Pittsburgh Punts on Season, Apologizes to Fans

Pittsburgh Pisces Owner/GM Mack Shultz stepped to the podium today, knowing he was going to be roasted by a hostile press corps over a trade that effectively ended the Pisces' chances of contending in 2004. Pittsburgh sent four major leaguers and a good starting pitching prospect to Cairo, picking up only two prospects in return.

"We know this will be a tough day for our fans to swallow," said Shultz. "But we trust that they'll have patience with us as we rebuild for a brighter future."

Pittsburgh sent out its best starting pitcher in Oscar Leon, its best hitter in Paul Caldwell, last year's starting shortstop and third basemen in Donald Blair and Tyler Payne, along with starting pitching prospect Robert Yearby (the 40th ranked prospect). That bounty effectively stripped the Pisces of key pieces that fans were hoping would return the team to the playoffs as a wild card behind expected front-runner Seattle.

In return, Pittsburgh picked up #1 ranked prospect Richard "Buck" Ro and catcher Larry Jensen, who was the second pick in last month's amateur draft. While these players may contribute in the future, it's unclear how they will perform in the present.

"We felt like we needed to add some young talent to go with our core featuring "Tiny" Croce and Donald "Missing" Parson. Ro and Jensen are premier talents, and those players simply don't come cheaply," said Shultz.

Pittsburgh also recently took three players in the Rule 5 draft, including starting pitcher Joseph Basho, which some observers took as a sign that the club planned to focus on rebuilding efforts. Still, nobody expected the bloodbath of this trade.

"Leon and Caldwell will be free agents at the end of the year and Blair and Payne were looking at bench roles," said Shultz, attempting to appease the outraged fanbase. "Besides, Leon hadn't even arrived in town yet after the offseason trade with Stockholm."

Cairo fans, meanwhile, celebrated the news. The additions of Leon and Calwell were welcomed, as were the upgrades at shortstop and third base where Cairo had its two weakest starters.

Is Pittsburgh done dealing? Probably not. There are still a large number of players on the roster who will be hitting free agency at the end of the year and it's unlikely that the Pisces will want to, or be able to, sign them all. However, future deals may have to wait until mid-season, as contending teams identify the holes on their rosters and look for help filling them.

Rule 5 Draft Completed

Here are the results.

New York Rule 5 Draft Round 1 Pick: SS Bill Aiello from Cairo.
Pittsburgh Rule 5 Draft Round 1 Pick: P Joseph Basho from Sylva.
Maryland Rule 5 Draft Round 1 Pick: 3B Melvin Lera from Stockholm.
New York Rule 5 Draft Round 2 Pick: C Mark Sabella from Maryland.
Pittsburgh Rule 5 Draft Round 2 Pick: P Kenneth York from Jersey City.
Pittsburgh Rule 5 Draft Round 3 Pick: CF Rudolph James from Maryland.

League file is uploaded. Web pages en route.

Spring Training will be Friday night or Saturday morning.

OOTP 9

Michael Weintraub and I are testing out the new version of OOTP with a fictional league. My personal opinion is that it may well be worth upgrading. For instance, downloading the league file is preposterously easy in the new version. One click of the mouse and the game smoothly takes care of the rest.

But, we're way too early in the process to have a final recommendation to offer to either Nate or the rest of the owners. I do though want to ask everyone in this league (and the SDMB league) if there's anything in particular they want us to check. I'd like to have a list of things people want us to check out in the new game so we can report back to the group on them.

So, is there anything in particular you'd like us to check on OOTP 9? Bugs in 6.5 that trouble you? Things you like and want to make sure still work? Drop a comment. Thanks.

Rule 5 Draft is Ready

New web pages are en route and the league file has been updated.

And no, neither Croce nor Pilla remain available. Sorry.

Rule 5 draft will be tomorrow night. If you want to make any picks, send me an email with explicit directions, especially if you want to pick more than one person. If I can't figure out who you want, you don't get to pick.

P.S. Paul and I completed a minor trade. Pittsburgh sent OF Richard Whitesides to Jersey City in exchange for SP Duncan Gillis and a 5th round pick in 2005.

Free Agency Days 27 - 30

This concludes our test of the emergency free agent system. If this had been an actual emergency Barry Bonds would still be available.

Day 27

Day 28

Day 29

Day 30
Marietta: Free agent P Stephen Pacheco has been signed to a minor league contract.
Maryland: Free agent P Jackie Chadwick has been signed to a minor league contract.
Marietta: Free agent RF Will Hsu has been signed to a minor league contract.
Marietta: Free agent P Tom Ambler has been signed to a minor league contract.
Maryland: Free agent LF Shachihiko Okitsugu has been signed to a minor league contract.
Marietta: Free agent LF Henry Kincer has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent 3B David Lipinski has been signed to a minor league contract.
Stockholm: Free agent P Abel Valdes has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent RF Johnnie Tapp has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent P Anderson Norred has been signed to a minor league contract.
Marietta: Free agent LF Renato Fleites has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent RF Heriberto Serrano has been signed to a minor league contract.
Marietta: Free agent P Matthew Pahl has been signed to a minor league contract.
Maryland: Free agent SS Jonah Leiva has been signed to a minor league contract.
Marietta: Free agent 2B Daniel Ochs has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent P Randy Woodhouse has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent C Rocky Slape has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent P Jose Salo has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent P Carlos Prados has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent P Bruno Lane has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent 1B William Coldiron has been signed to a minor league contract.
Marietta: Free agent C Nick Armendariz has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent P Earl Roughton has been signed to a minor league contract.
Marietta: Free agent P Derrick Lozano has been signed to a minor league contract.
Marietta: Free agent P Darryl Cottrill has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent P Hugo Araoz has been signed to a minor league contract.
Marietta: Free agent P Alvin Ahumada has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent LF Robert Franklin has been signed to a minor league contract.
Marietta: Free agent C Alex Vivo has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent P Donald Villalba has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent RF Hiichirou Shusake has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent P Pedro Ortiz has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent P Adam Still has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent P John Atnip has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent P Larry Shields has been signed to a minor league contract.
Helena: Free agent P Jeremy Presnell has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent LF Chokurou Kazushige has been signed to a minor league contract.

Free Agency Days 23 - 26

Remember, tomorrow is the END of free agency. Get those last offers in, people!

Day 23 :

Day 24 :

Day 25 :

Winnipeg : P George Echevarria, 1,805,000 per year, for 2 years. Maryland : P Robert Taylor, 695,255 per year, for 1 year.

Day 26 :

Free Agency Days 19 through 22

Still rolling along. Oofah.

Signings

Day 19 :

Day 20 :

Pittsburgh : 1B Modesto Prada, 300,000 per year, for 1 year. Winnipeg : P Bernal Espino, 518,700 per year, for 2 years.

Day 21 :

Day 22 :

Maryland : P Robert Newland, 3,958,555 per year, for 3 years. Jersey City : SS Manuel Toscano, 420,000 per year, for 2 years. Winnipeg : P Edward Kopecky, 461,700 per year, for 1 year.

Free Agency Days 15 - 18

We're still trundling along aiming to end Free Agency this week!

Signings

Day 15 :

Day 16 :

Brooklyn : P Stephen Hawn, 3,000,000 per year, for 2 years.

Day 17 :

Marietta : P Pedro Diaz, 5,500,000 per year, for 2 years. Sylva : LF James Ward, 350,000 per year, for 2 years.

Day 18 :

Free Agency Days 13 and 14

First off, a small trade

New York sends minor leaguers

CL C Saez
SS J Laramie

to Pittsburgh for

OF J Prosperie
C J Zollinger

On to the signings!

Day 13 :

Day 14 :

New York : 2B Roger Kirby, 430,000 per year, for 1 year. Winnipeg : P Paulino Salazar, 5,300,000 per year, for 2 years. Helena : P Higinio Franco, 1,200,000 per year, for 2 years.

Free Agency Days 11 and 12

Day 11 and 12 are complete! We're still on pace to finish up free agency in the next week or so! Don't miss out! Days 13 and 14 are Monday night!

Signings:

Day 11 :

Marietta : LF Scott Derrico, 4,500,000 per year, for 2 years. Stockholm : 2B Steffen Nell, 1,750,000 per year, for 2 years. Winnipeg : SS Suguru Mutsuhito, 2,300,200 per year, for 2 years.

Day 12 :

Winnipeg : P Eric Davis, 672,000 per year, for 1 year.

Free Agency Day 10

Remember, starting tomorrow we're back to more than one day per sim! Don't miss out!

Signings

Day 10 :

Maryland : P Edward Adams, 5,295,111 per year, for 4 years. Jersey City : P Winfred Froehlich, 550,000 per year, for 2 years.

OEL Draft Rounds Seven through Fifteen

And that's it for the amateur draft! Rounds seven through fifteen are now complete!

Round 7 :

New York pick: LF Bill Harris. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Cairo pick: 2B Neal Clinger. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Helena pick: P Joseph Wild. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Pittsburgh pick: 2B David Sikorski. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Jersey City pick: C Edgar Klingbeil. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Sylva pick: P Pascual Mazzola. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Maryland pick: P Joseph Nicholson. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Marietta pick: P Aubrey Schaal. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Winnipeg pick: C Kenneth Atnip. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Seattle pick: P Paul Florez. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Brooklyn pick: C Sixto Marciano. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Maryland pick: P Joseph Grullon. Signing Bonus: $25,000

Round 8 :

New York pick: C Garrett Price. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Cairo pick: SS James Miller. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Helena pick: 3B Seymour Goodwin. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Stockholm pick: 2B George Mullikin. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Jersey City pick: CF Albert Guzman. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Sylva pick: SS Normand Saylor. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Brooklyn pick: SS Paul Cohrs. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Marietta pick: SS Alvaro Medina. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Winnipeg pick: C Florian Devries. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Seattle pick: P Timothy Harjo. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Brooklyn pick: C Sean Toombs. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Maryland pick: LF George Whittemore. Signing Bonus: $25,000

Round 9 :

New York pick: 3B Constantino Galgano. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Cairo pick: RF Joseph Pope. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Helena pick: 1B Eden Alfaro. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Pittsburgh pick: RF Daisetsu Azumamaro. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Jersey City pick: RF Kirk Tilghman. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Sylva pick: 3B Johnnie Tobias. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Stockholm pick: RF Carroll Pinon. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Marietta pick: RF Gary Perez. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Winnipeg pick: 3B Bill Ingram. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Seattle pick: SS Nicholas Jiron. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Brooklyn pick: 3B Robert Powell. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Maryland pick: 3B Carrol Domingue. Signing Bonus: $25,000

Round 10 :

New York pick: CF Jose Gonzalez. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Cairo pick: P Ronald Vierra. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Helena pick: P Frank Fowler. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Pittsburgh pick: P Risaburou Shigemasa. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Jersey City pick: P Timothy Dimond. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Sylva pick: SS Manny Costa. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Stockholm pick: P James Soderberg. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Marietta pick: P Tony Callen. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Winnipeg pick: P James Dority. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Seattle pick: 3B Roberto Apodaca. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Brooklyn pick: P Manuel Pacheco. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Maryland pick: 1B Enrique Collazo. Signing Bonus: $25,000

Round 11 :

New York pick: P Raymond Lantigua. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Cairo pick: P Amadis Moreno. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Helena pick: 3B Joel Diez. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Pittsburgh pick: LF Russell Varga. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Jersey City pick: P James Lineberry. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Sylva pick: CF Michael Parker. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Stockholm pick: 3B Alex Ibañez. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Marietta pick: P Jose Echague. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Winnipeg pick: P John Remy. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Seattle pick: P Bruce Westlund. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Brooklyn pick: P Terry Benda. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Maryland pick: P Monty Doss. Signing Bonus: $25,000

Round 12 :

New York pick: P Adan Gutierrez. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Cairo pick: P Einar Mazza. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Helena pick: P Horace Chapel. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Pittsburgh pick: P Andres Alcaide. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Jersey City pick: P Douglas Monroe. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Sylva pick: P Augusto Abad. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Stockholm pick: P Chester Hern. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Marietta pick: P James Kimber. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Winnipeg pick: P William Caban. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Seattle pick: P Emiliano Renteria. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Brooklyn pick: P Philip Willis. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Maryland pick: P John Dziedzic. Signing Bonus: $25,000

Round 13 :

New York pick: P Miguel Torres. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Cairo pick: P George Bruckner. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Helena pick: P Seth Lemke. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Pittsburgh pick: P Ollie Jackson. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Jersey City pick: P Ruperto Zuñiga. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Sylva pick: P Elbert Blevins. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Stockholm pick: P Wenceslao Balbas. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Marietta pick: P Tomas Bemudez. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Winnipeg pick: P John Marquardt. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Seattle pick: LF Carl Wesolowski. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Brooklyn pick: P Douglas Isabell. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Maryland pick: P Eddie Farrier. Signing Bonus: $25,000

Round 14 :

New York pick: P Laurence Clanton. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Cairo pick: P Wayne Willer. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Helena pick: P Richard Pollitt. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Pittsburgh pick: P Donald Masaharu. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Jersey City pick: P Isaias Mariscal. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Sylva pick: P Michael Bad. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Stockholm pick: P Martin Hellwig. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Marietta pick: P Eddie Pineda. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Winnipeg pick: P Roger Jerry. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Seattle pick: P Oswaldo Zambrano. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Brooklyn pick: P Scott Bellows. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Maryland pick: P Seth Dunham. Signing Bonus: $25,000

Round 15 :

New York pick: P Kikuhiko Keita. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Cairo pick: P Hidezaburou Seiesnsui. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Helena pick: RF Wes Mandel. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Pittsburgh pick: P Carlos Madera. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Jersey City pick: P Agustin Ortega. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Sylva pick: P Theodore Greathouse. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Stockholm pick: P George Allison. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Marietta pick: P Victor Lashbrook. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Winnipeg pick: P George Torres. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Seattle pick: P Woodrow Strickland. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Brooklyn pick: P Marc McCardle. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Maryland pick: P Ryo-ichi Shunsuke. Signing Bonus: $25,000

Free Agency Day 9

There were no signings today! Day 10 is tomorrow.

Draft Round Six

Round 6 :

New York pick: CF Jimmie Pickle. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Cairo pick: P Francisco Pantoja. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Helena pick: LF Alberto Olivera. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Pittsburgh pick: 1B David Rosado. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Maryland pick: P Nestor Moncayo. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Sylva pick: C Michael Nesbitt. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Stockholm pick: 3B Ramon Marquez. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Marietta pick: P Thomas Weiland. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Winnipeg pick: P Peter Jones. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Seattle pick: C Edward Hartshorn. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Brooklyn pick: 3B Leonard Seldon. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Maryland pick: 2B Donato Rosario. Signing Bonus: $25,000

Free Agency Day 8

Starting following Day 10 I will be making 2 days per night of free agency. Be warned.

The signings!

Day 8 :

Pittsburgh : CF James Rhodes, 750,000 per year, for 2 years. Helena : 3B John Plyler, 1,100,000 per year, for 2 years. Winnipeg : P Bryan Tollett, 2,016,500 per year, for 2 years. Marietta : C Nathan Sanchez, 750,000 per year, for 1 year.

OEL Draft Round Five

Only two players are still sending in picks. After Round Seven (or earlier, if they indicate) I will finish the draft automatically.

Round 5 :

New York pick: 1B Timothy Walker. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Cairo pick: C Donald Baker. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Helena pick: 3B Mark Giles. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Pittsburgh pick: LF Alexander Dinardo. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Jersey City pick: P Jose Alvarez. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Brooklyn pick: SS Melvin Jones. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Maryland pick: CF Kenneth Kirkham. Signing Bonus: $33,000 Marietta pick: P Roque Quiroz. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Winnipeg pick: P Benjamin Wiggins. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Seattle pick: P Alvaro Trevino. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Brooklyn pick: 3B Boyd Modica. Signing Bonus: $31,000 Maryland pick: 3B Bradford Dodd. Signing Bonus: $25,000

Free Agency Day 7

Day 7 of Free Agency has come and gone. Beginning tomorrow, with the new owner on board, I will go back to simming two days at a time until around Day 15. Then we'll see.

Signings:

Day 7 :

Winnipeg : P James Fortner, 7,613,800 per year, for 3 years. New York : 3B Salomon Tavarez, 3,500,000 per year, for 2 years.

OEL Draft Round Four

Finally, a round in which I have no pick!

Round 4 :

New York pick: CF Samuel Torre. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Cairo pick: P Will Rentas. Signing Bonus: $54,250 Helena pick: LF Adan Coloma. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Pittsburgh pick: C Justin Zollinger. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Jersey City pick: 1B Kenneth Raines. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Sylva pick: CF Cleveland Marmolejo. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Stockholm pick: RF Michael Bridges. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Pittsburgh pick: C Billy French. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Winnipeg pick: C Ralph Hurtt. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Pittsburgh pick: 3B Simeon Diaz. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Brooklyn pick: P Robert Bearden. Signing Bonus: $49,000 Maryland pick: P Cedric Coca. Signing Bonus: $25,000

Free Agency Day 6

I elected to sim only one day tonight at the request of several owners. A new Winnipeg owner is coming in (more later) and slowing it down seemed appropriate.

Signings:

Day 6 :

Maryland : RF Benito Parra, 5,795,555 per year, for 4 years. Brooklyn : C Spencer Berta, 300,000 per year, for 1 year.

OEL Draft Round Three

Round 3 :

New York pick: SS Jeremy Huber. Signing Bonus: $65,000 Cairo pick: 2B Raymond Hensley. Signing Bonus: $72,500 Helena pick: RF James Hickey. Signing Bonus: $55,000 Pittsburgh pick: 3B Mark Kolar. Signing Bonus: $62,500 Maryland pick: P Fred Wolford. Signing Bonus: $65,000 Pittsburgh pick: P Hassan Stone. Signing Bonus: $52,500 Pittsburgh pick: 2B Amando Guercio. Signing Bonus: $82,500 Marietta pick: P Bill Smith. Signing Bonus: $160,000 Winnipeg pick: 1B Kevin Ernest. Signing Bonus: $60,000 Seattle pick: P Tristan Wilkins. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Sylva pick: P Hector Cruz. Signing Bonus: $25,000 Maryland pick: SS Alberto Torre. Signing Bonus: $62,500

FA timing - suggestion for next year?

It may just be me, but I'd like to take the beginning of the FA period a little slower? Have day 2 and 3 be their own sims?

Or if you want to keep the same # of sims...
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3-4
Day 5-6
Day 7-9
and onward as now.

Amateur Draft Round 3 Order

1. New York
2. Cairo
3. Helena
4. Pittsburgh
5. Maryland
6. Pittsburgh
7. Pittsburgh
8. Marietta
9. Winnipeg
10. Seattle
11. Sylva
12. Maryland

OEL: Free Agency Days 4 and 5

Signings:

Day 4 :

Jersey City : P Sergio Varela, 3,500,000 per year, for 2 years. Winnipeg : P Jose Alvardo, 1,430,000 per year, for 1 year. Helena : P Marcelo Amaral, 1,650,000 per year, for 2 years.

Day 5 :

Maryland : RF Donald Mansfield, 6,952,555 per year, for 2 years. Winnipeg : C Timothy Odom, 460,000 per year, for 1 year. New York : C Brian Atlas, 300,000 per year, for 2 years. Helena : P Manny Labarbera, 1,650,000 per year, for 2 years. Helena : P Earl Moya, 400,000 per year, for 2 years. Cairo : 3B Jermaine Schaefer, 350,000 per year, for 1 year. Seattle : 1B Luis Medina, 350,000 per year, for 1 year.

More to come tomorrow night!

OEL Draft Round Two

Round 2 :

New York pick: SS Marvin Weist. Signing Bonus: $35,000 Cairo pick: CF Carson Reliford. Signing Bonus: $35,000 Helena pick: CF Chris Meade. Signing Bonus: $98,000 Sylva pick: LF John Whitener. Signing Bonus: $224,000 Jersey City pick: CF Pedro Fernandez. Signing Bonus: $133,000 Marietta pick: 3B Gary Milardo. Signing Bonus: $35,000 Pittsburgh pick: 3B Brain Muniz. Signing Bonus: $136,500 Marietta pick: C Adrian Amezcua. Signing Bonus: $94,500 Winnipeg pick: CF Alec Vandenberg. Signing Bonus: $140,000 Seattle pick: SS Paul Lechner. Signing Bonus: $115,500 Jersey City pick: SS John Laramie. Signing Bonus: $77,000 Maryland pick: P Benjamin Echeandia. Signing Bonus: $112,000

Some oddball dancing required by the system this time. Sylva and Pittsburgh had to swap places in the draft so those players, above, are with the other team. Also, Jersey City's 11 pick was actually New York's so I made that switch and made all of the money work out right in small trades.

Round 2 Draft Order

One player made a request for this.

1. New York
2. Cairo
3. Helena
4. Sylva
5. Jersey City
6. Marietta
7. Pittsburgh
8. Marietta
9. Winnipeg
10. Seattle
11. Jersey City
12. Maryland

Enjoy!

OEL: Free Agency Days 2 and 3

Day 2 :

Winnipeg : RF Shane Spies, 3,564,000 per year, for 3 years. Winnipeg : 1B Vincent Blaser, 2,042,400 per year, for 3 years. Cairo : CF Terry Lopez, 400,000 per year, for 1 year. Cairo : P Davis Oppenheimer, 3,000,000 per year, for 2 years.

Day 3 :

Jersey City : 1B Amado Rodon, 4,800,000 per year, for 3 years. Seattle : 2B Pedro Sequeiros, 1,500,000 per year, for 1 year.

OEL: Amatuer Draft Round One!

Round one of the draft is over! Here are your picks!

New York pick: 2B Eric Guglielmo. Signing Bonus: $885,800
Cairo pick: C Larry Jensen. Signing Bonus: $877,200
Helena pick: P Joseph Knudsen. Signing Bonus: $1,287,000
Pittsburgh pick: P Claude Carruthers. Signing Bonus: $891,000
Helena pick: RF James Bray. Signing Bonus: $580,000
Pittsburgh pick: CF Ronald Gibby. Signing Bonus: $1,161,500
Marietta pick: P Alberto Deluna. Signing Bonus: $202,800
Marietta pick: RF Jon Wyse. Signing Bonus: $372,400
Winnipeg pick: 3B Milton Blount. Signing Bonus: $170,000
Pittsburgh pick: P Bryan Guzman. Signing Bonus: $192,400
Brooklyn pick: C Tony Jacquez. Signing Bonus: $166,400
Maryland pick: P Carlos Sotelo. Signing Bonus: $185,400

Free Agents soon to come!

Trade: Marietta and Stockholm

Stockholm, faced with no cash to sign draftees deals it's 1st round pick (#7 overall) and AA Wendell Sanchez to Marietta for minor league Moniz and $2 million.

1st round pick for trade!

I apparently don't have any cash, so I can't sign a first round pick. If you'd like the 7th pick in the draft, please e-mail me an offer right away. Cash or prospects, please. I can't take on any salary, unfortunately.

mweintr@gmail.com or mweintr2 on AIM.

-- Michael / Stockholm GM

OEL: First Day of Free Agency Complete!

The first day is complete! There are no signings to report.

Tomorrow sees us completing days two and three of free agency and day one of the amateur draft.

TO SUBMIT YOUR DRAFT PICKS

Please submit a list of picks equal to your pick placement in that round. That is, if you have pick 5 submit your top five picks to me. I will choose the highest available player for your team. It's just that simple! But don't be late or Mr Computer will make the choice for you. I'm sure those high round picks won't be wasted on those middle relievers.

Also, don't forget to check the cost of the player. If you can't afford the signing bonus you don't get the player.

The league file is uploaded and the report is on the way to the website! Get crackin'!

Coach Signings Complete

The coach signing period is complete, although people will continue to be able to sign coaches. Here's the final round of signings:

New York: Scout Freddie Gibbons, $400,000 x 3 years.
Maryland: Scout James Johnson, $995,325 x 3 years.

Nate takes over now for free agency and the amateur draft and I'll let him circulate the schedule. I expect it to start on Monday, but that's up to him.