8/15/99
Latest news from Jami:
Tommy has the following players ready for a trade: Mondesi, D. Cruz, Mlicki, Morgan,and M. Stanley. Give him a call and make a deal....THE COMMISH has
announced penalties for late stat turn in against the following teams: Bulls, Twins, Ducks, Mad Hatters, and
Turkeys all lose their 15th round picks....The Stampede lose their 15th and 10th round
picks....any complaints,,,,call the commish or your league prez.....get the games in and
lets finish this thing out guys....There look to be some great games ahead as both playoff
lineups are far from settled....next call in is Sept. 1......keep the bones rollin’
8/3/99
Terry has announced that the Black Sox are officially Charlie’s. Be sure not to take advantage of the new guys..too much.....Terry has said that he would be willing to try to help any National League teams catch up/stay even if they need him.....with his greasy bones, I’d take him up on it even if I didn’t need the help. The COMMISH has requested that I pass along that all 121 game stats will be turned in on time or penalties will be enforced. Get the games in if you haven’t folks. If you have something for the newsletter let me know. Jerry Leigers is going to help Paul get his games in.. if you can’t find Paul get Jerry...try Paul Fist.......Keep the bones rollin’
6/12/99
Latest news from Jami:
Tim Turner is playing for Joe’s Stampede for right
now so give him a call if you are looking for
games. Randy has Chad Fox available for trade
if someone is looking for innings. Try not to
pass out that you actually got a newsletter....it has been one busy summer. It would help if you all would call me or E-mail
me your records....but I’ll nonetheless try to be more consistent with
mailings/E-mailings.
Randy has some comments attached below....The AL looks to be close for the last 2 spots with the NL race wide open for 4th. Don’t forget 121 game stats are due AUGUST 15.
Stratothon in the works....will update as soon as it is set.....Keep the bones rollin’
Commissioner's notes:
Thanks again to Charlie Allen for stepping in and catching up the Black
Sox big time. Terry is still rolling with his new travelling job, so in the meantime,
contact Charlie or Charlie will be contacting you to get those Black Sox games out of the
way. So far, Terry did not lend his magic 20 sided to Charlie.
Remember our new playoff use rule. Limited players are limited in the playoffs also. To clarify the pinch hitting situation (and make sure that some wiseacre doesn't pinch hit and leave his limited stud in in the first inning), you can pinch hit any time with your limited player, but you may only leave him in the game (and have it count as his pinch hitting appearance) from the 7th inning on.
Playoff teams-be sure and check your playoff eligibility-if you have a situation where the new rule makes it impossible or nearly so to cover your games, let your league president know and we may make special dispensation (especially in the catcher position).
I'm hoping to have the league meeting in August or early September. For all folks who find loopholes, etc. in constitution, playing rules, fielding chart, please prepare ahead of time (a handout helps tremendously!) so we can give it the proper attention. Terry is still unsure of his status for 2000. If he can figure out how to find enough time to play next year, there's no doubt in my mind that Charlie is prime territory for expansion. Please be thinking in terms of a fair plan to stock a team for Charlie--he won't mind building a team, but if we use the current rules, it may be five years before he gets competitive, and that's too long for anyone's patience. Looks like we're having a great year. Keep it up.
PS Whales are looking for a cheap playoff starter, cheap right handed OF who kills lefties, or LH hitting catcher. We also can trade Tewksbury and Chad Fox to those who need pitching.
4/28/99
Latest news from Jami:
This is a special double newsletter issue.....I’ve had
many technical difficulties as well as a major outage at work.......no excuses just
facts......NO CALL IN MAY 1 AS I WILL NOT BE IN TOWN.....NEXT CALL IN WILL BE AFTER THE
STRAT O THON MAY 15.....below are notes from Randy as the commish as well as a reporter
for the NO HITTER...thrown against the RAMPAGE.....
The JAYBIRDS officially stink....we are a .500 ball club on the verge of mediocrity.....at
the 100 game mark look for and make offers to acquire Mike Simms or Mike Stanley or Gerald
Williams or anyone else that will help you this year.....unless I’m +10 or better by
then, it’s housecleaning time... again, sorry for the lateness/lack of newsletters
this month....I’ll strive to do better in May... Keep the bones rollin’
Jeff Easton roadtrips:
Also, info for the newsletter as we discussed earlier -
Orioles bus trips @ $49 per person:
May 23 Texas
June 26 Yankees
Sept. 5 Cleveland
Sept. 12 Seattle
AND, bus trip to Philly to see Braves July 25@ $61 per person: Ask people to let me know if they are interested ASAP, particularly for the Texas & Yanks trips;
Commissioner's notes:
So far, Frank has been the leading proponent
of tearing down the new Whaledome. He's hit 3 HR through 50 games.
Now is a great time to get the ball rolling towards future enhancements and improvements for the 2000 season. Call your league president to volunteer! A big thanks to Mike and Keith for doing the stats. Mike especially with his busy tax season gets extra kudos for making the games deadline as well as doing league stats and being the treasurer.
