Thursday, February 28, 2013

NL North Team Awards

I'm going to be going through each team and giving awards based on what I see. I figure it would be a pain to have everyone send me their personal picks. Plus that would be no fun for you guys since it wouldn't be a surprise. I'll start with the NL since I'm more familiar with them.

NL North

Iowa City Hawkeyes
MVP- 1b-Jose Alfonzo
I'm going with the young first baseman here. He can hit and he has good power. He's more of a doubles hitter, but he has put up good homerun numbers for playing in a park that favors pitchers. Throw in the fact that the guy can steal a few bases and scored over 90 runs and this guy drives the offense for this team. Defensively he doesn't play a tough position, but he has put up double digit plus plays and has only committed a couple errors.

Cy Young- Sticky Farquhar
Farquhar has had a great season. He may not lead the team in ERA, Wins, or OAV, but he's second in all of those among qualifiers. Add in that he has struck out 188 batters in 244.2 innings with 7 complete games and that is why he gets my pick for this teams top pitcher award.

Fargo Wood Chippers
MVP- 2b/rf-Zip Sullivan
Sullivan has led this offense this season. With his mid 30 homerun power and high .280 batting average, Zip has led the way. He also is real close to 120 RBI, and 90 runs. He also has some speed and a great OBP. Zip is an all around offensive force. He's also pretty solid in the field with his .982 fielding percentage at his prime position of secondbase.

Cy Young-Aurelio Ozuna
The rookie Ozuna made his debut this season and never looked back. This team needed this season 20 IFA signing to come in and make a splash and he did. He ended up leading the staff in Wins, ERA and OAV. He should only get better from here.

Trenton Thunders
MVP- LF-Benito Rodriguez
This was a tough one. Petrov could have very well taken this award as well, but I went with Rodriguez. Rodriguez has a rare mix of speed, power and on base percentage. He drives in runs and scores them among the best in the league. While a .283 batting average is good, a .383 OBP is even better. He's young and he should have many more seasons like this one ahead.

Cy Young- Ivan Carrasco
This was a tough selection for the opposite reasons of the MVP. The pitching in Trenton just wasn't very good this season. I went with Carrasco due to his 110+ innings pitched, .260 OAV, and 3.45 ERA. I know it wasn't much but he also led the team in saves with 8. His 7-1 record represented the best winning percentage on the team.

Montreal Leaf Blowers
MVP- OF-Rickey Masterson
Masterson has put up a great statistical season for this team. He has 30 homers 100+ runs, a chance for 100 RBI(99 with 2 games left), and 20 steals. He also is hitting a .282 with a .331 OBP. The guy has good speed, hitting and power.

Cy Young- Tom Leonard
Pitching wasn't this teams strength this season, but Tom Leonard sure did a good job at closing down games. He had 26 saves in 32 tries and posted a 3.38 ERA with a .226 OAV. He also struck out 34 batters in 32 innings. While his numbers aren't mind blowing, he was the rock of this pitching staff.

Monday, February 4, 2013

All Star break update-NL North

Once again reporting on the NL North is starbuckdc.

The first half of the season is nearly over and so far nobody wants to put their stamp on the division. Iowa should destroy everyone but the players seem to lack the killer instinct. Fargo wants to get back to winning but still has no pitching outside the huge acquisition from Montreal in Aurelio OzunaMontreal got Alex Suzuki in exchange. The blowers got off to a horrible start but have managed with the help,of Iowa to stay close. Trenton has new ownership after qtip abandoned his team like Bobby Petrino did to the Falcons.

All Star Break NL West Update

Here is my All Star Break Edition of the Around the League Update for the NL West.-toe64

I could make this an easy update and simply say "The Sim has decided Seattle is going to win the NL West and that the other three teams are contending for high draft picks.", and be done with it. But what fun is there in that....

Seattle has taken hold of their destiny going into the All-Star break 58-33. We can only hope the break will fatigue their 6 All-Stars to help slow them down for the second half, but that is doubtful. Since our last update, the Strikers have gone 34-17 over their last 51 games taking a commanding 10 game lead in the division. Pitching continues to be the key to their success leading all of Pine Tar in nearly every pitching category. Alex Guerrero 12-2, John Rucker 11-3, Miguel Rivera 9-3, and Darren Banks 7-3 all have sub 3.00 ERA's with Rucker under 2.00 ERA. Don't let their average looking Team Batting stats fool you. They outscored opponents 234-143 in this last 51 game stretch and they also lead the league in number of pitches per plate appearance, a patient bunch! I predict Seattle wins the NL West without much challenge and becomes either the #1 or #2 seed in the NL playoffs.

