February 1, 1955
Eastern League: Barons Lording It Over the Rest in Playoff Hunt
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Offense: .271/.350/.421 (4th/2nd/3rd)
Pitching: 3.53/3.40/4.26 (2nd/1st/3rd)
Defense: .720 (2nd)
With a pitching staff that nearly rivals the Queensland Eagles as well as a potent offense, the
Stratford Barons have staked out a commanding 7.5 game lead in the East. They are dominant both at home and away, having won 32 home games and 34 on the road so far. And with 29 of their final 49 games to be played at home, the Barons should easily cruise to their 6th first-place finish in team history.
The offense continues to be led by two players who are enjoying bounce back seasons: 35-year old C
Aaron Skidmore (.309/.465/.487, 14 HR, 51 RBI, 87 BB, 5.4 WAR) and 26-year old RF
Andy Faulkner (.304/.410/.505, 16 HR, 65 RBI, 70 BB, 4.1 WAR). Ably supporting them are No. 4 hitter, 26-year old 2B
Matthew Channing (.276/.325/.459, 14 HR, 69 RBI, 33 BB, 3.1 WAR) and 23-year old sophomore SS
Callum Spalton (.287/.334/.448, 11 HR, 54 RBI, 25 BB, 3.2 WAR).
The pitching staff remains the best in the League that is not named the Queensland Eagles. 26-year old LHP
Robin Wadsworth (14-5, 2.96 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 137 ERA+), a 16th overall pick from 1948-49 has become his club’s ace, succeeding 28-year old RHP
Magtanggol Jaojoco (8-5, 3.13 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 130 ERA+). But the rotation has been solid from top to bottom this season.
All-Star Selections:
SP Ted Smith (1st)
SP Robin Wadsworth (1st)
C Aaron Skidmore (14th)
2B Matthew Channing (2nd)
SS Callum Spalton (1st)
RF Andy Faulkner (2nd)
Noteworthy:
January 23 – It was all Barons against the visiting Redlegs as Stratford cruised to a 7-0 win. Picking up the win was 28-year old RHP
Bill Wolf (13-6, 3.48 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 117 ERA+) who pitched a
2-hitter. He went 9 IP with 115 PI, 0 BB, 9 K (GS: 92).
Key Trade: January 6 with the Cobourg Redlegs:
To Stratford – 32-year old LHP
William Say (54/54)
To Cobourg – 20-year old minor league LF Rio Joyes (20/40)
Knee-jerk reaction: The Barons get a veteran relief pitcher with something still left in the tank to be their new stopper, taking the pressure off their young closer of the future, 20-year old RHP Frank Greggs (42/75), who is clearly not ready for the role yet (5.49 ERA, 2.08 WHIP, 19 BB, 5 K, 19.2 IP). Say has explosive stuff and an above average arm.
As for Cobourg, they get a player that will have a tough time getting out of the minors. He will draw walks and has plenty of speed, but that will translate as little more than a reserve role at best.
Current Injuries:
November 10 – LHP Marcello Dean – torn rotator cuff. Out for: 3 months.
January 12 – CF Sherwin Carasig – back strain. Out for: 1 day.
January 17 – RHP Alonso Martínez – sore elbow. Out for: DtD, unknown.
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Offense: .263/.333/.387 (6th/6th/5th)
Pitching: 3.44/3.44/3.43(1st/2nd/1st)
Defense: .730 (1st)
A bounce back from a below .500 November has moved the
Queensland Eagles into second place ahead of the Embro Suns. The Eagles remain a team with a championship-caliber pitching staff waiting for the offense to take the next step. It hasn’t happened yet, but the parts appear to be in place. Once they click, Queensland has a chance to become a formidable force in the East.
