Trenton, New Jersey: (AS)

    The New Jersey gaming commission has posted the odds for the up coming Stickball 51 season.

   According to the Commission:

 Seattle           2-5            Louisville   15-1      Honolulu      30-1      Colorado     50-1

 Florida           2-7           Monterrey  15-1       Houston        30-1      El Paso       50-1

 Fargo             5-1           Vancouver   20-1      Montreal      30-1      Hartford       50-1

 Las Vegas      8-1           Jacksonville 20-1     San Antonio 30-1      Ottawa         70-1

San Francisco 8-1           Charleston   20-1     Santa Cruz    30-1      Burlington   70-1

Boston            9-1           Washington  25-1     Sioux Falls   30-1      Albuquerque  80-1

St. Louis       10-1           Augusta        30-1     Toronto        30-1      Pittsburgh      80-1

New York      12-1          Chicago        30-1     San Juan      40-1       Boise           100-1

  For help with a gambling problem

 ( Para ayuda con un problema de juego)

       ncpgambling.org

                               Another night drinking with the scouts at the Barleymoe

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

Elijah: Fellas tonight we have to talk about what has changed from last season to this season.

Elijah: We have 2 new owners and we have Dean back.

Jack: Well, we really don't have 2 new owners because, between them,  they have played almost 200 seasons and have been in 67 leagues.

George: Bring me up to date who are they?

Jim: After 13 season's mosley80 left and he was replaced by buddy996. Also bbeecher apparently is another victim of the Captain. He not only has left our league but hardball dynasty. No teams in any league just gone. bbeecher has been replaced by manny tanner.

Jack: I know a guy who knows a guy who has played against buddy996. He says he's good owner who hasn't traded much in that league.....

George: Thank God, those guys that come over from fantasy baseball. They just wear you out in spring training sending you all those trade offers.

Jim: You're right about that George. The same guys are usually gone by the All-Star break because they are not getting enough trade action.

Jack: Well my guy tells me that both off these guys are solid owners and don't do a lot stupid stuff. manny tanner won his division last season in the Sey Hey league. He did sign some top free agents that season so he's not afraid to spend money. Still both our new owners seem like stand up guys.

Elijah: The franchise shifts are also interesting this season.  dfdarby moved his franchise fromCincinnati to Sioux Falls, buddy996 moved from Helena to Montreal and manny tanner thought playing Hartford was much better than another season on Durham.

Jim: Helena was almost a neutral park and now buddy996 has moved the team to a more batter friendly ball park,

Jack: That team was third in hitting last season. With 81 games in a better park they might lead the league in hitting.

George: Nobody but the stickballers are going to lead the league in hitting until Mr. Stickman moves them-again

Jack: Still they will be better at the plate.

Jim: Last season the league average for all batters reaching base and scoring was 37.5% . The Helena team only scored 36.5%. Since these things tend to average out. The franchise should have been above average this season if they hadn't moved; now it looks like they will score at will.

George: You guys are just begging my to say might Samuel Clemens line, aren't you?

Jack: I can't imagine that I'd beg you for anything George.

Jim: manny tanner's move to Hartford really won't change the dynamics of his team. Hartford is marginally a better hitters park that Durham.

George: What manny has to do is find some pitching. That franchise had 67 games started last year by guys that never should have been in the major leagues.

Jack: Easy for you to say, George, how many games have you started in the majors?

Jim: I'm trying to keep you two on track. Stop bickering like bitches. dfdarby's move from Cincinnati to Sioux Falls is extremely interesting.

Elijah: How so?

Jim: The Cincinnati park  cuts down on doubles but is very homer friendly. Razavi Field in Sioux Falls is incredibly hard on hitters. 

Jack: You're about that Jim. I will even go out on the limb and bet that Donald Miles wins the Cy young award this season. He won 19 games last year with a 3.40 era in Cincinnati. What will he do when he pitches in a ball park that knocks fly balls down instead of letting the wind take them to the cheap seats.

Elijah: Good job guys. Let's order some more drinks before we call the Uber.

                        Another night drinking with the scouts at the Barleymoe

            Tonight Elijah Craig is joined by Johnny Walker, Jim Beam and George Dickel

Elijah:  Fellas we need to wrap up some things from last season. We need to decide who gets the Dean Award and who gets the Branch Rickey award.

George: The Rickey award is just who wins the most games with all six of their teams. Have you done the math Elijah or are we going to have add it up now.

Elijah: You know I don't trust you guys to do the math. I have the figures here right on the back of this napkin. As you now renrog always wins this award, but this year iam4real  beat renrog by 5 games; 530 to 525.

Johnny: Do you think iam4real even knew that we had the award? Last season was his first in league for awhile.

Jim: Lets get on with the real chore; The Dean Award. Who are your nominees this year Elijah?

Elijah: As you guys know, to win the Dean Award a player must have been selected for the All-Star team and then we argue about who improved the most from season 49 to 50. I thought Augusta had a couple of players that we should consider. Sammy Oliva and Bo Anderson. Colorado had a couple Bill Sullivan and Marty Sisler. San Francisco's Mickey Freidrich and Mickey Margot of Toronto are  guys I think we should consider.Another couple of guys are Sal Phelps of the Wharf Rats and the Blue's Royce Howell.

