2005-6 Off-Season Begins
SK Wyverns beat the Hanwa Eagles 4-0 to take home their 4th Korean Championship
OWNERSHIP CHANGES AND PERSONNEL MOVES
We had a litany of coaches whose contracts expired. I have no issues with most as there were no true untouchables or keepers in our system based on results this year
Memphis Owner Kevin Koerner Jr sold the club to business tycoon Zachariah Oeltjen in a straight cash sale. The new ownership is said to be willing to spend.
The St Louis Surge ownership lasted just a single season. Luis Crespin bought the club today. He'll spend but rumor has it he's a meddler with control issues.
Crespin immediately announced the firing of GM Randy Smith and Manager Jorge Romero.
San Antonio fired GM Kevin Hooper.
OFF SEASON
10/22: Ownership group meets with the staff. Mr Medina has laid out the 2006 road map. He's expectating a team “close” to .500. I am unsure what that means, and also concerned that we may not be able to meet this one. He wants an attendance increase, which should go hand in hand with the first goal. He wants a “top 13 prospect”. Not sure why that number is out there, I don't like any goal to contain the number 13. He wants, as do I, a top 5 minor league system and more homegrown talent on the ABA roster. Those are all the 'short-term' goals for the next 1-2 years.
His final ask is the postseason. He believes, and I do as well, that we should be in playoff contention by/before 2009.
I was also advised our 2006 budget will rise to 25 million.
We've decided to let go of many of our minor league personnel. I did not like the patchwork makeup of coaches and staff. We'll begin hiring for all 5 teams.
10/23
BEARS, TARPONS AGREE TO SWAP
Jeremy Morrison was a league leader 2 years ago, saving 43 games for the World Champion Denver Saints. Left exposed the Tarpons selected him and he proceeded to have a very up and down season and just never appeared to settle in. That ended today as the 27-year-old righty was dealt to the San Francisco Bears in exchange for 25-year-old SS Josh Klatt. Klatt was a 7th round pick in 2002 out of Virginia and spent most of last year in AAA Boise where he hit .311/.390/.406. An exceptional defender who can also play a serviceable left field if needed.
Rumors out of Florida have 26-year-old Jeff Chase and the club in discussions on an extension. Sources say the deal could be for as long as 5-6 years.
- ABA HANDS OUT HARDWARE
- AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR- Joe Vertz (OH) .280-47-128
- NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR- Deshawn Snowton (POR) .257-35-87
- AL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER- Domenic Loetzsch (LV) .333-62-164
- NL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER- Juan Burruel (WAS) .325-38-112
- AL SANDY KOUFAX AWARD- RJ Stanton (CHI) 16-6 3.13 305 K's
- NL SANDY KOUFAX AWARD- Chris Edge (LA) 20-8 3.21 251 K's 182.1 IP
- AL MARIANO RIVERA AWARD- Roy Berg (DET) 3-5 39 Saves 1.57
- NL MARIANO RIVERA AWARD- Mike Kelly (SF) 9-2 43 Saves 1.97
10/27 AA Manager Rick Burleson PC Goose Gregson hired
10/29
TARPON, CHASE AGREE TO EXTENSION
The Florida Tarpons announced the signing of 26-year-old righthander Jeff Chase to a 4 year 2.25 million dollar extension. The conversations had been going on since his acquisition and talks came to a head as free agency began and GM Gehrig Schilling said “We are trying to get some stability on the mound. Jeff and this contract start that process and we feel we got a great deal on a good young arm that will get better over the next 4 years”.
Manager Shoraku Kokawa agreed to a 1-year deal and will take over our Farmington club.
10/30 Manager Pedro Moran agreed to a 2 year deal and will take his 1st managing job helping teach our prospects in Rio Rancho.
10/31 Leo Gomez has accepted our 2 year offer to become the hitting coach at Class A Farmington.
(REALITY CHECK: I played with Leo in the Orioles system in 1989-90. Fantastic human and honestly a guy I expected to be a great big league player. Definitely a teacher too.)
11/2 Forner MLB outfielder Sixto Lezcano has agreed to a 1 year deal to manage our short season Hobbs franchise.
Pitching Coach Jamari Gueye ha2-yeared to a 2 year deal to become the pitching coach at Short-season Hobbs.
11/3 MANAGERS OF THE YEAR
As expected the two world series teams took home their respective Managers of the year awards.
Las Vegas manager Brendan Kelley took home his 2nd Manager of the Year. He won in 1996 when they won their 1st. He's managed the Las Vegas club since its inaugural season.
Jets Manager Joe Girardi took home his FOURTH consecutive manager of the year award. He's managed them since 1991. Their wild card this year broke a string of 3 consecutive division titles.
11/4 Pitching Coach Craig Bjornson has accepted a 1 year deal to be the pitching coach at rookie league Rio Rancho
Former MLB outfielder Thad Bosley has accepted a 1-year deal to be the hitting coach at AA Clovis
Former MLB infielder Tim Bogar has accepted a 1-year deal to manage the AAA Alamogordo club
11/9 54-year-old hitting coach Jim Lett has accepted a 2-year deal to coach our Rio Ranco prospects.
11/12 ARBITRATION HEARINGS
Geoff Wimer asked $317,440 team offered $240,000 TEAM WIN
Mike Allen asked $320,000 team offered $240,000 TEAM WIN
Utemaro Nishida asked $353,100 team offered $330,000 PLAYER WON
I declined everyone else's arbitration and I submitted a qualifying offer to Pat Stevenson both out of respect and in thinking there's no way he would accept. He did. We're on the hook for 2 million and I am actively shopping him.
11/14 FREE AGENTS FILE
Nothing earth-shattering here but there are some big names out there this year. Our only entries into serious free agent discussions will be with pitching. I am going full tilt into the Theo Epstein model. Draft hitters buy pitchers. Let someone else take the risk early on with the arms, then pay for them after they've developed. It's the highest risk you take on young talent (and yes we did exactly that with the 1st overall pick this year!)