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Settling the Bill
Last year it was Juan Marichal, this year it is Bill Lindsay having a hard time of things at the Monarchs, who despite their good early form seem to have run out of puff and look headed for another season way too close to the cellar.
Bill is one of the EL's better pitching prospects, but 5-18 / 4.89 will shake the strongest mindset. Yet, as his 330 BABIP and 85 FIP- tell you, a lot of the bloated ERA can be put down to bad luck, and when your team is on its way to a near 100-loss season, as a starter you are going to cop your fair share of them. Games like this 10-inning shutout are what he needs to focus on moving forward, hopefully everything else around him will fall into place. Another lofty Draft pick will do them no harm whatsoever. https://i.imgur.com/ujUDyRw.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/TUHCYb6.png?1 |
Sophomore Pinks
No case whatsoever of second-year blues for Chicago young gun Yovani Gallardo, who finished runner-up to ShoTime in both the rookie and pitching awards last season. This was a big night for him, allowing two unearned runs on just one hit to earn win number 20 for the campaign.
https://i.imgur.com/ZH4Xtcf.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/2H29L7f.png?1 |
Records Tumbling All Over the Place
On the same day Hilldale's Willie Stargell sets a new EL mark with his 45th double of the season, KC's Cleon Jones also etches his name into the record books, at least for the time being.
https://i.imgur.com/0wLEpBj.png?1 Amazingly, since breaking the single-season HR record on September 5th, Tony Armas has not added to his total. A few other marks have been set as well: Rudy Law of the Liberty Stars with 58 SB, Cleveland's Cesar Hernandez with 139 bases on balls, and Octavio Dotel of the Motown Stars with 44 saves. |
September 1970 Recap
Sadly for those who like a bit of late-season drama, this year seems almost certain to be devoid of it, with the Black Yankees and Cuban Stars East having already clinched and the other two races looking almost done with the West and Grays each leading handily.
A full recap at season-end. Here are the award-winners for August:
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1970 El Clasico
A hard-fought home sweep for the East in this year's series between the two Cuban Stars clubs gives them a 2-1 lead overall, but this may not be the only time they meet this season, with both headed to the playoffs. An all-Cubano EL World Series is a tasty prospect indeed!
https://i.imgur.com/4r8bzGf.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/0BZQ6a8.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/SW8PmeM.png?1 |
Eave of Destruction
Not the fairytale ending the Liberty Stars were after, but they'll be real happy with the improvement they've shown and looking forward to continuing that run into 1971 with more performances like this beauty from Gary Eave against the BBs.
https://i.imgur.com/Mfk5niW.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/mh1xygk.png?1 |
Stat Check: K/9
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Just one more...
... in fact a few of those records I've reported will need to be updated in what has been a frenetic final week to say the least.
This one, however, looks safe - for this year, at any rate. An unbelievable season for the big guy. https://i.imgur.com/hGSUw38.png?1 |
1970 Regular Season Summary
Wow. Just wow. For a season devoid of any standings drama these past few days have been off the hook.
First, the easy part - here's how the races finished up. The 103 wins by the Black Yankees sets a new record, eclipsing the Giants' 102 of the EL's first season. https://i.imgur.com/l5jKrRx.png?1 George Scott of St. Louis repeats as FC batting champ by hitting 346. Pops Stargell sets new highs for BA (358), OBP (440) and SLG (627) to go with his doubles mark, which ends up at 46, and his 377 Total Bases are also a record. Rickey Henderson steals a bunch of bases in the final few games to steal the season record from Rudy Law, finishing with 63. Jose Abreu swoops in with a late power surge to finish with 43 HR and pip Tony Armas by one. Rich Coggins sets a new RBI mark with 136. Cleon Jones finishes with 229 hits to set the new record, while Octavio Dotel's save record settles at 46. The final Top 20s now. Hitters - overall https://i.imgur.com/f0Q0Hlf.png?1 Pitchers - overall https://i.imgur.com/Dm2oecp.png?1 Hitters - NeL https://i.imgur.com/sXbMVPV.png?1 Pitchers - NeL https://i.imgur.com/bpHIo0j.png?1 And news / final leaders. https://i.imgur.com/KGtDQP9.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/X3PnVjf.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/tc9MavJ.png?1https://i.imgur.com/fpZEUHj.png?1 |
1970 EL Conference Championship Series
Fleet Conference New York Black Yankees (103-59) v Cuban Stars West (84-78) Best of seven, Black Yankees with home-field advantage.
https://i.imgur.com/8ZQuwVT.png?2 Weldy Conference Cuban Stars East (95-67) v Homestead Grays (86-76) Best of seven, East with home-field advantage.
