Jack Torrance - contributing reporter
As we approach the quarter way mark in the season, let's take a look at what one of our newer owners is doing. Seoul's previous owner had only owned the team for 12 seasons, but came out ahead with a 974-970 record. He had finally turned the team around, claiming the AL West division crown the last three seasons. Foolsgold saw the opportunity and stepped right in, taking zero time to make this team his own, moving his team out of hitter friendly Colorado in favor of the longest 'road-trip' available in Cobbfather, all the way to Seoul! During his Meet the Owner interview he told us he was a trader and judging by the EIGHT trades he's made in less than the first quarter of a season, he wasn't lying!
(all stats are as of this writing, and only listed for those playing in the majors)
(all stats are as of this writing, and only listed for those playing in the majors)
TRADE 1: It started off with a small trade of Shortstops, sending plus defender Max Hernandez, $4M of his $5M salary and back-up catcher Gabriel Martinez to the defending NL South champions, the NOOFs in exchange for the diamond in the rough New Orleans found a few seasons back, and below average fielding shortstop Brandon Grim. This sheds the Hernandez's contract for Season 55 & 56 while add a young controllable player that should be better at the plate. But is Grim the MLIF, Middle Left Infielder, that he's looking for? Not a piece you write home to mom about, but it's a start to shedding the skin of the old owner.
Hernandez: 28 G, 97 AB, .268 AVG, 3 HR, 2 SB
Martinez: 17 G, 4 AB, .500 AVG, 1 HR, 0 SB
Hernandez: 28 G, 97 AB, .268 AVG, 3 HR, 2 SB
Martinez: 17 G, 4 AB, .500 AVG, 1 HR, 0 SB
Grim: 29 G, 92 AB, .163 AVG, 1 HR, 2 SB
TRADE 2: The second deal is with the Commish's team in Vancouver, who had a bit of a down year and finished below .500 after claiming the S52 NL West division title, but could it be a push for the Canucks for more Tim Horton's coffee to see what they can do before the OKC Barons take back over the division? Just like ole Timmy's coffee, the Canucks bullpen doesn't finish well, so this trade send reliever Arthur Clippard who was fresh off a $5.6M Arb3 signing for prospect Ron McDowell. At the age of 24 he likely doesn't have a ton of improvement left, but Foolsgold acquires another young middle infielder.
Clippard: 12 G, 14.1 IP, 2-1, 1.26 ERA, 0.56 WHIP, 2/9 BB/K
Clippard: 12 G, 14.1 IP, 2-1, 1.26 ERA, 0.56 WHIP, 2/9 BB/K
TRADE 3: The next deal falls with Minnesota whose been in a dog fight for the AL North, sending defensive minded to-be Rookie shortstop, Sammy Beltre with pitching prospect Posiedon 'I'm No Greek God' Duran for relief pitcher prospect Humberto Polonia and pitching prospect Jeremy Choice, who Minny had only acquried a few seasons back in the Troy Houston deal with the NOOFs. Beltre's glove ranks slightly lower than average but at 22 yrs old he'll grow into it a bit more. With Duran's control issues, he likely never sees the majors.
Beltre: 24 G, 68 AB, .279 AVG, 0 HR, 8 SB
Polonia: 2 G, 1 IP, 1-1, 0.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 0/1 BB/K
Choice: 4 G, 3 GS, 17.1 IP, 0-2, 4.15 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 9/7 BB/K
TRADE 4: Having traded away Martinez earlier, Foolsgold must have felt they needed to acquire another catcher, dealing 1 yr Pro Gonzalez 'EZ' Ramirez to Chicago for young catcher Adalberto Ontiveros. The two winners of this deal are Seoul and Monterrey, who ended up claiming Ramirez after Chicago released him just 11 days later.
Polonia: 2 G, 1 IP, 1-1, 0.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 0/1 BB/K
Choice: 4 G, 3 GS, 17.1 IP, 0-2, 4.15 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 9/7 BB/K
TRADE 4: Having traded away Martinez earlier, Foolsgold must have felt they needed to acquire another catcher, dealing 1 yr Pro Gonzalez 'EZ' Ramirez to Chicago for young catcher Adalberto Ontiveros. The two winners of this deal are Seoul and Monterrey, who ended up claiming Ramirez after Chicago released him just 11 days later.
Ontiveros: 16 G, 25 AB, .320 AVG, 0 HR, 0 SB
TRADE 5: Shortly after acquiring Ontoveros, he acquired catcher Cliff Calderon from Augusta for shortstop prospect Toby Service. While Service offers a better projected arm he lacks a bit on the glove in comparison. That said, adding the 25 yr old catcher has to be a pro for the team and with a few older vets still on the team, does this move reposition them to chase after the division this season?
Calderon: 26 G, 85 AB, .235 AVG, 3 HR, 0 SB
TRADE 6: The next deal connects Seoul with the reigning NL North champions, sending reliever Edgmer Fernandez to Hartford for an ML 'ready' second basemen in Lenny 'Don't Call Me Jane' Fonda. With another weak hitting major league, these guys are surely going to miss playing the last few seasons in thin air of Colorado.
Fernandez: 5 G, 4 IP, 0-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 1/4 BB/K
Fonda: 22 G, 65 AB, .169 AVG, 1 HR, 0 SB
TRADE 7: This one is all about the future for both teams, seeing Seoul send S52 #34 pick Centerfielder Chris Gore and S53 #44 pick relief pitcher Lawrence Hutch to Austin for S53 #12 pick pitcher Fausto Silverio. This one might just come down to whose scouts like whom better. Blog writer Gabrielle O. Alvarez-Tillman (GOAT) compared Silverio to Tony Santiago and Yamil Torres back when he was drafted. For an owner making to make an impact on his team's roster, this deal seems a good one to make for the future.
TRADE 8: In his most recent deal, Seoul sent AL 1B Silver Slugger and MVP candidate last season, Josmil Velazquez, $2M, and 24 yr old left field prospect Leonel Romano to Milwaukee for S52 #12 pick Left fielder Benny Ward and S53 #8 pick starter Fred Russell. Josmil is signed through S57, so lots of money heading to the Metronomes. In Ward, Seoul picks up what Gabrielle called a one-eyed Chuck Rupe. In Russell, Gabreille comped him to numerous pitchers: Kojima, Berkman, Law, Helling, and Aaron. Kojima has been the best, but I believe the comp was for how he pitched last season, S53. Don't get me wrong, Velazquez is a high quality power bat, but everyone knows his numbers were inflated by playing in Colorado. A quick comp shows he's similar to Huntington's Damion Ni with better contact but much slower. Expecting that .280ish hitter with below 40 is likely a better expectation than the .320+ AVG, 54+ HR he's hit the last two seasons in the thin air. Romano is no slouch either, he garnered enough attention to earn $7.8M on the IFA market back in S48; but at 24 yr olds he is who he is and that is likely AAAA depth.
Velazquez: 27 G, 96 AB, .281 AVG, 3 HR, 0 SB
TRADE 6: The next deal connects Seoul with the reigning NL North champions, sending reliever Edgmer Fernandez to Hartford for an ML 'ready' second basemen in Lenny 'Don't Call Me Jane' Fonda. With another weak hitting major league, these guys are surely going to miss playing the last few seasons in thin air of Colorado.
Fernandez: 5 G, 4 IP, 0-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 1/4 BB/K
Fonda: 22 G, 65 AB, .169 AVG, 1 HR, 0 SB
TRADE 7: This one is all about the future for both teams, seeing Seoul send S52 #34 pick Centerfielder Chris Gore and S53 #44 pick relief pitcher Lawrence Hutch to Austin for S53 #12 pick pitcher Fausto Silverio. This one might just come down to whose scouts like whom better. Blog writer Gabrielle O. Alvarez-Tillman (GOAT) compared Silverio to Tony Santiago and Yamil Torres back when he was drafted. For an owner making to make an impact on his team's roster, this deal seems a good one to make for the future.
TRADE 8: In his most recent deal, Seoul sent AL 1B Silver Slugger and MVP candidate last season, Josmil Velazquez, $2M, and 24 yr old left field prospect Leonel Romano to Milwaukee for S52 #12 pick Left fielder Benny Ward and S53 #8 pick starter Fred Russell. Josmil is signed through S57, so lots of money heading to the Metronomes. In Ward, Seoul picks up what Gabrielle called a one-eyed Chuck Rupe. In Russell, Gabreille comped him to numerous pitchers: Kojima, Berkman, Law, Helling, and Aaron. Kojima has been the best, but I believe the comp was for how he pitched last season, S53. Don't get me wrong, Velazquez is a high quality power bat, but everyone knows his numbers were inflated by playing in Colorado. A quick comp shows he's similar to Huntington's Damion Ni with better contact but much slower. Expecting that .280ish hitter with below 40 is likely a better expectation than the .320+ AVG, 54+ HR he's hit the last two seasons in the thin air. Romano is no slouch either, he garnered enough attention to earn $7.8M on the IFA market back in S48; but at 24 yr olds he is who he is and that is likely AAAA depth.
Velazquez: 27 G, 96 AB, .281 AVG, 3 HR, 0 SB
Let's see how all these trades, and any more Foolsgold happens to end up making, look by the end of the season. Good luck to all!