1999-2000 Playoff Review
First Round
North Dakota vs. New Orleans
Background: Both teams start strong: by the end of October, ND and
NO are 1-2 in the league, with a combined 16-6 record. ND wins 2 of 3 from
NO in early September, knocking NO back to 4th, but NO hangs
tough, pounding Metrowest and CN to move back into 2nd by Thanksgiving
at 13-7, in a virtual tie with ND at 15-9. By Christmas, the teams are
a combined 40-23, and 1 1/2 and 2 games out of 1st, respectively.
They are comfortably in the playoff hunt a healthy 5 games ahead of 5th
place. NO stumbles a bit in early January, losing 4 of 7 to Shithead, while
ND picks up Mo Vaughn and takes over 2nd place for good, finishing
strong by winning 13 of the final 20 games with Mo. NO, apparently safely
in the playoffs at 27-23, loses 5 of his final 6 to barely nose out a hard
charging Matt for 3rd place. Kudos to the league for correctly
picking the teams to finish in 2nd and 3rd place.
ND wins the season series 4 games to 3.
Game 1
R H E
New Orleans 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
3 6 0
North Dakota 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
6 0
WP - Schilling LP - Clemens SV - Nen
New Orleans parlays 6 hits (all doubles, three of which are on a "5-7" DO 1-10, out otherwise on Clemens's card) into 3 runs. Meanwhile Schilling, Percival, Rhodes, Bradford, Rivera and Nen scatter 7 hits, ND strands 10 and New Orleans has stolen game 1 from Clemens.
Game 2
R H E
New Orleans 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 7
0
North Dakota 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
WP - Rivera LP - Shaw SV - Nen HR: Alou (NO)
Through 8 innings ND's Cordova, R. Johnson and Shaw are matched by NO's Harnisch, Rhodes, Bradford, Leiter, Percival, Olsen and Rivera as each team has only 4 hits in a 0-0 tie. In the top of the 9th, Moises Alou cracks a solo homer off Shaw for the only run of the game; Nen pitches a 1-2-3 9th for his 2nd save. New Orleans heads home up 2-0, while simply hoping for a split; meanwhile, ND is batting .150 after 2 games.
Game 3
R H E
North Dakota 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3
7 0
New Orleans 0 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 x 5 10
0
WP - Rivera LP - Wells SV - Nen HR: E. Martinez, Ramirez (NO)
Manny Ramirez's 5th inning blast off lefty Wells breaks a 3-3 tie as hundreds of Gackle fans second guess the ND manager's wisdom in letting Ramirez face a lefty. 8 New Orleans pitchers (Colon, Olson, Leiter, Rivera, Percival, Rhodes, Graves and Nen) shut down the ND lineup again as Harold's excellent match-up managing and his 3-0 series lead expose the ND manager's own shoddy relief usage.
Game 4
R H E
North Dakota 4 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 6 9 0
New Orleans 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
0
WP - Clemens LP - Schilling
ND turns its lonely eyes to Roger. Finally ND bats come alive as
4 first-inning runs on 3 doubles (all rolls of "6-6) and a triple stake
ND to a 4-0 lead before Roger even takes the mound. Clemens does the rest,
pitching a 4-hit shutout and ND has avoided the sweep.
Game 5
R H E
North Dakota 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 6 10 1
New Orleans 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
7 0
WP - R. Johnson LP - Rivera SV - Hoffman HR: O'Neill (ND); Bagwell (NO)
Bagwell's 3-run blast off Cordova gives NO a 4-0 1st inning lead. O'Neill's 2-run homer in the 2nd (ND's only home run in the entire series - NO had 6) makes it 4-2. Mo ties the game in the 5th with 2 outs and a runner on 3rd, by rolling a ballpark single (a "1", where 2-20 is out). This would be the turning point in the series. After NO gets 2 on with 1 out in the 2nd, Cordova is pulled, and the well-rested, with plenty of innings left ND relief, goes the remaining 7 2/3 innings (Wells, Shaw, Reed, R. Johnson, Hoffman) yielding just 2 hits. Dave Justice's pinch-hit rbi single in the 8th off Graves is the game-winner.
