From High School to General Manager

[themoguler]

Great thread. Very interesting as well. I may start one of these dynasty reports soon as well.

[Riverdawg]

Bumping it so that if anyone hasn't read this yet show them what they are missing out on....

[Mrexbaseball]

Thanks Riverdawg, I just read it and this is really cool...

[Rowleyball]

Houston GM Billy Briggs was very pleased with how Scouting Director Matt Rowley was doing. In fact, he was so impressed by Rowley’s poise and presence in the front office that in mid-January he promoted the 33 year old to Assistant General Manager.

“I’ve filled many roles for this organization,” Matt said a few days after hearing about his new job, “but I am looking forward to this one more than any other. This line of work is not what I had in mind when I retired, but I am growing more interested in front office management. I have to thank Billy for giving me this opportunity. I will do my best to help him out.”

Rowley has been turning heads all around the league. He is regarded as one of the hottest young minds in the UBL, especially his ability to scout and handle young prospects. He has helped to put together one of the most promising minor league systems in the game, and now he will have a chance to help build the team more directly from his brand new office in Lone Star Stadium.

[AdmiralACF]

Entertaining story. Keep those posts coming!

[Satanic]

Greatest thread I've ever read.

Gee, I was kinda expecting him to get to the majors for 3/4 of the season or so, break the OBP record and quickest to reach 100 walks per plate appearances, then a serious injury ended his career as an athlet...

But overall it's a great story-in-making.

[Rowleyball]

In one of the biggest turnarounds in UBL history, the Houston Rockets went from a season in which they won only 72 games to entering the playoffs in 2016 as the Eastern League wildcard. They finished 3 games back of the Central division champion Chicago, but they still had the second best record in the EL with 93 wins.

“I bet y’all didn’t expect this!” Rockets’ GM Billy Briggs said with a smile on his face. The Rockets faced the Northeast champs, the Boston Patriots, in the 5 game divisional series. Houston was swept by the balanced attack of the Patriots in their first playoff appearance since 2011, but overall the organization was pleased with the team’s season.

“Obviously we aren’t completely satisfied with our performance in the playoffs, “ Assistant GM Matt Rowley said in the Rockets’ last post-game press conference, “but we are very proud of this team and the entire organization. We were able to build this team back to a formidable competitor, and we wholeheartedly believe that we will improve on our success in the years to come.”

[Rowleyball]

Briggs and Rowley, known as one of the hardest working front office duos in the UBL, were evaluating their options for 2017 while they watched the World Series between the Boston Patriots and the Las Vegas Outlaws. The phone rang at Briggs’ desk and he answered it on speaker phone.

Briggs: "Hello?"

Voice: “Yes, Matt Rowley please.”

Rowley: “Speaking.”

Voice: “Mr. Rowley, my name is John Dayton and I represent the Los Angeles Stars organization. Our owner, Mr. William Carter, is looking to replace our current General Manager. If you are interested, we will fly you out to our offices here in Hollywood Park to meet with management here for an interview.”

Rowley: “Thank you Mr. Dayton, but right now unfortunately I … (Briggs whispers something to Matt) … actually, can I call you back?”

Dayton: “Certainly. You can reach me by calling our secretary in Baseball Operations.”

Rowley: “Thank you, I will be in contact soon.”

Dayton: “Goodbye.”

As soon as Matt hung the phone up, Briggs erupted at him. “How the hell could you turn down an opportunity like this Matt? I appreciate your loyalty, but come on man! We wouldn’t have made it to the playoffs this year without you. I am 100% positive that you deserve to be a GM right now, not two years down the road, not five years from now, but NOW.”

Rowley was still in shock. “I don’t know. I’m definitely going to have to think this one over. That is home for me, I grew up only an hour away from LA. For my first job as a GM I don’t know if I’ll be able to take the pressure. That Carter sure doesn’t have a great reputation as a boss.”

