR: NONE
• POTG: Dave Haynes CG 9 H 3 ER 9 K
  
• 4/6: Florida 6 New York 3
• W-Samvdio (1-0) L-Flores (0-1) S-Carr (2)
• HR: FLA-Hallamore (1) Chase (1)
• POTG: Savdio 7.1 IP 4 H 3 ER 7 K
  
• Joe Vertz (OH) went 4-5 slamming 3 HR's and driving in 6 in Ohio's 9-5 win over Las Vegas
• Juan Tejada (MIN) threw a 2-hitter to beat Detroit 9-0, striking out 7
  
• 4/7: Florida 10 Detroit 0
• W-Willoughby (1-0) L-I. Taylor (0-1)
• HR: Cortezo (1) Chase (2) Legion (1)
• POTG: Willoughby 6 IP 8 H 6 K
• Funicello 3-3 R RBI SB
  
• Talib-bin Musa (LV) struck out 8 in a 5-hit shutout of Minnesota
• Hiroshi Inouye (AUS) beat Texas 3-0 on a 4-hitter
  
• 4/8: Florida 6 Detroit 4
• W-Turner (1-0) L-Berg (0-1) S-Carr (3)
• HR: DET-Ogarro (3) FLA-Hayashi (1) Elizondo (1)
• POTG: Balderas 7 IP 6 H 2 ER 8 K
• Elizondo 3-4 HR 2 R RBI (2) Hallamore 2-4 2 R 3 SB (4) Chase 3-4 RBI (5)
  
• Pat Strickler (CHI) struck out 5 in a 7-0 win over Phoenix
  
• 4/9: Florida 9 Detroit 3
• W-Pollock (1-1) L-Ortga (0-2)
• HR: DET-Pannebaker (1) Barela (1) FLA-Cortezo (2) Adams (2)
• POTG: DJ Adams 1-3 HR 3 RBI (6) Bursey 3-4 2B (2) 2 RBI (3)
  
• Nikkie Kimura (BRK) punched out 10 in a 5-0 win over Milwaukee
• Jorge Hurtado (WAS) (1-1 4.24) threw a 2-hitter to beat Portland 7-0
  
• 4/10: Las Vegas 4 Florida 0
• W-Noh (1-1) L-Sugihara (0-1)
• HR: LV-Loetzsch (2) Norlander (1)
• POTG: Noh CG 3 H 1 BB 6 K
• 3 singles total Loetzsch 3-4 8th inning HR breaks open 1-0 game
  
• Eric Mitchell (CHI) went 4-4 hitting 3 homers and driving in 5 in their 9-3 win over St Louis

• AL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Arturo Santana (BRK) 16-30 4 HR 14 RBI
• NL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Shigezo Fujimori (WAS) 14-32 3 HR 9 RBI

TARPONS MINOR LEAGUE NEWS:

• RECORD: 5-2
• STANDINGS: 1st +1
• RUNS FOR: 36 t-5th
• RUNS AGAINST: 21 t-1st
• DEFENSE: .705 8th
• POWER RANKINGS:

1. San Diego
2. Phoenix
3. Pittsburgh
4. Los Angeles
5. Las Vegas

7. Florida

[gehrig38]

SCHEDULE:
2 @ Las Vegas
3 vs Memphis
OFF DAY
1 @ Phoenix

RESULTS:

4/11: Las Vegas 5 Florida 2
W-Izaquirre (1-1) L-Carr (0-1)
HR: FLA-Chase (3) LV-Castaneda (1)
POTG: Izaguirre 8 IP 5 H 2 ER 9 K

Dave Manzer (LA) went 5-5 in the Storms 11-6 win over Pittsburgh

4/12: Florida 6 Las Vegas 5
W-Willoughby (2-0) L-bin Musa (1-1) S-Carr (4)
HR: FLA-Saldana (1)
POTG: Cortezo 4-5 3B (2) 2 R 2 RBI