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1970 Eclipse League World Series
New York Black Yankees (103-59) v Cuban Stars East (95-67) Best of seven, Black Yankees with home-field advantage. As more often than not is the case, it works out that the two best - and therefore most deserving - teams end up playing the title decider. Neither had things all their own way in the Conference Championships, and will each be better for the experience. Look for mine it is impossible to go past the Black Yankees. A record 103 wins, dominant from go to whoa, CC Sabathia and co in rare form, a squad with few apparent weaknesses. The loss of Hank Thompson is a tough one to fill, but Ivan Calderon has certainly done his bit to soften the blow. That said, if they underestimate the East it will be at their own peril. They are a quality side with arguably the EL's best player right now in Ruppert Jones and a host of big bats that mashed nearly 200 taters during the season and will give even the most steadfast pitcher the willies. Their rotation, with Carlos Zambrano as its ace, has the ability to shut offences down and keep them so. Neither side is the best defensively, and this may well prove key to the outcome of this series. New York in six for mine. https://i.imgur.com/YwO1GtM.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/E4xNqh7.png?1https://i.imgur.com/OGnPNrZ.png?1https://i.imgur.com/QxtScGV.png?1 I mean come on. For once, words nearly fail me as I try to describe what has unfolded over these seven games. In the end, it wasn't the defence that was key, or even the offence, really. What it ended up coming down to was the Black Yankees' early Conference Championship Series win, which allowed them to align their rotation 1-2-3. What it ended up coming down to was a 6'7" southpaw by the name of Carsten Charles Sabathia. In a seesaw series dominated by one team's pitching and then the other's (in only one game - the 11-inning Game 6 - did both sides score more than 2 runs and only 40 runs were scored in the entire series), Sabathia stood tall. Not only did he win his three starting assignments, he also won that Game 6 I mentioned when he came on in relief and pitched 2 innings of one-hit scoreless ball. All up he went 4-0 with an ERA of 0.67 and 28 strikeouts. It goes without saying he was named Series MVP. The East gave it everything and will be bitterly disappointed they couldn't close it out after taking a 3-2 lead. But there's no shame in what they've done here and I'm sure they'll be back to have another crack or two in the next few years. But this was the Black Yankees year, and they are most deserving winners of their first Eclipse League Championship. Congratulations to owner Adam Johnson, GM Ryan Payne, Manager Bob Honeycutt and all at the BYs club for an outstanding achievement. Game 1 https://i.imgur.com/Mf2yC6A.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/RQKqWtv.png?1 Game 2 https://i.imgur.com/emEItpX.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/gHEO3qj.png?1 Game 3 https://i.imgur.com/LcIRQkh.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/amE167u.png?1 Game 4 https://i.imgur.com/Vjw8rh5.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/BGHrsCF.png?1 Game 5 https://i.imgur.com/tN0tX0p.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/VQm5otc.png?1 Game 6 https://i.imgur.com/jpVAESk.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/tCQeG1G.png?1 Game 7 https://i.imgur.com/kh6lDst.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/zUHvhA5.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/FZKsyPI.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/A5IxRXt.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/rS1VAvf.png?1 |
Blood on the Floor at Newark
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1970 Awards
GRANT MEDAL (MOST VALUABLE PLAYER) FC: Juan Soto, West [1] WC: Ruppert Jones, East [2] STOVEY MEDAL (PITCHER OF THE YEAR) FC: CC Sabathia, Black Yankees [1] WC: Yovani Gallardo, American Giants [1] WHITE PLATE (RELIEVER OF THE YEAR) FC: Sixto Sanchez, West [2] WC: Wil Ledezma, Elite Giants [1] FOWLER MEDAL (ROOKIE OF THE YEAR) FC: Connie Marrero, West WC: Ozzie Albies, ABCs (unanimous) GARRETT BUTTON (MANAGER OF THE YEAR) FC: Bob Honeycutt, Black Yankees WC: Alex Pompez, East KINDLING AWARD (SILVER SLUGGER) Fleet Conference P: Martin Dihigo, Crawfords C: Ozzie Virgil jr, Red Sox 1B: George Scott, Giants 2B: Luis Arraez, Royal Giants 3B: Hiram Bocachica, Giants SS: Lourdes Gurriel jr, Monarchs LF: Juan Soto, West CF: Adolfo Phillips, Bacharach Giants RF: Aaron Judge, Giants Weldy Conference P: Shohei Ohtani, Buckeyes C: Bob Watson, Liberty Stars 1B: Andre Thornton, Motown Stars 2B: Ozzie Albies, ABCs 3B: Tim Anderson, Motown Stars SS: Elvis Andrus, Elite Giants LF: George Bell, Elite Giants CF: Ruppert Jones, East RF: Willie Stargell, Athletics SLICK AWARD (GOLD GLOVE) Fleet Conference P: Raul Alcantara, Red Sox C: Pearl Webster, Black Yankees 1B: George Scott, Giants 2B: Chin-Lung Hu, Giants 3B: Hiram Bocachica, Giants SS: Orlando Arcia, Giants LF: Gates Brown, Black Barons CF: Chuck Carr, Crawfords RF: Ender Inciarte, Royal Giants Weldy Conference P: Eddie Miller, East C: Larry Brown, Buckeyes 1B: Adrian Gonzalez, East 2B: Chino Smith, Athletics 3B: Henry Blackmon, Buckeyes SS: Ozzie Smith, Grays LF: Tony Scott, ABCs CF: Albert Almora, Elite Giants RF: Richard Hidalgo, ABCs |
A Quick Update
Well 1971 is set to be a truly seminal year for the EL with the introduction of the AAA Transit League.
