The Magpies

[Paulie123]

2 May 2051

Mannix Glowstone
@rayoflight
Looks like the #Magpies lads are starting to settle down after a sticky start, I feel a pennant coming on! #KeepGoingLads
8:03PM - 2 May 2051

Severino Guadalajara-Smith
@sabermetricjedi
I’m worried about Robinson Ortíz though @rayoflight. Only 3 QS from 6 starts, and doesn’t seem to have quite the same stuff on his pitches this year. Giving up too many hits with RISP and his spin rate is down. Will we trade him before the July deadline I wonder? #dilemma
8:06PM - 2 May 2051

Michael Orthodontist
@sayahhhh
@IsraelPadillaSCL and @TomHartSCL really doing the business in the rotation, ERAs below 3.00!
8:08PM - 2 May 2051

Ken James
@kennyjimmy
My namesake has been phenomenal at closer for the #Magpies! 7.0 K/BB, 2.33 FIP, 0.87 ERA. Boom! #NoRelation #TheRealKenJames
8:11PM - 2 May 2051

[Paulie123]

8 May 2051

GM’s notebook - Series 11 and 12

Phoenix 0-2 Magpies
Phoenix 0-3 Magpies
Phoenix 4-3 Magpies
Magpies 9-1 Madison
Magpies 1-8 Madison
Magpies 6-1 Madison

- Cory Adams is now 3-1, 3.24 after pitching an absolute gem in the first home game against Phoenix: 8 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.
- José Pereira (.186 batting average) is struggling at backup catcher, while Blair Cunningham is improving fast and tearing up the minor leagues. I will give Pereira another 2-3 weeks to show his worth.
- It was Tom Hart’s turn to throw 8 shutout innings in game two of the Raccoons series. He’s now 5-0.
- It took Phoenix until the 7th inning of the final game of the series before they scored a run against us. Unfortunately they got 4 in that inning and avoided the sweep.
- Better from Robinson Ortíz in the opener in Madison: 7.1 innings of 1-hit ball. Ángel Márquez was player of the day after hitting 3-5 with a HR and a DBL.
- Our nemesis Al Harper was just too good for us in game two.
- Adams finished the week with another top quality outings to win the Madison series, throwing a complete game for 1 run on 4 hits. Ángel Ochoa hit 2-4 and is hitting .316. We kept their star batter Julián Emery pretty quiet all series.

This week: 4-2
Record: 21-15, 3rd place, 2 GB from Madison, Lansing

[Paulie123]

15 May 2051

GM’s notebook - Series 13 and 14

Denver 1-2 Magpies
Denver 4-1 Magpies
Denver 2-6 Magpies
Magpies 3-4 Olympia
Magpies 3-7 Olympia
Magpies 3-4 Olympia

- Now hitting .346, Rob Crawford went 3-4 in the 2-1 victory versus the Snow Sox. Tom Hart pitched 8 superb innings for just an unearned run. Ken James made it 11 saves from 11 opportunities.
- Hartford’s Jorge Rodríguez became the SCL all-time leader after recording his 634th save in a 2-1 win over Boston. Dong-hak Yi has 633.
- All 4 of our hits in the 4-1 defeat to Denver were doubles.
- Robinson Ortíz was superb again in the rubber game, throwing 8.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 10 K. Ángel Márquez is hot right now, and went 2-4 with a HR (his 8th) and a double.
- Aurelio Alomar pitched a 4-hit shutout for Indianapolis against Atlanta. He’s split time between the Wildcats’ rotation and bullpen and has a 3.62 ERA.
- David Gaines cost us the final game of the Olympia series after blowing up in the 8th, allowing 3 runs without retiring a batter. We were a little unlucky to get swept, but fair to say that the Wolfhounds are a completely different kettle of fish to last year’s basket-case team. They are tied for the lead with Carson City in the West Coast Division on 24-18.

This week: 2-4
Record: 23-19, 3rd place, 3 GB from Madison

[Paulie123]

16 May 2051

FANGRAPHICS
Article: Jürgen Bayern-München praises Magpies cleanup hitter Jeffrey White

It’s not often that you could say that the offensive production of a 3-time all-star and former Outstanding Hitter winner at times goes unnoticed. But at times that almost feels the case for the Magpies’ designated hitter and cleanup man, Jeffrey White. During a career spanning 4 years at Lansing and now 3 years so far in Des Moines, White is steadily crafting a Hall of a Fame resumé.