“Look at it his way,” Briggs responded. “The Stars are one of those teams that expects to win it all every season. They play in one of the biggest markets in the league, have a huge fan base, all of that. How often do opportunities like this come along, Matt? Sure, Carter has a temper, but when you get on his good side you will never be happier. There is always a risk in every action you take. By staying here in Houston, you risk not being able to work for YOUR TEAM. You told me how at first you were upset getting drafted by Albuquerque, one of the Stars’ divisional rivals. Now you get a chance to be with that team, Matt. This opportunity may never come around again.”

This was the most important decision Matt had been confronted with in his professional career. Briggs was convinced that he was ready to step up, but Matt wasn’t so sure. If he accepted the job with the Stars, he would have to face the fans of Los Angeles, arguably the most critical fans in the entire UBL. In Houston he could hide behind Briggs if things went wrong, but as the General Manager he would have no where to hide. Rowley, approaching his 34th birthday, had come to a crossroads. He won the World Series in his last game as a player with the Albuquerque Demons, but if he accepted a job as a General Manager, he would be held responsible for the entire team’s success. The impending decision would undoubtedly impact the rest of his career.

[Rainey]

Great story.

[Tib]

Simply fantastic. Great job. You win the Rascoe Barahona Award for Outstanding Example of Why We Love This Game.

[Rowleyball]

Matt agreed to fly out to Los Angeles to interview with the Stars, but he still didn’t know if he would accept the job if it was offered to him. He spent a few days in November evaluating what would be his new team. In the first 15 seasons that the UBL has existed, LA finished in 3rd place in its division only once, and they had never finished last. They had reached the playoffs 9 times as the division winner and 3 times as the wildcard. The Stars had reached the UBL World Series twice but were swept in their first appearance and suffered a heartbreaking loss in 7 games in 2010. Los Angeles was a city that desperately wanted a World Series win, something that had eluded them even though they were one of the UBL’s most successful franchises.

In 2016 however, the Stars finished with the worst record in the Southwest Division, causing their owner William Carter to go on a firing spree. One of the first victims was their long-time General Manager Brad Wooten. Word around the league was that Carter wanted someone to step in and shake things up. He wanted someone with new ideas, new ways of thinking. Rowley was rumored to be one of the top candidates, and indeed he was.

The holidays were coming, so Matt took a drive home to California to clear his mind. It’s obviously a long way from Houston to the west coast, so he had plenty of time to think about his options. The interview was scheduled for January 4th. He would discuss his situation with his friends and family back home, and then make the drive down to beautiful Hollywood Park.

He had followed the Stars since the beginning of the UBL because it was his hometown team. He knew about all of their successes and disappointments. Their notorious owner was always being quoted in the papers. Wooten was the only front office employee that had his job for more than a few years because he was Carter’s nephew, but after the Stars’ last place finish in 2016 the boss could hold his temper no longer.

Sportswriters around the country were convinced that if anyone could get the Stars back to their dominance of the Southwest Division, Rowley was the man to do it. Matt wasn’t so sure.

[OCBLcommish]

Oh, I think he is pretty sure lol

[Rowleyball]

Well, yeah. Hehe. Just trying to add a little suspense to the story.

[OCBLcommish]

Let's see if he Billy Beanes them and backs out after agreeing...

[Rowleyball]

Despite his worries, Matt couldn’t resist being the General Manager of one of the most successful UBL franchises. He was offered the job immediately after the interview, so Matt was able to move into his new office in Hollywood Park the day after. On his first day on the job, Rowley was called in for a private meeting with his new boss, William Carter. The Stars’ owner had one short message to his new GM: “Get into the playoffs, or you’re fired.”

Knowing that, Rowley started analyzing the available free agents right away. The Stars finished with a 77-85 record the year before, and many of their significant contributors had left for free agency. Left fielder Willie Hegland, who at the age of 25 broke the single season UBL homerun record with 61, had chosen to see what kind of offers he could get. Re-signing the budding superstar was Rowley’s top priority once he had taken over as GM. The Stars were able to out-bid all other teams, and they signed Willie to a 5 year, $64 million contract. This made him the 2nd highest paid position player and 7th overall.