400 new rookies will enter via the Draft, with some huge names among them. Each club will thereafter be permitted to carry 70 players - 26 on the EL roster (with a 40-man secondary in place) and 44 down at AAA, although few will have that many until next year's Draft, which will add another 200. I have allowed ghost players so as to avoid any issues with coverage at all positions, but hopefully this will only be necessary this year, if at all. To cater for the AAA Brooklyn Eagles' entry (and because I couldn't find a suitable alternative) I have decided to change Newark to the Dodgers. With so many changes, I'll be doing a full and in-depth Janus report for each franchise on Opening Day next season. I'll also be re-rating the higher-quality NeL players using the recently adopted changes to my methodology in the wake of Eric Chalek's expended MLEs being released. So loads to do - which means you'll have to be patient for the start of the '71 campaign. I promise you, it'll be worth the wait. Thanks The Commish |
1971 EL Janus Report: Atlantic City Bacharach Giants
The BGs showed good character to work their way back above 500 last season after a slow start, even more so given the loss of ace Ruben Quevedo early on. They have a good squad, and he looks like he'll be joining the parent club in a couple weeks to put their pitching back at full strength, so I'm expecting they'll be competitive enough in a really tough group. But said pitching still has far too many holes in it for my liking and - as good a player as Sano is - I was disappointed when they failed to address this in the Draft, adding just reliever Rincon and a lower-rotation starter in Ross. Until they do, I think you'll find that great '69 campaign of theirs will stand as a one-act play, perhaps written by Beckett. 3rd in the FC American. |
1971 EL Janus Report: Baltimore Elite Giants
https://i.imgur.com/JweCijB.png?1 If patience is indeed a virtue then most Baltimore fans might well be up for canonisation by the time their team lives up to expectations. OK, OK, things aren't quite that dire, but still I think a few more years of disappointment will have to be endured before the shadows lift. They certainly keep adding decent players and have the makings of a good side. "Jeep" Jessup toiled away manfully and had a sneakily good year obscured by his 20 losses, Don Newcombe should be just about ready to move into the rotation, Randall Delgado looks to have some fair upside left in him, and in Wil Ledezma and new recruit Enoli Paredes they have two sturdy relievers. Eric Davis completes a really solid OF trio with George Bell and Albert Almora, while after the addition of 3B Willie Greene, they are really only a decent 2B away from having one of the league's most well-rounded infields. That missing piece may well come via another high pick, because I think they'll be getting one at the end of this season. Keep the faith, EG fans, things can only get better! Last in the WC American. https://i.imgur.com/d42L6Cm.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/FxfvIRB.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: Birmingham Black Barons
https://i.imgur.com/Nsb9Jvq.png?1 The BBs' 1970 season was one I would think few saw coming and the way they hung in there to finish just six back despite being clearly overmatched on the diamond is the admirable sort of pluck every club is looking for from their group and bodes well for the future. Their group is solid enough, and with them being in what is currently the weakest of the four groups means they aren't without hope. Management has stuck with its slow-burn outlook, drafting a future gun in Ernie Banks with their first pick, and he and outfielder Pedro Munoz will both be more than handy in a few years' time. Second pick Ismael Valdez will step straight in and gives their rotation a bit more heft to it. He also has plenty of upside, and I expect this club to have a sustained run at the pointy end in the middle of the decade. For now, if they can repeat the courage they showed last season and the West fails to deliver the goods, anything is possible. On paper, however, they remain just a bit off the pace. 4th in the FC National. https://i.imgur.com/Vrx1CGr.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/5QWHpkA.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: Brooklyn Royal Giants
There are a number of striking similarities between the RGs and Atlantic City, which explains why I had such a hard time splitting then for those mid-standings slots. Again, Brooklyn has some fantastic talent at their disposal and Ken Singleton is a big add. They have picked up a couple handy hurlers in Jesse Houston and Shawn Chacon, but you have to wonder if that first pick wasn't better spent on a true ace. Still, they'll win their share of games and will be amongst it if either the BYs or Eagles falter. Fred Rico is an interesting type who caught my eye and I'll be watching him closely along the way. 4th in the FC American |
1971 EL Janus Report: Chicago American Giants
https://i.imgur.com/mvV9JMA.png?1 The American Giants juggernaut rolled on last season, inexorable as a North Sea iceberg waiting to sink.... wait, what? They came where? How many games behind? Oh, OK, maybe I should have looked that up before starting my analysis. You see kids, this is what comes of simply taking things for granted. As the old saying goes, to assume makes an ass out of u and me. There's a lesson in all this for the AGs management. As their meagre return to this point of one postseason appearance and zero in the World Series shows, every club - even this one, the most auspicious and financially-dominant of all EL clubs - need to work at it. Yes, I know, Free Agency is yet to kick in and therefore the AGs haven't really had the chance to fully exert their monetary superiority just yet. Yes, I know, when they do get the chance to do this all bets are off. This is nothing more than a gentle reminder. A warning shot, if you will, across the bow. 2nd in the WC National. https://i.imgur.com/bwBgdhj.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/VBz7NLQ.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: Cleveland Buckeyes
