Brooklyn ships LHP Mark Buehrle to Pottsylvania. The Moab GM, Eric J. Caskey suggests a steal. Brooklyn shed $13 Million in overall salary, while adding a mere 1.2 in Aki Iwamura. In addition to the utilityman, Brooklyn acquires two midround picks. Brooklyn picks up a 5th round pick and 7th round pick. Now, Brooklyn has two 1st rounder, two 4th rounders, two 5th rounders and gets back into the 7th round. "Aki will provide a much needed utility between 3rd and 2nd base, and provide as a defensive replacement for Miguel Cabrera late in games," stated Caskey.
Buehrle, on the other hand was not as happy: "First Edgar is traded to Frostbite, now I am traded to Pottsylvania? Where are these places? Is this some kind of joke?" The Moabs have stated repeatedly that the organization will forever be indebted to Mark Buehrle and Derrek Lee for their service to the organization.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
Farewell, And Do not Hurt US
Slugging gold glove firstbaseman Derrek Lee has been traded to a rival. Upper management has been frustrated with recent productions in trade talks especially since there have been numerous lengthy discussions. Finally a trade was completed in less than ten minutes of negotiations. In exchange for Lee, the Moabs receive a 1st round and a 4th round pick for Lee and a seventh round selection. GM Caskey stated that it was an economical decision: "Lee was going to be exposed in the upcoming draft and the team was not going to pursue his services at the hefty price of 13.00. He is a great player that never seemed to fit comfortably in the Moab lineup, despite hitting anywhere from the 2 hole to 9th."
Ryan Howard is making less than 1 million for tremendous production. Lee never seemed to have the average the team was looking for. Hitting Coach Dave Magaden stated that Lee was even more expendable due to the renege of DBacks owner Ron Melkonian for Miguel Cabrera.
The Moabs acquired some flexibility to pluck from other teams and add customary prospect depth.
Ryan Howard is making less than 1 million for tremendous production. Lee never seemed to have the average the team was looking for. Hitting Coach Dave Magaden stated that Lee was even more expendable due to the renege of DBacks owner Ron Melkonian for Miguel Cabrera.
The Moabs acquired some flexibility to pluck from other teams and add customary prospect depth.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The Roster
No One has made it. Those that think they have job security must realize that the team has had a playoff drought of one year. That kind of production is unacceptable. Already, starting SS Edgar Renteria has been dealt. Miguel Cabrera, who has only been a Moab in five seasons in the leauge, has been rumored in numerous blockbusters. Another member of Moabs since league's inception is Roy Oswalt, who is the subject of numerous deals. Many members of the Moab's starting rotation and players whom have assumed a position on the team, will not be back. The Moabs are also taking interviews for potential Bobby Cox replacements. The team has been rumored to be looking for a new philosophy.
Bob Uecker
The Aftermath
Bob Uecker
The Aftermath
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Brooklyn Completes One of Four Trades
Brooklyn completed a deal with archrival Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels. Brooklyn is known for their challenge trades in which both teams swap veterans hoping to get the better deal. Brooklyn sent oft-injured SS Edgar Renteria to solve the hole in Frostbite. The Dominican was quoted in Sports Graphic, "Great, Brooklyn wasn't cold enough for me, now I'm dealt to a place called Frostbite? Where is it anyway?" With multiple players at SS, and a $9 million tag, Renteria was expendable.
Brooklyn was said to have been looking for a more sure handed infield, and moving Troy Tulowitzki into the starting rotation is a good start. Brooklyn acquired LF Jason Bay. The Canuck battled through numerous injuries last season, but is still considered to be a productive player. Bay is confident of his skill: "It's obvious that Caskey sought my bat. I will have a great year coming back."
Although still unknown, Brooklyn looks to be protecting Brian McCann, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Miguel Cabrera, Jason Bay, and Ichiro Suzuki. Bay's right handed bat balances the lineup. THe penciled in lineup sets up with Ichiro in center, Utley batting second and playing second, Miggie batting third and playing third, Howard cleaning up, Bay protecting Howard. McCann's patience and contact will be a tough out following Bay, then Tulo will bat in the seventh or eigth position pending the right fielder. The Moabs boasted the top offense a season ago, so the lineup seems to be idle. There must be an upgrade in the starting rotation. There have been rumors that several trade discussions were concerned with the starting rotation.
