MBBA Overview - 30 Days to Go!

[KCCardinalFan]

We have now entered the stretch run as the rosters expand and a handful of teams continue to fight for the playoffs. There are several story lines to keep our eyes on and I hope to highlight the most intersting ones.

Go Ahead and Buy Your Playoff Tickets: There hasn't been much drama in three of the divisions since the all-star break, as Baltimore, Madison, and Calgary have all built 20+ game leads. The only drama in these cities will be how much playing time their starters get and how the large leads might affect their playoff readiness.

You Should Probably Consider Playoff Tickets as an October Budget Item: Both New Orleans and Vancouver should feel pretty good about their playoff chances with 8.5 and 7.5 game leads respectively. In the case of Vancouver, even if they stumble and California catches them, they have a commanding 17 game lead over the 2nd place wildcard team (Valencia).

Playoffs?! You're Talking About Playoffs?: The Frick is where all the action is this month. The Atlantic features three teams in the thick of things with Atlantic City holding a two game lead over Montreal and Buffalo currently sitting four games back. In the Wildcard race Vegas is holding on by a thread, with a one game lead over Des Moines and an impressive five additional teams within 8.5 games. Des Moines also has an outside chance at the Midwest, sitting 7.5 games back at the moment.

My, My How the Fortunes Have Changed: In our 1st quarter season review our biggest surprise was Seattle and our biggest disappointment was Des Moines. Since that publication, Seattle has gone 42-57 falling to 3rd in the Pacific and barely keeping their heads above water in the Wildcard race trailing by 7 games. Des Moines has turned their season around going 58-43, and as previously mentioned, sitting one game back in the Wildcard.

The Season of the Trade: Where the hell do you begin to document this trade season? A flurry of activity actually started early in the season and didn't end until minutes before the trade deadline. We won't cover them all, but will try to hit the most impactful.

Des Moines sends CL Ted Dever to Calgary for SS Sidney Bendel and A SP Charlie Schafer: Dever has been lights out in Calgary with a 1.87 ERA and saving 42 games. Bendel has been solid with the bat hitting .287, but most importantly playing all-star caliber defense. The prize of this deal will probably be Schafer who has continued to develop and projects to be a nice #2 or #3 starter in the big leagues.

Des Moines sends LF Benjamin Rivero to Vegas for 3B Randy Square and AA CF Diego Perez: In another of Mike's flurry of moves he sends pending free agent Rivero to Vegas for perenially blocked Square and a prospect. Rivero has indicated he won't sign an extension so it was the ultimate gamble by Vegas, fortunately he has hit .318 in his new home driving in 46 runs in 71 games. Square has been adequate in Des Moines, only hitting .256 but with 12 homeruns and 53 RBIs. Like Rivero, Square is also only signed through 2000 and probably won't be back.

Greenville sends SP Jay Lee, AAA OF Scott Jackson, and OF William Noel to Marquette for SP Jeff Kiplinger, AAA RP Hans Velkommen, and AAA OF Howard Domagal. Probably one of the most interesting trades of the year, and poor Kiplinger is probably racking up thousands of dollars in broken lease fees. Recently voted as the league's top pitcher, Lee has been stellar in Marquette going 7-1 with a 1.62 ERA in 12 starts. Once Izatt comes back next year, this duo will be unstoppable. Kiplinger has continued to struggle this season, in splitting time between Marquette, Greenville, and Des Moines (more on that later). Probably not one of Mr. Kloes best decisions.

Carolina sends SS Rafael Rodriguez and LF Mike Kelly to Des Moines in exchange for SS Ice Cube, 3B Jaiden France, AAA P Kim Rodas, AA SS Wallace Holmes, and A CF Esteban Diaz. Rafael is easily one of the best 5 infielders in the league owning both a Diamond Glove and a Sawyer Silk trophy, he has also hit .371 with 7 homeruns since joining Des Moines. Lots of nice players coming back to Carolina highlighted by France who is hitting .288 on the year, future #3 or #4 Rodas who is struggling so far and may need some more seasoning in AAA, and Holmes who if he can ever develop at the plate will win multiple awards in the field.

