Are the Royals that bad????

[jamesfinch]

Okay so the Royals are perhaps the worst team in the Majors this year.

But surely they cant be that bad.......

I am playing using the Crowley database on Mogul difficulty without equalise cities or any of those other options/ I no longer have Beltran but i feel confident non the less.

My Goals

Well, obviously, to win is my main aim. I feel that I can allow myself one (maybe two) true building years but after then I want to be a challenger in the very winnable AL central.

I would also like to reduce my payroll from the $46 million it currently stands at. Ideally it should be as low as $30 million as this is where I like to operate.

Players I need to trade

Just looking down my roster and at the payrolls a few names jump out to me:

3B - Joe Randa (P76/O76) - $3.2mill 4yrs
SP - Brian Anderson (P74/O74) - $3.2mill 1yr
C - Benito Santiago (P71/O71) - $2.15mill 1yr

There are other players on smaller contracts of around $600K who I am looking to move as well but those are the 3 I need to move.

RF - Juan Gonzalez (89/89) - $4mill 1yr- a guy who has good talent for his price but with only a year left on his contract almost certain to be moved.

1B - Mike Sweeney (94/95) - $11mill 4yrs- obviously my best player but his contract is huge for a club like mine. I am going to hold onto him until it gets to a point where I am offered $3mill for him (currently $1mill)

My Golden Rule

Unless I have a serious chance of contending I will never let someone leave to free agency. I feel this is a huge waste and will endevour to trade any player who is heading that way at the last minute before the deadline.

I will make my pre-season trades and then make my next post before the season starts.

[jamesfinch]

Okay, I've made some moves and have cut my payroll down to just $31mill and I have not yet moved Mike Sweeney.

Trades

C Benito Santiago, 3B Joe Randa, RF Juan Gonzalez, SP Brian Anderson sent to Philadelphia.

All 4 are high earners (see above post) and this trade cuts a lot of salary. Santiago and Randa aren't worth the money. Gonzalez and Anderson may be, but Gonzo is in his last year.

2B Chase Utley sent to Kansas City (O65/P100)

For the guys and salary I lose I am very happy about what I have got back. Utley is a quality prospect.




IF Tony Graffanino sent to San Francisco

A $1.5mill salary dumped on a player who was due to start from the bench.

RP Leo Estrella sent to Kansas City (65/71)

An average RP who will be in my AAA this year.





OF Matt Stairs (80/86) sent to Arizona

Stairs is a good RF but a $1mill contract and Guiel as a back-up RF I have decided to move him.

RP Stephen Randolph (71/75) sent to Kansas City

I'm picking him up to add some bullpen depth. Cheap and an ERA of 4 last year.




2B Damian Jackson (74/74) and 2B Jed Hansen (67/71) sent to Saint Louis

A total of $1mill between two AAA players was too much money.


3B Scott Seabol (63/70) sent to Kansas City

Nothing special, just cheap.




C Alberto Castillo (68/68), RP Scott Sullivan (78/78) and SP Jason Dickson (64/64) sent to Boston

$3.2mill worth of players but only Scott Sullivan is on my roster but he is only a set-up man.

1B Earl Snyder (68/80) sent to Kansas City

High peak but only a 1yr deal. May renew if I move Sweeney.


Contracts

Chase Utley (65/100) signed to a 5-year contract extension for $3mill.

Eric Hiljus (63/89) signed as a free agent to a 5-year $500,000
contract.


Scouting ratings +/- 3

[jamesfinch]

Okay, so here is my opening day roster:

Lineup

1. Relaford 2B (74/74)
2. Berroa SS (85/85)
3. Harvey 1B (85/94)
4. Sweeney DH (92/92)
5. Guiel RF (74/74)
6. Casanova C (77/77)
7. Dee Brown RF (75/75)
8. Seabol 3B (66/77)
9. Brown CF (70/70)

Hardly a bunch of superstars but a solid base with a few prospects still to come up for next year.

Bench

Pickering 1B (75/78)
DeJesus CF (65/99)
Berger RF (70/77)
Lopez IF (73/73)
Stinnett C (74/74)


Rotation

Wright (79/79)
Appier (78/78)
Reyes (76/79)
Gobble (73/79)
Randolph (79/79)

Very weak but cheap rotation.

Bullpen

Closer: MacDougal (77/85)
Set-Up: Venafro (75/75)
Short: Seanez (78/85)
Middle: Wood (70/71)
Long: George (59/66)
Alt: Feild (64/71)

[jamesfinch]

Okay, up to all-star break now.

Record: 34-52 (5th in AL Central, 13.5 games back)

Runs Scored: 411 (league avg 445)
Runs Allowed: 518 (league avg 446) OUCH!

My player of the first half: DH Mike Sweeney (.335, 14HR, 47RBI)
Very good news for a guy I am considering trading at an $11mill per year contract. I had said that I would trade him when his value was at more than $3mill and I have had an offer of $4mill, but not trading just yet.

Biggest good surprise of the first half: MR Rudy Seanez (3.03 ERA).
Pitched so well he has taken the closer job from MacDougal. Shows how bad the season has been going when your middle reliever is your best surprise!

Biggest letdown: Mike MacDougal (8.93 ERA, 7 BSvs) terrible start cost him the closer role and is now pitching in middle relief.



Midseason Trades

RP Nate Field (64/71), RP Matt White (60/75), SP Miguel Asencio (73/75), RP Jaimie Cerda (72/75), RP Steven Randloph (79/79), SP Jimmy Gobble (73/79), SP Kyle Snyder (73/74) sent to Houston.

RP Brad Lidge (78/85) and SP Carlos Hernandez (70/75)

All players given up are in their last year, Lidge and Hernandez will both feature prominently in the bullpen and rotation respectively.

[cheeze]

Originally posted by jamesfinch
Okay, I've made some moves and have cut my payroll down to just $31mill and I have not yet moved Mike Sweeney.

Trades

C Benito Santiago, 3B Joe Randa, RF Juan Gonzalez, SP Brian Anderson sent to Philadelphia.

All 4 are high earners (see above post) and this trade cuts a lot of salary. Santiago and Randa aren't worth the money. Gonzalez and Anderson may be, but Gonzo is in his last year.

2B Chase Utley sent to Kansas City (O65/P100)

For the guys and salary I lose I am very happy about what I have got back. Utley is a quality prospect.




IF Tony Graffanino sent to San Francisco

A $1.5mill salary dumped on a player who was due to start from the bench.

RP Leo Estrella sent to Kansas City (65/71)

An average RP who will be in my AAA this year.





OF Matt Stairs (80/86) sent to Arizona

Stairs is a good RF but a $1mill contract and Guiel as a back-up RF I have decided to move him.

RP Stephen Randolph (71/75) sent to Kansas City

I'm picking him up to add some bullpen depth. Cheap and an ERA of 4 last year.




2B Damian Jackson (74/74) and 2B Jed Hansen (67/71) sent to Saint Louis

A total of $1mill between two AAA players was too much money.


3B Scott Seabol (63/70) sent to Kansas City

Nothing special, just cheap.




C Alberto Castillo (68/68), RP Scott Sullivan (78/78) and SP Jason Dickson (64/64) sent to Boston

$3.2mill worth of players but only Scott Sullivan is on my roster but he is only a set-up man.

1B Earl Snyder (68/80) sent to Kansas City

High peak but only a 1yr deal. May renew if I move Sweeney.


Contracts

Chase Utley (65/100) signed to a 5-year contract extension for $3mill.

Eric Hiljus (63/89) signed as a free agent to a 5-year $500,000
contract.


