60 Team League History and story of Tate Redinger

[majormet]

The River Kings debuted in 2021 and are not as bad as other recent debuts playing in the AL West. They are owned by Tim Duncan and have a roof on their stadium to deal with extreme heat.

History

2021 - 23-39 9th

1st Round Picks

2020 - Johnny Groth/CF (50th)

Manager - Jerry Williams- 46 year old from Huntington Beach, CA in his first season he was a scout with the Angels


Leaders

Average - Dave Engle (.292) (2020-6th)

Homers - Adam LaRoche (22) (2020-4th)

RBI's - Adam LaRoche (47)

Stolen Bases - Solly Drake (8) (2020-9th)

Wins - Bryan Rekar (5) (FA signing from Toronto Blue Jays)

Strikeouts - John Tsitouris (61) (FA signing from Oakland Athletics)

ERA - Bryan Rekar - 5.53

Saves - George Bausewine (6) (2020-10th)

Pictured - Not leading in any categories but considered to be their best player is Troy Glaus

[majormet]

The Padres are a juggernaut in the AL West and just don't have any trophies yet to show for their record. They had an amazing inaugural draft which has carried them now for a 3rd season

League History

2019 - 109-53 1st
2020 - 102-60 1st
2021 - 45-18 1st

#1 Draft Picks

2019 - Damian Easley/3B (29th)

2020 - Mike Stanley/3B (34th)


Manager - Andy Green now in his 6th season at 43 still has this job and has become a different kind of manager in this sim


Leaders

Average - Dusty Baker (.310) (inaugural-3rd) - oddly a team he never played for in real life

Homers - Curt Blefary (22) (inaugural-6th)

RBI's - Curt Blefary (62)

Stolen Bases - John McGraw (9) (inaugural-2nd)

Wins - Billy Hoeft (7) (inaugural-4th)

Strikeouts - Mario Soto (137) (inaugural-5th) - he has not been hurt here so we shall see if he becomes a 3000 K stud over time

ERA - Billy Hoeft (2.06)

Saves - Hong-Chih Kuo (11) (inaugural 10th)

Pictured - Trevor Story, considered the best player despite striking out almost every other at bat.

[majormet]

The San Francisco Giants have been in the shadows in the NL West. They have been a tick behind San Diego and Colorado and have slowly built their team and lost key guys to free agency

History

2019 - 89-73 3rd
2020 - 98-64 3rd
2021 - 35-27 5th

#1 Draft Picks

2019 - Shane Mack/CF (13th) - picked way too early was not that big time a player in real life

2020 - Deacon White/C (25th) - pictured


Manager - Devin Bopp - After Bruce Bochy retired, the Giants hired the bench coach from the lowly Portland Lions to become their manager. Bopp is 55 and from Hilo, Hawaii


Leaders

Average - Buddy Hield (.302) (Free agent signing from Houston Astros), this is the Sacramento King from Oklahoma

Homers - Eddie Murray (21) (Inaugural-5th) - he has been putting up huge numbers, the most underrated player of all time

RBI's - Eddie Murray (44)

Stolen Bases - Buddy Hield (6)

Wins - Jaime Garcia (6) (inaugural-13th)

Strikeouts - Mike Mattimore (92) (2019-2nd)

ERA - Carl Hubbell (2.93) (Inaugural-6th)

Saves - Clarence Pickrel (14) (2019-2nd)

[majormet]

As Matt Johnson sang of The The.. this is the Day your life will surely change.

For Tate Redinger it was a turnaround day. It was the 7th game of the season and in the 3rd inning Dave Block crashed into the wall trying to make a catch and it ended up being an inside the park homer as Block was unconscious on the field for 10 minutes. It was a scary moment and even Tate who needed to seize an opportunity was shaken up. Dan Rossi (the manager) told Tate to loosen up and he started to have a catch with one of the relief pitchers.

They were in Bridgewater, New Jersey playing Somerset and not too far from home but Tate had no representation in the seats. Tate jumped on the filed and assumed rightfield for the first time for the Ducks. The smell of the outfield grass was intoxicating. The overwhelming meshing of baseball covers from fence to grass, to infield to dugouts to stands and Tate felt alive again.

He would not be up until the 6th inning barring a big rally as the Ducks were down 6-2.

The 4th inning finished with no activity in the outfield and the 5th inning Tate just retrieved a single hit on a bloop to him in the outfield.

