Richmond Wins World Series Title

After a crazy series that saw everything from closers blowing big leads to defensive collapses. The Richmond Whack A Moles soundly defeated the Minnesota Baggies to capture their second title and become the first; and so far only team to win multiple titles.

They have cemented their legacy as "League Royalty" being the winningest franchise in league history with a 438-210 record and now 2 WS titles.

Season 5 Ownership Opportunites

National League East
Formerly Rochester Charlie-A** Kickers 89-73 Div Stand 2nd

Major League Foundation
Charles Hyun Is the man of this franchise. Still developing but already an ace of staff. After him Aaron Field, Max Tavarez,Morgan Reboulet,Zack Haynes & Mark Skinner give you alot of depth in the pitching staff and bullpen.
Watty Hudson,Andrew Woods and youngster Jesus Brogna lead the solid offense.

Minor League Building Block
Future multiple time allstar LF & Season 3 #1 overall selection Craig Maduro(71/84) leads the pack at prospects. Desi Tatis(68/84),
Travis Franco(59/78),Giovanni Mancuso(73/78),Cookie Nieves(60/75),Bruce Douglas(67/74)

Outlook
A very well kept team. Issues with signing draft picks has set it back a bit. But it's a team structured to win now with an array of quality vets and some solid pieces in the minors.
With 42 million in salary for season 5 the makings are there for a souffle of success.


National League South
Formerly New Orleans Mardi Gras 74-88 Div Stand 2nd(Season 3 WS Winner)

Major League Foundation
Al Hamlin, Alex Guerrero & Stan Pisciotta lead a balanced and veteran offense.
Future closer David Cornejo headlines a solid group of pitchers including. Tomas Hernandez,Tsuyoshi Zhang,Brian Moran,Stretch Hausmann,Alan O'Rourke,

Minor League Building Block
Bryce Garland(62/80) leads the pack and right behind him lie. Hector Urbina(68/79),Bob Devereaux(60/77),Hal Pettyjohn(60/72),Scott Beverlin(64/76),Irv Hill(61/74),Pablo Saez(55/72),Ugueth Maduro(67/76)

Outlook
This is a team with alot of depth in all levels. This issue is you don't really have a true stud outside of future allstar SP prospect Garland. This is a team with the pieces to contend with a impact free agent or trade splash. Or you can choose to continue to build up the minors and add some studs. Was really raided in free agency losing almost 10 players from the WS club.


American League East
Formerly The New York Pioneers 57-105 Div Stand 4th

Major League Foundation
Wily vet Chad Murray is the franchise player while surly young gun Joaquin Diaz(74/82) is a rising star at SS. Charlie Murphy(70/76) is the future of the pitching staff.

Minor League Building Block
Lee Bloomquist(64/84) Is the top prospect on the farm. The season 3 #7 pick projects as a serious hitter with the potential to become a 40-110 threat as a 3B*but can play any position) with another season in the minors. Behind him lies in wait season 4's #2 overall selection Steven Kelley. If he can stay healthy he'll be a pitchers nightmare.
Also among the prospects in the fold are Joaquin Villafuerte(50/72),Garry Malone(68/76),Darby Ohman(65/73)

Outlook
Armed with a good foundation in the minors as well as the #3 pick in the season 5 draft. This is a franchise moving in the right direction and can be a serious contender with a dedicated owner. There is not alot at the ML level but there is 62 million roughly in committed salary for season 5 so with a few tweaks you'll have some wiggle room.

Get Set For Game 7

The topsy turvy world that is Duff Beer has one last surprise in store. After a regular season of shocking upsets, champions unseated and new blood taking the reigns.
But fate she is a cruel mistress to some.

Both the NL and AL league championship series will see a game 7.
A Richmond squad that seemed to be in the "Twilight" of their postseason run. Has now stumbled upon a sleeping giant in a very game Memphis team that seeks to claim it's first WS appearance.
The pedigree of Richmond will be tested as the winningest franchise in league history(438 regular season wins)will have to gut out a game 7 win to make it back to the big dance and become the first team to appear in and potentially win mutiple WS titles. But will the buzzsaw known as Memphis slow the momentum train and dethrone the king.

