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reds1 · 05-10-2020, 02:23 AM

March 30, 1953

Western League: It’s Not How You Start – Unions Overtake Cannons for Top Spot, Will Meet in Playoffs

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Offense: .241/.323/.329 (7th/2nd/8th)
Pitching: 2.70/2.86/1.96 (1st/1st/1st)
Defense: .731 (2nd)

The Wolseley Unions recovered from a slow start to the season in a big way as they steadily climbed back into contention in the second half. On February 23, they caught up to and overtook the Pulberry Trolleys for the wild card for good. Then they chased down the Cambria Cannons for first in the final month. As late as March 24, both Wolseley and Cambria were tied for top spot with 5 games to go. The Unions went 3-2 in those final five games, while the Cannons could only muster a single win in that same stretch. Indeed, it initially appeared Wolseley was going to have an off-season as they could only muster a 21-30 record in October and November. But they went 66-37 (.641) the rest of the way. By comparison, the next best team over that same stretch was the 100-54 Cobourg Red Stockings. They went 67-38 (.638).

But unlike the Red Stockings, the Unions are a decidedly uneven bunch. Their pitching staff is best in the ULB, averaging just 3.3 R/G (506 runs). The offense though, scored only 547 runs all season, an average of just 3.55. The next worst were the Balmoral Giants, who scored 10 more runs for a 3.62 R/G average. Last season, Wolseley scored 806 runs while allowing 600.

Neither mark is an aberration. The offense is being carried into the playoffs by just two players. 31-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.318/.454/.482, 18 HR, 61 RBI, 133 BB, 6.1 WAR) kept on getting stronger as the season wore on while 31-year old SS George Kimpton (.265/.346/.390, 15 HR, 80 RBI, 74 BB, 5.0 WAR) faded in the final two months (.225/.300/.345). Making matters worse, 23-year old 1B/3B Carlos Ortíz (.276/.348/.390, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 55 BB, 3.0 WAR) fractured a rib in mid-February and missed the rest of the season and at least the first round of the playoffs. The rest of the lineup was unimpressive all season.

But if you must be carried by your pitching staff, this is the one you want. Nine of the ten pitchers on the playoff roster enjoyed outstanding seasons. Manager Tony Fay has named his four-man rotation for the playoffs:

• 27-year old RHP Roberto Garza (16-11, 2.95 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 122 ERA+)
• 34-year old RHP Bill Blair (8-6, 2.09 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 171 ERA+)
• 29-year old RHP Jeremy Albury (9-11, 2.77 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 129 ERA+)
• 33-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson (17-14, 2.58 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 139 ERA+)

They also have one of the best stoppers in the game in 31-year old RHP Shou-xin Chin (10-1, 1.30 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, .204 BABIP – 68/68).

Player of the Week Awards:

March 9 – 2B Make-Make Kamaka (.412, 14 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI)
March 16 – RHP Aaron Saunderson (2-0, 18 IP, 10 K, 1.00 ERA)

Noteworthy:

March 11 – RHP Roberto Garza silenced the Hespeler Stars 3-0 on the road. In 107 PI, he surrendered just 4 hits with 1 BB and 3 K for this 13th win of the season (GS: 81).
March 15 - RHP Aaron Saunderson reached a personal milestone in his 3-2 victory over the Fort Richmond Generals. In front of an appreciative home field crowd at Satchel Paige Park, the 13-year veteran achieved his 200th victory. He is the 6th pitcher to reach that mark in the United Leagues. In the game, he went 9.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR (GS: 74). For his career, he has gone 201-196, 4 SV, 3.42 ERA, 3608.2 IP, 1421 K, 1.34 WHIP, 115 ERA+.

March 17 – The Unions scored all their runs in the bottom of the 1st inning against the Sherburn Tigers, winning 4-0. RHP Bill Blair did not give the Tigers’ batters any chance to strike back, limited them to just 3 hits. Blair went 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 97 PI (GS: 85). 3B Paddy Leseberg did the greatest damage offensively, hitting a 3-run double with one out in that 1st inning.
March 21 – RHP Roberto Garza threw a one-hitter against the Kingston Pelicans, as the Unions trounced the home-town team 8-0. Garza went 9.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 106 PI (GS: 91).

First Round Draft Pick Update:

16th overall – CL Danny Pye (28/71). Pye appeared in 27 games (29.0 IP) in Double-A, going 4-4, 8 SV, 6.52 ERA, 1.83 WHIP, .362 BABIP.

Current Injuries:

December 18 – 2B Westin Woollams – torn labrum. Out for: 2-3 months.

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Offense: .254/.326/.373 (2nd/1st/1st)
Pitching: 3.56/3.64/3.23 (6th/4th/6th)
Defense: .694 (8th)

The Cambria Cannons were the exact opposite of the Unions this season: relatively strong on offense, but relatively suspect in pitching. The end result was that the Cannons could not to hang onto the first place, going just 24-27 in the final two months. Nevertheless, Cambria returns to the playoffs for the first time in eight years. But they will do so with one of their key players on the injured list: 35-year old C Heung-su Park (.300/.381/.514, 20 HR, 82 RBI, 51 BB, 5.7 WAR) suffered a groin strain in early March and is gone for the season. That is a huge blow for a team that will need everyone playing their best if they want to prevail over the Unions for the Western League Pennant.

Its hard to size up the pitching staff overall. It is not terrible by any means, but it is not the strongest unit in the West and at any rate, few can compare to Wolseley’s dominant staff right now. For the playoffs, rookie manager Benjamin Sadler has set his rotation:

• 23-year old LHP Bill Southon (16-11, 3.18 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 110 ERA+)
• 33-year old LHP Ricardo Cruz (14-6, 2.79 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 126 ERA+)
• 27-year old RHP Masami Fujihara (15-14, 3.72 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 94 ERA+)
• 38-year old LHP Hirotada Fukushima (6-10, 3.73 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 96 ERA+)

The loss of C Park is significant, but back-up catcher, 26-year old Min-gook Lee (.309/.342/.450, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 7 BB, 1.5 WAR – 48/52), filled in nicely in March, going .328/.361/.500, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 3 BB in 58 AB. He will bat from the 5th spot in the playoffs. The Cannons also have 26-year old 1B Carlos Corea (.321/.372/.482, 20 HR, 99 RBI, 47 BB, 3.2 WAR – 76/78). Corea finished on top in the West in seven offensive categories and tied with Wolseley’s Carlton Hawking for slugging percentage. He also won the Western League batting title. But Corea faded a bit in the stretch and actually lost ground in the WAR department due to his atrocious fielding (.990 PCT, 8.93 RNG, -23.1 ZR, .827 EFF), something few on the club is particularly good at.

Besides Corea, Cambria will be led into the playoffs by 33-year old SS César Ruíz (.272/.387/.447, 25 HR, 88 RBI, 101 BB, 6.0 WAR – 80/80) and two rookies: 28-year old 3B Luis Torres (.279/.343/.402, 15 HR, 77 RBI, 50 BB, 4.1 WAR – 64/64) and 23-year old CF Sam Tite (.216/.338/.334, 12 HR, 48 RBI, 101 BB, 3.9 WAR – 51/71). While Tite was strong in the field all year, he really struggled at times at the plate in his first full season.