George: Well the two Colorado players are hitters. The Franchise moved to Colorado from Portland which makes it easier for hitter.

Jim: The team batting average went up .055. Marty Sisler's average went up .100 ; so he certainly deserves to be considered.

Johnny: The Augusta players Sammy Oliva and Bo Anderson both had good seasons. Anderson raised his average .060. Oliva lowered his ERA by more than 2.4 earned runs per game.

George: Mickey Fredrich lowered his ERA more than that. He went from a 5.37 ERA to a 2.27.

Jim: Well if this award is about results. Miguel Margot went from a 3.00 ERA to 0.93. He also had 55 save opportunities and 53 saves.

George: How the hell did he loose the fireman of the year award to Luther MacDougal?

Johnny: That's a good question. it's hard for me to give the Dean Award to Margot because the previous season the one he had the 3.00 ERA and 7 blown saves he won the fireman of the year award. 

Jim: Sal went for 11 wins to 19 wins but Royce Howell maybe had a career year. He raised his OPS by .166 and had his runs created go up by almost 3.5 runs per27

George: Ignoring the per 27 nonsense. how many runs did he creat for the season.

Jim: That would be 121.69.

Elijah: So fellas, who is it going to be? Who gets the Dean Award.

Johnny: They're all deserving. Does it have to be a player? Can't we just give it to Dean?

Jim: I don't want to choose between the players. I like the idea of giving it to Dean.

Eliah: So it's decided Dean gets the Dean award and  iam4real gets the Branch Rickey award.

Elijah: Lets call it a night fellas, till next time.

  

Just a reminder that anyone in Stickball World is welcome to contribute to the blog.  Sitemail me, TC me, or Comment below.  Just say the word...

(Regardless, many thanks to Breeolad for his awesome contributions thus far ... looking forward to many more)

 

                                   Another Saturday night at the Barleymoe

      Tonight Elijah Craig is joined by Henry McKenna, Jose Cuervo and Captain Morgan

Elijah: Well this is a different group than usual. Why are you guys here instead of Jim, Jack and Johnny?

Henry: I'm here because Johnny called me and asked if I would sit in for him since he thought you would discuss the history of the league tonight.

Jose: I'm here because Jim told me what mr_stickball  did. Jim said it has never happened before and will never happen again; but you never know.

THE CAPTAIN:  I'm here because Jack offered me several cases of his best whiskey. Someone of my profession needs to have a variety merchandise for his best customers.

Henry: Captain, I think we are all here because someway mr_stickball  managed to negotiate the release of deandg .

THE CAPTAIN: You know that  mr_stickball never negotiates with me. I have offered him really good deals for Chappy24 , kcoach and others and he has never, ever paid; did I say paid? He has never offered me the value equal to an owner.

Jose: Captain, did you not loose your crew the last time you sailed into Antigua? Did the local police not arrest every sailor on your "merchant ship"? And when you were in dry dock, did Dean not send you Troy Power?

THE CAPTAIN: This dean you speak of--I have not been to school. You confuse me.

Jose: I know that Troy Powers started negotiations for the release of Dean. Troy was Dean's 20th pick in the season 44 draft. He was a power hitting first baseman that Dean thought would be an excellent hitting coach when his career was over. When you captured Dean, Troy's career was all but over; only Dean would keep him on as a hitting coach. At that point, Troy approached mr_stickball  about players in his organization likely to retire.

Jose: Captain is Troy currently on your ship?

THE  CAPTAIN: If he is, I did not capture him or obtain him. He is sailing the sailors seas because it is his desire.

Jose: Or he traded places with deandg. Also I know that D'Angelo Familia and Einar Nunez are on your ship the Hombre Palo. Are Familia and Nunez the only guys that retired from Colorado on your ship.

THE CAPTAIN: The crew of the Hombre Palo does seem to have many mates that have an interest in Beisbol. It is good, as a captain, to have a crew with a common interest. As for Troy he was much better than deandg . Troy does not mind how I make a deal. If Troy gets paid he is happy. With deandg not so much. Did I acquire it legally? Did I ask a fair price? I'm not a priest. I WILL not answer deandg's questions. When Troy came to me offering the services of Familia and Nunez and 5 others from the Colorado franchise who had retired, I couldn't believe my good luck. 

Henry: So you let deandg  free to rejoin the league? In your mind did mr_stickball  negotiate with you?

THE CAPTAIN: No, mr_stickball , was not involved in the negotiations. This was between Troy and me. I will continue to raid you ranks. Have any of you noticed the disappearance of bbeecher. When the Captain gives he takes away many more. Seniors do not drink the Rum or you are mine.

Elijah: Guys you better leave I think we upset the Captain. Until next time stay safe.

               Another Saturday night drinking with the scouts at the Barleymoe

    Tonight Elijah Craig is joined by Jose Cuervo, Jack Daniels and George Dickel

Elijah: Fellows tonight I thought we could discuss some of the internationals signed this season.