Seattle sends their infield (1B Jacinto Merino, 2B Mack Randall) and MR Dick Spivey to Cali for 1B Anthony McHugh, 2B Bernard Maselli, RF Dai-ik Chong, and SP Sammy Bodeen. This was a combo all-in from Cali and salary dump by Jon. Merino is one of the top offensive players in the MBBA with Bonds-on-steroids type power, who has struggle so far in his new uniform hitting .259 and only slugging .458. Randall has also been an early bust, hitting .240. Meanwhile, McHugh is hitting .351 in Seattle and Maselli is hitting .291. What was initially heavy criticism towards Jon on this deal is starting to look pretty good. Stay tuned.

Greenville sends 2B Jake Urban to Vegas in exchange for 2B Reginald Harnois, 2B Amaury Garcia, and LF Joe Weston. In the 2nd of several trade day deals, Vegas received all-star Urban who has Diamond Glove ability and 40+ homerun power. In his brief stint, so far Urban is hitting .301 but more production will be expected in September. Harnois has the potential to be just a small step below Urban, but has yet to live up to it. Garcia and Weston were throw-ins.

Vegas sends SP Johnny Madorin to Calgary for SP Lorenzo Morales, LF Daniel Kerber, 2B Francisco Cruz, RP Paul Hogan, and SP Francis Linares. Vegas sent one of their top two starters to arch-rival Calgary for a ton of talent. So far in Calgary, Madorin has done well going 3-1 with a 3.43 ERA. Morales has the potential to be a very nice #3, but the real star is Kerber who is hitting .353 and slugging .588 in his new home. Cruz and Hogan both have the potential to be stars in the big leagues.

Greenville sends Kiplinger (again!!) to Des Moines for RF Raleigh Harrington, CF Joe Dodson, P Cletus McGriff, P Armando Sandoval. Mike finally strips the last remaining AAA pieces for an Ace. Kiplinger may be trying to adjust to all these new homes, and has not really hit his stride yet for the Kernels with a 5.01 ERA in 6 starts. Harrington and Sandoval have the potential to be stars with McGriff and Dodson potentiall servicable back-ups.

[lynchy34]

I've definitely been very busy remaking my roster this season. I feel like my club is much stronger than the start of the season, with a nice mix of vets and younger stars. Hopefully, we can jump over Vegas and keep rolling.

[bschr682]

Apparently Mac and Jac were listening to you call them out. Both of 'em went nuts this sim with mack hitting near .500 and jac crushing 5 HR.

[lynchy34]

What a wild card race in the Fl. Vegas and Des Moines tied, Marquette one back and Atlantic City three back.

[bschr682]

that is awesome

[KCCardinalFan]

Apparently Mac and Jac were listening to you call them out. Both of 'em went nuts this sim with mack hitting near .500 and jac crushing 5 HR.

This is a good time to get hot!

[bschr682]

if they stay hot into the playoffs things could get interesting. Shellenbarger and Funke are a pretty good 1-2 punch off the mound and if the offense gets going who knows?

[aaronweiner]

I wish I had time to write this up.

What a wild card race in the Fl. Vegas and Des Moines tied, Marquette one back and Atlantic City three back.

[recte44]

Rivero is talking extension now and we're getting very close to a deal.

[KCCardinalFan]

Rivero is talking extension now and we're getting very close to a deal.

That's what happened with Dever. It must be something in the water in Des Moines.

[recte44]

Usually guys who won't talk throughout the season will begin to talk towards late August if they are happy in their role and performance. This is what happened here, and with Dever also.

[Shugi]

What a wild card race in the Fl. Vegas and Des Moines tied, Marquette one back and Atlantic City three back.

really nice, also interesting to see how different the situation in the JL is.

[recte44]

What a wild card race in the Fl. Vegas and Des Moines tied, Marquette one back and Atlantic City three back.

really nice, also interesting to see how different the situation in the JL is.

Yeah, lots of action in the FL, absolutely none in the JL. Have to think about "jostling for draft positioning".