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 Post subject: Re: Jacksonville Hickories: Talkin' softly, but carrying big
PostPosted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 10:32 pm 
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2010 OFF-SEASON AND SPRING-TRAINING REPORT

RESTRICTED FREE AGENCY

    The Hickories signed all of their free agents, but it was not without some serious negotiations.

    Successful number four starter Syd Fernandez received his requested 1 year contract for $1 million, rejecting offers of $2 million for four years and three years

    2008 second round draft pick Manzanilla, expected to win a starting spot this season, requested a one-year offer paying $900,000, but agreed to a two-year contract paying $1 million per year.

    Enigo Montoya, who had the most saves in the Majors this year and was near the tops in saves during his rookie season, received the one year, $1 million contract he requested, rejecting offers of $3 million for four years, $2 1/2 million for three years, and $1 1/2 million dollars for two years

    Crash Davis, who established himself as a solid contact hitter and greatly improved his throws to second base, rejected offers of $1.5 million for three years and $1 million for two years, receiving his initial request of $840,000 for one season.

    Buck Rogers disappointed management for the second year in a row by refusing to accept long-term contract offers that would've paid him 2.5 million for five years and 2 million for four years, insisting on a one-year contract paying just $410,000.

    AL home run leader, Jeff Lebowski, also rejected long-term offers that would have paid him $2 million for four seasons and $1 1/2 million for two seasons, receiving his initial request of a $1 million, one-year deal.

    The major leagues only 40–40 player, David Banner, did agree on a long-term contract. Instead of the $1 million for one season he requested, he is under contract for the next four seasons at $2 1/2 million dollars per season.

    Shortstop Way Cool Junior and centerfielder Willie Mays Hayes agreed to $1 million contracts for the next two seasons.

NOTABLE FREE AGENTS

Pitchers

    John Lackey
    Erik Bedard
    Adam Eaton
    Tim Hudson
    Brandon Webb

Catchers

    Bengie Molina
    Victor Martinez
    Ivan Rodriguez
    Yorvit Torrealba

First Base

    Hafner
    Ross Gload
    Nick Johnson

Second base

    Brian Roberts

Third-base

    Ty Wiggington

Shortstop

    Renteria (seeking $10 million for two seasons)
    Jack Wilson
    Khalil Greene

Outfield

    Xavier Nady
    Hideki Matsui (asking for almost $11 million for five years)
    Johnny Damon (asking for almost $12 million for four years)
    Jason Bay
    Matt Holliday (12 million for two years)
    Tori Hunter
    Andruw Jones
    Maglio Ordonez
    Gary Sheffield

HICKORIES FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS

    The Hickories were very re-strained, resigning all their own players and making one free-agent signing: 1b Ross Gload (DCDCCD), who signed a three-year contract paying $411,000 per year.

    Said the Hickories, "we really like our team and how its developing, and we didn't want to mess up the chemistry by signing a high-priced free-agent when we weren't sure he would beat out who we've got, or how it might hurt our players' long-term development, but Ross Gload provides some good insurance at first base and as a pinch-hitter with very little financial risk to us."

SPRING TRAINING REPORT

POSITION BATTLES

    Last season, Art Vandelay (CCCDDD) and Geordie LaForge (ECCCDD) battled for the left field position and it took Vandelay until after the All-Star break to win the job. This spring, the spot to watch was second base, where Encyclopedia Brown (DEDCCD-2) was fighting off 2008 first round pick Enochs (CDDCCC-1). Enochs was belting doubles all spring, winning the starting spot handily, but after batting 143 in nine games, Brown is seeing more playing time. In addition to Enoch's struggles, which insiders say is largely due to his lack of trajectory, Brown has some intangibles that make him a better fielder (gold glover, barehand catch, pivotman). Also, Ross Gload (DCDCCD) was mainly signed to provide some insurance at first and potentially be trade bait towards mid season. The Hickories do not need a backup first baseman since backup catcher Mackey Sasser can play first as well as Remington Steele (CCECDD), who generally serves as the main backup third baseman and first baseman. However, Gload hit very well in the spring and the Hickories might take their time deciding whether to keep him on the major-league bench or in the minors.

    The second base decision will likely affect the status of defensive utility player Edgardo Alfonso (EEDBCC). Alfonso and Brown play every infield position except pitcher and catcher. If Enochs wins the starting second base spot, Brown, who is a better hitter Alfonso and only has a slightly weaker arm, will probably be the utility infielder and Alfonso will go down to the minors. If Brown wins the second base spot, the Hickories will not need Enochs as a pinch-hitter, and will likely send him down in order to have the flexibility that Edgardo Alfonso provides defensively.

    If Alfonso and Brown are on the roster, that will give the hickories 3 players who can play 3rd, making Remington Steel (who plays 1st and 3rd) less valuable and more likely that he would lose his spot to Ross Gload.

