NKOtB Part Two: Salt Lake City Salty Sardines

HISTORY: Orabbi is the 7th owner is 12 years for this well-traveled franchise. The last three owners have been one-and-done so let's hope a long-term solution is in place. The team has never made the playoffs enabling it to pick in the top 10 seven times in 11 amateur drafts. Season 10 #2 overall pick Pete Miller is being groomed patiently however and provides hope for the future.

As you may recall, previous owner bigking actually founded the former Wichita franchise before mr_orange muscled his way in and moved the team to Baltimore (http://hbd2ndcity.blogspot.com/2009/01/nkotb-part-two-sacramento-shockers.html). After mr_orange was acquitted of a RICO charge in the matter, bigking left the witness protection program and acquired this franchise, moving it to Sacramento. Following last season, bigking mysteriously disappeared. mr_orange once again denies any foul play.

In any event, the team entered receivership. That's when sardine magnet orabbi stepped in to take ownership.

OUTLOOK: Orabbi has decided that the team needs a re-building and he couldn't be more right. Several top veterans have been moved and a youth movement is surely at hand. Orabbi recently traded Livan Suarez to Las Vegas, breaking up the fabulous Suarez brothers. Expect a slow crawl back to contention as the youth movement is given time to succeed.

NAME: Orabbi made his fortune selling "sardines" to locals. His secret recipe has no peer, but theories abound. Orabbi reportedly produces the sardines from brine shrimp native to Great Salt Lake. However, various local reports say that his shrimp come only from the pink waters of Gunnison Bay, the saltiest portion of the lake. Gunnison Bay is saltier due to the 1904 construction of the Lucin Cutoff, a rail bridge across the lake. Orabbi's great-great grandfather allegedly discovered that extra-salty shrimp from Gunnison could be processed into a sardine-like product (even though it's shrimp rather than fish). Locals go nuts for the stuff, but nobody else can figure out how to make it so Orabbi's annual 15% price hike does little to slow sales. He's now invested the profits into the franchise.

NKOtB Part Two: Sacramento Shockers

The History: Boy is there history. bigking founded the Wichita Shockers and operated the franchise successfully for its first 8 seasons. The Shockers of Wichita finished below .500 just once, made the playoffs in 5 of their first 8 seasons and represented the American League in the World Series in Season 2.

After Season 8, mr_orange and his crew muscled in on the Wichita franchise. Unconfirmed reports had bigking behind on a loan he used to finance a free agent spending spree in Season 4. When mr_orange threatened to cut off his ear, bigking went to the authorities. He was immediately place in the witness protection program.

However, mr_orange legally acquired the franchise in bankruptcy proceedings after bigking changed his name and was re-located to Sacramento. After hiring defense attorney Clarence Darrow on the advice of Mexico City Bandejos owner dyuen, mr_orange was acquitted. The Federal Marshalls released bigking from witness protection after his testimony failed to convict mr_orange. King stayed in Sacramento, re-built his fortune as a traveling mascot and TV commercial star, and bought the team formerly in Oklahoma City at a steep discount.

The Outlook: King is the 4th owner is as many seasons for a franchise that has never made the playoffs. However, the team has won exactly 72 games in 3 of the past 5 seasons, so the cupboard isn't bare. Livan Suarez (.296, 41 HRs) returns to lead the offense. His brother Jose Suarez returns as leadoff man after stealing 76 bases last season. Edgar Romo had a breakout season at age 30 interrupted by elbow trouble, but returns. Former Wichita SS Walter Kingston was brought in to stabilize the IF. Finally, a bevy of young prospects litter the minors and could help in the coming years.

The Name - Well, this one comes as no surprise - see the picture.

A Tribute to the Orginals - Part Two - bigking0505

bigking has had an amazing run with the Wichita Shockers winning 3 AL East titles, and 2 wild cards, culminating in a World Series trip in Season 2. Only 1 Wichita team finished under .500 (Season 4) and the franchise was left in great shape with a very reasonable payroll. The king has also shown great loyalty, retaining bench coach Neifi Olivia for 6 straight seasons and fielding coach Luis Pineiro for all 7 seasons.

Among king's legendary shockers are Vin Guapo, a 23-year old with 172 career HR's (he's got a real shot at 500 career bombs), Rich Clark, a 7-year starter @ SS with 327 career HR's and 4 season where he played all 162 games, Charles Kubinski who twice won 20 as a Shocker including a Cy Young award in Season 3, and Rollie Ramsey who went 40-14 in 3 seasons as a Shocker.

Good luck king, and thanks for the memories.