The 1981 Offseason thread

[Cringer]

Signed Hurley to start and I got Lagario to come back to the Roadrunners. phew. Not having enough players for a position heading into a season has actually never happened to me yet, I wasn't looking forward to scrounging for guys.

[Alan T]

Just as a request, when posting a trade if you can indicate what level that player is playing at, it helps speed things up for me to find where they actually are in your organization

This is the current Financial report heading into spring training. Remember any team that does not get below the $65million cap prior to the start of the season will receive a penalty and will also be forced below the cap.

1 Boston Bombers $73,578,200
2 Atlanta Firecrackers $69,113,676
3 Toronto Osprey $64,944,910
4 Wyoming Buffalo Solider $64,905,520
5 Baltimore Gothams $64,459,300
6 Ann Arbor Wolverines $62,647,400
7 Columbus Crusaders $62,238,900
8 Hartford Harpooners $61,720,009
9 Long Island Violators $60,126,600
10 San Diego Fathers $59,708,200
11 Rio Grande Roadrunners $56,447,670
12 Chicago Black Sox $50,239,400
13 Brooklyn Brownstones $49,964,980
14 Napa Valley Winemakers $48,867,800
15 Colorado Rancheros $44,852,800
16 New York Panthers $39,081,350

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by muns

Thanks to everyone who worked on that bailout plan!

We woulda had it ready sooner, but we were held up by partisan politics (stupid RL! ).

[Alan T]

The 1981 Amateur draft:

