Let's Look to the Future, All the Way to the Year 1985

[isd71]

This dynasty is about returning to competitive baseball in Kansas City, and since I wasn't a fan of the current roster I decided to perform a fanasty draft to re balance the league. I only drafted the major league team allowing the computer to draft the minor leaguers so that the top prospects were spread out as well. I'm planning to play all of the Royals games and sim the minor league games, but I'm gonna manage their lineups before every game. I'm also going to go through each teams roster and make some edits to the secondary position of some players removing the DH or adding OF to a guy who could play all 3 spots. This ensures that the cpu puts out the best team it has because it will draft 3 CF's and then not start one of them because he doesn't have a 2nd position.

Here is how I have my game setup:

Version: MVP07 patch #2

Difficulty: All Star

Fielding: Assisted

Sliders: - Hoops27

Rosters: KG's 3.0 Plus

Fair Trades: On

Budgets: On

Datafile: MD's 3.1

Photos: Total Portraits 2007 Spring Training Edition

Uniforms: Total MLB Uniform Pack v1.25 and The Spungo's KC and Colorado unis

Stadiums: Pirates 07 updates

Overlay: KSM MBCM Overlay V2.5

Spungo's equipment

Field Changer v.1.2

Homer's baseball card template - though i had to use different fonts cause gimp doesn't read psd text layers to well.

[oxbay]

Man, keep the real KC roster for a challenge! (lol).

Good luck with this. I'm looking forward to a KC dynasty.

[isd71]

Lineup and Bench

I like this Lineup the only question mark in it for me is Chris Burke he hits lefties well and will get the starts against them but with a right hander on the mound he becomes a AAA guy with speed so we might see Greg Dobbs, Nelson Cruz and Tony Graffanino get some starts. Cruz would take over in Left for Burke. Dobbs and Graffanino will DH with Jenkins playing one of the corner outfield spots.

Rotation and the Bullpen

Behind Roy Halladay the rotation is extremely young with James Shields being the oldest at 25 years of age. Their gonna have to pitch well at this young age if this team wants to win. Hayden Penn, not pictured, backs the starters up as the long reliever; he is also young, coming in at 22 years old. The back of the bullpen looks strong but like the rest of the pitching staff it is very young. Chris Ray is the closer with Mark Lowe and Jose Capellan setting him up.

There are some good young starters in our minor league system but we only have one top 100 prospect pitcher. Dellin Betances is that guy, but it will be a awhile before he reaches the majors though, he is only 19 and will be starting the year in the single A rotation.

We also have one top 100 prospect hitter in Ian Stewart the young third baseman will be starting the season off at AAA but should see the majors some time this year.

[kgbaseball]

Thanks for using my roster, and good luck!

[isd71]

Here is the schedule for the first month of the season.

Kansas City starts off with three games against the Boston Red Sox. Game one's pitching matchup is a good one with Roy Halliday taking the hill for the Royals against A.J. Burnett who needs to be dominate for Boston because the rest of the rotation is rather weak, but it might be good enough to get by with Boston's potent lineup of veteran hitters.

VS

[Pokeys]

Those are sweet pictures, Burnett and Halladay ones. Good luck with your dynasty man.

[thespungo]

If you're doing a Royals dynasty, why not use my Royals uniforms? Just a thought...

[isd71]

If you're doing a Royals dynasty, why not use my Royals uniforms? Just a thought...

Downloading it now; didn't know you made uniforms.

I've completed the first game and will update it tomorrow but to give a hint it featured great pitching, a no hitter through 7 and 1/3 and extra innings.

[isd71]

Game 1 of 3: Boston Red Sox (0-0) vs Kansas City Royals (0-0)

Royals Walk Off With A Win In Extras

LEFT - Halladay hits Ortiz in the face with a wild cutter in the 4th. RIGHT - Dave Roberts punches out, one of 10 issued by Halladay on the day.

LEFT - Hank Blalock breaks up the no no with a HR. RIGHT - Erstad Leads off the 9th with a double before scoring the tying run.

