How They Were Built! - NY Empire

 Jessica Fletcher - contributing reporter

Building off last year's articles of how teams were built, we'll take a look at the New York Empire who have been a top team in the league and winners of the AL East the last 10 seasons. With a big time payroll, let's take a look how this year's team was exactly put together. The Empire are built for the regular season, often times leading the league in wins but always seem to struggle to win playoff series. Starting with their first division title back in Season 39, they are 7-10 with two World Series appearances. But since their last World Series appearance in Season 42, they are 2-6. This year so far has been no different, they are sitting on a 10 game lead above the #2 team in the AL and home field advantage throughout. They own a 14 game lead on the top NL team, so maybe this is their year!

The Empire hold a league leading 221 run differential, one of 5 teams above 100. Their pitching staff is second in strikes outs, 5th in earned runs, 4th in home runs against, 4th in OAV, and 5th in ERA. While their bats are first in runs, 4th in home runs, and 4th in OBP. Their defense has been getting it done too, 8th in plus plays, first in (fewest) negative plays, and 6th in fewest errors. 

• Finances - 9 straight seasons (32-40) he kept payroll down below $50M, allowing the extra bump in Prospect spending. 5 of those seasons he was below $30M (2 seasons below $20M). 5 straight seasons he was able to spend more than $45M on prospects. But that was seasons ago, let's see how many of those names remain. During those rebuild years, for the Rule 4, they focused practically solely on teenage kids out of High School in the early rounds. 
• The Good (starters as of writing) 
• Harry Padilla (2B) - Harry signed a $26.7M international deal during Season 39 and after a single arbitration year, signed an extension during Season 46 to the tune of 4/36 that ends after this season. Given NY's spending and Padilla's performance, hitting .296 with 19 HRs and 55 SBs in the leadoff spot, alexng6888 will look to resign him before he actually reaches free agency. 
• Felipe Benitez (RF) - A Free Agent signing prior to last season. Has 3/54 left on his deal. 
• Yoervis Colome (LF) - Colome comes to the Empire as an International Free Agent signing during Season 40 and cost alex a cool $32M. At only 27 years old, he still has a good bit left in the tank and becomes a free agent after next season when he finishes a 3/27.9 deal signed back in Season 48. 
• Eduardo Figureoa (1B) - A Season 39 trade with the Helena Hot Dogs for Luis Banuelos and Jeff Newfield; oddly enough as of this season both of those guys are playing for the Chicago Gunslingers now.  
• Jon Everett (3B) - Signed a S47 for 5/34 deal that has him part of the Empire through S51; his age 36 season. Could we see another 1 or 2 year out of him? 
• Omar Acevedo (C) - Acevedo came to New York as a S44 free agent 5/26.5 deal and followed that up last offseason with a one year extension worth 3.8M. Still getting starts and having a career year at the plate, hitting .300 so far this season; we'll see if Alex brings him back for another year. 
• Enrique Mateo (CF) - Mateo came to the Empire during a Season 38 spending spree on International talent for $650k. At 30 years old, he's just now making his ML debut this season.
• Ramiro Tarraga (SS) - Making a sweet $2,800,014 this season as part of his second time through arbitration. Tarraga joined the Empire way back in Season 38 via trade with Ernie Scheffer, sending Dave Reaves to Washington DC Franchise (then Florida Sharks - second to last time they had a winning record). 
• Butch Clevenger (DH) - First round pick of the final "rebuild" season. Drafted at pick #26 out of West High School in Sioux City, Iowa. This 27 yr old still has one more year of arbitration left before he's eligible for free agency. 
• Vin Prieto (DH) - Joined the Empire the same season as Colome, Season 40 but Prieto was drafted in the Rule 4 draft at pick #3 after a 53-109 finish to Season 39. Probably to no one's surprise, the Empire then went 90-72 in Season 40 and have won at least 100 games every season since. Spent quite a few seasons in the minors and will finally reach arbitration next off-season. 
• The Bad (bench)
• Nerio Cameron (2B) - The young 2B was signed as a bench role player this season on a 1 year, $950k deal. Nice deal for Nerio considering he's only played 38 games this year. 
• Forrest Hughes (3B) - A Free Agent signing this past offseason on a one year - $820k deal. Considering he's a safety net backup that's logged 39 ABs with some defensive replacements at 3B (50 innings), that's a decent signing. 
• Herman Hines (SS) - Hines has been with NY since being drafted 15th overall in Season 33. At this point he's a role-player and only hitting .217 this season and is wrapping up the final year of a 3/16.5 he signed back in Season 47. 
• The Ugly (injuries)
• None
• The Mound
• Magglio Exposito (SP1) - A Season 32 IFA signing for $29.6M, becomes a Free Agent once his 2/16.4 contract expires after this season. Considering he has the second lowest ERA of his career this season, many will likely look to sign him up for his age 36 season. 
• Louis Conley (SP2) - This one gets fun, he was drafted in Season 36 as the top over all pick after an abysmal 48-114 season. But he was traded to Montreal (then Augusta) during Season 45 for much of the year before becoming a free agent and returning home to NY on a 5/100 deal that keeps him there through his age 32 season next year. How close will he get to another max deal? 
• Jiovanni Poole (SP3) - Acquired in a Season 43 deal with Salt Lake City (then Honolulu) a year after he was drafted #5 overall. Also acquired Juan Carlos Calixte (C) in the deal, but he is still in AAA ball. Players going the opposite way include Ben Curtis (current C at ML level for Salt Lake City), Forrest Kelly who signed a S48 offseason deal with Austin, and Octavio Castillo who left Honolulu to sign with Santa Fe in Season 47. 
• Del Alvarez (SP4) - Acquired in the Season 45 trade with Montreal (then Augusta - same owner) along with Walt Hall (who had 2 good seasons in NYC) for Louis Conley. It's gotta irk Montreal to see Alvarez and Conley pitching together. 
• Bernie Tavarez (SP5) - Speaking of those early rebuild years, Tavarez signed with the Empire has an international free agent back in Season 37 for $10.7M and after his third time through arbitration will potentially be a free agent this coming season as a 31 yr old. 20 game winner in Season 48 and owns a 3.90 career ERA. 
• Torii Waters (LRA) - 15 seasons in Cobbfather but only his second year with the Empire. Waters becomes a free agent after this season after signing a 2/5.3 deal last year. Given some of his regression this season, our bets is Waters retires. 
• Wilfredo Santiago (LRA) - Wilfredo has been with the Empire for nearly 10 years after signing an IFA deal during Season 35 for $10.9M. His 4/21.6 deal expires after this season. Will he get a full 10th season with the Empire?
• Glynn Haas (SuA) - Another Season 49 signing who hasn't logged too many innings this year; appearing in 35 games for 39 innings thus far. Signed a 3/16.8 deal. 
• Radhamas Machado (SuA) - Season 41 IFA signing for $24M. Has one more arbitration year remaining before he becomes a free agent. Signing a $6.07M Arb 2 deal, you have to wonder how much a third year will cost New York or if they will be able to sign an extension with him. 
• Rafael Marquez (SuA) - Would you be surprised if I told you he signed with New York as an IFA in Season 42? Signed for an easy $6M, just goes to show you don't need to spend $20M+ for an ML level talent oversees. 
• Jung Nishioka (SuB) - Another cheap IFA signing by alex in Season 39 for $3.5M. Give his usage, we don't think we'll see him as part of the Empire for much longer once he reaches a year into arbitration. 
• Noe Tejera (SuB) - Yet another international signing from the Empire back in Season 38, needing only $900k to head to New York. This season was his third time through arbitration, so we'll see where he ends up next. 

