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reds1 · 12-26-2016, 01:32 PM

February 1, 1946

Western League: Are the Tigers for Real?

The Kingston Pelicans continue to dominate the Western League with a phenomenally balanced roster, but a funny thing happened in December and January: they actually lost ground. After winning an incredible 42 games in Oct/Nov, the Pelicans 'cooled off' a bit in Dec/Jan, winning 30. The Tigers, by comparison, won 35. But what's really telling is their head-to-head match-ups. In November, Kingston took 3 of 4 from the Tigers in their first meeting. But in December and January, Sherburn turned the tables, taking 5 of 7.
There have been other teams in previous seasons who appeared ready to challenge the Pelicans, but with the exception of the Cambria Cannons, all others have proven to be pretenders. Sherburn doesn't appear to be a pretender. They are a talented bunch that are getting stronger as the season wears on. I can hardly wait to see what February and March will bring as the regular season moves into the final stretch.

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It was inevitable that the Kingston Pelicans would regress just a tad, as the .750 winning percentage they maintained over the first two months was simply unsustainable, even for a team as good as Kingston. But the Pelicans are still the class of the United Leagues, let alone the Western League. The Pyt. Record matches their actual won-loss record and they've increased their run differential to a jaw-dropping +233 (Stratford is next at +77). The club ranks first in 7 of 11 batting stats and second in two others. In the pitching stats category, they rank first in 7 of 10 and second in two others. A big, feathery red machine indeed.

Eight Pelicans were selected to the All-Star game: RHP Joey Cumberledge (9th appearance), RHP Ben Currall (1st), LHP Patrick Denman (1st), RHP Francis Slocock (7th), RHP Luis Velásquez (3rd), C Danny Trowbridge (5th), 1B Dean Bishop (2nd) and SS Katsunan Chikafuji (9th).

Offense: .300/.378/.449 (1st/1st/1st)
Pitching: 3.46/3.30/4.38 (1st/1st/5th)
Defense: .698 (2nd)

Player of the Week Awards:

December 17 – SS Katsunan Chikafuji (.565, 13 H, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 8 R)
January 21 – 1B Dean Bishop (.400, 12 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI)

Top Player:

27-year old C Danny Trowbridge (.378/.448/.622, 23 HR, 70 RBI, 6.7 WAR) and 30-year old Katsunan Chikafuji (.358/.405/.574, 20 HR, 102 RBI, 6.5WAR) continue to lead the way for Kingston’s offense, but 31-year old 1B Dean Bishop (.322/.435/.550, 19 HR, 82 RBI, 4.7 WAR) is not far behind. He is enjoying one of best seasons yet and won Hitter of the Month honours in January, following Trowbridge's win in December.

Top Pitcher:

26-year old rookie RHP Ben Currall (14-6, 2.15 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, .220 Opps AVG) continues to roll right along as Kingston's No. Starter, but 25-year old LHP Patrick Denman (18-4, 2.36 ERA, 1.21WHIP, .226 Opps AVG) has been very consistent month to month. Going 5-1, 2.30 ERA in October; 5-0, 2.84 ERA in November; 4-2, 2.77 ERA in December and 4-1, 1.40 ERA in January, Denman has been a strong contender for Pitcher of the Month honours all season long.

Key Injuries:

36-year old 2B Mo Symes – flu – 4 days

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After winning 87 games back in 1937-38 and losing to the Pelicans in 6 games in the Western League Pennant Series, the Sherburn Tigers have failed to put up a winning record for six straight seasons. That changed last season when they won 81 games. This season, they are on pace for 93 victories and the prospect of reaching the playoffs for just the second time in their existence. Their strength is unquestionably pitching. Four of five of their starting pitchers made the all-star team. The top three prospects in their system are all future starters as well. They have surrendered the second fewest runs in the ULB (451), behind only Stratford's 443. But while their pitching leads the way, the offense has steadily improved allowing the Tigers to gain some ground on the first place Pelicans. Does this signal that another team in the West is ready to challenge Kingston for supremacy? One thing's for sure though, winning the Western League pennant won't be an automatic – by anybody.

Seven Tigers were selected to the All-Star game: LHP Arthur Bence (1st), RHP Jesús Chapa (2nd), LHP Daniel Pierson (3rd), RHP Roberto Taváras (3rd), RHP Ian Peter (1st), C Neil Voigt (2nd) and 1B Robin Harney (2nd).

Offense: .276/.351/.391 (4th/3rd/6th)
Pitching: 3.58/3.49/4.22 (2nd/2nd/3rd)
Defense: .696 (3rd)

Player of the Week Awards:

December 3 – RF Bert Helmer (.435, 10 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI)
December 10 – CF José Hernández (.538, 14 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI)
January 14 – 2B Jim List (.833, 10 H in 12 AB, 1 HR, 4 RBI)

Top Player:

27-year old C Neil Voigt (.336/.370/.545, 14 HR, 87 RBI, 4.4 WAR) continues to the lead the offense, but Sherburn is not a one-trick pony. Players like 28-year old 3B Jim List (.331/.388/.456, 6 HR, 47 RBI, 2.3 WAR) and 27-year old RF Bert Helmer (.278/.337/.451, 10 HR, 47 RBI, 2.7 WAR) are offering able support. It's also really nice to see 35-year old 1B Robin Harney (.336/.438/.392, 19-2B, 43 RBI, 2.4 WAR) doing well. Harney earned his second trip to the All-Star game this January. His first selection was in 1937-38, eight seasons ago.