White rarely steals the headlines with jaw-dropping, stellar performances. But, all-time great Julián Emery of Madison aside, there isn’t another hitter in the State Capitals League who so relentlessly and consistently delivers top-drawer numbers. His lowest OPS+ mark in a season was 122 in 2044, the year he was first called up to the big leagues and played 55 games. Since then, he hasn’t put up an OPS+ of below 130. Over his career to date he has a 152 OPS+ (and a .892 OPS), meaning that he has been over half as good again as an average SCL batter. That’s elite.

This year is no different for the big man from Oakland, California. He’s hitting .307 with a .902 OPS, with 9 home runs and 35 RBIs. 19 of his 50 hits have been for extra bases, and once again he is the lynchpin of the Magpies lineup. What’s almost as impressive as his statistics is his durability: he has missed just 1 regular season game in the last 7 seasons. In baseball, attendance counts, and White’s excellence is ever-present.

[Paulie123]

21 May 2051

GM’s notebook - Series 15 and 16

Sacramento 6-3 Magpies
Sacramento 2-4 Magpies
Sacramento 1-3 Magpies
Magpies 4-13 Salem
Magpies 1-3 Salem
Magpies 8-2 Salem

- Rhys Nunn made a tidy spot start in the home opener against Sacramento, but struggling relievers Jesús Benítez and David Gaines combined to give up 4 untidy runs in the 8th inning.
- Maybe the coaching staff were right about Gianni Hagenaars’ hitting. It’s fallen off a cliff this year: he’s hitting .142 with a pathetic .450 OPS. Johannes Kepler and I are sticking with him because of his stellar defense at a crucial position (CF) - for now. He has to do better or he will be sent down.
- Perhaps Hagenaars overheard me and Johannes discussing him. The next day, the 4-2 win against the Stingrays, he hit 2-3 with a triple and a double.
- Robinson Ortíz took his record to 4-3 with a 3.23 ERA after throwing 8 innings for just 1 unearned run in the series decider.
- Wesley Weaver’s form is really concerning. He lasted only 2.1 IP in the shellacking on day one in Salem, giving up 5 runs, and his ERA is now 5.33. Bernardo Merrado and Jesús Benítez did no better out of the pen.
- We avoided the embarrassment of being swept by the Western League’s worst team (going into the series) thanks to Tom Hart, who allowed just 1 run on 7 hits over 7.1 IP. He’s now 7-0 with a 1.93 ERA and likely headed towards his second all-star game.

This week: 3-3
Record: 26-22, 3rd place, 3 GB from Madison, Lansing

[Paulie123]

28 May 2051

GM’s notebook - Series 17 and 18

St. Paul 0-2 Magpies
St. Paul 1-3 Magpies
St. Paul 0-4 Magpies
Magpies 6-3 Baton Rouge
Magpies 3-4 Baton Rouge
Magpies 6-4 Baton Rouge

- Eric Warner is finding it tough at the plate at the moment. He’s hitting .179 and shows no sign of improvement. Against righty pitchers, he’s now benched: Ángel Márquez moves to SS, and Reynaldo González will get a run of starts at 3B. I have a ton of infield depth on the minor league roster, so I’ll see how this arrangement goes for a week or so.
- Israel Padilla’s 8 scoreless innings beat St. Paul 2-0.
- The 3-1 win over the Rockets featured the 15th save of the year from Ken James. Robinson Ortíz has got his ERA down to 3.00 exactly after giving the team 8 innings for just 1 run with 8 punchouts.
- Gianni Hagenaars is day-to-day with a sore back. He’ll be taken out of the lineup for 3 days until he’s expected to be better.
- Wesley Weaver produced a wonderful complete game to cap off the sweep over St. Paul: 9 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB. Hopefully that’s his form turning a corner.
- Our win streak reached 5 with the 6-3 win versus defending Western League champs Baton Rouge. González went 3-4 with a HR.
- A 4-run 4th inning made all the difference for us in the final game in Baton Rouge.

This week: 5-1
Record: 31-23, =2nd place, 3 GB from Madison

[Paulie123]

29 May 2051

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SCLmagpiesnation.com
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Magpies send down Pereira, call up Cunningham
By Maggie Pye | 29 May | 94 comments

Billy DePodesta has demoted backup catcher José Pereira to the Magpies’ minor league roster, and promoted in his place Blair Cunningham, the SCL’s #100 prospect. Pereira has made 22 starts this year, 7 at catcher and 15 at designated hitter against left-handed pitchers. But he has made limited impact at the plate during these opportunities, hitting .189. His walk rate is excellent, but he has still only got on base at a .286 clip.