John 'THE League Shot Me Up' Rocker
The Aftermath
Brooklyn was said to have been looking for a more sure handed infield, and moving Troy Tulowitzki into the starting rotation is a good start. Brooklyn acquired LF Jason Bay. The Canuck battled through numerous injuries last season, but is still considered to be a productive player. Bay is confident of his skill: "It's obvious that Caskey sought my bat. I will have a great year coming back."
Although still unknown, Brooklyn looks to be protecting Brian McCann, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Miguel Cabrera, Jason Bay, and Ichiro Suzuki. Bay's right handed bat balances the lineup. THe penciled in lineup sets up with Ichiro in center, Utley batting second and playing second, Miggie batting third and playing third, Howard cleaning up, Bay protecting Howard. McCann's patience and contact will be a tough out following Bay, then Tulo will bat in the seventh or eigth position pending the right fielder. The Moabs boasted the top offense a season ago, so the lineup seems to be idle. There must be an upgrade in the starting rotation. There have been rumors that several trade discussions were concerned with the starting rotation.
John 'THE League Shot Me Up' Rocker
The Aftermath
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Brooklyn Viewpoints
1) Salary Cap: I think we should keep it at $120. I will settle for $110, but $100 flat is too drastic a shift from one year to the next. We saw what happened last season when we increased the salary cap $20, it was too much. If we decrease it the same amount, we'll have the same result, too much of a change. Yes, the salary cap was too large last season but MLB salaries seem to be on the increase this season. A $10 reduction is acceptable as its a compromise. It's not too drastic but enough to make a difference. Essentially $10 is more than any of my starting pitchers.
2) Expansion: MUST fill current team vacencies prior to deciding on expansion. It does the league no justice to have a 'dead' team. The void left by Stanhill, or whoever, means that there are only 10 teams to trade with. If you are an owner like myself that does not like to trade within division, you are down an additional three teams, now only 7. SO, expansion only occurs if we have owners waiting for a team. We need to make sure that our eyes are not bigger than our stomachs.
3) Protection: I agree with Andrew's philosophy that protection should be based on say $45. In doing so, a team can protect a high profile player or two and the investments the team's made over the year. By investment I mean the players that were scouted and drafted as unestablished, that will be established this season. Every year in baseball, a team will couple 3 or so prospects and trade them to a failing team for a superstar. This season, for example, the Atlanta Braves traded 5 prospects (Andrus, Harrison, Saltalamacchia, Beau Jones, N. Perez) for Texeira and Mahay. This type of deal occurs every year in MLB, in fact just occurred when Swisher was dealt for three prospects. The question, why would any BARB team make this type of deal when the owner is unsure whether the investment can be protected? I feel the only to fairly protect such investments would be to have a $45 protection cap. In the end this should create parity as players enter the league making little then as they progress, so does their salaries. In BARB, bad teams (Example Eliminators a few years back), have high salaries but don't win, so rebuild with overall team salary of $30 (No joke look up Worcestor a few years back), then now a few years later as a contender, lots of salary questions. Best and most important off season question and solution.
3B) Can protect only 10, I have changed my position based on points I had overlooked. I do not buy into the fact however, that protecting only 10 creates "parity." Success by any team comes through drafting and trading. Sorry Jeff (I use because he admits it every time he's asked about it), a team's success comes from drafting Pujols over Polanco, not vice versa. By protecting 10, the idea is that it prevents any team from becoming to powerful.
4) For the Draft, I propose that multiple picks can be swapped for more or less picks. Again speaking to parity, teams must realize that in order to rebuild it takes more than one season.Some teams may realize their time to win is now. By having Team A allowed to trade for Julio Franco and Team B picking up a 10th and 12th round selection, both teams address needs. Also, look at the successful teams this season. All had a lot of players (41-Frostbite, 44- Brooklyn, 40- Worcester, 50- Yuma, 57- Darwin). Why? What does it mean? It means that for the duration of the season, injuries and bad trades do occur, thus depth is crucial. Its vitally important not just to replenish one's team, but to trade for a player when injuries do occur. Also think of it this way, by having more picks, it increases the probability of a bad team finding a diamond in the rough.
4B) Although MLB does not permit trading of draft picks, I think it would do BARB well to copy NFL's system. In the NFL, teams may trade one or more picks for one or more picks. For example, the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings swapped draft picks in the early nineties. The Vikins gave up something like 8 picks and 5 players for one player. The one was former Georgia RB Herschal Walker, who was overshadowed by the draft picks the Vikes gave to Dallas. Dallas selected Emmitt Smith, Darren Woodson, and Michael Irvin among others. Essentially the trade resulted in the Dallas Cowboys dominance in the 90s with Aikman and Jimmy Johnson. My point with this NFL lesson, is that MLB has 53 rounds in an attempt to get it right. BARB at most will have 12 rounds to get it right. As a GM, we need some flexibility to make trades and improve our ballclubs. Some teams have admitted taht they tend to have less time to scout players in preparation for the draft. They will have flexibilty to trade for players by swapping picks for players.
