#3Peat: Trade Reviews

H'ville, Tn (AP) - The trade deadline has come and gone and the Hitmen went from staying pat to pulling off several smaller trades with a bigger master plan in mind.

"Despite our numerous injuries this season, I 100% wasn't planning on making any moves this year," GM Hays told local and national media at the trade deadline press conference.  "After seeing LA's move for Garner and Holly I started sending out feelers and boom, we had the wheels turning."

Trade #1
Team: Indianapolis Lions
Goal: Deal some AAA pitching depth for spec(s) and/or future pen help

CL Alfonso Gutiérrez
CF Bill Welshman
3B Juan Castro

SP Eric Wilder
CL António Martínez
SP Jorge Crus


Recap: Goal 100% achieved.  Wilder has been more than solid for Indy and Crus has been solid in the pen, but I just noticed Carroll released the 26-yr old CL/MR Martinez who has a great BSA track record.  On the other side CL/MR Gutierrez will be a expanded roster call up and a member of 2016 pen while Castro is a 4* 3B spec with a big upside! 


Trade #2 
Team: Pocatello Boccabellas
Goal: Acquire Burkholder, match salary

RF Gregg Burkholder

SS Alonso Pérez
3B Garrott Kelly
RF Nelson Peña
1B José Cintrón

Recap: Jury is still out on this one.  I got a little naustic and decided to go after Burkholder when I didn't really need him.  The price wasn't steep by no means and Alan is one of the nicest and easiest owner to work with.  A definite plus was clearing a little salary in 2016 with Perez being delt, but at the same time we lose the #7 rated SS who's played great for me last few years.



Trade #3
Team: Pocatello Boccabellas
Goal: Send specs to pay for salary dumping

1B Jorge Vázquez
C Pedro Durán

C Jesús Hernández
3B Dan Best
CF Bill Welshman
3B Carmelo Hernández
RF Fernando Pérez
SP Enrique Solís
MR Júlio Hernández
MR Bernardo Hernández
   
Recap: Goal achieved.  Pure salary dump here, clearing almost $4m this year and around $6M next year.  I did get two quality guys back, but that was to mainly even out the salaries. Vazquez will be nice PH bat and rest Yoko/Cobra down the stretch.  Duran will start vs LHP and could make the 2016 squad or be cut with his high arby number


Trade #4
Team: Greenville 84's
Goal: Get cash at the expense of moving a good young talent

1B Felipe Torress

$1,500,000 Cash


Recap: Goal achieved.  While I really, really like Torres with his elite defense, young age, low salary and blazing speed, I didn't like he was out of option years limiting what I could do in the OF.

#3Peat: Estrada Is Pitcher of Perfection

Athens, Ga (AP) - On Wednesday, July 22nd at the Athens Assassins home park, The Guild, Athens starter Felix Estrada was at his best as he hurled a perfect game against the Myrtle Beach Waves. In doing so, he accomplished one of the most difficult feats in baseball and one that will put his name in the record books.

"I can tell you I've dreamed about a day like this," Estrada told the press after the game, "And now that I've done it, the feeling is even better." 


In his splendid 7-0 victory at The Guild Estrada yielded no hits, walked none and had 6 strikeouts. In the historic outing he retired 27 successive batters.

This year Estrada has registered 11 wins and 6 losses in 19 starts with a 1.97 ERA while registering 155 strikeouts and 30 walks in 132.1 innings.

Athens	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PI	PS	ERA
F. Estrada W (11-6)	9.0	0	0	0	0	6	0	83	62	1.97

Game ID: 8115 - Wednesday, July 22nd, 2015 - Game Log

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2015 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Myrtle Beach Waves 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Athens Assassins 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 2 X 7 7 0

#3Peat: Draft Recap

H'ville, Tn (AP) - For many owners and organizations the Ammy Draft is biggest highlight of the year as clubs look for the next elite superstar like John Doby (2nd overall in 2010) or the guy everybody missed on like NL Rookie of the Year runner up Robbie McLaughlin (13th pick in round 7!).

This year the Hitmen loaded up their draft list with 75% pitchers and it worked out well as they nabbed 3 good ones with 1st 3 picks.

Mendez

Rd 1, Pick 35, 35th Overall - SP Alejandro Méndez

The front office had Alejandro 5th on their draft list and were extremely happy to land him.  Mendez is a 6'0, 185 RHP out of Queens, NY.  He went to Dublin Jerome HS where he went 5-0, 2.73 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 85 K's to 12 BB's but had a stupid high BABIP of .360 and a dominate FIP of 1.84.
Mendez just turned 20 and projects to be a #3 SP in BSA.  He throws 4 great pitches (Fastball, curve, slider, change) that top out around 93 MPH.  He will pitch deep into games, but isn't going to lead the league in CG.  He has above average pickoff move and defense.

Flores

Supplemental Rd 1, Pick 14, 49th Overall - SP Carlos Flores

Flores was another SP that the Hville front office really, really liked.  At 6'2, 210lbs the 22-yr old LHP from Cal  is a flame thrower topping out a 100 mph.  He throws an astonishing 6 different pitches, all with above average stuff.
In his senior year at Cal he went 5-3 in 13 starts with a 3.96 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 126 K's, 43 BB's and a 15.12 K/9 while his FIP was a run lower at 2.97.
Flores still has work to do to make it to the Bigs, but could be a nice mid to backend rotation guy.

Brown

Supplemental Rd 1, Pick 22, 57th Overall - SP Lyle Brown
By this point in the draft the pickins are slim, but Mr. Lyle Brown could, "could" be a BSA'er one day with the right bumps.  A 22-yr old LHP from the University of Florida, Brown is a high stuff guy who desperately needs to work on his control.  He throws 3 pitches topping out at 92 mph, but his devastating 12-6 curveball  was the best in the draft.  Just like Mendez and Flores, Brown has great stamina, high GB% and a great pickoff move.
Brown's college stats were so bad we aren't going to mention them, but if he can locate his fastball and changeup this kid could be a backend starter in the BSA.