2K6 EXPOS Dynasty

[Northern Brave]

Using my own rosters and leaving in Portland and Montreal, the Expos return in the AL East to bring about a great Montreal/Toronto rivalry.

Montreal returns in Molson Park, a new stadium and new team...

Jimmy Williams is hired as coach, but what he can do with an assortment of free agent and aged talent who knows.... most bets are he won't last till next year.

The Expos new GM made a few moves right off the bat:

SS Deivi Cruz + $1mil were sent to Tampa in return for RF Joey Gomes, cutting high salary and getting a young prospect in return to help build the Expos future.

1B Randall Simon and CF Wendell Magee were shipped to San Fran on the west coast in return for young starting pitcher Matt Kinney, who the Expos hope will grow into a top 3 starter.

C Mitch Melusky and OF Joe Vitiello were traded to 13 time division champions Atlanta, the Expos getting back RF Jeff Francour and rookie C Miguel Bernard, who they hope will also be cornerstones of the team in the future.

The Expos then sent LF Troy O'Leary and C Izzy Molina to Toronto, getting back LF John-Ford Griffin, as the Expos move to create a young strong outfield of the future to build around.


The GM then cut payroll and talent coming out of Spring Training cleaning house of salary and burdens. Given their outright release and let go to free agency were; Dave Hollins, Orlando Merced, Charles Johnson, Kerry Ligtenberg, Omar Daal, Scott Sauerbeck, John Burkett, Eric Karros, Denny Neagle, Robert Person, Paul Abbott, and Luke Prokopec.

The Expos then delved into the free agent market signing pitchers Darren Oliver and Cory Vance.

Opening Day Roster:

C Robby Hammock
1B Andres Galarraga
2B Joe McEwing
3B Lou Collier
SS Mendy Lopez
RF Joey Gomes
CF Tom Goodwin
LF John Cortesi
DH David Segui

Bench
*****

1B Kevin Witt
C Pat Borders
SS Erick Almonte
RF Jeff Francouer
CF Adrian Brown

Rotation:

1 - Kevin Appier
2 - Shane Reynolds
3 - Darren Oliver
4 - Wayne Franklin
5 - Matt Kinney

ALT - Mike Paradis

Bullpen
******

Cory Vance
Pete Munro
Brooks Kieschnick
Mike Fetters
Tom Gordon

Montreal sits with a team payroll of $29,310,000 and a payroll budget of $47,107,150

[Northern Brave]

April 1st was the home and season opener for the return of the Montreal Expos in front of 25,036 fans who packed into Molson Park. It was a night spoiled in a 15 inning marathon by the visiting Chicago White Sox, who beat the Expos 2-0.

John Cortesi went 3-5, and David Segui went 3-6, combining for six of the Montreal Expos nine hits on the night versus the Sox pitching staff.

Pitcher Kevin Appier worked 10 strong innings for Montreal, before Kieschnick in the bullpen finally surrendered to the ChiSox batters, taking the loss.

April 2nd saw Montreal notch its first victory since returning to the major leagues with a 1-0 extra inning triumph over the Chicago White Sox. Shane Reynolds went a full 9 innings before closer Tom Gordon worked two innings to notch the victory.

John Cortesi lead the way offensively for the Expos going 2-3 with an rbi.

Attendance at Molson Park was 24, 641.

Montreal won two of three from Chicago, dominating with a 5-0 win. Darren Oliver, signed as a free agent, went the complete game allowing just 2 hits while striking out 3 for the victory. Pat Borders and Kevin Witt, both making their first starts of the season both went 2-4 to help lead the Expos offence.

April 4th saw Montreal make it 3 straight wins as Wayne Franklin threw a complete game, allowing just 4 hits. Detroit could muster no offence, dropping a 1-0 shutout, also marking the third straight game the Expos have not allowed a run.

Tom Goodwin lead the way offensively going 2-4, while John Cortesi went 0-1 with two walks.

April 5th saw Montreal win its fourth straight game, and fourth straight shutout with a 5-0 win in Detroit over the Tigers. Montreal hit a season high 11 hits, roughing up Tiger starter Jason Johnson.

Rookie pitcher Matt Kinney went the complete game for the win, getting offensive help from John Cortesi, who went 3-4, while Pat Borders and Jeff Francouer went 2-4.

April 6th saw Montreal extend both of their streaks to 5 games with a 5-0 shutout victory over the Tigers. Detroit fans were treated to a hard fought game, but the Expos rallied in the 7th and 8th innings to beat their bullpen for the win.

Kevin Appier went 9 innings for the complete game win, getting support at the plate from almost every player in the lineup, as the Expos lineup provided 11 hits.

April 8th saw Montreal return home to Canada and extend their streaks to 6 games with a 1-0 win. Pitcher Shane Reynolds went the complete game giving up just 2 hits, while Kevin Witt hit the Expos first home run of the year to give them the win in front of a season high 27, 328 fans.

April 9th saw Montreal’s streak end as they came out on the losing side of a 1-0 shutout by the Portland Wolves. The loss came in another 15 inning marathon, as Wolves Curt Leskanic notched the win, ruining the night for the season high 28, 036 fans that showed up at Molson Park.

April 11th saw the Expos snap a two game losing streak to earn a split in the four game series with the Portland Wolves, with a 5-0 win. Matt Kinney threw a complete game marking the 10th game that has seen the Montreal starting rotation give up not a single run.

Montreal ended the month of April at .500, going14-14, despite a fast start to the season. The Expos sit tied for 3rd in the AL East with New York, 2 ½ games back of the first place Baltimore Orioles.

Rookie John Cortesi sits 8th in batting average, hitting .229, while Matt Kinney is tied for 1st place in AL ERA at 0.00 having started 5 games and garnering a 2-2 record.

[Northern Brave]

Minor League Report
*****************
AAA

LF – Felipe Crespo – Crespo is hitting .240 with an OBA of .319. With those numbers Crespo could earn himself a shot with the big club soon.

C- Bill Haselman – A veteran of 14 seasons, Haselman looks poised to get his shot with Montreal soon, especially with the early season struggles of Robby Hammock.

RF – Mark Quinn – The veteran left fielder looks poised to head to Montreal given his .300 batting average and .369 OBA. With Francouer and Gomes both struggling his offence could be just what Montreal needs.

P – Brian Moehler – Moehler has held opponents to measly .188 OBA against him, but his 4.85 ERA is far too high to earn the 30 something pitcher a promotion. Moehler will either be trade bait or released to make room in the farm system.

P – Steve Parris – Parris has self destructed in the minors, and his displeasure has been made quite clear. His days are numbered, and Montreal would not mind losing his 6.08 ERA

P - Albie Lopez – The 31 year old veteran pitcher has put up decent numbers and seems quite happy in the organization. It is a long shot unless his numbers improve that he will see a call up, but he adds good depth and experience for the younger pitchers.



