GLBL - Chicago Architects - The Quest for the Owner not to Fire Me - Page 5

DD Martin · 01-27-2026, 01:08 AM

Looking for Positives, Anywhere

After splitting the 2 games with Kingston we move on to face the Toronto Maples. Maybe the one team (and I will include Thunder Bay too) in the league that has had as much or more of a disappointing season than we have. Toronto made a big splash last season and it didn’t pan out when Hamilton caught fire. The Maples then started fairly early in the season to ship out some payroll.

Toronto Maples 50-58 5th in Can vs Chicago Architects 54-54 4th in the USA
August 9th and 10th 2056
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

The Architects have a 2-game series at home against the Toronto Maples kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent:

The Maples are playing .463 ball this season, compiling a record of 50 wins and 58 losses. They are in 5th place in the North of the Border, 13.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 500 rank 6th in the Canadian, their .275 batting average ranks 5th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 553 runs (3rd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.10 which ranks 4th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 4.04, ranking 2nd. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 0 wins and 2 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
Ed Hale (3-5, 4.97 ERA) vs RHP Motoyuki Inoue (10-10, 3.96 ERA)
Jose Cardona (6-7, 4.49 ERA) vs RHP Jose Cedeño (13-5, 4.04 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. LF Dwayne Adams (Age: 34, Overall : 3.0, Potential: 3.0)
2. CF Peyton Coffman (29, 3.0, 3.0)
3. SP José Cardona (26, 3.0, 3.0)
4. RF Jim Ashley (36, 2.5, 2.5)
5. SP Aaron Barnes (27, 2.5, 2.5)

Game #1 - Wednesday August 9th 2056
Toronto 50-58 vs Chicago 54-54
Ed Hale (3-5, 4.97 ERA) vs RHP Motoyuki Inoue (10-10, 3.96 ERA)
A - 32,451

Reagan Osborn leads the Tects offense in a drubbing of the Maples. Osborn goes 5-for-5 with a home run, a double, two runs scored, and seven RBIs. Rodeo Leroy hits two home runs, giving him 30 on the season. Kennelly Mulford and Joe Justice also homer. Chicago 16, Toronto 2.

1B R Osborn 5-5 DB HR 2R 7RBI, LF R LeRoy 2-4 2HR 2R 3RBI, SS K Mulford 2-5 HR 2R RBI, RF T Stone 3-5 TP 2R RBI, DH J Justice 2-3 DB HR 3R 2RBI BB, 2B J Lambert 2-4 2DB 2R SP M Inoue 5.2IP 4H 1R 2BB 5K W
HR - Tor none CH - LF R LeRoy 2 (30), SS K Mulford (5), DH J Justice (8), 1B R Osborn (25)
POTG - Reagan Osborn (4)

Game #2 - Thursday August 10th 2056
Toronto 50-59 vs Chicago 55-54
Jose Cardona (6-7, 4.49 ERA) vs RHP Jose Cedeño (13-5, 4.04 ERA)
A - 37,162

Game 2 of the series featured the Battle of Jose’s and it wasn’t much of a battle as neither SP made it to the 5th inning. The teams go to the ninth tied, 5-5. With two outs, Chicago’s Mark Nakayama hits a swinging bunt to the left side of the infield. He’s safe. Cris Luna walks. Kent Noseworthy singles to left. Nakayama beats the throw home. Nakayama misses a cycle by a double. Chicago 6, Toronto 5.

RF T Stone 2-4 R RBI, DH M Nakayama 3-4 TP, HR 2R 3RBI
HR - Tor none CH - DH M Nakayama (5)
POTG - Chicago DH Marc Nakayama

Summary - We seem to have Toronto’s number even if we don’t have any other Canadian teams number. We sweep the season series 4-0 and look to build a little momentum with a final gasp as we will host Duluth next.

After today’s games rosters are allowed to expand in the GLBL, but with our AAA club fighting to win a title, we are not making any moves until after the Joe’s are done with their season.

Duluth Sea Gulls 66-44 2nd in the US vs Chicago Architects 56-54 4th in the US
August 11th-13th 2056
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

So the Sea Gulls return to Chicago for the final time of the season barring some miracle that we meet them in the playoffs. What started out as a pretty even matchup the first 4 times ending 6-6 has definitely tilted towards Duluth as the Gulls have won 4 out of the last 6. We come in “Hot” having won 2 straight against the Maples. We are 10 games behind the Sea Gulls so anything short of a sweep on our part pretty much means curtains.

The Architects begin a 3-game series with the Duluth Sea Gulls at home.
Going 66-44 so far this year, the Sea Gulls have compiled a .600 winning percentage. They are in 2nd place in the South of the Border, 2.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 611 rank 3rd in the USA, their .282 batting average ranks 3rd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 495 runs (2nd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.37 which ranks 3rd. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 3.48, ranking 1st. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 10 wins and 8 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Will McNeely (7-7, 4.87 ERA) vs RHP John Moore (7-3, 3.75 ERA)
RHP Chris Collier (10-5, 4.07 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (6-5, 4.42 ERA)
LHP TimGross (9-5, 3.57 ERA) vs RHP Yale Hulbert (6-4, 6.50 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. 1B Jorge Rangel (Age: 26, Overall : 3.5, Potential: 4.0)
2. 2B Carlos Figueroa (30, 3.5, 3.5)
3. RF Carlos Sánchez (25, 3.5, 3.5)
4. RP Pedro Saldaña (25, 3.0, 3.0)
5. SP Chris Collier (25, 3.0, 3.0)

Rangel has really blossomed this season and is battling Chicago’s LeRoy for the home run lead.

Game #1 - Friday August 11th, 2056
Duluth 66-44 vs Chicago 56-54
RHP Will McNeely (7-7, 4.87 ERA) vs RHP John Moore (7-3, 3.75 ERA)
A - 37,091

Duluth takes a 3-2 lead into the seventh, where Chicago’s Joe Justice hits a three-run home run. Chicago SP John Moore was named player of the game, but I think it should have gone to Joe Justice. Chicago 5, Duluth 3.

SP J Moore 6IP 5H 3R 1BB 9K, RP L Stott 2IP 1H 3K W, SS K Mulford 2-3 DB 2R BB, 1B R Osborn 2-3 R BB, LF R Leroy 2-4 2 DB R 2RBI, 3B K Noseworthy 2-4
HR - Dul C S White (5) CH - RF J Justice (9)
POTG - SP John Moore (4)

Game #2 - Saturday, August 12th, 2056
Duluth 66-45 vs Chicago 57-54
RHP Chris Collier (10-5, 4.07 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (6-5, 4.42 ERA)
A - 37,543

Let’s pick things up in the seventh, where the Gulls have a slim, 2-1 lead. Chicago’s Reagan Osborn singles in the tying run and later scores the leading run on a Thomas Arnaud single. 3-2 Chicago. In the eighth, Duluth’s Carlos Sánchez doubled in the tying run. The game goes to extra innings. In the 10th, Duluth loads the bases with nobody out. Carlos Figueroa doubles in all three and gets singled in by Derrick Drew. Duluth 7, Chicago 3. 10 Innings

2B J Lambert 2-5 DB R, 1B R Osborn 2-4 R RBI BB, 3B T Arnaud 3-5 DB 2RBI, RF T Stone 2-5 SP V Imbert 6.2IP 3H 2R 3BB 10K’s
HR - Dul None CH - None
POTG - Chicago SP Val Imbert (2)

Game #3 - Sunday, August 13th, 2056
Duluth 67-45 vs Chicago 57-55
LHP Tim Gross (9-5, 3.57 ERA) vs RHP Yale Hulbert (6-4, 6.50 ERA)
A - 37,017

Duluth takes a 2-1 lead into the seventh, where Jorge Rangel extends that lead to 4-1 with a two-run home run. Pitcher Júlio Castro proceeds to plunk the next batter, Carlos Sánchez. Sánchez is having none of it, charges the mound, and ignites a brawl. Castro and Sánchez get tossed. Duluth 4, Chicago 2.

2B J Lambert 2-4 DB RBI SP Y Hulburt 5.2IP 5H 2R 2BB 6K
HR - Dul C C. Lee (2), 1B J Rangel (34) CH - none
POTG - Duluth SP Tim Gross

After the game…….

You have just been informed that J. Castro has been suspended for 6 games by the Office of the Commissioner.

If there wasn't a history between Carlos Sánchez of Duluth and Júlio Castro of Chicago, then there is one now. The incident between the two sparked a bench-clearing scrum with those two being the center of attention. Now they will miss 3 and 6 games respectively as a result of their actions. The league office announced their suspensions today.

"We're both really competitive," Sánchez said later, "and sometimes things go a little too far because of it." In 108 games Sánchez is hitting .343 this season with 154 hits, 25 home runs, 78 RBIs, 22 walks, .385 OBP and has scored 87 runs. This season, Castro has logged no saves. He has thrown 78 innings, dished out 67 strikeouts and walked 19 while putting up a 2-4 mark and a 5.08 ERA.

Honestly it was nice to see someone show some fire on this team and it is 38 year old veteran P Julio Castro. Castro hasn’t been overly happy this year as he has spent most of his time in the bullpen and he would prefer to be starting. But that is the type of character and fight that I like to see. We won’t be able to offer him a new contract for next season, but even in a season when it's not been what he bargained for he has been a competitor for this club.

Summary - We fooled you all winning the first 3 games of this shortened sim recap. I am sure everyone thought he come the Architect's, they will finally kick it in gear and make everyone proud by staging such a huge comeback. Well I am here to tell you that ain't happening.

I am sick of Tim Gross. He seems to always have a good game against us, or I just remember the many that he seems to have. The series started out nicely with that win in game 1. That gave the Architects a 3-game win streak, but it fell apart after that. CL Pat Wright (3-11 25 saves) lost his 11th game of the season. That seems to tell a big story. While Wright has had a decent season, he has gotten beat a lot in extra inning games.

With the losses we seem to be cemented in a non-playoff season and a lousy bottomline which I will hear plenty about come the off-season.

DD Martin · 02-03-2026, 12:35 AM

Winding Down a Long Disappointing Season

Toledo Neptunes 68-45 2nd in US vs Chicago Architects 57-56 4th in US
August 14th-16th 2056
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

We enter this series 11 games behind Duluth with 31 games left in the season. We are13 games behind 1st place Toledo. If we could muster a sweep then maybe we could have a shot. Anything less than 2 out of 3 and it's over. Toledo has dominated the Architects this season in the head to head and that’s mainly why they are ahead of us in the standings. Hopefully the club will show some fight and gumption after the Castro led brawl.

The Architects begin a 3-game series with the Toledo Neptunes at home.
The Neptunes are playing .619 ball this season, compiling a record of 70 wins and 43 losses. They are leading the South of the Border. Their number of runs scored of 651 rank 2nd in the USA, their .281 batting average ranks 3rd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 500 runs (1st) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.19 which ranks 1st. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 3.84, ranking 2nd. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 13 wins and 5 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP M. Inoue (11-10, 3.87 ERA) vs RHP W. Townsend (10-7, 4.41 ERA)
RHP J. Cedeño (13-5, 4.18 ERA) vs RHP N. Keddy (11-6, 3.13 ERA)
RHP J. Moore (7-3, 3.79 ERA) vs RHP C. Bouchard (13-4, 4.08 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Nick Keddy (Age: 29, Overall : 4.5, Potential: 4.5)
2. RP Ricardo Valentín (30, 4.0, 4.0)
3. 2B Xing-fu Sen (25, 3.5, 4.0)
4. 1B Eric Molina (30, 3.5, 3.5)
5. LF Mark Wadell (24, 3.5, 3.5)

Game #1 - Monday August 14th, 2056
Toledo 70-43 vs Chicago 57-56
RHP M. Inoue (11-10, 3.87 ERA) vs RHP W. Townsend (10-7, 4.41 ERA)
A - 37,162

Both starters pitch shutouts for five innings. Toledo’s Warren Townsend (7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 4 K) stays strong for two more innings. A solid effort from Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue (6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K) goes to waste. Inoue gives up just a two-run single to Xing-Fu Sen but the Architects bats just couldn’t muster anything.. Toledo 5, Chicago 0.

1B R Osborn 2-3 BB and not much else
HR - None
POTG - Toledo SP Warren Townsend

Game #2 - Tuesday August 15th, 2056
Toledo 71-43 vs Chicago 57-57
RHP J. Cedeño (13-5, 4.18 ERA) vs RHP N. Keddy (11-6, 3.13 ERA)
A - 36,675

Toledo’s Nick Keddy (6.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K) and Andrey Zmiev (2.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K) shutout Chicago. We know about Keddy, but this was Zmiev’s major league debut. Yeah, he came in with a six-run lead, but it shows some confidence from the manager to come in after the legendary Keddy and preserve his shutout. Welcome to the big leagues, Andrey! Toledo 6, Chicago 0.

LF R LeRoy 2-4 and that again is about it.
HR - None
POTG - Toledo SP Nick Keddy

Game #3 - Wednesday August 16th, 2056
Toledo 72-43 vs Chicago 57-58
RHP J. Moore (7-3, 3.79 ERA) vs RHP C. Bouchard (13-4, 4.08 ERA)
A - 30,075

Chicago’s Marc Nakayama hits a three-run home run. Thomas Arnaud hits a solo home run. Tom Stone hits a two-run triple and then gets singled in by Joe Hunt. SP John Moore won his 8th game (8-3) with 5.2IP giving up 4H 2R 1ER, 2BB 10K’s. Chicago 7, Toledo 3.

LF R Leroy 2-4 R, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 2R HR RBI
HR - Tol 3B L Gonzalez 18, CH - DH M Nakayama (6), 3B T Arnaud (9)
POTG - Chicago SP John Moore (5)

Summary - Over 6,000 bailed on coming to Sunday’s game and honestly I wish I could have been 1 of them. Those first two games this club just laid down. To get shutout at home without so much as a whimper of offense is really disheartening. I expected to see character and the character I saw was not what I wanted to see.

Sunday, August 13th , 2056 - Chicago Architects: SS Kennelly Mulford was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: oblique strain. He's expected to miss about one week.

Chicago Architects 58-58 4th in the US @ Traverse City Bears 57-59 5th in the US
August 18th-20th 2056
Traverse City's The Den ballpark

We’ve stopped calling the Bears the Bad News Bears based on our season record against them. One of the teams we felt we could dominate this season and that just hasn’t been the case. They are just 1 game behind us in the standings and when we leave here if we played like we did against Toledo, we will be in 5th place when the club leaves town.

The Architects have a 3-game series on the road against the Traverse City Bears kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent: We will meet in The Den, which seats 40000 and plays like a slight pitchers park.

With their record standing at 57 wins and 59 losses, the Bears have a winning percentage of .491. They are in 5th place in the South of the Border, 15.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 609 rank 4th in the USA, their .282 batting average ranks 2nd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 606 runs (3rd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.39 which ranks 3rd. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 5.78, ranking 5th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 9 wins and 9 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP V. Imbert (6-5, 4.32 ERA) vs RHP J. Laybolt (4-5, 4.92 ERA)
RHP Y. Hulbert (6-5, 6.22 ERA) vs RHP J. Nelligan (4-6, 4.57 ERA)
RHP M. Inoue (11-11, 3.83 ERA) vs LHP C. Gore (6-2, 4.19 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. RF Earl Foote (Age: 28, Overall : 4.5, Potential: 4.5)
2. CF Cal Braud (28, 4.5, 4.5)
3. CF Ben Marshall (32, 3.0, 3.0)
4. SP John Hall (29, 3.0, 3.0)
5. 2B Alexis Martin (26, 3.0, 3.0)

Game #1- Friday August 18th, 2056
Chicago 58-58 @ Traverse City 57-59
RHP V. Imbert (6-5, 4.32 ERA) vs RHP J. Laybolt (4-5, 4.92 ERA)
A - 37,504

Reagan Osborn hits his 26th and 27th home runs of the season. Those dingers drive in four. Kent Noseworthy adds a solo shot. Chicago 5, Traverse City 2.

1B R Osborn 2-4 2HR 2R 4RBI, LF R Leroy 2-4, SP V Imbert 7IP 6H 2R 3BB 5K W (7-5)
HR - CH 1B R Osborn 2 (27), SS K Noseworthy (7), TC SS A Martin (15)
POTG - Chicago 1B Reagan Osborn (5)

Game #2- Saturday August 19th, 2056
Chicago 59-58 @ Traverse City 57-60
RHP Y. Hulbert (6-5, 6.22 ERA) vs RHP J. Nelligan (4-6, 4.57 ERA)
A - 35,075

Chicago takes a 3-2 lead into the eighth, where Traverse City’s Cal Braud hits a two-run home run. Traverse City 4, Chicago 3.

SP Y Hulburt 5.1IP 3H 2R 1ER 0BB 3K
HR - CH R LeRoy (31), TC - CF C Braud (18)
POTG - Traverse City DH Ben Marshall

Game #3- Sunday August 20th, 2056
Chicago 59-59 @ Traverse City 58-60
RHP M. Inoue (11-11, 3.83 ERA) vs LHP C. Gore (6-2, 4.19 ERA)
A - 35,075

Motoyuki Inoue (5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K) and three Chicago relievers hold Traverse City to a single run. The game is tied, 1-1, in the sixth, when Marc Nakayama singles in the leading run and John Lambert doubles in two more. Somehow Chicago won the game and scored 4 runs on just 4 hits. Chicago 4, Traverse City 1.

HR - None
POTG - Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue (6)

Summary - Escape town still in sole possession of 4th place (YAY). Not much offense in these last 6 games other than the 7 runs scored in the one victory over Toledo. Off to the first of 3 games in Detroit.

Chicago Architects 60-59 T-3rd US in the US @ Detroit Thunderbirds 60-59 T-3rd US
August 21st through 23rd 2056
Detroit's Thunderbird Ballpark

The Architects have a 3-game series on the road against the Detroit Thunderbirds kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent:
A neutral park, Thunderbirds Ballpark has room for 40000 fans.

Going 60-59 so far this year, the Thunderbirds have compiled a .504 winning percentage. They are tied for 3rd place in the South of the Border, 14.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 617 rank 4th in the USA, their .280 batting average ranks 4th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 637 runs (5th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.03 which ranks 5th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 5.14, ranking 4th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 7 wins and 11 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP J. Cedeño (13-6, 4.19 ERA) vs RHP J. Davis (6-8, 4.89 ERA)
RHP J. Moore (8-3, 3.67 ERA) vs RHP B. Clary (9-8, 3.56 ERA)
RHP V. Imbert (7-5, 4.22 ERA) vs RHP J. Kim (6-8, 4.75 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. RF Stan Gillis (Age: 30, Overall : 3.5, Potential: 3.5)
2. SP Bill Clary (28, 3.0, 3.0)
3. 2B Trace Brunel (34, 3.0, 3.0)
4. 2B Paul Larocque (26, 3.0, 3.0)
5. SP Joo-seok Kim (27, 3.0, 3.0)

Game #1 - Monday August 21st, 2056
Chicago 60-59 @ Detroit 60-59
RHP J. Cedeño (13-6, 4.19 ERA) vs RHP J. Davis (6-8, 4.89 ERA)
A - 21,129

Detroit’s Joe Davis (5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 4 K) takes a shutout into the sixth. There, he walks a batter, gives up a single, and gets pulled. Reliever George Maxwell proceeds to cough up a three-run home run to John Lambert. Davis gets charged with the runs and, as it proves, the loss. Chicago’s José Cedeño (8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 7 K) takes a shutout into the ninth inning, where he allows just his second hit of the game (a Melvin Akerval double) and gets pulled. Larry Stott completes the shutout. Chicago 6, Detroit 0.

RF J Justice 1-3 2BB 2R, C J Hunt 2-5 DB, R 2RBI, 1B R Osborn 2-4 TP R BB, 2B J Lambert 2-4 HR R 3RBI BB
HR - CH 2B J Lambert (21), Det -none
POTG - Chicago SP Jose Cedeno (8)

Summary - End this group of sims 4-3 by winning 3 of the last 4 against teams that I felt we should have been dominant against all season. We’ve moved into 3rd place.

We tried against my better financial judgement to go after a couple of IAFA and lost out on both targets. Owen Sound signed CL Julio Franco for $2.4 million and Kingston signed RF Nicholaas Beerens for $3.84 million. We have another target we are looking at because we can’t sign anyone over our allotted budget for IAFA which was $3 million which is why we gave up on the hard hitting Beerens a week ago.

DD Martin · 02-06-2026, 11:31 PM

The end of August fast approaches but at least our AAA Team won the league championship!!!!!

We continue with the last several games against Detroit of this 3 game series

Game #2 Tuesday, August 22nd, 2056
Chicago 61-59 @ Detroit 60-60
RHP John Moore 8-3 3.67 ERA vs RHP Bill Clary 9-8 3.56 ERA
A - 21,126

Detroit’s Bill Clary (6 IP, 1 R, 0 BB, 12 K) strikes out a dozen batters. He gives up one run in the third: Joe Justice doubles in Pedro Farrulla. Meanwhile, Chicago’s John Moore (7 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K) takes a shutout into the seventh. Stan Gillis ruins the shutout with a solo home run. The game remains tied, 1-1, as we enter the ninth. With two outs, a double and two walks load the bases. Chicago’s Joe Justice comes to the plate, and he doubles in two of the runners. Chicago 3, Detroit 1.

RF J Justice 3-5 2DB 3RBI, DH M Nakayama 2-4 2DB, SS P Farrulla 2-3 R
HR - CH none Det - RF Stan Gillis (13)
POTG - Chicago SP John Moore (6)

Game #3 Wednesday, August 23rd, 2056
Chicago 62-59 @ Detroit 60-61
RHP Val Imbert 7-5 4.22 ERA vs RHP Joo-seok Kim 6-8 4.75 ERA
A - 16,879

Pathetic crowd on hand for this wrap up game. In the fifth, Detroit’s José Díaz ties the game, 4-4, with a two-run home run. A few batters later, Ramón Rodríguez singles in Mal Johnston. Chicago ties the game, 5-5, in the sixth. Kent Noseworthy singles in Marc Nakayama. The T-Birds take the lead for good in the seventh. Díaz triples and scores on a Johnston sac fly. Stan Gillis hits a solo home run. Rodríguez singles and later scores on an error. Three runs scored in the inning. Detroit 9, Chicago 7.

2B J Lambert 2-5, C G Lee 3-3 2DB 2R RBI BB, SS K Noseworthy 3-4 DB 2RBI
HR - CH RF J Justice (10) DH J Harris (1) Det - DH J Diaz (15), RF S Gillis (14)
POTG - Detroit DH Jose Diaz

Summary - We take 2 out of 3 against Detroit and head off to play last place Milwaukee for the 2nd to the last time. We were going to bring up LHSP Curt Hopkins to make a start in the Milwaukee series but he pitched in the AAA championship series and picked up a minor knock so we will hold him out until the last week of the season where he will get 2 starts. Look to see him as one of the five starting pitchers in next season's rotation.

Chicago Architects 62-60 3rd in the US @ Milwaukee Eagles 36-86 Last in the US
Friday August 25th-27th 2056
The Nest Ballpark in Milwaukee

The Architects have a 3-game series on the road against the Milwaukee Eagles kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent: The Eagles play their games in The Nest, which can be described as a slight pitchers park. The building seats 40000 fans.

Going 36-86 so far this year, the Eagles have compiled a .295 winning percentage. They are in 6th place in the South of the Border, 41.0 games behind the leader. The Eagles are on a cold streak, losing their last 7 games. Their number of runs scored of 535 rank 6th in the USA, their .273 batting average ranks 5th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 805 runs (6th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 6.18 which ranks 6th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 6.84, ranking 6th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 4 wins and 14 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Yale Hulbert (6-5, 5.89 ERA) vs LHP Art Tiller (6-8, 5.36 ERA)
RHP Motoyuki Inoue (12-11, 3.75 ERA) vs RHP Mitch Belding (2-12, 6.70 ERA)
RHP Jose Cedeño (14-6, 3.99 ERA) vs RHP Kent Bennent (5-13 5.70 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. C Cecil Phillips (Age: 33, Overall : 4.0, Potential: 4.0)
2. 1B John Crosby (28, 3.0, 3.0)
3. RF Luo-lang Petit (25, 2.5, 2.5)
4. SS Alexandre Gasnier (24, 2.5, 3.0)
5. LF Randy Hiscock (24, 2.5, 4.0)

Game #1 - August 25th. 2056
Chicago 62-60 @ Milwaukee 36-86
RHP Yale Hulbert (6-5, 5.89 ERA) vs LHP Art Tiller (6-8, 5.36 ERA)
A - 26,828

The Tects score six in the second…. and in the sixth… and ten more runs besides. Reagan Osborn goes 4-for-6 with a grand slam, a solo home run, a walk, three runs scored, and eight RBIs. Joe Hunt goes 4-for-5 with a home run, a walk, five runs scored, and three RBIs. John Lambert goes 3-for-4 with three walks, a run scored, and three RBIs. Chicago 22, Milwaukee 2

1B R Osborn 4-6 2HR 3R 8RBI, 2B J Lambert 3-4 R 3RBI 3BB, 3B T Arnaud 3-7 DB R 2RBI, SS K Mulford 2-5 HR 2R RBI BB, C J Hunt 4-5 HR 5R 3RBI BB, RF T Stone 2-5 3R 2RBI BB, CF C Luna 2-5 HR 3R RBI BB SP Y Hulburt 6.2IP 7H 2R 0BB 4K
HR - CH 1B R Osborn 2 (29), C J Hunt (15), SS K Mulford (6), Mil - C Seguin (5)
POTG - Chicago 1B Reagan Osborn (6)

Game #2 - August 26th, 2056
Chicago 63-60 @ Milwaukee 36-87
RHP M. Inoue (12-11, 3.75 ERA) vs RHP M. Belding (2-12, 6.70 ERA)
A - 23,532

After giving up 22 runs to Chicago yesterday, Milwaukee pitchers hold the Tects to just two runs today. Kennelly Mulford triples and scores in the seventh, and Thomas Arnaud doubles in a run in the eighth. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Tects pitchers held the Eagles to a single run. Motoyuki Inoue (5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K) took a shutout into the sixth, where Randy Hiscock singled in a run. Chicago 2, Milwaukee 1.

RP B Lutz 3IP 3H 0R 1BB 3K W (3-2), LF R Leroy 2-4 DB, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 DB RBI, DH T Stone 2-4 DB, RF J Justice 2-5 RBI
HR - None
POTG - Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue (7)

Game #3 - August 27th 2056
Chicago 64-60 @ Milwaukee 36-88
RHP Jose Cedeño (14-6, 3.99 ERA) vs RHP Kent Bennent (5-13 5.70 ERA)
A - 25,980

Milwaukee avoids the sweep. John Crosby and Randy Hiscock homer. Crosby also singles in a run. Luo-Lang Petit doubles in one, and ex-Architect Matt Graves singles in one. Milwaukee 5, Chicago 3.

C J Hunt 2-5, 1B R Osborn 2-4 R RBI BB SB, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 HR R 2RBI
HR - CH 3B T Arnaud (10), Mil 1B J Crosby (14, LF R Hiscock (9)
POTG - Milwaukee SP Kent Bennett

Summary -
Minor League News

AAA Championship: Saugatuck (Chicago) defeats Bay of Quinte (Owen Sound) in four games.

