The American Baseball League

[gehrig38]

2015 HALL OF FAME VOTING

• Ryan Rackley enters the HOF with 94.8% of the vote in his first year on the ballot. He was the lone inductee.
• He was a 7-time all-star, 2-time world champion, and 2-time silver slugger.
• In a 20-year career he was 272-170 3.49 in 606 GS and 3932 IP. He fanned 3181 batters to 940 BB. He won 10+ games 15 times including 12 straight years (1996-2007). He won 20 1 time (23-8 1996) and won 2 Koufax awards (1996 23-8 2.15 and 2003 17-4 2.57). He won 3 ERA titles (2.83 '94 2.15 '96 and 2.57 2003) and led the league in GS 7 times. He also led the league in IP 4 times, HR/9 3 times, and WAR twice.

He ends his career in the following positions:

• WINS #1 272
• GS #1 606
• IP #1 3932
• HA #1 3764
• ERA #36 3.49
• LOSSES #7 170
• WIN% #18 .615
• CG #35 23
• SHO #19 9
• K #16 3181
• BB #4 940
• WHIP #81 1.20
• OBP #97 .303
• SLG #31 .379
• OPS #38 .682
• WAR #4 85.85

[gehrig38]

Going to narrate the off-season a bit differently this year.
I'll list moves team by team instead of doing it by date to get a better grasp of the teams that were very active and the ones that were not.

BIG NAMES FILING FOR FREE AGENCY
The yellow underline indicates players we will actively 'talk' with and/or pursue. Matt Behrens will not be ready for the opening of the 2016 season and we've been given a 124m budget and have a good bit of room to add payroll if the right player(s) come along.

• DAVE NOLASCO SAGA

Not sure how this will end but one of the ownership's mandates was to re-sign Dave Nolasco.
That's going to be a problem as he broke off talks before we offered him arbitration (7.1m offer sheet this winter for all arb. Eligible players to receive compensation). Which we knew he would turn down. He did and wanted 12m annually over 8+ years.
We worked to find common ground but at our last offer of 10.36 AAV over 6 years he walked away.
We tried twice early in the off-season to start up talks again but he was not receptive either time.

[gehrig38]

So here is the complete list of all moves this winter up through the end of Spring Training. A couple of injuries, big ones. Heartbreaking news out of Brooklyn at the end of camp.
All moves are listed in chronological order



AUSTIN RUSTLERS

• Ownership asks for 2016:
• Sign Dave Nolasco
• “acquire” an “all-star”. Not sure if that means sign, trade?
• Build a team that can bring another Championship in the next 5 seasons. (I fully expect to be back there next year)
• Signed IF Brian McLaughlin to a 1 year 2.5m dollar deal
• Trades 30 yr old P Jesse Bartsch 25 yr old OF Steve Bradbury, 24 yr old 3B Jose Garcia, and 23 yr old OF Manny Garcia to Lexington for top P prospect 20 yr old Hiroshi Mishima.
• Signed RP Ranan Laskey to a 3 yr 12m dollar contract extension
• Signed FA SP Tim Collins to a 5 year 54m dollar contract. The 29-year-old is a native of Austin and fans were ecstatic at the acquisition.
• Sent 20 yr old SS Brad Allen and a 2016 7th round draft choice to Detroit for 18 yr old knuckleballer Jonathan Hall (I desperately want to find a young knuckleballer and get him to the show!)

BALTIMORE BLACKBIRDS

• Acquires 27 yr old C Willie Valero from Ohio for 25 yr old P Henry Caballero and 23 yr old P Jeremy Bigney
• Acquired P Eric Arnold from Denver for 24 yr old C Guillermo Mauricio and 23 yr old P Reynaldo Lujan
• Acquired 2B Joe Eggebrecht, 24 yr old P Juan Munoz, 22 yr old 1B Rafael Gonzalez from Mexico for 29 yr old P Dusty McLaughlin

BROOKLYN BLACKHEARTS

• Signed FA P Rusty McCarthy 2 yr 3.04m dollar contract
• Signed former Rustler Trevor Pope to a 4 yr 21.4m dollar contract
• Signed FA P Pat Yoder to a 3 year 9.36m contract
• Signed FA Hidetsugu Morimoto to a 3 yr 3.66m dollar deal
• Signed FA P Philip Brinkley to a 1 year 760K contract
• Retained FA 2B Adrie Van Baarle with a 3 year 24..3m dollar deal
• Signed FA P Mike Desmond to a 1 yr 860K contract
• Signed FA OF Luzvimindo Suaco to a 6 yr 25.36m dollar deal. Came to the ABL from the Philippines as an Int'l FA
• Signed Int'l FA star SS Taichiro Kimura to a 2 yr 11.2m dollar contract. A 23-year-old star in the making which drew enormous attention from Japan
• Lost SS Taichiro Kimura for the entire 2016 season after he ruptured his MCL. Damn...

..

BUFFALO BISON

• Signed FA P Glenn Power to a 2 yr 1.9m contract

CHARLOTTE CYCLONES

• Lost P Alvin Trahan (NYP) 1B Mike Perozzi (NYE) in the Rule 5 Draft
• Lost 23 yr old closer, TJ Feldman, for 4-5 months with a ruptured UCL

CHICAGO HITMEN

• Trades 29 yr old P Bill Elliott to Montreal for 19 yr old P Xavier Lewis and 21 yr old LF Tim Bucher
• Signed FA 1B Terukatsu Yoshino to a 4 yr 21.4m dollar deal
• Traded 28 yr old P Juan Galavis to Los Angeles for 24 yr old 1B Jon Long, and 21 yr old OF Bill Jones

DALLAS TEXANS

• Dallas trades 32 yr old P Dave Minors 23 yr old P Edgar Karwoski to the NY Empire for 24 yr old P Amari Dempsey 21 yr old CF Dustin Ramos and 21 yr old C Kyle Godsey
• Signed FA P Daniel Clermont to a 1 yr 880K contract
• Took P Ramon Atilano (NE) P Ricky Montoya (PRO) and 1B Adam Gray (DEN) in the Rule 5 Draft
• Signed FA P Ken Przybyla to a 2 yr 1.94m dollar deal
• Lost P Daniel Clermont for the 2016 season to a torn UCL

DENVER SAINTS

• Traded 33 yr old P Mike Crawford and 20 yr old P Jonathan Hoffman to Memphis for 21 yr old P Sergio Olvera and 21 yr old P Matt Garcia
• Sent P Eric Arnold to Baltimore for 24 yr old C Guillermo Mauricio and 23 yr old P Reynaldo Lujan
• Acquired 25 yr old OF Zach Herrington and 23 yr old P Andy Antaki from New England for 25 yr old P Ivo Portallis
• Lost 1B Adam Gray (DAL) in the Rule 5 Draft
• Signed FA 1B Josh Graham to a 1 yr 1.48m dollar contract
• Signed FA OF Chris Kardell to a 1 yr 3.28m dollar deal

DETROIT CHARGERS

• Traded 25 yr old CF Mitch Quinn and 21 yr old P Tony Worth to San Francisco for 25 yr old 2B Neil Molloy
• Signed FA IF Skyler Joshua to a 4 yr 19.4m dollar contract. Austin receives a 2nd round compensatory pick
• Signed FA P Danny Mann to a 2 yr 2.72m dollar contract
• Signed FA P John Gunderson to a 4 yr 7.4m dollar contract
• Signed FA P Jay Newman to a 1 year 890K contract
• Traded C Andrew Millar and 22 yr old 2B John Hayes to Green Bay for 26 yr old OF Adrian Scott
• Signed 33 yr old FA P Ruben Castillo to a 1 yr 970K contract.
• Signed FA P Chris Jones to a 1 yr 700K deal
• Signed FA P Chris Jones to a 2 yr 8m extension
• Signed FA SS JJ Digiacomo to a 1 yr 700K contract

GREEN BAY BLIZZARD

• Trades 34 yr old P Yukio Okada to Lexington for 19 yr old 1B Luis Mendoza
• Signed FA P Cameron Mears to a 4 yr 33.9m dollar contract
• Acquired C Andrew Millar and 22 yr old 2B John Hayes from Detroit for 26 yr old OF Adrian Scott

HOUSTON ROUGHRIDERS

• Signed FA 1B Joe Johnson to a 4 yr 33.6m dollar contract
• Signed FA P Jalen Jones to a 2 yr 1.36M dollar contract
• Traded 30 yr old P Brandon Bihr to San Jose for 22 yr old OF Marty Bell

LAS VEGAS 51'S

• Traded 36 yr old P Kenny Aleixo to the NY Punishers for 23 yr old P Mario Hierro
• Took OF Jim Phillips (PHI) P Ryan Cary (PRO) and 2B Chris Green (SAN) in the Rule 5 Draft
• Acquired 22 yr old P Nick Skowron and 19 yr old SS Josiah Hyppolite from Phoenix for 27 yr old P David Miller
• Signed FA C Travis Buono to a 1 yr 3.08m dollar deal

LEXINGTON EMPIRE

• Acquires 30 yr old P Jesse Bartsch 25 yr old OF Steve Bradbury, 24 yr old 3B Jose Garcia and 23 yr old OF Manny Garcia from Austin for top P prospect 20 yr old Hiroshi Mishima.
• Acquires 34 yr old P Yukio Okada from Green Bay for 19 yr old 1B Luis Mendoza
• Acquires 29 yr old P Nate Carney and 23 yr old P Jeremy Bigney from Ohio for 25 yr old 2B Russell Wells

LOS ANGELES STORM

• Traded 29 yr old P Grank Glebocki to New England for 20 yr old P Rob McClure, 24 yr old C Matt Plover and 22 yr old P Tsuneto Mizutani
• Signed FA P Kyle Kurtz to a 2 yr 2.24M dollar contract
• Signed FA P Dave Bottini to a 2 yr 5.2m dollar contract
• Acquired 28 yr old P Juan Galavis from Chicago for 24 yr old 1B Jon Long, and 21 yr old OF Bill Jones

