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reds1 · 03-11-2018, 09:23 PM

March 28, 1949

Western League: It’s a Generals, Unions Rematch for the Pennant

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Offense: .280/.353/.422 (1st/2nd/1st)
Pitching: 3.15/3.07/3.89 (1st/1st/3rd)
Defense: .737 (1st)
Chemistry: Ecstatic

The Fort Richmond Generals suffered no slumps in February and March as the team powered its way to 103 victories and its second consecutive first place finish. The Generals punched their ticket to the post-season back on March 8 with 20 games to go and will meet the Wolseley Unions for the second straight season. In fact, for the first time in the United Leagues, all four playoff teams from the previous season return to battle for the United Cup. Fort Richmond heads into the playoffs with the best offense in the West (5.2 R/G) and the best pitching/defense in entire ULB (3.7 R/G). The Generals were remarkably consistent – 51-26 at home, while going 52-25 on the road. That almost matched the Braeland City Monarchs, who split their home/away record evenly (52-25).

The bullpen was perhaps the lone weakness on this squad, but the staff has been bolstered of late thanks in part by 23-year old rookie LHP Gavin Flatt (13-6, 3.08 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 1.33 ERA+, 3.3 WAR), a future starter serving as the setup man. 25-year old RHP José Rodríguez (7-6, 15 SV, 2.61 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 157 ERA+, 0.9 WAR) has made the closer role his own. Finally, the Generals welcomed back 27-year old long-reliever RHP John Bullivant (0-0, 1 SV, 1.15 ERA, 1.15 WHIP), who missed most of the season due to a torn meniscus. Thus, Fort Richmond is well positioned to defend their United Cup championship, despite the loss of 24-year old all-star RHP Shinzo Okamoto (2-1, 2.65 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) to a season-ending injury back in November.

Top Position Player: 26-year old CF Dylan Moyne (.349/.419/.543, 19 HR, 114 RBI, 70 BB, 24 SB, 8.8 WAR) established himself as an elite player last season and he only got better this year. In fact, he just missed out winning the Western League Batting Title by the slimmest of margins. The former 1st overall pick (and No. 2 rated position player in the ULB) was even better on defense compared to last year, if that was possible (.982 PCT, 3.30 RNG, +18.8 ZR, 1.051 EFF).

Top Pitcher: 26-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock (18-7, 2.48 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 165 ERA+, 6.9 WAR) is rated No. 2 among pitchers in the ULB and enjoyed his best season by far.

Noteworthy:

February 8 – 27-year old Alohalani Illoura (.251/.343/.371, 5 HR, 28 RBI, 23 BB, 0.8 WAR) serves as Fort Richmond’s backup catcher but on this day, he made the most of his start against the Cobourg Red Stockings, going 5 for 5. Illoura singled in the 2nd, 4th and 5th innings, hit a 2-run home run off José Fernández in the 7th and singled in the 9th. The Generals prevailed 11-9.

Current Injuries:

RHP Shinzo Okamoto – November 11 – fractured ulna (arm). Out for: 2 weeks.

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Offense: .272/.356/.391 (2nd/1st/3rd)
Pitching: 3.63/3.49/4.44 (2nd/2nd/5th)
Defense: .707 (5th)
Chemistry: Unhappy

For the most part this season, the Wolseley Unions seemed content to simply stay just ahead of any and all challengers for the wild card. But that attitude very nearly cost them their third consecutive post-season appearance. At the end of February, they led the third place Cambria Cannons by 3 games. But in the first two weeks of March, Cambria went 9-3 while the Unions stumbled, going 5-7. By March 13, Cambria held a one-game lead for the wildcard as Wolseley appeared to be fading. But the Unions then went on a tear, finishing the regular season with a 13-game winning streak. The Cannons could not keep up, going just 5-8 and ending the season 7 games back.

Top Position Player: 24-year old C Éric Denis (.336/.374/.463, 10 HR, 96 RBI, 33 BB, 5.2 WAR) enjoyed the best season of his three-year career so far, but 27-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.349/.468/.562, 22 HR, 86 RBI, 120 BB, 4 SB, 6.8 WAR) is the elite player on this squad. Hawking also won the Western League Batting Title in one of the tightest races ever over Fort Richmond’s Dylan Moyne. Hawking had 184 H on 527 AB (0.34915), while Moyne collected 207 H in 593 AB (0.34907). Hawking’s defense did improve over last season (.978 PCT, 2.33 RNG, -10.9 ZR, .951 EFF), but defense has never been his strength.

Top Pitcher: 31-year old RHP Hun Park (15-11, 3.04 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 139 ERA+, 5.3 WAR) enters the post-season as Wolseley’s top pitcher, but Wolseley boasts 4 very good starters, so it was really hard to choose. But they all will need to be good, as Fort Richmond’s rotation must be considered the best in the United Leagues right now.

