The Bison release Felix Pie and pick up Joel Hanrahan. Bison also release Ledezma and claim Jason Isringhausen.

Dean Toso takes over as GM for the Bisons

Thanks Dean

I think this team has a good shot at making the playoffs and doing ok if Pujols stays healthy.

Bisons sign Masa Kobayashi and release Daryl Jones

They need innings.

Buffalo Bisons are Available

As some of you may have noticed the Bisons’ MP has not been changed for some time with the exception of when I stepped in and made a couple moves due to usage issues. The manager has failed to reply to repeated emails and therefore, I have decided to make them a league run team.

The Bisons are in the Musial Division of the Cartwright League and as all the teams in the Musial Division are still in the race, I wanted to give all the managers in the Cooperstown League an opportunity to take the team over (except myself and Bryan who already have a team in each league).

If you have interest please email me.

Bay Bad Men acquire free agent P Ian Kennedy,NYY, release P Mark Hendrickson BALT

Bob's favorite injured prospect!
7th and final free agent pick.

FIREBALLS ADD DUSTIN NIPPERT AND BRENT TOMKO DROP CORDERO AND QUINLIN

Mill Street Blues drop Lou Montanez OF and add Julian Tavarez P

Stretch Run to Decide GBC Division Championships

GBC is down to the last 30 games, all of which are against division opponents, and both leagues have many races to be decided.

Both divisions of the Cooperstown League have ties for first place. The Mantle Division has the Aesir, Cobras, and Indians at the top while the Aaron Division has the Naturals and Brawlers in a dead heat at the top with the Cows 3-games back. The races for the 4th place finishes in the Cooperstown League include the Blue Sox and Knights in the Aaron Division and the Marvels and Bad Men in the Mantle Division.

The Cartwright League has no drama for the regular season Division Championships as the Misfits hold a 22 game lead in the Musial Division and the Royals are riding high with a 6-game lead over the Mallers in the Clemente Division. The Musial Division race for the two remaining playoff berths and the important 4th place position includes all of the remaining teams in the Division. Only 4-games separate the 5 teams. In the Clemente Division the race for the final playoff spot and the 4th place bye in the Draft Pick Tournament includes the SeaWolves, Sliders, and Dodgers.

Only 3-teams appear to have nothing to play for in the remaining regular season games except the chance to be a spoiler for the other teams. The Athletics, Fireballs, and Outlaws are just too far back to get in on any kind of race. However, in a short playoff series anything can happen so they could make a surprise run in the Draft Pick Tournament.

It appears likely that injuries and usage limitations will play an important part in all of the regular season races. I know my Naturals have limited bullpen innings remaining for their top bullpen pitchers and I’m sure other teams are having similar issues.

Please keep a close watch on your MPs as I will be farming overused players on a daily basis. Remember the 150% limitation for hitters vs LHP or RHP.
Also keep in mind that while usage violations do not make a player ineligible for the playoffs, INJURIES DO CARRY OVER into the playoffs. So if you have wrapped up a position, it may be advantageous to rest your regulars.

cows add C Steve Holm

to fill out our 40 man roster.

Trade Deadline has come and gone - Many overused players farmed

I just posted an updated disk with numerous overused players farmed. Please check your MP for proper coverage.

Bisons sign Zack Jackson and Aquino Lopez - release Matt Tolbert and Kullen Kulbacki

Owner of Bisons has not responded to emails asking for MP update, so I made these moves to maintain reasonable coverage.

Naturals sign M Cairo and release Anthony Reyes

Marvels Cut League and Sadler...pick up Al Reyes and Rusch

Cobras release Ike Davis, Chris Nelson, and J.P. Arencibia and pickup Dan Meyer, Alberto Castillo, and Jorge Julio.

Trade Deadline - Tonight Midnight - Eastern Time

All trades or free agent moves (playoff eligible) must be POSTED on this blog by MIDNIGHT TONIGHT (EASTERN TIME).