P – Jeff Farnsworth – Despite his desire to leave, Farnsworth numbers make him a solid pitcher. With a 3.95 ERA and .234 OBA, expect Montreal to be able to move him for prospects of the future.

P – Mark Guthrie – Guthrie is only on a one year contract but has pitched so well, he’s giving Montreal reason to think of re-signing him. Guthrie could well find himself called up, especially if Fetters and Kieschnick continue to cost the Expos games.

P – Garrett Stephenson – A veteran of 8 seasons, Stephenson has pitched like it. With being unhappy in the minors his demand for a trade may well bring the Expos a solid return.

P – Mark Wholers – Wholers days as a dominant closer are over, but he’s still been effective coming out of the Edmonton Trapper bullpen. Montreal knows he is not happy being in the minors but cannot bring him up and take a step back either. Watch for him to be traded or released outright.

AA

2B – Brent Butler – Butler hit .270 with an OBA of .351, however has made his displeasure of being in the minors clear and has demanded a trade. Butler may have gotten a chance with McEwing’s struggles at the plate, but with the trade demand seems likely to be gone before ever getting a shot at the bigtime.

3B – Greg LaRocca – The 30 year old is out of time and options, despite a solid .277 BA and .324 OBA. LaRocca could be trade bait to get younger prospects later in the season if Montreal wants to make room.

P – Adam Bernero – Montreal had high hopes despite Adam’s displeasure at being in the minors. His numbers have not garnered him any notice and Montreal may well cut him loose before the season even reaches the halfway mark.

P Rigo Beltran – The 30 year old pitcher has been outstanding with the Harisburg Senators, notching a 3.25 ERA and .194 OBA. If the Expos can move one of their disgruntled oldsters in AAA expect a promotion.

P – Nick Neugebauer – Nick has already demanded a trade, something Montreal is not happy with given his 2.78 ERA and .128 OBA with the Senators this season. Still a trade could bring high dividends back to Montreal.

A

LF – Merv Religious – Religious is showing a great deal of promise despite his displeasure of being with Montreal and in the minors. The left fielder is hitting .391 with a .441 OBA and has been tagged to move up to AA.

2B – Danny Garcia – Tabbed as a shortstop of the future for the Expos, Garcia has put up fantastic numbers. The rookie is hitting .364 with a .391 OBA, and has forced the Expos to up their timetable by moving him to AA. His emergence could spell the end for Brent Butler.

P – Pedro Feliciano – Feliciano has drawn attention from the Montreal scouts and has started off the season as expected, and strongly, with the Vancouver Canadians. Some scouts feel he might well make the jump at least to AA before the end of the season.

R

2B – Steve Hornostaj – The talented 2B has already demanded a trade, not happy with being in the rookie league and with the Jupiter Expos. Steve has hit .299 with a .357 OBA, but the Expos will not rush what they deem one of their brightest prospects and have maintained they have no intention of trading Hornostaj.

C- Miguel Bernard – Acquired from the Braves to be the catcher of the future, Bernard has lit it up with Jupiter, going .313 with a .383 OBA, earning a quick promotion to the Vancouver Canadians of the A league.

LF – John-Ford Griffin – The Expos didn’t want to push their young outfielder too hard, but he’s earned a fast promotion, hitting .328 with a .430 OBA. If he can hold his own at AA, Griffin could arrive far sooner than the two to three years projected.

P – Nate Bland- Bland has already earned a promotion to the Vancouver Canadians. Montreal has high hopes for the 30 year old pitcher. How far he goes at age 30 though, is the real question.

P – Rafael Rodriguez – The 19 year old starter has all the talent in the world, but his displeasure of being with the Jupiter Expos may well have ruined his ERA some. Montreal hopes the young hurler will prove he can pitch at a higher level and find a way to ease his unhappiness.

P – Shane Loux – Loux is one prospect the Expos had hoped would show he was ready for a greater challenge. Instead Loux has been unhappy and showing it in poor performances. What becomes of Loux at this point is up to how he works through adversity and unhappiness.

P – Andy Shibilo – Shibilo as been a force out of the Jupiter bullpen, but has also put Montreal in a spot asking for a trade. It is unclear if Montreal has any desire to move the young talented pitcher, or if they will hope he grows into where he is with time.

P – Justin Huisman – Huisman is in the same situation as Shibilo and the Expos are not happy about such. Like Shibilo Montreal wants them to grow and become solid parts of their bullpen of the future.

P – Ricardo Faustino – Faustino has put up very good numbers early in the season, despite his displeasure at being in Jupiter. Montreal hopes to see a continued improvement and believes Faustino could jump through the ranks quickly if he does.

[Northern Brave]

Expos Report

C – Pat Borders – Borders is great at handling a staff but his speed and fielding are not up to major league standing. Add in a measly .190 batting average in the opening month, and Borders has made himself expendable. Expect a demotion.

C – Robby Hammock – Hammock has done well at the plate, but has shown a rookie’s lack of discipline with 13 k’s already in one month. Hammock is the future of the Expos but his time is not quite here yet.

1B – Kevin Witt - has played well, and has one of the two home runs the Expos have hit in a month’s worth of play. The hope is a .172 batting average is just a slow start.

1B – David Segui – Segui was counted on to provide some offence and power to the Montreal line up, but it is clear he’s not lived up to such expectations at all. Segui could be moved, if anyone will take him, but it is clear his days are numbered. Even as a DH he has been a disappointment.

1B- Andres Galarraga – The veteran was counted on to provide some offence and stability. Offence has been a non-factor, and top it off, Galarraga has seen little action and been relegated to the bench, hitting a measly .149. Sentiment is the only reason he has not been released.

2B – Joe McEwing – McEwing has been solid in the field but his bat has not been anything Montreal could be happy with. His .123 batting average has been one of the reasons the Expos have failed to win close games. His defence will keep him about, but for how long remains to be seen.

3B – Lou Collier – Unhappy and demanding a trade, Collier’s play has been anything but helpful in filling such a request. A lack of depth at the position leaves Montreal in a bind as well, with no one to replace him.

SS – Mendy Lopez – Lopez has been offensively lacking but still putting up good enough numbers to get playing time. If Almonte can step it up, Lopez will most likely be relegated to the bench or be moved.

SS – Erick Almonte – Almonte has been overmatched by major league pitching at the plate, but solid in the field. The Expos know they are pushing the young shortstop hard, but don’t have many other options. If Almonte can come about with the bat, he will lock up the starter’s job.

RF – Jeff Francouer – Picked up in a trade with Atlanta to add depth, Francouer has taken over as the starting right fielder. Jeff has only hit .185 but his defence has been key and his timing on his hits has come through for Montreal. He has been one of the bright spots in the early going of the season.

RF – Joey Gomes – Acquired from Tampa Bay, Gomes is the future for the Expos. Rushed into the outfield of the big club, Gomes has responded well despite struggling against major league pitching. Gomes future is bright but Montreal needs to see if he should stay up platooning with Francouer or head to AAA.