Top Pitcher:

While 26-year old RHP Roberto Taváres (12-5, 3.45 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, .266 Opps AVG) was selected to the All-Braeland Team last season, and deservedly so, this season, Sherburn's top pitcher has actually been Jesús Chapa (13-8, 2.34 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, .233 Opps AVG). He leads the team in a number of pitching categories. He was selected 4th overall by the Tigers in the 1942-43 draft.

Injuries:

20-year old RHP Alfonso Roberto – separated hip joint – 4-5 weeks

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The Cambria Cannons are an enigma. Their overall play and performance has improved over the past two months, yet they lost ground to the Pelicans and Tigers. No doubt that speaks to the latter two teams being the class of the League, but it also speaks a bit to the crisis gripping this team. There is a talent to spare, but the team is apparently rife with strife. “Outspoken players are dragging the team down” is the chorus ringing out from the clubhouse. Manager Eddie Frierson, who has managed the club since the beginning, appears to have lost control of the team, as at least nine players do not get along with him. Certainly the handling of the team's most high profile player has been lamentable. 28-year old RF Ron Westmacott (.202/.366/.362, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 0.1 WAR) is rated as Cambria No. 1 player, right ahead of RF Nicky Willis (.294/.432/.440, 7 HR, 44 RBI, 2.8 WAR). However Willis is getting the starts while Westmacott rides the bench. While that is understandable from a performance point of view, it is appearing to be the cause of the team's strife (at least that's my guess). The other outfielders, LF Clint Jones (.325/.397/.492, 11 HR, 54 RBI, 2.7 WAR) and CF Nicky Willis (.315/.351/.438, 9 HR, 46 RBI, 3.3 WAR) are earning their keep as well, leaving little room for Westmacott to start elsewhere.

So why did GM Dylan Taylor sit on his hands when the trade deadline came and went? Clearly, something's got to give to remove the friction that plaguing the team. With the Cannons owning the worst ranked farm system in the ULB, moving an unhappy (albeit popular) player for prospects could have addressed both urgent needs. Instead, he did nothing and the season could be lost because of it. But, hey, the Owner is still happy. Maybe being 'hands-off' is not always such a good thing.

The Cannons sent six representatives to the All-Star game: LHP Carl Luscombe (4th), C Heung-su Park (1st), SS Wenceslas Jasmin (3rd), LF Clint Jones (7th), CF Brian Cosey (1st) and RF Nicky Willis (6th).

Offense: .276/.356/.405 (3rd/2nd/3rd)
Pitching: 4.45/4.55/3.94 (4th/4th/2nd)
Defense: .683 (7th)

Top Player:

29-year old SS Wenceslas Jasmin (.314/.374/.426, 3 HR, 53 RBI, 4.4 WAR) got hot in November and has been both an offensive and defensive leader for this team this year.

Top Pitcher:

Not exactly a stellar year for Cambria's pitchers. That said, 32-year old RHP Jin-man Kim (11-10, 3.68 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, .250 Opps AVG) has not been terrible and 30-year old RHP Leon Hankey (7-10, 3.56 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, .284 Opps AVG) had a great month in December, winning Pitcher of the Month honours.

Noteworthy:

December 30 – 28-year old 3B Thomas Murphy (.317/.382/.414, 1 HR, 39 RBI, 1.7 WAR) went 5 for 6 with a walk against the Hespeler Stars. All five hits were singles, including three RBI singles. The Cannons eked out an 8-7 win.

Injuries:

27-year old 1B Jérémy Lecocq – back strain – 3 weeks
28-year old RHP Carl Luscombe – shoulder swelling – 5 weeks

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The Fort Richmond Generals are all about constancy. In some cases, that could be a good thing. But in the case of the Generals, I'm not so sure. The team has had the same GM, field manager, pitching coach and hitting coach from Day 1, for nine straight seasons now. But all they have to show for it is nine losing seasons, with 74 wins and a third place finish their best marks. This season, they're on pace for 76 wins and a fourth place finish. Still, there does not appear to be anyone on the hot seat or a cry for change. Manager Eugene Rogge has a reputation for making friends in the dugout but not for providing a good environment for a player's development. That certainly is evident, as he enjoys a good relationship with a number of players with little if any rancour. As for the player development side of things, we shall soon see. The Generals boast the deepest farm system with a few of them starting to make the 25-man roster. Fort Richmond has shown a knack for drafting great players (ie. Danny Trowbridge, Oscar Burress) and then trading them away for younger prospects. Its time for them to get serious about building a contender.

Three Generals headed to the All-Star game: RHP Jorge Martínez (2nd), RHP Nicky Sherlock (1st) and 2B Matthew Welson (1st).

