[ayaghmour2]

AAA Milwaukee Blues (Century League): 87-53, 1st, 8 GA: Just like last season, the Milwaukee Blues won the Century League by eight games, but this time they did it with one less win. That's now four consecutive seasons where the Blues have topped the circuit, and the tenth time since 1930. It's no surprise the Blues did so well, as even with trades and promotions, there were plenty of big league quality players on the roster, many of which probably would have dominated the GWL. Leading the staff was Duke Bybee, who had a historical season for the Blues. Bybee was 14-6 with a 2.05 ERA (190 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP with 100 strikeouts and 40 walks in 175.1 innings pitched. Bybee put up the best ERA in a single season for the Blues in this century, and fourth best overall. Looking at the league as a whole, Bybee checks in at 18th and third since 1901, as in 1928 both Doug Mott (1.82) and David Stokes (1.92) cracked the 2.00 mark. Even though Tom Weinstock still thinks Brown, Riley, Parker, and Johnnie Jones are all better then Bybee, Bybee will be inserted into the 1947 rotation one way or another. The current #7 prospect is more then ready for the big leagues, and adding another Captain to the clubhouse can only be a benefit. The sky is the limit for Bybee, who could be one of the best pitchers in the league. He can hit 97 with his fastball and cutter, and he locates all six of his pitches well. I don't think he'll ever be better then Pap or Donnie, but there are very few pitchers (Bob Allen, I'm looking at you) who could say that.

Bybee wasn't the only highly touted youngster on the staff, as even with the trades of Joe Swank (9-2, 1.70, 44) and Mike Thorpe (5-5, 3.93, 11), there was plenty of big league quality talent. Charlie Kelsey (6-4, 2.94, 63) looked great in his first full season as a starting pitcher, and he even produced a 118 WRC+ with 4 doubles and a triple in 58 trips to the plate. George Oddo (11-7, 3.70, 93) was effective as well, with an above average 106 ERA+ and 90 FIP- to go with a 5.5 K/9 and nearly 2.0 K/BB. Oddo doesn't have a spot, so I'd love to move the 23-year-old for an offensive upgrade, but it wouldn't be the worst case if he returns to Mobile next season. Jimmy Ballard (3-2, 3.67, 25) looked good before he tore his rotator cuff, again, and Bill Ballantine (2-2, 2.25, 17) had a Bybee-esque 174 ERA+ in his 9 starts. It's no surprise the Blues allowed the fewest runs in the league, but they were anything but one-dimensional.

The lineup was deep, and finished second in runs to the third place Minneapolis Lumberjacks. Eddie Howard had a big season in his return to the system, slashing .325/.380/.428 (119 OPS+) with 37 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, and 58 RBIs with 43 walks and just 23 strikeouts. He did alright on the mound too, throwing 30.1 innings while finishing 4-0 with a pair of saves. His 3.86 ERA (101 ERA+) and 1.45 WHIP were decent enough, with 14 walks and 20 strikeouts after just 10.2 innings in C and B ball. Homer Guthrie was very effective in Chicago, batting .289/.392/.361 (118 OPS+) in 98 trips to the plate, but Howard has a legit chance to snatch the starting job. He won't turn 24 until June 1st, so I'm not sure I want him to be in a part time role, but if Mead doesn't have a great spring and Howard has a big offseason, he could make two or three starts a week in Chicago. This kid is really good, currently ranked 38th in the prospect list, and he looks like a potential top five catcher despite not much power.

Another potential star, George Sutterfield (.283, 4, 66, 11) likely finished his last season in Milwaukee, providing competent at bats to go with elite defense. Those two were the main headliners, as at times we had a variety of "veterans" like Max Rucker (.295, 4, 63), Dan Collins (.247, 1, 14), Jimmie James (.273, 8, 53), Danny Richardson (.237, 7, 44), Bill Rich (.283, 2, 38), and Reginald Westfall (.317, 5, 37) getting consistent time. A lot of our more talented prospects are young, so there wasn't much of a need to move them up to far. That's not to say there weren't any youngsters in the lineup, as Lou Thomas had a really good season for the Blues. The 24-year-old first basemen hit .289/.388/.392 (112 OPS+) with 9 homers and 70 RBIs. This positions him to potentially overtake Dick Walker, if he decided to show his age next season. 22-year-old Don Jeppsen (.296, 1, 11) spent his September with the Blues, and either him or Johnny Peters could join the Blues lineup next season. Five titles in a row would be tough, but the Blues should be among the top contenders next season, with a variety of minor league journeymen, FABL washouts, and talented, big league ready youngsters.

