The American Baseball League

[gehrig38]

No pre-blog write up but I will tell you how I got here.
As you can see from my sig I have run a bunch of dynasties.
I've honestly loved every one.
This past few I “stopped” because the game crashed and killed them. To say it's been frustrating is an understatement.
See I am a micro-manager in the worst way. Every little detail matters, no different than when I pitched honestly.
I don't like OOTP logos, I don't like things to not look organized.
For years I have played, never once playing historical.
Why? I think mainly because I LOVE the scouting, player development and drafting part of each year in a dynasty. Also because I hate historical leagues because there is no real surprises and I like realism. If I play and Mickey Mantle is a historical rookie and isn't the greatest player ever I feel something is off.
With fictional that's never a problem. If you followed any of my blogs you know Orcin is the guy I mimic as close as I can, because I still think he wrote the single best and most influential dynasty ever blogged.
He had a way, and I assume he has insanely good skills as a writer because as I look back on that blog I realize he was doing it in 1st and 3rd person.
I got to know the Colonels over the “years” and realized dominating can actually be interesting and fun if readers WANT to get to know your team and players.
All that being said the loss of my last two leagues has crushed my spirit for OOTP. I don't honestly think you should have to be that tech savvy to play ANY game much less a game in its 21st iteration. I get bugs, but bugs that destroy saved games you literally have hundreds to sometimes thousands of hours can really be soul crushing.
All that being said I love Markuss, and I love the team behind OOTP, and this is one of the best communities I've ever been a part of.
So I am giving this one last go.
24 ABL teams, 50 Colleges, 20 JUCO's 60 High Schools. Except for the ABL teams ALL are real schools. All have logo's, jerseys and the rest.
The difference in this Dynasty will be that every single player in the ABL will come from within my 'world' so there will be some cool twists and great history.
I'll keep followers abreast of the National HS champions, JUCO and NCAA too. Mainly because my HS and JUCO are in the 'world'.
I'm using 2001 for everything, financial and statistical formulas. I am starting in the year 1990 and going to sim out 10-20 years depending. I am going to back up the entire thing and I also have it as a quickstart.
I want to see that the stats year to year and all the settings are aligned before committing.
I will take the team, in whichever year I get “hired”, that has the 1st pick in the upcoming draft. In other words the worst team from the prior year.
My goal? Obviously to have fun but I want to build a franchise from dead last to 1920's Yankee dynasty material. (Hurts to say that honestly). A team that literally dominates a decade.
So if you plan to follow along thanks, and PLEASE comment if you have questions or want to make suggestions on my format.

[pgjocki]

I'm glad you're back and couldn't agree more about Orcin. His GM suffering a medical condition still hurts to this day. I used to read his entries every day after work while I rode the train for 45 minutes.

Anyway, I will be watching to see if you can find a pitcher that just dominates even though his ratings wouldn't suggest it.

Good luck!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Palaaemon]

Curt,

Just a comment about Backroom Chatter. I think that was a great addition to your writing as it brings your insight into what is/was/has happening/happened as well as your portrayal of other personalities and teams actions/reactions. Overall it is just a well done addition to your toolbox as a writer.

One other thing if I may. I have gone back and read your first "trilogy" many times and I really enjoyed how you wrote early on especially, and slowly evolved. The last 2 leagues format (which may they RIP) to me felt a bit "canned" or "done". "Generic" is NOT quite the right word. I think what I am trying to say is that Orcin has already done that format and put his stamp on it. I know how much you love Orcins' style of writing (God knows I do too!) and want to emulate it, but you are so much the better by emulating gehrig38s' style and refining it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with incorporating elements of his writing into yours, and making it YOURS. I know that you aspire to excel at everything you do, and I admire the hell out of you for that. I would hope that you take this all as VERY positive constructive criticism as I intend it.

Thanks for your time Curt. Have a Great day!

Palaaemon

[silvam14]

Curt,

I know this has probably been said ad nauseum, but you should seriously consider being more religious in backing up your league.

I honestly have never played a dynasty past 10-12 seasons, so I imagine 20+ seasons contains thousands and thousands of player files and box scores, game logs and reports.

I would think the database Growing huge can make it more susceptible to corruption.

I doubt there are many games out there whose DBs get as large as this one can.

I empathize with your plight though. Getting into the detail of a league, getting to know your players and organizations’ histories is great and to have to start over takes a toll.

I hope you have better luck with you newest dynasty.

[Sizeman21]

Wow, sounds like a large undertaking. I will be following along! This should be good!

[gehrig38]

With an eye towards tomorrow, the Austin Rustlers finalized a deal with new GM Curt Schilling.
"Schilling was the only real candidate," conceded and unnamed source. "We threw a few red herrings out there to keep the competition guessing, but that's all they were."

[gehrig38]

• The evolution of the ABL:
• 1991 the CBA would change the secondary roster from 40 to 38 players.
• 1995 would see the league grow from 24 to 26 teams as the Mexico Black Bandits and the Montreal Paragons became the first two non-US cities to be awarded ABL franchises. 4 years later the Philadelphia Patriots and the San Diego Missions would join the Patriot League to make it 28 teams.
• Over the last couple of years the secondary roster has returned to 40 and the player's association has managed to bargain down the years required for free agency to 5.

A look at the first 20 years of ABL action. LA wins the 1st title and the Patriot League doesn't win again until 1998. Denver dominates that first decade followed by Dallas into the second decade. Dallas leads with 6 series appearances and the Sox, both Providence and Memphis have appeared 5 times each. Last year was the first year since 1991 that both clubs were making their 1st WS appearances.

[gehrig38]

Here's a peek at the amateur ranks over the first two decades as well. The ABL is affiliated with 50 colleges, 20 Junior colleges, and 60 High schools. Those school athletes are committed to each other and the ABL and in return the ABL subsidizes their athletic programs.

The 60 team NAIA HS Program




The 20 team NJCAA Program



And finally the 50 team NCAA program

[gehrig38]

And here are the single-season and career records from the leagues 1st 20 years.







And the major award winners. Colored for guys who won multiple awards.

[gehrig38]

• In 2003 Baltimore Blackbird Jorge Cavos hit 59 HR's en route to the Babe Ruth Award. During that season he homered 3 times in a game twice and became the only player in ABL history to homer 4 times in a single game in San Diego June 2nd. That was just 8 days after his 2nd 3 homer game of the year.

• On July 15th, 2001 Joey Elliot (BUF) set the ABL single-game strikeout record fanning 19 New York Punishers in 8.1 IP. His next start he would set the record for K's in consecutive starts (34) when he fanned 15 Chicago Hitmen in just 7.2 IP.
• Ryan Ferguson (PIT) Hiromoto Ito (SAN) Kyle Parmalee (PIT) Jon Del Bianco (MON) and David Gullion (PHX) all fanned 18 batters in a single 9 inning game.

• There have been 26 no-hitters in the 20-year history of the league. No pitcher has thrown more than one.
• August 29th, 1996 Landon Camus of Denver struck out 11 Phoenix Roadrunners to record the 1st perfect game in league history.
• On March 31st, 2005 Ft Worth Cowboy Andy Bowe struck out 2 for the earliest perfect game in league history. Pittsburgh's Ryan Ferguson tossed the earliest no-hitter when he fanned 9 on opening day 1994.

• The single-season HR record is held by three men. Gabe Rodriguez hit 65 in the ABL's inaugural season, Jeff Weathers joined him in 1992 and Mike Murphy did it in 1999.
• There have been 8 seasons of 60 or more HR's and the all-time leader with 685, Mike Murphy is the only player to do it more than once as he has achieved the mark in 3 different seasons. His 685 are 96 more than runner up Micah Tufts (who had one of the 60 homer seasons). Murphy is the all-time leader and still being active he is 157 HR's ahead of the next active player, SS Ralph Helf of the Lexington Rebels.

• In 20 years just 4 players have managed to drive in 150 or more runs with Dallas Texan Justin Walk being the last to do it, and the only player to do it twice.
• San Jose Hawk Jeff Weathers set the all-time mark in 1992 when he hit 65 HR's and drove in a record 194 runs on his way to the Patriot League's MVP.

1. There have been 22 occasions on which an ABL pitcher has won 20 games.
2. In 1994 Charlotte's Chris Green set the single-season mark going 24-7 en route to 1 of his 4 Koufax awards. Two time Koufax winner William Marcial has the record with 3 such seasons (1998, 1999, and 2002, all for the Dallas Texans. He is a 37-year-old FA as of today, finishing his 6-year contract with New England last year)

• There have been 4 “Triple Crowns” in ABL History, 2 hitting, and 2 pitching.

1. 1993 Micah Tufts (AUS) .365-53-140
2. 1995 Jordan Rincon (SJ) .367-61-143
3. 1996 Oscar Booher (OH) 21-5 2.50 289 K's
4. 2000 Jeff Hall (PROV) 20-7 2.90 295 K's

• There are 5 members of the 500+ HR club, just two active (*)

1. Mike Murphy* 685
2. Micah Tufts 589
3. Jorge Cavos 560
4. Mark Robinson 537
5. Ralph Helf* 528

• 37-year-old Free Agent Darin Weiner is the closest active player to 500, with 448.

• The 3000 strikeout club has 9 members with 6 still active (*)

1. William Marcial* 3573
2. Chris Greene 3403
3. Luis Rivera* 3358
4. Pat Rienstra* 3356
5. Ross Ritchie 3157
6. Ryan Rackley* 3132
7. Brian Cannon* 3118
8. Ryan Ferguson 3110 (HOF)
9. Joey Elliott* 3034

• Dallas' Jeff Hall is the closest active player to 3000 entering 2010 with 2982.

• Here is the IBL Hall of Fame class entering the 2010 calendar year, voting for this year's class will be revealed in a few weeks With it expected to be a large class. Favorites to be inducted are:

1. RF Jordan Rincon (.299/.375/.601 491 HR 2 x MVP 4x SS 7x AS)
2. 1B Tony Romero (.308/.364/.515 383 HR 1323 RBI RotY, MVP, 2x GG 4x SS 4x Postseason series MVP 4x World Champion 11x AS)
3. LF Micah Tufts (.319/.383/.606 589 HR 1535 RBI 3x MVP 7x SS 8x AS)
4. 1B Justin Walk (.299/.362/.562 405 HR 1187 RBI 4x MVP 4x SS 5 time postseason series MVP 2x World Champion 7x AS)

[gehrig38]

• Owner: Branden Wilson Age 74
• Traits: He's a very patient guy, willing to spend, doesn't meddle in the day to day of the baseball operations but likes to be kept informed.
• All of that comes with one caveat. He will be all of those things ONLY if you win, and win consistently.
• He's not really made hard demands for the next year or two. He wants us to at least be a respectable team on the field, he wants the attendance to increase, he wants us to be better in the draft and work to have more homegrown talent. He'd like us to be post-season competitive in 2012.....
  
  
• Team Finances
• Last year the club had a 69 million dollar budget and ended the season with a profit of 7.7 million. The budget as of 1/1/10 is 62 million. We rank 26 of 28 in payroll at 43.5 million, 25 of 28 in attendance at 2.06 million. We are dead last in gate revenue at 11 million (Philadelphia is 1st at 38 million). Our season ticket revenue is 19th at 22 million (Dallas is 1st at 57) and we are dead middle in media revenue at 26 million. We are 13th in merchandise revenue. All of that adds up to us being 24th out of the 28 clubs in total revenue at 66.137 million. The New York Empire is 28th at 49.2 million while the Patriots sit atop the ABL at 139 million.
• 9 teams bring in over 100 million: Philadelphia 139, Dallas 129, Lexington 127, Detroit 119, New York Punishers 115, Memphis 111, New England 110, LA 109 Montreal 108.

[gehrig38]

• The 10 highest salaries in the ABL:

1. SP Pat Rienstra 33 (NYE) 16.8 million
2. SP Joey Elliott 31 (BUF) 14.7 million
3. RF Abdul-Muta'al Rhodes 28 (PHIL) 14.5 million
4. CF Roger Murphy 34 (NE) 14.3 million
5. 1B Bjorn Abbing 34 (CHA) 14.1 million
6. SP Anthony McLeod 31 (DET) 13.8 million
7. 1B Josh Graham 30 (SF) 13.7 million
8. CF Alex Ochoa 31 (MEM) 13.7 million
9. CF Rich Bellomy 34 (NYP) 13.million
10. LF Tom Anderson 30 (CHI) 13.4 million

• Of the remaining 15 in the top 25 (all make 11.1 million or more) they break down like this
• Philadelphia (1) NY Punishers (2) Mexico (2) Dallas (3) Memphis (1) Lexington (1) Buffalo (1) Phoenix (1) Montreal (1) Ohio (1) Denver (1)

• 11 SP Rienstra 33 NYE (16.8)
• 2 RF Abdul-Muta'al Rhodes 28 PHI (14.5)
• 3 CF Roger Murphy 34 NE (14.3)
• 2 LF Tom Anderson 30 CHI (13.4)
• 1 C Zhi-huan Go 35 NYP (11.5)
• 3 1B Bjorn Abbing 34 CHA (14.1)
• 2 2B Bryce Watkins 31 NYP (13.2)
• 1 SS Jimmy Lilliquist 27 PHX (11.5)

• The top salary for 3B is Marc Lee (36) of Dallas at 10.5 million
• The top salary for RP is JJ Vera (35) of the NY Punishers at 10 million, he is the only RP in the ABL making 8 figures. In fact 5 relievers total are making annual salaries of 8+ million wit the next highest being 5.2 million.

The annual ABL report shows the average superstars' salary of around 9.8 million. With what we term as the league 'average' player making around 2.5 million. League minimum is 169K per year.

Currently, there are 34 players in the ABL making 10+ million dollars per year.

This much is clear. We won't likely ever be at the top of the revenue standings given the markets and the media, but that should not impede this club from becoming a dynasty. We need to be more efficient with each dollar and more importantly, we need to be able to nail our drafts and find those gems around the world everyone is looking for.

[gehrig38]

Assistant GM- Tony Osorio just two years on the job but his teams are 60-116. He took over with two weeks left in 2008. 2 years 300k remaining. I'll see how much he contributes this season before deciding on the final season of his deal.
Manager- John Castillo took over last year and the team went 54-108. He likes his players younger and prefers to focus more on preventing runs than scoring. Last year was his 1st year coaching in any capacity. 1 year 93K left.
Bench Coach- Josh Alba 15th year as a bench coach. He bounced around from the NY Empire to Brooklyn to Philadelphia back to NY and then back to Philly before coming here in 2007. His teams have had 4 winning seasons and 2 wild card appearances. 1 year 74k remaining.
Pitching Coach- Jace Loewen 8th year as this club's PC. The Staff ERA has risen 5 straight seasons from 3.87 to 5.06 last year. I have already informed him that we will be buying out the remainder of his deal. I am already looking at free agent PC Mike Ligon a 43-year-old who started coaching the season following his retirement. He's been a coach for 7 years and his team finished 1st or 2nd in 6 of those years. Was part of the Black Sox 2003 world championship club. I've already extended a 5 year 550K contract offer.
Hitting Coach – Wil Varona 4th year as the Rustler coach and his teams hit like crap. .236, .242, .230, .224. He has 2 years and 130k left on his contract. I've already told Wil that I will be asking for his resignation immediately. I am trying to lure 63-year-old Alejandro Aquirre who was let go by Dallas this past year after 11 years there. His last 7 teams made the post-season and 2 (2000, 2001) won it all. He's had 1 team hit below .250 in his career. I've offered him a 4-year 396K contract.
Scouting Director- Tom Tuff In his 7th season here, he spent 4 in Memphis as the GM prior to this job. His 4 years as a GM his team won their division and his 1st year here as Director they did as well. Last 4 seasons this club has lost more games each year, from 90 to 92 to 101 to last years 108. He has 3 years 768K left on his deal. I give him a year before I assess whether he is my guy. This is without a doubt the most important job in the organization.
Head Trainer- Josh Cowell 58 years old and a legend. He's a no brainer and he has 4 years 576K left on his contract.

[gehrig38]

STARTING PITCHERS

• Player R/L (AGE) ^ = out of options or guaranteed spot in the rotation or starts the season on the 60-day DL
  
