Season 11 Draft Recap - AL South

AL South

Ralph Woods Charlotte Dogs Age: 22 B/T: L/R Born: Portland, OR Position(s): C View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Charlotte Dogs
--With the #10 pick in the draft the Dogs picked up mega slugger C Ralph Woods. Woods has everyday durability, is above average defensively, and can hit the hide off of nearly every baseball thrown his direction. If Francisco Espada weren't in this draft, Woods would hands down be the best catcher in it, but still is a franchise player once he develops. The rest of the Dogs draft features some AAAA players who might make the bigs, with P Arthur Spier having the best chance due to his control and pitch selection. Woods is worth his weidth though, and gives the Dogs a good grade.
Grade: B+

Thurman Tresh Kansas City Express Age: 22 B/T: R/R Born: Palm Harbor, FL Position(s): SS View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Kansas City Express
--The #3 pick has it's benefits, and in this instance it was the selection of future superstar SS Thurman Tresh. Tresh has an amazing glove, and some of the best hitting stats in a SS since Dallas Kline. He doesn't have the everyday durability you would like to see in a franchise player, but should still be able to get 130+ games in over a season, which is still pretty good. 2nd round pick 2B Tanner Carillo has a solid eye and a good glove, and has ML potential. After that the K.C. draft descends into minor league filler. Tresh has the potential to be great though, and brings up K.C.'s score.
Grade: B+

Norman Shields Mexico City Diablos Rojos Age: 21 B/T: R/R Born: Grandview, WA Position(s): 2B View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Mexico City Diablos Rojos
--When your best pick is a 3rd rounder who hasn't signed, and you are left showcasing a 4th round minor league powerhouse, you know that it probably won't equal a grade A draft. But somebody had to provide all those supplemental picks for other teams, and that would be Mexico City. Since they really didn't focus on the draft this season, they probably don't care that they don't receive a passing grade.
Grade: F

Mariano Ramirez Nashville Rebel Riders Age: 18 B/T: L/L Born: San Diego, CA Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Nashville Rebel Riders
--Nashville used the #27 pick on P Mariano Ramirez, a hard throwing lefty with projected 100 control, and 3/5 pitches near or above 80. Ramirez doesn't have the stamina to make him a true starter, but he would excel in the bullpen as a 2 inning closer, and is a very good first round choice. Supplemental pick RP Dwight Averill has ML potential as a left hand specialist, and 2nd round pick C Ronnie Jacobsen has starting lineup capability. 4th round pick C Bill Parker could also make it into the majors as a backup, and completes a pretty solid draft for the Rebel Riders.
Grade: B+

Season 11 Draft Recap - NL West

NL West

Charlie Erving Honolulu Islanders Age: 22 B/T: R/R Born: Hatch, NM Position(s): LF/1B/2B/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Honolulu Islanders
--The Islanders used the #5 pick in the draft on baserunning maestro 2B Charlie Erving. Erving has enough skills with the bat to ensure that his incredible projected 100 speed and 100 baserunning abilities will wreak havoc on any weak armed catcher he goes up against. He should be a run scoring machine. The rest of the Islanders draft featured a collection of AAAA players who could make the bigs, but have some weird skill deficiencies that will probably ultimately keep them in the minors. The quality of the first pick though makes this a respectable draft.
Grade: B-

Walt Poole Iowa City Corn Dogs Age: 22 B/T: L/L Born: Chino, CA Position(s): CF View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Iowa City Corn Dogs
--The Corn Dogs used the #4 pick in the draft to select C Francisco Espada, who is quite possibly the most gifted catching prospect Cobb World has ever seen. Espada, who has yet to sign, is durable and gifted defensively, although he only projects to a 50 PC. His bat however is legendary, projecting near or past 90 in every category. In short, Espada is a beast who has HOF potential if he signs. 2nd round pick Walt Poole is a capable defensive CF, but his bat is lacking ML potential. None of the other top 5 round picks have signed for the Corn Dogs, so this draft is entirely dependent on the signing of Espada.
Grade: A- if Espada signs, D if he doesn't.

Willie Gandarilla Omaha Sluggers Age: 21 B/T: L/L Born: Barrow, AK Position(s): CF View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Omaha Sluggers
--The Sluggers had a bounty of 1st round picks, with 5 total including the supplemental round. Their fist pick, #31, was used on CF Willie Gandarilla, a speedy CF who really owns right handed pitching. Pitcher Jim Alexander will be a solid ML reliever, 2B Brett Moore is very good vs. lefties and has some pop. Meanwhile RF Ryan Little is average for his position, and RP Hector Villareal has great control but isn't good enough vs. right handed hitting to cut it in the bigs. The rest of Omaha's draft yielded some solid minor leaguers. This was all told a pretty good haul for the Sluggers, who pick late every season. There were no major stars in the bunch, but still this is a solid class wth some depth.
Grade: B+

