There's something brewing - A Badenian going America

[Loeffle]

November 2011 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


27th November 2011


Winnipeg Bisons

We play our homegames in the 43,800 Capacity Red River Park. A rather neutral park that will see many doubles and triples due to a high left field wall. Weather could be a factor especially in april and autumn.

Our Minor League Affilates are:

AAA Regina Sharks
AA Thunder Bay Quicksilvers
A Moose Jaw Buzzers
A Iqaluit Moose
R Airdrie Shootout
R AZL Bisons


Indianapolis Hoosiers

The Hoosiers will call the Broad Ripple Grounds, a 39,600 seat park their new home. The stadium will slightly favour hitters, but fewer doubles and triples than in an average ballpark.

The Hoosiers didn't find a GM yet, but experienced John-Ford Vázquez gives them a pretty good manager.

Their Minor League Affilates are:

AAA Jean Lafitte Vendetta
AA Duluth Orcas
A Saint Paul Bald Eagles
A Staten Island Spirits
R Chesapeake Granadiers
R Lethbridge Tigersharks

[Loeffle]

November 2011 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


27th November 2011


Trade:

Buffalo sent minor league starter Armando Romero (10-10, 3.70 ERA - AA) to Tampa Bay in exchange for starting pitcher Billy Buckner (6-4-1, 4.51 ERA) and $3,000,000.

[Loeffle]

December 2011 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


8th December 2011


As the Rule V Draft offered virtually nobody to help us, we made some bids on free agents; primarily to bolster our AAA outfit Regina, but also in hope to attract some big names like Jose Reyes, B.J. Upton, Jeremy Reed or Tom Gorzelanny.


The Braves gave their superstar LF Brandon Jones (.282, 19 HR, 76 RBI) a new 3-year contract worth $13,680,000.

We signed LF Shawn Scobee (.298, 15 HR, 78 RBI, 14 SB - AAA) on a minor league contract.

The Brewers announced that 61-year old Kiyonobu Okumura will be their new GM. Sayonara!


9th December 2011


We signed C Josh Bard (.247, 13 HR, 62 RBI, 1 SB) on a 1-year contract worth $380,000.


Trades:

Washington sent reliever Matthew Parks (3-1-2, 4.02 ERA) and minor league CF Rod Warren (.322, 3 HR, 41 RBI - S A) to Detroit in exchange for RF Javier Herrera (.249, 15 HR, 72 RBI) and minor league 2B Richard Jackson (.309, 4 HR, 29 RBI, 1 SB - A).

The Blizzards traded minor league 2B John Matte (.284, 12 HR, 61 RBI, 16 SB - AAA) to the Mets for minor league 3B José Marino (.357, 4 HR, 40 RBI, 4 SB - S A).

[Loeffle]

December 2011 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


13th December 2011


We signed SS Jesus Lopez (.279, 4 HR, 43 RBI, 6 SB - AA) on a minor league contract.


Trade:

Tampa Bay traded C Matt Spring (.311, 9 HR, 37 RBI) to Texas for CF Martín Ruíz (.291, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 18 SB - S A).

14th December 2011

We signed starting pitcher Jose Oyervidez (2-4, 3.13 ERA - AAA) and rookie reliever Erik Buckley on a minor league contracts.


Trades:

The Rockies sent SS Philip Cuadrado (.317, 12 HR, 44 RBI) to Minnesota for reliever Tristan Crawford (3-5-4, 3.77 ERA) and $1,090,000 in cash.

The Astros traded reliever Brad Lidge (2-1-2, 4.66 ERA) to Boston for 3B Matt Moses (.261, 12 HR, 46 RBI, 1 SB - AAA) and minor league RF Jeroen de Haan (.258, 18 HR, 69 RBI, 7 SB - AA).

Toronto sent LF Jerry Owens (.281, 3 HR, 20 RBI) to Detroit for 3B Michael Hollimon (.246, 16 HR, 60 RBI, 6 SB) and minor league 3B Flynn López (.275, 4 HR, 22 RBI - A).

