OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

reds1 · 03-31-2021, 01:56 PM

Thought I'd start off with the Western League for a change.

February 1, 1954

Western League: Six Teams Battling It Out for the Playoffs

--------

Offense: .274/.332/.387 (3rd/6th/6th)
Pitching: 3.65/3.65/3.68 (2nd/2nd/1st)
Defense: .722 (1st)

With no truly dominant team this season in the United Leagues, the playoff races in both Leagues remain wide open. That is especially so in the West, where 6 of the 8 clubs remain in contention for the two playoff spots with two months remaining.

The Fort Richmond Generals remain in top spot but mediocre play over the past two months plus injuries to key players has allowed other clubs to catch up. A below average offense remains the main culprit, however. The Generals have attempted to address that by infusing some young talent into the lineup. Players such as 23-year old SS Benjamin Hollamby (.273/.273/.455 – 42/55) and 22-year old C Scott Sheelah (.264/.375/.386, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 36 BB, 1.7 WAR – 58/64) are now in the everyday lineup, replacing struggling veterans 28-year old SS Derek Reed (.251/.291/.299, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 14 BB, -0.5 WAR) and 32-year old C Louis Wearne (.275/.358/.493, 10 HR, 20 RBI, 18 BB, 1.4 WAR) respectively.

25-year old CF Greg Cusack (.335/.387/.466, 6 HR, 45 RBI, 35 BB, 6 SB, 3.8 WAR) continues to be Fort Richmond’s top position player, while third-year veteran 25-year old Mason Geake (.301/.365/.373, 18-2B, 47 RBI, 36 BB, 2.5 WAR), who is a solid defensive third baseman (75), continues to improve at the plate.

The pitching remains the biggest strength of the team, but long-term injuries to 33-year old LHP Nicholas Grimes (12-4, 2.90 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 144 ERA+) and 34-year old RHP Roberto Taváres (6-7, 3.51 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 119 ERA+) threaten to derail the Generals’ season. At present, the team is relying on 31-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock (14-2, 2.88 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 145 ERA+) and 31-year old RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li (6-9, 3.75 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 111 ERA+) to lead them the rest of the way.

Five Generals were selected to this year’s All-Star Game: SP Nicholas Grimes (4th), SP Nicky Sherlock (6th), CL José Rodríguez (5th), 3B Alberto Esquível (2nd) and CF Greg Cusack (1st).

Noteworthy:

December 29 – CF Greg Cusack went into Balmoral and blistered the Giants, going 5 for 5. His day at the plate included four singles, including an RBI single in the 6th inning as well as an RBI double in the 4th. In all he collected two RBI and scored 2 R, leading the Generals to an 8-4 win.

January 7 – The Sherburn Tigers could get nothing going against SP Kasunori Fujimoto (6-10, 4.96 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 84 ERA+), as the 27-year old right-hander went the distance, blanking the Tigers 1-0. Pitching a 2-hitter, the former 15th overall pick from 1949-50 went 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 107 PI (GS: 85).

Player of the Week Award:

February 1 – 3B Mason Geake (.556, 15 H, 6 RBI)

Key Trade: January 25 with the Balmoral Giants:

To Fort Richmond – 26-year old 2B Benjamin Donahue (51/51)

To Balmoral – 29-year old 2B Juan Ramírez (46/46) and 24-year old SS Morgan Tyreman (44/53)

Knee-jerk reaction: The United Leagues returned to the trade waters as the trade deadline approached. Four trades were consummated, one in the East and three in the West. In this deal, the Generals made a move essentially to deal with the injury to SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida as well as the indifferent play of 2B Derek Reed. Ramírez (.228/.273/.303, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 19 BB, 3 SB, 0.7 WAR) took over second base, but Fort Richmond ultimately felt that something else was needed. Donahue is an outstanding defender with blazing speed, although his bat is merely average at best. Although his best position is 2B (70), he can play shortstop (60) or leftfield (60) effectively as well. 23-year old rookie Benjamin Hollamby (.273/.273/.455, 11 AB – 42/55) takes over at shortstop, at least until Nobuyoshi Yoshida gets back from injury.

With Balmoral, Ramírez moves to shortstop, a glaring weakness for the club. He is very similar to Donahue – an outstanding defender with great speed but an unimpressive bat. But the Giant’s’ real motive may have been to acquire the rookie Tyreman. A former 15th overall pick from 1951-52, the Hespeler native is also an outstanding defender but with a much more promising bat. He has an outstanding eye (55/60) and home run power (50/60). For now, he will serve as backup to Ramírez. But it shouldn’t be long before he becomes an everyday player.

Current Injuries:

November 26 – LHP Frank Lita – torn flexor tendon. Out for: 4 months.
November 26 – RHP Roberto Taváres – shoulder inflammation. Out for: 4 months.
January 6 – SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida – strained abdominal muscle. Out for: 3 weeks.
January 14 – LHP Nicholas Grimes – bone chips (elbow). Out for: 3 months.

--------

Offense: .278/.339/.428 (2nd/4th/2nd)
Pitching: 3.87/3.79/4.15 (4th/4th/4th)
Defense: .710 (2nd)

The Pulberry Trolleys used a strong start to January to propel them to within a game of first place in the West, but they will need more contributions from their pitching staff and lineup if they hope to finally secure a playoff berth for the first time. After starting the month 13-4, they went 5-6 after that.

Depth, or the lack thereof on the roster, appears to be the biggest concern at present. There is no questioning the talent of 25-year old LF Aidan Thirkettle (.324/.414/.660, 28 HR, 90 RBI, 62 BB, 10 SB, 5.7 WAR – 76/76), who is currently leading or tied for the lead in 13 offensive categories in the West. As well, both 26-year old CF Cooper Tyson (.269/.339/.424, 10 HR, 47 RBI, 41 BB, 8 SB, 3.1 WAR – 76/76) and 29-year old RF Ellis Dibble (.334/.397/.539, 16 HR, 66 RBI, 40 BB, 3.1 WAR – 62/62) are providing able support, but neither are enjoying career years the way Thirkettle is. On the other hand, 26-year old 3B Makani Kahale (.317/.340/.454, 10 HR, 53 RBI, 15 BB, 3.0 WAR – 62/62) has upped his game from last season (which was still good).

But there is a bit of drop-off after them. The Trolleys appear to have a couple of mid-level prospects in AAA that are doing well and could potentially provide some nice depth in the infield. 23-year old 2B Sam Brown (.305/.397/.431, 3.9 WAR – 48/57) and 24-year old 3B Ángelo Ríos (.292/.406/.607, 1.1 WAR – 37/53) appear to handling Triple-A quite well and could provide some offensive options off the bench soon. Brown is exceptionally versatile defensively, being able to play 2B, 3B, SS and RF quite well.

On the pitching side of things, Pulberry is dealing with the regression of 24-year old LHP Ramón Castro (3-6, 5 SV, 4.79 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 87 ERA+ - 42/42), which started last season. He has been moved to the bullpen, but it has not been a success. 26-year old RHP Taylor Folkard (10-7, 5 SV, 3.68 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 114 ERA+ - 50/54) endured a rough January (1-3, 6.34 ERA, 13 BB, 12 K) and has fallen to the fourth spot in the rotation.

