Fictional Player Exchange 2009

[Cianfrocco]

My closer is Rick "Hobo" Hopkins. He is a pudgy guy, and his FaceGen pic looks like Bobby Jenks, but with a goatee, so he kind of looks like a hobo.

[theurbanshocker]

Here are my favorite players from my fictional United Baseball League:

Teddy "The Bear" Bauer of the Gotham Knights. He plays RF and hits for average and power.

Lonnie Burdette of the Denton City Dukes. He plays 3B and is a perennial batting champ.

Red Conine of the St. Roch Robins. He's the top starting pitcher in the league.

Jackie Stallings of the Brookmont Superbas. He's a solid 2B who steals bases with impunity.

Lefty O'Neill of the Pike City Pioneers. He's the greatest LHP in league history.

[hihot]

My favorite player so far in my solo league on my team
Is My Ace Edgardo Benitez a Strikeout
Master With a Stuff of 101 at Age 27.
On opening day he pitched a 1 Run Complete 15 K Game
In which his run was not till the last inning.

[johnnybourbon]

Two names that I put into the game were:
Larry Regan (character in the play The Night of January 15th, which was my first appearance on stage)- The best RF in history, hit over .400 14 times, stole over 100 bags 16 times, mvp 17 times, 14 gold gloves
Barney Coopersmith (Rick Moranis's character in My Blue Heaven)- was the career leader in saves with 485, 9 all star appearances, career ERA of 2.91

other notable names in my hall of fame-
harry henry- 452 saves, 1.96 career era
kazuhiro "woody" watanabe, career leader with 326 wins, career era of 2.38, 7 pitcher of year awards, went 30-2 with a 1.50 era in his best season...and how he got the nickname woody, i have no idea

current awesome names
Dorian Johnson (those who watched scrubs know this one)
Wen Cheung
Will "The Pirate" Tanner (Yeah, I know it's Turner in the movie, but I added that nickname cuz it sounds like a pirate name)
Jack Daniel
Rusty Carlock

[hihot]

Here is how to create Edgardo Benitez


Edgardo Benitez

#30
7th June (Age 27)
Colombian
Barranquilla
6 foot (185)
208 Pounds
Switch
Right
Starting Pitcher
Extremly popular
Leader ship 249
Desire for Winner 98
36 Loyalty
82 Greed
131 Work Ethic
117 Intelligence
Overall Proness 31
Back Proneness 46
Legs Proneness 27
Arm Proneness 183
BABIP 56 LHP 65 RHP 61 Potential
Avoid K's 41 LHP 48 RHP 45 Potential
Gap 78 LHP 104 RHP 92 Potential
Power 19 LHP 25 RHP 22 Potential
Eye 27 LHP 25 RHP 22 Potential
2 HBP
Spray Hitter
21 Runnining Speed
53 Stealing Ability
28 Baserunning
86 Sacrifice Bunting
17 Bunting for a hit
Stuff 189 LHB 210 RHB 197 Potential
Movement 126 LHB 140 RHB 135 Potential
Control 102 LHB 113 RHB 110 Potential
8 HB
5 WP
2 Balks
126 Endurence
173 Holding Runners
69 Groundball %
98-100 MPH
Fastball
Change Up
Sinker
Slider
Infield Range 29
Infield Error 33
110 Infield Arm
53 Turn Double plays
4 Catcher Ability
1 Catcher Arm
65 Outfield Range
41 Outfield Error
116 Outfield Arm
Pitcher 200 EXP

[Left-handed Badger]

Well, one pitcher I create with accompanying ficitional background.

Brandon "Bullet" Bailey- 33 year old LHP starter. Born in Texas Ht-6"3 Wt-200

He came up with Toronto at the age of 21. With a maturity beyond his years. (think lefty version of Gooden without the drugs/overwork getting to him). His best pitch was 98 MPH moving fastball, and also had a sweeping curve that he used as his out pitch. He had many good season with Toronto. (Perennial 15-20 Wins, ERA around 3.00, with about 220 IP with a K+ an inning). Eventually though as he neared 30, he became a FA and signed with Seattle. In his last year with TOronto and first year with Seattle he lost a little off the fastball (down to 95 MPH). ANd the curve lost the bite and consistency. So he had a bad couple of seasons. He bounced to Texas where he honed his long neglected slider into his out pitch. He has now come back to Toronto.