Game 6
R H E
New Orleans 0 1 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 6
7 0
North Dakota 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 7 12 0
WP - R. Johnson LP - Nen HR: Alou, Goodwin, Bagwell (NO)
Once again, NO jumps to a 4-0 lead (Alou and Goodwin homers), but ND storms back with 4 runs (including a 2-run double by Mo) in the 3rd off Colon. NO carries a 5-4 lead into the 7th and Bagwell's shot off R. Johnson, the 7th and final ND pitcher, makes it 6-4. Graves gives up a single (to Benard) and walk (to Rolen) to lead off the bottom of the 8th. Harold's last pitcher (other than a tired Harnisch who started game 5) is Nen, but he has only 1 2/3 innings left. Harold brings Nen in anyway. Sefcik's pinch-hit rbi single makes it 6-5 and B. Williams's sac fly ties it up. Meanwhile R. Johnson, who has just 2 innings left himself (a tired Cordova, the game 5 starter, would have to pitch for ND starting in the 10th), pitches a perfect
top of the 8th and 9th. In the bottom of the 9th of a 6-6 game, Mo singles, but Nen strikes out Hill and Larkin and his arm falls off. A tired Harnisch is forced to come in for the final out. Benard singles Mo to 3rd. Rolen is then intentionally walked to load them up with two out for the immortal Carlos Hernandez. It's weakness against weakness as Hernandez (the third and final ND catcher) has to bat against a tired Harnisch with the series on the line. Carlos rolls a "6-9" and it's a strikeout. But wait! Harnisch is tired! The strikeout is really a single, and ND has tied the series.
Game 7
R H E
New Orleans 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 5 3
North Dakota 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 x 4 7 1
WP - Clemens LP - Schilling
O'Neill's rbi hit in the 4th breaks open a scoreless duel, and 3 unearned runs on Tom Goodwin's error make it 4-0 as a stunned New Orleans manager watches his season end. Roger pitches another 5-hitter and goes the distance and ND becomes the 2nd SOMBILLA team to win a series after dropping the first 3 games.
North Dakota wins series 4 games to 3
Background: Perennial powerhouse Future Wax, the pre-season favorite, starts off inauspiciously, winning just 6 of 11 October games. But the Wax parlays a helpful November schedule into a 7-game sweep over nemesis Shithead to take over first place for good. Randy watches in the comfort of his rear-view mirror as FW cruises in 1st place from November through February, although ND makes it a bit close right at the end, at one point closing to a game back, before finishing three out.
Meanwhile, Matt (correctly chosen for 4th place, making it a clean sweep for the league's prognosticators), is in dead last at the end of October, still looking for his first win (0-4). A fine November (including series wins over ND, CN and a sweep over BC) and he's in 5th place at 12-12 by Thanksgiving. A lethargic December and he's tied with Eric at 14-17 for 5th at the holiday break. A 4-6 January leaves the Folders in 6th place at 18-23, 2 1/2 games behind Metrowest for the final playoff spot. The season comes down to the final weekend with 4 teams still alive for the final playoff spot, but the Folders ended any suspense by smoking Bay City 20-9, 16-4, 12-4 and 5-4 to pass Clint with 26 wins. The Folders then extended their winning streak and clinched the playoffs with a 4-3 win over Jeff.
Game 1
R H E
Manila Folders 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 5
9 1
Future Wax 0 0 0 4 0 0 2 0
x 6 10 0
WP - Maddux LP - K. Brown SV - Lloyd HR: Belle, MF (2); Bonds, FW
Belle's 2-run shot in the top of the first gives the underdog Folders a 2-0 lead. But the Wax rallies for 4 runs on 5 hits in the 4th to take the lead. Down 6-3 in the 8th, the Folders make it a game again on Belle's 2nd 2-run homer of the game. Manila gets the tying run to third in the 9th with two out but veteran pinch-hitter Paul Molitor comes up empty in the clutch against Lloyd.
