[ayaghmour2]

Time for another offseason! It will be another long one, but this time instead of losing players, we get a bunch back! Well, that's sort of not true, as we had some very shocking retirements. Sure, Dick Lyons (237-187, 3.80, 970) and Ben Curtin (82-63, 126, 3.76, 334) were expected, but Cliff Moss (.290, 284, 1,166)? You gotta be kidding me...

Sure he's 39, but Moss is coming off a season where he hit .300/.370/.465 (139 OPS+) with 16 homers and 71 RBIs this season. He was in line to be our starting right fielder next season, but lucky for us, we have the depth to cover. The first thought is moving Billy Hunter to right, with Clark Car taking second, but there are plenty of other options. Fred Vargas could take an every day role in right, as could Don Lee, or Dick Walker can keep first, Ray Ford move to left, and Leo Mitchell to right. We have plenty of options, but I expect a lot of rotation, as Hunter loves to get hurt, and we have more then enough capable starters to fill a lineup. Our 40 is down to 39, a huge plus, due to the retirements of Mike Taylor (.281, 180, 1,004) and Tip Harrison (.193, 2, 18, 4). The 40th spot will be filled by a catcher, whether that is Steve Mountain, Gene Lee (who I DFA'd before I knew we'd have open spots), Homer Guthrie, or an outside addition.

Looking at our new group of prospects, I was a bit surprised our system still ranked 6th, with a pair of top 25 prospects in George Oddo and George Sutterfield graduating during the season. Duke Bybee leads the group at #6, and while we have just two remaining top 25 prospects, we have 7 in the top 100, 21 in the top 250, and 46 in the top 500. Even better, 12 of our recent draftees crack the top 40, including a trio in the top 100.

1. LHP Duke Bybee (6th Overall): 1st/3rd
2. CF Johnny Peters (14th Overall): 3rd Overall Pick
3. C Eddie Howard (44th Overall): 5th/56th
4. 3B Otto Christian (47th Overall): 3rd/34th
5. CF Carl Clark (54th Overall): 18th Overall Pick
6. LHP Bert Rogers (55th Overall): 6th/64th
7. 3B Pat Todd (79th Overall): 43rd Overall Pick
8. RHP Joe Swank (142nd Overall): 11th/159th
9. RHP Charlie Kelsey (150th Overall): 10th/130th
10. RF Jimmy Hairston (161st Overall): 8th/122nd
11. SS Bill Perrin (164th Overall): Acquired in trade with Detroit
12. LF Clyde Parker (166th Overall): 103rd Overall Pick
13. 2B Bob Schmelz (193rd Overall): Acquired in trade with Detroit
14. LHP Lefty Jones (205th Overall): 12th/160th
15. SS Al Clement (207th Overall): 14th/202nd
16. 1B Cal Rice (214th Overall): 158th Overall Pick
17. LHP Dutch Yoak (222nd Overall): 19th Overall Pick
18. CF Tom Jovin (227th Overall): 9th/126th
19. SS Jim Mako (229th Overall): 59th Overall Pick
20. RHP Tommy Seymour (236th Overall): 13th/178th
21. RHP Mike Thorpe (240th Overall): 15th/221st
22. RHP Stan Flanders (265th Overall): 20th/288th
23. SS Rupert Heinbaugh (267th Overall): 107th Overall Pick
24. RHP Jim Williams (322nd Overall): 123rd Overall Pick
25. RHP Babe Stinson (328th Overall): 28th/282nd
26. RHP Gene Madison (333rd Overall): Acquired in trade with Detroit
27. C Alex O'Dailey (338th Overall): 75th Overall Pick
28. RHP Harry MacRae (350th Overall): 21st/317th
29. LHP Bob Hobbs (354th Overall): 29th/361st
30. RF Bob Rogers (363rd Overall): 26th/340th
31. SS Tom Brownleaf (367th Overall): 31st/379th
32. RHP Dick Garcia (410th Overall): 24th/331st
33. RHP Jimmy Ballard (415th Overall): 37th/460th
34. LF Harry Austin (427th Overall): 17th/268th
35. RF Bill Rich (429th Overall): Not Ranked
36. RHP Bill Holloway (442nd Overall): 18th/273rd
37. 3B Buddy Brumbaugh (444th Overall): 19th/275th
38. C Homer Guthrie (446th Overall): Not Ranked
39. RHP Ray Warren (451st Overall): 141st Overall Pick
40. RHP Wally Eversole (469th Overall): 143rd Overall Pick