More Info on Playoffs

There will be one day off after the end of the regular season and one day off between each round of the playoffs. Of course as a playoff series can end in as few as 4 games or last as long as 7 games, the longest series of the round will determine the timeframe.

Misfits pick up Mike Adams in time for the playoffs. Glendon Rusch is released.

Playoff Rosters

I wanted to make sure that the following info was out to all managers before the trade deadline. (Remember for a free agent to be eligible to play in a playoff series he must be picked up by the trade deadline.)

As in MLB, GBC playoff rosters are 25 players and cannot be altered during the course of each individual series EXCEPT if player(s) are injured. If a player is injured, for more than the game being played, he can be placed on the DL and replaced by an eligible player on the team’s 40 man roster. Of course the player must serve his 15 days on the DL before being eligible to return to the playoffs.

This allows a team to keep only 2 active catchers and 4 starting pitchers active on their playoff rosters. I believe this is necessary to avoid situations where a team has no eligible players to fill certain positions when injuries occur.

So you should take the time now to develop your playoff roster strategy and pick up players who are needed for the playoff series to come.

All playoff series will be 7 games in the format HHOAAAOHH with starting pitchers needing a minimum of 3 days rest, so it will be possible to use a 4 man starting rotation. The highest seeded team will get the home field advantage.

Thanks
Bob

the erie sea wolves

the erie sea wolves ... in need of at bats to complete the season ... will drop mike adams and mike antonelli ... and ... the sea wolves will pick up jolbert cabrera and luis gonzalez ... both very need to give some bats support to erie ...

Please Note

To be eligible for post-season play a players actual PA/BF must exceed 99. In the post-season a SP must have 5 actual MLB starts to start a GBC playoff game. Batters with less than 30 actual split PAs (versus either left handed or right handed pitchers) are not eligible to start a game versus that style pitcher in the playoffs.

Please Note

DMB software will not allow an injured player (or player on the DL) to be released. This is not a GBC rule, as it was not neccesary to make a rule that the game already enforces.

Time is running out - Outlaws Looking to deal Vlad Guerrero

Vlad just hit 2 more bombs and he could add a lot to a decent team's offense for the stretch run and playoffs. His numbers are good (.291 - .340 - .551) with 31 homers and 89 RBIs.

The Outlaws are looking for players that can help them be competitive next season. This could include players on your minor league roster who have stats for 2009. The positions we need to fill are closer, 2B, or 3B. Always looking for starting pitching also. I don't care if the player(s) have stats for the current GBC season.

Mill Street Blues drop Lou Montanez OF and add Julian Tavarez P

Gahanna Naturals sign Dennys Reyes and release Kevin De La Cruz

Mill Street Blues release Dennys Reyes P and Kevin Jepsen P and acquire Carl Pavano P and Edgar Gonzalez P

San Carlos Outlaws sign Travis Ishikawa and release Joel Hanrahan

Races in Gahanna Baseball Confederacy are Incredible

With seven teams still in the discussion for a division championship in the Cooperstown League, and only 36 games remaining, which teams will prevail? A three-way tie at the top in the Mantle Division is the highlight and any league commissioner’s dream. The Aaron Division has two teams tied at the top and two more teams within five games of the lead.

The Misfits and Royals have made the race for first in the Clemente and Musial Divisions of the Cartwright League boring and facists (Crash Davis: Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.). They need to take Crash’s advice and lose some games. However, the race for the final playoff slots and fourth place finish in the Musial Division includes at least four and maybe all five of the remaining teams in the Division. The Sliders and Dodgers are still battling it out for that all important fourth place position in the Clemente Division.

Next week’s six games wrap up inter-divisional play. After that it’s thirty games all against divisional opponents. All this and the GBC trade deadline is fast approaching. Please note that free agents claimed after the trade deadline are ineligible for post-season play. So it would be prudent to add that 3rd catcher prior to the deadline. Again I want to remind everyone to check the usage of free agent pickups as many are used up for the regular season.