28-year old RF
Rod Dennis (.305/.407/.488, 16 HR, 58 RBI, 65 BB, 3.3 WAR) dominates nearly all offensive categories among the Eagles and is enjoying the best season of his 5-year career, but he is not quite that cornerstone player a team can build around. He continues to be supported by 26-year old C
Robbie Leivers (.316/.416/.469, 6 HR, 37 RBI, 34 BB, 2.7 WAR), who deserves more regular starts, rather than alternating every second game with 36-year old
Elijah Sheppard (.239/.350/.358, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 28 BB, 1.1 WAR). Unfortunately, 21-year old RF
Hal Dhu (.325/.386/.526, 10 HR, 40 RBI, 24 BB, 5 SB, 2.3 WAR) was lost for two months to injury, requiring a juggling of the lineup. But he should be back soon for the stretch. Finally, top prospect 22-year old SS
Noel Eissens (.227/.256/.308, 10-2B, 27 RBI, 12 BB, 5 SB, -0.4 WAR – 47/64), is being given every chance to establish himself in the majors, batting out of the No. 8 spot.
There’s no change in the status quo with Queensland’s pitching leaders. The best 1-2 punch in the ULB remains with the Eagles, with 29-year old RHP
Logan Belsey (16-6, 2.62 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 153 ERA+) and 27-year old RHP
Stiofan Micklethwait (15-5, 2.18 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 183 ERA+) striking fear in the hearts of opposing batters. But No. 4 starter, 25-year old LHP
Amoka Kalea (8-9, 3.69 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 109 ERA+) could soon join them, as he is progressing nicely in his first full season.
All-Star Selections:
SP Logan Belsey (4th)
SP Stiofan Micklethwait (2nd)
C Robbie Leivers (1st)
LF Rod Dennis (4th)
Player of the Week Awards:
December 27 – LF
Rod Dennis (.517, 15 H, 4 RBI)
January 3 – LF
Rod Dennis (.833, 5 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
Noteworthy:
December 23 – The Eagles won 2 of 3 in their series against Downie, concluding with a 14-1 thumping of the home-town Chiefs. 30-year old 3B
Bob Sobel (.264/.333/.320, 2 HR, 40 RBI, 40 BB, 1.9 WAR) led the way, going
5 for 6 with 4 singles and a double. He collected 2 R and 3 RBI.
Current Injuries:
December 23 – RF Hal Dhu – strained anterior cruciate ligament. Out for: 1 week.
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Offense: .277/.345/.422 (1st/4th/2nd)
Pitching: 4.08/4.14/3.86 (4th/5th/2nd)
Defense: .694 (7th)
The
Embro Suns took a bit of a tumble in January, finishing the month with a 1-9 stretch where they were swept by both the Braeland City Monarchs and Sherburn Tigers, with their lone win coming off the Eagles. As a result, they fell out of the wild card spot. But a flurry of compelling trades may help reverse their slide and regain a playoff spot down the stretch.
The offense is being led by three key players enjoying their best seasons so far: 24-year old SS
Kieron Bradridge (.303/.349/.507, 17 HR, 90 RBI, 31 BB, 4.8 WAR), 27-year old 1B
Napana Mamo (.314/.363/.499, 9 HR, 48 RBI, 32 BB, 3.3WAR) and 25-year old 3B
Moromao Nakagawa (.326/.420/.510, 11 HR, 76 RBI, 63 BB, 4.9 WAR). But there were joined by recently acquired catcher, 26-year old
Gareth Mawle (.366/.417/.574, 10 HR, 35 RBI, 20 BB, 3.6 WAR) who represents an immediate upgrade.
The rotation is the weak link of the team right now and the Suns did the right thing by taking steps to shore it up. The trade for 27-year old RHP
Bradley Strawson (9-8, 4.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 102 ERA+) and to a lesser extent, the shifting of 25-year old RHP
Alastair Hahn (5-5, 1 SV, 3.69 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 110 ERA+) to the No. 4 spot from the bullpen should help.
All-Star Selections:
RP Alastair Hahn (1st)
CL Rob Gladstone (1st)
1B Napana Mamo (3rd)
3B Moromao Nakagawa (3rd)
SS Kieron Bradridge (2nd)
Player of the Week Awards:
January 10 – SS
Kieron Bradridge (.462, 12 H, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 2 R)
January 24 – 3B
Moromao Nakagawa (.480, 12 H, 4 RBI)
Noteworthy:
December 14 – Embro outscored the Braeland City Monarchs, 13-8 and 27-year old 1B
Napana Mamo played a key role, going
5 for 6 on the afternoon. Mamo doubled in the 1st, grounded out in the 3rd, singled in the 4th & 6th innings, hit a solo shot off RHP Clive Howard in the 8th and hit an RBI double in the 9th.
