The Greatest Met of All Time

Pardon me for a second here. But yesterday was a monumental day for the greatest franchise in Gleeman World history (ha), as the greatest Met of all Time finally called it a career and hung up his shoes:

Ralph Jackson none none Age: 38 B/T: L/R Born: Van Horne, IA Position(s): DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Ralph was a throwback in every way. A man who made the most of his meager 5-10 midwestern farm boy frame. Who continued to play through thick and thin, never hitting the Disabled List. Who's every swing was recorded at the Major League level, with the same team, from world inception through retirement. Who ranged from a 1.000 OPS season 4 to a .748 OPS season 9, with a mere 2 point rating change in power, and a tick in vs. R. Ralph was a real world Met in every sense of the word.

He won every championship we ever won, 5 in all.

With only 1 All-Star apperance, and two AL Silver Slugger DH awards to his name, Ralph is not the strongest candidate for the real Hall of Fame. Despite 2000+ hits, 1000+ Runs/RBI, 400+ HR, he was never up in the ranks of the Hogans, Governales or Velandias.

But today? On this day? It's Ralph Jacksons day.

If the Mets had a Hall of Fame, he's the first name in it.

Heres to you Ralph.

Season Prediction Poll

I came up with the idea to have a poll predicting the results of the upcoming season. The premise is pretty simple; everyone will trade chat me how they think each division will finish, I'll gather and post the results of the poll, and maybe make a few comments about said results.

So what I'll need from everyone is the following:

*Trade chat me your predictions on how you think each division will pan out, in the following format:
-AL West: TEX, OAK, LAA, SEA; AL Central: MIN, DET...and so on.

*Just make sure that it's clear what team you're referencing, and that you get the order right. Feel free to take your time in analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of every team in every division. Or not. You could just send me your random guesses at how everything will pan out. The point is just to gather some information as to the wisdom of the masses, and have some fun while we're at it.

*Also, trade chat me your predictions on the WS matchup and the World Champion, just for the hell of it. Any format (i.e. LAD over BOS in 6) is fine.

I'm not going to post a hard deadline, though it would be nice to post the results by Opening Day. I don't expect to get full league participation (that's pretty much impossible for any single activity), but I'd like to get ballots in from at least half the members of the league. If for some crazy reason, you'd prefer your ballot to be anonymous, let me know. I'll likely post all individual predictions, along with the cumulative breakdown of said results. Also, if at any moment you'd like to edit any of your predictions, just send me a trade chat with your revisions, and I'll be sure to take note.

Poll on, gentlemen.

City register

Albuquerque

Isotopes, mitch08, GW1, AL West, Season 1-8 (also, San Francisco Berserkers, Vancouver Knights)

Anaheim

Snappers, bhole1980, GW1, NL West, Season 2 (also Honolulu Islanders, Seattle Lumber Barons, Colorado Springs Silver Stars, Salem Sidehill Gougers)
Anteaters, base_ballers, GW1, NL West, Season 3-present (also San Diego Whalers, Colorado Coyotes)

Atlanta

Georgia Gamblers, jdforman, GW1, NL South, Season 1-2 (also Monterrey Conquistadores)

Boise

Mashers, mutineer, GW1, NL West, Season 1-present

Boston

Red Sox, benj13blue, GW1, AL East, Season 1-present

Buffalo

Europeans, nealphd, GW1, AL North, Season 1-present

Charlotte

Spiders, mike8971, GW1, AL South, Season 1-3 (also Richmond Roustabouts)

Cheyenne

Tackleberries, scottlaz, GW1, AL West, Season 2-14 (also Seattle Bigfeet, Honolulu Trade Winds)

Chicago (Wrigley Field)

Jayhawks, thorku, GW1, NL East, Season 1-present

Cincinnati

8 5, unsub, GW1, AL East, Season 16 (also Norfolk Ironclads, Philadelphia Phenomenauts)

Cleveland

Rocks, morneau33hr, GW1, AL North, Season 11 (also Syracuse Fightin' Boeheims, Kansas City Christies, Columbus Knights)

