Source: Hoyle Trades Both Closers

According to a source with intimate knowledge of the team's off-season activities, Julian Javelina GM Jamie Hoyle has agreed to two separate deals involving closers Huston Street and Francisco Cordero. The source indicated it is likely the team will receive draft pick compensation in both deals. "He [Hoyle] was determined to create six contract openings heading into the draft," explained the source. "Now if he's able to move Kyle Blanks, he'll have the flexibility to add another contract during the meetings."

Javelina Interested in Moving Up

Javelina GM Jamie Hoyle today expressed an interest in potentially trading up toward the middle or beginning of the second round of the 2011 eMLB Draft. While it remains unknown which position the team would like to fill by moving up, speculation centers around outfield and second base. "Certainly," said Hoyle when asked if the rumors were true. "If the right opportunity presented its self we'd be foolish not to pursue it." It remains to be seen if that opportunity will, in fact, present its self.

Javelina Winding Down Winter Shopping List

Reports out of Julian suggest Javelina GM Jamie Hoyle is nearing the end of his winter shopping list. While no specifics have been mentioned, it seems Hoyle has been successful in completing two of his major off-season priorities; adding an impact bat and moving one of his closers. There is a strong possibility the team could hold a press conference to announce anywhere from two to five off-season trades when the Winter Meetings begin. One thing is certain; the Javelina have no intention of missing the boat on what promises to be an extremely active 2011 eMLB Winter Meetings. Stay tuned for further reports.

Javelina Still Shopping Blanks

A source within the organization has confirmed the Julian Javelina are determined to trade 1B/OF Kyle Blanks this off-season. It is believed the team is not terribly concerned with getting much in return, as GM Jamie Hoyle is more focused on simply clearing a contract spot than he is getting a great deal of value back. Those close to the situation say the team is open to a draft pick in almost any round if that is what is required to get a deal done. The team hopes interest in Blanks will heat up once the Winter Meetings begin.

Trade Winds Swirling Through Julian

With the eMLB Winter Meetings just a few weeks away, rumors are running rampant that the Julian Javelina are on the verge of completing a big trade. Details have not yet been made available, but it is believed the trade will involve GM Jamie Hoyle trading an early draft pick for an impact offensive player. While it remains unclear who that player is, Hoyle has made his interest in either a second baseman or outfielder known to all. Stay tuned for the Winter Meetings, as the team is expected to make their official announcement early on in the proceedings.

Javelina Add Konerko

With a little luck, what has been a year-long search for power and run production on the part of Javelina GM Jamie Hoyle has finally ended. If it has, in deed come to an end; it will be because Hoyle managed to add slugging 1B Paul Konerko.

Konerko comes to Julian in the midst of perhaps his best season. Following play Sunday, Konerko ranks in the top six in eMLB in home runs (20, T-1), runs batted in (56, T-5), .slugging percentage (.586, 4th), and OPS (.984, 6th). He also ranks among the top 35 with a .302 batting average and a .394 on base percentage. He will enter a lineup that currently ranks 9th in eMLB in home runs and 13th in RBI.

"We have guys who are supplying power, but we needed someone to shoulder the load," explained Hoyle. "Adding someone like Paul to the order takes some pressure off a few others, which should help. He should give us an instant shot of adrenaline."

In order to add Konerko, the team had to part with Adam LaRoche and Andres Torres. LaRoche performed well for the Javelina (.256, 11, 51), but there is no denying Konerko is the better player. Torres had not seen any regular playing time with the team, but has enjoyed a very solid season and should help Encinitas add some depth to their lineup.

"We had looked into ways to find Torres some playing time, but simply couldn't get comfortable with taking someone out of the lineup to create a spot," said Hoyle. "In the end, he'll see more playing time, which is best for him."

Swings and Misses...

OF Shin Soo Choo enjoyed a pair of 2HR, 4RBI games this week....Yovani Gallardo pitched brilliantly (5 H, 0BB 12 K) in his complete game shut out....sources close to the team suggest the Javelina may have one more trade up their collective sleeve.....

Javelina Ground Eagles In 7-5 Win

It wasn't pretty, it certainly wasn't easy, but a "W" is a "W"; and the Javelina walked away with just that in winning a hotly contested week eight match-up of playoff hopefuls. Despite hitting only .220 as a team and struggling to drive in runs all week, Julian escaped Olivet with a crucial 7-5 series win. While the pitching led the way, late home runs from Geovany Soto and Ryan Zimmerman iced the win.

While late offense won it, there is no mistaking that the Julian pitching staff made that win possible. Just one week after posting a 6+ ERA, the Julian pitchers responded to a challenge from GM Jamie Hoyle and were nearly flawless from start to finish. The starting rotation got it started by allowing only four earned runs in 41 total innings (5 W, 41 IP, 26 H, 4 ER, 16 BB, 43 K). Jered Weaver, Johnny Cueto, and Yovanni Gallardo combined for 22 scoreless innings.

As they tend to do, the bullpen put the finishing touches on a great pitching week with 16 scoreless innings, 16 strike outs, a save and five holds. While all of the relievers were nearly untouchable, the best performance of the week came from set-up man Mike Adams (4 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 2 Holds).

As good as the pitching was, the offense was equally bad. The offense hit only .215 for the week, drove in only 19 runs, scored a paltry 26 runs. They did manage eight home runs, including two from Ryan Zimmerman on Sunday, and 26 walks; which was enough to win both categories. The offense was led by Josh Willingham (.333, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 4 R, 4 BB) and Orlando Hudson (.292, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB).

Swing and Misses....

