Orcin's Story

[Sal, The Barber]

Originally Posted by Orcin

July 7, 2008 (cbatraderumors.com)
EXCLUSIVE BREAKING NEWS

Subject: Colonels Trade Brown for Haley

Sources inside the Louisville Colonels front office have informed us that a trade has been completed with the Nashville Tigers. The deal sends 31-year-old 1B Chris Brown and 26-year-old minor league reliever Rob Bryant to the Tigers, while the Colonels will receive 33-year-old 1B Josh Haley and $1,250,000 in cash.

Sal does not understand this trade. The Louievilles do not need a first baseman; they have that guy named Guy. In fact, they are trading Brown partly to make room for the guy named Guy to play. So Sal is confused. Sal realizes then if he is confused that Mr. Orcin knows something Sal does not. Mr. Orcin hints that he is perhaps not done trading, that acquiring Josh Haley is not the end game. Ok. Sal can see this. Sal is confused but Sal can see this. Sal needs to see Josh Haley turned into something the Louievilles need. You will make this happen, won't you, Mr. Orcin?

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Sal, The Barber

Sal needs to see Josh Haley turned into something the Louievilles need. You will make this happen, won't you, Mr. Orcin?

I hope your standards are not really high when you evaluate the return against "need".

I basically traded a guy with $20 million left on his contract for a guy with $10 million left on his contract. The problem was finding anyone who wanted the $20 million. So $10 million down and $10 million to go.

[Sal, The Barber]

If you mean that you owe Sal 10 million now and 10 million later, then, no, Sal does not understand, but Sal asks no questions. When you talk the money, Sal's eyes generally glass over. You have seen Sal's Shop; you know Sal does not know much about the money. In fact, Sal got a phone call the other day from the IRS. Sal said, "IRS? Is this the insurance like the AAA? Sal does not need insurance." So Sal got rid of them. Sal does not spend the money on silly things like the insurance.

Sal is sure you do not need this Haley because you have the guy Guy. So Sal does not care who you trade this Haley for. Just that you trade him for someone who makes you happy.

[dynaboyj]

When you traded Chris Brown, something inside me died.

I realize that the pipeline of talent means that regular players have to go when they've reached 32 or so, but show some respect! *slams door, muffled melodramatic sobbing heard*

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by dynaboyj

When you traded Chris Brown, something inside me died.

I realize that the pipeline of talent means that regular players have to go when they've reached 32 or so, but show some respect! *slams door, muffled melodramatic sobbing heard*

Yep, little chunks of the big statue have started to chip off. Next year, you may see a hand missing.

[Orcin]

July 14, 2008

Subject: Week 14 Notes

Record: 54-34, .614, - GB
Position: 1st place (1.5 game lead over Milwaukee)
Runs Scored: 432 – 2nd in Federal
Runs Allowed: 350 – 4th in Federal
Defense: .706 – 3rd in Federal
Power Ranking: 120.5 (1st in CBA)
Owner Mood: Ecstatic; Fan Interest: 100/100

• Last week (6-1): 3-1 vs. Los Angeles, 3-0 at Salt Lake City
• 07/07: LOU 9, LA 2 – Luna 7.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 7 K, W (11-3, 2.67 ERA)
• Josh Haley hit a two-run pinch-hit HR (#25) in his first Louisville at-bat.
• 07/08: LOU 7, LA 5 – Morgan 2-4, DBL, HR, 5 RBI; walk-off 2-out HR for GWRBI
• Brooks blew the save for Alexander in the 9th; BS#2 in 11 attempts (82%)
• Alexander’s line: 7 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 114 pitches, 66 strikes
• 07/09: LA 6, LOU 1 – Santos (LA) 9 IP, 1 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 3 K, W (8-6, 3.85 ERA)
• Charlotte SP Jim Payne is out for the year with a ruptured tendon in his finger.
• San Diego traded MR Hector De La Hoya to Detroit for 3B Bennie Morgan.
• 07/10: LOU 7, LA 0 – Trauttmann 7 IP, 0 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 11 K, W (9-4, 3.61 ERA)
• Tracy Sweeney gave Morgan a day off in LF, going 3-4, DBL, HR, RBI, SB, 3 RS
• Duncan Bland hit 2 HR with 3 RBI. Merced pitched two scoreless innings to end it.
• Alex Mooney was ejected in the first inning for arguing a strike call.
• 07/11: LOU 8, SLC 3 – Sanchez 3-4, DBL, 2 RBI, SB(28)
• Westaway left the game in the second inning with a blister and is DTD.
• 07/12: LOU 4, SLC 3 – Sanchez, 3-4, 2 RBI
• 07/13: LOU 6, SLC 2 – Sweeney 3-5, DBL, HR; Morgan 2-4, DBL HR, 4 RBI
• Alexander’s line: 7 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K, W (4-8, 6.69 ERA)
• This week: All-Star break followed by the annual inter-league weekend special featuring a home (2) & away (2) series vs. the Philadelphia Firebirds.


