Santa Cruz Snag Slugger Kelly with #1 overall choice

James Kelly Santa Cruz Larrupin Lous Age: 19 B/T: L/L Born: Clarion, IA Position(s): 1B View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The Santa Cruz Larrupin Lous nabbed slugging first baseman James Kelly in this season's amatuer player draft. Kelly, from Marshalltown, IA Community College, played just one season of college ball, but it was plenty to leave scouts in awe. The slugger is still growing, with doctors projecting him to add another 2 inches and 23 lbs over the next few years. He is complete hitter, able to hit for average and power and with a very advanced strike zone judgment for such a young hitter.

Kelly's has two downsides, both related to his build. First, he's not quick or agile and this limits him to 1B in the field. Many scouts seem him at DH over the long term. He's also slow and a bad base runner, so don't expect to see him taking many extra bases.

The Larrupin Lous have pledged to take Kelly's development slowly. He'll start the season at rookie ball.

All-Star Status

A quick look around the league at the All-Star break:

American League:

AL North - the Chicago and Vancouver are battling it out, tied atop the division. The Bartmans are slugging their way to the top, 542 runs, good for 5th in the AL, but will their shaky pitching staff hold up? And, wow, 5 games under leads the division?

AL East - The traditional power division in the AL stays true to form. All four teams have scored 500 runs. The 4th place New York would lead the North by 6, but they trail here by 8. Richmond Confederates leads and is gunning for a 9th straight playoff birth. Scranton and Baltimore will battle the South runner-up for the wild card spots.

AL South - Texas leads the division by 1 game and hopes to avoid being a bridesmaid by finishing 2nd for the 6th time in 7 years. Monterrey has started 11 different pitchers as off-the-wall pitching coach Ronald Lane continues to baffle the pundits.

AL West - San Francisco takes a 14 game lead into the break. They're 9-1 in the division and have the best pitching and defense in the AL.

National League:
NL North - Sioux Falls used red-hot streak down the stretch (including a 4-game sweep of Mexico City) to take the division lead by 3 games. Defending division champ Helena has led most of the way and continues to ride the pitching of phenom Rafael Aguilera (16-1, 1.07 ERA).

NL East - Burlington is leaving the field in the dust with a 13 game lead on the strength of a 16-8 record in 1-run games.

NL South - Mexico City holds the best record in the league and seems likely to take the #1 seed again despite losing 8 of 10 going into the break. San Juan, Memphis, and Nashville all appear likely to be in the wild card hunt all season in a brutally tough division.

NL West - The NL version of the AL North sees Las Vegas leading with a sub-.500 record. Their not-exactly-blistering pace, has kept mediocre Cheyenne and Arizona dreaming of a 2nd half run.

Other Story Lines:
The Dead Ball era? Only Antonio Chapman exceeds 30 hr's as the ball does not seem to fly like it once did. Still, the incomprable Chapman's 38 might be more impressive than his previous 80 HR outputs.

Cat Burgler? Has the league's taste for good hitting catchers started to hurt them? Bernard Lieber has stolen 74 of 76 bases. He may better his own record of 133 set in season 11.

Free AC? Benny Andrews has fanned 117 times. He's got a shot to break Carmine Barkley's record of 199 in season 11.

Stone hands Wayne Dickens is criminally playing SS. The commish may have to step in after 68 first half errors.

Cy Forever? The aforementioned Rafael Aguilera is out of his gord. He's probably already locked up the Cy Young award, but how many records might he break?

The Dandy Dozen: Carl Brooks

Carl Brooks Chicago Bartmans Age: 40 B/T: L/L Born: East Orange, NJ Position(s): P (ClA) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The Resume: The 40-year old Brooks appears timeless. He's been in the big leagues since season 1. In those 13+ seasons, he's won the Fireman of the Year award 4 times. He's made 10 All-star teams, and even won the Cy Young in Season 7 for the Chicago Gangsters, going 3-6 with 43 saves in 52 opportunities. He would throw in a career-high 79 games and 91.1 innings. Despite the workload, he finished with a 2.17 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP.

Brooks' 442 saves are the most in the history of Second City. His 734 appearances are also in the top 10.


The Rest of the Story: Brooks hails from East Orange, NJ. Twenty-two years ago, as an 18-year old, Brooks had the world on his plate. He was a 3-sport star, and pretty much had his pick of sports and fabulous careers. That's when his next-door neighbor, Dionne Warwick, predicted he'd be a professional sports star. And, she was right. At the time Warwick was a successful singer, and Brooks looked like a great athlete. But Warwick would go on to found the Psychic network, in part based on her brilliant prediction. Two decades and millions later, nobody remembered that she predicted Brooks would be a star quarterback, not the most the successful closer in Second City History.

The Dandy Dozen: Banjo White

Banjo White Helena Hound Dogs Age: 35 B/T: R/R Born: East Granby, CT Position(s): 1B/LF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The Resume: Banjo White has hit more home runs than any player in Second City history. That's really all the resume you need, but I'll fill out anyways.

Banjo actually spent the world's first 2 seasons in the minors, hitting 119 HRs and driving in 411 runs at AA and AAA. He burst onto the scene for the Houston Heavy Hitters in season 3, winning the Rookie of the Year Award while hitting .287 with 42 HRs, 140 RBI, drawing more walks (73) than K's (70). He stole 19 bases for good measure.

