Thursday, July 29, 2010

Wrigleyville Power Rankings S11.2

The power rankings are back for another week. New components in the formula have emphasized what teams are doing right now with less emphasis on the whole season.

1.
San Francisco
San Francisco Kickapoos (NL)
mark3313
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The losses have started to accumulate. Luckily for the Kickapoos, there's a 26 game cushion.
Record: 84-17
Last Week: 1 (0 change)

2.

Just chugging along in Tampa. Not much to report...except for that trade that was accepted this morning.
Record: 65-36
Last Week: 4 (+2)

3.
San Juan
San Juan Santurce Crabbers (NL)
rbedwell
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rbedwell might want to wake his boys up. Syracuse is no longer in the rear-view mirror. They're neck and neck.
Record: 66-35
Last Week: 2 (-1)

4.

The Moose rode a ten game winning streak to close the gap between themselves and the Crabbers. They just need to get over the hump now.
Record: 64-37
Last Week: 7 (+3)

5.
Kansas City
Kansas City Spittoons (NL)
zmoty9
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The Spittoons' lead in the North is expanding. The acquisition of Beck from Tucson should allow the trend to continue.
Record: 64-37
Last Week: 3 (-2)

6.
Helena
Helena Barking Moonbats (AL)
sordie
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Don't know if sordie is sweating yet, but the Turkeys are closing quick.
Record: 62-39
Last Week: 5 (-1)

7.

Albuquerque is catching up thanks to winning 8 of 10 since the break, three of which against division leader Helena.
Record: 57-44
Last Week: 10 (+3)

8.

So much for losing ground to Indy as referenced last week. The Knights have charged and are now up four.
Record: 57-44
Last Week: 13 (+5)

9.

That extra breathing room the Blues are enjoying can be attributed to taking 3 of 4 at Nashville recently.
Record: 60-41
Last Week: 8 (-1)

10.

The Pandemonium has surpassed the Aztecs for the AL North lead. Now to keep it...
Record: 52-49
Last Week: 16 (+6)

11.

hoopcoach notched his first ever win against the SF juggernaut while also winning seven straight and stealing third from Vancouver.
Record: 51-50
Last Week: 20 (+9)

12.
Charleston
Charleston Tobacco Farmers (AL)
nwsheehy007
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As predicted last week, Charleston caught fire. Unfortunately, they've only picked up 2 games on the lead.
Record: 50-51
Last Week: 19 (+7)

13.

The fire sale is underway in Tucson. Wouldn't be surprised to see the Ectoplasm sink in the rankings the rest of the season.
Record: 58-43
Last Week: 6 (-7)

14.

The Posse has slid a bit since last week, falling 3 games further behind division leader, Memphis.
Record: 55-46
Last Week: 9 (-5)

15.

Supersonics fans rejoice! By taking third in the division, Seattle has sent Milwaukee to the basement and made those promo day tee shirts outdated.
Record: 45-56
Last Week: 28 (+13)

16.
Indianapolis
Indianapolis Indians (AL)
ardthomp
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What a difference a week makes. The (politically correct) Native Americans were 2 up last week. They're 4 down this week. What happened?
Record: 53-48
Last Week: 11 (-6)

17.

The Crushers survived the pre-All Star break jet lag and managed to grab third in the AL East.
Record: 46-55
Last Week: 22 (+5)

18.

The Aztecs managed to drop out of first. Could be a result of dropping 7 since the break, 3 to the hands of Portland.
Record: 51-50
Last Week: 12 (-6)

19.

Tacoma avoided the brooms against Kansas City, but now they need to fend them off again, this time against Seattle.
Record: 48-53
Last Week: 17 (-2)

20.

Jackson surrendered sole possession of third. They need to take advantage of the road trip to Fargo to get full custody back.
Record: 50-51
Last Week: 14 (-6)

21.
New Orleans
New Orleans Hip Waders (NL)
lagzilla
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Much the same as NL South leaders Tampa, the Waders are just chugging along. Unfortunately, they're chugging along in third rather than first.
Record: 43-58
Last Week: 27 (+6)

22.