He was now batting for the 2nd time this season in the 6th inning. He was facing a pitcher by the name of Don Eterno. First pitch was high for a ball. Tate stepped out of the batters box and then looked up, as the next pitch rode inside and the count was 2-0. He looked over to the 3rd base coach and it appeared he had the green light. The next pitch was a curveball and Tate was way head of it and lined down the first base line into the crowd. Count was 2-1, the next pitch was in the dirt and it was 3-1 and he still had the green light. Eterno's next pitch was a fastball that just caught the outside corner, a hard pitch to do anything with. The count now being full and the nerves tensing up, Tate barely made contact with the next pitch fouling it about 3 feet away.

The crowd was mostly disinterested with the score being 6-2 and an ostensible nobody at the plate. Tate was definitely feeling nervous for an Atlantic League game. Eterno reared back and it was a hanging changeup. Tate pushed off his back leg and got way in front of the pitch and smacked it with a lot of torque. For a second he did not know where he was, but then he saw that he crushed the pitch over the right field fence and completely out of the ball park. There was no one keeping track of exit velocity or distance but it had to be a 450 foot shot.

Tate in a daze and stunned, admired it but then went into a very awkward home run trot and made the score 6-3. The bench exploded and they all gave him high fives, pats on the back and whatever ritual was popular at the moment.

No outfield action all game, Somerset then retired the side in order in the 7th and clung to a 6-3 lead. Somerset would go to their closer quickly a guy by the name of Terry Silva and he started the eight allowing 2 singles and a walk. The next batter popped up to shortstop. That now put Tate up at the plate with the bases jammed. Silva is a hard throwing lefty, so it would be lefty vs lefty. Silva's first pitch whistled in at 99 mph and was a strike, that was crazy speed. The next 2 pitches missed up and away and it was a 2-1 count. Tate usually pulled the ball against righties and hit line drives against lefties. Tate as going to gamble on this pitch, he felt that it was going to be down the middle. Like a kid in a batting cage, knowing how hard and where the pitch was going, Tate just took a swing at the next fastball.

Tate made contact to straight away centerfield, the Somerset centerfielder retreated back as if he was going to catch the ball but it kept tailing back and the fielder was at the wall and looked up and the ball dropped behind the fence. It was a grand slam in his 2nd at bat of the game and 3rd of the season.

The Ducks went on to win the game 7-6 and Tate was the star with 2 homers and 5 RBi's. He suddenly was the star of the team and those that never acknowledged him were kissing his arse for his success today.

As he drove home back to Montauk that night, Tate just did the mental videotape of the day in his head all the way home and didn't even realize he had some jazz music station on in the car. He was going to treat himself to Rigatoni a la Vodka at a restaurant on the way back. You have to savor the good days in your life as they don't come that often, this was a huge breakout day for Tate.

[majormet]

The Storm entered the league in 2019 and have struggled in a big way. They play in the AL East and despite failure in the standings they have drawn so far. Puerto Rico becomes a state in 2022 and the US Government owns this team.

History

2019 - 30-132 7th
2020 - 74-88 5th
2021 - 29-38 7th

1st Round Picks

2019 - Teddy Higuera/SP (pictured) (39th)

2020 - Mike Slattery/CF (10th) - picked too early


Manager - Joey Pringle - he is a young 32 year old analytics expert out of Morristown, TN in his 3rd season


Leaders

Average - Louis Sockalexis (.301) (2020-4th) actually a player from the 1890's

Homers - Louis Sockalexis (12)

RBI's - Louis Sockalexis (47)

Stolen Bases - Bill Campbell (11) (fictional free agent before 2020 season from Texarkana, AR)

Wins - Red Ames (6) - Free agent signing from Oakland Athletics

Strikeouts - Red Ames (94)

ERA - Teddy Higuera (3.40)

Saves - Glenn Tillbrook (12) (orginal player) - not too bad for the lead singer of Squeeze, did not have the best ratings when this started

[majormet]

The Redbirds are emerging finally in the NL Central after decent runs in the first 2 seasons. They last won a title in 2011 and have drafted well to get into position for 2021.