White would spend almost his entire career with the Houston franchise, where he holds career records for games played (1608), Hits (1857), HRs (613), intentional walks (158, 3X the next highest total), runs (1504), RBI (1670), slugging % (.670), and walks (756). In addition to leading the world in career HRs (618), he ranks 4th in RBI with 1670, and 3rd in OPS (1.046).

White won the AL MVP in seasons 5, 6, and 7. During the MVP run, he AVERAGED 72 HRs, 184 RBI, 163 R, while hitting .312. He was an All-Star in seasons 4, 6, 8, and 10. White also won 2 minor league MVPs, Season 2 @ AA and Season 3 @ AAA.

The Rest of the Story: Banjo is actually named for his great-grandfather, Billy Whitlock, a famous blackface performer in the middle 1800's. Whitlock (who's grandson shortented the surname to White), was known as the King of Banjo players and starred in a series of acts that has since been derided as offensive due to it's racially insensitive content. Banjo, however, has remained true to his name, and never goes on a road trip without his trusty 5-string banjo. In fact, Helena manager Luis Pinero briefly clashed with White during spring training and jested to the media that White spent more time "strumming that banjo than taking batting practice." White, playing his first season outside of Houston, shrugged off the comment saying, "When Luis hits HIS 600th HR, he can talk to me about batting practice, until then, let the music play."

NKOTB Part 3: St. Louis Budweisers

St. Louis Budweisers (AL) nesman View Hardball Dynasty Profile

History: Each of the last two owners have run the franchise for a team record 3 seasons. Needless to say, it's a well-traveled team. Sadly, all the travels have led to only 1 playoff appearance, in season 9. Cities that this team has called home: Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Detroit, Cincinnati again (2 more owners), and Tacoma.

What Happened? The AL just doesn't know what to make of itself. At one point, most of the division was in the Pacific Northwest (Tacoma, Vancouver, Ottawa - ok Ottawa's not really in the Pacific northwest, but nobody actually knows that). When the Kansas City franchise bolted for Chicago, the Tacoma team just couldn't resist having the whole state of Missouri to itself. Moreover, team owner nesman needed a marketing twist for his little known beer.

The Name: Well, seems pretty straight-forward. St. Louis is the home to Anheuser Busch, makers of Budweiser. Surprisingly, the name is a marketing campaign for a band. New York-based Less Nessman cashed in big-time when their single Fill the Faith, was accidently listed as a Faith Hill song. The resulting windfall profits had to be invested immediately before the country singer filed a lawsuit.

So, NESSMAN bought the franchise, moved it to St. Louis and named it the Budweisers, the only thing he knew about St. Louis. Rumors persist that the naming rights deal with Anheuser Busch is a done deal, being kept under wraps due to possible litigation. The team declined to comment, though a hung-over team Spokeman - pictured to the right - did say "ERRRRRRRRRRRR"

The Dandy Dozen: Winston Powell

Winston Powell none none Age: 39 B/T: L/L Born: Ashland, MA Position(s): 1B/LF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The Resume:
Winston Powell played his entire 12-season career for the Sioux Falls Dakota. He posted a career .325 average with 253 HRs, 1317 Runs, and 1094 RBI. His career OBP of .449 is 2nd all-time and his 1225 career base on balls are the most in league history. Only in his final two seasons did his OBP fall below .400 and his batting average below .300.

Powell made the All-Star team 6 times, was named RF Silver Slugger in 8 of his first 9 seasons, and won the NL MVP in season 6. During season 6 he would hit .372, with 44 HRs and 140 RBI while score 153 runs and walking 119 times and striking out just 27 times. His .488 OBP during the season is still the Second City single-season record. Perhaps his most amazing skill was his ability to put the ball in play. Powell holds 4 of the top 5 spots on a list of fewest strike outs for a hitter with 502 or more plate appearances in league history.

He made the playoffs in every season of his career (and won 2 titles), hitting .329 with 14 HR and 58 RBI in 395 ABs. He walked an unbelievable 79 times in the playoffs leading to a .454 OBP.

He recently retired as has joined the Dakota's minor league coaching staff.

The Rest of the Story:
Powell's grandfather was 1st Baron Robert Baden-Powell, a lieutenant-general in the British Army around the turn of the century. He is best known as the founder of the International Scouting movement, publishing a book, Scouting for Boys, in 1908.

All of his direct decedents have become accomplished scouts. He was prouder of none than young Winston, his youngest grandchild, whom was named after another famous Brit, Winston Churchill. Young Winston however had his name-sake's tempermant more than a love for his bloods passion. He would eschew the scouts, and instead spend every waking moment playing baseball as a boy in Massachusetts. By the time Winston was drafted, he was barely speaking to his famous grandfather, who though baseball a waste of time, and "far less civilized than cricket."

NKOTB Part 2: The Chicago Bartmans

Chicago Bartmans (AL) jwynkoop2424 View Hardball Dynasty Profile

History: The franchise opened on high note, winning the first 3 AL North titles as the Detroit Diesels. Then, a string of 5 owners, 5 cities (Buffalo, Chicago, Montreal, back to Detroit, and finally Kansas City), contributed to the team missing the playoffs for 8 consecutive years. dsmb and Kansas City brought some stability to the franchise, yielding division titles in each of the last 2 seasons. Now jywynkoop returns the team to Chicago.


