The United States of Newland Continental Baseball League

[Dark Horse]

Go Irondale!

[jwinbigler]

September 1, 1998





Monthly Wrap-Up
The 2 teams in Liberty have maintained their big leads, and it is almost certain that we’ll see a rematch of last year’s World Series. The Giants, of course, are going for their 4th straight championship and 6th overall, while this will be the Knights’ 2nd FL pennant. Last year, the Knights were missing Ralph Torres, and if they can stay healthy in September, they’ll have a much better chance of dethroning the Giants.

This month, Trent Gore had his 6th career 15-K game, among only 13 in CBL history. Centerville’s young pitchers showed flashes of their potential dominance in a combined no-hitter against the Knights on the 29th (see below). Their glut of young pitching depth could be really valuable over the next few years.







Colonial League:
Players of the Week
August 3 – 3B Jim Hawking, NEW, 14-26, 0 HR, 6 RBI
August 10 – 1B David Burnett, LBG, 10-16, 1 HR, 5 RBI
August 17 – RF Sean Tuttle, IRO, 11-24, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 5 R
August 24 – LF Rich Clay, POR, 10-26, 2 HR, 4 RBI
August 31 – C Bob Curran, PCP, 9-21, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R

Players of the Month
Batter – RF Sean Tuttle, IRO, .324, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 20 R
Pitcher – SP Alan Morgan, NEW, 4-0, 1.74 ERA, 41.1 IP, 46 K
Rookie – SS Kent Wells, LBG, .283, 5 HR, 12 RBI

Federal League:
Players of the Week
August 3 – C Jeff Turner, LBK, 9-21, 6 HR, 12 RBI
August 10 – RF Ralph Torres, LBK, 7-23, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 6 R
August 17 – LF Gregg Kelly, PCK, 9-19, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4 R
August 24 – 3B Bill Harrington, FRE, 10-24, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 7 R
August 31 – 1B Raymond Richards, MTS, 10-25, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R

Players of the Month
Batter – RF Ralph Torres, LBK, .348, 8 HR, 23 RBI, 20 R
Pitcher – SP Bill O’Clancy, CEN, 5-0, 1.13 ERA, 47.2 IP, 39 K
Rookie – C Michael Redman, CEN, .234, 1 HR, 10 RBI

Top Performances
Batting – August 7 – RF Ralph Torres, LBK vs. PCK, 3-4, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB
Pitching – August 2 – SP Trent Gore, LBG vs. POR, 8.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 15 K

Major Transactions
August 4 – SP Carlos Vargo, PCP, signed 1-year extension
August 17 – SP Cliff Bly, LBK, signed 1-year extension
August 26 – 1B Mike Roberts, LBG, signed 1-year extension

Major Injuries
August 2 – RF Pat Howard, KIN, out for 2 months due to strained hamstring
August 6 – LF Billy Copeland, NEW, out for 7-8 months due to concussion
August 6 – CF Davey Simons, LBG, out for 5 weeks due to strained hamstring
August 7 – CL Trevor Bell, KIN, out for 8 weeks due to bone chips in elbow
August 31 – LF Jerry Ball, CC, out for 5 weeks due to torn ankle ligaments

Get to know BONUS…Danny Wilson

Reminder – This annual September feature is for interesting players that weren’t good enough to be featured in a regular “Get to know”.

Outfielder Danny Wilson has had a long, successful career, and as he nears retirement at the age of 37, we’re taking a look at what he’s accomplished. Wilson is one of just a few active players that played in the old amateur leagues, and he signed with Irondale when the CBL was formed. He saw limited action in the league’s inaugural 1981 season, but he became a starter the following year, where he had a 5-hit game, won a Rookie of the Month award, and was the runner-up to Mike Pryor for Rookie of the Year.

Wilson was a solid player for some bad Irondale teams throughout the 80’s, but he was traded to Kingston during the 1988 season. He played for the Lions for a year and a half, then signed a big 4-year contract with Newport. He only lasted a year and a half there before being traded to the Giants. 2 years later, in 1993, he was part of a deadline trade to Portsmouth, where he was a bench player as the Clippers won the World Series. That offseason, he went back to the Giants on another big 4-year contract, but his decline had started. After starting 78 games in 1994, he only started 99 more over the next 3 years, but he was a solid role player off the bench for all 3 Liberty championship teams. This past offseason, he signed a 1-year contract with Capital City, where he again is a bench player.

Wilson’s career line is .251/.338/.456, with 235 HR, 817 RBI, 871 R, and 229 SB. On the career leaderboards, he is 10th in HR, 9th in RBI, 5th in R, and 7th in SB. He has 3 Gold Gloves; one for CF in 1983 and 2 for RF in 1985 and 1989. He was the first CBL player to hit for the cycle in 1983, and he had a 3-HR game in 1992. He is one of only 3 players to accomplish both (Guillermo Reyes and Terry Williams are the others).

Wilson still has some power, but he has a hard time making contact at this stage in his career. He’s lost a lot of his raw speed from his younger days, but he can still steal bases at a high level and he’s an elite baserunner. He’s an above average defender, although he can only play RF now, and he’s extremely intelligent.

Catching up with…The 1986 Featured Players
Bob Lewis – 1986, 1992 – Retired 1996, All-80’s Team, #9 all-time in Wins
Antonio Marte – 1986, 1992 – Retired 1993
Mike Pryor – 1986, 1992 – Retired 1996
Roosevelt Jones – 1986, 1992 – All-80’s Team Honorable Mention, #1 all-time in Wins, #5 in WAR

Games of the Month
August 2 – Liberty (C) @ Portsmouth
Portsmouth’s Michael Pittman pitched well, but he was no match for the great Trent Gore, who struck out 15 batters while allowing only 1 hit in 8.1 innings. The Giants won 3-0. Gore now has 6 of the 13 15-K games in league history.

August 7 – Portsmouth @ Newport
Michael Pittman again had a nice outing, but this time his bullpen let him down, giving up 4 runs in the 9th to erase a 5-1 lead. The game went to extra innings and lasted all the way to the 18th, when the Clippers finally strung together some hits, scoring 3 runs for an 8-5 win.

August 14 – Park City (C) @ Newport
Newport’s Javier Soto and his former teammate, Mike Murdock were locked in a pitchers’ duel, but Soto’s low stamina forced him to leave after 5 innings. The Clippers took advantage in the 7th with a 2-run homer, but Newport got 1 back in the bottom of the inning, then rallied again in the 9th for a 3-2 win.

August 14 – Irondale @ Capital City
Irondale’s Clinton Brown pitched a complete game shutout in a 4-0 win.

August 15 – Irondale @ Capital City
For the 2nd day in a row, an Irondale pitcher shut out the Senators with a complete game, as Phil Church got the win, 9-0. Jason Coffman got his 30th homer, and Sean Tuttle hit 2 of his own.

