2008 POST DRAFT NUMBERS & COMMENTS

Greetings: Another successful drafting event was held and below are some stats and comments. Then it’s time to Play Ball.

For the first year we can probably remember, there was no Barry Bonds or Mike Piazza on anyone’s draft list. And familiar names such as Mike Mussina, Richie Sexson, Jason Giambi, Jason Kendall, Frank Thomas, Ray Durham and Brian Giles are still active players not on the DL, but also not drafted. But of course pick-ups may give them an opportunity to be on an NPL roster at some point. Here are some numbers from the draft.

Most Drafted from one team:
13 – Diamondbacks, Red Sox, Yankees
12 – Tigers
11 – Cubs, Dodgers, Brewers, White Sox

Least Drafted from:
3 – Marlins
5 – Giants, Nationals

Pirates: 9
LaRoche, Sanchez, Wilson, Bay, McLouth, Snell, Gorzelanny, Duke, Capps

Ex-Pirates: 6
A. Ramirez, O. Perez, B. Arroyo, J. Guillen, M. Batista, T. Wigginton

266 total drafted, which includes the 6 additional players drafted as a result of the DL

138 from the N.L.
128 from the A.L.

Time of Draft – Players names called:
START: 6:40 PM
END: 9:25 PM

TOTAL TIME DRAFTING:

2 hours 45 minutes with about a 15 minute break at the mid-way point.

So, 2 hours 30 minutes of drafting, divided by 266 players selected means that a name was called on an AVERAGE of every 56 seconds.

(Just thought you wanted to know!!)

TEAM COMMENTS: (In draft order)

H-BOMBS:
“Worst to First?”

Big Daddy surprised everyone by attending this draft alcohol free. And he did an excellent job, as you’ll see when the prediction votes are published. John showed a preference for those teams from Ohio. 3 Reds and 3 from the Tribe. When I mentioned in the NPL news article that of a particular 11th round draft pick, well that player just happens to be a member of the H-Bombs. You see, Vernon Wells may be the type of player you want on your fantasy team. He’s a winner. In fact, Wells has been on the championship team in the North Park League for the last 3 years. In 2005 with the Kids, 2006 as an H-Bomb and last year in ’07 he was with the Big Train. Could Wells and Schoming bring back that 2006 magic again and make it 4 in a row for Wells? We’ll see…. And of course we should mention the #1 overall draft pick. An obvious choice in 2008 was Alex Rodriguez. But what does A-Rod think about joining the H-Bombs? Does he have any comments or anything to tell B.D.? Yes, he sent this message…….

69’ERS:
“Those fabulous Phillies”

Understanding the circumstances of Piffy not being able to attend, Bryan the Sticker Boy filled in and did an admirable job of helping Piff out. The top choice that Piff requested to me was the top hitting middle infielder in baseball – Chase Utley. And Bryan got him a 69’er from 2007 as his top pitcher in young and talented Cole Hamels. And a good pitcher in John Lackey of the Halos is expected off the DL in mid-May and the Niners have him in reserve.

PITTSBURGH O’S:
“We Will”

As you may expect, Larry led the Bucco parade with 4. LaRoche and Wilson to score on offense, and Gorzy and Capps to get the Win and the Save. While Harv made a splash with the Japanese players, the Big O quietly selected Akinori Iwamura, Ichiro Suzuki, Chien-Ming Wang and Takashi Saito from the Far East. It also appears that the O’s will attempt to re-claim that coveted Stolen Base Crown. Soriano, Crawford, Ichiro and Escobar will bring back the Running O’s in 2008.

KOOPERSTOWN KIDS:
“The name is the same.”

This team may be confusing. We have not one, but TWO Chris Young’s joining up with Michael Young. And we have TWO M. Cabrera’s in Miguel and Melky. And this Soto guy? Is that Mexican or Japanese?? Again, I’m confused. You know, someone mentioned that the Kids have finished out of the money for two years in a row. But I have to say I have no recall of that because my memory was “cleansed” by “The Haitian” from the show Heroes!

LOCKHORNS:
“We play our home games in the Tokyo Dome”

Yes, Harv is predicting (or maybe just hopeful) that Kosuke Fukudome is the Japanese Roy Hobbs. And yep, Harv sure did have fun with that name! The picks of Fukky, along with Kurt Suzuki and Hiroki Kuroda led to the Current Quote from Harv located in the upper right side of this blog. Pujols in the 3rd round could be a steal if the elbow doesn’t blow out, and the Lockhorns bring back draft picks Kinsler, King Felix, Johnny Maine, David Bush and closer Jose Valverde from the 2007 squad.

