(Game date: 15 Apr. 2019) — Robby McWeeney was feeling calm about his no-hitter — until the last three outs.
“You really become conscious of every pitch at that point,” the Arizona pitcher said. “The adrenaline level kicks up even higher. Everybody in the ballpark knows a no-hitter is on the line. The crowd is on its feet. One mistake and it’s all over.”
Continue reading “McWeeney No-Hits Seattle”
(Game date: Sep. 8, 2018) —
In a naval battle for the ages, a coast-to-coast series between the Seattle Salts and the St. Pete’s Admirals is about to set sail for the Elimination Round of the 2018 postseason. And the Admirals appear to be listing to port badly, having lost two of their top pitchers, 2017 Sandy Koufax Award and rookie of the year winner Jose Soto, and a top pitching prospect, Chris Zerkle, both of whom will likely miss all of the playoffs with late season injuries.
Soto was the boy wonder from last year who started his big-league career with a 15-game win streak, finishing 2017 undefeated and easily taking the Koufax and the rookie awards. This season, he looked very much like a Triple Crown threat most of the year, going 11-4, with a 3.63 ERA and setting a team record for K’s with 190, just 5 short of tying the Bull League record. Soto strained a triceps on August 23, dashing his hopes of correcting a mediocre 2017 postseason. Continue reading “2018 Series Preview: St. Petersburg Admirals vs Seattle Salts”
The American Eagle League’s four playoff teams are set in stone, after Miami was bounced out of the race yesterday as the Storm fell to the last place Dallas Deputies. Miami is now 10 games out of the wildcard with just 8 games left to play.
The four teams advancing are the Nevada Speeders, Denver Danger, St. Petersburg Admirals and Seattle Salts. Continue reading “AEL Playoff Teams Set: Nevada, Denver, St. Pete’s and Seattle to Battle for Title”
The see-saw has swung back to the Nevada Speeders, who once again find themselves on top of the Weekly Team Power Rankings for Week #13 in the Bull League.
The Speeders took 2 of three from Arizona to open their road trip, before crossing the country to fly to St. Petersburg where they are so far split in the first two games of a four-game set. They started the week off with a rubber-match win against Calgary, to close out a week-long home stand. Continue reading “Speeders On Top Again for Week #13”
At least four teams face the prospect of a luxury tax bill this season after overspending on payroll this year. The top spender, at over $191 million, were the small-market, small-budget Rimouski Fighting Moose, putting them well above the estimated average payroll of $120 milion, on which the soft cap and luxury tax is based. Three other teams overspent and will face similar hardship this October.
Former GM Bob Weinberg went full “drunken sailor” last off-season, adding Dao-zi Ling, William Febres, Kyle Cahill, Celestino Caparica and Lou Bricknell, adding over $65 million to their payroll. The team was already stocked with high-priced contracts for stars like Alan Isimo, Zenjiro Suga and others. Continue reading “End of Year Luxury Tax Bill Looms for Some Teams”
A new crop of international amateur free agents have hit the market today, and teams are already chomping at the bit to sign them. Just 19 players are on the list, and with five teams spending well over the cap last year, just 15 teams will be able to bid on the top talent.
The top of the litter this year appear to be a bevy of Dominican players, including 16-year-olds, LHP Adan Silva, and RHP Ricardo Franco, along with 17-year-old LHP Manny Velenzuela. Silva is said to be demanding in the area of $2.6 million, but Franco and Valenzuela are seeking $4.8 and $4 million respectively. Continue reading “International Amateurs on the Market Today”
