Victory League Ledger

**reds1** · 11-17-2008, 11:31 PM

Winnipeg’s Major League Hopes Grounded?
Press Conference Cancellation Fuels Rabid Speculation

By Tyler Scott, Winnipeg Free Press
August 14, 2017

Winnipeg, MB – When Councillor Larry Dewar arrived at City Hall this morning, the last thing he expected was to be the focal point of controversy over the City’s recent efforts to acquire a major league baseball team. But that is precisely what happened when he showed up wearing what appeared to be the new uniform for a Winnipeg Pilots ball club.

Late last week, the Mayor’s office scheduled a press conference for this morning, but remained curiously silent on its purpose. Speculation ran wild over the weekend as it was known that City Hall had been working closely with the consortium that was set up to bring major league baseball to the Peg. At the last minute, however, the press conference was called off, again without any explanation. But someone apparently forgot to tell Mr. Dewar. The rookie Councillor inadvertently walked into a gauntlet of cameras while wearing the gaudy baseball jersey with the word ‘Pilots’ emblazoned on the front. He then beat a hasty retreat into his office without answering any of the reporters’ questions. Casual Monday, we think not.

Despite the reticence on City Hall’s part to explain the strange developments over the past few days, it is not difficult to surmise their nature, even without the benefit of Mr. Dewar’s unusual wardrobe choice. The Dream Big – Play Big (DBPB) Consortium, headed by city entrepreneur Brent Hatskin, has been very vocal in broadcasting its stated goal of bringing a major league baseball team to Winnipeg. Sources within City Hall as well as in the Victory League indicated to us that an announcement was imminent. But the reports used as a basis for holding a press conference now appear to have been premature. They appear to have been overly optimistic as well. The Free Press has learned that discussions between the DBPB and the Minnesota North Stars, the team rumored to be on the selling block, have not progressed beyond generalities. Calls put into the Victory League’s Commissioner’s office as well as to the Minnesota North Stars were not immediately returned.

“There Will Be Baseball”

That’s not to say no one is speaking about the situation, however. Regan Katz, as President and CEO of the Winnipeg Goldeyes, has more than a passing interest in whether DBPB succeeds in its mandate. But he is growing increasingly impatient with all the false starts and general wholesale fumbling that has characterized their efforts to bring major league baseball to his hometown.

“The collapse of the Northern League certainly has changed the landscape for baseball in this City”, Katz explained. “It has given local baseball fans a chance to look at all of their options and I fully support that. Obviously when we learned that there was a serious push to bring major league baseball to Winnipeg, we stepped aside and put our negotiations with the American Association on hold. But these efforts cannot drag on indefinitely without something concrete. The American Association has been very gracious and the owners have not closed the door on us yet, but they have a 2018 baseball season to prepare for and will not wait for us if things drag on too long. Our position is that there will be baseball in Winnipeg next year. One way or another, there will be baseball. Winnipeg is too valuable and successful of a market not to have baseball. We have Canwest Park that is all ready to go for an exciting new chapter in baseball here and we are prepared to embark on that with the American Association.”

At least one city councillor agrees.

“Make no mistake, the dream of bringing a major league baseball team to Winnipeg is an exciting one, but the logistics are just not there – it just doesn’t make any practical sense”, concluded Trudy Wasylycia-Leis. “The Goldeyes have done a tremendous job in building and expanding Canwest Park, but at 11,000 seats, it’s not exactly major league size. You’re going to have to at least triple its seating capacity. But where are they going to get the room to expand it, never mind the space needed for parking and the needed infrastructure upgrades? And of course, the question of whether this is the best use of taxpayers’ money is a valid one. The whole thing has not been very well thought out in my opinion.”

Time To Clear The Air

Katz and Wasylycia-Leis are not alone in their reservations as to the prospects of Winnipeg landing a major league baseball team. Especially when there is a willing suitor in the form of the independent American Association. Given the time constraints and facility limitations, nothing more than a Triple A club can realistically be pursued. Even that would be a stretch, given this late date. It is time for Mr. Hatskin and Mayor Sam Norrie to be forthright as to their plans, and to be realistic about them. If there is no comprehensive plan on the table to procure and accommodate a major league team, they should say so and yield to the efforts of others. It is unfair to the Goldeyes and their fans to leave them dangling when time is of the essence. It is time to clear the air and not leave us in the dark. Mr. Dewar for one would appreciate it.

**reds1** · 12-01-2008, 07:38 PM

North Stars Staying Put
New Ownership, Identity Announced

By Paul Shirley, Star Tribune
September 25, 2017

Minneapolis, MN – Its official – the North Stars are going nowhere. And no, we’re not referring to the standings, Mr. Smarty-Pants. The organization officially announced today that controlling interest of the team will pass from Ray C. Bollard, the longtime and elderly owner of the North Stars to a group of Minneapolitans led by Robert Castle, chairman of The Castle Company. Completion of the deal is expected sometime in January, pending League approval.

