Expanding Westward: The Fresno Outlaws

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Outlaws and Crusaders set to open season against in each other, in Fresno


Former Astros starter will make the first start in the history of the Outlaws

Talk about a storybook opening to the season. The two newest teams to Major League Baseball will open the season against each other in a four game set in Fresno.

Expected Pitching Matchups:

Tim Wakefield @ Wandy Rodriguez
Kevin Correia @ Sean Marshall
Paul Byrd @ Darrell Rasner
Mark Redman @ Cha Seung Baek

Neither team is particularly good, as you would expect from expansion teams, but it looks as if the Crusaders have the superior team in just about every way.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Opening Day Special


Barry Bonds connects for a two run single in the 6th inning

A fantastically pitched game got the Outlaws their first win in franchise history, at the hands of their sister team the, Brooklyn Crusaders. Wandy Rodriguez went 8 innings and allowed only one run and three hits to earn the first W.

Brooklyn Crusaders at Fresno Outlaws
April 1, 2008

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
     Crusaders (BRO) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0    1  3  2
       Outlaws (FRE) 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 x    3  9  1

BROOKLYN             ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
K. Lofton (CF)        4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
F. Lewis (LF)         4  1  0  0  0  0  0  1    .250
A. Phillips (DH)      4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .000
D. Ward (1B)          4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .000
A. Marte (3B)         3  1  0  1  1  1  0  0    .333
J. Werth (RF)         3  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .000
T. Graffanino (2B)    3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
D. Miller (C)         3  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .333
E. Bruntlett (SS)     3  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .000
TOTALS               31  3  0  1  1  1  4  1

   2B:  F. Lewis (1)
   HR:  A. Marte (1)

        BROOKLYN   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
    T. Wakefield  5.1  7  1  0  3  3  7  81   5.06
       C. Fossum  2.2  2  1  0  0  0  1  44   0.00
          TOTALS  8.0  9  2  0  3  3  8 125

FRESNO               ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
N. Hopper (CF)        3  1  1  1  0  0  0  0    .333
J. Gerut (LF)         4  2  0  1  0  1  1  0    .500
R. Gload (1B)         4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .250
B. Bonds (DH)         4  1  0  0  0  2  2  0    .250
M. Thames (RF)        4  1  0  0  0  0  2  0    .250
D. McPherson (3B)     3  0  1  0  0  0  1  0    .000
W. Aybar (2B)         4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .250
K. Cash (C)           3  1  0  0  0  0  2  0    .333
J. McDonald (SS)      3  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    .333
TOTALS               32  9  2  3  0  3  8  0

   2B:  M. Thames (1)
   GIDP:  W. Aybar
   CS:  K. Cash

          FRESNO   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
    W. Rodriguez  8.0  3  0  1  1  1  3 120   1.13
        G. Jones  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  1  11   0.00
          TOTALS  9.0  3  0  1  1  1  4 131

     WP: W. Rodriguez (1-0)
     LP: T. Wakefield (0-1)
     SV: G. Jones (1)

     Temperature: 56F
     Wind: 3 MPH (right to left)
     Attendance: 9,586
     Time: 2:24

Brooklyn Crusaders at Fresno Outlaws
April 1, 2008

TOP OF THE FIRST
Wandy Rodriguez takes the mound for the Outlaws.
Kenny Lofton lined out to left. <--->
Fred Lewis doubled down the first base line. <-2->
Andy Phillips grounded to second. <3-->
Daryle Ward grounded to second. <3-->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the first, the game is tied at 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Tim Wakefield takes the mound for the Crusaders.
Norris Hopper lined out to short. <--->
Jody Gerut struck out. <--->
Ross Gload grounded to third. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the first, the game is tied at 0.

TOP OF THE SECOND
Andy Marte grounded to second. <--->
Jayson Werth grounded to second. <--->
Tony Graffanino popped up to the shortstop. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the second, the game is tied at 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Barry Bonds struck out. <--->
Marcus Thames grounded to third. <--->
Dallas McPherson grounded to short. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the second, the game is tied at 0.

