The "new WBO"

[Mattymo]

This is a continuation thread to the "World Baseball Organization"...however, after the merger, I decided to focus more on the highest level of the WBO...the Major League. I will still update the American Baseball League on a monthly basis with standings/leaderboards...as well as the World Baseball League.

If you are a new reader and want to read the original thread, it is here:
World Baseball Organization

[Mattymo]

“Mauro Says Changes Will Be Made”
Speaks For First Time Since Merger
11/7/2009

Uncasville, CT- World Baseball Organization Commissioner Matt Mauro, speaking for the first time since the merger yesterday, insisted that, while changes will be made, they will be gradual, and the new “WBO Major League” will look exactly the same in 2010 as it did in 2009.
“I have three goals for the WBO and the game of baseball,” said Mauro, with Bud Selig in attendance, “To grow the game, both domestically and globally, to improve competitive balance, and to eliminate the use of performance enhancing drugs.”
While he didn’t give much insight into future changes, he did say that consolidating the minor leagues is at the top of the list.
“I feel there’s too many farm teams, too many cities and players are getting lost in the shuffle…I’d rather see more organizations and less farm teams.”
Beginning in the 2011 season, each Major League team will have only four farm teams, as the short-season A league will be dismantled. According to Mauro, the plan is to eventually replace those minor league cities with Major League teams.
Mauro also revealed that the WBO and the new WBO Players Association have reached a tentative agreement on a Collective Bargaining Agreement. The strict drug testing will remain, and the highest league of the WBO, the new Major League, will not have a salary cap. However, Mauro does plan to install a salary cap in both the ABL and WBL in the future.

[Mattymo]

If you are new to this dynasty, here's the teams that exist in the ABL and WBL (Major League is same as current setup):

ABL Eastern Division
Atlantic City Aces
Cape Cod Cutters (expansion team)
Daytona Beach Diamond
Memphis Blues
Virginia Beach Velocity
ABL Western Division
Honolulu Islanders
Las Vegas Gamblers
Portland Pelicans (expansion team)
Sacramento Lightning
Tucson Tornadoes

WBL East/West Division
Mexico City Matadors
Ottawa Oddysey
Seoul Sharks
Tokyo Samurai
WBL Latin Division
Caracas Cannibals
Havanna Conquistadors
San Juan Scorpions
Santo Domingo Sand Gnats

[Mattymo]

Champions since 2006

ML:
2006- Minnesota Twins defeated Florida Marlins
2007- LA Angels of Anaheim defeated Los Angeles Dodgers
2008- New York Yankees defeated Philadelphia Phillies
2009- LA Angels of Anaheim defeated St. Louis Cardinals

ABL:
2007- Honolulu Islanders defeated Virginia Beach Velociyt
2008- Atlantic City Aces defeated Honolulu Islanders
2009- Atlantic City Aces defeated Memphis Blues

WBL:
2009- Ottawa Oddysey defeated Mexico City Matadors

[Mattymo]

"Gold Glove Winners Announced"

11/11/2009

American League:
P- Jake Westbrook, Cleveland
C- Andy Bates, Detroit
1B- Jason Giambi, New York
2B- Omar Infante, Detroit
3B- Rob Mackowiak, Minnesota
SS- Derek Jeter, New York
LF- William Sanders, Oakland
CF- Marcos Martinez, Boston
RF- Austin Kearns, Kansas City

National League:
P- Elizardo Ramirez, Cincinnati
C- Mike Rivera, Milwaukee
1B- Steve Smith, Florida
2B- Jose Valentin, New York
3B- Ryan Zimmerman, Washington
SS- Sherman Clark, Los Angeles
LF- Stephen Anthony, Cincinnati
CF- Nook Logan, Cincinnati
RF- Jeff Francoeur, Atlanta

[Mattymo]

"Rookies of the Year Announced"
Sanchez, Reid Take Home Hardware
11/11/2009

Uncasville, CT- In a unanimous vote, Ramon Sanchez of the St. Louis Cardinals was named National League Rookie of the Year award. The 23 year old from Dover,NH led Major League rookies in all categories except doubles (he was second), triples and stolen bases. He hit .318 with 38 homers and 118 RBI, with a .561 slugging percentage. He also had 37 doubles. A 1st round draft pick, 23rd overall, by Florida in 2007, Sanchez came over to St. Louis in 2007 in a trade for Vance Wilson and Chris Shelton.

