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Minor League Report
AAA Milwaukee Blues (Century League): 82-58 (.586), 1st, 8 GA: Our only organizational champ, the Milwaukee Blues won the Century League by a comfortable eight games, surviving the six team league where 2/3rds of the league won 74 or 73 games. It does a really good job demonstrating the tiers of the Century League, as Milwaukee was a class above, Columbus (44-96) was a class below, and everyone else was more-or-less the same.
Milwaukee was benefitted from a lot of FABL quality players, as the rotation had a bunch of them and there was always one in center field. Plus I complimented the roster with seasoned vets, including Century League legend Ed Duncan (.303, 12, 60). Both the offense and staff were impressive, but the edge goes to the arms. Future ace Ken Stone (14-8, 3.08, 137) was a rock at the top, with Henry Henderson (11-6, 2.65, 112) preventing him from the team triple crown. Both proved they are ready for FABL hitters, and at least one of them should be up in Chicago next season. My bets on Stone, but Henderson is an innings eater with three really good pitches, and despite his flyball tendencies he survived with a 0.5 HR/9 in 183.2 innings. Of course, in Chicago he's going to allow more then 10 homers in 28 starts, but with no obvious weakness he's an interesting option for the rotation himself. Once ranked as high as 30th in our system, he's no slouch either, but Dixie isn't the biggest fan. I think he's a capable middle rotation starter, but with two options left and still 22, the young lefty's best chance for FABL action is injury or trade. Even though that duo got all the attention, there was no shortage of quality starts from the rest of the group. After coming up just short to Phil Means (3-2, 4, 3.77, 32) for an Opening Day roster spot, Allen Brown (10-6, 3.11, 90) got to spend the whole season in the rotation, making the third most starts on the team. Former top 250 prospect Mario Saucedo (6-9, 4.61, 90) dealt with injuries and poor performance, and the 25-year-old may end up unprotected for the Rule-5 draft. May pickup Jake Roberts (10-7, 3.65, 66) made up for it, and with quality pen arms like Doc Cook (5-6, 15, 1.64, 53), Dick Garcia (3-2, 5, 1.76, 28), and Buster Clark (7-3, 4, 2.88, 41), they were able to keep most leads. We got plenty of production from Bobby Martinez (.274, 8, 55, 8) and Billy Thompson (.279, 4, 40) in center, but aside from Duncan we were more solid then good. Kind of like the Sailors, it was no real standouts with some quality two-way players that make their team better on offense and defense. Nine guys had an above average OPS+ with 75 or more at bats, and seven had more then 250 PAs. The next man up mentality worked well, and we were able to win games all season long. AA Little Rock Governors (AA Dixie League): 79-61 (.564), t-2nd, 3 GB): Little Rock just couldn't get things going this year, as before their 19-6 July they were two games under .500. They finished the season strong, but it wasn't enough , as the best we could do is force a tie for second. Unlike Milwaukee, it was a team of stars, as Wayne Wilson and Dode Caudill were an elite duo. Moving between the three outfield spots, both were amazing, and despite the difference in prospect rankings it's tough to separate them. Wilson isn't on any prospect lists, but the 23-year-old hit .276/.347/.581 (139 OPS+), knocking 39 homers with 28 doubles, 80 runs, and 122 RBIs. He led the Governors in homers and RBIs, while Dode's .291/.400/.493 (132 OPS+) line came with the highest batting average. He had pop too, clubbing 24 doubles, 5 triples, and 23 homers too, and in 133 games he was worth an even five wins above replacement. The speedster swiped 36 baes, walked (92) more then he struck out (67), and produced 101 runs and 88 RBIs. Despite all that, Little Rock was just 5th in runs scored, with not much help from the rest of the cast. Ironically a nepo signing provided our outfielders with the best protection, as bringing back former 1st Rounder Jack Craft (.281, 10, 40, 6) turned out to be a pretty solid move. Producing a 141 WRC+ in 383 PAs, the former Keystone played like I thought he could when I took him 11th in 1951. It hasn't worked out for him, the now 29-year-old is 2-for-20 in a pair of callups, and I don't see another one coming. That describes a lot of the roster, but I am interested by the then 23-year-old Bobby McGough (10-11, 4.11, 146). The former 3rd Rounder just celebrated his birthday, and his 3.67 FIP (83 FIP-) was about half a run lower then his ERA. Kids got an elite fastball and solid control, and as a Chicago kid he's always going to have a shot. With better stamina he could start, but I think his future is as a late inning arm that will overpower you with a fastball/slider mix. We didn't have a lot of other young guys who did much for Little Rock, but fellow Chicagoan Herb Thomason (2-5, 7, 3.81, 42) was nice out of the pen, and with elite defense and a 110 WRC+ shortstop Tom Glenn (.251, 8, 45, 16) was worth 4.3 WAR in 126 games. He doesn't quite have the range of Tom Halliday, but the look is similar, and if we can refine the bat he could at least be a useful backup shortstop. A Rockford Wildcats (Heartland League) 75-65 (.536), 3rd, 11 GB: Rockford may have been the Cougars Class A affiliate for a while, but for me, its the first season I'll have Wildcats instead of the Lincoln Legislators. Personally, I like it, as Rockford is way closer to Chicago and Wildcats are far cooler then Legislators! Enough of that though, let's focus on the 3rd place Wildcats, who finished the season with a lot of interesting players. Among them is 43rd ranked prospect Orlando Benitez (.304, 16, 59, 18), who spent 88 of his 137 games with Rockford. Most came in center, which I think is his best position, but the 19-year-old got some reps at third. He was probably ready for Little Rock, but that outfield was already great, and Benitez could be the guy here. Utility man Bill Reinhard (.277, 17, 69) and this year's 3rd Rounder Dick Harbeson (.276, 8, 44, 3) were among his support, as they finished 2nd in the association in runs scored. First could have been reached had I never traded Bob Starr (.260, 12, 35) and Bill Tannen (.250, 6, 25) never saw his season end with an ankle injury, but a they'll return a lot of starters. Same is true in the rotation, which had some struggles despite a lot of exciting arms. Nine guys made six or more starts, led by 22-year-old Chicagoan Sam Davis (11-6, 3.36, 142). While not among one of our higher ranked prospects, I think he's an underrated prospect, and Dixie is a big fan of the stuff. He gives him five 4+ rated pitches, including a 5 curve. Even better, he's a 4-3-2 with 5 stamina, so if that control gets up he could be a legit starter. One of the few I expect to go up to Little Rock, he'll pass the baton to Art Ozburn (1-4, 5.83, 25), Roy Weinberger (3-2, 2.75, 24), and Ray Dishman (2-2, 5.40, 44). Those three came up during the season, and all three have really good stuff. Ozburn's one of my favorite pitchers, boasting some of the best stuff in our system, and we are in position to have a strong rotation in Rockford next year. B San Jose Cougars (California-Oregon-Washington League): 71-69 (.550), 4th, 14 GB: Our closest to a losing team, the baby Cougars were just 71-69 as they oscillated around .500 most of the season. June was the only month they finished more then two games above or below .500, though they had one of the best rotation. A lot of those guys went up, like Roy Weinberger (13-4, 1.62, 102) and Art Ozburn (8-8, 2.55, 110), while John Roberts (8-9, 3.07, 77) could be ready to move up too. In the pen, Ed Wells (2-4, 14, 2.26, 54) was automatic, while in limited roles Joe Jesmer (2-1, 1.62, 28) and Floyd Lane (2-0, 1, 2.14, 18) were effective. A lot of the lineups top producers played in limited time, and the top two WAR leaders, Orlando Benitez (.304, 16, 59, 18) and Joe Gallerani (.327, 9, 29, 5) got their 3+ WAR in fewer then 200 at bats. Backstop Raul Zamora (.267, 17, 54) was one of four guys with 125 games, and the only one from the group with a WRC+ above 105. One of our top 100 prospects, it was nice to see that, and I'm hoping we can improve his defense next year. That could be a big boost to his club, and at 20 he's already holding his own against guys way older then him. C La Crosse Lions (Upper Mississippi Valley Association): 41-21 (.661), 2nd, 2 GB: Our short season club looked like they were destined for first place, but despite an impressive 41-21 record the Rock Island Steamboats (43-19) were just a little bit better. Part of me blames myself, as I moved 1st Rounder Bill Grimm (.340, 10, 47, 24) up after ten games, but his replacement Jack Ridge (.319, 4, 25, 5) was still a capable leadoff man. Granted, moving up Sam Morrison (.387, 10, 38, 12) hurt too, but I can't imagine we're the only C ball club moving up guys who show they're more then ready to advance. Finishing with the most runs in the league, we had a lot of dangerous bats, with 19-year-old and former 11th Rounder Harry Cummins (.343, 11, 66, 18) a surprising breakout star. He helped anchor the lineup without Grimm and Morrison, but there was not enough thump. With middle of the road pitching, we dropped a few games, but everyone who finished the season in the rotation had an above average ERA+. That includes 2nd Rounder Jim Place (6-1, 4.39, 74), who once he gets over his control problems, is going to be an excellent pitcher. The stuff is good and he keeps it on the ground, and it's the only reason he had one more strikeout then walk. I'm hoping a big draft next year gives the Lions the reinforcements they need to win it all, as we'll need some help to put together another 40-win season. |
Top Prospects!
We kicked off the offseason last night, which means that are new group of top prospects was announced for the offseason. Before we get to that, there is a little housekeeping in the organization to take care of. I let a handful of minor league coaches go, as we had some scrubs left over, but I did end up bringing back the entire FABL staff. Only thing is, team trainer Ed Reed had other ideas, so we'll need a third trainer in as many seasons. No players retired, so we'll continue with 37 of 40 expanded roster spots filled, though I'd be surprised if the roster remained in tact throughout the offseason.