Please check with Mike after 4/15 to make sure you're paid up on your dues for 1999/2000. If you haven't made arrangements to get caught up by 5/1, we'll start sanctions.
Note: two potential new members, Charlie Allen and Tim Lewis have surfaced. Charlie is tutoring under Mike Parker and Tim will be mentored by Mike Thurston in preparation for pinch hitting later in the season, co-managing next year, or expansion (yes!). Hopefully we can get these guys to our next Stratothon, so you can meet them. Thanks to all who've kept pace... keep it up.
Recapping a memorable series. Pitching does exist in '99!
In a recent 5 game series, there were three outstanding pitching efforts. Game one found
the Rampage's Kerry Wood chopping down 21 Whales with the big K. Later in the series, the
Whales Roger Clemens nearly returned the favor with 17 of his own. The big pitching
performance was really turned in by Hipolito and Friends (right after Barney on your local
PBS station). Hipolito (32-27) Pichardo tosses 6.3 innings of no hit ball, but issuing 6
walks in a fairly tight game, Whales manager Randy Shavis sends him (dotted) to the
showers. Four relievers later, the Whales had a combined no-hitter against the mighty
Rampage!
Once again don’t forget the strat o thon at evergreen rec ctr. Friday 5-21 from 6-12......BE THERE!!!
4/6/99
This news in from Earl and Chip:
STRATATHONS
APRIL 17th AT EVERGREEN @ 5pm
MAY 21st AT EVERGREEN @ 6pm
Orioles bus trips $49 per person:
May 23 Texas
June 26 Yankees
Sept. 5 Cleveland
Sept. 12 Seattle
Bus trip to Philly to see Braves @ $61 per person July 25
Ask people to let me know if they are interested ASAP, particularly for the
Texas & Yanks trips
Dave Caddell's MadHatter Chatter!!!!
The Richmond Mad Hatters have risen from the ashes from last years
shameful existence as a bottom feeder in the National League standings to riding tall in
the saddle this season, currently first in the league twenty games over .500 having now
played sixty-eight games. Luck has certainly played a part in some of these victories, but
it was the off-season trades picking up Wells, Rogers, Thompson, Knoblauch, Vizquel, Alou,
Justice and Posada that have carried the team into first place. Gads! That's seems like a
lot of new faces, and they are just some not all the new talent that has emboldened this
once struggling franchise to a place reserved for the gods of Mt. Olympia. I am Hercules
friend of Zeus and you will fear my strength or face the wrath of lightning bolts of
thrown baseballs and exploding bats from the dugout of the Mad Hatters. Pump it up!!! The
Devil you say with your thoughts as you read this sermon. I am the embodiment of power.
(snicker, snicker)
I dared to build a pitching rotation of all left-handers and so far they have collectively
pitched to an ERA of 4.23 ... Yep, not too bad eh? I scoff at the notion that has been a
forgone conclusion for years on end that left-handed starters were to be avoided at all
cost. No, my friends ... I will shatter that thought from your minds and souls to prove
that lefty starters are equal to and sometimes better than a right hander. Read again,
after sixty-eight games my all left-handed rotation has a collective ERA of 4.23. Kenny
Rogers is 11 & 1with an ERA under three. David "Boomer" Wells is 8 & 3
and an ERA of 3.24. Justin Thompson & Denny Neagle ERAs are under 4.50 only Jeff
Fassero has an ERA over 5.0 & he has had the misfortune of that one bad inning per
game. One other note to pass along , the starters have pitched 438 innings and have given
up 438 hits. That's only one hit per inning pitched, pretty good, eh?
So far, Frank has been the leading proponent of tearing down the new
Whaledome. He's hit 3 HR through 50 games.
Commissioner's note:
Now is a great time to get the ball rolling towards future enhancements and improvements
for the 2000 season. Call your league president to volunteer! A big thanks to Mike and
Keith for doing the stats. Mike especially with his busy tax season gets extra kudos for
making the games deadline as well as doing league stats and being the treasurer. Please
check with Mike after 4/15 to make sure you're paid up on your dues for 1999/2000. If you
haven't made arrangements to get caught up by 5/1, we'll start sanctions.
Note: two potential new members, Charlie Allen and Tim Lewis have surfaced.
Charlie is tutoring under Mike Parker and Tim will be mentored by Mike Thurston in
preparation for pinch hitting later in the season, co-managing
next year, or expansion (yes!). Hopefully we can get these guys to our next Stratothon, so
you can meet them. Thanks to all who've kept pace... keep it up.
3/8/99
From the Commish:
Welcome to Earl Estes and Jeff Easton. Hopefully you’ll find their phone numbers and addresses elsewhere in the newsletter.
A few notes about Jeff’s Clippers.
