This is a precarious time for APBA baseball fans.  On the APBA forums, precious few have the magic information (card ratings) we all crave.  There is little else we all gain from this info other than curiosity since we will all see these cards at some point soon.  That doesn’t prevent us (me included) from desperately (admittedly, some more desperate than others) seeking numbers on certain players, most likely players on our teams (dang, Glavine is a D).

With all that said and a good number of pitchers grades in as well as a lot of the defensive ratings, let’s take a look at who got a gift and who got the shaft from the guys in Lancaster. 

 

Who got a gift?

Let’s start out with some defensive ratings.  Some opined that Lance Berkman was lucky to get a 1B-5 rating for his glove.  I tend to agree.  That was a jump up from his 1B-4 rating last year.  Perhaps a boost from his hitting numbers?  Sounds illogical but I wouldn’t be surprised. 

A couple other defensive gifts were Carlos Lee and Justin Upton who were both OF-2.  Lee’s rating was a point higher than last year’s. Upton just lucky two years in a row. 

Like Berkman, Ryan Braun may have benefited defensively from a good offensive year.  His OF-1 last year turned into an OF-2 this year. 

Some were surprised by Felix Pie’s OF-3.  As a Cub fan, I’m not sure what to think.  I mean it IS the only thing he could right in 2008.

But the ultimate gift, the one rating that most people agreed was egregious, was Edison Volquez’ grade of 16xyw. 

Here are Volquez’ stats:

 

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	GF	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA
17	6	33	32	0	0	1	0	196	167	82	70	14	93	206	3.21

With these numbers, Edison pulling off an A is quite a coup.  As an added bonus, Volquez is in our rookie draft.  *must not be tempted… must keep focused*

 

 

Who got shafted?

Getting an unexpected good grade or rating on a player on your team is real nice but nothing is more anguishing than having a player (or worse, pitcher) not get that expected grade but rather something worse. 

Now some in the forums were surprised at Scott Rolen’s 3B-4.  I wasn’t.  I think Scotty’s days with the golden glove are in the past and his 4 is probably warranted. 

However, Carlos Quentin and Delmon Young both got OF-1 ratings and I know that a few people out there who think they deserved better.

Teddy Ballgame says the same about secondbaseman Felipe Lopez who got a lowly 2B-6.  TB opines, if he’s a 6, then so is Dan Uggla.  Let’s put Uggla in the gift category then.

Michael Young gets a SS-9.  Really?

Some have mentioned Carlos Zambrano deserved better than a 8.  As a Cub fan, nothing would please me more than to nudge Big Z into the B territory.  But his last start in 2008 when he gave up 5 runs pushed him over the edge.  With a 3.91 ERA and 14 wins, I just don’t see it. 

The biggest shaft this year?  No doubt it’s Matt Capps and his 9z.  It’s very possible that Capps will get a zz rating and most likely that affected his rating (just as Volquez’ w rating may have affected his).  But still, Capps’ ERA of 3.02 is dang low for a basic game C.  Here are Matt Capps’ stats:

 

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	GF	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA
2	3	49	0	0	0	39	21	53.7	47	20	18	5	5	39	3.02

A short term reliever isn’t going to make or break any APBA league team but nonetheless Capps’ 9 rating seems to be the widest gap in APBA’s formula. 

 

 

The hitting numbers have been few and far between so far (though I did get my Albert Pujols’ 1-1-0-0-0-7-8-8-8-8-9-9, 5 14, (1B-5)(2B-5), yum!).  Others are starting to come through, too. 

Did you notice any player or pitcher who didn’t get a rating you expected?  Let us know in the comment section. 

Thanks to Teddy Ballgame for his help with this article.

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And here are the NL 2008 APBA pitching grades that just came out. 