Here's our group of top prospects! 1. RF Dode Caudill (3rd Overall) 2. SS Bill Grimm (22nd Overall) 3. CF Orlando Benitez (39th Overall) 4. CF Bobby Martinez (46th Overall) 5. C Raul Zamora (71st Overall) 6. LHP Jim Place (85th Overall) 7. 2B Bill Tannen (132nd Overall) 8. RF Cliff Coleman (141st Overall) 9. LF Bill Reinhard (144th Overall) 10. CF George Clarke (181st Overall) 11. 3B George McKee (188th Overall) 12. LF Doug Lang (324th Overall) 13. 1B Carlos Morales (337th Overall) 14. RHP Ed Wells (345th Overall) 15. 2B Marv Sandau (356th Overall) 16. RHP Humberto Fonseca (366th Overall) 17. 2B Rafael Zambrano (384th Overall) 18. 3B Bill Welch (388th Overall) 19. LF Gary Allen (405th Overall) 20. SS Sam Pratt (425th Overall) 21. RHP John Roberts (433rd Overall) 22. RHP George Spencer (436th Overall) 23. RHP Charlie Christian (462nd Overall) 24. 1B Jack Drake (485th Overall) 25. LHP Mario Saucedo (487th Overall) 26. RHP George Chism (499th Overall) Now you may realize this list looks different from the past. Noticeably, there are no last year rankings, but more obvious is the size of the list. Now this generally isn't a concern, our system is usually loaded, but for the first time maybe ever we have less then 40 ranked prospects. Usually it's more, and I cap it off at 40, but this top prospects list is not a 40-best prospect list. It's a list of ranked prospects, truncated at 40 to make my life easier. As of October 15th, 1962, we have just 26 of the top 500 prospects, though are range of 3 to 499 is probably the biggest. That's why this list looks so short, as I didn't really want to list a bunch of unranked guys and do an unnecessary amount of writeups for prospects I don't care about. I mean, even some of these top 500 guys aren't worth mentioning. Granted, if I get to 26 and feel good about it, I may add a few other prospects that aren't listed so it can be a post of five. Or we'll have the first ever "Top Prospects: 20-26" post. We'll see. Maybe this is a sign that I cover too many prospects and should just do 20 or so. But beyond a dozen or so guys, most of these guys aren't considered prospects in the sense that I normally consider them. Not really the most inspiring bunch. Despite that, our system ranks 6th, as Dode inflates the numbers and our top 6 guys are in the top 100. Only thing is, just three more in the top 250, as more then half of our prospects rank behind the 323rd spot. Yikes! |
Top Prospects: 1-5
RF Dode Caudill (3rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 12th Overall (1960) Alma Mater: Texas Presbyterian University Mustangs When I joined at the start of the year, former first rounder Dode Caudill was our top prospect, just a bit outside of the top 20. Now, the 23-year-old is ranked higher then all but two FABL prospects, and banging down the door of our starting outfield. 24 in April, he's FABL ready, but I just can't bring myself to replace Jim Barton automatically. The 26-year-old hit .317/.346/.444 (102 OPS+) with a 110 WRC+, 19 doubles, 8 triples, 11 homers, and 80 RBIs. Just two years back he was an All-Star with a 149 WRC+, but no one comes close to as much upside as Dode in our system, and aside from sac-bunting, there isn't really anything Barton can do better then Dode. Spending his entire season in Little Rock, Dode hit an elite .291/.400/.493 (132 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 5 triples, 23 homers, 88 RBIs, 101 runs, and 36 steals. He was worth an even 5 wins above replacement, maintaining an impressive 92-to-67 walk-to-strikeout ratio as he spent time in all three outfield positions. The only one I don't trust him in is center, though he can handle it if needed, but his range is more average then great. It's a shame, considering he's an absolute burner on the bases, and I'm going to keep on working at improving his defense. In a corner, its plus or better, and he's got the arm for right. Still, it's definitely weaker then McMillan's and likely weaker then Watson, so if that ends up the outfield Dode will move to left. That's a position that needs a bat to compliment it, and that's where Dode excels the most. Already a FABL quality hitter by all ratings, he's got room to improve his contact and power, but I'm really impressed with the work he did at the plate. Before this season, he never walked more then he struck out, with just a 13 game sample in La Crosse (10 to 8) the only stop he managed. This makes me believe that he has room to grow everywhere, making it impossible for me to decide whether I want to improve his bat or glove in the dev lab. Already a potential 30/30 player, do I want to give him a nice boost to make him better for 1962? Or do I look to make him a more well-rounded player who can turn into a Diamond Defense winner? With limited spots and limited time, is it worth making our future star and even brighter star? Or do we work on getting the guys further away from contributing closer? Decisions, decisions! Ehh, if they weren't hard, where would be the fun in it! And on top of that, if he wasn't a potential star, I wouldn't have to worry! Not going to trade that away for anything! SS Bill Grimm (22nd Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 10th Overall (1962) Alma Mater: Alton Redbirds Not often does a draftee have so much pressure thrust upon them, but after whiffing on rounds 3 through 20, there's a lot of pressure on recent 10th pick Bill Grimm. A potential elite shortstop, he's about as close to untouchable as it gets, as like Dode we have a second potential five tool player. A well-developed 18-year-old, he'll be 19 in November, and he's already got a pair of 3s for eye and gap power. With great speed and great base stealing ability, he's got 20/20 written all over him, and he has an advanced feel for the plate that will let him work he count and get on base. It should lead to more high quality at bats as well, and with tremendous power potential he could join Case and Watson as 30+ home run hitters. Grimm also hit the ground running, quite literally, as along with 24 steals in 50 games with the Lions, he hit .340/.498/.564 (152 OPS+) to earn a promotion. That line came with a 166 WRC+ and 2.3 WAR, as Grimm logged 10 doubles, 10 homers, 47 RBIs, 64 runs, and 58 walks. In San Jose, he dealt with a little more trouble, hitting just .245/.271/.422 (95 OPS+) in 27 games. Here he got just a single steal, but Grimm added 8 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers, 9 runs, and 10 RBIs. Getting extra base hits was a plus, even as his BB% plummeted to 3.7%. The jump from La Crosse to San Jose is huge, but Grimm showed poise when facing tough competition. He'll be back in the C-O-W next season, and if he can move his walk and strikeout rates in opposite directions, he'll have a chance to make it up to Lincoln before he's 20. A potential quick riser, OSA thinks he's just two seasons away from the majors, and if he keeps hitting we'll get him there fast. I view him as a shortstop, even if the range isn't ideal, but with his arm a transition to third will be easy. Gibson and Halliday have the middle infield on lock, so if he moves fast, we'll give him reps at the hot corner too. He made four starts there in San Jose this season, and I expect him to get more when he returns in 1963. CF Orlando Benitez (39th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 10th Overall (1962) Alma Mater: Commerce Comets Taken with the exact same pick as Bill Grimm, just one year earlier, Orlando Benitez is almost a similar type of prospect. Like Grimm, he was a highly rated high schooler at a premium position who fell a bit further then expected. On top of that, both were pretty developed hitters for their age, as evidenced by Benitez making it up to Rockford this season. In a less-outfield dense system, he might have gotten to Little Rock, as the young outfielder crushed the ball this season. He got just 49 games in San Jose before a promotion, hitting .351/.390/.597 (178 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 3 triples, 11 homers, 27 runs, 28 RBIs, and 6 steals. He kept up the good work in Rockford, and even with a slight decline at the end, he slashed a robust .304/.395/.537 (144 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 7 triples, 16 homers, 18 steals, 59 RBIs, 52 walks, and 68 runs. Impressive all-around numbers, I even put the Cuban born Benitez at third, giving him 120 innings at the hot corner. I love him in center, but with an arm as strong as his, third base is a legitimate option. The bat is what really makes him impressive, but aside from turning double plays he's a great defender, as he's got solid infield range and excellent outfield range. A freak athlete, his athleticism sets him apart from the pack, and so far it's making up for his poor work ethic. I'm looking to get a nice boost to his bat over the offseason, as the potential there is off the charts. I rather have Dode and Grimm working on their defense, while I get Benitez putting the ball in play more. It's (BABIP) his only non-3 rating at the moment, and Dixie thinks he'll hit just below .300. There's room there to grow, as he's expected to work the count and hit the ball hard. As full as our outfield is, he's got legit star potential, a he's got the added bonus of being able to move to a position I'm trying really hard to fill right now. CF Bobby Martinez (46th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 5th Overall (1962) Alma Mater: Trappe Blue Knights When Jerry McMillan got hurt in August, Bobby Martinez got a chance to showed he deserved a spot with the big boys. Making his debut on August 27th, he hit .396/.434/.443 (127 OPS+) in 113 PAs. He started a full three weeks, allowing him to play in 29 games with the aid of expanded rosters. He picked up two doubles, a triple, and four steals, capping off a combined 5 WAR 1962. The former 5th pick hit better in Chicago then Milwaukee, but a 23-year-old hitting .274/.332/.387 (99 OPS+) for four plus months is pretty impressive regardless. Now 24, he appeared in 118 games for the Blues, grabbing 17 doubles, 6 triples, 8 homers, 55 RBIs, 38 walks, 8 steals, and 70 runs. With good defense, baserunning, and speed, he's got gobs of raw talent that's just waiting to be unlocked. A flashy player, he's got a cannon in the outfield, and he's always looking to do something with his feet. At the plate, he frustrates hitters, almost impossible to get to strikeout. In FABL he had a beautiful 6.2 K%, only a tad higher then his 4.3 in 515 Century League PAs. Only thing is, he doesn't have any power, and he swings at everything, so he's just a work an at bat and try to single type. That's nice at the top of the lineup, and with some studs behind him, he could be a huge rally starter. Once he's on base, anything can happen, and it's tempting to just go with him and let Dode get another year. While not a star, he's an elite supplemental piece, allowing the heart of the order to show why they're placed there. C Raul Zamora (71st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 28th Overall (1962) Alma Mater: Miami Cadets It's not all first round picks! There's a second round pick there too! More surprising then the run of first rounders is a Top-5 without a pitcher, as I'm not used to having a system so devoid of pitchers. I won't get ahead of myself, it's obvious when the next pitcher is, but our top five rounds out with Cuban backstop Raul Zamora. Taken in 1960, the 20-year-old ranks 71st overall and fourth among catchers. An imposing 6'4'' righty, he's sort of what you picture when you think catcher, but he's got a little footspeed to him. He's no burner, but his athleticism gives me hope that we can improve his defense. At some point I want him in the dev lab, as with better defense he could be an All-Star talent. The bat's going to get better, and he's already got solid pop. His 17 homers led the team, and the young catcher hit .267/.301/.438 (109 OPS+) with 21 doubles, 47 runs, and 54 RBIs. A toolsy prospect, he does everything pretty well, just no standout tool. For a catcher, that's more of a compliment, as his undeveloped bat as-is would be acceptable with elite defense. Getting him anything more then average would be a plus, and if we get a nice role he could jump up the prospect list come Opening Day. |
Top Prospects: 6-10
Quick update before the prospects, we signed a bunch of new coaches, and now just Manager and Pitching Coach remain in La Crosse. All the options are brutal. We did lose a legendary pitching coach in AAA, one I probably should have made ours. Instead, he'll coach for the Keystones, who will certainly benefit from our loss.
