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reds1 · 06-26-2016, 11:59 PM

December 1, 1944

Western League: Jockeying For Positions

The top of the standings in the Western League started out as a free-for-all in October as the Wolseley Unions, Pulberry Trolleys and Cambria Cannons all took their turns at first place. Things appeared to be settling down at the end of November as the Cannons and the defending United Cup Champions, the Kingston Pelicans moved to take over the two playoff spots. The Pelicans picked things up after a slow start. But both the Trolleys and Balmoral Giants have hung around to remain within striking distance. Whether they can keep it up and give the Cannons and Pelicans a run for their money remains to be seen.

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The Cambria Cannons are off to their best start since 1939 and is a marked difference from one year ago, when they were 4 games below .500 and 11.5 games out of first place. The recent acquisition of 3B Shelby Cain (.298/.371/.424, 2 HR, 32 RBI, 24 R, 23 BB) and free agent signing of lead-off hitter RF Hao Wang (.316/.346/.498, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 36 R, 12 BB) are paying off big time. Indeed, Cain's batting average of .298 is the lowest in the lineup (against RHP). Combine that with a healthy CF Ron Westmacott (.303/.402/.474, 6 HR, 38 RBI, 38 R, 36 BB) and a steady pitching staff and its no wonder the Cannons are in first place.

Offense: .295/.358/.425 (2nd/2nd/1st)
Pitching: 3.25/3.40/1.91 (2nd/3rd/1st)
Defense: .694 (4th)

Noteworthy Performances: Clint Jones won Player of the Week honours on November 13, batting .542 (13 H in 24 AB) with 2 HR, 5 RBI.

Then on November 14, Daniel Edney went 5 for 5 with 3 RBI, 1 R in a game against the Wellington Athletics. Edney hit an RBI single in the 2nd, singled in the 4th, singled in the 5th, hit an RBI single in the 7th, and hit and RBI single in the 8th. The Cannons won 9-2.

Key Trade #1: November 5 with the Cobourg Red Stockings.

To Cambria – 28-year old RHP Denzel Vyse (70/74).
To Cobourg – four minor league players:
20-year old RHP José Fernández (20/60);
20-year old RHP António Tejada (20/40);
24-year old 3B Ron Hawes (23/28) and
20-year old 2B Edgardo Serrano (21/29).

Knee-jerk reaction: In a span of two days, the Cannons decided to try and get younger – and better. In the first transaction, Cambria acquired a relief pitcher. Vyse was originally selected 8th overall in the 1937-38 draft and was viewed as a future starter, but that has not transpired. Vyse has not been able to develop a solid pitching repertoire, but he has decent stuff and movement with acceptable control. He should help Cambria's bullpen that is already tops in the Western League.
Cobourg gets a couple of useful pitchers in RP Fernández and SP Tejada. Tejada is actually ranked higher than Fernández in the prospect list. Neither of them have terrific tools, but they aren't terrible either. A nice pick-up for Cambria.

Key Trade #2: November 6 with the Hespeler Stars.

To Cambria – 25-year old C Scott Weller (59/68).
To Hespeler – two minor league players:
26-year old 1B Lance Beamish (40/40) and
20-year old SS Tom Dicks (21/30).

Knee-jerk reaction: Cambria opts to upgrade its catcher position by acquiring Weller, who is ranked 7th overall among back-stoppers. Weller was a second round pick (18th overall) back in 1941-42 and he has really nice offensive skills: average contact, plus power potential and very good eye at the plate. Combine that with very good defensive skills and he should prove to be a nice pickup for the Cannons.
In return, Hespeler receives a very respectable 1B in Beamish, a former third rounder from 1937-38. Beamish is a prototypical slugger who can hit for contact and has decent plate discipline. Defense and speed are not a strength, however. With the acquisition of Beamish, Hespeler was able to deal their former 1B, Héctor Gutiérrez, to the Queensland Eagles (see Queensland's report in the previous post).

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The Kingston Pelicans may have unveiled new uniforms this season (the first team to do so), but they are still very much the same old force to be reckoned with. The Pelicans actually started off slow, hovering around 7-10 on October 19, but then they went 9-3 the rest of the month and continued their strong play into November. The pitching has been top notch thus far, with 34-year old RHP Joey Cumberledge (9-3, 2.21 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) leading the way (and winning a Pitcher of the Month Award in November).