CF – Tom Goodwin – Goodwin’s age is catching up to him, but despite struggling at the plate, Goodwin’s speed in the field and on the basepaths, 13 stolen bases already, will keep him around in an Expos uniform.

CF – Adrian Brown – Brown has seen limited action, and even that has been a disappointment. Brown’s days are numbered.

LF – John Cortesi – Cortesi has made it no secret he is not happy in Montreal, but the Expos view the young outfielder as a star and cornerstone of their club. He’s been the biggest offensive weapon the Expos have, hitting a team leading .229 with a .375 OBA.

[Northern Brave]

" If you find a red tag in your locker, it means the manager wants to see you because you just died and got sent down to the minors " - Jake Taylor, Major League

In a shake up to try and improve the current team and build for the future, Montreal made a quartet of moves, and while not demoting anyone, the Expos used assets and malcontents to put themselves in a position to better contend in the difficult AL East.

Montreal sent C Pat Borders, 3B Lou Collier, and P Nick Neugebauer to Milwaukee, getting back 3B Enrique Cruz, 3B Corey Hart, and $500,000 in cash.

LA then got 1B David Segui, CF Adrian Brown, and P Jeff Farnsworth as the Dodgers sent P Ryan Ketchner, and SS Andy Fox to the Expos from the west coast.

Montreal then shipped $500,000 along with P Garrett Stephenson, 2B Brent Butler, and LF Felipe Crespo to the Philadelphia Phillies receiving CF Jason Michaels, CF Chris Roberson, and 3B David Bell in return.

The Expos then made one more deal acquiring 1B Sean Casey, and SS Luis Lopez from Cincinnati shipping back P Steve Parris, CL Mark Wholers, P Adam Bernero, and SS Mendy Lopez.

Montreal increased their payroll in the trades to $36,210,000, however improved on the corners and with the bats with the acquisitions of Casey and Bell.

[Northern Brave]

May 2nd saw Montreal win 5-3 over the visiting Baltimore Orioles as Matt Kinney went 7 innings for the win, improving his record to 3-2, and Tom Gordon notched his 3rd save of the season. Sean Casey made an immediate impact with his new team leading the offence going 2-4.

May 3rd saw Baltimore hand the Expos their worst defeat of the season, trouncing Montreal 15-1. The Orioles beat up the Expos pitching as Javy Lopez crushed 3 home runs, Miguel Tejada hit a pair, and Melvin Mora and Sammy Sosa added single bombs in the route. Kevin Appier, who was having a stellar season, lasted just 5 innings giving up 6 runs, 5 of them earned.

May 6th saw Montreal drop another stinker of a game, losing to the visiting Toronto Blue Jays 12-1. Montreal gave up 16 hits to the Jays, and the only bright spot for Montreal was Sean Casey going 2-3 with a walk.

May 7th saw Montreal drop it’s 4th straight game, losing to the Blue Jays 6-0. Roy Halladay shut down the Expos, throwing a complete game shut out, walking 3 and striking out 6.

May 10th saw the Expos snap their 6 game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Bill Haselman lead the offence going 2-3 with 3 RBI, while Shane Reynolds pitched a solid 7 2/3 innings and Tom Gordon came out of the pen to record his 4th save of the year.

May 15th saw Montreal drop it’s 4th straight game as then New York Yankees won 3-2. Montreal dropped their monthly record to 2-11 as the Yanks swept the 3 game series in the Bronx.

May 16th saw the Expos GM pull the trigger on a pair of trades to try and address his sorry offence. SS Luis Lopez was sent to the west coast with $500,000, as the Expos acquired SS David Matranga from the Anaheim Angels. Montreal then shipped off disgruntled LF Merv Religious to Portland in exchange for 3B veteran Todd Zeile. To make room for the new players, Roberson and Hart were both demoted to AAA, along with pitcher Cory Vance. Albie Lopez was recalled to take over the long inning role out of the bullpen.

May 16th saw Montreal shut out the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0, as Shane Reynolds threw a complete game 5 hitter to improve his record to 5-3 on the season. The good news was tempered with the loss of starter Kevin Appier to a fractured hip which will put him on the DL for 96 days. As a result Mike Paradis will move into the starting rotation, and Brian Moehler was recalled from AAA.

May 18th saw Toronto end the Expos 2 game win streak riding the complete game 4 hitter thrown by Roy Hallday as the Jays won 7-0. Expos starter Wayne Franklin’s struggles continued as he lasted just 3 2/3 innings giving up all 7 earned runs.

May 22nd saw Montreal snap a 2 game losing streak against the Bronx Bombers with a 5-3 victory, but the win came at a high cost. Recently acquired Todd Zeile was felled by a torn ligament and will be lost to the DL for 135 days. Montreal’s Darren Oliver came through with his second straight solid outing earning his 3rd victory of the season, going 8 innings allowing just 2 earned runs against the Yankees. As a result of the injury to Zeile, the Expos recalled Corey Hart from AAA.

May 25th saw Montreal snap a two game losing streak dominating the visiting K.C Royals 9-0. Mike Paradis improved to 1-1 on the season with a complete game 6 hit performance. David Bell provided the offence for Montreal going 3-4 with 2 RBI.

May 31st saw Seattle win 3-2 as the Expos losing streak reached 4 games as they rounded out a disastrous month of May. To make matters worse Matt Kinney will be shut down for 3 days with shoulder bursitis as the injury bug hit the Expos again. Montreal finished May with an 8-21 record dropping them to 5th place in the AL East and leaving them 11 ½ games back of division leading Boston.

[Northern Brave]