Again, no time yet to really look them through but Edison Volquez gets a 16! 

thanks to Bruce Norlander for assembling the grades and posting them on Between the Lines

 

 

The NL Pitchers (here are the AL pitchers)

Hinckley Mike WSH 0.00 14* Y Z
Valdez Merkin SF 1.69 9 15* Y
Lidge Brad PHI 1.95 21* XY W
Nelson Joe FLA 2.00 18* XY
Beimel Joe LAD 2.02 17*
Rhodes Arthur FLA 2.04 17* XY
Harden Rich CHC 2.07 16 XY
Romo Sergio SF 2.12 14* XY Z
Kuo Hong-Chih LAD 2.14 13 17* XY Z
Shell Steven WSH 2.16 18* X
Buchholz Taylor COL 2.17 17* X Z
Wade Cory LAD 2.27 16* Y Z
Samardzija Jeff CHC 2.28 16* Y W
Wagner Billy NYM 2.30 16* XY Z
Springer Russ STL 2.32 16* X
Adams Mike SD 2.48 16* XY Z
Saito Takashi LAD 2.49 16* XY
Santana Johan NYM 2.53 15 X Z
Geary Geoff HOU 2.53 16* Y
Cruz Juan ARI 2.61 17* XY W
Lincecum Tim SF 2.62 17 XY
Marmol Carlos CHC 2.68 17* XY W
Sabathia CC MIL 2.70 14 XY Z
Fuentes Brian COL 2.73 14* XY
Romero J.C. PHI 2.75 16* X W
Qualls Chad ARI 2.81 12* X Z
Shouse Brian MIL 2.81 12*  Z
Grabow John PIT 2.84 16* Y W
Peavy Jake SD 2.85 13 X
Durbin Chad PHI 2.87 14* Y
Bray Bill CIN 2.87 13* XY
Volstad Chris FLA 2.88 11
Hampson Justin SD 2.93 11* – Z
Dempster Ryan CHC 2.96 14 X
Grilli Jason COL 3.00 14* Y
Capps Matt PIT 3.02 9* Z (ZZ?)
Madson Ryan PHI 3.05 12* Y Z
Hamels Cole PHI 3.09 12 X Z
Sheets Ben MIL 3.09 12 Y Z
Broxton Jonathan LAD 3.13 12* XY
Billingsley Chad LAD 3.14 13 X
Lindstrom Matt FLA 3.14 12* Y
Hudson Tim ATL 3.17 11  Z
Wainwright Adam STL 3.20 11 Y Z
Stetter Mitch MIL 3.20 12* XY W
Volquez Edinson CIN 3.21 16 XY W
Buckner Billy ARI 3.21 9* Y Z
Burton Jared CIN 3.22 13* X
Lowe Derek LAD 3.24 11 Y Z
Weathers David CIN 3.25 12*
Condrey Clay PHI 3.26 11*  Z
Wood Kerry CHC 3.26 11* XY Z
Mercker Kent CIN 3.29 10*  W
Webb Brandon ARI 3.30 14 Y Z
Haren Dan ARI 3.33 12 X Z
Affeldt Jeremy CIN 3.33 12* X
Cordero Francisco CIN 3.33 14* XY W
Schoeneweis Scott NYM 3.34 11*
Valverde Jose HOU 3.38 10* XY Z
Park Chan Ho LAD 3.40 9 12* Y
Hinshaw Alex SF 3.40 13* XY W
Gregg Kevin FLA 3.41 14* Y W
Perez Chris STL 3.46 13* X W
Torres Salomon MIL 3.49 12*
Stults Eric LAD 3.49 6 Y Z
Stokes Brian NYM 3.51 4 8* Y Z
Nolasco Ricky FLA 3.52 12 X Z L
Seanez Rudy PHI 3.53 13*  W
Oswalt Roy HOU 3.54 12 Y Z
Rodriguez Wandy HOU 3.54 10 X
Franklin Ryan STL 3.55 11*
Smith Joe NYM 3.55 10* Y
Yabu Keiichi SF 3.57 11*
Acosta Manny ATL 3.57 11*
Bell Heath SD 3.58 11* X
Carlyle Buddy ATL 3.59 11* X
Julio Jorge ATL 3.60 11* XY W
Johnson Josh FLA 3.61 11 X
Wuertz Michael CHC 3.63 10*
Jurrjens Jair ATL 3.68 10 Y
Ohman Will ATL 3.68 9* X
Waechter Doug FLA 3.69 8* Y Z
Happ J.A. PHI 3.69 5 6* Y