4C) Penalties during Draft: I think if a player is selected off another team, then not only is the next pick forfeited, but there is a 25% markup if seelcted in 1st round, 20% second, 10% third. This will be especially valuable if we had a $45 cap entering the draft. That is an X number of players can be protected as long as its under $45. It should benefit rebuilding teams.
GM Eric J. Caskey
Memo to BARB GMs
2) Expansion: MUST fill current team vacencies prior to deciding on expansion. It does the league no justice to have a 'dead' team. The void left by Stanhill, or whoever, means that there are only 10 teams to trade with. If you are an owner like myself that does not like to trade within division, you are down an additional three teams, now only 7. SO, expansion only occurs if we have owners waiting for a team. We need to make sure that our eyes are not bigger than our stomachs.
3) Protection: I agree with Andrew's philosophy that protection should be based on say $45. In doing so, a team can protect a high profile player or two and the investments the team's made over the year. By investment I mean the players that were scouted and drafted as unestablished, that will be established this season. Every year in baseball, a team will couple 3 or so prospects and trade them to a failing team for a superstar. This season, for example, the Atlanta Braves traded 5 prospects (Andrus, Harrison, Saltalamacchia, Beau Jones, N. Perez) for Texeira and Mahay. This type of deal occurs every year in MLB, in fact just occurred when Swisher was dealt for three prospects. The question, why would any BARB team make this type of deal when the owner is unsure whether the investment can be protected? I feel the only to fairly protect such investments would be to have a $45 protection cap. In the end this should create parity as players enter the league making little then as they progress, so does their salaries. In BARB, bad teams (Example Eliminators a few years back), have high salaries but don't win, so rebuild with overall team salary of $30 (No joke look up Worcestor a few years back), then now a few years later as a contender, lots of salary questions. Best and most important off season question and solution.
3B) Can protect only 10, I have changed my position based on points I had overlooked. I do not buy into the fact however, that protecting only 10 creates "parity." Success by any team comes through drafting and trading. Sorry Jeff (I use because he admits it every time he's asked about it), a team's success comes from drafting Pujols over Polanco, not vice versa. By protecting 10, the idea is that it prevents any team from becoming to powerful.
4) For the Draft, I propose that multiple picks can be swapped for more or less picks. Again speaking to parity, teams must realize that in order to rebuild it takes more than one season.Some teams may realize their time to win is now. By having Team A allowed to trade for Julio Franco and Team B picking up a 10th and 12th round selection, both teams address needs. Also, look at the successful teams this season. All had a lot of players (41-Frostbite, 44- Brooklyn, 40- Worcester, 50- Yuma, 57- Darwin). Why? What does it mean? It means that for the duration of the season, injuries and bad trades do occur, thus depth is crucial. Its vitally important not just to replenish one's team, but to trade for a player when injuries do occur. Also think of it this way, by having more picks, it increases the probability of a bad team finding a diamond in the rough.
4B) Although MLB does not permit trading of draft picks, I think it would do BARB well to copy NFL's system. In the NFL, teams may trade one or more picks for one or more picks. For example, the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings swapped draft picks in the early nineties. The Vikins gave up something like 8 picks and 5 players for one player. The one was former Georgia RB Herschal Walker, who was overshadowed by the draft picks the Vikes gave to Dallas. Dallas selected Emmitt Smith, Darren Woodson, and Michael Irvin among others. Essentially the trade resulted in the Dallas Cowboys dominance in the 90s with Aikman and Jimmy Johnson. My point with this NFL lesson, is that MLB has 53 rounds in an attempt to get it right. BARB at most will have 12 rounds to get it right. As a GM, we need some flexibility to make trades and improve our ballclubs. Some teams have admitted taht they tend to have less time to scout players in preparation for the draft. They will have flexibilty to trade for players by swapping picks for players.
4C) Penalties during Draft: I think if a player is selected off another team, then not only is the next pick forfeited, but there is a 25% markup if seelcted in 1st round, 20% second, 10% third. This will be especially valuable if we had a $45 cap entering the draft. That is an X number of players can be protected as long as its under $45. It should benefit rebuilding teams.
GM Eric J. Caskey
Memo to BARB GMs
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Rocker: "I have ..."
