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#141 |
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All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 875
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2056 All-Star Break
At the 2056 All-Star Break, the playoff picture is beginning to take shape across both leagues. In the AL, the Angels (63–33) lead the West with the league’s best record, followed by Houston and a surging Texas squad. Columbus (60–37) lead Kansas City by two and a half games atop the AL Central, while Boston (50–46) holds a slim lead in the East, with Toronto and Tampa Bay still in striking distance.
In the NL, the Giants (56–39) sit atop the West, although limping into the break with a 3-7 record over their last 10 games. Arizona are charging, having gone 9-1 in their last ten, while the Padres, Dodgers and Rockies lag behind. Cincinnati (60–38) leads the Central, with Milwaukee 11 games back. Washington are equally dominant in the NL East race, nine and a half games up on the Phillies, while Mets hover close Philadelphia. With less than three months to go, division battles remain fierce and wild card races are heating up. The Giants strong first half of the season is rewarded with four All-Stars, although not a single pitcher is selected disappointingly. 1B Juan Magana earns his first selection, and the start, while fellow infielder 2B Ernesto Pantoja earns his third. In the outfield, it’s a similar story as CF David Rojo is selected for the third time, and is joined by a first time All Star in Gianvito Heaton, who will start at LF. 1B Juan Magana (SF)* - .285/.376/.499, 361 AB, 16 HR, 33 SB, 145 wRC+, 3.4 WAR 2B Ernesto Pantoja (SF) - .269/.338/.544, 349 AB, 22 HR, 2 SB, 141 wRC+, 3.2 WAR LF Gianvito Heaton (SF) - .288/.363/.583, 326 AB, 27 HR, 1 SB, 155 wRC+, 3.2 WAR CF David Rojo (SF)* - .231/.298/.443, 350 AB, 16 HR, 13 SB, 105 wRC+, 2.3 WAR Five of Stewart’s former players over in Kansas City earn selections, including Nelson Saiz with his 8th selection and the first of the farm players Stewart left behind, 2048 2nd round pick Robby Baker, his 1st. C Nelson Saiz (KC) - .309/.386/.504, 282 AB, 14 HR, 1 SB, 145 wRC+, 3.2 WAR 1B Biagio Torrisi (KC)* - .331/.436/.674, 347 AB, 28 HR, 191 wRC+, 5.8 WAR 3B David de Anda (KC)* - .294/.371/.657, 306 AB, 27 HR, 31 SB, 173 wRC+, 5.8 WAR (Injured) SS Juan Montelongo (KC)* - .274/.356/.477, 325 AB, 14 HR, 22 SB, 127 wRC+, 3.9 WAR LF Robby Baker (KC) - .304/.382/.469, 326 AB, 9 HR, 16 SB, 131 wRC+, 1.7 WAR Through the first half, the Giants’ lineup has been fueled by a blend of high-octane offense and steady defensive play. First baseman Juan Magana has emerged as the team’s powerhouse, slashing .287/.376/.497 with 16 homers, 60 RBI and a 141 OPS+ across 423 plate appearances. His .210 isolated power ranks among the league’s best, and he’s stolen 33 bases with an 80.5% success rate, showcasing rare dual-threat ability. In left field, Gianvito Heaton has been equally electric, posting a .285/.359/.576 line, 27 homers and a jaw-dropping 155 OPS+; his 1.55 range factor and 2.5 zone rating underscore elite defense on the grass. Second baseman Ernesto Pantoja (.268/.337/.540, 22 homers, 139 OPS+) and center fielder David Rojo (.232/.300/.445, 16 homers, 104 OPS+) have provided middle-order pop, each contributing over 100 wRC+ while roaming the outfield and infield with solid range factors (Pantoja 4.39, Rojo 2.83) and positive fielding runs. Catcher Jim Clarke has delivered a .243/.341/.386 slash with 10 homers, guiding the pitching staff and winning praise for a 1.134 defensive efficiency and +0.4 framing runs above average. The hot corner has seen mixed results: Ernesto Chafer and Nelson Loera have struggled, combining for a .220 average and sub-75 OPS+, while Steve Boyd and Nate Morris have chipped in with complementary thump and strong gloves (Boyd’s 7.3 range factor). At shortstop, Joel Hudson (.258/.293/.419, 96 OPS+) has been reliable, and Juan Mendoza (.212/.272/.389, 82 OPS+) provides steady depth. Bench pieces like Dane Cook (.317/.430/.415, 137 OPS+) and Jaquan Willie (.263/.329/.420, 107 OPS+) have injected energy in spot duty. Overall, the Giants’ balanced attack—boasting six hitters above 130 OPS+ and stout defensive metrics—positions them as formidable contenders heading into the season’s second half. Through the first half, San Francisco’s pitching staff combined high-strikeout firepower with a few rocky patches, positioning the club among the league’s more dynamic units. At the top, Andy Frederick has anchored the rotation with a sterling 68 FIP– across 94⅔ innings, fanning 10.7 batters per nine while limiting walks to 2.0 per nine and turning in a 3.71 ERA. Right behind, Juan Montoya logged 99 innings at 76 FIP–, coupling a 3.09 ERA with a 9.2 K/9 rate and a 3.1 BB/9 clip. Jorge Ramírez edged beyond 118 frames at a 91 FIP–, posting a 3.65 ERA and a tidy 2.7 walks per nine, while racking up quality starts in more than half of his outings. Mid-rotation depth has been uneven. Greg Ward (94 FIP–) delivered a crisp 3.00 ERA over 72 innings, but Pete Lamar (98 FIP–) struggled to a 6.34 mark despite striking out 7.5 per nine. Juan Dorame’s 10-inning cameo (93 FIP–) flashed promise but remains a small sample. In relief, Mike Stark has been a revelation, dominating 37 innings at a 56 FIP–, striking out 9.5 per nine and owning a 2.68 ERA. Nate Brodt (66 FIP–) and Josh O’Neal (80 FIP–) have further bolstered high-leverage depth with ERAs under 2.80, while closer Ricky Eggett’s 83.3 percent save rate pairs with a 69 FIP– and a 2.58 ERA. Veteran Dan Caines and Greg Brinson have been reliable swing men, though Bobby Height and Rickey Martino’s elevated FIP– (136 and 121, respectively) hint at volatility in middle relief. Overall, San Francisco’s staff ranks among the majors in strikeout (2nd) and walk suppression (4th), anchored by elite FIP– performers at both ends of the roster. Sustaining this balance—bolstering mid-rotation consistency and shoring up middle relief—will be key to a second-half push. Minor League Performance Only two Giants prospects earn selection for the Prospects All Star Game, outfielders LF Luis Gamez (2053 Scouting Discover) and CF David Mueller (2055 1st Round) both making their first appearances. LF Luis Gamez (SF-R) - .393/.582/.723, 112 AB, 5 HR, 206 wRC+, 2.1 WAR CF David Mueller (SF-R) - .322/.415/.475, 177 AB, 3 HR, 8 SB, 119 wRC+, 2.0 WAR |
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#142 |
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All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 875
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July 2056
MLB Standings
By August 1, 2056, tight division races and runaway leaders define the landscape. In the AL East, Boston (52-54) is tied with Toronto (53-55) and both hold a 2-game cushion on New York (51-57), while Tampa Bay (47-59) and Baltimore (44-63) running out of time. The AL Central is firmly in Columbus’s grasp (64-42), two games ahead of Kansas City (63-45) as Cleveland (57-51) falls out of the chase. Out West, the Angels (66-40) command a seven-game margin over Houston (59-47), with Texas (56-51) and Seattle (55-53) jockeying for wild-card positioning. In the NL East, Washington (65-41) leads Philadelphia (56-50) by eight-and-a-half games, who are a game ahead of the the Mets (56-52), while the Marlins (47-59) and Braves (41-66) vie for scraps. The NL Central sees Cincinnati (67-41) up eleven-and-a-half on Milwaukee (55-52), and Chicago (52-56) lurking. The NL West features Arizona’s dominant 60-47 mark, but San Francisco (60-48) trails by only half a game despite after a 2-8 cold streak. Wild-card scenarios remain fluid as summer heats up. San Francisco Results San Francisco kicked off July by wrapping up a three-game set with the Dodgers, winning the final two contests (5–4, 4–0) to complete a sweep. They carried that momentum to Atlanta, sweeping the Braves in three (8–7, 5–3, 9–1). However, a road trip to Cleveland saw the Giants swept amid extra-innings and late rallies (4–6 [10], 5–9, 3–8). Back home, they dropped two of three to Toronto after an opening 5–3 win, then split a three-game series with Colombus, losing the first two (3–7, 1–5) before a 7–3 finale victory. A brutal stretch followed as San Francisco was swept in Colorado (8–13, 1–5, 3–4) and then in Los Angeles (1–4, 15–16, 3–6, 2–3). They closed July by splitting a four-game home series with Colorado, alternating a 6–1 win, doubleheader losses, and an 8–0 shutout. San Francisco Stats Giants hitters in July were spearheaded by third baseman Steve Boyd, whose 171 wRC+ ranked as the club’s best mark. Boyd paired a robust .322 average with a .576 slugging percentage, driving in 10 runs, scoring 12 times, and posting a .254 isolated power. His combination of contact and power made him a consistent run producer throughout the month. On the flip side, backup catcher Dane Cook logged the lowest wRC+ at just 39. In 25 plate appearances he managed only four hits, slashing .160/.192/.320, struck out nearly 27 percent of the time, and posted a .512 OPS. Cook’s minimal on-base impact and lack of power highlighted the stark contrast in offensive contributions. Overall, while the middle of the lineup lifted July’s offensive performance above league average, depth players like Cook struggled to provide even replacement-level value. Using FIP- as our lens, Giants pitchers delivered uneven July performances. Among starters, Pete Lamar paced the staff with a 123 FIP- over 21 innings in five starts, coupling 7.3 K/9 with a tidy 1.3 HR/9 despite a sky-high 8.57 ERA. Juan Montoya (124 FIP-) rolled through 33.2 innings, fanning 9.6 batters per nine while allowing just 1.6 homers per nine, though a .226 BABIP inflated his 5.08 ERA. Andy Frederick’s 129 FIP- and 7.06 ERA marked the high side of rotation volatility. In the bullpen, Jesus Machado was a revelation, posting a sterling 73 FIP- across 10 innings with a minuscule 0.90 ERA, a 0.9 HR/9 rate, and a perfect save conversion rate. Dan Namken’s 100 FIP- and 0.77 WHIP also underscored his reliability. On the flip side, Bobby Height’s 160 FIP- exposed a 4.7 BB/9 rate, ballooning his 6.00 ERA and undermining his effectiveness over 21 innings work. Overall, this was comfortably the worst month of pitching in Stewart’s tenure. Transactions & Injuries The Giants prioritized pitching depth and long-term stability this month. Injuries sidelined RP Josh Medaris (60-day IL) and 3B Steve Boyd (10-day IL, retroactive to July 30), while SP Juan Dorame began a rehab stint at Triple-A Sacramento. To replenish the roster, the club purchased the contracts of SP Nate Hudson, Juan Dorame (upon his return), Amari Pappillion, and 3B Nelson Serrano from Sacramento. Contract extensions reinforced core personnel. AAA Pitching Coach Brendan Smith and MLB Pitching Coach David Flores each signed five-year deals, while SS Joel Hudson locked in a three-year, $36 million pact. International scouting added South African amateur SP Dejenie Eze on a minor-league contract. The bullpen saw further reshuffling. RP Pete Lamar was optioned to Triple-A, while RP Bobby Height was designated for assignment. Following a trade deadline swap, 30-year-old CL Jesus Machado was acquired from Houston, activated immediately, and two 20-year-old arms—RHP Juan Aguilar and LHP Maurio Mercado—joined the minor-league system. The July moves balance immediate rotation reinforcements, future upside through young arms, and contractual commitments to foundational figures. Injuries and the DFA of Height open roster spots, while the trade for Machado and prospects signals aggressive bullpen management and farm-system investment. Looking ahead, monitoring Dorame’s post-rehab performance and Pappillion’s adaptation to the big leagues will be crucial. Saturday, July 1st , 2056 Placed RP Josh Medaris on the 60-day injured list. Purchased the contract of SP Nate Hudson from Triple A Sacramento. Sunday, July 2nd , 2056 Signed international amateur SP Dejenie Eze out of South Africa to a minor league contract. Monday, July 3rd , 2056 Signed - Brendan Smith to a 5-year contract extension. Wednesday, July 5th , 2056 Signed Pitching Coach David Flores to a 5-year contract extension. Thursday, July 13th , 2056 Optioned LF Jadon Notice to Triple A Sacramento. Purchased the contract of RF Frank Calleja from Triple A Sacramento. Sunday, July 23rd , 2056 Signed SS Joel Hudson to a 3-year contract extension worth a total of $36,000,000. Sent SP Juan Dorame to Triple A Sacramento for injury rehab. Saturday, July 29th , 2056 RP Bobby Height was designated for assignment and placed on waivers. Purchased the contract of SP Juan Dorame from Triple A Sacramento. Sunday, July 30th , 2056 Traded 33-year old minor league SS Esteban Aguirre, 29-year old LHP Julio Rangel, and 23-year old minor league RHP Robby Przybyla to the Houston Astros, getting 30-year old RHP Jesus Machado, 20-year old minor league RHP Juan Agulir, and 20-year old minor league LHP Maurio Mercado in return. Placed CL Jesus Machado on the active roster. Optioned RP Pete Lamar to Triple A Sacramento. Purchased the contract of SP Amari Pappillion from Triple A Sacramento. Monday, July 31st , 2056 Placed 3B Steve Boyd on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to 07/30/2056. Purchased the contract of 3B Nelson Serrano from Triple A Sacramento. Minor League Promotions David Yepiz’s promotion to San Jose was the most exciting of several midseason promotions although Tim Beck and Tyrese Yeboah will be hoping theirs are the most impactful in the short term as both moved to Sacramento, one step away from the big leagues. Promoted international complex member CF Jesus Montoya to Rookie League San Francisco (DSL). 2056 Scouting Discovery Promoted CF David Yepiz from Rookie League San Francisco (DSL) to Class A San Jose. 2054 International Amateur Sent LF Heri Luna from Class A San Jose to High-A Eugene. 2055 5th Round Promoted C Tim Custer from High-A Eugene to Double A Richmond. 2052 4th Round Promoted 1B Jamie LaFerney from High-A Eugene to Double A Richmond. 2052 8th Round Promoted RF Tim Beck from Double A Richmond to Triple A Sacramento. 2051 8th Round Promoted CF Tyrese Yeboah from Double A Richmond to Triple A Sacramento. 2052 3rd Round Minor League News Luis Salcedo has a lot going for him. The San Francisco (DSL) shortstop just broke into the majors this year and now the Dominican Rookie League has just picked him as its top hitter for July. In 20 games last month this outstanding rookie batted .619 with 4 home runs, 28 RBIs and 39 runs scored. So far this season, Salcedo is hitting .531 with 4 home runs, 38 RBIs and 51 runs scored. He has 51 hits in 96 at-bats and a .671 OBP. |