August 19 – Irondale @ Liberty (C)
Irondale scored 1 in the 9th to tie it at 3 and added another in the 13th to take the lead, but Liberty answered to keep the game going. Finally, a solo homer by Michael Brewer in the 16th inning was the difference, as the Steelers won 5-4.

August 20 – Irondale @ Liberty (C)
Powered by a 6th inning grand slam by Sean Tuttle, Irondale took a 6-1 lead into the 8th inning. However, the Giants got their revenge from the long game a day earlier, rallying for 6 runs in the 8th on 3 homers, and they went on to win 7-6.

August 29 – Liberty (F) @ Centerville
Last year’s 3rd draft pick, John ‘Two Dogs’ Cook, making his 8th career start for Centerville, threw 7.2 hitless innings, but he walked 4 batters and had to be taken out in the 8th due to fatigue. Kieran Wilson and Ralph Morgan, the #1 pick in 1996, completed the team no-hitter against the 1st-place Knights, as the Cyclones won 6-0.

[jwinbigler]

September 21, 1998





Regular Season Wrap-Up
As expected the two teams in Liberty finished off the season as pennant winners, with both clinching early in the month.

Irondale’s Sean Tuttle won his 2nd batting title, and he led the league in hits for the 4th time in the last 5 years. Ralph Torres of Liberty (F) added to his already impressive trophy case with his 1st batting title.

The Knights’ Matt Ashley set a new CBL record for wins with 22, and he also set the new mark for IP with 248. His teammate Steve Griffin shattered the record for saves with an astounding 55, breaking the old mark of 42. Portsmouth’s Joe Jackson set a new record by striking out 166 times. The Giants’ Curt Snyder won 21 games, tying the old record that Ashley broke, and with his 21st win, he passed Roosevelt Jones on the all-time list with 170.

In extremely sad news, Fremont 3B Bill ‘Flounder’ Harrington, one of the top players in the game, suffered a career ending injury at the age of 28. Harrington was the #1 pick in 1993 and won the FL Rookie of the Year that same year. As a still-improving youngster, he was a key piece of the 1994 team that was the first FL team to win the World Series. He’s gone on to be an All-Star each of the last 4 years, and he won the Outstanding Hitter Award last year. His career numbers are .295/.390/.470 with 111 HR and 393 RBI. He will truly be missed in the CBL.

World Series Preview



Liberty (C) Giants



The Liberty dynasty is going strong as they go for their 4th straight World Series win.

The Giants’ offense hasn’t changed much since last year, but their veterans are a year older (and a step slower) and their bench is noticeably thinner following the trade of David Jones. RF Tom Jenkins (32, 4*) and 3B Vicente Flores (35, 3*) are still the veteran leaders, but the emergence of 1B Mike Roberts (26, 4*) is a key reason they’re back here. SS Jeff Thompson (27, 4*) and 2B Jeremy Wiggins (26, 4*) aren’t great hitters, but they get the job done. RF Davey Simons (30, 3.5*), who played for the Knights last year but missed the World Series, C Robert Hollingsworth (33, 3*), and the speedy CF Reginald ‘Shifty’ Garner (28, 2*) round out the starting lineup. 1B David Burnett (26, 3.5*) is the biggest threat off the bench.

Last year, their rotation relied heavily on their top 2 guys, but they are much deeper this year, and the current iteration might be the best in league history. Curt Snyder (32, 4.5*) and Trent Gore (34, 5*) are #1 and #4 on the all-time Wins list, respectively, and they have 5 OPAs between them (Snyder should probably win his 3rd this year, too). Newcomer Dan Bray (26, 4.5/5*) is a young stud that would be the ace on most teams, and Bill Cranwell (27, 2.5*) is a capable #4. Mark Ullrich (35, 3.5*) went 11-6 as the #5 starter this year but will pitch out of the bullpen for the World Series. He is #5 all-time in Wins, giving the team 3 of the top 5 on that list pitching together. Closer Hal Phipps (28, 5*) is one of the best in the game, but they also have Richard Knight (27, 5*), Ed Debord (25, 5*), Terry Seals (26, 5*), and Chris McKenzie (29, 4/4.5*). This is a truly great pitching staff.

Liberty (F) Knights



After losing to the Giants 4-2 in last year’s World Series, the Knights are back with a second chance, and this time, they won’t be missing Ralph Torres. Last offseason, they traded star pitcher Lawrence Gordon for LF/SS Tom Duncan, and it appears that the move has paid off for them, as their offense is greatly improved without costing too much of their pitching staff.

The Knights’ offense has more top-end star power than the Giants’, but it’s not as deep. They led the FL in runs, but were only 4th in HR, as they rely more on keeping the line moving. LF Tom Duncan (30, 5*) and RF Ralph Torres (32, 5*) have 5 OHAs between them, and both are 8-time All-Stars (every All-Star game played so far). C Jeff Turner (29, 5*) is one of the best backstops in the game, but there is a dropoff after him. 2B Daniel Mills (30, 3*), 1B David Jones (34, 2.5*), SS Merlin Westaway (26, 2/2.5*), CF Brent McCall (25, 2*), and 3B William Ortiz (30, 1.5*) are the remaining starters. There are 2 future stars on the bench, in C Gary Donovan (25, 2.5/5*) and CF Stan Robinson (25, 2/4.5*), but they aren’t quite ready yet. RF Bill Wall (26, 3*) is the top bench threat.

The Knights’ rotation might have rivaled the Giants’ if they still had Lawrence Gordon, but without him it’s still very good. Matt Ashley (31, 4.5*) just set a new season record with 22 wins, and Al Goodman (28, 3.5*), Cliff Bly (26, 3.5*), and Len Cummings (25, 2/3.5*) are solid in the remaining spots. Greg Robertson (23, 1.5/4.5*) started 11 games this year but is out with an injury. He is a future stud, but his loss shouldn’t be huge for this year. Closer Steve Griffin (28, 5*) saved 55 games, a new CBL record, but the rest of the bullpen is spotty. The best options are Todd Hammond (33, 4*), Andre Jacobs (25, 4*), and David Andrews (25, 3.5/4*). Earl Gordon (43, 3.5*) didn’t have a great year, but he provides a lot of veteran leadership.

Prediction
From last year, the Giants have improved their pitching with a small decrease in their offense, while the Knights have greatly improved their hitting (considering Torres missed the World Series) with a moderate decrease in their pitching. This should be a good one. Last year, we picked the Giants to win in 6, which was spot on. The Knights have definitely closed the gap, however, and we think they have a slight edge due to their potent middle of the lineup and motivation for revenge. If the Giants’ starting pitchers get hot, though, we’ll be eating our words. We’re picking the Knights to win in 7 games.

