Greater Chicago Strat League Newsletter
July 4, 2022
KEY DATES:
1. 7/2/2022 (Saturday) – Trade deadline for July games.
2. 7/9/2022 (Saturday) – 26-man rosters and pitching rotations (Starter Schedule) due.
Deadline for rule change proposals to be nominated and seconded.
Deadline for Executive Committee nominations.
3. 7/21/2022 (Thursday) – Final player settings and manager tendencies, along with default lineup number specifications for each game due.
4. 8/2/2022 (Tuesday) – Season Trade deadline.
Ballots for rule change proposals and EC vote due.
REMINDERS:
1. Rule Change proposals coming up per the dates above.
2. We will need another Executive Committee Member to join Tony Calabrese and Frank Lopeman (with Steve Seydell’s term coming to an end).
Here are the managers that are eligible to serve on the EC and have never done so:
Jim Aldrich Jim Calabrese Steve Linke Joe Ingrafia
Recent EC members:
Frank Lopeman (2024)
Tony Calabrese (2023) Wes Davies (2020) Ralph Madera (2017) Doug Salzwedel (2014)
Steven Seydell (2022) John Stryker (2019) Mike Aldrich (2016) Steven Seydell (2013)
Brian Anderson (2021) Rich Domovic (2018) Adam Smith (2015) Greg Edens (2012)
TRADE SUMMARY (since June 2nd):
To CRC: Lance Lynn, Liam Hendriks, HMA-7
To HMA: Marco Gonzales*, Domingo German, Robert Hassell*, George Valera*, Bryan Shaw, CRC-3
To BUR: Charlie Blackmon*, HMA-13
To HMA: Daniel Lynch*, BUR-7
To HMA: HOH-12
To HOH: Aaron Sanchez, HMA-15
To JAM: Frank Schwindel, HUC-6
To SRD: Jake Bauers*, Sal Frelick*, Orelvis Martinez, JAM-2
To CHI: John Means*, OAK-15
To OAK: Pedro Leon, CHI-5
To JAM: Kyle Gibson, Josh Staumont, OAK-13, OAK-14
To OAK: Jameson Taillon, Justin Steele*, JAM-4, JAM-5
To HUC: Yermin Mercedes, CUB-14
To BUR: SRD-10
To HUC: Joey Votto*, DUB-12, DUB-14
To DUB: Yermin Mercedes, HUC-4, HUC-7
To HMA: Spencer Howard, NYY-10
To NYY: Bryan Shaw, HMA-14
To HMA: CHI-2
To CHI: George Springer, HMA-16
To BUR: Darren Ruf, CWC-13
To CWC: Jesus Aguilar, BUR-8
To BUR: Aaron Bummer, Paul Sewald, SRD-16
To SRD: Cody Heuer, Matt Wisler, BUR-3
What this means for JAM 58-32 (2 trades):
Total Additions: Frank Schwindel, Kyle Gibson, Josh Staumont, HUC-6, OAK-13, OAK-14
Total Subtractions: Jameson Taillon, Sal Frelick*, Orelvis Martinez, Justin Steele*, Jake Bauers*, JAM-2, JAM-4, JAM-5
This feels like an embarrassment of riches… Schwindle is an elite hitter who would hit #3 for most teams - but he looks to simply add some 1B/DH depth for this juggernaut. With both Vlad as the everyday 1B and Winker as DHvR a little over pace, Schwindle will make sure they don’t have to settle for someone like Perez at DH (hitting .342 with a a .667 SLG). Staumont will be a good setup option and Gibson adds a much-needed right handed arm to the rotation. The cost - a good middle of the rotation option for next year and a couple good prospects - but not locks.
What this means for HOH 58-32 (1 trade):
Total Additions: Aaron Sanchez, HMA-15
Total Subtractions: HOH-12
Only 14 IP left, I don’t think this will have a huge impact. 3 good starts and then he gets cut.
What this means for HUC 56-34 (2 trades):
Total Additions: Joey Votto*, DUB-12, DUB-14, CUB-14
Total Subtractions: HUC-4, HUC-7, SRD-10
After a disastrous 11-13 month, they had to do something as their cushion over BUR is down to 3 games. The problem is, not a lot of tradable pieces remain, so they lost out on some bigger deals to other leading teams. Votto is an impact bat that should slot in 3rd in the lineup for them with his remaining tabs. And with only a 1st and 5th left before the 12th next year anyway - they won’t really miss these picks.