BULLDOGS:
“It’s all about teamwork”

The first Pirate player taken in 2008 was not from Larry or Bob, but by the Bulldogs. Jason Bay in round 10. Just a couple of years ago J-Bay was a 2nd rounder. The fact that Matt Holliday was still on the board for the 6th selection was no doubt a pleasant surprise to Tony and Eddie. He and the Fresh Prince of Milwaukee will be a formidable 1 – 2 power punch and they have a Boston combo in Dice-K and Paplebon from the pitching side. 24th round selection Ervin Santana is a curious subject. Can they only play him at home? His career numbers are 25-9 with a 3.14 ERA in Anaheim and 10-21 with a 7.14 ERA on the road. Dogs go for 3 years out of 3 for finishing in the money in 2008.

ROCK CATS:
“Pitching wins championships.”

First things first…… In case you were not aware, a big CONGRATS to John and Becky on the upcoming birth of their first child. Expected date is around late May or June 1st. It’s a girl. Will John do as Big Daddy did two years ago and call in his baseball moves from the delivery room?? Okay, now back to baseball…….. The Cats jumped on starting pitching in rounds 2, 3, 4 and 9 and they also gravitated to players from the strong teams. 4 D-Backs, and 3 each from the Cubs, Indians and Yankees. But with that first round pick, the Raven is looking to find “The Wright Stuff.”

OWLS:
“Red Sox Nation”

If you noticed John intently filling out paperwork at his table after the draft, you assumed he was filling out his prediction sheet. Not really. He was writing out his resignation to the Evil Empire and filling out his application to Red Sox Nation. Last year the Owls were heavy on NYY. This season they travel down to Beantown to select 5 from the BoSox. That number is the most drafted from any one MLB team by an NPL team. And all 5 are hitters. A Red Sox rain-out is a bad day. A doubleheader is good day. John went with Closers in back-to-back rounds of 6 and 7. Hmmm, do I detect a historical pattern here John?? The pitching will be fortified with the return of Smoltz and Kazmir as the Owls left the building with $9.00 owed in transaction fees. In 2008 the Owls are flying for their 4th consecutive season of finishing in the top division and thus – in the money.

THE BIG TRAIN:
“Back-to-Back”

Bob left the 2008 draft carrying out the hardware which is the 2007 Championship Trophy and the presentation from the former champion – John Schoming of the H-Bombs.



After Bob took a victory lap around the Windsor Place parking lot holding the bobblehead aloft, it was time to get down to business. Also taking top pitching early, the Train got former team member from '07 Josh Beckett back in round 3 and prior to that it was Jake Peavy in the 2nd as the Train has 3 hurlers from the Pods. Ian Snell and Nate McLouth represent the Black & Gold and Bob was no doubt impressed with the Bucco centerfielder based on that first Spring Training telecast when it was just two minutes into the game that Lanny once again labeled McLouth as the “N-Dog” and Wehner called him a “professional hitter.” Which I guess is better than being a non-professional hitter. 2008 will be all about defending the title for the men of Walter Johnson.

VULCANS:
“Rookie of the Year”

Welcome aboard Rich and I know everyone thought you did a great job with your first NPL draft as the prediction votes will indicate. Picking from the 10 hole is not always easy but the wrap around to take two top catchers in Mauer and McCann with 3 and 4 looks like a nifty move. Rich would not know this but the 16th round selection mentioned in the website article also has good luck on his side. Like Vernon Wells, Aaron Rowand is the other NPL player going for 4 in a row. So yes, he and Wells were NPL teammates on those winning teams the last 3 seasons and now Rowand has his shot as a Vulcan to extend that streak. Here’s another curious player statistic. The Vulcs have Brad Penny. He should be good in the first half. In the past three seasons he’s 25-8 with a 2.88 ERA before the break but just 14-14 with a 4.82 in the 2nd half. And I don’t know if there is a rivalry in the making here, but do Vulcans feast on Owls?? I’m just asking……….

YOU-TUBE:
In honor of opening day…… This is 1 minute long and it closes with a member of the Pittsburgh O’s swinging the bat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-Y940ak0Us&feature=related

NPL - Turn Back The Clock - VOLUME 2.

I originally posted this 10 years ago, back in 1998.

