PDX Baseball: The Complete History of the Portland Pioneers

[tobin834]

Before we begin:

- I have bumped the Active Roster size from 28 to 30.

- This journal is inspired by the look of artoodeetoo's clean look that I think he has perfected.

- I am a baseball fan, but not a genius by any stretch. I will make mistakes you think are stupid.

- This journal will begin in 1997, right before the Expansion Draft for both Portland and Charlotte.

- I'm also saving this space here for additional journal notes that may be relevant if the time comes.

This journal is a re-do due to me messing up the Settings in my old save.

[tobin834]

Reserved for future use.

[tobin834]

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[tobin834]

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[tobin834]

Portland is the next MLB Franchise

Portland, OR — The sun peaked through the blinds that were half drawn leaving a sun pattern on the Executive table. It was an unusually sunny but cold day in Portland as the members of PDX Baseball met to discuss the future prospects of bringing a Major League team to the Portland, Oregon area.

It wasn't a far fetched idea either. The city had hosted the Portland Trailblazers of NBA fame for decades and now the great northwest was ready for an expansion into other professional sports. Where the NFL would be far too expensive or risky to setup with Seattle's Seahawks being right there, but baseball seemed to be something that could work with all things considered.

Seattle did have the Mariners, but how the baseball schedules are designed that meant the Mariners would (and do) travel a whole lot of miles. This would seem to give them a little break while also allowing the teams to build on a rivalry that could benefit a lot of money for both organizations.

The man behind this entire plan was Travis Thomas, a man who'd rode the tech-boom coattails until finally acquiring enough wealth to start his own dream – a professional baseball team. At just 41 Thomas would be one of the youngest owners in professional sports, and the youngest in Major League Baseball.

As the men all gathered to hear the fate of the Portland project, the call came in.

Granted.

The room went crazy and the Portland Pioneers were officially welcomed into the fraternity of Major League Baseball.



Portland Hires Buck Showalter as Manager

PORTLAND - Owner and General Manager Travis Thomas has announced the hiring of Buck Showalter as the first Manager of the Portland Pioneers.

Showalter previously managed the 2018 Baltimore Orioles before taking a studio gig that allowed him to comment on the game instead of managing it. Even during his tenure with Network television, his colleagues said that Showalter missed the game and longed to get back out there to manage.

Showalter will bring his incredible experience to a team that is largely in need of it. The fans seemed to take the news positively although to be fair, the honeymoon period is upon us and anything the Pioneers do won't really be argued with.

[tobin834]

Spring Training Notes

03.13.21
The Portland Pioneers send 30-year-old RHP Jake Odorizzi to the Atlanta Braves getting 24-year-old RHP Touki Toussaint, a 4th-round pick, and a 16th-round pick in the upcoming MLB Draft.

Odorizzi was scheduled to make 9 Million this year, much more than we were prepared to pay for one player at this stage of the game. We decided to get a RHP in Toussaint (though he's out 8 weeks to begin the season with a shoulder injury) and two draft picks, one of them a 4th round pick which will come in handy towards building a future organization as opposed to an MLB team.



03.16.21
The Portland Pioneers send 28-year-old 1B Austin Slater and 27-year-old LF Austin Dean to Pittsburgh getting 31-year-old LHP Tyler Anderson and a 6th-round draft pick in the upcoming MLB Draft.

Let me address this quickly - we overpaid for Tyler Anderson. That is how bad our Pitching Staff is and both Slater and Dean wouldn't have started, so as thin of a team as we are, that means they need to go to make room for people who will play. Anderson will be our 3rd starter as it stands now. I am happy we at least secured a 6th round pick to help build our minor league system up next year.