Orcin Returns

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Jabez54

I forgot to ask you of the last time ... what was the lowest BAvr for the MVP ...

From 1997-1999, Hall of Famer Akinora Ishikawa of the Charleston Generals won the award three straight times with batting averages of .269, .289, and .284. (The .269 was the lowest ever for a MVP winner.) The catch? During those three years, Ishikawa hit 198 home runs (64-58-76). His 1999 total is still the league record.

[progen]

Yeah, Seaver was a stud pitcher. Saw him pitch many times against the Phillies. And I like his most famus quote - There's first place and there's no place!

Too bad there are so many Owners, Managers, and Players that don't get that!

[Jabez54]

Sheesh ... He's kind of like a Frank Howard, in his days, except stronger ...

[Orcin]

November 26, 2015 (BNN)

Subject: Free Agents File

Today marks the start of the CBA free agency period. Among the more notable free agents are three key players from the world champion Houston Stars:

• SP Felix Delgado, ex-LA, 32/R/4.5*, 6x AS, 1x BP, career 180-108 w/3.23 ERA
• 1B Bill Long, ex-HOU, 30/R/4.5*, 2x AS, 1x GG, career .308/.363/.504
• 3B Anastasio Valenzuela, ex-MIL, 28/S/4.5*, 4x AS, 1x MVP, career .289/.381/.470
• LF Fernando Granados, ex-PIT, 29/L/4.5*, 4x AS, career .289/.365/.465
• 1B Ramon Lopez, ex-PHX, 36/L/4.5*, 5x AS, 1x GG, career .309/.387/.533
• SP Kevin Cleaves, ex-SLC, 27/R/4.5*, 1x AS, career 70-57 w/3.74 ERA
• SP Matthew Corner, ex-CHI, 32/R/4*, 2x AS, career 123-108 w/3.92 ERA
• 2B Sergio Hernandez, ex-HOU, 28/L/4*, 3x AS, career .308/.384/.434
• CF Arturo Hernandez, ex-SD, 30/S/4*, 1x AS, career .291/.395/.395
• 1B Tom Henry, ex-PIT, 37/R/4*, 5x AS, 1x GG, career .276/.369/.434
• SP Kevin Morse, ex-HOU, 28/R/3.5*, career 104-74 w/ 3.22 ERA
• SP Dean Dickson, ex-BAL, 39/R/3.5*, 5x AS, career 244-191 w/ 3.49 ERA

Legend: position, name, former team, age / handedness / overall rating, # all-star selections, awards (if any), career stats

[Orcin]

November 26, 2015

Subject: Salary Obligations – 2016

Eligible players filed for free agency today and arbitration is also out of the way. This is our first look at a clean budget picture for 2016, and it is really tight. I typically assume a full 40-man roster on major league contracts to be conservative. Using that assumption, total salaries are $500K over the $105 million limit that I established for myself and only $1.5M under the budget set by owner Gordon Cooper. In addition, 2017 is over budget, so Gordon Cooper will not allow any contract extensions.

Let’s focus on team needs for a second. If there were a small amount of budget room available, what would I be seeking?

1. LH power hitter 1B/OF
2. Bullpen help
3. Second base upgrade
4. Veteran depth players

I would like to trade Will Spencer for one of these needs and reduce the payroll in the deal. I would then be able to upgrade the bench and/or starting pitching depth with another round of 1-year, $1M contracts in the late winter/early spring period.

The REAL problem here is unsolvable: I am paying my backup catcher $12.7 million. Bland is a 10/5 player and will not agree to a trade, even if a trade were possible. So I just have to work around that obstacle for one more year. Bland contributes, so it is not all bad news.

The Louisville Colonels start the off-season down 12 WAR with the trade of CF Rafael Valdez (5 WAR) being the largest hole to fill. His backup, CF Ray Banks (3 WAR), is the next biggest loss. Maybe the loss of these two players is a blessing in disguise. Center field prospect Jose Diaz has the potential to be a superstar and needs an opportunity to play in the majors. He has a spot now.

[samoka10]

Originally Posted by Orcin

Bland contributes, so it is not all bad news.

Its pretty nice of you to say he "contributes"........that 600 ops and 2 vorp has to be tough to stomach when 12 million is attached to it...

[CatKnight]

Originally Posted by samoka10

Its pretty nice of you to say he "contributes"........that 600 ops and 2 vorp has to be tough to stomach when 12 million is attached to it...

