Centurion comes...to OOTP5

[elmwood44]

Been there a few times.

I coach basketball at Elmwood High School which is about 1/2 way between Peoria and Galesburg, so pretty close to Monmouth.

Well again great stuff and can't wait to read some more!

[darkcloud4579]

awesome! its a small world...

i was in the air force for four years, i got out last may and started at monmouth in the fall. i had a friend at knox, i didn't want to go there and so...i sorta ended up there by accident. it works, i guess.

i'm in boston working at the boston globe (for five more weeks..::sniff: then its back to the farms...

i'm glad you're enjoying the dynasty...

[darkcloud4579]

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SIOUX FALLS, SD - The Great Plains Express released former Continental League great 3B Delmer Hayes after he refused assignment to the minors.

Hayes, 37, was one of the first players signed from the league, prior to the institution of the supplemental draft.

Hayes was signed in September, by the Nevada Silverhawks.

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For the first time in years, there are pennant races going down to the last week of the season almost half of the league.

Can Nevada win the NL West in just their second season of existance? (and second highest payroll in baseball?)

Can New York return to the mantle atop the AL East, snatching from their rivals across the river?

Will the Minnesota Twins capture their first division title since 2010, despite the 3rd lowest payroll in the majors?

Stay tuned....

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YANKEES, RACERS CLINCH TIE FOR TITLE
The New York Yankees and Indianapolis Racers need one more win to clinch their respective divisions outright, after wins yesterday in the last week of the major league season.

Meanwhile, the Nevada Silverhawks and Los Angeles Dodgers are tied atop the division with a magic number of 2. If either team wins while the other loses, the other team will clinch a tie, meaning the worst they can do is have a playoff for the division title.

"It's an exciting time to be a baseball fan," said Board of Governors chair Bob Costas.

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The schedule makers dream was realized, with Indianapolis needing a win to wrap up the division title, with three to go, the club faced off in a two game set against who else? The 2nd place Minnesota Twins.

The Twins took the first game of the series, at 3M Field 3-1, which ties them atop the division.

Meanwhile, Nevada gained a one-game advantage on LA with 2 to go, after defeating Colorado 10-9.

Arizona defeated Mark Prior, handing him his 3rd loss (24-3) of what ought to be Cy Young season after beating the Dodgers 3-1.

The New York Yankees defeated London and clinched their first division title in four years with the win.

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AL DIVISION SERIES
Minnesota v. New York
Seattle v. Baltimore


NL DIVISION SERIES
Nevada v. New Orleans
Pittsburgh v. Chicago


Will one of the upstart teams like Baltimore, Minnesota, Seattle or Nevada make it a World Series to remember? Will the Cubs end their dreadful drought this season? Can Pittsburgh or New York make it 2 titles in as many years? There is one way to find out!

STAY TUNED

[darkcloud4579]

Jordan Hanley
2013 stats: .258 BA/224 AB/ 12 doubles/5 HR/ 25 RBI

[darkcloud4579]

WHAT A YEAR!

This has been one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory for fans of the Modern Era.

Let's recap:

NEW FACES, UNFAMILIAR PLACES FOR THIS YEAR'S PLAYOFFS
In past years, the usual suspects were among us during playoff time. You knew you'd see Oregon, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, San Francisco would be there.

Those times are a changing. While the Yankees are back atop their mantle and Pittsburgh has wrested control of the NL East back into its clutches, other teams have staked their claim en route to baseball's top prize.

The Nevada Silverhawks, who were the worst team in baseball last season, spent the early part of the year tied for the best record in the league. The Silverhawks ultimately captured their first division title in their short franchise history, tying the mark set by the Oregon Emeralds during the second season. Much like Oregon, the Silverhawks did it by spending more than virtually anyone else.

By contrast, the Minnesota Twins were the forgotten team in the AL Central. While many expected Toronto and Indianapolis to fight out for the title, with Cleveland being in the mix, few expected the Twins to have any realistic chance of contending. But contend they did.

With a few acquisitions towards the end of the year, the club sealed its fate. Division Champions for the first time since 2010. More impressive, was the fact that the Twins sport the 2nd lowest payroll in baseball.

