Straight Cash Homey: An off-season review

With the beginning of the regular season around the corner, let's take a look at what happened during the off-season, starting with the coaches.

I think we can all agree that coach hiring is painful. Takes too long. Eats up too much budget. We've gone round and round on this. Personally, I hate it. But, it's a necessary evil and a lot better than the Baseball Mogul features of having to manage ticket prices for revenue.

Clarence York and Dan Rusch were the big winners in the coaching lottery. York and his 87 pitching rating went to Burlington at $3.7m, making Harry Vega and his higher ratings look like a steal at $3.0m (San Juan). Rusch got $3.6m from Richmond to be its hitting coach. Burlington dropped $2.5m on benchman Bubba Lange and $2.4m on pitching coach Toby Rhodes. San Juan laid out $3.0m for hitting coach Stevie Parnell and $1.8m on its bench guy -- Nick Wayne.

11 coaches will make $3 million or more this season, including fielding instructor Chris Breen. Four glovemen will make $2.0+.

This year's award for the highest paid coach goes to Ralph in Portland who laid out $919k for a LoA hitting coach--Ajax Simon. Coming in second is Burlington's Cliff Chance, who will make $840k to coach up the AAA pitchers.

Here are your top 20 coaches, by salary:

Coach	Franchise	Role	Salary
Clarence York	Pitch Factory	Pitching Coach	$3.7M
Dan Rusch	Royal Flush	Hitting Coach	$3.6M
Matthew Menechino	Monarchs	Hitting Coach	$3.1M
Chris Breen	Royals	Fielding Instructor	$3.0M
Alfredo Urbina	Chechakos	Bench Coach	$3.0M
Harry Vega	Reales	Pitching Coach	$3.0M
Mel Decker	Webs	Pitching Coach	$3.0M
Stevie Parnell	Reales	Hitting Coach	$3.0M
Joe Liefer	Beavers	Hitting Coach	$3.0M
Garret Garcia	City Limit	Hitting Coach	$3.0M
Joshua Edmonds	Texans	Hitting Coach	$3.0M
Charlie Durrington	Come From Behinders	Pitching Coach	$2.9M
Alex Coronado	Come From Behinders	Hitting Coach	$2.9M
Joel Stein	Lake Effect Snow	Fielding Instructor	$2.8M
Timothy Mercedes	Outlaws	Bench Coach	$2.8M
Benito Estrella	Outlaws	Hitting Coach	$2.7M
Lariel Trajano	Beavers	Bench Coach	$2.5M
Norm Burke	Monarchs	Bench Coach	$2.5M
Bubba Lange	Pitch Factory	Hitting Coach	$2.5M
Alan Rivers	Gulls	Bench Coach	$2.4M

Do I smell a blog post coming soon?

I think so.

The OnIoNDEX #1

Here's the first power rankings of Season 5. We'll try to do this every 20-25 games this season as time permits. For those of you new to the Wailing Onion, the formula is pretty simple and rewards scoring and good pitching [Winning percentage + (team OPS-opposition team OPS) divided by runs scored margin.]

1. Atlanta Mad Dogs 0.785391892
2. Cincinnati Motorboaters 0.65019403
3. Philadelphia Flash 0.650176471
4. Tampa Bay Hurricanes 0.623125
5. Minnesota North Stars 0.598615385
6. Portland Beavers 0.598029412
7. Boston Minutemen 0.597636364
8. Little Rock Outlaws 0.597517857
9. New Britain Angry Bears 0.595867925
10. San Francisco Slingers 0.595695652
11. Chicago Black Stockings 0.5699
12. Kansas City Royals 0.56932
13. Las Vegas Mirage 0.543727273
14. Montreal Monarchs 0.543636364
15. Austin City Limit 0.543106383
16. Richmond Royal Flush 0.5416
17. Arizona Amberwoods 0.541125
18. New York Chechakos 0.5145
19. Colorado Springs Cricket Club 0.484636364
20. Buffalo Hot Wings 0.435791667
21. Chicago Cubbies, of course 0.4354
22. Pittsburgh Diamond Kings 0.43376
23. Seattle Steelheads 0.4305
24. Charlotte Webs 0.410333333
25. Washington D.C. Senators 0.4075
26. Burlington Pitch Factory 0.407
27. Columbus Come from Behinders 0.406114286
28. Santa Fe Booze Hounds 0.3522625
29. Los Angeles Stars 0.325716667
30. Rochester Rust Belts 0.325313433
31. Memphis In The Meantime 0.298777778
32. Monterrey Surf Riders 0.244595506

Journey of a Major Leaguer

Because baseball is a business, sometimes good players get shuffled around the league for a variety of reasons. Even though they may be solid ballplayers everywhere they go, they become unable to carve out an identity in any clubhouse. After being named Major League Pitcher of the Week this week, Chicago Black Stockings SP Chief Webster could do little but laugh about the whirlwind of experiences he's had over the past 5 years that have guided him toward this accolade.