Player of the Week Awards:

February 2 – 1B Carlos Corea (.556, 10 H, 1 HR, 8 RBI)
March 2 – LF Ichizo Ando (.583, 7 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI)

Noteworthy:

March 7 – The Cannons gave LHP Ricardo Cruz one unearned run in the 1st inning and Cruz defended it, defeating the Wolseley Unions 1-0 at home. He gave up just 3 hits with 1 BB and 2 K for his 12th win (GS: 82). Wolseley’s RHP Bill Blair was almost as effective, but two errors and a passed ball allowed 1B Carlos Corea to not only reach base safely, but also score what proved to be the winning run.
March 11 – RHP Masami Fujihara notched his 14th win of the season with a 6-hit shut-out of the Pulberry Trolleys. Fujihara gave up just 1 walk with 4 strikeouts (GS: 78) in the 1-0 victory. The winning run came when SS César Ruíz slammed a solo home run in the
4th inning off RHP Ron Cowen.
March 13 – LHP Ricardo Cruz pitched a 1-hitter against the Sherburn Tigers, coming away with a 2-0 road victory. His line was 9.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 99 PI (GS: 89). The winning runs came in the 3rd inning, when 3B Luis Torres connected for a two-run home run against LHP Luke Henty.
March 17 – RHP Masami Fujihara shackled the Kingston Pelicans, 2-0 on 4 hits. He went 9.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 122 PI (GS: 83).

First Round Draft Pick Update:

2nd overall – CF Kilipeka Maleko (20/64). Maleko saw very little action in his first season in Double-A. In 8 AB, he collected 2 hits, 1 BB, 2 SO, batting .250/.400/.250.

Current Injuries:

March 7 – C Heung-su Park – strained groin. Out for: 2 weeks.

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Offense: .251/.320/.357 (3rd/3rd/4th)
Pitching: 3.38/3.48/3.00 (3rd/3rd/4th)
Defense: .733 (1st)

The Pulberry Trolleys came up short once again in trying to capture their first playoff spot. After missing out by a single game last season, the Trolleys this time saw the surging Wolseley Unions overtake them for second place for good on February 23 and were officially eliminated on March 24. For their part, Pulberry can look to their slow start as being the main culprit. Had they gone 28-22 in October/November instead of 22-28, they would have finished with 88 wins – a record good enough for first place. The Trolleys are continuing to groom some young players in the lineup and rotation. If they can develop, it wouldn’t take much more to finally push Pulberry over the top.

31-year old RHP Alexander Ellacott (15-11, 2.96 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 118 ERA+ - 51/51) enjoyed his second strong season in a row after a couple of down years with the Cambria Cannons. No doubt Pulberry hopes that trend continues, as 23-year old sophomore LHP Ramón Castro (11-13, 3.58 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 98 ERA+ - 55/55) had his ups and downs all season before being lost to a long-term injury late in the season. Former Brunswick Legend, 36-year old RHP Ron Cowen (15-13, 3.32 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 105 ERA+ - 50/50) also enjoyed his second consecutive good season, after five down years. And Pulberry may be ready to finally promote both 25-year old RHP Taylor Folkard (5-5, 13 SV, 2.64 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 122 ERA+ - 47/52) and 23-year old rookie LHP Dermott Rathbone (0-0, 1 SV, 1.80 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 194 ERA+ - 45/61) to the rotation for next season. Folkard is already there, while Rathbone remained on the 25-man roster at the end of the season.

The Trolleys have a fine core in the lineup, batting Nos. 3 through 5. 26-year old CF Cooper Tyson (.293/.391/.457, 12 HR, 63 RBI, 89 BB, 8.7 WAR – 73/73) finished the season strong, especially in February and is clearly the offense’s main cog. Following him are 24-year old sophomore LF Aidan Thirkettle (.280/.377/.433, 12 HR, 61 RBI, 68 BB, 14 SB, 3.9 WAR – 65/80) and 28-year old RF Ellis Dibble (.296/.370/.455, 17 HR, 76 RBI, 62 BB, 4.7 WAR – 73/73). Both appear ready to join Tyson is super-star status next season. Thirkettle particularly, has room to grow into someone special. 22-year old C Paul England (.219/.284/.316, 5 HR, 49 RBI, 33 BB, 0.7 WAR – 37/64) endured a rough rookie season but began to play much better in March (.253/.308/.422).

The Trolleys have the fourth-best farm system in the United Leagues and a couple of prospects stand out: 21-year old SS Sean Abercrombie (24/79) and 19-year old C Enoka Hockenhall (20/68). Both remain stuck in Double-A after a couple of seasons, so here’s hoping they can start getting promoted soon.

Player of the Week Awards:

February 23 – CF Cooper Tyson (.435, 10 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI)
March 23 – RF Ellis Dibble (.414, 12 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI)

Noteworthy:

February 14 – RHP Ron Cowen had it all going for him in Wellington as the 13-year veteran blanked the Athletics 5-0 on 4 hits. He pitched all 9 innings, collecting 4 strikeouts and giving up just 2 walks. (GS: 81).

First Round Draft Pick Update:

14th overall – 3B Jorge Ramos (20/47). Ramos also saw little action in his first season. With the AA Hopetown Islanders, he made just 5 AB, with 2 hits, 1-2B, 1 RBI, 1 SO (.400/.400/.600).

Current Injuries:

March 23 – LHP Ramón Castro – radial nerve decompression surgery. Out for: 5-6 months.
March 23 – CF John Oldknow – sprained knee. Out for: DtD, 6 days.
March 25 – SS Francis Jones – strained back. Out for: 1-2 weeks.

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Offense: .259/.315/.366 (1st/5th/3rd)
Pitching: 3.11/3.05/3.62 (2nd/2nd/7th)
Defense: .725 (3rd)

The Fort Richmond Generals recovered in the final months to avoid a losing season and matched their record from last year. Still, they will miss the playoffs for the second-straight season having been eliminated on March 24, the same day as the Trolleys. The Generals are not a bad team by any means with a still-strong rotation and bullpen that has a couple of young promising arms ready to take the lead, but the offense lacks any stand-out performer. They scored 602 runs, just one more than the last-place Sherburn Tigers. If Fort Richmond were to add some dynamic players to its lineup, they would be competing for first place rather than just keeping their head above water.

28-year old SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida (.286/.336/.409, 9 HR, 45 RBI, 34 BB, 4.4 WAR – 73/73) picked things offensively up in the final two months and is Fort Richmond’s best all-round player. 28-year old RF Brandon Robinson (.287/.326/.420, 14 HR, 73 RBI, 37 BB, 1.6 WAR – 55/55) remains a consistent hitter, but fell off a cliff defensively (.991 PCT, 2.93 RNG, -13.4 ZR, .944 EFF).

