Owner Q & A - Draft Results Responses

Hello owners,

Thanks to all who contributed their expertise and perspectives on the recent draft and draft strategy. Below I have included all of the emails I received back. As always some interesting responses and everyone really does have their own view. Hope it helps you understand and enjoy the league more.

The Questions:
1. Of our most recent draft, how many players do you think will really make your ML starting lineup or rotation one day?

2. In the last few rounds you start getting into players with overall ratings below 60 sometimes even below 50. Do you still sign these guys as fillers (warm bodies) or do you even bother?

3. Which managment style do you consider yourself to be? 1-Yankees-just buy the best ML talent out there and don't focus on the draft or developing talent from the ground up. 2-Rays-focus heavily on the draft, develop talent over seasons, be patient and wait for it to come together one season. 3-Red Sox-balance between buying or selling ML talent at the right price and keeping an eye on the draft and working talent up through the minors with always having a handful of top prospects.

Who Would Win?
Which draft scenario would you rather have or which scenario would lead to the most wins down the road?

Draft A=1 Superstar A+ Starting Pitcher and 4 ML backup C grade average to below average position players
or
Draft B=5 B grade pitcher/position players who will never make an all-star team but will play everyday

The Answers:
Jwendt - Sioux Falls Dakota

1. - I'd say 3 guys have a chance to become major league regulars. 3 others have a shot to help off the bench at some point in their careers.

2. - It's highly unlikely that anyone in the last 5-10 rounds will ever play in the big leagues. So, I sign them as needed to round out minor league rosters. If their position doesn't fit or if they have really, really bad numbers (like single-digit vL/vR), then I don't. I'd say on average I sign 20-23 of my picks.

3. - I suppose I'd go with answer 3. There's rarely a top-tier free agent available that is signable at a reasonable price. I'll sign one maybe once every 2-3 seasons. Other than that, you have to use every available means to acquire talent - Draft
& Develop, Sign Internationals and develop, and Trade for young players and develop. Notice the key is that you must develop them appropriately in all cases.

4.I'll take Draft A. Superstars are very hard to come by.


hcohenmb - Vancouver Jets
1. Current draft perhaps 1 starting pitcher and 1 reliever of good to average major league calibre

2. I sign them all, if reasonably priced, sometimes in error


3. I rely on draft and now see it not as a solution

Uustal - Albuquerque Isotopes
1. I'd say 4 or 5 with a couple more on the fringe depending how they develop. My answer may be a little skewed though because I had 8 picks in the first 3 rounds.

2. I signed enough players to round out my rookie ball team, but didn't sign anyone after the 17th round. I found the pitchers seemed more valuable than the hitters late in the draft and these are guys who could be decent minor league pitchers for their careers.

3. I'd consider myself into the Red Sox category. I really value young talent, but don't mind spending money on free agency if I have a hole to fill. If there is a player who will help my team and the price and years are right, I will go after him
regardless of age.

4. I'd rather have the superstar in the draft. There are so many other ways to acquire major league regulars who are not starts. You can get them through free agency, trades and rule V much easier than you can get a superstar.

billybob44 - Philadelphia Wolverines
1. I'd say I drafted 2 pretty solid prospects considering how far back I was in the draft. With the 30th overall pick I drafted Robert Moore who I think can at least sneak into the 5 slot in my rotation. I also drafted Miguel Baerga who I think can get some limited time at first base in the big leagues.

2. I like to have some guys to fill my rookie league ball club but when they get below 50 I don't usually sign them.

3. As a Redsox fan it pains me to say I'm more focused on my big league club like the Yankees. I'll usually try to draft the best player possible and use that player as possible trade bait in following years to get that young up and coming star. I
will usually try to keep my ML team a young team with one of the best offenses in the league.

4. I think I'd rather have the superstar. I've found that superstars will put up consistent MVP like numbers while your average player won't be as conistent, meaning you'll never know what to expect from that player.

Dspahlinger - San Francisco Dolphins
1. Three players may make the ML club, none as a star. Given where I was drafting that was very disappointing.

2. I normally sign all draft picks as RL fillers, unless there were very few retirements and I can leave a number of players on the RL team.

3. Red Sox type with a slight bias towards the draft. I like to build through the draft, but with rebuilding clubs like the Dolphins where Money is available I am also active in bidding for expensive international F/A's.

4. The draft scenario would obviously depend on the current needs/situation but I would generally favor Draft A.

Reigny - Santa Fe Fire Hawks
1. Out of my recent draft, I think 2 will make the rotation and 2 will crack the lineup.

2. I still sign them. Yes, the warm body theory works but in other leagues I've actually had them contribute in the AA or AAA level. ( Think Crash Davis)

3. Rays. I tried to be the Yankees and paid for it big time.

4. Draft B

mike1184 - Burlington Bulldogs
1. Out of my draft, I can see my top four picks make it to the bigs some day:
OF Timo Lewis, LR Ralph Harper, RP Jimmie Estrada, and C Fonzie Lewis.
While none of these players will be stars, they should all eventually get significant time on the ML squad.

