OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

reds1 · 09-30-2019, 01:08 AM

February 1, 1952

Eastern League: Athletics Seize the Initiative, Move Into First Place

--------

Offense: .274/.346/.400 (2nd/5th/4th)
Pitching: 4.01/4.27/3.13 (3rd/4th/1st)
Defense: .713 (1st)

With the Eastern League as a whole middling through the first two months of the season, the Wellington Athletics came alive in December, going on a 10-game winning streak at one point and racking up 21 wins in total. In all, they have gone 34-18 since November to not only get above .500 but take over 1st place as well. If they can hold onto to top spot the rest of the way, it will mark the first time they would finish on top in the East since the 1937-38 inaugural season.

The pitching staff has been unremarkable overall. If the rotation as a whole can catch fire, the Athletics could really put a stranglehold on first place. Over the past two months, No. 3 starter 27-year old RHP Matt Price (10-7, 3.58 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.97 FIP) has really stepped up his play (going 5-0, 3.45 ERA in December) while No. 5 starter 29-year old RHP Wilfried Schop (7-8, 4.49 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.96 FIP) found some consistency in December/January (5-3, 3.59 ERA) compared to October/November (2-5, 5.69 ERA).

The bullpen remains the best in the East. While he may not be the darling of the scouts (13th best reliever in the positional strength overview), 29-year old middle reliever RHP Finlay Capstick (8-4, 2.53 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 4.80 FIP) has been unquestionably Wellington’s top pitcher out of the bullpen this season, his eighth in the ULB.

But it’s the offense that has really propelled the Athletics into first place. 26-year old CF Jim Mars (.335/.403/.453, 6 HR, 60 RBI, 49 BB, 4.4 WAR) has emerged as Wellington’s top player after the first four months. Even 25-year old 2B Vaiga Bultarro (.271/.338/.398, 6 HR, 51 RBI, 38 BB, 2.1WAR), who I disparaged in the Oct/Nov report for his poor performance, has returned to the solid play he put up last season. In Dec/Jan, he batted .310/.391/.460 & .321/.378/.531 respectively.

Five Athletics headed to the All-Star game: RP Finley Capstick (3rd), C Declan Bugbie (2nd), LF Harvey Thornber (1st), CF Jim Mars (2nd) and RF Wayne Emmert (1st).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 3 – C Declan Bugbie (.440, 11 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R)
December 24 – 1B Wayne Emmert (.485, 16 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 10 R)
January 21 – 2B Vaiga Bultarro (.455, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI)

Current Injuries:

RHP Zachary Collingham – December 27 – torn meniscus. Out for: 3 more months.

--------

Offense: .273/.349/.402 (3rd/4th/3rd)
Pitching: 4.45/4.25/5.26 (5th/3rd/8th)
Defense: .695 (7th)

The Queensland Eagles barely played .500 baseball over the past two months and it cost them first place in the East. Not only that, they are in danger of dropping out of a playoff spot completely as both the Downie Chiefs and Cobourg Red Stockings have surged up the standings and are threatening to overtake them. The Eagles did not sit idle leading up to the trade deadline, making a couple of trades. But its open to debate as to whether they are now better off than they were prior to January 31.

The offense is still led by 25-year old LF Rod Dennis (.327/.382/.518, 17 HR, 65 RBI, 40 BB, 2.4 WAR) but his performance has cooled off a bit since his fast start in Oct/Nov. In fact, one of the Eagles biggest weaknesses right now is the lack of a truly impact player (like Downie’s Dominic Dudding or Cobourg’s Raymond Williams), both in the lineup and rotation. Perhaps one or more players will step up into that role, as the Eagles are still a comparatively young team.

The pitching staff continues its inconsistent ways, up and down from month-to-month. However, 24-year old No. 2 starter RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (11-7, 3.43 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 2.68 FIP) really stepped things up in Dec/Jan (5-3, 1.80 ERA) after going 6-4, 4.89 ERA in Oct/Nov.

Four Eagles qualified for the All-Star game: SP Logan Belsey (1st), SP Tyler Gissing (1st), C Elijah Sheppard (6th) and LF Rod Dennis (2nd).

Key Trade No. 1: January 6 with the Hespeler Stars:

To Queensland – 34-year old RHP Francisco López (49/49) and 24-year old minor league OF Salvador Rivera (38/49)
To Hespeler – 38-year old LF Terence Durney (50/50)

Knee-jerk reaction: With the Eagles in the playoff hunt for the first time since their successful championship run back in 1946-47, the club made a couple of moves to try and bolster their rotation and lineup. But the moves they made are curious at best.

López is a very average starter with slightly below average stuff. He is more suited to the backend of a rotation – if he can stay healthy. He has been battling various injuries over his entire career which should have raised alarms in the Eagles camp. So it should have come as no surprise when López went down to injury just 1.2 innings into his first start with his new team. He suffered a torn UCL and is gone for the season. Meanwhile, Rivera has been promoted to the big club and will serve as their main utility outfielder against RHP while starting in centerfield against LHP. Rivera is a great runner with good base path instincts and solid defensive skills especially in leftfield. He has some offensive skills but won’t be anything more than an average contact hitter.

The Stars are once again an afterthought in the West, so the move to acquire the veteran Durney is a head-scratcher. Durney is an 11-time all-star and future hall of famer. While he may be past his peak years, he is still very capable at the plate and at leftfield. He is an intelligent team leader and a very popular player among his teammates, so that should help things out in the clubhouse. But like López, his proneness to injury is a major concern.

Key Trade No. 2: January 14 with the Cobourg Red Stockings:

To Queensland – 31-year old 2B George Simpson (45/45)
To Cobourg – 20-year old minor league LF Francis Dawang (20/42) and 22-year old C Derek Brunskill (20/27)

Knee-jerk reaction: I’m not sure what both clubs were thinking about when they made this trade. Simpson is a former 7th overall pick from 1939-40 and a two-time all-star but has not enjoyed a decent season in four years. Evidently, Cobourg lost patience with him and have decided to install 28-year old Gijsbert Jacobse (.223/.320/.308, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 16 BB, -0.1 WAR – 39/41) as their starting second baseman, at least until 20-year old IF Douglas Jones (32/80), a 6th overall pick from 1949-50, is ready to take over.

Scouts consider Simpson to be ‘on the bubble for a big-league role’ and Queensland apparently agrees, as so far, he is little more than their top pinch hitter. So other than as a depth player, its hard to see what Queensland will gain from this move for their late-season push for the playoffs.

In Dawang and Brunskill, Cobourg receive two players that have very good defensive skills at their respective positions but depending how their bats develop, they may be little more than fringe players at best.