Game Review:

Game one of the season for Kansas City was a wild one that featured dueling no hitters into the 5th, a blown save, two errors and a walk off homer run by Lance Berkman. The walk off gave the Royals a 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

A.J. Burnett started the game for Boston and had the kind of outing Boston needs from him all year. Taking a no hitter into the 5th before Khalil Greene singled over the head of the shortstop, Carlos Guillen, to break it up. He gave up only three hits but walked five giving up two runs. The defense behind him turned three double plays getting him out of trouble caused by the walks, but he went to the well too many times when in the 5th A.J. got another double play ball, however the 2nd baseman Iguchi rushed the throw trying to ensure the double play and the ball beat Guillen to the bag rolling out to left field. Marcus Thames, who was walked to lead off the inning, came around to score on the error. Tadihito Iguchi ended up with two errors on the day. The second coming in the 8th, on a tough play, with his back turned to the diamond the ball hit hard off his glove and bounced away. Burnett's other earned run came in the 6th when Geoff Jenkins pulled a HR that peppered the back wall of the bullpen in right field. That got the Red Sox's pen up and working, Burnett finished the seventh before turning it over to C.J. Wilson.

Roy Halladay was dealing in his start taking his no no bid into the 8th, but Hank Blalock jumped all over a hanging curve sending it out of the park. Halladay gave up only one run on one hit today striking out 10 Boston hitters. Chris Ray came on in the 9th to try and close it out for the Royals. Darin Erstad, however, lead off the inning with an opposite field double. With one out the infield in and the runner already bunted to third, Dave Roberts hit a bloop single over Tony Graffanino, who came in as a defensive replacement in the 9th, onto the outfield grass to tie the game. Ray blew the save but didn't allow Boston to take the lead.

The game would continue on till the 13th inning when Lance Berkman hit a ball off Jason Davis that just got over the wall in left field. Davis picked up the loss going an inning giving up the home run and two hits. Mark Lowe picked up the win throwing two innings giving up a hit, a walk, and striking out one.

The Lone Hitting Star for Boston was Hank Blalock who went 2 for 5 with a HR. For the Royals Geoff Jenkins was 1 for 3 with a HR, and John Buck went 1 for 3 with 2 walks. The not so hot guys were Ortiz, who went 0 for 4 and was hit in the face, Rocco Baldelli, who put up an ugly 0 for 6, and Troy Glaus, who was robbed twice of base hits by Boston outfielders and finished the day 0 for 5.

Player of the Game:

1B Lance Berkman - 1 for 5, HR, RBI, BB

Around the League:

Injuries:

C.C. Sabathia (CIN) - Is headed to the DL and will miss two weeks with a minor MCL sprain.

[isd71]

Those are sweet pictures, Burnett and Halladay ones. Good luck with your dynasty man.

Thanks man, I've enjoyed your dynasty as well.

[isd71]

Game 2 of 3 Preview: Boston Red Sox (0-1) vs Kansas City Royals (1-0)

VS

Boston Stats

Kansas City Stats

[isd71]

Game 1 of 3: Boston Red Sox (1-1) vs Kansas City Royals (1-1)

Glaus' 3 Run Home Run Not Enough

LEFT - Tadahito Iguchi's sac fly drives in a run in the 2nd inning. RIGHT - Geoff Jenkins called out on strikes with two men on in the 4th.

LEFT - With the bases loaded and one out in the 4th Howie Kendrick grounds into a double play. RIGHT - Troy Glaus one ups Ortiz with a three run shot in the 6th.

Game Review:

Jeremy Bonderman's start wasn't as great as he and the Royals had hoped, he gave up three runs on eight hits striking out only three in five and 2/3 innings of work. Bonderman was locating his pitches well evidenced by the zero walks on the day but Boston hitters were making good contact. He managed to get through the first 5 innings by only giving up one run, which came in the second inning when Brian Giles and Hank Blalock lead off the inning with back to back singles and Tadihito Iguchi followed that with a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Giles from third. Bonderman after the second cruised on to the sixth inning but was unable to get out of the inning. He was removed after giving up a towering home run to David Ortiz, that scored two runs.

The manager turned the game over to the bullpen, Matt Guerier came on and went an inning and a third giving up only one hit. Jose Capellan started the eighth with a tie ball game, but he gave up three hits one of which was a single back up the middle by Blalock which knocked in a run and Boston took a 4-3 lead. Capellan was removed after only 2/3 of an inning. He gave up three hits, a run and struck out one. Bill Bray also worked an inning and Ramon Ramirez finished the game getting the final out when he struck out Giles with two on in the ninth.

