Orcin Returns

[Sal, The Barber]

What is happening? 3-10 in last two weeks? Louieville doesn't fade down the stretch. Doesn't this club know its history? Do you need Sal to come down and remind them who they are?

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Sal, The Barber

What is happening? 3-10 in last two weeks? Louieville doesn't fade down the stretch. Doesn't this club know its history? Do you need Sal to come down and remind them who they are?

I guess so. This is not your father's Louisville Colonels.

No matter how hard I wish for it, Robert Westaway is not walking through that clubhouse door. We lack that stopper, I'm afraid.

[Orcin]

September 28, 2015

Subject: Week 25 Notes

Record: 91-65, .583, 2 GB
Position: 2nd place (behind Chicago)
Runs Scored: 731 – 1st in Federal
Runs Allowed: 594 – 2nd in Federal (3rd in CBA)
Defense: .710 – 1st in Federal (2nd in CBA)
Power Ranking: 104.0 (7th in CBA)
Owner Mood: Ecstatic; Fan Interest: 90/100

• Last week (3-3): 1-2 at Los Angeles, 2-1 at Milwaukee
• 09/21: LA 4, LOU 3 (12) – winning run scored on a wild pitch by Merced
• Lexington (AAA) and Dayton (AA) both won their first-round playoff series.
• 09/22: LOU 4, LA 3 – Rodriguez 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 4 K, W (11-8, 3.71 ERA)
• Rodriguez also hit a 2-run HR to provide the margin of victory.
• SS Luis Vargas was activated from the D/L and will be in the lineup tonight.
• 09/23: LA 5, LOU 2 – Hicks (LA) 8 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 6 K, W (17-10, 3.34 ERA)
• Chicago swept Houston to extend their lead to 4 games with 9 to play.
• We finish the season on the road against two playoff teams.
• Salt Lake City lost their 5th straight game; our magic number for the wild card is 3.
• 09/25: LOU 4, MIL 2 – Banks 2-4, RBI, SB, 2 RS
• 09/26: MIL 4, LOU 2 – Ordonez 7 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K, L (7-7, 3.33); winning runs were unearned
• 09/27: LOU 5, MIL 1 – Trauttmann 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 6 K, W (15-8, 3.27)
• We clinched a playoff spot with the victory over Milwaukee on Sunday.
• Chicago was swept at St. Louis, giving us a fighting chance in the final week.
• This week: 3 crucial games at Chicago, 3 at Houston


Playoff races with 1 week to go:
Patriot Atlantic: Baltimore (94-62) has clinched
Patriot Eastern: Pittsburgh (90-66) leads Cleveland by 6 games (M#1)
Patriot Southern: Charleston (97-59) has clinched
Patriot Wild Card: Washington (87-69) leads Detroit by 3 games (M#4)

Federal Midwest: Chicago (93-63) leads Louisville by 2 games (M#5)
Federal Western: Houston (87-69) leads Salt Lake City by 3 games (M#4)
Federal Pacific: Los Angeles (91-65) has clinched
Federal Wild Card: Louisville (91-65) has clinched (or Chicago if Louisville wins division)


Personal note: This season has been a lot of fun. This is precisely what I wanted when I fast-forwarded the dynasty a few years. The competition is great, and the team is more fun to manage. It's not a perfect team, but that makes it more challenging and interesting. The injuries have actually added to the enjoyment because it gave me more decisions to make.

[Orcin]

Green Reports on Upcoming Opponent: Chicago Cougars

Good morning Otto,

I took a look at the Chicago Cougars, our next opponent in an upcoming 3-game series, and here are the results. We will meet in Cougars Stadium, which seats 39800 and plays like a ballpark slightly favoring hitters.

The Cougars are playing .596 ball this season, compiling a record of 93 wins and 63 losses. They are leading the Midwest Division. The Cougars are on a cold streak, losing their last 3 games. Their number of runs scored of 726 rank 4th in the Federal League, their .272 batting average ranks 1st. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 610 runs (4th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 3.55 which ranks 3rd. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 3.01, ranking 3rd.

