Saturday, October 21, 2017

Season 43 New Hall of Fame Candidates

There are several new names on the ballot, including these outstanding nominees...


Oleg D'Amico

A rarity that he played his entire 17-year career in D.C. under one ownership...613 career home runs, 1916 RBI and 2843 hits...In his spare time Oleg is a world-class fencer,  author, and licensed Boeing 757 pilot....Not only could he rake at the dish, but he is arguably the best defensive first baseman of all time, racking up ten Gold Gloves...The one time Rookie of the Year established himself with season 28's career year; 54 home runs, 157 RBI, and a .937 OPS...Right after turning pro, he became a vegan because he believed the diet would eliminate the need to bathe....The five-time All-star had nine 40+ home run seasons, six 100+ runs scored seasons, and nine double-digit stolen base seasons.


Goose King

Considered to be one of the best lead-off hitters of all time; 675 career stolen bases and seven seasons in which he scored 120 or more runs...Was an eleven time All-star and a six-time Silver Slugger, including two as a second baseman....As a child, Goose, his brother Cecil, and his next-door neighbor would ride their bicycles through the garden pretending to catch Pokemon....His season 32 MVP season reads like this; .356/.426/.617 slash line, 27 home runs, 48 doubles, 84 RBI, 118 runs scored, and 58 steals in 60 attempts...Goose absolutely hates baked beans...Owns a career .310 batting average, hitting .320 or better five times.


Birdy Henley

Joins D'Amico as a Hall nominee who spent his entire career in D.C....
247 career wins, 3742 strikeouts, which is second all-time, finishing just 38 shy of leader Clinton Puffer...During his summer in the Cape League, Birdy worked part-time at a Golden Corral. His job duties included replenishing the fondue station and cleaning the sneeze guard....The four-time All-star won the Cy Young Award in season 28.  He went 18-7 with 233 strikeouts, a 2.77 ERA, and a 1.12 WHIP in 256 innings...

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Season 43 Top Free Agent Signings

1. Seop Jiang Las Vegas Bookies - COF, age 29, 9 ML seasons. Asking $38M/4 years. Signed for $110M/5 years. He's only 29 and he has already been an All-star seven times. He has four MVP awards and 5 Silver Sluggers. He has more than 400 homers and 1000 RBI's for his career, and will easily end up as one of the world's all-time bests.

2. Braxton Wayne - Iowa City Johnson - 2B/CF, age 29, 8 ML seasons, Asking $25M/4 years. Signed for $60M/5 years. The best two-way player on the market. Has won five Gold Gloves at a defensive position, and can flat-out rake at the dish. Has averaged 33 HR's and just under 90 RBI for his career.

3. Brent Davis - Trenton Trunk Monkeys - SP, age 37, 13 ML seasons. Asking $12.5 M/2 years. Signed for $30.6M/4 years. The five-time All-star, has a career mark of 189-141, with two 20 win seasons under his belt. He has also wan 17, 18 and 19 games in a season. Still going strong with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 215 innings last year.

4. Anthony Clark Florida Marchadors - SP, age 36, 15 ML seasons. Asking $5.6M/1 year. Signed for $22M/3 years. Four-time All-star has 221 career wins. Before last season's mini-disaster, he averaged 18 wins during his previous three in Cincinnati, including season 40's masterpiece. He went 19-4 with 2.59 ERA and 1.08 WHIP.

5.  Andrea Sheffield Trenton Trunk Monkeys - RP, age 35, 13 ML seasons. Asking $18.8M/3 years. Signed for $35.5M/5 years. Four-time All-star, three-time Fireman of the Year. Has averaged 106 IP over the past five seasons with a WHIP of around 1.10.

Pablo Figueroa Fargo Marlboro Men - SP, age 38, 14 ML seasons. Asking $12M/2 years. Signed for $16.2M/2 years. Three-time World Series winner, including last season's title with Iowa. Eleven seasons with double-digit wins. Went 13-9 with a 3.89 ERA last season at age 37.