https://i.imgur.com/ISvZvJk.png?1 The pieces continue to fall into place for the Buckeyes and, while I think they're just a wee way off being fully ensconced "in the mix", I really like where this club is headed. Ketel Marte was a really astute addition, with SS being one of the two positions they clearly needed to upgrade, while the FA signing of Cool Papa Bell to roam CF between Bobby Abreu and Ed Steele not only adds a premier player at a tough position but further enhances their lineup's reputation as one of the speediest in the league. Were I running the club, my entire focus would now be spent on locking down the group they have in place for the next few years to let them do their thang. Oh, and maybe switch out one or two of their excess OFs (of which they have a multitude) for as good a 3B as they can get their hands on. The lesson of ShoTime's arrival - that it takes many to move a mountain - seems to have been taken on board. Mid-standings this time around but, in the hit parade vernacular - with a bullet. 3rd in the WC National. https://i.imgur.com/J72d3dM.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/QFNFZ3m.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: Cuban Stars East
https://i.imgur.com/5q55cnI.png?1 Another of the EL's better-run clubs, the East took the mighty Black Yankees all the way last season, ending up just a fortuitous bad hop away from winning it all. That can be tough on a club, on a playing group - to come so close but fail. And, especially given that playing group remains almost entirely intact this time around, I believe their success or failure this season will all come down to how they respond to that disappointment. There's no doubt in my mind that whatever gap they gouged out by dint of that splendiferous 1970 campaign has closed already. In fact, it was only ever a trompe l'oeil - a trick of the eye, a mirage. The WC National is the most competitive of the four groups in the EL, and they are its smallest constituent, financially speaking. So they are going to have to be creative all the way through if they want to remain competitive. Which amps up the pressure to get that elusive Championship before the gap of which I speak flips over from surplus to deficit. As things stand, they certainly have the group to go all the way. Ruppert Jones is a god, as is Carlos Zambrano, and their support cast rivals any others, especially Montero, Hanley Ramirez and Adrian Gonzalez. Lloyd Moseby should be up soon and is the putative starting LF alongside Jones and Rod Allen. Chet Brewer should make it into the rotation at some stage, and it will be stronger for his inclusion in it. While they lack many other outright superstars among their position players, those they do have seem the type to play above their station. A real bunch of gamers. As long as they continue to do so, and the group's heads are right, these guys should give it a real nudge again this season. 1st in the WC National. https://i.imgur.com/VbUzhBa.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/Ks7u90j.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: Cuban Stars West
https://i.imgur.com/BDmeS2V.png?1 Clearly the class outfit in the FC National, the West can only beat themselves this season is how I see it. Dwayne Murphy was a nice pickup for them, as was Francisco Cordova - and both will only improve what was already a very strong and balanced group. Robert "Highpockets" Hudspeth is another interesting type, but with Big Papi firmly entrenched at 1B and both only able to play that one position, I'm not quite sure how he fits in here. Were he to be traded for a strong 3B or OF, this club would plug one of its few gaps. Nothing is guaranteed in baseball, and this is by no means a squad that can take success for granted. But if they play to their appropriate talent level I see them doing it pretty easy. 1st in the FC National. https://i.imgur.com/Q1hGGNi.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/b727t2M.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: Detroit Motown Stars
https://i.imgur.com/fOtpE7p.png?1 The MoStars seem content to hold a steady course with their slowly, slowly approach, building their club up from the ground one brick at a time. No complaints from me as to how they went about the Draft - they have added some more guys who are going to be really good with varying degrees of speed over the next two or three years. Even though they eventually finished next-to-last, we saw glimpses of what this group will be capable of once that has happened, and the club's solid financial position will also enable them to pick and choose from among the available crop of FAs once they start becoming available. Until then, they will be more pesky little brother than overbearing uncle. The ruiner of dreams rather than the manufacturer of them. Last in the WC National. https://i.imgur.com/bO8N1D5.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/IgyDXOm.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: Hilldale Athletic Club
https://i.imgur.com/EDBmjm8.png?1 Perhaps the only good thing to come from the A's meek fadeout in the latter part of last season was that it left them entitled to a pretty sweet Draft pick, which they used to its full advantage by taking Pops Lloyd. The sight of he and Postalita Smith turning DPs aplenty and belting balls all over the various parks in this league will be something to see, and with Yordan Alvarez and Eric Chavez manning the corners, they now possess one of, if not the best, infields in the EL. In fact, I believe Hilldale gleaned the most from this year's new class of players, with pitchers String Bean Williams and Carl Glass both sure to be of much use, and LD Livingston a real smoky with plenty of pop in his bat. What doesn't kill you, blah blah blah - I see the A's back on track this year and ready to give it a massive shake. 1st in the WC American https://i.imgur.com/j0BFFOx.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/LSFlAJJ.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: Homestead Grays
https://i.imgur.com/BF8FxHh.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/KB0CMp6.png?1 Anyone who doubts that heart, application and astute management can at least partly make up for a relative shortage of raw talent need only look at what the Grays have achieved during their EL existence to this point, with two playoff appearances including one in the EL World Series. Despite their third-from-last pick in the Draft, they have done quite nicely with catcher Sam Greene and pitcher Louis Dula, and Jimmie Lyons should also play a part down the track as a backup outfielder. Pitching is clearly their strength, but they have some real gamers among their position players who seem to just go and get it done, day in and day out. I see no reason why this won't happen again in 1971. Given my belief there'll be a blanket finish for the three middle spots in the WC American, I view them as virtually interchangeable. This side should fill one of them. 2nd in the WC National. https://i.imgur.com/grsdE67.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/ipoHDun.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: Indianapolis ABCs