When playing against our Colonels this season, they have a record of 2 wins and 7 losses. Chicago would clinch the Midwest Division title with a sweep. Louisville would take over first place with a sweep.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
1. LHP J. Rodríguez (11-8, 3.71 ERA) versus RHP M. Corner (12-8, 3.17 ERA)
2. LHP E. Mazzone (13-7, 3.21 ERA) versus LHP J. Rouse (10-7, 3.67 ERA)
3. RHP P. Franchitti (2-1, 3.03 ERA) versus LHP B. Bullock (9-5, 3.45 ERA)

I know you have commented that Ordonez will likely pitch game three, but these are the announced pitchers at this time. Chicago SP Jorge Gonzalez is rested and will probably pitch one of the last two games.

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Jorge González (Age: 33, Current Stars: 5.0, Potential Stars: 5.0)
2. CL Arturo López (23, 5.0, 5.0)
3. MR Armando Ramos (29, 4.5, 4.5)
4. 1B Jonathan Coleman (26, 4.5, 4.5)
5. LF Keith Holman (34, 4.0, 4.0)

[Orcin]

October 5, 2015

Subject: Week 26 Notes

Record: 95-67, .586, 1 GB (10-17 in September)
Position: 2nd place (behind Chicago)
Runs Scored: 758 – t2nd in Federal
Runs Allowed: 616 – 2nd in Federal (3rd in CBA)
Defense: .711 – 1st in Federal (2nd in CBA)
Power Ranking: 110.0 (4th in CBA)
Owner Mood: Ecstatic; Fan Interest: 91/100 (+1)

• Last week (4-2): 2-1 at Chicago, 2-1 at Houston
• 09/29: CHI 6, LOU 5 – Brock Richardson (CHI) 3-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, GWRBI
• 09/30: LOU 7, CHI 2 – Mazzone 7 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 5 K, W (14-7, 3.18)
• Lance Morrison broke a 2-2 tie with a bases-loaded double in the 8th, driving in 3 runs. Vargas added another bases-loaded double to complete the rally.
• SP Edgardo Ordonez was our Pitcher of the Month for September: 2-3, 2.92 ERA
• CF Rafael Valdez was our Player of the Month: .348/.402/.554, 6 HR, 14 RBI
• Lexington advanced to the AAA finals to play Miami. Dayton was eliminated in the AA semi-finals.
• Both managers will send their ace pitchers (Gonzalez vs. Ordonez) to the mound for the rubber game of the series.
• 10/01: LOU 2, CHI 1 – Ordonez 8.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 1 IBB, 5 K, W (8-7, 3.16 ERA)
• Both Louisville runs were unearned. Pitching and defense won this game today.
• Chicago will return home with a 1-game lead to face Indianapolis (80-79).
• 10/02: HOU 5, LOU 0 – George Brown threw a 3-hit shutout at us
• Chicago beat Indianapolis 8-5 to clinch a tie for the division title.
• 10/03: LOU 7, HOU 6 – Gillespie 2-4, 2 DBL, GWRBI (91), BB, SB (55), 2 RS (95)
• Gillespie leads the team in most offensive categories, including games played. He has a 6.0 WAR and is clearly our Most Valuable Player for 2015.
• Chicago defeated Indianapolis 7-3 to clinch the division title.
• 10/04: LOU 6, HOU 2 – Franchitti 8 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 3 K, W (3-1, 2.88 ERA)
• Louisville 2015 Best Pitcher Award goes to Wallace Trauttmann (15-9, 3.33 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 23/33 QS, 227 IP, 143 K).
• Will Spencer probably would have earned that award had he not been injured.
• This week: Divisional playoff round vs. the Los Angeles Vipers (96-66).


CBA Divisional Playoffs (most recent post-season appearance in parenthesis):
Federal: Louisville Colonels (2013) vs. Los Angeles Vipers (2014 FL champ)
Federal: Houston Stars (2014) vs. Chicago Cougars (2010)
Patriot: Washington Admirals (2014) vs. Charleston Generals (2014 CBA champ)
Patriot: Pittsburgh Warriors (2009) vs. Baltimore Robins (2003)

[CatKnight]

Back to the playoffs in your first year, and only one game out of the division! Not bad, sir.

[Galeg]

The next time you are looking for a challenge I think the owner should become a tyrant.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Galeg

The next time you are looking for a challenge I think the owner should become a tyrant.

A broken tyrant, that is.

[Galeg]

Originally Posted by Westheim

A broken tyrant, that is.