MEMPHIS BLUE SOX

• Acquired 33 yr old P Mike Crawford and 20 yr old P Jonathan Hoffman from Denver for 21 yr old P Sergio Olvera and 21 yr old P Matt Garcia

MEXICO BLACK BANDITS

• Took P Mike Hershberger (PRO) in the Rule 5 Draft
• Signed FA P Russ Martin to a 2 year 8.32m dollar contract
• Traded 23 yr old P Javier Rivera to San Antonio for 30 yr old P Marcos Terrazas, 18 yr old P Tim Jackson and a 2nd round pick
• Sent 2B Joe Eggebrecht, 24 yr old P Juan Munoz, 22 yr old 1B Rafael Gonzalez to Baltimore for 29 yr old P Dusty McLaughlin
• Resigned FA OF Brian Gracie to a 3 yr 17.4m contract

MONTREAL PARAGONS

• Acquires 29 yr old P Bill Elliott from Chicago for 19 yr old P Xavier Lewis and 21 yr old LF Tim Bucher
• Signed FA P Dennis Russell to a 5 yr 38.5m dollar contract
• Took P Ehren Malone (PIT) 3B Jalen Thompson (PIT) and P John Minahan (PHI) in the Rule 5 Draft
• Traded OF Willie Gomez 20 yr old OF Kevin Ames and 22 yr old P William Plant to San Francisco for 29 yr old P Aguinaldo Gasto

NEW ENGLAND MINUTEMEN

• Signed FA P Fred Barr to a 1 yr 670K contract
• Signed FA P John Del Bianco to a 3 yr 35.1m dollar contract
• Acquired 29 yr old P Grank Glebocki from Los Angeles for 20 yr old P Rob McClure, 24 yr old C Matt Plover and 22 yr old P Tsuneto Mizutani
• Sent 25 yr old OF Zach Herrington and 23 yr old P Andy Antaki to Denver for 25 yr old P Ivo Portallis
• Lost P Ramon Atilano (DAL) in the Rule 5 Draft
• Signed FA P Jorge Godinez to a 2 yr 4.48m dollar contract. (He was good for us, 5-2 11 SV 3.04 and a ring!)
• Signed FA P Eric Cox to a 2 yr 5.28m dollar deal
• Signed FA P Josh Holifield to a 3 yr 14.16m dollar contract
• Signed FA 2B Brian Bauer to a 5 yr 24.78m dollar deal
• Signed FA P Brian Bean to a 1 yr 710K contract
• Signed FA P Scott Bradley to a 1 yr 26.m dollar contract
• Extended the contract of 3B Danny Hynes for 2 yrs and 4.65m

NEW YORK EMPIRE

• Dallas trades 32 yr old P Dave Minors 23 yr old P Edgar Karwoski to the NY Empire for 24 yr old P Amari Dempsey 21 yr old CF Dustin Ramos and 21 yr old C Kyle Godsey
• Send 23 yr old 2B Kevin Bilodeau, 18 yr old C Josh Langston, 22 yr old 3B Robby DeMarais to Ohio for 25 yr old P Jeremy Zimmerman
• Took 1B Mike Perozzi (CHA) in the Rule 5 Draft
• Signed FA 1B Matt Giles to an 8 yr 42.1m dollar contract

NEW YORK PUNISHERS

• Signed FA OF Brian Lundy to a 2 year 15.6m dollar deal
• Acquired 36 yr old P Kenny Aleixo from Las Vegas for 23 yr old P Mario Hierro
• Took P Alvin Trahan (CHA) in the Rule 5 Draft
• Signed FA P Brent Worley to a 2 yr 2.48m dollar contract
• Extended the contract of 1B Brendan Robbins with a 4 year 36m dollar contract extension
• Signed FA P Kevin Van Auken to a 1 yr 860K contract
• Traded OF Casper Veldman to Ohio for 26 yr old P Peter Smith and 23 yr old OF Bryan Firenze.

OHIO GENERALS

• Trade 23 yr old 2B Kevin Bilodeau, 18 yr old C Josh Langston, 22 yr old 3B Robby DeMarais to the NY Empire for 25 yr old P Jeremy Zimmerman
• Trades 27 yr old C Willie Valero to Baltimore for 25 yr old P Henry Caballero and 23 yr old P Jeremy Bigney
• Sends 29 yr old P Nate Carney and 23 yr old P Jeremy Bigney to Lexington for 25 yr old 2B Russell Wells
• Acquired OF Casper Veldman from the NY Punishers for 26 yr old P Peter Smith and 23 yr old OF Bryan Firenze.

PHILADELPHIA PATRIOTS

• Lost CF Jim Phillips (LV) P John Minahan (MON) in the Rule 5 Draft
• Signed FA P Kaleb Castle to a 2 year 4.88m dollar contract
• Signed FA P Rich Bowman to a 2 yr 5.44m dollar contract.
• Re-signed P Stefan Filizat to a 1 year 1.02m dollar deal. .They acquired him from LA at the 2015 deadline.
• Signed FA P Alex Grant to a 5 yr 35.3m dollar deal
• Signed FA OF Joel Moss to an 8 yr 84.4m dollar contract

PHOENIX ROADRUNNERS

• Took C Steve Tabb (PRO) C John Lyons (SD) in the Rule 5 Draft
• Sent 22 yr old P Nick Skowron and 19 yr old SS Josiah Hyppolite to Las Vegas for 27 yr old P David Miller
• Signed P Jeff Alexander to a 5 yr 69.5m dollar contract extension

PITTSBURGH MINERS

• Lost P Ehren Malone (MON) 3B Jalen Thompson (MON) in the Rule 5 Draft
• Signed FA P Andy Zerbe to a 6 yr 73.5m dollar contract (I was in talks but it got too $$ for us)
• 28 yr old P Joe Burden suffered a torn flexor tendon in spring training and will miss almost all of the 2016 season

PROVIDENCE BLACK SOX

• Lost C Steve Tabb (PHX) P Mike Hershberger (MEX) P Ryan Cary (LV) P Ricky Montoya (DAL) in the Rule 5 Draft
• Extended the contract of 2B Bobby Sheffer for 4 yrs 16.8m

SAN ANTONIO BRONCOS

• Traded 36 yr old P Jason Koehler to San Jose for 23 yr old 2B Josh Helmer, 23 yr old C Dan Vazquez and 21-year old P Aaron Moss
• Lost 2B Chris Green (LV) in the Rule 5 Draft
• Signed FA P Billy Collins to a 2 yr 7.64m dollar deal
• Acquired 23 yr old P Javier Rivera Mexico for 30 yr old P Marcos Terrazas, 18 yr old P Tim Jackson, and a 2nd round pick

SAN DIEGO MISSIONS

• Lost C John Lyons (PHX) in the Rule 5 Draft

SAN FRANCISCO BEARS

• Acquires 25 yr old CF Mitch Quinn and 21 yr old P Tony Worth from Detroit for 25 yr old 2B Neil Molloy
• Signed former Rustler P Vince Aspinwall to a 1 yr 1.62m dollar contract
• Acquired OF Willie Gomez 20 yr old OF Kevin Ames and 22 yr old P William Plant from Montreal for 29 yr old P Aguinaldo Gasto
• Signed FA P Jose Herrera to a 2 yr 2.12m dollar deal

SAN JOSE HAWKS

• Signed FA P Matt Reichlin to a 3 year 12.6m dollar contract
• Signed FA OF Robby Carrier to a 5 year 40m dollar contract
• Acquired 36 yr old P Jason Koehler from San Francisco for 23 yr old 2B Josh Helmer, 23 yr old C Dan Vazquez and 21-year old P Aaron Moss
• Extended the contract of 1B Augusto Rizzo for 2 yrs and 12.6m dollars
• Acquired 30 yr old P Brandon Bihr from Houston for 22 yr old OF Marty Bell

And finally, the day before ST opened....

[gehrig38]

AUSTIN SIGNS NOLASCO
The Austin Rustlers have announced that they have retained the services of star OF Dave Nolasco after agreeing to terms on a 6 year 61.2m dollar deal. Fans were elated at the return of the star who apparently was and is a favorite of the team's ownership. Some going as far as saying that signing Nolasco was 'an order from on high' heading into this past off-season. The 27-year-old is a career .302 hitter with 114 HR in 689 games, all with the Rustlers.

[gehrig38]

If you have been following along (thanks for that!) I feel like you're going to get to know these guys pretty well. The core anyway. I don't have any holes on this team, none. So I won't mess with a good thing with the exception of tinkering around the edges if it nets me young prospects. I won't be dealing for any stars as I feel like I have a team full of them and I am up against it budget-wise.
There will come a decision, again barring injuries, when Matt returns as I have 6 legitimate ABL starters for 5 spots. My feeling is that I will likely move Steele or Miller when the time comes as both are insanely attractive for all the right reasons (age, service, options, contract).
The goal will be to get some younger arms and to keep stockpiling them.
I'll be picking 33rd I think, in the 1st round this year but I have a comp pick and an extra 2nd rounder. I will go with the best talent available given that spot and just keep building the minor leagues. My single-A and double-A rosters are insanely thin right now and both clubs will likely struggle. I need to fix that over the next few years.
Having said that the roster at AAA Warren is absolutely stacked. Deep young rotation with Stanley and eventually Pierce and a left side of the infield occupied by two of the younger better prospects in the game in Feliciano and Gallo.
I'd like to retain the core group, and Tighe is going to be hard to do. He wants huge money and a lengthy deal. Last year was the 1st time he's ever been on the DL. He's worth the money (to a point) but I must and will stay under budget even if that means losing him.
Anything short of a World Series appearance will be incredibly disappointing this year.
I am expecting a record-breaking team on the mound and at the plate and possibly a challenge at the single-season record for wins (114 by the 2012 Lexington Rebels) and runs (San Jose 1065 in 1992 as the only team ever to surpass 1000 runs).

