Baseball returns to Braeland at last, as spring training just wrapped up and the 16 clubs have set their rosters for Opening Day. Below are the spring training results for the 18th annual Coconut Leagues, pre-season predictions for both Leagues and some career leaderboards. But first, a run-down of a couple of trades that were consummated during September.
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Trades
September 8 between the Embro Suns and the Hespeler Stars.
To Embro – 30-year old RF
Edgardo Barrón (42/42) and 19-year old minor league CF Nathan Ratcliffe (20/41)
To Hespeler – 34-year old LHP
Arthur Bence (48/48)
Knee-jerk reaction: The Suns make a curious move, giving up a seasoned southpaw in exchange for essentially a utility player. Barrón is one of the best defensive outfielders in the United Leagues, a 4-time Ball Hawk Award winner and two-time all-star. He is a terror on the basepaths and would be an obvious candidate as a lead-off hitter if his bat wasn’t so underwhelming (almost 45/45 across batting ratings board; 40/40 in HR power). As such, he is batting 7th to start the season, but the player he is replacing, 28-year old Jose Maldonado (43/43), has the better bat. For now, Maldonado will start every 7th game. As for Ratcliffe, he has promising HR power (40/70) and good speed and excellent defensive ratings. But he will struggle making contact and avoiding outs and will often appear to be playing out of position (LF & CF are his best at 30). Whether he can eventually reach the majors remains to be seen.
Bence is a former Satchel Paige Award winner and 4-time all-star. While his peak years may be behind him, he can still be a serviceable workhorse. He has good control (60/60) with four decent pitches (fastball, changeup, splitter – 45/45; curveball 40/40) that he can throw for strikes. That, along with very good stamina (65), should provide a modest boost to the Stars’ rotation. Bence will be their No. 3 pitcher to start the season.
September 9 between the Wellington Athletics and the Downie Chiefs.
To Wellington – 27-year old SS
Bob Thompson (48/48)
To Downie – 28-year old 38
Juan Maldonado (47/47)
Knee-jerk reaction: Having sent SS Rupert Bricknell to the Downie Chiefs back in the August in order to acquire CF Jack Jefferson, the Athletics traded for Thompson to take Bricknell’s place. The 27-year old is an incredible defender to go along with impressive speed and HR Power (60/60) and Gap power (55/55). However, he will struggle making contact (35/35) and avoiding K’s (35/35), making him an average starter. Whether he will be an upgrade at SS remains to be seen.
The Chiefs bring aboard Maldonado primarily as a back-up to their young third baseman, 23-year old Freddie Ogburn (46/57), who is still developing. Maldonado is a versatile infielder with good range and above average speed who can hit for average.
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New Uniforms
New owner Preston Davis made if official, confirming long-standing rumors that a new moniker for the Cobourg baseball club was in the works. Going forward, the team will be known as the ‘Redlegs’, in imitation of the Cincinnati Reds of the National League but prompted more out of a desire for a fresh start following the previous ownership group rather than for political reasons. The ‘Mr. Redlegs’ logo got promoted from just being a sleeve patch to being the team’s new primary logo, with the previous block ‘C’ replaced with a wishbone ‘C’, emulating the Cincinnati Reds even further.
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Eastern League Results
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The Stratford Barons and Embro Suns led the way in spring training; in fact, they were the only two clubs with above .500 records in the East. But the predicted standings would indicate that there will be no cakewalk for anyone, with the top four teams finishing within 9 games of each other and no one reaching the 90 win mark.
The top hitters list reveals the usual suspects, including Downie’s CF
Alfonso León, who was absent from the list last season and had a comparatively down year, at least for him. Wellington’s LF
Matthew Floyd returns to the list. His season was cut short last year due to a broken elbow bone. No doubt a healthy Floyd is reflected in Wellington’s projection as being a playoff contender. But the one unexpected name is at the top: Stratford’s 2B
Matthew Channing. Channing enjoyed his best season last year (4.7 WAR) and looks to build on it. He is rated as the No. 3 second baseman, after Braeland City’s Patrick Lidgate and Downie’s Dominic Dudding.
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Western League Results
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If the playoff chase in the Eastern League is expecting to be close, the West is projected to be a total free-for-all, with all 8 teams finishing within 9 games of each other and no one reaching the 80-win mark. Eek. Could all 8 teams finish in a tie for top spot (or rather, bottom spot)? Double eek.
One name of interest that appears on the Top Hitters list is Sherburn’s RF
Albert Sulley (54/59). Sulley started 71 games for the Tigers last season and is already rated as the 3rd-best right fielder in the United Leagues, behind only Braeland City’s Aiden Trembath and Pulberry’s Ellis Dibble. The 100th overall pick from 1950-51 is impressing the scouts with his plus-plus ability. He is projected to hit for a high average and be a solid base stealer with amazing speed (80). That is in addition to his excellent range and arm in the outfield. He should have plenty of opportunities to shine this season, as he will be batting out of the No. 3 spot.
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Here are the top players and pitchers and top 20 prospects as updated on Opening Day. Also included are the latest leaderboards for a slew of offensive and pitching categories.
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Leaderboards
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