Top Performances
Batting – September 19 – SS Michael Brewer, IRO vs. PCP, 3-3, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB
Pitching – September 1 – SP Lawrence Gordon, POR vs. CC, 8.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K

Major Transactions
None

Major Injuries
September 4 – LF Gregg Kelly, PCK, out for 4 weeks due to torn hamstring
September 7 – CL Rob Paris, POR, out for 2 months due to sore shoulder
September 14 – 3B Bill Harrington, FRE, career over due to torn labrum
September 14 – SP Bill O’Clancy, CEN, out for 5 months due to shoulder inflammation

Games of the Month
September 5 – Newport @ Portsmouth
The Newport combination of Alan Morgan (6 IP), Albert Williams (2 IP), and Miguel Pellicer (1 IP) combined for a no-hitter in a 4-0 win.

September 9 – Centerville @ Liberty (F)
Liberty’s Matt Ashley threw 8 great innings to get his league-leading 20th win, as the Knights won 3-0. He is the 4th pitcher to reach the 20-win mark in league history (Trent Gore, Michael Pittman, and Michael Alexander are the others).

September 9 – Park City (C) @ Liberty (C)
Liberty’s Dan Bray became just the 2nd pitcher to strike out more than 15 in a game, as he struck out 16 while walking 3 in only 7 innings. This was his 2nd 15-K game. Javier Soto holds the record with 18. Meanwhile, Mike Murdock gave up 2 runs over 8 innings, and the game came down to the bullpens. The Patriots’ bullpen was a little better today, and they scored a run in the 11th to win 3-2.

September 10 – Park City (C) @ Liberty (C)
Matt Ashley’s former rotation mate, Curt Snyder, got his 20th win a day after Ashley accomplished the feat. Snyder gave up 4 hits over 7 innings in the 1-0 win for Liberty.

September 14 – Kingston @ Centerville
21-year old John Cook, who kicked off the combined no-hitter we featured last month, had another great outing. This time, he gave up 2 runs over 8.1 innings, but he struck out 14 batters in a 6-2 win. It looks like he has a good chance to be the CBL’s next great strikeout pitcher.

September 19 – Kingston @ Liberty (F)
About a week prior, both Matt Ashley and Curt Snyder won their 21st games of the season, tying Michael Pittman’s CBL record. While Snyder didn’t get an opportunity to break the record, Ashley took advantage of his, throwing 7 scoreless innings in a 7-0 win.

[jwinbigler]

September 22, 1998

World Series Game 1 – Liberty (C) @ Liberty (F)
Curt Snyder vs. Cliff Bly

The Giants led off the game by loading the bases with 1 out. A Davey Simons single gave them a 1-0 lead, but Cliff Bly got Robert Hollingsworth to strike out and Vicente Flores to ground out to minimize the damage. In the bottom of the 1st, Merlin Westaway led off with a single, but he was quickly erased by a double play. After that, both pitchers were locked in. There were a handful of hits and walks scattered throughout the middle innings, but a few double plays and runners caught stealing prevented any rallies. The Giants pushed another run across on a groundout in the top of the 9th off closer Steve Griffin to extend their lead to 2-0, and Hal Phipps pitched a nearly perfect 9th (Daniel Mills reached on an error) for the save.

Curt Snyder got the win by giving up 5 hits and 2 walks over 7.2 innings, while Cliff Bly gave up 1 run on 6 hits in 7 innings. Davey Simons and Vicente Flores had RBIs for the Giants. It has to be a little concerning for the Knights that their dominant closer gave up an insurance run in the 9th, but he’ll surely have another chance in the series.

Liberty (C) wins 2-0
Liberty (C) leads series 1-0

[jwinbigler]

September 23, 1998

World Series Game 2 – Liberty (C) @ Liberty (F)
Trent Gore vs. Matt Ashley

This was almost a must-win game for the Knights, with their clear ace Matt Ashley going and facing a potential 2-0 deficit. Against Trent Gore, that’s not a great position to be in. Both pitchers were awesome early, and the first good scoring chance for either team came in the top of the 4th. Jeremy Wiggins led off with a single and eventually moved to 3rd after 2 groundouts. 2 walks later, the bases were loaded, but Vicente Flores flew out to end the inning. The Giants had another chance in the 8th, when pinch hitter David Burnett led off with a single. Earl Gordon replaced Matt Ashley on the mound, and he gave up a single and a walk to load the bases with no outs. They couldn’t capitalize, though, as Mike Roberts grounded into a fielder’s choice at home and Tom Jenkins grounded into a double play. In the bottom of the inning, Gary Donovan and Merlin Westaway singled off Chris McKenzie. Tom Duncan drew a 1-out walk to load the bases, and Ralph Torres hit a soft ground ball for a run-scoring fielder’s choice. The 1-0 lead for the Knights was all closer Steve Griffin needed, as he pitched a perfect 9th for the save.

Both starting pitchers threw 7 scoreless innings, with Ashley giving up 4 hits and Gore giving up 6. The Knights’ bullpen was just a little better today, and Earl Gordon picked up his 2nd career postseason win. Backup catcher Gary Donovan scored the lone run after leading off the 8th as a pinch hitter.

Liberty (F) wins 1-0
Series tied 1-1

[jwinbigler]

September 25, 1998

World Series Game 3 – Liberty (F) @ Liberty (C)
Al Goodman vs. Dan Bray

Dan Bray got off to a horrific start, bringing back memories of his 1st World Series start as a 19-year old, 7 years ago. He gave up a hit and 2 walks to the first 3 batters, then a grand slam to Ralph Torres. 2 batters later, David Jones added a solo shot to make it 5-0. The Giants got one back in the 2nd on a Robert Hollingsworth homer, and they made it 5-2 in the 3rd via a double and an error. David Jones hit his 2nd homer of the day in the 6th to make it 6-2, and Ralph Torres added a 2-run double in the 7th to make it 8-2 and essentially put it away. Tom Duncan doubled home Merlin Westaway in the 9th, and despite back-to-back homers in the bottom of the 9th by Robert Hollingsworth and Vicente Flores, the Giants couldn’t make a miraculous comeback from their early hole.

Al Goodman got the win, going 8 innings and giving up 2 runs (1 earned). Dan Bray only lasted 3 innings and gave up 5 runs in the loss. Ralph Torres was the player of the game, going 2-5 with 6 RBI and a run.

Tomorrow, we’ll see both #4 starters, and we predict that the winner of Game 4 will win the series. A Knights win would result in a 3-1 advantage, while a Giants win would tie the series with Gore, Snyder, and Bray going over the final 3, which would be tough to beat.

