GLBL - Chicago Architects - The Quest for the Owner not to Fire Me

[DD Martin]

We were in our 3rd season at the helm of the Chicago Architects. While I will discuss in more detail the first 2 seasons later, we had made tremendous strides in our 3rd season. The Architect's (73-49) were in 1st place on August 20th with just 22 games left in the record season. The two time defending USA Division Champions the Toledo (not Mudhens) Neptunes were tied for 2nd place with the Traverse City Bears 6 games behind us. Surely after the hot streak we had been on 64-40 where we had come back from 7 games out of 1st in Mid-May to now would not go to waste. Our owner was in a panic, going from angry to mad on what seemed like a daily basis.

We limped to the finish as Toledo who started the season white hot only to slump mid-year, was back and playing ball at a blistering pace. On September 7th with just a week left in the regular season, not only were we clinging to 1st place, but to just being in the playoffs in general. Surely we would fail again, as the top 2 teams in each division (USA and Canada) would qualify. We led Toledo by 2 games and 3rd place Traverse City by 2.5 games. The biggest advantage we had was Toledo and Travese City would play a 3 game series at the end of the season, so hopefully that would clinch us a spot in the playoffs. The other advantage we had was while playing on the road, we were playing the two worst teams in the division Detroit Thunderbirds and the Milwaukee Eagles. Surely we could hang on.......We went 4-2 in those 6 games, and while the Bears fall off, Toledo went 6-0 that week (11-1 in the month of September) to tie us at the top of the US Division at 83-61. Now both teams would make the playoffs and would face each other in the GLBL Divisional Series, we had to have a 1-game playoff for the division title.

(Note to OOTP, when you have play off ties for playoff spots, perhaps have an option to not have that 1 extra game when both teams have qualified).

As silly as it might have been, we won the coin flip to host the regular season division championship game against Toledo. While we really wanted to win the division crown outright, at the end of the day we were in the playoffs and the real series would start 2 days later. Toledo stayed hot and won a slugfest 10-8 to clinch their 3rd straight USA Division Crown. Now we had to win a best of 7-game series against the hottest team in either division.

The Great Lakes Baseball League is a 12-team curcuit that started in leauge year 2015. The league was centered around the Great Lakes region between the US and Canada. Each country had 6 teams forming the US and Canada Divisions. This was the 40th season of the league. I was the GM of the Chicago Architechs and was in my 3rd season in the hot seat. Below is the opening comments of the historical league starting point

In the year 2012 the baseball entrepreneurs from the Great Lakes area made the decision to form a 12 team baseball league with the franchises equally divided between the countries of Canada and the United States. All twelve franchises would be located on the waterfronts of their cities. The year 2015 would be the first season of play.

The league idea seemed like a natural in many ways as one of the owners operated a cruise ship line on the Great Lakes, one was a CEO of a firm that specialized in ball park construction, while another individual was a magnate in the recreational travel business. With summer weather abbreviated in the northern section of the hemisphere the decision was made to limit the regular season to 140 games (later expanded to 144) ensuring that the open air ball parks would offer relative comfort to the guests throughout the season.

The minor leagues were established at two levels with 132 game seasons. The lowest level, the Youth League, would function with players 23 years of age or younger. Teams are also allowed to sign International Free Agents as the hope is for the predominately all Canadian and American foundation to ultimately portray a more diverse segment of the population in the leagues. The minor league locations were spread throughout the Great Lakes area without regard to proximity to the home team or to a Great Lake waterfront, yet clearly within a short traveling distance from the coastlines of one of the Great Lakes.

The inaugural draft of players began unfolding in January of 2015 with the Hamilton Mounties owning the first selection.

[DD Martin]

GLBL Playoffs 1954 - USA Division Best of 7 Game Series

USA Game 1: Chicago @ Toledo
Dan Floyd (14-10) vs. Dwayne Miller (10-5)

Top 1. We have our first run of the playoffs. Reagan Osborn singles, António Méndez walks, and Thomas Arnaud singles in Osborne. Chicago 1, Toledo 0.

Bot 3. Casey Cowley singles. José Gómez triples him in! Gray Dijkstra singles in Gómez. Luis González singles. Carlos Figueroa doubles in Adams and González. The Neptunes score four. Toledo 4, Chicago 1.

Bot 4. Casey Cowley singles, steals second, and scores on a Ken Armour single. Toledo 5, Chicago 1.

Top 6. Walker Dunse walks, and Reagan Osborne hits a two-run home run! Toledo 5, Chicago 3.

I forget sometimes that Reagan Osborn is only 24. This is his first career playoff game.

Bot 7. Dijkstra singles. With two outs, Luis González and Carlos Figueroa walk. Dusty Murphy singles in Dijkstra and L-Gon. Toledo 7, Chicago 5.

Top 8. Walker Dunse and Reagan Osborn walk. António Méndez doubles them both in! Toledo 7, Chicago 5.

Top 9. The Architects need two to tie.
Juan Durán is first up.
He grounds out.
Cris Luna walks.
Jim Ashley doubles!
Tying run on second, one out!
Walker Dunse strikes out.
Regan Osborn…
…strikes out!

TOLEDO WINS, 7-5.
Toledo leds 1-0 in the best of 7 series.

USA Game 2: Chicago @ Toledo
Yale Hulbert (12-9) vs. Nick Keddy (16-5)

Top 1. Reagan Osborn singles, and Jim Ashley doubles him in. Chicago 1, Toledo 0.

Top 2. Samuel Amsden and Cris Luna double. Chicago 2, Toledo 0.

Bot 4. The Neptunes get their first hit of the game: Luis González singles. Dusty Murphy strikes out but reaches first on a passed ball. Toshikuni Ogawa grounds out to end the threat.

Top 5. Matt Graves homers! Reagan Osborn homers! Jim Ashley homers! Holy cow! Chicago 5, Toledo 0.
Nick Keddy gets pulled after that third home run. Not a great start from the Triple Crown winner.

Bot 7. Dusty Murphy homers! The Neptunes are on the board. Chicago 5, Toledo 1.

Top 9. With two outs, Walker Dunse reaches base on an error. Reagan Osborn is intentionally walked. Jim Ashley homers! Chicago 8, Toledo 1.
Thomas Arnaud doubles. Kent Noseworthy walks. Chi-Yong Lee gets hit by a pitch. Samuel Amsden walks. Arnaud scores. Cris Luna strikes out. Chicago 9, Toledo 1.

Bot 9 - Neptunes go quietly to end the game.
CHICAGO WINS, 9-1!

Toledo loses a game for the first time in two weeks.
Series is tied, 1-1.

The Series now shifts to Chicago for games 3, 4 and 5

USA Game 3: Toledo @ Chicago
Christopher Bouchard (10-8) vs. José Cedeño (12-12)

Bot 1. Matt Graves singles, steals second, moves to third on a ground out, and scores on a Reagan Osborn sac fly. Chicago 1, Toledo 0.

Top 2. Dusty Murphy homers! Tie game, 1-1.

Bot 2. Thomas Arnaud homers! Chicago 2, Toledo 1.

Bot 2 continued. Chi-Yong Lee doubles, and Samuel Amsden singles him in. Chicago 3, Toledo 1.

Top 3. José Gómez gets hit by a pitch. Gray Dijkstra doubles. Dwayne Adams hits a sac fly, scoring Gómez. Chicago 3, Toledo 2.

Bot 4. Thomas Arnaud singles. Chi-Yong Lee doubles him in. Samuel Amsden homers! Chicago 6, Toledo 2.

Top 5. José Gómez doubles and moves to third on a sac fly. Dwayne Adams singles him in. Chicago 6, Toledo 3.

Top 6. Carlos Figueroa doubles and moves to third on a ground out. Casey Cowley doubles him in. Ken Armour singles in Cowley. José Gómez doubles in Cowley! Tie game, 6-6.

This is easily the most exciting game of the playoffs so far!

Top 7. Dwayne Adams singles, moves to second on a wild pitch, and scores on a Dusty Murphy double. Toledo takes their first lead of the game. Toledo 7, Chicago 6.

Bot 9. Chicago needs one to tie, two to win. Luke Mews comes in to pitch for Toledo.

Walker Dunse flies out.
Reagan Osborn grounds out.

Jim Ashley……grounds out.

TOLEDO WINS, 7-6!
Toledo takes a 2-1 series led in the best of 7

This was a very disappointing game and one you do not want to lose to the hottest team in baseball. We would have to win 3 out of the last 4 to have a chance. Momentum was definitely on the side of Toledo.

USA Game 4: Toledo @ Chicago
Carlos Pérez (11-7) vs. Joe Johnson (15-5)

Top 1. Gray Dijkstra singles on the second pitch of the game. Dwayne Adams singles on pitch three. Dijkstra takes third. Throw is tor third. Safe. Adams moves to second on the throw. (You know, my favorite OOTP bit of nonsense.) Luis González doubles them both in. Toledo 2, Chicago 0.

Bot 1. Reagan Osborn homers! Toledo 2, Chicago 1.
With two outs and nobody out, António Méndez and Thomas Arnaud single. Kent Noseworthy walks. Doug Deschamps singles in Méndez. Juan Durán doubles down the first base line. All three runners score! Chicago 5, Toledo 2.

Top 4. Dusty Murphy walks. Toshikuni Ogawa and Casey Cowley single. Cowley’s single scores Murphy Chicago 5, Toledo 3.

Bot 5. Reagan Osborn triples, and Doug Deschamps singles him in. Chicago 6, Toledo 3.

So far this postseason, Reagan Osborn is 6-for-14 with three home runs, a triple, three walks, eight runs scored, and five RBIs.

Top 7. Gray Dijkstra homers! Chicago 6, Toledo 4.

Top 8. Dusty Murphy walks, and Toshikuni Ogawa triples! Chicago 6, Toledo 5.

Top 9. Toledo needs one run to tie. Pat Wright in to close things out for Chicago.
Ken Armour strikes out.
José Gómez lines out.
Gray Dijkstra, who homered in his last at-bat…
flies out.

CHICAGO WINS, 6-5!
The series is tied, 2-2.

That was a must win for the Architect's. If we had fallen like that for the 2nd straight game, my money would have been on Toledo to close us out in game 5. At least now we knew we'd be going back to Toledo for at least game 6.

USA Game 5: Toledo @ Chicago
Warren Townsend vs. Dan Floyd

Looks like Toledo is going with something that you rarely see in the playoffs: a five-man rotation.

09/21/2054 SP Dan Floyd was injured while pitching (Toledo @ Chicago)

No......not what we needed!

Floyd has”dead arm” and will be out for one week.
Bill Lutz is a pretty good emergency starter, if you ask me.

Top 3. José Gómez homers! Toledo 1, Chicago 0.

Bot 4. Walker Dunse and Jim Ashley double. Tie game, 1-1.

The Tects bullpen has stepped up. Problem is that Warren Townsend is dealing.

To the ninth inning! Still tied, 1-1.

Bot 9. Townsend gets pulled. Luke Mews retires the side on four pitches.

Extra innings!

Chicago has to be glad that tomorrow is an off-day. Their pen is going to need the rest.
Final line on Townsend: 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K. It’s his fifth straight start allowing one or fewer runs.

Headed to the 13th inning.
We’ve had one single and one walk in extra innings. No player has reached second base.

Thankfully we do not play this game like MLB with that dreadful extra innings rule!

Top 14. Gray Dijkstra reaches base on an error by the pitcher. Dwayne Adams doubles: he has four the Neptunes’ five hits. Carlos Figueroa singles them in! Toledo 3, Chicago 1.

Bot 14. Jim Ashley triples. Thomas Arnaud strikes out. Samuel Amsden flies out. Kent Noseworthy walks.

CHI-YONG LEE HITS A THREE-RUN HOME RUN!

CHICAGO WINS, 4-3!!
Chicago leds the best of 7 series 3-2

Side note, C Chi-Yong Lee was our primary catcher during the regular season. We had brought up a youngster at the end of the season to be the back up. He was in the top 40 in prospects and many were considering him to be the future starting catcher in Chicago mayabe as early as next season. But that player Juan Duran was injured in this series and would be out until mid-season next year. Unfortunately for the hero of the day, his days as a starter were likely coming to an end either way, despite having a solid rookie season and hitting the biggest HR in my history as the Chicago GM.

USA Game 6: Chicago @ Toledo
Yale Hulbert vs. Dwayne Miller

Top 1. Reagan Osborn homers! Chicago 1, Toledo 0.

Top 2. Thomas Arnaud walks. Kent Noseworthy homers! Chicago 3, Toledo 0.
This was 2B Noseworthy's first hit in the series after going 0-19 in the first 5 games. He was almost benched for game 5 but we decided to ride it out.

Top 2 continued. Doug Deschamps singles. Cris Luna walks. Walker Dunse grounds to second. Play is at second, so runners on the corners. Jim Ashley singles in Deschamps. Reagan Osborn singles in Dunse. Chicago 5, Toledo 0.

Bot 2. Carlos Figueroa walks. Dusty Murphy singles. A fielder’s choice puts runners on the corners. Ken Armour singles in Figueroa. José Gómez singles in Ogawa. Armour gets thrown out at third to end the inning. Chicago 5, Toledo 2.

Top 3. Kent Noseworthy and Doug Deschamps single. Juan Durán walks, loading the bases with one out. Cris Luna grounds to second. Noseworthy scores. Chicago 6, Toledo 2.

That’s a big injury to Juan Durán. Broken kneecap. He will miss 8-9 months. Chicago apparently has chosen the “sacrificing players to the baseball gods in order to win” strategy.

Bot 6. Luís González homers! Chicago 6, Toledo 3.

Top 7. Thomas Arnaud homers! Chicago 7, Toledo 3.

Top 7 continued. Kent Noseworthy doubles. Doug Deschamps is plunked. Chi-Yong Lee flies out to end the inning.

Bot 8 Toledo is retired, 1-2-3, in the eighth.

To the ninth!

Top 9. With one out, António Méndez walks, and Thomas Arnaud singles. Kent Noseworthy singles. Bases loaded, still one out.
DOUG DESCHAMPS HITS A GRAND SLAM!!!!
9th CHI: Kent Noseworthy has 4 hits in the game.

Bot 9. With one out. Dusty Murphy walks. Toshikuni Ogawa singles. Casey Cowley grounds out. Ken Armour singles in Murphy. José Gómez grounds out.

CHICAGO WINS, 11-4!
The Architects are going to the World Series! Chicago wins the USA Championship 4 games to 2.

1B Reagan Osborn hit 4 home runs in the series and drove in 7 RBI's to take the Series MVP Trophy home for Chicago.

In the Canadian Division Final
The Thunder Bay Caribou downed Owens Sound 4 games to 2.

GLBL World Series
Chicago Architects (83-62) vs Thunder Bay Caribou 90-54

[DD Martin]

Pre-World Series interlude on how we got to the big series.

Now heading into the 1954 the biggest problem I felt we had was our pitching and specifically our starting rotation. We had 1 pitcher go down early in the season in 2nd year man John Moore. He had pitched solidly enough in the hitter friendly GLBL and had a 4-2 record with a better than league average ERA of 4.32 (105 ERA+). We had another pitcher, Al Pellerin in week 2 of the season (and one that I wasn't really found of although we had given him a contract extension). Pellerin had a surprisingly good season in 1953 going 11-9 with a 3.66 ERA, but our medical team wasn't excited about the injury he had (biceps strain). There was speculation it could be a problem going forward.

With two fifths of a starting rotation that appeared to be held together with duct tape, we were in scramble mode. The team had performed better than expected (pre-season predictions had us at 74-70 again and in another dog fight with several teams for the Wildcard spot in the US Division. If we were going to be a serious threat, I decided that we needed to make moves and start sooner than later.

On June 14 with a 38-27 record and in 2nd place, we first made a deal with the Duluth Sea Gulls. Duluth had beaten us out of the second playoff spot by 1 game each of the first two seasons of my career in Chicago. I was determined that it would not be 3 straight. We traded 2-mid level prospects and one in the top 50 (1B Jean Piquet #242, LF Gerardo Dominguez, P Edgardo Montoya #50) for veteran SP Bill Lutz (31). Lutz was 6-4 with Duluth with a so-so ERA (again a very hitter friendly league) of 4.73 (ERA+ of 97). This did two things, gave us another solid pitcher behind Dan Floyd and took away a solid SP from Duluth. Duluth also kicked in $2 million in cash to help us pull the deal together financially.

That same day, we struck another deal for a SP and this one at least by scouting reports was a true stud. Granted he hadn't pitched that way to start the season. He was 0-6 with an ERA of 7.57 through May 16th, but was showing signs of coming out of his funk winning his last 3 starts and shaving 2.25 points off his season ERA which now stood at 5.32. He was also a very high priced pitcher with a contract coming in at $22 million for this year with a player option for 2055 of $26 million. We were taking on a big financial risk, but I felt the upside was for a great end of season run. The pitcher was Jose Cedeno (32) who had been a veteran internation freee agent that came to the GLBL out of Venezula and was signed by the Windsor Vigilantes to a 6 year $140 million deal. After his contracted player option was completed, he was still under team contract for the 2056 season at what our number crunchers deemed was potentially a $30 million dollar deal. High cost indeed as that would be the 2nd highest salary in the league as the way things were right now in 2054. What we gave up for Cedeno could be considered a lot.

Fortunately for us we had two very good CF prospects in our system, Chris Luna (#2 overall) and Mark Easson (#4 overall). We choose to part with Easson because Luna was closer to the big leagues and arguably the better defender. With Easson we shipped off the contract of Al Pellerin (32) who besides this season salary of $9.9 million, he had 2 more years for a combined total of $20.5 million. We also had to give up LF Javier Castillo (29) $2.875 million but had arbitration years that we would struggle to afford with the acquistion of Cedeno (at least that is what we thought). Windsor also kicked in another $2 million to help balance the trade financially for us as my owner was breathing down my neck a bit on $$$$$$.

So we had brought in 2 starting pitchers to the mix and things were looking up. By the time the trade deadline approached we had a 61-43 record and we were 1 game behind Toledo for the division lead. So I thought since we are playing much better than the media thought we would in the pre-season, and we are so close.....let's go for it.

We had 2 catchers on our major league roster in Chi-Yong Lee and Joe Hunt. Hunt had started the year off as the starting catcher but Lee was playing better and had taken over. In the prior off-season we had signed Hunt to a $4 million dollar extension to avoid arbitration and saved several hundred thousand. Now that contract with the heavy load we were taking on, appeared to be a hinderance with Lee and the fast rising prospect Juan Duran. Hunt became expendable and we were looking for a RP to bolster our bullpen. Duluth's RP Ken Shannon had been with the Architects the prior season but became a FA and signed a $6.5 million dollar deal for 1954. We had a closer (Pat Wright), and we had a solid setup guy (Larry Stott), but I felt we needed another arm in the playoffs for the late innings. So we shipped Hunt off to Duluth who also agreed to retain the salary of Shannon for the year. Shannon would be a free agent in the off-season potentially, so this was a risk. But with the play of Lee and the upside of Duran, we felt comfortable even if this was a rental.

The final deal on this day was a big one, at least for what I preceived our playoff chances to be. We might had done enough to get into the post-season, but now I was thinking bigger. What about winning the division and making it to the World Series and perhaps even winning it. With that in mind we contacted Milwaukee who was looking to pick up some prospects as SP Yale Hulbert was in the last year of his deal. He was looking for $18-22 million a season and that apparently was too much for the Milwaukee brass (it would give me pause even though pitchers do pitch into their early 40's in this league). Milwaukee agreed to pay the rest of the Hulbert contract which had been $15 million, and we agreed to send 2B Alexandre Gasnier #78 prospect, and P Quentin Leaver #170 prospect. Again we had some depth in the prospects we had with several 2B guys and we liked Tobin the best who was ranked very closely but slightly higher than Gasnier.

With the weeks between June 14th and July 31st we had added 4 pitchers to our staff and felt that finally perhaps we had the staff to compete with Toledo and the power house franchises of Owen Sound and Thunder Bay in the playoffs.

[DD Martin]

The 2054 World Series
Thunder Bay 90-54 vs Chicago 83-62
Best of 7 Game Series

So here we are, at the pinnacle of sports. Playing for the Ring! We had survived what was essentially an 8 game series with Toledo winning (4-2) and if you count the playoff game (4-3). The clubs were pretty evenly matched. What wasn't evenly matched was the disparity in the interleague games between the US and Canadian divisions for at least the last 2 seasons. This season the Architect's were 9-15 against the clubs from Canada and 1-3 vs Thunder Bay. Overall the the Canadian division held a 14 game edge over their American counterparts. Last season it was 34 games edge to Canada and the season before than 10. Obviously with a sub 6 games below 500 against Canada, we were a big part of that 14 deficit. But all that didn't matter now, this was the series for all the marbles against a 90 win club that smashed the league record for home runs in a season (274). It was the 2nd consecutive year that Thunder Bay thundered 274 home runs in a season and remember this is in only 144 games. We had our work cut out for us.

With the injury to Dan Floyd, he wouldn't be available until game 5 of the series. Hopefully we are still playing games by game 5. This club is a monster and has spared no expense to get there. Thunder Bay's payroll (note they have acquired some of these guys during the season) stood at $197 million for the season. It was projected to be well over $200 million which would be a league record and one projected that could be broken again in 2056.

World Series Game 1: Chicago @ Thunder Bay
José Cedeño vs. Kevin Simonin

We start off with our big money pitcher Jose Cedeno, who since coming over to Chicago from Windsor had been solid (9-5 4.43 ERA 103 ERA+) if unspectacular. If he was going to earn that big money in an Architect's uniform it had to start with this game.

Top 1. Matt Graves and Walker Dunse lead off the game with singles, but Osborn, Ashley, and Arnaud fail to convert those runners into runs.

Bot 3. Robinson González homers! Thunder Bay 1, Chicago 0.

Top 5. Samuel Amsden singles. António Méndez grounds to third, but the throw to first is in the dirt! The ball skips by the first baseman. The runners end up on second and third, no outs. Matt Graves singles in Amsden. Méndez comes home, but Robinson González throws him out at the plate! Matt Graves moves to second, then steals third. Walkerd Dunse grounds to short. The play is at home… out! Dunse steals second, then scores on a Reagan Osborn double. Chicago 2, Thunder Bay 1.
Weird inning! Two runners thrown out at home plate. Oh what could have been!!!!!!!

Bot 5. José Cedeño walks the bases loaded. Michael Jackson hits a sac fly. That could gone a lot worse for Chicago. Tie game, 2-2.

Top 8. Thomas Arnaud hits a solo home run! Chicago 3, Thunder Bay 2.

To the ninth!
Bot 9. The Caribou need one. Pat Wright in to close it out.

Robinson González……flies out.
Al Ratzlaff comes in to pinch-hit. Ratzlaff walks. Tying run on first.
John Calder flies out to DEEP center field. Ratzlaff is actually able to tag up and move to second.

Michael Jackson…….lines out to first.
CHICAGO WINS gane 1 of the World Series, 3-2!

Cedeno was again solid in this game going 5.1 giving up 4 hits, 2 runs with 7 K's but had 5 walks. Fortunatley the bullpen came through and Francisco Perez who has turned out to be very good in the top middle RP on the club shined. Perez fancies himself a SP but he has signed on late in the spring each of the last 2 years with us and has struggled as a SP but this year has excelled as a RP. We are looking at options to re-sign him for this role for next season, but right now when he was approached at the end of the regular season, he wanted 3 years and $34 million dollars. He made $1.7 million this year and was probably underpaid, but we won't find that type of contract for a middle RP.

Now if we could pull off a minor miracle and steal a 2nd game in Thunder Bay!

World Series Game 2: Chicago @ Thunder Bay
Bill Lutz vs. Terry Noble.

Bot 1. Robinson González singles. A wild pitch moves him to second. A groundball to second moves him to third. John Calder singles him in. Thunder Bay 1, Chicago 0.

Top 2. Thomas Arnaud. Kent Noseworthy homers! Chicago 2, Thunder Bay 1.

Bot 2. Ron Hinton and Robinson González walk. Jamal Amador doubles them both in. Thunder Bay 3, Chicago 2.

It’s the third inning, and the lead has already switched a few times
Top 3. Matt Graves grounds out, Walker Dunse walks, and everyone leaves the field because of a downpour. It was a 67 minute rain delay and it was a mistake to send back out Bill Lutz after such a long delay.

Bot 3. Michael Jackson and Gerald Powers single. Ron Hinton walks. Emerson Coleman walks. Jackson scores. A wild pitch scores Powers. Thunder Bay 5, Chicago 3.

Top 4. Kent Noseworthy doing his best to keep the Tects in the game. He hits his second home run of the game. Thunder Bay 5, Chicago 3.

Top 5. António Méndez homers! Thunder Bay 5, Chicago 4.

Thunder Bay really needs to find a way to keep Chicago from hitting so many home runs.

Bot 6. Emerson Coleman and Robinson González walk. Jamal Amador grounds out. Play is at second. John Calder triples in Coleman and Amador! Michael Jackson walks. Sean White grounds out, scoring Calder. Gerald Powers hits a two-run home run! The Caribou score five. Thunder Bay 10, Chicago 4.

All these walks are killing Chicago.

Top 9. Chicago needs six.
Thomas Arnaud grounds out.
Kent Noseworthy…walks.
Chi-Yong Lee singles.
Samuel Amsden flies out.
António Méndez, the Chicago legend……singles.
Bases loaded, two outs.

Matt Graves…works a full count……grounds out.
THUNDER BAY WINS, 10-4!
Thunder Bay has tied the Series at 1-1.

Can't blame the rain or a bad manager decision on this one. It was the walks that killed the Architects. Chicago walked 8 men in this game and that is just too many against the highest scoring and most powerful offensive team in the league. But we go home with the series tied 1-1 so we accomplished our mission in at least getting a split. Our Owner was extremely happy as the split meant we had 3 guaranteed games at home and he was loving the playoff money we were making. He has gone from Mad as hell, to anger, to worried to concerned in just several months. Depends on the day as he will flip his mood sim to sim.....but he is almost dare we say, not frowning. That's a big deal!!!!

Now if we can just find a way to win game 3. Normally I tend to put the big build up on game 5 of a series, but if we can win game 3 I start to like our chances!

World Series Game 3: Thunder Bay @ Chicago
Ralph Baxter vs. Yale Hulbert
Hulbert won both his starts against Toledo, including the decisive Game 6.

Both pitchers dominating in the early going.

Through five innings, and the teams have combined for four hits, one walk, and a hit batsman—all in separate innings.

The sixth inning brings another single.

Ralph Baxter (6.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K) gets pulled in the seventh. He will get a no-decision.

Top 8. Sean Lane homers! Thunder Bay 1, Chicago 0.

Just the second hit allowed by Yale Hulbert.

Top 9. Hulbert gets two outs, then allows a single. He gets pulled. Ken Shannon gets out number three.

The line on Hulbert: 8.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K.

Bot 9. Quincy Cooper, who has pitched 1.2 scoreless innings already, trying to save it.

Reagan Osborn strikes out.
Jim Ashley doubles!
Tying run on second, one out.
Thomas Arnaud, who is 2-for-3 today…
DOUBLES!
TIE GAME, 1-1!
Now Chicago has the winning run on second, one out.
Kent Noseworthy…strikes out.
Chi-Young Lee at the plate......Walks.
Samuel Amsden…grounds out.

EXTRA INNINGS!

Nothing doing in the 10th.

Top 11. Emerson Coleman singles. A balk moves him to second. Jamal Amador singles him in! Thunder Bay 2, Chicago 1.

Bot 11. Chicago once again up against it. Reagan Osborn and Jim Ashley lead off the inning with singles.
Thomas Arnaud flies out.
Kent Noseworthy singles. Bases loaded!
Chi-Yong Lee works a full count……and singles in Osborn! Tie game, 2-2!

Two outs. Bases loaded. António Méndez ata the plate. He singles!!!

CHICAGO WINS, 3-2!
Chicago takes a 2-1 lead in the 2054 World Series

After winning game 3 and getting a clear medical report, we decided to pitch our stud, Dan Floyd who had singlehandedly pitched us into the 1-game playoff game against Duluth last season. He won the Lake Michigan Pitcher of the Year award in 53. While the 54 season wasn't as good, he was still Dan Floyd. If we can manage to win this one, we definitely are in the drivers seat!

World Series Game 4: Thunder Bay @ Chicago
Cliff Simpson vs. Dan Floyd

Top 1. John Calder homers! Thunder Bay 1, Chicago 0.

Bot 1. Jim Ashley homers! Tie game, 1-1.

Top 3. Robinson González homers! Thunder Bay 2, Chicago 1.
Top 5. With one out, Robinson González and Jamal Amador single. John Calder walks. Michael Jackson flies out. Sean White hits a GRAND SLAM!!!! Thunder Bay 6, Chicago 1.

So much for the pitching duel.

Bot 5. With one out, Cris Luna, Jim Ashley, and Walker Dunse single, loading the bases. Reagan Osborn hits a sac fly. António Méndez flies out. Thunder Bay 6, Chicago 2.

Bot 6. Kent Noseworthy and Doug Deschamps single. With two outs, Cris Luna hits an infield single. Bases loaded. Jim Ashley grounds out.

That’s two innings in a row that the Tects have loaded the bases. Just one run from all that.

Top 9. Emerson Coleman homers! Thunder Bay 7, Chicago 2.

Bot 9. Cris Luna flies out.

Jim Ashley grouds out.
Walker Dunse singles.
Reagan Osborn doubles!
António Méndez……grounds out.

THUNDER BAY WINS, 7-2!!
World Series tied 2-2

Well we won game 3 and then got Thundered in game 4. Now its time for what generally is the pivotal game in this series....game 5. With Floyd pitching game 4, we went back to Jose Cedeno for game 5. Come on big money, earn that future contract right here and now!!!

World Series Game 5: Thunder Bay @ Chicago
Kevin Simonin vs. José Cedeño

The pattern so far has been for Chicago to win the first game of the sim, 3-2, then for Thunder Bay to win big in the second game.

Both pitchers doing their job through three. Cedeño has allowed two singles. Simonin has retired all nine batters he’s faced.

Bot 4. Reagan Osborn homers! Chicago 1, Thunder Bay 0.

Top 6. Emerson Coleman singles. Jamal Amador grounds to first, and the play is at first. John Calder singles in Coleman. Tie game, 1-1.

Bot 6. With two outs, António Méndez grounds to short—but the ball bounces through the shortstop’s legs. Reagan Osborn hits his second home run of the game! Chicago 3, Thunder Bay 1.

Top 7. Sean White singles. Gerald Powers walks. Sean Lane singles. Bases loaded, nobody out.

Ron Hinton doubles! White and Powers score. Greg Bow, pinch-hitting, doubles! Lane and Hinton score! Thunder Bay takes the lead, 5-3.

Bot 8. Matt Graves homers! Thunder Bay 5, Chicago 4.
Reagan Osborn… strikes out to end the inning.

To the ninth!

Thunder Bay is retired in order.

Bot 9. Ken Watson in to pitch.
Jim Ashley is first up.....He strikes out!

Thomas Arnaud…pops out.
Last chance for the Tects.

Kent Noseworthy…strikes out!

THUNDER BAY WINS, 5-4!!
Thunder leads the World Series 3-2

Well that was a tough loss....Things were looking so bright just a couple of days ago. Now we have the monumental task of going to Thunder Bay with no margin and having to beat the best offense in the league 2 straight games. Despite the loss, our owner was in his box doing the happy dance. Most likely because Ralph from accounting had come in and told him how much money we had made in the playoffs. Sometimes I just want to punch that guy......

World Series Game 6: Chicago @ Thunder Bay
Bill Lutz vs. Terry Noble

The Caribou will have two chances to win the World Series at home.

Bot 1. Robinson González grounds to short—but Walker Dunse flubs it. Lutz strikes out the next two batters, but Michael Jackson doubles. R-Gon scores. Thunder Bay 1, Chicago 0.

Bot 3. With two outs, Jamal Amador and John Calder single. Michael Jackson strikes out.

Terry Noble has faced 13 batters, retiring 12 and walking one.

Top 5. Thomas Arnaud homers! Tie game, 1-1.
Kent Noseworthy singles and, with two outs, Walker Dunse singles him in! Chicago 2, Thunder Bay 1.

CHI: Bill Lutz has struck out 9 through 5 innings.

Top 6. Jim Ashley homers! Chicago 3, Thunder Bay 1. (edited)

Noble: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
Lutz: 5 IP, 4, H, 2 R, 2 BB, 9 K.

Bot 6.

Lutz walks Michael Jackson, then gets pulled. Sean White singles. A wild pitch advances the runners. Ground ball to third… play at the plate… safe! A wild pitch lets Sean White score. Tie game, 3-3.
Sean Lane and Robinson González walk. With two outs, Jamal Amador hits a grand slam!!!! Thunder Bay 7, Chicago 3.

Top 9. Thunder Bay are three outs from a Championship. Chicago needs four runs to keep their season alive.

Jason Connel in to pitch.

Jim Ashley is first up....He works a full count……and walks!
Thomas Arnaud, who homered earlier, is next up.....He singles!

Architects aren’t going down without a fight!
Quincy Cooper in to pitch.

Kent Noseworthy steps in. He’s 1-for-2 with a single tonight.
A balk advances the runners.

Kent Noseworthy hits a fly ball to right. Ashley tags up and scores without a throw. Arnaud moves to third.

Thunder Bay 7, Chicago 4.

One out.

Doug Deschamps…pops out.
6:32
Chi-Yong Lee, who’s been a hero a couple of times this postseason, steps in.
Cooper strikes him out looking on a full count!

THUNDER BAY WINS, 7-4!
Thunder Bay wins the World Series 4 games to 2 and wins the GLBL Championship. For the Caribou its their 5th World Series title and first since 2037. Thunder Bay's SS John Calder won the World Series MVP award.

And there you have it. Our dream of winning our 1st World Series in Chicago is over, for this year. Chicago has been a dominate team in this league for its 40 year existence. It has previously been to the playoffs 25 times (26 this year) and has won the World Series on 9 previous occaisions. Most recently in 2050. We have our work cut out for us in what is sure to be a busy off-season.

Congrats to Thunder Bay!

[DD Martin]

Recapping the 1954 Season

So as I had mentioned, we started the year and I was very much concerned about our starting pitching. I felt like that was what was holding us down last year and outside of SP Dan Floyd, closer Pat Wright and his setup man RP Larry Stott, I had no real ideas where this group would led us.

To start the season this was our top 5 in the rotation

#1 SP Dan Floyd was by far and away our #1 SP. He had come off a season where he went 16-4 with a 2.81 ERA at the age of 38. He was entering the last year of his contract ($14 million originally was 4 years and $56 million). He is very financially ambitious and Floyd was looking for a 4 year deal that would pay him around $90-100 million for his age 40-43 seasons. That was a tough pill to swallow for me, who tends to be very age concerned especially with pitchers.

#2 SP Joe Johnson (25) who had a career record of 8-11 with a 4.53 ERA. He was pretty solid as a rookie mostly RP in 2052, but assumed more of a starting role in 2053 starting in 28 games (29 total) and was 3-8 with a 5.20 ERA. Not exactly numbers that scream #2 starter, but he had a fantastic spring 1.13 ERA so we decided to see what he could do early in the season. Johnson ended up being a huge surprise for the 2054 season going 15-5 with a 4.19 ERA.

#3 SP John Moore (24 who just celebrated his birthday at the start of the season April 11th). Moore was a 2nd year pitcher who was the #27 prospect as of June 2053. In his rookie season he was 8-4 with a 4.95 ERA (92 ERA+) and was a good back of the rotation arm. Problem was he would be sidelined for the rest of the season after a 4-2 4.32 ERA (105 ERA+) start to the 2054 season.

