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reds1 · 03-14-2016, 06:45 PM

March 30, 1943

Eastern League: Return of the Titans

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It took 12 innings of the 155th game of a 154-game season, but the Embro Suns finally prevailed over the Brunswick Legends in winning top spot in the Eastern League and securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs. It’s the second consecutive season that the Suns and Legends have finished 1-2 in the East respectively. Both teams were predicted to finish on top, but their sheer dominance over all other teams was amazing. But it remains to be seen if Embro can translate that into playoff success, something they have not a lot of. They may be a 104-win team, but they will still be facing a 103-team for the Pennant.

The offense wasn’t as strong as in other seasons (.263/.342/.369 – 6th/3rd/5th) but steadily improved as the season wore on. Pitching was tops in the League (2.96/3.05/1.97 – 1st/2nd/1st – ERA/Starter’s ERA/Bullpen ERA). Ominously though, RHP Colm Soper (17-8, 2 SV, 1.19 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 2.47 FIP) has fallen from elite pitcher status. Rated as the No. 1 pitcher in the entire United Leagues as recently as February 1, Soper has dropped out of the Top 20 altogether and finds himself in the bullpen as the playoffs are set to begin. That’s probably because his stamina has fallen to ‘35’. The five-time all-star is still rated as 80/80, but Embro could really miss his presence in the rotation.
Their defense remained strong (.699 – 2nd); their 8 errors in the one-game playoff notwithstanding.

Top Position Player – Season: Overall, the offense had a down year. That included 28-year old 1B Jim Friend (.313/.397/.469, 19 HR, 109 RBI, 100 R, 89 BB, 5.0 WAR), who won his second Batter of the Month Award of this season in March. 29-year old CF Terence Durney (.274/.387/.419, 12 HR, 66 RBI, 106 R, 105 BB, 8 SB, 5.3 WAR) was a contender as well; his defense at CF (10.6 ZR, 1.032 EFF, 7 E) was strong once again. One can only imagine how many games the Suns would have won had the offense been firing on all cylinders this season.

Top Pitcher – Season: Just like last season, Embro enjoyed three starters with 20+ victories. 28-year old RHP Myung-gu Son (23-8, 2.57 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 2.75 FIP) enjoyed his best season thus far since coming over from the Sherburn Tigers in a trade last May.
RHP Pete Allison (21-10, 3.39 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 3.53 FIP) and LHP Edward Hill (20-11, 3.14 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.36 FIP) also boasted 20+ win seasons.

Team Goat: This item is for players that I deemed got way too much playing time to justify their anemic performance over the course of the season. Now, for a team that won 104 games and finished in first place, this might be deemed a useless exercise. But useless exercises are my specialty.
For Embro, I’m going to pick on 32-year old C Denzel Fontaine (.233/.295/.289, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 38 R, 36 BB, 1 SB, 0.8 WAR in 336 AB). The Suns did not get a lot of production from its catcher position. Fontaine was solid defensively behind the plate, but his paltry bat did not help much. If he was just a bit more productive, the Suns may have avoided having to play the one-game playoff altogether.

Key Injuries: RF Spencer Marsland (.304/.336/.425, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 39 R, 12 BB, 8 SB, 1.4 WAR) fractured his ankle on a defensive play in a game back on February 1. He is out a further 2-3 months.

SS Gary Watkinson (.278/.395/.323, 2 HR, 66 RBI, 76 R, 88 BB, 3.3 WAR) strained a rib cage muscle on a defensive play back on March 13. He could be back in 4 days.

On March 20, CF Terence Durney suffered shoulder soreness, also on a defensive play. He will miss two more weeks.

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Despite their incredibly strong play this season, 103 victories was not quite enough for the Brunswick Legends to finish in first place for the first time in their history. So if they are going to repeat as United Cup champions, they will have to do it as a wild card team once again. And they will have to get past the Suns to do it – once again.

The offense rebounded big time in the final two months of the season to finish tops in the East (.283/.352/.404 – 1st/1st/1st). The pitching staff was right on the heels of Embro (2.99/2.99/3.02 – 2nd/1st/3rd). Only on defense did they stumble (.682 – 8th).

Top Position Player – Season: Absolutely, positively no contest. RF Mark Elston (.334/.469/.567, 29 HR, 111 RBI, 111 R, 141 BB, 7.3 WAR) rebounded from a ruptured Achillies tendon that wiped out his season last year to post his best season yet. He won his third Batter of the Month Award in February. The Legends have a pretty solid lineup, but Elston was head and shoulders over all this year. More is mentioned in the Noteworthy section below.