Liberty (F) wins 9-4
Liberty (F) leads series 2-1

[jwinbigler]

September 26, 1998

World Series Game 4 – Liberty (F) @ Liberty (C)
Len Cummings vs. Bill Cranwell

In the pivotal Game 4, Len Cummings blinked first, giving up a 2-run homer to Davey Simons in the 2nd. In the 4th, Merlin Westaway led off with a solo homer to cut the lead to 2-1. Westaway has 6 career regular season homers in 1409 at-bats, and he had none this year, so it was quite unexpected. The Knights threatened a few more times, but Bill Cranwell kept going strong, and the game went to the 9th still at 2-1. Closer Hal Phipps, one of the all-time greats, got 2 quick outs, but Tom Duncan singled on a 2-2 pitch, and Ralph Torres followed with a 2-run homer that barely cleared the fence in right field. For the second day in a row, Steve Griffin pitched a perfect 9th for the save.

Bill Cranwell pitched a gem, giving up 1 run on 3 hits in 8 innings, but Hal Phipps blew the save to cost him a win. Len Cummings gave up 2 runs in 7 innings. Earl Gordon pitched the 8th and got the win for the 2nd straight day. Ralph Torres was the offensive hero again with the go-ahead homer in the 9th. He was 2-4 with 2 RBI and a run. Davey Simons was 2-3 with 2 RBI and a run in the loss.

The Knights now have a great chance to win the series, needing only one more win, but they’ll have to do it against some of the top pitchers in the league. No team has come back from a 3-1 deficit, but if any team can do it, it’s the Giants.

Liberty (F) wins 3-2
Liberty (F) leads series 3-1

[jwinbigler]

September 27, 1998

World Series Game 5 – Liberty (F) @ Liberty (C)
Trent Gore vs. Matt Ashley

This was a rematch of the pitching matchup in Game 2, with both starters going on 3 days’ rest. Gore was a little shaky in the 1st, giving up 2 singles right away. Merlin Westaway scored on a Tom Duncan groundout, but Gore got out of it without giving up anything else. A 1-0 lead with Matt Ashley on the mound looked promising, but he didn’t have his best stuff today. 4 straight singles to start the 2nd resulted in the Giants’ 1st run, and Ashley was lucky to get out of it with only 1 more run, as he induced a run-scoring double play, followed by a flyout. The 2-1 lead was all Gore would need, but the Giants continued to add on anyway. Vicente Flores broke out of his slump with a 2-run homer in the 4th, and Tom Jenkins made it 5-1 with a solo shot in the 5th. Davey Simons added an insurance run in the 9th with a solo homer, and the Knights never could get anything going in the loss.

Trent Gore gave up 1 run on 5 hits in 7 innings, while Matt Ashley gave up 4 runs in only 4 innings in the loss. Robert Hollingsworth and Vicente Flores each had 2 hits in the win. The series now shifts across town for the final 2 games, where the Knights just need to win 1 more.

Liberty (C) wins 6-1
Liberty (F) leads series 3-2

[jwinbigler]

September 29, 1998

World Series Game 6 – Liberty (C) @ Liberty (F)
Dan Bray vs. Cliff Bly

The Giants made a controversial decision to start Dan Bray instead of Curt Snyder, who hadn’t started since Game 1. Needing to win both games, they elected to save Snyder to face Al Goodman in the potential Game 7. Unfortunately, Bray got off to a slow start once again, giving up 4 hits and 2 runs in the 2nd inning. Cliff Bly pitched strong with the early 2-run lead, giving up only 3 hits in the first 5 innings. In the bottom of the 5th, the pressure went away. After a leadoff hit and a 1-out double by Tom Duncan, Ralph Torres was intentionally walked to load the bases, and former Giant David Jones hit a grand slam on the second pitch he saw to break the game wide open. Bray was immediately pulled. The Giants got one back in the 5th, but Tom Duncan hit an RBI double a half-inning later to get the lead back to 6. The teams traded runs again in the 7th, and Duncan got his 4th hit of the day with a 2-run homer in the 8th to make it 10-2, which was the final score.

Cliff Bly got the win by giving up only 2 runs in 7 innings, but the stars of the game were Tom Duncan and David Jones. Duncan went 4-5 with a homer, 3 RBI, and 2 R. Jones was 3-5 with a homer, 4 RBI, and 3 R. The Giants only managed 4 hits in the loss.

Liberty (F) wins 10-2
Liberty (F) wins series 4-2

[jwinbigler]

September 30, 1998

1998 ALMANAC



World Series Wrap-Up
Last year, we wrote “With a little more offense, the Knights could have made it close, and it’s hard to ignore that Ralph Torres and Davey Simons were missing from the lineup. Fans of the FL club will be wondering “what-if” for years, unless of course they can make it back again soon.” That proved to be prescient, as despite the move of Simons to the Giants in the offseason, they did make it back at nearly full health, and this time they won.

Ralph Torres was the offensive star of the series, helping ease the sting of missing last year’s series. He hit .320 with 2 HR and 9 RBI. Tom Duncan, the new addition to the lineup, hit .391 with 1 HR and 5 RBI. David Jones, who came over from the Giants mid-season, hit .250 with 2 HR and 5 RBI. The Knights’ starting pitchers were all very good in the series, and reliever Earl Gordon won 2 of the 4 games with a 3.18 ERA. For the Giants, Robert Hollingsworth hit 3 HR, but they were all solo shots. Davey Simons and Vicente Flores each had 2 HR and 4 RBI in the series, but Mike Roberts hit only .182 with no RBI. Trent Gore, Curt Snyder, and Bill Cranwell were outstanding in their starts, combining to go 2-0 in 4 games, but the bullpen lost the other 2 games, and Dan Bray had 2 shockingly bad outings that were the difference in the series.

Season Wrap-Up
The Giants’ upcoming free agents include Bill Cranwell and several members of their great bullpen. With everyone else back, however, they should still be the team to beat in the CL. The Knights don’t lose any major contributors.

In the CL, Sean Tuttle is the favorite for the OHA, but Jason Coffman and Mike Roberts have good cases too. Curt Snyder is the prohibitive favorite for the OPA after leading the league in Wins and ERA by wide margins. In the FL, Ralph Torres, Tom Duncan, and Jeffery Younger are in the mix for the OHA, but Torres probably has the edge. Matt Ashley will likely win his 2nd straight OPA, but voters may like Bill O’Clancy’s better ERA and strikeouts.

