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reds1 · 04-24-2021, 03:35 AM

March 30, 1954

Eastern League: Barons, Monarchs to Battle for the Pennant for the Fourth Time

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Offense: .270/.353/.416 (5th/3rd/3rd)
Pitching: 3.89/3.69/5.14 (1st/1st/6th)
Defense: .709 (2nd)

The Stratford Barons were in first place for most of the season and secured it with two games remaining, outlasting both the Cobourg Red Stockings and Braeland City Monarchs. They finish with the exact same record as they had last season, when they won the wild card. They finish in top spot for the first time since the 1947-48 season when they won 99 games.

The starting rotation is the strength of this ballclub; however they will need their offense to be firing on all cylinders to keep up with the Monarchs high-octane offense if they cannot shut it down. But they will be at a disadvantage, as 24-year old CF Sherwin Carasig (.353/.424/.559, 11 HR, 59 RBI, 33 BB, 8 SB, 4.0 WAR) strained his hip while legging out a double in a game against the Hespeler Stars back on February 6. He is gone for the season. Thus, the Barons will be relying on these three key players even more:

• 30-year old LF Roberto Ríos (.290/.431/.438, 14 HR, 77 RBI, 138 BB, 17 SB, 5.4 WAR)
• 34-year old C Aaron Skidmore (.262/.410/.443, 23 HR, 89 RBI, 112 BB, 5.1 WAR)
• 25-year old 2B Matthew Channing (.293/.341/.507, 23 HR, 111 RBI, 44 BB, 11 SB, 4.9 WAR)

For the Series against the Monarchs, 4th-year manager Xavier Ahernfeld has set the following four-man rotation:

• 27-year old RHP Magtanggol Jaojoco (22-10, 3.18 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 131 ERA+)
• 27-year old RHP Bill Wolf (13-17, 4.29 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 97 ERA+)
• 26-year old RHP Ted Smith (12-14, 3.54 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 118 ERA+)
• 33-year old RHP Edward Skerrett (4-2, 3.96 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 105 ERA+)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

14th overall – IF/OF Jake Dean (29/48). Dean enjoyed a fine first year in Double-A. He batted .282/.330/.366, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 15 BB, 0.5 WAR in 216 AB and played 409.2 innings at shortstop (-1.8 ZR).

Current Injuries:

February 6 – CF Sherwin Carasig – severe hip strain. Out for: 4 weeks.
February 13 - RHP Alonso Martínez – surgery to remove bone spur (elbow) – Out for: 3-4 months.
March 25 – LHP Marcello Dean – bone chips (elbow) – Out for: 3 months.

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Offense: .293/.358/.459 (1st/1st/1st)
Pitching: 4.62/4.11/5.64 (8th/5th/8th)
Defense: .687 (7th)

The Braeland City Monarchs nearly squandered it, but they did enough to nail down their 6th playoff appearance and 1st in four years. But just how far they can get in the post-season remains a question. They relied heavily on their offense to get this far and the pitching, such as it is, has been weakened even more by the injury bug.

But if the offense remains potent, it may be enough. The Monarchs certainly have the firepower, setting a United Leagues team record of 192 home runs this season. That obliterates the previous record of 157, also set by Braeland City back in 1948-49.

The Monarchs have six highly respected offensive players in the lineup, batting 1 through 5 and at No. 7:

• 29-year old LF Jake Stunt (.311/.367/.431, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 49 BB, 7 SB, 2.9 WAR)
• 23-year old RF Aidan Trembath (.340/.406/.533, 27 HR, 90 RBI, 64 BB, 6.2 WAR)
• 28-year old 2B Patrick Lidgate (.343/.430/.640, 35 HR, 102 RBI, 84 BB, 10.0 WAR)
• 30-year old 1B Dean Witherden (.319/.386/.517, 28 HR, 121 RBI, 63 BB, 4.4 WAR)
• 28-year old C Hayden Billyard (.316/.374/.503, 21 HR, 90 RBI, 46 BB, 5.9 WAR)
• 24-year old CF Hayden Goodale (.278/.373/.474, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 66 BB, 3.5 WAR)

A formidable lineup for any pitcher that must face them. But it may not matter much if their own pitching does not hold up. And they will have to do so without their No. 1 starter, 33-year old RHP Okura Suzuki (11-5, 4.01 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 105 ERA+) who strained his hamstring in the tiebreaker game against the Red Stockings and is gone for the season. Couple that with the loss of their other key pitcher, 26-year old RHP Pei Ming (10-9, 3.77 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 112 ERA+) and the Monarchs are at a distinct disadvantage, at least from what I can see.

For the Pennant Series, manager Toby Reakes has set the following four-man rotation:

• 28-year old RHP Lee Corp (8-11, 3.49 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 121 ERA+)
• 28-year old RHP Bobby Hogg (11-6, 3.92 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 108 ERA+)
• 32-year old LHP Mo Goldstraw (7-8, 4.64 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 91 ERA+)
• 29-year old RHP Trevor Canfield (3-4, 5.21 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 81 ERA+)

Player of the Week Awards:

February 8 – CF Hayden Goodale (.385, 10 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R)
February 15 – 1B Dean Witherden (.391, 9 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI)
March 15 – RF Aidan Trembath (.543, 19 H, 4 HR, 9 RBI)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

5th overall – OF Bernard Burkitt (23/65). The 17th-rated prospect had a relatively quiet year in Double-A. He batted .240/.279/.338, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 11 BB, 91 SO, 5 SB, -0.9 WAR in 317 AB. He played exclusively at centerfield and struggled defensively (-5.5 ZR).

