Mohawk Valley GM Talks Draft Strategy, New Team Nickname

By Matt Eddy

UTICA, N.Y.—The Mohawk Valley franchise suffered a gut-wrenching defeat in the 2012 World Series, dropping three games in a row after jumping out to a two-games-to-one advantage. A clutch two-run homer by Goldenrod's Brandon Phillips in Game 5 proved to be the turning point from which M.V. did not recover.

Motivated to return to the Series, M.V. general manager Matt Eddy conducted all transactions—both trades and draft selections—this offseason with an eye toward making another deep playoff run and, with a little luck, winning the franchise's first title since entering the MMDA prior to the 2002 season.

A trio of winter trades brought closer Joe Nathan, corner outfielder Scott Hairston and the fourth pick in the 2013 draft to Mohawk Valley. The last of those acquisitions cost the club power lefty starter Chris Sale, while M.V. also sacrificed closer Chris Perez, catcher Josh Thole and its fourth-, fifth- and sixth-round draft picks in trade activity.

Mohawk Valley first-rounder Yu Darvish

In the draft, M.V. strategy could be distilled to three main tenants: 1) emphasize long-term impact potential in the first round, 2) load up on card value in the middle rounds, and 3) take fliers on overlooked young talent at the end of the draft. By taking righty Yu Darvish (fourth overall) and catcher Yasmani Grandal (19th), M.V. management believes it acquired players who can contribute immediately and for the foreseeable future. As an added bonus, both Darvish and Grandal can make an impact in a playoff series.

2013 MMDA Draft Supplemental Rounds

Results for the eighth through 15th rounds of the 2013 MMDA draft. For the first seven rounds visit the 2013 Draft Results.

EIGHTH ROUND
141 Drivers Alexi Amarista, 2b
142 Bluejays Ryan Mattheus, rhp
143 Dutchmen Christian Friedrich, lhp
144 Dodgers Joe Kelly, rhp
145 Razorbacks Quintin Berry, of
146 Hornets Alex Burnett, rhp
147 Pilots Alex White, rhp
148 Huskies Ronny Cedeno, ss
149 Maulers Russ Canzler, of
150 Breakers Xavier Paul, of
151 Jive Garrett Richards, rhp
152 Gators Nate Jones, rhp

Gators 10th-rounder Mark Rogers

NINTH ROUND

153 Bluejays Adam Kennedy, 2b
154 Dutchmen Tyler Pastornicky, ss
155 Hornets Kelly Johnson, 2b
156 Pilots Tyler Cloyd, rhp
157 Maulers Jose Iglesias, ss
158 Breakers Craig Breslow, lhp
159 Gators Jim Henderson, rhp

10TH ROUND
160 Bluejays Jerome Williams, rhp
161 Dutchmen Jason Marquis, rhp
162 Gators Mark Rogers, rhp

11TH ROUND
163 Bluejays Kevin Jepsen, rhp
164 Gators Jhoulys Chacin, rhp

12TH ROUND
165 Bluejays Cole DeVries, rhp
166 Gators Steve Johnson, rhp

13TH ROUND
167 Bluejays Jordan Norberto, lhp

14TH ROUND
168 Bluejays Bobby Abreu, of

15TH ROUND
169 Bluejays Carlos Corporan, c

2012 Season: League Leaders & Award Winners

LEAGUE LEADERS FOR 2012 MMDA                                          

 ----BATTING AVERAGE----   --------AT BATS--------   ------RUNS SCORED------  
 V.Martinez    FIR  .369   S.Castro      FIR   690   C.Granderson  JIV   113   
 A.Pujols      DVD  .325   I.Suzuki      DVD   667   J.Upton       HUS   112   
 M.Cabrera     BRK  .319   M.Cabrera     LCN   666   M.Cabrera     BRK   111   
 R.Braun       GOL  .317   B.Phillips    GOL   657   L.Berkman     HUS   108   
 J.Reyes       HUS  .316   M.Kemp        RAZ   653   D.Pedroia     CCB   107   
 M.Kemp        RAZ  .315   N.Markakis    HOR   650   J.Bautista    WSB   105   
 R.Cano        HUS  .313   V.Martinez    FIR   635   D.Ortiz       BRK   105   
 A.Gordon      NWS  .312   M.Bourn       LCN   634   P.Fielder     WSB   104   
 L.Berkman     HUS  .310   H.Pence       LAK   629   R.Braun       GOL   104   
 M.Cuddyer     WSB  .308   E.Andrus      NWS   629   S.Castro      FIR   102   
 J.Loney       SPO  .305   OTHERS TIED WITH    627   H.Pence       LAK   100   
 M.Holliday    CLP  .305                             OTHERS TIED WITH     98   

