The IBL's Chicago Iron Pigs

[gehrig38]

Bah, what do they know? They are picking us to finish a game worse than they picked us last year! They nailed the East and got the Central right for the most part, but missed bad on Fresno and LA, with the Sky Sox winning 15 more than they expected. They nailed the WC in Vegas.
They've got LA winning the WC this year behind Fresno, with Philly and Houston repeating.

[gehrig38]

Thought it would be cool to see where my system is headed. After 1 season and 1 draft, the Iron Pigs player development money has been well spent!
The organization has moved from 18th to 4th overall with 7 of the top 100 prospects overall and 3 of the top 25.
Anthony Martin was our #1 pick. Mariano Colon was discovered in the Dominican last winter. Mike Moore was the 15th round pick (340th overall) in the inaugural draft. Randy Pennington was our #3 pick last in the draft. Bill Sharp was acquired via trade with Philadelphia. Ralph Bradford was acquired via trade with Pittsburgh. Jeff Bentley was our 4th round pick last summer, Raul Felix our 2nd. Dave Winston was just acquired in a swap of minor league players are the end of camp.

[gehrig38]

2013 IBL SEASON
First things first. Omar is hoping the team stays close to .500 this year, I expect us to be above .500, if just barely. Injuries, or lack of, will be the key, that and the bottom half of my rotation.

Our current budget is 21.2M, with expenses of 21.565M we’re expected to be in the red on budget. 950K cash on hand leaves us 584K for extension (only 1 minor league player I’m likely to negotiate a deal with).

Our projected 2014 budget is 25M with just under 19M in expected expense.

All told we’re expected to bring in just over a half mil in profit again, barring an unexpected playoff run. Omar is in a good mood about where we are, and our fan interest sits at 62, with very good and loyal people coming through the turnstiles.

WEEK 1
3 vs. Philadelphia
3 vs. Los Angeles
6 games against division winners to kick it off, guess we’ll find out very quickly where we are.

GAME 1
Opposing 19 game winner Steve “Spuds” Whiteway in the home opener.
This is how you draw it up. Alejandrez (1-0) throws 8 scoreless, punching out 10 and yielding just 4 hits in a 5-0 Iron Pigs win. That muscle Donald Weaver put on is going to help. He pounded his 1st HR in the 4th. Gutierrez was 2-3 with 2 runs scored and a SB and Bill Alexander picked up where he left off, driving in a run in the 1st as part of a 3-4 2 RBI day.
CHI 5 PHI 0 WIN

LEAGUE NEWS
Tulsa 1B Curt Whimster (24) picked up where he left off, going 3-5 in a 6-2 Driller win to extend his hitting streak to 20 games.

GAME 2
Andrew Olson (15-8 last year) goes the distance, giving up a run on 10ks and Mike Davis (0-1) gives up 2 3R HR’s and a solo shot in a 3.1-7-7-7-3-2 loss. Bob Barbour goes 2-3 with his first HR of the season. Alexander is 2-3 in the loss.
PHI 11 CHI 1 LOSS

LEAGUE NEWS
Chris O’Slattery of Baltimore (18-9) 3 hits Columbus
Curt Whimsters streak is short lived, being stopped in a 6-2 Driller loss today.

GAME 3
Bill Flowers (0-1) walks a tightrope he eventually falls off of. A 0-0 game turned south on the 1st of 2 Dan Ladd HR’s in the 5th. Dan Hill (1-0) held Chicago to a run on 4 hits in 6.
PHI 6 CHI 1 LOSS

LEAGUE NEWS
Tony Ruiz, El Paso’s 27 year old 3B went 5-5 in a 9-4 Diablo win over Dayton today.

GAME 4
It was believed by many that Francisco Salazar (0-1) had come back from shoulder issues a smarter, and better pitcher. 4 runs and 6 walks in 6 IP means the jury’s going to wait on that one. Rafael Garza (13-13 last year) picked up the win with 1 run ball over 7. Sean Parker was 3-4 in the loss, and Jean Chartier was 2-4 with a 2B.
LA 4 CHI 1 LOSS

LEAGUE NEWS
Staten Islands Travis Bryant (297-43-120 last year) started the 2013 campaign where he left off. Through the seasons first 4 games he’s hit 4 HR’s and driven in 10.

GAME 5
A common theme appears to be happening. Chicago starters seem to battle, getting big outs and DP’s for the first 4-5 innings, and then a walk or three followed by a HR. Today it was Jack Jackson (0-1) serving up a 3R HR to Charlie Crowder (1) in the 4th inning of a 0-0 game. Chicago’s offense continued to sputter, managing a lone run on 9 hits, leaving 8. Jackson walked 6 over 6.1IP. Hugh Collins was 3-5 leading off today.
LA 5 CHI 1 LOSS (1-4 and now 4 games back as Houston’s started the season 5-0 sweeping LA 3-2, 4-3 and 3-2, and beating NH 5-2 and 11-4, meanwhile Columbus is 0-5 and Corpus Christi is 4-1)

GAME 6
A 9 run 1st, capped by Jean Chartier’s 2nd hit of the inning, a 2 out 0-2 Grand Slam, was just what the doctor ordered. Weaver hit a 2 run shot and Barbour a solo, the 2nd for both this year, in a 5 hit 9 run inning. Chartier would finish the day 3-5 with 2 runs and 4 RBI’s, Ernesto Gutierrez scored 4 runs on 3 walks and a homer (1). Wes Morgan was 2-5 with 3 RBI’s. All that offense was started against LA’s Nick Johnston (19-8 3.88 last year) and it backed Alfredo Alejandrez (2-0) 3 runs over 6, with 8 K’s (he was up 9-0 going into the 6th).
CHI 11 LA 3 WIN (4 GB)

ORG NEWS
Top prospect Bill Sharp was called up to single A Belleview as Jorge Rodriguez will miss the next 7-8 weeks with a sore shoulder. Not sure if he’s ready yet so we’ll watch this one closely.

