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reds1 · 07-01-2022, 05:47 PM

March 26, 1956

Western League: Battle of the West is Set Between Trolleys, Tigers

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Offense: .273/.348/.434 (1st/1st/1st)
Pitching: 3.41/3.45/3.26 (1st/1st/3rd)
Defense: .720 (2nd)

The Pulberry Trolleys locked up first place with seven games left in the season, thanks to an incredibly strong March – a stretch that included an 8-game winning streak and a 16-3 stretch over the final 19 games. Pulberry finishes with a 94-60 record, their best win total in their 19-year history. Its their second straight 90+ win season and marks their 3rd straight first place finish. Now they are out to try and capture their first Pennant.

Manager Ryo Ichikawa has set his 4-man rotation for the Pennant Series:

• 20-year old LHP Bart Ohara (13-11, 2.95ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 130 ERA+)
• 28-year old RHP Taylor Folkard (16-11, 3.89 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 99 ERA+)
• 35-year old RHP Robin Medellin (20-9, 3.28 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 117 ERA+)
• 29-year old RHP Harley Rodman (8-6, 3.67 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 105 ERA+)

Taylor Folkard, who struggled at times this season, got hot in February, and finished the last two months of the season with a 7-2, 3.12 ERA, 1.05 WHIP record. A strong performance from the rotation in the Pennant Series may be crucial as the bullpen appears to be Pulberry’s biggest vulnerability. That being said, 26-year old sophomore LHP Dermott Rathbone (17-8, 3.00 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 128 ERA+) was terrific this year. But 25-year old RHP Eddie Roach (3-5, 4 SV, 2.89 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 133 ERA+) and 31-year old stopper RHP Bonie Bandong (7-6, 22 SV, 3.40 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 116 ERA+) were consistent this season as well.

The Trolleys lineup was arguably the most potent in the United Leagues this season. In fact, Pulberry led the United Leagues with best run differential with 154. No other team broke 100. Batters 1 through 6 were terrific. The lineup was anchored once again by the top player in the ULB, 27-year old LF Aidan Thirkettle (.334/.434/.628, 40 HR, 113 RBI, 88 BB, 9 SB, 9.1 WAR). Not only did Thirkettle win the Western League Batting Title, but he became just the third position player to earn a Triple Crown and the first since Carlton Hawking achieved it back in 1951-52.

Pulberry greatly benefited as well from a couple of break-out seasons from 25-year old C Paul England (.317/.402/.523, 24 HR, 94 RBI, 66 BB, 6.8 WAR) and 30-year old 1B Gerard Koerner (.330/.391/.500, 22 HR, 83 RBI, 57 BB, 5.8 WAR). Both finished the season rated No. 2 overall at their respective positions.

They were supported by 29-year old lead-off hitter 3B/SS Francis Jones (.304/.376/.496, 16 HR, 60 RBI, 48 BB, 8 SB, 4.3 WAR), 29-year old CF Cooper Tyson (.307/.392/.477, 16 HR, 76 RBI, 69 BB, 10 SB, 6.6 WAR) and 24-year old rookie SS Sean Abercrombie (.253/.333/.436, 19 HR, 71 RBI, 56 BB, 7 SB, 2.6 WAR), who batted from the 7th spot. Abercrombie had an uneven year overall but looks to be Pulberry’s shortstop of the future.

Player of the Week Awards:

February 6 – LF Aidan Thirkettle (.619, 13 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
February 13 – 1B Gerard Koerner (.393, 11 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI)
March 5 – C Paul England (.600, 9 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 4 R)

Noteworthy:

February 15 – The Trolleys swept a 3-game set in Cobourg, capping it off with a convincing 6-0 win in the final game between the two clubs this season. RHP Taylor Folkard led the way, limiting the Redlegs to just one hit. Folkard’s final line was 9.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 113 PI (GS: 88). Pulberry’s offense was led by 29-year old back-up 2B Wade Billyard (.269/.314/.386, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 10 BB, 0.6 WAR), who hit a 2-run home run in the 2nd inning. SS Sean Abercrombie contributed a 3-run double as well.

March 3 – Pulberry split their two games against the hometown Generals to open the month of March. In the first game, they trounced Fort Richmond 9-4, thanks to the hot bat of C Paul England who went 5 for 5 on the day. England singled in the 2nd, hit a 2-run double in the 3rd, doubled in the 5th, singled in the 7th and lastly, hit a 3-run homer in the 9th. In all, he collected 2 R and 5 RBI.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

15th overall – 3B Callum Gunton (35/44). Though his play was limited, Gunton enjoyed a very fine season in his first year in the minors. Getting 74 at-bats, he hit .311/.381/.568, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 8 BB, 0.9 WAR and was solid at the hot corner (.978 PCT, 2.45 RNG, 1.1 ZR, 1.088 EFF).

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Offense: .269/.342/.401 (3rd/3rd/3rd)
Pitching: 4.00/3.94/4.31 (4th/3rd/8th)
Defense: .710 (4th)

The Sherburn Tigers turned it on in February and March, going 30-16 in that stretch to overtake the Cambria Cannons for second place and never relinquished it. With two games left in the season, they nailed down the wild card and their first playoff berth in 10 years. During that 10-year stretch, they never escaped the second division and finished in last place four times. All those resulting high draft picks appeared to have paid off as the Tigers have assembled an exciting young core, especially on offense. But the Tigers are still a work in progress and will need to solidify their pitching staff if they want to sustain their newfound success.

As to their pitching, manager Jamie Blair confirmed the following 4-man rotation for the Western League Pennant Series:

• 26-year old LHP Brendan Wombwell (19-11, 3.85 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 103 ERA+)
• 22-year old LHP Kozue Saito (9-11, 4.34 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 91 ERA+)
• 32-year old RHP Jesús Chapa (18-5, 2.49 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 159 ERA+)
• 29-year old RHP Ben Buschlen (14-6, 3.35 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 118 ERA+)

There is no question that Sherburn is in good hands with starters Wombell, Chapa and Buschlen. But there are serious question marks after them in the rotation as well as in the bullpen. 23-year old LHP Javier Mesa (0-1, 9.72 ERA, 2.88 WHIP, 41 ERA+ - 44/62) was called up in January and has seen very limited playing time. He is considered a borderline starter for now but the second rounder from this season shows promise (No. 29th-rated prospect overall).

The bullpen was the worst in the West, with only 35-year old stopper RHP Chris Herrera (14-5, 18 SV, 3.61 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 110 ERA+) being the sole reliable fixture.