2. I still sign these players as most of them are extremely cheap, and you will have their rights for a lot longer than if you fill up your minors with minor league free agents. It is getting harder and harder to fill your entire minor league squads, so this is a good way of doing so.

3. I consider myself to be like a Rays management style, as free agents are usually overpriced, and on the last legs of their careers. I will occasionally sign a big free agent if my payroll is low and I feel that player will significantly upgrade my team, but it is rare.

The key to free agency is to find those players which are valued low, and I have found that older pitchers who are more long relievers than starters at their age, but can put in some solid innings on your club.

4. I would take Draft A anyday, as you win with stars over solid players. Draft B would be good if you already had a bunch of stars, but if we were starting from scratch I would definitely go with Draft A.

dberube7 - Helena Hound Dogs
1. Relief pitcher for sure, maybe 1 or 2 more as backup middle infielders.

2. Depends on the signing bonus. I'll sign the cheap guys who can play D or pitch just cause of the need to fill the spots. I try to save the money to go after internationals.

3. Right now Devil Rays, hopefully transition to a more Red Sox approach in a few more seasons.

4. I'll take B, depth is very important. If 5 players from a draft are everyday player that is an enormous help to any team.

hockey_brian - Toledo Boonse Farmers
1. Two Maybe Three
2. I sign as many as possible. I feel that they will stay with the team longer and have a shot at a diamond in the rough. I hate signing free agents to fill a lot of spots because half the team has retired.
3. I'm a Redsox kind of guy. I love the draft and feel I get my share of steals in the draft. But I save some money to spend on the market.
4. Go with the Superstar pitcher

HBD Olympics Final Medal Counts

Hello, well it was close down to the last day of competition. As you will see the great USA has prevailed in total medal count. However, the other countries represented well and show the high potential value in international draft picks!


FINAL INDIVIDUAL STAT MEDALS



FINAL TOTAL MEDAL COUNT

Tanaka to Memphis with #1 pick

Jin-Chi Tanaka was chosen with the top overall selection in the Season 9 draft by the Memphis Shores. Tanaka, a high school pitcher with a nasty curveball has a high ceiling, but a long way to go to reach his potential according to Shores scouting director E.H. Crump III. "Jin-Chi is still learning the American game, but he's got an easy arm-action, a big 12-6 curveball, and ability throw deep in games." Tanaka is also an excellent athelete, playing 3B for his high school team in Northborough, MA when he didn't pitch.

Tanaka was born in Honolulu Hawaii. His father, former (and sometimes current) AWA and WWF wrestler Pat Tanaka. You may remember Tanaka as one half two famous tag teams. First, Badd Company (with Paul Diamond) in the AWA and later as one half of the Orient Express, managed by Mr. Fuji. The team is best remembered for losing to Hacksaw Jim Dugan and Nikolai Volkoff in Summer Slam 1990.

Jin-Chi moved from Hawaii to Mempis just before starting school. The stay in Memphis was a brief one, but Jin-Chi has fond memories of the city from the late 1980's. "I'm excited to go back to Memphis, I remember it as a beatiful city with great BBQ." A few years later, the family moved to Northborough, MA. Northborough is located in central Massachusetts, just North of Westbourough but just west of Southborough (crazy Massachusettsians).

Coincidently, Northbourough's most famous resident is former Detroit Tiger pitcher, Mark "the Bird" Fidrych. The Bird, a 10th round pick, famously threw 7 no-hit innings in his major league debut, winning a 2-hitter. He would win 19 games, post a 2.34 ERA, win the rookie of the year, and finish 2nd in Cy Young voting in 1976. Fidrych's season including back-to-back 11 inning complete games. Perhaps due to the overwork, the Bird was injured in the 1977 season, attempted several comebacks, but never was a force again, retiring in 1981. He was not diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff until 1985. After going 19-9 in 29 starts in 1976, Fidrych made just 27 more starts going 10-10.

The Shores can only hope that Tanaka avoides the pitfalls that befell the last Northborough resident to burst onto the baseball scene. Tanaka has not yet signed and is represented by Ernest Norton.

HBD Olympics Update

Here is a quick update on our HBD Olympics!
I have listed the top 5 in medal contention for each statistic.
I wonder if Michael Phelps ever played baseball?

The Sultan of Second City - Dick Caruso

Congratulations to Dick Caruso, our modern day Sultan of Second City, on hitting over 500 homeruns in his career! Here is a quick look at how he compares to the Babe.





Of course the pressure of reaching 500 homeruns was intense for Caruso. He even got heckled by some opposing team's fans. His teammates stood by his side and one Richmond Confederate even got the heckler back by autographing a souvenir ball with this special message. While it is not the 500th homerun ball hit by Caruso it may be a potential souvenir for the Second City Hall of Fame.