Bennett Jeff ATL 3.70 7 10* Y
Maholm Paul PIT 3.71 10
Moyer Jamie PHI 3.71 11
Wellemeyer Todd STL 3.71 10 Y
Pelfrey Mike NYM 3.72 10
Kuroda Hiroki LAD 3.73 8 Z
Cain Matt SF 3.76 9 Y
Hoffman Trevor SD 3.77 8* XY Z
Lohse Kyle STL 3.78 10  Z
Marshall Sean CHC 3.86 5 7* X
Nunez Vladimir ATL 3.86 6* Y
Byrdak Tim HOU 3.90 9* Y W
Zambrano Carlos CHC 3.91 8
Lannan John WSH 3.91 7
Johnson Randy ARI 3.91 6 X Z
Campillo Jorge ATL 3.91 5 Y Z
Hawkins LaTroy HOU 3.92 8* Y
Masset Nick CIN 3.92 4 8* Y
Brocail Doug HOU 3.93 6* X Z
Hanrahan Joel WSH 3.95 8* XY
Cook Aaron COL 3.96 8  Z
Young Chris SD 3.96 7 X
Rivera Saul WSH 3.96 8* Y
Jimenez Ubaldo COL 3.99 9 Y W
McClung Seth MIL 4.02 7 9* Y W
Karstens Jeff PIT 4.03 4  Z
McClellan Kyle STL 4.04 7* Y
Feliciano Pedro NYM 4.05 5* X
Lieber Jon CHC 4.05 4  Z
Speier Ryan COL 4.06 7*
Sadler Billy SF 4.06 7* X W
Villanueva Carlos MIL 4.07 4 5* Y Z
Lilly Ted CHC 4.09 7 X
Meredith Cla SD 4.09 6* Y
Mota Guillermo MIL 4.11 8* Y W
Rauch Jon ARI 4.14 5* X Z
Beam T.J. PIT 4.14 6*
Arias Alberto HOU 4.15 6 7* W
Looper Braden STL 4.16 5  Z
Ledezma Wil ARI 4.17 5 7* Y W
Mock Garrett WSH 4.17 5 7* XY W
Bush Dave MIL 4.18 5 Z
Maine John NYM 4.18 7 Y W
Olsen Scott FLA 4.20 5  Z
Rosales Leo ARI 4.20 5*
Eyre Scott PHI 4.21 4* XY Z
Perez Oliver NYM 4.22 8 X W
Maddux Greg LAD 4.22 5  Z
Sampson Chris HOU 4.22 4 5*  Z
Kensing Logan FLA 4.23 7* X W
Miller Justin FLA 4.24 5* X
Kershaw Clayton LAD 4.26 7 X W
Troncoso Ramon LAD 4.26 5* X
Gonzalez Mike ATL 4.28 5* XY
Cotts Neal CHC 4.29 5* XY
Wolf Randy HOU 4.30 6 Y
Colome Jesus WSH 4.31 7* Y W
Petit Yusmeiro ARI 4.31 4 Y Z
Davis Doug ARI 4.32 5 Y
Sanchez Duaner NYM 4.32 5* Y
Pena Tony ARI 4.33 4* Y Z
Perez Odalis WSH 4.34 5 Y
Parra Manny MIL 4.39 6 Y
Gaudin Chad CHC 4.40 4 Z
Pinto Renyel FLA 4.45 7* Y W
Lincoln Mike CIN 4.48 5* Y
Corpas Manuel COL 4.52 4*  Z
Marquis Jason CHC 4.53 5
Myers Brett PHI 4.55 4 Y
Moehler Brian HOU 4.56 4  Z
Walker Tyler SF 4.56 4* X
Figueroa Nelson NYM 4.57 5 6* Y W
Medders Brandon ARI 4.58 4*
Wilson Brian SF 4.62 6* XY
Yates Tyler PIT 4.66 7* Y W
Villone Ron STL 4.68 6* X W
Blanton Joe PHI 4.69 4
Lyon Brandon ARI 4.70 5* Y Z
Slaten Doug ARI 4.73 4*
Estes Shawn SD 4.74 4
Banks Josh SD 4.75 4
Burnett Sean PIT 4.76 6* Y W
Arroyo Bronson CIN 4.77 7 Y
Harang Aaron CIN 4.78 3 Y Z
Baek Cha Seung SD 4.79 4  Z
Cueto Johnny CIN 4.81 4 Y
Duke Zach PIT 4.82 3  Z
Hampton Mike ATL 4.85 4
Taschner Jack SF 4.88 4* Y
De La Rosa Jorge COL 4.92 5 X
Redding Tim WSH 4.95 5
Suppan Jeff MIL 4.96 4
Sanchez Jonathan SF 5.01 6 X W
Francis Jeff COL 5.01 3
Wright Wesley HOU 5.01 6* X W
Zito Barry SF 5.15 5 W

