The 2023 Roger Dorn Baseball League Survey Results are in as the Commissioner's Office covers everything from Front Office ratings to Player Value and the overall health of the league as the season marks the 10th year of play after starting in 2013. The league has produced eight different RDBL Champions over those nine seasons and 11 different Division Winners.
We are covering the first 11 questions in Part 1 and will cover the remaining questions later this week in a Part 2.
Best Front Office in the RDBL
Greg Shelley (7), Ryan Atkinson, Michael Tirabassi (3), Gary Falzon/Erik Nielson (2), Ross Horiuchi (1)
Fresh off their first RDBL Championship in 2022, Greg Shelley was recognized as the League's top Front Office from his peers with seven votes. Shelley has led the Stacks to RDBL Records in cash finishes (7), Division Titles (4), Regular Season Titles (2) and Executive of the Year Awards (2) while ranking second in Cash Winnings with $3,760. The Stacks have produced four consecutive Playoffs berths with two Regular Season Titles over that span.
The league's only 2-time Champion Michael Tirabassi received three votes along with 2021 Champion Ryan Atkinson, both equally deserving of praise among their peers.
Gary Falzon and Erik Nielsen were the final Front Office to receive multiple votes. The duo has led the Falcons to a RDBL record seven cash finishes and four Division Titles, sharing both league highs with the Stacks.
Ross Horiuchi received a single vote, though he is adamant it wasn't from his own ballot.
Most Underrated Front Office in the RDBL
Ryan Walsh, Terry Shelley, Gary Falzon/Erik Nielsen, Jason Watson (3), Nick Holz/Nick Kusanovich/Russ Colburn, Rick Steen, Ross Horiuchi, Rick Steen (1)
This was a hotly debated topic as Ryan Walsh, Terry Shelley, Jason Watson and the Falcons duo each received three votes to lead the league. The Ducks have quietly compiled four cash finishes, one Peninsula Division Title and the 2019 RDBL Championship.
After five consecutive seasons missing the Playoffs, the Grapes have produced two Playoffs berths in the last three seasons with a pair of Division Titles and a Regular Season Title.
As noted above, the Falcons have been the model of consistency in the RDBL, leading the league in all-time points with 57,913.5 since 2013 and have never had a pitching or hitting group finish worse than 9th statistically in any season.
Jason Watson rounded out the group of General Managers to receive three votes with a RDBL Championship under his belt while sharing the League Record with Greg Shelley and Ryan Atkinson with two Executive of the Year Awards.
Most Overrated Front Office in the RDBL
Chris Ferraro (6), Greg Shelley (4), Chris Shelley, Terry Shelley, Michael Tirabassi, Ryan Atkinson (1)
This one is subject to many different opinions on the interpretation of "overrated", but Mission Viejo Maulers GM Chris Ferraro received a league-high six votes. Ferraro has produced four cash finishes while taking home the RDBL Championship in 2017 as a Wild Card Winner.
Greg Shelley was the only other member to receive more than 1 vote, garnering four despite four consecutive Playoff trips and a 2022 RDBL Championship.
Which Front Office is the Most Prepared for Draft Day
Greg Shelley (9), Gary Falzon/Erik Nielsen, Ryan Atkinson, Nick Holz/Nick Kusanovich/Russ Colburn (2), Chris Shelley, Ross Horiuchi (1)
If Shelley didn't lead the league on this topic, it would certainly be a surprise to his wife considering the number of hours spent staring at a maze of spreadsheets. Unsurprisingly, the Falcons duo and Ryan Atkinson as well as the trio of Aristocrat leaders were also recognized with multiple votes as consistently showing up ready to execute their plan each season.
Which Front Office is the Least Prepared for Draft Day
Ross Horiuchi (4), Jason Watson (3), Mike Friedrich, Tony Guglielmi, Rick Steen (2), Terry Shelley, Garrett Shelley, Michael Tirabassi (1)
This was quite a spattering of votes with Ross Horiuchi edging out Jason Watson with four votes. Mike Friedrich, Tony Guglielmi and Rick Steen also earned multiple votes.
