RED-HOT: BEND'S DELGADO & ROCHESTER'S WINFIELD NAMED 2022 SIM 5 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Bandits Right Fielder Leading SIMBL With .388 Batting Clip

Monday, May 9th, 2022: At the age of 31, Alberto Delgado might have some potential he hasn't realized yet -- if his success at the plate last week is any indication. The Bend right fielder put up some exceptional numbers the past seven days with a .600 batting average. For his efforts Delgado collected the Union League Player of the Week Award.

He racked up 12 hits in 20 at-bats, 2 home runs and 6 RBIs last week in 6 games.

This season Delgado is batting .388 with 47 hits and 9 home runs. He has scored 25 times and has 30 RBI.

Monday, May 9th, 2022: So far in his young career, Julian Winfield has kept a low profile, but after his performance at the plate last week, he attracted the notice of the rest of the Syndicate League in a big way as he was named the Player of the Week today for his efforts.

The 23-year-old Rochester Roosters right fielder hit at a torrid .500 clip as he collected 8 hits in 16 at-bats, 3 home runs, 6 RBIs and 9 runs scored.

Thus far this year Winfield is hitting .241 with 7 home runs, 18 RBIs and 15 runs scored.

2022 SIM 5 NEWS:

Monday, May 9th, 2022

RF Alberto Delgado of the Bend Bandits honored: Wins the SIMBL UL Player of the Week Award.
RF Julian Winfield of the Rochester Roosters honored: Wins the SIMBL SL Player of the Week Award.

Sunday, May 8th, 2022

Chicago Hitmen: Gary Larson goes 6-6 against the Las Vegas Hustlers, with 0 RBI and 2 R.

Saturday, May 7th, 2022

Las Vegas Hustlers: Rob Lewis pitches a 2-hit shutout against the Chicago Hitmen with 4 strikeouts and 1 BB allowed!

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

Knoxville Lumberkings: Koto Takahashi pitches a 4-hit shutout against the Chicago Hitmen with 5 strikeouts and 3 BB allowed!

Wednesday, May 4th, 2022

Bend Bandits: Jose Escamillia got suspended 2 games after ejection following arguing a strike call.
Whitby Battalion: Dustin Powers goes 0-4 against the Cleveland Brownies, ending his hitting streak at 21 games.
San Diego Warewolves: Alberto Tovar pitches a 1-hit shutout against the Deer Lake Direwolves with 6 strikeouts and 1 BB allowed!

2022 SIM 5 MAJOR INJURIES:

Sunday, May 8th, 2022

Hollywood Bounty Hunters: RF Ryan Moore was injured while throwing the ball. The Diagnosis: biceps tendinitis. He's expected to miss about 4 weeks.

Saturday, May 7th, 2022

Bend Bandits: LF Bradley Wilson was injured on a defensive play. The Diagnosis: ruptured tendon (finger). He's expected to miss about 4 months.
San Diego Warewolves: CF Kent Harvey was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: strained oblique. He's expected to miss about 6 weeks.

Friday, May 6th, 2022

Hollywood Bounty Hunters: 2B Alberto Alvarez was injured while throwing the ball. The Diagnosis: biceps tendinitis. He's expected to miss about 5 weeks.

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

Chicago Hitmen: RF Albert Zúñiga was injured in a collision at a base. The Diagnosis: fractured rib. He's expected to miss about 4 weeks.

Wednesday, May 4th, 2022

Toronto Rush: RF Cesar Castillo was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: oblique strain. He's expected to miss about 3 weeks.  
Knoxville Lumberkings: SS Kenny Brooks was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: sprained ankle. He's expected to miss about 6 weeks.
Chicago Hitmen: SP Julio Ramirez was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: shoulder surgery (scar tissue). He's expected to miss about 8 weeks.

Monday, May 2nd, 2022

New York Enforcers: CL Andrew Steele was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: shoulder tendinitis. He's expected to miss about 3-4 weeks.

2022 SIM 5 MAJOR TRANSACTIONS:

Saturday, May 7th, 2022

Oregon Pioneers: Signed MR Luis Martinez to a 4-year contract extension worth a total of $28,000,000.
Las Vegas Hustlers: Signed CF Terry Reese to a 4-year contract extension worth a total of $31,500,000.

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022

Calgary Clippers: Signed free agent 3B Armando Sanchez to a 2-year contract worth a total of $4,000,000.
Asheville Smokies: Signed MR Rob Stanley to a 2-year contract extension worth a total of $1,950,000.

SIX-HIT GAMES IN SIMBL HISTORY

HITMEN'S LARSON LACES SIX HITS VS. HUSTLERS

Sunday, May 8th, 2022: It was a good day for the Las Vegas Hustlers as they dumped the Chicago Hitmen 6-5 at Guinness Park. Despite the loss it was a remarkable day for Hitmen Gary Larson, who went on quite a hitting spree with a 6-for-6 barrage.

The Chicago left fielder told reporters afterward, "I have mixed emotions about this game. Getting 6 hits is really something special, but losing the ballgame spoils it to a certain extent. It's sort of like the feeling you get when your mother-in-law drives over a cliff in your new sports car."

Quizzed by the press corps about his personal hitting theories, he responded, "I don't have any buzz words. I'm 'not dialed in' or 'in a zone,' as they say. As far as the hitting goes, I try to keep it simple... try not to overthink it. I try not to look into it too much. Basically the pitcher throws the ball, I try to pick up the spin, then in a split second decide to try to hit it. Today I picked up the spin very well."

Gary Larson singled in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, singled in the 5th, singled in the 7th, singled in the 10th and singled in the 12th.

This season in 30 games, Larson has hit at a .287 clip with 37 hits, 1 home run, 5 RBIs and 13 runs scored.

LANCE'S LISTS: TOP GUNS SILENCED THUS FAR IN 2022 SIMBL SEASON

Cleveland's 'B-Rod', Rochester's Winfield, Calgary's Molina, Montreal's Mack, Dallas' Rose & Oregon's Montalbano Among SIMBL Superstars Off To Fumbling Starts At The Plate After First Month Of '22 Campaign

Reigning SL MVP Rochester's Julian Winfield (above) leads a bevy of top SIMBL sluggers and hitters off to less than expected starts now that the first month of 2022 SIMBL play is in the books.  After leading the SL last season with a .329 batting average along with hitting 38 HR with 99 RBI and 60 SB in 2021, 'The General' is hitting a lowly .226 with 6 HR and 15 RBI in his first 25 games this season.

By Lance Stanley
SIMBL Contributor

Hi again youngsters.  Lance Stanley Reporting.

While much publicity has gone towards the SIMBL's $32,000,000 man, Cleveland's returning Benjamin 'B-Rod' Rodriquez and his horrific .208 1 HR and 8 RBI start in the first 26 games of the 2022 season, several other top big-name hitters in the league have also had much less than anticipated slumbering starts this season.

Last season's SL Slugger Of The Year Rochester's Julian Winfield is off to a terrible start this season after having an almost perfect season a year ago.  "The General" is hitting just .226 with 6 HR and 15 RBI after the first month of the 2022 SIMBL season.

Several SIMBL All-Stars and SIMBL All-Star big name sluggers are off to very tepid starts this season as well such as Calgary's Carlos Molina, Montreal's DeShaun Mack, Dallas' Paul Rose, Whitby's Toby Gibson and Oregon's Mario Montalbano among several others.

Let's take a look in this edition of "Lance's Lists" at some of the top-rated SIMBL sluggers and big names who are off to cold starts now that the first month of 2022 SIMBL play is in the books as of the 5/2/2022 league date:

1B Toby Gibson Whitby .234 AVG 5 HR 22 RBI
DH DeShaun Mack Montreal .221 AVG 1 HR 10 RBI
DH Travis Wright Bristol .198 AVG 7 HR 19 RBI
2B Paul Rose Dallas .221 AVG 2 HR 11 RBI
LF Carlos Molina Calgary .192 AVG 3 HR 15 RBI
LF Steven Reed Texas .205 AVG 1 HR 7 RBI
LF Benjamin Rodriguez Cleveland .208 AVG 1 HR 8 RBI
DH Christopher Pearson Astoria .218 AVG 4 HR 10 RBI
LF Mario Montalbano Oregon .206 AVG 6 HR 18 RBI
SS Michael Caldwell Boston .236 AVG 0 HR 11 RBI
RF Ben Clay Boston .213 AVG 8 HR 19 RBI
RF Julian Winfield .226 AVG 6 HR 15 RBI
DH Matt Kramer Chicago .228 AVG 7 HR 17 RBI
1B Randall Lewis Las Vegas .192 AVG 3 HR 15 RBI
LF Carl Stevens Las Vegas .220 AVG 0 HR 5 RBI
1B Frank Hodges San Diego .167 AVG 3 HR 10 RBI
LF Cliff Mills Hawaii .231 AVG 3 HR 10 RBI
RF Pablo Cruz Sacramento .245 AVG 1 HR 13 RBI

ENFORCERS' DYE & 'HUNTERS' HAMILTON EARN APRIL 2022 PLAYERS OF THE MONTH AWARDS

Sunday, May 1st, 2022: Zachery Dye of the New York Enforcers had a field day with Union League pitchers last month and was crowned the Batter of the Month as a result.

During April he compiled a .366 batting average, drove in 23 runs and scored 23 times. He also managed to pick up 12 walks to post a .430 on-base percentage.

Sunday, May 1st, 2022: Seasoned by several years of professional experience, 32-year-old Layne Hamilton put together a solid offensive month for Hollywood and was crowned April's top batter in the Syndicate League.

He batted .312 with 9 home runs, 25 RBIs and 17 runs scored.

EXPOS' MEYERS & 'HUNTERS' BRUNO NAMED 2022 PITCHERS OF THE MONTH

Sunday, May 1st, 2022: Bobby Bruno's been around the league long enough to appreciate the honor he received today. After going 5-1 in April, the 32-year-old Hollywood hurler has been named Syndicate League Pitcher of the Month.

He fanned 28 in 43.1 innings, logged an ERA of 2.28 and allowed opponents to hit .211 against him.

Sunday, May 1st, 2022: Nathan Meyers hasn't been around the big leagues long enough to know that youngsters shouldn't be winning Union League Pitcher of the Month. But when you put up numbers like his, you're going to get some notice.

In April the Montreal starter earned a 5-0 mark in 5 starts. He threw 37.1 innings, struck out 25 and compiled a solid 2.17 ERA.

BROWNIES' DIXON & BOUNTY HUNTERS' BOGGS HONORED WITH 2022 SIM 4 PLAYERS OF THE AWARDS

Monday, May 2nd, 2022: Derek Dixon is respected by most Cleveland Brownies fans for his no-frills style of play. The 25-year-old right fielder went about his business with vigor last week to grab the Union League Player of the Week honors.

He compiled a .385 average (10-26) with 4 home runs, 10 RBIs and 6 runs scored.

Thus far this year Dixon is hitting .298 with 6 home runs, 21 RBIs and 15 runs scored.

Monday, May 2nd, 2022: At the age of 28, Matthew Boggs might have some potential he hasn't realized yet -- if his success at the plate last week is any indication. The Hollywood catcher put up some exceptional numbers the past seven days with a .455 batting average. For his efforts Boggs collected the Syndicate League Player of the Week Award.

He racked up 10 hits in 22 at-bats, 3 home runs and 8 RBIs last week in 5 games.

For the year Boggs has hit .323 with 6 home runs, 20 RBIs and scored 14 runs.

2022 SIM 4 NEWS:

Monday, May 2nd, 2022

RF Derek Dixon of the Cleveland Brownies honored: Wins the SIMBL UL Player of the Week Award.
C Matthew Boggs of the Hollywood Bounty Hunters honored: Wins the SIMBL SL Player of the Week Award.

Sunday, May 1st, 2022

RF Zachery Dye of the New York Enforcers honored: Wins the SIMBL UL Batter of the Month Award.
1B Layne Hamilton of the Hollywood Bounty Hunters honored: Wins the SIMBL SL Batter of the Month Award.

SP Nathan Meyers of the Montreal Expos honored: Wins the SIMBL UL Pitcher of the Month Award.
SP Bobby Bruno of the Hollywood Bounty Hunters honored: Wins the SIMBL SL Pitcher of the Month Award.

CF Francisco Domínguez of the Whitby Battalion honored: Wins the SIMBL UL Rookie of the Month Award.
CF Iwane Kondo of the Las Vegas Hustlers honored: Wins the SIMBL SL Rookie of the Month Award.

Thursday, April 28th, 2022

Boston Revolution: Johnny Mills got suspended 6 games after ejection following arguing a strike call.

Wednesday, April 27th, 2022

Las Vegas Hustlers: Alan Alexander Anderson pitches a 3-hit shutout against the Asheville Smokies with 5 strikeouts and 0 BB allowed!

2022 SIM 4 MAJOR TRANSACTIONS:

Monday, May 2nd, 2022

The Dallas Texans traded 22-year-old minor league closer Kevin Rogers, 22-year-old minor league starting pitcher Pepe Ríos, 24-year-old minor league catcher Sandro García, 19-year-old minor league starting pitcher Chad Cooper and 18-year-old minor league left fielder James Rice to the Deer Lake Direwolves, getting 29-year-old left fielder Vaughn Perry in return.

Saturday, April 30th, 2022

New York Enforcers: Signed MR Patrick Donovan to a 4-year contract extension worth a total of $34,140,000.

Friday, April 29th, 2022

Asheville Smokies: Signed LF Grady McPherson to a 5-year contract extension worth a total of $106,000,000.

Wednesday, April 27th, 2022

Dallas Texans: Signed C Dan Gilmore to a 3-year contract extension worth a total of $10,800,000.

Tuesday, April 26th, 2022

Hawaii Pineapples: Signed free agent MR Jesse Womack to a 1-year contract worth a total of $3,180,000.

2022 SIM 4 MAJOR INJURIES:

Sunday, May 1st, 2022

Chicago Hitmen: CL Steven Lane was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: torn rotator cuff. He's expected to miss about 13 months.

Friday, April 29th, 2022

Asheville Smokies: CF Paul Gehrig was injured on a defensive play. The Diagnosis: torn labrum (Shoulder). He's expected to miss about 7-8 months.

SIMBL LEGEND GRIMES CLOSING IN ON 300 CAREER WINS

39 Year-Old Future First-Ballot SIMBL Hall Of Famer Putting The Finishing Touches On An Untouchable Career

San Diego's impeccable SP Bobby Grimes (above) will add another accomplishment in the resume of his illustrious SIMBL career as he approaches to become the first pitcher in the SIMBL's 18-season history to win 300 career games.  The 39 year-old eight-time SL Hurler Of The Year currently stands with 297 career wins in the early days of the 2022 SIMBL season.

By Lance Stanley
SIMBL Contributor

Hi again youngsters.  Lance Stanley reporting.

In the early weeks of the 2022 SIMBL season, San Diego legendary SP Bobby Grimes is finally approaching the milestone that many SIMBL followers have long expected him to accomplish since the early seasons of his SIMBL career.

The SIMBL's all-time wins and ERA leader is approaching to be the first player in SIMBL history to win 300 games in his career.