Top Pitcher – Season: Brunswick has a strong starting rotation as well. This year, 32-year old Matthew Monroe (23-5, 2.49 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 2.73 FIP) enjoyed perhaps his best season in the United Leagues with his first 20+ victory campaign.
LHP Anastasio Rodríguez (18-11, 2.65 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 2.37 FIP) and LHP Hirotada Fukushima (18-12, 3.30 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 2.93 FIP) each had strong campaigns as well.
No. 4 starter LHP Wilson Villas (21-7, 3.26 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.33 FIP) won his first Pitcher of the Month honour in March.

Team Goat: Brunswick came oh-so-close to finishing in first place, so I thought it would be fairly easy to identify a player that could have done a bit more. But the Legends had no glaring weakness. If they were perhaps just a little more fortunate than Embro (Brunswick’s Pyt. Record was 100-54, while Embro’s was 98-57), then they might be the ones enjoying home-field advantage throughout of the playoffs.

Key Injuries: C Maurice Evans (.297/.350/.477, 11 HR, 56 RBI, 53 R, 29 BB, 3.4 WAR) sprained his knee while running along the bases back in the playoff game against the Embro Suns on March 29. He is out 1-2 weeks.

Noteworthy: Declaring that he “can still keep up with those young guys”, 34-year old Mark Elston not only won the Eastern League batting title, but became the first batter to win the Triple Crown in ULB history. In fact, he led the entire United Leagues in eight offensive categories this season.
RHP Brady Murdy won the Pitching Triple Crown in 1938-39. They are the only two players thus far to accomplish the feat.

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The Queensland Eagles finished in third place in the East this season, but it was a hollow achievement. The Eagles were merely a little better than the rest of the pack that finished way behind Embro and Brunswick. But with a deep farm system and shrewd acquisitions of young talent, like 26-year olds Jon Mareau and Merlin Teeters, the Eagles may be primed to make a serious challenge for a playoff spot in the next season or two.

The offense was consistent all-season long (.265/.323/.375 – 5th/6th/3rd). Nothing great, but not terrible either. The pitching saw a modest improvement towards the end (3.44/3.38/3.97 – 4th/4th/7th). Queensland remained strong on defense (.697 – 3rd).

Top Position Player – Season: CF Jon Moreau (.305/.342/.456, 9 HR, 77 RBI, 83 R, 36 BB, 8 SB, 5.8 WAR) was the top Eagle this season, especially combined with his terrific defense in the field (3.09 RNG, +11.5 ZR, 1.035 EFF, 9 E).

Top Pitcher – Season: Once again, RHP Stewart Colcott (19-14, 2.76 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 2.89 FIP) was Queensland’s most consistent pitcher. He went 2-3, 1.70 ERA in January. Not that ERA is solely a pitcher’s stat, but Colcott’s ERA in February/March was 1.70 and 1.74 respectively in 11 starts, 94.1 IP. This guy knows how to pitch.

Team Goat: 22-year old SS Dermott Akers (.251/.303/.376, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 36 R, 26 BB, 0.2 WAR in 378 AB) is just in his first full season in the United Leagues and the former second rounder from 1940-41 did win a Rookie of the Month Award in November. But it was all downhill after that, and his poor defense (4.83 RNG, -8.5 ZR, .963 EFF, 40 E) did little to help the Queensland cause.

Key Injuries: RHP Francisco López (14-7, 3.43 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 3.86 FIP) required surgery to remove elbow-bone chips resulting from a game back on February 18. The 25-year old is out a further 6-7 months.

C Dave Wilson (.273/.343/.409, 10 HR, 42 RBI, 42 R, 43 BB, 2.7 WAR) strained his neck muscles while running the bases back on March 20. He should be fully recovered in a week.

Noteworthy: 1B Merlin Teeters (.297/.341/.471, 21 HR, 107 RBI, 78 R, 46 BB, 3.3 WAR) enjoyed the longest hitting streak of the season, reaching 26 consecutive games. It ended on March 11 when he went 0-3 against the Brunswick Legends. Queensland lost 3-0.
It is the longest hitting streak in the ULB since Colin Strudwick hit safely in 29 straight games back in 1939-40. Okura Ito holds the all-time record of 30, accomplished in 1938-39.

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The Wellington Athletics have been regressing over that past three years, but they still managed to finish 2 games above .500. The Athletics’ focus is on rebuilding and on that front, they appear to be making progress. Their farm system has improved from 9th to 6th in depth and one of their lower ranked prospects, 25-year old CF Stewart Cuthbertson (.311/.387/.471, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 25 R, 15 BB, 7 SB, 1.0 WAR) reached the majors in February. In March, the former 4th rounder from 1938-39 won Rookie of the Month honours.

The offense held steady (.274/.341/.369 – 2nd/4th/6th), but the pitching regressed towards the end (3.75/3.61/4.62 – 6th/5th/8th). The defense also faltered (.683 – 7th).

