Blue Street Market: A fan-blog style dynasty

[darkcloud4579]

My name is Chad Alley and I'm a fanless baseball fan. I mean, don't get me wrong I love watching. But being here in Albany, you basically one of the New York City teams or you have to root for Boston.

So when they told me they were putting a team in Brattleboro, I was like "are you ****ting me?" That town is really small and I went there once with my parents when I was 8.

But now? I'm like this is awesome. I think the name Grocers is really stupid, but apparently everyone is calling them "Blue Sox" anyway, so we'll go with it.

Anyway, I always wanted to start a blog, so I'm gonna blog about the team and hopefully people will follow along and be a fan with me.

It'll be a fun ride or maybe not, but we can go there together.

GO BLUE SOX!

This is just an extension of this dynasty. I was blogging it in the blog area on OOTP but no one reads those.

[darkcloud4579]

NOVEMBER 12, 2141



So it's kinda weird looking at a team and trying to figure out how good they're gonna be. It's the offseason and I'm trying to find something to latch onto and get excited about.

This team moved because they stopped being good and I think they're hoping that if us faithful New Englanders are looking for a team of their own to root for or whatever. But this team isn't that great to root for, right now.

The last winning season in Memphis was eight years ago. PLAYOFFS? 13.

That's what you get when you don't spend any money and have a really small payroll. Are the owners ready to pony up some cash to make this dream work?

Bryan Fortside is the majority owner of the Grocers, he's the magnate of the Brattleboro Grocery Co, a large grocery chain that has proliferated throughout New England, so everybody knows the Brattleboro name and it was the reason he insisted on this name.

The city managed to get season tickets sold to the tune of 40,000 plus a waiting list into the next three years. People are excited about baseball here and really that ANYTHING has bothered to show up here to the tune of a major league sports team. The proximity of the city to so many other places has made me think this could actually work.

But did I mention how bad this team is?



Maybe not BAD but average. Just not good. I think the offseason will probably be pretty boring and not a lot will happen. You'd expect them to try to make a splash because there is not going to be a long honeymoon with this team if they're bad forever, but this team was the worst drawing team in all of baseball last year, so there's truly nowhere to go but up.

Can't wait to see who they sign in the off-season. HOT STOVE BASEBALL GOTTA LOVE IT.

[darkcloud4579]

So I guess the Grocers hired Parker Mills as the team's new GM. The only thing I know about his dad was the architect of the Great Plains Flycatchers dynasty in the 2060s. He's never been a GM before, so this seems like a curious place to cut his teeth, but hey, it's not my team to manage.

During his press conference, he said a lot of stuff about "the rebuilding" process and how the team would "work immediately to put a good product on the field," but didn't say when and I don't know.

What's worse, a bad baseball team to call your own or no team at all?

His dad was a wheeler and dealer and kind of aggressive. We're not going to have a lot of money and we're in a small town, I think this whole thing will not go well and I hope somebody knows what they are doing.

[darkcloud4579]

NOVEMBER 17, 2141
By: JAYCEE

HEY WHAT'S UP GROCERY NATION?! I'M YOUR BOY JAYCEE AND I'M GONNA BE ONE OF THE NEW BLOGGERS HERE AT BSM. I'M SO PUMPED FOR A BIG LEAGUE TEAM. I USED TO BE A FAN OF THE BOSTON YANKS, BUT LIVING IN SYRACUSE, IT'S KINDA FAR AND YOU CAN'T EVEN GET THEIR GAMES. I'VE BEEN TO ONE GAME ONCE, BUT THIS IS COOLER BECAUSE IT'S LIKE YOU CAN START WITH THE TEAM AND MAYBE PASS IT DOWN TO YOUR KIDS AND STUFF.

I'M 21, I'M IN COLLEGE AND WANT TO BE A SPORTSWRITER SOME DAY, SO I'M PUMPED TO BE ABLE TO WRITE ON THIS BLOG ABOUT THE TEAM.


YOUR FAVORITE GROCER
So we're about to do a feature through the winter season called YOUR FAVORITE GROCER where we talk about some of the guys on this team and maybe why they ought to be your favorite player. It'll be a good way for us to meet the team and get an idea of who is on this club.

THIS IS AWESOME!