Minnesota has begun to experience a curious case of benjamin button type of regression. Going from 3-1 grissled veteran team to a 0-2 mistake filled bundle of nerves. To take nothing away from the Portland squad has come back from the brink of elimination to force a game 7.
Will this finally be the year of a Peyton Manning type breakthrough in the NLCS for Minnesota or will the give them the last ride and throw dirt over their Tombstone that reads "Here lies the Minnesota Baggies Season 1-4 RIP"

Playoff Futility

There are many worlds inside of this game. Even more things that are never the same throughout several worlds.

But there is always one constant and very distinct issue that happens the same in every last world in existence. Playoff futility & the frustration that goes along with it.

Why does it happen you ask? There are many reasons for it: From running into a red hot squad to getting exposed for your obvious flaws.

There are 5 things that I have noticed that can doom a supposedly "great" team in the playoffs.

1.A weak starting rotation.
2.Poor defense
3.Inability to win at home
4.Run Differential
5.Struggling late in the season(I don't mean just resting guys either)

After many seasons being on the sidelines & being forced to watch from home as it was. I've seen the overrated and the underrated come to the surface in the post season.

A prime example would be two teams from last season. The St. Louis Red Ravens and the New Orleans Mardi Gras. One has a WS title albeit to the shock of the league. The other was ousted in their first playoff series.

St. Louis had solid rotation but Garcia had not adjusted to the STL yet. The infield defense was poor all season long but the offense had bailed them out(the STL SS had committed 54 errors among other things). The Red Ravens had just a 44-37 home record, their expected winning percentage was .570(they had a .605) & finished the season 5-5.
So not only did they play poor defense, play poorly at home but their offense allowed them to win games they shouldn't have. Their issues were exposed in the playoffs & they got embarassed in the series loss.

The New Orleans franchise had one of the best balanced staffs in the league. often times it did not show on the scoreboard but it was. They possessed a sound defense. Their overall home record as not great but with their seed their road ability played a bigger part. Their expected winning percentage was .621(they had a .593 %) but they went 8-2 to end the season. The team was one of the more balanced franchises in the playoffs and that balance won out in the end.

There are ways to overcome these issues however. A weak rotation can be overcome with 2 dynamic starters and a 3rd one who is solid. With the 2-3-2 format in 7 game series if you are a lower seed being able to win on the road can shift the balance of a series. If you can win 2 of 3 at home & hold serve on the road you can win.

Poor defense cannot be hidden so your stuck there. Run differential is part of defense to a lesser degree at times and the struggles fall into the momentum catergory. You cannot turn it off and rest then try to just turn it on again in the playoffs and think your going to win. Consistency along with routine is a hidden factor in this game as well as real life. It's one thing to rest your starters and then bring em all back for the playoffs. It's a whole 'nother thing to have your guys playing but playing lacksidasically towards the end of the season after clinching a berth.

In other words. Play hard, play tough and play a full game as well as a full season.
If you cannot do that then you will not win. In short as they say "Your dynasty is what you make it"

Analyzing The International Market

So far this season we have seen 19 international prospects get flagged with the infamous "bonus baby" tag. This term is reserved for those lucky few who are lucky enough to command a signing bonus of $5,000,000 or more.

This is a market where every team willing to put the time,effort and payroll into scouting has an equal chance to claim that next "superstar" franchise player. Unlike the draft where teams are slotted into a set pecking order to choose from a pool of players. This is a situation where only the teams control the payday for the prospect. In other words the value is determined not by previous years, not by actual abilities but rather how high the team is willing to go.

Looking over the current crop of signees this season we see that some were well worth the price, others overpaid and others still were signed at bargain basement prices in the market.