Dave has volunteered to continue to co-general manage with Jeff. Pat will be available at Jeff’s request to help out with game playing. Since Pat has done his time as co-general manager, and Jeff and Dave have it under control, I am releasing Pat from the ‘no trade with other co-managed team in the other league (or players or picks that have passed through the second team)’ at the 100 game mark. Dave will continue to be unable to trade with the Clippers or acquire any player/pick that has passed through the Clippers until we all are comfortable that Jeff is up to speed.
Reminder that Jeff’s deals (even with Dave’s input) are reviewable by the Commissioner. Do not consider any trade with the Clippers final until I have been notified of the trade.
I’m further asking that no one play a majority of their games with Jeff (I’m exempting Tim at this point) before his 60 game mark. I know the Clippers won’t be very competitive, but would like to prevent any unfair advantage gained by playing Jeff before he knows the ropes of Strat. Any abuse of this could lead to games being nullified.
Mike Thurston has asked for and been given an extension on 40 game deadline. Mike has been and will be extremely busy through tax time. Mike’s exemplary record in the past means that I know Mike will play now when he can possibly squeeze it in, but will catch up quickly once he gets through with the IRS.
Earl has volunteered to be our social chairman. This spirit of doing something for the league instead of waiting for the league to do something for you is to be commended-for the few of you who haven’t made a league contribution, there are plenty of areas wide open for input and work. There are quite a few newsletter articles that could be contributed, committees to be served on, etc. I will be considerably more receptive to complaints coming from league members who have made a volunteer contribution than from those who only play the game.
Pat J. and Keith are working on long term plans for the banquet and draft, so that we won’t have to impose on a league member again. I’m hoping that we can setup Strat-o-thons every six weeks or so, either mini-thons at a league member’s house or full blown ones at FOP or other public facilities.
Please be sure that your dues are caught up by March 1. Please call Jami with your records on the 1st and 15th.
Couple of rules reminders: you have to have a replacement at every position (exception for injury) at the beginning of every game. Remember the new playoff eligibility rules elsewhere in this newsletter. One note on that: if there is a situation where the new rules have a loophole that would have you short at a position (two catchers with 80 games each would only be eligible for 6 games) the commissioner will be lenient. If you have underestimated at a non-loophole type position, don’t expect any leniency.
And we have banned the player to be named later (this is especially prominent at the 100 game mark).
Don’t forget to call your league presidents: Pat Jennings, National; Tim Turner, American, if you have problems or questions.
Jim Melillo can play on weekends and looks forward to your calls to play his mighty ducks. Another note from the Commish: Please get permission from either Randy of Mike Thurston ( our humble treasurer ) before any mass mailing other than newsletters. Postage is always rising!....Congrats to Jeff on his first victory!!!! A shutout of the mighty Black Sox........Sirotka was the improbable pitcher.....with kudos to Spiezio and T. Martinez for hot hitting ( Something my hapless Jaybirds lack). Please remember to call me with your records on the 1st and 15th of every month....Sharon is home most days (and nights) and we have an answering service....PLEASE DON’T CALL AFTER 9:30PM....The kids sometimes wake up.....If you have an article you would like to have printed get it to me by either E-mail or mail and I’ll include it in the next newsletter. An updated telephone list is included for your dialing/touchtoning pleasure. At the next call in (or sooner if you would like to call me) I will update the addresses, wives/significant others names ( for the new guys ) , and E-Mail addresses. So you can’t say you didn’t know: 40 game stats are due in on April 15, 81game stats on June 15, 121 game stats on August 15, and final stats by October 15. Once again Mike Thurston gets the AL stats and Keith Gilmore gets the NL stats. Enough of the business side.....Let the fun begin.....The Jaybirds are off to an inauspicious start 7-10 all at the new Fenway Park....I can’t wait to see how bad my offense gets on the road....Brian Anderson is in hot pursuit of the HR’s allowed record currently held by Bobby Jones of the Whales(70).....3 starts 8 HR’s allowed.....on the positive side, Mark Grace has 12 doubles in 16 games.....let me know how your guys are doing at the next call in so I don’t have to rant and rave about my guys all the time......Keep the bones rollin’
2/15/99
New playoff limitation rules:
Playoff eligibility: 40 games or 125 PA for batters; 40 games/40 IP for relievers; & 10 starts for starters remain in place!
Batters:
40-65 games = 2 starts + 1 PH appearance
66-85 games = 3 starts + 1 PH appearance
86-105 games = 4 starts + 1 PH appearance
106-120 games = 5 starts + 1 PH appearance
121 + games = No Limits
Starting Pitchers:
10-17 starts = 1 playoff start
18-25 starts = 2 playoff starts
26 + starts = 3 playoff starts
Relief Pitchers:
No games limits, however, no reliever may pitch more than 2 times his endurance rating, unless he is the last available eligible pitcher. (Remember that starters are eligable to relieve in the playoffs as specified in the constitution). This should alleviate the "Shaw Factor"
New strat rule:
Bases loaded and corners or infield in, downgrade the bunting rating TWO levels
instead of one.
Reasoning: There is a force play at the plate and the runner on third must try to advance.
Note: The worst possible adjusted bunting rating continues to be E.