Odalis Perez was on his way to win for Boston by putting up zeros in the first five innings but in the sixth with two on up came Troy Glaus, who Odalis had failed to retire all day. Glaus pulled a pitch to left field that easly got over the wall for a three run shot that tied the game. Glaus answered ortiz's two run home run that was in the top half of the inning. Perez finished the sixth with no more damage but injured himself in the seventh fracturing his noise trying to make a play on a ball hit back up the middle and like Bonderman he would have to settle for a no decision.

Brendan Donnelly took over in the seventh getting the final two outs of the inning on only four pitches. He also picked up the win, going to 1-0 on the year. Jason Davis and Mariano Rivera both worked a scoreless inning. Rivera picked up his first save of the season.

David Ortiz was the hitting star for Boston, he went three for five with a two run home run. Brian Giles also had a nice day going three for five and scored the first run of the game. Troy Glaus was the only hitting star for the Royals providing all the offense. He went three for three with a three run home run and a walk. Lance Berkman picked up a couple of singles on the day and also scored a run. The not so hot guys are Carlos Guillen ,who is one for nine in the series, and Rocco Baldelli, who started this series off with an zero for ten mark.

Player of the Game:

3B Troy Glaus - 3 for 3, HR, 3 RBI, BB

Around the League:

Injuries:

Odalis Perez (BOS) - Will miss his next start having sustained a fractured noise.

Mark Mulder (COL) - Appears to be headed to the DL after straining his forearm in his last start.

[isd71]

Game 2 of 3 Preview: Boston Red Sox (1-1) vs Kansas City Royals (1-1)

VS

[D-Unit]

Mariano Rivera on the BoSox *gasps*

nice dynasty.

[xcrunner4623]

isd...if you could give me some pointers on how to use GIMP, that would be awesome because I just got it and am wanting to learn how to do things.

[isd71]

Mariano Rivera on the BoSox *gasps*

nice dynasty.

Thanks, I thought it was weird too that they took Rivera. Especially since they drafted Ortiz and Varitek.

[isd71]

Game 3 of 3: Boston Red Sox (1-2) vs Kansas City Royals (2-1)

LEFT - Dave Roberts tries to stretch a double into a triple, but is thrown out 9-4-5. RIGHT - Lance Berkman robs Brian Giles of a base hit.

LEFT - Carlos Guillen leads off the third inning with a home run to right. RIGHT - Chris Burke singles past a diving Iguchi in the third.

Game Review:

Kansas City - James Shields started the final game of the opening three game set vs. the Boston Red Sox. Shields was hit around in his sixth and a third innings of work but only gave up two runs both coming on solo shots by Carlos Guillen and Dave Roberts. James was in trouble most of the day, evidenced by the elven hits he allowed, but the team picked him up playing good defense behind him. The good defensive plays started in the top of the first inning, when Dave Roberts pulled a pitch down the right field line and picked up an easy double, but he decided to try and stretch that double into a triple but was barley gunned down on a 9 to 4 to 5 play. In the top of the second inning Lance Berkman jumped and robbed Brian Giles of a base hit. Carlos Guillen lead off the third inning with a solo shot to the bleachers in right field, but James Shields would help himself out by fielding a a hard hit ball and robbing Dave Roberts of a base hit and preventing any kind of Boston rally. Shields would get in trouble again in the top of the fourth when he loaded the bases with one out but he got Darin Erstad to ground into a 5 to 2 to 3 double play. In the fifth inning Dave Roberts would score the other Boston run when he hit a solo shot on a cutter up and in. Shields finished his day going six and two-thirds innings giving up elven hits on two runs while striking out three on eighty eight pitches. Bill Bray worked his third straight day going an inning and two thirds, giving up one hit while striking out one. Chris Ray pitched the ninth giving up one hit while picking up his first save in his second opportunity.

Sidney Ponson had an equally tough day in his six and a third innings of work giving up nine hits but only one earned run, while walking three. In the bottom of the first Rocco Baldelli busted out of his zero for ten funk with a lead off double on the first pitch he saw. Howie Kendrick, who was three for four with an RBI on the day, followed Baldelli's double with an RBI single to left field. Kansas City would strike again in the bottom of the third. John Buck started the rally by singling up the middle, one of his three hits on the day. Chris Burke followed that up with a base hit that barley got past the glove of a diving Tadihito Iguchi. Ponson got a double play ball from Baldelli but Iguchi failed to come up with the throw from Guillen and he comitted his third error in as many games. Now with the bases loaded, Ponson had to face Lance Berkman, who singled back up the middle and plated two runs, to take a 3-1 Kansas City lead. The Royals threatened again in the fifth when, Howie Kendrick started a two out ralley with a base hit to center field. Lance Berkman and Troy Glaus both walked to load the bases but on a full count Geoff Jenkins struck out to end the threat. Kansas City showed up again in the bottom of the sixth, when Marcus Thames doubled to the right center gap to lead off the inning. Khalil Greene struckout, but John Buck had another base hit this one to right field. Ponson got a double play ball from Chris Burke to end the inning. The Royals would threaten again in the seventh inning after one out already recored Kendrick had another base hit which was followed by Lance Berkman's second single of the day. This finally chased Ponson from the game. He finished the day giving up nine hits, one earned run, three walks while striking out five in six and a third innings. Brendan Donnelly came in from the pen. He got Troy Glaus to fly out to shallow left field and Geoff Jenkins to strikeout ending the threat in the seventh. That would be the final KC threat. Donnelly would finish the day going an inning and two thirds giving up two hits, but striking up two.

The stars for Boston were Dave Roberts, who went two for five with a double and a home run, and David Ortiz, who went three for four. For Kansas City the stars were Howie Kendrick, who went three for four with a RBI; Lance Berkman, who was two for three on the day with two RBIs and a walk; and John Buck, who had another fine day picking up three singles in four at bats.

Player of the Game:

1B Lance Berkman - 2 for 3, 2 RBI, BB

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I'm gonna write the game review part in the morning and edit it in I just ran out of time tonight. Also I'm gonna give a end of the series wrap up and post the current stats for the team and then at the end of the week I'll provide a minor league update and include the stats of my two top 100 prospects.

[isd71]

isd...if you could give me some pointers on how to use GIMP, that would be awesome because I just got it and am wanting to learn how to do things.

I'm still really new at it myself basically all I can tell you is find some tutorials and then substitute your own picture and brushes for whatever they used. Make sure you google gimp brushes and windows fonts and pick up a bunch.

[NYY_rich]

In the Year 2000! In the Year Two Thou-saaaaaaaaaand!!!

[isd71]

End of Boston Series Wrapup:

Player of the Series:

C John Buck - .455 (5 for 11)/.538/.545

[isd71]

Upcoming Three Game Series Vs Detroit

Game 1

VS

Game 2

VS

Game 3

VS

Detroit Stats

[isd71]

Game 1 of 3: Detroit Tigers (3-1) vs Kansas City Royals (2-2)

Detroit Pounds Hayden Penn

LEFT - Hardy robs Berkman of a base hit and an RBI. RIGHT - Berkman makes it a close game with a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth.

LEFT - Helton hits a solo shot to make it a 4-0 game in the 2nd. RIGHT - Alou hits a 2 run HR.

Game Review:

Tom Gorzelanny's day didn't start out so well with Victor Martinez leading off the first inning with a base hit. Moises Alou reached second base on what was ruled an error but should have been a double all the way. He picked up third base on a wild pitch. Gorzelanny then proceeded to walk Todd Helton. Jason Bay came up next and he grounded out hard to shortstop, Khalil Greene, keeping the runner at third. Ty Wigginton was the next batter and he was hit by a pitch and had to leave the game being replaced by Andy Marte. Gorzelanny got Mark Teahan to line out to shortstop. Jose Vidro walked on a full count with the bases already loaded, plating a run. Hardy singled back up the middle scoring another run before Franklin Guitierrez finally flew out to center field, becoming the third out of the inning. In the second inning with two outs already recorded Todd Helton belted a solo shot to make it a 4-0 ball game. In the fourth inning Gorezlanny would get in more trouble by allowing a lead off base hit to J.J. Hardy, but he got Gutierrez to ground into a 5-4 fielders choice, he then stole second base. Tom got Victor Martinez looking, but he walked Moises Alou before getting Todd Helton to fly out to end the inning. Gorezlanny was removed after five innings giving up four hits, four runs, and three free passes. He struggled all day and the manager decided to remove him after five innings electing to go to the pen. Hayden Penn came on but he struggled worse than Gorezlanny in his only inning of work, the sixth, he allowed a lead off hit to Jose Vidro, but got two quick outs. Getting Hardy to fly and picking off Vidro, but Detroit would start a two out rally when Penn gave a free pass to Guitierrez, which was promptly followed by a Martinez double into the left center gap, plating Guitierrez. Alou took a pitch the other way smacking a two run home run to right field. Helton would pick up another base on balls before Penn finally got Jason Bay to strikeout. Penn would only last one inning giving up five runs on six hits. Ramon Ramirez pitched effectively going three innings and scattering a pair of hits in the process.