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#143 |
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All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 875
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#144 |
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All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 875
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#145 |
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All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 875
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August 2056
MLB Standings
With less than 30 games remaining, Cincinnati stands atop MLB at 83–53, leading the NL Central. In the East, Washington (78–56) is edging New York, Milwaukee leads the chasing pack in the Central (73–61), and San Francisco holds the West lead at 75–60. In the AL, the Blue Jays (73-63) have a three game lead over the Red Sox in the East, Columbus controls the AL Central at 81–52 (with Kansas City’s two decade plus reign as division winners almost certain to end), while the Angels reign in the AL West at 79–55. The Reds’ .610 winning percentage is the best, but Columbus sit right behind at .609. Division margins range from three games to nine and a half, keeping races, in the most part, tight. Wild-card positioning remains hotly contested, with teams like Houston, Seattle, and Colorado all within reach. Expect an intense final month as contenders jockey for division titles and postseason berths. San Francisco Results In August, the Giants began with a commanding home sweep of San Antonio (2–0), then stumbled in Cincinnati (1–2) before rallying to take three of four in Washington (3–1). Back in San Francisco, they edged Detroit (2–1) and split four games with Atlanta (2–2). A brief two-game road stint at San Antonio finished even (1–1), and they dropped two of three to the White Sox (1–2). Seattle proved fruitful, as the Giants won that series (2–1), but they closed the month in Milwaukee with a narrow series loss (1–2). Overall, San Francisco posted a 15–12 August ledger, winning four of nine series and carrying solid momentum into September. San Francisco Stats August’s lineup thrived behind breakout contributions and steady middle-order output. Rookie third baseman Nelson Loera led the way with a staggering 190 wRC+—he slashed .389/.437/.611 and drove in 20 runs, earning Rookie of the Month honors. First baseman Juan Magana (128 wRC+) and second baseman Ernesto Pantoja (113 wRC+) combined for 12 extra-base hits and provided consistent run creation. In left field, Gianvito Heaton paced the outfield with a 128 wRC+ and eight homers, capturing a Player of the Week nod, while David Rojo (116 wRC+) and Frank Calleja (117 wRC+) rounded out a potent outfield corps. Backup catcher Dane Cook chipped in a 113 wRC+ over limited duty, offsetting Jim Clarke’s struggles (61 wRC+). Utility man Nelson Serrano also flashed in spot starts (132 wRC+). Only shortstop Joel Hudson (15 wRC+) lagged behind. Overall, August’s positional performances anchored a lineup that ranked among the league’s best in adjusted run creation. San Francisco’s August pitching was headlined by Andy Frederick before his injury, who led the staff with a 47 FIP- over 20⅔ innings (12.6 K/9) and delivered two quality starts. Jorge Ramirez (86 FIP-) and Nate Hudson (85 FIP-) added punch, each posting double-digit K/9. Juan Dorame worked 36.2 innings at a 111 FIP-, while Juan Montoya (124 FIP-) and Amari Pappillion (173 FIP-) struggled despite combining for three quality starts. The bullpen shone behind closer Ricky Eggett (26 FIP-), who converted nine saves with six SD, two MD. Lefty Dan Caines dazzled in 2.2 shutout frames (25 FIP-, 0 SD, 0 MD). Set-up men Jesus Machado (97 FIP-, 4 SD, 2 MD) and Nate Brodt (96 FIP-, 4 SD, 1 MD) excelled, and Mike Grudzinski (123 FIP-, 4 SD, 1 MD) even notched a save. Josh O’Neal chipped in two SD without a MD at an 84 FIP-. Conversely, Mike Stark (70 FIP-, 1 SD, 4 MD) and Dan Namken (149 FIP-, 0 SD, 2 MD) were inconsistent. Overall, the relief corps’ shutdown capacity provided a sturdy bridge to September’s pennant race. Transactions & Injuries The Giants spent August shuffling around injuries, rehabs and talent acquisitions. Early in the month, SP Jorge Ramirez hit the IL with day-to-day forearm soreness, and SS Joel Hudson and RF Frank Calleja both exited with base-running injuries—Hudson’s knee tendinitis evolving into a brief oblique strain, and Calleja’s issue later diagnosed as a two-month hamstring strain that landed him on the 60-day IL. On the mound, SP Andy Frederick was scratched with elbow tendinitis and placed on the 15-day IL (retroactive to Aug 22), while RP Dan Namken missed several days with back stiffness. C Dane Cook closed out the month nursing an undiagnosed running injury. To bolster depth, the club sent RP Dan Caines, RP Bobby Height and 3B Steve Boyd to Triple-A Sacramento for rehab stints. They purchased LF Jadon Notice’s contract on Aug 9 and recalled Dan Caines on Aug 25. International scouting remained busy: they inked Dutch SP Gerben Brouwers (Aug 4), Venezuelan 2B Alfredo Zarate (Aug 8) and SPs Juan Matallana (Aug 13) and Arrighetto Boti (Aug 16) to minor-league deals. These moves set the roster up for a healthier September push. Tuesday, August 1st , 2056 SP Jorge Ramirez was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: forearm soreness. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last one week. Thursday, August 3rd , 2056 Sent RP Dan Caines to Triple A Sacramento for injury rehab. Friday, August 4th , 2056 Signed international amateur SP Gerben Brouwers out of The Netherlands to a minor league contract. Saturday, August 5th , 2056 Assigned RP Bobby Height to Triple A Sacramento. Monday, August 7th , 2056 SS Joel Hudson was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: knee tendinitis. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last one week. RF Frank Calleja was injured while running the bases. The diagnosis is not yet known. Tuesday, August 8th , 2056 Signed international amateur 2B Alfredo Zarate out of Venezuela to a minor league contract. SS Joel Hudson was injured while running the bases. The diagnosis is not yet known. Wednesday, August 9th , 2056 RF Frank Calleja diagnosed with a strained hamstring, will miss 2 months. Placed RF Frank Calleja on the 60-day injured list. Purchased the contract of LF Jadon Notice from Triple A Sacramento. Thursday, August 10th , 2056 SS Joel Hudson diagnosed with a strained oblique, is day-to-day for 4 days. Sunday, August 13th , 2056 Signed international amateur SP Juan Matallana out of Venezuela to a minor league contract. Wednesday, August 16th , 2056 Signed international amateur SP Arrighetto Boti out of Italy to a minor league contract. Tuesday, August 22nd , 2056 SP Andy Frederick was injured while pitching. The diagnosis is not yet known. Sent 3B Steve Boyd to Triple A Sacramento for injury rehab. Wednesday, August 23rd , 2056 RP Dan Namken was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: back stiffness. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last 4 days. Friday, August 25th , 2056 SP Andy Frederick diagnosed with elbow tendinitis, will miss 5-6 weeks. Placed SP Andy Frederick on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to 08/22/2056. Purchased the contract of RP Dan Caines from Triple A Sacramento. Thursday, August 31st , 2056 C Dane Cook was injured while running the bases. The diagnosis is not yet known. Minor League News Danny Crouther stole the show and the Northwest League Pitcher of the Month award for August. He was unhittable and unflappable as he posted a 2.57 ERA and a 3-0 record. In 14 innings, Crouther posted 5 saves, 23 strikeouts, and 5 walks. This year, Crouther has delivered 24 saves. In 40 relief appearances, he has 75 strikeouts in 47.2 innings with a 2.45 ERA. His season won-lost mark is 5-1. Luis Salcedo is likely in no rush to flip the calendar over. The San Francisco (DSL) shortstop had a huge month in August and has been named the Dominican Rookie League Batter of the Month. On the month, he posted a .578 batting average, with 5 home runs, 32 RBIs, 24 runs scored and a .693 on-base percentage. Currently Salcedo has 9 home runs and a .550 batting average. |
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#146 |
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All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 875
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September 2056
MLB Standings
The end of season was reasonably devoid of excitement as all but two spots in the postseason were confirmed in advance of the final weekend of the regular season. In the American League, the Columbus Road Warriors finished with the best record in the league (98-64), on their way to ending the Royals 20 year reign as AL Central Champions, and Columbus’ first division title since 2025. Kansas City will still be in the postseason though, as their 87-75 record was good enough for the final WC place. They will be joined by the Guardians, who won 91 games to ensure the Central has three postseason representatives. The Angels won their fourth AL West title in the row, beating the Astros by 2 games, with a 90-72 record; the Astros took the second WC place. The Blue Jays (88-74) had the worst of the division winner records, but had the biggest winning margin, taking the division by nine games from Boston. Over in the National League, the Reds (100-62) were the best team in baseball, winning the Central division by eight games from the WC bound Brewers. The Giants (93-69) and the Nationals (93-69) won the West and East respectively, but the Giants took the second bye courtesy of a 5-2 series record over Washington this season. The Mets finished seven games back of the Nationals but took the second WC place while the final wild card was decided on the final day of the season, defeat for the Rockies, combined with a Diamondbacks win, ending Colorado’s season and sending Arizona onto a road Wild Card series. The Giants fourth division title in a row is the first four-peat for the franchise since the New York Giants won the NL from 1921-1924. San Francisco Results Throughout September (and the first of October) the Giants navigated nine series, going 18–9 and peaking just in time. At home vs. Miami, they dropped the opener 1–5 but answered with 8–3 and 5–1 wins to take the series 2–1. Arizona followed next: 6–3 and 11–8 victories before a 5–6 loss (2–1). A road trip to San Diego was rough, swept in three close decisions (7–8 [10], 2–3, 3–5). Back in San Francisco, they swept Milwaukee in three tight games (5–4 [10], 7–6, 7–2), then blanked the Padres in three more (14–1, 4–3 [10], 4–2). In Baltimore, after a 3–4 setback, the Giants won 5–4 [11] and 5–3—with the September 21 victory officially clinching their playoff berth. At Kansas City they dropped a 1–7 opener but rebounded 7–4 on September 23—securing the NL West for the fourth straight year—and added a 7–5 finale (2–1). A late swing through Arizona produced a 5–1 win but two losses (1–2). Finally, they closed the regular season at home by sweeping St. Louis 7–5, 8–0, 9–2. Their September surge combined resilience, late-inning heroics, and timely pitching to lock up both postseason and division titles. Their sweep to close the season also ensured they earned the second bye in the NL, thwarting Washington’s late nine win streak. San Francisco Stats Jim Clarke paced the lineup behind the plate, posting a 200 wRC+ over 19 games, hitting .302/.436/.651 with six homers and 13 RBIs. His mid-September Player of the Week award came courtesy of a 7-for-16 tear with three long balls, seven RBIs, a .438 average and five runs scored. Ernie Mapes backed him up in six games with a 166 wRC+ and a .429 average. At first base, Juan Magaña chipped in a 106 wRC+ in 25 starts, driving five homers, swiping 11 bases, and scoring 14 times despite a .235 average. Luis Morales flashed a 171 wRC+ in two spot starts. Second base saw Ernesto Pantoja deliver a steady 111 wRC+ (.333 OBP, .426 SLG), while Beau Wartel’s 83 mark reflected limited impact. The hot corner featured Steve Boyd (158 wRC+) and Nelson Loera (138 wRC+) as dynamic run producers—Boyd hit .319/.360/.580 with three homers, and Loera added nine doubles. Bench pieces Nelson Serrano (618 BABIP!) and Juan Mendoza contributed in brief stints. Joel Hudson patrolled shortstop with a 179 wRC+, slashing .341/.417/.585 and supplying power in tough matchups. In the outfield, Gianvito Heaton registered a 107 wRC+ with four homers, David Rojo chipped in a 128 wRC+ with 28 hits and 13 steals, and Jadon Notice (133 wRC+) offered pop in spot duty. Ernie Chafer’s 94 wRC+ and Jaquan Willie’s 0 wRC+ underscored uneven corner-outfield depth. Overall, the Giants’ position players combined star turns—particularly behind the plate and up the middle—with key contributions from their depth pieces to fuel September’s division-clinching charge. Juan Montoya and Nate Hudson led the late-season rotation with above-average FIP- scores and quality starts in three of five outings apiece. Montoya logged 30 strikeouts over 30⅔ innings, posting an 83 FIP- alongside a 2.93 ERA, while Hudson’s 99 FIP- belied a tidy 3.13 ERA and a 0.86 K/BB ratio. Amari Papillion (89 FIP-) offered stable middle relief, striking out 28 in 28⅔ frames, though his 4.71 ERA reflected some bad luck (0.325 BABIP). Juan Dorame (121 FIP-) and Jorge Ramírez (144 FIP-) struggled: Dorame yielded five homers in 28⅓ innings, and Ramírez’s 11.7 K/9 couldn’t offset a bloated 8.87 ERA. In the bullpen, Dan Caines was virtually untouchable (6 FIP-), fanning 15 over 7⅔ innings and converting his lone save opportunity. Jesus Machado (28 FIP-) and Rickey Martino (37 FIP-) shored up late innings, combining for 18 strikeouts in 21 frames and posting a 0.64 HR/9. Closer Ricky Eggett registered nine chances with a 58 FIP- and three blown saves—his 9.64 ERA inflated by a .560 BABIP. Other high-leverage arms excelled: Nate Brodt (59 FIP-) surrendered no homers in 8⅔ innings with a sterling 1.15 WHIP, and Josh O’Neal (68 FIP-) added 10.8 K/9 to a 1.35 ERA. Mike Grudzinski (53 FIP-) and Mike Stark (60 FIP-) rounded out a relief corps that leaned on extreme strikeout rates to close out September’s division-clinching surge. Transactions & Injuries On September 1, the Giants bulked up organizational depth, sending RP Jake Leonard from Class A San Jose to High-A Eugene and promoting 1B Frank Flores to Double-A Richmond. That same day, they purchased contracts for 3B Steve Boyd, LF Mike Moffitt, 2B Beau Wartel, 1B Luis Morales, and SP Pete Lamar from Triple-A Sacramento. Early in the month, C Dane Cook was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis and placed on the 10-day IL (retroactive to August 31), prompting the purchase of C Ernie Mapes on September 3. SP Juan Dorame’s brief dehydration setback on September 5 kept him sidelined for a day. SS Joel Hudson endured a series of base-running injuries—knee tendinitis, a strained hip muscle, and a bruised foot—each delaying his return by roughly a week, with a subsequent setback on September 18. In the bullpen, RP Jesus Machado battled a “dead arm” (around September 19), and RP Dan Namken missed time with back stiffness (September 23). Amid the injury churn, the Giants continued to invest internationally, signing Venezuelan SP Nelson Salas (September 21) and SP Ademar Raimann (September 26) to minor-league contracts. Friday, September 1st , 2056 Sent RP Jake Leonard from Class A San Jose to High-A Eugene. Promoted 1B Frank Flores from High-A Eugene to Double A Richmond. Purchased the contract of 3B Steve Boyd from Triple A Sacramento. Purchased the contract of LF Mike Moffitt from Triple A Sacramento. Purchased the contract of 2B Beau Wartel from Triple A Sacramento. Purchased the contract of 1B Luis Morales from Triple A Sacramento. Purchased the contract of SP Pete Lamar from Triple A Sacramento. Sunday, September 3rd , 2056 C Dane Cook diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, will miss 4 weeks. Placed C Dane Cook on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to 08/31/2056. Purchased the contract of C Ernie Mapes from Triple A Sacramento. Tuesday, September 5th , 2056 SP Juan Dorame was injured. The Diagnosis: dehydration. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last 1 day. Friday, September 8th , 2056 SS Joel Hudson was injured while running the bases. The diagnosis is not yet known. Sunday, September 10th , 2056 SS Joel Hudson diagnosed with a strained hip muscle, is day-to-day for one week. Friday, September 15th , 2056 SS Joel Hudson was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: bruised foot. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last one week. Monday, September 18th , 2056 Joel Hudson has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another one week. Tuesday, September 19th , 2056 RP Jesus Machado was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: dead arm. He's expected to miss about one week. Thursday, September 21st , 2056 Signed international amateur SP Nelson Salas out of Venezuela to a minor league contract. Saturday, September 23rd , 2056 RP Dan Namken was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: back stiffness. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last 2-3 weeks. Tuesday, September 26th , 2056 Signed international amateur SP Ademar Raimann out of Venezuela to a minor league contract. |
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#147 |
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All Star Reserve
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#148 |
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All Star Reserve
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October 2056 – End of Regular Season
Batting Titles
No Stewart connections in 2056 Batting Title winners as Columbus’ 1B Luis Chaparro (.328) and St Louis’ RF Jorge Coria (.335) finishing top in the AL and NL respectively. Gianvito Heaton finished second in HR and RBI to the Reds’ Julio Molina while Juan Magana finished second in SB, and Juan Montoya third in ERA. Luis Chaparro and KC’s Biagio Torrisi had a great battle with Chaparro taking the batting title by .001, both hitting 41 HR, and Torrisi out-scoring Chaparro 123-110 in RBI. |
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#149 |
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All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2024
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2056 Playoffs – Wild Card Series
The AL Wild Card series sees the Houston Astros on the road in Cleveland taking on the Guardians while the Royals play their first WC series since 2035, on the road against AL East Champs, the Toronto Blue Jays. The National League has the Mets travelling to take on the Brewers while the Nationals are forced to host the Diamondbacks having failed to overtake the Giants and earn the bye. The winner of that match up will go on to face the Giants in the NLDS, creating a repeat of either the 2054 or 2055 series. |
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#150 |
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All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2024
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2056 Playoffs – Division Series
It’s a full house of sweeps in the Wid Cards as the two AL road teams, the Astros and the Royals, on to the AL Division Series to face the Road Warriors and Angels respectively. Over in the National League, the Brewers are the lone home team to win, sweeping the Mets to set up a series against baseball’s best, the Reds. Having won nine-in-a-row to almost snatch the bye, the Nationals are crushed at home by a combined score of 30-8 as the Diamondbacks set up a repeat of last year’s all-NL West Division Series against the Giants. They will be looking to reverse their game five defeat this time. This will be the second post season match up between the teams of all time and comes in back-to-back years to show their respective current strength. The Giants took the regular season series 8-5 and will hope to repeat that success in the post season. The Diamondbacks are an offense-based team, finishing 4th in runs scored and only 12th in runs against, both marks trailing the Giants (3rd and tied for 2nd respectively). The hitting is led by one of the league’s best in 3B Wilson Escobedo, who hit .285, with 39 HR and 113 RBI. SS Brad Elliott bettered Escobedo with a .291 AVE while DH Chase Needam had 91 RBI to go with a .284 AVE. Those three helped the Diamondbacks to the best Batting Average and OBP in the league, with the 3rd OPS and wOBA. The Diamondbacks will miss C Chris Foote and RF Luis Lara, both out for the whole series. On the pitching side, while they finished 12th in runs against, their pitchers put up the 5th best FIP in the league, suggesting there may be opportunities to put pressure on the Arizona gloves, and with a bullpen that sported an ERA three spots worse than the starters, getting ahead early is a recipe the Giants will hope to put to good use. Game 1 in San Francisco: Juan Montoya vs Alejandro Curiel (2056 Trade BAL)
Juan Montoya delivered six steady innings, yielding two early runs on back‐to‐back singles in the 1st and another tally in the 5th, while fanning six and walking two. Arizona’s bullpen was rock‐solid until the 7th, but San Francisco finally cracked the code when Ernnie Chafer’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh plated David Rojo and snapped the shutout. The Giants exploded in the eighth, loading the bases via two walks and a single before Rojo ripped in the tying run. Ernnie Chafer’s infield knock set up Jim Clarke’s go-ahead single, and Clarke’s hit later chased home another run on an heads-up dash from third, sealing a four-run frame. Ricky Eggett closed out a scoreless ninth, preserving a 5–2 victory and giving the Giants a 1–0 lead in the Division Series rematch. Game 2 in San Francisco: Andy Frederick vs C.J. Clark (2047 3rd Round)
The Diamondbacks edged the Giants 8–7 in an 11-inning thriller, evening the Division Series. Arizona struck first in the 1st on a two-out RBI single and tacked on two more in the 4th to lead 3–1. Andy French crushed a 426-foot, three-run homer in the 5th, swelling the margin to 6–1. San Francisco rallied with two runs in the 7th but trailed 6–3 entering the 9th. Down to their final three outs, the Giants erupted for four runs—highlighted by Steve Boyd’s two-out single—to knot the game at 7–7. After a scoreless 10th, Brad Elliott belted a 429-foot solo shot in the 11th off Ricky Eggett, and the Diamondbacks’ bullpen slammed the door, sealing an 8–7 victory. Game 3 in Arizona: Jorge Ramirez vs Eric Lundqvist (2048 1st Round)
Game 3 saw the Giants seize control early and hang on for a 5–3 victory. San Francisco erupted for three runs in the 1st—Ernesto Pantoja’s double and Gianvito Heaton’s single set the table for David Rojo’s two-run homer, followed by Steve Boyd’s RBI single. Jim Clarke’s second-inning double chased home Boyd for a 4–0 cushion. Arizona chipped away in the 6th when Chase Needam crushed a two-run blast, but San Francisco regained breathing room in the 7th as Ernnie Chafer belted a 435-foot solo shot. Needam responded with a solo homer in the 8th, cutting the gap to two, yet Giants starter Jorge Ramirez (6 IP, 2 R) and relievers Josh O’Neal (0.2 IP, 0 R), Mike Stark (1.1 IP, 1 R), and Juan Dorame (1.1 IP, 0 R, SV) combined to preserve the win. Game 4 in Arizona: Nate Hudson vs Juan Padilla (2056 Trade SD)
Game 4: Giants 6, Diamondbacks 4—San Francisco clinched the Division Series 3–1 to advance to the NLCS. The Giants struck in the 3rd when Ernnie Chafer crushed a 367-foot solo homer, Nelson Loera followed with a triple, and Juan Magana’s RBI double capped a three-run burst. San Francisco added one in the 4th on Chafer’s bases-loaded single and tacked on two more in the 5th via Ernesto Pantoja’s two-out double and Steve Boyd’s run-scoring single, blowing the game open at 6–0. Arizona mounted a comeback with two runs in both the 5th and 6th—Steve Emberger spearheaded the rally, going 4-for-4—tightening it to 6–4. Yet Nate Brodt and Ricky Eggett combined to retire the final ten batters, preserving the Giants’ series-clinching victory. Series MVP: Ernnie Chafer (SF) 7-16, 2 HR, 4 RBI |
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#151 |
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All Star Reserve
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2056 Playoffs – League Championship
The League Championship Series are set and the Giants are the only home team to have made it to the pennant series. In the American League, we are back in the 2040s as the Astros and Royals will face off, as they did six years in a row from 2041-2046, after the Astros took our the AL-leading Road Warriors and the Royals took out the Angels, both series ending 3-1. Over in the National League it’s a less regular match up as the Giants will face the Brewers for only the second time in postseason history, and first since a 2031 Division Series San Francisco won in five games. The Giants took the regular season series 4-2 and have the edge in runs scored (3rd to 6th) and runs against (2nd to 4th) but it shapes up to be a great series, even if most eyes will be on the Royals-Astros games. 1B Ernesto Chairez was the lynchpin of the offense, leading the team with a .322 batting average and 101 RBI and second with 33 HR. DH Frank Valadez managed one more HR and contributed 97 RBI, as did LF Nelson Rivera. That helped the offense record top 6 rankings across all the major hitting statistics. On the pitching side, Milwaukee will miss SP Tony Cutler who tore his UCL in September, but have three pitchers in Ben McClelland, Danny Thacker, and Innocenzio Pedraza who recorded ERA under 3.75, with LHP Thacker leading the team with 17 W but McClelland leading both the strikeout rankings, 224, and IP, 204.2. In the bullpen, Mike Lake had 44 SV with a 1.76 ERA while they have four LHP to mix up the looks they give to opposing batters. Game 1 in San Francisco: Juan Montoya vs Ben McClelland (2049 1st Round)
Milwaukee struck first in the 2nd inning when Alejandro Serpas laced an RBI single. The Brewers blew the game open in the 5th as Frank Valadez launched a 419-foot solo homer and Nelson Rivera delivered an RBI double, staking Milwaukee to a 3–0 lead. Giants starter Juan Montoya settled in after the fifth, logging seven strong innings. San Francisco finally dented the scoreboard in the 7th on Gianvito Heaton’s solo blast, but Milwaukee’s bullpen—anchored by Esteban Collazo and Mike Lake—shut down the final eight batters. The Brewers held on for a 3–1 victory, seizing a 1–0 edge in the NLCS. Game 2 in San Francisco: Andy Frederick vs Danny Thacker (2055 Trade SA)
Juan Rivas’s 382-foot homer gave Milwaukee a 1–0 lead in the first, but David Rojo answered with an RBI double. After scoreless middle innings, Ernesto Pantoja’s fourth-inning jack and Rojo’s three-run fifth pushed San Francisco to a 6–1 advantage. The Brewers rallied for four sixth-inning runs—capped by Kulia West’s two-run double—to close within 6–5. In the ninth, Rivas’s go-ahead double seemed decisive until Jim Clarke’s tying solo shot. Extra innings belonged to Milwaukee, as Frank Garras’s 428-foot, two-run homer in the tenth sealed a 9–7 Brewers victory. Game 3 in Milwaukee: Jorge Ramirez vs Innocenzio Pedraza (2049 Trade LAD)
