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reds1 · 06-21-2015, 12:39 AM

January 31, 1938

Eastern League: There’s a New Sheriff in Town – Athletics Take over Top Spot

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21-6. That was the record the Wellington Athletics put up in January, propelling them into first place in the Eastern League, a half game up on the Queensland Eagles. The Athletics went 15-3 following the All-Star break, including a three-game sweep of the Eagles, pummeling them by scores of 8-1, 11-2 and 9-1 on one home stand. But it was the final game of the month where the Athletics beat the Eagles 3-2 that finally catapulted them into top spot.

Key Injuries: RHP Raúl Lucero (7-9, 4.38) suffered a sore shoulder on January 31. He is out for 6 days. LF Quentin Stubber tore his hamstring on January 20; he is expected back in another 3 weeks.

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The Queensland Eagles stumbled in January, going just 12-16 on the month and losing their grip on first place to the red hot Athletics. After leading the Eastern League by 6.5 games a month ago, the Eagles at least still hold onto the wild card by 7.5 games over the Embro Suns. It will be interesting to see if they can right the ship of if the Athletics have taken over for good. They play each other on February 1st before they all embark on interleague matchups for the rest of the month. They will face each other once more, a three-game series in March hosted by Wellington.

Key Injuries: RHP Stewart Colcott (2-1, 4.24) suffered shoulder inflammation in October; recovery is expected to take another two months. RHP Julius Hunt (4-1, 3.47) suffered a torn meniscus in his knee back on December 12; he is out for another 3 weeks.

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The Embro Suns have been slowly fading each month and endured their first losing month in January, going 11-15, to fall 7.5 games back of the wild card. They have not enjoyed home field advantage this year; their record at Speaker Stadium thus far is 20-25 but 34-27 on the road.

Key Injuries: RHP Freddie Ventriss (8-6, 5.22) experienced ulnar nerve irritation on January 5; he is out 2-3 months.

Performance Highlight: Outfielder Jong-bum Choi went 5-5 against the Queensland Eagles on January 23, helping the Suns to a 6-5 victory. Choi singled in 2nd, singled in the 4th, hit an RBI single in the 5th, singled in the 7th and singled in the 9th.

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The Cobourg Red Stockings imploded in January, stumbling to a 9-16 record. Losing your best pitcher (Joel Fearn) and you best position player (C Dave Wilson) to injuries for an extended period will do that. And with the trade of 2B Wayne Balmer (.331/.365/.433, 32 2B, 53 RBI, 51 R, 23 BB) to the Downie Chiefs, it would seem to signal that the Red Stockings have thrown in the towel on the season.

Key Injuries: Joel Fearn is gone for 9-10 months, due to a torn rotator cuff. C Dave Wilson (.300/.398/.398, 4 HR, 27 RBI, 16 R, 24 BB) after just getting back from a fracture to his finger, strained a rib cage muscle. He is gone for another 4 weeks.

Key Trade: The Red Stockings traded 2B Wayne Balmer (66/68) to the Downie Chiefs on January 20, in exchange for 32-year old RF Douglas Steggall (23/23) and 19-year old minor leaguer CF Bert Helmer (21/77). Steggall, who can play both in the infield and outfield, has taken over 3B against lefties and a utility player against righties. Helmer has been assigned to AA Cardiff.

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An 11-16 January cost the Stratford Barons dearly, as they fell 8 games back of the wild card, leaving them 1 game above .500 for the season with 47 games left to play. Against the Wellington Athletics and Queensland Eagles in January, the Barons went 1-6 and 2-6 respectively, confirming that they are not quite ready to compete with the heavyweights in the East.

Key Injuries: RHP Ricardo Díaz (1-2, 5.80, 4 SV- torn labrum) is still out for another 5-6 months. RHP Pete Malcolm suffered a herniated disk in December. He is out for another 4 weeks.

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The Downie Chiefs continue to scuffle along, going 11-14 in January, to fall 9.5 games back of the wild card. Their struggles are no doubt in large part to their anemic offense, mentioned more than once in these write-ups. With the acquisition of 2B Wayne Balmer from the Cobourg Red Stockings on January 20, perhaps he may provide the Chiefs an offensive boost in the final two months of the season.

Key Injuries: RF Sid Mass (.296/.411/.515, 9 HR, 26 RBI, 27 R, 32 BB) missed two weeks in January due to back tightness resulting from a defensive play.