LHP Jim Place (85th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 30th Overall (1962) Alma Mater: Holden Aviators The first pitcher on the list, Jim Place has been bouncing between inside and outside the top-100 since I took him after Bill Grimm in the draft. Inside when the prospect list was announced, outside as I write this now, I could care less about the ranking, as Place is one of the few legitimate pitching prospects we have. That makes sense, he's one of the few arms I brought in, but the 18-year-old lefty gets good marks in the scouting reports, considered a #3 or better by Dixie March. Place's stuff is legit, but somewhat ironically, what holds him back is the way he places his pitches. A candidate for the dev lab, this kid can't find the zone at times, walking 73 in his first 67.2 innings pitched. On the bright side, walks are a plenty in the UMVA, but even the level he allows them is on the high side. His 21.7 BB% was worst on the team, and it elevated his WHIP to 2.14. He walked one fewer batter then he struck out (74), and one more batter then he allowed to reach by a base hit (72). With stats like that, you might expect an ERA above 7, but believe it or not, his 4.39 ERA (120 ERA+) was 20% above average, and his 5.38 FIP (102 FIP-) was just two points below average. How he accomplishes that, is with a sinker/screwball mix, as he gets whiffs and grounders like no ones business. A throwback starter, he goes deep into games and keeps guys from getting big leads, erasing his mistakes if h e has a defense like ours behind it. He's a real rally killer when he's on, and that's why it's so big to get his command up. As he matures, he'll need to improve his command, as he could be a weapon in the rotation with even average command. Without it, late game relief is all he's good for, and it would be a shame for a seven pitch arsenal to be saved for short outings. 2B Bill Tannen (132nd Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 70th Overall (1958) Alma Mater: Spring Grove Millers A local kid, Bill Tannen was born and raised in Chicago, and worked his way up from 5th Round pick to top-100 prospect. Only thing is, he fell out now, but even 132 is still good enough for 7th in this system. Perhaps a little underrated, Tannen is an arm away from being a shortstop, as he's got 4 range, error, and double play ability. With a 2 rated arm, it would be tough to place him on the other side of second, but part of me wants to try him there. That could have been the plan at some point this year, but Tannen's season ended in mid-June due to torn ankle ligaments. This held him to under 200 PAs, hitting an excellent .250/.422/.451 (130 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 6 homers, 23 runs, and 25 RBIs. More impressive is the 44-to-29 walk-to-strikeout ratio, but now the issue is he's Rule-5 eligible. With no way of knowing how he would have faced against tougher competition, I'm nervous to protect him, but if we can't make any acquisitions he's one of the most likely to be added. RF Cliff Coleman (141st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 14th Round, 218th Overall (1959) Alma Mater: Kelseyville Knights A guy I can't really believe is ranked as high as he is, Cliff Coleman is considered by the prospect pipeline as among the game's best 150 prospects. I'm not quite sure I buy it, but he's definitely not your average 14th Round Pick. 22 in November, Coleman had an average season for the San Jose Cougars. Making 573 trips to the plate, the California native hit an average .276/.314/.410 (106 OPS+) with 21 doubles, 6 triples, 13 homers, 65 RBIs, 44 runs, and 13 steals. Quick enough to play center, he's a better fit in a corner, and because of his counterpart usual counter part he got right field. If he can get to it, he'll catch it, and late in games he could handle center. Working in his favor too is he's got a good eye and power, with the last thing he has to solve is contact. He doesn't put the ball in play enough, leading to low average and strike outs. With his speed, balls in play are a good thing, and with the combination of his youth and our depth, we can allow him to ascend at his own pace. LF Bill Reinhard (144th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 106th Overall (1959) Alma Mater: Childersburg Tigers An up and comer, Bill Reinhard had an excellent season. Another member of the 1959 draft class, Reinhard hit .277/.402/.455 (125 OPS+) with a 131 WRC+ in Rockford. The almost 22-year-old improved greatly over his Rockford days last year, where he hit just .221/.339/.351 (85 OPS+) in 46 games. This year he got into 124, knocking 17 doubles, 19 homers, and 4 triples. He drew 91 walks, striking out just 47 times in 535 PAs. A natural outfielder, I gave him a lot of time on the infield corners, with slightly less games there then in the outfield. A rangy outfielder, he can play a little third base, and if I could I'd try to train his infield defense. We're flush with outfielders, so he may be in situations where he plays middling third base defense to get his bat in the lineup. An advanced hitter, he's got threes across the board, and pending trades I see him starting his '63 in Little Rock. CF George Clarke (181st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 42nd Overall (1961) Alma Mater: Lexington Minutemen One of the best defenders in our system, George Clarke was the Cougars 3rd Round selection last season, and I think he's got a high chance of playing for a FABL team. A speedy hard worker, the 19-year-old didn't get any starts last year, but I gave him 59 out in center field. A project prospect, he's got a low floor, and it's no surprise he hit just .269/.365/.417 (86 OPS+) in 203 PAs. There wasn't much power, but Clarke drew 27 walks and stole 15 bases, so he did find ways to make a difference. Combined with the defense, it raises his floor, as he's an impressive fourth outfield type. He might not be ready for Class B yet, but before the draft I may try to sneak him up. Even if just temporary, all reps are good reps, and we can give him a head start learning the corner spots. |
Top Prospects: 11-15
3B George McKee (188th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 86th Overall (1954) Alma Mater: Pomona Panthers Debuting for the Cougars in 1960, he got 5 games then and 30 last year, but a bruised hand in mid-August kept him in Milwaukee for the whole season. Had he been healthy, I'd probably have brought him up for roster callups, but I figured it was best letting him play more regularly to get back into the swing of things. In total, McKee got into 122 games, where I had the natural third basemen spend most of his time in the middle infield. 25 a few days after the season ended, McKee hit a below average .261/.315/.370 (89 OPS+), but he walked (39) more then he struck out (26), consistently putting the ball in play. Add in 24 doubles, 9 homers, 52 runs, and 74 RBIs, it wasn't a bad season, and he's one of the slickest fielders we have. Only thing stopping him from replacing Halliday at short is the range, as McKee makes fewer errors, has a better arm, and may be a better double play turner. But the difference in range is large enough that Halliday has nothing to worry about. Instead, Mooney Vetter is the one who might have to worry, as Buck wants McKee to take third base over. Very similar players, they do best when they put the ball in play and both are excellent defenders. There are a few difference, Vetter can hit some homers, he had 12 this year and last with 18 in 1960, but McKee is better at turning double plays and making clean plays. Neither has a good eye and neither will be stars, but both are useful back-of-the-lineup hitters who can move baserunners and make plays in the field. Assuming no outside additions, the battle for third base will be our most interesting of the spring, though since McKee is out of options, neither is at risk of losing their 40-man spot. Even better, McKee is a lefty and Vetter a righty, allowing us to form a strict or loose platoon, and with their defensive acumen both options leave us plenty of room for constructing the rest of the roster. LF Doug Lang (324th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 26th Overall (1961) Alma Mater: Ohio Poly Cardinals The big gap here is between 11 and 12, as Doug Lang is almost further away from McKee (-136) then Dode Caudill is from McKee (+185). Fittingly, Lang isn't really worthy of being a non-expansion team's 11th best prospect, and part of me thinks the only reason he's rated so highly is his draft pedigree. For some reason the AI GM took him in the 2nd Round last season, as he was an older corner outfield prospect with limited upside. A bat only prospect, Lang is the reason Cliff Coleman was in right, as Lang's range is extremely limited. His arm is okay and he'll make some plays, but they have to be hit very close for him. It's not like he's a tortoise, he's fast and (generally) a good base runner, but he can't read the ball off the bat and has a slow first step. Even worse, the then 23-year-old hit an average .265/.287/.417 (99 OPS+) in 494 trips to the plate, and if you average his OPS+ and WRC+ (101) you get an even 100. The counting stats were fine -- can't complain about 22 doubles, 10 triples, 10 homers, 44 RBIs, and 42 runs -- but can you really be happy about that either? Oh yeah. The Generally. 4-for-15 on stolen base attempts. 4s across the board in speed, ability, and baserunning but sure he'll have the most fails and the worst percentage on the entire team. On top of all that, he's hitting like the 20-year-ols on the team, and our 1st Rounder Bill Grimm is already a better hitter. With no baserunning, defense, or walks, he couldn't make his average line work for him. He was below replacement level this year (-0.2) and last in La Crosse (-0.5), and the only thing working in his favor is his work ethic. We're still deep in the outfield, but there's so much dead weight that even an outstanding draft class could leave a line up spot for Lang at his worst. At his best, he hits his way up to Rockford, and depending on how many chances I get to run a defense program, he's a fine candidate. We got 1-2 weeks before Dode and McMillan finish their programs, but right now the plan is Grimm and Raul Zamora for round two. 1B Carlos Morales (337th Overall) Acquired: Via Trade with Dynamos (1957) Drafted: 2nd Round, 32nd Overall (1956) Alma Mater: Oakland Wildcats A former 2nd Round selection of the Detroit Dynamos way back in 1956, he spend a season and a half in their organization before being acquired by trade in December of 1957. At the time, "El Gato" was probably the headliner, as we sent a pair of pitchers to Detroit for a three prospect package. One was Doug Stearns, cut four months later and now retired, one was Morales, a now 24-year-old corner infielder who pretty much is stuck at first base, and an unheralded 11th Round pick of the Sailors who was released a few days later and spent the next three plus seasons in a swingman role. Fast forward almost exactly five years, and the trade looks like an absolute steal for us. Not because of Morales, he's no more then an afterthought, but because that unheralded pitcher is actually Roy Ellis, arguably our best starting pitcher and Buck Cuppett's initial choice for Opening Day starter. He's been a reliable starter for us in each of the last two seasons, and in four years he's 23-23 with a 3.85 ERA (117 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP, and 342 strikeouts in 104 FABL appearances (67 starts). Ellis' emergence has taken a ton of pressure off Morales, who at 24 seems to have stalled out. This year he was stuck in Rockford after reaching Little Rock in '60 and '61, as the righty hit just .260/.357/.377 (93 OPS+), totaling just shy of a win above replacement (0.7). Working in his favor is his discipline, he drew 71 walks at a 13.1% clip, but his strikeout numbers (78, 14.4) were both higher. 