[baseballonly]

That's some quality writing right there! Jaycee seems well on his way to his dream of becoming a sportswriter! )

[darkcloud4579]

NOVEMBER 13, 2141

BY CHADBOYE11

Welp Nation, we have our first trade!



So who is Rick Salgado? And how was he good enough to land us at Top 30 prospect who HAILS FROM MAINE?!? (Do Moose play baseball?)

Salgado is just 23, he's a 2-time all star and won a Silver Slugger who nobody cares about that. Anyway, he's a catcher and really good at that. So why trade him?

During the press conference, Grocers GM Parker Mills said "we had a chance to acquire a talent we felt like we could build around in Sinclair. This was a trade for a young kid that we thought who could help us. Salgado is a quality guy and we wish the best of luck."

So who is this J.J. Sinclair guy who played moose baseball growing up? Well he played college baseball at San Diego State. He apparently has a lot of upside, but outfielders are easier to find than catchers, especially catchers under 25, which explains why the San Francisco Peanuts were so willing to make this move.

Before we all go buying Sinclair jerseys, he's probably going to need at least one more year in the minors. He's never played above AA short of a brief AAA stint last year. He's only 21, so bringing him too soon would rush his development and for what reason? This team isn't very good at all.

So it'll be interesting to see what the ballclub decides to do with him, but in the meantime let's just say HEY WELCOME JJ!

[xepicx2729]

I wonder if his draft article for the next season will include my player. Great read already!

[darkcloud4579]

DECEMBER 2, 2141

BY CHADBOYE11



Our team traded spot starter Bobby Rodriguez, prospect Devan Bhangoo who was slated for a starting job up from the minors this season, backup catcher Sil Holle and a minor league pitcher in exchange for a washed up first basemen, two middle infielders and I CAN'T EVEN!

We keep dealing away the future! I don't know what the management of this team is really thinking right now, but I can just say I'm really curious to see what the regular season is gonna look like. This is NUTS man. We are not building a title team like this with these weird trades, but I guess that's why they get paid the big bucks.

I am kinda excited to see what this Amari French kid does, he hit .339 last year in the bigs in limited duty and has been mostly a bench infielder for the past few years. We'll press him into starting action here in BORO and maybe he'll discover himself.

OUR FIRST FREE AGENT
The Grocers signed a new bagger today in the form of OMARION TAYLOR who spent the past two years in Eau Claire. He signed a six year deal worth $8 million, way more than anyone else would've paid him. Will he be our closer? Some reports seem to make me think they're going to attempt to use him as a starter, even though he's never started a game in the big leagues.



Anyway, welcome to Brattleboro Mr. Taylor!

[darkcloud4579]

MARCH 20, 2142

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS SAYS WE'RE GONNA WIN THE DIVISION? WHAT?
BY JAYCEE:

WHAT'S GOOD BASEBALL FANS. I CAN'T BELIEVE MY EYES CAN YOU? THEY'RE SAYING WE MIGHT WIN THE DIVISION I DON'T REALLY GET IT THOUGH.



ONE OF THE OTHER GUYS IS GOING TO DO A WRITE UP AND GET YOU EXCITED ABOUT THE TEAM FOR THIS SEASON! WOO GO BLUE!

[darkcloud4579]

WHO IS IN AISLE 9: THE '42 GROCERS PREVIEW
By Gracy Heneke

When I told my friends over at The Gotham Press, the most elite New York Gothams fan blog that I was leaving to write for Blue Street Market, they said "wait what?" You're not supposed to change your favorite team, no matter what. But what happens when a team moves literally into your backyard?

This Brattleboro team showed up on my doorstep and having moved back from college, I can't be happier to have a major league team in my neck of the woods and I can hardly believe it's real. In fact, if I wasn't seeing the stadium with my own eyes, I'd think the whole thing was a practical joke.

Rooting for a new team is like getting a new boyfriend (or girlfriend) where you can't help but compare them to your old one and wonder what might have been, if they got their act together. Still stuff this new person does will annoy you and it'll leave you longing for your old love.

This Grocers team is surely going to end up bagging our grocery wrong more than once this year and there's no way I believe the hype about a playoff appearance, but I am legitimately excited after the moves they made this off-season. The team did a lot of addition by subtraction and we have a lot of young, hungry guys that we're going to get to grow up with.