Sometimes your manager and your barber fall in love with a guy and develop a blind spot. You have to help them out with a little dose of reality in these cases.

Hartman is 26-122 (.213) with 13 BB (.289 OBP) since June 1. He has 38 strikeouts among those 96 outs, and he is supposed to be a contact guy. That’s not acceptable for the top of the order (see Pierre-Louis Simon). Tracy Sweeney, hitting .366 with 7 HR in 82ab, will take over in CF and bat third until Dominguez returns. Sanchez will return to the leadoff spot (where he belongs).

Sweeney as a regular leaves me with only two left-handed batters in the lineup and a left-handed bench, so I am toying with the idea of replacing Simon (.208) with John. It would be the first time since 2002 that Simon was not in the regular lineup. The only thing stopping me is John’s notorious lack of power.

[Orcin]

July 14, 2008 (BNN)

Subject: All-Star Rosters Announced

Nothing is for certain about the 2008 Continental Baseball Association All-Star Game. It might be dominated by top-notch pitching performances. Or it could turn into a home run derby. Who knows? Pitch by pitch, inning by inning, the game could feature a little of both -- six strikeouts in a row by a nasty southpaw -- or a 3-homer day for some superstar slugger -- plus great catches, thrills, chills and spills -- all the great and the unexpected things that can happen in a baseball game.

Selected to play for the Federal League All-Stars are:

SP Robbie Scott (IND) age 26, AS#1, 15-3, 1.83 ERA
SP Jorge González (SD) age 26, AS#4, 11-3, 2.32 ERA
SP Felix Delgado (STL) age 25, AS#3, 14-3, 2.68 ERA
SP Antonio Luna (LOU) age 26, AS#1, 12-3, 2.71 ERA
SP Fernando Martínez (SLC) age 26, AS#1, 12-5, 2.88 ERA
SP Stephano Donaldson (SF) age 24, AS#1, 10-6, 2.81 ERA
SP Steven MacNamell (IND) age 26, AS#1, 8-5, 2.52 ERA
SP Robert Westaway (LOU) age 31, AS#6, 8-4, 2.75 ERA
SP Octavio López (STL) age 34, AS#6, 10-5, 3.16 ERA
CL David Hanna (MIL) age 28, AS#6, 0-0, 24 SV, 0.75 ERA
CL Michael Morton (SEA) age 31, AS#4, 3-2, 22 SV, 0.84 ERA
CL Manuel Rodríguez (DAL) age 32, AS#2, 1-2, 25 SV, 1.75 ERA
CL Pancho Sánchez (STL) age 24, AS#1, 2-3, 25 SV, 2.00 ERA