The Hickories wealth of pitching means there is another battle to be the back-end starters. The front and middle of the rotation is set, as follows:

    Kotter
    Lincecum
    Cohen
    Glass Joe

After battling through the spring, the last two spots were awarded to Syd Fernandez (EB HSL – three, DCB – two, SP – five, SH – three) and 2008 second round draft pick Manzanilla (92 CB 2SF – three, SL – three, CB – five, FO–4), with Buttermaker, Hobbs, and 2009 rookie of the year Duane Schneider serving as the long and middle relievers. The Hickories are carrying one less pitcher to start the season in order to carry an extra outfielder – Freeman McNeil (DDCCCD), mainly to serve as a pinch runner and defensive replacement. This could pose a problem as the middle relievers are expected to see more action this season, as Glass Joe rarely can pitch more than 6 innings and Manzanilla's stamina is below 120.


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 Post subject: Re: Jacksonville Hickories: Talkin' softly, but carrying big
PostPosted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 10:51 pm 
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Congrats on winning the World Series!!

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 Post subject: Re: Jacksonville Hickories: Talkin' softly, but carrying big
PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 6:19 am 
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Thank you, PP27!


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 Post subject: Re: Jacksonville Hickories: Talkin' softly, but carrying big
PostPosted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:38 pm 
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APRIL IN REVIEW

    RECORD


The Hickories picked up where they left off, going an amazing 25 and 2 to start the season. They have a sizable 12 game lead over Yankees, who they have yet to play, and won all 8 games they played against the Red Sox, who are tied with the Blue Jays for last place in the AL East.

Their two losses came and the third game of their first series against the Orioles and their first game against their first series against the White Sox.

    TOP PERFORMANCES, HIGHLIGHTS, AND LOW LIGHTS


      4/1: OPENING DAY DUEL. In a tight pitching duel against Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, opening day starter Gabe Kotter allowed just one run through 6–1/3 innings of work, but could not collect the win, in part because the Hickories tried too hard to make things happen, with Vandelay and Mayes Hayes getting thrown out trying to stretch singles into doubles in the same inning. The Hickories did pull ahead and win the game in the late innings.

      4/2: DAY TWO IS A DAY OF FIRSTS. Buck Rogers hits the first Hickory home run of 2010, and Lincecum pitches the 1st complete game of 2010, shutting out the Blue Jays for the final eight innings

      4/4: SHORT STINT. David Cohen's first start in 2010 is a forgettable one, as he exits after allowing three runs to the Red Sox in just 2–1/3 innings of work. In that high-scoring game, more balls are fielded by the Red Sox centerfielder than by the Red Sox entire infield

      4/7: POWER SURGE IN BOSTON. With all the Red Sox starters in gray condition, the Red Sox show that they have a lack of quality middle relievers, as the Hickories hit six homeruns, half of them by Buck Rogers. The Red Sox were forced to use every reliever on the roster, including closer Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth inning with the Red Sox down by eight runs, as only one of the Red Sox relievers were able to complete a second inning. The combined batting lines for Brian McCann, Buck Rogers, and David Banner: 11/17, 2–2B, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 8R.

      4/11: BEATEN BY SPEED. The Hickories first loss of the year comes on a blown save against the division rival Orioles when Carl Crawford hits an RBI infield single in the bottom of the 9th.

      4/14: GOOD START. Before coming out of the game with elbow pains, Syd Fernandez throws 5–1/3 innings of no-hit baseball against the Red Sox. Post-game test results were negative.

      4/15: TURN IT UP TO 11. In a tight pitching duel that began with Manzanilla facing the Red Sox Carpenter, the Hickories used four pitchers and David Banner hit the winning RBI in the bottom of the 11th inning. Final score: two – one, Hickories

      4/20: LONG-LASTING. in his longest pitching performance of his career, 2008 second round draft pick Manzanilla takes a three hit shutout into the 8th, racking up five strikeouts in the process. 2009 rookie of the year Duane Schneider allowed the Mariners to load the bases with one out, but escaped on a rare double-play ball hit into by Ichiro, and maintained the shut out until the end of the game.

      4/27: MCCANN CAN: in the third game of their series against the White Sox, the Hickories score 4 runs in the first six innings, all coming on McCann’s three homeruns

    AWARDS


The Hickories swept the AL player of the month awards. Brian McCann (440, 13 HR, 32 RBI) was named player of the month while Inigo Montoya (11 saves, 1.69 ERA, 3K) was named pitcher and relief pitcher of the month

Brian McCann was one of the players of the week ending 4/11, during which he batted 618 with 6 homeruns and 15 RBIs

For the week ending 4/18, Hickory's swept the AL player of the week awards. Shortstop Way Cool Junior averaged 560 with 4 RBIs and numerous stolen bases while David Cohen pitched twice, earned two wins with a 0.87 ERA and 10 strikeouts

For the week ending 5/2, the Hickories, again, swept the AL Player of the Week awards. Buck Rogers hit 448 with 5 homeruns and 10 RBIs while Art Vandelay hit 313 with 4 homeruns, 11 RBIs, and several stolen bases.

    OFFENSE


The Hickories pushed 160 runners across the plate, which ties them for the seventh most effective offense in the majors, but considering that their 345 hits, 53 stolen bases and 51 homeruns leads the majors by wide margins, those stats show that the Hickories are not hitting well in the clutch.

On an individual basis, the offense seems to be in mid-season form with the exception of last years home run leader (3b Lebowski) and the World Series MVP (RF Banner) who are hitting well in spurts, but are well off their prior season averages. David Banner has a current batting average of 286, which is actually significantly higher than it was earlier in the month, and Jeff Lebowski started the season hovering around 200 before a late month surge brought him up to his current 315 average.

Brian McCann, Way Cool Junior, and Buck Rogers are first, second, and forth in the majors with 440, 433, and 411 batting averages, respectively.

Brian McCann, Buck Rogers, and Art Vandelay are first, second, and tied for fourth with 13, 12, and 9 homeruns, respectively.

Brian McCann and Buck Rogers are first and second with 32 and 30 RBIs, respectively

Art Vandelay leads the league with 28 runs scored.

Way Cool Junior and Mays Hayes are first and second with 14 and 12 stolen bases, while Vandelay and David Banner are tied for third with 11 stolen bases

Arts Vandelay (CCCDDD), has been a revelation in the leadoff spot, driving in 18 runs while hitting 9 homeruns, including the longest homerun hit by a Hickory so far this season (475'). He also has four doubles and three triples already. He, Brian McCann and Buck Rogers have been the only batters to consistently hit well in the clutch in the opening month. Word has it that Willie Mays Hayes (CDBCDD) is not complaining about batting out of the second hole, but is unhappy about losing his leadoff spot.

    PITCHING


The pitching staff allowed 84 runs to cross the plate, surrendering 15 home runs in the first month and posting a team ERA of 3.01, which are all league bests. Their 194 team strikeouts is 30 strikeouts better then the second place division rival Yankees but is only tied for 17th best in the majors.

Last years pitcher of the year, Kotter, and Lincecum have been consistently solid, while the rest of the staff has kept runs off the scoreboard without looking consistently sharp.

Roy Hobbs (94 CB HSL-3, SCB-2, SP-4, HSK-4): in his first season, Hobbs pitched his way off the starting rotation and off the major-league roster. Last season, he lost his spot in the rotation, but stayed on the roster for much of the year. This year, he started in the minors and was called up when the successful Morris Buttermaker developed a tired arm, and he has been a revelation, accumulating 4 wins and pitching well out of the middle relief/spot starter’s roll with an ERA of under four

Gabe Kotter has the second lowest ERA in the majors at 1.17

In Enigo Montoya leads the league with 11 saves, 4 better than Francisco Rodriguez and Jonathan Broxton

    SECOND BASE BATTLE


A member of the Hickories front office who is not authorized to speak on behalf of the team, indicated that the front office was really hoping that Enochs wins out over Encyclopedia Brown, allowing Brown to serve as the main utility infielder over Edgardo Alfonso (EEDBCC). Players on the team who were only willing to speak anonymously have expressed there hope for Brown to win out, mainly due to his success after stepping in after the All-Star break last year and performing successfully. Pitchers, in particular, seem to have more confidence in Brown's abilities at 2nd.

Enochs was given the start and beginning of the month after a solid spring, but he struggled so poorly offensively that he was sent down for Brown. Brown also struggled, but may have had an edge on Enochs because of his smoother fielding ability, but when Enochs was called up a second time, he consistently got on base, showing doubles power to both fields, and was successful batting out of the second slot in addition to the back end of the order.

A comparison of their stats through the first month of the season:

    Enochs (CDDCCC), over 17 games with 59 AB: 305, 4–2B, 7RBI, 7R, 2K

    Brown (DEDCCD), over 13 games and 37 AB: 243, 5R


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 Post subject: Re: Jacksonville Hickories: Talkin' softly, but carrying big
PostPosted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 6:10 pm 
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Oh my gosh, 25-2? What difficulty is this!!???

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 Post subject: Re: Jacksonville Hickories: Talkin' softly, but carrying big
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:23 pm 
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Baserunning, fielding, etc. is on manual. I do have it show the pitch cursor to track the pitch. For fielding, the catching mark is on. My hitting is on normal

CPU batting and pitching is "All-Star." I change CPU pitch speed too powerful, but then the cursor bounces around and I think it would bother my eyes.

CPU baserunning and fielding is "powerful"

CPU sweet spot is normal

Pitch speed is slow. Now that I saw that, I just changed it to normal.


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