Baton Rouge Aces III: The return

ESPN The Magazine

Top 5 Free Agents by Position
This Season's stats in brackets

Catcher

Dave Ross (76) [.182, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 0 SB] in 60 games
Jason Kendall (73) [.314, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 0 SB] in 34 games
Yorvit Torrealba (72) [.211, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB] in 19 games
John Buck (70) [.230, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB] in 19 games
Shawn Riggans (69) [.263, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 0 SB] in 48 games

First Basemen

David Ortiz (79) [.254, 5 HR, 41 RBI, 0 SB]
Adrian Gonzalez (77) [.235, 14 HR, 57 RBI, 0 SB]
Carlos Pena (71) [.214, 10 HR, 23 RBI, 1 SB] in
Lyle Overbay (69) [.267, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 1 SB]
Paul Konerko (69) [.222, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB] in

Second Basemen

Mark Ellis (73) [.254, 9 HR, 32 RBI, 4 SB]
Kazuo Matsui (71) [.237, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 1 SB]
William Bergolla (69) [.132, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB]
Junior Wright (52/57) [didn't play professionally this season]

Third Basemen

Bill Hall (77) [.170, 8 HR, 25 RBI, 1 SB]
Edwin Encarnacion (77) [.263, 10 HR, 31 RBI, 1 SB]
Wes Helms (75) [.200, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 0 SB]
Willy Aybar (72) [.243, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 1 SB]
Brian Buscher (71) [.222, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB]

Shortstops

Erick Aybar (79) [.278, 1 HR, 30 RBI, 2 SB]
Christian Guzman (73) [.252, 6 HR, 39 RBI, 9 SB]
Bobby Crosby (71) [.224, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB]
Nick Punto (71) [.188, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB]
Ray Olmedo (67) [.179, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB]

Left Fielders

Pat Burrell (77) [.254, 32 HR, 107 RBI, 2 SB]
Omar Infante (75) [.218, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 2 SB]
Chris Burke (73) [.265, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 1 SB]
Drew Anderson (70) [.500, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB]
Eric Byrnes (69) [.263, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 3 SB]

Center Fielders

Willie Bloomquist (73) [.239, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 3 SB]
Willy Taveras (71) [.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB]
Jeremy Reed (71) [.187, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB]
Mark Kotsay (69) [.246, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB]
Jason Lane (69) [.091, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB]

Right Fielders

J.D. Drew (79) [.259, 10 HR, 43 RBI, 0 SB]
Michael Cuddyer (72) [.280, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB]
Terry Evans (67) [.091, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB]
Carl Cantley (56/63) [did not play professionally]

Starting Pitchers

James Shields (76) [9-11, 3.31 ERA, 131 K, 165.2 IP]
Mike Pelfrey (73) [8-13, 4.64 ERA, 115 K, 178.1 IP]
Serguey Linares (73) [did not play professionally]
Aaron Harang (72) [0-1, 6.00 ERA, 3 K, 3.0 IP]
Chris Young (71) [3-6, 3.31 ERA, 101 K, 98.0 IP]

Relief Pitchers

Ludovicus Van Mil (71/78) [did not play professionally]
Dennys Reyes (2-3, 4.29 ERA, 22 K, 21.0 IP, 1 SV]
Jeremy Affeldt (5-3, 2.62 ERA, 45 K, 58.1 IP, 1 SV]
Brian Fuentes (3-1, 3.24 ERA, 12 K, 16.2 IP, 7 SV]
Adam Russell (4-0, 5.19 ERA, 22 K, 26.0 IP, 0 SV]

Why would the Cardinals want Carlos Pena?

The Advocate

Aces make first big free agent splashes

The Aces and 1B David Ortiz (79) have tenatively agreed to a 3 year 4.5M deal to play 1B and DH. Ortiz has been a big power hitter in his career. A position in need for the Aces. In his fifteen year career he has 320 home runs. He hopes to hit many more with the Aces for the next 3 years.

The Aces also agreed to sign 1B Adrian Gonzalez (77) to a 4 year deal worth 4M. Gonzalez, when healthy is widely considered one of the best, if not the best position player on the market. He will play 1B or DH also. He also brings a lot of power to the team. In his eight year career he has 139 HR. He also hopes to hit many more with the Aces before his contract is up. Adrian Gonzalez will be on the DL for 97 days with a torn achilles. He will be ready for spring training. Gonzalez and Ortiz will battle for the 1B position. The better performer will play 1B and the other will play DH.