Rank Team Payroll
Round 9
Round 9, Pick 1 - Boston Bombers: RF P. Clark
Round 9, Pick 2 - Rio Grande Roadrunners: 2B S. Hunter
Round 9, Pick 3 - Chicago Black Sox: RF Z. Butler
Round 9, Pick 4 - Napa Valley Winemakers: RF A. Gálvez
Round 9, Pick 5 - New York Panthers: CF A. Gómes
Round 9, Pick 6 - Ann Arbor Wolverines: RF R. Valéncia
Round 9, Pick 7 - Columbus Crusaders: SP W. Roe
Round 9, Pick 8 - Brooklyn Brownstones: C R. Tanner
Round 9, Pick 9 - Long Island Violators: 2B C. Rivera
Round 9, Pick 10 - Toronto Osprey: CF M. Wang
Round 9, Pick 11 - Wyoming Buffalo Soliders: RF D. López
Round 9, Pick 12 - San Diego Fathers: MR V. Medina
Round 9, Pick 13 - Colorado Rancheros: CF D. Roberts
Round 9, Pick 14 - Baltimore Gothams: SP E. Hull
Round 9, Pick 15 - Atlanta Firecrackers: RF N. Sato
Round 9, Pick 16 - Hartford Harpooners: 2B K. Gray
Round 8
Round 8, Pick 1 - Boston Bombers: MR R. Springer
Round 8, Pick 2 - Rio Grande Roadrunners: MR H. Noroa
Round 8, Pick 3 - Chicago Black Sox: SP C. Wheeler
Round 8, Pick 4 - Napa Valley Winemakers: MR B. Porter
Round 8, Pick 5 - New York Panthers: SP J. Paek
Round 8, Pick 6 - Ann Arbor Wolverines: CL R. Rojas
Round 8, Pick 7 - Columbus Crusaders: C J. Simpson
Round 8, Pick 8 - Brooklyn Brownstones: SS E. Gómez
Round 8, Pick 9 - Long Island Violators: RF W. Dorsey
Round 8, Pick 10 - Toronto Osprey: CF K. Jones
Round 8, Pick 11 - Wyoming Buffalo Soliders: RF F. Wade
Round 8, Pick 12 - San Diego Fathers: SS G. Rodríguez
Round 8, Pick 13 - Colorado Rancheros: SP A. López
Round 8, Pick 14 - Baltimore Gothams: 2B O. Rivera
Round 8, Pick 15 - Atlanta Firecrackers: MR C. Pike
Round 8, Pick 16 - Hartford Harpooners: CL W. Mullins
Round 7
Round 7, Pick 1 - Boston Bombers: LF B. Rollins
Round 7, Pick 2 - Rio Grande Roadrunners: 3B J. Campos
Round 7, Pick 3 - Chicago Black Sox: MR D. Porter
Round 7, Pick 4 - Napa Valley Winemakers: CF C. Lambert
Round 7, Pick 5 - New York Panthers: RF M. Bleakley
Round 7, Pick 6 - Ann Arbor Wolverines: C D. Alford
Round 7, Pick 7 - Columbus Crusaders: MR V. Miller
Round 7, Pick 8 - Brooklyn Brownstones: C L. Wall
Round 7, Pick 9 - Long Island Violators: CF L. Estrada
Round 7, Pick 10 - Toronto Osprey: MR A. Mejía
Round 7, Pick 11 - Wyoming Buffalo Soliders: RF Z. Liu
Round 7, Pick 12 - San Diego Fathers: MR C. López
Round 7, Pick 13 - Colorado Rancheros: C M. Torres
Round 7, Pick 14 - Baltimore Gothams: CL D. Davidson
Round 7, Pick 15 - Atlanta Firecrackers: 3B A. Smith
Round 7, Pick 16 - Hartford Harpooners: CF J. Noguchi
Round 6
Round 6, Pick 1 - Boston Bombers: 2B L. Brankin
Round 6, Pick 2 - Rio Grande Roadrunners: SP M. Ramos
Round 6, Pick 3 - Chicago Black Sox: SP C. Griffin
Round 6, Pick 4 - Napa Valley Winemakers: RF C. MacBeth
Round 6, Pick 5 - New York Panthers: LF M. Vázquez
Round 6, Pick 6 - Ann Arbor Wolverines: SP J. Alfonso
Round 6, Pick 7 - Columbus Crusaders: C J. Hughes
Round 6, Pick 8 - Brooklyn Brownstones: 3B M. McCarthy
Round 6, Pick 9 - Long Island Violators: CF J. Bernal
Round 6, Pick 10 - Toronto Osprey: C H. Lane
Round 6, Pick 11 - Wyoming Buffalo Soliders: SP Á. Enríquez
Round 6, Pick 12 - San Diego Fathers: SP D. Knight
Round 6, Pick 13 - Colorado Rancheros: SP H. Tsai
Round 6, Pick 14 - Baltimore Gothams: 2B D. Hoskin
Round 6, Pick 15 - Atlanta Firecrackers: MR W. Valenzuela
Round 6, Pick 16 - Hartford Harpooners: MR W. Torres
Round 5
Round 5, Pick 1 - Boston Bombers: 2B J. Mendoza
Round 5, Pick 2 - Rio Grande Roadrunners: RF R. Lee
Round 5, Pick 3 - Chicago Black Sox: CL R. Jomphe
Round 5, Pick 4 - Napa Valley Winemakers: 1B A. Takeda
Round 5, Pick 5 - New York Panthers: CL F. Flores
Round 5, Pick 6 - Ann Arbor Wolverines: 1B R. Bolzoni
Round 5, Pick 7 - Columbus Crusaders: SP A. Perea
Round 5, Pick 8 - Brooklyn Brownstones: C T. Ohayashi
