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.

---

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

---

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

---

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.

---

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)

NL Season 14 Preview

For the sake of organization, I'll rank the teams in order, as a "power ranking:"

#1A and 1B:

Washington D.C. Bureaucrats (NL) themoff02 View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Salem Sidehill Gougers (NL) anonymous26 View Hardball Dynasty Profile

It's difficult to pick a clear favorite from the two giants of the NL, so I'll take the easy route and crown them both #1. The Sidehill Gougers finished 4 wins better and had a slightly better run differential, but were eliminated in the DCS, while the 'Crats won it all. Both teams did little to improve their roster, but lost no one of consequence, simply cycling backups and role players through free agency. Salem boasts one of the best pitching staffs in Gleeman World history; the Greys' John Carroll may have won the NL Cy Young, but Gouger pitchers secured the next four slots on the ballot. The 'Crats showcase the league's most dynamic offense, bludgeoning the ball to the tune of .281/.349/.444, scoring a league-best 935 runs - all without attempting a single stolen base.


#3:

Tacoma Down Pour (NL) mrauseo View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The gap between the top two teams in the NL and the rest of the field is almost laughable. The Downpour are a good team, to be sure, and they've had a very productive offseason. The signing of Abraham Davis should turn out to be interesting; moving from neutral Dunn Tire Park to spacious Cheney Stadium could prove to be critical for the flyball-heavy righty. Ernest Crawford is an excellent caddy for Wilt Knotts, and Daryl Morgan will likely prove an improvement over Glenallen Simontacchi's enigmatic past performance. Bringing in productive flex pitcher Jacob Stewart can't hurt, either. Yet despite all of these improvements, the Downpour simply lack the amount of top-tier talent that both Washington and Salem possess, making them clearly a notch below.


4.

Chicago Jayhawks (NL) thorku View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The Jayhawks did even less to their ML roster than either the Sidehill Gougers or Bureaucrats, choosing to stand pat this season (their disturbing trend of trading for minor leaguers closely affiliated with the porn industry notwithstanding). The 'Hawks can hit, although some of that is a Wrigley mirage; they posted a league-leading .805 OPS last season, but could only muster a .737 showing on the road, good for 6th in the NL. Their team ERA is similarly misleading; while finishing well below the league average in that category, they actually managed a 3.64 ERA on the road, 4th best in the National League. In short, the Jayhawks are deceptively balanced, and look like one of the early favorites to grab one of the two coveted NL wildcard spots.


5.

Monterrey Conquistadores (NL) evelandz23 View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The Conquistadores finished an agonizing one game behind the NL South champion Twins, ending what turned out to be a disappointing year for a franchise coming off of a franchise-best 99 wins in Season 12. Despite this, Monterrey GM evelandz23 decided not to make any major moves, simply swapping minor pieces during the offseason. The focus will largely be on the pitching staff, which has great front end talent but questionable depth. Max Moehler and Ismael Colome are very good, but Juan Oliva's season smells fluky, and the rest of the rotation looks a bit dicey. Similarly, the bullpen is all over the place; mopup pitcher Desi Liriano somehow ended up throwing 77 awful innings, for instance. There's plenty of talent here, though, and there's no reason why the Conquistadores can't wrest the division crown back in Season 14.


6.

Boise Mashers (NL) mutineer View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Despite finishing with the 3rd best record in the NL last season and essentially returning the same roster, Boise will be hard-pressed to make it back to the playoffs. That's partly due to the strength of the division, but partly due to regression; prior to Season 13, Boise floundered at or below .500 for three straight years, including back-to-back 74 win campaigns in Seasons 11 and 12. Then, after adding Pat Badilla and Raul Rivera, the Mashers improved 18 games. As well as those two players performed, their efforts weren't worth nearly that much. Moreover, the team's performance is likely to deteriorate because of the age of its players. More than half of the roster is at least 32 years old; four of those guys are at least 38. Only one player falls under the age of 27. The Mashers still look good enough to play meaningful games late into the season, but the proverbial window of opportunity may be closing in a hurry.


7.

Oklahoma City Twins (NL) garlogic View Hardball Dynasty Profile

In a surprising turn of events, the Twins, not the Greys or Conquistadores, ended up winning the NL South for the first time since Season 4. It won't be easy to repeat, though; the Twins ended up outperforming their expected winning percentage by 7 games last season. Regression, meet Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City, meet regression. The team lives and dies by the same principles it always has. On offense, they slap the ball around and draw walks, then start running and don't stop. On defense, their pitchers throw strikes while their ridiculously athletic fielders gallop across the field, gobbling up every grounder and flyball in sight. It makes for a peculiar brand of baseball that evokes memories of years past. Will it work again this year? It's possible, and big-ticket FA acquisition Sting Berger will make them better, along with full seasons from their emerging youth corps. Regardless of their success last year, though, they don't appear to be the division favorites coming in.