[jwinbigler]

October 25, 1998

We correctly predicted each of the 4 major awards, which were all won by repeat winners. In the CL, Sean Tuttle won his 2nd OHA (‘95), and Curt Snyder won his 3rd OPA (’89, ’91), which matches William McKinney and Trent Gore for the most all-time. The Giants swept the top 3 spots in OPA voting, a CBL first. In the FL, Ralph Torres won his 4th OHA (’91, ’92, ’95), and Matt Ashley won his 2nd straight OPA. Neil Stinson narrowly edged out Miguel Pellicer for the CL RPA, and Steve Griffin won his 1st RPA in the FL. Both Liberty managers, Van Holman and Terry Bond, won Manager of the Year awards.

There are some very good free agents on the market, including one of the top pitchers in the game, Javier Soto. Former #1 pick Ernie Webb hasn’t quite developed as expected, but he’s still a top of the rotation guy. The best position players available are defense-first guys, but Raymond Richards and Kevin Gaze are both slugging first basemen that can make a big difference in a lineup. There are several outstanding relievers available, including 3 from the Giants’ great bullpen.

3-time OHA winner Pat Howard retired at the age of 38. Earl Gordon, the only player to win both an OPA (’83 with PCP) and RPA (’87 with LBG), retired at 43. Gordon was a 6-time CBL champion and threw the first 2 no-hitters in league history. He is still the only pitcher to throw more than one.

Mount Sterling fired manager Antonio Betancourt, a year after winning Manager of the Year. He has not found a new job yet.

The 1998 CBL baseball cards have been released here.

1998 Colonial League Awards
Outstanding Hitter Award: RF Sean Tuttle, IRO
Outstanding Pitcher Award: SP Curt Snyder, LBG
Rookie of the Year Award: SP Jeremiah Price, CC
Relief Pitcher Award: CL Neil Stinson, PCP
Manager of the Year Award: Van Holman, LBG

1998 Federal League Awards
Outstanding Hitter Award: RF Ralph Torres, LBK
Outstanding Pitcher Award: SP Matt Ashley, LBK
Rookie of the Year Award: SP Dewitt Nelson, MTS
Relief Pitcher Award: CL Steve Griffin, LBK
Manager of the Year Award: Terry Bond, LBK



Major Transactions
Capital City:
Fired GM Jim Wilks
Signed GM Clement Hunsaker to 4-year contract
Key free agents: SP Roosevelt Jones, 2B Drake John

Centerville:
Voided team option year of LF Monty Hicks
Key Free Agents: 3B Brad Oliver

Fremont:
Key Free Agents: None

Irondale:
Signed Manager Spencer Warren to 3-year extension
Key Free Agents: None

Kingston:
RF Pat Howard retires
Signed GM Greg Bowman to 1-year extension
Key Free Agents: 1B Kevin Gaze, 3B Kevin Boyd

Liberty (C):
Key Free Agents: SP Bill Cranwell, MR Richard Knight, MR Chris McKenzie, MR Terry Seals

Liberty (F):
Signed GM Pat Lambert to 2-year extension
SP Earl Gordon retires
Key Free Agents: None

Mount Sterling:
Fired GM Foster Anderson
Fired Manager Antonio Betancourt
Promoted Bench Coach Jerry Miller to Manager
Signed GM Robbie Velasquez to 3-year contract
Key Free Agents: 1B Raymond Richards

Newport:
Fired Manager Fred Webb
Key Free Agents: SP Javier Soto, CF Billy Copeland, MR Albert Williams

Park City (C):
Key Free Agents: 3B Jim Brady, MR Jason Doel

Park City (F):
Manager Rob Dodson retires
Promoted Bench Coach Douglas Mercado to Manager
Key Free Agents: SP Ernie Webb

Portsmouth:
Fired GM Murray Owens
Signed GM Jim Wilks to 5-year contract
Key Free Agents: SS John Leonard

Top Free Agents Available (Former Team, Age, *), [Credentials]
CF Billy Copeland (NEW, 26, 4.5*), 2-time All-Star, 2-time Gold Glove
2B Drake John (CC, 27, 4*), 2-time All-Star, 2-time Gold Glove
3B Brad Oliver (CEN, 29, 4*), 1-time All-Star
1B Raymond Richards (MTS, 28, 4*), 3-time All-Star, 2-time Top 3 for OHA
1B Kevin Gaze (KIN, 30, 3.5*), 5-time All-Star, 2-time OHA, 4-time Top 2 for OHA, 1-time Gold Glove
3B Kevin Boyd (KIN, 27, 2.5*), 1-time All-Star
SS John Leonard (POR, 26, 2.5*)

SP Javier Soto (NEW, 27, 5*), 5-time All-Star, Runner-up for 1997 OPA
SP Ernie Webb (PCK, 28, 4*), 4-time All-Star
SP Bill Cranwell (LBG, 27, 2.5*), 3-time All-Star
SP Roosevelt Jones (CC, 38, 2.5*), 2-time All-Star, 2-time Runner-up for OPA, #2 All-time in Wins

MR Richard Knight (LBG, 28, 5*), 3-time All-Star, 2-time Top 3 for RPA
MR Terry Seals (LBG, 27, 5*), 1-time All-Star, 1-time Top 3 for RPA
MR Jason Doel (PCP, 29, 4.5*), 1-time All-Star
MR Chris McKenzie (LBG, 29, 4.5*), 5-time All-Star, 1992 RPA, 4-time Top 3 for RPA
MR Albert Williams (NEW, 32, 4.5*), 1991 RPA, 2-time Top 3 for RPA

[jwinbigler]

March 6, 1999

The Fremont Tigers made the boldest moves in free agency in an attempt to recover from the loss of superstar 3B Bill Harrington to a career-ending injury last season. They signed the best player available, Javier Soto, along with Kevin Gaze and Jim Brady. The Giants resigned 2 of their 3 free agent relievers and 2B Drake John, and they will definitely be the favorite in the CL again. Centerville made the puzzling decision to sign Ernie Webb to add to their plethora of starting pitching, without addressing their glaring holes in their lineup.

Former Cyclone Brad Oliver is a very good player that is still on the market, and so is Roosevelt Jones. Despite being 38 years old, Jones could help out a team making a championship push in the short-term.