20 doubles was nice too, he's got some gap power, but as a first basemen he needs homers and he just doesn't provide those. Likely to be unpicked again in the Rule-5 draft, I might try to force him up to Little Rock, but either way he'll get some starts, and he's still got a chance to force a callup to Chicago if he sticks around long enough. RHP Ed Wells (345th Overall) Acquired: Via Minor League Signing (1958) Drafted: 13th Round, 199th Overall (1957) Alma Mater: Marietta Panthers It's extremely indicative of our system that our 2nd best pitching prospect is a reliever ranked 345th in all of baseball, and it just brings a tear to my eye how far the Cougars pitching lab has fallen in the short time I was away. Even better, Wells' isn't just a reliever, but a 13th Round one that was cut right after being drafted, as the Chiefs had no idea the type of stuff he'd develop. A five pitch pitcher, if he had any sort of stamina he'd be a starter, but instead he's a hard throwing righty who's allergic to groundballs. An intimidating 6'6'' power pitcher, he can overwhelm hitters with his elite fastball, and most of the time he places it well. Wells maintained an impressive 54-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio, walking just 2.3% of hitters he faced in 63.2 San Jose innings. It came with 14 saves, a 2.26 ERA (143 ERA+), 1.95 FIP (60 FIP-), and 1.15 WHIP, total dominance for the Cougar stopper. Unfortunately, Class-A hitters weren't phased by his fastball, as his 4.54 ERA (95 ERA+) and 1.35 WHIP weren't as special. Despite that, I imagine Wells will be up in Lincoln, assuming no one takes a flyer on the stuff. I don't want to give him a 40 spot, at least not yet, but if we can get him back on track next year, ideally finishing in Little Rock, he'll have a chance to make a long awaited FABL debut. 2B Marv Sandau (356th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 26th Overall (1959) Alma Mater: Springtown Porcupines Taken with the exact same pick as Doug Lang, just two years earlier, Marv Sandau was our 2nd Round pick in 1959. He's out of high school, so at 22 he's younger, and if he could at least throw the ball harder then a 25-year-old scrub with a twice torn rotator cuff, he could be a somewhat functional prospect. Instead, he probably has the worst arm in our organization, and despite being a slick double play turner, it'll make it hard for him to stick at second. A 1-2-3-4 fielder, his arm, range, error, and DP ability incline, and combine for a noodle-armed second basemen with a little speed, a nice eye, and a knack for hitting singles. Split between Rockford and Little Rock this year, he got into 126 games. He hit well in Rockford, slashing .291/.439/.409 (124 OPS+), but in a bit less then twice the time in Little Rock it slumped to .220/.337/.329 (74 OPS+). Combined, he grabbed 11 doubles, 5 triples, 7 homers, 49 RBIs, 57 runs, 78 walks, and 8 steals. The walks are the best part, but he's a light hitter who prefers singles, and without Buddy Byrd like defense, he'll be stuck in the minors or as a gadget type player. |
Top Prospects: 16-20
Before diving into the next five prospects, I managed to upgrade the catching position in the form of the 1954 Kellogg Winner at the cost of a $47,000 non-guaranteed contract. A two-time All-Star, I added veteran catcher Dutch Miller, who was released by the Pioneers when the offseason stared. A nine year vet, 1962 was his first in St. Louis, and he hit just .233/.364/.374 (88 OPS+) in limited time. That's now two rough seasons for Miller, who started his career with seven consecutive seasons with an above average OPS+ and WRC+. His Kellogg winning season in 1954 will likely end up the best season of his career, as he hit .289/.381/.527 (148 OPS+) with 26 homers, 26 doubles, and 113 RBIs. The former Kings 8th Round selection has yet to see a WRC+ half as good as the 150 he had that season, and his .262/.357/.419 (113 OPS+) career line is more what you'd expect from a quality catcher.
What drew me to our new catcher is his plate discipline, as we don't have many guys who can work the count Miller's never had a single digit BB%, as even in his small sample this year he walked in 15.7% of his plate appearances. He doesn't usually hit for a high average, but when he puts the ball in play he tends to damage. I think the eye is part of it, but he's a doubles machine and could potentially hit 20 homers in our park. On top of all that, he's a really solid defensive catcher, and will seriously challenge Chappy Sanders (.247, 14, 66) for the starting job in the spring. Buck Cuppett not only wants him to start, but has him batting behind Case and Gibson in the lineup. If we can get an average Miller, our lineup got a whole lot longer, and I can let Chappy pick up the finer aspects of the game in Milwaukee next season. During the fast forward, Miller was a player I really liked, and to get him now is a huge plus. By doing the little thing right, he can impact the game when he's not hitting, and with a tight knit crew and strong leadership, we can manage his selfishness. RHP Humberto Fonseca (366th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 92nd Overall (1960) Alma Mater: St. Benedict Bengals Humberto Fonseca may not have been born in Chicago, but he sure feels like a hometown kid, as he pitched a season at St. Benedict, a school I've actually played at. In Fonseca's case, it didn't go great, as he was just 7-5 with a 2.16 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 167 strikeouts. It was enough to get him selected by the Cougars in the 6th, and his 5-start debut in La Crosse went well. 3-0 with a 2.17 ERA (280 ERA+) and 31 strikeouts, it's the only time he's had above average play, as he was challenged in San Jose and is still a work in progress. 21 in April, he spent all of this season in San Jose, an even 11-11 with a 3.86 ERA (84 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, and 144 strikeouts. His 3.42 FIP (105 FIP-) was just five percent below average, and he gave his team a solid 195.2 innings pitched. With a reasonably high floor, he's a rubber arm type, but he allows way too much hard contact. Without an out pitch, quality hitters can work long at bats against him, and he'll be back in San Jose for year four. 2B Rafael Zambrano (384th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 44th Overall (1960) Alma Mater: Perth Amboy Jaguars Another member of Dode Caudill's 1960 draft class, Rafael Zambrano has not turned out quite so well. Another Cuban native, Zambrano played his high school ball in New Jersey, where he hit .450 with 14 doubles, 19 steals, and 48 RBIs. A decent defensive middle infielder, Zambrano doesn't have any power, but he's a solid second basemen who's height makes him outstanding at first. A solid athlete, he has an above average contact tool, and that's the only thing that's keeping him around. He's quick and puts the ball in play, and could hit around .300 if things break right. This season was tough, but at 20 a .271/.298/.362 (89 OPS+) line is respectable. The 7 homers were a shock, he doesn't have any power, but 20 doubles, 4 triples, and 50 runs are nice. One of our hardest workers, I have some faith that the switch hitter can develop into a capable utility bat. He'll keep getting regular at bats for now, and if there's room towards the end of the offseason I may send him to improve his defense. 3B Bill Welch (388th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 11th Round, 168th Overall (1956) Alma Mater: Kutztown Golden Bears A perfect example of a survivor, Bill Welch has been in the organization since 1956, and after seven seasons he's still going strong. A former 11th Round Pick, a strained PCL ended his season early, and he missed a month and a half earlier in the season with a shoulder issue. This limited him to 76 games, 59 of which were in Little Rock. The 24-year-old has played parts of three seasons there, this year hitting .252/.375/.363 (93 OPS+) with 9 doubles, a triple, 4 homers,10 steals, 17 RBIs, and 33 runs. His 102 WRC+ in 251 PAs was a bit above average, and his 209 in Rockford boosts the combined number handsomely. An excellent defender, he gives plus defense at third and all three outfield spots, and even though he hasn't played any of the other three infield spots, I'd trust him there too. His glove, arm, and speed are what's kept him around, and the bats starting to show some life to it. He doesn't have much pop and he still strikes out too much, but at least in terms of a utility player, he has the eye and hit tool to make it. I think we'll run back Little Rock one more time, but I'd love to see him in Milwaukee at some point. Eventually he'll be in line for an injury call up, and if he keeps up the work he'll earn a long awaited FABL debut. LF Gary Allen (405th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 60th Overall (1960) Alma Mater: Bossier College Bulldogs It pains me to call Gary Allen a prospect, as despite turning 23 this June he can't make contact and during the season he had a red arrow if I tried to promote him to San Jose. Even better, he's as converted pitcher who never hit in college and probably would be stuck in La Crosse regardless if he stuck with pitching. I guess the combination of quality outfield defense and an excellent splitter is what got him taken in the 4th, but like OSA and Dixie I just don't see a way he cracks a big league roster. Now that doesn't mean I'm going to go out and cut him, but next year is make or break for him. To his benefit, this was his first season in the outfield, but after ERAs above 12 in each of his first two seasons it's clear he doesn't belong on the mound. A .286/.407/.503 (116 OPS+) line is nice, even if he was one of the few regulars hitting below .300. He drew 35 walks and clubbed 20 extra base hits, in what I hope is his last season here. I'm going to make room for him in San Jose to start the season, but if he can't get it done there's a few other guys waiting I could push in front of him. SS Sam Pratt (425th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 58th Overall (1961) Alma Mater: Cherokee Braves A guy I'm quite fond of, Sam Pratt was the Cougars 4th Round pick last year, and is a hard working defensive talent at short. Out of necessity, the 19-year-old had to spend a few months in Rockford, but when given regular time in San Jose he looked good. The Sioux Falls native hit .290/.326/.360 (98 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, 15 RBIs, 12 walks, and 8 steals. Before the Bill Grimm (.245, 2, 10, 1) promotion, he was the everyday shortstop, producing a 2.1 zone rating and 1.073 efficiency in 262.2 innings. After that he was Grimm's double play partner, and he's already mastered second base. Along with middle infield, he can play pretty much anywhere on the field, and play it well. Aside from Tom Halliday and some of the defensive specialists, he plays the best shortstop in the system, and if we didn't have tremendous outfield depth I'd be running him out in center too. He's great in the field, great on the base path, and hopefully great at the putting the ball in play. He doesn't strikeout too much, and with his speed balls in play are gold. He can make things happen and spark a rally, and if a few things break his way he can end up a solid leadoff man or one of the most effective eight hitters. |
As a long-time reader of your dynasty and the Jiggs McGee "All Things Figment" thread, I had a point to ponder, not about your team, necessarily but the the Figment universe. Since I see some rad school names, like the Perth Amboy Jaguars, how many colleges/schools are a part of the Figment universe for the pool of players? Did someone go into the universe files and edit each college?