The offense is nowhere near as impressive as the Trolleys but there are signs that this could become an impressive core in its own right for years to come. 25-year old LF Ross Shewman (.286/.396/.530, 26 HR, 110 RBI, 92 BB, 7.0 WAR) emerged in his first full major league season as a solid regular and was Sherburn’s best player. The Calgary-native is currently rated No. 9 overall. He was ably supported by 26-year old 3B Adrian Flynn (.312/.376/.486, 16 HR, 90 RBI, 53 BB, 4.5 WAR) and two defensive stalwarts: 26-year old SS Dwayne Vick (.320/.361/.423, 3 HR, 59 RBI, 36 BB, 5.8 WAR) and lead-off hitter, 26-year old RF Albert Sulley (.287/.391/.395, 7 HR, 72 RBI, 97 BB, 17 SB, 5.9 WAR). Last year’s 1st overall pick, 24-year old Leon Albrecht (.234/.349/.375, 8 HR, 33 RBI, 49 BB, 5 SB, 2.0 WAR – 61/80) appears poised to take over centerfield at some point, but he has been hampered by injuries. He was out of action for nearly 9 weeks in the second half of the season. But there are some growing pains, particularly at the catcher position, as Sherburn has decided to start 24-year old rookie Robert Carr (.298/.386/.532, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 6 BB, 0.4 WAR – 43/47) over 33-year old C Christopher Dainty (.237/.344/.388, 9 HR, 56 RBI, 60 BB, 2.2 WAR – 54/54).

Player of the Week Award:

February 20 – 3B Adrian Flynn (.526, 10 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI)
March 19 – RF Albert Sulley (.481, 13 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI)

Noteworthy:

March 16 – The Tigers took 3 of 4 games against Kingston at home, outscoring the Pelicans 28-16 over the 4 matchups. In the 3rd game, Sherburn handily defeated the visitors 13-6 on 19 hits. RF Albert Sulley netted 5 of them, going 5 for 6 on the afternoon. Sulley began the onslaught with a 2-run home off Les Hildred (0-2, 6.00 ERA, 1.75 WHIP) in the 1st inning, then followed up with 3 singles and an RBI double in the 6th before flying out in the 8th. In all, Sulley collected 2 R and 3 RBI.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

7th overall – OF Carlos Cuevas (27/56). The Puerto Rican-native showed impressive stuff in Double-A, especially at the plate. In 315 AB, he hit .267/.339/.546, 24 HR, 51 RBI, 30 BB, 7 SB, 2.0 WAR. He was promoted to Triple-A at the end of the season.

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Offense: .270/.347/.422 (2nd/2nd/2nd)
Pitching: 4.07/4.35/3.23 (6th/7th/2nd)
Defense: .694 (8th)

At the end of January, the defending Western League champions appeared poised to make a challenge for top spot in the West, thanks to a 7-game winning streak to end the month. That put them just 2-1/2 games back of the Pulberry Trolleys. Then the wheels fell off. As soon as the calendar turned over to February, the Cambria Cannons endured a 12-game losing streak, knocking them out of a playoff spot. They never recovered. Despite scoring 777 runs, the second-most in the United Leagues (Embro led with 780), they were done in by poor pitching and defense. They gave up 735 runs, the third worst in the ULB.

The offense is as good as it gets in the United Leagues, with 24-year old LF Calvin Hanbridge (.295/.417/.465, 17 HR, 60 RBI, 115 BB, 8 SB, 5.9 WAR) leading off and the following four forming the heart of the lineup:

• 36-year old SS César Ruíz (.319/.409/.563, 28 HR, 88 RBI, 62 BB, 4.9 WAR)
• 29-year old 1B Carlos Corea (.318/.367/.543, 26 HR, 101 RBI, 34 BB, 4.6 WAR)
• 26-year old CF Sam Tite (.273/.394/.541, 25 HR, 70 RBI, 75 BB, 4.6 WAR)
• 31-year old 3B Luis Torres (.301/.358/.475, 22 HR, 96 RBI, 49 BB, 3.4 WAR)

Now if they could make 24-year old Doug Martin (.285/.361/.433, 5 HR, 49 RBI, 48 BB, 7 SB, 2.4 WAR) their regular second baseman over 26-year old Quincy Blencowe (.293/.339/.389, 2 HR, 35 RBI, 23 BB, 1.2 WAR), who is fine in a utility role, they would be even better offensively.

The pitching is currently at the core of Cambria’s problems, particularly the starting rotation. Although the bullpen was rated No. 2 in the West this season based on ERA, the entire staff has a patchwork feel to it. This was exacerbated by the loss of key pitchers such as 27-year old RHP Ray Lambright (9-6, 4.02 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 96 ERA+) and 23-year old LHP Sebastian Cromwell (2-1, 1 SV, 5.40 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 72 EA+) to season ending injuries. In the end, 37-year old journeyman LHP Aidan Fothergill (10-8, 3.32 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 117 ERA+) proved to be Cambria’s best starter this season, particularly in the second half, going 8-6, 2.70 ERA, 1.33 WHIP from December to March.

Noteworthy:

March 12 – In the first game of a 3-game series in Hespeler, the Cannons spotted the Stars a 4-0 lead before their bats awoke in the top of the 5th inning and cruised to a 10-5 win. 1B Carlos Corea was outstanding, going 5 for 5. All his hits were singles and he collected 1 R and 2 RBI. CF Sam Tite blasted a 3-run home run in the 7th to tie the game up at 5-apiece before the Cannons scored 5 more runs in the final 2 innings for the victory.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

14th overall – OF Kuauli Walenekino (31/49). The Fijian-native was outstanding in his first season in Double-A, hitting .259/.315/.489, 16 HR, 45 RBI, 21 BB, 1.9 WAR in 270 AB and stealing an impressive 31 bases while being caught 9 times.

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Offense: .245/.316/.372 (8th/7th/6th)
Pitching: 3.90/4.01/3.58 (3rd/5th/5th)
Defense: .733 (1st)

The Balmoral Giants’ streak of above .500 finishes ended at two this season as an injury to their star player and a lack of offensive depth did them in. The team is at a crossroads in my view as they don’t seem to have the depth of talent on both sides of the ball to develop into a contender. When they signed LF Ángel Costa (.312/.392/.598, 22 HR, 55 RBI, 41 BB, 4.1 WAR) as a 32-year rookie three seasons ago, it should have served as a signal to accelerate their rebuild to take advantage of their star player. Alas, they have largely failed to do so and now it may be too late. The two-time all-star missed the final two months of the season with a fractured ankle and at 35-years of age, may be on the decline.

On the plus side, a couple of players enjoyed fine seasons. 27-year old 1B Erik Perry (.304/.346/.4355, 9 HR, 77 RBI, 38 BB, 8 SB, 4.2 WAR) proved that last season (4.0 WAR) was not a fluke. But 26-year old sophomore SS Hayden Gunton (.284/.362/.386, 9 HR, 44 RBI, 69 BB, 6.2 WAR) was outstanding as well. The former 6th overall pick from 1952-53 is now rated as the 5th best shortstop in the United Leagues and should be a lock for his first Ball Hawk Award (.981 PCT, 4.87 RNG, +21.0 ZR, 1.091 EFF). The rest of the lineup was a disappointment, exposing the Giants’ lack of depth and dearth of talent in the farm system.