Major Transactions
Free Agent Retirees:
2B Tim MacIntosh (All-80’s Team)
LF Harry Cooper (All-80’s Team)
SP Bob Cole (All-80’s Team Honorable Mention)
SP John Anderson

Capital City:
Signed SS John Leonard to 2-year contract (formerly of Portsmouth)
Signed 3B Kevin Boyd to 1-year contract (formerly of Kingston)

Centerville:
Signed LF Monty Hicks to 3-year contract (staying with team)
Signed SP Ernie Webb to 4-year contract (formerly of Park City (F))

Fremont:
Signed SP Javier Soto to 6-year contract (formerly of Newport)
Signed 1B Kevin Gaze to 3-year contract (formerly of Kingston)
Signed 3B Jim Brady to 3-year contract (formerly of Park City (C))

Irondale:
Signed SP Clinton Brown to 1-year extension
Signed MR Terry Seals to 1-year contract (formerly of Liberty (C))

Kingston:
Signed CF Mac Thomas to 1-year extension

Liberty (C):
Signed 2B Drake John to 5-year contract (formerly of Capital City)
Signed MR Richard Knight to 3-year contract (staying with team)
Signed MR Chris McKenzie to 2-year contract (staying with team)

Liberty (F):
Signed SP Al Goodman to 1-year extension
Signed MR Albert Williams to 1-year contract (formerly of Newport)

Mount Sterling:
Signed CF Billy Copeland to 5-year contract (formerly of Newport)

Newport:
Signed Manager Doug Lindsay to 4-year contract
Signed MR Jason Doel to 2-year contract (formerly of Park City (C))

Park City (C):
Signed SP Bill Cranwell to 4-year contract (formerly of Liberty (C))

Park City (F):
Signed 1B Raymond Richards to 4-year contract (formerly of Mount Sterling)

Portsmouth:
None

Top Free Agents Available (Former Team), Age, [Credentials]
3B Brad Oliver (CEN, 29, 3.5/4.5*), 1-time All-Star
SP Roosevelt Jones (CC, 38, 2*), 2-time All-Star, 2-time Runner-up for OPA, #2 All-time in Wins

[jwinbigler]

It's been a while since I've posted, but I'd like to start this up again. I have a couple more seasons basically ready to post, but there's a problem I need to address before I spend a bunch of time with it.

Unfortunately, I've noticed that none of the pictures in my previous posts are showing up now. I've always used the same tag (img in brackets) to post pictures that are hosted on my personal website, and now that's not working. An example from the 4th post in this thread is:

(leftbracket)img(rightbracket)http://www.winbigler.com/CBL/Images/General/Newland_Map.jpg(leftbracket)/img(rightbracket)

This used to show an image and now it's blank. I have verified the image is still there, and you can copy/paste the hyperlink to verify. I've looked at vbulletin tutorials, and it still looks like it should work, unless there's a setting on this site that changed. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this? It will definitely be a pain to go back and change every post, but I'll do it if I need to. Thanks.

[tylertoo]

Originally Posted by jwinbigler

An example from the 4th post in this thread is:

(leftbracket)img(rightbracket)http://www.winbigler.com/CBL/Images/...g(rightbracket)

This used to show an image and now it's blank.

It looks fine to me! Maybe a temporary glitch? I randomly scrolled through the thread and saw no missing images. This is a screenshot of what I see in the 4th post:

[jwinbigler]

It took a while (and I had a family vacation in between), but I finally figured it out. If anyone else is having the same issue, there is a setting in Chrome that blocks "insecure content" by default. I had to add ootpdevelopments.com as an exception, and now all the pictures are showing up fine. So, on with some posting!

[jwinbigler]

April 5, 1999

Spring Training Results:



Season Predictions:

The following is a summary of the top 4 teams at every position:



Season Predictions – Colonial League:



All CL Lineups

The Giants are once again the team to beat in the CL, and they’ll probably run away with it if they stay healthy. Irondale has put together a great offensive team, but unless they figure out a way to add some pitching, it won’t be enough to scare Liberty.

Liberty
Last Year’s Finish – 1st, 94-50, Lost World Series
Predicted Finish – 1st
Predicted Runs For/Against – 2nd/1st
Key Additions – 2B Drake John
Key Losses – SP Bill Cranwell, MR Terry Seals



Batters / Pitchers

The Giants are going to be as good as ever, and they’re likely to be motivated after failing in their quest for a 4th straight championship. The addition of Drake John makes an excellent lineup even better. Jeremy Wiggins and David Burnett are probably the best tandem of bench players the league has ever seen, and the team is so deep that Ed Johnston, Pedro Lopez, and Kent Wells will start the season developing their talent on the reserve roster. The pitching staff lost Bill Cranwell and Terry Seals, but neither should hurt them too much. Trent Gore, Curt Snyder, and Dan Bray are still an all-time great combination in the rotation, although Gore and Snyder might be starting to show their age a little. The bullpen is talented and very deep.

The Giants have plenty of money to throw around, with the highest budget and payroll in the CBL, but the reason they’re so good is that they haven’t wasted it on overpaying players that declined. Their 9 highest-paid players are all contributors, and all of them are signed for at least the next 2 years. Free agents next year include Mark Ullrich, Jeremy Wiggins, and closer Hal Phipps. Barring on any significant age-related declines or injuries, we expect this team to have at least 2 more seasons of CL dominance.

Irondale
Last Year’s Finish – 2nd, 79-65, 15 GB
Predicted Finish – 2nd, 12 GB
Predicted Runs For/Against – 1st/4th
Key Additions – MR Terry Seals, RF Danny Wilson
Key Losses – SP Bob Coleman



Batters / Pitchers

Irondale outperformed expectations last year and even challenged the Giants for a bit before fading. This year, we’re expecting them to play well, but they’re still not on the Giants’ level yet. The offense is led by veterans Jason Coffman and Sean Tuttle, but they’ve put together a great group of young position players that are all starting to reach their potential. Bryan ‘Bully’ Henry could end up as one of the best hitters of all-time. Unfortunately, their pitching still leaves a lot to be desired. Trading for Bill Epperson last year was a good ‘win now’ move, despite giving up a potential top-of-the-rotation guy. Now, they probably need to do something else to keep the momentum going. Alex ‘Cannon’ Hancock is a former #2 pick that’s ready to step into the rotation, but Clinton Brown and Phil Church really should be #5 starters at best for a team hoping to win a championship.

Bill Epperson, who is probably a little overpaid, will be a free agent after this year. So will Nolan Bird and Phil Church, who are significantly overpaid. Jason Coffman and Sean Tuttle are being paid fairly and around for 2 and 4 more years, respectively. Most of the young position players aren’t even arbitration eligible for 2 to 3 more years. If the Steelers aren’t going to make a move this year, they still have some time, although we think a package of young position players for a good starter or 2 would be wise.

Capital City
Last Year’s Finish – 5th, 60-84, 34 GB
Predicted Finish – 3rd, 16 GB
Predicted Runs For/Against – T3rd/3rd
Key Additions – SS John Leonard, 3B Kevin Boyd
Key Losses – SP Roosevelt Jones, 2B Drake John, RF Danny Wilson



Batters / Pitchers

The Senators have put together a decent team, but they’ve had some poor luck with players declining in ability before they expected. Mariano Rios, Bob Ward, and Alfred Roberts were all stars at one point, and now they’re basically average players in their early 30’s. If a couple of them were producing like just a few years ago, this would be very dangerous team. Hank Stout and 21-year-old Dan Wilson are the best position players. Losing Roosevelt Jones from the rotation cost them veteran leadership, but they will be young and somewhat deep now, as the top 5 starters are all 26 or under and not bad.

