Baseball Tri-Weekly: September 2017 Cover (Championship Edition)

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Baseball Tri-Weekly: EHCC Championships Tale of the Tape

By Aviator McShadeless

This is the moment we've all been waiting for. The EHCC Championships. After one of the hardest fought seasons in recent memory, two amazing teams remain. Both are coming off impressive wins, taking the long road and knocking out a pair of rusty bye squads.

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2016 EHCC Finals Preview

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Baseball Tri-Weekly: March 2016

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Baseball Triweekly Cover: October 2014

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Baseball Tri-Weekly: October 2011 Cover

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Making A Case

The votes are in, well, most of them. The EHCC Awards are set to be officially announced at the end of the season including Rookie of the Year, Offense and Pitching Staffs of the Year, GM of the Year, and the All-EHCC Roster. With Offense and Pitching Staffs being pretty obvious choices, at least according to the voting (and the stats), GM of the Year has been a tight race thus far. Let's break apart all those who received votes.


Make A Case
By Max Powers; EhSPN


Jack Reed, Rakeville Rockets

His History
Mr. Reed has not been shy to voice his GM strategy over the years: build from the ground up, showing loyalty to players and hoping they produce on the field. For a few years the Rockets have struggled to really put forth a true championship caliber team, usually making the playoffs, only missing out in 2004 and 2009, but never making the finals. They'd stayed true to their strategy, growing talent from within and bringing up the best of each crop of talent. 2010 has been no different, as Reed only made one trade since the start of the 2009/2010 Off Season through the August 1, 2010 trade deadline, trading for 3B Scott Rolen. He's also made the 3rd least amount of overall roster moves of all non-contracted team, with only Arlington and Tokyo having less.


His Moves
With the lack of transactions during the season the Rockets have been able to form one of the tightest clubhouses in the EHCC. Former captain Pedro Martinez still makes frequent visits to Rakeville, quoting strong bonds he formed with both players and management over the years, even when he was struggling. "We never really have a fear of losing our jobs," current starting catcher Joe Mauer told reports, "I'm not sure if he [Jack Reed] is just lazy or really likes us all. Either way, it's comforting to know the name on our lockers aren't going anywhere."


His Take
The Rockets finished 2008 in 4th place, then 10th place the following season. After allowing their young talent to make their way up they've climbed back up to championship contention and clinched the 1st round bye and the Eastern Division crown. Some criticize the Rockets, saying they don't deserve the award because it's not a "most improved" award, and that it should be based on the moves the GM made to better their squad (ie: trades, add/drops, etc). Reed has a different look on it stating, "I rebuilt this team," commenting on his General Managing ability. He continued with, "I better win GM of the year, considering all the moves I made - last year's trades plus my rookies coming up."

Apparently last year's trades should be considered in this year's award.


Patrick Renaud, Quebec City Piglets


His History
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride: story of Patrick Renaud's life. Since 2005, the first year the GM of the Year Award was given out, Renaud has not finished higher than 2nd in the GMotY voting, despite never missing the playoffs and grabbing the Western Division crown all but once [2006] in that time frame. He finished 2nd to Arlington's Matt Skinner in 2007, the same year the Warriors beat the Piglets in the EHCC Championship (perhaps that had something to do with the voting), and he finished second to Peoria's Dave Grubb in 2009.


His Moves
During the 2009/2010 offseason Renaud was desperate to upgrade his offense since he had solidified the league's best pitching staff for the past two seasons. He brought in perennial MVP contender Albert Pujols as an upgrade over Justin Morneau and Andrew McCutchen to give life to his aging outfield. Closer to the deadline Renaud pulled off a blockbuster with Weymouth, brining in powerhouse pitchers Johan Santana and Roy Halladay, further solidifying his strong pitching staff. All these moves, along with the day-to-day activity (3rd most in the league) brought Quebec City their 3rd straight, and 4th overall regular season crown.


His Take
His ability to keep his team in annual contention is Renaud's logic behind why he should win the award stating, "No one does more to build their team year in and year out than me and I"ve never won it," Renaud told reporters, "I get no respect there because I never have an off year. It's always most improved."

Every GM to win the GMotY award without winning the EHCC Champoionsip in the same season had increased their team's winning percentage by at least .100 from previous season.



Yukon Cornelius, Weymouth Shaddupu

His History
Cornelius, who has never won the award, perhaps because the award wasn't given out until 2005, the last time team Shaddupu won the EHCC crown, wasn't shy to the trading table this season, as they barely squeaked into the 2009 playoffs and knew there was room for improvement.

His Moves
In an attempt to give his pitching staff the boost it needed, Cornelius promptly jumped on the Roy Halladay sweepstakes when las Vegas put the ace on the block, sending away young gun Mat Latos and stud prospect outfielder Andrew McCutchen in the process. It was needed after sending away Dan Haren for the bat of Pablo Sandoval and the hard throwing Max Scherzer. Youkon knew when to call it quits though, realizing his attempt at a 5th EHCC Championship was going to fail this season, he found a way to rebuild for the future, shipping away Halladay, Johan Santana, and Josh Hamilton for a slew of prospective all-stars, including Jesus Montero, Jenry Mejia, Mike Minor, and Starlin Castro, not to mention a bundle of draft picks from both Tokyo and Quebec City. Considering all three players were never going to sell for more in the future and the standings in the playoff picture, Weymouth probably made the right move at the time.

His Take
When asked why he thought he should win the award Cournelius was quoted to saying, "I think that's a fair vote considering what i did in the offseason as well as at the trading deadline."

Perhaps recognizing the moves you made to start the season weren't working and cutting your losses at the right time is worth consideration.

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Place Your Bets

As the 2010 Playoffs start off one has to ask oneself if this is what was to be expected going into the 2010 season: Rakeville on top of the East, Las Vegas in the playoffs at all, only two Western Division teams represented, and the defending champs in the 6th seed. Let's see what we can expect from the playoffs themselves...


Place Your Bets
By Max Powers; EhSPN


Ok, so it was probably a safe bet that Quebec City would run away with the regular season championship and we all probably saw Tokyo making the leap to the top of the overall standings from a mile away. Most of us probably expected perennial playoff contender Weymouth to finally miss out on post-season glory and we weren't surprised to see Arlington and Tijuana to fight it out for the best draft picks in the 2011 drafts. But there's a few things most of us didn't see coming and wish we had put money on at the start of the season.

