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luckymann · 09-03-2020, 08:37 PM

LAST YEAR: 56-84 29 GB, 8th / .308 / 4.93
BNN PREDICTION: 68-72 14 GB, 6th / .259 / 3.09
FARM SYSTEM: 5th
PAYROLL: 13th, $20,361
HIGHEST PAID PLAYER: 2B Jeff Baker, $1,500
CASH BALANCE: $101,617

If you look in the dictionary for “Work in Progress”, the team picture of the 1903 St Louis Browns could well appear where the definition should be.

When the franchise moved from Milwaukee after the 1901 season, the new owners gutted the squad with the aim of shaping it how they wanted, resulting in a 22 game dropoff last year. Given the 1901 Brewers almost made the playoffs, that was a brave (no pun intended) move that risked alienating their new fanbase from the off. Some may have seen it as recklessly so. I doubt they do now, especially seeing as that poor 1902 gives them the number two slot in this year’s Rookie Draft.

BNN is predicting the Browns will regain about half of those lost games this year and move up a couple of spots in the standings, which seems about right to me. The players they have are in general a year or two away from peak production and their prospects a year or two from seeing action in the bigs, but they still have a pretty solid squad to begin 1903 and the direction in which they are headed is certainly north, rather than south.

At present their farm system is ranked 5th, with three players in the top 25 and yet not a one in the top 10, but with the Reds – who have the top Draft pick this year – coming from such a low base in this area, that is almost guaranteed to change come June. Of those prospects already in the system, outfielder Mike Lum (16th) looks the most promising, and the Browns are yet again showing their patience by keeping him down at PSL Joplin to begin with. SP Charlie Smith is more of a long-term project, but looks like he’ll be a ripper.

They have a smattering of quality players already in the major league squad. Frank Corridon is a gun and he should power their rotation throughout the year. On Opening Day that rotation looks decidedly vulnerable, but the imminent return of both Wally Bunker and George Chalmers should improve it no end. LF Jim Greengrass and 2B Jeff Baker are both solidly above average, and SS Miguel Rojas should give them plenty of impetus from the leadoff spot.

So it’s a good news story for Browns fans. Maybe not this year or the next, but look out come the latter half of the decade.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: P Frank Corridon, LF Jim Greengrass, OF Mike Lum, 2B Jeff Baker

Opening Day squad.

09-03-2020, 08:37 PM	#199
luckymann Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 13,406	1903 St Louis Browns LAST YEAR: 56-84 29 GB, 8th / .308 / 4.93 BNN PREDICTION: 68-72 14 GB, 6th / .259 / 3.09 FARM SYSTEM: 5th PAYROLL: 13th, $20,361 HIGHEST PAID PLAYER: 2B Jeff Baker, $1,500 CASH BALANCE: $101,617 If you look in the dictionary for “Work in Progress”, the team picture of the 1903 St Louis Browns could well appear where the definition should be. When the franchise moved from Milwaukee after the 1901 season, the new owners gutted the squad with the aim of shaping it how they wanted, resulting in a 22 game dropoff last year. Given the 1901 Brewers almost made the playoffs, that was a brave (no pun intended) move that risked alienating their new fanbase from the off. Some may have seen it as recklessly so. I doubt they do now, especially seeing as that poor 1902 gives them the number two slot in this year’s Rookie Draft. BNN is predicting the Browns will regain about half of those lost games this year and move up a couple of spots in the standings, which seems about right to me. The players they have are in general a year or two away from peak production and their prospects a year or two from seeing action in the bigs, but they still have a pretty solid squad to begin 1903 and the direction in which they are headed is certainly north, rather than south. At present their farm system is ranked 5th, with three players in the top 25 and yet not a one in the top 10, but with the Reds – who have the top Draft pick this year – coming from such a low base in this area, that is almost guaranteed to change come June. Of those prospects already in the system, outfielder Mike Lum (16th) looks the most promising, and the Browns are yet again showing their patience by keeping him down at PSL Joplin to begin with. SP Charlie Smith is more of a long-term project, but looks like he’ll be a ripper. They have a smattering of quality players already in the major league squad. Frank Corridon is a gun and he should power their rotation throughout the year. On Opening Day that rotation looks decidedly vulnerable, but the imminent return of both Wally Bunker and George Chalmers should improve it no end. LF Jim Greengrass and 2B Jeff Baker are both solidly above average, and SS Miguel Rojas should give them plenty of impetus from the leadoff spot. So it’s a good news story for Browns fans. Maybe not this year or the next, but look out come the latter half of the decade. *PLAYERS TO WATCH: P Frank Corridon, LF Jim Greengrass, OF Mike Lum, 2B Jeff Baker* Opening Day squad. Attached Images Last edited by luckymann; 09-06-2020 at 11:20 PM.