Current Injuries:

February 25 – RHP Pei Ming – ruptured ulnar collateral ligament. Out for: 4-5 months.
March 19 – 3B Griff Limer – strained hamstring. Out for: DtD, 2 weeks.
March 29 – RHP Okura Suzuki – hamstring strain. Out for: 2 months.

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Offense: .285/.355/.438 (2nd/2nd/2nd)
Pitching: 4.18/4.11/4.53 (4th/4th/3rd)
Defense: .700 (3rd)

The Cobourg Red Stockings hung around the first division all season long and came very close to returning to the playoffs to defend their Eastern League Pennant, but in the end, they came up short to a Monarchs team that suddenly has a more potent offense than Cobourg. The Red Stockings long boasted the top offense in the East, if not in the entire United Leagues, but unlike last season when they won 100 games, they were unable to keep any momentum going this year.

Why They Missed the Playoffs: Beats me. Actually, it doesn’t, but there really isn’t a good enough reason to justify why they ultimately fell short. They still have one of the best offenses in the ULB and their pitching was quite respectable. Their Pythagorean record suggests they should have won 88 games this year, but I don’t see why they couldn’t have won 90 or more and dominated the East like they did last year. They had the second-worst record in the ULB in one-run games (14-22, .389). Flip that and they would have won 91.

What they need to do: Get some leadership. It seems like years now that the Red Stockings have gone without any captain or leader. This year it caught up to them. Feuding is going on in the clubhouse as the number of selfish players has increased and it apparently has affected their on-field performance. They may have found one though. Brought up late in the season, 24-year old C Yo****ake Ikeda (42/50), a 4th-round pick from 1948-49, is considered a leader in the clubhouse. He saw very limited playing time, however, and there is no guarantee that he will on the major league roster next season. But if he can latch on as a back-up to 31-year old Jason Lymer (.288/.343/.421, 11 HR, 72 RBI, 43 BB, 3.3 WAR), then he may provide that good influence the team needs.

Noteworthy:

28-year old 1B Harry Doxey (.368/.413/.522, 14 HR, 100 RBI, 43 BB, 6.3 WAR) won the Eastern League batting title with the highest average in the United Leagues since Kingston’s Danny Trowbridge hit .372 in 1947-48.

February 25 – It was a red-letter day for 27-year old Raymond Williams (.332/.409/.638, 45 HR, 115 RBI, 73 BB, 7 SB, 9.4 WAR) and the Red Stockings as not only did Williams set a new record for most home runs in a season but did so while hitting three in a game. Playing against the Brunswick Legends at Babe Ruth Park, Williams entered the game two shy of Kingston’s 1B Dean Bishop’s record of 39, set back in 1949-50. Facing 37-year old RHP Pi-ao Quian, Williams hit No. 38, a lead-off solo home run in the 2nd inning that tied the game at 1 apiece. In the 4th he tied the record with a two-run shot that cut the Legends’ lead to 4-3. In the top of the 5th, Harry Doxey slammed a two-run shot that gave Cobourg the lead. Up next was Williams, who jumped all over Quian’s first offering, sending 371 ft. into the rightfield stands. It was Williams 40th home run of the season and his third on the afternoon. Cobourg went on to win, 7-4. Williams hit 5 more home runs on the season to set the new record of 45.

March 14 – 32-year old 3B Alexander Tolmie (.301/.396/.473, 22 HR, 81 RBI, 8830 BB, 5.9 WAR) became the 14th player in United Leagues history (and 4th for the season) to club 3 home runs in a game. Tolmie was on fire, hitting a two-run home run in the 1st and 2nd innings off Queensland Eagles’ RHP Gael Yule, then a third two-run shot in the 5th, off RHP Kian Quick. He also walked in the 6th and singled in the 8th, going 4 for 4 with 6 RBI, 4 R. Cobourg won 11-4.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

16th overall – IF Harold Prudom (26/51). The 21-year old Queensland-native got 203 AB in Double-A. He batted .232/.304/.384, 7 HR, 38 RBI, 18 BB, 53 SO, 0.4 WAR. He played almost entirely at 3B (0.1 ZR).

Current Injuries: None.

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Offense: .254/.318/.398 (7th/8th/6th)
Pitching: 4.07/4.09/4.02 (2nd/3rd/1st)
Defense: .716 (1st)

The Downie Chiefs got to within 7 games of the wild card down the stretch but were never a real threat to challenge for it. It’s the second straight season they have missed the playoffs, after three seasons where they finished in top spot twice, second once and won a United Cup. They appear to be rebuilding on the fly in the hopes of returning to playoff contention soon.

Why They Missed the Playoffs: The offense let them down. In a season where offensive production was up throughout the United Leagues, the Chiefs’ lineup had a down year. On the other hand, the pitching staff was impressive, despite multiple injuries to their ace, 31-year old RHP Kelii Pelanekelina (6-5, 3.71 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 110 ERA+), and the fact that their pitching staff is getting, quite frankly, a little long in the tooth.

What they need to do: Get a bounce-back from their offensive stars next season and have their youngsters take the next step. Only 28-year old 2B Dominic Dudding (.322/.395/.510, 25 HR, 87 RBI, 63 BB, 5.7 WAR) had a comparable year to what he had last season, but even then, his production is down from the years when the Chiefs were a contender. 28-year old CF Alfonso León (.321/.375/.463, 16 HR, 66 RBI, 50 BB, 8 SB, 5.8 WAR) is one of the best, but overall, his season was a disappointment. Interestingly, his WAR values over the past four seasons have gone thusly: 9.3, 5.2, 9.9, 5.8. If that pattern continues, he should be a leading MVP candidate next year. After earning 5.6 WAR last season, 27-year old RF Connor Bing (.243/.296/.439, 21 HR, 68 RBI, 44 BB, 2.2 WAR) was a major disappointment, striking out 123 times, the third highest in the ULB.