#4 JJ Walker (soon to be 28 after the start of the season) Walker who was signed as a low budget free agent signing in the off-season had pitched in the Thunder Bay organization but was orginally a 2nd round draft pick (2044) of the Toledo Neptunes. He eventually rose up to the #50 prospect in April 2050. Surprisingly perhaps he became a minor league free agent after the 2050 season. He pitched in parts of 3 seasons with TB (51-53) and compiled a 5-12 won/loss record with a 4.13 ERA starting 54 games. He signed an FA deal in February 2054 for $950,000. Walker was another pleasant surprise starting 20 games and appearing in 26 total. He was 7-8 with a 4.16 ERA that would earn him a deal in the off-season at what we hope are team friendly rates.

#5 SP Francisco Perez (32) signed a 1 year $1.7 million dollar deal after pitching for us in the 2053 season. His numbers as a starter were not electric by any means in 53 (7-15 5.01 ERA) which is why he was not immediately re-signed. He had some success earlier in his career in Duluth with a 79-106 record with 3 saves and a career ERA of 3.91 in 1580 IP. Unforuntately he hadn't shown anywhere close to that form last year with us, but we gave him another shot with the show me $1.7 million dollar deal. Francisco was great in the MR role as he pitched to a 2.61 ERA in 48.1 IP in 30 relief appearances. We would like to find a way to keep him, but he has higher role and money aspirations.

Now you can see the reasons that I was hugely concerned with our starting rotation. Al Pellerin was starting in the bullpen after a spring injury and I still wasn't convinced of his ability to start. The contract extension we gave him was more out of fear, than good business sense. The previous seasons we had Floyd, Moss, Pellerin and not much else. We choose to not re-sign Moss and gave Pellerin a deal, which I had regretted. In the 2054 season, for the same money although in separate trades, we basically got Bill Lutz for Pellerin. I like Lutz much better.

The off-season prior to the 2054 season was largely a bust as far as the pitching staff went. We had spent big money on free agent OF Jim Ashley (34) to the tune of a 4-year deal worth $20 million each of the first 3 years with a team option $22 million in 2057.

We had passed on re-signing P Dave Moss (39) who signed a 1 year deal with Thunder Bay for $7 million. Moss had pitched in Chicago in my first season 2052 and was less than spectacular.

SP Terry Noble (36) would have been a good option to go after, but after signing Ashley, and concerns about his age we passed. He signed a 1 year deal with Thunder Bay for $18.3 million.

There were not any other "big" free agent" pitcher signings prior to the 2054 season.

Truth be told I had done a poor job when I started this league of reviewing things such as settings. Players develop a bit quicker in this league and age a bit slower. So my misguided thoughts on veteran pitchers in particular, didn't necessary translate to the GLBL. Truth be told I am still learning some of the nuances of this very fun and entertaining league.

These were the reasons why during the season we went all out to sign 4 pitchers who would make a huge impact on our club. And as you will see, 3 of those 4 will stay with us into the 2055 season. It would cost us though a long time starter for us.......who wanted 4 years and $96 million....

[DD Martin]

Note - I don't normally post so much in 1 day. Obviously this is an online league and I had the idea to start a diary during the previous season as I really started to learn the league, and get into it. Problem was I messed around the whole league off-season and now we are starting our season. I had a lot of this story so far all typed up, so I just started reviewing it and then posting it. I felt I had to do this as the league sims 5 days a week M-F but only sims 4 days each sim. My plan is to be caught up with the sim as this weekend which should be roughly 2 weeks into the regular season.

My end of season meeting with team owner Gregory Bocquet Jr. which I had not been looking forward to earlier in the year, turned out to be quite delightful. I was able to show him that one way to the extreme profit that he desired was making and having a successful run into the playoffs. When he saw that we made $15+ million for our post season run, his dreary outlook on me and life in general sudden changed. The man that had been ready to fire me because we were in a pennant race but just breaking even financially, had changed. He went from Mad, Angry etc to now delighted

He decided that since fan interest was up so high (96 at this point from 88-92 during the season) and that our market increased in size (to the highest allowable in the league structure), that he was going to raise our budget to $180 million. I cautioned him that if he gave me that type of budget I was likely to spend it and he just said do what you did this year, make money at the end of the season and all will be well.

I left the meeting feeling overcome with determination to try and get the Architect's that 10th World Series Championship. Suddenly I had money to play with and several contracts I wanted to get done before the start of free agency.

But going back to late in the 2054 season, I had felt badly about how I had tried to treat what was a Chicago legend. It wasn't the first time I had done this as I didn't have a big attachment to what the club had done before I arrived (It had done a lot). No I wanted to concentrate on what the club could do in the future.

Previous management had signed one player 1B Daniel Huffman to what was not a huge contract, but it was 4 years and $24 million. Huffman was 43 and I was struggling to see why this deal was done (remember I don't know about the aging settings in the league in the 2052 or 2053 seasons). Huffman basically held all the major hitting records in Chicago and was the GLBL all-time leader in home runs (504), He was top 10 in a number of other categories, but I didn't see that. What I saw was an aging ballplayer who really couldn't play 1B anymore and was just a DH. We had another 1B with the club that first year I was in charge in Art Loder who was a much better hitter at this stage of Huffman's career. We played him in an embarrassing number of games (31) with only 9 starts. He hit 182 with 3 home runs and 5 RBI's. He still had 3 years and $18 million on his contract. Instead of letting him ride off as he saw fit, I had a prospect I wanted to bring up. We cut Daniel Huffman. He was picked up for the 2053 and 2054 seasons by his old GM in Duluth where he belt 17 more home runs to add to his 487 total in Chicago and drove in 40 RBI's in a part time role. He retired at the end of this season on his terms. He is obviously a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame and to try and make it up to him, we immediately retired his number #1 here in Chicago. We will have Daniel Huffman Day here in Chicago (if he will come) and we will try and make it up to him.

For 2055 we still owe him $6 million for the last year of his deal.

In light of the Huffman situation, I had been particularly hard on another Chicago legend that was signed to a much larger contract. CF Antonio Mendez who had been playing more LF for us the last season as his speed had diminished. He was a solid hitter and yet his price tag ate away at me. Likely because I hadn't signed him to that deal which was ending at the conclussion of the season. Still while I was prepared to just let him become a free agent, a part of me started to notice all the Mendez signs in the crowd, the merch that he sold and the cheers that he got. Mendez was highly respected in Chicago so I decided to see if we could come up with a deal that he could end his career here in Chicago red. We were discussing it in the last weeks of the season, we were talking 3 years and a total of $16.-17 million for the 3 years. It was a deal that he was thinking he would like to sign on for. We left it to be finalized after the playoffs.

Once the World Series was over, Mendez came to my office. No agent, just him. He told me that after talking with his wife, he wanted to spend more time with his kids and family instead of being on the road 3 more years. I asked him if it was the money and he stated no, it wasn't. Even if I had offered him another 3 year $60 million dollar deal, his answer would be the same. "I just want to spend time with my wife and kids. I miss seeing certain things during the season, and I just don't want to miss them growing up. They are 13, 11 and 9 now and they are all involved in sports. I want to be fully involved with them." So we shook hands and I said we would retire his number #30 next season and we would have Antonio Mendez Day. He said he looked forward to scheduling that and that his whole family would be there for that day. Mendez is another sure fire Hall of Famer.

We had a lot to plan for next season. We had a USA pennant to hang, two player number retirement ceremonies, free agency, and how can we make it back to the World Series.

Remember once we start the off-season, our owner is delightly. We will see how long that lasts and obviously I can't get a delighted picture up, because we are into spring training and he might not be so delighted anymore.

Tomorrow - We will cover the off-season. Then Spring Training and predictions. Coverage of the regular season will start on Friday and catch up to the league over the weekend.

[DD Martin]

1954-55 off-season

At the end of the regular season we had struck a deal with SP JJ Walker who had impressed us with his season. We decided to take a gamble on the 28 year old and bought his 3 arbitration seasons out at $1.75m for 2055, $2.8m, $4.05m, $7.5 m in 2058. We then have a team option for $9m in 2059 and then a vesting option for $9 for 2060. So essentially it is a 4-year deal for $16.1 million and then the 2 option years. So if Walker doesn’t pan out as a starting pitcher, we will cut him loose for $1.8m after 2058.

After the World Series we sat down with Joe Johnson who had a tremendous surprise season for us. He was arbitration eligible so we sat down and hammered out a 6 year deal that starts in 2055. Anderson will get salaries of $1.25m next year, $2.0m in 2056, $3.0m in 2057, $3.25m in 2058, then two team options in the last two deals for $3.25m for each 2059 and 2060. Anderson didn’t drive a hard bargain so there is some concern here that maybe this was just a flash in the plan season, but we are only on the hook for $9.5m over 4 years so the deal isn’t going to financially break us either in the future.

As the calendar turned to October following the completion of the World Series, our efforts were to immediately contact SP Yule Hulbert and Dan Floyd. Both were extremely popular in the Chicago area. Hulbert was younger at 35, with Floyd being 40. The discussions with their agents quickly showed which would be easier to sign.

Floyd who’s personality is not as good as his talent on the mound. The other problem was his talent according to our scouts was starting to slide and we expected he would not be as effective as he was in previous seasons. This was also in play because his performance, while solid, was not as good as it was the previous season. Still his WAR was 4.4 for 2054 which was higher than his 3.7 WAR in 2053 when he won the Pitcher of the Year Award. Floyd was not budging from his 4 years and $24 million per season. This was a number we were not going to agree with.

After the efforts to talk to Floyd yielded no results, we turned our attention to Yule Hulbert who we had acquired in a July 31st trade with Milwaukee. When we made the deal with Milwaukee for Hulbert we knew that the Eagles could potentially jump back in on the bidding in the off-season. We also knew there would be potentially 7 other clubs that could be in on the bidding. So we spoke with Yule and his agent and expressed how much we wanted him to come back, even though his results for us were not as good as his results for the sub-500 Eagles. We were cognizant of our budget for the upcoming year, and wanted to get a deal with Hulburt done with the 1st year being no more than $15 million. At the end of the day, Hulbert appeared agreeable and we signed him to a 4 year contract with the 4th year being a team option year for a total of $72 million. The amounts were by year (15, 20, 20 and 17 in the team option), with the option buyout at $3.4 million. We were prepared to sign Hulbert to a full 4 year deal, but decided to float the option year and they agreed. Now at the end of the season, Hulburt was also in the 4 yr and $90+ million dollar range, so we were able to work him down some and get that option for the last season.

This was a huge deal for us to finalize and the fans agreed based on the positive feedback and jersey sales that we saw. This of course meant that we would likely not be agreeing to a contract with Dan Floyd.

With the increase in budget after our playoff run, and the retirement of Mendez. We suddenly had close to $50+ million that we could spend on free agents. We had another trick in our bag if we needed it, that would likely free up another $10 million, but we would save that for another day.

We declined arbitration on several players, they were P Bradley Sentner and OF Freddie Franklin. Both were team leaders, but we just couldn't pull the trigger on the extensions that would be approximately $3.6 million between the two. We also signed free agent RP to be Ken Shannon (40) to a 2 year deal worth $7.28 million. He was the 3rd of the players we traded for (P’s Lutz who had 2 more years on his deal, Hulburt and Shannon) to be secured for the upcoming season.

The 4th pitcher we had acquired was Jose Cedeno. Cedeno had a player option of $22 million for the upcoming season, which we were told by his agent he would decline. The good news for us, was that he had 2 more arbitration years remaining since he was a player signed out of Venezuela at the age of 25. We attempted several offers to sign either a 1 year deal for just 2055 or up to a 6 year deal. Cedeno’s price was $30 million per season. We knew that he would get more than $22 million through arbitration but wouldn’t get $30 million, at least this season. So we let it play out and Cedeno received $26.46 million through the arbiter. Thankfully we had saved at least $5 million or more on Hulburt’s first year of his extension, so we were able to absorb the amount.