Offense: .282/.342/.398 (3rd/3rd/3rd)
Pitching: 3.10/3.20/2.26 (1st/1st/2nd)
Defense: .714 (1st)

Noteworthy Performances: No. 2 starter Charlie Gilbert became just the third pitcher to throw a No-Hitter in the United Leagues, when he held the Fort Richmond Generals hit-less in a 2-0 victory back on October 28. Gilbert surrendered just one walk to go along with two strikeouts.
Prior to Gilbert's gem, Bradley Paris of the Wolseley Unions was the first to accomplish the feat back on February 7, 1938 against the Downie Chiefs. The second pitcher to achieve it was Wellington's Reece Abberley on December 21, 1941 (also against the Downie Chiefs).

Katsunan Chikafuji is off to a great start. He won his first Player of the Week honour on October 16, when he batted .478 (11 H in 23 AB) with 1 HR, 9 RBI.
His second Player of the Week honour came on November 20, after he batted .583 (14 H in 24 AB) with 7 RBI and 8 R.
Finally, he saw his 20-game hitting streak come to an end on November 22, when he went 0-4 against the Brunswick Legends in a 6-3 loss.

Key Injury: On December 2, 36-year old 1B Fergus Chitty (.250/.338/.375, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 13 R, 15 BB) was hit by a pitch. The result was a fractured finger. He is out for 6 weeks.

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The Pulberry Trolleys continue their improved play that actually began last season. This year, they toyed with first place in late October, but were unable to keep up with Cambria and Kingston. But they are building a nice core of young players, with the likes of Roland Binns, Colin Strudwick, Joe Lock and Bruno Lapthorne (.281/.341/.471, 6 HR, 42 RBI, 35 R, 19 BB) with more young talent on the way.

Offense: .273/.328/.386 (4th/5th/4th)
Pitching: 3.54/3.54/3.52 (5th/6th/5th)
Defense: .704 (2nd)

Noteworthy Performances: Roland Binns won Player of the Week honours on October 9, batting .433 (13 H in 30 AB) with 2 HR, 8 RBI.

On October 30, Colin Strudwick won Player of the Week honours, as he batted .552 (16 H in 29 AB) with 4 HR, 5 RBI.

On November 1, Joe Lock went 5 for 6 with 2 RBI, 2 R in a game against the Balmoral Giants. Lock tripled in 1st, flied out in the 3rd, singled in the 4th, hit an RBI triple in the 5th, singled in the 8th, and hit an RBI double in the 9th. The Trolleys won 11-2.

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The Balmoral Giants endured a slow October that has forced them to play catch-up, but the Giants boast one of the most balanced teams in the West that should make them very much a player for a playoff spot. They currently have the No. 1 rated position player in the United Leagues in the form of RF Carlton Broadbent (.367/.424/.500, 8 HR, 41 RBI, 43 R, 24 BB). Broadbent just happens to be off to the best start of his career (as evidence by his back-to-back Player of the Month honours). Considering he won the Babe Ruth Award last season as the top batter in the Western League, it may be pretty hard for anyone to prevent him from winning the award for a second year in a row.

Offense: .308/.363/.418 (1st/1st/2nd)
Pitching: 3.29/3.37/2.54 (3rd/2nd/4th)
Defense: .701 (3rd)

Noteworthy Performances: Damon Purcell won Player of the Week honours on October 23, batting .407 (11 H in 27 AB) with 1 HR, 4 RBI, 5 R.

On November 29, Jason Pollock went 5 for 5 with 1 RBI, 3 R against the Cobourg Red Stockings in the second game of a double-header. Pollock singled in the 1st, singled in the 2nd, hit an RBI single in the 3rd, doubled in the 5th and singled in the 8th. The Giants won 10-4 (and won the first game as well, 7-0).

Key Injuries: On October 29, 42-year old 1B Roger Tyler (.327/.378/.401, 12-2B, 22 RBI, 14 R, 13 BB) suffered a fractured hand when he was hit by a pitch. He is out of commission for another 4 weeks.

28-year old C Brian Pittman (.303/.418/.342, 4-2b, 16 RBI, 17 R, 30 BB) tore a thumb ligament in a collision at a base on December 2. He is out for 4 weeks.

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The Sherburn Tigers have had an interesting start to the season, to say the least. After a nightmarish October, the Tigers almost got back to .500 with a sensational November. Sherburn went 17-7 against Eastern League teams that month, and no doubt they would like to play the East more frequently. But their success actually hides the fact that this is a flawed team that is woeful on offense. They are last in nearly every offensive category and 7th in a couple of others. It is hard to see this team having the success they did in November during the rest of the season.