Dusty Reid, the closer for the Cleveland Indians, was named Rookie of the Year for the American League yesterday. Reid, who's 24 and hails from Leander, TX, was 4-4 with 39 saves for Cleveland. He had a 1.50 ERA with 65 K's against 21 walks in 78 innings. He was drafted in the 3rd round, 82nd overall, by Cleveland in 2007.

[Mattymo]

Rupe, Sheets Win Cy Young Awards
Dominating Seasons By Both
11/12/2009

Uncasville, CT- Milwaukee Brewers ace Ben Sheets went 18-4 with a 2.03 in winning the National League Cy Young Award. He was dominant all year long, leading the league in strikeouts with 296, against a remarkable thirteen walks. Opponents hit just .221 against him, and in 37 starts he gave up just 16 home runs. However, Sheets was 0-2 in the playoffs for the Brewers, who lost to the Cardinals in the NLCS.

Josh Rupe, the 27 year old #1 starter for the Chicago White Sox, took home the AL Cy Young Award. He was 20-8 with a 2.51 ERA and he allowed just 203 hits in 226.1 innings pitched. He also gave up just eight home runs.

[majormet]

not sure if I missed something along the way, why are all the storylines in Uncasville, is this league run out of Mohegan Sun LOL

[Mattymo]

Originally Posted by majormet

not sure if I missed something along the way, why are all the storylines in Uncasville, is this league run out of Mohegan Sun LOL

yeah, exactly...that's where I'm from actually. And early on in the original thread, it was said that the WBO offices would be in Uncasville. Have to represent where I grew up!

hopefully the commissioner doesn't gamble the league away...

[Mattymo]

Major League Names MVP's
Wright, Younger Take Home Trophy's
11/14/2009

Uncasville, CT- Walt Younger became the first former ABL player to win a Major League Most Valuable Player Award. The 28 year old Rightfielder for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays hit .359 with 27 homers and 98 RBI. The Cut Off, Lousiana native came over to Tampa Bay in 2008 after spending one season in Virginia Beach for the ABL's Velocity. Younger also stole 37 bases in 2009, getting caught only six times.

David Wright of the New York Mets won his first National League MVP award. The 26 year old third basement was a rock all season long, finishing at .339 with 31 homers and 114 RBI. Wright slugged .585 and played in 155 games, his fourth season in a row of playing in at least 153 games for the Mets.

[Mattymo]

Top 10 Free Agents for the 2009-2010 season:

1. SP Pedro Hernandez- 14-10, 2.53 with San Juan (WBL)
2. CF Alberto Gutierrez- .338, 26, 89 with Daytona Beach (ABL)
3. C John Hendricks- .274, 31, 114 with Atlantic City (ABL)
4. SS Jose Reyes- .306, 18, 73 with New York Mets (ML)
5. SP Aaron Cook- 12-10, 5.17 with Colorado (ML)
6. SP Pedro Benitez- 17-5, 2.47 with Santo Domingo (WBL)
7. LF Danny Johnston- .274, 21, 86 with Las Vegas (ABL)
8. SP Roy Halladay- 15-15, 3.26 with Toronto (ML)
9. SP Jeff Francis- 12-12, 3.93 with Washington (ML)
10. SP Okura Kato- 13-6, 2.41 with Caracas (WBL)

*I'll update this list as the players get signed

[Mattymo]

Major Transactions in November (only Top 10 FAs above or four-star + players)

11/21/09- Milwaukee signs Gabe Gross (.259/20/80) to 4 year/$52.64m ext

11/24/09- LA Angels sign SP Okura Kato (13-6, 2.41 w/Caracas (WBL)) to 3 year/9.82m deal

11/25/09- Tampa Bay acquires 2B Alfonso Soriano (.251/37/98 w/Washington) and $3m from Washington for CF Ricardo Silva and a minor league SP.

