1988 Season :
Expansion draft and new franchises:
AAA team : Wayt Tides Thunderbolts / AA team : Milos Storms
Owner : Gavril Papayan
Patience: Tolerant
Spending: Charitable
Involvement: Interfering
Focus: Balanced
Stadium : Wayt Tides Park ~22k capacity (project to add more seats in the next years)
Rd 1 SP Arturo Ortiz (DIA) 30 yo 11-11 4.45 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 139K, 0.9 WAR in 170.0 IP
Rd 2 CL Sam Leah (LGG) 31 yo 7-3, 2.80 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 93 K; 22 SV, 1.6 WAR in 64.1 IP
Rd 3 RP Ian Jones (FRE) 29 yo 9-4, 3.22 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 45 K, 2 SV, 1.6 WAR in 36.1 IP
Rd 4 SP Juan Colon (SEAG) 25 yo (r-league) 6-1, 1.98 ERA, 1.16 WHUIP, 83 K, 1.2 WAR in 72.2 IP
Rd 5 RP Harri Brown (FRE) 24 yo 3-0 4.36 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 51 K, -0.1 WAR in 66.0 IP
AAA team : Zerstrig Zerstorers / AA team : Baie-du-butin Bruisers
Owner : Shou-chien Park
Patience: Very Understanding
Spending: Controlling
Involvement: Hands-off
Focus: Profit
Stadium : HotWheels Stadium ~22k capacity
Rd 1 SP Alemayehe Fernandez (B&Y) 27 yo 13-11 3.73 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 101 K, 2.2 WAR in 188.1 IP
Rd 2 SP Akorakor Ata (LGG) 32 yo, 6-6, 3.27 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 61 K, 2.0 WAR in 110.0 IP
Rd 3 SS Masao Takahashi (SEAG) 32 yo .273/.346/.383, 8 HR, 60 RBI, 2.4 WAR in 132 G
Rd 4 RP Jose Ramirez (DIA) 27 yo (r-league) 9-6, 2.46 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 133 K, 2.3 WAR in 157.1 IP
Rd 5 CL Jorge Batista (SEAG) 27 yo 4.97 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 32 K, 0.3 WAR in 38 IP
AAA team : Misty Lake Bones / AA team : Massia Guardians
Owner : Memphis Zuwiski
Patience: Demanding
Spending: Generous
Involvement: Normal
Focus: Winning
Stadium : Bears Stadium ~39k capacity
Rd 1 SP Josh Howard (LNN) 33 yo, 4-2, 2.44 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 36 K, 1.0 WAR in 55.1 IP
Rd 2 LF Alberto Miranda (SEAG) 26 yo; .251/.327/.330, 7 HR, 42 RBI, -0.8 WAR in 115 G
Rd 3 C Dusty Redfern (SEAG) 34 yo, .248/.330/.368, 8 HR, 48 RBI, 2.9 WAR in 112 G
Rd 4 RP Shigetoshi Nagaoka (FRE) 31 yo, 1-3, 3.05 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 34 SV, 88 K, 2.2 WAR in 79.2 IP
Rd 5 RP Ren-Qing Luong (SEAG), 24 yo, 5-3, 2.36 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 116 K, 0.9 WAR in 84 IP
AAA team : Sokor Wyverns / AA team : Ape Rhill Neutrons
Owner : Chian Da Tou
Patience: Understanding
Spending: Economizer
Involvement: Meddling
Focus: Profit
Stadium : Golden Park ~32k capacity
Rd 1 SP Jeff Hudson (SEAG), 25 yo, 9-8, 5.27 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 98 K, 1.5 WAR in 157.0 IP
Rd 2 SP Miguel Alfaro (CITY), 32 yo, 8-9, 3.95, 1.38 WHIP, 115 K, 1.0 WAR in 141.1 IPS
Rd 3 LF Joao Kamiya (DIA), 26 yo .234/.275/.335, 9 HR, 44 RBI, 0.7 WAR in 122 G
Rd 4 RF Otik Knespl (MAP), 29 yo, .283/.345/.322, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 0.3 WAR in 80 G
Rd 5 SP Tsu-Wee Yip (GRE), 27 yo, 11-13, 4.36 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 164 K, 0.0 WAR in 206.1 IP
Surprising champions last year, the
Green Goblins will have to do better than their .486 average last year if they want to defend their title. Native from Lingalia, RF
Sarsa-Dengal Mdahoma shined in his hometown last season. He had
173 H, a league high,
12 HR and
68 RBI, as well as a batting line of
.327/.380/.456 and 4.9 WAR.