• Josh Adamson L (31) 12-13 4.63 in 36 starts Rule 5 2007 from Charlotte. Not sure why he's never gotten a full season except for his first year here (2008 11-13 4.95 172.2 IP 159 K 1.31 WHIP). He's prone to the long ball but works a nice 3 pitch repertoire. Works 89-91 most times. Supposedly a problem in the clubhouse. (1yr 53 days 1 option 169K arb eligible)
• Jaheim Alexander L (30) 6-13 4.47 in 25 starts (36 app) 31-30 4.37 in 86 AAA starts 501 IP 531 K 1.14 WHIP. Rule 5 2007 from Philadelphia. Decent 4 pitch mix and works mid 90's up. Couldn't catch a cold defensively, but it looks like he could make for a great 4 or 5 on a really good club. If he needs to be higher than that you're not a good team. Quiet doesn't make waves and never gets in trouble. (1yr 25 days 2 options 169K arb eligible)
• ^Travis Brooks R (25) 16-27 9 Saves 5.26 181 G 30 starts. 398.2 IP 447 H 362 K. Trad with Denver 2008 Was the 37th overall pick in 2002 by New England but sued the team after he signed for breach of contract, and won. Was allowed to become a free agent and signed with Phoenix 3 days later. Has been a waiver claim twice since then. Has a ++ slider and changeup with a very good fastball and a serviceable forkball. I think he's a starter but until last season he had never gotten more than 4 starts in a year. No idea what to expect, and he's out of options. (4 years 0 options 426K Free Agent at the end of 2010)
• Eric Cox L (28) 27-50 4.55 112 starts 611.1 IP 610 H 600 K 99 HR 1.30 WHIP 12th overall pick 2002 tied for the league lead in starts the past 2 seasons but has never thrown 200 innings in a year. Upper 90's lefty (nickname's “Daddy O at 5.10” 185 lbs) who has a commanding presence on and off the field. One of the point men in the clubhouse. He should be far better than he is right now and he'll get every chance to be that guy this coming season. His fastball, curve, and change are all graded as ++ pitches. (3yrs 125 days 2 options 352K arb eligible)
• ^Kerry Davis R (30) 68-63 2 Saves 3.47 ERA 1155 IP 1157 K's 313 BB 1.11 WHIP. Free-agent signing last month. Signed a 7 year 37.8 million dollar deal with the 7th being a vesting option at 25 starts. Other than the length of the deal this looks like a decent pickup. Was 9-10 2.99 last year. Keeps the ball in the park, works 95-98 with 4 above-average pitches. The best of the lot is his slider, a true power pitch. More than likely he's the opening day starter. He's also signed to a deal that makes him imminently tradeable if he's healthy and pitching well come July. (7yrs 21 days 2 options 5.4 million per year from this season through 2015)
• Matt Dickes R (30) 50-57 4.44 6 Saves 200 G 143 GS 935 IP 952 H 912 K's 1.32 WHIP Signed just 2 days ago, or better put the day before I took the job. Low to mid 90's sinkerballer who keeps it in the park. Has bounced between rotations and bullpens. His command is the concern if he's going to start. (6 years 21 days 2 options 550K free agent after the season). Great contract and zero risk. He's someone who can float between roles but I'd like to see him stick to one. 2004 all-star (10-6 2.52 36 G 20 GS 157 IP 119 H 165 K) and part of the 2006 Buffalo team that won it all. Probably more cut out for a bullpen role as he's a guy who feeds off crowd energy.
• Jim Dreisbach L (28) 6-16 5.31 176.1 IP 180 H 201 K 79 BB was 6-16 5.55 in 2008 as a starter (32 GS) and then spent most of 2009 in AAA (9-11 4.27). Rule 5 Draft 2007 from Pittsburgh. He's a tad prone to the long ball and he walks too many for that to be the case. Great body and built to take on innings but he's never thrown more than 157 in a season. In 1347 professional innings he's struck out 1561 batters but his HR/9 of 1.4 has killed him with the BB/9 of 4.0. Likely suited to the bullpen (1 yr 25 days 2 options 169K arb eligible)
• ^Gentaro Kiyokawa L (32) 104-70 3.81 292 G 252 GS 1551 IP 1519 K's 1432 H 408 BB 1.10 WHIP 172 HR (1.0 HR/9). Rule 5 Draft 2009 from Philadelphia. 2-time all-star and 2-time world champion with Memphis. He's won 13 or more 7 times in his 9-year career with a career-best 18-7 in 2000. Memphis signed him as a 16-year-old International Free Agent in 1993 out of Japan. He was the ABL's #1 prospect in 1998. (9yrs 158 days. 2 options. Has a split contract for 2010 with a guarantee of 294K if he makes the opening day roster/40 man and is granted free agency if he is not on the ABL roster before May 1st. )
• Arjan MacDonald R (25) Has not made his IBL debut yet. Signed as a minor league free agent in November 2008. Nicknamed “Six Pack” for the right reasons.... Big reputation as a phenomenal teammate. He needs a solid year at AAA. He was 11-7 3.34 last year at AA Modesto. With the build (6'4” 205) and the stuff (+ fastball ++ slider when it develops) he just needs innings now. He will likely be a non-roster invitee to camp. (0yrs 0 days 3 options)
• Trevor Pope L (22) 2-1 2.59 20 G 31.1 IP 25 H 34 K all last year. Drafted in the 4th round (103rd overall) in 2006 out of San Jacinto in Texas. One of the players that convinced me to keep Tom Tuff on as our scouting director. 6'6” lefty who isn't close to filling out and just 223 years old. Already working in the upper 90's consistently with the makeup and stuff to be an ace. He's a lefty so you know there's a quirk if not more, somewhere. His? Both his parents are Carnies. Yes, carnies. Not their names, their jobs. Mom is a pixie dust spreader on the tilt-o-whirl and dad is the vendor at the coin toss arcade. (His nickname is “Carnie Jr”. He has 4 pitches (though his Knuckle curve is his 4th and it's not likely to be an impact pitch, more of a 'show me') and his changeup is of the wipeout variety. His fastball, while maintaining upper 90's into the late game is flatter than you would like and he'll likely give up his fair share of HR's but his command projects to be elite. He is currently ranked as the ABL's #30 prospect. (0yrs 65 days 3 options 169K renewal candidate)
• ^Ron Robinson R (25) 28-35 4.28 102 G 86 GS 551.1 IP 575 H 463 K 158 BB 2009 Waiver Claim from Charlotte. Made the all-star team last season. His 13-8 3.49 2007 featured 2 rookie of the month awards and a 3rd place finish in the Jackie Robinson voting. Has followed that by going 15-27 over the last two seasons. Many think he was rushed to the big leagues. The word is he's a great teammate and one of the best golfers in the ABL. He's out of options so it will be a huge spring for him. (3yrs 45 days 0 options 368K arb eligible)
• ^Stu Schwartz R (26) Taken 55th overall in 2004 out of USC. Last June he tore his labrum and underwent shoulder surgery. He's projected to be out until April at least. The plan is to take it slow and easy. With where we are in this rebuild there is zero need to rush him back. Good kid with a high baseball IQ and lots of friends in the clubhouse. Has also had injury concerns going back to his senior year at Paradise Valley high school. Austin had drafted him then too, in the 2nd round with pick 42 but they failed to reach an agreement and he went to USC.
• Jeremy Wagner R (21) Just 21 years old and never thrown a pitch above A ball. He's the poster child for roster rules gone wrong. He has 1 option left and has used one this year. The hope is that he can develop in AA or AA/AAA this year to warrant a spot on next year's roster. Just a huge arm but has yet to get that third pitch (a Changeup) to develop enough to start. He was the 23rd overall pick in the 2006 draft out of Arcadia HS in Arizona by the Philadelphia Patriots. Claimed off waivers by Ohio in 2007 and then by Austin in 2009. Nicknamed Cricket. Why? Because rumor has it that part of his pre-game ritual when he starts is to eat 9 crickets, 1 for each inning.....
  