Scouting ratings +/- 3

not that it really relates to anything but earl snyder graduated from my high school and was my neighbor

[jamesfinch]

Thanks for sharing that information with us Cheeze. Do you know him personally?

Anyway, my first rebuilding season is over. My record (65-97) is a poor reflection on a season hampered by injuries to players such as Relaford, Harvey, Sweeney (my only all-star), Casanova (twice!) and Brown. All had injuries for more than 3 weeks and Casanova's injuries totalled 9 weeks!

My pitching staff was also plagued with injuries. Appier (my staff ace!), May, George, Wright, R.Hernandez, Venafro. Again all injuries were ore than 3 weeks.

I finished 18 games back of Minnesota whose 83 wins were enough to see them finish 5 games clear of a very weak division. Despite a .481 winning pct Cleveland came in second. These results give me a real hope that I am only a reasonable season away from contending for the post-season.

My end of season awards:

MVP:

Undoubtably Mike Sweeney. He posted a batting average of .347 (just 1 point off Vlad and the batting title) whilst also hitting 31HR in only 450ABs. A reflection on how poor my lineup is is that despite these stats from the #4 spot he only had 88 RBI.

Best surprise:

A few contendors but Dee Brown takes it. He stayed healthy until the very end of the year and posted an impressive .293 average with a .350 OBP, 17HR and 12SB. However, as a free agency eligible player he is wanting $3.7million for 6 years. Something to think about......

Biggest dissapiontment:

Aaron Guiel wins this award and takes it out of the hands of Mike MacDougal. Guiel's .244 average and 13 home runs were a massive dissapoinment as were his 62RBI out of the #5 spot.



Playoffs

ALDS

Angels (98-64) beat Yankees (96-66) 3-1
Red Sox (104-58) beat Twins (83-79) 3-2

NLDS

Cubs (92-70) beat Phillies (95-67) 3-0
Cardinals (96-66) beat Dodgers (88-74) 3-2


ALCS

Red Sox beat Angels 4-3

NLCS

Cubs beat Cardinals 4-3


World Series

Cubs beat Red Sox 4-3


So the curse of the Cubs is over. The Bambino curse remains, another game 7 loss.

I will make all of my off-season moves and report back for Spring Training.

[jamesfinch]

Offseason moves

Dee Brown is released, the only 25 man roster player I lost.

Free agent pick-ups

My only free agent pick-up is Luke Allen (o71/p99) on a $1.7million per year for 4 years. Although my scouting is +/- 10 I feel happy offering Allen this kind of contract as he has a minimum peak of 89 assuming my farm system is up to scratch (8th in the majors) which it is.


Trades

Royals send RF Aaron Guiel (74/74), CF Adrian Brown (70/70), CF David DeJesus (65/69), C Kelly Stinnet (74/74) and RP Dennys Reyes (74/77) to Minnesota.

Minnesota send LF Brian Simmons (81/99) to Royals.

Again, all players I trade away are in their last year. I lose only one starter, Guiel, who had a horrible year last year. In return I acquire Simmons, who hit .303 in the majors last year, a big prospect for the future. Will hit #5 in the lineup.


There may be more trades to come before Spring Training. I'll keep you posted.

[jamesfinch]

Further Off-Season Moves

Sign Free-Agent SS Johnny Peralta (o88/p100) to a 7 year $6.8million a year contract.

I feel that with a peak of 100 a 7 year deal was in order as his price came down dramatically from the $9million it would have cost me to sign him over 6 years. He will slot into the #2 hole and that means that I will either have to trade Angel Berroa to clear the space for a SS or Ken Harvey to allow a space as a DH. I could also move Mike Sweeney and put Harvey at 1B......


1B Ken Harvey traded to Boston
3B Kevin Youkilis (72/77) traded to Kansas City.

I lose Ken Harvey who was in his last year and was wanting $5.5million a year for an extension. I get Youkilis who I immediatly sign to a 5 year $1.8million a year extension. Picking up a guy who had an OBP of .495 in AAA last year means that I now have a solid #5 hitter as Simmons moves in to the #3 spot vacated by Harvey.

My off-season moves are now over and although my payroll is now at $40million I know that I have my future assured with long term deals having been given to Utley (4 years), Gomez (5 years), Peralta (7 years) and Youkilis (6 years).

My team is still rather dismally rated with an overall of 64. I hope to win in excess of 70 games this year, however.

Amateur Draft

I am hoping to pick up a starter in round 1 who can make an impact this year, more pitching in rounds 2 and 3, and after then the best that is available.

[jamesfinch]

Amateur Draft Picks

1. P G.Lizaur (o89/p96)
2. P M.McGovern (86/94)
3. P F.Diaz (80/93)
4. P L.Gardner (75/86)
5. LF C.Roberts (50/78)
6. C J.Marroquin (51/72)

Some nice picks at the top of the draft. First three are likely to be starters this year. Will give me some bullpen depth as well and allow me to move the salary of Carlos Hernandez ($1.25).

Pre-Season Trades

1B Mike Sweeney (o94/p94) sent to LA.
LF Dave Roberts (72/72) and $2million sent to KC.

A massive payroll cutter. My payroll started at $41million and will end up at $30million. Roberts will add much needed speed but may only start from the bench. However, Luke Allen will be traded if he doesnt have a good start and Roberts could take his spot.


SP Carlos Hernandez (70/78) sent to SF.
C Trey Lunsford (65/82) sent to KC.

Hernandez was heading for the bullpen and a $1.25million salary is too much for a long reliever. I get a good prospect who is in his last year and so will probably be traded at the break.


Free Agent Signings

LF Bubba Crosby (71/77) signed to 4 year $1.5million contract.

Will probably convert to be a 1B and will sit on top of my bench waiting for Earl Snyder my 1B prospect to fail. May trade Snyder early if I get a good deal. Crosby hit .278 last year with a .350 OBP.

[jamesfinch]

My opening day lineup (rating: 69)

1. RF Dave Roberts (o76/p76)
2. CF Alexis Gomez (71/88)
3. SS Jhonny Peralta (88/99)
4. LF Brian Simmons (82/99)
5. 3B Kevin Youkilis (73/77)
6. 1B Earl Snyder (71/77)
7. C Raul Casanova (80/80)
8. DH Angel Berroa (82/82)
9. 2B Desi Relaford (75/75)

A little bit weak, yes. But I feel it can do enough to keep me in contention and push me towards a decent number of wins.

My Opening Day Bench (rating: 68)

1B Bubba Crosby (76/81)
LF Calvin Roberts (52/78)
RF Brandon Berger (71/73)
IF Mendy Lopez (71/73)
C Trey Lunsford (65/82)

Fairly horrible, only Crosby rescues it. I have a Yankee starter last year who cant get in my lineup! Can only be good.


Rotation (rating:85)

Geraldo Lizaur (88/98)
Martin McGovern (85/94)
Fredrico Diaz (78/92)
Jamey Wright (80/80)
Leo Gardner (75/85)

A very strong rotation. 4 of the 5 were drafted this year, a bit dodgy.


Bullpen (rating:50!!!!)

Closer: Rudy Seanez (75/80)
Set-Up: Mike Vanafro (75/75)
Short: Brad Lidge (80/81)
Middle: Darrel May (75/75)
Long: Kevin Appier (75/76)
Alt: Runevyls Hernandez (75/76)

The rating is low but my long and alt relievers are good. A couple of injuries to the rotation shouldnt be too damaging. A guy like Lidge pitching in short relief is a confidence booster for any starter.


My Predictions/Hopes

Firstly, I am hoping to get myself out of the basement of the AL central. A 70-win season would be very nice and should keep me off the bottom.

