OOTP Developments Forums - Blogs - Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/ Out of the Park Developments is the creator of the baseball management simulation Out of the Park Baseball for PC and Mac and the PC boxing game Title Bout Championship Boxing. en Wed, 22 May 2013 21:39:49 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/images/misc/rss.jpg OOTP Developments Forums - Blogs - Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/ A tale of two Romanos... http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/613-tale-two-romanos.html Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:21:39 GMT Legend has it, that after Maximo Romano won the Mexican National League Pitcher of the Year award for the second year in a row in 2015 someone quipped "Why don't we just call it the Romano award?"

And that's why the league bestows the award on the best pitcher the "Romano Award"

But it wasn't just Maximo from whom it got its name.

Antonio Romaro was born in Victoria, Mexico in 1984. And all his life he wanted to be a professional ball player. From an early age he showed fierce athletic ability and at a junior level showed incredible stuff. One of the scouts that observed him in his earlier years confided in me:
"When we looked at Antonio we knew he would be a big league player. He not only had that stuff that you dream about, but he had all the tools. He was the complete package."

When he entered the Mexican league in 2011 he made an instant impact. 17 wins and a 2.50 era would have made him Pitching champion if it wasn't for the historic 21 win season pitched by Miguel Macias.

Meanwhile Maximo Romanos was a different person all together. While Antonio was an athletic freak Maximo just "got" the game of baseball. Everything came naturally to him, and his physical gifts were not as obvious to scouts.

When it came draft time, Scout were not as impressed and Maximo didn't go until the 4th round. But if anything, that drove Maximo even harder.

"He just understood the game, and he wanted to show people that so he worked as hard as he could." Said a former team mate.

But Maximo made his mark in his first year, assisting Monterrey to the a dominant league title, himself pitching a 19 win season and a 2.96 ERA.

2012 was Antonio's year. 22-4 record with a 1.98 ERA. One of the best single performances by any pitcher in the Mexican league to date, and infact still the record for wins per season, and would have been for league ERA until Fernando Martinez's 1.81 ERA season this year.

But the big prize eluded Antonio, with his team not making the playoffs that year.

Maximo slumped, 15-14 with a 3.30 ERA that year. And followed it up with similar year the next.

2013 was again Antonio's year. 17-8, 2.00 ERA. And again he took the best Pitcher award. But still this herculean effort did not result in a league title.

But it all turned around in 2014. Maximo led the way to pick up the pitching title, and the league with a 17-6 3.10 era while Antonio missed most of the season with a hamstring strain.

In 2015 Maximo backed it up with a 19-5 2.58 ERA year, and another best pitcher award. Antonio pitched a 12-13 year. Even if on the field was disappointing, off the field Antonio finally achieved his dream: To sign for a Major league organisation in the USA.

"For Antonio it was not about the money." Said his father, "It was about being the best, and winning the title."

And that was the end of the dominance of the Romanos in Mexican Baseball.

Maximo continued having good years, being among some of the best pitchers in Mexico. But he never recaptured the award that now shares his name, or win another league title. And in 2018 he was traded away by Monterrey. And now is a free agent.

After signing for Honolulu Antonio never really kicked into gear. Three average, injury plagued years entailed before he was demoted to AAA (even with a five million dollar a year contract) where he had two very injury plagued years, never quite reaching the levels he reached in Mexico. At the end of this year, and another long term injury Antonio hung up his glove for last time.

"Even though he never made a huge impact in America," his father told me, "The fact that Antonio was able to have a go in America will do wonders for Mexican baseball."

"I scouted both players," Said a former scout, "I knew they were good, but I didn't realize how they would dominate Mexican baseball. I am just pleased that I was able to witness it."

For four years all you had to do was to look at any paper and Mexico, and know for sure that no matter what the name on the top of the pitching table was Romano. Two players with different styles and different careers. But both have shaped Mexican Baseball for good. ]]> Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/613-tale-two-romanos.html 1st year... http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/612-1st-year.html Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:13:51 GMT Is done and we're in the playoffs!