But it is not all bad news. 32-year old RHP Alexander Ellacott (11-5, 3.61 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 116 ERA+ – 53/53), 37-year old RHP Ron Cowen (8-10, 3.94 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 106 ERA+ - 50/50) and 26-year old RHP Harley Rodman (11-6, 3.20 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 131 ERA+ - 50/50) are all enjoying solid seasons and currently form the top three of the rotation.

Four Trolleys qualified for the All-Star Game: SP Taylor Folkard (2nd), LF Aidan Thirkettle (2nd), CF Cooper Tyson (4th) and RF Ellis Dibble (3rd).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 21 – LF Aidan Thirkettle (.444, 8 H, 4 HR, 8 RBI)
December 28 – RF Ellis Dibble (.483, 14 H, 3 HR, 14 RBI)
January 4 – RHP Harley Rodman (1 W, 9.0 IP, 2 K, 0.00 ERA)

Noteworthy:

December 13 – The Trolleys defeated the Wellington Athletics 8-5 at Santop Stadium, thanks largely to big game from RF Ellis Dibble who went 2 for 4 with 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R and 1 BB. But the big story of the game was the bench-clearing brawl that erupted in the 3rd inning, resulting in the ejections of Pulberry’s CF Cooper Tyson and Wellington’s RHP Troy Conlin. After walking SS Francis Jones to lead off the inning, Conlin surrendered a two-run home run to Dibble. It was the second home run Conlin gave up on the afternoon, after Jones lead off the game with a solo home run. Next up was Cooper, who took a 1-2 pitch to the ribs. Cooper took objection and charged the mound, resulting in the benches clearing. After the dust settled, Tyson was suspended for 5 games while Conlin got suspended for 6.

December 15 – Two days later and with OF John Oldknow taking the suspended Tyson Cooper’s place in center, the Trolleys took on the Stratford Barons, the top team in the East. After dropping the first game of the 3-game set, 6-2, Pulberry took a 9-4 lead into the 6th inning of game 2, thanks largely to two home runs off the bat of LF Aiden Thirkettle. But the Barons battled back, scoring a run in the top of the 6th and 4 runs in the 7th to tie up the game. In that 7th inning, Stratford’s CF Sherwin Carasig banged out a 3-run triple, ending reliever Joel Coles’ afternoon. But in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, 1B Gerard Koerner singled into shallow leftfield with one out off LHP Marcello Dean, scoring 2B Wade Billyard for the walk-off win.

Key Trade: January 30 with the Queensland Eagles:

To Pulberry – 31-year old RHP Wilfried Schop (39/39) and 20-year old minor league 2B Dwayne Fields (21/46)

To Queensland – 25-year old OF John Oldknow (45/55)

Knee-jerk reaction: Once considered the No. 1 prospect back in 1947, Oldnow never really had a chance to blossom in the Trolley’s outfield, once both LF Aiden Thirkettle and CF Cooper Tyson arrived to join veteran RF Ellis Dibble. Its fair to say that Pulberry currently boasts the best outfield in the United Leagues (Thirkettle is rated 1st overall at left, Cooper rated 3rd at center and Dibble rated 2nd at right). But Oldknow is still a very capable player and my feeling is that the Eagles got the better of this deal.

Oldknow is a defensive marvel anywhere in the outfield and can impact the game with his wheels on the base. He has a solid stroke and will hit for a respectable average. The scouts’ only concern is that he may be injury prone (he is listed as fragile in the game). But it appears Queensland has their lead-off hitter for the present and future.

Schop however is a pitcher whose better days are behind him. His greatest success came with the Wellington Athletics. But after 10 seasons, the Athletics released him and shortly thereafter he suffered a torn UCL while pitching in the Downie Chiefs’ farm system. His stuff and movement are unimpressive, but he still has pinpoint control (75/75). His best pitch is his fastball (40/40). He will serve as Pulberry’s No. 5 starter, as the struggling 24-year old LHP Ramón Castro (3-6, 5 SV, 4.79 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 87 ERA+) has been relegated to the bullpen.

Fields was a 4th-round pick from 1951-52. He has above average contact skills with a smooth swing, quick hands and good pitch recognition. He could hit above .300 one day. Although speedy, he is not considered a base-stealing threat and his defense ratings are weak (second base is best at 30). He is currently considered a future reserve player.

Current Injuries:

January 17 – LHP Alan Fidge – surgery to remove bone chips (elbow). Out for: 3-4 months.
January 20 – LF John Pring – fractured knee. Out for: 5 months.

--------

Offense: .263/.341/.383 (8th/3rd/7th)
Pitching: 3.61/3.41/4.48 (1st/1st/5th)
Defense: .701 (5th)

Parity in the West has allowed the Wolseley Unions to remain very much a player in this year’s playoff race. But the Unions have played quite well over the past two months, winning 31 games. That’s one fewer than the Pulberry Trolleys. Fittingly, the Unions currently sit a game back of the Trolleys for the wild card.

Pitching, particularly the rotation, is doing the heavy lifting. Wolseley arguably has the best top three starting pitchers this season – that are not currently injured. 28-year old RHP Roberto Garza (10-8, 3.18 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 135 ERA+) 35-year old RHP Bill Blair (15-6, 2.55 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 169 ERA+) and 28-year old Axel MacKay (10-6, 3.04 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 142 ERA+) are all enjoying terrific seasons.

The offense is nothing special at this point and is heavily relying on a couple of aging all-stars: 32-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.317/.456/.468, 12 HR, 50 RBI, 96 BB, 3.6 WAR) and 32-year old SS George Kimpton (.297/.365/.439, 10 HR, 52 RBI, 40 BB, 2.3 WAR) to produce. With the exception of 24-year old 1B Carlos Ortíz (.268/.345/.420, 14 HR, 53 RBI, 50 BB, 1.2 WAR), this is a lineup that is in desperate need of a spark to prevent the team from fading down the stretch.

Four players were selected to the All-Star Game: SP Bill Blair (5th), SP Roberto Garza (2nd), SP Axel MacKay (3rd) and LF Carlton Hawking (9th).

Noteworthy:

January 18 – The Unions defeated the Stars 6-2 at The Fabulous Avalon in Hespeler. What made the game noteworthy was that rookie 3B Rusty McLaren (.750/.750/2.250, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0.3 WAR – 42/64) hit a home run in his first big-league at-bat. The 22-year old prospect, who was drafted 16th overall in 1950-51, came up to bat as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning with the Unions leading 4-1. After fellow rookie RF Gabriel Mabeza led off with a triple, McLaren slammed a 2-0 offering from RHP Nelson Wigley and sent it deep into the leftfield corner. With Hespeler’s LF Connor Buswell trying to corral it, McLaren raced home for a two-run inside-the-park home run in his first major league plate appearance.

Current Injuries: None.

--------

Offense: .271/.337/.393 (6th/5th/5th)
Pitching: 3.73/3.70/3.87 (3rd/3rd/2nd)
Defense: .705 (3rd)

The Balmoral Giants are nearly a carbon copy of the Unions. They too are a team who has a solid pitching core whose offense is being largely provided by a couple of players. That combination has enabled them to take advantage of the parity in the West and move to within 3-1/2 games of a playoff spot. And like the Unions, Balmoral also won 31 games over the course of December and January.