January 14 – The Suns took 3 of 4 from the Downie Chiefs immediately following the All-Star break. The Series was highlighted by 27-year old RHP
Bradley Strawson’s performance. The recently acquired Strawson threw a
1-hitter, going 9.0 IP, 112 PI, 8 K and no walks (GS: 93). He was perfect until the bottom of the 6th, when Downie’s 1B Robin Duerden led off with a single into shallow right-centerfield. Strawson was also hot at the plate, going 1 for 2 with 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K.
Key Trade No 1: December 24 with the Sherburn Tigers:
To Embro – 27-year old RHP
Bradley Strawson (51/55) and 23-year old minor league RF Colm Wilson (35/46)
To Sherburn – 25-year old 3B
Adrian Flynn (54/61)
Knee-jerk reaction: Two 1st-rounders from the 1950-51 draft get traded for another. This is what I consider the first high-profile trade made in the ULB in a long, long time. And both teams get some clear benefits from it as well. Flynn was never going to usurp 26-year old 3B Moromao Nakagawa, the No. 1-rated 3B in the United Leagues, anytime soon. But he is an outstanding prospect, a switch hitter with tantalizing skills at the plate. His defense and arm are solid as well. Thus, Sherburn gets an immediate upgrade at the hot corner.
To get him, the Tigers gave up Strawson, a pitcher with incredible stuff and movement, but shaky control (35/35). Still, he has five very respectable pitches and is considered a solid No. 2 starter. For Embro, he becomes their ace as the Suns make a push for the playoffs. They also receive outfielder Wilson, an outstanding defensive player who has the chance of developing a respectable bat, if not an impressive one. His future will more likely be as a solid reserve player. With Strawson gone, the Tigers have promoted their young pitching prospect, 21-year old LHP Kozue Saito (40/69), from the bullpen to the No. 5 spot.
Key Trade No 2: January 20 with the Kingston Pelicans:
To Embro – 26-year old C
Gareth Mawle (63/63)
To Kingston – 26-year old 2B Ron Scribner (47/47) and 21-year old minor league SS Denzel Daintry (41/54)
Knee-jerk reaction: Kingston got fleeced in this deal from my vantage point. Mawle was blocked from starting in Kingston by Carlos Camasura (71/73), but Mawle is already rated higher than Camasura among catchers (5th vs. 6th overall). What’s more, Camasura is considered fragile, making the trading of Mawle a bit foolhardy. Mawle is a sparkplug in the lineup with average power and excellent contact. While not the fastest baserunner, he is capable of stealer a few. He provides an immediate boost to the Suns’ offense.
In return, the Pelicans receive Scribner (.295/.389/.508, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 9 BB, 0.5 WAR), an average player that will struggle to be an everyday starter. Daintry appears to hold more promise, with steady defense especially as a shortstop, blazing speed and a respectable bat. He could develop into an above average starter someday.
Key Trade No 3: January 31 with the Hespeler Stars:
To Embro – 31-year old RHP
Nelson Wigley (46/46), 24-year old 1B
Bill Spaeth (41/56) and 19-year old minor league 3B Domingo Vega (20/50)
To Hespeler – 30-year old C
Antony Bourke (52/52)
Knee-jerk reaction: A relatively minor deal that is noteworthy with the inclusion of Speath (41/56), a former 2nd overall pick from 1950-51 that never got a fair shake in Hespeler. Unfortunately, he is buried in the Suns’ depth chart just like he was in Hespeler. That just doesn’t make any sense. Scouts agree – he has a phenomenal bat with amazing gap power (65/65) and home run power (65/70) with solid defensive skills either at 1B or RF that makes him a prime candidate for a middle-of-the-order spot. And yet he sits on the bench. He has no personality issues so that can’t be it.
As for Wigley (2-2, 5 SV, 1.58 WHIP, 76 ERA+), he is a barely adequate reliever while Bourke (.270/.365/.466, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 26 BB, 1.7 WAR), who was now deemed expendable with the acquisition of Mawle, becomes Hespeler’s third-string catcher. Vega, a 7th-round pick from last season, has a patient approach at the plate and could generate 20 home runs a season. If Embro utilizes Speath better, giving him regular starts, and Vega develops into a decent starter, then the Suns can claim three shrewd trades made leading up to the trade deadline. Not bad.
