The IBL's Chicago Iron Pigs

[gehrig38]

4 Free Agents inked new deals today, Brooklyn being in on 2 for some big bats.

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Sacramento is in 'win now' mode and this trade clearly shows that. 3 prospects for a 34 year old lefty. He rejoins former Iron Pig teammate Randy Pennington to provide some late innings power arms from the left side. Trent is closing.

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Somewhat laid back winter meetings, some teams came with agendas (NY) and moved, others not so much.



Here's a look at the players still looking for new homes.

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Lots of free agent activity, teams getting aggressive.

Hugh Collins signs with the Builldogs, 2 years 34.4M. Fans are obviously very unhappy (loyalty dropped from 90 to 85) and I am just glad he signed in the Coastal.
Barlow's deal with Sacramento runs 3 years, 9/10.8/12.4 base.
Dallas snags a pair of arms for the back end of the pen.
Bernarda's deal runs 3 years, with year 3 being a 10.5M option.



And here's the market of players left entering into the new year. Romero will be ready for camp.
I can't see Whimster in any uniform but a Driller uniform, going to be weird. He's still got elite offensive skills.

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A ton of signings, only 1 trade through the years 1st month.



And the only comp. eligible guy out there is probably the leagues best all time player.

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With compensation picks handed out, and taken the drafts first round is just 23 picks. We have picks 4 and 19, as well as the 11th pick in the supplemental round, which is 13 picks deep. So we are picking 4, 19 and 34 in the first round/Supp round.

Small deal for us, moving Rocha who's a bit older than our prospect pool. I was actually trying to clear a spot for Bright to come on the 40 man. The plan is for him to enter the season as the #5.

IBL RULE CHANGE
The waiver period has now increased to 5 days. Should be an interesting little tweak.

IBL CAREER LEADERS: RBI's
1419 Curt Whimster FA
1236 Travis Bryant FA
1197 Hugh Collins (PIT)
1189 Ross Tunstall (LA)
1174 Wes Morgan (BUF)

FINANCES:
Not being allowed to hold the #1 spot in payroll? Ya that's going to be an issue. We are currently at 135.7M, San Antonio is 2 at 125.9. As much as we do not like it, we'll abide by it before opening day.

NEWS
Check out the item on Felipe Gonzalez, my #2 pick in 2022. That sucks, wish him all the best but damn.

Most big names are now off the market after a busy February.

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I don't know what it looked like reading along, but it felt to me like Dallas and Brooklyn did something every single day this winter. Also felt like New York traded their entire club at one point.

I thought Dallas signed like 43 relievers.

The Cyclones won the Division at 91-71 and had what many believe was a fantastic off season.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by gehrig38

Orcin, for your unwavering commitment to Louisville You were the reason I did this (and I am now reading through worst to first for the first time!) and your thread still provides daily enjoyment, though I really need you to pick up the posting pace! JK, thanks and thanks for all the cool ideas I've stolen.

Ha, yeah I can be as slow as Christmas sometimes.

I look forward to seeing how your new "house rule" on payroll impacts your dominance. I don't see a big problem in the long run considering your keen eye for cheap young talent. It will be tough to see that lineup without Hugh Collins though. Good luck this year!

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Big ticket FA Lance Berkman was lost for 4-5 months with a torn back muscle. Green Bay is scrambling.

Nothing major for me injury wise, though we'll star the season with Carlson (LHRP) and Cruz on the DL. Both back within the next 2 weeks. The deals I made were to open up roster spots.

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Here are the ST numbers and my lineups, with 1 caveat. I am at 127M in payroll now, San Antonio is at 121, so I need to shed 6+ million before first pitch, opening day.....

Amazingly Dennis Ash is one again the odd man out. The outfield, across the board, is pure power. But with Cruz out for a few days Dennis will be on the field opening day.



Here is the pitching staff, with 1st overall pick Rob Bright breaking camp in the 5 slot.

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Looking across the roster, assessing the money I needed to shed, taking into account the players, and the desire to do right by them at every turn, when possible, we moved Dennis Ash to a club that would give him the everyday job he wanted, and deserved.

The biggest problem was Mr. Marquis making it known publicly, which in the end makes me feel like we got completely fleeced on this deal (which we did).

This is the first time since the organizations creation that I am starting to consider moving on. So frustrated.

Willard Battle was recalled from AAA Tulsa.

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A look at the Coastal League predictions.
San Antonio once again the class of the league, with Boston, Corpus Christi and Fresno/Sacramento making post season bids.

Figueroa and Esparza going at it again.

