The History of the Oakland Osprey, Their Drafts, Trades and Misadventures in Base Coaching.
Craig: How awesome is this! I was not expecting a guest blogger, but I welcome it. If you have a blog post you want to share here please send it my way, and I'll post it. Thanks to Steve for taking the time to write this, it had to be a lot of work. It's was a great read. And Steve you're welcome, I loved having Vlad as he is one of my favorites. Took a lot to pry him away. Hmmm, maybe I'll take a look back on the trade that sent Vlad away from the Stonecutters in a future blog. Now on to Steve's post...
Chapter 1: Genesis
Part 1: Foundation
In this League started at the Millennium year I always had wondered how a Club would look after a few years after a start up draft. I also can never seem to turn down any start up drafts.
Honestly I thought I would get more time between picks as Matty B. was very, very lax on time we spent to do each pick, however everybody and I mean everybody was all over this thing. I was away for that initial weekend for 16 hours at a time(Church Retreat an hour away from our Home) and was trying to get in scouting while still getting four hours of sleep each night.
From the very start of this League it was made clear to me over that non-stop weekend that all the Owners were passionate about their soon to be teams. Even with my keeping track of each team on two separate 12 team draft sheets I use for Fantasy Football live Drafts I was still undulated with all sorts of equations and thoughts. How many "First Team" second basemen were left? How many more Starting Pitchers do the Clubs in my Division need? What did Socrates mean when he said: "I drank what?"Personally if this was a 12 teamer or even 16 teamer I surely would have been called out for taking too long and a couple of times was graciously granted extensions to the next morning when I was four or five picks away or more when i had t go to bed. I thank everyone again for their kindness during those 10 days in May.
Picking kind of "in the middle" at 16th and 9th each round helped immensely… or did it?
We started sooner than I would have liked as well but my goal was to play .500 that first year and build a team around guys that could be kept for 4-5 years except of course those first few rounds. Being 5 hours ahead of the East Coast back home there I knew I would miss not only the thrill of last minute deals at the trade deadline but also any rewards no matter how large or small that those trades might bring.
My goal of .500 would have happened too if people hadn't started making what seemed at the time crazy offers at the time for relief pitchers I had. I mean no disrespect to those three owners who traded for my three best relievers and it certainly holds true to the past two years as a good, great reliever now as back then can go for a 2nd rounder without anybody blinking an eye. Even if the guy is a "One and Done Type" aka 1aD.
So let's start and see where all those Baby Osprey are and who they are… and yes I plan on writing about more Clubs in the future.
Please enjoy.
q;-)
1.16 Jorge Posada
Let me tell you something. Picking 16th sucked, Atlanta kept pissing me off that whole draft and that Bawston guy and Washington at the turn did their share as well. Here are the first 24 picks of that Inaugural Draft:
Round One
1 New York Bombers - Alex Rodriguez (SS/3B)
2 Brooklyn Broken Arrow Bums - Randy Johnson (SP)
3 Tampa Bay Stone Ponys - Barry Bonds (OF)
4 Toronto Redcoats - Pedro Martinez (SP)
5 San Francisco Quakers - Mike Mussina (SP)
6 Miami Panthers - Sammy Sosa (OF)
7 Houston Buffaloes - Manny Ramirez (OF)
8 Colorado Briar Jumpers - Greg Maddux (SP)
9 Minnesota Millers - Derek Jeter (SS)
10 Pittsburgh Crawfords - Bernie Williams (OF)
11 Baltimore Stouts - Todd Helton (1b)
12 Milwaukee Phantoms - Carlos Delgado (1b)
13 Cincinnati Red Stockings - Curt Schilling (P)
14 New York Rippers - Kevin Brown (P)
15 Atlanta Stonecutters - Vlad Guerrero (OF)
16 Oakland Osprey - Jorge Posada (C)
17 Detroit Buckeyes - Roger Clemens (SP)
18 Seattle Lightning - Chipper Jones (3B)
19 San Diego Vipers - Bobby Abreu (OF)
20 Arizona Apaches - Jeff Kent (2b)
21 Cleveland Rock 'N Rollers - Jason Giambi (1b)
22 St. Louis Sliders - Mark McGwire (1b)
23 Boston Beaneaters - Tim Hudson (P)
24 Washington Senators -Jim Edmonds (OF)
What a 1st Round!!!
Yes I wanted Vlad in the worst way possible especially after Schilling and Helton went earlier.
Solution: A switch hitting catcher who lasts 10 years or so?
Posada is currently 2nd in Home Runs on the Osprey All Time Leaders List 4 behind Cliffy Floyd. He is very average defensively and above average offensively and doesn't need to be platooned.
Perfect… even if Posada is a Yankee in real life.