Ward’s high salary will come off the books after this year, but Rios and Roberts are signed for the next 3 years at inflated prices. Stout is entering the final year of his contract, and it could be a difficult rebuild on offense if they can’t keep him around.

Park City
Last Year’s Finish – 3rd, 78-66, 16 GB
Predicted Finish – 4th, 20 GB
Predicted Runs For/Against – T3rd/3rd
Key Additions – SP Bill Cranwell
Key Losses – 3B Jim Brady, MR Jason Doel



Batters / Pitchers

The Patriots surprised a lot of people with a record of 12 games over .500 last year, and they should be decent again this year, but they’re on the wrong side of several bad contracts, and it will be very tough to maintain momentum over the next few years. The offense has several good young players with potential, especially David Chavez. The top of the rotation is one of the best in the league, with Hugh Christian, Mike Murdock, and Landon Trejo, and Neil Stinson is an all-time great closer, but there’s not a ton of depth behind them. Bill Cranwell could still be a starter, but with his low stamina, they’re planning to use him as a reliever.

Park City, with the 3rd-highest payroll in the league, is an example of how not to throw money around. Jason Wood and Ed Miller are the highest-paid players and signed for 3 and 5 more years, respectively. Wood isn’t even on the active roster anymore, and Miller is not close to the player he was a few years ago. New signee Bill Cranwell, who was the #4 starter for the Giants last year, is making $9 million this year, but his salary over 4 years escalates to a ridiculous $25 million in the final year, which will make him one of the highest-paid players in the CBL. David Chavez, Mike Murdock, and Hugh Christian will all be free agents next year, and with all the dead money going to non-contributors, it will be a very tough situation for the Patriots.

Newport
Last Year’s Finish – 4th, 69-75, 25 GB
Predicted Finish – 5th, 37 GB
Predicted Runs For/Against – 5th/6th
Key Additions – MR Jason Doel
Key Losses – SP Javier Soto, LF Billy Copeland, MR Albert Williams



Batters / Pitchers

The Navigators weren’t good last year, and losing their ace and a top position player certainly won’t help. They need to be in full rebuilding mode now. Bill Lewis and Steve Cherry are an excellent middle-infield tandem, and catcher Bubba Thomas is very good too, but the lineup isn’t very deep. Alan Morgan will take over as the ace, and he is capable, but the future is with 21-year-old Robbie James, who could be an all-time great. It’s unfortunate that they haven’t put anybody else around those 2. Miguel Pellicer is a 6-time RPA winner but is getting older, and the rest of the bullpen is pretty good, but it won’t be enough.

Alan Morgan will be the only free agent of importance next year. Their other 3 guys making over $10 million are Miguel Romero, Mark McBride, and Jim Hawking. Hawking will also be a free agent, but that’s a plus due to his contract. Romero, who isn’t what he used to be, is signed for 3 years, while McBride is now a very rich utility man who is under contract for 5 more years.

Portsmouth
Last Year’s Finish – 6th, 52-92, 42 GB
Predicted Finish – 6th, 38 GB
Predicted Runs For/Against – 6th/5th
Key Additions – 1B Dud Smith
Key Losses – SS John Leonard



Batters / Pitchers

Portsmouth held on to their dynasty for a while, but as a small market team, it was bound to come crashing down sooner or later, and they bottomed out with a last-place finish last year. This year probably won’t be any better. They have some nice young pieces on offense to build around, but they’re going to struggle to score runs now. Lawrence Gordon and Michael Pittman are an outstanding 1-2 punch in the rotation, but Alonso Hinojosa’s season-long injury last year seems to have affected him permanently, which is a shame. They were counting on him to be a great #3 starter. The bullpen is very weak.

Hinojosa and Joe Jackson are the highest-paid players and are signed for 2 and 4 more years, respectively. Both players have declined significantly, and their albatross contracts will really hamper the Clippers over the next several years. Gordon and Pittman are fairly paid and locked up for 5 and 4 years, respectively. Most of the other contributors are on league-minimum or arbitration contracts at this point.

Season Predictions – Federal League:



All FL Lineups

The Liberty Knights are a clear favorite to win their 3rd straight FL pennant, but there is hope in Fremont, where they made several offseason improvements, and in Park City, where a handful of stars hope to get some unexpected contributions from the rest of the team.

Liberty
Last Year’s Finish – 1st, 95-49, Won World Series
Predicted Finish – 1st
Predicted Runs For/Against – 2nd/2nd
Key Additions – MR Albert Williams
Key Losses – MR Earl Gordon (Retired)



Batters / Pitchers

The Knights made the boldest trade in CBL history last year, giving up superstar pitcher Lawrence Gordon for superstar LF Tom Duncan, and it paid off with their first World Series win. This year, they stood pat and will hope that bringing just about everyone back will be enough. The three-headed monster of Duncan, Ralph Torres, and Jeff Turner are the top position players, but there is plenty of depth in the lineup. Matt Ashley has won the past 2 OPAs, and he will need to be just as good this year. Cliff Bly and Al Goodman were pleasant surprises last year, and the Knights are also counting on youngster Greg Robertson to reach his potential sooner rather than later. Closer Steve Griffin is coming off a record-breaking season, but the rest of the bullpen is just decent.

With the 2nd-highest payroll in the CBL, money usually isn’t an issue for the Knights, but they’ve been pretty smart with it, much like their cross-town rivals. The ‘Big 4’ of Ashley, Torres, Duncan, and Turner are the highest-paid players and are all locked up for at least 2 more years. David Jones, Steve Griffin, Bill Wall, Cliff Bly, and Albert Williams will all be free agents next year.

Fremont
Last Year’s Finish – 5th, 63-81, 32 GB
Predicted Finish – 2nd, 14 GB
Predicted Runs For/Against – 1st/3rd
Key Additions – SP Javier Soto, 1B Kevin Gaze, 3B Jim Brady
Key Losses – 3B Bill Harrington (Career-ending injury)



Batters / Pitchers

Fremont was really hurt by the shocking loss of Bill Harrington late last year, but they went out and did something about it in free agency, adding 3 important pieces. Britt Nelson and Kevin Greene, both 25, are the best middle-infield tandem in the game. Kevin Gaze and Lonnie Williams are very good hitters as well, and the offense should be near the top of the FL. Javier Soto now headlines a rotation that wasn’t very good last year. It’s still not great, but shifting everyone down a slot certainly helps. The Tigers probably aren’t good enough to give the Knights trouble, but you never know.

Closer Daniel Davis is the only important free agent after this year. Derek Moore and Tim Hammond are highly overpaid for the next 2 years, but their other stars are under reasonable contracts.