The eight-time Hurler Of The Year, nine-time All-SIMBL selection and ten-time All-Star spent his entire first twelve seasons with Warewolves winning 270 games before he retired with the close of the SIMBL First File Era after the 2018 season.  Grimes was the most dominating pitcher of the SIMBL's first 14 seasons winning 20 games or more in 13 of his first 14 seasons.  He has won 22 or more games (including in his comeback season last year) an amazing seven times.  In total, Grimes has won 20+ games in twelve of his thirteen SIMBL seasons.

Grimes spent two seasons out of the SIMBL before coming out of retirement into the SIMBL New File Era and entering the SIMBL as a free agent at large in November, 2020.  Expected to sign with another team to give him a challenge to end his career, Grimes stunned the league when 'Wolves GM Paul Ware outbid several other SIMBL GMs vying for his services and signed with San Diego again with a three-year contract worth over $23,000,000 a season prior to the 2021 SIMBL campaign.

Though more of a control pitcher now than the previous flamethrower he once was, the then 38 year-old Grimes picked up in the SIMBL New File Era where he left off in the SIMBL First File Era by going 25-8 with a 2.51 ERA and leading San Diego to their 9th SIMBL championship where Grimes won the second SIMBL CS MVP of his illustrious career and has now taken part of eight SIMBL championships with the 'Wolves.

The now 39 year-old Grimes is currently only three wins away from the coveted 300 wins plateau as of the April 25, 2022 league date.  

Former longtime Los Angeles ace James Sousa, who attempted a comeback to the SIMBL this past offseason as a returning free agent only to retire again after several SIMBL teams bid on him heavily and to subsequently go AWOL since then with no word from him or his camp, stands in second-place on the SIMBL all-time wins list with 234 career wins.

San Diego's Alberto Tovar currently leads the SIMBL in it's fourth season of the SIMBL New File Era with 74 career wins.

LANCE'S "HANGING WITH" SERIES: DALLAS TEXANS GM ROBERT DON

By Lance Stanley
SIMBL Contributor

Hi again youngsters. Lance Stanley reporting.

Good old Lance here will continue my ongoing on-again/off-again "Hanging With" series look at what makes the SIMBL tick. The SIMBL GMs of course.

Today we resume this popular series of getting to know the SIMBL GMs better by traveling to the big old state of Texas to meet longtime Dallas Texans GM Robert Don.

Robert joined the SIMBL over three real-life years ago on March 3, 2009 and took over the former Pensacola Red Sox/Kitchener Rangers on the September 14, 2014 league date. He inherited a poor franchise that finished 61-101 that season.

During the 2015 offseason the team was moved to Dallas as the Texans by Don. By the end of the 2015 season, Don had the biggest single-season turnaround in SIMBL history at the time by improving his team by 21 games finishing with a 82-80 record and the franchise's first winning season in seven years.

The next season in 2016, Don had the Texans at 93-69 making the playoffs for the first time in over a decade of SIMBL play losing in the first round in six games to GM Greg Checovetes' Bristol Owls.

In 2017, the Texans once again won 90 games going 90-72 yet failing to make the postseason. In the last season of the SIMBL First File Era in 2018, Dallas finished 79-83 as the borked file continued to decimate pitching and propel offensive records into the SIMBL Steroid Era stratosphere.

Aiming young and loading up on prospects in the 2019 SIMBL New File Era Inaugual Draft, the Texans went 65-97 in 2019 and 70-92 in the 2020 SIMBL season.

Don chose superstar slugger Chance Bailey with the 12th overall pick in the SIMBL New File Era Inaugural Draft and watched him win that season's UL Slugger Of The Year Award before sending him to the former Sunnyvale/current Deer Lake franchise in a big trade the next season in 2020 which netted the Texans current stars 2B Paul Rose, SP Tom Clifton, CL Juan Rivera and SP prospect Michael Washington.

In the second round of the SIMBL New File Era Inaugural Draft, Don hit it big again by taking a big chance on 19 year-old CF Lance Stanley III, a name that sounds very familiar to this scribe. Stanley then went on to win the 2021 UL Rookie Of The Year Award and is currently one of the SIMBL's youngest up and coming superstars. I'm a very proud grandfather youngsters.

But perhaps the biggest trade in the SIMBL New File Era thus far was when the savvy Texans GM sought out and landed a young Tony Aguilar from the former Hartford Whalers/current Whitby Battalion in another big trade during the 2020 season. The former first pick of the second round of the SIMBL New File Era Inaugural Draft has gone on to win the 2021 UL Slugger Of The Year Award and in currently one of the SIMBL's most feared players. Aguilar also became just the third player in SIMBL history to achieve a 40 HR/40 SB season and looks to collect several more UL MVPs and historic seasons in the future as one of the top players in the SIMBL at just 26 years-old.

Last season Don made several moves to enhance his young team as his core players were finally developing and the young Texans squad had one of the most memorable seasons in the SIMBL's 18-season history.  Dallas started out 44-64 then turned it on going 38-16 to nab the UL wildcard with a 82-80 record. During the last SIM of the 2021 season, the Texans were three games out of the wildcard which the defending UL champion Oregon Pioneers led. The Texans then went 6-1 including a stunning four-game sweep over their UL Central rivals Calgary who clinched the division title weeks prior.

The Texans then upset the heavily-favored Astoria Goonies of GM Jason DeMarco in the first round to set up a meeting with the rival Clippers of GM Christian DeMarco in last season's ULCS.  Down 2-1 to the 110-52 Clippers, the Texans then went 3-2 to take the series in seven games winning Game Seven away in Calgary's Victor Field. It was one of the biggest upsets in SIMBL postseason history and has intensified the rivalry in the UL Central to fevered pitches going into the 2022 SIMBL campaign as both DeMarco brothers seem to have business now to take care with the Dallas GM.

In their first SIMBL Coveted Cup Championship Series appearance, the Texans lost to San Diego in six games to conclude last season.

I'll be conducting more interviews with the SIMBL GMs as the resume of the SIMBL continues on.

Name: Robert Don
Age: 55
Home: Texas
Married: Yes
Children (boys/girls/names): A son and daughter. Both college grads. One with a masters degree
Occupation: UPS
Hobbies/Interests: Fishing/OOTP
Favorite sports teams: Texas Rangers
Favorite college teams: Notre Dame
Favorite sports memory: The Texas Rangers Nelson Cruz walk-off grand slam in 2011 playoffs vs. the Detroit Tigers

What do you enjoy about the SIMBL that makes it one of the premier OOTP leagues online? We'd like to know what makes it special to you for you to invest the time that you do to the SIMBL?

The competition, the competitiveness of the GMs in SIMBL. It is one of the most competitive, active and best leagues online.

What impresses you about the SIMBL and being an active participant in it?

The dedicated leadership and the active group of GMs. Some leagues have a core of active GMs but the SIMBL has mostly active GMs as a whole.

Any disappointments, frustrations and/or suggestions about the SIMBL?

My biggest disappointment was not winning the the SIMBL Coveted Cup last season.

How much time per day do you spend on the SIMBL including the game, site and board? When and where do you tend to login to the website? Do you view the SIMBL Front Page regularly?

I'm looking over SIMBL a lot during the day. I have plenty of free time and most of it is taken up by OOTP and the SIMBL exclusively.

What are the first things you do and check after a SIM notification is received?

I look at my roster and make sure everyone is healthy. Then I look at the box scores.

How often do you say you export in a season?

I try to export 100%

What would you evaluate your knowledge of the SIMBL, it's players and it's seventeen-season history? What percentage would you say that you know of all it's players and their histories, records, etc...?

50%

Have you acclimated yourself to the rich history of the SIMBL First File Era generally speaking? Are you on top of knowing what is going on around the league now in New File Era knowing teams, GMs, players around the league, etc?

The history not so much so, but the New File Era I'm pretty much up on who's who, and what's what. I try and track prospects, always looking at improving my team.

How much do you know about the history of your franchise before you took it over?

I've looked it over, but I'm more concerned not about our history, instead I focus on the future.

What things would you change about the SIMBL if you could? For example, are you satisfied with the player talent in the league, free agency, the draft, player development, participation points, etc...?

I'm very satisfied. It's a well-thought out league, and the setup is very good.

What features of the SIMBL and the SIMBL Front Page do you enjoy the most? Are there any suggestions that you would like to see made or do you enjoy it as it is?

I think it looks good. Lots of information always.

What SIMBL team or teams besides your own do you like to follow?

I try and follow all the teams, obviously I tend to follow the consistently winning teams, and try and duplicate at times what they do.

Who are your favorite players on your team?

CF Lance Stanley III, RF Tony Aguilar and 2B Paul Rose.

Who are your favorite players and pitchers in the SIMBL not on your team?

I haven't thought about this much but I do like Rochester's Julian Winfield.

What teams and players do you tend to root against and why?

I don't root against any one team, I just don't pull for them.

What SIMBL GM(s) would you say is your rival and why?

Calgary Clippers GM Christian DeMarco for obvious reasons. He's a division rival along with the other GMs in the UL Central.

What SIMBL GM(s) do you have to always keep an eye on and why?

San Diego's Paul Ware, Las Vegas' Carl Hannah, Calgary's Christian DeMarco and Astoria's Jason DeMarco. These guys are very savvy and are always up to something.

What teams are the up-and-comers and to keep an eye out for in the SIMBL?

Las Vegas.

Robert, you've been one of the most visable, vocal and active GMS in the SIMBL since entering the league. How do you describe your passion for your Texans, the SIMBL and the OOTP game?

I'm very passionate. I've always have been very competitive.  I was that way when I played college baseball and still am to this day. I want to WIN, I strive to improve the Texans every chance I get.

Robert, you've acquired some major talent in Dallas with some star names like current reigning UL MVP Tony Aguilar, 2B Paul Rose and SP Rolland Levebvre.  Have the trades for them been worth what you gave up and what is your plan for the current team involving those players?

Those players are cornerstones of my franchise. Some trades make you look like a genius, others do not. I've been fortunate that in Dallas quite a few of my trades have worked out for us. We developed a pretty extensive farm system and it enabled us to aquire some pretty good talent. With that being said the key is scouting players over time and minimizing mistakes because if you give up top prospects for SIMBL talent and it doesn't work out for you, you could set your franchise back several years. Do your homework and scout your targeted players.

Robert, what have been your favorite draft picks and why? Are you satisfied with the way you've drafted thus far? We're you satified the way you drafted thus far in the 2019 SIMBL New File Era Inaugural Draft? Who did you hit on and who did you miss on?

The SIMBL New File Era Draft of mine was basically done to setup an outstanding farm system, that would in time enable us to build an outstanding SIMBL team, one in which our youngsters would come along at the same time. The plan is working as we reached the SIMBL Coveted Cup Championship Series last season with the lowest payroll in the SIMBL at $52,000,000. Now these young kids are growing together and hopefully we're on our way to building something special here in Dallas. My favorite draft pick has to be Lance Stanley III, a perennial All-Star and last season's UL Rookie Of The Year.

Your biggest surprise player as a Texan?

There really isn't one. The closet thing to a surprise is SP Greg Davis who has a 17-18 career record not bad for a 35th round pick.

You biggest disappointment as a Texan or as the Texan GM?

Not having won a SIMBL Coveted Cup yet.

Robert, who is your past favorite Dallas Texan and past SIMBL player that has since come and gone?

My former Supplemental Free Agent pickup Lance "The Net" Foley. A great shortstop and all around player. One of the best defensive shortstops in SIMBL history. It was sad to see him go and I hope that he comes back to the SIMBL as a returning First File Era free agent someday.

Robert, will the Texans remain in Dallas or are you venturing in other options that may include a future move of the team?

Our fan support is great, we aren't going anywhere.

Robert, how long do you plan on staying in the SIMBL?

As long as the SIMBL is around I'll be around.

What frustrates you or incites you about your team, division, league or the SIMBL?

Underachievers on my team.

What are your expectations of the Texans this season and beyond?

To compete for a SIMBL title this season and beyond.

When can we plan on your Texans taking the helm in the UL and SIMBL? When can your dedicated Texan fans realistically expect to be holding the SIMBL Coveted Cup up high in a championship parade in downtown Dallas?

We're ready this season.

Who is/are "the face(s) of the Texans" and why?

Tony Aguilar, Lance Stanley III and Paul Rose.  Again, for obvious reasons. They are our core.

Who is/are the future of the Texans right now?

The whole team. All the guys are young, so they will grow together. That's how this team was built. Tony Aguilar has just accepted a five-year extension, so he is a good start.

What is your outlook for your Texans short and long-term and who do you have the most interest in your players?

Short term success and long term success. We took a former Kitchener Rangers franchise that had won 62 games, the fan interest wasn't good and moved the team to Dallas. We built a great team in the SIMBL First File Era and now we've done the same with the SIMBL New File Era. We plan on being competitive for a long time and seeing this thing through.

Do you tend to favor starting pitching, bullpen or offense as a SIMBL GM and how do you evaluate each on your team right now and for the future?

I prefer speed, defense, and pitching, though a good offensive team doesn't hurt either.

Are you a pitching GM, an offensive GM or a mix of both in the SIMBL?

Pitching, speed and defense.

Do you tend to stay to your own outlooks in forming your team or does what other teams in your division and/or the SIMBL influence your strategies?

I have my vision of what I want my team to look like. First and foremost, I want speed and defense.

Robert, you are in a division where the perennial UL powerhouse Calgary Clippers have dominated the UL Central winning 13 divisional titles in sixteen seasons. How do you plan on overtaking such an always solid club and strategy of GM Christian DeMarco?

Say what you want about them. They are what they are. A very powerful team season in and season out. We played them for the ULCS last year and competed well against them. We defeated them 4-3. We'll play anyone anywhere. We AREN'T scared of the BIG BAD BOYS in Calgary.

Who are the best five players and five best pitchers now in the SIMBL?

That's a good question old man.  Maybe a poll is warranted for this as my choices may not be the same as others.

What young players and/or prospects will be on the radar as the top five best players and five best pitchers on their way up to SIMBL stardom?

Once again a question better suited for the masses, as my choices may be different than others.

What is your opinion about SIMBL free agency and finances and the recent weak free agency classes of late?

I don't think about it too much. It is what it is. Things seem to run in cycles.

How can a team that is waiting for free agents to add get better and compete and turn their franchises around?

I don't quite understand this question. But if your farm system is weak and you depend on free agency to build your teams, then maybe you shouldn't be so one dimensional as a GM.

What is your opinion on draft pick trading and free agent compensation in the SIMBL?

You cant have both. Though a system allowing the trading of draft picks during and only during the draft would work well.

What is your opinion of the competitiveness and passion that are sometimes shown on the SIMBL Message Board?

I like it, the more the better

What prompts you to reply to a heated discussion on the SIMBL Message Board and are you more of a reader than poster?

A mix of both.

Do you check-in to the SIMBL Message Board regularly and what do you look for to catch your eye or do you specifically scan the forum to make sure that you haven't missed anything or much?

I try to check all the current news, trade blocks, trades, etc.

What other things are on your mind about the SIMBL and/or your team that you'd like to conclude with? Any comments, suggestions or complaints?

Tell those damn Yankee Calgary Clippers that we're coming for them. This is just the beginning of a long fun ride.

For a look back at past SIMBL GM interviews and profiles go HERE.