The Grocers ended last year with a Top 5 farm system that's currently ranked 3rd now and we're gonna see some of those gems start taking the field this season. This has the potential to go badly but...it's better than having them rotting away in the minors.

After over a decade of permanent suckage in Memphis, the team is hoping to get a little bit of New England magic in Southern Vermont. With a fan base stretching throughout upstate New England, western Massachusetts and Connecticut; seems like Grocers fever is spreading slow and steadily.

But will the on-field product be any better?

ROSTER


PROBABLE LINEUP


Only four guys on this roster played a full major league season last year. It's a team of untested guys who might either be amazing or it'll be a long year.

WHO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT

LF J.J. SINCLAIR
22-year old rookie who has all of the upside in the world. Will probably strike out too much, but should enter the lineup and be a real big bat presence from Day 1. If he can put it all together, it'll be a hell of a foundation and it was a quality pickup for the new club in exchange for a major league catcher.

2B AMARI HAYNES
Haynes was a reserve infielder for the Chicago Rogues over the past three seasons and at age 25 looks like he's ready to step into a starting role. He was another one of those new trade acquisitions and it'll be interesting to see if he has the chops to play everyday. Hit .339 last year in 356 ABs (1.3 WAR) and has speed too.

CF ETHAN HARRIS

It took a deal including a major league outfielder - Tristan Chatman - and a Top 100 prospect Volk Rockmeier and another prospect to pry this one-year rental (?) from El Paso, but Ethan Harris gives this team a huge amount of legitimacy in centerfield. Publicly they've been saying they want to sign him, but it'll be interesting to see how he adapts to a new environment on the eve of his free agency year.

TOM SWART
He's one of the longest tenured members of the franchise, a first-rounder of the Memphis Hounds back in '33. A positive WAR player (3.8 last year) and a leader in the clubhouse, we're happy he's still here.

ROTATION

[IMG][/IMG]

The offense might be inexperienced and interesting. The pitching is experienced. With the 5th lowest payroll in the bigs, this team didn't exactly have a lot to work with in terms of making big splashes on the FA market, but the trades with the Top 5 farm system were deft. It got us some intriguing guys.

Pat Ramey (14-9, 3.64 ERA) comes from Great Plains and is the staff's ace. That might be a tall order for him, honestly. He's always been a reliable middle of the rotation guy. But this is a chance for him to shine and we'll see how it goes.

Rogelio Zeballos (14-9 4.41 ERA, 4.0 WAR) is a holdover from last year, acquired in a mid-season deal with Toronto. He's a top of the rotation arm with a good fastball, changeup and an ability to eat up innings.

Jay Miller is a bit of an unknown. Acquired in the blockbuster that also brought us Amari Haynes from the Chicago Rogues, he's 27 and has never had a full season in a rotation. In 61 games last year in relief, he had a 2.96 ERA. He has three good pitches and as goes Miller, so goes the franchise this year. He's the bellweather.

The bottom of the rotation contains more unproven arms that'll need to be battle tested. Closer Omarion Taylor is two years removed from a 40-save season where he had an ERA under 2.00. After considering using him as a starter, he's sensibly been entrusted with the closer role and should be a good stopper for this team if there are wins to be had.

OUTLOOK
This team is in a new city, new division and has a lot of new personnel. The core of this team won 74 games last year, so it's not impossible to think the changes that have been made coupled with a few breakout seasons could propel this team into a wild card spot. On the flip side, a few injuries or key losses will lead to the 11th losing season in 14 years.

It'll be exciting either way.

Let's BAG 'EM UP BOYS!

[baseballonly]

Nice article, Gracy. Good luck to the Grocers, you have a great GM (He's really not that Parker Mills guy), but I'll still be rooting for my Peanuts.

[darkcloud4579]

LINEUPS



RAMEY'S LAST FIVE STARTS


WEBB'S LAST FIVE STARTS


The Grocers are riding a seven-game win streak and lead the NL East by 2 games over the NY Gothams.


BAG 'EM BOYS!

Remember we have rules here. Mostly don't be terrible (it seems like a small thing to ask). No arguing with the Mods, you have a problem, email Jaycee, but in the thread, let's not debate rules.

