[ayaghmour2]

As always, we were very active in the Rule-5 Draft, this time selecting three players and losing one. I was a little surprised to lose Art Black, who will now look to break the Cincinnati Cannons roster, but he was a former big leaguer and had been pitching very well in Milwaukee. The past two seasons he pitched strictly out of the pen, and was an impressive 15-1 with 16 saves, a 1.81 ERA (278 ERA+), 1.07 WHIP, 47 walks, and 76 strikeouts in 114.2 innings pitched. As good as that looks, he is 30 with an 8.1 BB/9 in 65.1 big league innings, so there is a reason I was comfortable leaving him unprotected. I doubt he'll crack the Cannons roster, but they do need arms and he could soak up some innings for them.

Of the three guys I got, of course, two play the same position, highlighting the imperfections of the list system, as I can't tell the game "please don't give me two second basemen," but instead, I got two second basemen! One won't last, Sam Barnes, who ironically goes back to the Cannons, because I claimed former Cougar first rounder John Barnard. Another Cannon, we sent him there in the Lou Kelly deal with Joe Rainbow and Jim Hatfield. Now 27, he has an option year left, and he debuted in 1937 for them and has gotten a PA in each of the past three seasons. He hasn't hit much, just .216/.325/.333 (85 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 4 triples, a homer, steal, and 19 RBIs in 191 PAs. He's a decent fielder at second, third, and short, and will look to re-establish himself.

Part of his competition will be 25-year-old Mickey Fulton, our first Rule-5 Pick. We selected him from Montreal, the only organization he's played for so far. He was on my draft list in 1935, when he was selected in the 3rd Round, but he doesn't quite have the same ceiling he once showed. He missed a little time with injury, and did well in his 210 PAs in AA Nashville. Fulton hit .315/.399/.427 (116 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, and 27 RBIs. He also got a taste of AAA, but it was the first time he had a below average offensive stint. He's a very disciplined hitter and has an above average contact tool, while fielding his position very well. He has some experience at short and left, and while the outfield could be interesting, I think second is his best position. Tom thinks he can be a solid starter at second, but I think he'll be more of an effective bench bat. I also grabbed 23-year-old Luke Conway, a former 4th Rounder of Boston's. He was also a guy on my draft list back in 1934, and discounting his first pro season, he's always had an above average or better ERA+. He spent all season in AA Worcester, making 34 starts in 228.2 innings, the same exact number as last season in A ball. He was 8-16 with a 4.41 ERA (106 ERA+), 1.81 WHIP, 185 walks, and 92 strikeouts. Yes, the walks are concerning, but I can't see him every having a 7.3 BB/9 again. He's a groundballer with a high 80s sinker, which should be an above average pitch. Tom thinks he'll run into walk troubles, although I know he already has, but I am as big fan of his stuff. His curve and change are solid pitches, and if he can locate them, he should be an effective big league pitcher. Of course, he may never locate them, let alone make our roster out of camp, but it's worth the lottery ticket.

I'm almost positive I won't take any players in the next two drafts, so this may be the last post for a bit, but I might try to get an Amateur Report done before the January draft.