The pitching staff was much more consistent than the offense, but it too does not have a lot of depth. Balmoral did well in acquiring 30-year old RHP Wayne Nesling (12-9, 2.94 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 134 ERA+) who has become the ace of the rotation. 31-year old RHP Quintiliano Galeo (12-14, 3.63 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 107 ERA+) had his ups and downs throughout the season but was a dependable starter overall for the second straight year. The Giants also benefited from the trade that brought in 29-year old RHP Harry Dinsmore (7-12, 3.51 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 111 ERA+). Despite poor run support, Dinsmore enjoyed his best season by far in his 8-year career. But after them, it’s a rather non-descript bunch. Balmoral does have 24-year old RHP Kai Dean (5-7, 3 SV, 4.45 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 88 ERA+ - 43/56) in the bullpen. He should be ready to make the transition to the rotation next season.

Noteworthy:

March 11 – After dropping the first game, the Giants took the next three in Wolseley against the Unions. RHP Harry Dinsmore capped off the series on Sunday afternoon by pitching a 2-hitter and blanking the Unions 3-0. Both Wolseley hits were singles. Dinsmore’s final line was 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 108 PI (GS: 84).

First Round Draft Pick Update:

13th overall – 2B Maurice Gayford (22/50). Gayford’s first year was a bit of a struggle, going .145/.179/.275, 7 HR, 22 RBI, 9 BB, 7 SB, -1.9 WAR in 207 AB.

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Offense: .255/.326/.380 (4th/5th/4th)
Pitching: 4.18/4.18/4.17 (7th/6th/6th)
Defense: .700 (5th)

After getting 3 games above .500 and to within 3 games of the wildcard by January 23, the Hespeler Stars began to fade soon thereafter, then completely crashed in the final month. They finish below .500 for the 17th time in their 19-year history and in the second division for the 13th straight season. All-in-all, not a lot of positives to gleam from their season or their current minor league depth (5th overall). They have some young talent, but it has yet to produce. And with their best player aged north of 30, they may have squandered their best opportunity at getting good and making some noise.

SS Zhao-hui Qian (.309/.369/.429, 9 HR, 63 RBI, 52 BB, 4.9 WAR) enjoyed another fine all-around season, although it was a step below previous efforts. At age 32, you have to wonder if his best years are now behind him. On the other hand, 1B John McMurray (.308/.367/.491, 22 HR, 91 RBI, 47 BB, 6 SB, 4.5 WAR) finally enjoyed a break-out season after 6-years in the majors. The 28-year old Wellington-native was one of the top first basemen in the United Leagues this season (3rd overall).

23-year old sophomore 3B Clive Yarwood (.283/.369/.460, 16 HR, 58 RBI, 46 BB, 3.3 WAR) and 28-year old RF John Anthony (.266/.358/.485, 25 HR, 78 RBI, 71 BB, 6 SB, 2.7 WAR) rounded out the heart of the Stars’ lineup, although Anthony was brutal in the field (.973 PCT, 2.62 RNG, -14.1 ZR, .925 EFF). But the lineup is populated with a number of young players still finding their footing, such as 23-year old C Aidan Bennie (.237/.295/.369, 6 HR, 33 RBI, 23 BB, 0.9 WAR – 50/69).

The pitching staff was a rather lackluster group, with 28-year old ace RHP Battista Carotta (17-13, 3.37 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 118 ERA+) being the only standout all season. But the Stars do have a couple of future starters who got some playing time pitching out of the bullpen this season: 21-year old rookie RHP Zachariah Horton (7-7, 4.04 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 98 ERA+ - 53/59) and 24-year old rookie RHP Pedro Peña (1-1, 3.99 ERA, 1.36 WHIP – 50/59).

Noteworthy:

February 24 – The visiting Cambria Cannons won a hotly contested game against the Stars, pulling out a 5-4 victory in 11 innings. Things boiled over in the bottom of the 7th when a bench-clearing brawl broke out. RF John Anthony led off the bottom half with a solo home run, to get the Stars to within one. One out later, 24-year old IF/OF Eddie Reed (.312/.402/.542, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 14 BB, 1.3 WAR) tied things up with a solo shot of his own. Next up was 31-year old 2B Vic Lewis (.238/.306/.361, 13 HR, 57 RBI, 38 BB, 5 SB, 1.0 WAR), who previously slammed a 2-out, 2-run home run of his own back in the 5th inning to knot things up at 2-apiece. But Cambria’s 30-year old RHP Masami Fujihara was in no mood to give him a chance to hit another long bomb – his first offering plunked Lewis, prompting the batter to charge the mound and clear the benches. After the dust settled, the Commissioner’s office handed down a 4-game suspension to Lewis and a 6-game suspension to Fujihara.

March 8 – The Stars opened a 4-game series against the Kingston Pelicans in impressive fashion, blanking them 1-0 on just 2 hits in Game 1. Taking game honours was 26-year old rookie RHP Curt McKnight (5-4, 4.17 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 95 ERA+) who went the distance for his fifth win of the season. His final line was 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 119 PI (GS: 86). The only run of the game came in the top of the 1st inning, when RF John Anthony doubled home 32-year old SS Zhou-hui Qian (.306/.364/.433, 10 HR, 63 RBI, 50 BB, 4.9 WAR).

March 23 – The Stars went into Pulberry and dropped 3 of 4 to the playoff-bound Trolleys in the final series of the regular season. The lone win came in Game 2 and was the highlight for Hespeler as 15-year veteran, 36-year old LHP Patrick Denman (12-16, 4.86 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 82 ERA+) won his 200th career game, the 8th player in United Leagues’ history to reach the milestone. The Trolleys did not make it easy, as Denman, who also holds the record for most victories in a single season (27 in 1945-46), was holding Pulberry scoreless until they erupted for 4 runs in the bottom of the 6th to tie things up. But his teammates scored 3 times in the top of the 8th and held on for 7-5 win. Denman’s pitching line on the day was 9.0 IP, 13 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 129 PI (GS: 40).

First Round Draft Pick Update:

3rd overall – IF/OF Alistair Benney (20/37). The 19-year old Bennie saw very little action in his first season in the minors. But he showed promise, hitting .286/.310/.429, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB in 28 at-bats while playing mostly leftfield.

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Offense: .254/.327/.377 (5th/4th/5th)
Pitching: 4.32/4.83/3.12 (8th/8th/1st)
Defense: .699 (6th)

The Kingston Pelicans improved by 6 games over last season and escaped the basement, but they still have a way to go in returning to relevance. It’s been 9 seasons since their glory years when went to the playoffs for 10 straight years and won 3 United Cups. What should help them is the fact that they have the second-deepest farm system in the United Leagues and should add to that this off-season. The offense is in better shape than the pitching, with some young prospects already reaching the majors this season.

