Day Laborers waiting on Powell

The Tucson Sands locked up their number one pick when they signed 3B/OF Ray Hawkins out of Orange County Community College shortly after taking him number one overall in the season 8 amateur draft. But the Mexico City Day Laborers are in a different, yet familiar situation with their number one pick.

Mexico City selected Independence High School pitcher Charles Powell with the second overall pick in this year's draft but Powell has yet to sign a contract. This comes one season after Mexico City engaged in long contract negotiations with number one overall pick Ken Holbert, who eventually signed with the team after an 11 day (real life days, not HBD days) holdout. Holbert received an $8 million bonus from Mexico City, almost double the amount of the next closest draftee bonus.

Powell is currently demanding a shade under $4 million as a bonus and while Mexico City GM e_mandat has confirmed the team has made an offer meeting his demands, Powell is now debating whether to sign with the Day Laborers or attend college. It's been four days since the draft and only time will tell what Powell will decide but the Day Laborers would much rather have him playing and working on his development right now rather than sitting at home.

The mystique of Trace Olson

Not everyone lives up to their expectations but when there are high expectations and high ratings, especially of a pitcher, many teams will give that player a chance. Trace Olson has never produced at the ML level like his ratings suggest he could but there are plenty of teams willing to give him a shot, as evidenced by his trade history.

Olson was the number one overall pick in the season 2 draft by Pittsburgh. Since then he has played in just about every city available in HBD and has been traded four times since the start of season 6. His best ML performance came this season when he posted a 3-2 record and a 4.25 ERA in six starts for Detroit. But when one looks at Olson's projected ratings (88 control, 65/83 splits, 91, 72 pitches, 93 overall) you can't help but wonder why he's become an afterthought.

Perhaps his development was stunted when he was called up to the majors at the ripe age of 20 in season 4. A 13.15 ERA in 4 starts will hamper anyone's confidence. But from season 4 to season 6 Olson showed good improvement while pitchng mostly in AAA before stalling completely after season 6.

Something no team has yet to try is using Olson out of the bullpen. At this point it's readily apparent that Olson is not a front of the roation ML starter. If he can perform like he did in his time with Detroit this season then he can become a solid back of the rotation guy. But with just two noteworthy pitches (one of them an excellent fastball) Olson may be better used out of the bullpen as a setup guy or perhaps even a closer.

Time will tell if Olson's new team, Philadelphia, will attempt to reincarnate Trace as a reliever but if you're still waiting for the former number one overall pick to come around as a starter, that train has left the station. And hey, if Olson doesn't work out in Philly, there will be another GM willing to give him a chance in another city.

Trace Olson Philadelphia Athletics Age: 24 B/T: S/R Born: Tioga Center, NY Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Amateur Draft: The Number 1's

So, who will be the first player taken in this years amateur draft? Will he be a stud or a bust? As the Tucson Sands prepare to make their selection we take a look back over the history of Camp and check in on the previous #1's.

Season 1 saw the Arizona Thunder Chickens select right handed pitcher, Flash Hammond out of Tupelo High School in Tupelo, MS. Flash Hammond made his ML debut during season 6 and finished his rookie season with a 16-10 record and a 4.03 ERA for the World Champion Thunder Chickens. Season 7 he proved to be even better as he posted a 21-6 record, 3.64 ERA, and made his first All-Star appearance for the back to back World Champions. So far this season Flash boasts a 5-2 record with a 5.17 ERA.

Flash Hammond Arizona Thunder Chickens Age: 25 B/T: R/R Born: Booneville, MS Position(s): P (SP3) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

With the first pick of season 2 the now defunct Pittsburgh Pariahs select right handed pitcher Trace Olson out of Ithaca High School in Ithaca, NY. Trace Olson has yet to live up to the hype of a #1 selection and has been included in trades several times. Trace is hoping this latest trade to the Detroit Detroit Tagers is just what the doctor ordered. In 2 ML seasons Trace has compiled a record of 12-23 with a 6.14 ERA.