GAME 7
LA started Tommy Hobbs (14-) and Mike Davis was up to the task. Taking a 4-1 lead into the 8th. Pennington, van Bodegraven and Frank got it to Ernesto Cruz for the 9th and things fell apart. A Bill Alexander error opened the flood gates after Cruz had loaded the bases on singles, LA scored 3 to tie it. Chicago made it good after Sean Parkers 2 out 2B, when 3B Raul Guzman kicked a routine grounder and the Parker crossed with the winning run. Wes Morgan 3-4 1 RBI, Ernesto Gutierrez 2-4 and Bob Barbour 2-4 led the offense with Jean Chartier stealing 2 bags.
CHI 5 LA 4 (4 GB)

LEAGUE NEWS
The Fresno Grizzlies suffered a big blow today when 1B Qi-Chen Jung fractured his wrist and will miss the next 4 weeks. Chen hit 301-40-134 last year.

Pittsburgh MR Will Clark (10-11 3 saves 3.51 in 86 games) will be out at least 11 months after undergoing elbow reconstruction yesterday.

23 year old SP Elijah Walton of Columbus (10-4 4.62 in 14 starts) will be out 4 months with a severely strained rotator cuff.

WEEK 1
Staten Island LF Travis Bryant won his 2nd ever FL PotW award after a week that saw him go 10-23 with 5 HR’s and 12 RBI’s, and score 9 runs.

Houston’s Cy May is up to his old tricks. Taking home his 4th CL PotW award after an 11-21 3 HR 7 RBI week that saw Houston go 7-0.

West Michigan is off to a 7-0 start over in the FL central, the Knights of NY are 1-6, can’t imagine Mr Roberson is real happy.

WEEK 1 ORG NEWS
Tulsa is off to a 6-1 start. C Jose Cabral is hitting 353 and KJ has taken to the closing role there, saving 4 with a 0.00 ERA

Bakersfield is 2-5 although Alejandro Bautista had 3 HR’s and 8 RBI’s in the first week. Our scouts soured on the kid this winter and felt our last chance to revive the 24 year old was to get him back to AA and hope he has success.

Belleview is 4-3 with DH Matt Lee hitting 458 and CF Cody Young driving in 6 last week.

Denison started the season 2-5. 3B Jason Addis hit 381 with 3 RBI’s through the first week.


OFF DAY NEWS
Sacramento River Cats 3B Arturo Rodriguez mashed 5 hits in a 13-10 win over Phoenix yesterday.

[gehrig38]

WEEK 2
2 vs Baltimore
3 vs Houston (our first look at the 2012 Series Champs, who hopefully won’t be 10 or 11 and zero when they arrive)

OFF DAY NEWS
Sacramento River Cats 3B Arturo Rodriguez mashed 5 hits in a 13-10 win over Phoenix yesterday.

GAME 8
Bill Flowers stunk, going 4-7-7-5-2-3 and yielding 2 HR’s but the Iron Pig offense found a way to get back in it. Riley Potts (1-0) won it with a scoreless 9th after Hugh Collins stepped in and delivered a 2 out 2 strike PH HR. Chartier (1-5), Alexander (1-3) and Hudson (2-5) all homered in the 10-9 win.
CHI 10 BAL 9 WIN (4 GB)

COOL MINOR LEAGUE NEWS
Baton Rouge Pathfinders (BRO AAA) 33 year old 1B Emilio Valle homered 3 times yesterday, driving in 7. The journeyman 1B paced AAA last year with a 301-44-102 campaign but it seems scouts are still of the mind he cannot handle the breaking stuff of IBL pitching.

MINOR LEAGUE ORG NEWS
Tulsa SP Julio Rodriguez (12-8 4.76 in AAA) will miss the next 13 months after tearing the flexor tendon of his pitching arm. The Catia La Mar native was 1-0 with a 1.86 through 2 2013 starts. 21 year old prospect MR Jose Torres will move into the rotation for a few starts to get him innings, stretch him out and see where things shake out.

GAME 9
Salazar (1-1) does JUST enough 5.0-6-4-3-2-6 while surrendering 3 solor HR’s and Donald Weaver (2-4 2RBI’s) and Jean Chartier (2-5 3RBI’s 2 runs) homer. Ryan Pennington (H1) throws 2.1 dominating innings and Ernesto Cruz gets the final 5 outs for his first save.
CHI 7 BAL 4 WIN (4 GB, ya, Houston is now 9-0)

Ignacio Ferrer showed up hurt today, Doctors are unsure of the issue but we’re waiting to hear. Jeff Garrett and the others designated, all cleared and he’ll move into the AAA rotation spot that just opened.

LEAGUE NEWS
Pittsburgh Riverhounds super prospect 25 year old Catcher Tom Gentry tore ankle ligaments yesterday and he’ll be sidelined up to 4 months.

GAME 10
Houstons 3 starters for this series are 2-0 1.10, 1-0 0.00 and 2-0 2.45……We’re skipping Jackson, throwing him in long relief to be able to open the series with Alejandrez, who’s leading the league in K’s with 18. Eric Hudson was moved to 8th. He’s in a massive slump right now (133/212/233) and we’ll ease the pressure a bit.