https://i.imgur.com/H75tA2M.png?1 I could virtually cut-and-paste my analysis of the Motown Stars to be used here for the ABCs, with names changed to protect the innocent. They are probably a little further along the curve than Detroit with regard to their pitching, a little behind with their position players. Which makes their Draft strategy OK in my books. Mitchell Murray looks likely to become one of the league's premier backstops, which perhaps leaves them in a bind with Alex Avila in a couple years' time. I'd get whatever they can out of him until Murray is ready, then trade him away for a middle IF partner for Ozzie Albies, as Alex Cora is more of a backup than starter. Like the MoStars, the ABCs showed glimpses of brilliance last year that would give their fans plenty of hope, and like Detroit those fans will need to stay patient because they have little chance of seeing their lads figuring in the pointy end of things for a while yet. 4th in the WC National. https://i.imgur.com/vqio5RX.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/KCeYIpk.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: Kansas City Monarchs
https://i.imgur.com/k6FOULJ.png?1 The risk is definitely to the upside for the Mons, with Tatis jr a huge add, as is Spot Poles, one of the few FAs to this point. 3B Jose Ramirez should also be just about ready to see topline action, along with reliever Cecilio Guante. The first three I mention here should all at least go some way to helping KC where they need it most - scoring more runs for their outstanding staff led by Juan Marichal to protect. If they can do so then this club will be much better for it. Despite all this, I just see the Mons being another year or two away from competing, however. But when these young guns hit their peak, look out. Last in FC National. https://i.imgur.com/UCzrHnH.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/6SAE0IT.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: Memphis Red Sox
https://i.imgur.com/NRArZbi.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/OXuR2yu.png?1 Exciting times indeed in the Home of the Blues - and Red Sox - with the arrival of one of the greatest talents this league is likely to see. That said, they will be sorely disappointed if they think they have now done everything they need to and can start planning the parade down Beale Street - I suggest a quick inspection of the Buckeyes' trophy cabinet if they are ever swinging by Cleveland to drive home the point that one marquee player does not a championship team make. A lot of hard work and smart moves await them before that happens, because this squad still has a lot of holes to be filled. Remember, the reason they got Barry was because they had the EL's worst record last season. Still, the financial strength of this club makes it unlikely he'll be going elsewhere anytime soon, even once his team control period is done, and also means they have a bunch of money at their disposal to plug those holes. In the meantime, I see modest improvement for the MeSox in 1971 without them ever really threatening to break their post-season duck. 3rd in the FC National. https://i.imgur.com/k7XLxss.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/HUcRlxY.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: New York Black Yankees
https://i.imgur.com/03DIQdn.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/OxKgN2x.png?1 I'm not sure the greatest writer could have penned a more thrilling and fulfilling narrative for the BYs in 1970, capped off with that unbelievable World Series win and performance for the ages from their ace. It had been three years in the making, some might say a year or two overdue, but nevertheless well worth the wait. So what will the encore be? Well, I'm not predicting any cliff-falling escapades from this group, but nor do I expect they'll have things go their own way quite as much this time around. Newark is looking good and the whole FC American is tough indeed, so even the almost inevitable regression from the mountaintop comes with its own perils. All I can say is I hope they are ready for a fight, because I do believe they are in for one. 1st in the FC American. https://i.imgur.com/Yi9pkzq.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/uiGuwXC.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: New York Lincoln Giants
https://i.imgur.com/cS8hFfX.png?1 While they have been lost in the brouhaha over their cross-city rivals' ascension to the top of the EL universe - and rightfully so - it would not come as much of a surprise to me if, fast-forward a few years, the pecking-order has been reversed in the Big Apple. The addition of Roberto Clemente to an outfield already manned by human sparkplug Rickey Henderson and classy Bernie Williams makes it one of the EL's best, and any one of their numerous backup OFs should be traded for some more pitching, which remains problematic to say the least. While Webster McDonald and Dan Bankhead are both fantastic prospects, both will need time. Even then, their fourth starting spot is a real black hole that will retard any meaningful progress toward competitiveness. One or two more Drafts, if used properly, along with the trade I mentioned, should plug this and the various other holes that plague their staff, and that's when the fun should begin for LG fans, especially as the players already on their books acquire more experience over that period. 3rd in the WC American. https://i.imgur.com/CkNYe3I.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/uEhEl9M.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: Newark Dodgers
https://i.imgur.com/nu75DgF.png?1 Oooooweeee do I like the look of this group. It is perhaps the EL's most balanced, with as few apparent weaknesses as obvious superstars, and a rotation that is up there with the best. It will need to be, however, because the one glaring shortcoming the newly-minted Dodgers have is a dearth of quality relievers. Were I running the club I would be trading off some of my offensive flab for two or three solid BP arms, because as it stands they are at risk of losing a heck of a lot of games that they were leading after 6 or 7. Still, I see them as the main danger to the Black Yankees' title defence in the FC American and capable of making a deep playoff run if they can get past them. 2nd in the FC American. https://i.imgur.com/bpXwJR1.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/s7rlDSc.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: Philadelphia Liberty Stars