With rumors of a potential move to Canada swirling all about the ball club and with the team seemingly drifting rudderless as a result, news of the resolution to the ownership issue could not have been more welcome to the team’s fan base. But just as relieved are the team’s employees and players, whose play no doubt has been affected by all the uncertainty, whether they care to admit to it or not.

“We Can Finally Move Forward”

“It’s a huge weight that’s been lifted off our shoulders,” replied the North Stars GM, who has been given the additional title of President of Baseball Operations as part of the new ownership arrangement. “Since nothing was definite and the whole ownership process was long and drawn out, we could not officially respond to all the rumors that were being reported on and passed around as if they were factual. But now we can finally move forward and concentrate on bringing championship baseball back to Minnesota. Our fans have been very long-suffering and we want to reward their patience with exciting new developments that will mark a new era in our history.”

Perhaps most prominent of the developments, at least initially, will be the team’s new identity, featuring new uniforms and logos for the 2018 season. A specific date for the unveiling has not been announced, but according to the team’s website, it will be sometime in October, most likely following the conclusion of the World Championship Series.

Potential New Faces For 2018

But fans should also notice some significant changes to those who will be inside those new togs next spring. If the North Stars refrain from active participation in the free agent market this off-season as anticipated, it’s entirely possible that no less than seven players from AAA Hoover will be with the major league team come opening day. Part of this is due to the team’s desire to shed salaries. The perceived lack of performance from the more established players is also a motivating factor. But another reason is that the North Stars have so many players down in AAA that appear ready to take the next step.

“John Humphrey (14-4, 3.04), James Gorman (9-6, 2.78) and even Mark Lee (11-6, 3.01), who was up here briefly in August, all have a real shot at making the starting rotation next year and we would like to see them do it”, confided Landers. Indeed, beyond James Brauer’s (17-8, 2.94) outstanding season, the rotation depth drops off precipitously. David Otero (6-10, 3.84) looks to have a lock as the 2nd starter, at least for the time being. Stephen Bushnell (4-2, 3.66), who started the year in AAA but returned with a splash in August and signed a 3-year deal with club, will also be in the mix. Jesus Centeno (8-17, 5.96), Jacob Bowley (4-12, 5.18) and Christopher Ortega (4-11, 5.99) are largely viewed now as afterthoughts, but one of them may hang on as a middle reliever if the team does not go after an inexpensive LHP in free agency or via a trade.

As to the position spots, the outfield featuring Joseph Ingrassia (.249, 6 HR, 43 RBI), Raphael Paz (.210, 11 HR, 35 RBI) and William Zaragoza (.234, 8 HR, 43 RBI) was a veritable wasteland. Look for AAA outfielders Antonio Galindo (.301, 13 HR, 55 RBI) and John Ward (.333, 15 HR, 71 RBI) to step in with only Ingrassia returning, at least for one more season.

Another area of weakness has been at the catcher position, but the North Stars appear content to leave Brett Garden (.285, 6 HR, 30 RBI) in for now as a placeholder until top prospect Jesus Gonzalez is ready. AAA catcher David Novoa (.260, 7 HR, 49 RBI) will most likely replace outgoing Israel Montelongo (.220, 3 HR, 37 RBI) as the backup.

If 2B Miguel Ucelay (.296, 5 HR, 60 RBI, 81 SB), 3B Ko-taro Mashai (.241, 28 HR, 93 RBI) and SS Darryl Fugate (.268, 18 HR, 84 RBI) are virtual locks to return, who will man the other hot corner is anyone’s guess at this point. Roderick Bradburn (.274, 13 HR, 41 RBI) saw the bulk of the work at 1B but was dropped down in the depth chart in favor of prospect Thomas Pedraza (.255, 5 HR, 20 RBI) late in the season. With Marc Elsner (.272, 13 HR, 59 RBI) appearing poised to move up to the parent club as well, something will have to give. Look for the team to try and make a deal to move one of these players before opening day.

Changes For The Better?

What all this will mean for the 2018 edition of the North Stars remains to be seen. But with the potential for so many rookies joining the ranks, there are bound to be growing pains as the team – dare I say – rebuilds? Although optimistic, at least the North Stars GM is not looking through rose-colored glasses.

“No one is happy with a last place finish, that’s for certain,” reiterated Landers. “But we’re not looking for quick fixes either. The high payroll was a major issue in the protracted ownership negotiations, so it’s not going to be ignored. But the mandate I have been given is to put a competitive team on the field while making our expenses more manageable and that is what I intend to do. I’ll stand on my head if I half to. Here I’ll even show you.”

At least he didn’t offer to drop his pants.

**knucklehead7** · 12-04-2008, 02:23 PM

That page you created is pretty slick. I'm looking forward to seeing the new look Daren.

**reds1** · 12-07-2008, 11:23 PM

North Stars Unveil New Identity

By Paul Shirley, Star Tribune
October 23, 2017

Minneapolis, MN – In a press conference held today at Metropolitan Stadium, the Minnesota North Stars unveiled the team’s new identity system that includes newly designed logos, colors and uniforms. Players Miguel Ucelay, Ko-taro Mashai and James Brauer, as well as ladies from the team’s “Starlets” helped display the new uniforms.

“We feel like we have created a brand and image that our fans, players and organization can really be proud of,” declared the North Stars GM.

The first thing one notices is that the home jerseys are black in lieu of the traditional white. Crimson red with gold trim outlining the script lettering will compliment the uniform with a starburst poking out from behind the lettering. The road jersey is traditional grey with the script lettering in black with gold and red trim and a similar starburst. Both the home and road uniforms feature a black cap with a red bill. A script ‘M’ in red with a baseball orbiting it dons the cap. It also features prominently in the team’s new primary logo.

The alternate jersey is crimson red with black piping and features the team’s secondary logo on the left chest. The cap is also red with a black bill. It also features the primary logo, albeit using a script ‘M' in black.

The jerseys and caps will both be available for purchase in the coming weeks at the North Stars’ online shop, just in time for Christmas.

**Felix** · 12-07-2008, 11:24 PM

Very nice looking jerseys and logo.

**knucklehead7** · 12-07-2008, 11:26 PM

These are sharp Daren! The maroon and gold stands out on the black background.

**reds1** · 12-08-2008, 01:24 AM

Thanks Alex, Mike. You're right, it is maroon, not crimson. At any rate, the color scheme is simply a rip off of the River Cats, including the swirling baseball.

As to why I bother doing multiple jerseys, you can blame DreamTeams for that.

**reds1** · 06-18-2009, 06:08 PM

Dazed and Confused
North Stars Need to Pick Up the Pieces Following Train Wreck of a Season

By Paul Shirley, Star Tribune
October 8, 2019

Minneapolis, MN – The clubhouse is quiet now at the venerable Metropolitan Stadium, with the players having quickly cleaned out their lockers, said their goodbyes and headed back to their homes, families and golf courses. It is perhaps the only efficient thing the team has accomplished all year. The denizens of a front office that has assumed the demeanor of a bunker, however, are still here, taking stock of a season that went so painfully awry right from the get go.

For a team that was willing to “stand on its head” to turn its recent fortunes around, it must have been acutely painful to have witnessed those efforts fall flat on their face. For his part, the North Stars’ GM has remained steadfastly silent through it all, refusing to speak to the media or answer questions as to the club’s future. This after nearly two and a half seasons of bravado and flashy announcements that addressed the appearance but not the substance of an organization that was clearly headed for a steep decline. The new owners must be wondering just what the heck they got themselves into. Whatever it is, it isn’t pretty.

Collectively, the team batted an anemic .231 avg/.290 OBP/.349 SLG/.639 OPS, worst in the majors. As bad as the offense was (and it was really bad), the pitching fared no better, finishing with a league-worst 4.46 ERA and a WHIP of 1.42. As anyone living in the Land of 10,000 Lakes will tell you, the only thing worse than crossing paths with a skunk is crossing paths with two skunks. There is no escape, and baseball fans in the North Star State have had to endure the team’s rankness in both halves of an inning all season long.

This was not a team that merely had one or two players endure a sub-par season. This was a bad team all around and it needs a shake-up now. With the exception of veterans SS Darryl Fugate, CL Wade Middlebrooks, rookie C Jesus Gonzalez and second year man SP John Humphrey, no one stepped up to consistently provide the evidence that they belong in the majors as front-line starters. With just four players playing up to expectations, its little wonder then that the team racked up 104 losses – worst in the majors; not just for this season, but for at least the last seven. 104 losses and that was before the team rounded out the season with a five game winning streak.

Half-Measures Produced Complete Failure

All season long, while the offense sputtered and pitching was being lit up night after night, the team seemed clueless as to how to address their problems. The club engaged in a sort of ML-AAA shuffle – sending down, calling up and then sending back down the same tired, old players we’ve seen again and again in a fruitless attempt to shake things up. When it didn’t take, the team appeared to just give up and write the season off, regardless of their paying customers who came to see this sorry outfit game in and game out.

