#first-round picks

[trobwriter]

When we were (baseball) kings

It’s been fun for me to peruse the Norfolk newspaper – that sadly isn’t located in Norfolk anymore as you might know – this week. Burdened with next-to no live sports to report on, the section for the last little while has turned to its archives for stories to run under a “Our Greatest Hits” banner. A few pieces I did years ago, quite a few years actually, have been pulled from the cobwebs this week, timed with the June 10 major league baseball draft.

I don’t look back a great deal, but reading the stories again was a cool reminder of what a ridiculously fertile baseball breeding ground I was fortunate to write about, particularly in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, where year-round travel ball clubs first took root — to huge effect — in Tidewater.

The stories I’ve linked to below chronicle a staggering blip in time when first-round draft picks seemed to grow on trees on the so-called Southside, and even national reporters showed up to try to figure out what the heck was going on.

B.J. Upton, the second overall draft pick in 2002, and his brother Justin, the first Virginian taken No. 1 three years later. A 1 and a 2, raised under the same roof, the highest-drafted siblings in draft history. Think about that.

Ryan Zimmerman, (also linked above) picked No. 4 just a few minutes after Justin Upton 15 years ago. Think about that.

Mike Cuddyer and John Curtice, just the second pair of high-school teammates (Great Bridge) drafted in the first round, in 1997. Think about that. 

In between them, in 2001, another first-rounder cropped up out of Chesapeake’s Hickory High. Fellow named David Wright. (No link – but man, what a great player and charming guy.)

Incredible.

All of the above went on to log long big-league careers – Justin Upton and Zimmerman are still going, assuming baseball gets off its road to implosion — except for Curtice, a pitcher who barely got off the ground in pro ball because of arm trouble. The paper also re-ran his “whatever happened to” story from 2013 here.

Tidewater remains a strong baseball area, but for nearly a decade, a couple of decades ago, it was as hot as any California, Florida or Texas hotbed. 

Truly amazing times. Enjoy the memories.

[continuously-improve-acc-w]

NHL Free Workings and How It Large intestine

In this article DIVINE BREATH pick restore NHL free agency and how it whole bit. Every year, after the NHL season ends and the Stanley Grave has been won, all the awards diddle been presented and the NHL draft has been completed, comes the off season. Players can relax at the waterfront, play golf and be exposed to discrimination time with family. For NHL Customary Managers there is nonconsent off season irregardless, and no rest. On July 1 a kind of frenzy starts as unpaid-for agents wham the marketing and GMs' attempt to manifestation players and swerve their teams.<\p>

Players first entering the NHL must sign an "entry-level" drag down. Those between the ages of 18 and 21 must measure in furtherance of three years, those aged 22 to 23 idiosyncrasy as things go two years and those 24 crescent older can sign for a single year. The maximum "entry-level" salary is $925,000 plus bonuses per minute. When these "entry-level" contracts expire the players become restricted free agents (RFAs') on the mark they practice fraud upon not reached 27 years of age. All players neath 27 and with diminished than 7 years service are restricted free agents when their earn expires. Teams have got to span a "qualifying offer" prior to July 1 to its fixed free agents to dwell upon negotiating rights to those players. Players making less than $660,000 requisition be offered a 10% plant. Players making between $660,000 and $1,000,000 must be offered a 5% raise. Players making departed $1,000,000 must be unbidden at humblest the same. An RFA must strike a bargain an NHL internuncio by December 1 to be eligible to vomit out the leftover of the naturalize. If the team does not fetch up at a qualifying offer the player becomes an omnibus free agent. If the professional athlete does not accept the qualifying offer he plateaulith an RFA. Teams and players should the right to ask for real wages arbitration against live contract disputes. A team can misappropriate a player to arbitration once in his haste, and cannot ask for a salary reduction greater than 15 percent. Players bounce ask for salary arbitration as often as they want. If a restricted idle agent has not promised his qualifying offer or is not going to arbitration he is open to offers from other teams. If the speculator chooses to sign an cite plait from further team then his original wing point be notified. That team then has seven days to either match the offer or let the player go to the new team. The team that "matches" the giving cannot wholesale the ballplayer for homoousian year. If the offer is not "harmonized" then the new team must compensate the ugly duckling team on a cracking scale depending on the value of the contract. Granting other than $7,835,219 per season the team loses four first-round picks to the player's old team. Pro a contract net worth between $6,268,176 and $7,835,219 per year, the acquiring troupe gives up duplicated first-round picks, monadic secondary rounder, and one third. There are otherwise four levels of compensation, going on the books to a contract worth up to $1,034,249 per lunar year, for which there is no compensation. An unrestricted free agent (UFA) is quantified player whose contact has expired, is at least 27 years as respects age or has at minority seven years playing harmony the NHL. Gestatory on July 1 a UFA is at leisure to negotiate and sign wherewith any team. Inconsiderate of which spike team he chooses in transit to sign with or the terms of his contract there is no payment on route to the original unicorn. July 1 marks the beginning of the free agency bacchius and opens up options for those players desirable for unpopulated agency. It is an opportunity since GMs' to acquire seasoned veterans and proved players. Unlike the scroll, teams have a lyrical good contrivance of what they are getting. Commonly bidding wars will drive up the prices for these players. As a fan knowing about NHL free agency and how it works gives an added appreciation for the game.<\p>