Secondly, I am wanting a big start for Angel Berroa (who I may trade for a power-hitting slowpoke at DH and cash) and some good numbers in the minors from Chase Utley as he tries to prove he is worth the $3million a year contract and he is ready to take over from Relaford who is keeping second-base warm.

[jamesfinch]

All-Star Break

Record: 35-52 (last place in NL East, 24 games back)

Mid-Season Awards

Player of the first half:

Jhonny Peralta (.350, 46 RBI, .414 OBP) has been a revelation and has justified his big contract. He has a shot at the batting title although Castillo is at .370. Not a lot of power (3HR) but he has had a great start.

Best Surprise of the first half:

Kevin Youkilis (.407 OBP, 57 RBI) has had a great rookie year so far. His OBP is to be expected given his minor league numbers but in the majors things can change. His 69 walks lead the majors and he has been exactly what I was wanting when I signed him to a long term deal.

Biggest dissapointment:

Alexis Gomez (.237, 5 HR, 34 RBI) after averaging .325 in the minors last year I was expecting something big. I may need to trade him before the deadline.

Trades

Lunsford, Wright, Wood, Hernandez, George, Affeldt, Carrasco, Estrella, Bukvich, Leggat and $1million sent to Atlanta.

SP Lammond Leggat (o89/p94) sent to Kansas City.

All players I have lost were set to leave at the end of the year to FA. I pick up the Braves' ace who has an ERA of 3. I am liking this trade a lot.

[jamesfinch]

Well, the end of my second season in charge and another dissapointment.......

Record: 65-97 (39 games back of Detroit)

Player of the year

Undoubtably Jhonny Peralta. His numbers (.335 avg, 10 HR, 93 RBI, .404 OBP) speak for themselves. He came only 6 points away from the batting title and, being a SS, may have a shot at MVP.

Pitcher of the Year

No standouts here. None of my rotation had an ERA under 4.5 and my bullpen was average but the award goes to Brad Lidge, the closer. At the start of the year Rudy Seanez was due to be closer but he lost his job early and Lidge converted 25 of 27 save opportunities with a 3.91 ERA.

Dissapointment of the Year

Gerlado Lizaur. A first round draft pick (no.2 overall) and he lost 21 games in a season. His 5.63 ERA was perhaps not bad enough to justify that many losses but was still dissapointing.

[jamesfinch]

Postseason

ALDS

Tigers beat Angels
Orioles beat As

NLDS

Cubs beat Mets
Dodgers beat Marlins


ALCS

Orioles beat Tigers

NLCS

Dodgers beat Cubs


World Series

Orioles beat Dodgers 4-2

[jamesfinch]

I feel that wholesale changes to my roster are now necessary. After a dissapointing year in AAA for Chase Utley (.281 BA) I can no longer justify spending $3million a year on him. I had cash offers of $6million for him but I managed to package him in a deal to bring my rotation up to an extremely high standard.

Trades

2B Chase Utley, RF Brandon Berger, 1B Earl Snyder, LF Calvin Roberts, C Yorvit Torrealba, 3B Scott Seabol and $3million sent to DET.

SP Juan Vargos sent to KC.

I lose my overpaid prospect Utley and only one starter (Snyder) and pick up a young starter (19 yrs old) who had a 4.40 ERA last year. My payroll falls and many of the players I lost were barely bench players. Torrealba I had signed only a week before as an FA.


RF Alexis Gomez, SS Angel Berroa, RP Rudy Seanez and $1million sent to TOR.

RP Justin Speier and RP Bob File sent to KC.

A move designed to sure up a very weak bullpen. Gomez was horrible last year (.234 avg), Berroa was great (.322 avg) but was headed for the bench anyway and Seanez was bad and in the last year of his deal. Speier is also in his last year and won't be renewed but hopefully he will be invaluable as a setup man and Bob File will be around for the next few years and will be in the bullpen from this year.

[jamesfinch]

Okay, I feel as though this is a very big draft for me. My plan is to draft a load of top SPs and make my rotation have a rating of around 95. I can then hide my fairly weak bullpen by putting the "Pitch Thru trouble" and "Huge pitch counts" right up. Here goes....

My 6 picks:

1. L.Mantilla (o91/p94) - already ready for my rotation and a 2.85 ERA in the minors last year gives me great hope for this kid.
2. Y.Yabumoto (82/93) - another solid starter to sure up my rotation, should contribute immediately. 2.98 ERA last year.
3. I. Ivankovitser (76/91) - good peak, not yet ready however.
4. A.Cunningham (65/77) - an average LF who will do well to make it to the bigs.
5. W. Moriaes (65/75) - see above, lol!
6. Terrible SS, not even worth mentioning.

So, a dissapointing draft if I'm honest. Only 3 players who have a chance to contribute but you can always pray for the rest!

[jamesfinch]

Boy oh boy have I made two blockbuster trades this off season. I felt that what really hampered me last year was a total lasck of power in the middle of my lineup (nobody hit more than 22HR) and I have decided to address that immediately. I looked at my roster an saw a gaping hole at CF. I go out and trade for Garret Anderson:

Ivankovitser, Venafro, Marroquin and Lidge sent to ANA.

Garret Anderson sent to KC.

A real blockbuster here. I lose this years 3rd round pick in Ivankovitser who, whilst having a decent peak, is 24 yrs old and had a 4.40 ERA last year. Secondly, I lose my back-up catcher. The killer, however, was losing ace closer Brad Lidge and setup man Mike Venafro. A bullpen which I have recently traded to improve has been decimated by this trade. However, there is some sense in it, Lidge was in his contract year and wanting $6million/year was too much. Venafro had a 6.60 ERA last year and is also in his contract year. I get, however, the most potent CF threat in baseball and an additional $6.2million salary but I would have been paying that to Lidge anyway. Anderson has a (o94/p94) rating and is one the few players who has reached his peak. A HUGE trade for me. But wait, there is another.....


Raul Casanova and $2million sent to COL.

Charles Johnson sent to KC.

Wow! First I acquire the best CF in the game and now this. Johnson hit 44 HR last year and posted a .344 OBP whilst slugging .543. All I give up is my current catcher and a bit of cash. I do, however, inherit Johnson's $9million salary but he is in his final year and so, if things aren't going well, I may be able to resign him for less than the $8.7million he is currently asking for. If not, look for him to be traded mid-season.

[mattman1624]

Great trades, pretty good diary. I'll keep reading.:cool:

[jamesfinch]

Thanks for the support Mattaman!

For the first time in this dynasty I am actually feeling confident. A couple of huge off season signings have bolstered my roster and it is looking good. First off here are the awards given out:

World Series - Orioles beat Dodgers 4-2

AL

MVP: Dimitri Young DET
Cy Young: Kerry Ligtenberg (eh?) TOR
RoY: Tim Hinsdale TB

NL

MVP: Calvin Murray CUB
Cy Young: A.J Burnett FLA
RoY: Scott Hairston ARI


Starting Lineup 2006 (rating: 83) Spring Training notes beside names.

1. RF Dave Roberts (7 SB)
2. DH Luke Allen (.400 OBP)
3. SS Jhonny Peralta (.341 avg)
4. CF Garret Anderson (.337 avg, 6HR, 18RBI)
5. LF Brian Simmons (.321 avg)
6. C Charles Johnson (.373 OBP)
7. 1B Bubba Crosby (.298 avg)
8. 3B Kevin Youkilis (.579 OBP!, .385 avg)
9. 2B Desi Relaford (4 SB)

I was not, at this point last year, expecting Relaford to be my starting 2B with Utley seeming just around the corner. But then again I wasn't expecting to have such a strong middle of the lineup. Youkilis, the Greek god of walks, will, I expect, have a strong year and will improve upon the .377 OBP he posted in his rookie campaign.


The Bench (rating: 76)

Swann (.410 OBP)
DeJesus (.300 avg)
Nunez (.342 avg)
Lopez (.278 avg)
Patterson (.314 avg)

A strong overall bench but I think pinch hitting will still be tuned down.


The Starting Rotation (rating: 93 league avg: 89)

#1 Martin McGovern (4-0, 3.06 ERA)
#2 Lammond Leggat (1-0)
#3 Geraldo Lizaur (3.10 ERA)
#4 Frederico Diaz (3.68 ERA)
#5 Juan Vargos (6.2 IP, 8 K)

I am confident about this rotation, however, it is an inexperienced rotation and nobody has had an ERA of under 4.50 ERA.

Bullpen (rating: 64, league avg: 51)

Closer: Speier (5/5 in save opps)
Setup: File (2.45 ERA)
Short: Gallo (11.05 ERA)
Middle: Randall (23 IP, 22 K)
Long: Mantilla (1-0)
Alt: Yabumoto (3.51 ERA)

My first and second round draft picks are both languishing in long and alt relief, at least I won't struggle if I lose a starter to injury or a trade......

[jamesfinch]

WHAT AM I DOING WRONG!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

A horrible 4-19 start for my Royals and all this despite no real injuries. Bubba Crosby missed a couple of weeks but that isn't all that disatrous. My rotation has been horrible. All have ERAs of 5+ except Lizaur. Vargos has an ERA of 14.81 and has lost his rotation spot to Matilla, the long reliever.

I'm not even going to bother with listing top players of the month, there are none!

[jamesfinch]

A dismal start (28-60) to the season has led to the first of my salary dumps. Currently in last place and 21.5 games back of first in the AL Central my highest earner has been offloaded in the following trade:

C Charles Johnson sent to SF.

C Ozzie Harvey sent to KC.

Well, the attempt to add power didn't at all work as the powerful catcher could only muscle 12HR in over 220 ABs whilst hitting just .233. In return I get a back-up catcher and in the next trade I make I acquire a new starting catcher. $9million of salary dumped in this one...


SP Kevin Appier sent to CLE

C Adam Melhuse sent to KC.

I get rid of Appier who was set for free agency and was only in the minors anyway and I pick up a new starting catcher, albeit a #9 hitter, to replace Johnson.


OF Brian Simmons and RP Leo Gardener sent to SEA.

1B Bucky Jacobsen and SP Tony Liberman sent to KC.

I think this trade is just huge for me. I get rid of a guy, in Simmons, who is having a horrible contract year and who I may resign on the FA market. I pick up Jacobsen who currently is 5th in the AL with his 24 HR and is signed for another 7 years at $5.3 million/year.


LF Wendell Morlaes, RP Scott Randall and RP Jason Speier sent to TB.

2B Aaron Miles sent to KC.

I lose and average AAA player who was never likely to see the bigs and two expiring contracts on relievers who are wanting in excess of $3million/year. I get Miles, RoY in 2004 for his .320 BA and he is hitting .337 this year, second to Ken Harvey in the batting title race.

[jamesfinch]

Now I begin to question the Crowley database.....

World Series:

Tampa Bay beat New York Mets 4-1!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway onto what I plan to do to recover from a 90 loss season. Firstly, give Bucky Jacobsen a full year at first in the bigs. Secondly, pray that Garret Anderson can recapture his form whilst with the Angels. His BA dropped almost 30 points in his first year and he hit 13 less HR whilst driving in 21 fewer (although he still had 121 RBI with a last place team).

My End of Season Awards

Player of the year:

Jhonny Peralta. For the second year running he takes the award and his signing looks better every day. After a batting title last year he batted .329, 6 points down on last year, this time around but hit 6 more HRs (he hit 16) and drove in 101 runs, up from 93 last year.

Pitcher of the year:

Geraldo Lizaur. Very unlucky to lose a whopping 16 games despite his sub 4 ERA. His 122 Ks to 68 BB also impressed me.

Best surprise of the year:

Not a lot really. I guess I will have to give it to Mendy Lopez who hit 16 HR whilst being on the bench in only 175 ABs.

Biggest dissapointment:

Kevin Youkilis. All of a sudden the fact that Jacobsen can play 3rd interests me. Youkilis' OBP stayed reasonable (.350) but his avg was down to .234 and after coming close to RoY last year this is a major sophmore slump.

[jamesfinch]

Mark Teixeira signed to a 7 year $6.4million/year contract.

A nice FA pick-up I thought. He had the most HRs of all of the FAs. This means that Youkilis will probably be demoted to the bench as Jacobsen moves to third. However, Youkilis could challenge Bubba Crosby's spot at DH.

Trades

Two minor leaguers sent to MON.

Rocky Biddle sent to KC.

Some bullpen help for not a lot. Biddle had 33 saves last year and will be in MR this year.


Martin McGovern sent to NYM.

Luis Vizcaino and $1million sent to KC.

I lose my ace but pick up a closer who had a sub 2 ERA last year and a bit of cash. McGovern was unspectacular last year and I feel that I can pick up a quality starter or two from the draft.


Youkilis, Roberts and Relaford sent to SEA.

Minor leaguer sent to KC.

Just a salary dump, $3million of salary dumped as I lose 3 bench players.

[jamesfinch]

Okay, sorry for the delay in updates. Have been on holiday.

My draft is certainly good. I'm not going to bother listing all of their names, they mean very little. All will be in AAA this year. Cesar Yuponco is my no.1 pick, an SP, and will be able to contribute next year with his 101 peak. All draftees are SPs apart from a fourth round CF.

Trade Time

P Snyder, 1B Lopez, LF Cunningham, CF Wise, RP File sent to TB.

1B/3B Aubrey Huff sent to KC.

I like this trade but I am a little dissapointed about Huff's position. As a 3B he will, obviously, be my starting 3B but it means Jacobsen will DH and Huff will effectively be replacing Crosby. Still a nice pick up though averaged .319 last year.

Roll on spring training....

[jamesfinch]

Postseason

ALDS

Detroit beat New York 3-1

Boston beat Baltimore 3-2

NLDS

Colorado beat Chicago 3-0

San Francisco beat Mets 3-1

CS

Boston beat Detroit 4-1

Clororado beat San Francisco 4-3 (17 inning game 7)

World Series

Colorado beat Boston 4-0


End of Season Awards

American League:

MVP: Grady Sizemore
Cy Young: Juan Rincon
RoY: Maury Siepler

National League:

MVP: Scott Rolen
Cy Young: Anthony Treseder
RoY: John Ray

[jamesfinch]

My Starting Lineup (last years figures beside names)

1. RF Luke Allen (.258 avg, 3 HR, .360 OBP, 4 SB)
2. 2B Aaron Miles (.305, 2, .371, 9)
3. SS Jhonny Peralta (.329, 16, .409, 7)

[jamesfinch]

Lineup continued....

