Maple Spring Training Report

Maple entered Spring Training coming off their worst ever ABL season.  Interestingly enough, Maple only invited 27 players to camp which meant only two jobs were up for grabs.

Fifth Starting Pitcher in the Rotation:

The rotation into Spring Training is:

1. Jesus Ramirez; former R1 pick from University of Florida
2. Nicolas Rodriguez; former AAA Cy Young winner acquired from Brooklyn
3. Robert Osborne; acquired from Brookyln in the Roberto Martinez deal along with Manny Blitz Palma
4. Jeff Andrews; acquired from Mile High
5. Ronnie Haynes; R40 inaugural draft pick by Washington
6. George Clay; acquired from Mile High

Six SPs with only five spots available.

I did not know what to expect because this group which ranges in potential all are about even in terms of current rankings.  Happy surprise has come from Ramirez who is 3-0 so far this spring with an ERA of 1.13 and a WHIP of 1.31.  I hope he can get a command of his pitches and finally break through this year with Maple.  George Clay unfortunately was the man out.  Clay was demoted to AAA Astoria, NY this past sim.  Clay was upset about this transaction, however; his sinker wasn't sinking and his forkball wasn't forking.  His pitching performance this spring was awful.  We haven't given up yet on Clay.  Clay has been a former pitcher of the month in the minors.  Clay has also recorded a 15K game and did make the Allstar game back in A Ball in the 2016 season.


Utility Middle Infielder - 3 Players - 2 Jobs:

1. Eric Rice; former R7  2014 Draft pick
2. Jerry Morgan; R54 inaugural draft pick for San Diego who also hit for the cycle against Maple in AAA Astoria in 2016
3. Clay Wadden; Originally in the Mile High system; signed minor league contract with Maple in 2013

The middle infield has been a shopping cart of poor nutrition ever since opening day in 2012.  We have tried almost anything and everything to get going at 2B/SS.  We felt we came close last year when we acquired Danny Burris from Brooklyn and before then acquired Jesse Clark from Dallas.  Clark just never performed in a Maple jersey and with his high dollar contract on the books and a free for all spending spree by the Maple owner at the 1st annual International FA bidding day;  we just had to part ways.  Clark now plays and actually has hit well in a San Francisco uniform.  Burris started out the same way;  slow.  He did come on towards the end of the season to hit above .300 and win a Gold Glove at SS for Maple.  So we now look for a partner to play with Burris on his left side.  Someone that can help turn the critical double play to get out of the jams that likely our pitching is going to experience this year.  We like Eric Rice for his glove at 2B.  He has no arm but, we also remember Steve Sax of the former MLB who had a similar issue.  It is a shorter throw so we will take our chances here.  Jerry Morgan has just been getting on base and has been hitting some nice line drives right at people.  We are going to roll the dice and give him the last spot this season.  Poor Clay Wadden he is yet again odd man out and was waived this past sim to hopefully outright him to AAA Astoria, NY.  Clay is speedster on the bases and a gamer but, we know what we get with him already and just wanted to see what we "might" get out of Morgan.  Sometimes in the ABL you are the ODD man OUT with so much batting talent in the league.

Preseason predictions have come out already and Maple has been pegged to play about .500 ball which we are excited to read.  We know these predictions are not so accurate.  Who are these experts? What do they look like?  OSA was seen in the Toronto area asking for handouts at a recent Car Show event.  I really hope one day they get the funds they need.  On that note, have a good morning everyone and I am going to check my MAX MILLIONS ticket.  If you don't hear from me.  Email me :-) haha

Maple Organization Update

Maple finished the year with a horrible 8-21 record thanks to a poor divisional record especially versus the Billy Martin champs - San Francisco.  We will have to match up better vs them next season if we hope to make it back to the post season.

This has been our worst season ever and we are glad it is finally over.  There are some exciting things ahead as we prepare for Season #7.  I'm excited about my bullpen, my OF and my future at 1B & 3B.  I will need some of that high priced International talent to pay off in order to build a stable and dominant rotation.  Maple for the first time also reached the #2 spot in the top minor leagues system report.  The likes of Manny "BLITZ" Palma CL, William "CANNON" Lee 1B, Gary Bennett 3B, Rob "TANGLES" Young SP and Subaru "EXPERT" Kishita SP are waiting in the wings to reach the ABL and hopefully their potential will be reached.  We also have high hopes for Michale Knaus 1B, Yoshiaga Ueno SP, Nathan Owens MR, Brad Thomas OF, Brooks Petersen OF (DL), Martin Petersen OF, Floyd Lowery OF and a few others in the bullpen in A ball.  The list of prospects is by far the largest we have ever seen in our organization.  We need Jesus Ramirez and his blazing fastball to light up again as he had a horrible season in Maple this past year.  He finished the year in AAA and did well in his last few starts. 

In post season action, AAA Astoria and AA Sandy Springs lost in the first round of the playoffs.  Astoria lost 4-1 to Chicago (Jacksonville Farm team) and Sandy Springs lost to 4-2 to Phoenix (Jacksonville Farm team).

Decisions Decisions Decisions...

Billy Greer has begun contracts extension talks with Maple.  Maple is likely going to offer him a 1 year deal to hopefully avoid arbitration.  Billy deserves a contract for the way he came on late last season especially with his power stroke.  One of the challenges we have as an organization is that Billy isn't a youngster anymore and there are plenty of talented younger players that might have more potential to take his spot.  For that reason we will play it year by year with Billy and as long as he produces he will be wearing a Maple jersey.  We believe through his agent that Billy will sign a 1 year deal that will pay him $4.5M this season with no incentives and a guarantee to start.

The foundation of the Maple organization namely;  OF Frank Powers, OF Anthony Lewis and 1B Vic Jennings (acquired from Las Vegas) all most likely will not be offered a contract this year making them free agents.  Also likely heading to free agency is SP Chet Carver (acquired from Mile High) who pitched his way back to the big leagues late last year and injury recovering SP Aaron Nelson.

Should be another exciting off season in the ABL!