PVBL: Sacramento River Otters
Trades, Line-up/Rotation
March 1, 2000

Sacramento,

The River Otters have had a very busy off season. The team was sold to an investment group headed by Galena assistant GM Sarah Gordon. Gordon immediately changed the team's name to the River Otters, and set about to remake the team. First, J.D. Drew was designated as next season's right fielder. Then trade negotiations were opened with many teams. After a lot of give and take, the River Otters made their first trade under Gordon management. CF Michael Tucker, SS Mike Metcalfe, Ace Hideo Nomo, and Washington's 1st round ammy draft pick were acquired after CF Rivera, prospect C Davis, and pitchers Matt Morris and Gary Niles were sent off to Coos Bay.

Before the players even had a chance to board a bus to get on over to Sacramento, another trade was made. Aging speedster Deion Sanders, and aging reliever Jerry Spradlin were traded to Galena for the rights to aging SS Orlando Miller. The trading wasn't done yet. Within hours came news that an aged veteran had been added to the team for the 25 year old Brian Hunter. For Hunter, the Otters acquired a career .300 hitter, who also has power (85 home runs), speed (64 SB), and great defensive abilities (8 errors, .998 PCT) - Andres Galarraga.

The last two trades occurred on the night of the PVBL FA draft. In the draft, the Otters finally filled their last glaring hole (not counting the lack of any kind of bullpen), starting pitching. After trading away two great youngsters, the Otters found themselves with only 4 quality starters. In the draft, they acquired Sidney Ponson, who won the 5th starting slot in spring training after competing with Woody Williams. Pitching prospects Kurt Miller and Joe Sherry were also added in the draft.

After spring training, the Otters released their final line-up card for the opening game.

41 game winner Myles Tauscher will pitch the first game.

* signifies just acquired player.
@ signifies rookie.

Batting against both LHP and RHP:
---------------------CH PH SP   FA AS
1. 2B Tucker, M.     52 99 67   45 44  *
.279 hitter 76 steals no errors (at CF)

2. CF Sanders, D.    41 48 87   54 25  *
.263 hitter 116 steals no errors 15 triples

3. RF Drew, J.D.     58 87 62   64 70  @
no stats

4. 1B Galarraga, A.  62 98 63   48 46  *
.300 85 HR 256 RBI 64 SB 8 errors (.998)

5. DH Rodriguez, H.  53 99 33   -----
.260 76 HR 261 RBI 

6. 3B Berry, S.      55 81 47   40 85
.260 59 HR 206 RBI 30 error (.954) 

7.  C Lopez, J.      59 99 22   74 73 
.253 42 HR 4 error (.998)

8. LF O'Leary, T.    51 94 45   42 45
.264 35 HR 1 error (.996)

9. SS Metcalfe, M.   48 35 81   61 46  * 
.223 45 SB 1 error (.987)

Bench: C Posada, 1B Vitiello, SS Dunston, SS Cruz,
RF Nieves

Starters          AS EN CO  FB CU SI SL CB  FA
1. R Tauscher, M. 67 58 99  -- 55 86 -- 61  70
41 wins 21 L 2.49

2. R Nomo, H.     78 92 76  81 -- 80 -- 58  48 * 
39 32 2.75 era 14 CG                  

3. R Wood, K.     99 92 61  99 47 -- 41 77  73
18 21 3.00 

4. R Callahan, F. 75 76 68  65 -- 71 -- 65  42
22 31 4.11

5. R Ponson, S.   69 69 63  58 33 -- 52 57  65 @ 
no stats

Long Relief
1. R Ardell, B.   73 86 88  53 30 ---37-----60 
11 wins, 10 L 3 saves, 3 holds 4.26

Middle Relief:              FB CU SI SL CB
1. R Williams, W. 58 70 68  52 -- 41 61 73  51
7 15 7 saves, 9 holds 4.79

2. R Hutton, M.   75 60 91  57 38 67 45 --  56  
8 20 6 saves, 10 holds 5.09

Setup men:
1. R Spradlin, J. 76 10 56  54 32 -- -- 43  52  *
1.42 era 3 holds

2. R James, M.    62 37 56  65 31 51 -- 31  52
3.38 

Closers:
1. R Mathews, T.J 79 40 99  62 32 -- 70 --  54
10 16 29 saves, 22 holds
4.58 era

(as I said, I don't have a bullpen)

Play Ball!

--written by Sarah Gordon