[darkcloud4579]

THE VERDICT IS: THE JURY IS STILL OUT



The Grocers lost on the road to end their 7-game win streak as the Quakers knocked them off in extra innings. Pat Ramey only lasted 4 1/3 after giving up 8 earned and 11 hits. The bullpen did their best to stop the bleeding and the offense kept us in the game despite the shellacking early.

Has our manager ever heard of a "substitution?" There were few in this game, he favored his starters the entire time for the most part and it left me at home screaming at the computer screen to PUT IN A PINCH HITTER WHAT THE HELL?

Despite our relatively hot start, this team is flawed friends. While it might be enough to pull the wool over the eyes of the NL East this year, I worry that we still need a front line starter and probably another bat to really contend if there's postseason in our future.

It's really early yet, this team as composed can score runs no doubt. But that rotation is creaky and generally unproven full of middle of the rotation guys from top to bottom. I hope our GM is working the phones, we have a deep farm system, so there are assets to sell off if we need to.

I'd love this new team to show up and capture the hearts of everyone with a deep playoff run. Thanks for everyone for participating on the live thread today. See you tomorrow night!

[darkcloud4579]

Six all-stars for the Boro! Not bad in Year 1!

Representing the Nationwide League All-Stars this year will be:

SP Alex Alejo (NYG) - 8-2, 2.84 ERA, 111.0 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 7.1 K/9, 3.1 WAR
SP Alberto Amaya (STL) - 5-4, 3.10 ERA, 104.2 IP, 1.16 WHIP, 7.1 K/9, 3.0 WAR
SP Josh Fleury (COL) - 7-5, 3.41 ERA, 118.2 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 9.3 K/9, 3.3 WAR
SP Dan Gonzalez (DAY) - 8-5, 3.25 ERA, 105.1 IP, 1.21 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 2.0 WAR
SP Jimmy Palomares (COL) - 5-1, 3.13 ERA, 100.2 IP, 1.03 WHIP, 12.0 K/9, 2.3 WAR
SP Christian Rosales (BORO) - 11-0, 2.72 ERA, 99.1 IP, 1.20 WHIP, 6.3 K/9, 1.8 WAR
SP Danny Sanders (PHX) - 8-2, 3.44 ERA, 96.2 IP, 1.11 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 2.5 WAR
SP Erik Wallace (TOR) - 10-2, 3.26 ERA, 105.0 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 10.7 K/9, 3.8 WAR
SP Danny Wharton (PHI) - 9-1, 3.18 ERA, 107.2 IP, 1.30 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 3.0 WAR
RP David Aleman (DET) - 2-2, 2.34 ERA, 42.1 IP, 0.80 WHIP, 10.0 K/9, 0.6 WAR
RP Josh Dolan (DET) - 3-0, 1.06 ERA, 34.0 IP, 1.03 WHIP, 13.2 K/9, 0.8 WAR
RP Zachary Rodriguez (COL) - 4-0, 2.21 ERA, 36.2 IP, 0.93 WHIP, 10.1 K/9, 1.1 WAR
CL Fernando Bermudez (DET) - 3-1, 19 SV, 1.01 ERA, 35.2 IP, 0.67 WHIP, 10.6 K/9, 0.6 WAR
CL Jalen Gwathney (ELP) - 3-3, 16 SV, 1.72 ERA, 36.2 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 5.4 K/9, 0.5 WAR
CL Omarion Taylor (BORO) - 3-2, 20 SV, 2.31 ERA, 39.0 IP, 1.00 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, 1.1 WAR
CL Jaden Watts (VIC) - 3-1, 25 SV, 0.81 ERA, 44.2 IP, 0.87 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 1.2 WAR
C R.J. Druen (DET) - .270/.425/.425, 233 AB, 9 HR, 1 SB, 137 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
C Alex Esparza (LAX) - .299/.368/.472, 271 AB, 7 HR, 1 SB, 124 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
C Carlos Feliciano (NJ) - .287/.334/.523, 279 AB, 15 HR, 0 SB, 120 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
C Micah Roberts (BORO) - .328/.385/.571, 287 AB, 15 HR, 0 SB, 152 wRC+, 3.7 WAR
1B Fernando Olmos (VIR) - .279/.376/.528, 305 AB, 20 HR, 19 SB, 135 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
1B Denny Sweitzer (STL) - .311/.383/.528, 286 AB, 12 HR, 1 SB, 138 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
2B Fabrice Chambon (VIR) - .300/.360/.453, 327 AB, 7 HR, 10 SB, 117 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
2B Ethan Harris (EAU) - .293/.365/.475, 276 AB, 9 HR, 5 SB, 123 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
2B Amari Haynes (BORO) - .324/.404/.474, 333 AB, 2 HR, 29 SB, 136 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
3B Ivan de la Cruz (DET) - .350/.377/.509, 340 AB, 4 HR, 23 SB, 132 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
3B Joey Morea (BORO) - .360/.412/.676, 139 AB, 10 HR, 0 SB, 184 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
3B Jimmy Preciado (TOR) - .321/.372/.511, 333 AB, 11 HR, 7 SB, 131 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
3B Edwin Robles (PHX) - .324/.372/.526, 306 AB, 12 HR, 0 SB, 137 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
SS Javon Arrington (PHI) - .291/.349/.474, 323 AB, 14 HR, 4 SB, 116 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
SS J.J. Haug (ELP) - .345/.455/.421, 278 AB, 2 HR, 6 SB, 145 wRC+, 3.6 WAR
LF Jamal Brown (DET) - .302/.383/.528, 305 AB, 15 HR, 4 SB, 140 wRC+, 3.8 WAR
LF Danny Lebron (BAL) - .300/.370/.458, 323 AB, 11 HR, 1 SB, 122 wRC+, 3.6 WAR
CF Samuel Maes (LOU) - .368/.401/.541, 340 AB, 11 HR, 8 SB, 151 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
CF Jonas Salgado (IND) - .282/.351/.468, 301 AB, 9 HR, 12 SB, 117 wRC+, 1.2 WAR
RF Quadir Casimir (BOS) - .311/.412/.502, 289 AB, 13 HR, 0 SB, 144 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
RF Alejandro Fernandez (SFO) - .267/.341/.487, 300 AB, 15 HR, 0 SB, 118 wRC+, 1.1 WAR
RF Billy Marrow (PHX) - .335/.387/.539, 319 AB, 8 HR, 13 SB, 145 wRC+, 3.6 WAR
RF Joe Peters V (VIR) - .371/.524/.588, 267 AB, 12 HR, 33 SB, 197 wRC+, 8.1 WAR
RF J.J. Sinclair (BORO) - .335/.404/.543, 322 AB, 11 HR, 12 SB, 148 wRC+, 4.6 WAR