• Matt Behrens is about a week away from returning. Given the length of time he was out, he will head to Warren to get a couple of starts barring unforeseen health issues in the rotation.
• Joe Tighe is activated off the DL the day camp ends and will be the opening day SS. If he struggles he has options but I don't see that being an issue.
• Nick Archer has some sort of issue with dizziness and should be good to go a day or two into the season but won't be in the opening day lineup.

STARTING ROTATION

1. Tim Collins (29) LHP—99-79 3.39 ERA 1707 IP 1940 K 1.16 WHIP (10,000,000)
2. Steve Forney (30) RHP—94-82 3.91 ERA 1412 IP 1943 K 1.13 WHIP (9,000,000)
3. Chris Lach (32) RHP—93-78 3.86 ERA 1600 IP 1735 K 1.23 WHIP (5,560,000)
4. Dave Miller (28) RHP—34-18 4.20 ERA 508 IP 522 K 1.26 WHIP (514,500)
5. Dave Steele (28) RHP—45-21 3.94 ERA 622 IP 600 K 1.27 WHIP (486,450)

Matt Behrens (27) RHP—82-31 2.74 ERA 1067 IP 1169 K 1.03 WHIP (12,850,000)

BULLPEN
Masakazu Matsui (24) LHP—0-0 4.82 ERA 9 IP 9 K 0.96 WHIP (169,600)
Manny DeSanto (26) RHP—4-4 5 SV 5.70 ERA 71 IP 95 K 1.65 WHIP (169,600)
Bobby Antonelli (28) LHP—7-4 4 SV 2.90 ERA 139.2 IP 155 K 1.14 WHIP (300,000)
Pat Hobart (24) LHP—8-6 5 SV 2.25 ERA 132 IP 156 K 1.11 WHIP (425,000)
Cody Lytle (29) RHP—45-39 3.22 ERA 492 IP 733 K 1.01 WHIP (1,300,000)
Ranan Laskey (31) RHP—49-54 324 SV 2.89 ERA 688 IP 937 K 1.09 WHIP (4,000,000)
Nate Scott (24) LHP—2-1 1 SV 2.01 ERA 54 IP 75 K 1.01 WHIP (169,600)

POSITION PLAYERS
C—Steve Comerford (31) L .282/.350/.460 223 2B 10 3B 136 HR 527 RBI .809 OPS (10,800,000)
C—Nate McGuire (26) R .300/.368/.500 6 2B 2 HR 5 RBI .868 OPS (169,600)
1B—Nick Archer (29) R .313/.373/.550 281 2B 13 3B 252 HR 815 RBI .923 OPS (8,250,000)
2B—Sam Reyes (24) R .268/.378/.449 93 2B 11 3B 68 HR 219 RBI 92-132 SB .827 OPS (6,875,000)
3B—Luis Orozco (29) R .268/.323/.446 196 2B 15 3B 133 HR 472 RBI .769 OPS (7,500,00)
SS—Joe Tighe (26) S .324/.394/.457 114 2B 27 3B 26 HR 223 RBI 180-223 SB .852 OPS (8,750,000)
IF—Brian McLaughlin (27) L .319/.357/.429 80 2B 13 3B 6 HR 109 RBI 10-18 SB .786 OPS (2,500,00)
IF—Onofredo Andriani (24) R 48 plate appearances
LF—Tommy Dziedzic (22) L .305/.367/.566 32 2B 6 3B 25 HR 85 RBI .933 OPS (169,600)
CF—Andy Adrian (24) L .325/.378/.551 97 2B 18 3B 62 HR 252 RBI 125-155 SB .929 OPS (8,750,000)
RF—Dave Nolasco (27) R .302/.354/.504 166 2B 12 3B 114 HR 439 RBI 47-53 SB .859 OPS (8,000,000)
OF—Kyle Brill (23) S 14 plate appearances
OF—Jeff Hanna (24) S .301/.362/.534 24 2B 17 HR 74 RBI .896 OPS (169,600)

• We open the season with the 3rd highest budget (124,000,000) and the 2nd highest payroll (108,326,706)
• Fan interest has never been higher (100) and season ticket prices have increased 17.4% to 27.00 while sales have increased 4.7% to date.
• The biggest concerns right now are both Joe Tighe and Sam Reyes are unsigned and free agents following the season. I would love to re-sign both, but Tighe is a must. Reyes continued health issues are a concern but I will see how he fares this year.
• With Behrens due back in a few weeks, I will have some hard decisions. I could move Steele or Miller to the bullpen, which will make either one pissed and rightly so, or I could look to deal 1.
• Miller has two options remaining, but that would be a drastic step for a guy who helped us win a world series last year and I see him as a part of this rotation.
• The saying “you can never have too much pitching” always gets tested. I hope it's in fact the case but lots can happen on a pitching staff in a month's time.
• As you can see from the predictions we are expected to be at the top of the heap once again and barring significant health concerns it should be the case.

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 3-0
• STANDINGS: 3-0 t-1st
• RUNS SCORED: 20 2nd
• OPS: .837 5th
• RUNS AGAINST: 9 t-4th
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .683 8th
• SP ERA: 3.32 7th
• BULLPEN ERA: 0.00 t-1st
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 100

THIS WEEK: 3 @ Memphis OFF DAY

3/31: AUS 6 MEM 3 Dziedzic 3-3 2B (1) R 2 BB RBI (1) Reyes GS (1) 4 RBI (4) SB (1) Collins (W) 5 IP 6 H 4 K 2 ER Laskey SV (1)
4/1: AUS 5 MEM 4 Adrian 3-5 HR (1) R 3 RBI (3) Forney ND 6 IP 11 K 3 H 4 ER Laskey SV (2)
4/2: AUS 9 MEM 2 Lach (W) 8 IP 8 K 1 ER Archer 2-5 HR (1) 2 R 4 RBI (5) Adrian 2-4 2 R 2 RBI (5) Dziedzic 3-5 HR (1) R 2 RBI (3) Tighe HR (1)


NEXT WEEK: 3 @ Lexington (2-1) 3 @ Charlotte (2-1)

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 4-2
• STANDINGS: 7-2 .5 GB
• RUNS SCORED: 50 (4th)
• OPS: .794 (4th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 31 (3rd)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .705 (3rd)
• SP ERA: 2.88 (2nd)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.35 (4th)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 100
• POWER RANKINGS: 2nd

THIS WEEK: 3 @ Lexington (6-4) 3 @ Charlotte (5-5) OFF DAY

4/4: LEX 5 AUS 3 (11) Blue (LEX) 2R WO HR (1) Archer 3-5 R Miller ND 6 IP 4 H 8 K 3 ER Matsui (L) .1 IP 2 H HR 2 ER
4/5: LEX 7 AUS 6 Steele ND 6 IP 9 H 4 K 5 ER Matsui (L) .2 IP 2 H 2 ER (0-2 18.00) Tighe 2-4 2 2B (3) 2 R 2 SB (2) Archer 2-5 HR (2) R 3 RBI (8) Orozco HR (1) Childress (LEX) 3-3 HR (1) R 4 RBI (4)
4/6: AUS 3 LEX 0 Collins (W) 8.2 IP 2 H 7 K 131 pitches (2-0 1.32) Laskey SV (3) McGuire 2-4 2 RBI (3)
4/7: AUS 11 CHA 6 (10) 6-1 lead into the 7th. Laskey gives up 3 unearned in the bottom of the 9th BS (1) Forney ND 7.1 IP 5 H 8 K 3 ER Hanna 5-6 2 R 2 RBI (3) Archer 3-5 2B (1) 2 R 2 RBI (10) Comerford 3-5 2 2B (2) HR (1) 2 R 3 RBI (3) Mori (CHA) 4-5 2B (3) HR (4) 2 R RBI (6)
4/8: AUS 4 CHA 2 Lach ND 3.2 IP 5 K 1 H 1-2 2B (1) R 2 RBI (2) came out in the 4th (see news) Tighe 2-4 R RBI (3) SB (3) Laskey SV (4)
4/9: AUS 3 CHA 2 Miller (W) 8.2 IP 9 H 9 K 3 BB 1 ER (1-0 2.45) Scott SV (1) Taylor (CHA) CG 11 H 5 K 3 ER (0-1 3.00)
4/10: OFF DAY


NEXT WEEK: 3 vs Memphis (4-6) 3 vs Fort Worth (8-2) 1 vs Mexico (5-5)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
4/5:

• Philadelphia lost 26 yr old C Julio Jaramillo for at least 5 months with a broken kneecap. The young backstop hit .320 in 275 AB's last year and their bevy of winter activity was made with the notion he'd be their everyday catcher.
• Troy Gillon (PIT) fanned 8 and tossed a 3-hit CG in a 3-0 win over the NY Punishers.

4/6:

• David Gullion (MEM) threw a CG SHO allowing just 2 hits as Memphis downed Ohio 2-0.

4/7:

• Dallas signed FA closer Tyler Clarke to a 1yr 3.16m dollar contract. The 30-year-old was 11-16 54 SV the past 2 seasons with New England.

4/9:

• 25 yr old Chris Peterson (MON) threw a 3-hitter to beat Brooklyn 5-0
• Gustav Meijer (FW) K'd 5, walked 2 and allowed just 3 hits in a 5-0 win over Providence to go 2-0 0.60 on the year

4/10:

• Chris Jones (DET) also tossed a 3-hitter, striking out 7 and walking 2 in a 2-0 win over Phoenix.

RUSTLER NEWS:
4/4:
AUSTIN DEALS TWICE
The Austin Rustlers have made 2 trades that were announced today.
In the first, they sent P Dave Ball to the Las Vegas 51's in exchange for 26 yr old P Steve Lovejoy. Ball had been on the DL since early last season after undergoing rotator cuff surgery and the Rustlers depth at SP allowed them to make the move.
In the second deal, 24 yr old P Colby Erck was sent to Baltimore for 26 yr old SS Gregg Bopp and 26-year-old 1B Byeong-min Yoo and 175K in cash.