Trace Olson Detroit Detroit Tagers Age: 24 B/T: S/R Born: Tioga Center, NY Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Season 3 saw the Mexico City Day Laborers select right handed pitcher, Pedro Johnson out of Briggs High School in Columbus, OH. Pedro made his ML debut earlier this season and is currently 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA. During his minor league career he put up some huge numbers. He was 82-19 with a career ERA of 3.05. Pedro looks to be well on his way to a strong ML career.

Pedro Johnson Mexico City Day Laborers Age: 23 B/T: R/R Born: Baltimore, OH Position(s): P (SP3) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Our first true bust of the draft comes during season 4 when the Kansas City Seadogs select left handed flame thrower, Arthur DeRosa from Oceanside, NY. Arthur spurnned the Seadogs and accepted a basketball scholarship from the University of Syracuse. Arthur had a solid college basketball career, winning the National Championship alongside Carmello Anthony and eventually being selected in the NBA draft by the Utah Jazz.

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With the first of 3 consecutive #1 selections, and their 4th in the 7 seasons of Camp, the Mexico City Day Laborers select, centerfielder Rob Reese out of the University of Tennessee during season 5. Rob currently plays for Mexico City's AAA affiliate and his batting .346 with 7 HR's and 25 stolen bases. Rob projects to be a strong ML player as he has posted career minor league numbers of .379 with 92 HR's and 104 stolen bases. But we predict Rob will always be known as the player who was selected before Don Bale.

Rob Reese Mexico City Day Laborers Age: 24 B/T: L/L Born: Coyle, OK Position(s): CF View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Season 6 once again saw Mexico City with the #1 selection and again they went to college to find another centerfielder as they selected Mateo Sojo out of Dartmouth College. Mateo is currently with the HiA affiliate and is stroking the ball at a
.399 clip with 6 HR's. As Mateo continues to develop he projects to be a strong ML player.

Mateo Sojo Mexico City Day Laborers Age: 24 B/T: R/L Born: Piscataway, NJ Position(s): CF View Hardball Dynasty Profile

With the first selection of the season 7 draft the Mexico City Day Laborers select potential all-world 2nd baseman Ken Holbert out of Samford University in Birmingham, AL. Ken too is playing with the HiA affilate and his currently batting .399 with 19 HR's. Ken has superstar written all over him and we look forward to his ML debut in a few seasons.

Ken Holbert Mexico City Day Laborers Age: 23 B/T: R/R Born: Hershey, PA Position(s): 2B View Hardball Dynasty Profile

So there you have it. The number 1's of Camp. Tucson is on the clock.

We're going streaking!

Hey honey, do you think KFC is still open? The second longest hitting streak in Camp this season was snapped last night when New Orleans' Johnny Cook failed to collect a hit for the 21st consecutive game, which would have tied the season's longest streak held by Arizona's Charles Perez. Arizona's John Bruske currently holds a 16 game hitting streak, the longest active streak in Camp.

Johnny Cook New Orleans Levee Builders Age: 28 B/T: S/R Born: Gridley, CA Position(s): CF/CIF/2B/OF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Blanco taking the reigns in the desert

As good as Earl Gabriel has been for the Arizona Thunder Chickens throughout his career, pitcher Orlando Blanco has been even better so far this season. Blanco leads the majors in wins with 8 while posting a 1.80 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP in his 10 starts this season.

Gabriel also has totaled 8 wins to this point in the season but the rest of his numbers are a far cry from season 7 (though to be fair, that was one of the most ridiculous seasons ever). He is currently flirting with the worst ERA of his career, but at 3.44, who's going to complain? Not colson55555. The Arizona GM did make Gabriel available for trade after season 6, before deciding to hold onto him. At 37-years-old and with his numbers on the decline (even if they still are ace material) it will be interesting to see what the Thunder Chickens do with Gabriel at the end of the season. With Blanco stepping up and Jimmy Donovan and Flash Hammond behind him in the rotation, only time will tell if Gabriel's days in the desert are numbered.

Orlando Blanco Arizona Thunder Chickens Age: 32 B/T: S/L Born: Magdalena, MX Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile