We Got Wood - 42.38 - A Lookback at the Expansion Draft - Part 1

[7teen]

I'm bored as hell just sitting here waiting for another sim. I've been pondering doing a series of TNs just looking back at the expansion draft that took place prior to the 2040 season. Yeah, only about 2.5 seasons have past but let's take a look back at the draft and where those guys may be. I'll do this in 4 parts, focusing on 10 picks at a time.....

Round 1
Hank Brewer - from New Orleans
I think we shocked a lot of people by taking the veteran, high priced catcher with the first overall pick. But a pre-determined trade was in the works so we went ahead and pulled the trigger early. Brewer was sent packing at the conclusion of the draft to Boise where he has spent the last 2+ seasons after leaving New Orleans. Brewer has put up a total of 5.9 WAR in that time with the Spuds and is under contract through next season. We acquired 3 players in the trade, one has since left the roster. One has spent a little time in Portland but is currently in AAA. The only figure we see now in Portland regularly from the trade is Faical Engeitado who has only produced 0.8 WAR in two seasons with the Lumberjacks.

Round 2
Lee Morgan - from Rockville
Woof! This turned out to be a huge bust of a pick. Lee is currently in AA with, get this, the Charlotte franchise after being let go by Portland at the end of last season. He spent all of 2040 with the Lumberjacks, posting an 0-12 record and 7.77 ERA. He spent all of 2041 with our AAA team, posting very similar type numbers. His ratings were 6-7-6 after we drafted him. They are now 6-5-3. He's still just 26 years of age and destined for a career in the minors or a soon career in selling insurance.

Round 3
Rodrigo Gallegos - from Calgary
Gallegos went the fate of Brewer and was traded on draft night. The current 23 year old has been with Edmonton after since, and honestly, we'd like to have him back. Gallegos has posted a 20-9 record in 2.5 seasons with the Jack Rabbits and a 4.0 WAR in that time. He's currently 7-2 this season. We got 5 players back in the deal (there were more parts involved). Of those 5, Marcos Morales has appeared in 36 games with Portland since 2040, posting a 3-10 record with a 6.56 ERA. He has a -1.4 WAR. We also got Matt Normore who is expected to slide in as our starting DH next season.

Round 4
Andre Georges - from Atlantic City
The 30 year old veteran from the Gamblers was sent packing as well, this time to the Brooklyn Robins. Georges put up a 1.3 WAR in 2040 but has since fallen off a cliff. He is now in Triple-A with the San Antonio franchise. He's gone from a 6-5-8 pitcher to a 6-5-6 arm. We currently have two guys in our regular lineup in Portland that we acquired as part of the trade. Jorge Lopez is our current team rookie of the year from 2041 as well as reigning FL Diamond Glove Award winner in LF. Miguel Cortez is a rookie for the Lumberjacks this season. He's hitting a modest .230/.313/.345 this season and is the current front runner to win the Diamond Glove in CF this season.

Round 5
Joe Whitaker - From New Orleans
There was a lot of interest in relievers via trade during the expansion draft and Whitaker was one of the big names. Portland took him 5th and was ready to trade him, and did. We shipped Joe to Vegas for a package deal of 3 guys and none of them have really panned out. Granted, Joe hasn't exactly left his mark. He was trade to Nasvhille during the 2040 season and is currently with Montreal. He's posted a 0.3 WAR since the expansion draft. Sadaharu Oh III is about all that remains in Portland from that trade.

Round 6
Marcelo Polar - From San Antonio
Hey! An actual contributor right now for the Lumberjacks. Our fondness of low movement guys followed us from Madison to Portland (and still seems to linger because there isn't much else out there to acquire right now). Polar has been an up and down guy between Portland and Quincy in each of his first 3 seasons since the draft but seems to be a mainstay now in 2042. His 59.2 innings right now in 2042 are more than he threw with us in 2040 and 2041 combined. He currently has a 4.22 ERA and 1.27 WAR with 50 strikeouts this season. Based on our current pitching status, it's likely Polar just sort of hovers around our middle relief role for a few more seasons.

Round 7
Norberto Asconcio - From Des Moines
Asconcio is also hanging around our Active roster at the moment. He made his big league and Portland debut in 2041 after a full season in Quincy in 2040 and most of 2041. He made 4 appearances in 2041 and pitched 11.1 innings for an even 0.0 WAR. This year he's been with us all season and hasn't been good. He's appeared in 18 games, 14 of which were starts, and has a 6-6 overall record with a 5.51 ERA and 1.60 WHIP. Those numbers aren't "terrible" right now by Portland standards, but the advanced metrics disagree according to his -1.2 WAR. That's probably because he's allowed 27 homeruns in 85 innings pitched.

Round 8
Pat Allen - From Yellow Springs
Allen was part of the Georges trade with Brooklyn. He appeared in 53 games in 2040 with the Robins, posting an even 0.0 WAR. He played in just 12 games in 2041 with Brooklyn, again, posting a 0.0 WAR. He's now in the minor leagues with the Charm City organization. He's played in 2 BBA games, going 0 for 8 with a walk and 3 strikeouts this season.

Round 9
Hedde Veenman - From California
Veenman spent two full seasons with us in Portland in 2040 and 2041 and was our primary catcher. He was solid in 2040, hitting 26 homeruns with an .829 OPS. That was good enough for a 2.8 WAR and an contract extension through arbitration. Well, Veenman let the money go to his head and tanked in 2041, hitting to a .623 OPS and -0.3 WAR. The contract was a 1-year deal so we let Veenman walk since he was asking for over $8 million. Veenman, at age 28, is currently in the UMEBA playing for the Manama Pearls where he has 12 homeruns, posting a .921 OPS and 2.6 WAR.

Round 10
Bing-zhang Kim - From Brooklyn
Kim is still with the Portland organization, currently in AAA Quincy. Kim had a solid 2040 season with the Lumberjacks, winning our team rookie of the year honor after hitting .236/.318/.407 with 14 homeruns and 69 RBI. He's also the answer to the trivia question "Who hit the first homerun in Portland history?" The defensive minded outfielder was shifted out in 2041 in favor of better gloves and hitting guys, and only saw action in 76 games his sophomore season. Not enough of a threat, and just outside the 5th outfielder spot, Kim found himself relegated to AAA in 2042 where he currently has a .925 OPS and 2.7 WAR. Perhaps Kim will get a little action come September in 2042.

So there ya go, a recap of the first 10 picks. Not a lot of solid contributions to the Portland club from the expansion draft and not a lot of high quality talent still around helping very many in the BBA. Hank Brewer probably remains the biggest contributor at the moment.

6 of the 10 are currently in the BBA
1 of the 10 is in the UMEBA
3 of the 10 remain with the Portland organization, with just 2 on the Active Roster.

I'll get to picks 11-20 next time I've reached peak boredom!

[usnspecialist]

hey I remember lee morgan!! I was actually worried that he would come back to bite me more than Iron-Knife when I sent him away. How the hell is he only 26, I traded him a decade ago!!