Looks as though the Manatees are ready to go belly-up with the trading of Lo.
Record: 47-54
Last Week: 18 (-4)

23.

The Totems fell to fourth in the NL West, a place they haven't been since....the end of last season.
Record: 47-54
Last Week: 15 (-8)

24.

The good news: three game lead over St. Louis. The bad: it's for third in the division.
Record: 37-64
Last Week: 29 (+5)

25.
San Diego
San Diego Salmonbellies (AL)
mdymond
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Things might be looking up for the Salmonbellies, winner of three of their last four.
Record: 41-60
Last Week: 26 (+1)

26.

If the record after the break is any indication (2-8), the Howlers have a long second half ahead of them.
Record: 44-57
Last Week: 21 (-5)

27.

drewaely probably wants to cancel any further trips to Albuquerque for his snakes (dropped four by a combined score of 56-24).
Record: 43-58
Last Week: 23 (-4)

28.
Toledo
Toledo Christian Beavers (NL)
bkevin
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The Beavers managed to split a 4 game set with San Juan. They needed to because they were in the midst of a 10 game losing streak before.
Record: 40-61
Last Week: 25 (-3)

29.
St. Louis
St. Louis Silver Hawks (AL)
shynent
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The Hawks are in a four team battle for next season's top draft spot. Problem is that they're in third.
Record: 34-67
Last Week: 30 (+1)

30.

I was hard on the Sturgeon last week, so I'm trying to take it easy on them. Unfortunately for pat, the Spittoons are not.
Record: 38-63
Last Week: 24 (-6)

31.

The post-All Star break record (2-8) makes me believe the Chimps are more interested in flinging poo than playing baseball.
Record: 31-70
Last Week: 31 (0)

32.

The Tripods are bringing up the rear in the power rankings again. If they can get that to better translate in the W-L, they'd have the top spot in next season's draft.
Record: 33-68
Last Week: 32 (0)

Monday, July 26, 2010

The Week In WRIGLEYVILLE S-11 #5

TRADES
The INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS Traded Magglio Rodriguez , Ed Comer and Pat Gong to the FARGO PRAIRIE DOGS for Frank Lee and Micah Jones

Looks like The Injuns needed another Brave so they could go on the Warpath. To get him they traded 3 papooses to the Prairie dogs.  Can you hear the War Drums ????
M L INJURIES
Glenn Hull
The Hip waders Glenn (What the )Hull is on the DL again.This time he will miss 2 Weeks with a shoulder strain.

David Boyd
David Boyd (To Men) wants to impress his new boss Jared. But this Turkey sprained his Ankle and will miss a couple of weeks.

Nicholas Jamison
OUCH!! the Hip Waders will miss Nicholas Jamisons (Irish Whiskey). He will miss a month and a half with a Heniated Disk.

Ugueth Gonzalez
Can Ugueth which Finger has the blister.  If he flips me off again ,i'll cut it off!! He will be back next week.

Wiki Arias
Wiki (Sore) Arias has a skin condition and scratches alot. Which caused him to strain a Quad. He will be out a couple off weeks.

Aurelio Serra
Aurelio Serra (tonen) will be able to catch up on his ZZZ's . His career is over with an ACL Tear. What was this sleepy dude doing in the majors? Wake up !!!

B.C. McMillan
B C (Ya Later) McMillan signed a new contract this season. And now he's on vacation with a sore Elbow. He should return in a couple of weeks.

Miguel Ayala
Miguel (i che Caramba)Ayala is gonna miss 2 months with Nerve Irritation. It may Irritate SNOW that he still has to pay his 17 miilion while he recovers.


INTERNATIONALS


Benji Pineiro
Portland
Pandemonium
Age: 19B/T: R/R
Born: Bonao, DO
Position(s): P (ClA)
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Just a little Minor Mayhem!


Emmanuel Encarnacion
Seattle
Supersonics
Age: 19B/T: L/L
Born: Campina Del Seibo, DO
Position(s): P (SP5)
View Hardball Dynasty Profile


If this Sonic had better splits he could get a shot. 1 million dollar chance!