Player of the Week Awards:

March 1 – 2B Dominic Dudding (.556, 10 H, 2 HR, 9 RBI)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

6th overall – IF Dave Murray (37/55). Murray enjoyed a promising first campaign in Double-A. He batted .315/.349/.526, 9 HR, 38 RBI, 12 BB, 49 SO, 1.9 WAR in 213 AB. He played all 442.1 innings at C (1.1 ZR).

Current Injuries:

February 4 – RHP Kent Allomes – torn elbow ligament. Out for: 4 months.

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Offense: .271/.338/.408 (4th/5th/5th)
Pitching: 4.55/4.69/4.13 (7th/8th/2nd)
Defense: .692 (5th)

Like Downie, the Brunswick Legends are trying to rebuild on the fly, easing in young, promising players on both the pitching staff and in the lineup. No doubt the club is hoping that their strong finish to the season will be a harbinger of things to come. The day after they were eliminated from the playoffs, the Legends went on an 8-game winning streak and finished out the final two weeks, 11-3.

Why They Missed the Playoffs: A mediocre starting rotation and a lack of impact players in the lineup to support their superstar catcher, 25-year old Robert Kersey (.320/.403/.580, 33 HR, 110 RBI, 73 BB, 7.3 WAR), sunk them this year.

What they need to do: Get some impact players or at least hope that some of their young prospects will quickly develop into solid players and pitchers. Brunswick ended the season with four of their prized prospects on the big-league roster, including 22-year old RHP Dave Ball (8-8, 5.38 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 78 ERA+ - 51/63). Ball received a potential ratings boost (from 54), so the Legends may have a much-needed ace in their future. The rotation has some respectable arms, especially 26-year old RHP Mhelter Pilapil (12-15, 4.14 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 102ERA+), but none of them are front-of-the-rotation quality.

In the lineup, 26-year old SS Harris Yaag (.310/.344/.461, 15 HR, 89 RBI, 29 BB, 3.8 WAR – 61/61) has the best chance at becoming an impact player. They also have three rookies who may lift their fortunes soon: 23-year old RF Jay Mitchell (.252/.333/.428, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 35 BB, 0.5 WAR – 46/53); 24-year old LF Quincy Woolescroft (.411/.434/.658, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 3 BB, 1.1 WAR – 41/54), who was called up in late February and Rookie of the Month honors in March; and finally 22-year old CF Ben Darvell (39/63), who got in all of 17 AB towards the end. Darvell is considered a sparkplug, which may help matters in the clubhouse. Kersey is a special player; but with a disruptive personality, he is a double-edged sword.

Player of the Week Awards:

March 22 – C Robert Kersey (.565, 13 H, 4 HR, 11 RBI)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

9th overall – IF/OF Edilberto Mandac (37/52). The No. 32-rated prospect made a splash in his first season in Double-A, at least offensively. He batted .363/.412/.525, 5 HR, 50 RBI, 20 BB, 32 SO, 21 SB, 3.2 WAR in 366 AB. He played 756.1 innings at 3B (-7.0 ZR).

Current Injuries: None.

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Offense: .273/.344/.414 (3rd/4th/4th)
Pitching: 4.53/4.39/4.92 (6th/7th/4th)
Defense: .675 (8th)

There’s a bit of irony in the fact that the Embro Suns sent 7 players to this season’s All-Star Game (tied with the Kingston Pelicans for most in the ULB) despite the fact that the Suns do not have a truly impact player on the roster. The closest is 25-year old Moromao Nakagawa (.288/.368/.468, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 66 BB, 4.1 WAR), who is rated the No. 2 overall third baseman in the United Leagues, behind Cobourg’s Alexander Tolmie. But Nakagawa faded severely down the stretch and overall, he had a disappointing season. Just like the rest of his teammates. In terms of wins-losses, it was the Suns’ worst season (72 wins was their previous low mark).

Why They Missed the Playoffs: A weak starting rotation and a lineup that is not built to compete with the higher-octane offenses in the East. The offense is not terrible by any means, but it appears that the players are regressing instead of playing up to their potential, which is concerning, since so many of them are entering what should be their prime years. 24-year old 3B Adrian Flynn (47/60) joined the major league roster in late February and scouts feel he can make a big impact with his terrific offensive skills and solid defensive abilities. Perhaps he can provide a spark. The former 11th overall pick from 1950-51 is currently rated 11th overall among all prospects.

But things are more dire in the rotation. 28-year old RHP Juan Rivas (15-14, 3.91 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 107 ERA+) led the way, but he suffered a forgettable February (0-4, 7.99 ERA). RHP Myung-gu Son (16-6, 3.96 REA, 1.44 WHIP, 106 ERA+) was effective, especially as the season wore on, but at 39-years old and fragile, how much longer he can be effective is a legitimate question.

What they need to do: Beef up the rotation pronto and light a fire under their underperforming regulars. The former will not be easy, as Embro does not have a lot of internal options. Their best option is 23-year old rookie RHP Bob Nord (7-7, 14 SV, 2.57 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 163 ERA+ - 55/59), but he is considered only an emergency starter at present.

But if they can somehow help their young players like 24-year old LF Jesús Abreu (.257/.364/.473, 21 HR, 73 RBI, 73 BB, 2.7 WAR – 60/68), 24-year old SS Kieron Bradridge (.348/.390/.543, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 17 BB, 2.6 WAR – 65/65) and 28-year old 2B Robert Jameson (.322/.376/.408, 6 HR, 68 RBI, 53 BB, 8 SB, 2.2 WAR – 58/58) take the next step, they may be able to compete with the current heavyweights in the East and challenge for the wild card.