Offense: .258/.315/.330 (8th/8th/8th)
Pitching: 3.48/3.58/2.31 (4th/7th/3rd)
Defense: .691 (6th)

Key Injury: Back on October 17, 34-year old 1B Robin Harney (.310/.365/.328, 1-2B, 5 RBI, 1 R, 5 BB) suffered post-concussion syndrome when he collided at a base. He is gone for at least 6 more weeks.

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The Wolseley Unions toyed and teased with first place in the West, but were unable to keep up the act for very long. After sitting on top of the standings on October 19 with an 12-5 record, the Unions went 14-23 the rest of the way to finish November two games below .500. All indications are that a .500 finish for this season would be considered a success, as the Unions are still very much a team in limbo: not fully committed to compete for a playoff spot, nor fully committed to make a genuine rebuild.

Offense: .265/.323/.370 (5th/6th/6th)
Pitching: 3.72/3.51/5.02 (6th/5th/7th)
Defense: .686 (7th)

Noteworthy Performance: No. 5 starter Jeremy Albury put together a great stretch in late November and won Player of the Week honours on November 27. Albury went 3-0, 6 IP, 1.50 ERA with 2 K.

Key Injury: 25-year old RHP Kai Tosh (2-7, 3.36 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) suffered a severe injury while pitching back on November 24. He required immediate radial nerve decompression surgery. He is effectively gone for the season (6 months).

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The Hespeler Stars continue to be poster team for “Where did we go wrong?”, as their rebuilding efforts over the past few seasons appear to be all for naught. The Stars were pegged to be playoff contender at this point, but instead, they are struggling just to stay out of the basement. Although they have not declared a second rebuild, their four trades in November clearly signal that the team is retooling. They currently have the third deepest farm system in the ULB, so there's a chance that they can correct their fortunes sooner rather than later.

Offense: .264/.336/.378 (6th/4th/5th)
Pitching: 3.90/3.47/6.42 (7th/4th/8th)
Defense: .678 (8th)

Noteworthy Performance: On November 26, the Hespeler Stars defeated the Embro Suns 7-6 at The Fabulous Avalon. In that game, Wayne Savory went 5 for 6 with 1 RBI, 3 R. Savory singled in the 1st, hit an RBI single in the 3rd, doubled in the 5th , grounded in the 7th, singled in the 9th and tripled in the 11th. Savory came in to score the winning run in the 11th.

Key Injury: 24-year old RF Marcus Peyto (.269/.335/.398, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 22 R, 18 BB) fractured a rib on a defensive play on November 27. He will be out for 3 more weeks.

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The Fort Richmond Generals may have the worst record in the Western League and will in all probability, finish in last place, but they have remained surprisingly competitive, being only 9.5 games out of first place (as of November 2). That's in spite of having an anemic offense and an often over-matched pitching staff. Still, they have to their credit a wonderful young starting pitcher in 24-year old RHP Reece Leavers (8-2, 2.28 ERA, 1.15 WHIP), a former third round pick from 1938-39 who is off to his best start in his third season. He won his first Pitcher of the Month Award for October and appears to have no problems filling the role as Fort Richmond's ace. The Generals sure could use a few more like Leavers, as the currently injured David Nixon is the only other pitcher that is performing well. But some help may be on the way.
Fort Richmond has two very promising starters working their way through the farm system. One of them, 21-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock is currently in his second go-around in AAA (5-2, 3.12 ERA, 1.55 WHIP) and doing much better this time. The other, 20-year old RHP Shinzo Okamoto is in AA (2-3, 3.93 ERA, 1.69 WHIP) and not quite ready for a promotion to AAA. But the Generals could have an enviable rotation in the not-too-distant future.

Offense: .258/.318/.362 (7th/7th/7th)
Pitching: 3.93/3.80/4.85 (8th/8th/6th)
Defense: .692 (5th)

Noteworthy Performance: Gavin Bansfield earned Player of the Week honours on November 6, batting .476 (10 H in 21 AB) with 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R.

Key Injuries: 29-year old CF Gael Huxham (.239/.323/.398, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 15 R, 15 BB) fractured a rib on a defensive play on November 15. He will be out for 2-3 more weeks.

On November 20, 26-year old LF Rommel Ballena (.291/.321/.354, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 12 R, 5 BB) injured himself while throwing the back into the infield. He suffered a strained forearm and will miss a further 3 weeks.

32-year old LHP David Nixon (5-1, 3.12 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) came down with rotator cuff tendinitis while throwing a pitch in a game on November 22. He will be out 2 more weeks.

