Another Saturday night drinking with the scouts at the Barleymoe

               Tonight Elijah Craig is joined by Jim Beam, Jack Daniels and George Dickell and Johnny Walker

Elijah: Fellows we need to figure out season 62. We need to get ahead of it. Ottawa won the world series in season 61, so we will start with Al-North.

George: So you're asking us to evaluate Ottawa, Buffalo, Fargo and Minnesota, is that right Elijah?

Elijah: Why can't we just start with the stats from last year. Wins, losses, run differential. payroll budget, payroll spent.

Jim:  Ottawa              100-62       +152             93mil                 90.33mil

         Buffalo               95-57       +125           109mil                102.75mil

         Fargo                  85-77       + 57              77mil                  67.33mil

         Minnesota          75-87       -110               73mil                 73.00mil

Elijah: George you take Minnesota.

George: Minnesota is a young club.  8 players 27 or older only 5 of those over 30. The lineup is virtually the same as last years. The changes they made were to the pitching staff 2 new starters and 5 new relievers.

Jack: I'll take the Mud Dogs, Elijah. They are not an older team but have more guys over 30 than the Twins. The thing that stands out to me is that 40% of their roster is between 26 and 28; primed for a run, if not this season then certainly in 63. No change to their line up. Although familiar faces are in new places. Last years right fielder is on first base. The first baseman is in left field and the left fielder has moved to right. On the pitching side they let 2 starters in go in free agency and signed Earnest Laker in free agency to be their closer. Six games into the season already two to their pitchers have landed on the DL.

Jim: The Miners are pretty much the exact opposite of Minnesota and Fargo. Almost half their roster is over 28 and only 4 players under 27. They added Bart Cooke, Brian Thielbar, and Moises Alcantara and only lost Apollo Berroa, who had been beaten out of the DH job. Cooke is a good one he created 99 runs last season in Seattle. The players who got demoted created 49 runs and the departed Berroa created 75. Can the Miners pitch better or does the rookie Thielbar have to create over 50 runs in his rookie season for the Miners to overtake Ottawa.

Johnny: Ottawa hasn't really lost anybody and they added Apollo Berroa from Buffalo. Half their players are under 28. This could be the new dynasty.

Elijah: Good job fellows! Well I'm going to predict that Buffalo makes it closer this year than the five games they lost by last year.  Fargo will lay in weeds for another season or two before they launch their next dynasty like they did from season 45 through season 53. And Minnesota is going to use this season to keep building their player system.

Meet Your Hall of Famers: Vasco Henriquez

 

Bio:   Vasco Henriquez was born in Edo Lara, DO (Can’t find it on Google maps).  Vasco came out of nowhere to start his baseball career.  He did not stick out at the youth level.  When he turned 18 he was at a tryout with Honolulu.  The team scouts would not let him participate since he was not invited.  As they were running the 60-yard dashes, Vasco jumped over the fence and ran past the 2 guys that were running.  Since he was so fast, they allowed him to hit and found out he had a great swing.  The rest is history.

International Signing: Signed for 11.2 million in Season 42 (5^th highest that year) by Honolulu (breeolad)

Scout Lucas Fick- “Vasco literally ran into our organization.  Not only does he have good speed, but he has above average power at the plate, with a good eye.  Being left-handed he will handle righties.  The defense is not great, but the bat and speed need to play.”

Career Earnings: $193,265,000

Career: Vasco Henriquez was an international free agent signed by Honolulu (breeolad) in Season 42. He broke into the Majors in season 44 and played 16 seasons.  He also played seven seasons in Honolulu before signing a max free agent contract with Seattle in Season 51.  He finished his career with stops in San Juan, Boise and Chicago after being in Seattle.   During his career, he was a 9-time All-Star, won 6 Silver Slugger Awards (46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52), and won 4 World Series Ring (52, 53, 56, 58).  His best year was Season 46 in Honolulu. In that year he hit .326 with an OPS of 1.081.  He added 197 H, 127 R, 42 2B, 8 3B, 50 HR, 133 RBI, and 29 SB.  Over his career he had 1740 R, 2569 H, 504 2B, 107 3B, 556 HR, 1713 RBI, 991 BB, 517 SB, .286 AVG, and .917 OPS. He holds the World Record for Saves in a season with 59 in Toronto, in Season 45 and Career Team Record for Toronto at 523.

