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Immaculate Concepcion
Plenty going on in a hectic start to the 1970 EL season including this big game for Onix, as he belts 2 dingers and knocks in all of his side's runs. He's a sneakily handy type, with 14 HR in each of his first two seasons, along with more than 100 RBI all up and nearly 10 career WAR.
https://i.imgur.com/so8yZaH.png?1 |
The EL's Next Two-Way Superstar?
The win was fairly routine for CC, but the game will be forever memorable for him doing his best Bartolo Colon impersonation and cracking the first jack of his career...
https://i.imgur.com/elgJKwU.png?1 |
Massive Blow for the BGs...
... as they lose last season's Pitcher of the Year Ruben Quevedo for the remainder of this one.
https://i.imgur.com/WAvabK9.png?1 |
EL Featured Game #1, 1970
Friday 24th September, 1970 – Indianapolis ABCs (9-9) @ Birmingham Black Barons (8-10)
8.05pm ET, Regions Field, Birmingham AL A bit of a twofer here with two NeL rookies going head-to-head. So I thought I'd take advantage and shed some light on each of them before we get started. Jim Jeffries https://i.imgur.com/Z2RfWtH.png?1 Somewhat ironically, the IRL Jim Jeffries played almost his entire career for the ABCs in the 1910s and '20s, with Seamheads placing his record at 63-60 with a 3.54 ERA. He also played some OF (early in his career alongside Oscar Charleston and George Shively in what was viewed as one of the fastest outfield groups of all time) but wasn't much of a hitter, with a lifetime 209 BA. His final season, 1928, was spent with the Black Barons, who in the EL drafted him with their 2nd Round pick (27th overall). He has done OK so far, splitting 4 decisions with a 130 ERA+ and 88 FIP-, and looks ready-made for this level. He is currently ranked the #13 prospect. A handy type indeed. Jim Missouri https://i.imgur.com/fWG8exg.png?1 Despite the surname, his fellow southpaw opponent tonight was actually born in Bishopville, SC. Jim Riley gives him just the one paragraph so I don't have a hack of a lot of info on Mr Missouri, other than to tell you he played for the Detroit Stars for 4 seasons in the '40s and left the game aged just 23. He appears to have been used as a swing man, starting roughly half of the 57 games he appeared in, and fashioned an 11-14 record with a rather ungainly 5.74 ERA. Still, he made it onto EC's MLEs group, and has actually been treated pretty well, projected to a slightly more respectable 4.45 ERA (which calculates a smidge below league average at 96 ERA+). He, too, has begun his EL career well, sitting at 1-1 with a tidy 1.67 ERA over 32 IP, and actually sits ahead of Jim J at #9 on the prospects list. With both of these clubs looking for better seasons than they've managed to put together so far, this should be a good early test of how they shape up. Given how closely the two moundsmen match up, it should also be a tight contest (no idea why I've never thought of including this screenshot before...). PLenty of talented bats on display as well, so the two rooks will need to be at the top of their game. https://i.imgur.com/Fy2f4SP.png?1 The lineups for tonight's game are as follows: https://i.imgur.com/rscmekS.png?1 Let's get down to business. The visitors take the early lead when boom rookie Ozzie Albies drills a two-out double to bring one home, and Missouri starts confidently with 3 hitless innings. Jeffries himself only gives up 2 hits over the first 4, but unfortunately the second of those is a 2-run monster jam by Tony Scott to make it 3-0. The BBs finally get on the board in the 5th when Andre Robertson doubles and scores on a single by Jeffries, and they get a second on a silly throwing error by ABCs CF Eddie Milner. Jeffries helps his own cause further in the 6th, as he gives the hosts a 4-3 lead on a 2-run single after they load the bases. https://i.imgur.com/AquvKHB.png?1 Missouri is lifted for a PH in the 7th, with Rhiner Cruz taking over on the hill. He proceeds to give up a leadoff home run to Willson Contreras as the BBs pad their lead. Jeffries is super impressive, giving up just those two early hits over his 8 IP before coming out, and Onix Concepcion gives the closer an extra run to work with as he belts his 5th jack of the season. It isn't needed, however, as Rene Arocha sends them down in order to give Birmingham a win that shows plenty of promise and I'm sure sends most of the nearly 14000 fans in attendance home with smiles on their dials. |
The Yin and Yang of it
Baseball can be cruel, as Coco Laboy finds out the hard way.