He's trying to make light of it so he doesn't go to the clubhouse and beat Bland with a stick.

[Orcin]

December 1, 2015

Subject: Rule 5 Draft

I have six open roster spots and I won’t leave any young talent unprotected. I have marginally players that can be waived if more room is needed. After careful analysis of the pool of players and my own organizational needs, the following players were added to the secondary roster:

• LF Hector Castro (best player in the draft pool before he was protected)
• SP Domingo Lopez (one of our top 10 prospects)
• CF Norberto Garcia (one of our top 10 prospects)

SP Michael Bowles and LF/RF Dennis Bennett will be added to the 40-man roster before spring training, but there is no rush because they are not eligible for the draft. I left a few other decent prospects unprotected because they were not going to compete for a roster spot anyway.

We did not take anyone in the draft.

The Washington Admirals selected SP Ray Alexander. I hope he gets another shot at a big league job with them (if not, he will be returned to us). There was a bit of grumbling about leaving him unprotected and fan interest dropped two points (to 85) on the news. Frankly, I have major problems if Ray Alexander is in my rotation next spring.

[Orcin]

Off-Season Center

11/29/2015: Denver traded closer David Hanna to Pittsburgh for three young minor league players, none of whom were rated prospects. This is a salary dump for the rebuilding Miners.

12/02/2015: Boston traded former Louisville RF William Price to Nashville for 30 y/o SP Les Spencer (career 76-68, 4.11 ERA).

12/04/2015: Three big-name free agents were reeled in today.
• Orlando signed CF Arturo Hernandez (7 years, $113M)
• Houston signed 3B Anastasio Valenzuela (4 years, $80M)
• New York signed SP Kevin Cleaves (4 years, $74M)
• In addition, Sacramento re-signed their closer Benton Jackson (2 years, $26M)

12/05/2015: Providence signed SP Felix Delgado (2 years, $36M). Houston raised a few eyebrows by signing 35 y/o closer Fernando Alvarez (3 years, $40M) away from Los Angeles.

12/08/2015: Sacramento bolstered their lineup by signing LF Fernando Granados (5 years, $92M).

12/12/2015: Cleveland signed 2B Sergio Hernandez (4 years, $58M)

12/14/2015: The big-name free agents continue to be snapped up before the Winter Meetings even begin. The good news is that the market for Will Spencer may now be stronger with most of the good starting pitchers off the board.
• Dallas signed 1B Bill Long (5 years, $87M)
• Denver signed SP Kevin Morse (4 years, $69M)
• Denver also inked SP Matthew Corner (4 years, $67M)
(RE: Denver Miners... Rebuilding is expensive!)

The prominent free agents left for the Winter Meetings are all older players:
• 1B Ramon Lopez, ex-PHX, 36/L/4.5*, 5x AS, 1x GG, career .309/.387/.533
• 1B Tom Henry, ex-PIT, 37/R/4*, 5x AS, 1x GG, career .276/.369/.434
• SP Dean Dickson, ex-BAL, 39/R/3.5*, 5x AS, career 244-191 w/ 3.49 ERA
• SS Leroy Becker, ex-LA, 38/S/3*, 6x AS, career .271/.363/.431
• CL Eric Alford, ex-WAS, 37/R/5*, 11x AS, career 104-62 w/2.02 ERA, 536 SV

These players all want multi-year contracts worth more than $50M. That’s too rich for my blood. Let’s see how desperate other GM’s are.

[Orcin]

December 16, 2015

Subject: Winter Meetings Begin

The offseason is heating up and Continental Baseball Association's winter meetings start today! General Managers meet for three days and discuss trades and player contracts. All teams benefit from almost immediate feedback on trade offers.

The immediate feedback on Will Spencer was not good. The market can be classified into three groups:
• Teams that have no budget room to add his $6M salary
• Teams that do not have a player we want
• Teams that are not willing to give enough value in return

I continued to search for a deal with the caveat that a team must give reasonable value back for me to move him. He might have a great year and end up being compensation eligible as a free agent, so I need to get back at least a second-round quality prospect. No dice on the first trip through the circuit. I am inclined to stand pat rather than dump the salary. My pitching is undeniably deeper and better with Spencer than without him. I am (barely) within the budget target as of now, and I have a cash reserve to add cheap free agents if I want to use it.

