[ayaghmour2]

RHP Joe Brown
Acquired: Via Trade with Detroit (1936)
Drafted: 9th Round, 141st Overall (1932)
1938: 4-3, 7 SV, 49 IP, 5.14 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 19 BB, 17 K
Career: 4-3, 7 SV, 54 IP, 5.33 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 23 BB, 19 K

Now 25, the Berwyn native will make his first Opening Day roster, and while he will start in the pen, Weinstock and OSA both view his future as a rotation arm, with Tom profiling him as a #2 or #3, while cautioning to limit his starts at the moment. A hard thrower, Brown features a 96-98 sinker and he does an excellent job keeping the ball on the ground, and the velocity will play very well in the pen. A clubhouse leader as well, Brown has a really nice five pitch arsenal that should lead to a decent amount of strikeouts. He will allow very few homers and he gets good movement on his off-speed stuff. OSA loves his control, but walks have been an issue in his very brief FABL career, recording a 3.8 BB/9. Of course, it's barely 50 innings, so way too quick to judge, but I'm really hoping he improves that for the coming season. The craziest part last season was 5 homers in 49 innings, considering he's an extreme groundball pitcher who hasn't had a HR/9 as high as the 0.9 mark from his innings in Chicago. He's the next man up in case of an injury or the inevitable Dick Lyons decline that probably should have happened last year. I'd wager next season he'll be the best #5 in baseball, and I'm really excited for Brown to approach his very high ceiling.

RHP Pug Bryan
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 28th Overall (1934)
1938: 4-9, 2 SV, 93 IP, 5.03 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 46 BB, 39 K
Career:12-18, 2 SV, 251.2 IP, 4.18 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 110 BB, 107 K

Pug, Pug, Pug... I really do think he's got the talent to pitch in the big leagues, but after last season, things are a bit murky for him. He just turned 26, but with talented youngsters like Pete, Cy, Parker, and Brown, there really isn't much room for Pug. The five pitch groundballer features a high 80s sinker that helps get him out of jams. His changeup is really good, a disappearing one that allows him to strike out a ton and force weak contact on the rest. Unfortunately, he will walk his share of hitters and that definitely gets him in to trouble. Like Brown, his 3.9 BB/9 is not very inspiring, but in 23 strong starts in the 1937 season he did manage to strike out (68) more guys then he walked (64). I debated between using him or Allen Purvis as the stopper, but I'm going to let Pug start there while he works to regain his old form. He does have an option, so if he has an awful April and May like the last two seasons, he may end up in Milwaukee with someone like Jim Miller or Chet Peacock replacing him. I trust Pug's work ethic and raw talent to push him to the next level, and while he may not start many games for us, I think he's going to be an outstanding stopper who can eat innings in an extra inning game.

RHP Milt Fritz
Acquired: Via Trade with New York (1935)
Drafted: 12th Round, 188th Overall (1927)
1938: 12-12, 254 IP, 3.54 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 96 BB, 69 K
Career: 147-123, 3 SV, 2,429.1 IP, 3.68 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 841 BB, 915 K

Easily the most inconsistent player in the league, you never truly know what you are going to get from Milt Fritz. Some days he's elite, other days he's out after three. But in his three seasons with us, he's had double digit wins and ERA+ of 93, 120, and 110 with 254 or more innings pitched. He's won more games as a Cougar (43) then in any other uniform, and he's in striking distance of 250 wins. He'll need 103 more, so with a conservative estimate of 12 wins per season, he'll reach 250 at 38. 12 is the least amount of wins he's had in a season for us, and with five 20 win seasons, while unlucky, he'd reach 250 at the beginning of his aged 35 season. Fritz isn't nearly as talented as he was at 19, part of that has to do with his laziness, but give him a good defense and he should be able to spin together a few impressive seasons. With 11 more wins, he'll tie former Cougar Steve Castellini for the 100th most wins in FABL history, and while 300 seems like a stretch, it's definitely still in striking distance. I'm expecting a big season for him this year, and we have had a lot of success extending players careers after 30.