So Cunningham will get his first taste of big league action. The Magpies acquired him back in July 2049 from Sacramento in the trade that saw shortstop Matt Anderson depart the club. He profiles as a very similar player to starting catcher Ernesto Solís: a very good defender, and a good contact hitter with little power. Cunningham will pay at designated hitter against left-handed starting pitchers.

There are also reports that DePodesta is considering shaking up his inconsistent bullpen, but no roster moves have been announced thus far.

[Paulie123]

3 June 2051

GM’s notebook - Series 19 and 20

Lansing 2-3 Magpies
Lansing 3-6 Magpies
Lansing 1-7 Magpies
Magpies 9-1 Bismarck
Magpies 1-2 Bismarck
Magpies 17-3 Bismarck

- Blair Cunningham made his SCL debut in the first game at home to Lansing. He went 0-4 with the bat, but called a great game for Robinson Ortíz, who shut out the Sharks for 8 innings. Jesús Benítez blew a 2-run lead in the 9th inning, but Gianni Hagenaars got the Iowa Ballpark crowd roaring with a walk-off home run to lead off the 10th.
- Game two saw Rhys Nunn make a spot start against Lansing’s ace Carlos Lara. Nunn matched him, going 7.1 IP for 3 ER. This time the walk-off HR, a 3-run shot, came in the 12th from Gonzalo Torralda.
- The offense staked Wesley Weaver to a 5-run lead in the 2nd inning in the final game, and that was plenty for him: Weaver got through 8 IP for just the 1 ER.
- Ángel Márquez hit 3-4 with his 15th HR in the easy 9-1 win over the Coyotes.
- In the second game in Bismarck, no runs were scored until the 15th inning. The Coyotes then won it in the 16th. Cory Adams threw 8 brilliant scoreless innings but took a no-decision.
- The final game of the week was tied 3-3 entering the 7th inning. We then racked up 14 runs over the remaining 3 innings to make it a crushing win in the end. António Fernández got 3 hits and 5 RBIs; Cunningham and Márquez each had 3 hits and 4 RBIs.
- We have closed to just 1 game behind Madison in the North Division, and lead the wildcard race by 3 games.
- Walt Davidson (2.12 ERA from 14 relief appearances) is going to take over righty setup duties from the still-slumping Benítez (6.58 ERA)

This week: 5-1
Record: 36-24, 2nd place, 1 GB from Madison

[Paulie123]

4 June 2051

From: Agamemnon Profitloss, Chief Finance Officer
To: Billy DePodesta

Des Moines Magpies Finance Department
FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS REPORT

Ahead of the upcoming player draft, this note provides a summary of our latest projected financial position for the next two years. As you know, the owner has confirmed that the club’s player payroll limit must continue at $100m next season, 2052. We are not yet in a position to confirm the situation for 2053, but I advise you to plan on the basis of a continuation of the existing limit. Our annualised expenditure on player salaries for the current season is comfortably under-budget at $95m.

The current projection for 2052 is over-budget at $113.2m. The increase on this season’s expenditure derives from the agreed contract extensions for Tom Hart ($9.0m), Gonzalo Torralda ($7.5m) and Jesús Benítez ($3.2m), who would have otherwise become eligible for arbitration for the first time this coming fall. The projected figure includes a roll-forward of the annual contract values of four players who will become free agents at the end of the current season: Robinson Ortíz, Pat Watkins, António Fernández and Curt Cox. Not renewing their contracts and replacing them with players already in the organisation would reduce the 2052 projection to an affordable $98.9m.

As ever, the picture looks more problematic two years ahead. Ahead of the 2053 season, starting pitchers Israel Padilla and Cory Adams, shortstop Eric Warner, and four of our bullpen (Walt Davidson, Rhys Nunn, Bernardo Merrado and David Gaines) are all expected to reach arbitration eligibility for the first time, Adams and Gaines as super-2s. It is too early to meaningfully estimate to level of projected overspend for that year, but it is likely to be in excess of $25m. Padilla’s initial arbitration estimate is nearly $11m, and on his current form that could well increase further over the coming twelve months. We have a lot of young talent in the minor league team, and several high draft selections on their way shortly, so filling some of the roster places with youngsters looks a very viable proposition. Please note, however, that Jeffrey White and Wesley Weaver will become free agents after the 2052 season.