The Brewers traded minor league reliever Nathan Johnson (5-3, 5.56 ERA - AAA) to Oakland for LF Matt Sulentic (.266, 9 HR, 51 RBI, 3 SB) and minor league LF Pedro Flores (.335, 2 HR, 31 RBI, 15 SB - AA).

Texas sent reliever Vinnie Chulk (4-2-2, 3.84 ERA) to Washington for LF Rogearvin Bernadina (.169, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 6 SB) and minor league C Michae Montalvo (.249, 4 HR, 42 RBI, 1 SB - A).

Boise traded 3B Chris Coghlan (.291, 6 HR, 24 RBI) to the Mets for reliever Edgar Alfonzo (1-1-2, 2.87 ERA).

[Loeffle]

December 2011 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


15th December 2011

Indianapolis signed free agent Oliver Perez (9-11, 4.06 ERA) on a 5-year contract worth $32,620,000.


Trades:

Tampa Bay traded minor league reliever Ryan Reid (3-1-2, 1.99 ERA - AAA) to Buffalo for minor league LF Nicholas Weglarz (.320, 4 HR, 26 RBI - S A).

Buffalo sent starting pitcher Kris Johnson (12-12, 4.11 ERA) to Cincinnati for minor league starting pitcher Michael Hopkins (7-8, 3.52 ERA - AA).

We sent utility man Mike Cuddyer (.243, 10 HR, 34 RBI) and $250,000 to Buffalo for minor leaguers 3B Mike Castelar (.372, 2 HR, 31 RBI, 1 SB - R), 2B Miguel Cruz (.292, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 4 SB - A) and SS Jeff West (.284, 3 HR, 27 RBI, 4 SB - AA).


16th December 2011

We signed SP Kristian Bell (11-5, 3.71 ERA - AAA) and 3B Felipe Ybarra (.226, 1 HR, 10 RBI) on minor league deals.


Trade:

The Brewers traded minor league SS Kevin King (.226, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 7 SB - AAA) to the White Sox for reliever Pedro Feliciano (5-4-1, 2.75 ERA).

[Loeffle]

December 2011 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


17th December 2011

We signed reliever Ken Goodwin (0-1, 9.95 ERA - R) on a minor league deal.


18th December 2011

Boston reliever Manny Delcarmen (6-4-5, 4.06 ERA) signed a new 2-year contract worth $8,280,000.

We signed starting pitcher In-Che Lin (7-5, 2.54 ERA - AAA Japan), rookie reliever Steve Alexander and rookie 1B Albert González on minor league deals.


Trades:

Milwaukee sent C Kenji Johjima (.243, 9 HR, 30 RBI) to the Royals for pitcher Odalis Perez (15-12, 3.89 ERA).

The Brewers also traded one of my favourite players RF Brent Clevlen (.283, 18 HR, 67 RBI) to Seattle for reliever Luis Ayala (8-6-22, 4.26 ERA) and minor league 2B Victor Hunter (.350, 2 HR, 17 RBI - R). The Brewers continue to stockpile pitchers ...

Buffalo sent minor league SS Ryan Smith (.303, 7 HR, 59 RBI - AAA) to Arizona for minore league 3B Luis Martinez (.241, 3 HR, 37 RBI, 2 SB).

[Loeffle]

December 2011 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


19th December 2011

We signed IF Angel Sanchez (.287, 5 HR, 61 RBI, 13 SB - AAA) on a 1-year contract worth $380,000. In addition we signed rookie starting pitcher Edgardo Amaya, rookie reliever Miguel Villanueva, RF Héctor Vilas (.333, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 1 SB - R) and 1B Guy Livingston (.282, 1 HR, 37 RBI, 9 SB - A) on minor league contracts.


20th December 2011

The Hoosiers signed free agent 1B Mike Jacobs (.286, 26 HR, 82 RBI) on a 4-year contract worth $32,120,000.

We signed rookie starting pitcher Roger Crosby, rookie RF Marty Robinson and rookie C Donald Graves on minor league contracts.

