SIM COMPLETE - 2001 - SIM 26

[Jimmy]

Well we made it in. Lost Dusty again for what will be all of the playoffs. I like our chances with Torres, Tucker, and a resurgent Jonathan Morris. Sadly, Dusty and him never clicked in the lineup together. Ok, back to the living. We still have some pop with Celedon and Walters (when they hit) also theres Naito. It will be an interesting post-season.

[Delandis]

I had real playoff aspirations but the injuries to Petro AND Martinez has really took the bite out if our bullpen. I wouldn't be surprised at all to be upset by the Tobs due to poor pitching in late innings. Plus we are better on the road than we are at home, so HFA for us may not be all Taft helpful. We'll see.

But hey there's nothing like keeping VA out of the playoffs for the first time in what feels like centuries.

[Delandis]

I like your future Matt.

Matt, please See Philly and Indy for reference.

[Jake]

Hey, we made the playoffs!

Another awful week for the offense that had been looking a lot better, but we get it done with pitching like the first half of the year. 5-2 including 3 of 4 from Indy to close strong.

Draw LA in the first round. I don't think we have much of a shot but who knows. First playoffs in 11 years and only my third series in 19 seasons as GM.

[Jistic]

I like your future Matt.

[Matt]

75-87

30 more wins than last season...we'll take it. Looks like we have the #7 pick and #18 pick in the 1st round, and #7 and #8 in the 2nd round. Hopefully we can continue to get young talent into the organization.

I'd like to say I'm excited about next year but we don't have any young talent in the BLB for starting pitching/hitting yet. I'm sure SP Gomez will be called up next season after winning the FF Pitcher of the Year (18-5, 2.35 ERA). After him we have six starting pitchers and one reliever in the Top 100 that will continue to get slow cooked.

On the hitting side Hardwick had a nice year (.263/.347/.453 with 13 HR, 65 RBI, led all IL rookie hitters in VORP) but no one else. AA 2B Jamie Hoffman seems to be getting a lot of love from the Top 100 but my scout isn't seeing big jumps. My next two prospects (Sanchez/Mumme) are in AA and A so it will be a while before they come up.

Long story short we'll looking at another few seasons before we're competitive again.

[nelmsm]

That was a weird last week for the Brawlers. One game all 5 of our runs came on solo home runs and in the finale to the season in a 13 inning affair we drew 16 walks! Actually we had more walks then we did strikeouts. Wonder how often you see that?

[Jistic]

Thank God our Bataan death march is over. We can finally change our focus in 2002. We've been waiting forever.

The good news is our organization took a huge bump and we're firmly on top. Saw some flashes from Demo in Sep. Jerry Davis had a great year at 2B, which is key because our two top 100's aren't ready yet. Next season a ton of talented prospects will join him and few holdovers. This team will look nothing like did these past few years no matter how it all pans out.

We've dumped so much money into PD, we'll still keep that going as there is still more in the pipeline and we have the #1 overall next year so I think we're setup for long term success which has been the plan since the mid 90's. But we'll also be way more active in free agency. We have a shit ton of budget space available for a few years before the kids start hitting their arb years.

I wish 2002 started tomorrow.

[Clay]

I'm not sure either, but he was the heart of those Maine lineups that won four titles. That has to count for a lot.

It's amazing how close the regular season numbers are.

[BradZ]

Not sure I've ever seen this: P Danny Escamilla (AAA) is out for 14 months after blowing out his elbow on 10/09. He hasn't pitched in a game since 08/21. WTF? Are these guys doing sidework in the offseason? This whole organization is out of control.

[Z]

I'm not sure either, but he was the heart of those Maine lineups that won four titles. That has to count for a lot.

[Clay]

I think he's a Guide.

Regular Season numbers are so close between MAI and BAL that you have to look off the board. 4 times as many post-season games in MAI and the rings make him a Guide if the choice has to be made.

EDIT: IMO

That being said... I'm not sure he's a HOF. The titles MAY push him just over the line. But, if he hung him up today, I see him as a guy who sticks on the ballot for a few years, but never makes it in.

[Clay]

The most intriguing Hall of Fame cap selection we'll have, assuming he gets in, which I think he should.

He was better in Baltimore, but Maine won four titles with him as their best or second-best hitter.

I think he's a Guide.

Regular Season numbers are so close between MAI and BAL that you have to look off the board. 4 times as many post-season games in MAI and the rings make him a Guide if the choice has to be made.

EDIT: IMO

[Z]

Great story. Too bad Kubota is a Bulldog.

The most intriguing Hall of Fame cap selection we'll have, assuming he gets in, which I think he should.

He was better in Baltimore, but Maine won four titles with him as their best or second-best hitter.

[Clay]

I hear you.

Given how funclown had been begging me for Suarez for years, I sadly expected that someone was going to sign him this year. Fortunately, no one did. And I'm grateful.

BTW - Also Tino's 50th career CG (Tied for 3rd all-time). Nice round number to end on.