Player of the Week Awards:

March 14 – LF Carlton Hawking (.448, 13 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI)

Noteworthy:

February 4 – The Unions won a shoot-out, 12-7 against the Stratford Barons at Stratford’s Bosworth Field. Pacing the Unions was LF Carlton Hawking, who went 5 for 5. Hawking hit a 2-run homer off Bonie Bandong in the 1st, singled in the 2nd, walked in the 4th, singled in the 6th and 8th and finally hit an RBI single in the 9th.

March 10 – Carlton Hawking did it again, collecting 5 hits in a game. This time it was in Wolseley’s 13-9 win over the Hespeler Stars. The Unions scored 4 runs in the top of the 13th inning to pull out the victory. Hawking hit an RBI single in the 1st, singled in the 2nd and 4th, hit an RBI single in the 6th, flied out in the 8th and singled in the 10th.

Current Injuries:

RF Ramón Tavira – November 20 – fractured hip. Out for: 8 weeks.

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Offense: .265/.350/.399 (3rd/3rd/2nd)
Pitching: 4.38/4.26/4.79 (6th/5th/6th)
Defense: .702 (6th)
Chemistry: Happy

As discussed in the Wolseley Union write-up, the Cambria Cannons came close to capturing the wildcard, but could not keep up with a hot Wolseley team at the end. Still, their 82-72 record is their best finish since 1944-45 when they went 89-65 and last made the playoffs. It represents a 17-game improvement over last season. What’s remarkable is that they made this improvement largely with the same 25-man roster they’ve had for the last few years. Only 25-year old rookie LF Edmond Boswell (.293/.364/.509, 15 HR, 50 RBI, 35 BB, 1.2 WAR) is the new face in the lineup, batting cleanup against both RHP and LHP.

Top Position Player: 31-year old C Heung-su Park (.293/.377/.477, 16 HR, 76 RBI, 64 BB, 5.1 WAR) was consistent all season, but really came alive in the final two months, batting .357/.494/.601.

Top Pitcher: 31-year old LHP Callum Stonehouse (14-15, 3.66 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 113 ERA+, 4.5 WAR) was signed to a minor league contract by the Cannons from an ‘independent league’ back September 1942. He has been pretty average over his six seasons in the ULB (57-61, 4.01 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 99 ERA+) but he is now Cambria’s No. 1 starter and enjoyed one of his better seasons.

Player of the Week Awards:

March 7 – C Heung-su Park (.560, 14 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI)

Key Injuries:

RHP Wing-kit Liu – January 16 – ruptured bicep tendon. Out for: 3-4 months.

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Offense: .265/.338/.385 (4th/5th/5th)
Pitching: 4.22/4.29/3.91 (5th/6th/4th)
Defense: .712 (Tied for 2nd)
Chemistry: Content

It was doubtful that the Balmoral Giants were going to make a serious push for the wildcard, but an 8-16 February all but eliminated any chance they had. Still, they started March on a tear, going 15-3 before dropping 4 straight games to the Wolseley Unions by a combined score of 33-10. They did take 2 of 3 from Fort Richmond to end the season, though.

The Giants are gathering some fine, young talent that should bolster the veterans on the club. Free agent 29-year old LHP Ricardo Cruz (10-17, 4.06 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 103 ERA+, 4.9 WAR) had his struggles, but should ultimately prove to be a steady pitcher. Their other free agent, 27-year old 1B Javier Romero (.282/.350/.429, 11 HR, 65 RBI, 41 BB, 1.1 WAR) finished the season strong and has entrenched himself in the No. 5 spot in the lineup. Another young prospect is 24-year old LF Kaleba Ulkini (.288/.342/.351, 6-2B, 27 RBI, 18 BB, 0.8 WAR – 63/71), a second-round pick from 1945-46. Promoted to the majors in December, Ulkini finished the season in the No. 2 spot. An excellent defender at LF with very good speed, he just needs to work on his offense a bit more. Lastly, waiting in the wings is 22-year old OF Orlando Morales (46/77), a third-overall pick from 1947-48, who was just promoted to AAA. When he finally reaches the majors, the Giants will have some decisions to make, as their outfield is getting rather crowded with talent. There are other areas (catcher, pitching) that they should look at upgrading if they want to contend soon.

Top Position Player: 31-year old RF Carlton Broadbent (.345/.414/.576, 26 HR, 95 RBI, 67 BB, 5.0 WAR) is one of greatest offensive players to ever play in the ULB, and that didn’t change this season. But defense has never been his strength or an apparent concern with him. But this season he made a concerted effort to improve. And he did, going .973 PCT, 2.40 RNG, -9.7 ZR, .957 EFF. That may not look all that impressive, but it is for him.