Agamemnon Profitloss
Chief Finance Officer

[Paulie123]

10 June 2051

GM’s notebook - Series 21 and 22

Austin 9-5 Magpies
Austin 9-8 Magpies
Austin 3-4 Magpies
Magpies 2-1 Santa Fe
Magpies 4-3 Santa Fe
Magpies 8-3 Santa Fe

- The Austin series began with Robinson Ortíz giving up a grand slam with no outs in the top of the 1st inning. The game didn’t get much better after that.
- Wesley Weaver, Jesús Benítez (again!) and Marv Lewis all has really poor performances on the mound in the 9-8 loss.
- I’ve asked Johannes Kepler to hook the starters a bit less quickly for the moment. Some of the middle relievers are just too unreliable.
- I exempt Walt Davidson from that criticism - he’s been superb. From 17 IP, he has 29 K, only 3 BB, and given up no home runs. His FIP is 0.20.
- In the opener in Santa Fe, Cory Adams (7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 5 BB) was a bit wild but brought his best stuff and beat reigning Outstanding Pitcher Donnie Lee. Ángel Ochoa hit 4-4 with a DBL.
- The “stick with the starter” plan has been abandoned after the 4-3 win over the Outlaws. Israel Padilla cruised through 8 scoreless innings, but despite 104 pitches at that point Kepler sent him out again for the 9th. Tired, he allowed 2 runs without recording any more outs. Ken James made a bit of a mess of trying to see the game out, but we just held on. We will hook the starters in the usual manner and trust the relievers to rediscover better form.
- Despite the bullpen’s ups and downs, we end the week with the SCL’s second best record (behind only division rivals the Brown Bears) and a 5-game cushion in the wildcard race.

This week: 4-2
Record: 40-26, 2nd place, 1 GB from Madison

[Paulie123]

16 June 2051

GM’s notebook - Series 23 and 24

Carson City 4-3 Magpies
Carson City 2-8 Magpies
Carson City 3-1 Magpies
Magpies 5-4 Phoenix
Magpies 4-5 Phoenix
Magpies 5-8 Phoenix

- Ángel Márquez is getting better and better. He hit his 20th home run in the 4-3 defeat to Carson City. That’s the fourth best HR total in the SCL. Márquez also leads the entire league in RBIs with 60 - that’s on pace to get over 150 for the season.
- Annapolis lost their ace, Justin Dodson, for the season with bone chips in his elbow. That could derail their push for what would be only a second postseason appearance in the last 13 years.
- The 8-2 victory on day two at home to the Rattlesnakes featured another 3 hits and 2 doubles from Márquez, a first career home run for backup catcher Blair Cunningham, and a complete game from Wesley Weaver.
- Ángel Ochoa is day-to-day with a stiff back, and will be stepped down from the starting lineup for the rest of the week while he recovers. Terry Lawrence has been temporarily moved down to the minor league team to allow Alex Becker to be called up to cover for Ochoa.
- In the 3-1 loss in the final game of the Carson City series, Ernesto Solís hit 4-4 and Gonzalo Torralda went 3-4. The rest of the lineup failed to get on base once between them.
- António Fernández was the hero in the Phoenix opener, smashing a pinch-hit 2-run HR in the top of the 9th to snatch victory.
- In the rubber game, we were leading 5-2 heading into the bottom of the 9th, but Ken James and Bernardo Merrado had the latest bullpen nightmare, allowing 6 runs, including a walk-off grand slam from Merrado.
- Nashville draft pick Rob Robinson made probably the best and fastest start to a major league career in SCL history. Drafted 6th overall on 15th June, the Kings put him straight on their major league roster and started him the following day against Tallahassee. He only went and pitched a 2-hit shutout with no walks and 4 Ks!

This week: 2-4
Record: 42-30, 2nd place, 2 GB from Madison

[Paulie123]

15 June 2051

FANGRAPHICS
Live feed: Join Gordon Dingbat today for the SCL first year player draft. This is, it has to be said, one of the weaker draft pools in recent years.

9:33AM

Round 1, 16th overall pick: Magpies select SS Daniel Burke (21, bats R, BNN projection: 3.5*)

9:34AM

Gordon: The Magpies already have heaps of young infield talent, but nevertheless they’ve gone for Burke, the talented shortstop from Penn State. Burke gives the team a player they don’t quite have, though, an elite young defender at that crucial position. He’s a decent contact hitter and rarely strikes out. Lacks power and could be more patient at the plate.

