2003 ELIGIBLE MANAGERS

ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES – Through Six Years of MWBL Service

Mike Roberts – Severn Express

Chris Douglass –  Tempe Tempers

Wally Walczak- Buffalo Braves

John (Stray) Corrado –  Chicago Mobsters

Paul Roe – Virginia Sluggers

Lee Welch –  Mohawk Valley Rangers

Jason Kerns – Camarillo Quest

Michel Fault Le Roy –  New River Road Runners

“Sweet” Lou Solomon – Canton Indians

Mike Roberts – Severn Express (488  – 488  – 500%)
Mike Roberts has been a manager in the MWBL since the league was formed in 1997. In his 1st three seasons, he accumulated a combined record of 163-321. During his inaugural seasons, Mike was more concerned about building for the future by acquiring prospects and draft picks. Over the last three seasons (2000-2002), the Express reaped the benefits of their Manager/GMs hard work as they tallied a combined record of 325-161. During this timeframe he has guided them to two AL West titles in 2000 and 2001, where his teams posted identical 118-44 records in each season. He also led them to the playoffs in 2002 where they lost in the 1st round. Additionally, he has guided the Express to A.L. League Championships in 2000 and 2001, and the MWBL World Series Championship in 2000. Among his other achievements, he was manager of the 2000 All Star team and a coach of the 2002 All Star team.
Since joining the MWBL, Mike feels that he has been a very active manager, making multiple trades every year and submitting game results to the commissioners office in a timely manner each week. As a member of the MWBL, Mike feels very privileged to be led by a very determined commissioner who is dedicated to running the best league possible. Although I probably have not been involved in the league as much as I would like (primarily due to the fact that my wife, 2 kids, work, and 4 other leagues take up a little of my time <VBG>), I consider myself very lucky to be in this league with a great bunch of guys/competitors.

Chris Douglass – Tempe Tempers (693 – 275 – 716%)
Chris Douglass joined MWBL during its inception in 1997. Over the past six seasons he has led the Tempe Tempers to a franchise winning percentage of .716 and to the playoffs in every year. The Tempe Tempers have won 5 National League Central Titles, 4 National League championships and 3 World Series championships. After winning the 2001 World Series the Tempers looked even stronger for 2002. However, the re-modification draft seemed beneficial for the league and he broke up the team, and recreated the Tempers into another powerhouse team. Chris has assisted the league in other ways also. Producing data disks, the original career totals reports, and contributing many suggestions for improving the league.

Wally Walczak – Buffalo Braves (455 – 515 – 469%)
This is Wally’s 7th season in the MWBL, he’s an original member and has been a very active part of the MWBL Community.  He says he has enjoyed them all. Even 2001 where the Braves went (38 – 124 .235%).
Wally turned his 2001 around season around in two seasons going from worst to currently first. Wally is always ready to make a deal with anyone who wants to talk. He also has participated in all live drafts since the 1997 season.  Wally was an All-Star coach in 1997, and his teams overall record after six solid seasons in the MWBL sit at a respectable (455 – 515 – .469%).
In closing, Wally said “The Hall of Fame would be great honor because in my opinion, this is the best league out there with a great bunch of managers who should all be in the Hall of Fame”.

John (Stray) Corrado – Chicago Mobsters (590 – 381 – 608%) / MWBL – Commissioner 1997 – Present
Stray started the Mid-West Baseball League in 1997 and has been serving as the Commissioner, Web Master, & Owner of the Chicago Mobsters since the leagues inception. The Mobsters’ record (590 – 381 – 608%) is not nearly as impressive as his dedication to the league as Commissioner & Web Master. It is believed that the MWBL is one of the strongest APBA/BBW leagues around with a Web Site that is above & beyond what 99% of other Leagues have, something Stray prides himself in very much.
Stray has built a Franchise that has never finished below the .500% mark and has yielded such home grown talent as Chipper Jones, Ivan Rodriguez, Billy Wagner, Tony Clark, Jeff Weaver, Eric Hinske and Josh Beckett. Those players have helped the Chicago Mobsters achieve a Franchise record of 590 – 381, third only to perennial powerhouses Tempe and Kentucky. They have appeared in Post Season play in 5 of 6 seasons, winning the American League Wild Card twice (97 & 98), & the Central Division Champions three times (00, 01, 02). Along the way, Stray has been selected as the Manager of the Year twice (97 & 98) and has been named an All-Star Coach four times (97, 98, 00, 02). In addition to all of this, Stray continues to have a strong draft year in and year out along with organizing and coordinating the entire MWBL Draft Day, and many other numerous MWBL events.