Of course, I am rooting for your prospects, but I just favor the flavor of some of the names more than others. Or my previous biases influence who I root for, like rooting for Donnie(y?) Jones in your universe. Thus, names like Bill Welch, Sam Pratt, Doug Lang, Marv Sandau, Dode Caudill, and Bill Grimm all have names that conjure images in my head. Sam Pratt as a smooth flowing, fast running SS. He's like a Scurrying Sam Pratt. His feet are like a "prattling" mouth, moving a mile a minute. Now you know a name I just added to my name file: Scurrying Sam Pratt. :D |
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The colleges were completely edited to be custom schools. There are 505 of them in our OOTP schools file and all are fictional but correspond for the most part to real schools - so Notre Dame is St. Blane, UCLA is City College of Los Angeles etc. 112 I believe are included in our college football league as D1 schools and closer to 200 in our basketball league. We also do a College World Championship Series for our D1 baseball schools but a lot of liberties are taken with it and it uses a separate league file. Finally there are about 200 junior colleges and I believe, but can't remember exactly, that the commissioner edited the names of most or all of them. So short answer - Schools file is edited with colleges all being fictional and most high schools being real. |
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And yeah, TigerFan covered it but yeah our commish did a lot of work to give us some era-specific flavor and some unique schools. Really helps with the immersion |
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Outside of my Fallout league, I have thought about making an entire world of fictional colleges. Alas, I only have the time to manage one universe these days. I will have to explore you guys' college system more! :D |
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Rule-5 Draft!
One of the most active Rule-5 Drafts I can remember, it ended up lasting four rounds, though we did not make four selections. Surprisingly, three of our guys were poached, all three pitchers, though one made little sense. Perhaps the Foresters saw Czyzewski and thought it was Czerwinski, as Marty Czyzewski was the first of the three pitchers selected. The easiest loss, the 33-year-old was my former 7th Round pick, and he had a decent debut season in 1956. In three starts and two relief outings, he was 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA (96 ERA+), 0.94 WHIP, 11 strikeouts, and 3 walks through 23.1 innings. He got three more relief outings the next season, but the then 27-year-old allowed 15 hits, 9 runs, and 3 walks with 6 strikeouts in 7.2 innings pitched. This season, he was split between Milwaukee and Mobile, with vastly different numbers between them. His ERA was near 2 runs higher in Milwaukee, his WHIP 45 points, and he went from more strikeouts (74) then walks (47) to more walks (18) then strikeouts (14). I guess he's useful depth, but I don't envision a scenario where he makes the opening day roster.
The same is for Mario Saucedo and Bobby McGough, but both are young and joining Fed teams that may not be competing. The 25-year-old Saucedo goes to the Minutemen, where the young lefty could earn a spot on the staff, but he really struggled in Milwaukee this season. Another 7th Rounder, he was 6-9 with a 4.61 ERA (83 ERA+), 1.46 WHIP, and 90 strikeouts. A true innings eater, he's a hard thrower with a nice fastball/change mix, but the control is rough and he allows too many homers. McGough, a 24-year-old Chicagoan, will head to the other local team, moving to the Chiefs. A 3rd Rounder in 1957, I kind of regret leaving him unprotected, but considering he lasted until the 4th and final round I almost got away with it. Another hard thrower, he has excellent stuff, and out of the pen it's really good. If he had better stamina, he'd be protected in an instant, but I don't think he'll be able to start in FABL. The fastball/slider mix is nice, but if he was added we'd have a full 40, and with 23 homers in 26 AAA starts, I just don't see him carving our a career for us in the rotation. We added two players, including our new 10th ranked prospect Pete Meany. Somewhat deceptively named, he's not a bad guy, but he's not very smart either, except when it comes to giving at bats. Ranked 154th in the league, he's got a great eye and rarely strikes out, and he really excelled in AA. The now 23-year-old hit .274/.394/.352 (110 OPS+), and with a lot more walks (82) then strike outs (46), he was able to produce an excellent 121 WRC+. He won't hit many homers, just 2 in 492 PAs, but he had 8 doubles and 9 triples, able to find the gaps when he makes better contact on a pitch. On top of all that, he can play everywhere but pitcher, as even though I don't really want him at catcher or center, he could fill in if needed. His only non-3 fielding rating is his 4-rated double play turn, which is part of the reason he spends most of his time at second. For us, he's insurance for Jack "Three-Time Setback" Gibson, who is still 2 to 3 weeks away from being healthy, with the built in bonus of being a super utility guy. A former 4th Rounder of the Eagles, he was one of the better prospects available, and Dixie thinks he can be an average big leaguer. Our second addition is an underrated fellow, as for some reason 23-year-old Ray Dotson is an unranked prospect. Taken in the 5th Round of the 1957 draft, the former Dynamo almost has a Chappy Sanders defensive profile, just a slightly worse catcher and slightly better outfielder. The range is great, even if for some reason the CF rating is a 2 (I think Dixie is wrong with his very low report), and it's not going to be hard to hang on to a fourth outfielder who can catch assuming no outside additions. The bat is really interesting too, as his contact oriented approach brings me some excitement. OSA isn't as fond, and they may be right, but Dixie has him with 4 contact, 5 avoid K, and 4 gap power, and those high ratings paired with low eye and power can give you a nice little slap or spray hitter. He's not fast enough to take full advantage of his profile, but he's a great base runner, and if you need someone to push a runner up a base he's your guy. The only issue is he was awful this year in AAA, hitting just .202/.250/.334 (62 OPS+). 18 doubles and 13 homers was a surprise, as for some reason then balls weren't falling. While not a high upside guy, he's a very useful organizational piece, and I think there's a shot we hang on to both new members of our system. |
Top Prospects: 21-25
RHP John Roberts (433rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 58th Overall (1959) Alma Mater: Findlay Trojans This part of our list has the pitchers, as four of the five guys here call the mound home. If he had better stuff, John Roberts could be a decent back-end starter. Instead, he's got a middling four pitch mix, led by a sinker that sits in the 89-91 range. It generates a lot of his groundouts, but the whiffs are not there. In 158.1 innings, he had just 77 strikeouts, going 8-9 with a 3.07 ERA (106 ERA+) and 1.33 WHIP. On the plus side, he does a great job keeping the ball in the park, which could be useful as an innings eater out of the pen. His control is decent, and the one thing that gives him a chance to hang around long enough to improve the stuff. A thin system works in his favor, as the former 4th Rounder is still one of our more exciting pitchers. He's got the good base of talents, but without the polish, filler is what he's best suited for. RHP George Spencer (436th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 74th Overall (1961) Alma Mater: West Muskingum Tornadoes Our 5th Round selection last season, 19-year-old George Spencer is a useful arm despite some of the struggles he had this year. Working in La Crosse, he was 4-3 in 12 appearances (9 starts), maintaining a 6.96 ERA (76 ERA+) and 2.12 WHIP with a lot more walks (52) then strikeouts (38). An extremely raw prospect, Spencer has excellent stuff, with a plus-plus curve and change. The hard stuff gets hit hard, as his fastball and sinker end up over the seats when they shouldn't, and he leaves a lot of pitches over the plate. He misses the zone a lot too, but with elite stamina and a burly 6'2'' frame, he can throw well over 100 pitches a night. The stuff is the key to success, and if walks weren't a thing he'd get FABL guys to strikeout. Right now I see him as a swingman or even a super stopper, but without any increase of control, he's not going to be a reliable starter. A 19.2 BB% isn't manageable, not much in the double digits is, but with the right efforts he can be a useful FABL pitcher. Which is more then I can say for the most of these guys! RHP Charlie Christian (462nd Overall) Acquired: Via Minor League Signing (1958) Drafted: 8th Round, 124th Overall (1957) Alma Mater: Bisbee Pumas A guy who bounced a round a ton before he got to Chicago, Charlie Christian was involved in the first ever trade proposal I made, as he was one of our only ranked pitching prospects and Bob Allen really wasn't that good of a pitcher. The Imperials weren't interested in Christian, eventually settling on Delos Smith, as he was preferred to Christian and Bob Decker. It's probably better for us we got to keep Christian, as he has a decent fastball/curve mix with solid overall stuff. A hard thrower, he sits in the mid-to-high 90s, which makes me really want his splitter to develop into a third plus pitch. The command and movement need their work, but he's just 23 and has plenty of time to refine his approach. He struggled this season in his 23 starts in Rockford, but the 6 in Rockford were actually great. He was 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA (179 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, and 30 strikeouts. He should be back there to start next season, and with a little luck he could earn a 40-man spot in the offseason. 