Season 10 has concluded it's regular season, which naturally means the Buffalo franchise will be resting for the upcoming weeks. Although 73-89 doesn't look like much, first year owner/GM/coach Jeffrey Lebowski is very pleased about his team's "success." It is the team's highest win total since Season 5 and it is their 4th highest win total in history. Lebowski likes where this team is headed, and is positive this team will be making it's second playoff appearance next season.
Bright Spots:
Here are the players who pleased us this year
Alex Martin: The team MVP, a 24 year old RF, made a big jump from last year, hitting .290 with 32 HR, 123 RBI, 100 Runs and 24 SB. After the Lebowski's traded backup RF Bill Murphy, they made it clear Martin is their RF of the future. It will be interesting to see what the Lebowskis will do with Martin, who hits arbitration next year.
Mac Yamamoto: The 34 year old CF, who was signed by the Lebowskis for one year to platoon with Ernest Presley, won over the starting job with his excellent play. The veteran hit over .350 most of the year before getting injured and going into a little slump at the end of the year. He ended up with a .321 average with 24 SB. Will the Lebowski's give him another year?
Edgardo Fuentes: After Ryan Miller was traded mid-season, and with a gaping hole at the top of the lineup, Jeff Lebowski decided to promote the 25 year old 2B. It was Fuentes first stint in the ML, and was immediately placed at leadoff, starting at 2B. Fuentes started off red-hot and then cooled off, still finishing with a pleasant .267 average, with 26 stolen bases in 446 at-bats. Will he be able to retain the leadoff spot for next year?
Erick Patterson: The recipient in the blockbuster Bill Murphy deal, the young starting pitcher did great in a Lebowski uniform. Winning his first 6 games, Patterson kept the Lebowskis in the division hunt for several weeks. He finished 12-9 with a 3.97 ERA. As the team Cy Young, he looks to lead the staff next year, along with other young starters Sal Harris, Larry Franklin, and Rick Benson.
Brown Spots:
Rob Sweeney: Traded for bright RP prospect Hank Andrews, Rob Sweeney filled a huge void at 3B and had all-star projections written all over him. Although he batted in the 5th or 6th spot, Sweeney ended up with only 50 RBI, while getting 605 at bats. His OPS of .678 is just abysmal, and as an upcoming free agent, will most likely not be a Lebowski next year.
Season Trade Report:
1) Rob Sweeney for Hank Andrews - D-: We already gave you Sweeney's incredible stats. The 19 year old Hank Andrews pitched in High A level for the Colorado Humidors, ending with a 3.00 ERA in 105 innings. The Lebowski's need for the hot corner heightened the GMs desperation into making this move.
2) Sarma Borland and Will Hansen for Fernando Parra, Ollie Simontacchi, and Jason Nunnally - B: A trade made to create cap space ended up an OK move for the franchise. Nunnally had a little ML stint and did absolutely horrible and spent the rest of the year in AAA. Simontacchi was brought into the ML because of injuries and stayed in the rotation. He put in some quality starts and had one horrible game (10 runs in 1 inning) which ruined his stats. Parra was instantly traded to another team. Borland had an excellent year for KC, hitting .313 with 32 HR nad 103 RBI. He would of been behind Don Wilkins for the Lebowski's anyway, so no love lost.
3) Fernando Parra, Bill Murphy, and Ryan Miller for Erick Patterson, Trevor Delahanty and Ralph Spurgeon - A: Although the Lebowski's gave up two ML position player, they received a great young SP and a great prospect RF. Delahanty played well on the bench, and looks to start for the Lebowski's next year, as he adds great contact and fielding.
4) Kevin Howard for Bob McGuire - A: Putting Kevin Howard on the market for pretty much anybody, the Lebowski's were able to get a nice prospect at SS, a position of need. McGuire had a stint in the ML this year when Royce Weathers got hurt, but couldn't assimilate and was quickly sent back to spend the year in AAA. He will be in a position battle to start next year at SS with Weathers.
5) Luther Marte for Juan Duran - B+: After claiming David Perez off waivers, Lebowski's were freee to deal Luther Marte, former MVP who was signed by the Lebowski's for one year. Duran came into the AAA squad and was put immediately at closer. He ended the year with a 1.23 ERA, saving 8 games in 14.2 innings.
Draft and International Signings:
Bud Johnston - C - $6M - The first round pick for the Lebowski's, Johnston took a long time to commit, as he seriously considered college. It took $6 million to convince him to come. In 191 at bats in the Rookie League, Bud batted .390/.463/.644 with 8 HR and 60 RBI and a 9.10 RF. Yikes.
Javier Fernandez - CF - $5.9M - The 18-year-old Colombian looks to be the starter in Buffalo in a few years. He made it up to Low A this year, overall batting .338/.413/.519 with 20 RBI in 133 at bats.