BACKROOM CHATTER
Dave Ball was on the rise before a serious injury last year and was slotted into this 2016 rotation. However reports out of his rehab were not good, with him suffering losses across the board in velocity and command and stuff. We managed to make the move prior to him being activated and got a good arm in return. Lovejoy is a swingman and has some big league innings. But he heads to Warren.
The 2nd deal was made for Warren actually. The clubhouse down there needed some leadership and Yoo is an enormous clubhouse presence. Both guys are legit 4A talents and could be called up without hesitation were there a need.

4/6:

• Chris Lach has some tenderness in his shoulder. It is likely not a 2+ week thing but it's enough to warrant a quick 15 day DL trip to be safe. Jake Pierce is recalled to take his spot while Matt Behrens gets 2-3 starts in rehab before returning.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Garrett Beckmann 1B (MEX) 10-23 5 HR 15 RBI (if you have been paying REAL close attention you may remember Beckmann crossed our path during the Chisholm trades a few years back. We almost kept him as our everyday 1B. He's found a home and an everyday job in Mexico. He hit .272-26-93 last season.

COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jack Terhune RF (DAL) 14-24 2 HR 4 RBI 8 R

[gehrig38]

The extrernal hard drive fell last night, broke. Apparently, it's unfixable. Not even sure how to react.
I will send it to a data recovery place considering the amount of stuff I had stored on it, but it appears the Rustlers dynasty is over.
'
UPDATE!!! I HAVE NO IDEA HOW OR WHAT JUST HAPPENED BUT I installed (sorry for yelling) a new hard drive, labeled same as last one and when I installed OOTP 22 it loaded the league???????? HOLY A+$!#@$$#!@#(#

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 5-2
• STANDINGS: 12-4 +.5
• RUNS SCORED: 91 (2nd)
• OPS: .802 (3rd)
• RUNS AGAINST: 56 (3rd)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .724 (1st)
• SP ERA: 3.08 (2nd)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.53 (3rd)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 100
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 1-2 vs Memphis 2-1 vs Fort Worth 1-0 vs Mexico

4/11: AUS 7 MEM 0 Dave Steele tosses 6th no-hitter in team history. 8 K 2 BB (1-0 3.00) Adrian 3-5 2 R RBI (10) Reyes 0-0 2 BB 2 R (see news)
4/12: AUS 11 MEM 3 Collins (W) 7.2 IP 8 H 12 K 2 ER 5 BB 2-4 R 2 RBI (2) Dziedzic 3-5 2 2B (6) 3 R RBI (6) Comerford 2-4 2B (3) R 3 RBI (7)
4/13: MEM 6 AUS 4 (16) Forney ND 7 IP 4 H 11 K 4 ER 1-1 Hobart 3 IP 1 H 5 K Orozco HR (2) RBI (6) (hitting .160)
4/14: FW 7 AUS 1 Pierce (L) 4.1 IP 5 H 3 BB 5 ER Dziedzic 3-4 Reyes HR (2) Tenhundfeld (FW) (W) 8 IP 8 H 4 K 1 ER (3-0 1.19)
4/15: AUS 6 FW 5 (11) Miller ND 6 IP 7 H 9 K 4 ER Lytle BS (1) Laskey (W) 2 IP 4 K Comerford 2-5 2B (5) HR (3) R 2 RBI (10) Dziedzic HR (2) R 2 RBI (9)
4/16: AUS 7 FW 4 Steele (W) 7 IP 3 H 10 K 3 ER (2-0 3.27) 1-1 BB Laskey SV (5) McGuire 2-3 HR (1) R BB 2 RBI (5) (see news)
4/17: AUS 5 MEX 0 Collins (W) 7.2 IP 13 K 4 H (4-0 1.24) Brill 1st ABL HR 2 R RBI (3) Andriani 2-3 BB 2 RBI (4)

NEXT WEEK: 2 vs Mexico (8-8) OFF DAY 3 vs Lexington (8-8) 1 @ San Antonio (6-10)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
4/10:

• In a game in Pittsburgh, the San Diego Missions beat the Miners 1-0 in 15 innings. Andy O'Brien homered in the 15th with 2 outs. Both starters received an ND but both, yes both, went 10 innings. Troy Gillon went 10 IP 9 H 10 K 2 BB on 140 pitches while Omar Trinidad (SD) went 10 IP 7 H 6 K 7 BB on 143 pitches.

4/12:

• San Jose beat Philadelphia 12-5 and Hawks RF Chris Towers went 5-5 with 2 2B HR (6) and 3 RBI (20)
• Jim Duffy (MEX) threw a 2-hitter in a 7-0 win over Montreal.

4/13:

• Memphis signed FA RP Sung-Hyun Jung to a 1yr 520K contract.

4/15:

• Houston signed FA RP Jesse Picklesimer to a 1yr 820K contract. The 29-year-old has 75 saves the past two seasons with Phoenix.

4/16:

• New York Empire two-way star Mike Spitler accomplished the rarest of feats today. In their 12-6 win over Providence, he went 6-6 with 2 2B a 3B and 3 RBI.
• Across town Brooklyn Blackheart ace Dakota Eddleman fanned 12 and walked 1 in a 3-0 win over the NY Punishers.
• Andy Zerbe (PIT) threw a 5-hit CG SHO to beat Philadelphia 7-0.

4/17:

• John Gunderson (DET) went the distance allowing just 5 hits in the Chargers 3-0 win over Charlotte.

4/18:

• 29yr old RP Kyle Burkes signed a 1yr 720K deal with Dallas
• Buffalo P Brendon Biernacki is 4-0 2.65 in 4 starts this year. He's struck out 17, 14, 12, and 13 for 56 K's in 34 IP.

RUSTLER NEWS:
4/16:
Sam Reyes, Dave Steele, and Nick Archer were all hurt during the game. Archer is DtD, Reyes is out a few days and Steele is going to the 15 day DL. Matt Behrens will be recalled after 1 AAA start.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chris Towers RF (SJ) 14-28 3 HR 13 RBI 8 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Romeo Pirelli LF (NE) 12-24 HR 8 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 5-1
• STANDINGS: 17-5 +1.5
• RUNS SCORED: 149 (2nd)
• OPS: .848 (2nd)
• RUNS AGAINST: 89 (5th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .698 (3rd)
• SP ERA: 3.74 (4th)
• BULLPEN ERA: 3.04 (3rd)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 100
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 1-1 vs Mexico OFF DAY 3-0 vs Lexington 1-0 @ San Antonio

4/18: AUS 5 MEX 2 Forney (W) 6 IP 4 H 11 K 0 R Laskey SV (6) Adrian HR (3) R 2 RBI (12) Andriani HR (1) R 2 RBI (6) Hanna HR (1) R RBI (6) Duffy (MEX) CG 6 H 8 K 0 BB 3 HR 5 ER
4/19: MEX 12 AUS 6 Behrens (L) 3 IP 8 H 6 K 5 ER Austin Myers (MEX) 5-5 HR (1) 2 R 5 RBI (6) Dziedzic 3-5 2B (9) R 3 RBI (13) Fairweather (MEX) (W) 6.2 IP 13 H 7 K 4 ER (3-0 4.45)
4/20: OFF DAY
4/21: AUS 18 LEX 8 Tighe 4-6 2 R 3 RBI (12) SB (5) Adrian 2-4 3B (1) 2 R 3 RBI (15) Dziedzic 2-5 GS (3) 5 RBI (18) McLaughlin 2-4 3 R RBI (2) Bopp 2-4 3 R RBI (1) SB (1) Miller (W) 6.1 IP 10 H 7 ER (2-0 4.94)
4/22: AUS 9 LEX 1 Pierce (W) 8.2 IP 5 H 7 K 1 ER (1-1 4.15) 2-4 2 R RBI (1) Orozco 3-4 2B (4) R 2 RBI (9) Adrian 2-3 3B (2) 2 R BB 2 RBI (17)
4/23: AUS 8 LEX 7 (13) Collins ND gives up 7 in the 7th/8th after leading 5-0. 7 IP 11 K 7 ER Adrian 3-7 2 R Archer 3-7 2 RBI (14) 14 hits 13 singles
4/24: AUS 12 SAN 3 Adrian 4-5 cycle 5 R (ties club record) HR (4) RBI (18) SB (5) Archer 3-6 2B (6) 2 R 6 RBI (20) Hanna 2-5 HR (2) R 3 RBI McLaughlin 3-5 R

NEXT WEEK: 2 @ San Antonio (7-15) 4 @ Fort Worth (15-6) OFF DAY

ABL HAPPENINGS:
4/18:

• Mexico lost 2B Jose Rivera to a serious concussion and he's expected to miss at least 2 months. The 28-year-old hit .282-31-98 last year and .240-31-91 in the WS Winning 2014 season.
• Memphis inked RP Steve Gifford to a 1 yr 590K deal

4/20:

• 24 yr old Jacob Rayl (PRO) threw a 2-hitter and struck out 9, walking no one in a 1-0 win over Los Angeles.

4/21:

• Time Soledad (LV) fired a 4-hitter fanning 8 and walking 4 in a 5-0 win over Pittsburgh

4/22:

• Jon Jones (BAL) upped his April record to 5-0 0.65 after a 6-hit 7 K 4-0 win over San Jose. He has been the PotG in all 5 of his starts going 9 in a 6-hitter on opening day winning 7-0, then 8 IP 1 ER, 8 IP 1 ER 7.2 IP 1 ER before this last CG SHO. He's given up 3 earned runs in 41.2 IP, and just 27 hits. Jones is a 3x Koufax winner, 2008, 2009, and 2012.
• Jon Hogg (DET) fanned 9 in shutting out San Francisco 5-0.

4/23:

• Tsuruki Tanioka (FW) struck out 10 in blanking San Antonio 6-0 allowing just 5 hits.
• Xie-li Au-Yong (SF) won his 1st of the year by shutting out Detroit 7-0.