29-year old C Carlos Camasura (.293/.424/.376, 6 HR, 48 RBI, 107 BB, 5.1 WAR) remains Kingston’s best player and is rated 4th overall among catchers in the ULB. He bounced back nicely after an injury-plagued season last year. Also enjoying a nice bounce-back was 27-year old SS Charlie Cockin (.276/.343/.380, 10 HR, 58 RBI, 50 BB, 3.6 WAR). 31-year old RF Mo Spencely (.295/.351/.503, 24 HR, 81 RBI, 52 BB, 10 SB, 3.2 WAR) was Kingston’s top offensive player, but he was a nightmare on the field (.969 PCT, 2.37 RNG, -13.3 ZR, .951 EFF).

The Pelicans brought up a few young prospects to the major league roster this season, among them 22-year old IF/OF Denzel Daintry (46/54) and 24-year old 3B Andy Wearne (45/60). It remains to be seen what impact they will make in the seasons to come.

The pitching remains largely a patchwork job, with 32-year old RHP Kaula Mafileo (12-8, 16 SV, 2.75 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 143 ERA+) moving back and forth between the rotation and stopper position once again. He is considered a starter albeit with poor stamina (30).
31-year old RHP Kieran Bunce (12-14, 3.59 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 110 ERA+) remains the Pelicans’ top starter but struggled in the second half of the season (4-7, 4.65 ERA, 1.42 WHIP). 26-year old RHP Lester Beddeos (7-6, 11 SV, 2.84 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 139 ERA+) was a reliable arm out of the bullpen and serves as the team’s stopper whenever Mafileo is moved to the rotation.

Player of the Week Award:

March 12 – C Carlos Camasura (.435, 10 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

1st overall – OF Dan Hesketh (53/71). Kingston’s top prospect was just outstanding, hitting .320/.428/.742, 15 HR, 27 RBI, 20 BB, 20 SB, 2.9 WAR in 128 AB in Double-A. He was then promoted to Triple-A (.375/.483/.667, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 10 BB, 2 SB, 0.6 WAR in 48 AB) for 13 games before he severely injured his elbow in early February, requiring ligament reconstruction surgery and shutting down his season.

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Offense: .245/.315/.347 (7th/8th/8th)
Pitching: 3.85/3.92/3.51 (2nd/2nd/4th)
Defense: .716 (3rd)

The Fort Richmond Generals continued their backward slide this season, ending with their first losing record in 9 seasons and their worst campaign since 1943-44 when they lost 98 games. The reason is simple – the Generals are practically devoid of any offense. They scored the second-fewest runs in the United Leagues this past year (594) and had the worst run differential (-100), despite having a respectable pitching core. Rookie GM Timothy Slater has his work cut for him, especially since this season’s draft selections are all shaping up to be busts.

There is not a lot to write home about regarding this underwhelming lineup. All players regressed compared to last season, where they didn’t exactly set the world on fire either. 24-year old C Scott Sheelah (.266/.374/.410, 12 HR, 62 RBI, 83 BB, 3.9 WAR) was the team’s best overall position player and 28-year old LF Greg Cusack (.268/.327/.369, 10 HR, 48 RBI, 49 BB, 12 SB, 2.9 WAR) was consistent all season long, but he too regressed for the second straight year.

Overall, the pitching staff performed admirably. However, on closer look it seems the sum was greater than the parts (if that makes sense). The rotation was largely carried by 33-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock (8-9, 2.86 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 134 ERA+) and 30-year old RHP Kazunori Fujimoto (10-14, 3.76 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 102 ERA+) until Sherlock was lost for the second half of the season in mid-January with shoulder inflammation. That forced Fort Richmond to rely on unheralded rookies such as 26-year old RHP Damon Pinney (9-14, 3.84 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 100 ERA+).

The bullpen was up and down as well with 6-time all-star stopper, 32-year old RHP José Rodríguez (9-6, 8 SV, 3.77 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 102 ERA+) having a disappointing year, especially compared to his previous three. On the other hand, the Generals do have 23-year old LHP John Witheycombe (6-0, 1 SV, 2.29 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 167 ERA+), a 2nd-round pick from 1951-52, in the bullpen. He is capable of being used in high-leverage late-inning spots.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

10th overall – C Shane Acton (20/39). The 18-year old got very little playing time. In just 9 games and 16 AB, he went .188/.188/.250, 1-2B, 8 K.

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Offense: .249/.325/.362 (6th/6th/7th)
Pitching: 4.02/3.97/4.17 (5th/4th/7th)
Defense: .695 (7th)

The Wolseley Unions may have won two more games than last season, but that did not prevent them from finishing in the bottom of the Western League standings. In fact, they finished with the worst record in the entire ULB and will pick first overall at next season’s amateur draft for the first time in their 19-year history. Like the Generals, the Unions’ pitching staff performed respectively but was done in by an anemic offense. The chance at selecting high in the draft over the next few years should help a club that finished in first place in the West for 4 straight seasons and won 3 United Cups to crawl back to relevance. Their farm system is in dire need of restocking after years of neglect.

1B Carlos Ortíz (.268/.329/.453, 24 HR, 88 RBI, 57 BB, 3.0 WAR) was Wolseley’s top all-around player this season and at just 26-years old, the 3-time all-star should remain so for awhile yet. 34-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.269/.400/.389, 12 HR, 61 RBI, 89 BB, 0.2 WAR) remains a capable offensive player, but injuries are starting to catch up with him and his defense, while never great, was downright atrocious (.992 PCT, 2.40 RNG, -23.1 ZR, .897 EFF). Also, while he is rated as Wolseley’s best position player, 34-year old SS George Kimpton (.290/.370/.476, 12 HR, 36 RBI, 35 BB, 2.1 WAR) endured a down year, just like the rest of the lineup.

The rotation, particularly the starting three, were the most consistent group on the Unions’ roster this season. 30-year old RHP Roberto Garza (12-10, 3.33 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 119 ERA+) enjoyed a nice bounce-back year (94 ERA+ in 1954-55) and remains the ace on this staff. He was joined by 29-year old RHP Joseph Sellwood (7-17, 3.57 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 111 ERA+) and 36-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson (13-12, 3.56 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 111 ERA+) who quite often did not get the run support they deserved.

Finally, 20-year old RHP Theo Morse (3-4, 1 SV, 3.26 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 121 ERA+ - 42/64), a 2nd-round pick from 1953-54, was promoted to the major league roster in January and finished the season pitching out the No. 5 spot. With great stuff (60/70) and command (60/65) along with an impressive sinker (55/65) and slider (65/65), scouts feel the Pulberry-native will one day develop into a No. 1 starter.

Player of the Week Awards:

February 27 – 2B Kaituoe Mowan (.545, 12 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

2nd overall – IF/OF Jonathan Higgins (39/66). The Milwaukee-native and 2nd-overall rated prospect earned a promotion to Triple-A towards the end of the season. In 272 AB in Double-A, he hit .239/.279/.529, 23 HR, 47 RBI, 13 BB, 15 SB, 1.6 WAR. After his promotion, he went .258/.329/.455, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 7 BB, 4 SB, 0.1 WAR in 66 AB.

