WBRL Season-end Point Totals
Margin of Victory:
- 15.5 2000 Atomic Roadrunners
- 14.5 1997 Misogynistic Padres
- 14 2008 Atomic Roadrunners
- 13 1998 New World Order
- 12 1999 New World Order
- 8.5 1996 Goodfellas
- 7.5 2007 Goodfellas
- 6.5 2006 Get Off Kong!
- 6 2003 New World Order
- 5.5 2005 Privatize This!
- 5 2004 X-Men/NWO (tie)
- 5 1995 Goodfellas
- 3 2002 Stanimals
- 1.5 2001 New World Order
Most Points:
- 94 2006 Get Off Kong!
- 93 1997 Misogynistic Padres
- 92.5 2000 Atomic Roadrunners
- 88 1998 New World Order
- 87.5 2006 Atomic Roadrunners (2nd)
- 86.5 1995 Goodfellas
- 85 2001 New World Order
- 83.5 2001 Goodfellas (2nd)
- 83.5 1996 Goodfellas
- 83 2001 Shoeless Jews (3rd)
- 83 1999 New World Order
- 82 2008 Atomic Roadrunners
- 81.5 2005 Privatize This!
- 81.5 1995 Cork County Cronies (2nd)
Lowest Winning Points:
- 64 2002 Stanimals
- 69.5 2003 New World Order
- 74 2004 X-Men/New World Order (tie)
- 79.5 2007 Goodfellas
Lowest Points:
- 13.5 1995 Fear of a Black Ballclub
- 20.5 1996 Old Town
- 21.5 1999 Shoeless Jews
- 25 1997 Old Town
- 25.5 1997 Shoeless Jews (9th)
- 25.5 1998 Dr. Style Studs/Old Town (tie)
- 27 1996 Guns ‘n Braves (9th)
- 27 2000 X-Men
- 28 1996 Cork County Cronies (8th)
- 28 2001 Dr. Style’s Studs
- 28 2005 Atomic Roadrunners
- 28.5 2006 Stanimals
- 29 1995 Stanimals (9th)
- 29.5 2003 Rocky Mountain SERA’s
- 30.5 2003 Shoeless Jews (8th)
- 31 2004 The Pi Train
- 31 2008 Misogynistic Padres
- 33 2002 Shoeless Jews
- 34 2007 Stanimals
Atomic Roadrunners Win the 2008 WBRL Title!
| Rank | Team | Batting | Pitching | Total | Dif | Behind |
| 1 | Atomic Roadrunners | 44.0 | 38.0 | 82.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2 | X-Men | 31.0 | 37.0 | 68.0 | -1.0 | 14.0 |
| 3 | Shoeless Jews | 32.0 | 33.5 | 65.5 | 1.5 | 16.5 |
| 4 | Goodfellas | 41.0 | 23.0 | 64.0 | 0.0 | 18.0 |
| 5 | Stanimals | 24.0 | 37.0 | 61.0 | 0.0 | 21.0 |
| 6 | The Pi Train | 24.0 | 27.0 | 51.0 | 1.0 | 31.0 |
| 7 | Uncle Lester | 12.0 | 38.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 32.0 |
| 8 | Cover Zero | 26.0 | 16.0 | 42.0 | -1.0 | 40.0 |
| 9 | Get Off Kong! | 22.0 | 13.5 | 35.5 | -1.5 | 46.5 |
| 10 | Misogynistic Padres | 19.0 | 12.0 | 31.0 | 1.0 | 51.0 |
| Final 2008 WBRL Standings - Updated: 09/29/2008 1:45 AM EST | ||||||
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1992 WBRL Draft Flashback
Players Still active since our 1992 original draft:
Luis Gonzalez - $15 - Fear of a Black Ballclub
Gary Sheffield - $12 - Fear of a Black Ballclub
Tom Glavine - $26 - Twisted Pfister
John Smoltz - $23 - Yo Chief, Buzz Me Up!
Greg Maddux - $18 - Shoeless Jews
Pedro Martinez - $4 - Guns ‘n Braves
Mike Stanton - $3 - Shoeless Jews
Rudy Seanez - Minors 3rd Round - Stanimals
Cliff Floyd - Minors 4th Round - Atomic Roadrunners
Curt Schilling - Minors 8th Round - Dr. Style’s Studs
Chipper Jones - Minors 10th Round - Fear of a Black Ballclub
Trevor Hoffmann - Minors 11th Round - Guns ‘n Braves
Moises Alou - Minors 12th Round - Dr. Style’s Studs
Salomon Torres - Minors 13th Round - Atomic Roadrunners
Dmitri Young - Minors 16th Round - Los Presidentes
Just Missed:
Barry Bonds - $44 - Dr. Style’s Studs
Craig Biggio - $22 - Home Fuckin’ Cookin’
Steve Finley - $18 - Dr. Style’s Studs
Reggie Sanders - $4 - Guns ‘n Braves
Rheal Cormier - Minors 6th Round - Grab Some Bench!
Rondell White - Minors 16th Round - Atomic Roadrunners
Managers (and ex-managers):
Bud Black - $3 - Grab Some Bench!
Joe Girardi - $3 - Grab Some Bench!
Mike Scioscia - $5 - Fear of a Black Ballclub
Willie Randolph - $5 - Atomic Roadrunners
Lloyd McClendon - Minors 9th Round - Atomic Roadrunners
Feeling old yet?
Protected List Review: Misogynistic Padres
This kicks off the first of ten Protected List Reviews (in the order that they were received). First up, Tim Nygard’s Misogynistic Padres:
2007 Finish: 8th place
Non-Protectable after 2007:
- Chris Burke, 2B/OF, HOU (Contract Expired)
- Bill Hall, OF, MIL (Contract Expired)
- Luis Castillo, 2B, NYM (Had been traded from the AL)
- Jeff Suppan, P, MIL (Contract Expired)
- Zach Duke, P, PIT (Contract Expired)
Lost during the 2007-08 Offseason:
- Rod Barajas, C, TOR (Signed with AL team)
- Todd Linden, OF, OAK (Signed with AL team)
- Luke Scott, OF, BAL (Traded to AL)
Protected for 2008:
- 2B Chase Utley - $39
- 2B Rickie Weeks - $22
- SS Troy Tulowitzki - $10
- 3B Ryan Braun - $5
- OF Ryan Church - $9
- OF Rick Ankiel - $5
- OF Felix Pie - $5
- P Homer Bailey - $10
- P Jonathan Broxton - $5
- P Yovanni Gallardo - $5
- P Kyle Kendrick - $5
Totals: $120 in Payroll, $140 Available, 13 Players Needed, $10.77 per player (7th-most)
Not Protected:
- C Miguel Montero $4
- 1B Aaron Boone $5
- 3B Andy LaRoche $10
- 3B Scott Spiezio $5
- 3B Greg Dobbs $5
- OF Alejandro de Aza $3
- P Ben Sheets $32
- P Armando Benitez $9
- P Ryan Dempster $6
- P Manny Parra $5
- P Wandy Rodriguez $5
- P Antonio Alfonseca $5
- P Jorge Sosa $5
- P Mark Hendrickson $5
- P Livan Hernandez $2
Review:
A solid list with no player over age 28, though Tim usually likes ‘em young. Given that, one might wonder why prospect Andy LaRoche was not protected. LaRoche is the likely starter at 3B in Los Angeles (but maybe not with “friend of vets” Joe Torre now on the bench). LaRoche is projected in the low $10’s, so he might be able to get him at that price again. At catcher, Miguel Montero proved useful over 2007, with good power, but the batting average kills, and Tim may be able to get him again, possible for less than $4.
On the pitching side, given Tim’s fondness for the Brewers, one might question the decision not to protect Manny Parra. Parra is another heralded arm for the Brew Crew, but where does he fit in the Sheets-Suppan-Bush-Gallardo-Capuano-Villanueva-Vargas rotation? Also, Wandy Rodriguez is getting some good press this offseason as a possible sleeper in Houston (within reason). And Ryan Dempster, former closer for the Cubs, is rumored to be in a four-player battle for the final two rotation spots for 2008, so there’s enough uncertainty to avoid the issue.
Protecting Chase Utley at $39 seems a bit of a stretch, as he may go for a few dollars less this season (or then again not - he’s clearly a “first round” talent and the best 2B in all of baseball). Still, he occupies 15% of Tim’s available salary. Same goes with Rickie Weeks, who needs to bounce-back after injuries and a AAA stint in 2007.
Tulowitzki, Braun, Pie and Ankiel were all acquired in trade during 2007, and Kendrick was picked up in late June. Losing Luke Scott to Baltimore in the Miguel Tejada trade hurt, but with Braun moving to OF this season, it’s a minimal loss. With a solid middle-infield and outfield, and several young (but still unproven) starters, Tim will need to get a frontline starter, closer, and at least one corner man. Fortunately, he tends to subscribe to the “Stars and Scrubs” philosophy more often than not, so expect those rosters spots to be filled capably.
