Job Well Done

(11/16/2006) Hillsborough fans are raving about the season the Hillsborough Hired Hitmen gave them this year. General Manager/Owner Brent Campbell said, "I couldn't have been happier about the performance my team gave our fans this year. It came down to the last day before we were knocked out of the playoffs." A-Rod and Ryan Howard have been named Co-Team MVP's. Felix Hernandez has been named pitcher of the year and rookie pitcher of the year for the team. Ryan Howard also brought home the Hitmen's Rookie of the Year award.

One dedicated fan said, "when Brent Campbell took over this team prior to the 2005 season, he didn't inherit a very good team. However, he came in and got his hands dirty by planting the seeds to grow a franchise." Another knowledgeable fan said, "the GM basically had to start from scratch with a pitching staff that couldn't pitch their way out of Rookie ball." The GM started the building process by consulting Manager, former Vancouver Iron Fist outfielder, Mike Greenwell, hitting coach "Bam Bam" Meulens, and pitching coach Brien Taylor on the future and direction of the team.

Mr. Campbell came up with a three year plan. The GM said, "My team will be very competitive in three years time, and wouldn't be surprised if a dynasty is born." He knew he had to tear apart the underachieving team he inherited and start from scratch. The best way to build the team is to have a young talented Nucleus. Hillsborough had the making of a talented offense in A-Rod, Dunn, Delgado, Pierre, and Varitek. He knew he had to get rid of dead wood in Beltre, so he found an unsuspecting dopey manager (Arkansas) to pawn him off. That was the beginning of Mr. Campbell's promising moves. Other GM's may have questioned the move at the time. However, the GM's brilliance had long term goals in mind, and that was just the first step in making the plan come to fruition. "A dynasty isn't built overnight, it takes careful planning, as well as great scouts out there looking for the right talent. The seeds have been planted, and now patience is needed", said manager Mike Greenwell.

The 2005 draft brought in four future studs (SP Jeremy Bonderman, SP Felix Hernandez, 1B Ryan Howard, and RP Chad Cordero) to fill the roster for years to come. Prior to the 2006 draft, Mr. Campbell made another wise move by trading underachieving 3b Morgan Ensberg (waiver wire pick-up) for stud OF Carlos Lee. "At this stage, my offense was set. All I need to do now is work on my future pitching staff", said the GM. The GM immediately went to work in the draft room and picked up SP John Lackey, 2b Robinson Cano, SP Justin Verlander, and RP Bobby Jenks, as well as other role players in the 2006 draft. "The offensive players that I inherited, as well as the core young players that I drafted, will bring championships for years to come", said the GM.

As the correspondent covering the Hillsborough Hired Hitmen, this team looks like they will be fun to watch in the very near future. They are going to be a supreme DMBL powerhouse, and a team to recon with in years to come. Here are some comments I have for their 2006 MLB baseball statistics. Ryan Howard is an absolute Monster, and his #'s are downright scary. A-Rod had a down year for his standards; however, the numbers are still great. He will bounce back with a vengeance, come next year. Delgado had a decent year getting to know his new team. Carlos lee was the player that the GM thought he would be getting when he made the trade prior to the 2006 draft. Cano is a future batting king. Dunn keeps smacking homers, as well as racking up K's. Pierre had a very good year, providing the motor that is expected of him. Varitek was a disappointment, and the GM will have a tough time saving him a DMBL spot on his team with those type numbers.

The Hillsborough pitchers are steadily improving. Felix Hernandez took a minor step back from the prior year. However, next year will be his third year and the sky's the limit with him. Lackey had a solid year with the Angels, and provides veteran leadership for the youngsters. Justin Verlander was a great pickup, kudos to the GM on this pick. He definitely has a high upside, and should win the MLB Rookie of the Year. Bonderman surpassed 200 k's for the first time in his career, and he continually improves year after year. The GM expects ace type stuff from him in the near future. Chad Cordero took a small step back; however, he should be a steady presence for Hillsborough.

Sputtering
(3/31/05) Hillsborough fans are starting to get a little upset over the team's poor start. Fans started to boo former Mitchell Award winner Carlos Delgado after he struck out in last night's game against Vancouver. The team has not been discouraged, however, and remains upbeat. "We are in the toughest division in baseball" says second baseman Ray Durham.

Weaver set to return
(3/31/04)The team expects to have ace pitcher Jeff Weaver back sometime at the end of this week. Sources close to the team say that Weaver was starting to recover from his fear of walking around town after dusk and now with the time change this weekend, Weaver should be good to go the rest of the season. "I swear everywhere I looked there were eyes following me" Weaver recalled about the first time he walked out in Hillsborough after dark. "It's not like I'm in the projects, but something about this town gives me the willies.

Turn Back the Clock Night
When the Cards open up their series with the Endzone Animals Thursday, they might look a little strange. That's because the team is bringing back vintage jerseys from their Cheyenne Warhawks days. "The Warhawks had a great winning tradition and we want to capture that glory" said team owner and GM Jeremy Berger. "The first 500 kids that show up will get a commemorative tomahawk." The Cheyenne Warhawks entered the league back in 1993 and have sinced move to Norfolk and subsequently to Hillsborough before finding their way halfway across the world in Vatican City.