Season Log: Iowa City Country

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2013 6:26 pm

2011 DRAFT

OVERVIEW: This was a very thin draft for OF, there were some solid IF, though none who are capable of stepping in and impressing right away, but it was a decent draft for pitching.

Top Picks: the top 5 selections

Country picks:

Potential worst first round pick: Hyatt, 1B (GFFFGD), Giants

Pitching

Hardest thrower:

Best stamina:

Other notable pitcher:

Worst pitchers selected:

OF

Potential best outfielder:

Potential worst outfielder:

IF

Potential top catchers:

Potential top shortstops:

Most power:

Potential worst infielder:

Power Pros 27 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2013 6:39 pm

What does potential do anyway?

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2013 9:50 pm

I kind of threw the word "potential" in there just to say that this is who I thought might be a top player or terrible pick.

I've heard that the more "potential" someone has in the draft, the faster they will train up, but that has not been my experience

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sun Jun 09, 2013 5:42 pm

Game Summaries

6/7/11: In the first game of their series hosting the Colorado Rockies, Depablos got off to a rocky start, allowing the Rockies to load the bases with one out, and he seemed fortunate to escape the inning with only two runs scored. Depablos got himself straightened out and allowed only two more hits and no runs through the next six innings, but in the eighth, Uchiyama allowed two homeruns. The Country were able to narrow the Rockies' lead to two runs with a nice base off of Rockies starter Bedard (97 CA 2SF – two, CU – two, CB – three, CH – two), and were able to load the bases with one out against the Rockies closer. The game ended when Hudson flied out and Schrager made a boneheaded break from third base. Since the Country were down by two, his run did not matter and he assumed there would be no throw home, but he was beaten to the plate badly and made the final out in a rundown between third and home. Final score: five – three, Rockies

6/8/11: Grindell and Rockies starter Brad Penny matched each other with shutout innings for 5 – 2/3 innings. While Grindell closed out a scoreless top of the sixth, things fell apart for Penny when a bloop single from Ryan Braun loaded the bases with one out and, after out number two, Schrager softly lined a single to bring in two runs. Uchiyama, who gave up three runs in his first inning of work yesterday, pitched two innings and only allowed one hit. Jiang closed out the 9th and collected his fifth save of the season.

Awards: Jiang , who assumed the closer's role since Hardin and Broxton were demoted, is named relief pitcher for the month of June. During this time, he notched seven saves with seven strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA

7/1/11: The Country lose a 16 inning game, wasting another sterling Lincecum performance, when Jiang enters and gives up back-to-back doubles. Final score: one – zero, Padres

7/2/11: The Padres Jake Peavy was not quite as sharp in his second meeting with the Country, as the Country were able to bunch together enough singles to push three runs across – one each in the second, third, and six - and Peavy exited in the 6th. It was a good thing, too because the Country's Rijo was also not sharp, leaving in the fifth inning after allowing three runs to score. The Country scored a run in the seventh, the Padres tied it up in the eighth, but left their tired reliever in to start the ninth and he served up a homerun to Merrill on a hanging slider, and Jiang collected his third win of the season, to go with nine saves. Final score: five – four, Country

7/5/11: In a game against the White Sox with six lead changes in which no team was ahead by more than one run at the end of an inning, the White Sox Lance Berkman led off the 11th inning with a homerun that the Country could not match. Final score: six – five, White Sox

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sun Jun 09, 2013 7:26 pm

The Country completed their "roster purge" on July 1.

Dan Johnson (BBDDDB)

Arriaga (ECFEFF) and $1 million

Several days later, the Country announced a trade with the Nationals, bringing in the Nationals 2010 draft pick, 3B Aranda (ECGEFF, clutch – four) in exchange for the former Country closer who led the league in saves in 2010, Rich Harden (98 EC SL – five, SP – six, CH – five). The 22-year-old third baseman is now the youngest player on the Country – two months younger than the Country's 2011 second round draft pick with the same last name. Aranda is under contract for this and next season, earning $420,000 per season.

Harden is expected to challenge Dan Wheeler (93 BE SL – four, CB – two, SP – three) and Luis Ayala (95 BE SL – two, CH – two, HSK – two) for the closers role. Harden currently has three more saves then Ayala and Wheeler combined (nine – six) in four fewer opportunities (12 – 16).

Scobie (94 DC CB – one, FO – three)

On July 1, it was announced that the Country sent third baseman Josh Fields and set up man Broxton to the Honeybees in exchange for $7 million.

Watkins (95 FC SL – two, CB – one, durability two)

philliesfan134 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 09, 2013 8:28 pm

I like the pickups. I'm wondering how grabbing all these rookies/scrubs in favor of the solid players you got rid of will turn out for you.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Mon Jun 10, 2013 5:59 am

Thanks. Certainly, the main point of jettisoning Johnson, Fields, Spillsborghs, Josh Hamilton, Harden, and Broxton is to make the game more fun by making it harder, and that's been a success so far. Still in 1st place, but I no longer have runners in scoring position every inning, so the pressure is on when I get a runner to 2nd. My relief corp is good, but not "shutdown" like last year, and if I don't get a decent performance from my starter, I can't come back from 4-5 runs down like I used to! Also, if I face a top pitcher in red condition - ugh!