LHP Cal Knight
Acquired: Via Trade with Pittsburgh (1935)
Drafted: 2nd Round, 23rd Overall (1934)
1938: 0-1, 4.1 IP, 6.23 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, 3 BB, 3 K
Career: 0-1, 4.1 IP, 6.23 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, 3 BB, 3 K

I will be 100% honest, I did not expect Knight to crack the Opening Day roster, but the former 2nd Rounder will function as the lone lefty in our pen. But with an outstanding Spring where he had a 1.50 ERA and 1.42 WHIP, and my scout thinks he's ready for the big leagues. The 26-year-old has been upgraded to a back of the rotation arm, and even OSA has started to appreciate his talent. A basic three pitch pitcher, Knight has a mid to high 80s cutter with a nice slider and decent change. A hard worker who gets along with everyone, Knight is a good influence in the clubhouse and should benefit from our impressive 6-man leadership group. Like a lot of our other pitchers, he does a good job keeping the ball on the ground, and he has matching 107 ERA+ in his last two AAA seasons. I still think his future is in the rotation, so if an attractive pen arm off waivers comes along, he may end up in Milwaukee stretching back out. He doesn't have the upside of some of our other young arms, but he's very well developed and could start for a few teams around the league that don't have the young pitching we do.

LHP Dick Lyons
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 23rd Overall (1921)
1938: 20-6, 250 IP, 2.59 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 47 BB, 48 K
Career: 169-123, 2,709.1 IP, 3.99 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 593 BB, 785 K

It may have been 13 years prior, but our only other lefty on the pitching staff was selected with the exact same pick as Cal Knight. The man, the myth, the legend himself, 38-year-old veteran Dick Lyons. Best known as the reigning Allen Award Winner and potentially better known as the only player to survive my endless string of trades, there has been nothing quite like Dick Lyons. Before 1938, he never led the league in ERA or WHIP, and never had an ERA+ above the 126 from 1933, and he never had a 20 win season. He put together somehow his third ever 5.3 WAR season, a number he can't quite yet surpass. But the supposed ageless wonder was 20-6 with a 2.59 ERA (151 ERA+) and 1.41 WHIP despite matching 1.7 BB/9 and K/9s. In fact, the only season where he had a worse K/BB ratio was in a decent 1929 where he walked 79 and struck out 77. And he did all that with the CA's worst defense in terms of zone rating! What a legend!

Am I expecting another dominant season from Lyons? Well, that's a really good question... He does rank as our pitcher with the highest current ratings, and he had a quick cameo last season in the top 20 pitchers list, but can you really put much stock in to a 38 year old? Even the ageless 514 game winner Allan Allen, who had a breakout 37-year-old season with 31 wins, a 1.45 ERA (205 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP, 65 walks, and 175 strikeouts in 385 elite innings. But even after that, his ERA+'s were 110, 123, 129, 122, and 108 from 38 to 42. 341 game winner Aaron Wright recorded 104 and 115 at 38 and 39. 311 game winner George Johnson had 122 and 123 at 38 and 39, but that aged 39 season saw just 18 games including a pair of relief outings. All three of those are in the top 10 all time for wins, but none of the other 7 had an above average season this late. But were any of them a 5'8'' southpaw who has never hit 90? Nope! But if he was able to do what he did last season, there has to be something left in the tank, and I think the control artist will continue to defy all rational thinkers and anchor this rotation just like he did last year.

RHP Pete Papenfus
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 6th Overall (1936)
1938: 8-6, 123.1 IP, 4.52 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 117 BB, 103 K
Career: 8-6, 123.1 IP, 4.52 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 117 BB, 103 K

"Papenfus could pitch his way into an emergency starter role" - OSA

"Papenfus could pitch his way into an emergency starter role" - Tom Weinstock

Those are the two pieces of blasphemous paper pinned to the locker of one soon-to-be 21-year-old known colloquially as Peter the Heater. Yes, both my scout and OSA have soured over the 5'10, 165 pound righty who hits 100 just as often as a postseason Brusdar Graterol. Am I worried?

Not. One. Bit.

Scouting reports can be very deceiving, especially when a pitcher goes from a pitcher that strikes fear into the hearts of hitters to someone who barely deserves a roster spot. Especially at the age of 20. Yes, the walks are annoying. He managed to walk 117 batters in 123.1 innings pitched, so definitely concerning, but what youngster doesn't take his share of lumps at the beginning? And you just cannot ignore the pure stuff. Papenfus has a sizzling cutter and dominant fastball that can strike out the absolute best of the best, and wish his wildness, I'd wager most batters are absolutely terrified when they step into the box. Sure, his control is unreliable right now, but Harry Mead and Mike Taylor are both outstanding defensive catchers who should be able to help steal strikes for him with relative consistency. He's so unhittable that he walked more hitters then he allowed hits (103), so really walks are the only thing holding him back. As long as he can cut his BB/9 from 8.5 to 5.5, still an awful mark, he's likely to put together elite seasons. I'm really excited to see what steps forward he takes this season and I think he's going to see a nice improvement on all his rate stats in year two.

RHP Harry Parker
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 108th Overall (1934)
1938: 7-8, 130.2 IP, 3.99 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 29 BB, 69 K
Career: 7-8, 130.2 IP, 3.99 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 29 BB, 69 K

One of my absolute favorite players in the league file, I've kept him untouchable since the second I selected him. Parker looked really good as a rookie, if you ignore the 15 homers, as he had a really strong 4.8 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 with a WHIP identical to Dick Lyons, the league leader. A flyball pitcher with a .250 BABIP last season, he has an impressive low 90s fastball and cutter, and his perfect combination of stuff and command make him one of the toughest pitchers to best. Just recently turned 24, the 6'6'' righty boasts six impressive pitches and his teammates absolutely love him. If Walt Bailey had his way, he'd lead the staff instead of Dick Lyons, and that's a huge boost of confidence for the imposing youngster. Parker has ace potential, but with Papenfus on the roster, I imagine Parker won't pitch much as a #1 in his career. I have dreams of a dominant 1-2 combo of those two that win multiple championships, and potentially see both end up in the Hall of Fame. Parker definitely has the talent to do it, he just needs a few breaks, and to keep his injury history spotless. Of all the youngsters, he's easily the most developed, and between him, Pete, and Cy, I think Parker will have easily the best season.

RHP Allen Purvis
Acquired: Via Waivers (1935)
Drafted: 5th Round, 65th Overall (1921)
1938: 6-4, 3 SV, 44.2 IP, 2.22 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 23 BB, 12 K
Career: 37-47, 15 SV, 692.2 IP, 4.42 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 268 BB, 222 K

Likely the oldest arm in most staffs, the 36-year-old Allen Purvis was actually selected 3 rounds after Dick Lyons in the 1921 AI draft. Kept along for his leadership and rather impressive outings out of the pen, the swingman had an impressive 176 ERA+ last year and a solid 119 the season before. A bit of a soft tosser who can absorb innings, Purvis has five alright pitches, the best a sinker he uses to roll up ground ball after ground ball. His command and control are impressive, and the initial preseason prediction thought he could be a dominant 300 inning starter. In three seasons with us, he barely cracked 200 innings, and I'd imagine he has less then 300 innings left after this season. He's part of the glue that keeps the clubhouse together, and it should help him secure a roster spot until he becomes too unplayable. I have faith in his ability to soak up innings without allowing many base runners, and potentially bridge the gap between a short start and an eventual save opportunity.

RHP Cy Sullivan
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 60th Overall (1932)
1938: 5-7, 3 SV, 128.1 IP, 4.21 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 37 BB, 27 K
Career: 5-7, 3 SV, 128.1 IP, 4.21 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 37 BB, 27 K

He wasn't a full time starter last season, and then absolutely fell apart towards the end of last season, but I have faith that Cy can put together an effective season with 200+ innings, even out of the five spot. He's got a rubber arm, and as the other 6'6'' guy in our rotation, he's also a very imposing figure on the mound. Unlike most of our other arms, his stuff isn't all that great, and he doesn't quite have polished stuff yet. His high 80s fastball is okay, but he has to work out his slider, curve, and change. Borderline starters are still effective, just ask Sergio Gonzales, so even if his stuff stops here, his command can make up for it. Cy won't strike many guys out, but he generates a decent amount of weak contact while not walking too many. He has a nice ceiling, potentially a #2 or #3, but he's got a lot of work to get there. Unfortunately, he's not much of a hard worker, so he may never reach his potential, but his floor is already a decent #5. I've trusted the former shortstop year in and year out, and I think I'll start to reap the rewards sooner then later.