What this means for CRC 55-35 (1 trade):
Total Additions: Lance Lynn, Liam Hendriks, HMA-7
Total Subtractions: Marco Gonzales*, Domingo German, Robert Hassell*, George Valera*, Bryan Shaw, CRC-3
Had to lose some prospects, but they couldn’t keep them all anyway. Lynn will slot in with Rodon, Gray and Gausman to form a fearful starting 4 and Hendricks likely moves into a setup role for Jansen. Only 2 games up, they are not planning to give up their lead.
What this means for BUR 53-37 (4 trades):
Total Additions: Aaron Bummer, Paul Sewald, Charlie Blackmon*, Darren Ruf, SRD-10, CWC-13, HMA-13, SRD-16
Total Subtractions: Matt Wisler, Daniel Lynch*, Jesus Aguilar, Cody Heuer, Yermin Mercedes, BUR-3, BUR-7, BUR-8, CUB-14
2 games back in the Division and 3 back in the Wild Card, time for trader-Wes to go to work! Wisler is all he gave up of value, but is this enough to catch CRC or HUC? Sewald and Bummer add depth to an already great bullpen. Ruf can DH and will improve the lineup but is not going to scare anyone. Blackmon feels more like depth. Pitching is even more elite but watch for another bat or two to join the mix soon.
What this means for NYY 46-44 (1 trade):
Total Additions: Bryan Shaw, HMA-14
Total Subtractions: Spencer Howard, NYY-10
A little relief help in a fight for an earlier first round pick? I got nothing here.
What this means for HMA 45-45 (5 trades):
Total Additions: Robert Hassell*, George Valera*, Marco Gonzales*, Domingo German, Daniel Lynch*, Spencer Howard, CHI-2, CRC-3, BUR-7, NYY-10, HOH-12
Total Subtractions: Lance Lynn, Liam Hendriks, Charlie Blackmon*, George Springer, Aaron Sanchez, HMA-7, HMA-13, HMA-14, HMA-15, HMA-16
Sitting at .500, a monster month by division rival HOH convinced them it was time to look to the future. Injuries and aging are catching up with HMA, so they seem to be looking at a full rebuild. Most of these guys could still contribute next year, but none are players that should be part of a rebuild. The return? German is just coming off injury. Gonzales is a back of the rotation guy. Lynch is 25, but cutable and Howard is trying to figure things out at the MLB level (but has a ridiculous 12 Ks in 6 IP!). However, 20-year-old CF Hassell is lighting it up at high A - especially on the bases (.307/.372/.473/.845) and 21 year old OF Valera is coming on at AA (.286/.390/.516/.906) - so the story is yet to be written here.
What this means for DUB 42-48 (1 trade):
Total Additions: Yermin Mercedes, HUC-4, HUC-7
Total Subtractions: Joey Votto*, DUB-12, DUB-14
6 games under .500 and way back, DUB looks to next year and decides it is time to let a foundational piece in 38-year-old Votto get one last shot at the playoffs elsewhere. He wasn’t going to help next year anyway, so time to start adding some draft depth.
What this means for CHI 41-49 (2 trades):
Total Additions: John Means*, George Springer, OAK-15, HMA-16
Total Subtractions: Pedro Leon, CHI-2, CHI-5
Those teams above with better records decided it was time to sell, so this one is a bit of a surprise. 8 games under .500 and 8 games back (with another team to pass), CHI appears to want to see if a couple of tuck-in transactions will give them momentum to make a run. If it works this month, watch for more trades next month. If not, it could still get them an earlier first rounder. Springer will probably bat cleanup and Means will be the ace of the rotation, but this feels like a pretty big gamble. Thankfully, they did this without sacrificing too much, so the hometown fans are excited.
What this means for SRD 36-54 (2 trades):
Total Additions: Matt Wisler, Sal Frelick*, Orelvis Martinez, Jake Bauers*, Cody Heuer, JAM-2, BUR-3
Total Subtractions: Frank Schwindel, Aaron Bummer, Paul Sewald, SRD-16, HUC-6
20-year-old Martinez is swatting HRs at AA (17), but the .220 average and 77 Ks are a concern. 22-year-old Frelick is moving up through the Brewers system quickly, now holding his own at AA with a .291/.353/.426/.779 line. Wisler could get keeper consideration as a reliever/opener, but this feels mostly about the 2 early picks. Only Sewald will be missed next year, so this feels like some value moves that won’t make too dramatic of an impact for next year.