Current Injuries:

RHP Bartolo Sánchez – October 10 – dislocated shoulder. Out for: 3 more days.
RHP Quentin Goldsmith – October 30 – ulnar nerve entrapment. Out for: 4-5 more weeks.
RHP Francisco López – January 12 – torn ULC. Out for: 6 more months.
RHP Gael Yule – January 17 – torn labrum. Out for: 6 more months.

--------

Offense: .265/.345/.386 (5th/6th/7th)
Pitching: 4.25/4.49/3.63 (4th/5th/3rd)
Defense: .710 (Tied for 2nd)

Like the Athletics, the Downie Chiefs used a strong December to race up the standings. But they quickly reverted to the previous form in January. So it remains to be seen whether they can sustain a real push for the playoffs this season.

The pitching overall has improved as the season has progressed, but still has a way to go to be considered a strength. 36-year old No. 3 starter LHP Gavin Hewat (10-7, 3.26 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.69 FIP) continues to be Downie’s top pitcher this season. But 29-year old No. 2 starter RHP Kelii Pelanekelina (7-9, 4.68 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 4.66 FIP) appears to be recovering from his rough start. 34-year old RHP Carl Luscombe (9-3, 14 SV, 2.80 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 3.86 FIP) continues to be one of the best stoppers in the United Leagues.

The offense has held steady despite a rash of injuries. Both 26-year old Dominic Dudding (.337/.415/.566, 13 HR, 52 RBI, 38 BB, 4.2 WAR) and 26-year old CF Alfonso León (.292/.367/.439, 13 HR, 70 RBI, 51 BB, 4.2 WAR) are not quite up to the torrid pace they were last season, but even that still adds up to a very, very good season that other teams would die for. On the other hand, lead-off hitter 27-year old LF Howard Dumbrill (.256/.380/.404, 14 HR, 45 RBI, 81 BB, 8 SB, 3.5 WAR) is enjoying the best season yet of his 6-year career.

Five Chiefs were selected as All-Stars: SP Gavin Hewat (1st), Dominic Dudding (5th), LF Howard Dumbrill (3rd), CF Alfonso León (5th) and RF Conor Bing (1st).

Noteworthy:

January 25 – The reigning Babe Ruth Award winner, 26-year old CF Alfonso León was in the zone against the Cambria Cannons, going 5 for 5 on the day, collecting 3 RBI and 1 R. León singled in the 1st and 3rd innings, hit a two-run single in the 5th as well as an RBI single in the 6th, capping things off with a single in the 8th. The Chiefs prevailed 8-6.

Key Trade: January 10 with the Brunswick Legends:

To Downie – 33-year old LHP Jake Osmotherley (49/49) and 23-year old RHP Eddie Stannard (51/63)
To Brunswick – 25-year old SS Dermott Morris (44/49)

Knee-jerk reaction: The head scratching continues as Downie acquires a couple of pitchers only to release one of them outright a few days later.

Osmotheley is a veteran reliever who has been league average for most of his 12-year career. His stuff is unimpressive but balances things out with pinpoint control. Alas, he was released by Downie for some unknown reason 10 days after the trade. On January 30, he was picked up by the Kingston Pelicans who installed him as one of their long relievers.

Stannard, a second-round pick back in 1949-50 for Brunswick, has promise of moving to the rotation one day if he can develop his slider a bit more (30/45). His movement and control are outstanding but his stuff (40/45) may limit him to the back end of the rotation in the future.

Morris is just an outstanding defensive shortstop and second baseman with tremendous speed. He has some offensive potential, but it is still very raw. Nevertheless, Brunswick installed him as their everyday shortstop, although 23-year old Harris Yaag (.315/.366/.477, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 11 BB, 1.4 WAR) was developing quite nicely.

Current Injuries:

2B Dominic Dudding – December 25 – fractured finger. Out for: 1-2 more weeks.
RF Connor Bing – January 11 – torn quadriceps. Out for: 6 more days.

--------

Offense: .286/.350/.428 (1st/3rd/1st)
Pitching: 4.55/4.54/4.60 (6th/6th/7th)
Defense: .685 (8th)

The Cobourg Red Stockings also used a strong month to get into the first division; in this case it was a 16-9 January, their first winning month this season. Still, there remain serious questions as to their staying power, as their pitching staff has regressed even further since November. They were busy leading up to the trade deadline (as noted in the other team writeups), but none of the moves really fall into a ‘win now’ column. More of a casting off of dead weight and adding some depth to their farm system than anything else.

The pitching staff simply does not inspire confidence. That said, 23-year old LHP Bill Budd (11-9, 3.52 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 4.06 FIP) is solidly entrenched as Cobourg’s ace, while rookie 23-year old RHP Bobby Williams (4-1, 3.40 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 4.50 FIP) has shown promise. The former 4th-round pick is currently pitching out of the No. 5 spot.

The offense rivals any team in the ULB and for good reason. Cobourg boasts two elite players: 30-year old 3B Alexander Tolmie (.334/.412/.541, 19 HR, 79 RBI, 57 BB, 5.4 WAR) and 25-year old CF Raymond Williams (.337/.427/.586, 17 HR, 79 RBI, 66 BB, 7 SB, 5.2 WAR). Both are former 1st overall picks and are in the conversation for this season’s Babe Ruth Award.

Five Red Stockings qualified for the All-Star game: 1B Harry Doxey (3rd), 3B Alexander Tolmie (5th), SS John Medley (6th), CF Raymond Williams (5th) and RF Salvador Hernández (2nd).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 31 – 1B Harry Doxey (.593, 16 H, 10 RBI)
January 28 – CF Raymond Williams (.462, 12 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI)

Current Injuries: None

--------

Offense: .253/.352/.362 (7th/1st/8th)
Pitching: 3.93/3.84/4.55 (2nd/1st/6th)
Defense: .708 (4th)

The Stratford Barons crashed in December, falling to last place in the East before recovering somewhat in January. The Barons are at a crossroads this season, as they are equally capable of finishing near the top of the standings as they are of finishing at the bottom. They have a capable pitching staff but could stand to beef up their offense. They made a couple of moves before the trade deadline to try and address their offensive weaknesses.

25-year old RHP Magtanggol Jaojoco (11-13, 3.09 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 3.29 FIP) is an ace in the making but like the rest of the rotation, has been ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ from month to month. In December, he went 4-2, 1.55 ERA while going 1-5, 4.37 ERA in January. But 23-year old No. 5 starter LHP Robin Wadsworth (8-4, 2 SV, 4.25 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 4.34 FIP) has been the most extreme: 0-3, 9.18 ERA in December; 4-0, 1.50 ERA in January. No doubt the Barons hope his January performance is more indicative of their former 16th overall pick’s future performance.

The pitching staff could certainly benefit from more offensive performances as seen from 32-year old C Aaron Skidmore (.304/.468/.462, 9 HR, 55 RBI, 92 BB, 4.8 WAR) and 22-year old CF Sherwin Carasig (.320/.393/.489, 12 HR, 58 RBI, 47 BB, 6 SB, 4.3 WAR). After them there is a bit of a drop-off in the lineup, something that rookie GM Kieran Sturtevant attempted to address before the trade deadline.

Three Barons qualified for the All-Star team: SP Magtanggol Jaojoco (1st), C Aaron Skidmore (11th) and CF Sherwin Carasig (1st).

Key Trade: January 15 with the Cobourg Red Stockings:

To Stratford – 32-year old RF Salvador Hernández (59/59)
To Cobourg – 23-year old CF Frank Maher (32/49) and 24-year old LF Robert Burgess (35/46)

Knee-jerk reaction: A steal for the Barons and a misstep by the Red Stockings in my opinion. Hernández, a second-round pick from 1941-42, is an above-average player who is aggressive at the plate, sturdy defensively in rightfield, a team leader and an ‘iron man’ injury-wise. So why would Cobourg want to part with him? His replacement is 28-year old Fergus Thackwray (.233/.295/.368, 9 HR, 26 RBI, 23 BB, 0.4 WAR – 43/43). While Thackwray has defense and speed to spare, he is not the offensive player Hernández is right now. As for Stratford, they have installed him as their starting rightfielder, electing to ship off their former rightfielder to Kingston later in the month (more on that in the Western League report).

Maher and Burgess are both intriguing players. Both are outstanding defensive players with speed with some impressive batting skill potential. Scouts suggest however, that they will be little more than bench players at best. At any rate, both are tearing up Double-A at the moment, so we’ll have to see.

Current Injuries:

RHP Dylan Cluett – December 7 – herniated disc. Out for: 7-8 more weeks.
LHP Joel Fearn – December 21 – torn posterior cruciate ligament. Out for: 5 more months.
2B Chris Spiller – January 22 – torn labrum. Out for: 4-5 more months.

--------

Offense: .251/.330/.389 (8th/8th/6th)
Pitching: 3.82/3.89/3.53 (1st/2nd/2nd)
Defense: .710 (Tied for 2nd)

The Embro Suns are quickly fading in the East in spite of a remarkably consistent pitching staff, no doubt due to a rather lackluster offense. On the surface, it appears that Embro has thrown in the towel on the season, shipping out their defending Satchel Paige Award winner to the Wolseley Unions before the trade deadline. In spite of that, they didn’t exactly ‘gut’ themselves either. The Suns have the top-rated farm system and added to it prior to the deadline. Three of those players are on the major league roster and could help things turn around. If not for this season, then perhaps the next.

21-year old rookie Kieron Bradridge (.275/.324/.448, 10 HR, 53 RBI, 26 BB, 3.1 WAR) has emerged as Embro’s top offensive player and entrenched himself as the Suns’ regular shortstop, despite 28-year old Rafael De La Cruz (.409/.462/.613, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 10 BB, 1.6 WAR) still being a very capable player. But Bradridge has the potential of being the break-out player Embro hasn’t had since 37-year old Jim Friend (.258/.424/.455, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 19 BB, 0.4 WAR) was in his prime. But Friend is still a very capable offensive player in his own right, so it’s a little painful to see him wither in a back-up role. 23-year old rookie 3B Moromao Nakagawa (.252/.352/.393, 10 HR, 52 RBI, 63 BB, 1.1 WAR) has cooled off since November, but Embro’s top prospect still has tons of potential.

Embro’s starters have not been getting a lot of support, as evidenced by 25-year old LHP Carl McBroom (5-12, 3.62 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 3.70 FIP) win-loss record, but he gives his club a fighting chance each start. 32-year old No. 2 starter LHP Arthur Bence (12-7, 3.51 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.02 FIP) continues to be the Suns’ most effective hurler.

With the departure of 32-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson (6-12, 3.86 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 4.13 FIP), 26-year old RHP Juan Rivas (5-3, 5 SV, 2.08 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 3.26 FIP) appears to have finally earned a permanent promotion to the rotation. He inherits Saunderson’s No. 3 spot.

Five Suns were selected as All-Stars: SP Arthur Bence (4th), SP Carl McBroom (1st), RP Yin-ti Shih (1st), SS Kieron Bradridge (1st) and RF José Maldonado (4th).

Player of the Week Awards:

January 14 – 3B Moromao Nakagawa (.389, 7 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI)

Noteworthy:

December 25 –RF José Maldonado (.281/.387/.429, 11 HR, 40 RBI, 53 BB, 7 SB, 2.4 WAR) was signed by the Cambria Cannons to a minor league contract back in 1942 but was released nearly three years later. The Suns quickly picked him up though and the 25-year old Colombian has become a four-time All-Star. On Christmas day he showed why, going 5 for 7 against the Stratford Barons in an extra-inning affair. Maldonado singled in the first, flied out in the 2nd, singled in the 5th, hit an RBI double in the 6th, hit an RBI single in the 8th, grounded out in the 10th and hit a two-run single in the 11th. All in all, he collected 4 RBI with 2 R in Embro’s 9-5 victory.

Key Trade: January 13 with the Wolseley Unions:

To Embro – 25-year old 2B Robert Jameson (49/57)
To Wolseley – 32-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson (55/55)

Knee-jerk reaction: With their chances of returning to the playoffs to successfully defend their Pennant title dwindling by the day, the Suns have elected to re-configure things. The first to go is the 13-year veteran SP Saunderson. This is the second time that Embro has traded Saunderson to the Unions. After originally drafting him 13th overall back in 1937-38, the Suns sent him off to Wolseley in 1939 along with a slew of players for OF Terence Durney (who was recently involved in a trade as noted earlier). Saunderson, a five-time all-star and last year’s Satchel Paige winner, will give the Unions’ rotation an immediate boost, as they deal with seemingly never-ending injuries to both RHP Jeremy Albury and LHP Anastasio Rodríguez. Saunderson doesn’t have great stuff, but his terrific movement, control, stamina and iron man health make him an innings eater who can pitch deep into games. He is currently installed as Wolseley’s No. 3 starter.

Jameson is a former 7th round pick from 1948-49 who is beating the odds. He gets to start (and lead off) regularly with Embro, taking over from 26-year old Keon-Chae Cho (.266/.324/.421, 14 HR, 60 RBI, 29 BB, 2.0 WAR), who moves over to leftfield, his strongest position defensively. Jameson has very good defense skills to go along with jaw-dropping speed and stealing ability. His bat has developed nicely as well. His overall ratings have really improved in the past year, making him Embro’s 6th overall prospect.