Ryan Zimmerman's two home runs on Sunday were the 100th and 101st of his career....Sunday was the ninth career multi-homer game for Zimmerman....OF Adam Lind will watch week nine action from the bench as he continues to work through his offensive funk...OF Shin Soo Choo was hitless in his weekend series against the Yankees.

Julian Take Bite Out of Springfield, Wins 8-4

Don't look now, but the Julian Javelina appear to be finding their rhythm. Julian downed its third consecutive opponent last week, defeating the Springfield Flying Squirrels of Republic by a count of 8-4. The series win gave the Javelina a record of 36-31-5 and vaulted them past two teams and into first place in the West.

The win was highlighted by yet another sparkling pitching performance which included 42 strike outs, a 1.69 team ERA, and two saves. The staff was led by the right arms of Jered Weaver (7IP, 1 ER, 12K) and Joel Pineiro (12 IP, 0 ER, 12K, 0.50 WHIP), despite the fact that they combined for only one win. The bullpen was also nearly flawless in recording two saves and four holds en route to controlling half of the pitching stats.

Perhaps more importantly, the offense showed its first signs of sustained life. After a slow start, Julian hit a combined .382 (34/89) Thursday through Saturday with 6 home runs, 25 RBI, 22 R, 10 BB and 3 SB. The offense was led by Ryan Zimmerman (.345, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R, 3 BB), Andrew McCutchen (.381, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 6 R, 3BB, 2 SB), and Austin Kearns (,300, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 7 R, 3 BB). All told, the offense captured 5/6 offensive categories.

"The pitching is performing well enough that we can afford to wait for the bats to come around, and they're beginning to do just that. ," said GM Jamie Hoyle. "Anytime you beat a solid team like the Squirrels 8-4, you've had a good week."

Julian finds its self in the eMLB featured series of the week this week against Great Lakes Division leaders Mid Michigan Tigers.

Hits and Misses....

The team added 2B Orlando Hudson, 1B/OF Eric Hinske, IF Willie Aybar, OF Andres Torres and RP Joe Beimel to the mix in an effort to deepen their bench...SP Mat Latos will make his first appearance in the starting rotation Tuesday night....SP Johnny Cueto has been on a roll since April 30th (3-0, 27 IP, 2.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 26 K) and may be earning his way into the rotation....An unnamed source indicated the team might look to move a starting pitcher - likely Pineiro or Garland - for an accomplished bat, thus creating a permanent home in the rotation for both Latos and Cueto.

Javelina Eek Out 7-5 Win

The Julian Javelina went into their week five series with the Encinitas Beach Bums in need of a divisional win. Having already dropped series to the Blacksox and Rangers, it was imperative that Julian find a way to earn a win over a division rival, and they did.

Julian won the series by a count of 7-5 thanks in no small part to an overwhelming showing by the team's pitching staff. The Javelina won all six pitching categories. Julian pitching posted an impressive 6 wins, 48 strike outs, 6 holds, 2.98 ERA, and 1.19 WHIP, and managed to win despite getting only one save. Through five weeks, the Julian pitching staff finds its self ranked in the league's top five in wins (19), strike outs (258), and holds (25).

"Right now, our pitching is keeping us in games," said GM Jamie Hoyle. "They've been outstanding across the board, but the starting pitching has been even better than expected. They're taking us late into games, missing bats, and keeping guys off base for the most part."

The real (and most disappointing) story as it relates to this win is yet another lackluster performance by the Julian offense. Picked by many to be one of the better offenses in the league this season, the Javelina bats compiled a mere 3 home runs, 21 runs batted in, 24 runs, and failed to steal a single base. They did, however, post respectable walk (27) and batting average (.280) totals for the week. As a team, the Javelina rank near the bottom in two of six offensive categories (R, RBI), in the middle in two (HR, SB), and top five in two (BB, BA).

"The offense is an area of concern for us through five weeks," said Hoyle. "We're not hitting for the power we expected, the speed has not translated into steals, and the bottom line is we just aren't producing enough runs. That said, it's only five weeks and we do expect some guys to improve as the season progresses."

Swings and Misses....

OF/DH Adam Lind is mired in a horrible slump in May, bringing his average down near .230...Geovany Soto is enjoying a bounce back season and leads the offense with an astounding 23 walks in the early going...Andrew McCutchen hit .630 (10-16, 5 2B, 5 R, 3 BB) last week...Jon Garland has allowed 2 ER in his previous four starts (28 IP, 2 ER, 14 H, 16 K).

Week 4 Recap -- Javelina v Heat

The Julian Javelina went into their week four match-up with the South Texas Heat reeling to a certain degree. They had lost two of their first three series, both losses coming within the division, and the offense was sputtering. Not only did the Javelina badly need a good showing, but they needed a big win over a projected playoff contender. They got what they needed.

The Javelina streaked out to a big early lead thanks to an extremely balanced attack. It started with an offensive outburst that included hitting .365 for the first two days of the week. As the week progressed, the Javelina pitchers took control. Before the start of play on Friday, Javelina starting pitching had logged 26 innings while allowing only 2 ER and striking out 25. Yovanni Gallardo's seven inning, eleven strike out performance Saturday night allowed the Javelina to lock up all six pitching categories.

The offense, while still something of a work in progress, did an excellent job of holding up its end of the bargain, as well. They hit only .265 for the week, but they managed to pound out nine home runs and drive in 34 runs. While the Javelina managed to win only two offensive categories, they were largely competitive across the board. A poor showing Sunday dragged down some of the totals.

After four weeks of play, the Javelina find themselves #2 in the power rankings thanks. As a team, the Javelina rank in the top five in four of six offensive categories (HR, SB, BB, AVG) and in three pitching categories (W, H, K). They rank in the top half of the league in 10 of 12 categories (all except ERA and WHIP).

