TSTBL Completes 15th Season

[Driver 8]

Started back in 2002, the TSTBL has recently completed their 15th season. Although we seemingly went through more personnel than George Steinbrenner early on, the league has become incredibly stable and I owe a huge thanks to all of our owners, past and present.

In these 15 seasons we've seen 10 different franchises crowned as champions, one player elected to the Hall Of Fame and two more to be announced this weekend.

TSTBL Resources: Cato Database, Custom Record Book, Hall Of Fame Page, Managerial Register, Career Leader Board, Current OOTP Index

The 15-year timeline:

2002: The league got off to a flying start as the Colorado Springs SkySox, lead by Eric Lindblad, captured the first TSTBL title. In the West, Portland's Albert Pujols (.368-39-149) and Tucson's Mark Mulder (19-10, 2.18) grabbed MVH and MVP honors, respectively. Their EL counterparts were Pat Burrell (.339-38-122) of New Orleans and Barry Zito (23-2, 1.62) of Memphis. Zito's 1.62 ERA is a mark which stands to this day. The league's first no-hitter was tossed on May 17 as Edmonton's Ruben Quevedo and Wascar Serrano combined on the gem. On August 27th, Jay Gibbons hit 4 homers in one game, a feat no one else has accomplished before or since.

2003: In a worst-to-first performance, Aaron Bacon turned a 97-loss Toledo team in 2002 into the 2003 TSTBL champions. EL honors went to Charlotte's Adam Dunn (.363-52-139) and Louisville's Javier Vazquez (19-10, 2.51) while Tucson's Carlos Beltran (.349-32-118) and Albuquerque's Roy Oswalt (19-7, 2.68) won hardware in the West. Dunn's phenomenal season marks the league's only triple crown season. Indianapolis' C.C. Sabathia tossed the league's first complete-game no-hitter on May 8. Colorado Springs' Hank Blalock set a record by hitting in 41 consecutive games, en route to a .379 batting average for the season, another league record.

2004: J.L. Andercen, the league's most successful GM won the first of his record 3 TSTBL titles as the Portland Beavers beat the Memphis Redbirds in 5 games in the league's 3rd World Series. The Beavers were lead by MVH Pujols (.360-43-146) who won the award for the second time in three seasons. WL Pitching honors went to Albuquerque's Oswalt (25-5, 1.77) for the second consecutive season. In the East, MVH honors once again went to Charlotte's Dunn (.313-47-132), while Toledo's Ricardo Rodriguez (22-7, 3.40) won MVP honors.

2005: The Beavers were once again the class of the West, winning 124 games, a total that has never been approached in league history. In fact, the second highest total in league history was 115 victories by the '07 Mudhens. For all their success, the Beavers fell short of their ultimate goal as the Mudhens and Bacon defeated them in six games in the Series. Toledo ace Chance Capel (19-4, 3.28) grabbed MVP honors, while Charlotte's Dunn (.327-54-135) won the MVH for a record third consecutive season. In the West, Portland's Pujols (.344-49-165) won the MVH for the third time, while Oklahoma's Kerry Wood (19-3, 2.59) grabbed MVP honors. A key component in Portland's high-powered offense, slugger Garrett Atkins set a TSTBL record by finishing the season with 172 RBIs.

2006: Portland and Andercen were able to grabbed the Series title that eluded them the previous season by defeating the Redbirds in six games. Portland was lead by MVP Shawn Chacon (20-8, 2.71), while Albuquerque's Nick Johnson (.311-48-141) won MVH honors. In the East, Buffalo's Chris Capuano (22-7, 2.68) won the MVP and Toledo's Stephen Wilcoxson (.349-31-137) won the MVH.

2007: Despite an EL record 115 wins, the Toledo Mudhens were upset in the ELCS by Memphis and Christian Trudeau, who went on to beat Colorado Springs in seven games for their first TSTBL title. EL awards went to Buffalo's Capuano (26-3, 2.19) for the second season in a row and Toledo's Pujols (.295-31-147), who came over from Portland the previous season. In the West, Portland's new threat, Michael Preble (.332-37-136), won his first MVH, while Salt Lake's Bud Smith (18-7, 2.83) grabbed pitching honors.