Admits His Usage
In a statement that was required by ownership and the front office, Brooklyn Moabs' reporter, John Rocker admits he used steriods. Rocker's statement included where, when and how he acquired the illegal substances.
"I acquired the steriods from Jason [Grimsley] on two occasions. The first was when I finished my rookie season. The second was before an interview, now infamous, with Sports Illustrated in New York. I apologize to my teammates and fans. It is a bad decision for any youngster to take performance enhancers. Again, the decision effected more than just me, which I apologize for."
There is no decision from the Brooklyn ownership as to what is the proper course is for the organization. Rocker and Andy Pettitte were named in the Mitchell Report. Pettitte announced yesterday that he used HGH in 2002 to rehabilitate his surgically repaired elbow.
Bob Eucker
The Aftermath
In a statement that was required by ownership and the front office, Brooklyn Moabs' reporter, John Rocker admits he used steriods. Rocker's statement included where, when and how he acquired the illegal substances.
"I acquired the steriods from Jason [Grimsley] on two occasions. The first was when I finished my rookie season. The second was before an interview, now infamous, with Sports Illustrated in New York. I apologize to my teammates and fans. It is a bad decision for any youngster to take performance enhancers. Again, the decision effected more than just me, which I apologize for."
There is no decision from the Brooklyn ownership as to what is the proper course is for the organization. Rocker and Andy Pettitte were named in the Mitchell Report. Pettitte announced yesterday that he used HGH in 2002 to rehabilitate his surgically repaired elbow.
Bob Eucker
The Aftermath
Thursday, December 13, 2007
What A Mitch-ell...
Report
ON the day the Mitchell Report was released, General Manager Eric J. Caskey and Principle Owner Shawn Carter spoke to reporters outside the "Bunker." Caskey displayed his dismay for the comments made about lefty ace, Andrew Pettitte. The dismay though, was about Pettitte. The Brooklyn Moabs have been the most vocal team against the use of performance enhancing drugs. Caskey, for one, stated that no player that is found guilty of such usage will play for the Moabs. He continued his stance today: "I feel bad, really bad. Andy's one of the good guys in the league and one of my heroes in the game. If he is innocent, then shame on the trainers and media, because he is going to go through hell for a year or more. If he is guilty, shame on him. He will be suspended upon any guilty knowledge, and the team will explore options." Caskey cleverly meant that he will be traded if there are any suitors, or released if not. Shawn Carter, a hip-hop artist, has been one of the few business rappers. He has built Roc-A-Fella empire on integrity and smarts: "The Moabs and myself will have nothing to do with cheaters. I grew up on a block of cheaters, now look where I am."
Regardless, the Mitchell Report is a good thing for baseball. As a man that had trouble throwing strikes, it really angers me that people could be cheating to get ahead. Regardless of who did what, it's not fair. The players, including Andy, could complain that they were indicted without fair objection to the evidence before George Mitchell, but the matter of fact that will only be a few players actually acquitted; therefore, this is fair for those who lost roster positions to those on juice!
John Rocker
The Aftermath
ON the day the Mitchell Report was released, General Manager Eric J. Caskey and Principle Owner Shawn Carter spoke to reporters outside the "Bunker." Caskey displayed his dismay for the comments made about lefty ace, Andrew Pettitte. The dismay though, was about Pettitte. The Brooklyn Moabs have been the most vocal team against the use of performance enhancing drugs. Caskey, for one, stated that no player that is found guilty of such usage will play for the Moabs. He continued his stance today: "I feel bad, really bad. Andy's one of the good guys in the league and one of my heroes in the game. If he is innocent, then shame on the trainers and media, because he is going to go through hell for a year or more. If he is guilty, shame on him. He will be suspended upon any guilty knowledge, and the team will explore options." Caskey cleverly meant that he will be traded if there are any suitors, or released if not. Shawn Carter, a hip-hop artist, has been one of the few business rappers. He has built Roc-A-Fella empire on integrity and smarts: "The Moabs and myself will have nothing to do with cheaters. I grew up on a block of cheaters, now look where I am."
Regardless, the Mitchell Report is a good thing for baseball. As a man that had trouble throwing strikes, it really angers me that people could be cheating to get ahead. Regardless of who did what, it's not fair. The players, including Andy, could complain that they were indicted without fair objection to the evidence before George Mitchell, but the matter of fact that will only be a few players actually acquitted; therefore, this is fair for those who lost roster positions to those on juice!
John Rocker
The Aftermath
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