Park City
Last Year’s Finish – 3rd, 69-75, 26 GB
Predicted Finish – 3rd, 18 GB
Predicted Runs For/Against – 3rd/4th
Key Additions – 1B Raymond Richards, MR Tyler Carr
Key Losses – SP Ernie Webb, 1B Dud Smith, 3B Joseph Parker



Batters / Pitchers

The Kings could be a contender if some breaks go their way and some pitchers step up. Donnie Martin (who returns from injury in about a week), Jeffery Younger, and Phil Clark are all stars, and the addition of Raymond Richards is big. Kyle Thompson is a decent ace, but the rest of the rotation is pretty weak. Losing Ernie Webb was a really big deal for this team. The story is the same in the bullpen, where Bill Bader is one of the best in the league, but the supporting cast leaves a lot to be desired.

Kyle Thompson is the highest-paid player and is around for 2 years. The next highest are Gregg Kelly and Gunnar Dorsey, who are massively overpaid but will be free agents next year. Richards, Younger, and Clark are all fairly paid and signed for at least 3 years.

Centerville
Last Year’s Finish – 2nd, 85-59, 10 GB
Predicted Finish – 4th, 26 GB
Predicted Runs For/Against – 5th/1st
Key Additions – SP Ernie Webb
Key Losses – 3B Brad Oliver



Batters / Pitchers

Centerville, the only FL team yet to play in a World Series, surprised everyone with a 2nd place finish last year and a record 16 games over .500. Unfortunately, the offense that held them back hasn’t gotten any better. The pitching staff is now even deeper after the surprising decision to sign Ernie Webb. All 5 starters are top-of-the-rotation talents, and several pitchers listed at MR are really starters as well (Ralph Morgan, Kieran Wilson, Elliott Tyler, and Ramon Castro). Morgan, a former #1 pick, in particular has a bright future, but he will start the season on the reserve roster. The Cyclones need to start exploring trades to take advantage of their stable of pitchers to bolster the offense.

In addition to the Webb signing, the Centerville front office made another decision that has pundits scratching their heads. When free agency opened, they paid a $2.4 million buyout to Monty Hicks to void the option year that would pay him $11.5 million. Then, presumably in desperation mode as free agency came to a close, they re-signed him to a 3-year contract at $11.4 million per year. He is now their 4th-highest paid player and will only start against lefties.

Next year, the Cyclones will get rid of large contracts for Ralph Coffey and Hunter Crosby, but Jeremy Gray and Elliott Tyler will also be free agents. The disappointing Chris Schultz is their highest-paid player and is signed for 3 more years. The young nucleus of the pitching staff is mostly locked up through at least the next 3 years, however, so they have time to build something.

Mount Sterling
Last Year’s Finish – 4th, 64-80, 31 GB
Predicted Finish – 5th, 33 GB
Predicted Runs For/Against – 4th/6th
Key Additions – LF Billy Copeland, SP Bob Coleman
Key Losses – 1B Raymond Richards



Batters / Pitchers

The Gladiators have some work to do to get back to their glory days. The lineup has some good players, especially new signee Billy Copeland, Cody Powers, and Mike Armstrong. Their highest-paid player, Vic Taylor is now a backup to a young stud, Barden Nihane. Ace Michael Alexander took a bit of a talent hit this offseason, but he is only 28 and could recover. Sam Taylor is a good #2 and reigning Rookie of the Year Dewitt Nelson has a ton of potential, but the pitching staff overall is just not good enough right now. Kip Cummings, who came over in the Bill Epperson trade last year, could also be a good starter in the future.

Much of Mount Sterling’s struggles can be explained by their top 2 highest-paid players, Vic Taylor and Javier Guzman, who have both declined before their time. Taylor is signed for 2 years, and Guzman is signed for 3 plus a sure-to-decline team option. Michael Alexander is the 3rd-highest-paid player and will be a free agent next year, along with Mike Armstrong.

Kingston
Last Year’s Finish – 6th, 56-88, 39 GB
Predicted Finish – 6th, 35 GB
Predicted Runs For/Against – 6th/5th
Key Additions – None
Key Losses – 1B Kevin Gaze



Batters / Pitchers

Kingston is simply in a bad place right now, and they’re not close to competing. Ray Wolfe, Mac Thomas, and Tommy Weber are solid young players, but they don’t have any support behind them. Lyle Soumitra is a legitimate ace in the rotation, and the bullpen is actually very good, but there’s just not enough talent on the pitching staff to make this team a contender.

The albatross contracts of George Washington and Ernest Ferguson will expire after this year, but the more concerning overpayment is to Lee Moran, who has declined substantially at age 29. He’s getting paid a lot of money for the next 5 years. Kingston’s top 2 pitchers, Soumitra and closer Trevor Bell, will also be free agents after this season. This could be a long rebuilding project.

Major Transactions
None

Major Injuries
March 8 – CL Casey Peterson, POR, out for 8-9 months due to torn labrum
March 11 – C Vic Taylor, MTS, out for 4 weeks due to strained hamstring
March 13 – CF Donnie Martin, PCK, out for 4 weeks due to hamstring strain
March 14 – MR Ryan Walker, NEW, out for 2 months due to hamstring strain
March 16 – MR Tomas Ramon, LBG, out for 13 months due to torn rotator cuff
March 25 – MR Bob Lewis, CC, out for 3-4 months due to shoulder inflammation
March 29 – RF Miguel Romero, NEW, out for 3 months due to fractured finger
March 29 – RF Bill Wall, LBK, out for 6 weeks due to elbow sprain

[GoPedro99]

been missing the thread. any chance of a continuation? Obviously real life takes precedence over fake baseball, but this was certainly one of the best reads out there

[elmwood44]

^^^^^
Ditto

[jwinbigler]

Thank you for the kind words. I've been thinking about starting this up again, but I've run into a big problem. Unfortunately, with the shutdown of esellerate, I'm unable to play OOTP14 anymore. My old laptop stopped working, and I can't activate it on my newer laptop. I submitted a support ticket, but the only resolution is that I would have to convert it to a newer version. I have the save files from a backup, but I was in the middle of a season (actually right before the playoffs), and I have a hard time thinking that converting it a bunch of times won't screw something up.

I'm very frustrated with the way the esellerate shutdown was handled. There should be a way for me to play the game I paid for. It's not even about the money - I've purchased a few newer versions too, but I just like the simplicity of 14 better for this league. Maybe I'd be open to converting the league through a bunch of versions, but I'd at least want to get to the offseason first. Maybe someone has a still-working OOTP14 out there somewhere that's willing to help me out?

So for now, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. It might not be worth the hassle, but I do think about it from time to time and miss it.