Adam Eaton picked up his first win of the season pitching effectively during his six innings of work giving up three runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out six Royals. Eaton would get in some trouble during the game but got out of most of it. In the bottom of the second Geoff Jenkins lead off with a base hit to right. Marcus Thames up next fly out for the first out of the inning. Khalil Greene picked up a base hit to put runners on first and second, but Eaton got John Buck to strikeout swinging and Nelson Cruz to ground out to first to end the inning. In the third inning Eaton would give up two runs both on solo shots, Baldelli lead off the inning with one and with two outs Troy Glaus hit the other. In the fourth Thames lead off the inning with a double, but Eaton stranded the runner at second by striking out Greene, getting Buck to foul out to the first baseman, and by inducing a fly out to center hit by Nelson Cruz. The third run of the game for the Royals came in the fifth inning when with two outs already recorded Lance Berkman pulled a solo shot to right field to make it a 4-3 ball game. Jason Hammel came on to pitch the final three innings of the game for Detroit picking up a save.

Player of the Game:

SS J.J. Hardy - 3 for 5, 2 RBI

Around the League:

Ty Wigginton (DET) - will miss about a week with a strained lower back.

Mark Prior (SEA) - is headed to the DL again this time with a sprained ankle.

Kevin Slowey (HOU) - will miss close to three weeks with a strained right forearm.

C.C. Sabathia (CIN) - will miss about two weeks with a minor MCL sprain.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Managerial Notes:

Hayden Penn was terrible in his first appearance of the season if he keeps pitching like that one of the AAA guys will be called up and Nelson Cruz didn't look good at the plate in his first start. John Buck will be getting a day off in the next couple of days and I would like to get Greg Dobbs and Tony Graffanino a start at some point in this series or the next. Ramon Ramirez showed me something eating up three innings out of the pen. He's an example as to why you do a fantasy draft there are always players you never heard of before or never seen and its fun to play with them for a change, because I had never heard of him before drafting him.

[isd71]

Game 2 of 3: Detroit Tigers (4-1) vs Kansas City Royals (2-3)

Detroit Wins Series In A Close 2-1 Game

LEFT - Gutierrez robing Tony Graffanino of extra bases. RIGHT - John Buck's solo shot that lands in the left field seats.

LEFT - Rocco Baldelli doing a Jordan move to rob Helton of an RBI. RIGHT - Scott Shields celebrates after picking up his second save of the year.

Andy Marte was the deciding factor for Detroit, he drove in both runs for the Tigers as they went on to win 2-1.

Fernando Nieve struggled early in his start for the Royals but calmed down and only gave up two runs on eight hits.

He struggled with his location in the first inning when with one out he walked Mark Teahen to load the bases but got Andy Marte to ground into a double play.

Nieve said, "I was unable to locate my offspead stuff in the first inning but was able to get out of a bases load jam in the first."

Rocco Baldelli lead off the bottom of the first for the Royals but a hard hit double to left field, but Brad Halsey got three consecutive outs to get out of the first.

Detroit picked up its first run of the game in the third inning when with one out Todd Helton, Jason Bay and Mark Teahen all picked up base hits to quickly load the bases. Andy Marte came up for the second time with the bases loaded this time he hit a sacrifice fly to right field driving in Helton for the first run of the game.

In the bottom of the third Franklin Gutierrez made an outstanding catch robbing Baldelli of extra bases.

Detroit picked up its second run of the game in the fifth inning when Andy Marte doubled in Jason Bay.

The Royals finally got on the board with a solo shot by John Buck in the bottom half of the fifth.

Kansas City tried to turn the fifth into a rally following Buck's home run, Tony Graffanino was hit by a pitch. Rocco Baldelli followed that with a base hit in front of the centerfielder, but Howie Kendrick grounded into a double play to end the Kansas City threat.

In the sixth inning Baldelli kept the game close with an outstanding catch robbing Helton of extra bases and at least one RBI.

Brad Halsey went seven innings for the Tigers giving up one run on five hits. Scott Shields picked up his second save of the year in support of Halsey pitching a hitless ninth inning.

The Royals fall to two and two in games decided by one run.

The finally of this series will be played tomorrow at 1:05pm cst.

Player of the Game:

Brad Halsey SP - 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO

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Managerial Notes:

I had to use most of the bullpen to keep this a one run game, hoping we might get some runs but it didn't happen. John Buck continues to hit well but he will be getting the day off tomorrow. Ryan Doumit got into today's game when I pitched hit him in the eighth for Howie Kendrick who was 0 for 3. Doumit will get the start at catcher tomorrow. Graffanino got a start at second today, with Kendrick moving into the DH spot. Mark Lowe was dealing again out of the pen.

[isd71]

Game 3 of 3: Detroit Tigers (4-2) vs Kansas City Royals (3-3)

Detroit Brought the Brooms, Kansas City the Big Bats

LEFT - Berkman homered into the right field bullpen. RIGHT - Berkman goes yard again.

LEFT - Geoff Jenkins went opposite field for a solo shot. RIGHT - Rocco Baldelli lead off the fifth with a solo shot.

Kansas City took Matt Cain deep four times picking up a 6-3 victory to salvage a game in the series.

Howie Kendrick picked up a base hit in the bottom of the first inning before moving into scoring position for Lance Berkman by stealing second base. Berkman pulled a hanging slider into the right field bullpen to give Kansas City a 2-0 lead.

With one out in the top of the third J.J. Hardy, Franklin Gutierrez and Victor Martinez all picked up base hits to load the bases. Moises Alou drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Todd Helton was hit by a pitch from Roy Halladay to reload the bases, with two outs. Halladay struck out Jason Bay to end the inning and get out of the jam.

With two outs in the bottom of the third Howie Kendrick was walked by Matt Cain and proceed to steal second base again. Lance Berkman struck again pulling another pitch this one into the RF bleachers. Kansas City took a 4-1 lead after the third inning.

In the fourth inning Geoff Jenkins lead off with an opposite field solo shot. Khalil Greene followed that up with a double in the right field gap. Greg Dobbs picked up a base hit back up the middle. With first and third and no outs Matt Cain struckout Ryan Doumit, got a gift when Greg Dobbs tried to steal second but was thrown out, for the second out of the inning. Then got Nelson Cruz to ground out four to three to end the threat.

Rocco Baldelli picked up the fourth home run off Cain, when he lead off the fifth with a solo shot to left.

Detroit picked up its second run of the game, when Moises Alou picked up a base hit and Todd Helton reached on a error by the shortstop. Halladay got the lead runner when Jason Bay grounded into a five unassisted fielder's choice. Andy Marte picked up two RBIs with two outs on a base hit back up the middle.

Now a 6-3 ballgame in the eighth Todd Helton and Jason Bay started the inning with back to back singles, which chased Halladay from the game. Mark Teahen grounded out to the first baseman moving runners to second and third. With two outs Jose Vidro walked to load the bases but Jose Capellan got J.J. Hardy to line out to the second baseman.

Chris Ray pitched a scoreless ninth to pickup his second save of the year.

Everyone in the starting lineup for Kansas City picked up atleast one base hit except Nelson Cruz.

Howie Kendrick went two for three with a walk and picking up his first three stolen bases of the season.

Player Of the Game:

Lance Berkman 1B - 2 for 4, 4 RBIs, 2 HRs

[isd71]

End Of the Week Wrapup:

Batting Stats:

Pitching Stats:

League Leaders:

League Injuries:

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Managerial Notes:

Our team hitting is alot lower than expected but in the last couple of games I've felt like Baldelli and a couple of others have started to turn it around. Berkman and Buck are killing the ball, while Troy Glaus is about where I would expect him average wise. Kendrick started getting on base alot in the last few games as well. The team pitching is real good with the bullpen being dominate except for our long reliever Penn. Chris Burke and Nelson Cruz haven't done much in LF. Cruz went 0 for 8 and failed to reach base in any game. Burke is 2 for 14.