Well that didn’t work. Raul Gonzalez (3-0) went 9-4-0-0-1-3 and Alfredo Alejandrez (2-1) thought he was pitching tomorrow (5-10-6-6-0-3). 2 in the first, with Cy May doubling to get it going, and 2 in the 2nd sealed the Roughrider win.
HOU 8 CHI 0 LOSS (5 GB, Houston is 10-0 now)

ORG NEWS
Ignacio Ferrer will miss the next 9 weeks with a strained oblique. Going to see how the next 2 days shake out, and play short handed in the IF as Sergio Lopez is due off the DL.

Nah screw it, I have zero middle IF depth, I can’t afford to be that thin. Chris Dixon was called up from AA to be the backup MI for awhile.

GAME 11
A 96 minute rain delay costs Mike Davis, who was dealing (2-2-0-0-1-4) his start, and maybe us, the game. Bill Alexander finally got on the board, ripping his 1st HR off starter Brian Donahue in the 1st, and that was it. Houston scored 8 unanswered runs against a host of arms. We left 13 men on base. Morgan had a 3-4 day in the loss
HOU 8 CHI 2 LOSS (6 GB)

GAME 12
Bill Flowers (0-2) spots the Roughriders a 4 run first and our old friend Cy May hits a 2B and HR in a 3-5 3 run day as Houston sweeps us. Bill Alexander homers twice (4), Wes Morgan hits #1 and Jean Chartier hits his 4th in the loss.
HOU 10 CHI 7 LOSS (7 GB)

WEEK 2 NEWS
No need to elaborate on item #1, Houston’s winning, a lot. 12 straight to open the season. The 2nd best record in the IBL belongs to Corpus Christi at 9-3 and there are two 8-4 teams (West Michigan and Tulsa) No one else has more than 7 wins.

San Antonio’s Pat Peters wins the FL PotW award going 11-21 with 3 HR’s and 5 RBI’s

LA’s Vincente Soto is healthy and hitting again. The LF’er went 11-24 with a HR, 6 RBI’s and scored 7 runs to win CL PotW.

The Iron Pigs pitching staff ranks last in every pitching category right now….. While it’s my first instinct to blow things up, I’m going to take a breath and TRY To wait until months end to get a look at this thing. I’ve got 3 guys in my rotation who have no business being here, but until I can establish something depth wise in the organization I am not going to ruin prospects to get to 500.

[gehrig38]

WEEK 3
3 @ Las Vegas (6-6 +.5 in the CL West)
3 @ Michigan (6-7 -.5 in the CL West)

GAME 13
Bob Barbour went 2-5 and drove in 5 hitting his 3rd HR to back Francisco Salazar’s 2 runs over 6.1 IP. Van Bodegraven and Frank closed it out as Chicago scored 8 runs on 11 hits.
CHI 8 LV 2 WIN (7 GB)

Houston runs the streak to 13!

In more important news Jean Chartier went down with an undisclosed injury. He’ll be unavailable until further tests to determine the extent of the injury, Needless to say losing him would be a devastating blow to the team as the 19 year old is truly coming into his own and a force on and off the field for this team.

GAME 14
Jack Jackson (0-2) handed a 5-4 deficit with 2 outs, 2nd and 3rd to Sib van Bodegraven and he gave up a back breaking 2B to open it up. Jackson stuggled (6-5-5-4-7-5) but managed to keep it tight. Eric Hudson was 3-4 with 2 runs and Wes Morgan drove in 3 with his 2nd HR and 2 hits, Alexander was 2-5 with an RBI in the loss.
LV 7 CHI 4 LOSS (8 GB, YEP! Houston has moved to 14-0!)

GAME 15
Up against Matthieu Caffasso, last years CL Koufax Award winner who’s 2-1 3.43 on the season with 17K’s and 0 walks through his first 21 innings.
Cafasso (3-1) 8-3-2-2-0-8 outduels Alejandrez (2-2) 8-7-3-3-1-4 *CG) as Alfredo gives up a 2-0 lead with solo HR’s in the 2nd and 4th innings and then the winning run in the 8th. Alexander doubled in the 1st followed by Wesley Morgans 3rd HR to put Chicago up 2-0, but they’d not cross the plate again. Morgans 2-4 2 RBI day was half of Chicago’s total of 4 hits in the game.
LV 3 CHI 2 LOSS (9 GB)

OFF DAY LEAGUE NEWS
Houston gets a 3R HR from Art Doane in the 1st to go up 4-0, and held on as Raul Gonzalez went to 4-0 1.62 with 8-5-4-4-3-2, Michael “Headgame” Ross closed it out for his 9th Save. They are now 16-0 on the season.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 23 year old righty Will “Mugsy” Butler tossed a 4 hit shutout over Las Vegas to go to 2-2 1.71 on the year.

GAME 16
When your pitching doesn’t pitch no amount of offense can fix things. Mike Davis squandered a 4 run first on the way to a 3.2-7-9-9-4-5 day. The bullpen held enough and the offense hit enough to make it a 10-10 game into the bottom of the 8th. Craig Frank came on with 2 on and 2 outs and promptly served up Bob Herman's 2nd HR of the day. The Iron Pigs left 15 runners on and still managed 10 runs on 20 hits. Eric Hudson was 5-6 with 3 runs scored, Wesley Morgan went 2-4 and Bill Alexander joined Hudson with a 5-6 day as well. The first time in IBL history teammates had a 5 hit day in the same game. Chris Dixon hit his first HR.
MICH 13 CHI 10 LOSS (9.5 GB)

LEAGUE NEWS
The Houston Roughriders LOST! Dan Hill (3-1) and 3 relievers combined to hold Houston to 2 runs on 5 hits and Philly managed to do what no team had done all year, beat Houston….