Colorado

Coyotes, wildemc, GW1, NL West, Season 2 (also San Diego Whalers, Anaheim Anteaters)

Colorado Springs

Silver Stars, bhole1980, GW1, NL West, Season 6-8 (also Honolulu Islanders, Anaheim Snappers, Seattle Lumber Barons, Salem Sidehill Gougers)

Columbus

Knights, thegeneral13, GW1, AL North, Season 13 (also Syracuse Fightin' Boeheims, Cleveland Rocks, Kansas City Christies)
Santa Marias, mrincubus, GW1, NL North, Season 16 (also Sioux Falls Gunslingers)

Fargo

Tumbleweeds, sdedalus, GW1, AL North, Season 10-present (also Rochester Rochester Redwings, Montreal Grand Orange)

Florida

Cottonmouths, thegeneral13, GW1, AL South, Season 1-12 (also Louisville Liquor Barons, Little Rock Enrollers)
Cottonmouths, thegeneral13, GW1, AL South, Season 14-15 (also San Antonio Sting)
Cottonmouths, frymaster23, GW1, AL South, Season 16 (also San Antonio Sting)

Honolulu

Islanders, jasoncormier, GW1, NL West, Season 1 (also Anaheim Snappers, Seattle Lumber Barons, Colorado Springs Silver Stars, Salem Sidehill Gougers)
Trade Winds, scottlaz, GW1, AL West, Season 15-present (also Seattle Bigfeet, Cheyenne Tackleberries)

Indianapolis

Clowns, djramey, GW1, AL East, Season 1-3 (also Pittsburgh Pug Dogs)

Iowa City

Comics, edwzipper, GW1, NL South, Season 1-12
Comics, gusta487, GW1, NL South, Season 13-present

Kansas City

Monarchs, sche0707, GW1, NL North, Season 1-6 (also Madison Mifflin Street Boys, Ottawa Otters)
Christies, rockitsauce, GW1, AL North, Season 12 (also Syracuse Fightin' Boeheims, Cleveland Rocks, Columbus Knights)

Las Vegas

Runnin' Rebels, bitt03, GW1, NL West, Season 2 (also Omaha Steaks, Tacoma Aroma, Scottsdale Seniors, Tacoma Down Pour)
Armijos, eliason, GW1, AL West, Season 7-14 (also Seattle Seals, Santa Cruz Amigos, Las Vegas Bandits)
Bandits, opie100, GW1, AL West, Season 15-present (also Seattle Seals, Santa Cruz Amigos, Las Vegas Armijos)

Little Rock

Enrollers, jnewfry, GW1, AL South, Season 14-present (also Florida Cottonmouths, Louisville Liquor Barons)

Los Angeles

Hangars, keithnd104, GW1, AL West, Season 1-present

Louisville

Liquor Barons, bhole1980, GW1, AL South, Season 13 (also Florida Cottonmouths, Little Rock Enrollers)

Madison

Mifflin Street Boys, therickgwb, GW1, NL North, Season 7 (also Kansas City Monarchs, Ottawa Otters)

Milwaukee

Twindyans, coolio4433, GW1, NL North, Season 1-present

Minnesota

Fatboys, aarongleeman, GW1, AL North, Season 1-present
Bloggers, aarongleeman, GW2, NL North, Season 1-present

Monterrey

Conquistadores, evelandz23, GW1, NL South, Season 3-present (also Atlanta Georgia Gamblers)

Montreal

Meurtrier, twinsjunkie, GW1, NL North, Season 1-2 (also Vancouver Vigilantes, Montreal Redbirds)
Redbirds, bkukowski, GW1, NL North, Season 14-present (also Montreal Meurtrier, Vancouver Vigilantes)
Grand Orange, sdedalus, GW1, AL North, Season 4-9 (also Rochester Rochester Redwings, Fargo Tumbleweeds)

Nashville

Twang, koop1975, GW1, AL South, Season 1-7 (also Tampa Bay Devil Rays)

New York (Shea Stadium)

Metropolitans, sickchangeup, GW1, AL East, Season 1-present

New York (Yankee Stadium)