I'm also hoping my "no training after hitting 30 and being in the league 4-5 years" will create more internal competition that'll be fun, but probably won't know for another season or 2. It only affects Cust, Hudson, backup IF Shawn Riggins, and minor league OF/2b Joe Thurston, but will affect starting SS Huisman next year.

The pitchers I picked up are more of a wild card - they each had qualities I liked (like having both a 2SF and a palmball or a high speed fastball), but I don't know how they'll do. I'm hoping that I'll be able to up their stamina enough that by 2013, they can consistently get into the 7th inning. I'm also looking to get my closer, Jiang (94 DC CU-5, SC-4, FO-4), 24 years old, to max out his cutter.

It should be fun watching my young IF guys develop. My plan is to have my young SS (DeVore, Finnegan, Rolls), C (Dunwoody and Hyatt), and 3b (Arrianga, Arranda, Cornejo), most of whom are 22-23, focus on defense for most of this year - my level 3 equip shouldn't break down until the playoffs, I think (hope!). My catchers and Cornejo already have level C arms and D defense - if they get to a level B arm, I'm pulling them off early. Anyway, next I'll buy level 3 batting equipment (the one that works contact and power) - only Finnegan has contact as high as D. That should take me through next year (2012), when my only 30 year old starter will be SS Huisman (who I think will be BDCBBC, TR-2), Cust will be 32 or 33, and I don't think anyone else other than Hunter Pence will be older than 27. My plan is to trade my awesome 2b, Orlando Hudson, in January. He'll be something like 32, and in the last year of his contract. For next year, DeVore (currently ED110 CCBC - I think he'll up his arm to B by next spring) and Finnegan (DD100 DCCC - I think he'll up his arm and defense to Bs by next spring) will battle for the 2b spot

By the 2012-2013 offseason, I should have an idea I'd where these guys will fit - playing their given position, another position, utility player, or trade bait.

Also, I think that beginning next year, the following gray bar players will become perennial all-stars (I included their current ages):

RP Jiang (94 DC CU-5, SC-4, FO-4) - 24
SP Grindell (94 EB121 CU-4, CB-3, PA-4, HSK-4) - 28
SP Depablos (94 DB122 SL-4, CB-4, VSL-4) - 23
SP Rijos (97 DB122 SL-5, CB-3, FO-3) - 24
OF Erdos (BC120 BCBDCC) - 24
C McCurdy (BD118 DBCC) - 26
1b Merrill (DB140 ECDD) - 26 (although competition is fierce at 1st, so this might not come true. At least the Yankees have, both, Al Pujols and Mark Teixiera, putting one of them on the bench and out of competition)

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Wed Jun 12, 2013 6:56 am

The new country lineup, with commentary on the new faces:

LF Ryan Braun (BADDEF)

1B Merrill (DBECDD)

3B Schrager (CCECDC)

SS Huisman (BDCBCC)

Bench:

IF Shawn Riggins (DFEACC)

OF Matt Kemp (CBBCEF)

SS/2b DeVore (EDCBD)

3b Cornejo (EDECDD)

Power Pros 27 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 12, 2013 7:38 am

I'll follow this log, keep up the good work.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:18 am

Thanks, PP 27! I appreciate the feedback

dishnet34 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 12, 2013 4:00 pm

Man, this is a pretty solid team. How are you so good at training up these players? Is it the length of time playing the season file, training items, or what?

ZeroGibson13 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 12, 2013 4:07 pm

dishnetkid wrote:

Man, this is a pretty solid team. How are you so good at training up these players? Is it the length of time playing the season file, training items, or what?

I think when you play the games instead of simming, the players progress faster.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Wed Jun 12, 2013 4:55 pm

ZeroGibson may be right, although they will improve in simed games, too. I think the main deal is that I buy level 3 equipment based on what most of my players need and have all my guys practice that.

For example, this year, my offense was so good that I bought level 3 defensive equipment. To max out the benefits, even my AAA catchers and SS who really need better offense are focusing on defense, so it's very possible that I'll wind up with SS and C that look like this at the end of this season:

EDCBBC
DDDBBC
FFEBDC
EEEBCD

When my level 3 fielding equip breaks, I'll probably buy level 3 power or batting for these guys.

All of my team has worked on defense since I bought this equipment - even my OF. I think that by doing it this way, and then rotating level 3 equipment purchases (power one year, speed another, defense next, then back to power), it maxes things over the long run.

Also, while I am, simming more games, I won't sim when these guys come up because if you get a hit, it ups your contact. With my guy who's at C speed, I'll steal even if I'm up by 7 in the 9th 'cause it ups his speed.

This could be how everyone does it - all I know is that from the blogs that mention practice, they designate some guys as "speedsters" and work on their speed; others as power guys and work on that; others as defenders who work on that. That may be more useful in the short term, but not the long term, unles you buy level 3 equipment for everything

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Thu Jun 13, 2013 2:53 pm

The Country's roster purge did not affect the Country's starting pitchers, but did shake things up for the relievers.

Closer Jiang (94 DC CU – five, SC – four, FO – four)

Set up man Uchiyama (97 DC SL – three, CH – three, SC – one, SHU – four)

Middle reliever Giron (95 EC SL – four, CB – three, PA – one)

Long reliever Dransfield (88 DC 2SF – one, SL – three, CB – one, PA – three)

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Fri Jun 14, 2013 9:41 pm

Saw two call cool things recently that I wanted to share:

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Season Log: Iowa City Country

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