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reds1 · 06-28-2015, 02:07 AM

March 1, 1938

Western League: Doesn’t Anybody Want to Win This Thing?

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Western League teams received a rude wake-up call from their Eastern League counterparts during interleague matchups last month. Of the 8 teams in the West, only two eked out a winning record in February. Five teams didn’t even reach 10 victories for the month. It was not a pretty sight and the poor showing earned the Pulberry Trolleys the distinction of being the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention. On to the carnage…..
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Perhaps most surprising of all, the Kingston Pelicans failed to dominate the East, and ended the month with a 10-13 record. But they remain firmly in first place, 7 games up on the Sherburn Tigers, thanks in part to the other teams’ failure to capitalize. In the West, they continue to be an outstanding team on both side of the ball. But if they reach the United Cup, they will have to step it up, if their weak performance against the East is any indication.

Key Injuries: SP Hirotada Fukushima (63/78; 1-2, 3.86) suffered elbow inflammation in a game on February 16; he will miss 3 months.

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The Sherburn Tigers looked as if they might be a team to be reckoned with, after going 17-10 in January. But a 9-14 February put that all in doubt. The team’s pitching performance has been underwhelming, just 5th overall, and that will have to be addressed if they want to rebound. They trail Kingston by 7 games and their lead in the wild card is now down to just four games with 4 weeks left in the regular season.
LF Robin Harney (.338/.409/.494, 1 HR, 86 RBI, 100 R, 64 BB, 30 SB, 4.4 WAR), who was acquired from Kingston has done well since joining the team, and won Batter of the Month honours in February.

Key Injuries: RF Dong-min Lee (.263/.400/.329, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 11 R, 16 BB) broke his hand in November. He should be back in 2 weeks.
2B Roy Abe (.257/.317/.351, 2 HR, 44 RBI, 55 R, 31 BB, 15 SB) suffered an oblique strain in a game against the Kingston Pelicans on January 25. He is out for two more weeks.

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The Hespeler Stars fared better in February (15-10) than their western counterparts and moved to within 4 games of Sherburn for the wild card. But part of that can be explained by the fact that they did not play as many interleague games as other teams did. On the other hand, they did sweep a 3-game series from the best team in the United Leagues, the Wellington Athletics, in Wellington no less, by scores of 10-7, 9-5 and 5-1. If they can carry that momentum into March, the wild card race will be very interesting, something that couldn’t be said just a month ago.

Key Injuries: SS Héctor Pagán (.308/.354/.399; 24 RBI, 29 R, 16 BB) is still out for another 4 months after suffering a torn labrum in December.

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Injuries and poor pitching proved to be too much for the Wolseley Unions, as they stumbled to an 8-15 record in February. At one point, they were 1-12 and mired in an 11 game losing streak, until they finished the month strong, going 7-3.

Key Injuries: OF Terence Durney (.268/.365/.482, 9 HR, 46 RBI, 54 R, 44 BB, 15 SB) suffered an oblique strain while running the bases way back on January 2. He is expected back in three days.
SP Augusto Rocha (10-7, 3.68) strained his forearm on January 13; he is out for 7 more weeks. Those are in addition to LHP Edward Hill (63/67), who has been out since early October with a ruptured bicep tendon; he is out for another 8-9 weeks.
Relief pitcher RHP Dylan Tinlsey fractured his ankle back in December. He is expected to return in 3 days.
Relief pitcher Phil Edginton (4-9, 3 SV, 5.74) strained his rotator cuff in a game on February 14, he is out for 1-2 weeks.
OF Arthur Carruth (.247/.299/.359, 4 HR, 66 RBI, 60 R, 28 BB, 1.5 WAR) tore ankle ligaments in a game on February 22; he is out 4 weeks.

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The Cambria Cannons bucked the trend and actually proved to be competitive against Eastern League teams, taking 4 of 5 series. But against the two Western League teams they faced, it was a mixed bag. While they swept the Fort Richmond Generals 4 games to none, they in turn were swept in the six games they played against the Hespeler Stars.
Nevertheless, they did move up in the standings, however modestly, and they do have a bonafide stud in SP Neil Guerin (16-8, 2.52, 7.9 WAR), who earned Pitcher of the Month honours in February.

Key Injuries: Starter RHP Bradley Dodson (5-8, 4.30) is expected back in 3 weeks after suffering elbow inflammation back in late December.

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Fears that the Fort Richmond Generals were starting to fade last month were confirmed in February, as the Generals could only muster a 9-15 record, their worst showing yet. However, they did have a couple of highlights. First they swept the Queensland Eagles, one of the top teams in the East, by scores of 6-2, 11-8 and 6-3. Second, OF Kade Limeburner completed the second cycle in United League history.

Key Injuries: None.