• SUMMARY- The Rustlers took 3 starting pitchers in the 2007 Rule 5 Draft, and 4 Rule 5s overall. Not sure if it says more about the amount of talent in the game or lack of talent in the system.

BACKROOM CHATTER
Travis Brooks, Kerry Davis, Gentaro Kiyokawa, and Ron Robinson are the 4 guys who a) I cannot send them down out of camp or b) Their contract/talent means I won't send them down.

Brooks, and Davis are definitely in the rotation and Robinson is likely headed for a bullpen job. Kiokawa has to earn a spot in the rotation and Schwartz will be on the 60 day once that option is open. So of the remaining 9 names on the list above only three will take a spot in the rotation.

[gehrig38]

• ^Walt Deschamps L (36) 21-15 5 Saves 4.43 418 IP 448 H 414 K In his career LHH have hit .276 off him with a .330 OBP and .444 SLG%. He's 36 and was signed to a 1-year deal last week. Not sure why this happened given where this team is from a 30,000-foot view. I will try and rectify this before camp. I can't have a 36-year-old lefty who doesn't get LHH out particularly well taking up innings. (6yrs 63 days 0 Options 382K Free agent after 2010 season)
• ^Stefan Filizat R (26) 7-8 1 Save 6.86 66 G 80 IP 103 H 12 HR 80 K 39 BB (.376 BABIP Career). 2009 waiver claim from Phoenix. He has a great arm but was rushed to the big leagues. His career BABIP suggests he is one of two things 1) the unluckiest pitcher in the history of the game 2) lacks command inside the strike zone. In 2008 in AA he was 4-3 28 Saves 2.51 in 44 games 46.2 IP 33 H 69 K 25 BB. He was called up that September and didn't do that well. Certainly not well enough to warrant a full year in 2009. Taken 64th overall out of Jonesboro HS in 2001 by San Diego, traded to Phoenix in 2003. Physically he has it all. He is out of options, likely won't make it through waivers so I'll hope he wins a job in camp. (1yr 56 days 0 options 169K arb eligible)
• Jordan Gomez R (27) 7-5 9 Saves 2.23 83 G 105 IP 78 H 120 K 34 BB .262 BABIP. 2008 Waiver Claim from Mexico. Drafted 74th overall out of the University of Kansas where he finished runner up in the Swindell voting. Cutter, curveball he combines to the extreme. Held lefties to a .197/.265/.282 split in 155 plate appearances with just 3 HR's. (1yr 112 days used his last option this year arb eligible)
• ^Brent Hobbs R (26) 10-6 5.09 72 G 24 GS 194.2 IP 184 H 205 K 118 BB 1.55 WHIP 2009 Waiver Claim from Phoenix. Drafted out of George Washington University with the 6th overall pick in the 2004 draft. Went 8-0 1.60 in 13 starts for Short Season Tempe in 2005. His biggest problem since being drafted is his command or lack of. The 118 walks in 194 innings is a killer. In 2008 he went 11-4 2.96 in 20 AAA starts but managed just 112 innings. Stamina has been a concern which is why he's been used mainly out of the bullpen. He's a hard worker. (2yrs 41 days 0 options 274K arb eligible)
• ^Bobby Thompson R (26) 14-13 29 Saves 4.44 184 G 231.1 IP 222 H 263 K 79 BB 2009 Waiver claim from Denver. 56th overall pick out of Pima JC in Arizona. Austin claimed him in 2008, traded him to Denver for Travis Brooks in November of that year, and then claimed him back in 2009. Figures to be one of the guys to break camp with the big team. (3yrs 74 days 0 options 352K arb eligible)
• Tom Barrett R (24) 1-2 10 Saves 2.75 last season here in Austin 18 G 19.2 IP 15 H 25 K 13 BB 1 HR. Signed as a minor league Free agent in 2003 after being released by Philadelphia. Figures to be the closer this year. Just 24 years old, 6'5” and an upper 90s heater with what many call the games best power slider (our scouts rate it 20 on the 1-20 scale we use). A good kid with a bright future. (1yr 79 Days 2 options 169K arb eligible)

BACKROOM CHATTER
Some mix of these guys and the 'leftover' starters will likely comprise the bullpen leaving camp. Obviously there will be trades and that will change things but as of today, this is it. The team will break camp with a 12 man staff so with Barrett the closer I would love to have 2-3 lefties and 2-3 righties to make up the roles between the starter and the closer. I love using young prospects as relievers and break them in from the "bottom" up in the bullpen. Long relief, mop-up, higher leverage 6th, 7th, and 8th inning outs. All depending on makeup and performance. It was said over a decade ago and I absolutely believe it now. With the rare exception, Rivera, Hoffman, Wagner, Lee Smith, Quisenberry, you can build an entirely new bullpen every single season and not have one clue as to how they will perform. Relievers are by far the most predictable performers in baseball. A guy can save 45 with a 1.34 ERA one year and blow 12 saves and have an ERA of 5+ the next. Same guy, same stuff. It's the reason when you find that reliever who has been consistent year in and year out you find a way to keep them.