Colorado Springs has continued to solidify it's place in mediocrity. Going 26-25 since the last report and heading into the break at 48-43 and wishing the playoffs started today. While starting pitching has improved, they were dealt a huge blow as up and coming rookie Caleb Einertson (pre-injury health rating of 74) injured his elbow requiring surgery and is out for the season. SP Bill Kydd is having a break out season at 8-3 and 2B Juan Perez will make his third All-Star appearance (the only All-Star from CSP). I predict the Night Watchmen will be "watching" once again come playoff time.

Albuquerque has moved up to 3rd place in the standings going above .500 in the last 51 games at 26-25. They still have glimmers of hope for a wildcard spot, heading into the All-Star break with a 3 game sweep of NL East leader Philadelphia. Pitching continues to be their weak spot while hitting is carrying the day with 1B Bert Heismann in the top 15 NL hitters in AVE, RBI, and Slugging %. I predict the Komodo Dragons will continue to be close enough to smell a Wildcard spot but ultimately fall short. However, they may contend for 2nd Place in the division.

Finally, the Oklahoma City Prairie Dogs fell further into their holes with a 15-36 record over the last 51 games, heading into the break at 31-60. That being said, they currently have a 2 game lead for the top draft pick over the New York Damage Controllers. I predict no less than a top five draft pick for Season 23.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

NL South All Star Edition

 The Houston Roughriders have gone on quite a streak and have a stronghold on the division.    I asked each owner what they thought of their team and the division and here were their responses.

Houston Roughnecks(Bagwellbluff)  1st, 58-33.

"We've been playing well and I'm especially pleased with how well the bottom of our rotation is doing. I still feel this division race will go right down to the wire.We're fortunate to have a little cushion now that will serve us in good stead late in the season. But I said on opening day that the NL South would be a multiple-team dogfight. I'm holding to that position."

Jackson Juggernauts(bobbyj7) 2nd, 47-44, 11 games back

" I'm surprised by the start for Houston. I'm hoping to put a long winning streak together soon. If not, I might be shopping some veterans for quality prospects."

Louisville Arf Arf Arf Arf's(Arfy) 3rd 46-45, 12 games back

"We stink.  Someone should wave a skunk in front of our face.  Just kidding.  But in all seriousness, we expect to make a strong second half push and expect all four teams to be in the thick of it by seasons end."

Charlotte Bad News(Douglasslee) t-3rd 46-45, 12 games back

"Our division is still the toughest in my opinion. We all started out great, maybe overachieving but now I think we are underachieving. So I am not too concerned as I think it will even out. I looked at the world in its entirety and it looks like everyone has generally the same record so great parity in this world. I probably will not make any major moves at this point. I think our division could place 3 in the playoffs again with Charlotte being one of them. we took 2 out of 3 from mighty Seattle this last series so I think we have turned the corner."





NL South All-Star Team

C HOU Vic Diaz .382 Avg, .464 OBP
1B HOU Carl Espisoto 27Hr, 86 RBI, .308
2B LOU Daric Hines  4 Plus Plays, 51 Runs   <----Weakest selection
3B HOU Omar Cornejo 17 HR, 65 RBI, .328
SS  LOU Victor Ramsay  10 Plus Plays, 8 Errors
LF CHA Rico Tatis 29Hr, 81 RBI, .278
CF HOU Egueth Gonzales 70Runs, 26 SB, .290, 10 Plus Plays
RF LOU Omar Carrasco 29Hr, 64 RBI, .325
Pinch Hitter- CHA Duke Henderson 11-34 pinch hitting
SP CHA Willie Crawford 11-2 2.61 ERA
SP LOU Clay Vernon 10-5 2.90 ERA, 3 CG, 3 SHO
SP JACS Rube Clark 9-3, 2.93 ERA
SP LOU Al Manto 8-3, 3.87 ERA,  13 QS
Closer- JACS Steve Murray 20-22 Saves, 3.65 ERA
RP- CHA Ryan Votto 7-7 Saves, 1.71 ERA
RP- HOU Jimmy Griffiths 3-0, 2.31 ERA, 0.81 WHIP


If you have any disagreements or just want to give your own guy props, I'd love to hear from you.