Please keep in mind that trading draft picks is not allowed during this time of the season. Violators will be removed from the league as we do not need cheaters any more than MLB needs the steroid/HGH cheats.

Remember that all moves which change the makeup of your 40-man roster must be posted to the league blog. Claims are first come, first serve. Please do NOT add or subtract players to your 40-man roster when submitting updated MPs. They will not load.

Bloomington Brawlers release Travis Ishikawa and add Chris Duncan OF

Cobras release Chris Duncan and pickup Franklyn German

Sherbrooke release Brian Bass (RP) and Matt Treanor (C) and sign David Robertson (RP) and Johnny Gomes (OF)

Thanks

PCL Top 10 from 2005

In their October 23, 2005 issue BBA gives the Top 10 Prospects in each minor league. I wondered just how accurate the BBA “experts” were and so here we go.

AAA – Pacific Coast League

1. Felix Hernandez – Now this is a true number 1 guy. The REAL DEAL.
2. Rickie Weeks – I have my doubts. He can’t seem to hit for a decent average.
3. Prince Fielder – I really like this guy. He’s a fat man who can move a little.
4. Conor Jackson – Not a lot of offense for a first baseman or left fielder. But I did enjoy his father in JAG.
5. Matt Cain – Good pitcher and good choice by BBA.
6. Casey Kotchman – A decent bench player I guess but not enough offense.
7. Carlos Quentin – Is he as good as his 2008 season? If so great but I wonder if he’s one of those “head-cases”.
8. Dan Johnson – Flop – Flop – Flop
9. Ezequiel Astacio – WHO???
10. Jeff Mathis – Mendoza-line catcher so far.

The Second Ten here has #17 Joe Saunders and #18 Josh Willingham.

Bloomington Brawlers release Horacio Ramirez P and add Mitch Stetter P from free agency

Baseball America’s Top 10 Lists - 3 ½ Seasons Later

In their October 23, 2005 issue BBA gives the Top 10 Prospects in each minor league. I wondered just how accurate the BBA “experts” were and so here we go.
AAA - International League
1 Delmon Young – Well I would have expected more from the #1 guy. While he has been a full time player, he certainly hasn’t put up impressive numbers. And I don’t see him getting any better.
2. Francisco Liriano – I guess he’s still young for a pitcher but he seems to be best at “arm trouble”. Obviously the verdict is still out and probably depends on his health as much as anything.
3. Zach Duke – He’s off to a solid start this season. However, up to this point he’s at best a 4th or 5th guy in the rotation.
4. Ryan Howard – Enough said.
5. Andy Marte – As an Indian fan I think “Enough said” pretty much says it all.
6. Edwin Encarnacion – Good season last year but injured most of this season. Right now he appears to be a solid player for the future.
7. Kyle Davis – A marginal pitcher for any team. Don’t see him getting any better.
8. Brandon McCarthy – He’s tall. Can’t stay healthy and doesn’t put up good numbers when he is healthy.
9. Brian Anderson – Not even a good 5th outfielder.
10. Aaron Hill – Good middle infielder. This guy can hit and I would love to have him on my team.
Maybe 3 of the 10 would be worth keeping on a roster for GBC.
Actually BBA’s Second Ten MAY have worked out a little better as #17 Dustin Pedroia and #19 Curtis Grandeson seem to be pretty fair players.
Next I’ll do the PCL.

erie would like to drop and add

the erie seawolves would like to drop relievers hinshaw and loe and add justin hampson and brian stokes

The Aesir make their last FA move and hope to survive the rest of the year!! Aesir pick up free agent Trever Miller and cut Richie Sexson.

Bloomington Brawlers are taking offers for Travis Ishikawa 1B. The Brawlers needs are SS and OF. Also, will be looking to deal Michael Young 3B after