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07-01-2022, 05:47 PM	#745
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,919	March 26, 1956 Western League: Battle of the West is Set Between Trolleys, Tigers -------- Offense: .273/.348/.434 (1st/1st/1st) Pitching: 3.41/3.45/3.26 (1st/1st/3rd) Defense: .720 (2nd) The Pulberry Trolleys locked up first place with seven games left in the season, thanks to an incredibly strong March – a stretch that included an 8-game winning streak and a 16-3 stretch over the final 19 games. Pulberry finishes with a 94-60 record, their best win total in their 19-year history. Its their second straight 90+ win season and marks their 3rd straight first place finish. Now they are out to try and capture their first Pennant. Manager Ryo Ichikawa has set his 4-man rotation for the Pennant Series: • 20-year old LHP Bart Ohara (13-11, 2.95ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 130 ERA+) • 28-year old RHP Taylor Folkard (16-11, 3.89 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 99 ERA+) • 35-year old RHP Robin Medellin (20-9, 3.28 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 117 ERA+) • 29-year old RHP Harley Rodman (8-6, 3.67 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 105 ERA+) Taylor Folkard, who struggled at times this season, got hot in February, and finished the last two months of the season with a 7-2, 3.12 ERA, 1.05 WHIP record. A strong performance from the rotation in the Pennant Series may be crucial as the bullpen appears to be Pulberry’s biggest vulnerability. That being said, 26-year old sophomore LHP Dermott Rathbone (17-8, 3.00 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 128 ERA+) was terrific this year. But 25-year old RHP Eddie Roach (3-5, 4 SV, 2.89 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 133 ERA+) and 31-year old stopper RHP Bonie Bandong (7-6, 22 SV, 3.40 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 116 ERA+) were consistent this season as well. The Trolleys lineup was arguably the most potent in the United Leagues this season. In fact, Pulberry led the United Leagues with best run differential with 154. No other team broke 100. Batters 1 through 6 were terrific. The lineup was anchored once again by the top player in the ULB, 27-year old LF Aidan Thirkettle (.334/.434/.628, 40 HR, 113 RBI, 88 BB, 9 SB, 9.1 WAR). Not only did Thirkettle win the Western League Batting Title, but he became just the third position player to earn a Triple Crown and the first since Carlton Hawking achieved it back in 1951-52. Pulberry greatly benefited as well from a couple of break-out seasons from 25-year old C Paul England (.317/.402/.523, 24 HR, 94 RBI, 66 BB, 6.8 WAR) and 30-year old 1B Gerard Koerner (.330/.391/.500, 22 HR, 83 RBI, 57 BB, 5.8 WAR). Both finished the season rated No. 2 overall at their respective positions. They were supported by 29-year old lead-off hitter 3B/SS Francis Jones (.304/.376/.496, 16 HR, 60 RBI, 48 BB, 8 SB, 4.3 WAR), 29-year old CF Cooper Tyson (.307/.392/.477, 16 HR, 76 RBI, 69 BB, 10 SB, 6.6 WAR) and 24-year old rookie SS Sean Abercrombie (.253/.333/.436, 19 HR, 71 RBI, 56 BB, 7 SB, 2.6 WAR), who batted from the 7th spot. Abercrombie had an uneven year overall but looks to be Pulberry’s shortstop of the future. Player of the Week Awards: February 6 – LF Aidan Thirkettle (.619, 13 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI) February 13 – 1B Gerard Koerner (.393, 11 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI) March 5 – C Paul England (.600, 9 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 4 R) Noteworthy: February 15 – The Trolleys swept a 3-game set in Cobourg, capping it off with a convincing 6-0 win in the final game between the two clubs this season. RHP Taylor Folkard led the way, limiting the Redlegs to just one hit. Folkard’s final line was 9.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 113 PI (GS: 88). Pulberry’s offense was led by 29-year old back-up 2B Wade Billyard (.269/.314/.386, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 10 BB, 0.6 WAR), who hit a 2-run home run in the 2nd inning. SS Sean Abercrombie contributed a 3-run double as well. March 3 – Pulberry split their two games against the hometown Generals to open the month of March. In the first game, they trounced Fort Richmond 9-4, thanks to the hot bat of C Paul England who went 5 for 5 on the day. England singled in the 2nd, hit a 2-run double in the 3rd, doubled in the 5th, singled in the 7th and lastly, hit a 3-run homer in the 9th. In all, he collected 2 R and 5 RBI. First Round Draft Pick Update: 15th overall – 3B Callum Gunton (35/44). Though his play was limited, Gunton enjoyed a very fine season in his first year in the minors. Getting 74 at-bats, he hit .311/.381/.568, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 8 BB, 0.9 WAR and was solid at the hot corner (.978 PCT, 2.45 RNG, 1.1 ZR, 1.088 EFF). -------- Offense: .269/.342/.401 (3rd/3rd/3rd) Pitching: 4.00/3.94/4.31 (4th/3rd/8th) Defense: .710 (4th) The Sherburn Tigers turned it on in February and March, going 30-16 in that stretch to overtake the Cambria Cannons for second place and never relinquished it. With two games left in the season, they nailed down the wild card and their first playoff berth in 10 years. During that 10-year stretch, they never escaped the second division and finished in last place four times. All those resulting high draft picks appeared to have paid off as the Tigers have assembled an exciting young core, especially on offense. But the Tigers are still a work in progress and will need to solidify their pitching staff if they want to sustain their newfound success. As to their pitching, manager Jamie Blair confirmed the following 4-man rotation for the Western League Pennant Series: • 26-year old LHP Brendan Wombwell (19-11, 3.85 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 103 ERA+) • 22-year old LHP Kozue Saito (9-11, 4.34 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 91 ERA+) • 32-year old RHP Jesús Chapa (18-5, 2.49 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 159 ERA+) • 29-year old RHP Ben Buschlen (14-6, 3.35 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 118 ERA+) There is no question that Sherburn is in good hands with starters Wombell, Chapa and Buschlen. But there are serious question marks after them in the rotation as well as in the bullpen. 