2008: In what was expected to be a rebuilding year, Lindblad lead the scrappy Colorado Springs franchise to their second TSTBL title. The Sox defeated the Mudhens in six games, keeping Toledo from a record-setting thrid title. Louisville ace Matt Wright (21-8, 2.48) grabbed EL pitching honors, while Durham's Morgan Ensberg (.352-43-136) won the league's MVH. Out West, Tacoma's Adam Eaton (22-7, 3.65) won pitching honors and Portland's Preble (.376-38-135) won his second consecutive MVH award. The league added two expansion teams in the West, the Lake Elsinore Storm and Iowa Cubs. On July 17, Carlos Beltran became the only person in league history to collect seven hits in one game. Tucson's Justin Morneau finished the regular season with 60 homers, the only time that plateau has been reached in the league's history.

2009: With two more expansion teams added, EL's Jupiter Hammerheads and Long Island Ducks, the league went from a four-division line-up to a six-division alignment, with a wildcard team added to the playoffs. For the final time, Andercen and the Beavers were left standing at the top of the heap as the postseason conclude with Portland beating Rochester 4-1 in the Series. For the first time in league history, the league's owners were responsible for voting for the major awards. In the East, Buffalo's Capuano (19-9, 2.46) won a record third MVP, while Charlotte's Dunn (.293-42-135) tied Pujols' mark with a fourth MVH. In the West, both major awards went to teammates for the first time. Portland's Bobby Bradley (24-3, 3.05) and Preble (.325-39-125) were the leading vote getters. it was Bradley's first MVP, while Preble was honored for the third consecutive season. At the conclusion of the 2009 season, league owners also voted for the '00s All-Decade Team. The winners, along with seasonal averages were:

C: Stephen Wilcoxson (.311-31-118) 1B: Carlos Pena (.295-39-125) 2B: Cesar Izturis (.303-10-73) SS: Rafael Furcal (.306-22-96-60 SB-124 R) 3B: Aramis Ramirez (.288-43-119) OF: Adam Dunn (.306-40-116); Michael Preble (.327-29-115-58 SB-121 R); Corey Patterson (.319-22-110) DH: Albert Pujols (.318-37-144) RHP: Roy Oswalt (17-7, 2.76) LHP:Chris Capuano (20-7, 2.69) CL: Byung-Hyun Kim (6-5, 2.34, 38 sv)

[Driver 8]

2010: After five consecutive second-place finishes, the Louisville Bats, lead by Craig Eccles, broke through in 2010 with 106 wins, en route to a five game victory over the Beavers in the '10 World Series. In league voting, the pitching awards were given to Buffalo's Capuano (23-4, 1.77) for the fourth time, and Tucson's Boof Bonser (20-9, 2.70) for the first time. MVH honors went to Portland's Rafael Furcal (.329-32-119) and Memphis' Prentice Redman (.281-40-124), both first-time honorees. Former Memphis GM Christian Trudeau became the first person elected to the TSTBL Hall Of Fame. In 7.5 seasons managing the Redbirds, Trudeau compiled a 684-524 (.566) record, including five consecutive division titles, three EL titles and the 2007 World Series title.

2011: The '11 season was capped with another first time champ, the Tacoma Rainiers, lead by John Hunter, who defeated the Louisville Bats in seven games. In 2010, catcher Stephen Wilcoxson won his third World Series title, as a member of the Louisville Bats. Dealt in mid-season (2011) to the Rainiers, Wilcoxson hit a dramatic homer to lead off the bottom of the 10th in Game Seven of the Series to defeat his old squad. His back-to-back titles gave him four World Series titles in his career, a record that would be equalled, but not broken. Portland's Preble (.347-36-123) and Rochester's Bryan Bass (.301-36-130) won their league's respective MVH's. It was a record-tying fourth for Preble and the first for Bass. For the Pitcher's Salt Lake's Ryan Bukvich (23-5, 1.74) won the first of his storied career, while Buffalo's Robert Hallmark (20-5, 2.63) was also a first time winner. On June 5, Toledo's Freddy Garcia tossed the first perfect game in league history. Oddly enough, the only other perfect game in league history was tossed the very next day by Long Island's Robert Rich. Original Colorado Springs GM Eric Lindblad was the second GM elected to the TSTBL Hall Of Fame. In eight seasons Lindblad out together a 722-574 (.557) record, including five division titles, three WL titles and a pair of TSTBL World Series vicories in 2002 and 2008.