TOP OF THE THIRD
Damian Miller grounded to first base. <--->
Eric Bruntlett grounded to first. <--->
Kenny Lofton flied out to center. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the third, the game is tied at 0.

BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Willy Aybar grounded to second. <--->
Kevin Cash singled to left field. <--1>
John McDonald flied out to center. <--1>
Kevin Cash was caught stealing second. <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the third, the game is tied at 0.

TOP OF THE FOURTH
Fred Lewis reached first on a fielding error by the third baseman. <--1>
Andy Phillips popped up to short. <--1>
Fred Lewis stole second. <-2->
Daryle Ward popped up to second. <-2->
Andy Marte grounded to first. <-2->
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, the game is tied at 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Norris Hopper walked. <--1>
Jody Gerut singled to center. <-21>
Norris Hopper advanced on the error by Kenny Lofton. <3-1>
Ross Gload popped up to short. <3-1>
Barry Bonds struck out. <3-1>
Marcus Thames struck out. <3-1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, the game is tied at 0.

TOP OF THE FIFTH
Jayson Werth struck out. <--->
Tony Graffanino grounded back to the pitcher. <--->
Damian Miller flied out to center. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, the game is tied at 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Dallas McPherson struck out. <--->
Willy Aybar flied out to right. <--->
Kevin Cash struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, the game is tied at 0.

TOP OF THE SIXTH
Eric Bruntlett struck out. <--->
Kenny Lofton grounded to third. <--->
Fred Lewis grounded to short. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, the game is tied at 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
John McDonald singled to center. <--1>
Norris Hopper singled to left field. <-21>
Jody Gerut singled to short right-center, scoring a run. <-21>
Ross Gload singled through the left side. <321>
Barry Bonds singled to short left-center for two RBIs. <-21>
Marcus Thames struck out. <-21>
Casey Fossum came in to pitch for the Crusaders. <-21>
Dallas McPherson flied out to left. <-21>
Willy Aybar singled through the hole. <321>
Kevin Cash struck out. <321>
3 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors, and 3 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, Fresno leads 3 to 0.

TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Andy Phillips struck out. <--->
Daryle Ward lined out to center. <--->
Andy Marte homered to left-center. <--->
Jayson Werth grounded to short. <--->
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, Brooklyn trails 3 to 1.

BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
John McDonald grounded to the second baseman. <--->
Norris Hopper reached first on a fielding error by the first baseman. <--1>
Jody Gerut grounded to third. <-2->
Casey Fossum threw a wild pitch. <3-->
Ross Gload grounded to second. <3-->
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, Fresno leads 3 to 1.

TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Tony Graffanino grounded to the third baseman. <--->
Damian Miller singled up the middle. <--1>
Eric Bruntlett grounded to the pitcher, forcing the runner at second. <--1>
Kenny Lofton popped up to short. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, Brooklyn trails 3 to 1.

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Barry Bonds grounded to first. <--->
Marcus Thames doubled in the right field gap. <-2->
Dallas McPherson walked. <-21>
Willy Aybar grounded to the shortstop for a double play (6-4-3). <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, Fresno leads 3 to 1.

TOP OF THE NINTH
Geoff Jones came in to pitch for the Outlaws. <--->
Fred Lewis grounded to second. <--->
Andy Phillips grounded to third. <--->
Daryle Ward struck out. <--->

OUTLAWS WIN: 3-1

NOTE: Check the first post for some team firsts in a couple minutes.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Outlaws start the reason rough


Marcus Thames has already struck out 16 times in 42 at-bats this season

After the season opening win against the Crusaders not much has gone the Outlaws way this season.

We managed to split the series against the Crusaders, despite playing incredibly inconsistently. When we pitched, we didn't hit; when we hit, we didn't pitch.