Speech Highlight- “I have been told no in my baseball career numerous times.  You just have to keep believing in and making opportunities for yourself.”

                         Another Saturday night drinking with the scouts at the Barleymoe

                Tonight Elijah Craig is joined by Basil Hayden, Henry McKenna , and Evan Williams

Elijah: Tonight let's talk about the rookies we are going to see this season.

Evan: Elijah a lot of teams haven't played two games, what gives , why so early?

Henry: Can I answer that Elijah.

Elijah: Sure, when have I ever been able to shut you up? 

Henry: San Francisco's Steven Kubel was claimed off waivers but still started the Giants opening day game.He went 8 innings giving up 10 hits and two runs in an opening day victory. 

Basil: Not bad for a waiver guy. If he keeps it up it will change the dynamics of the AL-West competition. I think more impressive than Kubel was T. J. O'Keefe's opening day effort. A rule-5 draft pick he went 8 innings for Trenton, giving up 6 hits and 1 run.

Elijah: So guys we already have two rookies to watch and I'm sure as the season goes on there will be others. In my mind this is the year of the rookies. You guys just keep watching the rookies and we will get together and maybe we can pick the rookie of the year.

Evan: Do you really think that the managers in this league would really listen to us? Elijah, you've been drinking too much of your barrel proof.

                  Another Saturday night drinking with the scouts at the Barleymoe

        Tonight Elijah Craig is joined by Jose Cuervo, George Dickell and Johnny Walker

Elijah: I thought we would talk about Wilin Doubront and what he represents.

George: Who the heck is he?

Johnny: He's the first international signed in season 62.

Jose : Wilin Doubront is a pitcher from Moncion, DO. He was signed by trapapoodle for 1.6 million a couple of days ago.

Johnny: I scouted him. I see him as a long reliever with quality pitches and good splits but the periphery stuff is questionable. He will should make the majors, and depending on how is developed and used is likely to be a very usable member in a strong bullpen.

George: It is well known that I'm frugal...

Elijah: Frugal my ass, you're cheap George!

George...but 1.6 million is a lot for a bullpen member.

Johnny: I think anyone who questions the trapper this early in season is making a mistake. This could be like season 58, when the trapper signed 11 international free agents.

Jose: That was the year the trapper was very agressive in the international market and signed Max Macias. Max will have a great career in the majors.

George: In the  international market, you always have hits and misses. I just think that 1.6 ...

Elijah: There you go again George it's not the talent it the dollars; with you

George...takes away a lot of flexibility for signing prospects as the season goes on.

Johnny: Elijah, I will order the last round of drinks but do any of us want to compare ourselves to the Trapper.

Elijah: Johnny, do you want to end our Saturday meetings. That's way too high a standard for what we are  doing at the Barleymoe.

Jose: I will order the uber.

               Another Saturday night drinking with the scouts at the Barleymoe

     Tonight Elijah Craig is joined by Johnny Walker, Jim Beam and Jose Cuervo

Elijah: Well what do you guys think of free agency this year?

Johnny: Is this our regular topic; which means we are only discussing the type-A free agents.

Elijah: Of course.

Jose: Well the 18.5 million Santa Fe is spending this season is obviously POKEYSAN 's way of saying making the playoffs and being eliminated in the first round last year is just not going to be tolerate this year.

Jim: Do you think he overpaid on Eswalin Duran. He's been on the 60 day DL 6 times in his career.

Johnny: I'm sure POKEYSAN has a plan to keep him in the lineup.

Jose: In the realm of the rich get richer, Las Vegas signed David Oropesa.

Johnny: That is just amazing. Vegas's roster was stocked, with infielders, before adding Oropesa.

Jose: The rich get richer. Do you think they will win over 120 games this season?

Jim: Jose it's too early in season for that kind of talk.

Elijah: How many teams had multiple Type-A signed ; so they are loaded for the draft?

Johnny: Little Rock had two; and will have 5 picks in the first 100 picks,.Jackson had two; and will have 3 picks in the top 100 picks. Toronto had two; and will have 7 of the first100 picks. Seattle had two; and will have 6 of the first 100 picks.

Elijah: The draft will be on Sept 30th. All you guys be prepared for another discussion before the draft. Johnny will you call the Uber and Jose buy us another round.