What Happened? Former owner dsmb made his money in the music business, specifically in blues (hence the former franchise name). However, rough times, and a nasty BBQ habit put dsmb in some financial trouble. Despite its winning ways, the team was soon in receivership. In swooped Miami financier jwynkoop, who made his fortune with an internet trading scheme, to take on the team. After a complicated transaction that saw the new owner use vagaries of the tax law to purchase the team as a partnership in a new corporation, thus avoiding millions in imaginary income taxes, the team was made, and the franchise moved north, to the South Side of Chicago.


The Name: Despite his Miami digs, the new owner is a loyal White Sox fan. What better way to stick it to the Cubs than to name a franchise over the fan who much of the Cub Nation blames for the teams' unimaginable collapse in the 2003 playoffs. If Cub fans knew anything about baseball, they'd be blaming Moises Alou for peeing on his hands or Alex Gonzalez for booting a double play ball. Instead, they blame, and now the Chicago franchise promotes, this poor, 1982 headphone-wearing superfan.

NKOTB Part 1: Los Angeles Dream Killers

Los Angeles Dream Killers (NL) powball View Hardball Dynasty Profile

History: The Los Angeles franchise has remarkably only had two owners in its history. After starting out as the LA Banditos, the team stayed in LA but took on the Outlaws moniker. PirateFan would later move the team to Fresno in a deal that would make Al Davis proud.

Despite the consistent ownership, the franchise has never prospered. Nine 4th place finishes in thirteen seasons and just 1 playoff appearance have led to a jaded fanbase. Last year's free swinging lineup featured 7 players with 100+ strikeouts and another that managed 98 in just 487 ABs. While only 6 pitchers started games, none would sport a record over .500.

What Happened: With the city of Fresno renegging on its sweetheart tax incentives, PirateFan put the team up for sale in a distressed market. Who better to snap up the franchise than recent winner of the Power Ball, Powball. After winning a $400 million jackpot, the formerly quiet, shy actuary became a flashy, media darling. He moved to LA and set up his own studio - Dream Killers, which plans to make its mark by giving unknown actors and actresses their shot in big-budget films and TV series.

The Name: The Dream Killers are, of course, named for Powball's LA-based studio. In fact, the first season of the Dream Killers will be the topic of the studio's first reality series, Hard Balls, the story of the LA Dream Killers. The show will follow the team and it's players from spring training and through the season. HBO has agreed to pilot the show and promoters are promising at least brief nudity in each episode. "It's really a tribute to our favorite fictional sports TV show, First and Ten. We'll find a way to get some boobs in pretty much every show, whether it makes sense or not." Hold on NL West, this division just got a little more glamorous. Producers can't wait for the Dream Killers first trip to Las Vegas just after the All-Star Break.

The Dandy Dozen: Del Gil

Del Gil none none Age: 37 B/T: L/R Born: Boca Chica, DO Position(s): RF/CIF/LF View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The Resume: Del Gil won the NL Rookie of the Year award in Season 2, hitting .300 with a then record 70 HRs and 165 RBI for the Norfolk Admirals. Del would move with the team to Charlotte and Harrisburg before being dealt to the Mexico City Bandejos prior to season 7. In return, the franchise got SS Pablo Guerrero who would play just one season of excellent defense in Washington before departing via free agency, RP Bobby Joe Tollberg who struggled in 2 seasons as the closer before being traded again, and P Pete O'Brien who would put in just one season for DC.

Gil, however, would go on to hit 273 HR's for Mexico City before wrapping up his career in Arizona and Sioux Falls. His career major league totals include 598 HRs (3rd all-time)and 1468 RBI (top 10 all-time). Gil won MVPs in Season 7 (.323, 73 HR, 204 RBI) and Season 10 (.304, 50 HR, 138 RBI), both with Mexico City. He was named silver slugger 3 times at 3B and twice in RF, but made the all-star team just 4 times. He also won the HR Derby in Season 10.

Gil holds the Tampa Bay franchise record for HR (273) and is 3rd in team history with 661 RBI. He's also 3rd in Mexico City history with 271 HR and 677 RBI. He owns single season records for HR (Mexico City 73 and Tampa Bay 70) and RBI (Mexico City 204 and Tampa Bay 2nd with 165).

The Rest of the Story:
Gil desperately wants another chance this season to get his 600th HR which would tie him with long-time rival, Dick Caruso, who retired. Only Banjo White has more HR in 2nd City history (613).

However, Gil hasn't always left on good terms (http://hbd2ndcity.blogspot.com/2009/04/legends-on-move.htm) and he may not get the opportunity to hit # 600. He and Caruso, a former teammate in Charlotte, often spar in the press. In fact, agents for both men refuse to sign autograph deals with any collectors show without getting assurances that the other will not also be appearing. Caruso remains upset that Gil's name is the only one besides his on the
Tampa Bay single season HR listing. And, neither man will concede that other's 70 HR season was better, or even as good as, his own.

