Power Pros Forum

"I thought you wanted to do well."

"I thought you had patience. Actually, I've done most of the work, but I need you to review the last part." "What do I need to do?" "Look at these and see if they're good enough," said Matthew Harris, new GM of the Fresno Flyers, one of two MLB expansion teams for the 2013 season, as he handed manager Carson Harris (his older brother) a set of scouting reports for potential starting players. "I have 2 or 3 at most positions as well as 5 pitchers," said Matthew. "Can I sit down to look at these?" "Of course," said Matthew. "I sent a team of 3 scouts to review these players, and I personally watched film of them online to write my own notes. The scouts are Scott James, Dave Miller, and Wes Turner. I trust Wes the most since he has the most experience. Scott shows potential, but Dave is not very good at scouting. He looks for the wrong things." Carson sat down at a chair near Matthew's spacious (and well-organized) desk and began reading.

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Pitchers

Matthew Hanson, RHSP

Scott: Places his pitches well, great stamina. Breaking balls occasionally blend together but are both above-average pitches.

Matthew's Notes: Good control but velocity is iffy. Slider has great tilt.

Tyler Richardson, RHSP

Dave: Poor control. Velocity is decent. Average stamina for a starter. No true out pitch.

Matthew's Notes: Cutter is a good pitch that he uses well. Changeup used against RHB to get ground balls.

Scooter Thompson, RHRP

Dave: Throws mainly junk. Some sort of spike curve and what looks like a slow sinker of some sort. When he throws fastballs, they get hit.

Matthew's Notes: Average control and endurance for a reliever. Has plenty of work to do but offspeed stuff is good enough to bail him out of tough innings.

Josh Kelly, RHRP

Scott: Power pitcher with no offspeed stuff. Good control, cutter moves well as complement to heavy fastball.

Matthew's Notes: We may want to have him learn another pitch in the spring as he only throws a 4-seam and cut fastball right now. Velocity is below-average for late-inning reliever.

Jayson McDougal, LHRP

Wes: Throws with tremendous velocity, but that has its drawbacks. He has poor control and only 2 decent pitches, a slow curveball and sinking changeup, to go with the fastball.

Matthew's Notes: After one batter hit a home run, Jayson proceeded to hit the next batter, clearly in retaliation, and get ejected. Disciplinary issues may be the worst of his problems.

Dan Crawford, C/1B

Scott: Contact hitter with decent all-around potential and skill. Has average arm for a catcher.

Matthew's Notes: Can also serve as emergency first baseman.

Pete Grossman, 1B

Wes: There is no way you could turn down this guy if you needed a DH. He has the best mix of contact and power that I've seen in years, maybe ever. He is very consistent and a good leader.

Matthew's Notes: He can also pitch, throwing a high-80s fastball and a slider that needs work. He could be an emergency option for our bullpen.

Grant Lawrence, 1B

Scott: A solid defensive first baseman with decent power. Could become a Gold Glove at first with some work.

Matthew's Notes: If you combined the best of Lawrence and Grossman, you would have the one of the best first basemen in the league, hands down.

Brett Bell, 2B/SS

Dave: Looks like a true speedster.

Matthew's Notes: If he had better contact he would be a great leadoff hitter. Solid defense but needs to work on his arm before playing short.

Dylan Brown, 3B

Wes: Great offensively but shaky on defense. Balanced hitter with excellent speed for his position. Won't hit many home runs as he is a pure line-drive hitter.

Matthew's Notes: He has an above-average arm but is average at best fielding-wise.

Josh Adams, 3B

Scott: Decent all-around player. Main flaw is inability to field ball cleanly on occasion. More of a contact hitter than a power hitter.

Matthew's Notes: Speed is good but not great. Average arm for third base, good range but makes too many errors.

Matt Lowe, SS

Dave: Poor speed for a shortstop, but a cannon for an arm. Average hitter with average defense for the position.

Matthew's Notes: Fiery leader with above-average skill. Speed needs work but is otherwise a very solid player.

Nick Wallace, SS

Scott: Good all-around player with room for improvement. Defensive whiz with below-average power.

Matthew's Notes: Good speed and contact, could become a good leadoff hitter in time.

Tucker Davis, RF

Wes: Amazing contact hitter with a cannon for an arm. Below-average defensively (except for his arm) and offensively, aside from making contact.

Matthew's Notes: Could become a very good player if he works on his weaknesses in practice.

Ryan Brown, RF

Dave: Good speed but below-average everywhere else. Does not have a good work ethic, slacks off a lot in practice.

Matthew's Notes: Definitely needs to practice a lot more, but for now could be a serviceable option in right or as a pinch-runner.

Fresno Flyers

Colors: Orange, Black
Stadium: GoldenApples Stadium
General Manager: Matthew Harris
Manager: Carson Harris
AAA Affiliate: Sacramento Sluggers

Flyers Roster

All players except Cormier have Recovery 4 (Cormier is the only Success player on the team)

Starting Pitchers

Tyler Richardson: 93EB, cut 4, scb 3, cchg 4
Matthew Hanson: 90CA, cb 3, v-sld 3
Simon Young: 92DB, slv 2, chg 2
Matt Crawford: 87CB, cut 4, cb 3, Fastball Life 2, Flyball P, GD Delivery
Reese Anderson: 91DB, cut 1, chg 3, sifb 1, GD Reflexes, GD Morale
Tanner Hill: 91EB, cut 2, dcb 2
Peter Smith: 84GC, 2sfb 2, cb 3, chg 2, Walk, VS Lefty 4, Bunt Master, Push Hitter, GD IF HTR, HD 1st Slide, Throwing 2, GD Morale, GD Eye, GD Small Ball (2nd pos: 2B)

Relief Pitchers

Michael Cooper: 96FC, h-sld 1, PR Morale
Jake Jones: 90FC, cb 1, chg 1 (2nd pos: CF)
Heath Cooper: 85FE, 2sfb 1, chg 1, GD Morale
Scooter Thompson: 87DD, kncb 3, sc 2, Spin 4
Josh Kelly: 93CD, cut 4, Fastball Life 4
Jayson McDougal: 102FD, scb 2, cchg 2, Hot Head

Catchers

Dan Crawford: 2CEDCDD, Contact Hitter (2nd pos: 1B)
Sean Brown: 2EDDDEF (2nd pos: 1B)
Clay Gomes: 1FFEACC, Throwing 4

Infielders

Pete Grossman, 1B: 3BAGEEE, Clutch Hit 4, Power Hitter, Intimidator, Consistency 4, Fastball Life 4, GD Morale, GD Eye
Grant Lawrence, 1B: 3ECECDD
Brett Bell, 2B/SS: 2DDBDCD
Reid Johnson, 2B/SS: 2EECDCD
Robbie Sutton, 2B/RF: 2EECEDD
Dylan Brown, 3B: 2CCBCDD
Josh Adams, 3B: 2CDCCCE
Zach Lawrence, 3B/2B: 2EEBDDC
Matt Lowe, SS: 2CCDBCC, Sparkplug, GD Eye
Nick Wallace, SS: 2CDCCCB

Outfielders

Tim Cormier, LF: 2DEDCCD
Cody Adams, LF: 2EDGCDD
Cody Thompson, LF/CF/RF: 1EFDFEF, Base Running 4, Stealing 4
Isaiah Hightower, CF: 2EECDCD
Jeff Lowe, CF/RF/LF: 2EFCDCD
Sam Hicks, CF: 1EFADCC
Tucker Davis, RF: 2AEEAEE, Contact Hitter, Cannon Arm
Ryan Brown, RF: 2DEBDDE
Kellen Lawrence, RF: 1EFCDBB

Left-Handed Pitchers:

Matt Crawford, Michael Cooper, Jake Jones, Jayson McDougal

Left-Handed Batters:

Robbie Sutton, Jeff Lowe, Sam Hicks, Kellen Lawrence

Switch Hitters:

Sean Brown, Pete Grossman

Like your roster so far, really looking forward to this!

The Fresno Flyers have announced the resignation of scout Dave Miller. Miller, 58, had worked with the Colorado Rockies for 17 years as a scout, and is known for giving poor scouting reports (he called Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki a player with no upside in 2007).