Yankees, goosegoslin, GW1, NL East, Season 1-present

Norfolk

Ironclads, manyhighways, GW1, AL East, Season 1 (also Philadelphia Phenomenauts, Cincinnati 8 5)

Oklahoma City

Twins, garlogic, GW1, NL South, Season 1-present

Omaha

Steaks, wyounggw, GW1, NL West, Season 1 (also Las Vegas Runnin' Rebels, Tacoma Aroma, Scottsdale Seniors, Tacoma Down Pour)

Ottawa

Otters, parnold1, GW1, NL North, Season 8-present (also Kansas City Monarchs, Madison Mifflin Street Boys)

Philadelphia

Phenomenauts, cademord, GW1, AL East, Season 2-14 (also Norfolk Ironclads, Cincinnati 8 5)
Phenomenauts, unsub, GW1, AL East, Season 15 (also Norfolk Ironclads, Cincinnati 8 5)

Pittsburgh

Pug Dogs, calolson, GW1, AL East, Season 4-present (also Indianapolis Clowns)

Richmond

Roustabouts, mattwithanh, GW1, AL South, Season 4-present (also Charlotte Spiders)

Rochester

Rochester Redwings, bosoxx05, GW1, AL North, Season 1-3 (also Montreal Grand Orange, Fargo Tumbleweeds)
Garbage Plates, benj13blue, GW2, NL East, Season 1-present

Salem

Sidehill Gougers, anonymous26, GW1, NL West, Season 9-present (also Honolulu Islanders, Anaheim Snappers, Seattle Lumber Barons, Colorado Springs Silver Stars)

San Antonio

Sting, usssalami, GW1, AL South, Season 1-13 (also Florida Cottonmouths)

San Diego

Whalers, vinay, GW1, NL West, Season 1 (also Colorado Coyotes, Anaheim Anteaters)

San Francisco

Seals, popcultist, GW1, AL West, Season 1-4 (also Santa Cruz Amigos, Las Vegas Armijos, Las Vegas Bandits)
Berserkers, mitch08, GW1, AL West, Season 9-15 (also Albuquerque Isotopes, Vancouver Knights)

San Juan

Rincons, frymaster23, GW1, NL East, Season 8-11 (also Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Scranton Nard Doggs)
Rincons, bhole1980, GW1, NL East, Season 12 (also Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Scranton Nard Doggs)

Santa Cruz

Amigos, bosoxx05, GW1, AL West, Season 5-6 (also San Francisco Seals, Las Vegas Armijos, Las Vegas Bandits)

Scottsdale

Seniors, billp, GW1, NL West, Season 4 (also Omaha Steaks, Las Vegas Runnin' Rebels, Tacoma Aroma, Tacoma Down Pour)

Scranton

Big Tunas, rolandsc, GW1, NL East, Season 2 (also Washington Grays, Scranton Dunder Mifflins, Washington Bureaucrats)
Dunder Mifflins, illflavored, GW1, NL East, Season 3 (also Washington Grays, Scranton Big Tunas, Washington Bureaucrats)
Nard Doggs, schnoogens, GW1, NL East, Season 13-present (also Tampa Bay Devil Rays, San Juan Rincons)

Seattle

Bigfeet, bjhess, GW1, AL West, Season 1 (also Cheyenne Tackleberries, Honolulu Trade Winds)
Lumber Barons, bhole1980, GW1, NL West, Season 3-5 (also Honolulu Islanders, Anaheim Snappers, Colorado Springs Silver Stars, Salem Sidehill Gougers)

Sioux Falls

Gunslingers, tyle0056, GW1, NL North, Season 1-15 (also Columbus Santa Marias)

St. Louis

Greys, broadwayevns, GW1, NL South, Season 1-present

Syracuse

Fightin' Boeheims, jmileskey, GW1, AL North, Season 1-10, Season 14-present (also Cleveland Rocks, Louisville Liquor Barons, Columbus Knights)