4/13: Florida 10 Memphis 9 (11)
W-Ballard (2-0) L-Russert (0-1)
HR: MEM-Casarez (4) Stockwell 2 (3) FLA-Hayashi (2) Saldana (2) Chase (4)
POTG: Tony Stockwell 3-4 2 HR 5 RBI (7)
Hallamore 3-5 2B (2) 2 R 2 SB (8)

4/14: Florida 6 Memphis 0
W-Pollock (2-1) L-L Espinoza (2-1)
HR: FLA-Chase (5)
POTG: Kody Pollock CG 5 H 1 ER 7 K
Cortezo 3-4 2B (2) 2 R 2 RBI (9) Hallamore Error (3)

Chris Kantor (NY) moved to 3-0 1.44 by firing a 4-hitter in a 9-0 win over Milwaukee
Ernesto Banderas (SF) struck out 8 in beating Jacksonville 7-0

TARPONS, CHASE AGREE to 6 YEARS 28.8 MILLION
The Florida Tarpons and star 3B Ben Chase have agreed on a contract extension that will keep the young slugger in Florida through the 2017 season. The contract is for 6 seasons and a base salary of 4.8 million each year.

GM'S OFFICE
I would be comfortable betting he finishes in the top 3 more than twice in the 6 years of this deal. Think about that and then this, he will not be in the top 25 in salary when the deal kicks in. Maybe one of the top 10 players in the game. Insane value for the contract. Our 2012 payroll sits at 52.9 million if I pick up the Samvdio option (3.5) and go to arbitration with Bursey (proj 3.5). I am going to try very hard to get Leith under contract and if Samvdio is reasonable I'll try that as well.

4/15: Florida 4 Memphis 3
W-Cooke (1-0) L-Birch (0-2)
HR: NONE
POTG: Sugihara 6.1 IP 7 H 2 ER 7 K
Cortezo 3-5 2 R 2 SB (3)
2 run 9th wins it, Bursey draws a bases-loaded walk with the score tied 3-3

4/16: OFF DAY

4/17: Florida 7 Phoenix 3
W-Samvdio (2-0 3.26) L-Janzen (1-2 7.65)
HR: FLA-Flores (1) Adams (2) Bursey (2) PHX-Neumann (1)
POTG: Cortezo 4-5 2 2B (4) 2 R

• AL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Zach Sheppard (OH) 17-26 HR 5 RBI (.420-1-7)
• NL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sean Haley (OK) 12-24 3 HR 10 RBI (.313-3-12)

TARPONS MINOR LEAGUE NEWS:

• SS Danny Sharp took home AAA POTW honors going 15-26 HR 7 RBI (.513-1-8)
• Alamogordo is 8-2 and ranked #1 in the AAA power rankings. The team is stacked. You can look back over the past 4 seasons and track that group from Hobbs to Farmington to Clovis and now Alamogordo.

• RECORD: 5-1 (10-3)
• STANDINGS: 1st +2
• RUNS FOR: 71 5th
• RUNS AGAINST: 47 t-1st
• DEFENSE: .690 10th
• POWER RANKINGS:

1. Florida
2. Pittsburgh
3. San Diego
4. Texas
5. Los Angeles

[gehrig38]

SCHEDULE:
2 @ Phoenix
4 vs St Louis
2 @ Brooklyn

RESULTS:

4/18: Phoenix 7 Florida 6
W-Poliskin (2-0 6.65) L-Willoughby (2-1 4.76) S-Lamb (5)
HR: FLA-Hallamore (2) PHX-Brun (1) Blowers (3) Friederich (4)
POTG: Hallamore 4-4 2 R HR 2 R RBI SB (10)

4/19: Florida 5 Phoenix 2
W-Coronado (1-0) L-Katagiri (0-3 5.48) S-Carr (5)
HR: FLA-Cortezo (3) PHX-Neumann (2)
POTG: Cortezo 2-4 HR 2 R 2 RBI (13)
Balderas came out in the 4th with a blister. He's dtd but won't miss a start
Top P prospect Arturo Flores threw a 4-hit shutout striking out 8 for his 1st win

Brooklyn OF Arturo Santana is hitting .462/.463/.969 for an OPS of 1.432. He's 30-65 9 HR 28 RBI through 15 games. A 97 HR 302 RBI season.....