2013 Spring Training recap

Durham 7, Fresno 14
Durham 4, Fresno 4
Fresno 6, Durham 0
Fresno 11, Durham 5
Detroit 1, Fresno 7 (6, rain)

Stats:

PITCHING

Richardson: 2 g, 1 gs, 5 ip, 4 h, 2 k
Hanson: 2 g, 1 gs, 6 ip, 2 h, 8 k
Young: 2 g, 3 ip, 5 h, 3 er, 3 k
M.Crawford: 2 g, 1 gs, 6 ip, 4 h, 1 er, 11 k
Anderson: 2 g, 1 gs, 5.1 ip, 12 h, 6 er, 3 k
Hill: 2 g, 1 gs, 3.2 ip, 6 h, 1 er, 5 k
Smith: 3 g, 5 ip, 2 h, 1 er, 5 k
M.Cooper: 2 g, 2 ip, 1 h, 1 k
Jones: 2 g, 2 ip, 1 h, 1 er
H.Cooper: 1 g, 1 ip, 3 h, 2 er
S.Thompson: 1 g, 1 ip, 1 h, 1 er, 1 k
Kelly: 1 g, 1 ip
McDougal: 1 g, 1 ip

BATTING

D.Crawford: 4 g, 4 gs, .455 AVG, .545 SLG, 2 rbi
S.Brown: 4 g, 1 gs, .429 AVG, .571 SLG, 1 rbi
Gomes: 3 g, 1-3
Grossman: 5 g, 5 gs, .625 AVG, 1.313 SLG, 3 hr, 13 rbi
G.Lawrence: 5 g, 2 gs, .429 AVG, .643 SLG, 1 hr, 8 rbi
Bell: 4 g, 4 gs, .538 AVG, .615 SLG, 4 rbi, 2/3 SB
Johnson: 3 g, 1 gs, .625 AVG, .750 SLG, 1/2 SB
Sutton: 4 g, 1-4, 1 rbi
D.Brown: 4 g, 4 gs, .538 AVG, .846 SLG, 2 rbi
J.Adams: 4 g, 1 gs, .857 AVG/SLG, 1 rbi
Z.Lawrence: 4 g, 1-4, 1/1 SB
M.Lowe: 4 g, 4 gs, .667 AVG, .833 SLG
Wallace: 4 g, 1 gs, .400 AVG/SLG
Cormier: 4 g, 4 gs, .545 AVG, .636 SLG, 2 rbi
C.Adams: 3 g, 1 gs, .287 AVG, .857 SLG, 1 hr, 3 rbi
C.Thompson: 4 g, 1-4
Hightower: 4 g, 4 gs, .615 AVG/SLG, 3 rbi, 2/2 SB
J.Lowe: 3 g, 1 gs, .667 AVG/SLG, 1 rbi
Hicks: 4 g, 1-4, r, 1/1 SB
Davis: 5 g, 3 gs, .700 AVG, .800 SLG
R.Brown: 4 g, 2 gs, .333 AVG/SLG, 1 rbi, 0/1 SB
K.Lawrence: 4 g, 0-5
Pitchers: 1-6, 2 r, 1/1 SB, so, 2 sac

(Note: All "spring training" games were in exhibition vs. normal difficulty. I may have to turn the difficulty level up a notch for the actual season.)

"What are we going to do? We have 35 players and we can only keep 25 of them in the majors. We have to tell the other 10 that they didn't make it, but I don't want to bring them all into my office and stuff," Carson said. "We could gather everyone together somehow and read off the roster or something," Matthew suggested. "We've all pretty much known each other since middle school, why don't we just have a team party tomorrow night?" Carson suggested. "Sounds good to me," said Matthew. "You do have the roster figured out, right?" Carson asked. "Yeah, there were definitely some tough decisions, but I think we will have a solid group in the minors for injuries or to replace ineffective players," Matthew said. "So it's set then, a party at my house. I'll tell the players. 8 pm tomorrow night, Matthew. Be there or else," Carson said. Matthew turned and walked out of the room, telling himself to be there before 8.

March 30, 2013

Carson seems excited. Maybe too excited, thought Matthew as he watched his older brother prepare for the team party he was hosting later. Maybe there's someone he's really looking forward to sending down...or telling that they made it... With that thought, Matthew began to clear out the room where the players would meet, and eventually stay the night in. "Are you sure there's enough room?" "Yes, just get back to work and you'll see." Matthew got back to moving stuff into closets to make room. By the time he was done, he was starting to see how Carson boasted that the room could "hold 40 people comfortably". He looked at the clock on the wall. 7:28. Just about half an hour until the players started streaming in. And if Matthew knew his brother, they wouldn't all leave as happy as they had come.

---TO BE CONTINUED---

I'm enjoying this. Hope it lasts!

I agree!

A note: From now on I will be labeling the date as 2013. The real date is 5 years before the labeled date, for example, the party is being thrown on March 30, 2008 MLBPP-wise, but is in 2013 story-wise.

What is the logo?

I'm not sure, as this is a bit old, but I believe the flag is solid black with an orange F, and the logo is a bird of some sort.