We also received arbitration notices on RP Larry Stott who won $1.68 million and switch-hitting OF/2B Samuel Amsden for $1.3 million. The team won both hearings with the players.

Eight minor league players that were in our system were granted minor league free agency. SS Emory Hopper and OF Ken Davis were promoted to the 40-man protected roster. Hopper is injured, but we had the room and decided to keep him for depth. We had 6 other players that would become free agents off the 40-man roster. They were OF/DH Doug Deschamps, P P Francisco Perez, RP Kade Cason, SP Dan Floyd, C John Dyke, and 1B Philippe Labbe all became free agents.

Once pre-arbitration players had their contracts renewed, we began to talk with All-Star 1B Reagan Osborn to a contract extension. Osborn who is only 24 has 2 year big league totals of 302/416/991 with 65 HR’s, 181 RBI’s, 208 runs scored, 186 walks, with 36 Stolen bases. We didn’t need to make this deal, but we felt it would provide Osborn the security he deserved and the salary certainty we wanted. Osborn signed a 6 year deal buying out his 3 arbitration years and first 3 years of free agency. The deal was for 6 years worth $97 million with annual salaries starting 2056 at $3.5, $8.5, $15, $20, $25 and $25 million respectively. This might not seem like a club friendly deal, but we believe we save potentially $10-20 million over the life of the contract. Osborn will be with Chicago through his age 30 season in 2061.

In the GLBL to speed up the off-season, the free agents file in late October but the signing period doesn’t begin until February 1st.

Over the course of the winter we signed some international minor league free agents. Things would pick up once we hit February 1st. As opposed to last year, this year’s free agent market had some real big names, both among pitchers and hitters. One of the big players was someone who had never played in North America before. 24 year-old 2B Jorge Rangel appeared to be a superstar out of Cuba. He had gap power (4) with power (5) and eye (5). His contact was low at 2 and he is going to whiff 100+ times a season, but the power bat is definitely there. While he is listed as a 2B player, he is likely going to be a 1B, LF or probably a DH. He wants a 6-year deal worth $150m. He could be someone who we bid on, especially if his price comes down a bit. We are not in need of a 1B, we have Ken Noseworthy installed for at least 1 more season at 2B. We are looking for a power bat to DH, but we have other players we have interest in first.

Those players were primarily pitchers. Even though we had shored up our starting rotation from the start of last year where we have up to 6+ guys ready to start. But there was one that really had our interest and that was former Toledo SP lefty Dwayne Miller (30). We were surprised that Toledo had not extended Miller but his results for 2054 with an ERA+ of 94 was not something the budget tight Neptunes could afford. We made a solid offer I thought of 5 years and $66 million, but we underestimated the market. The Detroit T-Birds swooped in and signed Miller to a 4 year $59m total. We had lost our #1 target.

We turned our attention quickly to another top quality starter, but not a lefty. SP Val Imbert had pitched for the cellar dwelling (shared) USA club Detroit. Imbert (29) didn’t have a great season going 12-10 with a 4.87 ERA, but he is a team captain type player and we believe with a solid supporting cast behind him, he will revert back to his form several seasons ago. Imbert was signed for a 4-year $39m deal with the 4th season being a team option. We also re-signed RP Bradley Sentner to a 1-year $1.7m dollar deal. Sentner had pitched well after we reviewed things in the off-season and was another team leader. He would be a long man out of the bullpen in 2055.

We were looking for a LHRP and they were in short supply. We decided to take a chance and sign 33-year old RP Jerry Powell to a 2-year deal at $1.7m per season. He will take the place of Kade Cason who filled the lefty role adequately but was wanting way too much money. We could probably wait him out, but decided to take Powell while we could get him.

In the early off-season, the league voted to add a class A league to the minor league structure. I for one was very much in favor of this because we had only had AAA and AA teams. A class A team will give high school draft picks and young International signings a place to play against players of similar ages. The leap to AA was far too high for most 18-year olds. I hope to see this add to the development of our young prospects.

With the addition of a class A team we started signing up young players most 20 and under but some 22 and under. The new class A league would have an age limit of 22 and under. So to fill out the roster we added roughly 20 players. We had 75 players in the top 2 leagues prior to free agency. The 20 new players plus some promotions from the International Complex will give us a full roster and still have room for our 10 draft picks from the 2055 draft.

We made a small trade in 35-year old RHRP Paul Clark to Toledo for 20-year old SS prospect Pedro Santana. We had made the decision that Clark was not going to make the 26-man roster coming out of the spring so his $990,000 salary was a lost cause anyway. In this deal we agreed to retain the salary of Clark in return for Santana.

With Duluth signing the hot hitting free agent Jorge Rangel for $100m over 4 seasons. The last year is a player option so he could be back on the market in 3 seasons. With Rangel gone, we turned our attention to a veteran slugger and signed Jose Aranda (30) to a 5 year deal for $123m. We signed him to $24m for 2055, then $20m for 2056. The 2057 contract was for $25m, a player option for $29m for 2058 and a team option in $2058 for $27m. It was a heavy contract for the lumbering OF/DH, but he bats left and we had a right handed heavy lineup.

With C Juan Duran injured and out until the 2nd half of the season, we decided to not bank everything on C Chi-Yong Lee. So with 4-time all star left handed hitting C Sean White available, we jumped at a chance to sign him to a 2-year deal worth $16 over the 2 seasons. While Duran will be back, we felt White would be a safety net and left handed hitter to start most games this year. It will also give us an extra year of lower salary and delay arbitration for probably both Lee and Duran (although that will not be an official reason.). Duran (24) will likely head to AAA for 20-30 games to get him back into playing shape, and then he will join us when rosters expand or if anyone gets hurt.

With Francisco Perez turning down our offer of 1-year and $2.5m, we decided to give free agent Matsusuke Yoshida the opportunity to be our primary middle RP that leads to the late inning trio of Wright, Shannon and Stott. Yoshida is a 30 year old RHP who should fit in nicely.

With the White signing that pushed our payroll over $165 million for next year. Our up and down Owner was once again madder than a hornet. I had warned him that I would spend as much of that $180 million budget that he gave me. I did have to lower our scouting a bit so our expenses went from $30 million for scouting and player development to just $20m for at least this season. I felt that with perhaps a window for winning a championship being open, we needed to go for it. We did also dig into our cash balance deeply going about $12.5 million into our $16 million balance.

Overall I felt very good about our off-season. I feel like we improved our team that was already in the playoffs. Hopefully we can add a regular season division title and World Series to our trophy case in 2055. We had spent the following amounts for the 2055 season.

SP Yule Hulbert $15 million (resigned pending free agent)
RP Ken Shannon $4.2 million (re-signed pending free agent)
OF Joe Randa $24 million
P Val Imbert $8 million
RP Jerry Powell $1.7 million
RP Bradley Sentner $1.7 million
P Matsusuke Yoshida $2.5 million
C Sean White $8 million
Random minor league free agents $250,000

Total spent $66.4 million

Next year's payroll has roughly the same estimated payroll expense. The big question is will we go through arbitration with SP Jose Cedeno for $30 million (today’s estimate), try and sign him to an extension, attempt to work a sign and trade deal with another team, or decline arbitration and attempt to sign him for less in free agency. If he wants that contract from us then this season is a big show me season for Cedeno and if he does that only means good things for the Architects this upcoming season.

The other factor with Cedeno could be if we don't make the playoffs and pick up some of this money I've spent.

The owner goals and such are turned off in the league, but I do like to play it financially responsible. He wants extremely profit and 500 ball, while I obviously want to win and make a nice profit. Those two worlds will collide often between Mr. Bocquet Jr. and myself.

[DD Martin]

Spring Training
Pre-Spring Outlook

Heading into spring training, most of the Opening Day roster appears to be in place. The question is who will shake out as the bottom 2 in the starting rotation behind (Jose Cedeno, Yule Hulburt and Val Imbert). There are a multiple of candidates with veteran Bill Lutz and JJ Walker. Also in the mix coming back from injury is John Moore and last season's surprise in SP Joe Johnson. That is at least 7 candidates for the 5 spots, plus young prospect Curt Hopkins (#4) overall. Both Walker and Johnson signed contract extensions in the off-season, but both are on fairly low salaries for this year and one of them could start off the season at AAA.

The bullpen looks pretty set with the combination of Pat Wright (L), Ken Shannon, Larry Stott and LHRP Jerry Powell. Battling for other spots in the 7 man pen will be Bradley Sentner, Richard Herschel, and Matsusuke Yoshida who will probably be the primary middle RP.

The infield is pretty set with youngsters 1B Reagan Osborn and 3B Thomas Arnaud looking to be the cornerstones of the infield for the next 10 years or so. The middle has veterans 2B Ken Noseworthy who can play a great number of positions, and SS/2B Walker Dunse. There is not real challenge to their roles this season, but Noseworthy is a free agent at season's end and Dunse has a player option for next season. So this could be an area of radical change for next season. We have 24-year old 2B/U John Lambert who deserves a role on this year’s club. He has seen action in parts of 2 of the last 3 seasons and he is due to stick. The team also has a pair of switching veterans in 1B Manuel Gonzalez (32) and 3B/1B Cruz Torres (32). While the club likes having the switch hitting bats on the bench, there might not be enough room on the bench for both. Also guaranteed to be back is backup SS/2B Simon Lefevre who is also a switch-hitter (although he doesn’t hit much these days) who is 37 and in the last year of his contract at $2.5 million for the 55 season.

Knocking on the door, with some faster than others are several prospects including #3 overall prospects SS Cristo Sandoval (20) and 2B Bob Tobin (21). Both need more time at AAA and will get it, but don’t be surprised to see Sandoval up at the end of the season.

With the signing of 4-time All Star Sean White and the returning All-Star Chi-Yong Lee, catcher seems to be a spot that is in very good hands. That doesn’t even include prospect C Juan Duran who came up late last season and then was injured in the Divisional Playoff Series against Toledo. He will be out until at least mid-season and will require an extended amount of time to get back into playing condition and get his timing back. Last year’s emergency call up Brad Gilliespe will likely be the starter at AAA for the first half of the season before giving way to Duran.

Finally the outfield. The club is very comfortable with RF Jim Ashley (35) rooming out in right and it is likely that speedster Matt Graves (30) will be the starting LF. Odds are Graves will bat at the bottom of the lineup this season as opposed to the top. Free-Agent signing OF/DH Jose Aranda will likely start the season at DH, but can fill in at either corner spot if needed. The last spot and it really isn’t up for grabs belongs to 2nd year man Cris Luna who came up mid-season last year and struggled with the bat hitting 201. He is a very good defensive CF’er and will give the club an upgrade over retired Antonio Mendez who started the season in CF last year. What will be watched carefully is his bat and if it is coming along. Luna was the #1 prospect in the GLBL before coming up last July, and now is the time for him to show it.

One drawback of the club this season is the real lack of a backup option in CF. None of the other OF’s are really capable of playing the position. 2B John Lambert would be the top choice in the event of an emergency. The club has two prospects at AAA that could play in CF, but neither are deemed ready or on the 40-man roster. They are CF John Ross (23) the #51 prospect, and speedster Ju-Choer Lee (24) who really doesn’t have a big league bat. Both Ross and Lee are left-handed batters which helps the bench depth against RH pitchers.

OF Samuel Amsden is sort of a jack of many different defensive positions. He is primarily a switch-hitting corner OF (4 defense at both), but can play a capable 2B, a decent 3B and dabbles at SS and CF but probably should not be practicing those positions at the big league level. Amsden is 29 years old and out of options on a $1.3 million salary and is arbitration eligible at the end of the season for 2 more years.

Here are the thoughts after the spring games……where the Architects went 9-9

SP John Moore has definitely earned a spot in the top 4 with Hulbert, Cedeno, and Imbert.

SP Val Imbert battled a minor injury so only received one start in the spring, but has been cleared to be healthy and ready to go.

Joe Johnson has options and so he will start the year at AAA, but I don’t expect him to be there too long.

CF Cris Luna continues to struggle with the bat hitting just 167

LHRP Christopher Gore struggled badly during the first week of the spring and was sent down to the AAA camp after just 1 week.