[gehrig38]

The Austin farm system is ranked 4th overall. The Player Development budget league baseline is 1.74 million, we currently budget 2.65 million. That will be raised as close to 5 million as possible before the season begins.
The league baseline for scouting is 1.74 million as well, we currently budget 2.56 million. That number will also be as close to 5 million as it can be prior to the opening of the baseball season.

• PROSPECTS (#-#) (Our system rank-OSA System rank)

1. Matt Behrens 20 yrs old (1-6) 4th overall pick out of Petaluma HS in 2007. “The Dude” sports an upper 90's fastball with a cutter already ranked amongst the games best. A ++ curve and change when they develop to go with a developing split. He has all the intangibles off the field to go with the ability that will make him an ace someday. Went 5-2 2.46 in 20 starts 102 IP 66 H 115 K 30 BB in A-ball last year. The plan is to have him open the season at AA Modesto. Projected arrival 2013
   
2. Trevor Pope 22 yrs old (2-30) 103rd overall pick in the 2006 draft out of San Jacinto Jr College. Big power lefty with top of the rotation physical and mental skills. Projects to be a 230+ innings guy. Went 2-1 2.59 in 20 games last year with the big club. Projected arrival 2010
   
3. Pat Madison 22 yrs old (4-44) 8th overall pick in the 2008 draft out of Georgia Tech. RH with a great 3 pitch mix. 9-8 3.22 in class A last year. 148 IP 121 H 123 K's. Projected arrival 2012
   
4. Tashfin Sassi 18 yrs old (5-45) 1st overall pick last year out of Valdosta HS. A work in progress but by all accounts a future 1 or 2. Was the #9 prospect in 2009. Curious as to the big drop. Will open at Short-Season Hartford. Projected arrival 2014
   
5. Angelo Ortega 19 yrs old (6-95) Signed out of Guatemala in 2006. Mid 90's already with a big body still growing. Will start at rookie ball with Ft Wayne. Projected arrival 2014

I haven't checked in depth around the league but I am unsure if I could have taken a job with a more solid set of young pitching prospects than this one. That was one of many reasons I demanded a change in pitching coaches.
I should also let you know that I did not do any of this on my own. I spoke with the manager first, the ops people second, some key players on the team third, and then made calls around the league. Mike Ligon is a game-changing coach and for this stable of prospects, I owe them no less than that. To succeed at this job you absolutely need two things from everyone that works above and below you. 1) Buy in. They have to believe in your mission as much, if not more than you do. 2) Trust. This is an organization killer when it's absent at any level in the organization. Distrust in baseball is the same as fear on the battlefield in that it's a killer and it spreads like wildfire.

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Hector Colon S (27) .204/.301/.398 215 G 673 AB 33 HR 80 RBI 283 K 87 BB 2000 draft 6th round 149th overall. Hector is the perfect picture of why Austin is where it is. He signed a 1 year 286K contract before the 2008 season. He went out and hit .192/.289/.322 with 22 HR 50 RBI and 139 K's in 341 AB's. Then he somehow gets a 3 million dollar raise! He's good behind the plate, but not 3m dollars good. Add to all that he is lazy, and for some reason thinks he doesn't need to run all 90 feet between home and first on routine ground balls. I will be looking for any and every single way to deal “Hoover”. (3yrs 72 days 1 option arb eligible)

Craig Kelly L (26) His batting averages from every season, every level in which he had 200+ at-bats. .282/.200/.294/.198/.178/.148/.191/.173. 2009 waiver claim from San Antonio. Another guy who is a good defensive catcher, but nothing more. He “hits' left-handed and I say that lightly. He goes to the plate on the left handed side is more apt.

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We have none. Actually there is one. He's not a ranked prospect but our scouts do like him

Jason Koch R (21) Hit .317/.460/.689 in Rookie Ball in 2008 with 16 HR 45 RBI in just 51 games. Struggled at Short-Season Hartford last year (.225/.378/.416) in 54 games. That's likely where he opens this season. 3rd rounder (69th overall) out of Wabash JC in 2007. Won a gold glove in JC and in his 2008 Rookie League season.

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• 1B Manny Correa R (26) .201/.269/.337 7 HR 20 RBI 94 G 199 AB 6 2B 88 K 17 BB. Acquired in a 2007 trade with San Jose. Not sure there is much to say here. International free agent out of Columbia in 2000 and rose as high as 91 on the top prospect list. Selected to the futures game in '03, '04, and '05. Part of a 5 player package sent to Austin in 2007 for starter Luis Rivera (who is 154-148 3.90 with 3358 K's lifetime). He has the textbook definition of 'light tower power' with scouts adding there are few at any level of the ABL that could hang with him in a HR Derby. The other offensive tools haven't arrived. I am very curious what to do here. He's not a defensive liability at 1B, but he only plays there. Could he be the perfect corner slugger? We are most certainly in a position to give it a try if that's the direction we decide to go in. (1yr 25 days 0 options arb eligible)
  