Ugueth Castilla
Fargo
Prairie Dogs
Age: 18B/T: S/R
Born: Cambiaso, DO
Position(s): SS
View Hardball Dynasty Profile

A nice AA defensive Dog!


Alexi Lopez
Fargo
Prairie Dogs
Age: 19B/T: L/L
Born: Banes, CU
Position(s): P (LRA)
View Hardball Dynasty Profile

A little Dog for sure!


Manny Suzuki
Fargo
Prairie Dogs
Age: 18B/T: R/R
Born: Kyoto, JP
Position(s): P (LRA)
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Looks like a 3 Dog Night!


Esmerling Suarez
Vancouver
Totems
Age: 18B/T: R/R
Born: La Romana, DO
Position(s): P (SP1)
View Hardball Dynasty Profile

I spent 12 million on this 5 pitch pitcher. Probably overspent because of his low L Split. But I Needs some pitching!


Tony Tanaka
Fargo
Prairie Dogs
Age: 19B/T: R/R
Born: Saigon, VN
Position(s): C
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DOGS!!! Dogs!! Everywhere DOGS!!


Felipe Zurbaran
San Diego
Salmonbellies
Age: 18B/T: S/R
Born: Granada, NI
Position(s): SS
View Hardball Dynasty Profile

It took 4.2 million to buy this nice defensive prospect. He won't hit much but could win a few Gold Gloves.


Alex Gallardo
Tacoma
Toyotas
Age: 18B/T: S/R
Born: Guanajay, CU
Position(s): P (none)
View Hardball Dynasty Profile

This kid is invited to the Tacomas spring training. Probably will be his only glimps of the Bigs.


Max Martin
Fargo
Prairie Dogs
Age: 18B/T: L/L
Born: Puerto Plata, DO
Position(s): P (SP1)
View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Throw another Dog on the Fire!

Friday, July 23, 2010

DIE, YOU GRAVY SUCKING PIGS! (or “Big League Success as a Function of Minor League Health”)



Acclaimed musicians and part-time minor league scouts, Crosby, Stills, and Nash once proclaimed:

Teach your children well,
Their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by.


And while it would take some fantastic verbal contortions to twist these trite dirty hippie lyrics into anything vaguely relevant to this article, I’ll take a brazen shot in the dark: If you’ve got a crappy hunk of crap big league ballclub, neglecting the kids (i.e. your minor league system) will result in the hell of a continued era of crappitude established by their crappy predecessors.

At least I think that’s what David Crosby was singing about, in between Bogarting massive water pipe hits of Acapulco Gold, of course.

A healthy, well-maintained minor league system will eventually pay dividends in the form of big league wins.

It stands to reason, right? Teams that draft well, pluck the primo international kids off the market, and develop their youngsters to meet their full potential will amass beaucoup wins in the minors, and when the kids are ready for the show, their winning ways will continue in the bigs resulting in pennants, glory, and throngs of ecstatic fans offering their wives, sisters, and mothers for your depraved sexual gratification. Well, maybe not pennants, but you know what I mean; nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more.

It seems a solid thesis to run with, but before we jump down the rabbit hole and examine said correlation (major league success resulting from minor league health), let’s play devil’s advocate and brainstorm a few scenarios that would shoot that theory to hell and back (with apologies to Audie Murphy).

#1 -- SCREW THE MINORS, I’M BUYING A PENNANT

An owner who decides to throw everything he’s got into the free agent market, minors be damned, could theoretically have a solid big league team while sporting color-coordinated bundles of suck throughout the minor league system.

I’ve always thought this was a weak strategy, but valid. I mean, in a world of limited resources, throwing all those resources into a market where value is often defined as “Wow, I’m only paying 11 million a year to this 36 year old declining superstar pitcher for the next five years!” doesn’t necessarily play well.

The free agent market is ugly, and if you’re not overpaying, you’re likely buying a player with warts. Lots and lots of nasty, puss-filled genital warts, or a Geritol addiction, or an inability to hit right-handed pitchers, or a stone glove, or a history of goat molestation. Or all of the above.