The Baltimore Orioles were the team destiny forgot. One of twelve teams in the PLB without a division title, the O's decided this year was the year. They acquired SP Jesse Foppert as a free agent from the defending World Champion San Francisco Giants, made a deal for sure and steady 3B Alan Hainkel from Texas. The club made all the right moves and positioned themselves into the drivers seat for their first division title of the Modern Era.

Speaking of destiny...one team, above all...was the team of destiny for the AGES....

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AL DIVISION SERIES
In the American League, the upstart Minnesota Twins held off the New York Yankees making it not only an upset of records, but also of the team with the 2nd lowest payroll over the team with baseball's highest.

Twins win Series 4 games to 2

In the other Division Series, the Seattle Mariners fought off a feisty Baltimore Orioles club that wouldn't quit, to earn a berth to the ALCS for the first time in the Modern Era.

Seattle wins Series 4 games to 3

NL DIVISION SERIES
In the National League, the battle of the unlikely Nevada Silverhawks against the New Orleans Pelicans was won by the Pelicans in five games, giving New Orleans a chance to advance to the World Series for the first time since the club was the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates have the 20th and 29th highest payrolls in baseball respectively, but that didn't prevent their hard fought series from being one of the most well attended in baseball history. The Cubs prevailed and fans at Wrigley could feel the electricity in the air, for what many felt like would be...their year.

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AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
In the 44th American League Championship Series, the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins faced off for the title.

In the end, the Twins managed to their third AL pennant in franchise history (1987, 1991) and first in 21 years after winning the ALCS in five games.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
The NLCS featured an unlikely pair. The Chicago Cubs, who last won an NL pennant in 2003, versus the New Orleans Pelicans, who last won a pennant as the Milwaukee Brewers of the AMERICAN LEAGUE back in 1982.

In the end, the Cubs aimed to provide their fans with another season of heartache? Who knows, all we do know is the Cubs win their second pennant in 68 years, to give the club a chance to break the 105-year World Series drought.

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GAME 1:
CHICAGO 8 MINNESOTA 2
Matthew Dancer threw a complete game, as the Cubs take a 1-0 lead and are four wins away from the holy grail...Scott Brooks went deep and had 3 RBI in the game

GAME 2:
MINNESOTA 2 CHICAGO 0
Seung Song recorded his third playoff win and Jesse Crain earned his seventh save, as the Twins tie the series, as it shifts to Chicago.

GAME 3:
MINNESOTA 4 CHICAGO 3
The Twins scored a run in the top of the ninth to break a deadlock at 3-3, to give the Twins a 2-1 series lead. Cubs pitching Ty Howington pitched a complete game in the loss

GAME 4:
MINNESOTA 4 CHICAGO 3
For the second straight game, the Cubs lose after the Twins score a run in the top of the ninth. Omar won his second straight game, as the Twins take a 3-1 series lead

GAME 5:
CHICAGO 4 MINNESOTA 2
The Cubs took their chance to make a late inning comeback, as the Series goes back to Minnesota. The Cubs score two runs in the top of the ninth, to cut into the Twins series lead cutting it to 3-2.

GAME 6:
CHICAGO 5 MINNESOTA 3
Every game in this closely matched series goes to the wire, as the Cubs capture the game again in the ninth to tie the series at 3 games apiece, with the series heading to Chicago for the final three games (if necessary.) Cosme Lomas had a triple and a homer in the ninth that sealed the win for the Cubs.

GAME 7:
CHICAGO 5 MINNESOTA 4
Ted Perry's 7th inning solo shot was his second game winning homer of the World Series, giving the Cubs a 4-3 series lead and putting them one game away from winning the franchise's first World Series title in 105 years. Matthew Dancer earned his fifth post-season win, while Miguel Martinez notched his sixth save and maintained his streak of 11 career playoff games without yielding a run.

GAME 8:
CHICAGO 8 MINNESOTA 4
Cha Seung Baek made his only start of the 2013 post-season count. He pitched a complete game, yielding 4 earned and striking out 4. Robert Lane and Richard Black had 2 RBI each for the Cubs, as the Chicago Cubs end the longest championship drought in professional sports and are WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS for 2013.