Current Injuries:
November 5 – 1B Bob Buchanan – fractured knee. Out for: 3 months.
January 7 – RHP Myung-gu Son – shoulder inflammation. Out for: 4 months.
January 29 – 2B Robert Jameson – shoulder subluxation. Out for: DtD, unknown.
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Offense: .276/.350/.427 (2nd/3rd/1st)
Pitching: 5.10/5.01/5.32 (8th/8th/7th)
Defense: .673 (8th)
A struggling pitching crew and a number of offensive players having slightly down years are combining to make the
Braeland City Monarchs’ pursuit of their second consecutive playoff appearance an uphill climb. They are only 2.5 games out of the wild card at this point, but it feels as though they are losing ground to both the Eagles and Suns.
The Monarchs’ chances took a blow when their top player, 29-year old 2B
Patrick Lidgate (.293/.390/.514, 15 HR, 78 RBI, 57 BB, 5.4 WAR) separated his shoulder in a game against the Fort Richmond on the final day of January and won’t be back until around mid-March. The club is now relying on their two Haydens: 29-year old C
Hayden Billyard (.275/.361/.422, 9 HR, 45 RBI, 45 BB, 3.0 WAR) and 25-year old CF
Hayden Goodale (.266/.368/.583, 22 HR, 62 RBI, 42 BB, 2.4 WAR). Goodale has come alive in a big way since the end of November and has hit 15 of his ULB-leading 22 home runs over the past two months. 30-year old LF
Jake Stunt (.311/.374/.522, 12 HR, 44 RBI, 27 BB, 6 SB, 2.9 WAR) is one of the few players who have improved over last season.
The pitching is a real concern. 27-year old RHP
Pei Ming (11-10, 4.04 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 101 ERA+) and 29-year old RHP
Lee Corp (9-5, 4.04 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 102 ERA+) are as good as it gets right now, although Corp has fallen off a cliff since early December. The acquisition of 28-year old LHP
Larry Kovnats (6-8, 4.72 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 86 ERA+) may help, but that remains to be seen.
All-Star Selections:
1B Dean Witherden (5th)
2B Patrick Lidgate (6th)
3B Danny Silk (1st)
LF Jake Stunt (2nd)
CF Hayden Goodale (2nd)
RF Aidan Trembath (4th)
Player of the Week Awards:
December 20 – CF
Hayden Goodale (.429, 9 H, 4 HR, 11 RBI)
Key Trade: January 6 with the Hespeler Stars:
To Braeland City – 28-year old LHP
Larry Kovnats (47/47) and 23-year old minor league 1B Herson Magno (33/46)
To Hespeler – 27-year old LF
John Anthony (50/50)
Knee-jerk reaction: A modest trade that could give each club a boost in areas of need, but one that won’t move the needle too much in my opinion. Kovnats, a 3rd overall pick from 1948-49, never delivered on his initial promise and the Stars are right in moving on from him. He has tremendous stuff (75), fine movement (55) but lousy control (30). All five of his pitches are excellent, enabling him to rack up plenty of strikes and he has phenomenal stamina. But still, scouts consider him little more than an emergency starter. He was Hespeler’s No. 4 starter; with Braeland City, he becomes their No. 2 man.
Anthony (.331/.406/.523, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 20 BB, 1.7 WAR) finally gets his chance to start on a regular basis after 5 years. He has the bat, defense and speed to be a solid outfielder. But he takes over from Mike Pope (.253/.362/.373, 5 HR, 34 RBI, 41 BB, 0.5 WAR), a sophomore who has slightly better ratings than Anthony, but who is struggling this season.
Current Injuries:
November 24 – RHP Corey Timothy – Torn UCL. Out for: 3-4 months.
January 21 – RHP Okura Suzuki – ulnar nerve entrapment. Out for: 4 months.
January 31 – 2B Patrick Lidgate – separated shoulder. Out for: 5 weeks.