11/26/09- San Francisco signs MR Juan Rincon (3-2, 2.72) to a 2 year/$10.9m ext

11/27/09- Milwaukee signs SP Pedro Hernandez (14-10, 2.53 w/San Juan (WBL)) to 5 year/$15.22m deal

11/28/09- San Francisco acquired Andruw Jones (.235/23/60 w/Atlanta) from Atlanta for SS Jose Berroa

[Mattymo]

Major Transactions in December:

12/1- Minnesota Twins sign 1B Justin Morneau (.308/31/120) to 4 year/$65.84m extension

12/6- Cleveland Indians sign SP C.C. Sabathia (17-7, 2.79) to 4 year/$89.64m extension

12/13- Tampa Bay Devil Rays sign 2B Alfonso Soriano to 4 year/$72.04m extension

12/13- Milwaukee Brewers sign MR Manuel Vazquez (3-4, 29 svs, 3.64 w/Memphis (ABL)) to 4 year/$7.04m deal

12/15- Washington Nationals acquired MR Danys Baez (3-1, svs, 2.94 w/Baltimore) from Baltimore Orioles for 1B Morgan Ensberg and a minor league SP.

**12/16- Washington Nationals acquire 2B Chase Utley (.308/39/126 w/Philadelphia), two minor league SP's and $1.4m from Philadelphia Phillies for LF Jason Bay (.226/15/54) and a minor league 3B

** Wow, Washington made out quite well in that blockbuster

[Mattymo]

Bonds, Ramirez Elected To Hall
Conversial Players To Be Enshrined This Summer

1/1/2010

Cooperstown- Barry Bonds and Manny Ramirez will be the only inductees into the Hall of Fame this summer.
Bonds, whose career was overshadowed by BALCO and the steroids controversy, is the all-time home run king, having broken Hank Aaron's record of 755 in 2008. He finished with 756 homers, 2961 hits and 2011 RBI, and a career average of .297.
"I'm excited, I wasn't sure if I would get elected due to all the off-field stuff," said Bonds, "But I couldn't change any of that."
Bonds started out in Pittsburgh, but his career flurished in San Francisco after joining the Giants in 1993.

Manny Ramirez will be considered maybe the best right handed hitter of his generation. The aloof Ramirez played for the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox, pounding 537 career homers and compliling a .304 career average. He played his final season in Tucson for the Tornadoes of the ABL.
"This is a great feeling," said Ramirez, who will be inducted as a Boston Red Sox, "I loved playing the game for so long, now I get to move onto a new chapter in my life."

[Mattymo]

Notable transactions for January, 2010:

1/1- New York Mets sign CL Pedro Feliciano (4-5, 32 svs, 2.88) to a 4 yr/$16.88m extension

1/18- Florida Marlins sign SS Hanley Ramirez (.295/13/83) to a 3 yr/$30.2m extension

1/25- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim CL Scot Shields (0-4, 34 svs, 2.20) fractured his wrist falling off his tractor.  He's expected to miss three months.