EXPOS REPORT
C – Robby Hammock – Hammock continues to struggle at the plate, striking out 28 times, and notching a .158 batting average. Hammock lost the starter job and has been relegated to learning from the bench.
C – Bill Haselman – Despite being 36 years old, the 14 year veteran has come up big for the Expos. Haselman has hit .385 with a .422OBA and knocked in 13 in just 21 games this season.
1B – Sean Casey – Casey has appeared in 24 games for Montreal this season since being acquired, and has not disappointed. Casey has hit .247 with a .340OBA, a significant improvement from his numbers with the Reds. The only disappointment has been in the lack of power production.
1B – Kevin Witt – Witt gives Montreal some power, having hit 3 homeruns, however his 34 strike outs and meager .194 batting average have relegated him to the bench. With Zeile’s injury Witt has moved into the DH role, but unless he gets going will soon be back riding the pine.
2B – Joe McEwing – McEwing continues to play well in the field but his bat has not come around as hoped. The starting 2nd baseman is hitting a measly .151 at the plate with 50 strike outs.
3B – David Bell – Bell was acquired to help the Expos anemic offence. After a slow start, Bell has provided 3 doubles and a home run, along with 10 RBI’s. While his batting average is only .185 in 27 games, he has a .349 OBA.
3B/1B – Todd Zeile - Zeile was acquired to bring some pop to the line up, and provide depth. Zeile lasted just 6 games before being lost to the DL. Montreal could not be more disappointed in losing Todd.
3B – Corey Hart – Hart was sent down to AAA, where he thrived in 5 games. The injury to Zeile has forced his recall, however Montreal would like to see him return to the minors.
SS – David Matranga – Matranga has not disappointed since being acquired from the Anaheim Angels. Matranga is hitting .231 in 16 games with the Expos, with a .265OBA and having knocked in 5 RBI’s. Matranga figures to be at short for a long time to come.
SS – Andy Fox – The 32 year old Fox has been a disappointment. Fox couldn’t handle the starting job, and has been even worse coming off the bench. Fox is hitting only .115 with a meager .164 OBA.
RF – Mark Quinn – While Quinn has been unhappy and wants out of Montreal, it hasn’t affected his play. Quinn’s recall has meant pressure put on Francouer. In 17 games this season, Quinn is hitting .205 with a .262 OBA, and has already driven in seven runs. If he keeps performing well the Expos could hang onto him, or he could be traded.
RF – Jeff Francouer – Francouer struggled in May, but has maintained a .196 BA and .222OBA, knocking in 11 RBI, and providing some power as well with 4 doubles, 1 triple, and 2 home runs. The Expos remain very high on Jeff.
CF – Tom Goodwin – Goodwin may be an aged veteran but he has not been playing like it. One of the bright spots for Montreal, Goodwin leads the team in stolen bases with 18 and is hitting .204 with a .244 OBA.
CF – Jason Michaels – Michaels has struggled at the plate, but still has managed a .275 OBA. The Expos hope he will blossom and grow into Goodwin’s replacement.
LF – John Cortesi – Cortesi remains a player the Expos hope to keep about for a long time. Cortesi has been one of their brightest stars, hitting .238 with a .393 OBA,. Cortesi has also knocked 3 home runs and stolen 3 bases as well giving Montreal a well rounded threat in the lineup.

P – Mike Paradis – Paradis would normally be in the bullpen but Appier’s injury left Montreal in the lurch. While a poor band aid on the pitching problem, Paradis has not done badly.
P – Shane Reynolds – Reynolds has exceeded expectations this year leading the team in wins with a 5-5 record and a stingy 1.81 ERA. Expect Montreal to keep Reynolds around for a while longer.
P – Darren Oliver – Oliver has struggled recently but still managed a 4-4 record and has been a solid #3 starter for the Expos. Montreal should keep Oliver around for some time.
P – Wayne Franklin – Franklin started the year strong, however has faded. Montreal is worried about his confidence being hurt, but with a lack of depth they have little choice but to hope he can work through his troubles.
P – Matt Kinney – Kinney has proven to be a great pick-up for the Expos. Kinney is likely to be an Expo for many years. In 11 starts Kinney has gone 4-5 this season with a 2.52 ERA.
P – Brian Moehler – Moehler has been unhappy and it showed at AAA. Due to Appier’s injury though Moehler was called up. He has not disappointed coming out of the bullpen, appearing in 4 games in May, and has not given up an earned run.
P – Albie Lopez – Lopez got a recall and has appeared in 6 games from the bullpen. While not doing a bad job, Montreal would not mind upgrading, but Lopez is valuable for depth and likes being in the organization.
P – Pete Munro – Munro has been a solid arm coming out of the pen for Montreal and they are quite happy with how he has pitched so far this year.
P – Brooks Kieschnick – Brooks got off to a rocky start, but Montreal was high on him and their faith as paid off as he has turned things around and pitched strongly in the short relief role for Montreal.
P – Mike Fetters – The aged veteran has become part of one of the game’s best 1-2 tandem with Tom Gordon. His miniscule 0.95 ERA is far more than anyone could have hoped for.
P – Tom Gordon – Age has not prevented Gordon from dominating, having a 0.62 ERA, while saving 7 games. Gordon should stick around until the young arms are ready.
P – Kevin Appier – Appier was stopped in the midst of a great start to the season, appearing in 9 games and having a 1.41 ERA. Appier's loss of presence in the rotation has already been felt.

[Northern Brave]

MINORS REPORT
AAA
CF – Chris Roberson – Roberson got a shot at the majors, but struggled. A return to the Edmonton Trappers has sparked the young outfielder. In 20 games with the Trappers, Roberson is hitting .286 with 3 doubles a triple and homerun, and a .364 OBA.
1B – Andres Galarraga – The veteran took his demotion all in stride. In 28 games he has hit .351 with a .393 OBA, and looks poised to make a return to the parent club soon.
3B – Greg LaRocca – The unhappy LaRocca continues to show why Montreal likes him, putting up solid numbers. His 7 doubles and 2 home runs are making him an attractive option for call up.
SS – Erick Almonte – Almonte tore up AA and a move to AAA has not hurt him, though his numbers have dropped slightly. Montreal remains focused on developing their shortstop of the future.
P – Cory Vance – The Expos had and still hold high hope for the 23 year old. Struggling with the big club, a demotion has not improved things for Vance. For the time being Montreal is content to wait and see.
P – Mark Guthrie – Montreal has watched Guthrie but not seen enough to warrant their actively seeking to hang onto him. With an ERA over 4.00, Guthrie’s days with the Expos are numbered.

AA
RF – Joey Gomes – Gomes has been a consistent and pleasant surprise with Harrisburg. Montreal knows given enough time to develop, they will have a young outfielder who will be a cornerstone of the team.
2B – Danny Garcia – Garcia is pushing the Expos brass to re-evalute him. Garcia has already made the jump to AA and is continuing to tear his way through the minors. If he can keep it up he could reach AAA before the end of this year.
LF – John-Ford Griffin – Montreal moved him through the system to AA quickly, but even they were not ready for him to put up a .414 BA and .496 OBA. Griffin has notched 11 doubles and 3 home runs, along with 25 RBI’s. Griffin has already earned the right to be moved up again.
P – Rigo Beltran – Beltran continues to impress at AA, and Montreal is content to let him thrive and mature, looking forward to having him move through the ranks to the parent club in a few years.

A
3B – Enrique Cruz – In 43 games with the Vancouver Canadians Cruz has shown he has plenty of skill and potential. Montreal likes what they have seen and will take their time with Cruz to develop him.
P – Pedro Felicianno – Feliciano continues to impress Expos brass, and has been putting up solid numbers in Vancouver with the Canadians. Montreal will be very happy watching him develop.
P – Rafael Rodriguez – Rodriguez moved to A level and has been consistent, however Montreal won’t be moving him higher unless he works at getting opponents OBA down from .222 and gets his ERA under 3.00.
P – Andy Shibilo – Shibilo pitched his way to A ball but then self destructed. He has been destroyed, having a 5.00 ERA and .260 OBA. Expect a demotion, and Montreal may well begin to show signs of possibly moving the disgruntled hurler.
P – Justin Huisman – The unhappy pitcher still posted good enough numbers to warrant a promotion to the Vancouver Canadians. Unlike Shibilo, Huisman has enjoyed some success at the higher level, and despite a rise in ERA and OBA, has earned the chance to work at lowering them.
P – Ricardo Faustino – Faustino is a puzzling player. Earning a promotion to A level ball, his ERA has shot up over 4.00, however his OBA has dropped to just .160. Montreal is intent for the time being on seeing what Faustino does.
P Ryan Ketchner – Ketchner earned a promotion by terrorizing teams with Jupiter in the rookie league. That success has not been found at A ball with Vancouver. His numbers are not bad, and Montreal is content to leave him there.