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ANCHORAGE SKY CHIEFS
Known As
Anchorage Sky Chiefs (2006-present)
Anaheim Angels (1997-2005)
California Angels (1965-1996)
Los Angeles Angels (1961-1964)

Titles (0 in the Modern Era)
One World Championship (2002)
One Pennants (2002)
Three division titles (1979, 1982, 1996)
Four Post-Season Appearances (1979, 1982, 1986, 2002)

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Known as
Arizona Diamondbacks (1998-present)

Titles (3 in the Modern Era)
1 World Series Championship (2001)
1 Pennant (2001)
6 division titles (1998, 2001-2002, 2008-2009, 2011)


ATLANTA BRAVES
Atlanta Braves (1966-present)
Milwaukee Braves (1953-1965)
Boston Bees (1936-1940)
Boston Braves (1912-1935, 1941-1952)
Boston Rustlers (1911)
Boston Doves (1907-1910)
Boston Beaneaters (1883-1906)
Boston Red Caps (1876-1882)

Titles (6 in the Modern Era)
4 World Championships (1914, 1957, 1995, 2004)
17 Pennants (1877-1878, 1883, 1891-1893, 1897-1898, 1914, 1948, 1957-1958, 1991-1992, 1995-1996, 1999, 2004, 2007)
18 division titles (1969, 1982, 1991-2002, 2005-2007, 2010)
1 Wild Card ([B2004[/B])

OREGON EMERALDS
Oregon Emeralds (2003-present)

Titles (14 in the Modern Era)
3 World Championships (2008-2010)
3 Pennants (2008-2010)
8 Division Titles (2004-2012)

LOUISVILLE WHITE SOX
Louisville White Sox (2007-present)
Chicago White Sox (1901-2006)

Titles (1 in the Modern Era)
Two World Championships (1906, 1917)
Five Pennants (1901, 1906, 1917, 1919, 1959)
Four division titles (1983, 1993-1994, 2000, 2011)

LONDON WIZARDS
London Wizards (2010-present)
Detroit Tigers (1901-2009)

Titles (1 in the Modern Era)
Four World Championships (1935, 1945, 1968, 1984)
Nine Pennants (1907-1909, 1934-1935, 1940, 1945, 1968, 1984)
Three division titles (1972, 1984, 1987, 2010)

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BASEBALL INKS NEW TELEVISION DEAL
NEW YORK - Fresh from one of the best post-seasons in league history, much like a free agent who has his best season before a new contract is ready to come up, baseball has done the same and is about to reap the benefits.

With four new teams and fan interest soaring, as more fans are tuning in to a worldwide game, the Modern Era and television have signed a historical deal.

The parameters of the arrangement are to be announced, but the deal is supposedly valued at over $20 billion over the next six years, giving each team somewhere around $92 million in proceed for a national television deal annually.

Local television contracts are also affected by this deal, as there is a system to allocate funds to teams locally and it will be increased according to a schedule.

Information will be detailed later.

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BASEBALL INKS BLOCKBUSTER TV DEAL

NEW YORK - Details of the baseball's new television contract have been released. Major League Baseball inks a seven year deal that links the national and local television rights of teams.

The $20 billion deal links national television rights to each team at the $60 million annually. The local television rights are tiered based on location, population and a rating system of cities based on their television market size.

"This deal is unprecedented for any major sport," said Bob Costas of the Board of Governors. "Baseball is becoming increasingly global and this deal speaks of the appeal of the game all over the world," he said.

The deal was important, because a number of teams were losing out on revenue due to their locales. The league wanted to minimize the impact of location on where teams could play. "We want teams to play where they want to play. We don't want money or revenue of stadiums to be as big an issue. This deal ensures the viability of our clubs through television revenue, but also allows for the opportunity for the game to grow to places where it might not have normally been considered." said players Chair David Cone.

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REJECT SALARY CAP
The Board of Governors had their annual meetings, in which, in the euphoria of the new TV deal, they rejected the salary cap plan 28-22. The plan would have implemented a $100 million salary cap, to be raised every year by $15 million. The plan will come up for a vote again next season, but many say they doubt such a plan will be implemented in baseball, in the near future.