2012: With a team brimming with young All-Stars, Woody Woodbury lead the Salt Lake City Stingers to their first TSTBL title in '12 in a six-game series over the Buffalo Bisons. The Stingers were lead by MVP Bukvich (20-2, 1.88), who won the award for the second-straight season. The league's MVH went to Portland's Preble (.332-29-99) for a record 5th time. In the East, Louisville's Wright (22-2, 2.01) won the EL MVP for the second time, while Nashville's Dave Dunbar (.324-35-140) captured the MVH and Rookie Of the Year award. Edmonton CF Tim Raines, Jr. won a record 10th consecutive Gold Glove Award.

2013: For the first time in league history, a wild-card entry was crowned league champion. Although they handily won the wild-card spot, few expected Eccles and the Louisville Bats to advance to the Series, much less win it. In the ELDS, Memphis extended the Bats to seven games, but the Long Island Ducks provided little challenge as the Bats beat them in five games to advance. Smart money seemed to be on the perennial powerhouse Portland squad, but the Bats prevailed in six. Buffalo's Capuano (19-7, 2.34) was voted the league's MVP for a record fifth time, while Louisville's Blalock (.342-33-128) won the first MVH of his distinguished career. In the West, Tacoma's Wilcoxson (.329-24-95) won the first MVH in the WL, and his second overall, while Salt Lake's Bukvich (26-6, 2.37) claimed his third consecutive MVP award. Former Toledo Mudhen GM Aaron Bacon became the third executive inducted into the TSTBL Hall Of Fame. In 9+ seasons in control of the Hens, Bacon compiled a 955-515 (.650) record. During his helm, Toledo won eight division titles, made a wild card appearance, guided his team to three World Series appearances, winning it all in 2003 and 2005.

2014: "Trader" Nick Gervasi and the Long Island Ducks shocked the baseball world by transforming a 95-loss expansion team in 2009 into the 2014 World Series champs. After back-to-back ELCS losses in 2012-2013, Gervasi seemed to have struck the right balance in molding his championship squad. The Ducks defeated another first time World Series participant, the Tucson Sidewinders, in six games. Long Island was lead by MVP Julian Cruz (21-8, 3.07) and Rookie Of the Year William Marchand (.283-19-103). The league's other major award, MVH, went to Nashville's Dunbar (.318-26-105), who won for the second time in three seasons. In the West, Salt Lake's Bukvich (29-4, 1.71) set a new standard for victories in a season and won the league's MVP for a record fourth consecutive season. The WL's MVH was awarded to Tacoma's Edward Maday (.323-43-146).

2015: The '15 World Series was grabbed by Tracy Whittish and another young, All-Star laden team, the Nashville Sounds. Nashville cruised to the title with a 12-2 postseason record, beating the Stingers in five games. Long Island's Cruz (21-8, 3.07) repeated as MVP, while Louisville's Blalock (.379-33-119) was awarded the MVH for the second time. The WL's awards went to Portland's Samuel Baumgart (24-9, 3.04) and Salt Lake's Bill Crosswhite (.321-36-131), both first-time recipients. Having already set the league standard with a .379 average in 2003 with the WL Colorado Springs SkySox, Blalock tied his own mark and set an EL mark by hitting .379 once again, this time as a member of the Louisville Bats.