C Julio Martínez (CHI) age 34, AS#2, .271/.357/.427, 6 HR, 37 RBI
C Duncan Bland (LOU) age 28, AS#4, .249/.326/.396, 10 HR, 36 RBI
1B Will Walker (SD) age 25, AS#2, .300/.375/.644, 32 HR, 77 RBI
1B Ramon Martínez (CHI) age 27, AS#3, .304/.421/.535, 17 HR, 56 RBI
2B Trevor James (CHI) age 24, AS#1, .327/.392/.403, 4 HR, 36 RBI, 28 SB
3B Ron Payne (SEA) age 26, AS#1, .332/.380/.472, 5 HR, 45 RBI
3B David Sánchez (MIL) age 22, AS#1, .289/.364/.479, 11 HR, 45 RBI
SS Juan Medina (SLC) age 21, AS#1, .320/.368/.516, 7 HR, 23 RBI
SS Cristo Rodríguez (LOU) age 25, AS#1, .280/.351/.377, 3 HR, 30 RBI
SS/2B/3B Gaylord MacDormond (SAC) age 31, AS#2, .339/.373/.488, 9 HR, 35 RBI
LF Nick Crosby (STL) age 23, AS#1, .319/.431/.635, 20 HR, 41 RBI
LF Dennis Morgan (LOU) age 28, AS#3, .275/.358/.576, 25 HR, 68 RBI
CF Alejandro Gómez (DAL) age 26, AS#3, .308/.391/.577, 26 HR, 72 RBI
CF Luis Gutiérrez (MIL) age 25, AS#2, .300/.368/.583, 20 HR, 68 RBI
CF Dave Brown (IND) age 27, AS#2, .316/.414/.492, 9 HR, 39 RBI
RF Eduardo Sánchez (LOU) age 24, AS#2, .324/.409/.481, 4 HR, 46 RBI, 28 SB
RF Anthony McDonald (IND) age 29, AS#3, .314/.407/.587, 17 HR, 50 RBI

The Midwest Division has 20 of the 30 Federal League All-Stars!


The Patriot League All-Stars will have these players on their roster:

SP Jesus De La Cruz (NY) age 34, AS#8, 11-2, 2.04 ERA
SP Chip Davidson (PHI) age 25, AS#2, 8-4, 2.39 ERA
SP Keith Wilson (ORL) age 23, AS#1, 10-6, 2.49 ERA
SP Todd Fletcher (CLT) age 35, AS#6, 10-4, 2.87 ERA
SP Mike Anderson (BAL) age 24, AS#1, 8-4, 3.27 ERA
SP Bill Robertson (BOS) age 31, AS#4, 7-5, 3.03 ERA
SP Jesus Águila (CHS) age 25, AS#1, 8-6, 3.58 ERA
SP Bill Beasley (NSH) age 22, AS#1, 7-7, 3.23 ERA
MR Gonzalo Rodríguez (BOS) age 30, AS#3, 5-2, 3 SV, 1.73 ERA
CL Eric Alford (NY) age 30, AS#5, 2-3, 23 SV, 1.29 ERA
CL Ken Cushley (WAS) age 30, AS#1, 22-3, 24 SV, 1.51 ERA
CL Anthony Drew (PVD) age 38, AS#3, 2-3, 22 SV, 1.91 ERA
CL Gregg Pope (CHS) age 25, AS#1, 4-1, 17 SV, 0.00 ERA (yep, that’s correct, zero)

C Andy Hamm (PVD) age 28, AS#3, .301/.364/.554, 20 HR, 67 RBI
C Brian Campbell (WAS) age 26, AS#1, .270/.352/.518, 16 HR, 53 RBI
1B John Wright (BOS) age 24, AS#1, .314/.399/.612, 25 HR, 63, RBI
1B Hector Baca (CHS) age 26, AS#1, .341/.411/.623, 26 HR, 66 RBI
1B Armando Estrada (PHI) age 29, AS#3, .343/.378/.623, 23 HR, 57 RBI
2B Chuck Wilkerson (BOS) age 24, AS#1, .311/.353/.484, 10 HR, 27 RBI
2B Fernando Martínez (PVD) age 31, AS#2, .279/.363/.475, 17 HR, 47 RBI
2B Tomas Barrón (DET) age 30, AS#5, .288/.323/.476, 16 HR, 66 RBI
3B Hector Nieves (ATL) age 29, AS#1, .331/.434/.611, 20 HR, 56 RBI
3B Juan Díaz (CIN) age 26, AS#1, .312/.340/.502, 11 HR, 35 RBI
SS Wayne Baker (CLT) age 24, AS#3, .295/.390/.539, 19 HR, 49 RBI
LF Luis Soto (PIT) age 26, AS#4, .354/.458/.502, 6 HR, 44 RBI, 28 SB
LF Juan Morán (CLE) age 25, AS#2, .303/.389/.652, 29 HR, 56 RBI
CF Tracy Murray (DET) age 24, AS#1, .345/.404/.441, 1 HR, 21 RBI, 18 SB
RF Patrick Timm (CHS) age 30, AS#5, .307/.369/.672, 32 HR, 72 RBI
RF Carlos Lara (ATL) age 25, AS#1, .298/.360/.596, 26 HR, 73 RBI
RF Brenton Spencer (DET) age 27, AS#3, .288/.345/.552, 23 HR, 75 RBI

We have 26 all-stars making their first appearance (almost half of the combined rosters). There may be a changing of the guard in the CBA.

[jaysdailydose]

Originally Posted by Orcin

Since I nearly derailed my own thread anyway...



... I'll respond out of character to this and admit that you nailed it.

There are three reasons for this move actually:
1. Achieve a better allocation of my salary budget (no reason to pay big bucks to Guy's backup).
2. I don't like to carry a 1B backup on the 25-man roster.
3. I wanted to make the story more interesting.

And now, on with our story. Please just pretend this post doesn't exist.

I think after now OVER a year of entertaining us all, you're more than entitled to take a little "artistic license" with your story... the whole Jennifer/Brown characters really added to the story, and it was always going to have to be tied up. I love how you did it, as a writer...

Anyway, I've been working a ton and just catching up on the past few pages. A. I did my initial read of 62 pages in 3.5 days. B. CONGRATULATIONS ON ONE YEAR OF AN AMAZING STORY!

I'm falling behind, but the response needed to be to the quoted post, so THANK YOU AGAIN, Mr. Orcin! I haven't even opened OOTP in a few weeks, but you best believe I still come back to read about you and the Colonels, and Gehrig and the IronPigs!

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by jaysdailydose

I love how you did it, as a writer...

I am not a writer, so that's a compliment that I cherish. Thank you! However, I don't want to take credit for work that is not mine, so let me give credit to the game for part of it.

I think it is pretty obvious by now that I often take my news articles right out of the in-game mail. Sometimes I augment or change them, but often I just post them. The game does a great job of communicating the key events, and I like to take advantage of that where possible. The latest development with Chris Brown is partially taken from the "storylines" created in the game.

If you play with the storylines feature enabled, you have surely seen the wood chopping "affair" before. I have storylines turned off because I am controlling the story here, but I thought it would be cool to integrate this one into my dynasty. I looked through the forum until I found the text of the storyline, and then altered it to suit myself. Of course, the storyline doesn't include the player's spouse being an employee of the ballclub, or for that matter the player even having a spouse, or the GM getting a preview of the story from the press. I made all that stuff up myself. Oh, and by the way, it's not over yet.

Ok, now back to the story. This is another one of those posts that I now need you to pretend that you didn't read.

[Orcin]

Where Are They Now?

Here is a mid-season update on a few players from other teams that did not make the All-Star teams.

SP Juan Hernandez, PIT (6-3, 3.98 ERA) – doing pretty well
MR Lucas Sanders, NY (5-3, 2.53 ERA, unhappy about role as setup man)
SP Jorge Figueroa, NY (age 38, injured but due back in Sept, will be a free agent)
SP Brian Wilson, CHI (0-1, 6.45 ERA, no longer starting, signed 2 more years at $19M)
SP Johnny Savard, CLT (5-4, 4.75 ERA, has cleared waivers)
SP Mike Yates, LA (1-6, 8.57 ERA, has cleared waivers)
MR David O’Daniel, CHI (2-1, 2 SV, 4.60 ERA, expensive middle reliever)

RF Juan Cortez, PHI (.299/.358/.557, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 43 games, missed 6 weeks injured)
CF Slamet Nitisastro, PHI (.210/.269/.480, 7 HR, 18 RBI, on trading block)
LF Lorenzo Olivares, MIL (.274/.344/.481, 13 HR, 40 RBI)
2B Mariano Gonzalez, CLT (.277/.326/.439, 10 HR, 49 RBI)
RF Eddie Payne, DAL (.219/.317/.263, benched, unhappy, has 3 more years at $19M)
RF Terrence Banks, WAS (.239/.270/.415, 8 HR, 20 RBI, on D/L for another month)

[Orcin]

July 21, 2008

Subject: Week 15 Notes

Record: 58-34 .630, - GB
Position: 1st place (3.5 game lead over Milwaukee)
Runs Scored: 456 – 1st in Federal
Runs Allowed: 363 – t3rd in Federal
Defense: .707 – 3rd in Federal
Power Ranking: 129.5 (1st in CBA)
Owner Mood: Ecstatic; Fan Interest: 100/100