Round 5, Pick 9 - Long Island Violators: SS B. Branch
Round 5, Pick 10 - Toronto Osprey: 2B R. Cervantes
Round 5, Pick 11 - Wyoming Buffalo Soliders: 2B J. Ch'ae
Round 5, Pick 12 - San Diego Fathers: SP J. Salinas
Round 5, Pick 13 - Colorado Rancheros: LF C. Adkins
Round 5, Pick 14 - Baltimore Gothams: SP A. Bryant
Round 5, Pick 15 - Atlanta Firecrackers: C B. Smith
Round 5, Pick 16 - Hartford Harpooners: LF C. Organ
Round 4
Round 4, Pick 1 - Boston Bombers: 3B I. Rodríguez
Round 4, Pick 2 - Rio Grande Roadrunners: SP H. Pond
Round 4, Pick 3 - Chicago Black Sox: 3B M. Barraclough
Round 4, Pick 4 - Napa Valley Winemakers: LF J. Pérez
Round 4, Pick 5 - New York Panthers: 3B L. Ferguson
Round 4, Pick 6 - Ann Arbor Wolverines: RF Á. Flores
Round 4, Pick 7 - Columbus Crusaders: RF D. Zippro
Round 4, Pick 8 - Brooklyn Brownstones: CF W. Nash
Round 4, Pick 9 - Long Island Violators: LF R. Cerda
Round 4, Pick 10 - Toronto Osprey: 2B D. O'Neal
Round 4, Pick 11 - Wyoming Buffalo Soliders: SP D. Osborne
Round 4, Pick 12 - San Diego Fathers: RF R. Hughes
Round 4, Pick 13 - Colorado Rancheros: SP D. Byrd
Round 4, Pick 14 - Baltimore Gothams: C R. Romero
Round 4, Pick 15 - Atlanta Firecrackers: LF J. Morales
Round 4, Pick 16 - Hartford Harpooners: C C. Brooks
Round 3
Round 3, Pick 1 - Boston Bombers: C B. Thomas
Round 3, Pick 2 - Rio Grande Roadrunners: SP R. Woodard
Round 3, Pick 3 - Chicago Black Sox: SS K. Tate
Round 3, Pick 4 - Napa Valley Winemakers: RF F. Li
Round 3, Pick 5 - New York Panthers: MR B. Ramos
Round 3, Pick 6 - Ann Arbor Wolverines: CF T. Fukuda
Round 3, Pick 7 - Columbus Crusaders: 1B I. Tenno
Round 3, Pick 8 - Brooklyn Brownstones: C R. Jacobs
Round 3, Pick 9 - Long Island Violators: 2B G. Cooper
Round 3, Pick 10 - Toronto Osprey: 2B K. Miyamoto
Round 3, Pick 11 - Wyoming Buffalo Soliders: SP P. Rodríguez
Round 3, Pick 12 - San Diego Fathers: CF J. García
Round 3, Pick 13 - Colorado Rancheros: MR J. Torres
Round 3, Pick 14 - Baltimore Gothams: CF G. Jones
Round 3, Pick 15 - Atlanta Firecrackers: RF B. Fisher
Round 3, Pick 16 - Hartford Harpooners: C R. Alarcon
Round 2
Round 2, Pick 1 - Boston Bombers: 2B J. Torres
Round 2, Pick 2 - Rio Grande Roadrunners: SP S. Blaquiere
Round 2, Pick 3 - Chicago Black Sox: 2B K. Strauss
Round 2, Pick 4 - Napa Valley Winemakers: SP F. Pereira
Round 2, Pick 5 - New York Panthers: 1B K. Cooper
Round 2, Pick 6 - Ann Arbor Wolverines: LF M. Díaz
Round 2, Pick 7 - Columbus Crusaders: CF S. King
Round 2, Pick 8 - Brooklyn Brownstones: RF R. Bancroft
Round 2, Pick 9 - Long Island Violators: C G. Johnson
Round 2, Pick 10 - Toronto Osprey: C C. Black
Round 2, Pick 11 - Wyoming Buffalo Soliders: CF F. Rhodes
Round 2, Pick 12 - San Diego Fathers: SP N. Stanford
Round 2, Pick 13 - Colorado Rancheros: 2B J. Magana
Round 2, Pick 14 - Baltimore Gothams: SP M. López
Round 2, Pick 15 - Atlanta Firecrackers: SP G. Rodríguez
Round 2, Pick 16 - Hartford Harpooners: CF W. Newton
Round 1
Round 1, Pick 1 - Boston Bombers: SP J. Gómez
Round 1, Pick 2 - Rio Grande Roadrunners: 2B N. Azuma
Round 1, Pick 3 - Chicago Black Sox: C L. Ávila
Round 1, Pick 4 - Napa Valley Winemakers: RF R. Williams
Round 1, Pick 5 - New York Panthers: LF C. Meléndez
Round 1, Pick 6 - Ann Arbor Wolverines: LF H. O'Neil
Round 1, Pick 7 - Columbus Crusaders: MR M. Kessler
Round 1, Pick 8 - Brooklyn Brownstones: MR E. Bravo
Round 1, Pick 9 - Long Island Violators: 3B J. Dawson
Round 1, Pick 10 - Toronto Osprey: RF J. Taylor
Round 1, Pick 11 - Wyoming Buffalo Soliders: SP O. Mazzolani
Round 1, Pick 12 - San Diego Fathers: SP F. Figueroa
Round 1, Pick 13 - Colorado Rancheros: SP J. Mitchell
Round 1, Pick 14 - Baltimore Gothams: CL R. Hernández
Round 1, Pick 15 - Atlanta Firecrackers: MR A. Harmon
Round 1, Pick 16 - Hartford Harpooners: 2B J. Ortíz