The pitching staff was consistently good all season, led by 30-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock (16-13, 2.75 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 126 ERA+ - 60/60), 32-year old LHP Nicholas Grimes (13-11, 2.99 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 116 ERA+ - 55/55) and 30-year old RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li (13-14, 3.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 113 ERA+ - 55/55). 27-year old RHP Kazunori Fujimoto (11-11, 3.07 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 113 ERA+ - 50/50) struggled a little in February (2-0, 5.14 ERA) but rebounded in March (2-2, 3.45 ERA).

The bullpen was uneven at times, but the Generals have a couple of promising arms that may help stabilize matters in the near future: 23-year old RHP Glen Limon (4-0, 1 SV, 2.31 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 2.17 FIP – 64/69) and 22-year old greenhorn LHP Frank Lita (36/63).

Noteworthy:

March 21 – RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li zeroed in on the Pulberry Trolleys at Trolleys Stadium, blanking them 2-0 on just 1 hit. His line for the day was 9.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 B, 1 K, 99 PI (GS: 85).

First Round Draft Pick Update:

12th overall – LF Uki Edewada (20/52). Edewada enjoyed a full season in Double-A. He made 254 AB, going .244/.280/.319 with 62 H, 1 HR, 25 RBI, 13 BB, 12 SB.

Current Injuries:

February 25 – RHP Glen Limon – hamstring strain. Out for: 1 day.
March 19 – LHP Nicholas Grimes –strained shoulder. Out for: 3 weeks.

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Offense: .250/.313/.366 (5th/6th/2nd)
Pitching: 3.60/3.71/3.02 (7th/7th/5th)
Defense: .719 (4th)

The Hespeler Stars fell into familiar territory in February & March, falling back to finish 10 games under .500 and were officially eliminated from playoff contention on March 18, the day after the Kingston Pelicans. Still, their 72 wins represents their best finish in six years, but it also marks the 15th straight season without a winning record. The Stars have the top-ranked farm system right now but how soon their top prospects can move up and give the parent club a boost remains to be seen.

Three of their best were on the 25-man roster this season. 25-year old RHP Battista Carotta (13-10, 3.43 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 105 ERA+ - 51/56), who has shifted back and forth between the rotation and bullpen over the course of the season is now considered the ace. He is joined in the rotation by two-way player 26-year old rookie RHP Mike Park (11-8, 3.59 ERA, 170.1 IP, 1.56 WHIP, 100 ERA+ - 47/47). He finished the season pitching from the No. 4 spot. But when not on the mound, Park manned the hot corner (.331/.385/.475, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 32 BB, 4.0 WAR – 60/60) and looks very comfortable there. If the Stars didn’t need all the pitching they could get, I think it would be better for him to be their third baseman full time. Finally, top prospect 22-year old RF Bill Spaeth (.246/.294/.420, 12 HR, 44 RBI, 22 BB, 1.1 WAR – 39/71) should get serious consideration for being a regular player next season – either in the outfield or at first base. Such support should only help Hespeler’s top players: 28-year old 2B Vic Lewis (.274/.329/.426, 20 HR, 82 RBI, 44 BB, 87 SB, 4.8 WAR – 60/60), who seriously struggled offensively down the stretch and 29-year old SS Zhao-hui Qian (.255/.323/.367, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 61 BB, 8 SB, 4.1 WAR – 64/64), who endured a bit of down year himself.

Player of the Week Awards:

February 16 – RHP Dominic Whitmore (2-0, 17 IP, 9 K, 1.06 ERA, .179 BAVG)

Noteworthy:

February 10 – RHP Dominic Whitmore went into Downie and blanked the Chiefs 2-0 on 4 hits. He recorded 6 K and 4 BB on 119 PI over 9.0 IP (GS: 81).

First Round Draft Pick Update:

1st overall – SS Apia Yarrah (32/64). The top pick had a fine season with the AA Muir Electrics. He batted .310/.393/.468, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 16 BB, 11 SB in 171 AB.

Current Injuries:

November 5 – SS Kobbe Asamse – torn labrum. Out for: 2 weeks.
February 25 – RHP Dominic Whitmore – torn labrum. Out for: 5 months.
March 23 – RHP Rodney Gabrielson – mild shoulder inflammation. Out for: DtD, 1 week.
March 26 – CF John McMurray – fractured foot. Out for: 3-4 weeks.

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Offense: .243/.316/.349 (6th/4th/5th)
Pitching: 3.52/3.70/2.78 (4th/6th/2nd)
Defense: .714 (6th)

It pretty safe to assume that reaching the playoffs last season was a mere blip on an otherwise downward course for the Kingston Pelicans as they suffered their worst season record-wise. It’s just the second time them finished below .500. There may be more to come, as their talent pipeline is pretty bare at the moment.

The rotation, once a powerhouse is now nothing special. 33-year old LHP Patrick Denman (10-23, 3.63 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 99 ERA+ - 57/57) went 1-9 in his last 10 starts to finish with 23 losses, just two shy of the record. He wasn’t necessarily great this season, but a lack of run support didn’t help his cause either. A former 6th-round pick from 1945-46 was actually Kingston’s best starter this season: 26-year old LHP Rob Hutchence (11-11, 2.93 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 122 ERA+ - 50/50). On the other hand, the bullpen was a genuine strength, led by RHP stopper 28-year old Kaula Mafileo (4-7, 16 SV, 2.39 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, .238 BABIP – 62/62). They also have 23-year old RHP Lester Beddoes (3-1, 1 SV, 1.38 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, .223 BABIP – 52/74), a 10th overall pick from 1950-51 who is already considered one of the top relievers in the United Leagues (5th overall).

Humdrum, or lacklustre are two words that come to mind in describing Kingston’s offense. Their top player, 26-year old C Carlos Camasura (.279/.372/.356, 4 HR, 32 RBI, 66 BB, 3.6 WAR – 67/75) regressed for the second straight season. 28-year old RF Mo Spenceley (.259/.307/.403, 15 HR, 82 RBI, 40 BB, 23 SB, 1.0 WAR – 64/66) also regressed and was a nightmare on defense (.977 PCT, 2.50 RNG, -9.6 ZR, .977 EFF). He is perhaps the most frustrating player in the ULB right now as it doesn’t appear he will ever play up to his capabilities. Finally, the Pelicans are easing in their 8th overall pick from 1951-52, 22-year old CF Chris Ramsbottom (.231/.274/.315, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 7 BB, 5 SB, 108 AB – 35/53). Ramsbottom was promoted to the majors in January and saw limited action.

Noteworthy:

February 6 – It was a tough day for the visiting Pelicans as the Queensland Eagles trounced them 8-0 on 16 hits. Kingston got only four against RHP Stiofan Micklethwait. 2B Katsunan Chikafuji went 1 for 3, but his lone hit was a big one. It represented the 2500th hit of his career. He is the third player in United Leagues’ history to reach the milestone. By season’s end, the 12-time all-star has also racked up 291 HR, 1430 RBI 1337 R, 870 BB and 291 K in 8191 AB.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

15th overall – CL Jonathan Brookins (27/80). Brookins was used almost exclusively as a pitcher in Double-A (only 5 AB with 3 K as a position player). He went 3-7, 11 SV, 5.44 ERA, 43.0 IP, 1.98 WHIP, .328 BABIP.