• Last week (4-0): 2-0 at Philadelphia, 2-0 vs. Philadelphia
• Charlotte traded LF/1B Jon Schultz to Salt Lake City for 1B Claudio Vargas. This trade is surprising after Schultz signed an extension only a few weeks ago.
• The Federal League won the All-Star Game 5-0. Dennis Morgan was 1-2 with a 2-run HR. Eduardo Sanchez had a PH 2-run HR. Rodriguez had a PH single.
• Westaway and Luna each pitched a scoreless inning in the All-Star Game.
• The #1 pick in the draft, SP Emmanuel Garcia, refused to sign with Los Angeles and enrolled at South Carolina. He will be back in next year’s pool.
• 07/17: LOU 8, PHI 2 – Morgan 2-5, HR (27), 4 RBI (76)
• 07/18: LOU 3, PHI 2 – Trauttmann 7 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 8 K, W (10-4, 3.39 ERA)
• 07/19: LOU 6, PHI 5 – Guy PH 2-run DBL for GWRBI; Haley 2-run HR (27)
• 07/20: LOU 7, PHI 4 – Morgan 1-3, HR (28), 3 RBI (80)
• SP Antonio Luna left the game in the 2nd inning with forearm stiffness. He will probably miss his next start, but will not go on the D/L.
• The Louisville winning streak now stands at 8 games and 12 of 13.
• Dayton (AA) SP Donald Johnson threw a 2-hit shutout with 12 K’s. He is 6-8 with a 4.03 ERA after a great 2007 that was split between Evansville and Dayton.
• Lexington 1B Jesus Ramos was named AAA Player of the Week. He was 8-17 with 4 HR. For the year, the 23 y/o is hitting .241 with 25 HR and 63 RBI.
• For the record, Ramos was yet another international discovery by Candelaria.
• Atlanta CF Angel Quintero is out for the year with a hip injury. The 5-time All-Star has been hobbled by injuries the past two seasons.
• This week: 4 vs. Salt Lake City, 3 vs. Milwaukee


TMZ is reporting that the wife of Nashville Tigers 1B Chris Brown has filed for divorce. Documents filed with the Jefferson County Family Court in Louisville, Kentucky cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the filing. The TMZ article states that Brown was married in November 2005 to an employee in the Louisville Colonels front office. The plaintiff, Jennifer Clark Brown, could not be reached for comment. Brown had no comment, saying only that it was a “personal matter”. The Louisville media did not run the story because it was of very little interest locally.

[Orcin]

July 22, 2008 (cbatraderumors.com)
EXCLUSIVE BREAKING NEWS

Subject: Colonels Trade Haley to New York

The Louisville Colonels have sent 33-year-old 1B Josh Haley and 29-year-old reliever Jeffrey Woods to the New York Monarchs in return for 23-year-old SS Ray Manning. The Colonels also provided $4 million in cash to the Monarchs, roughly half of Haley’s salary for the remainder of the year. Haley and Woods are both eligible for free agency at the end of the season. Fans in Louisville were not happy about losing Haley.

The Monarchs (47-47) are near the bottom of the Patriot League in runs scored and home runs. Haley will solve both of those problems. He is having one of his best years in recent memory, hitting .324 with 27 HR and 68 RBI. Most of that production came in the Patriot League before he was traded by Nashville in July. Haley will bat cleanup for the Monarchs in tonight’s game against Charleston.

Manning was drafted in 2004 (2nd round, 87th overall) by the Monarchs out of high school. He was rated as the #24 prospect in the CBA prior to the 2006 season, but a broken kneecap cost him an entire year. He made the AA all-star team in 2007 and was called up to the majors as a utility infielder this year but played sparingly. Louisville GM Otto Orcin said that Manning would be sent to AAA for more seasoning.

Orcin said, “We expect Ray Manning to develop into a quality shortstop. His defense is outstanding and he is a great contact hitter. We want him to work on his pitch selection and be more patient at the plate.” Manning finally gives the Colonels a true shortstop to backup Cristo Rodriguez on the depth chart.

Lexington outfielder Arlen Craig was called up to Louisville, replacing Josh Haley on the active roster. Craig will likely just keep a seat warm until CF Pedro Dominguez is ready to be activated. Dominguez is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment next week.