AA Mobile Commodores (Dixie League): 67-73, 5th, 21 GB: Generally one of our top affiliates, the Mobile Commodores had a rough end of the season, going 19-32 in the final two months of the season. That dropped the Commodores to six games under .500, the first time since 1929 where they failed to finish above .500. Part of this was all the youngsters that were pushed up. They didn't pitch or hit much, but there were a few standout performers. "The Windy City Whip" was just as good in AA as he was in AAA, going 6-6 with a 2.47 ERA (140 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, 37 walks, and 51 strikeouts in 113 innings pitched. Ed Fisler (12-6, 2.90, 60) was effective as well, but the rest of the staff had ERA+ below 99. Part of that was guys not taking the jump from A to AA well, partially because some of the guys, like Bill Holloway (4-8, 3.49, 39), Babe Stinson (2-4, 4.93, 16), or Bob Petty (3-9, 5.76, 48), were definitely not ready to be called up.

The lineup had two of our best prospects, Otto Christian and Johnny Peters, but neither really set the world on fire. Otto's 11 homers were easily best in the league, but his .277/.339/.400 (106 OPS+) batting line wasn't all that great. Same for Peters' .268/.361/.387 (109 OPS+), but I shouldn't be mad at two guys in their early 20s producing a 116 WRC+. Don Jeppsen (.280, 3, 55, 8), Lee Teide (.273, 4, 41), and Norm Anderson (.275, 2, 52) all had rough goes, and while Jeppsen may still have claim to a starting spot, Teide and Anderson may have hit their way out of the lineup. Dick Pace (.282, 11, 7) and Bob Schmelz (.307, 21) each looked good post-promotion, and should be a nice upgrade for the Commodores next season. As our younger guys gain more experience, it should help Mobile return to .500 next season, but some of the top performers are going to be playing in AAA. The rotation will have some question marks, but considering the oldest member is just 24, there is a chance for some nice offseason talent bumps.

A Lincoln Legislators (Heartland League): 76-64, t-3rd, 9 GB: After there first losing season since 1942, the Legislators made a huge improvement, going from 50-82 to 76-64. While still not the consistent 80+ win team they were from 1938 to 1944, this was actually a lot better then I expected. The Legislators were 4th in both runs scored and allowed, so its pretty fitting we finished tied for third. Dick Garcia (8-7, 3.07, 58) was the only ERA qualifier on the staff, and was one of thirteen pitchers to start for the Legislators, ranging from the traded Howie Sharp (6-3, 2.66, 59) to Howard Miller Jr. (2-2, 4.34, 10), with the latter pitching for each of our bottom three affiliates. Top 100 prospect Ron Berry (0-1, 2.13, 13) impressed in his four starts, and should rejoin the club next season with former 1st Rounder Tommy Seymour (5-4, 3.28, 25). The lineup lost Bob Schmelz (.293, 1, 48, 5) and his 130 WRC+, leaving Billy Biggar (.298, 3, 40) and Jimmy Hairston (.294, 3, 27) a little unprotected. Those two were midseason callups, and are likely penciled into the lineup again next year. Lincoln always has plenty of movement, so a lot could change. Any number of guys like Pat Brown Jr. (.239, 8, 55), Everett Fuller (.242, 4, 40, 11), Bob Stout (.310, 1, 4, 1), Tom Brownleaf (.206, 21, 2, and Al Clement (.212, 10, 4) could get another go at it, giving them plenty of mid-tier prospects to develop.

B San Jose Cougars (California-Oregon-Washington League): 50-72, 6th, 32 GB: I am not the least bit surprised that the baby Cougars struggled this season, as I've never had so many red arrow guys on the roster. And any that weren't had a chance to be rushed up to Lincoln to cover for releases, trades, and/or injuries. There were a few bright spots, namely 10th Rounder Harry Beardsley, who dominated the C-O-W League. The 21-year-old righty went 4-3 with a 2.51 ERA (158 ERA+) and 1.26 WHIP in his first 7 starts. He walked 15 and struck out 24 in 43 innings, and while he may end up in Lincoln next season, I'm leaning towards starting him in San Jose. Like with Lincoln, he was one of 13 pitchers to make a start, but was the only one with an ERA below 3. Ron Berry (5-4, 4.47, 49) was much worse here then Lincoln, and last year's 7th Rounder Steve Davis (3-8, 472, 49) was hit hard. The 20-year-old stayed with no red arrow, while more effective arms Jack Maxwell (5-4, 3.36, 39) and Tommy Seymour (3-3, 3.20, 35) were pushed up to A ball.