FRANCHISE SHIFTS
As expected, the Cincinnati Reds sale to former New Orleans Pelicans owner Red McCombs was approved. McCombs purchased the club two years ago, with hopes of moving the club to San Antonio, TX. When the club won two straight division titles, fans were packing the stadium and he had a harder time trying to move the club. He fought hard to acquire a new team and the league granted him his desire to purchase the stake vacated by former Reds owners last year.

The Pelicans were purchased by rap mogul and owner of No Limit records Master P. He is a Louisiana native and says that he has "always wanted to try his hand at the sports biz", but says he has no plans to play for the club.

"I'll leave that to Nelly", he said laughing. The two plan to collaborate on an album featuring the St. Lunatics and some of Master P's artists, tenatively tiltled "Holla if yall' wanna ball on the diamond"

McCombs for his part, has not commented on reports that he will move the Reds franchise this season. Founded in 1893, the Cincinnati Reds are considered to be the first professional baseball club in America. "Moving the Reds would be like Manchester United moving to Cleveland," remarked one casual fan.

Despite the talks, a number of traditionalists have said that "baseball has a history of clubs moving. The Reds leaving won't represent anything than times changing."

The club has been saddled with sagging attendance, despite building a new stadium just ten years ago.

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SAN ANTONIO Red McCombs, known for his showmanship and giving new players brand new cars today, enlisted the help of US Air Force planes to announce that the Cincinnati Reds, would be moving to San Antonio, Texas beginning in the 2014 season.

Knowing there would be outrage, McCombs did not address fans in Cincinnati, the legions of whom, many have stopped watching and don't seem to care.

Despite this message, Major League Baseball heard them.

"This is crazy! You don't move a team like this. Its like the Packers leaving Green Bay. Its just plain wrong," said Mark McLiesen, a longtime Cincinnati baseball fan. What about the Big Red Machine, history means nothing in the game anymore? Get us a team that wins and we'd watch. But don't move them away," he said.

Due to the repeal of the anti-trust exemption and other rules passed years ago, the Board of Governors can only levy fines, not prevent the move. Most were in favor of the move, due to sagging attendance in Cincinnati for years, despite that, some have offered the idea of an arrangement similar to that of the Cleveland Brows in the NFL.

"We can't expand for years. But there is a way to make this work."

The Board of Governors organized an emergency meeting to solve the new crisis. "We can't have baseball without our first team, there has to be something done," said an unnamed baseball exec. But with mixed feelings on the move, some say its time to move on, others say baseball has an obligation to preserve its history.

We will see the end result shortly.

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OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM BASEBALL'S BOARD OF GOVERNORS

We, the Board of Governors united as Players and Owners of Major League Baseball - Modern Era - recognize that history is what makes baseball the national pastime and one of the most revered modern sports of our time. We cherish this history, appreciate it and work to do whatever we can to preserve it.

The Cincinnati Reds are a proud franchise with a rich history. As with many teams of the past, they will go down in history and be remembered forever for that history. We hope that in 100 years, baseball fans all over the world will perhaps look at the San Antonio Aviators or other non-historical franchises with the same nostaglic overtones that many regard for the Reds franchises of the past.

We look forward to another exciting and very productive season of Major League Baseball.

Thank you.

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LOUISVILLE - The Louisville Colonels were a major league level club from 1882-1899, winning the 1890 American Association pennant. Louisville ownership felt that changing the name of the club to adopt a more local moniker would be beneficial to the club.

"We thought this would be a smart thing to do for fans and to give our club a more local flavor, rather than carrying the Sox moniker." The team also plans to retire Honus Wagner's number, seeing as he was probably the most famous member of the Colonels, starting his career with the club from 1897-99.

The club, in an effort to bridge between old and new will have an opening day ceremony to raise the 1890 American Association banner. "We figured it'd be a fun thing to do" and the club intends to play in retro Colonels jerseys, that were researched and designed by a local apparel company.

"We're looking forward to the change," said GM Scott Wincox.