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Offense: .272/.351/.385 (3rd/1st/7th)
Pitching: 4.48/4.00/6.41 (7th/4th/8th)
Defense: .708 (4th)
There exists a bit of gap between the top four teams and the rest. The
Brunswick Legends represent the best of the second division. Outside of 26-year old C
Robert Kersey (.283/.374/.449, 13 HR, 60 RBI, 53 BB, 3.8 WAR) who is enduring a bit of down year compared to previous seasons, there are no other impact players on the roster. Thus, missing the playoffs for the 8th straight season seems a real possibility. Getting better against left-handed pitching wouldn’t hurt either. They are 8-21 against southpaws, by far the worst in the ULB.
No. 5 hitter, 26-year old SS
Harris Yaag (.318/.366/.476, 12 HR, 65 RBI, 26 BB, 3.7 WAR), is the best the rest of the lineup has to offer and one of the better shortstops in the ULB (5th best). Lead-off hitter, 28-year old LF
Carl Patton (.298/.400/.372, 3 HR, 42 RBI, 68 BB, 10 SB, 2.9 WAR), is having a better season compared to last, but its still a far cry from his all-star season from two years ago (7.4 WAR).
The rotation has been fairly respectable, as 37-year old RHP
Pi-ao Quian (10-11, 3.94 ERA, 1.343 WHIP, 104 ERA+) and 27-year old RHP
Mhelter Pilapil (11-8, 3.75 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 109 ERA+) lead a ho-hum staff. No. 3 starter, 22-year old RHP
Dave Ball (8-9, 3.23 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 127 ERA+), is making great strides in his sophomore season.
All-Star Selections:
CL Lao Chen (6th) – despite pitching only 4.0 IP with a 9.00 ERA this season!
C Robert Kersey (4th)
SS Harris Yaag (2nd)
Player of the Week Awards:
December 13 – SS
Harris Yaag (.333, 10 H, 4 HR, 11 RBI)
Key Trade: January 15 with the Downie Chiefs:
To Brunswick – 26-year old 2B
Harley Truman (51/51)
To Downie – 27-year old RHP
Kent Dundon (45/45) and 23-year-old minor-league CF Ben Darvell (41/63)
Knee-jerk reaction: A curious trade that makes a little more sense for the Legends than for Downie. Dundon (9-9, 4.23 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 96ERA+), a 4th overall pick from 1946-47, never developed into the ace Brunswick envisioned and so they decided to part ways. Never blessed with great control (he has led the League in walks twice), Dundon nevertheless maintains very good stuff and great movement with four serviceable pitches. But with Brunswick, he was barely hanging on as their 5th starter. With Downie, he is penciled in as their No. 3. But its hard to see him giving the Chiefs’ rotation much of a boost.
In return, the Legends gain Truman (.301/.348/.446, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4 BB, 0.6 WAR), a 14th overall pick from 1951-52 who remains a solid option as a second baseman, with very good home run power (60), great speed and fine defense. For now, he is employed as a utility player, but its not hard to see him take over the starting job from a struggling 28-year old Dermott Morris (.238/.318/.301, 2 HR, 30 RBI, 35 RBI, 0.5 WAR) soon.
Truman was blocked by Downie’s 29-year old Dominic Dudding (68/68) who is still going strong, so its easy to why they would move Truman. But who do they get in return besides Dundon? A promising outfielder in Darvell, an outstanding defensive player with speed to burn and a promising bat. Just one problem: he is rated only for centerfield, which is currently being manned by superstar 29-year old CF Alfonso León (80/80) and he isn’t going anywhere. So they essentially exchanged a player who was blocked from starting regularly with another player who will also be blocked. Makes no sense, at least to me.
Current Injuries:
October 8 – RHP Lao Chen – Torn elbow ligament. Out for: 8-9 weeks.
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Offense: .252/.324/.392 (8th/7th/4th)
Pitching: 4.34/4.36/4.28 (6th/7th/4th)
Defense: .703 (6th)
A 3-17 stretch that started in November and continued well into December nearly drove the
Downie Chiefs right into last place. They recovered in January, but this is a team with plenty of weaknesses across the board with only a few bright spots.
The offense is being carried by two players: 29-year old CF
Alfonso León (.334/.400/.535, 17 HR, 73 RBI, 47 BB, 6.2 WAR) and 29-year old 2B
Dominic Dudding (.294/.347/.528, 21 HR, 68 RBI, 36 BB, 3.9 WAR). But while Dudding has been getting hotter as the season has progressed, León has been cooling off. Either way, there is huge gap between them and the rest of the lineup.