Scouting Report: He might have lost something on that brilliant fastball he once had. But he still throws it at 94-95 MPH. And to go with that sharp slider he developed with Texas. The curve is still a decent 3rd pitch for him. He regained some control but it isnt what it once was. It still is good for a different look or an off-speed type pitch. He also occasionally throws a straight change and a splitter. THough those 2 pitches will rarely be used more than 3 or 4 times a game. Fearless, doesnt take any #### from any batter. Not afraid to buzz them inside.

For some reason I like using as a 1-2 righty-lefty tandem with ROy Halladay.

[Arlie Latham]

So far, here are the names I've added. I'm looking for deadball era names, myself, but keep posting the modern ones for other players.

Roman "Firecracker" Barnes SP,
Sweeney Quinn SP,
Manfred Braunschweiger 1B,
Holden "Sleepy" Harper
Melbourne Trench
Ben Walsh SP
Silas Gray SP
Billy Giblett SP
Warby Pepper
Teddy "The Bear" Bauer RF
Lonnie Burdette 3B
Jackie Stallings 2B
Lefty O'Neill SP
Ken "Grit" Grissom 2B


I'll be able to make use of the "Boys Named Tsu" when I add my Japanese professional league in the 1930s. Life ain't easy for a Boy named Tsu. Some girl would giggle and I'd turn red--some guy would laugh and I'd bust his head...

Those were common cards for the deadball era. You can find them all here for free at a Library of Congress website:

Baseball Cards 1887-1914

[Left-handed Badger]

Well another player (not really a star which many of the ones here have been so far)


"Starvin" Marvin McGillicuddy LF/DH
HT: 6"5 Wt: 190 (skinny guy, which is why he is called Starvin' Marvin )
Age: early 30's B/T: R/R

not a star, but a solid player. Doesnt do anything outstanding, but is solid in many areas. Best used in a platoon role. He can absolutely kill lefties at times. Though while better against lefties, he is solid against righties.

He'll draw a fair number of walks (maybe 60 or so if given a 500 AB season). Has some power (maybe 20 in a 500 AB season). He is slow though, and might need a PR in the late innings for him. However he has proven to be a good PH. As a fielder? Well, there is a reason he is a LF/DH. Limited range, glove must be made of marble. However he has an above-average arm (though not above average enough to be considered outstanding. Starvin' Marvin does have a bit of a mean streak, has been known to get right in the middle of the pile during bench clearing brawls swinging punches at everything in the opposite uniform.

Basically a solid bench player, with platoon possibilities.

[Arlie Latham]

Originally Posted by Left-handed Badger

"Starvin" Marvin McGillicuddy LF/DH
HT: 6"5 Wt: 190 (skinny guy, which is why he is called Starvin' Marvin )
Age: early 30's B/T: R/R

I'll have to drop Starvin's height to 6'0 and make his weight 147 for my deadball league, but he's in!

I found this list in an old post by Joe Savoy but some of these players are from one of my favorite baseball movies, Bingo Long Travelling All Stars and Motor Kings. These are fictional negro league players. Great names, too.

CF. Coco Grimes
LF. Buck “Hercules” Mertle
C. Joe Louis Brown
P. Buck McHenry
P. Bingo Long
C. Leon Carter
RF. Charlie Snow
RF. Willie Lee Shivley
SS. Louis Keystone
3B. Emory “Champ” Chambers
1B. Fat Sam Popper
CF. Esquire Joe Calloway
CF. Leonard “Rooster” Willoughby
RHP. Leland “Buck” Wilson
SP. King Carl Johnson
LF. Josh Exley

[Curtis]

Originally Posted by Arlie Latham

Life ain't easy for a Boy named Tsu. Some girl would giggle and I'd turn red--some guy would laugh and I'd bust his head...