R
2B – Steve Hornostaj – Steve is still one of those players, while unhappy, Montreal has no intention of moving. Hornostaj will take time to develop but has shown his potential with the Jupiter Expos.
C – Miguel Bernard – Bernard has been a force with the Jupiter Expos, and is pushing the organization to move him up already. Montreal loves Bernard’s high batting average and OBA, both above 3, but it is the 6 doubles and 10 homeruns that have the Expos salivating for his arrival.
P – Nate Bland – Bland has turned his season around and has begun to provide Jupiter with solid outings from the bullpen. At age 30 though his time is pretty well up. Montreal will most likely make room for a younger more talented pitcher. Possible trade bait.
P – Shane Loux – Montreal had high hopes, but those hopes have been dashed. Loux is showing nothing at all with Jupiter. His 4.57 ERA is terrible and most likely means he will be cut.

[Northern Brave]

June 1st saw Montreal lose to the Mariners 7-4 extending their losing streak to 5 games. Worse the Expos lost Shane Reynolds to a broken knuckle for 4 days on the DL. A bright spot was Montreal getting 7 hits, and Mark Quinn connecting for his first home run of the season.

June 3rd saw division leading Boston pound the Expos 8-0 at Fenway Park, Montreal got another poor outing out of Wayne Franklin, pushing their losing streak to 6 games as the expansion team’s woes continue.

June 5th saw Montreal beat Boston at Fenway Park to snap a 7 game losing streak. The 6-4 win was marked by 12 hits, as McEwing, Matranga, and Hammock all hit doubles and Bill Haselman launched his second home run of the season. Mike Paradis lasted 8 innings getting the Expos to Tom Gordon who finished off the Sox and got his 8th save of the year.

June 9th saw Montreal fall to the Toronto Blue Jays, succumbing to a series sweep, with a 6-1 loss. Matt Kinney, recently back from injury lasted just 5 1/3 innings being touched for all six Jays runs. Kevin Witt was the lone bright spot for the Expos, going 3-4 with a double and home run, his fourth of the season. Montreal has now lost 4 straight games.

June 11th saw Montreal end a 5 game losing streak as they beat the visiting Oakland Athletics 6-2 in front of 19,324 fans. Shane Reynolds went 8 innings notching his 6th win of the season, while Sean Casey and Kevin Witt added long balls to lead the offence.

June 12th saw Montreal suffer a crushing defeat as the A’s destroyed the Expos 12-2. Darre Oliver, Montreal’s starter, was tagged for 7 runs over 4 2/3 innings. The lone offence for Montreal came off the bat of Kevin Witt who hit his 6th homer of the season. The news got worse for Montreal as they lost their center fielder and lead off hitter, Tom Goodwin, to the DL for 19 days due to a chipped knee cap. As a result Chris Roberson was recalled from AAA to platoon with Jason Michaels.

June 13th saw Montreal make a deal for some starting pitching, as they sent 3B Greg LaRocca, and P Shane Loux, Nate Bland, and Andy Shibilo to the Minnisota Twins, getting back P Kyle Lohse, and Denny Neagle. The move prompted a return to the bullpen of Mike Paradis and the demotion of Albie Lopez, and Wayne Franklin back to AAA.

June 16th saw Montreal end a 4 game losing streak as they pounced all over the Portland Wolves 8-4. The Expos were lead by John Cortesi who went 3-3 with a double, 2 home runs, and 2 walks. Darren Oliver went 7 innings before turning things over to Mike Fetters. Oliver collected his 5th win of the season.

June 17th saw Montreal hunt down and slaughter the Portland Wolves in the Wolves Den, beating them 11-3 and earning a split in the four game series. John Cortesi for the second straight game lead the offence going 4-5 at the plate. Kyle Lohse made his debut a memorable one going 7 1/3 strong innings in his first start as an Expo.

June 20th saw New York sweep the three game set with the Expos in Montreal, winning 7-6. New York outscored the Expos 39-9 through the three games including a 15-0 blow out.

June 21st saw Montreal stop their 3 game losing streak beating the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2-0. Darren Oliver collected the win, getting offensive help from David Bell, who hit his 6th homer of the season, and hot rookie John Cortesi who hit his 7th, and was 3-4 at the plate.

June 30th saw the New York Yankees win 4-3 to extend Montreal’s losing streak to 9 games as they reach the end of the month.

Montreal finished June in dead last in the AL East, and 27 games back of first place New York. Montreal suffered through June, going 5-24, their worst month ever.

[Northern Brave]

EXPOS REPORT

C – Bill Haselman – The veteran catcher continues to have a strong season, despite the team’s losing ways. In 48 games Haselman is hitting .287 with a .433OBA, notching 10 doubles and 5 homers, while knocking in 25 RBI. Montreal may well consider re-signing the 36 year old backstop.

C – Robby Hammock – Hammock has been relegated to the back-up role, and pinch hitting, something Montreal knows will not produce numbers but rather help Hammock grow. Patience is a virtue and Montreal knows the young backstop is their man for the future.

1B – Kevin Witt – Montreal showed some patience with Witt and avoided the urge to trade him. That move has paid off with Witt hitting .224 with a .262 OBA, and cranking out 7 doubles and 9 homeruns to give the anemic offence some punch.

1B – Sean Casey – Casey has flourished with the Expos, and is finally getting into his groove, which is a good thing for the Expos. Casey has appeared in 52 games, hitting .229 with 8 doubles, a triple, and 5 home runs to go with a .344 OBA.

2B – Joe McEwing – McEwing has improved at the plate, though perhaps not enough to save his job down the road. In 77 games he is hitting just .201 with 9 doubles. Montreal may well keep him as a bench player next year, but he could be trade bait coming into the deadline.

3B – David Bell – Bell’s average at the plate may be low, a paltry .176 average, but the 6 doubles and 5 home runs along with 16 RBI’s to go with a .321 OBA, has Bell looking good and staying at the hot corner in Montreal.

3B – Corey Hart- Hart’s recall from AAA where he was producing well is due only because of injuries that have ravaged the team of the veteran players. Hart is not ready for the majors and the Expos know it. They’d like to get him more time at AAA if they can.

SS – David Matranga – Matranga continues to be the go to guy at short for the Expos. An average hitter, Matranga will need to have a better go after the all-star break to hang onto the starting job for next season.