Game 3 was decided by a ninth-inning walk-off as Milwaukee edged San Francisco 7–6. Frank Valadez opened the scoring with a leadoff solo homer in the bottom of the first, but the Giants answered in the second when David Rojo and Ernnie Chafer hit back-to-back solo shots. Milwaukee countered with a three-run second, capped by Juan Rivas’s RBI single, to lead 4–2. San Francisco battled back, tying it 4–4 on a Jim Clarke double in the fourth and Rojo’s steal-and-score single in the fifth. In the sixth, Juan Magana’s two-run homer gave the Giants a 6–4 edge. Milwaukee rallied in the eighth on Jesus Perea’s double and a throwing error to knot the game. In the ninth, two walks set the stage for Frank Garras’s game-winning single, sealing the Brewers’ comeback. Game 4 in Milwaukee: Nate Hudson vs Kevin Flaig (2054 Waivers HOU)
A scoreless duel unfolded through four innings until Milwaukee broke through in the fifth. After an errant play and a bases-loaded walk, Ernesto Chairez’s single drove home two, giving the Brewers a 2–0 lead. San Francisco knotted it in the seventh when Steve Boyd’s leadoff walk turned into a run on a Jim Clarke error, and pinch-hitter Mike Moffitt’s RBI single plated Clarke. Neither side could push a winner through the ninth in a pitchers’ showcase, sending the contest into extras. In the 10th, Nate Morris laced a leadoff double, and Juan Magana’s single ignited a three-run rally capped by David Rojo’s run-scoring double and Steve Boyd’s RBI knock. Milwaukee’s Juan Rivas answered with a solo homer but couldn’t muster more, and the Giants prevailed 5–3. Game 5 in Milwaukee: Juan Montoya vs Ben McClelland
Game 5 was a wild slugfest with seven lead changes before San Francisco prevailed 8–7. The Giants struck first as Gianvito Heaton’s two-run homer in the opening frame gave the Giants the lead. Milwaukee answered in the first and second—Juan Rivas’s RBI grounder and Alejandro Serpas’s solo shot tied it 2–2. Dane Cook’s third-inning blast gave San Francisco a brief lead, but Nelson Rivera’s homer knotted the game again. In the fourth, Frank Garras and Jesus Perea delivered a two-run double and heads-up baserunning to push Milwaukee ahead 5–3. The Giants rallied in the sixth on Ernesto Pantoja’s double, Heaton’s two-bagger, and Steve Boyd’s walk setting up a tying fielder’s choice. Milwaukee regained a two-run edge when Josh Shepherd’s double plated two, but Heaton ended it in the seventh with a three-run shot, and the bullpen shut the door. Game 6 in San Francisco: Andy Frederick vs Danny Thacker
Game 6 was a pitchers’ duel until the seventh inning broke the stalemate. Giants starter Andy Frederick delivered six scoreless frames, issuing just two walks while keeping Milwaukee off the board. The Brewers’ best threat arrived in the sixth when Nelson Rivera roped a double, but San Francisco’s infield held him at third to preserve the tie. In the bottom of the seventh, Gianvito Heaton launched a 429-foot solo homer, and Jim Clarke followed with a two-run shot off Danny Thacker to put the Giants ahead 3–0. San Francisco’s bullpen then slammed the door over the final two innings, recording six straight outs to secure the 3–0 victory. Game 7 in San Francisco: Jorge Ramirez vs Innocenzio Pedraza San Francisco wins 3-2 (16)
After trailing the series 3–0, the Giants completed one of the most dramatic reversals in franchise history, edging Milwaukee 3–2 in a 16-inning marathon to win the pennant 4–3. The Brewers struck first in the fifth when Alejandro Serpas’ infield hit set up Jesus Perea’s RBI single. San Francisco answered emphatically in the sixth: Gianvito Heaton ripped a double and David Rojo launched a 431-ft two-run homer to grab a 2–1 lead. Giants ace Jorge Ramirez spun almost seven frames of two-run bal, and a steady bullpen—anchored by Rickey Martino, Rich Eggett, and Josh O’Neal—kept Milwaukee off the board through 12 innings. Milwaukee rallied in the seventh when Frank Garras walked, Serpas doubled home the tying run, and Rickey Martino was summoned to silence the Brewers the rest of the way. Both teams traded zeroes from the eighth through the 15th, highlighted by Nate Brodt’s strikeout of Chris Schow and a clutch double from Ernesto Chairez in the top of the 16th. With their season on the line, the Giants sent up outfielder Jaquan Willie in the bottom of the 16th. On a 2–0 pitch from LHP Alfredo Pastrano, Willie deposited a 432-ft line drive into the left-center bleachers for a walk-off solo homer—capping a stunning comeback and sending San Francisco into delirium. This epic Game 7 will be remembered not just for its length, but for the resilience and timely power that defined the Giants’ historic turnaround. Series MVP: David Rojo (SF) 10-31, 3 HR, 8 RBI |
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#152 |
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2056 Playoffs – World Series
After the miracle comeback, the Giants are headed to the World Series for the third time in four years. For the second time in that run, and third time all-time, they will be taking on the Kansas City Royals. The Royals saw their AL Central streak stopped at twenty but came through the Wild Card series against the AL East winning Blue Jays, the AL West winning Angels in the Division Series, and then longtime rival the Astros 4-2 to win the AL pennant (their 18th, and 14th since 2024). 2056 World Series Preview: Giants vs Royals The San Francisco Giants (93-69) welcome the Kansas City Royals (87-75) to Oracle Park for the fall classic after edging them 2-1 in September. Both clubs boast deep rotations and potent offenses, but San Francisco’s home-field setup—facing four games at pitcher-friendly Oracle—could tilt the balance. The Giants’ roster blends high-end power and lockdown relief, while Kansas City leans on a versatile bullpen and mid-leverage arms. This preview breaks down each squad’s strengths, head-to-head nuances and X-factors before delivering a series prediction. Kansas City Outlook Kansas City’s rotation mixes innings eaters and strikeout specialists. David Conforto (182 IP, 8.1 K/9, FIP- 94) leads the staff, with Braden Montalbano (192 IP, 8.5 K/9, 102 FIP-) and rookie Juan Morales (2.89 ERA, 4.5 BB/9, 82 FIP-) providing complementary looks. Jonathan Tucker has struggled (5.79 ERA, 116 FIP-) but offers bulk innings. The bullpen boasts Jared Baynes (58 G, 18 SV, 9.9 K/9), closer Randy Wambolt (13 SV, 12.1 K/9, 53 FIP-) and high-leverage arms like Eric Caraballo (11.6 K/9, 76 FIP-) and Ferlon Goins (13.5 K/9, 48 FIP-). Kansas City ranks above league average in preventing homers (0.9 HR/9 starter, 1.0 for relievers) and features a 25.8 K% in relief. Kansas City Offense A balanced lineup fuels KC. Biagio Torrisi (1.073 OPS, 185 wRC+, 41 HR) and David de Anda (159 OPS+, .975 OPS) anchor middle innings with plus power. Juan Montelongo (.849 OPS, 7.4 BB%, 133 wRC+) and Nelson Saiz (.831 OPS, 130 wRC+, 21 HR) provide on-base consistency. Speed and contact come from Dan Arango (.685 OPS, 22.8 K%) and Mike Gronkiewicz (.784 OPS, 29 SB, 91.9 SB%). The Royals post a collective .280 BABIP and modest 14 ISO, setting up pressure on opposing arms to throw strikes. San Francisco Outlook San Francisco’s rotation tops KC’s depth. Andy Frederick (128 IP, 10.7 K/9, 66 FIP-) and Juan Montoya (9.0 K/9, 92 FIP-, 3.38 ERA) form a high-octane one-two punch. Jorge Ramirez brings durability (182 IP, 9.8 K/9) despite a middling 95 FIP-, while Nate Hudson (2.74 ERA, 147 ERA+) and rookie Nate Brodt (3.12 ERA, 129 ERA+) can swing a game in relief. Closer Ricky Eggett (63 G, 30 SV, 13.9 K/9, 64 FIP-) is the league’s elite shutdown artist, supported by Jesus Machado (9 holds, 0.93 WHIP, 244 ERA+). San Francisco Offense The Giants pair thump and discipline. Gianvito Heaton (1.754 OPS, 146 wRC+, 45 HR) and David Rojo (.784 OPS, 32 2B, 26 HR) dominate center to corner, while Juan Magana (.831 OPS+, 28 HR, 83.9 SB%) and Ernesto Pantoja (.817 OPS, 31 HR) fortify the heart. Jim Clarke and Dane Cook combine for .783 OPS and plus framing behind the plate. San Francisco’s lineup overall posts a .326 OBP, 28.0 K% and 1.082 Defensive Efficiency at catcher and infield. Key Matchups Andy Frederick vs. Biagio Torrisi: Lefty power vs. right-handed strikeout ace David Conforto vs. Gianvito Heaton: K-rate duel in Game 1 Ricky Eggett vs. lead-off Mike Gronkiewicz: High-leverage SB threat Juan Morales vs. Juan Magana: Rookie poise vs. veteran clutch Baynes/Caraballo vs. bottom third: Can SF’s ‘pen slam door early? Jorge Ramirez vs. David de Anda: Will Royals adjust to Ramirez’s sinker? Prediction Home-field advantage, rotation depth and a dominant back end tilt this series to the Giants. San Francisco’s starters generate 5.4 K/BB ratios and sub-3.40 FIP, while KC’s mid-rotation arms average 9.0 K/9 but carry higher WHIPs. Oracle Park suppresses homers, neutralizing Kansas City’s power at the plate. I forecast the Giants in six games, riding their balanced offense and elite relief corps to an eleventh title in franchise history. Game 1 in San Francisco: Juan Montoya vs Braden Montalbano (2049 Trade SEA)
Kansas City pulled off a dramatic 7–5 victory in San Francisco, thanks to timely power and stout bullpen work. Braden Montalbano set the tone with five-plus innings of four-run ball. After a leadoff single by Mike Gronkiewicz and another by David de Anda, Nelson Saiz’s grounder brought home KC’s first run in the opening frame. Montoya settled in, cruising through the middle innings while his offense fell silent against Braden Montalbano. San Francisco struck in the second on Ernesto Pantoja’s leadoff single and Gianvito Heaton’s 438-foot two-run blast, only to see the Royals respond in the bottom of the third. Dan Arango’s RBI single and David de Anda’s two-run knock turned a 2–1 deficit into a 3–2 lead. The game exploded in the sixth. Montoya departed after a scoreless sixth; Jesus Machado promptly issued a leadoff walk, and Bobby Nickelberry punished it with a 391-foot, three-run homer to push Kansas City ahead 6–2. San Francisco countered in their half when Nelson Loera’s double and David Rojo’s follow-up knock plated a run, then Heaton delivered again—this time a 441-foot two-run shot—to trail 6–5. Biagio Torrisi’s solo 441-foot homer in the seventh answered back. From there, Dan Caines, Rickey Martino and Randy Wambolt combined for four hitless innings to end the scoring. Kansas City’s seventh inning blast proved the difference in a game defined by power swings and late-inning resilience. Game 2 in San Francisco: Nate Hudson vs David Conforto (2046 Scouting Discovery)
San Francisco surprisingly opened Game 2 at Oracle Park with RHP Nate Hudson, and he rewarded the move with a true pitcher’s duel—until the ninth inning swung it Kansas City’s way. Hudson cruised through six innings of two-hit ball, only striking out one but only walking two. He navigated a leadoff double by David de Anda in the first, then yielded solo homers to Dan Arango (423 ft) and de Anda (367 ft) in the third that evened the score at 2–2. After that, Hudson and three relievers—Rickey Martino, Mike Grudzinski and Nate Brodt—tossed three more scoreless frames. The Giants’ bats struck first. In the bottom of the opening frame, Juan Magana crushed a 425-foot two-run blast and later added a single, but San Francisco stranded the tying run at second and never threatened again. With the game deadlocked, the Royals seized their moment in the top of the ninth. Bobby Nickelberry reached on an infield error, and Alex Barrett’s clutch double into left delivered the go-ahead run. A spotless ninth from KC closer Randy Wambolt sealed a 3–2 win. Despite Hudson’s player-of-the-game performance, San Francisco falls behind 2–0 in the series and now faces an off day before heading to Kansas City for Game 3. Game 3 in Kansas City: Andy Frederick vs Jonathan Tucker (2056 Trade SEA)
San Francisco refused to be intimidated by Kauffman Stadium’s raucous crowd, jumping on Jonathan Tucker for a 1–0 lead in the first when Juan Magana crushed a 384-foot solo shot to right. That quick strike set the tone as Andy Frederick and company kept Kansas City off the board through five spotless innings. However, the performance didn’t come without a cost, as Frederick left the game with a shoulder injury after inducing Biagio Torrisi into a groundout to start the bottom of the 6th inning. The Giants’ offense woke up again in the sixth. A leadoff double by Juan Magana and two walks set the stage for Gianvito Heaton’s towering three-run homer—396 feet into the left-center bleachers—that broke the game wide open and chased Tucker from the hill. Steve Boyd’s follow-up single added an insurance run before Ferlon Goins slammed the door on the Royals’ lineup. Kansas City’s only spark until the finish came in the bottom of the ninth, when a two-run rally—sparked by a leadoff walk, infield hits and Jadon Aberdeen’s pinch-double—got the home side on the board. But by then the Giants had already piled up seven runs, cruising to a 7–2 victory that trims the series deficit to 2–1. San Francisco’s balanced attack—three homers, timely doubles and six solid innings from Frederick—proved decisive. The bullpen combined for three more scoreless frames, handing Kansas City its first defeat of the series and shifting momentum back to the road club. Game 4 in Kansas City: Jorge Ramirez vs Juan Morales (2048 Trade BOS)
Kansas City pitchers combined to blank San Francisco, and a lone run in the seventh carried the Royals to a 1–0 victory and set up a potential clincher in Game 5 tomorrow. From the first pitch, it was a duel. LHP Juan Morales scattered four hits over five shutout innings, fanning six, and stranding two in his opening frame. San Francisco’s bats never recovered—RHP Jorge Ramirez answered in kind, striking out nine over five and two-third scoreless innings and whiffing the side in order in the fifth. Both bullpens held firm through the middle innings until the bottom of the seventh. Pinch-hitter Gabino Galindo greeted RHP Jesus Machado with a line-drive double into the gap. Two batters later, Mike Gronkiewicz lofted a sacrifice fly to right-center; Galindo tagged and scored easily to break the deadlock. Kansas City threatened additional scores in the form of three perfectly executed steals—David de Anda swiped second in the third, Robby Baker did the same in the fourth, and Juan Montelongo followed suit in the eighth—but their real prize was the lone run. RHP Randy Wambolt slammed the door in the ninth, retiring the side on nine pitches to preserve the shutout. The Royals now lead the World Series 3–1 and can clinch at home in Game 5. Good luck, Giants. Game 5 in Kansas City: Juan Montoya vs Braden Montalbano