[Mattymo]

Notable Transactions for February, 2010:

2/3- Minnesota Twins sign RF Nick Swisher (.250/29/89 w/Oakland) to 6 yr/$42m deal

2/6- Atlanta Braves sign CF Grady Sizemore (.314/27/123 w/Cleveland) to 4 year/$35.25m deal

2/9- Washington Nationals sign RF Alexis Rios (.291/13/114 w/Toronto) to 4 year/$27.68 deal

2/10- Kansas City Royals sign MR Brandon League (3-5, 5svs, 2.83 w/Toronto) to 1 yr/$4.22m deal

2/14- New York Mets sign 3B Garrett Atkins (.294/36/115 w/Colorado) to 5 yr/$39.55m deal

2/14- Boston Red Sox sign LF Danny Johnston (.274/21/86 w/Las Vegas (ABL)) to 4 yr/$48.08m deal

2/16- San Diego Padres sign 1B Vicente Rodriguez (.269/16/76 w/Virginia Beach (ABL)) to 5 yr/$48.05m deal

2/23- San Diego Padres sign RF Juan Garcia (.272/15/66 w/Honolulu and Tucson (ABL)) to 2 yr/$23.96m deal

2/25- Daytona Beach Diamond (ABL) sign SP Pedro Benitez (17-5, 2.47 w/Santo Domingo (WBL)) to 3 yr/$9.387m deal

[Mattymo]

Notable News for March, 2010:

3/1- San Diego Padres sign 2B Jose Valentin (.253/27/68 w/Mets) to 3 yr/$28.8m deal

3/5- Baltimore Orioles sign LF Juan Rivera (.287/27/93 w/Astros) to 5 yr/$57.95m deal

3/5- Arizona Diamondbacks sign MR Kevin Gregg (6-4, 1sv, 2.56 w/Astros) to 1 yr/$3.26m deal

3/5- Houston Astros sign CF Daniel Gerhardt (.275/15/82 w/Atlantic City (ABL) to 4 yr/$17.08m deal

3/5- Colorado Rockies acquire LF Michael Gaines (.273/24/82 w/Boston) and a minor league SP from Boston Red Sox for MR David Cortes

3/7- Boston Red Sox 1B David Ortiz (.247/42/113) out 5 weeks with strained ACL

3/8- New York Yankees sign 1B Jason Giambi (.227/19/72) to 3 yr/$49.755m extension

3/9- Cincinnati Reds 1B Adam Dunn (.236/32/102) out 6-7 weeks with damaged meniscus

3/11- Baltimore Orioles RP Joaquin Benoit (5-5, 41 svs, 2.10 w/Red Sox) out 4-5 weeks with strained elbow ligament

3/13- Pittsburgh Pirates SS Freddy Sanchez (.344/8/55) out 2 weeks with hyperextended knee

3/14- Houston Astros sign LF Lance Berkman (.282/32/99) to 2 year/$40.068m extension

3/15- Chicago White Sox sign SP Josh Rupe (20-8, 2.51) to 3 yr/$17.96m extension

3/15- Oakland Athletics CF Albert Zuniga (.292/12/48) out 2 weeks with hyperextended knee

3/16- Cleveland Indians SP Edward Mujica (16-11, 4.35) out one week with tender elbow

3/18- Toronto Blue Jays 1B Bob Turner (missed last season with broken ankle) out 2 weeks with fractured wrist

3/22- Los Angeles Dodgers RF J.D. Drew (.257/11/42) out 1-2 weeks with hyperextended knee

3/25- Arizona Diamondbacks acquire RP Aaron Fultz (7-1, 4 svs, 1.94 w/Pirates) from Pittsburgh Pirates for RF Gary Matthews, Jr. and a minor league 3B

3/25- New York Mets CF Carlos Beltran (.246/42/115) out 1-2 weeks with concussion

3/26- Tampa Bay Devil Rays 3B Jorge Cantu (.269/24/129) suffered a career ending injury with torn ankle ligaments

3/27- Houston Astros sign SP Judd Hurley (14-8,3.04) to 5 yr/$62.3mil extension

3/31- St. Louis Cardinals sign SS Jose Reyes (.306/18/73) to 4 yr/$6.6mil contract

[Mattymo]