1B Jack Drake (485th Overall) Acquired: Via Trade with St. Louis (1958) Drafted: 3rd Round, 36th Overall (1956) Alma Mater: Northbridge Islanders If Christian earns a 40-man spot it could be at the expense of Jack Drake, who I don't think has much more of a shelf life. The 24-year-old has made two appearances in each of the past two seasons, and come September he'll have a third chance for his first FABL hit. 0-for-5 so far, he's got one option left, and I fully expect that to be used this season. Acquired in a trade with the Pioneers (no, not for Jerry Smith), Drake's bat just hasn't developed, as despite his doubles power he just isn't effective. He strikes out too much and doesn't put the ball in play enough, limiting his overall value. If he had some slug, it could make up for that, but Drake has Tom Halliday power. At least he's fast, but the failed third basemen isn't good enough of a defender to make it worth it. RHP George Chism (499th Overall) Acquired: Via Trade with St. Louis (1956) Drafted: 4th Round, 49th Overall (1954) Alma Mater: Kingston Tigers Since we lost Mario Saucedo in the Rule-5 Draft, I can just finish here with George Chism, who was actually part of the ill-fated Jerry Smith trade. If that was never made, we probably win the Conti with Smith, and we'd have a chance to beat the Dynamos in the World Championship series. Instead, we have Chism and Milt Payne, and I guess Chief Brady, who the AI cut and I brought back without realizing it. As absurd as it is, a Whitney winner and 10-Time All-Star when he was 28 brought back what has only amounted to 20 PAs as a backup catcher of Milt Payne. Joe Barwick retired and Luke Bush is sitting in free agency, and it's truly appalling we traded our best player since John Dibblee for less then peanuts. Less then table scraps. Just a gift of the guy who hit .278/.373/.519 (149 OPS+) with 168 homers, 509 RBIs, and 30.8 WAR in 780 games. The guy I expected to lead us for his entire career, he was tossed away in his prime, and few players have had a good season as he did in 1959. Ah sorry, enough about Smith... Chism is the one we employ, and the 26-year-old could be a Cougar. Maybe? Like he isn't a terrible pitcher and he keeps the ball on the ground, so he could give some innings out of the pen. He's a starter now, but he doesn't have much stamina. Most of his time with Little Rock came out of the rotation, starting 21 of 27 games, and the 3.99 ERA (110 ERA+) and 3.82 FIP (87 FIP-) were pretty nice. He held a 1.30 WHIP in 155.2 innings pitched, walking 49 with 104 strikeouts. A bit of a know it all, his teammates don't love him, but he's not doing anything wrong, and he does help bestow his knowledge on those around him. Wherever he ends up, I'll let the manager do what he wants with him, and he's got a chance to earn a cup of coffee like Phil Means did by sticking around and pitching well. |
Jack Gibson is Healthy!
That's it. That's the whole post. This guy turned out to be everything he was supposed to be, and in 1961 he was on pace to shatter the team home run record.
Instead, he had a season ending injury followed by three setbacks, missing nearly 20 months of playing time. Spring Training is right around the corner, and for the first time since returning to the Cougars, we have use of our best player! Now if only he can stay healthy... I don't need Billy Hunter 2.0. I need the guy who ranks 5th among Cougars in home runs before his 2,000 PAs. He's 13 away from third, and with a monster year he can be in front of everyone except Leo Mitchell. Had he never got hurt, he'd be second already, and we're set to score a whole lot more runs with him getting meaningful at bats. And I guess that wasn't the whole post. Can't help that I got sidetracked and happy that my star I drafted is finally healthy! |
Spring Training!
Whaddya know, whaddya say?
It's time for Cougar baseball! It's a lot shorter then most years, as we'll have just three weeks to sort through the 60 players in camp to find the 25-man combo that will lead us to our way overdo championship. Thankfully, most of the roster is set, but there are some really important battles that will need to be speed-run. Before getting into that, however, let's check the group and the locks: RHP Bob Allen RHP Allen Brown RHP Bob Burdick RHP Dick Champ* LHP Doc Cook RHP Dick Crecelius RHP Roy Ellis* RHP Skinny Green LHP Henry Henderson RHP John Thomas Johnson LHP Andy Logue RHP Ivy Loyd RHP Phil Means RHP John Mitchell RHP Jimmy Morris RHP Ollie Norris RHP George Reynolds RHP Jake Roberts RHP Ken Stone RHP Earle Turner RHP Hank Walker RHP Arch Wilson* LHP Pug White* C Johnny Hook C Dutch Miller C Milt Payne C Bill Plunkett C Chappy Sanders 1B Monty Brown 1B Gene Case* 1B Jack Drake 1B Ed Duncan 1B John Morrison 2B Buddy Byrd 2B Jack Gibson* 2B Elmer Grace 2B Pete Meany 3B William Buttry 3B Bob Decker 3B Armando Franco 3B Moe Holt 3B Luis Jewell 3B George McKee 3B Ernie Tabron 3B Mooney Vetter SS Tom Halliday* LF Jim Barton LF Byron Burnett LF Dode Caudill LF Ray Dotson CF Herm Kocher CF Bobby Martinez CF Jerry McMillan* CF Frank Reece CF Billy Thompson RF Don Berry RF Larry Curtis RF Chet Hammond RF Henry Watson* RF Wayne Wilson The most important battle will be for one of our outfield spots, but the bigger fight is in the rotation, leading to a ton of spots up for grabs. Just Dick Champ and Roy Ellis are guaranteed, with Ellis likely to pitch Opening Day, as we have at least seven FABL worthy SPs. Of those seven, Buck has John Mitchell in the pen, with Henderson and Stone as the 5 and 6. That's how we'll run it at first, but I'm really not sure that's how it will end. Mitchell's stuff isn't great, but he's a pretty solid pitcher. Though like Stone and Henderson, their options work against them. I tried moving Logue and Walker in the offseason, but I couldn't find a partner. That likely leaves them slotted for the 3 and 4 spots, with one of the young trio filling out the back. I'd give the slight edge to Stone, but I can really seeing it go so many ways. Including an injury that makes things "easier" for us. Our other big battle is the one between Dode Caudill and Jim Barton, thought Bobby Martinez can push his way in to. Barton may be destined for the bench, as I'd love for the 3rd ranked Caudill to crack our Opening Day roster. It would involve him skipping AAA, but Buck picked him over Barton for left, and he's got the green arrow up to Chicago. Add in more 3s for batting then Barton, and you'd think he's the better hitter. Barton, and to a far lesser extent, Martinez, have had success in FABL, and Dode has plenty of growing ahead of him, so it might be best taking it easy. Still, his lefty bat would be a nice boost, something Martinez offers too, and Dode's athleticism just scream star. It's not a bad problem to have, three FABL quality OFs to pick from, but I have no idea how this is going to go. Of course, the pen and bench have a ton of work, as always, though a lot is determined on who earns the rotation and lineup spots. Along with left, catcher and third are up for grabs. I could go Vetter or McKee at the hot corner, while Dutch Miller will look to push Chappy Sanders back to the minors. There's a lot to work through in the coming days, but boy is it nice to have baseball back! Sim should come in an hour or so! And the Cougars will be back! Edit: Minutes! It ended up being minutes! Just don't look at the record... |
Spring Training: Week 1
Weekly Record: 2-5
Overall Record: 2-5 (9th, 4 GB) It Could Be Worse?: Suffice to say, our first week of the spring was a rough one, as only the Foresters and Suns won fewer games then us. Even better, our first win was against said Foresters, and the other was the expansion Wranglers. We lost to the Imps, a brutal loss for the pen and former New York (Stars) draftee Ollie Norris (2.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB), and we had three games with two or fewer runs. Not nearly good enough, some of our better players were terrible, as Jerry McMillan (1-11, 3B, 2 R, 2 BB), Tom Halliday (1-13, RBI, BB), and #3 prospect Dode Caudill (2-12, HR, BB, SB) had little success. They weren't alone, with slow starts from Billy Thompson (2-13, R, BB), Buddy Byrd (2-11, RBI, R, SB), Milt Payne (2-11), and Dutch Miller (1-9, 2B, RBI, R). The spring is a short one, and with so many players competing for a roster spot every PA counts. Not much will change personnel wise in week two, but if these guys can't get it going they may run out of time to prove their worth. Jack Gibson is Back: There were 650 days between Jack Gibson's 1,826th FABL plate appearance and his spring debut, but if you didn't know any better you'd think he was fresh off an All-Star season. The almost 28-year-old second basemen was a perfect 2-for-2, double with both a run scored and driven in. He tripled the next day, and then two days later Gibson clubbed a first inning homer. Back to his old habits, he finished his week 6-for-12, equating to a 350 WRC+ and .500/.538/1.000 batting line. Clearly our best performer, there were only a few other players in the league with weeks like him. I truly believe we could have won the pennant last season had our star been healthy, and I'm extremely excited for a full season of him. It is going to be tough to pick a rotation: That could be the post. It really is. We have seven guys who deserve to start, and only two of them are obvious picks. The non-obvious ones are doing their best, with both Henry Henderson (W, 3 IP, 3 H, BB, 3 K) and Ken Stone (4 IP, 2 H, 2 K) throwing shutout performances. Andy Logue (3.1 IP, 2 H, BB) joined them, and even Bob Allen (3 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K) pitched well out of the pen. Part of me really wants to do a six man rotation, with Stone and Henderson splitting starts, but it feels awful banishing John Mitchell to Milwaukee just because he's the odd man out. If Henderson and Stone both struggled, it would be easy to make Mitchell the five and call it a day, but they're making things interesting by doing exactly what they need to. Small samples are dangerous, and a max three starts may make things difficult to get an accurate gauge on their readiness. |
Spring Training: Week 2
Weekly Record: 3-3