The Allied League roster includes the following players:

SP Tom Hammond (GPS) - 9-6, 3.11 ERA, 113.0 IP, 1.06 WHIP, 7.8 K/9, 3.1 WAR
SP Pat Hobbs (BKN) - 7-2, 2.54 ERA, 95.2 IP, 1.11 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, 2.4 WAR
SP Josh Holmes (NYK) - 7-5, 3.53 ERA, 114.2 IP, 1.19 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, 3.1 WAR
SP Jalen Latimer (NOL) - 7-3, 2.96 ERA, 106.1 IP, 0.93 WHIP, 11.5 K/9, 3.5 WAR (Injured)
SP Miko Lind (AMA) - 11-2, 3.70 ERA, 107.0 IP, 1.47 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, 2.8 WAR
SP Keyon McDonald (CHR) - 8-3, 3.19 ERA, 118.1 IP, 1.19 WHIP, 5.4 K/9, 2.4 WAR
SP Shigeharu Nakayama (NYK) - 10-4, 3.74 ERA, 118.0 IP, 1.30 WHIP, 5.7 K/9, 2.2 WAR
SP Brendan Raines (POR) - 6-2, 2.63 ERA, 75.1 IP, 1.02 WHIP, 11.5 K/9, 2.5 WAR
SP Ethan Torres (WVA) - 8-1, 2.44 ERA, 99.2 IP, 1.20 WHIP, 7.1 K/9, 2.2 WAR
SP Joey Troxler (HAW) - 9-7, 2.91 ERA, 126.2 IP, 1.17 WHIP, 6.7 K/9, 2.7 WAR
RP Ron Briggs (FLA) - 4-0, 3.29 ERA, 38.1 IP, 1.17 WHIP, 12.7 K/9, 1.0 WAR
RP Dave Clinton (NYK) - 4-1, 1.02 ERA, 44.0 IP, 0.93 WHIP, 6.5 K/9, 1.2 WAR
RP Pedro Echevarria (JCK) - 1-2, 15 SV, 0.97 ERA, 37.0 IP, 1.05 WHIP, 9.2 K/9, 0.8 WAR
RP Ethan Lane (PIT) - 2-1, 1.57 ERA, 51.2 IP, 0.87 WHIP, 9.6 K/9, 1.3 WAR
RP Jimmy Reyna (NYK) - 4-0, 2.81 ERA, 41.2 IP, 0.98 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 0.6 WAR
CL Bernie Bonilla (CHR) - 2-1, 16 SV, 1.69 ERA, 37.1 IP, 1.23 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, 0.6 WAR
CL Erik Higgins (AMA) - 2-3, 27 SV, 2.21 ERA, 36.2 IP, 1.23 WHIP, 9.1 K/9, 0.9 WAR
CL Jaden Paul (WAS) - 6-2, 10 SV, 2.23 ERA, 32.1 IP, 0.93 WHIP, 6.1 K/9, 0.3 WAR
C Danny Dionicio (SLC) - .326/.362/.529, 227 AB, 11 HR, 0 SB, 133 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
C Josh Green (WAS) - .245/.369/.428, 278 AB, 11 HR, 4 SB, 114 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
C Wil Hershberger (FLA) - .349/.393/.582, 304 AB, 17 HR, 2 SB, 158 wRC+, 4.2 WAR
C Denis Weber (CHR) - .393/.404/.582, 323 AB, 9 HR, 0 SB, 159 wRC+, 4.2 WAR
1B Tony Curiel (AMA) - .322/.375/.588, 323 AB, 21 HR, 1 SB, 152 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
1B Pedro Garcia (LVG) - .296/.379/.533, 270 AB, 15 HR, 1 SB, 135 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
1B Daniel Zendejas (GPS) - .342/.390/.547, 322 AB, 13 HR, 0 SB, 147 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
2B Salvador Feliciano (NYK) - .300/.334/.502, 333 AB, 14 HR, 0 SB, 117 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
2B Frits Jansen (JCK) - .276/.437/.455, 275 AB, 11 HR, 1 SB, 144 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
2B Javier Miranda (CHR) - .363/.416/.478, 347 AB, 6 HR, 32 SB, 142 wRC+, 4.8 WAR
3B Tommy Falco (MTL) - .323/.347/.512, 322 AB, 13 HR, 0 SB, 123 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
3B Tommy Wall (BKN) - .269/.351/.497, 316 AB, 16 HR, 1 SB, 122 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
SS Dusty Mayo (SLC) - .291/.343/.493, 292 AB, 14 HR, 5 SB, 120 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
SS Carlos Pasillas (BKN) - .296/.338/.506, 338 AB, 16 HR, 12 SB, 118 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
SS Eric Rozier (HOU) - .297/.371/.508, 303 AB, 13 HR, 2 SB, 132 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
LF Josué Fontura (LVG) - .290/.360/.497, 314 AB, 15 HR, 0 SB, 123 wRC+, 1.5 WAR
LF Zack Young (PIT) - .383/.417/.574, 298 AB, 7 HR, 9 SB, 161 wRC+, 4.2 WAR
CF Telmo Lenidas (NYK) - .326/.387/.514, 276 AB, 11 HR, 5 SB, 140 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
CF Marcos Sanchez (CAR) - .302/.413/.500, 298 AB, 13 HR, 4 SB, 147 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
CF Pat Thompson (BFL) - .272/.328/.474, 331 AB, 11 HR, 9 SB, 109 wRC+, 3.8 WAR
RF Benoît Châtelain (MTL) - .317/.391/.489, 309 AB, 9 HR, 5 SB, 135 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
RF Masahito Nakazawa (NYK) - .281/.359/.447, 302 AB, 12 HR, 3 SB, 108 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
RF Lorenzo Roman (EDM) - .331/.360/.596, 329 AB, 23 HR, 12 SB, 147 wRC+, 1.6 WAR

We are so pumped there are six all-stars on this team, so we're gonna introduce newcomers to the team about each.