7. Russ Herndon Durham BULLS - 2B, age 33, 9 ML seasons. Asking $10.8M/2 years. Signed for $10.9M/2 years. Career .800+ OPS guy while giving you solid D. Had a great season 38 in which he OBP'd .407 with 21 HR's and 105 runs scored. He made 8 great plays in 53 games as a right fielder to boot.

8. Alex Harris - Tampa Bay Don Cesars  - SP, age 37, 12 ML seasons. Asking $5.6M/1 year. Signed for $11.6M/2 years. 154 career wins for the former Cy Young Award winner. Career 3.59 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, but will not be terribly durable, especially at his age.

9. Victor Santana - Iowa City Johnsons – RP, age 38, 13 ML seasons. Asking $5.6M/2 years. Signed for $6.2M/2 years. Closing in on 400 career saves is the seven-time All-star and two time Fireman of the Year. Six seasons with 40 saves or more, including season 36's 50.

10  Hanley Everidge Kansas City Fountains- RP/SP, age 30, 8 ML seasons. Asking $16.8M/3 years. Signed for $22M/4 years. The swingman has a very respectable 3.78 ERA and 1.28 WHIP for his career, considering he pitched exclusively in Philadelphia. Had an outstanding season 40 when he won 9 games and posted a 1.93 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 125 innings.

11. Johan Satterwhite Houston Wildcats - C/DH, age 32, 10 ML seasons. Asking $11.6M/3 years. Signed for $11.7M/3 years. Has a .307/.390/.516 career slash line as a part-time player. Is hoping to win a full-time job in Houston and rake.

12. John Koh Atlanta Stars - INF, age 30, 6 ML seasons. Asking $18.8M/3 years. Signed for $28.4M/4 years.  Belted a career-high 27 home runs last season while registering 9 great plays at short. Will give you some good D at a variety of positions at this stage of career, and will be a tough out at the plate.

13. Souta Sung Durham BULLS - CF, age 29, 7 ML seasons. Asking $10.8M/2 years. Signed for $11.3M/2 years. Averages 26 HR's and 13 SB's while holding down CF.

14. Ralph Hamlin Syracuse Barking Spiders – LF, age 30, 7 ML years. Asking $17.3M/3 years. Signed for $17.3/3 years. Solid top of the line up hitter who's won two Gold Gloves as a corner outfielder. Has driven in 90+ runs three times in his career. Hit a career best 34 home runs last season.

15.  Sadie Friend Los Angeles Colemans - SP, age 29, 6 ML seasons. Asking $16.8M/3 years. Signed for $7.6M/2 years. Career bests last season in wins, ERA, WHIP and IP, and at 29, may finally be hitting his stride.

16. Al Piedra Cleveland Lake Monsters - RP, age 32, 10 ML seasons. Asking $13.8M/3 years. Signed for $13.8M/3 years. Had a three-year stretch during which he went 35-10 and converted 11 of 13 save opportunities while averaging 113 innings.

17. J.O. Balboa –Kansas City Fountains - SP/RP, age 34, 11 ML seasons. Asking $10.8M/2 years. Signed for $7.8/2 years. Has a career mark of 81-52. Although he's been used primarily as a reliever, he does have a couple outstanding seasons as a starter under his belt, including a 14 – 2 season and a 9 – 1 campaign.

18. Harold Durham Tampa Bay Don Cesars - SP, age 35, 11 ML seasons. Asking $5.6M/1 year. Signed for $11.6M/2 years. Tale of two careers, as he put up good numbers in the first half in some good pitcher's parks. Since going to Colorado the stats were not there, but he averaged 12 wins, including 15 W's in season 40.

19. Jamie Washington Trenton Trunk Monkeys - SS, age 30, 7 ML seasons, Asking $7.6M/2 years. Signed for $23M/5 years. Has been bounced around the diamond a lot, but the two-time Gold Glove winner can be a serviceable shortstop while being a tough out at the plate.