Overall Record: 5-8 (7th, 6 GB) Same Old Pug: We aren't winning many games, but when Pug goes in, we don't usually lose. Aside from an error costing us a game last week, Pug has been perfect, yet to allow an earned run in 7.1 innings. It's come with 7 hits, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts, picking up a win and hold so far. One of our most valuable players last season, Pug's stuff supposedly dropped a tad, but he's still among the top pitchers in the game. He's coming off a 139.1 inning season, going 12-8 with 18 saves, 3.10 ERA (145 ERA+), 3.50 FIP (77 FIP-), and 1.20 WHIP. He struck out 110 with just 46 walks, and he almost qualified for an ERA title. A true workhorse in the pen, he'll win a lot of games this season, and if I can get the pitcher I really want, they could be a pairing like none other. Bobby Martinez pushing for a starting role?: One of our top performers of the week, Bobby Martinez is looking to change the Barton/Martinez answer to himself. 5-for-12, he added a double, walk, and three runs, now hitting .346/.370/.385 for the spring. This is a bit lower then the .396/.434/.443 (133 OPS+) he hit in 113 PAs last season, and perhaps I should consider going with him instead of Dode. Dode did do better this week, 2-for-8 with an RBI and two walks, but it came after a five strikeout week. Both these guys offer a left handed bat, but Martinez would give us three center fielders to carry the weight in the outfield. He could also hit at the top of the order, as he's the long at-bat, put the ball in play type that can make things happen. Whether it's a liner in the gap or a beat out infield single, he's great at getting on, and we don't have many bats like him. As great as Dode is going to be, he's not quite there yet, and AAA could be a more logical spot to start him. Rule-5 Check-In: Three weeks may make it harder to give Rule-5 picks a real look this season, but so far Pete Meany has made the most of his time. The 23-year-old utility man has gone 8-for-18 with 2 doubles, 2 walks, 3 RBIs, and 5 runs. This equates to a .444/.476/.556 triple slash and a 204 WRC+, among the best of our players in camp. A gimmicky player, he can do anything but pitch, and he's likely to have one of the lowest whiff percentage. A true singles hitter, he has 2 gap and 1 power, but 4s for contact, avoid ks, and eye. Excluding his time in the COW, he's walked more then he's struck out at each stop, and if you forgot that's were San Jose plays and everyone strikes out and no-one walks. Already a favorite for a roster spot, he seems to have locked himself in, and I'm curious to see how Buck Cuppett uses him. Ray Dotson may have only gotten 6 PAs so far, but he's been Hank Williams-esque, clubbing a double and homer with three singles. Only making one out, he has a 614 WRC+ and 2.333 OPS, and as crazy as it sounds it may not be enough. There's a lot of good outfielders and his ratings don't stand out, but he's got the range for center, and can take advantage of his small sample stardom. |
Spring Training: Week 3
Weekly Record: 2-3
Overall Record: 7-11 (8th, 5 GB) Camp Shrinks to 35: The spring was over in a blink, and as so, I really have no idea what I'm doing. The first step was sending away anyone who didn't belong, and it got us from 60 down to 35. I wish it was another ten, but instead, we have a lot of things to consider, making the one-day sim to Opening Day so convenient, because now I have all weekend to get ready for our opener hosting the Wranglers. As much as is uncertain, there's a lot that is certain, and that's easy to break down. Roy Ellis will start Opening Day. Gene Case, Jack Gibson, and Tom Holliday will be at first, second, and third. Jerry McMillian will be in center and Henry Watson will be at one of his sides. Oh yeah and Pug White and Arch Wilson are going to anchor our pen while Dick Champ preps to pitch in the opener. Left to decide? Who plays third, who catches, and who takes the third outfield spot. Plus the bench and the pen can be arranged in almost any way possible, though you can expect Pete Meany and I guess Jim Barton on the bench. Barton won't be in left, that'll be Watson or Dode Caudill, as our top prospect might not have done enough to get the job over Bobby Martinez. Dode wasn't bad, but .241/.312/.379 looks more like ready to crush AAA then ready to bat ahead of Watson, Case, and Gibson. I did like the double and homer, and after his five strikeouts he drew three walks and kept the ball in play. The speedsters grabbed a pair of steals, and he'd look exactly as you expect in left. The only problem is Martinez is a unique hitter with center field defense and previous FABL success. Sure, just 113 PAs, but .396/.434/.443 (133 OPS+) is outstanding, and the now 24-year-old struck out in just 6.2% of his PAs. Add the 4 steals, 24 runs, and 12 RBIs, and he more then admirably replaced Jerry McMillan when he was dealing with injury. Stone and Henderson Make Serious Pitch for Rotation: Can't forget the rotation either, as Ken Stone and Henry Henderson decided to be our two best starters in the abbreviated spring. Stone allowed a run in just one of his starts, allowing just 7 hits, 2 walks, and a single earned run in 11 innings pitched. Best part is he struck out 8, in control of most innings. A hard thrower, Dixie has him as our highest potential pitcher, and if he could just understand that Earle Turner is a reliever, not a starter, Stone would be the top current starter too. I've more or less convinced myself he's going to be in the rotation, but that just makes the rest of the rotation construction that much tougher. As good as he is, there are guys with more FABL starts then him deserving of starts. That includes Henderson too, who like Stone had two starts with no earned runs. Where he impressed most was the K/BB, as he struck out 10 in 10, finishing with 10 hits, 2 runs, and a walk. Another pitcher with great stuff, the thing he struggles with is the home run, and that's the only mistake he made this spring. Former Panther Charlie Barrell took him deep in the 3rd, and in our park I can see that happening many times. Still, the success of these two has me seriously considering a six man rotation, which might help with the combination of more games and more double headers. Too much pitching is never a bad thing, and it covers us for poor performance or injury early on. Change in the air?: There's a lot of phones being worked in the short spring, as teams have more uncertainty then usual with how their rosters will end up. This could lead to a lot of moves on the margin, as teams look for the right piece to their puzzle. There's grumblings of a bigger move, as after an offseason filled with tension, it feels like it's all about to burst. |
Trade News!
I had an active couple of days right after the spring ended, working to put together a pair of trades. The first one was processed on the one-day sim, so we'll have active of what I hope is our long-term #1. A pitcher I've been enamored with since the quick-play era, we acquired highly acclaimed hurler Don Griffin from the Boston Minutemen, parting with veteran starter Andy Logue, and our would be Opening Day right fielder Bobby Martinez. Parting with Martinez was not easy, nor was losing Andy Logue's captaincy, but for Doc Griffin?
Sign me up! Taken with the 7th pick of the 1955 draft, the imposing 6'4'' righty debuted after 12 relief appearances, even finishing off the year with 32 relief outings for Boston. They weren't great, but it might have gotten the jitters out, as the next year a 19-year-old Griffin took the stopper spot in the Minutemen pen, making a Fed high 69 appearances with a Fed high 19 saves. A near even 5-7, the poised youngster worked to a 2.74 ERA (149 ERA+), 1.31 WHIP, and 54 strikeouts in 98.2 innings pitched. As you'd expect, he'd start next season in the same role, but what you probably didn't gather is that Doc is a natural starter. Even though his 105 professional appearances were out of the pen, he started 55 of his 55 games in a nice four year career. Now 20, he bounced between the late innings and the rotation, starting 19 of 54 appearances. He was almost equally effective, 12-6 with 7 saves, a 2.73 ERA (150 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts. What came next was one of the best three year stretches out there, as "Doc" took care of business year in and year out. In each of those three years, he led the Fed in FIP, FIP-, WHIP, K/BB, and WAR, while also leading in wins (1960), ERA (1958, 1960), starts (1959, 1960), and strikeouts (1960). In that three year span, he threw 719 innings, due to ninth among all FABL pitchers. He led in ERA (2.65), FIP (2.44), WAR (28.66), wins (57), quality starts (77), WHIP (1.03), and BB% (4.14). Don't forget the stats like FIP- and K/BB he led in each year, and there's a reason he was a 4-Time All-Star and Allen winner. But then the AI did something insane. They sent him to the pen. I mean, sure he doesn't have much stamina, but it's not like he ever did, and his 28.7 WAR in those three years would rank 22nd among all active pitchers, with Griffin of course one of the 21 ahead. Why you'd stop using said player every fifth game is beyond me, and I realized that I could never let that happen again. Last season when humans returned, he did start 22 of his 40 games, and while I wanted to try to trade for him the second we went live, I decided to take a step back and see what happened. Inspired by how good Jack Gibson was in his first week back, I decided to go for it, and set up the framework to acquire arguably my favorite player in the file. Before it became Logue and Martinez, there were dozens of potential combinations, as I was willing to move one of my SPs who weren't Champ, Ellis, and Stone, and depending on the SP used, any prospect that wasn't Grimm or Dode. Not a single pitcher has what Dixie Marsh would call "5" movement potential, and just five pitchers have "5" control. Plenty of dudes have "5" stuff, even Cougar farmhand Art Ozburn, but only one has "4" movement and control. I'm sure you can deduce that the pitcher meeting those elite criteria is French Mack, so when I say Doc Griffin is one of just four FABL pitchers ranked 4/4/4, you know just how good that could be. The ratings stuff is all gravy, so once Dixie gets back with his better then average report in a week, those numbers could change, but what won't chance is his Boston career numbers. In 1,312 innings, he'll finish with 99 wins, as it seems like I've subconsciously poached pitchers who were about to win their 100th career game. Impressively, he has more saves (64) then losses (64), though you'd expect that with a 2.84 ERA (151 ERA+), 2.71 FIP (63 FIP-), and 1.14 WHIP. With 934 strikeouts and 290 walks, he's got an excellent 3.2 K/BB, 17.3 K%, and 5.4 BB%. Even for an extremely talented pitcher, it's going to be tough to match those numbers this year, or even ever, but despite what the game and a lot of AI managers and GMs think, he's one of the best SPs in the game. He last pitched on the 5th, finishing his spring 3-0, so he won't be ready for our opener hosting the Wranglers. Instead, he'll follow Ellis and Champ, ironically pitching in the same spot Logue did. Of course, we didn't make this trade for a new #3, as from this point on I'm going to do almost anything to make sure that he can pitch every fifth day until the All-Star break. When he ends up starting