Current Injuries: None.

--------

Offense: .269/.342/.414 (4th/7th/2nd)
Pitching: 4.59/4.64/4.64 (7th/7th/5th)
Defense: .700 (5th)

The Braeland City Monarchs have continued to struggle since their strong start in October. However, that has not stopped them from trying to become relevant this season, believing that a playoff spot is still within their reach in a League with no clear dominant team. But they’re going to have to try and turn around things quickly – they have been regressing in all facets since the start of the season.

26-year old 2B Patrick Lidgate (.285/.399/.505, 18 HR, 55 RBI, 71 BB, 4.1 WAR) continues to lead the offense. In fact, he is head and shoulders above his teammates. But as good as he is, he’s needs a lot more support if the Monarchs want to compete. That may come in the form of 21-year old rookie RF Aidan Trembath (.359/.409/.585, 9 HR, 40 RBI, 17 BB, 2.6 WAR) who is already considered the No. 3 rigthfielder in the United Leagues. And with the recent acquisition of 30-year old SS Roland Binns (.402/.456/.707, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 4 BB, 1.5 WAR) from Pulberry to replace the constantly injured 30-year old Simon Flatt (.194/.263/.301, 9-2B, 8 RBi, 10 BB, -0.2 WAR), the offense could become a strength before too long.

30-year old RHP Okura Suzuki (10-8, 3.72 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.33 FIP) continues to be Braeland City’s ace, but the pitching staff as a whole is not one of the United League’s more formidable unit. With the departure of No. 2 starter 30-year old RHP Robin Medellin (6-14, 4.61 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 4.34 FIP), who at one point suffered 8 straight losses in Dec/Jan, the Monarchs have promoted 24-year old RHP Pei Ming (39/51), their 49th overall prospect, to be their No. 5 starter.

Five players represented the Monarchs at the All-Star game: SP Okura Suzuki (3rd), 2B Patrick Lidgate (3rd), 3B On Tsao (1st), LF Jesús Rodríguez (1st), RF Aidan Trembath (1st).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 10 – 2B Patrick Lidgate (.545, 12 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI)
January 7 – 1B Dean Witherden (.481, 13 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI)

Key Trade: January 31 with the Pulberry Trolleys:

To Braeland City – 30-year old SS Roland Binns (60/60)
To Pulberry – 30-year old RHP Robin Medellin (48/48), 24-year old RHP Taylor Folkard (49/65) and 22-year old minor league 2B Bert Towes (20/45)

Knee-jerk reaction: An intriguing trade for both teams to say the least. Binns is rated 6th overall in a the ULB among shortstop, higher than the 9th overall rated 26-year old Francis Jones (.282/.382/.384, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 59 BB, 8 SB, 2.8 WAR – 61/61). Nevertheless, the Trolleys elected to keep the younger Jones and flip Binns in order to try and beef up their pitching staff. Binns is a 5-time all-star with wonderful defense and speed. However, his bat while decent, is nothing to get excited about and his performance has regressed over the past three seasons. Perhaps a change of scenery and all that will energize his game.

Pulberry gets 2-1/2 pitchers in return, as Towes also has very impressive ratings as a reliever. Medellin is not the kind of pitcher I would have liked in return for Binns; while he has great stamina, he is barely average in every other department. He is currently installed as Pulberry’s No. 3 starter. Folkard has the chance to be the key player in this trade in the long run if he can get things figured out. A 16th overall pick from 1949-50, he has not impressed in his first two seasons. But he is a future starter with solid stuff/movement/control and four decent pitches. Towes has a chance to either be a future infielder or reliever in the majors. Right now, the Trolleys have him playing second base in Double A. He has plenty of bat speed and a great eye to go along with very good defense at second base. Nevertheless, scouts rave about his potential as a future cornerstone reliver, so we’ll just have to see how his career plays out.

Current Injuries:

SS Simon Flatt – November 21 – broken bone in elbow. Out for: 6 more weeks.

--------

Offense: .264/.352/.393 (6th/2nd/5th)
Pitching: 4.68/4.90/4.08 (8th/8th/4th)
Defense: .699 (6th)

The Brunswick Legends crashed in January and their seeming inattention at grooming a good young stable of starters has been exposed. The pitching staff is the worked ranked in the United Leagues and it appears that will not change any time soon. They have a respectable farm system (6th overall), but the only pitching prospect of note is 19-year old RHP Dave Ball (20/48), a second-round pick from 1950-51.

Only their ‘ace’, 24-year old RHP Mhelter Pilapil (9-11, 3.99 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 4.22 FIP) is offering them some consistent outings, while 30-year old RHP Lao Chen (2-4, 14 SV, 3.33 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 3.08 FIP) remains the top-ranked stopper in the United Leagues.

The offense offers a bit more optimism, as 25-year old LF Carl Patton (.284/.372/.407, 5 HR, 45 RBI, 55 BB, 3.4 WAR) is enjoying a terrific sophomore season and 23-year old rookie C Robert Kersey (.268/.352/.452, 14 HR, 51 RBI, 45 BB, 3.0 WAR) continues his impressive start.

Three Legends were selected to the All-Star game: CL Lao Chen (3rd), C Robert Kersey (1st) and 1B Stuart Bentham (11th).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 17 – RF Marcus Peyto (.571, 8 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI)

Noteworthy:

December 1 – LF Carl Patton came over to the Legends in the blockbuster SP Anastasio Rodríguez trade with Wolseley back April 1950. In his second full-season in the ULB, the former third-round pick from 1948-49 has firmly entrenched himself in the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Against the Braeland City Monarchs he showed why, going 5 for 5 in the Legends’ 14-11 triumph. Patton hit a 3-run double in the 1st, hit an RBI single in the 3rd, walked in the 4th, hit an RBI triple in the 5th and singled in the 7th and 8th innings. In all, he collected 5 RBIs.

January 11 - 35-year old 1B Stuart Bentham (.353/.440/.562, 15 HR, 73 RBI, 53 BB, 2.7 WAR) reached a significant milestone when he smacked a solo home run to lead off the 4th inning against the Cobourg Red Stockings’ RHP Fergus Hirst. When it cleared the left-field wall 337 ft. away, it marked his 300th career home run. Bentham is the first player to reach that milestone in the United Leagues’ history. Alas it wasn’t enough as the Legends fell to the Red Stockings 7-3. To make matters worse, Bentham separated his shoulder the next day while successfully breaking up a double play at second base. He is expected to miss 5-6 weeks at least.

Current Injuries:

1B Stuart Bentham – January 12 – separated shoulder. Out for: 2 more weeks.
RHP Kelvin Hutchinson – January 23 – strained triceps. Out for: DtD, 2-3 more weeks.