Offense: .260/.331/.368 (8th/6th/8th)
Pitching: 3.94/3.94/3.94 (3rd/3rd/1st)
Defense: .706 (1st)

Top Player:

Fort Richmond is struggling right now on offense, but 23-year old CF Dylan Moyne (.273/.331/.396, 7 HR, 45 RBI, 22 SB, 3.4 WAR) looks as though he will live up to his high draft selection. Moyne was selected first overall last season and skipped the minors completely.

Top Pitcher:

The pitching staff has been quite respectable this year and 25-year old RHP Reece Leavers (13-8, 3.16 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, .243 Opps AVG) is a big reason why. One highlight was his 4-0 shutout victory over the Kingston Pelicans back on December 20. He allowed 8 hits with 1 BB and 3 K.

Key Injuries: None

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The Wolseley Unions are another team that is still searching for their first winning record. They came close last season when they went 77-77. This year, they stumbled mightily out of the gate and were dead last in the West as late as January 3. But then the darnedest thing happened: they started to win. The Unions went on a 13-game winning streak beginning on January 4 and finished the rest of the month 18-4. That hot stretch vaulted them into fifth spot in the standings. No doubt some good fortune is involved, as they are 19-9 in one-run games, but the Unions do have a bevy of talent on the roster and its only going to get deeper, as they boast the second strongest farm system in the ULB. Their two all-star players, Carlton Hawking and Zak Kidd, are considered the top leftfielder and centerfielder respectively in the United Leagues. And a 21-year old infielder from the Virgin Islands, Westin Woollams (78/80) is already rated as their top player, even though he has yet to start regularly.

Undoubtedly, there will continue to be growing pains for this outfit, but the talent being assembled on both sides of the ball makes the near future for the Wolseley exciting to contemplate. But like so many other teams in the West, caution is needed. There's no guarantee that all that talent will pan out, or even if the Unions will hang onto to said talent for any length of time.

Two Union players earned All-Star selections: LF Carlton Hawking (1st) and CF Zak Kidd (6th).

Offense: .262/.350/.386 (6th/4th/7th)
Pitching: 4.64/4.74/4.28 (6th/6th/4th)
Defense: .692 (5th)

Top Player:

There's a reason they're all-stars, as 24-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.338/.454/.539, 11 HR, 58 RBI, 4.6 WAR) and 27-year old CF Zak Kidd (.281/.360/.507, 26 HR, 72 RBI, 22 SB, 4.5 WAR) are tearing up the League. The good news is that they may soon joined by a bevy of other young stars, such as 24-year old SS Jorge Arredondo (.319/.391/.445, 6 HR, 59 RBI, 4.0 WAR), who is a former first-rounder from 1940-41.

Top Pitcher:

The pitching talent is lagging a little behind the offense, but 22-year old RHP Jeremy Albury (12-8, 3.42 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, .247 Opps AVG) needs to make no excuses. The former first-rounder from 1942-43, who was acquired from the Queensland Eagles in 1944, is already entrenched as Wolseley's No. 1 starter, in just his second year in the big leagues.

Noteworthy:

January 13 – SS Jorge Arredondo went 5 for 8 in a 17-inning epic against the Balmoral Giants. Arredondo collected four singles including an RBI single in the 7th inning. In the top of the 16th, he hit a solo home run before the Giants tied it up again in the bottom half. Wolseley finally pulled out the victory in the next inning, winning 11-10.

Injuries:

35-year old RHP Douggie Taylor – torn shoulder muscle – 3 weeks
27-year old LHP Bruce Whitten – high ankle sprain – 2-3 weeks

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The promise of a competitive team that seemed to appear a few seasons ago has all but disappeared. The Hespeler Stars reached .500 and third place back in 1942-43, but since then its been all downhill. They should be bottoming out soon, as there's sufficient talent on the roster and in the farm system to be competitive fairly quickly. But for some reason, the collected talent isn't as impressive as what others organizations seem to have. Of course, things could change if player developments favour the Stars and not the other teams. But as it stands, Hespeler is shaping up to be more of a respectable team one day, rather than a powerhouse.

Three Stars qualified for the All-Star game: 1B Wayne Savory (1st), SS Kobbe Asamse (1st) and RF Marcus Peyto (2nd).

Offense: .270/.331/.398 (5th/7th/4th)
Pitching: 5.19/5.33/4.78 (8th/8th/8th)
Defense: .666 (8th)

Player of the Week Awards:

December 31 – 2B Quinlevan Goldfinch (.455, 15 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 10 R)
January 7 – SS Kobbe Adamse (.560, 14 H, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 8 R)

Top Player:

He may not have made the all-star team, but 26-year old C Gareth Kody (.330/.339/.459, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 2.8 WAR) is enjoying his first solid season in the ULB. Acquired from the Braeland City Monarchs last September in a trade, Kody played largely backup to C Kane Broom. Given a chance to start regularly, he is making the most of it.

Top Pitcher:

The pitching has cratered, so reluctantly I'll go again with 27-year old LHP Carlton Sherrell (11-10, 3.89 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, .246 Opps AVG). His performance has suffered just as the rest of the pitching staff, but he is still the best they've got. However, he did throw a 2-hitter against the Brunswick Legends just back on January 30. Fanning 6 and walking 3, Sherrell earned the 'W' in the 3-0 victory.

Noteworthy:

January 3 – C Gareth Kody went 5 for 6 against the Wolseley Unions, helping the Stars to a 10-9 triumph. Kody hit a two-run single in the 2nd, hit a solo-home run in the 4th, singled in the 5th, flied out in the 6th, singled in the 9th and hit an RBI double in the 11th, which proved to be the game winner.

Injuries:

36-year old LF Harold Yoder – strained stomach muscles – 4 weeks

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After four straight winning seasons and two post-season appearances, the Balmoral Giants have tumbled mightily and its not hard to see why. The pitching staff has been abysmal top-to-bottom this season, letting down the offense which has been quite good. The Giants have some young prospects joining the pitching staff but with the exception of 25-year old LHP Wally Lee (29/68) in AAA, all other pitchers are shaping up to the relievers. Balmoral is in real need of some starters and fast, as the current ones are tanking. Long time GM Victor Lynch did not make any moves to address their need before the trade deadline, so perhaps he's looking to the off-season instead. They have talent coming up from the farm that could be used to acquire something pitching instead. With an offense this good, its a shame to see it go to waste.

Three Giants were selected to the All-Star game: 3B Allan Cattanach (2nd), SS Francisco Rodríguez (6th) and RF Carlton Broadbent (5th).

Offense: .282/.345/.422 (2nd/5th/2nd)
Pitching: 4.77/4.80/4.63 (7th/7th/7th)
Defense: .689 (6th)

Player of the Week Awards:

January 28 – RF Carlton Broadbent (.455, 15 H, 6 HR, 10 RBI, 9 R)

Top Player:

This is an automatic pick for the Giants, as 27-year old RF Carlton Broadbent (.359/.441/.627, 26 HR, 84 RBI, 4.9 WAR) is one of the best in the ULB. Encouraging too are the youngsters, such as 23-year old 2B Sean Brearton (.297/.328/.399, 2 HR, 38 RBI, 1.2 WAR), who won Hitter of the Month honours for December. Brearton was selected 4th overall in 1941-42.

Top Pitcher:

The pitching has really tanked over the past two months, so I'll highlight one of the young prospects that is easing his way onto the staff this season. 25-year old RHP Gerard Leese (6-6, 1 SV, 3.61 ERA, 1.62 WHIP) is pitching in a set-up role right now. If he could develop his changeup (25/25) somehow, he might be able to move into the rotation. But that doesn't seem likely.

Noteworthy:

December 12 – RF Carlton Broadbent enjoyed a 5 for 6 day against the Cambria Cannons. He singled in the 4th, singled in the 6th, hit an RBI single also in the 6th, singled in the 8th and hit a two-run double in the 9th. The Giants crushed the Cannons 17-4.

Injuries:

28-year old CF Ellis Rothwell – torn upper arm muscle – 3 weeks
25-year old LHP Dan Moon – torn upper arm muscle – 3 months

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The Pulberry Trolleys are in rough shape. While their pitching is holding steady, the offense has crumbled, thus the tumble to last place in the West. But the Trolleys also have one of the weakest farms systems with little prospects to get excited about. That's not a good combination. The Trolleys have yet to enjoy a winning season, let alone a playoff appearance, so the years they've had to accumulate a cache of talent have largely gone to waste. Another case of a GM sitting on his hands when he could have at least begun a rebuild in earnest instead of dragging it out endlessly. Maybe I should start checking these guys for a pulse.

The Trolleys sent three representatives to the All-Star game: RHP Lenny Tennison (1st), 3B Terry Maxwell (3rd) and SS Roland Binns (2nd).

Offense: .261/.327/.397 (7th/8th/5th)
Pitching: 4.60/4.64/4.41 (5th/5th/6th)
Defense: .695 (4th)

Player of the Week Awards:

December 24 – SS Roland Binns (.406, 13 H, 4 HR, 14 RBI)

Top Player:

The offense really cooled off in January, so I'll stick with 33-year old 3B Terry Maxwell (.290/.368/.464, 9 HR, 50 RBI, 3.8 WAR). His defense continues to be great though (+9.9 ZR).

Top Pitcher:

27-year old RHP Lenny Tennison (7-9, 3.71 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, .259 Opps AVG) has been kicking around the minor leagues since 1937 with five different organizations. He was selected in the Rule 5 draft back in 1941 by the Queenlsand Eagles, only to be returned to the Balmoral Giants a few months later. But he won the Rube Foster Award for best pitcher in the Heritage Leagues last season while player with the Elgin Angels, a Kingston Pelicans farm team. He was signed as a minor league free agent by the Pulberry Trolleys during the off-season and finally got a chance to pitch in the majors. All he did was earn a trip to the all-star game. He is currently Pulberry's No. 2 starter.

Injuries:

44-year old RHP Larry Parrish – elbow swelling – 1 week
29-year old SS Jamie Florey – torn shoulder joint – out for 5-6 weeks.