History

2019 - 83-79 - 4th
2020 - 87-75 - 3rd
2021 - 46-20 - 2nd

Draft History

2019 - Nolan Arenado/3B (8th) - doing well outside of Coors

2020 - Harry Wolter/CF (13th)


Manager - Chris Piatt was bench coach in 2019 and when Shildt was fired he took over as manager he is a 46 year old from Chicago in his 2nd year as manager


Leaders

Average - Cal McVey (.354) (Inaugural-6th)

Homers - Nolan Arenado (19)

RBI's - Nolan Arenado (61)

Stolen Bases - Ender Inciarte (8) (Inaugural-11th)

Wins - Dick McBride (8) (Inaugural-2nd)

Strikeouts - Fernando Valenzuela (103) (pictured) (2019-2nd), seeing if the phenom can last a few more years here in St Louis

ERA - Danny Duffy (2.12) (inaugural-26th), overachieving coming from the 26th round in inauguration

Saves - Tony Balsamo (23) (2019-4th)

[majormet]

The Tampa Bay Rays are a curious sort. They were very competitive in 2019 and then regressed to a 105 losses with 8 new teams coming in the league. They lost a lot to free agency, have rebounded a bit in 2021 in the AL East

History

2019 - 99-63 2nd
2020 - 57-105 7th
2021 - 32-33 6th


#1 Draft Picks

2019 - Bug Holliday/LF (23rd)

2020 - Lou Gehrig/RF (4th) - steal at #4 but playing in the minors


Manager - Christian Thornton manages the team he took over after Kevin Cash got the boot for 2020 season. He was the bench coach and is from Richmond, CA worked prior in A's system


Leaders

Average - Bug Holliday (.355)

Homers - Bug Holliday (19)

RBI's - Don Mattingly (60) (inaugural 2nd) (pictures) - this is the old Don Mattingly manager photo so he has a Benjamin Button look to him, also is the manager of the Marlins so we have some butterfly effect here.

Stolen Bases - Tommy Edman (17) (2019-2nd)

Wins - Mike Smithson (7) (2020-3rd)

Strikeouts - Rickey Romero (81) (2020-2nd)

ERA - Mike Smithson - 3.12

Saves - Mark Littell (6) (Inaugural-16th), always liked him on good Royal teams.

[majormet]

The Texas Rangers have been an elite team but have to deal with Seattle and Oakland in the AL West. Their top 4 picks in the inaugural draft have carried them and each has outdone their major league projectile

History

2019 - 100-62 2nd
2020 - 108-54 2nd
2021 - 42-25 5th

#1 Draft Picks

2019 - Jimmie Hall CF (24th)
2020 - Pete Fox CF (39th)

Manager - Chris Woodward is now in his 3rd season with great success but no titles

Leaders

Average - Mike Tiernan (.369) (Inaugural-2nd)

Homers - Grady Hatton (23) (Inaugural-4th)

RBI's - Del Ennis (64) (Inaugural-3rd)

Stolen Bases - Mike Tiernan (30)

Wins - Ross Bauers (9), (inaugural 1/4th) (pictured)

Strikeouts - Ross Bauers (92)

ERA - Ross Bauers (1.45)

Saves - Mike Timlin (9) (2019-8th) native Texas starts his career not north of the border.

[majormet]

The Blue Jays have been slow to build in the AL East. They have had 2 losing seasons but it seems they are a lot more competitive in 2021. First pick overall has made a huge difference

History

2019 - 68-94 6th
2020 - 80-82 4th
2021 - 41-26 3rd

Draft History

2019 - Christy Matthewson (SP) (1st overall) (pictured) already in domination mode

2020 - Ira Flagstead/RF (11th)

Manager - Rob Moyers took over in 2021 as the axe came on Montalvo, He managed the expansion Anchorage Bears in 2020 and someone saw something and even though 42-120 he had 41 wins already here. He is from Bloomington, MN


Leaders

Average - Cap Anson (.302) (Inaugural-2nd)

Homers - Bobby Doerr (21) (FA Signing from Chicago White Sox)

RBI's - Bobby Doerr - 55

Stolen Bases - Damian Jackson (13) (acquired in trade from Utah Saints for Mike Ford an others)

Wins - Christy Matthewson (8)

Strikeouts - Christy Matthewson (158)

ERA - Christy Matthewson (1.72)

Saves - Blake Treinen (5) (Inaugural 4th)

[majormet]

The Mariners had a 2020 season that was similar to another season in their history but this time they won it all. They are part of the heavily competitive AL West and benefited as well from strong inaugural draft

History

2019 - 85-77 3rd
2020 - 115-47 1st (WORLD CHAMPION)
2021 - 42-25 4th

#1 Draft Picks

2019 - Chili Davis/LF (10th)

2020 - Jake Arrieta/SP (40th)

Manager - Scott Servais at 53 is still the manager. One of those guys that should have been fire a bunch of times but has hung around now for 6th season

Leaders

Average - Red Smith (.306) (inaugural-3rd)