I decided to canvas all of the teams with budget room one more time, open to the idea of adding a second player in the deal. I got all the way to the last team on my list, the “win now” Washington Admirals before I found a deal that really interested me. Two players, age 30, would go to Washington in return for the CBA’s #63 prospect (a 20 y/o second baseman that was discovered in Mexico), the 2015 AA Best Pitcher (14-1, 2.98 ERA, age 21), and a 23 y/o outfielder with speed that can play all three spots at a high defensive level and hit (VORP of 30 at AAA in 2014 and 2015). All three players have outstanding intangibles, including leadership, intelligence, and high work ethic.

Sounds good, right? Well, there is always a catch. Those last two players are not top 100 prospects. In fact, Green says they are “spot starter” and “role player” respectively, but they have potential to be valuable roster players for a long time. The second player on my side of the deal leaves a pretty big hole to fill, but the $8M in budget room should be more than adequate to sign depth replacements for the players that I give up. Also, please keep in mind that I have a weakness at second base and no good prospects in the entire organization. In the final analysis, this was a deal that I couldn’t pass up.

[Orcin]

December 16, 2015 (BNN)

Subject: Louisville, Washington Trade Players

The Louisville Colonels swapped 30-year-old starting pitcher Will Spencer and 30-year-old shortstop Jason Searles for 20-year-old minor league second baseman Paco Morales, 21-year-old minor league starting pitcher Clyde Fuller and 23-year-old center fielder Miguel Bustamante of the Admirals after what Washington officials characterized as "difficult" negotiations.

Spencer has a lifetime ERA of 4.03 with a record of 66 wins and 45 losses. He also has struck out 712 batters in 939 innings and allowed 857 hits. Searles hit .266 in 135 games for the Colonels last season. Both players are expected to play key roles for the Admirals in 2016.

Louisville continues to dump salary by trading one of their best pitchers on the heels of sending their star center fielder to Seattle. GM Otto Orcin insists that the recent trades are not motivated by monetary concerns, but instead are designed to bring fresh young talent into the organization.

BNN’s Offseason Center has the Colonels losing 18 WAR, the second-worst decline in the CBA. The team appears to be in a rebuilding mode instead of contending, which represents a significant shift in direction for a franchise that has always prided itself on being a consistent winner.

[progen]

Interested to see how this "rebuild" goes. Unfamiliar territory for the Colonels and it's top "brass" who run the team! Patience is a virtue that not many have!

[Vlach]

Wanted to thank you as well for your story - finished it (and number 1) yesterday! Love all those storylines you constructed and maintain, and I am fascinated by your management style. It inspired me - together with the oen by gehrig38 - to start my own soon!

Andreas

[Orcin]

December 2015: Winter Meetings Transactions

12/16/2015: Seattle traded 25 y/o CF Paul Craig (2015: .297/.339/.489 in 95 games) to Providence for two pretty good prospects. Craig became expendable when the Falcons acquired Rafael Valdez from us. I tried to trade Spencer for Craig but Seattle’s available budget room was consumed by Valdez.

12/16/2015: Cincinnati traded overpaid veteran RF Joe Martin and 19 y/o closer Javier Vera to Sacramento for reliever Travis Murphy. The Bobcats were willing to give Vera for Spencer, but I thought a starting pitcher with a 3.5 WAR was worth more than one reliever prospect.

12/18/2015: San Francisco obtained 27 y/o SS Michael Bailey (2015: .294/.324/.413 in 110 games) from Nashville in return for FIVE minor league players, none of whom were even remotely close to being labeled as a top prospect.

There were several other minor trades, but no significant free agent signings before the meetings were wrapped up.


Off-Season Center

12/27/2015: Salt Lake City signed former Los Angeles closer Juan Fuentes to a 2-year, $30M contract. Fuentes is only 26 and a stud closer, but that’s still a lot of money.

12/28/2015: Two players on my watch list signed for more money than I was willing or able to pay:
• Orlando signed SP Dean Dickson (2 years, $32M)
• Salt Lake City signed 2B Roberto Garcia (3 years, $37M)

12/28/2015: The number of big free agents dwindled to a handful today after:
• Milwaukee signed 1B Ramon Lopez (3 years, $52M)
• Chicago signed 2B Tom Henry (2 years, $30M) to replace 2B Steve Griffith

[Orcin]

Management Carousel Update
The following CBA teams have personnel changes for this upcoming season.