Major League Preview 2010
April 1, 2010

Uncasville, CT- As we get ready for the inaugural year of the WBO Major League, many things are different, yet things are the same. The Major Leagues have undergone few changes, with interleague trading the only main difference. However, with a new commissioner, new drug testing policies and new ideas, the entire baseball world is sitting nervously to see what will happen next.
With the decreased revenue streams from the loss of national TV contracts, there are still many Free Agents who have yet to sign with teams. John Hendricks, Travis Hafner, Dioner Navarro and Roy Halladay just to name a few. Others, such as Jose Reyes, have signed for far below their market value. However, the ABL and WBL have made strides and become a player in the major baseball landscape.
Here is a rundown of some players to watch:

Top 10 Hitters
1. Stephen Anthony, CF, Cincinnati Reds, 32 years old
2. Miguel Cabrera, 3B, San Diego Padres, 26 years old
3. Albert Pujols, 1B, Chicago White Sox, 30 years old
4. Rocco Baldelli, CF, LA Angels of Anaheim, 28 years old
5. Walt Younger, RF, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 29 years old
6. Josh Bard, C, Chicago White Sox, 32 years old
7. Ryan Howard, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies, 30 years old
8. Grady Sizemore, CF, Atlanta Braves, 27 years old
9. Bob Turner, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays, 34 years old
10. Chase Utley, 2B, Washington Nationals, 31 years old

Top 10 Pitchers
1. Ben Sheets, SP, Milwaukee Brewers, 31 years old
2. Francisco Liriano, SP, Minnesota Twins, 26 years old
3. Josh Rupe, SP, Chicago White Sox, 27 years old
4. C.C. Sabathia, SP, Cleveland Indians, 29 years old
5. Cole Hamels, SP, Philadelphia Phillies, 26 years old
6. Roy Oswalt, SP, Toronto Blue Jays, 32 years old
7. John Lackey, SP, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 31 years old
8. Mark Huffman, SP, Baltimore Orioles, 22 years old
9. Jason Vargas, SP, Florida Marlins, 27 years old
10. Edwart Mujica, SP, Cleveland Indians, 25 years old

Top 5 Batting Prospects
1. Robert Hill, RF, Pittsburgh Pirates, 19 years old
2. Bartolo Hernandez, 1B, Atlanta Braves, 20 years old
3. Travis Clark, CF, Detroit Tigers, 18 years old
4. Will Nelson, CF, San Diego Padres, 21 years old
5. Marc Donaldson, CF, Chicago Cubs, 17 years old

Top 5 Pitching Prospects
1. Robert Long, SP, Chicago Cubs, 20 years old
2. Jon O'Brian, SP, Kansas City Royals, 23 years old
3. Sixto Rodriguez, SP, Boston Red Sox, 17 years old
4. Jose Zamora, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks, 21 years old
5. Juan Garcia, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks, 21 years old

[Mattymo]

Notable news from April, 2010

4/2- Philadelphia Phillies sign RP Justin Deuchsherer (5-4, 3svs, 2.97 w/Oakland) to 3 yr/$6.15m deal

4/2- Florida Marlins sign 3B Wes Helms (.306/18/70) to 4 yr/$67.011m extension

4/2- Philadelphia Phillies sign RP Brad Lidge (11-6, 2 svs, 3.88) to 2 yr/$4.88m deal

4/2- Philadelphia Phillies sign C John Hendricks (.274/31/114 w/Atlantic City (ABL)) to 4 yr/$22.6m deal

4/2- Las Vegas Gamblers (ABL) sign SP Ian Snell (13-14, 3.93 w/Pittsburgh) to 3 yr/$13.285m deal

4/3- Boston Red Sox sign C Dioner Navarro (.254/8/47 w/Tampa Bay) to 6 yr/$24.34m deal

4/3- Philadelphia Phillies sign RF Alberto Gutierrez (.338/26/89 w/Daytona Beach (ABL)) to 3 yr/$18.36m deal