Top Pitcher: 24-year old RHP Quintilliano Galeo (17-10, 3.21 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 130 ERA+, 4.4 WAR) built upon his rookie season and is Balmoral’s best pitcher without question. He earned his first all-star selection and he has not yet hit his ceiling (51/79).

Player of the Week Awards:

February 7 – CF Damon Purcell (.500, 10 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
March 21 – SS Francisco Rodríguez (.560, 14 H, 7 RBI)

Current Injuries:

RHP Paddy Vanderven – November 3 – surgery to remove bone chips (elbow). Out for: 3-4 weeks.

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Offense: .251/.340/.386 (7th/4th/4th)
Pitching: 4.16/4.25/3.76 (4th/4th/1st)
Defense: .710 (4th)
Chemistry: Happy

The Kingston Pelicans appeared at times that they would seriously challenge for a playoff spot, but any hope collapsed in late February when they embarked on a 2-13 skid that included 8-straight losses. Certainly, the loss of No. 2 starter 29-year old Ben Currall (4-3, 3.60 ERA, 1.35 WHIP) in December for the rest of the season due to injury didn’t help their cause. Neither did the disappointing performance of their ace, 29-year old LHP Patrick Denman (12-17, 4.07 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 104 ERA+, 5.2 WAR). Like a lot of other teams, the Pelicans’ focus will be on rebuilding. It will be interesting to see how far they will go (trade Danny Trowbridge perhaps?) to expedite that rebuild in the coming months.

Top Position Player: 30-year old C Danny Trowbridge (.328/.449/.519, 19 HR, 77 RBI, 106 BB, 6 SB, 6.4 WAR) is still a superstar, but this season was a step down from his established performance over the past five seasons.

Top Pitcher: No. 3 starter 31-year old RHP Charlie Gilbert (15-11, 3.61 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 117 ERA+, 5.5 WAR) struggled last season (10-12, 4.80 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 84 ERA+, 1.3 WAR) but enjoyed a nice rebound this year and was Kingston best overall pitcher.

Player of the Week Awards:

February 14 – C Danny Trowbridge (.650, 13 H, 5 RBI)
February 21 – C Danny Trowbridge (.400, 6 H, 4 HR, 6 RBI)

Current Injuries:

RHP Ben Currall – December 20 – shoulder inflammation. Out for: 2-3 months.

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Offense: .258/.329/.379 (5th/7th/6th)
Pitching: 4.88/4.90/4.82 (8th/8th/7th)
Defense: .701 (7th)
Chemistry: Unhappy

The Pulberry Trolleys endured their 12th consecutive losing season and the 11th time they have finished in the second division. The Trolleys have never finished closer than 14 games to first place, and it does not appear that will change anytime soon. You would think with all that losing, they would have built up an enviable roster of talent long ago. But that has not happened. Part of the reason is that some prospects have not delivered on their initial promise, like 25-year old RF Jon Pring (.286/.341/.400, 4 HR, 50 RBI, 29 BB, 3 SB, -0.2 WAR), a former 3rd overall pick and 31-year old 3B Colin Strudwick (.275/.322/.361, 28-2B, 43 RBI, 38 BB, 9 SB, 1.5 WAR), another 3rd overall pick from way back in 1937-38.

Nevertheless, the Trolleys boast the deepest farm system in the United Leagues with 11 prospects rated 60 or better; eight of those are rated 70 or better. Alas only one pitcher, a reliever, is included in that group.

Top Position Player: He may not be the darling of the scouts (rated only 55/57), but 27-year old SS Roland Binns (.320/.383/.518, 16 HR, 95 RBI, 50 BB, 8 SB, 6.7 WAR) enjoyed his best season ever and was outstanding in the field once again (.979 PCT, 4.80 RNG, +8.7 ZR, 1.032 EFF). He ended the season with 999 career hits.

Top Pitchers: The Trolleys have one of the weakest pitching staffs in the entire ULB, but 32-year old RHP Patrick Tennant (14-12, 3.74 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 110 ERA+, 3.2 WAR) was Pulberry’s top starter and earned his 3rd All-Star selection. 30-year old stopper RHP Norberto Ortíz (4-3, 17 SV, 2.63 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 156 ERA+, 0.5 WAR) was another rare bright spot on the staff. He was a former 6th round selection by the Embro Suns back in 1940-41.

Player of the Week Awards:

February 28 – SS Roland Binns (.522, 12 H, 3 RBI)

Noteworthy:

February 2 – 26-year old LF Joey Maddaford (.193/.310/.278, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 43 BB, 9 SB, 0.8 WAR) got hot in a game against the Cobourg Red Stockings, going 5 for 6 in a 10-8 victory at Cobourg’s Radcliffe Field. Maddaford singled in the 1st, flied out in the 2nd, hit an RBI single in the 3rd, tripled in the 6th and singled in the 8th and 9th innings.

February 21 – The Trolleys had a field day at Babe Ruth Park in Brunswick, pasting the Legends 13-4 in an interleague matchup. SS Roland Binns played a big role in the win, going 5 for 6. Binns hit an RBI single in the 1st, then singled in the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th innings, before flying out in the 9th.

Current Injuries:

RHP Ben Banwell – November 17 – torn labrum (shoulder). Out for: 1 day.
RHP Dorian Geissler – December 17 – surgery to remove bone spur (elbow). Out for: 4-5 weeks.

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Offense: .256/.335/.369 (6th/6th/7th)
Pitching: 4.46/4.31/5.09 (7th/7th/8th)
Defense: .697 (8th)
Chemistry: Feuding

The Sherburn Tigers were close to .500 ball for the most part of the season, but took a steep nosedive in March, going 1-13 at one point. Whether that is indicative of what’s in store for this club for next season remains to be seen. Its been four seasons since they won 91 games and captured the wild card. They can sure use a little more talent to get back to those better days. But two of their most recent first-round draft picks have already made the major league roster. 22-year old 2B Jack Burt (.304/.357/.425, 45-2B, 55 RBI, 46 BB, 5 SB, 2.9 WAR) is rated 7th overall among all second basemen after his first season. That rating will surely rise in the seasons to come. This year’s 8th overall pick, 23-year old LHP Luke Henty (3-5, 2 SV, 5.47 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 77 ERA+, 0.3 WAR – 40/80) got his feet wet pitching out of the bullpen since early December. He has the potential to be a future ace.

Top Position Players: In addition to 2B Jack Burt, 29-year old SS Otton Overbeek (.262/.335/.429, 14 HR, 79 RBI, 58 BB, 2 SB, 4.2 WAR) was another solid player, both at the plate and in the field (.972 PCT, 4.85 RNG, +11.4 ZR, 1.041 EFF). But the Tigers made a good trade with the Queensland Eagles back in January, acquiring 30-year old 1B Héctor Gutiérrez (.291/.440/.450, 13 HR, 51 RBI, 117 BB, 4.4 WAR). He responded to the change of scenery in a big way, nailing down the No. 4 spot in the lineup. He is rated 5th overall among 1B.

Top Pitchers: 25-year old RHP Jesús Chapa (14-11, 3.49 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 121 ERA+, 7.0 WAR) and 30-year old RHP Roberto Taváres (14-10, 2.93 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 144 ERA+, 6.8 WAR) remain in the Top 5 among pitchers in the ULB. Chapa struggled at times during the season, but Taváres was very consistent month-to-month. If Luke Henty delivers on his promise, the Tigers should have an outstanding 1-2-3 punch in the rotation very soon.

Current Injuries:

LHP Phil Wiebe – November 29 – torn elbow ligament. Out for: 8 weeks.
LHP Lucas Nott – March 22 –shoulder strain. Out for: DtD, 1 week.

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Offense: .247/.320/.360 (8th/8th/8th)
Pitching: 4.09/4.14/3.81 (3rd/3rd/2nd)
Defense: .712 (Tied for 2nd)
Chemistry: Unhappy

The Hespeler Stars endured a rough second half of the season (29-46) but more competitive days may not be all that far away. The Stars already have a respectable pitching staff and more talented hurlers could be on their way soon. In addition to 22-year old LHP Larry Kovnats (59/80) who is already on the big-league roster, Hespeler also have 24-year old RHP Troy Conlin (38/78), a second-round pick from 1947-48 and 22-year old RHP Dominic Whitmore (23/74), an 11th overall pick back in 1946-47 originally by the Brunswick Legends in AAA. If things pan out, Hespeler may have a pitching staff to rival the 1st place Generals very soon.

Top Position Player: There were no standouts on offense for the Stars. 26-year old LF Bart Warwick (.253/.361/.439, 16 HR, 61 RBI, 80 BB, 5 SB, 2.5 WAR) was as good as it got this year.

Top Pitcher: LHP Larry Kovnats (10-6, 3.23 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 131 ERA+, 1.7 WAR) was called up to the major league roster immediately after being selected in this year’s amateur draft. He did not disappoint. He finished the season as Hespeler’s No. 3 starter and led or tied for the lead in seven team pitching categories.

Noteworthy:

February 23 – 32-year old SS Steven Wormleighton (.271/.306/.339, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 4 BB, 0.4 WAR) didn’t see a lot of playing time in Hespeler this season, but he lit up the Wellington Athletics, racking up 5 hits in 6 AB in a 12-7 victory at Wellington’s Santop Stadium. The game went to 13 innings, with the Stars scoring 6 runs in the top of the 13th to win the game. Wormleighton singled in the 2nd and 3rd, doubled in the 5th, singled in the 7th, walked in the 9th, grounded out in the 11th and hit an RBI double in the 13th.

Current Injuries: None.

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03-11-2018, 09:23 PM	#422
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,919	March 28, 1949 Western League: It’s a Generals, Unions Rematch for the Pennant -------- Offense: .280/.353/.422 (1st/2nd/1st) Pitching: 3.15/3.07/3.89 (1st/1st/3rd) Defense: .737 (1st) Chemistry: Ecstatic The Fort Richmond Generals suffered no slumps in February and March as the team powered its way to 103 victories and its second consecutive first place finish. The Generals punched their ticket to the post-season back on March 8 with 20 games to go and will meet the Wolseley Unions for the second straight season. In fact, for the first time in the United Leagues, all four playoff teams from the previous season return to battle for the United Cup. Fort Richmond heads into the playoffs with the best offense in the West (5.2 R/G) and the best pitching/defense in entire ULB (3.7 R/G). The Generals were remarkably consistent – 51-26 at home, while going 52-25 on the road. That almost matched the Braeland City Monarchs, who split their home/away record evenly (52-25). The bullpen was perhaps the lone weakness on this squad, but the staff has been bolstered of late thanks in part by 23-year old rookie LHP Gavin Flatt (13-6, 3.08 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 1.33 ERA+, 3.3 WAR), a future starter serving as the setup man. 25-year old RHP José Rodríguez (7-6, 15 SV, 2.61 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 157 ERA+, 0.9 WAR) has made the closer role his own. Finally, the Generals welcomed back 27-year old long-reliever RHP John Bullivant (0-0, 1 SV, 1.15 ERA, 1.15 WHIP), who missed most of the season due to a torn meniscus. Thus, Fort Richmond is well positioned to defend their United Cup championship, despite the loss of 24-year old all-star RHP Shinzo Okamoto (2-1, 2.65 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) to a season-ending injury back in November. Top Position Player: 26-year old CF Dylan Moyne (.349/.419/.543, 19 HR, 114 RBI, 70 BB, 24 SB, 8.8 WAR) established himself as an elite player last season and he only got better this year. In fact, he just missed out winning the Western League Batting Title by the slimmest of margins. The former 1st overall pick (and No. 2 rated position player in the ULB) was even better on defense compared to last year, if that was possible (.982 PCT, 3.30 RNG, +18.8 ZR, 1.051 EFF). Top Pitcher: 26-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock (18-7, 2.48 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 165 ERA+, 6.9 WAR) is rated No. 2 among pitchers in the ULB and enjoyed his best season by far. Noteworthy: February 8 – 27-year old Alohalani Illoura (.251/.343/.371, 5 HR, 28 RBI, 23 BB, 0.8 WAR) serves as Fort Richmond’s backup catcher but on this day, he made the most of his start against the Cobourg Red Stockings, going 5 for 5. Illoura singled in the 2nd, 4th and 5th innings, hit a 2-run home run off José Fernández in the 7th and singled in the 9th. The Generals prevailed 11-9. Current Injuries: RHP Shinzo Okamoto – November 11 – fractured ulna (arm). Out for: 2 weeks. -------- Offense: .272/.356/.391 (2nd/1st/3rd) Pitching: 3.63/3.49/4.44 (2nd/2nd/5th) Defense: .707 (5th) Chemistry: Unhappy For the most part this season, the Wolseley Unions seemed content to simply stay just ahead of any and all challengers for the wild card. But that attitude very nearly cost them their third consecutive post-season appearance. At the end of February, they led the third place Cambria Cannons by 3 games. But in the first two weeks of March, Cambria went 9-3 while the Unions stumbled, going 5-7. By March 13, Cambria held a one-game lead for the wildcard as Wolseley appeared to be fading. But the Unions then went on a tear, finishing the regular season with a 13-game winning streak. The Cannons could not keep up, going just 5-8 and ending the season 7 games back. Top Position Player: 24-year old C Éric Denis (.336/.374/.463, 10 HR, 96 RBI, 33 BB, 5.2 WAR) enjoyed the best season of his three-year career so far, but 27-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.349/.468/.562, 22 HR, 86 RBI, 120 BB, 4 SB, 6.8 WAR) is the elite player on this squad. Hawking also won the Western League Batting Title in one of the tightest races ever over Fort Richmond’s Dylan Moyne. Hawking had 184 H on 527 AB (0.34915), while Moyne collected 207 H in 593 AB (0.34907). Hawking’s defense did improve over last season (.978 PCT, 2.33 RNG, -10.9 ZR, .951 EFF), but defense has never been his strength. Top Pitcher: 31-year old RHP Hun Park (15-11, 3.04 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 139 ERA+, 5.3 WAR) enters the post-season as Wolseley’s top pitcher, but Wolseley boasts 4 very good starters, so it was really hard to choose. But they all will need to be good, as Fort Richmond’s rotation must be considered the best in the United Leagues right now. Player of the Week Awards: March 14 – LF Carlton Hawking (.448, 13 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI) Noteworthy: February 4 – The Unions won a shoot-out, 12-7 against the Stratford Barons at Stratford’s Bosworth Field. Pacing the Unions was LF Carlton Hawking, who went 5 for 5. Hawking hit a 2-run homer off Bonie Bandong in the 1st, singled in the 2nd, walked in the 4th, singled in the 6th and 8th and finally hit an RBI single in the 9th. March 10 – Carlton Hawking did it again, collecting 5 hits in a game. This time it was in Wolseley’s 13-9 win over the Hespeler Stars. The Unions scored 4 runs in the top of the 13th inning to pull out the victory. Hawking hit an RBI single in the 1st, singled in the 2nd and 4th, hit an RBI single in the 6th, flied out in the 8th and singled in the 10th. Current Injuries: RF Ramón Tavira – November 20 – fractured hip. Out for: 8 weeks. -------- Offense: .265/.350/.399 (3rd/3rd/2nd) Pitching: 4.38/4.26/4.79 (6th/5th/6th) Defense: .702 (6th) Chemistry: Happy As discussed in the Wolseley Union write-up, the Cambria Cannons came close to capturing the wildcard, but could not keep up with a hot Wolseley team at the end. Still, their 82-72 record is their best finish since 1944-45 when they went 89-65 and last made the playoffs. It represents a 17-game improvement over last season. What’s remarkable is that they made this improvement largely with the same 25-man roster they’ve had for the last few years. Only 25-year old rookie LF Edmond Boswell (.293/.364/.509, 15 HR, 50 RBI, 35 BB, 1.2 WAR) is the new face in the lineup, batting cleanup against both RHP and LHP. Top Position Player: 31-year old C Heung-su Park (.293/.377/.477, 16 HR, 76 RBI, 64 BB, 5.1 WAR) was consistent all season, but really came alive in the final two months, batting .357/.494/.601. Top Pitcher: 31-year old LHP Callum Stonehouse (14-15, 3.66 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 113 ERA+, 4.5 WAR) was signed to a minor league contract by the Cannons from an ‘independent league’ back September 1942. He has been pretty average over his six seasons in the ULB (57-61, 4.01 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 99 ERA+) but he is now Cambria’s No. 1 starter and enjoyed one of his better seasons. Player of the Week Awards: March 7 – C Heung-su Park (.560, 14 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI) Key Injuries: RHP Wing-kit Liu – January 16 – ruptured bicep tendon. Out for: 3-4 months. -------- Offense: .265/.338/.385 (4th/5th/5th) Pitching: 4.22/4.29/3.91 (5th/6th/4th) Defense: .712 (Tied for 2nd) Chemistry: Content It was doubtful that the Balmoral Giants were going to make a serious push for the wildcard, but an 8-16 February all but eliminated any chance they had. Still, they started March on a tear, going 15-3 before dropping 4 straight games to the Wolseley Unions by a combined score of 33-10. They did take 2 of 3 from Fort Richmond to end the season, though. The Giants are gathering some fine, young talent that should bolster the veterans on the club. Free agent 29-year old LHP Ricardo Cruz (10-17, 4.06 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 103 ERA+, 4.9 WAR) had his struggles, but should ultimately prove to be a steady pitcher. Their other free agent, 27-year old 1B Javier Romero (.282/.350/.429, 11 HR, 65 RBI, 41 BB, 1.1 WAR) finished the season strong and has entrenched himself in the No. 5 spot in the lineup. Another young prospect is 24-year old LF Kaleba Ulkini (.288/.342/.351, 6-2B, 27 RBI, 18 BB, 0.8 WAR – 63/71), a second-round pick from 1945-46. Promoted to the majors in December, Ulkini finished the season in the No. 2 spot. An excellent defender at LF with very good speed, he just needs to work on his offense a bit more. Lastly, waiting in the wings is 22-year old OF Orlando Morales (46/77), a third-overall pick from 1947-48, who was just promoted to AAA. When he finally reaches the majors, the Giants will have some decisions to make, as their outfield is getting rather crowded with talent. There are other areas (catcher, pitching) that they should look at upgrading if they want to contend soon. Top Position Player: 31-year old RF Carlton Broadbent (.345/.414/.576, 26 HR, 95 RBI, 67 BB, 5.0 WAR) is one of greatest offensive players to ever play in the ULB, and that didn’t change this season. But defense has never been his strength or an apparent concern with him. But this season he made a concerted effort to improve. And he