Even after signing Hegland, the Stars still had many holes to fill on their team. Puerto Rican third baseman Jesus Prado was also a big signing for the team. He’s a switch hitter who consistently puts up good power numbers. He’s won the Silver Slugger award, which is given to the hitter with the best overall season in each league, 3 times. He’s played for the Western League All-Star team 6 times. He’s led the Western League in batting average 4 times. His best year was in 2008 when he hit .376, had 43 HR, drove in 117 runs, and led the WL in Avg, Obp, and Slg. Prado, now 34 years old, signed with the Stars, his 3rd Western League team, for a 2 year contract worth almost $11 million.

The fans in LA are happy that Rowley was able to bring back Hegland and convince Prado to be their 3B, but they still want more. The media coverage of every one of Rowley’s moves has been significant. Many sportswriters think that the Stars need more pitching to have a chance at getting to the playoffs, but Rowley wasn’t able to bring in any big name pitchers through free agency. We’ll see if he has done enough to turn this team back into a winner.

[Rowleyball]

Rowley was able to bring in a decent amount of talent through free agency, and as they always are in this time of year, hopes were high for a Stars comeback. Going into Spring Training, here is a list of players that have a chance of making the opening day roster:

Starting Pitchers:

Carl Flores – 30 years old, LHP, 5’9” 175
One of last year’s surprises, Carl Flores was a solid starter in the Stars’ rotation for much of the season. He had been a minor league journeyman before the 2016 season. In 20 starts, he allowed a superb 2.54 ERA and had a record of 10-3. This lefty will have a full season to prove if last year was a fluke or not.

Leslie Johnson – 29 years old, RHP 6’4” 235
Johnson is a former first round pick of the Stars, but injuries have taken a toll on his arm. He still is a solid starter. His best year was in 2015 when he was 9-12 with a 4.13 ERA. The Stars hope he can put up numbers like those in 2017.

William Laguerre – 27 years old, RHP, 6’1” 200
Last year’s league leader in losses (18), Laguerre hopes to make some adjustments in 2017. He may make the team as the fifth starter, but the Stars’ aren’t counting on him to improve on his 6.15 ERA from last season.

Benjamin Martin – 30 years old, RHP, 6’1” 190
Benny is the Stars’ clear-cut ace. He has won 17 games or more the last 3 seasons, and he has also put up ERAs of 2.55 or better in that span. He shows no signs of slowing down, and if the Stars are able to make it to the playoffs, they will need Martin to lead them.

Mario Sevilla – 23 years old, RHP 6’3” 180
Mario was rated as the UBL’s top pitching prospect last year, and he has a good chance to make the major league team this year despite not pitching at the AAA level yet. A former first-round pick, the Puerto Rican righty has improved in each of his minor league seasons. He probably won’t start the year at the majors, but watch out for this guy.

Darwin Thome – 32 years old, LHP, 6’2” 175
Thome is a long-shot to make the team, but he looked like a major leaguer in winter ball so the Stars signed him in the offseason. He hasn’t pitched in the bigs since 2014, and he only has 3 major league starts, but Darwin has a chance to eat some innings for the Stars.

Bullpen:

Juan Blazquez – 25 years old, LHP, 5’1” 165
Juan is a very promising young reliever. In his second full season in the Los Angeles bullpen, Blazquez had a 2.95 ERA through 82.1 innings pitched. He shows no signs of slowing down, so the Stars should be able to rely on this lefty for another productive season.

Jorge Dolman – 20 years old, RHP, 6’2” 215
Dolman was the Stars’ first round pick in the 2015 amateur draft, and he already was up in the majors for a September call-up in 2016. This Dominican righty is surprisingly mature for a 20-year old, so it won’t be a surprise if he can excel for the Stars right away.

Fred Mapes – 28 years old, RHP, 6’2” 200
A one-time all-star with Charlotte, Mapes begins his career in Los Angeles in 2017. While not overpowering, he is a consistent setup man who gets many groundball outs, something every bullpen needs.

Carlos Miranda – 32 years old, RHP, 6’4” 190
After many years of setup duty, Miranda was chosen to be the Stars’ closer in 2016. He recorded 34 saves, which placed him 3rd in the league, but he struggled a bit shown by his 4.07 ERA. The Stars will most likely stay with Miranda at closer, but if he doesn’t improve he may find himself back in a setup or middle relief role.