2.09 Javier Vazquez
In order to not have to scout through that massive, and I mean absolutely massive scouting Report that Matty B. did all on his own I just googled "Top 100 Players of the 2000s". I needed a Picther then to anchor my staff good or bad for 6-7 years. Vazquez's name was the highest Starting pitcher left on the list. Sure he sucks right now and some of that may be the way I leave him in too long or all those damb Deep Drives vs. Leftys on his card this year but he's mine, and he's mine for years to come still even though we are approaching our 4th year.
Vazquez leads the pitching staff in Innings Pitched and of course Strike Outs while compiling a 33-31 record so far. Yes that's horrible for the 33rd overall pick out of 900+ players but he's good for another 5-6 years now and we at the Osprey Front Office feel really good about 2003 through 2005 in the short term. My cheat sheets only go to 2006 so far.
3.16 Kevin Millwood
(Traded in 2001 with Tino Martinez and Oakland (02)1st to get Jason Giambi who was drafted at 1.21 in 2000).
Millwood was bit of a panic pick, I also didn't get to look at durability issues but whoever has him in 2005 will be very happy and he can fill roles from being a 3 to 5 Starter every year till then or his health holds up as I forget which year he is a F durability. Millwood is an "Innings Eater", a very popular term for starting pitchers who didn't really suck that bad and could take punishment from all the roided up hitters for 6 innings every five days. That first year that was what he did, leading the Baby Osprey in Strike Outs at 188(Vazquez had 177). Not bad but not the 421 Randy Johnson(taken 2nd in 2000) set the current record with that first year.
Millwood though was dealt in an effort to bolster the offence during the 2001 Season for Jason Giambi. Essentially this was how the Pacific Title was won in 2001 as Oakland started to pull away and eventually win 100+ games that year. Tino Martinez on the other hand has been out performing Giambi for his 'cost' though but none the less with Seattle and San Francisco breathing down our necks then as also currently this was well worth the cost. This year San Diego is no slouch either having a brilliant start this year only to have the Dice Gods take away everything they worked for in a matter of weeks.
4.09 Brad Radke… Currently leads the Staff in Wins at 40-20 while this year(3-3) being relegated to 6th Starter status being an F durability. Radke is also the only 20 game winner in Osprey history going 20-5 last year.
This was a "homer pick" but not because I'm a Twins fan. Like quite a few of us we've played Dynasty leagues before and I owned Radke in a complex salary league in New England waaay back in 2003-04. Radke helped me win a Divison Title my second year there. Believe me this put him much closer to my heart than a lot of the fellas on the current squad and I can't be happier owning him even in this current "down" year… even though back 2005(with 2004 numbers) we got swept in the Playoffs losing 3 one run games to the eventual Champs before getting absolutely clobbered in the 4th by the likes of Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, Jason Schmidt and Pedro Martinez…. yes, I remember that rotation after all these years.
5.16 Edgar Renteria…
Wow, I don't remember taking him this high but am glad I did. He fades a little more quickly than I would like can fill the SS position if I need rebuild and he doesn't really emerge until this year and then for the next few years. He's well worth the reach back then and he has the plus of being a St.Louis Cardinal. As we all know Mike C. loves his Cardinals.
(Traded to Cleveland for Mclemore and Clev 1st in 01')
I was really happy getting Alfonso but knew with having Koskie at 3b till like 2006 that Alfonso's position change coming up would cause me problems down the line. Nobody had made a really big deal yet so I got what i thought was a good deal from from Brian in Cleveland when he drove his team for a Championship(and off the edge in the years to come depending to who you talk to). I could have got more for Alfonso if I had waited to be sure. Fortunetely McLemore was good for 3 years and through other work I got Brain Roberts recently to fill the void at 2b. McLeMore also was 4th in the League with 56 stolen bases in 2001
Now if only I could have gotten the Computer to use Bellhorn at 2b all this year(02). Guy leads the Osprey in HRs even though he has 150+ less ABs than everybody else.
7.16 Cory Koskie… (Recently traded to SD for Brian Roberts(03)
Koskie was a godsend. Yes it was only the 7th round but you couldn't find a lefty hitting 3b with power at that point in the draft. Once again consulting that Top 100 List there was Koskie. Koskie really helped out in a huge way last year and through a weird adversion to Geoff Blum getting had for relatively cheap in the 02-03 offseason I just couldn't get ABs for him unless a Lefty/Lefty match up came to fruition… and those don't come around often. Blum is a C durability this year so I kept Koskie around but then realised I need to get something for him before the offseason when Koskie blows up next year vs RH pitching. luckily my division counterpart in San Diego was looking for a 3b and wanted to flip Roberts.
8.09 Cliff Floyd…
Leads the Franchise in HRs.
