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reds1 · 03-10-2016, 06:51 PM

February 1, 1943

Western League: Giants, Stars Leading the Pack

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The Giants of Balmoral are in unfamiliar territory as they find themselves buyers instead of sellers this season. But if it’s a new experience for them, they are definitely quick learners. The Giants consummated three trades before the deadline in an attempt to secure their first playoff appearance. The Hespeler Stars actually overtook Balmoral in mid-December and led by 3.0 games at one point before the Giants regained the lead in the final week of January. Its clear Balmoral doesn’t want that to happen again and so went about beefing up its roster for a playoff push.

The Giants have cooled offensively, but are still strong (.280/.344/.388 – 2nd/2nd/2nd). Their pitching has continued to improve (3.37/3.62/1.84 – 2nd/3rd/1st) and the defense has remained sturdy (.712 – 3rd).

Three Giants were selected to the All-Star game: 3B Otton Overbeek (1st), CF Damon Purcell (1st) and LF Carlton Broadbent (2nd).

Top Position Player: RF Carlton Broadbent (.329/.403/.530, 16 HR, 76 RBI, 61 R, 52 BB) is without question, the offensive leader on the team. He won the Batter of the Month honour in December. He and SS Francisco Rodríguez (.280/.328/.416, 1 HR, 44 RBI, 52 R, 24 BB, 8 SB) are rated Nos. 3 and 4 respectively among position players in the United Leagues.

Top Pitcher: The Giants’ top three starting pitchers were all recently acquired via trades: Tristan Purss and Soren Henkie in January and Henny Akerval last May. 36-year old RHP Akerval (13-7, 3.34 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) has gotten stronger with each passing month.

Key Injuries: 37-year old LHP Dave Mapp (3-3, 4.04 ERA, 1.47 WHIP) tore an upper arm muscle while pitching in a game back on November 19. He is out a further 3 weeks.

RF Shannon Walker (.238/.347/.310, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 9 R, 13 BB) was injured on a defensive play back on January 8. He could be back in a few more days.

Key Trade #1: On January 21, the Giants received 28-year old OF Andrew Jensen (56/63) from the Fort Richmond Generals. Balmoral parted with 29-year old SS Chance Doerr (23/32) and 24-year old minor league 3B Ross Andrews (22/22).

Knee-jerk reaction: After being acquired by the Generals last January for their failed playoff push, the Giants acquire him for the same reason. Jensen (.287/.343/.356, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 38 R, 28 BB) is a well-traveled veteran. He has decent offensive skills but is not the slickest of fielders. It’s not that Balmoral lacks talent in the outfield; far from it. They have 25-year old RF Carlton Broadbent (3rd overall pick, 1938), 23-year old CF Damon Purcell (2nd overall pick, 1938), 25-year old OF Ramón Tavira (7th overall pick, 1938) and 25-year old OF Lance Haworth (6th overall pick, 1939) on the 25-man roster. Add in 24-year old OF Jason Pollock (2nd round pick, 1937) down in AAA (and who the scouts say is ready for the big leagues), it’s clear that Balmoral made this move to get some playoff experience on the roster. Jensen has it: he won two United Cups while with the Kingston Pelicans.
As for the Generals, well the less said the better. No disrespect to Doerr, a one-time all-star, but Fort Richmond got nothing of value out of this deal. This trade is a microcosm of two teams going in opposite directions.

Key Trade #2: On January 29, Balmoral traded for 35-year old RHP Tristan Purss (58/58). In exchange, the Fort Richmond Generals received four minor league players:
• 21-year old RHP Jorge Martínez (28/59),
• 19-year old IF/OF José Dávila (22/57),
• 24-year old OF Alan Doyle (22/22), and
• 21-year old 3B Toby Trott (22/25).

Knee-jerk reaction: If there’s one area that the Giants are vulnerable, it’s starting pitching. They attempted to address that by acquiring Purss (in addition to Heinke and Akerval). Purss immediately becomes their No. 1 starter. While capable, Purss is more of a No. 3 or 4 pitcher on stronger rotations. He has an effective fastball and outstanding control, but he is very prone to giving up the long ball.
In return, Fort Richmond gets a couple of mid-level prospects in Martínez and Dávila. Martínez had good control and decent movement, but does not have the stuff to be more than a borderline starter. Dávila is a sure-handed defender with limited batting skills.

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The Hespeler Stars served notice on the rest of the Western League with their surge into first place in December. They faltered in January and surrendered top spot late in the month. However, they did not make any significant moves before the trade deadline, so if the Stars are heading to the playoffs for the first time in their existence, they will be doing it with a roster built largely from the draft.

The offense is taking its sweet time to mature (.262/.334/.375 – 6th/5th/3rd), but the pitching continues its strong play (3.09/3.19/2.51 – 1st/2nd/4th). The defense is the best in the United Leagues 4 months into the season (.720 – 1st).