In other more urgent and devastating news, Jean Chartier has a torn back muscle and will miss the next 4-5 months, stopping his 2013 season before it could get started.

I’m in a corner and thinking the only real option, to even have a chance at being competitive, is to call up blue chip prospect Joreao Tio from AAA. He can handle himself in the field just fine, his bat would like be better off with another 4-500 AAA AB’s but I have few options. I am going to shop some of my young OF talent to look for some middle IF help in the meantime. But Martin believes both Collins and Barbour are 5 star ceiling guys, and that just feels like a panic move.

I’ve made an offer to Michigan. Sergio Lopez, AAA CF Leo Russell and 18 year old relief prospect Paul McClellan for 30 year old Spencer Moore. Moore is an outstanding glove man at all 3 IF positions left of 1B and has a very nice bat. Tulsa dealt him this off season, but he hit 251/349/315 in 419 AB’s last year. His D and RH bat would be a nice piece for the next few years as a backup IF. Battlecats GM Tomas Jaquez wants a few days to think on it.

GAME 17
Flowers struggles out of the gate and bad D doesn’t help. He goes 4-8-6-3-2-3 but the bullpen comes in throwing zeroes. Sean Parker (1) and Bill Alexander (5) slam solo shots and Wes Morgan breaks it open with a 3R HR (4). Parker goes 3-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI’s, Collins, Barbour and Alexander have 2 hit days in the win. Cruz gives up a leadoff HR in the 9th but gets the final 3 outs, leaving the tying run on 2nd for his 2nd save. Rookie Joreao Tio went 1-4 with an RBI in his IBL debut, and committed an error at SS.
CHI 8 MICH 7 WIN (9.5 GB)

LEAGUE NEWS
Brooklyn Cyclones 30 year old LF Carlos Leon (239-25-71 in ’12) goes 4-5 with 5 RBI’s and drills 3 homers in an 8-0 Cyclone win over Tulsa.

Chicago leads the IBL Coastal League in Avg at .283, and is 11th in runs against, starters ERA, and Def Eff, while bringing up the rear in bullpen ERA. Somethings gotta give.

GAME 18
Fernando Salazar (2-2) allowed 3 solo shots in 6.2 innings of work and the Iron Pig offense was held off the board until the 9th when Bill Alexander got their third hit, and his 6th HR. Chicago mustered just 3 hits against SP G Kelly (2-3 3.89).
MICH 3 CHI 1 LOSS (10.5 GB)

WEEK 3 NEWS
Buffalo Bison 2B Dave Norfleet won his 1st PotW award after a 11-26 4 HR 12 RBI week. The 33 year old is currently hitting 305-5-21

Houston, off to an amazing 18-1 start saw 33 year old RF Leonard Sizemore take home the CL PotW honors after he went 6-9 with 4 HR’s and 12 RBI’s in 3 games last week.

33 year old SP Noah Jenkins (3-0 2.03 in 4 starts) was lost for the next 4 months with Shoulder Inflammation.

32 year old LF Don Evans (297-32-84 last year and 313-3-5 this year) was lost for the next month with a separated shoulder. Corpus Christi is off to the 2nd best record in the CL at 14-5, and trails 18-1 Houston by 4 games.

San Antonio blue chip prospect 21 year old Colin “Cajun” Durham will miss another 5 months after radial nerve compression surgery. Colin was the Silver Stars 6th overall pick in the 2012 inaugural draft and the 17th rated prospect last year. He underwent rotator cuff surgery in June and has been out, rehabbing, the past 11 months.

Houston and Corpus Christi are out in front record wise, and in my division….
In the FL East all 4 teams are within 2.5 games, same in the FL Central, Phoenix is 8 back in the West at an IBL worst 4-15.

In the CL East 1.5 games separate all 4 clubs, and in the West LA, Michigan and Vegas are all a game apart with Fresno at 4-13, 5 out.

Wesley Morgan is atop the CL RBI race with 20, followed by teammate Bill Alexander and Corpus Christi slugger Clint Ehtheridge at 17. LA’s Vincente Soto leads Alexander in the batting race .406 to .377. Michael Ross of Houston is at 12 Saves already, 6 better than any other CL reliever, and 5 better than San Antonio’s Julio Salinas.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by gehrig38

I’ve made an offer to Michigan. Sergio Lopez, AAA CF Leo Russell and 18 year old relief prospect Paul McClellan for 30 year old Spencer Moore. Moore is an outstanding glove man at all 3 IF positions left of 1B and has a very nice bat. Tulsa dealt him this off season, but he hit 251/349/315 in 419 AB’s last year. His D and RH bat would be a nice piece for the next few years as a backup IF. Battlecats GM Tomas Jaquez wants a few days to think on it.

A sure sign that your dynasty report is going well... I knew about Spencer Moore's history before you told me. That means I am engaged enough to remember facts about your league and players. Well done!

The bad news for me is that I am beginning to confuse your league with mine.

Good luck replacing Chartier.

[gehrig38]

WEEK 4
3 @ Columbus (6-13 12 GB CL Central)
4 vs Fresno (4-13 5 GB CL West)

GAME 19
Jack Jackson (0-3) has made his last start here. A 3.1-9-7-7-0-1 line was more than enough. My bullpen can’t handle the innings the back end of my rotation is putting on them. Eric Hudson had 2 of Chicago’s 7 hits in the loss.
COL 8 CHI 1 LOSS (12 GB)

STUFF
Highly touted prospect Mariano Colon agreed to a 1.05M dollar bonus and a straight minor league contract. He’ll begin his career at Short Season Heavener in July.

