USMLB MOY - AL WEST

TUCSON XPRESS – powercats22
Team records
ML: 51-66
AAA: 54-63
AA: 67-50
HiA: 78-39
LowA: 57-60
Rookie: 24-29

GRADES

ML team: D The Xpress find themselves struggling this season, as many youngsters are acquiring ML experience. The good news – they are on pace for a top 10 draft pick next season.
Minors: B+ The HiA and AA Xpress teams are playoff locks, and the HiA team has a chance to go deep in the playoffs. Teams at other levels have been mediocre this season.
Draft: B+ DRAFT GRADE REVIEW
Trades: B+ Tucson has been almost a daytrader this season with 8 trades and more than 20 players moving around. Christopher Newhan acquired from Toledo is the headliner of this group, and projects to become a dominant future closer. Newcomer pitchers Josh Romano, Eddie Henderson, and Jim Wells also figure to be important pieces of the Xpress staff - at least until they get traded again. Erubiel Sanchez can become an all-star RF in the future. Among those leaving, closer prospect Lonnie Rizzo, veteran SS Cy Ryan, and SS prospect Julio Rincon will be missed. The Xpress also perfected trading for money this season, and brought in $10 million dollars with trades, few of which involved taking on salary.
Player acquisitions: B- Del Lee is the headliner of the group as one of the top international signees of the season. Lee has the potential to be an ace and at 18 has quickly made it to AAA, and is holding his own there. Veteran 3B Dave Roberts was claimed off of waivers along with his $6 million salary over the next 3 years. Roberts is a serviceable player, but that’s a lot of salary to assume for a serviceable 30 year old. Brandon Blanton is a decent pitching prospect taken by Tucson in the Rule 5 draft and later traded away.
Player development: C- In his 3^rd season in the big leagues, top starter Esteban Fernandez hasn’t yet lived up to the promise that Xpress fans have hoped for. He has great stuff, but hasn’t yet figured out all the nuances of being a great pitcher. The good news – he’s only 25 and has his best days ahead. Victor Sojo and Jeff Shourek are following in the shoes of Fernandez with a mix of good outings and poor ones. If they can each get their act together, these three youngsters can form a great nucleus for the pitching staff for many years to come.
Record compared to talent: D+ While certainly not the most talented team in the league, the ML Xpress team is not at the bottom of the league in talent either. Several young players have experienced growing pains this season. Xpress management told us that they expect that this year will be a learning experience to propel the youngsters to better things in the future. With an $80 million payroll and almost $14 million in their coaching staff, Xpress fans were hoping for the playoffs. Instead, after three losing seasons, fans are beginning to wonder if there will come a time when they won’t be rebuilding.
Coach hot seat ranking: Yellow

SAN JOSE SABERCATS – texanboiler
Team records
ML: 59-58
AAA: 55-62
AA: 53-64
HiA: 66-51
LowA: 68-49
Rookie: 19-34

GRADES

ML team: C The Sabercats are in the middle of the pack in the AL. They still have an outside shot at the playoffs, but it will be an uphill climb to get there. Veteran starter Tito Ramirez is having another very solid season in the final year of his contract, and will leave a difficult decision for management when contract negotiations come.
Minors: B- The HiA and LowA SaberCats teams are playoff locks, and each have a chance to make some noise. Teams at other levels have been mediocre at best. The rookie coaches should consider different careers after this season.
Draft: D- DRAFT GRADE REVIEW
Trades: D+ None
Player acquisitions: A- The SaberCats have only added a few players this season, but international signee Max Moreno is a huge addition. He projects as an all-star pitcher, and will be a big part of future plans in San Jose.
Player development: B- Stud closer Shane Haad has picked up where he left off last season and has been flat out dealing with more than a strikeout an inning. At 23, the future for Haad is bright. In the field Jose Espinoza, Marvin Stark, and Glen Lewis are each approaching their prime, and the trio have put together solid campaigns this season in such a pitcher-friendly ballpark. Still, SaberCat fans have higher hopes for 3B Espinoza in particular, and still wait for him to put together a All-Star season. He may be pushed into competition to do so, as top prospect 3B David Taylor is tearing up AAA, and looks to make his ML debut next season. With another solid season, team officials are also very high on AAA starter Chet Kingland, and think he has the makings of a future top starter.
Record compared to talent: B ML Franchise rankings put the SaberCats right at the bottom of the American league. With a $55.5 million payroll, San Jose has exceeded expectations this season. Many youngsters are nearing their prime. If management can add a solid pitcher or two, the franchise looks to be a solid competitor in the West for many years to come.
Coach hot seat ranking: Yellow