Some of my pitchers bit the dust early on, but aside from that everyone did what they needed to do.

William, Jackson and Burke all mashed ~ 20 homers and hit well enough to ensure that we produced enough runs. Can't say how proud I am of the boys, they did a great job.

Morant Bay Smoke v. The Thunderclouds... ]]> Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/612-1st-year.html Meet your Thunderclouds... http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/611-meet-your-thunderclouds.html Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:25:29 GMT Opening day is here. After a terrible spring in which our incumbent catcher is ruled out with a 10 month injury (and subsequently released) and the team ending up with a .333 record we are ready to begin. After fretting over stats and contracts I am just looking forward to sitting in the... Opening day is here.

After a terrible spring in which our incumbent catcher is ruled out with a 10 month injury (and subsequently released) and the team ending up with a .333 record we are ready to begin.

After fretting over stats and contracts I am just looking forward to sitting in the dugout and calling the first game.

Our line up is as follows for opening day 2020 in Jamaica.


1. Jackson (RF) - solid hitting lead off man
2. Flemming (CF) - okay hitting number two
3. Scott (3B) - Solidly hits for contact.
4. Burke (LF) - The superstar. Great contact, great power.
5. Seals (1B) - Power hittin' 1B
6. Garcia (C) - our rookie catcher.
7. Montanez (2B) specialist infielder
8. Guuo-Quiang Bing (P)
9. Felix Valdez (SS) - speedy and great pitcher.

And on the mound is our stud pitcher, Bing. Canadian, ironically. 2018 best pitcher. ]]> Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/611-meet-your-thunderclouds.html A mess. http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/610-mess.html Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:35:03 GMT I arrive in the offices and find the Black River Thunderclouds are a mess. There are players getting horribly over paid to just sit on the reserve roster and not do anything. I get another heart attack when I see the list of contracts that the team is trying to extend. I cut out as much of the... I arrive in the offices and find the Black River Thunderclouds are a mess.

There are players getting horribly over paid to just sit on the reserve roster and not do anything. I get another heart attack when I see the list of contracts that the team is trying to extend. I cut out as much of the dead wood as I can early on.

First thing I do is look for some power and sign 1B Ken Seals to mash some home runs into the bleachers. He's never played above AA ball but my scouts rate him an 8 out of 10 for power.

When the "Show" free agents come out I am instantly on the phone trying to sign career bench players and minor leaguers to come to Jamaica and have a six month holiday before playing a lighter schedule.

I managed to grab a two time HS best hitter who had gone 4th overall in the 2015 draft for about 1.5 a year. Scouts rate him 7/7/8 and quick playing LF. I like this kid already.

I signed us Lance Clarke, a reliever with some hot stuff to fill out the bullpen. He's had a few cups of coffee in the majors but always jumped up and down. With his stuff he became our new closer.

Finally our scouts uncovered a stud reliever Yidraw Babechi who slotted into be our set up guy.

Now we wait the six months for the season to begin. ]]> Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/610-mess.html Off to Jamaica. http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/609-off-jamaica.html Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:29:28 GMT I didn't expect my career to feature so many ups and downs. After going undrafted in the 2011 ALPB draft I was despondent. All I wanted to do was to play Baseball for a living.

But I didn't give up, and I found myself playing ball in the Mexican National league. Starting slow I eventually hit my straps and I was proud to say I was voted the number one pitcher in Mexico in 2019. The rest was to be simple: See out my contract, and then head back to the 'States for the big time.

But that was never to happen.

My knee finally gave out, and left me needing a cane to walk with. I bottomed out emotionally. Now what would I do?

After moping around my house in Mexico for a few weeks I got a call from a Jamaican Winter League team asking me to manage.

If I didn't win the World Series as a player, I would do it as either a GM or a manager.

So I packed my bags for Jamaica. ]]> Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/609-off-jamaica.html Year Six. Wild Card. http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/94-year-six-wild-card.html Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:31:50 GMT Only lost one game more than last year and we're in the WC spot, 7 games out.

And again, we've drawn Brisbane (Who had a shocker of a year.)