Top Position Player – Season: He lost some steam in the final two months of the campaign, but 30-year old 2B Brian Main (.291/.337/.458, 15 HR, 87 RBI, 100 R, 44 BB, 16 SB, 5.4 WAR) was easily Wellington’s top player, dividing his time almost equally between shortstop and second base, and providing solid defense at both positions.

Top Pitcher – Season: SP Clyde Boney (21-10, 2.59 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 2.65 FIP) was simply outstanding this season; a return to form of sorts for the 33-year old who had a somewhat down year last season.

Team Goat: 35-year old CF Kade Limeburner (.259/.357/.415, 6 HR, 37 RBI, 31 R, 32 BB, 0.3 WAR in 205 AB) has been regressing the past few years, but none were more unproductive than this past season. Out for 3 months due to brain fever, Limeburner just couldn’t get things going after that. But it was his struggles on defense (2.70 RNG, -7.7 ZR, .881 EFF, 5 E) that earned him the goat horns.

Key Injuries: SS Charles Halse (.333/.471/.556, 2-3B, 10 RBI, 5 R, 7 BB, 0.5 WAR) tore a knee ligament while running the bases back on January 18. He is out 4 more months.

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The story of the Braeland City Monarchs this season was the decimation of the starting lineup and rotation, as six of their key players went down for extended periods. The Monarchs put up a game fight to remain competitive, but in March, the bottom fell out and they fell to 5th place in the East. Braeland City embarked on a rebuilding project this season, but it will take a bit more, as their farm system is one of the weakest in the ULB (13th overall).

The offense slowly began to fade in the final months (.274/.343/.380 – 3rd/2nd/2nd) but was still one of the best in the East. The pitching was respectable as well (3.63/3.67/3.20 – 5th/56th/4th), considering the injuries. The defense remained middle of the road (.691 – 5th).

Top Position Player – Season: Like the rest of the offense, C Kane Broom (.288/.343/.381, 7 HR, 76 RBI, 77 R, 49 BB, 3.5 WAR) slowed down just a bit in March. But he was Braeland City’s top offensive player in what was a challenging season.

Top Pitcher – Season: LHP Max MacColl (19-12, 3.26 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.33 FIP) was the Monarchs’ most consistent pitcher this season. In February, he went 5-0, 3.12 ERA. But like the rest of the team, he struggled in March (1-4, 4.59 ERA).

Team Goat: It was not a good year for 38-year old RHP Frank Leadbeater (5-15, 1 SV, 4.77 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 4.45 FIP). After being claimed off waivers from Wellington in December, Leadbeater could only manage 5-12, 4.13 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 4.22 FIP.

Key Injuries: On November 29, 2B Trevor Bolan (.317/.356/.471, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 37 R, 12 BB, 2 SB, 1.4 WAR) broke his knee cap while running the bases. He could be back in 5 weeks.

SP David Cooling (12-6, 3.09 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 118 ERA+) tore an elbow ligament in a game on January 27. He is out of action for another 4 months.

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The Stratford Barons were projected to win 78 games this season. The projection was not far off the mark, as they won 76. It would appear then that the Barons are at a crossroads. For despite the talent they have and just being two seasons removed from their United Cup championship, the Barons are heading in the wrong direction. While to me it would seem they still have a playoff caliber team, the players’ performances are not bearing that out. I would not be surprised if Stratford keeps this core together one more season to see if they can bounce back. But if it’s more of the same, then perhaps it will be time to blow things up.

The offense (.266/.334/.372 – 4th/5th/4th) was underwhelming this season; however, the pitching (3.32/3.37/2.91 – 3rd/3rd/2nd) steadily improved. The defense remained middle of the road (6th – .688).

Top Position Player – Season: It was not a great season offensively for the Barons, but C Geoff Lemoine (.271/.381/.411, 10 HR, 41 RBI, 47 R, 68 BB, 3.2 WAR) was a great story, a former 5th round pick that had been traded a couple of times and now finding a home as the Barons’ starting catcher. Last season in the minors, he won the Surf Coast Leagues’ Lou Gehrig Award for Batter of the Year.

Top Pitcher – Season: Too close to call, as both LHP Ryan Borden (13-18, 3.15 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 2.87 FIP) and LHP Joel Fearn (15-11, 3.28 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 2.83 FIP) had fine seasons, despite the team’s struggles.

Team Goat: 27-year old OF Finlay Petty (.231/.275/.323, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 33 R, 17 BB, -0.3 WAR in 251 AB) was acquired in the offseason; but his first year with Stratford was not a sterling one. When Steven Winstanley went down to injury, Petty was just not up to the challenge.

Key Injuries: 2B Maurice Keyworth (.283/.333/.402, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 47 R, 19 BB, 10 SB, 1.3 WAR) was injured again in a collision at a base back on March 7. He missed a month of action.

