It's a simple game.
You throw the ball,
You hit the ball,
You catch the ball.
A long, strange trip for some, a fruitful and joyous journey for others, the Summer League's 1997 recently closed with Greg again stealing the Spit Cup. As the Summer League's Official Scribe, I hope you'll enjoy my Summer League samplings.
Let me introduce you to myself and to my foes--the owners/GM's/managers I've had the privilege to combat in the SL's first six seasons. The numbers are my incalculable Palmer/Thorn ranking, first of the owners GM skills, second of their managerial skil ls, with a comment or two attached.
| GM skills | Managerial Skills | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greg Nims | 92 | Rosters are sometimes too pinch run constrictive, otherwise a perfect formula | 95 | According to Steve "he acted, I reacted", three moves ahead of the game |
| Keith Klein | 87 | Most balanced teams, but never most talented | 80 | Not sure how I arrived at this number |
| Ken Klein | 70 | Always leaves a gaping hole amid very talented teams | 65 | Good lineup maker and "understander" of APBA, but holds onto and applies misguided and unfounded notions |
| Chris Klein | 70 | Leaves smaller holes than Ken, about 3rd best talent every completed year, his trading days are behind him | 65 | Probably least among Big 4 in applying APBA board nuances, some questionable player moves, MANAGED his way to 1996 title |
| John Bryant | 50 | Minus trades and love for Tettleton, he'd be a 65 | 25 | Passivist game manager, uncaring lineup maker |
| Jim Frank | 55 | Lotsa promise, probably a 60 w/out his draft day '97 proclamation to not look at the computer for the first five rounds | 45 | Way too aggressive at times, puts in lineups and manages o n whims too often, aggressiveness is a plus compared to the scrubs |
| Steve Swinea | 30 | Most likely to improve among '97 scrubs | 35 | Keeps starters in one batter too long, pinch hits w/ wrong guys, benches wrong guys, did handle relief staff well |
| Dan Casper | 20 | Reactive at best, improved drafting in '96, but then made terrible free agent pickups | 40 | Indistinct managerial style, above the worst, below the good |
| Joe Hauser | 30 | Started out ok in '97 draft, then faded away, high marks for not trading away his team to Steve | 30 | Keeps pitchers in six batters too long, plays second line talent too often |
| Tommy Maloney | 30 | Shrewd draft strategist | 10 | Wake Up, Tommy!, Tommy can you hear me! |
| Brian Boice | 25 | Had a good team minus the Minnesotans | 45 | Showed promise, but was constricted by GM Hubert Humphrey |
Here's the ratings recap: