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KCRoyals15 · 02-12-2025, 02:17 AM

2005

"Now or Never for Nos Amours" read the headline in the Sports Illustrated baseball season preview.

"Trey Skipper has made a living as a Mr. Fix It in a family of Mr. Fix Its. From Hawaii to Tampa to Denver and other stops along the way, he has made his living as his father famously did: stop in for a year or three, turn around a bad situation, then move on down the road."

"The 69-year-old is entering his 36th season as a professional manager and Montreal is his eleventh stop. He hasn't said it publicly, but it almost certainly will be his last. Each of his first ten teams have reached the postseason under his watch and he hopes to make it 11-for-11."

"Usually, the Skipper family formula is simple: arrive at a losing team swimming in red ink, trim payroll, hit the trading block in search of offset salaries or straight-up cash coming back with players, then if there's money left over sign a key amateur free agent, but that's not too normal on Skipper-ran teams."

"This year, though, maybe the age in Trey Skipper's eyes or the desperation of a Montreal fanbase has changed the calculus somewhat. The trades have still come, netting All-Star pitcher John Bersani (from Austin) and infielders Jeff Woodward (New York) and Michael Shelton (Cleveland), notably. However, the Royals also broke the bank for coveted amateur hurlers Danny Leffler and Isaiah Pressley. Most notably, they out-bid several other squads for three-time Texas League MVP Matt Pickens."

"On paper, this is a team that should challenge Chicago and Milwaukee atop the Midwest Association. It needs to. Not just because of the 52 seasons in Quebec with no playoff bids to show for it, but the financial ramifications of that."

"Despite the two highest season attendance figures in Royals history the last two seasons (over 2.3 million in 2004), it took the lowest ticket prices in the majors to get there. Despite that, the team still lost money each of the last two seasons. If this team falls flat with a higher payroll, how long will the patience of a very patient fan base last?"

"The pressure is on up north. Now it's up to see how Nos Amours handle it."

The Northern Conference was a top-heavy conference with quite a bit of separation at the top. In the New England League, New York won 105 games to punch their eighth playoff ticket in a row. The Philadelphia Quakers made it to October for the third year in a row, winning 101 times.

In the Midwest Association, Montreal's high-priced bet paid off, as the Royals won 101 games the MWA pennant. It ended the longest postseason drought in professional baseball history. The Royals had never been to the playoffs in their first 52 years in Quebec, with a Game 163 loss in 1961 being about the only close call. Going back to their previous stint in Brooklyn, the franchise had last reached October in 1919, an unfathomable 86-year weight to make the postseason again. Joining Montreal in the postseason would be Chicago, who reached the playoffs for the fourth year in a row.

In the postseason, New York made quick work of Philadelphia in a four-game sweep, while Montreal's first-ever playoff series ended with a win, as the Royals won Game 7 at Olympic Stadium to down Chicago. The Gothams were in no mood for feel-good stories, though, routing the Royals in five games to earn their second Northern Conference title in six years.

The Southern Conference was characterized by pretty much all teams being pretty good or pretty bad. This was especially true in the Eastern League, where four teams won at least 93 games...and four lost at least 93 games. Norfolk was at the top, going 104-58, while Atlanta edged out Jacksonville by one game and Washington by three for the other playoff spot. The Western League also had a playoff-caliber team left at home as New Orleans' frustrating annual ritual continued: win 90 games, but finish behind Louisville (109-53) and Kansas City (96-66), who grabbed the two playoff spots.

In the League Finals, Norfolk pounded the Peaches in five games, taking down Atlanta. Kansas City, meanwhile, upset Louisville in six games. The Blues did not have another upset in them in the Southern Championship, though it wasn't for lack of trying. Norfolk squeaked out a seven-game series win to win their first conference title since 1997.

The Pacific Coast League was notable for two dominant teams rising above the pack...and one very bad division below one of them. San Francisco roared to a 136-64 record, but no one else was above .500. The Portland Beavers were just 91-109—45 games back—but they were in second, out-pacing Oakland by a game and Sacramento by three games to earn their first playoff bid since 1971, snapping a 44-year drought.

The South was better, but Phoenix was still well ahead of the park at 132-68. Hawaii posted their first winning season in 14 years, but tailed off late to finish five games back of San Jose, who earned their fifth-straight playoff berth.