Four Stars were selected to the All-Star game: LHP Carlton Sherrell (1st), C Aaron Skidmore (2nd), CF Vic Weetman (2nd) and RF Marcus Peyto (1st).

Top Position Player: It would appear that 24-year old CF Vic Weetman (.288/.340/.430, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 61 R, 34 BB, 10 SB) has finally found his groove. The former 1st overall pick from 1939-40 has been a decent but not great player since joining the Stars’ roster that first season. But Weetman hit .333/.343 in Dec/Jan and won the first two Player of the Week Awards of his career.

Top Pitcher: 24-year old LHP Carlton Sherrell (10-5, 2.45 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) has just been outstanding this season. Sherrell, a former 3rd round pick from 1938-39, went 5-1, 2.20 ERA and 3-1, 1.57 ERA in Dec/Jan respectively. It’s little wonder he earned his first invitation to the All-Star game and is the No. 1 starter in the rotation.

Key Injuries: 32-year old LHP Anthony Schmidt (1-3, 4.42 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) separated his hip joint while pitching on November 10. He is out for 3 more weeks.

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The Kingston Pelicans continue in lurking mode as it were, hanging just behind the league leaders ready to pounce on a vulnerable team. The Pelicans found some stability in December/January to move 7.0 games above .500 and remain just a couple of games behind the wild card. Kingston has been rather successful positioning themselves for playoff runs. Last season, they acquired SS Katsunan Chikafuji before the trade deadline, a move that helped them claim the wild card from Balmoral. This season, they traded for an outfielder to compensate for the loss of Jayden Tennant. Will it be enough? They’ve proven that you can never count out the Pelicans until the very end.

Both the offense (.269/.342/.371 – 4th/3rd/5th) and pitching (3.41/3.40/3.48 – 3rd/2nd/5th) have held steady. So has the defense (.697 – 5th) for that matter.

Seven Pelicans were selected to the All-Star roster: SP Joey Cumberledge (6th), RHP Charlie Gilbert (1st), RHP Brady Murdy (5th), 1B Fergus Chitty (6th), 2B Mo Symes (6th), SS Katsunan Chikafuji (6th) and LF Jayden Tennant (6th).

Top Position Player: 33-year old 2B Mo Symes (.319/.392/.454, 10 HR, 55 RBI, 62 R, 49 BB, 9 SB) continues to lead the team offensively; his defense though is suffering (.971 EFF).

24-year old rookie C Freddie Duran (.301/.395/.382, 2 HR, 37 RBI, 29 R, 41 BB) is holding his own against right-handed pitching. Duran was called up this year after toiling in the minors for a few years. He replaced Nick Hewat, who was summoned for military service.

Top Pitcher: 32-year old RHP Joey Cumberledge (13-6, 3.08 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) pitched well the past couple of months, particularly in December, where he went 3-1, 2.55 ERA.

Key Injuries: RF Chong-sik Lee (.318/.348/.409) tore a knee ligament in a game back on October 10. He is out for the season (3 more months).

RHP Yasushi Kobayashi (1-1, 2.63 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) injured himself while pitching back on October 25. He required surgery to remove elbow-bone chips. He is out for the season as well (2-3 more months).

LF Jayden Tennant (.333/.430/.541, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 21 R, 25 BB) broke an elbow bone after being hit by a pitch back on December 7. He is out of action for 2 months.

Key Trade: On January 10, Kingston traded for 26-year old OF Jamie Couch (61/63). In exchange, the Pulberry Trolleys received five minor league players:
• 20-year old 1B Albert Unicume (22/56),
• 21-year old 2B Kyle Bashaw (22/30),
• 22-year old SS Alan Doyle (21/29),
• 21-year old 2B Juan Estrada (22/24), and
• 24-year old OF Danny Greene (23/23).

Knee-jerk reaction: With the loss of Tennant, possibly for the rest of the season, Kingtson went out and acquired Couch (.245/.311./.315, 1 HR, 21 RBI, 28 R, 22 BB, 9 SB), a former 2nd round pick in 1939-40. Couch can hit for average, but discipline at the plate is not a strong point. He is a terrific base stealer and outstanding centerfielder, having two Top Fielder Awards under his belt. He will lead off against RH pitching and helps shore up the outfield.
In return, Pulberry gets a lot of warm bodies, but nothing on par with Couch. Personally, I thought Kingston would have been the desperate party and more willing to give up better prospect(s). For Pulberry, who has one of the weakest farm systems, this does nothing to improve their situation.

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In an effort to keep within striking distance of the league leaders, the Cambria Cannons made a series of moves to shore up their rotation and deepen their lineup. They acquired veterans RHP Jin-man Kim and 3B Louie Hetherington from the Braeland City Monarchs as well as former 1st rounder IF Thomas Murphy from the Wellington Athletics. Will the moves be enough to reach the wild card at least? The Cannons are a very good team, but the Western League is becoming uncharacteristically crowded at the top.