2016: The 2016 World Series featured the odd match-up of WL wild-card winner Glenwood Springs facing a 78-84 Long Island squad that won a weak EL North, shocked the powerhouse Nashville squad in five games and beat upstart Jupiter in five as well. In the Series, Jay Kaplan and the Drifters outlasted Long Island in a tight, exciting series that went six games. Pitching awards went to Durham's Todd Frei (22-5, 2.07) in the East and once again to Portland's Baumgart (26-10, 3.74) in the West. Salt Lake's Prince Fielder (.337-40-120) and Durham's Dominick Charlie (.311-42-131) won their respective league's Most Valuable Hitter honors. Long Island's Albert Pujols finished the 2016 season with exactly 100 RBIs, marking the 15th consecutive season he has reached the plateau. No other player has drove in 100 runs every season of the league's existance. On August 21, Charlotte's Jose Espada fanned 18 hitters, a TSTBL record. Long-time Albuquerque Duke ace Roy Oswalt was the first player elected to the TSTBL Hall Of Fame. Oswalt, a three-time 20-game winner, accumulated 184 career victories, the league's 7th highest total at the time of his retirment, and compiled a 3.14 ERA, the 4th highest mark ever. A seven-time All-Star, Oswalt was named the starting pitcher for his squad on four occasions. He was named the WL Most Valuable Pitcher in 2003 and 2004. His 2004 season included a 25-5 record with a 1.77 ERA.

Heading into 2017, career leaders include: Average: Hank Blalock, .340 Hits: Blalock, 3,073 Homeruns: Eric Munson, 518 RBI's: Albert Pujols, 1,909 Stolen Bases: Rafael Furcal, 914 ERA: Ryan Bukvich, 2.37 Wins: Bud Smith, 239 Saves: Byung-Hyun Kim, 574 Strikeouts:2,991

[Driver 8]

With league-wide voting now complete, Eric Chavez and Stephen Wilcoxson have become the second and third players elected to the TSTBL Hall Of Fame:

Chavez, Eric: 3B, Oklahoma (2002-2010), Memphis (2011-2013) and Tacoma (2014-2016) (Chavez' Historical Record)

Chavez, a nine-time all-star, stroked 40 or more doubles fourteen times in his career and finished with 786 for his career, the most in league history. Blessed with an abundance of power, Chavez also smashed 461 career homeruns, the 6th highest total in league history, including 51 in 2004. Remarkably consistent, Chavez enjoyed arguably his best season in 2006, when he won the WL Commissioner's Award after hitting .333 with 37 homers, 62 doubles and 120 RBIs. Chavez calls it a career with a .295 career average, a .549 slugging percentage (the 2nd highest career total), a .900 OPS (7th all-time), 1,408 runs scored (8th), 2,586 hits (8th), 4,813 total bases (2nd) and 1,655 RBIs (4th). His 314 batting win shares ranks him 5th all-time. Chavez holds single season marks for highest slugging percentage by a lefthander (.666, 2004) and most doubles in a season (73, 2011). Chavez remains the single season and career record holder for most offense marks in Oklahoma history. An adept fielder in his prime, Chavez won Gold Gloves in 2002, 2003 and 2007.

Awards/honors recap: Commissioner's Award (2006), Gold Glove (2002, 2003, 2007), Silver Slugger (2006, 2013, 2014), All-Star (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)

Wilcoxson, Stephen: C, Toledo (2003-2008), Louisville (2008-2011), Tacoma (2011-2015) and Rochester (2015-2016) (Wilcoxson's Historical Record)