Pablo Vincente Salem Bitches Age: 18 B/T: R/R Born: Chittenango, NY Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Salem Bitches
--Salem welcomed their newest Bitch in Pablo Vicente with the #11 pick in the draft. Vicente is a workhorse pitcher in the Vance Weaver model, good control, velocity, GB/FB, good pitches, and good vs. righties. He should be a #1 or #2 pitcher in the majors when he matures. Supplemental pick SS Darren Paquette also has ML potential, with an above average bat for the SS position, and a capable glove. 2nd round pick CF Rondell Richardson has a very good glove and ok hitting skills, enough to make it in the majors. After him the Salem draft drops off into minor league filler territory. Still, 3 ML potential players including a top of the line starter make this a very good draft for the Bitches.
Grade: A-

Season 11 Draft Recap - AL West

Cortez Mack - Cobb Times Herald

In what can only be seen as a righteous cosmic shift, the talent level in the season 11 draft was as amazing as season the season 10 class was awful. Nearly every team signed a ML quality player, with many franchises inking multiple future big league stars. Following is a divisional analysis of how the teams performed in the draft.

AL West

Derrin Washburn Anaheim Sharks Age: 19 B/T: S/L Born: Forney, TX Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Anaheim Sharks
--With the #26 pick in the draft the Sharks picked up a solid workhorse SP in Derrin Washburn. Boasting impressive stamina, control, velocity, and capable splits and pitch selection, Washburn should make it in the majors as a solid back of the rotation starter. 2nd round pick Bobby Mecir has ML potential as a setup man, as does 3rd round pick Tripp Rapp, who also gets a Times-Herald Top 5 Name of the Draft award. Overall a solid draft for a team that traditionally picks very late, and had no supplemental picks.
Grade: B

Whitey McIntyre Helena Hellraisers Age: 18 B/T: L/L Born: Hammonton, NJ Position(s): P (SuA) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Helena Hellraisers
--With the #20 pick in the draft the Hellraisers selected future closer Whitey McIntyre. Whitey has some skills on the mound, with all of the requisite closer capabilities, with only a slightly worrying weakness vs. right handed hitters. Helena had two supplemental picks, nabbing another solid reliever in Erik Rivera, and a SS with an above average bat in Javier Molina. 1B Vin Boldin was a very nice 3rd round pick, and has ML potential as well. This was a solid draft for Helena, with 4 players who all could contribute in the bigs, even though there isn't a superstar in the group.
Grade: B+

Darryl Boone Tacoma Jerry Gang Age: 18 B/T: L/L Born: Somerset, TX Position(s): 1B View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Tacoma Jerry Gang
--The Jerry Gang had the #6 pick in the draft, and took a flyer on an extremely talented SS in Hugh Clark. Clark hasn't signed yet, but if he does he is a SS built in the mold of MVP winner Corey Green, a type of player every team would like to have on their roster. 2nd round pick 1b Darryl Boone is a very good hitter as well, with a lethal eye and split vs. righties, he's an everyday player who should hit above .300, even in the cavernous Tacoma stadium. 3rd round pick Jesus Balboa could contribute as a setup man in the bigs, and 4th round pick C has a very nice bat, even if his durability limits him to platoon duties vs. lefties. This was a solid draft for the Jerry Gang, a great one if Clark signs.
Grade: A/B - depending on Clark signing a deal.

Parker Ellis Vancouver Grizzlies Age: 19 B/T: L/L Born: Brattleboro, VT Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Vancouver Grizzlies
--The Grizzlies chose the disturbingly mustachioed SP Parker Ellis with the #16 pick in the draft. In addition to his lazy eyes and red haired stache Ellis boasts impressive control, stamina, velocity, pitch selection, and GB/FB ratio. Ellis also has good enough splits that he should be able to make it as a top of the rotation starter in the major leagues for most teams. The rest of the draft wasn't the best, bringing on board talented minor league players, but nobody else who really projects as a big leaguer. Still, any time you can bag a #1 or #2 starter you have to consider the draft a moderate success.
Grade: B-

WEEKLY RECORDS ENDING FEB. 11TH

The weekly records are in. Some surprises, some usual teams near the bottom.

With a 2-2 record the last day, the NL North captured the best record for any division.

NL NORTH 53-35
AL WEST 52-36
AL EAST 47-41
AL SOUTH 47-41
NL EAST 45-43
NL WEST 38-50
AL EAST 36-52 ( Pawtucket win 16 of those wins)
NL SOUTH 33-55 ( Still bringing up the rear)

Best teams in the AL for the week:
1. Helena 17-5
2. Pawtucket 16-6
3. Pittsburgh 15-7
4.Nashville 14-8
5. Tacoma 14-8
6. Kansas City 13-9
7.Scranton 12-10
8. Wash. D.C. 12-10


AL bottom teams of the week: The first 3 from the AL East.
1.Toronto 5-17
2.Chicago 7-15
3.Detriot 8-14
4.Cleveland 8-14
5.Charlotte 9-13
6. Vancouver 10-12
7. Mexico City 11-11
8. Anaheim 11-11

NL Best teams of the week: ( top 3 from the NL North)

1.Sioux Falls 16-6
2.New York 14-8
3.Fargo 13-9
4.Syracuse 12-10
5. Omaha 12-10
6. St. Louis 12-10
7. Atlanta 11-11
8. Salem 10-12 ( Ploppie ran it most of the week)

NL bottom teams for the week:
1. Montgomery 6-16
2.Richmond 7-15
3.Iowa City 8-14
4.Honolulu 8-14
5.Wichita 10-12
6.Trenton 10-12
7.Jackson 10-12
8.Huntington 10-12

Ploppie getting ready for his performance.