Even better, a broke tyrant?

[Orcin]

CBA STANDINGS – 2015 FINAL

[Orcin]

LEAGUE LEADERS – 2015 FINAL





Salt Lake City SS/3B Donald Murray blew away the all-time record for stolen bases in a season. The previous record of 87 by Angel Quintero was tied by the Patriot League leader, Washington CF Pancho Moreira.

[Orcin]

LOUISVILLE COLONELS – 2015 REGULAR SEASON FINAL STATS



I have messed around with the lineup all year, so it only makes sense that I would trot out a brand-new lineup for the playoffs. Los Angeles has strong right-handed pitching, especially the twin aces (John Brown and Felix Delgado), so I want to get an extra LH bat in there. Carson has been on fire during the last month of the season, and Banks has cooled off since Labor Day.

On the other hand, their lineup is predominantly left-handed. We will give them a steady dose of LH pitching (except Trauttmann in game 3).

Goals for next season: increase the home runs (Gillespie led the team with 23) and tighten up the bullpen (Merced was terrible in the second half).




The thing that jumps off the page for me on this chart is the alarmingly low number of games played among my better players. Injury-prone Rafael Valdez was one of the more durable guys, and that’s scary. I had a lot of injuries, and I also did a lot of lineup juggling. Next season, I need to settle on a starting lineup and stick with it. (Sure.)

Most Popular Players:
1. CF Rafael Valdez
2. SS Luis Vargas
3. C Duncan Bland
4. SP Edgardo Ordonez
5. CL Bruce Brooks

This is an interesting list. The best players on the team were Gillespie and Trauttmann, but they are not on the list. McConnell is not on the list either. Spencer is not on there. Bland is understandable, but it shows that performance over time is very valuable from the fan’s point of view. Not coincidentally, these five players are among the six highest paid players (the other being McConnell).

[Jabez54]

Even though, there were injuries, but the depth of the players receiving more playing time, signified a wealth of experiences and dependability to count them, to be ready, to step in and deliver ...

[Orcin]

2015 Federal League Divisional Playoff Series
Louisville Colonels (95-67) vs. Los Angeles Vipers (96-66)

The Pacific Division champion Vipers were tied (with us) for #2 in runs scored and #1 in runs allowed (28 runs better than #2 Louisville). The Vipers won at least 94 games in each of the past four seasons and they have a roster of playoff-tested veterans. Their best player is batting champion Ernest Joyner (.329/.369/.453). Joyner is a classic leadoff man. He led the league in hits and doubles, and was #2 with 109 runs scored. The Vipers’ top-ranked starting rotation is anchored by 20-game winner John Brown. Los Angeles has the #3 payroll in the CBA, and they were 6-4 vs. Louisville this season.

GAME 1 @ Los Angeles: Edgardo Ordonez (8-7) vs. Felix Delgado (15-9)

Key Moment: The game was tied at 2 with one out in the top of the eighth inning. Bryan McConnell lined a single to left for his third hit of the day, stole second, and scored on a single by Gary Arkle.

Final score: Louisville 4, Los Angeles 2
Louisville leads the series 1-0.

WP: Castaneda, LP: Alvarez, SV: Brooks
HR: McConnell (LOU)
Star of the Game: Bryan McConnell (LOU) 3-4, HR, RBI, SB, 2 RS

Other games:
Chicago 7, Houston 2 (Chicago leads 1-0)
Baltimore 3, Pittsburgh 2 (Baltimore leads 1-0)
Charleston 14, Washington 11 (Charleston leads 1-0)

[Orcin]

2015 Federal League Divisional Playoff Series
Louisville Colonels (95-67) vs. Los Angeles Vipers (96-66)

GAME 2 @ Los Angeles: Edison Mazzone (14-7) vs. John Brown (20-8)

Key Moment: We trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth. Mazzone walked a man and surrendered a 2-run homer to veteran shortstop Leroy Becker. Mazzone was due to lead off the seventh and we kept trying to squeeze one more batter out of him. With the bases loaded and two outs, we brought in lefty Sylvester Sanderson to face a left-handed batter, Francisco Santana. The result was a game-killing grand slam.

Final score: Los Angeles 8, Louisville 1
The series is tied at 1.