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The APBA 2008 Baseball Disk is out and we now have pitching grades.

I haven’t had time to look at them too closely but Joey Devine a 29*??  Wow?! 

thanks to Bruce Norlander for assembling the grades and posting them on Between the Lines.

 

The AL Pitchers  (here are the NL pitchers)

(Remember, the ZZ isn’t reflected in the computer disk grades. )

PLAYER TEAM ERA SG RG* KR CR

Devine Joey OAK 0.59 29* XY

Coke Phil NYY 0.61 14* XYZ

Ziegler Brad OAK 1.06 26*

Nathan Joe MIN 1.33 24* XYZ

Rivera Mariano NYY 1.40 20* XYZ

Balfour Grant TB 1.54 24* XY W

Soria Joakim KC 1.60 23* XY

Arredondo Jose LAA 1.62 23* X

Downs Scott TOR 1.78 21* X

Bruney Brian NYY 1.83 11 20* XYW

Breslow Craig MIN 1.91 19* X

German Franklyn TEX 2.08 17* Y W

Bradford Chad TB 2.12 17* – Z G

MacDougal Mike CWS 2.12 16* Y W

League Brandon TOR 2.18 15* Y

Howell J.P. TB 2.22 20* XYW

Johnson Jim BAL 2.23 18*

Rodriguez Francisco LAA 2.24 21* XYW

Carlson Jesse TOR 2.25 16* X Z -

Reyes Dennys MIN 2.33 15* X – -

Papelbon Jonathan BOS 2.34 16* XYZ

Aceves Alfredo NYY 2.40 12

Lopez Javier BOS 2.43 18* W

Wolfe Brian TOR 2.45 12* Y Z

Lee Cliff CLE 2.54 17 Y Z

Duchscherer Justin OAK 2.54 14 Y Z

Chamberlain Joba NYY 2.60 14 16* XY

Okajima Hideki BOS 2.61 15* X

Jenks Bobby CWS 2.63 15* Y Z

Lewis Scott CLE 2.63 14  Z

Ramirez Ramon KC 2.64 16* XY

Thornton Matt CWS 2.67 14* XY Z

Shields Scot LAA 2.70 15* X

Reyes Anthony CLE 2.76 10

Halladay Roy TOR 2.78 14 X Z G

Oliver Darren LAA 2.88 13* Y Z

Tallet Brian TOR 2.88 14* Y

Matsuzaka Daisuke BOS 2.90 17 X W

Ryan B.J. TOR 2.95 15* XW

Nunez Leo KC 2.98 13* – Z

Brown Andrew OAK 3.09 12* Y W

Blevins Jerry OAK 3.11 12* X

Wheeler Dan TB 3.12 13* X

Westbrook Jake CLE 3.12 8  Z

Francisco Frank TEX 3.13 13* XY

Masterson Justin BOS 3.16 12 14* YW

Lester Jon BOS 3.21 13 Y

Corcoran Roy SEA 3.22 14*W

Loe Kameron TEX 3.23 9* – Z

Delcarmen Manny BOS 3.27 12* X

Danks John CWS 3.32 12 Y

Morrow Brandon SEA 3.34 11 14* XY W

Mussina Mike NYY 3.37 12 Y Z