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12-26-2016, 01:32 PM	#311
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,919	February 1, 1946 Western League: Are the Tigers for Real? The Kingston Pelicans continue to dominate the Western League with a phenomenally balanced roster, but a funny thing happened in December and January: they actually lost ground. After winning an incredible 42 games in Oct/Nov, the Pelicans 'cooled off' a bit in Dec/Jan, winning 30. The Tigers, by comparison, won 35. But what's really telling is their head-to-head match-ups. In November, Kingston took 3 of 4 from the Tigers in their first meeting. But in December and January, Sherburn turned the tables, taking 5 of 7. There have been other teams in previous seasons who appeared ready to challenge the Pelicans, but with the exception of the Cambria Cannons, all others have proven to be pretenders. Sherburn doesn't appear to be a pretender. They are a talented bunch that are getting stronger as the season wears on. I can hardly wait to see what February and March will bring as the regular season moves into the final stretch. -------- It was inevitable that the Kingston Pelicans would regress just a tad, as the .750 winning percentage they maintained over the first two months was simply unsustainable, even for a team as good as Kingston. But the Pelicans are still the class of the United Leagues, let alone the Western League. The Pyt. Record matches their actual won-loss record and they've increased their run differential to a jaw-dropping +233 (Stratford is next at +77). The club ranks first in 7 of 11 batting stats and second in two others. In the pitching stats category, they rank first in 7 of 10 and second in two others. A big, feathery red machine indeed. Eight Pelicans were selected to the All-Star game: RHP Joey Cumberledge (9th appearance), RHP Ben Currall (1st), LHP Patrick Denman (1st), RHP Francis Slocock (7th), RHP Luis Velásquez (3rd), C Danny Trowbridge (5th), 1B Dean Bishop (2nd) and SS Katsunan Chikafuji (9th). Offense: .300/.378/.449 (1st/1st/1st) Pitching: 3.46/3.30/4.38 (1st/1st/5th) Defense: .698 (2nd) *Player of the Week Awards:* December 17 – SS Katsunan Chikafuji (.565, 13 H, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 8 R) January 21 – 1B Dean Bishop (.400, 12 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI) *Top Player:* 27-year old C Danny Trowbridge (.378/.448/.622, 23 HR, 70 RBI, 6.7 WAR) and 30-year old Katsunan Chikafuji (.358/.405/.574, 20 HR, 102 RBI, 6.5WAR) continue to lead the way for Kingston’s offense, but 31-year old 1B Dean Bishop (.322/.435/.550, 19 HR, 82 RBI, 4.7 WAR) is not far behind. He is enjoying one of best seasons yet and won Hitter of the Month honours in January, following Trowbridge's win in December. *Top Pitcher:* 26-year old rookie RHP Ben Currall (14-6, 2.15 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, .220 Opps AVG) continues to roll right along as Kingston's No. Starter, but 25-year old LHP Patrick Denman (18-4, 2.36 ERA, 1.21WHIP, .226 Opps AVG) has been very consistent month to month. Going 5-1, 2.30 ERA in October; 5-0, 2.84 ERA in November; 4-2, 2.77 ERA in December and 4-1, 1.40 ERA in January, Denman has been a strong contender for Pitcher of the Month honours all season long. *Key Injuries:* 36-year old 2B Mo Symes – flu – 4 days -------- After winning 87 games back in 1937-38 and losing to the Pelicans in 6 games in the Western League Pennant Series, the Sherburn Tigers have failed to put up a winning record for six straight seasons. That changed last season when they won 81 games. This season, they are on pace for 93 victories and the prospect of reaching the playoffs for just the second time in their existence. Their strength is unquestionably pitching. Four of five of their starting pitchers made the all-star team. The top three prospects in their system are all future starters as well. They have surrendered the second fewest runs in the ULB (451), behind only Stratford's 443. But while their pitching leads the way, the offense has steadily improved allowing the Tigers to gain some ground on the first place Pelicans. Does this signal that another team in the West is ready to challenge Kingston for supremacy? One thing's for sure though, winning the Western League pennant won't be an automatic – by anybody. Seven Tigers were selected to the All-Star game: LHP Arthur Bence (1st), RHP Jesús Chapa (2nd), LHP Daniel Pierson (3rd), RHP Roberto Taváras (3rd), RHP Ian Peter (1st), C Neil Voigt (2nd) and 1B Robin Harney (2nd). Offense: .276/.351/.391 (4th/3rd/6th) Pitching: 3.58/3.49/4.22 (2nd/2nd/3rd) Defense: .696 (3rd) *Player of the Week Awards:* December 3 – RF Bert Helmer (.435, 10 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI) December 10 – CF José Hernández (.538, 14 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI) January 14 – 2B Jim List (.833, 10 H in 12 AB, 1 HR, 4 RBI) *Top Player:* 27-year old C Neil Voigt (.336/.370/.545, 14 HR, 87 RBI, 4.4 WAR) continues to the lead the offense, but Sherburn is not a one-trick pony. Players like 28-year old 3B Jim List (.331/.388/.456, 6 HR, 47 RBI, 2.3 WAR) and 27-year old RF Bert Helmer (.278/.337/.451, 