BREAKING: Friedrich Officially Retires from RDBL

Idaho Taters General Manager Mike Friedrich informed the Roger Dorn Baseball League Commissioner’s Office on Tuesday afternoon of his plans to officially retire, effective immediately. The move comes on the heels of the Taters best season in Franchise History as the Taters finished in the money for the first time while taking home a Wild Card pennant.

Friedrich made a name for himself in the Western Independent Fantasy League (WIFL) which started in 1988 where he doubled as Commissioner for a number of years. He was hired in November in 2014 as the Assistant General Manager of the Asti Grape Stompers, partnering with long-time friend Terry Shelley.

The duo put together a dominant roster in 2019, leading the RDBL in both hitting and pitching en route to the RDBL Regular Season Title while capturing the club's first East Bay Division pennant as well. That club still holds the record for most points in a RDBL Regular Season with 7,614.

Friedrich was tabbed as the new owner of the Adler's Man Crush Franchise which opened up at the end of 2019, only to be forced to wait an additional year due to the skipped 2020 COVID-season. Friedrich focused on laying down a long-term foundation, building a deep Farm System that was a largely cashed in to make their 2023 run. Top prospects Jackson Holliday, Evan Carter, Junior Caminero and Gavin Williams were all dealt along with 1st, 2nd and 3rd Round Picks in the 2024 Reserve Draft.

The cupboard is hardly bare for whoever takes over as the next General Manager with Juan Soto (2/$65), Will Smith (3/$30), Sean Murphy (3R/$5), Marcus Semien (2/$37), Adolis Garcia (3D/$15), Chris Bassitt (2/$16), Justin Steele (2D/$5), Clayton Kershaw (2/$23) and Hunter Brown (2/$8) all candidates to return or bring back strong assets in an off-season deal.

The Farm System, while largely slashed through 2023 deals, still holds elite outfield prospect Walker Jenkins along with Brock Wilken, Gavin Cross and Spencer Jones.

"While saddened by the decision, we are grateful to everything Mike has brought to the Roger Dorn Baseball League over the past nine seasons" RDBL Commissioner Greg Shelley stated. "Personally, my Fantasy Baseball career started in Mike's living room as a kid trying to help steer his Dad to a WIFL Title before they agreed to grant me my own Franchise. It's been a pleasure competing against him in fantasy circles and wish him well."

The Commissioner’s Office is gathering Ownership applications and is expected to announce a decision on the future of the Franchise soon.

Reliever of the Year: Felix Bautista, Goutfish

Years after unearthing Edwin Diaz on the Waiver Wire, the Lake Merced Goutfish Front Office hit another home run with their 2022 scoop up of Felix Bautista. After a dominant Rookie campaign last season, Bautista spent all of 2023 in the Closer role for the American League East Champions, notching 33 saves with a 1.48 ERA en route to the 2023 RDBL Reliever of the Year Award.

Bautista paced all relievers with 338.0 points in the RDBL Regular Season before leaving his August 25th save chance after throwing a 102.3 mph fastball. While he attempted to work his way back to the mound in September, the Orioles announced last week that Bautista will need Tommy John Surgery and miss the remainder of 2023 and all of 2024.

Having already expressed interest in a reunion, the Goutfish are a likely candidate to bring Bautista back on an end of Auction deal while he rehabs. The right-hander owns a career 1.85 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 121 appearances, making his long-term investment certainly worth the risk for any club in 2024.

Bautista joins Emmanuel Clase (2022), Mark Melancon (2021), Kirby Yates (2019), Edwin Diaz (2018), Kenley Jansen (2017), Zach Britton (2016), Juerys Familia (2015), Zach Britton (2014) and Craig Kimbrel (2013) as winners of the Award.

Devin Williams (Ducks), Alexis Diaz (Hops) and Josh Hader (Fringe) were also considered for the Award after stellar 2023 campaigns.

GOUTFISH WIN SECOND RDBL TITLE!

Following the Meinert Hops acquisition of Corbin Burnes, Roger Dorn Baseball League's official Twitter account boasted the Hops as having the league's best rotation. Lake Merced Goutfish President of Baseball Operations Ryan Atkinson couldn't help but disagree, knowing the talent they already boasted as the league's top scoring Regular Season rotation along with the impending return of Max Fried and Brandon Woodruff.

Fast forward two months and Atkinson certainly had the last laugh as the Goutfish capped off a dominant five week stretch of pitching to capture the 2023 Roger Dorn Baseball League Title. The Goutfish join the Spokane Fightin' Fish, who they fended off Sunday, as the only two-time League Champions while Atkinson boasts two of the last three trophies.

Atkinson entire pitching staff was up to the task over the final five Periods of the season, breaking the RDBL Record for Playoff Team ERA with a ridiculous 2.52 mark. The group was led by Blake Snell, the National League's likely Cy Young winner, who led all pitchers in scoring while notching 0.47 ERA and 0.89 WHIP over 38.0 innings. His 170.0 pitching points were the seventh highest in RDBL History.

The pitching production hardly stopped with Snell as the Goutfish produced seven of the top 19 on the mound for the final five Periods. Mid-season acquisition Brandon Woodruff was elite, posting a 1.91 ERA and stellar 0.76 WHIP over 33.0 innings while Kodai Senga continued his dominant Rookie campaign with a 2.10 ERA.

All told, the Goutfish produced 821.0 pitching points, the third most in RDBL Playoff History while allowing just 179 hits in 254.0 innings of work.

Amazingly still in just his 2R/$3 season, Yordan Alvarez helped the Goutfish to the 2021 RDBL Title as a Playoff Activation but took the reigns of the offense this year. The slugger hit .333/.470/.695, producing 133.0 points, fourth most in the RDBL this season and the 10th most in RDBL Playoff History.

The Goutfish certainly faced some stiff competition, pushed by both the Spokane Fightin' Fish, the league's Regular Season Champions, and the Mission Viejo Maulers. Both clubs sat within 100 points of the lead through the final days, but the Goutfish rotation kept the clubs at arm's reach before cruising in the final day.

Atkinson will bid farewell to several key pieces of the organization as Fernando Tatis, Brandon Woodruff, Max Fried, Clay Holmes, Felix Bautista, Joe Musgrove, Randy Arozarena, Alejandro Kirk, Tommy Edman, Alec Bohm, Salvador Perez and Daulton Varsho are all set to hit Free Agency.

The cupboard is hardly bare though for the Goutfish with Alvarez (3R/$5), Christian Walker (3D/$15), Rafael Devers (2/$44) set to return on offense while a stable of rotation options like Snell (3/$10), George Kirby (3R/$5), Kodai Senga (2/$12), Framber Valdez (2/$48), Dylan Cease (3R/$5) and Marcus Stroman (2/$5) give Atkinson a great deal of off-season firepower.

The Farm System looks ready to help in a big way in 2024 with Bobby Miller (Minors) and Ronny Mauricio (Minors) looking like potential Opening Day activations while Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Minors) could rival Jackson Holliday and Eury Perez as the most valuable asset under a Minor League deal in the RDBL.

All that spells another likely season of the Goutfish being right in the mix for Division and League Titles.