Jack Jackson was optioned to AAA Tulsa after the game. 24 year old LH SP Mark Williams (combined 14-7 at AA and AAA last year) will move into his spot in the rotation. Jackson is now being actively shopped.

GAME 20
A laugher, finally. Though down 3-0 after 2 it didn’t look like it. Alejandrez (3-2) settled in and went 8-10-3-3-1-5 and the offense scored 9 unanswered runs. Led by Ernesto Gutierrez’s HR (2) and 3-5 2 run 2 RBI’s and Eric Hudson’s 2-3 5 RBI day with his 2nd HR. Wes Morgan pounded his 5th as well.
CHI 9 COL 3 WIN (11.5 GB)

GAME 21
Mike Davis grinds through 6.1-5-3-3-3-8 but yields a 1 out solo shot in the 7th to tie it 3-3. Things stay that way until Riley Potts (1-1) serves up a 1 out walk off HR in the bottom of the 9th to Haqverdi Hamidov (4). Bill Alexander hits HR #7 in the loss. Clippers starter Will Cannon (3-1) goes the distance 9-8-3-3-1-7.
COL 4 CHI 3 LOSS (12.5 GB)

Houston has now won 5 in a row to move to 21-1 on the year, sweeping Corpus Christi 11-1, 2-1 and 9-6.

GAME 22
Flowers (1-2) goes strong into the 7th (6.1-6-1-1-2-5) and Pennington and van Bodegraven bridge to Cruz for save #3. Gutierrez goes 3-4 and drives in a pair, stealing his 6th base. Fresno SP Santiago Medina (0-5 3.23) gives up 0 ER in 7. Three unearned runs on 8 hits and 5 K’s.
CHI 3 FRE 1 WIN (12 GB)

GAME 23
Jose Pacheco (H2) and Craig Frank (H2) escape a bases loaded 0 out jam in the 6th to preserve a 4-0 lead and Riley Potts gets the last 6 outs in relief of Francisco Salazar (3-2) who went 5-8-0-0-2-4 for the win. Bill Alexander slammed a 3R HR (8) in the 1st and Donald Weaver went 2-4 in the win.
CHI 5 FRE 1 (12 GB)

LEAGUE NEWS
Cy May singled, tripled and homered (7) in a 6-3 Houston win and backup C Leo Aachen hit a 2 out PH tie breaking homer (1) in the 8th. Houston is now 22-1.

GAME 24
Greg Bartlett’s 2 out 2R walk off 2B made a winner of Jose Pacheco (1-1). Mark Williams went into the 7 in his IBL debut (6.1-8-2-2-4-5). Bill Alexander singled leading off the 9th against Fresno CL Glenn Hanna, 1 out later Eric Hudson singled. Sergio Lopez popped out and Bartlett then lined a 2-1 pitch into the corner for the win. B Barbour was 3-5 with a HR (4) and 3 RBI’s. Bartlett was also 3-5 with 2 RBI’s.
CHI 6 FRE 5 WIN (12 GB)

LEAGUE NEWS
Raul Gonzalez moved to 6-0, and the Roughriders to 23-1 after a 2 run 7th propelled them to a 5-3 win over Pittsburgh. Cy May hit his 8th HR.

GAME 25
Alfredo Alejandrez (4-2) tosses a CG 4 hit shutout in a 7-0 Chicago win (9-4-0-0-1-8). Bill Alexander went 2-2 with 2 HR’s (10) and 4 RBI’s, Greg Bartlett was 3-4 and Bob Barbour 2-4 with 2 runs and an RBI. Rookie SS Jaleo Tio tripled in 2 runs.
CHI 7 FRE 0 WIN (11 GB)

After the game Chris Dixon was optioned to AAA Tulsa and 23 year old 2B prospect Alejandro Sotolo was added to the ML roster. Sotolo hit 270/356/455 in 382 AAA at bats laast year. He’ll serve as a LH PH and get some starts vs RHP at 2B.

WEEK 4 NEWS
Tulsa Drillers 1B Curt Whimster took home FL PotW honors after a 10-25 3 HR 6 RBI week.

Tim Holmes, 23 year old 1B for the Baltimore Railcats won the CL PotW honors. Holmes went 12-31 with 3 HR’s and 6 RBI’s.

Pittsburgh jumped out to a 6-0 lead and went on the rout the Roughriders 13-4. It was just the 2nd loss on the season for Houston, who now stand at 23-2 and lead the CL Central by 8.5 games over 15-11 Corpus Christi.

[gehrig38]

Originally Posted by Orcin

A sure sign that your dynasty report is going well... I knew about Spencer Moore's history before you told me. That means I am engaged enough to remember facts about your league and players. Well done!

The bad news for me is that I am beginning to confuse your league with mine.

Good luck replacing Chartier.

Cool! I click refresh every time I post in your dynasty, after having it to read at will for a few days I got spoiled.
I can't get their GM to move, he keeps asking for more, literally, and I can't justify the move for the price. I've made another offer that I know has to be decent because I feel almost wrong making it, which means it has value.

[gehrig38]

WEEK 5
3 vs Corpus Christi (15-11 8.5 GB in CL Central, I trail them by 3.5)
3 @ Pittsburgh (12-13 and tied for the CL East lead with Philly, who’s 13-14)

GAME 26
Mike Davis (0-2) has control issues, again. Walking 7 in 5 innings combined with 2 Iron Pig errors (including Jaleo Tio’s 4th) to give the Hooks a 5-4 win. Bill Alexander drilled his 11th HR in the 1st. Ernesto Gutierrez went 2-4 and Hugh Collins hit his 2nd HR.
CC 5 CHI 4 LOSS (12 GB)

Cy May hit a 2 out RBI 2B in the 6th and Brian Donahue and pen handed a 1-0 game to Michael Ross who notched his 17th Save. Houston moves to 24-2 on the season.