#2 -- THE WORLD OF CONSTANT FLUX

There are many teams that change owners virtually every year, and many owners who lack the patience to chart a plan and stick with it. There comes a point when the burden of losing becomes too much and said owners throw up their hands in a flurry of futility-filled frustration and scream, “FIRE SALE!” in a crowded movie house.

Lacking any semblance of continuity, minor league success or failure is more or less dictated by random factors (did frustrated owner trade old for young? young for old? pitchers for position players? load High A and deplete AAA?)

#3 -- CLOWNS TO THE LEFT OF ME, JOKERS TO THE RIGHT

Some owners may draft brilliantly, make Wile E. Coyote supra-genius trades for promising young superstars, and only skim the cream off the crop of internationals, but still not care about the minor leagues.

In other words, they don’t strive to win games throughout their minor league system, but rather see it as little more than a venue to develop their future big leaguers. And, in doing so, it doesn’t matter to them if they surround their chosen few with entire squads of blind Mongoloid multiple-amputees.

#4 -- A SURPLUS OF TWEENERS

Some systems are just loaded with guys who are minor league superstars, but marginal big league talent. This is often enabled by owners who don’t recognize the flaw of making the “one superstar for three semi-adequate pseudo-ballplayer” trades.

Along the same lines, some owners fill low minors with ringers and aging vets, fail to promote properly, or otherwise comprise their rosters in a way that skews results.

#5 -- NEW WORLD BLUES

In the early stages of Wrigeyville’s (or any world for that matter) existence, minor league success is not a result of the care you have taken or the system you have built, but rather a reflection of what was bequeathed to you by the hands of the benevolent fake baseball gods.

So keeping these mitigating factors in mind, have the Wrigleyville big league powerhouses been accompanied by minor league squads of commensurate strength and impressiveness?

The short answer: More or less. More, I would say, but not necessarily as strong as I pre-supposed. The farm system’s of the twenty league winners Wrigleyville has seen thusfar have compiled a solid 6999-5975 win/loss record for a winning percentage of .539.

The best minor league record of a league champion was amassed by my Season 7 Moonbats (419-233, .643), while the weakest record was a still semi-respectable 310-342, .475 record by the Season 9 world champ Tampa Bay Stars.

Following are the minor league (AAA through Rookie League) records of every league winner since Wrigleyville’s inception (in descending order by win percentage):

SEASON TEAM WINS LOSSES W/L %
7 Helena Barking Moonbats 419 233 0.643
10 Helena Barking Moonbats 400 252 0.613
8 Cincinnati Howlers 381 271 0.584
8 Burlington Moose 378 274 0.580
2 Syracuse Bonebreakers 377 275 0.578
1 New York Highlanders 362 290 0.555
1 Scranton Schrutes 361 291 0.554
9 Helena Barking Moonbats 354 298 0.543
7 San Francisco Kickapoos 352 300 0.540
5 Las Vegas Westward Hos 315 271 0.538
5 San Francisco Kickapoos 345 307 0.529
2 Austin Annihilators 341 311 0.523
3 Santa Cruz Knights 339 313 0.520
6 San Francisco Kickapoos 336 316 0.515
10 San Francisco Kickapoos 336 316 0.515
4 San Francisco Kickapoos 329 323 0.505
3 Cleveland Renegades 326 326 0.500
4 Cleveland Renegades 322 330 0.494
6 Las Vegas Long Shots 316 336 0.485
9 Tampa Bay Stars 310 342 0.475

So what about today’s farm systems? Which franchises are developing the talent that will one day divide and conquer the friendly confines of world Wrigleyville?