Performance Highlight: LF and lead-off hitter Kade Limeburner (.235/.353/.472, 15 HR, 47 RBI, 56 R, 66 BB, 1.7 WAR) hit for the cycle against the Stratford Barons on February 9. Despite his efforts, the Generals fell to the Barons, 14-7 in Stratford. Limburner doubled in the 1st, struck out in the 2nd, hit a two-run triple in the 4th, hit a solo-shot in the 6th and hit an RBI single in the 8th.

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The Balmoral Giants are just one of two teams that have yet to enjoy a winning month. That trend continued in February with a 5-18 record. Ouch. That included an 11-game losing streak that carried over from late January. Apart from SP David Cooling (12-14, 4.06, 4.6 WAR), the Giants just do not have any highly rated players. They do have a fairly strong farm system (4th overall), so there is some hope.

Key Injuries: Starter SP Masahiro Sugano (2-6, 4.52) remains out for another 5-6 months with a torn elbow ligament.
SP Noriaki Ito (5-17, 3.52, 4.7 WAR) suffered shoulder inflammation in a game against the Stratford Barons. He is expected back in a week.

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The Pulberry Trolleys earned the dubious distinction of becoming the first team to be officially eliminated from the United Cup playoffs. A 5-18 record will do that. And just like the Giants, the Trolleys endured an 11-game losing streak and have yet to enjoy a winning monthly record. It was a long February, and mercifully, there’s just one month left in the season. Unfortunately, the Trolleys currently have the worst rated farm system in the Leagues. It may be long, slow climb to contention for the Trolleys.

Key Injuries: CF Rio Gidley (.265/.320/.450, 6 HR, 57 RBI, 65 R, 37 BB, 18 SB, 2.6 WAR) suffered another injury when he fractured his finger in a game on February 26; he will be out of commission for 5 weeks.
SP Nick Paddock is still out for 3 months; he suffered a ruptured bicep tendon in late November.
2B Michael Batterham (.276/.362/.380, 5 HR, 47 RBI, 46 R, 58 BB, 2.5 WAR) strained his hamstring in a game against the Queensland Eagles on the 19th. He is gone for 3 weeks.
SS Datu Balsalubra (.325/.383/.422, 3 HR, 41 RBI, 26 R, 28 BB, 2.0 WAR) separated his shoulder in a collision at home plate on February 26 against the Wellington Athletics. He is out for 5 weeks.

