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reds1 · 04-13-2021, 04:58 PM

February 1, 1954

Eastern League: Monarchs Making a Move for First

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Offense: .277/.361/.422 (4th/2nd/4th)
Pitching: 4.07/3.92/4.98 (2nd/2nd/5th)
Defense: .706 (2nd)

A 9-game winning streak in early December launched the Stratford Barons into first place in the East. At one time they held a 4-game lead on the Cobourg Red Stockings, but they had seen that lead dwindle as they cooled off a bit in January while the Braeland City Monarchs have surged.

After a few down years, 30-year old LF Roberto Ríos (.313/.454/.467, 10 HR, 60 RBI, 98 BB, 8 SB, 4.8 WAR) is enjoying a tremendous season and has returned to the Top 20 position player rankings (No. 17). 24-year old CF Sherwin Carasig (.350/.422/.558, 11 HR, 57 RBI, 32 BB, 7 SB, 3.7 WAR) is right there with him, although he did miss over a month due to a strained hamstring.

The pitching staff has been the strength of the team overall but has suffered from hot and cold streaks this season. That cannot be said however of 27-year old RHP Magtanggol Jaojoco (17-6, 3.24 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 131 ERA+), who leads the League in 6 pitching categories and is currently ranked No. 2 overall among all pitchers. 28-year old RHP Alonso Martínez (6-6, 3.26 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 130 ERA+ - 38/38) is showing some promise in his first full season in the United Leagues. He was a 14th overall pick back in 1946-47.

Four Barons qualified for the All-Star team: SP Magtanggol Jaojoco (3rd), C Aaron Skidmore (13th), 2B Matthew Channing (1st) and LF Roberto Ríos (5th).

Current Injuries:

January 28 – LF Roberto Ríos – hip flexor strain. Out for: DtD, 6 days.

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Offense: .300/.363/.462 (1st/1st/1st)
Pitching: 4.57/3.99/5.87 (7th/3rd/8th)
Defense: .688 (6th)

Their pitching may not have improved any, but the Braeland City Monarchs have climbed up the standings in the East thanks to their high-octane offense. It is currently No. 1 in the United Leagues, averaging 5.8 runs per game. Cobourg is next with 5.6. They have taken over the wild card spot from Cobourg and have designs on top spot. However, their pitching staff is one of the weakest, allowing 5.3 R/G. Only the Embro Suns are worse at 5.6. Thus, the Monarchs are riding heavily on their offense hoping to end their four-year playoff drought. Through 105 games, Braeland City has hit 121 home runs as a team. That puts them on pace for 177 on the season. The current ULB record is 157, set by the Monarchs in 1948-49.

28-year old 2B Patrick Lidgate (.370/.458/.689, 24 HR, 70 RBI, 60 BB, 7.9 WAR – 80/80) is enjoying an incredible season, the best by far of his 6-year career. He leads the East in 8 offensive categories. But the rest of the lineup is firing on all cylinders as well, with 7 of the 8 starters batting over .300. 23-year old RF Aidan Trembath (.333/.405/.534, 19 HR, 61 RBI, 46 BB, 3.9 WAR), 28-year old C Hayden Billyard (.316/.361/.504, 14 HR, 68 RBI, 26 BB, 3.6 WAR) and 24-year old CF Hayden Goodale (.318/.407/.531, 14 HR, 59 RBI, 43 BB, 3.5 WAR) are all enjoying the best seasons of their young careers.

The rotation has not been terrible, but most of the pitchers struggled in January. The one exception was No. 4 starter, 28-year old RHP Bobby Hogg (6-3, 2 SV, 3.61 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 120 ERA+) who went 4-0, 2.92 ERA on the month. 34-year old stopper RHP Rizal Doctolero (10-3, 11 SV, 3.33 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 129 ERA+) remains the lone bright spot in the bullpen.

Five players represented the Monarchs at the All-Star game: RHP Rizal Doctolero (3rd), C Hayden Billyard (1st), 2B Patrick Lidgate (5th), CF Hayden Goodale (1st) and RF Aidan Trembath (3rd).

Player of the Week Awards:

January 11 – 1B Dean Witherden (.536, 15 H, 2 HR, 14 RBI)
February 1 – 2B Patrick Lidgate (.500, 14 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI)

Noteworthy:

December 3 – The Monarchs and Tigers slugged it out in Sherburn in a high-scoring affair, with Braeland City pulling out a 15-11 win. Sherburn appeared to have the game well in hand by the end of the 5th inning where they broke open a 1-1 tie with 8 hits and two walks. The first three hits were singles followed by two doubles and two walks. That scored four runs. Then starting pitcher RHP Bradley Strawson stepped up and sent a 1-0 pitch from RHP Dara Eaddy 378 ft. into the leftfield bleachers for a Grand Slam home run, his second home run of the season. The Tigers would tack on another run to make it 10-1. But in the top of the 8th inning, Strawson would injure his hamstring and be forced out of the game. That proved to be a game changer, as the Monarchs came roaring back in the top of the 9th, feasting on Strawson’s replacements. That inning would see a three-run home run by C Hayden Billyard, a Grand Slam home run by RF Jesús Ortega and a solo shot by 2B Patrick Lidgate. In all, Braeland City would score 12 runs on 7 hits in the inning to take a 15-10 lead. Sherburn tried to come back in the bottom of the 9th but could only muster one more run.

December 30 – It was all Monarchs on this day as the visitors confounded the Cobourg Red Stockings 9-0 on 4 this. Braeland City collected 16 hits, five of them coming off the bat of 23-year old RF Aidan Trembath. Trembath hit an RBI single in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, 5th and 6th innings, flied out in the 8th and hit an RBI single in the 9th. In all, he went 5 for 6, 1 R, 2 RBI.

Current Injuries:

November 23 – 2B Patrick Lidgate – knee tendinitis. Out for: DtD, 3 weeks.
January 7 – 3B Danny Silk – sprained knee. Out for: 2 weeks.

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Offense: .289/.359/.440 (2nd/3rd/2nd)
Pitching: 4.42/4.28/5.02 (5th/6th/6th)
Defense: .693 (4th)

The Cobourg Red Stockings have started to fade and are in danger of missing out on a return to the playoffs to defend their Eastern League Pennant championship. The offense has been holding its own. The pitching is starting to become suspect, however. There is enough talent on this team to compete with the Barons and Monarchs, but Cobourg appears to be strangely lethargic or unmotivated. That may be the result of brewing dissention in the clubhouse, simply over the fact that there are no clear team leaders or sparkplugs on the team. To me that appears to be a very lame excuse. There are no troublemakers on the roster and the team is a winner. If the team was in the second division, I could see it becoming a sore point. But it appears to be a too severe penalty to a competitive team. If the Red Stockings could call up a player – any player – with some leadership abilities, then I can see them quickly turning this thing around.

27-year old CF Raymond Williams (.350/.421/.667, 30 HR, 84 RBI, 46 BB, 7.3 WAR) continues his elite play, the 5th straight season where he is among the United Leagues’ very best. With 30 home runs, he is just 9 shy of the season record, currently held by Kingston Pelicans 1B Dean Bishop, who set the record in 1949-50. Williams is on pace for 45. Also continuing to dominate this season is 28-year old 1B Harry Doxey (.384/.433/.556, 12 HR, 78 RBI, 30 BB, 4.9 WAR). If his batting average holds up, it will be highest in the United Leagues since Brunswick Legends’ Rovilson Valdevieso hit .398 back in 1939-40.

Consistency is still proving elusive for the pitching staff as the majority are having up and down seasons or are bouncing back from slow starts. 27-year old rookie RHP Marcus Turvill (9-6, 3.35 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 128 ERA+) has been the most consistent, while 26-year old RHP Fergus Hirst (10-11, 4.10 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 104 ERA+) rebounded in January (4-2, 3.12 ERA) after a rough December (0-4, 7.71 ERA). 24-year old RHP Brian McDaniel (7-4, 8 SV, 3.65 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 117 ERA) has recovered from a rough first two months to become one of the better stoppers in the League.

Four Red Stockings qualified for the All-Star game: RHP Marcus Turvill (2nd), 1B Harry Doxey (5th), 3B Alexander Tolmie (7th) and CF Raymond Williams (7th).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 21 – RF Nathan Ashman (.500, 8 H, 2 HR, 11 RBI)
January 18 – 1B Harry Doxey (.579, 11 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI)
January 25 – 1B Harry Doxey (.526, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI)

Noteworthy:

December 7 – It was an afternoon for a couple of young players to shine, as both 26-year old LF Robert Burgess (.565/.600/.913, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB, 0.6 WAR – 40/44) and 22-year old SS Douglas Jones (.271/.323/.432, 12 HR, 70 RBI, 28 BB, 2.5 WAR – 62/70) collected 5 hits in the Red Stockings’ 15-6 trouncing of the Brunswick Legends. Burgess has yet to fully establish himself in the major leagues, having spent just 9 games this season so far on the Red Stockings roster. But on this day, he went 5 for 5, collecting three singles as well as a 3-run triple in the 5th and then hit a solo home run off RHP Charlie Gilbert in the 6th. In all, he collected 3 R and 4 RBI.
Leading off the game, Jones went 5 for 6. He also batted out 3 singles in addition to a 2-run double in the 4th and an RBI double in the 5th. That led to him scoring 2 R and 4 RBI.

December 23 – The Red Stockings were on a tear in Embro, slashing out 25 hits en route to a 21-3 spanking of the Suns. 30-year old back-up 2B Gijsbert Jacobse (.344/.408/.484, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 7 BB, 0.6 WAR) was the game star, going 4 for 6 with a 3-run triple, 4 R, 5 RBI. 32-year old 3B Alexander Tolmie (.296/.394/.433, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 61 BB, 3.2 WAR) had a big day as well, going 5 for 5, with three singles and two doubles, scoring 2 R.

January 3 –1B Harry Doxey is enjoying a phenomenal season, as he leads the United Leagues in batting average. He also enjoyed a 22-game hitting streak that ended when he went 0-4 with 1 BB against the Stratford Barons. However, Cobourg still won easily, 10-3.

Current Injuries:

January 17 – 3B Bob Voeller – undisclosed injury. Out for: 3 days.

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Offense: .280/.351/.427 (3rd/4th/3rd)
Pitching: 4.85/4.62/5.51 (8th/8th/7th)
Defense: .670 (8th)

If the Red Stockings have started to back-slide, the Embro Suns have entered free-fall, as they have fallen from first place to being 8 games back of a playoff spot over the past two months. Their initial strong play appears to have been an illusion, as they have started to struggle in almost all aspects, particularly in pitching and defense. A 9-game losing streak in early December quickly knocked them out of first place and they have yet to recover.

25-year old 3B Moromao Nakagawa (.309/.380/.503, 14 HR, 58 RBI, 43 BB, 3.5 WAR) continues to pace the offense, but the lineup as a whole has cooled off, particularly 24-year old LF Jesús Abreu (.272/.369/.497, 15 HR, 51 RBI, 46 BB, 2.0 WAR) and 27-year old CF Orlando Morales (.303/.352/.472, 10 HR, 55 RBI, 33 BB, 2.9 WAR), who went .177/.278/.291 and .229/.292/.375 respectively in January.

The pitching has regressed over the past two months, with only 28-year old RHP Juan Rivas (12-8, 3.25 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 131 ERA+) and 23-year old rookie RHP Bob Nord (3-5, 2.40 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.85 FIP) playing with any kind of consistency.

Seven Suns were selected as All-Stars: CL Bob Nord (1st), 1B Napana Mamo (2nd), 2B Robert Jameson (1st), 3B Moromao Nakagawa (2nd), LF Jesús Abreu (1st), CF Orlando Morales (2nd) and RF José Maldonado (4th).

Noteworthy:

December 27 – LF Jesús Abreu was more than the Downie Chiefs could handle, as the 24-year old from Mexico went 5 for 6, leading the Suns to a 10-5 victory. Abreu started off with a solo home run off RHP Freddie Trerise in the 1st inning, hit an RBI double in the 3rd, struck out in the 5th, doubled in the 6th, singled in the 8th and hit a 2-run home run off RHP Bill Lafontaine in the top of the 9th. In total, he collected 3 R and 4 RBI.

Current Injuries: None.

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Offense: .269/.334/.398 (5th/5th/7th)
Pitching: 4.31/4.24/4.53 (4th/5th/3rd)
Defense: .695 (3rd)

The loss of their best player has taken a toll on the Wellington Athletics, but while this season may be lost, there are enough promising signs that better days may be on the horizon. Their pitching and defense have improved as the season has worn on and they have some solid young talent currently on the major league roster with more on the way.

The absence of 26-year old LF Matthew Floyd (.350/.429/.613, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 21 BB, 2.6 WAR) from the lineup is being felt, but 28-year old RF Jim Mars (.317/.375/.441, 3 HR, 49 RBI, 37 BB, 3.1 WAR) and 26-year old 1B Wayne Emmert (.296/.377/.495, 10 HR, 69 RBI, 51 BB, 2.9 WAR) are doing an admirable job in the heart of the lineup. In addition, 21-year old rookie CF Greg Yates (.314/.347/.502, 7 HR, 37 RBI, 13 BB, 2.0 WAR – 50/55) is developing nicely, winning Rookie of the Month honors in February. If he continues to progress, the Athletics should boast a strong outfield next season, with Mars and a healthy Floyd flanking him.

The pitching has improved, but Wellington seems unable to catch a break, having lost their ace, 26-year old RHP Vinnie Snell (11-5, 3.81 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 110 ERA+) for the season. Taking over has been 23-year old rookie RHP Darren Etheridge (10-8, 3.34 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 126 ERA+) who has been impressive despite the added pressure. The rest of the staff has been mediocre, however. But waiting in the wings is 22-year old RHP Mike Murray (33/70), who was a 2nd-round draft pick this season. He has been dominant in AA (9-1, 1.74 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 270 ERA+). He is currently rated as the 10th overall prospect in the ULB.

Four Athletics headed to the All-Star game: SP Darren Etheridge (1st), 1B Wayne Emmert (2nd), LF Matthew Floyd (3rd) and Jim Mars (4th).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 28 – CF Greg Yates (.444, 12 H, 1 HR, 9 RBI)

Noteworthy:

January 15 – Future hall of famer LHP Anastasio Rodríquez (3-1, 1 SV, 4.87 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 88 ERA+) was released by the Wolseley Unions back on November 12, just one win short of the retired Joel Fearn for the most victories in the United Leagues. On November 16, the 37-year old signed a minor league contract with the Athletics and soon joined their bullpen. On December 8, Rodríquez entered the 11th inning in a 5-5 tie against his old team and kept them off the board for two innings until 27-year old 2B Vaiga Bultarro slammed a two-out, walk-off solo home run into the leftfield bleachers off 26-year old RHP Joseph Sellwood. That gave Rodríquez his 250th career win, putting him in a tie with Fearn. On January 15, the Panamanian Rodríquez broke the tie when he came on in relief of 29-year old RHP Troy Conlin after just two batters when Colin injured his elbow. Rodríquez kept the Braeland City Monarchs’ bats quiet, pitching 5.1 innings and scattering 4 hits. The Athletics won the game 9-0, giving Rodríquez his 251st victory, the most in United Leagues history.

Current Injuries:

November 22 – LF Matthew Floyd – broken bone in elbow. Out for: 7-8 weeks.
January 5 – SS Rupert Bricknell – sprained thumb. Out for: DtD, unknown.
January 9 – RHP Vinnie Snell – ruptured disc. Out for 5 months.

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Offense: .256/.320/.403 (8th/8th/6th)
Pitching: 4.10/4.15/3.97 (3rd/4th/1st)
Defense: .710 (1st)

The Downie Chiefs are simply biding their time as their young players get acclimated to the majors. Still, the Chiefs have become more competitive as the season has progressed, thanks largely to their pitching staff, but a long-term injury to their no. 1 starter may put a damper on things for the remainder of the season.

Their offense is being carried by three starters. 28-year old CF Alfonso León (.322/.382/.480, 12 HR, 48 RBI, 38 BB, 7 SB, 4.1 WAR) continues to be one the best players in the United Leagues, but his production is down from previous years. 28-year old 2B Dominic Dudding (.335/.392/.501, 15 HR, 55 RBI, 42 BB, 3.6 WAR) continues his fine play as well, although it too is a step below to what it was a few years ago. On the other hand, 27-year old C Whatahui Inoke (.281/.338/.448, 10 HR, 46 RBI, 26 BB, 2.3 WAR) is enjoying arguably the best season of his 4-year career. The rookies, however, are either experiencing growing pains, such as 22-year old Freddie Ogburn (.207/.258/.319, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 21 BB, -0.4 WAR), or have yet to get any meaningful starts, such as 24-year old OF Jack Jefferson (.237/.348/.289, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 6 BB, 0.1 WAR) and 26-year old IF Harley Truman (.388/.423/.687, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 4 BB, 1.2 WAR). Truman though has been very effective when he has been able to get into games.

The loss of 31-year old RHP Kelii Pelanekelina (4-2, 2.05 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 3.08 FIP) to repeated injuries this season has hurt the club, as the fragile Pelanekelina remains Downie’s best pitcher. Two young pitchers, namely 22-year old RHP Stefan Rankin (2-3, 4.18 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 100 ERA+) and 23-year old LHP Quinn Merrifield (3-6, 6.13 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, 68 ERA+) are being given every chance to succeed.

The bullpen is being led by 30-year old RHP Bill Lafontaine (10-4, 10 SV, 2.61 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 160 ERA+) and 23-year old RHP Eddie Stannard (2-2, 4 SV, 3.64 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 115 ERA+).

Three Chiefs were selected as All-Stars: RHP Kelii Pelanekelina (5th), Dominic Dudding (7th) and CF Alfonso León (7th).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 14 – CF Alfonso León (.522, 12 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI)

Noteworthy:

December 31 – The Brunswick Legends could get nothing going against RHP Kelii Pelanekelina, as he shut them out, 4-0, on 2 hits. The 31-year old Fijian went the distance, going 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K (GS: 90).

January 27 – It was a rough day for the Hespeler Stars as the Chiefs pummelled them 22-8 on 22 hits. Five Chiefs’ players collected at least 2 hits, but CF Alfonso León was the toughest out, going 6 for 7 on the afternoon. After flying out in the 1st inning, León hit an RBI single in the 3rd, an RBI double in the 4th, singled in the 6th and 8th innings, then hit RBI singles in the 8th and 9th. In all, he went 6 for 7, 2 R, 4 RBI.

Current Injuries:

January 10 – RHP Kelii Pelanekelina – forearm inflammation. Out for: 6 weeks.
January 30 – LF Howard Dumbrill – forearm soreness. Out for: DtD, 4 days.

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Offense: .269/.334/.406 (6th/6th/5th)
Pitching: 4.46/4.60/4.05 (6th/7th/2nd)
Defense: .687 (7th)

The predicted standings made before the start of the season called for the Brunswick Legends to win 84 games, just one game back of the wild card. That obviously was a wildly optimistic projection. The Legends are simply not that good and winning 70 games is much more realistic.

Offensively, 25-year old C Robert Kersey (.333/.411/.615, 25 HR, 80 RBI, 48 BB, 5.3 WAR) is Brunswick’s only player of note. But what a player! He is the top-rated catcher in the United Leagues and is rated 3rd overall among position players. But it comes at a cost, as he is considered a cancer in the clubhouse and has a low work ethic among other things. But in fairness, he is pulling his weight (even if he’s throwing it around at the same time).

The rest of lineup is essentially non-descript and pales in comparison to Kersey. 23-year old rookie RF Jay Mitchell (.263/.345/.481, 9 HR, 26 RBI, 20 BB, 0.6 WAR – 47/53) has been dealing with the pressure of having to bat behind Kersey in the No. 4 spot all season. He was an 11th overall pick back in 1951-52.

Apart from the bullpen, the pitching staff has not been very impressive. That said, 26-year old RHP Mhelter Pilapil (10-8, 3.44 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 125 ERA+) has been very effective at times (3-3, 1.93 ERA in December). 21-year old rookie RHP Dave Ball (6-7, 5.24 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 82 ERA+ - 40/54) looks to be part of Brunswick’s future. A 2nd-round pick from 1950-51, he is the Legends’ top-ranked prospect (23rd overall).

In the bullpen, both 28-year old RHP Byron Ollson (2-1, 2 SV, 1.78 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 241 ERA+) and 32-year old RHP Lao Chen (6-6, 13 SV, 1.34 WHIP, 132 ERA+) have been outstanding.

Four Legends were selected to the All-Star game: SP Mhelter Pilapil (1st), CL Lao Chen (5th), C Robert Kersey (3rd) and SS Harris Yaag (1st).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 7 – LF Carl Patton (.591, 13 H, 3 RBI)
January 4 – C Robert Kersey (.625, 5 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 3 R)

Noteworthy:

December 17 – Just days after Cambria Cannons 1B Carlos Corea accomplished the feat, 32-year old 3B Jorge Arredondo (.260/.330/.376, 7 HR, 42 RBI, 41 BB, 1.7 WAR) hit for the cycle in a game against the Braeland City Monarchs, the 22nd in United Leagues history. As the Legends outscored the Monarchs 15-11, Arredondo hit a 2-run home run off 27-year old RHP Danilo Narvaez in the 1st inning, walked in the 2nd, hit an RBI single in the 3rd, walked in the 5th, tripled in the 7th and doubled in the 9th. In all, he went 4 for 4 with 3 R, 3 R and 2 BB.

January 16 – It was the hot bat of C Robert Kersey that led the Legends to a 10-9 come-from-behind win over the Cobourg Red Stockings. He went 5 for 5 with 4 R and 4 RBI. Kersey singled in the 1st, 3rd and 5th innings, hit an RBI single in the 6th and then, when trailing 9-7, crushed a 3-run home run off 31-year old LHP William Say, 393 ft. to dead centerfield in the 8th.

Key Trade: December 5 with the Queensland Eagles:

To Brunswick – 36-year old RHP Pi-ao Quian (54/54)
To Queensland – 25-year old C Robbie Leivers (50/60) and 22-year-old minor-league LF Seb Kingman (40/52)

Knee-jerk reaction: This trade certainly makes sense for Queensland, as they need an upgrade at catcher. For Brunswick, it also makes some sense that they would be willing to part with Leivers as no one is going to usurp Kersey, the best catcher in the United Leagues, anytime soon. But to do so for a 36-year old pitcher nearing the end of the career when you are nowhere near to competing for a playoff spot is a bit of a headscratcher. Nevertheless, Brunswick considers Quian their new ace. The five-time all-star has very good movement and control (60/60) to offset his below average stuff (40/40). He has five pitches, with his cutter (45/45) being his best. He is an iron man with stamina (75) and is considered a leader, something the team needs. So perhaps the Legends knew what they were doing. He should provide them with some quality innings.

Leivers was a 3rd-round pick back in 1947-48. He knows how to hit, having won the Double-A Lou Gehrig Award last season. When fully developed, he should provide a much-needed spark in the lineup and steal an above average number of bases. His basic batting ratings potential are 55/65/55/55/65. While not overly blessed defensively, he should be an average starter catcher someday. Currently, he is starting against left-handed pitchers for now. Meanwhile, Kingman was a 5th-round pick from 1949-50. He is a defensively-sound leftfielder with an excellent eye at the plate and above average power. He is currently on the major league roster as a depth player.

Current Injuries:

January 31 – 1B Stuart Bentham – fractured wrist. Out for: 6 weeks.

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Offense: .257/.325/.381 (7th/7th/8th)
Pitching: 4.00/3.87/4.57 (1st/1st/4th)
Defense: .691 (5th)

The Queensland Eagles remain the doormat of the Eastern League, but its exciting nonetheless to see a team taking definite steps to improve its fortunes. The Eagles have made a couple of trades to try and revitalize its lackluster lineup, while at the same time promoting more promising arms onto its pitching staff.

27-year old 3B Ryan Conisford (.304/.382/.519, 18 HR, 71 RBI, 49 BB, 3.7 WAR) remains the lone bright spot in the lineup. In fact, he has been getting stronger as the season has progressed. He was particularly hot in December (.374/.453/.637). 25-year old rookie CF Liam Banfield (.231/.317/.350, 7 HR, 30 RBI, 40 BB, 10 SB, 0.5 WAR) is still getting used to the major league level, at least when he is injury-free. The recent acquisitions of 25-year old CF John Oldknow (.268/.315/.362, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 10 BB, -0.1 WAR) and 25-year old C Robbie Leivers (.203/.309/.322, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 8 BB, 0.1 WAR), two players that saw limited playing time with their previous clubs, should help. The influx of new players has allowed Queensland to return 20-year old RF Hal Dhu (33/63), the No. 2 overall prospect, to Double-A, allowing him to get more playing time.

The Eagles boast both the No. 1 and No. 3-rated pitchers in the United Leagues: 28-year old RHP Logan Belsey (14-9, 2.81 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 150 ERA+) and 26-year old RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (10-8, 3.08 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 137 ERA+). Give them a decent offense and this team should immediately move up in the standings. In the meantime, Queensland has no less than three promising young pitchers on the major league staff.

The departure of 36-year old RHP Pi-ao Quian has allowed 21-year old RHP Derek Tarn (4-3, 4.62 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 91 ERA+), a former 3rd overall pick, to finally join the rotation. But the Eagles have promoted two more of their promising young arms to the majors: 24-year old LHP Amoka Kalea (43/56) just joined the rotation after going 8-3, 3.33 ERA, 159.2 IP in Triple-A, while 21-year old RHP Wayne O’Reilly (43/67) was recently added to the bullpen. If all three develop, Queensland will soon have a most formidable rotation from top to bottom.

Three Eagles qualified for the All-Star game: SP Logan Belsey (3rd), SP Stiofan Micklethwait (1st) and 3B Ryan Conisford (2nd).

Noteworthy:

January 18 – RHP Stiofan Micklethwait started off the 1st game of a 3-game series against the Brunswick Legends with an overpowering performance, blanking the Legends 9-0 on just 2 hits. His line was: 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K (GS: 88). The Eagles scored all their runs in the bottom of the 8th inning, which was highlighted by a 3-run home run by lead-off hitter CF Liam Banfield.

Current Injuries:

October 24 – LHP Steven Selkirk – torn flexor tendon. Out for: 3 months.
January 9 – RHP Bartolo Sánchez – sore elbow. Out for: 1-2 weeks.
January 17 – 2B Eric Maher – strained hamstring. Out for: 3-4 weeks.
January 22 – CF Liam Banfield – lacerated finger. Out for: 4 days.

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04-13-2021, 04:58 PM	#628
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,919	February 1, 1954 Eastern League: Monarchs Making a Move for First -------- Offense: .277/.361/.422 (4th/2nd/4th) Pitching: 4.07/3.92/4.98 (2nd/2nd/5th) Defense: .706 (2nd) A 9-game winning streak in early December launched the Stratford Barons into first place in the East. At one time they held a 4-game lead on the Cobourg Red Stockings, but they had seen that lead dwindle as they cooled off a bit in January while the Braeland City Monarchs have surged. After a few down years, 30-year old LF Roberto Ríos (.313/.454/.467, 10 HR, 60 RBI, 98 BB, 8 SB, 4.8 WAR) is enjoying a tremendous season and has returned to the Top 20 position player rankings (No. 17). 24-year old CF Sherwin Carasig (.350/.422/.558, 11 HR, 57 RBI, 32 BB, 7 SB, 3.7 WAR) is right there with him, although he did miss over a month due to a strained hamstring. The pitching staff has been the strength of the team overall but has suffered from hot and cold streaks this season. That cannot be said however of 27-year old RHP Magtanggol Jaojoco (17-6, 3.24 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 131 ERA+), who leads the League in 6 pitching categories and is currently ranked No. 2 overall among all pitchers. 28-year old RHP Alonso Martínez (6-6, 3.26 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 130 ERA+ - 38/38) is showing some promise in his first full season in the United Leagues. He was a 14th overall pick back in 1946-47. Four Barons qualified for the All-Star team: SP Magtanggol Jaojoco (3rd), C Aaron Skidmore (13th), 2B Matthew Channing (1st) and LF Roberto Ríos (5th). Current Injuries: January 28 – LF Roberto Ríos – hip flexor strain. Out for: DtD, 6 days. -------- Offense: .300/.363/.462 (1st/1st/1st) Pitching: 4.57/3.99/5.87 (7th/3rd/8th) Defense: .688 (6th) Their pitching may not have improved any, but the Braeland City Monarchs have climbed up the standings in the East thanks to their high-octane offense. It is currently No. 1 in the United Leagues, averaging 5.8 runs per game. Cobourg is next with 5.6. They have taken over the wild card spot from Cobourg and have designs on top spot. However, their pitching staff is one of the weakest, allowing 5.3 R/G. Only the Embro Suns are worse at 5.6. Thus, the Monarchs are riding heavily on their offense hoping to end their four-year playoff drought. Through 105 games, Braeland City has hit 121 home runs as a team. That puts them on pace for 177 on the season. The current ULB record is 157, set by the Monarchs in 1948-49. 28-year old 2B Patrick Lidgate (.370/.458/.689, 24 HR, 70 RBI, 60 BB, 7.9 WAR – 80/80) is enjoying an incredible season, the best by far of his 6-year career. He leads the East in 8 offensive categories. But the rest of the lineup is firing on all cylinders as well, with 7 of the 8 starters batting over .300. 23-year old RF Aidan Trembath (.333/.405/.534, 19 HR, 61 RBI, 46 BB, 3.9 WAR), 28-year old C Hayden Billyard (.316/.361/.504, 14 HR, 68 RBI, 26 BB, 3.6 WAR) and 24-year old CF Hayden Goodale (.318/.407/.531, 14 HR, 59 RBI, 43 BB, 3.5 WAR) are all enjoying the best seasons of their young careers. The rotation has not been terrible, but most of the pitchers struggled in January. The one exception was No. 4 starter, 28-year old RHP Bobby Hogg (6-3, 2 SV, 3.61 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 120 ERA+) who went 4-0, 2.92 ERA on the month. 34-year old stopper RHP Rizal Doctolero (10-3, 11 SV, 3.33 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 129 ERA+) remains the lone bright spot in the bullpen. Five players represented the Monarchs at the All-Star game: RHP Rizal Doctolero (3rd), C Hayden Billyard (1st), 2B Patrick Lidgate (5th), CF Hayden Goodale (1st) and RF Aidan Trembath (3rd). Player of the Week Awards: January 11 – 1B Dean Witherden (.536, 15 H, 2 HR, 14 RBI) February 1 – 2B Patrick Lidgate (.500, 14 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI) Noteworthy: December 3 – The Monarchs and Tigers slugged it out in Sherburn in a high-scoring affair, with Braeland City pulling out a 15-11 win. Sherburn appeared to have the game well in hand by the end of the 5th inning where they broke open a 1-1 tie with 8 hits and two walks. The first three hits were singles followed by two doubles and two walks. That scored four runs. Then starting pitcher RHP Bradley Strawson stepped up and sent a 1-0 pitch from RHP Dara Eaddy 378 ft. into the leftfield bleachers for a Grand Slam home run, his second home run of the season. The Tigers would tack on another run to make it 10-1. But in the top of the 8th inning, Strawson would injure his hamstring and be forced out of the game. That proved to be a game changer, as the Monarchs came roaring back in the top of the 9th, feasting on Strawson’s replacements. That inning would see a three-run home run by C Hayden Billyard, a Grand Slam home run by RF Jesús Ortega and a solo shot by 2B Patrick Lidgate. In all, Braeland City would score 12 runs on 7 hits in the inning to take a 15-10 lead. Sherburn tried to come back in the bottom of the 9th but could only muster one more run. December 30 – It was all Monarchs on this day as the visitors confounded the Cobourg Red Stockings 9-0 on 4 this. Braeland City collected 16 hits, five of them coming off the bat of 23-year old RF Aidan Trembath. Trembath hit an RBI single in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, 5th and 6th innings, flied out in the 8th and hit an RBI single in the 9th. In all, he went 5 for 6, 1 R, 2 RBI. Current Injuries: November 23 – 2B Patrick Lidgate – knee tendinitis. Out for: DtD, 3 weeks. January 7 – 3B Danny Silk – sprained knee. Out for: 2 weeks. -------- Offense: .289/.359/.440 (2nd/3rd/2nd) Pitching: 4.42/4.28/5.02 (5th/6th/6th) Defense: .693 (4th) The Cobourg Red Stockings have started to fade and are in danger of missing out on a return to the playoffs to defend their Eastern League Pennant championship. The offense has been holding its own. The pitching is starting to become suspect, however. There is enough talent on this team to compete with the Barons and Monarchs, but Cobourg appears to be strangely lethargic or unmotivated. That may be the result of brewing dissention in the clubhouse, simply over the fact that there are no clear team leaders or sparkplugs on the team. To me that appears to be a very lame excuse. There are no troublemakers on the roster and the team is a winner. If the team was in the second division, I could see it becoming a sore point. But it appears to be a too severe penalty to a competitive team. If the Red Stockings could call up a player – any player – with some leadership abilities, then I can see them quickly turning this thing around. 27-year old CF Raymond Williams (.350/.421/.667, 30 HR, 84 RBI, 46 BB, 7.3 WAR) continues his elite play, the 5th straight season where he is among the United Leagues’ very best. With 30 home runs, he is just 9 shy of the season record, currently held by Kingston Pelicans 1B Dean Bishop, who set the record in 1949-50. Williams is on pace for 45. Also continuing to dominate this season is 28-year old 1B Harry Doxey (.384/.433/.556, 12 HR, 78 RBI, 30 BB, 4.9 WAR). If his batting average holds up, it will be highest in the United Leagues since Brunswick Legends’ Rovilson Valdevieso hit .398 back in 1939-40. Consistency is still proving elusive for the pitching staff as the majority are having up and down seasons or are bouncing back from slow starts. 27-year old rookie RHP Marcus Turvill (9-6, 3.35 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 128 ERA+) has been the most consistent, while 26-year old RHP Fergus Hirst (10-11, 4.10 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 104 ERA+) rebounded in January (4-2, 3.12 ERA) after a rough December (0-4, 7.71 ERA). 24-year old RHP Brian McDaniel (7-4, 8 SV, 3.65 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 117 ERA) has recovered from a rough first two months to become one of the better stoppers in the League. Four Red Stockings qualified for the All-Star game: RHP Marcus Turvill (2nd), 1B Harry Doxey (5th), 3B Alexander Tolmie (7th) and CF Raymond Williams (7th). Player of the Week Awards: December 21 – RF Nathan Ashman (.500, 8 H, 2 HR, 11 RBI) January 18 – 1B Harry Doxey (.579, 11 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI) January 25 – 1B Harry Doxey (.526, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI) Noteworthy: December 7 – It was an afternoon for a couple of young players to shine, as both 26-year old LF Robert Burgess (.565/.600/.913, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB, 0.6 WAR – 40/44) and 22-year old SS Douglas Jones (.271/.323/.432, 12 HR, 70 RBI, 28 BB, 2.5 WAR – 62/70) collected 5 hits in the Red Stockings’ 15-6 trouncing of the Brunswick Legends. Burgess has yet to fully establish himself in the major leagues, having spent just 9 games this season so far on the Red Stockings roster. But on this day, he went 5 for 5, collecting three singles as well as a 3-run triple in the 5th and then hit a solo home run off RHP Charlie Gilbert in the 6th. In all, he collected 3 R and 4 RBI. Leading off the game, Jones went 5 for 6. He also batted out 3 singles in addition to a 2-run double in the 4th and an RBI double in the 5th. That led to him scoring 2 R and 4 RBI. December 23 – The Red Stockings were on a tear in Embro, slashing out 25 hits en route to a 21-3 spanking of the Suns. 30-year old back-up 2B Gijsbert Jacobse (.344/.408/.484, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 7 BB, 0.6 WAR) was the game star, going 4 for 6 with a 3-run triple, 4 R, 5 RBI. 32-year old 3B Alexander Tolmie (.296/.394/.433, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 61 BB, 3.2 WAR) had a big day as well, going 5 for 5, with three singles and two doubles, scoring 2 R. January 3 –1B Harry Doxey is enjoying a phenomenal season, as he leads the United Leagues in batting average. He also enjoyed a 22-game hitting streak that ended when he went 0-4 with 1 BB against the Stratford Barons. However, Cobourg still won easily, 10-3. Current Injuries: January 17 – 3B Bob Voeller – undisclosed injury. Out for: 3 days. -------- Offense: .280/.351/.427 (3rd/4th/3rd) Pitching: 4.85/4.62/5.51 (8th/8th/7th) Defense: .670 (8th) If the Red Stockings have started to back-slide, the Embro Suns have entered free-fall, as they have fallen from first place to being 8 games back of a playoff spot over the past two months. Their initial strong play appears to have been an illusion, as they have started to struggle in almost all aspects, particularly in pitching and defense. A 9-game losing streak in early December quickly knocked them out of first place and they have yet to recover. 25-year old 3B Moromao Nakagawa (.309/.380/.503, 14 HR, 58 RBI, 43 BB, 3.5 WAR) continues to pace the offense, but the lineup as a whole has cooled off, particularly 24-year old LF Jesús Abreu (.272/.369/.497, 15 HR, 51 RBI, 46 BB, 2.0 WAR) and 27-year old CF Orlando Morales (.303/.352/.472, 10 HR, 55 RBI, 33 BB, 2.9 WAR), who went .177/.278/.291 and .229/.292/.375 respectively in January. The pitching has regressed over the past two months, with only 28-year old RHP Juan Rivas (12-8, 3.25 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 131 ERA+) and 23-year old rookie RHP Bob Nord (3-5, 2.40 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.85 FIP) playing with any kind of consistency. Seven Suns were selected as All-Stars: CL Bob Nord (1st), 1B Napana Mamo (2nd), 2B Robert Jameson (1st), 3B Moromao Nakagawa (2nd), LF Jesús Abreu (1st), CF Orlando Morales (2nd) and RF José Maldonado (4th). Noteworthy: December 27 – LF Jesús Abreu was more than the Downie Chiefs could handle, as the 24-year old from Mexico went 5 for 6, leading the Suns to a 10-5 victory. Abreu started off with a solo home run off RHP Freddie Trerise in the 1st inning, hit an RBI double in the 3rd, struck out in the 5th, doubled in the 6th, singled in the 8th and hit a 2-run home run off RHP Bill Lafontaine in the top of the 9th. In total, he collected 3 R and 4 RBI. Current Injuries: None. -------- Offense: .269/.334/.398 (5th/5th/7th) Pitching: 4.31/4.24/4.53 (4th/5th/3rd) Defense: .695 (3rd) The loss of their best player has taken a toll on the Wellington Athletics, but while this season may be lost, there are enough promising signs that better days may be on the horizon. Their pitching and defense have improved as the season has worn on and they have some solid young talent currently on the major league roster with more on the way. The absence of 26-year old LF Matthew Floyd (.350/.429/.613, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 21 BB, 2.6 WAR) from the lineup is being felt, but 28-year old RF Jim Mars (.317/.375/.441, 3 HR, 49 RBI, 37 BB, 3.1 WAR) and 26-year old 1B Wayne Emmert (.296/.377/.495, 10 HR, 69 RBI, 51 BB, 2.9 WAR) are doing an admirable job in the heart of the lineup. In addition, 21-year old rookie CF Greg Yates (.314/.347/.502, 7 HR, 37 RBI, 13 BB, 2.0 WAR – 50/55) is developing nicely, winning Rookie of the Month honors in February. If he continues to progress, the Athletics should boast a strong outfield next season, with Mars and a healthy Floyd flanking him. The pitching has improved, but Wellington seems unable to catch a break, having lost their ace, 26-year old RHP Vinnie Snell (11-5, 3.81 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 110 ERA+) for the season. Taking over has been 23-year old rookie RHP Darren Etheridge (10-8, 3.34 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 126 ERA+) who has been impressive despite the added pressure. The rest of the staff has been mediocre, however. But waiting in the wings is 22-year old RHP Mike Murray (33/70), who was a 2nd-round draft pick this season. He has been dominant in AA (9-1, 1.74 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 270 ERA+). He is currently rated as the 10th overall prospect in the ULB. Four Athletics headed to the All-Star game: SP Darren Etheridge (1st), 1B Wayne Emmert (2nd), LF Matthew Floyd (3rd) and Jim Mars (4th). Player of the Week Awards: December 28 – CF Greg Yates (.444, 12 H, 1 HR, 9 RBI) Noteworthy: January 15 – Future hall of famer LHP Anastasio Rodríquez (3-1, 1 SV, 4.87 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 88 ERA+) was released by the Wolseley Unions back on November 12, just one win short of the retired Joel Fearn for the most victories in the United Leagues. On November 16, the 37-year old signed a minor league contract with the Athletics and soon joined their bullpen. On December 8, Rodríquez entered the 11th inning in a 5-5 tie against his old team and kept them off the board for two innings until 27-year old 2B Vaiga Bultarro slammed a two-out, walk-off solo home run into the leftfield bleachers off 26-year old RHP Joseph Sellwood. That gave Rodríquez his 250th career win, putting him in a tie with Fearn. On January 15, the Panamanian Rodríquez broke the tie when he came on in relief of 29-year old RHP Troy Conlin after just two batters when Colin injured his elbow. Rodríquez kept the Braeland City Monarchs’ bats quiet, pitching 5.1 innings and scattering 4 hits. The Athletics won the game 9-0, giving Rodríquez his 251st victory, the most in United Leagues history. Current Injuries: November 22 – LF Matthew Floyd – broken bone in elbow. Out for: 7-8 weeks. January 5 – SS Rupert Bricknell – sprained thumb. Out for: DtD, unknown. January 9 – RHP Vinnie Snell – ruptured disc. Out for 5 months. -------- Offense: .256/.320/.403 (8th/8th/6th) Pitching: 4.10/4.15/3.97 (3rd/4th/1st) Defense: .710 (1st) The Downie Chiefs are simply biding their time as their young players get acclimated to the majors. Still, the Chiefs have become more competitive as the season has progressed, thanks largely to their pitching staff, but a long-term injury to their no. 1 starter may put a damper on things for the remainder of the season. Their offense is being carried by three starters. 28-year old CF Alfonso León (.322/.382/.480, 12 HR, 48 RBI, 38 BB, 7 SB, 4.1 WAR) continues to be one the best players in the United Leagues, but his production is down from previous years. 28-year old 2B Dominic Dudding (.335/.392/.501, 15 HR, 55 RBI, 42 BB, 3.6 WAR) continues his fine play as well, although it too is a step below to what it was a few years ago. On the other hand, 27-year old C Whatahui Inoke (.281/.338/.448, 10 HR, 46 RBI, 26 BB, 2.3 WAR) is enjoying arguably the best season of his 4-year career. The rookies, however, are either experiencing growing pains, such as 22-year old Freddie Ogburn (.207/.258/.319, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 21 BB, -0.4 WAR), or have yet to get any meaningful starts, such as 24-year old OF Jack Jefferson (.237/.348/.289, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 6 BB, 0.1 WAR) and 26-year old IF Harley Truman (.388/.423/.687, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 4 BB, 1.2 WAR). Truman though has been very effective when he has been able to get into games. The loss of 31-year old RHP Kelii Pelanekelina (4-2, 2.05 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 3.08 FIP) to repeated injuries this season has hurt the club, as the fragile Pelanekelina remains Downie’s best pitcher. Two young pitchers, namely 22-year old RHP Stefan Rankin (2-3, 4.18 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 100 ERA+) and 23-year old LHP Quinn Merrifield (3-6, 6.13 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, 68 ERA+) are being given every chance to succeed. The bullpen is being led by 30-year old RHP Bill Lafontaine (10-4, 10 SV, 2.61 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 160 ERA+) and 23-year old RHP Eddie Stannard (2-2, 4 SV, 3.64 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 115 ERA+). Three Chiefs were selected as All-Stars: RHP Kelii Pelanekelina (5th), Dominic Dudding (7th) and CF Alfonso León (7th). Player of the Week Awards: December 14 – CF Alfonso León (.522, 12 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI) Noteworthy: December 31 – The Brunswick Legends could get nothing going against RHP Kelii Pelanekelina, as he shut them out, 4-0, on 2 hits. The 31-year old Fijian went the distance, going 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K (GS: 90). January 27 – It was a rough day for the Hespeler Stars as the Chiefs pummelled them 22-8 on 22 hits. Five Chiefs’ players collected at least 2 hits, but CF Alfonso León was the toughest out, going 6 for 7 on the afternoon. After flying out in the 1st inning, León hit an RBI single in the 3rd, an RBI double in the 4th, singled in the 6th and 8th innings, then hit RBI singles in the 8th and 9th. In all, he went 6 for 7, 2 R, 4 RBI. Current Injuries: January 10 – RHP Kelii Pelanekelina – forearm inflammation. Out for: 6 weeks. January 30 – LF Howard Dumbrill – forearm soreness. Out for: DtD, 4 days. -------- Offense: .269/.334/.406 (6th/6th/5th) Pitching: 4.46/4.60/4.05 (6th/7th/2nd) Defense: .687 (7th) The predicted standings made before the start of the season called for the Brunswick Legends to win 84 games, just one game back of the wild card. That obviously was a wildly optimistic projection. The Legends are simply not that good and winning 70 games is much more realistic. Offensively, 25-year old C Robert Kersey (.333/.411/.615, 25 HR, 80 RBI, 48 BB, 5.3 WAR) is Brunswick’s only player of note. But what a player! He is the top-rated catcher in the United Leagues and is rated 3rd overall among position players. But it comes at a cost, as he is considered a cancer in the clubhouse and has a low work ethic among other things. But in fairness, he is pulling his weight (even if he’s throwing it around at the same time). The rest of lineup is essentially non-descript and pales in comparison to Kersey. 23-year old rookie RF Jay Mitchell (.263/.345/.481, 9 HR, 26 RBI, 20 BB, 0.6 WAR – 47/53) has been dealing with the pressure of having to bat behind Kersey in the No. 4 spot all season. He was an 11th overall pick back in 1951-52. Apart from the bullpen, the pitching staff has not been very impressive. That said, 26-year old RHP Mhelter Pilapil (10-8, 3.44 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 125 ERA+) has been very effective at times (3-3, 1.93 ERA in December). 21-year old rookie RHP Dave Ball (6-7, 5.24 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 82 ERA+ - 40/54) looks to be part of Brunswick’s future. A 2nd-round pick from 1950-51, he is the Legends’ top-ranked prospect (23rd overall). In the bullpen, both 28-year old RHP Byron Ollson (2-1, 2 SV, 1.78 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 241 ERA+) and 32-year old RHP Lao Chen (6-6, 13 SV, 1.34 WHIP, 132 ERA+) have been outstanding. Four Legends were selected to the All-Star game: SP Mhelter Pilapil (1st), CL Lao Chen (5th), C Robert Kersey (3rd) and SS Harris Yaag (1st). Player of the Week Awards: December 7 – LF Carl Patton (.591, 13 H, 3 RBI) January 4 – C Robert Kersey (.625, 5 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 3 R) Noteworthy: December 17 – Just days after Cambria Cannons 1B Carlos Corea accomplished the feat, 32-year old 3B Jorge Arredondo (.260/.330/.376, 7 HR, 42 RBI, 41 BB, 1.7 WAR) hit for the cycle in a game against the Braeland City Monarchs, the 22nd in United Leagues history. As the Legends outscored the Monarchs 15-11, Arredondo hit a 2-run home run off 27-year old RHP Danilo Narvaez in the 1st inning, walked in the 2nd, hit an RBI single in the 3rd, walked in the 5th, tripled in the 7th and doubled in the 9th. In all, he went 4 for 4 with 3 R, 3 R and 2 BB. January 16 – It was the hot bat of C Robert Kersey that led the Legends to a 10-9 come-from-behind win over the Cobourg Red Stockings. He went 5 for 5 with 4 R and 4 RBI. Kersey singled in the 1st, 3rd and 5th innings, hit an RBI single in the 6th and then, when trailing 9-7, crushed a 3-run home run off 31-year old LHP William Say, 393 ft. to dead centerfield in the 8th. Key Trade: December 5 with the Queensland Eagles: To Brunswick – 36-year old RHP Pi-ao Quian (54/54) To Queensland – 25-year old C Robbie Leivers (50/60) and 22-year-old minor-league LF Seb Kingman (40/52) *Knee-jerk reaction:* This trade certainly makes sense for Queensland, as they need an upgrade at catcher. For Brunswick, it also makes some sense that they would be willing to part with Leivers as no one is going to usurp Kersey, the best catcher in the United Leagues, anytime soon. But to do so for a 36-year old pitcher nearing the end of the career when you are nowhere near to competing for a playoff spot is a bit of a headscratcher. Nevertheless, Brunswick considers Quian their new ace. The five-time all-star has very good movement and control (60/60) to offset his below average stuff (40/40). He has five pitches, with his cutter (45/45) being his best. He is an iron man with stamina (75) and is considered a leader, something the team needs. So perhaps the Legends knew what they were doing. He should provide them with some quality innings. Leivers was a 3rd-round pick back in 1947-48. He knows how to hit, having won the Double-A Lou Gehrig Award last season. When fully developed, he should provide a much-needed spark in the lineup and steal an above average number of bases. His basic batting ratings potential are 55/65/55/55/65. While not overly blessed defensively, he should be an average starter catcher someday. Currently, he is starting against left-handed pitchers for now. Meanwhile, Kingman was a 5th-round pick from 1949-50. He is a defensively-sound leftfielder with an excellent eye at the plate and above average power. He is currently on the major league roster as a depth player. Current Injuries: January 31 – 1B Stuart Bentham – fractured wrist. Out for: 6 weeks. -------- Offense: .257/.325/.381 (7th/7th/8th) Pitching: 4.00/3.87/4.57 (1st/1st/4th) Defense: .691 (5th) The Queensland Eagles remain the doormat of the Eastern League, but its exciting nonetheless to see a team taking definite steps to improve its fortunes. The Eagles have made a couple of trades to try and revitalize its lackluster lineup, while at the same time promoting more promising arms onto its pitching staff. 27-year old 3B Ryan Conisford (.304/.382/.519, 18 HR, 71 RBI, 49 BB, 3.7 WAR) remains the lone bright spot in the lineup. In fact, he has been getting stronger as the season has progressed. He was particularly hot in December (.374/.453/.637). 25-year old rookie CF Liam Banfield (.231/.317/.350, 7 HR, 30 RBI, 40 BB, 10 SB, 0.5 WAR) is still getting used to the major league level, at least when he is injury-free. The recent acquisitions of 25-year old CF John Oldknow (.268/.315/.362, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 10 BB, -0.1 WAR) and 25-year old C Robbie Leivers (.203/.309/.322, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 8 BB, 0.1 WAR), two players that saw limited playing time with their previous clubs, should help. The influx of new players has allowed Queensland to return 20-year old RF Hal Dhu (33/63), the No. 2 overall prospect, to Double-A, allowing him to get more playing time. The Eagles boast both the No. 1 and No. 3-rated pitchers in the United Leagues: 28-year old RHP Logan Belsey (14-9, 2.81 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 150 ERA+) and 26-year old RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (10-8, 3.08 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 137 ERA+). Give them a decent offense and this team should immediately move up in the standings. In the meantime, Queensland has no less than three promising young pitchers on the major league staff. The departure of 36-year old RHP Pi-ao Quian has allowed 21-year old RHP Derek Tarn (4-3, 4.62 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 91 ERA+), a former 3rd overall pick, to finally join the rotation. But the Eagles have promoted two more of their promising young arms to the majors: 24-year old LHP Amoka Kalea (43/56) just joined the rotation after going 8-3, 3.33 ERA, 159.2 IP in Triple-A, while 21-year old RHP Wayne O’Reilly (43/67) was recently added to the bullpen. If all three develop, Queensland will soon have a most formidable rotation from top to bottom. Three Eagles qualified for the All-Star game: SP Logan Belsey (3rd), SP Stiofan Micklethwait (1st) and 3B Ryan Conisford (2nd). Noteworthy: January 18 – RHP Stiofan Micklethwait started off the 1st game of a 3-game series against the Brunswick Legends with an overpowering performance, blanking the Legends 9-0 on just 2 hits. His line was: 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K (GS: 88). The Eagles scored all their runs in the bottom of the 8th inning, which was highlighted by a 3-run home run by lead-off hitter CF Liam Banfield. Current Injuries: October 24 – LHP Steven Selkirk – torn flexor tendon. Out for: 3 months. January 9 – RHP Bartolo Sánchez – sore elbow. Out for: 1-2 weeks. January 17 – 2B Eric Maher – strained hamstring. Out for: 3-4 weeks. January 22 – CF Liam Banfield – lacerated finger. Out for: 4 days. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 04-14-2021 at 09:53 AM.