Jose: Sorry, Elijah, but I think we need to talk about how the captain has struck again!

George: What are you talking about Jose.

Jose: san2snow has been missing for over 2 weeks. I think Captain Morgan has him, and we know mr_stickball doesn't ever pay the ransom. coach_orman last season and now san2snow; I wish the captain would leave this league alone.

Jack: The Yinzers are open? Isn't that Dean's odd franchise.

George: You think Dean would play for free?

Jack: I don't know but I bet mr_stickball has probably already checked.

Elijah: Are you fellas ready to talk about the internationals signed this season.

Jose: Sure. Emil Vazquez, signed by Milton, is the real deal.

George: 25 million is a really lot to spend for a player.

Jose: Last season the Super Troopers paid 27 million for a very similar player, David Oropesa.

Jack: They are both shortstops, I guess in 8 years we can see which one is better.

Jose: It's been kind of a different signing dynamics this year compared to last year. Last year 4 guys went for 20 million or more. This year just Vazquez and then 2 guys in the 18million range and 2 in the 15 million range.

Jack: Boise Rogue One signed Sherman Naquin for 15 million and I think he may be the cream of the crop  of season 50 internationals.

George: Seventy_77 signed Livan Sosa for just a little more than Naquin got.  Right now they are both second basemen, so that another one we can look in a few seasons.

Jose: We haven't had that WOW pitcher yet. Last year we had Peter Donald go for 19 million. He has already won 11 major league games.

George: The season isn't over yet. We may still get that pitcher. In season 49 we had 31 players signed with a million dollar bonus or more. So far this season the count is at 25. So that pitcher that is going to be a difference maker is still out there.

Elijah: Any of you fellas think somebody made a steal in the 1million to 5 million range.

Jack: I think for 3.1 million, trapapoodle got good player in Hideki Donald. My guess is that the Wharf Rats will have to move him to a corner infield or outfield position but getting that power for 3.1 is an accomplishment.

George: I think trapaoodle has another one. 2 million for Felix Wan, a pitcher, is really cheap. I think he probably in the same talent pool with Wiki Sierra and Teoscar Mercedes. Both of those guys signed for 5 million.

Elijah: Good job tonight, fellas. Who's turn to buy the drinks tonight?

                           Another Saturday night drinking with scouts at the Barleymoe

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

Elijah: I thought we would try to find a guy like the immortal Mario Mendoza. The guy that every major league player was suppose to hit better  than him. I found the guy in our league. But before we do, I want to send a message to the owner.

Johnny : Your crazy Elijah, Mario Mendoza was a guy who rarely hit above .200. The Mendoza line is .200.

Elijah: Johnny you read too many simple statistics. The Mendoza line is actually the batting  average of a defensive specialist. If a defensive specialist is hitting better than you , why are you in the major leagues?

George: But  you don't want to do that?

Elijah: No, I need to talk to thebigdogs. I think they have the guy but maybe they don't want my opinion affecting the player's value.

Jack: So what in the hell are we going to talk about?

Elijah: What players in triple -A, are most likely to affect the major league playoffs?

Elijah: Well, you guys are the best of the best scouts. I thought you could talk about the over achievers in triple -A.

George: You think we are going to tell you who we think are 3-A, 4A and major league players.

Elijah: No, I think you will tell me who you think will help a team make the playoffs.

Johnny: Why would we do that?

Elijah: Inwardly, you all think you're the best scout ever and want to prove it. The fact that none of you are ever asked to scout an international bothers all of you , especially Johnny.

 George:  You said we were the best scouts.

Elijah: Well, we've been drinking for a while.

Jack: The best four relievers are: Kendry Calderon (BOS), Clayton Hudson (LOU), George Kerr (STL) and Shayne Hughes (NY1).

Johnny: I know you're impressed with Hughes' season--21 innings no earned runs allowed ; but my guess is that he will replace Sierra in the Empires bullpen very soon.

George: Any of those guys would look good on the Vegas roster.

Jack: And Boston is loaded with young high potential relievers. I'd watch this at the trade deadline.

George: I'd like to move on, and talk about position players. I really like Erick Standridge (AAA) of Vegas. The major league roster has two young catchers so this guy is just bait. Whoever pimpbotlove wants this guy is the collateral to swing the deal.

Johnny: Any team looking for a shortstop can take a look at Magglio Flores (ALB). He might be hitting as well as he will ever hit this year but the glove will always be there.

Jack: It's always about the home run hitter. If a team is looking for power they better talk to San Francisco about Polin Doubront (SF).

George: You're to late Jack. Polin Doubront (SF) has already been promoted to the major leagues.

Elijah: So am I suppose to believe that there are no power hitters to help a major league in the playoff races.

Johnny: There are some 4A players. Guys you might trusts as a pinch hitter but nobody with power to play everyday.

George: You can probably say the same thing about starting pitchers. Shayne Ashby (BUR) is the one impressing me at 3-A but milton7 would never trade him.

Elijah: Well boys that pretty much ends our discussion they want to close the bar early tonight. See you next week.