[Updates might be a bit more sporadic than usual as I have a close family member that has been in the hospital for more than a month and my wife and I are set to move to a new abode next month for the first time in 20 years. So things will be a little more hectic for me over the next few weeks.]
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January 11, 1956 - Snapshot
Here is a snapshot of the Leagues at the All-Star break, with a couple of developments I found interesting:
• The Hespeler Stars began the season 9-20 and were 21-33 at the end of November, putting them in last place, 13 games back of top spot in the West. But since December 1, they have gone 24-10 (7-1 so far in January) and have moved into the first division and just 3 games back of the wild card. Is this a harbinger of better things or just a blip for the last remaining team still seeking their first playoff appearance?
• Offense has always been a bit more robust in the minor leagues, but this season is seeing some potential record-breaking numbers being racked up. In particular, home runs are being generated like never before. In Double-A, the season home run record is 48, set last season. But this year, Wellington’s Elliot Loder is on pace for 71. He is just 9 homers shy of the current mark. But Triple-A is also seeing an increase in the number of long bombs. Last year, Hespeler’s minor league player Craig Diprose hit 40 home runs, breaking the old mark of 39. But this season, Queensland’s farmhand, 24-year old Seb Kingman, is on pace for hitting 63. That’s understandable in Triple-A, as LgAvg and LgERA are both up compared to last season. But LgAvg and LgERA are actually down this season in Double-A, so who knows what is going on there.
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