Good news on C Juan Duran as he is progressing in his recovery quicker than anticipated and will return to baseball activities 3 weeks sooner which means he will be in games at AAA in early June instead of early July.

We have signed veteran SP Agusto Gonzalez to a minor league contract with a 30-day option. He will start the year at AAA and get some work in, but he is a great safety valve to have in case of injury or ineffectiveness.

Tomorrow we will have the pre-season predictions and the opening day roster breakdown.

[DD Martin]

2055 Opening Day Roster - Pitchers

After last season's loss in the GLBL World Series (4-2 to Thunder Bay), the Architect players, management and fans have been eagerly anticipating the start of the 144 game regular season.

Here is the overview of the 2055 Chicago Architects.

Pitching
Starting Rotation

SP #1 Yule Hulburt (age 35 T-R) 2055 Salary $15 million on contract through 2058 Acquired via trade with Milwaukee 7/31/2054
Last season 12-9 4.09 ERA Career 126-122 3.38 ERA
Hulburt is an elite control pitcher with his arsenal of 5 pitches. He generates an extremely high ground ball rate. While he was better in Milwaukee than Chicago last season, we elected to re-sign him to a 4-year deal. He will be our Opening Day starter in Detroit.

SP #2 Jose “Pongo” Cedeno (age 33 T-R) 2055 Salary $26,460,000 arbitration eligible for 2056 Acquired via trade with Windsor 6/14/2054
Last Season 12-12 4.71 ERA Career 64-47 3.95 ERA
Cedeno is our big question mark heading into the season for the rotation and really it is only because of his salary. He is projected to receive $30 million in his last year or arbitration which would make him the 2nd highest player in the league. He was 9-5 for us last season after the trade and a big part of why we made the playoffs.

SP #3 John Moore (age 25 T-R) 2055 Salary $507,500 acquired via draft Rd 2 2052
Last season 4-2 4.32 ERA Career 12-6 4.69 ERA
Moore is coming off a lost season last year when he went down with a partially torn UCL and was out for 7 months. He pitched particularly well in the spring, which earned him a spot in the rotation to start the season.

SP #4 Val Imbert (Age 29 T-R) 2055 Salary $8,000,000 on contract through 2058 Acquired as a free agent signing February 11, 2055
Last Season (Detroit) 12-10 4.87 ERA 45-64 59 saves 4.43 ERA
Imbert is a team captain that was signed after he didn't re-sign in Detroit after last season. While his stuff is average at best, he has an excellent sinker and keeps the ball in the ballpark which is big in this homer happy league.

SP #5 Bill “Flamethrower” Lutz (age 32 T-R) 2055 salary $8,500,000 on contract through 2057. Acquired in a trade with Duluth 06/14/2054
Last Season 11-10 4.45 ERA Career 56-56 20 saves 4.05 ERA
Lutz was another pitcher that we acquired during last season to steady the starting rotation. His achilles heel is his occasional lack of control. Solid veteran SP that can both start and serve as the long man in the bullpen if needed.

Bullpen

CL Pat Wright (Age 29 T-L) 2055 Salary $5,000,000 on contract through 2059 Acquired in the draft 2nd round 2044.
Last Season 3-0 38 saves 3.63 ERA Career 29-29-110 saves 3.32 ERA
Took over as the closer in my 1st season as GM in 2052 and has saved 102 games of the last 3 seasons. Last year’s 38 saves was the 5th highest in club history. Wright has a quality fastball that tops out at 94 mph and quality cutter. He allows few home runs as his pitches are difficult to hit squarely.

SU - Ken Shannon (age 40 T-R) 2055 Salary $3,660,000 on contract through 2056. Acquired in trade with Duluth 07/31/2054
Last Season 3-4 8 saves 3.80 ERA Career 61-43 92 Saves 2.75 ERA
Has been traded for by Chicago twice in the last 2 seasons at the deadline. This year his contract demands were lower so we gave him a 2-year deal to be our 8th inning setup man and occasional closer.

SU - Larry Stott (age 27 T-R) 2055 Salary $1,,680,000 arbitration eligible 2056-57 Acquired via the 1947 draft 3rd round.
Last Season 3-4 2 saves 4.61 ERA Career 9-14 10 saves 3.76 ERA
Stott has a live arm with a high octane fastball that hits 99. His walk rate can be a concern. He could use another pitch to handle left-handed hitters better.

MR1 - Matsusuke Yoshida (Age 30 T-R) 2055 Salary $2,500,000 free agent after the season, Signed as a free agent February 24, 2055
Last Season 8-3 1 save 5.03 ERA (Kingston) Career 28-49 4 saves 5.62 ERA
Last season this role was handled effectively by Francisco Perez as the top middle RP. He has a decent fastball, slider and average changeup. He is the pitcher who will bridge us to our top 3 in the bullpen. He should limit home runs, which again is great in this league.

MR2 - Jerry Powell (age 33 T-L) 2055 Salary $1,700,000 on contract through 2056. Signed as a free agent February 14, 2055
Last Season (Thunder Bay) 7-4 13 saves 4.38 ERA Career 40-22 43 Saves 3.66 ERA
Signed as another lefty in the bullpen since we are lacking big league lefty’s on the staff. He has closer experience but will be for now our #2 MR and lefty specialist.

Swingman JJ Walker (Age 28 T-R) 2055 salary $1,750,000 on contract through 2060 Acquired as a minor league FA February 12th 2054
Last Season 7-8 4.16 ERA Career 13-20 4.13 ERA
Walker was mostly an after thought as a signing last year prior to the spring. He impressed enough that he made the team adn then had the best season of his career winning a career high 7 games. He started 20 games and relieved in 6 and is the tough luck loser of the spring training battle for the starters. He will serve a long man role and emergency starter or in case of injury of ineffectiveness.

RP Bradley “Hurricane” Sentner (age 30 T-R) 2055 Salary $1,400,000 arb in 56-57. Acquired in the 1946 draft as a 6th round pick. Granted free agency after 2054 season and eventually re-signed with Architects.
Last Season 3-4 3 saves 4.60 ERA Career 24-19 4 saves 4.24 ERA
Serviceable arm and clubhouse leader was re-sign when we couldn’t agree to a deal with Francisco Perez. He will have to pitch very well to go through arbitration after the season, which was declined after last season. Sentner has tremendous control (5) and an off the charts curveball. Home runs are a problem as he gave up 1.9 per 9 last season.

Pitchers that didn’t make the staff

Probably the biggest snub has to be for RHSP Joe Johnson (26) who was 15-5 with 4.19 ERA last season for the Architects. He will likely be the first pitcher called up if there is an injury.

LHSP Curt Hopkins (20) was a 2053 1st round draft pick who spent most of last season on the injured list. Hopkins is the #7 prospect in the GLBL and is a left-starter who we have high hopes for. He is 0-4 in his pro career in 12 starts.

RHRP Richard Heschel (24) is a player to watch as he had 14 innings pitched up in the big leagues in September last season. With the depth of young SP’s in the organization, he is likely to settle into a middle RP role for the future.

Late spring signing veteran SP August Gonzalez (37) is a veteran captain type of pitcher who has had a long career in the GLBL. He didn’t pitch in the spring and will likely spend a month with AAA Saugatuck and then be evaluated for a big league role. He signed a minor league deal with a 30 day call up option.

[DD Martin]

2055 Opening Day Roster
Position Players

Starters in bold

C Sean White (age 30 B-L) 2056 contract $7,500,000 is signed through 2056. Acquired as a free agent signing March 1st, 2055
Last Season (Thunder Bay) 289/345/840 115 OPS+ 17 HR’s 63 RBI’s Career 274/324/786 109 OPS+ 105 HR 328 RBI’s

The budget constrained defending champions could not afford to give a new contract to White and they have another stud catcher in the lineup. We wouldn’t have been thinking about signing a catcher, but with the injury to rookie Juan Duran and the fact that we had a very right handed hitting lineup last year. He was a no-brainer signing. He’s a pretty average defensive catcher overall, but capable and has some pop in his bat. This might be a 1-year deal as his 2056 contract is a player option.

C Chi-Yong Lee (age 28 B-R) 2055 salary $950,000 and is controllable through 2059. Signed as a minor league FA last offseason on February 20 2054
Last Season 240/350/760 104OPS+ 14HR 45 RBI’s (was a rookie)

Made the club to backup starting C Joe Hunt and ended up taking over mid-season. Hunt was then dealt to Duluth at the trade deadline. Was expected to share time with rookie Juan Duran this season, but then looked to be the starter until the signing of White. Was a playoff hero last year and is probably hard done by not getting the starting gig for this season. Average defender.

1B Reegan Osborn (age 24 B-R) 2055 Salary $507,500 and was signed to a long term extension buying out his arbitration years and several years of FA. Signed through 2061 Draft in the 1st of round the 2049 Draft)
Last Season 295/423/988 163 OPS+ 36HR 91 RBI’s Career 304/419/997 65 HR 181 RBI’s

2053’s rookie of the year followed up with another outstanding season and was the Division Series MVP in the playoffs. Has tremendous power and a great eye as he led the GLBL in walks with 111. Will likely have 100 home runs after this season at the age of 25 and if he can stay healthy, might…might challenge Daniel Huffman’s HR records (487 for Chicago and 504 career), but that is a long ways off.

2B/IF Ken Noseworthy (age 33 B-R) 2055 Salary $13,600,000 (free agent after the season) Acquired in a trade from Owen Sound in 1944 and re-signed as a free agent in February 2053.
Last Season 253/382/856 129 OPS+ 26 HR 81 RBI’s Carerr 237/344/781 116 OPS+ 217 HR 635 RBI’s

Noseworthy can play all over the infield and moved over to 2B when Thomas Arnaud came up for good last season. Surprisingly good defensive infielder for the power hitter he is. He strikes out a lot but also delivers many big hits like in last year's playoffs in game 5 and 6 against Toledo. We will review if we can re-sign him as the season goes along, but with the youth coming up and SP Cedeno’s big contract we might not be able to keep him. Right now his agent is talking 5 years and $50 million to re-sign.

SS/IF Walker Dunse (age 34 B-R) 2055 Salary $9,000,000 with $9 million player option in 56 and $9,000,000 club option in 57. Acquired as a free agent signing March 8 2053.
Last season 281/336/423 103 OPS+ 6HR 52 RBI’s Career 277/319/725 107 OPS+ 25 HR 415 RBI’s

Dunse was signed as the 2B in 2053 but then moved over to SS to accommodate Noseworthy moving to 2B and Arnaud coming up to play 3B. He is a great 2B and is average at SS. He has led the GLBL the last two seasons in doubles hitting 50 and 47 respectively. There is uncertainty in his contract as he could opt out. Odds are we would only try to keep one of Dunse or Noseworthy with our future SS due to arrive next season.

3B Thomas Arnaud (age 26 B-S) 2055 Salary $507,500 controllable through 2059 Acquired via the 2050 draft 1st round
Last Season 309/341/829 120 OPS+ 20 HR 104 RBI’s Career 307/337/820 21HR 113 RBI’s

Arnaud was up too many days at the end of the 2053 season and that stint cost him last year’s rookie of the year award (We plan to make it up to him in a contract offer next off-season). Switch hitter with a good defensive glove at the hot corner. With 1B Osborn makes up a great young nucleus at the corner infield positions.

3B/1B Cruz Torres (Age 32 B-S) 2055 Salary $507,500 and controllable through 2059 Acquired off waivers from Duluth Sept 2054.
Last Season (Duluth) 280/357/797 111OPS+ 0HR O RBI’s Last season AAA 286/383/847 133OPS+ 5HR 30 RBI’s Career 241/301/666 76 OPS+ 3 HR 17 RBI’s

Torres is here to be a switch hitter off the bench and be the primary backup to 3B Thomas Arnaud. While he doesn’t have the career numbers to be a starter or much of a bench bat, he hasn’t been given many opportunities. He will get his opportunity this season.

SS/2B Simon Lefevre (age 37 B-S) 2055 Salary $2,500,000 free agent after season Acquired as a minor league international free agent at the age of 31 from the independent leagues.