What about us? Well, We had a few minor injuries, and nearly ran down Seattle for the division but couldn't quite make it.

Alas, our superhero catcher is out for 5 months and will miss the rest of the season. This could have a big impact on our post season play.

Line up for the playoffs is:

1. Barajas 2B
2. Villarreal RF (still hitting well.)
3. Fernandez 3B (Being difficult with FA signings, wants way to much for his age.)
4. Greg Reilly 1B (Bit of a flop only 28 hr)
5. Klein LF
6. Malcom CF
7. Ando SS
8. McBride C (injury replacement C)

Rotation still

Jesus Ramirez 15-11 3.64
Miguel Martinez 16-8 3.77
Mitch Reed 114 3.81
Dave Blackwell 11-13 5.16
Jose Matos 6-7 4.92 ]]> Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/94-year-six-wild-card.html Year Five: Free Agents. http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/93-year-five-free-agents.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:29:44 GMT Remember Greg Reilly from Berlin? He's back. Clean up.

I traded away some bullpen arms in anticipation of spending my incredible spare cash on a bastard of a SS that tore us up so badly in the PLDS. Alas, Brisbane renegotiated, and I then got hit with an incredible amount of arbitration costs so all I could afford was Greg Reilly.

Second time lucky. ]]> Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/93-year-five-free-agents.html Year Five. :( http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/92-year-five.html Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:01:02 GMT Utterly broken right now.


I think I might go make chili to cheer myself up.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have the energy to remount a tittle assault.

Full report to follow.

The Ninth in game five... :crying:
Attached Images
 
]]> Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/92-year-five.html Year Five. Top of the Division. http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/91-year-five-top-division.html Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:00:34 GMT I'm not worthless! (Well...maybe...)

99-63. Top of the division. Everything played out right. Made a few trades, Suzuki (1B) left us for a contact hitter Manuel Fernandez (1B) who still had two years on the contract. I plumped for this because Suzuki was in his final year and I didn't have the cash to extend.

Remember all round SS Juan Mendoza? He was in the last year of his contract and busted his elbow for 8 months. He wasn't going to play again during his contract, so we tore it up and decided to move on.

Here is our current line up for the playoffs:

(Presuming RHP)

1. Barajas (2B) - Moved from the bottom of the line up to be our lead off man.
2. Malcom. (CF) - Similar player to Barajas.
3. Villarreal (RF) - The Ex batting champ finished third for the batting title, but is still a lethal contact hitter.
4. Arcangeli (C) - Our power hitting franchise man was strangely uninjured all year, and is proving to be worth every cent of his 16mil a year contract.
5. Fernandez (1B) - Offering protection for Arcangeli. May not hit as powerfully as Arcangeli but I feel he offers good middle order option.
6. Klein (LF) - He is ostensibly in the line up as a LH power hitter, who sits lower against RHP but still a decent player
7. Hernandez (3B) - Defensive 3B back up, replacing Lerma for the first game.
8. Mathijseen (SS) - The long term injury replacement at SS.

We're up against the Broadsides, lets see if we can pull this off. ]]> Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/91-year-five-top-division.html Year Four: Free Agent Signings. http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/90-year-four-free-agent-signings.html Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:22:02 GMT Just missed out on playoffs by 2 games. Close but no cigar. Villarreal was batting champion (I know a hitter when I sees one), and I traded away power hitting catcher for a nobody to free up some space. Fans again were not happy, but he was getting old in the tooth. I used the spare money to... Just missed out on playoffs by 2 games. Close but no cigar.

Villarreal was batting champion (I know a hitter when I sees one), and I traded away power hitting catcher for a nobody to free up some space. Fans again were not happy, but he was getting old in the tooth.

I used the spare money to sign a new catcher. This guy is going to be a real franchise player. I'm sticking with him for 10 years. So of course he'll suffer a terrible injury soon.
Attached Images
 
]]> Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/90-year-four-free-agent-signings.html Year four: Big trade. http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/89-year-four-big-trade.html Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:37:39 GMT Clark, our superhero 1B has been traded for a better allround SS.