[Loeffle]

December 2011 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


21st December 2011

We signed starting pitcher Clayton Richard (10-11, 3.13 ERA - AAA), rookie 1B Manuel Flores, rookie starting pitcher Edward Olson, reliever Chris Cummings (1-0, 7.24 ERA - R) and closer Miguel Ríos (1-2-11, 5.00 ERA - AAA) to minor league contracts.


22nd December 2011

We also added 2B Matt Tolbert (.292, 7 HR, 33 RBI, 5 SB - AAA), rookie starting pitcher Juan Ferreira, and rookie reliever Doug Lee with minor league contracts.


23rd December 2011

We signed 3B Tripper Johnson (injured in 2011) on a $380,000 deal, SS Luis Navarro (.357, 0 HR, 6 RBI - R) and 3B Colby Hensley (.258, 2 HR, 11 RBI R) signed minor league deals.


Trade:

Colorado traded reliever William Harris (2-0, 2.89 ERA) to Cleveland for minor league SS Ed Vallee (.300, 0 HR, 26 RBI, 10 SB - AA).

[Loeffle]

December 2011 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


24th December 2011

We signed free agent pitcher Tom Gorzelanny (15-13, 3.89 ERA) on a 3-year deal worth $11,650,000. We will lose our 2nd round pick next season. CF Logan Stephens (.386, 0 HR, 3 RBI - S A) was added with a minor league deal. The same we did with rookie starting pitcher Raúl Gálvez.


28th December 2011

Milwaukee gave their reliever Pedro Feliciano (5-4-1, 2.75 ERA) a new 2-year contract worth $5,600,000.

We signed speedy OF Nate McLouth (.261, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 16 SB) on a 1-year deal worth $380,000.


29th December 2011

Aruban rookie 1B Byron Thompson was signed on a minor league deal.


30th December 2011

In signing OF Jeremy Reed (.263, 18 HR, 79 RBI) for two years ($3,060,000) we added a nice speed and power guy the our lineup.

We lost SS Angel Sanchez on waivers to the Dodgers.

Rookie reliever César Morales, 3B Randy Harmon, RF Kane Peters (.250, 0 HR, 1 RBI - R) and rookie Ánibal Ortega were signed on minor league contracts.

[Loeffle]

December 2011 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


31st December 2011

We signed C José Mavin (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI - R) and rookie CF Ray Norris on a minor league contracts.

The year is over and we only have two bids on two inner midfield free agents running. I feel our pitching should be absolutely ready for the challenge. By the addition of some speed our lineup looks also much better than after the expansion draft. There's not much depth on the offensive side at AAA though.

[Loeffle]

January 2012 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


1st January 2012

Full of passion I start my first year on the helm of the Winnipeg Bisons. The time at Milwaukee was great, but somehow I felt my work was not appreciated enough by some people in the club. Of course it will be interesting to play the Brewers many times each season as we also play in the NL Central. There's no Prince Fielder or Ryan Braun in Winnipeg and we don't have half a dozen pitchers on the farm who could start tomorrow in the big leagues if needed; but I'm sure the city of Winnipeg is more than ready for professional sports again, more than a decade after the cult team Jets left town. Besides my personal rivalry with the Brewers, the Bisons regard Toronto and Vancouver as natural rivals. The move of the Blue Jays to the NL Central added some extra spice, while one of our goals for the first season is the finish with a better record than the Marmots.

[Loeffle]

January 2012 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


1st January 2012

Hall of Fame Induction:

- Pedro Martinez: 224-109-3, 3.10 ERA, 2938.0 IP, 2366 H, 787 BB, 3181 K, 1.07 WHIP (last team New York Mets, did not play in 2010)

[Loeffle]

January 2012 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


1st January 2012

The Brewers gave starting pitcher Manny Parra (16-8, 4.64 ERA) a new 2-year contract worth $3,753,600. He wouldn't have started in my Brewers rotation in 2012.

The Hoosiers continue to go wild on the free agent market: 2B Kelly Johnson (.281, 19 HR, 80 RBI) makes $42,850,000 over a span of 5 years. Wow! Strangely enough they are also rumoured to be on the hunt for Rickie Weeks.

[Loeffle]

January 2012 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


4th January 2012

We managed to sign free agent IF B.J. Upton (.241, 13 HR, 64 RBI, 64 SB) on a 1-year deal worth $990,000. A low risk, high chance signing? Our fans are thrilled; CF Jason Place who was sent down is not.

[Loeffle]

January 2012 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


9th January 2012

Indianapolis signed veteran free agent CF Gary "Little Sarge" Matthews (.277, 12 HR, 47 RBI) on a 2-year contract worth $16,060,000.

The Cardinals signed my former SS Orlando Hudson (.242, 4 HR, 36 RBI) on a 3-year contract worth $4,500,000.


14th January 2012

The Yankees signed Japanese free agent closer Takashi Kamoshida (1-4-43, 1.90 ERA) on a 2-year contract worth $19,660,000.

[Loeffle]

January 2012 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


19th January 2012

Washington signed free agent 3B Aramis Ramirez (.284, 46 HR, 138 RBI) on a 3-year contract worth $26,700,000. They play to convert him to 1B.

The Yankees resigned CF Johnny Damon (.281, 15 HR, 53 RBI) on a 2-year contract worth $7,320,000.


28th January 2012

Atlanta gave aging 3B Chipper Jones (.289, 12 HR, 42 RBI) a new 2-year contract worth $12,640,000.

[Loeffle]

February 2012 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


2nd February 2012

The tradional expansion exhibition games were scheduled for 1st & 2nd March. Weather for the 2nd game could be interesting as March average for Winnipeg is 21F.

Our regular season opens with five games at Buffalo, while we hope to pick up our first home victory against the Cubs.


Indianapolis signed free agent 3B Aubrey Huff (.289, 11 HR, 35 RBI, 1 SB) on a 3-year contract worth $14,670,000.

Aaron Cook (12-14, 3.32 ERA) will be the new Pittsburgh ace. The free agent will cash in $22,660,000 during the next three years.

The Diamondbacks won the race for free agent 2B Rickie Weeks (.284, 22 HR, 87 RBI). He will earn $27,300,000 over the next three years.

The Marmots signed free agent 1B Conor Jackson (.297, 20 HR, 102 RBI) on a 3-year contract worth $6,840,000. The signing is widely considered as a big steal.


4th February 2012

The Yankees signed set-up man Joe Nathan (5-6-5, 2.97 ERA) on a 2-year contract worth $7,500,000.

Indianapolis added another 3B in free agent Hank Blalock (.253, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 1 SB), wo will earn $3,750,000 during the next 3 years.


5th February 2012

We lost the bidding for free agent 2B Jose Reyes (.314, 14 HR, 77 RBI, 63 SB) ashe resigned for four years ($42,260,000) with the Mets.


7th February 2012

Seattle signed free agent LF Lance Berkman (.272, 15 HR, 57 RBI) on a 2-year contract worth $23,240,000.

The Yankees signed Japanese free agent reliever Takashi Aiki (2-1-1, 3.19 ERA) on a 3-year contract worth $18,040,000. Later they announced also the signing of starter Paul Maholm (15-15, 4.73 ERA) on a 7-year deal worth $32,020,000.

Kansas City signed LF Chris Duncan (.274, 14 HR, 71 RBI, 1 SB) on a 3-year deal worth $24,880,000.

The Red Sox extended the stay of their starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka (17-10, 3.58 ERA) for 2 more years ($9,980,000).

[Loeffle]

February 2012 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


13nd February 2012

Texas signed Japanese freeagent starting pitcher Masanori Ishikawa (12-14, 4.05 ERA) on a 4-year deal worth $38,570,000.

The Dodgers signed freeagent 1B Justin Huber (.340, 34 HR, 94 RBI) on a 5-year deal worth $30,900,000.


16th February 2012

Charlotte signed freeagent closer Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez (8-8-31, 3.23 ERA) on a 1-year deal worth $1,870,000.

The Twins signed starting pitcher Justin Germano (10-16, 4.30 ERA) on a 2-year deal worth $4,200,000.

The Mets signed starting pitcher Justin Verlander (10-9, 4.61 ERA) for a year in which he will make $1,340,000.

We signed free agent RF John Rodriguez (.264, 18 HR, 71 RBI) on a 2-year deal worth $5,320,000 and RF Jayson Werth (.257, 22 HR, 91 RBI) on a 2-year deal worth $3,620,000.

[Loeffle]

February 2012 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


17th February 2012

Buffalo gave theire closer Kiyoshi Toyoda (5-10-35, 3.32 ERA) a new 1-year contract worth $1,760,000.

The Hoosiers signed free agent closer Cla Meredith (2-7-37, 3.81 ERA) on a 2-year contract worth $2,540,000.

The Orioles signed free agent RF Bobby Abreu (.225, 11 HR, 43 RBI) on a 1-year deal worth $1,370,000.

The Pirates signed their former starting pitcher Ian Snell (8-5, 3.43 ERA) on a 1-year deal worth $2,540,000.

The Blue Jays signed free agent LF Jeff Fiorentino (.290, 23 HR, 77 RBI) on a 4-year $28,290,000 deal.

We signed Japanese utility man Toshiaki Imae (.254, 5 HR, 45 RBI, 4 SB) on a 2-year deal worth $860,000.

The Royals signed closer Jonathan Papelbon (3-3-19, 2.89 ERA) on a 1-year contract worth $5,630,000.

[Loeffle]

March 2012 - Winnipeg Bisons
Manager and GM Fritsche


1st & 2nd March 2012

Finally it's time to play ball again. We face the other expansion team for two games; first a night game in Indiana and then a day game in Manitoba. Unlike the Hoosiers we didn't threw much money at free agents; the only big fish we tried to catch was Jose Reyes. BNN thinks our team is worse than Indianapolis; but I'm not so sure about that. The Hoosiers pitching doesn't scare me and their lineup seems not very balanced with some free agents that were way overpaid. I just realized that nine of our 14 players in the lineup had ten or more homers in the big leagues last season, while two of our rookies were slugging at AA and AAA level. BNN doesn't like our pitching, but I have faith in my guys. If not there's some starting depth at AAA. I still think my bullpen is rocksolid.
On one level the Hoosiers already won - they had the better dressdesigner and look like a very fashionable copy of the Green Bay Packers in gold and green.


Expansion Exhibition Games


Winnipeg Bisons at Indianapolis Hoosiers; Broad Ripple Grounds

Partly cloudy (32 degrees), wind blowing out to center at 10 mph. Attendance: 39284 (99,2 % of capacity)


Winnipeg Bisons

2B B. Upton
3B S. Schoop
1B K. Morales
LF J. Werth
RF H. Bocachica
SS J. Harrington (1st game on big league level)
C R. Gonzalez (rookie)
CF N. McLouth
P T. Gorzelanny


Indianapolis Hoosiers

CF G. Matthews
RF L. Septimo (rookie)
2B K. Johnson
1B M. Jacobs
3B H. Blalock
SS R. Nazario (rookie, how never played SS before)
C M. Lieberthal
LF C. Patton (1st game on big league level)
P O. Perez


W: T. Gorzelanny; L: O. Perez
HR: J. Harrington (2), J. Reed (1) / -
SB: B. Upton (1) / -
E: S. Schoop, J. Harrington / M. Lieberthal
PoG: J. Harrington - 2/4, 2 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI, BB

Winnipeg at Indianapolis: 10-4

1st hit: Sharlon Schoop
1st homerun: Joe Harrington (grand slam)


Indianapolis Hoosiers at Winnipeg Bisons; Red River Park

Partly Cloudy (8 degrees), wind blowing in from center at 13 mph. Attendance: 30990 (70,8 % of capacity) - was it too cold? Or should I've tried harder for big name free agents?

W: B. Morris; L: R. Vanden Hurk
H: C. Madden, C. Armstrong
HR: M. Jacobs / E. Duncan

Indianapolisat Winnipeg: 3-8


It's too early to say, but in both games our pitching was very dominant. Gorzelanny could have gone for a complete game because his pitchcount was really low. All relievers pitched an inning though and only Rleal and Armstrong gave up runs. On the offensive side only McLouth and Gonzalez could get a hit.