Seasons 1 and 2 found Webster as a regular in the Philadelphia Flash's starting rotation. He went 28-18 in the city of brotherly love, with an ERA right near 4.00. But, come Season 3, the Flash suddenly had a surplus of arms, and decided to move the serviceable pitcher for young 3B Tony Moraga of the Monterrey Surf Riders. His two-year stint with the Flash remains his longest stay with any team.

Webster failed to flourish in his new setting (and nation), going 0-8 over 16 starts with a 5.46 ERA. Frustrated by his starter's uselessness, GM reigny of the Surf Riders cut Webster loose entirely, which left Webster wondering if he would even be able to find a home to finish the season. As it turns out, the Portland Beavers liked what they saw in Webster and thought he could still produce as he had in Philly. Portland GM rbedwell snagged Webster off waivers immediately, and "The Cheif" finished the year respectably, making 13 appearances (not all of them starts), and posting a 2.74 ERA.

Portland offered arbitration to Webster the following year, but an American League contender had big plans for the right-hander, and a day after his arbitration contract had been decided upon, Webster was headed to the junior circuit for the second time. A deal between the Beavers and the Tampa Bay Hurricanes sent Webster east for minor-league SS Jimmy Linton. Webster was likely overjoyed at the thought of jumping ship from a perennial NL cellar dwellar to a proud AL franchise. But, of course, we all know the ascension story of the Portland Beavers who turned in a world championship year in Season 4, which The Chief missed being a part of by 1 year.

At the time, Webster saw his latest change of venue as a great opportunity to be a part of a team capable of a deep playoff run. He started every 5th day for the Hurricanes, taking the ball 32 times and spinning a respectable 13-10 record with a 4.92 ERA. His Hurricanes claimed the 2nd best record in the American League, and for the first time in 2 seasons, Webster made a playoff start. In 4 playoff appearances, Webster's numbers are impressive, relative to his career numbers. Though only 1-2, he boasts a 2.77 ERA. Unfortunately, one of his 2 postseason losses came with Tampa, and they were swept out of their ALDS matchup with the Cleveland Wahoos.

Webster was not extended arbitration by the Hurricanes, and had to come to terms with the reality that he would now be pitching for his 5th team in 5 years. The Chicago Black Stockings were his most aggressive suitor, signing Webster for 2 years at $4.1M per, with a team option for the second year. As if to bring the story full circle, the Black Stockings also picked up SP Carl Oliver in the offseason. During seasons 1 and 2, Oliver and Webster pitched together in the Philly rotation, which is where Webster launched his major league career.

His journey far from complete, Webster looks better than ever this season. In earning Pitcher of the Week distinction, he has gone 4-0 in 4 starts, averaging 7.0 IP per appearance. He has surrendered just 1 earned run, for a sparkling 0.32 ERA. His sub-1 WHIP of 0.93 has also been impressive. The long season ahead likely holds more twists and turns for Webster, but after being tossed around the league like a hot potato, he is doing his damndest to build a home on the South Side.

Ho-ly shit!

Donovan Milligan.

Five years.

$100 million.

$2.3 signing bonus.

Returns to the Cleveland/Montreal franchise.

Donovan Milligan Montreal Monarchs Age: 31 B/T: S/R Born: Osawatomie, KS Position(s): SS View Hardball Dynasty Profile

A Free Agency Look-See

Here's where we stand on my list of free agents to watch:

Donovan Milligan: Unsigned

Jamie Rollins: Unsigned

Ramon Martin: $5.3m over two years Santa Fe

Philip Jacobs: $32m x4 Minnesota

Dorian Piper: Unsigned

Willie Rodriguez: $24 x3 +$5m signing Buffalo

Louie Dali: $24m x4 Minnesota

Raymond North: 8.4 x2 Monterrey

Sammy Barnes: 10 x2 Little Rock

Ruben Otanez: 26.5 x3 Austin

McKay Hernandez: Unsigned

Willie Haynes: $5.2m x2 Memphis

Roscoe Street: Unsigned

More from the hot stove

New Britain is positioning itself to make a play for the division crown since relocating from Augusta. Player agent Dennis Bruske said there is all sorts of chatter around the free agent market that there will be a big push to bring a division title to Connecticut.

Agents for Willie Rodriguez, Louis Dali and Sammy Barnes have already received preliminary contacts. They are also on the prowl for a catcher, but have also said they would be willing to slot AA prospect Shane Clark in the starting spot if necessary.

The squad will also unveil its mascot at a Monday press conference in Downtown New Britain. The Onion Ball blog has a sneak peak at the Angry Bear.

More grist for the mill

Rumors are like my high school girlfriend. She's everywhere and on everybody...

Sources close to the WS Champion Portland franchise report that the Beaver Cleavers are looking to deal and wheel in the offseason. On the sorta kinda maybe list are AA MVP finalist Del Clifton and catchers Johnny Wilkerson (a former overall #2 pick) and Carlos Tavarez. On Portland's "Don't let the door hit you" list is Lewis Harang.

The same source reports that Portland almost had Washington DC's Johnny Costello, but trade talks broke down at the last minute over Costello's age. Costello wanted to take the trade, but Portland management was concerned about the reason -- apparently, he was a child when Lewis and Clark discovered the territory where the Beavers currently play.