9:59AM

Round 1, 24th overall pick: Magpies select C Russ McInnis (18, bats R, BNN projection: 2*)

10:00AM

Gordon: Billy DePodesta was probably hoping to get more elite talent with his two first round picks, but this draft pool isn’t on a par with previous years, that’s for sure. Innis is an out and out slugger: lots of swings and misses but oodles of power. Reasonable defensive skills, but profiles more as a typical DH.

10:51AM

Supplementary round 1, 49th overall pick: Magpies select MR Allen Clary (20, throws R, BNN projection: 5*)

10:52AM

Gordon: Ah, it had to happen! Magpies pick an elite young reliever! Shock! Clary is probably the most electric arm in this year’s draft. The young man from Saskatchewan throws a lethal cutter-slider combination and induces bundles of groundouts. He’s probably 12-18 months away from the majors, but will strike out plenty of batters when he gets there.

10:54AM

Supplementary round 1, 50th overall pick: Magpies select C/MR Ramón González (22, S/R, BNN projection: 5*)

10:55AM

Gordon: González may be the single most interesting player in the entire draft. He was listed as a catcher, which is where he’s played most of the time at college. He’s a good defender behind the plate, and a switch hitter with an excellent eye. But rumour has it the Magpies plan to use him principally as a reliever, where he tried out with great success towards the end of his college career. Some scouts project him to become one of the league’s best relief pitchers. His control of his changeup is under-developed, but he could make it to the Magpies’ big league roster before the season is out. A legitimate potential two-way player.

12:04PM

Round 2, 81st overall pick: Magpies select MR Keith Barnard (20, throws R, BNN projection: 5*)

12:05PM

Gordon: No surprises to Magpies fans to see the team take relief pitching with later picks, but we are firmly in “best player available” territory here. Barnard, former closer at Ole Miss, has a lethal fastball which can reach three digits on the speed gun. But his big question mark, and why he’s fallen so low in the draft, is his control, rated 4/10 potential by many scouts. Lots of upside though, I can see why DePodesta has taken a punt on him.

12:28PM

Round 3, 88th overall pick: Magpies select MR Hakizimana Habimana (20, throws R, BNN projection: 4.5*)

12:29PM

Gordon: That’s four right-handed relief pitchers DePodesta has stocked up on now. Possibly this reflects both the strength of the pitching pool and his dissatisfaction with his current relief options? Habimana is a young South African who moves his pitches all over the shop, making his sinker and slider hard to get away. Velocity is down in the high 80s but that seems to aid the movement he gets.

1:21PM

Round 3, 111st overall pick: Magpies select 1B Bill Fitzgerald (18, bats R, BNN projection: 1*)

1:22PM

Gordon: Durable high school right-handed bat who projects to be the best contact hitter left on the draft board. Avoids striking out, but doesn’t look likely to have the talent to put the ball in play in the major leagues either.

2:30PM

Round 4, 141st overall pick: Magpies select SS António Gutiérrez (18, bats S, BNN projection: 1*)

2:31PM

Gordon: Switch hitter who can play across the infield and in both corner outfield positions. Speedy round the bases but little power at the plate.

3:41PM

Round 5, 171st overall pick: Magpies select 1B Javier Escobar (18, bats R, BNN projection: 1*)

3:42PM

Gordon: Durable contact hitter out of high school in Wisconsin. Rarely strikes out but looks some way short of major league potential.

6:00PM

Gordon’s overall assessment of the draft for the Magpies: They will be disappointed not to have got more elite prospects from two first round picks, but Burke has the potential to become a very good player, and the acquisition of González could turn this draft into a memorable one for the franchise.

[Paulie123]