Federal League:
Dallas Rattlers: MGR Earl Phillips (former Phoenix HC)
Denver Miners: GM Lorenzo Morin (former Detroit GM)
Los Angeles Vipers: MGR Craig Chambers (former Denver HC)
San Francisco Seals: MGR Matt Bader (former Charlotte MGR)
St. Louis Hawks: GM Vicente Barrera (former Atlanta GM), MGR Curt Carter (former Nashville PC)

Patriot League:
Atlanta Flames: GM Mike Burks (former Charlotte GM), MGR Carlos Satelo (former St. Louis HC)
Baltimore Robins: MGR Xavier Montgomery (former minor league MGR)
Charlotte Knights: MGR Albert Cregan (promoted from BC)
Detroit Titans: GM Ramon Perez (no prior experience), MGR Tommy Evans (former Baltimore MGR)
Nashville Tigers: GM Orlando Flores (former St. Louis GM), MGR Jessie Garrison (promoted from BC)
Orlando Sharks: GM Jaime Perez (former Denver GM)
Washington Admirals: MGR Steve Vinson (former minor league MGR)


Retired Players
There were no significant retirements announced on New Year’s Day.

[Orcin]

Off-Season Center

01/01/2016: Two more decent free agents were signed to new contracts:
• SP Nick Smith signed a 3-year contract worth $32M with Seattle.
• LF Tracy Sweeney (former LOU player) signed with Denver (5 years, $73M). That’s considerably more money than I expected the 32 y/o Sweeney to get.

01/05/2016: Cleveland signed CL Carlos Pereira (3 years, $29M)

01/14/2016: Chicago continued to capitalize on their #2 budget status by signing SS Leroy Becker (2 years, $28M). Chicago now has the #5 payroll at $129M.

01/24/2016: Houston signed star LF Luis Soto (34/L/5*) to a 2-year contract extension worth $44M. The second year is a team option. Believe or not, that’s a pay cut for Soto.

01/26/2016: Orlando signed 35 y/o reliever Edgardo Garza (2 years, $11M) to be a setup man.

01/27/2016: New York signed former Dallas 1B Arnie Johnson (4 years, $35M). I had hopes that the LH slugger would slip to the 1-year “build value” contract phase.

01/30/2016: Louisville claimed C John Parks (27/L/0.5*) off waivers from New York. Parks is a defensive wizard but only hit .195 in limited play last season. He will use one of his three remaining options at Lexington this season to work on his plate approach with new AAA hitting coach Silas Campbell.

Let’s take another look at the priority list before heading into the pre-season activity.
1. LH power hitter 1B/OF (probably not going to happen)
2. Bullpen help (some youth has been added but still need a late-inning veteran)
3. Second base upgrade (really need a replacement for Searles at least)
4. Veteran depth players (plenty of options left but not much money)

The following free agents are all still available:
• SP Juan Rodriguez
• SP Pippino Franchitti
• MR Salvador Castaneda
• C Chuck Haines
• 1B Mike Guy
• RF Ray Banks

I am sure that you recognize the names on that list. I am watching Ray Banks and Pippino Franchitti carefully. I expect their asking price to drop when the calendar turns to February.

[Orcin]

February 4, 2016 (BNN)

Subject: CBA Pre-Season Begins

The Continental Baseball Association preseason begins today with the release of the 2016 schedule. Teams will be headed out for spring training shortly and will have to determine the makeup of their regular season rosters before Opening Day.

So far, the off-season winners and losers in terms of WAR gained/lost are:

1. Orlando +9.9 (signed SP Dean Dickson 5.3)
2. New York +9.3 (signed SP Kevin Cleaves 6.7)
3. Providence +6.4 (signed SP Felix Delgado 6.4)
4. Milwaukee +4.4 (signed 1B Ramon Lopez 4.2)

27. Salt Lake City -10.1 (lost SP Kevin Cleaves 6.7)
28. Nashville -10.2 (traded SP Jose Flores 4.1)
29. Los Angeles -14.1 (lost SP Felix Delgado 6.4)
30. Louisville -18.1 (traded CF Rafael Valdez 5.3)

**********

Fan interest is at 85, down 6 points from last season. Really, it could be worse when you consider the horrible off-season that we apparently had. Of course, you and I know that this rating is extremely flawed. First of all, it is based on last season’s performance, not this season. And, it does not take developing young players into account.