We enter the last of our 4 games against Canadian teams with the best team Hamilton up first. 1B Reagan Osborn has really found his hitting groove in the last 2 months going 60-198 with 10 doubles, 3 triplies 15 home runs, 54 RBI’s and 45 runs scored. Where was this in the first half but he is going to end the season potentially with his highest RBI total in his career and maybe even in the history of the Architects. The current single season leader is future HOF’er Daniel Huffman who had 108 in the 2034 season.

Hamilton Mounties 75-50 1st in Can vs Chicago Architects 64-61 3rd in US
August 28th-29th
Chicago Pier IV Grounds

Hamilton barring a major collapse is headed to the playoffs for the 2nd straight season, but this time likely as the North of the Border regular season champion.

Here is a look at the Hamilton Mounties, our next opponent in an upcoming 2-game series, and here are the results. The Mounties are playing .600 ball this season, compiling a record of 75 wins and 50 losses. They are leading the North of the Border. Their number of runs scored of 688 rank 1st in the Canadian, their .292 batting average ranks 1st. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 562 runs (1st) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.07 which ranks 1st. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 4.56, ranking 3rd. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 2 wins and 0 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Yakumo Hasegawa (12-5, 3.84 ERA) vs RHP John Moore (8-3, 3.53 ERA)
RHP Joe Murdock (8-9, 4.57 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (7-5, 4.35 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. 2B Li-ping Chin (Age: 29, Overall : 3.5, Potential: 3.5)
2. DH Glen Dickie (31, 3.5, 3.5)
3. SP Yakumo Hasegawa (38, 3.5, 3.5)
4. SP Sean Moore (29, 3.5, 3.5)
5. SP Gabriel Rodríguez (45, 3.0, 3.0)

Game #1 - Monday August 28th, 2056
Hamilton 75-50 vs Chicago 64-61
RHP Yakumo Hasegawa (12-5, 3.84 ERA) vs RHP John Moore (8-3, 3.53 ERA)
A - 31,676

The Mounties come on strong late. They take the lead in the sixth. Terry Foster singles in a run and later scores himself on a wild pitch. Foster then added a two-run home run in the seventh. Li-Ping Chin also homered in that inning. The ninth sees Fred Norris hitting a three-run home run. Hamilton 9, Chicago 3.

3B T Arnaud 2-4 DB R, CF C Luna 2-4 HR R RBI
HR - Ham 2B L Chin (15), RF T. Foster (12), C F Norris (3), CH 2B J Lambert (22), CF C Luna (15)
POTG - Hamilton RF Terry Foster

Game #2- Tuesday, August 29th, 2056
Hamilton 76-50 vs Chicago 64-62
RHP Joe Murdock (8-9, 4.57 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (7-5, 4.35 ERA)
A - 36,111

Hamilton’s R.C. Burt and P.J. Harper hit two-run doubles, and Joe Murdock (7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K) earned his ninth win of the season. Hamilton 4, Chicago 2.

C J Hunt 2-4 DB R
HR - Ham None CH - 3B T Arnaud (11)
POTG - Hamilton SP Joe Murdock

Summary - Hamilton has our number that is for sure. After the game we promoted the following players to join us for the rest of the season in Chicago.

LHRP David Butler 4-5 31 saves 2.90 ERA AAA
RHP Jason Dickerson 12-7 4.00 ERA AAA
RHP Kieron Aplin 10-3 3 saves 3.61 ERA AAA
RHRP Dustin Randolph 2-1 3.39 ERA AAA
CF Steve Hickman 269-344-746 9-46 AAA
CF John Ross 232-302-686 11-55 AAA
C Doug Hill 369-438-1150 20HR 54 RBI AA

We also decided to get out ahead of a salary arbitration case with RHP John Moore. We began discussion on just a 1-year deal with a promise to look at perhaps a further multi-year extension in the off-season. The goal was to save a few bucks and avoid arbitration with our biggest case this year.

DD Martin · 02-09-2026, 11:48 PM

Playing out the string
The last part of a very forgettable season

The Architects have 18 games left in the season and are 15 games behind USA co-leaders Duluth and Toledo. The tragic number is just is just 4 games and we are eliminated. Basically the team is playing for pride to finish 3rd and not further embarss themselves. We stand 1 game ahead of Detroit (4th), and just 3 games above Traverse City (5th).

We won't go through all the details of who we play and all of that, its just time to get to the end of the season and watch the playoffs quietly.

Quote:

At least my Seahawks won the Super Bowl in dominating fashion. We will just do game recaps as provided by our league commisshioner as always. He is the one who puts the game "articles" together that I use.

The league is having some off-season votes that will address some financial issues in the league although I am pretty sure what we will need to do the next several seasons. I will go into those more as they are decided but let's just call the CBA adjustments, which I am sure the players will not like.

The club was predicted by the pundits to finish 3rd and win 80 games. We would have to go 16-2 to get to that 80 win number.

Owen Sound vs Chicago
August 30th 2056
A - 32,851

Chicago’s Yale Hulbert (5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 7 K) picks up his eighth win (8-5) of the season. Joe Hunt homers late, but all the earlier Tects runs score on no-fun-to-write-about singles and groundouts. Chicago 6, Owen Sound 3.

J Hunt 2-4 HR 2R RBI, 1B R Osborn 2-3 R RBI 2BB, LF R LeRoy 2-4 R RBI BB, CF C Luna 3-4 TP 2RBI
HR - OWS - none CH - C J Hunt (16)
POTG - Chicago SP Yale Hulburt (6)

Owen Sound vs Chicago
August 31st 2056
A - 36,079

Motoyuki Inoue (5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K) and four Chicago relievers shutout Owen Sound. Joe Justice homers. Guo-Quiang Lee singles in run, and Kent Noseworthy singles in two. SP Inoue picks up his 3rd straight player of the game award. Chicago 4, Owen Sound 0.

1B R Osborn 2-4 CL P Wright 1/3IP K S (30)
HR - OWS - none CH - DH J Justice (11)
POTG - Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue (8)

Milwaukee vs Chicago
Friday September 1st, 2056
A - 36,905

Lots of late drama. The game goes to the eighth, 2-2. Milwaukee’s Alexandre Gasnier doubles in two. Eagles lead, 4-2. Chicago strikes back. Cris Luna and Joe Justice double in runs, and Reagan Osborn singles in Justice. Tects lead, 5-4. In the ninth, Milwaukee’s Cory Seguin, Randy Hiscock, and William Jones all double. The first two score. Milwaukee 6, Chicago 5.

1B R Osborn 3-5 DB RBI 2SB, SS K Mulford 2-4 DB R BB, CF C Luna DB R RBI
HR - None
POTG - Chicago SP Jose Cedeno (9)

Milwaukee vs Chicago
Saturday September 2nd, 2056
A - 37,023

Held scoreless for the first five, the Tects score three in the sixth and six in the seventh. Cris Luna’s three-run home run provides the first set of three runs. The six runs in the sixth score on a bases-loaded hit batsman, bases-loaded base-on-balls, bases-loaded single, bases-loaded wild pitch, and finally a two-run single. Chicago 9, Milwaukee 2.

CF C Luna 2-5 HR 2R 4RBI, LF R LeRoy 2-4 2RBI, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 R
HR - Mil - none CH - CF C Luna (16)
POTG - Chicago CF Cris Luna (4)

Milwaukee vs Chicago
Sunday September 3rd, 2056
A - 36,971

I had to check that I was on the correct day, because Chicago wins by the exact same score that they won by yesterday. Reagan Osborn’s two-run home run kicks off a four-run first. That home run gives Osborn precisely 30 home runs and 100 RBIs on the season. Nice. I just noticed that teammate Rodeo Leroy already had 31 home runs and 100 RBIs. That is a nice pair to have in the middle of your lineup. Anyway, Joe Hunt also hits a two-run home run. That gives him “just” 17 home runs and 70 RBIs on the season. Considering he’s played in 50 fewer games than Osborn or Leroy, his RBI total might be the most impressive of the bunch. Chicago 9, Milwaukee 2.

DH J Justice 2-5 2R, RF M Nakayama 2-43R BB, 3B T Arnaud 3-4 R BB, SS K Mulford 2-5 3RBI
HR - Mil - none CH - 1B R Osborn (30), C J Hunt (17)
POTG - Chicago SP Val Imbert (3)

Summary - Before anyone gets too excited that Chicago won 4 out of 5 games at home. It has to be pointed out that Owen Sound is in 5th place in Canada and Milwaukee is dead last in the entire GLBL. Our combined record against these two clubs is 22-6. We stand at 68-63 with 13 games left and we our tragic number is just 1. We head to Duluth next where the Sea Gulls look to wrap up their 1st USA division crown in 36 years (2020 when they also won the GLBL Series).

Chicago @ Duluth
Tuesday September 4th, 2056
A - 39,641

Toledo doesn't clinch a playoff spot after losing their game. However, they do clinch a playoff spot anyway! Duluth’s Carlos Sánchez hits a two-run home run, Joe Hunt hits a two-run double, and Gabin Roux (5 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 B, 5K) picks up a win in his very first major-league start. Félicitations, Gabin! The loss eliminates Chicago. Duluth 4, Chicago 3.

2B J Lambert -23 BB SB (34), DH J Justice 2-4 DB R,
HR - CH - 1B R Osborn (31), Dul RF C Sanchez (27), C S White (9)
POTG - Duluth C Sean White

Chicago @ Duluth
Wednesday September 5th, 2056
A - 39,730

Chicago’s Motoyuki Inoue (6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 10 K) strikes out an even 10 and picks up his 10th win as an Architect, John Lambert doubles in the tying run and scores the leading run on a Reagan Osborn single. Chicago 5, Duluth 4.

2B J Lambert 2-4 DB R 2RBI BB 2SB (36), 1B R Osborn 2-4 RBI BB, LF R Leroy 2-5,
HR - CH - DH T Stone (9) Dul - 1B J Rangel (44)
POTG - Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue (9)

Chicago @ Duluth
Thursday September 6th, 2056
A - 39,895

Chicago’s José Cedeño (7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 7 K) wins his major-league leading 15th game of the season. Kent Noseworthy, Marc Nakayama, and Cris Luna homer. Chicago 12, Duluth 3.

C J Hunt 3-6 2DB R RBI, LF R Leroy 3-5 2R 2RBI, 3B T Arnaud 3-4 2R BB, RF M Nakayama 2-5 HR R 3RBI, SS K Mulford 3-5 DB R RBI, CF C Luna 2-5 HR 2R 3RBI
HR - CH - DH K Noseworthy (8), RF K Nakayama (7), F C Luna (17), Dul - none
POTG - Chicago SP Jose Cedeno (10)

Chicago @ Toledo
Friday September 8th, 2056
A - 39,573

Chicago’s John Moore (7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K) out-pitches Toledo’s Nick Keddy (6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K). Kent Noseworthy’s RBI single in the seventh breaks a 1-1 deadlock. Chicago 4, Toledo 1.

C J Hunt 2-5 DB RBI
HR - CH - none Tol RF M Wadell (20)
POTG - Chicago SP John Moore (7)

Chicago @ Toledo
Saturday September 9th, 2056
A - 39,610

Having been eliminated, the Architects are suddenly on a hot streak. They score five in the sixth and win their fourth straight. Joe Hunt and Reagan Osborn single in runs. Thomas Arnaud walks with the bases loaded. A two-out miscue by the shortstop lets two more score. Chicago 5, Toledo 2.

SS K Mulford 2-4 R BB, CF J Ross 2-4 R
HR - CH none Tol - C J Richard (11)
POTG - Chicago SP Val Imbert (4)

Chicago @ Toledo
Sunday September 10th, 2056
A - 39,725

Chicago’s Thomas Arnaud ties the game, 3-3, with a two-run single in the sixth. The next inning, John Lambert hits a solo home run. SP Inoue wins his 11 game with Chicago and 15th on the season. Chicago 4, Toledo 3.

RF M Nakayama 2-4 DB R RBI SP M Inoue 6IP 7H 3R 1BB 6K, CL P Wright 1IP 1K S (34)
HR - CH - 1B R Osborn (32), 2B J Lambert (23), Tol - SS C Montano (6)
POTG - Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue (10)

Summary - So where was this all season long. The club has gone 10-2 down the stretch and sits at 73-65 on the season. We have firmly secured 3rd place barring a complete disaster. Winning 80 games is out the window and honestly I didn't even think that would be a challenge this season, especially after picking up SP Inoue and shoring up our SS position with Mulford. But several injuries to SS Mulford and DH Aranda and a terrible season from SU Larry Stott to go along with a terrible record in 1-run games has put us where we are. Duluth has all but clinched the US division crown and they are trying to set a club record for wins (87 is the most and they current sit on 86.).

1B Reagan Osborn has 104 RBI's with 6 games to play and LF Robert LeRoy has 102. Both have a shot at breaking Daniel Huffman's club record for RBI's in a season which sits at 108.

We wrap up the season at home against 5th place Traverse City who is trying to get to 500 and 4th place Detroit who is trying to have a winning season for the first time in 9 years. Personally I hope we can keep both of them from reaching those goals by finishing the season strong. Rookie SP Curt Hopkins who we hope will be a frontrunner for next seasons rookie of the year will get the start in game 1 against TC.

Traverse City vs Chicago
Tuesday September 12th, 2056
A - 39,152

Chicago’s 1B Reagan Osborn hits a pair of long balls and a double. He drives in four but he scores five times. Osborn ties Daniel Huffman's Chicago most RBI in a season with 108. 2B John Lambert doubles, triples, and drives in three. Chicago 14, Traverse City 2.

CF C Luna 2-4 2R BB, RF T Stone 2-3 DB R RBI, 1B R Osborn 3-4 DB 2HR 5R 4RBI BB, 2B J Lambert 2-4 TP 2R 3RBI BB, C G Lee 3-5 DB R 2RBI
HR - TC - RF E Foote (19), CH - 1B R Osborn 2 (34)
POTG - Chicago 1B Reagan Osborn (7)

Traverse City vs Chicago
Wednesday September 13th, 2056
A - 38,976

Traverse City’s Cal Braud goes 5-for-5. All five hits are singles. He drives in two but doesn’t score even once. Ben Marshall ties the game, 4-4, with a two-run home run in the seventh. Chicago takes the lead on a Rodeo Leroy RBI single. Traverse City takes the lead when Wally Whitaker doubles in a run, then scores on a Bernie Stoddart single. In the bottom of the ninth, Chicago’s Guo-Quiang Lee doubled in Doug Hill. Tie game, 6-6. In the 10th, Thomas Arnaud singles, John Ross doubles, and Joe Hunt singles in Arnaud. Chicago 7, Traverse City 6. 10 Innings

2B J Lambert 3-3 2DB 2R RBI BB, 1B R Osborn 2-4 RBI (109 club record) BB, LF R Leroy 2-5 HR R 2RBI, CF J Ross 2-5 DB
HR - TC - DH B Marshall (13), CH - LF R Leroy (32), DH K Noseworthy (9)
POTG - Chicago 2B John Lambert (4)

Traverse City vs Chicago
Thursday September 14th, 2056
A - 38,226

The game is tied, 7-7, as we enter the ninth. Traverse City’s Alexis Martin leads off the inning with a triple. Chicago intentionally walks Cal Braud—but Braud is caught napping. Chicago picks him off! They intentionally walk Earl Foote. Barney Tomiak comes to the plate. In what surely will gladden the heart of Traverse City’s General Manager, Tomiak lays down a perfect squeeze bunt. Martin scores. Bernie Stoddart then singles in Foote. Traverse City 9, Chicago 7.

C J Hunt 2-4 DB R, LF R Leroy 2-5 DB 2R 2RBI, SS K Mulford 2-4 R
HR - TC - DH B Tomiak (14), RF E Foote (20), LF D Sonier (1) Ch - none
POTG - Traverse City LF Barney Tomiak

Final series of the season at home against Detroit. Detroit needs 1 win to clinch a 500 season and 2 wins to have a winning record.

Detroit vs Chicago
Friday September 15th 2056
A - 39,035

His first time up, Detroit’s John Nichols slugs a two-run home run. His third time up, he smacks a two-run single. Joo-Seok Kim (6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K) lulls Tects batters to sleep for six innings, taking a shutout into the seventh. He gets yanked after he walks the leadoff man, Tom Stone, and he gets charged with a run when Stone steals second, steals third, and scores when the catcher’s throw to third sails into left. Detroit 5, Chicago 3.

LF R Leroy 2-4 R, RF K Nakayama 2-4 R, 3B T Arnaud 2-4
HR - Det CF John Nichols (18), CH - none
POTG - Detroit CF John Nichols

Detroit vs Chicago
Saturday September 16th 2056
A - 38,937

For the first time in nine years. The T-Birds will finish the season with a winning record. Dwayne Miller (7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K) plays the Sandman and sends Chicago batters to sleep. John Nichols, who homered yesterday, homers today. He has 19 on the season, so you can bet he’ll be trying for 20 tomorrow. Detroit 4, Chicago 1.

2B J Lambert 2-4 RBI, C D Hill 2-4 DB R
HR - Det CF J Nichols (19) CH - none
POTG - Detroit SP Dwayne Miller

Saturday, September 16th , 2056 - Chicago Architects: SP Curt Hopkins was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: herniated disc (neck). He's expected to miss about 5-6 weeks. This was not the news we wanted to hear about someone that we are counting on. It's not a major injury perse but Hopkins has had a few nagging back injuries the last 2 seasons and that is a concern.

Detroit vs Chicago
Sunday September 17th 2056
A - 38,410

Cris Luna’s two singles drove in three Chicago runs. Tom Stone drives in three via a single and a double. John Lambert’s home run drives in two. The Tects and T-Birds finish third and fourth in the USA, and they’ll likely lose some sleep this off-season, wondering what might have been. Chicago 9, Detroit 4.

CF C Luna 2-4 R 3RBI, RF T Stone 2-5 DB 3RBI, 2B J Lambert 2-4 HR 2R 2RBI, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 R
HR - Det LF M Akerval (13), CH - 2B J Lambert (24)
POTG - Chicago CF Cris Luna (5)

Sunday, September 17th , 2056 - Chicago Architects: RP Kieron Aplin was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: shoulder inflammation. He's expected to miss about 3 months.

Summary - Long season but we continued my streak of winning seasons in Chicago getting number 5 and finishing with a disappointing 76-68 record. Good enough for 3rd place and we closed the gap on 2nd place Toledo (for what that is worth) shaving off 9 games and coming within 6 of 2nd place.

Toledo had a disasterous run to finish the season going 3-12 in September and losing their last 3 in August. Not too many teams can finish a season 3-15 and hope to win in the playoffs. None the less we wish both Duluth who did win a club record 88th game this season and Toledo the best of luck in the playoffs. Hamilton won the Canadian Division and upstart Kingston who was picked to finish 5th by those know-it-alls that do predictions, finished as the wildcard.

We will do a summary of the season in the next post and what to expect in what will likely be a quiet off-season for the Architects. We have no budget money to go buy much so it will be looking for bargains and maybe trying to pare a little salary off the books. But I do like this team and I do think we will be back and winning the US division next season.

DD Martin · 02-16-2026, 12:14 AM

The playoffs and off- season

For the first time in 3 years the Architects will not be in the GLBL Fall Classic or even the playoffs. That meant I really wasn’t interested in them but I guess we will cover them anyway.

US Divisional Series
Toledo Neptunes 82-62 vs Duluth Sea Gulls 88- 56

Game 1 - September 19th Toledo vs Duluth - Toledo wins 13-9
Game 2 - September 20th Toledo vs Duluth - Duluth wins 3-2 series tied 1-1

Game 3 - September 22nd Duluth vs Toledo - Duluth wins 6-2 Duluth leads series 2-1
Game 4 - September 23rd Duluth vs Toledo - Toledo wins 2-1 Series tied 2-2
Game 5 - September 24th Duluth vs Toledo - Toledo wins 7-3 Toledo leads series 3-2

Game 6 - September 26th Toledo vs Duluth - Duluth wins 8-1 Series tied 3-3
Game 7 - September 27th Toledo vs Duluth - Duluth win 6-3 Duluth wins Series 4-3

Canadian Divisional Series
Kingston Comets 80-64 vs Hamilton 83-61

Game 1 - September 19th Kingston vs Hamilton - Kingston wins 5-3
Game 2 - September 20th Kingston vs Hamilton - Hamilton wins 4-3 Series tied 1-1

Game 3 - September 22nd Hamilton vs Kingston - Kingston wins 14-2 Kingston leads series 2-1
Game 4 - September 23rd Hamilton vs Kingston - Kingston wins 3-1 Kingston leads series 3-1
Game 5 - September 24th Hamilton vs Kingston - Kingston wins 3-2 Kingston wins the Series 4-1

GLBL Fall Classic
Kingston Comets 80-64 vs Duluth Sea Gulls 88-56

This series was interesting mainly because neither team had won a Fall Classic since the mid-20’s. Kingston last won in 2026 and Duluth the wait was all the way back to 2020. My guess was this would be Duluth in 5 games. They have just been the better more consistent team all season.

Game 1 - September 29th Kingston vs Duluth - Kingston wins 3-0 Kingston leads Series 1-0
Game 2 - September 30th Kingston vs Duluth - Kingston wins 4-2 Kingston leads Series 2-0

Game 3 - October 2nd Duluth vs Kingston - Duluth wins 2-0 Kingston leads Series 2-1
Game 4 - October 3rd Duluth vs Kingston - Duluth wins 4-2 Series tied 2-2
Game 5 - October 4th Duluth vs Kingston - Duluth wins 5-4 11 innings Duluth leads Series 3-2

Game 6 - October 6th Kingston vs Duluth - Duluth wins 5-4 Duluth wins Series 4-2

So the Sea Gulls win their first GLBL Fall Classic since 2020. Their GM, who was the former GM of the Architects, took 5 seasons but he did build a winner. Something that we have not done in Chicago, at least not winning it all. My career record in the GLBL is 394-328 for a 546 winning percentage. We have won 1 US Division crown (55 season) and been to the Fall Classic twice (54,55) losing both in 6 games to Thunder Bay.

As soon as the Fall Classic was over, the league had been discussing rule changes all season. These were primarily on the financial system (since OOTP 26 is broken in regards to teams being over budget).

The Cash Max/Min was raised to $75 million
No trades could be completed if it caused either team to go in debt. If a team was in debt prior to the trade that team could not increase its debt.

These proposals were primarily instituted because Thunder Bay has a payroll in 2056 that was just shy of $300 million, on a budget of $180 or so. The Architects in the name of trying to win it all, when we thought we had the team to do it, went all in on SS Mulford and even moreso on SP Motouki Inoue. Inoue's contract was $38,000,000 in 2056 and $36,000,000 in 2057. His arbitration estimate for 2058 was estimated at a league shattering $54 million. The rule changes will greatly effect our decision making process for that option season. Even if we can sign him to a deal lower the arbitration number and extend him, we will have to really try and figure out what we are going to do.

The reason the club is in such a bind is the free spending ways that their GM (me) has gone on in search of that elusive league championship. I really thought this was our year and I really feel strong about our chances next year with Inoue here for a full season. But we will have to really look at our expenses as we lost money this last season, and we are now in debt $8,958,500. So while we are well under the $75 million ceiling, we are a bit hamstrung as our projected payroll for 2057 is roughly $197,000,000 and our budget is $180,000,000. So without a significant playoff run we are looking at losing $25,000,000. With a significant playoff run we can probably get that down below $15,000,000 million for the season. But the issues just grow with our projected payroll of over $235,000,000 in 2058 (including Inoue's outrageous $54 million arb estimate). There are ways to whittle that down with a couple of contracts namely SP Yale Hulburt's $17,000,000 team option for 2058 and oft-injured DH Jose Aranda's $25,000,000 team option for 2059.

Even with those the road ahead financially is murky at best in the next 3-5 years. Not making the playoffs this year really hurt, because if we had made it back to the Fall Classic this season for the 3rd straight year, we would not have had a loss for this season.

Below is our payroll numbers for the next 6 seasons. 2061 really is the first year that we might be below our budget and without the playoffs in future seasons we could have a long period of budgetary issues.

Lesson learned that it isn't always best to exploit a bug and just go for it, when the end goal of winning doesn't materialize.

DD Martin · 02-16-2026, 03:38 PM

Let’s get the Off-Season Started

We had been in talks with several teams on potentially acquiring SP Val Imbert who is an above average 110+ ERA+ his first 2 seasons in Chicago. He was on a $10,000,000 contract in 2057 and will turn 30. He has a player option for 2058 for another $10,000,000 and a smart team would be trying to pick him up while I am considering dealing him. He is also willing to extend his contract for 4 seasons for a total of $10.6 million per season. His ask was more than that, but in discussing it we talked him down from $12.6 per season. It is an option that we will look at, but because we still have Aranda’s contract on the books for that 2059 season ($25 million) and we are at a loss heading into the off-season, our owner would not approve of that deal. Now since Aranda’s team option for 2059 is a 99% chance we will not exercise it, I know that we will likely be able to sign him to that deal. I’d shop him around but his injury issues the last 2 years and now the gun shy nature of several clubs who have money, there is just no chance. His deal is non-tradable unless I offer a prospect package of my young SP’s and with our payroll situation they are definitely our future, so that is not happening.

The other SP that I have begun to offer is 38-year old veteran SP Yale Hulburt who returned in June after being out for almost a year. His contract is $20 million for 2057 with a $17 million team option for 2058. Again barring something unforeseen, his team option has about a 90% chance of being declined because of our financial situation. Traverse City who is probably the biggest penny-pinching team in the whole league (Milwaukee spends less but I think they could spend more), was in discussions to pick him up. The cost was that I would retain up to 50% of the 2057 contract, and if Traverse City wants to contend they need to find pitchers and a lot of them. But they backed out of conversations and it wasn’t because of the players I asked for. Unless they plan to spend $10 million on multiple pitchers and get some quality, they will not challenge for the US title anytime soon.

Several days ago we got a message from SP Jose Cedeno and it would change a lot of things for us going into the 2057 season, both on the field and financially. The 35-year old decided to hang up his cleats after leading the league in wins this last season. To say we were shocked is an understatement as he had 5 seasons left on his deal ($27 million in 2057, and then $34 million the next 4 seasons with the last one being a team option).

Chicago’s SP Cedeno Hangs Up Cleats Early

Starting Pitcher José Cedeño, is walking away from the game he's been playing his whole life-- to fulfill yet another one of his lifelong dreams. "After an anguishing few months and a lot of sleepless nights, I've come to realize my heart just isn't in the game anymore. It's been a good run and I couldn't be more thankful to my teammates and my coach, who have supported me every step of the way." Cedeño said he has always wanted to be more involved in his church, and is intending on becoming a missionary and travelling the world to help others.

In parts of 7 big league seasons, Cedeno was 86-63 with a 4.00 ERA. He led the GLBL in wins twice in his career, but many feel he never did quite reach the potential he had. Chicago acquired him at the trade deadline in 2054 as they made their first push to the playoffs under their new GM that season.

Summary - So losing half of the 1-2 punch of Inoue and Cedeno at the top of our rotation was a major blow to what we were hoping to have for at least 1 full season. Cedeno’s retirement, while providing some major budgetary relief in future seasons, is a major blow to our chances for 2057. That means that rookie Curt Hopkins is going to have some very big shoes to fill and we are going to need a huge bounce back season from SP Yale Hulbert. It also is giving us pause on trading SP Val Imbert who is on a reasonable $10 million contract for 2057 and we had teams inquiring on him.

Since we were discussing budget and payroll so much I will attach a new salaries projection for 2057 and going forward. We still won’t be adding anything via free agency for this year, but I really don’t think we need a lot. I still think we can contend if SP John Moore, who stepped into a starters role mid-season and won 10 games can continue, but it does change our plans. It also brings back into focus a serious look at re-signing Inoue for a long term deal and trying to substantially lower that amount owed for the 2058 season.

As far as free agents go, overall I’d say it is a down crop. That said there are two international free agents that teams like Milwaukee who has all the budget space in the world and several other teams (Detroit, Windsor, Traverse City) should be jumping all over. They are

30-year-old Cuban LHSP Arturo Colomo and 28-year-old Japanese RHRP Tamasaburo Nii. Both of these guys look really good and until they find homes, I don’t expect a lot of other players to be signed. If Milwaukee could get these two and then sign a couple of other guys they would immediately become a factor. Not saying it would be enough to make the playoffs, but they would certainly be scarier than they have been the last several seasons. With a total ask of around $50+ between the two, Milwaukee is maybe the only team that could get them both.

While we would love to be in on these guys, that just isn’t possible. We can’t even be in on a guy like SP Walt Marcotte and he just wants $3,000,000 for 1 season. It’s okay not to be in on him as he is a jerk in the locker room and his production on the field isn’t worth the clubhouse drama or the $3,000,000. I wouldn’t even offer him the league minimum $507,500.

What we will probably do is try to lock in SP John Moore to a club extension of 6 years while lowering his arbitration estimates the next two seasons. Then we will take a look at both 2B John Lambert and CF Cris Luna who will both be arbitration eligible after next season. If we can save say $5-6 million per season on the arbitration estimates that will greatly help our ability to dig out of the hole and maybe even entertain the option to re-sign Inoue to a long term deal.

DD Martin · 02-17-2026, 12:02 AM

Better Late than Never
My meeting with Mr. Bouquet Jr.

Always a pleasure to meet with the Architects penny-pinching owner, but in all honesty he wasn't really a penny-pincher. He has given me good budgets in the past, but he lacks the temperment to achieve winning at all costs. He didn't understand my wheeling and dealing and spending every penny. And we spent and then some, to the tune of being in the whole almost $9 million bucks at the end of the season. If figured that I had a budget slashing coming.......

But instead of that he did express his disappointment in our losing money this year. He did point out that making large sums of cash was not my fortay but he wasn't going to fire me. No instead he just stated that I will give you $180 million dollar budget and I expect you to have the club out of financial distress within 3 seasons or I will fire you.

He then preceed to tell me that we were going to retire the number of a former Architect in Dave Moss. Moss had a good career and started with the Architects for his first 7 seasons. He then went to Owen Sound for 6 years, then 2 years in Toledo before coming back to Chicago for a season (signed by the former GM). He then played for Kingston in 53-54 while also playing for Thunder Bay in 54. Finally he pitched a year in Duluth while the Sea Gulls rebuilt and then went to Traverse City or better known as a year in pergatory before calling it a career.

Moss was an All-Star 6 times and won 4 titles. His overall record was 194-165 with a career ERA of 3.21 In 2048 he won the Canadian League pitcher of the year award with Owen Sound. In parts of 8 seasons with Chicago he was 93-68 with a 3.28 ERA.

He is a close Hall of Fame candidate, certainly no shoe-in as most of his "metrics" are below GLBL standards. He is at the standard with a 44.2 JAWS (HOF average 44) and in Gray Ink 252 (HOF average 207), but below in the other 3 categories. While he won 93 games in Chicago, he won 101 games elsewhere. I suppose if he was elected to the Hall he would go in as an Architect, but I am not sure he is deserving of his number being retired. None the less Mr. Bouquet was going on and on about him and how we would have a night to retire his number and hopefully draw a big crowd. I simply nodded in agreement.

I that the Chicago voters will vote for Moss when it comes time, but maybe he has enough support from the old-timers to sneak in. Hall of hte Very Good perhaps, but baseball immortal.......NO.

I was shocked at how well the meeting went. He wasn't pleased that he couldn't take his grandkids to Disney World next summer, at least not on the team's dime.

So after the meeting with Mr. Bouquet the awards were announced for the 2056 season.

Top USA Player of the Year
Chicago LF Robert "Rodeo" LeRoy

Robert Leroy has been around Great Lakes Baseball League enough to know a good hot streak when he sees one -- and he got to see one firsthand all year. For his standout run through the 2056 season, he's taking home the Lake Superior Player Award in the USA.

The Chicago left fielder put up a batting average of .339 with 47 doubles, 1 triple, 32 home runs and 107 RBIs.

Carlos Sánchez of the Duluth Sea Gulls finished second in voting, while Jorge Rangel of the Duluth Sea Gulls finished third.

Top USA Pitcher Honors
Toledo SP Nick Keddy

This year, the top vote-getter for the 2056 Lake Michigan POY Award was Nick Keddy of the Toledo Neptunes, who finished with an outstanding 14-8 mark and an impressive 3.16 ERA.

In his award-winning season, the 29-year-old Neptunes star hurled 191 innings, chalking up 225 strikeouts and 47 walks, and limited hitters to a .233 batting average. Keddy won his 3rd straight USA pitcher of the Year award and his 4th in the last 5 seasons. Unlike Moss, this is the type of resume a Hall of Famer produces.

Tim Gross of the Duluth Sea Gulls finished second in voting, while José Cedeño of the Chicago Architects finished third.

Top USA Fireman Award
Duluth Sea Gulls RP Pedro Saldaña

Pedro Saldaña was a calming influence out of the Duluth Sea Gulls bullpen this season.

His teammates and manager said he had a poised demeanor about him that was typical of someone much older and more experienced. His poise has paid off, as the 25-year-old turned in a sparkling season and has been named the winner of the USA Lake Ontario Relief Award for 2056.

The Scottsbluff, Nebraska native won the award with 4 saves in 79 relief appearances, 89 strikeouts in 81.2 innings and a record of 3-1 to go with his 2.42 ERA.

Kevin McAskill of the Traverse City Bears finished second in voting, while Pat Wright of the Chicago Architects finished third.

USA Top Rookie Named
Duluth SS Jeff Beasley

Duluth's shortstop Jeff Beasley is the latest winner of the USA Lake Huron Rookie Award.

During his first year in the league, the 24-year-old Beasley hit .286 with 99 hits, 20 home runs, 57 RBIs and 64 runs scored. He also walked 21 times and put up a .350 on-base percentage.

Carlos Montaño of the Toledo Neptunes finished second in voting, while Ricardo Valentín of the Toledo Neptunes finished third.

USA Flashing the Leather Award Winners

They flashed the leather all year and saved countless hits and runs for their teams. The following players are the Flashing Leather Award winners for the USA in 2056:

Pitcher
Dwayne Miller (Detroit Thunderbirds)

Catcher
Dai-lin Tah (Detroit Thunderbirds)

First Baseman
Reagan Osborn (Chicago Architects)

Second Baseman
John Lambert (Chicago Architects)

Third Baseman
Thomas Arnaud (Chicago Architects)

Shortstop
Larry Thomson (Detroit Thunderbirds)

Left Fielder
Robert Leroy (Chicago Architects)

Center Fielder
Cris Luna (Chicago Architects)

Right Fielder
Earl Foote (Traverse City Bears)

Top Bats by Position in the USA

For some it's the first time winning the award, and others have already established themselves as one of the top offensive players at their position. The 2056 USA Lake Erie Bat Award winners are:

Catcher
Cecil Phillips (Milwaukee Eagles)
.295/.360/.455, 413 AB, 15 HR, 2 SB, 115 wRC+, 3.3 WAR

First Baseman
Jorge Rangel (Duluth Sea Gulls)
.273/.436/.613, 480 AB, 45 HR, 1 SB, 111 R, 111 RBI, 4.2 WAR

Second Baseman
John Lambert (Chicago Architects)
.279/.350/.502, 538 AB, 24 HR, 37 SB, 116 wRC+, 4.3 WAR

Third Baseman
Luis González (Toledo Neptunes)
.312/.369/.518, 504 AB, 22 HR, 106 RBI, 3.8 WAR

Shortstop
Jeff Beasley (Duluth Sea Gulls)
.286/.350/.520, 346 AB, 20 HR, 5 SB, 118 wRC+, 2.9 WAR

Left Fielder
Robert Leroy (Chicago Architects)
.339/.400/.617, 522 AB, 32 HR, 5 SB, 107 RBI, 5.6 WAR

Center Fielder
Cal Braud (Traverse City Bears)
.349/.381/.565, 496 AB, 20 HR, 26 SB, 104 RBI, 5.3 WAR

Right Fielder
Carlos Sánchez (Duluth Sea Gulls)
.346/.391/.581, 547 AB, 28 HR, 45 SB, 102 RBI, 5.5 WAR

Designated Hitter
Eric Molina (Toledo Neptunes)
.291/.401/.576, 484 AB, 32 HR, 8 SB, 107 R, 144 wRC+, 3.2 WAR

With all that defensive award winners and hitters that didn't include 1B Reagan Osborn, it is still a wonder to me how Chicago did not win more games.

Quote:

We will hit the less important Canadian Team Award winners tomorrow

DD Martin · 02-19-2026, 03:48 AM

It’s been a quiet difficult off-season

1.) The Budget Crunch

The budget situation along with the new debt rules (think a bit of financial fair play) has put us in a position where we can not actively seek todo anything real big on the free agent market. Fortunately this has not been a real bumper crop of free agents, and honestly we don’t have a lot of holes to fill.

2.) The Cedeno retirement

When SP Jose Cedeno retired it blew up our plan of having him and SP Motoyuki Inoue together for a full season at the top of our rotation. When we acquired Inkue that was the big idea was to get them together. Cedeno had 5 years left on his deal for more than $150 million. Inoue was to be paid $36 million and has arbitration up after the 57 season. Now without Cedeno we are looking at ways to get out of debt quickly.

3.) Lack of tradable contracts - but we have tried.

We tried to trade veteran SP Yale Hulburt (38) who had come back last June after being on the shelf for a year. His results weren’t great (a manager error in starting back to back games didn’t help) and his $20 million contract even with us offering to 50% has found any takers. Hulburt has a team option for $17 million in 2058 that is almost assuredly not going to be exercised.

We also tried to trade 30 year old team captain Val Imbert who is on a more reasonable salary ( $10 million in 2057 and a player option for 2058 of another $10 million ) hasn’t found a home. He’s our team captain as well and he would discuss a similar extension to what we are paying him now. There have been teams looking but nothing concrete at this point.

We’ve tried to give away Bill Lutz who has had ERA+ 107-109 two out of the last 3 years, but he has struggled with control as a SP and has been coming out of the bullpen for us mostly last season. He’s going into the last year of his deal at $8.5 million. He’s been DFA but no one has taken him, so we will likely ride him in the pen again this year.

DH/RF Jose Aranda is another guy but I haven’t even tried to trade the lefty slugger who has missed a lot of time since he signed this deal. He will be paid $25 million this year, then has a player option for 2058 at $29 million. The final year is a team option for $25 million which has no chance of getting picked up.

Free Agent Market

There were two big international free agents on the market. There was a fear that the Detroit Thunderbirds who finished right behind last season us would get them both. Fortunately for us they just got the reliever, but he is a good get for them if he pans out.

Our strategy will be to try to sign some veteran players for either a minor league deal or league minimum contracts.

The Big Question
What do we do with SP Inoue?

Inoue is on a $36 million deal this season. With him currently our payroll sits at about $168 on a total budget of $180 million and a debt total of Roughly $9 million. Without making the playoffs our projection for the 2057 is a loss of around $20. That’s with the club taking a slight downturn in fan interest (96) and a projection of fewer season tickets and total attendance for 2057. While those are just estimates, even if we made a run back to the Fall Classic Series we could lose $5-8 million and increase our debt. I can save $3 million of that by laying out of the IAFA market next August, but it still is likely a loss.

To further complicate Inoue his projected arbitration number for 2058 (he was signed as an IAFA by Toronto and will fall just short of becoming a full free agent) is $45 million. That is down from a staggering $54.6 million during last season. While we could try to save some on an extension in the 1st year if we re-signed, it would likely take 6 years and $240 million to get a deal done.

So one option is to trade him and try to reduce this debt burden immediately. If we trade him and don’t sign anyone of extremely popular popularity, we will take another big drop in fan interest and that will affect revenue for 2057 and likely future budgets. But it would get us out of debt. One idea is to retain his salary for the season, pick up top end prospects and maybe get enough cash in a deal to clear the debt. The other option is to not retain his salary in a deal that would hopefully net a decent return and get out of debt this year. Either of those options probably removes us from making the playoffs.

The other option is damn the money, try to win the whole thing this season and then deal with the debt next season while not re-signing him. The 4th option is screw the money,sign him to the lowest deal for the $2058 season (maybe save half the salary arbitration number) and then worry about the trailing years.

So we are at a crossroads and we have what I feel is the best position player group in the US division and most of them are younger players. With Inoue we have a serious shot at the playoffs (60%) and once you're in anything can happen. Without Inoue it’s a crapshoot between us, Toledo and maybe Detroit. Milwaukee and Traverse City are non factors as both clubs are not addressing their needs to climb out of the bottom 2 spots.

What should we do? What would you do? Get out of debt issues quickly given the new rules or try and win and manage the season loss as best you can. Keep Inoue? Trade him? Re-sign him and risk further financial hardship?

DD Martin · 02-20-2026, 02:26 PM

As the free agency period starts, we will run down the team that we have returning quickly.

Catcher -
Juan Duran (age 25 B-R) It’s time for the 25 year old Duran to break out. He has been up and down in previous seasons and last season when we fell behind in the standings, Duran was hitting 216. So we sent him down to 1.) have him remember how to hit and 2.) and less publicized, gain more control on his service time. At AAA he hit 310. It’s now time for him to be the catcher that everyone thought he would be.

We have Don Hill who came up late last year, but ideally we could re-sign lefty hitting C Guo-quiang Lee who hit 349 when he came up to replace Duran. Since we can’t offer anything more than the limit, we will have to wait to sign Lee to see if we can coax him in for the league minimum. This would allow Hill a full season at AAA to continue to develop.

Infield -

Our infield is pretty set. With the combination of 1B Reagan Osborn and 3B Travis Arnaud at the corners and 2B John Lambert who had a breakout season last year and mid-season acquisition SS Kennelly Mulford. We have one of the better hitting infields in the league and a group that defends well.

The backup group loses IF Kent Noseworthy who could play all positions although untested at 1B. SS/2B Pedro Farrulla who is a slick fielding not hit player will be back. 2B/3B Larry Davis will also likely get a spot on the bench as well.

I could see us again looking for a veteran on a league minimum deal and preferably a left handed bat. Not sure if we will find anyone in that group but I do have my eye on someone that we tried to acquire several years ago. While I am glad we didn’t pull the trigger then on that deal, because it would have stunted the growth likely of John Lambert. If we could get him now on a minimum deal that could be a plus for his bat, but not his glove.

Outfield

The outfield has a lot of candidates and as starters is pretty set in LF and CF. Now back to back player of the year (Canada in 55 and US with us last season) Robert LeRoy is back in LF. In CF we will have the ever improving Cris Luna who’s bat seems to finally be ready to hit at the big league level and covers a lot of ground in CF. We will have competition in RF this spring as we have Tom Stone who last year came out like a house on fire to start the season, but then cooled off. Still Stone hit 305 as a rookie and had a 793 OPS as a 22-year old. He gave up some playing time to waiver acquisition Joe Justice (now 26) who hit 269 but hit 11 home runs and 40 RBI’s in 223 at-bats and had an OPS of 856. They are both looking for PT in RF for the upcoming season.

DH/RF sees the return of Jose Aranda who is a lefty hitter with tremendous power but has battled injuries in his 2 seasons with the Architects. Aranda only hit 215 last season with a 690 OPS with 10 home runs and 31 RBI’s but spent 2 long periods on the DL. We brought up 1B/corner OF Marc Nakayama who really caught our attention early and still wound with a 793 OPS with 7 home runs and 29 RBI’s in 170 at-bats. Aranda is a lefty and Nakayama is a righty so I see them sharing time at DH with Nakayama being more of the guy who would play in the field.

After that it will basically be having a backup CF between rookie John Ross (25) and Steve Hickman (26). Ross is a lefty and has tremendous leadership which is a bonus. They likely will be battling over 1 spot. Joe Justice is also a very capable CF so there is a scenario that neither Ross or Hickman make the club.

We could look for a popular veteran bench bat for the league minimum in free agency.

Pitching

Obviously I’ve whined enough about the early retirement of Jose Cedeno, which can be seen as a curse or maybe a financial blessing. We still have a strong rotation I believe with the offense we have. While we are still mulling the decision on Motoyuki Inoue and whether to trade him or not, this is who would be our starting 5 if we keep him.

Starting Rotation as of February 1st 2057

RHSP Motoyuki Inoue (15-12 3.75 ERA)
RHSP John Moore (10-4 3.23 ERA)
LHSP Curt Hopkins (11-3 2.91 ERA in AAA and 1-1 3.48 in the big leagues)
RHSP Val Imbert (10-6 4.45 ERA)
RHSP Yale Hulburt (8-6 5.98ERA)

I still feel good about this group and think we can contend next season. Whatever magic Duluth had last year, they were a club that played well together and they have budget room to improve on that team. They are probably the favorites, but 2nd place Toledo has financial issues like we do, although not as bad, and has great pitching. They will lose their star 3B Luis Gonzalez during free agency because they have no room to bid on him. Toledo has tremendous pitching on their side and we lost Cedeno. Detroit, Traverse City will have to make moves to be a factor. Milwaukee has too many holes and appears content to gather #1 draft picks.

If we did move Inoue, depending on the deal we could get a pitcher back if we clear our budgetary issues in either a trade or in free agency. But we have a good amount of talent on the pitching side in our system. They are not likely ready yet, but I can’t see gong more than a year on anyone pitcher. The pitcher who would step into the rotation if we move Inoue would be Joe Johnson. Johnson excelled as a RP last season picking up the slack for setup man Larry Stott (more on that later). Johnson pitched to a 3.75 ERA last season and was below 3 as a RP (a couple of his early starts during the season were not good). In previous two seasons Johnson was 22- 8 with an ERA around 3.95. So he is more than capable of hanging in the rotation.

Bullpen

The bullpen is the biggest worry on the team honestly. But not our closer.

Closer Pat Wright has set the Architect club record with saves with 173 and he is poised to go over 200 during the upcoming season.

Primary setup man Larry Stott who in 2055 had and ERA in his last 44 outings that had a 0.98 ERA in those games, blew up last season after signing a contract extension. Stott’s ERA blew up to 6.50 last season and was a huge contributing factor to Chicago’s terrible record in 1-run games. The front office has faith that Stott will bounce back.

If Joe Johnson is not in the rotation he will either be the 2nd setup man or more likely the top middle RP we use.

After that there are positions to be won in the bullpen. If we can’t trade Bill Lutz and his $8.5 million contract (or DFA and let someone else take a chance) he will be the long man in the pen. Lutz has actually pitched well in relief the last couple of season, but has struggled as a starter with his control.

That leaves 3 more spots in the pen. Several internal candidates are LHRP David Butler who has performed well at AAA and was a late season call up. I like that he is a lefty and that will give him a leg up on others. We also could see AAA RP Joe Hoskin (2.84 ERA at AAA) and Richard Heshel (4.33 AAA 4.18 in 47IP with the big league club) in the mix.

This will be an area where we will likely look for some veteran minimum guys to support what is the biggest concern we have, and we don’t have money to fix it.

So free agency will likely not be very exciting for us this season.

Here are the Canadian Award winners from last season that I forgot to post.

Rookie of the Year

The top-rated rookie for 2056 in the Canadian has been selected and the honor went to Kingston center fielder Bill Arnold.

It was a season to remember for the 25-year-old Comets newcomer. He wrapped up his first year with a .331 batting average, 24 doubles, 2 triples and 19 home runs. Arnold also had 79 RBIs and scored 85 times.

Don Woolsey of the Kingston Comets finished second in voting, while Talbot Bergeron of the Toronto Maples finished third.

Player of the Year

Thunder Bay's Jamal Amador put the wraps on a fine campaign today by winning the 2056 Canadian Lake Superior Player Award.

The 33-year-old veteran scorched the opposition with a .333 average, picking up 171 hits, 33 doubles, 4 triples, 37 home runs and 91 RBIs, while scoring 99 runs.

Li-ping Chin of the Hamilton Mounties finished second in voting, while Johnny Peterson of the Kingston Comets finished third.

Pitcher of the Year

With speculation about his retirement gaining steam last offseason, Mounties ace Yakumo Hasegawa had something to prove. He proved it in award-winning style as he accepted the Canadian Lake Michigan POY Award today.

The veteran Hamilton hurler posted a record of 15 wins and 5 losses this year with a 3.66 ERA. In 31 starts he struck out 203 and walked 44 in 218.2 innings.

Sean Moore of the Hamilton Mounties finished second in voting, while Roland Fuller of the Kingston Comets finished third.

Top Fireman of the Year

2056 was a year to remember for Roberto Terraza.

The Thunder Bay Caribou closer was the owner of a 3.25 ERA this season over 130 innings of work. He made 90 relief appearances and had 5 saves, 147 strikeouts, 22 walks and a record of 9 wins and 5 losses.

He's also now got some hardware, as the 33-year-old has been named the Canadian Lake Ontario Relief Award winner.

"It's something I can tell my grandchildren some day, pretty special," he said.

Emmett Dodman of the Thunder Bay Caribou finished second in voting, while Wally Howard of the Hamilton Mounties finished third.

Flashing the Leather Canada Award Winners

Any pitcher would love to have these defenders on the field backing them up. They are the best glovemen in the Canadian for 2056. This year's Flashing Leather Award winners are:

Pitcher
Cliff Simpson (Thunder Bay Caribou)

Catcher
Thomas Gilles (Thunder Bay Caribou)

First Baseman
Gerald Powers (Thunder Bay Caribou)

Second Baseman
Li-ping Chin (Hamilton Mounties)

Third Baseman
Steve Taylor (Toronto Maples)

Shortstop
R.C. Burt (Hamilton Mounties)

Left Fielder
Terry Foster (Hamilton Mounties)

Center Fielder
David Williams (Windsor Vigilantes)

Right Fielder
Emerson Coleman (Thunder Bay Caribou)

Top Canadian positional hitters

This group of hitters were players that Canadian pitchers didn't want to see digging into the box in 2056. They are the winners of the Lake Erie Bat Award, which goes to the top offensive performers at each position.

Here are the 2056 winners:

Catcher
Prímio Lebrim (Owen Sound Waveriders)
.278/.353/.474, 428 AB, 21 HR, 2 SB, 113 wRC+, 1.7 WAR

First Baseman
Craig Hargrove (Windsor Vigilantes)
.317/.386/.536, 549 AB, 29 HR, 2 SB, 136 wRC+, 2.8 WAR

Second Baseman
Ron Watkins (Owen Sound Waveriders)
.342/.425/.502, 444 AB, 10 HR, 16 SB, 144 wRC+, 5.0 WAR

Third Baseman
Chris Allen (Windsor Vigilantes)
.269/.337/.465, 480 AB, 21 HR, 18 SB, 101 wRC+, 1.9 WAR

Shortstop
Carlos Pérez (Kingston Comets)
.287/.330/.549, 317 AB, 22 HR, 113 wRC+, 1.1 WAR

Left Fielder
Jamal Amador (Thunder Bay Caribou)
.333/.410/.630, 513 AB, 37 HR, 155 wRC+, 4.5 WAR

Center Fielder
Robinson González (Thunder Bay Caribou)
.286/.354/.516, 539 AB, 30 HR, 116 wRC+, 1.3 WAR

Right Fielder
Bill Arnold (Kingston Comets)
.331/.384/.487, 544 AB, 19 HR, 1 SB, 127 wRC+, 4.0 WAR

Designated Hitter
Glen Dickie (Hamilton Mounties)
.316/.416/.531, 507 AB, 25 HR, 2 SB, 140 wRC+, 3.5 WAR

DD Martin · 02-22-2026, 12:25 AM

The Signings are starting to move now

While some of the teams with the financial flexibility made expensive moves, we are cherry picking the bottom feeder veterans and probably insulting a few of them to boot.

The Detroit T-Birds were out to make a really big splash as they were attempting to sign both International free agent SP Arturo Colomo and CL Tamasaburo Nii. If they could pull it off they would be spending roughly $52 million dollars in average annual salary. They could also potentially seriously put their name in the playoff discussion in the South of the Border League. Unfortunately for Detroit (and maybe fortunately for the other US teams), Windsor came out and outbid the field. The Vigilantes signed Colomo (30) to a whopping 6 year deal worth almost $203 million. A huge signing for the Vigilantes to be sure and they would not be done.

Detroit secured the consolation prize of closer Nii. Nii (28) signed a 6 year deal worth $117 million and gave the T-Birds a much needed boost to their bullpen.

While those teams were splashing around in the deep end, we were in the shallow end of the pool looking for bargains and trying to keep fan interest up.

First Chicago Signings

In a rather unspectacular move we signed the ever popular OF Doug Deschamps who is returning for his 3rd tour of duty with the Architects. The 34-year-old mostly will be a right handed bat off the bench and also us not to force a youngster up to just sit on the bench. Deschamps can do that and the fans love him. Deschamps last played in the big leagues with the Architects in 2054. He hit 300 last season in AAA for Thunder Bay. The lumbering RF is a career 273 hitter in the big leagues.

RHP Jim Garcia has spent his entire career in Windsor as a RP and that is what we will look for him to do as well. Garcia in his career is appeared in 354 games (started 27) and has a career record of 35-29 with 14 saves. His career ERA is in the league average neighborhood of 4.65 and what we hope is he can do that in a middle to long relief role for us this upcoming season. The fans also like him as he is very popular.

The next bargain bin reclamation project is 27-year-old RHSP Mario Avila, Avila is primarily signed as a depth piece and has options available to be sent to AAA. He was 7-1 with a 3.33 ERA last season at AAA in 102.2 IP appearing in 26 games and starting 9. Our scout feels he could be a solid bullpen contributor and that is where he will get his chance with us.

More of the rest of the league signing big names

A few more big names came off the board as we looked for bargains. One of them was SP Billy Hill who pitched for Duluth last season (11-9 4.76 ERA). Last season's North of the Border regular season champions, the Hamilton Mounties scoop up the 35 year old to a 4 year $50 million dollar deal. Looks like all 4 years are guaranteed for Hill.

Also getting signed and a big blow to Toledo, as they lost their starting 3B Luis Gonzalez to defending GLBL Series winner Duluth. The Sea Gulls inked Gonzalez to a 1 year deal worth $17 million to replace 3B Mark Matchim who left to sign a 2 year deal with Toronto for $15.2 million over the 2 seasons. Definitely an upgrade for Duluth and a huge loss for Toledo who will turn to veteran IF Seung-jun Park who played mostly 2B last season for them.

Speaking of Toronto they also signed former Chicago SS Simon Lefevre who had a great season last year with GLBL Series runner up Kingston. Lefevre (39) hit 338 and arguably had the best season of his career in a part time role. He cashed that in for a 1 year deal for $2.9. The Maples also signed another Chicago alum RHP Al Pellerin to a $1.1 million dollar deal.

Kingston made up for the loss of Lefevre by signing P Ed Jenkins who has been a RP for most of his entire career. Jenkins made 25 starts for Owen Sound in 2050 and then proceeded to make 391 relief appearances over the next 6 seasons. If we had money he would have been someone we would have loved to add to our bullpen. But there are some who say that Jenkins is started material and you could see Jenkins in the rotation for the Comets this spring.

One more big signing of another ex-Architect player and that would be C Joe Hunt. Hunt signed with us for $4.5 million last season and followed up his great season the year before in Duluth with another fine season. The poor guy who is only 30 years old can’t seem to get a long term contract though as he again signed for 1 year, but this time for $9.1 million. Windsor made a wise investment there.

Even Traverse City kind of got in the act

. The penny-pinching Bears signed a SP that could help them in an area where they need lots of help. They inked former Owen Sound SP Paul Arthur to a very team friendly 3 year deal worth $23 million. The Bears ever worried about spending money do have a team option for year 2 so this could just be a 1 year $8 million dollar deal for Arthur. But the Bears did show a pulse and make a signing, but unfortunately for long suffering Bears fans it is the only one they have done so far. They still have $30 million in budget room but don’t get your hopes up that they will spend much of that, if any.

We round out our look at everyone else with 2 more signings and both are starting pitchers who will be 40 years old or order on Opening Day. Both also once pitched in Chicago. Detroit signs veteran RHSP Dan Floyd to an 1 year $8 million dollar deal. Floyd loves money but his age is scaring everyone off of giving him more than 1 season. Two years ago the now 42 year old wanted a 4 year $96 million dollar deal to stay with the Architects. He signed for Windsor for $7.5 million last off-season.

The other pitcher is soon to be 40 year old SP Augusto Gonzalez who pitched with the Architects along with Floyd in 2054. Gonzalez rebounded a big last year and went 8-4 with a 4.50 ERA and is a hell of a team captain and overall positive influence in the locker room. Duluth signed him to a 1 year $8 million dollar deal and maybe he was signed to keep veteran RP Luke Mews inline who signed for $1.7 million. Mews is just a miserable human being but can still be effective as a RP, but is not closer material any longer.

We sign several more

So again we continued to scrap the bottom of the barrel and still found a few pieces that could be useful potentially. We tried to re-sign C Guo-quiang Lee for another run with us, but he turned down our pay decrease (he earned $1 million last year and we could only offer him $507,500 this season. So we found another lefty hitting backup C in Ken Armour formerly of Toledo who accepted our offer and will be our backup catcher.

Quote:

Note that all the signings I have mentioned have been signed to 1 year $507,500 contracts which is the league minimum.

After Armour we decided we didn’t want to be outdone by others so we signed our own 40-year-old pitcher in RP Sam Goerts. Sam has had a long career in the GLBL and started 493 games (and appeared in 503) in his 16+ seasons. He struggled last season to a 6.03 ERA and we are bringing him in to hopefully have an effective season as a long reliever (hopefully replace Bill Lutz). In case of emergency we can break the glass and give him a start or two, but we would probably be in a lot of trouble in those games. Long relief will be his calling card this season.

Finally we signed 2B Ron Hinton who was in Thunder Bay and collected several rings against us in the GLBL Championship Series of 54 and 55. Hinton is a solid lefty hitter, but his fielding has gotten pretty bad overall. He could spell Osborn perhaps at 1B, but he’s not really played there. But if we are feeling adventurous we can have him play in the field as we stack a lineup against some stud RHSP like NIck Keedy.

Definitely a lot of role players, but that is okay because I think our starting position players are all pretty good overall. The bullpen needs help and we will do a lot of praying that some of these guys can help us out.

Still time left in the free agency period as the calendar just turned to March 1st. Spring Training games start on the 16th and we are about to welcome all of our guys to camp.

Will he stay or will he go?

The question still remains if SP Motoyuki Inoue will be joining us. Right now I’d say the odds are pretty much 50/50 that he stays or goes. There are up to 4 clubs in some phase of discussions about Inoue and no Traverse City is not one of them. If the deal makes sense, he will go to the highest bidder and despite what some think, it could be a US team. While we don’t want to face him often, we do want the best deal that gets us out of debt the fastest and provides somewhat or a return on all the assets we poured into him just last May 21st. If we do a deal we review (and I might do it anyway as it is a reminder that prospects are just that and don’t always pan out as good as one hopes).

DD Martin · 02-23-2026, 12:33 AM

We have made a decision, we are going to rebuild a bit

I've made the decision to trade SP Motoyuki Inoue and there are several teams interested in making a deal. While my preference would be to deal him to a Canadian team (I would expect Windsor and Kingston to be involved), I will not rule out a deal to a US club.

We gave up 4 top 100 prospects and veteran RF Jim Ashley (more for salary relief than anything). In looking at what we gave up for Inoue, here are the prospects

SS Cristo Sandoval ranked #26 (now as of March 2057 ranked #116)
SP Brad Sellers ranked #94 (now as of March 2057 ranked #159
SP Ruben Marin ranked #22 (now as of March 2057 ranked #51)
2B Bob Tobin ranked #72 (now called up to the big league club for 45 games. Before his call up he rose to #52).

This is the danger with making deals for prospects. So much can happen and yet we will likely do the same thing. We will be looking for some pitching, middle infield, third base and catching prospects as our top goals. We will also be looking to rid as much salary or budget expense as we can. Can we get a good haul of top prospects? The decision will be made tomorrow.

I wasn't able to post all the players we had acquired yesterday so here are 4 more below. Two are minor league veterans added for depth with nickname Specs and Dr. Evil. Who can pass up on those names.

Tomorrow - We announce the deal that will win the Inoue trade

DD Martin · 02-24-2026, 11:52 PM

Motoyuki We Hardly Knew You

Chicago Makes Inoue in a Major Deal to US Rival Toledo

Chicago and Toledo have agreed in principle to a trade. The Architects will send 28-year old RHP Motoyuki Inoue to the Neptunes for 22-year old minor league LHP Roy O'Brien, 18-year old minor league 2B Shigetoki Aoki, 20-year old minor league LHP Brian Axworthy, 18-year old minor league LHP Philippe Ferré, and $18,000,000 in cash. The deal is expected to be finalized shortly and the clubs will be introducing their new players to the press when the paperwork is complete.

Chicago will retain a portion of Inoue's remaining contract.

Lifetime Inoue has 69 victories and 52 defeats with a 3.48 ERA.

After the trade went down GM Martin released a statement regarding the trade.

In a move that I didn't think I would be making, after acquiring Inoue last May, today we have sent him to the Toledo Neptunes. The move was forced when we could not come to terms on a long term agreement for Inoue who was estimated to make $45.5 million in arbitration. While we knew he would be an expensive re-signing, the league rules changed in the off-season regarding debt. Not making the playoffs last season forced our hand and we simply could not come to an agreement that would work financially for the Architects.

In a move to re-coup as much of the trade capital as we could, Toledo offered the best package by the deal deadline that we had established. The lawyers looked over the deal to make sure it would comply with the new "agreement" and once it was blessed the deal was done.

Chicago's New Prospects

The players Chicago acquired in the deal.

LHSP Brian Axworthy (age 18 #18 overall)
Scouting report on Axworthy - The 6'8 Axworthy was selected 9th overall in the 2055 draft and was the Architects choice if he had fallen to them. The cream of his arsenal is a wicked fastball, his best secondary pitch is an equally wicked splitter. He also has a good changeup. His control is fantastic and that should let him avoid runing into walk trouble through his career. His stuff shold be pretty good too and that may be more valuable. He projects to be a #2 starter on most teams.

LHSP Pillippe Ferre (age 18 #24 overall)
Scouting report on Ferre - Phillippe throws 6 pitches with his bread and butter pitch a slider. His numbers should play well across the board once he finishes developing. All his skills are plus-caliber. Ferre is projected to fit comfortably in the middle of a big league rotation.

2B Shigetoki Aoki (age 18 B-R #35 overall)
Scouting report on Aoki - He has a significant projection for very high contact. His pure speed grades out as above average. Aoki projects to be an above average big league 2B.

LHRP Roy O'Brien (age 22 #148 overall)
O'Brien is clearly the player that is most major league ready and he will join the Architects as a non-40 roster player for spring training. Our scout really likes O'Brien who was originally a 10th (last) round pick in 2053. At his peak his repertoire should include a wicked cutter and wicked slider. His stuff can be overwhelming to batters and he has the talent to flourish in a key bullpen role.

These young arms coupled with our other top arms, last year #11 overall pick RHSP Oscar Quirk (#12 prospect overall), and LHSP Curt Hoplins (#15 overall prospect) (who is in camp with a good chance to make this seasons starting rotation), give the Architects a very formitable future rotation especially when you couple in RHSP Mike Hayes (#33 overall) and RHSP Li-zhu Guao (#34 overall).

DD Martin · 02-26-2026, 12:55 AM

The Start of Spring Training 2057

As the club prepares for its first game of the spring, many of the roster spots are most likely pretty secured. The starting position players is as follows

1B - Reagan Osborn (Age-26 B-R) GLBL 3 years 112 days $8,500,000 signed thru 2061
2056 season stats 290/400/953 34HR 109 RBI 4.2 WAR
Career stats 306/417/996 129HR 379RBI 19.9 WAR

Osborn has had quite the first 4 seasons in the GLBL hitting 129 home runs. He has been in the top 3 vote getters the last several seasons in the GLBL US MVP voting. A horrific slow start last season probably cost him the chance to win the award last season. Osborn is signed with the club through 2061 and most feel he will be signed to another extension before that one is done. For this new generation of Chicago player, he is definitely Mr. Architect.

2B - John Lambert (Age-26 B-R) GLBL Service 2 years 88 Days $507,500
2056 season stats 279/350/852 24HR 70 RBI 4.3 WAR
Career stats 277/347/832 33HR 101 RBI 5.3 WAR

What a year for Lambert as he broke through the shadows of players past and excelled in his first full time season. Now the trick will be to repeat it in 2057. If he does look for Chicago to potentially offer him a deal to buy out his arbitration years. His pre-2057 season arbitration amount for 2058 is $3.4 million

SS - Kennelly “Poison” Mulford (Age-28 B-R) GLBL Service 4 yrs 128 days $7,300,000 signed thru 2062
2056 season stats 308/378/845 10HR 39RBI 2.4 WAR (split season between Milwaukee and Chicago)
Career stats 279/335/801 73HR 268RBI 15.4 WAR

Searching for an answer for a defensive SS who could hit his weight, Mulford was a big acquisition from Milwaukee well before the trade deadline. The club signed him shortly after his acquisition to a 6 year extension for a total of $73.9 million through the 2062 season. He is capable of being one of the top SS in the league.

3B Thomas Arnaud (Age-28 B-S) MLB Service 3 years 24 days $5,250,000
2056 season stats 278/336/773 11HR 38 RBI’s 1.2 WAR
Career stats - 302/348/838 55HR 235RBI 8.6WAR

Arnaud was signed to an arbitration avoiding extension prior to last season. The deal is for 6 years and $58 million dollars. The final season is a team option. Arnaud has been a very good switch hitting option for the Architects at 3B, but he’s had a few injury wobbles that have concerned club officials. When healthy he’s been pretty steady and the club hopes to see him return to form this season.

C Juan Duran (Age-25 B-R) GLBL Service 1 year 113 days $507,500
2056 season stats 216/317/726 8HR 27 RBI 0.0 WAR
Career stats - 236/342/7775 15HR 39 RBI’s 1.1 WAR

This upcoming season is a huge year for the well thought of Duran. His prospect rankings was as high as #5 and last season he was rated in the top 20 position players prior to Opening Day. Unfortunately success hasn’t come quickly with the bat for Duran and because Joe Hunt was having an outstanding season, but the club sent Duran back down to AAA to re-find his hitting stroke. He hit 310/425/845 at AAA. Duran needs to make good on all the promise or the club could be looking for an alternative for the 2058 season.

LF Robert “Rodeo” LeRoy (Age-32 B-L) GLBL Service 10 years 60 days $20,000,000
2056 season stats 339/400/1017 32HR 107 RBI 5.6 WAR US Player of the Year
Career stats - 300/361/895 235HR 793 RBI 39.4 WAR

LeRoy followed up his 2055 Canadian League MVP with the US League MVP last season. LeRoy signed a mega-deal with the Architects prior to the 2056 season that was 6 years and $157 million. He will be signed with the club through the 2061 season (age 37).

CF Cris Luna (Age-27 B-R) GLBL Service 2 years 72 days $507,500
2056 season stats 278/352/818 17HR 63 RBI’s 2.9 WAR
Career stats - 252/325/732 30 HR 130 RBI 4.1 WAR

Luna broke out in his 3rd season in GLBL play. Has excellent defense and CF and had dramatic improvement in his overall hitting setting career highs in all categories. Next season will be his first arbitration eligible season. Currently his projection for salary next season is $2,968,000.

There will be competition in RF and DH so we will combine those two categories

RF Tom Stone (Age-23 B-R) GLBL Service 1 year 4 days $507,500
2056 Season stats 305/343/792 9HR 66 RBI’s 1.5 WAR
Career stats - 299/337/785 10HR 68 RBI’s 1.7 WAR

The club is very high on Stone who started last season hitting 400 early and held up well over 300 for the 1st half. His production slowed in the 2nd half of the season and went from a probable rookie of the year candidate to among others receiving votes. He has options and unless his spring is out of this world he might start the season in AAA. This will slow his service clock and get him everyday at bats.

DH/RF Jose Aranda (Age-32 B-L) GLBL Service 8 years 96 days $25,000,000
2056 season stats - 215/270/690 10HR 31 RBI -0.6 WAR
Career stats - 283/349/896 278HR 769 RBI 24.4 WAR

Aranda has spent his first 2 seasons with the Architects primarily on the DL after signing a huge FA contract prior to the 2055 season for $129 million. He has a player option for the 2058 season and the club has a team option for 2059 that will not get exercised unless we see the old Aranda instead of the “old” injury plagued Aranda. He will start the season as the club's primary DH and effectively could squeeze out Stone of a roster spot.

OF Joe Justice (Age-26 B-L) GLBL Service 1 year 65 Days $507,500 (out of options)
2056 season stats - 269/358/856 11HR 40 RBI’s 1.3 WAR
Career stats - 264/342/800 15HR 58RBI’s 1.8 WAR

Justice was claimed off waivers from Owen Sound in mid April last season. Was used primarily as a cover CF and lefty handed bat. When Aranda went down for the season, Justice’s playing time increased and he responded well. He is out of options so he will likely again beat out Tom Stone for a roster spot.

Corner OF/1B/DH Marc Nakayama (Age-24 B-R) GLBL Service 68 days $507,500
2056 season stats - 266/340/793 7HR 29RBI -0.1 WAR
Career stats - 266/340/793 7HR 29RBi’s -0.1WAR

Nakayama was a guy with Reagan Osborn anchored at 1B that was pretty much ignored. He was in the lower portion of the top 100 prospects and was an afterthought while the team was enjoying post-season success. But last year with the season ending injury to Arnada, he got a chance. His prospect stock had risen to #58 overall and his hitting was much stronger at AAA prior to his call up. If not for a dreadful final week of the 2056 regular season he would have been hitting closer to 290. The final roster spot will likely come down between him and Tom Stone. Right now Nakayama is slotted as the team’s DH against left-handed starting pitchers.

Other position players in camp

C Ken Armour was signed specifically to be the backup lefty catcher for this season. C Doug Hill is in camp but will likely spend the year in AAA as the #3 C to get more playing time.

2B Ron Hinton and SS Pedro Farrulla are both in camp and both will likely be with the big league team as backups. The addition of Hinton will probably push 2B/3B Larry Davis back down to AAA.

Finally OF Doug Deschamps was signed as a fan favorite as the club's primary right handed pinch hitter. The fans love this guy and with the moves we’ve made trading several popular players, Deschamps will hopefully help mitigate the drop in fan interest.

A pair of CF’s round out the position players in camp. Steve Hickman and prospect John Ross both have a chance to make the club. Most feel that Ross will be the future team captain of the Architects and that might start this season. With the logjam in RF with OF’s its likely both of these guys will be in AAA to start the season.

Tomorrow we will go over the pitchers in camp.

Special Trade Announcement

A few days into spring training, Chicago once again traded another pitcher. This time SP John Moore who went 10-4 last season with a 3.23 ERA split between the bullpen and starting has been dealt. The club avoided arbitration with Moore this off-season when they signed him to a 1-year deal worth $3.5 million. He has two more arbitration seasons after this one. With the acquisition of new talent and a strong desire to get completely out of the financial doghouse, the Architects decided to trade Moore. His destination, the Windsor Vigilantes is where he will call home. Coming to Chicago will be $5 million dollars in cash and P Kawanari Ohaysahi ($2 million contract for 57). While the cash savings in salary isn’t a lot the $5 million dollars is going a long way towards clearing up the balance of the clubs projected 2057 deficit.
Ohaysahi will get an opportunity to show what he can do in the 2nd week of spring training where he will get 2 starts in. He could be the clubs #5 SP if all goes well.

Finally in one of those publications that hits the newstands way too early, the Baseball Elite have picked the Chicago Architects to win the US division.

The real predictions that matter will come out towards the end of spring training and the realistic expectation is probably 4th.

DD Martin · 03-04-2026, 08:48 PM

Mid-Spring Look and specifically pitching

The club started off spring training losing its first game to Duluth before rattling off 9 straight wins. They quickly came back to earth losing the next 3 but currently sit 9-4 with 5 more spring games to go and there are some camp battles going on.

Pitchers in Camp

This will certainly be the weakness of the team, but even with that said there could be hidden strength. If we are going to contend the group of starters is going to have to come through.

Starting Rotation

SP Yale Hulburt (Age-37 RHSP) $20,000,000 14 years 50 days GLBL service
Last Season - 8-6 5.98 ERA Career 136-129 3.49 ERA
Has a $17,000,000 team option for 2058 season

Coming back from injury mid-season last year, Hulburt struggled to a 5.98 ERA in 93.1 IP. He showed flashes of good pitching, but the start of his comeback was shaky. Truly if this team is going to fight for a playoff spot, Hulburt needs to return to form.

SP Val Imbert (Age-31 RHSP) $10,000,000 8 years 100 days GLBL service
Last Season 10-6 4.45 ERA Career 66-80 4.41
Has a $10,000,000 Player option for 2058

Imbert has been a steady above average SP in this league during his 2 seasons with Chicago with an ERA + 116 (2055) and 111 (2056). He can be dominant at times and other times can seem lost, but he is better than average. He has a team option and we are considering extending him if we can make it work. Right now the odds are probably 55/45 that he declines the option.

SP Curt Hopkins (Age -22 LHSP) $507,500 36 days GLBL service
Last season 11-3 2.91 AAA and 1-1 3.48 ERA Chicago Career 1-1 5.23 ERA
Eligible for salary arbitration after the 2059 season.

Hopkins has been our top SP prospect ranking as high as 12th prior to last season. As we get ready for the regular season he is currently projected #28th overall. This is the year that we will let him see what he can do, and being the #3 SP is putting a lot of pressure on him. Before the Cedeno retirement and the Inoue trade he was comfortably our #4 or 5 SP. Hopefully it will not be too much on him to carry.

SP Bill “Flamethrower” Lutz (Age -34 RHSP) $8,500,000 salary 8 years 148 days GLBL service
Last season 3-2 1S 4.52 ERA Career 70-66 22 saves 4.18 ERA
Free Agent after the season

It’s hard for many fans to believe that Lutz is still with the team, let alone being in the starting rotation. Lutz has struggled the last few seasons in the rotation but has done very well in the bullpen. He is in competition for one of the spots at the back end of the rotation. We tried to move him, but his lack of control despite a solid ERA+ 2 out of the last 3 seasons has made him hard to move. We are not in discussions to sign him to an extension.

SP Kawanari Ohayashi (Age - 32 RHSP) $2,000,000 1 year 140 days service time
Last Season 1-10 5.73 ERA (with Windsor) Career 10-15 5.17 ERA
Was signed as an IAFA by Windsor in 2055 to a 3-year $5,400,000 contract. If retained he would be renewed at $2,000,000 for next season. He will be arbitration eligible after 2058 season.

Acquired in spring training in a surprise move as the club sent SP John Moore to Windsor. Most felt this was a cost cutting move as the club tries to get its financial house in order. While Moore’s contract this year was for only $3.5 million, his arbitration numbers for the last 2 seasons were estimated at a combined total of approximately $22 million. The home is that Ohayashi is at minimum a stop-gap innings eater while the club awaits for several prospects to get ready. He was also an extremely popular player with the fans, as he helped stabilize the fan interest after the unpopular shipping out of Inoue.

Also in camp that could be in the rotation

Joe Johnson who was 22-8 over the course of 2 seasons as a SP in 54 and 55, but settled into a very useful middle RP last season. If anyone falters, Johnson would probably be called on to take that spot in the rotation.

Rookie SP Oscar Quirk is also in camp and is the club's new top pitching prospect at #13 overall in the GLBL. Drafted 11th in the 1st round in the 2056 draft the 22 year old pitched well at class A, but struggled some at AA last season. He could be retained on the squad to open the season as a SP, but the thinking is to give him at least ½ a season at AAA before he makes the leap. That is the preferred plan of management.

Bullpen

The bullpen should have been a strength for the club last year, but with the sub-500 record in 1-run games it was often a big piece of the puzzle why the Architects did not return to post season, and ultimately why the club was in such tough financial shape after the season ended with the new financial rules that came into place after the season.

Closer Pat Wright (Age - 31 LHRP) $5,000,000 7 years 117 days GLBL Service
Last season - 4-12 34 saves 3.77 ERA Career 41-44 173 saves 3.60 ERA
Wright has a team option of $5,000,000 for 2058 and a vesting option $5,000,000 in 2059

There is no doubt who the closer is in Chicago. The all-time Architect club leader in saves with 173, Wright can be dominant and closing out games. Unfortunately he generally goes through a stretch each season where he can’t get anyone out. Overall though he is very successful and hopefully will crack 200 saves this season.

Setup Man Larry Stott (Age -29 RHRP) $2,400,000 5 years 118 days GLBL Service
Last Season 4-5 1 save 6.50 Career 20-20 14 saves 3.80 ERA
Signed a 6-year extension prior last season and bought out his final year of arbitration. The deal was a 6-yr $35.4 million dollar deal that keeps him with the Architects through the 2062 season.

Last season was a nightmare for Stott after he signed his extension in spring training. The season prior he had a 2.73 ERA in 47 games including a season closing streak of 44 games and a 0.99 ERA. Last year was hopefully an anomaly. If it is not, Stott will not keep the top setup man job.

SU/MR Joe Johnson (age 28 RHP) $3,000,000 4 years 101 days GLBL Service
Last season 2-3 3.75 ERA Career 32-22 4.13 ERA
After his 2055 season where he went 15-5, Johnson was signed to a very team friendly 6 year $16 million dollar deal. His contract is guaranteed for next season at 3.25 million and then the club has a pair of $3.25 million option for 2059 and 2060

Johnson is a power pitcher who won a lot of games as a SP. He started out last season in the rotation once again but had a dreadful start and then the club traded for Motoyuki Inoue and Johnson moved to the bullpen, and thrived. He starts out this season in the pen, but will be the first arm called if the club needs a SP due to injury or ineffectiveness.

After the first 3 in the bullpen, things are a little less settled.

RHP Sam Goerts (Age-40 ) $507,500 16+ Years GLBL service
Last season 0-6 6.03 ERA with Kingston Career 145-191 3.55 ERA
Free agent after the season

Was an inexpensive veteran signing and was brought in to hopefully be a long man or even a spot starter. Was used as primarily a SP last season and the results were not good. He might be done, but will probably break camp with the team.

RHP John Cole (Age -38) $507,500 6 year 114 days GLBL experience
Last season (AAA) 11-9 3.20 ERA Career 34-48 1 save 4.46 ERA
Free agent after the season

Another inexpensive option for the bullpen. Will need an impressive run to claim a spot as the coaches have not been impressed with his workouts and throwing in camp.

RHP Jim Garcia (Age - 38) $507,500 6 years GLBL Experience
Last Season 3-5 5.57 ERA with Windsor Career - 35-29 14 Saves 4.61 ERA
Free agent after the season

Again another aging veteran who signed for the minimum and could be a SP if the need arises. He likely will be a middle man in the bullpen if he makes the club. His popularity could help keep him around.

RHP Mario Avila (Age-27) $507,500 Rookie
Last season 7-1-1 3.33 ERA (AAA) Career - Rookie
If he is kept around he will be a league minimum contract through 2059

Avila was another bargain pickup and is much younger. He has all 3 of his options so he could go down to AAA and be retained if he doesn’t make the club. He has pitched well at AAA the last several seasons, but was never given the call up. A lack of a solid #2 or #3 pitch is what is holding him back and will likely make him a RP. Could be a project to keep and see if different coaching will help.

RHP Kieron Aplin (age-25) $525,000 36 days GLBL service
Last season (AAA) 10-3 3 saves 3.61 ERA 0-0 4.50 ERA Chicago Career 0-0 4.50
Rookie On $525,000 contract if retained for the next 3 seasons, then arbitration eligible

Alpin looks average (at best) and the only thing he might be better than average on is control (a feature I like). He throws 4 pitches but they are again so-so at best. A good spring could get him on the club for Opening Day, but with all the veterans it might be a tough task to ask.

LHRP David Butler (age - 26) $507,500 25 days GLBL experience
Last season (AAA) 4-5 31 saves 2.90 ERA Chicago 0-0 3.48 ERA (career)
Rookie

Butler was lights out on most nights closing games for AAA champion Saugatuck, but the fear is that he is a AAAA pitcher who has almost no control and can be exposed in the big leagues. The thing we like, a dominant fastball and a nasty slider and that he is a lefty. If we have a numbers he has options to go down, but he likely won’t be the Joe’s closer in 2057.

RHRP Roy O’Brien (Age - 22) minor league invite not on 40-man roster No GLBL service
Last season 6-1 3 saves 1.00 ERA (AA)
Minor league contract (for now)

O’Brien was the least talked about player in the Inoue trade that Chicago received but he is also the most GLBL ready of the prospects. He will be given a chance, but the belief is the club would like him to go to AAA and continue to progress there and then be ready for next season.

RHRP Loren Summers (Age -23) minor league invite not on 40-man roster no GLBL service
Last season (AA) 1-3 7 saves 3.07 ERA Career - rookie
2nd round draft pick in 2056 draft

The organization really likes Summers and he is likely ticketed to AAA to be the Joe’s closer for this season. Teaming him with O’Brien and maybe even Butler could give the club a future solid late inning group.

LHRP Pepe Aragon (Age-24) $507,500 no GLBL Service
Last season (10-9 5.03 ERA)
Rookie

The 24-year-old Aragon’s future likely lies in the bullpen. He has a solid fastball and slider that could improve to be great. His screwball and changeup are just meh, although the screwball could be average. He started most of last season with AAA but it is recommended that he go to the bullpen this season and gain experience where he is likely going to have a future.

RHP Richard Hershel (Age - 26) $507,500 1 year 16 days GLBL service
Last season (AAA) 1-5 4.33 ERA with Chicago 1-2 1 save 4.18 ERA Career 1-5 2 saves 4.78
2 seasons away from arbitration

Hershel had scouts raving that he could be a mid-rotation arm but he has never shown that ability in the minors consistently. The talk of that is gone but he could be a quality RP and deserves a spot. If he has a good spring he might force one of the old guys out and finally claim that spot.

RHP Dustin Randolph (age - 26) $507,500 12 days GLBL service
Last season (AAA) 2-1 3.39 ERA Chicago 0-0 4.50 ERA (career)
Still rookie status

Randolph could be the right hand version of David Butler. His lack of control, although better than Butler's, is the big concern. He has a great fastball and an emerging change up. He could be another steady bullpen contributor for the club in the future.

Summary - And that is the pitching group in camp. There are really 4 spots up for grabs and 8-9 guys looking for those spots. The club this season will probably go with the veterans to start the season, but spring ball will have an effect on where things go. One thought is the club is going to try and create a great group of RP’s in AAA this year and then there will be no money spent on veterans for next season's bullpen. That is the hope anyway.

DD Martin · 03-05-2026, 01:09 PM

Final Spring Training Report and Season Predictions

Chicago finished in a 1st place tie with Duluth for USA spring training honors with an 11-7 record. That is a finish that could be very acceptable to the Chicago faithful (and a surprise to the GM). Below are the final spring statistics (in pictures).

Opening Day Roster

Starting Five

SP #1 Yale Hulburt (RH Age-37) $20,000,000
Spring Numbers 1-0 3.24 ERA

SP #2 Val Imbert (RH Age-32) $10,000,000
Spring numbers 0-0 9.82 ERA

SP #3 Curt Hopkins (LHP Age -22) $507,500
Spring numbers 1-0 3.12 ERA

SP #4 Kawanari Ohayashi (RHP Age -32) $2,000,000
Spring numbers 2-0 3.00 ERA

SP #5 Bill Lutz (RHP Age -34) $8,500,000
Spring Numbers 0-1 4.32

Summary - A $41 million dollar starting rotation that is probably $15 million over paid. Hulburt and Lutz would be great if they can hold those spring numbers anywhere close to that in the regular season. Hopkins is going into the middle of the rotation simply because he is a lefty and I wish we had more LHSP’s. It's a lot of pressure on him, but he is a tough kid. Imbert had a dreadful spring but we will shrug that off as just well spring. Ohayashi is the #4 SP as he did enough in a couple of spring starts to get the job.

Johnson and maybe Avila are in the bullpen but could be given starts if the need arises (hopefully not). Goerts is also in the pen and could make a spot start, but the consensus is that those days for him are over.

Bullpen

Closer - Pat Wright (Age 31 LHRP) $5,000,000
Spring numbers 1-0 0 saves 4.32 ERA

SU - Larry Stott (RHRP Age -29) $2,400,000
Spring Numbers 0-0 7.11 ERA

SU/MR Joe Johnson (RHP Age-28) $3,000,000
Spring numbers 1-1 4.05 ERA

MR - Mario Avila (LHP Age-27) $507,500
Spring numbers 0-1 4.66 ERA

MR - Jim Garcia (RHP Age-38) $507,500
Spring numbers 0-0 2.84 ERA

LR/ES - Sam Goerts (RHP Age- 40) $507,500
Spring numbers 0-3 10.50 ERA (yikes)

MR/SP - David Butler (Age -26 LHRP)
Spring numbers 0-1 13.50 ERA

Bullpen Summary - Again the top 3 guys were shoe ins and where all the money is spent (only $10.4 million). Stott had a spring that is making us worry about that contract we signed with him. As you can see we went with the veterans and sent the younger guys down. Next season the plan will be that 3-4 of them will assume position in the Architects bullpen.

Prospect LHRP Roy O’Brien and RHP Kieron Aplin both completed the spring games with a 0.00 ERA. The club almost kept O’Brien up, but decided to give him some time at their AAA club so they could work with him. LHRP Pepe Aragon also performed well pitching to a 1.04 ERA but again he was also sent down.

St Joe’s bullpen for this season

Loren Summers will be closing, and O’Brien will be the top setup guy. Aragon, Randolph will also be appearing in middle relief. Alpin would also be in the pen but the Joe’s need another pitcher in the rotation so he will start there. RHP Dustin Raldolph rounds out the bullpen arms. Chances are while the Architects will still be managing their financial concerns that a group of these men will be in the Architects bullpen next season.

LHRP David Butler made the club, but his position is shaky at best. His spring ERA of 13.50 almost cost him the position and may still yet. The Architects will be checking the waiver wire and are also interested in another veteran RHP that they may sign.

Position Players

Infield (Starters denoted in Bold)

C Juan Duran (B-R age-25) $507,500
Spring stats 333/467/1008 HR 4RBI 7R

C Ken Armour (B-L age-31 $507,500
Spring stats 227/320/684 HR 3 RBI 4R

1B Reagan Osborn (B-R Age-26) $8,500,000
Spring stats 444/474/1307 4HR 11RBI 7R

2B John Lambert (B-R Age-26) $507,500
Spring Stats 239/300/626 HR 3RBI 11R

3B Thomas Arnaud (B-S Age-28) $5,250,000
Spring Stats 261/333/768 2HR 7RBI 5R

SS Kennelly Mulford (B-R Age-28) $7,300,000
Spring Stats 372/400/1005 2HR 10 RBI 10R

2B/IF Ron Hinton (B-L Age-32) $507,500
Spring Stats 227/306/715 2HR 8RBI 5R

SS/IF Pedro Farrulla (B-R Age-25) $507,500
Spring Stats 263/317/817 3HR 4RBI 6R

Outfielders (Starters denoted in bold)

LF Robert “Rodeo” Leroy (B-L age-32) $20,000,000
Spring Stats 233/361/628 0HR 2RBI 5R

CF Cris Luna (B-R Age-27) $507,500
Spring Stats 206/300/535 0HR 3RBI 3R

RF Marc Nakayama (B-R Age-24) $507,500
Spring Stats 250/297/735 2HR 6RBI 7R

DH Jose Aranda (B-L Age-32) $25,000,000
Spring Stats 280/269/589 0HR 5RBI 2R

OF Joe Justice (B-L Age - 26) $507,500
Spring Stats 367/472/1306 2HR 7RBI 7R

OF Doug Deschamps (B-R Age-34) $507,500
Spring Stats 208/26/603 0HR 2RBI 4R

Position Players Summary

Honestly no real surprises other than the club sent Tom Stone down to AAA. Some speculate this is because he would not receive as much playing time with Aranda back and the club wanting to see what Nakayama could do with more playing time. Others feel that this was motivated by future money. Deschamps makes the team as the 26th man and his big bonus is he is an extremely popular and community minded player. He is always signing autographs and doing events. For a player that has never been a star in the big leagues, he certainly has a big following.

The rest of the positions really were not a shock in who stayed. Larry Davis was optioned with his last option year. He’s a solid contact hitter, with not much pop and his average at best at 2B and 3B. He’s a great defender at 1B but with Reagan Osborn there really isn’t a need for him to be there. Still I would expect Davis to be on next season’s big league club, the signing of veteran left-handed hitter 2B/IF Ron Hinton really forced Davis off the Opening Day roster.

C Doug Hill is a solid 3rd string C who will start at Saugatuck and there is some OF depth with HIckman and John Ross. The club also has veteran OF’s Mark Laursen and Antonio Zamora providing depth as well.

The club would love to find another utility IF somewhere who could be called up, especially to play 3B in case the oft-injured (last several seasons) Thomas Arnaud were to go down.

Predictions

Some crackpot out there predicted that the Architects would win 92 games and run away with the US division. Then Duluth made a trade to swap pitchers with the Owen Sound Waveriders where they traded P Will McNeely and a pitching prospect for SP Jonathan Honore. The last and probably best predication scenario is below that has the Architects finishing 2nd.

As for my prediction, I think finishing 500 would be a great accomplishment for a team that lost so much (basically their top 3 starting pitchers from last season) in their pitching staff. But the offense is good and talented and they could bash their way to victories. I can’t see a playoff spot in the cards, but I won’t turn it down either if we can figure out a way.

Financial Update

With the moves that we made this off-season, while painful, were probably necessary with the new league rules on debt. The club is out of debt right now and is projected to have a positive balance at the end of the season. Our payroll is currently slated to be $10 million less than this season next year and that is before we likely decline the $17 million club option for SP Yale Hulburt. The Architects will also likely not spend the $3 million that is in the budget for any IAFA’s this season and that will further improve the bottomline and get the club in a healthy position for the future. The next couple of years financially the club should be in good shape as long as they play well on the field. There is a bloated payroll (currently projected to be $183.7m) in the 2060 season and also 2061 ($167.6m), but with some extensions and other decisions that should be able to be lowered. Not sure there will be any “big” off-season signing for a few seasons, but you never know. With the young pitchers in our organization we should be able to sail smoothly through the next 5-7 seasons in good financial shape. Fixing things this year, while drastic, were extremely important in getting the club on the right track.

DD Martin · 03-11-2026, 08:29 PM

Opening Day 2057 Season
Traverse City Bears vs Chicago Architects

Well a season of change is in the air in Chicago as the Architects open the season with a 6 game homestand against both the Traverse City Bears and the Milwaukee Eagles. This is very much a different team for Chicago at least with the pitching staff as their top 3 SP's from last season are all gone (Jose Cedeno retired at 35, Motoyuki Inoue was traded for cost cutting reasons, and John Moore was also traded for financial reasons). Can the Architects with a patched together pitching staff and a very formitable offense make the grade this season? We shall see, but at least the table is set for a good (hopefully) opening homestand as the 5th and 6th place teams from last season (and predicted to do the same again this season) come to town.

In conflicting reports in the Chicago Media team owner Gregory Bocquet Jr. has sent mixed signals of his expectations for the season. Some places he has said the club will probably place close to 500 ball, but in other interviews he has said he expects to reach the playoffs. That is often the case with the hands-off charitable but yet senile owner.

Quote:

The predicated record is really hard to believe with the pitching we have.

Traverse City Bears (71-73 last season 5th place, Predicated 5th 64-80) vs Chicago Architects (76-68 last season 3rd place, predicated 2nd 81-63)
April 5th-7th 2057
Chicago's Pier IV Grounds

Pitching Matchups (records last seasons for pitchers)

RHSP Jerry Hall 7-6 4.82 ERA vs RHSP Val Imbert 10-6 4.45 ERA
RHSP Jeremy Laybolt 5-9 5.37 ERA vs RHSP Yale Hulburt 8-6 5.98 ERA
LHSP Christopher Gore 9-5 4.22 ERA vs LHSP Curt Hopkins 1-1 3.48 ERA

Friday April 5th, 2057
Traverse City 0-0 vs Chicago 0-0
RHSP Jerry Hall 7-6 4.82 ERA vs RHSP Val Imbert 10-6 4.45 ERA
A - 39,476

The Architects jump all over the Bears. Chicago’s first three batters single. The next two, Rodeo Leroy and Marc Nakayama, homer on consecutive pitches. Four more singles and a sac fly score a couple more runs. Chicago scores seven runs in the first. In the third, Chicago scores six more. Chicago’s first two batters, John Lambert and Thomas Arnaud, both end the game with three hits. Lambert scores three times and drives in four. Arnaud scores twice and drives in two. Chicago 15, Traverse City 5.

2B J Lambert 3-5 2DB 3R 4RBI, 3B T Arnaud 3-4 2R 2RBI, LF R LeRoy 4-5 HR 2R 3RBI, RF M Nakayama 2-5 DB, HR R 3RBI, DH J Aranda 2-4 2R BB, C J Duran 2-5 R, CF C Luna 2-4 2R, SS P Farrulla 2-5 R RBI
HR - TC none CH - RF M Nakayama 1, LF R LeRoy 1
POTG - LF Robert "Rodeo" LeRoy

Saturday April 6th, 2057
Traverse City 0-1 vs Chicago 1-0
RHSP Jeremy Laybolt 5-9 5.37 ERA vs RHSP Yale Hulburt 8-6 5.98 ERA
A - 39,457

Bears pitchers do just a little bit better than yesterday. Jeremy Laybolt (7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K) proves himself to be now layabout. He gives up a leadoff single in the second to Rodeo Leroy. That would be Chicago’s only hit of the game. Still, for most of the game the win was in doubt. Traverse City scores one in the first—Ben Marshall triples, and Cal Braud drives him in on a ground out—but that’s the game’s only run until the ninth, when the Bears score three more. Traverse City 4, Chicago 0.

SP Y Hulburt 5IP 4H 1R BB 4K, Hitters 1-27
HR - None
POTG - Traverse City SP Jeremy Laybolt

Sunday April 7th, 2057
Traverse City 1-1 vs Chicago 1-1
LHSP Christopher Gore 9-5 4.22 ERA vs LHSP Curt Hopkins 1-1 3.48 ERA
A - 39,546

Traverse City takes the early lead, 5-2, mostly on a pair of two-run home runs hit by Pedro Cruz and Billy Harris. Chicago comes back and eventually ties the game, 5-5, in the sixth. Doug Deschamps singles in the tying run. The game goes to extras. In the 10th, the Bears’ Pedro Villegas hits a pinch-hit home run. Traverse City 6, Chicago 5 10 innings

SS K Mulford 2-6, 1B R Osborn 2-5 2R BB, RF M Nakayama 2-5 R, DH D Deschamps 2-5 RBI
HR- TC 2B P Cruz 1, C B Harris 1, RF E Foote 1, CH - none
POTG - Traverse City RF Earl Foote

Summary - Well the offense looked great in game 1 and then the next night made Jeremy Laybolt look like Nick Keddy. Dropping Sunday's game against the Bears really set a downward tone to the start of the season. The Bears were nick named the Bad News Bears but we took that label off them when they almost made it to 500 last season. I still don't expect much, but 1 thing is clear.....if we are going to win games, our offense needs to be clicking.

Next up the Milwaukee Eagles come to town.

Milwaukee Eagles (2-1, finished last with a 45-99 record last season, predicated 6th 50-94) vs Chicago Architects 1-2
April 9th-11th 2057
Chicago's Pier IV Grounds

Not much has changed in Eagles land as they didn't do a lot in the off-season to improve the club. They are stacking up some nice draft picks the last several seasons and eventally will have a warchest of money to go along with those prospects. Someday they might be good, but this season is probably not the one to count on.

We have a 3-game series at home against the Milwaukee Eagles kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent:

It is too early to comment on their season success and stats so far.

Here are the projected pitching matchups (records are last season except in last game)
RHP Jon Atkinson (5-14 7.25 ERA) vs RHP KawanariOhayashi (1-10, 5.74 ERA with Windsor)
RHP Spencer Lacroix (4-4 5.56 ERA) vs RHP Bill Lutz (3-2, 4.52 ERA)
LHP Arthur Tiller (0-1, 4.05 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (0-0, 5.40 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. C Cecil Phillips (Age: 34, Overall : 3.0, Potential: 3.0)
2. SS Alexandre Gasnier (24, 3.0, 3.0)
3. 1B John Crosby (28, 2.5, 2.5)
4. LF Randy Hiscock (24, 2.5, 4.0)
5. LF Mohamed Raoul (29, 2.5, 2.5)

Milwaukee Eagles 2-1 vs Chicago Architects 1-2
Monday April 9th, 2057
RHP Jon Atkinson (5-14 7.25 ERA) vs RHP Kawanari Ohayashi (1-10, 5.74 ERA)
A - 28,992

This game goes back and forth a few times. The Eagles score the first three runs. The Tects score four in the third. The Eagles score four in the sixth, giving them a 7-4 lead. The Tects score two in the sixth and two in the seventh, giving them an 8-7 lead. The Eagles tie the game with a run in the eighth. Then, in the bottom of the ninth, Juan Durán comes to the plate with the bases loaded. He walks. Chicago 9, Milwaukee 8.

SP K Ohayashi 5IP 8H 3R BB 5K, 3B T Arnaud 2-5 HR 2R RBI, 1B R Osborn 2-3 DB 3R RBI 2BB, CF C Luna 4-4 2DB R 2RBI
HR - Mil none CH - 3B T Arnaud
POTG - Chicago CF Cris Luna

Milwaukee Eagles 2-2 vs Chicago Architects 2-2
Tuesday April 10th, 2057
RHP Spencer Lacroix (4-4 5.56 ERA) vs RHP Bill Lutz (3-2, 4.52 ERA)
A - 34,638

It’s a team effort from the Architects offense, with six different players driving in runs. Marc Nakayama delivers the biggest blow, a three-run home run. Thomas Arnaud hits a solo shot. Chicago 9, Milwaukee 6.

C K Armour 2-4 DB RBI, DH J Aranda 2-4 2DB R RBI
HR - Mil DH M Graves 1 CH - RF M Nakayama (2), 3B T Arnaud (2)
POTG - Chicago RF Marc Nakayama

Milwaukee Eagles 2-3 vs Chicago Architects 3-2
Wednesday April 11th, 2057
LHP Arthur Tiller (0-1, 4.05 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (0-0, 5.40 ERA)
A - 39,576

Both teams score a run in the first and a run in the second. That 2-2 tie continues until the seventh, when Chicago’s Cris Luna singles, Thomas Arnaud hits a sac fly, Kennelly Mulford walks and moves to second on a wild pitch, and Reagan Osborn singles in Mulford. Chicago 4, Milwaukee 2.

SP V Imbert 8IP 4H 2R 1ER BB 3K W 1-0, CF C Luna 2-3 TP R,
HR - None
POTG - Chicago SS Kennelly Mulford

Summary - A sweep and it is what we should have expected if we are truly a playoff team. While a 4-2 homestand isn't a terrible start, we really wish it would have been 5 or 6 wins. Those losses to TC sting....a lot!

So far so good, but we head out on the road against both the GLBL Champions Duluth Sea Gulls and another playoff team the Toledo Neptunes. If we are going to make any noise this year, it has to start with these two clubs.

Quote:

We sim 4 days at a time so that often leaves us in the middle of series at the end of the sim. I try to something make things work out so that we end an entry on a series ender, but that will take me catching up a bit this week.

Chicago Architects (4-2) @ Duluth Sea Gulls 5-1
April 13th-15th 2057
At Duluth's Sea Gulls Field

The defending champions are off to a great start. They were 88-56 last season which was a club record for wins and took home the grand prize at the end of the season. They are the pre-season favorites to repeat in the US division with a predicated record of 82-62 which I think they will best. In deal right before the start of the season, Duluth traded for SP Jonathan Honore who was 11-10 with a 4.09 ERA last season for Owen Sound. It cost them Will McNeely and a young prospect #148 SP Fred Trahan (22).

I took a look at the Duluth Sea Gulls, our next opponent in an upcoming 3-game series, and here are the results. The Sea Gulls play their games in Sea Gulls Field, which can be described as a ballpark slightly favoring hitters. The building seats 40000 fans.

Going 5-1 so far this year, the Sea Gulls have compiled a .833 winning percentage. They are leading the South of the Border. The Sea Gulls are playing well at the moment, having a 5-game winning streak going. Their number of runs scored of 44 rank 1st in the USA, their .322 batting average ranks 1st. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 23 runs (1st) with their starters compiling an ERA of 2.70 which ranks 1st. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 6.35, ranking 5th.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Yale Hulbert (0-1, 1.80 ERA) vs RHP Jonathan Honoré (1-0, 1.42 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. 1B Jorge Rangel (Age: 26, Overall : 4.0, Potential: 4.0)
2. RP Pedro Saldaña (26, 3.5, 3.5)
3. 2B Carlos Figueroa (31, 3.5, 3.5)
4. LF Colin Wright (24, 3.0, 3.5)
5. RF Carlos Sánchez (26, 3.0, 3.0)

Chicago Architects 4-2 @ Duluth Sea Gulls 5-1
Friday April 13th, 2057
RHP Yale Hulbert (0-1, 1.80 ERA) vs RHP Jonathan Honoré (1-0, 1.42 ERA)
A - 36,669

Lots of late action. Chicago takes a 3-0 lead in the seventh where Duluth scores four runs. Three of those runs come ona Tim Goyette home run. Duluth leads, 5-4. Chicago immediately comes back. Reagan Osborn hits a two-run home run in the eighth. Chicago leads, 5-4.* In the bottom of the ninth, Derrick Drew singles in the tying run and, with two outs and the bases loaded, George Goff walks it off. As in, he walks in the winning run. Duluth 6, Chicago 5.

SP Y Hulburt 6IP 3H R BB 7K, 1B R Osborn 3-4 2HR 2R 4RBI
HR - CH 1B R Osborn 2 (2), Dul C T Goyette (3)
POTG - Chicago 1B Reagan Osborn

Quick note - Duluth is red hot winning 6 straight and looks to try and run away early. They are a really good club.

Also a quick minor injury note, SS Kennelly Mulford (again) went down with a minor injury after the Milwaukee series. It isn't expected to be much but we will keep him out of the starting lineup for a few games.

01-27-2026, 01:08 AM	#81
DD Martin All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Seattle area Posts: 1,019	Looking for Positives, Anywhere After splitting the 2 games with Kingston we move on to face the Toronto Maples. Maybe the one team (and I will include Thunder Bay too) in the league that has had as much or more of a disappointing season than we have. Toronto made a big splash last season and it didn’t pan out when Hamilton caught fire. The Maples then started fairly early in the season to ship out some payroll. Toronto Maples 50-58 5th in Can vs Chicago Architects 54-54 4th in the USA August 9th and 10th 2056 Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds The Architects have a 2-game series at home against the Toronto Maples kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent: The Maples are playing .463 ball this season, compiling a record of 50 wins and 58 losses. They are in 5th place in the North of the Border, 13.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 500 rank 6th in the Canadian, their .275 batting average ranks 5th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 553 runs (3rd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.10 which ranks 4th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 4.04, ranking 2nd. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 0 wins and 2 losses. Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first: Ed Hale (3-5, 4.97 ERA) vs RHP Motoyuki Inoue (10-10, 3.96 ERA) Jose Cardona (6-7, 4.49 ERA) vs RHP Jose Cedeño (13-5, 4.04 ERA) The top 5 players on their team are: 1. LF Dwayne Adams (Age: 34, Overall : 3.0, Potential: 3.0) 2. CF Peyton Coffman (29, 3.0, 3.0) 3. SP José Cardona (26, 3.0, 3.0) 4. RF Jim Ashley (36, 2.5, 2.5) 5. SP Aaron Barnes (27, 2.5, 2.5) Game #1 - Wednesday August 9th 2056 Toronto 50-58 vs Chicago 54-54 Ed Hale (3-5, 4.97 ERA) vs RHP Motoyuki Inoue (10-10, 3.96 ERA) A - 32,451 Reagan Osborn leads the Tects offense in a drubbing of the Maples. Osborn goes 5-for-5 with a home run, a double, two runs scored, and seven RBIs. Rodeo Leroy hits two home runs, giving him 30 on the season. Kennelly Mulford and Joe Justice also homer. Chicago 16, Toronto 2. 1B R Osborn 5-5 DB HR 2R 7RBI, LF R LeRoy 2-4 2HR 2R 3RBI, SS K Mulford 2-5 HR 2R RBI, RF T Stone 3-5 TP 2R RBI, DH J Justice 2-3 DB HR 3R 2RBI BB, 2B J Lambert 2-4 2DB 2R SP M Inoue 5.2IP 4H 1R 2BB 5K W HR - Tor none CH - LF R LeRoy 2 (30), SS K Mulford (5), DH J Justice (8), 1B R Osborn (25) POTG - Reagan Osborn (4) Game #2 - Thursday August 10th 2056 Toronto 50-59 vs Chicago 55-54 Jose Cardona (6-7, 4.49 ERA) vs RHP Jose Cedeño (13-5, 4.04 ERA) A - 37,162 Game 2 of the series featured the Battle of Jose’s and it wasn’t much of a battle as neither SP made it to the 5th inning. The teams go to the ninth tied, 5-5. With two outs, Chicago’s Mark Nakayama hits a swinging bunt to the left side of the infield. He’s safe. Cris Luna walks. Kent Noseworthy singles to left. Nakayama beats the throw home. Nakayama misses a cycle by a double. Chicago 6, Toronto 5. RF T Stone 2-4 R RBI, DH M Nakayama 3-4 TP, HR 2R 3RBI HR - Tor none CH - DH M Nakayama (5) POTG - Chicago DH Marc Nakayama Summary - We seem to have Toronto’s number even if we don’t have any other Canadian teams number. We sweep the season series 4-0 and look to build a little momentum with a final gasp as we will host Duluth next. After today’s games rosters are allowed to expand in the GLBL, but with our AAA club fighting to win a title, we are not making any moves until after the Joe’s are done with their season. Duluth Sea Gulls 66-44 2nd in the US vs Chicago Architects 56-54 4th in the US August 11th-13th 2056 Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds So the Sea Gulls return to Chicago for the final time of the season barring some miracle that we meet them in the playoffs. What started out as a pretty even matchup the first 4 times ending 6-6 has definitely tilted towards Duluth as the Gulls have won 4 out of the last 6. We come in “Hot” having won 2 straight against the Maples. We are 10 games behind the Sea Gulls so anything short of a sweep on our part pretty much means curtains. The Architects begin a 3-game series with the Duluth Sea Gulls at home. Going 66-44 so far this year, the Sea Gulls have compiled a .600 winning percentage. They are in 2nd place in the South of the Border, 2.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 611 rank 3rd in the USA, their .282 batting average ranks 3rd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 495 runs (2nd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.37 which ranks 3rd. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 3.48, ranking 1st. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 10 wins and 8 losses. Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first: RHP Will McNeely (7-7, 4.87 ERA) vs RHP John Moore (7-3, 3.75 ERA) RHP Chris Collier (10-5, 4.07 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (6-5, 4.42 ERA) LHP TimGross (9-5, 3.57 ERA) vs RHP Yale Hulbert (6-4, 6.50 ERA) The top 5 players on their team are: 1. 1B Jorge Rangel (Age: 26, Overall : 3.5, Potential: 4.0) 2. 2B Carlos Figueroa (30, 3.5, 3.5) 3. RF Carlos Sánchez (25, 3.5, 3.5) 4. RP Pedro Saldaña (25, 3.0, 3.0) 5. SP Chris Collier (25, 3.0, 3.0) Rangel has really blossomed this season and is battling Chicago’s LeRoy for the home run lead. Game #1 - Friday August 11th, 2056 Duluth 66-44 vs Chicago 56-54 RHP Will McNeely (7-7, 4.87 ERA) vs RHP John Moore (7-3, 3.75 ERA) A - 37,091 Duluth takes a 3-2 lead into the seventh, where Chicago’s Joe Justice hits a three-run home run. Chicago SP John Moore was named player of the game, but I think it should have gone to Joe Justice. Chicago 5, Duluth 3. SP J Moore 6IP 5H 3R 1BB 9K, RP L Stott 2IP 1H 3K W, SS K Mulford 2-3 DB 2R BB, 1B R Osborn 2-3 R BB, LF R Leroy 2-4 2 DB R 2RBI, 3B K Noseworthy 2-4 HR - Dul C S White (5) CH - RF J Justice (9) POTG - SP John Moore (4) Game #2 - Saturday, August 12th, 2056 Duluth 66-45 vs Chicago 57-54 RHP Chris Collier (10-5, 4.07 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (6-5, 4.42 ERA) A - 37,543 Let’s pick things up in the seventh, where the Gulls have a slim, 2-1 lead. Chicago’s Reagan Osborn singles in the tying run and later scores the leading run on a Thomas Arnaud single. 3-2 Chicago. In the eighth, Duluth’s Carlos Sánchez doubled in the tying run. The game goes to extra innings. In the 10th, Duluth loads the bases with nobody out. Carlos Figueroa doubles in all three and gets singled in by Derrick Drew. Duluth 7, Chicago 3. 10 Innings 2B J Lambert 2-5 DB R, 1B R Osborn 2-4 R RBI BB, 3B T Arnaud 3-5 DB 2RBI, RF T Stone 2-5 SP V Imbert 6.2IP 3H 2R 3BB 10K’s HR - Dul None CH - None POTG - Chicago SP Val Imbert (2) Game #3 - Sunday, August 13th, 2056 Duluth 67-45 vs Chicago 57-55 LHP Tim Gross (9-5, 3.57 ERA) vs RHP Yale Hulbert (6-4, 6.50 ERA) A - 37,017 Duluth takes a 2-1 lead into the seventh, where Jorge Rangel extends that lead to 4-1 with a two-run home run. Pitcher Júlio Castro proceeds to plunk the next batter, Carlos Sánchez. Sánchez is having none of it, charges the mound, and ignites a brawl. Castro and Sánchez get tossed. Duluth 4, Chicago 2. 2B J Lambert 2-4 DB RBI SP Y Hulburt 5.2IP 5H 2R 2BB 6K HR - Dul C C. Lee (2), 1B J Rangel (34) CH - none POTG - Duluth SP Tim Gross After the game……. You have just been informed that J. Castro has been suspended for 6 games by the Office of the Commissioner. If there wasn't a history between Carlos Sánchez of Duluth and Júlio Castro of Chicago, then there is one now. The incident between the two sparked a bench-clearing scrum with those two being the center of attention. Now they will miss 3 and 6 games respectively as a result of their actions. The league office announced their suspensions today. "We're both really competitive," Sánchez said later, "and sometimes things go a little too far because of it." In 108 games Sánchez is hitting .343 this season with 154 hits, 25 home runs, 78 RBIs, 22 walks, .385 OBP and has scored 87 runs. This season, Castro has logged no saves. He has thrown 78 innings, dished out 67 strikeouts and walked 19 while putting up a 2-4 mark and a 5.08 ERA. Honestly it was nice to see someone show some fire on this team and it is 38 year old veteran P Julio Castro. Castro hasn’t been overly happy this year as he has spent most of his time in the bullpen and he would prefer to be starting. But that is the type of character and fight that I like to see. We won’t be able to offer him a new contract for next season, but even in a season when it's not been what he bargained for he has been a competitor for this club. Summary - We fooled you all winning the first 3 games of this shortened sim recap. I am sure everyone thought he come the Architect's, they will finally kick it in gear and make everyone proud by staging such a huge comeback. Well I am here to tell you that ain't happening. I am sick of Tim Gross. He seems to always have a good game against us, or I just remember the many that he seems to have. The series started out nicely with that win in game 1. That gave the Architects a 3-game win streak, but it fell apart after that. CL Pat Wright (3-11 25 saves) lost his 11th game of the season. That seems to tell a big story. While Wright has had a decent season, he has gotten beat a lot in extra inning games. With the losses we seem to be cemented in a non-playoff season and a lousy bottomline which I will hear plenty about come the off-season. Attached Images

02-03-2026, 12:35 AM	#82
DD Martin All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Seattle area Posts: 1,019	Winding Down a Long Disappointing Season Toledo Neptunes 68-45 2nd in US vs Chicago Architects 57-56 4th in US August 14th-16th 2056 Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds We enter this series 11 games behind Duluth with 31 games left in the season. We are13 games behind 1st place Toledo. If we could muster a sweep then maybe we could have a shot. Anything less than 2 out of 3 and it's over. Toledo has dominated the Architects this season in the head to head and that’s mainly why they are ahead of us in the standings. Hopefully the club will show some fight and gumption after the Castro led brawl. The Architects begin a 3-game series with the Toledo Neptunes at home. The Neptunes are playing .619 ball this season, compiling a record of 70 wins and 43 losses. They are leading the South of the Border. Their number of runs scored of 651 rank 2nd in the USA, their .281 batting average ranks 3rd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 500 runs (1st) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.19 which ranks 1st. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 3.84, ranking 2nd. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 13 wins and 5 losses. Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first: RHP M. Inoue (11-10, 3.87 ERA) vs RHP W. Townsend (10-7, 4.41 ERA) RHP J. Cedeño (13-5, 4.18 ERA) vs RHP N. Keddy (11-6, 3.13 ERA) RHP J. Moore (7-3, 3.79 ERA) vs RHP C. Bouchard (13-4, 4.08 ERA) The top 5 players on their team are: 1. SP Nick Keddy (Age: 29, Overall : 4.5, Potential: 4.5) 2. RP Ricardo Valentín (30, 4.0, 4.0) 3. 2B Xing-fu Sen (25, 3.5, 4.0) 4. 1B Eric Molina (30, 3.5, 3.5) 5. LF Mark Wadell (24, 3.5, 3.5) Game #1 - Monday August 14th, 2056 Toledo 70-43 vs Chicago 57-56 RHP M. Inoue (11-10, 3.87 ERA) vs RHP W. Townsend (10-7, 4.41 ERA) A - 37,162 Both starters pitch shutouts for five innings. Toledo’s Warren Townsend (7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 4 K) stays strong for two more innings. A solid effort from Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue (6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K) goes to waste. Inoue gives up just a two-run single to Xing-Fu Sen but the Architects bats just couldn’t muster anything.. Toledo 5, Chicago 0. 1B R Osborn 2-3 BB and not much else HR - None POTG - Toledo SP Warren Townsend Game #2 - Tuesday August 15th, 2056 Toledo 71-43 vs Chicago 57-57 RHP J. Cedeño (13-5, 4.18 ERA) vs RHP N. Keddy (11-6, 3.13 ERA) A - 36,675 Toledo’s Nick Keddy (6.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K) and Andrey Zmiev (2.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K) shutout Chicago. We know about Keddy, but this was Zmiev’s major league debut. Yeah, he came in with a six-run lead, but it shows some confidence from the manager to come in after the legendary Keddy and preserve his shutout. Welcome to the big leagues, Andrey! Toledo 6, Chicago 0. LF R LeRoy 2-4 and that again is about it. HR - None POTG - Toledo SP Nick Keddy Game #3 - Wednesday August 16th, 2056 Toledo 72-43 vs Chicago 57-58 RHP J. Moore (7-3, 3.79 ERA) vs RHP C. Bouchard (13-4, 4.08 ERA) A - 30,075 Chicago’s Marc Nakayama hits a three-run home run. Thomas Arnaud hits a solo home run. Tom Stone hits a two-run triple and then gets singled in by Joe Hunt. SP John Moore won his 8th game (8-3) with 5.2IP giving up 4H 2R 1ER, 2BB 10K’s. Chicago 7, Toledo 3. LF R Leroy 2-4 R, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 2R HR RBI HR - Tol 3B L Gonzalez 18, CH - DH M Nakayama (6), 3B T Arnaud (9) POTG - Chicago SP John Moore (5) Summary - Over 6,000 bailed on coming to Sunday’s game and honestly I wish I could have been 1 of them. Those first two games this club just laid down. To get shutout at home without so much as a whimper of offense is really disheartening. I expected to see character and the character I saw was not what I wanted to see. Sunday, August 13th , 2056 - Chicago Architects: SS Kennelly Mulford was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: oblique strain. He's expected to miss about one week. Chicago Architects 58-58 4th in the US @ Traverse City Bears 57-59 5th in the US August 18th-20th 2056 Traverse City's The Den ballpark We’ve stopped calling the Bears the Bad News Bears based on our season record against them. One of the teams we felt we could dominate this season and that just hasn’t been the case. They are just 1 game behind us in the standings and when we leave here if we played like we did against Toledo, we will be in 5th place when the club leaves town. The Architects have a 3-game series on the road against the Traverse City Bears kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent: We will meet in The Den, which seats 40000 and plays like a slight pitchers park. With their record standing at 57 wins and 59 losses, the Bears have a winning percentage of .491. They are in 5th place in the South of the Border, 15.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 609 rank 4th in the USA, their .282 batting average ranks 2nd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 606 runs (3rd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.39 which ranks 3rd. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 5.78, ranking 5th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 9 wins and 9 losses. Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first: RHP V. Imbert (6-5, 4.32 ERA) vs RHP J. Laybolt (4-5, 4.92 ERA) RHP Y. Hulbert (6-5, 6.22 ERA) vs RHP J. Nelligan (4-6, 4.57 ERA) RHP M. Inoue (11-11, 3.83 ERA) vs LHP C. Gore (6-2, 4.19 ERA) The top 5 players on their team are: 1. RF Earl Foote (Age: 28, Overall : 4.5, Potential: 4.5) 2. CF Cal Braud (28, 4.5, 4.5) 3. CF Ben Marshall (32, 3.0, 3.0) 4. SP John Hall (29, 3.0, 3.0) 5. 2B Alexis Martin (26, 3.0, 3.0) Game #1- Friday August 18th, 2056 Chicago 58-58 @ Traverse City 57-59 RHP V. Imbert (6-5, 4.32 ERA) vs RHP J. Laybolt (4-5, 4.92 ERA) A - 37,504 Reagan Osborn hits his 26th and 27th home runs of the season. Those dingers drive in four. Kent Noseworthy adds a solo shot. Chicago 5, Traverse City 2. 1B R Osborn 2-4 2HR 2R 4RBI, LF R Leroy 2-4, SP V Imbert 7IP 6H 2R 3BB 5K W (7-5) HR - CH 1B R Osborn 2 (27), SS K Noseworthy (7), TC SS A Martin (15) POTG - Chicago 1B Reagan Osborn (5) Game #2- Saturday August 19th, 2056 Chicago 59-58 @ Traverse City 57-60 RHP Y. Hulbert (6-5, 6.22 ERA) vs RHP J. Nelligan (4-6, 4.57 ERA) A - 35,075 Chicago takes a 3-2 lead into the eighth, where Traverse City’s Cal Braud hits a two-run home run. Traverse City 4, Chicago 3. SP Y Hulburt 5.1IP 3H 2R 1ER 0BB 3K HR - CH R LeRoy (31), TC - CF C Braud (18) POTG - Traverse City DH Ben Marshall Game #3- Sunday August 20th, 2056 Chicago 59-59 @ Traverse City 58-60 RHP M. Inoue (11-11, 3.83 ERA) vs LHP C. Gore (6-2, 4.19 ERA) A - 35,075 Motoyuki Inoue (5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K) and three Chicago relievers hold Traverse City to a single run. The game is tied, 1-1, in the sixth, when Marc Nakayama singles in the leading run and John Lambert doubles in two more. Somehow Chicago won the game and scored 4 runs on just 4 hits. Chicago 4, Traverse City 1. HR - None POTG - Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue (6) Summary - Escape town still in sole possession of 4th place (YAY). Not much offense in these last 6 games other than the 7 runs scored in the one victory over Toledo. Off to the first of 3 games in Detroit. Chicago Architects 60-59 T-3rd US in the US @ Detroit Thunderbirds 60-59 T-3rd US August 21st through 23rd 2056 Detroit's Thunderbird Ballpark The Architects have a 3-game series on the road against the Detroit Thunderbirds kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent: A neutral park, Thunderbirds Ballpark has room for 40000 fans. Going 60-59 so far this year, the Thunderbirds have compiled a .504 winning percentage. They are tied for 3rd place in the South of the Border, 14.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 617 rank 4th in the USA, their .280 batting average ranks 4th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 637 runs (5th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.03 which ranks 5th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 5.14, ranking 4th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 7 wins and 11 losses. Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first: RHP J. Cedeño (13-6, 4.19 ERA) vs RHP J. Davis (6-8, 4.89 ERA) RHP J. Moore (8-3, 3.67 ERA) vs RHP B. Clary (9-8, 3.56 ERA) RHP V. Imbert (7-5, 4.22 ERA) vs RHP J. Kim (6-8, 4.75 ERA) The top 5 players on their team are: 1. RF Stan Gillis (Age: 30, Overall : 3.5, Potential: 3.5) 2. SP Bill Clary (28, 3.0, 3.0) 3. 2B Trace Brunel (34, 3.0, 3.0) 4. 2B Paul Larocque (26, 3.0, 3.0) 5. SP Joo-seok Kim (27, 3.0, 3.0) Game #1 - Monday August 21st, 2056 Chicago 60-59 @ Detroit 60-59 RHP J. Cedeño (13-6, 4.19 ERA) vs RHP J. Davis (6-8, 4.89 ERA) A - 21,129 Detroit’s Joe Davis (5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 4 K) takes a shutout into the sixth. There, he walks a batter, gives up a single, and gets pulled. Reliever George Maxwell proceeds to cough up a three-run home run to John Lambert. Davis gets charged with the runs and, as it proves, the loss. Chicago’s José Cedeño (8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 7 K) takes a shutout into the ninth inning, where he allows just his second hit of the game (a Melvin Akerval double) and gets pulled. Larry Stott completes the shutout. Chicago 6, Detroit 0. RF J Justice 1-3 2BB 2R, C J Hunt 2-5 DB, R 2RBI, 1B R Osborn 2-4 TP R BB, 2B J Lambert 2-4 HR R 3RBI BB HR - CH 2B J Lambert (21), Det -none POTG - Chicago SP Jose Cedeno (8) Summary - End this group of sims 4-3 by winning 3 of the last 4 against teams that I felt we should have been dominant against all season. We’ve moved into 3rd place. We tried against my better financial judgement to go after a couple of IAFA and lost out on both targets. Owen Sound signed CL Julio Franco for $2.4 million and Kingston signed RF Nicholaas Beerens for $3.84 million. We have another target we are looking at because we can’t sign anyone over our allotted budget for IAFA which was $3 million which is why we gave up on the hard hitting Beerens a week ago. Attached Images

02-06-2026, 11:31 PM	#83
DD Martin All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Seattle area Posts: 1,019	The end of August fast approaches but at least our AAA Team won the league championship!!!!! We continue with the last several games against Detroit of this 3 game series Game #2 Tuesday, August 22nd, 2056 Chicago 61-59 @ Detroit 60-60 RHP John Moore 8-3 3.67 ERA vs RHP Bill Clary 9-8 3.56 ERA A - 21,126 Detroit’s Bill Clary (6 IP, 1 R, 0 BB, 12 K) strikes out a dozen batters. He gives up one run in the third: Joe Justice doubles in Pedro Farrulla. Meanwhile, Chicago’s John Moore (7 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K) takes a shutout into the seventh. Stan Gillis ruins the shutout with a solo home run. The game remains tied, 1-1, as we enter the ninth. With two outs, a double and two walks load the bases. Chicago’s Joe Justice comes to the plate, and he doubles in two of the runners. Chicago 3, Detroit 1. RF J Justice 3-5 2DB 3RBI, DH M Nakayama 2-4 2DB, SS P Farrulla 2-3 R HR - CH none Det - RF Stan Gillis (13) POTG - Chicago SP John Moore (6) Game #3 Wednesday, August 23rd, 2056 Chicago 62-59 @ Detroit 60-61 RHP Val Imbert 7-5 4.22 ERA vs RHP Joo-seok Kim 6-8 4.75 ERA A - 16,879 Pathetic crowd on hand for this wrap up game. In the fifth, Detroit’s José Díaz ties the game, 4-4, with a two-run home run. A few batters later, Ramón Rodríguez singles in Mal Johnston. Chicago ties the game, 5-5, in the sixth. Kent Noseworthy singles in Marc Nakayama. The T-Birds take the lead for good in the seventh. Díaz triples and scores on a Johnston sac fly. Stan Gillis hits a solo home run. Rodríguez singles and later scores on an error. Three runs scored in the inning. Detroit 9, Chicago 7. 2B J Lambert 2-5, C G Lee 3-3 2DB 2R RBI BB, SS K Noseworthy 3-4 DB 2RBI HR - CH RF J Justice (10) DH J Harris (1) Det - DH J Diaz (15), RF S Gillis (14) POTG - Detroit DH Jose Diaz Summary - We take 2 out of 3 against Detroit and head off to play last place Milwaukee for the 2nd to the last time. We were going to bring up LHSP Curt Hopkins to make a start in the Milwaukee series but he pitched in the AAA championship series and picked up a minor knock so we will hold him out until the last week of the season where he will get 2 starts. Look to see him as one of the five starting pitchers in next season's rotation. Chicago Architects 62-60 3rd in the US @ Milwaukee Eagles 36-86 Last in the US Friday August 25th-27th 2056 The Nest Ballpark in Milwaukee The Architects have a 3-game series on the road against the Milwaukee Eagles kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent: The Eagles play their games in The Nest, which can be described as a slight pitchers park. The building seats 40000 fans. Going 36-86 so far this year, the Eagles have compiled a .295 winning percentage. They are in 6th place in the South of the Border, 41.0 games behind the leader. The Eagles are on a cold streak, losing their last 7 games. Their number of runs scored of 535 rank 6th in the USA, their .273 batting average ranks 5th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 805 runs (6th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 6.18 which ranks 6th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 6.84, ranking 6th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 4 wins and 14 losses. Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first: RHP Yale Hulbert (6-5, 5.89 ERA) vs LHP Art Tiller (6-8, 5.36 ERA) RHP Motoyuki Inoue (12-11, 3.75 ERA) vs RHP Mitch Belding (2-12, 6.70 ERA) RHP Jose Cedeño (14-6, 3.99 ERA) vs RHP Kent Bennent (5-13 5.70 ERA) The top 5 players on their team are: 1. C Cecil Phillips (Age: 33, Overall : 4.0, Potential: 4.0) 2. 1B John Crosby (28, 3.0, 3.0) 3. RF Luo-lang Petit (25, 2.5, 2.5) 4. SS Alexandre Gasnier (24, 2.5, 3.0) 5. LF Randy Hiscock (24, 2.5, 4.0) Game #1 - August 25th. 2056 Chicago 62-60 @ Milwaukee 36-86 RHP Yale Hulbert (6-5, 5.89 ERA) vs LHP Art Tiller (6-8, 5.36 ERA) A - 26,828 The Tects score six in the second…. and in the sixth… and ten more runs besides. Reagan Osborn goes 4-for-6 with a grand slam, a solo home run, a walk, three runs scored, and eight RBIs. Joe Hunt goes 4-for-5 with a home run, a walk, five runs scored, and three RBIs. John Lambert goes 3-for-4 with three walks, a run scored, and three RBIs. Chicago 22, Milwaukee 2 1B R Osborn 4-6 2HR 3R 8RBI, 2B J Lambert 3-4 R 3RBI 3BB, 3B T Arnaud 3-7 DB R 2RBI, SS K Mulford 2-5 HR 2R RBI BB, C J Hunt 4-5 HR 5R 3RBI BB, RF T Stone 2-5 3R 2RBI BB, CF C Luna 2-5 HR 3R RBI BB SP Y Hulburt 6.2IP 7H 2R 0BB 4K HR - CH 1B R Osborn 2 (29), C J Hunt (15), SS K Mulford (6), Mil - C Seguin (5) POTG - Chicago 1B Reagan Osborn (6) Game #2 - August 26th, 2056 Chicago 63-60 @ Milwaukee 36-87 RHP M. Inoue (12-11, 3.75 ERA) vs RHP M. Belding (2-12, 6.70 ERA) A - 23,532 After giving up 22 runs to Chicago yesterday, Milwaukee pitchers hold the Tects to just two runs today. Kennelly Mulford triples and scores in the seventh, and Thomas Arnaud doubles in a run in the eighth. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Tects pitchers held the Eagles to a single run. Motoyuki Inoue (5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K) took a shutout into the sixth, where Randy Hiscock singled in a run. Chicago 2, Milwaukee 1. RP B Lutz 3IP 3H 0R 1BB 3K W (3-2), LF R Leroy 2-4 DB, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 DB RBI, DH T Stone 2-4 DB, RF J Justice 2-5 RBI HR - None POTG - Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue (7) Game #3 - August 27th 2056 Chicago 64-60 @ Milwaukee 36-88 RHP Jose Cedeño (14-6, 3.99 ERA) vs RHP Kent Bennent (5-13 5.70 ERA) A - 25,980 Milwaukee avoids the sweep. John Crosby and Randy Hiscock homer. Crosby also singles in a run. Luo-Lang Petit doubles in one, and ex-Architect Matt Graves singles in one. Milwaukee 5, Chicago 3. C J Hunt 2-5, 1B R Osborn 2-4 R RBI BB SB, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 HR R 2RBI HR - CH 3B T Arnaud (10), Mil 1B J Crosby (14, LF R Hiscock (9) POTG - Milwaukee SP Kent Bennett Summary - Minor League News AAA Championship: Saugatuck (Chicago) defeats Bay of Quinte (Owen Sound) in four games. We enter the last of our 4 games against Canadian teams with the best team Hamilton up first. 1B Reagan Osborn has really found his hitting groove in the last 2 months going 60-198 with 10 doubles, 3 triplies 15 home runs, 54 RBI’s and 45 runs scored. Where was this in the first half but he is going to end the season potentially with his highest RBI total in his career and maybe even in the history of the Architects. The current single season leader is future HOF’er Daniel Huffman who had 108 in the 2034 season. Hamilton Mounties 75-50 1st in Can vs Chicago Architects 64-61 3rd in US August 28th-29th Chicago Pier IV Grounds Hamilton barring a major collapse is headed to the playoffs for the 2nd straight season, but this time likely as the North of the Border regular season champion. Here is a look at the Hamilton Mounties, our next opponent in an upcoming 2-game series, and here are the results. The Mounties are playing .600 ball this season, compiling a record of 75 wins and 50 losses. They are leading the North of the Border. Their number of runs scored of 688 rank 1st in the Canadian, their .292 batting average ranks 1st. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 562 runs (1st) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.07 which ranks 1st. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 4.56, ranking 3rd. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 2 wins and 0 losses. Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first: RHP Yakumo Hasegawa (12-5, 3.84 ERA) vs RHP John Moore (8-3, 3.53 ERA) RHP Joe Murdock (8-9, 4.57 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (7-5, 4.35 ERA) The top 5 players on their team are: 1. 2B Li-ping Chin (Age: 29, Overall : 3.5, Potential: 3.5) 2. DH Glen Dickie (31, 3.5, 3.5) 3. SP Yakumo Hasegawa (38, 3.5, 3.5) 4. SP Sean Moore (29, 3.5, 3.5) 5. SP Gabriel Rodríguez (45, 3.0, 3.0) Game #1 - Monday August 28th, 2056 Hamilton 75-50 vs Chicago 64-61 RHP Yakumo Hasegawa (12-5, 3.84 ERA) vs RHP John Moore (8-3, 3.53 ERA) A - 31,676 The Mounties come on strong late. They take the lead in the sixth. Terry Foster singles in a run and later scores himself on a wild pitch. Foster then added a two-run home run in the seventh. Li-Ping Chin also homered in that inning. The ninth sees Fred Norris hitting a three-run home run. Hamilton 9, Chicago 3. 3B T Arnaud 2-4 DB R, CF C Luna 2-4 HR R RBI HR - Ham 2B L Chin (15), RF T. Foster (12), C F Norris (3), CH 2B J Lambert (22), CF C Luna (15) POTG - Hamilton RF Terry Foster Game #2- Tuesday, August 29th, 2056 Hamilton 76-50 vs Chicago 64-62 RHP Joe Murdock (8-9, 4.57 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (7-5, 4.35 ERA) A - 36,111 Hamilton’s R.C. Burt and P.J. Harper hit two-run doubles, and Joe Murdock (7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K) earned his ninth win of the season. Hamilton 4, Chicago 2. C J Hunt 2-4 DB R HR - Ham None CH - 3B T Arnaud (11) POTG - Hamilton SP Joe Murdock Summary - Hamilton has our number that is for sure. After the game we promoted the following players to join us for the rest of the season in Chicago. LHRP David Butler 4-5 31 saves 2.90 ERA AAA RHP Jason Dickerson 12-7 4.00 ERA AAA RHP Kieron Aplin 10-3 3 saves 3.61 ERA AAA RHRP Dustin Randolph 2-1 3.39 ERA AAA CF Steve Hickman 269-344-746 9-46 AAA CF John Ross 232-302-686 11-55 AAA C Doug Hill 369-438-1150 20HR 54 RBI AA We also decided to get out ahead of a salary arbitration case with RHP John Moore. We began discussion on just a 1-year deal with a promise to look at perhaps a further multi-year extension in the off-season. The goal was to save a few bucks and avoid arbitration with our biggest case this year. Attached Images

02-16-2026, 12:14 AM	#85
DD Martin All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Seattle area Posts: 1,019	The playoffs and off- season For the first time in 3 years the Architects will not be in the GLBL Fall Classic or even the playoffs. That meant I really wasn’t interested in them but I guess we will cover them anyway. US Divisional Series Toledo Neptunes 82-62 vs Duluth Sea Gulls 88- 56 Game 1 - September 19th Toledo vs Duluth - Toledo wins 13-9 Game 2 - September 20th Toledo vs Duluth - Duluth wins 3-2 series tied 1-1 Game 3 - September 22nd Duluth vs Toledo - Duluth wins 6-2 Duluth leads series 2-1 Game 4 - September 23rd Duluth vs Toledo - Toledo wins 2-1 Series tied 2-2 Game 5 - September 24th Duluth vs Toledo - Toledo wins 7-3 Toledo leads series 3-2 Game 6 - September 26th Toledo vs Duluth - Duluth wins 8-1 Series tied 3-3 Game 7 - September 27th Toledo vs Duluth - Duluth win 6-3 Duluth wins Series 4-3 Canadian Divisional Series Kingston Comets 80-64 vs Hamilton 83-61 Game 1 - September 19th Kingston vs Hamilton - Kingston wins 5-3 Game 2 - September 20th Kingston vs Hamilton - Hamilton wins 4-3 Series tied 1-1 Game 3 - September 22nd Hamilton vs Kingston - Kingston wins 14-2 Kingston leads series 2-1 Game 4 - September 23rd Hamilton vs Kingston - Kingston wins 3-1 Kingston leads series 3-1 Game 5 - September 24th Hamilton vs Kingston - Kingston wins 3-2 Kingston wins the Series 4-1 GLBL Fall Classic Kingston Comets 80-64 vs Duluth Sea Gulls 88-56 This series was interesting mainly because neither team had won a Fall Classic since the mid-20’s. Kingston last won in 2026 and Duluth the wait was all the way back to 2020. My guess was this would be Duluth in 5 games. They have just been the better more consistent team all season. Game 1 - September 29th Kingston vs Duluth - Kingston wins 3-0 Kingston leads Series 1-0 Game 2 - September 30th Kingston vs Duluth - Kingston wins 4-2 Kingston leads Series 2-0 Game 3 - October 2nd Duluth vs Kingston - Duluth wins 2-0 Kingston leads Series 2-1 Game 4 - October 3rd Duluth vs Kingston - Duluth wins 4-2 Series tied 2-2 Game 5 - October 4th Duluth vs Kingston - Duluth wins 5-4 11 innings Duluth leads Series 3-2 Game 6 - October 6th Kingston vs Duluth - Duluth wins 5-4 Duluth wins Series 4-2 So the Sea Gulls win their first GLBL Fall Classic since 2020. Their GM, who was the former GM of the Architects, took 5 seasons but he did build a winner. Something that we have not done in Chicago, at least not winning it all. My career record in the GLBL is 394-328 for a 546 winning percentage. We have won 1 US Division crown (55 season) and been to the Fall Classic twice (54,55) losing both in 6 games to Thunder Bay. As soon as the Fall Classic was over, the league had been discussing rule changes all season. These were primarily on the financial system (since OOTP 26 is broken in regards to teams being over budget). The Cash Max/Min was raised to $75 million No trades could be completed if it caused either team to go in debt. If a team was in debt prior to the trade that team could not increase its debt. These proposals were primarily instituted because Thunder Bay has a payroll in 2056 that was just shy of $300 million, on a budget of $180 or so. The Architects in the name of trying to win it all, when we thought we had the team to do it, went all in on SS Mulford and even moreso on SP Motouki Inoue. Inoue's contract was $38,000,000 in 2056 and $36,000,000 in 2057. His arbitration estimate for 2058 was estimated at a league shattering $54 million. The rule changes will greatly effect our decision making process for that option season. Even if we can sign him to a deal lower the arbitration number and extend him, we will have to really try and figure out what we are going to do. The reason the club is in such a bind is the free spending ways that their GM (me) has gone on in search of that elusive league championship. I really thought this was our year and I really feel strong about our chances next year with Inoue here for a full season. But we will have to really look at our expenses as we lost money this last season, and we are now in debt $8,958,500. So while we are well under the $75 million ceiling, we are a bit hamstrung as our projected payroll for 2057 is roughly $197,000,000 and our budget is $180,000,000. So without a significant playoff run we are looking at losing $25,000,000. With a significant playoff run we can probably get that down below $15,000,000 million for the season. But the issues just grow with our projected payroll of over $235,000,000 in 2058 (including Inoue's outrageous $54 million arb estimate). There are ways to whittle that down with a couple of contracts namely SP Yale Hulburt's $17,000,000 team option for 2058 and oft-injured DH Jose Aranda's $25,000,000 team option for 2059. Even with those the road ahead financially is murky at best in the next 3-5 years. Not making the playoffs this year really hurt, because if we had made it back to the Fall Classic this season for the 3rd straight year, we would not have had a loss for this season. Below is our payroll numbers for the next 6 seasons. 2061 really is the first year that we might be below our budget and without the playoffs in future seasons we could have a long period of budgetary issues. Lesson learned that it isn't always best to exploit a bug and just go for it, when the end goal of winning doesn't materialize. Attached Images

02-16-2026, 03:38 PM	#86
DD Martin All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Seattle area Posts: 1,019	Let’s get the Off-Season Started We had been in talks with several teams on potentially acquiring SP Val Imbert who is an above average 110+ ERA+ his first 2 seasons in Chicago. He was on a $10,000,000 contract in 2057 and will turn 30. He has a player option for 2058 for another $10,000,000 and a smart team would be trying to pick him up while I am considering dealing him. He is also willing to extend his contract for 4 seasons for a total of $10.6 million per season. His ask was more than that, but in discussing it we talked him down from $12.6 per season. It is an option that we will look at, but because we still have Aranda’s contract on the books for that 2059 season ($25 million) and we are at a loss heading into the off-season, our owner would not approve of that deal. Now since Aranda’s team option for 2059 is a 99% chance we will not exercise it, I know that we will likely be able to sign him to that deal. I’d shop him around but his injury issues the last 2 years and now the gun shy nature of several clubs who have money, there is just no chance. His deal is non-tradable unless I offer a prospect package of my young SP’s and with our payroll situation they are definitely our future, so that is not happening. The other SP that I have begun to offer is 38-year old veteran SP Yale Hulburt who returned in June after being out for almost a year. His contract is $20 million for 2057 with a $17 million team option for 2058. Again barring something unforeseen, his team option has about a 90% chance of being declined because of our financial situation. Traverse City who is probably the biggest penny-pinching team in the whole league (Milwaukee spends less but I think they could spend more), was in discussions to pick him up. The cost was that I would retain up to 50% of the 2057 contract, and if Traverse City wants to contend they need to find pitchers and a lot of them. But they backed out of conversations and it wasn’t because of the players I asked for. Unless they plan to spend $10 million on multiple pitchers and get some quality, they will not challenge for the US title anytime soon. Several days ago we got a message from SP Jose Cedeno and it would change a lot of things for us going into the 2057 season, both on the field and financially. The 35-year old decided to hang up his cleats after leading the league in wins this last season. To say we were shocked is an understatement as he had 5 seasons left on his deal ($27 million in 2057, and then $34 million the next 4 seasons with the last one being a team option). Chicago’s SP Cedeno Hangs Up Cleats Early Starting Pitcher José Cedeño, is walking away from the game he's been playing his whole life-- to fulfill yet another one of his lifelong dreams. "After an anguishing few months and a lot of sleepless nights, I've come to realize my heart just isn't in the game anymore. It's been a good run and I couldn't be more thankful to my teammates and my coach, who have supported me every step of the way." Cedeño said he has always wanted to be more involved in his church, and is intending on becoming a missionary and travelling the world to help others. In parts of 7 big league seasons, Cedeno was 86-63 with a 4.00 ERA. He led the GLBL in wins twice in his career, but many feel he never did quite reach the potential he had. Chicago acquired him at the trade deadline in 2054 as they made their first push to the playoffs under their new GM that season. Summary - So losing half of the 1-2 punch of Inoue and Cedeno at the top of our rotation was a major blow to what we were hoping to have for at least 1 full season. Cedeno’s retirement, while providing some major budgetary relief in future seasons, is a major blow to our chances for 2057. That means that rookie Curt Hopkins is going to have some very big shoes to fill and we are going to need a huge bounce back season from SP Yale Hulbert. It also is giving us pause on trading SP Val Imbert who is on a reasonable $10 million contract for 2057 and we had teams inquiring on him. Since we were discussing budget and payroll so much I will attach a new salaries projection for 2057 and going forward. We still won’t be adding anything via free agency for this year, but I really don’t think we need a lot. I still think we can contend if SP John Moore, who stepped into a starters role mid-season and won 10 games can continue, but it does change our plans. It also brings back into focus a serious look at re-signing Inoue for a long term deal and trying to substantially lower that amount owed for the 2058 season. As far as free agents go, overall I’d say it is a down crop. That said there are two international free agents that teams like Milwaukee who has all the budget space in the world and several other teams (Detroit, Windsor, Traverse City) should be jumping all over. They are 30-year-old Cuban LHSP Arturo Colomo and 28-year-old Japanese RHRP Tamasaburo Nii. Both of these guys look really good and until they find homes, I don’t expect a lot of other players to be signed. If Milwaukee could get these two and then sign a couple of other guys they would immediately become a factor. Not saying it would be enough to make the playoffs, but they would certainly be scarier than they have been the last several seasons. With a total ask of around $50+ between the two, Milwaukee is maybe the only team that could get them both. While we would love to be in on these guys, that just isn’t possible. We can’t even be in on a guy like SP Walt Marcotte and he just wants $3,000,000 for 1 season. It’s okay not to be in on him as he is a jerk in the locker room and his production on the field isn’t worth the clubhouse drama or the $3,000,000. I wouldn’t even offer him the league minimum $507,500. What we will probably do is try to lock in SP John Moore to a club extension of 6 years while lowering his arbitration estimates the next two seasons. Then we will take a look at both 2B John Lambert and CF Cris Luna who will both be arbitration eligible after next season. If we can save say $5-6 million per season on the arbitration estimates that will greatly help our ability to dig out of the hole and maybe even entertain the option to re-sign Inoue to a long term deal. Attached Images

02-19-2026, 03:48 AM	#88
DD Martin All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Seattle area Posts: 1,019	It’s been a quiet difficult off-season 1.) The Budget Crunch The budget situation along with the new debt rules (think a bit of financial fair play) has put us in a position where we can not actively seek todo anything real big on the free agent market. Fortunately this has not been a real bumper crop of free agents, and honestly we don’t have a lot of holes to fill. 2.) The Cedeno retirement When SP Jose Cedeno retired it blew up our plan of having him and SP Motoyuki Inoue together for a full season at the top of our rotation. When we acquired Inkue that was the big idea was to get them together. Cedeno had 5 years left on his deal for more than $150 million. Inoue was to be paid $36 million and has arbitration up after the 57 season. Now without Cedeno we are looking at ways to get out of debt quickly. 3.) Lack of tradable contracts - but we have tried. We tried to trade veteran SP Yale Hulburt (38) who had come back last June after being on the shelf for a year. His results weren’t great (a manager error in starting back to back games didn’t help) and his $20 million contract even with us offering to 50% has found any takers. Hulburt has a team option for $17 million in 2058 that is almost assuredly not going to be exercised. We also tried to trade 30 year old team captain Val Imbert who is on a more reasonable salary ( $10 million in 2057 and a player option for 2058 of another $10 million ) hasn’t found a home. He’s our team captain as well and he would discuss a similar extension to what we are paying him now. There have been teams looking but nothing concrete at this point. We’ve tried to give away Bill Lutz who has had ERA+ 107-109 two out of the last 3 years, but he has struggled with control as a SP and has been coming out of the bullpen for us mostly last season. He’s going into the last year of his deal at $8.5 million. He’s been DFA but no one has taken him, so we will likely ride him in the pen again this year. DH/RF Jose Aranda is another guy but I haven’t even tried to trade the lefty slugger who has missed a lot of time since he signed this deal. He will be paid $25 million this year, then has a player option for 2058 at $29 million. The final year is a team option for $25 million which has no chance of getting picked up. Free Agent Market There were two big international free agents on the market. There was a fear that the Detroit Thunderbirds who finished right behind last season us would get them both. Fortunately for us they just got the reliever, but he is a good get for them if he pans out. Our strategy will be to try to sign some veteran players for either a minor league deal or league minimum contracts. The Big Question What do we do with SP Inoue? Inoue is on a $36 million deal this season. With him currently our payroll sits at about $168 on a total budget of $180 million and a debt total of Roughly $9 million. Without making the playoffs our projection for the 2057 is a loss of around $20. That’s with the club taking a slight downturn in fan interest (96) and a projection of fewer season tickets and total attendance for 2057. While those are just estimates, even if we made a run back to the Fall Classic Series we could lose $5-8 million and increase our debt. I can save $3 million of that by laying out of the IAFA market next August, but it still is likely a loss. To further complicate Inoue his projected arbitration number for 2058 (he was signed as an IAFA by Toronto and will fall just short of becoming a full free agent) is $45 million. That is down from a staggering $54.6 million during last season. While we could try to save some on an extension in the 1st year if we re-signed, it would likely take 6 years and $240 million to get a deal done. So one option is to trade him and try to reduce this debt burden immediately. If we trade him and don’t sign anyone of extremely popular popularity, we will take another big drop in fan interest and that will affect revenue for 2057 and likely future budgets. But it would get us out of debt. One idea is to retain his salary for the season, pick up top end prospects and maybe get enough cash in a deal to clear the debt. The other option is to not retain his salary in a deal that would hopefully net a decent return and get out of debt this year. Either of those options probably removes us from making the playoffs. The other option is damn the money, try to win the whole thing this season and then deal with the debt next season while not re-signing him. The 4th option is screw the money,sign him to the lowest deal for the $2058 season (maybe save half the salary arbitration number) and then worry about the trailing years. So we are at a crossroads and we have what I feel is the best position player group in the US division and most of them are younger players. With Inoue we have a serious shot at the playoffs (60%) and once you're in anything can happen. Without Inoue it’s a crapshoot between us, Toledo and maybe Detroit. Milwaukee and Traverse City are non factors as both clubs are not addressing their needs to climb out of the bottom 2 spots. What should we do? What would you do? Get out of debt issues quickly given the new rules or try and win and manage the season loss as best you can. Keep Inoue? Trade him? Re-sign him and risk further financial hardship?

02-20-2026, 02:26 PM	#89
DD Martin All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Seattle area Posts: 1,019	As the free agency period starts, we will run down the team that we have returning quickly. Catcher - Juan Duran (age 25 B-R) It’s time for the 25 year old Duran to break out. He has been up and down in previous seasons and last season when we fell behind in the standings, Duran was hitting 216. So we sent him down to 1.) have him remember how to hit and 2.) and less publicized, gain more control on his service time. At AAA he hit 310. It’s now time for him to be the catcher that everyone thought he would be. We have Don Hill who came up late last year, but ideally we could re-sign lefty hitting C Guo-quiang Lee who hit 349 when he came up to replace Duran. Since we can’t offer anything more than the limit, we will have to wait to sign Lee to see if we can coax him in for the league minimum. This would allow Hill a full season at AAA to continue to develop. Infield - Our infield is pretty set. With the combination of 1B Reagan Osborn and 3B Travis Arnaud at the corners and 2B John Lambert who had a breakout season last year and mid-season acquisition SS Kennelly Mulford. We have one of the better hitting infields in the league and a group that defends well. The backup group loses IF Kent Noseworthy who could play all positions although untested at 1B. SS/2B Pedro Farrulla who is a slick fielding not hit player will be back. 2B/3B Larry Davis will also likely get a spot on the bench as well. I could see us again looking for a veteran on a league minimum deal and preferably a left handed bat. Not sure if we will find anyone in that group but I do have my eye on someone that we tried to acquire several years ago. While I am glad we didn’t pull the trigger then on that deal, because it would have stunted the growth likely of John Lambert. If we could get him now on a minimum deal that could be a plus for his bat, but not his glove. Outfield The outfield has a lot of candidates and as starters is pretty set in LF and CF. Now back to back player of the year (Canada in 55 and US with us last season) Robert LeRoy is back in LF. In CF we will have the ever improving Cris Luna who’s bat seems to finally be ready to hit at the big league level and covers a lot of ground in CF. We will have competition in RF this spring as we have Tom Stone who last year came out like a house on fire to start the season, but then cooled off. Still Stone hit 305 as a rookie and had a 793 OPS as a 22-year old. He gave up some playing time to waiver acquisition Joe Justice (now 26) who hit 269 but hit 11 home runs and 40 RBI’s in 223 at-bats and had an OPS of 856. They are both looking for PT in RF for the upcoming season. DH/RF sees the return of Jose Aranda who is a lefty hitter with tremendous power but has battled injuries in his 2 seasons with the Architects. Aranda only hit 215 last season with a 690 OPS with 10 home runs and 31 RBI’s but spent 2 long periods on the DL. We brought up 1B/corner OF Marc Nakayama who really caught our attention early and still wound with a 793 OPS with 7 home runs and 29 RBI’s in 170 at-bats. Aranda is a lefty and Nakayama is a righty so I see them sharing time at DH with Nakayama being more of the guy who would play in the field. After that it will basically be having a backup CF between rookie John Ross (25) and Steve Hickman (26). Ross is a lefty and has tremendous leadership which is a bonus. They likely will be battling over 1 spot. Joe Justice is also a very capable CF so there is a scenario that neither Ross or Hickman make the club. We could look for a popular veteran bench bat for the league minimum in free agency. Pitching Obviously I’ve whined enough about the early retirement of Jose Cedeno, which can be seen as a curse or maybe a financial blessing. We still have a strong rotation I believe with the offense we have. While we are still mulling the decision on Motoyuki Inoue and whether to trade him or not, this is who would be our starting 5 if we keep him. Starting Rotation as of February 1st 2057 RHSP Motoyuki Inoue (15-12 3.75 ERA) RHSP John Moore (10-4 3.23 ERA) LHSP Curt Hopkins (11-3 2.91 ERA in AAA and 1-1 3.48 in the big leagues) RHSP Val Imbert (10-6 4.45 ERA) RHSP Yale Hulburt (8-6 5.98ERA) I still feel good about this group and think we can contend next season. Whatever magic Duluth had last year, they were a club that played well together and they have budget room to improve on that team. They are probably the favorites, but 2nd place Toledo has financial issues like we do, although not as bad, and has great pitching. They will lose their star 3B Luis Gonzalez during free agency because they have no room to bid on him. Toledo has tremendous pitching on their side and we lost Cedeno. Detroit, Traverse City will have to make moves to be a factor. Milwaukee has too many holes and appears content to gather #1 draft picks. If we did move Inoue, depending on the deal we could get a pitcher back if we clear our budgetary issues in either a trade or in free agency. But we have a good amount of talent on the pitching side in our system. They are not likely ready yet, but I can’t see gong more than a year on anyone pitcher. The pitcher who would step into the rotation if we move Inoue would be Joe Johnson. Johnson excelled as a RP last season picking up the slack for setup man Larry Stott (more on that later). Johnson pitched to a 3.75 ERA last season and was below 3 as a RP (a couple of his early starts during the season were not good). In previous two seasons Johnson was 22- 8 with an ERA around 3.95. So he is more than capable of hanging in the rotation. Bullpen The bullpen is the biggest worry on the team honestly. But not our closer. Closer Pat Wright has set the Architect club record with saves with 173 and he is poised to go over 200 during the upcoming season. Primary setup man Larry Stott who in 2055 had and ERA in his last 44 outings that had a 0.98 ERA in those games, blew up last season after signing a contract extension. Stott’s ERA blew up to 6.50 last season and was a huge contributing factor to Chicago’s terrible record in 1-run games. The front office has faith that Stott will bounce back. If Joe Johnson is not in the rotation he will either be the 2nd setup man or more likely the top middle RP we use. After that there are positions to be won in the bullpen. If we can’t trade Bill Lutz and his $8.5 million contract (or DFA and let someone else take a chance) he will be the long man in the pen. Lutz has actually pitched well in relief the last couple of season, but has struggled as a starter with his control. That leaves 3 more spots in the pen. Several internal candidates are LHRP David Butler who has performed well at AAA and was a late season call up. I like that he is a lefty and that will give him a leg up on others. We also could see AAA RP Joe Hoskin (2.84 ERA at AAA) and Richard Heshel (4.33 AAA 4.18 in 47IP with the big league club) in the mix. This will be an area where we will likely look for some veteran minimum guys to support what is the biggest concern we have, and we don’t have money to fix it. So free agency will likely not be very exciting for us this season. Here are the Canadian Award winners from last season that I forgot to post. Rookie of the Year The top-rated rookie for 2056 in the Canadian has been selected and the honor went to Kingston center fielder Bill Arnold. It was a season to remember for the 25-year-old Comets newcomer. He wrapped up his first year with a .331 batting average, 24 doubles, 2 triples and 19 home runs. Arnold also had 79 RBIs and scored 85 times. Don Woolsey of the Kingston Comets finished second in voting, while Talbot Bergeron of the Toronto Maples finished third. Player of the Year Thunder Bay's Jamal Amador put the wraps on a fine campaign today by winning the 2056 Canadian Lake Superior Player Award. The 33-year-old veteran scorched the opposition with a .333 average, picking up 171 hits, 33 doubles, 4 triples, 37 home runs and 91 RBIs, while scoring 99 runs. Li-ping Chin of the Hamilton Mounties finished second in voting, while Johnny Peterson of the Kingston Comets finished third. Pitcher of the Year With speculation about his retirement gaining steam last offseason, Mounties ace Yakumo Hasegawa had something to prove. He proved it in award-winning style as he accepted the Canadian Lake Michigan POY Award today. The veteran Hamilton hurler posted a record of 15 wins and 5 losses this year with a 3.66 ERA. In 31 starts he struck out 203 and walked 44 in 218.2 innings. Sean Moore of the Hamilton Mounties finished second in voting, while Roland Fuller of the Kingston Comets finished third. Top Fireman of the Year 2056 was a year to remember for Roberto Terraza. The Thunder Bay Caribou closer was the owner of a 3.25 ERA this season over 130 innings of work. He made 90 relief appearances and had 5 saves, 147 strikeouts, 22 walks and a record of 9 wins and 5 losses. He's also now got some hardware, as the 33-year-old has been named the Canadian Lake Ontario Relief Award winner. "It's something I can tell my grandchildren some day, pretty special," he said. Emmett Dodman of the Thunder Bay Caribou finished second in voting, while Wally Howard of the Hamilton Mounties finished third. Flashing the Leather Canada Award Winners Any pitcher would love to have these defenders on the field backing them up. They are the best glovemen in the Canadian for 2056. This year's Flashing Leather Award winners are: Pitcher Cliff Simpson (Thunder Bay Caribou) Catcher Thomas Gilles (Thunder Bay Caribou) First Baseman Gerald Powers (Thunder Bay Caribou) Second Baseman Li-ping Chin (Hamilton Mounties) Third Baseman Steve Taylor (Toronto Maples) Shortstop R.C. Burt (Hamilton Mounties) Left Fielder Terry Foster (Hamilton Mounties) Center Fielder David Williams (Windsor Vigilantes) Right Fielder Emerson Coleman (Thunder Bay Caribou) Top Canadian positional hitters This group of hitters were players that Canadian pitchers didn't want to see digging into the box in 2056. They are the winners of the Lake Erie Bat Award, which goes to the top offensive performers at each position. Here are the 2056 winners: Catcher Prímio Lebrim (Owen Sound Waveriders) .278/.353/.474, 428 AB, 21 HR, 2 SB, 113 wRC+, 1.7 WAR First Baseman Craig Hargrove (Windsor Vigilantes) .317/.386/.536, 549 AB, 29 HR, 2 SB, 136 wRC+, 2.8 WAR Second Baseman Ron Watkins (Owen Sound Waveriders) .342/.425/.502, 444 AB, 10 HR, 16 SB, 144 wRC+, 5.0 WAR Third Baseman Chris Allen (Windsor Vigilantes) .269/.337/.465, 480 AB, 21 HR, 18 SB, 101 wRC+, 1.9 WAR Shortstop Carlos Pérez (Kingston Comets) .287/.330/.549, 317 AB, 22 HR, 113 wRC+, 1.1 WAR Left Fielder Jamal Amador (Thunder Bay Caribou) .333/.410/.630, 513 AB, 37 HR, 155 wRC+, 4.5 WAR Center Fielder Robinson González (Thunder Bay Caribou) .286/.354/.516, 539 AB, 30 HR, 116 wRC+, 1.3 WAR Right Fielder Bill Arnold (Kingston Comets) .331/.384/.487, 544 AB, 19 HR, 1 SB, 127 wRC+, 4.0 WAR Designated Hitter Glen Dickie (Hamilton Mounties) .316/.416/.531, 507 AB, 25 HR, 2 SB, 140 wRC+, 3.5 WAR

02-23-2026, 12:33 AM	#91
DD Martin All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Seattle area Posts: 1,019	We have made a decision, we are going to rebuild a bit I've made the decision to trade SP Motoyuki Inoue and there are several teams interested in making a deal. While my preference would be to deal him to a Canadian team (I would expect Windsor and Kingston to be involved), I will not rule out a deal to a US club. We gave up 4 top 100 prospects and veteran RF Jim Ashley (more for salary relief than anything). In looking at what we gave up for Inoue, here are the prospects SS Cristo Sandoval ranked #26 (now as of March 2057 ranked #116) SP Brad Sellers ranked #94 (now as of March 2057 ranked #159 SP Ruben Marin ranked #22 (now as of March 2057 ranked #51) 2B Bob Tobin ranked #72 (now called up to the big league club for 45 games. Before his call up he rose to #52). This is the danger with making deals for prospects. So much can happen and yet we will likely do the same thing. We will be looking for some pitching, middle infield, third base and catching prospects as our top goals. We will also be looking to rid as much salary or budget expense as we can. Can we get a good haul of top prospects? The decision will be made tomorrow. I wasn't able to post all the players we had acquired yesterday so here are 4 more below. Two are minor league veterans added for depth with nickname Specs and Dr. Evil. Who can pass up on those names. Tomorrow - We announce the deal that will win the Inoue trade Attached Images

02-24-2026, 11:52 PM	#92
DD Martin All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Seattle area Posts: 1,019	Motoyuki We Hardly Knew You Chicago Makes Inoue in a Major Deal to US Rival Toledo Chicago and Toledo have agreed in principle to a trade. The Architects will send 28-year old RHP Motoyuki Inoue to the Neptunes for 22-year old minor league LHP Roy O'Brien, 18-year old minor league 2B Shigetoki Aoki, 20-year old minor league LHP Brian Axworthy, 18-year old minor league LHP Philippe Ferré, and $18,000,000 in cash. The deal is expected to be finalized shortly and the clubs will be introducing their new players to the press when the paperwork is complete. Chicago will retain a portion of Inoue's remaining contract. Lifetime Inoue has 69 victories and 52 defeats with a 3.48 ERA. After the trade went down GM Martin released a statement regarding the trade. In a move that I didn't think I would be making, after acquiring Inoue last May, today we have sent him to the Toledo Neptunes. The move was forced when we could not come to terms on a long term agreement for Inoue who was estimated to make $45.5 million in arbitration. While we knew he would be an expensive re-signing, the league rules changed in the off-season regarding debt. Not making the playoffs last season forced our hand and we simply could not come to an agreement that would work financially for the Architects. In a move to re-coup as much of the trade capital as we could, Toledo offered the best package by the deal deadline that we had established. The lawyers looked over the deal to make sure it would comply with the new "agreement" and once it was blessed the deal was done. Chicago's New Prospects The players Chicago acquired in the deal. LHSP Brian Axworthy (age 18 #18 overall) Scouting report on Axworthy - The 6'8 Axworthy was selected 9th overall in the 2055 draft and was the Architects choice if he had fallen to them. The cream of his arsenal is a wicked fastball, his best secondary pitch is an equally wicked splitter. He also has a good changeup. His control is fantastic and that should let him avoid runing into walk trouble through his career. His stuff shold be pretty good too and that may be more valuable. He projects to be a #2 starter on most teams. LHSP Pillippe Ferre (age 18 #24 overall) Scouting report on Ferre - Phillippe throws 6 pitches with his bread and butter pitch a slider. His numbers should play well across the board once he finishes developing. All his skills are plus-caliber. Ferre is projected to fit comfortably in the middle of a big league rotation. 2B Shigetoki Aoki (age 18 B-R #35 overall) Scouting report on Aoki - He has a significant projection for very high contact. His pure speed grades out as above average. Aoki projects to be an above average big league 2B. LHRP Roy O'Brien (age 22 #148 overall) O'Brien is clearly the player that is most major league ready and he will join the Architects as a non-40 roster player for spring training. Our scout really likes O'Brien who was originally a 10th (last) round pick in 2053. At his peak his repertoire should include a wicked cutter and wicked slider. His stuff can be overwhelming to batters and he has the talent to flourish in a key bullpen role. These young arms coupled with our other top arms, last year #11 overall pick RHSP Oscar Quirk (#12 prospect overall), and LHSP Curt Hoplins (#15 overall prospect) (who is in camp with a good chance to make this seasons starting rotation), give the Architects a very formitable future rotation especially when you couple in RHSP Mike Hayes (#33 overall) and RHSP Li-zhu Guao (#34 overall). Attached Images

02-26-2026, 12:55 AM	#93
DD Martin All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Seattle area Posts: 1,019	The Start of Spring Training 2057 As the club prepares for its first game of the spring, many of the roster spots are most likely pretty secured. The starting position players is as follows 1B - Reagan Osborn (Age-26 B-R) GLBL 3 years 112 days $8,500,000 signed thru 2061 2056 season stats 290/400/953 34HR 109 RBI 4.2 WAR Career stats 306/417/996 129HR 379RBI 19.9 WAR Osborn has had quite the first 4 seasons in the GLBL hitting 129 home runs. He has been in the top 3 vote getters the last several seasons in the GLBL US MVP voting. A horrific slow start last season probably cost him the chance to win the award last season. Osborn is signed with the club through 2061 and most feel he will be signed to another extension before that one is done. For this new generation of Chicago player, he is definitely Mr. Architect. 2B - John Lambert (Age-26 B-R) GLBL Service 2 years 88 Days $507,500 2056 season stats 279/350/852 24HR 70 RBI 4.3 WAR Career stats 277/347/832 33HR 101 RBI 5.3 WAR What a year for Lambert as he broke through the shadows of players past and excelled in his first full time season. Now the trick will be to repeat it in 2057. If he does look for Chicago to potentially offer him a deal to buy out his arbitration years. His pre-2057 season arbitration amount for 2058 is $3.4 million SS - Kennelly “Poison” Mulford (Age-28 B-R) GLBL Service 4 yrs 128 days $7,300,000 signed thru 2062 2056 season stats 308/378/845 10HR 39RBI 2.4 WAR (split season between Milwaukee and Chicago) Career stats 279/335/801 73HR 268RBI 15.4 WAR Searching for an answer for a defensive SS who could hit his weight, Mulford was a big acquisition from Milwaukee well before the trade deadline. The club signed him shortly after his acquisition to a 6 year extension for a total of $73.9 million through the 2062 season. He is capable of being one of the top SS in the league. 3B Thomas Arnaud (Age-28 B-S) MLB Service 3 years 24 days $5,250,000 2056 season stats 278/336/773 11HR 38 RBI’s 1.2 WAR Career stats - 302/348/838 55HR 235RBI 8.6WAR Arnaud was signed to an arbitration avoiding extension prior to last season. The deal is for 6 years and $58 million dollars. The final season is a team option. Arnaud has been a very good switch hitting option for the Architects at 3B, but he’s had a few injury wobbles that have concerned club officials. When healthy he’s been pretty steady and the club hopes to see him return to form this season. C Juan Duran (Age-25 B-R) GLBL Service 1 year 113 days $507,500 2056 season stats 216/317/726 8HR 27 RBI 0.0 WAR Career stats - 236/342/7775 15HR 39 RBI’s 1.1 WAR This upcoming season is a huge year for the well thought of Duran. His prospect rankings was as high as #5 and last season he was rated in the top 20 position players prior to Opening Day. Unfortunately success hasn’t come quickly with the bat for Duran and because Joe Hunt was having an outstanding season, but the club sent Duran back down to AAA to re-find his hitting stroke. He hit 310/425/845 at AAA. Duran needs to make good on all the promise or the club could be looking for an alternative for the 2058 season. LF Robert “Rodeo” LeRoy (Age-32 B-L) GLBL Service 10 years 60 days $20,000,000 2056 season stats 339/400/1017 32HR 107 RBI 5.6 WAR US Player of the Year Career stats - 300/361/895 235HR 793 RBI 39.4 WAR LeRoy followed up his 2055 Canadian League MVP with the US League MVP last season. LeRoy signed a mega-deal with the Architects prior to the 2056 season that was 6 years and $157 million. He will be signed with the club through the 2061 season (age 37). CF Cris Luna (Age-27 B-R) GLBL Service 2 years 72 days $507,500 2056 season stats 278/352/818 17HR 63 RBI’s 2.9 WAR Career stats - 252/325/732 30 HR 130 RBI 4.1 WAR Luna broke out in his 3rd season in GLBL play. Has excellent defense and CF and had dramatic improvement in his overall hitting setting career highs in all categories. Next season will be his first arbitration eligible season. Currently his projection for salary next season is $2,968,000. There will be competition in RF and DH so we will combine those two categories RF Tom Stone (Age-23 B-R) GLBL Service 1 year 4 days $507,500 2056 Season stats 305/343/792 9HR 66 RBI’s 1.5 WAR Career stats - 299/337/785 10HR 68 RBI’s 1.7 WAR The club is very high on Stone who started last season hitting 400 early and held up well over 300 for the 1st half. His production slowed in the 2nd half of the season and went from a probable rookie of the year candidate to among others receiving votes. He has options and unless his spring is out of this world he might start the season in AAA. This will slow his service clock and get him everyday at bats. DH/RF Jose Aranda (Age-32 B-L) GLBL Service 8 years 96 days $25,000,000 2056 season stats - 215/270/690 10HR 31 RBI -0.6 WAR Career stats - 283/349/896 278HR 769 RBI 24.4 WAR Aranda has spent his first 2 seasons with the Architects primarily on the DL after signing a huge FA contract prior to the 2055 season for $129 million. He has a player option for the 2058 season and the club has a team option for 2059 that will not get exercised unless we see the old Aranda instead of the “old” injury plagued Aranda. He will start the season as the club's primary DH and effectively could squeeze out Stone of a roster spot. OF Joe Justice (Age-26 B-L) GLBL Service 1 year 65 Days $507,500 (out of options) 2056 season stats - 269/358/856 11HR 40 RBI’s 1.3 WAR Career stats - 264/342/800 15HR 58RBI’s 1.8 WAR Justice was claimed off waivers from Owen Sound in mid April last season. Was used primarily as a cover CF and lefty handed bat. When Aranda went down for the season, Justice’s playing time increased and he responded well. He is out of options so he will likely again beat out Tom Stone for a roster spot. Corner OF/1B/DH Marc Nakayama (Age-24 B-R) GLBL Service 68 days $507,500 2056 season stats - 266/340/793 7HR 29RBI -0.1 WAR Career stats - 266/340/793 7HR 29RBi’s -0.1WAR Nakayama was a guy with Reagan Osborn anchored at 1B that was pretty much ignored. He was in the lower portion of the top 100 prospects and was an afterthought while the team was enjoying post-season success. But last year with the season ending injury to Arnada, he got a chance. His prospect stock had risen to #58 overall and his hitting was much stronger at AAA prior to his call up. If not for a dreadful final week of the 2056 regular season he would have been hitting closer to 290. The final roster spot will likely come down between him and Tom Stone. Right now Nakayama is slotted as the team’s DH against left-handed starting pitchers. Other position players in camp C Ken Armour was signed specifically to be the backup lefty catcher for this season. C Doug Hill is in camp but will likely spend the year in AAA as the #3 C to get more playing time. 2B Ron Hinton and SS Pedro Farrulla are both in camp and both will likely be with the big league team as backups. The addition of Hinton will probably push 2B/3B Larry Davis back down to AAA. Finally OF Doug Deschamps was signed as a fan favorite as the club's primary right handed pinch hitter. The fans love this guy and with the moves we’ve made trading several popular players, Deschamps will hopefully help mitigate the drop in fan interest. A pair of CF’s round out the position players in camp. Steve Hickman and prospect John Ross both have a chance to make the club. Most feel that Ross will be the future team captain of the Architects and that might start this season. With the logjam in RF with OF’s its likely both of these guys will be in AAA to start the season. Tomorrow we will go over the pitchers in camp. Special Trade Announcement A few days into spring training, Chicago once again traded another pitcher. This time SP John Moore who went 10-4 last season with a 3.23 ERA split between the bullpen and starting has been dealt. The club avoided arbitration with Moore this off-season when they signed him to a 1-year deal worth $3.5 million. He has two more arbitration seasons after this one. With the acquisition of new talent and a strong desire to get completely out of the financial doghouse, the Architects decided to trade Moore. His destination, the Windsor Vigilantes is where he will call home. Coming to Chicago will be $5 million dollars in cash and P Kawanari Ohaysahi ($2 million contract for 57). While the cash savings in salary isn’t a lot the $5 million dollars is going a long way towards clearing up the balance of the clubs projected 2057 deficit. Ohaysahi will get an opportunity to show what he can do in the 2nd week of spring training where he will get 2 starts in. He could be the clubs #5 SP if all goes well. Finally in one of those publications that hits the newstands way too early, the Baseball Elite have picked the Chicago Architects to win the US division. The real predictions that matter will come out towards the end of spring training and the realistic expectation is probably 4th. Attached Images

03-04-2026, 08:48 PM	#94
DD Martin All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Seattle area Posts: 1,019	Mid-Spring Look and specifically pitching The club started off spring training losing its first game to Duluth before rattling off 9 straight wins. They quickly came back to earth losing the next 3 but currently sit 9-4 with 5 more spring games to go and there are some camp battles going on. Pitchers in Camp This will certainly be the weakness of the team, but even with that said there could be hidden strength. If we are going to contend the group of starters is going to have to come through. Starting Rotation SP Yale Hulburt (Age-37 RHSP) $20,000,000 14 years 50 days GLBL service Last Season - 8-6 5.98 ERA Career 136-129 3.49 ERA Has a $17,000,000 team option for 2058 season Coming back from injury mid-season last year, Hulburt struggled to a 5.98 ERA in 93.1 IP. He showed flashes of good pitching, but the start of his comeback was shaky. Truly if this team is going to fight for a playoff spot, Hulburt needs to return to form. SP Val Imbert (Age-31 RHSP) $10,000,000 8 years 100 days GLBL service Last Season 10-6 4.45 ERA Career 66-80 4.41 Has a $10,000,000 Player option for 2058 Imbert has been a steady above average SP in this league during his 2 seasons with Chicago with an ERA + 116 (2055) and 111 (2056). He can be dominant at times and other times can seem lost, but he is better than average. He has a team option and we are considering extending him if we can make it work. Right now the odds are probably 55/45 that he declines the option. SP Curt Hopkins (Age -22 LHSP) $507,500 36 days GLBL service Last season 11-3 2.91 AAA and 1-1 3.48 ERA Chicago Career 1-1 5.23 ERA Eligible for salary arbitration after the 2059 season. Hopkins has been our top SP prospect ranking as high as 12th prior to last season. As we get ready for the regular season he is currently projected #28th overall. This is the year that we will let him see what he can do, and being the #3 SP is putting a lot of pressure on him. Before the Cedeno retirement and the Inoue trade he was comfortably our #4 or 5 SP. Hopefully it will not be too much on him to carry. SP Bill “Flamethrower” Lutz (Age -34 RHSP) $8,500,000 salary 8 years 148 days GLBL service Last season 3-2 1S 4.52 ERA Career 70-66 22 saves 4.18 ERA Free Agent after the season It’s hard for many fans to believe that Lutz is still with the team, let alone being in the starting rotation. Lutz has struggled the last few seasons in the rotation but has done very well in the bullpen. He is in competition for one of the spots at the back end of the rotation. We tried to move him, but his lack of control despite a solid ERA+ 2 out of the last 3 seasons has made him hard to move. We are not in discussions to sign him to an extension. SP Kawanari Ohayashi (Age - 32 RHSP) $2,000,000 1 year 140 days service time Last Season 1-10 5.73 ERA (with Windsor) Career 10-15 5.17 ERA Was signed as an IAFA by Windsor in 2055 to a 3-year $5,400,000 contract. If retained he would be renewed at $2,000,000 for next season. He will be arbitration eligible after 2058 season. Acquired in spring training in a surprise move as the club sent SP John Moore to Windsor. Most felt this was a cost cutting move as the club tries to get its financial house in order. While Moore’s contract this year was for only $3.5 million, his arbitration numbers for the last 2 seasons were estimated at a combined total of approximately $22 million. The home is that Ohayashi is at minimum a stop-gap innings eater while the club awaits for several prospects to get ready. He was also an extremely popular player with the fans, as he helped stabilize the fan interest after the unpopular shipping out of Inoue. Also in camp that could be in the rotation Joe Johnson who was 22-8 over the course of 2 seasons as a SP in 54 and 55, but settled into a very useful middle RP last season. If anyone falters, Johnson would probably be called on to take that spot in the rotation. Rookie SP Oscar Quirk is also in camp and is the club's new top pitching prospect at #13 overall in the GLBL. Drafted 11th in the 1st round in the 2056 draft the 22 year old pitched well at class A, but struggled some at AA last season. He could be retained on the squad to open the season as a SP, but the thinking is to give him at least ½ a season at AAA before he makes the leap. That is the preferred plan of management. Bullpen The bullpen should have been a strength for the club last year, but with the sub-500 record in 1-run games it was often a big piece of the puzzle why the Architects did not return to post season, and ultimately why the club was in such tough financial shape after the season ended with the new financial rules that came into place after the season. Closer Pat Wright (Age - 31 LHRP) $5,000,000 7 years 117 days GLBL Service Last season - 4-12 34 saves 3.77 ERA Career 41-44 173 saves 3.60 ERA Wright has a team option of $5,000,000 for 2058 and a vesting option $5,000,000 in 2059 There is no doubt who the closer is in Chicago. The all-time Architect club leader in saves with 173, Wright can be dominant and closing out games. Unfortunately he generally goes through a stretch each season where he can’t get anyone out. Overall though he is very successful and hopefully will crack 200 saves this season. Setup Man Larry Stott (Age -29 RHRP) $2,400,000 5 years 118 days GLBL Service Last Season 4-5 1 save 6.50 Career 20-20 14 saves 3.80 ERA Signed a 6-year extension prior last season and bought out his final year of arbitration. The deal was a 6-yr $35.4 million dollar deal that keeps him with the Architects through the 2062 season. Last season was a nightmare for Stott after he signed his extension in spring training. The season prior he had a 2.73 ERA in 47 games including a season closing streak of 44 games and a 0.99 ERA. Last year was hopefully an anomaly. If it is not, Stott will not keep the top setup man job. SU/MR Joe Johnson (age 28 RHP) $3,000,000 4 years 101 days GLBL Service Last season 2-3 3.75 ERA Career 32-22 4.13 ERA After his 2055 season where he went 15-5, Johnson was signed to a very team friendly 6 year $16 million dollar deal. His contract is guaranteed for next season at 3.25 million and then the club has a pair of $3.25 million option for 2059 and 2060 Johnson is a power pitcher who won a lot of games as a SP. He started out last season in the rotation once again but had a dreadful start and then the club traded for Motoyuki Inoue and Johnson moved to the bullpen, and thrived. He starts out this season in the pen, but will be the first arm called if the club needs a SP due to injury or ineffectiveness. After the first 3 in the bullpen, things are a little less settled. RHP Sam Goerts (Age-40 ) $507,500 16+ Years GLBL service Last season 0-6 6.03 ERA with Kingston Career 145-191 3.55 ERA Free agent after the season Was an inexpensive veteran signing and was brought in to hopefully be a long man or even a spot starter. Was used as primarily a SP last season and the results were not good. He might be done, but will probably break camp with the team. RHP John Cole (Age -38) $507,500 6 year 114 days GLBL experience Last season (AAA) 11-9 3.20 ERA Career 34-48 1 save 4.46 ERA Free agent after the season Another inexpensive option for the bullpen. Will need an impressive run to claim a spot as the coaches have not been impressed with his workouts and throwing in camp. RHP Jim Garcia (Age - 38) $507,500 6 years GLBL Experience Last Season 3-5 5.57 ERA with Windsor Career - 35-29 14 Saves 4.61 ERA Free agent after the season Again another aging veteran who signed for the minimum and could be a SP if the need arises. He likely will be a middle man in the bullpen if he makes the club. His popularity could help keep him around. RHP Mario Avila (Age-27) $507,500 Rookie Last season 7-1-1 3.33 ERA (AAA) Career - Rookie If he is kept around he will be a league minimum contract through 2059 Avila was another bargain pickup and is much younger. He has all 3 of his options so he could go down to AAA and be retained if he doesn’t make the club. He has pitched well at AAA the last several seasons, but was never given the call up. A lack of a solid #2 or #3 pitch is what is holding him back and will likely make him a RP. Could be a project to keep and see if different coaching will help. RHP Kieron Aplin (age-25) $525,000 36 days GLBL service Last season (AAA) 10-3 3 saves 3.61 ERA 0-0 4.50 ERA Chicago Career 0-0 4.50 Rookie On $525,000 contract if retained for the next 3 seasons, then arbitration eligible Alpin looks average (at best) and the only thing he might be better than average on is control (a feature I like). He throws 4 pitches but they are again so-so at best. A good spring could get him on the club for Opening Day, but with all the veterans it might be a tough task to ask. LHRP David Butler (age - 26) $507,500 25 days GLBL experience Last season (AAA) 4-5 31 saves 2.90 ERA Chicago 0-0 3.48 ERA (career) Rookie Butler was lights out on most nights closing games for AAA champion Saugatuck, but the fear is that he is a AAAA pitcher who has almost no control and can be exposed in the big leagues. The thing we like, a dominant fastball and a nasty slider and that he is a lefty. If we have a numbers he has options to go down, but he likely won’t be the Joe’s closer in 2057. RHRP Roy O’Brien (Age - 22) minor league invite not on 40-man roster No GLBL service Last season 6-1 3 saves 1.00 ERA (AA) Minor league contract (for now) O’Brien was the least talked about player in the Inoue trade that Chicago received but he is also the most GLBL ready of the prospects. He will be given a chance, but the belief is the club would like him to go to AAA and continue to progress there and then be ready for next season. RHRP Loren Summers (Age -23) minor league invite not on 40-man roster no GLBL service Last season (AA) 1-3 7 saves 3.07 ERA Career - rookie 2nd round draft pick in 2056 draft The organization really likes Summers and he is likely ticketed to AAA to be the Joe’s closer for this season. Teaming him with O’Brien and maybe even Butler could give the club a future solid late inning group. LHRP Pepe Aragon (Age-24) $507,500 no GLBL Service Last season (10-9 5.03 ERA) Rookie The 24-year-old Aragon’s future likely lies in the bullpen. He has a solid fastball and slider that could improve to be great. His screwball and changeup are just meh, although the screwball could be average. He started most of last season with AAA but it is recommended that he go to the bullpen this season and gain experience where he is likely going to have a future. RHP Richard Hershel (Age - 26) $507,500 1 year 16 days GLBL service Last season (AAA) 1-5 4.33 ERA with Chicago 1-2 1 save 4.18 ERA Career 1-5 2 saves 4.78 2 seasons away from arbitration Hershel had scouts raving that he could be a mid-rotation arm but he has never shown that ability in the minors consistently. The talk of that is gone but he could be a quality RP and deserves a spot. If he has a good spring he might force one of the old guys out and finally claim that spot. RHP Dustin Randolph (age - 26) $507,500 12 days GLBL service Last season (AAA) 2-1 3.39 ERA Chicago 0-0 4.50 ERA (career) Still rookie status Randolph could be the right hand version of David Butler. His lack of control, although better than Butler's, is the big concern. He has a great fastball and an emerging change up. He could be another steady bullpen contributor for the club in the future. Summary - And that is the pitching group in camp. There are really 4 spots up for grabs and 8-9 guys looking for those spots. The club this season will probably go with the veterans to start the season, but spring ball will have an effect on where things go. One thought is the club is going to try and create a great group of RP’s in AAA this year and then there will be no money spent on veterans for next season's bullpen. That is the hope anyway.

03-05-2026, 01:09 PM	#95
DD Martin All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Seattle area Posts: 1,019	Final Spring Training Report and Season Predictions Chicago finished in a 1st place tie with Duluth for USA spring training honors with an 11-7 record. That is a finish that could be very acceptable to the Chicago faithful (and a surprise to the GM). Below are the final spring statistics (in pictures). Opening Day Roster Starting Five SP #1 Yale Hulburt (RH Age-37) $20,000,000 Spring Numbers 1-0 3.24 ERA SP #2 Val Imbert (RH Age-32) $10,000,000 Spring numbers 0-0 9.82 ERA SP #3 Curt Hopkins (LHP Age -22) $507,500 Spring numbers 1-0 3.12 ERA SP #4 Kawanari Ohayashi (RHP Age -32) $2,000,000 Spring numbers 2-0 3.00 ERA SP #5 Bill Lutz (RHP Age -34) $8,500,000 Spring Numbers 0-1 4.32 Summary - A $41 million dollar starting rotation that is probably $15 million over paid. Hulburt and Lutz would be great if they can hold those spring numbers anywhere close to that in the regular season. Hopkins is going into the middle of the rotation simply because he is a lefty and I wish we had more LHSP’s. It's a lot of pressure on him, but he is a tough kid. Imbert had a dreadful spring but we will shrug that off as just well spring. Ohayashi is the #4 SP as he did enough in a couple of spring starts to get the job. Johnson and maybe Avila are in the bullpen but could be given starts if the need arises (hopefully not). Goerts is also in the pen and could make a spot start, but the consensus is that those days for him are over. Bullpen Closer - Pat Wright (Age 31 LHRP) $5,000,000 Spring numbers 1-0 0 saves 4.32 ERA SU - Larry Stott (RHRP Age -29) $2,400,000 Spring Numbers 0-0 7.11 ERA SU/MR Joe Johnson (RHP Age-28) $3,000,000 Spring numbers 1-1 4.05 ERA MR - Mario Avila (LHP Age-27) $507,500 Spring numbers 0-1 4.66 ERA MR - Jim Garcia (RHP Age-38) $507,500 Spring numbers 0-0 2.84 ERA LR/ES - Sam Goerts (RHP Age- 40) $507,500 Spring numbers 0-3 10.50 ERA (yikes) MR/SP - David Butler (Age -26 LHRP) Spring numbers 0-1 13.50 ERA Bullpen Summary - Again the top 3 guys were shoe ins and where all the money is spent (only $10.4 million). Stott had a spring that is making us worry about that contract we signed with him. As you can see we went with the veterans and sent the younger guys down. Next season the plan will be that 3-4 of them will assume position in the Architects bullpen. Prospect LHRP Roy O’Brien and RHP Kieron Aplin both completed the spring games with a 0.00 ERA. The club almost kept O’Brien up, but decided to give him some time at their AAA club so they could work with him. LHRP Pepe Aragon also performed well pitching to a 1.04 ERA but again he was also sent down. St Joe’s bullpen for this season Loren Summers will be closing, and O’Brien will be the top setup guy. Aragon, Randolph will also be appearing in middle relief. Alpin would also be in the pen but the Joe’s need another pitcher in the rotation so he will start there. RHP Dustin Raldolph rounds out the bullpen arms. Chances are while the Architects will still be managing their financial concerns that a group of these men will be in the Architects bullpen next season. LHRP David Butler made the club, but his position is shaky at best. His spring ERA of 13.50 almost cost him the position and may still yet. The Architects will be checking the waiver wire and are also interested in another veteran RHP that they may sign. Position Players Infield (Starters denoted in Bold) C Juan Duran (B-R age-25) $507,500 Spring stats 333/467/1008 HR 4RBI 7R C Ken Armour (B-L age-31 $507,500 Spring stats 227/320/684 HR 3 RBI 4R 1B Reagan Osborn (B-R Age-26) $8,500,000 Spring stats 444/474/1307 4HR 11RBI 7R 2B John Lambert (B-R Age-26) $507,500 Spring Stats 239/300/626 HR 3RBI 11R 3B Thomas Arnaud (B-S Age-28) $5,250,000 Spring Stats 261/333/768 2HR 7RBI 5R SS Kennelly Mulford (B-R Age-28) $7,300,000 Spring Stats 372/400/1005 2HR 10 RBI 10R 2B/IF Ron Hinton (B-L Age-32) $507,500 Spring Stats 227/306/715 2HR 8RBI 5R SS/IF Pedro Farrulla (B-R Age-25) $507,500 Spring Stats 263/317/817 3HR 4RBI 6R Outfielders (Starters denoted in bold) LF Robert “Rodeo” Leroy (B-L age-32) $20,000,000 Spring Stats 233/361/628 0HR 2RBI 5R CF Cris Luna (B-R Age-27) $507,500 Spring Stats 206/300/535 0HR 3RBI 3R RF Marc Nakayama (B-R Age-24) $507,500 Spring Stats 250/297/735 2HR 6RBI 7R DH Jose Aranda (B-L Age-32) $25,000,000 Spring Stats 280/269/589 0HR 5RBI 2R OF Joe Justice (B-L Age - 26) $507,500 Spring Stats 367/472/1306 2HR 7RBI 7R OF Doug Deschamps (B-R Age-34) $507,500 Spring Stats 208/26/603 0HR 2RBI 4R Position Players Summary Honestly no real surprises other than the club sent Tom Stone down to AAA. Some speculate this is because he would not receive as much playing time with Aranda back and the club wanting to see what Nakayama could do with more playing time. Others feel that this was motivated by future money. Deschamps makes the team as the 26th man and his big bonus is he is an extremely popular and community minded player. He is always signing autographs and doing events. For a player that has never been a star in the big leagues, he certainly has a big following. The rest of the positions really were not a shock in who stayed. Larry Davis was optioned with his last option year. He’s a solid contact hitter, with not much pop and his average at best at 2B and 3B. He’s a great defender at 1B but with Reagan Osborn there really isn’t a need for him to be there. Still I would expect Davis to be on next season’s big league club, the signing of veteran left-handed hitter 2B/IF Ron Hinton really forced Davis off the Opening Day roster. C Doug Hill is a solid 3rd string C who will start at Saugatuck and there is some OF depth with HIckman and John Ross. The club also has veteran OF’s Mark Laursen and Antonio Zamora providing depth as well. The club would love to find another utility IF somewhere who could be called up, especially to play 3B in case the oft-injured (last several seasons) Thomas Arnaud were to go down. Predictions Some crackpot out there predicted that the Architects would win 92 games and run away with the US division. Then Duluth made a trade to swap pitchers with the Owen Sound Waveriders where they traded P Will McNeely and a pitching prospect for SP Jonathan Honore. The last and probably best predication scenario is below that has the Architects finishing 2nd. As for my prediction, I think finishing 500 would be a great accomplishment for a team that lost so much (basically their top 3 starting pitchers from last season) in their pitching staff. But the offense is good and talented and they could bash their way to victories. I can’t see a playoff spot in the cards, but I won’t turn it down either if we can figure out a way. Financial Update With the moves that we made this off-season, while painful, were probably necessary with the new league rules on debt. The club is out of debt right now and is projected to have a positive balance at the end of the season. Our payroll is currently slated to be $10 million less than this season next year and that is before we likely decline the $17 million club option for SP Yale Hulburt. The Architects will also likely not spend the $3 million that is in the budget for any IAFA’s this season and that will further improve the bottomline and get the club in a healthy position for the future. The next couple of years financially the club should be in good shape as long as they play well on the field. There is a bloated payroll (currently projected to be $183.7m) in the 2060 season and also 2061 ($167.6m), but with some extensions and other decisions that should be able to be lowered. Not sure there will be any “big” off-season signing for a few seasons, but you never know. With the young pitchers in our organization we should be able to sail smoothly through the next 5-7 seasons in good financial shape. Fixing things this year, while drastic, were extremely important in getting the club on the right track. Attached Images