Game 2
R H E
Manila Folders 0 4 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 9 15 1
Future Wax 0 1 5 1 0 0 0 0
0 7 13 1
WP - Radke LP - P. Martinez SV - R. Hernandez HR: Belle, McGwire, Edmonds, MF; J. Gonzalez, Sheffield, FW
Both teams score early and often, chasing starters Mulholland and Pedro Martinez, who give up 6 and 8 runs, respectively, by the third inning. But Radke puts out the fire, allowing only 1 run in four inning of middle relief, and Byrd, Tabaka, and Hernandez close the door, as the Wax bring the tying run to the plate in both the 8th (Byrd & Tabaka get Piazza and Bonds out) and 9th innings (Hernandez gets Thome on a flyout) but fail to score. The Folders spread the offense around with 4 players (Knoblauch, McGwire, Belle, and Edmonds) with 2 rbi's.
Game 3
R H E
Future Wax 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
0 1 9 1
Manila Folders 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 5 0
WP - Ashby LP - Rincon HR: Kent, FW
With the change of venue to the Douglas A. McArthur Dome, Game 3 also marks a switch from an offensive to defensive struggle (which is strange considering the dimensions are also Colorado's). Wood for the Wax, and Ashby for the Folders start strong, yielding only 1 run each, and so things stand going into the bottom of the ninth. Jim Edmonds manages a leadoff single versus lefty-specialist Rincon, and Bichette follows with a sharp double. The stadium fills with the deafening din of Folder-horns trumpeting, but Edmonds pulls up at third. Mabry then punches a base hit through a drawn-in infield (and outfield) and Folder fans begin to dream of a March miracle series upset.
Game 4
R H E
Future Wax 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
1 3 9 0
Manila Folders 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 0
WP - Maddux LP - K. Brown SV - Mecir HR: Kent, Gonzalez FW
Game 4 brings the series and fan expectations back to an even keel. Edmonds's solo shot gives the Folders an early lead, but Jeff Kent quickly answers with a shot of his own (that and his homer in the previous game are Future Wax's entire offensive output over a 21-inning stretch). SOMBILLA season home run champion Juan Gonzalez blasts his third series four-bagger in the 7th to break the tie. The Folders load the bases with two out in the 8th, but this time Rincon is able to retire Edmonds. Future Wax adds an insurance run in the top of the inning, and Mecir closes out the 9th to tie up the series at two games apiece.
Game 5
R H E
Future Wax 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 1
0 5 10 0
Manila Folders 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 x 1
5 2
WP - K. Rogers LP - Mulholland HR: Thome, FW; Edmonds, MF
The series resumes 4 nights later and Manila has high hopes for pulling off a huge upset, especially when Edmonds's blast off Pedro gives the Folders the early 1-0 lead. But that would be Pedro's only mistake as he pitches 4 innings of 1-hit ball. In the FW 5th, Nomar leads with a single. Kendall then doubles and after a strikeout, the pre-cancerous Galarraga hits a sac fly to tie the game. Griffey then singles to score Kendall, and JuanGo smashes a gap double to score Griffey and make it 3-1. That would be all the FW staff needed as Rogers, Lloyd, Simas and Mi. Williams yield just 4 hits after the 4th inning, and the Wax is one game away from the series.
Game 6
R H E
Manila Folders 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
6 0
Future Wax 1 0 3 0 4 0 2 1
x 11 20 0
WP - Wood LP - Ashby HR: Griffey, Castilla, FW; Hoiles, MF
No matter how you slice it, it's an old-fashioned butt kicking.