For five years in a row, the
Nang Nius played in the LBS, this season they will still be the biggest favorites, with the most talentful roster. For his first year in Lingalie City, CF
Robin Britton achieved a promising season, with
.277/.347/.418, 13 HR 4.9 WAR in 115 G. The 26 yo Australian will try to do better this year.
In 1969, the first expansion of the league happened and the
Expendables won the championship. In another expansion year, 1982, the
Expendables won the title as well. Will this repeat in 1988 ? Young 2B
Denny Larson had been playing well the last two seasons. He batted for
.284/.325/.354 with
1.9 WAR, and
154 H in
131 G.
Always stumbling upon the Nang Nius in the past years, the
Black&Yellows want to win the championship again, their last title was in 1978, an eternity for the most successful franchise in the league. At 22, the designated closer
Jorge Aleman managed to impress. His numbers last season were
24 SV, 1.69 ERA, 88 K, 2.9 WAR in
58.2 IP.
One of the best team of the 80's, the
Diamonds has been placed in a very tough division. They always find a way to renew their roster, after losing many talents over the years. 1987 best pitcher played in Dawala, indeed
Javier Cisneros won the Golden Ball after an amazing season. He managed to have a
17-7 record, 2.36 ERA (best in the league),
0.97 WHIP, 176 K, 6.2 WAR in 217.1 IP.
In a weak division, the
Maple Leaves could finally get a spot to access the playoffs. LF
Javy Cardenas has proved that he is one of the best defenders in the league, he won the Sapphire Award the last two seasons for his position.
Transfert/ FA :
- Soo-yeon Kim, 32 yo C, opted out of his contract and signed as a FA (GRE --> SST) a contract of 4 270 000 € in 5 y
- Michel Dubost, 27 yo CF, signed as a FA (JDT --> SST) a contract of 13 600 000€ in 8y
- Alejandro Fragoso, 32 yo CF, opted out of his contract and signed as a FA (SST --> LAD(MLB)) a contract of 3 960 000 € in 3 y
- Carlos Garica, 29 yo LF, signed as a FA (SST --> SEAG) a contract of 6 590 000€ in 6y
- Harris Nash, 26 yo C, signed as a FA (SST --> B&Y) a contract of 12 320 000€ in 8y
- Myung-gu Kim, 31 yo SP, opted out of his contract and signed as a FA (B&Y --> FRE) a contract of 6 700 000 € in 5 y
- Fernando Mendoza, 31 yo LF, opted out of his contract and signed as a FA (LNN --> LGG) a contract of 6 480 000 € in 6 y
- Carl Leeson, 28 yo SP, signed as a FA (LGG --> GRE) a contract of 13 600 000€ in 8y
- Akifumi Shimizu, 37 yo CF, signed as a FA (GRE --> WHE) a contract of 1 200 000€ in 2y
- Kyle Petrillo, 29 yo C, was traded (KC(MLB) --> TSH) for 5 players (RP E.Cardona, A.Chieu, J.Powell, J.Romero, I.Yuhi) (1 year left on contract)
- Alfonso Solano, 29 yo LF, signed as a FA (LNN --> TSH) a contract of 10 080 000€ in 7y
Managerial changes :
MAP C.J. Helman is not the Orange Maple Leaves manager anymore. He managed to work 11 years there, without any results. His successor is Jordan Berry, an inexperienced coach.
SEAG Buddy Carlyle had a contrasted record during his time as the Silver Eagles skipper. He decided to leave the franchise to become a bench coach for the Atlanta Braves. After a successful career as player, another as the GM of the Sea Stars since 1975, Ernie Banks decided to change career to become the Silver Eagles' manager.
SST Mills Roger only stayed in his position for one year. William Cherry, the former bench coach of City will replace him.
THU &
GDD &
WHE &
BEA : first manager appointed.
CITY Boutros Nyachae (1981-)
LNN Paul McCarthy (1982-)
FRE Harvey Kuenn (1984-)
THU Michael Lewington (1988-)
GRE Oberdan Diaz (1983-)
TSH Anderson Rosario (1984-)
MAP Jordan Berry (1988-)
WHE Ahmed Wiese (1988-)
DIA Alejandro Zamora (1979-)
B&Y Andrew Lefave (1981-)
SST William Cherry (1988-)
BEA Hugues Chopin (1988-)
LGG Yellel Cooper (1986-)
JDT Daniel Albritton (1987-)
SEAG Ernie Banks (1988-)
GDD Yic Xu (1988-)