So, the two remain Grumpy old men, and Gil begs for a chance to play somewhere, anywhere in the major leagues to get #600, or even better, #601. (picture to the right reflects artist rendition of Caruso and Gil in 20 years)

The Dandy Dozen: Bart Carlyle

Bart Carlyle Cheyenne Seminoles Age: 38 B/T: R/R Born: East Grand Rapids, MI Position(s): C/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The Resume: Bart Carlyle has spent his entire career with the Cheyenne Seminoles. The 38-year old continues to be the everyday catcher, playing in 139 games this season. He has been an All-star 8 times, trailing only 3 players. He's won the silver slugger at catcher 3 times; and he's won the gold glove 3 times. He actually won both silver and gold in seasons 6 and 7.

Carlyle holds Seminoles team records for games played (1556), hits (1782), batting average (.327), home runs (348), RBI (1189), triples (69), and walks (661). He's gunned down a league record 417 attempted base stealers (33.5%).

In 9 post season appearances, Carlyle has hit .310 in 216 ABs, with 9 HR and 32 RBI. He's done his finest post season work over the past 4 years, where he's hitting a combined .458. The face of the Seminole franchise is reportedly contemplating retirement as he finishes his 15th major league season at age 38.

The Rest of the Story: Bart Carlyle hails from East Grand Rapids, MI, home to former President, Gerald Ford. Carlyle shares something with Ford, a penchant for clumsiness. He's best known in baseball circles for falling into the stands trying to catch an Alex Shibata foul ball in the Season 9 NLCS (pictured to the left). Carlyle became so entangled in the decorative bunting, that the game had to be delayed 15 minutes while he was unfurled.

But, to his teammates, his best stories of clumsiness have occurred on the golf course. Carlyle, a 4-handicapper, plays regularly with fellow East Grand Rapidser, Tom Lehman. Lehman describes Carlyle as an excellent driver of the golf ball, but not of the golf cart. While playing with Carlyle in the annual Cheyenne team scramble, Bart actually fell out of the cart WHILE DRIVING IT. Lehman, the passenger, was laughing so hard that he jumped out of the cart and was rolling on the ground himself. That is, until he realized that the cart was traveling uphill. While Carlyle wallowed on the ground in a re-make of the bunting incident, the cart stopped, and then started to roll back right at him. Only Lehman's quick action to stop the cart kept Carlyle from being run down by his own cart. Team officials have since forbidden Carlyle from driving the cart during team outings.

One for the Ages

Three of the four opening games went to extra innings, but one certainly stood out.

The Monterrey Conquistadors and Kansas City Blues staged one for the ages in game 1 of their AL Division Series. Among the stunning totals from the game are: 14 innings, 32 runs, 46 hits, 15 walks, 7 home runs, and 517 pitches.

The instant classic started with a twist as the Conquistadors starter, Rich Harris faced only two hitters before leaving in a planned move. An Andruw Leach HR gave the host Blues a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 3rd. The 'Quistas answered with a run of their own in the 4th to make it 2-1. William Miyakazi sparked a 'Quista rally in the 5th knocking in 2 with an RBI triple and later scoring; Monterrey leads 4-2 in the middle of the 5th.

The bats for both sides got going with a 2-run HR for KC (Blake) in the 5th. Monterrey answered with 2 more runs in the top of the 6th to make it 6-4. All was quiet until the bottom of the 7th when KC tied the game up on a bases loaded walk to Rivera. Monterrey stormed back with 6 runs in the top of the 8th, effectively icing the game and sending thousands of Kansas City schoolchildren to bed angry. But the Blues didn't fold, getting back 2 in the 8th on Tony Baez double, one of his 5 hits on the day. Baez wouldn't stay a hero for long though. Kansas City's furious 9th inning rally, saw them tie the game on an RBI double, leaving the winning run on 3rd with nobody. But Andruw Leach fanned and Baez weak grounder could score the run. Another strike out and we were on to extra innings, tied at 12.

After 3 scoreless frames, William Miyakazi hitting a 3-run HR. Livan Pascual couldn't make it stand though as HR's by Ewell Corey and Al Matthews knotted the game at 15. After Monterrey failed to capitalize on a Baez error in the top of the 14th, KC came to bat again. Justin Blake reached on a single but was gunned down by D. Cheng, the 'Quistas backup catcher. Max Molina relieved Pascual after the 2nd out, but he walked Rivera, bringing the dangerous Corey back to the plate. For the 2nd time in as many innings, the game hung in the balance with Corey at the plate. The 33-year old who had never hit a playoff HR prior to the 13th inning, lit into a 2-1 fastball and sent it soaring into CF. CF Miyakazi thought he had a bead on the ball but his leap came up just short and Corey had a walk-off HR to go with his game-saving 3-run shot an inning earlier.

JUDGEMENT DAY

Well, it's here. For the first time in Second City History (I think - too lazy to look), all 4 wild-card series are headed to game 5. A brief re-cap of how we got there.

Baltimore jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the road, bombing 2 Fightin Friar starters including Chico Molina (gm 1 8-3, gm 2 18-1). By the Friars came back on the road behind 8 innings of one-hit ball from Dude Wheeler in Game 3 and a 4-HR attack in Game 4. The road team in 4-0 in this series, which returns to SF for it's thrilling conclusion.

Scranton got 3 in the 9th on a Joe Clarke HR and stranded the potential tie run at 3B in Game 1 against Monterrey. 3 of the first 4 hitters homered in the 2nd as Monterrey cruised to a game 2 win over Neil Henderson. Game 3 dragged on for a grueling 13 innings with only 3 extra inning base runners until Jorge Torres got his first hit of the night, a 2-run, walk-off HR allowed by the creatively named Brad Bradley. Game 4 saw Monterrey escape elimination in a thrilling come-from-behind win with PR Andrew Boyd just beating a throw home to score the go-ahead run on PH Tito Kwon's double. Kudos to manager Brandon Taylor for those two substitutions.