The Javelina will take on division rival Encinitas in week five. Having already dropped series to ES and North Texas, Julian must win this week in order to begin climbing back up to the top of the division. While the pitching match-ups seem fairly even on paper, one would have to expect the Javelina to carry most of the offensive categories.

Hits and Misses....

Andrew McCutchen awakened from something of a power drought with three home runs during week four....the team welcomed 3B Ryan Zimmerman back with open arms, and he responded by drilling two homers in his first game back....Adam LaRoche smashed three homers and drove in ten...the team added Eric Young Jr for 2B depth last week, and he will start at that position with Brian Roberts still ailing....with both Bengie Molina and Geovany Soto hitting well, the team will experiment with playing both catchers in week five.

Sluggish Bats Sink Javelina

The ES Blacksox raced out to a big early lead and coasted home in a tightly contested matchup of Western Conference favorites. In what may be seen as an early measuring stick for the Javelina, a team full of what had been scorching hot bats in the spring stumbled out of the gates and never really recovered en route to dropping a 7-4 decision to the Blacksox.

The Javelina hit .254 as a team week 1, but even that is misleading considering they hit in the .220's for most of the week before hitting .330 on Sunday. First round picks Ryan Zimmerman and Brian Roberts struggled into Friday's games before sitting out the weekend with injuries. Adam LaRoche opened the season 0-13 before driving in five runs over the weekend, Stephen Drew was largely unproductive after an impressive opening day performance, and Geovany Soto managed but one hit.

All that said, there were some positives to be taken from a fairly lackluster season-opening performance. First, the pitching was extremely solid. Jered Weaver established himself as the team ace with two very strong starts, A.J. Burnett threw six solid innings Sunday, and the bullpen allowed a mere two runs and fanned 21 over 19.1 brilliant relief innings.

From a statistical standpoint, the Javelina stole eight bases (T-2), won four games (T-3), fanned 59 (1st), and recorded 7 holds (1st). They finished at or near the middle of the pack in most other categories. One would have to believe this team is capable of making a playoff push if the pitching remains intact and the hitting meets expectations.

Hits and misses....

3B Ryan Zimmerman is expected to miss up to two more games with a tight hamstring....2B Brian Roberts was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to Friday with a strained abdominal muscle....the team released SP Vicente Padilla following his opening day shellacking...Kyle Blanks fanned eight times....Hideki Matsui is hitting .389 with 2HR following the first week of play....Josh Willingham blasted a grand slam off of Johan Santana yesterday.

Julian Javelina 2010 Free Agent Draft Recap

The Julian Javelina went into the 2010 Free Agent Draft knowing they needed to make a change. After several years of trying to win one year at a time with only sparing success, the Javelina staff decided it was time to build a team that could win over a 2-3 year extended period. In that vein, GM Jamie Hoyle set out to trade all his assets (and some of his dead weight) with an eye on the future. The end result was adding five extra draft picks, including four in the first six rounds. This is a recap of what he did with those picks.

Pick 1.2 - Ryan Zimmerman: Hoyle targeted Zimmerman from the get go with an eye on locking up a burgeoning young 3B and building his team around him. He got his man and will give the 25-year old a five year contract. Zimemerman will be the cornerstone of the offense, and is expected to provide healthy production in the BA, HR, RBI, BB, and R categories.

Pick 1.14 - Brian Roberts: When he laid out his draft plan, Hoyle did not expect to see a player the caliber of Brian Roberts sitting there for him in this spot. Imagine his surprise when Roberts was available. Roberts will provide top-end production at his position in the BA, R, BB, SB categories and also ample production in HR and RBI. There is speculation the 32-year old may be considered for a 3-year contract.

Pick 2.3 - Shin-Soo Choo: Hoyle's initial plan was to draft Gordon Beckham in this slot, but he also didn't anticipate taking Roberts at 1.14 and having a shot at Choo at 2.3. There was no hesitation in taking Choo, who will get a 2-year contract. Choo slipped due largely to his potential military service, but probably also because he doesn't have any one skill that stands out. Still, the Javelina will take his .290, 20 HR, 90 RBI, 80 BB, 20 SB, 80 R and, well, run with it.

Pick 2.14 - AJ Burnett: The Javelina staff originally planned on selecting a bat here, but they didn't expect to see Burnett still available. A pitcher of Burnett's quality was too good to pass up. He'll anchor an otherwise young staff on a 2-year deal.

Pick 3.3 - Jered Weaver: Prior to making their trades, the Javelina mapped things out and figured Weaver would be available at this spot. When he was, they took one of their favorite young pitchers without hesitation. Again, Weaver will get a 2-year deal and team up with Burnett atop the rotation.

Pick 4.3 - Francisco Cordero: Early on the Javelina anticipated having a shot at drafting upstart out fielder Carlos Gonzalez in this spot, and they didn't miss by much (he went at 3.10). With Gonzalez gone and no bats really standing out, the team opted to grab one of the four or five best closers in the draft. Cordero figures to anchor the bullpen on a 2-year contract.

Pick 5.3 - Adam LaRoche: Having traded Adrian Gonzalez and missed out on Billy Butler and Michael Cuddyer, the Javelina opted to take one of the few reliable 1B in this draft. LaRoche is a virtual lock for .275, 25 HR, 85 RBI, 70 R, 65 BB which, in a 1B-thin draft, is pretty good. LaRoche will not get a contract but a solid season could land him an extension.