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06-26-2016, 11:59 PM	#278
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,924	December 1, 1944 Western League: Jockeying For Positions The top of the standings in the Western League started out as a free-for-all in October as the Wolseley Unions, Pulberry Trolleys and Cambria Cannons all took their turns at first place. Things appeared to be settling down at the end of November as the Cannons and the defending United Cup Champions, the Kingston Pelicans moved to take over the two playoff spots. The Pelicans picked things up after a slow start. But both the Trolleys and Balmoral Giants have hung around to remain within striking distance. Whether they can keep it up and give the Cannons and Pelicans a run for their money remains to be seen. -------- The Cambria Cannons are off to their best start since 1939 and is a marked difference from one year ago, when they were 4 games below .500 and 11.5 games out of first place. The recent acquisition of 3B Shelby Cain (.298/.371/.424, 2 HR, 32 RBI, 24 R, 23 BB) and free agent signing of lead-off hitter RF Hao Wang (.316/.346/.498, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 36 R, 12 BB) are paying off big time. Indeed, Cain's batting average of .298 is the lowest in the lineup (against RHP). Combine that with a healthy CF Ron Westmacott (.303/.402/.474, 6 HR, 38 RBI, 38 R, 36 BB) and a steady pitching staff and its no wonder the Cannons are in first place. Offense: .295/.358/.425 (2nd/2nd/1st) Pitching: 3.25/3.40/1.91 (2nd/3rd/1st) Defense: .694 (4th) *Noteworthy Performances:* Clint Jones won Player of the Week honours on November 13, batting .542 (13 H in 24 AB) with 2 HR, 5 RBI. Then on November 14, Daniel Edney went 5 for 5 with 3 RBI, 1 R in a game against the Wellington Athletics. Edney hit an RBI single in the 2nd, singled in the 4th, singled in the 5th, hit an RBI single in the 7th, and hit and RBI single in the 8th. The Cannons won 9-2. *Key Trade #1:* November 5 with the Cobourg Red Stockings. To Cambria – 28-year old RHP Denzel Vyse (70/74). To Cobourg – four minor league players: 20-year old RHP José Fernández (20/60); 20-year old RHP António Tejada (20/40); 24-year old 3B Ron Hawes (23/28) and 20-year old 2B Edgardo Serrano (21/29). *Knee-jerk reaction:* In a span of two days, the Cannons decided to try and get younger – and better. In the first transaction, Cambria acquired a relief pitcher. Vyse was originally selected 8th overall in the 1937-38 draft and was viewed as a future starter, but that has not transpired. Vyse has not been able to develop a solid pitching repertoire, but he has decent stuff and movement with acceptable control. He should help Cambria's bullpen that is already tops in the Western League. Cobourg gets a couple of useful pitchers in RP Fernández and SP Tejada. Tejada is actually ranked higher than Fernández in the prospect list. Neither of them have terrific tools, but they aren't terrible either. A nice pick-up for Cambria. Key Trade #2: November 6 with the Hespeler Stars. To Cambria – 25-year old C Scott Weller (59/68). To Hespeler – two minor league players: 26-year old 1B Lance Beamish (40/40) and 20-year old SS Tom Dicks (21/30). *Knee-jerk reaction:* Cambria opts to upgrade its catcher position by acquiring Weller, who is ranked 7th overall among back-stoppers. Weller was a second round pick (18th overall) back in 1941-42 and he has really nice offensive skills: average contact, plus power potential and very good eye at the plate. Combine that with very good defensive skills and he should prove to be a nice pickup for the Cannons. In return, Hespeler receives a very respectable 1B in Beamish, a former third rounder from 1937-38. Beamish is a prototypical slugger who can hit for contact and has decent plate discipline. Defense and speed are not a strength, however. With the acquisition of Beamish, Hespeler was able to deal their former 1B, Héctor Gutiérrez, to the Queensland Eagles (see Queensland's report in the previous post). -------- The Kingston Pelicans may have unveiled new uniforms this season (the first team to do so), but they are still very much the same old force to be reckoned with. The Pelicans actually started off slow, hovering around 7-10 on October 19, but then they went 9-3 the rest of the month and continued their strong play into November. The pitching has been top notch thus far, with 34-year old RHP Joey Cumberledge (9-3, 2.21 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) leading the way (and winning a Pitcher of the Month Award in November). Offense: .282/.342/.398 (3rd/3rd/3rd) Pitching: 3.10/3.20/2.26 (1st/1st/2nd) Defense: .714 (1st) *Noteworthy Performances:* No. 2 starter Charlie Gilbert became just the third pitcher to throw a No-Hitter in the United Leagues, when he held the Fort Richmond Generals hit-less in a 2-0 victory back on October 28. Gilbert surrendered just one walk to go along with two strikeouts. Prior to Gilbert's gem, Bradley Paris of the Wolseley Unions was the first to accomplish the feat back on February 7, 1938 against the Downie Chiefs. The second pitcher to achieve it was Wellington's Reece Abberley on December 21, 1941 (also against the Downie Chiefs). Katsunan Chikafuji is off to a great start. He won his first Player of the Week honour on October 16, when he batted .478 (11 H in 23 AB) with 1 HR, 9 RBI. His second Player of the Week honour came on November 20, after he batted .583 (14 H in 24 AB) with 7 RBI and 8 R. Finally, he saw his 20-game hitting streak come to an end on November 22, when he went 0-4 against the Brunswick Legends in a 6-3 loss. *Key Injury:* On December 2, 36-year old 1B Fergus Chitty (.250/.338/.375, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 13 R, 15 BB) was hit by a pitch. The result was a fractured finger. He is out for 6 weeks. -------- The Pulberry Trolleys continue their improved play that actually began last season. This year, they toyed with first place in late October, but were unable to keep up with Cambria and Kingston. But they are building a nice core of young players, with the likes of Roland Binns, Colin Strudwick, Joe Lock and Bruno Lapthorne (.281/.341/.471, 6 HR, 42 RBI, 35 R, 19 BB) with more young talent on the way. Offense: .273/.328/.386 (4th/5th/4th) Pitching: 3.54/3.54/3.52 (5th/6th/5th) Defense: .704 (2nd) *Noteworthy Performances:* Roland Binns won Player of the Week honours on October 9, batting .433 (13 H in 30 AB) with 2 HR, 8 RBI. On October 30, Colin Strudwick won Player of the Week honours, as he batted .552 (16 H in 29 AB) with 4 HR, 5 RBI. On November 1, Joe Lock went 5 for 6 with 2 RBI, 2 R in a game against the Balmoral Giants. Lock tripled in 1st, flied out in the 3rd, singled in the 4th, hit an RBI triple in the 5th, singled in the 8th, and hit an RBI double in the 9th. The Trolleys won 11-2. -------- The Balmoral Giants endured a slow October that has forced them to play catch-up, but the Giants boast one of the most balanced teams in the West that should make them very much a player for a playoff spot. They currently have the No. 1 rated position player in the United Leagues in the form of RF Carlton Broadbent (.367/.424/.500, 8 HR, 41 RBI, 43 R, 24 BB). Broadbent just happens to be off to the best start of his career (as evidence by his back-to-back Player of the Month honours). Considering he won the Babe Ruth Award last season as the top batter in the Western League, it may be pretty hard for anyone to prevent him from winning the award for a second year in a row. Offense: .308/.363/.418 (1st/1st/2nd) Pitching: 3.29/3.37/2.54 (3rd/2nd/4th) Defense: .701 (3rd) *Noteworthy Performances:* Damon Purcell won Player of the Week honours on October 23, batting .407 (11 H in 27 AB) with 1 HR, 4 RBI, 5 R. On November 29, Jason Pollock went 5 for 5 with 1 RBI, 3 R against the Cobourg Red Stockings in the second game of a double-header. Pollock singled in the 1st, singled in the 2nd, hit an RBI single in the 3rd, doubled in the 5th and singled in the 8th. The Giants won 10-4 (and won the first game as well, 7-0). *Key Injuries:* On October 29, 42-year old 1B Roger Tyler (.327/.378/.401, 12-2B, 22 RBI, 14 R, 13 BB) suffered a fractured hand when he was hit by a pitch. He is out of commission for another 4 weeks. 28-year old C Brian Pittman (.303/.418/.342, 4-2b, 16 RBI, 17 R, 30 BB) tore a thumb ligament in a collision at a base on December 2. He is out for 4 weeks. -------- The Sherburn Tigers have had an interesting start to the season, to say the least. After a nightmarish October, the Tigers almost got back to .500 with a sensational November. Sherburn went 17-7 against Eastern League teams that month, and no doubt they would like to play the East more frequently. But their success actually hides the fact that this is a flawed team that is woeful on offense. They are last in nearly every offensive category and 7th in a couple of others. It is hard to see this team having the success they did in November during the rest of the season. Offense: .258/.315/.330 (8th/8th/8th) Pitching: 3.48/3.58/2.31 (4th/7th/3rd) Defense: .691 (6th) *Key Injury:* Back on October 17, 34-year old 1B Robin Harney (.310/.365/.328, 1-2B, 5 RBI, 1 R, 5 BB) suffered post-concussion syndrome when he collided at a base. He is gone for at