The offense, already a strength, has gotten better as the season has won on (.284/.347/.407 –1st/1st/1st). The good news for Cambria is that the pitching has really improved (3.73/3.90/2.46 – 4th/5th/3rd). Defensively, they are no slouches either (.713 – 2nd).

Seven Cannons were selected to the All-Star roster: RHP Leon Hankey (3rd), RHP Carl Luscombe (1st), 1B Keane Fysh (4th – since traded to Wellington), 1B Kenneth Logan (2nd), 2b Wayne Bulmer (3rd), LF Ron Westmacott (4th) and RF Clint Jones (4th).

Top Position Player: LF Ron Westmacott (.318/.423/.573, 14 HR, 60 RBI, 89 R, 68 BB, 14 SB) continues to be the offensive leader of the team and is enjoying one of the best seasons of this career.

Top Pitcher: RHP Leon Hankey (13-7, 2.92 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) was just sensational in the Dec/Jan, going 4-1, 1.98 ERA and 5-0, 2.01 ERA respectively.
29-year old RHP Darren Whiteley (9-8, 4.14 ERA, 1.51 WHIP) enjoyed a great December and won his first Pitcher of the Month Award in the process. But January was a little bumpier, as he went 0-5, 4.97 ERA.

Key Injuries: 29-year old RHP Shaun Alford (0-1, 1 SV, 2.22 ERA, 1.27 WHIP) tore his knee joint while pitching in a game on November 29. He is out for 5 more weeks.

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It would appear that the Fort Richmond Generals have opted to try a ‘quick-build, as they have unloaded veteran players for a bunch of minor leaguers. The trades of Andrew Jensen and Tristan Purss to the Balmoral Giants are completely understandable for a team that is on the outside of the playoffs looking in. But the haul the Generals got back from those trades was rather light, in my humble opinion. Fort Richmond has some really nice young players; if they could have gotten a couple more like them, then a ‘mini-build’ would just be all they would have needed. But alas, it appears they missed a great opportunity.

The offense is sturdy (.271/.341/.373 – 3rd/4th/4th), but both the pitching (4.06/3.86/5.25 – 6th/4th/8th) and defense have regressed (.679 – 8th).

Four Generals were selected to the All-Star game: RHP Oscar Burruss (5th), LHP David Nixon (1st), C Danny Trowbridge (2nd), and 3B Britt Wing (1st).

Top Position Player: SS Steven Wormleighton (.294/.327/.374, 2 HR, 34 RBI, 49 R, 18 BB, 9 SB) continues to be Fort Richmond’s offensive leader who combines outstanding defense (1.041 EFF).
24-year old 2B Shaun Attenborough (.303/.330/.510, 7 HR, 35 RBI, 39 R, 9 BB, 7 SB) was recalled from AAA in December. The former 2nd rounder from 1940-41 struggled in his brief time with the club last season, but he found his groove at the plate in January, winning Batter of the Month honours.

Top Pitcher: 30-year old LHP David Nixon (11-2, 2.56 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) has quietly put together his best season by far, his fourth season in the majors. In January, he went 3-0, 1.88 ERA. Nixon was a Rule 5 draft pick (from the Stratford Barons) back in 1939.
In contrast, team ace RHP Oscar Burress (10-11, 3.45 ERA, 1.46 WHIP) went 0-5, 6.12 ERA in December. He recovered in January, going 3-3, 3.72 ERA.

Key Injuries: 23-year old RHP Dean Stroud (3-12, 4.05 ERA, 1.44 WHIP) strained his thigh while pitching back on January 8. He is out for two more months.

32-year old LHP Jeff Wooten (3-1, 2 SV, 4.04 ERA, 1.40 WHIP) sprained his ankle in a game back on January 18. He should be back in a week.

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The Wolseley Unions have to be the most boring team in the United Leagues right now. To me, they seem to be in this endless holding pattern. Not good enough to seriously challenge for a playoff spot and not bad enough to ‘earn’ high draft picks. But their situation isn’t hopeless; they have a decent farm system (ranked 5th overall) and have some talent on the roster. But it’s nowhere near enough to shift them into high gear, at least not yet. They have only two players rated in the Top 20: LF Nicky Willis (ranked 8th overall) and RHP Aaron Saunderson (7th overall among pitchers). Not surprisingly, they were Wolseley’s two representatives at the recent All-Star game. But they can’t do it alone. Management needs to bring in a little more all-star calibre talent and end these doldrums once and for all.

The offense overall has been pitiful (.244/.320/.343 – 8th/7th/7th) as has the pitching (4.26/4.31/4.02 – 8th/8th/7th). Defense has not improved at all (.689 – 7th).