did, going .973 PCT, 2.40 RNG, -9.7 ZR, .957 EFF. That may not look all that impressive, but it is for him. Top Pitcher: 24-year old RHP Quintilliano Galeo (17-10, 3.21 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 130 ERA+, 4.4 WAR) built upon his rookie season and is Balmoral’s best pitcher without question. He earned his first all-star selection and he has not yet hit his ceiling (51/79). Player of the Week Awards: February 7 – CF Damon Purcell (.500, 10 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI) March 21 – SS Francisco Rodríguez (.560, 14 H, 7 RBI) Current Injuries: RHP Paddy Vanderven – November 3 – surgery to remove bone chips (elbow). Out for: 3-4 weeks. -------- Offense: .251/.340/.386 (7th/4th/4th) Pitching: 4.16/4.25/3.76 (4th/4th/1st) Defense: .710 (4th) Chemistry: Happy The Kingston Pelicans appeared at times that they would seriously challenge for a playoff spot, but any hope collapsed in late February when they embarked on a 2-13 skid that included 8-straight losses. Certainly, the loss of No. 2 starter 29-year old Ben Currall (4-3, 3.60 ERA, 1.35 WHIP) in December for the rest of the season due to injury didn’t help their cause. Neither did the disappointing performance of their ace, 29-year old LHP Patrick Denman (12-17, 4.07 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 104 ERA+, 5.2 WAR). Like a lot of other teams, the Pelicans’ focus will be on rebuilding. It will be interesting to see how far they will go (trade Danny Trowbridge perhaps?) to expedite that rebuild in the coming months. Top Position Player: 30-year old C Danny Trowbridge (.328/.449/.519, 19 HR, 77 RBI, 106 BB, 6 SB, 6.4 WAR) is still a superstar, but this season was a step down from his established performance over the past five seasons. Top Pitcher: No. 3 starter 31-year old RHP Charlie Gilbert (15-11, 3.61 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 117 ERA+, 5.5 WAR) struggled last season (10-12, 4.80 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 84 ERA+, 1.3 WAR) but enjoyed a nice rebound this year and was Kingston best overall pitcher. Player of the Week Awards: February 14 – C Danny Trowbridge (.650, 13 H, 5 RBI) February 21 – C Danny Trowbridge (.400, 6 H, 4 HR, 6 RBI) Current Injuries: RHP Ben Currall – December 20 – shoulder inflammation. Out for: 2-3 months. -------- Offense: .258/.329/.379 (5th/7th/6th) Pitching: 4.88/4.90/4.82 (8th/8th/7th) Defense: .701 (7th) Chemistry: Unhappy The Pulberry Trolleys endured their 12th consecutive losing season and the 11th time they have finished in the second division. The Trolleys have never finished closer than 14 games to first place, and it does not appear that will change anytime soon. You would think with all that losing, they would have built up an enviable roster of talent long ago. But that has not happened. Part of the reason is that some prospects have not delivered on their initial promise, like 25-year old RF Jon Pring (.286/.341/.400, 4 HR, 50 RBI, 29 BB, 3 SB, -0.2 WAR), a former 3rd overall pick and 31-year old 3B Colin Strudwick (.275/.322/.361, 28-2B, 43 RBI, 38 BB, 9 SB, 1.5 WAR), another 3rd overall pick from way back in 1937-38. Nevertheless, the Trolleys boast the deepest farm system in the United Leagues with 11 prospects rated 60 or better; eight of those are rated 70 or better. Alas only one pitcher, a reliever, is included in that group. Top Position Player: He may not be the darling of the scouts (rated only 55/57), but 27-year old SS Roland Binns (.320/.383/.518, 16 HR, 95 RBI, 50 BB, 8 SB, 6.7 WAR) enjoyed his best season ever and was outstanding in the field once again (.979 PCT, 4.80 RNG, +8.7 ZR, 1.032 EFF). He ended the season with 999 career hits. Top Pitchers: The Trolleys have one of the weakest pitching staffs in the entire ULB, but 32-year old RHP Patrick Tennant (14-12, 3.74 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 110 ERA+, 3.2 WAR) was Pulberry’s top starter and earned his 3rd All-Star selection. 30-year old stopper RHP Norberto Ortíz (4-3, 17 SV, 2.63 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 156 ERA+, 0.5 WAR) was another rare bright spot on the staff. He was a former 6th round selection by the Embro Suns back in 1940-41. Player of the Week Awards: February 28 – SS Roland Binns (.522, 12 H, 3 RBI) Noteworthy: February 2 – 26-year old LF Joey Maddaford (.193/.310/.278, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 43 BB, 9 SB, 0.8 WAR) got hot in a game against the Cobourg Red Stockings, going 5 for 6 in a 10-8 victory at Cobourg’s Radcliffe Field. Maddaford singled in the 1st, flied out in the 2nd, hit an RBI single in the 3rd, tripled in the 6th and singled in the 8th and 9th innings. February 21 – The Trolleys