Fans were not that happy, but we need the most defense that we can muster at this point. Clark was a hero and I hope our paths cross again, but I just don't need 3 first basemen!

And also, just had my worst game. :(
Attached Images
 
]]> Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/89-year-four-big-trade.html Update: Year Three (Leaving Berlin) and Year Four (the best game ever.) http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/88-update-year-three-leaving-berlin-year-four-best-game-ever.html Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:43:32 GMT Berlin gave me the willies. I couldn't hack this low budget nonsense. But luckily my rep at keeping a tight ship in Berlin allowed me to move over to Los Angeles.

Who were LA? Big market team with no significant history. They were ripe for entry into the big time.

The first year was...well.. not so good. Didn't post a winning percentage. But what the hey, three seasons without a winning percentage doesn't matter right?

Okay, so we made some signings in the off season. Well, really we made one. We tore up the contract of this overpaid lout (19mil a year? Are you CRAZY!?) and signed a power hitting C.

Season four. The best game ever.

I have this little thing I used to do, which was to manage the first game of the year to get a "feel" for the players. Well. What an event that turned out to be.

Osaka's Fu Song (12-15-12) V. LA's Mitchel Reed (15-12-17)

The classic junk baller Song v. fire baller Mitchell. The twenty four year old phenom Mitchell V the 29 year vet Song.

LA's Line up was powerfull, but lacking defensively.

Sparks - Speedster CF.
Villarreal - (Pronounced Vee-ah-ree-ahl... although he's Dominican so i'm not sure. If he was Spanish i'd call him the Yellow Submarine.) Best pure contact hitter in the team. Hit .344 two years ago, but the previous manager didn't know where to play him, until I took over the team and put him in the number 2 spot.
Klein - Good all round RF
Clark - best all round hitter on the team. Good contact good power. 1B
Suzuki - our power hitting SS slugger.
Gonzales - beefy home run king who plays catcher.
Lerma - Solid all round 2B. Great defence
Barajas. - Up and coming 3B, great defense.



The final inning was nuts. Clark singled, and Suzuki hit the ball off the left field wall. Clark was then thrown out trying to get home from first. :( ]]> Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/88-update-year-three-leaving-berlin-year-four-best-game-ever.html Nhl 10. http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/77-nhl-10.html Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:31:41 GMT Need I say any more? Need I say any more? ]]> Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/77-nhl-10.html WBL. End of Season. Just Shoot Me. http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/48-wbl-end-season-just-shoot-me.html Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:21:51 GMT 61-101.

But we weren't bottom in the league. hehe.

The Atlantic League American Division were super uncompetitive, meaning that a team playing less than .500 got to the play offs. Didn't get far.

Valencia got 100 wins, and went into the Atlantic League Championships hot favorites against Paris, whom only won 89. Going into the series decider you wouldn't have picked that Paris would shell Valencia 11-1.

Well they did.

Alas, they got rolled by Honolulu 4-1.

What now for me? No more money in the off season. We'll struggle on. ]]> Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/48-wbl-end-season-just-shoot-me.html WBL Year Two: Spring Training 15-9 http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/39-wbl-year-two-spring-training-15-9.html Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:35:12 GMT Last time we spoke I mentioned the league's change to a divisional structure. Well it went ahead, and so did the two additional American teams I knew nothing about. They're in my league also, but I voted for, I mean, heck, I've got bigger problems to worry about then two more Yanks.

Well, looking over the rosters, the Tritons (Who LOST to Valencia in the playoffs last year) are definitely the favorites. Remember I mentioned no one dominated? Well I'm thinking the Tritons are going to be the Yankees of this league. They have money, and depth. Osaka will be the team to beat.

Okay, I'll fill in on our free agent signings:

Okay, now that that is out of the way how are we looking? As you gathered there was NO money for Free Agents, so I had to do a bit of trading, got rid of some (three in total) cup of coffee players for a pitching prospect Yoriyuki Imori.

And aside from that, 15-9 in spring trading. Hopefully we can keep that up for a while. ]]> Hazza http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/hazza/39-wbl-year-two-spring-training-15-9.html