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The Brunswick Legends enjoyed their second consecutive month with an above .500 record, going 15-10 in January. This still leaves them 10.5 games back of the Eagles for the wild card. However, the Legends may still be trying to make a move this season, as they made an interesting trade, acquiring 3B Vince Bailey from the Balmoral Giants. We’ll have to see how this one plays out the rest of the way. OF Mark Elston continued his torrid ways in January, and won Hitter of the Month honours as a result.

Key Injuries: None.

Key Trade: Back on January 3rd, the Legends acquired 3B Vince Bailey from Balmoral, in exchange for 26-year old 2B Danny Filmer (61/74) and 19-year old minor leaguer CF Jason Pollock (23/76). Bailey is currently the Legends’ leadoff hitter, as he is blessed with blazing speed and outstanding base running abilities Bailey has stolen 21 bases thus far and gotten caught 11 times. Filmer (.251/318/3.66, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 22 R, 18 BB), meanwhile, is also serving as the Giants’ leadoff hitter for the same reasons although he has only stolen 10 bases thus far and has gotten caught 8 times. Pollack has been sent down to the Giants AA farm team, the Georgetown Goldbugs.

Performance Highlight: Outfielder Rovilson Valdeviseo went 5-6 against the Downie Chiefs on January 2, helping the Legends win the game, 9-6. Valdeviseo singled in 2nd, singled in the 4th, singled in the 6th, grounded out in the 8th, hit an RBI single in the 9th and doubled in the 11th.

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After winning just 23 games through the first three months of the season, the Braeland City Monarchs suddenly became one of the hottest teams in January, going 16-10. That included a 9-game winning streak shortly after the All-Star break. That still leaves them 23 games back of first place and weighed down with the worst record in the United Leagues, so no one should get ahead of themselves in predicting a late season surge. Still it was nice to see them taste a hot streak, even if for a fleeting moment. SP Lenny Freke was on fire in January and won Pitcher of the Month honours.

Key Injuries: 39-year old relief pitcher RHP Hyo-cheong Yu (0-1, 2.22, 7 SV) is out for another 5 months. He had surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow back in November.

