[ayaghmour2]

I decided to go Black Friday shopping today, but unfortunately, FABL GM's do not offer any discounts! The first one was the inevitable upgrade over Rich Langton (who I do feel bad for), acquiring a player I have been after for years. We sent the lanky Cy Sullivan, prospect Tony Mullis, and our 4th Round Pick to the Detroit Dynamos for the soon-to-be 31-year-old Leon Drake. Ever since the Foresters grabbed Drake before me in the 1929 Rule-5 Draft, I've always been interested in the powerful outfielder. From 1934 to 1938, he had 20 or more home runs, and 100 or more RBIs except when he hit 96 in '38. For his career, Drake has hit .275/.348/.476 (116 OPS+) with 170 doubles, 125 triples, 139 homers, and 707 RBIs in 1,126 games with the Foresters and the Dynamos. A natural center fielder, he's best suited for the corners, with a nice 1.049 efficiency in left and 1.047 in right. He'll displace Langton out in right, but he has had a few injury issues, so Langton will not only be used in case any of our three outfielders get hurt (Drake can move to center in a pinch), and I expect to give Langton a start a week at all three spots, especially against tough lefties for Mitchell. He also may get an extra start in left to give Ray Ford a day off, with Mitchell moving on to the dirt. Drake came off a down season, hitting just .279/.351/.411 (97 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 11 triples, 6 homers, and 53 RBIs in 466 PAs, but it's his only below average offensive season since becoming an every day regular. Drake really boosts our lineup and defense, and he could be just what we need to finally claim another Continental Association pennant.

That wasn't the only deal, as I did something I never thought I would ever do; trade Juan Pomales. I shipped him and Hal Wood to Toronto for one of my absolute favorite pitchers and brother of a current Cougar. Just like his brother, before being acquired by the Cougars, he was angry with his current situation. Right now his brother is happy, and I'm sure Johnnie will go from good to ecstatic once he is reunited with Donnie!

Taken in the 1938 lottery by the Wolves, the recently turned 20-year-old Donnie "Mole Killer" Jones was one of the best high school pitchers ever, striking out 215 as a sophomore while finishing 12-0 with a 0.43 ERA and 0.67 WHIP. The four year starter was a superb 42-3 with a 0.93 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 83 walks, and 677 strikeouts in 463 beyond elite innings pitched. He hasn't been that elite in the minors, but he split this season between Class A Davenport and AA Chattanooga. With Davenport he was 7-3 with a 5.57 ERA (96 ERA+), 1.72 WHIP, 49 walks, and 65 strikeouts in 85.2 innings pitched. With Chattanooga, he was a similar 5-8 with a 5.14 ERA (90 ERA+), 1.74 WHIP, 64 walks, and 71 strikeouts in 122.2 innings pitched. The numbers don't look great, but for a 19-year-old who isn't Pete Papenfus? Sign me up!

Donnie will pair with Johnnie next season in Mobile, and my goal is to move the brothers up the ladder together, hopefully even debuting the same week once the duo is ready. I think Donnie is the better Jones, ranked 11th in the league to Johnnie's 15th, and the 6'2'' righty is going to be one of the most feared pitchers in the league. His sinker already sits in the 92-94 range, a bit harder then he was throwing during the regular season. It's hard to tell which pitch is better, that or his curve, but as you might expect, "Mole Killer" is able to roll up grounder after grounder. He has great raw stuff and his command is starting to come around, but even if it never is much better then average, he'll strike out enough batters and record enough double plays to keep the bases from getting clogged. I can't see Donnie becoming anything other then a bona fide ace, and both OSA and Tom agree with my assumption. There are very few players I would rather have in my organization, the only reason I was willing to part with Pomales (I took about a week to decide), and let's be honest; what's better then a 1-2-3 of "Peter the Heater," "The Patron Saint of Groundballs," and "Mole Killer" for the next decade an a half! I really can't think of anything!