Wilcoxson, the number-one overall pick in the 2003 draft, has won every possible available to him and will certainly be remembered as one of the league's all-time greats. Wilcoxson made the jump straight to Toledo after being drafted and hit .337 with 33 homers and 112 RBIs en route to the Rookie Of the Year award in 2003, a season in which Toledo won their first World Series title. A 12-time All-Star, including the first 11 seasons of his career, Wilcoxson enjoyed the best season of his career in 2006, hitting a career-high .349, while hitting 31 homers and driving in 137 runs. For his efforts, Wilcoxson won the EL Most Valuable Hitter and Commissioner's awards, while also winning a Gold Glove. A key component to the powerhouse Toledo squads of the 00's, Wilcoxson hit .340 with 3 homers, 9 runs and 9 runs driven, guiding Toledo to a second world championship in 2005, his second title in three seasons. A blockbuster deal sent Wilcoxson to Louisville mid-season, 2008. By 2010, Wilcoxson had helped gel an underperforming Bats team into a World Champion. Despite his production and leadership skills, Louisville dealt Wilcoxson to Tacoma mid-way through the next season. Once again leading a good, yet underperforming team, Wilcoxson lead the Rainiers to the postseason. After guiding the Rainiers past Tucson and Salt Lake in the West, Wilcoxson lead the Rainiers into the 2011 Series against his former squad, Louisville. The Bats' dream of an unprecedented back-to-back title season were dashed when Wilcoxson hit a dramatic solo homerun to lead off the bottom of the 11th inning in Game Seven to give the Rainiers their only World Series title. For Wilcoxson, it was indeed back-to-back, and the fourth title of his career. Wilcoxson was the first player in league history to win four titles, a record that Hank Blalock tied two years later. Wilcoxson is also one of two players to ever win a title with three different franchises. From 2003 through 2013, Wilcoxson won 10 of the 11 possible Silver Sluggers awarded to catchers and was also named the catcher on the All-Decade Team for the 00's. For his career, Wilcoxson retires as the career-leader in walks (1,547) and on-base percentage (.423), while ranking among the top-ten in average (10th, .303), slugging (9th, .521), OPS (2nd, .944) and runs scored (3rd, 1.549). Never an elite slugger, Wilcoxson rode consistency to the 14th highest homerun total in league history (359) and 15th highest RBI total (1,411). Wilcoxson holds the single season records for slugging percentage by a rookie (.607, 2003), innings caught in a season (1,463.2, 2005) and Eastern League records for highest slugging percentage by a switch-hitter (.607, 2003), runs scored in a season (147) and walks in a season (145, 2004).

Awards/honors recap: Commissioner's Award (2006, 2010), Most Valuable Hitter (2006, 2013), Rookie Of the Year (2003), Gold Glove (2006), Silver Slugger (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), All-Star (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014), World Series Championships (2003, 2005, 2010, 2011)

[allstar50]

Its a FANTASTIC leauge that is very well run.


That Long Island sounds like a pretty good team

[Driver 8]

Originally Posted by allstar50

Its a FANTASTIC leauge that is very well run.


That Long Island sounds like a pretty good team

I was wondering early on, but that 12-3 run the Ducks just pulled off sure put them in the driver's seat at this point.

[jazzrack]

great league, these guys are rock-solid Gm's. Someday I'll get the rebuilding job done in Iowa and make one of those reports

[Driver 8]

2017: It's a first! After 16 seasons the TSTBL has crowned it's first back-to-back champs. Not only has Jay Kaplan guided the Glenwood Springs Drifters to their second consecutive title, he once again did it from the wildcard spot. After a two-year absence, Salt Lake's Ryan Bukvich has once again claimed the WL Most Valuable Pitcher award. Limited by injuries in 2016, the league's owners voted him runner-up in the MVP race, despite a 17-1 record. This year, however, Bukvich could not be denied, posting an insane, perfect 28-0 season to run his record to 45-1 over the last two years. Bukvich enters the new season at 35-years-old with a career 183-41 mark. Teammate Prince Fielder added a second consecutive Most Valuable Hitter honor by posting a .339-42-139 season, winning two-thirds of the WL triple crown. His average left him .007 short of the goal. In the East, Charlotte ace Jose Espada (21-8, 2.45) proved his break-through sophomore campaign in 2016 was no fluke as he guided the Charlotte Knights to the postseason for the first time in nine seasons. Long Island's 2014 Rookie Of the Year William Marchand continued his maturation into one of the game's best young outfielders, turning a .332-31-102 campain into MVH gold.

TSTBL Resources: Cato Database, Custom Record Book, Hall Of Fame Page, Managerial Register, Career Leader Board, Current OOTP Index

[Driver 8]

2018 begins tonight with the first phase of free agency and for the first time in many seasons the TSTBL is in need of an owner. We begin our 17th campaign in search of someone to take over the Colorado Springs SkySox. This once-proud franchise is in need of some serious help and will prove to be quite the challenge. If you're up for it, please drop me an e-mail.

Also, the league has begun owner balloting for the 2018 Hall Of Fame class. Player nominees this offseason include:

Adam Dunn
Rafael Furcal
Cristian Guzman
Salvador Hernandez
Koyie Hill
Byung-Hyun Kim
Eric Munson
Carlos Pena
Michael Preble
Tim Raines, Jr.
Aramis Ramirez
Ricardo Rodriguez
Kerry Wood