[Westheim]

While the league doled out awards in late October and early November, broadly not to any players wearing brown, the Raccoons got 1-year extensions signed with Pablo Novelo ($750k), Ricky McMahan (same), and George Kehoe ($575k). That was only the beginning though, because before long we also blew $13M on the other two relievers up for arbitration.

Jesse Dover was signed to a 3-year contract worth $3.8M. He would make $1M in 2069, and then $1.4M in the two years after that. Pedro Valentin signed a flat 4-year deal worth $9.2M, or $2.3M annually. That should sort out the backend of the pen for a while…

The odd trade offer for Jimmy Wharton aside, that was really all that was going on in Portland before the arbitration hearings, which we did not have to attend since both Alex Dominguez and Eddy Ramirez declined, thus qualifying the Raccoons for draft pick compensation, and we had resigned or non-tendered every other player that was eligible.

+++

November 13 – Charlotte brings in 3B/2B Paul Weber (.253, 36 HR, 152 RBI) in a trade with the Indians, who receive right-hander Kao-kan Ngui (10-13, 4.21 ERA).
November 13 – The Miners acquire OF Norm Chapman (.273, 7 HR, 67 RBI) from the Gold Sox in exchange for SS/2B Ross Dunlop (.307, 5 HR, 23 RBI) and #22 prospect CL Kelvin Castillo.
November 13 – The Crusaders trade SS/2B/LF Scott Masterson (.204, 11 HR, 46 RBI) to the Indians for C John Edwards (.287, 5 HR, 40 RBI) and a prospect.

+++

2068 ABL AWARDS

Players of the Year: DAL CF Tyler Wharton (.352, 40 HR, 153 RBI) and MIL 1B/RF/LF Cesar Ramirez (.362, 26 HR, 139 RBI)
Pitchers of the Year: PIT SP Steven Fenstermacher (21-6, 3.08 ERA) and OCT SP Ken Nielsen (20-7, 2.43 ERA)
Rookies of the Year: CIN OF Anthony Schneider (.278, 11 HR, 83 RBI) and BOS LF/RF/1B Manuel Garcia (.263, 22 HR, 104 RBI)
Relievers of the Year: SFW MR Neil Mongillo (8-1, 1.58 ERA, 3 SV) and OCT CL Erik Swain (6-4, 2.12 ERA, 39 SV)
Platinum Sticks (FL): P SAL Gary Peoples – C PIT Nick Dingman – 1B PIT Mike White – 2B RIC Matthew Selep – 3B SAC J.P. Gallo – SS PIT Robert Ortiz – LF LAP John Miller – CF DAL Tyler Wharton – RF NAS Austin Gordon
Platinum Sticks (CL): P TIJ Miguel Lopez – C BOS Jorge Arviso – 1B MIL Cesar Ramirez – 2B OCT Carlos Gutierrez – 3B LVA Victor Morales – SS OCT Jose Palominos – LF MIL Carlos Dominguez – CF BOS Eddie Marcotte – RF IND Tony Torres
Gold Gloves (FL): P PIT Jesus Ordonez – C CIN Ryan Marty – 1B SFW Jared Allen – 2B PIT Roland Hood – 3B SFW Beau Metz – SS SFW Tomas Guangorena – LF DEN Norm Chapman – CF DAL Tyler Wharton – RF RIC Willie Ospina
Gold Gloves (CL): P CHA Edgar Mauricio – C TIJ Mike Brann – 1B MIL Cesar Ramirez – 2B OCT Carlos Gutierrez – 3B MIL Rafael Murcia – SS CHA Trent Taylor – LF BOS Steve Humphries – CF NYC Bryant Box – RF SFB Jake Ward

Pedro Valentin came second in the Reliever of the Year contest in the CL. Nick Walla didn’t even make the top three for pitchers.

+++

Well, well, look who’s a free agent….