Pick 5.14 - Josh Willingham: Like LaRoche, Willingham may not turn heads, but has proven productive when healthy. The team figures a full season of regular duty hitting in a lineup with Zimmerman and Dunn should allow him to approach familiar numbers; .270, 24 HR, 75 RBI, 65 R, 60 BB. Nothing special, but productive for a 4th outfielder. He will enter the season as a starter, but figures to battle for playing time with some younger players.

Pick 6.3 - Hideki Matsui: The bats were dwindling at this point in the draft, so the opportunity to grab a 25 HR, 90 RBI offensive player was too good to pass up. The team anticipated Matsui going somewhere in round 6, so they were planning on taking him here if available. Like LaRoche and Willingham, Matsui will not be offered a contract. His potent bat could be used as trade bait at the deadline depending on how the season develops.

Pick 6.5 - Mark DeRosa: DeRosa is the fourth in a run of five straight offensive picks. The team liked him here because of his productivity, but also because he provides depth and positional flexibility (OF, 1B, 3B, DH). He also will note receive a contract.

Pick 7.3 - Bengie Molina: The team felt pretty good about how their roster was shaping up at this point, didn't see any pressing needs, and decided to simply select the best available bat on their board. Molina will provide crucial depth at catcher should Soto not bounce back, but will not be offered a contract.

Pick 8.3 - Johnny Cueto: Cueto will serve as the team's #4 starter. His splits are not great, but his stuff is. He will not receive a contract, but a good season will put him in position to receive an extension. The team feels he is just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential.

Pick 9.3 - Kyle Blanks: Young, powerful, and a fulltime player. This slugger, who hit 10 HR in less than 150 AB's last season, figures to play his way into an outfield spot (or DH) at some point. The team will be hoping he plays well and earns an extension slot.

Pick 10.3 - Todd Coffey: Solid if unspectacular set-up man. He'll help in a few categories.

Pick 10.15 - Daniel Bard: Reliever with closer potential. Should be a solid setup man.

Pick 11.3 - Joel Pineiro: Solid fifth starter on a contender. Should solidify the back of the rotation.

Pick 12.3 - Marco Scutaro: Returns to the team that made him a starter last year. Solid backup.

Pick 13.3 - Mike Adams: Nasty, nasty, nasty. Will provide HLD and K, could get some saves.

Pick 14.3 - Rafael Betancourt: Another reliable setup man. Should give the team a good pen.

Pick 15.3 - Jon Garland: Solid, durable, dependable 6th starter. Should provide 200 solid IP.

Pick 16.3 - Jake Fox: Big time power potential with PT. Figures to hit 20+ HR off the bench.

Pick 17.3 - Freddy Sanchez: Consistent 2B when healthy. Good backup.

Pick 18.3 - Ross Ohlendorf: Another innings eater to come off the bench. A little upside.

Pick 19.3 - Desmond Jennings: Hoping to "steal" some speed late. Probably won't make it out of ST, but worth a shot.

All in all, the Javelina had a pretty successful draft. They were able to secure some very nice building blocks for 2011 in the first four rounds. They spent a few rounds focusing on stability, depth and (hopefully) trade value. Then Hoyle was able to grab a couple promising young hitters and pitchers in the mid-to-late rounds. Julian will assign six contracts this year, and should have at least five possible extension-worthy players. Hoyle should also have some nice trade pieces to work with at the deadline.

Javelina Methodically Building Winning Foundation

When the Javelina began stripping down their team this off-season it was with one thing in mind; securing the pieces upon which they could build a championship contending team. One by one they traded away stars and scrubs alike, replacing them with draft picks instead of new players. Now, just three picks into the 2010 Free Agent Draft, one can see that foundation beginning to take shape.

First, the team needed a cornerstone. Specifically, they needed to fill a gaping hole at the hot corner. They found their man in Ryan Zimmerman, a slugging 25-year old third baseman coming off a career year as he enters his physical prime. Some say GM Jamie Hoyle overdrafted Zimmerman, but the GM is adamant that that Zimmerman is just the type of run producer around whom a winning team is built.

"We got our guy, and that's all that matters," says Hoyle. "After years of 'making do' with guys like Kouzmanoff, Blalock and Lowell, this team finally has a run-producing third baseman in his prime; and we couldn't be happier about it."

Having added a true slugger to their order, the team was able to focus on adding more well-rounded talents with it's next two picks. In Brian Roberts and Shin Soo-Choo, Hoyle was able to add a pair of multidimensional offensive threats who are just as likely to steal a base as hit a home run. Perhaps even more importantly, both should be superb sources of runs themselves.

"This team has historically either had speed or power, we've never really had a lineup full of guys who could provide both," explained Hoyle. "With Roberts, Choo and McCutchen, we feel we have three talented players who can impact a game with both their ability to create and drive in runs. It's a welcomed change."

Still, Hoyle recognizes there are no easy fixes.

"Do we think we're better now than at the end of last year? Absolutely," said Hoyle. "But having said that, we have a long way to go and more players to add. To expect us to win this year is probably little unrealistic, but a good draft this season will put us in position to contend in 2011."

Who else is Hoyle targeting? That's for him to know and everyone else to find out.

"We have a strategy mapped out, and so far so good. Obviously we can't expect to get all of 'our guys', but we'll get a few more; we just need to stay patient and stick to the plan."

2010 eMLB Mock Draft #4

With the latest trade between the Miracles and a Blacksox, it looks like it's time to update my mock again. Here is how I see it going down.

1.1 Wisconsin Brewers: Evan Longoria, 3B

The best player available in the draft gets a 5-year contract. Can't go wrong here.

1.2 Julian Javelina: Ryan Zimmerman, 3B

I have often had to survive with less than stellar 3B, and I am tired of it. Zimmerman and Longoria have nearly identical skill sets and ceilings. Zim gets a lengthy contract as soon as his name is announced.

