Sioux Add to Block 1 Trade-a-thon
VFS added to one of the most prolific trading blocks in recent NASBL history, moving veteran catcher Jorge Posada and long-time closer Billy Wagner in separate deals. Posada, a career .265 NASBL hitter with 153 career homeruns, moves to the top of the ultra-competitive Tastes Great East as he joins the powerhouse Springfield Isotopes. Wagner, who needs just 1 more save to join HHA's Mariano Rivera as the only NASBL relievers ever to save 250 games, will join the playoff contending Miami Surf. The Surf, traditionally very strong in the pen, had been without a left-handed reliever prior to the trade.
Roadkill Load up On Arms
In addition to Wagner and Posada, the Fighting Sioux moved #1 starter John Lackey (18-7, 3.54 in 2007) to the Georgia Roadkill for pitcher Braden Looper and two top draft picks. The move solidifies Georgia GM Johnny Miller's power move in the Tastes Great South. In addition to Lackey, GRK has now added the lefty / righty middle relief tandem of Brandon Lyon and Peter Moylan to an already strong team. Said GM Miller, "The future is now!"
Grizzlies, Pilots Complete 10 Player Deal!
In an early season roster-swap of massive proportions, the Seattle Pilots and Grundy County Grizzlies today confirmed a 10-player trade.
To help fans of each team to update their Media Guides, NASBL News is providing the following snapshot:
Grundy County Grizzlies (19-20) get:
-3b Alex Gordon (.147/3/9). The 12th overall pick in the 2008 Draft has thus far struggled with NASBL pitching. But at age 23 and with a fine minor-league pedigree, he likely has a decade or two to hone his approach.
-SP Nate Robertson (0-0, 2.25). A double-digit winner in each of his first 3 NASBL seasons, the young southpaw sports a fine 42-23, 4.91 career record.
-Luis Vizcaino (0-1, 4.67). Journeyman reliever posted 37 saves for DFW in 2003, but zero since. Has a respectable 7-10, 3.74 career NASBL record.
-Joe Borowski (0-0, 0.90, 1 sv). Another journeyman reliever whose career started in Dallas Fort Worth in '03. Borowski recorded 25 saves for GRK in 2004, and has a 10-10, 3.78 career mark.
-Joel Piniero (0-0, 8.36). Once a highly thought of prospect, for most of his career Piniero has been the very definition of average. His won/loss records since 2003: 13-13, 12-12, 7-7, 0-0.
Seattle Pilots (20-23) get:
-Mike Lowell (.336/3/13). A career .269 NASBL hitter, the reliable Lowell can be counted on to provide 20hr pop and impeccable defense at the hot corner.
-Mark Buehrle (3-2, 3.80). Veteran southpaw innings-eater has posted double-digit wins 3 times, and double-digit losses 3 times. More importantly, he has posted double-digit complete games 3 times. Coming off his worst season as an NASBL professional, Buehrle hopes to improve on his 63-77, 5.55 career marks.
-Lee Gardner (2-0, 0.49, 1 sv). 2008 5th rounder has impressed early, allowing just 9 hits in 18 ip. The downside? This rookie is 32 years old.
-Scot Shields (1-0, 1.83). Middle relief horse has tallied an average of 80ip per season since his 2004 NASBL debut. Currently owns a 27-24, 4.24 career record.
-CJ Wilson (0-1, 4.91, 1 sv). A 2008 3rd round selection by the Grizzlies, the 26 year old southpaw may be one of the rare lefties in the league with "closer stuff."
Haymakers Making Waves, Too...
Not to be outdone on the trade front, the Troy Haymakers have recorded two Block 1 deals of their own. The younger Anderson appears to be playing positional chess: both his trades have moved that most fungible of assets, the relief pitcher, in return for upper middle class draft picks.
NASBL Hitting Milestones:
-OJW's Omar Vizquel needs just 18 games played to become only the 3rd NASBL player ever to appear in 1500 games (the others are NJT's Alex Rodriguez and VFS's Derek Jeter)
-NJT's Johnny Damon needs just 9 hits to reach 1500 for his career (8th all time)
-GRK's Todd Helton needs 8 doubles to be the first NASBL hitter ever to notch 250 two-baggers.
-MSU's Bobby Abreu needs just 1 triple to become the 8th NASBL'er ever to record 50 career triples.
-OJW's Sammy Sosa needs 4 RBI to reach 1000 (4th all-time). MSU's Carlos Delgado needs 16 to reach the 1000 mark.
NASBL Pitching Milestones:
-DFW's Greg Maddux needs 28 strikeouts to become the 7th NASBL pitcher to reach 1500 career k's. Maddux also needs just 4 wins to reach 150 career W's (2nd all time, behind NJT's Randy Johnson)
-NYK's Barry Zito will overtake Chan Ho Park for 8th on the all-time walk list when he issues his 3rd free pass of the season. LCC's Kevin Millwood needs just 10 bb's to tie Park.
-All-Time NASBL appearance leader Mariano Rivera (HHA) needs 18 games pitched to reach 500 for his career.
-Billy Wagner (VFS) needs 3 saves to become only the 2nd NASBL pitcher to nail down 250 (2nd all-time, behind Mariano Rivera).
Other News:
-Check out all the details of all the latest trades on the Tradewire page.
-Stats, leaderboards and standings updated daily on the Stats page.
-Block 1 results due midnight EST, Saturday May 17th.