We won the aforementioned first game on a strong outing by Wandy Rodriguez and RBI's from Bonds and Gerut. However the second game didn't go nearly as smoothly. We lost by a score of 7-6 and Sean Marshall failed to make it out of the 5th inning and allowed six of the seven runs the Crusaders scored. Norris Hopper had a nice game, going 3-4 with two RBI's, but it wasn't enough to help us earn the win. In the third game, trying to at least guarantee a split, we lost a squeaker, 3-2, in 11 innings. Rasner and Byrd pitched well against one another, Rasner going 7 1/3 innings allowing only two earned runs and Byrd going an astounding 10 innings allowing two runs and sending seven down on strikes. The game winning run came on an Andy Phillips homerun to lead off the 11th. We managed to earn the split in game four, in a fantastically pitched game on both sides, again going to extras. Mark Redman went the distance, 9 2/3 innings in this case, but got the loss when Barry Bonds hit an RBI single in the bottom of the tenth. Baek went 6 2/3 innings allowing one run, eight hits, and four walks. Thames hit the franchise's first home run, a shot to centerfield in the top of the second off Mike Redman.

The Rays managed to knock us around pretty good as well. We got a win to open the series, but lost the series two games to one.

We won game one again on the strength of our pitching, with Kuo going 6 innings allowing two runs. Norris Hopper and Jody Gerut continued their hot starts, going 2-4 and 3-5 respectively, and bringing their batting averages to .524 and .348 respectively. We were tied going into the bottom of the ninth and Norris Hopper singled to start the inning, Gerut then singled him over to third to put men on the corners with no one out. Then, in a bizarre ending, normally sure-handed catcher Dioner Navarro let a pitch slip through the 5 hole and Hopper scored from 3rd on what was scored a passed ball. We lost the second game despite a solid start by Wandy Rodriguez, a 6 inning three run effort. The bullpen got smacked up for two more runs and David Aardsma got the loss. We lost game three in an utter blowout, 9-2. Sean Marshall again failed to make it through 5 innings and allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings, in addition to allowing three home runs. The bullpen wasn't any better however. Brandon League, Chris Schroeder, David Aardsma, Geoff Jones, and Randor Bierd combined for 4 1/3 innings, allowed five runs, four hits, and two homers. Navarro, Pena, Gomes, Longoria, and Floyd all managed to hit homers off Outlaws pitching.

And to end the team's first week and a half of existence, we got swept by the Minnesota Twins. There wasn't much our pitching could do to stop them in any game, as we got outscored 18-11.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Blockbuster deal sends Atkins to the Bay


Atkins will now be manning the hot corner for the Giants

In a surprising, and some (most) would say awful, move the Rockies sent All-Star third basemen Garrett Atkins to the division rival San Francisco Giants.

The Giants will get All-Star third basemen, and big stick, Garrett Atkins (84) to the Giants in return for journeyman starting Victor Santos (71), catcher Bengie Molina (79), and lefty reliever Jack Taschner (79).

The move makes plenty of sense for the Giants. They get a relatively young hitter that can be a building block for the future. Atkins immediately becomes the best hitter in the Giants lineup and if he keeps up with his career averages (.300, 22 homers, 106 RBI's) he will easily be the best hitter on the Giants this season. He doesn't have much protection in the lineup so whether or not he can do that is up for debate, but it should still be a great deal for the Giants.

On the other hand, this deal makes absolutely no sense for the Rockies. The Rockies were a team that was expected to contend this season, and trading Atkins is totally counterproductive to a goal of winning. They very little to nothing of value back. Bengie Molina is 33 years old, has seen his defensive value drop considerably, is still a decent hitter but not anything close to what Atkins is, and is making 6 million dollars for the next two years. He does fill a need, but at what cost? Taschner is a solid, cheap lefty out of the 'pen, but hes 29 years old and has a career ERA of 5.72. This deal is simply awful for the Rockies.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Just a quick note. Because the game doesn't give added teams a pick in their first year, I'm going to lottery off the top 10-12 picks of this years draft and add the two expansion teams to this lottery so we will both get a pick. I'll control the first X amount of picks, with X being how many picks I lottery, and after just let the CPU take it over. I'm not going to lottery the top 10 picks between all the teams, just the teams that would be picking in the top 10 if I weren't messing with it.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Ok, my new draft order. I just wrote the team names down on a slip of paper, folded 'em up a few times, and picked them out of a hat, and the order I drew them in is the order they pick in.