GM Otto Orcin commented that his roster was finally balanced and the club was now in a good financial position to address some of the expiring contracts facing them over the next year or two. Orcin said that he wants to continue to bring young talent like Manning into the organization without jeopardizing the team’s ability to compete for division titles. The team has completed several deals with this goal in mind over the past year, and some of those new young players are now established in key roles for the stretch run.

Orcin was asked about rumors that outfielder Ron Hartman and starting pitcher Ray Alexander were being shopped. He insisted that these rumors were false and the team was happy with the roster as it stands now. Alexander has shown signs of improvement lately, so the Colonels may be out of the very competitive and expensive market for a starting pitcher. Hartman was starting in center field until recently, when young star Tracy Sweeney took over the position. An interesting three-way battle for playing time will ensue when 2007 Gold Glove winner Pedro Dominguez returns from his injury.

[Orcin]

July 24, 2008 (cbatraderumors.com)

Subject: Rumors Call "Wood Chopping" Incident a Cover Up For Affair

Nashville Tigers 1B Chris Brown injured his back a few weeks ago while allegedly helping his neighbor chop wood. Now, rumors have surfaced claiming that Brown was actually injured while engaged in sexual activity with a previously unidentified mistress.

Brown, who was married at the time but currently in the process of divorce proceedings, was observed sneaking around on a road trip with a 24-year-old massage therapist from Louisville. The amorous pair had been spotted at a hotel bar in St. Louis, and they were seen later that evening entering his room at the team hotel.

Neither Brown nor the Tigers have offered any formal response to the accusations. Teammates are neutral thus far on the matter.

"You can't take rumors you hear as fact until there's definite proof," said an unnamed Nashville Tigers teammate. "I could point at you and say you kicked a puppy but that doesn't make it true. What matters is that he is on the field and playing well."

Brown’s former team, the Louisville Colonels, had no comment on the report. Brown was with the Colonels at the time of the incident. Brown was abruptly traded upon the team’s return from that particular road trip, but Colonels GM Otto Orcin said that the two events were “unrelated”.

[Sal, The Barber]

Originally Posted by Orcin

July 24, 2008 (cbatraderumors.com)
Brown’s former team, the Louisville Colonels, had no comment on the report. Brown was with the Colonels at the time of the incident. Brown was abruptly traded upon the team’s return from that particular road trip, but Colonels GM Otto Orcin said that the two events were “unrelated”.

Mr. Orcin, Sal is fielding a lot of calls at his shop. Sal has never said, "No comment" so often in his life. It is hard for Sal not to comment. How much "hush money" did you say Sal would receive again? Sal is fielding A LOT of calls.

[Orcin]

July 28, 2008

Subject: Week 16 Notes

Record: 61-38 .616, - GB
Position: 1st place (2 game lead over Milwaukee)
Runs Scored: 483 – 2nd in Federal
Runs Allowed: 388 – t2nd in Federal
Defense: .708 – 3rd in Federal
Power Ranking: 111.9 (3rd in CBA)
Owner Mood: Ecstatic; Fan Interest: 100/100