In the NL, San Juan peppered Cheyenne with 19 hits to win gm 1 8-4. Then backup C Willard Hitchcock homered 3 times to secure 7-5 victory in game 2. But, Cheyenne battled back at home winning game 3 8-7 with the despite the potential tie run reaching first with nobody out in the 9th. Game 4 was a Seminole game all the way with Gergie Regan and Adam Henry combing to allow just 1 run on 8 hits.

Perhaps the wildest series has been between Helena and Sioux Falls. The exhausted Dakota sent 36-year old Bartolo Gonzalez to the mind in Game 1 and he rewarded them with shut out innings in a 5-0 win over 3-time Cy Young Rafael Aguilera. The Dakota took a 4-3 lead to the bottom of the 9th in Helena in game 2 before D'Angelo Castillo's 2-run, walkoff HR. Sioux Falls trailed 5-1 in game 3 before a furious comeback, topped off by a 4-run 8th to win 5-4. CF Alex Bennett made consecutive errors in the 9th to bring the tie run to the plate before Victor Chavez redeemed himself by escaping the jam (he had blown game 2). Game 4 once again saw Aguilera on the hill, but he left with the Dakota leading 4-3. However, back-to-back HR's in the 8th and a 3-run 9th salted away the win for the Hound Dogs. Sioux Falls ace, Paul Rhodes takes the hill for the first time in a win-or-go-home game 5 in Helena.

Playoff Preview Season 13

Well, an exciting finish to the regular season saw Mexico City sweep San Juan amidst calls for better insurance to secure a bye and the #2 seed in the NL. Meanwhile, Las Vegas, Helena, Sioux Falls, and Cheyenne all won must-win 162nd games. This completed 6 game streaks to finish the season for both Cheyenne and Sioux Falls. The upshot was that Las Vegas was eliminated on a tie-breaker yielding these first round matchups.

Odds are to win league pennant, all rankings are within league unless otherwise noted.

American League
#6 Scranton Nittany Lions 10-1
Record: 95-67 (AL 2nd wild card)
Offense: 8th: 962 R, .265 Ave (2nd fewest SB)
Defense: 8th: 868 R, 4.89 ERA (244 HR allowed worst of AL playoff teams)
History: 5th consecutive and 6th overall appearance, best finish: WS loser in Season 11
vs.
#3 Monterrey Conquistadors 12-1
Record: 97-65 (winner AL South)
Offense: 7th: 963 R, .295 Ave (.364 OBP trails only KC)
Defense: 6th: 841 R, 4.77 ERA (tandem rotation rocks conventional wisdom)
History: 12th appearance, 9th division title, best finish, WS loser in Season 6

Outlook: Monterrey's tandem rotation meets surprising entrant, with 8th ranked O & D. WCM PICK: Monterrey
-----------
bye
#2 Kansas City Blues 5-2
Record: 102-60 (winner AL North)
Offense: 2nd: 1056 R, .305 Ave (207 HR fewest of playoff teams)
Defense: 3rd: 800 R, 4.56 ERA (.422 Slg allowed & 1123 K's best in AL)
History: 2nd consecutive division title (5 overall), 6 total appearances, best finish: lost ALCS season 11
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#5 Baltimore Dead Homies 8-1
Record: 99-63 (AL 1st wild card)
Offense: 6th: 986 R, .282 BA (219 SB 2nd in AL)
Defense: 4th: 820 R, 4.59 ERA (20 Blown Saves worst among AL playoff teams)
History: 5th consecutive wild card, 10th overall appearance, best finish: WS loser, seasons 2 and 12
vs.
#4 San Francisco Fightin Friars 3-1
Record: 94-68 (winner AL West)
Offense: 5th: 991 R, .293 Ave (hardest AL team to K - 904)
Defense: 1st: 771 R, 4.40 ERA (fewest HR all)
History: 2nd consecutive division title, 2nd appearance, best finish, lost in ALCS Season 12

Outlook: San Fran's excellent pitching and defense meet the speed of Baltimore WCM Pick - Baltimore
----------
bye
#1 Richmond Confederates 3-1
Record: 107-55 (winner AL East)
Offense: 3rd, 1050 R, 2.83 Ave (337 HR lead league)
Defense: 2nd, 774 R, 4.44 ERA (53-64 SV, tops in AL)
History: 5th division title, 8th consecutive appearance (8 overall), best finish: WS Champs season 9
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National League
#6 Sioux Falls Dakota (15-1)
Record: 89-73 NL 2nd wild card by virtue of tie-breaker over Las Vegas
Offense: 3rd: 831 R, .263 Ave (129 SB 2nd among NL playoff teams)
Defense: 11th: 751 R, 4.30 ERA (219 HR allowed 3rd worst in NL)
History: 1st wild card after 12 consecutive division titles, best finish: WS Champs in Season 7 and 10
vs.
#3 Helena Hound Dogs 9-1
Record: 90-72 Winner NL North
Offense: 11th: 735 R, .265 Ave (193 HRs last among playoff teams, and better only than Pittsburgh)
Defense: 5th: 673 R, 3.73 ERA (172 HR allowed, best in NL)
History: 1st division title, 4th playoff appearance, best finish: never won a division series