Current Injuries:

September 9 – RHP Freddie Galloway – surgery to remove bone chips (elbow). Out for: 3 months.
March 14 – LHP Lance Oakley – strained posterior cruciate ligament. Out for: 4 weeks.

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Offense: .241/.309/.338 (8th/7th/7th)
Pitching: 3.53/3.66/2.98 (5th/5th/3rd)
Defense: .716 (5th)

The Balmoral Giants avoided finishing in last place, but its of little comfort as the club endured its worst season in seven years. Despite some fine, promising performances from their young players, the Giants have the worst-ranked farm system in the United Leagues. All-in-all, there’s little optimism that Balmoral can turn things around in the short term and get back to the playoffs, something that they haven’t seen in these parts in nine years – and counting.

No. 3 starter, 26-year old LHP Lucas Nott (14-14, 3.05 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 116 ERA+ - 52/52) was perhaps Balmoral’s best starter this season, but he ran out of steam in March (1-2, 7.49 ERA, 10.2 IP). 29-year old LHP Ron Albin (13-11, 3.30 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 107 ERA+ - 54/54) was right there with Nott, but he too struggled late in the season (5-3, 4.23 ERA, 72.3 IP in February /March).

The offense was led by three relative youngsters: 25-year old CF Cedric Bristow (.271/.347/.377, 3 HR, 44 RBI, 57 BB, 15 SB, 4.9 WAR – 53/53) led off and took a major step forward in this third season in the majors and was outstanding in the field (.994 PCT, 4.18 RNG, +8.5 ZR, 1.018 EFF). 27-year old C Alexander Pyatt (.289/.325/.425, 14 HR, 63 RBI, 28 BB, 4.8 WAR – 63/63) came over from the Cambria Cannons in a trade and rewarded the Giants when they made him their everyday catcher. Besides batting fourth in the lineup, he was steady defensively (.988 PCT, 4.77 RNG, +3.8 ZR, 1.193 EFF).
Finally, 27-year old rookie 1B Jacob Summerhayes (.279/.323/.430, 11 HR, 50 RBI, 24 BB, 2.4 WAR) batted third in the lineup and looks like a keeper, while 24-year old 2B Erik Perry (.262/.330/.380, 4 HR, 50 RBI, 44 BB, 10 SB, 2.7 WAR – 50/52), a 7th overall pick from 1950-51, made some nice progress in his sophomore season.

Noteworthy:

March 18 – LHP Ron Albin was brilliant against the Pulberry Trolleys, blanking them 1-0 on 2 hits. In all, Albin went 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 113 PI (GS: 84). C Alexander Pyatt scored the lone run of the game, a two-out solo shot off LHP Ramón Castro in the 5th inning.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

6th overall – SS Hayden Gunton (24/55). Gunton got his feet wet in Double-A, getting 289 AB in all. He batted .246/.359/.308, with 2 HR, 20 RBI, 51 BB.

Current Injuries:

February 15 – SS Sean Brearton – herniated disc. Out for: 5 days.

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Offense: .251/.307/.339 (4th/8th/6th)
Pitching: 4.08/4.07/4.12 (8th/8th/8th)
Defense: .699 (7th)

The Sherburn Tigers endured their second-worst season, losing over 90 games for the second time in three years. This is a team in sore straights, as they have little productive talent on the roster. On the plus side, they are assured of a first overall pick next season, their second in three years. It will make the sixth straight year that they will have a draft pick selection placed 5th or higher. That has led them to having the second deepest farm system in the United Leagues. Still, they have little to show for all their draft selections over the years. It is just a case of bad breaks in player development or has it more to do with management incompetence? Jack Clayton is just in his second year as General Manager, but he has his work cut for him. In addition to making wise draft choices, he really needs to start rooting out some of the dry rot that has been stagnating the team and clubhouse.

The pitching is in shambles. Only 29-year old RHP Jesús Chapa (17-11, 2.99 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 120 ERA+ - 64/64) carried his weight this season and he was brilliant once again. He really deserves to be on a better team. The rest of the staff either performed poorly all season or went AWOL in the final two months.

26-year old LF Noah Teale (.271/.324/.417, 17 HR, 95 RBI, 47 BB, 11 SB, 2.8 WAR – 55/56) was Sherburn’s top offensive player this year. The no. 3 hitter is a fine player but is not quite someone to build your team around. The loss of 26-year old 2B Jack Burt (.300/.315/.388, 2 HR, 49 RBI, 9 BB, 1.5 WAR – 53/53) for most of the season certainly didn’t help. 28-year old 1B Alexander Crutcher (.273/.326/.678, 6 HR, 45 RBI, 29 BB, 5 SB, 1.7 WAR – 44/46) was claimed off waivers from the Queensland Eagles back in November and improved his performance as Sherburn’s lead-off hitter. And as I’ve said before, the Tigers really need to get 24-year old 3B Archie Eridge (.283/.372/.449, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 17 BB, 0.9 WAR – 47/80) into the everyday lineup. The sooner they do, the sooner the former overall pick from last year will be able to provide a badly needed spark to the offense.

Player of the Week Awards:

February 9 – LF Noah Teale (.414, 12 H, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R)

Noteworthy:

February 20 – RHP Jesús Chapa shut down the Downie Chiefs 3-0 at The Paramount. The visiting Chiefs could only muster 4 hits on the afternoon. Chapa went 9.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K (GS: 85).
March 3 – Sherburn and the Wolseley Unions engaged in an epic 16-inning battle that saw the hometown Tigers pull out a 5-4 win at The Paramount. 1B Alexander Crutcher was front and center in the 4-1/2-hour marathon. Not only did he go 5 for 8 on the day, but he also hit for the CYCLE, the 20th in ULB history. The Unions led 3-0 until the bottom of the 8th inning when Crutcher hit a solo home to get the Tigers on the board (he also collected a single in the 3rd). In the bottom of the 9th, his teammates tied it up sending the game into extras. The two teams exchanged runs in the 11th as the game trudged on. For his part, Crutcher doubled in the 10th and tripled in the 12th to complete the cycle. But his final hit proved to be the most memorable. In the bottom the 16th, CF Bill Sharkey doubled with two out while PH Braden Morrall followed with a 4-pitch walk. Next up was Crutcher, who singled into left centerfield on the first pitch offered by LHP Euan MacKenzie. That brought home Sharkey with the winning run, ending the marathon game. In all, Crutcher collected 1 HR and 2 RBI. It was the first cycle since January 1951 when Rizalino Ringor accomplished the feat with the Embro Suns. Crutcher is the second Tiger to accomplish it, after Mick Lanfear in January 1939.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

3rd overall – SS Dwayne Vick (32/72). The versatile Vick played shortstop exclusively in his first season in Double-A and was outstanding defensively (.972 PCT, 5.19 RF, +10.2 ZR, 1.067 PCT). He was also impressively at the plate, batting .298/.351/.390, 1 HR, 50 RBI, 25 BB in 326 AB.