Homers - Aledmys Diaz (17) (inaugural-4th) turned into a superstar here

RBI's - Aledmys Diaz (47)

Stolen Bases - Larry Gardner (13) (Inaugural 6th)

Wins - Brian Lawrence (9) (2019-2nd) - much more dominant pitcher than his days with Padres

Strikeouts - Schoolboy Rowe (99) (inaugural-5th)

ERA - Schoolboy Rowe (2.30)

Saves - Jack Lamabe (10) (2020-7th)

Pictured - not leading in any category but considered best player is starting pitcher Ed Reulbach

[majormet]

This is a team that plays in the NL Central, and have played like the name of their 2019 top pick. Team is owned by Garth Brooks but he is not allowed to play on it, like he crashes spring trainings.

History

2020 - 42-120 - 7th
2021 - 22-44 - 9th

#1 Draft Picks

2019 - Gene Krapp/SP (37th) - (pictured)

2020 - Kris Benson/SP (60th) - hopefully he will marry someone that won't choose his team for him

Manager - Justin Arnold - 56 year old guy from Hingham, MA who grew up somewhat wealthy and was a boarding school coach, 2nd year with the Rattlers


Leaders

Average - Ronnie Belliard (.304) (2020-4th)

Homers - Doug Allison (11) (2019-5th)

RBI's - Doug Allison (38)

Stolen Bases - Tony Gonzalez (7) (2019-2nd)

Wins - Kris Benson - 4

Strikeouts - Kris Benson - 88

ERA - Gene Krapp (2.20)

Saves - Ryan Dull (10) (2020-9th)

[majormet]

This is the team I control. Leading the team the first year was horrible there was no way to improve the team. We rebounded in 2020 because of free agency but play in the tough AL West where 98 wins gets you fifth place. The Saints were in first for a few days before being swept in Fenway by the Red Sox who are not that good

League History

2019 - 63-99 - 6th
2020 - 98-64 - 5th
2021 - 44-22 - 3rd


#1 Draft Picks

2019 - Wally Berger/CF (45th)

2020 - Jim Wynn/LF (24th) - have to take the Toy Cannon but he has struggled

Manager - that would be me...

Leaders

Average - Mel Ott (.329) (free agent signing from Pittsburgh Pirates)

Homers - Mel Ott (25)

RBI's - Mel Ott (61)

Stolen Bases - Jim Wynn (13)

Wins - Jim Scott (9) (Free agent signing from Pittsburgh Pirates0

Strikeouts - Doug Drabek (97) (Free agent signing from Tampa Bay Rays)

ERA - Doug Drabek (3.16)

Saves - Kendall Roy (11) (orignal) (this is the coke infused son of the Roy empire on Succession)

Pictured - Bill Dickey - considered best player because of his offense behind the plate) (Free agent sighing from Tampa Bay Rays)

[majormet]

As sim imitates life the Nats won the 2019 World Series. They were even better in 2020 but lost to the Reds but now have come down to earth in 2021.

History

2019 - 96-66 1st (WORLD CHAMPION)
2020 - 106-56 1st
2021 - 36-31 5th

#1 Draft Picks

2019 - Lee Lacy/2B (22nd) - not sure what they were thinking here

2020 - John Romano/C (38th)


Manager - Dave Martinez is now in his 4th season and has the 2019 world title here as well


Leaders

Average - Mickey Mantle (.325) (inaugural 1/20th) - he is a more of a pure hitter here for sure, weird to see him in a Nats uniform

Homers - Mickey Mantle (20)

RBI's - Mickey Mantle (45)

Stolen Bases - Jim Halpert (12) (Free agent signing from Portland Lions), he took less money to be near his wife Pam... this is the sales guy from The Office

Wins - Kevin Millwood (7) (Inaugural-3rd) Won 2020 Cy Young Award

Strikeouts - Kevin Millwood (103)

ERA - Spec Shea (2.84) (inaugural-9th)

Saves - Frank Dipino (120 (inaugural-8th) approaching 100 saves already

Pictured - Dave Righetti, not leading in any categories but considered best player,... always wondered if he would have been a dominant starter.