Cliffy is near and dear to the fans' hearts but he only has a few excellent years left. The first OF taken he was the last decent player with power for more than 3-4 years. He also most years can steal a base when needed.
Certainly Floyd will have his Osprey number retired in the future.
9.16 Kelvim Escobar… {Traded to LATribe during 01-02 offseason for a 3rd(02)}
Escobar was another vital piece in the quest for Oakland's first Division Title last year in 2001. Escobar in 2001 after a very subpar 2000 had what is known as a "Cheater Card", "Ringer Card" or "Stupid Card", 15 Starts I believe piled onto by 30 appearances out of the bullpen where he could just strike out hitters for an inning and then be done. He went (13-6) in 13 starts and 30 relief stints. Escobar still has 2 years ahead where he rocks out and he will be a force again but I didn't have room when we moved down to 19 Keepers after 2001 so he had to go. I remember moving him in a panic during a vacation weekend in Derby… and really, really hating doing it.
q:-(
10.09 Randy Winn
Once again googling the Top 100 Players of the 2000s came Randy Winn to the rescue. If the Cheater Card of "1AD" Rich Becker hadn't come to light later in this draft then Winn would have gotten all the reps in CF that first year but I wanted to finish at .500 as mentioned before and Becker almost had a .400 OBP vs. RH'ers so Winn sat.
Winn will be in the lineup for about 4 more years I think and is CLUTCH in 2003. He's a really fun guy to own too.
11.16 Denny Hocking… (to CIN for Matt Stairs and MINN 3rd in 01')
A really nice Super Utility Card who unfortunately had to play RF for me that first year. Poor drafting on my part but the little dude had tons of safeties on both sides and was a switch hitter to boot. He played above average defence seemingly everywhere as well but was severely lacking in power and in 2000 that's not good, especially in RF.
Then playing Cincinnati one evening here he asked about Hocking while I was eyeing more power in RF. Getting Matt Stairs was a happy feeling and knowing I could keep Stairs for long than Hocking made the deal all the better even if Matty forgets to bring his glove with in the coming years(03-05) and has to field with a metal skillet.
Stairs was flipped for Danys Baez(JAM in both 04 and 05 and a flip-flop of picks).
Baez was involved in getting a much needed bat from the RH side this year(02) for the stretch run in Ellis Burks and Burks has blown up. Burks can also hopefully help if Oakland goes far in the Playoffs against those teams from the Classic League who run a "Spread Defence"(Washington & Bawston amount others) in which they bounce between Lefty and Righty Pitching every 2 innings no matter what the score and no starter goes more than 4 innings. Jon Garland and all his Deep Drives which will hopefully play okay in Oakland/San Francisco was also involved in the deal that included the Cheater Card of Alex Cintron going to Baltimore.
12.09 Corey Lidle…
Still currently toiling in the rotation at (7-4) in 22 starts and of course some relief appearances.
Lidle holds a lifetime (30-14) after a lucky that first year(11-2) with a 5+ ERA card he must have gotten a ton of luck to do that with a sub .500 team. Again since we went down to 19 Keepers he's available in 03 as an Innings Eater and who knows, if he's there when I pick in the 4th I may grab him again for sentimental reasons.
He later parishes in a freak plane crash into the New York skyline after the 2006 season I think.
q:-(
13.16 Todd Ritchie (cut after 00 season)
Ritchie was a wonderful find this late and performed very well going (13-7) with a quite reasonable ERA of 3.76 in 28 starts. For some reason I could not move him at the Trade Deadline, possibly because of the time difference but what a good kid to have on the mound and in the clubhouse.
14.09 Damian Jackson (cut after 01 season)
Another Super Utility in 01 that was only rated as a B+ at ss and 2b if I recall. I didn't need him at that point but why let somebody else who needs a middle infielder this late snag a B+ range for 'free'?
In 114 games he hit decent .258/.343/.424 and 21-2 in stolen bases and the next year platooned as a "Lefty Killer at 2b with McLemore. He just had 'pop' in his bat hence the slugging line and whenever I played he started at SS over Renteria.
In 2001 he tied for the team lead in Triples(10) with McLeMore in 220 less ABs and stole another 10 bases. This year he plays for somebody as he should in a league this big, not too bad a card vs. RH'ers if I recall as well.
15.16 Ron Gant & 16.09 Jose Mesa
Both are still contributing this year. Gant is a wanna be Lefty Killer who is actually doing waaaay better vs. Rhers and does match Ups for Righty on Righty Violence with Burks while Mesa is the 8th inning set up for Urbina after Mesa tied for 2nd in the 2001 Season with 35 Saves. Both have been cut after the 2002 season. Mesa actually had to be pressed into service late in the 00 champaign when as previously mentioned guys were giving me 2nd rounders for my RPs. I also got to give the craptastic card of John Wetteland a proper send off into retirement off the scrap heap in 2000 due to those trades… heck even Batista got innings I think. Both guys had like 6+ ERA cards that first year… God, how did we ever win 78 games or whatever it was?