In other news, The Aces have been talkin to a few pitchers but not many expects talks to go far.

At the moment the Aces have 8.80M left under the budget.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jeffy25

Why would the Cardinals want Carlos Pena?

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Albert Pujols was temporarily hurt at the time. And it was a trade block trade

The Advocate

Aces and Cubs agree to trade

The Aces and Cubs agree to trade 3B Chris Nowak (81/85) to the Cubs for prospect SS Starlin Castro (63/81). Nowak won't get any playing time for the Aces and the Cubs gave us an offer we couldn't refuse.

Before you say I ripped them off, Aramis Ramirez has fallen off considerably and Chris Nowak fills the void for them. Starlin Castro gives us a SS for the future so we can get rid of the other guys (Bartlett and Zobrist) before their contract demands get too high.

Notable Free Agent Review

Cardinals sign former Ace: LF Pat Burrell signed with the Cards for a 3 year deal worth 7.3M.

Mariners sign former Ace: SP James Shields agreed to a contract with the M's for 2 years worth 5.1M.

Cubs sign CF: The Cubs and Willie Bloomquist agreed to a 3 year 2.05M contract. They also signed RF JD Drew to a 3 year 4.3M contract

Blue Jays sign 3B Hall: They agreed to a 4 year 2.95M contract. They also signed Edwin Encarnacion to a 3 year 2.55M deal. (this may be a problem) They also signed Wes Helms to a 2 year 2.2M contract (this is a problem) They also signed SS Erick Aybar to a 2 year 3.9M deal (at least it wasn't a 3B)

Indians sign former Ace: 1B Carlos Pena and the Indians agreed to sign a 2 year 1.3M deal.

2010 Awards

Attachment 30696

Congratulations to everyone that won an award.

Meet Your 2011 Baton Rouge Aces

Last season's stats in brackets

Lineup

CF Emeel Salem (93) [.411, 20 HR, 113 RBI, 16 SB] in AA and AAA
LF Desmond Jennings (90) [.303, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 9 SB] in 58 games
2B Reid Brignac (96) [.338, 16 HR, 83 RBI, 10 SB]
3B Evan Longoria (89) [.250, 31 HR, 117 RBI, 5 SB]
DH David Ortiz (79) [.254, 5 HR, 41 RBI, 0 SB]
C Bryan Anderson (92) [.324, 9 HR, 67 RBI, 3 SB]
1B Adrian Gonzalez (77) [.235, 14 HR, 57 RBI, 0 SB]
SS Jason Bartlett (78) [.259, 8 HR, 67 RBI, 11 SB]
RF Carl Crawford (75) [.263, 11 HR, 67 RBI, 40 SB]

Bench

SS Ben Zobrist (78) [.256, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 1 SB]
2B Chase Fontaine (80) [.265, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB]
C Jacon Jeffries (77/86) [.312, 9 HR, 88 RBI, 4 SB]
CF BJ Upton (78) [.308, 9 HR, 41 RBI, 11 SB]
LF Matthew Joyce (78) [.235, 7 HR, 28 RBI, 1 SB]

Starting Rotation

Scott Kazmir (82) [12-9, 3.99 ERA, 193 K, 194.0 IP]
David Price (91) [8-3, 5.12 ERA, 66 K, 84.1 IP]
Grant Balfour (86) [2-2, 5.08 ERA, 52 K, 44.1 IP]
Lewis Rollins (79) [12-9, 4.43 ERA, 103 K, 181.0 IP]
Jeremy Hellickson (82/87) [6-5, 4.11 ERA, 93 K, 108.1 IP] in A and AA

Bullpen

CL - Randy Choate (77) [5-3, 4.28 ERA, 44 K, 2 SV]
SU - Jason Frasor (75) [6-2, 4.45 ERA, 56 K, 2 SV]
SR - Dewon Day (71) [9-5, 5.05 ERA, 39 K, 2 SV]
SR - Austin Hinkle (67) [1-1, 11.37 ERA, 7 K, 0 SV]
MR - Clayton Mortenson (80) [2-2, 3.13 ERA, 21 K, 0 SV]
LR - Matt Walker (80) [2-2, 4.50 ERA, 46 K, 0 SV]

Top 3 Prospects

SP Clayton Mincelli (50/91)
SS Tim Beckham (71/88)
1B John Wible (65/84)

I really have no idea how all of these 90's players got here. I have not edited anybody and those 3 guys ratings jumped that high. That must be the randomness of this game. I haven't changed any settings either so i don't know why it did that.

bump...I'll return to this tomorrow