Daniel Morgan – 35 years old, RHP, 6’1” 195
Morgan is hoping to regain his old form. He’s not getting any younger, and his numbers last year showed a pitcher in sharp decline. His 5.50 ERA last year was a career worst. The Stars hope he can bounce back and pitch like he has in the past.

Joseph Selig – 33 years old, LHP, 6’2” 215
Selig is a solid lefty specialist who can also get righthanders out. A part of the Minnesota’s UBL Championship team in 2011, Joseph chose to leave Minnesota for free agency in the offseason after 2016, and the Stars jumped on the chance to have an experienced reliever like him.

Position Players:

C Ferdy Gonzalez – 26 years old, Bats: Right, Throws: Right, 6’5” 215
Gonzalez was acquired in mid-February from Atlanta in exchange for outfielder Robert McGuigan. Ferdy will be given the starting job for the Stars, and he hopes to impress in his first time in that role. His bat could improve, but he shows great plate discipline. His real value is behind the plate, where he has an excellent throwing arm.

C Kendry Sandoval – 36 years old, Bats: Right, Throws: Right, 6’0” 220
A career backup catcher for Boston and now Los Angeles, Sandoval will once again fill this role. He hasn’t been able to hit consistently since his days with the Patriots, but his defensive ability keeps him with a job. He won a Bronze Glove at catcher in his only season as a starter back in 2012, so having him fill in every once in a while can help out the team defensively.

1B/3B/SS Jerold Eng – 24 years old, Bats: Left, Throws: Right, 6’1” 210
Eng is one of the Stars’ brightest prospects, and he should be ready for full-time duty in 2017. He has consistently hit over .300 in the minors while showing some good pop. The Stars will most likely use him in a platoon at first base until he shows he can play everyday. He was drafted as a shortstop/third baseman, so his defense at first may be a bit shaky while he adjusts. Eng is an average baserunner who will steal a base every now and then.

1B/3B Nicholas Penwell - 27 years old, Bats: Right, Throws: Right, 6’2” 190
Penwell started last year as the Stars’ everyday first baseman, but he couldn’t put it together at any point during the season. A .211 average, 3 homeruns, and 44 RBI is pretty poor for an everyday first baseman. While Jerold Eng learns to hit major league pitching, Penwell will get some starts here and there, mostly against lefties. His defense is solid, but he can’t run at all on the bases.

2B/3B/SS Stephen Frankel – 26 years old, Bats: Right, Throws: Right, 6’0” 170
Frankel came up with the Seattle organization as a reserve infielder, and he recently signed with the Stars and probably will get some more playing time with his new team. In his limited time at the major league level, Stephen hasn’t hit for much average. His defense at second is decent, and he will probably see significant time there because of management’s frustration with Giffin’s defense.

2B/SS Robert Giffin – 33 years old, Bats: Right, Throws: Right, 5’10” 185
Giffin can hit, but his lack of defensive ability takes away from his value. He was the Stars everyday second baseman last year, and he was an OK hitter (.243 / .301 / .421), but that certainly wasn’t enough to make up for his defense. Look for him to make an occasional start but be used mostly as a pinch hitter.

3B Jesus Prado – 34 years old, Bats: Switch, Throws: Right, 6’2” 195
Prado is a perennial power threat. He is past his prime, but that doesn’t mean he won’t hit 30 homeruns and drive in 100 runs. His defense is sub-par, but he makes up for it with his bat. Jesus isn’t a very fast runner, but he’s smart and won’t embarrass himself on the basepaths.

SS Thomas Waddle – 36 years old, Bats: Right, Throws: Right, 5’9” 175
After spending many years as a reserve for Memphis, Waddle found a starting job in Los Angeles. His career is winding down, but Thomas should still be productive. In his four seasons as the Stars’ shortstop, he has hit at least .280, and he can be counted on to hit 5-10 homeruns while stealing 10-20 bases each season. His defensive range has declined with age, but his speed on the basepaths is still above average.