8.

St. Louis Greys (NL) broadwayevns View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The Greys fell flat on their faces, finishing 13 games out of first, well out of contention. The bats turned ice-cold; almost every player on the roster played worse than his established level of performance. The pitching was fine, led (as usual) by stocky ace extraordinaire John Carroll. With OBP machine Solly Alexander joining youngster Russ Sullivan atop the lineup, the Greys' offense should (in theory) rebound, especially if aging slugger Matt Governale can prove last year's performance was a fluke, not a trend. It may be difficult to project St. Louis to regain its perch atop the division given last season's debacle, but expect them to at least be in the mix, if nothing else.


9.

Milwaukee Twindyans (NL) coolio4433 View Hardball Dynasty Profile

In a statement move, the Twindyans acquired former #1 overall pick Jin-Chi Choi from Anaheim for a couple of prospects. They also signed former Anteater SS Guy Wise to a utility role, adding a bit of depth and flexibility to the roster. It's not enough to make Milwaukee a good team, but as they proved last season, you don't have to be good to win the NL North. The Twindyans were actually outscored by 9 runs en route to taking the division. Not exactly impressive. Look for more of the same this year; this year's Twindyans are better than last year's model, but they still look like fodder for the top wildcard team in the playoffs (if they get there at all).


10.

Ottawa Otters (NL) parnold1 View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Milwaukee's biggest challenger, and the only team in the NL North to finish with a positive run differential. The Otters look primed to duke it out again with the Twindyans in the battle for mediocrity. Solid pitcher Alex Sano is gone, now replaced by relievers Galahad Christiansen and Alex Rojas; they're probably game enough to make this a wash. The Otters also replaced underachieving position players Theo Coleman and Bo Brown with platoon SS Miguel Alvarez. None of these moves do all that much to change the ability level of the team; while they technically outperformed Milwaukee last season in terms of run differential, the Twindyans did more to improve their squad this offseason.


11.

New York Yankees (NL) goosegoslin View Hardball Dynasty Profile

One of the youngest teams in Gleeman World, with only two players on the wrong side of 30. The Yankees, led by blossoming ace David Calderon, should be solid in run prevention; losing veterans Cozy Bolling and Galahad Christiansen won't hurt too much given their modest performances, and the Yankees have a truckload of able-bodied (if unspectacular) pitching prospects at AAA. The offense, however, is another problem; the Yankees scored the 3rd fewest runs in the NL, ahead of only the lowly Comics and 'Nard Doggs, and they've done nothing to address the issue. Godspeed, Danny Payton.


12.

Sioux Falls Gunslingers (NL) tyle0056 View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Despite being listed just under their NL North competition in the preliminary rankings, the Gunslingers don't appear to be a threat, even in a division this weak. That's because their respectable regular season record masks the league's 4th worst pitching staff (by RA) and 4th worst offense (by RS), and it's hard to say they've improved all that much. Sure, they've brought in solid FA starter Otis Upshaw, and trading for Pat Bowen should bolster a bullpen that at times looked like Rob Hutch, Carlos Santiago, and a bunch of Little Leaguers. Getting to start Willie Espinoza for a full season is nice as well. However, the Gunslingers also lost solid SP Placido Coronado and OBP-heavy 2B Solly Alexander. Coronado's been replaced, but there doesn't appear to be a legitimate solution to man the keystone on the roster.


13.

Montreal Redbirds (NL) bkukowski View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Formerly the Vancouver Vigilantes, longtime GM scottie3234 voluntarily resigned over the offseason. Since then, the franchise now has a new locale (Montreal), moniker (Redbirds), and GM (bkukowski). It'll be a long road back to respectability for the new franchise, as they inherit a pitching staff that allowed 953 runs, 2nd worst in the NL. To remedy the situation, Montreal opted to do some spring cleaning, bringing in pitchers Glen Leon, J.C. Carroll, Henry Gilmore, and Bernie Nunez, among others, while also calling up relief prospect Wellington Martinez. Furthermore, the Redbirds agreed in principle to trade for Anteater star Sal Roosevelt at a later point during the season, which should provide a huge shot in the arm for the beleaguered cadre of pitchers. Montreal also acquired Gustavo Rojas, Mateo Gonzalez, and Willie Sanchez, all solid big leaguers in their own right. It's not enough to bring them to contention, even in the weak NL North. It might, however, give them a chance to pass Sioux Falls and climb out of the cellar.


14.

