[ayaghmour2]

4 years ago, if you told me my deadline would consist of trading for Dan Fowler and Frank Crawford, I would have thought that we won the deadline. Or that it was at least one of the bigger deals. But this year, this second deal will be lost in the shuffle in a deadline that saw stars like Red Johnson, Gus Goulding, George Dawson, Jack Cleves, and more on the move, Ira Hawker for Frank Crawford is just a mere footnote.

Now 35, the 1939 Allen Winner isn't the same pitcher he once was, as injuries have really taken something out of him. Always expected to be a quality starter, Crawford was taken 10th Overall by the Keystones back in 1926, and then debut in 1931 as a 23-year-old. His first 11 starts went well, as the young southpaw went 8-3 with a 3.15 ERA (135 ERA+), 1.38 WHIP, 28 walks, and 38 strikeouts in just shy of 100 innings pitched. Crawford was an 18 game winner in '32, and tallied 1,248.2 innings with the Keystones before being moved after the 1937 season to help pick up young slugger Hank Koblenz. At the time of the trade, Crawford was 70-63 with a 4.31 ERA (106 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, 409 walks, and 636 strikeouts in 1,248.2 innings pitched.

He took the next step with the Dynamos, going 20-10 with a 3.31 ERA (128 ERA+), 1.25 WHIP, 81 walks, and 144 strikeouts in 263.2 innings pitched while worth a career high 5.9 WAR. He then took it to the next level in 1939, leading the Fed with 25 wins and a 2.58 ERA (161 ERA+). He didn't win the triple crown, striking out just 139 in 285.2 innings pitched. He did lead the league in WHIP (1.13) and was worth an impressive 7.8 wins above replacement. It all went downhill after that, as while his first five starts in 1940 were elite, tore the flexor tendon in his elbow, and he then missed an entire year before returning to the mound after the start of that season. He was never quite the same, as he's put up three consecutive sub-100 ERA+ seasons since his injury. This year he's been a bit better, 6-6 with a 3.66 ERA (95 ERA+), 1.53 WHIP, 27 walks, and 23 strikeouts in 78.2 innings pitched. As you'd expect from a fragile pitcher, he's nursing a finger blister, and he'll start his Cougar career on the IL.

All told, the veteran lefty is an out away from 2,200 FABL innings, and 141-104 in 301 career outings. He has an impressive 3.86 ERA (112 ERA+) and 1.37 WHIP with 724 walks and 1,065 strikeouts. He's been worth 35.7 wins above replacement, and he'll give us a very useful depth piece for our rotation. He doesn't have to be an every day starter, as we have a really good five with White, Brown, Lyons, Lonardo, and Jones already. That being said, we're already down Harry Parker and our only real starting options in Milwaukee are Ken Matson and John Little, two guys I'd rather not throw every fifth day. Plus with all the double headers, it's very helpful to have a reliable sixth starter, as it's been tough to manage some weeks. We do get more off days down the stretch, but having a guy like Crawford can really help.

Since I didn't dedicate a full post to the Dan Fowler deal, it's worth mentioning him here too. Fowler was always a guy I targeted, dating back to when he was drafted six overall by the Minutemen back in 1929. He then debuted at the start of the 1932 season and it was a season to remember. Fowler burst onto the scene with a .275/.389/.467 (125 OPS+) batting line with 21 doubles, 26 homers, 15 steals, and 88 RBIs with a league high 100 walks. Fowler's time in Boston didn't last too long, as he was sent to the Foresters in a blockbuster at the deadline for Ed Wood, John Wood, Pete Day, Art Spencer, and a 4th Round Pick. Cleveland was trying to catch us, and while Fowler did everything he could to catch us, they Foresters still fell double digit games behind us. Fowler slashed an elite .318/.409/.507 (165 OPS+) with 12 homers and 36 RBIs.

Fowler cemented himself in the lineup and was an instrumental member of back-to-back pennants. From 1934-1938, Fowler never had an OPS+ or WRC+ below 124, less then 20 homers, 90 RBIs, and 60 walks. He topped 100 three times, leading the CA in '34 and '36. He was just average for the next two seasons, before showing signs of his old self again in 1941. Fowler hit a strong .271/.348/.472 (126 OPS+) with 23 homers and 68 RBIs, but he followed that with his worst season. It was interrupted for seven weeks with a sprained elbow, which was the then 34-year-olds first injury of longer then a week. This season WRC+ thinks he's back on track, with a 121 in 308 PAs for the Foresters. His 102 OPS+ thinks he's nothing more then average, hitting .239/.365/.365 with 9 doubles, 7 homers, and 31 RBIs. He's walked (50) twice as often as he's struck out (25) and has a bit below average (-4.1, .980) out in center.

Like Crawford, Fowler has been an impressive big leaguer, but Fowler will be getting more regular time with us. A career .268/.365/.442 (121 OPS+) hitter, he will be a huge offensive upgrade over Orlin Yates. An extra base machine, Fowler has 211 doubles, 251 homers, and 994 RBIs, and while his speed is a thing of the past, he did hit 40 triples and stole 79 bases. The lefty will take every day center field duties, but I can see him getting some games in right. As of now, Billy Hunter will patrol right, but Orlin Yates is a far better defender then both of them. Against some righties I might want Hunter to rest, and Yates will always get center if any two of those three are in the lineup. Even when Langton and Moss get back, Fowler will get most of the time in center, but I expect Billy Hunter to take a lot of his bats against lefties at that point. Plus Fowler is one of the most popular guys in the clubhouse and his flyball tendencies should play really well in our stadium. He's hit us really well this year and absolutely decimates righties, and I'm really excited to have him as an option for the lineup.