Donaldo Roque - RP - $1.9M - The 18 year old Dominican played in Rookie ball the entire season and finished with a 4.41 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 17 K's in 16.1 innings. Hopefully, he will keep progressing and become a staple in the Buffalo bullpen.
Francisco Jose - RF - $1.5M The power hitting 20-year-old Dominican dominated Rookie ball this year, batting .323/.368/.717 with 30 HR and 131 RBI in 353 at bats. He could be in the ML as soon as season 12.
Next year, the Lebowski's look forward to an improved Alex Martin, Don Wilkins, Stephen Mitchell, Sal Harris, and Erick Patterson, the possible promotions of Bob McGuire, Rick Benson, Larry Franklin and Juan Duran, and the World Series Crown. Until next year, the Lebowski's abide.
2.21.2009
1.06.2009
Buffalo Revamped
Coming into tonights game, the opener in a series against the Salt Lake City Sea Monkeys, the Lebowskis will be experimenting with a new lineup. The Lebowskis finally found a suitor for RF Bill Murphy who repeatedly exhibited resentment towards his lack of playing time. Bill Murphy, RP Fernando Parra, and 2B Ryan Miller were traded in-state to the Big Apple for SP Erick Patterson, 1B Ralph Spurgeon, and OF Trevor Delahanty.
Ryan Miller, former starting 2B for the Lebowskis, will be replaced by AAA star Edguardo Fuentes, who's deserved his shot for a while now. Coach Circelli sees Fuentes as lead-off material, which will allow 40/40 man Justin Hutton to move more into the heart of the lineup. Slugger Don Wilkins will also be joining the team tonight, returning from a stint on the DL. Ralph Spurgeon will start in AA, with management keeping a close eye on his progress. Trevor Delahanty will replace Bill Murphy's role as the 4th outfielder after some minor roster complications sort themselves out.
Erick Patterson will join the staff immediately, and will start tomorrow afternoons game. The Lebowskis are very excited for the future, as big arms like Patterson, Sal Harris, Rick Benson, and Larry Franklin aim for the rotation.
It's time to get ready for tonight's game. Hopefully, this move will turn around the franchises past discretions. We will find out shortly. Till then, the Lebowskis abide.
Ryan Miller, former starting 2B for the Lebowskis, will be replaced by AAA star Edguardo Fuentes, who's deserved his shot for a while now. Coach Circelli sees Fuentes as lead-off material, which will allow 40/40 man Justin Hutton to move more into the heart of the lineup. Slugger Don Wilkins will also be joining the team tonight, returning from a stint on the DL. Ralph Spurgeon will start in AA, with management keeping a close eye on his progress. Trevor Delahanty will replace Bill Murphy's role as the 4th outfielder after some minor roster complications sort themselves out.
Erick Patterson will join the staff immediately, and will start tomorrow afternoons game. The Lebowskis are very excited for the future, as big arms like Patterson, Sal Harris, Rick Benson, and Larry Franklin aim for the rotation.
It's time to get ready for tonight's game. Hopefully, this move will turn around the franchises past discretions. We will find out shortly. Till then, the Lebowskis abide.
1.03.2009
More Buffalo Rambling
Hey again. Our Lebowskis kind of, uh, stubbed a toe heading out of the gates. A 12-15 start isn't what the new ownership was looking for, but our confidence remains strong. We caught a couple injuries, a couple muffed plays, and, of course, who can forget that streaker that costed us that game just a couple days back. Things will turn around. Slugging DH Don Wilkins is close to returning from a neck strain, and is eager to get back to knocking the ball like the Wilkins of old.
In other news, the Lebowskis have been shopping RF Bill Murphy, looking for a right-handed starting pitcher that can hopefully patch up the young staff full of lefties.
While the big league team is having mixed success, some young achievers are on their way to becoming big Lebowskis. While ace in the making Rick Benson struggles to find his way in AAA, his right-hand man Larry Franklin has shown he can get people out, and has a high possibility of seeing the major leagues in season 11, if not 10. Stephen Mitchell has shown that he will be the future catcher for the Lebowskis. The 24-year old is batting .388, with 5 home runs and 26 RBI, with a 1.036 OPS.
Well, my joint is done, so I'm gonna go, uh, play video games. Till next time, the Lebowskis abide.
In other news, the Lebowskis have been shopping RF Bill Murphy, looking for a right-handed starting pitcher that can hopefully patch up the young staff full of lefties.
While the big league team is having mixed success, some young achievers are on their way to becoming big Lebowskis. While ace in the making Rick Benson struggles to find his way in AAA, his right-hand man Larry Franklin has shown he can get people out, and has a high possibility of seeing the major leagues in season 11, if not 10. Stephen Mitchell has shown that he will be the future catcher for the Lebowskis. The 24-year old is batting .388, with 5 home runs and 26 RBI, with a 1.036 OPS.
Well, my joint is done, so I'm gonna go, uh, play video games. Till next time, the Lebowskis abide.
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