23-year old LHP Javier Mesa (0-1, 9.72 ERA, 2.88 WHIP, 41 ERA+ - 44/62) was called up in January and has seen very limited playing time. He is considered a borderline starter for now but the second rounder from this season shows promise (No. 29th-rated prospect overall). The bullpen was the worst in the West, with only 35-year old stopper RHP Chris Herrera (14-5, 18 SV, 3.61 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 110 ERA+) being the sole reliable fixture. The offense is nowhere near as impressive as the Trolleys but there are signs that this could become an impressive core in its own right for years to come. 25-year old LF Ross Shewman (.286/.396/.530, 26 HR, 110 RBI, 92 BB, 7.0 WAR) emerged in his first full major league season as a solid regular and was Sherburn’s best player. The Calgary-native is currently rated No. 9 overall. He was ably supported by 26-year old 3B Adrian Flynn (.312/.376/.486, 16 HR, 90 RBI, 53 BB, 4.5 WAR) and two defensive stalwarts: 26-year old SS Dwayne Vick (.320/.361/.423, 3 HR, 59 RBI, 36 BB, 5.8 WAR) and lead-off hitter, 26-year old RF Albert Sulley (.287/.391/.395, 7 HR, 72 RBI, 97 BB, 17 SB, 5.9 WAR). Last year’s 1st overall pick, 24-year old Leon Albrecht (.234/.349/.375, 8 HR, 33 RBI, 49 BB, 5 SB, 2.0 WAR – 61/80) appears poised to take over centerfield at some point, but he has been hampered by injuries. He was out of action for nearly 9 weeks in the second half of the season. But there are some growing pains, particularly at the catcher position, as Sherburn has decided to start 24-year old rookie Robert Carr (.298/.386/.532, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 6 BB, 0.4 WAR – 43/47) over 33-year old C Christopher Dainty (.237/.344/.388, 9 HR, 56 RBI, 60 BB, 2.2 WAR – 54/54). Player of the Week Award: February 20 – 3B Adrian Flynn (.526, 10 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI) March 19 – RF Albert Sulley (.481, 13 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI) Noteworthy: March 16 – The Tigers took 3 of 4 games against Kingston at home, outscoring the Pelicans 28-16 over the 4 matchups. In the 3rd game, Sherburn handily defeated the visitors 13-6 on 19 hits. RF Albert Sulley netted 5 of them, going 5 for 6 on the afternoon. Sulley began the onslaught with a 2-run home off Les Hildred (0-2, 6.00 ERA, 1.75 WHIP) in the 1st inning, then followed up with 3 singles and an RBI double in the 6th before flying out in the 8th. In all, Sulley collected 2 R and 3 RBI. First Round Draft Pick Update: 7th overall – OF Carlos Cuevas (27/56). The Puerto Rican-native showed impressive stuff in Double-A, especially at the plate. In 315 AB, he hit .267/.339/.546, 24 HR, 51 RBI, 30 BB, 7 SB, 2.0 WAR. He was promoted to Triple-A at the end of the season. -------- Offense: .270/.347/.422 (2nd/2nd/2nd) Pitching: 4.07/4.35/3.23 (6th/7th/2nd) Defense: .694 (8th) At the end of January, the defending Western League champions appeared poised to make a challenge for top spot in the West, thanks to a 7-game winning streak to end the month. That put them just 2-1/2 games back of the Pulberry Trolleys. Then the wheels fell off. As soon as the calendar turned over to February, the Cambria Cannons endured a 12-game losing streak, knocking them out of a playoff spot. They never recovered. Despite scoring 777 runs, the second-most in the United Leagues (Embro led with 780), they were done in by poor pitching and defense. They gave up 735 runs, the third worst in the ULB. The offense is as good as it gets in the United Leagues, with 24-year old LF Calvin Hanbridge (.295/.417/.465, 17 HR, 60 RBI, 115 BB, 8 SB, 5.9 WAR) leading off and the following four forming the heart of the lineup: • 36-year old SS César Ruíz (.319/.409/.563, 28 HR, 88 RBI, 62 BB, 4.9 WAR) • 29-year old 1B Carlos Corea (.318/.367/.543, 26 HR, 101 RBI, 34 BB, 4.6 WAR) • 26-year old CF Sam Tite (.273/.394/.541, 25 HR, 70 RBI, 75 BB, 4.6 WAR) • 31-year old 3B Luis Torres (.301/.358/.475, 22 HR, 96 RBI, 49 BB, 3.4 WAR) Now if they could make 24-year old Doug Martin (.285/.361/.433, 5 HR, 49 RBI, 48 BB, 7 SB, 2.4 WAR) their regular second baseman over 26-year old Quincy Blencowe (.293/.339/.389, 2 HR, 35 RBI, 23 BB, 1.2 WAR), who is fine in a utility role, they would be even better offensively. The pitching is currently at the core of Cambria’s problems, particularly the starting rotation. Although the bullpen was rated No. 2 in the West this season based on ERA, the entire staff has a patchwork feel to it. This was exacerbated by the loss of key pitchers such as 27-year old RHP Ray Lambright (9-6, 4.02 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 96 ERA+) and 23-year old LHP Sebastian Cromwell (2-1, 1 SV, 5.40 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 72 EA+) to season ending injuries. In the end, 37-year old journeyman LHP Aidan Fothergill (10-8, 3.32 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 117 ERA+) proved to be Cambria’s best starter this season, particularly in the second half, going 8-6, 2.70 ERA, 1.33 WHIP from December to March. Noteworthy: March 12 – In the first game of a 3-game series in Hespeler, the Cannons spotted the Stars a 4-0 lead before their bats awoke in the top of the 5th inning and cruised to a 10-5 win. 1B Carlos Corea was outstanding, going 5 for 5. All his hits were singles and he collected 1 R and 2 RBI. CF Sam Tite blasted a 3-run home run in the 7th to tie the game up at 5-apiece before the Cannons scored 5 more runs in the final 2 innings for the victory. First Round Draft Pick Update: 14th overall – OF Kuauli Walenekino (31/49). The Fijian-native was outstanding in his first season in Double-A, hitting .259/.315/.489, 16 HR, 45 RBI, 21 BB, 1.9 WAR in 270 AB and stealing an impressive 31 bases while being caught 9 times. -------- Offense: .245/.316/.372 (8th/7th/6th) Pitching: 3.90/4.01/3.58 (3rd/5th/5th) Defense: .733 (1st) The Balmoral Giants’ streak of above .500 finishes ended at two this season as an injury to their star player and a lack of offensive depth did them in. The team is at a crossroads in my view as they don’t seem to have the depth of talent on both sides of the ball to develop into a contender. When they signed LF Ángel Costa (.312/.392/.598, 22 HR, 55 RBI, 41 BB, 4.1 WAR) as a 32-year rookie three seasons ago, it should have served as a signal to accelerate their rebuild to take advantage of their star player. Alas, they have largely failed to do so and now it may be too late. The two-time all-star missed the final two months of the season with a fractured ankle and at 35-years of age, may be on the decline. On the plus side, a couple of players enjoyed fine seasons. 27-year old 1B Erik Perry (.304/.346/.4355, 9 HR, 77 RBI, 38 BB, 8 SB, 4.2 WAR) proved that last season (4.0 WAR) was not a fluke. But 26-year old sophomore SS Hayden Gunton (.284/.362/.386, 9 HR, 44 RBI, 69 BB, 6.2 WAR) was outstanding as well. The former 6th overall pick from 1952-53 is now rated as the 5th best shortstop in the United Leagues and should be a lock for his first Ball Hawk Award (.981 PCT, 4.87 RNG, +21.0 ZR, 1.091 EFF). The rest of the lineup was a disappointment, exposing the Giants’ lack of depth and dearth of talent in the farm system. The pitching staff was much more consistent than the offense, but it too does not have a lot of depth. Balmoral did well in acquiring 30-year old RHP Wayne Nesling (12-9, 2.94 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 134 ERA+) who has become the ace of the rotation. 