I will be contact you all soon youngsters. If you have any comments or want to answer the above questions yourself before I can contact you, feel free to do so and inbox me here at the SIMBL.

NEW YORK'S DYE & SAN DIEGO'S TAKETO NAMED 2022 SIM 3 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Enforcers Rightfielder Terror Start Has New York Off To Surprising 13-6 First Place Start

Monday, April 25th, 2022: Zachery Dye is respected by most New York Enforcers fans for his no-frills style of play. The 27-year-old right fielder went about his business with vigor last week to grab the Union League Player of the Week honors.

He compiled a .429 average (12-28) with 4 home runs, 8 RBIs and 5 runs scored.

Thus far this year Dye is batting .400 with 8 home runs, 18 RBIs and 18 runs scored.

Monday, April 25th, 2022: His hard work and hustle paid off this week. The hard-working and hard-playing Taki Taketo was rewarded with the Syndicate League Player of the Week honors.

The scrappy San Diego Warewolves catcher hit .444 while collecting 8 hits in 18 at-bats, 5 home runs and 9 RBIs.

Thus far this year Taketo has hit .358 with 8 home runs and 14 RBIs.

2022 SIM 3 NEWS:

Sunday, April 24th, 2022

Deer Lake Direwolves: Carlos Diaz pitches a 4-hit shutout against the Rochester Roosters with 2 strikeouts and 3 BB allowed!

Saturday, April 23rd, 2022

Bend Bandits: Kenneth Haas pitches a 5-hit shutout against the Astoria Goonies with 4 strikeouts and 0 BB allowed!

Hollywood Bounty Hunters: Mike Butler goes 0-4 against the Hawaii Pineapples, ending his hitting streak at 20 games.

Friday, April 22nd, 2022

New York Enforcers: Zachery Dye hits three home runs against the Whitby Battalion, going 3-4 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored!

Hollywood Bounty Hunters: Mike Butler goes 1-5 against the Hawaii Pineapples, extending his hitting streak to 20 games!

Monday, April 18th, 2022

Toronto Rush: Raúl Valdés pitches a 4-hit shutout against the Calgary Clippers with 3 strikeouts and 4 BB allowed!

2022 SIM 3 MAJOR INJURIES:

Sunday, April 24th, 2022

Astoria Goonies: CF Oliver Cornett was injured while throwing the ball. The Diagnosis: strained hamstring. He's expected to miss about 6 weeks.

3 HOME RUN GAMES IN SIMBL HISTORY

ENFORCERS RED-HOT DYE BOMBS THREE VS. BATTALION

New York's Former NFE First Round Draft Pick Becomes Only Fourth Player In NFE To Hit 3 HR In Game

Friday, April 22nd, 2022: New York right fielder Zachery Dye led the Enforcers to a 5-4 triumph over the Whitby Battalion, crushing three home runs.

"He's scary good when he's swinging the bat like that," said the New York skipper.

Indeed, Dye put up some "scary good" numbers: three homers, 3 hits in 4 at-bats with 3 runs and 3 RBIs.

"Guys like that," said the manager, "make my job ten times easier."

For the season Dye has produced 28 hits in 66 at-bats for a .424 average with 8 home runs and gotten on base at a .481 clip.

CLEVELAND'S 'ESPY' & AUGUSTA'S BAILEY WIN 2022 SIM 2 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK AWARDS

Monday, April 18th, 2022: It's always a thrill for fans of the team and students of the game alike when a superstar in the making shows what he's got. Miguel Espinoza, the Cleveland Brownies 25-year-old center fielder, put himself in the spotlight last week making him the clear-cut choice for Union League Player of the Week honors.

He ripped 12 hits in 26 at-bats, compiling a .462 average with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs.

Monday, April 18th, 2022: Chance Bailey is respected by most Augusta Spartans fans for his no-frills style of play. The 31-year-old third baseman went about his business with vigor last week to grab the Syndicate League Player of the Week honors.

He compiled a .360 average (9-25) with 6 home runs, 10 RBIs and 7 runs scored.

2022 SIM 2 NEWS:

Sunday, April 17th, 2022

Whitby Battalion: Ryan Thomas pitches a 4-hit shutout against the Bend Bandits with 4 strikeouts and 0 BB allowed!

Boston Revolution: Michael Caldwell got suspended 4 games after ejection following arguing a strike call.

Hawaii Pineapples: Robert Swift pitches a 4-hit shutout against the Deer Lake Direwolves with 7 strikeouts and 0 BB allowed!

Saturday, April 16th, 2022

Hollywood Bounty Hunters: Dave Jackson pitches a 4-hit shutout against the Rochester Roosters with 4 strikeouts and 2 BB allowed!

San Diego Warewolves: Carlos Morales got suspended 4 games after ejection following a brawl.

Las Vegas Hustlers: Jim Spears got suspended 4 games after ejection following a brawl.

Thursday, April 14th, 2022

San Diego Warewolves: Alberto Tovar pitches a 3-hit shutout against the Knoxville Lumberkings with 8 strikeouts and 1 BB allowed!

Hollywood Bounty Hunters: Bartolo Vera pitches a 5-hit shutout against the Deer Lake Direwolves with 7 strikeouts and 1 BB allowed!

2022 SIM 2 MAJOR TRANSACTIONS:

Saturday, April 16th, 2022

Astoria Goonies: Signed CF Oliver Cornett to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $6,000,000.

Astoria Goonies: Signed 3B Martin Chapman to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $1,800,000.

Deer Lake Direwolves: Signed LF Vaughn Perry to a 3-year contract extension worth a total of $36,000,000.

Tuesday, April 12th, 2022

Hawaii Pineapples: Signed free agent MR Angel Cabrera to a 1-year contract worth a total of $2,480,000.

Astoria Goonies: Signed LF Christopher Pearson to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $13,500,000.

Astoria Goonies: Signed RF Cesar Delgado to a 4-year contract extension worth a total of $94,480,000.

Deer Lake Direwolves: Signed free agent LF Antonio Monteleone to a 1-year contract worth a total of $5,000,000.

Deer Lake Direwolves: Signed 1B Leonard Foster to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $400,000.

Monday, April 11th, 2022

The Dallas Texans traded 23-year-old minor league shortstop Dante Dawson to the Hawaii Pineapples, getting 31-year-old starting pitcher Rory Gallagher in return.

THE MOUTH THAT ROARED: CLIPPERS GM MAKES BOLD STATEMENTS TOWARDS SAN DIEGO, LEAGUE

Calgary Main Main Expecting All Or Nothing From His 2022 Squad; Announces That 'Years Of The 'Wolves' Are Over

After Calgary Clippers GM Christian DeMarco again went public with outspoken remarks about the rival San Diego Warewolves and other outlandish remarks towards SIMBL competition, Clippers SP Craig Byrd (above) posed for this picture and posted on his @leftybirdman Twitter feed: 'This is for our GM tonight- #toomuchspokentoosoon.  Byrd and other Clippers teammates fear that his very vocal GM's frequent rants can fire up the competition at the SIMBL level.

Calgary GM Christian DeMarco, never known to hold back his expectations of his Clippers, has taken the team's long rivalry with the San Diego Warewolves of GM Paul Ware to an entirely new level.

The two clubs have been the top winning clubs in SIMBL history but there has been a huge difference.  San Diego has won 16 divisional championships (including 15 consecutive from 2005-2019), 11 SL league championships and 9 SIMBL championships in 11 trips to the SIMBL CS in the past 17 seasons. Calgary has dominated the UL Central winning 13 division championships and making it to the ULCS seven times, including the past four seasons.  The Clippers have won one SIMBL championship in four trips going 1-2 against the 'Wolves in the SIMBL Coveted Cup Championship Series.

Both teams dominated the SIMBL First File Era and met in the last season of the FFE in 2018 with Calgary defeating San Diego in seven games for their only SIMBL title.  The very next season when the SIMBL New File Era started with all SIMBL GMs drafting anew on equal ground, the two teams impressively again met in the SIMBL CS for the title in a new file with San Diego avenging the loss to Calgary the previous season.

This leads to DeMarco's latest proclamation.  After seeing the 'Wolves stumble to the worst start in franchise history going 2-4 in the first SIM of the 2022 SIMBL season, he had to jump on the opportunity like Marc Cuban would a public relations chance.

"The 'Years Of The 'Wolves' are over," DeMarco proclaimed on the plane trip home after two series in Cleveland and Oregon.

When asked why he would make such a bold statement seeing that San Diego won their unprecedented 9th SIMBL Coveted Cup last season and are indeed still the SIMBL defending champions going into this new season DeMarco didn't stop for breath.

"You are looking at a team that is getting old and fading while other teams in their division and in the SL are only getting stronger and better.  SIMBL legend Bobby Grimes is the best pitcher the league has ever seen and probably will ever see but his best days are behind him at age 39 and his fastball has gone and will never be back.  He has turned from a dominating shutdown pitcher to a cerebral-type of Greg Maddux pitcher."

"The 'Wolves' other old foggy 35 year-old Rhett Forrester has pitched beyond his ratings for the past three seasons.  He is in a contract year and will demand very big bucks as one of the SIMBL's top rated pitchers at the moment though that will be a different story by the end of this season."

"San Diego has had to pay the piper finally like the rest of the SIMBL in big contracts to keep Forrester, Grimes and now a $22,000,000+ a year/6 year deal for one of the game's best aces in Alberto Tovar.  Currently, star 1B Frank Hodges and star closer Willie Roger DeMarco are also seeking big bucks as well as other players.  I see San Diego's rotation in big trouble starting this season and well beyond," said the Clippers leader.

When asked to compare the current Clippers to the current Warewolves DeMarco looked like a caged tiger.

"I'll say it again, the days of the 'Wolves as the dominant force in the SIMBL and the SL will be over by the end of this season.  Do you want me to say it again?"

DeMarco went on.

"We made some very calculated and brash moves this off-season that, in our fans eyes and the Clippers front office eyes, not only will smash Dallas and avenge our loss to those dixies of GM Robert Don last season in the ULCS, but will match us up very well with San Diego by rotation from #1-#5 and also lineup, bullpen and depth, if not equal than even better."

"There are teams in the SL, and in the SL West, that are vastly improving themselves with San Diego strictly in mind.  Hollywood has a better rotation as it stands right now than the 'Wolves and the Giants of Sacramento GM Jason Gregory have a great young rotation in place already right now and is building a long-term monster team if all of his dice pay off with his stud prospects.  It looks like that division will have some beasts in it for years now that Kendrick Templeton is finally developing and Logan Raynes will be the top superstar in that division, if not the entire SIMBL, in just a few seasons.   Plus, with the recent drafting of the top two picks in this season's draft, SP Joe Tarnowsky and C Joe Gibbs, things don't look very good in San Diego.  If San Diego isn't looking in their rearview mirror, they better start seeing what the rest of us are seeing."

While all noted his bashing of the fierce rival Warewolves, DeMarco was asked his expectations of the Clippers for this season and beyond.

"Well, that's easy.  We did our homework and hit on each and every one of our eight 2019 New File Era Inaugural Draft live draft picks.  Alot of other GMs were much more careless with that draft. 1B Colt McAlister will finally have a MVP award at home at the end of this season.  (#2) Craig Byrd is off to a phenomenal start and would've won 20 games last season if he didn't get hurt.  He's as good as a #2 starting pitcher in the SIMBL and one of the best lefthanded pitchers in the SIMBL and will win accolades this season.  (#3) LF Carlos Molina has made each and every GM that passed him over until the third round, where we scooped him up with open arms, pay severely.   He is one of the top three bombers and producers in the league.  It still puzzles me why everyone passed on such a talent and ratings for that long. Some thought our picks in the fourth and fifth rounds of MR Bob Detty and CL Barrett Jenkins were stupid and risky picks to take so early but both have established themselves as two of the top pitchers at their positions and both have already won a SIMBL GM Award to prove so.  Our sixth-rounder was 19 year-old RF Matthew Brown who is still only 22 years-old and one of the most dangerous, if not the most dangerous, leadoff men and offensive catalysts in the SIMBL plus he already is a Gold Glove defensive outfielder.  We've had ample trade offers for him that seems to prove so. The seventh rounder was SP Joey Morgan, who it killed to trade this off-season to Cleveland along with our past MROTY setup man Billy Ray Mendette, but we got a franchise-type player for a long time in Michael Lonewolf for.   Morgan only won the fifth-most games in the SIMBL the past three seasons, behind only big name aces Alberto Tovar, Vinny Corleone, Michael Gambino and Bobby Bruno, who have five Hurler Of The Year Awards between them.  In the eighth round we took young CF Bernardo Martinez who has been very solid and the anchor of our outfield and combines with Brown for over 170+ stolen bases a season."

When asked about the high-profile additions the Clippers have made the mouth would still not cease gushing or patting himself on the back.

"We gave up alot to get the very best pitcher in the SIMBL in Vinny Corleone in 2020 but we feel that it was something that we had to do if we wanted to keep another ring out of San Diego. Vinny's in a class by himself that even Alberto Tovar or any of the others still haven't entered. He's a once-in-a-generation pitcher we acquired in a big deal with Knoxville GM Andy Hutchinson."

"We added another pitcher to our staff in 2019 from Toronto GM Eric Savard that went on the next season to win the UL Hurler Of The Year Award in Javier Guzman.  We know it was a career year for him (as we know Las Vegas GM Carl Hannah will point out) but he still is a very solid pitcher that anchors our staff.  And this season, we had Roger Knapper in our sights for a long time and again gave up a lot to get him away from Sacramento GM Jason Gregory and keep him out out of our rival Dallas GM Robert Don's hands who was also after him."

By the time the last sentence was completed DeMarco was sweating and briefly out of words.  For once.

"We have had a long methodical plan to build a championship team and win some rings that we feel have eluded us in the past before we have to pay the financial piper that will catch up to us and the rest in our league the next couple of seasons.  There is no doubt in my mind that we will fend off the Dallas Texans, Whitby Battalion of GM John Callahan, Astoria Goonies of GM Jason DeMarco and the other teams in the UL this season and take home the marbles this season.  The days of all of those around the league calling us 'The 1990's Atlanta Braves of the SIMBL' will be over."

When told that Ware's perennial champion 'Wolves were left out of his previous sentence, DeMarco smiled and only said:

"Mark my words, San Diego won't make it to the 'Cup this season.  Or next..."

B-ROD BUMMING: While Las Vegas SP Mario Alfonso threw back-to-back complete game shutouts to start the 2022 SIMBL campaign, the $32,000,000 a year contract that Cleveland GM Jonathan Fitzgerald shelled out for the return to the SIMBL of Benjamin 'B-Rod' Rodriguez has started with a thud as Rodriguez is hitting a swift .038 marred in a 1 for 26 start to his second tour of the SIMBL.

CLIPS' LONEWOLF & REVOLUTION'S BRYANT NAB 2022 SIM 1 PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

Las Vegas SP Alfonso Throws Back-To-Back Shutouts To Start 2022 SIMBL Season

Monday, April 11th, 2022: At the age of 29, Eddie Bryant might have some potential he hasn't realized yet -- if his success at the plate last week is any indication.

The Boston catcher put up some exceptional numbers the past seven days with a .429 batting average. For his efforts Bryant collected the Syndicate League Player of the Week Award.

He racked up 9 hits in 21 at-bats, 3 home runs and 9 RBIs last week in 5 games.

Monday, April 11th, 2022: Micheal Lonewolf demonstrated his potential to be a star in the game last week and today he took home the Union League Player of the Week Award.

The Calgary left fielder wreaked havoc on opposing pitchers last week, pounding them for a .474 average (9-19) with 1 home run and 6 RBIs on his way to claiming the honor.

2022 SIM 1 NEWS & MAJOR INJURIES:

Sunday, April 10th, 2022

Rochester Roosters: Justin Montgomery pitches a 4-hit shutout against the Knoxville Lumberkings with 6 strikeouts and 0 BB allowed!

Saturday, April 9th, 2022

Las Vegas Hustlers: Mario Alfonso pitches a 5-hit shutout against the Deer Lake Direwolves with 3 strikeouts and 1 BB allowed!

Monday, April 4th, 2022

Las Vegas Hustlers: Mario Alfonso pitches a 2-hit shutout against the Rochester Roosters with 5 strikeouts and 1 BB allowed!

Saturday, April 9th, 2022

Calgary Clippers: CF Bernardo Martinez was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: strained oblique. He's expected to miss about 4 weeks.

Thursday, April 7th, 2022

Montreal Expos: MR Chet Fisher was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: strained forearm. He's expected to miss about 3 weeks.

Wednesday, April 6th, 2022

Bend Bandits: MR Ron Johnson was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: forearm tendinitis. He's expected to miss about 3 weeks.

LANCE'S LISTS: A LOOK AT 2021 TEAM STARTING ROTATION &  BULLPEN ERA GOING INTO 2022 OPENING DAY

By Lance Stanley
SIMBL Contributor

Hi again youngsters.  Lance Stanley reporting.

Here's another "Lance's Lists" look at the starting pitching rotation ERAs and bullpen ERAs from last season bedwetters as we head into the 2022 SIMBL season:

2021 SIMBL STARTING ROTATION ERA

2.97 San Diego
3.20 Calgary
3.78 Cleveland
3.78 Hollywood
3.83 Texas
3.90 Augusta
3.91 Rochester
3.93 Bend
4.12 Montreal
4.15 Boston
4.15 Knoxville
4.17 Asheville
4.19 Las Vegas
4.25 Dallas
4.27 Astoria
4.29 Chicago
4.30 Whitby
4.41 Oregon
4.47 New York
4.60 Sacramento
4.67 Bristol
4.74 Toronto
5.04 Deer Lake

2021 SIMBL BULLPEN ERA:

2.16 Astoria
2.22 Calgary
2.49 Hawaii
2.55 Boston
2.56 Bristol
2.71 Bend
2.82 Texas
3.07 San Diego
3.15 Oregon
3.20 Montreal
3.20 Augusta
3.30 Las Vegas
3.33 Whitby
3.46 Rochester
3.63 Asheville
3.65 Dallas
3.73 Hollywood
3.86 Knoxville
3.98 New York
4.04 Toronto
4.04 Cleveland
4.09 Sacramento
4.18 Deer Lake
4.94 Chicago

2021 UL STARTING ROTATION ERA:

3.20 Calgary
3.78 Cleveland
3.83 Texas
3.93 Bend
4.12 Montreal
4.25 Dallas
4.27 Astoria
4.30 Whitby
4.41 Oregon
4.47 New York
4.67 Bristol
4.74 Toronto

2021 UL BULLPEN ERA:

2.16 Astoria
2.22 Calgary
2.56 Bristol
2.71 Bend
2.82 Texas
3.15 Oregon
3.20 Montreal
3.33 Whitby
3.65 Dallas
3.98 New York
4.04 Toronto
4.04 Cleveland

2021 SL STARTING ROTATION ERA:

2.97 San Diego
3.78 Hollywood
3.90 Augusta
3.91 Rochester
4.15 Boston
4.15 Knoxville
4.15 Hawaii
4.17 Asheville
4.19 Las Vegas
4.29 Chicago
4.60 Sacramento
5.04 Deer Lake

2021 SL BULLPEN ERA:

2.49 Hawaii
2.55 Boston
3.07 San Diego
3.20 Augusta
3.30 Las Vegas
3.46 Rochester
3.63 Asheville
3.73 Hollywood
3.86 Knoxville
4.09 Sacramento
4.18 Deer Lake
4.94 Chicago

LANCE'S LISTS: A LOOK AT SIMBL STARTING PITCHING ROTATIONS GOING INTO 2022 OPENING DAY

Starting Pitching Is Currently A Premium In The SIMBL & Here Are The Very Best And Very Worst

By Lance Stanley
SIMBL Contributor

Hi again youngsters.  Lance Stanley reporting.

In this rendition of "Lance's Lists" we take a look at the SIMBL's aces, #1 pitchers, best and worst starting pitching rotations and the team staff ERA rankings from last season as the SIMBL finally heads into it's 18th season of play after a long hiatus after the Commish busted his hump last year and lived to talk about it.

Here are last season's total staff ERA rankings. Compare this list to this offseason's acquistions to see who will improve their rankings from last year:

2021 UL ERA: 3.89
2021 SL ERA: 3.94

2.87 San Diego
2.92 Calgary
3.59 Texas
3.63 Bend
3.64 Augusta
3.66 Astoria
3.70 Boston
3.74 Hollywood
3.80 Hawaii
3.82 Rochester
3.88 Cleveland
3.91 Montreal
3.94 Las Vegas
4.01 Asheville
4.02 Whitby
4.05 Bristol
4.07 Knoxville
4.08 Oregon
4.13 Dallas
4.32 New York
4.45 Sacramento
4.50 Chicago
4.55 Toronto
4.82 Deer Lake

According to each team's settings and exports before 2022 Opening Day here are each team's #1 starting pitcher aces:

Asheville: Antonio Soto 24 7/7/7
Astoria: Anibal Vargo, Jr. 31 8/7/7 LHP
Augusta: Rusty Hobbs 38 5/8/9
Bend: Shane Hollingsworth 23 8/8/7
Boston: Trevor Brooks 27 7/7/7
Bristol: Oki Okada 27 7/8/9 LHP
Calgary: Vinny Corleone 32 8/9/10
Chicago: Jake Jackson 28 7/9/6
Cleveland: Joey Morgan 33 6/7/8 LHP
Dallas: Ross Brooks 23 7/7/6 LHP
Deer Lake: Donyell Reynolds 33 6/9/7 (converted closer)
Hawaii: Robert Swift 31 8/7/7
Hollywood: Bobby Bruno 32 5/9/10
Knoxville: Ron Jackson 34 5/8/8
Las Vegas: Alan Alexander Anderson 22 7/6/7 (#1 prospect in SIMBL)
Montreal: Colby Campbell 29 7/8/6
New York: Ryan Sears 38 7/7/4
Oregon: Michael Gambino 30 6/8/8
Rochester: Justin Montgomery 30 8/8/8
Sacramento: Isiah Woods 24 7/8/6
San Diego: Alberto Tovar 31 8/9/9
Texas: Richard Dicks, Jr. 26 8/9/7
Toronto: Dante Robinson 31 7/7/7
Whitby: Deangelo Ceja 31 8/6/8

Here are the top-ranked starting pitchers in the SIMBL as ranked by Baseball America prior to 2022 Opening Day (* indicates a former first round draft pick):

1. Vinny Corleone Calgary *
2. Alberto Tovar San Diego *
3. Bobby Bruno Hollywood
4. Richard Dicks, Jr. Texas *
5. Shane Hollingsworth Bend *
6. Justin Montgomery Rochester
7. Oki Okada Bristol *
8. Robert Swift Hawaii *
9. Colby Campbell Montreal
10. Bobby Grimes San Diego
11. Craig Byrd Calgary
12. Rhett Forrester San Diego
13. Deangelo Ceja Whitby *
14. Rusty Hobbs Augusta
15. Carlos Ramirez Boston
16. Stan Pennington Rochester
17. Roger Knapper Calgary
18. Ron Jackson Knoxville
19. Michael Gambino Oregon
20. Antonio Santana Bend

The top-rated pitchers by team according to Baseball America prior to 2022 Opening Day:

1. Vinny Corleone Calgary
2. Albero Tovar San Diego
3. Justin Montgomery Rochester
4. Deangelo Ceja Whitby
5. Shane Hollingsworth Bend
6. Anibal Vargo, Jr. Astoria
7. Bobby Bruno Hollywood
8. Robert Swift Hawaii
9. Ron Jackson Knoxville
10. Tom Clifton Dallas
11. Carlos Ramirez Boston
12. Rusty Hobbs Augusta
13. Colby Campbell Montreal
14. Joey Morgan Cleveland
15. Antonio Soto Asheville
16. Michael Gambino Oregon
17. Jim Spears Las Vegas
18. Richard Dicks, Jr. Texas
19. Paul Coleman Chicago
20. Ryan Sears New York
21. Bob Swain Sacramento
22. Dante Robinson Toronto
23. Robert Watson Deer Lake
24. Oki Okada Bristol ?

Here are the SIMBL's starting pitching rotations going into 2022 Opening Day in alphabetical order. I will rate these pitching staffs from best to worst in my next "Lance's List" feature. Who are your best and worst rankings?

Asheville Smokies
1. Antonio Soto 24 7/7/7
2. Brody McIllmoyle 23 6/7/6
3. Ken Wolfe 25 7/4/6
4. Robert Thome 24 6/6/5
5. Jose Dominguez 24 5/6/4

Astoria Goonies
1. Anibal Vargo, Jr. 31 8/7/7 LHP
2. D'Monte Lewis 28 7/7/7
3. Donovan Perry 34 5/7/7
4. Christian McDonald 35 4/7/7
5. Richard Bower 22 6/5/5

Augusta Spartans
1. Rusty Hobbs 38 5/8/9 LHP
2. Alex Lynch 27 6/7/8
3. Cameron Matthews 28 5/9/5
4. Juan Bello 22 7/5/7
5. Bradley Malone 26 4/7/9

Bend Bandits:
1. Shane Hollingsworth 23 8/8/7
2. Antonio Santana 33 5/9/10
3. Kenneth Haas 34 6/7/9 LHP
4. Hung Min-Lo 27 6/4/9 LHP
5. J.R. Burris 27 5/8/5

Boston Revolution
1. Trevor Brooks 27 7/7/7 LHP
2. Carlos Ramirez 36 7/7/7
3. Zach Miller 28 5/7/7
4. Michael Sterling 36 6/6/5 LHP
5. Rob Parks 28 6/4/7

Bristol Owls
1. Oki Okada 28 7/8/9 LHP
2. William Douglas 27 6/6/5
3. Justin Thompson 26 7/6/5
4. William Jordan 26 3/6/8 LHP
5. Angel Liriano 34 6/6/6

Calgary Clippers
1. Vinny Corleone 32 8/7/10
2. Craig Byrd 28 7/7/8 LHP
3. Roger Knapper 31 7/9/8
4. Javier Guzman 34 7/6/5
5. Owen Stuart 34 5/6/6 LHP

Chicago Hitmen
1. Jake Jackson 28 7/9/6
2. Paul Coleman 22 7/6/7 LHP
3. Harvey Polk 32 5/5/8
4. Julio Ramirez 36 7/6/6
5. Ramon Cintron 28 5/5/7

Cleveland Brownies
1. Joey Morgan 33 6/7/8 LHP
2. Brian Gibson 24 5/8/6
3. Juan Gamez 27 6/6/6
4. Manuel Ramirez 25 6/8/5
5. Reynaldo Rosas 27 5/5/5 LHP

Dallas Texans
1. Ross Brooks 23 7/7/6 LHP
2. Rolland Levebvre 30 7/7/5
3. Tom Clifton 27 4/7/10
4. Anthony Green 28 6/6/7
5. Greg Davis 25 6/6/5 LHP

Deer Lake Direwolves
1. Donyell Reynolds 33 6/9/7
2. Felipe Flores 27 6/4/7
3. Robert Watson 26 6/8/4
4. Carlos Diaz 36 7/9/4
5. Carlos Castillo 28 5/5/6 LHP

Hawaii Pineapples
1. Robert Swift 31 8/7/7
2. Rory Gallagher 31 7/7/8
3. Ryan Tyler 31 5/8/6 LHP
4. John Williams 28 6/7/5
5. Jerry Poliskin 23 5/7/5 LHP

Hollywood Bounty Hunters
1. Bobby Bruno 32 5/9/10
2. Dave Jackson 24 4/8/10
3. Bartolo Vera 22 6/6/7 LHP
4. Brian McClure 26 6/7/7
5. Xavier Morales 29 5/8/6

Knoxville Lumberkings
1. Ron Jackson 34 5/8/8
2. Nelson Hawke 30 5/6/10
3. Chris Irwin 27 5/4/8
4. Koto Takahashi 36 5/6/7 LHP
5. Edgardo Lugo 30 5/4/7

Las Vegas Hustlers
1. Alan Alexander Anderson 22 7/6/7
2. Mario Alfonso 26 5/7/7
3. Jim Spears 26 4/8/6 LHP
4. Clarence Brandon 24 4/8/6 LHP
5. Rob Lewis 30 4/7/6

Montreal Expos
1. Colby Campbell 30 7/8/6
2. Nathan Meyers 26 6/6/7
3. Brad MacGregor 24 6/6/6
4. Lou Jones 28 6/4/7
5. Phil Morgan 35 7/5/4

New York Enforcers
1. Ryan Sears 38 7/7/4
2. Brent Edwards 30 7/6/6
3. Ashton Austin 33 4/5/7 LHP
4. Terry Graves 24 6/5/8
5. Buddy Slater 20 5/7/5

Oregon Pioneers
1. Michael Gambino 30 6/8/8
2. Carlos Quintana 30 5/7/8
3. Nolan Lane 29 5/6/5
4. Darby Hendrickson 30 5/7/5
5. Juan Gomez 29 6/4/4 LHP

Rochester Roosters
1. Justin Montgomery 30 8/8/8
2. Stan Pennington 28 7/6/8
3. Kelly Holbrook 35 6/6/9
4. Tony Neal 25 5/7/6 LHP
5. Nelson Moreno 30 6/6/6

Sacramento Giants
1. Isiah Woods 24 7/8/6 LHP
2. Scott Brewer 28 6/7/7
3. Bob Swain 21 6/8/5
4. Len Davis 28 6/7/7
5. Kenny Peterson 20 5/6/3

San Diego Warewolves
1. Alberto Tovar 31 8/9/9
2. Bobby Grimes 39 3/9/10 LHP
3. Rhett Forrester 35 6/8/6
4. Santiago Gonzalez 24 6/6/7
5. Joe Kleon 34 5/7/4 LHP

Texas Roadrunners
1. Richard Dicks, Jr. 26 8/9/7 LHP
2. Country Joe Thomas 25 7/6/6
3. Derrick Davis 27 5/8/5 LHP
4. Raynald Charron 23 6/8/4 LHP
5. Armando Santos 28 6/5/6

Toronto Rush
1. Dante Robinson 31 7/7/7
2. Kenny Hall 26 6/4/8 LHP
3. Raul Valdes 24 5/9/4 LHP
4. Shannon Ferguson 27 5/6/5
5. Gabriel Diaz 29 4/7/6

Whitby Battalion
1. Deangelo Ceja 31 8/6/8
2. Ryan Thomas 27 6/8/8 LHP
3. Odon Quinto 30 6/7/8
4. Brian Woods 26 6/8/6 LHP
5. Brendan Kane 27 5/9/5

NEXT: A ranking of the SIMBL's best and worst pitching rotations going into 2022 Opening Day.