https://i.imgur.com/t488INy.png?1 Despite a late fadeout that consigned them to another finish in the lower region of the standings, we at least saw the first signs of life last year from the previously moribund Liberty Stars. The flipside of this move down the ladder was, of course, a vastly-improved Draft pick - 3rd overall, in fact. With the Libs being another club whose pitching needed all sorts of reinforcement, their deployment of that pick beggars belief. Sometimes, I guess, management simply falls into the trap of overthinking things. Carlos Delgado is a fantastic player, and his ability to play both 1B and LF as well as his preferred position behind the plate only adds to his appeal. But Philly already has one of the league's premier catchers in Bob Watson, a very solid 1B in Kelvin Moore, and plenty of more than decent outfield options. So this - there's no other way to put it - was a stupid move on their part and an utterly wasted opportunity to improve their ball club in a far more immediately utilitarian way. They did pick up a couple decent mound prospects in starter Marcellino Lopez and future Closer Kelvin Herrera, but both are some way off and right now this staff of theirs will have a whole bunch of trouble keeping them in games, thus precluding them from any sort of meaningful competitiveness for the foreseeable future. 4th in the WC American. https://i.imgur.com/7rhil8h.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/l9RROco.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: Pittsburgh Crawfords
https://i.imgur.com/LK8hUyW.png?1 You really have to feel for the Crawfs. They have worked hard to improve over the EL's first three seasons with their 86-76 last year their best record so far, but yet as we enter the 1971 campaign they likely feel further from success than at any other point. They have once again been pretty smart with their Drafting despite not being among the earliest picks, filling a void at SS with Villar and at 3B with Camargo - two fairly solid if somewhat unspectacular players who should give them decent service with both bat and glove - as well as with future Closer Henry Rodriguez, and have a host of excellent prospects in the wings. And their playing group has plenty of guns such as Oms, Whitaker and Coggins, not to mention the incomparable yet still to show his best Martin Dihigo and a solid pitching staff. All of which should reassure the Pittsburgh organisation that they are headed in the right direction. That said, I suspect they are in for one of those seasons that makes club management tremble at the knees and question their strategy a thousand times over on countless sleepless nights spent tossing and turning. Last in the FC American. https://i.imgur.com/fzu2g41.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/zostdy9.png?1 |
1971 EL Janus Report: St. Louis Giants
https://i.imgur.com/duxV6jw.png?1 Honestly, I could have picked the Giants anywhere in this group and still not felt confident I had it right. Their problem is the exact opposite of the one KC faces - scoring enough runs to give their fairly woeful pitching some hope of winning. As fantastic a talent Yasmani Grandel is, with them being so obviously in need of some quality arms his selection is baffling, especially given the presence of both Hank Conger and Edwards Guzman - neither of whom can be considered superstar material, but both of whom are more than serviceable at backstop. To then follow that up by taking outfielder "Soup" Reeves is beyond the pale. They had the 10th overall, with which they could really have nabbed a couple of guns. They will get some mileage from "Sug" Cornelius, but he is no ace, and if Otis Starks ever sees EL action, his ceiling is way lower than they need. So, having said that, why such a lofty prediction from yours truly? I guess mainly because I think the three I've picked to finish below them are all works in progress rather than finished products. Should any of them outpace their expected rate of progress, it will be at the Giants' expense, standings-wise. The other factor is the quality of their offence. If the staff can at least keep them in games then guys like Judge, Scott - and yes, Grandal - will almost certainly belt them to victory plenty of times. If they want to win another title to show that the first was no fluke - as is commonly believed - then they best get on with it, because before long they'll have been overtaken by the pack behind them and, being the smallest franchise in the league, trying to catch them again is going to become harder and harder. 2nd in the FC National. https://i.imgur.com/eqw98ph.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/1Bsk1tJ.png?1 |
1971 Opening Day
All is set for another riveting EL season. Here are the main deals and trades that took place over the offseason:
Here's how the pundits see things playing out this season: The top-ranked position players and pitchers: Last but not least, the 20 best EL prospects: https://i.imgur.com/g3XfUXh.png?1 |
EL Featured Game #1, 1971
Friday 2nd April, 1971 (Opening Day) – St. Louis Giants @ Memphis Red Sox 7.05pm ET, Russwood Park, Memphis TN Juiced up or not, love him or hate him, one thing cannot be denied - Barry Bonds was one of the greatest to ever play this game. By WAR, the 4th greatest, in fact, behind only Ruth, Walter Johnson and Cy Young. One would expect he will have a similar impact - if not indeed a greater one given the reduced number of participants - on the Eclipse League. And so I couldn't resist the chance to witness where it all began. Here is how Barry has imported, remembering this is a DEV ONLY environment. He went a fairly tame 256/396/410 in Spring Training, driving in just the one run. https://i.imgur.com/3LRN3RK.png?1 Can't wait to see how this plays out. His MeSox open their 1971 campaign hosting FC National rivals St. Louis. Fellow rookie Ricky Nolasco - taken by Memphis with their 2nd Round pick - makes his EL debut for the home side, up against Jae-weong Seo, whose EL career began stunningly in its inaugural 1968 season with a Stovey Medal win, and looks like this in its entirety to this point: https://i.imgur.com/CVrz3T2.png?1 Both sides go into this season with high hopes, and would obviously love to start things off the right way here. Here's how the two lineups will look: https://i.imgur.com/ANrxvXp.png?1 Let's get things underway. (Unfortunately I didn't check beforehand and hadn't set up the camera angles correctly, so no screenshots I'm afraid!) 