RHP Kelvin Hutchinson (6-9, 3.87 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 3.75 FIP) suffered shoulder swelling while pitching in a game back on February 3. He could be throwing again in a couple of weeks.

LF Steven Winstanley (.271/.363/.420, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 49 R, 56 BB, 2.7 WAR) fractured a rib while running the bases. He missed almost 6 weeks and finished the season on a rehab assignment.

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The Downie Chiefs finished just one game out of last place this season, losers of 95 games. But that shouldn’t be too surprising for a team that featured seven rookies in its starting lineup by season’s end. The Chiefs are giving every opportunity for their young prospects to show what they can do at the major league level. A couple players had their moments here or there, but the majority experienced acute growing pains.

Given how green the lineup was, it wasn’t surprising that the offense (.249/.303/.337 – 8th/8th/7th) was near or at the bottom. The pitching was underwhelming as well (4.16/4.30/3.29 – 8th/8th/5th). The one bright spot was defense (.699 – 1st).

Top Position Player – Season: 23-year old OF Ricardo Castellanos (.262/.316/.449, 13 HR, 69 RBI, 61 R, 38 BB, 3.0 WAR) was his team’s lone representative to this season’s All-Star game, and was Downie’s most consistent offensive player. He was also a decent defender in the field, playing mostly in centerfield this season (3.10 RNG, +4.4 ZR, 1.021 EFF, 12 E).

Top Pitcher – Season: A forgetful year for pitchers on the Downie staff. Case in point, 29-year old RHP Manuel Páez (9-21, 4.69 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 3.77 FIP) was as good as it got in the rotation, as far as FIP and WAR (2.5) was concerned. If only Páez could have gotten better run support.

Team Goat: I’d hate to pick on a rookie, but sometimes these selections reflect more on the team than it does on the player himself. But 23-year old 2B Junji Seki (.217/.270/.279, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 49 R, 29 BB, -0.1 WAR in 438 AB) was given just too much playing time. His lacklustre performance simply didn’t justify it. He did win a Rookie of the Month Award for February, but that was due more to the lack of outstanding candidates that month than to Seki’s play.

Key Injuries: RF Harrison Brooks (.286/.394/.446, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 10 R, 10 BB) suffered a broken kneecap back on October 25. He is out 1-2 more weeks.

Ricardo Castellanos bruised a wrist bone on a defensive play back on March 20. He will be laid up a further week.

Junji Seki tore a thumb ligament in a collision in a game back on March 21. He will be sitting idle for a further 4-5 weeks.

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The Cobourg Red Stockings managed to avoid losing 100+ games, the first time in two seasons. A small victory to be sure, but the Red Stockings did appear to be more competitive this season as they enjoyed four out of six months with at least 10 victories. The Red Stockings have their main prospects now on the big league roster and are patiently waiting for them to find their groove.

Neither offense 251/.308/.334 – 7th/7th/8th) or pitching (4.09/4.12/3.85 – 7th/7th/6th) wall all that good, but they did improve overall as the season progressed, giving Cobourg some optimism. The defense held steady to finish the season in the middle of the pack (.696 – 4th).

Top Position Player – Season: IF Dennis Borton (.281/.323/.356, 4 HR, 72 RBI, 55 R, 39 BB, 17 SB, 3.5 WAR) caught fire in February and March, batting .300 and .323 respectively. He just finished his third full season in the ULB and the former 12th overall pick from 1937-38 is quickly becoming the cornerstone of the lineup. If the other young players can soon follow suit, then Cobourg’s days in the basement may be numbered.

Top Pitcher – Season: 33-year old RHP In-sin Ahn (10-6, 1 SV, 3.47 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 3.49 FIP) proved to be wise waiver wire pickup as he was Cobourg’s best pitcher overall this season, even though he didn’t get his first start for the Red Stockings until January. The change of scenery seemed to suit Ahn, as he earned his first career Pitcher of the Month Award in February.

Team Goat: 3B Shelby Cain (.209/.295/.313, 4 HR, 39 RBI, 41 R, 48 BB, 1.5 WAR in 402 AB) is another coveted prospect that the Red Stockings have on their roster. But the former 1st overall pick from 1941-42 was perhaps thrown into the cleanup spot a tad early, as he just didn’t produce enough to justify holding down such a key role in the lineup. He was outstanding on defense though (2.65 RNG, +10.4 ZR, 1.057 EFF, 15 E).

Key Injuries: RHP Tom Mayor (0-0, 2 SV, 2.35 ERA, 1.17 WHIP) tore an elbow ligament in a game back on November 7. He is out for another 7 weeks.

Shelby Cain tore a thumb ligament on a defensive play back on February 6. He should be 100% healthy in 5 more weeks.