The Division Series did not feature any surprises, but they very nearly saw a huge one. Portland gave San Francisco all they had, but the Seals won Game 7 at Pac Bell Park to stave off the upset. Phoenix took care of business much easier, vanquishing San Jose in five games. The Firebirds then roasted the Seals in six games, making Phoenix back-to-back PCL champions and earning their sixth title in nine seasons.

The Texas League is not known for dominant teams, but each division winner won 102 games. Tulsa's mark in the North set a franchise record, as did their sixth-straight playoff berth. Dallas finished six games back, taking the second spot. In the South, Houston also won 102 times, finishing 13 games clear of Austin, who slipped in as a wild card after back-to-back TL titles the previous two seasons.

The divisional round featured no drama as both division winners took care of business in five game series. That set up the clear top-two teams in the league. Indeed, with two very evenly-matched teams, the series went the distance, with Houston topping Tulsa in Game 7, earning their first Texas League title in 13 years.

In the national tournament, Houston pulled off a upset, sending tournament-regular Phoenix home in a six-game series. Meanwhile, two Eastern heavyweights squared off, with Norfolk out-muscling New York in another six-game set. Each team was making their fourth finals appearance all-time and at the end of it all, each squad would have a pair of titles. Norfolk downed Houston in Game 7, giving the Admirals their second National Championship, eight years after their first one.

In the Northern Conference, a breakout star from a couple years prior reached the pinnacle, as New York's Greg Batchelor took MVP honors for the first time. The 25-year-old slashed .339/.436/.581 with 191 hits, 120 runs, 44 doubles, 30 homers, 111 RBI, and a Great Glove in center field to take the honor.

Two years after departing Texas to take on New York, fellow Gotham Josh Faulhaber went 20-6 with a 2.72 ERA, leading the North in wins and innings (244.2) while striking out 196, tossing 6 complete games and 3 shutouts to earn his fifth Pitcher of the Year crown.

In the Southern Conference, Pittsburgh's David Solorio was already a dependable slugger, but spiked as a 28-year-old, slashing .352/.452/.645 with a conference-best 207 hits, 124 runs, 42 doubles, 42 homers, and 128 RBI, winning MVP honors. Unfortunately, his time in the Steel City would end barely halfway into the next season.

Save for a 20-win season in 2001, Norfolk's Jonathan Sill had been an average pitcher throughout his five-year career, but in his sixth season, the 28-year-old went 19-6 with a South-best 2.61 ERA and also led the conference with 252.0 innings and 7 complete games, striking out 175 batters on his way to his first Pitcher of the Year award, as well as the National Championship.

In the Pacific Coast League, San Francisco phenom Jordan Brewer claimed his second-straight MVP award. The 26-year-old slashed .328/.428/.610 with 222 hits, 144 runs, 57 doubles, 7 triples, 40 homers, 115 RBI, and 38 steals to take home the hardware once again.

Brewer's teammate, Tim Gassner had a rookie season to remember. At just 18 years old (he turned 19 in October), the rookie became the youngest award winner in major league history, going 23-6 with a PCL leading 2.38 ERA to take Pitcher of the Year (and Rookie of the Year). He also led the league with 232 strikeouts over 264.1 innings in his debut campaign.

Though he came award with no hardware for his effort, hard-hitting Hawaii shortstop Brad Akin had a record-setting season. The 24-year-old crushed 64 homers, the most in PCL history, which gave him his second-straight home run crown and put him at over 200 home runs in less than four full seasons.

In the Texas League, a man with a very unique skillset stood out. 21-year-old Tulsa rookie Jim Prigge slashed .354/.475/.515 (winning the TL batting title) with 191 hits, 112 runs, 38 doubles, and just 7 homers to go with 76 RBI. He did lead the league with 14 triples and 129 walks as well. In the end, it was enough to earn him Rookie of the Year and MVP.

After nearly a decade as an overshadowed near-ace on many excellent San Diego teams, Danny Vasquez stood out in his first year in Dallas. The 34-year-old went 18-9 with a 3.24 ERA, leading the TL in wins and striking out 164 over 236.0 innings, earning his first Pitcher of the Year honor.

