Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen

I want to start by thanking Rich for devoting an entire Monroe Doctrine to my retirement from the ownership ranks of the CFCL. Wow, if I had known I’d receive a tribute like that, I would have bowed out a long time ago – I haven’t had that many nice things said about me since … well, ever, really. Before I get all Sally Field on everyone, a couple other reactions to Rich’s piece:

• 9900 days? Really? Geez, if I had known we were that close to 10,000, I might have played another year (or at least held off on announcing my retirement until next February). “10,000 Days of Fantasy” would have made a great title for my memoirs…
• It’s phrases like “vile, despicable scum” that make the CFCL so special. Now that phrase probably means nothing to anyone other than Rich and I (and maybe The Professor) since it harkens way back to the earliest days of the league, but it’s something that’s entered our permanent vocabulary, ready to be broken out at anytime, but also reserved for very special uses. CFCL lore is littered with similar phrases and memories.
• Good god, I had forgotten that I used to actually type out the standings on my mom’s old manual typewriter – it wasn’t even an electric! I don’t know what’s more amazing: that I actually had the time to do that each week, or that I was such a loser/geek that that’s how I chose to spend the time I did have.

Pretty much everything Rich wrote is true, though I wouldn’t say it exactly tells the full story, because I had plenty of help all along the way, from Bob Monroe (who, as the CFCL’s original “Computer Mole-Man”, was the first to compile Draft Day lists and assisted with early computerization of the stat process, up to Michal C. and Matt G. (who took on some of my Front Office responsibilities over the past couple years.

And of course, there’d be no CFCL without Rich. All I did was show him a book – he’s the one who actually said, “hey, we should do this!” The league has been a true partnership from the very beginning, and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner – y’all are in good hands, as you’ve seen for the past couple years.

Speaking of which, I also want to thank Rich for giving me those. As I’m sure you’ll all recall, I had originally decided to retire before the 2009 season, but it was Rich who suggested I step back on my League Office duties and focus just on the team management aspect. It did give me one last shot at a Championship in 2009, but I could have seen the writing on the wall when I couldn’t even show up at the right damn place for Draft Day in 2010.

Thanks to all of those 39 different CFCL owners who partook in the journey over the years – many of whom I did not know before the CFCL, but who I still call friends, and especially to the current group of 9. And thanks to Rich for the Monroe Doctrine tribute, the chance to play a couple more season, 27+ years of incredible experiences and indescribable fun, and for the many years of friendship still to come.

Ruffins & Copperfields Redux

A week after combining on a 10-player trade, the Ruffins and Copperfields are at it again, though this time on a smaller scale.

With twelve hours remaining until the trade deadline, the Copperfields agreed to send outfielder Josh Willingham (.23 12+) to the Ruffins for starting pitcher Clayton Richard (.10 12+), shortstop prospect Dee Gordon (.05 Mx), and the Ruffins 7th round Rotation Draft pick in 2011.

Clowns At It Again

The Candy Colored Clowns continued their tour of potential CFCL trading partners, this time matching up with the Copperfields for a deal.

In a trade just completed, the Clowns acquired currently-injured second baseman Chase Utley (.40 11+) for often-injured outfielder Carlos Beltran (.19 12+).

The Copperfields become the seventh team the Clowns have dealt with this year, leaving just the DoorMatts and Twin Killers yet undealt with.

Copperfields Join Trading Frenzy in Deal with Ruffins

The 2010 Trade Parade continues as the Copperfields finally find a taker for closer Heath Bell.  On the trading block since the beginning of May, the Coppers have agreed to send Bell to David's Ruffins as part of an 10-player deal.

In the trade announced this morning the floundering Copperfields sent Bell (.20 12+), shortstop Yunel Escobar (.22 11+), first baseman Travis Ishikawa (.07 12+), and relievers Jeff Fulchino (.02 12+) and Mitch Stetter (.02 12+) to the Ruffins.

Leaving the league-leading Ruffins to join the Coppers are first baseman Ike Davis (.05 12+), second baseman Tony Abreu (.05 12+), pitchers Jhoulys Chacin (.02 12+) and Tim Stauffer (.07 12+) and minor leaguer Brett Jackson (.02 Mx).