Wolseley sent two players to the All-Star game: RHP Aaron Saunderson (1st) and LF Nicky Willis (3rd).

Top Position Player: These picks were easy. RF Nicky Willis (.329/.415/.483, 13 HR, 51 RBI, 54 R, 56 BB) is only getting better as the season progresses.
23-year old 1B Craig Aiton (.265/.333/.358, 9-2B, 28 RBI, 22 R, 20 BB, 6 SB), a 2nd round pick from 1938-39, is getting his first sustained taste of the majors. He earned Rookie of the Month honours in January.

Top Pitcher: RHP Aaron Saunderson (13-8, 1.95 ERA, 1.06 WHIP) has just been sensational this season. In December, he went 4-2, 1.03 ERA in 7 starts.

Key Injuries: RHP Jean-Pierre Da Silva (4-5, 3.38 ERA, 1.44 WHIP) tore elbow ligaments back on January 14. He is gone 8 months.

2B Philip Ducat (.244/.313/.312, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 33 R, 29 BB, 4 SB) suffered a mild shoulder strain in a collision back on January 19. He could be back in a couple of days.

3B Fernando Gómez (.224/.340/.364, 5 HR, 46 RBI, 37 R, 55 BB, 3 SB) was injured in a collision at a base back on January 19. He was diagnosed with back strain and should be back in a week.

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As far as the standings are concerned, it was more of the same for the Sherburn Tigers, as the club remained firmly in the second division. But the Tigers enjoyed a few nice performances from some of their young players. It hasn’t led to much team success, at least not yet.

While Sherburn’s offense has regressed (.266/.330/.354 – 5th/6th/6th), the pitching is showing some improvement (4.10/4.17/3.54 – 7th/7th/6th). Defensive has improved modestly (.693 – 6th).

Four Tigers were selected to the All-Star roster: RHP Cris Herrera (1st), C Joe Gault (4th), 3B Harley Simmons (2nd) and RF Francis Pynchon (1st).

Top Position Player: Most of Sherburn’s hitters have run hot and cold from month to month. But 3B Harley Simmons (.299/.353/.425, 8 HR, 51 RBI, 45 R, 31 BB, 6 SB) has been Mr. Steady. His defense at the hot corner has been simply jaw-dropping (1.112 EFF).
28-year old CF Bob Guerin (.236/.301/.337, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 33 R, 25 BB, 6 SB) is enjoying his first full season at the major league level. He earned Rookie of the Month honours in December.

Top Pitcher: 23-year old RHP Roberto Taváres (11-11, 3.35 ERA, 1.42 WHIP) won his first Pitcher of the Month Award in January. The 5th overall pick from 1940-41 is looking more and more comfortable in the rotation with each passing month.
RHP Chris Herrera (7-3, 2.21 ERA, 1.38 WHIP) is looking like a solid acquisition as well. Sherburn acquired him from the Embro Suns during the offseason in a trade for RHP Myung-gu Son.

Key Injuries: 2B Damien Davis (.309/.375/.360, 8-2B, 32 RBI, 28 R, 25 BB) tore a back muscle in a collision in a game back on January 4. He is out 3-4 months.

LHP Daniel Pierson (7-2, 3.19 ERA, 1.38 WHIP) experienced shoulder swelling while pitching in a game back on November 29. He is gone for the season (4 months).

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After struggling through a horrendous stretch in November and December, Pulberry Trolleys enjoyed their first winning month in January. Whether that is indicative of this club turning the corner remains to be seen. But the Trolleys certainly have a ways to go if they want to leave the Western League basement. Certainly a more robust offense wouldn’t hurt.

Their offense (.248/.317/.338 – 7th/8th/8th) has not picked up any since the start of the season. However, the pitching (3.76/3.92/2.39 – 5th/6th/2nd) has continued to improve, if ever so slightly. The defense continues to hold steady (.700 – 4th).

The Trolleys sent three players to the All-Star game: RHP Nathaniel Martin (2nd), RHP Morgan Tice (1st) and SS Wenceslas Jasmin (1st).

Top Position Player: SS Wenceslas Jasmin (.287/.362/.375, 2 HR, 32 RBI, 58 R, 47 BB, 11 SB) bounced back after a frustrating November and is by far Pulberry’s top position player this year. He has been solid on defense as well (1.021 EFF).

Top Pitcher: 25-year old RHP Morgan Tice (6-1, 6 SV, 2.04 ERA, 1.25 WHIP) has been sensational in his second season in the United Leagues. In January, he went 5-0, 0.60 ERA in 15.0 IP.

Key Injuries: 33-year old 1B Byron Tope (.262/.323/.369, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 29 R, 25 BB) strained his groin while running the bases back on January 22. He is out a further 4-5 weeks.