“THE BAT”




It bunts, squeezes, swings, flails and chops.

It’s shattered, splintered, cracked and choked.

It’s kissed, cursed, corked, taped and tarred.


It’s 32 ounces of white ash.

It lays down a 12 foot bunt. It launches a 450 foot rocket.

It churns like a windmill in anticipation.



If it’s propped in the corner of a room you can’t resist picking it up and taking a few practice swings.

It’s what you swing in your den when you’re 45 while you tell your friends about your glory days.

The difference between an aluminum one and a wooden one is the difference between a ping and a thwack.

Honus Wagner was the first player to have his signature branded on one.

Shoeless Joe called his “Black Betsy.”


When you heard it make a certain noise over the radio, you knew what it meant before the announcer said a word.

When a hitter’s in a slump, he’ll change it more often than his underwear.

When he’s hot, he’ll guard it with his life.

It doesn’t come with a set of instructions.

The first thing you learned was to hold it with the label facing you so you wouldn’t crack it.

If your only athletic skill is using it well, they’ll find a place for you.

It’s memories of a game, or a season, or a career.

Try to imagine Clemente wearing batting gloves to hold it.




-----------------------------

YOU-TUBE:
This is 2 minutes 32 seconds in length. Since it's NCAA time, We're sure to have at least "One Shining Moment." This video is the 1992 version. That is the year of the Christian Laettner miracle shot vs. Kentucky. But watch closely at about 17 seconds in. You'll see Robert Morris College play-by-play announcer Chris Shovlin getting his head shaved by the team. His reward for the Colonials making the Dance in March of 1992.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfPmF9bK9hs

NPL - Turn Back The Clock - VOLUME 1.

This NPL newsletter item was originally written about 5 years ago, when it was the 30th anniversary of the infamous Yankees "TRADE of the CENTURY." This week on March 5th it will mark the official 35th anniversary of the announcement of this event, so the timing seemed right to make this Volume 1 in what will be a year long series of taking a look back in NPL history. It may be re-prints of special write-ups that I published, but mostly it will be events or "incidents" that took place with our own members. And believe it or not, some even involve guys other than Big Daddy!

So with that introduction......

On March 5, 1973, Yankees lefty Mike Kekich explained it as......

"It isn't a wife swap, It's a life swap."

(factual info is from Sports Illustrated magazine.)

Lefthanded pitchers are supposed to be flakes. FRITZ PETERSON and MIKE KEKICH were both lefties; in 1972 they were teammates with the New York Yankees, best friends with adjoining lockers and chummy spouses. But baseball - not to mention the rest of America was not ready for the news that broke on March 5, 1973. The New York Times headline read: "2 Yankees Disclose Family Exchange." The previous October Fritz (far right) had swapped his wife, Marilyn, his two kids and a poodle for Susanne Kekich (second from right), the two Kekich children and a Bedlington terrier. Fritz & Marilyn and Mike & Suzanne quickly became the most celebrated names in sports. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who said he was "appalled" at the exchange but powerless to reverse it, received more mail on this wife/family swap than on the introduction of the DH rule that same spring.

And what of the outcome this many years later? Details are hard to come by. Peterson and Kekich have kept low public profiles in recent years. Although both have run afoul of the IRS. Peterson once declared bankruptcy, and Kekich has been sued for nonpayment of student loans. Peterson, though, seems to have gotten the better of the deal. He and Susanne are still married, have four children of their own and live outside Chicago, as Fritz works as a casino-boat dealer in Elgin, Illinois after a failed foray into real estate.

The Mike and Marilyn combination, however, quickly unraveled. Three months after the pitchers went public, Kekich was shipped off to Cleveland and would start only eight more games in the majors. He is remarried and living in Albuquerque, where his current occupation is unknown. Marilyn had taken her two kids and opted for what one report calls "Midwestern obscurity" -- which, presumably, is not a place where kooky New York lefthanders swap wives.

Is this story made for Hollywood? Maybe. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have obtained the rights to the screenplay. But it's not exactly the Yankees Field of Dreams.

This reports YOUTUBE clip....

With the passing of Myron Cope, we've seen some of his best Steeler stuff on the news. The Christmas Carols, etc. But do you remember when he filmed a Pirates bit for the 1990 playoffs? The link below is for his crazy rendition of MC Hammer's "You can't touch this" and it even has some shots of the '90 Pirates team and Cope is decked out as a rapper! (Length 2 mins, 10 sec.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRGMXlNJa1U