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03-14-2016, 06:45 PM	#233
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,899	March 30, 1943 Eastern League: Return of the Titans -------- It took 12 innings of the 155th game of a 154-game season, but the Embro Suns finally prevailed over the Brunswick Legends in winning top spot in the Eastern League and securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs. It’s the second consecutive season that the Suns and Legends have finished 1-2 in the East respectively. Both teams were predicted to finish on top, but their sheer dominance over all other teams was amazing. But it remains to be seen if Embro can translate that into playoff success, something they have not a lot of. They may be a 104-win team, but they will still be facing a 103-team for the Pennant. The offense wasn’t as strong as in other seasons (.263/.342/.369 – 6th/3rd/5th) but steadily improved as the season wore on. Pitching was tops in the League (2.96/3.05/1.97 – 1st/2nd/1st – ERA/Starter’s ERA/Bullpen ERA). Ominously though, RHP Colm Soper (17-8, 2 SV, 1.19 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 2.47 FIP) has fallen from elite pitcher status. Rated as the No. 1 pitcher in the entire United Leagues as recently as February 1, Soper has dropped out of the Top 20 altogether and finds himself in the bullpen as the playoffs are set to begin. That’s probably because his stamina has fallen to ‘35’. The five-time all-star is still rated as 80/80, but Embro could really miss his presence in the rotation. Their defense remained strong (.699 – 2nd); their 8 errors in the one-game playoff notwithstanding. *Top Position Player – Season:* Overall, the offense had a down year. That included 28-year old 1B Jim Friend (.313/.397/.469, 19 HR, 109 RBI, 100 R, 89 BB, 5.0 WAR), who won his second Batter of the Month Award of this season in March. 29-year old CF Terence Durney (.274/.387/.419, 12 HR, 66 RBI, 106 R, 105 BB, 8 SB, 5.3 WAR) was a contender as well; his defense at CF (10.6 ZR, 1.032 EFF, 7 E) was strong once again. One can only imagine how many games the Suns would have won had the offense been firing on all cylinders this season. *Top Pitcher – Season:* Just like last season, Embro enjoyed three starters with 20+ victories. 28-year old RHP Myung-gu Son (23-8, 2.57 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 2.75 FIP) enjoyed his best season thus far since coming over from the Sherburn Tigers in a trade last May. RHP Pete Allison (21-10, 3.39 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 3.53 FIP) and LHP Edward Hill (20-11, 3.14 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.36 FIP) also boasted 20+ win seasons. *Team Goat:* This item is for players that I deemed got way too much playing time to justify their anemic performance over the course of the season. Now, for a team that won 104 games and finished in first place, this might be deemed a useless exercise. But useless exercises are my specialty. For Embro, I’m going to pick on 32-year old C Denzel Fontaine (.233/.295/.289, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 38 R, 36 BB, 1 SB, 0.8 WAR in 336 AB). The Suns did not get a lot of production from its catcher position. Fontaine was solid defensively behind the plate, but his paltry bat did not help much. If he was just a bit more productive, the Suns may have avoided having to play the one-game playoff altogether. *Key Injuries:* RF Spencer Marsland (.304/.336/.425, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 39 R, 12 BB, 8 SB, 1.4 WAR) fractured his ankle on a defensive play in a game back on February 1. He is out a further 2-3 months. SS Gary Watkinson (.278/.395/.323, 2 HR, 66 RBI, 76 R, 88 BB, 3.3 WAR) strained a rib cage muscle on a defensive play back on March 13. He could be back in 4 days. On March 20, CF Terence Durney suffered shoulder soreness, also on a defensive play. He will miss two more weeks. -------- Despite their incredibly strong play this season, 103 victories was not quite enough for the Brunswick Legends to finish in first place for the first time in their history. So if they are going to repeat as United Cup champions, they will have to do it as a wild card team once again. And they will have to get past the Suns to do it – once again. The offense rebounded big time in the final two months of the season to finish tops in the East (.283/.352/.404 – 1st/1st/1st). The pitching staff was right on the heels of Embro (2.99/2.99/3.02 – 2nd/1st/3rd). Only on defense did they stumble (.682 – 8th). *Top Position Player – Season:* Absolutely, positively no contest. RF Mark Elston (.334/.469/.567, 29 HR, 111 RBI, 111 R, 141 BB, 7.3 WAR) rebounded from a ruptured Achillies tendon that wiped out his season last year to post his best season yet. He won his third Batter of the Month Award in February. The Legends have a pretty solid lineup, but Elston was head and shoulders over all this year. More is mentioned in the Noteworthy section below. *Top Pitcher – Season:* Brunswick has a strong