Downie’s top two starters, 31-year old LHP
Hank Bennett (6-7, 3.47 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 114 ERA+) and 23-year old sophomore RHP
Stefan Rankin (8-8, 3.72 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 107 ERA+) are providing solid outings, but like the lineup, there’s a big drop after them. One time stalwarts, like 32-year old RHP
Kelii Pelanekelina (8-11, 4.73 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 84 ERA+) are regressing fast.
All-Star Selections:
2B Dominic Dudding (8th)
CF Alfonso León (8th)
Current Injuries:
December 29 – LF Howard Dumbrill – intercostal strain. Out for: 2 days.
January 31 – RHP Kent Dundon – back spasms. Out for: DtD, 4 days.
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Offense: .265/.340/.381 (5th/5th/8th)
Pitching: 3.84/3.71/4.46 (3rd/3rd/5th)
Defense: .707 (5th)
Although injuries have played a role in the
Cobourg Redlegs’ struggles this season, it is hardly the main reason. The players once again are feuding amongst themselves and it appears that Nicholas Willis, a laid-back manager to a fault, has lost the clubhouse. While the team has not fallen into any major losing tailspins, the Redlegs have won as many four games in a row just once this season. And they have the worst home record in the ULB, with only 19 wins vs. 27 losses. There appears to be too many slackers in this group, despite GM Roy King making three trades leading up to the trade deadline.
28-year old CF
Raymond Williams (.301/.379/.505, 19 HR, 63 RBI, 48 BB, 4.4 WAR) and 29-year old 1B
Harry Doxey (.320/.376/.501, 16 HR, 72 RBI, 35 BB, 3.9 WAR) remain the offensive leaders but are not the same powerhouses, especially Williams, as they were last season. And there is a significant drop-off after them.
The pitching staff remains the one area where Cobourg has enjoyed some consistency. 28-year old RHP
Marcus Turvill (11-7, 3.30 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 124 ERA+), a former 8th-round pick has been the club’s best pitcher. But 28-year old RHP
Seb Frew (9-5, 3.41 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 120 ERA+) has been a pleasant surprise, although he did struggle a bit in January (1-1, 5.81 ERA, 1.71 WHIP). 27-year old RHP
Fergus Hirst (6-7, 3.54 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 115 ERA+) is currently on the injured list and suffering setbacks. He is sorely missed.
One promising development is 21-year old RHP
Albert Johnson (43/80), Cobourg’s top prospect who was drafted 9th overall in December. He already had a taste of the majors in January, going 1-2, 2.42 ERA, 112 ERA+ before being sent down to Triple-A.
All-Star Selections:
SP Seb Frew (1st)
SP Marcus Turvill (3rd)
CL Brian McDaniel (1st)
1B Harry Doxey (6th)
CF Raymond Williams (8th)
Noteworthy:
December 23 – The Redlegs handed the Braeland City Monarchs their 4th loss in a row, eking out a 1-0 victory in 10 innings. Pitching all 10 innings was for Cobourg was 28-year old RHP
Marcus Turvill who pitched a
3-hit gem. In all, he struck out 9 with 2 BB on 130 PI (GS: 93). The Redlegs scored what proved to be the game winner when C Jason Lymer (now with the Cambria Cannons) doubled home CF Raymond Williams in the top of the 10th.
Current Injuries:
October 28 – SS Douglas Jones – partially torn labrum. Out for: 2 weeks.
December 26 – RHP Fergus Hirst – sprained ankle. Out for: 2 weeks.
January 8 – 3B Alexander Tolmie – sprained ankle. Out for: 2 weeks.
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Offense: .256/.315/.385 (7th/8th/6th)
Pitching: 4.31/4.15/4.95 (5th/6th/6th)
Defense: .709 (3rd)
The rebound they enjoyed in November after hiring 60-year old Wildemar Aquino as their new manager did not last, as the
Wellington Athletics fell back to their losing and feuding ways. Nevertheless, they remain reasonably competitive and with their key players healthy and some promising prospects getting close to the majors, hope for better days could be around the corner.