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03-10-2016, 06:51 PM	#231
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,899	February 1, 1943 Western League: Giants, Stars Leading the Pack -------- The Giants of Balmoral are in unfamiliar territory as they find themselves buyers instead of sellers this season. But if it’s a new experience for them, they are definitely quick learners. The Giants consummated three trades before the deadline in an attempt to secure their first playoff appearance. The Hespeler Stars actually overtook Balmoral in mid-December and led by 3.0 games at one point before the Giants regained the lead in the final week of January. Its clear Balmoral doesn’t want that to happen again and so went about beefing up its roster for a playoff push. The Giants have cooled offensively, but are still strong (.280/.344/.388 – 2nd/2nd/2nd). Their pitching has continued to improve (3.37/3.62/1.84 – 2nd/3rd/1st) and the defense has remained sturdy (.712 – 3rd). Three Giants were selected to the All-Star game: 3B Otton Overbeek (1st), CF Damon Purcell (1st) and LF Carlton Broadbent (2nd). *Top Position Player:* RF Carlton Broadbent (.329/.403/.530, 16 HR, 76 RBI, 61 R, 52 BB) is without question, the offensive leader on the team. He won the Batter of the Month honour in December. He and SS Francisco Rodríguez (.280/.328/.416, 1 HR, 44 RBI, 52 R, 24 BB, 8 SB) are rated Nos. 3 and 4 respectively among position players in the United Leagues. *Top Pitcher:* The Giants’ top three starting pitchers were all recently acquired via trades: Tristan Purss and Soren Henkie in January and Henny Akerval last May. 36-year old RHP Akerval (13-7, 3.34 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) has gotten stronger with each passing month. *Key Injuries:* 37-year old LHP Dave Mapp (3-3, 4.04 ERA, 1.47 WHIP) tore an upper arm muscle while pitching in a game back on November 19. He is out a further 3 weeks. RF Shannon Walker (.238/.347/.310, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 9 R, 13 BB) was injured on a defensive play back on January 8. He could be back in a few more days. *Key Trade #1:* On January 21, the Giants received 28-year old OF Andrew Jensen (56/63) from the Fort Richmond Generals. Balmoral parted with 29-year old SS Chance Doerr (23/32) and 24-year old minor league 3B Ross Andrews (22/22). *Knee-jerk reaction:* After being acquired by the Generals last January for their failed playoff push, the Giants acquire him for the same reason. Jensen (.287/.343/.356, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 38 R, 28 BB) is a well-traveled veteran. He has decent offensive skills but is not the slickest of fielders. It’s not that Balmoral lacks talent in the outfield; far from it. They have 25-year old RF Carlton Broadbent (3rd overall pick, 1938), 23-year old CF Damon Purcell (2nd overall pick, 1938), 25-year old OF Ramón Tavira (7th overall pick, 1938) and 25-year old OF Lance Haworth (6th overall pick, 1939) on the 25-man roster. Add in 24-year old OF Jason Pollock (2nd round pick, 1937) down in AAA (and who the scouts say is ready for the big leagues), it’s clear that Balmoral made this move to get some playoff experience on the roster. Jensen has it: he won two United Cups while with the Kingston Pelicans. As for the Generals, well the less said the better. No disrespect to Doerr, a one-time all-star, but Fort Richmond got nothing of value out of this deal. This trade is a microcosm of two teams going in opposite directions. *Key Trade #2:* On January 29, Balmoral traded for 35-year old RHP Tristan Purss (58/58). In exchange, the Fort Richmond Generals received four minor league players: • 21-year old RHP Jorge Martínez (28/59), • 19-year old IF/OF José Dávila (22/57), • 24-year old OF Alan Doyle (22/22), and • 21-year old 3B Toby Trott (22/25). *Knee-jerk reaction:* If there’s one area that the Giants are vulnerable, it’s starting pitching. They attempted to address that by acquiring Purss (in addition to Heinke and Akerval). Purss immediately becomes their No. 1 starter. While capable, Purss is more of a No. 3 or 4 pitcher on stronger rotations. He has an effective fastball and outstanding control, but he is very prone to giving up the long ball. In return, Fort Richmond gets a couple of mid-level prospects in Martínez and Dávila. Martínez had good control and decent movement, but does not have the stuff to be more than a borderline starter. Dávila is a sure-handed defender with limited batting skills. -------- The Hespeler Stars served notice on the rest of the Western League with their surge into first place in December. They faltered in January and surrendered top spot late in the month. However, they did not make any significant moves before the trade