• 1B Chiang-hui Xu L (31) .249/.356/.480 981 G 3395 AB 133 2B 213 HR 549 RBI 1048 K 439 BB signed a 2 year 8.64 million dollar deal a year ago today. Won the Continental leagues Jackie Robinson Award in 2004 hitting .255/.355/.508 with 41 HR and 104 RBI's. Followed that with seasons of 36, 33, 35, 39 and last year 24 HR's. He's a popular guy who is consumed with being good. Great baserunner, average at best defender and monster power obviously. He's 31 and making over 4 million this year. We lost 113 games with him last year..... A player I will be seriously dangling as we move toward camp. (6yrs 81 days 0 options compensation eligible FA after this season)
  
• 1B/2B Chris Johnston R (26) .298/.338/.430 177 G 647 AB 43 2B 8 HR 64 RBI 106 K 34 BB. Acquired in a trade last month with Baltimore. A 1B by trade (where he's a gold glove caliber defender) but plays a passable 2B. Elite speed that does not translate to stealing bases. Hit .354 in 339 AB's in AAA last season before he was called up to the Blackbirds where he hit .305/.338/.414 in 56 games. He has a legitimate batting title swing but no power to speak of. Looks to be a 2 hole hitter who could hit 40+ doubles. At 6'4” he is a bit big to be a good defensive 2B and while he doesn't hit for power like most corner guys he could play 1st if he hit .350. Appears to me to be a 26 year old player who many teams will value much higher than I do. (1yr 72 days 2 options (one used this year) 169K arb eligible).
  
• 2B Toby Murray R (24) Hit .225 at AA Modesto last year and hasn't hit at any level since being drafted in 2003 (12th round 319th pick). Not sure what he's even doing on the 40 man. Exceptional defender but limited to 2B and an elite speed/basestealer. Has some pop, will get his share of XBH. He won't be here on opening day.
  
• 2B/SS/3B Edgar Pantojas R (32) Hit .193/.269/.470 with 22 HR 48 RBI at AAA with 101 K 23 BB in 331 PA. Plays 2B, SS and 3B but 2B is his primary. He's 32, hits RH and is not long for this roster. The more I dig into the roster the more it becomes clear as to why they lost 113 games last season.
  
• 1B/3B Ryan Crabtree S (26) Between AA/AAA last year in 111 games he hit .236 with 12 HR and 36 RBI in 402 AB's. Could throw his glove out to 1B and win the Gold Glove, he's that good. Also plays an exceptional 3B. Part of the package in the 2007 Rivera trade (with Correa). His best minor league season was at AA in 2008. He hit .273/.326/.497 with 12 2B 18 HR 57 RBI in 99 games and 352 AB's. A switch hitter who can hammer some RHP but is an out vs LHP. No idea where or if he fits, but I will see what other clubs think about him for sure.
  
• 2B/3B Nick Denny R (25) Just 23 PA in the ABL (but he's 0-23). 6th round pick 2003 (152nd overall) out of Temple U. Huge power, line to line, good eye, swings and misses way too much. In 116 games between AA/AAA last year he hit 26 HR struck out 180 times and walked just 44. Smart kid, high baseball IQ. 1 option left 50 days service and arb eligible. Likely would not be on half the teams 40 man much less the opening day roster.
  
• 3B Luis Orozco R (22) Called up last year from AA where he was hitting .209 with an OBP of .294. Hit .248/.320/.453 with 7 HR 20 RBI 45 K to 13 BB in 153 PA. Way too early to call him up. He's the 3B of the future here and the leagues 31st ranked prospect. #1 pick in 2006 (19th overall) out of Dodge City HS. Has a cannon for an arm, isn't a threat on the bases and his bat projects in someone's 3rd or 4th hole for a long time. Both the Bureau and our scouts say offensively he's a 15+ contact, gap and HR power. He'll draw his share of walks and shouldn't be a big strikeout guy. Our scouts say he still has room to grow. In an ideal world he'd spend the year in AAA. But with 113 loss season behind us there isn't a perfect world scenario on the horizon. Has 3 options left. I may end up being 'that guy' when the season opens. Luis has 149 days of ABL service. 172 days are needed for a full season. It may trigger some issues but there is talk, and I am involved, in holding him at AAA for the season with a September call up with 22 days remaining in the season. I don't like ticky tack bull**** and as a player that's exactly what this is. However there is an alternate route. What is that route? I would meet with him one on one and tell him exactly what I wanted to do and why. I don't have the first idea how he might react and it opens me, and the club, up to all kinds of issues with the players association should word get out. I am going to stew on this for the next week or two and see what and how I feel 10-14 days from now.
  
• 3B Matt Sandoval R (29) A 3-time All Star and 2 time silver slugger at 3B. Austin's 1st pick in 1999 (18th overall). Very good defensively but not a threat on the bases. His calling card is power, and lots of it. Starting in 2003, his first full season here are his HR totals 33, 25, 41, 33, 41, 22, 24. Led the league in doubles (46) in 2007. Now his avg and OBP those same years. .300/.357 - .285/.360 - .290/.329 - .235/.315 - .252/.312 - .215/.255 - .227/.278. From a trajectory of borderline hall of famer to a 23rd or 24th player on the roster in 7 seasons. Now that in and of itself is troubling but there is a much bigger concern. Prior to the 2005 season, at age 24, he signed an 8 year 68.7 million dollar extension and he went out and hit .290/.329/.569 33 2B 41 HR 117 RBI (139/33 K/BB). In the 4 seasons following his slash line was .232/.285/.408 with 120 HR 343 RBI 758 K's 177 BB's. That's a .230 hitter with a .280 OBP hitting 30 HR a year and driving in 85, striking out 190 times to 44 walks at an annual salary of 10.2 million dollars. He's not a problem in the clubhouse, he plays hard and is a good defender albeit limited to 3B only. All the things you hope a player says, does and feels when he's not performing? He's all those things. Upset, putting pressure on himself, all of it. Now that being said it doesn't change the facts. I am paying a guy 10.2 million to hit .230, get on base 29% of the time and drive in 85 while striking out 190 times a year (he punched out 202 times in 2008). At first glance the only team in the game that would even respond to his availability was San Antonio but they wanted me to take RF Sam Kilian and his 18.6 million owed through 2011. Short term it's about a million dollars a year for the next two but long term he's out after those 2 and I have an extra 10.2 million in 2012. The bigger issue is an off the field one. Kilian is a notorious ass and a guy teammates don't really like. That's the deal breaker in even thinking about pursuing this.
  
