Mid-West Winter League

2004 PREDICTIONS

As baseball fans and league enthusiasts gear up for another thrilling year of action, Jarl Jackson’s highly anticipated 2004 predictions offer a captivating glimpse into the season ahead. Complete with detailed divisional breakdowns, projected playoff matchups, and a look at the championship contenders, these insights set the stage for dramatic pennant races across the board. Whether looking at storied franchises aiming to extend their dominance or up-and-coming clubs seeking a breakthrough campaign, the upcoming year promises plenty of unforgettable moments on the diamond. Continue reading →

GLADSTONE LANDS THEIR CORNERSTONE

GLADIATORS SELECT ZACK GREINKE NO. 1 OVERALL

GLADSTONE — Rebuilding a franchise requires patience, conviction, and above all, an anchor. As the Mid-West Winter League prepares for the 2004 campaign, the Gladstone Gladiators sent an unmistakable signal across the circuit by selecting right-hander Zack Greinke with the No. 1 overall pick in the MWWL First-Year Player Draft.

The front office didn’t just draft a top-tier arm to headline this season’s rotation; they drafted the man they expect to lead this pitching staff for the next 15-plus years.

In a sport where high-upside teenage arms are often viewed as high-risk gambles, Greinke brings an aura scouts rarely see. Fresh off tearing through the minor leagues at 19 and 20, Greinke has already drawn breathless comparisons to a young Greg Maddux. Opposing managers routinely marvel at his uncanny pitchability, noting that a kid his age simply shouldn’t be able to dot all four corners of the strike zone at will.

A Complete Arsenal, Unmatched Poise

What does Greinke bring to Gladstone? In short: everything.

First is an advanced four-pitch repertoire that plays well beyond his years. Greinke’s fastball sits comfortably in the low-to-mid 90s with natural boring action, and can reach 95 or 96 mph when he reaches back for extra juice. But pure velocity is merely a footnote in his game. Greinke manipulates speed and trajectory like a ten-year veteran, frequently throttling his heater between 88 and 95 mph to keep hitters off balance.

His secondary offerings are already devastating. He features a tight, biting slider that drops off the table with two strikes, a tumbling circle-changeup that neutralizes lefties, and a slow, looping curveball that drops into the zone for called strikes early in counts. Because he can throw any pitch in any count, hitters never get into comfortable leverage situations.

The Complete Athlete

Greinke’s background as an elite high school shortstop also translates directly to the mound. He possesses an athletic, repeatable delivery that puts little excess stress on his shoulder and elbow, a critical trait for a club banking on two decades of durable production. When the ball is put in play, he fields his position like an infielder, pounces on bunts, and controls the running game with razor-sharp pickoff moves. When he steps into the batter’s box, he brings legitimate offensive upside—a rare weapon for a starting pitcher.

Above all, his mental makeup convinced the Gladiators to stake their future on him. On the mound, Greinke is an analytical savant. He diagnoses opposing hitters in real time, calculating vulnerabilities pitch by pitch. He doesn’t panic when runners reach base, and he refuses to give away free passes.

Rebuilding a rotation is usually a grueling, multi-year process. But by securing Greinke at No. 1, Gladstone has found their generational ace. The 2004 MWWL season is merely Chapter One of an era that promises to define Gladiator baseball for years to come.

2004 DRAFT – STARTS MONDAY 10/05

The 2004 Mid-West Winter League Draft is scheduled for Monday, 10/05/26 – Tuesday, 10/14/26.
The Draft Clock will run from 10 AM ET to 10 PM ET.

Rounds 1-6 will be 30-minute time Slots.
Rounds 7-10 will be 15-minute time Slots.
Rounds 11-End will be 10-minute time Slots.

The Draft Order has been adjusted for the first three (3) Draft Slots.

HERE IS THE GOOGLE SPREADSHEET TO MAKE YOUR SELECTIONS:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82039025964?pwd=XbkZa4zyyxcZAOXlPIVA2ZsGppxwE3.1

The 2004 MWWL Draft Order is now posted and can be found by clicking the Logo

2003 MWWL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCEMENT

The Mid-West Winter League Commissioners’ Office and Hall of Fame proudly announce that the following two players have been inducted into the Mid-West Winter League Hall of Fame.

Albert Belle		Joe Morgan

Albert Belle’s Hall of Fame Speech		Joe Morgan’s Hall of Fame Speech

Here are the 2003 Mid-West Winter League Hall of Fame Voting Results. These two inductees will make up the Mid-West Winter League’s 2003 Hall of Fame Class.

2003 ALL-STAR GAME

AMERICAN LEAGUE OUTLASTS NATIONAL LEAGUE IN AN EXPLOSIVE 7-5 ALL-STAR THRILLER!
By The MWBL Beat Writers

Starting Pitchers:
Pedro Martinez 22-7 (1.34) vs. Jamie Moyer 22-7 (2.88)

November 15, 2003 — The crisp autumn air was filled with electricity on Saturday night as the 2003 Mid-West Winter League All-Star Game delivered a spectacular showcase of power, strategy, and late-game heroics. In a back-and-forth battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats for over three hours, the American League (A.L.) held off a relentless National League (N.L.) squad to secure a thrilling 7-5 victory. Managed brilliantly by Stray Corrado of the Chicago Demolition, the A.L. offense struck early and relied on a clutch, nail-biting bullpen performance to shut the door on Chris Douglass’s National League stars.

A Rocky Start and an Early Fireworks Show: The game began with a mesmerizing pitching showcase from A.L. starter Pedro Martinez, who looked virtually untouchable. Martinez set the tone early by striking out two batters in a scoreless first inning, surrendering only a soft, opposite-field single to Brian Giles before inducing a pop-up to escape without damage.

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