On Hall of Fame, a steady second baseman with over 2,400 hits got the call from the Eastern Baseball Federation, as did a longtime stalwart with over 250 wins:

2B Jacob Crouch (1983-98), 84.5%
SP Mike Reynolds (1980-96), 78.1%

Meanwhile, the Pacific Coast League's induction weekend belonged solely to an All-Century Team member with over 350 wins and 3,300 strikeouts:

SP Scott West (1980-01), 99.3%

Finally, the Texas League welcomed a two-time MVP with the fourth-most homers in league history, plus a 14-time Great Glove winner in the outfield:

OF Lance Corle (1983-99), 86.1%
OF John Fleshman (1983-99), 75.3%

---

The American Baseball League saw two wildly different divisions in terms of competitiveness. The eight teams in the East were separated by just 21 games, with the four playoff teams just six games apart. Syracuse took the top spot with Charlotte, Richmond, and Ottawa all squeezed in, all three separated by just a game. The West was much different with Anaheim (110 wins) and Las Vegas (104 wins) well ahead of the pack, plus two 100-loss teams at the bottom. Memphis (96 wins) took third, but Minneapolis and Nashville both tied for fourth at 78-84. The Millers took the tiebreaker, earning their first playoff spot in eight years.

The East first round started with Ottawa upsetting Syracuse in the first round, and Charlotte defeating Richmond. In the West, Anaheim took care of Minneapolis, while Memphis dealt an upset to Las Vegas. In the semis, Memphis was flattened by Anaheim in four games, while Ottawa's run continued with a six-game win over Charlotte. The Amigos, though, were the top team in the ABL, and they showed it with a five-game series win, earning their second American Baseball Cup.

In the East, Richmond catcher Chris Hanson slashed .320/.458/.562 with 149 hits, 101 runs, 34 doubles, 25 homers, and 86 RBI, taking home MVP honors. On the mound Pierre-Emmanuel Barajas of Ottawa as just 13-12, but the 27-year-old led the ABL in ERA (3.42) and starts), while striking out 208 batters over 274.0 innings and throwing 9 complete games.

Out West, Las Vegas shortstop Cesar Granja led the way, slashing .302/.393/.556 with 174 hits, 123 runs, 46 doubles, 5 triples, 30 homers, 107 RBI, and a Great Glove on defense to win MVP. Four years after his first Pitcher of the Year, Anaheim ace Angelo Pena won his second one. The 28-year-old workhorse went 23-10 with a 2.75 ERA (both league bests) and led the ABL with 288.1 innings, 24 complete games, and 4 shutouts, while striking out 156.

---

Minor League Champions
Southeastern League: Knoxville Bears, 107-47, defeats Savannah
Colonial League: Binghamton Big Cats, 83-57, defeats Reading
River Valley League: Charleston (WV) Coal Sox, 90-50, defeats Dayton
Rocky Mountain League: Missoula Grizzlies, 68-52, defeats Lethbridge
Coastal League: Greenville (SC) Swamp Dragons, 105-49, defeats Charleston (SC)
Northern League: Green Bay Giants, 104-36, defeats La Crosse (5th straight)
Southwest League: Modesto Growers, 81-59, defeats Long Beach
Southern Association: Biloxi Pilots, 89-51, defeats Joplin (3rd straight)
Northwest League: Idaho Falls Chukars, 86-68, defeats Reno
Can-Am League: Hamilton Steelcats, 88-38, defeats Utica
Mid-Atlantic League: Frederick Keys, 81-59, defeats Altoona
Lone Star League: Rio Grande White Wings, 97-43, defeats Abilene
Great Plains League: Des Moines Demons, 93-47, defeats Peoria (4th straight)
Florida Coast League: St. Petersburg Saints, 82-58, defeats West Palm Beach (2nd straight)
Heartland League: Rockford Metros, 75-65, defeats Madison
Atlantic Coast League: Wilmington (NC) Waves, 83-57, defeats Annapolis
North American League: Ogden Railroaders, 78-62, defeats Saskatoon
North Atlantic League: Burlington Lakers, 69-43, defeats Fredericton (3rd straight)

While there were many excellent teams, the one breaking records was the Hamilton Steelcats of the Can-Am League. Their 88-38 record was the best in the 59-year history of the loop and for good measure, they took home their first league title in their five years since moving to Hamilton.