--------

09-30-2019, 01:08 AM	#527
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,919	February 1, 1952 Eastern League: Athletics Seize the Initiative, Move Into First Place -------- Offense: .274/.346/.400 (2nd/5th/4th) Pitching: 4.01/4.27/3.13 (3rd/4th/1st) Defense: .713 (1st) With the Eastern League as a whole middling through the first two months of the season, the Wellington Athletics came alive in December, going on a 10-game winning streak at one point and racking up 21 wins in total. In all, they have gone 34-18 since November to not only get above .500 but take over 1st place as well. If they can hold onto to top spot the rest of the way, it will mark the first time they would finish on top in the East since the 1937-38 inaugural season. The pitching staff has been unremarkable overall. If the rotation as a whole can catch fire, the Athletics could really put a stranglehold on first place. Over the past two months, No. 3 starter 27-year old RHP Matt Price (10-7, 3.58 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.97 FIP) has really stepped up his play (going 5-0, 3.45 ERA in December) while No. 5 starter 29-year old RHP Wilfried Schop (7-8, 4.49 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.96 FIP) found some consistency in December/January (5-3, 3.59 ERA) compared to October/November (2-5, 5.69 ERA). The bullpen remains the best in the East. While he may not be the darling of the scouts (13th best reliever in the positional strength overview), 29-year old middle reliever RHP Finlay Capstick (8-4, 2.53 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 4.80 FIP) has been unquestionably Wellington’s top pitcher out of the bullpen this season, his eighth in the ULB. But it’s the offense that has really propelled the Athletics into first place. 26-year old CF Jim Mars (.335/.403/.453, 6 HR, 60 RBI, 49 BB, 4.4 WAR) has emerged as Wellington’s top player after the first four months. Even 25-year old 2B Vaiga Bultarro (.271/.338/.398, 6 HR, 51 RBI, 38 BB, 2.1WAR), who I disparaged in the Oct/Nov report for his poor performance, has returned to the solid play he put up last season. In Dec/Jan, he batted .310/.391/.460 & .321/.378/.531 respectively. Five Athletics headed to the All-Star game: RP Finley Capstick (3rd), C Declan Bugbie (2nd), LF Harvey Thornber (1st), CF Jim Mars (2nd) and RF Wayne Emmert (1st). Player of the Week Awards: December 3 – C Declan Bugbie (.440, 11 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R) December 24 – 1B Wayne Emmert (.485, 16 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 10 R) January 21 – 2B Vaiga Bultarro (.455, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI) Current Injuries: RHP Zachary Collingham – December 27 – torn meniscus. Out for: 3 more months. -------- Offense: .273/.349/.402 (3rd/4th/3rd) Pitching: 4.45/4.25/5.26 (5th/3rd/8th) Defense: .695 (7th) The Queensland Eagles barely played .500 baseball over the past two months and it cost them first place in the East. Not only that, they are in danger of dropping out of a playoff spot completely as both the Downie Chiefs and Cobourg Red Stockings have surged up the standings and are threatening to overtake them. The Eagles did not sit idle leading up to the trade deadline, making a couple of trades. But its open to debate as to whether they are now better off than they were prior to January 31. The offense is still led by 25-year old LF Rod Dennis (.327/.382/.518, 17 HR, 65 RBI, 40 BB, 2.4 WAR) but his performance has cooled off a bit since his fast start in Oct/Nov. In fact, one of the Eagles biggest weaknesses right now is the lack of a truly impact player (like Downie’s Dominic Dudding or Cobourg’s Raymond Williams), both in the lineup and rotation. Perhaps one or more players will step up into that role, as the Eagles are still a comparatively young team. The pitching staff continues its inconsistent ways, up and down from month-to-month. However, 24-year old No. 2 starter RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (11-7, 3.43 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 2.68 FIP) really stepped things up in Dec/Jan (5-3, 1.80 ERA) after going 6-4, 4.89 ERA in Oct/Nov. Four Eagles qualified for the All-Star game: SP Logan Belsey (1st), SP Tyler Gissing (1st), C Elijah Sheppard (6th) and LF Rod Dennis (2nd). Key Trade No. 1: January 6 with the Hespeler Stars: To Queensland – 34-year old RHP Francisco López (49/49) and 24-year old minor league OF Salvador Rivera (38/49) To Hespeler – 38-year old LF Terence Durney (50/50) *Knee-jerk reaction:* With the Eagles in the playoff hunt for the first time since their successful championship run back in 1946-47, the club made a couple of moves to try and bolster their rotation and lineup. But the moves they made are curious at best. López is a very average starter with slightly below average stuff. He is more suited to the backend of a rotation – if he can stay healthy. He has been battling various injuries over his entire career which should have raised alarms in the Eagles camp. So it should have come as no surprise when López went down to injury just 1.2 innings into his first start with his new team. He suffered a torn UCL and is gone for the season. Meanwhile, Rivera has been promoted to the big club and will serve as their main utility outfielder against RHP while starting in centerfield against LHP. Rivera is a great runner with good base path instincts and solid defensive skills especially in leftfield. He has some offensive skills but won’t be anything more than an average contact hitter. The Stars are once again an afterthought in the West, so the move to acquire the veteran Durney is a head-scratcher. Durney is an 11-time all-star and future hall of famer. While he may be past his peak years, he is still very capable at the plate and at leftfield. He is an intelligent team leader and a very popular player among his teammates, so that should help things out in the clubhouse. But like López, his proneness to injury is a major concern. Key Trade No. 2: January 14 with the Cobourg Red Stockings: To Queensland – 31-year old 2B George Simpson (45/45) To Cobourg – 20-year old minor league LF Francis Dawang (20/42) and 22-year old C Derek Brunskill (20/27) *Knee-jerk reaction:* I’m not sure what both clubs were thinking about when they made this trade. Simpson is a former 7th overall pick from 1939-40 and a two-time all-star but has not enjoyed a decent season in four years. Evidently, Cobourg lost patience with him and have decided to install 28-year old Gijsbert Jacobse (.223/.320/.308, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 16 BB, -0.1 WAR – 39/41) as their starting second baseman, at least until 20-year old IF Douglas Jones (32/80), a 6th overall pick from 1949-50, is ready to take over. Scouts consider Simpson to be ‘on the bubble for a big-league role’ and Queensland apparently agrees, as so far, he is little more than their top pinch hitter. So other than as a depth player, its hard to see what Queensland will gain from this move for their late-season push for the playoffs. In Dawang and Brunskill, Cobourg receive two players that have very good defensive skills at their respective positions but depending how their bats develop, they may be little more than fringe players at best. Current Injuries: RHP Bartolo Sánchez – October 10 – dislocated shoulder. Out for: 3 more days. RHP Quentin Goldsmith – October 30 – ulnar nerve entrapment. Out for: 4-5 more weeks. RHP Francisco López – January 12 – torn ULC. Out for: 6 more months. RHP Gael Yule – January 17 – torn labrum. Out for: 6 more months. -------- Offense: .265/.345/.386 (5th/6th/7th) Pitching: 4.25/4.49/3.63 (4th/5th/3rd) Defense: .710 (Tied for 2nd) Like the Athletics, the Downie Chiefs used a strong December to race up the standings. But they quickly reverted to the previous form in January. So it remains to be seen whether they can sustain a real push for the playoffs this season. The pitching overall has improved as the season has progressed, but still has a way to go to be considered a strength. 