LF Willie Hegland – 26 years old, Bats: Left, Throws: Right, 6’6” 210
Only 26 and he already holds the record for most homeruns in a season with 61. Hegland has more pure power than any hitter in the league, but that’s pretty much all there is with “Big Willie.” He can hit for average, but his defense in left is poor, his arm is below average, and he has no speed at all. Despite his many weaknesses, Hegland has a swing that is the envy of the entire UBL, and that makes him very important for the Stars’ chances for success.

LF/RF Edgardo Sanchez – 24 years old, Bats: Right, Throws: Right, 6’3” 215
Sanchez will be an above average reserve outfielder. He has had a successful, yet unspectacular, minor league career. He is an average hitter with decent power, and he has a very good throwing arm. If given a starting job, Edgardo could probably be a league leader in outfield assists.

CF/RF Keith Smith – 31 years old, Bats: Left, Throws: Left, 6’1” 185
Smith will probably never be that great of a player. He has played for Denver, Memphis, Jacksonville, Memphis again, and now with the Stars. His career batting average is .253 while he has hit only 4 homeruns in his 9-year major league career. His defense is average, but nothing to brag about. Keith deserves to be a big leaguer, but nothing more than a bench player.

CF Bill Sparks – 27 years old, Bats: Left, Throws: Left, 5’9” 180
Sparks is a solid hitter, but his real value is in the outfield. He has good range and won’t make many mistakes. He hit .304 last year to go along with 6 homeruns and 68 RBI, and it isn’t unreasonable to expect a similar performance in 2017. Bill has good speed, but he has never been very aggressive as a baserunner.

RF Michael Peterson – 32 years old, Bats: Right, Throws: Right, 6’4” 175
Peterson signed with the Stars as a free agent in the offseason, after spending most of his career with the Kansas City organization. He is one of those players who won’t draw much attention to himself, but he is always there. Peterson is an OK hitter, but he is smart at the plate, making sure the pitcher throws him strikes. His lanky body doesn’t give Michael much power as a hitter, but he did hit a career-high 17 homeruns in his last season in KC. His defense in right field is below average, and he runs the bases adequately.

[Psicosis]

Amazing story and great writing. This is terrific work, man.

[Rowleyball]

The Stars began spring training down in San Diego, home of their AA affiliate. They had some new faces coming into camp, including their brand new General Manager. Rowley now had to get used to the constant attention from the media, as the hype surrounding the first year GM had grown since he was hired. On the first day that pitchers and catchers reported, Rowley was caught by an interviewer and here’s what he had to say:

“We have question marks coming into camp, as all teams do. We hope that we can have a successful spring training and get our guys up to 100% by the time opening day comes. Another one of our goals is to give a look to a good number of our younger minor leaguers. We have some players that look to be ready to make an impact in the next few years, and this will give us a great opportunity to see where they are at development-wise.”

There were some interesting battles for spots on the 25 man roster; they included the last two starting rotation spots and the middle infield starters, among others. Martin, Flores, and Johnson were virtual locks to be the top three in the rotation, and Laguerre, Thome, and 23-year old prospect Sevilla were competing for the final two spots. It was pretty clear who would make up the bullpen; the closer job was Miranda’s to lose, Mapes and Selig would be the primary setup men, Morgan and Blazquez would work in middle relief, and 20-year old phenom Jorge Dolman was competing for the last spot in the bullpen with journeyman Mark Lasa, who was recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Other relievers in camp who were competing for a spot were 29-year old Mathew Coelho, who had shuffled back and forth between the minors and the majors since he came up with Detroit in 2010, and 25-year old Bill Pressman, who in recent years had improved his delivery and now projects to be an above average reliever.

In the lineup, Gonzalez was a lock to start at catcher. The front office was set on giving Eng the job at first base, and manager Joel Lockhart was raving about him all winter. Frankel, Giffin, and Waddle would be competing for the middle infield spots, but Waddle was almost a sure thing to start at shortstop. Frankel is better with the glove, but Giffin is a better hitter, so that matchup will be interesting to follow. Prado will be at third, and Hegland will start everyday in left field. Sparks will play center, and the right field job will come down to Peterson and Sanchez, with Peterson having the early edge because he has more major league experience. That would leave the bench with Sandoval as the backup catcher, Penwell playing some first and third, and Smith as the 5th outfielder. Other position players competing for roster spots are 26-year old third baseman Jeffrey Meyer, a career minor leaguer who may eventually make it to the big leagues, 25-year old utilityman Christian Martos, a scrappy player who is versatile but lacks offensive skills, 25-year old infielder Dennis Garneau, who is similar to Martos both defensively and with the bat, and outfielders Roger Littleton (25) and Ian Maddy (24), who both are defensive specialists.