Anaheim Anteaters (NL) base_ballers View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Once one of the better franchises in Gleeman World, the Anteaters have undergone a major facelift. Only two players (Sal Roosevelt and Lariel Lee) from Season 13's 25 man roster figure to still be there by Opening Day, and Roosevelt should be on his way out a fifth of the way into the season. There's not much to say about this unit; as a ragtag collection of unwanted free agents, Quad-A castoffs, and waiver bait, they don't figure to make much noise this year. Finishing within 10 games of the 2nd worst NL West team would be an achievement in and of itself.


15.

Scranton Nard Doggs (NL) schnoogens View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The franchise formerly known as the Rincons finally bottomed out, posting an abysmal 41-121 record (and actually deserving it, which is just as impressive). They don't rank last, though, because GM schnoogens decided to proactively fix up the team. To fix the pitching staff, the Nard Doggs called up top prospects Mule Hardy and Sammy Gonzalez; they also signed FA hurlers Willis Bradford, Alex Sano, Joshua Walsh, and Louis Lyon, all capable major leaguers that should provide a modicum of stability where there previously was none. Scranton also signed veteran 3B Clay Gibbons, who should provide some much needed power in the middle of the lineup, and snagged Rule 5 gem Jacob Sauer, who'll likely be penciled in as the starting RF. There are still tons of holes, and this is hardly a good team. Nonetheless, they should at least avoid being a complete pushover.


16.

Iowa City Comics (NL) gusta487 View Hardball Dynasty Profile

My pick for the worst team in the NL. One reason is that they don't have a pitching staff right now. At all. The Comics currently have 6 pitchers on their 25 man roster; one of those, Curt Jackson, probably has no business being on a major league team. The offense doesn't actually look a whole lot better, either. While they do have a full squad of position players, only one (Mo Crane) appears to have a better than 50/50 shot of topping a .700 OPS. This could end up being a complete disaster.

Ticket on HOF nominees

2/5/2010 11:40 AM	benj13blue
It's ridiculous that Grover Rowand and Haywood Towers aren't even eligible to be nominated for the Hall of Fame. They were two of the best pitchers in the history of the world for a good chunk of time. I don't know if they pitched long enough to really be Hall of Famers, but the owners in our world should get the chance to debate that. Is there some way players who don't meet the nomination thresholds can be added to the list upon owner request?
2/5/2010 1:28 PM	Customer Support
Please refer to following knowledge base article. http://whatifsports.com/knowledgebase/KB_Article_Details.aspx?kbid=774
2/5/2010 1:53 PM	benj13blue
I'm well aware of the requirements, thanks. That's the point. They're bad. I told patrick they were bad, and that star players such as Rowand and Towers would be left out as a result. I guess we'll have to start our own Hall of Fame on the world blog. Oh well. Yours could have been a cool feature.
2/5/2010 2:13 PM	Customer Support
We reduced the qualifications for all players to accommodate for players that were generated with ML years upon world creation and I'm sorry you disagree with the formula that we use, but you can see that even if we were to modify it it wouldn't get every player in that every user wants to see. Even if we only take into account the seasons in which Rowand played he doesn't qualify. I would be interested to know of any pitcher that has ever been up for nomination with less than 125IP. You may have a case for Towers but again we lowered the numbers to get these types of guys in and he still doesn't qualify.
2/5/2010 2:18 PM	benj13blue
That's why I'm saying there should be some way to make a special request to be able to nominate somebody who otherwise wouldn't qualify. I don't know if Towers and Rowand would make it, but that shouldn't be up to you. It should be up to our world. They were dominant pitchers for the early stage of our world history.
2/5/2010 2:19 PM	benj13blue
Or you could just make it so that anybody who won an MVP or Cy Young award is eligible to be nominated, even if they don't meet your formula. That wouldn't add that many players to the mix and it would probably catch every player who people are griping about not being included.
2/5/2010 2:21 PM	Customer Support
I understand what you are saying, but everyone wants someone in that didn't qualify. We could never field that many requests. If changes need to made we can always change the qualifications and we appreciate your suggestion.
2/5/2010 2:30 PM	benj13blue
What about making Cy Young/MVP winners all eligible for nominations. Most of them will be eligible anyway, so adding the rest can't be that big a deal, right?
2/5/2010 2:33 PM	Customer Support
Like I said if we feel that we need to make any changes we will surely take your suggestions into consideration. Thanks again.
2/5/2010 2:46 PM	benj13blue
Just so I'm clear, you've gotten so many complaints about missing players that you couldn't handle that many individual requests, but you don't think anything's wrong with your method, so you won't yet consider a simple fix that would stop just about all the complaints. That's the customer support I've come to know and love from WIS. Sorry to be snarky, but sometimes you guys make a really enjoyable product unnecessarily frustrating.