20. Albert Jose Chicago Made Punks - SP, age 32, 9 ML seasons. Asking $11.2M/2 years. Signed for $11.2M/2 years. Essentially pitched his entire career in Santa Fe, so we take his numbers with a grain of salt. After getting traded to Milwaukee midseason, he posted a 1.11 WHIP and 3.80 ERA in 45 innings last year. Has the potential to be one of those 100 inning impact relievers.

Monday, July 24, 2017

Season 42's Hall of Fame Inductee

 Benny Molina, 2B

9 Time All Star, 1 Time MVP, 6 Time Silver Slugger 2B, 1 Time Silver Slugger LF


AVGGAB
.2902,0617,873
RHHR
1,5952,287372
RBISBSLG
1,181705.509


About a well-rounded player as King Felix has ever seen.  His MVP season in 30 says it all; 196 runs scored, 40 doubles, 21 triples, 45 home runs, 146 RBI, 89 stolen bases, and 13 plus plays at 2B....Benny has a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.  He is an amateur magician and a certified locksmith...Earned over $148 million in his professional career, averaging just over $12M per season...Incredible speed/power combo, with 11 seasons of 20+ home runs (including two 40 homer seasons), and 8 seasons of 50+ stolen bases...Benny has been recognized as one of the best casually dressed men of America.  He and his wife have a son, Benjamin Earl, Jr,....Averaged over 7.5 plus plays per 162 games at second base for his career...Four seasons of 100+ walks, two seasons of 1.100+ OPS, ten seasons of 100+ runs scored.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Season 42 Top Free Agent Signings

1. Robin Walter Colorado Surf Riders III - SS, age 32, 10 ML seasons. Asking $13.5M/2 years. Signed for $56.5M/5 years. Season 39's MVP is a five-time All-Star and is the rare SS that can both hit and field, as witnessed by his two Gold Gloves and his season 38 Silver Slugger award. Probably has at least two more seasons at short before he has to move down the spectrum. No doubt one of the best SS's in world history.


2.  Stefen Redondo Jacksonville Minutemen - 1B, age 31, 10 ML seasons. Asking $29.5M/5 years. Signed for $59M/5 years. The statistical oddity is that he's won more MVP's than All-Star berths (4 to 3.) One of the World's all time greats has averaged 43 HR, 119 RBI, and a .1003 OPS for his career. His insane season 34, in which he hit .337 with 61 HR and 171, will go down as one of the best in history.


3. Samuel Merrick Anaheim Arte Morenos -  COF, age 33, 11 ML seasons. Asking $26.5M/3 years, signed for $74M/4 years. Has made the All-Star team in all 11 of his ML seasons, and is a four time Silver Slugger. Even though his days of playing CF are over, he is easily one of the best of all time. Has averaged 46 HR, 122 RBI and 31 SB for his career, including season 39's 40/40 season.


4. Conner Carbonell Las Vegas Bookies - INF, age 31, 7 ML seasons. Asking $33.5/4 years. Signed for $85.6M/5 years. Three-time All-Star, three time Silver Slugger. His bat would justify playing him at short for another season or two, but would really pick it at second or third. Had a career low 18 HR last season in spacious Burlington, but should be good for 25 or so in a more hitter friendly situation.


5. Delanor Melville Scranton Rail Riders - SP, age 34, 11 ML seasons. Asking $21M/3 years. Signed for $75M/5 years. Pencil the workhorse in for 200+ innings and double digit wins every season. Can be dominating at times, but has a tendency to give up the long ball when he's not going right. Career 1.24 WHIP makes him a legit top of the rotation starter.


6. Dude Blake Scranton Rail Riders - SP, age 32, 10 ML seasons. Asking $28M/4 years. Signed for $83.1M/5 years. Averages 12 wins and just under 200 IP per season, Two-time All-Star has a career 3.55 ERA and 1.25 WHIP.


7. Francisco Melian Chicago Blues - RP, age 28, 6 ML seasons. Asking $27M/4 years. Signed for $76M/5 years. The two time Fireman of the Year hits free agency in his prime. He's averaged 43 saves in his 5 full seasons as a closer.