[Orcin]

February 5, 2016 (BNN)

Subject: Colonels, Miners Trade Five Players

In a move that has left many fans wondering, the Louisville Colonels have traded 24-year-old reliever Reginald Smith, 26-year-old shortstop Shane Plumbly and 27-year-old right fielder Barry Fontenot to the Denver Miners. In return, the Colonels receive 33-year-old reliever Jeff Jennings and 28-year-old catcher Ben Holcomb.

Louisville fans worry that the Colonels have given up quite a bit for two unimportant players. Denver introduced Smith as their new setup man, Plumbly as their starting shortstop, and Fontenot as their fourth outfielder. Insiders were quick to point out that Smith was recently claimed off waivers and Plumbly hit .203 last season. Fontenot was a decent fill-in outfielder last season, but the Colonels have plenty of left-handed hitting outfielders. Louisville does not have plenty of middle infielders and the decision to give up on Plumbly after only one season is questionable. However, GM Otto Orcin has never been known for his patience with under-performing young players.

Orcin justified the trade by saying that Jennings is the best left-handed reliever in the CBA. Fans that are not familiar with Jennings will be surprised by his success against left-handed batters (career: 2.52 ERA, .205 BAA, 0.95 WHIP). Orcin said that Jennings gives the Colonels a good late-inning option against teams stacked with left-handed hitters (such as the Vipers who defeated the Colonels in last year’s playoffs). Jennings is signed to a one-year contract at $720K, making him affordable for the Colonels this season but a risk for next year.

Holcomb was the Federal League Rookie of the Year in 2014, but he was pushed to the bench in 2015 by free agent acquisition Justin Stone. His stat line of .264/.344/.454 in 232 games makes him at least a good platoon catcher to share time with Gary Arkle. Holcomb is a strong defensive catcher also. He is expected to be at AAA this season barring injury, but he could take over the backup role next year if Duncan Bland does not return for a 15th season.

[Orcin]

Pre-Season Center

02/07/2016: The Chicago Cougars added two more expensive veteran free agents:
• CL Eric Alford (#4 all-time in saves) signed for 2 years, $30M to be the setup man
• CF Dan Chambers signed for 4 years, $43M to be the fourth outfielder
• Chicago now has the #1 payroll in the CBA at $153 million.

02/10/2016: San Francisco continues to beef up their bullpen, adding former Denver closer Vic Staten (age 32, career 2.59 ERA with 283 saves) for 3 years, $26M.

02/13/2016: Seattle signed veteran reliever Gregg Pope (3 years, $11M) to be their setup man.

02/18/2016: 29-year-old RH reliever Charles Jackson has inked a deal with Louisville. Many baseball people question whether he is really worth $6M over 3 years. However, the team thinks that Jackson will be a solid contributor this season. Jackson has posted a career 23-29 record with 30 saves, a 3.92 ERA and a .251 BAA.

02/19/2016: Louisville added two former Colonels to their roster today, providing depth at critical positions.
• SP Pippino Franchitti (1 year, $1.5M) was re-signed, presumably as the fifth starter.
• 2B Jonathan Kelly (1 year, $1M) was signed to be the utility infielder, replacing Jason Searles (traded to Washington). Kelly played for Louisville from 2010 to 2013.

02/22/2016: Louisville announced some roster moves today in preparation for spring training:
• Rookie SP Michael Bowles was added to the 40-man roster; reliever Garry Latham was placed on waivers
• Rookie outfielders Miguel Bustamante and Dennis Bennett were added to the 40-man roster; LF Craig Dixon was placed on waivers
• The moves leave one spot open on the 40-man roster, leading to speculation that another free agent signing is pending
• Latham and Dixon cleared waivers and were assigned to AAA Lexington.

02/28/2016: Cincinnati signed former Louisville SP Juan Rodriguez (1 year, $700K)

02/29/2016: Houston signed former Chicago 2B Steve Griffith (1 year, $5.3M)

03/01/2016: Philadelphia signed former Louisville 1B Mike Guy (2 years, $8.5M). Fan interest in Louisville dropped 3 points to 82 on the news. (Who knew they cared?!?)

03/05/2016: cbatraderumors.com is reporting that talks have broken off between the Louisville Colonels and the agent for CF Ray Banks. The parties appear to be too far apart. Sources indicate that the Colonels are now in discussions with former Cleveland CF Jose Cruz (29/R/2.5*) about a one-year contract.

[Orcin]

Note to self for next season: Sim through spring training in one click. It's really boring. All that matters is injuries, and the sim will be stopped for that.