10 HR, 47 RBI, 2.7 WAR) are offering able support. It's also really nice to see 35-year old 1B Robin Harney (.336/.438/.392, 19-2B, 43 RBI, 2.4 WAR) doing well. Harney earned his second trip to the All-Star game this January. His first selection was in 1937-38, eight seasons ago. *Top Pitcher:* While 26-year old RHP Roberto Taváres (12-5, 3.45 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, .266 Opps AVG) was selected to the All-Braeland Team last season, and deservedly so, this season, Sherburn's top pitcher has actually been Jesús Chapa (13-8, 2.34 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, .233 Opps AVG). He leads the team in a number of pitching categories. He was selected 4th overall by the Tigers in the 1942-43 draft. *Injuries:* 20-year old RHP Alfonso Roberto – separated hip joint – 4-5 weeks -------- The Cambria Cannons are an enigma. Their overall play and performance has improved over the past two months, yet they lost ground to the Pelicans and Tigers. No doubt that speaks to the latter two teams being the class of the League, but it also speaks a bit to the crisis gripping this team. There is a talent to spare, but the team is apparently rife with strife. “Outspoken players are dragging the team down” is the chorus ringing out from the clubhouse. Manager Eddie Frierson, who has managed the club since the beginning, appears to have lost control of the team, as at least nine players do not get along with him. Certainly the handling of the team's most high profile player has been lamentable. 28-year old RF Ron Westmacott (.202/.366/.362, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 0.1 WAR) is rated as Cambria No. 1 player, right ahead of RF Nicky Willis (.294/.432/.440, 7 HR, 44 RBI, 2.8 WAR). However Willis is getting the starts while Westmacott rides the bench. While that is understandable from a performance point of view, it is appearing to be the cause of the team's strife (at least that's my guess). The other outfielders, LF Clint Jones (.325/.397/.492, 11 HR, 54 RBI, 2.7 WAR) and CF Nicky Willis (.315/.351/.438, 9 HR, 46 RBI, 3.3 WAR) are earning their keep as well, leaving little room for Westmacott to start elsewhere. So why did GM Dylan Taylor sit on his hands when the trade deadline came and went? Clearly, something's got to give to remove the friction that plaguing the team. With the Cannons owning the worst ranked farm system in the ULB, moving an unhappy (albeit popular) player for prospects could have addressed both urgent needs. Instead, he did nothing and the season could be lost because of it. But, hey, the Owner is still happy. Maybe being 'hands-off' is not always such a good thing. The Cannons sent six representatives to the All-Star game: LHP Carl Luscombe (4th), C Heung-su Park (1st), SS Wenceslas Jasmin (3rd), LF Clint Jones (7th), CF Brian Cosey (1st) and RF Nicky Willis (6th). Offense: .276/.356/.405 (3rd/2nd/3rd) Pitching: 4.45/4.55/3.94 (4th/4th/2nd) Defense: .683 (7th) *Top Player:* 29-year old SS Wenceslas Jasmin (.314/.374/.426, 3 HR, 53 RBI, 4.4 WAR) got hot in November and has been both an offensive and defensive leader for this team this year. *Top Pitcher:* Not exactly a stellar year for Cambria's pitchers. That said, 32-year old RHP Jin-man Kim (11-10, 3.68 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, .250 Opps AVG) has not been terrible and 30-year old RHP Leon Hankey (7-10, 3.56 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, .284 Opps AVG) had a great month in December, winning Pitcher of the Month honours. *Noteworthy:* December 30 – 28-year old 3B Thomas Murphy (.317/.382/.414, 1 HR, 39 RBI, 1.7 WAR) went 5 for 6 with a walk against the Hespeler Stars. All five hits were singles, including three RBI singles. The Cannons eked out an 8-7 win. *Injuries:* 27-year old 1B Jérémy Lecocq – back strain – 3 weeks 28-year old RHP Carl Luscombe – shoulder swelling – 5 weeks -------- The Fort Richmond Generals are all about constancy. In some cases, that could be a good thing. But in the case of the Generals, I'm not so sure. The team has had the same GM, field manager, pitching coach and hitting coach from Day 1, for nine straight seasons now. But all they have to show for it is nine losing seasons, with 74 wins and a third place finish their best marks. This season, they're on pace for 76 wins and a fourth place finish. Still, there does not appear to be anyone on the hot seat or a cry for change. Manager Eugene Rogge has a reputation for making friends in the dugout but not for providing a good environment for a player's development. That certainly is evident, as he enjoys a good relationship with a number of players with little if any rancour. As for the player development side of things, we shall soon see. The Generals boast the deepest farm system with a few of them starting to make the 25-man roster. Fort Richmond has shown a knack for drafting great players (ie. Danny Trowbridge, Oscar Burress) and then trading them away for younger prospects. Its time for them to get serious about building a contender. Three Generals headed to the All-Star game: RHP Jorge Martínez (2nd), RHP Nicky Sherlock (1st) and 2B Matthew Welson (1st). Offense: .260/.331/.368 (8th/6th/8th) Pitching: 3.94/3.94/3.94 (3rd/3rd/1st) Defense: .706 (1st) *Top Player:* Fort Richmond is struggling right now on offense, but 23-year old CF Dylan Moyne (.273/.331/.396, 7 HR, 45 RBI, 22 SB, 3.4 WAR) looks as though he will live up to his high draft selection. Moyne was selected first overall last season and skipped the minors completely. *Top Pitcher:* The pitching staff has been quite respectable this year and 25-year old RHP Reece Leavers (13-8, 3.16 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, .243 Opps AVG) is a big reason why. One highlight was his 4-0 shutout victory over the Kingston Pelicans back on December 20. He allowed 8 hits with 1 BB and 3 K. *Key Injuries:* None -------- The Wolseley Unions are another team that is still searching for their first winning record. They came close last season when they went 77-77. This year, they stumbled mightily out of the gate and were dead last in the West as late as January 3. But then the darnedest thing happened: they started to win. The Unions went on a 13-game winning streak beginning on January 4 and finished the rest of the month 18-4. That hot stretch vaulted them into fifth spot in the standings. No doubt some good fortune is involved, as they are 19-9 in one-run games, but the Unions do have a bevy of talent on the roster and its only going to get deeper, as they boast the second strongest farm system in the ULB. Their two all-star players, Carlton Hawking and Zak Kidd, are considered the top leftfielder and centerfielder respectively in the United Leagues. And a 21-year old infielder from the Virgin Islands, Westin Woollams (78/80) is already rated as their top player, even though he has yet to start regularly. Undoubtedly, there will continue to be growing pains for this outfit, but the talent being assembled on both sides of the ball makes the near future for the Wolseley exciting to contemplate. But like so many other teams in the West, caution is needed. There's no guarantee that all that talent will pan out, or even if the Unions will hang onto to said talent for any length of time. Two Union players earned All-Star selections: LF Carlton Hawking (1st) and CF Zak Kidd (6th). Offense: .262/.350/.386 (6th/4th/7th) Pitching: 4.64/4.74/4.28 (6th/6th/4th) Defense: .692 (5th) *Top Player:* There's a reason they're all-stars, as 24-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.338/.454/.539, 11 HR, 58 RBI, 4.6 WAR) and 27-year old CF Zak Kidd (.281/.360/.507, 26 HR, 72 RBI, 22 SB, 4.5 WAR) are tearing up the League. The good news is that they may soon joined by a bevy of other young stars, such as 24-year old SS Jorge Arredondo (.319/.391/.445, 6 HR, 59 RBI, 4.0 WAR), who is a former first-rounder from 1940-41. *Top Pitcher:* The pitching talent is lagging a little behind the offense, but 22-year old RHP Jeremy Albury (12-8, 3.42 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, .247 Opps AVG) needs to make no excuses. The former first-rounder from 1942-43, who was acquired from the Queensland Eagles in 1944, is already entrenched as Wolseley's No. 1 starter, in just his second year in the big leagues. *Noteworthy:* January 13 – SS Jorge Arredondo went 5 for 8 in a 17-inning epic against the Balmoral Giants. Arredondo collected four singles including an RBI single in the 7th inning. In the top of the 16th, he hit a solo home run before the Giants tied it up again in the bottom half. Wolseley finally pulled out the victory in the next inning, winning 11-10. *Injuries:* 35-year old RHP Douggie Taylor – torn shoulder muscle – 3 weeks 27-year old LHP Bruce Whitten – high ankle sprain – 2-3 weeks -------- The promise of a competitive team that seemed to appear a few seasons ago has all but disappeared. The Hespeler Stars reached .500 and third place back in 1942-43, but since then its been all downhill. They should be bottoming out soon, as there's sufficient talent on the roster and in the farm system to be competitive fairly quickly. But for some reason, the collected talent isn't as impressive as what others organizations seem to have. Of course, things could change if player developments favour the Stars and not the other teams. But as it stands, Hespeler is shaping up to be more of a respectable team one day, rather than a powerhouse. Three Stars qualified for the All-Star game: 1B Wayne Savory (1st), SS Kobbe Asamse (1st) and RF Marcus Peyto (2nd). Offense: .270/.331/.398 (5th/7th/4th) Pitching: 5.19/5.33/4.78 (8th/8th/8th) Defense: .666 (8th) *Player of the Week Awards:* December 31 – 2B Quinlevan Goldfinch (.455, 15 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 10 R) January 7 – SS Kobbe Adamse (.560, 14 H, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 8 R) *Top Player:* He may not have made the all-star team, but 26-year old C Gareth Kody (.330/.339/.459, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 2.8 WAR) is enjoying his first solid season in the ULB. Acquired from the Braeland City Monarchs last September in a trade, Kody played largely backup to C Kane Broom. Given a chance to start regularly, he is making the most of it. *Top Pitcher:* The pitching has cratered, so reluctantly I'll go again with 27-year old LHP Carlton Sherrell (11-10, 3.89 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, .246 Opps AVG). His performance has suffered just as the rest of the pitching staff, but he is still the best they've got. However, he did throw a 2-hitter against the Brunswick Legends just back on January 30. Fanning 6 and walking 3, Sherrell earned the 'W' in the 3-0 victory. *Noteworthy:* January 3 – C Gareth Kody went 5 for 6 against the Wolseley Unions, helping the Stars to a 10-9 triumph. Kody hit a two-run single in the 2nd, hit a solo-home run in the 4th, singled in the 5th, flied out in the 6th, singled in the 9th and hit an RBI double in the 11th, which proved to be the game winner. *Injuries:* 36-year old LF Harold Yoder – strained stomach muscles – 4 weeks -------- After four straight winning seasons and two post-season appearances, the Balmoral Giants have tumbled mightily and its not hard to see why. The pitching staff has been abysmal top-to-bottom this season, letting down the offense which has been quite good. The Giants have some young prospects joining the pitching staff but with the exception of 25-year old LHP Wally Lee (29/68) in AAA, all other pitchers are shaping up to the relievers. Balmoral is in real need of some starters and fast, as the current ones are tanking. Long time GM Victor Lynch did not make any moves to address their need before the trade deadline, so perhaps he's looking to the off-season instead. They have talent coming up from the farm that could be used to acquire something pitching instead. With an offense this good, its a shame to see it go to waste. Three Giants were selected to the All-Star game: 3B Allan Cattanach (2nd), SS Francisco Rodríguez (6th) and RF Carlton Broadbent (5th). Offense: .282/.345/.422 (2nd/5th/2nd) Pitching: 4.77/4.80/4.63 (7th/7th/7th) Defense: .689 (6th) *Player of the Week Awards:* January 28 – RF Carlton Broadbent (.455, 15 H, 6 HR, 10 RBI, 9 R) *Top Player:* This is an automatic pick for the Giants, as 27-year old RF Carlton Broadbent (.359/.441/.627, 26 HR, 84 RBI, 4.9 WAR) is one of the best in the ULB. Encouraging too are the youngsters, such as 23-year old 2B Sean Brearton (.297/.328/.399, 2 HR, 38 RBI, 1.2 WAR), who won Hitter of the Month honours for December. Brearton was selected 4th overall in 1941-42. *Top Pitcher:* The pitching has really tanked over the past two months, so I'll highlight one of the young prospects that is easing his way onto the staff this season. 25-year old RHP Gerard Leese (6-6, 1 SV, 3.61 ERA, 1.62 WHIP) is pitching in a set-up role right now. If he could develop his changeup (25/25) somehow, he might be able to move into the rotation. But that doesn't seem likely. *Noteworthy:* December 12 – RF Carlton Broadbent enjoyed a 5 for 6 day against the Cambria Cannons. He singled in the 4th, singled in the 6th, hit an RBI single also in the 6th, singled in the 8th and hit a two-run double in the 9th. The Giants crushed the Cannons 17-4. *Injuries:* 28-year old CF Ellis Rothwell – torn upper arm muscle – 3 weeks 25-year old LHP Dan Moon – torn upper arm muscle – 3 months -------- The Pulberry Trolleys are in rough shape. While their pitching is holding steady, the offense has crumbled, thus the tumble to last place in the West. But the Trolleys also have one of the weakest farms systems with little prospects to get excited about. That's not a good combination. The Trolleys have yet to enjoy a winning season, let alone a playoff appearance, so the years they've had to accumulate a cache of talent have largely gone to waste. Another case of a GM sitting on his hands when he could have at least begun a rebuild in earnest instead of dragging it out endlessly. Maybe I should start checking these guys for a pulse. The Trolleys sent three representatives to the All-Star game: RHP Lenny Tennison (1st), 3B Terry Maxwell (3rd) and SS Roland Binns (2nd). Offense: .261/.327/.397 (7th/8th/5th) Pitching: 4.60/4.64/4.41 (5th/5th/6th) Defense: .695 (4th) *Player of the Week Awards:* December 24 – SS Roland Binns (.406, 13 H, 4 HR, 14 RBI) *Top Player:* The offense really cooled off in January, so I'll stick with 33-year old 3B Terry Maxwell (.290/.368/.464, 9 HR, 50 RBI, 3.8 WAR). His defense continues to be great though (+9.9 ZR). *Top Pitcher:* 27-year old RHP Lenny Tennison (7-9, 3.71 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, .259 Opps AVG) has been kicking around the minor leagues since 1937 with five different organizations. He was selected in the Rule 5 draft back in 1941 by the Queenlsand Eagles, only to be returned to the Balmoral Giants a few months later. But he won the Rube Foster Award for best pitcher in the Heritage Leagues last season while player with the Elgin Angels, a Kingston Pelicans farm team. He was signed as a minor league free agent by the Pulberry Trolleys during the off-season and finally got a chance to pitch in the majors. All he did was earn a trip to the all-star game. He is currently Pulberry's No. 2 starter. *Injuries:* 44-year old RHP Larry Parrish – elbow swelling – 1 week 29-year old SS Jamie Florey – torn shoulder joint – out for 5-6 weeks. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 07-15-2017 at 10:39 PM.