02-12-2025, 02:17 AM	#120
KCRoyals15 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: A lot of them Posts: 123	All Admirality 2005 "Now or Never for Nos Amours" read the headline in the Sports Illustrated baseball season preview. "Trey Skipper has made a living as a Mr. Fix It in a family of Mr. Fix Its. From Hawaii to Tampa to Denver and other stops along the way, he has made his living as his father famously did: stop in for a year or three, turn around a bad situation, then move on down the road." "The 69-year-old is entering his 36th season as a professional manager and Montreal is his eleventh stop. He hasn't said it publicly, but it almost certainly will be his last. Each of his first ten teams have reached the postseason under his watch and he hopes to make it 11-for-11." "Usually, the Skipper family formula is simple: arrive at a losing team swimming in red ink, trim payroll, hit the trading block in search of offset salaries or straight-up cash coming back with players, then if there's money left over sign a key amateur free agent, but that's not too normal on Skipper-ran teams." "This year, though, maybe the age in Trey Skipper's eyes or the desperation of a Montreal fanbase has changed the calculus somewhat. The trades have still come, netting All-Star pitcher John Bersani (from Austin) and infielders Jeff Woodward (New York) and Michael Shelton (Cleveland), notably. However, the Royals also broke the bank for coveted amateur hurlers Danny Leffler and Isaiah Pressley. Most notably, they out-bid several other squads for three-time Texas League MVP Matt Pickens." "On paper, this is a team that should challenge Chicago and Milwaukee atop the Midwest Association. It needs to. Not just because of the 52 seasons in Quebec with no playoff bids to show for it, but the financial ramifications of that." "Despite the two highest season attendance figures in Royals history the last two seasons (over 2.3 million in 2004), it took the lowest ticket prices in the majors to get there. Despite that, the team still lost money each of the last two seasons. If this team falls flat with a higher payroll, how long will the patience of a very patient fan base last?" "The pressure is on up north. Now it's up to see how Nos Amours handle it." The Northern Conference was a top-heavy conference with quite a bit of separation at the top. In the New England League, New York won 105 games to punch their eighth playoff ticket in a row. The Philadelphia Quakers made it to October for the third year in a row, winning 101 times. In the Midwest Association, Montreal's high-priced bet paid off, as the Royals won 101 games the MWA pennant. It ended the longest postseason drought in professional baseball history. The Royals had never been to the playoffs in their first 52 years in Quebec, with a Game 163 loss in 1961 being about the only close call. Going back to their previous stint in Brooklyn, the franchise had last reached October in 1919, an unfathomable 86-year weight to make the postseason again. Joining Montreal in the postseason would be Chicago, who reached the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. In the postseason, New York made quick work of Philadelphia in a four-game sweep, while Montreal's first-ever playoff series ended with a win, as the Royals won Game 7 at Olympic Stadium to down Chicago. The Gothams were in no mood for feel-good stories, though, routing the Royals in five games to earn their second Northern Conference title in six years. The Southern Conference was characterized by pretty much all teams being pretty good or pretty bad. This was especially true in the Eastern League, where four teams won at least 93 games...and four lost at least 93 games. Norfolk was at the top, going 104-58, while Atlanta edged out Jacksonville by one game and Washington by three for the other playoff spot. The Western League also had a playoff-caliber team left at home as New Orleans' frustrating annual ritual continued: win 90 games, but finish behind Louisville (109-53) and Kansas City (96-66), who grabbed the two playoff spots. In the League Finals, Norfolk pounded the Peaches in five games, taking down Atlanta. Kansas City, meanwhile, upset Louisville in six games. The Blues did not have another upset in them in the Southern Championship, though it wasn't for lack of trying. Norfolk squeaked out a seven-game series win to win their first conference title since 1997. The Pacific Coast League was notable for two dominant teams rising above the pack...and one very bad division below one of them. San Francisco roared to a 136-64 record, but no one else was above .500. The Portland Beavers were just 91-109—45 games back—but they were in second, out-pacing Oakland by a game and Sacramento by three games to earn their first playoff bid since 1971, snapping a 44-year drought. The South was better, but Phoenix was still well ahead of the park at 132-68. Hawaii posted their first winning season in 14 years, but tailed off late to finish five games back of San Jose, who earned their fifth-straight playoff berth. The Division Series did not feature any surprises, but they very nearly saw a huge one. Portland gave San Francisco all they had, but the Seals won Game 7 at Pac Bell Park to stave off the upset. Phoenix took care of business much easier, vanquishing San Jose in five games. The Firebirds then roasted the Seals in six games, making Phoenix back-to-back PCL champions and earning their sixth title in nine seasons. The Texas League is not known for dominant teams, but each division winner won 102 games. Tulsa's mark in the North set a franchise record, as did their sixth-straight playoff berth. Dallas finished six games back, taking the second spot. In the South, Houston also won 102 times, finishing 13 games clear of Austin, who slipped in as a wild card after back-to-back TL titles the previous two seasons. The divisional round featured no drama as both division winners took care of business in five game series. That set up the clear top-two teams in the league. Indeed, with two very evenly-matched teams, the series went the distance, with Houston topping Tulsa in Game 7, earning their first Texas League title in 13 years. In the national tournament, Houston pulled off a upset, sending tournament-regular Phoenix home in a six-game series. Meanwhile, two Eastern heavyweights squared off, with Norfolk out-muscling New York in another six-game set. Each team was making their fourth finals appearance all-time and at the end of it all, each squad would have a pair of titles. Norfolk downed Houston in Game 7, giving the Admirals their second National Championship, eight years after their first one. In the Northern Conference, a breakout star from a couple years prior reached the pinnacle, as New York's Greg Batchelor took MVP honors for the first time. The 25-year-old slashed .339/.436/.581 with 191 hits, 120 runs, 44 doubles, 30 homers, 111 RBI, and a Great Glove in center field to take the honor. Two years after departing Texas to take on New York, fellow Gotham Josh Faulhaber went 20-6 with a 2.72 ERA, leading the North in wins and innings (244.2) while striking out 196, tossing 6 complete games and 3 shutouts to earn his fifth Pitcher of the Year crown. In the Southern Conference, Pittsburgh's David Solorio was already a dependable slugger, but spiked as a 28-year-old, slashing .352/.452/.645 with a conference-best 207 hits, 124 runs, 42 doubles, 42 homers, and 128 RBI, winning MVP honors. Unfortunately, his time in the Steel City would end barely halfway into the next season. Save for a 20-win season in 2001, Norfolk's Jonathan Sill had been an average pitcher throughout his five-year career, but in his sixth season, the 28-year-old went 19-6 with a South-best 2.61 ERA and also led the conference with 252.0 innings and 7 complete games, striking out 175 batters on his way to his first Pitcher of the Year award, as well as the National Championship. In the Pacific Coast League, San Francisco phenom Jordan Brewer claimed his second-straight MVP award. The 26-year-old slashed .328/.428/.610 with 222 hits, 144 runs, 57 doubles, 7 triples, 40 homers, 115 RBI, and 38 steals to take home the hardware once again. Brewer's teammate, Tim Gassner had a rookie season to remember. At just 18 years old (he turned 19 in October), the rookie became the youngest award winner in major league history, going 23-6 with a PCL leading 2.38 ERA to take Pitcher of the Year (and Rookie of the Year). He also led the league with 232 strikeouts over 264.1 innings in his debut campaign. Though he came award with no hardware for his effort, hard-hitting Hawaii shortstop Brad Akin had a record-setting season. The 24-year-old crushed 64 homers, the most in PCL history, which gave him his second-straight home run crown and put him at over 200 home runs in less than four full seasons. In the Texas League, a man with a very unique skillset stood out. 21-year-old Tulsa rookie Jim Prigge slashed .354/.475/.515 (winning the TL batting title) with 191 hits, 112 runs, 