Both the rotation and bullpen have really developed into an impressive force. Really, the top four starters are all having fine seasons. 30-year old LHP Ron Albin (10-11, 3.28 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 129 ERA+), 27-year old LHP Lucas Nott (13-8, 3.55 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 120 ERA+), 28-year old RHP Rodrigo González (11-7, 3.05 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 139 ERA+) and 25-year old RHP Robert Embley (4-4, 3.77 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 113 ERA+) were particularly impressive in January. The bullpen’s top two relievers have been 34-year old RHP Lorenzo Morales (3-1, 5 SV, 1.14 WHIP, 3.09 FIP) and 34-year old RHP Brent Nix (3-1, 8 SV, 1.16 WHIP, 3.38 FIP). Nix seems to have gotten better with age, while Morales is enjoying his best season since he was signed as a free agent out of Panama four years ago.

But the pitching staff could still use some help from the offense. Right now, the Giants are heavily relying on two players: 33-year old rookie LF Ángel Costa (.338/.408/.550, 15 HR, 56 RBI, 44 BB, 3.5 WAR) and 28-year old C Alexander Pyatt (.338/.368/.491, 10 HR, 38 RBI, 15 BB, 2.8 WAR). Pyatt has really blossomed into a steady catcher since the Giants acquired him from the Cambria Cannons back in July 1952.

The Giants sent four players to the All-Star Game: SP Ron Albin (1st), SP Rodrigo González (4th), Alexander Pyatt (2nd) and LF Ángel Costa (1st).

Noteworthy:

January 6 – RHP Rodrigo González kept the Pulberry Trolleys off-balance all day, holding them to just two hits. González led the Giants to a 4-0 victory, as Balmoral took 2 of the 3 games in the series. In all, he went 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 103 PI (GS: 82).

Current Injuries:

December 23 – RHP Brent Nix – strained oblique. Out for: 1 day.
January 10 – LF Won-ho Kim – ruptured tendon (finger). Out for: 2-3 months.
January 17 – 1B Erik Perry – strained oblique. Out for: DtD, 2 days.
January 31 – SS Juan Ramírez – strained back. Out for: DtD, 3 days.

--------

Offense: .282/.349/.440 (1st/1st/1st)
Pitching: 4.58/4.41/5.14 (7th/6th/6th)
Defense: .680 (8th)

The Cambria Cannons are being carried by their offense and while it may be the top producing offense in the West right now, they are being betrayed by a weak pitching staff and a porous defense. They lead the Western League with 555 runs scored but have allowed 554. Thus, they have a bit of work to do if they want to keep up with the teams ahead of them in the standings.

24-year old CF Sam Tite (.270/.382/.500, 20 HR, 78 RBI, 67 BB, 3.8 WAR) still leads the team as the centerpiece of an enviable core of talented, young position players. But the sophomore cooled off in January (.233/.333/.322). 22-year old rookie LF Calvin Hanbridge (.262/.384/.464, 14 HR, 52 RBI, 72 BB, 2.2 WAR) also struggled in January (.220/.351/.308), but he appears to be a multiple all-star in the making. They have been joined in the lineup by another promising rookie, the No. 2 rated prospect in 22-year old SS Doug Martin (.369/.430/.571, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 8 BB, 3 SB, 1.3 WAR).

Cambria’s pitching and overall fortunes would be dire straits if not for RHP Ray Lambright (10-3, 3.53 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 119 ERA+). The 25-year old New York City native is currently rated the 4th best starter in the United Leagues in just his second full season. But the rest of the pitching staff have been hot and cold from month to month.

Six Cannons made it to the All-Star Game: SP Ray Lambright (1st), C Min-gook Lee (1st), 1B Carlos Corea (3rd), 3B Luis Torres (2nd), LF Calvin Hanbridge (1st) and CF Sam Tite (1st).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 14 – CF Sam Tite (.385, 10 H, 4 HR, 7 RBI)
January 11 – SS César Ruíz (.500, 11 H, 4 HR, 7 RBI)

Noteworthy:

December 12 – The Cannons blasted the Hespeler Stars at the Fabulous Avalon, 11-1, but the big story was that 27-year old 1B Carlos Corea (.337/.374/.559, 21 HR, 75 RBI, 21 BB, 2.1 WAR) hit for the cycle in the process. Corea flied out in the 1st, hit an RBI triple in the 3rd, flied out in the 5th, singles in the 7th, hit a solo-shot off RHP Nelson Wigley in the 8th and hit an RBI double in the 9th to complete the cycle. He is the fourth Cannon to hit for the cycle and it’s the 6th time a player for Cambria has accomplished it (former player Ron Westmacott accomplished the feat three times). It was the 21st cycle in United Leagues’ history. Interestingly, the 22nd cycle would be hit just 5 days later in the Eastern League.

January 5 – The Cannons and Kingston Pelicans engaged in a shoot-out at Alexander Field, where the teams banged out 16 hits each and 6 home runs altogether. Three of those came off the bat of 33-year old SS César Ruíz (.279/.369/.478, 18 HR, 59 RBI, 52 BB, 2.3 WAR), who became the 11th player in United Leagues history to hit 3 home runs in a single game. In all, he went 3 for 4, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 RBI. His home runs were all solo shots, hit in the 6th, 7th and 9th innings. Alas it was not enough, as the Pelicans held one to win 10-8.

Key Trade: January 8 with the Balmoral Giants:

To Cambria – 36-year old RHP Hun Park (52/52)

To Balmoral – 27-year old 3B Darren Hasegawa (50/50)

Knee-jerk reaction: Not a huge deal by any means, but this one certainly favours the Cannons in my estimation. Hun Park (10-4, 4.06 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 105 ERA+), while not the two-time all-star pitcher he once was, represents an upgrade on the back-end of the rotation. The ten-year veteran has pedestrian stuff (40/40) but still has very good movement (60/60) and control (70/70).

For a team that appears poised to challenge for a playoff spot this season, this is a puzzling move by the Giants. Hasegawa (.271/.370/.371, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 10 BB, 0.2 WAR) has the tools to be a standout infielder but his bat is decidedly average and does not represent an upgrade to what Balmoral already had. In addition, Park’s place in the rotation has been taken over for now by 29-year old LHP Pat Houseman (41/41) who is little more than an emergency starter. The troubling aspect in all of this is that both Houseman and Hasegawa have low work ethics and in the case of Houseman, is considered a cancer in the clubhouse.

Current Injuries:

December 9 – LHP Hirotada Fukushima – fractured elbow. Out for: 4 months.
December 23 – 2B George Lasseter – broken bone in elbow. Out for: 5 months.
January 27 – RHP Lenny Tennison – torn UCL. Out for: 6 months.

--------

Offense: .273/.346/.410 (5th/2nd/4th)
Pitching: 4.36/4.47/3.93 (5th/7th/3rd)
Defense: .702 (4th)

The Kingston Pelicans hung in there with the Fort Richmond Generals, remaining just a game back of the League leaders, but by the latter half of December, the Pelicans began to slide. That slide became an avalanche in January as the team tumbled in the standings, unable to put together more than two victories in a row during the month. The culprit is a struggling rotation. The offence, on the other hand, has been holding its own.

Though batting just 7th in the lineup, 25-year old SS Charlie Cockin (.309/.372/.469, 6 HR, 59 RBI, 35 BB, 3.3 WAR) has emerged as Kingston’s top player and one of the ULB’s top shortstops (4th overall). He may soon be overtaken by 26-year old 3B Harry Herold (.301/.359/.508, 16 HR, 72 RBI, 29 BB, 3.1 WAR) who has been getting stronger as the season progresses. 27-year old C Carlos Camasura (.277/.427/.381, 5 HR, 43 RBI, 85 BB, 2.8 WAR) meanwhile, has started to fade, both offensively and defensively (.237/.354/.300 in January). Kingston needs him to get back on track.