https://i.imgur.com/2vBzFrG.png?1 But, as is the case here for Big Z, it can also be sweet and kind. His Cuban Stars East side has flown out of the gates at 15-6. https://i.imgur.com/WFLYvqd.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/yYmeRNQ.png?1 |
Beware the Angry Giant
A sluggish start to 1970 for the AGs and one of their main offensive weapons and first-ever player tries to snap them out of their torpor with a big game.
https://i.imgur.com/cBOKYgl.png?1 |
1970 April Recap
I am all too familiar with the dangers involved with drawing too many conclusions from these early recaps with only a handful of games having been played, merely a drop in the ocean that is a 162-game season.
Still, I can't help but be pleased with what I'm seeing after the first month of the 1970 Eclipse League season. Perennial easybeats like the Monarchs, Black Barons, Red Sox, Lincoln Giants and Motown Stars have each begun the year in a much more competitive fashion than previously. Further improvement in the performance of many NeL players and the overall quality of the league is evident. Tight races abound. Let's hope this continues. https://i.imgur.com/lA1puUv.png?1 The following players won the monthly awards for April:
And here are the Top 20s, news and leaders. https://i.imgur.com/N8EWPix.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/cMlskN9.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/1YpqAC3.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/SUTLetl.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/rBL8LTp.png?1https://i.imgur.com/WTmhdIO.png?1 |
Hit Parade
A couple nice performances at the plate today from two of the league's premier shortstops.
https://i.imgur.com/3RBwxLG.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/KhPZ0OU.png?1 |
The Landed Gentry
I took a close look at Gentry Jessup early on in the EL's existence and am happy to report he has really blossomed into a fine pitcher. He went 18-16 with a smidge over 3 WAR last year for the disappointing Elite Giants and, as this outing shows, has taken another step forward again.
https://i.imgur.com/GHjFXv8.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/05INdcK.png?1 |
No Stopping CC and Friends
The big guy is on fire so far this season and is all but untouchable in this gem against the MeSox, leaving him at a tasty 7-0 / 2.31.
https://i.imgur.com/YTLpevR.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/whQpdMp.png?1 Another who has impressed early is Detroit rookie Luis Padron, who gives up just 2 hits and an unearned run in a cruisy win over the defending champs. I'm sure he'll be the subject of an OotS feature sometime soon. https://i.imgur.com/J1bno1m.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/CXmNPxI.png?1 And finally, not such a great first month or so for Newark ace Hilton Smith, but perhaps this lovely outing against the West will spark him into action. The Eagles have started stringing some wins together after a horror start and look much more competitive again. https://i.imgur.com/3YR9jE4.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/tanwqVI.png?1 |
El Caballo Riding High
Maybe I'm imagining it but there seems to be a predominance of multi-HR games so far this season. Carlos joins in on the fun here with a trio against the AGs in a 12-0 romp. No sophomore slump for him, it seems, after a solid rookie campaign.
https://i.imgur.com/9TUf1qo.png?1 |
No Catching this Cat
What a dream start to his EL career for Grays rookie Mudcat Grant, who moves to a fancy 5-2 / 1.95 after this beaut against the MeSox.
https://i.imgur.com/xArnvSC.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/n7iCDeC.png?1 |
Cruz Control
Todd doesn't hit for much average (230 lifetime), but he has been a great contributor for the West so far with 36 career HR, 155 RBI and nearly 12 WAR, not to mention his elite defence. Tonight he lets his bat do the talking.
https://i.imgur.com/kxTmZuh.png?1 |
Aye up, Eddie
Edwin Jackson has been one of the EL's more consistent pitchers so far, logging around 300 IP at just under average ERA (career ERA+ of 97) and averaging around 4.5 WAR. He's putting together another solid season along similar lines and this is a strong outing for him.