Grade: B
With limited and understandable omissions, and a solid core of offense, Tim did well with the available talent. But protecting 23% of your salary cap at 2B may not be the best strategy. Tim gets a “B” for still having $140 available, but for 13 players. This breaks down to $10.77 per player average - 7th in the league.
Steve Sharik to Leave the WBRL
For the second time in seven years, Steve Sharik (Cover Zero) has announced his departure from the league. Here are his statements:
First email, shortly after submission of Protected Lists:
…You guys should start looking for someone to replace me as an owner.
In a separate email, two minutes after the first:
I have had zero time to look over my roster, and I won’t have time to prepare for the draft. I am not going to spend $260 for a league fee and several hundred more for a trip to do something I can’t do the right way.
And then finally, the next day:
First, this isn’t a money issue in and of itself. I can afford to take the trip, pay for hotel/food/entertainment, and I can afford the league.
It just isn’t a wise expenditure if a) the trip is going to last only one or two days, and b) one doesn’t have time to do the research necessary to be competitive.
I mean, why spend $260 for a league fee where you have next to no shot at winning (or even any return on the investment) except for blind luck? That money is best spent doing other things.
So you know, the reasons my time is coonsumed is a) my employer gave me a class I have to build myself, and b) I am going to be the full-time D coordinator next year, so I am building a defensive package. (Off topic: For all you business types, I should send you a copy of the job description for the head coach at Milford and let you (especially SD) analyze that description for the salary level it requires.)
As for participation, I think you guys should only invite someone if they really want to be a part of it. If you don’t find someone, I will participate this year. I don’t want to ruin a good thing.
At this point, the lack of other communication on the site suggests that we let Steve play out the season, and spend a good amount of time finding a suitable replacement.
All Protected Lists have been Submitted
All 10 protected lists have been submitted. Unfortunately, even with 11 reminders during the offseason, three teams were late in their submission:
Stanimals - 72 minutes late
Cover Zero - 10 hours late
Uncle Lester - 20 hours late
Atomic RoadRunners: Ensberg Dons Pinstripes (AL)
Free agent 3B Morgan Ensberg has reached agreement with the New York Yankees on a minor-league contract with a Spring Training NRI for the 2008 season. Once Carl Pavano and his ilk are placed on the 60-Day DL, Ensberg will be added to the 40-man roster. Ensberg, who was traded from Houston to San Diego following the Astros’ acquisition of Ty Wigginton last July, will compete for the vacancy at 1B and serve as a backup, caddy, and personal valet to incumbent 3B Alex Rodriguez.
Ensberg has been removed from the Atomic Roadrunners’ roster as he is no longer eligible for protection for the 2008 season.
Tags: Atomic Roadrunners, Free Agents, MLB Transactions
The Pi Train: Gonzo Goes Fishing, Signs with Marlins (NL)
Free agent outfielder Luis Gonzalez has signed a one-year, incentive-laden contract with the Florida Marlins. Gonzalez will make $2 million, with another $1 million for additional plate appearances.
The Pi Train retains the rights to Gonzo, who can be protected for $1 for the next two seasons.
Tags: Free Agents, MLB Transactions, The Pi Train
Johan Santana is Coming to the Mets
Minnesota Twins pitcher Johan Santana is coming to the Mets in a 4-for-1 trade. The Mets currently are in a 72-hour negotiation window in an attempt to sign Santana to a multi-year contract extension. What’s the WBRL impact?
- Goodfellas: Lose pitching prospect Philip Humber
- Uncle Lester: Lose OF prospect Carlos Gomez
- Atomic Roadrunners: No impact, but P prospect Deolis Guerra was on the AaRr squad for a week in June of 2007, so at least they knew about him.
Tags: Goodfellas, MLB Transactions, Uncle Lester
The Pi Train: Estrada Signs with the Nationals (NL)
Free agent catcher Johnny Estrada signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals for $1.25 Million. Estrada was traded earlier this offseason from Milwaukee to the New York Mets for Guillermo Mota, and subsequently non-tendered, making him a free agent. It’s essentially a 2-for-1 swap, as New York traded for Washington C Brian Schneider (and OF Ryan Church in exchange for OF Lastings Milledge), and Washington has signed both Estrada and the Mets’ catcher from 2007, Paul LoDuca.
The Pi Train retains the rights to Estrada, and he remains eligible for protection with a $12 salary for two seasons.
Tags: Free Agents, MLB Transactions, The Pi Train