38 doubles, and just 7 homers to go with 76 RBI. He did lead the league with 14 triples and 129 walks as well. In the end, it was enough to earn him Rookie of the Year and MVP. After nearly a decade as an overshadowed near-ace on many excellent San Diego teams, Danny Vasquez stood out in his first year in Dallas. The 34-year-old went 18-9 with a 3.24 ERA, leading the TL in wins and striking out 164 over 236.0 innings, earning his first Pitcher of the Year honor. On Hall of Fame, a steady second baseman with over 2,400 hits got the call from the Eastern Baseball Federation, as did a longtime stalwart with over 250 wins: 2B Jacob Crouch (1983-98), 84.5% SP Mike Reynolds (1980-96), 78.1% Meanwhile, the Pacific Coast League's induction weekend belonged solely to an All-Century Team member with over 350 wins and 3,300 strikeouts: SP Scott West (1980-01), 99.3% Finally, the Texas League welcomed a two-time MVP with the fourth-most homers in league history, plus a 14-time Great Glove winner in the outfield: OF Lance Corle (1983-99), 86.1% OF John Fleshman (1983-99), 75.3% --- The American Baseball League saw two wildly different divisions in terms of competitiveness. The eight teams in the East were separated by just 21 games, with the four playoff teams just six games apart. Syracuse took the top spot with Charlotte, Richmond, and Ottawa all squeezed in, all three separated by just a game. The West was much different with Anaheim (110 wins) and Las Vegas (104 wins) well ahead of the pack, plus two 100-loss teams at the bottom. Memphis (96 wins) took third, but Minneapolis and Nashville both tied for fourth at 78-84. The Millers took the tiebreaker, earning their first playoff spot in eight years. The East first round started with Ottawa upsetting Syracuse in the first round, and Charlotte defeating Richmond. In the West, Anaheim took care of Minneapolis, while Memphis dealt an upset to Las Vegas. In the semis, Memphis was flattened by Anaheim in four games, while Ottawa's run continued with a six-game win over Charlotte. The Amigos, though, were the top team in the ABL, and they showed it with a five-game series win, earning their second American Baseball Cup. In the East, Richmond catcher Chris Hanson slashed .320/.458/.562 with 149 hits, 101 runs, 34 doubles, 25 homers, and 86 RBI, taking home MVP honors. On the mound Pierre-Emmanuel Barajas of Ottawa as just 13-12, but the 27-year-old led the ABL in ERA (3.42) and starts), while striking out 208 batters over 274.0 innings and throwing 9 complete games. Out West, Las Vegas shortstop Cesar Granja led the way, slashing .302/.393/.556 with 174 hits, 123 runs, 46 doubles, 5 triples, 30 homers, 107 RBI, and a Great Glove on defense to win MVP. Four years after his first Pitcher of the Year, Anaheim ace Angelo Pena won his second one. The 28-year-old workhorse went 23-10 with a 2.75 ERA (both league bests) and led the ABL with 288.1 innings, 24 complete games, and 4 shutouts, while striking out 156. --- Minor League Champions Southeastern League: Knoxville Bears, 107-47, defeats Savannah Colonial League: Binghamton Big Cats, 83-57, defeats Reading River Valley League: Charleston (WV) Coal Sox, 90-50, defeats Dayton Rocky Mountain League: Missoula Grizzlies, 68-52, defeats Lethbridge Coastal League: Greenville (SC) Swamp Dragons, 105-49, defeats Charleston (SC) Northern League: Green Bay Giants, 104-36, defeats La Crosse (5th straight) Southwest League: Modesto Growers, 81-59, defeats Long Beach Southern Association: Biloxi Pilots, 89-51, defeats Joplin (3rd straight) Northwest League: Idaho Falls Chukars, 86-68, defeats Reno Can-Am League: Hamilton Steelcats, 88-38, defeats Utica Mid-Atlantic League: Frederick Keys, 81-59, defeats Altoona Lone Star League: Rio Grande White Wings, 97-43, defeats Abilene Great Plains League: Des Moines Demons, 93-47, defeats Peoria (4th straight) Florida Coast League: St. Petersburg Saints, 82-58, defeats West Palm Beach (2nd straight) Heartland League: Rockford Metros, 75-65, defeats Madison Atlantic Coast League: Wilmington (NC) Waves, 83-57, defeats Annapolis North American League: Ogden Railroaders, 78-62, defeats Saskatoon North Atlantic League: Burlington Lakers, 69-43, defeats Fredericton (3rd straight) While there were many excellent teams, the one breaking records was the Hamilton Steelcats of the Can-Am League. Their 88-38 record was the best in the 59-year history of the loop and for good measure, they took home their first league title in their five years since moving to Hamilton.