Current Injuries:

February 17 – RHP Roy Hay – shoulder inflammation. Out for: 2-3 months.

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05-10-2020, 02:23 AM	#576
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,925	March 30, 1953 Western League: It’s Not How You Start – Unions Overtake Cannons for Top Spot, Will Meet in Playoffs -------- Offense: .241/.323/.329 (7th/2nd/8th) Pitching: 2.70/2.86/1.96 (1st/1st/1st) Defense: .731 (2nd) The Wolseley Unions recovered from a slow start to the season in a big way as they steadily climbed back into contention in the second half. On February 23, they caught up to and overtook the Pulberry Trolleys for the wild card for good. Then they chased down the Cambria Cannons for first in the final month. As late as March 24, both Wolseley and Cambria were tied for top spot with 5 games to go. The Unions went 3-2 in those final five games, while the Cannons could only muster a single win in that same stretch. Indeed, it initially appeared Wolseley was going to have an off-season as they could only muster a 21-30 record in October and November. But they went 66-37 (.641) the rest of the way. By comparison, the next best team over that same stretch was the 100-54 Cobourg Red Stockings. They went 67-38 (.638). But unlike the Red Stockings, the Unions are a decidedly uneven bunch. Their pitching staff is best in the ULB, averaging just 3.3 R/G (506 runs). The offense though, scored only 547 runs all season, an average of just 3.55. The next worst were the Balmoral Giants, who scored 10 more runs for a 3.62 R/G average. Last season, Wolseley scored 806 runs while allowing 600. Neither mark is an aberration. The offense is being carried into the playoffs by just two players. 31-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.318/.454/.482, 18 HR, 61 RBI, 133 BB, 6.1 WAR) kept on getting stronger as the season wore on while 31-year old SS George Kimpton (.265/.346/.390, 15 HR, 80 RBI, 74 BB, 5.0 WAR) faded in the final two months (.225/.300/.345). Making matters worse, 23-year old 1B/3B Carlos Ortíz (.276/.348/.390, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 55 BB, 3.0 WAR) fractured a rib in mid-February and missed the rest of the season and at least the first round of the playoffs. The rest of the lineup was unimpressive all season. But if you must be carried by your pitching staff, this is the one you want. Nine of the ten pitchers on the playoff roster enjoyed outstanding seasons. Manager Tony Fay has named his four-man rotation for the playoffs: • 27-year old RHP Roberto Garza (16-11, 2.95 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 122 ERA+) • 34-year old RHP Bill Blair (8-6, 2.09 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 171 ERA+) • 29-year old RHP Jeremy Albury (9-11, 2.77 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 129 ERA+) • 33-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson (17-14, 2.58 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 139 ERA+) They also have one of the best stoppers in the game in 31-year old RHP Shou-xin Chin (10-1, 1.30 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, .204 BABIP – 68/68). Player of the Week Awards: March 9 – 2B Make-Make Kamaka (.412, 14 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI) March 16 – RHP Aaron Saunderson (2-0, 18 IP, 10 K, 1.00 ERA) Noteworthy: March 11 – RHP Roberto Garza silenced the Hespeler Stars 3-0 on the road. In 107 PI, he surrendered just 4 hits with 1 BB and 3 K for this 13th win of the season (GS: 81). March 15 - RHP Aaron Saunderson reached a personal milestone in his 3-2 victory over the Fort Richmond Generals. In front of an appreciative home field crowd at Satchel Paige Park, the 13-year veteran achieved his 200th victory. He is the 6th pitcher to reach that mark in the United Leagues. In the game, he went 9.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR (GS: 74). For his career, he has gone 201-196, 4 SV, 3.42 ERA, 3608.2 IP, 1421 K, 1.34 WHIP, 115 ERA+. March 17 – The Unions scored all their runs in the bottom of the 1st inning against the Sherburn Tigers, winning 4-0. RHP Bill Blair did not give the Tigers’ batters any chance to strike back, limited them to just 3 hits. Blair went 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 97 PI (GS: 85). 3B Paddy Leseberg did the greatest damage offensively, hitting a 3-run double with one out in that 1st inning. March 21 – RHP Roberto Garza threw a one-hitter against the Kingston Pelicans, as the Unions trounced the home-town team 8-0. Garza went 9.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 106 PI (GS: 91). First Round Draft Pick Update: 16th overall – CL Danny Pye (28/71). Pye appeared in 27 games (29.0 IP) in Double-A, going 4-4, 8 SV, 6.52 ERA, 1.83 WHIP, .362 BABIP. Current Injuries: December 18 – 2B Westin Woollams – torn labrum. Out for: 2-3 months. -------- Offense: .254/.326/.373 (2nd/1st/1st) Pitching: 3.56/3.64/3.23 (6th/4th/6th) Defense: .694 (8th) The Cambria Cannons were the exact opposite of the Unions this season: relatively strong on offense, but relatively suspect in pitching. The end result was that the Cannons could not to hang onto the first place, going just 24-27 in the final two months. Nevertheless, Cambria returns to the playoffs for the first time in eight years. But they will do so with one of their key players on the injured list: 35-year old C Heung-su Park (.300/.381/.514, 20 HR, 82 RBI, 51 BB, 5.7 WAR) suffered a groin strain in early March and is gone for the season. That is a huge blow for a team that will need everyone playing their best if they want to prevail over the Unions for the Western League Pennant. Its hard to size up the pitching staff overall. It is not terrible by any means, but it is not the strongest unit in the West and at any rate, few can compare to Wolseley’s dominant staff right now. For the playoffs, rookie manager Benjamin Sadler has set his rotation: • 23-year old LHP Bill Southon (16-11, 3.18 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 110 ERA+) • 33-year old LHP Ricardo Cruz (14-6, 2.79 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 126 ERA+) • 27-year old RHP Masami Fujihara (15-14, 3.72 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 94 ERA+) • 38-year old LHP Hirotada Fukushima (6-10, 3.73 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 96 ERA+) The loss of C Park is significant, but back-up catcher, 26-year old Min-gook Lee (.309/.342/.450, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 7 BB, 1.5 WAR – 48/52), filled in nicely in March, going .328/.361/.500, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 3 BB in 58 AB. He will bat from the 5th spot in the playoffs. The Cannons also have 26-year old 1B Carlos Corea (.321/.372/.482, 20 HR, 99 RBI, 47 BB, 3.2 WAR – 76/78). Corea finished on top in the West in seven offensive categories and tied with Wolseley’s Carlton Hawking for slugging percentage. He also won the Western League batting title. But Corea faded a bit in the stretch and actually lost ground in the WAR department due to his atrocious fielding (.990 PCT, 8.93 RNG, -23.1 ZR, .827 EFF), something few on the club