RUSTLER NEWS:
4/19:

• As to be expected Sam Reyes is not doing well. At least another week. So recently acquired IF Greg Bopp will be recalled from AA Modesto.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brendan Robbins 1B (NYP) 12-18 2 HR 7 RBI 8 R (injured in the last game of the week, out at least a week)
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Andy Adrian (AUS) 14-27 2 HR 8 RBI

[gehrig38]

CAREER LEADERS SHO

1. Josh Viens (NYP) 20
2. Xie-Li Au-Yong (SF) 19
3. Jason Keeton (DET) 17
4. Jeff Alexander (PHX) 14
5. Chris Green (RET) 13

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 5-1
• STANDINGS: 22-6 +4 ½
• RUNS SCORED: 177 (t-1st)
• OPS: .822 (2nd)
• RUNS AGAINST: 105 (2nd)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .692 (4th)
• SP ERA: 3.40 (2nd)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.80 (2nd)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 100
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 2-0 @ San Antonio (7-15) 3-1 @ Fort Worth (15-6) OFF DAY

4/25: AUS 6 SAN 3 (10) Dziedzic 2-5 2 HR (5) 2 R 3 RBI (23) McGuire PH GW 3R HR (2) 3 RBI (9) Tighe 3-5 R SB (7) Lach ND 7 IP 5 H 6 K 3 BB 3 ER (1.93) Laskey SV (7)
4/26: AUS 4 SAN 2 (10) Behrens ND 6.2 IP 12 K 2 ER Laskey SV (8) Dziedzic 2-5 2B (11) GW 1B 2 RBI (25) Robinson (SAN) 9 IP 8 H 2 ER ND
4/27: FW 3 AUS 1 Myers (FW) (W) 8 IP 6 H 10 K 1 ER (3-0 1.98) Miller ND 7 IP 7 H 7 K 5 BB 0 ER
4/28: AUS 3 FW 0 Collins CG 5 H 13 K (5-0 2.20) Tanioka (FW) (L) 8 IP 13 K 5 BB 3 ER (3-3 2.59)
4/29: AUS 5 FW 1 Forney (W) 8.1 IP 11 K 4 H 1 ER (3-0 3.40) Orozco 3-4 2B (6) RBI (14) Adrian R 2 SB (9) Tighe R 2 BB 2 SB (9)
4/30: AUS 9 FW 7 (13) Brill 3-7 R Archer 2-6 GW HR (3) 3 R 2 RBI (24) Nolasco 3-7 2B (3) HR (1) 2 R 2 RBI (11) Orozco 4-7 R 2 RBI (16) Tighe 2-3 game tying 2R 2B (6) in the 9th 2 RBI (14) off the bench Lach ND 5.1 IP 5 H 5 BB 6 K 5 ER Laskey (W) 3.1 IP 2 H 1 R 0 ER Hobart SV (1)
5/1: OFF DAY


NEXT WEEK: 3 @ Green Bay (9-19) 3 vs Buffalo (14-16)1 vs San Jose (12-17)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
4/27:

• Chicago lost the services of 22 yr old SP Kevin Roberts for the rest of the season after learning he would need radial decompression surgery on his left arm.
• Bobby Dare signed a 1 yr 3.4m dollar FA contract with the NY Punishers.

4/28:

• Chris Pearson (PRO) went the distance allowing just 6 hits as Providence beat New England 6-0.
• Xie-Li Au-Yong (SF) tossed his 2nd straight CG SHO this time fanning 10 on a 5-hitter to beat San Diego 6-0 and even his record at 2-2 2.44
• Phoenix hammered Las Vegas 12-1 and Roadrunner 1B Brian McLeod went 5-5 with 3 1B's and 2 HR's driving in 6.

4/29:

• Ohio lost 21 yr old Closer, Brad Powell, for the remainder of the year with torn ligaments in his elbow. Power was 0-2 with 4 Saves.
• Jason Hogan (NYP) went 5-5 with 2 1B 2 2B and an HR in a 7-1 win over Philadelphia

5/1:

• Brooklyn will be without starting 3B Akitada Kawaguchi for at least 5 weeks after he suffered a high-ankle sprain. He was hitting .372-4-14

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brian McLeod 1B (PHX) 12-21 5 HR 11 RBI 7 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Alonzo Rodriguez 1B (LEX) 11-22 3 HR 10 RBI


RUSTLER PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Tommy Dziedzic .358/.408/.651 13 2B 2 3B 5 HR 26 RBI 19 R 1.060 OPS
RUSTLER PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Ranan Laskey 2-0 9 SV 0.00 ERA 16.2 IP 21 K 4 BB .180 OPP AVG
RUSTLER MiL PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Alfredo Razo OF (AAA) .373/.440/.613 6 2B 3 3B 2 HR 10 RBI 13 R 4-5 SB 1.054 OPS
RUSTLER MiL PITCHER OF THE MONTH: John Stanley (AAA) 1-2 2.52 ERA 25 IP 17 H 21 K

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Ben Davis LF (BRK) .350-8-25 18 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Romeo Pirelli LF (NE) .413-3-23 23 R
PATRIOT LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Jon Jones (BAL) 5-0 1.12 ERA 36 K 40.1 IP
COLONIAL LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Tim Collins (AUS) 5-0 2.20 60 K 45 IP
PATRIOT LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Wilson Delgado SS (DEN) .315 6 2B 2 3B HR 11 RBI 15 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Bobby McDermott CL (NYE) 0-1 10 SV 14 K 11.1 IP

[gehrig38]

I am building it. Last year was no fluke and this year won't be either. Already a rash of injuries but managed a 22-6 April despite having our ace out the entire month. His last start was a gem and I expect him to get better and better.
What we do have now is a 'dearth' of SP in the ABL and I am making calls.
(Also, had a HUGE almost tragedy dropping my external hard drive! Somehow the season was saved but I lost all the art I had so no updated pics for a bit with standings and what not)

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 6-1
• STANDINGS: 28-7 +6.5
• RUNS SCORED: 222 (1st)
• OPS: .834 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 125 (2nd)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .703 (2nd)
• SP ERA: 3.23 (2nd)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.49 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 100
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 2-1 @ Green Bay (9-19) 3-0 vs Buffalo (14-16)1-0 vs San Jose (12-17)

5/2: AUS 4 GTB 0 Behrens CG 2-hitter 7 K 0 BB (1-1 3.38) Adrian 2-4 2B (7) R RBI (21) Mears (GB) (L) 8 IP 7 H 9 K 4 ER (2-4 3.33)
5/3: GB 8 AUS 1 Miller (L) 2 IP 6 H 2 HR 6 ER (2-1 5.20) Halphen (GB) (W) 8 IP 10 K 5 H 1 ER (1-1 4.05) Schade (GB) 2-4 GS (4) R 5 RBI (15)
5/4: AUS 9 GB 1 Collins (W) 8 IP 6 H 10 K 1 ER (6-0 2.04) Adrian 5-6 2B (9) 3 HR (7) 3 R 4 RBI (26) McLaughlin 4-4 2B (7) R RBI (3)
5/5:AUS 8 BUF 3 Forney (W) CG 4 H 11 K 0 ER (4-0 2.77) Archer 3-3 2 2B (8) HR (5) R 3 RBI (29) Nolasco HR (2) 2 RBI (15)
5/6: AUS 5 BUF 4 Single runs each inning 5th to 9th. Lach ND 8 IP 6 H 9 K 4 ER Laskey (W) 3-0 0.00 Archer 3-5 2B (9) R Dziedzic 2B (14) HR (6) 2 RBI (29)
5/7:AUS 7 BUF 2 Behrens (W) 8 IP 8 K 4 H 2 ER (2-1 3.04) Archer 3-4 2B (10) R 2 RBI (31) Reyes 4-4 3B (2) R 3 RBI (9) 2 SB (7)
5/8: AUS 11 SJ 2 Steele (W) 7.2 IP 4 K 7 H 2 ER 1-4 RBI (1) (3-0 3.03) Nolasco 3-5 2B (4) HR (3) 2 R 3 RBI (18) Hanna 2-4 HR (3) 3 R 3 RBI (13) Adrian 2-4 2 R 2 SB (13)


NEXT WEEK: 2 vs San Jose (17-18) 4 vs San Antonio (11-23) 1 vs Houston (13-21)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
5/2:

• Mike Laffey (SD) struck out 7 in a CG 3-0 win over Brooklyn.
• Chris Towers (SJ) went 5-5 with a 2B and a HR in the Hawks 11-2 win over Pittsburgh

5/3:

• Denver SS Wilson Delgado will miss the next 5 months with a torn labrum.
• Rico Castro (LV) struck out 12, walked 1 and allowed just 4 hits in a 2-0 win over Detroit to go 3-1 2.14 on the year. Castro was a 1st rounder in 2009 (26th overall)
• Russell Bolar (MON) went 5-5 with a 2B, HR and 3 RBI's in the Paragons 10-6 win over Phoenix.

5/5:

• Mark Holmes (SF) struck out 6 and allowed just 4 hits in the Bears 5-0 win over Montreal

5/7:

• Philadelphia lost SS Melvin Alvarez for the remainder of the 2016 season after breaking his kneecap on a slide. The 30 yr old hit .276-19-77 last season and was hitting .255-2-10 this year.
• Frank Glebocki (SJ) fanned a dozen Chicago batters as the Hawks beat the Hitmen 4-0 for his 1st win of the season.
• Jason Jaeger (DAL) and David Guillion (MEM) hooked up in a pitcher's duel with Jaeger coming out on top 1-0. Guillion tossed a CG in the loss allowing 6 hits and 1 ER while Jaeger went the distance fanning 8 and also allowing 6 hits. It was Jaeger's 1st win of the season (1-5 3.68) while Guillion fell to 4-2 2.11

RUSTLER NEWS:
5/3:

• Dave Steele tossed a CG 4-hitter in his 1st rehab start at AAA Warren.