1.3 Michigan Miracles: Ian Kinsler, 2B

Berg said it best, "Renner has nothing to lose by taking Kinsler at 3, and he knows it." It doesn't hurt that Kinsler is a 30/30 guy at second base and is still only 27. If it weren't for the repetitive injuries and inconsistencies, I might take him myself.

1.4 Carolina Yankees: Joey Votto, 1B

Could be considered a 5-year player by some, but definitely a great 3-year player. He gets a little better every year, and may be on the verge of 35 HR in 2010. I'll say it again, he reminds me a lot of Adrian Gonzalez.

1.5 South Texas Heat: Brandon Phillips, 2B

When it comes down to it, I just think Phillips is a better player than Youkilis, and Berg knows it. Having Wright and Phillips locked up for the next 2-3 years is not a bad thing.

1.6 Dallas Redbirds: Zack Greinke, SP

The first pitcher off the board goes to - wait for it - Doyel. No real surprise, Doyel has always been all about SP. He gets his man. Thankfully for Doyel, having Howard on his roster prevents him from making the previously discussed mistake of giving Greinke a 5-year deal.

1.7 Springfield Flying Squirrels of Republic: Kevin Youkilis, 3B

Youk is probably the safest pick with the least upside so far in this draft. He's probably reached his ceiling at 29, and the lineup surrounding him is't as good as it's been, but he can still hit. Expect maybe a slight regression in power and RBI totals.

1.8 Mid-Michigan Tigers: Justin Verlander, SP

It's not a major need for Keith, but the heart wants what the heart wants. Keith takes the hometown favorite without hesitation and gives him a 3-year contract.

1.9 North Texas Rangers: Felix Hernandez, SP

Adrian has been trying to leverage this pick into a chance to draft Kinsler or Votto since the moment he got it, but the asking prices are too steep. That plus the recent acquisition of Jason Bay changes his needs a bit. It gives him the flexibility to take the best pitcher on the board and build his staff around him. Adrian has been busy all off-season; will it pay off?

1.10 Encinitas Beach Bums: Bobby Abreu, OF

I think Darren's best bet here is to take the one remaining outfielder who has a history for filling all six offensive categories. Sure, Abreu is getting old, but he hasn't showed signs of slowing down. .300, 15 HR, 100 RBI, 100 R, 100BB, 30 SB is nothing to sneeze at in this game.

1.11 Wisconsin Brewers: Carlos Lee, OF

Storlie needs an outfielder with pop. My guess is he takes the one with whom he is the most familiar - the former Brewer. At this point in the round, there is nothing wrong with steady, consistent production from an OF.

1.12 Encinitas Beach Bums: Adam Jones, OF

Having taken old reliable Bobby Abreu, Darren now has the flexibility to swing for the fences a little on a familiar name. Jones is loaded with potential, and will probably be set for a breakout in the next year or two. Not a bad pick.

1.13 Olivet Killer Eagles: Dan Haren, SP

I have to think Larry grabs the familiar SP and locks him up for 2-3 years. Can't blame him if he does.

1.14 Julian Javelina: TBD

1.15 New Jersey Mets: Brian Roberts, 2B

Reynolds gets his (old) man. :)

1.16 ES Blacksox: Billy Butler, 1B

Butler helped ES to a title, and now he is brought back. Not a bad get this late in the first.

2010 eMLB Mock Draft #3

With a few more changes, it's time for another mock draft.

Lots of changes in the order of things in the first round since my last mock draft, so I thought I'd update things a little. Here is how I see things going down:

1. New Jersey Refuse Rehabilitation Clinic of Wisconsin: Evan Longoria

This is a stone cold lock. Storlie would be a fool to take anyone else.

2. Julian Javelina: Ryan Zimmerman

There has been speculation that I would take Votto here. While he is enticing for sure, there are always 1B to be found in this league; 3B is much harder to fill in my opinion (unless you collect them like Berg). Zimmerman is my pick, book it.

3. Michigan Miracles: Ian Kinsler

I always thought Renner would take Kinsler, and his trading Uggla just cinches it for me. Much like when he took Rios, he's drafting based entirely on upside here. That can get you in trouble (see: Rios), but I think it works out for Renner. A solid 3-year guy at a tough position to fill.

4. Carolina Yankees: Joey Votto

We know Wofford won't take a Red Sox with his first pick, so Youk is not an option. There have been rumors about him taking a SP here, but I think that's a smoke screen. His best two options if things pan out as expected are either Votto or Phillips. Phillips represents more of a need, but with Berkman getting older (34 in two weeks) and showing some wear and tear, Votto seems like the way to go.

5. South Texas Heat: Brandon Phillips

Berg wants Votto, wouldn't mind Youk, but needs Phillips for the long haul with Zobrist a FA at the end of the year. He already has a lot of interchangeable parts at 1B/3B/DH, so I think Berg feels comfortable taking the 25/25 2B and locking him up for three years.

6. Dallas Rebirds: Zack Greinke

Doyel has Ryan Howard under contract, he just traded Brandon Webb, and he has historically valued pitching over offense. Oh, happy day - Steve gets his man. I'm guessing me moves to keep him around for at least three years, too.

7. Springfield Flying Squirrels of Republic: Kevin Youkilis

Springfield would do well to get Youk here and play him at 3B. I don't think he takes a pitcher here, and he'll value the best available bat. Hard to argue with a 25-30 HR 3B/1B/UTIL guy at #7. Votto doesn't make sense because of the presence of Tex here, but I wouldn't rule it out entirely.