Marcum Shaun TOR 3.39 11 Y

Saunders Joe LAA 3.41 12Z

Jimenez Cesar SEA 3.41 4 10* Y

Rowland-Smith Ryan SEA 3.42 10 12*

Hernandez Felix SEA 3.45 12 X

Baker Scott MIN 3.45 11 X Z

Greinke Zack KC 3.47 11 X Z

Zumaya Joel DET 3.47 10* X W

Mahay Ron KC 3.48 13* Y W

Santana Ervin LAA 3.49 12 XY Z

Kazmir Scott TB 3.49 13 XY W

Albers Matt BAL 3.49 9 11* W

Giese Dan NYY 3.53 7 8* Y

Perez Rafael CLE 3.54 10* XY Z

Lopez Aquilino DET 3.55 10* Y Z

Shields James TB 3.56 11 Y Z

Litsch Jesse TOR 3.58 11  Z

Crain Jesse MIN 3.59 10* Y

Veras Jose NYY 3.59 10* XY

Bowden Michael BOS 3.60 5 Z

Guthrie Jeremy BAL 3.63 11

Bedard Erik SEA 3.67 12 X W

Linebrink Scott CWS 3.69 9* X Z

Garza Matt TB 3.70 11 Y

Galarraga Armando DET 3.73 11 Y

Street Huston OAK 3.73 11* XY

Lackey John LAA 3.75 9 Y Z

Dotel Octavio CWS 3.76 10* XY

Buehrle Mark CWS 3.79 9 Z

Castillo Alberto BAL 3.81 8* Y

Lewis Jensen CLE 3.82 10* Y

Floyd Gavin CWS 3.84 10 Y

Putz J.J. SEA 3.88 10* XYW

Ramirez Edwar NYY 3.90 8* XY

Liriano Francisco MIN 3.91 7 X

Colon Bartolo BOS 3.92 6 Z

Casilla Santiago OAK 3.93 8* Y

Carrasco D.J. CWS 3.96 7* Y

Dolsi Freddy DET 3.97 9* W

Tejeda Robinson KC 3.97 4 9* XYW

Meche Gil KC 3.98 7 X

Slowey Kevin MIN 3.99 6 Y Z

Richmond Scott TOR 4.00 4 Y Z

Marte Damaso NYY 4.02 7* XY

Cormier Lance BAL 4.02 4 8*

Beckett Josh BOS 4.03 6 X Z

Parrish John TOR 4.04 4 6*

Blackburn Nick MIN 4.05 6  Z

Davies Kyle KC 4.06 6

Burnett A.J. TOR 4.07 9 XY

Wang Chien-Ming NYY 4.07 8

Wakefield Tim BOS 4.13 6

Smith Greg OAK 4.16 7  W

Laffey Aaron CLE 4.23 5

Miner Zach DET 4.27 5 6*

Bonderman Jeremy DET 4.29 7  W

Weaver Jered LAA 4.33 6 X

Eveland Dana OAK 4.34 8 YW

Sonnanstine Andy TB 4.38 6 Z

Perkins Glen MIN 4.41 7  Z

Jackson Edwin TB 4.42 6

Pettitte Andy NYY 4.54 6 Y Z

Byrd Paul BOS 4.60 4  Z

Vazquez Javier CWS 4.67 4 X Z

Padilla Vicente TEX 4.74 7 Y

Verlander Justin DET 4.84 4 Y

Garland Jon LAA 4.90 6  Z

Ponson Sidney NYY 5.04 5

Millwood Kevin TEX 5.07 4 Y Z

Cabrera Daniel BAL 5.25 6  W

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