GAME 27
Bill Flowers battles through 6-8-4-4-3-9 and hands the bullpen a 5-4 lead. Van Bodegraven and Ernesto Cruz allow their inherited runners to score costing Chicago a 6-5 loss. Bill Alexander finished a subdued but torrid April with his 12th HR and 30th RBI. Sean Parker went 2-4 with 3 RBI’s hitting a 2B (4) his 2nd HR. Jaeleo Tio committed error #5.
CC 6 CHI 5 (13 GB)

APRIL WRAP UP, LEAGUE NEWS AND THE DRAFT LIST IS OUT!
Lando Jongmans ended April on a down note. The Railcat 1B (285-26-103 last year) fractured a bone in his foot and will miss at least the next month.

April PL in the Frontier League went to New York Knights 3B Mathew Moore. The 32 year old hit .327, homered 7 times and drove in 22 runs while scoring 24. In a dismal 9-19 month for the Knights Moore was a long bright spot.

Chicago RF Bill Alexander garnered his 3rd Coastal League PotM award, and his 2nd April honor. The 25 year old switch hitter hit .359 with 12 HR’s and 30 RBI’s, scored 19 runs and posted a .432 OBP.

San Antonio Closer Julio “Phoenix” Salinas took home the FL April Pitcher of the Month award. The left went 2-0 in 12 games with 10 Saves and a 2.13 ERA.

And in the most unsurprising news of the month Houston RH SP Raul Gonzalez took home Coastal League Pitcher of the Month, his 2nd. The righty was 6-0 in 6 starts with a 1.90 ERA, striking out 21 over 47.1 IP in Houston’s amazing 25-2 April.

Tulsa’s Tiberio Donizetti took home FL Rookie of the Month Honors. The 21 year old switch hitting 1B posted a 310-4-12 line with 2 2B’s and 17 runs to help Tulsa to a 17-11 month.

Michigan Battlecat CF Walk Bell took home CL Rookie of the Month honors. The righty hit 344-5-8 with a 396 OBP.

APRIL ORG NEWS
2012 2nd Round pick Raul Felix of Tulsa walked away with the UL Batter of the Month award. The 18 year old posted a 366-8-29 month and scored 26 runs.

Tulsa teammate Carlos De La Torre didn’t take his demotion hard, instead jumping out to a 5-1 3.05 start on the young UL season and taking home April Pitcher of the Month Honors.

[gehrig38]

Here's the standings, and player races on May 1 in the Frontier League.
Gotta believe the owner and fans in NY will be publicly commenting, soon....
Tulsa's winter appears to have paid off early. No idea what's going on in Phoenix other than They're last in every pitching category except Bullpen ERA (10th). They're only injury is to SS Thatcher Smith, otherwise they just suck right now. Nice to see the Central and West so tight.
Dayton's Bill Hill is at it again, tied for the lead in HR with 10 and pacing the FL in RBI's with 31. He's hitting .303.
Brooklyn's Walt Thompson is on a 342 K pace after another dominating April. His last 4 starts have been 12, 10, 10, and 11 K's and just 1 earned run, TOTAL, in 29 innings.
25 year old 1B Gerald Wright of El Paso, coming off a season that saw him hit 304-30-116 is leading the FL in batting.

[gehrig38]

All Houston all the time.
A staggering 25-2 start has seen them blow open the CL Central. They are 1st in runs, 3rd in avg, 1st in OBP, 3rd in HR, 5th in SB, 1st in runs against, 2nd in starters ERA, 1st in bullpen ERA and 1st in defensive efficiancy. Cy May's 9 HR's and 20 RBI's lead the club and Jeff Guys 313 average is on top. Raul Gonzalez is after a Koufax award at 6-0 1.90. Closer Mike Ross is on a 108 save pace
The scariest part of this? They've done it all without their #2 starter Sergio De La Garza (16-11 4.11) who's out at least another 2-3 months with a torn meniscus suffered in his 2nd start and 36 year old CF Carlos Arredondo (307-23-74). Carlos broke his elbow late in camp and is expected to be out another 2 months or so.
As for the rest of the world, the East is tightly knotted with all 4 teams within 2 games. In the west the Sky Sox are looking to repeat and up 3 games on Michigan. Fresno lost starting 2B Joe O'neal for the year (278-15-65) to a ruptured achilles and lineup anchor Qi-Chen Jung (301-40-134) has played in only 6 games after breaking his wrist in April. He's due back at the end of the week.
In the races Vincente Soto is healthy, and finished a torrid April leading the CL in hitting by 62 points. Bill Alexander picked up where he left off as well.
Familiar names Gonzalez (HOU) and 2012 Koufax winner Cafasso (LV) sit atop the wins race while Mike Ross might likely claim the Rivera award by the end of May. Setting an IBL single month record with 18 saves, 10 more than Corpus Christi closer Larry Greene's 8.

[gehrig38]

Here's a peek at the organization after the seasons first month. I think the two biggest things on this page are the name Chartier "Out, 4 months" and the 2-3 starters ERA's. My defense has gone to poop with Chartier out and Tio manning SS. Things may need to change but I can't get a deal for a middle INF to work just yet.