[majormet]

Now that we dissected the 60 teams, the end of May has come and here is where we stand

American League Player of the Month - Monte Irvin (Los Angeles Angels) - 13HR 34RBI .395

National League Player of the Month - Anthony Rizzo (New York Mets) - 11HR 32RBI .312

American League Pitcher of the Month - Christy Matthewson (Toronto Blue Jays) - 4-0 1.79, 76 K's in 40 IP

National League Pitcher of the Month - Frank E Smith (Atlanta Braves) 5-0 0.63 RA 44K's in 43 IP

American League Rookie of the Month - Sam Crawford (Detroit Tigers) 9 HR 34 RBI .374

National League Rookie of the Month - Frank Thomas (Milwaukee Brewers) 10 HR 27 RBI .316


Standings

AL East

New York Yankees 45-25
Baltimore Orioles 42-29
Buffalo Bisons - 42-29
Toronto Blue Jays - 42-29

AL Central

Cleveland Indians 52-19
Detroit Tigers 50-20
Chicago White Sox 50-21

AL West

Oakland Athletics 51-20
Houston Astros 50-21
Utah Saints 46-24

NL East

Atlanta Braves 46-24
New York Mets 46-25
Miami Marlins - 44-27

NL Central

Pittsburgh Pirates 50-20
St Louis Cardinals 49-21
Cincinnati Reds 46-24

NL West

San Diego Padres 50-21
Las Vegas Snake Eyes 47-24
Colorado Rockies 4-26


Leaders

American League - Batting

Manuel Lee (Los Angeles Angels) .399
Rogers Hornsby (Oakland Athletics) .396
Rennie Stennett (Oakland Athletics) .375

American League - Homers

Rogers Hornsby (Oakland Athletics) - 38
Casey Stengel (Buffalo Bisons) - 28
Chuck Klein (Los Angeles Angels) - 26

American League - RBI's

Rogers Hornsby (Oakland Athletics) - 113
Casey Stengel (Buffalo Bisons) - 69
George Foster (Oakland Athletics) - 68

American League - Stolen Bases

Mike Tiernan (Texas Ranges) - 33
Mike Lanning (Indianapolis Bulldogs) - 31
Count Campau (Anchorage Bears) - 30

National League - Average

Richard Hidaldo (Colorado Rockies) .370
Cal McVey (St Louis Cardinals) .369
Gene Clines (New York Mets) .368

National League - Homers

Curt Blefary (San Diego Padres) - 25
Roberto Alvarez (Sacramento Bees) - 23
Richard Hidalgo (Colorado Rockies) - 23

National League - RBI's

Bobby Thomson (New York Mets) - 72
Curt Blefary (San Diego Padres) - 71
Anthony Rizzo (New York Mets) - 71

National League - Stolen Bases

Ivan Howard (Colorado Rockies) - 33
Gregg Jefferies (Arizona Diamondbacks) - 26
George Jackson (Las Vegas Snake Eyes) - 20

American League - Wins

Reb Russell (New York Yankees) - 11
Mike Smith (Minnesota Twins) - 11
Tony Armas (Oakland Athletics) - 9

American League - ERA

Tom Glavine (Chicago White Sox) - 1.43
Ross Bauers (Texas Rangers) - 1.54
Eppa Rixey (Baltimore Orioles) - 1.96

American League - Strikeouts

Christy Matthewson (Toronto Blue Jays) - 168
Sadie McMahon (Baltimore Orioles) - 117
Harry Harper (Detroit Tigers) - 115

American League - Saves

Jeremy Affeldt (Houston Astros) - 19
Frank Morrissey (Detroit Tigers) - 19
Rob Wooten (Cleveland Indians) - 16

National League - Wins

Frank E Smith (Atlanta Braves) - 11
Pete Donohue (Cincinnati Reds) - 10
Pete Dowling (Pittsburgh Pirates) - 10

National League - ERA

Pete Dowling (Pittsburgh Pirates) - 1.59
Frank E Smith (Atlanta Braves) - 1.68
Michael Wacha (Miami Marlins) - 1.71

National League - Strikeouts

Noodles Hahn (Colorado Rockies) - 162
Mario Soto (San Diego Padres) - 157
Will Sawyer (Atlantic City Sharks) - 151

National League - Saves

Tony Balsamo (St Louis Cardinals) - 24
Travis Bickle (Las Vegas Snake Eyes) - 21
Eric Gagne (New Orleans Zebras) - 18

[majormet]

The All Star teams have been announced and the game has changed not every team gets a representative. Rogers Hornsby was the leading vote receiver this year