That got me to thinking… what do you think of a second baseman from Kentucky or the Ozarks named John Carter Cash?

I see him as a scrapper, a tough guy. One of those 'beat you anyway he can' players. Probably a good contact man who doesn't walk much (good for the hit-and-run), and also a good bunter, but maybe more sac bunt than bunt-for-hit. Someone who doesn't mind landing on top of guy trying a takeout slide on him. Like 'Starvin' Marvin, he'd be one of the first to join in a brawl.

Maybe not a great range or arm, but a sure glove and a fast transfer (good at the double play). Just a bit of pop (maybe four a year in the deadball era), and not fast enough to steal much or hit triples, but up near the league leaders in doubles most seasons. Wouldn't be particularly high or low in any of the personality ratings

[Arlie Latham]

Your question about John Carter Cash reminded me of something. It seems at least a few country singers had a go at baseball. For example,

Charley Pride pitched for the Negro Leagues Memphis Red Sox

Conway Twitty was offered a contract by the Philadelphia Phillies but was drafted into the army.

I don't know how good a ballplayer his boy would be, but ol' J.R. Cash would lead the league in walks and only play for a ballclub with a black uniform.

You could have Jack Cash and Jesse Garon Presley also. They were both brothers of famous singers who died before their time. Yes, Elvis had a twin. Imagine two Elvises? Eh? Just think, his brother could have starred opposite him in Kissing Cousins instead of Elvis playing both parts. Heck, Jesse could have starred in half of those awful movies while Elvis could devote more time to his famil........Ann Margaret.

[Corsairs]

Without a doubt, the PEBA's most colorful character is San Antonio's Jack Cobb. If you judge him solely by his stats, Jack wouldn't seem to be anything particularly special. Now in his fourth season, the versatile infielder sports a modest .247/.328/.384 career line. This year he's hitting an anemic .163/.280/.313 through 45 games. He's got a little bit of pop, a little speed (he reached 10 HR/20 SB last season), but nothing to write home about.

Thing is, ol' Cobby can't be judged by his stats alone. He's something of a legend in our league for his eccentric exploits on and off the diamond. It all began when Cobb, who was the last player selected by the Bakersfield Bears in the Inaugural Draft, threw a grand turducken feast to celebrate his imenant huge multiyear contract that Bakersfield was sure to sign him to. I suppose you can guess how that ended up.

For those who are interested, here is a smattering of the Jack Cobb backstory anthology:

• Cobb Celebrates Skipper's Birthday "In Style" (?)
• Cobb Clears Himself Of (Unmade) Steroid Allegations
• Jack Cobb: "I Broke Up With Bakersfield"
• Entertainment Gone Awry; Cobb Day to Day, Pexego Arrested, Facing Suspension
• Disturbance at Mall del Norte Turns Out To Be Cobb
• Explosion Destroys Home in North Laredo

[Left-handed Badger]

Originally Posted by Arlie Latham

Your question about John Carter Cash reminded me of something. It seems at least a few country singers had a go at baseball. For example,

Charley Pride pitched for the Negro Leagues Memphis Red Sox

Conway Twitty was offered a contract by the Philadelphia Phillies but was drafted into the army.

I don't know how good a ballplayer his boy would be, but ol' J.R. Cash would lead the league in walks and only play for a ballclub with a black uniform.

You could have Jack Cash and Jesse Garon Presley also. They were both brothers of famous singers who died before their time. Yes, Elvis had a twin. Imagine two Elvises? Eh? Just think, his brother could have starred opposite him in Kissing Cousins instead of Elvis playing both parts. Heck, Jesse could have starred in half of those awful movies while Elvis could devote more time to his famil........Ann Margaret.

Hey, that would be cool for a 50s dynasty. Have Jesse Presley as a baseball player. Could have updates of his playing, go hand in hand with what Elvis was up to on stage, etc. Wish I had time to do that.