30000 in attendance and the air is thick with anticipation. A 1-2-3 1st by Seo means Barry leads off the 2nd with still no score, and his first at-bat in the EL becomes no AB at all as he walks on 5 pitches. He swipes second with one out for his fist career SB and moves to third on a single by Eddie Rosario, but is stranded there as the game remains scoreless after 2. Still no score with the pitchers in control when Barry comes up again, with two down and none on in the 4th. He nubs a 2-1 fastball past the mound and beats it out for an infield hit, but Khris Davis can only ground out to short to end the frame. The game finally gets its first run in the 5th when Ozzie Virgil jr goes deep to the opposite field with some help from a strong cross-breeze to put the home side ahead 1-0. The visitors answer immediately as Orlando Arcia leads off the 6th with a double over Barry's head and eventually scores on a single by Michael Taylor. Still 1-1, Barry leads off the 7th and makes his first career out with a groundout to first, poetic if nothing else. The inning does produce a reward for the Red Sox, however, when Virgil jr comes through again, singling Davis home with two out to make it 2-1. The hosts get something going again in the next as Yonder Alonso leads off with a walk and pinch-hitter Vince Coleman uses his speedy wheels to beat out an infield hit. The rally looks to be killed off when Alfredo Griffin GIDPs, and Seo gets out of the jam by inducing Billy Sample to fly out to CF. Nolasco looks the real deal and seems to have plenty left in the tank, but Red Sox skipper Dakota LaRoy sticks with the gameplan and brings in Closer Rafael Soriano to try and nail down the win. He strikes out Taylor swinging but then gives up a juicy gopher ball to Willie Kirkland and we are knotted at 2. A Griffin error amps up the pressure even further, and after Judge whiffs for the third time, rookie catcher Yasmani Grandal kills the mood in the room with a booming 2-run bomb to put the Giants up 4-2 and ruin any hopes of my fairytale ending that would have seen Barry belt a walkoff jack in the bottom 9th, all the while providing one for himself. He does manage a standup double with one out to give the MeSox faithful some hope, and moves to third on a Davis groundout. But Mychal Givens, on in relief of Seo, gets Rosario to ground out to second to lock down a gutsy win for the Giants. A fantastic start to the season, although obviously not the result the Red Sox were after. Barry's line ends up at 2-3 with a walk and a double, as well as that stolen base - not a bad way to kick off your career. EDIT: In game two of this series, Barry walks four times, and in the third game he belts his first EL homer and walks 3 more times. He goes on to win the first Player of the Week Award for the season, hitting 391 with 3 HR and 6 RBI. It has begun. |
Stat Check: R
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Willie Makes a Grand EL Entrance
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(Partially) Out of the Shadows: Jimsey Roussell
A bit of a roadblock to navigate for Jimsey Roussell, given how stocked the Black Yankees are at his two positions, catcher and CF. Then again, those slots are hard to fill, which holds him in good stead moving forward, at that franchise or another. This is especially so if he continues posting performances like this one.
https://i.imgur.com/2YOQe2q.png Sadly, I can't share much information about Jimsey, who played just two seasons for three teams - Birmingham, Nashville and Memphis - between 1929 and 1930. Seamheads, which lists his full name as Edward Lorenzo Roussell and his birthplace as New Orleans, has him down for a 291/327/395 slash with 3 HR and 62 RBI, so he was obviously a fair player. Jim Riley's book doesn't even contain a listing for him, nor does SABR Bio and BBRef's is empty. So the reasons for the brevity of his career will, along with the rest of the data for him, remain a mystery unless I can hunt something down. Which I shall endeavour to do. |
April 1971 Recap
A nice even start across the board to the 1971 Eclipse League season, with a couple teams already putting the lie to my pre-season predictions. The Buckeyes, mainly thanks to a 9-game win streak in mid-month, are on top of the WC National, while the Elite Giants have also begun well. Newark has the EL's best record to this point, going 17-8 to lead the FC American by four games. There is, however, a long way to go.
The AAA Transit League is even tighter, with no team having a lead of more than one. We'll check in a bit further down the track to see how that has played out. https://i.imgur.com/ozxLXdD.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/ZXdtgZM.png?1 Here are each league's award winners for April: ECLIPSE LEAGUE
TRANSIT LEAGUE (AAA)
News and leaders: https://i.imgur.com/QN9US8V.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/DbB6zdr.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/CLnqZKG.png?1https://i.imgur.com/Q6Yc5sp.png?1 |
FTJ Sensational
In 1969 it was ShoTime, last year it was Ozzie Albies, and this year's rookie sensation may well be Fernando Tatis jr of the Monarchs.
One week doesn't make a summer, but boy oy boy what a week it was all the same. https://i.imgur.com/PV1R9PX.png |
May the Fourth was with Him
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Number Twos
Edsall Walker - AKA The Catskill Wildman - continues to prove the perfect SP2 foil for CC Sabathia, with a career 58-44 record and an ERA of just over 3, which is 122 as ERA+. He's still under team control for next year, and one would hope the BYs lock CC, him and SP3 Patricio Scantlebury down to long contracts before that runs out.
This sublime game is just another reason why I see him as a key member of their club going forward. https://i.imgur.com/D3jG8Zp.png https://i.imgur.com/cThqzTz.png |
Making Up for Lost Time
Hank Thompson is certainly relishing being back in action after his injury layoff. Post a short rehab stint he has dominated since returning to the parent club Black Yankees, and this week has been one right out of the box for him. The BYs already look much stronger for his having rejoined them.
https://i.imgur.com/86T7tpZ.png |
Quiet Achiever
A while has passed since we shone the spotlight on John D'Acquisto, who despite a relatively modest 47-44 career record has been giving the underperforming ABCs reliable service all the way through, as his 105 ERA+, 81 FIP- and almost 18 WAR attest.
Indy has started much more promisingly this season at 20-15, and John has also begun well at 5-1 / 1.68 after this peach against the Black Yankees. https://i.imgur.com/FmpyHt7.png https://i.imgur.com/y5UEV53.png |
Like Fine Saki
If anything, it seems that ShoTime is actually getting better. Or at least more consistent and well-rounded. 6-2 / 2.62 on the mound, 280/393/538 with 6 HR and 23 RBI at the plate, 3.7 combined WAR to this point. His Buckeyes are certainly looking much more robust this year, with the Bell addition having really sparked the lineup. He's on track for 118 runs this year and they are currently 2nd in the WC as a team in this category.