Here is the Roster

SP - Ross Bauers/Texas Rangers (1st time) (9-3, 1.54 ERA)
SP - Tom Glavine/Chicago White Sox (2nd Time) (9-1 1.52 ERA)
SP - Frank Killen/Boston Red Sox (3rd Time) (6-5, 3.50 ERA)
SP - Christy Matthewson/Toronto Blue Jays (2nd Time) (8-1, 1.97 ERA)
SP - Sadie McMahon/Baltimore Orioles (1st Time) (8-3, 2.11 ERA)
SP - Eppa Rixey/Baltimore Orioles (2nd time) (9-3 1.96 ERA)
SP - Mike Smith/Minnesota Twins (2nd time) (11-2, 3.01 ERA)
SP - Mike Smithson/Tampa Bay Rays (1st time) (8-3, 2.85 ERA)
RP - Steve Cishek/Utah Saints (1st time) (2-0, 4 saves 1.60 ERA)
RP - Evgeny Malkin/Cleveland Indians (2nd time) (4-2, 2.08 ERA)
RP - Isaiah Thomas/Utah Saints (1st time) (4-0, 9 saves, 0.62 ERA)
CL - Jeremy Affeldt/Houston Astros (1st time) (2-1, 19 saves 1.62 ERA)
CL - Glenn Tillbrook/San Juan Storm (1st time) (1-2, 13 saves 3.99 ERA)

C - Jay Clarke/Buffalo Bisons (1st Time) (10 HR, 44 RBI's, .345)
C - Bill Dickey/Utah Saints (3rd time) (15 HR 43 RBI's, .311)
C - Les Moss/Kansas City Royals (1st Time) (17 HR 54 RBI's, .302)
1B - Dan Driessen/Boston Red Sox (3rd time) (14 HR 45 RBI's, .310)
1B - Brad Fullmer/New York Yankees (1st time) (19 HR 51 RBI's, .315)
1B - Joey Votto/Kansas City Royals (1st time) (23 HR 66 RBi's. .327)
2B - Bobby Doerr/Toronto Blue Jays (1st time) (21 HR 56 RBi's .318)
2B - George Grantham/Los Angeles Angels (2nd time) (25 HR 55 RBI)
3B - Grady Hatton/Texas Rangers (3rd time) (29HR 68 RBI's, .325)
3B - Manuel Lee/Los Angeles Angels (1st time) (11HR 41 RBi's .394)
3B - Mel Ott/Utah Saints (3rd time) (25 HR 61 RBI's .320)
SS - Rogers Hornsby/Oakland Athletics (2nd time) (39 HR 116 RBI .394)
LF - Andrew Benintendi/KC Royals (1st time) (16 HR 48 RBI .352)
LF - Del Ennis/Texas Rangers (2nd time) (23 HR 72 RBI .332)
LF - Zack Wheat/Houston Astros (1st time) (15 HR 54 RBI .380)
CF - Casey Stengel/Buffalo Bisons (2nd time) (28 HR 69 RBI .303)
CF - Cesar Cedeno/Detroit Tigers (2nd time) (16 HR 46 RBI .327)
RF - Sam Crawford/Detroit Tigers (1st time) (17 HR 68 RBI .353)
RF - Chuck Klein/Los Angeles Angels (1st time) (26 HR 63 RBI .329)
RF - Ken McIntyre/Chicago White Sox (1st time) (24 HR 65 RBI .300)
RF - Mike Tiernan/Texas Rangers (3rd time) (24 HR 67 RBI .367)

This is an interesting roster. Oakland only got the one player in and the defending champion Seattle Mariners had no representatives. Ken McIntyre is the only pure fictional free agent.

[majormet]

The National League all stars were a bit different with some odd picks on the expansion teams, but not all teams represented at all. Top Vote recipient was Richard Hidalgo seems to be loved in Colorado and the air.

SP - Pete Donohue/Cincinnati Reds (2nd time) (11-1 1.71 ERA)
SP - Pete Dowling/Pittsburgh Pirates (1st time) (10-2 1.59 ERA)
SP - Bob Ewing/Honolulu Riptide (1st time) (4-5, 1.84 ERA)
SP - Noodles Hahn/Colorado Rockies (3rd time) (8-2, 1.76 ERA)
SP - Billy Hoeft/San Diego Padres (1st time) (9-1, 2.02 ERA)
SP - Larry McKeon/New York Mets (1st time) (8-2, 2.33 ERA)
SP - Roscoe Miller/Riverhead Racers (1st time) (6-6, 2.69 ERA)
SP - Will Sawyer/Atlantic City Sharks (1st time) (6-3 1.73 ERA)
SP - Frank Smith/Atlanta Braves (2nd time) (11-2, 1.68 ERA)
SP - Michael Wacha/Miami Marlins (2nd time) (7-3, 1.71 ERA)
SP - Carlos Zambrano/Miami Marlins (2nd time) (9-3, 1.91 ERA)
RP - Camilo Pascaul/San Diego Padres (1st time) (5-1 1.16 ERA)
RP - Troy Percival/Las Vegas Snake Eyes (1st time) (1-3 2.29 ERA)
CL - Travis Bickle/Las Vegas Snake Eyes (1st time) (5-1 21 saves)
CL - Rollie Fingers/Newark Thieves (1st time) (4 saves)
CL - Hong-Chih Kuo/San Diego Padres (1st time) (6-1, 12 saves)