4/4- Boston Red Sox sign 1B Travis Hafner (.303/42/107 w/Boston) to 5 yr/$32.65m deal

4/5- Philadelphia Phillies sign CF Antonio Garcia (.246/25/96 w/Memphis (ABL)) to 1 yr/$5.58m deal

4/5- New York Yankees RP George Sherrill suffered a Career Ending Injury, a ruptured bicep tendon

4/11- Honolulu Islanders (ABL) CF Ricardo Villa (.337/40/109) out 6 weeks with fractured jaw

4/11- Minnesota Twins C Joe Mauer (.391/0/1) goes 5-5 vs. Seattle Mariners

4/12- Tampa Bay Devil Rays RF Walt Younger (.360/3/6) wins AL Player of the Week Award
4/12- Atlanta Braves SS Jose Berroa (.591/2/5) wins NL Player of the Week Award

4/14- San Diego Padres 3B Miguel Cabrera (.345/1/5) out 3 weeks with damaged meniscus

4/14- Atlanta Braves CF Grady Sizemore (.304/2/7) out 2 weeks with blurred vision

4/16- Toronto Blue Jays 1B Bob Turner (.297/4/10) goes 5-5 vs. Oakland Athletics

4/17- Oakland Athletics SP Stu O'Dell (2-0, 3.10) pitches shutout vs. Toronto Blue Jays, allowing 4 hits, walking 1 and striking out 4

4/17- New York Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez (.391/3/8) out 3 weeks with inguinal hernia

4/17- Colorado Rockies LF Michael Gaines (.250/1/8) out 2 weeks with scratched cornea

4/18- San Diego Padres SP Chris Young (3-0, 1.23) pitches shutout vs. Florida Marlins, allowing 3 hits, striking out 7 and walking 2

4/18- Cincinnati Reds CF Stephen Anthony (.349/2/7) out 3 weeks with fractured wrist

4/19- New York Yankees 1B Jason Giambi (.333/5/13) wins AL Player of the Week Award
4/19- Houston Astros RF Lance Berkman (.417/4/15) wins NL Player of the Week Award

4/20- Pittsburgh Pirates SS Freddy Sanchez (.314/0/4) out 12 months with herniated disk

4/21- St. Louis Cardinals acquire C Jeremy Ellison (.306/1/8) and 3 minor leaguers from Boston Red Sox for SP Justin Verlander and C Chris Snyder

4/25- Milwaukee Brewers CL Ruben Ibarra (0-0, 7svs, 1.00) out 1-2 weeks with tender shoulder

4/26- Chicago White Sox RF Jermaine Dye (.290/4/13) named American League Player of Week
4/26- St. Louis Cardinals LF Matt Holliday (.397/5/18) named National League Player of Week

4/28- Los Angeles Dodgers RF Felipe Sanchez (.349/2/12) goes 5-6 vs. Chicago Cubs

4/30- Washington Nationals sign 1B Adam LaRoche (.266/32/102 w/Atlanta in 2009) to 1 yr/$6.2m deal

[Mattymo]

The Weekly Bio: Tampa Bay RF Walt Younger
4/14/2010

Name: Walt Younger
Team: Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Age: 29
From: Cut Off, Louisiana
Position: RF
B/T: R/L
2009 Stats: .359, 27, 98
2010 stats: .379, 3, 6
How he got here: Drafted in the 1st round of the inaugural ABL draft in 2007 by Virginia Beach Velocity...signed 4 year contract worth $72.56 million with Tampa Bay prior to 2008 season
What he's done: ABL all-star in 2007...ML all-star in 2009...AL MVP in 2009
About Walt: Younger has the deadly combination of power, speed and hand-eye coordination...strikes out a ton (130 in 2009)...steals bases (37 in 2009)...average defensive right fielder...much more of a contact hitter, but will go deep with regularity...Extremely popular...