https://i.imgur.com/mh951xv.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/RT0Q84y.png?1 |
Nkotb
If last year was the season of ShoTime, this year there's no doubt Ozzie Albies is the hot new kid on the block. He has taken the EL by storm, slashing 380/449/639 with 5 HR, 40 RBI, a 194 OPS+ and nearly 3 WAR. His ABCs are obviously enjoying having him onboard, sitting at 24-19 after this extra-inning victory over the MoStars - their 9th win in their last 10 - in which Ozzie struts his stuff in a big way. Jim Missouri has been another excellent addition and, with their longer-term prospects such as Rube Curry, Rod Carew and Richard Hidalgo each now coming into their own with 2+ seasons' experience under the belt, this might be the start of something beautiful for the boys from Indy.
https://i.imgur.com/NpDwcUe.png?1 |
Walking in Memphis
A disappointing start to the 1970 season for the MeSox, and 1969 First Round pick (2nd overall) Eddie Rosario hasn't been doing nearly enough for someone of his obvious talent. This game is much more like what I'm sure they'd be expecting from him, even if the result didn't end up going their way.
https://i.imgur.com/cWRIGdT.png?1 |
1970 May Recap
No doubt whatsoever that the story of the season so far is the Birmingham Black Barons. Not that they've been dreadful the first two seasons (3rd and 4th, combined 159-165 record), but they certainly seemed some way off from competing.
Not so, apparently, as they are currently 29-21 and on top of the WC National by 3 games. That margin was actually 6 until they lost 3 straight to another surprise packet and their closest rival in the Kansas City Monarchs. With the Black Yankees finally showing the sort of form we've been expecting from them (an EL-best 36-15 record), and the ABCs, Motown Stars and Lincoln Giants all greatly improved to this point, it is looming as a really exciting 1970 campaign, especially if teams like the Bacharach Giants, Buckeyes and Eagles - each of whom have started poorly - find form and move up the standings. https://i.imgur.com/58SU7YE.png?1 May awards:
Top 20s (overall) https://i.imgur.com/FTfgHLB.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/AvoFS8f.png?1 And just the NeLers https://i.imgur.com/W7hAfmn.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/1XaidlQ.png?1 News and leaders https://i.imgur.com/lpq4Gth.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/goUeG81.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/JmlQMQM.png?1https://i.imgur.com/8ckXOwG.png?1 |
The Road Less Taken
Fair to say it has been a bit of a struggle for the Royal Giants since their exemplary 1968 campaign that saw them win 90 games and get within one win of the EL World Series. A 4th-placed losing season last year was perhaps a sign that they'd simply caught the other clubs on the hop in the league's inaugural year and fluked that title tilt, and their barely .500 form so far this year is no strong rebuttal of that line of thought.
