Jessica Fletcher - contributing reporter
Starting a new series on how Cobbfather teams were built. I'm not sure how often we'll see these, but thought they'd be fun. We'll start with the defending AL (Colorado Springs) and hope to get to the defending NL (Oklahoma City) Champs next time around. Both teams belong to the 100M+ payroll club. The defending World Champ Barons have struggled a bit this season and are currently looking up at Salt Lake City & Vancouver in the standings within their division while From My Loins are leading the league with the second highest payroll in the league by 7 games and have recently been ranked as the #1 overall team in the latest power rankings. So, let's start with them.
Colorado Springs is looking for their third AL Title in 4 years, unfortunately always a bridesmaid, never a bride has been the case; losing the Barons in both of their World Series appearances. They've only been the playoffs the last 4 seasons but are looking strong for at least another 4 seasons without question. They lead the league in run differential at 127 (4th best in the league is only 68, shows how well they are playing). Their pitching has the second best team ERA only to Vancouver. League best batting average against with .228. Their bats are not giving up many strikeouts. The defense is 2nd most in plus plays and they catch the 4th most stealers. How exactly was topfotheworl(d) get here? Let's see (hopefully I get these right).
- Finances - 8 straight seasons (36-43) he kept payroll down to below $56M, allowing the extra bump in Prospect spending, with 7 years spending more than $38M building a young core. Come the Rule 4, they focused practically solely on teenage kids out of High School. Trivia time, how much will Colorado Springs budget for their coaches? Answer, the same they've budgeted the last 29 years. Might as well make it an even 30! One has to appreciate consistency.
- The Good (starters as of writing)
- Vic Nova (RF) - $15M IFA signing back in Season 44 (of his $36M prospect budget)
- Don Stubbs (CF) - drafted by topoftheworl back in Season 35 in the first round, 6th overall selection out of High School. Currently on the back end of his first extension signed just before his 3rd year of arbitration.
- Lonnie Mills (DH) - Pre-season 46 trade with Tunaphsyh (former owner of LA Summers). At the time it looked like a steal; looking back it looks like an even bigger steal. Tuna's return only one has made it to the show as an LRB.
- Jair Hernandez (C) - Originally a free agent signing with topoftheworl back in Season 45 but had his option declined this past offseason, only to sign a new 2/$8.4M deal that expires after next season.
- Cyrus May (LF) - Season 46 max contract free agent signing of 5/$110M.
- Jorge Johnson (1B ) - Mid-season 41 trade with tonicawf (former owner of Salt Lake City). Prospect swap. Tommy Duke is still with SLC but has slipped a notch or two it appears the last two seasons and is currently sitting at the back of the rotation in the 5th starter role.
- Francisco Bonilla (SS) - Acquired this season from Ploppie's El Paso Ploppies as they try to shed contracts from their previous owner. Bonilla is currently signed through Season 50 @ $20M per. But how did he make this trade? Carlos Concepcion ($15M IFA S38 signing - $41M spent that season), Reynaldo Franco (acquired in the Lonnie Mills deal), and Pedro Rosa ($1.2M IFA S45 signing - $31M spent).
- Dane Javier (3B) - $8M IFA signing during Season 39 ($33M spent that season), currently on the first of a 5/$32.5M deal signed prior to his last year of arbitration.
- Josmil Iquierdo (2B) - drafted by topoftheworl as the #24th overall during the Season 40 Rule 4 draft out of High School.
- The Bad (bench)
- Julio Moya (C) - Originally acquired from Jackson in Season 36, but now playing on year to year contracts - the latest one being worth $2.2M. I'm sure that 96 pitch calling skill of Moya's has something to do with him sticking around Colorado Springs for this long.
- Alexi Julio (SS) - Great deal on a backup defensive shortstop for $750k on a one year deal, though he hasn't seen the field yet this season. With the defensive prowess of the most recent addition, Bonilla; he might not all season - at least at shortstop.
- Oswaldo Sierra (SS) - $5M IFA signing back in Season 34 (of $23M), with 14 years of pro ball, he's only been lucky enough to have 2+ years of major league service time. At 33 years old, he's at league minimum for 2nd year players.
- Stefen Cruz (SS) - Signed with CS on a 1/$1.1M deal this offseason. Plenty of shortstops in the Colorado Springs systems.
- The Ugly (injuries)
- None
- The Mound
- Arismendy Costilla (SP1) - $35M IFA signing during season 40 ($39M spent), on the first year of a 5/$38.8M deal that expires after Season 52.
- Midre Benavente (SP2) - $22.8M IFA signing during season 42 ($46M spent), on his first year of arbitration this year.
- Tony Lim (SP3) - $29M IFA signing during season 43 ($41M spent), on the third year on league minimum, enters arbitration next year.
- Sergei Griggs (SP4) - Acquired via trade by the former owner of the Ottawa O Faces during season 42. Used Gabby Lunsford (Diamond - #233 overall pick in S38 draft) & Doug Cornelius (#3 overall pick in S39. Also received Ender Vargas, who was released 3 years later.
- Fausto Cruz (LRA) - $21M IFA signing during season 41 ($38M spent), entering second year of arbitration.
- Javier Park (SuA) - $15.9M IFA signing during Season 36 ($43M spent), currently on the first of a 2/$10M deal.
- Starlin Burns (SuB) - Claimed off waivers this season from Helena.
- Karim Sanabia (SuB) - Acquired from the New Orleans franchise this season for Pedro Encarnacion ($3.6M IFA in S46).
- Alex Lee (SuB) - Drafted during Season 37 as the #246 overall pick out of High School.
- Gaylord Butler (ClA) - Acquired via trade in S44 with Scranton for Will Roth (Acquired via trade in S42) and Armando Zapata ($11.9M IFA signing in S41)
- Yasmani Zapata (P) - Acquired via trade with Vancouver, on last year of his contract. Used David Hyun (S38 - #104 overall pick), Louis West (S42 - #189 overall pick), and Tommie Russell (S42 - #31 overall pick)) as trade bait - all out of High School. Interesting tidbit, only Hyun is still with Vancouver after a year.
- Dustan Wells (P) - Acquired via trade with Ottawa franchise in S37. Trade bait only lasted 4 years combined in the league.
- 4 players acquired via Free Agency
- 3 players acquired via Rule 4 Draft
- 0 players acquired via Rule 5 Draft
- 8 players acquired via International Free Agency
- 8 players acquired via Trade.
- 1 players claimed of Waivers