Along with IF Ken Noseworthy and P Pat Wright, Lefevre is the only other player still remaining from the Architects 2050 World Championship team. Solid glove first backup at middle infield, but while a switch hitter he struggles to hit the ball consistently, which is why he lost his starting job several seasons ago.

1B Manuel Gonzalez (age 32 B-S) 2055 Salary $507,500 free agent after the season Acquired as a minor league signing in August 2054.
Last Season 0-1 1BB Career 232/305/383 110 OPS+ 20HR 69 RBI’s

Started several years for Owen Sound but then sat as a free agent for several seasons after falling to the AAA level for 2051. We took a flyer on him and while he is not proven, he is a quality defensive glove at 1B in case of injury to 1B Osborn. Gonzalez is on the bubble to keep his job as he was the last man to make the 26-man roster over 2B/U John Lambert and Lambert’s versatility might bring him up early in the season.

Outfielders

LF Matt Graves (Age 30 B-L) 2055 Contract $3,240,000 signed through 2057, Acquired via draft pick 2046 4th Rd.
Last Season 237/321/716 92OPS+ 13HR 40 RBI’s 44 SB 3 CS Career 240/323/718 94 OPS+ 43 HR 140 RBI’s 115 SB

Graves is our starting LF against RHSP as he definitely struggles against LHP’s. He is not a star but is a solid supplemental option and speedster out in LF. He can play roughly average defense in LF and is passable in RF but hasn’t had much practice. We had been looking at a LF in FA, but then signed another big name. While I love his speed, I do wish he could get on base a little more often so we could use it more.

CF Cris Luna (age 25 B-R) 2055 Salary $507,500 Acquired via the draft in the 2052 5th round
Last Season (rookie) 201/245/563 50OPS+ 4HR 21 RBI’s 204 PA’s

Luna was the top prospect in the GLBL top 100 list when he was called up. While older when he was drafted, he was still developing and we rushed him up. The primary reason was the falling defense of the recently retired Antonio Mendez in CF. With age Antonio just couldn’t patrol CF and was better suited to LF. Luna still struggled in the spring and we will watch his development as the season progresses. We don't have a ready yet prospect for CF, but there are several at AAA. But if he struggles we might be looking for a stop gap CF this season to give him more time, if we can find the right fit.

RF Jim “Prowler” Ashley (Age 35 B-R) $2055 Salary $20,000,000 on contract through 57 (team on in 57). Acquired via free agent signing February 2053
Last Season 288/368/913 142 OPS+ 26 HR 103 RBI’s 27 SB Career 281/351/824 137 OPS+ 181 HR, 697 RBI’s

The Prowler was signed in 2053 to address the lack of quality corner OF’s we had at the time. He has been a great addition to the lineup despite his selfish sometimes attitude. Age has not yet begun to catch up with him. He still has a great stroke and he is really the only true sure fire starter we have in the OF.

DH/RF Jose Aranda (Age 30 B-L) 2055 Salary $24,000,000 signed through 2059 (player option in 2058, team option in 2059). Acquired as a free agent signing February 24, 2055
Last Season 288/370/957 147 OPS+ 36 HR 103 RBI’s Career 385/351/908 254 HR 682 RBI;s 145 OPS+

Aranda was our big bat acquisition in the off-season. We felt we needed a big lefty slugger and we got him. Aranda will strike out, but he will also put a lot of fear into any pitcher in the league. His defense says he should play DH, but he can play RF (better than LF anyway) so if we need a boost, you could see Aranda in RF and Ashley in LF and then search for a DH if we don’t want to use our inhouse options.

OF/2B Samuel Amsden (age 29 B-S) 2055 Salary $1,300,000 controllable through 2057. Acquired as a scouting discovery as a 16 year old in 2042 out of Aruba
Last Season 221/294/710 89 OPS+ 3HR 13 RBI’s Career 229/323/723 95 OPS+ 50 HR 158 RBI’s

Amsden is another switch hitter (see a trend here on my bench) that can play the corner OF and is fairly well adept at playing 2B. That flexibility gave him a leg up and he doesn’t have options left. He’s going to have to prove it this year to be retained because his arbitration number almost left him off this year’s team. We won’t be able to afford a $3 million dollar below average player next season.

The position player that didn’t make the squad out of the spring, but maybe should have is 2B/U player John Lambert (Age 24 B-R) has 132 service days 2055 Salary $507,500. Lambert can play 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the infield and all 3 OF spots at a solid clip. He hit 238/304/685 for us last season in just 23 PA”s and he had similar numbers at AAA 235/354/849. He is not a big time starting position player, but he is a quality role player who still has some room to grow. I would expect him up before mid-season, as if nothing changes we will need a backup to CF Cris Luna and the others just aren’t quite ready.

C Juan Duran is our future starting catcher but we have time to let him fully recover and not rush him back up. He was up for 61 days last season after we traded C Joe Hunt and he should be a very good big league catcher. He is the #44 prospect in the GLBL.

[DD Martin]

Season Predictions and Owner expectation

Before we left our sunny spring training facility, our owner the ever so moody Gregory Bocquet Jr stopped into my office to spread a ray of sunshine.

Mr Bocquet - (basically shouting) I’ll get right to the point Martin, you have put this club in a financial bind…..(I look astonished and tried to figure out if he had gotten the Thunder Bay financial projections instead of ours). Last year, you made the playoffs after overspending even though I only put the pressure on you to play 500 ball. Now I know I said 500 ball again earlier, but after reviewing this the only way you will dig yourself out of this mess is if you make the playoffs again. (I’m thinking to myself isn’t that the goal every year). So if you don’t make a profit in the regular season, you must make the playoffs again this year. Only then will I be truly happy. Do I make myself clear?......(I was listening with a look of bewilderment) I SAID DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!!!!!!!!

Me - Yes sir, we will make the playoffs or else we will have serious cost cutting happening so that we are profitable sir.

Mr. Bocquet - Not just profitable, extreme profit Martin……Extreme! Now let’s go get some lunch before we head back North.

For some reason I felt like this could be my last supper in Florida.



Fortunately for Mr. Bocquet, the prognosticators had us winning the USA division by a comfortable margin over the team that spoiled our fun in my first 2 seasons Duluth. The Sea Gulls under-performed last year and added the top young free agent slugger in the league in Jorge Rangel. The question was where would they play him. If their pitching could keep them in games, then they are going to be trouble.

While I thought that 82-62 was a bit light for our win total, it was far off from the 85 wins I was thinking we could achieve. For my sake and Jose Cedeno’s Chicago future, we had better make the playoffs.

Based on the pre-season predictions they had the Canadian clubs beating up on the American clubs again by +20. The budget fearless Thunder Bay Caribou were once again predicted to win Canada with Toronto edging out Owen Sound (who might be the best club in the league).

Next stop Detroit and our season opening series against the Thunderbirds and then the Milwaukee Eagles. Both series will be on the road against the two teams that were the bottom of the USA Division last season.

[DD Martin]

Chicago Architects
Season Opener and the Opening Week on the road

Chicago 83-72 2nd last season @ Detroit 58-86 5th

Last year Detroit was 58-86 last season. Chicago won the season series against Detroit 17-7 and we led the all-time series 473-383. Detroit is predicted to finish 4th in the US Division with a record of 67-77.

Pitching matchups

Chicago @ Detroit (pitcher records are 2054 season)
RHSP Yale Hulbert (12-9 4.07) vs RHSP Bill Clary (10-13 4.16)
RHSP Jose Cedeno (12-12 4.71) vs RHSP Joo-seok Kim (6-12 5.27)
RHSP John Moore (4-2 4.32) vs LHSP Dwayne Miller (10-5 4.66)

Game #1 Friday April 2, 2055
Detroit Thunderbirds Ballpark
A: 39,727

Detroit Thunderbirds 5 Chicago Architects 3
Like Thunder Bay, Chicago’s road back to the Championship Series starts with a hiccup. That hiccup comes in the form of 20-year-old T-Birds first baseman Mal Johnston. Playing in his first major league game, Mal Johnston. Johnston goes 3-for-4 with a two-run home run. Welcome to the big leagues, Mal! Too bad Chicago hit 3 home runs but had no base runners on base….. Detroit 5, Chicago 3.

RF J Ashley 2-5 DB 1B R Osborn 2-4, SP Y Hulburt 5IP 4H 2R 1ER 2BB 6K (L 0-1)
HR - C S. White (1), 2B K Noseworthy (1) LF M Graves (1)

Game #2 Saturday April 3rd, 2055
Detroit Thunderbirds Ballpark
A: 32,097

Chicago Architects 2 Detroit T-Birds 1
Great pitching duel as Chicago’s Juan “Pongo” Cedeño (7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K, W 1-0) takes a shutout into the eighth. He gets pulled after giving up Detroit’s first run of the game. For the Architects, Walker Dunse singles in a run, and Kent Noseworthy doubles in a run. Chicago 2, Detroit 1.
DH J Aranda 2-3 DB BB R , RP K Shannon 1.1 0H 0BB, 2K’s Save (1)
HR - none

Game #3 Sunday April 4th, 2055
Detroit Thunderbirds Ballpark
A: 25,313

Chicago Architects 4 Detroit Thunderbirds 0

Coming back from a long injury that cut short his 2054 season, Chicago’s John Moore (9IP 2H 2BB 0R 4K’s Win 1-0) makes it look easy. He gives up two singles and two walks and that’s all. He completed a two-hit shutout on just 94 pitches. If this pitching keeps up for Chicago, they may win 100 games. Chicago 4, Detroit 0.

SS W Dunse 2-4 DB R, RF J Ashley 2-4 DB, R, RBI, LF S Amsden 2-4 R
HR - none



So after a shaky start in game 1, we right the ship and have 2 great pitching performances that have us feeling pretty good. Maybe this will be the year of the pitcher, but after seeing some of the other scores across the league this opening weekend has me questioning that. Still a 2-1 start on the road even if it is against a team that isn’t considered to be a factor in the US Division is a start I will take. We head off to Milwaukee next

Chicago Architects 2-1 @ Milwaukee Eagles 0-3

Last season saw the Eagles struggle mightily as they finished last in the USA division with a 56-88 record and Chicago won the season series 17-7. Chicago also leads the all time series 464-377.

Based on the pre-season predictions things are not really looking up for the Eagles who are again predicted to bring up the rear in the USA Division but showing some improvement to a 62-82 record.

Probably Pitching Matchups
RHSP Val Imbert 12-10 4.87 with Detroit vs LHSP Donald Hubbard 6-8 4.37
RHSP Bill “Flamethrower” Lutz 11-10 4.45 vs RHSP Billy “Dude” Hill 6-14 4.81
RHSP Yale Hulbert 0-0 1.80 ERA vs RHSP Kent Bennett 0-0 2.84



Tuesday April 6th, 2055 Chicago @ Milwaukee
Milwaukee’s The Nest Ballpark
A - 39,617

Chicago Architects 9 Milwaukee Eagles 0
The only other team not to win a game thus far is Milwaukee. Could they get off the schneid against their Illinois rivals? In a word, no...


Val Imbert (7IP 3H, 0R, 0BB, 8K’s W 1-0) makes his debut for the Architects, and he pitches seven shutout innings, allowing three hits (all singles), walking not a soul, and striking out eight. He gets plenty of run support, too, with Thomas Arnaud homering and José Aranda tripling and doubling in runs. Chicago 9, Milwaukee 0

3B T Arnaud 3-5 HR, DB 2R 2RBI, DH J Aranda 2-5 DB, TP, R, 2RBI, RF J Ashley 3-5 TP, 2R 2RBI, SB
CH HR - 3B T Arnaud (1)

Wednesday April 7th, 2055 Chicago @ Milwaukee
Milwaukee’s The Nest Ballpark
A - 27,340

Milwaukee Eagles 12 Chicago Architects 5
The Eagles win their first game of the season. Rookie Randy Hiscock hits his first major-league home run. Congratulations, Randy! Seung-Jun Park scores four runs, and Kennelly Mulford goes 3-for-5 with two doubles, three runs scored, and three RBIs. Milwaukee 12, Chicago 5.

