|
Madiba
United
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personnel History Brian Myers took an expansion team that seemed more interested in running up Shannon Stewart's steal totals than winning games, and within the space of two years built a bona fide contender. As the chart below shows, most of the dealing was done in trades. To build the 2000 contender, United amassed 5 first round draft picks and sprinkled them wisely in trades that got Al Leiter, Jeff Kent, and Carlos Delgado (indirectly). In 2001 it was thought that the additions of Juan Gonzalez and Robby Alomar would finish the job, but the pitching haemorrhaged badly. That was addressed in the 2002 edition, which brought over Randy Johnson for Sydney Ponson and a 1st pick, and a surprise playoff run got Madiba two games from the ring. But Johnson was injured in 2003, and without a first round pick, the pitching couldn't be helped. A good draft in 2004 picked up enough pieces to get to 18, but the 18 excluded the Unit in an ill-advised grab for youth. Picks were traded to win now, and there was enough stuff there to rearrange the roster and organize a 99 win season, but the team was an early exit from the playoffs. Going into the 2005 season, there was probably enough to contend, but Madiba decided on a complete rebuilding effort, trading away Clemens, Jenkins, Washburn, Victor Martinez, Alou, and Rincon for a gaggle of young pitchers who will form the core of the next playoff team. As with young pitchers, some work out (Verlander), some don't (Prior), some get injured (Liriano), and on some the jury stays out (Greinke). It's a high risk strategy. |
2006 Year two of the Marlineque retooling was better than the first. Verlander and Liriano hit their strides, though Greinke and Prior fell off. Oddly, it was the relatively neglected offense (3rd in the conference in runs scored) that proved more solid, as Carlos Guillen, Mike Cameron, and Mike Lowell performed well. United also got some useful offense from firstbasemen Ryans Sheely and Garko, and from catcher David Ross. At the All-Star break, United was one game over .500. It wasn't serious playoff contention, but after a 3-13 run United wasn't really heard from again. 2005 A Marlinesque retooling saw Clemens, Jenkins, Victor Martinez, Alou, Rincon, Duchscherer, Washburn, Rincon, abd Tomko all shipped out of town for pitchers who wouldn't be ready before 2006. It got really bad, at 28-81, as the offense was dead last in most categories. Only Carlos Guillen and Mike Cameron had respectable seasons, and both were hurt much of the year. Mark Prior had a 3.09 ERA but lack of support caused a 6-13 record. The last third of the season saw Madiba play better ball, and they won more than they lost over the last 53 games, a stunning achievement for a stunningly bad team. 2004 A flurry of trades reshaped United, leaving them with a strong team that jelled in the second half of the season. Mortgaging the future for veterans like Steve Finley, Moises Alou, and Damaso Marte, Madiba went 47-38 before the all star break, and 52-25 afterwards. With rival Kiev floundering, Madiba clinched in mid-September. The offense was led by the infield of Sean Casey, Mark Loretta, and Carlos Guillen, as outfield production generally sputtered. On the mound, Roger Clemens was a bona fide ace, going 21-3, 2.58. Juan Rincon (12-2, 1.94) was stellar in relief. Though the offense and pitching were both better than average, it was the defense which sparkled, as Madiba erred only 58 times all season and allowed only 32 earned runs. In the playoffs, Rincon was less than stellar, blowing games 3 and 5, and Madiba succumbed in seven to the Maui Stingrays. 2003 A little too much stagnation, and an injury to Randy Johnson doomed the 2003 edition. The first was fixable, as United sent away Carlos Delgado, Shannon Stewart, and Alomar for Manny Ramirez, Josh Phelps, and Jarrod Washburn, but it also cost United their first round pick. United finally gave up on Johnson just a bit too soon, and the season deteriorated likewise. Madiba did amuse their fans by climbing to 54-57 in early August, but then lost 17 of 20 to be buried for good. The heart of the order was strong, with Jorge Posada, Brian Giles, and whichever of Ramirez and Lance Berkman were around. But the loss of Johnson meant that the pitching staff was hopelessly adrift, and the team finished last in the conference, and posted only a 73 win season. 2002 Carolina beat out Madiba by 3 games in the IIBL’s closest division race, but it wasn’t really all that close, as the lead was 13 ½ games in late July. Even in mid-September it was 8 games, so there really wasn’t much drama. The race for the playoff spot was a little more interesting, at least while Grand Mound was playing well. Madiba was 48-39 at the All-Star break, and played .500 ball for another month through August 3, then they got hot with a 39-13 finish. The starting pitching was admirable, as Al Leiter and Cory Lidle combined to go 17-3 over the stretch. The offense scored nearly 7 runs a game, and Brian Giles went ballistic. The hot streak continued into the playoffs, where Madiba downed Rosehaven in 7, and then shocked Carolina in 4. They came back to reality in dropping the first three to Sycamore, and then gave them a mild scare before succumbing in 6. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