is particularly good at. Besides Corea, Cambria will be led into the playoffs by 33-year old SS César Ruíz (.272/.387/.447, 25 HR, 88 RBI, 101 BB, 6.0 WAR – 80/80) and two rookies: 28-year old 3B Luis Torres (.279/.343/.402, 15 HR, 77 RBI, 50 BB, 4.1 WAR – 64/64) and 23-year old CF Sam Tite (.216/.338/.334, 12 HR, 48 RBI, 101 BB, 3.9 WAR – 51/71). While Tite was strong in the field all year, he really struggled at times at the plate in his first full season. Player of the Week Awards: February 2 – 1B Carlos Corea (.556, 10 H, 1 HR, 8 RBI) March 2 – LF Ichizo Ando (.583, 7 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI) Noteworthy: March 7 – The Cannons gave LHP Ricardo Cruz one unearned run in the 1st inning and Cruz defended it, defeating the Wolseley Unions 1-0 at home. He gave up just 3 hits with 1 BB and 2 K for his 12th win (GS: 82). Wolseley’s RHP Bill Blair was almost as effective, but two errors and a passed ball allowed 1B Carlos Corea to not only reach base safely, but also score what proved to be the winning run. March 11 – RHP Masami Fujihara notched his 14th win of the season with a 6-hit shut-out of the Pulberry Trolleys. Fujihara gave up just 1 walk with 4 strikeouts (GS: 78) in the 1-0 victory. The winning run came when SS César Ruíz slammed a solo home run in the 4th inning off RHP Ron Cowen. March 13 – LHP Ricardo Cruz pitched a 1-hitter against the Sherburn Tigers, coming away with a 2-0 road victory. His line was 9.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 99 PI (GS: 89). The winning runs came in the 3rd inning, when 3B Luis Torres connected for a two-run home run against LHP Luke Henty. March 17 – RHP Masami Fujihara shackled the Kingston Pelicans, 2-0 on 4 hits. He went 9.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 122 PI (GS: 83). First Round Draft Pick Update: 2nd overall – CF Kilipeka Maleko (20/64). Maleko saw very little action in his first season in Double-A. In 8 AB, he collected 2 hits, 1 BB, 2 SO, batting .250/.400/.250. Current Injuries: March 7 – C Heung-su Park – strained groin. Out for: 2 weeks. -------- Offense: .251/.320/.357 (3rd/3rd/4th) Pitching: 3.38/3.48/3.00 (3rd/3rd/4th) Defense: .733 (1st) The Pulberry Trolleys came up short once again in trying to capture their first playoff spot. After missing out by a single game last season, the Trolleys this time saw the surging Wolseley Unions overtake them for second place for good on February 23 and were officially eliminated on March 24. For their part, Pulberry can look to their slow start as being the main culprit. Had they gone 28-22 in October/November instead of 22-28, they would have finished with 88 wins – a record good enough for first place. The Trolleys are continuing to groom some young players in the lineup and rotation. If they can develop, it wouldn’t take much more to finally push Pulberry over the top. 31-year old RHP Alexander Ellacott (15-11, 2.96 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 118 ERA+ - 51/51) enjoyed his second strong season in a row after a couple of down years with the Cambria Cannons. No doubt Pulberry hopes that trend continues, as 23-year old sophomore LHP Ramón Castro (11-13, 3.58 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 98 ERA+ - 55/55) had his ups and downs all season before being lost to a long-term injury late in the season. Former Brunswick Legend, 36-year old RHP Ron Cowen (15-13, 3.32 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 105 ERA+ - 50/50) also enjoyed his second consecutive good season, after five down years. And Pulberry may be ready to finally promote both 25-year old RHP Taylor Folkard (5-5, 13 SV, 2.64 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 122 ERA+ - 47/52) and 23-year old rookie LHP Dermott Rathbone (0-0, 1 SV, 1.80 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 194 ERA+ - 45/61) to the rotation for next season. Folkard is already there, while Rathbone remained on the 25-man roster at the end of the season. The Trolleys have a fine core in the lineup, batting Nos. 3 through 5. 26-year old CF Cooper Tyson (.293/.391/.457, 12 HR, 63 RBI, 89 BB, 8.7 WAR – 73/73) finished the season strong, especially in February and is clearly the offense’s main cog. Following him are 24-year old sophomore LF Aidan Thirkettle (.280/.377/.433, 12 HR, 61 RBI, 68 BB, 14 SB, 3.9 WAR – 65/80) and 28-year old RF Ellis Dibble (.296/.370/.455, 17 HR, 76 RBI, 62 BB, 4.7 WAR – 73/73). Both appear ready to join Tyson is super-star status next season. Thirkettle particularly, has room to grow into someone special. 22-year old C Paul England (.219/.284/.316, 5 HR, 49 RBI, 33 BB, 0.7 WAR – 37/64) endured a rough rookie season but began to play much better in March (.253/.308/.422). The Trolleys have the fourth-best farm system in the United Leagues and a couple of prospects stand out: 21-year old SS Sean Abercrombie (24/79) and 19-year old C Enoka Hockenhall (20/68). Both remain stuck in Double-A after a couple of seasons, so here’s hoping they can start getting promoted soon. Player of the Week Awards: February 23 – CF Cooper Tyson (.435, 10 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI) March 23 – RF Ellis Dibble (.414, 12 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI) Noteworthy: February 14 – RHP Ron Cowen had it all going for him in Wellington as the 13-year veteran blanked the Athletics 5-0 on 4 hits. He pitched all 9 innings, collecting 4 strikeouts and giving up just 2 walks. (GS: 81). First Round Draft Pick Update: 14th overall – 3B Jorge Ramos (20/47). Ramos also saw little action in his first season. With the AA Hopetown Islanders, he made just 5 AB, with 2 hits, 1-2B, 1 RBI, 1 SO (.400/.400/.600). Current Injuries: March 23 – LHP Ramón Castro – radial nerve decompression surgery. Out for: 5-6 months. March 23 – CF John Oldknow – sprained knee. Out for: DtD, 6 days. March 25 – SS Francis Jones – strained back. Out for: 1-2 weeks. -------- Offense: .259/.315/.366 (1st/5th/3rd) Pitching: 3.11/3.05/3.62 (2nd/2nd/7th) Defense: .725 (3rd) The Fort Richmond Generals recovered in the final months to avoid a losing season and matched their record from last year. Still, they will miss the playoffs for the second-straight season having been eliminated on March 24, the same day as the Trolleys. The Generals are not a bad team by any means with a still-strong rotation and bullpen that has a couple of young promising arms ready to take the lead, but the offense lacks any stand-out performer. They scored 602 runs, just one more than the last-place Sherburn Tigers. If Fort Richmond were to add some dynamic players to its lineup, they would be competing for first place rather than just keeping their head above water. 28-year old SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida (.286/.336/.409, 9 HR, 45 RBI, 34 BB, 4.4 WAR – 73/73) picked things offensively up in the final two months and is Fort Richmond’s best all-round player. 