Lady Luck Hits Rakeville

I think its safe to say that no one expected to see the Rockets sit above not only the defending champion Weasels but above the entire Eastern Division, capping off the season with not only the Eastern Division crown, which they have publicly announced is the only award they care about, more so than the EHCC Championship, but also to grab the 1st round bye a free pass to the second round of the playoffs. Were they the best team in the division? I'm sure even they would agree that's debatable, but they pulled it off in the end with a little help from lady luck and the self destruction of eastern division rival Peoria. Whatever the case, the Rockets sit safely on top of the East ready to face off against either the defending champs or the surging Omyoujis in the second round. Hopefully for their sake their luck doesn't run out there.

How the West Was Won

Considered by many to be the premier division going into the 2010 season, the western division only has two representatives in this year's playoffs, granted they have the two best records in the EHCC regular season. Having three teams' rosters locked and then contracted around the trade deadline didn't help perhaps. The Piglets were able to run away with the division, going undefeated against Western Division opponents (their only 4 losses came against eastern Division opponents), and easily clinching the top seed in the division. They'll face off against the winner of Peoria v Las Vegas. What will be the most surprising storyline here is if Quebec City can actually find a way to not screw themselves out of the playoffs once again. This is the 4th time the Piglets have earned a first round bye in the playoffs, and the 9th straight playoff appearance, and they've only made the finals once (losing to Arlington in 2007).

If I Was A Gambling Man

The Las Vegas Doggs made no secret of their intention to rebuild during the 2010 season, shipping off most notably Albert Pujols, Roy Halladay, Ricky Nolasco, Adam Dunn, Aramis Ramirez, and Jose Reyes for the likes of Hanley Ramirez, Pedro Alvarez, Buster Posey, Hunter Pence, Joey Votto, Jordan Zimmerman, Rick Porcello, and Mat Latos before the start of the season. Ownership was ready to finish just outside the playoff bubble, ready to compete heavily during the 2011 campaign. Things change sure, but not many expected the Doggs' roster, as constructed at the start of the season, to conceivably compete for a solid playoff spot, never mind the top of the Eastern Division or even possibly the EHCC title. Vegas ownership saw an opportunity in the division - as Peoria was starting to slump and the Weasels were playing below expected - and decided they were in a position to compete, and not just in 2011. Along came Carlos Gonzalez, Billy Wagner, and Jair Jurrjens (at the cost at many of their 2011 and beyond pieces). Buster Posey taking over the starting catcher duties didn't hurt either. They set two weekly offensive records this season and are the favorites to take home the 2010 Offense of the Year award. They may be the lower seed facing off against the 2009 eastern Division champion Cardinals, but anyone that's been paying attention probably doesn't see it that way.

How to Weasel Yourself Into The Playoffs

Ask any fan in Bridgewater if they saw themselves as the lowest seed in the 2010 playoffs after finally walking away with the championship in 2009 and they'll all tell you the same thing, "What? The 2010 season has started?" Not one Weasels' fan has come down from the 2009 championship high to realize they barely made their way over Weymouth for the final seed in the 2010 playoffs. Weymouth on the other hand is finally getting the experience of witnesses the EHCC playoffs from the outside looking in, missing the playoffs for the first time in team history, breaking a 9 year streak of competing for the EHCC crown.

2010 Playoff Predictions (1st Round)

4 Peoria Cardinals
vs
5 Las Vegas Doggs

Dogg's offense has carried them all season, finishing the regular season first or second in R, HR, RBI, and SB. Peoria has beaten the Doggs 7-12 in the 2010 regular season, but I'd expect the Doggs to pull it out this week
Prediction: Doggs 7, Cardinals 3

3 Tokyo Omyoujis
vs
6 Bridgewater Weasels

Just in time for Weasels' fans to notice they made it into the playoffs, the defending champs have to face off against the second best team (record-wise) in the league. Tokyo and Bridgewater split their season series 1-1, but the Omyoujis outscored the Weasels 12-7. I don't see an upset here, but I do expect the champs to keep it close.
Prediction: Omyoujis 6, Weasels 3

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EHSPN: 2008 Playoffs Round 1 Recap

Weymouth closer J.J. Putz put up two saves and a scoreless set of innings to help push Shaddupu past the Quebec City Piglets. Meanwhile, Rakeville closed out the Green Monsters to make it an all Eastern Division semi-finals.


East Coast Bias
By Max Powers, EHSPN


Week 1 of the 2008 playoffs brought fans everything they expected. Excitement, torture, and upset. With the wild card round now behind us fans can get pumped up for the real test. A test that will give just two teams a shot at the crown. One team will be fighting for their first, where another will be looking to tack on to championship total. One thing is for sure, the champion will represent the Eastern Division as all Western Division teams have been eliminated after the first week. Let's take a look at how the semi-final round match ups shaped up the way they did.

(4) RAK def (5) WS; 6-3

The Monsters kept their streak alive in 2008, losing their 3rd straight playoff appearance. The Monsters, who have never made it past the 1st round, had a lot of promise in 2008. They made quite the run at the end of the regular season, catapulting themselves into the 5th seed, the highest regular season seed the organization has ever had going into the playoffs. They were met by a retooling Rakeville squad which has always been known for its pitching, has been reworking their offense all season in an effort to compete for a chance at a championship.

Rakeville's newest offensive threat, Manny Ramirez, and long time Rocket third baseman Miguel Cabrera helped propel their team into the 2nd round with 5 home runs and 18 RBI's between them against a struggling Winston-Salem rotation. Roy Oswalt also stifled Monster hitters. His two wins gave the Rockets the category and also helped solidify Rakeville's hold on strikeouts, ERA and WHIP.

The Rockets proved to the rest of the league that their team has become one of the most well rounded rosters in the league and should be able to take any category in any given week. They travel on to Bridgewater to take on their Eastern Division rival Weasels in the semi-final round. The two teams have met twice before in the playoffs, once in 2005 when the Weasels beat the Rockets int he semi-final round, and once again the following year when Rakeville defeated Bridgewater in the first round. Rakeville battled Bridgewater during the 2008 season for the Eastern Division crown, a battle that the Rockets ended victorious.

(6) WEY def (3) QC; 5-5 by ERA tie-breaker

How many times can it be said - "It all comes down to pitching." For the second year in a row, the number 6 seed defeated the number 3 seed by a score of 5-5 by way of the EHCC ERA tiebreaker. The Piglets were the clear favorite going into the match up, regardless of how they finished the regular season. They defeated team Shaddupu twice in the regular season, including the most recent match up in the final week.