Given the financials we shouldn't be surprised about the number of International Free Agents they've signed, but I can't blame the players; New York City has its perks. Where this stud of a team doesn't look for talent? Rule 5 draft or the Waiver Wire, let's leave those players for weaker teams! Running total - for this purpose we will note how the player was first acquired by the team.

• 6 players acquired via Free Agency
• 5 players acquired via Rule 4 Draft
• 0 players acquired via Rule 5 Draft
• 10 players acquired via International Free Agency
• 4 players acquired via Trade. 
• 0 players claimed of Waivers

S49 Updated Power Rankings

 Richard Castle - contributing reporter

Only a quarter of the season remains, wild card chases are well under way! Agreements have been signed with Houston and our lawyers would like us to announce that we are free to rank the franchise as we see fit. And what an update we have for you, let's get straight to it.  

• Movers
• Houston obviously any ranking would be coming as they missed it all together last update.  
• Pittsburg has been on tear since our last posting, climbing 7 spots to luck #13; hope that doesn't jinx his season.  
• Witchita moves 3 positions to #21, just missing the top 20 teams. 
• Montreal and New Orleans  both slip up 2 positions to #10 and 15 respectively. 
• Sliders
• Pittsburg moves up 7, just as Colorado splits 7 to #14 and now out of the top 10.  
• San Juan falls 6 spots to #16 and are looking on the outside of the playoffs at the moment.  
• Philadelphia also slips 6 positions and now sit at #25 overall.   

S49 Hall Recap

Eli Cash - contributing reporter

Hall of Fame Voting Recap

Carlos Colome does it on his first ballot! Congratulations to the 276 game winner and 39th member of the Cobbfather Hall of Fame! Mr Cash is a little behind the times this year and didn't get a chance to write his pre-voting article. But let's get this one before the seasons ends. 

Sean Gosling's first time on the ballot and he was able to secure 9 votes, most likely because of all those HRs; everybody digs the long ball! Season manned the hot corner but only hit .265 while averaging 94 runs, 38 home runs, 106 RBI, 14 stolen bases but also averaged being caught stealing 7 times a season. 2x Gold Glove winner, 2 time league MVP, and 9x All Star. Ranks well on the HoF monitor but not as well on the Test or Cash Scores. 

Raul Galvez is closing in and I believe fell just one vote short of joining Colome. Perhaps Season 50 will be his year. He reached the honored 2500 hits, 500 home runs, 1500 runs, and 1500 RBI; no way he doesn't eventually make it. I'm surprised it's taken the voters this long to get him in. Signed as an IFA in Season 24 by the now Colorado Cab Blast, but also played for the Boston Massacre and Wichita Aeros franchises. He outscores 8 of the current Hall of Famers!

Edison Hernandez saw a drop and that just baffles this writer. His scores rate well above the lock for the Hall by any league's standards. He is also one of few players to combine for over 1000 extra base hits, majority of whom are in the Hall currently. Averaged 117 runs, 38 doubles, 27 home runs, and 40 steals a season over the course of his career. Batting lead off or in the 2 hole, every team wanted him including the team that won 2 World Series rings with him. Next season will be his last eligible season, but unless voters come around his chances aren't looking good for some reason. 1x league MVP, 7x All Star, and former Rookie of the Year.

Don Sparks, another big HR hitting guy that I shouldn't be surprised saw an uptick in votes though he only averaged 31 a season with 23 doubles. Without that 16th season that pushed him over the 2500 hits, 500 HR, and 1500 RBI; we wouldn't be talking about him. Majority of other Hall members accomplished what he did in less seasons. Similar to Hernandez, I believe this next season will be his final on the ballot. 

Wiki Unamuno saw the biggest drop by losing 6 votes. I don't think it's his fault, just the love of Home Runs and a few new shiny players on the ballot, including Colome mentioned previously. He averaged 118 runs, 26 HR, 36 SB, 100 RBI a season; not to mention the 188 hits a season he averaged, once being able to cross the 200 a season that very few see. Depending on which new players are on the ballot next year, he'll definitely have my support. 

As we mentioned, Colome didn't take long to acquire the number of votes needed for enshrinement. But let's take a look at what he did. Through 595 games (569 starts), he won .670%, good for 276 wins and 136 loses. Also averaged over 200 innings per season, but if we are counting stats like that we should take another look at Dizzy. There, I said his name. Dizzy Leonard. Might be the last time he's mentioned in a HoF article. He had a lowly 2.2 K/BB, 5.94 K/9 while a rise in BB at 2.65/9. He was able to snag himself an accomplish very few reach, 25+ wins in a season and 2 Cy Young awards. While I'm happy he made it, I would have put Armando Merced and Tomo Hayashi in before him.

Speaking of Merced, it's unclear if that was his last season or if he has one more remaining. He surpassed not only the 250 win mark, but also 2800 K. His 7.63 K/9 ranks up there with the best, but his 3.0 K/BB is near tops all time in the league. There were 6 seasons he topped 200 K, and 7 seasons where he won at least 14 games with a .700 W% or better. Again, ranking up there towards the top of the all time list. If he's on the ballet next year, he has my vote!

Both Braeden Abercrombie and Midre Tavarez are holding strong but struggle to find new voters. With other options, it's not surprising to see them struggle for votes. Simlar to Merced, we don't know which of them will be back on the ballet next season. Good luck if they are!

No love for the relief pitchers, that's for sure. No, this isn't the same write up from last season, but the statement still stands. If you didn't reach 300 wins or 3000K, don't even bother applying for the Hall! Had his manager used Hayashi out of the pen his whole career, he'd be up there with Sale for the All-Time Saves leader. He slips from 4 to 2 votes, but I hope voters will take a longer look him in comparison to his fellow relief pitchers currently in the hall, Sammy Felix. In just about every way, Hayashi was the much better reliever. 

Until next voting season, good luck the rest of the way!