17.16 Kerry Litenburg…
(00 traded to AZ for David Delucci???)
I don't really remember this guy but after he left in that trade Todd Ritchie grew out his lamb chops and wore them the rest of the year in a salute to his good friend.
18.09 Steve Reed
(00 traded to somebody for their 2nd in 01')
I used to own Steve Reed back when he sucked in the 90s and I was thrilled to get him back in this League but alas another suitor came with a 2nd rounder and "Submarining Stevie" was gone.
We see him from time to time and catch up on all our good times and I think he's done after 02. Shame I really would have liked to have him on that 2000 for my replays in my RADL League pronounced "Rattle"( Short for the "Who gives a RATS ASS DYNASTY LEAGUE") consisting of all my previous teams playing 7 game series against each other. This came in real handy when we first moved here and I was diagnosed with my kidney disease. I'd play 3 innings, walk up and down the stairs of our flat 2 or 3x and rest while playing another 3 innings and repeat. I have that notebook somewhere...
19.16 Jose Jimenez…
(traded to somebody for their 01' 2nd)
Oh man, this guy was my Closer even though he had a marginal card and the first one to go I think. Yup, yup, another 2nd rounder I think.
20.09 Armando Reynoso…
(cut after 00 season)
The pickings were very slim at this point and you could tell by his like 5.56 ERA card but he's a Diamondback and I'm from AZ so why not?
21.16 Rich Becker…
(cut after 00 season)
This was a Cheater Card, like 198 safeties and B Power vs. RH'ers and a liveable B range in CF, perfect leadoff although I was toying with starting Mo Vaughn in CF but I think Matty B. chose him at the turn and did play Mo in CF as did whoever Matt traded him to. Great stuff that first year as we all were doing anything to get A Powered guys in our lineups.
Becker finished at .227/.389/.373
22.09 Miguel Batista
Another D-Back and Miguel is penciled in until 2006 I think as thetas how far I've gotten with those cheat sheets/depth charts. Suck-Azz MF'er that first year but he just keeps being useful every year until 2006 I think. I was absolutely thrilled to get him this late. Seriously good value this late.
23.16 Lee Stevens…
(cut after 00 season)
Another sentimental pick and decent value. With a "Reverse Card" Stevens did his damage mostly vs. Leftys. I got Lee waaay back in like 96 I think and he sits with my AL Team in a couple of piles there.
24.09 Tino Martinez…
(2001 Traded with Kevin Millwood and Oak 1st in 02' for Jason Giambi)
Tino sucked in 2000 and thats why I got him this late but he improves vastly in 01 and there after, heck I still want him back. Why do you guys think I keep shopping Palmeiro?
Tino is in LA doing a decent job with 21 HRs currently and was up in BA earlier this year and as mentioned before he can play a decent 1b for the Tribe till like 2005 I think.
25.16 Scott Brosius…
The Righty Bat in a platoon with Koskie with really nice D as a B+ at the corners when ever I needed him. Decent card vs. LH'ers in 01 as well so he must be on somebody's roster right now.
26.09 Dave McCarty…
(cut after 00 season)
Another guy who played the corners including the OF vs. Leftys
27.16 Jimmy Anderson…
(cut during 00 season)
Anderson quickly was given the nickname "Token" as he was the only lefty pitcher on the entire roster. I had to cut him though when people started hoarding guys off the waiver wire for next year's Keeper Rosters I think he was axed for another 1AD Reliver from Atlanta(real). Oh yeah, Jose Cabrera.
28.09 Andy Tracy…
(cut during 00 season)
Probably the first guy cut and I can't even remember his face.
29.16 Eurbio Durazo…
(cut after season, damb it)
Yup, this guy was number 21 and I couldn't keep him, but he has such a fun name to announce when coming to bat and of course he's a D-Back. Yes, if I can move Palmiero I would gladly deal for Durazo and his C/10 at 1b in 03, yes, I like him so much I memorized his fielding possibilities through all these years. I did get to have him back in the New England League but a richer team wanted him my expansion year so there he went(it was an all DH league)… sniff… sniff.
30.09 matt lecroy…
(cut after season)
When you have Posada as your catcher you can take your catcher last but don't let that fool you this draft if Moeller or Estrada fall too far I will snatch them up!!!
Okay, whew.
Man.
Even I'm tired of hearing me "talk"!!!
Next Month...
--Building The Perfect Beast:
--The 2002 New York Rippers
All The Best,
Steve Kornmuller
Oakland Osprey
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