Player of the Week Awards:

March 8 – SS Kieron Bradridge (.450, 9 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

12th overall – IF/OF Ryan Bird (20/55). Bird only got 6 AB in his first season in Double-A. He struck out 3 times and did not get a hit.

Current Injuries:

March 18 – RF José Maldonado – sprained knee. Out for: DtD, 2 weeks.

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Offense: .262/.323/.391 (6th/6th/7th)
Pitching: 4.40/4.19/5.07 (5th/6th/5th)
Defense: .698 (4th)

It was a year of frustration for the Wellington Athletics, as their frontline players were decimated by injuries, dashing any hope for the club to seriously compete for a playoff spot. However, it did allow for some of their prospects to get some major league experience, which could bode well for next season.

Why They Missed the Playoffs: Although they may not have made the playoffs anyway, certainly a plethora of injuries to their best players didn’t help. Like other teams in the East, the Athletics are attempting to rebuild on the fly without a complete teardown. If they can catch a break on the injury front next season, we may get a better idea of where this club is really at.

What they need to do: Besides staying healthy, of course, they need some of their key players to bounce back from a so-so season and see their young, promising players continue to develop.

Wellington has some nice pieces that could make a major impact if all goes right. 21-year old rookie CF Greg Yates (.283/.317/.447, 10 HR, 55 RBI, 20 BB, 2.0 WAR – 51/55) took over CF from 28-year old RF Jim Mars (.295/.343/.443, 8 HR, 67 RBI, 44 BB, 3.6 WAR – 56/56). If 26-year old LF Matthew Floyd (.358/.440/.642, 10 HR, 40 RBI, 23 BB, 2.9 WAR – 80/80) can stay healthy, then the Athletics should have a very impressive outfield. But Wellington also has 23-year old IF Brayden Docking (.304/.364/.398, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 11 BB, 0.8 WAR – 50/64) who projects to being an above-average major league ballplayer.

Injuries affected the pitching staff as well, particularly the loss of No. 1 starter, 26-year old RHP Vinnie Snell (11-5, 3.81 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 110 ERA+) midway through the season.
But 23-year old RHP Darren Etheridge (13-16, 3.31 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 124 ERA+) was very impressive in his first season. If 21-year old reliever RHP Howard Turnbull (40/61) can bounce back from major surgery after just 0.2 IP and if top prospect 22-year old RHP Mike Murray (35/72) continues to develop in Triple-A, the Athletics’ fortunes may turn around sooner rather than later.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

8th overall – IF Vance Fendley (42/58). Fendley did very well in Double-A, going .283/.344/.382, 3 HR, 32 RBI, 21 BB, 46 SO, 2 SB, 2.0 WAR in 233 AB. He played 509.1 innings at SS (9.1 ZR).

Current Injuries:

January 9 – RHP Vinnie Snell – ruptured disc. Out for 3 months.
February 24 – 1B Wayne Emmert – broken kneecap. Out for: 4 months.
March 25 – RHP Howard Turnbull – radial nerve decompression surgery. Out for 6 months.

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Offense: .251/.323/.373 (8th/7th/8th)
Pitching: 4.16/3.82/5.60 (3rd/2nd/7th)
Defense: .691 (6th)

The Queensland Eagles finished in last place for the second consecutive season and with the same record. It’s been seven seasons now since their last playoff appearance and their amazing run to the United Cup. They are blessed with the two best starting pitchers in the United Leagues but have been unable (or unwilling) to complement them with impact offensive players. That has to change. Soon.

Why They Missed the Playoffs: A pitiful offense has buried them again in the basement. 27-year old 1B Ryan Conisford (.287/.374/.478, 23 HR, 94 RBI, 78 BB, 4.7 WAR) and 28-year old LF Rod Dennis (.297/.359/.472, 27 HR, 90 RBI, 59 BB, 3.0 WAR) are both all-stars and fine players, but they cannot carry a team by themselves. Beefing up the bullpen wouldn’t hurt either.

What they need to do: Queensland has two promising prospects that appear to be on the cusp of joining the major league roster: 20-year old OF Hal Dhu (34/64) and 23 -year old 2B Dave Allison (48/63). Scouts feel that they both have promising futures. If they can establish themselves on the major league roster next season, it could finally turn the club’s fortunes around.

Eyes are also on the rotation and the beast it may become fairly soon. Besides 28-year old RHP Logan Belsey (16-12, 2.94 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 140 ERA+ - 76/80) and 26-year old RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (14-13, 2.97 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 139 ERA+ - 71/75), the two best starters in the United Leagues, Queensland also have 21-year old RHP Derek Tarn (6-5, 4.92 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 84 ERA+ - 49/63), 21-year old RHP Wayne O’Reilly (46/67) and 25-year old LHP Amoka Kalea (45/53) shuffling between the rotation and bullpen. Get them settled into the rotation and the Eagles’ 5-man rotation could be set for years to come.

Player of the Week Awards:

February 22 – RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (2-0, 0.50 ERA, 18 IP, 2 K, .206 OBA)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

2nd overall – IF Noel Eissens (39/65). The 4th-rated prospect from Pulberry was solid in Double-A this season. He batted .276/.309/.368, 3 HR, 27 RBI, 16 BB, 55 SO, 17 SB, 1.1 WAR in 326 AB. He played almost entirely at SS (644.2 innings, 2.2 ZR).

Current Injuries:

October 24 – LHP Steven Selkirk – torn flexor tendon. Out for: 5-6 weeks.