Syracuse Sasquashes -Benji Guerrero(57/88) $15,000,000 MILB
Signed as a SS and very capable of playing the position. Moved to RF after signing. Has GG potential in the OF. A future multi time allstar.
Grade: A+
Value: 4.0

Syracuse Sasquashes - Wilfredo Encarnacion(67/88) $15,000,000 MILB
Signed as a SS but likely should be moved to 3B or a OF spot. A prospect with the potential to be a complete player and leadoff hitter.
Grade: C
Value: 3.0

Buffalo Russerts - James Abe(55/72) $13,300,000 MLB
A surefire slugger in every sense of the word. Will be a OBPS machine as either a 1B or DH.
Grade: A
Value: 4.0

Tampa Bay Tacoma - Gustavo Gomez(44/71) $12,300,000 MLB
Similar to Abe but with alot more power potential and a better base runner.
Grade: A
Value: 4.0

Minnesota Baggies - Davey Mairena(57/89)
$11,400,000 MLB
The complete package as a hitter, i dare say a potential 5 tool prospect. Serious steal at the price.
Will do some serious and i do mean serious damage to opposing pitchers pshyce before he is done. This is a $35,000,000 signing in most worlds.
Grade: A+
Value: 5.0

Colorado Springs Starrs - Alex Gonzalez(62/74) $11,000,000 MILB
Very good control with a sick slider. If he can stay healthy he'll be a very good #2 type SP in the majors.
Grade: B
Value: 3.0

San Francisco Bay - Pascual Armas(54/76) $10,500,000 MILB w/STI
A very good pitcher who can light up the radar gun. The main question will be what role to use him in. With his abilities he can get you 6 quality innings everytime out but not a 7-8-9 innings in stamina type. Can also swing him in a 3-4 inning LR role, a setup man or a Eric Gagne type closer.
Grade: B+(if SP), A(if CLA), C(if SU), B(if LR)
Value: 4.0

San Diego Figs - Julio Mercedes(56/80)
$9,700,000 MILB
A very good OF prospect with alot of pop potential.
Grade: B
Value: 4.0

Chicago Hawks - Vasco Lira(50/66) $8,900,000 MILB
Solid future major league RP with good pitches and control.
Grade: C
Value: 2.0

St. Louis Red Ravens - Max Maduro(63/76)
$8,700,000 MILB w/STI
A tall slighltly lanky control SP with a devastating curveball. Capable of being a very solid #2-#3 once he fills out his frame.
Grade: B
Value: 4.0


Durham Bull****artists - Valerio De La Vega(56/74) $8,400,000 MILB w/STI
A technique pitcher with alot of polish. Uses 5 pitches to get outs.
Grade: C
Value: 3.0

Boston Massacre - Gustavo Pujols $8,000,000
MILB w/STI
This kid is a hitter. No doubt about it. He has power, can make contact. He's a DH for sure but he's gonna put a "big hurt" on opposing teams.
Grade: B
Value: 5.0


St. Louis Red Ravens - Benji Pena(67/78) $7,900,000 MILB w/STI
A hard throwing lefty with 2 plus pitches but lacks control. A wild child indeed.
Grade: C
Value: 2.0

St. Louis Red Ravens - Gerardo Torres(67/92) $6,900,000 MILB w/STI
What's not to love? A hard throwing right hander with a 4 pitch repertoire. Also a very good fielder. A steal at the price and has a very bright future ahead of him. Likely a $35,000,000 signing in another world.
Grade: A+
Value: 5.0

Buffalo Russerts - Rico Cedeno(55/66) $6,500,000 MILB
A ok addition to the minor league rotation.
Grade: D
Value: 1.0

San Diego Figs - Luis Machado $6,000,000 MILB
A defensive wizard as a SS. Can play multiple positions and will likely fill the utility role.
Grade: C
Value: 2.0

Cleveland Indians - Emmanuel Garces(62/80) $6,000,000 MILB w/STI
A quality signing with potential. A project for sure but it could be worth it later on.
Grade: C
Value: 5.0

Durham Bull****artists - Javier Rodriguez(55/66) $5,500,000 MILB
A good RP with potential to be a good set up man.
Grade: C
Value 3.0

San Francisco Bay - Vic Romero(66/77)
$5,000,000 MILB
A savvy LF who can make contact and be a terror on the base paths.
Grade: C+
Value: 5.0

Grade Scale A = Perreniel allstar caliber(A+ with HOF potential). B = Future star major leaguer.
C = Future major leaguer contributer. D = Solid minor league signing. F = Minor league fodder.

Value Scale 5.0 = Signing well below market value. 4.0 Signing at market value.
3.0 = Signing just above value but worth it. 2.0 = Signing above value. 1.0 = Signing grotesquely above value