The two most talked about players in the Southern California Spring League, which is comprised of mostly Western League teams, were Jerold Eng and the Stars’ 23-year outfield prospect William Resch. Eng was on fire for all of spring training, and it didn’t matter whether he was facing all-stars or minor leaguers. He showed more power than was expected of him, as he hit five homeruns total during the exhibition games. Resch, a former 2nd round draft pick who had not played higher than the AA level, exploded onto the scene in his first major league spring training. The 6’4” 230 pound lefty was hitting line drive after line drive, while also showing very good presence at the plate. Resch will start the year at AAA Anaheim, but if he continues hitting like that he may see major league action sooner than the Stars’ thought he would.

As for the position battles, Lockhart had some important decisions to make. Frankel and Giffin played predictably, with Frankel doing OK with the bat but playing the infield well, and Giffin showing off his hitting skills while not hustling after grounders and generally being lazy defensively. Lockhart had had enough of Giffin’s defensive mishaps in 2016, so he gave the starting job to the newcomer Frankel. Peterson outplayed Sanchez to win the right field starting spot, but Sanchez will most likely be used very often as a pinch hitter. For the last two rotation spots, Lockhart went with the more experienced Thome and Laguerre over the highly touted Sevilla, despite an impressive spring performance. This doesn’t mean that the young Puerto Rican righty won’t be called up this year, but the front office believed that he needed some time at AAA before facing major league hitters. Dolman however, the 20-year old Dominican fireballer, was lights out during spring and earned himself a spot on the major league team. Pitchers Sevilla, Lasa, Coehlo, and Pressman would be sent to Anaheim as well as position players Meyer, Martos, Garneau, Littleton, and Maddy.

Here is an overview of the Stars’ Opening Day Roster:

Rotation:
#1 Martin
#2 Flores
#3 Johnson
#4 Thome
#5 Laguerre

Bullpen:
CL Miranda
SM Mapes
SM Selig
MR Morgan
MR Blazquez
MR Dolman

Lineup:
CF Sparks
SS Waddle
LF Hegland
3B Prado
RF Peterson
1B Eng
C Gonzalez
2B Frankel

Bench:
C Sandoval
1B/3B Penwell
2B/SS Giffin
LF/RF Sanchez
CF/RF Smith

[Rowleyball]

In Rowley’s first month as a General Manager, he sure didn’t impress many when his team finished April with a 11-17 record.

Martin and Flores were the only starters in the Stars’ rotation that had any kind of success. Martin was 1-1 with a 3.08 ERA in 6 starts and Flores went 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA. Johnson, Thome, and Laguerre combined to go 1-9 with a 7.59 ERA in 16 starts. Los Angeles will need much better performances from their rotation in order to start winning games.

The bullpen minimized the damage most of the time. Miranda looked good, allowing only a 1.65 ERA in 14 appearances (2 saves). The two free agent setup men did their jobs in their debuts with LA; Mapes had a 3.54 ERA in 18 appearances and Selig had a 3.79 ERA in 18 appearances as well. Blazquez continues his success at getting lefties out; he allowed only a 2.57 ERA. Morgan and Dolman however have not been able to get many hitters out. Morgan has allowed 22 hits and given up 8 walks in 15 innings of relief, and Dolman has struggled even more, with an ERA close to 9. He may be on his way back to AAA if he continues to get hit hard at the major league level.

The Stars’ left fielder Willie Hegland had a huge April. He led the league with 11 homeruns and also drove in 24 to go along with a strong .336 average. Hegland almost single handedly kept the team from having the worst record in the Western League. Leadoff hitter Bill Sparks also hit well (.306 Avg / .350 Obp). Reserve outfielder Edgardo Sanchez impressed many by hitting 3 homeruns in the month in only 32 at bats, most coming as a pinch hitter. Third baseman Jesus Prado had five homeruns in April, but he only hit .250 with a .298 Obp. Jerold Eng, who seemed like he couldn’t hit into an out in Spring Training, slumped in his first month of having the starting job at first base. He hit .186 with only two extra base hits.

