Greater Chicago Strat League Newsletter

August 26, 2018

KEY DATES:

9/9/2018 (Sunday) – Rosters expand; unlimited major league roster of eligible players for final month’s games. The game limits you to 15 pitchers on your ML roster. You may use more than 15 pitchers by sending a list of the extra pitchers and they will be called up as other pitchers are used up.
9/9/2018 (Sunday) – Playoff rosters for potential playoff teams must be submitted.
9/9/2018 (Sunday) – Computer Manager (.MGR) files containing active rosters (initial Major/Minor setup) and pitching rotations (Starter Schedule) due to Game Manager.
9/21/2018 (Friday) – Computer Manager (.MGR) files containing final player settings and manager tendencies, along a separately attached default lineup number specifications document/spreadsheet for each game due to Game Manager.

TRADE SUMMARY (since 8/3):

To CRC: HUC-1

To HUC: Gordon,Dee* and CRC-10

To CUB: Urias,Luis (Taxi), Robert,Luis (Taxi), Myers,Wil and CAL-5

To CAL: Sanchez,Anibal, Peralta,David* and CUB-8

To CUB: Lester,Jon*, Wright,Kyle (Taxi), TAM-2 and HUC-4

To HUC: Treinen,Blake, Hellickson,Jeremy, CUB-7 and CUB-10

What this means for HUC (2 trades):

Total Additions: Gordon,Dee*, Treinen,Blake, Hellickson,Jeremy, CUB-7, CUB-10 and CRC-10

Total Subtractions: Lester,Jon*, Wright,Kyle (Taxi), HUC-1, TAM-2 and HUC-4

HUC is bored - so he is forcing trades… Gordon is a good fit if he gets at least a 2-range in CF and 2B - although his bat makes his a #9 hitter. Treinen is a dominant closer - but they already have Diaz. Hellickson is hurt - but will combine with Richards as a 5th starter for next year for this team that hopes to be in the playoff race next year after a tough 2018.

What this means for CUB (2 trades):

Total Additions: Urias,Luis (Taxi), Robert,Luis (Taxi), Wright,Kyle (Taxi), Myers,Wil, Lester,Jon*, TAM-2, HUC-4 and CAL-5.

Total Subtractions: Sanchez,Anibal, Peralta,David*, Treinen,Blake, Hellickson,Jeremy, CUB-7, CUB-8 and CUB-10

They are giving up on next year and working a rebuild. Urias is a 2B at AAA hitting .296/.398/.447 (ave/obp/slg). Robert is a 21 year old Cuban CF trying to figure it out at A. Wright has a 2.81 ERA and 0.83 WHIP after 4 AAA starts. Myers only has a couple hundred ABs this year - but is putting up typical numbers (.262/.320/.470/.790) and was recently moved to 3B - increasing future value. Lester is on pace for 200 IP, but a tough month dropped his ERA and WHIP to 3.64 and 1.32. Add on 3 early round picks - this looks like a nice haul.

What this means for CAL (1 trade):

Total Additions: Sanchez,Anibal, Peralta,David* and CUB-8

Total Subtractions: Urias,Luis (Taxi), Robert,Luis (Taxi), Myers,Wil and CAL-5

Yes, he gave up a good 2B prospect - but not sure he will miss the rest. Sanchez has been hurt a lot and has under 100 IP, but a 3.13 ERA and 1.085 WHIP will help the CAL rotation. Peralta’s .306/.364/.548/.912 numbers will help solve the corner OF gap in the CAL lineup. The last time CAL was over .500 was the 2014 season when he won the Capitol Division with 89 wins. Welcome back to the playoff race, Greg.

What this means for CRC (1 trade):

Total Additions: HUC-1

Total Subtractions: Gordon,Dee* and CRC-10

This was a no-brainer for CRC, as this will likely be Gordon’s last year with 2B eligibility and a team with Trout and Harper has no need for another CF.

PLAYOFF RACES:

CAPITOL:

A 15 win August for COL only closed the gap by a single game, as he still sits 3 back of SYI. They go head-to-head for 5 games this month and SYI plays 9 other games against teams in the playoff hunt - compared to only 3 for COL. This race is far from over - and COL is currently tied for the 2nd Wild Card!

Projection: SYI holds on for the Division and COL hopes for a chance to play a game 163 for the Wild Card.

MIDWEST:

A 15 win August for GGG moved him into 1st place with a 5 game lead over a TAM franchise that managed only 10 wins. They go head-to-head for 5 games this month, so that series will be huge if TAM wants a chance to catch them - they probably need to win 4 of them. CHI is just 3 games back from the Wild Card - so don’t rule them out quite yet (although I am). The bigger impact they can have is the 5 games they play against TAM and 8 against GGG. They could determine who wins this division.

Projection: GGG holds on for the Division and TAM hopes for a chance to play a game 163 for the Wild Card.

SOUTH CENTRAL:

A 15 win August for both BZZ and HMA holds the status quo - with BZZ holding a 10 game lead. HMA did create some breathing room in the Wild Card race - holding a 5 game lead.

Projection: BZZ holds on for the Division and HMA cruises in with the #1 Wild Card.

COASTAL:

A 16 win August for BUR give them the slight 2-game lead over CRC, who managed only 14. They go head-to-head for 4 games the final month - with both teams having pretty easy schedules outside that battle. CRC is currently tied for the 2nd Wild Card, but they have some usage issues - with 5 pitchers and 2 hitters used up (including Bryce Harper!). They also have 5 more pitchers with only between 2 and 8 IP remaining.

Projection: BUR holds on for the Division and CRC falls back and just hopes for a chance to play a game 163 for the Wild Card.

#1 PICK WATCH:

Based on my above commentary, the top 2 picks will end up going to TAM (77), COL (78) or CRC(78) - with one of those teams as the final Wild Card. CHI (75), VRN (71), CUB (71), DUB 969) and NYY (69) will round out the top 7 picks.

SYI (owned by VRN) is still at some risk of having traded away an early pick, but HMA (owned by HUC) looks safe.

FINES & FINANCES:

No Change