deadline, so if the Stars are heading to the playoffs for the first time in their existence, they will be doing it with a roster built largely from the draft. The offense is taking its sweet time to mature (.262/.334/.375 – 6th/5th/3rd), but the pitching continues its strong play (3.09/3.19/2.51 – 1st/2nd/4th). The defense is the best in the United Leagues 4 months into the season (.720 – 1st). Four Stars were selected to the All-Star game: LHP Carlton Sherrell (1st), C Aaron Skidmore (2nd), CF Vic Weetman (2nd) and RF Marcus Peyto (1st). *Top Position Player:* It would appear that 24-year old CF Vic Weetman (.288/.340/.430, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 61 R, 34 BB, 10 SB) has finally found his groove. The former 1st overall pick from 1939-40 has been a decent but not great player since joining the Stars’ roster that first season. But Weetman hit .333/.343 in Dec/Jan and won the first two Player of the Week Awards of his career. *Top Pitcher:* 24-year old LHP Carlton Sherrell (10-5, 2.45 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) has just been outstanding this season. Sherrell, a former 3rd round pick from 1938-39, went 5-1, 2.20 ERA and 3-1, 1.57 ERA in Dec/Jan respectively. It’s little wonder he earned his first invitation to the All-Star game and is the No. 1 starter in the rotation. *Key Injuries:* 32-year old LHP Anthony Schmidt (1-3, 4.42 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) separated his hip joint while pitching on November 10. He is out for 3 more weeks. -------- The Kingston Pelicans continue in lurking mode as it were, hanging just behind the league leaders ready to pounce on a vulnerable team. The Pelicans found some stability in December/January to move 7.0 games above .500 and remain just a couple of games behind the wild card. Kingston has been rather successful positioning themselves for playoff runs. Last season, they acquired SS Katsunan Chikafuji before the trade deadline, a move that helped them claim the wild card from Balmoral. This season, they traded for an outfielder to compensate for the loss of Jayden Tennant. Will it be enough? They’ve proven that you can never count out the Pelicans until the very end. Both the offense (.269/.342/.371 – 4th/3rd/5th) and pitching (3.41/3.40/3.48 – 3rd/2nd/5th) have held steady. So has the defense (.697 – 5th) for that matter. Seven Pelicans were selected to the All-Star roster: SP Joey Cumberledge (6th), RHP Charlie Gilbert (1st), RHP Brady Murdy (5th), 1B Fergus Chitty (6th), 2B Mo Symes (6th), SS Katsunan Chikafuji (6th) and LF Jayden Tennant (6th). *Top Position Player:* 33-year old 2B Mo Symes (.319/.392/.454, 10 HR, 55 RBI, 62 R, 49 BB, 9 SB) continues to lead the team offensively; his defense though is suffering (.971 EFF). 24-year old rookie C Freddie Duran (.301/.395/.382, 2 HR, 37 RBI, 29 R, 41 BB) is holding his own against right-handed pitching. Duran was called up this year after toiling in the minors for a few years. He replaced Nick Hewat, who was summoned for military service. *Top Pitcher:* 32-year old RHP Joey Cumberledge (13-6, 3.08 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) pitched well the past couple of months, particularly in December, where he went 3-1, 2.55 ERA. *Key Injuries:* RF Chong-sik Lee (.318/.348/.409) tore a knee ligament in a game back on October 10. He is out for the season (3 more months). RHP Yasushi Kobayashi (1-1, 2.63 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) injured himself while pitching back on October 25. He required surgery to remove elbow-bone chips. He is out for the season as well (2-3 more months). LF Jayden Tennant (.333/.430/.541, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 21 R, 25 BB) broke an elbow bone after being hit by a pitch back on December 7. He is out of action for 2 months. *Key Trade:* On January 10, Kingston traded for 26-year old OF Jamie Couch (61/63). In exchange, the Pulberry Trolleys received five minor league players: • 20-year old 1B Albert Unicume (22/56), • 21-year old 2B Kyle Bashaw (22/30), • 22-year old SS Alan Doyle (21/29), • 21-year old 2B Juan Estrada (22/24), and • 24-year old OF Danny Greene (23/23). *Knee-jerk reaction:* With the loss of Tennant, possibly for the rest of the season, Kingtson went out and acquired Couch (.245/.311./.315, 1 HR, 21 RBI, 28 R, 22 BB, 9 SB), a former 2nd round pick in 1939-40. Couch can hit for average, but discipline at the plate is not a strong point. He is a terrific base stealer and outstanding centerfielder, having two Top Fielder Awards under his belt. He will lead off against RH pitching and helps shore up the outfield. In return, Pulberry gets a lot of warm bodies, but nothing on par with Couch. Personally, I thought Kingston would