4/20: St Louis 7 Florida 5 (12)
W-C Lawrence (1-0) L-Yamada (0-1) S-J Harris (1)
HR: FLA-Elizondo (2) Chase (6)
POTG: Pollock ND 7 IP 4 H 3 ER 11 K 4 BB
At Farmi20-year20 year old P Prospect Keizo Sato went 10 IP 2 H 0 R 10 K to win his 1st game of the year. He did it on 126 pitches.

Tousei Sato (LV) moved to 3-1 4.99 striking out 12 in a 1-0 win over Memphis.
AJ Faulcon (MIL) went 5-5 in a 6-5 loss to RJ Stanton and the Hitmen

4/21: Florida 11 St Louis 3
W-Sugihara (1-1 3.16) L-Engel (2-2 7.92)
HR: FLA-Chase (7)
POTG: Sugihara 7 IP 5 H 3 ER 10 K
Hayashi 3-5 2 RBI (9) Cortezo 3-5 2 2B (8) RBI (14) Error (2)

4/22: Florida 9 St Louis 2
W-Samvdio (3-0 2.86) L-A Mendoza (0-4 8.39)
HR: FLA-Hayashi (3)
POTG: Samvdio CG 5 H 2 ER 5 BB 3 K 137 pitches
Cortezo 3-5 3B (3) 2 R RBI (15)

Talbot Peternek (BRK) struck out 8 in a 3-0 win over Minnesota
Former Tarpon and 1st overall draft pick in 2005 Joe Linn was diagnosed with a labral tear will miss the next 10 months after undergoing surgery tomorrow. He was 9-5 4.06 last year and off to a great start at 2-1 2.10 this year
31-year-old SP Rodolfo Del Carmen will have season-ending shoulder surgery and for the 4th straight year have his season end before June.

4/23: Florida 4 Brooklyn 1
W-Willoughby (3-1 3.60) L-Matsuda (2-1 2.25) S-Carr (6)
HR: NONE
POTG: Willoughby 8 IP 6 H 1 R 2 BB 6 K

4/24: Florida 3 Brooklyn 1
W-Balderas (1-0 3.65) L-S Olson (1-2 1.53) S-Carr (7)
HR: BRK-C Russell (3)
POTG: Balderas 8 IP 3 H 1 ER 1 BB 9 K

• AL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jamie Delong (MIL) 11-17 3 HR 5 RBI (.333-3-6)
• NL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Rob Anderson (WAS) 12-27 4 HR 15 RBI (.286-4-19)

• RECORD: 5-2 (15-5)
• STANDINGS: 1st +2
• RUNS FOR: 114 2nd
• RUNS AGAINST: 70 1st
• DEFENSE: .712 3rd
• POWER RANKINGS:

1. Chicago
2. Florida
3. Pittsburgh
4. Los Angeles
5. Minnesota

[gehrig38]

SCHEDULE:
1 @ Brooklyn
3 @ Alaska
OFF DAY
2 vs Milwaukee

RESULTS:

4/25: Florida 6 Brooklyn 4
W-Pollock (3-1 3.34) L-Kimura (1-3 4.17) S-Carr (8)
HR: FLA-Hayashi (4)
POTG: S Madrid 4-5 2B (4) 2 RBI (10)
Makowski 3-4 2 RBI (3) Pollock 7 IP 10 H 3 ER 0 BB 7 K

RJ Stanton (CHI) won his 3rd game (3-1 4.65) punching out 14 on just 2 hits in a 7-0 win over Denver
Vegas doled out 3.32 million for a year of Closer Al Albuquerque. The 30-year-old takes over the closer's role from longtime Ace Domenic Helmrich.