starting rotation as well. This year, 32-year old Matthew Monroe (23-5, 2.49 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 2.73 FIP) enjoyed perhaps his best season in the United Leagues with his first 20+ victory campaign. LHP Anastasio Rodríguez (18-11, 2.65 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 2.37 FIP) and LHP Hirotada Fukushima (18-12, 3.30 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 2.93 FIP) each had strong campaigns as well. No. 4 starter LHP Wilson Villas (21-7, 3.26 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.33 FIP) won his first Pitcher of the Month honour in March. *Team Goat:* Brunswick came oh-so-close to finishing in first place, so I thought it would be fairly easy to identify a player that could have done a bit more. But the Legends had no glaring weakness. If they were perhaps just a little more fortunate than Embro (Brunswick’s Pyt. Record was 100-54, while Embro’s was 98-57), then they might be the ones enjoying home-field advantage throughout of the playoffs. *Key Injuries:* C Maurice Evans (.297/.350/.477, 11 HR, 56 RBI, 53 R, 29 BB, 3.4 WAR) sprained his knee while running along the bases back in the playoff game against the Embro Suns on March 29. He is out 1-2 weeks. *Noteworthy:* Declaring that he “can still keep up with those young guys”, 34-year old Mark Elston not only won the Eastern League batting title, but became the first batter to win the Triple Crown in ULB history. In fact, he led the entire United Leagues in eight offensive categories this season. RHP Brady Murdy won the Pitching Triple Crown in 1938-39. They are the only two players thus far to accomplish the feat. -------- The Queensland Eagles finished in third place in the East this season, but it was a hollow achievement. The Eagles were merely a little better than the rest of the pack that finished way behind Embro and Brunswick. But with a deep farm system and shrewd acquisitions of young talent, like 26-year olds Jon Mareau and Merlin Teeters, the Eagles may be primed to make a serious challenge for a playoff spot in the next season or two. The offense was consistent all-season long (.265/.323/.375 – 5th/6th/3rd). Nothing great, but not terrible either. The pitching saw a modest improvement towards the end (3.44/3.38/3.97 – 4th/4th/7th). Queensland remained strong on defense (.697 – 3rd). *Top Position Player – Season:* CF Jon Moreau (.305/.342/.456, 9 HR, 77 RBI, 83 R, 36 BB, 8 SB, 5.8 WAR) was the top Eagle this season, especially combined with his terrific defense in the field (3.09 RNG, +11.5 ZR, 1.035 EFF, 9 E). *Top Pitcher – Season:* Once again, RHP Stewart Colcott (19-14, 2.76 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 2.89 FIP) was Queensland’s most consistent pitcher. He went 2-3, 1.70 ERA in January. Not that ERA is solely a pitcher’s stat, but Colcott’s ERA in February/March was 1.70 and 1.74 respectively in 11 starts, 94.1 IP. This guy knows how to pitch. *Team Goat:* 22-year old SS Dermott Akers (.251/.303/.376, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 36 R, 26 BB, 0.2 WAR in 378 AB) is just in his first full season in the United Leagues and the former second rounder from 1940-41 did win a Rookie of the Month Award in November. But it was all downhill after that, and his poor defense (4.83 RNG, -8.5 ZR, .963 EFF, 40 E) did little to help the Queensland cause. *Key Injuries:* RHP Francisco López (14-7, 3.43 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 3.86 FIP) required surgery to remove elbow-bone chips resulting from a game back on February 18. The 25-year old is out a further 6-7 months. C Dave Wilson (.273/.343/.409, 10 HR, 42 RBI, 42 R, 43 BB, 2.7 WAR) strained his neck muscles while running the bases back on March 20. He should be fully recovered in a week. *Noteworthy:* 1B Merlin Teeters (.297/.341/.471, 21 HR, 107 RBI, 78 R, 46 BB, 3.3 WAR) enjoyed the longest hitting streak of the season, reaching 26 consecutive games. It ended on March 11 when he went 0-3 against the Brunswick Legends. Queensland lost 3-0. It is the longest hitting streak in the ULB since Colin Strudwick hit safely in 29 straight games back in 1939-40. Okura Ito holds the all-time record of 30, accomplished in 1938-39. -------- The Wellington Athletics have been regressing over that past three years, but they still managed to finish 2 games above .500. The Athletics’ focus is on rebuilding and on that front, they appear to be making progress. Their farm system has improved from 9th to 6th in depth and one of their lower ranked prospects, 25-year old CF Stewart Cuthbertson (.311/.387/.471, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 25 R, 15 BB, 7 SB, 1.0 WAR) reached the majors in February. In March, the former 4th rounder from 1938-39 won Rookie of the Month honours. The offense held steady (.274/.341/.369 – 2nd/4th/6th), but the pitching regressed towards the end (3.75/3.61/4.62 – 6th/5th/8th). The defense also faltered (.683 – 7th). *Top Position Player – Season:* He lost some steam in the final two months of