[ayaghmour2]

No sim today (or Monday...), but a ton of trade action in the FABL! None involving the Cougars, but the Stars and Eagles have been very active, creating a much more exciting offseason then I initially anticipated.

RHP Ray McNeil (327th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 101st Overall (1937)
Alma Mater: Maryland State Bengals

Last year's 7th Rounder, Ray McNeil will look to follow in the footsteps of fellow 7th Rounder Harry Parker, as he looks to establish himself as a quality big league pitcher. He doesn't throw nearly as hard, and was a college kid instead of high school kid, but like Parker, he's got the stuff to start in the big leagues and he's looked really good so far. He's had an above average ERA+ in each of his four stops, varying between 4, 9, 11, and 12 starts a piece. If we were playing slots, he'd hit the jackpot, three consecutive 7 win stops, including 7 at both San Jose and Lincoln this year. He had very similar stats, with 7-2 with a 3.89 ERA (111 ERA+) in 11 San Jose starts and 7-4 with a 3.60 ERA (109 ERA+) in 12 Lincoln starts. Combined he walked 41 and struck out 68, while throwing one more inning (81) with San Jose then he did Lincoln. His 2.7 BB/9 with the Legislators was the highest mark of his career, but still respectable for a young pitcher. His strong control should limit free passes, and he added another mile to his fastball in October. It's one of his six pitches, the best being an already average changeup. His stuff and movement is average too, and he profiles as a very reliable innings eater. He's a bit away from earning a rotation spot, but with a good defense behind him, he should be able to do a very good job limiting hard contact.

RF Sammy Dillon (346th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 63rd Overall (1938)
Alma Mater: Mississippi A&M Generals

The latest outfield product from Outfield A&M, I took the slugging corner bat of Sammy Dillon with one of our three fourth rounders in our most recent draft. All cracked our top 30, with Dillon rounding out the group. Dillon grew up not too far from here in Indianapolis, and was very happy to play for his favorite team. He looked outstanding in San Jose this year, batting .280/.405/.489 (140 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 7 homers, and 25 RBIs. The on-base percentage was really impressive, walking 40 times despite 31 strikeouts. His eye is rated "plus-plus" and he has outstanding bat speed, which combined will lead to a ton of homers. He has excellent strength, both arm and at the plate, and he should be able to hit over .270 with an OBP pushing .400. The speed he showed in college (85 steals) didn't show up in San Jose, 0-for-0 on steals, but that's not really a concern of mine. Tom likes his glove in either corner spot and thinks he should be a solid big league left fielder. I like him more in right, but most of his time this year came out in left. I expect Dillon to start next year in Lincoln, and he should be able to mash his way up the ladder. His value is limited as a corner outfielder, but the talent is apparent and he should fit in nicely with our lineup.

RHP Bill Tuttle (399th Overall)
Acquired: Via Minor League Free Agency (1938)
Drafted: 14th Round, 209th Overall (1935)
Alma Mater: Easton Eagles

There are always surprises on the prospect lists, and this year's biggest surprise is the inclusion of Bill Tuttle. Originally a draft pick of Baltimore, he spent the 1936 season with them before being released in January of 1937. He caught on the independent game of musical chairs, a game in AA and a game in AAA with multiple releases and signings in between, before I freed him this May. Tuttle was actually a guy I had on my draft list for the 1935 draft, which was part of the reason I extended the minor league offer. He pitched out of the pen this season, but I think I will do my best to stretch him out as a starter next year. 20 in January, Tuttle spent all of this season in the Lions pen, 4-2 with 5 saves, a 2.39 ERA (192 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, 27 walks, and 30 strikeouts. Walks have been an issue for Tuttle, 5.4 per 9 in 125 innings in 1936 and now 5 in the 49 this season. Command is definitely an issue, but his change has turned into a legit strikeout pitch and I'm hoping we can polish up his cutter and splitter as well. Right now he allows a lot of flyballs, which is not something you want to pair with inconsistent command. This will limit his future value, but he's a hard worker and upped his velo to 91-93 this October. There's a long way to go before Tuttle becomes a useful big league pitcher, but his natural talent paired with his makeup gives him a better shot then most to exceed his expectations.

LHP Johnny Ruby (412th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 127th Overall (1937)
Alma Mater: Smithfield College Bulldogs

1937 wasn't a great year for the almost 23-year-old, but southpaw Johnny Ruby made great strides forward this season. He started the year in San Jose, where he was 5-3 in his 11 starts with a 3.39 ERA (127 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, 27 walks, and 43 strikeouts in 74.1 innings pitched. That was good enough for a promotion to Lincoln, where he started 12 games and tossed 77 innings with slightly worse results. He was a better 7-3, but with a 3.62 ERA (109 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 45 walks, and 55 strikeouts. The big difference between the two stops is the walks, seeing his BB/9 jump from 3.3 to 5.3, both higher then the 2.8 in 9 starts last year. Ruby was also striking out more, seeing an increase from 5.2 to a really impressive 6.4. Obviously, the extra strikeouts weren't worth the extra walks, but it is nice seeing such impressive strikeout numbers. The sidewinder features a high 80s fastball, but that's one of just six of his effective pitches. Weinstock also totes his "biting curveball" and "above average slider" which is enough to allow him to start FABL games. He does comment on how he needs to improve his command of his secondary offerings, but he is able to generate a lot of movement which helps keep the strikeout numbers high. If he continues to struggle to find the plate, Ruby's future lies in the minors, but I can see him getting more then a handful of starts for a big league team.

LHP Cal Knight (417th Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Pittsburgh (1935)
Drafted: 2nd Round, 23rd Overall (1934)
Alma Mater: Pierpont Panthers

One of my targets in the 1934 draft, I waited until the following deadline to acquire former 2nd Rounder Cal Knight. The southpaw came over to Chicago with a 1st Round Pick (later traded) and 5th Round Pick (Jimmy Bach) in the Lou Kelly deal, who he actually played with on October 1st. Knight spent his second season in Milwaukee with 20 or more starts, going 4-7 with a 4.19 ERA (107 ERA+), 1.41 WHIP, 38 walks, and 40 strikeouts before a September callup. He pitched 4.1 innings for us, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts. Now 25, both OSA and Tom think Knight will be a back end starter, in large part due to his ability to keep the ball on the ground. He doesn't throw too hard, 86-88 with his cutter, but you can't forget that this year's Allen Winner also throws 86-88. Obviously, he walks a ton more hitters then Lyons, but Knight has a nice slider that can miss bats and his changeup isn't a bad third pitch. His stuff probably tops out as average, but he has the command to limit hard contact even if he will walk a few hitters. Knight won't start in our rotation, at least at the beginning, as we look to have a ton of options (Lyons, Fritz, Parker, Sullivan, Papenfus, Brown, Bryan) ahead of him and seems likely to start the season in either Milwaukee or our bullpen. If I had to "rank" our nine top pitchers in current ability, Knight would find himself in that group, so that at least makes him a favorite to earn a roster spot this Spring. Another plus is him and Lyons are the only lefties on the 40 (Crane has been DFA'd) and I do like having at least one lefty in my pen. Knight isn't an arm to write home about, but he's very well developed and his current floor is the highest of all our prospect pitchers.