But the Pelicans really need their pitching core to step it up. January was a rough month for all concerned, but only 27-year old LHP Rob Hutchence (10-7, 3.22 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 133 ERA+) and 27-year old RHP Brian Marsland (12-7, 4.05 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 106 ERA+) have shown any consistency. Out of the bullpen, 29-year old RHP Kaula Mafileo (6-5, 13 SV, 2.67 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 3.72 FIP) and 24-year old RHP Lester Beddoes (3-3, 5 SV, 2.85 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 4.63 FIP) have been reliable, although Beddoes does have a propensity to give up a lot of walks (43 BB vs. 25 K).

Seven Pelicans made the All-Star team: SP Rob Hutchence (1st), CL Kaula Mafileo (2nd), C Carlos Camasura (4th), 1B Dean Bishop (8th), 3B Harry Herold (1st), SS Charlie Cockin (1st) and RF Mo Spenceley (2nd).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 7 – SS Charlie Cockin (.444, 12 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R)
January 25 – 3B Harry Herold (.440, 11 H, 4 HR, 11 R, 4 R)

Noteworthy:

January 7 – In the first game of a 4-game series, RHP Brian Marsland put on a pitching clinic, leading the Pelicans to an 8-0 victory over the Balmoral Giants at Kingston Park. Marsland blanked them on 3 hits. In all, he went 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 91 PI (GS: 81).

Current Injuries:

November 3 – CF George Nipper – torn meniscus (knee). Out for: 3-4 weeks.
January 29 – 2B Ryoma Hakui – strained back. Out for: 3 weeks.

--------

Offense: .269/.322/.371 (7th/8th/8th)
Pitching: 4.45/3.99/6.21 (6th/5th/7th)
Defense: .695 (6th)

The past two months were forgettable for the Sherburn Tigers, at least in the standings. But in looking over their roster, one can’t help feeling positive or even excited at their future. Sherburn has four promising rookies in the lineup that are getting acclimated to the majors and an argument could be made that there should be five. And if it weren’t for injuries, the rotation could be quite impressive as well.

Two rookies are already leading the team. 24-year old SS Dwayne Vick (.299/.334/.405, 2 HR, 37 RBI, 17 BB, 3.3 WAR) struggled in January, but he is no flash in the pan. He is a star in the making. 22-year old CF Ryan Blenkhorn (.362/.405/.469, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 19 BB, 2.0 WAR) took over centerfield and lead-off duties last month and was sensational, winning Rookie of the Month honours. 23-year old RF Albert Sulley (.282/.333/.397, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 13 BB, 0.3 WAR) is rated 9th overall among right fielders, but he has struggled at the plate since an impressive November. Here’s hoping the former 7th-round pick 1950-51 finds his groove soon. There are no concerns with his defense in either corner (RF-65, LF-60, CF-45) however. This season’s first overall pick, 23-year old 2B Bernard Kerkin (.389/.500/.556), joined the club in late January and should provide another huge boost. Finally, 25-year old 3B Archie Eridge (45/62) was inexplicably sent down to Double-A, where (no surprise) he is dominating (.471, 4 HR, last 9 games). Perhaps the Tigers are just giving him some final seasoning, as third base is a glaring weakness on Sherburn’s roster and Eridge is just the solution they need.

The rotation took a blow when 27-year old RHP Ben Buschlen (5-5, 2.22 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 194 ERA+) was lost for the season just three pitches into his start against the Cambria Cannons back on December 26. Sherburn still won, 9-2, but his loss is huge. The Tigers understandably, hope he can bounce back next season. On the positive side, 30-year old RHP Jesús Chapa (5-13, 3.75 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 115 ERA+) found his old form in December and was terrific in January (2-2, 1.57 ERA, 6 GS). Four-year veteran, 26-year old RHP Bradley Strawson (4-7, 3.95 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 109 ERA+ - 50/58), still has room to grow into a reliable pitcher. But Sherburn should consider looking into beefing up their bullpen before next season.

SS Dwayne Vick (1st) was the lone Tiger representative at the All-Star Game.

Noteworthy:

January 19 – 23-year old 2B Bernard Kerkin (minor league record: .444/.494/.771, 10 HR, 39 RBI, 14 BB, 3.5 WAR – 45/72) spent all of 41 games in Double-A before getting the call to the major league roster. But before he got called up, Kerkin picked up two Player of the Week honors and enjoyed a 25-game hitting streak, the fourth longest in Heritage Leagues’ history. On January 26, Kerkin’s contract was purchased by Sherburn and currently the former 1st overall pick is batting second in the Tigers’ lineup.

Current Injuries:

December 26 – RHP Ben Buschlen – torn flexor tendon. Out for: 5 months.
December 28 – C Christopher Dainty – torn labrum. Out for: 5 months.
January 21 – RF Louie Pate – sprained ankle. Out for: DtD, unknown.
January 28 – RHP Wesley Murphy – dead arm. Out for: 2 weeks.

--------

Offense: .273/.331/.418 (4th/7th/3rd)
Pitching: 5.43/5.16/6.38 (8th/8th/8th)
Defense: .680 (7th)

The Hespeler Stars are in complete disarray. Unlike the Sherburn Tigers, who at least appear to have a road map laid out for returning to relevance, the Stars seem to be directionless, unable to deploy what talent they have on hand properly. They know how to put runs on the board, as they are third in the West in runs scored (513), but they are by far the worst in runs allowed (612). The next worst are the Embro Suns with 584.

A result of all this squandering has been the oversight of the play of 30-year old SS Zhao-hui Qian (.346/.391/.521, 15 HR, 75 RBI, 32 BB, 5.0 WAR). Qian has been one of the best players this season in the United Leagues and is enjoying the best season of his 8-year career so far. 27-year old 3B Mike Park (.358/.403/.505, 8 HR, 49 RBI, 29 BB, 2.4 WAR) continues to lead the West in batting average and he has been joined in the lineup by another ‘M.P.’: 24-year old rookie LF Mike Pope (47/54), who was called up from Triple-A in early January. He was a 2nd-round pick from 1950-51 and is considered the top leftfield prospect in the Leagues. His bat should be very good very soon (60/60/55/55/60). But the promising talent of a couple of players continues to be squandered. 23-year old RF Bill Spaeth (41/56), their 2nd overall pick from 1950-51, is suffering from riding the bench. And 24-year old SS Apia Yarrah (50/70) is suffering the same fate. Yarrah is being blocked from starting by Qian. Both need regular starts. If not in majors, then at least in Triple-A while the Stars sort out their roster. But with the trade deadline having come and gone with no action taken by the Stars, it doesn’t appear they are inclined to try and compete anytime soon.

If Spaeth or Yarrah are not in the Stars’ future, they could have used them as trade bait to acquire some much-needed pitching talent. Or Hespeler could have been bold and traded Qian to a contender for a nice haul. For all the Stars prospect depth, they are utterly lacking in quality arms. Right now, only 25-year old ace RHP Battista Corotta (8-13, 4.17 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 104 ERA+) has been effective on the mound.

Three players represented the Stars at the All-Star Game: 2B Vic Lewis (3rd), 3B Mike Park (1st) and SS Zhao-hui Qian (3rd).

Player of the Week Award:

January 18 – SS Zhao-hui Qian (.529, 9 H, 3 HR, 9 RBI)

Current Injuries:

January 9 – 2B Vic Lewis – strained hamstring. Out for: DtD, 1 week.