New Order:

1. Washington Nationals
2. Houston Astros
3. Florida Marlins
4. Pittsburgh Pirates
5. Tampa Bay Rays
6. Fresno Outlaws
7. Chicago White Sox
8. Brooklyn Crusaders
9. Cincinatti Reds
10. Baltimore Orioles
11. San Francisco Giants
12. Kansas City Royals

From there on out the draft order is the same, aside from everyone getting bumped down a couple slots to make room for the two teams that are added. Mind you this is just for the first round.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

Great to have you back, Dawg!

A little uneasy about the Brooklyn club being in the A.L. Brooklyn's always been a N.L. city. Maybe shifting the Brewers again?

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Great to have you back, Dawg!

A little uneasy about the Brooklyn club being in the A.L. Brooklyn's always been a N.L. city. Maybe shifting the Brewers again?

Not a bad idea. If I do it'd have to wait till next season since I'm already a week and a half into this one.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Outlaws sell high on Wandy, get Kershaw


The Outlaws acquired 20 year old Kershaw in return for Wandy Rodriguez and two minor leaguers

Outlaws GM decided to sell high on Wandy Rodriguez after his latest strong start against the Boston Red Sox, a 7 1/3 inning, three run, no walk, 6 strikeout effort. Wandy Rodriguez had been 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA in 21 1/3 innings with 12 K's and only one walk and a .215 BAA, in three starts against the Red Sox, Rays, and Crusaders. The Dodgers also acquired 17 year old starting pitching prospects Juan Enriquez and Craig Robb and cash considerations. Enriquez is a very advanced pitcher for his age and projects as a #1 starter at the major league level with plus control, plus power, and average movement. He possess a circle change, a fastball, and a slider that project as plus pitches at the major level, and a splitter that could be solid as well. Robb isn't as advanced and doesn't project as well as Enriquez, but is still a very good prospect. Kershaw is an extremely young, talented lefty. He is only 20 years old and already major league ready. His curve ball is second to none and his fastball and change are also solid pitches that can only get better as he gets older and matures. He doesn't possess great control or movement yet, but that should come with age, he does however have the ability to strike guys out, almost at will. Kershaw has made one start this season, and it was not pretty, he went 5 1/3 innings, allowed 12 runs, 13 hits, two homers, three walks, and struck out just four.

However the deal does make sense for both sides.

LA acquires a proven, solid major league quality lefty that will throw strikes, walk few batters, and strike some guys out, at the very least an innings eater. They were a little shallow on starting pitching depth so it really helps there as well. They also acquire an EXTREMELY talented prospect in Enriquez, who could be just as good a prospect as Kershaw in the not-too-distant future, a solid prospect in Robb, and the cash never hurts either.

As for the Outlaws, Wandy was of no real value to them, they weren't going to win any more games with or without him. They were a team that lacked a true face of the franchise or a player to build around, and Kershaw gives them both of those things. With Kershaw they can sell the future and it gives them something to look forward to. It hurts them to hurt Enriquez and Robb, but they were much further away then Kershaw and are far from a guarantee. Kershaw isn't a guarantee either, but he stands a much better chance of reaching his potential at this point than either of them do.

It was a solid deal for both teams, but the Outlaws definitely got the better end of the deal here. Kershaw could be the next Sandy Koufax and Wandy is average and both of the prospects still have a long way to go before they sniff a major league diamond.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

A couple notes about that deal. First off, I made that deal using the trade block, I put the three players I traded on the block along with the cash to see what offers I got, and when I saw that I couldn't pass it up. Second, I have peaks hidden in order to make it a little harder so I'm not entirely sure what their peaks are. Before I turned peaks off I remember Enriquez having a peak of around 94 and I think Robb was mid-80's, Kershaw I have no idea about however.