Quebec City was plaqued by not only injuries to their infield, but also by a string of bad outing by their record breaking pitching staff. Piglets' starters Randy Johnson, Ted Lilly, and Justin Verlander all had arguably their worst starts of the season. Such woeful starts that even masterful performances by starters Derek Lowe, Paul Byrd, and Chris Young could not dig Quebec City out from. Funnily enough, the Quebec City offense was the strongpoint for the team this week, taking 3 of the 5 categories from a struggling Weymouth line up, and even fought through the very last pitch for a 4th thanks to a pair of Carlos Delgado home runs. Unfortunatly for the Piglets' fans, the team fell one home run shy of winning the week.

Shaddupu now travels from Canada to the desert of Las Vegas where they will face off against their Eastern Division rival, the Doggs. The two teams have faced each other 4 times, with Weymouth being the victor in 3 of those match ups, including 2 semi-final round victories and 1 championship round victory. The Doggs have never beaten team Shaddupu in the semi-final round of the playoffs, their lone playoff victory coming in 2004, when the Doggs beat Shaddupu for the EHCC Championship. The two teams haven't met in the playoffs since 2005.

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This is the 2nd time in EHCC history that all four teams in the semi-final round have been representing the saem division. The last time it happened was 2005, when the same four teams, and same two match ups, made the semi-final round.

This is 3rd time in EHCC history that all four teams in the semi-final round were once of the original EHCC 6 teams. The only other seasons in which this was true was 2005 and 2001.

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Baseball Tri-Weekly: September Cover 2008

Read the Cover Story

Read the 2008 Playoff Preview

Stolen Season
Conor Intabedd; Reno Weekly Rag writing for Baseball Tri-Weekly


"Can you imagine a crazier situation in the final week of the regular season where all six teams have already clinched playoff spots? I doubt you can," those were the words from Quebec City GM Pat Renaud prior to the Week 22, and just about every other playoff GM must have agreed. Going into the final week of the regular season the only thing that was clinched besides playoff invitations was the Western Division trophy. No seed was safe. No bye had been clinched.



There were plenty of long shots, most Involving the Las Vegas Doggs. They could have had a chance at the Eastern Division crown if Rakeville had faltered against Arlington, but that didn't happen, as the Rockets beat Arlington for the seond time this season by the score of 6-1. More importantly, they could have catapulted themselves to the number 1 seed over both Bridgewater and Quebec City. They needed to beat Bridgewater, and beat them badly. A 9-0 score or better would have jumped them over their division rival and possibly dropping the Weasels down to 3rd place, a seed Weasels' fans couldn't have fathomed being in since Week 5.

"We knew we had a shot at it going in and we knew it would be tough, but we had the squad to do it and with our recent momentum we knew there was a strong possibility we could take it," Doggs' third baseman David Wright was quoted as saying prior to the Doggs-Weasels match up in Week 22.

The Doggs ended up putting up a 9-1 win over Bridgewater, a half a point below their target, leaving them a half game behind the Weasels in the regular season standings. Jimmy Rollins' 7 stolen bases against Doggs' pitchers was the key, and Doggs' newest starter Ricky Nolasco knows it. "He stole 3 on me this week. It was embarrasing. He just knows how to take advantage of situations and make you pay for not paying attention," Nolasco said in a recent press conference.

Not was all lost for Las Vegas as they also had the chance to jump over Quebec City in the standings, thus clinching themselves a 1st round bye in next week's playoffs. This was also a long shot sicne the Piglets had already beaten team Shaddupu in Week 11 by the score of 9-1, not giving the Doggs' too much confidence in a Weymouth squad that had traded one of their biggest bats since that match up.

Going into the final 3 hours of play in Week 22, the Doggs sat a whole point over the Piglets and all the Doggs were ready to start their week vacation. Quebec City starting catcher Russ Martin was ready to ruin the Doggs' party. In his first at bat he singled, stole 2nd, and then scored on a Justin Morneau double. That single at bat brought the Piglets above the Doggs by a half a game. Luckily for the Doggs, Stephen Drew got a timely 2 out single later that game, taking away a point from the Piglets and bringing the Doggs a half point above the Western Division champions, and that's how it ended.

"It was a wild ride from our persepective. Everyone was in the locker room glued to the television. All we cared about was Russ and Drew. No one else mattered. When Drew hit that single and Martin struck out the whole locker room exploded. Most of us had already booked flights home to see our families, thinking we had a week off, so if we lost out on that bye we would have been pretty upset. Needless to say, we were pretty relieved," Doggs' outfielder Adam Dunn told KDOG in a post-game interview.

The top three teams ended up finishing a half a game behind each other, with the Weasels netting the top seed, Las Vegas finishing second, and Quebec City dropping down to 3rd, forcing them to face off against Weymouth in a rematch of their regualr season finale. The Piglets won both of the regular seaosn match ups against Shaddupu by a combined score of 14-4.

Bridgewater end up facing off against the winner of the Rockets-Green Monsters first round match up, while the Doggs will face the winner of the Piglets-Shaddupu rematch.

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2008 Playoff Preview

Not many expected to see Quebec City in the first round of the 2008 playoffs, as the dominated along with Bridgewater for most of the season, but Las Vegas forced the Piglets into a first round rematch with their Week 22 opponent Weymouth, a team they've faced plenty of times in previous playoff appearances.


2008 EHCC Playoff Preview By Max Powers of EHSPN writing for Baseball Tri-Weekly

Going into the final week of the season everyone knew who would be playing for a chance at the 2008 EHCC championship but no one knew who exactly they'd be facing off against. Now that it's finally all settled, let's take a look at the match ups that present themselves and who will come out on top.

Round 1

(3) Quebec City vs (6) Weymouth

Quebec City is has been tattered and tortured over the last week or so. Injuries have plagued their infield, taking hard hitting third baseman Evan Longoria and EHCC All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler of of the Piglets' line up. Even with the injuries, the Piglets managed a 5-3 win over Shaddupu in Week 22. That along with their decisive 9-1 victory in Week 11, and the first round home field advantage, makes them the clear favorite in this first round match up.

Weymouth, who contemplated dismantling their entire squad at the trading deadling, lost some big production when they traded away long time outfielder Manny Ramirez to Rakeville. With all the pressure on Ryan Braun and Josh Hamilton to keep the Weymouth offense on top, it should be a long week for team Shaddupu.

The Piglets have not lost to Weymouth in the playoffs since 2004, and have never lost in the first round of play against team Shaddupu. This will be the third straight year that the two teams have met in the first round of the playoffs.