Tacoma

Aroma, billp, GW1, NL West, Season 3 (also Omaha Steaks, Las Vegas Runnin' Rebels, Tacoma Down Pour)
Down Pour, mrauseo, GW1, NL West, Season 5-present (also Omaha Steaks, Las Vegas Runnin' Rebels, Tacoma Aroma)

Tampa Bay

Devil Rays, frymaster23, GW1, NL East, Season 1-7 (also San Juan Rincons, Scranton Nard Doggs)
Devil Rays, sl_72, GW1, AL South, Season 8-present (also Nashville Twang)

Vancouver

Vigilantes, scottie3234, GW1, NL North, Season 3-13 (also Montreal Meurtrier, Montreal Redbirds)
Knights, mitch08, GW1, AL West, Season 16 (also Albuquerque Isotopes, San Francisco Berserkers)

Washington D.C.

Grays, chrisneedham, GW1, NL East, Season 1 (also Scranton Big Tunas, Scranton Dunder Mifflins, Washington Bureaucrats)
Bureaucrats, themoff02, GW1, NL East, Season 4-present (also Washington Grays, Scranton Big Tunas, Scranton Dunder Mifflins)

5 Worst Contacts of All-time?

In no particular order:

Vicente Guzman none none Age: 31 B/T: R/R Born: Hannibal, MO Position(s): P (P) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The GM: rockitsauce

The contract:
Season 12: $4,000,000
Season 13: $4,000,000
Season 14: $4,000,000
Season 15: $4,000,000
Total paid out: $16,000,000 over 4 years

Quick Summary:
- 20 control
- Cumulative ML stats over 4 seasons: 28.0 IP, 6.75 ERA
- 3 full seasons spent in the minors.

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Ruben Crespo none none Age: 41 B/T: R/R Born: Moncion, DO Position(s): P (LRB) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The GM: scottie3234

The contract:
Bonus: $9,000,000
Season 11: $12,000,000
Season 12: $16,000,000
Season 13: $16,000,000
Season 14: $17,000,000 (player option - accepted)
No Trade Clause
Total paid out: $70,000,000 over 4 years

Quick Summary:
- Season 11: 287.2 IP, 4.22 ERA
- Season 12: 215.2 IP, 4.67 ERA
- Season 13: 148.2 IP, 6.17 ERA
- Season 14: 17.2 IP, 10.19 ERA

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Diego Nunez none none Age: 39 B/T: R/R Born: Boca De Soco, DO Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The GM: thorku

The contract:
Season 11: $12,000,000
Season 12: $13,000,000
Season 13: $13,000,000
Season 14: $12,000,000 (mutual option - auto accepted [jmileskey??])
Total paid out: $50,000,000 over 4 years (should have been $41,000,000)

Quick Summary:
Season 11: 5.57 ERA in 17 starts (20 games) before being shipped off to a newB (morneau33)
Season 12: 7.42 ERA in 44 games
Season 13: 98.2 IP in relief, 4.93 ERA
Season 14: Pitched mostly in AAA

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Sting Berger Oklahoma City Twins Age: 33 B/T: R/R Born: Carmel, CA Position(s): 3B/1B/COF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The GM: garlogic

The contract:
Bonus: $1,000,000
Season 14: $16,000,000
Season 15: $16,000,000
Season 16: $16,000,000
Season 17: $16,000,000
Season 18: $16,000,000 (team option)
Total paid out: YTBD, but looking like $69,000,000 for 4 years

Quick Summary:
Season 14: .793 OPS in 158 games playing 1B & RF
Season 15: Missed most of the season due to injury, further reducing his ratings.

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Lou Gil Chicago Jayhawks Age: 34 B/T: L/R Born: Hemphill, TX Position(s): 2B/IF/COF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The GM: goosegoslin

The contract:
Bonus: $9,000,000
Season 11: $18,000,000
Season 12: $18,000,000
Season 13: $18,000,000
Season 14: $16,000,000
Season 15: $16,000,000 (player option - accepted)
No Trade Clause
Total paid out: $96 million over 5 years

Quick Summary:
- Unable to play SS for the most part (never exceeded .955 FP in any season when playing there)
- Peaked with a .798 OPS in 141 games in season 14
- Had seasons of .733 OPS (162 games), .703 OPS (160 games) & .616 OPS (139 games)

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The Depth Chart Board

6 hours of my Friday night wasted but it's not like I have a life anyway!

