Le Diamant Diamonds Season
 

Our parent team tied for the least amount of wins this year. By all accounts the organization is still satisfied with where the team is headed as we have a near monopoly on the top prospects. Herve Delage is ranked the #11 Batting Prospect and I'm ranked #53 as a Pitching Prospect.

FBL Post-Season
 

It was a doozy! I sat around with the guys and watched the final series between Marseille and Montreal. Marseille jumped out to a 3-0 series lead only to see the Montreal Royals run off three wins to tie the series at 3-3. Game 7 was exciting, to say the least.

The FBL Batting Champ
 

Here are some of the Award winners of the Francais Baseball League. Some of us see these players in spring training. We look up to them.

Howard Beauchamp has a bit of reputation of being a slacker when it comes to spring training. Also, one of those players with a switch. When he flips it, the critics are silenced. He plays on our island of Martinique. Cap Chevalier is a small village area on the Atlantic side. On a windy day the waves are rough and wild. Alizé and I met on this beach for the first time.

I'll share some more of the award winner cards over this weekend.

FBL Home Run King
 

Fabrice Charlet of the Saint-Michel Nobles is the 1962 HR King.

1962 Champs - Team Picture
 

I sure hope I can be in one of the pictures some day. Great achievement for the Soleis!

The On Base Leader
 

The Anse d'Arlet home grown thirdbaseman from Saint Pierre got on base 42.2% of the time.
But, the really impressive stats are these:

BB: 94
K: 20

Runs Leader
 

Giverneys' secondbaseman had an excellent year weighing in with an impressive 5.3 WAR.

Total Base Leader
 

Here is the FBL total base leader with 285. He edged out Charlet who had 281. Not surprisingly, Francis also lead the league in hits.

Wins Winner
 

The only '20' game winner and league leader award goes to the Montreal Royals ace, Jonathan Allain.

Fireman of the Year
 

Cap Chevalier's closer was more than just a 9th inning guy as he logged an impressive 88.1 innings on the way to leading the FBL in Saves.

The King of K's
 

Fans always like to know who whiffs the most batters in a season. Less important to the managers who think more in terms of wins. The FBL champs lay claim to the strikeout king in 1962.

Rookie of the Year
 

Axel Bruneau gets the honor of being the ROY in the FBL for 62.

The Off Season
 

Free Agency is not expected to have much impact on our Le Diamant Diamond franchise. The team has been committed to the draft and development program since the inception of the league. However, there is some pushback from our owner to begin posting W's sooner, rather than later.

We don't know how that message will translate to our own future so we'll be watching and reading the papers every day. I have a feeling, and it's just a feeling, that we may see Herve Delage at the FBL level this season.

His stats were not overwhelming but he continues to improve his defense and anyone with an ounce of scouting ability knows he will someday be a big league player.

On top of that, and this carries some weight, I saw Laurant Mercier at the team offices last week, and he informed me that the ball club has discussed moving him to the outfield. Laurant is a decent third baseman, but, nothing like Herve. Laurant has experience in the OF from high school, too.

I asked him about the change, or possible change, and he replied, "I'm good with it." Ha, typical response from him. He is such a mellow guy and super flexible. A team guy in every sense.

Who makes the most francs?
 

On a per year basis, it's the Parisian centerfielder. But, according to Roman it is not that simple. "Do you have any idea how much we have to pay for a simple baguette? Aïe"

Who is the 'Big Boy' of the FBL?
 

He is fond of saying, 'There is a purpose to my size. I get behind the dish and nothing....I mean nothing gets by me, mes amies. And, you can forget about crashing into the catcher on a play at the plate. It would be suicide for that player."

It is well known that....
 

the Diamonds are pursuing a few free agents this year. The nudge is coming from Slocum Jr., according to conventional wisdom. I've got my doubts on whether they ink these guys but we'll see.

Fountain Bleu lands a big free agent
 

A .300 hitter has come off the Free Agency board as of yesterday. Fountain Blue who finished a distant 3rd and 21 games off the pace, inked their 6th new signing (only major one) in hopes of catching up to the Paris Artists in the France Division.

Le Diamant lands a reliever!
 

Lesage is now a Diamond. Good signing for our club! We were ranked 12th (out of 12) last season in the relief category.

Another arm signed for the pen!
 

Mathieu Martin will be joining the team for 1963. He's got nasty stuff. The Bandit PC Kevin Hubert always referred to him as a force for your late inning effort.

Off-Season Summary
 

As we prepare for Spring Training I have a summary to share with you that provides a glimpse into which teams got better and which ones took a step back. On paper, that is. Our Scout says to take this report with a grain of sel as so much happens between now and opening day. Not to mention players who progress, or regress. At the same time, it's a nice snapshot of how the landscape changed over the past few months. So, here it is...