4/26: Florida 7 Alaska 0
W-Sugihara (2-1 2.36) L-Yamabe (2-3 6.23)
HR: FLA-Cortezo (4) Adams (3)
POTG: Sugihara 8.2 IP 2 H 10 K

4/27: Alaska 4 Florida 3
W-DeSclafani (2-1 3.47) L-Samvdio (3-1 3.03) S-Carruth (2)
HR: NONE
POTG: DeScalfini 7 IP 8 H 2 ER 4 K

4/28: Florida 6 Alaska 4
W-Willoughby (4-1 3.66) L-Philpott (0-2 8.27) S-Carr (9)
HR: FLA-Saldana (3) ALK-Branam (3) Ulloa (6)
POTG: Saldana 3-4 HR 2 RBI (13) Hallamore 3-5 2 2B (8) 2 R 2 Errors (6)

Sean Haley (OK) went 5-5 in the Drillers 10-4 win over New England
Devastating news out of Kansas City. 2010 Hank Aaron Award winner Kennan Blashill was diagnosed with a torn meniscus and will miss at least the next 3 months. Former Tarpon Chris Christman (.347-4-14) will take over at 1B.

4/29: OFF DAY

4/30: Milwaukee 6 Florida 5
W-Dull (1-1) L-Carr (0-2) S-Provost (6)
HR: MIL-Barrios (2) FLA-Hayashi (5) Bursey (3)
POTG: Barrios 2-4 2B (6) HR (2) 2 RBI (11) Game-winning 2 R HR off Carr in the 9th
Hayashi 3-5 2B (5) HR (5) RBI (13) Balderas 7.2 IP 7 H 3 ER 3 BB 7 K

5/1: Florida 5 Milwaukee 4 (11)
W-Carr (1-2) L-Provost (0-2)
HR: FLA-Adams (4)
POTG: Cortezo 3-5 2 2B (10) 2 R RBI (22) CS (2)

Arturo Oquendo (AA) went 4-6 3B (4) HR (4) and drove in a record-tying 8 runs in their 18-5 demolition of Edmond.

• AL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sergio Robles (OH) 10-19 2 HR 7 RBI (.383-7-22)
• NL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ryouya Sugai (TEX) 14-28 HR 4 RBI (.355-1-14)

• RECORD: 4-2 (19-7)
• STANDINGS: 1st +2
• RUNS FOR: 146 2nd
• RUNS AGAINST: 92 1st
• DEFENSE: .714 1st
• POWER RANKINGS:

1. Florida
2. Pittsburgh
3. Minnesota
4. Chicago
5. Las Vegas

[gehrig38]

• AL PLAYER OF THE MONTH- Arturo Santana (BRK) .423-9-31
• NL PLAYER OF THE MONTH- Dave Manzer (LA) .418-6-20
• AL PITCHER OF THE MONTH- Time Reese (DEN) 2-0 7 Saves 1.32
• NL PITCHER OF THE MONTH- Talbot Sandwell (JAX) 4-0 2.53
• AL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH- Juan Moorman (DET) .322-0-11
• NL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH- Luis Romero (POR) /297-7-15

TARPONS MONTH
Josh Thompson took home Pitcher of the Month honors in AAA going 4-1 2.75 over 38.1 IP he struck out 49 with an OPP AVG of .169

[gehrig38]

SCHEDULE:
1 vs Milwaukee
3 @ Denver
3 vs Chicago

RESULTS:

5/2: Florida 2 Milwaukee 1
W-Sugihara (3-1 2.18) L-Laster (2-3 5.24) S-Carr (10)
HR: FLA-Saldana (4)
POTG: Sugihara 7 IP 3 H 1 ER 2 BB 10 K
Saldana 3-3 2B (4) HR (4) 2 RBI (16) ABA Leading 2.18 ERA

Isoroku Yamabe (CHI) threw his 1st career 1-hitter in beating Detroit 7-0. He's 3-3 5.06
Tim Pike (POR) scattered 5 hits while striking out 6 in the Lancers 5-0 win over Jacksonville. It was his 1st win of the year.