Kansas City clinched a 4–3 extra-innings thriller to capture their third World Series in five seasons (tenth overall), thanks to Alex Barrett’s walk-off single in the 10th. LHP Braden Montalbano and RHP Juan Montoya dominated early, combining for seven shutout innings. But Kansas City struck first in the bottom of the 1st: Mike Gronkiewicz drew a leadoff walk, stole second and third, then scored on Nelson Saiz’s miscued grounder to short. The Royals extended their lead in the 4th when Robby Baker walloped a 365-foot solo homer off Montoya. San Francisco answered in the 5th: Gianvito Heaton lined a double into left-center and Steve Boyd followed with a two-bagger to score the Giants’ first run. Biagio Torrisi reclaimed a two-run cushion with a 391-foot solo shot in the bottom half. In the 6th, back-to-back walks to Nelson Loera and David Rojo preceded Juan Magana’s RBI double. Despite Rojo being thrown out at the plate on the same play, Ernesto Pantoja added an RBI single to knot the game at three. Both bullpens held through nine scoreless frames. In the 10th, Ricky Eggett loaded the bases before Barrett—pinch-hitting for Wilfredo Polo—delivered a game-winner to right, sending the Royals and their home crowd into championship delirium. Series MVP: Robby Baker (KC) 7-18, 1 HR, 1 RBI |
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#153 |
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All Star Reserve
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2056 Playoffs
A third World Series in four years is a tremendous achievement but ultimately the season ends in frustration for the Giants as they fall to Stewart’s former team for the second time as the Royals clinch their Giants-equalling tenth World Series. The Giants overcame a 3-0 hole against the Brewers so aarguably overachieved but were stifled by an elite Royals bullpen, complemented by timely hitting as three of the four defeats were by one run, and the fourth by only two. A third NL pennant, though, shows that the Giants are still the team to beat in the National League and, with salary space, should be looking to improve from a position of strength in the offseason. San Francisco Post-Season Stats San Francisco’s position players delivered a mixed bag at the plate in the postseason, with a few standouts carrying much of the offensive load. Juan Magana (wRC+ 172) and David Rojo (wRC+ 139) paced the Giants, combining for 41 plate appearances of high-contact, extra-base production. Magana’s .964 OPS featured five doubles and three home runs, while Rojo’s .857 OPS included four extra-base knocks and thirteen RBIs. LF Gianvito Heaton (wRC+ 151) also excelled, slugging .619 with sixteen RBIs although he did strike out in over 45% of at-bats. Ernnie Chafer (wRC+ 169) made the most of a limited role, posting a .957 OPS in ten games with three homers but zero walks. Nate Morris (wRC+ 157) likewise flashed power, going 4-for-15 with a triple. Mike Moffitt’s small sample (3 PA) hinted at promise (wRC+ 91), but the rest of the lineup struggled to consistently reach base. At the other end, Jim Clarke (wRC+ 63) and Dane Cook (wRC+ 34) failed to provide middle-of-the-order production, combining for a .589 OPS and minimal run support. Ernesto Pantoja (wRC+ 68), Steve Boyd (wRC+ 54) and Nelson Loera (wRC+ 55) all posted sub-70 marks, leaving rallies stranded. Joel Hudson (wRC+ –24) and Juan Mendoza (wRC+ –42) were unable to capitalize on limited opportunities, burying potential scoring chances. Ultimately, San Francisco’s depth scored well below league average (team wRC+ ≈ 95), undermining their late-inning comebacks. The Giants’ starting rotation delivered mixed results in the postseason. Jorge Ramirez and Andy Frederick anchored the staff, posting FIP- values of 83 and 85, respectively. Ramirez logged a 2.31 ERA over 23.1 innings with 10.0 K/9 and a tidy 2.7 BB/9, while Frederick struck out 12.2 batters per nine despite a higher ERA. Juan Montoya and Nate Hudson struggled, with FIP- marks of 128 and 116 that reflected elevated home-run rates and walk totals, combining for just 41 strikeouts over 42 innings. San Francisco’s bullpen emerged as the staff’s strength. Nate Brodt, Dan Caines and Rickey Martino all turned in dominant peripherals, each posting a FIP- below 50, with Brodt converting his lone save and Caines limiting hitters to a .056 batting average. Closer Ricky Eggett managed a 92 FIP- but only converted 60% of his save chances and had five meltdowns to three shutdowns, and set as unwanted record as the first pitcher in baseball history to lose five postseason games. Middle relievers Juan Dorame (FIP- 52) and Mike Stark (61) combined for 1.25 WHIP and held opponents to a .229 average. Overall, the bullpen outperformed the starters, delivering multiple high-leverage wins despite uneven starting work. Minor Leagues It was a largely successful minor league season for the Giants with only the AAA River Cats and ACL Rookie team posting losing records. The A+ Emeralds won their third Championship in four years while the DSL Rookie team were also Champions, after a dominant 48-12 regular season. Post Season Sacramento River Cats [AAA] missed the playoffs by 16 games. Richmond Flying Squirrels [AA] missed the playoffs by 2 games. Eugene Emeralds [A+] won the Championship. San Jose Giants [A] missed the playoffs by 14 games. San Francisco (ACL) Giants Orange [R] missed the playoffs by 7 games. San Francisco (DSL) Giants Orange [R] won the Championship. Owner Goals Review Team Record: Getting to the playoffs is always tough in a competitive league like ours but you made it happen! I'm very happy with the work you did here. Improve team stats: I told you that On-Base PCT was important to shore up, and I'm thrilled that you accomplished that. Glad to see we ended up 6th this year. Well done! Extend your player: It's not easy to lock up a guy who doesn't want to talk. Keep the discussions open with Ernesto Pantoja. Build your farm: We're no longer near the bottom in the league in minor league systems, but we're still a long way from having Field of News praise our system. Spend a little time and see what you can do to help build our farm system. Improve your intl. amateur finds: We've built a great international pipeline. Good job so far! Long Term: You made the playoffs. I had set out a longer vision to bring a championship to San Francisco by 2060, and that time isn't up yet. I know you won it all last year, and I do hope we can bring another championship in the next few years, but back-to-back wins would have been nice. Just make sure we don't go too long before the next championship. I am happy with your performance in accomplishing the goals I have given you. However, when I consider the on- and off-field success of the team, my overall mood with your performance is delighted. International Amateurs We just completed our monthly private practice with many young international amateur free agents who we hope can aid our club in the coming years. It was great to meet the players in-person and get to know them better, and I was able to improve my scouting assessment on all invitees. In fact some of the players impressed me, since they showcased a higher potential than I had previously expected from them: Julio Montero, 16 year-old 3B out of Venezuela Lean and athletic, Julio Montero hails from Maracaibo, Venezuela. He has a plus-plus eye that should place him among the leaders in walks. He has above average contact potential. He can be as good with the bat as anyone out there at his level. He is a young player with above average power potential. It's early and Montero is young, but his development prospect as a future third baseman looks extremely promising. However, a few invitees left me disappointed as they did not appear to match my previous assessment, although they may still end up being future stars: Corey Tolmay, 16 year-old CF out of England Corey Tolmay is a long, lean athletic center fielder who was born in Chartham, England. He's a towering beast at the plate and has potential to be an elite power hitter. His eye grades out as plus-plus. He has dazzling speed. If Tolmay fulfills his potential, he could make multiple trips to the All-Star Game. David Rivera, 16 year-old LHP out of Dominican Republic Lean and athletic, David Rivera hails from Cambita Garabitos, Dominican Republic. When he is fully developed, his repertoire should include an outstanding slider and an outstanding sinker. With dominant stuff and advanced feel and control he has the chance to be an ace. If Rivera can continue to improve he'll be on the shortlist for best relievers in the league. |
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#154 |
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All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 875
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Start of 2056 / 2057 Offseason
Prospect Review
MLB Farm Ranking The Giants move up to 16th in the farm system rankings, with five top 100 players in the latest rankings; they have lots of work to do but it is a preferable place than the Royals find themselves, still languishing down in 28th. San Francisco Prospects It was a better year for Giants prospects as the majority put up multi-WAR seasons and will be looking to make a step up in 2057. Frustratingly, the two biggest disappointments were at AAA where neither Jahsiiyah Garza nor Ha-joon Kim excelled in what should have been a consolidation year before the move to the big leagues. Personnel The Giants saw the departure of three members of their Major League coaching staff, BC Jake Walsh retiring while neither Hitting Coach Jonathan Taveras nor 3B Coach Webb Little were offered extensions. The Giants promoted internally for the vacant Hitting Coach role; AAA Sacramento HC Sergio Pineda getting the promotion while the Giants will go external for a new Bench Coach, 3B Coach, and AAA Hitting Coach. Retirements Neither the Giants nor Stewart’s former Royals draft picks retirements lists grew at the end of the season but there were three numbers retired across the league as Tampa Bay retired SP Ed Lanham’s number in honour of his Cy Young Award, 150 W in just over 40 GS, with 49.5 WAR for the club; and the Dodgers retired two numbers – RP Nate Olson after his 598 G and 220 SV for the club over 10 seasons and 1B Dave Morrison for his one-club, 15 year career that included an MVP Award with 2,500+ H, 500+ HR, and six years of leading the NL in RBI. Los Angeles Dodgers: Retired #26 in honor of Nate Olson. Los Angeles Dodgers: Retired #29 in honor of Dave Morrison. Tampa Bay Rays: Retired #2 in honor of Ed Lanham. Arizona Diamondbacks: CL Nate Olson retired from professional baseball. Arizona Diamondbacks: LF David Rueda (AA Amarillo) retired from professional baseball. Arizona Diamondbacks: RP Gilberto Ledezma (A Visalia) retired from professional baseball. Atlanta Braves: 3B Alfredo Luna retired from professional baseball. Atlanta Braves: RP Kanne Hofsink (AAA Gwinnett) retired from professional baseball. Atlanta Braves: RP Luis Islas (AA Mississippi) retired from professional baseball. Boston Red Sox: RP Eric Kolander (AA Portland) retired from professional baseball. Boston Red Sox: RP Jesus Cerna (A Salem) retired from professional baseball. Boston Red Sox: RP Jesus Longoria (AA Portland) retired from professional baseball. Boston Red Sox: SP Jimmy Baker retired from professional baseball. Chicago Cubs: 2B Alfredo Espinosa retired from professional baseball. Chicago White Sox: RF Gilberto Barrera retired from professional baseball. Cincinnati Reds: 1B Juan Schoenemann (AA Chattanooga) retired from professional baseball. Cincinnati Reds: RP Braudin Burk (AAA Louisville) retired from professional baseball. Cincinnati Reds: RP Josh Shabazz (AA Chattanooga) retired from professional baseball. Cincinnati Reds: SP Ed Lanham retired from professional baseball. Colorado Rockies: C Pat Buckley retired from professional baseball. Columbus Road Warriors: 3B Eric Vanderhoof retired from professional baseball. Houston Astros: CL Andres Fragoza retired from professional baseball. Houston Astros: SP Juan Ramirez (AAA Sugar Land) retired from professional baseball. Los Angeles Angels: C Abraham Mendoza retired from professional baseball. Milwaukee Brewers: SP Joe Braun retired from professional baseball. New York Mets: LF Luis Llamas (AA Binghamton) retired from professional baseball. New York Mets: RP Jeraldo Verduzco (R New York N (DSL)) retired from professional baseball. Philadelphia Phillies: RP Mike Stamper retired from professional baseball. Philadelphia Phillies: RP Vicente Arzate (AAA Lehigh Valley) retired from professional baseball. Pittsburgh Pirates: SP Juan Llamas retired from professional baseball. San Diego Padres: 1B Juan Bustamante retired from professional baseball. San Diego Padres: SP Cristoph Bondar retired from professional baseball. St. Louis Cardinals: SP Juan Jorrin retired from professional baseball. Tampa Bay Rays: 1B Tadayoshi Okumura retired from professional baseball. Tampa Bay Rays: RP Juan Medina retired from professional baseball. Washington Nationals: RP Ian Lane (AA Harrisburg) retired from professional baseball. 1B Christopher S Carrada retired from professional baseball. 1B Clint D'Antonio retired from professional baseball. 1B Dave Morrison retired from professional baseball. 1B Gabe Holian retired from professional baseball. 1B Josh Horgan retired from professional baseball. 1B Juan Salazar retired from professional baseball. 2B Joe Prince retired from professional baseball. 2B Luis Castro retired from professional baseball. 