C - Gary Carter/Miami Marlins (3rd time) (16 HR 46 RBI .289)
C - Tommy Clarke/Brooklyn Brawlers (1st time) (12 HR 46 RBI .303)
C - Bill Freehan/Colorado Rockies (1st time) (18 HR 50 RBI .327)
1B - Frank Chance/Atlanta Braves (1st time) (22 HR 55 RBI .320)
1B - Anthony Rizzo/New York Mets (1st time) (24 HR 78 RBI .318)
1B - Hal Trosky/Miami Marlins (2nd time) (25 HR 74 RBI .293)
2B - Bid McPhee/Pittsburgh Pirates (3rd time) (17 HR 47 RBI .300)
2B - Joe Panik/Chicago Cubs (1st time) (6 HR 26 RBI .280)
3B - George Davis/Cincinnati Reds (3rd time) (17 HR 57 RBI .347)
SS - Joe Cronin/Philadelphia Phillies (3rd time) 16 HR 49 RBI .298)
SS - Joe Sewell/Arizona Diamondbacks (1st time) (3 HR 33 RBI .364)
SS - Arky Vaughan/Miami Marlins (2nd time) (7 HR 33 RBI .320)
LF - Curt Blefary/San Diego Padres (2nd time) (25 HR 71 RBI .294)
LF - Mickey Mantle/Washington Nationals (3rd time) (21 HR 50 RBI .324)
LF- Guy Zinn/Hartford Rocketmen (1st time) (18 HR 43 RBI .241)
CF - Richard Hidalgo/Colorado Rockies (1st time) (23 HR 62 RBI .366)
CF - Marcell Ozuna/Pittsburgh Pirates (1st time) (23 HR 54 RBI .304)
RF - Ken Griffey Sr/New York Mets (1st time) (13 HR 47 RBI .346)


It is interesting that players like Rollie Fingers and Guy Zinn find their way into this game, while a first place team like the St Louis Cardinals don't send anyone to the game.

[majormet]

Not Sure what kind of supplements Michael Wacha is taking but this is his 2nd career no hitter in 3 season. He had no hit the Pittsburgh Pirates last season and now he gets the New Orleans Zebras

[majormet]

I kind of telegraphed this happening as Ed Halicki no hit my beloved Mets when I was a kid. He was this tall herky jerky pitcher that embarrassed the Mets one weekend afternoon. Well he got a PERFECT game with the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

[majormet]

June has been a good month for Al Stanton. Two of his basketball players landed lofty extensionw playing in Greece and Spain respectively, he started to date an old high school flame that he reconnected with on Facebook and his baseball project was taking flight.

Tate Redinger had taken over as the regular rightfielder for the Long Island Ducks as Dave Block ended up having season ending shoulder surgery after crashing into the wall against Somerset. Tate had not disappointed with 7 homers in his first 12 games and he was hitting near .500. Channel 12 news the local cable news station actually showed highlights of a few of the games and it caught the attention of Jay Mills the northeast scout for the local Riverhead Racers.

Jay was meeting Al today at a Starbucks in Plainview, NY where they were to discuss Tate and his future. Al was waiting as he was just sipping back a black vente coffee when Jay Mills showed up through the door. Jay was a compact guy around 5'8 and 200 pounds but mostly muscle, he was a college baseball player that became a scout at a young age and now at nearly 35 he was a veteran of the art.

