Rumor Mill - April 11

Texas Tittyballs
Needing a spark in their starting rotation, Texas is dangling 22 year old catching prospect Tom O'Neill. O'Neill, currently playing at AAA, has a strong bat, posting a .373 avg with 27 hr and 98 rbi this season. However, questions have risen about his ability to handle a pitching staff for 162 games. Clinton Rollins, the current ML starter, is only 25 years old and already has 3 All-Star appearances. Speedy center fielder Arthur Lidge is also available.

Pawtucket Polythene
Coming off his no-hitter against Norfolk, starting pitcher Christopher Ramirez discussed rumors about competing on Dancing with the Stars. Earlier this week, Pawtucket officials stated their displeasure with the possibility of the franchise player participating in non-team physical activities. Ramirez responded that "if Pawtucket wouldn't let him, he might have to play for a team that will." He is set to hit free agency after next season. At age 29, the pitcher is making a bid for his 7th Cy Young Award and boasts a 173-61 career record.

Fresno Fire Dragons
21 year old starting pitcher Davey Costilla has struggled with the transition to the ML level. Hoping to provide a spark, Costilla started the season in AAA. The former International Free Agent is 3-2, with a 6.38 ERA in 7 starts. Without Costilla producing, Fresno may be playing simply for a Wild Card berth.

Trenton Terror
With 41 wins, the Terror have already proven to be a tougher match than last year. Coming off a dissapointing 37 win season, Trenton really had nothing to lose. Long time outfielder Happy Adkins is thrilled with the teams progress. "A solid farm system and young ML caliber players currently producing, we have a lot to look forward to" stated Adkins. These days, the only thing wrong in Trenton is the location.

Houston Aggies
Unhappy with the lack of playing time, utility man Wade Gross is seeking a trade. He has appeared in 40 games with only 19 plate appearances, coming in mostly as a defensive replacement at second base. In his last 4 seasons in AAA, Gross has averaged 28 hr and 118 rbi to go along with a .329 avg. Still at the league minimum, Houston hopes to find someone to eat some ML innings.

New Blog Feature

New Feature: Daily Headlines. I'm sure you all noticed them atop this page as soon as your browser loaded. Anytime you have a headline that you want posted up here, just trade chat it to me. I usually check the site multiple times a day, and will be able to update the headlines as soon as I see a headline.

Headlines can include anything from team news, rumor mill, contract extensions, a good game a player had, a good game for your team, a player milestone, or any other news you can think of.

Ideally I'd like new headlines everyday.

Computer Rankings - S9W4 - April 2nd, 2009

Underachievers

1. Norfolk Nomads: 5.062

2. Kansas City Shuffle: 3.92

3. Jacksonville Juggernauts: 3.912

4. Hartford Defenders: 3.874

5. Fargo Nines: 3.198

Overachievers

1. Scranton Dunder-Mifflins: -3.97

2. Little Rock Big Rocks: -3.374

3. Richmond Moonshiners II: -3.304

4. New York Moon Shots: -3.072

5. Charlotte knights: -2.59

Computer Rankings

Rank	Team	Record	Computer Score
1	Jacksonville Juggernauts	51-27	0.684
2	New Orleans Breeze	53-25	0.6646
3	Fresno Fire Dragons	50-28	0.6524
4	Colorado Springs AltiDUDES	50-28	0.6452
5	Pawtucket Polythene	50-28	0.6332
6	Cheyenne ChilliPeppers	50-28	0.6302
7	Kansas City Shuffle	46-32	0.62
8	Texas Tittyballs	47-31	0.612
9	Charlotte knights	49-29	0.6082
10	Norfolk Nomads	44-34	0.603
11	New York Moon Shots	48-30	0.5916
12	Memphis Hound Dawgs	43-35	0.56
13	Houston Aggies	42-36	0.5326
14	Fargo Nines	39-39	0.5246
15	Scottsdale T's	40-38	0.4986
16	Rochester Raging Rhinos	38-40	0.4924
17	Huntington Cousins	38-40	0.475
18	Salt Lake City Dodgers	38-40	0.469
19	Monterrey Cervezas	37-41	0.4614
20	Atlanta City Slickers	36-42	0.453
21	Richmond Moonshiners II	37-41	0.4488
22	St. Louis Birdnals	33-45	0.447
23	Tucson Turbocors	34-44	0.442
24	San Francisco Sourdoughs	33-45	0.426
25	Scranton Dunder-Mifflins	34-44	0.4054
26	Little Rock Big Rocks	32-46	0.3842
27	Cleveland Steamers	28-50	0.377
28	Indianapolis Racers	27-51	0.3658
29	Hartford Defenders	26-52	0.363
30	Trenton Terror	27-51	0.3442
31	Chicago Orphans	24-54	0.3158
32	Detroit Tigers	24-54	0.3122

Rumor Mill - April 2nd

Pawtucket Polythene
29 year old CF Sal Walker has seen Pawtucket hand out big contracts left and right during his 9 years in the organization. However, at the end of his current deal that bought out his first year of free agency, he is wondering where his extension is. He has publicly said his heart is in Pawtucket, but would like to know his destiny soon. If a deal on an extension isn't reached by the time the trade deadline hits, Walker may be on the move. An average hitter with above average fielding abilities, Walker has never seen the disabled list and has over 500 at-bats in each of the last 6 seasons. There is no confirmation to the rumor that Pawtucket is trimming payroll in order to meet the demands of the soon to be free agent Christopher Ramirez.

Cleveland Steamers
After signing a one year deal in Cleveland, 2B Jackson Crosby has watched his production slip. News out of Cleveland is that he has been a terrible clubhouse leader, often refusing the show to mandatory meetings and practices. With Gill Funaki producing in Double-A, it is unknown if Cleveland will push him to the ML level early and not attempt another year with Crosby.

Kansas City Shuffle
The youth movement is on! Mainstays Dennys Shin (Jacksonville), Nicholas Bryant (Jacksonville), Paul Cooper (Fresno) and Chad Jones (Fresno) are out. The list prospects the got in return in long and distinguished. Included is potential staff ace Posiedon Crawford, All Star SS Anthony Wolf and a young, fast CF named Banana White. While Kansas City may struggle to make the playoffs as a Wild Card this season, the future is still bright for this Sharkey's World Powerhouse.

Charlotte Knights
Ramiro Gabriel is showing the front office why the two-time All Star plans to leave for free agency. The combination of speed, on-base abilities and smooth play in the field make him one of the best options in next year's market. He is on pace for his first 20/20 season since Season 5.

Off-Season Closer Situation
Pawtucket Setup Man Brad O'Toole has shown his displeasure with his current role in the organization. With encumbent Frank Harris signed long term, O'Toole has told the front office he wants to pursue a closing role in the off-season.

Also a free agent at year's end, New Orleans Closer Martin Baek is having another solid year. With mid-season acquisition Torey Sanford excelling in his set-up role and signed through next year, it is uncertain whether New Orleans will retain Baek's services.

Colorado's Willie Mondesi has proven himself at the Major League level. A career 3.67 ERA out of the pen, he is upset at the front office brass for not rewarding him with a long-term deal this past off-season. With John Kondou successfully holding down the closer's role, Mondesi could possibly be a trade piece at the deadline.

Ricardo Gongora of Kansas City may be on the move. A long-time member of the Shuffle, Gongora has often been labeled with being the primary reason for his team's success. The multi-functional Gongora is a free agent at the end of the year and probably does not fit into the long term plans in Kansas City.