have been the desperate party and more willing to give up better prospect(s). For Pulberry, who has one of the weakest farm systems, this does nothing to improve their situation. -------- In an effort to keep within striking distance of the league leaders, the Cambria Cannons made a series of moves to shore up their rotation and deepen their lineup. They acquired veterans RHP Jin-man Kim and 3B Louie Hetherington from the Braeland City Monarchs as well as former 1st rounder IF Thomas Murphy from the Wellington Athletics. Will the moves be enough to reach the wild card at least? The Cannons are a very good team, but the Western League is becoming uncharacteristically crowded at the top. The offense, already a strength, has gotten better as the season has won on (.284/.347/.407 –1st/1st/1st). The good news for Cambria is that the pitching has really improved (3.73/3.90/2.46 – 4th/5th/3rd). Defensively, they are no slouches either (.713 – 2nd). Seven Cannons were selected to the All-Star roster: RHP Leon Hankey (3rd), RHP Carl Luscombe (1st), 1B Keane Fysh (4th – since traded to Wellington), 1B Kenneth Logan (2nd), 2b Wayne Bulmer (3rd), LF Ron Westmacott (4th) and RF Clint Jones (4th). *Top Position Player:* LF Ron Westmacott (.318/.423/.573, 14 HR, 60 RBI, 89 R, 68 BB, 14 SB) continues to be the offensive leader of the team and is enjoying one of the best seasons of this career. *Top Pitcher:* RHP Leon Hankey (13-7, 2.92 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) was just sensational in the Dec/Jan, going 4-1, 1.98 ERA and 5-0, 2.01 ERA respectively. 29-year old RHP Darren Whiteley (9-8, 4.14 ERA, 1.51 WHIP) enjoyed a great December and won his first Pitcher of the Month Award in the process. But January was a little bumpier, as he went 0-5, 4.97 ERA. *Key Injuries:* 29-year old RHP Shaun Alford (0-1, 1 SV, 2.22 ERA, 1.27 WHIP) tore his knee joint while pitching in a game on November 29. He is out for 5 more weeks. -------- It would appear that the Fort Richmond Generals have opted to try a ‘quick-build, as they have unloaded veteran players for a bunch of minor leaguers. The trades of Andrew Jensen and Tristan Purss to the Balmoral Giants are completely understandable for a team that is on the outside of the playoffs looking in. But the haul the Generals got back from those trades was rather light, in my humble opinion. Fort Richmond has some really nice young players; if they could have gotten a couple more like them, then a ‘mini-build’ would just be all they would have needed. But alas, it appears they missed a great opportunity. The offense is sturdy (.271/.341/.373 – 3rd/4th/4th), but both the pitching (4.06/3.86/5.25 – 6th/4th/8th) and defense have regressed (.679 – 8th). Four Generals were selected to the All-Star game: RHP Oscar Burruss (5th), LHP David Nixon (1st), C Danny Trowbridge (2nd), and 3B Britt Wing (1st). *Top Position Player:* SS Steven Wormleighton (.294/.327/.374, 2 HR, 34 RBI, 49 R, 18 BB, 9 SB) continues to be Fort Richmond’s offensive leader who combines outstanding defense (1.041 EFF). 24-year old 2B Shaun Attenborough (.303/.330/.510, 7 HR, 35 RBI, 39 R, 9 BB, 7 SB) was recalled from AAA in December. The former 2nd rounder from 1940-41 struggled in his brief time with the club last season, but he found his groove at the plate in January, winning Batter of the Month honours. *Top Pitcher:* 30-year old LHP David Nixon (11-2, 2.56 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) has quietly put together his best season by far, his fourth season in the majors. In January, he went 3-0, 1.88 ERA. Nixon was a Rule 5 draft pick (from the Stratford Barons) back in 1939. In contrast, team ace RHP Oscar Burress (10-11, 3.45 ERA, 1.46 WHIP) went 0-5, 6.12 ERA in December. He recovered in January, going 3-3, 3.72 ERA. *Key Injuries:* 23-year old RHP Dean Stroud (3-12, 4.05 ERA, 1.44 WHIP) strained his thigh while pitching back on January 8. He is out for two more months. 32-year old LHP Jeff Wooten (3-1, 2 SV, 4.04 ERA, 1.40 WHIP) sprained his ankle in a game back on January 18. He should be back in a week. -------- The Wolseley Unions have to be the most boring team in the United Leagues right now. To me, they seem to be in this endless holding pattern. Not good enough to seriously challenge for a playoff spot and not bad enough to ‘earn’ high draft picks. But their situation isn’t hopeless; they have a decent farm system (ranked 5th overall) and have some talent on the roster. But it’s nowhere near enough to shift them into high gear, at least not yet. They have only two players rated in the Top 20: LF Nicky Willis (ranked 8th overall) and RHP Aaron Saunderson (7th overall among pitchers). Not surprisingly, they were Wolseley’s two representatives at the recent All-Star game. But they can’t do it alone. Management needs to bring in a little more all-star calibre talent and end these doldrums once and for all. The offense overall has been pitiful (.244/.320/.343 – 8th/7th/7th) as has the pitching (4.26/4.31/4.02 – 8th/8th/7th). Defense has not improved at all (.689 – 7th). Wolseley sent two players to the All-Star game: RHP Aaron Saunderson (1st) and LF Nicky Willis (3rd). *Top Position Player:* These picks were easy. RF Nicky Willis (.329/.415/.483, 13 HR, 51 RBI, 54 R, 56 BB) is only getting better as the season progresses. 