Hi everyone, your fearless reporter on the prowl again. Rumor has it that Mr. Ploppie a.k.a Stump Buster Ploppie was seen rehearsing his act today. I did snap a picture of him at his Connecticut home today. He seems to be practicing his routine before he had to leave for work. I hope Stump Buster Ploppie's routine is better than this picture. I am sure a lawsuit could be pending for yours truly, but the news is always there to be reported. Until next time my fellow owners.........Peace and ploppiness forever......

Studs McGrew---------- Cobb Times Herald

Weekly records......good and bad

AL NORTH

Once again Pawtucket was "King" of the division. The G-Maniacs posted a 15-5 record ,by far the best in their division. Chicago and Toronto were 9-11, and as always Detriot brings up the rear with a 8-12 record.

AL EAST

Scranton was Top Dog this week, posting a 13-6 record. Cleveland and Washington finished 10-10, while Pittsburgh was 9-10.

AL SOUTH
Nashville was the best in the division with a 12-8 record. Mexico City was next at 9-11, followed by Charlotte and Kansas City at 6-14.

AL WEST

Anaheim was supreme this week, with a 14-6 record. Tacoma and Vancouver followed with a 10-10 record. Helena was close behind at 9-10.

Overall for the week
Best records:
Pawtucket 15-5
Anaheim 14-6
Scranton 13-6
Nashville 12-8

Worst:
Charlotte 6-14
Kansas City 6-14

NL NORTH

The New York Pick Pockets, showed why they are a "quick change" artist. They post a division best 15-5 record. Fargo was next at 13-7, Sioux Falls follows with a 12-8, and finally Trenton brings up the rear with an 8-12 mark.

NL EAST

Atlanta was the best team in the division, league and world last week with an outstanding 17-3 record. Wichita and Syracuse followed with a respectable 13-7 mark, and than St. Louis with a 10-10 record.

NL SOUTH
Honestly Richmond saved the division with an 11-9 record. Hunnington was 8-12last week. Montgomery finished the week 7-13, and finally Jackson(don't call me Michael) was 5-15. Once again a dismal week for the NL South.

NL WEST
THANK GOD FOR OMAHA!!!!! Again Omaha was the only bright spot this week. Omaha posted a 15-5 record, while the rest were.....Iowa City 6-14, Honolulu 4-16, and Salem 3-17(thank god for that 3 game winning streak)

Overall best records
Atlanta 17-3
N.Y. Pick Pockets 15-5
Omaha 15-5
Fargo, Syracuse, Wichita 13-7

Best Divisions

NL EAST 53-27
NL NORTH 48-32
NL WEST 43-37
NL EAST 42-36
AL NORTH 41-39
NL SOUTH 33-47
AL SOUTH 31-49
AL WEST 28-52(Omaha with 15 of those wins)

Chief Broken Rubber-------- Cobb Times Herald

rbf_4 - I am the Greatest King of the World Ever. Period.

Buster Gunns - Cobb Times Herald

In an astounding show of bravado, St. Louis HoundDogs owner rbf_4 made the bold statement today that his team was better than any outside of the NL East, and that he was confident that his bullpen was the tops in the league. Furthermore, rbf_4 went on to state that, "he is not to worried about making the playoffs," a remarkable show of chutzpah in a division that boasts 4 teams with 30+ wins at this early point in the season. The St. Louis owner took it a step further by also stating that he was greater than Muhammad Ali, Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Hercules, Serpentor, Optimus Prime, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Abe Lincoln, George Washington, and Jesus all combined. "I think they should just blow up Mt. Rushmore and start over with four different views of my beatific visage," said rbf_4.

This incredible show of self promotion awestruck even the most hardened arrogant asses the world has seen, with respectful comments coming in from Terrell Owens to Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. Said Owens, "I am the greatest football player who ever lived, but that statement is bigger than anything my agent ever forbid me from saying!" A missive from Iran's Supreme Leader read, "If rbf_4 were able to work for our great cause of becoming a nuclear power and wiping the United States off the face of the planet I know that the glorious nation of Iran would have no equal!"

Indeed, many around the league were impressed and amazed by the sheer audacity of rbf_4's comments, and have circled the dates on their league schedules in anticipation of facing the nigh invincible HoundDogs. "I can't wait to put a Cesar Milan style pack leader beatdown on those puppies," said a miffed Kazuhiro Ong, "St. Louis are not the champs until they go through Omaha, and besides, everyone in the league knows that me and Barrios are already the best."