31-year old RHP Quintiliano Galeo (12-14, 3.63 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 107 ERA+) had his ups and downs throughout the season but was a dependable starter overall for the second straight year. The Giants also benefited from the trade that brought in 29-year old RHP Harry Dinsmore (7-12, 3.51 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 111 ERA+). Despite poor run support, Dinsmore enjoyed his best season by far in his 8-year career. But after them, it’s a rather non-descript bunch. Balmoral does have 24-year old RHP Kai Dean (5-7, 3 SV, 4.45 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 88 ERA+ - 43/56) in the bullpen. He should be ready to make the transition to the rotation next season. Noteworthy: March 11 – After dropping the first game, the Giants took the next three in Wolseley against the Unions. RHP Harry Dinsmore capped off the series on Sunday afternoon by pitching a 2-hitter and blanking the Unions 3-0. Both Wolseley hits were singles. Dinsmore’s final line was 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 108 PI (GS: 84). First Round Draft Pick Update: 13th overall – 2B Maurice Gayford (22/50). Gayford’s first year was a bit of a struggle, going .145/.179/.275, 7 HR, 22 RBI, 9 BB, 7 SB, -1.9 WAR in 207 AB. -------- Offense: .255/.326/.380 (4th/5th/4th) Pitching: 4.18/4.18/4.17 (7th/6th/6th) Defense: .700 (5th) After getting 3 games above .500 and to within 3 games of the wildcard by January 23, the Hespeler Stars began to fade soon thereafter, then completely crashed in the final month. They finish below .500 for the 17th time in their 19-year history and in the second division for the 13th straight season. All-in-all, not a lot of positives to gleam from their season or their current minor league depth (5th overall). They have some young talent, but it has yet to produce. And with their best player aged north of 30, they may have squandered their best opportunity at getting good and making some noise. SS Zhao-hui Qian (.309/.369/.429, 9 HR, 63 RBI, 52 BB, 4.9 WAR) enjoyed another fine all-around season, although it was a step below previous efforts. At age 32, you have to wonder if his best years are now behind him. On the other hand, 1B John McMurray (.308/.367/.491, 22 HR, 91 RBI, 47 BB, 6 SB, 4.5 WAR) finally enjoyed a break-out season after 6-years in the majors. The 28-year old Wellington-native was one of the top first basemen in the United Leagues this season (3rd overall). 23-year old sophomore 3B Clive Yarwood (.283/.369/.460, 16 HR, 58 RBI, 46 BB, 3.3 WAR) and 28-year old RF John Anthony (.266/.358/.485, 25 HR, 78 RBI, 71 BB, 6 SB, 2.7 WAR) rounded out the heart of the Stars’ lineup, although Anthony was brutal in the field (.973 PCT, 2.62 RNG, -14.1 ZR, .925 EFF). But the lineup is populated with a number of young players still finding their footing, such as 23-year old C Aidan Bennie (.237/.295/.369, 6 HR, 33 RBI, 23 BB, 0.9 WAR – 50/69). The pitching staff was a rather lackluster group, with 28-year old ace RHP Battista Carotta (17-13, 3.37 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 118 ERA+) being the only standout all season. But the Stars do have a couple of future starters who got some playing time pitching out of the bullpen this season: 21-year old rookie RHP Zachariah Horton (7-7, 4.04 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 98 ERA+ - 53/59) and 24-year old rookie RHP Pedro Peña (1-1, 3.99 ERA, 1.36 WHIP – 50/59). Noteworthy: February 24 – The visiting Cambria Cannons won a hotly contested game against the Stars, pulling out a 5-4 victory in 11 innings. Things boiled over in the bottom of the 7th when a bench-clearing brawl broke out. RF John Anthony led off the bottom half with a solo home run, to get the Stars to within one. One out later, 24-year old IF/OF Eddie Reed (.312/.402/.542, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 14 BB, 1.3 WAR) tied things up with a solo shot of his own. Next up was 31-year old 2B Vic Lewis (.238/.306/.361, 13 HR, 57 RBI, 38 BB, 5 SB, 1.0 WAR), who previously slammed a 2-out, 2-run home run of his own back in the 5th inning to knot things up at 2-apiece. But Cambria’s 30-year old RHP Masami Fujihara was in no mood to give him a chance to hit another long bomb – his first offering plunked Lewis, prompting the batter to charge the mound and clear the benches. After the dust settled, the Commissioner’s office handed down a 4-game suspension to Lewis and a 6-game suspension to Fujihara. March 8 – The Stars opened a 4-game series against the Kingston Pelicans in impressive fashion, blanking them 1-0 on just 2 hits in Game 1. Taking game honours was 26-year old rookie RHP Curt McKnight (5-4, 4.17 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 95 ERA+) who went the distance for his fifth win of the season. His final line was 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 119 PI (GS: 86). The only run of the game came in the top of the 1st inning, when RF John Anthony doubled home 32-year old SS Zhou-hui Qian (.306/.364/.433, 10 HR, 63 RBI, 50 BB, 4.9 WAR). March 23 – The Stars went into Pulberry and dropped 3 of 4 to the playoff-bound Trolleys in the final series of the regular season. The lone win came in Game 2 and was the highlight for Hespeler as 15-year veteran, 36-year old LHP Patrick Denman (12-16, 4.86 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 82 ERA+) won his 200th career game, the 8th player in United Leagues’ history to reach the milestone. The Trolleys did not make it easy, as Denman, who also holds the record for most victories in a single season (27 in 1945-46), was holding Pulberry scoreless until they erupted for 4 runs in the bottom of the 6th to tie things up. But his teammates scored 3 times in the top of the 8th and held on for 7-5 win. Denman’s pitching line on the day was 9.0 IP, 13 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 129 PI (GS: 40). First Round Draft Pick Update: 3rd overall – IF/OF Alistair Benney (20/37). The 19-year old Bennie saw very little action in his first season in the minors. But he showed promise, hitting .286/.310/.429, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB in 28 at-bats while playing mostly leftfield. -------- Offense: .254/.327/.377 (5th/4th/5th) Pitching: 4.32/4.83/3.12 (8th/8th/1st) Defense: .699 (6th) The Kingston Pelicans improved by 6 games over last season and escaped the basement, but they still have a way to go in returning to relevance. It’s been 9 seasons since their glory years when went to the playoffs for 10 straight years and won 3 United Cups. What should help them is the fact that they have the second-deepest farm system in the United Leagues and should add to that this off-season. The offense is in better shape than the pitching, with some young prospects already reaching the majors this season. 29-year old C Carlos Camasura (.293/.424/.376, 6 HR, 48 RBI, 107 BB, 5.1 WAR) remains Kingston’s best player and is rated 4th overall among catchers in the ULB. He bounced back nicely after an injury-plagued season last year. Also enjoying a nice bounce-back was 27-year old SS Charlie Cockin (.276/.343/.380, 10 HR, 58 RBI, 50 BB, 3.6 WAR). 