28-year old RF Brandon Robinson (.287/.326/.420, 14 HR, 73 RBI, 37 BB, 1.6 WAR – 55/55) remains a consistent hitter, but fell off a cliff defensively (.991 PCT, 2.93 RNG, -13.4 ZR, .944 EFF). The pitching staff was consistently good all season, led by 30-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock (16-13, 2.75 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 126 ERA+ - 60/60), 32-year old LHP Nicholas Grimes (13-11, 2.99 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 116 ERA+ - 55/55) and 30-year old RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li (13-14, 3.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 113 ERA+ - 55/55). 27-year old RHP Kazunori Fujimoto (11-11, 3.07 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 113 ERA+ - 50/50) struggled a little in February (2-0, 5.14 ERA) but rebounded in March (2-2, 3.45 ERA). The bullpen was uneven at times, but the Generals have a couple of promising arms that may help stabilize matters in the near future: 23-year old RHP Glen Limon (4-0, 1 SV, 2.31 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 2.17 FIP – 64/69) and 22-year old greenhorn LHP Frank Lita (36/63). Noteworthy: March 21 – RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li zeroed in on the Pulberry Trolleys at Trolleys Stadium, blanking them 2-0 on just 1 hit. His line for the day was 9.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 B, 1 K, 99 PI (GS: 85). First Round Draft Pick Update: 12th overall – LF Uki Edewada (20/52). Edewada enjoyed a full season in Double-A. He made 254 AB, going .244/.280/.319 with 62 H, 1 HR, 25 RBI, 13 BB, 12 SB. Current Injuries: February 25 – RHP Glen Limon – hamstring strain. Out for: 1 day. March 19 – LHP Nicholas Grimes –strained shoulder. Out for: 3 weeks. -------- Offense: .250/.313/.366 (5th/6th/2nd) Pitching: 3.60/3.71/3.02 (7th/7th/5th) Defense: .719 (4th) The Hespeler Stars fell into familiar territory in February & March, falling back to finish 10 games under .500 and were officially eliminated from playoff contention on March 18, the day after the Kingston Pelicans. Still, their 72 wins represents their best finish in six years, but it also marks the 15th straight season without a winning record. The Stars have the top-ranked farm system right now but how soon their top prospects can move up and give the parent club a boost remains to be seen. Three of their best were on the 25-man roster this season. 25-year old RHP Battista Carotta (13-10, 3.43 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 105 ERA+ - 51/56), who has shifted back and forth between the rotation and bullpen over the course of the season is now considered the ace. He is joined in the rotation by two-way player 26-year old rookie RHP Mike Park (11-8, 3.59 ERA, 170.1 IP, 1.56 WHIP, 100 ERA+ - 47/47). He finished the season pitching from the No. 4 spot. But when not on the mound, Park manned the hot corner (.331/.385/.475, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 32 BB, 4.0 WAR – 60/60) and looks very comfortable there. If the Stars didn’t need all the pitching they could get, I think it would be better for him to be their third baseman full time. Finally, top prospect 22-year old RF Bill Spaeth (.246/.294/.420, 12 HR, 44 RBI, 22 BB, 1.1 WAR – 39/71) should get serious consideration for being a regular player next season – either in the outfield or at first base. Such support should only help Hespeler’s top players: 28-year old 2B Vic Lewis (.274/.329/.426, 20 HR, 82 RBI, 44 BB, 87 SB, 4.8 WAR – 60/60), who seriously struggled offensively down the stretch and 29-year old SS Zhao-hui Qian (.255/.323/.367, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 61 BB, 8 SB, 4.1 WAR – 64/64), who endured a bit of down year himself. Player of the Week Awards: February 16 – RHP Dominic Whitmore (2-0, 17 IP, 9 K, 1.06 ERA, .179 BAVG) Noteworthy: February 10 – RHP Dominic Whitmore went into Downie and blanked the Chiefs 2-0 on 4 hits. He recorded 6 K and 4 BB on 119 PI over 9.0 IP (GS: 81). First Round Draft Pick Update: 1st overall – SS Apia Yarrah (32/64). The top pick had a fine season with the AA Muir Electrics. He batted .310/.393/.468, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 16 BB, 11 SB in 171 AB. Current Injuries: November 5 – SS Kobbe Asamse – torn labrum. Out for: 2 weeks. February 25 – RHP Dominic Whitmore – torn labrum. Out for: 5 months. March 23 – RHP Rodney Gabrielson – mild shoulder inflammation. Out for: DtD, 1 week. March 26 – CF John McMurray – fractured foot. Out for: 3-4 weeks. -------- Offense: .243/.316/.349 (6th/4th/5th) Pitching: 3.52/3.70/2.78 (4th/6th/2nd) Defense: .714 (6th) It pretty safe to assume that reaching the playoffs last season was a mere blip on an otherwise downward course for the Kingston Pelicans as they suffered their worst season record-wise. It’s just the second time them finished below .500. There may be more to come, as their talent pipeline is pretty bare at the moment. The rotation, once a powerhouse is now nothing special. 33-year old LHP Patrick Denman (10-23, 3.63 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 99 ERA+ - 57/57) went 1-9 in his last 10 starts to finish with 23 losses, just two shy of the record. He wasn’t necessarily great this season, but a lack of run support didn’t help his cause either. A former 6th-round pick from 1945-46 was actually Kingston’s best starter this season: 26-year old LHP Rob Hutchence (11-11, 2.93 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 122 ERA+ - 50/50). On the other hand, the bullpen was a genuine strength, led by RHP stopper 28-year old Kaula Mafileo (4-7, 16 SV, 2.39 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, .238 BABIP – 62/62). They also have 23-year old RHP Lester Beddoes (3-1, 1 SV, 1.38 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, .223 BABIP – 52/74), a 10th overall pick from 1950-51 who is already considered one of the top relievers in the United Leagues (5th overall). Humdrum, or lacklustre are two words that come to mind in describing Kingston’s offense. Their top player, 26-year old C Carlos Camasura (.279/.372/.356, 4 HR, 32 RBI, 66 BB, 3.6 WAR – 67/75) regressed for the second straight season. 28-year old RF Mo Spenceley (.259/.307/.403, 15 HR, 82 RBI, 40 BB, 23 SB, 1.0 WAR – 64/66) also regressed and was a nightmare on defense (.977 PCT, 2.50 RNG, -9.6 ZR, .977 EFF). He is perhaps the most frustrating player in the ULB right now as it doesn’t appear he will ever play up to his capabilities. Finally, the Pelicans are easing in their 8th overall pick from 1951-52, 22-year old CF Chris Ramsbottom (.231/.274/.315, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 7 BB, 5 SB, 108 AB – 35/53). Ramsbottom was promoted to the majors in January and saw limited action. Noteworthy: February 6 – It was a tough day for the visiting Pelicans as the Queensland Eagles trounced them 8-0 on 16 hits. Kingston got only four against RHP Stiofan Micklethwait. 