Even the unexpected signing of Fugate to a lucrative long term deal seems to have been done out of panic and for short term gain rather than from a carefully, well thought out game plan. While arguably one of the finest offensive shortstops in the Victory League today, the team is reputedly experiencing a measure of financial duress. It remains to be seen therefore, whether the club can hold onto their best player or be forced to move him for monetary reasons.

But it’s not as though the organization is without any options down in AAA Hoover. In fact, it has an enticing crop of pitching and position prospects that are ready to move up, if only the powers that be would let them. Granted, the North Stars’ ability to improve its performance on the field was hampered by the unfortunate long-term injuries to RF Rafeal Ibarra, SP Alejandro Rodriguez and SP Justin Josephson. But there remains promising starters Jorge Navarro, Steve McGill, Bartolo Monterrosa and Mike Hale, middle reliever George Compton as well as potential uber-closer Phil Montgomery.

On the offensive side of things, Minnesota has outfielder Andres Rodriguez, as well as infielders Josh McMillan, Ambrosi Cestini and Bill Brown who all appear poised to take the next step. Out of all of these promising players, only one player, catcher Jesus Gonzalez got the call. But it wasn’t until June 3 that he was brought up – exactly two months into the season. A classic case of ‘too little, too late’.

In With the New, Out With the Old

The 2019 season is over – gone, and no doubt it’s for the best that it be relegated to the rear view mirror forever. But the Minnesota North Stars must come to grips with its present. Its current make-up is unacceptable and a major overhaul must be embraced if it is to have any chance of returning to the success it enjoyed just a few years ago when the North Stars were frequent playoff contenders.

Admittedly, that won’t be easy. Minnesota remains burdened with large contracts to players like 3B Ko-taro Mashai, SP David Otero and SP Christopher Ortega. But Ortega’s guaranteed contract expires this year with one arbitration-eligible year left. Otero has a player option for 2020 and the team will have to wait and see if he picks it up or opts for free agency. No doubt the North Stars are hoping for the latter. While his performance actually improved from last season, the team would no doubt welcome the financial breathing room his departure would create.

Unless he is traded or retires, Mashai and his $12 million annual salary will be with the club until the 2021 season. While Mashai is rumored to have requested a trade, it is doubtful the team will find any takers for the expensive underachiever.

But these obstacles must not used as an excuse to delay the revamping of the organization. The team must find a way to embrace the new and truly re-invent itself; not just in uniforms or silly promotions, but where it really counts – between the lines.

After all, things couldn’t possibly get any worse, could it?

**knucklehead7** · 06-18-2009, 06:39 PM

That's quite a write-up, Daren.

**Tavarin** · 06-18-2009, 07:59 PM

Very good article Daren.

**Heymaker22** · 06-23-2009, 09:16 PM

Here We Go Again
Former Major League Talent Crosses Over to the Victory League

AP - November 16, 2019

Fifteen years ago a superstar declared for free agency in the Victory League. That man known as Josh Hamilton now owns nearly half of the VL career hitting records. He did not come over from Major League Baseball with high hopes though. The former first overall pick in the 1999 MLB first year player draft had a tough start to his baseball career. After a long battle with drugs Josh was given a second chance in the VL. It took a visit with the commissioner to get that chance though. Josh has said in the past, "Mr. Jeffries looked me right into my eyes a believed that I had changed. He then handed me his personal phone number which I thought was kind of strange. He also said it went directly to his bat phone."

We have seen multiple crossovers in the VL's past but none recently. That all changed today when they announced the free agent class for its upcoming season. The names of those players are Mark Prior, Bryan Bullington, Delmon Young, Joe Borchard, and J.D. Drew. Yes, that J.D. Drew.

Mark Prior is arguably the most prolific name on this list. Unlike the rest of the players Mark had a great start to his career. His eighteen win season in 2003 was one of the best in recent memories. After that it all went down hill and the guy just couldn't stay healthy. Some people blame the freak collision on the base paths with Marcus Giles caused all of it. When asked about this decision he stated, "I have been trying to get back into baseball for years. I work out everyday and my arm is feeling great. For some reason I just can't get a tryout in the MLB anymore. I decided to give it one more shot in the VL just becuase I think I can get a job here. This league has been growing over the past couple decades and I have much respect for the teams and players."

Bryan Bullington is also another former number one draft pick. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and spent numerous season in the minor leagues but never made in the majors. He spent his whole career as a starting pitcher but has now come to the VL as a closer. Bullington said, "I just don't have the endurance to be an effective starter but if you need three outs I can get it done."

The oldest man is this group is J.D. Drew. He had a very successful major league career which confused many baseball officials on why he would return. Drew's reason for coming back to baseball, "I miss Scotty."

Whichever team signs any of these players will more than likely expect a boost in their fan interest. Just the popularity of these guys will put some more butts in the seats.