[Alan T]

1981 Spring Training:

CL:

Brooklyn 14-10
Wyoming 14-10
New York 13-11
Napa Valley 13-11
Baltimore 12-12
Atlanta 12-12
Toronto 12-12
Rio Grande 6-18


RL:

Columbus 16-8
Chicago 12-12
Hartford 12-12
Colorado 12-12
Boston 12-12
Long Island 11-13
San Diego 11-13
Ann Arbor 10-14

[muns]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

We woulda had it ready sooner, but we were held up by partisan politics (stupid RL! ).

I have no idea what your talking about my friend

[Cringer]

Spring Training is all we have had in Rio Grande for about 4-5 years now, and that has now been taken away from us.

[TimGuru]

2 and a half possible major leaguers, I'll take it

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Cringer

Spring Training is all we have had in Rio Grande for about 4-5 years now, and that has now been taken away from us.

Maybe it is a sign that you'll do well in the real season now instead!

[Chief Rum]

I'm not sure yet, with decisions to make, but probably at most 5 of the players who are on the spring training roster will make the major league squad. So it always amazes me when I can still go .500.

[Alan T]

Uploading the new file now. It is only roughly 19 MB in size. I'm trying to see if I can make more of the files a bit quicker to download. Once it is up, someone please download and verify that everything works ok. I'll say when it has finished uploading.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I'm not sure yet, with decisions to make, but probably at most 5 of the players who are on the spring training roster will make the major league squad. So it always amazes me when I can still go .500.

Refresh my memory, your good guys you send down to AAA correct?

[Alan T]

The new file is up. Once again as a reminder, quoted below is the important new league information for this year. Also both the New York and Napa Valley stadium changes have been processed.

Originally Posted by Alan T

A little bit of housekeeping to start. I'll mention most of this again at the end also just to make sure it is seen.

- Remember the VL will be disbanded on Sunday's sim (FOOL CLassic sim). Additional free agents will be in the pool after that sim if anyone plans on saving money for any of them.

- There is an official vote regarding the possibility of playoff expansion posted on the forum. It will expire in one week, so please make sure to vote.

- A new measure called "New Owner bailout plan" has been created and will be added to the stickied Rule book post. Any new owner that joins the league is entitled to cut at no cost $20million total value worth of contracts as a 1 time option during the FOOL Classic sim of their first complete season in the league. This does not apply to old owners coming back or old owners switching teams. An owner can cut more than $20million worth of contracts, however any overage would have to come off of the following season's salary cap. As a one time exception, Chicago Black Sox will qualify for this during the 1981 season as they joined the league during the financial changes but too late to take advantage of dumping players that other teams had prior to the rule changes.

- Starting with the next board of directors vote/term, the board of directors will be changed to a 6 season term with a rotating schedule of every 2 years a different board member is up for re-election. More info regarding this will be posted at the time of the next scheduled election/nomination.

[Alan T]

Err sorry, now the new file is up. Forgot to do the status update.

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Maybe it is a sign that you'll do well in the real season now instead!

Due to lack of players on the major league roster, and just plain forgetting to mix up the pitching, most of those guys in ST were starters. It's not a sign of doing well.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by muns

Refresh my memory, your good guys you send down to AAA correct?

yup. If you can't make any incremental improvements in your ratings, or you're not fighting for a roster spot, you're not on that spring training squad. I even bring up AA guys instead of playing them.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Cringer

Due to lack of players on the major league roster, and just plain forgetting to mix up the pitching, most of those guys in ST were starters. It's not a sign of doing well.

You out of everybody have had the worst luck lately with "whackiness"..... Im pulling for the Roadrunners over here.

[Alan T]

So, is the league file ok? Want to make sure before I call it a night and turn in.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Alan T

So, is the league file ok? Want to make sure before I call it a night and turn in.

My download worked. Everything seems good here.

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by muns

You out of everybody have had the worst luck lately with "whackiness"..... Im pulling for the Roadrunners over here.

I am not sure I have had bad luck from whackiness. I plain out admit I was more lucky early on then anything and bad decisions the last decade have killed me. Some bad luck was involved early on I guess, but that was just not having luck with getting the pitching I needed and went after. I also think my extreme loyalty to the first group of players hurt me.

I am somewhat happy with this team for some odd reason. My starting pitching is stronger then it has been in years. Not contender strong, but stronger then 2-30 season start I think.

[Pike]

Well.....considering my starters would be AAA most everywhere else I have to say that I'm shocked at the 12-12 record in ST. Pleased, but shocked.

Really, really happy with how the draft went. I labored on that list all afternoon, and I think I was able to fill a couple of big needs. I am a little dismayed that my top SP targets were grabbed up, but I guess SP is something I should have focused on a little better!

Anyway, good luck to all in the new season!

[muns]

Long Island Violators: Signed SS L. Crawford to a 4-year contract extension worth a total of $45,960,000.

I just want to point out that maybe the reason why you finished 17 games behind an AI controlled Hartford team last year is because of stuff like that above.