Below are the records of all Season 11 minor league systems (again in descending order and split by league):

A.L.
TEAM WINS LOSSES W/L %
Memphis Blues 231 136 0.629
Cincinnati Howlers 227 141 0.617
Helena Barking Moonbats 225 143 0.611
Indianapolis Indians 222 146 0.603
San Diego Salmonbellies 220 148 0.598
Fargo Prairie Dogs 214 153 0.583
Charleston Tobacco Farmers 199 168 0.542
Las Vegas Rattlers 192 174 0.525
Portland Pandemonium 180 187 0.490
Chicago Aztecs 177 190 0.482
Hartford Crushers 167 201 0.454
Jackson Justice 164 203 0.447
Albuquerque Turkeys 153 215 0.416
Nashville Posse 140 227 0.381
Boston Knights 137 231 0.372
St Louis Silver Hawks 92 275 0.251

N.L.
TEAM WINS LOSSES W/L %
Tacoma Toyotas 232 135 0.632
Kansas City Spitoons 210 157 0.572
Toledo Christian Beavers 210 158 0.571
Jacksonville Manatees 209 158 0.569
Syracuse Moose 205 163 0.557
San Juan Santurce Crabbers 200 167 0.545
Seattle Supersonics 195 172 0.531
Vancouver Totems 221 197 0.529
New Orleans Hip Waders 193 174 0.526
Tucson Ectoplasm 187 181 0.508
Charlotte Chimps 184 183 0.501
Tampa Bay Stars 181 186 0.493
Trenton Tripods 170 198 0.462
San Francisco Kickapoos 167 200 0.455
Wichita Wind 142 226 0.386
Milwaukee Sturgeon 33 334 0.090

Personally, I don’t know which is more impressive, the system wide excellence displayed by Tacoma in compiling their 232-115 record, or the mind-boggling level of incompetence and neglect Pat (owner of the newly-coined "We spent $100 million and all we got was third in the division." Sturgeon) has demonstrated in winning a piddly 33 out of 367 games. Seriously, there are co-ed nursing home teams that could surpass that mark.

Another interesting barometer I’ve used these stats for is as a predictor of future success. Logically, if a team’s minor league system is vastly outperforming its major league squad, one could expect that there are sunny days ahead. And, conversely, if the farm system is underperforming the big league squad, one could anticipate an imminent decline as injury, age, and attrition takes its toll on aging major leaguers.

Following are the top five franchises in each league whose minor league record surpasses the big league:

A.L. TEAM MINOR MAJOR VARIANCE
Fargo Prairie Dogs 0.583 0.337 0.246
San Diego Salmonbellies 0.598 0.395 0.203
Cincinnati Howlers 0.617 0.465 0.152
Las Vegas Rattlers 0.525 0.430 0.095
Charleston Tobacco Farmers 0.542 0.453 0.089

N.L. TEAM MINOR MAJOR VARIANCE
Charlotte Chimps 0.501 0.326 0.175
Toledo Christian Beavers 0.571 0.419 0.152
Tacoma Toyotas 0.632 0.488 0.144
Seattle Supersonics 0.531 0.395 0.136
Trenton Tripods 0.462 0.337 0.125

So, by this theory, the above mentioned teams should be seeing a marked improvement as their minor league studs scurry up to the bigs. Below are the teams lookin’ good right now who may have trouble round the bend:

A.L. TEAM MINOR MAJOR VARIANCE
Nashville Posse 0.381 0.570 (0.189)
Boston Knights 0.372 0.535 (0.163)
Albuquerque Turkeys 0.416 0.558 (0.142)
Jackson Justice 0.447 0.523 (0.076)
St Louis Silver Hawks 0.251 0.326 (0.075)

N.L. TEAM MINOR MAJOR VARIANCE
San Francisco Kickapoos 0.455 0.849 (0.394)
Milwaukee Sturgeon 0.090 0.407 (0.317)
Tampa Bay Stars 0.493 0.640 (0.147)
San Juan Santurce Crabbers 0.545 0.651 (0.106)
Tucson Ectoplasm 0.508 0.593 (0.085)

Of course, nobody in the league is aghast at the possibility that San Francisco may not be able to indefinitely maintain an .849 winning percentage. As a matter of fact, half the owners are forming a neat, orderly line in anticipation of trading him their best, brightest, most promising young studs as a simple matter of tradition.