It starts innocently enough, with a JuanGo rbi single in the 1st.
In the 3rd, a Thome triple, Gonzalez single and Griffey 2-run
homer make it a 4-0 game. FW breaks it open with 4 runs on 5 hits in the
5th en route to unleashing a frightening 20-hit attack on the
beleaguered Folder pitching staff. 7 FW players get 2 or more hits, with
7 more having at least one rbi and FW appears primed for the Series. It
marks the 3rd time that Randy has taken his team to the World
Series in his 5 years as manager.
Future Wax vs. North Dakota
At Somerville, 3/25/00. Background: The series marks the 4th
time in Randy's 5-year managerial tenure that the two teams have met in
the postseason. It is also the 3rd World Series matchup between
the two franchises, each team having won once. North Dakota won the season
series 4 games to 3.
Game 1
R H E
North Dakota 0 0 0 5 0 1 5 0 0 11 12 0
Future Wax 0 0 2 1 0 4 1 0 0
8 9 0
WP - Clemens LP - Rincon HR: M Vaughn 2, Lankford, Rolen, O'Neill, Hatteberg (ND); Thome, Garciaparra, Kent, Griffey (FW)
FW jumps out to a lead on Nomar's homer, but after hitting just 1 home run in 7 games vs. New Orleans, ND erupts for 4 home runs (Mo, Lankford, O'Neill, Hatteberg) in the 4th inning off Maddux to send him to the showers. FW stays close and Kent follows Piazza's 6th inning 2-run double with a 2-run homer to retake the lead 7-6. Mo's 2nd homer of the game in the top of the 7th off Rincon gives ND the lead right back and Leyritz (2-run single) and B. Williams add insurance rbis as Clemens hangs on for the complete game (former) Waxdome win.
Game 2
R H E
North Dakota 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 5 10 0
Future Wax 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 1 0
6 11 2
WP - P. Martinez LP - S. Reed SV - Mi. Williams HR: Piazza (FW); M. Vaughn (ND)
Mo misses a potential 2-run ballpark homer in the first, and then,
after Larkin's 2-run double in the 2nd, Mo hits into a clutch
out with 2 on. JuanGo's rbi single in the 4th scores Galarraga
in the 4th to cut the lead to 2-1. Jeff Shaw comes in in the
bottom of the 6th and yields doubles to Galarraga and Thome,
then walks Griffey and is yanked. Reed comes in and fans Giles, pinch-hitting
for Gonzalez, but Piazza isn't fooled by the sinkerball and crushes Reed's
1st pitch for a 3-run homer for a 5-3 FW lead. An rbi single
by Justice in the 8th off Lloyd cuts the lead to 5-4, but a
big insurance rbi single by Castilla off Hoffman makes it a 6-4 game. Castilla's
hit looks huge as Mo homers with one out in the 9th to make
it a 6-5 game, but Mi. Williams gets Rolen to hit into a game-ending dp
and the teams are even.
Game 3
R H E
Future Wax 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 0
6 7 0
North Dakota 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 6 0
WP - K. Rogers LP - S. Reed HR: Larkin (ND); Galarraga (FW)
Larkin's solo shot in the 2nd stakes Arrojo to a 1-0 lead. In pure Strat-O ball fashion, Arrojo departs after a one-out walk in the 4th ruins his perfect game. In the 7th, FW loads the bases on singles by Thome and Galarraga (the latter a 1-4 ballpark) and a walk to pinch-hitter Sheffield. Reed fans pinch-hitting Kendall to bring up Nomar with two outs. Nomar smashes it to the gap for a bases-clearing double and a 3-1 lead. Nomar takes third on the throw home and scores on another 1-4 ballpark single by Castilla. Galarraga adds a 2-run blast in the 8th to ice it for FW.