Rowley was quick to get some insurance for Eng, as he traded southpaw Lucien Fowler, an underachieving minor league starting pitcher, to Cheyenne for first baseman Robert Harvey. The newest member of the team stands at 6’2” and weighs 250, but he does not have much power. Harvey is an above average hitter, but 2016 was an off-year for him and he is looking to come back. Robert will start some at first base, but if Eng begins to hit like the Stars’ front office expects him to, Harvey will get most of his playing time coming off of the bench.

The schedule isn’t going to get any easier for Los Angeles, so they must pick up their game in order to get back into the race for the WL Southwest title. Although it is still early, Stars owner William Carter is already spouting off to reporters. This was a quote in a front page article in the sports section of the Los Angeles Times in late April: “If we don’t start winning, I don’t know what I’ll do. I’ve become less patient with this team every year, and if this s--t keeps going on heads are going to roll.”

[Rowleyball]

After struggling in the first month of the season, Los Angeles started winning some games and got themselves closer to the division lead. Their record in May was 14-12, which brought their overall record to 25-29, and the fans’ criticism of their new GM Matt Rowley’s performance calmed down a bit. “We still haven’t played as well as we believe we can,” Rowley admitted in an interview, “but we are headed in the right direction. We have had some unexpected things come up, and dealing with those have not been easy. Here in the front office, we will continue to try to put out the best 25 players every day.”

Staff ace Benjamin Martin pitched predictably well in May, allowing a 2.86 ERA in 44 innings through 6 starts, but he received inconsistent run support, shown by his 1-2 record. Darwin Thome had a good month as well, going 1-1 in his 5 starts and allowing a 2.93 ERA in 30.2 innings, which included 31 strikeouts. Flores and Laguerre were up and down, and Leslie Johnson pitched bad enough to get sent down to the minors. Replacing him in the rotation was top prospect Mario Sevilla. He had only made 7 starts at the AAA level in his career, but Rowley and his staff decided he was ready to face major league hitting. Sevilla didn’t disappoint, but neither did he blow the Western League away. In his first four starts, the rookie allowed a 4.44 ERA in 24.1 innings.

Jorge Dolman was sent down to AAA early in May, and the Stars brought up journeyman reliever Mark Lasa to replace him in the bullpen. Lasa did his job, allowing a 4.26 ERA in 12.2 innings through 9 appearances. Closer Carlos Miranda recorded 4 saves and 2 wins in 10 appearances, in which he had a 2.70 ERA. Lefthanders Selig and Blazquez remained effective, posting ERAs of 3.68 and 2.00 respectively. Setup man Fred Mapes struggled with some control problems, allowing a 5.27 ERA in 14 appearances. Finally middle reliever Daniel Morgan did well, winning 2 games in 12 appearances and posting a 4.09 ERA.

Big Willie Hegland continued his mastery over Western League pitchers, as he batted .322 and again hit 11 home runs in the month. First baseman Jerold Eng found his stroke in May, as he hit .364 and hit his first homerun of the season. Third baseman Jesus Prado has been getting booed by the Los Angeles fans. After signing a two-year deal worth almost $11 million, Prado has hit .215. He has hit 7 home runs and driven in 23 runs, but LA sportswriters are already writing off Prado, who is 34 years old, as washed up. Robert Harvey, the first baseman that the Stars acquired as insurance for Eng, batted .262 but had only two extra-base hits, both of which were doubles. Reserve outfielder Edgardo Sanchez keeps on hitting well from the bench. He batted .346 with 2 homeruns in 26 at-bats (21 games).

With the annual amateur draft just around the corner in June, many questions will soon be answered about Rowley and his performance as General Manager. The Stars obviously have to turn it around both with their hitting and with their pitching if they want to get into the playoffs. The young GM will probably need to look for another job if the Stars don’t start winning and winning soon.