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Showing posts from January, 2008

All Hail . . .

Diego Santana . In his first taste of the bigs, Santana is hitting .373/.429/.747 with 32hr, 92rbi, and a 28/37 BB/K ratio. That's good for 1st overall in RBI, 2nd in HR, 2nd in OPS, and 5th in BA. All while handling the backstop duties and the league's 11th best pitching staff(4.62 team ERA). Santana was signed for a mere 3.2 million as the 10th pick in the draft back in Season 4 by Washington/abracapocus, then traded to Boston as a youngster in the Rookie league(a loophole in the system allowed him to be dealt). Santana murdered minor league pitching to the tune of 164 bombs in 3 seasons, and is now doing the same at the big league level. And while his defensive ratings aren't stellar, they're strong enough to allow him to play respectably behind the dish. Throw in Durability and Health ratings in the 90s, and it's becoming clear that all future Capra catchers will be measured by Santana. Cheer up, abra, we've all let someone get away in a deal here or there.

Early Standouts - American League

Hitters 1B Don Wilson. Scranton Breakers . Just 25, in his 4th full season, and is somehow getting even better after putting up a career .353/.430/.548 in his first 3 seasons. Currently at .405/.457/.759. 1st in the AL in Hits, Avg, OBP, Doubles, and 5th in SLG. Oh, yeah, Wilson also has a nifty 16 game hit-streak going. Sheesh. 1B Rogers Glynn. San Juan Express . When will these children learn to mind their place? Glynn is paving the way for the all-world offense of the Express. 18HR(1st), 40RBI(1st), 37R(1st), .841 SLG(1st), 1.261OPS(1st), not to mention he's hitting .349/.420. Oh yeah, Glynn is 23 and on pace for around 100 round-trippers. DH Jeromy Wagner . Albuquerque Roadrunners . Another youngblood up there with the big boys. 25 and hitting .404/.449/.570. 2nd in AVG, OBP, Hits, and Doubles. More walks than strikeouts. The kind of DH you wish you had. Pitchers SP Shawn Morton . Pawtucket Patriots . The season 1 AL Cy Young, Morton is now 36 and had injury-plagued campaigns

Early Standouts - National League

Hitters 1B Alexander Henry. Vancouver Manitaineers . Veteran slugger went yard 30 x in 585 PA's last season. Has already mashed 15 in less than 110 AB's this season for a pace of something like 80. Leads the NL in HR and SLG, is 2nd in RBI and OPS, and is carrying a .345/.429/.836 line. Sweet. RF Melvin Martin. St. Louis Archers . Leading the NL in OBP and SB, a deadly combination, not to mention doubles. Also 3rd in RBIs. On pace for 30HR and 80SB. Hitting .388. Dude is sick. 1B Evan Moore. El Paso Diablos . Another veteran first-bagger on pace for his best campaign to date. 2nd in the league in AVG at .402. 1st in Hits. On pace for 48 HR, a number that would almost double his usual total in the upper 20s. Can he keep it up? Pitchers RP Henry Brantley . Little Rock Travellers . A neat story. Spent the first 3 Capra seasons at AAA. Spent the next 3 seasons bouncing back and forth between the majors and minors. Doesn't have naturally great stuff, but has suddenly become unh

The Firemen of Capra

Without much football on TV and a lack of decent baseball being played in Salem, I decided to highlight some of the best closers (Past, present, and future) to grace Capra. Sorry in advance if I missed someone. The All-Time Greats Tyler Henderson, 34, Fargo Woodchippers Working his seventh major league campaign, Henderson is Capra’s all-time saves leader and a model of consistency. He has twice been named the NL Fireman of the Year (seasons four and six) and is a three-time All-Star. He has converted 226 of 259 (82%) save opportunities while posting a 2.95 career ERA and nearly a 3 to 1 K/BB ratio. Henderson’s best season to date was Fargo’s World Championship season five, in which he saved 41 games in 45 chances and recorded 10 wins while posting a 2.89 ERA. To date Henderson has 6 saves and a 1.59 ERA in season seven. Brady Garcia, 34, Scranton Breakers Also in his seventh season, Garcia is second all-time in saves. Although not as dominant as Henderson, Garcia has converted 181 of 2

NL West Season 7 Preview

St. Louis Archers Season 6: Division Champs, 93-69 Season six was the Archers best to date after claiming the division flag and playing in the National League Championship series, yet there are brighter seasons ahead for fans in the Gateway City. 26 year-old centerfielder Hong-Gu Hyun, brought over from Japan for a hefty 14M signing bonus, made his ML debut last season with a modest first line of .328/.429/.658, 41hr, 142rbi, 14sb, and NL Rookie of the Year, as well as the NL's CF Silver Slugger award. Partnering with Hyun in the outfield is 23 year-old speedster Melvin Martin, who, in his first two seasons, has averaged .328, 17hr, 105rbi, and 50 stolen bases. Martin was an All-Star selection last year, and he and Hyun probably form the most lethal 2/3 of an outfield in the NL, not to mention that they're both earning minimum wage for the next couple seasons. There's more: 2B Rudy Carver is an All-Star, Gold Glove, and can do everything offensively. 23 year-old pitcher Ted

AL West Season Seven Preview

Albuquerque Roadrunners Season 6: 98-64, division champion Since season three the Roadrunners have averaged 97 wins per campaign and four straight division crowns, yet the post-season has been less than kind to the turf burning birds. Seven game losses in the World Series in seasons three and four followed by an ALCS loss to Montgomery and a first round exit a year ago have Roadrunners fans thinking that flying objects aren’t the only things unidentified in New Mexico. The outlook in Albuquerque remains bright with a plethora of young stars, and marked by the returns of reigning AL MVP and three-time All-Star Hal Randall (37 HR/149 RBI/.392/1.187) and young slugger Jeromy Wagner (26 HR/123 RBI/.366/1.021). Backstop Patrick Hardy will handle the pitching staff after a solid rookie campaign in which he hit .340 while drilling 13 homers and 30 doubles; and third baseman Zachery Cohen (.314/30 HR) and left fielder Roger Scalici (.274/34 HR) should provide a potent punch for the Roadrunners