Hi all,

Here is an update on the Crystal Ball Challenge.  We are a little over a third of the way through the season.

		Prediction		Pace		Differential
Team	Owner	Wins	Runs	Wins	Runs	Wins	Runs
Houston Inner Strength	aisosa212	115	1020	114	1059	-1	39
Louisville Lugnuts	bigmattr	112		123	1063	11
Texas Apocalypse	oakman310	98	900	102	841	4	-59
San Francisco Alpha Flight	goldgreen	93	800	69	712	-24	-88
Sioux Falls Cyclones	thebigdogs	92	730	92	788	0	58
Ottawa Onslaught	aaronbrown99	88	795	104	883	16	88
Atlanta Braves	txvbcoach	88	770	77	820	-11	50
Sacramento Sabercats	tomcecil	88	800	71	1063	-17	263
Columbus Carnage	littlejim	80	760	83	893	3	133
Baltimore Flash	jfuchs31	80	700	88	859	8	159
Durham Bulls	bradriddell	78	711	48	692	-30	-19
Cincinnati Hamilton Flyers	redsfan24	72	730	46	670	-26	-60
Arizona Aztecs	purplehaze54	65	683	74	739	9	56
Average		88	783	84	852	-4	52

So far, as a group, we were a little too optimistic.   On average, our teams are on pace to generate 4 fewer wins than we expected.

Here are some mid-season awards:

Mr. Accurate:  thebigdogs  -- His team is exactly on pace for his prediction of 92 wins.  Aisosa212 is right behind him with only a 1 game difference.

Mr. Disappointed:  bradriddell.  Brad expected his team to win 78 but, thus far, his team is only pace to 48 games. Goldgreen and Redsfan24 are not far behind.

Mr. Pleasantly Surprised:  aaronbrown99.    He expected only 88 wins the season but his team is on pace to 104. 

There is a long way to go yet so ... don't go spending all the money quite yet, thebigdogs.

Crystal Ball Challenge

You guys are awesome.  I'm really excited we were able to get 13 people in on the fun.  So with $65 in pool money, the winner will get $32.50 and we have $32.50 in incentives to recruit new owners.

Here is the summary of everyone's entries.  Good luck!

Team	Owner	Wins	Runs
Houston Inner Strength	aisosa212	115	1020
Louisville Lugnuts	bigmattr	112	0
Texas Apocalypse	oakman310	98	900
San Francisco Alpha Flight	goldgreen	93	800
Sioux Falls Cyclones	thebigdogs	92	730
Ottawa Onslaught	aaronbrown99	88	795
Atlanta Braves	txvbcoach	88	770
Sacramento Sabercats	tomcecil	88	800
Columbus Carnage	littlejim	80	760
Baltimore Flash	jfuchs31	80	700
Durham Bulls	bradriddell	78	711
Cincinnati Hamilton Flyers	redsfan24	72	730
Arizona Aztecs	purplehaze54	65	683

Introducing the "Raines Rebuild Challenge"  We have 4 new owners competing for the title of master rebuilder.   I offered up the four worst available teams and offered a challenge:  the owner with the best record in season 7 will win a $30 gift certificate.   The teams were snatched up quickly with really good new owners eager to take on the challenge.  

He are your challengers:

Little Rock Red Devils (manutdfan7)

Scott takes over a franchise that won 71 games last year.  He is hoping for a strong draft to utilize his #7 overall pick and 14 million in scouting for both college and high school.

He added some pretty significant free agents during the offseason including:
- Omar Avecedo (http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6659340)
- Davy Adams (http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6659388),
- Felipe Rodriquez (http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6660414)

These guys also came relatively cheap allowing Scott to manage his payroll down to $55M. With a player budget of $83M, he has plenty of room to sign international free agents or make some trades.

He also has a couple good pieces to start with including Pete Drew, 20 year old RF who should project to be close to an 80 OVR.  http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6732253

Also  John Woo.  Fresh off his Hong Kong action film directing career, he is now a future All-star at LF.  Should reach 80s or 90s in all major hitting categories.   http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6687956

Las Vegas Death Start (gdfan)

Rick takes over the old Oakland franchise which won 70 games last year.  He joined before rollover which meant he was able to maintain budgets and invest 20 in HS scout and 20 in international scouting.  With only $36M in salary and a $71M budget, plus the #6 pick, he should be able to pick up some strong players in both the draft and IFA market.

He also started with a roster that had some really strong players.

- Dave Arnold, a 23 year old ML 3B with great defensive and suitable bat.  http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6661676

- Hulk Conti, as 21 year old AAA 2B with great defensive and ML-ready bat.  http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6662698

- Angel Garrido, a 2^nd year AA player who projects to be a bullpen inning horse.  http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6864757

- Daymon Maybin, a first year Low A player at LF who was the #3 overall pick and projects to be an all-star player  http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6904130

- Francisco  DaSilva, a $10M international signing who projects to be a strong setup guy, http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6864741

- Denny Morgan, #15 overall pick this season in RF,http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=7101159

Arizona Aztecs (purplehaze54)

Rich takes over a team that has 43,54, and 47 wins in the last three seasons.   He will have the #1 draft pick this year to really kick-star the rebuild.  But he certainly has a lot of pieces to work with given the remnants of past high draft picks:

- Wandy Molina http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6904088

The #1 draft pick in season 2.  Total stud.

- Arthur Riggan http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6661827  23 year old starting pitcher with 90 vR split

- Fred McDonald http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6661827  23 year old shortstop with good balance of offense/defensive

- Tom Pose http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6663281

22 year old starting pitcher with SP2/3 potential

- Darly Rotschild http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6661730

23 year old catcher with high defense and strong bat.

Washington DC Senators (rquin9)

Rquin9 jumped into replace the old coach before the rollover and was able to gear up his team for the rebuild.   He has the #2 overall pick and $18M in high school scouting.   He also has managed to invest $16M in international scouting and manage his payroll down to $40M.  So if he plays his cards right, he should end up with one of top international free agents and 1 of the top 2 players in the draft.

Rquin9 has also been active in the trading market, trading away all-star 1B Dean Warden  http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6659975 for a slew of good prospects including the #1 overall pick in season 3, Wally Neill http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=7101341

He also acquired: Paxton Lambert http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=7101969

You add this to the mix of good 21-24 year old talent …

- David Rodriguez http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6660704 24 year old 2B who is ready for the ML

- Benji Diaz http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6662703

21 year old 3B with 80 OVR rating sitting in AA

- Junior Lin http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6662547

22 year good defensive 2B with a ML capable bat

- Neifi Taverez http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=6661841

22 year old starting pitcher with strong splits and pitches

… and you have the making of a future dynasty here.