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06-28-2015, 02:07 AM	#83
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,919	March 1, 1938 Western League: Doesn’t Anybody Want to Win This Thing? -------- Western League teams received a rude wake-up call from their Eastern League counterparts during interleague matchups last month. Of the 8 teams in the West, only two eked out a winning record in February. Five teams didn’t even reach 10 victories for the month. It was not a pretty sight and the poor showing earned the Pulberry Trolleys the distinction of being the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention. On to the carnage….. -------- Perhaps most surprising of all, the Kingston Pelicans failed to dominate the East, and ended the month with a 10-13 record. But they remain firmly in first place, 7 games up on the Sherburn Tigers, thanks in part to the other teams’ failure to capitalize. In the West, they continue to be an outstanding team on both side of the ball. But if they reach the United Cup, they will have to step it up, if their weak performance against the East is any indication. Key Injuries: SP Hirotada Fukushima (63/78; 1-2, 3.86) suffered elbow inflammation in a game on February 16; he will miss 3 months. -------- The Sherburn Tigers looked as if they might be a team to be reckoned with, after going 17-10 in January. But a 9-14 February put that all in doubt. The team’s pitching performance has been underwhelming, just 5th overall, and that will have to be addressed if they want to rebound. They trail Kingston by 7 games and their lead in the wild card is now down to just four games with 4 weeks left in the regular season. LF Robin Harney (.338/.409/.494, 1 HR, 86 RBI, 100 R, 64 BB, 30 SB, 4.4 WAR), who was acquired from Kingston has done well since joining the team, and won Batter of the Month honours in February. Key Injuries: RF Dong-min Lee (.263/.400/.329, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 11 R, 16 BB) broke his hand in November. He should be back in 2 weeks. 2B Roy Abe (.257/.317/.351, 2 HR, 44 RBI, 55 R, 31 BB, 15 SB) suffered an oblique strain in a game against the Kingston Pelicans on January 25. He is out for two more weeks. -------- The Hespeler Stars fared better in February (15-10) than their western counterparts and moved to within 4 games of Sherburn for the wild card. But part of that can be explained by the fact that they did not play as many interleague games as other teams did. On the other hand, they did sweep a 3-game series from the best team in the United Leagues, the Wellington Athletics, in Wellington no less, by scores of 10-7, 9-5 and 5-1. If they can carry that momentum into March, the wild card race will be very interesting, something that couldn’t be said just a month ago. Key Injuries: SS Héctor Pagán (.308/.354/.399; 24 RBI, 29 R, 16 BB) is still out for another 4 months after suffering a torn labrum in December. -------- Injuries and poor pitching proved to be too much for the Wolseley Unions, as they stumbled to an 8-15 record in February. At one point, they were 1-12 and mired in an 11 game losing streak, until they finished the month strong, going 7-3. Key Injuries: OF Terence Durney (.268/.365/.482, 9 HR, 46 RBI, 54 R, 44 BB, 15 SB) suffered an oblique strain while running the bases way back on January 2. He is expected back in three days. SP Augusto Rocha (10-7, 3.68) strained his forearm on January 13; he is out for 7 more weeks. Those are in addition to LHP Edward Hill (63/67), who has been out since early October with a ruptured bicep tendon; he is out for another 8-9 weeks. Relief pitcher RHP Dylan Tinlsey fractured his ankle back in December. He is expected to return in 3 days. Relief pitcher Phil Edginton (4-9, 3 SV, 5.74) strained his rotator cuff in a game on February 14, he is out for 1-2 weeks. OF Arthur Carruth (.247/.299/.359, 4 HR, 66 RBI, 60 R, 28 BB, 1.5 WAR) tore ankle ligaments in a game on February 22; he is out 4 weeks. -------- The Cambria Cannons bucked the trend and actually proved to be competitive against Eastern League teams, taking 4 of 5 series. But against the two Western League teams they faced, it was a mixed bag. While they swept the Fort Richmond Generals 4 games to none, they in turn were swept in the six games they played against the Hespeler Stars. Nevertheless, they did move up in the standings, however modestly, and they do have a bonafide stud in SP Neil Guerin (16-8, 2.52, 7.9 WAR), who earned Pitcher of the Month honours in February. Key Injuries: Starter RHP Bradley Dodson (5-8, 4.30) is expected back in 3 weeks after suffering elbow inflammation back in late December. -------- Fears that the Fort Richmond Generals were starting to fade last month were confirmed in February, as the Generals could only muster a 9-15 record, their worst showing yet. However, they did have a couple of highlights. First they swept the Queensland Eagles, one of the top teams in the East, by scores of 6-2, 11-8 and 6-3. Second, OF Kade Limeburner completed the second cycle in United League history. Key Injuries: None. Performance Highlight: LF and lead-off hitter Kade Limeburner (.235/.353/.472, 15 HR, 47 RBI, 56 R, 66 BB, 1.7 WAR) hit for the cycle against the Stratford Barons on February 9. Despite his efforts, the Generals fell to the Barons, 14-7 in Stratford. Limburner doubled in the 1st, struck out in the 2nd, hit a two-run triple in the 4th, hit a solo-shot in the 6th and hit an RBI single in the 8th. -------- -------- The Balmoral Giants are just one of two teams that have yet to enjoy a winning month. That trend continued in February with a 5-18 record. Ouch. That included an 11-game losing streak that carried over from late January. Apart from SP David Cooling (12-14, 4.06, 4.6 WAR), the Giants just do not have any highly rated players. They do have a fairly strong farm system (4th overall), so there is some hope. Key Injuries: Starter SP Masahiro Sugano (2-6, 4.52) remains out for another 5-6 months with a torn elbow ligament. SP Noriaki Ito (5-17, 3.52, 4.7 WAR) suffered shoulder inflammation in a game against the Stratford Barons. He is expected back in a week. -------- The Pulberry Trolleys earned the dubious distinction of becoming the first team to be officially eliminated from the United Cup playoffs. A 5-18 record will do that. And just like the Giants, the Trolleys endured an 11-game losing streak and have yet to enjoy a winning monthly record. It was a long February, and mercifully, there’s just one month left in the season. Unfortunately, the Trolleys currently have the worst rated farm system in the Leagues. It may be long, slow climb to contention for the Trolleys. Key Injuries: CF Rio Gidley (.265/.320/.450, 6 HR, 57 RBI, 65 R, 37 BB, 18 SB, 2.6 WAR) suffered another injury when he fractured his finger in a game on February 26; he will be out of commission for 5 weeks. SP Nick Paddock is still out for 3 months; he suffered a ruptured bicep tendon in late November. 2B Michael Batterham (.276/.362/.380, 5 HR, 47 RBI, 46 R, 58 BB, 2.5 WAR) strained his hamstring in a game against the Queensland Eagles on the 19th. He is gone for 3 weeks. SS Datu Balsalubra (.325/.383/.422, 3 HR, 41 RBI, 26 R, 28 BB, 2.0 WAR) separated his shoulder in a collision at home plate on February 26 against the Wellington Athletics. He is out for 5 weeks. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 07-01-2017 at 04:29 PM.