Rebels - Danger Make a Deal

In perhaps a futile attempt to make a run at the Clowns, Dem Rebels shored up their starting rotation and their infield.

Dem Rebels traded Jason Heyward (.15 13!) and Travis Wood (.09 14+) to the Danger in exchange for Ryan Zimmerman (.27 12!) and Mark Buehrle (.09 14+).

Trade and IFAB Day

We are approaching a deadline and a date that we need to be aware of.  First the deadline.

The CFCL Trade Deadline is Noon (CST) on Wednesday, August 1st.  We've had a few trades already this month and more are expected.  We are all familiar with the process, but with a deadline as part of the mix, things could get dicey.  Let's review the process.

In order for a trade to be official both teams involved in the trade must report the trade to the Commission ALONG WITH ALL ASSOCIATED MOVES.  I know you all know this, but understand that if both teams don't report the deal with their associated moves by Noon, Wednesday, August 1st, then the trade is invalid and will not be allowed - period.

If the Commissioner is involved in the trade then they and the other team involved will report the trade with associated moves to the Executive Committee.

I strongly encourage everyone to visit the Constitution to answer any questions you may have about the CFCL Trade Deadline.

Now on to the date to be aware of.  The Interleague Free Agent Bid Day is the day after the National League Trade Deadline.  So, on Wednesday, August 1st each owner of the CFCL is allowed to place bids - in the same fashion that we do on each Sunday.  The deadline is 3pm (CST) and you are allowed to bid on ANYONE in the Free Agent Pool, not only players recently arriving from the American League.  Same rules apply - you are only allowed to bid up to the amount you have remaining in your FAAB, if you bid (and acquire) a player for .25 or more, you are required to keep that player going into next year's draft.

I strongly encourage everyone to visit the Constitution to answer any questions you may have about IFAB Day.

Rebel - Revenge Swap

With twelve days left until the trade deadline the Revenge and Dem Rebels went their separate ways.  The Revenge, in an effort to close the gap between them and the Clowns picked up some speed in Jose Reyes (.29 12).  Dem Rebels, realizing that trying to overtake the Clowns would be a daunting challenge gave up Reyes to snag the Poor Man's Andrew McCutchen in Starling Marte (.10 Mx) and the Revenge's 4th round pick.

More interesting that this trade will be the potential domino effect that could have the next week and a half become of flurry of activity with no less than eight teams still having a legitimate shot to finish in the money.

If the season ended today . . .

OK, I hate that assumption.  The season isn't ending today.  BUT there is an interesting development happening - hand in hand with the fact that teams are jumping from sixth to third in the course of a couple hours each night.  If we look ahead to the use of the Home Team Discount, here's how things stand currently.

Bulls (sitting in the sweet spot) .06
Rebels .05
Ruffins .05
DoorMatts .05
Killers .04
Danger .03
President of the Carlos Lee Fan Club .03

The standings are tightly packed and I don't ever recall this much money being in play for the HTD.  Speaks volumes to the talent of our owners, the parity we've achieved and the fact that no one has made any assinine dump trades to completely tank for the season.

First Trade of the 2012 Season

Just hours after the e-mail from the Bulls admonishing the league at the lack of trades, the Killers and Revenge announce a blockbuster.

The Revenge trade Matt Harvey (.05 Mx) and Martin Maldanado (.06 14+) to the Killers for Yadier Molina .06 12.  The Killers waive Brett Pill (.05 14+) to make room for their two new players.

Natural Day - 2012

Celebrating the 28th anniversary of Ryne Sandberg's incredible game against the St. Louis Cardinals, our CFCL version of The Natural Day had its own come from behind heroics.

For much of the evening the Clowns held a lead, at times commanding, in what looked like a cakewalk to a $25 gift certificate.  Instead, inning by inning, batter by batter the Revenge chipped away at the lead and ended up winning in convincing fashion.  Last year's winner, The Ruffins, finished last this year, no doubt suffering from the Head Ruffin being away on a scouting trip in Europe.

Here are the final results as well as some interesting notes about the Cubs vs. Cardinals game in 1984.

Revenge - 55 (MLB.com gift card will be on its way).  Oh, by the way, the Revenge also won K-Wood day this year making it a clean sweep.
Clowns - 48
Beatniks - 41
Bulls - 40
DoorMatts - 38
Dem Rebels - 37
Twin Killers - 33
Kenndoza Line - 22
Stranger Danger - 20
RYNE SANDBERG - 20
Ruffins - 11

• Ralph Citarella was the starting pitcher for the Cardinals on 6/23/84.  He was staked to a 7-1 lead early in the game but came away with a no decision.  As if the baseball gods were saying "Well, if you can't win this game. . . " Citarella never won a major league game.
• Often overlooked, Willie McGee hit for the cycle.
• Steve Trout was the starting pitcher for the Cubs that day, giving up 7 earned runs in one and a third innings.
• Current Cubs broadcaster, Keith Moreland, played rightfield and went 0-4.
• Many people have claimed that Sandberg won the game with his second homerun off Bruce Sutter.  In fact he tied the game in the 9th and again in the 10th inning with homeruns off Sutter.
• Dave Owens knocked in Leon Durham with the winning run in the 11th inning.
• Cardinals closer, Bruce Sutter, entered the game in the 7th inning and proceeded to pitch three and a third innings (giving up three earned runs).
• Attendance for the game was 38,079.

Welcome Back

The Ruffins have headed out for their Annual European Sabbatical.  While they plan on running their team while roaming among the art and sipping wine in Italy (yes it's good to be The Professor) they have put in place a back up plan should Italian Internet Service become infested by the European Problem known as Greece.

The have hired pro-tem none other than David Mahlan to act as Assistant GM (yes, it's VERY good to be The Professor).  So for those of you scoring at home (or even if you're alone), that's The Professor (owner of four CFCL titles) running the show, being backed up by The Copperfield (owner of eleven CFCL titles) working to guide The Ruffins to a three-peat.

I have not received confirmation that Mr. Mahlan has authority to make trades, so at this point (until July at least) I would suggest sending any communication to The Professor's e-mail address should you want to deal.