8. Mid Michigan Tigers: Justin Verlander

This could really be Verlander, Haren, Felix - all are of similar skill sets. Something tells me the "Michigan" in Keith convinces him to grab Verlander while he can. This would give him a top three of Lee, Verlander, Dempster - not bad.

9. North Texas Rangers: Andre Ethier

Adrian is so predictable. He clearly traded up here hoping for one of three scenarios to develop - (1) Votto falls to 9, (2) swing a deal with Renner for a shot at Kinsler, (3) swing a deal with Berg or Wofford for a shot at Votto. Just a hunch, but none of the above happens here. He stays put and opts to get the best young power hitter available at this spot. Ethier will get a three year deal from Adrian as soon as he sets foot on North Texas.

10. Encinitas Beach Bums: Felix Hernandez

I think Darren takes Felix here no matter what. He's building for 2011 and 2012 right now, so taking guys like Carlos Lee, Ichiro, or Abreu don't make sense because they are all aging some. Felix is young, strong, and there isn't any uncertainty about what he'll be two or three years down the line.

11. Wisconsin Brewers: Carlos Lee

Storlie probably wanted Andre Ethier here, but he's not available. He doesn't need pitching with Peavy, Cain and Lilly under contract. He does need another solid outfielder. Abreu and Ichiro don't provide enough power for him, so he goes with a familiar face. Lee is a little risky as a 3-year guy in my opinion, but not enough to preclude Storlie from making him one.

12. Encinitas Beach Bums: Adam Jones

I think Darren takes Jones and slaps a 3-year contract on him. Jones has a lot of promise, but is still figuring things out. His power is still developing, and he doesn't run as much as some would like. I think he ascends to 20/20 this year and bares a similarity to Mike Cameron, just with a higher average. I am not sure he has the power to hit more than 25, but time will tell.

13. Olivet Killer Eagles: Dan Haren

Yet another team sticking with a familiar name. Haren is a stud, and will make for a killer 1-2 punch atop Larry's rotation. This is another SP who get land a 3-year contract.

14. Julian Javelina: TBD

Plenty to choose from here. I could land a stud SP, a promising young 1B, a good outfielder. Only time will tell.

15. New Jersey Mets: Brian Roberts

I think pitching makes the most sense, and is a clear need for Mike, but he will go with his favorite 30+ 2B. Not that he's a bad pick, but more of a 2-year guy at this point.

16. ES Blacksox: Tommy Hanson

Hanson might be the hottest name heading into this draft. He's young, gets plenty of hype, and has great stuff. Like I said, ES has a history or taking exciting young pitchers toward the middle or bottom of round one (Felix, Hamels). I think he snags Hanson here without hesitation.

2010 eMLB Mock Draft - UPDATED

Lots of changes in the order of things in the first round since my last mock draft, so I thought I'd update things a little. Here is how I see things going down:

1. New Jersey Refuse Rehabilitation Clinic of Wisconsin: Evan Longoria

This is a stone cold lock. Storlie would be a fool to take anyone else.

2. Julian Javelina: Ryan Zimmerman

There has been speculation that I would take Votto here. While he is enticing for sure, there are always 1B to be found in this league; 3B is much harder to fill in my opinion (unless you collect them like Berg). Zimmerman is my pick, book it.

3. Michigan Miracles: Ian Kinsler

I always thought Renner would take Kinsler, and his trading Uggla just cinches it for me. Much like when he took Rios, he's drafting based entirely on upside here. That can get you in trouble (see: Rios), but I think it works out for Renner. A solid 3-year guy at a tough position to fill.

4. Carolina Yankees: Brandon Phillips

Lots of rumors swirling about Wofford wanting a pitcher here, but it doesn't add up when you look at his roster. Nope, he goes with the most dynamic bat left at a scarce position. A very, very good pick here.

5. South Texas Heat: Zack Greinke

Berg has been saying he'll take Youkilis here, but neither Youk nor Votto makes much sense when you look at his roster. With Morrow and Kazmir both under contract and under-performing, taking a SP here makes a ton of sense. It's not Berg's style, but it makes sense. Does Berg dare sign two historically fragile SP to 3-year contracts? Don't rule out seeing Berg move back a handful of spots and picking up and extra draft pick.

6. Dallas Rebirds: Justin Verlander

Doyel has Ryan Howard under contract, he just traded Brandon Webb, and he has historically valued pitching over offense. He has his sights set on Greinke, but he's not available in this scenario. I say he takes Verlander and slides him into Webb's 3-year slot.

7. Springfield Flying Squirrels of Republic: Kevin Youkilis

Springfield would do well to get Youk here and play him at 3B. I don't think he takes a pitcher here, and he'll value the best available bat. Hard to argue with a 25-30 HR 3B/1B/UTIL guy at #7. Votto doesn't make sense because of the presence of Tex here, but I wouldn't rule it out entirely.

8. Mid Michigan Tigers: Joey Votto

I have to think Keith was jonesing for Verlander here, but he's not available. He has Lee and Dempster under contract, so pitching isn't really a need. Being able to pair Cabrera and Votto at 1B and DH is a deadly combo - I'd point out that a similar pair (Gonzalez/Morneau) won me a title two years ago.

9. Encinitas Beach Bums: Andre Ethier

There is some thought that Ethier is a top five or six pick in this draft, but I think this is a good spot for him. Darren gets a rising young star capable of 30 HR and 100 RBI right away to build his offense around. A solid 3-year guy for sure, but a reach as a 5-year guy in my opinion.

10. Encinitas Beach Bums: Felix Hernandez

Having secured a "building block" bat already, I have to think Darren will jump at the chance to land a true ace. While it's not my style, it wouldn't surprise me to see Darren lock Felix into a 3-year deal.