[gehrig38]

Here's the top 20 hitters ranked by contact potential for the 2013 draft. We're picking 9th in round 1 (as of now, if I can't manage to trade up, or trade for more picks) and 11th and 26th in round 2. So we'll have 3 of the top 51 choices, as there's 25 round 1 picks and 27 round 2's.
Man at first glance there is some serious talent here. These are all done on Martin Cintron (my head scout) and my scouting department's eyes. My organization highly favors ability.
Chris Harvey looks to be the prize here, along with Eric Coates. My issue is going to be need/talent/. I have what I believe to be a very good and very deep pool of OF's, and clearly I'm in need of pitching but if 1 of those 2 guys fell to me I'd have to pick them.
I haven't looked in depth at the list yet.

[gehrig38]

Here are the top 20 pitchers as rated by my scouts, with 5 stars on top in descending order.
Sandoval jumps out first to me, though he's a HS kid. The REAL intriguing kid is William Griffin out of Long Beach State. a 4.5 star 2B AND a potential 5 star pitcher. He can hit or average, runs like crazy and can play 2nd and LF as a switch hitter, all the while armed with a 94 MPH sinker slider mix.
Command will likely keep him on the field every day.
Zamora is intriguing as well, though the movement could become a concern, that and he's looking for 1.3mm as a bonus.Coming from East Ridge High in Clermont, Florida means he's seen good competition. The character stuff is off the charts for the kid as well.
Great thing is it looks to be a very good and very deep draft.

[gehrig38]

In an off the field note, our scouts, after seeing Juleao Tio play this past week are really REALLY down on this kid. Enough to want to try and move him if possible. That’s got me frustrated to say the least.

I placed a call to NH GM Giancarlo Marihnghi. Offered him Tio, who they are high on, and he put a very interesting name up for a 1-1 swap. 23 year old SP Wil Butler (12-11 4.88 in 206.2IP). Martin and our scouts love the kid, rating him a 4-5 star SP right now with a 5 star ceiling. He’s a gold glove contender and can field the hell out of his position. Problem is the deal leaves me shorthanded at short stop. I toss in a request for Massimiliano Lorenzelli (dutch?), their 21 year old SS. A very good defender with a bat that will let him play every day. No pop, not a real good eye but 30-40 2B potential. Martin has him as a 1 star now, with a 2.5 star ceiling. To make it happen I offer him Bill George, one of my LH pen guys, and the oldest at 34. I also ask to swap 1st round picks (they’re picking 4th overall). I’ve got LH reliever Mike Moore in AAA if this deal goes through. He’s going to get back to me.

GAME 28
Francisco Salazar (4-2) throws another gem (6.2-4-1-1-1-7) and Pacheco (H3) and Frank (H3) get it to a tired Ernesto Cruz who gets the final 2 outs on K’s for Save 3. Sean Parker’s 2-4 2 RBI day featured his 3rd HR. Bill Alexander went 2-4 and scored 2 in the win.
CHI 4 CC 1 WIN (13 GB)

DRAFT NEWS
Cintrons report on Zamora is the real thing, the kid is supposedly a 5 star talent not to mention a great teammate and influence on his staff. An ace in the making.

OFF DAY NEWS
Ernie Kelly (DAY) is at it again. Tossed a 3 hit 6 K shutout at San Antonio last night to move to 5-1 4.00 on the season.

Was going to use the off day to shuffle the rotation but Alejandrez isn’t up to coming back. Bothered by that, as a #1 he should be screaming to pitch on his day, not asking for the rest. Williams will get his 2nd start instead.

GAME 29
Mark Williams (1-0) gets his first IBL win, but it didn’t come easy. Surrendering 13 baserunners in a 5.2-9-3-3-4-6 day, his bullpen and defense bailed him out. Ernesto Cruz took the game from Jose Pacheco (H4) and notched his 5th save. Bill Alexander stayed hot going 3-4 with 2 solo HR’s (14) and Donald Weaver tripled and homered (4) in a 3-4 day. Eric Hudson hit a 2 run shot (3).
CHI 6 PIT 3 WIN (GB)

TRADE NEWS
The Iron Pigs of Chicago have made a trade today. 22 year old Joreao Tio, 31 year old 2B Greg Bartlett and 34 year old LH reliever Bill George, and 19 year old Omaha LF Thomas Wise, and the Iron Pigs #1 pick (9th overall) were sent to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats . In return Chicago receives 21 year old SS Massimilano Loenzelli and 23 year old starting pitcher Will Butler and New Hampshires #1 pick (4th overall).

This was a move we needed to make for many reasons. Injuries have pushed some of our younger players like Joreao into positions we felt they were not ready for, and while parting with veteran Bill George was not easy, we’re always anxious to make a move that will make our rotation younger and deeper.

In corresponding moves both new Chicago players were added to the roster. LH reliever Mike Moore was called up from AAA Tulsa, Chris Dixon was called up to backup the infield.

Chicago then turned around and dealt 25 year old SP Francisco Salazar (3-7 7.97 in ’12 and 4-2 3.28 in 6 starts this year) to the Corpus Christi Hooks for 30 year old flamethrower Peyton Young. Peyton has recently returned from tommy john surgery and is 0-0 with a 3.86 in 7.1 AAA innings this year. Our scouts feel Francisco is what he was last year, and ‘selling high’ for an arm like Peyton was well worth it as he could be a nice trade piece at the deadline should we not manage to be in contention for the WC.

