Big changes for Dragons
via Dragons Press Release
DOL GULDUR - When new Dol Guldur owner/GM Sir Joe took over the struggling franchise, following yet another disastrous season for the perennial Troll Division dungeon dwellers, he made it quite clear that changes were in order. He couldn't have been any more correct.
Dol Guldur started the offseason with some modifications to Dol Gulder Stadium, now known as the Dragon's Lair. "We made the changes to more suit the type of baseball team that we have here", said Sir Joe in an interview earlier this year. "This offseason is all about trying to breath some life back into this organization that has, frankly, been on life support for quite a while now."
Not even the uniform and mascots were safe from Sir Joe. Gone are the old dragon scale uniforms and in is the new sleek black and red design. The old logo is gone as well, replaced with a stylized red dragon flexing his dragon muscles. "We wanted a logo and mascot that signified the power of the new Dol Guldur Dragons organization."
While new flexing dragons and sleek uniform are nice, they aren't likely to affect the dismal on-field performance that the Dragon's have shown.
On that front, Sir Joe started with a complete reshuffling of the organizational staff. The new manager was found in the organzation in the form of Sir Kenneth Zimmerman. Sir Kenneth was the manager of the single-A affiliate in Ettenmores. He replaced Darwin Trollbreaker, who is now the Dragon's hitting coach. Former pitching coach Tusur Claybrace is now the team's Bench Coach. "We had quality people in the organization, but they all seemed to be miscast in thier roles. So we shuffled things a bit and brought in some outside help as well." Those new people include Pitching Coach Sufur Armorslayer and Team Physician Isszava Lawsku.
While the changes to the organizational staff were drastic, they pale in comparison to the on-field personnel changes for the Dragon. The 2016 Dragons will feature 7 to 8 regular starters that did not take the field for the home team in Dol Guldur in 2015.
Right fielder Vorzava Tinond was acquired via free agency. Left fielder Wladur Branchwielder and platooning first basemen Troy Patton and Vinar Silverbiter were acquired via trade by the previous ownership early in the offseason. Catcher Amadis Xiquena was the latest new position player added, as he was acquired in a trade with Buckleberry last night.
Perhaps the most significant addition, however, appears to be second baseman Herman Slobberknocker. "We needed a second baseman and had not used our ability to manufacture a player, so I put a call into the Isengard Orc Factory and had one made. We think Herman is going to be a great addition to this ballclub."
The Dragon's also added utlity man Resur Tussle via free agency this offseason. The only two returning starting position players were CF Richard Funderburg and third baseman David Solomon.
There are many new faces on the Dragon's pitching staff as well. New starters Dejetok Belebrildur and Royce Ravensword were added via a trade and free agency. Two-time Allstar closer Ronald Husband was claimed off waivers from Weathertop. Relievers Orangeblossom Grubb and Jossa Greenholm were taken by the Dragon's in the Rule 5 draft.
The result of a long offseason with many roster changes has propelled Dol Guldur to the highest payroll in the Troll Division and 3rd highest overall. In most places, the spending would equate to higher ticket prices but while prices have changed in Dol Guldur, they have not gone the way most would expect.
Ticket prices for the 2016 season have been cut to $7 in an attempt to win back the fans. "Our fans have put up with losing for a long time. We want to give something back to them for their support. We want to win first and reward our fans with lower ticket prices. We hope that the low prices will bring out more fans than ever before to see what this new brand of baseball in Dol Guldur is all about."
On paper, the Dragon's look to be much improved over the past several seasons. The proof, however, will be on the field. Only time will tell whether Sir Joe's plan is successful, but there is no doubt that baseball in Dol Guldur will be a lot more interesting in 2016.
Posted at December 6, 2007 03:32 PM | more from Dol Guldur