--------

03-31-2021, 01:56 PM	#624
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,919	Thought I'd start off with the Western League for a change. February 1, 1954 Western League: Six Teams Battling It Out for the Playoffs -------- Offense: .274/.332/.387 (3rd/6th/6th) Pitching: 3.65/3.65/3.68 (2nd/2nd/1st) Defense: .722 (1st) With no truly dominant team this season in the United Leagues, the playoff races in both Leagues remain wide open. That is especially so in the West, where 6 of the 8 clubs remain in contention for the two playoff spots with two months remaining. The Fort Richmond Generals remain in top spot but mediocre play over the past two months plus injuries to key players has allowed other clubs to catch up. A below average offense remains the main culprit, however. The Generals have attempted to address that by infusing some young talent into the lineup. Players such as 23-year old SS Benjamin Hollamby (.273/.273/.455 – 42/55) and 22-year old C Scott Sheelah (.264/.375/.386, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 36 BB, 1.7 WAR – 58/64) are now in the everyday lineup, replacing struggling veterans 28-year old SS Derek Reed (.251/.291/.299, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 14 BB, -0.5 WAR) and 32-year old C Louis Wearne (.275/.358/.493, 10 HR, 20 RBI, 18 BB, 1.4 WAR) respectively. 25-year old CF Greg Cusack (.335/.387/.466, 6 HR, 45 RBI, 35 BB, 6 SB, 3.8 WAR) continues to be Fort Richmond’s top position player, while third-year veteran 25-year old Mason Geake (.301/.365/.373, 18-2B, 47 RBI, 36 BB, 2.5 WAR), who is a solid defensive third baseman (75), continues to improve at the plate. The pitching remains the biggest strength of the team, but long-term injuries to 33-year old LHP Nicholas Grimes (12-4, 2.90 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 144 ERA+) and 34-year old RHP Roberto Taváres (6-7, 3.51 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 119 ERA+) threaten to derail the Generals’ season. At present, the team is relying on 31-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock (14-2, 2.88 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 145 ERA+) and 31-year old RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li (6-9, 3.75 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 111 ERA+) to lead them the rest of the way. Five Generals were selected to this year’s All-Star Game: SP Nicholas Grimes (4th), SP Nicky Sherlock (6th), CL José Rodríguez (5th), 3B Alberto Esquível (2nd) and CF Greg Cusack (1st). Noteworthy: December 29 – CF Greg Cusack went into Balmoral and blistered the Giants, going 5 for 5. His day at the plate included four singles, including an RBI single in the 6th inning as well as an RBI double in the 4th. In all he collected two RBI and scored 2 R, leading the Generals to an 8-4 win. January 7 – The Sherburn Tigers could get nothing going against SP Kasunori Fujimoto (6-10, 4.96 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 84 ERA+), as the 27-year old right-hander went the distance, blanking the Tigers 1-0. Pitching a 2-hitter, the former 15th overall pick from 1949-50 went 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 107 PI (GS: 85). Player of the Week Award: February 1 – 3B Mason Geake (.556, 15 H, 6 RBI) Key Trade: January 25 with the Balmoral Giants: To Fort Richmond – 26-year old 2B Benjamin Donahue (51/51) To Balmoral – 29-year old 2B Juan Ramírez (46/46) and 24-year old SS Morgan Tyreman (44/53) *Knee-jerk reaction:* The United Leagues returned to the trade waters as the trade deadline approached. Four trades were consummated, one in the East and three in the West. In this deal, the Generals made a move essentially to deal with the injury to SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida as well as the indifferent play of 2B Derek Reed. Ramírez (.228/.273/.303, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 19 BB, 3 SB, 0.7 WAR) took over second base, but Fort Richmond ultimately felt that something else was needed. Donahue is an outstanding defender with blazing speed, although his bat is merely average at best. Although his best position is 2B (70), he can play shortstop (60) or leftfield (60) effectively as well. 23-year old rookie Benjamin Hollamby (.273/.273/.455, 11 AB – 42/55) takes over at shortstop, at least until Nobuyoshi Yoshida gets back from injury. With Balmoral, Ramírez moves to shortstop, a glaring weakness for the club. He is very similar to Donahue – an outstanding defender with great speed but an unimpressive bat. But the Giant’s’ real motive may have been to acquire the rookie Tyreman. A former 15th overall pick from 1951-52, the Hespeler native is also an outstanding defender but with a much more promising bat. He has an outstanding eye (55/60) and home run power (50/60). For now, he will serve as backup to Ramírez. But it shouldn’t be long before he becomes an everyday player. Current Injuries: November 26 – LHP Frank Lita – torn flexor tendon. Out for: 4 months. November 26 – RHP Roberto Taváres – shoulder inflammation. Out for: 4 months. January 6 – SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida – strained abdominal muscle. Out for: 3 weeks. January 14 – LHP Nicholas Grimes – bone chips (elbow). Out for: 3 months. -------- Offense: .278/.339/.428 (2nd/4th/2nd) Pitching: 3.87/3.79/4.15 (4th/4th/4th) Defense: .710 (2nd) The Pulberry Trolleys used a strong start to January to propel them to within a game of first place in the West, but they will need more contributions from their pitching staff and lineup if they hope to finally secure a playoff berth for the first time. After starting the month 13-4, they went 5-6 after that. Depth, or the lack thereof on the roster, appears to be the biggest concern at present. There is no questioning the talent of 25-year old LF Aidan Thirkettle (.324/.414/.660, 28 HR, 90 RBI, 62 BB, 10 SB, 5.7 WAR – 76/76), who is currently leading or tied for the lead in 13 offensive categories in the West. As well, both 26-year old CF Cooper Tyson (.269/.339/.424, 10 HR, 47 RBI, 41 BB, 8 SB, 3.1 WAR – 76/76) and 29-year old RF Ellis Dibble (.334/.397/.539, 16 HR, 66 RBI, 40 BB, 3.1 WAR – 62/62) are providing able support, but neither are enjoying career years the way Thirkettle is. On the other hand, 26-year old 3B Makani Kahale (.317/.340/.454, 10 HR, 53 RBI, 15 BB, 3.0 WAR – 62/62) has upped his game from last season (which was still good). But there is a bit of drop-off after them. The Trolleys appear to have a couple of mid-level prospects in AAA that are doing well and could potentially provide some nice depth in the infield. 23-year old 2B Sam Brown (.305/.397/.431, 3.9 WAR – 48/57) and 24-year old 3B Ángelo Ríos (.292/.406/.607, 1.1 WAR – 37/53) appear to handling Triple-A quite well and could provide some offensive options off the bench soon. Brown is exceptionally versatile defensively, being able to play 2B, 3B, SS and RF quite well. On the pitching side of things, Pulberry is dealing with the regression of 24-year old LHP Ramón Castro (3-6, 5 SV, 4.79 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 87 ERA+ - 42/42), which started last season. He has been moved to the bullpen, but it has not been a success. 