[DarthJaker]

It's not Claton Kershaw is it?

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Yeah, what other Kershaw is there lol?

[DarthJaker]

nvm the pic looks like his pitching

[PotatoOfCouch13]

Nice deal, Dawg. Hopefully those prospects don't turn around and bite you in the a**.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Aybar leads Outlaws to first series win over Red Sox


Aybar helped the Outlaws to their first series win against the Red Sox, going 5-13 with 3 runs, two homers, two RBI's, and a walk

The Outlaws had a solid week, earning their first series win and their first winning streak in franchise history, going .500 for the week.

We won the series against the Red Sox, and if not for some late inning trouble in game three may have swept the defending champs.

The first game was a real thriller, a 4-3 win in 14 innings with plenty of blown opportunities. Wandy Rodriguez went 7+ innings to start the game, and allowed only three runs, no walks, and struck out 6 batters. However the real pitching star was the bullpen. Chris Schroeder, Jesse Carlson, Geoff Jones, and Randor Bierd combined to go six and two thirds innings, allowed merely two hits, and walked four. They did work themselves into a few jams but had the grit to get out of them unscathed. The winning run came on a walkoff homer to left by Marcus Thames. Barry Bonds went 0-4 but walked 3 times and Ross Gload hit a homer as well. Sean Marshall turn in a solid 5 innings of three run ball in game two. Marcus Thames, Jason Repko, and Willy Aybar all hit homers to help power the Outlaws to the 6-3 victory, guaranteeing the series victory. The bullpen was again superb, going 4 innings and allowing only two hits. Game three was just as exciting as the first two, but this one unfortunately did not go our way. Darrell Rasner went 8 strong innings, allowing only two runs and striking out 5. But with the game tied at two in the top of the ninth David Aardsma came on and allowed three hits and a run to let the Red Sox take the lead, and we couldn't recover and lost 3-2.

The bullpen could not duplicate the success it had in the Red Sox series against the Angels, and it ended up costing us the series.

Game one was an utter blowout, as we lost 12-3. Baek wasn't spectacular, only going 3 innings and allowing four runs (two earned), but the bullpen didn't help either. Brandon League, Randor Bierd, Geoff Jones, and Jesse Carlson combined to go four innings, allow 12 hits, and 8 runs. David Aardsma threw in a solid two innings of no run ball in relief however. Game two was a different story. Kuo pitched fantastic and went seven innings, allowed one run, three hits, and struck out nine, and even took a no hitter into the seventh. Kevin Cash was the offensive star, going 2-4 with a double and two RBI's. Game three saw recently acquired Clayton Kershaw make his Outlaw debut. He didn't pitch great, allowing 5 earned runs and giving up three homers in 6 2/3 innings, however if it wasn't for a ninth inning blowout he would have earned the win. Leading by two with two outs in the ninth inning Jesse Carlson allowed two hits in a row, and then Howie Kendrick came up and unloaded one into the seats to give them 9-8 lead, Carlson proceeded to work himself into another jam but managed to get out of it. We loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but couldn't push anything across and lost 9-8.

Next week the Outlaws travel to Texas for a three game series against the Rangers and then come home for three against the Orioles.


Team Notes:

• Jody Gerut has been struggling mightily and is expected to be benched in favor of Jason Repko
• Due to Aybar's hot hitting as of late, .297/.381/.649 in his last 10, he may see himself moved up to two in the batting order, with Repko likely moving down to #6 and everyone below that getting bumped down a slot.
• Jesse Carlson has apparently lost his closers job, at least temporarily, and will be lowered to short relief to work out his problems, with Schroeder now closing games and Geoff Jones at set-up.
• If Sean Marshall and/or Clayton Kershaw continue to struggle as badly as they have they could be sent to the minors in favor of recently signed David Wells.
• Barry Bonds struggles this season, a mere .163 batting average in 49 at bats (although he does have 13 walks and a .333 OBP), reportedly has management considering benching him in favor of Mark Sweeney.