23-year old 1B Craig Aiton (.265/.333/.358, 9-2B, 28 RBI, 22 R, 20 BB, 6 SB), a 2nd round pick from 1938-39, is getting his first sustained taste of the majors. He earned Rookie of the Month honours in January. *Top Pitcher:* RHP Aaron Saunderson (13-8, 1.95 ERA, 1.06 WHIP) has just been sensational this season. In December, he went 4-2, 1.03 ERA in 7 starts. *Key Injuries:* RHP Jean-Pierre Da Silva (4-5, 3.38 ERA, 1.44 WHIP) tore elbow ligaments back on January 14. He is gone 8 months. 2B Philip Ducat (.244/.313/.312, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 33 R, 29 BB, 4 SB) suffered a mild shoulder strain in a collision back on January 19. He could be back in a couple of days. 3B Fernando Gómez (.224/.340/.364, 5 HR, 46 RBI, 37 R, 55 BB, 3 SB) was injured in a collision at a base back on January 19. He was diagnosed with back strain and should be back in a week. -------- As far as the standings are concerned, it was more of the same for the Sherburn Tigers, as the club remained firmly in the second division. But the Tigers enjoyed a few nice performances from some of their young players. It hasn’t led to much team success, at least not yet. While Sherburn’s offense has regressed (.266/.330/.354 – 5th/6th/6th), the pitching is showing some improvement (4.10/4.17/3.54 – 7th/7th/6th). Defensive has improved modestly (.693 – 6th). Four Tigers were selected to the All-Star roster: RHP Cris Herrera (1st), C Joe Gault (4th), 3B Harley Simmons (2nd) and RF Francis Pynchon (1st). *Top Position Player:* Most of Sherburn’s hitters have run hot and cold from month to month. But 3B Harley Simmons (.299/.353/.425, 8 HR, 51 RBI, 45 R, 31 BB, 6 SB) has been Mr. Steady. His defense at the hot corner has been simply jaw-dropping (1.112 EFF). 28-year old CF Bob Guerin (.236/.301/.337, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 33 R, 25 BB, 6 SB) is enjoying his first full season at the major league level. He earned Rookie of the Month honours in December. *Top Pitcher:* 23-year old RHP Roberto Taváres (11-11, 3.35 ERA, 1.42 WHIP) won his first Pitcher of the Month Award in January. The 5th overall pick from 1940-41 is looking more and more comfortable in the rotation with each passing month. RHP Chris Herrera (7-3, 2.21 ERA, 1.38 WHIP) is looking like a solid acquisition as well. Sherburn acquired him from the Embro Suns during the offseason in a trade for RHP Myung-gu Son. *Key Injuries:* 2B Damien Davis (.309/.375/.360, 8-2B, 32 RBI, 28 R, 25 BB) tore a back muscle in a collision in a game back on January 4. He is out 3-4 months. LHP Daniel Pierson (7-2, 3.19 ERA, 1.38 WHIP) experienced shoulder swelling while pitching in a game back on November 29. He is gone for the season (4 months). -------- After struggling through a horrendous stretch in November and December, Pulberry Trolleys enjoyed their first winning month in January. Whether that is indicative of this club turning the corner remains to be seen. But the Trolleys certainly have a ways to go if they want to leave the Western League basement. Certainly a more robust offense wouldn’t hurt. Their offense (.248/.317/.338 – 7th/8th/8th) has not picked up any since the start of the season. However, the pitching (3.76/3.92/2.39 – 5th/6th/2nd) has continued to improve, if ever so slightly. The defense continues to hold steady (.700 – 4th). The Trolleys sent three players to the All-Star game: RHP Nathaniel Martin (2nd), RHP Morgan Tice (1st) and SS Wenceslas Jasmin (1st). *Top Position Player:* SS Wenceslas Jasmin (.287/.362/.375, 2 HR, 32 RBI, 58 R, 47 BB, 11 SB) bounced back after a frustrating November and is by far Pulberry’s top position player this year. He has been solid on defense as well (1.021 EFF). *Top Pitcher:* 25-year old RHP Morgan Tice (6-1, 6 SV, 2.04 ERA, 1.25 WHIP) has been sensational in his second season in the United Leagues. In January, he went 5-0, 0.60 ERA in 15.0 IP. *Key Injuries:* 33-year old 1B Byron Tope (.262/.323/.369, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 29 R, 25 BB) strained his groin while running the bases back on January 22. He is out a further 4-5 weeks. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 07-05-2017 at 12:12 AM.