The IBL's Alaska Avalanche

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The two favorites coming in are still, by a wide margin, the two favorites to meet in the World Series.

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Both series kick off as expected, big time routs.

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RJ dominates as Columbus holds down the Avalanche offense.

Adam Shirley shocks the house in Vegas, shutting down the best hitting offense in the Coastal to even the series heading to Boston.

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Another close one in Columbus but Alaska again keeps the Clipper offense under wraps, and takes a commanding 3-0 lead.

A thriller in Boston where the Bombers score twice in the 8th and once in the 9th to send it to extras before the 51's explode for 6 in the 12th.

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Alaska closes in a sweep with a dominating effort from Hall and Luke Stover takes home MVP honors with a .346-5-8 series (2nd time a player isn't listed in the series final stats?)

Juan Marquez 8th inning Grand Slam stuns the 51's and ties the series up at 2 games apiece.

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Boston gets a huge outing from Jesse Sanders and uses a 4 run 4th to get within a game of a huge playoff upset.

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The Bombers, behind series MVP Adam Shirley, upset the huge favorites in Las Vegas to advance to their 3rd IBL World Series. They've won both times they've gone, in 2022 vs Chicago and again in 2024 vs the Iron Pigs.

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Your 2031 World Series Matchup

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Boston manages a split as Anthony Hawkins hits a grand slam off Keith Hansen in a 9 run 8th inning.

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Boston's given as good as they've got so far, but are still down 2-1. Amazingly tight 3 games.

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He is, quite simply, the best pitcher in IBL history.

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Raul Aguilar hits a 2 run home run to turn a 6-5 deficit into the Avalanche's 3rd straight World Series title.

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No real surprises. Casillas delivers, as expected, but Staten Island's Luis Martinez had a year for the ages as well. Edwards wins his 2nd MVP.



A look at the 10 best hitters, and pitchers, by WAR. With the top 3 in voting for each award.



And a look at the major awards over the past 10 seasons.

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No surprises here...

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NOVEMBER MOVES, NEWS AND TRADES
Trujillo is more rounded out as a starter and a middle guy. Williams is likely a 'tweener', a littler better than most MR but not good enough to be one of the five on a good team. Williams was popular too, fan interest dropped to 51.

Dallas moves the 300 HR clubs newest member in Sanchez, unloading a huge salary (17+M next year, but FA after that) for a good 1B who can hit in Lopez and a good P prospect in Morales.



A blockbuster in Providence. The Black Sox trade 2026 FL Rookie of the year and 4 time all star Hollis Proctor, along with OF prospect Bob Ferguson, to get gold glove outfielder and 2 time all star Jose Torres and 2 decent P prospects. Proctor has 1 year and a 19M dollar 2033 player option remaining on his contract while Torres had his vesting option kick in for 7.76M in the 2032 season, the last on his deal.

And on that note, my budget is down to 97 million. A drop of 5 million. While it's certainly not optimal, my payroll is low enough to withstand the hit, and I have a year to get ownership to rethink. Just 6.8M for the draft is the most troublesome number.

I'm not sure there'll much free agent activity this winter on my end, at least not with upper echelon players. I have just over 3M to spend and would like to parcel that out to fill backup holes while I allow the young players the chance to play and learn.

IBL CAREER LEADERS: PITCHING WAR
92.5 Stan Hall (ALK)
88.6 Angelo Esparza (SAC)
78.1 Mike Lewis (EDM)
74.6 Ronald Moss (SJ)
66.6 Esteban Figueroa (DAL)

ARBITRATION
I have 4 cases. P Haden Chambers who I will work with, RP Enjar Jorgensen who is asking 3.2, I will likely not offer arbitration to, allowing him to walk. 3.2 for a mediocre LHP is too rich. RP Miguel Valdez is asking for 2.4, another lefty who had a good year. I will work to get him signed if possible. DH Lowell Cook is also eligible and asking in the 1.4 neighborhood. I have made him a 3 year offer, at or near that price he's a valuable piece to keep, or trade.

SIGNINGS
Cook agrees to a 3 year 4.37M dollar extension while I manage to convince Valdez to signa 2 year 3.4M dollar deal to get them both into the fold.

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2031-32 OFF SEASON FREE AGENT FILINGS AND PRE WINTER MEETINGS NEWS, TRADES, SIGNINGS

A ton of deals on FA filing day. Nothing huge but some interesting moves between playoff teams.






RULE 5 DRAFT
Snagged 25 year old RP Ron Brooks from the Alaska system. Both he and Leon Whaley were eligible but Whaley went quckly.

FREE AGENT PLANS, WINTER MEETING STRATEGY
I am not going to be signing anyone of note. I will be trading people. Paul Green is on his way out, as are any others not happy with the teams direction. This needs to be done smartly because the budget and limited flexibility I have this winter doesn't change the need to improve next year. I will, outside Cody Miller, have a younger pitching staff, and will have a younger core infield and lineup. It's about finding the bargain and making great trades this winter.

Michigan signs the first 'big' free agent in Jorge Palacios. 2 years plus a vesting option (180 IP) for 46.1M?

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PRE WINTER MEETINGS NEWS
The Bulldogs get superstar Louie Ginger for 60.6M over the next 4 seasons and then announcing a 54.6M dollar 3 year deal for 2 time MVP Diogo Ameixieira.

Sacramento goes all out in nabbing a good SP and an IF anchor in Garcia.

The Bisons backup the Brinks truck for SS Alvin Williams, at 96.5M over 6 years.

While the Voodoo make what many think was the best signing so far in getting Naif for 13.3 a year over 4.

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2032 WINTER MEETINGS DAY 1
I find a taker for Paul Green and his 12.1M contract. I have to part with a pitcher we didn't see a fit for but we got a former 2nd rounder in Sosa, as well as a 2nd round pick in next years draft.