2B Oliver Duque retired from professional baseball. SS Jesus Barrios retired from professional baseball. SS Juan Baca retired from professional baseball. LF Abraham Felix retired from professional baseball. LF Curt Chamberlin retired from professional baseball. CF Ron Chambers retired from professional baseball. RF Ignacio Cervantes retired from professional baseball. RF Jim Kelley retired from professional baseball. RF Jonathan Jordan retired from professional baseball. SP Bobby Elzey retired from professional baseball. SP Chris Glidden retired from professional baseball. SP Chuck Kincey retired from professional baseball. SP DeMario Lucio retired from professional baseball. SP Edgar Cervantes retired from professional baseball. SP Edgar Rivera retired from professional baseball. SP Gil Watterson retired from professional baseball. SP Juan Ibarra retired from professional baseball. SP Luis Rosas retired from professional baseball. SP Mike Davidson retired from professional baseball. SP Mitch Gaff retired from professional baseball. SP Nelson Briones retired from professional baseball. SP Poto Rizzi retired from professional baseball. SP Rodolfo Arroyo retired from professional baseball. SP Sean LeVan retired from professional baseball. RP Ben Schultz retired from professional baseball. RP Danny McCarthy retired from professional baseball. RP David Berrios retired from professional baseball. RP Jonathan Clanton retired from professional baseball. RP Luis Trevino retired from professional baseball. RP Luis Vargas retired from professional baseball. RP Mike Olson retired from professional baseball. RP Nelson Camacho retired from professional baseball. Owner Goals Two new goals from owner Quivers as he reacts to the starting rotations struggles in the postseason with a request to sign a Cy Young Award winner over the next four years – not impossible but, as for Quiver, and average priority, in line with signing an extension with Ernesto Pantoja. The desire to achieve a winning record sets the bar very low for the coming season; Stewart’s goal is to defend the NL West title at a minimum. Finances Great news to start the offseason as the recent success of the franchise sees Fan Loyalty return to the “Very Good” rating that Stewart inherited. There was further good news as owner Marquis Quivers increased the budget by a further $6m for the coming season, bringing the total budget just $4m from the $300m mark, and 5th in the league. The small increase in ticket prices has been absorbed by fans and there might be another small increase coming. All of that means a payroll of around $190m can be accommodated, giving Stewart $40m spending money this offseason and over $100m for extensions. |
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#155 |
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All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 875
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2056 Player Evaluation
Catchers Jim Clarke anchored the catching position with an elite offensive season. He posted a 122 wRC+ and a .775 OPS, driving 19 home runs and collecting 103 hits in 497 plate appearances. Clarke’s .246/.356/.419 slash line and 14.1 BB% showcase his disciplined approach, while his 2.9 WAR ranks him among the league’s most valuable backstops. Defensively, he struggled—his −2.4 zone rating and −2 framing runs indicate room for improvement—but his bat more than compensated. Clarke is under contract for next year at $28m which is in a fair range for a 3 WAR player, if he can maintain that level of performance. In a part-time role, Dane Cook delivered high-impact offense, slashing .280/.377/.416 with an outstanding 127 wRC+ and .793 OPS over 147 plate appearances. His 13.6 BB% and 12.9 K% underline a mature plate approach, and he chipped in eight doubles and three homers. Cook’s 0.9 WAR reflects strong value in limited action. Defensively, his −0.5 zone rating and −1.4 framing runs suggest slight weaknesses, but his bat makes him a reliable secondary option. Cook will be on league minimum next year and in the mix for the back up catcher role, with Ernie Mapes. Ernie Mapes turned six starts into a resounding statement, boasting a mini-season 166 wRC+ and .954 OPS. In just 24 at-bats, he hit .429 with a .643 BABIP, showcasing exceptional contact ability. Though he didn’t clear the fences, his single and extra-base hit rate hint at emerging power. Defensively, Mapes held his own—zero errors with a slight +0.2 zone rating. While the sample is small, he’s a high-upside candidate for more playing time. Mapes will be on league minimum next year and in the mix for the back up catcher role, with Dane Cook. Infield 1B Juan Magana delivered a monster season at first base, tallying a career-high 4.6 WAR while posting a 132 wRC+ and .831 OPS in 703 plate appearances. He chipped in 166 hits, including 33 doubles, four triples, and 28 homers, driving in 94 runs and scoring 92 times. His 11.4% walk rate and 19.2% strikeout rate underline his disciplined approach. On the bases, Magana swiped 52 bags at an 83.9% success rate. Defensively, his 8.03 range factor and +4.4 zone rating reflect excellent footwork and reliable hands. Entering the second year of his long-term contract, Magana will be the Giants 1B in 2057. 2B Ernesto Pantoja anchored second base with 4.0 WAR, crafting a balanced .255/.326/.491 slash line and 126 wRC+ over 657 plate appearances. He racked up 150 hits, including 34 doubles, six triples, and 31 homers, while driving in 87 runs and scoring 94 times. His tidy 7.8% walk rate and 19.2% strikeout rate underline a consistent approach. Defensively, Pantoja’s 4.08 range factor was offset by a –5.2 zone rating, hinting at occasional lapses despite solid effort. Entering his last year arbitration year, and looking for $30m+ for an extension, Pantoja will most likely receive a one-year extension before a QO next off season. 3B Steve Boyd turned 440 plate appearances into 2.0 WAR, compiling a strong .275/.339/.457 slash line and 118 wRC+. He recorded 109 hits, including 18 doubles, six triples, and 14 homers, while driving in 49 runs and scoring 53 times. Boyd’s 7.3% walk rate and 17% strikeout rate balance aggression and selectivity. Defensively, his 2.64 range factor and +1.0 zone rating at third base underscore dependable reactions and above-average play in the hot corner. Boyd is a replaceable part of the roster but will likely receive a one year extension and with another year of arbitration eligibility the Giants don’t need to make a decision yet. SS Joel Hudson combined slick defense with steady offense, posting 1.5 WAR and a .232/.289/.395 slash line over 250 plate appearances in an injury hit season. His 91 wRC+ and .684 OPS were modest but backed by 53 hits, including 17 doubles and six homers, while scoring 29 runs. At short, Hudson’s 4.5 zone rating and 1.085 fielding efficiency highlight elite glove work, supported by a 3.8 range factor. An extension during the season means Hudson is the first choice SS on the roster but the Giants will hope he can stay fit in 2057. SS Juan Mendoza struggled to impact the ledger, posting a .204/.253/.334 slash line with a paltry 64 wRC+ across 324 plate appearances and –0.1 WAR covering for Hudson. He notched 61 hits, 16 doubles, one triple, and seven homers, driving in 42 and scoring 33. Mendoza walked just 6.5% of the time and struck out 22.8%. Defensively, his 3.85 range factor was solid, but a –2.8 zone rating points to inconsistent positioning. Improvement on both sides of the ball will be key for him next year although he is a clear candidate for upgrade. In 360 plate appearances, Nate Morris posted a 1.2 WAR with a .257/.319/.402 line and 91 wRC+. He tallied 83 hits, 13 doubles, five triples, and eight homers, knocking in 47 runs and crossing the plate 39 times. Morris drew walks at a 7.5% clip but struck out 23.9% of the time. Defensively, his 2.34 range factor and –0.2 zone rating suggest average to slightly below-average coverage, though his 1.002 fielding efficiency indicates he made most plays he reached. A $7m arbitration figure makes it tough to see Morris coming back in 2057. Jovaugh McCarron struggled in limited duty, mustering a .217/.280/.217 line and 42 wRC+ across 25 plate appearances. With just five hits and no extra-base knocks, he posted –0.1 WAR in sporadic assignments. McCarron walked at an 8% rate but struck out 32% of the time. Defensively, his 3.86 range factor and neutral zone rating show adequate instincts, though a .939 fielding efficiency suggests occasional errors. A longer look will be necessary to judge his true ceiling. In a brief 18-PA audition, Nelson Serrano caught fire, going .333/.333/.500 with three doubles and six runs in two starts. His 132 wRC+ and .833 OPS belie the tiny sample, but Serrano’s crisp contact and power flashes earned him a 1.024 defensive efficiency mark, a +0.3 zone rating, and 2.88 range factor at short. He didn’t walk or steal but showed the instincts to merit more opportunities in 2057. In his two-game cameo, Luis Morales flashed considerable upside, collecting one hit in five at-bats and posting a gaudy 171 wRC+ and 1.021 OPS. Though he walked just once and didn’t register extra-base hits, his .400/.500/.400 slash line suggests an ability to make loud contact in limited action. With no defensive metrics to critique and a 0.9 ISO, Morales leaves us intrigued for a larger sample where his power and on-base skills might play a more meaningful role. Beau Wartel saw ten plate appearances, hitting .222/.300/.333 with two hits and a double. His 83 wRC+ reflects a small-sample hiccup, amplified by a 30% strikeout rate. With no defensive mistakes in nine innings, Wartel’s 3.6 range factor and +0.1 zone rating show adequate footwork. While the numbers are limited, he’ll need to harness a more disciplined approach to earn expanded opportunities. Nelson Loera anchored the DH role in 143 games, compiling a 1.2 WAR fueled by a 106 wRC+ and .730 OPS across 609 plate appearances. He slashed .263/.325/.405 with 145 hits, including 34 doubles, four triples, and 12 homers, while driving in 76 runs and scoring 71. His .311 BABIP reflects consistent contact, though an 8.2% walk rate against a 19.2% strikeout rate suggests room to refine his approach. Unexpectedly, he swiped 21 bases at a 77.8% clip, adding baserunning value rarely seen from a DH. His glove can play 3B or even 2B so will be in the mix for 2057. Outfield LF Gianvito Heaton emerged as the Giants’ offensive engine in left field, posting a 146 wRC+ and .908 OPS over 614 plate appearances. He tallied 147 hits, including 20 doubles, three triples, and 45 homers, while driving in 121 runs and scoring 98 times. His .269/.344/.564 slash line was backed by an elite .348 BABIP and a 34.4% strikeout rate that belied the power. Defensively, Heaton’s 4.6 zone rating and 1.031 fielding efficiency reflect plus range and sure hands on the grass, and he chipped in two steals. Entering his first year of arbitration, Heaton will be back, even if Stewart still doesn’t trust the below average contact. CF David Rojo anchored center field with a 5.2 WAR, combining speed and contact to post a .251/.329/.455 slash line and 120 wRC+ in 666 plate appearances. He collected 148 hits, including 32 doubles, five triples, and 26 homers, while scoring 110 runs and driving in 82. His 29.9% strikeout rate was high, but an 8.9% walk rate and .330 BABIP fueled consistent contact. Rojo’s defensive metrics were outstanding—6.0 zone rating, 1.041 fielding efficiency, and 32 steals at an 88.9% clip showcase his dual-threat impact. Coming back for his final arbitration eligible season is a no brainer, with a QO the likeliest outcome next offseason. RF Jaquan Willie slashed .235/.298/.373 in right field, producing a 91 wRC+ across 406 plate appearances and adding 1.3 WAR. He notched 87 hits, 22 doubles, and nine homers, while scoring 57 runs and driving in 45. His 21.2% strikeout rate and 7.4% walk rate reflect a free-swinging approach that yielded pockets of extra-base power. Defensively, Willie recorded a 5.2 zone rating and 1.083 fielding efficiency, highlighting strong reads and reliable glove work, plus 31 steals at an 86.1% success rate. Willie played more games at RF than any other Giant this past season and with his defensive ability the Giants would like to see him return in a fourth OF role, giving him a one-year extension as he enters his arbitration years. In 260 plate appearances, RF Ernnie Chafer mustered a .230/.273/.357 line and 77 wRC+, contributing 0.1 WAR. He tallied 56 hits, including 14 doubles and five homers, while scoring 26 runs and driving in 28. His contact rate showed promise, but a 25% strikeout rate and 5% walk rate limited on-base value. Defensively, Chafer posted a 3.0 zone rating and 1.060 fielding efficiency, reflecting solid but unspectacular range. He chipped in seven steals at a 77.8% clip, adding a touch of speed. Willie has outplayed him for the fourth OF role, although on a minimum contract for next year, and with options, Chafer is likely to remain a Giant. RF Frank Calleja maximized 141 plate appearances into a 1.1 WAR and 130 OPS+ with a .271/.329/.512 slash line. He notched 35 hits, including seven doubles and eight homers, while driving in 17 runs and scoring 19. His 23.4% strikeout rate and 7.8% walk rate underscore a power-first profile. In right field, Calleja’s 1.8 zone rating and 1.033 fielding efficiency indicate adequate range and sure hands. Though he didn’t steal bases, his offensive surge makes him a potent bat if he can remain healthy. That ability, though, is questionable and he is likely to be in the last chance saloon in 2057. LF Jadon Notice stole limited action to post a .212/.268/.348 slash line with a 70 OPS+ and 0.1 WAR in 71 plate appearances. He collected 14 hits, including three doubles and two homers, while scoring 11 runs and driving in nine. His 26.8% strikeout rate and 7% walk rate suggest he’ll need to refine his contact approach. Defensively, Notice’s 0.6 zone rating and 1.022 fielding efficiency in left field reflect adequate coverage in a part-time role. His perfect 100% stolen-base rate (1-for-1) hints at baserunning instincts. Notice is unlikely to return next season, unless via a Minor League contract. In a five-game cameo, LF Mike Moffitt stole the show with a .625/.700/1.125 slash line, a 399 OPS+, and 0.4 WAR in just ten plate appearances. He amassed five hits, including one double and one homer, while scoring four runs and driving in five. His 20% walk and strikeout rates came in a tiny sample, but the power was undeniable. Defensively, Moffitt’s 0.3 zone rating and 1.022 fielding efficiency show light-up-the-box tools in left field. He’s a high-upside bat to watch next season. Moffitt’s potential is