Tim Anderson

Tim Anderson - SS

DOB: 06/23/1993

Height/Weight: 6’1” 185 lbs.

Bats/Throws: R/R

BP - 70 speed, 60 hit, 50+ glove

Orlando Arcia

Orlando Arcia - SS

DOB: 08/04/1994

Height/Weight: 6’0” 165 lbs.

Bats/Throws: R/R

BP (12) - 70 arm, 60 glove, 60 speed, 55 hit

BP top 50... 53. Available Players

BP top 100

Book Review - Empires of the Sea

Empires of the Sea describes the Mediterranean sea battles between the Christian and the Ottomans between 1521 and 1580.  The Ottomans, under Suleiman the Magnificent (Suleiman I), used their overwhelming numbers in both men and ships to assert their claim to the eastern Mediterranean.  They announced their arrival by sacking Rhodes (Siege of Rhodes).

Rhodes

Reading Notes

The Christians kept Malta but lost Cyprus in the Ottoman-Venetian war.  How the hell did Venice still control Cyprus in the 1570's?  Suleiman had died and Selim II was in charge of the Ottomans at this point.  Much like the siege of Rhodes the Ottomans were just too much for the island population (especially when the Holy League AKA Phillip II dragged their feet again) and after 11 months the two sides reached an agreement on surrender.  However, unlike the Knights Hospitaller who were allowed to leave under Ottoman protectorate back to Italy, the Venetian leader Marco Antonio Bragadin was not so lucky.

 

The Ottomans first took the town of Nicosia and followed up with the 11 month siege of Famagusta.  Here is a sweet picture of Nicosia:

I can only assume the Battle of Lepanto (in the Gulf of Corinth) is to come which should be good for the Christians.  

Me - Hey Bragadin, you became a Martyr and a hero, how do you feel?

Bragadin - Well... Those two weeks with the festering wounds from my cut off ears and nose weren't very sweet.  Didn't really enjoy being dragged around the walls of the town with bags of dirt and rocks on my back.  Being hoisted up to the yard arm of a Turkish ship and taunted by solders was less than ideal.  None of it was as bad as being tied naked to a column in the center of the city and being flayed alive.  I hear that I was then drawn and quartered only to be put back together and stuffed.  They put me on an ox and marched me around the city.  Then they sent me to the Sultan as a trophy.  But when they brought me back to Italy almost a decade later I was a hero.  Yeah, I guess that makes up for the Venetians not coming to my aid.  Totally square guys. 

Reading Notes

1/9/16

The Japanese were obviously successful in their attack on Pearl Harbor but failed in finding the US carriers.  Yamamoto felt like a second wave of attacks would have slammed the door on the US but Nagumo felt it was prudent to return home with the entire fleet unharmed.  Kimmel felt that Yamamato's plan of a second waive could have debilitated the US oil reserves which were above ground.  Alas, the second wave never occurred and I'm pretty sure the US is about to kick some ass at midway.

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Suleiman is leading the siege of Malta.  Unlike the siege of Rhodes, Malta is a much more desolate island which makes siege warfare more difficult.  Also, the local Maltese soldiers were bad ass.  The Ottoman empire had been basically gaining territory for the past forty years and this was a big little W for the Christians.  Finally.  Excited to see how this turns out.

Barbarossa was Suleiman's right hand man.  After he died the Christians started to gain a little ground.  Basically ruled the Mediterranean until his death.

Charles the V gave way to Philip II and although Charles was kind of a G (expept for the inbreeding and weird freak face) it seems like Philip and his new world wealth might get the W.  This just happens to be the same Philip that ended up doing the Tango with Elizabeth I and Drake.

16th century Maltese soldier.