20 June 2051

GM’s notebook - Series 25

Madison 7-4 Magpies
Madison 1-6 Magpies
Madison 1-3 Magpies

- Ángel Ochoa is fully fit again, so Alex Becker returns to the minor league roster and outfielder Terry Lawrence comes back onto the 25-man.
- Pitching coach Peter Venkman-Ackroyd has had a couple of days working with draft pick Ramón González and is adamant he’s ready for the big league roster already. The dopey bullpen needs a shakeup, so I decided to call him up and give him a look. Rhys Nunn is sent down.
- González made his debut in the 7-4 defeat to the Brown Bears, pitching a 1-2-3 inning.
- I think Bernardo Merrado needs a spell away from the limelight. In the game he walked 5 batters over 1.1 innings. I decided to call up Robert Terry rather than veteran Pat Watkins - Terry has been in our minor league roster for a while now and I need to see what he can do. Watkins is next up if Terry struggles.
- Ernesto Solís won WL player of the week after hitting 10-19 with a HR and 3 RBIs.
- Tom Hart is 9-1 with a 2.11 ERA after giving the team 8 innings of 1-run ball in the 6-1 win over Madison.
- We have SIX Western League all-stars this year: Hart, Jeffrey White, Ken James, Gonzalo Torralda, Ángel Ochoa and Ángel Márquez were all selected. It’s a first selection for the latter four of those guys. Former Magpies fan favourites Enrique Limón and Gabe Copeland were also picked, while Jim Dillman and Gerardo Rivera were named in the EL roster.
- A similarly good 8 IP, 1 ER performance from Cory Adams won the rubber game of the Brown Bears series.
- Great to win the series against the North Division leaders, especially after losing the opener. We are now just 1 game behind.

This week: 2-1
Record: 44-31, 2nd place, 1 GB from Madison

[Paulie123]

21 June 2051

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SCLmagpiesnation.com
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Magpies acquire pitching prospects Reese and Gómez from Providence in exchange for Nunn, Kubota and Lambert
By Maggie Pye | 29 Jun | 1,308 comments

The Magpies have swung a trade with Providence, confirmed by both clubs this afternoon, which has added two more quality pitching prospects to the organisation’s embarrassment of riches at the position.

The Magpies have obtained left-handed starting pitcher Scotty Reese, 19, and right-hander Cristo Gómez, also 19. Reese is the BNN’s #19 prospect. He has a 4-pitch arsenal with a quality fastball as his out pitch which he regularly throws in the mid-90s. His stamina is a concern but he gets good movement on his pitches and is expected to develop outstanding control. Gómez is the #43 prospect, whose command is still rather wild at the moment. His 5-pitch repertoire includes a slider, changeup and forkball.

In return, the Magpies have sent three major league quality young players to the Blue Rocks: 24-year-old infielder Yoshino Kubota, and pitchers Rhys Nunn, 26, and Roger Lambert, 22. GM Billy DePodesta said: “We are sorry to say goodbye to three such good young players, but we feel this move makes sense both for us as an organisation and them as players. Our ballclub has huge pitching depth and depth in the infield, and playing time would have been limited for all three talented guys. This move gives them a better chance of fulfilling their significant potential. We will follow their progress and future careers with interest and wish them all the best.” Providence have put Kubota and Nunn immediately on their active roster. Magpies front office sources say that Lambert’s control has not developed as expected over the past 12-18 months and he had dropped well down the pecking order of pitching prospects.

[Paulie123]

29 June 2051

GM’s notebook - Series 26 and 27

Magpies 1-5 Denver
Magpies 10-2 Denver
Magpies 12-3 Denver
Olympia 0-2 Magpies
Olympia 1-4 Magpies
Olympia 5-6 Magpies

- The Eastern League won an unexciting all-star game 2-0. Ángel Ochoa, Ángel Márquez, Jeffrey White and Gonzalo Torralda went a combined 0-8 at the plate. Tom Hart and Ken James each pitched a scoreless inning.
- In an odd move, Boston (32-43) gave up the SCL #10 prospect, pitcher Jesús Grandique, to Nashville, in exchange for 29-year-old CF Warren Glass. With their $240m annual budget, Boston clearly don’t do rebuilding.
- The two teams then traded again the next day, Boston this time giving up the number 50 prospect, SP Masato Kiyomizu, in return for the Kings’ 30-year-old reliever Bill Lewis. I really like both these deals for Nashville.
- The offense really turned it on in the 10-2 thumping of the Snow Sox. Márquez smacked 2 HR, and Reynaldo González hit a HR and a double.
- Albany’s 21-year-old promising starting pitcher José Gallardo, the former #5 prospect, has suffered a torn rotator cuff and will miss the next 13-14 months. I explored a possible trade for Gallardo involving Kevin Cantrell ahead of the deadline last July, eventually deciding against the move. I’m glad I did. Hope the lad can get back to his best once he’s recovered.
- The 12-3 win in the rubber game included 5 runs in each of the 6th and 7th innings.
- Olympia started with former Magpie Jack Morris in our series opener. Morris pitched well (6.1 IP for 1 ER) but Tom Hart was even better (8 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K).
- We swept the Wolfhounds after a frantic 14th inning victory. They scored 3 runs in the top of the inning, only for us to score 4 in the bottom half.
- After this 5-game streak, we’ve surged into a 2-game lead over the Brown Bears.

This week: 5-1
Record: 49-32, 1st place, 2 game lead over Madison

[Paulie123]

29 June 2051

FANGRAPHICS
Chat: Osiris Sabretooth is trying his best to keep a stiff upper lip and put on a brave face. He has good days and bad days.

11:01

Osiris: G’day guys and gals, welcome to today’s FanGraphics chat!

11:02

World Cup Willie: What about the Magpies’ young offense, eh? Only 4 of their hitters are aged 28 or over, and they’re second in the Western League in runs scored with 375. Brilliant!

11:03

Osiris: In a league where teams play big money for quality veteran hitters, the Magpies are showing that young batters can also produce the goods. Can they do it consistently over a 162 game season, though? Plenty more good young batters on their minor league roster, too.

11:04

Air On A G-String: Ángel Márquez was below his best last year, but is back with a vengeance this campaign.

11:04

Osiris: Yes, not only has he produced the goods himself (71 RBIs already, which leads the league, and 23 HR), but at #5 in the lineup he also protects cleanup man Jeffrey White. No coincidence that both were all-stars.

11:06

MVEMJSUN: I really like the look of young catcher Blair Cunningham. Excellent defensively, and hitting .343. Could he usurp Ernesto Solís as the starter?

11:07

Osiris: Hold your horses a moment! It’s still early days and his batting stats are based on fewer than 40 PAs. But I totally agree he’s looked mightily impressive so far.

11:07

Luke Skywalker Ate My Hamster: Do you think DePodesta will keep faith with Gianni Hagenaars at CF? Defensively elite, but been really poor with the bat.

11:08

Osiris: I do. First, because I don’t think they have the budget to bring in an upgrade at the position. Second, because DePodesta values defense there and the rest of the lineup are more than compensating for Hagenaars’s below-replacement level hitting.

11:09

Osiris: And also: hats off to young hitters Rob Crawford and Gonzalo Torralda!

11:10

Hugh Heifer: Let’s get on to less trivial matters. Knock, knock?

11:10

Osiris: Who’s there?

11:11

Hugh Heifer: The interrupting cow.

11:11

Osiris: The interrupting c—

11:11

Hugh Heifer: MOOOOOOOO!

11:12

Osiris: An old ‘un, but a good ‘un!

11:13

Osiris: Well, that’s all folks. Ta-ra!

[Paulie123]

5 July 2051

GM’s notebook - Series 28 and 29

Magpies 3-2 Sacramento
Magpies 5-3 Sacramento
Magpies 5-4 Sacramento
Salem 1-2 Magpies
Salem 2-6 Magpies
Salem 3-1 Magpies

- Robert Terry made his first career start on day one of the road trip to Sacramento, and it was a good one: 6.2 innings for just a single unearned run on 3 hits.
- Jeremy Williams (now at St. Paul and operating mainly out of their bullpen) won Western League pitcher of the month for June, after throwing for a 0.61 ERA from 14 relief appearances.
- The first two games of the Sacramento series were won in the 11th inning. In the 5-3 second one, Jesús Benítez took the win with 3 scoreless innings out of the pen - has he finally recovered his confidence and best form?
- Stingrays starter Adam Davis went into the final game of our series with the league’s 5th best ERA, but homers from Ángel Ochoa and Ernesto Solís meant he didn’t make it through the 2nd inning against us.
- Tom Hart is just having a phenomenal season. He is now 11-1 with a 1.92 ERA. He is certainly a contender for WL Outstanding Pitcher this year, but Madison’s Al Harper (1.53 ERA), last year’s winner, is probably the favourite.
- Our winning streak reached 10 with the 6-2 victory over the Ironclads. We were heading for defeat until a 5-run 8th inning, which included a bases-clearing double from Reynaldo González, turned the game on its head.
- Hartford’s 40-year-old vet Brian Coble became only the 4th SCL player to reach 600 home runs. The all-time record of 688 by James Fox, formerly of Lansing, is probably out of his reach, however.

This week: 5-1
Record: 54-33, 1st place, 5 game lead over Madison

[Paulie123]

6 July 2051

onlytheboxscore.com/Magpies
Magpies mid-season review: a great first half
Posted by Lee Reebok, @beerok

After losing their best pitcher, Kevin Cantrell, and best hitter, Enrique Limón, in the offseason, many Magpies supporters were probably hopeful of a good season, rather than expectant. After a steady start, Billy DePodesta’s young team seem to have hit their stride and have gone 10-2 since the all-star break to lead the traditionally tough North Division by 5 games. Can they keep it up?