06-21-2015, 12:39 AM	#75
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,899	January 31, 1938 Eastern League: There’s a New Sheriff in Town – Athletics Take over Top Spot -------- 21-6. That was the record the Wellington Athletics put up in January, propelling them into first place in the Eastern League, a half game up on the Queensland Eagles. The Athletics went 15-3 following the All-Star break, including a three-game sweep of the Eagles, pummeling them by scores of 8-1, 11-2 and 9-1 on one home stand. But it was the final game of the month where the Athletics beat the Eagles 3-2 that finally catapulted them into top spot. Key Injuries: RHP Raúl Lucero (7-9, 4.38) suffered a sore shoulder on January 31. He is out for 6 days. LF Quentin Stubber tore his hamstring on January 20; he is expected back in another 3 weeks. -------- The Queensland Eagles stumbled in January, going just 12-16 on the month and losing their grip on first place to the red hot Athletics. After leading the Eastern League by 6.5 games a month ago, the Eagles at least still hold onto the wild card by 7.5 games over the Embro Suns. It will be interesting to see if they can right the ship of if the Athletics have taken over for good. They play each other on February 1st before they all embark on interleague matchups for the rest of the month. They will face each other once more, a three-game series in March hosted by Wellington. Key Injuries: RHP Stewart Colcott (2-1, 4.24) suffered shoulder inflammation in October; recovery is expected to take another two months. RHP Julius Hunt (4-1, 3.47) suffered a torn meniscus in his knee back on December 12; he is out for another 3 weeks. -------- The Embro Suns have been slowly fading each month and endured their first losing month in January, going 11-15, to fall 7.5 games back of the wild card. They have not enjoyed home field advantage this year; their record at Speaker Stadium thus far is 20-25 but 34-27 on the road. Key Injuries: RHP Freddie Ventriss (8-6, 5.22) experienced ulnar nerve irritation on January 5; he is out 2-3 months. Performance Highlight: Outfielder Jong-bum Choi went 5-5 against the Queensland Eagles on January 23, helping the Suns to a 6-5 victory. Choi singled in 2nd, singled in the 4th, hit an RBI single in the 5th, singled in the 7th and singled in the 9th. -------- The Cobourg Red Stockings imploded in January, stumbling to a 9-16 record. Losing your best pitcher (Joel Fearn) and you best position player (C Dave Wilson) to injuries for an extended period will do that. And with the trade of 2B Wayne Balmer (.331/.365/.433, 32 2B, 53 RBI, 51 R, 23 BB) to the Downie Chiefs, it would seem to signal that the Red Stockings have thrown in the towel on the season. Key Injuries: Joel Fearn is gone for 9-10 months, due to a torn rotator cuff. C Dave Wilson (.300/.398/.398, 4 HR, 27 RBI, 16 R, 24 BB) after just getting back from a fracture to his finger, strained a rib cage muscle. He is gone for another 4 weeks. Key Trade: The Red Stockings traded 2B Wayne Balmer (66/68) to the Downie Chiefs on January 20, in exchange for 32-year old RF Douglas Steggall (23/23) and 19-year old minor leaguer CF Bert Helmer (21/77). Steggall, who can play both in the infield and outfield, has taken over 3B against lefties and a utility player against righties. Helmer has been assigned to AA Cardiff. -------- An 11-16 January cost the Stratford Barons dearly, as they fell 8 games back of the wild card, leaving them 1 game above .500 for the season with 47 games left to play. Against the Wellington Athletics and Queensland Eagles in January, the Barons went 1-6 and 2-6 respectively, confirming that they are not quite ready to compete with the heavyweights in the East. Key Injuries: RHP Ricardo Díaz (1-2, 5.80, 4 SV- torn labrum) is still out for another 5-6 months. RHP Pete Malcolm suffered a herniated disk in December. He is out for another 4 weeks. -------- The Downie Chiefs continue to scuffle along, going 11-14 in January, to fall 9.5 games back of the wild card. Their struggles are no doubt in large part to their anemic offense, mentioned more than once in these write-ups. With the acquisition of 2B Wayne Balmer from the Cobourg Red Stockings on January 20, perhaps he may provide the Chiefs an offensive boost in the final two months of the season. Key Injuries: RF Sid Mass (.296/.411/.515, 9 HR, 26 RBI, 27 R, 32 BB) missed two weeks in January due to back tightness resulting from a defensive play. -------- The Brunswick Legends enjoyed their second consecutive month with an above .500 record, going 15-10 in January. This still leaves them 10.5 games back of the Eagles for the wild card. However, the Legends may still be trying to make a move this season, as they made an interesting trade, acquiring 3B Vince Bailey from the Balmoral Giants. We’ll have to see how this one plays out the rest of the way. OF Mark Elston continued his torrid ways in January, and won Hitter of the Month honours as a result. Key Injuries: None. Key Trade: Back on January 3rd, the Legends acquired 3B Vince Bailey from Balmoral, in exchange for 26-year old 2B Danny Filmer (61/74) and 19-year old minor leaguer CF Jason Pollock (23/76). Bailey is currently the Legends’ leadoff hitter, as he is blessed with blazing speed and outstanding base running abilities Bailey has stolen 21 bases thus far and gotten caught 11 times. Filmer (.251/318/3.66, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 22 R, 18 BB), meanwhile, is also serving as the Giants’ leadoff hitter for the same reasons although he has only stolen 10 bases thus far and has gotten caught 8 times. Pollack has been sent down to the Giants AA farm team, the Georgetown Goldbugs. Performance Highlight: Outfielder Rovilson Valdeviseo went 5-6 against the Downie Chiefs on January 2, helping the Legends win the game, 9-6. Valdeviseo singled in 2nd, singled in the 4th, singled in the 6th, grounded out in the 8th, hit an RBI single in the 9th and doubled in the 11th. -------- After winning just 23 games through the first three months of the season, the Braeland City Monarchs suddenly became one of the hottest teams in January, going 16-10. That included a 9-game winning streak shortly after the All-Star break. That still leaves them 23 games back of first place and weighed down with the worst record in the United Leagues, so no one should get ahead of themselves in predicting a late season surge. Still it was nice to see them taste a hot streak, even if for a fleeting moment. SP Lenny Freke was on fire in January and won Pitcher of the Month honours. Key Injuries: 39-year old relief pitcher RHP Hyo-cheong Yu (0-1, 2.22, 7 SV) is out for another 5 months. He had surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow back in November. __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 07-01-2017 at 12:12 PM.