Easiest Front Office to Deal With
Rick Steen (5), Ryan Atkinson (4), Michael Tirabassi (3), Gary Falzon/Erik Nielsen (2), Ryan Walsh, Nick Holz/Nick Kusanovich/Russ Colburn, Ross Horiuchi (1)
As evidence by the start of the 2023 Season, Rick Steen garnered a league-high five votes alongside Ryan Atkinson (4 votes) for the easiest Front Office to negotiate with. Steen pulled off three trades that were announced Tuesday as they rebuild their Keeper Roster for 2023, completing the moves with three different teams.
Michael Tirabassi (3) and the Falcons duo of Gary Falzon and Erik Nielsen (2) also received multiple votes.
Hardest Front Office to Deal With
Garrett Shelley (6), Ross Horiuchi (4), Rick Steen (3), Chris Ferraro, Terry Shelley, Tony Guglielmi, Ryan Atkinson (1)
Hops GM Garrett Shelley might hold the top vote in this category annually. The frustration apparently continues though some have found a small crack in the communication issues by moving to WhatsApp in their reach outs, though those still can fall largely flat.
Ross Horiuchi was just two votes behind Shelley, earning four votes for the hardest Front Office to deal with while Rick Steen earned three.
Which Player has the Highest Trade Value in the RDBL
Julio Rodriguez (5), Yordan Alvarez (4), Adley Rutschman (2), Sandy Alcantara, Shane McClanahan, Triston McKenzie, Shohei Ohtani, Michael Harris, Brandon Pfaadt (1)
Set for his RDBL Opening Day debut, Spokane Fightin' Fish outfielder Julio Rodriguez earned a league-high five votes as the highest trade value player in the RDBL. Rodriguez was the 179th pick in the 12th Round of the 2019 Reserve Draft by GM Michael Tirabassi and now holds an American League Rookie of the Year Award with the potential to produce 1,500 or more points over the next three seasons for $8 combined.
With two seasons remaining for $3 and $5, Lake Merced Goutfish outfielder Yordan Alvarez earned the second most votes with four while Cloverdale Clovers activation-ready catcher Adley Rutschman earned two.
What is Shohei Ohtani's real value in the RDBL (Currently $88)
$91-100 (8), $81-90 (5), $71-80 (2), $60-70, $101+ (1)
Fourteen of the 17 votes see Shohei Ohtani's $88 contract as either on the mark in value or a bargain. Ohtani's contract set the RDBL Record by $15, breaking the mark set by right-hander Gerrit Cole of $73 in 2021.
Ohtani followed up his 845.5 points in 2021 with with 984.5 points in 2022 as he produced 34 home runs at the plate and a 2.33 ERA on the mound.
Which RDBL Free Agent Starting Pitcher will Receive the Highest Contract in the 2023 Auction
Jacob deGrom (9), Corbin Burnes (4), Gerrit Cole (2), Max Scherzer, Framber Valdez (1)
RDBL Front Offices hardly appear scared off by the injuries that have followed Jacob deGrom as nine Front Offices expect the new Texas Rangers right-hander to receive the highest contract among starting pitchers in the RDBL this season.
Corbin Burnes received the second most votes (4) after posting 536.0 and 596.0 points over his last two seasons.
The Fightin' Fish hold a $73 option on Gerrit Cole for 2023, but if he's dropped, two clubs expect him to receive the highest bid among pitchers.
Which RDBL Free Agent Hitter will Receive the Highest Contract in the 2023 Auction
Mike Trout, Ronald Acuña (6), Juan Soto (3), Mookie Betts (2)
Injuries be damned - while RDBL Front Offices expect deGrom to receive the highest bid, they also expect Mike Trout to be back again at the top of the market as he rolls off his $71 contract with the Meinert Hops. Ronald Acuña, who is also a year removed from a reconstructed knee and just 15 home runs in 2021, tied Trout with six votes to lead the league.
We'll be back later this week with the remainder of the 2023 Survey...
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