Pedro Salinas predicted to have a monster year, no surprise, but how about 24 year old SS Julio Morin of Pittsburgh? Wow.




And in the FL.
Another 1000+ run season? If the hitters they predict meet those predictions, that's a likely outcome. West Michigan Staten Island and Alaska making runs. Another year on the outside looking in for Michigan???

Man I hope Stan Hall is that good, a pitching triple crown?

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I am not sure I had any idea I had that many top prospects right now. 5 of the top 15?
In addition I have:
#20 CL Ed McBrieve
#26 C Guillermo Rodriguez
#34 SS David Ellis
#63 SP Cordell Andrews
#65 OF Michael McGee
#67 OF Pancho Villareal
#75 3B Juan Medina
#79 SP Bruce Vickers

Damn, that's 13 of the top 79 prospects in the game right now. That's a player dev system earning its keep.



6 teams with not one player in the top 100? wow.

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A look back. We've won 7 of the last 8 Frontier League pennants, with just 3 Titles to show for it.

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WEEK: 1
RECORD: 5-2
SEASON: 5-2 +1/2
RUNS SCORED: 41 t-4th
RUNS AGAINST: 30 6th
OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
FAN LOYALTY: 87/100
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: 4 @ Green Bay/3 @ Staten Island

And an FYI, game notes I tend to call out “3”'s on offense. Anything but 3K's I'll likely make it known.

4/1
CHI 9 GB 4
W-Hall (1-0) L-Montgomery (0-1)
HR CHI-Grueter (1) Chavez (1)
Hall 7-7-3-1-0-7 Hudson 0-2 3 Runs Jackson 3-4 2B (1) 2 RBI's (2) Grueter 2-3 HR RBI in 1st Iron Pig start.

4/2
GB 7 CHI 3
W-Thomas (1-0) L-Morgan (0-1)
HR CHI-Hudson (1)
Morgan 6-10-4-4-0-10 107 pitches. A.Jones (GB) 4-4 2B (1) 3B (1) 2 RBI's (3) Shaw 3-4 Hudson 3-5 HR 3 RBI's (3)

4/3
CHI 9 GB 4
W-Trujillo (1-0) L-A.Martinez (0-1)
HR CHI-Hudson (2)
Pen comes up huge today. Perez K in bases loaded jam, Plazewski K 2nd and 3rd jam. Hudson leadoff HR Chavez 1-5 3B (1) 3 RBI's (5) Miranda 2-2 2 2B's (4) 3 runs Butler (GB) 3-5 2B (1)

4/4
CHI 11 GB 4
W-Pimentel (1-0) L-Althusser (0-1)
HR CHI-Shaw (1) Cruz (1)
Pimentel 6.2-3-4-4-8-8 113 pitches. Going back to before his injury, he's now won 22 straight, and not lost in 33 straight starts, extending the all time undefeated streak for a pitcher. Hudson 2-4 3 runs Shaw 3-5 2B (1) HR 5 RBI's (8) Cruz 3-4 HR 3 runs 3 RBI's (3)

MILESTONES: Tim Davis reaches 300 homers, at age 39, in the White Caps 5-2 loss to New Hampshire. (News item below)

4/5
CHI 4 SI 3
W-Andre (1-0) L-Peck (0-1) S-Cruz (1)
HR CHI-Miranda (1) SI-A.Hernandez (1) Sanchez (1)
Bright 7.1-8-3-3-2-4 in IBL debut. Miranda GW HR in the 9th. Battle 3-4 2B (2) Miranda 3-4 2B (5) HR P.Hernandez (SI) 3-5 2B (3)

NEWS-Curt Whimster's desire to stay in/close to Tulsa was met today, signed a 1 year deal with Dallas. (News item below)

SIGNINGS-Ivan Lopez (344 career Saves) signed on with Corpus Christi in what looks to be a fantastic deal for the Hooks for 1 of the IBL best closers ever.

4/6
SI 7 CHI 2
W-Rodriguez (2-0) L-Hall (1-1)
HR SI-Bond (3)
Rodriguez 7.1-4-1-1-2-9 Hall bomed 3.1-9-7-7-1-2 Samudid (SI) 2-4 3 RBI's (4) Bond (SI) 2-4 HR 3 RBI's (5)

4/7
CHI 3 SI 1
W-Morgan (1-1) L-Rea (0-1)
HR CHI-Hudson (3)
Morgan 9-4-1-1-1-8 121 pitches. Rea 8-8-3-3-0-2 101 pitches. Hudson and Castro both 2-4 RBI

INJURIES-Sacramento lost RP Randy Pennington (4-5 months/back) and 3B Nathan King (3-4 weeks/ankle) in the game today.

WEEK 1 SUMMARY
FL POTW-Duane Akers (COL) 7-14 4 HR's 8 RBI's
CL POTW-Juan Garcia (SAN) 9-19 4 HR's 12 RBI's


FORMER IRON PIGS IN THE NEWS
Bryant Thomas punched out 14 over 8 innings in his 1st start as a Fresno Grizzlie. Hugh Collins is 7-13 2 HR's 7 RBI's through the Bulldogs first 3 games.

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WEEK: 2
RECORD: 6-0
SEASON: 11-2 +2 1/2
RUNS SCORED: 89 (48) 2nd
RUNS AGAINST: 53 (23) 4th
OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
FAN LOYALTY:87/100
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: 3 vs New York/Off Day/3 @ Michigan

4/8
CHI 7 NY 4
W-Perez (1-0) L-Catuncan (0-2) S-Cruz (2)
HR CHI-Shaw (2)
Trujillo 5.2-7-4-4-3-6 Shaw HR 3 RBI's (11)

INJURIES-Boston loses Colin Durham for the season in his 1st start. (News below)

4/9
CHI 6 NY 4
w-Pimentel (2-0) L-Ross (0-2) S-Cruz (3)
HR NY-Kim (1) CHI-Vela (1)
Pimentel now 23 straight wins, 33 straight starts. 7-7-4-4-2-6 Shaw 3-4 2B (2) 2 2 runs 2 RBI”s (13)

4/10
CHI 12 NY 3
W-Bright (1-0) L-M.Smith (1-1)
HR NY-Kim (2) CHI-Shaw (3) Castro (1)
Bright 1st IBL win 7-9-3-3-4-5 111 pitches Negron (NY) 3-5 Kim (NY) 3-4 2B (1) HR 3 RBI's (5) Hudson 2-4 3 runs Rush 3-4 2B (1) 3 runs Cruz 4-4 2B (3) 3 RBI's (7) Jackson 3 RBI's (8)

4/11 Off Day Bunch of injuries this week (News below)

4/12
CHI 10 MICH 7
W-Davenport (1-0) L-Ramos (0-1) S-Cruz (4)
HR CHI-Castro (2) Shaw (4) MICH-Russell (2)
Pen blows 7-1 lead in the 7th, Andre comes in bases loaded, grand slam. Hall 6.1-6-1-0-1-8 (ND). Casro HR 3 RBI's (8) Russell (MICH) 2-4 HR 4 RBI's (8)

4/13
CHI 9 MICH 3
W-Morgan (2-1) L-Gates (1-2)
HR CHI-Cruz (2) Miranda (2) MICH-Tobias (4)
Morgan 7-8-2-2-2-8 Russell 3-4 2 2B's (6)

NEWS-West Michigan throws a bundle at SP Joaquin Vargas (news below)

4/14
CHI 4 MICH 2
W-Trujillo (2-0) L-Castro (0-1) S-Cruz (5)
HR MICH-Retoriano (2)
Trujillio just battles. 7-9-2-1-2-2 with 3 DP's on 114 pitches. Made every pitch he had to. Andre Blakeway is struggling at the plate (.114) and in the field 2 errors tonight.

WEEK 2 SUMMARY
FL POTW-Cipriano Alonzo (HAW) 13-25 2 HR's 6 RBI's (.418-4-9)
CL POTW-Ed Phillips (FRE) 10-19 4 HR's 10 RBI's (.370-7-14)

ORG POTW
Denison Julio Lopez (2B) 12-27 2 HR's 6 RBI's (2023 minor league FA, originally 3rd round (68th overall by Dallas, 2021)

WEEK 2 POWER RANKINGS
1) Chicago
2) Sacramento
3) Fresno
4) Boston
5) West Michigan

MINOR LEAGUE SUMMARY
AAA Tulsa (2) 10-3 +1 1st HR's 1st RA 1st BP ERA
AA Bakersfield (15) 7-7 4 GB 1st SB 14th Def Eff. 3rd OBP
A(S) Belleview (16) 7-7 1 GB 1st AVG 2nd OBP 1st SB 2nd RA 2nd SP ERA 2nd BP ERA
A(N) Denison (6) 9-5 +2 2nd RS 1st AVG/OBP/HR 3rd Def Eff.


FORMER IRON PIGS IN THE NEWS
Alonzo (HAW) wins FL POTW.

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The picture, and words, more than speak for themselves



Hudson AND Castro homered twice in the inning.