5/3: Florida 6 Denver 1
W-Samvdio (4-1 2.66) L-Acevedo (2-4 4.60)
HR: FLA-Funicello (1)
POTG: Samvdio 8.1 IP 4 H 1 ER 5 BB 6 K
Hallamore 2-5 3B (3) SB (12) R RBI (19) Error (7)

5/4: Florida 6 Denver 4
W-Willoughby (5-1 4.03) L-Inagaki (0-1) S-Turner (1)
HR: FLA-Cortezo (5) DEN-Fantroy (8)
POTG: Cortezo 3-5 HR R 2 RBI (25) SC (3)
Bursey 3-4 2 3B (2) 2 RBI (14)

Centerfielder Talbot Linseman went 3-4 hitting 2 HR's today and setting a new Alamogordo and ABA record by driving in 10 runs.
Seikichi Matsuda (BRK) struck out 6 in a 4-0 win over Memphis to move to 4-1 2.00

5/5: Florida 7 Denver 3
W-Balderas (2-0 3.76) L-Duenas (0-1 9.53)
HR: FLA-Crtezo (6) Adams (5) DEN-Zasko (5)
POTG: Balderas 6 IP 4 H 3 ER 5 BB 5 K
Cortezo 2-5 HR 3 RBI (28) Nakamura 3-4 R RBI (1)

Curt Haning (LA) stopped New England on 5 hits while striking out 7 in their 1-0 win. He's 4-0 3.59
The Draft pool is out today. Some outstanding talent this year and the draft looks deep. We are picking 24th (1st round) 37th (Comp pick for Galindo signing) 43rd (2nd round trade with Austin) 59th (2nd round trade with Alaska) and 67th (3rd round trade with Brooklyn).

5/6: Chicago 5 Florida 2
W-Stanton (4-2 4.53) L-Cooke (1-3) S-D'Addio (8)
HR: CHI-Campbell (2)
POTG: RJ Stanton 8 IP 8 H 2 ER 4 BB 7 K
Up 2-0 going into the 9th, Carr 0.2 IP 3 H 2 BB 5 ER (ERA now 7.16)
Hallamore 3-4 R SB (14) Pollock 6.2 IP 6 H 0 R 3 BB 5 K

5/7: Chicago 3 Florida 2
W-Cordero (3-3 5.60) L-Sugihara (3-2 2.42) S-D'Addio (9)
HR: FLA-Chase (8)
POTG: Cordero 8 IP 9 H 1 ER 0 BB 3 K

Man-Keung Yuen (PIT) struck out 11 without a walk in the Miners 11-0 win over Austin. He's 5-0 2.18
Masahiro Yama****a (NE) scattered 4 hits, striking out 3 in New Englands 2-0 win over San Antonio
Speaking of San Antonio the Broncos have announced an agreement with 3B Ernie Taub on a 5 year 24.2 million dollar extension. The 33-year-old switch hitter is off to a great start hitting .306-3-18

5/8: Chicago 6 Florida 1
W-J Ortega (2-0 2.41) L-Samvdio (4-2 3.19)
HR: CHI-Cummings (4)
POTG: Ortega 7.2 IP 3 H 0 ER 3 BB 7 K

• AL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jared Granado (STL) 14-24 3 HR 5 RBI (.295-6-16)
• NL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Pat Peterson (PIT) 13-24 HR 8 RBI (.322-2-13)

TARPONS MINOR LEAGUE NEWS:
Talbot Linseman took home AAA POTW honors going 9-22 3 HR 14 RBI (.306-8-25)
Alamogordo is the #1 ranked AAA team

• RECORD: 4-3 (23-10)
• STANDINGS: 1st +3
• RUNS FOR: 172 3rd
• RUNS AGAINST: 115 1st
• DEFENSE: .718 1st
• POWER RANKINGS:

1. Pittsburgh
2. Texas
3. Florida
4. Chicago
5. San Diego