. . . 'Til I Say It Is!

Proving it's not over 'til it's over (did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?) the Copperfields pulled off a couple of last minute deals in their effort to overtake the DoorMatts and Kenndoza Line.

In an interesting trade between the current third and fourth place teams, the Copperfields traded Mike Stanton (.10 Mx), Miguel Montero (.01 10+), Wil Ohman (.05 11+), Matt Stairs (.05 11+) and the all important Rotation Picks from the 2nd and 7th rounds to the Bulls for Jason Werth (.32 11+), Jason Kendall (.01 11+), Joel Piniero (.05 11+), Kevin Gregg (.02 09) and the 12th and 16th pick of the Bulls.

The Copperfields also picked up some more offensive power by dealing with Moore Better.

The Copperfields traded Mike Cameron (.15 11+), Mitch Stetter (.05 11+) and Angel Villalona (.05 Mx) in exchange for James Loney (.10 09!) and Scott Hairston (.02 11+).

Wait! He's not finished.

Another trade was reported by "Trader" David of the Copperfields. The Copperfields trade Emmanuel Burriss and Chris Iannetta to the Rebels for Ted Lilly and Miguel Montero.

Making a Run

In a trade reported earlier this morning:

The Copperfields trade Prince Fielder, Dexter Fowler, Hong Chi Kuo and Brett Myers to the Red Hots for Chase Utley, Ryan Zimmerman and Javier Vazquez.

Let The Dealing Begin

In a trade announcement that will no doubt send shock waves through the CFCL the Copperfields and Bulls announce:

The Copperfields trade their 16th round pick to the Bulls for David Bush. The Copperfields release Cliff Floyd to make room for, as they stated it, their "new staff ace". Reports out of Milwaukee have Bush heading to the DL, so the Copperfields will have to wait a bit to reap the rewards of this daring deal.

Hots Improve Bullpen in Deal with Copperfields

Mo's Red Hots, who have been one of the more active teams leading up to the trade deadline, today completed their third trade in the last couple weeks.

In their latest deal, they acquired relievers Jonathon Broxton (.05-08) and Brian Shouse (.01-10+) from the Copperfields. In return, they sent bargain-priced pitchers Paul Maholm (.01-09+) and Hong-Chih Kuo (.01-10+) to the Coppers.

Ruffins Acquire Rollins

Hot on the heels of their trade with Dem Rebels a day earlier, David's Copperfields continued their dealing ways, completing a 10-player trade with David's Ruffins.

In this latest move, the Copperfields dealt outfielder Mike Cameron (.18-10+), shortstop Jimmy Rollins (.38-09+), reliever JC Romero (.02-10+), shortstop Omar Vizquel (.01-10+), and rehabbing pitcher Matt Clement (.02-10+) to the Ruffins.

In return, the Ruffins gave up outfielder Chris Young (.10-09+), shortstop Emmanuel Burris (.02-10+), reliever Tony Pena (.01-09+), second baseman Travis Denker (.08-10+), and prospect Michael Burgess (.05-Mx).

Dem Rebels Acquire Teixeira, Others

David's Copperfields became the latest team to get an early start on their 2009 keeper list, dealing 5 veterans to Dem Rebels for a package of young talent.

The Coppers sent first baseman Mark Teixeira (.42-09+), outfielders Brian Giles (.23-10+) and Jeremy Hermida (.10-08), second baseman Ray Durham (.09-10+), and pitcher Ted Lilly (.15-09+) to the Rebels.

In exchange, the Rebels gave up first baseman Prince Fielder (.07-X), outfielder Hunter Pence (.05-09+), pitchers Andrew Miller (.02-10+) and Logan Kensing (.05-10+), and second base prospect Eugenio Velez (.08-10+).

The deal put the Rebels in instant salary cap jeopardy, forcing them to place new acquisitions Giles and Lilly on the Reserve List until the cap expands or they can shuffle their roster further.

Copperfields - Clowns Trade

Hot on the heels of this morning's announcement, the Clowns completed a second deal, sending Jimmy Rollins (.38D) and their 9th round Rotation Draft pick in 2008 to the Copperfields for Ken Griffey Jr (.13D) and Aaron Rowand (.24D).