Party like it's 499

Dick Caruso sits upon the precipice of a Second City milestone. After hitting #'s 497 and 498 in Colorado (do they really count there?), Caruso failed to go yard in a 4 game set in Houston. However, he did go 9 of 18, score 4 runs and knock in 5 for the series. Suspicious fans are already wondering if Richmond owner szasza23 told Caruso to hit 'em on the ground in Houston, setting up a monster draw for the home series against Philadelphia. Caruso loves the crowd too, pounding out #499 in the first home game.

Hardball Dynasty's

Dick Caruso

Second City commissioner jwendt has ordered that all balls used in Richmond games be marked with special invisible dye to eliminate the possibility of the wrong ball ending up in the Second City Hall of Fame, set to open next year. Treasure hunters are clamoring for tickets to the The Diamond. However, because The Diamond has no OF seating, fans are paying upwards of $300 for parking passes, then arriving at 8AM to vie for a parking spot just beyond the OF wall. Richmond police commissioner Gordon says his staff is stretched to its limit trying to police the lot and prevent a riot when Caruso gets #500.

Sixto Lezcano Winner: Lazy Berry Profile

The winner of the final preliminary bracket is Monterrey 1B/OF Lazy Berry. Berry, a 'Quista since season 3, has been quite successful as a part-time player, hitting .296 over his career. True to his name, he's too lazy to run, actually going 0-10 lifetime stealing bases, all of them pick-offs.

Lazy Berry Monterrey Conquistadors Age: 29 B/T: R/R Born: Santa Clarita, CA Position(s): 1B/LF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

So what parent in their right mind would name their child, Lazy Berry? Well, it's a complicated story. You see, Lazy's mom Caroline Staw never took her husband, Bobby Boysen's last name. So, when Lazy, their first child came along, there was some disagreement as to how he should be named. Caroline didn't like that he wouldn't share her name and Bobby also wanted his family name carried on. So, the couple compromised and agreed that their son should take what they had in common for a last name. After the protracted argument was settled, there was little time to consider a first name. Seeing as how the boy was conceived at Knott's Berry Farm in California on Bigfoot Rapids, Bobby insisted on calling him Bigfoot. Caroline hated the ride (pun intended) and insists on calling it the lazy river. Hence, Lazy was christened and we have our final finalist.

Voting in the finals will be open for several days. See the poll to your left to choose your favorite.

Incidentally, Lazy has 4 siblings, a sisters Boo and Raz, and a brothers Goose and Pomegranate. All share his last name, Berry.

Introducing the 1st HBD Olympics!

In spirit of the Olympic Summer Games, we have created our own version of which country has produced the best baseball talent in Second City. The Games will consist of tracking four major stats (homeruns, stolen bases, strikeouts, saves).
These stats were chosen because they are simply counting stats, involve different skill sets, and are largely non-team dependent. The top 3 players in each stat at the end of the Olympics (Aug 24th midnight) will be awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals. There will also be overall country medals given to the top 3 countries in total medal count.
Here are the contenders or the Top 25 in each stat as of 8-10-08.

Power Rankings - Checkpoint #1

Hello everyone,

Here is the first checkpoint of our power rankings. This is simply a combined standings table sorted by expected win percent as found in the Advanced Standings.
The Expected Win Percent is based on a formula or RS (Runs Scored) and RA (Runs Allowed). It serves as interesting take as to who maybe playing above or below their potential. The highest and lowest values in each category are colored-coded for clarity. Hope you like it. - Darren

Dick Pole Profile (no this isn't porn): Bonk Remlinger

Bonk Remlinger of Terre Hill, PA has a long and largely undistinguished HBD career. That is until now. Bonk was the runaway winner of the Dick Pole bracket, scoring 10 first place votes to double up Fonzi Becker. This places Bonk into the Final Four.

Bonk Remlinger Detroit Crimson Age: 33 B/T: R/R Born: Terre Hill, PA Position(s): P (SP4) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

So, what's the story with Bonk? He was born in tiny Terre Hill, population 1,237, a largely German, Mennonite dominated village between Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Bonk first came to fame when he played the goblin in the annual Terre Hill Haunted Trail, the best damn Mennonite haunted train in all of Pennsylvania. Bonk didn't play high school baseball due to the wishes of his Mennonite parents. But, famous Indiana-based HBD scout, Woody Boyd happened through Terre Hill. A rainy day postponed the evening contests so Woody wondered over to the Haunted Trail, having heard that it was in fact the best damn haunted trail in all of Pennsylvania. When he started to cross Goblin Bridge, Bonk threw a cursed watermelon over his the bridge, as was his job as a goblin. Woody's jaw dropped in amazement. You see, Bonk's dad (pictured to the left), donated unsold watermelon's to the Trail ever year, and they weren't small. "Bonk was throwing 10-12 lb. melons 40 and 50 yards. I knew then that the kid could throw."

But's Bonk's parents wouldn't let him sign or even play. Finally Woody convinced Bonk of his opportunity, with the help of local cashier Mabel Klopfstein (seen below). Bonk snuck out in the middle of the night, learned his craft in the amateur and minor league ranks, and went on to a truly unremarkable career, posting 23-41 record, and 4.94 career ERA in 8 different big league cities for five organizations.