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04-24-2021, 03:35 AM	#642
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,919	March 30, 1954 Eastern League: Barons, Monarchs to Battle for the Pennant for the Fourth Time -------- Offense: .270/.353/.416 (5th/3rd/3rd) Pitching: 3.89/3.69/5.14 (1st/1st/6th) Defense: .709 (2nd) The Stratford Barons were in first place for most of the season and secured it with two games remaining, outlasting both the Cobourg Red Stockings and Braeland City Monarchs. They finish with the exact same record as they had last season, when they won the wild card. They finish in top spot for the first time since the 1947-48 season when they won 99 games. The starting rotation is the strength of this ballclub; however they will need their offense to be firing on all cylinders to keep up with the Monarchs high-octane offense if they cannot shut it down. But they will be at a disadvantage, as 24-year old CF Sherwin Carasig (.353/.424/.559, 11 HR, 59 RBI, 33 BB, 8 SB, 4.0 WAR) strained his hip while legging out a double in a game against the Hespeler Stars back on February 6. He is gone for the season. Thus, the Barons will be relying on these three key players even more: • 30-year old LF Roberto Ríos (.290/.431/.438, 14 HR, 77 RBI, 138 BB, 17 SB, 5.4 WAR) • 34-year old C Aaron Skidmore (.262/.410/.443, 23 HR, 89 RBI, 112 BB, 5.1 WAR) • 25-year old 2B Matthew Channing (.293/.341/.507, 23 HR, 111 RBI, 44 BB, 11 SB, 4.9 WAR) For the Series against the Monarchs, 4th-year manager Xavier Ahernfeld has set the following four-man rotation: • 27-year old RHP Magtanggol Jaojoco (22-10, 3.18 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 131 ERA+) • 27-year old RHP Bill Wolf (13-17, 4.29 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 97 ERA+) • 26-year old RHP Ted Smith (12-14, 3.54 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 118 ERA+) • 33-year old RHP Edward Skerrett (4-2, 3.96 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 105 ERA+) First Round Draft Pick Update: 14th overall – IF/OF Jake Dean (29/48). Dean enjoyed a fine first year in Double-A. He batted .282/.330/.366, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 15 BB, 0.5 WAR in 216 AB and played 409.2 innings at shortstop (-1.8 ZR). Current Injuries: February 6 – CF Sherwin Carasig – severe hip strain. Out for: 4 weeks. February 13 - RHP Alonso Martínez – surgery to remove bone spur (elbow) – Out for: 3-4 months. March 25 – LHP Marcello Dean – bone chips (elbow) – Out for: 3 months. -------- Offense: .293/.358/.459 (1st/1st/1st) Pitching: 4.62/4.11/5.64 (8th/5th/8th) Defense: .687 (7th) The Braeland City Monarchs nearly squandered it, but they did enough to nail down their 6th playoff appearance and 1st in four years. But just how far they can get in the post-season remains a question. They relied heavily on their offense to get this far and the pitching, such as it is, has been weakened even more by the injury bug. But if the offense remains potent, it may be enough. The Monarchs certainly have the firepower, setting a United Leagues team record of 192 home runs this season. That obliterates the previous record of 157, also set by Braeland City back in 1948-49. The Monarchs have six highly respected offensive players in the lineup, batting 1 through 5 and at No. 7: • 29-year old LF Jake Stunt (.311/.367/.431, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 49 BB, 7 SB, 2.9 WAR) • 23-year old RF Aidan Trembath (.340/.406/.533, 27 HR, 90 RBI, 64 BB, 6.2 WAR) • 28-year old 2B Patrick Lidgate (.343/.430/.640, 35 HR, 102 RBI, 84 BB, 10.0 WAR) • 30-year old 1B Dean Witherden (.319/.386/.517, 28 HR, 121 RBI, 63 BB, 4.4 WAR) • 28-year old C Hayden Billyard (.316/.374/.503, 21 HR, 90 RBI, 46 BB, 5.9 WAR) • 24-year old CF Hayden Goodale (.278/.373/.474, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 66 BB, 3.5 WAR) A formidable lineup for any pitcher that must face them. But it may not matter much if their own pitching does not hold up. And they will have to do so without their No. 1 starter, 33-year old RHP Okura Suzuki (11-5, 4.01 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 105 ERA+) who strained his hamstring in the tiebreaker game against the Red Stockings and is gone for the season. Couple that with the loss of their other key pitcher, 26-year old RHP Pei Ming (10-9, 3.77 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 112 ERA+) and the Monarchs are at a distinct disadvantage, at least from what I can see. For the Pennant Series, manager Toby Reakes has set the following four-man rotation: • 28-year old RHP Lee Corp (8-11, 3.49 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 121 ERA+) • 28-year old RHP Bobby Hogg (11-6, 3.92 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 108 ERA+) • 32-year old LHP Mo Goldstraw (7-8, 4.64 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 91 ERA+) • 29-year old RHP Trevor Canfield (3-4, 5.21 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 81 ERA+) Player of the Week Awards: February 8 – CF Hayden Goodale (.385, 10 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R) February 15 – 1B Dean Witherden (.391, 9 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI) March 15 – RF Aidan Trembath (.543, 19 H, 4 HR, 9 RBI) First Round Draft Pick Update: 5th overall – OF Bernard Burkitt (23/65). The 17th-rated prospect had a relatively quiet year in Double-A. He batted .240/.279/.338, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 11 BB, 91 SO, 5 SB, -0.9 WAR in 317 AB. He played exclusively at centerfield and struggled defensively (-5.5 ZR). Current Injuries: February 25 – RHP Pei Ming – ruptured ulnar collateral ligament. Out for: 4-5 months. March 19 – 3B Griff Limer – strained hamstring. Out for: DtD, 2 weeks. March 29 – RHP Okura Suzuki – hamstring strain. Out for: 2 months. -------- Offense: .285/.355/.438 (2nd/2nd/2nd) Pitching: 4.18/4.11/4.53 (4th/4th/3rd) Defense: .700 (3rd) The Cobourg Red Stockings hung around the first division all season long and came very close to returning to the playoffs to defend their Eastern League Pennant, but in the end, they came up short to a Monarchs team that suddenly has a more potent offense than Cobourg. The Red Stockings long boasted the top offense in the East, if not in the entire United Leagues, but unlike last season when they won 100 games, they were unable to keep any momentum going this year. Why They Missed the Playoffs: Beats me. Actually, it doesn’t, but there really isn’t a good enough reason to justify why they ultimately fell short. They still have one of the best offenses in the ULB and their pitching was quite respectable. Their Pythagorean record suggests they should have won 88 games this year, but I don’t see why they couldn’t have won 90 or more and dominated the East like they did last year. They had the second-worst record in the ULB in one-run games (14-22, .389). Flip that and they would have won 91. What they need to do: Get some leadership. It seems like years now that the Red Stockings have gone without any captain or leader. This year it caught up to them. Feuding is going on in the clubhouse as the number of selfish players has increased and it apparently has affected their on-field performance. They may have found one though. Brought up late in the season, 24-year old C Yoake Ikeda (42/50), a 4th-round pick from 1948-49, is considered a leader in the clubhouse. He saw very limited playing time, however, and there is no guarantee that he will on the major league roster next season. But if he can latch on as a back-up to 31-year old Jason Lymer (.288/.343/.421, 11 HR, 72 RBI, 43 BB, 3.3 WAR), then he may provide that good influence the team needs. Noteworthy: 28-year old 1B Harry Doxey (.368/.413/.522, 14 HR, 100 RBI, 43 BB, 6.3 WAR) won the Eastern League batting title with the highest average in the United Leagues since Kingston’s Danny Trowbridge hit .372 in 1947-48. February 25 – It was a red-letter day for 27-year old Raymond Williams (.332/.409/.638, 45 HR, 115 RBI, 73 BB, 7 SB, 9.4 WAR) and the Red Stockings as not only did Williams set a new record for most home runs in a season but did so while hitting three in a game. Playing against the Brunswick Legends at Babe Ruth Park, Williams entered the game two shy of Kingston’s 1B Dean Bishop’s record of 39, set back in 1949-50. Facing 37-year old RHP Pi-ao Quian, Williams hit No. 38, a lead-off solo home run in the 2nd inning that tied the game at 1 apiece. In the 4th he tied the record with a two-run shot that cut the Legends’ lead to 4-3. In the top of the 5th, Harry Doxey slammed a two-run shot that gave Cobourg the lead. Up next was Williams, who jumped all over Quian’s first offering, sending 371 ft. into the rightfield stands. It was Williams 40th home run of the season and his third on the afternoon. Cobourg went on to win, 7-4. Williams hit 5 more home runs on the season to set the new record of 45. March 14 – 32-year old 3B Alexander Tolmie (.301/.396/.473, 22 HR, 81 RBI, 8830 BB, 5.9 WAR) became the 14th player in United Leagues history (and 4th for the season) to club 3 home runs in a game. Tolmie was on fire, hitting a two-run home run in the 1st and 2nd innings off Queensland Eagles’ RHP Gael Yule, then a third two-run shot in the 5th, off RHP Kian Quick. He also walked in the 6th and singled in the 8th, going 4 for 4 with 6 RBI, 4 R. Cobourg won 11-4. First Round Draft Pick Update: 16th overall – IF Harold Prudom (26/51). The 21-year old Queensland-native got 203 AB in Double-A. He batted .232/.304/.384, 7 HR, 38 RBI, 18 BB, 53 SO, 0.4 WAR. He played almost entirely at 3B (0.1 ZR). Current Injuries: None. -------- Offense: .254/.318/.398 (7th/8th/6th) Pitching: 4.07/4.09/4.02 (2nd/3rd/1st) Defense: .716 (1st) The Downie Chiefs got to within 7 games of the wild card down the stretch but were never a real threat to challenge for it. It’s the second straight season they have missed the playoffs, after three seasons where they finished in top spot twice, second once and won a United Cup. They appear to be rebuilding on the fly in the hopes of returning to playoff contention soon. Why They Missed the Playoffs: The offense let them down. In a season where offensive production was up throughout the United Leagues, the Chiefs’ lineup had a down year. On the other hand, the pitching staff was impressive, despite multiple injuries to their ace, 31-year old RHP Kelii Pelanekelina (6-5, 3.71 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 110 ERA+), and the fact that their pitching staff is getting, quite frankly, a little long in the tooth. What they need to do: Get a bounce-back from their offensive stars next season and have their youngsters take the next step. Only 28-year old 2B Dominic Dudding (.322/.395/.510, 25 HR, 87 RBI, 63 BB, 5.7 WAR) had a comparable year to what he had last season, but even then, his production is down from the years when the Chiefs were a contender. 28-year old CF Alfonso León (.321/.375/.463, 16 HR, 66 RBI, 50 BB, 8 SB, 5.8 WAR) is one of the best, but overall, his season was a disappointment. Interestingly, his WAR values over the past four seasons have gone thusly: 9.3, 5.2, 9.9, 5.8. If that pattern continues, he should be a leading MVP candidate next year. After earning 5.6 WAR last season, 27-year old RF Connor Bing (.243/.296/.439, 21 HR, 68 RBI, 44 BB, 2.2 WAR) was a major disappointment, striking out 123 times, the third highest in the ULB. Player of the Week Awards: March 1 – 2B Dominic Dudding (.556, 10 H, 2 HR, 9 RBI) First Round Draft Pick Update: 6th overall – IF Dave Murray (37/55). Murray enjoyed a promising first campaign in Double-A. He batted .315/.349/.526, 9 HR, 38 RBI, 12 BB, 49 SO, 1.9 WAR in 213 AB. He played all 442.1 innings at C (1.1 ZR). Current Injuries: February 4 – RHP Kent Allomes – torn elbow ligament. Out for: 4 months. -------- Offense: .271/.338/.408 (4th/5th/5th) Pitching: 4.55/4.69/4.13 (7th/8th/2nd) Defense: .692 (5th) Like Downie, the Brunswick Legends are trying to rebuild on the fly, easing in young, promising players on both the pitching staff and in the lineup. No doubt the club is hoping that their strong finish to the season will be a harbinger of things to come. The day after they were eliminated from the playoffs, the Legends went on an 8-game winning streak and finished out the final two weeks, 11-3. Why They Missed the Playoffs: A mediocre starting rotation and a lack of impact players in the lineup to support their superstar catcher, 25-year old Robert Kersey (.320/.403/.580, 33 HR, 110 RBI, 73 BB, 7.3 WAR), sunk them this year. What they need to do: Get some impact players or at least hope that some of their young prospects will quickly develop into solid players and pitchers. Brunswick ended the season with four of their prized prospects on the big-league roster, including 22-year old RHP Dave Ball (8-8, 5.38 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 78 ERA+ - 51/63). Ball received a potential ratings boost (from 54), so the Legends may have a much-needed ace in their future. The rotation has some respectable arms, especially 26-year old RHP Mhelter Pilapil (12-15, 4.14 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 102ERA+), but none of them are front-of-the-rotation quality. In the lineup, 26-year old SS Harris Yaag (.310/.344/.461, 15 HR, 89 RBI, 29 BB, 3.8 WAR – 61/61) has the best chance at becoming an impact player. They also have three rookies who may lift their fortunes soon: 23-year old RF Jay Mitchell (.252/.333/.428, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 35 BB, 0.5 WAR – 46/53); 24-year old LF Quincy Woolescroft (.411/.434/.658, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 3 BB, 1.1 WAR – 41/54), who was called up in late February and Rookie of the Month honors in March; and finally 22-year old CF Ben Darvell (39/63), who got in all of 17 AB towards the end. Darvell is considered a sparkplug, which may help matters in the clubhouse. Kersey is a special player; but with a disruptive personality, he is a double-edged sword. Player of the Week Awards: March 22 – C Robert Kersey (.565, 13 H, 4 HR, 11 RBI) First Round Draft Pick Update: 9th overall – IF/OF Edilberto Mandac (37/52). The No. 32-rated prospect made a splash in his first season in Double-A, at least offensively. He batted .363/.412/.525, 5 HR, 50 RBI, 20 BB, 32 SO, 21 SB, 3.2 WAR in 366 AB. He played 756.1 innings at 3B (-7.0 ZR). Current Injuries: None. -------- Offense: .273/.344/.414 (3rd/4th/4th) Pitching: 4.53/4.39/4.92 (6th/7th/4th) Defense: .675 (8th) There’s a bit of irony in the fact that the Embro Suns sent 7 players to this season’s All-Star Game (tied with the Kingston Pelicans for most in the ULB) despite the fact that the Suns do not have a truly impact player on the roster. The closest is 25-year old Moromao Nakagawa (.288/.368/.468, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 66 BB, 4.1 WAR), who is rated the No. 2 overall third baseman in the United Leagues, behind Cobourg’s Alexander Tolmie. But Nakagawa faded severely down the stretch and overall, he had a disappointing season. Just like the rest of his teammates. In terms of wins-losses, it was the Suns’ worst season (72 wins was their previous low mark). Why They Missed the Playoffs: A weak starting rotation and a lineup that is not built to compete with the higher-octane offenses in the East. The offense is not terrible by any means, but it appears that the players are regressing instead of playing up to their potential, which is concerning, since so many of them are entering what should be their prime years. 24-year old 3B Adrian Flynn (47/60) joined the major league roster in late February and scouts feel he can make a big impact with his terrific offensive skills and solid defensive abilities. Perhaps he can provide a spark. The former 11th overall pick from 1950-51 is currently rated 11th overall among all prospects. But things are more dire in the rotation. 28-year old RHP Juan Rivas (15-14, 3.91 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 107 ERA+) led the way, but he suffered a forgettable February (0-4, 7.99 ERA). RHP Myung-gu Son (16-6, 3.96 REA, 1.44 WHIP, 106 ERA+) was effective, especially as the season wore on, but at 39-years old and fragile, how much longer he can be effective is a legitimate question. What they need to do: Beef up the rotation pronto and light a fire under their underperforming regulars. The former will not be easy, as Embro does not have a lot of internal options. Their best option is 23-year old rookie RHP Bob Nord (7-7, 14 SV, 2.57 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 163 ERA+ - 55/59), but he is considered only an emergency starter at present. But if they can somehow help their young players like 24-year old LF Jesús Abreu (.257/.364/.473, 21 HR, 73 RBI, 73 BB, 2.7 WAR – 60/68), 24-year old SS Kieron Bradridge (.348/.390/.543, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 17 BB, 2.6 WAR – 65/65) and 28-year old 2B Robert Jameson (.322/.376/.408, 6 HR, 68 RBI, 53 BB, 8 SB, 2.2 WAR – 58/58) take the next step, they may be able to compete with the current heavyweights in the East and challenge for the wild card. Player of the Week Awards: March 8 – SS Kieron Bradridge (.450, 9 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R) First Round Draft Pick Update: 12th overall – IF/OF Ryan Bird (20/55). Bird only got 6 AB in his first season in Double-A. He struck out 3 times and did not get a hit. Current Injuries: March 18 – RF José Maldonado – sprained knee. Out for: DtD, 2 weeks. -------- Offense: .262/.323/.391 (6th/6th/7th) Pitching: 4.40/4.19/5.07 (5th/6th/5th) Defense: .698 (4th) It was a year of frustration for the Wellington Athletics, as their frontline players were decimated by injuries, dashing any hope for the club to seriously compete for a playoff spot. However, it did allow for some of their prospects to get some major league experience, which could bode well for next season. Why They Missed the Playoffs: Although they may not have made the playoffs anyway, certainly a plethora of injuries to their best players didn’t help. Like other teams in the East, the Athletics are attempting to rebuild on the fly without a complete teardown. If they can catch a break on the injury front next season, we may get a better idea of where this club is really at. What they need to do: Besides staying healthy, of course, they need some of their key players to bounce back from a so-so season and see their young, promising players continue to develop. Wellington has some nice pieces that could make a major impact if all goes right. 21-year old rookie CF Greg Yates (.283/.317/.447, 10 HR, 55 RBI, 20 BB, 2.0 WAR – 51/55) took over CF from 28-year old RF Jim Mars (.295/.343/.443, 8 HR, 67 RBI, 44 BB, 3.6 WAR – 56/56). If 26-year old LF Matthew Floyd (.358/.440/.642, 10 HR, 40 RBI, 23 BB, 2.9 WAR – 80/80) can stay healthy, then the Athletics should have a very impressive outfield. But Wellington also has 23-year old IF Brayden Docking (.304/.364/.398, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 11 BB, 0.8 WAR – 50/64) who projects to being an above-average major league ballplayer. Injuries affected the pitching staff as well, particularly the loss of No. 1 starter, 26-year old RHP Vinnie Snell (11-5, 3.81 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 110 ERA+) midway through the season. But 23-year old RHP Darren Etheridge (13-16, 3.31 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 124 ERA+) was very impressive in his first season. If 21-year old reliever RHP Howard Turnbull (40/61) can bounce back from major surgery after just 0.2 IP and if top prospect 22-year old RHP Mike Murray (35/72) continues to develop in Triple-A, the Athletics’ fortunes may turn around sooner rather than later. First Round Draft Pick Update: 8th overall – IF Vance Fendley (42/58). Fendley did very well in Double-A, going .283/.344/.382, 3 HR, 32 RBI, 21 BB, 46 SO, 2 SB, 2.0 WAR in 233 AB. He played 509.1 innings at SS (9.1 ZR). Current Injuries: January 9 – RHP Vinnie Snell – ruptured disc. Out for 3 months. February 24 – 1B Wayne Emmert – broken kneecap. Out for: 4 months. March 25 – RHP Howard Turnbull – radial nerve decompression surgery. Out for 6 months. -------- Offense: .251/.323/.373 (8th/7th/8th) Pitching: 4.16/3.82/5.60 (3rd/2nd/7th) Defense: .691 (6th) The Queensland Eagles finished in last place for the second consecutive season and with the same record. It’s been seven seasons now since their last playoff appearance and their amazing run to the United Cup. They are blessed with the two best starting pitchers in the United Leagues but have been unable (or unwilling) to complement them with impact offensive players. That has to change. Soon. Why They Missed the Playoffs: A pitiful offense has buried them again in the basement. 27-year old 1B Ryan Conisford (.287/.374/.478, 23 HR, 94 RBI, 78 BB, 4.7 WAR) and 28-year old LF Rod Dennis (.297/.359/.472, 27 HR, 90 RBI, 59 BB, 3.0 WAR) are both all-stars and fine players, but they cannot carry a team by themselves. Beefing up the bullpen wouldn’t hurt either. What they need to do: Queensland has two promising prospects that appear to be on the cusp of joining the major league roster: 20-year old OF Hal Dhu (34/64) and 23 -year old 2B Dave Allison (48/63). Scouts feel that they both have promising futures. If they can establish themselves on the major league roster next season, it could finally turn the club’s fortunes around. Eyes are also on the rotation and the beast it may become fairly soon. Besides 28-year old RHP Logan Belsey (16-12, 2.94 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 140 ERA+ - 76/80) and 26-year old RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (14-13, 2.97 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 139 ERA+ - 71/75), the two best starters in the United Leagues, Queensland also have 21-year old RHP Derek Tarn (6-5, 4.92 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 84 ERA+ - 49/63), 21-year old RHP Wayne O’Reilly (46/67) and 25-year old LHP Amoka Kalea (45/53) shuffling between the rotation and bullpen. Get them settled into the rotation and the Eagles’ 5-man rotation could be set for years to come. Player of the Week Awards: February 22 – RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (2-0, 0.50 ERA, 18 IP, 2 K, .206 OBA) First Round Draft Pick Update: 2nd overall – IF Noel Eissens (39/65). The 4th-rated prospect from Pulberry was solid in Double-A this season. He batted .276/.309/.368, 3 HR, 27 RBI, 16 BB, 55 SO, 17 SB, 1.1 WAR in 326 AB. He played almost entirely at SS (644.2 innings, 2.2 ZR). Current Injuries: October 24 – LHP Steven Selkirk – torn flexor tendon. Out for: 5-6 weeks. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 04-26-2021 at 11:57 PM.