Overall Playoff Records
Quebec City: 3-6 (2-1 vs WEY)
Weymouth: 12-3 (1-2 vs QC)

Prediction: QC 7, WEY 3

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(4) Rakeville vs (5) Winston-Salem

Rakeville earned themselves the Price Trophy last week, and deservingly so. They had been a formidable match up for any Eastern Divisional rival in 2008 and now they hope to bring that domination into the playoffs. The Rockets have everything going for them: momentum (they've won their last 4 match ups of the regular season by a combined score of 28-7, including a 9-1 win against top seeded Bridgewater and a 6-1 victory in the final week against the defending EHCC Champion Arlington Warriors), experience (the Rockets have only missed the playoffs once since the EHCC was created in 2001), and production (sat in the top 5 of four of the five offensive categories in the 2008 regular season). Chase Utley and company will need to compensate however for the ailing Rockets' pitching staff. With ace Josh Beckett and closer Billy Wagner on the shelf, look for starter Roy Oswalt to return to form and help set the example in the first day of play for the rest of the staff.

Winston-Salem's offense has been streaky all season. One week they seem like they'll be unstoppable against any opponent and others they seems as though they're all taking the week off. They'll have to turn it on this week if they wish to stay competitive against a strong Rockets' line up. Grady Sizemore and Carlos Quentin are the strong point in their line up and should provide the Monsters with the fire power they'll need to stay with Miguel Cabrera and the rest of the Rakeville bats. The Monsters will have to take advantage of the ailing Rockets' pitching staff this week. With Zack Grienke being their only scheduled two-start pitcher, they will have to rely of finesse to push past the first round.

This is the Monsters' third trip to the EHCC playoffs since being introduced to the league in 2004 and first since 2005. They have never made it past the first round. Rakeville has made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs in each of the past 3 years. Rakeville and Winston-Salem have never faced off in the playoffs.

Overall Playoff Records
Rakeville: 2-5
Winston-Salem: 0-2

Prediction: RAK 6, WS 3

--------------------------------------------------------------

Round 2

(1) Bridgewater vs (4) Rakeville

Bridgewater has dominated all season. They've beaten every team in the league at least once (most of them twice) with the notable exception of Rakeville. They've faltered down the stretch, coming close to losing their number 1 seed to Las Vegas, but pushed through and should face off against the Rockets in the second round of play. The Weasels didn't sit on top of any single category this season, but overall were very well-rounded. Their bats came alive at opportunistic times during the season and, with the exception of starter Chien-Ming Wang, their arms in their rotation have been durable enough to endure the long season. They showed chinks in their armor in the final few weeks of play, faltering against two playoff teams (Las Vegas and Rakeville), and they'll be hoping that their poor play doesn't carry over into the playoffs.

Rakeville has done well against Eastern Division opponents all season and Bridgewater is no exception. They have not lost to them in their two match ups during the regular season, a statistic they won't be looking to change in the playoffs. Their pitching staff hasn't been as dominate as past seasons but should be able to hold off the majority of the Bridgewater hitters especially with three scheduled two-start pitchers, while Rakeville bats should be swinging away at a rusty Bridgewater staff that will have a week off before facing off against the Rockets' potent lineup.

The same match up came about in the 2005 season, with the seeds being reversed. Bridgewater, then the 4th seed, upset the Rockets, who were dominate all throughout the regular season. Look for a similar outcome this year.

Overall Playoff Record (including 2008 previous round predictions)
Bridgewater: 6-7 (1-1 vs RAK)
Rakeville: 3-5 (1-1 vs BRW)

Prediction: RAK 5, BRW 4

-------------------------------

(2) Las Vegas vs (3) Quebec City

The Doggs are the story of the second half of the season. They ended up making up enough ground to push them from 8th place to 2nd by the end of the regular season, giving them the 1st round BYE all Doggs' fans thought they needed. The Doggs have made the playoffs every season since the EHCC was created but both of their championships came when they had a 1st round bye. Going into the playoffs, the Doggs have been arguably the best team in the league, defeating 10 of their last 11 opponents by a combined score of 73-23. Their only loss in that time coming at the hands of a 8-2 beating by Winston-Salem in Week 18. They stand in the top 5 of every offensive category, including top honors in Home Runs and RBI, and second in Runs and Stolen Bases. Their resurgent pitching staff has helped catapult them into the conversation of most improved staff since the beginning of the season. They ended the season with a top three finish in each pitching category except total Wins, where they finished in the middle of the road (6th). Many feel that the week off will hurt the Doggs' momentum but the players have all stated that they'll use the time off wisely.

Quebec City, hurt the most by the Doggs' second half domination, lost out on the first round bye but should find themselves an opportunity to avenge themselves in the second round against Las Vegas. The Piglets' pitching staff, the best in the league, should have little trouble against Doggs' hitters. The problem will arise if/when the Doggs' decide to bring in multiple free agents specialists to battle against the Piglets' dominate staff. The Piglets' hitters will have to step up against the Doggs' pitchers, an area that many feel as though the Piglets are simply just overmatched. If the Piglets are to win this match up they'll do it on the mound.

The Piglets have only made it to the final tound once since being brought into the EHCC in 2002, while the Doggs have been to the finals 3 times, winning the EHCC crown twice, both times with the first round bye. Quebec City and Las Vegas have never met each other in the playoffs.

Overall Playoff Record (including 2008 previous round prediction)
Las Vegas: 7-5
Quebec City: 4-6
Prediction: LV 7, QC 2

--------------------------------------------------------------

2008 EHCC CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

(2) Las Vegas Doggs vs (4) Rakeville Rockets

These two teams, the top two teams in the East, are probably two of the most evenly matched teams in the EHCC. Both teams finished the regular season by winning their final four match ups. Both organizations have plenty of playoff experience. Both have above average hitters and rotations. This should make for an entertaining two weeks to say the least.

Las Vegas may have the edge in a tie breaking situation, finishing a whole 0.30 points above the Rockets in team ERA in the regular season.

The Doggs and Rockets have met twice before in the post-season. In 2003 the 3rd seeded Doggs defeated the 6th seeded Rockets in the 1st round of play. In the second round, Las Vegas was then beaten by a far superior Weymouth club who went on to win their 3rd straight championship. In 2006, 1st seeded Las Vegas defeated 4th seeded Rakeville in the second round on route to their second EHCC title.

According to my previous predictions, the 2008 playoffs look a lot like the 2005 version, with the number 2 seed facing off against the number 4 for the championship. I can't see it finishing off much differently.