This is a zoom of the current MLB team (pending callups)

And this is the entire organization.

You'll noticed it's sitting on a box on a small TV stand - that's because I have no idea of how to find the stud in the wall and use a drill to mount it on the wall with the screws that came with it.

AL Season 14 Preview

The Contenders (Ranked in Order)


Minnesota-The loss of Abraham Davis to free agency and Orber Benitez to injury in Buffalo and the expected addition of two power arms in the form of Marlon Rose and Rick Tyner to their rotation powers the Fatboys back to the top of the pecking order in the AL. Their offense will be almost completely in tact and their main departure, Louis Quantrill, is being replaced by the vastly more talented Rose. That offense is getting up there in age though.


Buffalo-They still have Vinny Wang, Clay Young, and one of the best offenses in the majors, but the loss of Benitez and Davis (even if Davis was, along with Young, surprisingly ineffective last season) is a blow to this team and knocks them one peg below the Fatboys.



New York Metropolitans-After having the 5th worst offense in the AL last season, the Metropolitans went on a Bizarro-Wilpon-esque spending spree this offseason and added the best hitter and best shortstop on the market to their already talented team. Although this team will not have a great OBP, they will have a dynamic rotation, the most valuable pitcher in the league in Crash Miller, and an offense that will hit some dingers and steal bases like the dickens. The Mets will be a team that is much more dangerous in the playoffs than in the regular season.


Philadelphia-The reigning AL champs return one of the more dynamic lineups in the league, but the loss of Bill Cameron hurts as does the loss of their DH last season, Hector Soto. Their pitching staff, while posessing a dynamic weapon in Ismael Molina, remains a liability.

Los Angeles-A sneaky good team from last season and my "lead pipe prediction for the season", The Hangars added two solid additions in Hector Diaz and Daniel Thompson to an already above average offense. The pitching staff will have former #1 pick Carl McMurty for a full season which should only help the number three staff from last season. If any team is poised to jump into the upper crust of the AL this season, it is the Hangars.

Potential Division Winners, But Luck Required(Ranked)

Tampa Bay-The likely favorite in the AL South and a perennially solid team, there is no reason to believe that this team will perfom much differently than the 90 win team that it has consistently been over the last six seasons, good or bad.

Florida-This could be the surprise team in the AL in season 14. The addition of Bill Cameron will greatly bolster an offense led by Ronald Leverault, and Louis Quantrill will be a solid option in the rotation. Could this be a replay of the JMilesky/Rockitsauce experience from seasons 10/11?

Decent enough but...not likely to reach the playoffs(Not Ranked)


Richmond-Not a bad team, and better than their record last year, but there is no reason to believe that they will challenge Tampa Bay or Florida for a division championship this season.


Las Vegas-Alex Bravo and Walt Lambert form a dynamic duo, and the additions of Danny Brower and Dale Stewart help, but it is difficult to forecast this team to win much more than 85 games in season 14.


Fargo-They lost Mariano Reyes who is one of the more valuable players in the league, but they added a number of smaller pieces who could make up for the loss of Reyes, but probably won't.


San Francisco-No reason to think they will be terrible or be a contender.





In the Prospect Business...(Not Ranked)


Syracuse-JMilesky returns to his old team with an Isiah Thomas-esque collection of bad contracts. Should be fun!


Boston-Rebuilding project year four commences.


Pittsburgh-A full season of Rafael Cairo will be exciting, but otherwise it is tough to forecast this team to do much more than last season.


Little Rock-Still a season or two away, but this team is primed to do great things in the very near future.


Cheyenne-They have a couple of good prospects in AA, but this team is still at least one year away from contending.

Season 14 Win Requirements

As a reminder, the following teams must win more than 50 games during Season 14 to stay in the league (wins needed in parentheses):

New York Yankees (61)
Boston Red Sox (58)
Pittsburgh Pug Dogs (62)
Cheyenne Tackleberries (56)