New Ownership

Mo-Roca Boys

After nearly a year of negotiations with several different groups, including ExxonMobil and Heineken, the Brooklyn Moabs have been bought by Shawn Carter. Carter, a local Brooklynite, has been seeking to purchase a Barb team for some time. As the last offer, Carter coupled nearly $500 million dollars to purchase the organization and Mother Of All Ballparks. Heineken's offer would not have included the purchase of MOAB due to its desire to move the team across the pond. Exxon's offer was tremendous, but felt that the team was not located in a financially secure area of New York, or the US, so a move was probably.

Carter, on the other hand, stepped in late and defended his city: "How could this franchise leave Brooklyn? It's our boys." The group, known as Roc-A-Fellas Records Inc., is headed by the rapper. Jay-Z sees the Moabs as a team that can compete with any team. Noting the allstars around the lineup, and their record number of runs, the Moabs focus will be the pitching staff. Having said that, the Moabs could potentially have four or five aces: "Any of them could win the CY." Carter's outlook is one of realistic optimism.

As for changes in the front office, Carter backs Eric J. Caskey as the team's General Manager: "I cannot see the organization without it headed by the wiz kid. I, unfortunately, do not know enough about the people within the organization, I will be meeting with Caskey to discuss changes in philosophy and personnel. I will re-organize the marketing department. It's likely that Hype Williams and I will take over the organization's propoganda." Regardless of the changes on the horizon, the Moabs look to be moving in a more youthful direction with a young GM and the league's youngest owner.

Bob Uecker
The Aftermath

A Look to the Off-Season

What Will the New-Look Moabs Do?

The Moabs will look to improve the team's veteran leadership. As stated by the commissioner, S Hatfield, the Moabs have a plethora of prospects. Although GM Caskey has been reluctant to deal his youthful prospects for veterans, there is no indication that he will not go out and sign some free agents. Essentially the Moabs wasted $30 million last season, after a few seasons bordering the salary cap. This season, it is my belief, that Caskey will push the Moab salary to the limit in order to gain a middle of the lineup run producer or a high profile closer.

The Moabs, more than any team, has sought to acquire prospects over established players. This season look for him to bolster the bullpen and starting rotation. Aces Roy Oswalt and Fausto Carmona are sure to be protected. If the Moabs can bring back Chien-Meng Wang, Jeremy Bonderman, Mark Beurhle and Andy Petitte, the Moabs could have one of the most dangerous rotations. The bullpen, ravaged by injuries, was actually pretty deep coming into the year. Who knew the Moabs would experience the sleuth of injuries. Assuming those injuries do not hamper the next season, the Moabs could have one of the deepest pens in BARB.

Due to the overwhelming injuries that cost the Moabs a shot at the postseason, still finished fourth overall thanks to the top producing offense and seventh pitching staff, the Moabs look to to be one of the favorites coming into next season. Up next on the Look to the Off-Season, the Aftermath will rate the farmhands from big 6'7" Chris Volstad to the 19 year old phenom, Elvis Andrus.

Bob Uecker
The Aftermath

A Switch From the Swoosh

Today, the Brooklyn Moabs Team President and General Manager, Eric J. Caskey, announced the Moabs will be wearing BARB's first Underarmour uniforms. Inspired by Click-Clack movement and the new dedication of Underarmour to baseball, the switch was announced today. Like in Major League Baseball, BARB teams wear Nike.

But like the New York Yankees, who wear Adidas, the Moabs sport the fashionable UA. Not only does Caskey own stock in UA, but the weather specific uniforms will give his team an advantage. In the late month or two of the season, Brooklyn is a cold place to be. Wearing UA's heatgear will keep us warm.

The Moabs will also have a wide variety uniform combinations. Inspired by the University of Oregon's football combinations, the Moabs will unveil red, blue, black, white, grey, and purple uniforms. The caps will be blue, black, white, grey, purple and red. All can be interchanged. Also the shirts are cut-sleeves so the Underarmour compression shirts will be interchangeable as well.

John Rocker
The Aftermath

Update Time

After his second rehap start at Flint Stones AA affliate of the Brooklyn Moabs, Joel Zumaya feels confident that he can return to the Moab bullpen, which has been sorely overworked lately. Zumaya pitched three innings giving up one homerun and two hits. He struck out four and walked one. Manager Mark Lemke said that the most important thing was his location. "He hit the mit and hit the 100 mark, so you can't argue too much with the jack he gave up," said Lemke.

Also, the Moabs GM has been on the record of saying that if the team does not meet playoff expectations, expect to have some changes. Now no word if that means coaching staff or players, but Caskey has kept his teams intact over the years avoiding temptation to move the players. On the other hand, he has also kept his coaching staff intact. Regardless, the team must step it up and take control of their actions. "The team is built to win, they are getting healthy, I need results now!" said Caskey.

Major Moves

Reeling Means Change

It's not just the events unfolding in the fourth inning of a blowout at Frostbite, but manager Bobby Cox has spoken. He has decided to put unheralded rookie Fausto Carmona into the rotation. He will take Andy Pettitte's spot in the rotation. This means that Pettitte will be the teams spot starter and long reliever. The thoughts behind the move are stated in the General Manager's comments, "We need to add a power arm into the rotation. We cannot afford to let Pujols, Bonds and many other sluggers take aim. Carmona and Chien Meng Wang give us two of the most successful young groundball pitchers that win games. Paired with ace Roy Oswalt and staples Jeremy Bonderman and Mark Buehrle, this is the MOST formidable rotations in Barb."

Brooklyn should be concerned about their late inning arms now. The Aftermath believes the team has too many starters and not enough relievers in their bullpen. On another important note, super setup man Joel Zumaya made a Double-A rehab start in Flint for the Stones. He pitched two innings with two strikeouts and one walk.

John Rocker
The Aftermath

Time to Shut Up

Righthanded pitcher Chien-Meng Wang, 5-4 with a 3.67 earned run average has been placed on the trading block by GM Eric J. Caskey. On Gameday 94, Wang tossed deep into the game. Needing to move closer to the division leading rivals, Worcester, Wang was brilliant. Closer Francisco Rodriguez finished the tight 4-3 game with his 18th save. After the game, Wang had some choice words for Brooklyn's young GM.

"How can he place three fifths of the Moab rotation on the trading block? We are the strength of the team. Does this guy know what he's doing after shipping mega prospect Stephen [Drew] for that lefty reliever that's much better as a starter, but that's a stretch? If ownership is not close to the situation, this GM of ours could trade away our chance to win," said Wang.

Caskey was concerned over the righties words, "It's my fault. None of the rumors should have been released, that's the media's fault. My fault was trying to improve our team. It's not a knock on our starters or our lineup, but as the deepest rotation and lineup, we need to look to address our needs, primarily in the bullpen."

The return of Joel Zumaya is just over the horizon. He will be making his first rehab start in Triple-A Syracuse. Caskey announced that he would only be pitching two innings or thirty five throws. His addition to the bullpen will stabilize the middle innings along with Damaso Marte, Bob Wickman and Fausto Carmona before reaching slinger K-Rod.

One thing is for certain, the final months will be exciting. Caskey has been interested in boosting his bullpen, but at what costs. We will see.

What League?

Is the league still functioning? No response to emails, no league updates, and NO trades. What has happened? We might have some owners who claim to be participating, but there is no participation, WE need decisive action!

GM Eric J. Caskey
Brooklyn Moabs