Windsor Black Widows Review

 

This is review number 3 for the year. Throughout the season, I have made observations on the draft and on the season in general. Also, I have evaluated my team thoroughly. I kept track of homers by batting position. I also kept track of my regular player’s wins and losses when they started the game.

 

All I know is that each season is a continual Summer League education. What works, what doesn’t work, why it works, why it should work, why it shouldn’t work. I know what I like and what I am comfortable playing. I also enjoy reading about prior seasons and looking back at certain teams success.

 

Draft observations:

I enjoyed the flow of the draft. Each year this seems to run at a smoother rate. Email and cell phones help dramatically.

 

I drafted from the 6^th spot, the worst winning percentage by draft position. Greg had it in 03. Doug in 99, Joe in 97. I personally hate drafting from 4 5 or 6 but that is just me.

 

Modern era history of the 6^th spot in the draft

96 – John. 73-71 2 games out (7 team league)

97 – Joe. 68-97 (8 team league)

98 – Greg 83-79 WC and eventual SL champ.

99 – Doug 66-96

00- Ken 72-90

01- Steve 75-87

02- Graham 78-84

03- Greg 63-99

04- Ken 94-68 Prez cup.

 

So why is it so difficult selecting from that spot? Well, you can either select a 2^nd tier starting pitcher (14Z ish) or find a stud hitter but it is not likely the best offensive player in the league. Then in the 2^nd round, who do you select? In 2003, Greg had two 14Z starters after two rounds.

 

How did I manage? I think that 04 was a rare season that had a pretty equal opportunity first round selection. Somewhat flawed players that kept the depth pretty equal for about 10 picks. No 21Z starters. Bonds was an injury waiting to happen. ARod was a 10 defensive player that did not have a 5^th power number. 3 starting pitchers, Bonds then ARod. Albert was an easy selection. He was the focal point of my offense.

 

I thought Keith had a really strong draft. He was picking quality starting position players up to the 19^th round. He was able to get 3 13 starters and a 12 starter in spite of selecting relievers in the top two rounds. I thought he would make the playoffs. He would get my G M of the year vote.

 

Key to the facing Keith: I thought the strategy in beating Keith was to be aggressive early and not be behind going into the 7^th. Hopefully, your team would not have to face Gagne and Smoltz to close out the game – which would be playing right into Keith’s strengths. The first 5 games Keith and I played had a ‘playoff’ type of atmosphere. We were both going strong at this point and I had identified Keith as a team to beat and I did win that series 3 games to 2. 

 

Keith’s problem may have been his ‘balance’. No extreme thumpers in the middle of the lineup to carry the team for a couple of games or an extended series. Only speculation as he was one of the top scoring teams. In speaking with Keith, he disagrees and feels that he can identify the problem and that the Gagne to Smoltz worked to about 95% of what he expected.

 

I thought Bob drafted extremely well until he created a starting pitching hole. One 6Z starter is something you can pitch relievers around. Two 6Z starters, I thought would create a bullpen overuse situation. Bob worked around this. He was able to get high innings and success from Brown and Moyer.  Manager of the Year

 

Key to facing Bob – I really wanted a top throwing catcher in the game at all time. I didn’t think it would thwart the hit and run potential his team has but I figured every little bit helped.

 

“You arrogant ass, you’ve killed us!” – Hunt for Red October

 

I thought Steve had a good drafting concept but came up short in some areas and I really question the combination selection of Hinske/Chavez. Steve did a great job of making the trades to put him in a better situation down the stretch. The players may not have been any better but the team was better. The trades gave Steve a team he felt comfortable playing.

 

Key to facing Steve. I have no idea. Perhaps it is to get him to hurry up a little bit so that his deliberation is eliminated and he manages outside of his own personal chemistry. I really enjoyed facing him the one game Furcal (I voted for him for MVP) was not in the lineup.

 

I am going to give kudos to this division yet, they had only one representative in the playoffs.

 

Has anyone noticed that Keith 01, Bob 02 and Steve 00 & 03 have been our Managers of the Year? They were nicely packed into one division this year.

 

Matt stuck to the defense concept from round one on. I don’t know how much it helps a team throughout the season but from an unearned run standpoint it should help – especially when your backend starters are 8 7 & 6.

 

Did his trade affect the team chemistry?

 

Key to the lineup: Mientky was huge when he was there. I don’t think Mueller had as much of an influence but their numbers were comparible. Anderson hit great early on. I don’t know if I can pinpoint.

 

“We're at diamonds in the rough in the FOURTH ROUND??   

Tough year!” – Matt Klein 1-6-04

 

“Selling a home. Moving to a new home. 22 kids. 

And drafting with sharks. = stress”  – Ken Klein 1-15-04 after Matt continued his draft-long illness.

 

I really liked Dave’s team after the draft. I envisioned him and Matt as making a run for the division. I thought he got great value by selecting Koskie, Cintron and Thomas as late as he did. I can’t pinpoint his failure as I still believe this was potentially a .500 team. (3-16 against me????) His walks against were high…???

 

Key to facing Dave: I felt Jose Guillen would be the difference maker. With Delgado and Thomas in front of him it seemed he would have quite a few 1^st and 2^nd’s with great RBI opportunity. But those two didn’t have that good of seasons and Guillen did well for Dave. I did pound Dave consistently. I scored 90 runs in our final 9 games.

 

Greg seemed to have a J0 mindset. Most of his players could play 155+ games. Cabrera and Huff, every game. Did it help him? His strength turned out to be Mota getting the ball to Rivera. 2003 Dodgers? I didn’t think too highly of this team but they managed to win and put themselves in a position to make a run for the playoffs. What do I know? I know his team and success was completely dependent upon his first three picks in the draft. Schmidt, Rivera and Mota. I will bet that Greg didn’t depend on his offense at all. Greg should get some Manager of the Year votes.

 

Key for Greg and his lineup: Not hitting Bagwell 2^nd. He wasn’t good on the hit and run. It was not the typical Jeff Bagwell season either.

 

“How many Swineas does it take to make a swing?

 

4.  steve to hyperventilate, uncle stanish to lecture on the value of

the double-7, haitham to reiterate the need for relievers, and taz to

complain that if they weren't in the SL, they wouldn't be on the clock.” – Greg Nims 1-6-04

 

“i had renteria once, and had to spend the entire weekend in the

bathroom.” – Greg Nims 1-7-04

 

I thought Graham drafted better the past three seasons. The Bonds and Sheffield combination was good but he tried to make up for it by selecting pitching in rounds 3 thru 8 except for Renteria in the 4^th. That being said, I thought he had a team to reckon with if his pitching held up. Graham should get some Manager of the Year votes.

 

Key to facing Graham: Surviving the 1 thru 4 hitters.

 

“hope springs eternal during the draft.  what i love is sitting on the edge of my chair all day wondering if that guy i really want is going to get back to me.  then, when he isn't available, taking the guy the person after me wants.  ; )  happy drafting all!” Graham Haas 1-6-04.  

 

I took Pujols in front of Chris – he admitted he wanted him. I figured he would take Helton but he surprised me and took Pedro. He took good players but his team looked average at best when it was all said and done. He was .500 in the second half but was too far behind to make a difference. This is the first time in 8 seasons that Chris is not in the playoffs. He was in the playoffs every one of the ‘modern’ years. (‘96 on) I would be aware of Chris for 2005. No predictions - but it is tough to keep a good man down.

 

Key to the lineup: The power was spread throughout. Fabulous Preston Wilson had a tendency for grounding into double plays or hitting two run homers.

 

I decided Pujols was the best offensive option in the first round. Graham selected Bonds 4^th overall. Bonds was a better hitter but would play 27 less games than Albert. Additionally, Bonds had that 42 (hit by pitch number) and the 2 injury rating. (See Sheffield 2003). That could have happened to Bonds. I would have felt crippled if I made the playoffs and my number one draft pick was injured for the entire playoffs. A second round pick would be a different story.

 

I took a gamble on Edmonds and then on Sanders. Sanders made me look good. Edmonds did not do as well as expected but he did perform well down the stretch. I had other successful selections though and my offense was tops in the league. In round 4, I decided that I would cross my fingers and select Sanders and pray that a top reliever would be available in round 5. Did I think he was that good? There were no other outfielders left after him that had the power, speed and arm combination. Now I was limited in games. Bradley was a must. I thought the 9^th or 10^th round was the likely target.

 

Bradley scored 94 runs in his 101 games. More than any regular CF. He would have tied for the team lead on Greg’s team in runs scored.

 

Some players make a difference when they are in the lineup and Bradley was one of those players.

 

Lineup

 

Walker LF

Pujols 1B

Edmonds CF

Stairs DH

Sanders RF

Young 3B

Soriano 2B

Jeter SS

Johnson C

 

Bench

Bradley OF – he started 101 LF, CF and RF almost equally.

Bordick SS-2B – he was the SS vs lefty starters at one point and was forced to start at 2B

Guillen SS-3B – started in place of Young @ 3B. He started at SS when Jeter was hurt.

Ford DH – OF – started at DH against the lefties most of the time.

Ross C – started against Chris and Keith and on a rare other occasion.

Wilson C – pinch ran and pinch defense. He did get a few starts.

 

Pujols Personal Accolades:

1^st in Ave (.328),

1^st in RBI (139),

1^st in runs (123),

1^st in XBH (105),

1^st in TB (404),

1^st in Highest PA per strikeout (1 k in every 12.1 PA),

1^st in hits (208),

1^st in multi hit games (68),

1^st in Runs Created (168.6),

2^nd in Runs created game (10.6),  

2^nd in TA (1.142),

tied 2^nd in SLG (.637),

2^nd in Runs Contributed (79.9),

2^nd in OPS (1.038),

2^nd in Intentional BB (16),

2^nd in OBA (.401),

3^rd in HR (43),

3^rd in 2B (57),

5^th in ISO (.309),

7^th in 1B (103),

7^th in Secondary Average (.429), 

9^th in PA per homer (in every 16.6 PA)

 

He grounded into only 3 Double Plays.