"Jay?" Al extended his hand to shake it, he assumed it was Jay as the Starbucks was mostly filled of students studying or doing social media in their own trapped space

"Al Stanton good to meet you, were you waiting long"

"Nah, I was just surprised that 2 No hitters were thrown this weekend. Seems like pitching may be coming back in the game"

Jay replied "Some teams really have no offense, the Dodger lineup yesterday was garbage that was why a guy like Halicki got the perfect game. I scouted him a lot, he is out of Jersey"

"Jersey boy, hmm. But that Wacha is something now isn't he"

"Miami has really worked on his delivery and he doesn't tip his pitches any more always had raw talent" Jay explained

"I see the Racers are in the middle of the pack" Al was following the local team closely

Jay shrugged "It is a long climb, we had to expand and did not get a crack at the top talent so we really have been trying to do it with subtle trades and scouting. Which brings me to Tate. I have been watching him he has great bat speed, a lot of confidence, good fielder, where have you been keeping him?

Al laughed "Keeping him, I only knew about him a few months ago. Kid lives out in Montauk and with Covid there were a lot of guys that were in limbo, he was just in limbo"

"Limbo? Darn I never heard of him and I scouted Hofstra games for the past few years" Jay expressed his surprise "I will say that the Atlantic League is heavily weakened with the 60 team MLB and all their minor league affiliates, so not to rain on your parade, but the league basically sucks"

"Sucks? I guess but what was I to do with him, there really isn't anywhere to play. Do you think he could get drafted"

Jay pondered on that while he finished ordering his herbal tea "Drafted is a big deal, 1200 guys get drafted, I think if he were on the board in the 12th or 13th round I would take a flyer on him. He is 23, I mean Deacon Phillippe went #1 last year as a 26 year old"

"Phillippe that is a bust, I can't believe Indy dealt him to Utah in a package to get the Last Word"

"Lawrence O'Donnell right (Jay chuckled), he was our franchise player for 2 years, seriously overachieved but between him, Don Lemon and Chris Hayes in the locker room, I felt I could not share my opinion on being right to life for sure. O'Donnell wanted too much money, so they let him walk which was the right thing to do. Got to Utah and was clashing with Don Draper and Bobby Axlerod all the time, now he is in Indy"

Al went back to the main point "But why did the Bulldogs give up on Phillippe so fast. He was picked first then sent to Utah as a package for a player that they would have taken a batting cage for?"

Jay shrugged his shoulders "It is this business for sure, why take him when Gehrig is the stud of the draft, why did Portland take Sam Bowie before Michael Jordan. What I do know is that Tate has potential, you have to hope teams worse than Riverhead see the clips like Jacksonville or Newark. Those teams need players in a bad way, he could fast track there if he gets drafted by Oakland or Houston he will never see the major leagues."

"That doesn't sound so good" Al was hopeful for a minute "But then you said you would recommend drafting him in the 12th round"

"Yeah, 12th round is about 720 players in, and at that point you really are filling out favors. Dodgers only took Mike PIazza as a favor to Tommy Lasorda. Most of those things don't pan out. I am sure there are a lot of teams that owe no favors so that is how I see things. I would work with the kid on his baserunning. I noticed he does not know how to take a proper lead, should have scored a few times or gotten to third but didn't he is too fast for that"

Al was grateful for that advice "Thanks, that is good feedback. Anything else I should advise"

Jay thought for a second "Don't get his head too big, he is teeing off in a distastrous league. I would not tell him what we spoke of, make him think the league is garbage and that getting drafted would be a miracle."

Both men chewed the fat for another 30 minutes before departing to their normal lives. As the fate of Tate Redinger gained more certainty.

[majormet]

It seems that we are 6 weeks from the trading deadline in 2021, but with only 10 teams making the playoffs, losses are critical at this time.

Two trades of significance have been made

The Detroit Tigers sent Kevin Kiermaier to the New York Yankees for Eric Gordon. This is an odd trade of outfielders, but both players have been struggling this year after stronger 2020 campaigns. Both teams are in playoff position right now as the Yankees have a 3 1/2 game lead on Baltimore and Buffalo in the AL East and the Tigers trail Cleveland in the AL Central but have a 1 1/2 game lead on Oakland for the wild card and are in the first position 1/2 game ahead of the Chicago White Sox. Curious if either player will right their ship.

The other trade is even more curious in that the Toronto Blue Jays dealt their closer Blake Treinen to the Boston Red Sox for catcher Bennie Warren who is in the minor leagues. Treinen has been an effective closer for Toronto and Toronto is in 5th place in the AL East with a 5 game lead on Boston. The trade is not making too much sense in that Toronto has not had an effective bullpen to find a successor, although they have poor catching and Warren, a 5th round pick may breakthrough as that catcher. As for Boston, they acquire a closer when they already had a very effective Damaso Marte and they are not in contention nor do they have depth behind the plate. One wonders if there were management issues with Treinen.