The New York Knights

[Jeffy25]

The spring of 2008 will start off with two new baseball franchises joining major league baseball and two leaving. The Washington Nationals, previously the Montreal Expos, as well the Pittsburgh Pirates are being annexed out of baseball due to lack of funds to continue their baseball operations and are joining independent leagues.
The two new franchises joining Major League Baseball are taking their places in their respective leagues. Will be the New York Knights, owned and operated by Jeffrey Lage. They come from an eastern independent league. The owner Jeffrey Lage will be acting General Manager and has approved the budget for a new stadium with capacity of 50,000. They will be in Queens, New York, a region that has enjoyed this team for many years. The New York Knights will also have four minor league farm teams and will be playing in the NL Eastern division.
The other team joining the Major leagues, the Nashville Nine will be enjoying a similar set up in Nashville, Tennessee. Owned and operated by the DeWitt family, also having ownership in the St. Louis Cardinals, however, Bill the principal owner will not have any active control.

[Jeffy25]

There will be no expansion draft. This year (as well my only reporting of Nashville will be the naming of their rosters). Both teams are joining the league with their new budgets of 50 million each, to enjoy free agency and players they are bringing from their independent era of baseball.

[Jeffy25]

New York's first signing is Shortstop Neifi Perez to a three year 7.35 million dollar deal
Nashville : RF Jack Wilson 2 year 6.1 million
New York: SP John Patterson 3 year 9.8 mil
Nashville: C Mike Piazza 2 year 7.5 mil
New York: LF Reed Johnson 2 year 4 mil
Nashville: RP Akinori Otsuka 1 year 4.75 mil

I'm done adding up Nashville's...

[metsguy234]

Wait, all the players from Pittsburgh and Washington are gone now???

[Jeffy25]

P Sun Woo Kim 3 year 7.2 mil
SP Brian Lawrence 2 year 5.9 mil
RP Coalter Bean 2 year
CF Nook Logan 3 year 6 mil
3B Glenn Williams 4 year 4 mil
SP Dustin Williamson 1 year 2.6 mil
RP Julio Santana 1 year 2 mil
1B Shea Hildenbrand 2 year 4 mil

[Jeffy25]

Wait, all the players from Pittsburgh and Washington are gone now???


Yup, erased. I know that isn't realistic....but it's to keep it challenging. I have to live off the free agent class. I can't offer trades, the computer has to offer them. So i either have to live off free agents, stay under budget, and turn an independent team full of guys rated poorly into a dynasty.

[Jeffy25]

OF Preston Wilson 1 year 2.2 mil
C Jason Philips 1 mil 2.1 mil
2B Damian Jackson 1 year 2.6 mil
2B Bobby Hill 3 year 1.9 mil
C Humberto Quintero 3 year 5.25 mil
UT Scott Spiezo 1 year 2.25 mil
OF Pablo Ozuna 1 year 2.6 mil
Of Termel Sledge 1 year 1.8 mil
C Shawn Wooten 1 year 1.2 mil
OF Richard Hildago 1 year 1.8 mil

[Jeffy25]

RP Scott Dunn 3 year 7.5 mil
RP Scott Riedling 1 year 1.5 mil
RP Winston Abreu 1 year 1.5 mil
RP Jorge Vazquexz 1 year 1.9 mil
RP Scott Williamson 1 year 2 mil
SP Brandon Claussen 1 year 1.5 mil

[Jeffy25]

my lineups and pitching rotation opening day

[Jeffy25]

I guess I should have stated my rules in this before I got started:

I am not allowed to offer any trades, I can not edit any players in anyway. When going into free agency the amount that I am allowed to spend is my current payroll subtracted from my current payroll budget i.e. if current payroll is 64 mil and my budget is 76 mil then I can spend up to 12 mil.

I will manage a game a week. usually on sundays.

League settings will be as follows:
promotion to majors +30
Promotion to triple a +40
to double a +50
To single a + 60

salary demands are + 20
and injury frequency on all accounts is -30, just annoying to constantly have to make the adjustments unless you are playing each game.

[Jeffy25]

Start of the season

and opening day was a tough one. Johan Santana proved too much as the Knights get rocked around in their expansion debut at Citi Field.

[Jeffy25]

New York Knights (0-1) at New York Mets (1-0)

April 1, 2008
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Knights 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1
Mets 1 2 2 1 0 0 0 2 x 8 13 0


Knights AB H BB R HR RBI K SB AVG
Glenn Williams 3B 4 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .500
Nook Logan CF 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
Neifi Perez SS 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 .000
Shea Hillenbrand 1B 4 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 .250
Richard Hidalgo RF 4 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 .250
Jason Phillips C 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Scott Spiezio 2B 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
Pablo Ozuna LF 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
John Patterson P 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
Colter Bean P 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Winston Abreu P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Preston Wilson PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Scott Dunn P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 32 5 0 0 0 0 13 0

2B: Glenn Williams (1), Richard Hidalgo (1)

E: Nook Logan

Mets AB H BB R HR RBI K SB AVG
Jose Reyes SS 4 3 1 3 0 1 1 1 .750
Luis Castillo 2B 5 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .200
Moises Alou RF 5 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .600
David Wright 3B 3 2 2 1 0 1 1 0 .667
Carlos Delgado 1B 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 .250
Carlos Beltran CF 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 .000
Ryan Church LF 5 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 .200
Brian Schneider C 4 2 1 1 1 3 0 0 .500
Johan Santana P 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 .000
Totals 38 13 7 8 1 7 8 1

2B: Jose Reyes (1)
HR: Brian Schneider (1)


Knights IP H BB HR R ER K PIT ERA
John Patterson 2.2 8 0 1 5 3 3 84 10.13
Colter Bean 2.2 3 5 0 1 1 2 84 3.38
Winston Abreu 1.2 0 1 0 0 0 2 33 0.00
Scott Dunn 1.0 2 1 0 2 2 1 30 18.00
Totals 8.0 13 7 1 8 6 8 231

Mets IP H BB HR R ER K PIT ERA
Johan Santana 9.0 5 0 0 0 0 13 104 0.00
Totals 9.0 5 0 0 0 0 13 104

WP: Johan Santana (1-0)
LP: John Patterson (0-1)

Temperature: 49F
Wind: 3 MPH (right to left)
Attendance: 46,500
Time: 3:08

[BINGLEBOP]

Wait, all the players from Pittsburgh and Washington are gone now???


Yup, erased. I know that isn't realistic....but it's to keep it challenging. I have to live off the free agent class. I can't offer trades, the computer has to offer them. So i either have to live off free agents, stay under budget, and turn an independent team full of guys rated poorly into a dynasty.

Ouch... usually when I do an expansion draft like this, I release all of those players into the free agent pool first, and THEN I delete their teams. Now all of the Pirates and Nationals simply don't exist anymore.

[Jeffy25]

TRADE!!!!!!!!!

KC send 27 year old Relief Pitcher to the New York Knights for New York's starting pitcher Brian Lawrence and prospect second basemen Deron Bloor.

This works out perfect for me! I follow Ryan Braun the reliever around all the time, and will be converting him to a right fielder. Brian Lawrence will be tough to loss and Deron Bloor was a top prospect. But this should help New York out as they are now 3-4

[Jeffy25]

This is how Braun looks as a Right Fielder. Bad eye, and fielding. But we need a solid hitter, and hopefully he will do just that.

[Jeffy25]

After one month and being nine games back. Owner, Jeffrey Lage publicly announces that his is not concerned about the current struggles. That the team is new the league and it will take time for both the fans and the public to get used to Queens being in the pros. "After having such a winning tradition at a lower level of play it is difficult to have expected that we would have jumped out to such a large lead early on. I am pleased with how hard everyone is working, and this team has a bright future. We are going to focus on farm growth and spending some revenue next year to help this team regain their winning tradition."

[Jeffy25]

Number one draft pick. New York won the amateur rounds number one draft pick with Nashville getting number two. With New York's pick they take High School Starting Pitcher Ed Oliver.
Ed needs work on his control and power but his movement is already there. If he can control his changeup, develop another pitch and locate his fastball he could be a future stud.

[Jeffy25]

With their second pick the Knights take a promising thirdbasemen with plenty of power.

[Jeffy25]

And the rest:

and if you are wondering why Carr was taken with the fourth pick. look at his hitting, we are going to see if we can use him the way Ryan Braun was used.

[Jeffy25]

The Knights to make history:

Putting not only one, but two amatuer draft picks directly into the major leagues the day after they were picked. No minor league seasoning for these guys, The Knights manager Tony Ludel feels they are ready.

[Jeffy25]

June seventh vs the Mets, Rookie Eric Carr, pitcher turned outfielder, in his first big league at bat, and first time since high school. Eric Carr homers to left field off Orlando Hernandez.
Said Carr, "I didn't really have much time to think, it was just instincts. I was looking fastball away and he just left it up there for me to drive it. This is a great feeling, one day your a low level college prospect, and literally, the next day you are playing in Citi Field in New York hitting a home run just because a team believes you can do it. I love it here!"

[Jeffy25]

Where as Ed Oliver is struggling in his first two big league starts

[Jeffy25]

control issues

[BINGLEBOP]

Considering the only reason he's in the Major Leagues (when he should still be in the minors) is because of his movement, it's easy to see why.

[ewing6]

yeah good dynasty so far all these picthers turned hitters you should get micah owens and carlos zambrino and bat them 3 4

[Jeffy25]

The end of the first year:

Carr managed 25 homers in only 100 games played and 300 at bats. but both Carr and Braun had poor fielding percentages. 52 wins isn't by any stretch good. But it's the start of a storied franchise.

[Jeffy25]

Free agency:

Releasing:
Jason Phillips
Pablo Ozuna
Spiezio
Damian Jackson
Richard Hildago
Termel Sledge
Preston Wilson
Brandon Claussen
Scott Williamson
Dustin Hermanson
John reidling
Jorge Vazquez
Julio Santana

Resigned:
Winston Abreu
offered arby for 1.5 mil

[Jeffy25]

Team payroll is 27 mil
payroll budget is 126 mil
that means that I can spend up to 99 million in free agency

Signed
OF Corey Hart
4 year 36.6 mil
1B Prince Fielder
7 yr 59.5 mil
3B Edwin Encarnacion
3 yr 25.5 mil
SP Chad Billingsly
7 yr 48.3 mil
SP Chris Capuano
3 yr 17,7 mil
SP Matt Garza
4 yr 20.8 mil
RP Taylor Tankersly
5 yr 19.5 mil
2B Dan Uggla
1 yr 11 mil
RP Akinoro Otsuku
2 yr 8.8 mil
C Josh Bard
2 yr 6.2 mil
SP Jon Lester
2 yr 5.4 mil

After free agent overhaul signing Jeffrey Lage was quoted as saying."

We knew we would have to be aggressive this offseason in order to get our team prepared for next season. And luckily our fans are going to be rewarded with getting everyone on our wish list. This should be a really exciting year."

[Jeffy25]

TRADE

The New York Knights and Tampa Bay Rays made a move today within the same division that should be able to help both teams.

The Knights get a starting shortstop and Catcher for their future. The Rays get a solid center fielder, more reliable catcher and a reliver to add to their repitore.

General Manager Jeffrey Lage said, "This move should really help us, we hate to lose everyone but we open our arms to two players for our future. This should really help us long term."