Outlook: Exhausted Dakota rotation takes on best pitcher in the game in Aguilera. WCM PICK - Helena
----------
Bye
#2 Mexico City Bandejos 2-1
Record: 95-67 Winner NL South
Offense: 1st: 869 R, .275 Ave (255 HRs 18 better than any other in NL)
Defense: 2nd: 654 R, 3.68 ERA (.240 OAV tops in NL)
History: 7th straight division title, 10th straight appearance, 10 overall appearances, best finish: WS Champs seasons 4, 5, 6, and 11
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#5 San Juan Crownrificos 5-1
Record: 94-68 1st NL Wild Card
Offense: 12th: 714 R, .257 Ave (25 SB half the next worst team in NL)
Defense: 3rd: 657 R, 3.69 ERA (1184 K's led NL)
History: 11th appearance (6 division titles, 5 wild cards), best finish: WS Champs SEason 1, 2, and 8
vs.
#4 Cheyenne Seminoles 5-1
Record: 90-72 Winner NL West
Offense: 10th: 750 R, .259 Ave (202 SB, 2nd in NL and tops in playoffs)
Defense: 1st: 638 R, 3.63 ERA (172 HR, 452 BB, .383 SLG all led NL)
History: 5th consecutive division title, 6th straight appearance (9 overall), best finish: Lost NLCS seasons 1 and 9

outlook: battle of bad hitting/great pitching teams comes down to the little things, injuries undermine experienced Crownrificos WCM PICK - Cheyenne
----------
Bye
#1 Burlington Bulldogs 3-1
Record: 98-64 Winner NL East (first non-NL South team with #1 seed in NL)
Offense: 8th: 776 R, .250 Ave (only Pawtucket had worse BA)
Defense: 4th: 666 R, 3.73 ERA (56 SV led NL)
History: 7th straight division title, 7 overall appearances, best finish: WS Champs Season 12

Hoffman's Injury Leads to Better Insurance for 'Rificos

Billy Hoffman San Juan Crownrificos Age: 29 B/T: L/L Born: Fort Worth, TX Position(s): P (P) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

San Juan owner wang35 remains distraught over the career and life-threatening condition of ace hurler Billy Hoffman. Hoffman, who was rushed to the Auxilio Mutuo Hospital in San Juan after experiencing numbness in his arm during a game in Pawtuckett. Hoffman probably should have been hospitalized in Pawtuckett, but he was denied service when bullpen coach Enrique Matos spoke in animated Spanish when a nurse asked for Hoffman's insurance information. Crownrifico insiders continue to whisper that the bargain-basement plan paid for by the team owner may have put Hoffman at risk since the Pawtuckett medical system is "out-of-network."

Team owner wang35 has been terribly distraught ever since the incident. Wang first learned of the injury when reached on a beach vacation. Upon learning that Hoffman, the 1st round pick of the Chicago Hog Butchers in season 2, faced a life-threatening condition, Wang lost all love for his vacation, completely falling apart. He immediately tanked the "bags" game he was in and wasn't the same for the rest of the weekend. Even a less-than-successful run at the Pai Gow table was not enough to right the dizzied Wang.

He has since set up a charitable organization to treat circulatory disorders in Puerto Rico. He's also allowed Hoffman to use his private jet to see the best experts in the field. Surgery was performed by the same doctors that treated David Cone in New York when he suffered a similar injury. Cone returned from the injury in 1997 and would make the all-star team in 2 of the next 3 years, finishing 4th in the Cy Young voting in 1998.

Hoffman debuted in the bigs in Season 5 and has a career record of 86-62 with 4.00 ERA. He's never made the all-star team in the big leagues

Showdown Series Wrap Up

Four huge series with pennant implication wrapped up this AM. Here's what went down.

Las Vegas swept the Cheyenne Seminoles bringing them to within a game of the NW West Lead. Moose Gates was stellar for 5 innings in Game 1 before allowing a crucial 3-run shot in the 6th to Livan Suarez. Game two saw the Double Downs overcome a 4-2 deficit to win 7-4. A 5-run 4th inning propelled the DD's to the sweep in Game 3.

Mexico City took 2 of 3 from Memphis propelled by 8 shutout inning by Brian Jung in the middle game.

The floundering San Juan Crownrificos righted the ship taking 2 of 3 from Nashville including a thrilling 4-run 9th to force extra innings in Game 1. The 'Rificos won on a bloop single in the 11th by Wil Curtis. Willard Hitchcock powered them to a win in the rubber game with a 3-run homer.

Finally, the Helena Hound Dogs swept the lifeless Sioux Falls Dakota. The Dakota could not find a clutch hit leaving 5 in scoring position in 3-0 loss to Matt Martin in game. Despite getting to ace Rafael Aguilera for 4 runs in game 2, the Dakota staff couldn't hold and 4 more were left in scoring position. Game 4 was more of the same as 5 hit day from D'Angelo Castillo paced a 17-hit attack that propelled the Hound Dogs to the sweep.