8. Mateo Flores - Colorado Surf Riders III -  SP - age 35, 14 ML seasons. Asking $5.6M/1 year.  Signed for $$22.5M/4 years.   Ten seasons with double digit wins, including 31's stellar 18-6 mark (with 4 saves to boot) and a 3.30 ERA and 1.11 WHIP,


9. Marino Gandarillas Salem Shockers -  INF, age 31, 9 ML seasons. Asking $22.8M/3 years. Signed for $14M/2 years.  His lack of pop in the bat makes him probably better suited to play 2B but did win a GG at third. Adds value with his speed, as he's averaged 25 doubles and 34 steals over the last three seasons.


10. Pasqual Rodriguez – Colorado Surf Riders III - SP/RP, age 36, 15 ML seasons. Asking $10.4M/2 years. Signed for $8.3M/3 years. In another statistical oddity, the swingman went 0 – 33 in his five seasons as part of Santa Fe's tandem starting staff. He doesn't have the stamina to give you starters innings, but can be a very valuable guy to have on a staff because he gets guys out. Has a career 1.26 WHIP, even after his stretch in homer-happy Santa Fe.


11. Rob Canseco Pawtucket Poster Nutbags - COF/1B, age 36, 16 ML seasons. Asking $3.4M/1 year. Signed for $3.4M/1 year. Switch hitting two-time All-Star will still be a solid top of the order hitter, even at 36. The speed/power may never be the same, but bank on a .300+ average and .350+ OBP.


12. Kevin Hatteberg Fargo Marlboro Men - 1B/DH, age 35, 12 ML seasons. Asking $6.8/2 years. Signed for $6.8M/2 years. Five- time Silver Slugger and three-time All-Star can still rake at the dish. A career .321 hitter, he dipped to .280 last season but should get back up to his typical .900+ OPS.


13. Ivan Melo- Los Angeles Colemans - C/DH, age 29, 8 ML seasons. Asking $3.8M/1 year. Signed for $7.6M/2 years. Won't be winning any Gold Gloves behind the plate (well, then again you never know in HBD world), but is coming off his best offensive season when he put up career highs with 23 HR and a .922 OPS. Will need his rest, but you can bank on some good numbers when he plays.


14. Slade Rehfield Tampa Bay Don Cesars - RP, age 33, 10 ML seasons. Asking $10M/2 years. Signed for $6.8M/2 years. Can be one of those 100 innings out of the bullpen guys, if he can stay healthy. Made the All-Star team in 39 by virtue of his 8-2 record with a 2.97 ERA and 1.22 WHIP.


15. Ivan Guzman Cincinnati Dawgs - RP, age 35, 13 ML seasons. Asking $3.8M/1 year. Signed for $3.8M/1 year. His stats are inflated because he's pitched primarily in Colorado and Santa Fe. He has 158 career saves, including a perfect 17 for 17 in season 37.


16. Midre Salas Colorado Surf Riders III - C/DH, age 28, 4 ML seasons Asking $9.2M/2 years. Signed for $11.3M/4 years. Back-to-back 97 RBI seasons in 39 and 40.


17. Kiki Torres Salem Shockers - C/DH, age 33, 9 ML seasons. Asking $7.4/2 years. Signed for $6.8M/2 years.  Last season's 24 HR was his career low, so his value as a hitter may no longer make up for his defensive deficiencies behind the plate.  He has averaged 29 HRs for his career.


18. Aaron Robertson Cincinnati Dawgs - RP, age 29, 7 ML seasons. Asking $8.4M/2 years. Signed for $21M/5 years. Has had a hit or miss type career to date, but is still only 29. Has a perfect 28 for 28 saves season on his resume, as well as another in which he saved 39 of 40.   


19. Jose Leon Philadelphia Phoenix - SP, age 37, 15 ML seasons. Asking $11.6M/2 years. Signed for $11.6M/2 years. 221 career wins, including 20 last season (while posting an 8.13 ERA!!) Can still be a viable back end of the rotation starter.


20.