USMLB DAILY

Welcome to the Eighth edition of the USMLB Daily. A lot of news and information will be in here and fun things will be added through out it. I hope that you enjoy and that the report will be up Monday through Friday till the end of the season. Draft information will also be added to the Daily report after the draft. Trades that happen from this day forward will also be added to the report. If there’s anything you would like me to cover or add (real or not) just let me know and I’ll do my best to add it.

Interview with the New Britain Fisher Cats from the National League North Division.
The New Britain Fisher Cats find themselves in first place and looking to be the first team from the National League North to repeat as divisional champions.

So what are you goals for the season:
Last season my Fisher Cats started off somewhat slow, but kicked it into gear and were able to win the division and make the playoffs, though we were eliminated in the Divisional Championship Series. We have a good group of talented players here and the ways and means to make the playoffs and to hopefully get to the World Series and walk away with a trophy.
I think the Fisher Cats have as good chance as any in the National League to go to the World Series but it will be a tough road.

What do you think of the league that you helped create:
I love this league. We have a great group of owners here that have really come into their own. To be honest I didn't know how this league would turn out because I've been in some bad leagues where I just had to get out. Now I can never see myself leaving. Originally, Beef and I were trying to start our own leagues but had trouble with recruiting. He contacted me about combining our efforts, and I didn't see a reason not to. We both had our share of committed owners, and with some good recruiting, we filled the league. Now we are in Season 5, which is weird because sometimes it seems like we are still back in the first season. We've definitely come a long way and I appreciate everyone who have helped in making this league a great one.
I think I can say this for everyone. Thank you..

What team scares you the most to face:
The Fisher Cats fear no team. Though we are concerned with how much better the Milwaukee Bucks have become. They have such a good offense. Danny Harding is a beast this year and he could very well challenge for the MVP award.
I don’t think a lot of the elite teams are very happy about that comment.

Who do you think will make it to the World Series out of the American League:
In the American League: Atlanta and Anaheim are always good. They both have great pitching as well as great hitting. With the amount of wins they pile up each year they could both be serious World Series contenders. Though my pick is Beef and his Beefpound, because who wouldn't love a World Series showdown with the two creators of USMLB.
A lot of teams are picking the Beefpound to represent the American League this season and plus it would be interesting to see the creatures face off in the World Series.

With so many of your top players up for arbitration after this season will we see a big jump in payroll from your team:
The time has come where young players need to get paid the big bucks. I'm sure my payroll will take a jump, though I don't know how much as of right now. In terms of their futures, I haven't quite decided yet what I will do with my players. I have a good pool of solid prospects, so I can look within if I happen to deal players or let them go.
I think this will be a huge problem for a lot of teams in the near future as a lot of there young players will need to get paid or let them enter the free agent. Should be interesting to watch.

Anything else you would like to add:
Thank you again to all of you who have committed to this league and who have done your part to make this one of the elite. You may not think of it, but I believe that we are all a family here. A crazy family that is obsessed with this game and can't seem to get away. Good luck to everyone this season.
Yes good luck to everyone.

Trades:
Houston Hitmen traded D.T. Telford (P), Mark Allensworth (P) and Duke Ford (P) to the Tacoma Pioneers for Mac Nakamura (P). Rating: B+
A lot of people will think trading away Mac Nakamura is crazy at this point in his career but after speaking with the Pioneers they believed with all the pitchers coming into there arbitration years they just wouldn’t be able to keep all there pitchers and to let a couple go while there worth a lot more then in the next year. This trade will help out both teams in the long run.

New York Cab Drivers traded Tuck Pisciotta (LF) and Juan Alomar (CF) to the Fargo Woodchippers for Vernon Cain. Rating: B-
I think this will be the beginning of the Woodchippers getting rid of there major league talent for some good prospects as the National League North looks to be really tough this season with the Bucks improving so much.