SS – Andy Fox – Fox is on borrowed time and will most likely be traded or cut if the Expos can’t move him. He’s not even proved to be bench material. His time is over, time to move on.

RF – Jeff Francouer – Francouer has gone about the season making it a good one, if not an outstanding one. Montreal remains impressed and in lieu of there being no one else, Francouer is the man in right, at least for now.

RF – Mark Quinn – Quinn has been used in the field and DH since being called up, and while he came on strong, has faded badly. Montreal even tried to move the outfielder but could find no takers. If they can move him at the deadline they will, otherwise he’ll be cut loose at the end of the season.

CF – Jason Michaels – Michaels was thrust into duty in center with the injury to Tom Goodwin. Michaels who had been having a poor season responded, upping his batting average to .213 in 32 games with a .314 OBA. Montreal could not be happier with the progress Michaels is showing.

CF – Chris Roberson - A demotion proved just the thing, and Roberson was thriving at AAA. Due to injury the young outfielder was forced back to the bigs ahead of time, and has held his own, off the bench hitting .156.

LF – John Cortesi – Cortesi is Montreal’s stud. In 86 games Cortesi has hit .261 with 11 doubles and 8 home runs, stealing 3 bases, and cashing in 27 RBI’s. Cortesi has a .425 OBA.

P – Shane Reynolds – Reynolds continues to be a workhorse for the Expos, tied for wins with 6. If it weren’t for some strong outings, Montreal would not have won as many games in the first half as they have. Reynolds is going to be a keeper.

P – Darren Oliver – Oliver has come about after struggling a month ago, tied with 6 wins with Shane Reynolds. With Appier gone for most of the season, Oliver has stepped up for the Expos.

P – Kyle Lohse – Lohse who was acquired from the Twins has made 3 starts for the Expos and gone 1-2. His ERA has been atrocious, however Montreal remains high on his talent and skill and believes he will settle in and come around. For Montreal to have any chance of escaping the cellar he would have to.

P – Matt Kinney – While Montreal remains very high on Kinney, they know the young pitcher has tired and struggled. His 4-9 record is not what Montreal had hoped to get out of him, and management is hoping he can bounce back in the second half.

P – Mike Paradis – Paradis returns to the starting rotation as the Denny Neagle experiment failed miserably and he was demoted. Paradis might give a win here or there, but will be back in the bullpen if Montreal can procure another starter before the trade deadline.

P – Brian Moehler – Moehler was untouchable for the first 10 games, since then he has been hit at times as his 5.52 ERA shows. Moehler is an asset Montreal can either keep or trade, but bet on his being gone by the trade deadline if Montreal finds a taker.

P – Albie Lopez – Lopez didn’t pitch bad, and as a result got the recall to the long relief job when Denny Neagle fell to pieces after his acquisition. Depth pitcher who could stick about if he can prove himself a winner.

P – Pete Munro – Munro continues to be a steady force in Montreal’s pen, his strong arm and focus holding his ERA at 3.70 despite the team’s failings. Munro will be about for a few more years.

P – Brooks Kieschnick – Kieschnick has not been bad, but has not been great. His ERA dipped to the high 3.00’s but has since gone back up into the 4.00’s. Montreal likes his young arm, but if they can upgrade with little risk expect them to do so.

P – Mike Fetters – The veteran has begun to show he is only human. After the opening two months with a sub 1.00 ERA, Fetters has finally begun to get hit about. Still, his 2.21 ERA on a team that has lost 59 games so far this year is nothing to be overlooked.

P – Tom Gordon – Gordon has made 9 saves and has been dominating with a 0.78 ERA so far this season. At age 35 and in his 16th season, Gordon may well entice the Expos to keep him around at least for one more season.

[Northern Brave]

MINORS REPORT

AAA

1B – Andres Galarraga – A consummate professional, Andres is still tearing up the AAA circuit, waiting and hoping for the chance to get back to the big club. Witt’s emergence and Casey’s strong hitting and play have left him odd man out.

SS – Erick Almonte – The 24 year old shortstop has continued to grow and excel at AAA, and Montreal may well give him a look in a late season call up, possibly sooner if Andy Fox is moved as Montreal would like to do.

LF – John-Ford Griffin – Griffin has excelled at all three levels this year and is pushing the Expos for a shot at the bigtime. Montreal will give him a look in a late season call up, possibly sooner if they move Mark Quinn before the deadline.

P – Denny Neagle – Neagle has not been happy since the trade, but Montreal has not been happy with his play. Roughed up badly in the majors his woes have continued following his demotion down to AAA. At this rate he could be part of a trade deadline deal, otherwise he’ll be released at the end of the season.

P – Cory Vance – Vance has begun to work his ERA down at AAA, a sign the Expos have wanted to see. They’ve not lost faith in Vance, but it is clear he needs more time before he’ll be successful with the parent club.

P – Mark Guthrie – Nothing has changed since the start of the season with Guthrie. Decent but not excelling enough to earn his way up. Montreal did make an attempt to deal him, but had no takers. Guthrie may finish out the year and be cut.

P – Wayne Franklin – Franklin’s demotion was hard for the Expos brass to do, but he’s showing signs of getting back to the form that won him games early in the season and batters are only hitting .201 against him now. Franklin still figures to be a part of the Expos rotation in the future.

AA

RF – Joey Gomes – Still playing well at AA Gomes has settled in and Montreal is quite pleased. He’l finish out the year at AA most likely.

2B – Danny Garcia – The Expos know Garcia is their second baseman of the future and he is showing signs of being ready to take the next step. Montreal may move him to AAA before the year is out to give him a shot.

P – Rigo Beltran – Beltran has pitched well at AA Harrisburg, but not well enough for Montreal to promote him. He’ll finish the season at AA.

A

3B – Enrique Cruz – Cruz has looked very good in Vancouver, and Montreal will have to decide to either let him finish a fine season there, or push him and promote him to AA Harrisburg.

C- Miguel Bernard – Bernard has made the adjustment well to his promotion to Vancouver, and Montreal is pleased at the numbers he is putting up. Bernard will remain at the A level, and might get a shot at AA next season.

P – Pedro Feliciano – Feliciano has pitched well, but clearly is not ready for the next step yet. Montreal loves his arm and is intent on being patient with him.

P – Rafael Rodriguez – Rodriguez continues to want to be traded, and his numbers while not bad, have at least been consistent. Montreal has to decide to fish or cut bait with Rafael. It is a decision that could come soon at the trade deadline.

P – Justin Huisman – Montreal remains high on the closer, and he has not pitched badly in Vancouver, appearing in 20 games and having 9 saves this season so far, but he has also been vocal about not liking where he is. Montreal will need to make a decision on Huisman’s future as well.

P - Ricardo Faustino – Montreal is still undecided on Faustino. He tore up the rookie league but has seemed to hit a wall at A level. While batters are held to a .152 OBA, his ERA has not come down and remains above 3.00. Another young pitcher the Expos need to make a decision on.

P – Ryan Ketchner – Ketchner has struggled badly in Vancouver, and while Montreal remains very high on the talented pitcher, his return to Jupiter is all but assured.

R

2B – Steve Hornostaj – He remains adamant about wanting to leave Montreal, as much as Montreal wants him to stay. With strong numbers in Jupiter, Montreal may kick him up to Vancouver in the A league to see what he can do at the next level before making a decision about his future.

[Northern Brave]

July 1st saw Montreal snap their 9 game losing streak with a 15-5 dominating win over the first place New York Yankees. Darren Oliver notched his 7th win of the season, and Albie Lopez pitched strong out of the bullpen to beat the Yankees.

July 5th saw Boston beat the Expos 8-5, extending the Expos losing streak to 4 games heading into the All-Sar Break. Shane Reynolds was victimized by the BoSox offence, taking the loss and falling to 6-9 on the season.

ALL-STAR

Home Run Derby – Alex Rodriguez beat out Juan Gonzalez 4-1

The National League beat the American League 14-6.

2B Joe McEwing represented the Montreal Expos at the game.

July 11th saw Montreal’s Gm pull the trigger on two post deadline deals. Montreal sent SS Andy Fox to Florida, getting from the Marlins in return RF Chad Green and SS Wilson Delgado. The Expos then acquired Seattle LF Christian Guerrero in return for P Rafael Rodriguez.

July 12th saw Montreal trade veteran 1B Andres Galarraga to Portland, getting back Wolves veteran catcher Joe Girardi in return, a move that saved the Expos $50,000 in salary, and allows them to demote Robby Hammock. The GM then shipped Brian Moehler and Denny Neagle to Washington, getting P Bill Bray from the former Expos team.

July 15th saw Montreal lose 7-1 to the Oakland Athletics, as the A’s swept the 4 game series and extended Montreal’s losing streak to 8 games.

July 18th saw Montreal drop a 9-6 decision to the Boston Red Sox as the road trip continued. Montreal extended it’s losing streak to 11 games, and for the second straight series was swept by the opposing team.

July 20th saw Montreal beat the visiting Cleveland Indians, halting their losing streak as 12. The 6-2 win came on the arm of Wayne Franklin who went 8 innings to get the victory, his first since being recalled. Bill Haselman went 3-4 at the plate, and recently acquired Joe Girardi cranked his first home run as an Expo. A season low and disappointing crowd of 9,263 were on hand in Montreal to see the win.

July 26th saw Montreal drop it’s 6th straight game to the Cleveland Indians as they wrapped up the four game home, four game road trip, which the Indians dominated at Jacobs Field. The 4-2 tribe win sunk the Expos record for the month to 2-18.

July 30th saw Montreal drop its 1oth straight game as the Anaheim Angels completed the sweep of the four game series with a 10-0 shutout victory over the Expos. Montreal also learned they would be without starter Darren Oliver for 18 days due to a finger stress fracture.

Montreal finished the month in last place in the AL East, buried 39 games back after going 2-22 for the month, the worst ever for the team.

[Northern Brave]

Montreal began August with a 2-1 win over the Detroit Tigers at home at Molson Park. The Expos were lead by starting pitcher Shane Reynolds, and offensively by John Cortesi who launched his 12th home run.

August 3rd saw Montreal beat the Tigers 6-2 as Matt Kinney pitched a strong 8 innings to improve his record to 5-14 on the season. Kevin Witt and Sean Casey both hit home runs to help spark the offence.

August 9th saw Montreal return home following three straight loses to the Orioles, and beat Minnisota 1-0 as Matt Kinney won his 6th game of the season, and Tom Gordon picked up his 11th save of the season. Veteran Bill Haselman got the only run of the game on his 9th homer of the season.

August 11th saw Montreal double its win total all of last month, riding the hot bat of outfielder John Cortesi, who hit two home runs, giving him 14 on the season.

August 12th saw Montreal win a shootout 9-8 over the Twins. Pete Munro came out of the bullpen to record the win, his first of the season, over the Twinkies. Bill Haselman, John Cortesi, and J.F Griffin all launched the long ball to power the Expos offence.

August 17th saw the Texas Rangers beat Montreal 10-2 completing the 4 game sweep of the series. In four games Texas allowed Montreal just 9 runs, while scoring 42 times and victimizing the Expos pitchers.

August 21st saw Texas extend Montreal’s losing streak to 8 games, taking all four games in Montreal, the final win an embarrassing 21-5 trouncing in front of the Expos fans, all 14,072 that showed up at Molson Park to see the team get slaughtered.

August 25th saw Darren Oliver and the Expos beat the Chicago White Sox in the windy city, shutting them out 3-0 and ending the Expos 10 game losing streak. Oliver gave up 5 hits and walked 1 over the complete 9 innings to record his 8th win of the season.

August 30th saw Montreal snap a 5 game losing streak as they beat the visiting Seattle Mariners by a score of 3-2 in 13 innings. Tom Goodwin went 4-6 at the plate while Sean Casey notched his 14th home run of the season in the victory.

Montreal finished the month with a record of 7-21, leaving them with an overall record of 36-102 for the season, dead last in the AL East and a whopping 50 games back of division leading Boston.

[Northern Brave]

September 2nd saw Montreal win their first game of the month, 37th of the season, as they beat the Minnisota Twins 3-0. Starter Shane Reynolds went the complete game giving up 4 hits and striking out 2 for the victory.

September 5th saw Boston beat Montreal 5-1 extending Montreal’s losing streak to 4 games. Worse news came as the Expos learned Shane Reynolds would be lost to the DL for 16 days with a strained knee.

September 10th saw Montreal snap a 7 game losing streak as they beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 9-1. Matt Kinney pitched 8 2/3 innings to get his 7th win of the season, aided by long balls hit by Jeff Francouer, and Kevin Witt.

September 12th saw Montreal extend their winning streak to 3 games as they beat the Devil Rays 5-1. Kyle Lohse, who returned to the lineup after Shane Reynolds went to the DL got just his 3rd win of the season. John Cortesi launched his 18th home run this season to add the offence and secure Montreal their 40th win of the season.

September 15th saw Montreal make it 5 straight wins as they beat the Angels 4-3 in 10 innings. Bullpen pitcher Mike Fetters recorded the win and outfielder Jeff Francouer crushed his 8th home run of the season in the win.

September 21st saw Montreal snap a 5 game losing streak that followed on the heels of five straight victories as they beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4-1. Matt Kinney turned in another solid outing going the complete 9 innings allowing just 8 hits. Kevin Witt notched his 17th home run of the season, while Jeff Francouer collected his 9th.

September 28th saw KC beat the Expos to sweep the four game series and end Montreal’s season on a 4 game losing streak with a 4-1 win.