That is a Horrible extension. 11 mil a year for a guy that is barely better than any of my AAA guys..... You just wasted a shit load of cap space on someone that is not gonna be a game changer by himself. 11 mil should be reserved for game changers and Luke Crawford is no where near a game changer.....

You think he is gonna hit .385 agasint lefties again ever??

He got lucky to win the MVP last year beacuse he performed above himself and wont come close to it this year... Take the VORP stat away from OOTP which puts way to much emphasis on it anyway and he doesnt win it...

Wish ya luck though, really looking forward to seeing how ya finish up and how our record head to head is this year...

[Chief Rum]

You know, while I agree that deal is a little bit too large, he does remind me of a poor man's Edgardo Reyes.

[Pike]

or a rich man's Mac Rassmussen, lol.

That was a pretty interesting extension Anthony. Personally I'm gonna be doing my best to NOT spend that kind of money on anyone unless Jesus comes down from the clouds, suits up, and asks me where the field is. And even then, I'm gonna tell Jesus that he can roll just fine at 5 mil a year.

Course, I say this now. LOL I'm so weak willed we'll see how it goes!

[Tasan]

I would have locked him up for maybe 2 years if he would go for it, then see where he is then. The money isn't too out of whack though, when you look at what most teams pass off as a SS.

But hey, I've never been in 1st, except for like a month maybe in the seventies, so what do I really know?

[muns]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

You know, while I agree that deal is a little bit too large, he does remind me of a poor man's Edgardo Reyes.

to each there own right

but i wouldnt put him in the same company with an 11 time all star that hit .300 for his career and has 2500 hits.... poor man or not bit of a stretch for me

Speaking of which whats going on with the HOF?? Anyone know?

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by muns

to each there own right

but i wouldnt put him in the same company with an 11 time all star that hit .300 for his career and has 2500 hits.... poor man or not bit of a stretch for me

Speaking of which whats going on with the HOF?? Anyone know?

It's a very rough comparison, I'll admit. It holds true mostly on ratings, not on performance. Crawford needs to elevate his play more consistently. If last year were the norm instead of the aberration, he might have a chance to really be a poor man's Reyes.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

It's a very rough comparison, I'll admit. It holds true mostly on ratings, not on performance. Crawford needs to elevate his play more consistently. If last year were the norm instead of the aberration, he might have a chance to really be a poor man's Reyes.

Id get on board with that statement for sure

[muns]

Alan ive exported for tomorrow already just in case I dont make it back in time from practice.

[Chief Rum]

I have exported, too, Alan.

The moment you all have waited for: Chief Rum had to switch to a Friday night shift at his second job. He won't be here to bask in your adulation.

But, please do post said adulation anyway. I'll read it when I get home.

(And, finally, in all total seriousness, good luck everyone!)

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by muns

I just want to point out that maybe the reason why you finished 17 games behind an AI controlled Hartford team last year is because of stuff like that above.

That is a Horrible extension. 11 mil a year for a guy that is barely better than any of my AAA guys..... You just wasted a shit load of cap space on someone that is not gonna be a game changer by himself. 11 mil should be reserved for game changers and Luke Crawford is no where near a game changer.....

You think he is gonna hit .385 agasint lefties again ever??

He got lucky to win the MVP last year beacuse he performed above himself and wont come close to it this year... Take the VORP stat away from OOTP which puts way to much emphasis on it anyway and he doesnt win it...

Wish ya luck though, really looking forward to seeing how ya finish up and how our record head to head is this year...

Not even considering VORP, Luke Crawford had more "Win shares" than any other player in the RL last season. Meaning he was more responsible for his team's victorys then any other player in the RL. In that regard, if he keeps up that performance he is worth the money. Looking at his ratings, just based on how the Contact rating works, since he has fairly low power and average avoid K's and above average Eye, he is going to get on base a ton. He plays Shortstop which is just as tough a position to find a good player in as any other, and he plays it quite well (has great fielding ratings and was top 20 for fielding win shares as well).

So while I can't predict the future, and I can't say if $11 million is a hair too steep, I will argue about him not being a good player to lock up. I do feel that he can be a game changer and the only thing he doesn't have going for him is that he isn't a starting pitcher. Anyhows, just my thoughts

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by muns

to each there own right

but i wouldnt put him in the same company with an 11 time all star that hit .300 for his career and has 2500 hits.... poor man or not bit of a stretch for me

Speaking of which whats going on with the HOF?? Anyone know?

The HOF is coming soon. Dark Cloud wanted to roll with it this year, but I asked him to delay it a year because of a tool that we can use to measure "HOF Worthiness" is busted only when it comes to former Valdosta, St. Louis or St. George players. Been trying to find a work around for that, but either way the HOF should be coming soon.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Not even considering VORP, Luke Crawford had more "Win shares" than any other player in the RL last season. Meaning he was more responsible for his team's victorys then any other player in the RL. In that regard, if he keeps up that performance he is worth the money. Looking at his ratings, just based on how the Contact rating works, since he has fairly low power and average avoid K's and above average Eye, he is going to get on base a ton. He plays Shortstop which is just as tough a position to find a good player in as any other, and he plays it quite well (has great fielding ratings and was top 20 for fielding win shares as well).

So while I can't predict the future, and I can't say if $11 million is a hair too steep, I will argue about him not being a good player to lock up. I do feel that he can be a game changer and the only thing he doesn't have going for him is that he isn't a starting pitcher. Anyhows, just my thoughts

bingo.

under 30? check
MVP? check
has played w/ the Boston/Long Island his entire career? check
100 rated glove? check
100 rated contact and speed? check
responsible for more wins than any other player in the RL? check

whoever saw fit to give OF John Hunt a 7 year deal worth $11million per was the real doofus. me giving a player at a tough position who actually won an MVP award and actually is the biggest gamechanger in the RL is not the problem.

i find it funny that muns has a problem with that contract, and not, say, DC's ridiculously insane contract to 2B Payton a couple seasons ago OR the fact that DC, in only a couple days on the job for Boston, has his team well over the salary cap and Long Island, run by me, is fielding a full team with cap space to spare which was how i was able to land a pitcher like Vallis in free agency instead of having to wait for owners like Tasan to give him 2 awesome pitchers on the last day of the trade deadline.

[Anthony]

i know realism is not a priority here, but since i try to role play as an actual GM, i couldn't think of any real GM who would let an under 30 year old MVP who plays SS go into free agency. OFs are a dime a dozen, hell, i must've drafted like 10 five star OF prospects since i've been here, MVP caliber SS are much harder to come by.

[Young Drachma]

Shortstops in the league haven't really been as impactful as they are in real life. So it's just not as of importance. Other positions have generally been much harder to come by.

[Young Drachma]

Or perhaps we're just not all as brilliant as you. We'll surely rue the days we didn't listen to you and your wisdom, as we watch you from atop the Republic League standings for the next decade.

Then we'll learn.

[Anthony]

or we can just offer a billion dollar bonus to the best players since that's worked out so well for other teams in the past.

[Young Drachma]

Since Hartford's reign began in 1977, no team has finished second within single digit games back of them other than that '79 Chicago team. No, we didn't go all the way...but, we came closer than anyone else has to date, by executing my plan that year which was the only way to beat them which was to assemble the best pitching I could find and then outslug them. We did outscore them, we just didn't have the bullpen or the hurlers to really keep up with them over an entire year.

This year, we're hoping to do Toronto did in 1975.

[Pike]

Originally Posted by Anthony

bingo.

under 30? check
MVP? check
has played w/ the Boston/Long Island his entire career? check
100 rated glove? check
100 rated contact and speed? check
responsible for more wins than any other player in the RL? check

whoever saw fit to give OF John Hunt a 7 year deal worth $11million per was the real doofus. me giving a player at a tough position who actually won an MVP award and actually is the biggest gamechanger in the RL is not the problem.

You have a nice player there but you are also hogtied to him for the next 3 years. If he tanks, you will be screwed---just as I was when I got to Chicago and had to deal with Raz and his 12 mil contract. I'd say thanks to DC for doing me a favor by taking him off my hands, but it looks like DC knows what he is doing.

Until you start winning Classics I just can't understand how you can be so arrogant. And this has been your thing since you got here, as I saw with just a little bit of past thread reading. You've been declaring your genius since 1976 or so, and yet haven't won a single thing---not even a trip to the Classic.

Until you do something besides finish 17 out from Hartford, you need to learn a little humility and get quiet.

[Pike]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Just as a request, when posting a trade if you can indicate what level that player is playing at, it helps speed things up for me to find where they actually are in your organization

This is the current Financial report heading into spring training. Remember any team that does not get below the $65million cap prior to the start of the season will receive a penalty and will also be forced below the cap.

1 Boston Bombers $73,578,200
2 Atlanta Firecrackers $69,113,676
3 Toronto Osprey $64,944,910
4 Wyoming Buffalo Solider $64,905,520
5 Baltimore Gothams $64,459,300
6 Ann Arbor Wolverines $62,647,400
7 Columbus Crusaders $62,238,900
8 Hartford Harpooners $61,720,009
9 Long Island Violators $60,126,600
10 San Diego Fathers $59,708,200
11 Rio Grande Roadrunners $56,447,670
12 Chicago Black Sox $50,239,400
13 Brooklyn Brownstones $49,964,980
14 Napa Valley Winemakers $48,867,800
15 Colorado Rancheros $44,852,800
16 New York Panthers $39,081,350

I do need to ask.....how exactly is Boston's salary cap issue going to be fixed? Last year I was over by $300,000 and had a pretty important piece of my pitching staff moved to AAA.

I'm asking not to knock on DC, but for future reference if I get into a similar jam.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Pike

I do need to ask.....how exactly is Boston's salary cap issue going to be fixed? Last year I was over by $300,000 and had a pretty important piece of my pitching staff moved to AAA.

I'm asking not to knock on DC, but for future reference if I get into a similar jam.

Being that far over, the only real option is going to be for him to likely have to cut some salary. That salary will then be removed from the salary cap but still is attached as a team expense for the season. So he'll need to hope to make enough money for the season to cover those costs of cut salaries still.

[Pike]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Being that far over, the only real option is going to be for him to likely have to cut some salary. That salary will then be removed from the salary cap but still is attached as a team expense for the season. So he'll need to hope to make enough money for the season to cover those costs of cut salaries still.

So will he have to cut players making under $5 mil?

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Pike

So will he have to cut players making under $5 mil?

Yes, or players in the last year of their contract (Players in last years of their contract can be cut even if making more than $5mil)

[Pike]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Yes, or players in the last year of their contract (Players in last years of their contract can be cut even if making more than $5mil)

Gotcha. Thanks Alan.

[TimGuru]

Under five million or short timers.


To back up a few posts,

i find it funny that muns has a problem with that contract, and not, say, DC's ridiculously insane contract to 2B Payton a couple seasons ago

It may or may not have been muns who got wound up about it, but DC's spending spree and the manner in which it happened were fairly controversial. I suspect he may have intentionally done it to make the financial reforms almost universally palatable. And if you haven't been reading ANY of Pike's posts, the team wasn't exactly left in great shape as a result of the foolish spending.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Anthony

bingo.

under 30? check
MVP? check
has played w/ the Boston/Long Island his entire career? check
100 rated glove? check
100 rated contact and speed? check
responsible for more wins than any other player in the RL? check

whoever saw fit to give OF John Hunt a 7 year deal worth $11million per was the real doofus. me giving a player at a tough position who actually won an MVP award and actually is the biggest gamechanger in the RL is not the problem.

i find it funny that muns has a problem with that contract, and not, say, DC's ridiculously insane contract to 2B Payton a couple seasons ago OR the fact that DC, in only a couple days on the job for Boston, has his team well over the salary cap and Long Island, run by me, is fielding a full team with cap space to spare which was how i was able to land a pitcher like Vallis in free agency instead of having to wait for owners like Tasan to give him 2 awesome pitchers on the last day of the trade deadline.

See now this is starting to get stupid....

I dont have a problem with the contract so quit twisting my words. If you want to give that guy 11 mil per season and hamper your cap feel free. It just makes my job a lot easier both on the boards when you are complaining about things around here and in the game when you cant get free agents to sign or do contract extensions that you want.

I was explaining and pointing out to you why you cant and havent been able to compete with me and the last time I checked this is what a lot of the conversation around here lately has been about.

DC has won some rings, so why in the heck would I call him out about Paytons contract since he has proven to know what he is doing?? Along the same lines I havent seen him complain about why he cant win in 4 seasons and wants things to change.

You are very much correct on the John Hunt deal, that was stupid and Hunt didnt contribute to the previous owner winning towards the end of that deal, and I think most of us here understood why that owner left. Not really sure why you didnt cut him before our new rule, but I wont even get into that.

Im just trying to help you understand why you havent been where you expect to be. You have talked an awful lot of shit about how you can beat me and how you should be beating me and about packing up and going home if you dont. If you want me to take a look at what our head to head record has been the past 4 seasons ill gladly try to find that for ya, and im sure you can trust its not even near .500 ball on your end and thats including the season you did finish in second.....

I stand by my statement that 11 mil per year on him is just a bad deal. He had a fine season last year i wont contest that, but that is not his norm and has easily been proven by his stats.

As much as I appreciate Alans hard work on win shares, Crawford wont win the MVP this year, feel free to mark it down now. Please name me the last MVP that only hit 4 homers in a season in real life or here.... Its call flawed german programming, and i guess only a few of us can see that???