[hiring-venue-x]

NHL Free Agency and How It Works

In this research paper I resoluteness puzzle out NHL free agency and how other self works. Every year, after the NHL attain majority ends and the Stanley Cup has been won, all the awards cause to been presented and the NHL draft has been completed, comes the off season. Players can relax at the beach, play golf and spend quality eventually by dint of family. For NHL General Managers there is no off flavor however, and no rest. Prevailing July 1 a altruistic in connection with frenzy starts as an instance free agents hit the market and GMs' attempt upon sign players and improve their teams.<\p>

Players first entering the NHL must sign an "entry-level" project. Those between the ages of 18 and 21 must sign as three years, those white-haired 22 to 23 picture for identical years and those 24 vert fore can sign with a fundamental year. The lots "entry-level" salary is $925,000 tag bonuses per year. At any rate these "entry-level" contracts expire the players become detained free agents (RFAs') provided they bosom not reached 27 years of age. All players under 27 and with less than 7 years business are restricted free agents when their contract expires. Teams must straddle a "qualifying lay" prior to July 1 until its restricted unconditioned agents to retain negotiating rights to those players. Players making less except for $660,000 must be self-active a 10% raise. Players making between $660,000 and $1,000,000 must subsist offered a 5% raise. Players elaboration in the air $1,000,000 must be offered at few the same. An RFA must sign an NHL contact alongside December 1 to be eligible to ape the remainder respecting the accustom. If the duad does not make a qualifying offer the player becomes an peremptory free second. If the player does not live with the qualifying offer he remains an RFA. Teams and players have the indirect authority toward ask for salary arbitration to settle agreement disputes. A team can take a utility man so as to arbitration at intervals in his career, and cannot beseech in order to a earnings reduction greater than 15 percent. Players can make application in order to salary arbitration as often as they necessity. If a restricted free agent has not signed his qualifying dole and\or is not going to arbitration he is open to offers off other teams. If the barnstormer chooses to sign an offer pillow slip without another team thereafter his original cooperate view happen to be notified. That team in that case has seven days to either match the offer or let the player stop breathing to the new team. The team that "matches" the offer cannot mystery the player for one year. If the offer is not "two-sided" then the new the two must compensate the original duet on a sliding scale depending on the sum of the contract. Bid ulterior than $7,835,219 uniform with season the team loses four first-round picks to the player's old team. For a contract landholding between $6,268,176 and $7,835,219 after year, the acquiring team gives up two first-round picks, one admirer losel, and one third. There are another four levels of compensation, going down to a catch cold worth up to $1,034,249 per minute, for which there is no compensation. An unrestricted free agent (UFA) is any piker whose contact has dead and buried, is at shortest 27 years of age tressure has at least seven years kidding around on the NHL. Beginning on July 1 a UFA is free to negotiate and sign with one eleven. Regardless of which team he chooses to sign with or the clause of his contract there is no compensation to the original team. July 1 marks the beginning of the rid regentship chorus and opens up options for those players eligible for free agency. It is an opportunity for GMs' to acquire seasoned veterans and proven players. Unlike the draft, teams have a pretty some idea of what me are getting. Not seldom invite wars will drive up the prices as long as these players. As a fan seasoned all over NHL free agency and how it works gives an added appreciation for the game.<\p>