• Last week (3-4): 2-2 vs. Salt Lake City, 1-2 vs. Milwaukee
• 07/21: LOU 8, SLC 2 – Alexander 9 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 3 K, W (5-8, 6.21 ERA)
• Alexander was 4-4, DBL, 2 RBI at the plate. He is officially off the trade market.
• Hartman was 3-4, 2 DBL, BB, 2 RBI, 2 SB, so he might be over his slump too.
• 07/22: SLC 1, LOU 0 – shutout by Vicente Lopez (SLC) 9 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K; winning streak ends at 9
• Edgardo Ordonez was the hard-luck loser again; he is now 5-9 with a 3.25 ERA; we are scoring 3.1 runs per game for Ordonez vs. 4.7 for Luna (12-3, 2.74 ERA)
• 07/23: SLC 5, LOU 3 – Trauttmann 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 8 K, L (10-5, 3.25)
• Bland had a bad day, allowing three unearned runs via an error and a passed ball
• Alexander Mooney strained his back throwing a ball. He is out for 1-2 weeks. Tom John will go back into the lineup, replacing Mooney.
• Dennis Morgan left in the 5th with an undisclosed injury on a defensive play. Arlen Craig will replace Morgan in the lineup until diagnosis is complete.
• Lexington SP Matt Henry is now 12-4 (2.81 ERA) after a 4-hit shutout with 12 Ks.
• 07/24: LOU 4, SLC 3 – Westaway 8 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K, W (9-4, 3.01 ERA)
• Eduardo Sanchez left in the 6th with a high ankle sprain. He will be out for 4 weeks. Ron Hartman will take over for Sanchez in right field.
• Sanchez was placed on the 15-day D/L. RF Gerald Blair was called up from AAA.
• Seattle traded all-star closer Michael Morton to Detroit for 3 prospects.
• 07/25: MIL 4, LOU 3 – offense is going to struggle without 3 of our best hitters
• The diagnosis on Morgan was shoulder tendinitis (1-2 weeks). Could be worse.
• 07/26: LOU 5, MIL 3 – Blair 3-4, 2 DBL, RBI, SB, 2 RS (his major league debut)
• Phoenix traded 1B Paolo Bogliolo (.253, 23, 64) to Indianapolis for 4 prospects.
• Phoenix traded SP Lane Lee (6-10, 3.86) to St. Louis for 3 prospects.
• 07/27: MIL 7, LOU 4 – All-Star 3B David Sanchez (MIL) 2-5, TPL, HR, 2 RBI
• Edgardo Ordonez left the game in the 6th inning with an undisclosed injury.
• Denver finally unloaded RF Jonathan Bailey’s contract, sending him to Detroit for 1B Victor Vargas. Bailey holds the record for most time on the trading block.
• This week: 3 at Chicago, 4 at Phoenix


Is there a doctor in the house? We had FOUR injuries this week.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Orcin

Is there a doctor in the house? We had FOUR injuries this week.

At least this shows they are trying - too hard for their frail bodies.

But no, I'm not a doctor, but I know a lot about this kind of black weeks.

Or black years.

[Orcin]

July 31, 2008

The trade deadline is here, but I have been unable to find a trade that makes our roster better. I am going to stand pat, despite the rash of injuries.

[Orcin]

August 4, 2008

Subject: Week 17 Notes

Record: 65-41 .613, - GB (18-10 in July)
Position: 1st place (1.5 game lead over Milwaukee)
Runs Scored: 529 – 1st in Federal
Runs Allowed: 424 – 4th in Federal
Defense: .706 – 3rd in Federal
Power Ranking: 114.4 (2nd in CBA)
Owner Mood: Ecstatic; Fan Interest: 100/100


• Last week (4-3): 0-3 at Chicago, 4-0 at Phoenix
• CF Pedro Dominguez was activated without a rehab assignment. We need him in the lineup even if he is rusty. Arlen Craig was sent down to AAA and Blair stays.
• Simon has been replaced in the lineup by Lucio Martinez. We are so short-handed that we need a “Swiss army knife” on the bench (plus Simon is still in a bad slump).
• 07/28: CHI 4, LOU 2 – Stanley (CHI) 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 7 K, W (7-6, 3.43)
• Edgardo Ordonez was diagnosed with elbow inflammation. He will be out for 8-9 weeks, which essentially means the rest of the regular season.
• Ordonez was placed on the 60-day D/L. Aaron Wilkerson will go into the rotation. Lexington closer Mike Guthrie was called up to help the bullpen.
• 07/29: CHI 7, LOU 4 – All-Star 2B Trevor James (CHI) 4-5, HR, 2 RBI, SB, 2 RS
• James extended his hitting streak to 25 games, longest in the Federal this year.
• Phoenix RF Roy Newbury had 6 hits in an extra-inning game (ties the CBA record).
• 07/30: CHI 12, LOU 9 – Luna 4.2 IP, 8 ER, 11 H, 2 BB, 3 K, L (12-4, 3.17 ERA)
• We scored 6 runs in the top of the first and still lost with Luna on the mound. Wow.
• 07/31: LOU 7, PHX 2 – Blair 3-4, HR, 4 RBI; Alexander 6.2 IP, 2 ER, W (6-8, 5.84)
• Ray Alexander (!!) was our Pitcher of the Month for July: 4-0, 2.53 ERA, 5/6 QS
• LF Dennis Morgan was our Player of the Month: .328/.411/.766, 8 HR, 29 RBI
• 08/01: LOU 8, PHX 6 – Guy 2-2, HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 3 RS (grand slam in 1st inning)
• Our #2 draft pick Harvey Sizemore (6-0, 2.60) threw a 4-hit shutout for Evansville.
• Lexington SP Matt Henry (12-5, 2.89) was named AAA Pitcher of the Month for the second time this year.
• Our #5 draft pick CL Mark Gates was named Class-A Pitcher of the Month. He had 11 saves, 26 Ks in 16 IP, and a 1.13 ERA in July.
• Owensboro’s 19-year-old SP Mike Pierce (5-0, 0.69 ERA) was named Rookie League Pitcher of the Month.
• 08/02: LOU 10, PHX 0 – shutout by Trauttmann 5 H, 1 BB, 6 K (11-6, 3.15 ERA)
• Mike Guy was 3-4 with 2 DBL, 3 RBI, and 3 RS in the game. He is hot again.
• Ron Hartman was hit by a pitch and has a bruised elbow. He is out 1-2 weeks.
• 08/03: LOU 6, PHX 5 – Guy 2-4, DBL, HR, 2 RBI
• This week: 3 vs. Dallas, 3 at Salt Lake City