[blueturf]

Seeing Left-handed Badger's moniker reminded of the best pitcher in my long-running fictional league - LHP: Michael "Badger" Childers

Other notable stars over have been:
Fargo Winters (by far my favorite randomly generated name of all time)
Riley Trench
Ethan "Stringbean" Doyle
"Beancounter" Brown
Caden "Hack" Foreman

[DreamTeams]

Originally Posted by Arlie Latham

Ken "Grit" Grissom is my favorite in the list you provided, Dream Team. I picture him as a player with a high batting average, high steals, high caught-stealing, and injured a little too often from diving head first into bags and taking a bite of it on his way into the base. Also, I'm betting he's a great bad ball hitter with few strike outs or walks. Grit is up there hacking.

Yep. That would be 'Grit'.

[Left-handed Badger]

Originally Posted by blueturf

Seeing Left-handed Badger's moniker reminded of the best pitcher in my long-running fictional league - LHP: Michael "Badger" Childers

Other notable stars over have been:
Fargo Winters (by far my favorite randomly generated name of all time)
Riley Trench
Ethan "Stringbean" Doyle
"Beancounter" Brown
Caden "Hack" Foreman

Did my namesake get a lot of groundballs like my actual high school self?

[Arlie Latham]

I was getting ready for the playoffs and checking out the American League opposition's pitching staff. The Twins #3 hurler? Joey "Divine" Powers. Joey, from the Bronx, wasn't all that heavenly, going 8-7 with a 3.62 ERA.

The Reds also have a game-generated pitcher I like: SP Odell "Critter" Spitzer

[Curtis]

Originally Posted by Arlie Latham

The Reds also have a game-generated pitcher I like: SP Odell "Critter" Spitzer

Better check to see if he has a girl stashed in his locker.

[Left-handed Badger]

Well, I may have mentioned this on the other ficitional exchange, but I did come across a computer-generated minor leaguer. Whose first name was Fausto and nickname was "The Exorcist".

[jwinbigler]

In my OOTP6 league, here are some of my favorites:

Richard Bonar - Never been on my team, but I LOVE the name. I like to think he goes by "Dick". He's from Australia and he's one of the better 2B in the league. There's also a William Bonar, who is 9 years younger. Unfortunately, he's from the US and very unlikely to reach the Majors anyway, so my dream of watching the "Bonar Brothers" isn't going to happen.

C.J. "Count" Nitkowski Jr. - My long-time surefire hall-of-fame 3B. I find it hilarious that the son of the real-life C.J. Nitkowski (a journeyman middle reliever, you can look him up) is one of the best players ever. Also, he was born when his dad was 10 years old...

Cesar "Colonel" Chavez & Jose "Handyman" Chavez - These are my two top SP currently, and I like to think of them as brothers, 4 years apart. Unfortunately, one is from Honduras and the other is from Puerto Rico. Maybe long-lost cousins?

At one point a few years back, I had two pitchers in my rotation with the nickname "The Octopus" - Israel Galdamez & Joe Jones. Each won a Cy Young with me, a couple of years apart.

Ramon Alvarez - CF The best player to ever play baseball, he was my first draft pick as a 17-year old, 18 years ago. Now, at 35, he's starting to fade a little, but in his prime, he was unstoppable. In 16 full seasons, he's been to the All-Star game every year but one (he was injured for about a month and still won the MVP that year), won the MVP 11 times (including when he won the ROY), won the batting title 7 times, led the league in HR 9 times, and won the triple crown 4 times (including once back-to-back). He was also a decent basestealer as a younger player and has always had great range (~90/100) at LF/CF. He's won 50 Player of the Week Awards and an astonishing 33 Batter of the Month Awards. He's already broken plenty of MLB records and still has a few solid years left. He hit .405 once, .399 another time (one hit shy of .400), and hit over 90 HR 4 times, including the record of 98. He's also had over 200 RBI 8 times, including 7 straight times and the record of 250. Sure, the offensive numbers in my league are a little inflated, but he IS that much better than everyone else. Here are his career numbers so far:
3290 H, 477 2B, 135 3B, .368 AVG, .499 OBP, .826 SLG, 1118 HR, 3151 RBI, 3157 R, 336 SB, 2424 BB, 672 K