Montreal finished September 7-17 for their best month since the season opened in April. Montreal finished with a season record of 43-119, finishing dead last in the AL East, 69 ½ games back of first place Boston.

[Northern Brave]

C – Bill Haselman – The veteran catcher was Montreal’s starter and played in 124 games. Haselman hit .252 with 26 doubles and 12 home runs, with an OBA of .300. Haselman was clear through the season he is not fond of Montreal and the Expos may well lose him in the off season. A

C – Joe Girardi – Girardi was acquired to give the Expos a chance to send Hammock to the minors to get more playing time. Girardi’s numbers and the fact he is an older veteran likely mean he will be gone this off season. C-

1B – Sean Casey – Casey was one of the big stars of a disappointing season for Montreal. Casey hit .284 with 20 doubles, a triple, and 18 home runs, cashing in 55 RBI’s, and putting up a .358 OBA. A+

1B – Kevin Witt – Witt was not expected to be an everyday player, but he filled in at first and took a regular job of being the DH and produced well for the Expos. Witt hit .209 with 15 doubles and 17 home runs, notching 61 RBI’s and an OBA of .255. A

2B – Joe McEwing – McEwing was a good/bad player for Montreal. The good was solid defence which earned him an All-Star appearance. The bad was a .205 batting average over 153 games, with 21 doubles, but 131 strike outs. McEwing knocked in 21 RBI’s as well. B

3B – David Bell – Bell played in 125 games for Montreal, but it was not his best season. Bell hit just .174 with an OBA of .283. Bell recorded 15 doubles and 10 home runs, cashing in 33 RBI’s. His defense is invaluable though. B-

3B – Corey Hart – Hart played mostly from the bench, and out of a lack of depth with the Expos. Montreal knows he needs more seasoning at AAA to improve on a measly .094 batting average. C-

SS – David Matranga – Matranga was a solid player though Montreal knows on most other teams he’d be a bench player. Matranga hit .226 in 115 games, collecting 17 doubles, a triple, home runs, and 33 RBI. B

SS – Wilson Delgado – Acquired for depth, the veteran shortstop appeared in 21 games for the Expos. Delgado hit .192 collecting a double and two home runs, while cashing in five RBI’s. Delgado is an inexpensive veteran and could stick about for some depth. C+

RF – Jeff Francouer – Montreal was surprised when Francouer took and ran with being the starter. Francouer hit .212 in 155 games, with 16 doubles, 5 triples, and 9 home runs. Francouer collected 35 RBI’s. His biggest asset to Montreal though is his solid defense, speed, and arm in the outfield. A-

CF – Tom Goodwin – The 34 year old center fielder was invaluable to the Expos, playing in 132 games this season. Goodwin hit .240 with a .278 OBA, collecting 26 doubles and stealing a team high 39 bases. A+

CF – Jason Michaels – Michaels struggled after being traded, but once he got settled he gave Expos fans a showing of what is to come. In 52 games he hit .211 collecting 6 doubles and 3 home runs, scoring 15 RBI’s. B-

LF – John Cortesi – Cortesi may not like being on a losing team, but he comes to play. The left fielder hit .240 with an OBA of .405. Cortesi was the big threat on the Expos collecting 28 doubles and 20 home runs, knocking in 58 RBI’s, and stealing 9 bases.

LF – John-Ford Griffin – One of the Expos few talents in the minors, Griffin played in the bigs for 53 games, hitting .141 and collecting 2 doubles and 3 home runs. Griffin should stick in next years line up. C+

P – Kevin Appier – Appier, the 35 year old veteran was one of the leaders in the Expos pitching staff. Despite injuries plaguing him, Appier appeared in 16 starts, going 3-9 with a 3.74 ERA. Despite age and injury, Appier was one of the best pitchers Montreal had.

P – Shane Reynolds – Reynolds was a surprise for Montreal, starting 29 games and going 8-15. Playing hurt through the second part of the season hurt Reynolds ERA which wound up being 4.30, however don’t overlook the 4 complete games he threw. A

P – Darren Oliver – Oliver was not expected to thrive as he did. He made 29 starts going 8-15, with a 3.91 ERA and 2 complete games. Count on the 11 year vet returning next season. A

P – Matt Kinney – The 26 year old was outstanding for Montreal, appearing in 32 starts going 8-19 with a 5.16 ERA, but also collecting 5 complete games. This pitcher will be the Expos workhorse and stud for many more seasons. A

P – Wayne Franklin – Franklin showed flashes of greatness broken by poor pitching. A starter 28 times, he collected a 5-19 record and had an abysmal 6.99 ERA. Franklin might survive only due to a lack of depth in the organization. C

P – Kyle Lohse – Lohse was not the pitcher that scouts believed he would be. His potential though is what will keep him with Montreal. In 15 starts, Lohse earned a 2-11 record and appalling 9.00 ERA. C-

P – Mike Paradis – Paradis was a multi-purpose pitcher for the Expos, appearing in 27 games and starting 10 for Montreal. Paradis had a 2-8 record with a poor ERA of 6.64. It is unclear what his future with the Expos will be. C+

P – Albie Lopez – Lopez was too good for the minors and yet didn’t do that well in the bullpen. A lack of options for Montreal got him 40 appearances out of the pen, where he earned a 7.77 ERA. Expect his days in Montreal to be numbered. C

P – Pete Munro – Munro is the one person in the bullpen who assured himself of another year with a fine job done. Despite a 4.19 ERA, over 40 games, and earning a 1-1 record, Munro was a key to getting 43 wins. B

P – Brooks Kieschnick – Kieschnick appeared in 54 games out of the Expos bullpen, but was inconsistent. Kieschnick recorded a 2-8 record along with a 5.29 ERA. Montreal will need to decide what it will do with Kieschnick. C-

P – Mike Fetters – The 15 year, 38 year old veteran, composed one of the best one-two combos to be found. In 58 games Fetters was 2-7 with a 2.71 ERA, however blew 3 saves. Montreal likes Fetters experience and results but age will play a large part on if he stays or not. A-

P – Tom Gordon – 35 year old Tom Gordon proved he still had the right stuff with Montreal. Gordon appeared in the closer role 47 times, garnering a 1-3 record and 2.17 ERA with 11 saves in 14 chances. Expect Gordon back with the Expos next season. A+

[Northern Brave]

Playoffs got under way with the 8 teams matching up.

AL East Winner - Boston
AL Central - Chicago
AL West - Oakland
AL Wild Card - Baltimore

NL East - Atlanta
NL Central - Houston
NL West - San Fransisco
NL WIld Card - Chicago

Oakland vs Baltimore - Oakland wins 3-1
Boston vs Chicago - Boston wins 3-0

Atlanta vs Chicago - Atlanta wins 3-0
San Fransisco vs Houston - Houston wins 3-2

Boston vs Oakland - Boston wins 4-2
Atlanta vs Houston - Atlanta wins 4-2

WORLD SERIES

Boston Red Sox vs Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves win 4-2