LEAGUE NEWS
The Roughriders lost! In stunning news, Houston suffered it’s 3rd defeat! Rookie 1B Ramon Perez hit his 1st IBL home run leading off the bottom of the 8th off Houston SP Raul Gonzalez to knot the game at 1-1. An inning later Rookie Orlando Rios hit a 1 out solo shot off Roughrider Closer Michael Ross (0-1) to give Fresno the 2-1 win. Fresno SP Francois Tardy (1-3 6.75) went the distance in the win (9-8-1-1-3-4).

GAME 30
Alejandrez pitches 8 strong innings (8-6-3-3-2-3) but is matched by Riverhound SP Dan MacFadden (7.2-9-3-3-3-5) and it comes down to pens. Mike Moore (0-1) in his first IBL appearance serves up a leadoff triple to Jose Palacios and Sib vsn Bodegraven’s 2-2 pitch is a game winning hit from Riverhounds Kenneth Cleveland. Sergio Lopez 2-4 2 RBI’s and M Lorenzelli’s 2-4 a run and an RBI pace Chicago’s 9 hit day.
PIT 4 CHI 3 LOSS (13 GB)

LEAGUE NEWS
Philly’s Richard O’Dell (3-3 3.50) tossed a 4 hit shutout in Baltimore.
51’s LF Jelmar Walraven (258-30-118 in ’12) went 4-5 with 4 RBI’s and hit for the cycle in Las Vegas’ 18-2 drubbing of Michigan today.

LA’s Vincente Soto has come back to earth, sorta. His average has ‘fallen’ to .384 which means Chicago’s own Bill Alexander is trailing him by 13 pts. Alexander’s 14HR’s leads the next closest slugger (Michigans Bob Herman) by 5, and his 32 RBI’s are 6 more than New Hampshire’s Robbie Griffin.

GAME 31
Mike Davis and Tomas Villanueva (2-4) locked up in a pitchers duel today. Davis went 7-6-1-1-3-5 to Tomas’ 8-3-2-2-2-6 and Ryan Pennington notched his first IBL victory when Alejandro Sotolo hit his first IBL HR leading off the top of the 9th. Ernesto Cruz notched save 6 in the win. Bill Alexanders 15th HR with 2 outs in the 7th knotted the game at 1-1.
CHI 2 PIT 1 WIN (12 GB)

WEEK 5 RESULTS
New York Knights 3B Mathew Moore won the FL PotW honors this week after going 9-18 with 2 HR’s and 8 RBI’s last week.

Bill Alexander, Iron Pigs RF, won his 3rd CL PotW award after a 10-23 6 HR 10 RBI week.

Houston lost 2-1 yesterday, to fall to 27-4, now 9.5 up on 18-14 Corpus Christi.

Phoenix (9-24) and Fresno (9-21) continued their free falls.

6 Teams are within 4 of the WC in the FL, led by Dayton (18-12) and Tulsa (19-13). In the West El Paso is .5 up on Sacramento and 1.5 up on Edmonton.
In the CL 7 teams are within 5 games of the WC, paced by Corpus Christi at 18-14. We are sitting 2.5 back at 15-16, trying to hit .500 for the first time this year.

LA has opened up a 3.5 game lead over Vegas, and 4 on Michigan in the West.

Bill Alexander leads all IBL hitters with 15 HR’s, with Travis Bryant (SI) and Bill Hill (DAY) at 12. Hill leads everyone in RBI’s with 37, 3 up on Dave Norfleet (BUF) and 4 on Alexander.

ORG NEWS
Bakersfield SS and Chicago top prospect Paul Riggs went 13-30 with 2 HR’s, 6 runs and 8 RBI’s this week to take hom Primal League PotW honors.

Chicago is ranked 11th in this weeks IBL Power Rankings. I believe that’s tied for our highest placing ever.

[gehrig38]

Off to do BBTN, discuss the Marlin's joke of a trade and talk about the Cy Winners.
Back later
IRON PIG FANS FOR LIFE!
Curt

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by gehrig38

Off to do BBTN, discuss the Marlin's joke of a trade and talk about the Cy Winners.
Back later
IRON PIG FANS FOR LIFE!
Curt

Oh wait... you mean the real Baseball Tonight... on MLB Network, not BNN. I am going to watch because I bet you can't do the whole show without mentioning a player in your OOTP league as if he were real.

[gehrig38]

That's going to be my challenge tomorrow, and into next year.
I have to find a way to do that, or a player from your team.
That would be hilarious.

[dawg_gone]

Looking at your draft pool, and thinking about the Tio situation, I'm drawing a brain fade. Do you have scouting turned on? If so, do you trust your scout? What's his ratings?

Edit - ah! Never mind, I see that the Iron Pigs have a legendary scout. I'm envious. I just finished a season with a "decent" scout and made a lot of bad moves. Bad, bad moves.

[gehrig38]

Here's the thing. Losing is not fun. When it's part of something that CAN be fun, it's ok. I tweak my first scout to give me more clarity and be better talented so while I may suck a few years, I'm not simming 10 100 loss seasons, that wouldn't be fun for anyone.
Once I tweak him, and I do the same for my original coaching staff though there are very few, if any, legendary guys, I play the game.
I realized there's a ton less fun in this if you game the system, for me anyway.
So I make sure I have a very talented staff, using the 'realistic' argument I wouldn't sink money into a team like this without them, and then I let the amazing game that is OOTP take over.
But ya, I am seriously at odds with Martin right now given the radical change in evals.
One thing I will call out, that if true, and I think it is, is real exciting.
The players I whined about, most of them were teen agers, young players who DO radically change year to year, for a year or two anyway.
Martin has also missed big time (Bautista, the kid I traded for at 3B? Ya he's in AA and not projected to hit for ANY average now)