Breaking News: Clay Morris come to Las Vegas!

Las Vegas GM, François Neveu, just called a press conference:
 " The Jokers made a transaction with Mile High Mustang to obtain the starting pitcher Clay Morris.  As everyone know, pitching in Las Vegas is an area we tried to improve since a couple of week.  So the acquisition of Morris, a 35 years old vet, add a quality arm to the formation.  This will decrease the pressure on Mcgee and let him time to fully develop his skills before taking the #2 spot in the rotation.  Morris will do that job and we're really excited to see him in our uniform.

To obtain gold, you have to give some gold too.  Mile High are chasing us in the division so they asked a big price.  So young SP Paul Durden, 2B Bill Whitehead and RF Julio Rodriguez, all playing in Reno (AAA) will quit to Mile High.  We wish them good luck in their new organisation.  We know that we give a lot but to obtain a quality pitcher, that was the price.  We really wanted to strenghten this area of our ball club.

- Mister Neveu, is that acquisition is the only one Las vegas will do?  What about Danny Burris?
- Burris is an excellent player and we made some contact with Notthinghamshire about him.  The problem is that we can't agree on the value of Las Vegas players.  Our scouting team and their saw things differently.  So we decided to go with Mile High and get a SP.  And when you look at the number, we're first on attack in our league but didn't do as well in pitching area, so improving that area made sense for me.
- Mister Neveu, is there a possibility that you move with another team for a 2B?
- We're always looking to improve the team.  We had few discussions over very good 2B or SS but when they asked for Bob McGee in the deal, we decide to not discuss further.  McGee is not on the market"

So, we will keep you inform about the reaction of Clay Morris when he'll arrive in Vegas.  With this move, the Jokers clearly show their intention to be a serious contender in ABL Title.

This is Bob Bobino in Vegas!

Jokers did well in All star game victory

The Thurman Munson league won the All Star game.  Many Las Vegas players played in that game and all of them significantly contibute in that victory.  Let's see how they perform.
Maurice Gould: The Goulden boy started the game.  He gave nothing in 2 innings, stroke 2 batters during his short exhibition.  But he was cleary as dominant as usual.

Kevin Carey: Mister Carey hit first in the lineup and played third all game long. He finished the day with 2 hits in 6. Another big game for the vet.






Colin St.John: The best RBI producer of the team bat second.  He made 2 apperances and had 1 hit.  Of course, it was new for him to hit as high in the lineup.





Vic Jennings: Vic played first base and hit at the 4 spot.  He had 1 hit in 2 with 1 RBI.  Another good day at the office for him.





Troy Tracy: He played from 6th inning to 8 and score a run.







So we can be proud of all of them for their good showing.  But they will have to be ready quickly because Las Vegas start an important series against Mile high.

If there's nothing new on Gould contract, it appear that trade talk still continue with Notthinghamshire.  GM Neveu don't want to confirm it but he admit that he's talking with some teams to improve the team.  Is Burris involving in these discussions?  Notthinghamshire said earlier that he's not on the market but let an open door in saying that everyone have a price.  The question is now: Can Vegas pay that price?

Rumors, signatures and contract talk

The Jokers enter the month of july ahead by 6.5 games.  It's not enough to take it easy and the GM is now starting to talk with others GM to see if the team can be strenghten.  The market is very tin in SP but some 2B could be available.  So, there's rumors that Mr Neveu enquiring about Burris, Mclernon or Hamm.  On the three players, the acquisition of Burris would be so huge for the Vegas franchise, giving the team another top hitter.  With St.John and Jennings to clean up the bases, another elite average hitter would put Las Vegas in top team of the league.  But what could be the price?  McLernon and Hamm reprensent good value too if a deal couldn't be reach with Nottinghamshire.

Danny Burris, one of the most promising young 2B








In the world of facts, Troy Tracy signed an extension with the team.  The management, extremely please with his number, giving him a raise that would keep the LF many years with the team.  As a leadoff, Tracy did all what we hope from him.  Is solid defense and leadership make the deal easier to conclude.  The only surprising thing right now is to see Maurice Gould still not sign for many years.  Gould is absolutely on fire since may, can't go to free agent market right now but why waiting?  All the Jokers fans will have a better sleep with Gould lock for the next 5 years.  The management told us that discussion have started with Gould but it's seem that the two sides are not near anything right now.  It will be interesting to see how the situation will develop in the next months...

Bob Bobino,
Journalist

A team built for our Stadium

GM Diary: Montreal play well at home... Las Vegas too.  The team have a 19-7 record in front of his fan.  It's always a good thing to win a lot at home.  First, the fans are pleased after the game when their team won.  Second, it install doubt in the head of the visiting team.  We asked the GM the reason for this succes.

The Jokers are build for the Stadium.  When Mister Angelil bought the franchise, he plan to build a stadium.  He was impress by the Yankee Stadium when he was young so he decided to build a Stadium who look like to the old Yankee Stadium.  So when i drafted the players, i had that in mind so i decide to have a lineup to do well in our stadium.  The plan worked very well for the hitter.  We are in first place for runs scored.  But i struggled a bit for the SP.  I would have love to claim a big lefty to go with Maurice Gould... We have 2 or 3 good prospects but they are all righty.  As long as we stay in first place, we will live with it but if we receive a good offer for a good lefty, we may trade one of our young SP, like Gonzalez.  In fact we decide to put him in AAA because he struggle a bit now.  We don't want him to stop developping his abilities so we decide to bring up Christian Clark, a young SP who pitched very well in our AAA.  If Clark not injuried himself in spring training, he may have start in ML.  We'll see how Gonzalez will do in minor and call him back for sure in september.