OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

ayaghmour2 · 10-11-2021, 05:32 PM

Solid week for the Cougars, as we started this Spring 5-2. It's worth nothing, but we do tend to play well in the Spring, frequently finishing in the top half if not top two of the Spring standings. We're tied with the Wolves to kick things off, and I'd love to stay in first the rest of the way. Best part of the week was no injuries, as getting injured is really the only way to lose Spring Training.

At first I wasn't sure if it was an airplane or Billy Hunter's batting average, but the now healthy young shortstop was red hot, 8-for-11 (.727) with 2 doubles, a triple, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs. It was far better then his new double play partner, Freddie Jones, who was 0-for-9, but I'll take zero hits if it means zero injuries. Leo Mitchell raked, 8-for-15 with a double, triple, and homer. He also drove in five, scored four times, and walked twice in an outstanding week. John Lawson showed no signs of rust, 6-for-14 with 3 walks, 3 runs, and 2 RBIs. Rich Langton was also 6-for-14, but his came with 3 doubles, 5 runs, 5 RBIs, and a triple. A few potential bench guys made their mark as well, with Orlin Yates finishing 5-for-12 with a double and a pair of walks and runs scored. Johnny McDowell was 4-for-10 with a steal, run, 2 walks, and 2 RBIs. The extremely versatile Tip Harrison was 3-for-8 with a homer and two runs, RBIs, and walks. In total, 32 Cougars position players made a plate appearance, with all but four making more then one.

We had a lot of pitchers pitch as well, with 18 of the 20 throwing at least one inning, while one (Bob Bliss) of the two who didn't start actually got an at bat. Some of the starts were great, as Cy, Pug, and Lyons all tossed 4 shutout innings. They combined to allow just 6 hits with a walk and two strikeouts. It wasn't a shutout, but Milt Fritz allowed a single run in his 4 innings, allowing two hits with a walk and strikeout. Peter the Heater had the one real bad outing, 6 hits and 6 runs in 4 innings. The problem was the three homers, but he walked just one and struck out three. Harry Parker made two 4 inning starts, allowing 5 hits, 4 runs, and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. He also had homer issues, watching two leave the yard. Juan Pomales made a 5 inning relief outing, allowing 6 hits, a run, and a walk with 2 strikeouts. Allen Purvis was roughed up a bit, 8 hits, 2 runs, and 3 strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched. Jim Miller tossed 4-hitless frames with just a single walk.

Home runs issues will likely be a trend for the new season, I'd imagine, as we moved into a nice and cozy new park with home run metrics of 1.112 overall and 1.118/1.109 for lefties and righties. The new park has 14 ft walls in left and right with 7 ft walls in center, making it easier to hit flyballs in the corners while line drives to center can make their way out. The dimensions are 310-340-380-388-380-340-310 now, as I took the "W" out of center and instead brought the fences in. I do miss the days when the ball always flew out at home, and I think we'll start to see that a little more now. Having a smaller field also helps our outfield defenders, as we tend to have power guys in the corners who don't always have the best range. Only Harry Parker is a flyballer, most of our guys are groundballers or at least neutral, so I don't think our pitching staff will take much of a hit. I do think this will really help the bats, as Ford, Langton, Lawson, Taylor, Montes, and Hunter have legit power that will be benefitted by this. Really only Freddie Jones and Leo Mitchell are more put the ball in play types, as Doc Love won't see as many at bats anymore. It will be interesting to see how we are effected, but I think the fans will enjoy it.

10-11-2021, 05:32 PM	#619
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,011	Spring Training: Week 1 Solid week for the Cougars, as we started this Spring 5-2. It's worth nothing, but we do tend to play well in the Spring, frequently finishing in the top half if not top two of the Spring standings. We're tied with the Wolves to kick things off, and I'd love to stay in first the rest of the way. Best part of the week was no injuries, as getting injured is really the only way to lose Spring Training. At first I wasn't sure if it was an airplane or Billy Hunter's batting average, but the now healthy young shortstop was red hot, 8-for-11 (.727) with 2 doubles, a triple, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs. It was far better then his new double play partner, Freddie Jones, who was 0-for-9, but I'll take zero hits if it means zero injuries. Leo Mitchell raked, 8-for-15 with a double, triple, and homer. He also drove in five, scored four times, and walked twice in an outstanding week. John Lawson showed no signs of rust, 6-for-14 with 3 walks, 3 runs, and 2 RBIs. Rich Langton was also 6-for-14, but his came with 3 doubles, 5 runs, 5 RBIs, and a triple. A few potential bench guys made their mark as well, with Orlin Yates finishing 5-for-12 with a double and a pair of walks and runs scored. Johnny McDowell was 4-for-10 with a steal, run, 2 walks, and 2 RBIs. The extremely versatile Tip Harrison was 3-for-8 with a homer and two runs, RBIs, and walks. In total, 32 Cougars position players made a plate appearance, with all but four making more then one. We had a lot of pitchers pitch as well, with 18 of the 20 throwing at least one inning, while one (Bob Bliss) of the two who didn't start actually got an at bat. Some of the starts were great, as Cy, Pug, and Lyons all tossed 4 shutout innings. They combined to allow just 6 hits with a walk and two strikeouts. It wasn't a shutout, but Milt Fritz allowed a single run in his 4 innings, allowing two hits with a walk and strikeout. Peter the Heater had the one real bad outing, 6 hits and 6 runs in 4 innings. The problem was the three homers, but he walked just one and struck out three. Harry Parker made two 4 inning starts, allowing 5 hits, 4 runs, and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. He also had homer issues, watching two leave the yard. Juan Pomales made a 5 inning relief outing, allowing 6 hits, a run, and a walk with 2 strikeouts. Allen Purvis was roughed up a bit, 8 hits, 2 runs, and 3 strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched. Jim Miller tossed 4-hitless frames with just a single walk. Home runs issues will likely be a trend for the new season, I'd imagine, as we moved into a nice and cozy new park with home run metrics of 1.112 overall and 1.118/1.109 for lefties and righties. The new park has 14 ft walls in left and right with 7 ft walls in center, making it easier to hit flyballs in the corners while line drives to center can make their way out. The dimensions are 310-340-380-388-380-340-310 now, as I took the "W" out of center and instead brought the fences in. I do miss the days when the ball always flew out at home, and I think we'll start to see that a little more now. Having a smaller field also helps our outfield defenders, as we tend to have power guys in the corners who don't always have the best range. Only Harry Parker is a flyballer, most of our guys are groundballers or at least neutral, so I don't think our pitching staff will take much of a hit. I do think this will really help the bats, as Ford, Langton, Lawson, Taylor, Montes, and Hunter have legit power that will be benefitted by this. Really only Freddie Jones and Leo Mitchell are more put the ball in play types, as Doc Love won't see as many at bats anymore. It will be interesting to see how we are effected, but I think the fans will enjoy it.