31-year old RF Mo Spencely (.295/.351/.503, 24 HR, 81 RBI, 52 BB, 10 SB, 3.2 WAR) was Kingston’s top offensive player, but he was a nightmare on the field (.969 PCT, 2.37 RNG, -13.3 ZR, .951 EFF). The Pelicans brought up a few young prospects to the major league roster this season, among them 22-year old IF/OF Denzel Daintry (46/54) and 24-year old 3B Andy Wearne (45/60). It remains to be seen what impact they will make in the seasons to come. The pitching remains largely a patchwork job, with 32-year old RHP Kaula Mafileo (12-8, 16 SV, 2.75 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 143 ERA+) moving back and forth between the rotation and stopper position once again. He is considered a starter albeit with poor stamina (30). 31-year old RHP Kieran Bunce (12-14, 3.59 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 110 ERA+) remains the Pelicans’ top starter but struggled in the second half of the season (4-7, 4.65 ERA, 1.42 WHIP). 26-year old RHP Lester Beddeos (7-6, 11 SV, 2.84 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 139 ERA+) was a reliable arm out of the bullpen and serves as the team’s stopper whenever Mafileo is moved to the rotation. Player of the Week Award: March 12 – C Carlos Camasura (.435, 10 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI) First Round Draft Pick Update: 1st overall – OF Dan Hesketh (53/71). Kingston’s top prospect was just outstanding, hitting .320/.428/.742, 15 HR, 27 RBI, 20 BB, 20 SB, 2.9 WAR in 128 AB in Double-A. He was then promoted to Triple-A (.375/.483/.667, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 10 BB, 2 SB, 0.6 WAR in 48 AB) for 13 games before he severely injured his elbow in early February, requiring ligament reconstruction surgery and shutting down his season. -------- Offense: .245/.315/.347 (7th/8th/8th) Pitching: 3.85/3.92/3.51 (2nd/2nd/4th) Defense: .716 (3rd) The Fort Richmond Generals continued their backward slide this season, ending with their first losing record in 9 seasons and their worst campaign since 1943-44 when they lost 98 games. The reason is simple – the Generals are practically devoid of any offense. They scored the second-fewest runs in the United Leagues this past year (594) and had the worst run differential (-100), despite having a respectable pitching core. Rookie GM Timothy Slater has his work cut for him, especially since this season’s draft selections are all shaping up to be busts. There is not a lot to write home about regarding this underwhelming lineup. All players regressed compared to last season, where they didn’t exactly set the world on fire either. 24-year old C Scott Sheelah (.266/.374/.410, 12 HR, 62 RBI, 83 BB, 3.9 WAR) was the team’s best overall position player and 28-year old LF Greg Cusack (.268/.327/.369, 10 HR, 48 RBI, 49 BB, 12 SB, 2.9 WAR) was consistent all season long, but he too regressed for the second straight year. Overall, the pitching staff performed admirably. However, on closer look it seems the sum was greater than the parts (if that makes sense). The rotation was largely carried by 33-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock (8-9, 2.86 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 134 ERA+) and 30-year old RHP Kazunori Fujimoto (10-14, 3.76 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 102 ERA+) until Sherlock was lost for the second half of the season in mid-January with shoulder inflammation. That forced Fort Richmond to rely on unheralded rookies such as 26-year old RHP Damon Pinney (9-14, 3.84 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 100 ERA+). The bullpen was up and down as well with 6-time all-star stopper, 32-year old RHP José Rodríguez (9-6, 8 SV, 3.77 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 102 ERA+) having a disappointing year, especially compared to his previous three. On the other hand, the Generals do have 23-year old LHP John Witheycombe (6-0, 1 SV, 2.29 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 167 ERA+), a 2nd-round pick from 1951-52, in the bullpen. He is capable of being used in high-leverage late-inning spots. First Round Draft Pick Update: 10th overall – C Shane Acton (20/39). The 18-year old got very little playing time. In just 9 games and 16 AB, he went .188/.188/.250, 1-2B, 8 K. -------- Offense: .249/.325/.362 (6th/6th/7th) Pitching: 4.02/3.97/4.17 (5th/4th/7th) Defense: .695 (7th) The Wolseley Unions may have won two more games than last season, but that did not prevent them from finishing in the bottom of the Western League standings. In fact, they finished with the worst record in the entire ULB and will pick first overall at next season’s amateur draft for the first time in their 19-year history. Like the Generals, the Unions’ pitching staff performed respectively but was done in by an anemic offense. The chance at selecting high in the draft over the next few years should help a club that finished in first place in the West for 4 straight seasons and won 3 United Cups to crawl back to relevance. Their farm system is in dire need of restocking after years of neglect. 1B Carlos Ortíz (.268/.329/.453, 24 HR, 88 RBI, 57 BB, 3.0 WAR) was Wolseley’s top all-around player this season and at just 26-years old, the 3-time all-star should remain so for awhile yet. 34-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.269/.400/.389, 12 HR, 61 RBI, 89 BB, 0.2 WAR) remains a capable offensive player, but injuries are starting to catch up with him and his defense, while never great, was downright atrocious (.992 PCT, 2.40 RNG, -23.1 ZR, .897 EFF). Also, while he is rated as Wolseley’s best position player, 34-year old SS George Kimpton (.290/.370/.476, 12 HR, 36 RBI, 35 BB, 2.1 WAR) endured a down year, just like the rest of the lineup. The rotation, particularly the starting three, were the most consistent group on the Unions’ roster this season. 30-year old RHP Roberto Garza (12-10, 3.33 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 119 ERA+) enjoyed a nice bounce-back year (94 ERA+ in 1954-55) and remains the ace on this staff. He was joined by 29-year old RHP Joseph Sellwood (7-17, 3.57 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 111 ERA+) and 36-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson (13-12, 3.56 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 111 ERA+) who quite often did not get the run support they deserved. Finally, 20-year old RHP Theo Morse (3-4, 1 SV, 3.26 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 121 ERA+ - 42/64), a 2nd-round pick from 1953-54, was promoted to the major league roster in January and finished the season pitching out the No. 5 spot. With great stuff (60/70) and command (60/65) along with an impressive sinker (55/65) and slider (65/65), scouts feel the Pulberry-native will one day develop into a No. 1 starter. Player of the Week Awards: February 27 – 2B Kaituoe Mowan (.545, 12 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI) First Round Draft Pick Update: 2nd overall – IF/OF Jonathan Higgins (39/66). The Milwaukee-native and 2nd-overall rated prospect earned a promotion to Triple-A towards the end of the season. In 272 AB in Double-A, he hit .239/.279/.529, 23 HR, 47 RBI, 13 BB, 15 SB, 1.6 WAR. After his promotion, he went .258/.329/.455, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 7 BB, 4 SB, 0.1 WAR in 66 AB. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 07-03-2022 at 12:25 AM.