Black Knights 2007-2019

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm here, I'm here! Let the bells ring out and the banners fly! Feast your eyes on me! It's too good to be true, but I'm here! I'm her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Knight's fans woke up this morning thinking they must of hibernated and woke up on April fool's Day.Owner Paul J Kiggins opened the bank vault and has traded for one of the best pitchers in baseball landing LH CLAYTON KERSHAW. Kershaw (31-6 /3.16) for the Quebec Nordiques was stunned by the trade,"I thought we had a good thing going here!!!". I just won the CY and league MVP and i dont fit into their plans??????WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!." Kershaw who has been already traded by Balls of Fire just a year ago was pleased to learn he is heading over to Baltimore as the Knights or poised to make a run in 2016 and Kershaw will be a big part of that rebuild in 2016 and beyond . The big lefty will join RHSP Johnny Cueto and RHSP JERAD EICKHOFF atop of the Knights rotation heading into next year.

The Knights traded 3B Martin Prado and their #1 draft pick in 2016(3rd overall) in the deal.Owner Paul J Kiggins and GM Earl Weaver Jr. issued a joint statement to the press as the pair are on their way to the winter meeting and the 2016 draft. "We are very pleased to acquire a pitcher with the talent of Kershaw, he is a proven leader and winner and will be offered a 3 year extension when all sides meet and sign the deal."If early reports are correct over 5000 #22 jerseys have been pre-ordered on line as of noon EST.

The Knights will now use the next few weeks to change their drafting plan ,losing Prado hurt but management feels 3B MAIKEL FRANCO (.290/10/29) in 260 AB's is ready to step in and cover the job at 3B.

The Black Knights have pulled off the biggest trade in team history this evening agreeing to exchange 5 players and three draft picks.In a press release tonight manager Earl Weaver Jr. stated,"An agreement has been reached with Harold Homers if all players pass physicals Management has acquired starting Pitchers Cole Hamels and Jose Fernandez along with OF Jarrod Dyson and a 4th round pick in 2017 for outfielders Pillar / Heyward, along with a 1st and 2nd round pick in 2017." Management felt that now was the time to step up following the acquisition of SP Kershaw earlier this week to really solidify the Knights starting rotation for 2016 and beyond.
The Knights now have some holes to fill on the field while the pitching is almost done for 2016 with just a relief pitcher left to draft.

Insider's close to Management report that the Baltimore Black Knights are in the process of being sold to unnamed sources this morning.Owner Paul J Kiggins would neither confirm or deny the sale of the club when contacted by this reporter .GM Earl Weaver Jr. however did confirm that the Knights would consider trading 1 of the starters to anyone looking ahead to next season .The Knights have (6)SP's for a 5 man rotation and have openings for positional players in 2016.

2016 Draft

Its been a busy 2016 draft in the "Those Were The Day's League" with Manager and staff adding some much needed LH power.With is 1st pick in the 2nd round Manager Earl Weaver Jr. selected 3B LH power hitter RYAN SCHIMPF(.217/20/51) from the Padres.Manager Earl Weaver Jr."Ryan will be playing 3B VS RHSP sharing duties with RH MAIKEL FRANCO (.255/25/88).The Knights selected 2B JOEY WENDLE (.260/1/11) from Oakland who will be the everyday second baseman in 2016. With their picks in the 4th and 5th rounds the Knights added more LH power in 2 players competing for the DH role on the team,1B John Jaso (.268/8/42) with an OBP .353 and utility player ADAM FRAZIER (.301/2/11) with an .356 OBP. The Knights selected their SS for the season drafting Jody Mercer (.256/11/59) from the Pirates.

The 2016 draft is over for the Knights as the team had 2 picks in the 8th round and selected OF Billy Burns as a back-up in the OF and than selected RP Brian Ellington with their final pick.

After 9 seasons at Camden Yards the team has moved to Anaheim and will be playing out of Angel Stadium for the 2016 season. Its been 3 long years since the Knights have been in the play-offs and Management is hoping a change in scenery will help propel the team back into the round of 8.Angel Stadium is a very good pitchers park(1-3) singles both sides while allowing our hitters a 33% chance of a HR(1-7) on both sides."This is the best pitching staff we have ever had," Manager Earl Weaver Jr. told reporters when arriving home from springing in Tempe Diablo Stadium in Temple Arizona."We will give the team today off and fly up to Oakland tomorrow to open the 2016 season against Harold Homers.
Fresh off a new 3 year contract(with team option in 4th yr) SP CLAYTON KERSHAW will be the opening day starter followed by Johnny Cueto and JOSE FERNANDEZ,Cole Hamels and JERAD EICKHOFF round out the Knights pitching rotation.
The bull-pen looks good to start he season with Brad hand and Shane Green for middle relief while RAISEL IGLESIAS and JEREMY JEFFRESS will close out the games. The rest of the pen BRIAN ELLINGTON R6 vs RHB and JOSE ALVAREZ L3 vs LHB round out the bullpen.

2016 Knights starting Line-up
1:CF JARROD DYSON AA (.278/1/25)
2:RF PAULO ORLANDO (.302/5/43)
3:C Sandy Leon (.310/7/35)
4: LF Ryan Braun (.305/30/91)
5:1B Albert Pujols (.268/31//119)
6:3B RYAN SCHIMPF (.217/20/51)
7:DH ADAM FRAZIER (.301/1/11)
8:SS Jody Mercer (.256/11/59)
9:2B JOEY WENDLE (.260/1/11)

The Mid-West looks rough this year and all teams in the division will have to play tough against one another to have a successful season.With the pitching staff we have this year i'm looking for 92-95 wins and a play-off berth.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL..............PLAYBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!