What this means for OAK 34-56 (2 trades):
Total Additions: Jameson Taillon, Pedro Leon, Justin Steele*, JAM-4, JAM-5, CHI-5
Total Subtractions: Kyle Gibson, Josh Staumont, John Means*, OAK-13, OAK-14, OAK-15
Taillon is looking a little like the ‘16 and ‘18 version of himself with a 3.32 ERA and 1.15 WHIP and Leon is putting up intriguing numbers at AAA (11 HR, 23 SBs, .360 OBP - but only a .225 average with 88 Ks in 244 ABs). Maybe not players to build around, but with the draft depth, some nice pieces were added while only Gibson would have been kept (and not looking as good as Taillon).
What this means for CWC 27-63 (1 trade):
Total Additions: Jesus Aguilar, BUR-8
Total Subtractions: Darren Ruf, CWC-13
Aguilar has a .736 OPSvR with 1B and 3B eligibility, so he could be a carryover. Not too much here.
PLAYOFF RACES:
CAPITOL:
An awful month for VRN (12-12) and HUC (11-13) allowed JAM (15-9) to move up to just 1 game back. These 3 teams will probably battle it out to the very end, with the acquisition of Bauer probably making VRN the favorite to hold on. JAM and HUC have also added a big bat and bullpen help, so don’t count any of them out. The only question is if this division will have both Wild Cards and if one of these teams will end up with the 1st pick in the draft. VRN and JAM have both traded theirs away, so watch that. WRK and COL are looking to next year.
Projection: VRN holds on for the Division and a first-round bye and JAM and HUC hold on for both of the Wild Cards.
MIDWEST:
A 16-win June for CHI apparently convinced them not to concede the division to leader DYE (13-11 June), but they are still 8 games back and have TAM to pass along the way. They are 20-7 in division play, including 7-1 vs TAM, so don’t count them out. A relatively easy month that ends with a 4-game series vs DYE will set the stage for any trade deadline moves. Meanwhile, DYE does not seem too worried, as they seem to have decided the current roster will be enough to lock in the #4 seed. GGG and SRD will battle it out to avoid last place - but SRD is making moves to help them next year that could cost them a couple games this year.
Projection: DYE holds on for the Division and #4 seed.
SOUTH CENTRAL:
21-3. Let me repeat that, 21-3. That is all you need to know about HOH and this division race, as they turned what was a 2 and 3 game lead over their competition into 12 and 13 game leads and ended the race. NYY still seems to be playing for a top 3 pick, despite moving Bauer. HMA is throwing in the towel and seems to be starting a rebuild, something they have had success in in the past. AAR and OAK are just playing out the season.
Projection: HOH takes advantage of a weaker division, holding on for the Division and a first-round bye.
COASTAL:
An 18-win June for BUR closes the gap with division leader CRC, who managed only 14-10. Both teams were active on the trade market, and they go head-to-head for 9 games this month - so this will really set the stage for trade deadline deals. CUB, DUB and CWC all watch this race, only hoping to have an impact through division games.
Projection: CRC finishes strong with the addition of Lynn and Hendricks to claim the division but falls just short of the first-round bye. BUR fights to the finish and falls just short of facing a game 163 vs HUC.
#1 PICK WATCH:
Based on my above commentary, the top pick will end up going to BUR (53 wins) - but that pick has been traded to CUB. CUB also holds first round picks from expected playoff teams JAM and VRN - who could end up with the #1 overall as well if they hit a string of bad luck (and let's remember, luck still plays a big factor in a dice game!). HUC and CRC still own their first-round picks and will need to decide if they should trade them away to attempt to increase their playoff chances. Of the other expected playoff teams, DYE still owns their first, but HOH traded theirs to OAK.
So, odds are the #1 pick goes to BUR - with a chance it goes to HUC, CRC, VRN or JAM if BUR aces one of them out of the playoffs. The real battle is for the other top 3 picks, where NYY will probably end up with the second pick and WRK will try to hold off TAM, CHI and HMA for the third pick.
FINES & FINANCES:
NO CHANGE
Bank Balance: $2061.18
Outstanding Credits: $450 total - HOH ($160), HMA ($80), COL ($60), CHI ($40), NYY ($40), VRN ($30), CAL ($20), GGG ($20) - Plus I need to confirm league expenses with Steve
League Balance: $1611.18