WP: Brown, LP: Mazzone
HR: Becker, Santana (LA)
Star of the Game: Francisco Santana (LA) 2-4, HR, 4 RBI

Other games:
Houston 3, Chicago 1 (series tied at 1)
Pittsburgh 2, Baltimore 1 (series tied at 1)
Charleston 7, Washington 6 (Charleston leads 2-0)

Organization News:
Lexington defeated Miami 4 games to 1 to win the AAA championship.

[Orcin]

2015 Federal League Divisional Playoff Series
Louisville Colonels (95-67) vs. Los Angeles Vipers (96-66)

GAME 3 @ Louisville: Joel Martin (13-10) vs. Wallace Trauttmann (15-9)

Key Moment: Los Angeles loaded the bases, leading 3-2 in the top of the seventh. We could not afford any more runs, so Jorge Merced was summoned to face right-handed pinch-hitter Mike Anderson. Merced struck Anderson out for the second out, and left-handed first baseman Richie Reed was up next. As we say in the Midwest, we were caught between a rock and a hard place.

Lefty Bruce Irvine had already been used in the game, so it was either leave Merced in or call on Sanderson again. We stayed with Merced. Reed popped up into the no-man’s land between the infield and Ferguson in right. The ball landed safely and then scooted under Ferguson’s glove. It rolled to the wall, allowing two more runs to score. The next batter singled to put the game out of reach.

Final score: Los Angeles 7, Louisville 3
Los Angeles leads the series 2-1.

WP: Martin, LP: Trauttmann
HR: Chase, Reed (LA)
Star of the Game: Richie Reed (LA) 2-5, HR, 3 RBI

Adding injury to insult, SS Luis Vargas left the game after a collision at second base. He was diagnosed with an intercostal strain and is out for a week. Jason Searles replaces him at shortstop for the rest of this series at least.

Other games:
Chicago 5, Houston 1 (Chicago leads 2-1)
Pittsburgh 8, Baltimore 2 (Pittsburgh leads 2-1)
Washington 7, Charleston 2 (Charleston leads 2-1)

[Westheim]

Uh-oh. Crystal ball says, no intra-division matchup with Chicago in the next round. But I don't think it's because of the Cougars getting beaten.

[MarkCuban]

Originally Posted by Orcin

Adding injury to insult, SS Luis Vargas left the game after a collision at second base. He was diagnosed with an intercostal strain and is out for a week. Jason Searles replaces him at shortstop for the rest of this series at least.

This is why after Vargas went down, I would've hit the reset button. It's great to see the Louie-villes make the playoffs, but they've had to rush Vargas and Ordonez, and a first-round exit is not worth aggravating injuries to franchise players.

The first year feels like "someone else's team" and not yours in, well, all baseball games. You hafta get rid of the old bosses' baggage.

To be fair, the trainer should get the pink slip this year. Possibly the Bench Coach gets the ax too. Far, far too many injuries, not fun at all.

[Orcin]

2015 Federal League Divisional Playoff Series
Louisville Colonels (95-67) vs. Los Angeles Vipers (96-66)

GAME 4 @ Louisville: Felix Delgado vs. Juan Rodriguez (11-9)

Key Moment: Lefty Bruce Irvine came into a tie game to start the eighth, and struck Santana out swinging. He stayed in to face Anderson, a right-handed batter, with a lefty on deck. Anderson reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a groundout with no advance, Irvine faced the right-handed hitting catcher Diego Vidro, a .226 hitter this season. Vidro homered to dead center for the winning runs.

Final score: Los Angeles 4, Louisville 2
Los Angeles wins the series 3-1.

WP: Alvarez, LP: Irvine
HR: Anderson, Vidro (LA)
Star of the Game: Mike Anderson (LA) 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 RS

Other games:
Houston 5, Chicago 0 (series tied at 2)
Baltimore 2, Pittsburgh 1 (series tied at 2)
Washington 8, Charleston 2 (series tied at 2)

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by MarkCuban

It's great to see the Louie-villes make the playoffs, but they've had to rush Vargas and Ordonez, and a first-round exit is not worth aggravating injuries to franchise players.

The $2M in revenue from the first round of the playoffs paid for two of the veteran free agents that were signed for this season.

I am hopeful that the rash of injuries to star players this year was just a fluke.