least 6 more weeks. -------- The Wolseley Unions toyed and teased with first place in the West, but were unable to keep up the act for very long. After sitting on top of the standings on October 19 with an 12-5 record, the Unions went 14-23 the rest of the way to finish November two games below .500. All indications are that a .500 finish for this season would be considered a success, as the Unions are still very much a team in limbo: not fully committed to compete for a playoff spot, nor fully committed to make a genuine rebuild. Offense: .265/.323/.370 (5th/6th/6th) Pitching: 3.72/3.51/5.02 (6th/5th/7th) Defense: .686 (7th) *Noteworthy Performance:* No. 5 starter Jeremy Albury put together a great stretch in late November and won Player of the Week honours on November 27. Albury went 3-0, 6 IP, 1.50 ERA with 2 K. *Key Injury:* 25-year old RHP Kai Tosh (2-7, 3.36 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) suffered a severe injury while pitching back on November 24. He required immediate radial nerve decompression surgery. He is effectively gone for the season (6 months). -------- The Hespeler Stars continue to be poster team for “Where did we go wrong?”, as their rebuilding efforts over the past few seasons appear to be all for naught. The Stars were pegged to be playoff contender at this point, but instead, they are struggling just to stay out of the basement. Although they have not declared a second rebuild, their four trades in November clearly signal that the team is retooling. They currently have the third deepest farm system in the ULB, so there's a chance that they can correct their fortunes sooner rather than later. Offense: .264/.336/.378 (6th/4th/5th) Pitching: 3.90/3.47/6.42 (7th/4th/8th) Defense: .678 (8th) *Noteworthy Performance:* On November 26, the Hespeler Stars defeated the Embro Suns 7-6 at The Fabulous Avalon. In that game, Wayne Savory went 5 for 6 with 1 RBI, 3 R. Savory singled in the 1st, hit an RBI single in the 3rd, doubled in the 5th , grounded in the 7th, singled in the 9th and tripled in the 11th. Savory came in to score the winning run in the 11th. *Key Injury:* 24-year old RF Marcus Peyto (.269/.335/.398, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 22 R, 18 BB) fractured a rib on a defensive play on November 27. He will be out for 3 more weeks. -------- The Fort Richmond Generals may have the worst record in the Western League and will in all probability, finish in last place, but they have remained surprisingly competitive, being only 9.5 games out of first place (as of November 2). That's in spite of having an anemic offense and an often over-matched pitching staff. Still, they have to their credit a wonderful young starting pitcher in 24-year old RHP Reece Leavers (8-2, 2.28 ERA, 1.15 WHIP), a former third round pick from 1938-39 who is off to his best start in his third season. He won his first Pitcher of the Month Award for October and appears to have no problems filling the role as Fort Richmond's ace. The Generals sure could use a few more like Leavers, as the currently injured David Nixon is the only other pitcher that is performing well. But some help may be on the way. Fort Richmond has two very promising starters working their way through the farm system. One of them, 21-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock is currently in his second go-around in AAA (5-2, 3.12 ERA, 1.55 WHIP) and doing much better this time. The other, 20-year old RHP Shinzo Okamoto is in AA (2-3, 3.93 ERA, 1.69 WHIP) and not quite ready for a promotion to AAA. But the Generals could have an enviable rotation in the not-too-distant future. Offense: .258/.318/.362 (7th/7th/7th) Pitching: 3.93/3.80/4.85 (8th/8th/6th) Defense: .692 (5th) *Noteworthy Performance:* Gavin Bansfield earned Player of the Week honours on November 6, batting .476 (10 H in 21 AB) with 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R. *Key Injuries:* 29-year old CF Gael Huxham (.239/.323/.398, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 15 R, 15 BB) fractured a rib on a defensive play on November 15. He will be out for 2-3 more weeks. On November 20, 26-year old LF Rommel Ballena (.291/.321/.354, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 12 R, 5 BB) injured himself while throwing the back into the infield. He suffered a strained forearm and will miss a further 3 weeks. 32-year old LHP David Nixon (5-1, 3.12 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) came down with rotator cuff tendinitis while throwing a pitch in a game on November 22. He will be out 2 more weeks. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 07-10-2017 at 09:14 PM.