09.01: Eagles' Midseason Recap

[agrudez]

Behind a dynamic offense (2nd in runs scored with 5.57 runs/game) and precise defense (1st in defensive efficiency with a .684) the 3 time EBA champion (’05-’07) sits atop the international standings with a 48-30 record.

Led by 2 offensive juggernauts of the EBA universe, former MBBA star Larry Wilkes and 28 year old EBBA veteran Jean-Marc Fraysse, both of whom are sporting respective gaudy 1+ OPS’ the Eagles seem poised to slug their way to their 6th straight playoff appearance in ’09.

On the other side of the ball, the Brussels rotation has been solid, though with only 1 sub 4 FIP (32 year old Jose Olivarria with a 3.5) has been helped tremendously by the stout defense behind them. At the back end of the game; however, their shut down closer Lionel Sanguinacco hasn’t often needed the help of a defense to support his unheard of 1.22 FIP.

[trmmilwwi]

Did the Vegas front office sour Wilkes that bad?! LOL.. he's tearing apart the EBA. May he come back to the Monty some day?

[agrudez]

Did the Vegas front office sour Wilkes that bad?! LOL.. he's tearing apart the EBA. May he come back to the Monty some day?

He IS a FA after this season... I'd give him a couple mil to be my DH without FA compensation in play (which is, of course, the biggest feather in the cap of every EBA import).

[felipe]

Wonder if I got enough for him, when I flipped him for Buckley...

[recte44]

I had young, cheap replacements in tow. Wilkes was designed to be a one year guy, I was shocked that no one in the MBWBA made a play on him. I'm sure FA Comp played a role.

[Al-Hoot]

I would like to see EBA free agents MBBA-eligible at an earlier time in their career. Say, 2 to 5 years earlier than they now are eligible.

[recte44]

I would like to see EBA free agents MBBA-eligible at an earlier time in their career. Say, 2 to 5 years earlier than they now are eligible.

Agreed. This is already part of my proposed changes that are coming very soon.

[Al-Hoot]

Awesome

[agrudez]

To add to the above, I was noticing while writing some of these articles (and prepping for others) that some EBA players are actually accepting extensions over there for vastly under what the MBBA open-market would give them... I mean, that DOES rarely happen in real-life (particuliarly in hockey with the KHL/SEL/etc., which is a better relative comparison to the MBBA-EBA dynamic), but it IS pretty rare and should be here, as well.

I love the EBA concept (pretty much a feeder league for FA instead of the draft), but it definitely needs further tweaks, imo... so its good that it is continually being looked at.