that game, it'll throw off the calculus, but we'll figure a new day for him to start the every fifth day schedule. The reason I want him pitching so much is because he's just absolutely dominant, and most importantly he almost never allows a home run. He's allowed just 71, and I'm sure this season is the first time he'll have a chance to allow more then the 14 he allowed in 1958. An elite sinker is the key to him keeping the ball in the park, as it's one of the best pitches out there. At 95-97, it's tough to time out, and it creates an insane amount of movement. Working off of it, his curve and change are both wipeout pitches, and he can turn to an average fastball and forkball if he isn't feeling his usual stuff. The obvious weakness is the stamina, I don't think he can go much more then 100, but we have the perfect weapons in the pen to make up for it. I can see plenty of Doc, to Archie, to Pug games, our high stamina stopper/setup duo can more then pick of the slack if Doc is out after 5 or 6. On top of that, both Earle Turner and Bob Allen are multi-inning guys, and even if we start the season with a four man pen I'm not worried in the slightest Doc was initially going to lead a six man rotation, but a real life day after that trade, I was able to avoid deciding between Henry Henderson, Ken Stone, or both. Or at least, I choice not to option either, as Henderson was sent to Brooklyn for unintentionally the exact same package they received for current Cougar catcher Dutch Miller. So yeah, when anyone (they won't) asks who won the Pioneer/King trade on October 20th, 1961 (the Kings) you can say the Chicago Cougars! That's because even though we weren't involved, less then two years later all the players were in our system, as we traded our talented young lefty for Cal Randall and Whitey Gates. With Randall, I filled our third base hole and our recently created captain hole, as the soon-to-be 27-year-old will join us after the week ends. The former 11th pick of the 1953 draft, "Bucky" is ready to start his fifth FABL season, and it will be with his third team in as many seasons. The Wichita native may hope he found his forever home now, and he's coming off back-to-back seasons with a slightly above average OPS+ and WRC+. Known more for the glove, he does have a solid .278/.334/.402 (98 OPS+) career line, so he's not anywhere near an automatic out. What he is automatic with is fielding, as he's got a 5 for error rating with a plus-plus arm, double play turn, and range. If we didn't have a Tom Halliday, he'd be the shortstop, as despite middling numbers this year he's outstanding there. Paired with Halliday, we should now have the best defensive left side of the infield, and if the bat isn't coming around, he could even platoon with George McKee. As a righty, Randall will be on the short side, but I could start by just giving him rest against tougher righties. Of course, should someone get hurt, Randall is the guy to move around, as he could replace Gibson at second or Halliday at short. This would allow McKee or Mooney Vetter to go to the hot corner, leaving us someone protected from injury. Plus he's got way to go before he's 30, and there could be a little more to unlock from his bat. Last, there's Whitey Gaines, who will bridge the near 300 prospect gap between Jim Place (65th) and Ed Wells in our system. Currently 171st, he's likely our 11th best prospect after the trade, and is an interesting five pitch righty from Florida. Taken in the 5th Round of the 1959 draft, he missed nearly all of last season with a torn flexor tendon, but it hasn't seemed to impact his stuff or stamina. Now healthy and 21, the 6'4' southpaw projects to fill a back-end spot, but I think there's more value to be extracted. The fastball/curveball mix is already good, and his mid 90s heater looks faster then it is. He keeps the ball in the park too, and at least prior to the injury he had nice command. That's something I'll be monitoring early on, as it was always a relative weakness of his. He'll live and die by his stuff, which could be a weapon if harnessed. A bit of a gamble, it does hedge our bets, as Henderson is definitely more valuable then Randall. But by getting a nice young arm to replace him and a reasonably proven option to fill one of our weak spots, it could help be a win even if Henderson does what many of the pitchers we've sent to the Kings does. |
Opening Day!
5 Attachment(s)
Baseball. IS. BACKKKK!!!!!!!!!
As it is every spring, excitement is in the air, and after the acquisition of Don Griffin, I'm really liking our chances for 1963. Before the trade, OSA even had us as the 2nd place team with 99 wins, and I bet if they ran them one more time we'd be back over 100 with the Kings. Obviously, plenty can go wrong during a season, but when you take a team that won 86 games with a young squad, add a year of experience, a new best hitter and pitcher, and really anything short of 90 would be a disappointment. Add on what could be a Ken Stone or Dode Caudill breakout, and a deeper lineup that will probably end with Tom Halliday or Cal Randall, and then a full season of Dick Champ. Well??? This seems pretty great! Attachment 1050694 Attachment 1050695 Enough hypotheticals! Let's see the 25 (well, 24) Cougars ready for Opening Day! RHP Bob Allen RHP Dick Champ RHP Roy Ellis RHP Don Griffin LHP Henry Henderson* RHP Ken Stone RHP Earle Turner RHP Hank Walker LHP Pug White RHP Arch Wilson C Dutch Miller C Milt Payne 1B Gene Case 1B John Morrison 2B Buddy Byrd 2B Jack Gibson 3B Bob Decker 3B George McKee SS Tom Halliday LF Jim Barton LF Byron Burnett LF Dode Caudill CF Jerry McMillan RF Pete Meany RF Henry Watson *Technically on the Opening roster, will be replaced by Cal Randall Most notably, there was the optioning of Mooney Vetter, who got squeezed out by Decker, McKee, and Buddy Byrd. Neither could go down to AAA, Byrd can refuse options and the other two are all out, and this move has nothing to do with Randall. We'll stick with a 9-man staff, would've been 10 without the trade, and I'll instead work on Vetter's versatility. He's a two-time Diamond Defense winner at third, so I imagine he can be at least decent at short, a position he has some experience with. Other notable players going down are Chappy Sanders and John Mitchell, as there really wasn't room for either. Dutch Miller wasn't any good this spring, but he's a better hitter and defender, and I didn't feel like going with three catchers again. Mitchell, meanwhile, got pushed out of the rotation, and even after the Henderson trade I like him working on his stuff in AAA. His change is great, and his fastball is average, but the other four pitches aren't any good. Plus, he got lit up hard at the end of the season, making me a little worried guys are starting to figure him out. Attachment 1050700 Attachment 1050701 It won't stay this way for long, as Dode Caudill hopefully mashes since day one, and will graduate early, but we do enter the season with the 6th ranked system. Even after shipping Martinez away. Jim Place jumping to 65th is huge, as we're back to 5 top-100 prospects. Then we have 11 in the top-200 and 27 in the top-500, and we have a nice long gap between George McKee (182nd) to Ed Wells (330th). It's funny because when we were in charge long-term, the Cougs were the best at getting prospects in that relative range. So many of our late picks would end up there, but it's also the hardest area to fill. It's easy to get guys at the top, hit on your early picks. And it's easy to get guys at the bottom, just sort of pay attention to guys with interesting tools. But the middle? That's where you build depth, and the area where prospects on the rise start to fill. I've gotten some of these scrubs from the outside to the fringes of the top-500, and if I can actually make my picks this time around, I think our system will get closer to what I'm used to having. Attachment 1050702 We do have some games tonight, and with a pair of off days, I'll get to use each starter once. Sure, I could do some skipping, but Roy Ellis isn't the guy I want in the #1 spot, and I don't want to delay Ken Stone's season debut for a few weeks. Plus the abbreviated spring may not have gotten enough rust off some of these guys, so I'll look to ease our rotation back into the swing of things. Though to be fair, for Ellis, Dick Champ, and Doc Griffin, the Dallas Wranglers offense should do just that. One of the expansion clubs, everyone thinks they'll finish in 9th, as they look to build from the ground up. Their best piece so far is 26-year-old righty Butch Abrams (13-13, 4.31, 98), one of the many quality arms to come from St. Louis. Beyond that, there's not much, though disciplined slugger Ken Hudson (.243, 20, 66) could start in the corner infield elsewhere, and Ed Thompson (.277, 5, 47) does a great job putting the ball in play. Still, there is a huge talent discrepancy between the two teams, and I truly don't see a single player in our rotation or lineup I'd replace with a Wrangler. Our week is spent at home, as during the off day we'll wait for the defending Continental champs. They didn't look very good in the playoffs, but the Sailors are a great team, and they'll cause us trouble all season long. Dixie disagrees, but OSA thinks Charlie Lawson (16-10, 4.02, 169) is a rare 4-4-4 pitcher, and at least to me it seems like the 24-year-old is an ace. Even if not an aces ace. Set in a four man rotation to start the year, I expect and old friend Zane Kelley (14-7, 4.49, 114), though they have plenty of SPs in the pen. There's a few new faces in the projected lineup, even if the rotation is mostly unchanged, as 27th ranked prospect Otis Haldeman seems to have won the right field job, while 24-year-old catcher Bill Jenkins may lead the lineup off. Both will be making their debuts, and between them they'll have the deep 2-3-4-5 of Carlos Jaramillo (.291, 8, 45, 27), Ernie Carter (.340, 12, 119, 10), Edwin Hackberry (.289, 24, 95, 23), and John Kingsbury (.350, 22, 113, 13). Kingsbury is the one to watch, as the 3-Time Diamond Defense winner is very overdo for an All-Star nod. One of the toughest guys to strike out, he maintains high averages and OBPs, all while racking up the extra base hits. Last year it was 22 doubles, 14 triples, and 22 homers, and I'm sure this year he'll have at least 50 between the three categories. An early quick test, being at home is huge, and it could be two huge victories that come in clutch when the year is winding down. |
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