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Monday, 23 June 2008
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REBELS FADE FROM PLAYOFF RACES
The Rebels finished Chapter 4 of the 2008 season with a 7-17 record and currently hold a 36-44 record at the halfway point in the season. Manchester is now 14 games out of first place in the Benes Division and they are 10 games out of the wild card race in the Ozzie League.
There are many ways to analyze the fall from grace. Steve Trachsel holds a 1-10 record and Billy Martin has finally pulled him from the rotation. The Rebels are last in fielding in the Ozzie League and the experiment of starting BJ Upton at third base has been a disaster. Once again, Billy Martin has decided to discontinue the experiment.
Despite the terrible record in Chapter 3, there is room for hope. CC Sabathia, Cole Hamels and Carlos Pena all were named to the 2008 Ozzie League All Star Team. Sabathia had the honor of starting for the OL All Stars and led them to a 9-2 victory by pitching 2 shutout innings. CC continues to make a strong case for winning the CY Young Award. He leads the OL league in ERA, and ranks 8th in Ks, 2nd in lowest OBP, 9th in lowest SLG, and 2nd in WHIP. The Rebels have some real fireballers given Kazmir ranks 4th in Ks and Cole Hamels ranks 6th in Ks. Cole also ranks 3rd in lowest OBP, 6th in lowest SLG and 4th in WHIP. Hamels did not pitch in the All Star game. Carlos Pena made an out in his only AB in the All Star game. At the half way point, Carlos ranks 6th in league OBP and 3rd in SLG.
There are also a few other hopeful signs for the Rebels as they enter the second half of the season. BJ Upton ranks 8th in SLG and 6th in Runs scored while Brian Roberts ranks 7th in the league stolen base race with 14 steals in 19 attempts.
CHAPTER 4 FREE AGENT DRAFT....
This draft had some surprising results for the Rebels as they went with their international scouting reports and picked up Cuban defector Dayan Viciedo and Dominican Rafael Rodriguez. Viciedo has been compared favorably to Angel Villanova while others think he will be a bust like Kendry Morales. Viciedo is 19 years old so we will hope for the positive comparison comes true.
Rafael Rodriguez is a 16 year old OF who the Giants signed for 2.5 million. Again, we will have to be patient but he has a high ceiling and if the Giants are patient, we could have a great pick.
Manchester is the home town for Toronto's AA team, the New Hampshire FIsher Cats. Scott Campbell is a New Zealand native who is 24 and ranks 2nd in the Eastern League in OBP. Campbell reminds me of Pete Rose before the gambling problems. Campbell should make the majors and be a great utility player at his worst and a 400 OBP leadoff hitter at his best.
Zach Collier was ranked as one of the top 25 prospects in this year's major league draft.
As for the reserve roster, we decided to clean house and released 5 players in the hope that Mark Sweeney and Russ Adams could provide some hits off the bench against RHP , Jeff Weaver and David Wells could provide some consistent long relief against RHB and LHB and Royce Clayton could provide some solid defense on the left side of the infield.
Hopefully, Chapter 3 will be the worst chapter of the season. Time will tell.....
Saturday, 03 May 2008
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REBELS STAND 29-27 AFTER 2 CHAPTERS
CC SABATHIA WAS THE OL PITCHER OF THE MONTH
Manchester has struggled to make the BDBL playoffs ever since I took over the franchise. I admit that I have made some dumb moves but I think I finally have turned the corner and have a more realistic view of what it will take to make the playoffs. Nevertheless, there is that fine line between making reasonable gambles to fix that one hole that will take you over the top and the trade that will make you hate yourself for the next 10 years. Last year I made a flurry of trades and thought I would make the playoffs but my young starters were still a year away. Now I need to conserve my farm system and hope I have enough firepower to make it this year. After all, Sabathia is in the final year of his 20 million contract and I will lose alot of players going into 2009. So, this is a big year for the Rebels.
The great disappointment of Chapter 2 was losing the last 4 games in one series. It is even more painful when I realize I am 4 games behind in my division and four games out in the wildcard race in the Ozzie League. Still, I only have one player who has been overused and I have a few pitchers who have been underused so there is still hope in Manchester.
CC Sabathia continues to anchor the starting rotation with 10 wins, 78 Ks and a 2.51 ERA. BJ Upton ranks 4th in the OL with a 983 OPS. Thank God he is doing well at the plate because he has a 783 fielding percentage at the hot corner. I have tried using Russell Branyan at the hot corner but he has PA limitations so I have to avoid overusing him.
The other major concern is the 4th spot in the rotation. Trachsel has a 1-6 record and a 6.10 ERA so the Rebels will be looking at some other possibilities. Leo Nunez still has 5 good starts in him but he will not be used very often this chapter given we have few if any intradivisional series.
Other Chapter 2 notes:
- Carlos Pena leads the team with 14 HRs and has a .....566 SLG %
- Brian Roberts has 11 steals in 15 attempts
-the Rebels are last in fielding percentage with a .977 rate....
Until next time.......
Saturday, 15 March 2008
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REBELS FINISH CHAPTER ONE 14-14
Scott Kazmir named MVP in Chapter One
The Irish Rebels finished Chapter One with a 14-14 record, 2 games out of first in the Benes Division and 3 games out of the Ozzie League wildcard race. The Rebels currently hold the following team rankings in the league:
10th in batting
8th in hitting
12th in fielding
Scott Kazmir was named Rebel Player of the Chapter. Kaz had a 3-0 record, a sparkling 0.92 ERA and 45 Ks and 7 BBs in 39 IPs. Kazmir seems to run out of gas after 6 innings but he is great until then.
Kazmir was not the only star. Team Captain BJ Upton ( 295/346/611) led the Rebel offense but committed 9 errors at the hot corner, which goes a long way in explaining why the Rebs finished last in the league in fielding. The Rebels picked up Luis Terrero and Jamey Carroll off the waiver wire and released CJ Henry and Jorge Cantu in the hope the new additions will provide more late inning defensive options.
Nevertheless, the big issue is how to find a place for Upton in the lineup. If he plays the hot corner, the Rebels have big fielding problems. If he plays LF , the Rebs have a weak bat at 3B. Brian Roberts mans 2B and is an ideal lead off man. Trading Roberts may be an option to pursue.
Another issue is the need for a fourth starter. Sabathia, Kazmir and Hamels are the best LH trio in the league but Trachsel is a big drop off.
The Ozzie League only has 4 teams with a losing record . The Chapter 2 schedule has some heavyweights such as the Undertakers (17-11), Broncs (17-11) and the Cowtippers (17-11). More importantly, we have a series against the first place Ravenwood Infidels. It will be a tough Chapter.
Monday, 03 March 2008
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REBELS WIN SERIES AGAINST HAMMERHEADS
HAMMERHEAD ROOKIE PHIL HUGHES EJECTED IN GAME 1
The Marlboro Hammerheads are a team with a great future but the Rebels managed to take the present series in Chapter One. The Hammerheads have one of the best prospect lists in the BDBL and Phil Hughes will be one of the first to arrive. Hughes took the hill in game 1 of the series against Rebel ace CC Sabathia. Hughes was ejected in the 4th inning for arguing a ball and strike decision. The Rebels had their own problems when CC went out in the 6th with a strained elbow. Nevertheless, CC picked up the win and Papelbon picked up the save as the Rebels claimed a 5-2 win. Luis Castillo picked up 3 hits for the Hammerheads.
Marlboro evened the series with a 3-2 win in Game 2. Barry Zito limited the Rebels to 1 run over 6 IP to pick up the win for the Hammerheads. Bobby Jenks picked up the save. Cole Hamels fanned 7 batters without a walk over 6 IP. Unfortunately, Hamels gave up 3 runs and was tagged with the loss. Betancourt and Huff went yard for Marlboro while Brian Roberts had 4 hits and Alfonso Soriano homered to lead the Rebels. Carlos Pena suffered an injury that kept him out of the remainder of the series.
Scott Kazmir fanned 10 batters and shutout Marlboro for 6 innings to lead the Rebels to a 4-1 win in game 3. Brian Roberts had a 2B and HR to lead the Rebel offense and Brian Fuentes picked up the save.
BJ Upton had 2 HRs and and 4 RBIs while Steve Trachsel kept Marlboro off balance and limited the Hammerheads to 1 ER in 5 IPs.
Since we won another series, its time for the Rebel dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ39SQh4_XQ
Sunday, 17 February 2008
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REBELS STAND 9-11 WITH 2 SERIES LEFT IN CHAPTER ONE
REBEL MANAGER BILLY MARTIN LOOKS FOR ANSWERS
The Rebels currently stand 9-11 with 2 series left in Chapter 1. Manager Billy Martin has witnessed mixed results as far as playing BJ Upton at 3B. As the chart below indicates, BJ Upton leads the Rebels in a number of categories but only has a .765 fielding average at 3B. Rebel team officials, speaking off the record, indicate Martin is thinking about moving Upton back to the OF and inserting a new 3B in the lineup. Team Leaders are listed below:
Hits: Upton 20
2Bs Markakis 7
HR Upton and Carlos Pena 5
RBI Upton 19
SB Upton and Roberts 4
IP Sabathia 33
W Sabathia 3
Saves Papelbon 5
Ks Kazmir 30
irishrebel2000
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- Name: Jim
- Country: United States
- State: New Hampshire
- Metro: Manchester
- Gender: Male
- Member Since: 5/15/2005
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