CHEYENNE FEATHERWOUND – weirdterd456

Team records
ML: 56-61
AAA: 39-78
AA: 49-68
HiA: 51-66
LowA: 55-62
Rookie: 29-23

GRADES

ML team: C- Cheyenne is a very veteran team this season, but has been hit hard with injuries. They are a longshot to make the playoffs. 27 year old SP Edgar Perez is having the best season of his career, and is among the top 10 in the AL for E.R.A.
Minors: D Outside of a solid rookie team, the Featherwound teams are struggling everywhere. AAA coaches are clearly over their heads with a dismal campaign.
Draft: F DRAFT GRADE REVIEW
Trades: C Cheyenne traded pitching prospects with Tacoma for their only trade of the season.
Player acquisitions: C Cheyenne signed veterans Cliff Adkinsson, Anthony Jacobs, and Ben Ward to moderate free agent contracts this season, and has added 3 international signees. While all look to be serviceable players, none in the group is a difference maker.
Player development: B- CF Lewis Shouse has had a solid ML debut this season. LF Carmen Garcia missed some games this season with a lengthy DL trip, but Featherwood fans have high expectations that Garcia will become one of the game’s best sluggers. 26 year old DH Adrian Duncan is having a very solid year at the plate this season, and projects to be a force in the middle of the Featherwood lineup for many years to come.
Record compared to talent: D With a $105 million payroll and an aging team, the Featherwood look likely to miss the playoffs this season. Next season is critical for Cheyenne. If the veterans can’t get it done, a new supply of young talent may be needed for the franchise.
Coach hot seat ranking: Yellow

ANAHEIM BEEFPOUND – beefpac
Team records
ML: 70-47
AAA: 68-49
AA: 58-59
HiA: 61-56
LowA: 57-60
Rookie: 12-41 (worst Rookie record)

GRADES

ML team: A- Anaheim should win the AL West. They are a team bound for the playoffs, and will fight for a first round bye. Veteran closer Hank Epstein continues to blow hitters away, and is tied for the AL lead with 33 saves.
Minors: B The minor league teams for Anaheim are having solid years. Their AAA team is a lock for playoffs, while solid teams at LowA, HiA, and AA are in position to make runs at postseason berths. Division managers have to love playing against Anaheim’s rookie team, seeing mostly DH-type players, with only a few position guys and 5 healthy pitchers.
Draft: C- DRAFT GRADE REVIEW
Trades: A Anaheim was one of the more active traders this season, and came out on the positive end of many moves. Young SP Herbert Brandt is a huge acquisition for Anaheim, and is the current E.R.A. leader in the A.L. Anaheim also hit the jackpot bringing in SP Gil Ventura. SS Juan Amaro, RP Carson Shaw, and RP Lyle Myatt are very nice additions. Anaheim will miss DH Kenneth Bryant, 1B Erubiel Sanchez, SP Bernie Castillo, and 3B AJ West.
Player acquisitions: B RP Darryl Schmidt is a solid pick up for the Beefpound in the Rule 5 draft. Free agent signee Francisco Manto is having a great season. Signee Harold Morton is having a disappointing season, but comes off the books after this year. Anaheim also nabbed international free agent SP John Wang. Wang looks to have great splits and average pitches.
Player development: C+ The Anaheim franchise is loaded with young talent. While slumping a bit this season, RF/1B Vin Cordero is a future superstar. Similarly, SP Miguel Martinez has yet to live up to his potential, but huge things are expected for the hurler. Young SS Junior Lui is having a very solid season, and big things are expected ahead. At 12-1, SP Delino Maduro is a Cy Young candidate this year, and Beefpound fans hope this season will be the start of a long successful career.
Record compared to talent: B+ Anaheim has one of the most talented teams in the majors, and along with it, has one of the top records in the game as well. The biggest challenge for Anaheim in the future will be making wise economic decisions with their young talent in arbitration and free agency.
Coach hot seat ranking: Green
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USMLB MOY - AL SOUTH

