Catherine Trammell - contributing reporter
First it was first ballot Hall of Famer Gregor Lopez signing with Nashville for one last hurrah, now it's future first ballot Hall of Famer and fellow Buffalo Bison Alex Tarraga. He just signed on for his 19th major league season with the lowly rebuilding New York Empire. The team is guaranteed to win less than 62 games this season and vie for the S58 #1 Rule 4 pick. Vegas has them as the early favorite for both. His contract is just a single season, at $675k. Pocket change from the over $210M he made in his career. That's not even talking about his endorsement deals with Depends and Crocs.
Over the offseason his power took a major hit and will likely continue to drop over the course of this season. Last year was the first time in his career that was his league average in OPS and managed a lowly .327 wOBA. Maybe it's New York big market or maybe the rumors are true and Tarraga's interest in becoming the next big Broadway star are true and he's going to be staring in the Off, Off, Off-Broadway musical number about Gregor Lopez's The Perfect Catch tv series. AT's accomplishments:
- Top 15 in Average (.310)
- #2 in GIDP at 384 behind Jorge Johnson's 405
- #4 in Hits at 3,065; 50 more hits and he moves up a slot.
- #1 in HRs at 844
- #2 in Intentional Walks, just 5 behind Albert Cruz's 206.
- #5 in ISO Power, trailing only younger active players like Kyle Crain, Omar Gonzales, Bonk Burnett, and Shea Crowe (in that order). But will any of them maintain the higher rates over their career or does it become the eventual #1 record holder?
- #5 in Number of Pitches Seen, 25 behind #4 and 1,366 behind #3.
- #4 in Runs, trails #3 by just 40 runs. Though NY might be lucky to put that up all season.
- #1 in RBIs
- #1 in Runs Created, and #2 in Runs Created per 27 Outs behind active player Omar Gonzales.
- #3 in Slugging % behind only active players such as Kyle Crain and Omar Gonzales.
Hands down he has to be the greatest player in Cobbfather history.
The Gazette photographers caught a photo of AT taking batting practice at t-ball field nearest his home. Lopez held his own his last season, but this could easily be the sad end to an otherwise fantastic career.
- 5-time and current NL Fireman of the Year , Ronnie Andrews of the New Orleans Hurricane Dodgers is rumored to be pushing HoF voters to elect Jace Sale into the Hall this year, likely with hopes that if/when he wins his record 6th Fireman of the Year award it helps his own cause being included in the Hall.
- Teams in on 32 yr old Bonk Burnett's services appear to be: Tokyo, Houston, Dover, Columbus; with only Tokyo being possible for a near max offer. Still plenty of time left.
- Many Cobbfather insiders wonder if there's something going on in New Orleans clubhouse between the position players and the pitchers. Or maybe it's the new Owner, either way 75% of their starting rotation decided to leave in Free Agency rather than return to defend their title. Louis Combs choosing Tokyo, Miguel Park going to Helena, and Bennie Swann showing some love to Philadelphia. What's worse is, with that payroll, everyone knows NO-HD doesn't have the scouting department to make all those plus picks into quality prospects.
- Lots going on in Pittsburgh too, many players seem to think or rather hope they are on the move including Hugh McMillan (LF - 30 HR .293 AVG), Jordany Solarte (CF - 13 HR, .295 AVG), Julio Pascual (COF - 30 HR .270 AVG), and Nicholas Cornely (2B - 16 HR .290 AVG). Bring your buggy, you nebby jagoffs every player up and down this franchise's roster is available. This owner started to redd up last season when they move franchise cornerstone Rip Bromberg to Huntington.
- Rumors say the Commissioner is thinking about banning the entire state of Oklahoma from playing baseball. If you can't beat him, ban 'em appears to be his new motto.