Overall Playoff Record (including 2008 previous round predictions)
Las Vegas 8-5 (2-0 vs RAK)
Rakeville: 4-5 (0-2 vs LV)

Prediction LV 6, RAK 4 MVP - David Wright (3B-LV)


Disagree with Max Powers' predictions? Post your own on the comments page.

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Baseball Tri-Weekly: June Cover 2008

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San Diego Chronicle: No Day Like Today

It was a day like no other: Quebec City sent their hometown hero for a couple of scrubs and draft picks. In Mexico, they're worrying about their future (at least, during the month of March). Could this mean the end of credibility to the EHCC draft as we know it?







No Day Like Today
by Skip Clifton, San Diego Chronicle




Scott Kazmir has been the poster boy of Quebec City baseball since being drafted in the league’s inaugural minor league draft in 2004. From day one, everybody knew that the young pitcher would be the ace of the Piglets’ staff for many years. He anchored a Piglets’ rotation that carried them to 2 division championships since becoming a starter, averaging 192 strikeouts over the past 3 seasons.

All good things, however, must ultimately come to an end.

Today was a sad day for Canadian baseball, as Kazmir was shipped to Mexico for a plethora of draft picks. GM Pat Renaud was dumbfounded and completely taken by surprise at the move.

“I had no idea this deal was even in the works,” said Renaud over the phone this afternoon. “It really is a shame when ownership goes over your head and sends away 3 of your best players.”

Going along with Kazmir is C Russ Martin and OF Justin Upton. In return, the Hispanics will send C Kenji Johjima, SP Joe Blanton, and their 1st round draft pick for the next 5 years.

“What can I say, their team is bad. Maybe they think it’ll be a top-3 pick every year,” said Upton.

Regardless of where the draft picks fall, Tijuana fans are more than excited at the deal. As soon as Kazmir is healthy, he will immediately become their #1 starter. Upton will fall in line with an already young and talented outfield, but still will be one of their better options. As for Russ Martin, Hispanics GM Peter Kantor referred to him as “one scrappy son of a bitch.”

The deal was made on April 1st, however, which means all players involved will probably just remain with their original teams.

“April fools,” said Renaud.

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Baseball Tri-Weekly: ATB Week 22

Winston Salem's Kason Gabbard pitches during a game against Arlington. Gabbard and company were pounded by Warriors pitching, and now the Green Monsters find themselves on the outside looking in.



Around the Bases: Week 22
By Listen Deplayohs, Baseball Tri-Weekly

August has been a month of horrors for the Green Monsters, and a new dawn for the farm dwellers. A return of the status quo for Weymouth, and a return to brotherly curse that grips the Rockets.

Winston-Salem had been flying high at the end of July, securely in a playoff spot and quietly eyeing a bye and the division crown. After a brutal east coast swing, the Monsters swept through three Western Division teams, beating Tijuana, Golden and Santo Domingo by a combined 25-4. Things looked bright for the nicotine kings.

Conversely, their lone remaining rival hiccuped their way back into the playoff picture. The Piglets looked dismal in their East Coast trip. They lost terribly to Rakeville and Weymouth. After a few trades, they showed signs of a turnaround, only to squeak out a tie against poor Golden club. The momentum heading into the pivotal division matchup was clearly in Green Monsters favor.

“The team was down,” said Piglets pitcher Jake Peavy. “I had never seen it this bad. Guys were hanging their heads in the first inning. It was tough to go out there and pitch when the team behind me as already defeated.”

Somehow, Peavy overcame the despair. Instead of collapsing under the weight of failure, he stepped up and pitched two stellar games for Quebec City, earning two wins, 10 strikeouts while only giving up two runs.

“It was huge to see Jake carry this team on his back,” said fellow pitcher Justin Verlander. “He left it all on the field that game. After seeing that, the rest of the team found new energy.”

Three Piglets, Cain, Kazmir and Marcum, threw shutouts. Newly aquired pitcher Tim Lincecum struckout 16 batters and Greg Maddux posted a .67 Whip. Combine, Quebec City had one of the best pitching games of the season, earning a 2.26 ERA and a 1.12 Whip, netting them four of five pitching categories.

Winston-Salem’s staff tried to fight back, but an overwhelmed Daniel Cabrera, and Paul Maholm were battered by the late revival of Piglet bats.

“It was a turning point for our team,” said Peavy. “It was our first must win of the season. It was really the only game that was really all or nothing. We had to win. We had to come together.”

The win sent both teams careening in different directions. Winston Salem Then travelled to Bridgewater, but were no match for the Weasels. Next was a game with national exposure against the Arlington Warriors.

“I can’t imagine what was going through their heads when we beat them,” said Warrior infielder Derrick Jeter. “You could see how angry they were. I would have felt the same way. After being so strong all season, to let go at the end must have been devistating.”

The 7-2 loss sent the Green Monsters below the yellow line, and allowed Quebec City, who destroyed Arlington the week before and clinched the division in a win over Tokyo, into the playoffs.

Out east, the team everyone expected to be floating around the yellow line was suddenly back in the race. Weymouth meandered to a tie against Tokyo, and looked dead in the water in their matchup against Las Vegas to start the month. Yet, a record-breaking week from the Shaduppu bats quickly turned the tide in their favor. Miguel Tejada, Josh Willingham and Bobby Abreu drove in 26 runs combined on the way to 57 total RBIs. The Doggs stuck with their strengths, and found themselves on the losing end of a 7-3 game.

Weymouth kept rolling, beating Tijuana and Santo Domingo elbowing out a half-game lead for the fourth spot.

“We weren’t kidding when we said we were going to earn a home game,” said Shaduppu pitcher Carlos Zambrano. “These teams we are playing are not as good as us. It is a joke that we were not winning games. That has changed. We have changed. Nobody will want to face us now.”

A team that wouldn’t hesitate to face Weymouth is Rakeville, if it meant they wouldn’t have to play Bridgewater. The Rockets were one win away from gain a shot at Las Vegas for the Eastern Division crown, but the furry little beasts that have plagued them for the past three seasons struck again. Up 6-3 in the last day, Bridgewater surged back thanks to five Rakeville players missing the game to see a movie. In the end, Rakeville was one point in batting average away from a playoff game and their second division crown in three years.

Since 2005, Rakeville has a slight edge on the brother-series, going 3-2-1 against Bridgewater. Still, The Weasels dashed the Rockets championship dreams in 2005 with a second round win in the playoffs, and now they’ve kept them from winning the Price Trophy.

“At some point you just want to beat them with your baseball bats like Jose Offerman,” said Ian Snell. “Snell likes beating, not losing.”