11. Wisconsin Brewers: Carlos Lee

Storlie probably wanted Andre Ethier here, but he's not available. He doesn't need pitching with Peavy, Cain and Lilly under contract. He does need another solid outfielder. Abreu and Ichiro don't provide enough power for him, so he goes with a familiar face. Lee is a little risky as a 3-year guy in my opinion, but not enough to preclude Storlie from making him one.

12. Encinitas Beach Bums: Adam Jones

I think Darren takes Jones and slaps a 3-year contract on him. Jones and Ethier could make a very good outfield tandem by the time this team is ready to contend - possibly as soon as 2011.

13. Olivet Killer Eagles: Dan Haren

Yet another team sticking with a familiar name. Haren is a stud, and will make for a killer 1-2 punch atop Larry's rotation. This is another SP who get land a 3-year contract.

14. Julian Javelina: TBD

Plenty to choose from here. I could land a stud SP, a promising young 1B, a good outfielder. Only time will tell.

15. New Jersey Mets: Jon Lester

Taking a pitcher this early is not Mike's MO, but it makes sense. His pitching has cost him in the playoffs the last two years, so now is as good a time as any to add a horse.

16. ES Blacksox: Tommy Hanson

Hanson might be the hottest name heading into this draft. He's young, gets plenty of hype, and has great stuff. Like I said, ES has a history or taking exciting young pitchers toward the middle or bottom of round one (Felix, Hamels). I think he snags Hanson here without hesitation.

2010 eMLB Mock Draft: Picks 1.13 - 1.16

Picks 1.13 - 1.16

Pick 1.13: Olivet Killer Eagles - Andre Ethier

I think this pick comes down to Ethier or Shin Soo Choo for Larry, assuming Ethier falls this far. Ethier provides more power. He is also the safer 3-year player given Choo's mandatory military service (2 years before age 30) with the Korean Army. Unless Choo's team wins gold in the Asian Games this winter/spring, chances are he could be back in Korea as soon as 2011.

Projections: .275, 30 HR, 105 RBI, 90 R.

Pick 1.14: Julian Javelina - To Be Determined

I could go a number of ways here. There will be plenty of good pitching available here, and a guy like Jon Lester (a personal favorite) would be hard to pass on. There is a chance Brian Roberts is here based on this mock draft, and opening my draft with two players like Zimmerman and Roberts would be enticing. Other possibilities might include Bobby Abreu or Billy Butler. Stay tuned.

Pick 1.15: New Jersey Mets - Brian Roberts

I think this is probably a safe bet, assuming Roberts is available. It would give Mike a middle infield capable of stealing 90-100 bases. Another option may be drafting the best available outfielder. I think Roberts would be hard to pass on.

Projections: .285, 11 HR, 65 RBI, 30 SB, 90 R.

Pick 1.16: ES Blacksox - Tommy Hansen

When ever ES is on the board, I have to think he's going to take the best young player on the board. ES his team around young pitching and speed last season, and I'd expect him to do the same. This is the perfect spot in which to take a young pitcher, which is John's MO all the way. I say he grabs Hansen and gives him a three year deal like he did with Felix and Hamels in years past.

Projections: 3.10, 14 W, 175 K, 1.20 WHIP, 180 IP.

2010 eMLB Mock Draft: Picks 1.9 - 1.12

Picks 1.9 - 1.12

Pick 1.9: Encinitas Beach Bums - Brandon Phillips

This seems like the perfect place for Phillips to land. Darren needs bodies, but he doesn't need one of the top 3B since he has ARod. Phillips gives Darren a solid 25/25 guy at a key position. Phillips probably shouldn't fall this far, but if he does Darren won't complain.

Projections: .275, 24 HR, 90 RBI, 85 R, 25 SB.

Pick 1.10: Rochester Red Sox - Felix Hernandez

Rich is loaded with bats, but he needs pitching and knows it. He needs a horse to lead his staff, and I think Hernandez is his man. I am not a fan of giving SP 3-year deals, but I could see Rich doing just that.

Projections: 16 W, 2.95 ERA, 220 K, 1.20 WHIP

Pick 1.11: Wisconsin Brewers - Ichiro Suzuki

Having traded away Sizemore and Reyes, Storlie needs an outfielder and he needs speed. He gets both with Ichiro and gives him a 3 year deal. While Ichiro doesn't offer much power, he does plenty of other things to bring value to a fantasy team.

Projections: .320, 10 HR, 60 RBI, 110 R, 30 SB

Pick 1.12: San Antonio Fire Ants: Dan Haren

Sankey has a few needs, and taking a pitcher this early isn't one of them, but it might be hard to pass on a top three of Santana, Johnson and Haren. He'd win 4/6 pitching categories each week.

Projections: 2.90, 15, 220, 1.15

2010 eMLB Mock Draft: Picks 1.5 - 1.8

Picks 1.5 - 1.8

Pick 1.5: South Texas Heat - Joey Votto

Berg is adamant that he'd take Youkilis here, but I don't think that's the case. His roster already has two first basemen on it, but I think he'd move Konerko in a heart beat if it meant replacing him with Votto. The sky is the limit with Votto, who reminds me a lot of Adrian Gonzalez.

Projections: .315, 32 HR, 100 RBI, 70 BB, 85-90 R.

Pick 1.6: Dallas Redbirds - Justin Verlander

Doyel is making noise about taking a SP here, and while it may not be his best play, I think the odds of that increased dramatically after trading Brandon Webb. He replaces the fragile Webb with Verlander. My guess is he slaps a 3-year on Justin.

