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ayaghmour2 · 02-03-2021, 04:10 PM

A 4-3 week pushes us a game over .500 to 10-9. We're just a game and a half behind the Kings, Foresters, and Wolves who are all tied at 11-8. With just 5 games left, I'm sending all my non roster guys down to start setting up the farm system. Some of those guys had a really good Spring. Leo Mitchell showed he's ready for the majors, slashing .385/.529/.692 in 13 at bats with a homer and 5 RBI's. Howard Moss was 6-for-20 with 2 homers and 7 RBI's. That will give us 39 players to fight for 23 positions. Here is how things are shaping out:

Locks
Mike Taylor: 15-47, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 9 R, 11 BB
Joe Masters: 14-38, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 12 R, 9 BB
Bill Ashbaugh: 8-30, RBI, 6 R, 3 BB, SB
Russ Combs: 9-27, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB
John Kincaid: 17-49, 11 RBI, 12 R, 4 BB
Pete Asher: 16-36, 9 RBI, 8 R, 2 BB
Doc Love: 15-48, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 9 R, 3 BB
Tom Taylor: 12-45, 5 RBI, 7 R, 5 BB, 2 SB
Lou Kelly: 11-44, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 11 R, 7 BB
Dick Leudtke: 1-1, 10 IP, 8 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Dick Lyons: 1-0, 12 IP, 2 ER, 4 K
Dave Rankin: 1-0, 9 IP, 9 ER, 10 BB, 4 K
Don Grossman
(13 of 23)

Cannot be sent to AAA
Slim Bloom
Don Grossman
George Johnson
Ace McSherry
Chick Meehan
Dave Rankin
Mike Smith
Bert Wilson
Dick Sexton

Position Battles

The Pitching Staff
I plan on using a very unconventional pitching staff this season. There are a lot of uncertainties on what is going to happen this year plus the potential of Tommy Wilcox pitching potentially 4 months away, but at least for now, I'm only going to use 3 set starting pitchers. That will be Rankin, Lyons, and Leudtke. I will mix and match the remaining pitchers (whether that is 8, 9, or 10) between starting and relieving games. Some pitchers, like Don Grossman, will only pitch out of the pen, but I plan on keeping a lot of multi-inning arms on hand. I'd say Bill Kline is a favorite for a pen job as he's been a member the past couple of seasons and performed well. He's faired alright in Spring, allowing 20 hits, 6 runs, 6 walks, and 8 strikeouts in a team leading 15 innings. Art Black has looked much better then he did last season, 14.2 innings with 11 hits, 5 runs, 8 walks, and 4 strikeouts. I wish Chick Meehan pitched a bit better, just 7.1 innings with 5 runs (4 earned), 6 hits, and a walk. He did strike out five, but the 37-year-old Meehan's time might be running out. Team leader George Johnson may get a spot because of the leadership, and he's allowed just 2 runs in 5.2 innings with a walk and 3 strikeouts. Of course, Johnson was beyond awful last year, but my scout thinks he's the fourth best healthy starter on the team.

One of the guys I really want to win a rotation spot is Hank Spencer, who I acquired from the Gothams in the offseason. He does have an option left and no prior experience, which looks to hurt him, but in his 12 innings he's allowed 10 hits, 5 runs, and 4 walks with an impressive 8 strikeouts. Dick Sexton, another guy I want to make the roster, bounced back after his really poor second start. He's struck out 9 in 11 innings, but allowed 13 hits, 9 runs, and 6 walks. Granted, most of that came in start #2 where he lost to the Saints. He tossed 4.1 scoreless innings with 3 hits and 2 punch outs. Other optionable players like Gordie Thompson, Norm Stewart, and Johnny Walker have had strong springs. Pete Walker and Pete Carey have had rough springs, and are likely on the outside looking in.

The Bench
I only have one catcher in camp now, 27-year-old waiver claim Ralph McLean, so while he technically is likely on the Opening Day roster, it may be a short trip as I expect to find a lot of catchers on waivers. He hit well when he played, 3-for-8 with a double and a pair of walks and RBI's. He's not a bad option for a backup catcher, so I don't need a replacement, but there could be more exciting players available.

The infield has a lot of open spots, but I don't think offseason acquisition Ollie Page will be one of them. It's been a tough Spring, as he went just 4-for-33. He did have a double and triple, but he's likely on his way to AAA. Joining him are likely Clyde Hinzman and Phil Vaughan. One infield bench spot is full because of the Combs/Ashbaugh platoon, but I can grab a few of Russ Franklin, Jake Moore, Woody Armstrong, Slim Bloom, and Forrest Sylvester. I'd say the leaders are Moore and Bloom, Moore because of his past success in Cleveland and Bloom because of his lack of options and homegrown status. Russ Franklin can play the outfield, which gives him a bonus, as I may only take four or five outfielders out of camp. None of the bench guys really have stood out, so I may just keep the guys I could lose.

The outfield has just one player without an option, former Rule-5 Pick Mike Smith. I want to keep him as a pinch hitter, as he has a nice .321/.372/.479 (120 OPS+) career line in 390 trips to the plate spread across five seasons. He can play all three spots, but he's really not that great defensively. Bert Wilson hasn't played much in the Spring, but I still plan on keeping him. He'll get more time this week and unless he flops, is likely set to join the 23 man roster. Independent league draftee Chink Stickels is likely tabbed for the minors as well, but he more then held his own despite really only playing one season at A ball. Last year's Rule-5 Pick Bert Harrison will head back to the minors to get back some development time and Ken Allen doesn't really have a shot. It's mostly a two man race between Smith and Wilson, and they'll probably both win it.

02-03-2021, 04:10 PM	#344
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,010	Spring Training Week 3 A 4-3 week pushes us a game over .500 to 10-9. We're just a game and a half behind the Kings, Foresters, and Wolves who are all tied at 11-8. With just 5 games left, I'm sending all my non roster guys down to start setting up the farm system. Some of those guys had a really good Spring. Leo Mitchell showed he's ready for the majors, slashing .385/.529/.692 in 13 at bats with a homer and 5 RBI's. Howard Moss was 6-for-20 with 2 homers and 7 RBI's. That will give us 39 players to fight for 23 positions. Here is how things are shaping out: Locks Mike Taylor: 15-47, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 9 R, 11 BB Joe Masters: 14-38, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 12 R, 9 BB Bill Ashbaugh: 8-30, RBI, 6 R, 3 BB, SB Russ Combs: 9-27, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB John Kincaid: 17-49, 11 RBI, 12 R, 4 BB Pete Asher: 16-36, 9 RBI, 8 R, 2 BB Doc Love: 15-48, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 9 R, 3 BB Tom Taylor: 12-45, 5 RBI, 7 R, 5 BB, 2 SB Lou Kelly: 11-44, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 11 R, 7 BB Dick Leudtke: 1-1, 10 IP, 8 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 4 K Dick Lyons: 1-0, 12 IP, 2 ER, 4 K Dave Rankin: 1-0, 9 IP, 9 ER, 10 BB, 4 K Don Grossman (13 of 23) Cannot be sent to AAA Slim Bloom Don Grossman George Johnson Ace McSherry Chick Meehan Dave Rankin Mike Smith Bert Wilson Dick Sexton Position Battles The Pitching Staff I plan on using a very unconventional pitching staff this season. There are a lot of uncertainties on what is going to happen this year plus the potential of Tommy Wilcox pitching potentially 4 months away, but at least for now, I'm only going to use 3 set starting pitchers. That will be Rankin, Lyons, and Leudtke. I will mix and match the remaining pitchers (whether that is 8, 9, or 10) between starting and relieving games. Some pitchers, like Don Grossman, will only pitch out of the pen, but I plan on keeping a lot of multi-inning arms on hand. I'd say Bill Kline is a favorite for a pen job as he's been a member the past couple of seasons and performed well. He's faired alright in Spring, allowing 20 hits, 6 runs, 6 walks, and 8 strikeouts in a team leading 15 innings. Art Black has looked much better then he did last season, 14.2 innings with 11 hits, 5 runs, 8 walks, and 4 strikeouts. I wish Chick Meehan pitched a bit better, just 7.1 innings with 5 runs (4 earned), 6 hits, and a walk. He did strike out five, but the 37-year-old Meehan's time might be running out. Team leader George Johnson may get a spot because of the leadership, and he's allowed just 2 runs in 5.2 innings with a walk and 3 strikeouts. Of course, Johnson was beyond awful last year, but my scout thinks he's the fourth best healthy starter on the team. One of the guys I really want to win a rotation spot is Hank Spencer, who I acquired from the Gothams in the offseason. He does have an option left and no prior experience, which looks to hurt him, but in his 12 innings he's allowed 10 hits, 5 runs, and 4 walks with an impressive 8 strikeouts. Dick Sexton, another guy I want to make the roster, bounced back after his really poor second start. He's struck out 9 in 11 innings, but allowed 13 hits, 9 runs, and 6 walks. Granted, most of that came in start #2 where he lost to the Saints. He tossed 4.1 scoreless innings with 3 hits and 2 punch outs. Other optionable players like Gordie Thompson, Norm Stewart, and Johnny Walker have had strong springs. Pete Walker and Pete Carey have had rough springs, and are likely on the outside looking in. The Bench I only have one catcher in camp now, 27-year-old waiver claim Ralph McLean, so while he technically is likely on the Opening Day roster, it may be a short trip as I expect to find a lot of catchers on waivers. He hit well when he played, 3-for-8 with a double and a pair of walks and RBI's. He's not a bad option for a backup catcher, so I don't need a replacement, but there could be more exciting players available. The infield has a lot of open spots, but I don't think offseason acquisition Ollie Page will be one of them. It's been a tough Spring, as he went just 4-for-33. He did have a double and triple, but he's likely on his way to AAA. Joining him are likely Clyde Hinzman and Phil Vaughan. One infield bench spot is full because of the Combs/Ashbaugh platoon, but I can grab a few of Russ Franklin, Jake Moore, Woody Armstrong, Slim Bloom, and Forrest Sylvester. I'd say the leaders are Moore and Bloom, Moore because of his past success in Cleveland and Bloom because of his lack of options and homegrown status. Russ Franklin can play the outfield, which gives him a bonus, as I may only take four or five outfielders out of camp. None of the bench guys really have stood out, so I may just keep the guys I could lose. The outfield has just one player without an option, former Rule-5 Pick Mike Smith. I want to keep him as a pinch hitter, as he has a nice .321/.372/.479 (120 OPS+) career line in 390 trips to the plate spread across five seasons. He can play all three spots, but he's really not that great defensively. Bert Wilson hasn't played much in the Spring, but I still plan on keeping him. He'll get more time this week and unless he flops, is likely set to join the 23 man roster. Independent league draftee Chink Stickels is likely tabbed for the minors as well, but he more then held his own despite really only playing one season at A ball. Last year's Rule-5 Pick Bert Harrison will head back to the minors to get back some development time and Ken Allen doesn't really have a shot. It's mostly a two man race between Smith and Wilson, and they'll probably both win it.