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ayaghmour2 · 06-02-2023, 08:11 PM

Weekly Record: 2-1
Overall Record: 17-19 (5th, 6 GB)

Notable Stories
Awful Debut for Walt Pack: During the last three games of the spring, Walt Pack made six trips to the plate. He did not reach base in any of those six trips. In total, Pack took 111 PAs, about a little more then one fifth of what you could expect in a regular season. The results were abysmal, as the polarizing slugger hit just .151/.279/.269, good for a 67 WRC+. He did walk (16) as often as he struck out (16), but 2 hits, 3 doubles, and 12 RBIs isn't anything to write home about. I'm hoping he's getting all the bad at bats out now, as if we want to win a title, we'll need some production out of the Wolf.

Duke Bybee is Going to be Very Good: After allowing 2 runs off 4 hits in 5 innings in his first start, rookie Duke Bybee allowed just one in each of his next three, before finishing off the Spring with a 4 inning shutout. He allowed just 2 hits and struck out 3, finishing the Spring 12 hits, 10 strikeouts, and just one walk in 20.1 innings pitched. His 0.64 WHIP was lowest on the team, and the only Cougar below 1. Looking to the league at a whole, he was the only pitcher who threw 20 or more innings with one below 0.70, edging John Perkins for lowest WHIP in the Spring. Bybee is scheduled to make his season debut in Montreal on the 19th in our fifth game of the season. The former 4th Rounder has dropped to 11th in the prospect rankings, but OSA and Dixie Marsh think he'll be an ace, and I'd give Bybee the lead in the way-too-early CA Kellogg Award race. Intimidating to opposing hitters, Bybee has the poise and mindset of a seasoned vet, and has already emerged as one of the captains in a very strong leadership group.

Roster Down to 29: With Opening Day coming on Tuesday, the Cougars have made all but five cuts to the final roster. The pitching staff sits at 10, and will be cut to 9, meaning two of Ken Matson, Harry MacRae, Rusty Watts, Charlie Kelsey, Mel Haynes, and Red Hampton will remain. Matson and MacRae are all but guaranteed spots, and it looks like it will come down to the optionable Kelsey and Watts versus the un-optionable Hampton and Haynes. Kelsey made the best case, tossing 10 scoreless innings out of the pen, but he's a starter and we have an opening in our AAA rotation. If Kelsey stays, he could pick up a spot start or two if George Oddo gets off to a slow start. With WHIPs above 2.00, Red Hampton and Rusty Watts are the obvious removals, but both are the only remaining lefties in the pen. Mel Haynes has managed to draw controversy, but with no Kelsey he could fill the spot starter role. There will be plenty of debate over the weekend on who claims the final two spots, and discarded pieces from other team could be considered as well.

On the position player side, there's still the role of backup catcher, with the edge going to rookie backstop Eddie Howard. He's outperformed Guthrie in every which way, but he might be best served starting the season in Milwaukee. There won't be many opportunities to start in the early season, but the month of May sees 30 games in 31 days. Plus, it's hard to option a guy who hit .289/.398/.361 (121 OPS+) as the backup last year, and if Guthrie claims the final spot, Howard can start games down in Milwaukee as we can see if he's a big league caliber pitcher. The bench is a mess as well, with one of Joe Read, Fred Vargas, or Ray Struble cut, as none can head down to Milwaukee via optional assignment. Five guys in camp will be removed, two pitchers, a catcher, an outfielder, and a third position player. That may be captain Jimmie James, as he can be optioned, but we could send a second outfielder down.

06-02-2023, 08:11 PM	#1114
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,141	Spring Training: Week 6 Weekly Record: 2-1 Overall Record: 17-19 (5th, 6 GB) Notable Stories Awful Debut for Walt Pack: During the last three games of the spring, Walt Pack made six trips to the plate. He did not reach base in any of those six trips. In total, Pack took 111 PAs, about a little more then one fifth of what you could expect in a regular season. The results were abysmal, as the polarizing slugger hit just .151/.279/.269, good for a 67 WRC+. He did walk (16) as often as he struck out (16), but 2 hits, 3 doubles, and 12 RBIs isn't anything to write home about. I'm hoping he's getting all the bad at bats out now, as if we want to win a title, we'll need some production out of the Wolf. Duke Bybee is Going to be Very Good: After allowing 2 runs off 4 hits in 5 innings in his first start, rookie Duke Bybee allowed just one in each of his next three, before finishing off the Spring with a 4 inning shutout. He allowed just 2 hits and struck out 3, finishing the Spring 12 hits, 10 strikeouts, and just one walk in 20.1 innings pitched. His 0.64 WHIP was lowest on the team, and the only Cougar below 1. Looking to the league at a whole, he was the only pitcher who threw 20 or more innings with one below 0.70, edging John Perkins for lowest WHIP in the Spring. Bybee is scheduled to make his season debut in Montreal on the 19th in our fifth game of the season. The former 4th Rounder has dropped to 11th in the prospect rankings, but OSA and Dixie Marsh think he'll be an ace, and I'd give Bybee the lead in the way-too-early CA Kellogg Award race. Intimidating to opposing hitters, Bybee has the poise and mindset of a seasoned vet, and has already emerged as one of the captains in a very strong leadership group. Roster Down to 29: With Opening Day coming on Tuesday, the Cougars have made all but five cuts to the final roster. The pitching staff sits at 10, and will be cut to 9, meaning two of Ken Matson, Harry MacRae, Rusty Watts, Charlie Kelsey, Mel Haynes, and Red Hampton will remain. Matson and MacRae are all but guaranteed spots, and it looks like it will come down to the optionable Kelsey and Watts versus the un-optionable Hampton and Haynes. Kelsey made the best case, tossing 10 scoreless innings out of the pen, but he's a starter and we have an opening in our AAA rotation. If Kelsey stays, he could pick up a spot start or two if George Oddo gets off to a slow start. With WHIPs above 2.00, Red Hampton and Rusty Watts are the obvious removals, but both are the only remaining lefties in the pen. Mel Haynes has managed to draw controversy, but with no Kelsey he could fill the spot starter role. There will be plenty of debate over the weekend on who claims the final two spots, and discarded pieces from other team could be considered as well. On the position player side, there's still the role of backup catcher, with the edge going to rookie backstop Eddie Howard. He's outperformed Guthrie in every which way, but he might be best served starting the season in Milwaukee. There won't be many opportunities to start in the early season, but the month of May sees 30 games in 31 days. Plus, it's hard to option a guy who hit .289/.398/.361 (121 OPS+) as the backup last year, and if Guthrie claims the final spot, Howard can start games down in Milwaukee as we can see if he's a big league caliber pitcher. The bench is a mess as well, with one of Joe Read, Fred Vargas, or Ray Struble cut, as none can head down to Milwaukee via optional assignment. Five guys in camp will be removed, two pitchers, a catcher, an outfielder, and a third position player. That may be captain Jimmie James, as he can be optioned, but we could send a second outfielder down.