The race looks like this right now (1 game later):
NL North - Helena leads Sioux Falls by 2 games
NL East - Burlington has clinched and will get a bye (still fighting for #1 seed)
NL South winner will get the other bye. San Juan leads Mexico City by 1 with Nashville 7 back and Memphis 10 back with 13 to play.
The NL West lead is back to 2 for Cheyenne after Vegas couldn't build on the sweep.

Hutch Making run @ .400

Steven Hutch Colorado Mountain Oysters Age: 30 B/T: S/R Born: Jackson, NJ Position(s): RF View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Steven Hutch, playing in his 9th season for the Colorado Mountain Oysters is having his best year. Hutch, who will be eligible for free agency this off-season, is currently hitting exactly .400 (229/572). He also has 40 HRs, 152 RBI, and 38 SBs. The career .342 is making a run at becoming only the 2nd .400 hitter in Second City history. Max Lima of the San Juan Crownrificos hit .400 in the inaugural season, by all accounts, a hitter-friendly year. Lima also holds the single season hits record from that year with 242 (since tied by Antonio Chapman. Hutch would need to average about 1 hit per game the rest of the way to break that mark.

An incredible 7 of the top 15 batting averages among qualifying players come from the Colorado Mountain Oysters. Yet, Colorado needs a miracle finish to reach the playoffs, currently sitting 7 games out of their division and 7 games out of the wild-card.

The Dandy Dozen: Tony Baez

Tony Baez Kansas City Blues Age: 31 B/T: R/R Born: Calabozo, VE Position(s): 3B/1B/2B/OF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The Resume:
Tony Baez was signed to the largest international free agent contract of season 1. His $13 million bonus remained the 2nd city record until Alex Shibata signed for $14.9 million in season 3. Baez spent just 78 games in minors, debuting that same season with the Salem Grand Salamies. He spent his first 12 seasons with Salem before a trade to Kansas City prior to this season.

Baez appeared in the playoffs an amazing 11 consecutive years, missing for the first time in Season 12. In that time, he is 2nd all time in stolen bases (700) and runs scored (1639) and fourth all time in SB% (732/787) and 5th in hit by pitches (115). Baez's best year was season 6 when he hit .368 with 39 HR's, 145 RBI (all career highs) to go with 43 SB in 45 attempts and 146 runs scored. Baez has made the All-Star team 8 times (only Dick Caruso and Car Brooks have made more), and won 7 silver sluggers (3 in LF, 4 at 2B).

Baez has appeared in 93 post-season games, amassing a .319 career batting average with 15 HRs and 48 SBs in 272 at bats. Baez has made 4 trips to the World Series, winning once (season 3). In those 4 post-seasons, Baez has been at his best, collecting 70 hits in 206 at bats (.340) while clubbing 12 HR's, scoring 65 runs, and stealing 27 of 28 bases. In season 8, he stole 15 bases in the post season without being caught and in season 3 he hit .344 with 5 HR's in 61 AB in leading the Salamies to the title.

The Rest of The Story:
Baez's aunt, Joan Baez is a well-known folk singer. She's been linked to Bob Dylan, and has long supported human rights, the environment, and other causes through non-violent protest.

Tony, however, followed his father's political beliefs and is known around the league as a staunch conservative. Baez is no longer allowed in Venezuela after a publicized spat with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. Chavez recently visited Libya to celebrate Moammar Khadafy's 40th year in power. Baez pledged never to play for the Venezuelan national team again, and drives a Chevy Volt, just to ensure that none of his wealth makes into Chavez bank account.


But the real heart of the argument stems back to Chavez' shots at Baez' beloved 2nd sport of golf. When Chavez threatened the Caracas Country Club, Baez took a stand, publicly defying the president for the first time. Their war of words has left bad blood on both sides, leading directly to the revocation of Baez citizenship. The U.S. is said to be considering making Baez a citizen in retaliation.

NL Silliness

The NL playoff picture must have been taken with one of those cameras like Fred Flintstone used because it is BLURRY. Three of four divisions are currently within 3 games. Seven teams are within 3 games of a wild card spot. And there are only 27 games remaining.

In order of probability, you're contendors.

LOCKS
1. Burlington leads the NL East by 13 games and couldn't miss the playoffs if they tried. This will be a 7th straight division title for the defending WS champs. Burlington has the 3rd best pitching/D in the league and the 5th best offense.

2. San Juan has just a 3 game lead over Mexico City in the NL South, they're 7 ahead losing the wildcard. An arm injury has taken out staff ace Billy Hoffman causing a recent slide. Still, their 31-16 record in 1-run games makes them a dangerous, gritty team.

Looking Good
1. Mexico City leads the wild card race and trails San Juan by just 3 games. They've won 8 of 10 and have 10 games remaining against non-playoff contenders.

Leaders at the top of the Stretch
1. Sioux Falls holds just a 3 game lead in the division, and would be 1 up on the 2nd wild card spot. The recent loss of Mac Stevens raises a specter of doubt about a 13-th consecutive division title. The Dakota host Helena in a huge 3-game series starting 9/22.

2. Cheyenne leads the NL West by 2 games over arch rival Las Vegas. They've lost 10 of 14 extra inning games, but are the stingiest staff around. The Seminoles face perennial doormat Pawtucket for the next 7. They must travel to Sin City 3 starting 9/22 however.