TEXAS TALLY WHACKERS – awilley14

Team records
ML: 75-42
AAA: 62-55
AA: 69-48
HiA: 54-63
LowA: 66-51
Rookie: 29-23

GRADES

ML team: A Texas is battling it out with Atlanta for the top record in the Majors.
Minors: B+ The minor league teams for the Tally Whackers are having respectable campaigns. The best of the group is the AA team, which looks to go deep in the playoffs.
Draft: D DRAFT GRADE REVIEW
Trades: B- Texas got solid RP Ernie Torres in their only trade of the season.
Player acquisitions: B+ International free agent Jimmie Navarre is a solid pick up and projects to be a future everyday RF. 30 year old free-agent LF Grant Barker has been an excellent catalyst for Texas for this season. Free agent SP Yamil Guzman was one of the biggest signings in the offseason and Guzman has delivered for Texas with 13 victories.
Player development: B Already in his 3^rd year in the big leagues at 21, OF Glenn Matheson is becoming one of the best pure hitters in baseball. After a .389 batting average and an injury last season, 2B Tim Rooney was the subject of a lot of talk this offseason. Rooney has responded with a solid, but unspectacular campaign. Texas fans anticipate bigger things ahead for him. Texas fans also expect great things from SS Henry Anderson, who made his ML debut this season.
Record compared to talent: B+ With a $90.9 million payroll, Texas is having an outstanding season. Everyone expected the Tally Whackers to be the class of the AL South, but few expected them to battle for the best record in baseball.
Coach hot seat ranking: Green

SANTA FE SIDEWINDERS – jwinner5

Team records
ML: 60-57
AAA: 67-50
AA: 67-50
HiA: 83-34 (Top record in HiA)
LowA: 69-48
Rookie: 34-18

GRADES

ML team: C+ The Sidewinders are rebuilding this season, but still have an outside shot at a wildcard spot. Veteran catcher Guy Williams continues to be one of the best pure hitters in the league and is among the league leaders in AVG, OBP, and OPS.
Minors: A As one of only two franchises with a winning record at every level, the minor league teams for the Sidewinders are having excellent seasons everywhere. Each team should make the playoffs with a chance to advance. The HiA team is particularly impressive with the best record of anyone at that level.
Draft: B+ DRAFT GRADE REVIEW
Trades: B+ Desperate for pitching, Santa Fe picked up excellent pitching prospects in Al Jordan and Walt Cortes. Since acquired, SP Benjamin Connelly has become one of the better parts of a beleaguered staff, and catcher Mike Vaughn should become a solid catcher both offensively and defensively. The Sidewinders will miss veterans SP John Cho, SS Andrew Hampton, and RP Jeff Shipley.
Player acquisitions: D+ Santa Fe acquired several Rule 5 players, but none look to be difference makers.
Player development: B- 24 year old RF Eric Sisk is becoming one of the superstars of the league. He will challenge for league supremacy in HR’s and RBI’s this year, and for many years to come. In his 3^rd year, 3B Benny James is having his best season yet and looks to become one of the best run producers in the game from the lead-off position. Young 1B Tony Alvarez is having a somewhat disappointing season, but big things are expected ahead. In AAA, SP’s Paul Flanagan and Brendon Wright, and 2b Pedro Sanchez are all having excellent seasons and look to make their ML debuts soon.
Record compared to talent: B With a young team and a $39.3 million payroll, Santa Fe fans knew that this would be a rebuilding season going in. If they can somehow make it into the playoffs, this will be a very successful season for the Sidewinders.
Coach hot seat ranking: Green

HOUSTON KINGS OF KUMBIA – kumbiakings

Team records
ML: 47-70
AAA: 67-50
AA: 62-55
HiA: 51-66
LowA: 51-66
Rookie: 40-12

GRADES

ML team: D With a mix of veterans and youngsters, Houston is struggling at the ML level this season. One bright spot for Houston is veteran closer Boots Gaetti. Gaetti continues to be one of the better closers in the game.
Minors: C+ Houston has a lot of talent in their minors, particularly at AAA and in Rookie league, and their teams are poised for postseason success. The AA Kings of Kumbia also look to make the playoffs.
Draft: B DRAFT GRADE REVIEW
Trades: D In their only trade of the season, Houston traded C Alex Franco and RP Lyle Mallet to Anaheim for SP Ariel Diaz and 3B Benny Julio.
Player acquisitions: C+ 3B Bud Iorg is a solid pick up off of waivers for Houston. Iorg projects as an everyday 3B and is having a solid year. Free Agent signees Tony Goldman, Candy Newsome, and Wayne Hitchcock are serviceable guys signed to reasonable contracts, but none are difference makers.
Player development: A- Young SP Cliff Sheets hasn’t had the same success in wins and losses that he did last season, but Sheets is a future star for Houston. He projects as one of the top pitchers in the league. The name Eric must be something special in the USMLB league, as AAA 1B Eric Flynn will become another of the league’s great sluggers. Future all-star catcher Tomas Roque is having another huge season, and Houston fans are very excited about his future.
Record compared to talent: D With their $78.7 million payroll and many veterans, the Kings of Kumbia are in limbo at the ML level. Management has been patient with talent in the minor leagues, and hopefully it will pay off in the future.
Coach hot seat ranking: Yellow

IOWA CITY RAIDERS – deerhunter

Team records
ML: 33-84 (worst ML record)
AAA: 51-66
AA: 61-56
HiA: 54-63
LowA: 62-55
Rookie: 15-37

GRADES

ML team: F At 33-84, Iowa City has the worst record in the majors. One bright spot is that veteran SP Elston Long is quietly having an excellent season for Iowa City, and is among the league leaders in E.R.A.
Minors: C- For Iowa City, minor league teams at AA and LowA are battling to make the playoffs. AAA and HiA teams are on the outside looking in, and the Rookie team is having a dismal season.
Draft: B DRAFT GRADE REVIEW
Trades: D+ None
Player acquisitions: C- Rule 5 acquisition C Adrian Hutch looks to be an everyday catcher and a solid pick up. The Raiders made a big investment in free agent LF Albert Thornton with a 5 year ML deal. Thornton is currently struggling in AAA.
Player development: C+ P.T. Bolton made his much anticipated debut in the majors this season into the Iowa City bullpen. Raiders fans have been questioning why coaches won’t put him in the rotation, particularly with the season they are having. In his first full season, RF Joshua Sedlacek is having a solid season and should be a good piece of the Raiders lineup moving forward. CF John Torres has shown that he can do some very good things with the bat when he’s healthy. The key throughout his career will be to keep him healthy. At only 19, SS Philip Gabriel has already made it to AAA, and Iowa City expects great things from him.
Record compared to talent: D+ With a dearth of talent at the ML level left by two previous owners, fans in Iowa City didn’t expect a lot this season, and they got even less than they expected. With limited talent at the ML level, Iowa City is looking to develop talent and build for next year.
Coach hot seat ranking: Yellow

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USMLB MANAGER OF THE YEAR

This is the beginning of a three week tribute to find the USMLB Manager of the Year. To get the process started, a series of posts about each division will review the “overall success” of managers through the year. Then, we’ll hold 3 different rounds of votes to narrow down candidates and find the Manager of the Year.

Manager of the Year Selection Criteria:

To clarify, “overall success” is not simply defined by wins and losses at the ML level, although that is part of it. For this discussion, we will define “overall success” as who has done the best from where they were at the beginning of the year to where they are now. Every team’s goals are different. So I’ll rate how each team is doing relative to what their goals are. For top teams, their goal is to contend for a championship this season. For some teams, this is a rebuilding year, and success at the top means much less than adding and developing young talent. So the manager reviews will factor in things like ML record, acquisition of talent, draft success, trade history, minor league records, and ML success relative to talent level.

Manager of the Year Voting:

There will be three rounds of voting. 1^st round will occur this weekend and will pit all managers against one another. The top 8 vote-getters will move on to the second round. Second round voting will occur next weekend, and will pare those managers down to a final four. The final Manager of the Year will be voted on at the end of the regular season from among the final four. Everyone is welcome to vote based on whatever criteria they choose.

Debating, Campaigning, and Whining:

A short section will be generated about each team based on their success relative to the selection criteria. Constructive discussion is encouraged. Whining is strictly prohibited. Vawt’s BS rankings are not to be utilized in any way to give credibility to a manager for Manager of the Year.