They certainly have the offensive talent to do damage with a lineup that pretty much bats top to bottom, but their pitching is thin to put it kindly, so performances like this Carlos Moore gem - against the league's hottest team, no less - have been the exception rather than the rule. They'll need to address this problem in order to have any chance of returning to the playoffs. https://i.imgur.com/RwWjLwR.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/66qA6ND.png?1 Just two days later, they get another fine outing from Marshall Bridges, only to waste it as Pat Scantlebury continues his fine season with a 1-hit masterpiece in a 1-0 win for the BYs. https://i.imgur.com/Pw2PEwa.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/w21ZZjy.png?1 |
EL Featured Game #2, 1970
Thursday 11th June, 1970 – Kansas City Monarchs (29-30) @ New York Black Yankees (40-19)
7.05pm ET, Hinchcliffe Stadium, New York NY Despite their respective teams' somewhat lopsided records to this point, I think this might turn out to be a close game between two strong hurlers. Patricio (Pat) Scantlebury https://i.imgur.com/e2Ylab1.png?1 Southpaw Patricio Scantlebury played in the NeL during the 1940s, almost entirely for the New York Cubans (he himself is actually Panamanian, sharing the hometown of Gatun with Rod Carew), before spending the late 40s and early 50s playing in the Caribbean. Then, as part of an agreement with the Havana Sugar Kings, he was sent to play in the bigs for Cincy in 1956. Pat had lied about his age, scraping 8 years off his real age of 38, and ended up going 0-1 with a 6.63 ERA and 0-for-2 at the plate. While this was his only season in the majors, he kept playing in various leagues into the 1960s. In the EL, after a strong rookie season as a reliever (2.17 ERA in 37 IP), Pat went 9-10 in what was a disappointing 1969 campaign for player and club. This year, however, he has found his groove and on that basis his prospects in this league look very bright indeed. German Marquez https://i.imgur.com/1qPn6Fn.png?1 Most of you I'm sure are familiar with German, who is an active player currently on the Rockies roster, where he has spent his entire 6-year career. His 115 ERA+ shows just how talented he is, as this has been achieved in the league's most hitter-friendly confines. As you can see from his stats above, German's time in the EL hasn't been so great. This is partly the function of playing for a struggling club, but only partly. His poor 82 ERA+ has done him no favours. Still, I think he has plenty of upside from where he is at the moment, especially if he stops trying to groove so many pitches. He has already given up 12 longballs this season in just 91 innings. That'll kill any pitcher. Here's how they compare H2H: https://i.imgur.com/2lIMuPu.png?1 And here's who'll be lining up behind them: https://i.imgur.com/PWEc3Xn.png?1 It's taken them a while, but this year's BYs look the real deal, with their 40-19 record the EL's best. No coincidence that their improvement has gone hand in hand with the emergence of Hank Thompson as one of the league's stars. Slashing 314/447/575 with 14 HR and 3.5 WAR, Hank has announced his early candidacy for Walker Award honours in just his age-22 season. I've mentioned German's propensity for handing out taters, and with Hank, Don Baylor and Sam Jethroe to deal with he'll be needing some extra work from the trainer on his neck and shoulders after the game if he doesn't keep his pitches down. The Mons don't quite have those big power bats, but in players such as Lourdes Gurriel jr, Cleon Jones (career BA .309, .364 so far in 1970), Hal King and Dilson Herrera they can slap a bunch on you good and quick if you let them. All right, let's get things underway. The visitors draw first blood, scoring one in the 3rd on a two-out hit by Ricky Jordan and then extend their lead in the next via a run-scoring double by Lemmie Miller. New York comes alive in the bottom of that frame, with a straight-up flub by Monarchs 2B Dilson Herrera helping them put 3 on the board to take the lead. In the 5th, Baylor gets on base despite striking out when a WP eludes catcher Rod Barajas, and that seems to get to Marquez, who falls into his old bad habits by serving up a juicy hanger to Hank Thompson, who plonks it about 30 rows back in the RF stand to make it 5-2. That earns German an early shower, with lefty Carlos Pulido taking over. https://i.imgur.com/iu8wUDq.png?1 Scantlebury bears down and gives the Mons very little over the next three innings, but then a mistake pitch to Lourdes Gurriel jr with two out and a man on brings the game to life as he takes him downtown to the opposite field to get the Mons back within a run. Two more hits and a Riles error ratchet up the pressure on the home side but Scantlebury gets out of the jam by getting Mike Edwards to fly out harmlessly to Walt Williams in LF. Joe Black takes the mound for the Mons in the home 8th and does his bit with a scoreless inning, and the BYs call for closer Jose Alvarado to get them home. He obliges with a 1-2-3 inning and the home side takes a hard-fought 5-4 victory. Plenty for both sides to take away from this contest, but in the end New York did just enough to get the win, moving Scantlebury to 8-3 on the year. |
The Sho Must Go On
There was little chance of ShoTime even going close to repeating that out-of-the-box rookie season he put together last year, but even he would admit his start to this season has been quieter than he'd have expected.
Until now... Just a lazy 5-hitter with 10 strikeouts... oh, and a pair of solo shots as well. |
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