3. Nashville is chasing its 4th wild card birth (they've never won the division), but face a brutal 17-game road trip that includes stops in San Juan (80-55), Toledo (65-70), Arizona (66-69), and Mexico City (77-58). They own the worst run differential of teams currently set to reach the playoffs (+53).

The Chase Group
1. Memphis has the poor luck of playing in the deepest division in Second City. They sit just 1 game out of the wild card. Creative management has started 11 different pitchers. The schedule is not kind as they face just 1 sub-.500 team the rest of the way.

2. Las Vegas has been to the playoffs 10 times in 12 seasons, but an impossibly bad 12-22 record in 1-run games reveals a team that hasn't come through in the clutch. They face potential rivals Cheyenne and Sioux Falls at home so a hot finish could find them with an 11th birth.

3. Helena is 3 out of the division and 2 out of the wild card. Three-time defending Cy Young Rafael Aguilera has struggled (by his standards). Helena plays their last 10 and 13 of their last 17 on the road. Of the contenders, only San Juan and Cheyenne have scored fewer runs.

4. Augusta faces a tall order. Of all the teams in the race, they're the only 1 without any shot at a division title. Augusta would have to make up 3 games and leap 4 teams to earn a wild card berth. They have 16 road games remaining, but they're strangely 15 games over .500 on the road and 10 under at home.

The Pretenders
1. Toledo is 9 games out of the North and 8 games out of the wild card. Not looking good.

2. Arizona is 7 games out in the West and 7 games out of the wild card. They face only 1 team under .500 the rest of the way so, no matter what, they will impact this race.

Playoff Position

Well as the season approaches the home stretch there is very little drama left in the AL and gobs of drama in the NL.

Let's start with the boring part. Kansas City is a lock to win the AL North. Monterrey is a heavy favorite to win the AL South. In the AL West, San Francisco holds a 3 game lead over Colorado. Colorado is also 3 games out of the wild card, where Scranton holds the final spot.
(Richmond leads Baltimore by 4 games in the AL East with the runner-up a veritable shoe-in for the wild-card. That means only 1 spot remains up for grabs with Scranton battling the AL West runner-up for the last spot.

Scranton has 7 games remaining with SF (3 road, 4 home), but does not meet Colorado again. Colorado and San Francisco meet by the bay for a 3 game set in the next-to-last series of the season.

Sosa bids for Perfect Game

Hector Sosa Burlington Bulldogs Age: 22 B/T: S/R Born: Tacubaya, MX Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Burlington pitcher Hector Sosa tossed a gem last night against the Sioux Falls Dakota. Sosa struck out 13 in a dominating performance. The drama grew all night, and even the Sioux Falls fans were on their feet to start the 9th. Sosa had retired the first 24 in order. He stuck out Alex Bennett and Geronimo Guerrero to open the 9th, leaving him 1 out away from a perfect game. That left only pinch hitter and Hall of Famer, Rich Clarke. The 22-year old Sosa was pushing 115 pitches when he lost Clarke to a sinker in the dirt on a 3-2 count, losing his perfect game with a walk.

That flipped the order to leadoff man Derrick Quinn. Quinn jumped on the first pitch, ripping a double off the left-field wall, scoring Clarke, breaking up the no-hitter, perfect game, and shutout at the same time. Sosa finished off the complete game by striking out Haywood Lidle for the 4th time.

Link to Box score

#1 overall pick Abraham Young

Abraham Young Salt Lake City Salty Sardines Age: 18 B/T: L/L Born: Bryan, TX Position(s): CF View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The Salt Lake City Sardines drafted Abraham Young #1 overall in the Season 13 Draft. Young, 5-tool CF from Bryan, TX, signed for $6.2M and immediately reported to Salt Lake's Rookie league team in Natchez, AZ.

The Background:
Young grew up in Bryan, TX, a city of 65,000 that shares a border with College Station, home of Texas A&M University. Young was raised almost from birth by his foster parents. His foster father, Kevin Skinner, works for Sanderson Farms, one of the largest local employers. Sanderson Farms processes 8.125 MILLION chickens a week at its plants in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. All those chickens require a lot of catching. Skinner is Sanderson's most talented (and now, thanks to America's Got Talent, best known) chicken catcher.

Growing up around a legendary chicken catching father taught Young a few things. "I learned you've got to be lightning quick with your feet and hands. Also, I learned that chicken poop is slippery."

One thing he didn't learn, was book smarts. Young, who's been clocked as low as 4.34 in the 40-yard dash, has never excelled in the classroom. With the Aggies of Texas A&M were pursuing him as a football player, he never really came that close to going. "One of the coaches told me I'd have to pass this SAT test. Shoot, I didn't even know how to spell that." And so, Young took $6.2M and is off on a career in baseball.

The Scouting Report:
Young profiles as super-fast and quite powerful. However, many scouts wonder if his academic difficulties aren't translating onto the playing field. One scout remarked, "give that kid a fastball and he'll put it into the seats. But if he doesn't, look out, because he may not stop running the bases until you tag him out. And you're likely to tag him out because HE REFUSES TO STOP." Another scout told WCM off the record that Young's mental lapses often cause him to forget to use his glove hand when catching fly balls, which leads to an abnormal number of errors.

Still, the talent is there. This kid has hand-eye coordination that's rarely been seen, almost never swinging and missing. He hits the ball hard, and can go get it in the OF, though you're never sure what he'll do with it when he does get it.