2022 PRE-SEASON SIM TO OPENING DAY TRANSACTIONS

Sunday, April 3rd, 2022

The Calgary Clippers traded 28-year-old starting pitcher Scott Brewer, 22-year-old minor league right fielder Dan Smith, 21-year-old minor league reliever Ramón Miráz and 22-year-old minor league starting pitcher Jeremy Westover to the Sacramento Giants, getting 31-year-old starting pitcher Roger Knapper in return.

Thursday, March 31st, 2022

Calgary Clippers: Signed free agent MR Dean Stewart to a 1-year contract worth a total of $4,170,000.

Deer Lake Direwolves: Signed free agent MR Carlos Diaz to a 1-year contract worth a total of $3,600,000.

Augusta Spartans: Signed free agent C Daniel Lawrence to a 1-year contract worth a total of $1,670,000.

Augusta Spartans: Signed free agent C Marc Chandler to a 1-year contract worth a total of $1,490,000.

GIANTS, CLIPPERS COMPLETE BIG DEAL SENDING 'THE COLONEL' TO CALGARY

Clippers Send Four Players To Giants Hoping Knapper Gives Calgary The Best Rotation In The SIMBL

A big pre-Opening Day deal between Calgary and Sacramento sends 7//9/8-rated SP Roger 'The Colonel' Knapper (above) from the Giants to the Clippers for young Clippers SP Scott Brewer and three of Calgary's top prospects.  Knapper is currently the 18th-ranked starting pitcher in the SIMBL.

A blockbuster trade pulled off before Opening Day sends Top 20-ranked SP Roger "The Colonel" Knapper to Calgary for four players.

Clippers 27 year-old SP Scott Brewer and prospects SP Jeremy Westover, OF Dan Smith and MR Ramon Miraz get packaged to the rebuilding Giants of longtime GM Jason Gregory.

It's the second blockbuster of the 2022 offseason involving Calgary as Clippers GM Christian DeMarco previously acquired heralded 23 year-old outfielder Michael Lonewolf in a deal that gave up All-Star veterans SP Joey Morgan and MR/CL Billy Ray Mendette to Cleveland GM Jonathan Fitzgerald.

"We were very hesitant to give up a pitcher of 'The Colonel's' standards but we got a very nice offer from Calgary to add to our rebuild," said Gregory who possesses the first two picks in the upcoming 2022 SIMBL Draft and already has a nice stockpile of quality young players in place including the SIMBL's 7th-ranked prospect Logan Raynes who several SIMBL pundits predict will be the next big SIMBL superstar.

The 31 year-old Knapper was picked by the Giants as the 16th pick in the 3rd round (#64 overall) in the 2019 SIMBL New File Era Inaugural Draft yet hardly has played up to his elite 7/9/8 ratings thus far.  He went 15-13 with a 2.97 ERA in 2019, 9-15 with a 4.25 ERA in 2020 and 11-13 with a 3.25 ERA last season.  The Clippers are hoping that a change of scenery now will produce better results for the righthander.

The Clippers, who also picked up All-Star MR Nathaniel Greene earlier this week in a trade with Boston GM Dennis Walters, seemed to have added firepower to what was already the top-ranked starting rotation in the Union League last season.  The Clippers, long-known for their offensive juggernaut teams assembled by DeMarco, had a 2.92 team ERA last season which was the second-lowest in the SIMBL's 18-season history.

"While we really didn't want to give up the youth of a starting pitcher such as Scott Brewer, we feel that we have upgraded immensely to our starting rotation," said DeMarco at a press conference introducing the reserved Knapper to the Clippers faithful.

"We now feel that we can match anybody in the SIMBL, including the San Diego Warewolves of GM Paul Ware, from #1 -#3 and even #1-#4, with a starting rotation of top veterans Vinny Corleone, Craig Byrd, Roger Knapper and Javier Guzman."

Corleone has won the last two UL Hurler Of The Year awards and the SL Hurler Of The Year Award in 2019 while Guzman won the UL Co-Hurler Of The Year Award in 2020.

DeMarco added a hint to what he expects from Knapper, "For what we gave up for him, Colonel Knapper better win three HOTY Awards before he is done playing in Calgary."

The Clippers GM also gave reference to his division rival, "Hopefully, these deals will now put to rest to those pesky little Dallas Texans of GM Robert Don and their delusions of grandeur about ever taking over the UL Central anytime soon."

The 82-80 Texans made the UL wildcard last season and upset the heavily-favored 110-52 Clippers in the ULCS making it to their first SIMBL Coveted Cup Championship Series where they lost to San Diego in six games.  Many SIMBL followers view Dallas as a top up and coming team in the SIMBL and expect them to challenge Calgary in their division.  The Clippers have won 13 UL Central division titles in 17 seasons, including the last five seasons and have made it to the ULCS in the past four seasons spanning the SIMBL New and First File Eras.  Despite that perennial success, Calgary has won only a single SIMBL Championship that being for the 2018 SIMBL season, the last of the SIMBL First File Era.

Brewer adds to a youthful but talented Sacramento rotation that will join him with Isiah Woods, Len Davis, Bob Swain and Kenny Peterson. Gregory's Giants previously had the fifth-ranked farm system in the SIMBL before the trade, a position that is likely to rise after the deal is official.

When asked to comment on the Clippers surprising deal, Ware refused to comment before he entered his office at the 'Wolves' Great American Ballpark.

2022 SIMBL SPRING TRAINING FINAL STANDINGS & LEADERS

Montreal Closer Powell Dominates '22 SIMBL Spring Training

2022 SIMBL Spring Training Division Standings:

UL East: Whitby 16-8 Bristol 12-12 Montreal 11-13 New York 9-15
UL Central: Calgary 17-7 Dallas 11-13 Texas 9-15 Toronto 5-19
UL West: Bend 16-8 Oregon 15-9 Astoria 13-11 Cleveland 10-14

SL East: Rochester 13-11 Boston 11-13 Chicago 7-17 Deer Lake 6-18
SL Central: Las Vegas: 17-7 Asheville 12-12 Augusta 11-13 Knoxville 10-14
SL West: Hawaii 16-8 Sacramento 15-9 San Diego 15-9 Hollywood 11-13

2022 Spring Training Stat Champions:

BA: .438 Montelle James San Diego
OBP: .516 Carlos Montoya Whitby
SLG: .725 Trent Forrester Knoxville
OPS: 1.231 Trent Forrester Knoxville
HITS: 35 DeShaun Mack Montreal
2B: 12 DeShaun Mack Monteal
3B: 4 Thomas Sharp Asheville
HR: 7 Mark Armstrong Hollywood Matt Kramer Chicago Randall Lewis Las Vegas Kel Sanford Oregon
RBI: 27 Terry Reese Las Vegas
R: 25 Randall Lewis Las Vegas
SB: 15 Matthew Brown Calgary Clyde Dunham Oregon
BB: 29 Colt McAlister Calgary
K: 34 Alex Rivera Texas
ISO: .358 Felix Perez Texas
XBH: 15 DeShaun Mack Montreal
TB: 59 Kel Sanford Oregon

W: 4 Carlos Aguilar Whitby Nathaniel Greene Calgary Nolan Lane Oregon
L: 4 Chris Dickie Toronto Felipe Flores Deer Lake
SV: 10 Kendall Hayes Bend Eric Kelley Sacramento Angel Soriano Hawaii Kelvin Wilson Whitby
GS: Joey Morgan Cleveland
IP: 29.1 Julio Ortiz Whitby
H/9 IP: 1.69 Kerry Powell Montreal
BB: 22 William Douglas Bristol Larry Hamilton Sacramento
BB/9 0.50 Pat Carver Astoria
K: 39 Domingo Francisco Hollywood
K/9 IP: 17.05 Dez Jordan Asheville
K/BB: 23.00 Pat Carver Astoria
OAVG: 063 Kerry Powell Montreal
WHIP: 0.25 Kerry Powell Montreal
R/9 IP: 2.81 Kerry Powell Montreal

2022 SPRING TRAINING SIM 2 TRANSACTIONS:

Wednesday, March 30th, 2022

The Whitby Battalion traded 24-year-old starting pitcher Antonio Soto to the Asheville Smokies, getting 22-year-old center fielder Francisco Domínguez and 24-year-old reliever Bernard Perrini in return.

The Whitby Battalion traded 20-year-old minor league starting pitcher Bob Lewis to the Knoxville Lumberkings, getting 31-year-old left fielder Carlito Reyes in return.

The Chicago Hitmen traded 20-year-old minor league starting pitcher Broderick Stewart to the Cleveland Brownies, getting 28-year-old starting pitcher Jake Jackson in return.

The Dallas Texans traded 28-year-old third baseman Jorge Montoya to the Boston Revolution, getting 26-year-old third baseman Jesus Montoya in return.

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022

Calgary Clippers: Signed MR Bob Detty to a 6-year contract extension worth a total of $37,500,000.

CURRENT SIMBL FINANCIAL REPORT

LANCE'S LISTS: SIMBL FINANCES GOING INTO 2022 OPENING DAY

Did Exceptionally Weak 2022 Free Agency Class Make 'B-Rod' & Ceja The Highest Paid Players In SIMBL History?

After a three-season hiatus from playing in the SIMBL, Benjamin 'B-Rod' Rodriguez (above) has returned from the SIMBL First File Era as the SIMBL New File Era's highest-paid player and the highest-paid player in the SIMBL's 18-season history.  Rodriguez became the first player in league history to be paid annually over $30,000,000 a season possibly reflecting SIMBL GMs frustration over a exceptionally weak free agent class this past offseason.

By Lance Stanley
SIMBL Contributor

Hi again bedwetters.  Lance Stanley reporting.

Well youngsters, with the free agent courting by several teams of the returning Benjamin 'B-Rod' Rodriguez, DeAngelo Ceja and the SIMBL's version of Brett Favre in the AWOL James Sousa, the SIMBL's contract ceiling for resigning players or for free agent acquisition just went through the roof as expected with the open wallets of Cleveland GM Jonathan Fitzgerald and Whitby GM John Callahan respectively.

Perhaps out of desperation because of a very weak 2022 free agent class, Rodriguez and Ceja were quickly made the two highest-paid players in the SIMBL and in the SIMBL's 18-season history as SIMBL player contracts continue to balloon.

The SIMBL's hardline luxury tax of 115% and 50% will be hitting teams severely this season as the average SIMBL payroll is currently at $110,643,383 with the average player payroll at $4,067,675, both substantial increases from last season and even more skyrocketing than the 2019 first season of the SIMBL New File Era.  13 current teams will be over the Opening Day deadline of the SIMBL's luxury tax.

Most of the dud contracts that were appointed in the 2019 SIMBL New File Inaugural Draft will be expiring after this season including albatrosses such as Knoxville's Kenny Brooks, Willie Briggs and Sebastian Meander, Rochester's Nate Coleman and perhaps the worst contract currently in the SIMBL and maybe in SIMBL history in Cleveland's Andy Chase.

Here are the ever-important team payrolls going into 2022 Opening Day:

1 Calgary Clippers $163,224,500
2 Astoria Goonies $156,050,000
3 Knoxville Lumberkings $143,138,500
4 Whitby Battalion $142,706,500
5 Hawaii Pineapples $140,238,000
6 San Diego Warewolves $137,270,500
7 New York Enforcers $126,206,000
8 Bristol Owls $123,289,000
9 Cleveland Brownies $121,439,500
10 Boston Revolution $121,400,000
11 Montreal Expos $116,327,000
12 Augusta Spartans $111,932,000
13 Bend Bandits $111,398,500
14 Rochester Roosters $108,450,000
15 Oregon Pioneers $106,464,500
16 Toronto Rush $106,295,500
17 Texas Roadrunners $103,954,500
18 Deer Lake Direwolves $89,050,000
19 Hollywood Bounty Hunters $88,915,000
20 Las Vegas Hustlers $70,500,000
21 Asheville Smokies $70,005,000
22 Dallas Texans $69,620,000
23 Sacramento Giants $68,307,500
24 Chicago Hitmen $59,259,190

The SIMBL's highest paid players going into the 2022 SIMBL season:

1 Benjamin Rodriguez Cleveland $32,872,500
2 Deangelo Ceja Whitby $31,900,000
3 Cesar Castillo Toronto $27,600,000
4 Vinny Corleone Calgary $26,450,000
5 Ron Jackson Knoxville $25,970,000
6 Jason Flynt Knoxville $25,730,000
7 Chance Bailey Augusta $23,100,000
8 Carlos Molina Calgary $23,000,000
9 Kenny Brooks Knoxville $22,540,000
10 Willie Briggs Asheville $22,070,000
11 Bobby Grimes San Diego $22,000,000
12 DeShaun Mack Montreal $22,000,000
13 Mario Montalbano Oregon $22,000,000
14 Ken Blaylock Astoria$21,500,000
15 Antonio Santana Bend $20,000,000
16 Travis Wright Bristol $19,900,000
17 Glenn Webb New York $19,490,000
18 Bobby Bruno Hollywood $19,000,000
19 Andy Chase Cleveland $19,000,000
20 Robinson O'Neil Whitby $19,000,000
21 Sean Turner Montreal $19,000,000
22 Nate Coleman Rochester $18,000,000
23 Rhett Forrester San Diego $18,000,000
24 Jules Jurrey Bend $18,000,000
25 Sebastian Meander Knoxville $18,000,000

MONTREAL GM NORRIS CONFIDENT IN EXPOS AS THEY NOW STAND

Defending UL East Champions Gearing Up To Keep Current Star Players

Montreal GM Kevin Norris took criticism from Expos fans for not being more aggressive during the 2022 free agency period.  Norris recently stated that the two-time defending UL East champions are more concerned currently about locking up some of their star players, like All-SIMBL DH DeShaun Mack (above), long-term than by splurging in free agent acquisitions.

By Kevin Norris
Montreal Expos GM
SIMBL Contributor

(Montreal)- The Montreal Expos spent most of the off-season signing players to new contracts and keeping the team intact for another season. After failing to make a trade for a big name starting pitcher and not being able to sign a star free agent in Ron Jackson in which the team aggressively persuaded.

Jackson must have found Montreal too cold for his liking after the team gave him much more then his asking price. The first year he would have made S26,000,000, and the second year $25,000,000 with the third and fourth years being under $20,000,000 and the 5th year being a team option but still around $15,000,000.  Even though the team made no big free agent pick ups during the 2022 SIMBL free agent frenzy, the team should still contend with some good upcoming minor leaguers that will get a good close look this spring.  

The team might be criticized for not going after a big name player but GM Kevin Norris now has the funds to keep departing star free agents, such as All-SIMBL DH DeShaun Mack, in Montreal next season.

2022 SIMBL FREE AGENCY SIM 5 (TO 3/5/2022) SIGNINGS

Whitby GM Callahan Is Ceja Highest Bidder

Saturday, March 5th, 2022

The Calgary Clippers traded 22-year-old minor league closer Carlos Martínez, 25-year-old minor league center fielder Héctor Ángel and 25-year-old closer Mauro Maldonado to the Boston Revolution, getting 34-year-old reliever Nathaniel Greene in return.

Saturday, February 5th, 2022

Boston Revolution: Signed free agent SP Michael Sterling to a 2-year contract worth a total of $16,060,000.

Sacramento Giants: Signed free agent 2B Donnie Armstrong to a 2-year contract worth a total of $2,500,000.

Sacramento Giants: Signed free agent 2B Juan Fuentes to a 3-year contract worth a total of $3,750,000.

Sacramento Giants: Signed free agent C Jim Nolan to a 2-year contract worth a total of $5,020,000.

Sacramento Giants: Signed free agent MR Barry Melzer to a 3-year contract worth a total of $1,500,000.

Cleveland Brownies: Signed RF Derek Dixon to a 6-year contract extension worth a total of $92,860,000.

Thursday, February 3rd, 2022

Texas Roadrunners: Signed free agent DH Shawn Wheeler to a 5-year contract worth a total of $83,100,000.

Toronto Rush: Signed free agent SS Scott Carter to a 3-year contract worth a total of $8,400,000.

Toronto Rush: Signed free agent MR Chris Jacobs to a 1-year contract worth a total of $660,000.

Whitby Battalion: Signed free agent SP Deangelo Ceja to a 5-year contract worth a total of $155,500,000.

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022

Calgary Clippers: Signed LF Carlos Molina to a 5-year contract extension worth a total of $141,200,000.

Tuesday, February 1st, 2022

Toronto Rush: Signed free agent MR John Sterling to a 2-year contract worth a total of $800,000.

SOUSA RETIRES AGAIN & GOES AWOL; FIRST FILE ERA ACE CEJA LATE FREE AGENT ENTRY

SIMBL's All-Time Strikeout King Suddenly A Headcase, Cannot Be Found By League, Friends Or Family

SIMBL First File Era flame-thrower Deangelo Ceja (above) has taken James Sousa's place as the free agent pitcher at-large this offseason.  Sousa came out of a three-season retirement to rejoin the league he previously dominated for 14 seasons.  After fielding enticing offers from several SIMBL clubs, Sousa abruptly retired again without explanation and has had no contact with the league, friends or family since.  Ceja was the first pitcher ever selected #1 overall in the SIMBL Draft in 2011.  As a 23 year-old in his second season, Ceja sat down 344 batters during the 2013 season, a SIMBL record that still stands.

SIMBL legendary SP James Sousa has mysteriously gone AWOL from the league, his family and friends reports the SIMBL League Office and numerous SIMBL media outlets.

Sousa, who formally declared his re-entry into the SIMBL after a three-season retirement just weeks ago, abruptly announced his retirement after receiving hefty offers from SIMBL GMs the past few weeks.  He hasn't been heard from nor seen since.

"We know that James has been treated for some sort of anxiety and/or panic disorder," stated SIMBL Commissioner Christian DeMarco.

"We honestly can't say what James is thinking but when we hear from him we will let the league know and what his intent is." 

The SIMBL's second all-time wins leader with 234 and all-time strikeout leader with 3334, Sousa was excited last week to re-enter the league he dominated for 14 seasons in the SIMBL First File Era when he sat down for an interview with longtime SIMBL scribe Lance Stanley.

Stanley, who is known to have a close relationship with Sousa, has traveled down to Puerto Rico today to try to find the suddenly enigmatic two-time UL Hurler Of The Year and to see what his mindset is on returning to the SIMBL as he planned.

"Most importantly, I am down here to make sure that James is OK.  The SIMBL comes second after his safety and health.  That's what we are concerned about because nobody, not even his own family, has heard from him for the past 72 hours. I will not leave this island until I know that he is not in any harm," said the 74 year-old "Grandfather Of The SIMBL" in a news conference earlier today.

Meanwhile while the Sousa mystery unfolds, another SIMBL First File big name has followed Sousa's path and taken his place to return to the SIMBL before the free agency window closes.

Former 2011 SIMBL Draft #1 overall pick Deangelo Ceja has formally declared himself a free agent at large with the SIMBL League Office.

The 31 year-old flame-throwing righthander was the first pitcher in SIMBL history to ever be selected with the top overall pick of the draft.  He was selected by the former Tacoma Rain II/Asheville Smokies II franchise and made his SIMBL debut in 2012.  Ceja went 98-77 with a 3.25 career ERA and 1.05 career WHIP from 2012-2018.  His 344 strikeouts during the 2013 season, in only his second SIMBL season, still stands as a SIMBL season-single record.  At the close of the SIMBL First File Era after the 2018 season, Ceja was ranked as the fifth best pitcher in the SIMBL.

Ceja is a two-time All-SIMBL selection (2017-2018) and a two-time All-Star. He played the last three seasons in the Dominican Republic's professional league.  Despite his immense talent, Ceja has never been a 20 game winner in eight SIMBL seasons often the ace on poor teams.

"I look forward to being shown the money and to be back in the SIMBL again.  You will get what you pay for with me," said Ceja through his interpreter.

"It's time to play with the big boys once again."

2022 SIMBL FREE AGENCY SIM 4 (TO 2/1/2022) SIGNINGS

Cleveland Wins 'B-Rod' Bidding Sweepstakes

Monday, January 24th, 2022

Cleveland Brownies: Signed free agent LF Benjamin Rodriguez to a 5-year contract worth a total of $161,362,500.

Friday, January 21st, 2022

Chicago Hitmen: Signed free agent SP Julio Ramirez to a 2-year contract worth a total of $19,014,380.

Knoxville Lumberkings: Signed free agent SP Ron Jackson to a 5-year contract worth a total of $118,850,000.

2022 SIMBL FREE AGENCY SIM 3 (TO 1/16/2022) SIGNINGS

Sunday, January 16th, 2022

The Deer Lake Direwolves traded 20-year-old minor league shortstop Bartolo Chira to the Las Vegas Hustlers, getting 27-year-old minor league closer Carlos Castillo in return.

The Dallas Texans traded 19-year-old minor league reliever Ron Hopkins, 21-year-old minor league catcher Kerry Page and 19-year-old minor league starting pitcher Lewis Horton to the Sacramento Giants, getting 30-year-old catcher Dan Gilmore in return.

The San Diego Warewolves traded 24-year-old minor league catcher António Gómez, 27-year-old reliever Terry Brown and 26-year-old second baseman Scott Wyatt to the Toronto Rush, getting 24-year-old minor league shortstop Bill Wells and 26-year-old second baseman Joe Campbell in return.

The Las Vegas Hustlers traded 23-year-old minor league third baseman Bobby Helms to the Toronto Rush, getting 39-year-old reliever Sean Powell in return.

The Bristol Owls traded 22-year-old second baseman Terrance Johnson and 24-year-old minor league reliever David Butler to the Knoxville Lumberkings, getting 25-year-old catcher Nicholas Hoover and 20-year-old minor league shortstop Dave Alston in return.

Sunday, January 16th, 2022

Knoxville Lumberkings: Signed free agent C John Buckley to a 2-year contract worth a total of $2,940,000.

Friday, January 14th, 2022

Chicago Hitmen: Signed free agent RF Albert Zúñiga to a 1-year contract worth a total of $1,000,000.

Wednesday, January 12th, 2022

Whitby Battalion: Signed free agent 2B Juan Galindo to a 1-year contract worth a total of $1,400,000.

Friday, January 7th, 2022

Knoxville Lumberkings: Signed free agent SS Trent Forrester to a 4-year contract worth a total of $22,400,000.

Wednesday, January 5th, 2022

Boston Revolution: Signed free agent MR Mike Davis to a 3-year contract worth a total of $4,600,000.

Saturday, January 1st, 2022

Calgary Clippers: Signed free agent SP Owen Stuart to a 2-year contract worth a total of $1,350,000.

Friday, December 31st, 2021

Deer Lake Direwolves: Signed free agent CF Gil Cahill to a 2-year contract worth a total of $8,020,000.

2022 SIMBL FREE AGENCY SIM 2 (TO 12/30/2021) SIGNINGS

Wednesday, December 29th, 2021

Boston Revolution: Signed free agent 3B Matt Forrest to a 2-year contract worth a total of $3,400,000.

Tuesday, December 28th, 2021

Toronto Rush: Signed free agent CF Willie Cooper to a 4-year contract worth a total of $9,900,000.

Monday, December 27th, 2021

Hawaii Pineapples: Signed free agent MR Angel Soriano to a 3-year contract worth a total of $25,200,000.

Sunday, December 26th, 2021

Hawaii Pineapples: Signed free agent C Rolland Minor to a 2-year contract worth a total of $10,000,000.

Chicago Hitmen: Signed free agent 2B Michael Stallone to a 2-year contract worth a total of $26,000,000.

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2021

Whitby Battalion: Signed free agent CL Manny Silva to a 2-year contract worth a total of $8,900,000.

Tuesday, December 21st, 2021

Deer Lake Direwolves: Signed free agent MR Shannon Lewis to a 2-year contract worth a total of $6,200,000.

BALSANO ENTERS SIMBL, TAKES OVER PIONEERS

Hardcore GM Looks To Get Perennially Tough Oregon Quickly Back On Top Again

Hardcore OOTP GM Justin Balsano has been officially named as the new GM of the SIMBL charter Oregon Pioneers franchise.

Balsano is 33 years old and from the Las Vegas, Nevada area.  He currently is in three OOTP leagues as a longstanding member of  the Brewers League Baseball, Field Of Dreams and Baseball Stars online leagues.  Balsano is known in those leagues as rarely missing an export so the SIMBL has another fine addition to add to the dedicated hardcore SIMBL GM faithful.

He will take over the Pioneers from longtime GM Mike Senn who was the longest-tenured SIMBL GM outside of the charter GMs.  Senn ran the team from the 2006-2021 seasons making the Pioneers one of the SIMBL's most all-time successful franchises. Oregon has made the postseason nine times and won the SIMBL Championship for the 2011 season.  Oregon sported several 100+ win teams during the 2010's but always finished second to GM Paul Ware's San Diego Warewolves dynasty in the very tough SL West.  That being so, the Pioneers made an unprecedented seven straight postseason appearances as the SL Wildcard from 2010 to 2016.  They squared off three consecutive times against the rival 'Wolves in the SLCS from 2010-2012 defeating San Diego in 2011 en route to their first and only SIMBL title.  Each series were classic tooth-for-tooth series going the full seven games.

With Senn's departure, the SIMBL's longest-tenured GM outside the charter GMs is now Toronto GM Eric Savard who has been the Rush GM since the 2007 SIMBL season.

The Pioneers, led by current stars LF Mario Montalbano, RF Ty Brown, SP Michael Gambino and CL Andrew Stephens, made it to the SIMBL Coveted Cup Championship Series in the second season of the SIMBL New File Era in 2020 losing out to the former Manhattan Beach Seals in seven games.  They won the UL West division in 2019 and 2020 before going 81-81 last season.

Balsano plans on getting the talented Pioneers club back on top where they belong quickly again.

"The SIMBL has added another very tough addition to the GM competitive circle," said SIMBL Commissioner Christian DeMarco at a news conference in Oregon City, Oregon announcing Balsano to the SIMBL media

"Justin has been patient and chomping at the bit to compete in the SIMBL and with his entry the league's GMs will have their hands full.  He is a very smart, dedicated and active GM in his prior and current leagues and will fit in the SIMBL with the rest of the hardcores.  Justin will give us all a handful to keep an eye on as he is known to be a very competitive GM and will give us all fits for seasons to come."

2022 SIMBL FREE AGENCY SIM 1 (TO 12/16/2021) SIGNINGS

Wednesday, December 15th, 2021

Dallas Texans: Signed free agent C Sergio Guzmán to a 2-year contract worth a total of $4,220,000.

Tuesday, December 14th, 2021

Boston Revolution: Signed free agent 1B Nick Cote to a 1-year contract worth a total of $840,000.

Sunday, December 12th, 2021

Deer Lake Direwolves: Signed free agent 2B Michael Turner to a 4-year contract worth a total of $56,400,000.

Saturday, December 11th, 2021

Boston Revolution: Signed free agent SS Bert Tatum to a 1-year contract worth a total of $400,000.

Wednesday, December 8th, 2021

Hawaii Pineapples: Signed free agent CF Thomas Garrett to a 2-year contract worth a total of $3,000,000.

Monday, December 6th, 2021

Boston Revolution: Signed free agent SP Rob Parks to a 3-year contract worth a total of $8,400,000.

Sunday, December 5th, 2021

Dallas Texans: Signed free agent SS Michael Jones to a 2-year contract worth a total of $3,140,000

ALL-SIMBL TEAM HISTORY

2021 ALL-SIMBL TEAM ANNOUNCED

Augusta's Bailey, Hollywood's Bruno, Rochester's Winfield & Calgary's McAlister & Corleone All Repeat From Last Season

Augusta 3B Chance Bailey (above) has established himself as one of the SIMBL's top sluggers. Bailey endured two trades last season to make his third consecutive All-SIMBL Team.  Originally drafted 12th overall in the 2019 SIMBL New File Era Inaugural Draft by Dallas GM Robert Don, Bailey won the UL MVP in 2019.  Last season he was dealt to Sunnyvale then Augusta playing on three teams in another All-SIMBL season for the 9/8/9/3/4-rated 31 year-old.

The annual All-SIMBL Team has been announced.  Boston GM Dennis Walters helped to compile this season's annual best of the best team for the 2021 season.

San Diego legendary SP Bobby Grimes came out of a two-season retirement and made his tenth All-SIMBL Team. Grimes' only trails his former teammate Daryl Ryles who made the team eleven times in his Hall Of Fame career.

Augusta 3B Chance Bailey, Calgary 1B Colt McAlister and Calgary SP Vinny Corleone all now have gone three-for-three making the team in the first three seasons of the SIMBL New File Era.

Making their second appearances on the team are Rochester OF Julian Winfield, Hollywood SP Bobby Bruno, San Diego C Taki Taketo and San Diego SP Alberto Tovar.

Tovar, Corleone and Dallas OF Tony Aguilar all made SIMBL history this past season.  Tovar set the league record with 33 wins in a season.  Corleone set a SIMBL single-season record with a 1.78 season ERA.  Aguilar became only the third player in the SIMBL's 17 seasons to achieve a 40 HR/40 SB season.  

McAlister, Bailey, Corleone, Bruno and Winfield all repeat from last season.  Interestingly, no middle reliever or closer thus far has made the team twice thus far in the SIMBL New File Era.

C Taki Taketo San Diego .292 BA 35 HR 110 RBI .944 OPS  
1B Colt McAlister Calgary .315 BA 33 HR 113 RBI 1.017 OPS
2B Paul Rose Dallas .314 BA 29 HR 116 RBI .930 OPS
SS Michael Caldwell Boston .312 BA 4 HR 67 RBI .818 OPS
3B Chance Bailey Augusta .280 BA 35 HR 100 RBI .820 OPS
OF Tony Aguilar Dallas .304 BA 40 HR 124 RBI .974 OPS
OF Julian Winfield Rochester .329 BA 38 HR 99 RBI 1.033 OPS
OF Ty Brown Oregon .304 BA 35 HR 106 RBI .932 OPS
DH DeShaun Mack Montreal .310 BA 26 HR 120 RBI .969 OPS
SP1 Alberto Tovar San Diego 33-3 2.23 ERA 266 K 0.96 WHIP
SP2 Vinny Corleone Calgary 24-6 1.78 ERA 240 K 0.87 WHIP
SP3 Bobby Grimes San Diego 25-8 2.51 ERA 150 K 0.99 WHIP
SP4 Michael Gambino Oregon 25-15 3.27 ERA 204 K 1.20 WHIP
SP5 Bobby Bruno Hollywod 21-6 2.50 ERA 164 K 1.10 WHIP
MR1 Bob Detty Calgary 5-0 2 SV 1.02 ERA 81.0 IP 0.91 WHIP
MR2 Artie Caldwell Boston 6-3 4 SV 2.08 ERA 70.0 IP 1.05 WHIP
MR3 Jason Lambert Bristol 1-4 3 SV 1.21 ERA 74.2 IP 0.88 WHIP
MR4 Carlos Aguilar Whitby 6-2 4 SV 1.79 ERA 85.2 IP 1.14 WHIP
CL Kendall Hayes Bend 9-3 40 SV 1.00 ERA 68.0 IP 0.69 WHIP 95.2 SV%

2022 SIMBL FREE AGENTS

FIRST FILE ERA'S SOUSA & 'B-ROD' DECLARE RE-ENTRY FOR 2022 FREE AGENCY

Prodigal SIMBL Sons Return & Put Some Pizazz In An Otherwise Mediocre Free Agency Class

SIMBL legend James Sousa (above) has filed his paperwork with the SIMBL League Office and will return to the league where he dominated for fourteen seasons.  Sousa took the past three seasons off in Puerto Rico to spend time traveling with and raising his two sons.  The two-time Hurler Of The Year stated that he has some 'unfinished business' to attend to especially with career rival and nemesis Bobby Grimes.

Two of the SIMBL 2005-2018 First File Era's marquee names have petitioned the SIMBL League Office and have formally declared themselves as entrants as free agents at large for the 2022 SIMBL season.

The league's second-winningiest pitcher and career strikeout king, 38 year-old James Sousa, will enter the SIMBL after a three-season absence and will try to duplicate his longtime nemesis Bobby Grimes' comeback success in the league they both formally dominated for over a decade.

Sousa was an early second round pick (#33 overall) by the former Los Angeles Meat Puppets (now Hawaii Pineapples) in the 2005 First File Era Inaugural Draft and spent his first 13 and a half seasons with the franchise before being traded to the former Lowell Lumberjacks (now Deer Lake Direwolves) at the trade deadline in the final 2018 season of the First File Era.  Sousa is a two-time Hurler Of The Year winning the award for the 2010 and 2012 seasons.  He is a four-time All-SIMBL selection and four-time All-Star.

Sousa's career record of 234-132 with a 3.15 ERA are all both second to Grimes in SIMBL history.  Sousa led Los Angeles to three SIMBL Coveted Cup Championship Series appearances in 2009, 2012 and 2016, all losses to San Diego.  Sousa and Grimes had several legendary pitch-for-pitch classic showdowns with Grimes prevailing four times in seven meetings during those games.

While his fastball is not as blazing as it was earlier in his career, Sousa is the only pitcher in SIMBL history to strikeout 300 batters in four seperate seasons.  His 3334 career sitdowns are a SIMBL record and are considerably ahead of Grimes' second-place showing of 2930 career strikeouts.

Sousa sat out the past three SIMBL seasons in his native Puerto Rico raising his two sons and traveling the world.

"I've really had some time taking some time off from baseball after 14 years.  I have spent some invaluable time with my two young sons.  But, watching Bobby (Grimes) come back to the SIMBL and pitch the way he did last season motivated me to pick up the glove again and finish some unsolved business with that son of a bitch," said Sousa with a smile.

"There's no doubt I can come back to the SIMBL and teach the young boys a couple things and show the new young pitchers and batters of the New File Era what a real pitcher is.  I'm ready to enjoy the ending part of my career and to help the fortunate team that puts up the money to sign me.  I plan to ride the twilight of my SIMBL career out on top."

One of the SIMBL First File Era's emerging superstars also will be coming back from professional baseball leagues in Japan to enter the SIMBL once again.  Four-time All-Star outfielder Benjamin "B-Rod" Rodriguez has formally declared his intent to rejoin the league for 2022 free agency.

Rodriguez was the #9 overall pick of the 2013 SIMBL Draft by current Bend GM Ted Williams and quickly filled out his 7/8/9/9/8 potential at the time and made his SIMBL debut in the 2014 season.  Rodriguez then went on to make four consecutive All-Star teams in the next four seasons when the First File Era ended.  Undoubtedly aided by the 2016-2018 SIMBL Steroid Era, "B-Rod" had the ratings and talent to not need even the benefits of the juice of the former file.  Rodriguez established himself as a superstar slugger in the SIMBL hitting at least 20 dingers and driving in 100 RBI in his last four seasons. Rodriguez is also an Ironman only missing one game in his past four seasons.

Rodriguez will turn 31 years-old on the March 3, 2022 league date.  His .326 career batting average in four and a half seasons is one of the highest career batting averages in SIMBL history involving those with at least 2000 career at bats.

"B-Rod" picked up where he left off in the Japan League the past three seasons by winning MVP awards his first two seasons there after leaving the SIMBL at the close of the 2018 First File Era.  He hit .308 with 33 HR and 117 RBI in his final season in Japan last year for the Hiroshima A-Bombs.

"I'm ready for SIMBL action again and to come back to show what I have again against the SIMBL New File Era's best pitchers," said Rodriguez.  "It's time to do some damage.  I really got sick of Japanese food and am hungry to eat some of the SIMBL aces' best stuff."

AVERAGE LEAGUE PAYROLL HEADING INTO 2022 FREE AGENCY: $99,367,979 LUXARY TAX APPLIES TO LEAGUE AVERAGE PAYROLL ON OPENING DAY:

1 Astoria Goonies $155,250,000
2 Calgary Clippers $153,074,500
3 San Diego Warewolves $134,270,500
4 Hawaii Pineapples $124,138,000
5 New York Enforcers $121,006,000
6 Bristol Owls $116,569,000
7 Montreal Expos $111,127,000
8 Knoxville Lumberkings $110,818,500
9 Bend Bandits $110,198,500
10 Augusta Spartans $108,732,000
11 Boston Revolution $108,480,000
12 Rochester Roosters $106,050,000
13 Oregon Pioneers $104,864,500
14 Toronto Rush $104,045,500
15 Whitby Battalion $102,856,500
16 Texas Roadrunners $88,734,500
17 Hollywood Bounty Hunters $84,515,000
18 Cleveland Brownies $82,302,000
19 Deer Lake Direwolves $73,950,000
20 Asheville Smokies $66,405,000
21 Sacramento Giants $62,597,500
22 Dallas Texans $61,340,000
23 Las Vegas Hustlers $61,190,000
24 Chicago Hitmen $32,317,000

2022 SIMBL ARBITRATION AWARDS

2022 ARBITRATIONS ANNOUNCED AS TRADING FEVER HEATS UP

Top Young Phenoms Lonewolf & McBride Shipped To Calgary, Chicago

In a busy trade day involving several SIMBL teams, Dallas GM Robert Don sent his top prospect and the #9 rated prospect in the SIMBL, phenom SP Michael McBride (above) and two other players to Chicago GM John Bowden for starters SS Scott Morgan and Gold Glove 3B Jon Mitchell.

The 2022 SIMBL arbitrations have been awarded as the SIMBL has officially resumed play after an 11-month hiatus due to Commissioner Christian DeMarco's serious work accident, hospitalization and subsequent recovery.

The trade phone lines have opened up with a heated pitch as several deals were made in the 24 hours leading up to the SIM, including a blockbuster involving Calgary and Cleveland.

Here are the latest trades with the arbitration awards and transactions linked above:

Saturday, November 27th, 2021

The Calgary Clippers traded 24-year-old minor league third baseman Javier Ramos to the Boston Revolution, getting 24-year-old minor league first baseman Forrest Sanders in return.

The Whitby Battalion traded 29-year-old minor league catcher Curt Landry to the Deer Lake Direwolves, getting 20-year-old minor league starting pitcher Vincente Pacheco in return.

The Boston Revolution traded 27-year-old minor league center fielder Emmett Davis, 25-year-old minor league starting pitcher Millard Frakes and 20-year-old minor league starting pitcher Clarence Foster to the New York Enforcers, getting 28-year-old starting pitcher Zach Miller in return.

The Calgary Clippers traded 33-year-old starting pitcher Joey Morgan and 33-year-old reliever Billy Ray Mendette to the Cleveland Brownies, getting 22-year-old left fielder Micheal Lonewolf and 21-year-old minor league starting pitcher Jeremy Westover in return.

The Dallas Texans traded 25-year-old shortstop Roberto Torres, 20-year-old minor league starting pitcher Tim Jones and 21-year-old minor league starting pitcher Michael McBride to the Chicago Hitmen, getting 26-year-old shortstop Scott Morgan and 24-year-old third baseman Jon Mitchell in return.

RETURNING TWO-TIME SIMBL CHAMPION GM ORTON RETURNS AS ERA OF 'D-WOLVES' IS BORN

Former Las Vegas GM Returns To SIMBL To Turn The Former Sunnyvale Franchise Around

The latest relocation of a franchise in the SIMBL during the resume of play will take place in Deer Lakes, Newfoundland, Canada with returning two-time SIMBL Champion Chip Orton moving the former Sunnyvale Trailer Park Boys as the Direwolves.

The D-Wolves mark the return of Orton who won SIMBL championships in the 2013 and 2015 seasons with his former Las Vegas Hustlers, now run by GM Carl Hannah, who has run the Hustlers since Orton left after the 2016 SIMBL season.

Orton returns to the SIMBL after running the Hustlers from the 2010 through the 2016 seasons and is the only other SIMBL GM other than San Diego's Paul Ware to win multiple SIMBL rings.

He'll have his hands full as he takes over a team that finished with the second-worst record in the SIMBL last season at 63-99 after winning the SL East with a 91-71 record just two seasons previously in 2019.

Deer Lakes will select third in the upcoming 2022 SIMBL Draft and hope to land a franchise player to build around for Orton's rebuilding challenge for his new club.  Orton previously inherited a similar situation with the former Asheville Smokies I incarnation and through the draft and some savvy trades turned them into two-time SIMBL champions winning titles in two of his final four seasons before he took a needed hiatus from to SIMBL to concentrate on his personal endeavors.

Orton has wasted no time putting his plan into place as he was among the first to post a trade block after the SIMBL resume file was posted and looks to shake things up in Northeastern Canada and in the SIMBL.

When asked by SIMBL media why he chose such an unknown market for his new SIMBL franchise Orton replied, "Funny, I actually live in Fort Worth, Texas.  I couldn't really put a team here with Dallas and Texas already in the league. I wanted somewhere north (in the Game of Thrones setting the Direwolf is the sigil of House Stark which is in the far snowy north), and I like the alliteration of Deer and Direwolves. I considered Duluth, Minnesota too, but I figured if we have Colchester, Astoria, Whitby and some of the other small cities in the SIMBL, I would be ok with Deer Lake."

SIMBL RESUME STARTS WITH FOUR RELOCATIONS

Charter Franchises Boston & Los Angeles SIMBL Days Are Done As New GMs Move Teams & Stamp Their Own Identity On Inherited Franchises

The SIMBL League Office has announced four relocations as the SIMBL resume begins.

GM Kevin Norris moves his charter Boston Patriots team to Montreal where they will be the reborn Expos.

Boston won't wait long for a SIMBL franchise to return as GM Dennis Walters returns to his native Boston with the Colchester Choppers becoming the Boston Revolution and playing in the same Battlefield Park that the Patriots abandoned.

GM Jonathan Fitzgerald moves the Tacoma Rain to his native Cleveland in honor of the NFL Cleveland Browns as the Brownies.

GM John McGuiness moves the charter Los Angeles Meat Puppets even further west as the Hawaii Pineapples. The SIMBL Players Union is already filing grievances about the purported travel time that will take it's toll on all players and teams.

Only 1/4 of the league's original charter franchises remain now: the Bristol Owls founded by current and charter GM Greg Checovetes, the Calgary Clippers founded by current and charter GM Christian DeMarco, the Toronto Rush, the Texas Roadrunners founded by current and charter GM Pat Flanagan, the Oregon Pioneers, the Chicago Hitmen, the San Diego Warewolves founded by current and charter GM Paul Ware and the Augusta Spartans founded by current and charter GM Steph Mabie. All teams were founded with the inaugural 2005 SIMBL season and have been in existence for over 5 1/2 real-life years (9/2/2006) and are going into their 18th SIMBL seasons.

The official SIMBL resume file has been released and the official 2022 offseason SIM schedule will be announced shortly.

LANCE'S LISTS: SIMBL ALL-TIME CAREER LEADERS

SIMBL New File Era Stars Have Their Work Cut Out For Them To Achieve Greatness Against SIMBL All-Time Career Records

As SIMBL New File Era players have career records now to look to attempt to break several seasons ahead, voted in the first class of the annual SIMBL Hall Of Fame voting were SIMBL First File Era legends and record-setters (from left to right:) San Diego's 8-time SL MVP 3B Daryl Ryles, San Diego and New Orleans 2B Lucas Espitia, longtime Oregon and Chicago ace Pedro Ramirez and Toronto and Calgary's two-time UL MVP Taitarou Haranobu.

By Lance Stanley
SIMBL Contributor

Hi again youngsters.  Lance Stanley Reporting.

Well snot-nosers, the SIMBL's fourth season of the New File Era (2019-current) is about to begin as we have heard the resume file is to be released shortly.

The SIMBL's New File Era career leaders thus far after three seasons have been well documented.

The SIMBL's storied history includes the 2005-2018 First File Era which consisted of the first generation of players including current SIMBL Hall Of Famers (hitters Daryl Ryles, Lucas Espitia, Taitarou Haranobu and pitcher Pedro Ramirez). The second annual class of SIMBL Hall Of Famers will be voted on by SIMBL GMs during this off-season.

Let's take a quick look at the SIMBL all-time career records in which the SIMBL New File Era current stars and up and coming superstars have to aim at in the upcoming seasons of history in the SIMBL as the league enters it's 18th season of history and play.  I will do a Top Ten of each of these statistics in upcoming "Lance's Lists" as we look back at the first 17 seasons of the SIMBL during the lull of the 2022 off-season:

SIMBL ALL-TIME CAREER HITTING RECORDS:

PA 10006 Lucas Espitia San Diego/New Orleans 2005-2018
AB 8622 Lucas Espitia San Diego/New Orleans 2005-2018
H 2557 Lucas Espitia San Diego/New Orleans 2005-2018
2B 526 Jaime Gonzalez Tacoma I-Carolina-Dalton-Manhattan Beach/Texas 2005-2018
3B 150 Jaime Gonzalez Tacoma I-Carolina-Dalton-Manhattan Beach/Texas 2005-2018
HR 561 Daryl Ryles San Diego 2005-2017
RBI 1581 Daryl Ryles San Diego 2005-2017
R 1773 Lucas Espitia San Diego/New Orleans 2005-2018
SB 833 Lucas Espitia San Diego/New Orleans 2005-2018
CS 395 Jaime Gonzalez Tacoma I-Carolina-Dalton-Manhattan Beach/Texas 2005-2018
BB 1446 Glenn Knapp Marin-Sacramento/Birmingham-Mexico City/Dalton/Ruston/Manhattan Beach/Lowell 2005-2018
K 1566 Luis Franco Toronto/Brooklyn 2005-2015
SF 87 Richard Cummings Oregon 2006-2018
OUTS 6371 Jaime Gonzalez Tacoma I-Carolina-Dalton-Manhattan Beach/Texas 2005-2018
TB 5023 Daryl Ryles San Diego 2005-2017
TOB 3881 Lucas Espitia San Diego/New Orleans 2005-2018
TTO 3103 Daryl Ryles San Diego 2005-2017

SIMBL ALL-TIME CAREER PITCHING RECORDS:

W 295 Bobby Grimes San Diego 2006-2018/2021-Current
L 162 Rick Varney Atlantic City-Newark-Hartford/Toronto 2005-2018
SV 429 Bill Hyer San Diego/Lowell 2008-2018
IP 3390.0 James Sousa Los Angeles/Lowell 2005-2018
G 1015 Siro Talvera Augusta-Lehigh Valley/Bend 2008-2018
GS 483 James Sousa Los Angeles/Lowell 2005-2018
CG 66 James Sousa Los Angeles/Lowell 2005-2018
SHO 31 Bobby Grimes San Diego 2006-2018/2021-Current
K 3334 James Sousa Los Angeles/Lowell 2005-2018
BB 1154 Ronald Koenig Hartford-Dalton-Asheville-Tacoma II/Las Vegas/Portland 2005-2015
HA 3026 James Sousa Los Angeles/Lowell 2005-2018
HRA 256 John McCasland Cleveland-New York 2005-2018
R 1479 Rick Varney Atlantic City-Newark-Hartford/Toronto 2005-2018
ER 1322 Rick Varney Atlantic City-Newark-Hartford/Toronto 2005-2018
TTO 4353 James Sousa Los Angeles/Lowell 2005-2018
SP ERA/1000 IP 2.48 Bobby Grimes San Diego 2006-2018/2021-Current
SP WHIP/1000 IP 0.96 Bobby Grimes San Diego 2006-2018/2021-Current

2000 HITS:

2557 Lucas Espitia San Diego/New Orleans 2005-2018
2545 Manny Martinez Los Angeles 2005-2018
2319 Robert Campbell Bristol/San Diego/Hartford/Calgary/New York 2005-2018
2204 Osvaldo Quijada Texas/Los Angeles/Lowell 2006-2018
2191 Taitarou Haranobu Toronto/Calgary 2005-2017
2124 Eugene Pelzer Pocatello/Chicago/Marin-Sacramento/Bend 2005-2018
2100 Daryl Ryles San Diego 2005-2017
2059 Albert Price Pocatello/Calgary/New Orleans 2005-2018

300 HR:

561 Daryl Ryles San Diego 2005-2017
364 Luis Franco Toronto/Brooklyn 2005-2015
361 Glenn Knapp Glenn Knapp Marin-Sacramento/Birmingham-Mexico City/Dalton/Ruston/Manhattan Beach/Lowell 2005-2018
322 Mike Chisholm Pensacola-Kitchener/Augusta-Lehigh Valley 2005-2014
320 Maiku Inejiro Oregon/Marin/Kitchener/Toronto 2005-2015
319 Eddie Meas Jacksonville/Chicago 2005-2014
310 Richard Cummings Oregon 2006-2018
301 Taitarou Haranobu Toronto/Calgary 2005-2017

1000 RBI:

1581 Daryl Ryles San Diego 2005-2017
1278 Richard Cummings Oregon 2006-2018
1277 Osvaldo Quijada Texas/Los Angeles/Lowell 2006-2018
1263 Glenn Knapp Glenn Knapp Marin-Sacramento/Birmingham-Mexico City/Dalton/Ruston/Manhattan Beach/Lowell 2005-2018
1230 Jaime Gonzalez Tacoma I-Carolina-Dalton-Manhattan Beach/Texas 2005-2018
1189 Luis Franco Toronto/Brooklyn 2005-2015
1177 Manny Martinez Los Angeles 2005-2018
1169 Taitarou Haranobu Toronto/Calgary 2005-2017
1147 Adam Wells Calgary 2005-2018
1101 Maiku Inejiro Oregon/Marin/Kitchener/Toronto 2005-2015
1095 James Randell Brooklyn-Birmingham-Mexico City 2005-2018
1028 Lucas Espitia San Diego/New Orleans 2005-2018
1023 Eddie Meas Jacksonville/Chicago 2005-2014

150 WINS:

295 Bobby Grimes San Diego 2006-2018/2021-Current
234 James Sousa Los Angeles/Lowell 2005-2018
198 Felix Murff San Diego 2006-2018
197 Pedro Ramirez Oregon/Birmingham/Chicago 2006-2018
191 Marcus Dinges Brooklyn-Birmingham-Mexico City/Oregon/New Orleans 2005-2018
181 Richard Dicks Marin-Sacramento/Las Vegas 2006-2018
177 Dennis Hunt Texas 2005-2018
167 John McCasland Cleveland-New York 2005-2018
167 Robert Carson Texas 2007-2018
161 Bill Hightower Hartford-Newark 2006-2018
159 Rick Varney Atlantic City-Newark-Hartford/Toronto 2005-2018
158 Miles Farrelly Chicago/Toronto 2005-2015

2000 K:

3334 James Sousa Los Angeles/Lowell 2005-2018
2930 Bobby Grimes San Diego 2006-2018/2021-Current
2677 Miles Farrelly Chicago/Toronto 2005-2015
2562 Ronald Koenig Hartford-Dalton-Asheville-Tacoma II/Las Vegas/Portland 2005-2015
2474 John McCasland Cleveland-New York 2005-2018
2416 Dennis Hunt Texas 2005-2018
2416 Richard Dicks Marin-Sacramento/Las Vegas 2006-2018
2370 Pedro Ramirez Oregon/Birmingham/Chicago 2006-2018
2345 Michael Arnett Atlantic City-Newark/New York/Los Angeles/Toronto 2005-2015
2221 James Munguia Portland/Chicago/Lehigh Valley 2007-2018
2187 Thomas Leverett Penacola-Kitchener 2005-2013
2022 Walter Lopez Bend/Birmingham/Chicago 2006-2018
2019 Marcus Dinges Brooklyn-Birmingham-Mexico City/Oregon/New Orleans 2005-2018
2013 Felix Murff San Diego 2006-2018

200 SAVES:

429 Bill Hyer San Diego/Lowell 2008-2018
426 Frank Emery Belle River-Tacoma II-Asheville-Las Vegas 2005-2018
383 Brian Studdard Bristol/Calgary/Las Vegas/New Orleans 2005-2018
358 John Campbell Calgary/San Diego/Carolina 2007-2018
350 Matthew Chow Boston 2005-2017
278 Jeffrey Dempsey Tacoma II-Asheville 2011-2018
268 William Randazzo Chicago 2011-2018
256 Michael Harper Calgary Dalton-Manhattan Beach 2011-2018
245 Miguel Balbuena Atlantic City-Newark-Hartford 205-2013
234 Tyson Wieland Augusta-Lehigh Valley/San Diego/New York 2005-2017

TRADED DRAFT PICKS ARCHIVE

2022 SIMBL DRAFT ORDER FINALIZED AFTER RETURN OF ALL GMS CONFIRMED

Traded Away Draft Pick Loophole By Former SIMBL GMs Compensated For New Franchise Returning GMs

As of now and up to the April 1, 2022 league date start of the draft (the Opening Day SIM) here is the finalized 2022 SIMBL Draft order.  

FIRST ROUND:

1. Sacramento (58-104)   
2. Sacramento (Via Sunnyvale)
3. Sunnyvale (New GM From Last Season Compensation Pick For Previously Traded First Rounder)
4. Texas (69-93)   
5. Bristol (70-92)   
6. Chicago (71-91) or   
7. Toronto (71-91)   
8. Tacoma (73-89)   
9. Asheville (74-88) or   
10. Knoxville (74-88)   
11. Bend (76-86)   
12. Las Vegas (77-86)   
13. Los Angeles (77-85)   
14. Augusta (78-85)   
15. Whitby (79-83)   
16. New York (80-82)   
17. Oregon (81-81)   
18. Dallas (82-80)   
19. Rochester (85-77)   
20. Hollywood (87-75) or   
21. Boston (87-75)   
22. Knoxville (Via Astoria) (95-67)
23. Astoria (New GM From Last Season Compensation Pick For Previously Traded First Rounder)
24. Colchester (106-56)   
25. Calgary (110-52)   
26. San Diego (122-40)

SECOND ROUND:

1. Sacramento (58-104)   
2. Sunnyvale (63-99)
3. Texas (69-93)   
4. Bristol (70-92)   
5. Chicago (71-91) or   
6. Toronto (71-91)   
7. Tacoma (73-89)   
8. Asheville (74-88) or   
9. Knoxville (74-88)   
10. Bend (76-86)   
11. Las Vegas (77-86)   
12. Los Angeles (77-85)   
13. Augusta (78-85)   
14. Whitby (79-83)   
15. New York (80-82)   
16. Oregon (81-81)   
17. Dallas (82-80)   
18. Rochester (85-77)   
19. Hollywood (87-75) or   
20. Boston (87-75)   
21. Chicago (Via Astoria) (95-67)
22. Astoria (New GM From Last Season Compensation Pick For Previously Traded Second Rounder)
24. Colchester (106-56)   
23. Calgary (110-52)   
24. San Diego (122-40)

Rounds Three and Four (the draft lasts 4 live time limit rounds and then the rest of the draft is done by the computer) will be the original 2022 SIMBL Draft order as was without any trades of draft picks.  The trading of draft picks was outlawed, due in part to the induction of Type A & B Free Agent Compensation into the SIMBL by league vote prior to the 2018 SIMBL season

CURRENT SIMBL TOP-RATED PITCHERS & PLAYERS

LANCE'S LISTS: SIMBL NEW FILE ERA TOP PITCHING STAFF SEASONS

San Diego, Bend Lead Top Staffs In First Three Seasons Of SIMBL New File Era

Bend took SP 8/9/8 potential-rated prospect Shane Hollingsworth with the #6 overall pick of the 2019 SIMBL New File Era Inaugural Draft.  Led by one of the best pitchers in the SIMBL in Antonio Santana and solid veteran Kenneth Haas the past three seasons, Hollingsworth looks to add even more talent to the Bandits starting pitching staff next season.  The currently 8/8/7 rated on 9/8/8 potential rated 23 year-old looks to be emerging as a SIMBL superstar ace and one of the top pitchers in the SIMBL for years to come and looks like the gamble as the very first pick of the Bandits in the SIMBL New File Era will be worth the risk.  In his third season in the SIMBL last season, Hollingsworth went 8-6 with a microscopic 2.04 ERA in 19 starts and 150 innings pitched.

By Lance Stanley
SIMBL Contributor

Hi again youngsters.  Lance Stanley reporting.

Well, as the SIMBL gears back up to resume play after an uncharacteristic hiatus, as I promised we will now look at the top pitching staffs thus far in the SIMBL's New File Era (2019-2021).

Not surprisingly, the San Diego Warewolves, led by three All-Star starting pitchers in 38 year-old future SIMBL first ballot Hall Of Famer Bobby Grimes, (the SIMBL's all-time wins pitcher (295) who returned last season signing with San Diego after a three-season retirement), last season's SL Hurler Of The Year Alberto Tovar, savvy veteran Rhett Forrester and with All-Star reliever Kelly Wright and All-Star and this past season's SL Fireman Of The Year Willie Roger DeMarco in the bullpen, have led the SIMBL in least runs allowed the past three seasons.  A historic starting rotation as Tovar (2.38), Grimes (2.51) and Forrester (2.63) all place in the Top Ten career starting pitcher career ERA thus far in the SIMBL New File Era.

The Bend Bandits, built on pitching led by All-Star SP Antonio Santana, SP Kenneth Haas and emerging superstar Shane Hollingsworth (#6 overall pick of the 2019 SIMBL New File Era Inaugural Draft) with this past season's UL Fireman Of The Year Kendall Hayes anchoring the bullpen, are the only other team besides the perennially tough 'Wolves that have placed in the Top Three each three seasons thus far.  Calgary led by ace Vinny Corleone, Augusta led by 38 year-old ace Rusty Hobbs and Los Angeles led by ace Robert Swift are the only other teams besides San Diego and Bend to place in the Top Ten each of the past three seasons as well.

Here is a look at the least runs allowed, top starting pitchers and relievers/closers ERA for the past three seasons.

NEXT: We will look at the worst team offenses and worst team pitching staffs thus far in the SIMBL New File Era.

2021 SIMBL LEAST TEAM RUNS ALLOWED LEADERS:

520 SAN DIEGO
521 CALGARY
660 BEND
663 TEXAS
667 ASTORIA
670 COLCHESTER
674 AUGUSTA
684 ROCHESTER
684 LOS ANGELES
698 BOSTON
701 HOLLYWOOD

2020 SIMBL LEAST TEAM RUNS ALLOWED LEADERS:

594 SAN DIEGO
609 LOS ANGELES
624 AUGUSTA
625 BEND
628 BOSTON
631 ASHEVILLE
645 CALGARY
658 KNOXVILLE
663 BRISTOL
664 ROCHESTER

2019 SIMBL LEAST TEAM RUNS ALLOWED LEADERS:

582 SAN DIEGO
600 BRISTOL
632 AUGUSTA
646 LOS ANGELES
654 BEND
672 HARTFORD-WHITBY
689 KNOXVILLE
689 OREGON
694 CALGARY
746 BOSTON
747 ASTORIA

Here are the top active starting pitchers ERA thus far in the SIMBL New File Era (2019-2021):

2.03 Vinny Corleone Calgary
2.38 Alberto Tovar San Diego
2.51 Bobby Grimes San Diego
2.55 Bobby Bruno Hollywood
2.61 Rusty Hobbs Augusta
2.63 Rhett Forrester San Diego
2.77 Robert Swift Los Angeles
2.86 Odon Quinto Whitby
3.04 Oki Okada Bristol
3.04 Tom Clifton Dallas
3.04 Kenneth Haas Bend
3.05 Justin Montgomery Rochester

Here are the top active relievers and closers ERA thus far in the SIMBL New File Era (2019-2021):

1.13 Barrett Jenkins Calgary
1.38 Andrew Stephens Oregon
1.45 Robert McFadden Sunnyvale
1.54 Pat Carver Astoria
1.56 Andrew Steele New York
1.67 Billy Ray Mendette Calgary
1.76 Michael Steffens Augusta
1.80 Bob Detty Calgary
1.88 Manny Torres Los Angeles
1.88 Nathaniel Greene Colchester
1.88 Kendall Hayes Bend
1.94 Jason Lambert Bristol
1.95 Trent Murphy Knoxville