Housekeeping
I’m an imbecile.
On top of all my other problems with Feeder Leagues, I incorrectly entered the League Totals for my two Feeder Leagues – I plugged in 16,000 AB instead of 160,000 – which resulted in vastly reduced levels of offense in both leagues. Of course, I never noticed it until today, when looking at Ray Taylor (see below). I’ve fixed it, but HS and College stats are going to be very difficult to interpret until 2001.
POSITION REPORT: First Basemen
The status quo is a time-sharing system (but not really a platoon!) between a 37yo and a 40yo. The younger of the two is switch-hitting
Ken Hicks (13/10/12/14/14) and he was, for $825,000, about as expected – not quite terrible, but close enough that it doesn’t really matter. His partner, however, is guilty of much more egregious crimes: LH 40yo
Lee ‘Sonny’ Hotham (10/11/11/14/9) “earned” $9.5 million this year – one third of our total payroll - for 400 PA and a 230/315/378 line. The fact that my predecessor signed a 39yo 1B to a three-year, $28 million contract should tell you all you need to know how I ended up as the youngest General Manager in the Republican League. I wonder if I can find anyone dumb enough to take Hotham’s contract off my hands for his final year? Or maybe I’ll get lucky and he’ll just retire…
Down on the farm, things aren’t much better. C Ed Peterson, above, can barely play first base, and that might be the best we can hope for. We do have
Geoff Willis (POT 16/8/20/14/13), who is 22yo and LH and a great-looking prospect. Unfortunately, Geoff muddled by in AA this year (256/336/427) after actually starting the year in at Rookie-level Frankfort.
Ray Taylor (POT 15/14/14/9/11) is 23yo and fresh out of college and hasn’t played a game in my system yet.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: Dumping Hotham is a must. Finding a cheap starter is just as important, as there are no real options within the system at this time. Willis is just talented enough that I can hold out hope for a breakout season in 2001.