Paul Roe – Virginia Sluggers (493 – 476 – 509%)
Paul joined MWBL as an original manager in 1997 and led the Virginia Sluggers to a last place finish, falling 2 losses shy of 100 :). In 1998 the team rebounded and took the Division title by 1 game with a 92-70 record. A couple of down years preceded another 92-70 finish in 2001…however, the whole dang world won 100 games or more that year and the Sluggers finished 26 games out in their own Division !! 2002 was the year the team from Virginia finally put it all together winning the Division and League titles on their way to a spot in the World Series where they lost a tough one to the Kentucky Head Hunters. Paul’s 6 year record is a very decent 493-476 for a .509% winning percentage. (Hopefully I will add to that this year). In addition, Paul had the Rookie of the Year in 1998 and 1999 and the MVP in 2002. Along the way, he was named an All-Star coach in 1998, Manager of the year in 2001, and All-Star Manager in 2002.
Paul has kept the Virginia Sluggers competitive through drafting rather than trading. He believes in the draft and a lot of patience in waiting for players to develop. Therefore he is not as active in the trade market as most others in the league. He put most of his energy in preparing for the draft rather than looking to see who he can ply off another’s team. This is probably considered conservative, but it works for Paul.
In terms of activeness within the league, Paul says  “I guess I am not as active as I should be OR want to be. I do not feel, however, I have the expertise or knowledge to help run a league. My forte’ is knowing my limitations and letting experts do the job properly. So far I must be doing a great job as this is the premier league in the APBA world. 🙂 I know…I’m still in it. If it wasn’t that good I’d have quit long ago”.

Lee Welch – Mohawk Valley Rangers (447 – 525 – 460%)
With a 460% winning percentage, Lee is not sure why he should be considered Hall of Fame material. Lee believes the criteria should be a little stricter. With that said, Lee has enjoyed playing in this league. It would be hard to find a better league. It covers so much, from researching younger players, to draft day, to ballparks with weather and a web site that is unmatched. Put it all together and Lee believes we have a league that is unprecedented. Amidst of all this The Mohawk Valley Rangers are in a major rebuilding campaign and hope to get back to 500 baseball before too long. Maybe another division championship. The youth movement is there, through the draft and trades the Rangers have assembled a nucleus of young players that include, Melvin Mora, Eric Byrnes, Victor Martinez, Pat Burrell, Dennis Tankersley, Francisco Rodriguez, Runelvys Hernandez and Jose Reyes. With a little luck, who knows? Lee Says “Anyway, thanks to everyone for helping make this league so great”.

Jason Kerns – Camarillo Quest (470 – 499 – 485%)
As an original member of the MWBL, Jason feel that he knows a lot about things that have gone down over the years. He feels that he has an excellent sense and knowledge about baseball and have been extremely challenged in this league. Jason is an avid reader about baseball history and the importance and significance of the HOF. It may be hard to elect members in the MWBL HOF yet, but certainly is worth a look.
Jason had the very quite Reggie Jefferson .400 season in our first year and a Tony Batista cycle a few years ago. He traded Tom Gordon to Northridge for Randy Johnson only to trade Johnson for Dustin Hermanson, Ismael Valdes, and Damian Easley, which Jason says “Worst trade of my life”. Those are some of Jasons key highlights. He had winning season the first four years, only to fall flat on his face the last few.  “But I would enjoy the opportunity to contribute”.

Michael Faunt Le Roy – New River Road Runners (379 – 593 – 390%)
Michael Faunt Le Roy joined MWBL during its inception in 1997. Over the past six seasons his New River Road Runners have complied a .390 Winning percentage.  The Road Runner have finished in second place twice in their six year existence.  Michael was an All-Star coach in 1997, and drove the Road Runners to a 97 best wins in 1997.   Curt Schilling won the 2002 Cy Young award while playing for Faunt Le Roy.  Three Gold Glove awards scatter his teams awards.  No playoff record for the New River Road Runners, but his team is in contention as 2003 comes to a close.  Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling are New Rivers One – Two punch, when it comes to pitching, and his offense, though a little rough, stands proud and is looking towards it’s first playoff experience in 2003.

“Sweet” Lou Soloman – Canton Indians (545 – 425 – 562%)
“Sweet” Los is not sure why he should be considered for the Hall of Fame. He hasn’t done that much in the seven years He’s been here. Winning his division (ALE) hasn’t been very difficult, sometimes by default.
Lou thinks he plays the baseball game the same way he did when he rolled dice back in Ann Arbor. Lou knows APBA better than the top 100 prospects, if you know what I mean. The different situations during the game will dictate Lou strategies, not the flow of the game. He will take a pitcher out of a game that he’s starting if he’s fitting the criteria, not whether or not he’s tossing a shutout. Lou hits and runs if he has the right situation, damn the score.
Lou is not sure if He deserves to be awarded anything. He feels like reading cards and making trades for the short term last season made a repeat impossible for his Canton Indians. Lou didn’t even draft rookies the second year of MWBL!
Lou is most proud of always having a team that will play well at home. He might go through a rebuild and blow it up to make it better, but he will always cause trouble for the visitors at the Tropicana.
Lou is grateful for the manager of the year awards, but consider it all just a bit of hype. He just plays the game differently, hopefully for the better. Lou says “I will try to add drafting and trading to that category”.