had a field day at Babe Ruth Park in Brunswick, pasting the Legends 13-4 in an interleague matchup. SS Roland Binns played a big role in the win, going 5 for 6. Binns hit an RBI single in the 1st, then singled in the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th innings, before flying out in the 9th. Current Injuries: RHP Ben Banwell – November 17 – torn labrum (shoulder). Out for: 1 day. RHP Dorian Geissler – December 17 – surgery to remove bone spur (elbow). Out for: 4-5 weeks. -------- Offense: .256/.335/.369 (6th/6th/7th) Pitching: 4.46/4.31/5.09 (7th/7th/8th) Defense: .697 (8th) Chemistry: Feuding The Sherburn Tigers were close to .500 ball for the most part of the season, but took a steep nosedive in March, going 1-13 at one point. Whether that is indicative of what’s in store for this club for next season remains to be seen. Its been four seasons since they won 91 games and captured the wild card. They can sure use a little more talent to get back to those better days. But two of their most recent first-round draft picks have already made the major league roster. 22-year old 2B Jack Burt (.304/.357/.425, 45-2B, 55 RBI, 46 BB, 5 SB, 2.9 WAR) is rated 7th overall among all second basemen after his first season. That rating will surely rise in the seasons to come. This year’s 8th overall pick, 23-year old LHP Luke Henty (3-5, 2 SV, 5.47 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 77 ERA+, 0.3 WAR – 40/80) got his feet wet pitching out of the bullpen since early December. He has the potential to be a future ace. Top Position Players: In addition to 2B Jack Burt, 29-year old SS Otton Overbeek (.262/.335/.429, 14 HR, 79 RBI, 58 BB, 2 SB, 4.2 WAR) was another solid player, both at the plate and in the field (.972 PCT, 4.85 RNG, +11.4 ZR, 1.041 EFF). But the Tigers made a good trade with the Queensland Eagles back in January, acquiring 30-year old 1B Héctor Gutiérrez (.291/.440/.450, 13 HR, 51 RBI, 117 BB, 4.4 WAR). He responded to the change of scenery in a big way, nailing down the No. 4 spot in the lineup. He is rated 5th overall among 1B. Top Pitchers: 25-year old RHP Jesús Chapa (14-11, 3.49 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 121 ERA+, 7.0 WAR) and 30-year old RHP Roberto Taváres (14-10, 2.93 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 144 ERA+, 6.8 WAR) remain in the Top 5 among pitchers in the ULB. Chapa struggled at times during the season, but Taváres was very consistent month-to-month. If Luke Henty delivers on his promise, the Tigers should have an outstanding 1-2-3 punch in the rotation very soon. Current Injuries: LHP Phil Wiebe – November 29 – torn elbow ligament. Out for: 8 weeks. LHP Lucas Nott – March 22 –shoulder strain. Out for: DtD, 1 week. -------- Offense: .247/.320/.360 (8th/8th/8th) Pitching: 4.09/4.14/3.81 (3rd/3rd/2nd) Defense: .712 (Tied for 2nd) Chemistry: Unhappy The Hespeler Stars endured a rough second half of the season (29-46) but more competitive days may not be all that far away. The Stars already have a respectable pitching staff and more talented hurlers could be on their way soon. In addition to 22-year old LHP Larry Kovnats (59/80) who is already on the big-league roster, Hespeler also have 24-year old RHP Troy Conlin (38/78), a second-round pick from 1947-48 and 22-year old RHP Dominic Whitmore (23/74), an 11th overall pick back in 1946-47 originally by the Brunswick Legends in AAA. If things pan out, Hespeler may have a pitching staff to rival the 1st place Generals very soon. Top Position Player: There were no standouts on offense for the Stars. 26-year old LF Bart Warwick (.253/.361/.439, 16 HR, 61 RBI, 80 BB, 5 SB, 2.5 WAR) was as good as it got this year. Top Pitcher: LHP Larry Kovnats (10-6, 3.23 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 131 ERA+, 1.7 WAR) was called up to the major league roster immediately after being selected in this year’s amateur draft. He did not disappoint. He finished the season as Hespeler’s No. 3 starter and led or tied for the lead in seven team pitching categories. Noteworthy: February 23 – 32-year old SS Steven Wormleighton (.271/.306/.339, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 4 BB, 0.4 WAR) didn’t see a lot of playing time in Hespeler this season, but he lit up the Wellington Athletics, racking up 5 hits in 6 AB in a 12-7 victory at Wellington’s Santop Stadium. The game went to 13 innings, with the Stars scoring 6 runs in the top of the 13th to win the game. Wormleighton singled in the 2nd and 3rd, doubled in the 5th, singled in the 7th, walked in the 9th, grounded out in the 11th and hit an RBI double in the 13th. Current Injuries: None. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 03-11-2018 at 09:49 PM.