Matchups

Only Rakeville has clinch it’s spot in the playoffs. Las Vegas and Bridgewater are in a dog fight for the final bye spot, and Arlington, Weymouth and Quebec City are hoping they don’t have to take on the loser of that battle in the first round.

The best of the east and west square off in the final game of the season, and the implications will certainly effect the playoff seeds. It is hard to believe that even with a big loss Quebec City will find themselves out of the playoffs, considering Winston-Salem’s opponent (Rakeville), but they will definitely see the most difficult route to the playoffs if they can’t pull off a win.

Las Vegas is a game and a half out of the bye and every Dogg understands the value in having a weeks rest. In their two championship runs, Las Vegas held the top spot in the regular season, and every championship appearance was coupled with a bye. Even worse, the Doggs have gone 1-3-1 against the three teams below them, meaning a first round appearance could very well mean a first round upset.

I suck at making predictions, but I pick the Piglets to win. I have no doubt they will prove me wrong though.

Their first match up ended in a 4-4 tie, and both teams wouldn’t mind a similar result if they can’t pry away a win. Weymouth is looking down at Arlington who has a relatively easy game against Tokyo. I doubt Shaduppu can outplay Bridgewater enough to hang onto the fourth spot, but as long as they don’t blow this game they should stay in the sandwich playoff game rather than face Bridgewater or Las Vegas again.

The Weasels are in the same boat as the Green Monsters, riding high all season only to find themselves playing until the last day to stay alive. Bridgewater haven’t lost a game in a month, but two close wins and two close ties have them walking a tight rope. With Alex Rodriguez’s surge no longer carrying them to easy wins, they will have to use their entire roster. They haven’t been pitching well, yet set a season record for wins. Weymouth will have to take there shots there if they want to win.

The big question here is who will make it the most obvious? Peoria and Santo Domingo square of in the most disappointing match up of the season. The White Devils lead the league in inactive players, while Peoria has the most productive bench in the EHCC. What player will have a surprisingly good game and fuck over the rest of his team?

My money is on Peoria losing this one. Not only are they unashamed of their poor play, but they are also incredibly skilled at starting the worst possible players. Because of Santo Domingo’s thin bench, it is hard for them to make the moves needed to lose.

Transactions

-- A big surprise for everyone in the media was Bridgewater’s signing of Josh Barfield. “We didn’t see the press release until after he was signed.”

League Notes

-- Midway through their game with Tijuana, the Peoria events crew set off fireworks to celebrate the injury of Cole Hamels. The party went on well after the 6-3 loss, with fans burning down the Chris Shelton Robot and replacing it with a wooden sculpture of Hamels in a cast.

-- The Quebec Freeze Press reported that Josh Barfield has a drug problem, but the Brockton Enterprise conducted a sting operation soon after his arrival to Bridgewater. “We offered him every drug he could find, but he turned us down. He likes titties though.”

-- In an effort to bring a more diverse crowd to the ball park, Tijuana has installed skate ramps in the area around the team’s ballpark. Nelly Furtado was the first to use the ramp, but the singer fell and broke her leg.

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QC Freeze Press: 'Josh Has A Problem'

Quebec City Piglets second baseman Josh Barfield (left, clearly stoned) has been having a horrible season and was recently released by the Piglets. But is there more to this story than meets the snout?


'Josh has a Problem'
by Alexander Alejandro Marquez, Quebec Freeze Press

Thursday was a tumultuous day in and around the offices of the Quebec City Piglets. As the team fights to extend its season, numerous rumors have been popping up regarding one of the team’s once-shining stars, second baseman Josh Barfield. Reports started pouring in on Wednesday evening that Piglet GM Pat Renaud was agonizing over whether or not to follow the suggestion of Piglet Manager Brian Fantana to cut Barfield over allegations of drug use.
Barfield, a former 2nd round draft pick in the inaugural EHCC minor league draft, had had such whispers grow to a dull roar in the Piglet locker room in recent weeks, eventually leading to Luis Castillo making a second go-round in a Piglet uniform after a failed stint two years ago. Castillo’s signing and Barfield’s continued poor performance left Fantana no other choice but to let Barfield rot on the bench amidst a tight Division title race, as well as a battle for a playoff spot.
“Josh just wasn’t getting it done,” Fantana was quoted as saying this morning. “The bottom line is, we need guys who are going to perform here, and we can’t have guys just going out there and putting up oh for fours every goddanged night.” When asked about rumors of drug abuse by Barfield, Fantana responded with a terse “no comment.”
Pat Renaud was a bit more forthcoming. “Josh has a problem,” the long-time Piglets architect said. “We needed to look out for Josh’s best interests as well as the team’s. Josh needs help that he just can’t get inside a clubhouse night in and night out, especially in the middle of a pennant race. We still plan to stay in close contact with Josh and get him the help he needs. We’re even paying for his treatment, despite the fact that he’s no longer on the active payroll. We care about Josh and we want him to get better. When that time comes, he’ll be welcomed back to the clubhouse with open arms.”
But what if that time doesn’t come? Barfield’s problems seem to stretch far beyond those of normal baseball maladies. While Renaud wouldn’t address the problem specifically, saying “These matters need to be handled delicately, and we’d like to respect Josh’s privacy in his time of need,” it’s clear that Barfield’s problems go beyond his anemic .243 batting average and paltry 3 homeruns. A new batting stance doesn’t sound like the solution.
“Josh has an addiction,” one anonymous member of the clubhouse staff was quoted as saying. “The man loves Cheese Doodles. Loves ‘em. He can’t stop eating them. Sometimes, when the rest of the team is taking batting practice, Josh would be in the clubhouse crushing up cheesy puffs and straightening them into lines with a razor before snorting them up and then rubbing the excess on his teeth. You could always tell what he was up to, because he’d have a little orange trail on his nose and teeth. He didn’t think anyone noticed though. It was embarrassing for him. It was embarrassing for everyone.”
Eventually, Barfield’s problem extended onto the field. “Yeah, I saw him shoving a doodle up his nose in the field one time,” a Piglet who wished to remain anonymous was quoted as saying. “Andrew [Miller] was meeting with Russ [Martin] on the mound, discussing the next pitch, and, I don’t know, I guess he thought no one was looking or something, because he did it right out in the open, you know? Just shoved it up his nose and snorted like there was no tomorrow.” The problem has upset many in the Piglet locker room, forcing the issue to come to a head with Fantana’s suggestion that Renaud make the problem disappear from the clubhouse.
“We’re out there busting our asses every goddamned night,” said one Piglets player. “I mean, look at these guys. [Justin] Morneau broke his damn nose and was back the next day. Martin never misses a game, and he’s the friggin’ catcher! You’re telling me these guys who bust their ass every night for this team need to put up with this guy’s crap? That’s ridiculous. I’ll take Luis any day. At least he hustles.”
While the players seem to have made up their mind on the situation, Renaud is more open.
“Josh is our guy. He’s always been our guy, he’ll always be our guy. We want him to take care of this problem, confront it head on, defeat it like the champion he is, and come back to the team with a renewed confidence.”
That however, might not be possible. As EHCC rules prohibit using a disabled list spot for drug addictions, Renaud was forced to cut Barfield outright, even while the team cares for his medical bills during his absence. Technically, this means that any other team can swoop in and claim Barfield for their own. Many overtures have already been made to Barfield, with one division rival even claiming him for their own last year before he’d played an inning with the Piglets. While his putrid season and personal problems will be off-putting for some, others are already licking their chops to gain a piece of the damaged goods.
“I can’t wait for his waiver period to end,” claimed one rival GM. “He’ll look awfully nice alongside some of our other failed Piglet prospects. We’ve made a nice little living out of snatching the players they’ve dropped.” When asked about Barfield’s purported drug problem, the GM scoffed. “We’ve got plenty of cheese doodles in the clubhouse. I think he’ll be quite happy here.”
When these comments were relayed to Renaud, he was understandably upset and disappointed. With a heavy sigh, he said, “You’d hope it wouldn’t come to that, but some people in this league…well, they don’t have morals. To not only claim Josh away from us, but to encourage and exploit a problem for personal gain? That’s sub-human. I’d hope that’s just talk and not an actual course of action. It’s despicable to think someone would take advantage of both Josh and our organization when all we’re trying to do is get him the help he needs. It’s sad.”
And with that, Renaud ended the interview.
Where Barfield will end up is anybody’s guess. Both the Piglet fans and front office are hoping for a full recovery and return to Piglet Royal Blue, but with the dearth of quality second basemen in the league, it’s quite possible some scumbag will swoop in and ruin Barfield’s career—and, quite possibly, life—before our very eyes. Only time will tell. Until then, everyone here at the Quebec Freeze Press wishes Josh the very best, and a speedy recovery.