Game 4
R H E
Future Wax 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
5 9 3
North Dakota 1 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 x 6 12 3
WP - Clemens LP - Maddux HR: Bonds, Castilla (FW); B. Williams (ND)
A matchup of the aces is hardly that; Clemens hits Kendall, yields
a single to Thome, and walks Griffey and Galarraga's sac fly gives FW the
quick 1-0 lead. B. Williams singles, steals 2nd, takes third
on Lankford's single and scores on O'Neill's fielder's choice to tie it
up for ND. Castilla's 2-run homer makes it 3-1, FW in the 2nd.
And Larkin's error leads to an unearned run to make it 4-1 in the 3rd.
3 hits (Mo, O'Neill, Larkin) leading off the bottom of the 3rd
plate two for ND and the lead is cut to 4-3. Bonds's leadoff homer makes
it 5-3, FW, in the 4th, but Williams's leadoff homer and O'Neill's
sac fly tie it up 5-5 after 4. Both pitchers finally settle down. In the
bottom of the 6th, Larkin reaches on Galarraga's costly error,
steals 2nd and scores on Benard's rbi single. Clemens pitches
out of a 2-out 2-on jam in the 7th, getting Nomar to ground
out, and Carlos Hernandez guns out Sheffield, pinch-running for Thome,
who reached on a leadoff Mo error in the 9th, trying to steal,
and the series is tied.
Game 5
R H E
Future Wax 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 0
5 8 0
North Dakota 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 x 6 11 0
WP - R. Johnson LP - P. Martinez SV: Hoffman HR: Bonds, Griffey (FW); Lankford, Rolen (ND)
ND strikes first, leading off with 3 singles by Williams, Lankford
and Mo to take a 2-0 lead. Rbi hits by JuanGo and Nomar off Shaw tie it
up in the 5th, and homers by Bonds (solo) and Griffey (2-run)
off Randy Johnson in the top of the 6th gives Future Wax (and
Pedro) a 5-2 lead at Gackle Park heading into the bottom of the 6th. After
a leadoff home run by Lankford made it 5-3, ND had 2 on with 2 out and
Scott Rolen up. This was the pivotal point in the series. Rolen hits a
ballpark homer, but at ND it's only 1-3. He rolls a "1" for a 3-run shot
(the first time all year ND had hit the ballpark homer for righties), and
Johnson and Hoffman pitch the final 3 innings, yielding one hit for the
6-5 win.
Game 6
R H E
North Dakota 0 0 0 5 0 0 3 6 0 14 15 2
Future Wax 2 1 0 3 0 0 1 0 2
9 15 2
WP - Shaw LP - Mecir HR: Hill, Rolen (ND); Castilla (FW)
Randy's pissed and a 2-run double by Thome and Castilla homer give him a quick 3-0 lead. But a 3-run blast by Hill off Rogers followed by rbi hits by Lankford and Sefick gives ND the 5-3 lead. FW comes right back with 3 runs on 5 singles to chase Arrojo and Wells and they have a 6-5 lead. In the 7th, an rbi double by Larkin off Mecir is followed by a pitch that hits Mo in the butt. Hill's single scores Larkin and Rolen's sac scores Mo and ND takes an 8-6 lead. A sac fly by Nomar scores an unearned run in the bottom of the 7th to make it an 8-7 game. FW comes unraveled in the 8th when Mecir hits Sefcik with one out. Benard singles, and after Williams strikes out, Larkin doubles to make it 9-7. A very costly error by Castilla allows Mo to reach and makes it 10-7. A pinch-hit single for Rey Sanchez off Rincon makes it 11-7. Scott Rolen then puts an explanation point on the season by blasting Rincon's change-up into the night for a 3-run homer and the Future Wax players suddenly find themselves flying across the living room.
After hitting just one home run in the playoffs vs. New Orleans, ND bats turned the tables on Future Wax, out-homering them 13-11, and batting .313 as a team for the series. (Future Wax also made 8 errors, leading to 6 crucial unearned runs). Mo Vaughn batted .417 with 3 homers and 6 rbis, while Series MVP Rolen hit .318 with 3 homers and 8 rbis.
North Dakota wins series 4 games to 2
THOUGHTS WHILE TEACHING
KIDS TO RIDE TWO-WHEELER
Minutes of Annual Meeting and Draft April 2, 2000
1. Dues - OFFICIAL BLASTING!!! OFFICIAL BLASTING!!! OFFICIAL BLASTING!!! OFFICIAL BLASTING!!! OFFICIAL BLASTING!!! àJedß- is DELINQUENT!!!. $4.50 $4.50 $4.50 $4.50 $4.50 $4.50 $4.50 $4.50 $4.50 $4.50 $4.50 $4.50 $4.50.
2. Awards Voting - 5 points for 1st place, 3 for 2nd place, 1 for 3rd place. Votes from teams with two members voting are worth half of the above points. Two teams once again did not submit any stats in time for the balloting, and hence were not eligible. Since managers cannot vote for their own players, 8 votes is a unanimous vote. Clemens was a unanimous selection.
MVP
1 2 3 Tot
J. Gonzalez, FW 4 1 1 24
M. Vaughn, ND-SH 3 2 3 24
L. Walker, MW 2 2
16
Garciaparra, FW 2 3 9
Griffey, FW 1
1 4
Piazza, FW
1 1 4
Cy Young 1
2 3 Tot
Clemens, ND 8
40
Maddux, FW 1 2
3 14
Schilling, NO 3 2
11
Percival, NO 2
2 8
Hoffman, ND 1
2 5
Harnisch, NO 1
3
Manager of the Year 1 2 3 Tot
Arnie
5 1 1 29
Clint
1 4 1 17
Harold
1 2 11
Matt
1 3 8
Randy
1 1 4
Eric
1 1
Jeff
1 1
3. Rules changes
a. Strat-O proposed the following two new rules:
1. Rule 13.63. CATCHER BLOCKING THE PLATE (part of the super advanced cut-off rule): Whenever there is a play at the plate the catcher’s defensive ability may be challenged, and it can make the difference between a runner being called safe or out. The rule comes into play when you are rolling the 20-sided die to determine if the runner is safe or out at home. If the last number in the safe range or the first number in the out range is selected (sometimes referred to in the SOMBILLA as a ‘disputed call’), then the catcher’s ability will be checked with another roll of the 20-sided die. For instance, if the safe range (after all adjustments have been made) is 1-14 and you roll a 14 or 15 on the 20-sided die, then you must roll the 20-sided die again and refer to the following chart to determine if the runner is safe or out:
1
1-2 3-20
2
1-6 7-20
3
1-10 11-20
4
1-14 15-20
5
1-18 19-20
2. Rule 15.33. When the bases are loaded and the infield is in, a gb()A results in a home to first double play. Also, the chart on page 15 of the official rulebook should be amended and in this situation play result "9" should be used instead of play result "7". The text for play result "9" is Batter out, runner on 3rd out – double play! Other runners advance one base.
The league adopted this rule by a vote of 8-1. This time, Robin was against it.
b. By-laws clarification. I proposed a clarification for the bylaws adding Article II, Paragraph B2, subparagraph (d), to clarify the rules around calling up a pitcher before the 21st game who has already been sent down. It is not a common situation, but it did arise this past season.
"Pitchers who are sent down and who are then subsequently recalled will have their remaining innings prorated. For example, Doof Doofson pitched 100 innings in real life. This gives him 42 innings for the SOMBILLA (42% x 100 innings). He pitches 12 innings for Team X and is then sent down for 7 games. Because he started with 42 innings and pitched 12, he now has 30 innings left. Upon his recall, these 30 remaining innings are then prorated to the number of games he is actually on the roster. Thus, because he's missed 7 games, he's on the roster for only 49. He will have 30 x (49/56) innings available, (rounded down to the nearest third) or 26 innings."
The league adopted this clarification by a vote of 9-0. (actually, Randy requested that I adjust the text slightly to reflect the example used, which I have done in the revised clarification above).
c. Multi-carded players. I then proposed that beginning with the 2001-2002 season, the only Strat-O card allowed for multi-carded players will be the combined Interleague card. All other cards for multi-carded players will be banned. The rationale, as pointed out by Tsuan during the whole Suppan/computer-generated card controversy, is that the combined card is the card that most represents a player’s actual ability. I’d add that it is a random draw of luck whether a team has a limited but great multi-carded player. I proposed this for the 2001-2002 season because we already know which teams may benefit or lose out from a rule change for this upcoming season; to begin the rule next year is luck-neutral.
After the rule change initially passed 5-4, Eric retracted and switched his vote, and the measure was defeated 5-4. A second vote to implement the rule starting with the '00-01 season was also defeated 5-4.
d. Draft change. Tom then proposed that for every extra draft pick that you acquire, you are allowed to cut and draft an additional player. (The technical formula would be that you can cut your roster down to the lesser of 35 or 45 minus the number of picks you have in the first 10 rounds of the draft).
For example, if Tom traded Alex Rodriguez for a 1st, a 2nd and a 3rd round pick, under today’s rules he can cut his roster from 44 down to only 35. He therefore loses his 8th, 9th and 10th round picks, because he’ll be back up to 45 players by the 7th round. Under the proposed rule, he would have the choice of cutting his roster from 44 all the way down to 32 and drafting 13 players. (Since he has 10 picks of his own in the first 10 rounds + the 3 he just picked up). He pointed out that this allows what many real teams do, that is taking a quality veteran and getting a number of young players to replenish their system.
After a heated discussion, including a last-minute cross-country 2-page faxed plea (the 2nd page of which never arrived) from Tsuan, the rule failed to pass due to one abstention and a 4-4 deadlock.
An adjustment to the original proposal was then set forth, limiting the additional number of draft picks to 2 players, and a provision to revisit the rule change at next year's draft (though presumably it is in effect for the 2001 draft - regardless of the results of revisiting the rule). With this amendment, the rule changed passed by a vote of 6-3.
It is important to note our League Guru's main objection - namely that the draft pool, which had been capped at 90 players, has now been raised to potentially 108. (Although I'm not sure what his other points on the 2nd page of the fax might have been). For the record, currently (and I realize there's plenty of time to trade before next year's draft), Harold gets 11 picks next year, and Jed & Clint 12.
e. DH rule. Matt then proposed to eliminate the DH. This was voted down by a vote of 6-3. Jed proposed an amendment that home teams could decide whether or not they wanted to use the DH in their park. This was defeated by a vote of 5-4.
f. Designing ballparks. Jed then proposed that each team could design its own ballpark dimensions, rather than being constrained to the 30 actual major league choices. After discussion, before any votes were taken, the proposal was amended to place certain limits on the dimensions. First, no ballpark singles or home runs could be higher or lower than the most extreme park of MLB 30 for that season. For the 1999 cards, this means your park's numbers can't be higher or lower than the following:
1, both sides (San Diego) lefties 1-2 (Boston,
Montreal)
1-19, both sides (Colorado)
1-17 (Colorado)
righties 1-4 (Fla, Hou, NYN, Min)
1-19 (Colorado)
Homers - 8 (Minnesota). Note that homers for lefties are 1-12 and righties are 1-4 in Minn. The biggest differential favoring righties is only 5 (by 4 different parks). It is unclear whether the league intended to make the maximum differential favoring one side apply to the other side. For the record, I'm violently opposed (as I was to the whole proposal in the first place).
g. Somewhat related to the ballpark change rule was Randy's proposal that each team must announce its chosen ballpark by opening night. This passed by a vote of 6-3. However, see franchise news for developments affecting opening day, which may also impact the implementation of this rule this season.
4. Internet Strat-O. The league discussed the new Internet Strat-O, based upon Randy's proposal that the league allow this possibility, i.e., recognize the results as legitimate, though of course anyone would have the right to unilaterally refuse. I suggest that it be allowed on a "trial basis" for next season only, and that we revisit the issue again next year to see if we want to renew the option.
Based upon the Strat-O propaganda available at the draft, Internet Strat-O was viewed with some suspicion, mainly because it seemed to be geared to entire leagues migrating to the Internet, and priced as such. The opinion was expressed that perhaps Strat-O and Stats, Inc. would develop a tiered pricing stricture for leagues that just wanted to play a few games here and there, It was ultimately decided that a volunteer task force test out the new functionality and report back to the league. Of course, as of this writing (7/26), there is still nothing new to report - it ain't available yet folks.
5. Card burning. Nominations were received for John Rocker, Al Martin, Daryl Strawberry, and Bobby Chouinard (later drafted br RAT), the most number of nominations ever. The votes were Rocker 5, Martin 1, Chouinard 1 (Eric abstained). John Rocker was then burned.
6. Draft notes
There were three pre-draft trades:
Two new additions to the SOMBILLA family have arrived - Ryan Nowell and Dean Mellor. Congratulations to both franchises. Additionally, Shithead's Jed is expecting another Sh…, er, child, this summer.
Matt announced at the draft that his wife, Kathleen, is with child and due right around the league's opening day. After admonishing them for poor SOMBILLA planning, the league pronounced a hearty congratulations. Matt has agreed to start his season early - the week after Labor Day, and will knock off a bunch of games in September. I'll be calling folks in mid-late August (after we get back from 2 weeks in Maine) for volunteers.
I'm not certain that the entire league will have chosen their ballparks
by Labor Day as is now technically required under Randy's rule change.
The league voted for that rule thinking that October 1 would be opening
day, so in my opinion, we should stick with that for those teams that haven't'
already been forced to choose a ballpark by then.
HOW IS YOUR TEAM DOING?
Here is our first unscientific look ahead to the 2000
cards (due out in January).
THE 2000 SOMBILLA/USA Today ALL-STAR COUNT
RAT (12) - Bonds, Durham, Galarraga, Garciaparra, Giles, Griffey, Kendall, Kent, G. Maddux, P. Martinez, Piazza, Sheffield
Arnie (7) - R. Alomar, Hoffman, Isringhausen, R. Johnson, Larkin, Reynolds, B. Williams
Harold (7) - Glaus, T. Jones, A. Leiter, E. Martinez, Posada, Ramirez, M. Rivera
Jed & Clint (7) - Bordick, C. Finley, Fryman, V. Guerrero, Helton, A. Jones, M. Ordonez
Jeff (7) - Delgado, Dye, Erstad, Hammonds, C. Jones, Renteria, Wickman
Land & Tom (7) - Alfonzo, Baldwin, Batista, C. Everett, J. Giambi, Hudson, A. Rodriguez
Robin (6) - Jeter, Ripken, P. Rodriguez, Sele, Sosa, M. Sweeney
Matt (5) - K. Brown, Cirillo, Edmonds, Kile, McGwire
Eric (4) - S. Finley, Glavine, Lieberthal, Lowe
Which team has the most popular hitters?
Here are the total fan all-star votes for each team. I suspect Future Wax of some Internet ballot stuffing. Future Wax had 5 million more votes than they did last year, when they also finished first:
1. Future Wax
15,282,336
2. The Team Formerly Known as Bay
City 13,014,821
3. North Dakota
9,940,768
4. Metrowest
9,905,814
5. Constantinople
9,404,788
6. Manila Folders
7,914,910
7. Shithead
7,709,593
8. New Orleans
7,326,226
9. Clavius
4,549,734
Eric has the league's least popular hitters for the second season in a row.