Micah Roberts was on the Memphis team last year and there was major side eye when GM Parker Mills decided to deal young catcher Raffy Salgado to San Francisco and let the 31-year old veteran Roberts start at Catcher, but that has paid off. He has a 3.7 WAR so far on the year, with 15 HRs, 53 RBI and a .328 average. This is his 2nd all-star appearance.



This off-seasons acquisition of Omarion Taylor for 6 years at $16 million was kind of under the radar. But he's been lights out as the Grocers closer. He has 20 saves and an ERA of 2.31 in 34 appearances.

Thank goodness nobody tried to make him a starter like they were saying when he signed.



Amari Haynes was a big question mark. Could he play a full season somewhere? The answer seems to be yes! He's hitting .324, has 29 stolen bases (a career high) and 15 triples (?!)

I can get used to him.


The player known as JO-MO was acquired from Boston before the season started and honestly, all of us sat around the table and wondered what the deal was here. Actually, none of us did that. We saw it, figured it was a blip and moved on. A career .280 hitter prior to this year, what did we really need to think about? He plays defense okay, sure. But we didn't expect an all-star year for the first time at age 27. Jo-Mo is a fan favorite and lucky for us, he's signed through '45.



The song in the bleachers goes:

Hey you
Say hey
Do you remember the day we traded for JJ
Say you
Say hey
We got the guy they named JJ

J.J. Sinclair is the real deal. Full stop. The rookie is hitting .335, has a 4.6 WAR at the mid-season mark and plays defense too. His spark has been a real boon to the ballclub and is part of why they're in first place.

This team was interesting, because Memphis didn't really have a decent core, but they were always average, the farm system was left intact and so, with a few moves we've taken a team that had a lot dead weight essentially and turned it into a contender. The change in divisions might not have hurt either, but there's no way for me to prove that.

Lastly, we have Christian Rosales, a former 2nd rounder who was already on the roster but has blossomed in a way that no one could have predicted until we saw it with our own eyes. The 3rd starter has not lost a game this year and boasts a 1.8 WAR and is on pace to break his own personal season records for strikeouts, having already shattered his career highwater mark for wins.






Still, without these all-stars, we'd be dead in the water.

Let's see how the rest of the year goes.

[darkcloud4579]

FIRST ROUND: The team wrestled hard with whether to take UCLA IF/OF Shane Scott with the 13th pick, because he would provide a real offensive shot in the arm to a team that could really use someone to step in day one.

Alternatively, sexy lefthander Vinny Estrada from the University of Vermont was still on the board. He has three pitches and projects as a top of the rotation arm. He went 21-11 with a 1.68 ERA in 39 college starts. Those are not easy to come by, either.

Reports are that management was split on what to do down to the wire of actually making a selection and in the end, decided that current events would force them to raid the farm system and restocking was going to be a sensible choice and opted for the hard-throwing southpaw Estrada.

[darkcloud4579]

JULY 9, 2141
BSM presents "are the Grocers in first?"

YES

NATIONWIDE LEAGUE STANDINGS
Eastern Division 		W 	L 	PCT 	GB
Brattleboro Grocers 		64 	32 	.667 	-
New York Gothams 		53 	45 	.541 	12.0
New Jersey Generals 		48 	49 	.495 	16.5
Boston Yanks 			48 	51 	.485 	17.5
Philadelphia Quakers 		44 	53 	.454 	20.5

Western Division 		W 	L 	PCT 	GB
Phoenix Firebirds 		53 	41 	.564 	-
Colorado Kings 			50 	47 	.515 	4.5
San Francisco Peanuts 		48 	48 	.500 	6.0
Victoria Cougars 		48 	48 	.500 	6.0
Los Angeles Anglers 		44 	53 	.454 	10.5

Northern Division 		W 	L 	PCT 	GB
Detroit Pontiacs 		67 	31 	.684 	-
Toronto Blue Collars 		51 	47 	.520 	16.0
St. Louis Aviators 		48 	50 	.490 	19.0
Dayton Derbies 			46 	50 	.479 	20.0
Eau Claire Paws 		46 	53 	.465 	21.5