the primary reason that Notice is likely to be moved on. Early 2057 Projections C Jim Clarke 1B Juan Magana 2B Ernesto Pantoja 3B Steve Boyd SS Joel Hudson LF Gianvito Heaton CF David Rojo RF Frank Calleja DH TBC C Dane Cook / Ernie Mapes IF TBC IF TBC OF Jaquan Willie OF Mike Moffitt / Ernnie Chafer Trade / Non-Tendered Nate Morris Jadon Notice TBD Juan Mendoza Jovaugh McCarron Nelson Serrano Luis Morales Beau Wartel Nelson Loera Starters Jorge Ramirez served as the rotation’s workhorse, tossing 182.1 innings over 33 starts. His power arsenal generated a robust 9.8 K/9 while he kept walks in check at 2.9 BB/9. A 4.69 ERA and 95 FIP- place him slightly below league average, but his 2.8 WAR and 45.5% quality start rate underscored his ability to eat innings. Occasional long balls (1.2 HR/9) inflated his ERA+, but he remained a dependable mid-rotation arm. On a minimum salary he will be back in 2057, hopefully in the back half of the rotation. Juan Montoya delivered frontline production across 173 innings, compiling a 3.38 ERA and 92 FIP-. His 9 strikeouts per nine and 3.3 walks per nine paired with a stingy 0.8 HR/9, fuelling a 3.0 WAR and 119 ERA+. Montoya’s 41.9% quality start rate hinted at occasional volatility, yet he consistently countered adversity, logging 12 wins against 5 losses. His mixture of swing-and-miss stuff and ground-ball tendencies made him the staff’s most reliable high-leverage starter. In only his second year of a multi-year deal, Montoya is locked into the Giants plans for 2057. Andy Frederick emerged as the rotation’s ace, posting a sterling 66 FIP- and 3.51 ERA over 128.1 innings. His 10.7 K/9 led the staff while his 2.0 BB/9 kept traffic manageable. Frederick racked up 4.1 WAR and an impressive 115 ERA+ by limiting hard contact and homers (0.8 HR/9). His 24.1% strikeout-rate and 5.4% walk-rate combined for elite peripherals. Though he made just 23 starts, his performance cemented him as a postseason workhorse. The Giants wait for his injury diagnosis from his final start with concerns that it a serious shoulder injury which could cost 2057. In a limited 72-inning sample, Greg Ward flashed frontline potential. He posted a 3.00 ERA, 94 FIP- and outstanding 134 ERA+ across 13 starts. Ward’s 9.2 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 demonstrated his strike-out-first approach, while his 0.211 opponent average and 1.06 WHIP kept opponents off balance. Though he logged only 1.2 WAR, his ability to limit hard contact and finish six quality starts (46.2%) suggests a high ceiling as a middle-rotation cornerstone. How successful his return from injury is will be a key factor in the Giants success in 2057. Amari Papillion struggled through 52.2 innings, posting a 5.47 ERA and 127 FIP-. His 7.9 K/9 showed flashes of swing-and-miss ability, but a high 4.1 BB/9 and 1.5 HR/9 undermined consistency. Papillion’s 74 ERA+ and 1.42 WHIP indicated frequent over-the-middle mistakes. Though he made 11 starts, he yielded too many homers and free passes to be trusted deeper into games. His raw stuff warrants refinement before returning to the rotation. Papillion will be back in 2057 but unless his individual pitches take a step forward it is unclear what that role might be. Lefty Bobby Height made eight starts for 63 innings, posting a 5.00 ERA and 146 FIP-. His 6.6 K/9 was offset by a hefty 4.6 BB/9 and 1.9 HR/9, resulting in just –0.8 WAR and a 0.287 ERA+. Height struggled with control and home-run prevention, forcing the Giants to limit his role. When healthy, his left-handed breaking ball flashed potential, but he’ll need to tighten his command to stick in the rotation. Height was the disappointment of the season, struggling even in AAA and he is likely to be DFA before the end of November. Nate Hudson excelled in spot starts and long relief, totaling 69 innings over 22 appearances with seven starts. He posted a 2.74 ERA, 92 FIP- and 147 ERA+, striking out 7.7 batters per nine while walking just 3.8. His ground-ball tendencies and 0.5 HR/9 allowed him to outperform his peripherals, yielding 0.9 WAR. Hudson’s versatility and low homer rate made him a valuable swingman, capable of stepping into rotation and shutdown relief duties seamlessly. Hudson keeps coming back and the Giants may well have a starting role for him next year, although he will face competition from several new, young arms. Bullpen Pete Lamar logged 112 innings across a starter and reliever role, posting a 6.67 ERA and 112 FIP-. His 7 K/9 was respectable, but a 4.3 BB/9 and 0.9 HR/9 inflated his ERA+. With just 0.7 WAR, he battled command issues throughout the year. Though he collected six saves and five holds, teams attacked him in high-leverage spots. Lamar’s mound presence and bulk workload suggest he could thrive if he pares down walks and hones a third offering. Lamar still has growth, but that might be explored back at AAA level. Juan Dorame served as a reliable middle reliever as well as totalling 12 starts. He posted a 4.44 ERA and 113 FIP- with 9.6 K/9 and 4.9 BB/9. His low-leverage contributions (2 saves, 2 holds) yielded 0.4 WAR. Dorame’s 91 ERA+ masks his swing-and-miss stuff, but his walk rate hampered consistency. Refining his off-speed control could unlock clearer matchup advantages and a steadier role in the late-inning mix. He retains some potential which could see him back in the rotation next season. Jesus Machado emerged as the bullpen’s ace setup man, recording 22 holds and a 0.917 save percentage. Over 66.1 innings, he posted a microscopic 1.76 ERA and 64 FIP-, striking out 9.4 batters per nine while walking 2.4. His 244 ERA+ and 2.1 WAR highlight elite performance. Machado neutralized lefties and righties alike with sharp breaking pitches, cementing himself as a cornerstone of late-inning dominance. A free agent this offseason, though, the Giants will likely allow Machado to test free agency. As closer, Ricky Eggett converted 30 saves in 63 outings, posting a 4.01 ERA and 64 FIP-. His 13.9 K/9 led the staff, offsetting a 4.3 BB/9. Eggett’s 1.22 WHIP and 202 ERA+ reflect a feast-or-famine profile: electric swing-and-miss stuff paired with periodic command lapses. When locked in, he shut doors; when not, he flirted with big innings. Fine-tuning his release point will be key to sustained dominance. Back on a league minimum salary, the Closer role is Eggett’s to lose in 2057. Mike Grudzinski stabilized the middle innings, posting a 3.28 ERA and 96 FIP- over 60.1 innings. His 9.1 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 yielded a solid 123 ERA+ and 0.4 WAR. Grudzinski thrived in transitional leverage, exhibiting a reliable cutter-slider mix. Though not a high-octane arm, his consistent work and ability to induce weak contact made him a bullpen pillar throughout the season. Entering his first year of arbitration, Grudzinski is certain to be back next year although the Giants will be hoping for an uptick in his K/9 and a lower HR/9 rate. Josh Medaris pitched 59.1 innings of low-leverage relief, posting a 4.85 ERA and 118 FIP-. His 7.1 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 produced a 0.281 ERA+. Medaris battled command issues but flashed strikeout potential, especially against same-handed hitters. With 6 holds and multiple multi-inning stints, he proved serviceable in middle relief. Consistency remains his biggest hurdle to higher-leverage opportunities. Entering arbitration, Medaris is unlikely to return in 2057. Rickey Martino filled diverse roles across 57 innings, registering a 3.57 ERA and 97 FIP-. His 9.8 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 generated a 113 ERA+ and 0.3 WAR. Martino logged 14 holds and converted two save chances, showcasing poise in medium-leverage situations. His high-spin fastball and sweeping slider keep batters off balance. He projects as a key bridge to the late innings if he maintains his strikeout-to-walk ratio but enters free agency looking for 3-years and over $5m per year, not numbers the Giants are willing to pay a middle reliever. He likely ends his Giants career in 6th place all-time for saves. Mike Stark delivered 56 innings of high-leverage work, posting a 4.02 ERA and 68 FIP-. His 10.8 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 earned a 100 ERA+. Stark’s cutter-changeup combo generated weak contact, especially in traffic. Although he yielded 17 homers, many came with two strikes. His ability to miss bats in tight spots makes him a strong candidate for high-leverage holds next season. Stark is consistently good for the Giants and his season is more deserving than Martino as the Giants consider his $6m option. Josh O’Neal dominated hitters in 42.2 innings, compiling a 1.05 ERA and 75 FIP-. He struck out 10.1 batters per nine and walked just 3.0, posting a ludicrous 382 ERA+. O’Neal’s splitter and fastball tunnel fooled opposing lefties, resulting in a microscopic .195 average against. The second Team Option decision for Stewart, $2.4m is a reasonable price for continuity in the bullpen. LHP Nate Brodt logged 40.1 innings with a 3.12 ERA and 86 FIP-. His 8.7 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 produced a 129 ERA+. Brodt excelled in low- to mid-leverage spots, displaying above-average cutter ride and a deceptive changeup. His 11.6% walk rate leaves room for improvement, but his steady peripherals and ground-ball tendencies make him a reliable matchup weapon. Dan Namken thrived in situational matchups, posting a 2.78 ERA and 102 FIP- over 35.2 innings. He struck out 7.6 batters per nine while walking 3.5, yielding a 145 ERA+. Namken’s mix of two-seam sinker and slider produced grounders at will. Though he collected no saves or holds, his spot appearances in high-traffic situations often snuffed rallies before they began and the Giants are hopeful he has room to grow in lowering his BB rate. Dan Caines was strong across 22.2 innings. He posted a 2.38 ERA and 49 FIP-, striking out 13.1 batters per nine while walking just 1.6. His 169 ERA+ and 0.7 WAR highlighted elite performance. Caines’ fastball-slider tandem bamboozled righties and lefties alike. Though he appeared in only 22 games, he projects as a future high-leverage weapon. Greg Brinson made just five appearances, logging 6.2 innings of mop-up duty. He posted a 5.40 ERA and 71 FIP-, striking out 9.4 per nine with no walks. Brinson’s tiny sample featured a handful of weak-contact outs and a pair of homers allowed. While he showed a short-stopper’s arm and fastball velocity, he needs a larger workload to validate his command and secondary offerings. Early 2057 Projections SP Juan Montoya SP Greg Ward SP Andy Frederick SP Jorge Ramirez SP Nate Hudson RP Rickey Eggett RP Mike Grudzinski RP Mike Stark RP Josh O’Neal RP Nate Brodt RP Dan Namken RP Dan Caines RP Juan Dorame RP TBC Trade / Non-Tendered Bobby Height Josh Medaris Greg Brinson Free Agents Jesus Machado Rickey Martino Option Amari Papillion Pete Lamar |
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#156 |
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All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 875
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November 2056 – Offseason
International Amateurs
We just completed our monthly private practice with many young international amateur free agents who we hope can aid our club in the coming years. It was great to meet the players in-person and get to know them better, and I was able to improve my scouting assessment on all invitees. None of the players exceeded my previous expectations. However, a few invitees left me disappointed as they did not appear to match my previous assessment, although they may still end up being future stars: David Rivera, 16 year-old LHP out of Dominican Republic Lean and athletic, David Rivera hails from Cambita Garabitos, Dominican Republic. At his peak, his repertoire should include a wicked slider and a plus-plus sinker. He should have truly elite stuff when all is said and done. He'll walk few batters because of his great control. Rivera has the talent to be a top reliever, even a future closer. Frank Olvera, 16 year-old RHP out of Dominican Republic Lean and athletic, Frank Olvera hails from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He will throw three pitches, with his curveball likely ending up as his best one. As he matures he'll need to rely more on command and deception than pure stuff. Olvera's talent is that of a future multiple-time Cy Young Award winner. Personnel The Giants filled their open coaching positions early in the month, as well as upgrading their ACL Hitting Coach as Doug Hill joins the team to help the Giants rookies make the necessary improvements to join the professional ranks. • Bench Coach Samy Junior Sanderson • 3B Coach Wellington Diaz • AAA Hitting Coach Angel Solarte • ACL Hitting Coach Doug Hill Friday, November 3rd , 2056 Signed 3B Coach Wellington Diaz to a 5-year, $400,000 per year contract. Sunday, November 5th , 2056 Signed Bench Coach Samy Junior Sanderson to a 5-year, $950,000 per year contract. Awards The Giants enjoyed some limited Award season recognition but the most interesting news was probably both Rookie of the Year Award winners being the batting title champions. That included Columbus’ Luis Chaparro, who was the unanimous AL winner at the age of 21. Juan Magana and David Rojo won their second Great Glove and Platinum Stick respectively while Gianvito Heaton joined Rojo as a Platinum Stick winner for the first time. Colin Stewart won his record-extending 14th Manager of the Year Award in the season that he became the winningest manager of all time, passing Tony La Russa. He will open 2057 97 wins away from becoming the first person to win 3,000 games. His 29th season as an MLB Manager brings him level with Bochy, Torre, and Bobby Cox, six years behind La Russa’s record. AL Great Glove NL Great Glove 1B Juan Magana (2) SF AL Platinum Stick C Nelson Saiz (4) KC | 1B Biaggio Torrisi (2) KC | SS David de Anda (5) KC NL Platinum Stick LF Gianvito Heaton SF | CF David Rojo (2) SF AL Manager of the Year Hector Figueroa (5) KC NL Manager of the Year Colin Stewart (14) SF AL Reliever of the Year Survern Hendricks BOS NL Reliever of the Year Andy Saintlouis NYM AL Rookie of the Year 1B Luis