5/6:
RUSTLERS DEAL MILLER
The Austin Rustlers today announced they'd sent 28 yr old SP Dave Miller to the Brooklyn Blackhearts for minor league P prospects Brian Hruska (23) and Victor Huerta (23).

BACKROOM CHATTER
Steele is healthy, and he and Miller in many ways are the exact same pitchers. Same age, both RH, same contracts, and pretty much same service time. Both of the prospects we got back we would have done the deal for alone in all honesty. Hruska has 69.2 IP of experience and has allowed just 46 H and punched out 99. He's a power arm and a starter.
Huerta is a power-armed righty who will come out of the pen. Legit back end potential.
Both head to Warren, Steele is recalled to take Miller's rotation spot.
I have a huge staff at Warren and I need to thin out that bullpen to get guys more work. All of the arms are potential call-up talents too.
Also, have a large number of middle infielders taking ABs down there and so I sent 2B Bob Anderson to Las Vegas and got a very talented OF in Nate Rizzo in return. Rizzo will head to Warren as well.
The 40 man roster is now at 39 players.

5/7:

• Speaking of AAA SP Jake Pierce tossed a CG SHO to beat the Hamilton Buzz 5-0

5/8:

RUSTLERS DEAL A PAIR
The Austin Rustlers sent P Nick Hawker and P Justin Schwartz as well as their 2016 3rd and 5th round draft choices to San Antonio for the Broncos 2016 3rd round pick. The deal also included Austin sending 140K in cash.

BACKROOM CHATTER
Simple numbers. I moved up 12 spots in round 3 and cleared space at Warren for the young arms to get more work. I couldn't find any deals for players that didn't involve a veteran with a big contract.


PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Travis Buono C (LV) 10-15 HR 7 RBI 5 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Andy Adrian CF (AUS) 15-32 3 HR 8 RBI

BACKROOM CHATTER
Adrian is rounding out into a hall of fame-level talent. 50+ 2B, 40+ HR, 50+ SB toolset with a +++ defensive tool chest that will absolutely net him a few gold gloves. I have talked a bit about an extension but he's looking shorter term at 14+ million. His arbitration number is around 11 and I offered him 6+ years at 10.75, he rebuffed that even with a 3rd year opt-out and huge performance bonuses.

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 5-2
• STANDINGS: 33-9 +7
• RUNS SCORED: 264 (1st)
• OPS: .843 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 155 (2nd)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .696 (3rd)
• SP ERA: 3.51 (2nd)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.28 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 100
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 2-0 vs San Jose (17-18) 2-2 vs San Antonio (11-23) 1-0 vs Houston (13-21)

5/9: AUS 12 SJ 7 Adrian 3-5 R RBI (29) SB (14) Tighe 2-4 HR (3) 2 R RBI (17) SB (10) Nolasco 3-4 2 HR (5) 3 R 2 RBI (20) Comerford 3-5 2B (11) R 2 RBI (17) Collins ND 6 R 4 ER 3 IP
5/10:AUS 5 SJ 4 Forney (W) 8 IP 5 H 10 K 3 ER 1-2 (5-0 2.86) Laskey SV (10) 1st ER (0.48) Dziedzic 3-4 2B (15) R RBI (30) Comerford 2-4 HR (4) 2 R 2 RBI (19) Orozco 2-4 2B (10) HR (3) R 2 RBI (22)
5/11:SAN 5 AUS 4 Lach (L) 5 IP 7 H 2 HR 5 ER (1-1 4.38) Lytle 5 K 2 IP Hanna 2-2 R off the bench
5/12: AUS 8 SAN 3 Behrens (W) 8.1 IP 7 H 6 K 2 ER (3-1 2.83) Orozco 4-4 2 2B (12) HR (4) 2 R 2 RBI (25) Comerford 3-3 2 HR (6) 3 R 3 RBI (22)
5/13: SAN 5 AUS 4 Steele (L) 4 IP 7 H 3 K 3 BB 5 R 4 ER (3-1 3.74) Andriani HR (2) 2 RBI (10)
5/14: AUS 5 SAN 3 Collins (W) 8 IP 8 K 7 H 3 ER 1-3 2B (1) (7-0 2.67) Laskey SV (11) Nolasco 2-3 2B (5) HR (6) 2 R 3 RBI (23) SB (6) Comerford HR (7) 2 RBI (24)
5/15: AUS 4 HOU 3 Forney ND 6 IP 5 H 4 BB 8 K 3 ER Scott (W) 4 K 2 IP (3-0 0.57) Laskey SV (12) McGuire 2-2 2 BB 2 RBI (14)


NEXT WEEK: 2 vs Houston (16-25) OFF DAY 3 @ Ohio (20-22) 1vs New England (24-17)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
5/12:

• San Francisco inked 33-year-old 3B Michael Nettles to a 5 year 20m extension. Nettles, a 2x all-star and 3x silver slugger is a career .281/.355/.497 hitter with 254 2B and 237 HRs.
• The team celebrated that day with Tony Delgado blanking his former club (LA) on a 2-hitter while fanning 10.

RUSTLER NEWS:
5/11:
RUSTLERS, TIGHE, AGREE ON CONTRACT EXTENSION
The Austin Rustlers have announced they've signed young superstar SS Joe Tighe to a 7 year 91.6m dollar contract extension. Tighe, known as “The Meal Ticket”, is just 26 and one of the game's young superstars.
He will receive base salaries of 10.8m in 2017/18 and 11.8 in 2019/20 with an opt-out after the 2020 season. In 2021 he will get 13.8 million with a player option and then his base salary will rise to 15.8 in 2022, 16.8 in 2023 with player options on both seasons. He has a total no-trade clause, and a 750K MVP bonus.

BACKROOM CHATTER
“Worth” every penny in the scale of dollars today. He plays every day. Last year's injury was a fluke. He's a gold glove winner, finished 2nd in RotY balloting, and was almost a 2nd place finisher in the MVP vote last year (I didn't think he deserved it given how many fewer ABs he had compared to the other guys and their stats). He's a local legend and a leader as well. I figure by the time he's making huge money he's in his prime and there will be younger blood, cheaper too, surrounding him in the IF.


PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: John Heitzer RF (SF) 10-22 3 HR 9 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Scott Comerford C (AUS) 10-20 4 HR 9 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 4-2
• STANDINGS: 37-11 +8.5
• RUNS SCORED: 304 (1st)
• OPS: .852 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 170 (2nd)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .698 (2nd)
• SP ERA: 3.43 (2nd)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.29 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 100
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 1-1 vs Houston (16-25) OFF DAY 2-1 @ Ohio (20-22) 1-0 vs New England (24-17)

5/16: HOU 6 AUS 4 Lach (L) 2 IP 7 H 5 ER (1-2 5.31) Nolasco 3-4 3B (1) RBI (25) Tighe 1-3 2 BB 3 R 2 SB (13) Reyes 0-1 3 BB
5/17: AUS 9 HOU 0 Behrens (W) 7 IP 4 H 13 K (4-1 2.36) Archer 4-6 2B (13) 2 HR (7) 3 R 6 RBI (40) Tighe 3-5 3 R SB (14) Reyes 3-4 2B (3) HR (3) 3 R 2 RBI (13) Reyes/Tighe 6-9 6 R
5/18: OFF DAY
5/19: AUS 6 OH 1 (10) Steele ND 6 IP 10 K 5 BB 0 R Lytle BS (2) Desanto (W) 2 IP 3 K 0 BR (3-1 2.38) Nolasco 3-5 2B (6) R 2 RBI (27) Tighe 2-4 2 R 2 SB (16)
5/20: OH 4 AUS 1 Zape (OH) (W) 8 IP 4 H 6 K 1 ER (3-3 3.92) Collins hurt in the 3rd 3 IP 1 H 4 K (see news)
5/21: AUS 12 OH 1 Tighe 5-5 HR (4) 4 R 3 RBI (22) SB (17) Adrian 3B (4) 3 RBI (33) Archer 3-6 2 2B (15) 2 RBI (44) Orozco 3-5 2B (15) 2 HR (6) 3 R 2 RBI (28) McLaughlin 2-4 2B (9) 3 R Forney (W) 8 IP 8 K 2 H 1 ER (6-0 2.80)
5/22: AUS 8 NE 3 Hobart (W) 4 IP 1 H 3 K 0 R (1-1 3.16) Lach ND 3 ER 5 IP 7 K 102 pitches Archer 2-4 2 HR (9) 2 R 5 RBI (49) Hanne 2-3 2B (2) R RBI (15) off the bench (Tighe hurt see news)


NEXT WEEK: 2 vs New England (28-19) OFF DAY 3 vs Charlotte (28-20) 1 @ Montreal (27-20)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
5/16:

• Jonathan Ray (MEX) struck out 17 in a 3-hit 1-0 win over Las Vegas. Vegas SP Joe Beck was the hard-luck loser tossing a CG 8 IP 8 H 8 K 1 ER (1 in the 1st)
• Matt Hed (SD) went 5-5 in an 8-2 win over LA. Hed, you MIGHT remember, was dealt to SD last June for Jesse Bartsch and C Kurt Bryan. He's currently hitting .351 in 114 ABs.

5/17:

• Tony Delgado (SF) joined Jonathan Ray in the 17K club as he fanned 17 San Jose Hawks in an 11-1 rout. He allowed just 2 hits and walked 4.

5/18:

• Providence lost SS Justin Self for the next 5-6 weeks after he was diagnosed with an abdominal tear. The 25-year-old was hitting .297-7-25.

5/19:

• Scott Bradley (NE) outdueled Lexington's Bob Shrader in a 1-0 CG SHO. Bradley tossed a 2-hitter and fanned 7 to go 1-0 0.77 on the year and Shrader went 7 on 6 K's and 5 H to drop to .500 (5-5 2.54)
• Chris Pearson (PRO) fanned 10 and walked 2 in a 6-0 CG SHO of Memphis to move to 8-2 2.75
• David Miller (PHX) won his 1st game of the season with a 4-hitter in a 1-0 win over San Diego. Miller went 9-4-0-0-1-5 while Missions SP Curtis Mattox went 8 on 5 H and 11 K allowing just 1 unearned run to fall to 1-2 1.89

5/20:

• Jeff Stodder (HOU) threw a 4-hitter fanning 5 in a 9-0 win over Green Bay.
• Providence crushed Memphis 16-3 today and SS Jacob Tilley went 5-6 with 2 2B a 3B and 3 RBI. The 28-year-old is hitting .371 in limited time (70 AB's)

5/21:

• San Jose lost 40 yr old RP, Nick Gamble, for the remainder of the year to a nerve injury in his elbow. Gamble was drafted in the 8th round in 1996 after coming out of USC as a 3B and has pitched for 13 ABL clubs over his 14-year career.
• Jamie Crone (GB) fanned 11 as the 34-year-old won his 1st game in over 3 years. He scattered 11 hits and fanned 5 in the 4-0 win over Houston.
• Brett Goetsch (SJ) struck out 10 and walked 1 in a 3-hitter as San Jose downed Mexico 7-0. He's 4-2 4.50

5/22:

• New England signed 36-year-old RP Jason Koehler to a 1 year 600K deal a day after he had been released by San Jose.

RUSTLER NEWS:
5/20:

• Tim Collins had to come out of the game complaining of elbow stiffness. Taking no chances after a clean MRI he'll head to the 15 day DL and Jake Pierce will be recalled. Collins is 7-0 2.55 on the year.

5/22:

• Joe Tighe came up lame on the bases and was taken out. Early word is nothing more than tightness and he'll be out a few days.
• First returns of All-Star voting are in. Andy Adrian leads the CL with 197K votes. Comerford is 2nd at C, Archer 2nd at 1B, Tighe is 1st at SS, Tim Collins and Steve Forney are 3rd and 4th respectively for SP and Ranan Laskey is 4th for RP.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Izzy Guzman SS (SD) 11-21 6 RBI 5 R (played SS for Brooklyn in the WS last year)
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Joe Tighe SS (AUS) 13-19 HR 3 RBI 12 R (guess he's happy with the new deal)

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 5-1
• STANDINGS: 42-12 +11
• RUNS SCORED: 332 (1st)
• OPS: .849 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 187 (2nd)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .703 (1st)
• SP ERA: 3.40 (2nd)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.14 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 100
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 2-0 vs New England (28-19) OFF DAY 3-0 vs Charlotte (28-20) 0-1 @ Montreal (27-20)

5/23: AUS 4 NE 1 Behrens (W) 8 IP 3 H 5 K 1 ER 0-1 RBI (1) (5-1 2.16) Laskey SV (13)
5/24: AUS 10 NE 1 Steele CG 6 H 6 K 1 ER (4-1 2.77) 0-2 R Adrian 2-4 HR (8) 2 R 3 RBI (36) Archer 2-4 2B (16) 3 RBI (52) Orozco HR (7) RBI (31) Dziedzic HR (8) RBI (37)
5/25: OFF DAY
5/26: AUS 4 CHA 3 Pierce ND 7 IP 5 H 7 K 3 ER 1-2 Scott (W) 4-0 0.48 Archer HR (10) 2 RBI (54) Orozco 2-4 walk off HR (8) RBI (32) Fischer (CHA) CG 8.1 IP 9 H 8 K 4 ER (7-3 3.50)
5/27: AUS 4 CHA 2 Forney (W) 8.1 IP 14 K 4 H 2 ER (7-0 2.73) Laskey SV (14) Dziedzic 2-3 2B (21) HR (9) 2 R RBI (39) Reyes HR (4)
5/28: AUS 6 CHA 5 (15) Lach ND 7 IP 10 H 5 K 5 ER Scott, Laskey, Lytle, Hobart (W) 8 IP 2 H 13 K 1 BB Adrian 3-7 R Comerford HR (8) 2 RBI (27) Hobart 2 IP 1 H 4 K walk off 1B
5/29: MON 5 AUS 0 Koda (MON) CG SHO 7 H 8 K Simms (MON) 3-3 2B (16) 2 HR (8) 3 R 3 RBI (31) Schlemmer (MON) 3-3 Dziedzic 2-4 2B (22) 3B (3) Behrens (L) 5.2 IP 7 H 6 K 4 ER (5-2 2.59)


NEXT WEEK: 2 @ Montreal (32-21) OFF DAY 3 @ New York Empire (27-27) 1 @ Houston (23-30)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
5/23:

• Jake Lane (PHI) went the distance with a 3-hitter in a 2-0 win over San Francisco. He K'd 8 and walked 1 to go 3-2 3.64

5/24:

• Tim Keen (PHI) followed Lane with a 3-hitter as well. Fanning 7 and walking 2 in a 4-0 win over the Bears. He's 4-3 4.63
• Ian Gurr (HOU) joined the 3-hit club with a CG SHO of Charlotte. He fanned 5 and walked none in the 9-0 win.

5/26:

• Jon Hogg (DET) struck out 8 and allowed 5 hits in a CG SHO of San Diego and a 7-0 win.

5/27:

• Phoenix 1B Randy Lane went 5-5 in the Roadrunners 8-6 win over Pittsburgh. Lane hit a 2B HR and drove in 5.
• 23-year old Mike Benoit (SAN) allowed just 6 hits as the Broncos beat Ft Worth 3-0. he's 8-3 2.43

5/28:

• Detroit lost the services of 22-year-old RP Chris Faber for the year as he suffered a season-ending elbow injury. The lefty was the 9th overall pick in the 2011 draft.
• San Antonio shut out Ft Worth for a 2nd straight day. This time 21-year-old Bobby Reuter struck out 10 and allowed 4 hits in the 1-0 win.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Aaron Lefkowitz 3B (PIT) 13-25 2 HR 5 RBI 7 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Marquis Rush 3B (DAL) 12-28 6 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 5-1
• STANDINGS: 47-13 +12.5
• RUNS SCORED: 369 (1st)
• OPS: .850 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 212 (2nd)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .696 (2nd)
• SP ERA: 3.48 (2nd)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.19 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 100
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 2-0 @ Montreal (32-21) OFF DAY 2-1 @ New York Empire (27-27) 1-0 @ Houston (23-30)

5/30: AUS 6 MON 3 Steele (W) 7 IP 11 H 8 K 3 ER (5-1 2.91) Laskey SV (15) Tighe 0-3 2 BB 2 SB (22) 2 R Archer 3-4 2B (19) R 2 RBI (57) Nolasco HR (8) R 2 RBI (31) Comerford PH HR (9) RBI (28)
5/31: AUS 4 MON 1 Pierce (W) 8 IP 8 H 5 K 1 ER (2-1 3.21) Laskey SV (16) Adrian 2-4 HR (9) R RBI (37) Reyes 2-3 BB HR (5) R RBI (17) Orozco HR (9) RBI (34) Negrete (MON) CG 8 H 11 K 3 HR 4 ER (2-1 2.45)
6/1: OFF DAY
6/2: AUS 3 NYE 1 (12) Forney ND 7 IP 1 H 8 K 1 ER Laskey SV (17) Orozco (10) Nolasco (9) back to back in the 12th. Gutierrez (NY) 9 IP 4 H 1 ER 7 K ND
6/3: AUS 8 NYE 4 Lach CG 10 H 9 K 3 ER (2-2 5.10) 1-4 2B (2) 2 RBI Archer 2-5 HR (11) 2 RBI (59) Nolasco 2-4 2B (10) HR (10) 2 R 2 RBI (34) E (1) Comerford HR (10) 2 RBI (30) Miner (NYE) 3-3 R RBI (26)
6/4: NYE 11 AUS 7 Behrens (L) 6.1 IP 12 H 2 HR 3 BB 8 ER (5-3 3.48) Spitler ND 6.2 IP 4 ER 2-3 HR (3) 2 R 2 RBI (18) (.382) Giles (NYE) 3-4 2 2B (10) GS (15) 6 RBI (46) Dziedzic 3-5 3B (5) 2 R Nolasco 3-4 2B (11) 2 RBI (36) Orozco HR (11) RBI (37)
6/5: AUS 9 HOU 5 6-run 9th. Steele ND 4 ER 6 IP Brill 3-3 after 7th inning PH 2B 2 2B (4) 3 RBI (8) Adrian 3-6 SB (22) Archer 3-5 2B (20) R RBI (60)

NEXT WEEK: 2 @ Houston (26-34) OFF DAY 3 vs Dallas (32-28) OFF DAY


ABL HAPPENINGS:
5/30:

• Jake Byers (PRO) struck out 15 Punisher hitters in a 7-2 win over NY.

5/31:

• Former Rustler Pat Madison (BUF) struck out 6, walked 1, and allowed just 3 hits in a CG 7-0 win over Denver.
• Zach Jaime (PHX) beat Houston 1-0 with a 6 K 3hit CG.

6/2:

• Seung-Hyeon Kim (PHI) was 4-4 and hit for the cycle but Baltimore beat Philadelphia 5-4. He scored twice and drove in 1.
• Andy Nadeau (SJ) tossed a 2-hitter striking out 8 in the Hawks 8-0 win over Phoenix.

6/3:

• Ben Sullivan (SAN) also threw a 2-hitter, fanning 9 and walking 2 in the Broncos 6-0 win over Buffalo

6/4:

• Trevor Pope (CHA) won his 1st game with Charlotte this year after being acquired from Brooklyn 1-0. He fanned 12, walked 3, and gave up 3 hits. Trevor signed a 4 year 21m dollar deal with Brooklyn in December and something happened early in the year, though no one knows what, after he started 2-3 4.64 for the Blackhearts he was sent to AAA and got hammered in his one start there, then was released just days later when Charlotte swooped in and picked him up. He signed a 1 year deal for the minimum with the Cyclones on May 18th.