4. DH Bucky Jacobsen (.267, 24, .407, 0)
5. CF Garret Anderson (.282, 27, .323, 6)
6. 3B Aubrey Huff (.319, 24, .364, 3)
7. 1B Mark Teixeira (.248, 38, .332, 0)
8. LF Pedro Swann (.274, 8, .361, 4)
9. C Adam Melheuse (.266, 10, .334, 2)

Bench

Bubba Crosby
David DeJesus
Ryan Ludwick
Jarrod Patterson
Ozzie Harvey

Starting Rotation

#1 Geraldo Lizaur (3.98 ERA, 9-16)
#2 Lamond Leggat (4.86 ERA, 8-16)
#3 Luis Mantilla (4.86 ERA, 9-11)
#4 Frederico Diaz (6.12 ERA, 7-17)
#5 Juan Vargos (5.06 ERA, 4-9)

Bullpen

Closer: Luis Vizcaino (1.99 ERA, 8-3)
Setup: Rocky Biddle (3.47 ERA, 33 SV)
Short: Tony Liberman (3.34, 3-2)
Middle: Yoshi Yabumoto (6.23 ERA, 1-0)
Long: Cesar Yuponco (No MLB experience)
Alt: Rob McMahon (No MLB exp)

As you can see, I now have a fairly strong lineup and my bullpen should be much better than last year. My rotation has the ability but is yet to show it and I feel that i'll get good years out of Leggat and Lizaur. Fingers crossed....

[jamesfinch]

OK, it is the end of June, three months in and the Royals are 47-28.

Despite a dissapointing May (13-15) my team's 27-12 home record has pushed us to being just 1.5 games back of the Tigers in the Central and I currently lead the Wild Card.

Players of first 3 months

Hitter:

No real standout so the award will be shared with my 4 best hitters. Jhonny Peralta, the perrenial winner, is hitting .302 with 8 HR. Luke Allen's surprisingly good stats from the leadoff spot are a .301 average with 12 steals. Bucky Jacobsen has done his job, hitting .300 with 16 HR and an OBP of .410. And finally, Garret Anderson's .301 average and 20 HR have powered my team to success. Add Aaron Miles' .303 average to this and my top 5 are all hitting over .300.

Pitcher:

Again, the award is shared. Lamond Leggat's 2.57 ERA has yielded an 8-4 record. Perhaps the biggest surprise, however, is Luis Mantilla's 2.86 ERA and 12-2 record. But the pitcher who has contributed to almost half on my wins has been my ace closer Luis Vizcaino who's 2.25 ERA and 20 saves from 22 opps have led my bullpen. Tony Liberman's 7-0 record from middle relief also deserves mention.

Dissapointment:

I guess Mark Teixeria. After coming off a huge FA singing he has hit just .255 with 13 HR. But his .347 OBP isn't terrible.

Lets pray for post-season...

[jamesfinch]

A 100 Win Season!!!!! A brilliant season by a number of my players has led the Kansas City Royals to the promised land. It took me until 2007, 5 years into my dynasty and 4 last place finishes later it has all come together. My payroll, of $44.7million, is almost $20million lower than the next lowest in the majors (Montreal with $63million). Despite a 100 win season I did not even pick up my divisional title but I am happy nontheless as the second best team in baseball (behind Detroit) and Wild Card champion.

My Postseason Exploration:

ALDS vs Yankees (97-65)

Game 1 @ Yankees: Geraldo Lizaur (KC) vs Andy Quehlas (NYY)
Royals win 7-4: Lizaur went 8.1 innings gave up 8 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned before Vizcaino took over for another save to add to his regular season haul. Garret Anderson went 2-4, 2R, HR, 2RBI.

Game 2 @ Yankees: Lammond Leggat (KC) vs Victor McCready
Royals win 7-5: An incredible game 2. Leggat went all 9 regulation innings giving up 2 ER on 5 hits. With the game tied at 2 in the top of the 10th Jacobsen drove in 2 with a double and Huff, with a two out double drove in a further 2 and Teixeria hit a solo-shot to cap the inning and give the Royals victory. Juan Vargos gave up 3 runs in the bottom of the tenth but held on for the Royals victory.

Game 3 @ Royals: Richard Giraudo (NYY) vs Luis Mantilla (KC)
Yankees win 5-3: The series kept alive despite the Royals being only 4 outs away from the Championship Series with a 2-0 lead. With two out in the top of the eighth Hideki Matsui's double kickstarted a rally that would produce 5 runs and win the game for the Yankees. Mantilla takes the loss.

Game 4 @ Royals: Kevin Michael (NYY) vs Jake Westbrook (KC)
Yankees win 7-5: The Royals 5-spot in the bottom of the 1st seemed to put us into the Championship series. However, a 3 run top of the six combined with the fact that the Royals couldn't score another run allowed the Yankees to walk away victors. The loss taken by Liberman, the win to Michael and save to Rivera.

Game 5 @ Yankees: Lamond Leggat (KC) vs Andy Quehlas (NYY)
Royals win 12-1: A comfortable victory for my Royals was made possible by a suberb complete game from Leggat, the game 2 starter, in which he gave up just 5 hits and the 1 run. Mark Teixeria went 2-4 with 2HR and 6RBI completeing a fine series for him and its on to the ALCS!!!!!

[jamesfinch]

The Tigers swept the A's in ALDS to set up an intresting encounter between the two best teams in the majors.

ALCS

Game 1 @ Tigers: Geraldo Lizaur (KC) vs Zane Sano (DET)
Tigers win 10-0: A 3-hit shutout by Sano prevented any chance of a recovery by the Royals. It was dedlocked going into the bottom of the sixth when Lizaur fell apart and gave up 6 in the inning. Liberman pitched the 7th but gave up a further 4 runs to finish the game.

Game 2 @ Tigers: Lammond Leggat (KC) vs Trevor Warden (DET)
Royals win 7-4: Leggat took the game into the ninth going 8.1 innings and allowing 3 earned runs before he turned it over to Luis Vizcaino who gave up a solo-shot but settled down to collect the save. The Tigers took a 1-0 lead into the top of the 6th but my Royals scored 7 times in the next 2 innings to give the Royals a 5 run cushion that was enough to win the game. In a side note; Aubrey Huff will miss two weeks and so Bubba Crosby comes in to DH and Jacobsen will play 3rd. Crosby will hit 8th ahead of only recently converted catcher Ryan Ludwick.

Game 3 @ Royals: Jason Formoselle (DET) vs Luis Mantilla (KC)
Tigers win 13-6: In the top of the 7th the Tigers had a 5-4 lead but exploded for 8 in the next 2 innings giving themselves a comfortable win in the "swing game". Once again Liberman had a shocker in the pen, going for 4 runs in 1.2 innings. He has now given up 11 runs in the 5 innings he has pitched in the post-season this year. Another injury note, Luke Allen will miss the rest of year and David DeJesus will replace him in right, Aaron Miles will leadoff, Swann will hit second and DeJesus will hit 8th moving Crosby up to 7th.

Game 4 @ Royals: Niall Keepnews (DET) vs Cesar Yuponco (KC)
Royals win 6-5: What a time for a major league debut! Yuponco was 11-1 in the minors this year when an injury to Jake Westbrook meant a hole in the rotation. Lizaur was not yet ready for action and so I turned to him... He pitched 7.2 innings giving up 3 earned runs and was unfortunate not to get the win. With the game tied at five in the bottom of the 8th, Steigler (pinch hitting for Miles????) reached on error leading off the inning. With one out and the hit and run on Peralta delivered advancing Steigler to third. Anderson hit weakly to third but another error allowed Anderson to reach 1st and the runner scored. Jacobsen struck out and Teixeria flied out to end the inning but Vizcaino would come in to the ninth and retire former Royal Utley and strike out Pudge to end the game.

Game 5 @ Royals: Zane Sano (DET) vs Geraldo Lizaur (KC)
Royals win 5-2: Lizaur throws a complete game, giving up 2 earned runs whilst Jacobsen went 3-4 with a HR, 2RBI. Another injury, however, Ryan Ludwick, the catcher, will miss 2 days so Melheuse will take over and continue to hit 9th.