[Orcin]

What’s on my mind in early August?

or to steal a line from one of my favorite dynasty reports…

Complaints and stuff

Pierre-Louis Simon is very unhappy. He has been benched (unhappy). When he plays, he does not bat at the top of the lineup (unhappy). I shopped him at the trade deadline (unhappy) and received no offers. His OPS is .637 and he is (very) unhappy about that too. An unhappy team leader is going to hurt us down the stretch, but there is nothing that I can do about it. It is a serious problem, perhaps to be addressed in the off-season.

Mike Guy had a terrible month of July. I was planning to ease him into the starting role but Chris Brown forced my hand. I believe in Guy’s potential so I didn’t want to take playing time away from him and give it to Josh Haley. Maybe Haley would have won some games for us, but he had no future here. I have my fingers crossed because Guy has played very well in the past week. Maybe the increased playing time has paid off.

The injury to Edgardo Ordonez will hurt our chances of making the post-season unless Alexander continues his turnaround. The hole in the rotation gave me an opportunity to try any of 3-4 reasonably successful AAA starters, yet I went back to the old reliable Aaron Wilkerson. I guess a second pitcher would have to be injured (knock on wood) for any of those AAA starters to get a shot. I am fairly convinced that I have a stable of 4-A pitchers there, an opinion that has motivated me to draft pitchers. It is hard to trade for starting pitchers. I gave up six major league players to get Ordonez and Trauttmann.

The good… Morgan is having a career year assuming that he picks up where he left off after his injury. Sweeney, Mooney, Merced, and Trauttmann have been exceptional. Cristo Rodriguez is typical self, i.e. Gold Glove with a decent bat. Westaway is still the ace. Luna is another ace, although he was just mediocre in July. The bullpen has been steady and Brooks has been great in the closer role (89% save conversion rate).

The bad… Duncan Bland is having an off-year. I sure hope he isn’t starting to decline too. Dominguez is still a mediocre player and I expect much more. Valdez might have been promoted when Dominguez went on the D/L except he was injured too. Is Valdez injury prone? Tom John has 75 hits: 67 singles, 7 doubles, and a triple. That’s weak. His gap power and HR power are pathetic. His walks are way down also.

The ugly… Alexander’s troubles are well-documented, but he appears to be improving (his BABIP is now .335, down 50 points since May). Simon is a huge concern. Brown’s behavior was ugly, just ask Jennifer. Injuries have hurt us but we are fortunate that most of them are minor and short-term. It has been an opportunity to test our depth.

[SandMan]

Originally Posted by Orcin

What’s on my mind in early August?



Mike Guy had a terrible month of July. I was planning to ease him into the starting role but Chris Brown forced my hand. I believe in Guy’s potential so I didn’t want to take playing time away from him and give it to Josh Haley. Maybe Haley would have won some games for us, but he had no future here. I have my fingers crossed because Guy has played very well in the past week. Maybe the increased playing time has paid off.

I thought Haley was traded in July.