The pitching staff has been both excellent and poor. The excellence has been in the rotation, where Tom Hart (11-1, 1.92) has led the rotation with a series of dominant displays. Israel Padilla (7-7, 2.80) and rookie Cory Adams (9-3, 2.66) have also been terrific. The poor play has come out of the bullpen, closer Ken James and Walt Davidson aside. Jesús Benítez (3-4, 5.40) has had trouble shaking off the psychological effects of his disaster in last season’s wildcard game, but has shown signs recently of getting back to something resembling his best form. The youthful lefty relief pair of David Gaines (3-3, 4.56) and Marv Lewis (2-1, 4.30) have been unreliable. DePodesta has shuffled the pack to try and find a better formula. Bernardo Merrado has been demoted and Rhys Nunn traded, and the promotion of long-time prospect Robert Terry and recent draft pick Ramón González seems to have sparked a revival.

Much will depend on the Magpies’ batting lineup. The young group, which has centred round the all-star talents of Jeffrey White (.846 OPS) and Ángel Márquez (.901 OPS), has put up a strong first half. Second baseman Ángel Ochoa (.779 OPS) and first baseman Gonzalo Torralda (.810 OPS) earned their first all-star selection. Rookie left fielder Rob Crawford (.735 OPS) was given the difficult task of filling Limón’s shoes, but has performed admirably. Can the inexperienced posse continue their fine form and drive their team to a sixth consecutive year in the playoffs? The roster has been incredibly lucky with injury so far this year, with none of the players on the roster spending any time on the DL. Whether the lineup can keep producing when injuries do strike will be decisive to the team’s fortunes.

[Paulie123]

12 July 2051

GM’s notebook - Series 30 and 31

Magpies 2-3 St. Paul
Magpies 13-3 St. Paul
Magpies 0-2 St. Paul
Baton Rouge 2-3 Magpies
Baton Rouge 4-0 Magpies
Baton Rouge 8-2 Magpies

- The second game of the road trip to St. Paul was tied 3-3 entering the 7th inning, but then our offense destroyed the Rockets’ bullpen, scoring 6 runs in the 7th and 4 more in the 9th. Jeffrey White hit his 20th home run and 20th double in the game.
- At 1.18 walks per 9 innings, Wesley Weaver trails only Al Harper in the entire SCL. But he is giving up too many hits.
- Chasing a fourth straight championship, Montgomery have slipped to 47-43 and are locked in a tight race with Atlanta for the South East Division. They have traded with Augusta to acquire a good outfielder, Mike Thompson, but gave up a very good prospect, Jesús Gonzáles, to get him.
- Another late win to begin the Baton Rouge match-up. We scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to hand Gabe Copeland only his second blown save of the year for the Deltas.
- The Deltas lineup jumped on Robinson Ortíz early in the rubber game, and Johannes Kepler pulled him in the 2nd inning. In his defense, most of his colleagues were rubbish, too. Their outfielder Ian Britt hit for the cycle.
- The 13-run game aside, the offense is in a bit of a funk. Pundits are saying we’ll go as far as the lineup will let us; if they carry on like this that won’t be very far at all.
- Blair Cunningham became our first DL visitor of the year after fracturing his foot - José Pereira has replaced him as backup catcher.

This week: 2-4
Record: 56-37, 1st place, 4 game lead over Madison

[Paulie123]

13 July 2051

From: Aristotle Catheter M.D., Club Doctor
To: Billy DePodesta

Des Moines Magpies Medical Department
INJURY REPORT: BLAIR CUNNINGHAM

I am delighted that it is into the second week of July that I am submitting to my first injury report of the season. In part, this is testament to the fantastic work of our fitness and conditioning staff and the work they have done with the players to keep muscle strains and other non-impact injuries to a minimum. In part, too, of course, we have been extremely lucky.

Backup catcher Blair Cunningham suffered a bruised foot in last night’s heavy defeat against the Baton Rouge Deltas. In their initial inspection, my medical team feared he may have fractured his foot, which would have entailed a lay-off of six to eight weeks. Further tests today have revealed that, thankfully, he has only suffered bad bruising. He will need to rest his foot completely for about a week, and I estimate it will be two weeks in total before he is fit to return to on-field action. I recommend he is placed on the SCL disabled list with immediate effect.

Aristotle Catheter M.D.
Club Doctor