2B Katsunan Chikafuji went 1 for 3, but his lone hit was a big one. It represented the 2500th hit of his career. He is the third player in United Leagues’ history to reach the milestone. By season’s end, the 12-time all-star has also racked up 291 HR, 1430 RBI 1337 R, 870 BB and 291 K in 8191 AB. First Round Draft Pick Update: 15th overall – CL Jonathan Brookins (27/80). Brookins was used almost exclusively as a pitcher in Double-A (only 5 AB with 3 K as a position player). He went 3-7, 11 SV, 5.44 ERA, 43.0 IP, 1.98 WHIP, .328 BABIP. Current Injuries: September 9 – RHP Freddie Galloway – surgery to remove bone chips (elbow). Out for: 3 months. March 14 – LHP Lance Oakley – strained posterior cruciate ligament. Out for: 4 weeks. -------- Offense: .241/.309/.338 (8th/7th/7th) Pitching: 3.53/3.66/2.98 (5th/5th/3rd) Defense: .716 (5th) The Balmoral Giants avoided finishing in last place, but its of little comfort as the club endured its worst season in seven years. Despite some fine, promising performances from their young players, the Giants have the worst-ranked farm system in the United Leagues. All-in-all, there’s little optimism that Balmoral can turn things around in the short term and get back to the playoffs, something that they haven’t seen in these parts in nine years – and counting. No. 3 starter, 26-year old LHP Lucas Nott (14-14, 3.05 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 116 ERA+ - 52/52) was perhaps Balmoral’s best starter this season, but he ran out of steam in March (1-2, 7.49 ERA, 10.2 IP). 29-year old LHP Ron Albin (13-11, 3.30 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 107 ERA+ - 54/54) was right there with Nott, but he too struggled late in the season (5-3, 4.23 ERA, 72.3 IP in February /March). The offense was led by three relative youngsters: 25-year old CF Cedric Bristow (.271/.347/.377, 3 HR, 44 RBI, 57 BB, 15 SB, 4.9 WAR – 53/53) led off and took a major step forward in this third season in the majors and was outstanding in the field (.994 PCT, 4.18 RNG, +8.5 ZR, 1.018 EFF). 27-year old C Alexander Pyatt (.289/.325/.425, 14 HR, 63 RBI, 28 BB, 4.8 WAR – 63/63) came over from the Cambria Cannons in a trade and rewarded the Giants when they made him their everyday catcher. Besides batting fourth in the lineup, he was steady defensively (.988 PCT, 4.77 RNG, +3.8 ZR, 1.193 EFF). Finally, 27-year old rookie 1B Jacob Summerhayes (.279/.323/.430, 11 HR, 50 RBI, 24 BB, 2.4 WAR) batted third in the lineup and looks like a keeper, while 24-year old 2B Erik Perry (.262/.330/.380, 4 HR, 50 RBI, 44 BB, 10 SB, 2.7 WAR – 50/52), a 7th overall pick from 1950-51, made some nice progress in his sophomore season. Noteworthy: March 18 – LHP Ron Albin was brilliant against the Pulberry Trolleys, blanking them 1-0 on 2 hits. In all, Albin went 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 113 PI (GS: 84). C Alexander Pyatt scored the lone run of the game, a two-out solo shot off LHP Ramón Castro in the 5th inning. First Round Draft Pick Update: 6th overall – SS Hayden Gunton (24/55). Gunton got his feet wet in Double-A, getting 289 AB in all. He batted .246/.359/.308, with 2 HR, 20 RBI, 51 BB. Current Injuries: February 15 – SS Sean Brearton – herniated disc. Out for: 5 days. -------- Offense: .251/.307/.339 (4th/8th/6th) Pitching: 4.08/4.07/4.12 (8th/8th/8th) Defense: .699 (7th) The Sherburn Tigers endured their second-worst season, losing over 90 games for the second time in three years. This is a team in sore straights, as they have little productive talent on the roster. On the plus side, they are assured of a first overall pick next season, their second in three years. It will make the sixth straight year that they will have a draft pick selection placed 5th or higher. That has led them to having the second deepest farm system in the United Leagues. Still, they have little to show for all their draft selections over the years. It is just a case of bad breaks in player development or has it more to do with management incompetence? Jack Clayton is just in his second year as General Manager, but he has his work cut for him. In addition to making wise draft choices, he really needs to start rooting out some of the dry rot that has been stagnating the team and clubhouse. The pitching is in shambles. Only 29-year old RHP Jesús Chapa (17-11, 2.99 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 120 ERA+ - 64/64) carried his weight this season and he was brilliant once again. He really deserves to be on a better team. The rest of the staff either performed poorly all season or went AWOL in the final two months. 26-year old LF Noah Teale (.271/.324/.417, 17 HR, 95 RBI, 47 BB, 11 SB, 2.8 WAR – 55/56) was Sherburn’s top offensive player this year. The no. 3 hitter is a fine player but is not quite someone to build your team around. The loss of 26-year old 2B Jack Burt (.300/.315/.388, 2 HR, 49 RBI, 9 BB, 1.5 WAR – 53/53) for most of the season certainly didn’t help. 28-year old 1B Alexander Crutcher (.273/.326/.678, 6 HR, 45 RBI, 29 BB, 5 SB, 1.7 WAR – 44/46) was claimed off waivers from the Queensland Eagles back in November and improved his performance as Sherburn’s lead-off hitter. And as I’ve said before, the Tigers really need to get 24-year old 3B Archie Eridge (.283/.372/.449, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 17 BB, 0.9 WAR – 47/80) into the everyday lineup. The sooner they do, the sooner the former overall pick from last year will be able to provide a badly needed spark to the offense. Player of the Week Awards: February 9 – LF Noah Teale (.414, 12 H, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R) Noteworthy: February 20 – RHP Jesús Chapa shut down the Downie Chiefs 3-0 at The Paramount. The visiting Chiefs could only muster 4 hits on the afternoon. Chapa went 9.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K (GS: 85). March 3 – Sherburn and the Wolseley Unions engaged in an epic 16-inning battle that saw the hometown Tigers pull out a 5-4 win at The Paramount. 1B Alexander Crutcher was front and center in the 4-1/2-hour marathon. Not only did he go 5 for 8 on the day, but he also hit for the CYCLE, the 20th in ULB history. The Unions led 3-0 until the bottom of the 8th inning when Crutcher hit a solo home to get the Tigers on the board (he also collected a single in the 3rd). In the bottom of the 9th, his teammates tied it up sending the game into extras. The two teams exchanged runs in the 11th as the game trudged on. For his part, Crutcher doubled in the 10th and tripled in the 12th to complete the cycle. But his final hit proved to be the most memorable. In the bottom the 16th, CF Bill Sharkey doubled with two out while PH Braden Morrall followed with a 4-pitch walk. Next up was Crutcher, who singled into left centerfield on the first pitch offered by LHP Euan MacKenzie. That brought home Sharkey with the winning run, ending the marathon game. In all, Crutcher collected 1 HR and 2 RBI. It was the first cycle since January 1951 when Rizalino Ringor accomplished the feat with the Embro Suns. Crutcher is the second Tiger to accomplish it, after Mick Lanfear in January 1939. First Round Draft Pick Update: 3rd overall – SS Dwayne Vick (32/72). The versatile Vick played shortstop exclusively in his first season in Double-A and was outstanding defensively (.972 PCT, 5.19 RF, +10.2 ZR, 1.067 PCT). He was also impressively at the plate, batting .298/.351/.390, 1 HR, 50 RBI, 25 BB in 326 AB. Current Injuries: February 17 – RHP Roy Hay – shoulder inflammation. Out for: 2-3 months. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland