As we reach July 20, it’s apparently the time for various teams in the OEL to make their moves. In the Platonic League, the Pittsburgh Pisces and Stockholm Sluggers still are in position for the playoffs. However, Miami has won eight in a row to surge into third place, ahead of the slumping Cairo and Maryland squads.

In the Socratic League, New York and Brooklyn are the hot teams. The New York Knights stand just 2.5 games behind the division-leading Jersey City Skeeters while Brooklyn has won five in a row to seize third place, 1.5 games behind New York. Marietta is now fourth, a game behind the Bombers.

In injury news, Miami’s John Fine suffered the only injury, a bruised ankle while running the bases. He’s now day-to-day.

Marietta’s Brady Morris and Miami’s Michael Southwood took home Player of the Week honors. Morris had a perfect game, of sorts, on July 15 against Stockholm when he went 2-2 with two home runs and three walks. The effort was good for the ninth best hitting performance of the season.

The league file is posted. Updated web pages will be up later tonight or tomorrow morning. Nate’s got the next sim on Monday.

BROOKLYN – Just when it looked like the Brooklyn Bombers were giving up on the season and starting to plan for the future they change direction and add talent to help them contend for the playoffs this season. They added SP Freddie Mendes who should help with the recent trade of Gaby Duran to Pittsburgh and RF James McKinsey who should help the team’s lack of production against left-handed pitchers in the league where their record is only 6-13. They also added almost $15M in salary which will put a dent in their budget for this season and next.

In return, the Sylva Black Bears are picking up a bevy of talent for now and the future. The cornerstone of this trade is arguably the best MR in the league Michael Hollier (who should be a type A free agent if he does not re-sign with the Black Bears) and 4th OF Orlando Amell along with future stars in the league SS Ted Corns (who was acquired from Sylva last season) and MR Joshua Bourgault and the 4th round pick in next year’s draft.

Bomber’s Manager Nelson Bowen was heard saying under his breath, “One day management tell me to start rebuilding and the next they get me the tools to start winning and battle for the playoffs again. I really hope this gives the team the shot in the arm that they need.”

With a big road trip coming up, the Bombers need all the help they can get. The Black Bears should actually be in black this season and next with this trade. It is a win-win for both teams involved and the season is looking brighter for both.

I was looking back at the old game and decided to look up the top 10 prospects list at the end of 2001, the OEL’s inaugural campaign. Here’s the list, according to the mythical average scout:

1. Rafael Palermo, SS, Cairo
2. James Pilla, SP, Cairo
3. Richard Berkeley, 1B, New York
4. Tyler Conn, SP, Brooklyn
5. Gary Croce, 1B, Seattle
6. Ben Towell, SS, Stockholm
7. Tim Nosal, New York
8. William Broussard, SS, Seattle
9. Bricio Loera, SP Helena
10. Lenard Ramirez, SP, Winnipeg (now Gainesville)

Obviously, everyone can see what’s happened to these guys since then just by clicking on the links. I found it kind of interesting.

Another fun tidbit: Hernando Desalvo, was a MR prospect for Winnipeg and ranked as the 90th best prospect. Heck, he was only the 9th best middle relief prospect. He had an 8 endurance though, on the scale then of 1-10, so I’m not sure what was going on there.

Check out Juan Moncayo.  He’s not great, but my scout rates him as a 2.5*/2.5* reliever, he has a 3.28 ERA this year, and he’s cheap.  I won’t ask for much in return.

Sadly, sports fans, it’s true.  Marietta has dropped out of the wildcard slot this sim.  I know, I know, a true American tragedy, isn’t it?

Also, sadly, I’m short on time and preparing for a multi-state trip so this’ll be short.  It’s Pittsburgh and Stockholm in the PL and Jersey City and New York in the SL.

Enjoy your weekend.  I’m off board for a few days starting tomorrow.  Refer all questions, complaints, and revolutionary fervor to the Deputy Commissioner.  That’s what he’s there for.

The two front-runners in the Platonic League made a minor trade late last night. AAA starter Larry Casler moves from Stockholm’s franchise to Pittsburgh, in exchange for low-minors starter Roger Beggs, and a player to be named later. A total of 441.640,462 SEK (US$49,999) cash also goes to Stockholm for Casler.

Rumors of whom the player to be named later might be have engulfed the Pisces clubhouse, in a move that this impartial observer may cause Pittsburgh six-game lead over Stockholm to evaporate. “I heard it was a recently-injured player,” an anonymous clubhouse source said. “Surely ol’ Mack wouldn’t trade Donald Parsons for a AAAA pitcher. Would he?”

The Pittsburgh Pisces announced today that they acquired starting pitcher Moises Dominguez from the Gainesville Purple Porpoises in exchange for four young prospects and $500,000 in cash considerations. “We’re thrilled to add Moises to our pitching staff,” said Owner/GM Mack Shultz. “The price we paid is evidence of how highly we valued him. Now, he just has to get off his butt and starting pitching well.”

Dominguez has struggled to meet lofty expectations in his first year and a half in the majors, posting a career ERA of 5.12 with a disappointing 4-11 record. But, scouts have often been impressed by the great movement on his fastball. Pittsburgh’s scouts were no exception, and they’re hoping for big things from him. “He’s smart and he’s got a great work ethic, so we’re hoping he can fulfil the potential we all see,” said Pittsburgh scouting director Seth Lewis. “I know my job’s riding on this deal, so I’d better be right.”

The players sent to Gainesville are the Pisces’ young setup man, Kenneth York, AAA starter Harold Deutsch, AAA infielder Kevin Grow, and AA infielder Amando Guercio.

“We’ll miss all of those guys, who were big parts of the Pisces’ present and future,” said Shultz,” but I think I’ll miss most the opportunity to give Guercio the nickname ‘Hug’n'kiss’. That would have been awesome.”

Yes, sports sprouts, this year’s All Star voting is tallied and the teams are announced!  Not only that but you must have blinked and the game happened this sim and the SL ran away with the show 6-0!  The PL put up only six hits the entire game while the SL fielded 15 safeties in the tilt.

You can see all the action, and the rosters, by downloading the file now!

Heck, I’m tired and it’s late.  Good luck to all and I have the sim on Wednesday so I can get away on Friday.  Be there!

The Gainesville Purple Porpoises marketing team is excited to announce that Tom Petty will sign during tomorrow’s 7th inning stretch. In an effort to bring more fans through the gates the franchise decided to offer their loyal faithful a true legend of music.

“The fans have been through a lot this season. We felt it was time to give something back, even after we signed a few big price free agents this off season. Bringing another edge to the fan experience is something our franchise take pride in. We hope our fans enjoye the show

There is also talk he will sing ‘Free Falling’ after the game, although negiotiations are still ongoing.

The Miami Masters of Their Domain and the Cairo Leveemen are pleased to announce another trade today.  Making the trip from Miami to Cairo are IB/OF Lamont Alcala and 2B Berny Gonzalez.  In return, Miami will receive hot 2B prospect Michael Southwood, middle relief prospect Victor Pardo, and shortstop prospect Raymond Hensley.  Cairo will also receive $2 million in cash considerations in the deal.