• 2B/SS Jeremy Rohrer R (28) .243/.396/.404 356 G 934 PA 41 2B 12 3B 24 HR 82 RBI 198 K 44 BB 3rd round draft choice (70th overall) in 2000 out of Temple U. Above average middle infielder with speed. Will hit for some power but not a middle of the order bat. ++ runner. (2yrs 1 day 0 options 570K arb eligible)

INFIELD PROSPECTS
Orozco is our highest rated “prospect” at #31 in the league. No infielders in the minor leagues ranked in the top 200 besides him. Certainly a trade and draft target this year.

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• LF Dave Green L (28) .266/.362/.558 411 G 69 2B 10 3B 91 HR 200 RBI 470 K 175 BB 37-47 SB Signed as a free agent in December. Originally drafted by the LA Storm (39th overall) in 2000. Blew through the minor leagues collecting hardware all along the way. First call up in '04 first full season in 2006. Never really had an everyday spot but has shown he can hit. His 411 game stats average out to .266/.362/.558 36 HR 79 RBI over 162 games. He's signed for just this year and is a compensation eligible FA at years end.
  
• LF Chris Kardell R (25) Cup of coffee last season (19 AB's) but was the 1st pick in 2005 (31st overall) out of Arizona State. Left fielder and not a real good defender. No speed but has the offensive makeup to be a 3-4 hitter. 25+ HR guy who will hit, and looks to be a potential .400+ OBP guy as well. Has 2 options left, with one already used this year. Making the minimum (169K) and won't be eligible for arbitration. He's the ABL's 96th ranked prospect.
  
• LF/CF Matt Rincker R (27) .199/.268/.380 115 G 385 PA 15 HR 35 RBI 122 K 30 BB. 2001 4th rounder (100th overall) out of Pima CC. Used his last option this year. + defender in LF and can play center. Above-average pop with a good eye, skills which have yet to show themselves at this level. He's making the minimum and arbitration-eligible.
  
• LF Chris Taft S (28) .243/.271/.471 249 G 337 PA 15 HR 35 RBI 105 K 51 BB. 2008 waiver claim from Providence. A switch hitter who crushes RHP. Making 1.4 and arbitration-eligible. Word has it, and it's more than just rumors, he's a clubhouse cancer. We'll address that asap.
  
• CF/LF Kazuma Kodama R (26) .230/.296/.311 just 84 plate appearances. Signed as a minor league free agent in 2008. Entered the league signing a 1.9 million dollar contract as an international free agent out of Japan by the San Antonio Broncos in 2001. He's a CF by trade and big, 6'5”, but well above average as a defensive CF. Exceptional speed. His bat is about as average as you can get, across the board. On a good club, he might be a 5th OF. On this club, he's likely a starter today, and hitting in the 7 hole. He's 3 years from Arbitration. One big plus is his intangibles. His role matters little in that his voice matters a lot. Very good and very big clubhouse presence. He and Chris Taft were in 3 separate altercations last season.
  
• CF/RF Chris Rowan R (27) Just 7 ABL at-bats (though he went 5-7 with 4 2B!). Has never hit in the minors. An exceptional defensive outfielder with + speed. Has pop, a decent eye but doesn't make near enough contact (going back to college he has struck out 1069 times to just 351 walks). He doesn't have enough power to offset that lack of OBP. 2009 Waiver claim from Ft Worth. 2 Options left and 3 years from Arbitration.
  
• RF/LF Sean Ferguson L (28) .245/.302/.460 211 G 511 AB 28 2B 26 HR 164 K 34 BB 2006 waiver claim from Lexington. A below-average defender, no speed with some pop. His defense alone is a show stopper in all the wrong ways. A nice kid who stays to himself but does not bring anything to the table in enough quantity to warrant playing at this level. Arbitration eligible making 310K
  
• RF Ray Marshall L (27) at AAA he has hit .349/.347/.530 in 157 G 23 2B 36 HR 94 RBI 169 K 69 BB. Those are from the past 2 seasons. Claimed last April off waivers from Charlotte. He only plays RF and is a below-average defender. Runs well and has some legitimate power. If he were just an average defender AND played more than one spot the bat might be enough.
  
• RF Robby Murphy L (30) .258/.320/.516 917 G 146 2B 210 HR 487 RBI 97-112 SB 926 K 283 BB Singed in 2008 as a Free agent 7 years 45.5 million. Has 6 seasons at 6.5 per left on his deal. Big time fan favorite. Led the ABL with 50 HR's in 2008 when he won the Babe Ruth Award. Good defender in right, + runner, outstanding base stealer (97-112 career). A clutch post-season guy too. Clearly has big-time power but has a career-high average of .286 and OBP of .349. I will explore options with this one.
  
  
• OUTFIELD PROSPECTS
• Chris Kardell is the 96th ranked prospect in the ABL and our top outfield prospect. AA OF Herberto Perez is ranked #110. He was the 2nd pick (39th overall) out of Yavapai JC in 2007. At 6'1” 175 pds you can assume the nickname “Lumpy” is of the sarcastic variety. Huge power from the left side and an entire offensive game that has top of the order projections. Hit 33 HR's with 60 RBI's in 60 games between SA/A ball last year. Will start in Modesto.