Game 6 @ Tigers: Lamond Leggat (KC) vs Tim Warden (DET)
Tigers win 3-2: In the bottom the 8th inning with the Royals leading 2-0 revenge was sweet for Chase Utley. With two on and one out Utley drove Leggat's pitch over the left-field fence to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead and send the CS into a game 7.

Game 7 @ Tigers: Luis Mantilla (KC) vs Jason Formoelle (DET)
Tigers win 4-3: A real gutter. Mantilla went 5.2 innings giving up all 4 runs. Mark Teixeira made the final out of the series as he groud out off an Urbina pitch.

[jamesfinch]

Okay, so it was a bitter dissapointment, but there are so many positives to take away from this season. I scored the second most runs in all of baseball, I had two 20 game winners (both of whom are from my farm system), I was the second best regular season team in the majors and all this with a salary almost 50% lower than the second lowest in the majors and payroll just one quarter the size of the Yankees.

Everyday player of the year:

For the first time there was real competition to Jhonny Peralta, my perrenial winner. Garret Anderson hit 42 homers, driving in 134. Bucky Jacobsen posted an OBP .396, slugging .500 whilst hitting 35 HR and driving in 124. But there was no real question as to the winner. Jhonny Peralta had an MVP season hitting an astonishing .367 with 51 doubles, 15 triples, 29 homers, 133 RBI an incredible OBP of .472 and an even more remarkable .650 slugging percentage! Giving him an OPS of 1.122. And I have hi thru 2011!!!


Pitcher of the Year

In amoungst a group of solid but unspectacular pitchers there were three standouts this year. Lamond Leggat went 20-9 with a 3.10 ERA, stats that would often be enough for a Cy Young award and he was one of the rocks around which my rotation was built. My ace closer Luis Vizcaino couldn't keep up his sub 1 ERA from two months into the season but he ended up saving 36 games out of 38 attempts posting a 2.09 ERA. But my pitcher of the year, and perhaps the eventual Cy Young winner, is Luis Mantilla who started all 34 of her scheduled starts. He tied Leggat with 20 wins (a league high) but lost only 8 games. His ERA of 3.22 was not quite as good as Leggat's but he struck out 30 more batters (155 to 125) and walked only 69 hitters.

[jamesfinch]

Best Surprise Of the Year

Pedro Swann: before the season I was frantically looking for a new LF and in the end had to thrust Swann into the job, reluctantly. He replied beautifully, hitting .300 with an OBP of .370 along with 17HR and 33 doubles. A wonderful season. Luke Allen was also brilliant, hitting .300 with 21HR and 17 SBs from the leadoff, but his was more expected.

Biggest Dissapointment

The Bullpen: Vizcaino apart, the best ERA from my bullpen was the 5.04 Tony Liberman posted and, although he went 10-3, he let many a lead go and allowed many a close game to get out of reach. Biddle, my setup man, had a 6.40 ERA. The bullpen is cleary the place to build on next year.



Next Season:

OK, its all very well having a great season but it is all about building on it. Having made a $15million profit last season the opportunity is there to add more payroll and a new ace but I think I will decline. My plan is now to get into a position where I can build a new 70,000 seater stadium with excellent facilities. My initial estimate is $270million so this may be too much to ask for but a new stadium is my most immediate goal. This being, I have decided to keep my payroll at the $44million mark. If I am to spend on a starter I need to trade some of my sluggers away. I am losing nobody to free agency this year so trades are the only way.

At present I have my big five all earning over $5million: Jhonny Peralta (keeping!), Mark Teixiera, Garret Anderson (keeping!), Bucky Jacobsen and Aaron Miles. All have contracts of 7 years except Peralta with 5 left and Anderson with 3. I would like to move one of them. Jacobsen or Teixeira can be moved with ease as both are 1B/DH and so I can replace them with anyone.

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ FEADBACK REQUIRED:
This is my first ever dynasty and as such I am ot sure if I am doing it all properly. Is there anything my readers would like to see more/less of. Anything I'm missing? Also, any advice for my team? Thanks in advance. James.

[jamesfinch]

The Trades

3B Aubrey Huff sent to DET.

RP Danny Kolb sent to KC.

Huff's contract was expiring and, wanting $11million a year, had to be moved early. No doubt he had a good year, he hit .288 with 33 bombs and 113 driven in (a career high) but there I had no choice. In return I get the overpowering reliever Danny Kolb. Last year Kolb posted a 2.56 ERA with a 4-2 record. Only problem with this trade, it is with the Tigers, my main rival.

1B/3B Mark Teixeira sent to NYM.

RP Scott Strickland sent to KC.

OK, so I did without a great bullpen last year, but it cost my in the post-season. Adding to the pickup of Kolb I get Strickland. I will probably keep him for only half a season and trade at the break when I feel his value will have risen. If it hasn't the $5million he wants to resign should come down. Teixeira had an average year (.257, 35HR, 92RBI) and is on a $6.9million salary for another 5 years. Strickland costs me only $670,000 for this year.

Francisco "K" Rodriguez signed as FA to a $5.8million, 6 year deal.

Another bullpen pickup which increases my payroll to $50million.

Barry Bonds singed as FA to a $410,000, 1 year deal.

Sitting on 732 carrer homers he will be given his chance to DH all year and break Aaron's magical 755 mark. His eye is still ranked at 97 and in 87 ABs with the Dodgers last year he posted a .422 OBP, he still has it.

The Draft

1. SP Vertex (o76/p91)
2. RF Shaw (69/90)
3. CF Hawke (71/82)
4. SP Harmon (66/86)

Other two picks not worth mentioning but I doubt whether any of these players will make a contribution within the next couple of years.

[jamesfinch]

American League

Cy Young: Lammond Leggat
MVP: Jhonny Peralta
RoY: Jeremy Johnson

2 awards for the Royals. Oh yeah! Also gold gloves for Teixeira and Peralta.

National League

Cy Young: Corey Rosoff
MVP: Aramis Ramirez
RoY: Michael Chapado

By the way the Tigers lost 4-2 in the World Series vs the Mets.

Lets get into the season....

[jamesfinch]

My Starting Lineup (stats two months in)

1. Allen RF (.295 avg, 12HR, .376OBP, 6SB)
2. Miles 2B (.298, 1, .380, 5)
3. Peralta SS (.311, 9, .457, 4)
4. Jacobsen 1B (.286, 23, .445, 0)
5. Swann LF (.267, 11, .330, 2)
6. Bonds DH (.251, 13, .365, 0)
7. Anderson CF (.269, 11, .322, 1)
8. Sandberg 3B (.218, 9, .302, 2)
9. Ludwick C (.262, 3, .345, 2)

Rotation (stats two months in)

#1 Mantilla (4.07ERA, 4-6)
#2 Lizaur (3.90, 8-5)
#3 Leggat (3.48, 4-5)
#4 Vargos (5.73, 6-6)
#5 Diaz (5.35, 4-3)

Bullpen

Closer: Vizcaino (3.25, 3-3, 13SV)
Setup: Strickland (3.48, 1-0)
Short: Rodriguez (2.35, 9-2)
Middle: Kolb (5.23, 0-1)
Long: Yabumoto (3.65, 1-0)
Alt: Liberman (6.21, 2-2)


I am two months into the season and have a 42-33 record, 5.5 games back of Detroit and 1 game clear at the top of the Wild Card.

MVP so far

Bucky Jacobsen. He has finally stepped out of the shadows and replaced the great Peralta. He is hitting .286 to Peralta's .311 but this is the only stat where he is down on him. His 23HR eclipse Peralta's 9 and he has driven in 62 to Peralta's 43.


Pitcher so far

Lamond Leggat. His 3-4 record is unfortunate given his 3.48 ERA. K-Rod also gets a shot at this though, his 2.35 ERA and 9-2 record has earned him the closer job following the trade below..

Trade

Given the number of expring contracts I decided it was time to trade up:

RF Allen, RP Vizcaino, RP Strickland and minor league SP Vertex sent to HOU.

RF Cummins, RP Bowie and RP Estrella sent to KC.

The three major leaguers I lose are in in conract years and whilst the minor leaguer was a second round draft pick, I am happy with this trade. In return I get a replacement RF who is signed 2010 on minimum and has hit 20HR already this year (hit 42 last year). I also get two relievers; Bowie is on $500,00 through 2010 and has posted a 2.64 ERA this year. I also get Estrella who has been in the minors for the past few years but in 2003 he posted a 4.36 ERA and he has had solid minor league seasons.


Changes Made

Jacobsen takes over at 3B as Sandberg moves to the bench and makes room for Crosby who will play first and hit 2nd in the lineup (he is hitting .326 with 7HR in 135AB). Miles will leadoff as Cummins will hit 5th. Swann will hit 6th, Bonds 8th with Anderson in the 7 hole.

In the bullpen K-Rod takes over as closer, Kolb will setup and newboys Bowie and Estrella will pitch in short and middle relief respectively.

[jamesfinch]

The big losses

Lamond Leggat is traded along with Pedro Swann and 4 bench players/AAA men to Philadelphia. Leggat was 5-5 with a plus-4 ERA this year and Swann's place is filled in another trade. I also send 5 minor leaguers to Baltimore.

The Gains

From Phili I get their ace Ted Delaney who's 2.67 ERA leads the league. I also pick up Nate Handleman who will pitch in the bullpen From the Orioles I get my biggest acquisition: Pat "the bat" Burrel. His 27 HR are second in the league and he replaces Swann in LF.

[jamesfinch]

My record (81-81) speaks for itself: we were average. Despite a total of 89 home runs from Jacobsen and Cummins it was my defense that let me down. A fielding percentage 30 points lower than the league average spelled disaster.

Best/Worst Performers

Bucky Jacobsen hit .286, with 45HR and drove in 128. This appears to be his real breakout year. Peralta hit just .300, 66 points down from last year and with 10 less HR, 44 fewer RBI and 50 points lower in OBP.

[jamesfinch]

Could all readers of my dynasty please visit
THIS (http://forum.sportsmogul.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=59512) and vote on my poll to say what you like/don't like and what you want to see more of.

Thank you.
James

[jamesfinch]

IM BACK!!!!!

Trade and a free agent signing

Not so much a trade as a sale, Bubba Crosby whpo's defense has been horrible and Garret Anderson are sold to the Angels for the princely sum of $8million. I use this money to sign Hee Sop Choi to a $4.8million 7 year deal. His peak of 100 is very good value.


The Draft - something the kind voters on my other thread have encouraged me to expand...

Round 1 (overall pick 18): Jason Gonsalves CF - hit .325 in AAA last year. A peak of 93 is very promising.
2: Orlando Velazquez RF - an OBP of .380 in AAA, peak of 91.
3: Mike Devitt LF - an outfield of draft picks! Another hitter who hit .300 in AAA last year.
4: Dan Shue CF - a .384 OBP in AAA last year. Peak at 84.
No others of note.


5:

[jamesfinch]

Lineup (last years stats: AVG/HR/OBP/other of note)

1. Jamal Strong CF(.315/10/.405/7 steals, in AAA)
2. Aaron Miles 2B (.290/2/.371/11SB)
3. Bucky Jacobsen 3B (.286/45/.430/124RBI)
4. Pat Burrel LF (.258/43/.359/133RBI)
5. Brian Cummins RF (.229/44/.276/124RBI)
6. Jhonny Peralta SS (.300/19/.422/Gold Glove)
7. Barry Bonds DH (.258/23/.390/on 755 career HR)
8. Hee Sop Choi 1B (.264/7/.415/201AB)
9. Ryan Ludwick C (.250/11/.345/higher FP as catcher than at original RF)

[jamesfinch]

Rotation (last years stats ERA/W-L/K)

#1 Luis Mantilla (4.11/11-15/113)
#2 Ted Delaney (3.53/15-11/113)
#3 Geraldo Lizaur (4.86/11-13/110)
#4 Juan Vargos (5.33/13-12/99)
#5 Fredrico Diaz (4.67/10-8/83)

Bullpen (stats ERA/W-L/SV)

Closer: Francisco Rodriguez (3.10/10-3/22/3BSV)
Setup: Danny Kolb (4.54/4-1/3)
Short: Micah Bowie (4.38/3-5)
Middle: Cesar Yuponco (6.34/2-2/2)
Long: Yoshi Yabumoto (4.31/2-4/2)
Alt: Nate Handleman (4.54/6-4)

Ratings (rating/league avg)

Batting - 94/93
Lineup - 93/94
Bench - 82/91
Pitching - 87/82
Rotation - 95/95
Bullpen - 76/76
Defense - 79/100
OVERALL - 91/93 (third in division behind 93 and 93)

[jamesfinch]

It is July 9 and my Royals are 29-28, 5 games back in the wild card, 9 back in the AL Central. Hope is slipping away. Terrible starts from Peralta (hitting.271), Choi (.217), Cummins (.205) and K-Rod (6 blown saves) has lead to dramatic action:

THE Trade - the blocbuster

LA Dodgers send: SS Cesar Izturis, 1B Jim Thome, C Todd Hundley, RF Dewayne Wise and RP Eric Gagne.

KC Royals send: SS Jhonny Peralta, 1B Hee Sop Choi, RF Brian Cummins, LF Todd Linden and RP Francisco Rodriguez.

WOW!! I lose three everyday players, my best pinch hitter and my closer in this deal. The Peralta era is over. His batting average dropped from .367 to .271 in less than two years. The SS replacement, Izturis, is in his contact year, may get renewed or may go after an FA. Choi was my star FA siging, his $4.8million turned out to be too much but I get a capable replacement in Thome who is on a similar contract but has been pinch-hitting in LA this year. I lose powerful RF Cummins who hit 44 homers last year split between the Royals and the Astros. This year, however, his power is down and he is barely hitting over .200. To replace him I get top player Wise who hit .305 last year with 22 HR and scored 149 runs!!! Todd Linden is a loss for my bench, he was hitting .342 but I dont feel he can replicate that as a starter. I pick up the veteran catcher Todd Hundley who will replace Ludwick as my everyday catcher. The final elemant to a deal that was accepted as it was with only position players is the swap of closers. Both have a rating of 93 but Gagne's ERA is 2.86 this year, compared to K-Rod's 5.70. Overall I cut $3.9million of salary in this deal. Hopefully it will kick-start my season.

[jamesfinch]

A horrible end to the season. 35 games back of Detroit in first place and another wasted season. My plan is to make some more big trades, pick up a catcher and a few other pieces.

Two trades

SP Ted Delaney and 1B Jim Thome sent to LA.

C Matt LeCroy and 3B Scott Sheldon sent to KC.

Another trade with the Dodgers sees me return Thome after a dissapointing couple of months and offload stud pitching prospect Delaney who was 1-6 with an ERA of over 10 when he was demoted to AAA early this year. In return I get slugging catcher LeCroy who hit .311 with 37 HR and 121 RBI last year. I also get Sheldon who will start at third.

RP Danny Kolb, CF Jason Gonsalves and SP John Foster to PIT.

RF Ben Martin to KC.

I give up struggling reliever Kolb who is in his contract year, I also lose two prospects who's peaks are high but haven't been great in AAA. Ben Martin is a huge prospect who will start for me this year. Incredibly he is rated at only 82 despite having these stats:
Contact - 97
Power - 72
Speed - 95
Eye - 96
He is hitting a career .331 in the majors from 441 AB. An OBP of .376 isnt great but that average is too much to ignore.

[jamesfinch]

Draft Picks

Round 1 (overall 7): SP Dennis Slutsky (peak 90) - ERA of 3.01 last year in the minors, looking like a bright future.
Round 2 (overall 37): SP James Saperstan (peak 86) - a 3.13 ERA and a decent K/BB ratio.
Round 3 (overall 67): SP Tomas Frois (peak 84) - an ERA under 4 isn't bad.
No other picks of note.

[jamesfinch]

Pickups

Billy Traber the short reliever will pitch setup and Scott Randall in short relief should provide bullpen stability. Both had ERAs under 3 last year and were acquired for spare parts.

IMPORTANT - DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO POST A SCREENSHOT ON THESE FORUMS?? PLEASE POST

[jamesfinch]

Here we go guys, my opening day roster for this year.

[jamesfinch]

My Royals had a 85-77 record at the end of the season. We finished 15 games back in the central, but only one back of the A's in the Wild Card. A last day loss to the Blue Jays cost us the chance to have a go at them in a one-game playoff.

Player of the Year 2010

Pat "the bat" Burrell is my player of the year. He hit .283, and OBP of over .390 and hit 43 homers. Along with this he had no fewer than 143 RBI, a monster year for The Bat.

Pitcher of the year

Close between my ace and number two. Luis Mantilla and Rob McMahon. McMahon gets the nod because of his superior record (18-10) although his ERA was a fraction lower (3.88).

Best Surprise of the Year

Ben Martin. I called his success but a guy who cost me so little has got to be worth surprise of the year. His average actually dropped after he had been hitting .330. He finished with an average of .309, with 10 homers, 85 RBI from leadoff and 16 steals. He also scored 120 runs.

[jamesfinch]

I want to raise some money so I can make a big money FA or two.

KC sent SP Juan Vargos, LF Jose Rovai, RPs Billy Traber and Eric Gagne to LA Dodgers.

LA sent RP Francisco Rodriguez, RP Toby Potier and $1million to KC Royals.

I lose Vargos who I had just signed to a $7.5million contract and two struggling relievers (Traber and Gagne) who are both getting paid over $5million. I get back K-Rod on $5.2million and Potier who is on minimum. I also get $1million in the deal. I get rid of $12million and I think have done fairly well in the deal.

Free agent signings to come...

[jamesfinch]

Marty Phillips is signed to a 5 year, $13.6million a year contract.

Phillips hit .285 with a major league leading 50 home runs. He will play at DH, as Ben Martin moves to left which forces Pat Burrel to play first, moving Jacobsen to third and Sheldon on to shortstop. I am not particulaly worried by all the position changes as the moves effectively mean that I get Phillips in the lineup for Religious, my light hitting shortstop. I am most worried about Sheldon's defense at short but it will be worth the upgrade over Religious.

[jamesfinch]

Here goes my draft:

Round 1 (overall 20): LF Alex Yarnall - his peak of 94, he had an average of .274, with 23 doubles in AAA, but stole 17 bags without being caught once.
Round 2: LF Cal Beck - he also has a peak of 94, with very similar stats, a BA of .285, with 17 uncaught bases himself.
Round 3: LF John Pourfarrokh - another left-fielder with a peak of 91 this time around, his OBP of .317 is dissapointing, however.
Round 4: LF Karl Lyman - yes, one more but clearly the worst of the bunch.
No other picks of note.

[jamesfinch]

My overall rating if 95 should make me the best team in the AL. My lineup is loaded, my 4 thru 6 hitters had 141 homers last year between them and there is plenty more power with a further three 20 home run hitters. Check out my roster below:

[jamesfinch]

July 30- and out of the race already. A 43-57 record and I'm 16 games back. Despite having scored the third most runs in the league, I allowed over 50 more runs than any other teams. Time to cut serious payroll and trade some of my expiring contracts away.

Trades

KC Royals send RP Guillmero Mota and RP Scott Randall to Arizona

Arizona send $4million to KC Royals.

Randall is in his final year with his contract and Mota has been struggling, a total of $8.8million saved in salary for the year.


KC Royals send SP Luis Mantilla and CF Jamal Strong to St.Louis.

St. Louis send 2B Vince Kildani and $10million to KC Royals.

Matilla is in his final year of his contract and, wanting $15million, was too expensive to resign. Strong is unlikey to ever have a starting job even after I trade Murray, my CF. The ten million bucks will help as I was heading towards debt.


KC Royals send CF Calvin Murray and RF Dewayne Wise to Baltimore.

Baltimore send RF Laynce Nix and $5million to KC Royals.

Murray is getting paid $7million a year and is only .297 with only 1 homer. I have a ready replacement in Kelvin Shaw who has a rating of 93. Dewayne Wise is in the final year of his contract and is only hitting .201. I get a replacement in Laynce Nix.

[jamesfinch]

Okay guys, I have decided that this is not going well at all. Perhaps I haven't been doing my job all that well but I just can't put my finger on what is wrong. I sign a pitcher who has been great all career and then sucks as soon as he arrives at KC. That has been my main problem this dynasty.

I am putting my neck on the line and am going to say if I don't make postseason this year or next year I'm going to call it a day and retire, and look for another job.

Trade (or rather sale)

CF David DeJesus, 3B Bucky Jacobsen and SP Thomas Frois sent to White Sox for $6million.

I had to move Jacobsen who, after some good years with the Royals, hit only .212 with 27 homers and a shocking 64 RBI more than 30 fewer than his previous worst season. DeJesus is 31 years old and is still some way off his pace and Frois is only an average minor leaguer.

Free Agent Signings

Howard Dandridge signed to a 2 year, $830,000 contract. He will be my starting SS, he will leadoff and steal 40 bags +.

[jamesfinch]

Well, the downloadable rosters haven't gone down too well. Only 4 downloads!! I guess I'll have to go the long route:

Starting Lineup (notes in parenthesis) rating:95

1. SS Howard Dandridge (249SBs in minors only 5CS)
2. CF Kelvin Shaw (103 runs last year)
3. RF Orlando Velazquez (hit .347 with 47HR, a 1.01OPS in AAA)
4. 1B Pat Burrell (48HR, 126RBI)
5. DH Marty Phillips (.283, 54HR, 147RBI)
6. 2B Aaron Miles (.296 career avg)
7. 3B Hank Blalock (.309, 16HR, 79RBI, 100G in AAA)
8. LF Ben Martin (113R)
9. C Trey Lunsford (.268, 24 doubles)

Bench rating:78

Laynce Nix
Raul Mondesi
And ****...

Rotation rating:90

#1 Rob MacMahon (5.92 ERA)
#2 Nate Handleman (12-10, 4.96 ERA)
#3 Kevin Sieger (5.90 ERA)
#4 Cesar Yuponco (6.51 ERA)
#5 David Guggenheim (20 losses last season in MLB, 16-0 AAA)

Bullpen (rating: 76-best in AL)

Closer - K-Rod (24/30 saves)
Setup - Brandon Puffer (3.73 ERA, 8-4)
Short - Ted Blue (5.97 ERA)