Rumor Mill:
Dario Wallace is said to be very un-happy in Boise and would like to move to warmer climate as his sick and tried of the cold north, also he would like to play somewhere near sea level as he thinks the thin air is effecting his pitching. Little does he know it’s not the thin air effecting his pitching, it’s his pitching that is effecting his pitching.
Dicky Puffer is contacted me and would like all the GM’s to stop making fun of him and would like to report that his not gay if that’s effecting any team from picking him up.
It doesn’t look like any team from the American League North really wants to win the division as every team in under .500 and with every team struggle expect for Scranton Beet Farmer's we could see are first division leader with out a winning record in the league this season.
We are still waiting for Vawt to explain to us what a Vawt is?

Poll Question:
Looks like right now with the poll that you guys think the Madison Lasers will not make the playoffs even though there in first-place a couple games ago.

Useless Information:
Cookie Pena is one of the few teams that fears his bat as he’s the all-time leader in Intentional Walks with 62 but I believe that Erik West who started the season with 60 will pass him this season. Hoss Boone holds the single season record with 46 intentional walks in season 3.
Kane Hines hold the record for the best saving percentage in a single season as he went 48 for 49 in season 2 for .980 percentage. He also as the best career save percentage at .932 percent (192 – 206)
Claude (The Vacuum) Marshall has the most career great plays at second base with 23 great plays and holding the single season with 14 great plays at second base.

Franchise Information:
The St. Louis Cornerstone franchise has the most strikeouts by any pitching staff in the league with 5026 strikeouts, while the Kansas City Bobcats franchise has the fewest strikeouts by any pitching staff with 4174 strikeouts.
The Cincinnati Highlanders franchise has hit he most balls over the fence in the league with 1450 homeruns, while the Tacoma Pioneers franchise can’t seem to find the fence as they have only 662 homeruns.
The Wichita Wranglers franchise love to help out there pitching staff as they have the most double plays in the league with 2080, while St. Louis Cornerstone have the fewest with 1646 double plays but with the Cornerstones leading the league in strikeouts they don’t really need the double play to help there team win.

WEEK 3 POWER RANKINGS

The third week saw some big jumps by a couple of teams and some big falls for a couple teams as well. It’s good to see that the Atlanta Brave Vawts finally in the top ten again but where still waiting for the Anaheim Beefpound to finally make it back to the top ten as well. The Monterrey Stars jump into the number one stop this week with a huge week with only losing four games during the week. The Kansas City Bobcats and Brave Vawts debut in the top ten this week, while the Arizona Sting and Cincinnati Highlanders drop out of the top ten this week. The Stars and Bobcats also had the best record during the week going 16-4 while the Ottawa Crawdaddies had the worst record going 3-17. The Stars have scored the most runs with 419 (6.87 runs per game) while the Tacoma Pioneers have allowed the fewest runs with 221 (3.68 runs per game). Stars has the best home record of 25-10, while Clowns have the best road record 22-10. The Stars also have the biggest divisional lead with 9 games ahead of the Jackson BlaZers. The National League South is the toughest division to play in with the American League West behind it, followed by the National League North, then the American League South, then the American League East, then the National League West, then the National League East and then the American League North. The reason why the Clowns fell seven spots this week was because of there week record of 7-12. With past Power Rankings before this season I never incorporated the weekly record to the equations’ that I have but that changed this season that’s why your seeing big jumps with teams having a great week and big falls with teams having bad weeks. As the season goes through that should stop has the records will be more broken up and the weekly record won’t affect that as much. Before the Xpress talk about not respecting them every team above they had a better week then them expect for the Clowns and the Milwaukee Bucks, but the Bucks where 12-8 compared to your 12-7 so that one loss didn’t hurt them as much.


1. Monterrey Stars (42-19) (Previous Week – 3)
The Monterrey Stars moved up two spots into the number 1 spot this week after going 16-4 during the week. The Stars are scoring 6.87 runs per game while giving up 4.34 runs per game. The Stars have the 2nd best pitching staff, 2nd best offensive and 13th best defensive in the league so far this season.

2. New Britain Fisher Cats (39-22) (Previous Week – 5)
The Fisher Cats moved up three spots this week after going 14-6 during the week. The Fisher Cats are scoring 6.25 runs per game while giving up 4.18 runs per game. The Fisher Cats have the 3rd best pitching staff, 5th best offensive and 4th best defensive in the league so far this season.

3. Houston Hitmen (41-20) (Previous Week – 2)
The Houston Hitmen fell one spot this week after going 13-7 during the week. The Hitmen are scoring 6.85 runs per game while giving up 5.05 runs per game. The Hitmen have the 13th best pitching staff, 3rd best offensive and 14th best defensive in the league so far this season.

4. Kansas City Bobcats (36-25) (Previous Week – 14)
The Kansas City Bobcats moved up ten spots this week after going 16-4 during the week. The Bobcats are scoring 6.84 runs per game while giving up 5.69 runs per game. The Bobcats have the 26th best pitching staff, the best offensive and 3rd best defensive in the league so far this season.

5. Tacoma Pioneers (37-23) (Previous Week – 8)
The Tacoma Pioneers moved up three spots this week after going 14-5 during the week. The Pioneers are scoring 4.85 runs per game while giving up 3.68 runs per game. The Pioneers have the best pitching staff, 23rd best offensive and 17th best defensive in the league so far this season.

6. Milwaukee Bucks (37-24) (Previous Week - 6)

7. Atlanta Brave Vawts (36-24) (Previous Week – 15)

8. Indianapolis Clowns (37-23) (Previous Week – 1)

9. Cheyenne Xpress (37-23) (Previous Week – 10)

10. Wichita Wranglers (37-24) (Previous Week – 9)

11. Anaheim Beefpound (35-25) (Previous Week – 12)

12. Durham Bulls (30-31) (Previous Week – 18)

13. Colorado Springs Armed Forces (31-29) (Previous Week – 19)

14. Arizona Sting (34-26) (Previous Week – 7)

15. Jackson BlaZers (33-28) (Previous Week – 13)

16. St. Louis Cornerstone (32-28) (Previous Week – 11)

17. New York Cab Drivers (29-31) (Previous Week – 26)

18. Florida GaToRs (26-35) (Previous Week – 29)

19. Cincinnati Highlanders (32-28) (Previous Week – 4)

20. Burlington Ice Storm (30-31) (Previous Week – 16)

21. Scranton Beet Farmer's (27-34) (Previous Week – 22)

22. Honolulu Honus (29-31) (Previous Week – 25)

23. Fargo Woodchippers (29-32) (Previous Week – 23)

24. Madison Lasers (26-35) (Previous Week – 28)

25. Boston Braves (24-36) (Previous Week – 27)

26. Portland Landports (25-36) (Previous Week – 17)

27. Boise Hurricanes (24-36) (Previous Week – 20)

28. Ottawa Crawdaddies (20-41) (Previous Week – 21)

29. New York Mets (21-39) (Previous Week – 24)

30. San Diego Skyhawks (22-38) (Previous Week – 30)

31. Jacksonville RAIDERS (19-42) (Previous Week – 31)

32. Tampa Bay Manta Rays (11-49) (Previous Week – 32)

USMLB DAILY

Welcome to the Seventh edition of the USMLB Daily. A lot of news and information will be in here and fun things will be added through out it. I hope that you enjoy and that the report will be up Monday through Friday till the end of the season. Draft information will also be added to the Daily report after the draft. Trades that happen from this day forward will also be added to the report. If there’s anything you would like me to cover or add (real or not) just let me know and I’ll do my best to add it.

Interview with the Indianapolis Clowns from the National League East Division.
The Clowns have gotten out to a great start but they have cooled down recently but with a tough schedule they just went through any one would have struggled that bad.

So what are you goals for the season:
My goal was to have a winning record. I thought I had the pieces to make a run with guys like Chief Martin and good starting pitching.
I think that you’ve done a great job so far this season and I believe a winning record is within reach.

How does it feel like to be back in this league:
This league was one of my favorites from the very beginning because I was among newer owners when I started and had my “home" team in Los Angeles. It didn't hurt that I technically won the division 3 years in a row.
Well I think I speak for everyone it’s good to have you back and happy to that you’re not in the National League West anymore so that my team has a chance to shine.

What team scares you the most to face:
I guess I fear the Stars since I am 0-6 against them so far.
I know the Stars has to be the team that everyone fears this season.
Who do you think will make it to the World Series out of the American League:
I guess I'll go with Anaheim. I don't really look at other teams, so I'm just going by their record and past history.
I think that would be a safe bet but they may not get out of there own division at the end of the year.

What do you think the reason is for your team’s poor performance as of late:
Although my team has hit a lull, I don't feel they were as good as they started or as bad as they have been lately. Take away the 6 losses to Monterrey recently and we still would've been playing .500 ball more or less.
I think playing the Stars will always hurt your record no matter how well you play.

Anything else you would like to add:
This is a very competitive world. Jway11 & Beef have been excellent in their patience with recruiting and I look forward to more seasons here in USMLB. tomjames and his blogging has made this a very entertaining league. I personally rate it my top three and I've been in quite a few leagues. I've been here for most of the 5 seasons and intend on staying in the league as long as I play the game. Clowns show a happy face no matter how they are doing, much like I do in real life. Although we're not in LA, I feel this team is a perfect fit for me.
I really don’t think the clowns always bring a happy face to the teams they have played so far this season.

Trades:
Tacoma Pioneers where in the trading mood again as they traded Tommie Relaford (P) and Pablo Jimenez (P) along with 500k to the Honolulu Honus for Britt Hamelin (P) and Jim Glynn (P). Rating: B+
This trade was a very even trade with the Honus getting some pitching help at there major league level and the Pioneers getting a couple young arms that they where looking for. In a couple of years I think everyone will be happy with this trade.

Monterrey Stars traded Ben Donahue to the Boston Braves for Tommy Crede and 3.7m. Rating: B-
The Stars got another power hitting outfielder to help out there offensive even more in Crede while they gave away a good young outfielder to get this deal done.

Rumor Mill:
Could we see the return of the dreaded Vawt Power Rankings this season, we can only hope that it comes true.
A lot of fans in Tacoma are wondering what going on with the Pioneers trading away players left and right, with 2/3rd of the starting rotation being shipped out. Will the trades end in Tacoma or will see more trades from there first place team.
We are still waiting for Vawt to explain to use what a Vawt is?

Poll Question:
I hope jway11 is ready for his interview.

Useless Information:
Greg Turner of the Durham Bulls have won 34% of his teams victories with his 10 victories so far this season while no other pitcher has more then 4.
Danny Harding of Milwaukee Bucks have hit 31% of his teams homeruns with 28 homeruns so far this season while also leading the league in homeruns early this season.
Henry Anderson and Tim Rooney the shortstop and second basemen for Wichita Wranglers have to best double-play combo in the league with them combining for 114 double-plays.
The Monterrey Stars are hitting 2.08 homeruns per game for there total of 123 homeruns which is tops in the league but if they keep up that pace they will finish with 336 homeruns which is way down from there record breaking performance last season of 376 homeruns, 2.32 homeruns per game.
The Burlington Ice Storm and Atlanta Brave Vawts are leading the league in strikeouts with 427, 7.23 strikeouts per game. If they both keep up that pace they will finish the season with 1171 strikeouts which is below the league record of 1185 by the St. Louis Cornerstone in season three.

Franchise Information:
The Jackson BlaZers franchise has the lowest ERA by any team through the first five years with a 4.02 ERA while the Kansas City Bobcats franchise has the worst with a 6.72 ERA.
The Kansas City franchise has the highest batting average by any team through the first five years with a .303 average while the San Diego Skyhawks has the lowest at .251 average.
Scranton Beet Farmer's franchise has the best fielding team during the first five years with a .990 fielding percentage while the Madison Lasers and the Houston Hitmen has the worst with a .980 fielding percentage.

The answer to yesterday Trivia Question:
Which team one the first World Series? And how long did the series go?
Answer:
Boston Americans in eight games.