The lineup had plenty of guys pushed up with any sort of performance, with Tom Brownleaf (.287, 3, 38, 8), Al Clement (.268, 1, 46, 17), Billy Biggar (.296, 1, 29), and Jimmy Hairston (.244, 4, 21) all finishing in Lincoln. Bob Rogers (.289, 4, 46) was one of the few to spend all season in San Jose, but his 100 WRC+ was nothing to write home about. A lot of guys better suited for C ball spent time in San Jose as we rotated our lineups, with Pat Todd one of the few to exceed expectations. Currently ranked 85th on the prospect list, last year's 3rd Rounder hit .337/.398/.446 (132 OPS+) in 93 trips to the plate. He produced an impressive 142 WRC+ with 6 doubles, a homer, 7 RBIs, and 2 steals. Carl Clark (.284, 4, 16, 2) showcased impressive power in 34 games, and his 111 WRC+ was higher then the 94 he posted in 40 games down in La Crosse. Those two, along with Buddy Brumbaugh (.271, 24), Clyde Parker (.278, 1, 13, 3), Bill Martin (.233, 3, 22), Bill Cook (.288, 1, 13), and Harry Austin (.275, 2, 9) could be here or in La Crosse, as there are plenty of options to fill out the bottom of the system. I think we'll look better next season, as our high school heavy classes have left the bottom a little weaker in exchange for added upside. 17 players made 75 or more at bats for the Cougars, and I expect a similar number next season as we gauge which guys are ready to advance, and which need more time to reach their peak.

C La Crosse Lions (Upper Mississippi Valley Association): 40-37, t-4th, 4 GB: I fully expected the Lions to finish at the bottom of the UMVA, but low and behold, they survived all the roster churning, and finished three games above .500. Not only that, they were tied for 4th and just four games behind the co-winners in Ottumwa and Burlington. The only pitching qualifier was Bert Rogers, but the former 1st Rounder and current #60 prospect had plenty of issues. Rogers was 3-2, but that was in 13 starts, as his 6.19 ERA (69 ERA+) and 1.54 WHIP made it hard to win games. To be fair, luck was not on his side, as he struck out 82 hitters in 68.1 innings, while walking just 28. HIs 3.53 FIP (82 FIP-) was nearly half of his ERA, as for some reason hitters just really got to him when they put the ball in play. La Crosse was also home to the debut season of Bob Alen, who made 10 starts after signing his absurd, yet well worth, $27,000 signing bonus. Allen went 4-1 with a respectable 4.20 ERA (102 ERA+) and 1.38 WHIP. He struck out 53 with 19 walks in his first 49.1 innings, and the 18-year-old will be right back in La Crosse next season.

While those two were the most highly touted pitchers, both Jim Williams (2-1, 2.09, 36) and Al Robison (5-3, 2.96, 55) were really effective. Robison was so good that we moved him up to A ball, and while those starts weren't great, he could start there next season. Williams also earned a promotion to San Jose, where he made two starts before finishing his season in La Crosse, as the C-O-W league scheduled ended much earlier. We churned through a lot of pitchers, with potential starters Wally Eversole (0-4, 1, 2.85, 59), Ray Warren (1-7, 2, 3.71, 40), Kid Moore (6-4, 1, 4.42, 50), and Lonnie Sis (3-1, 1, 1.59, 30) all split time between the rotation and pen, while Dutch Yoak (4-1, 3.30, 30) and Bill Sweet (4-0, 1.35, 39) both split time between the La Crosse and San Jose rotations. I'd like to tap into our low minors pitching depth a bit, as we didn't have enough starts to go around, as guys like Billy Stoddard (2-7, 6, 5.31, 47) and Lee Parker (0-1, 4.50, 2) could start for other teams, but are stuck in strictly pen roles.

The lineup saw plenty of new faces, but one of the consistent ones was 2nd Rounder Frank Reece. He's set for San Jose next season after hitting .276/.356/.480 (117 OPS+) at 18. The 40th ranked prospect produced a 129 WRC+ in 51 games, and slugged 10 longballs with 10 doubles, 24 RBIs, and 14 steals. He did strike out (47) over four times as much as he did in his three years of high school, but I expect that to straighten out, and his defense and power production more then made up for it. Cal Rice (.329, 9, 46) had a big season as well, and could join Reece up in San Jose next season. Rupert Heinbaugh (.276, 4, 30, 15), Pat Todd (.305, 5, 25), John Price (.298, 3, 13), Zeke Johnson (.288, 2, 11) Harry Austin (.299, 1, 13), and Clyde Parker (.278, 3, 19) were all very effective, and could be done with C ball, but some of our other youngsters had some troubles. Carl Clark (.247, 4, 16, 5) was better in San Jose, Jim Mako (.233, 3, 21, 12) played good defense all around, but didn't hit much, and Phil Boyes (.262, 2, 16, 8) underperformed at the plate. Those three may be back in La Crosse with guys like Roxy Hilts (.301, 9, 3), Alex O'Dailey (.190, 3, 13), Ernie Frost (.267, 2, 12), and Charlie Harvey (.157, 1, 8, 2) all need some extra seasoning. There's plenty of talent, but if we don't get everyone enough at bats, it may be tough to get the most out of these guys. 13 of our top 30 prospects spent some time in La Crosse, with many other exciting youngsters getting some opportunities.