RUSTLER NEWS:

• Tim Collins comes off the DL and Jake Pierce is optioned to AAA

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chris Diment C (BRK) 9-18 4 HR 5 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Bobby Sheffer 2B (PRO) 12-27 HR 5 RBI


RUSTLER PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Nick Archer 1B (AUS) .362/.393/.655 13 2B 7 HR 33 RBI 1.049 OPS
RUSTLER PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Matt Behrens (AUS) 5-1 1.76 46 IP 45 K 10 BB 27 H .170 OPP AVG
RUSTLER MiL PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Brock Stoll LF (AA) .361/.426/.629 6 HR 19 RBI 16 R 1.055 OPS
RUSTLER MiL PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Bobby Antonelli (AAA) 1-0 1.69 21.1 IP 9 H 22 K 4 BB

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: John Heitzer RF (SF) .320-9-21 18 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Nick Archer 1B (AUS) .362-7-33 19 R
PATRIOT LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Jon Hogg (DET) 4-1 1.77 40.2 IP 40 K
COLONIAL LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Chris Pearson (PRO) 6-0 2.12 51 IP 40 K .205 AVG
PATRIOT LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Eric Villalpando 1B (PHI) .340-4-16 18 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Cameron Poche CF (FW) .286 11 2B 3B 2 HR 13 RBI 15 R

[gehrig38]

The first five picks are:

1. Denver
2. Las Vegas
3. Chicago (Hitmen have 3 of the top 17 picks. #12 and #17 are compensation)
4. Ft Worth
5. NY Punishers

Montreal picks 20th but has the #14 pick as compensation which means we are picking 33rd.
We have the 33rd, 59th, 64th, 71st, and 83rd in the 1st 3 rounds.
There is 7 2nd round compensation picks not including ours at 71.
We will lean on the scouts and go with the best available talent.

ROUND 1
PICK

1. Denver—Jose Cruz (18) RHP Pima JuCo
2. Las Vegas—Edison Elder (18) LHP Woodrow Wilson HS
3. Chicago—Dave Niessen (19) OF Brunswick JuCo
4. Ft Worth—David Corral (17) RHP Arcadia HS
5. NY Punishers—Josh Stevens (20) 3B USC
6. Ohio—Matt Bond (17) RHP Notre Dame Prep
7. Buffalo—Chris McPherson (18) 2B Merrimack JuCo
8. Green Bay—Mike Terry (21) RHP Kansas State
9. Los Angeles—Dave Whittington (21) RHP UCLA
10. Houston—Scott Schatzman (18) 1B Onondaga JuCo
11. Memphis—Nick Reilly (18) LHP Yavapai JuCo
12. Chicago (comp)--Chris Patterson (21) RHP Colorado
13. San Diego—Andy Byrnes (22) RHP Iowa State
14. Montreal (comp)--Rick Wooten (20) RHP Washington State
15. Charlotte—Bob Thomason (20) 1B Duke
16. Philadelphia—Justin Hawkins (19) C North Alabama JuCo
17. Chicago (comp)--Mike Coryell (19) RHP College of Southern Idaho JuCo
18. Pittsburgh—Jim Blair (17) CF Hilltop HS
19. Brooklyn—Manuel Arriaga (18) RHP Onondaga JuCo
20. Montreal—Bryan Maenpaa (17) Coal City HS
21. NY Empire—Felilx Diaz CF (19) Iowa Western JuCo
22. Dallas—Jonathan Bradley (18) RHP Yale Secondary HS
23. San Antonio—Steve Littrell (17) RHP Borah HS
24. San Jose—Daniel Tillman (18) CF Temple College JuCo
25. San Francisco—Bao-qing Fong (17) RHP Lane Tech HS
26. Detroit—Xavier Roberts (18) OF Yavapai JuCo
27. Providence—Chris Tucker (21) 2B U. of Kansas
28. Lexington—Chris Riehm (21) OF Rice
29. Phoenix—Kevin Kaus (17) OF Mount Carmel HS
30. New England—Jeremy Pleasant (17) OF Hoover HS
31. Mexico—Tony Fowler (21) 3B UTEP
32. Baltimore—Gregg Kennedy (18) LHP Starr's Mill HS
33. Austin—Matt Hicks (18) OF Highland HS

Rest of our draft
Round (#pick)
2 (59) Cameron Bennett (17) OF Arcadia HS
2 (64) Tim Bingham (18) RHP Chipola JuCo
2 (71) Tyler Nelson (20) RHP Washington U.
3 (83) Sean Pape (18) OF San Jacinto JuCo
4 (124) Josh Coleman (17) OF Sonoma Valley HS
6 (182) Roy Scates (18) LHP Chattahoochee HS
8 (242) Ray Myers (18) RHP College of the Sequoias JuCo
9 (272) Spencer Willem (18) OF Blessed Trinity Catholic HS
10 (302) Curt Braddy (18) LHP Valdosta HS
11 (332) Marty Plummer (17) C Patrick Henry HS
12 (362) Khalil Brown (18) OF North Alabama JuCo
13 (392) Rory Casson (21) LHP Georgia Tech
14 (422) Travis Perry (18) C Pima CC
15 (452) Walter Schubert (17) RHP Mission Bay HS
16 (482) Brian Jackson (18) 1B Merrimack JuCo
17 (512) Scott Okins (18) RHP Sonoma Valley HS
18 (542) Edwin Solis (21) RHP Cornell
19 (572) Cody Bland (17) 3B Crawford HS
20 (602) Troy Patrick (21) RHP Princeton
21 (632) Tom LaFollette (21) OF Brown
22 (662) DJ Beck (18) RHP Apollo HS
23 (692) Nate Aseltine (18) C Onondaga JuCo
24 (722) Toby Perdue (21) RHP Georgia Tech
25 (752 Mr Irrelevant, last pick in the draft) Mario Perez (20) OF Kansas

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 3-2
• STANDINGS: 50-15 +12
• RUNS SCORED: 399 (1st)
• OPS: .846 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 228 (2nd)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .695 (2nd)
• SP ERA: 3.51 (2nd)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.08 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 100
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 1-1 @ Houston (26-34) OFF DAY 2-1 vs Dallas (32-28) OFF DAY

6/6: HOU 3 AUS 2 Collins (L) 6.1 IP 7 H 7 K 3 ER (7-1 2.70) Livingston (HOU) (W) 8 IP 8 H 4 K 1 ER (4-7 4.37) Tighe 4-4 2B (10) R SB (24) Comerford HR (11) RBI (31)
6/7:AUS 9 HOU 3 Forney (W) 7.2 IP 7 H 6 K 2 ER (8-0 2.59) Archer 2-5 HR (12) R 3 RBI (64) Tighe 2-3 2B (11) 3B (3) R RBI (24) Reyes 1-3 2 BB 2B (9) R 2 RBI (20)
6/8: OFF DAY
6/9: AUS 8 DAL 1 7 run 7th Lach (W) 7 IP 4 H 4 K (3-2 4.70) Adrian 2-4 GS (10) 2 R 4 RBI (43) SB (23)
6/10: DAL 6 AUS 5 Behrens (L) 6 IP 9 H 9 K 3 BB 6 ER 1-2 2 RBI (3) (5-4 3.97) Scott 3 IP 6 K Archer 3-5 HR (13) 2 R RBI (65) Nolasco 3-4 2 2B (14) R RBI (37)
6/11: AUS 6 DAL 3 Steele (W) 8 IP 6 H 9 K 3 ER (6-1 3.23) Laskey SV (18) Adrian 2-4 2 2B (15) SB (24) 2 R 2 RBI (45) Archer 2-4 2 RBI (67) Dziedzic HR (10) RBI (45)
6/12: OFF DAY

NEXT WEEK: 3 @ Providence (39-27) 3 vs Ft Worth (38-27) 1 @ Las Vegas (33-33)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
6/6:

• Justin Wilson (PHI) threw a 2-hitter to beat Brooklyn 5-0.
• Justin Myers (FW) lost a no-hitter with 2 outs in the 8th but finished with a 14 K CG SHO for a 9-0 win over Dallas and run his record to 7-2 2.62.

6/8:

• An Allen Hutcheon 6th inning 1B was all New York could get as Brendan Biernacki (BUF) fanned 12 in 12a 1-hit CG SHO to beat the Empire 7-0

6/9:

• The 1st overall pick in 2013, Pittsburgh's Elijah Baxter will miss the rest of the 2016 season. The 21-year-old learned he had a torn labrum and will be out 4-5 months at a minimum.

6/10:

• Former Rustler Heriberto Perez (PHX) went 6-7 hitting a 3B and 3 HR's and drove in 9 while scoring 5 in the Roadrunner's record-setting 26-6 win over Las Vegas.
• Phoenix scored 26 runs on 27 hits. Matt Barlow went 5-6 scoring 5, every starter but 1 (3B Jake Murphy) had 2 or more hits and Perez and C John Lyons went 8-12 with a 3B and 5 HR's and drove in 14. The score was 19-4 after 4 innings and 20-5 after 6.

6/11:

• Two-way superstar Mike Spitler went 5-5 with 2 RBI's in a 7-5 loss to Buffalo.
• Jimmy Williams (LA) went the distance and fanned 14 in a 4-hit 7-0 win over San Jose.

RUSTLER NEWS:
6/7:

• 2nd round pick (59th overall) OF Cameron Bennett signed and reported to Ft Wayne

• 2nd round pick (71st overall) SP Tyler Nelson signed and reported to Ft Wayne

6/9:

• 4th round pick (124th overall) SP Josh Coleman signed and reported to Ft Wayne

6/10:

• 2nd round pick (64th overall) SP Tim Bingham signed and reported to Ft Wayne

6/11:

• 3rd round pick (83rd overall) OF Sean Pape signed and reported to Ft Wayne

6/13:

• 2020 1st round pick (22nd overall) OF Brad Hathaway took home AAA PotW honors after a 12-25 2 HR 6 RBI run. The 20-year-old is hitting .273-6-32 with 35 R on the year

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Heriberto Perez RF (PHX) 10-24 4 HR 11 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Bryan Peoples 1B (CHA) 16-28 3 HR 12 RBI