WHAM! BAM! THANK YOU, MA'AM!
Perhaps a ribald way to put things, but with a trio of power moves, Pottsylvania GM Jeff Moore truly put himself and his Creepers club back in "contending" mode for the first time since October of 2009, striking successive deals with franchises both within and without the Central Division.
#1 As previously reported, the Creepers obtained 1b Paul Konerko as part of the St. Francis fire sale, with the price being a trio of minor-leaguers (Jason Knapp, Tommy Mendoca and Sean West)
#2 In another move for offense, Pottsylvania sent their 1st-round pick in this year's draft to Sin City, which already owns the "pole position" in the 2012 affair. The Creepers also moved minor-league OF Reymond Fuentes and LHP Manny Banuelos. In return, they got a pair of Cardinals for their Redbirds-loving GM, Jeff Moore: 1B/OF Lance Berkman for the lineup, and LHP Jaime Garcia for the rotation.
#3 Finally, the Creepers sent two more picks (2nd, 5th) to Yuma, along with minor-league infielders Jonathan Singleton and Nick Franklin. In return, they added a big, big (OK, fat) ace in LHP C.C. Sabathia, plus a solid bullpenner, RHP Luke Gregerson.
THE UNSTABLE (AND MEDIOCRE) CENTRAL
Have the Creepers become a great team? In fact, will any team in the Central ever show enough staying power to be anything but a one-year wonder? There hasn't been a repeat champion since the Las Vegas Luchadores exploited the weakest of divisions, finishing just two games over .500 in a two-year stretch (2006-07) for a pair of titles.
Since then, a picture of instability emerges:
#1 In 2008, then-Lexington GM Ronald Melkonian set a division record with 87 wins, but by next year that heavily-mortgaged club would post the first of three consecutive losing seasons, its ragtag roster unable to compete when transplanted into the East. Now rechristened Sin City, the club managed just 57 wins last year, but seems about to reap the fruit of three years of favorable draft position.
#2 In 2009, the Creepers won the Central, squeaking out a 79-65 finish with help from much-traveled LHP Cliff Lee on the final day, while Casselton (78-66) finished just a game out. They won a playoff series (the only time a Central team has ever advanced) before falling to Yuma in a six-game World Series. In the next two years, Pottsylvania would trade away Lee, watch most of their high-priced veterans collapse, and compile a composite 140-168 mark.
#3 Then, in 2010, the Horned Toads earned a divisional crown, but a lack of pitching depth kept them from improving greatly, and they would edge Melkonian's new reconstruction project (Arizona? Philadelphia?) by just four games with an 82-70 mark. In the hunt until the final month, GM Landon Bolt's team lost nine of their last ten to finish below .500
#4 Finally, last season saw both Casselton and Pottsylvania in the second division. Previously sub-.500 expansion club St. Francis led the league in runs scored, but blew their lead late in the year and had to settle for a wild card slot with 86 wins, while again Ron Melkonian's club (Philadelphia) set a new division record for wins with 91 triumphs, including nine of their last ten. Yet, neither club advanced in the playoffs and both of the 2010 contenders began rebuilding projects in the off-season. The collapse of the Rebels (and their reincarnation in Arizona) was especially shocking: just as in 2008, a heavily-leveraged Melkonian team now seems headed for several years in the second division.
Perhaps this is the year things will finally change things in the Central? One hopeful sign: with three legitimate contenders (Casselton, Los Angeles and Pottsylvania) favored to finish above .500, with many young players ready to contribute and favorable draft position, perhaps the balance of power will finally shift away from the East, so aptly labeled "The Division of Death" a few years back. On the other hand, the loop will undoubtedly host at least two sub-.500 clubs, including a wretchedly undermanned Arizona club. The more things change, the more things stay the same, it seems....
5 comments:
Has anyone even looked at the Creepers salary right now?! 191.32... far above the max cap of 120. It will be interesting to see what gives in the upcoming days before and during the draft, since his best talents are costly and taking up much room.. yet need to be present if they want to contend.
And on that note, I think this is the first year I've had to legitamitely make decisions concerning salary, and I think it's a league-wide dilemma. Which, by the way, I also think is awesome.
I would personally love Jeff's "problems". I see him exposing Buerhle and Blanton in the draft, daring other owners to pay top dollar for older pitchers ...then protecting Sabathia, Lee, Garcia, Carpenter, and Marmol for his hurlers...Berkman, Konerko, Kemp, Aybar and Ramirez for his lineup...I kind of doubt anyone will use a first rounder on any of his likely exposed, and he'll get to pull at least one back. Don't worry, Ron: I am sure Ryan Ludwick will still be there for you in the fifth round!
Actually with all my calculations, I'll still have some cash to play with lol
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