the campaign, but 30-year old 2B Brian Main (.291/.337/.458, 15 HR, 87 RBI, 100 R, 44 BB, 16 SB, 5.4 WAR) was easily Wellington’s top player, dividing his time almost equally between shortstop and second base, and providing solid defense at both positions. *Top Pitcher – Season:* SP Clyde Boney (21-10, 2.59 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 2.65 FIP) was simply outstanding this season; a return to form of sorts for the 33-year old who had a somewhat down year last season. *Team Goat:* 35-year old CF Kade Limeburner (.259/.357/.415, 6 HR, 37 RBI, 31 R, 32 BB, 0.3 WAR in 205 AB) has been regressing the past few years, but none were more unproductive than this past season. Out for 3 months due to brain fever, Limeburner just couldn’t get things going after that. But it was his struggles on defense (2.70 RNG, -7.7 ZR, .881 EFF, 5 E) that earned him the goat horns. *Key Injuries:* SS Charles Halse (.333/.471/.556, 2-3B, 10 RBI, 5 R, 7 BB, 0.5 WAR) tore a knee ligament while running the bases back on January 18. He is out 4 more months. -------- The story of the Braeland City Monarchs this season was the decimation of the starting lineup and rotation, as six of their key players went down for extended periods. The Monarchs put up a game fight to remain competitive, but in March, the bottom fell out and they fell to 5th place in the East. Braeland City embarked on a rebuilding project this season, but it will take a bit more, as their farm system is one of the weakest in the ULB (13th overall). The offense slowly began to fade in the final months (.274/.343/.380 – 3rd/2nd/2nd) but was still one of the best in the East. The pitching was respectable as well (3.63/3.67/3.20 – 5th/56th/4th), considering the injuries. The defense remained middle of the road (.691 – 5th). *Top Position Player – Season:* Like the rest of the offense, C Kane Broom (.288/.343/.381, 7 HR, 76 RBI, 77 R, 49 BB, 3.5 WAR) slowed down just a bit in March. But he was Braeland City’s top offensive player in what was a challenging season. *Top Pitcher – Season:* LHP Max MacColl (19-12, 3.26 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.33 FIP) was the Monarchs’ most consistent pitcher this season. In February, he went 5-0, 3.12 ERA. But like the rest of the team, he struggled in March (1-4, 4.59 ERA). *Team Goat:* It was not a good year for 38-year old RHP Frank Leadbeater (5-15, 1 SV, 4.77 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 4.45 FIP). After being claimed off waivers from Wellington in December, Leadbeater could only manage 5-12, 4.13 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 4.22 FIP. *Key Injuries:* On November 29, 2B Trevor Bolan (.317/.356/.471, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 37 R, 12 BB, 2 SB, 1.4 WAR) broke his knee cap while running the bases. He could be back in 5 weeks. SP David Cooling (12-6, 3.09 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 118 ERA+) tore an elbow ligament in a game on January 27. He is out of action for another 4 months. -------- The Stratford Barons were projected to win 78 games this season. The projection was not far off the mark, as they won 76. It would appear then that the Barons are at a crossroads. For despite the talent they have and just being two seasons removed from their United Cup championship, the Barons are heading in the wrong direction. While to me it would seem they still have a playoff caliber team, the players’ performances are not bearing that out. I would not be surprised if Stratford keeps this core together one more season to see if they can bounce back. But if it’s more of the same, then perhaps it will be time to blow things up. The offense (.266/.334/.372 – 4th/5th/4th) was underwhelming this season; however, the pitching (3.32/3.37/2.91 – 3rd/3rd/2nd) steadily improved. The defense remained middle of the road (6th – .688). *Top Position Player – Season:* It was not a great season offensively for the Barons, but C Geoff Lemoine (.271/.381/.411, 10 HR, 41 RBI, 47 R, 68 BB, 3.2 WAR) was a great story, a former 5th round pick that had been traded a couple of times and now finding a home as the Barons’ starting catcher. Last season in the minors, he won the Surf Coast Leagues’ Lou Gehrig Award for Batter of the Year. *Top Pitcher – Season:* Too close to call, as both LHP Ryan Borden (13-18, 3.15 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 2.87 FIP) and LHP Joel Fearn (15-11, 3.28 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 2.83 FIP) had fine seasons, despite the team’s struggles. *Team Goat:* 27-year old OF Finlay Petty (.231/.275/.323, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 33 R, 17 BB, -0.3 WAR in 251 AB) was acquired in the offseason; but his first year with Stratford was not a sterling one. When Steven Winstanley went down to injury, Petty was just not up to the challenge. *Key Injuries:* 2B Maurice Keyworth (.283/.333/.402, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 47 R, 19 BB, 10 SB, 1.3 WAR) was injured again in a collision at a base back on March 7. He missed a month of action. RHP Kelvin Hutchinson (6-9, 3.87 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 3.75 FIP) suffered shoulder swelling while pitching in a game back on February 3. He could be throwing again in a couple of weeks. LF Steven Winstanley (.271/.363/.420, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 49 R, 56 BB, 2.7 WAR) fractured a rib while running the bases. He missed almost 6 weeks and finished the season on a rehab assignment. -------- The Downie Chiefs finished just one game out of last place this season, losers of 95 games. But that shouldn’t be too surprising for a team that featured seven rookies in its starting lineup by season’s end. The Chiefs are giving every opportunity for their young prospects to show what they can do at the major league level. A couple players had their moments here or there, but the majority experienced acute growing pains. Given how green the lineup was, it wasn’t surprising that the offense (.249/.303/.337 – 8th/8th/7th) was near or at the bottom. The pitching was underwhelming as well (4.16/4.30/3.29 – 8th/8th/5th). The one bright spot was defense (.699 – 1st). *Top Position Player – Season:* 23-year old OF Ricardo Castellanos (.262/.316/.449, 13 HR, 69 RBI, 61 R, 38 BB, 3.0 WAR) was his team’s lone representative to this season’s All-Star game, and was Downie’s most consistent offensive player. He was also a decent defender in the field, playing mostly in centerfield this season (3.10 RNG, +4.4 ZR, 1.021 EFF, 12 E). *Top Pitcher – Season:* A forgetful year for pitchers on the Downie staff. Case in point, 29-year old RHP Manuel Páez (9-21, 4.69 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 3.77 FIP) was as good as it got in the rotation, as far as FIP and WAR (2.5) was concerned. If only Páez could have gotten better run support. *Team Goat:* I’d hate to pick on a rookie, but sometimes these selections reflect more on the team than it does on the player himself. But 23-year old 2B Junji Seki (.217/.270/.279, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 49 R, 29 BB, -0.1 WAR in 438 AB) was given just too much playing time. His lacklustre performance simply didn’t justify it. He did win a Rookie of the Month Award for February, but that was due more to the lack of outstanding candidates that month than to Seki’s play. *Key Injuries:* RF Harrison Brooks (.286/.394/.446, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 10 R, 10 BB) suffered a broken kneecap back on October 25. He is out 1-2 more weeks. Ricardo Castellanos bruised a wrist bone on a defensive play back on March 20. He will be laid up a further week. Junji Seki tore a thumb ligament in a collision in a game back on March 21. He will be sitting idle for a further 4-5 weeks. -------- The Cobourg Red Stockings managed to avoid losing 100+ games, the first time in two seasons. A small victory to be sure, but the Red Stockings did appear to be more competitive this season as they enjoyed four out of six months with at least 10 victories. The Red Stockings have their main prospects now on the big league roster and are patiently waiting for them to find their groove. Neither offense 251/.308/.334 – 7th/7th/8th) or pitching (4.09/4.12/3.85 – 7th/7th/6th) wall all that good, but they did improve overall as the season progressed, giving Cobourg some optimism. The defense held steady to finish the season in the middle of the pack (.696 – 4th). *Top Position Player – Season:* IF Dennis Borton (.281/.323/.356, 4 HR, 72 RBI, 55 R, 39 BB, 17 SB, 3.5 WAR) caught fire in February and March, batting .300 and .323 respectively. He just finished his third full season in the ULB and the former 12th overall pick from 1937-38 is quickly becoming the cornerstone of the lineup. If the other young players can soon follow suit, then Cobourg’s days in the basement may be numbered. *Top Pitcher – Season:* 33-year old RHP In-sin Ahn (10-6, 1 SV, 3.47 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 3.49 FIP) proved to be wise waiver wire pickup as he was Cobourg’s best pitcher overall this season, even though he didn’t get his first start for the Red Stockings until January. The change of scenery seemed to suit Ahn, as he earned his first career Pitcher of the Month Award in February. *Team Goat:* 3B Shelby Cain (.209/.295/.313, 4 HR, 39 RBI, 41 R, 48 BB, 1.5 WAR in 402 AB) is another coveted prospect that the Red Stockings have on their roster. But the former 1st overall pick from 1941-42 was perhaps thrown into the cleanup spot a tad early, as he just didn’t produce enough to justify holding down such a key role in the lineup. He was outstanding on defense though (2.65 RNG, +10.4 ZR, 1.057 EFF, 15 E). *Key Injuries:* RHP Tom Mayor (0-0, 2 SV, 2.35 ERA, 1.17 WHIP) tore an elbow ligament in a game back on November 7. He is out for another 7 weeks. Shelby Cain tore a thumb ligament on a defensive play back on February 6. He should be 100% healthy in 5 more weeks. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 07-05-2017 at 12:19 AM.