Alexander Alejandro Marquez is the Piglet Beat Writer for the QC Freeze Press. He once urinated on tobacco field because, “I hate those damn green monsters. Plus, I was drunk and had to pee wicked bad.”

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Baseball Tri-Weekly: ATB Week 19

The biggest name to be dealt this month was one of the league's smallest players. Can Ichiro lift Quebec City into the playoff picture?







Around the Bases: Week 19
By Listen DePlayohs, Baseball Tri-Weekly

The August 1st trade deadline was one of the most active in league history, with seven teams locked into negotiations until the final hour. The last few weeks have also yielded some interesting deals, which certainly affect the standings.

Four championship contending teams made moves, and all of them look better for a 2007 run. Let’s look at what they did and how much it costs to be a champion.

Rakeville Rockets
Incoming – RP Francisco Cordero, RP Joe Borowski, SS Julio Lugo,
*Jose Tabata, *Joel Guzman, QC 1st Rd 2008 MaDP, WS 3rd Rd 2008 MaDP

Outgoing - SP A.J. Burnett, SP Randy Johnson,
*Max Scherzer,

Notable Loss - A.J. Burnett: Though injured when traded, Burnett was expected to return in time for the playoffs. With expanded rosters, his loss could be important.

Notable Add – Julio Lugo will be pressed into duty immediately, but should provide a boast once Utley returns with his speed and versatility

2007 Outlook – Rakeville’s deals weren’t blockbuster ones. They upgraded their speed and are now a lock for saves. Though they were unable to augment their outfield, the Rockets may have tinkered enough to win a championship.

2008 and beyond – Aside from Scherzer, the Rockets kept there farm system and draft picks intact, while adding more young talent. The addition of Tabata, along with 2 major league draft picks for 2008, should put them in excellent position to contend next year.

Las Vegas Doggs
Incoming – SP Mark Buehrle, SP Dave Bush, SP Gil Meche, OF Adam Dunn, SP Yovanni Gallardo
GLD 4th Rd 2008 MaDP

Outgoing – OF Ichiro Suzuki, OF Jason Bay, SP Matt Garza
*Jay Bruce, LV 1st Rd MaDP, LV 2nd Rd MaDP, LV 2nd Rd MiDP

Notable Loss – Ichiro is having another excellent year, but was deemed expendable. His stellar batting average and stolen base ability could be on display in the first round of the playoffs if Quebec City and Las Vegas meet.

Notable Add – Gallardo was having a great season in the minors, and has been unhitable since his call-up. Some are worried that the Doggs may shut him down once he reaches 175 innings pitched, though I’m sure they will make an exception if he keeps going at this clip.

2007 Outlook – The Doggs have spent all season trying to build a pitching staff, and it looks like they have finally done it by bringing in four top-notch starters. They finally has a complete staff worthy of a championship run, though they might have gotten them a little too late for a bye.

2008 and beyond – The Doggs filled a lot of holes, but they also spent a lot doing it. They are almost devoid of assets now. The loss of Bruce, Bay and Ichiro leaves their outfield diminished, plus no minor leaguers and the loss of their first and second round picks means the Doggs are going to have to rely on their core for some time.

Arlington Warriors
Incoming – SP Chuck James, SP John Maine
TIJ 3rd Rd MaDP

Outgoing – SP Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP Chad Guadin,
ARL 5th Rd MaDP

Notable Loss – Matsuzaka was to be the face of the Warriors franchise, but trade offer after trade offer must have slowly changed their mind.

Notable Add – Maine has been performing under the radar for a bad Hispanics team. Now in the playoff hunt, expect his stuff to explode onto the main stage.

2007 Outlook – The Warriors decided quantity over quality was their best bet. Maine and James deepen their already solid young staff and give them a playoff caliber rotation. They won’t, however, be enough to slip past some of the other teams and they are destined for a 1st round loss.

2008 and Beyond – Considering some of the offers floated in the off-season for Matsuzaka, the Warriors didn’t get enough for their ace. Still the deal hasn’t hurt their position and if James develops, he could fill Dice-K’s shoes in a year or two.

Quebec City Piglets
Incoming – OF Ichiro Suzuki, SP Ted Lilly, SP Derrick Lowe, SP Tim Lincecum, SP Greg Maddux

Outgoing – SP David Bush, RP Brandon Morrow, SP Andy Sonnanstine, OF Chris B. Young
*Clayton Kershaw, Adam Miller, Cameron Maybin, QC 1st Rd MiDP, QC 2nd Rd MiDP

Notable Loss – Adam Miller was the first overall draft pick in the 2005 Minor League Draft. Though he only has a half year left on his minor league contract, he was a Canadian favorite that will be deeply missed.

Notable Add – Veterans Lilly, Lowe and Maddux may not jump out at you, but they are consistent contributors who are needed to round out a top tier pitching staff.

2007 Outlook – There are still a few holes in there pitching staff, and their infield isn’t very good at all, but the Piglets are now the favorites to take the 4th spot in the standings and the Western Division crown.

2008 and beyond – How many future stars did the Piglets package into their deals? Seven future big leaguers were sent packing this month, and while they did get Lincecum, that is a lot of talent to let go, regardless of how deep their system is.


Matchups
It is all about the division, and we have two big matchups heading into Week 19.

Winston Salem is in the driver’s seat in the West, with a half-game lead over Quebec City. The Piglets struggled for the second week in a row, unable to take advantage of Golden. They are staring up at the playoffs, already committed to reaching it but waving in performance. When playing in cigarette city, you have to deal with the speed. The Piglets have Ichiro, Barfield and Furcal to combat it, though that’s like combating fire with hair spray.

Winston-Salem has won their last three games by a margin of 24-5.
Their pitching staff is still not good enough to carry a blowout against the Piglets, but the Green Monsters were built to win these games, and I expect them to pull it off. Then they may take a look at overtaking Las Vegas for third.


The Doggs couldn’t edge out the Rockets, despite a last minute surge by their bullpen. Now they head to Weymouth to defend their division crown. A win would all but clinch the title for Las Vegas, as they only have bottom-feeder Peoria left on their schedule.

This game will be another good test for their new-look rotation. Weymouth’s pitchers are not nearly as deep as they have been in past seasons, but they still have a lot of quality arms. The Doggs churned unsuccessfully against Rakeville, but won’t need to against Shaduppu. It should be a fierce duel.

Weymouth’s offense had a nice little power burst last week, and look hot heading back to the island. Their playoff lives hang in the balance with only a handful of games keeping the Piglets at bay.


League Notes

-- Kei Igawa signed with Tokyo, his fifth EHCC team this season. When asked what he expected to bring to the Omyoujis, he replied, “My luggage.”

-- Seventeen thousand Arlington fans filed a class action suit against the Warriors for Matsuzaka jerseys purchased this season. “The team signs a contract with the fans,” said noted lawyer Jesse Jokeson. “They guaranteed a jersey of certain value. Now there is no value. It is illegal.” No word on whether Virginia courts will accept the case.

-- Jeremy Hermida is still crazy.

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Quebec Freeze Press: Cooked Canadian Bacon?

Halfway through the season, the Quebec City Piglets have struggled to a sub .500 record and 9th place in the EHCC. After once again being viewed as an early favorite to contend for the title, the Piglets are off to their worst start in franchise history. Is there hope for the 2007 season?

Cooked Canadian Bacon?
By Alexander Marquez Alejandro, Quebec Freeze Press

Are the Piglets cursed? Brian Fantana leans back in his seat and smiles a wry, bemused smile while he ponders the question. "You know," he says slowly. "When I first got here, I heard all the cursed nonsense, and I laughed it off. They'd had some tough times, sure, some disappointing finishes, I guess so, but that's nothing you can't overcome. Now?" He pauses, letting it hang in the air. "I'm not sure."

It's been a tough season for the Piglets so far. On the heels of last year's surprise playoff run, the Piglets made some high-profile moves to capitalize on their sudden window of opportunity. However, so far anyway, these moves have failed to make a positive impact, and the Piglets find themselves among the dregs of the EHCC.

"I can't explain it," said long-time Piglet GM Pat Renaud. "You want answers? I don't have any. As far as I could tell, every single move we made this off-season was the right one. If I could go back and do it all again, I wouldn't change anything. But, for one reason or another, it just hasn't worked out like we hoped." Talk about an understatement. Despite the acquisitions of power bats like Vladimir Guerrero and Justin Morneau, the Piglets have sputtered in the first half of the season. The Piglets have found themselves in the middle of the pack in every offensive category save RBIs, and the once-vaunted pitching staff has fallen to pieces, as only Jake Peavy has emerged as a reliable ace for the Hogs of the North.

It's been a long second season at the reigns for Fantana, who has found that the role of the favorite can be much harder than the underdog. "Last year, as you know, was a rebuilding year. No expectations, just a bunch of kicking ass and taking names. This year..." Fantana trails off, looking towards the ceiling and stroking his sweet stache. "This year has been different. Teams are gunning for us hard. Look at last week," Fantana says, referring to the team's 6-4 loss to Tokyo. "Those losers hadn't won a game in something like 2 full years. And they beat us. And you know what the worst part is? They're better than us," Fantana says sipping some scotch. "They're better than us." When it was pointed out that the times are changing, and Japanese baseball teams can do stuff now, Fantana appeared to not be paying attention, and pointed out he didn't speak Japanese.

With the seemingly good moves Renaud made in the off-season working out disasterously for the Swines East of Saskatchewan, some have wondered if the team will become sellers at the deadline. While only weeks ago it seemed that the Piglets would make a deal to improve the pitching and climb back into contention, last week's disaster combined with the emergence of super-prospects Justin Upton and Cameron Maybin in the minors, some have started to call for a complete facelift for the franchise--which could include moving fan favorites Vlad Guerrero and Carlos Beltran.

"We've certainly had inquiries," Renaud said responding to the rumors. "I can't say we'll make a move at this time. But as the season goes on, and the disappointments continue, I can't rule anything out."

This year is already eerily reminiscient of the failed 2005 campaign, after which Renaud famously blew up the team after a lackluster campaign that ended in a 1st round playoff exit--again. Whispers of a curse still seem to haunt many in the Piglet clubhouse, who can't come up with an answer to why the team sucks so badly--again. Are the Piglets cursed? That's not for this reporter to decide. But if pressed, I'd have to say yes. Definitely. Plus, they suck. So that's a tough double whammy.

Alexander Marquez Alejandro is a the beat writer for the Quebec Freeze Press. He is a mouse that used to live in Pat Renaud's kitchen, but moved out because he was sick of eating ramen.

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Baseball Tri-Weekly: April Cover

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