Season Log: Iowa City Country

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Tue Mar 26, 2013 9:15 pm

Funny, AgentP.

Folks, what are your thoughts on the Orioles 1st pick: (GFFDED – great catcher, clutch hit – four)? I mean, he clearly sucks offensively, but the "great catcher" ability is rare. How would you compare this player to a catcher with EE offense and no blue abilities?

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Thu Mar 28, 2013 5:27 am

6/8 – 10/2010: Iowa City Country versus Atlanta Braves

Game one: Country Bailey (94 EB 2SF – three, HSL – two, DCB – four) versus Braves Hudson (93 BA SL – four, CB – 2, SP – 2, CH – 2, SK – two)

Braves leading five – four in the bottom of the 9th

End of 9: 5-5

Final score: six – five, Braves (11)

[NOTE: the above game actually got wiped out when I changed my draft picks, but it was an exciting game so I reported it. I won the "rematch" 5-1]

Game two: Country Rijo (97 DB SL – four, CB – three, FO-three) versus Braves Smoltz (96 EB HSL – two, CB – two, ST – four, CH – three)

The Braves scored two runs after loading the bases in the fourth with no out, and the Country scored two of their own the bottom half the inning on four singles. With the game tied at 2, Rijo tired in the sixth and left with runners at first and second and nobody out. Jiang entered and retired Francoeur on a comebacker before striking out McCann to end the threat. Jiang left in the eighth with two out and the bases-loaded, Broxton taking his place. Broxton induced a weak groundout first, ending the threat. In the bottom of the eighth, the Country pulled ahead when Erdos reached on the fielders choice, stole second, and two batters later, came home on the single against the Braves reliever who had entered in the sixth. One out later, Pence came to the plate and doubled home both baserunners, giving the Country a five – two lead entering the 9th. Harden started the 9th inning and allowed an RBI single to Matt Diaz that raised his ERA over 1.0 for the first time in weeks, but closed out the inning for his 18th save
Final score: five – three, Country

Comments: the Braves pitched very well, allowing no Country batter (except for number nine batter JR Towles, who reached on a walk and on a single) to reach base more than once, Erdos going 0/3, but reaching on a walk. The Country pitchers, meanwhile, allowed multiple hits to the Braves dangerous one – four hitters, who went a combined 10/17, but the fifth and sixth batters were 0/8 with McCann striking out three times in four at-bats.
Game three: Country Depablos (94 DB SL – four, CB – four, VSL – three) versus Braves Glavine (88 DC CU – one, CB – one, CH – one, CCH – three)

Final score: nine – four, Country.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Fri Mar 29, 2013 6:32 am

6/11 – 13/2010: Iowa City Country at Atlanta Braves - yes, the schedulemakers scheduled these teams to play 6 games in a row!

Game 1: Country Pettyjohn (96 DB 2SF – three, SL – two, CB – one, PA – three) at Braves Carlyle (92 DB 2SF – one, SL – one, CH – one)

The lineup for the Country's first non-DH game of 2010:

Erdos, Hudson, Cust, Pence, Fields, Johnson, McCurdy, Huisman. It is not clear whether Erdos' consistent play puts him ahead of Kemp and Spilborghs on the depth chart or if this is because the starting pitcher is right-handed.

Final score: five – three Braves

Game 2: Country Lincecum (100 DA 2SF – three, SL – four, DCB – four, CH – four) at Braves Jurrjens (96 EB SL – one, CH – four)

Jurrjens kept the Country hitters off-balance through seven innings, although they were fortunate to push a run across three times. The Braves seemed ready to storm back against reliever Andrew Brown, scoring two runs in the seventh. Josh Fields pinch hit an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to give the Country some breathing room, and the Country relievers were able to close out the eighth and ninth innings with the help of poor decisions by the Braves to steal, as the first outs in the eighth and ninth were from leadoff batters getting thrown out at second after singles.
Final score: 4-2, Country

Game three: Country Grindell (94 EB CU – four, CB – three, PA – three, HSK – three) at Braves Hudson (93 BA SL – four, CB – two, SP – two, CH – two, SK – two)

Final score: 4-3, Country

The second reporting of AL All-Star fan voting was announced today. Orlando Hudson is in second place for second baseman by about 3000 votes while Josh Fields leads third baseman by about 2000 votes. Ryan Spilborghs is fourth in voting for outfielders

Prediction · **Posted:** Fri Mar 29, 2013 11:34 am

Would've picked the orioles catcher 9/10. He can develop his offensive skills to an E or higher in 1-2 years.

Woooo, all stars on the country.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Fri Mar 29, 2013 12:50 pm

Yeah. As my pitchers struggle to get into the 7th inning, I wonder how much effect the "great catcher" ability has. And you're right - he could up his offense pretty quickly.

Thanks.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Fri Mar 29, 2013 4:38 pm

GM: well, towards the end of April we talked about which of our players are tradable and which are not, with the expectation that we would look to make a trade after the draft. Of course, we made a big trade soon after that brought in Hunter Pence. I called you here to ask about future moves.

Coaches: for the most part, we think we should stand pat.

GM: but we are so far ahead in our division, we should cruise to a first place record. Don't you think we should be planning for our future?

Coaches: well, the trade for Pence got rid of two players on your "shop 'em" list (Brendan Harris and Josh Hamilton) and one player on your "want to keep" list (pitcher Bourgeois). Of coarse, we are comfortable with your shopping the rest of the players on the "shop 'em" list -

Except for James. Since he was put on that list, he has improved his slider to a level level 4, he's pitched consistently well all season, and now that we have gone back to a six man rotation with Pettyjohn being the sixth starter, he is the only other pitcher with level B stamina, although Stratton is a high C.

Realistically though, I we don't see being able to get a rookie of value for any of those players.

GM: I agree with what you are saying about James and also about getting a valuable rookie. I made a few preliminary inquiries and the asking price for some of these guys seems way out of line. Those other teams out there are clearly valuing you over ability. Still, considering that we made it through May with only five losses, don't you think we have talent to spare?

Coaches: no. First of all, things have gotten harder, and opposing teams are hitting our pitching staff better recently, so we need to wait and see how our team adjusts. Also it seems that the way we are going is we are blowing out the bad teams, but the teams with good pitching, we are still winning at an amazing rate, but we are winning by one – three runs. We are bound to go through a losing streak against those teams and if we trade away the wrong players, you might not be able to limit those losses. Also, for some reason, teams tend to pitch and hit better in the playoffs so we need to be prepared. Lastly, there isnt anyone on our team with more than three years of major-league experience, except for a few players like Jack Cust and Orlando Hudson, so as long as we can control salaries, we should have a strong team for years to come without the need to get younger.

Furthermore, since we were able to get a position player with some potential in the draft, there should be less urgency to trade for another teams draft.

GM: those are all good points. I will make sure I am very conservative about thinking about striking deals. Thank you.

ZeroGibson13 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 29, 2013 11:57 pm

Buchanan looks like he's got a good career ahead of him

philliesfan134 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 30, 2013 12:10 am

I wouldn't mind seeing another move but it seems the roster's in good place at the moment. Interested to see where it takes the team and how difficult it gets come playoff time.

philliesfan134 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 30, 2013 12:10 am

I wouldn't mind seeing another move but it seems the roster's in good place at the moment. Interested to see where it takes the team and how difficult it gets come playoff time.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sat Mar 30, 2013 8:54 am

You can say that again! Oh, wait - you did!

I did make another move. Not a big deal - swapping minor leaguers. Will announce/analyze it soon

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sat Mar 30, 2013 10:04 am

6/15 – 17/2010: Iowa City Country versus Florida Marlins (a rematch of last season's World Series)

Game one: Country Bailey (94 DB 2SF – three, HSL – two, DCB – four) versus Marlins Weaver (95 CB SL – five, CH – three)

Final score: five – zero, Country

Game two: Country Rijo (97 DB SL – four, CB – three, FO – three) versus Marlins Olsen (93 CB SL – three, CH – two)

Final score: four – three, Country

Game three: Country Depablos (94 DB SL – four, CB – four, VSL – three) versus Marlins Mitre (95 CB SLV – two, CH – two)

Final score: nine – six, Country

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sat Mar 30, 2013 11:22 pm

6/18 – 20/2010: Iowa City Country at Washington Nationals

Game one: Country Pettyjohn (96 DB 2SF – three, SL – two, CB – one, PA – three) at Nationals Bergmann (93 DB SL – three, CB – two, CH – three)

Final score: seven – five, Country

Comments: the Washington Nationals may have had the most hits of any Country opponent in a loss this season with 15

Games two – three were simulated

Game 2: 6 – 4, Country

Game three: 10 – 2, Country

philliesfan134 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 30, 2013 11:31 pm

Hope you're still enjoying yourself with this log. It's gotten good lately.

I like seeing the Marlins and Nats because they had cores of young guys back in '08/09.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sat Mar 30, 2013 11:53 pm

Thanks, Phillies. Since upping the settings, the Marlins games have been particularly tough!

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sun Mar 31, 2013 12:01 am

6/20/2010: trade report

A trade was announced today between the Iowa City Country and the Toronto Blue Jays

The Country send minor-league catcher/second baseman Junge (CDCECD) to the Blue Jays in exchange for SS Finnigan (DDDD9DE, gold glove, spark plug)

Contract status: Finnigan is in the 2nd year of his rookie contract that will pay him $410,000 annually for the current and next two seasons. He is not scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent for five years. Junge is earning $450,000 a year and his current contract will expire after next season. He is not scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent for 4 seasons.

Junge has never been more than an infrequent call up. He played a lot last season, especially when the rosters expanded, but less so this year, since when a minor leaguer has been called up to play 2nd, it's been DeVore (FDCDDE), who also plays SS.

Junge is listed on the Blue Jay's major league roster. Most analysts' initial expectation is that Junge would battle Ruben Gotay (EDDDCD) for the second base slot, but it appears that 15 year veteran and starting catcher Gregg Zaun (FCEDDD) was sent down to the minors, making it likely that Junge will become the starting catcher

The Country PR department released the following statement:

Junge is one of the players on the original Country roster. On the regular ML roster, the only position players from the original team is SS Huisman and Schrager, although starting C McCurdy was the Country's 1st draft pick, and the Country traded for Erdos in Erdos' and the Country's initial season. In terms of pitchers, top flight starter Depablos and late inning reliever Jiang were from the original roster, starter Grindell was the Country's 2nd round draft pick that year, and long reliever Stratton was an undrafted FA. There are 5 minor league players (2 pitchers, 1 OF, and 2 IF) from the original team, although OF Zapp was traded away in his first year and included in another trade that brought him back this season.

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Season Log: Iowa City Country

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