 ----------HITS---------   --------DOUBLES--------   --------TRIPLES--------  
 V.Martinez    FIR   234   V.Martinez    FIR    50   S.Victorino   WSB    15   
 M.Kemp        RAZ   206   M.Holliday    CLP    47   J.Reyes       HUS    14   
 M.Cabrera     LCN   198   P.Fielder     WSB    46   D.Fowler      NWS    14   
 A.Pujols      DVD   197   D.Ortiz       BRK    46   P.Bourjos     EAG    13   
 R.Cano        HUS   196   M.Young       EAG    46   D.Ackley      EAG    12   
 R.Braun       GOL   195   A.Gordon      NWS    45   J.Weeks       LAK    11   
 M.Cabrera     BRK   194   M.Morse       GOL    44   C.Crawford    DVD    10   
 S.Castro      FIR   191   M.Cabrera     LCN    44   B.Lawrie      FIR     9   
 A.Gordon      NWS   190   B.Zobrist     ROC    43   D.Descalso    LCN     9   
 H.Pence       LAK   189   M.Cabrera     BRK    41   C.Granderson  JIV     9   
 M.Young       EAG   188   OTHERS TIED WITH     40   S.Smith       CAL     9   
 OTHERS TIED WITH    183                             OTHERS TIED WITH      8   

 --------HOMERUNS-------   -----RUNS BATTED IN----   ---------WALKS---------  
 A.Pujols      DVD    48   M.Stanton     FIR   123   J.Bautista    WSB   120   
 M.Stanton     FIR    43   L.Berkman     HUS   120   J.Votto       LCN   118   
 J.Bautista    WSB    42   A.Gonzalez    CCB   119   M.Cabrera     BRK   106   
 L.Berkman     HUS    42   R.Braun       GOL   116   C.Granderson  JIV    91   
 D.Ortiz       BRK    38   R.Cano        HUS   113   L.Berkman     HUS    85   
 M.Napoli      FIR    37   M.Kemp        RAZ   111   E.Longoria    HUS    85   
 P.Fielder     WSB    36   J.Ellsbury    HOR   109   A.McCutchen   NWS    84   
 R.Braun       GOL    36   C.Granderson  JIV   108   Y.Escobar     CLP    83   
 M.Kemp        RAZ    36   D.Ortiz       BRK   106   N.Swisher     CCB    80   
 A.Gonzalez    CCB    35   B.Upton       BRK   105   M.Reynolds    HOR    80   
 C.Granderson  JIV    35   J.Hamilton    ROC   105   M.Holliday    CLP    79   
 OTHERS TIED WITH     33   A.Gordon      NWS   105   OTHERS TIED WITH     72   

Maulers-Huskies pull off pre-Christmas deal

Veteran outfielder Covelli "Coco" Crisp has been sent packing by the St. Louis Maulers, who dealt him to the Northeast Huskies for righthander Ervin "Magic" Santana in a pre-Christmas swap. Crisp hit .272 with 18 stolen bases in part-time duty for the Maulers as they captured the Central Division flag. Santana was 10-7 with a 3.30 ERA for the Huskies, who had the best record in the MMDA but failed to make it beyond the first round of the playoffs.

Dutchmen, Jive swap spare parts

The Elysian Fields Flying Dutchmen have completed their first swap as part of the MMDA, sending outfielder Scott Hairston and the Dutchmen's 7th-round pick in February to the Mohawk Valley Jive in exchange for catcher Josh Thole and the Jive's 4th-rounder.

League welcomes two new skippers

While we were sad to see old friends Jeff Green and Jeff Olson step away from the league this week, we have quickly found two capable, experienced replacements in Jim Pardee and Clyde Elkins. Jim takes over Jeff Olson's Yankee Clippers, and being from Columbus, Ohio, he is even keeping the team name as the Columbus Clippers. Clyde takes over the Michigan Lakers, with a mouthful of a team name, the Elysian Fields Flying Dutchmen, a double tribute to baseball's roots.

Please send a warm welcome to the league's new members, and perhaps drop a trade inquiry while you're at it. Both clubs have some nice long-term talent, some good card value, and some, uh, shall we say, dead weight?

Rule votes: Yes to cutting beyond 35, no to balanced schedule

The league's voters have spoken. The seemingly annual proposal to shift back to a balanced schedule failed, though it did garner a majority of votes, with 10 managers saying yes and eight saying no. As rule proposals must gain 2/3 majority of votes, it was two shy off approval. There is a definite split in the league between the "more head-to-head games" camp and the "fairer schedule" group. I can understand and emphasize with both sides.

The second proposal, which suggested allowing teams to cut below 35 picks and fill out their roster by drafting beyond the 7th round, passed in a landslide, with 15 yes votes and three no votes. This will take effect for the 2013 draft. All teams are allowed to cut below 35 if they like. You must declare your cuts on January 1, just like teams that cut to the traditional 35-man limit. As stated in the rule proposal, picks in the 8th round and later cannot be traded.

The league constitution will be updated on the website shortly.