So you can use your check marks to justify why your spent 11 mil on him all you want, it really is no big deal to me. Just please quit twisting my words, and talking about quitting if you dont do it. It gets old real quick, especailly when I can point out why you havent been able to do it yet....

I for one dont want you to leave, as now its going to be fun watching our teams compete for a long time.

[Pike]

Originally Posted by TimGuru

And if you haven't been reading ANY of Pike's posts, the team wasn't exactly left in great shape as a result of the foolish spending.

LOL, you can say that again. But we are coming out of it now, and I have great hopes for a return to respectability in a couple years.

One thing I am going to do here, and this is stepping off on a big, big limb is to suggest that owners be tied to a team for a period of time, before being allowed to move on to another team. I do not, by any means, want to get on the wrong side of DC---who has been very helpful and friendly to me in my time here---but I think if you make those kind of moves, where you are really taking a chance of hurting a franchise for some time (and it did hurt, as I have been out of the FA market for two seasons now), you really should have to stick around for the aftermath. To his credit however, he has taken the two worst contracts on at Boston which allows me to get started on a true rebuilding project 2 years sooner than expected.

Again, DC has been a great help to me and I carry no animosity about what I inherited, but it is something that I have to admit has been on my mind for about a week now, and worth consideration as a rule admendment.

[Pike]

Originally Posted by muns

See now this is starting to get stupid....

I dont have a problem with the contract so quit twisting my words. If you want to give that guy 11 mil per season and hamper your cap feel free. It just makes my job a lot easier both on the boards when you are complaining about things around here and in the game when you cant get free agents to sign or do contract extensions that you want.

I was explaining and pointing out to you why you cant and havent been able to compete with me and the last time I checked this is what a lot of the conversation around here lately has been about.

DC has won some rings, so why in the heck would I call him out about Paytons contract since he has proven to know what he is doing?? Along the same lines I havent seen him complain about why he cant win in 4 seasons and wants things to change.

You are very much correct on the John Hunt deal, that was stupid and Hunt didnt contribute to the previous owner winning towards the end of that deal, and I think most of us here understood why that owner left. Not really sure why you didnt cut him before our new rule, but I wont even get into that.

Im just trying to help you understand why you havent been where you expect to be. You have talked an awful lot of shit about how you can beat me and how you should be beating me and about packing up and going home if you dont. If you want me to take a look at what our head to head record has been the past 4 seasons ill gladly try to find that for ya, and im sure you can trust its not even near .500 ball on your end and thats including the season you did finish in second.....

I stand by my statement that 11 mil per year on him is just a bad deal. He had a fine season last year i wont contest that, but that is not his norm and has easily been proven by his stats.

As much as I appreciate Alans hard work on win shares, Crawford wont win the MVP this year, feel free to mark it down now. Please name me the last MVP that only hit 4 homers in a season in real life or here.... Its call flawed german programming, and i guess only a few of us can see that???

So you can use your check marks to justify why your spent 11 mil on him all you want, it really is no big deal to me. Just please quit twisting my words, and talking about quitting if you dont do it. It gets old real quick, especailly when I can point out why you havent been able to do it yet....

I for one dont want you to leave, as now its going to be fun watching our teams compete for a long time.

+friggin' 1


LOL. I'm so out of contention it isn't funny, but this will be one hell of a season to watch tonight.

[TimGuru]

Case Study: Bernard Evans

2B/1B. Won MVPs in 75 at age 27 and 77 at age 29. VORPs for MVP years: 60.4 and 66.6 OPS well above .900 both years.

Since: 11.4, 29, and 10. Power has dwindled.

Crawford: His minimal power has already peaked, as his POW rating has declined since the last status saved. His 100 speed ratings dont prevent him from getting caught 25-30% of the time. His 100 glove doesn't give him a gigantic edge in f%, his mid-.980s is comparable around the league with other established SSs.

I share the sentiment that I wouldn't want to be paying a 32 year old 11+mil with the aging settings in this league. Time will tell.

[Pike]

If you look at the best teams in the MLB right now, more and more you see teams shying away from huge FA deals involving 4+ years of guranteed money. The teams that loaded up with huge contracts are finding themselves screwed and without alot of future flexibilty.

The Yankees did this for years, and look where they are. So did the Tigers. And the Mets.

MVP or not, you are talking about an old guy in a game that typically seems to hate old guys. It's a huge gamble, and not only that--but his cap space could prolly have been used on two players that together would have a much bigger impact on a team.