Anyway, ShoTime showed off in this one, giving 8 strong innings and going deep twice with 5 RBI. |
Has Tanaka-san Turned the Corner?
After a couple of seasons plagued by the longball, Masahiro Tanaka seems to have remembered how to keep the ball in the park, more than halving his HR9 rate to 0.5. It is certainly showing in his other metrics, as this gem moves him to 8-3 / 2.14 - giving him an ERA+ of 173, 68 points better than in 1970.
https://i.imgur.com/Z3BVIV5.png https://i.imgur.com/IoHEDAt.png |
EL Featured Game #2, 1971
Sunday 23rd May, 1971 – Philadelphia Liberty Stars @ Hilldale Athletic Club 7.05pm ET, Hilldale Park, Darby PA Some fascinating races are already forming in the 1971 EL season. None more than in the WC American, where the surprising Liberty Stars are sitting atop the standings. The A's, after a slow start are slowly but surely finding their groove and have now moved into second place. So I thought this a great opportunity to see both clubs in action. String Bean Williams No guesses for the origin of Andrew Williams' moniker - at 6 feet tall and just 165lb, "String Bean" seems pretty appropriate. SB, as we'll call him here for brevity, enjoyed a long and fairly success NeL career in the early 20th century, fashioning a 71-67 record for a variety of teams - although not the Athletics - with an ERA of 3.68 (103 ERA+) and, by SH estimates, 12.7 WAR. 1917 was his most successful year, in which he went 12-8 / 2.61 for the ABCs and Royal Giants, but according to Jim Riley the end of the Deadball Era was also the demise of his effectiveness. In the EL, Hilldale selected him with their 3rd Round pick (51st overall) in the most recent Draft, and he has struggled a bit so far in his rookie year. Still, at just 23 and with plenty of experience to glean, he looks set for a nice run here. https://i.imgur.com/62ufsAP.png?1 Tonight he finds himself up against a tough competitor in Rogelio Armenteros. If that name seems vaguely familiar then you might be an Astros fan, because it is with the Bin Bashers that he spent his only year in the bigs, back in 2019, going 1-1 / 4.00 in his brief stay. He's been far more successful and permanent in the EL, which he joined via the Inaugural Draft when the LibStars picked him way down in the 8th Round (153rd overall). He has certainly repaid their faith on the mound, and enters this game with a career 53-55 record (pretty good given the club's record so far) and roughly league average ERA. His win total has increased each year, with him locking down 19 in 1970, and he has started this season well: 6-3 / 3.09. https://i.imgur.com/gFkLeMA.png?1 This is the last in a 3-game series, with the clubs having split the two prior, and with them sitting just a couple games apart there is sure to be plenty of feeling out there tonight, even if it is only May. The two lineups will look like this: https://i.imgur.com/gBPg9VQ.png?1 All is in readiness - BATTER UP!! After SB sends them down in order, this huge A's lineup wastes no time getting to work. Chino Smith leads off with a single and Oddibe McDowell follows with another one. With one out, Pops Stargell doubles Smith in to give the hosts an early lead. It doesn't last a half-inning as Elrod Hendricks crushes one out with one on in the next to make it 2-1 Philly. The A's get a rally going in the home 4th, and Pop Lloyd knocks in the tying run with a single, with Armenteros lucky not to fall behind as Hilldale leaves them full. He barely escapes another jam in the 5th and is really laboring. https://i.imgur.com/Tu9VWg1.png?1 Both hurlers are showing plenty of grit, and it is still knotted at 2 entering the late innings, but the visitors get their nose in front in the 8th on back-to-back two-out doubles to Kelvin Moore and Bobby Bonilla. That run is still holding up entering the bottom 9th, with Philly Closer Simon Castro summoned to try and lock it down. A one-out walk to rookie LD Livingston puts the tying run aboard, but he regathers and the LibStars take a hard-fought 3-2 win. You can see why they are where they are, this Liberty Stars unit. Light on absolute talent they might be, but they are displaying all the heart in the world. We'll check back in with them later in the season, I'm sure. Meanwhile, the A's were far from disgraced and I've no doubt they'll be there or thereabouts come the pointy end of the season. |
May 1971 Recap
Things remain extraordinarily close at the end of May. In fact, only one team in the entire EL - the 18-34 Lincoln Giants - are 10 or more games out of first place, while just 3 1/2 games separate the first-placed Red Sox from the last-placed Cuban Stars West in the FC National.
https://i.imgur.com/dkTH1R6.png?1
Things are somewhat more clearly defined in the TL, with the 37-15 Keystones looking fantastic, while the Clowns have snuck out to a 5-game lead in the FRC National. https://i.imgur.com/G1FF4ay.png?1
Here are the overall Top 20s by WAR: https://i.imgur.com/yAuop09.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/lWfXm91.png?1 And just for the NeLers: https://i.imgur.com/5EyTDX6.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/toAQrc2.png?1 News and leaders: https://i.imgur.com/3PHupb0.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/2TmWyBr.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/yLMsjxP.png?1 https://i.imgur.com/qt7tpJS.png?1 |
Hot Baked Goods
Improvement with every season so far for Bake, always a good sign and precisely what you want from a 1st Rounder. The Lib Stars are really give it a go this season, helped by performances like this one.
https://i.imgur.com/DvLA9Vp.png |
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