Southern Division 		W 	L 	PCT 	GB
Virginia Mariners 		49 	48 	.505 	-
Louisville Spires 		46 	50 	.479 	2.5
Baltimore Atlantics 		43 	54 	.443 	6.0
Indiana Racers 			42 	55 	.433 	7.0
El Paso Sun Kings 		41 	56 	.423 	8.0

ALLIED LEAGUE STANDINGS
Western Division 		W 	L 	PCT 	GB
Salt Lake City Elders 		57 	41 	.582 	-
Las Vegas Aces 			57 	42 	.576 	.5
Portland Beavers 		46 	50 	.479 	10.0
Bakersfield Sun Sox 		44 	54 	.449 	13.0
Hawaii Fifty-Niners 		37 	61 	.378 	20.0

Eastern Division 			W 	L 	PCT 	GB
New York Knights 			64 	32 	.667 	-
Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets 		65 	33 	.663 	-
Brooklyn Originals	 		55 	43 	.561 	10.0
Montreal Players 			50 	48 	.510 	15.0
Washington Maroons 			39 	58 	.402 	25.5

Southern Division 			W 	L 	PCT 	GB
New Orleans Alligators 			50 	47 	.515 	-
West Virginia Alleghenies 		49 	48 	.505 	1.0
Jackson Cottons 			43 	56 	.434 	8.0
Florida Rockets 			41 	56 	.423 	9.0
Carolina Wrens 				40 	59 	.404 	11.0

Central Division 			W 	L 	PCT 	GB
Amarillo Gold Sox 			59 	37 	.615 	-
Chicago Rogues 				50 	47 	.515 	9.5
Edmonton Electrics 			49 	48 	.505 	10.5
Great Plains Flycatchers 		41 	55 	.427 	18.0
Houston Cosmos 				29 	68 	.299 	30.5

[darkcloud4579]

SHOPPING AT THE DEADLINE
JUNE 17, 2142
BY CHADBOYE11

Yeah I know we can't actually make five trades without giving up a ton. But still, it's the all-star break and so we have to think about ways to improve this team that is SOMEHOW STILL IN FIRST PLACE.

In the words of JAYCEE, "IS IT CHRISTMAS? I GOT A FIRST PLACE BASEBALL TEAM IN MY BACKYARD!"

Anyway, let's take a look around the league and see some guys we think that would be realistic for us to get on our team for this year.



Bumpers and Swart are killing our vibe. Somehow, this is the best hitting team in the NL without having the middle of the order doing any real work. That's a testament to the 5-9 hitters on this team.

According to Baseball Semi-Weekly Magazine, here is where the team ranks in positions:



The team desperately needs a first baseman, short is probably not ideally manned by a rookie but for now Williams is apparently doing the job which isn't bad for a guy who was playing college baseball a few months ago and the team needs pitching, something we at BSM have been saying ALL SEASON.

So what do we go out and get? With a Top 10 farm system, we have a bit of leeway to make some moves. We don't want the team to blow up the whole thing, but it'd be nice to see them make an effort to go deep into the post-season.

[darkcloud4579]

[darkcloud4579]

Do you think they read Blue Street Market in the Grocers front office? Well, they might because their first trade this summer was just announced.



Gone is the bat of Ethan Bumpers in exchange for free-agent starter to be Harry van der Kolk and we did it without giving up a pitching prospect! There's a lot to like in this deal for us, except there's one big problem and that's WHAT ABOUT WHO WILL PLAY FIRST BASE?

Bumpers was our only competent first basemen and now we don't even have him. van der Kolk will hopefully turn it around on a good team, but while we now have the staff ace we needed, I'm wondering if this is setting up another deal for the ballclub.

It's a good start as the season progresses!

[darkcloud4579]

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER CHAIN LINK IN THE ROTATION BELT

JULY 16, 2141



Hawaii essentially paid us to take a 4th starter in exchange for four prospects including SP Jimmy Gaines rated #69 in Baseball America's Top 100 prospects list.

Ortiz is 6-7 with a 5.09 ERA and 102 Ks in 20 starts this year. Gaines wasn't the best prospect in the world, but he might have been more useful to send somewhere for some offense. What's going on? I hope they know what they're doing in that front office, but maybe we should cut them slack since they've taken an average team so far and turned them into a division leader.