There is a sense of relief in Wellington as 27-year old LF
Matthew Floyd (.388/.388/.514, 16 HR, 66 RBI, 49 BB, 4.3 WAR) is bouncing back nicely, after missing nearly all of last season with a broken elbow bone. 29-year old RF
Jim Mars (.313/.359/.438, 8 HR, 46 RBI, 29 BB, 2.7 WAR) and 22-year old sophomore CF
Greg Yates (.320/.366/.543, 9 HR, 45 RBI, 19 BB, 2.5 WAR) are providing able support in the lineup. But apart from 27-year old C
Declan Bugbie (.296/.325/.448, 10 HR, 57 RBI, 16 BB, 2.4 WAR), the rest of the lineup is struggling. That includes 23-year old rookie SS
Vance Fendley (.186/.221/.290 – 45/57) who is being given every chance to acclimate himself to the majors. He was an 8th overall pick from 1953-54. But the Athletics also have 23-year old 2B/SS
Jordan Backhouse (41/62), this season’s 4th overall pick in Triple-A. He could be nearing the majors very soon as well.
The pitching has not been the worst in the Eastern League but is hardly a powerhouse. 27-year old RHP
Vinnie Snell (7-11, 3.49 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 114 ERA+) continues to progress despite the adversities and the Athletics promoted 23-year old rookie RHP
Mike Murray (2-5, 4.76 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 84 ERA+ - 45/68) from Triple-A in December. Murray is currently rated the 16th overall prospect.
All-Star Selections:
SP Vinnie Snell (1st)
LF Matthew Floyd (4th)
RF Jim Mars (5th)
Player of the Week Awards:
December 6 – CF
Greg Yates (.500, 11 H, 1 HR, 9 RBI)
January 17 – LF
Matthew Floyd (.632, 12 H, 2 HR, 3 RBI)
January 31 – LF
Matthew Floyd (.450, 9 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI)
Noteworthy:
December 17 – Wellington got a rare series sweep when they took all three games from the Downie Chiefs. In the first game, the Athletics pulled out a 9-8 walk-off win. Helping the cause was Wellington’s top player, 27-year old LF
Matthew Floyd who went
5 for 5 with a triple and 4 singles. He drove in two runs and scored twice, including the tying run in the bottom of the 9th, as both Floyd and 27-year old 1B Wayne Emmert (.241/.321/.350, 5 HR, 35 RBI, 30 BB, 0.7 WAR) scored on 25-year old PH Doug Bowman’s (.306/.350/389) game-winning double.
January 20 – The Athletics and Brunswick Legends do not have the most prolific offenses this season, but they both lit up the scoreboard in the final match of their four-game series held in Brunswick. The teams combined for 28 hits as Wellington pulled out a 12-9 win. Nine players got at least 2 hits in the game, with 8 different players hitting a home run – four for the Athletics and four for the Legends. 29-year old RF Jim Mars hit a solo home run in the top of the 1st to open the scoring as Wellington staked out a 4-0 lead. Brunswick’s 24-year old RF Jay Mitchell led off the bottom of the 2nd with a solo shot to get his club on the board. Two innings later, Brunswick’s 34-year old 1B Marcus Peyto slammed a two-out 2-run homer making the score 5-3 for the visitors. After the Legends tied the game in the bottom of the 6th, Wellington erupted in the 7th with 6 runs. That outburst included two 2-run home runs by 22-year old CF Greg Yates and 24-year old 2B Brayden Docking (.280/.333/.415, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 10 BB, 0.6 WAR). But Brunswick would strike back in the bottom half with two solo home runs by 3B Jorge Arredondo and C Robert Kersey, making the score 11-7. Finally, 27-year old SS Bob Thompson (.203/.288/.401, 8 HR, 25 RBI, 20 BB, 0.7 WAR) slammed the 8th and final moonshot (430 ft), a solo effort in the 9th for the Athletics’ 12th run. The Legends would score two more runs in the bottom the of the 9th, but it was not enough as the Athletics held on for their 39th win of the season.
Current Injuries:
November 4 – LHP Michael Etienne – torn labrum. Out for: 2-3 weeks.
January 1 – RHP Howard Turnbull – shoulder tendinitis. Out for: 4 days.
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