Chaparro COL NL Rookie of the Year RF Jorge Coria STL AL Cy Young Bobby Durham CLE NL Cy Young Ben McClelland MIL AL MVP 1B Biagio Torrisi KC NL MVP 1B Julio Molina CIN Pre-Arbitration Extensions & Trades The extensions agreed by the Giants were as expected, as was executing the Team Options for both Josh O’Neal and Mike Stark. It was equally unsurprising to see Nate Morris traded away, his $7m arbitration figure limiting his market but the Giants were able to get a potential future bullpen arm with two plus-plus pitches in Dan Murawski in return from the Marlins. Wednesday, November 1st , 2056 LF Jadon Notice was designated for assignment and placed on waivers. Traded 28-year old 3B Nate Morris to the Miami Marlins, getting 23-year old minor league RHP Dan Murawski in return. Executed the contract year option of RP Josh O'Neal. Executed the contract year option of RP Mike Stark. Sunday, November 5th , 2056 Signed CF David Rojo to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $16,000,000. Signed 2B Ernesto Pantoja to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $15,500,000. Signed RP Dan Caines to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $2,500,000. Signed 3B Steve Boyd to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $6,500,000. Signed RF Jaquan Willie to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $2,700,000. Signed LF Gianvito Heaton to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $4,600,000. Monday, November 6th , 2056 Signed RP Mike Grudzinski to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $1,850,000. Arbitration & Qualifying Offers On the players not returning, there were few surprises – Josh Medaris is out for another seven months, Rickey Martino was asking for over $5m for three years, while Bobby Height had simply not done enough to earn another Major League contract. Wednesday, November 22nd , 2056 RP Josh Medaris was not offered arbitration, becomes a free agent. Friday, November 24th , 2056 RP Nate Brodt received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $1,700,000. C Ernie Mapes received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. 3B Nelson Serrano received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. C Dane Cook received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. SP Nate Hudson received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. 1B Alejandro Soto received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. 1B Luis Morales received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. SP Greg Ward received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. 2B Beau Wartel received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. SP Kymani Devezin received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. LF Mike Moffitt received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. RF Frank Calleja received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. 3B Nelson Loera received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. RP Juan Dorame received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. SP Jorge Ramirez received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. SS Jovaugh McCarron received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. CL Ricky Eggett received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. 2B Joe Chambers received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. RP Pete Lamar received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. RP Dan Namken received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. 3B Juan Mendoza received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. RF Ernnie Chafer received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. SP Amari Pappillion received a 1-year contract through automatic renewal worth a total of $740,000. RP Greg Hyder becomes a free-agent. RF Gregorio Garza becomes a free-agent. SP Bobby Height becomes a free-agent. RP Rickey Martino becomes a free-agent. LF Jadon Notice becomes a free-agent. Transactions An early Rule 5 draft decision as 2051 8th round pick Tim Beck is sent to the Mariners for a prospect package headlined by 2054 8th round pick SP Jeff Taber, who will head to Eugene for the coming year. Wednesday, November 15th , 2056 Signed international amateur SP Andres Villalvazo out of Dominican Republic to a minor league contract. Friday, November 24th , 2056 Traded 24-year old minor league RF Tim Beck to the Seattle Mariners, getting 23-year old minor league RHP Jeff Taber, 18-year old minor league RHP Jorge Estrada, and 24-year old minor league 1B Zach Deming in return. |
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#157 |
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All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 875
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#158 |
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All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 875
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#159 |
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All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 875
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December 2056 – Offseason
International Amateurs
We just completed our monthly private practice with many young international amateur free agents who we hope can aid our club in the coming years. It was great to meet the players in-person and get to know them better, and I was able to improve my scouting assessment on all invitees. In fact some of the players impressed me, since they showcased a higher potential than I had previously expected from them: Edgar Ramirez, 16 year-old RF out of Dominican Republic Lean and athletic, Edgar Ramirez hails from Sabana Larga, Dominican Republic. He has an elite eye and should someday lead the league in walks. He has plus power potential and has shown an advanced approach at the plate. He is a slow runner. Ramirez has the potential to develop the tools needed to profile as a premier right fielder. However, a few invitees left me disappointed as they did not appear to match my previous assessment, although they may still end up being future stars: Corey Tolmay, 16 year-old CF out of England Corey Tolmay is a long, lean athletic center fielder who was born in Chartham, England. He's a towering beast at the plate and has potential to be an elite power hitter. He projects to be among the best in baseball at working the count and drawing walks. His speed grades out as plus. Tolmay looks like a potential regular in a key role at the big league level. Frank Olvera, 16 year-old RHP out of Dominican Republic Lean and athletic, Frank Olvera hails from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He throws three pitches, with his bread and butter pitch a fastball that is slower than molasses. He won't blow hitters away with his stuff - won't end up any better than average - but will frustrate them with his pinpoint command and control Olvera has the potential to be an impact starter. Development Lab Rule 5 Draft Trades & 40-man Changes The Giants got their pre-Rule 5 Draft work done in November which made for a very quiet December. Six players have been added to the 40-man roster, balanced between position players and pitchers and the Giants were untouched by the Draft. 40-man Roster Additions 2B Joe Chambers was designated for assignment and placed on waivers. RP Nate Brodt was designated for assignment and placed on waivers. 3B Nelson Serrano was designated for assignment and placed on waivers. Placed C Tim Custer on the secondary (40-man) roster. Placed 1B Jamie LaFerney on the secondary (40-man) roster. Placed RF Tyrese Yeboah on the secondary (40-man) roster. Placed SP Ha-joon Kim on the secondary (40-man) roster. Placed SP Jahsiiyah Garza on the secondary (40-man) roster. Placed CL Chris Lewright on the secondary (40-man) roster. Transactions Sunday, December 3rd , 2056 Signed international amateur SP Zachariah Tibbles out of Australia to a minor league contract. Thursday, December 7th , 2056 Signed international amateur CF Jesus Grijalva out of Dominican Republic to a minor league contract. Monday, December 11th , 2056 Signed international amateur SP Mauricio Romero out of Venezuela to a minor league contract. |
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#160 |
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All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 875
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January 2057 – Offseason
League News
Disappointed by the lack of recent success and a below-average fan support, Quadir llitch, owner of the Detroit Tigers, has decided to pack their bags and move the franchise to Memphis. The team will be called the Memphis Wolverines, and a new color scheme and uniform has been revealed already. Baseball fans in Memphis celebrated all day after the announcement, looking forward to big league baseball in 47000-seat Wolverines Park. Job Offer The other big news was Stewart, finally, accepting a World Cup of Baseball job offer and he will manage the USA team over Spring Training. International Amateurs We just completed our monthly private practice with many young international amateur free agents who we hope can aid our club in the coming years. It was great to meet the players in-person and get to know them better, and I was able to improve my scouting assessment on all invitees. In fact some of the players impressed me, since they showcased a higher potential than I had previously expected from them: Edgar Ramirez, 16 year-old RF out of Dominican Republic Lean and athletic, Edgar Ramirez hails from Sabana Larga, Dominican Republic. He has a plus-plus eye that should place him among the leaders in walks. He displays gargantuan power lure. He is a slow runner. With his talents the light of Ramirez's star could be blinding. However, a few invitees left me disappointed as they did not appear to match my previous assessment, although they may still end up being future stars: Frank Olvera, 16 year-old RHP out of Dominican Republic Lean and athletic, Frank Olvera hails from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He projects to have many quality pitches, topped by a swing-and-miss curveball. His stuff is ordinary, but he makes up for it with pinpoint command. At his peak Olvera has the potential to anchor a rotation. Olegário Cengo, 16 year-old CF out of Venezuela Lean and athletic, Olegário Cengo hails from El Hatillo, Venezuela. He has the potential for plus contact. He projects to have above average strike zone recognition. Cengo looks like a potential regular in a key role at the big league level. Hall of Fame It’s a proud day for Colin Stewart as the first player of his Royals era is inducted into the Hall of Fame. In his 4th time on the ballot, 2B Edgar Mir earned 75.9% of ballots to earn enshrinement. Mir’s career was one of longevity rather than the spectacular. Although he was a two-time MVP, leading the league in WAR in those two seasons, those were the only time he led the league in a major category but instead was a nine-time All Star, won the Platinum Stick seven times and the Great Glove once at 2B, and did this all after winning the Rookie of the Year award in his debut season, while putting up 67.2 WAR. Joining Mir in Cooperstown is CL Jesus Medina. Somewhat of a journeyman, there was discussion about whose cap Medina would wear but ultimately it was a Cleveland Guardians (who drafted him in 2031’s 1st round) cap, making him the first Guardian of the save, and taking down to eight the list of clubs without a Hall of Famer during the save. Medina led the league in saves on three occasions, and his Black, Grey, and Monitor totals were in excess of any closer previously enshrined, a worthy entrant to the Hall. Financial Update As we get closer to the start of the season, I have reviewed the team's financial state as of this moment. As a reminder, you have $296,000,000 available for the total team expenses for the season. Transactions Three major pieces of news in January’s transactions. The first was the Giants bolstering their bullpen with the signing of free agent Jon McConnell to a 3-year contract worth $24m, although the final year is a team option. McConnell is average or above average across his ratings, with a 80-grade fastball paired with a changeup that should make him a strong contender for a setup role replacing Rickey Martino. Next the Giants traded another relief pitcher, Juan Dorame, for international amateur cash. Dorame, a Scouting Discovery, has starter stamina but is fragile, a flyball pitcher, and only has two average or better pitches which meant Stewart viewed his a reliever and, for $2.5m in bonus pool money, expendable. A organisational piece SS was added which let the Giants pick up 25-year old Jorge Arroyo who will start in AA but could be a September call up with a good season. That move allowed the Giants to sign two premier International Amateurs in SS Luis Maldonado and SP Frank Olvera. They have some pool money remaining so February signings are likely. Monday, January 1st , 2057 Signed international amateur 1B Andres Vargas out of Netherlands Antilles to a minor league contract. Saturday, January 6th , 2057 Signed free agent RP Jon McConnell to a 3-year contract worth a total of $24,000,000. Sunday, January 14th , 2057 Signed international amateur SP Julio Espinoza out of Curaçao to a minor league contract. Saturday, January 20th , 2057 Signed international amateur SS Luis Maldonado out of Dominican Republic to a minor league contract with a $3,250,000 signing bonus. Traded 24-year old RHP Juan Dorame and 25-year old minor league SS Chris Ackley to the Los Angeles Angels, getting 25-year old RHP Jorge Arroyo and $2,500,000 in international amateur bonus pool room in return. Saturday, January 27th , 2057 Signed international amateur SP Frank Olvera out of Dominican Republic to a minor league contract with a $3,250,000 signing bonus. Promoted international complex member SP Frank Olvera to Rookie League San Francisco (DSL). Sunday, January 28th , 2057 Signed international amateur LF Juan Puentes out of Dominican Republic to a minor league contract. |
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