C S White 2-4 2R, SB, LF M Graves 3-4 1R 2 RBI
Chicago HR -None

Thursday April 8th, 2055 Chicago @ Milwaukee
Milwaukee’s The Nest Ballpark
A - 32,300

Chicago Architects 17 Milwaukee Eagles 8
The Architects rattle off 18 hits, walk 10 times, and score 17 runs. José Aranda, Walker Dunse, Reagan Osborn, and Thomas Arnaud all homer. Reagan’s home run is a grand slam! Osborn also singles twice, walks thrice, and scores four runs. Dunse’s home run is his only hit, but he, too, scores four runs. Chicago 17, Milwaukee 8.

1B R Osborn 3-3 HR,4R, 4RBI, 3BB, SB, SS W Duns 1-4 HR, 2RBI, 4R, 2BB, RF J Ashley 3-5 2R 1BB SB, C S White 303 R, 2RBI 2BB, SS S Lefevre 2-2 DB 3RBI

CH HR’s - DH J Aranda (1), SS W Dunse (1), 1B R Osborn (1), 3B T Arnaud (2)

Summary - The first week is in the books and we go 4-2 on the road, but the downside is it is against the lower division teams in the USA Division. Still a good start and we are still healthy so that is always a bonus. I really think this is a 1st place team, but a lot of that will be decided by injuries and how players respond. There will be tough times and it is how you rebound from those things that normally determine how the season will go.

[DD Martin]

First homestand of the 2055 Season April 9th-15th

As the team arrived home to prepare for their season opening homestand, the team announced a few minor league signings.

SP Augusto Gonzalez was signed to a minor league deal with a 30-day big league call up clause. We were looking to add more depth and the 38-year-old RHSP was someone we looked at when we didn’t think the Jose Cedeno trade was going to go through at the deadline. Gonzalez toiled for Detroit in 2054 and was 5-13 with a 5.47 ERA. So maybe not that great of insurance but one has to remember the club he was pitching for. He could be a nice innings eater in a worse case scenario.

We also signed pitchers Steve Tait and Dick Koch to similar sort of deals. Again more veterans to AAA who we hope will stay the year even if we don’t call them up.

Next up the Traverse City Bears

TC was a ballclub that hung around in the playoff race until the last few days of the season when they were swept at home and out of contention by the Toledo Neptunes. The Bears had several star hitters and arguably have the best outfield in baseball with Ben Marshall, CF Cal Braud and RF Earle Foote. Foote had won the best player award for the last 2 years and he was going to be gunning for another one. Their pitching though was another issue. While they had some solid starters in Walt Marcotte and John Nelligan, there wasn’t anyone who really scared a team and the bullpen save for the ageless Kevin McAskill (43) wasn’t overly strong. McAskill was one of the players we were after but we were outbid by the Bears.

Chicago leads the all-time series 471-369 and won 15 out of 24 games last year. Over the course of the league's history Chicago has been a very dominant team. They have a large lead in all season series against the American clubs.

Traverse City Bears (4-2) vs Chicago Architects (4-2)

Pitching Matchups
LHSP Jerry Moore 1-0 3.38 ERA vs RHSP Jose Cedeno 1-0 1.17 ERA
RHSP John Nelligan 1-0 2.70 ERA vs RHSP John Moore 1-0 0.00 ERA
LHSP Kade Cason 0-1 9.00 ERA vs RHSP Val Imbert 1-0 0.00 ERA

Game #7 - Friday, April 9th, 2055
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds
A - 36,690

Chicago Architects 13 Traverse City Bears 6
The home season opener was a tough one for the TC Bears and It turned into a long night for the Traverse City bullpen. The Architects score five in the first and seven in the second. Kent Noseworthy and José Aranda hit three-run home runs and then cruised to an easy victory. In the last 2 games the Architects have scored 30 runs. Chicago 13, Traverse City 6.

1B R Osborn 2-4 2R 1RBI BB, 2B K Noseworthy 2-4 HR, 2R 3RBI BB, C C Lee 2-4 DB R 2 RBI, RF J Ashley 3-5 HR 3R 2 RBI, DH J Aranda 1-4 HR 1R 4 RBI
CH HR - 2B K Noseworthy (2), DH J Aranda (2), RF J Ashley (1)

Game #8 - Saturday, April 10th, 2055
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds
A - 36,996

Chicago Architects 14 Traverse City Bears 10

Where has the double-digit scoring gone today? Oh, it went here. The two teams combine for 15 runs in the first two innings.

Traverse City’s Alexis Martin* leads off the game with a home run. Pedro Villegas hits a three-run home run, and the Bears score five in the first. Chicago counters with four runs—three on a José Aranda homer. The Bears score two more in the second, making it 7-4, but the Architects once again score four—two on a Thomas Arnaud homer—and take the lead, 8-7. After that, Chicago does most of the scoring, with Sean White and Kent Noseworthy both going yard. Chicago pounded out 19 hits in this game with 7 of them for extra bases. Chicago 14, Traverse City 10.

*Martin’s nickname is “Midnight Toaster”. I have no idea what that is supposed to mean, and Googling the phrase just gives me kitchen toasters and a recipe for “midnight toast,” which involves bacon, avocado, peppers, and sriracha sauce on a ciabatta roll. That sounds pretty good, actually.

Too many good hitting days to mention with 19 hits, but below are the 4 home run hitters.
CH HR’s - DH J Aranda (3), 3B T Arnaud (3), C S White (2), 2B K Noseworthy (3)

Game #9 - Sunday, April 11th, 2055
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds
A - 37,001

Chicago Architects 9 Traverse City Bears 2

The Architects entered this game with a chance to sweep and move into 1st place in the US Division and they did not disappoint the fans. Bears SP Kade Cason was a part of the Chicago team last season and his former teammates really hit into them, although they only scored 9 on this day after scoring 27 in the first 2 games.

Chicago sweeps Traverse City. Val Imbert (6.1 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K) gives up his first run of the season, giving him a 0.67 ERA. Thomas Arnaud hit a two-run home run. Prowler Ashley hits a trio of doubles. Everyone in the Architects lineup gets a hit. The Architects hit 8 doubles and also added a home run for 9 extra base hits. Chicago 9, Traverse City 2.

RF J Ashley 3-5 3DB (8 in 9 games), 2R RBI, 3B T Arnaud 2-5 HR, DB, 2R 3 RBI, C C Lee 2-3 DB RBI
CH HR - 3B T Arnaud (4)

Summary - Wow what a display of hitting as Chicago pounded the Bears pitching staff for 36 runs, 45 hits with 20 being extra base hits. If we can keep that type of offense up, we are going to be very tough to beat. But the scoring this season in the GLBL is dramatically up (first season in OOTP 26) but it is just 9 games in. With a 7-2 record we are tied with Chicago’s former GMs new team the Duluth Sea Gulls who happen to come to town next.

The team has an off-day on Monday but then begins an early season test with 3 games against the Sea Gulls (7-2). This is the club that beat us out of the playoffs in our first 2 seasons in Chicago by 1 game, including a 1-game playoff in the 1953 season.

Duluth Sea Gulls (7-2) vs Chicago Architects (7-2)

With Toledo scuffling to start the season (3-7) these are the two teams that are leading things. With Toledo in the mix these are the 3 teams that should be the top contenders for the 2 playoff spots in the US Division. Duluth should have been a factor last year more serious than they ended up, but they underplayed their expected win total by 6 games. I don’t expect that to continue.

In the off-season Duluth made the biggest splash by signing International Free Agent Jorge Rangel (24) who appears to be destined for power stardom. While he likely won’t hit for a high average he will crush the baseball and take a walk, so his OBP should make up for his lack of batting average (a perfect player in today’s MLB). The big question is where will this guy play. He was billed as a second baseman, but he is likely either a LF, a 1B or a DH. He probably will eventually become a decent fielding LF, but I don’t think he has the glove for 2B. So far this season Rangel is hitting 353 with 7 RBI’s but has not connected on his first big league home run as of yet.

Chicago leads the all time series versus 476-365 and won 13 out of 24 a year ago.

Probably Starting Pitchers
Duluth vs Chicago

RHSP Emmanuel Lucas 0-0 15.00 ERA vs RHSP Yale Hulburt 1-0 4.50 ERA
RHSP Chris "Gator" Collier 1-1 3.97 ERA vs RHSP Jose Cedeno 2-0 3.29 ERA
RHSP Dave "Mayor" Moss 0-0 2.92 ERA vs RHSP John Moore 1-0 6.10 ERA

Game #10 - Tuesday, April 13th, 2055
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds
A - 35,181

Chicago Architects 7 Duluth Sea Gulls 6
Duluth comes out of the box swinging, scoring three in the first. Chicago quickly comes back and takes the lead. They score two in the first and four in the second. Reagan Osborn hits a two-run home run. The Gulls peck their way back, one run at a time, and tie the game in the sixth on a Joe Hunt solo home run. The game remains tied going into the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, Prowler Ashley singles and steals second. Reagan Osborn then hits a fly ball to right, which Mark Laursen loses in the lights! Chicago wins on a walk-off error. Chicago 7, Duluth 6.

RF J Ashley 2-5 DB 2R SB, SS W Dunse 2-5 DB 2R 2RBI SB, 1B R Osborn 2-5 HR, R 3 RBI
CH HR - 1B R Osborn (2)

Game #11 - Wednesday, April 13th, 2055
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds
A - 36,702

Duluth Sea Gulls 6 Chicago Architects 5
Chicago leads for most of the game. Their biggest hit is a Reagan Osborn two-run home run. They take a 5-2 lead into the eighth and the bullpens blows the game. Duluth’s Mark Laursen ties the game with a three-run home run. In the ninth, António Zamora wins the game with a pinch-hit solo home run. The teams remained tied at the top of the US Division with 8-3 records. Duluth 6, Chicago 5.

SP J Cedeno 7IP 8H 2R 1BB 5K, SS W Dunse 2-4 R BB, 1B R Osborn 2-4 HR, 2R 2 RBI BB, SB, 3B T Arnaud 2-3 R, RBI
CH HR - 1B R Osborn (3)

Game #12 - Thursday, April 14th, 2055
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds
A - 36,758

Chicago Architects 5 Duluth Sea Gulls 4

With the first two games of their series split, whoever wins this game leaves the series in first place. The lead changes several times, and neither team ever leads by more than one run. Let’s pick it up in the fourth, where António Zamora singles in Alejandro Escobar and gives the Gulls a 2-1 lead. That one-run lead lasts one inning.
In the fifth, Chicago’s Walker Dunse singles in a run, then gets doubled in by Reagan Osborn. Chicago takes the lead, 3-2. That one-run lead lasts one inning.
In the sixth, with two outs, the Gulls rally on two singles, a run-scoring wild pitch, and a run-scoring single. Duluth leads, 4-3. That one-run lead lasts one inning.
In the seventh, Prowler Ashley doubled in two runs. Chicago takes the lead, 5-4. That one-run lead lasts…the rest of the game. Chicago 5, Duluth 4.

SP J Moore 5IP 6H 2R 4BB 8K, RF J Ashley 2-4 DB(10) 3 RBI, LF M Graves 2-2 2R SB, CF C Luna 1-2 2R
CH HR - none


Summary - What a week at home going 5-1 against TC and Duluth. The scoring was definitely down in the Duluth series with each game being a 1-run affair.

RF Ashley right now has 10 doubles in the first 12 games of the season. A ridiculous amount and if he stayed even close to the pace he is on he would shatter the GLBL record for doubles in a season (62) held by former Architect Antonio Mendez who retired after last season.

Next up is our arch rivals last season, and the team that won the division on game #145 (season is 144 games in the GLBL) but then we won the playoff series against. The Neptunes are off to a 4-8 start and we hope to continue that misery for them, but we will have to do it in their home park. After that series, the interleague games with the Canadian teams start and Canada has just whooped up on the US clubs for at least my first 3 seasons in the league. We were 9-15 against the Canadian clubs last season despite winning 83 regular season games (83-61).