Projections: 3.33 ERA, 16 W, 240 K, 1.10 WHIP

Pick 1.7: Springfield Flying Squirrels of Republic - Kevin Youkilis

Youk falls farther than he probably should, and Sankey snaps him up without hesitation. There are some concerns with Youk - he may have hit his ceiling, his protection isn't as good, and he's in his 30's - but my guess is he gets a 3-year deal.

Projections: .295, 28 HR, 100 RBI, 70 BB, 85 R.

Pick 1.8: Mid Michigan Tigers - Carlos Lee

He doesn't need Phillips, and if he wanted Ichiro he could have extended him after last season. I think he takes arguably the steadiest, most reliable OF in the draft. Lee isnt a franchise player, but he is awfully productive.

Projections: .300, 27 HR, 95 RBI, 80 R, 40 BB.

2010 eMLB Mock Draft: Picks 1.1 - 1.4

The Winter Meetings started in earnest today, and the draft is fast approaching. That can mean only one thing; it's time for a myriad of mock drafts - most of which will probably be wrong. Here is my attempt at a mock draft for picks 1-8.

Pick 1.1: New Jersey Refuse Relocation Center of Wisconsin (Wisconsin Brewers) - Evan Longoria

This is a no brainer. He is the best available player in this draft, and he's the perfect 5-year candidate. I would expect a modest improvement in plate discipline and walks in 2010, followed by a considerable spike in average and power in 2011. A spike in steals is not out of the question assuming his legs remain heathy.

Projection: .290, 35 HR, 115 RBI, 90 R, 80BB, 12 SB.

Pick 1.2: Julian Javelina - Ryan Zimmerman

Also a no brainer, assuming I don't trade the pick. Zimmerman is a solid 5-year guy himself, but he'll get a 3-year deal from me. Last year was his breakout year, but it was a little uneven. I expect more consistency in the second half and maybe a small increase in power totals.

Projections: .300, 34 HR, 112 RBI, 75 BB, 85 R.

Pick 1.3: Michigan Miracles - Ian Kinsler

Just a hunch, but with Uggla gone I am not buying that Renner takes Youkilis here. My money is on the most tantalizing talent in the draft, who also happens to play one of the toughest positions to fill in the game. Renner's 5-year is full, so my guess is Kinsler slides into a 3-year deal.

Projections: .265, 28 HR, 85 RBI, 30 SB, 60 BB, 90 R.

Pick 1.4: Carolina Yankees - Zack Greinke

Rumor is Wofford is looking at a SP here. I don't necessarily agree with that, but I guess he isn't too high on the offensive talent in this spot (not sure why). Greinke would make sense if that's the case (as would Felix or Verlander).

Projections: 15 W, 2,75 ERA, 230 K, 1.15 WHIP, 215 IP.

Javelina Kick Off Meetings With a Bang

The eMLB winter meetings officially began this morning, and there was no lack of action in Julian. Amid rumors that GM Jamie Hoyle was actively shopping nearly his entire roster, the team today agreed to two deals. First, Hoyle agreed to send starting pitcher Gil Meche, whom he signed to a contract following the 2009 draft, to Gaylord in exchange for pick 10.15 (#159). Then, he agreed to ship slugging first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and starting pitcher Paul Maholm to North Texas in exchange for pick 1.14 and young outfielder Andrew McCutchen.

It's not surprising to see Meche and Maholm go, but many in the league will probably be shocked to see a cornerstone like Gonzalez leave town. While it was not an easy decision to make, it's clear Hoyle made this decision with the future in mind.

"We were in need of two things; contract flexibility and an infusion of talent," explained Hoyle via conference call. "Adrian carried us to our first title, but it was becoming clear to us that it was time to maximize value and add more bodies. We are very excited about Andrew joining the team, and we should get a very solid player at 1.14."

Why did the team part ways with Meche and Maholm? It's pretty simple.

"We weren't going to win with them this year, and we were better off clearing their contracts off the books," said Hoyle. "Hopefully they can help another team win and we can maximize that contract space in improving our own."

Hoyle Stays Busy, Actively Seeking Deals

As is usually the case, the Julian Javelina do not plan to be quiet during the upcoming Winter Meetings. In fact, GM Jamie Hoyle has been hard at work in his attempts to both add and shed contracts. It is widely known that Hoyle has been entertaining trade offers for starting pitchers Gil Meche and Paul Maholm, as well as outfielder Eric Byrnes. In the case of Meche, Hoyle thinks he can extract some value in terms of a draft pick, but he has been open about his desire to move Byrnes and Maholm at all costs.

"Yeah, we're trying to move those three for sure," said Hoyle. "We have six open contracts heading into the draft, so we're in good shape. That said, it wouldn't kill us to open up a couple additional spots for the sake of flexibility."

But that's not all. While Hoyle wouldn't confirm it, several team sources have indicated that the team has been engaged in discussions surrounding Geovany Soto, Yovanni Gallardo, Stephen Drew, and even Adrian Gonzalez. It is clearly unlikely that the team would move that many pieces in one off-season, but it is not out of the question that the team could part with one or two of their big names in the interest of a major rebuilding project.

"Do we want to move Adrian, Stephen, Yo, or Geo? Absolutely not," explained Hoyle. "Having said that, we have to at least listen if someone takes the time to put an offer together. How can we get back to the playoffs if we aren't open minded about additions and subtractions?"

Most people in and around the organization say the two most likely pieces to be moved, if any, are Gonzalez and Gallardo. Why? Simply put, they have more value than anyone else on the roster. Well designed trades involving both players could hasten the rebuilding process significantly.

Stay tuned, it promises to be a busy offseason.