26-year old RHP Taylor Folkard (10-7, 5 SV, 3.68 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 114 ERA+ - 50/54) endured a rough January (1-3, 6.34 ERA, 13 BB, 12 K) and has fallen to the fourth spot in the rotation. But it is not all bad news. 32-year old RHP Alexander Ellacott (11-5, 3.61 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 116 ERA+ – 53/53), 37-year old RHP Ron Cowen (8-10, 3.94 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 106 ERA+ - 50/50) and 26-year old RHP Harley Rodman (11-6, 3.20 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 131 ERA+ - 50/50) are all enjoying solid seasons and currently form the top three of the rotation. Four Trolleys qualified for the All-Star Game: SP Taylor Folkard (2nd), LF Aidan Thirkettle (2nd), CF Cooper Tyson (4th) and RF Ellis Dibble (3rd). Player of the Week Awards: December 21 – LF Aidan Thirkettle (.444, 8 H, 4 HR, 8 RBI) December 28 – RF Ellis Dibble (.483, 14 H, 3 HR, 14 RBI) January 4 – RHP Harley Rodman (1 W, 9.0 IP, 2 K, 0.00 ERA) Noteworthy: December 13 – The Trolleys defeated the Wellington Athletics 8-5 at Santop Stadium, thanks largely to big game from RF Ellis Dibble who went 2 for 4 with 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R and 1 BB. But the big story of the game was the bench-clearing brawl that erupted in the 3rd inning, resulting in the ejections of Pulberry’s CF Cooper Tyson and Wellington’s RHP Troy Conlin. After walking SS Francis Jones to lead off the inning, Conlin surrendered a two-run home run to Dibble. It was the second home run Conlin gave up on the afternoon, after Jones lead off the game with a solo home run. Next up was Cooper, who took a 1-2 pitch to the ribs. Cooper took objection and charged the mound, resulting in the benches clearing. After the dust settled, Tyson was suspended for 5 games while Conlin got suspended for 6. December 15 – Two days later and with OF John Oldknow taking the suspended Tyson Cooper’s place in center, the Trolleys took on the Stratford Barons, the top team in the East. After dropping the first game of the 3-game set, 6-2, Pulberry took a 9-4 lead into the 6th inning of game 2, thanks largely to two home runs off the bat of LF Aiden Thirkettle. But the Barons battled back, scoring a run in the top of the 6th and 4 runs in the 7th to tie up the game. In that 7th inning, Stratford’s CF Sherwin Carasig banged out a 3-run triple, ending reliever Joel Coles’ afternoon. But in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, 1B Gerard Koerner singled into shallow leftfield with one out off LHP Marcello Dean, scoring 2B Wade Billyard for the walk-off win. Key Trade: January 30 with the Queensland Eagles: To Pulberry – 31-year old RHP Wilfried Schop (39/39) and 20-year old minor league 2B Dwayne Fields (21/46) To Queensland – 25-year old OF John Oldknow (45/55) *Knee-jerk reaction:* Once considered the No. 1 prospect back in 1947, Oldnow never really had a chance to blossom in the Trolley’s outfield, once both LF Aiden Thirkettle and CF Cooper Tyson arrived to join veteran RF Ellis Dibble. Its fair to say that Pulberry currently boasts the best outfield in the United Leagues (Thirkettle is rated 1st overall at left, Cooper rated 3rd at center and Dibble rated 2nd at right). But Oldknow is still a very capable player and my feeling is that the Eagles got the better of this deal. Oldknow is a defensive marvel anywhere in the outfield and can impact the game with his wheels on the base. He has a solid stroke and will hit for a respectable average. The scouts’ only concern is that he may be injury prone (he is listed as fragile in the game). But it appears Queensland has their lead-off hitter for the present and future. Schop however is a pitcher whose better days are behind him. His greatest success came with the Wellington Athletics. But after 10 seasons, the Athletics released him and shortly thereafter he suffered a torn UCL while pitching in the Downie Chiefs’ farm system. His stuff and movement are unimpressive, but he still has pinpoint control (75/75). His best pitch is his fastball (40/40). He will serve as Pulberry’s No. 5 starter, as the struggling 24-year old LHP Ramón Castro (3-6, 5 SV, 4.79 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 87 ERA+) has been relegated to the bullpen. Fields was a 4th-round pick from 1951-52. He has above average contact skills with a smooth swing, quick hands and good pitch recognition. He could hit above .300 one day. Although speedy, he is not considered a base-stealing threat and his defense ratings are weak (second base is best at 30). He is currently considered a future reserve player. Current Injuries: January 17 – LHP Alan Fidge – surgery to remove bone chips (elbow). Out for: 3-4 months. January 20 – LF John Pring – fractured knee. Out for: 5 months. -------- Offense: .263/.341/.383 (8th/3rd/7th) Pitching: 3.61/3.41/4.48 (1st/1st/5th) Defense: .701 (5th) Parity in the West has allowed the Wolseley Unions to remain very much a player in this year’s playoff race. But the Unions have played quite well over the past two months, winning 31 games. That’s one fewer than the Pulberry Trolleys. Fittingly, the Unions currently sit a game back of the Trolleys for the wild card. Pitching, particularly the rotation, is doing the heavy lifting. Wolseley arguably has the best top three starting pitchers this season – that are not currently injured. 28-year old RHP Roberto Garza (10-8, 3.18 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 135 ERA+) 35-year old RHP Bill Blair (15-6, 2.55 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 169 ERA+) and 28-year old Axel MacKay (10-6, 3.04 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 142 ERA+) are all enjoying terrific seasons. The offense is nothing special at this point and is heavily relying on a couple of aging all-stars: 32-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.317/.456/.468, 12 HR, 50 RBI, 96 BB, 3.6 WAR) and 32-year old SS George Kimpton (.297/.365/.439, 10 HR, 52 RBI, 40 BB, 2.3 WAR) to produce. With the exception of 24-year old 1B Carlos Ortíz (.268/.345/.420, 14 HR, 53 RBI, 50 BB, 1.2 WAR), this is a lineup that is in desperate need of a spark to prevent the team from fading down the stretch. Four players were selected to the All-Star Game: SP Bill Blair (5th), SP Roberto Garza (2nd), SP Axel MacKay (3rd) and LF Carlton Hawking (9th). Noteworthy: January 18 – The Unions defeated the Stars 6-2 at The Fabulous Avalon in Hespeler. What made the game noteworthy was that rookie 3B Rusty McLaren (.750/.750/2.250, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0.3 WAR – 42/64) hit a home run in his first big-league at-bat. The 22-year old prospect, who was drafted 16th overall in 1950-51, came up to bat as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning with the Unions leading 4-1. After fellow rookie RF Gabriel Mabeza led off with a triple, McLaren slammed a 2-0 offering from RHP Nelson Wigley and sent it deep into the leftfield corner. With Hespeler’s LF Connor Buswell trying to corral it, McLaren raced home for a two-run inside-the-park home run in his first major league plate appearance. Current Injuries: None. -------- Offense: .271/.337/.393 (6th/5th/5th) Pitching: 3.73/3.70/3.87 (3rd/3rd/2nd) Defense: .705 (3rd) The Balmoral Giants are nearly a carbon copy of the Unions. They too are a team who has a solid pitching core whose offense is being largely provided by a couple of players. That combination has enabled them to take advantage of the parity in the West and move to within 3-1/2 games of a playoff spot. And like the Unions, Balmoral also won 31 games over the course of December and January. Both the rotation and bullpen have really developed into an impressive force. Really, the top four starters are all having fine seasons. 