36-year old No. 3 starter LHP Gavin Hewat (10-7, 3.26 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.69 FIP) continues to be Downie’s top pitcher this season. But 29-year old No. 2 starter RHP Kelii Pelanekelina (7-9, 4.68 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 4.66 FIP) appears to be recovering from his rough start. 34-year old RHP Carl Luscombe (9-3, 14 SV, 2.80 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 3.86 FIP) continues to be one of the best stoppers in the United Leagues. The offense has held steady despite a rash of injuries. Both 26-year old Dominic Dudding (.337/.415/.566, 13 HR, 52 RBI, 38 BB, 4.2 WAR) and 26-year old CF Alfonso León (.292/.367/.439, 13 HR, 70 RBI, 51 BB, 4.2 WAR) are not quite up to the torrid pace they were last season, but even that still adds up to a very, very good season that other teams would die for. On the other hand, lead-off hitter 27-year old LF Howard Dumbrill (.256/.380/.404, 14 HR, 45 RBI, 81 BB, 8 SB, 3.5 WAR) is enjoying the best season yet of his 6-year career. Five Chiefs were selected as All-Stars: SP Gavin Hewat (1st), Dominic Dudding (5th), LF Howard Dumbrill (3rd), CF Alfonso León (5th) and RF Conor Bing (1st). Noteworthy: January 25 – The reigning Babe Ruth Award winner, 26-year old CF Alfonso León was in the zone against the Cambria Cannons, going 5 for 5 on the day, collecting 3 RBI and 1 R. León singled in the 1st and 3rd innings, hit a two-run single in the 5th as well as an RBI single in the 6th, capping things off with a single in the 8th. The Chiefs prevailed 8-6. Key Trade: January 10 with the Brunswick Legends: To Downie – 33-year old LHP Jake Osmotherley (49/49) and 23-year old RHP Eddie Stannard (51/63) To Brunswick – 25-year old SS Dermott Morris (44/49) *Knee-jerk reaction:* The head scratching continues as Downie acquires a couple of pitchers only to release one of them outright a few days later. Osmotheley is a veteran reliever who has been league average for most of his 12-year career. His stuff is unimpressive but balances things out with pinpoint control. Alas, he was released by Downie for some unknown reason 10 days after the trade. On January 30, he was picked up by the Kingston Pelicans who installed him as one of their long relievers. Stannard, a second-round pick back in 1949-50 for Brunswick, has promise of moving to the rotation one day if he can develop his slider a bit more (30/45). His movement and control are outstanding but his stuff (40/45) may limit him to the back end of the rotation in the future. Morris is just an outstanding defensive shortstop and second baseman with tremendous speed. He has some offensive potential, but it is still very raw. Nevertheless, Brunswick installed him as their everyday shortstop, although 23-year old Harris Yaag (.315/.366/.477, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 11 BB, 1.4 WAR) was developing quite nicely. Current Injuries: 2B Dominic Dudding – December 25 – fractured finger. Out for: 1-2 more weeks. RF Connor Bing – January 11 – torn quadriceps. Out for: 6 more days. -------- Offense: .286/.350/.428 (1st/3rd/1st) Pitching: 4.55/4.54/4.60 (6th/6th/7th) Defense: .685 (8th) The Cobourg Red Stockings also used a strong month to get into the first division; in this case it was a 16-9 January, their first winning month this season. Still, there remain serious questions as to their staying power, as their pitching staff has regressed even further since November. They were busy leading up to the trade deadline (as noted in the other team writeups), but none of the moves really fall into a ‘win now’ column. More of a casting off of dead weight and adding some depth to their farm system than anything else. The pitching staff simply does not inspire confidence. That said, 23-year old LHP Bill Budd (11-9, 3.52 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 4.06 FIP) is solidly entrenched as Cobourg’s ace, while rookie 23-year old RHP Bobby Williams (4-1, 3.40 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 4.50 FIP) has shown promise. The former 4th-round pick is currently pitching out of the No. 5 spot. The offense rivals any team in the ULB and for good reason. Cobourg boasts two elite players: 30-year old 3B Alexander Tolmie (.334/.412/.541, 19 HR, 79 RBI, 57 BB, 5.4 WAR) and 25-year old CF Raymond Williams (.337/.427/.586, 17 HR, 79 RBI, 66 BB, 7 SB, 5.2 WAR). Both are former 1st overall picks and are in the conversation for this season’s Babe Ruth Award. Five Red Stockings qualified for the All-Star game: 1B Harry Doxey (3rd), 3B Alexander Tolmie (5th), SS John Medley (6th), CF Raymond Williams (5th) and RF Salvador Hernández (2nd). Player of the Week Awards: December 31 – 1B Harry Doxey (.593, 16 H, 10 RBI) January 28 – CF Raymond Williams (.462, 12 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI) Current Injuries: None -------- Offense: .253/.352/.362 (7th/1st/8th) Pitching: 3.93/3.84/4.55 (2nd/1st/6th) Defense: .708 (4th) The Stratford Barons crashed in December, falling to last place in the East before recovering somewhat in January. The Barons are at a crossroads this season, as they are equally capable of finishing near the top of the standings as they are of finishing at the bottom. They have a capable pitching staff but could stand to beef up their offense. They made a couple of moves before the trade deadline to try and address their offensive weaknesses. 25-year old RHP Magtanggol Jaojoco (11-13, 3.09 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 3.29 FIP) is an ace in the making but like the rest of the rotation, has been ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ from month to month. In December, he went 4-2, 1.55 ERA while going 1-5, 4.37 ERA in January. But 23-year old No. 5 starter LHP Robin Wadsworth (8-4, 2 SV, 4.25 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 4.34 FIP) has been the most extreme: 0-3, 9.18 ERA in December; 4-0, 1.50 ERA in January. No doubt the Barons hope his January performance is more indicative of their former 16th overall pick’s future performance. The pitching staff could certainly benefit from more offensive performances as seen from 32-year old C Aaron Skidmore (.304/.468/.462, 9 HR, 55 RBI, 92 BB, 4.8 WAR) and 22-year old CF Sherwin Carasig (.320/.393/.489, 12 HR, 58 RBI, 47 BB, 6 SB, 4.3 WAR). After them there is a bit of a drop-off in the lineup, something that rookie GM Kieran Sturtevant attempted to address before the trade deadline. Three Barons qualified for the All-Star team: SP Magtanggol Jaojoco (1st), C Aaron Skidmore (11th) and CF Sherwin Carasig (1st). Key Trade: January 15 with the Cobourg Red Stockings: To Stratford – 32-year old RF Salvador Hernández (59/59) To Cobourg – 23-year old CF Frank Maher (32/49) and 24-year old LF Robert Burgess (35/46) *Knee-jerk reaction:* A steal for the Barons and a misstep by the Red Stockings in my opinion. Hernández, a second-round pick from 1941-42, is an above-average player who is aggressive at the plate, sturdy defensively in rightfield, a team leader and an ‘iron man’ injury-wise. So why would Cobourg want to part with him? His replacement is 28-year old Fergus Thackwray (.233/.295/.368, 9 HR, 26 RBI, 23 BB, 0.4 WAR – 43/43). While Thackwray has defense and speed to spare, he is not the offensive player Hernández is right now. As for Stratford, they have installed him as their starting rightfielder, electing to ship off their former rightfielder to Kingston later in the month (more on that in the Western League report). Maher and Burgess are both intriguing players. Both are outstanding defensive players with speed with some impressive batting skill potential. Scouts suggest however, that they will be little more than bench players at best. At any rate, both are tearing up Double-A at the moment, so we’ll have to see. Current Injuries: RHP Dylan Cluett – December 7 – herniated disc. Out for: 7-8 more weeks. LHP Joel Fearn – December 21 – torn posterior cruciate ligament. Out for: 5 more months. 2B Chris Spiller – January 22 – torn labrum. Out for: 4-5 more months. -------- Offense: .251/.330/.389 (8th/8th/6th) Pitching: 3.82/3.89/3.53 (1st/2nd/2nd) Defense: .710 (Tied for 2nd) The Embro Suns are quickly fading in the East in spite of a remarkably consistent pitching staff, no doubt due to a rather lackluster offense. On the surface, it appears that Embro has thrown in the towel on the season, shipping out their defending Satchel Paige Award winner to the Wolseley Unions before the trade deadline. In spite of that, they didn’t exactly ‘gut’ themselves either. The Suns have the top-rated farm system and added to it prior to the deadline. Three of those players are on the major league roster and could help things turn around. If not for this season, then perhaps the next. 21-year old rookie Kieron Bradridge (.275/.324/.448, 10 HR, 53 RBI, 26 BB, 3.1 WAR) has emerged as Embro’s top offensive player and entrenched himself as the Suns’ regular shortstop, despite 28-year old Rafael De La Cruz (.409/.462/.613, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 10 BB, 1.6 WAR) still being a very capable player. But Bradridge has the potential of being the break-out player Embro hasn’t had since 37-year old Jim Friend (.258/.424/.455, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 19 BB, 0.4 WAR) was in his prime. But Friend is still a very capable offensive player in his own right, so it’s a little painful to see him wither in a back-up role. 23-year old rookie 3B Moromao Nakagawa (.252/.352/.393, 10 HR, 52 RBI, 63 BB, 1.1 WAR) has cooled off since November, but Embro’s top prospect still has tons of potential. Embro’s starters have not been getting a lot of support, as evidenced by 25-year old LHP Carl McBroom (5-12, 3.62 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 3.70 FIP) win-loss record, but he gives his club a fighting chance each start. 32-year old No. 2 starter LHP Arthur Bence (12-7, 3.51 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.02 FIP) continues to be the Suns’ most effective hurler. With the departure of 32-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson (6-12, 3.86 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 4.13 FIP), 26-year old RHP Juan Rivas (5-3, 5 SV, 2.08 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 3.26 FIP) appears to have finally earned a permanent promotion to the rotation. He inherits Saunderson’s No. 3 spot. Five Suns were selected as All-Stars: SP Arthur Bence (4th), SP Carl McBroom (1st), RP Yin-ti Shih (1st), SS Kieron Bradridge (1st) and RF José Maldonado (4th). Player of the Week Awards: January 14 – 3B Moromao Nakagawa (.389, 7 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI) Noteworthy: December 25 –RF José Maldonado (.281/.387/.429, 11 HR, 40 RBI, 53 BB, 7 SB, 2.4 WAR) was signed by the Cambria Cannons to a minor league contract back in 1942 but was released nearly three years later. The Suns quickly picked him up though and the 25-year old Colombian has become a four-time All-Star. On Christmas day he showed why, going 5 for 7 against the Stratford Barons in an extra-inning affair. Maldonado singled in the first, flied out in the 2nd, singled in the 5th, hit an RBI double in the 6th, hit an RBI single in the 8th, grounded out in the 10th and hit a two-run single in the 11th. All in all, he collected 4 RBI with 2 R in Embro’s 9-5 victory. Key Trade: January 13 with the Wolseley Unions: To Embro – 25-year old 2B Robert Jameson (49/57) To Wolseley – 32-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson (55/55) *Knee-jerk reaction:* With their chances of returning to the playoffs to successfully defend their Pennant title dwindling by the day, the Suns have elected to re-configure things. The first to go is the 13-year veteran SP Saunderson. This is the second time that Embro has traded Saunderson to the Unions. After originally drafting him 13th overall back in 1937-38, the Suns sent him off to Wolseley in 1939 along with a slew of players for OF Terence Durney (who was recently involved in a trade as noted earlier). Saunderson, a five-time all-star and last year’s Satchel Paige winner, will give the Unions’ rotation an immediate boost, as they deal with seemingly never-ending injuries to both RHP Jeremy Albury and LHP Anastasio Rodríguez. Saunderson doesn’t have great stuff, but his terrific movement, control, stamina and iron man health make him an innings eater who can pitch deep into games. He is currently installed as Wolseley’s No. 3 starter. Jameson is a former 7th round pick from 1948-49 who is beating the odds. He gets to start (and lead off) regularly with Embro, taking over from 26-year old Keon-Chae Cho (.266/.324/.421, 14 HR, 60 RBI, 29 BB, 2.0 WAR), who moves over to leftfield, his strongest position defensively. Jameson has very good defense skills to go along with jaw-dropping speed and stealing ability. His bat has developed nicely as well. His overall ratings have really improved in the past year, making him Embro’s 6th overall prospect. Current Injuries: None. -------- Offense: .269/.342/.414 (4th/7th/2nd) Pitching: 4.59/4.64/4.64 (7th/7th/5th) Defense: .700 (5th) The Braeland City Monarchs have continued to struggle since their strong start in October. However, that has not stopped them from trying to become relevant this season, believing that a playoff spot is still within their reach in a League with no clear dominant team. But they’re going to have to try and turn around things quickly – they have been regressing in all facets since the start of the season. 26-year old 2B Patrick Lidgate (.285/.399/.505, 18 HR, 55 RBI, 71 BB, 4.1 WAR) continues to lead the offense. In fact, he is head and shoulders above his teammates. But as good as he is, he’s needs a lot more support if the Monarchs want to compete. That may come in the form of 21-year old rookie RF Aidan Trembath (.359/.409/.585, 9 HR, 40 RBI, 17 BB, 2.6 WAR) who is already considered the No. 3 rigthfielder in the United Leagues. And with the recent acquisition of 30-year old SS Roland Binns (.402/.456/.707, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 4 BB, 1.5 WAR) from Pulberry to replace the constantly injured 30-year old Simon Flatt (.194/.263/.301, 9-2B, 8 RBi, 10 BB, -0.2 WAR), the offense could become a strength before too long. 30-year old RHP Okura Suzuki (10-8, 3.72 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.33 FIP) continues to be Braeland City’s ace, but the pitching staff as a whole is not one of the United League’s more formidable unit. With the departure of No. 2 starter 30-year old RHP Robin Medellin (6-14, 4.61 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 4.34 FIP), who at one point suffered 8 straight losses in Dec/Jan, the Monarchs have promoted 24-year old RHP Pei Ming (39/51), their 49th overall prospect, to be their No. 5 starter. Five players represented the Monarchs at the All-Star game: SP Okura Suzuki (3rd), 2B Patrick Lidgate (3rd), 3B On Tsao (1st), LF Jesús Rodríguez (1st), RF Aidan Trembath (1st). Player of the Week Awards: December 10 – 2B Patrick Lidgate (.545, 12 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI) January 7 – 1B Dean Witherden (.481, 13 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI) Key Trade: January 31 with the Pulberry Trolleys: To Braeland City – 30-year old SS Roland Binns (60/60) To Pulberry – 30-year old RHP Robin Medellin (48/48), 24-year old RHP Taylor Folkard (49/65) and 22-year old minor league 2B Bert Towes (20/45) *Knee-jerk reaction:* An intriguing trade for both teams to say the least. Binns is rated 6th overall in a the ULB among shortstop, higher than the 9th overall rated 26-year old Francis Jones (.282/.382/.384, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 59 BB, 8 SB, 2.8 WAR – 61/61). Nevertheless, the Trolleys elected to keep the younger Jones and flip Binns in order to try and beef up their pitching staff. Binns is a 5-time all-star with wonderful defense and speed. However, his bat while decent, is nothing to get excited about and his performance has regressed over the past three seasons. Perhaps a change of scenery and all that will energize his game. Pulberry gets 2-1/2 pitchers in return, as Towes also has very impressive ratings as a reliever. Medellin is not the kind of pitcher I would have liked in return for Binns; while he has great stamina, he is barely average in every other department. He is currently installed as Pulberry’s No. 3 starter. Folkard has the chance to be the key player in this trade in the long run if he can get things figured out. A 16th overall pick from 1949-50, he has not impressed in his first two seasons. But he is a future starter with solid stuff/movement/control and four decent pitches. Towes has a chance to either be a future infielder or reliever in the majors. Right now, the Trolleys have him playing second base in Double A. He has plenty of bat speed and a great eye to go along with very good defense at second base. Nevertheless, scouts rave about his potential as a future cornerstone reliver, so we’ll just have to see how his career plays out. Current Injuries: SS Simon Flatt – November 21 – broken bone in elbow. Out for: 6 more weeks. -------- Offense: .264/.352/.393 (6th/2nd/5th) Pitching: 4.68/4.90/4.08 (8th/8th/4th) Defense: .699 (6th) The Brunswick Legends crashed in January and their seeming inattention at grooming a good young stable of starters has been exposed. The pitching staff is the worked ranked in the United Leagues and it appears that will not change any time soon. They have a respectable farm system (6th overall), but the only pitching prospect of note is 19-year old RHP Dave Ball (20/48), a second-round pick from 1950-51. Only their ‘ace’, 24-year old RHP Mhelter Pilapil (9-11, 3.99 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 4.22 FIP) is offering them some consistent outings, while 30-year old RHP Lao Chen (2-4, 14 SV, 3.33 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 3.08 FIP) remains the top-ranked stopper in the United Leagues. The offense offers a bit more optimism, as 25-year old LF Carl Patton (.284/.372/.407, 5 HR, 45 RBI, 55 BB, 3.4 WAR) is enjoying a terrific sophomore season and 23-year old rookie C Robert Kersey (.268/.352/.452, 14 HR, 51 RBI, 45 BB, 3.0 WAR) continues his impressive start. Three Legends were selected to the All-Star game: CL Lao Chen (3rd), C Robert Kersey (1st) and 1B Stuart Bentham (11th). Player of the Week Awards: December 17 – RF Marcus Peyto (.571, 8 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI) Noteworthy: December 1 – LF Carl Patton came over to the Legends in the blockbuster SP Anastasio Rodríguez trade with Wolseley back April 1950. In his second full-season in the ULB, the former third-round pick from 1948-49 has firmly entrenched himself in the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Against the Braeland City Monarchs he showed why, going 5 for 5 in the Legends’ 14-11 triumph. Patton hit a 3-run double in the 1st, hit an RBI single in the 3rd, walked in the 4th, hit an RBI triple in the 5th and singled in the 7th and 8th innings. In all, he collected 5 RBIs. January 11 - 35-year old 1B Stuart Bentham (.353/.440/.562, 15 HR, 73 RBI, 53 BB, 2.7 WAR) reached a significant milestone when he smacked a solo home run to lead off the 4th inning against the Cobourg Red Stockings’ RHP Fergus Hirst. When it cleared the left-field wall 337 ft. away, it marked his 300th career home run. Bentham is the first player to reach that milestone in the United Leagues’ history. Alas it wasn’t enough as the Legends fell to the Red Stockings 7-3. To make matters worse, Bentham separated his shoulder the next day while successfully breaking up a double play at second base. He is expected to miss 5-6 weeks at least. Current Injuries: 1B Stuart Bentham – January 12 – separated shoulder. Out for: 2 more weeks. RHP Kelvin Hutchinson – January 23 – strained triceps. Out for: DtD, 2-3 more weeks. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 09-30-2019 at 08:58 PM.