30-year old LHP Ron Albin (10-11, 3.28 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 129 ERA+), 27-year old LHP Lucas Nott (13-8, 3.55 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 120 ERA+), 28-year old RHP Rodrigo González (11-7, 3.05 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 139 ERA+) and 25-year old RHP Robert Embley (4-4, 3.77 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 113 ERA+) were particularly impressive in January. The bullpen’s top two relievers have been 34-year old RHP Lorenzo Morales (3-1, 5 SV, 1.14 WHIP, 3.09 FIP) and 34-year old RHP Brent Nix (3-1, 8 SV, 1.16 WHIP, 3.38 FIP). Nix seems to have gotten better with age, while Morales is enjoying his best season since he was signed as a free agent out of Panama four years ago. But the pitching staff could still use some help from the offense. Right now, the Giants are heavily relying on two players: 33-year old rookie LF Ángel Costa (.338/.408/.550, 15 HR, 56 RBI, 44 BB, 3.5 WAR) and 28-year old C Alexander Pyatt (.338/.368/.491, 10 HR, 38 RBI, 15 BB, 2.8 WAR). Pyatt has really blossomed into a steady catcher since the Giants acquired him from the Cambria Cannons back in July 1952. The Giants sent four players to the All-Star Game: SP Ron Albin (1st), SP Rodrigo González (4th), Alexander Pyatt (2nd) and LF Ángel Costa (1st). Noteworthy: January 6 – RHP Rodrigo González kept the Pulberry Trolleys off-balance all day, holding them to just two hits. González led the Giants to a 4-0 victory, as Balmoral took 2 of the 3 games in the series. In all, he went 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 103 PI (GS: 82). Current Injuries: December 23 – RHP Brent Nix – strained oblique. Out for: 1 day. January 10 – LF Won-ho Kim – ruptured tendon (finger). Out for: 2-3 months. January 17 – 1B Erik Perry – strained oblique. Out for: DtD, 2 days. January 31 – SS Juan Ramírez – strained back. Out for: DtD, 3 days. -------- Offense: .282/.349/.440 (1st/1st/1st) Pitching: 4.58/4.41/5.14 (7th/6th/6th) Defense: .680 (8th) The Cambria Cannons are being carried by their offense and while it may be the top producing offense in the West right now, they are being betrayed by a weak pitching staff and a porous defense. They lead the Western League with 555 runs scored but have allowed 554. Thus, they have a bit of work to do if they want to keep up with the teams ahead of them in the standings. 24-year old CF Sam Tite (.270/.382/.500, 20 HR, 78 RBI, 67 BB, 3.8 WAR) still leads the team as the centerpiece of an enviable core of talented, young position players. But the sophomore cooled off in January (.233/.333/.322). 22-year old rookie LF Calvin Hanbridge (.262/.384/.464, 14 HR, 52 RBI, 72 BB, 2.2 WAR) also struggled in January (.220/.351/.308), but he appears to be a multiple all-star in the making. They have been joined in the lineup by another promising rookie, the No. 2 rated prospect in 22-year old SS Doug Martin (.369/.430/.571, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 8 BB, 3 SB, 1.3 WAR). Cambria’s pitching and overall fortunes would be dire straits if not for RHP Ray Lambright (10-3, 3.53 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 119 ERA+). The 25-year old New York City native is currently rated the 4th best starter in the United Leagues in just his second full season. But the rest of the pitching staff have been hot and cold from month to month. Six Cannons made it to the All-Star Game: SP Ray Lambright (1st), C Min-gook Lee (1st), 1B Carlos Corea (3rd), 3B Luis Torres (2nd), LF Calvin Hanbridge (1st) and CF Sam Tite (1st). Player of the Week Awards: December 14 – CF Sam Tite (.385, 10 H, 4 HR, 7 RBI) January 11 – SS César Ruíz (.500, 11 H, 4 HR, 7 RBI) Noteworthy: December 12 – The Cannons blasted the Hespeler Stars at the Fabulous Avalon, 11-1, but the big story was that 27-year old 1B Carlos Corea (.337/.374/.559, 21 HR, 75 RBI, 21 BB, 2.1 WAR) hit for the cycle in the process. Corea flied out in the 1st, hit an RBI triple in the 3rd, flied out in the 5th, singles in the 7th, hit a solo-shot off RHP Nelson Wigley in the 8th and hit an RBI double in the 9th to complete the cycle. He is the fourth Cannon to hit for the cycle and it’s the 6th time a player for Cambria has accomplished it (former player Ron Westmacott accomplished the feat three times). It was the 21st cycle in United Leagues’ history. Interestingly, the 22nd cycle would be hit just 5 days later in the Eastern League. January 5 – The Cannons and Kingston Pelicans engaged in a shoot-out at Alexander Field, where the teams banged out 16 hits each and 6 home runs altogether. Three of those came off the bat of 33-year old SS César Ruíz (.279/.369/.478, 18 HR, 59 RBI, 52 BB, 2.3 WAR), who became the 11th player in United Leagues history to hit 3 home runs in a single game. In all, he went 3 for 4, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 RBI. His home runs were all solo shots, hit in the 6th, 7th and 9th innings. Alas it was not enough, as the Pelicans held one to win 10-8. Key Trade: January 8 with the Balmoral Giants: To Cambria – 36-year old RHP Hun Park (52/52) To Balmoral – 27-year old 3B Darren Hasegawa (50/50) *Knee-jerk reaction:* Not a huge deal by any means, but this one certainly favours the Cannons in my estimation. Hun Park (10-4, 4.06 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 105 ERA+), while not the two-time all-star pitcher he once was, represents an upgrade on the back-end of the rotation. The ten-year veteran has pedestrian stuff (40/40) but still has very good movement (60/60) and control (70/70). For a team that appears poised to challenge for a playoff spot this season, this is a puzzling move by the Giants. Hasegawa (.271/.370/.371, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 10 BB, 0.2 WAR) has the tools to be a standout infielder but his bat is decidedly average and does not represent an upgrade to what Balmoral already had. In addition, Park’s place in the rotation has been taken over for now by 29-year old LHP Pat Houseman (41/41) who is little more than an emergency starter. The troubling aspect in all of this is that both Houseman and Hasegawa have low work ethics and in the case of Houseman, is considered a cancer in the clubhouse. Current Injuries: December 9 – LHP Hirotada Fukushima – fractured elbow. Out for: 4 months. December 23 – 2B George Lasseter – broken bone in elbow. Out for: 5 months. January 27 – RHP Lenny Tennison – torn UCL. Out for: 6 months. -------- Offense: .273/.346/.410 (5th/2nd/4th) Pitching: 4.36/4.47/3.93 (5th/7th/3rd) Defense: .702 (4th) The Kingston Pelicans hung in there with the Fort Richmond Generals, remaining just a game back of the League leaders, but by the latter half of December, the Pelicans began to slide. That slide became an avalanche in January as the team tumbled in the standings, unable to put together more than two victories in a row during the month. The culprit is a struggling rotation. The offence, on the other hand, has been holding its own. Though batting just 7th in the lineup, 25-year old SS Charlie Cockin (.309/.372/.469, 6 HR, 59 RBI, 35 BB, 3.3 WAR) has emerged as Kingston’s top player and one of the ULB’s top shortstops (4th overall). He may soon be overtaken by 26-year old 3B Harry Herold (.301/.359/.508, 16 HR, 72 RBI, 29 BB, 3.1 WAR) who has been getting stronger as the season progresses. 27-year old C Carlos Camasura (.277/.427/.381, 5 HR, 43 RBI, 85 BB, 2.8 WAR) meanwhile, has started to fade, both offensively and defensively (.237/.354/.300 in January). Kingston needs him to get back on track. But the Pelicans really need their pitching core to step it up. January was a rough month for all concerned, but only 27-year old LHP Rob Hutchence (10-7, 3.22 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 133 ERA+) and 27-year old RHP Brian Marsland (12-7, 4.05 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 106 ERA+) have shown any consistency. Out of the bullpen, 29-year old RHP Kaula Mafileo (6-5, 13 SV, 2.67 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 3.72 FIP) and 24-year old RHP Lester Beddoes (3-3, 5 SV, 2.85 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 4.63 FIP) have been reliable, although Beddoes does have a propensity to give up a lot of walks (43 BB vs. 25 K). Seven Pelicans made the All-Star team: SP Rob Hutchence (1st), CL Kaula Mafileo (2nd), C Carlos Camasura (4th), 1B Dean Bishop (8th), 3B Harry Herold (1st), SS Charlie Cockin (1st) and RF Mo Spenceley (2nd). Player of the Week Awards: December 7 – SS Charlie Cockin (.444, 12 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R) January 25 – 3B Harry Herold (.440, 11 H, 4 HR, 11 R, 4 R) Noteworthy: January 7 – In the first game of a 4-game series, RHP Brian Marsland put on a pitching clinic, leading the Pelicans to an 8-0 victory over the Balmoral Giants at Kingston Park. Marsland blanked them on 3 hits. In all, he went 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 91 PI (GS: 81). Current Injuries: November 3 – CF George Nipper – torn meniscus (knee). Out for: 3-4 weeks. January 29 – 2B Ryoma Hakui – strained back. Out for: 3 weeks. -------- Offense: .269/.322/.371 (7th/8th/8th) Pitching: 4.45/3.99/6.21 (6th/5th/7th) Defense: .695 (6th) The past two months were forgettable for the Sherburn Tigers, at least in the standings. But in looking over their roster, one can’t help feeling positive or even excited at their future. Sherburn has four promising rookies in the lineup that are getting acclimated to the majors and an argument could be made that there should be five. And if it weren’t for injuries, the rotation could be quite impressive as well. Two rookies are already leading the team. 24-year old SS Dwayne Vick (.299/.334/.405, 2 HR, 37 RBI, 17 BB, 3.3 WAR) struggled in January, but he is no flash in the pan. He is a star in the making. 22-year old CF Ryan Blenkhorn (.362/.405/.469, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 19 BB, 2.0 WAR) took over centerfield and lead-off duties last month and was sensational, winning Rookie of the Month honours. 23-year old RF Albert Sulley (.282/.333/.397, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 13 BB, 0.3 WAR) is rated 9th overall among right fielders, but he has struggled at the plate since an impressive November. Here’s hoping the former 7th-round pick 1950-51 finds his groove soon. There are no concerns with his defense in either corner (RF-65, LF-60, CF-45) however. This season’s first overall pick, 23-year old 2B Bernard Kerkin (.389/.500/.556), joined the club in late January and should provide another huge boost. Finally, 25-year old 3B Archie Eridge (45/62) was inexplicably sent down to Double-A, where (no surprise) he is dominating (.471, 4 HR, last 9 games). Perhaps the Tigers are just giving him some final seasoning, as third base is a glaring weakness on Sherburn’s roster and Eridge is just the solution they need. The rotation took a blow when 27-year old RHP Ben Buschlen (5-5, 2.22 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 194 ERA+) was lost for the season just three pitches into his start against the Cambria Cannons back on December 26. Sherburn still won, 9-2, but his loss is huge. The Tigers understandably, hope he can bounce back next season. On the positive side, 30-year old RHP Jesús Chapa (5-13, 3.75 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 115 ERA+) found his old form in December and was terrific in January (2-2, 1.57 ERA, 6 GS). Four-year veteran, 26-year old RHP Bradley Strawson (4-7, 3.95 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 109 ERA+ - 50/58), still has room to grow into a reliable pitcher. But Sherburn should consider looking into beefing up their bullpen before next season. SS Dwayne Vick (1st) was the lone Tiger representative at the All-Star Game. Noteworthy: January 19 – 23-year old 2B Bernard Kerkin (minor league record: .444/.494/.771, 10 HR, 39 RBI, 14 BB, 3.5 WAR – 45/72) spent all of 41 games in Double-A before getting the call to the major league roster. But before he got called up, Kerkin picked up two Player of the Week honors and enjoyed a 25-game hitting streak, the fourth longest in Heritage Leagues’ history. On January 26, Kerkin’s contract was purchased by Sherburn and currently the former 1st overall pick is batting second in the Tigers’ lineup. Current Injuries: December 26 – RHP Ben Buschlen – torn flexor tendon. Out for: 5 months. December 28 – C Christopher Dainty – torn labrum. Out for: 5 months. January 21 – RF Louie Pate – sprained ankle. Out for: DtD, unknown. January 28 – RHP Wesley Murphy – dead arm. Out for: 2 weeks. -------- Offense: .273/.331/.418 (4th/7th/3rd) Pitching: 5.43/5.16/6.38 (8th/8th/8th) Defense: .680 (7th) The Hespeler Stars are in complete disarray. Unlike the Sherburn Tigers, who at least appear to have a road map laid out for returning to relevance, the Stars seem to be directionless, unable to deploy what talent they have on hand properly. They know how to put runs on the board, as they are third in the West in runs scored (513), but they are by far the worst in runs allowed (612). The next worst are the Embro Suns with 584. A result of all this squandering has been the oversight of the play of 30-year old SS Zhao-hui Qian (.346/.391/.521, 15 HR, 75 RBI, 32 BB, 5.0 WAR). Qian has been one of the best players this season in the United Leagues and is enjoying the best season of his 8-year career so far. 27-year old 3B Mike Park (.358/.403/.505, 8 HR, 49 RBI, 29 BB, 2.4 WAR) continues to lead the West in batting average and he has been joined in the lineup by another ‘M.P.’: 24-year old rookie LF Mike Pope (47/54), who was called up from Triple-A in early January. He was a 2nd-round pick from 1950-51 and is considered the top leftfield prospect in the Leagues. His bat should be very good very soon (60/60/55/55/60). But the promising talent of a couple of players continues to be squandered. 23-year old RF Bill Spaeth (41/56), their 2nd overall pick from 1950-51, is suffering from riding the bench. And 24-year old SS Apia Yarrah (50/70) is suffering the same fate. Yarrah is being blocked from starting by Qian. Both need regular starts. If not in majors, then at least in Triple-A while the Stars sort out their roster. But with the trade deadline having come and gone with no action taken by the Stars, it doesn’t appear they are inclined to try and compete anytime soon. If Spaeth or Yarrah are not in the Stars’ future, they could have used them as trade bait to acquire some much-needed pitching talent. Or Hespeler could have been bold and traded Qian to a contender for a nice haul. For all the Stars prospect depth, they are utterly lacking in quality arms. Right now, only 25-year old ace RHP Battista Corotta (8-13, 4.17 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 104 ERA+) has been effective on the mound. Three players represented the Stars at the All-Star Game: 2B Vic Lewis (3rd), 3B Mike Park (1st) and SS Zhao-hui Qian (3rd). Player of the Week Award: January 18 – SS Zhao-hui Qian (.529, 9 H, 3 HR, 9 RBI) Current Injuries: January 9 – 2B Vic Lewis – strained hamstring. Out for: DtD, 1 week. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland