[reds1]

March 26, 1957

Eastern League: Brunswick, Cobourg Advance to the Playoffs







--------



The Brunswick Legends are returning to the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. Its also the first time they have finished in top spot since 1944-45, when they won 101 games and the United Cup. A 12-game winning streak at the end of February, which included a 3-game sweep of the Western League leading Pulberry Trolleys, brought them to within a half-game of the Cobourg Redlegs for first. But it wasn’t until March 16th that they pulled into a tie with Cobourg and ultimately forced a one-game playoff at the end of the season to finally lay claim to it. After averaging 75 wins a season over the past 9 years, the Legends finally broke through thanks to solid performances from both the rotation and bullpen.

56-year old manager Finlay Fay has set the following 4-man rotation for the playoffs:

• 25-year old RHP Dave Ball (20-7, 3.03 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.13 FIP, 130 ERA+)
• 31-year old LHP Luke Henty (20-9, 2.79 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 3.47 FIP, 141 ERA+)
• 40-year old RHP Pi-ao Quian (15-15, 3.74 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 3.80 FIP, 105 ERA+)
• 29-year old RHP Mhelter Pilapil (17-9, 3.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 3.98 FIP, 108 ERA+)

Bullpen standouts:

• 35-year old stopper RHP Lao Chen (8-2, 22 SV, 2.01 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 2.08 FIP, 196 ERA+)
• 27-year old MR LHP Ron Killingworth (4-5, 2 SV, 2.16 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 2.69 FIP, 182 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 28-year old C Robert Kersey (.300/.385/.520, 27 HR, 104 RBI, 67 BB, 141 OPS+, 154 wRC+, 6.3 WAR)
• 26-year old RF Jay Mitchell (.308/.393/.563, 29 HR, 101 RBI, 67 BB, 153 OPS+, 169 wRC+, 5.7 WAR), who was red-hot in February (.415/.471/.723, 1.195 OPS)
• 27-year old sophomore CF Joshua Witherden (.265/.369/.483, 20 HR, 65 RBI, 72 BB, 127 OPS+, 140 wRC+, 5.2 WAR)

Player of the Week Awards:

February 11 – 3B Jorge Arredondo (.478, 11 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

9th overall – OF Brendan Doyle (36/54). The Doyle acquitted himself quite well in Double-A, both at the plate and in the field. He batted .270/.330/.505, 13 HR, 31 RBI, 27 BB, 87 SO, 15 SB, 1.9 WAR in 83 starts and 319 AB.

--------



The Cobourg Redlegs took over first place in the East on December 30th and although they briefly yielded to the Legends in mid-January for a day, they regained it and had opened up a 5-1/2 game lead by mid-February. But they could not hold off the late-season surge by their rivals and was forced to play a one-game playoff at the end the season. Despite having to settle for the wildcard, the Redlegs have much to be excited about. They are making just their second playoff appearance in team history and their first in four years. Their 96 wins are the second most they have won in a season (they won 100 in 1952-53) and they have a strong young core on both the pitching staff and in the lineup. At present, their only real weakness would be the back end of the rotation.

62-year old manager Tyler Baldry has his 4-man rotation in place:

• 28-year old LHP Bill Budd (21-8, 2.26 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 2.52 FIP, 174 ERA+)
• 23-year old RHP Albert Johnson (19-9, 3.80 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.90 FIP, 103 ERA+)
• 30-year old RHP Seb Frew (10-10, 3.99 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 4.52 FIP, 98 ERA+)
• 29-year old RHP Fergus Hirst (14-11, 3.72 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 4.82 FIP, 106 ERA+)

Bullpen standouts:

• 27-year old stopper RHP Brian McDaniel (10-4, 24 SV, 2.46 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 3.36 FIP, 160 ERA+)
• 31-year old MR RHP Keith Roche (8-9, 15 SV, 2.86 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 2.82 FIP, 137 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 30-year old CF Raymond Williams (.363/.434/.654, 37 HR, 113 RBI, 68 BB, 13 SB, 189 OPS+, 203 wRC+, 11.3 WAR) who won his first EL Batting Title
• 25-year old SS Douglas Jones (.263/.351/.461, 29 HR, 84 RBI, 79 BB, 9 SB, 117 OPS+, 130 wRC+, 7.4 WAR)
• 31-year old 1B Harry Doxey (.338/.395/.525, 17 HR, 92 RBI, 47 BB, 145 OPS+, 159 wRC+, 4.2 WAR) who was hot in February (.423/.483/.641, 1.124 OPS)

Player of the Week Awards:

February 18 – CF Raymond Williams (.522, 12 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI)
March 4 – CF Raymond Williams (.407 AVG, .452 OBP, 11 H, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 10 R)

New Season Records Set:

Wins Above Replacement: 11.33, Raymond Williams

Noteworthy:

February 5 – The Redlegs swept all three games against the visiting Fort Richmond Generals. The first game was a blow out as Cobourg blanked them, 9-0. The player of the game was 1B Harry Doxey who went 5 for 5 – all singles. Cobourg’s clean-up hitter collected 3 R and 3 RBI.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

3rd overall – OF Michizane Aoki (20/58). Aoki played mostly leftfield in Double-A and got off to a slow start, at least at the plate. He batted .223/.267/.340, 6 HR, 22 RBI, 16 BB, 121 SO, 6 SB, -0.7 WAR in 85 starts and 318 AB.

--------



Despite a strong finish in March, the Wellington Athletics were just too far back of the Legends and Redlegs to catch up and were eliminated from playoff contention with one week left in the season. It’s a disappointing end to a season that started with so much hope for the defending Eastern League Pennant winners. But with some promising young arms in both the rotation and bullpen as well as an offense anchored by the incredible Matthew Floyd, the Athletics should remain one of the top teams in the East next season.

Rotation standouts:

• 33-year old RHP Hyun-kyoo Sin (20-12, 3.23 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 3.29 FIP, 119 ERA+)
• 23-year old rookie RHP Baskin Arcaple (7-4, 10 SV, 1.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 3.74 FIP, 210 ERA+)
• 25-year old rookie LHP Adam Gabb (7-6, 3.83 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 3.18 FIP, 100 ERA+)

Bullpen standouts:

• 23-year old rookie RHP Christian Wiley (2-3, 15 SV, 2.42 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 3.39 FIP, 159 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 29-year old LF Matthew Floyd (.346/.440/.672, 49 HR, 115 RBI, 96 BB, 6 SB, 202 OPS+, 208 wRC+, 11.0 WAR)
• 24-year old CF Greg Yates (.294/.343/.517, 24 HR, 99 RBI, 44 BB, 5 SB, 133 OPS+, 140 wRC+, 4.9 WAR)
• 31-year old RF Jim Mars (.314/.377/.472, 15 HR, 63 RBI, 58 BB, 132 OPS+, 139 wRC+, 4.5 WAR)

Player of the Week Awards:

February 25 – LF Matthew Floyd (.474, 9 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R)
March 18 – LF Matthew Floyd (.478, 11 H, 4 HR, 85 RBI, 7 R)

New Season Records Set:

Total Bases: 379, Matthew Floyd
Home Runs: 49, Matthew Floyd (tie)

Noteworthy:

February 2 – The Athletics began their second interleague matchup strong, winning the first eight games of their 24 game set against Western League teams. After sweeping Cambria and Balmoral, they took the first two against the Sherburn Tigers. In that second game, LHP Adam Gabb pitched his second 2-hitter of the season. Gabb pitched all 9.0 innings with 1 BB, 1 K, 88 PI, GS: 83. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the 8th, when the Athletics belted out two singles and double against LHP Jesús Chapa to score a pair of runs.

March 23 – Wellington pulled out a 1-0 victory over the Downie Chiefs in their second last game of the season. They got brilliant pitching from 10-year veteran RHP Hyun-kyoo Sin who pitched a 1-hitter. Sin went 9.0 IP, with 2 BB, 4 K, 104 PI, GS: 87. The lone run of the game came in the top of the 1st, when 30-year old 2B Vaiga Bultarro (.213/.288/.273, 2 HR, 43 RBI, 54 BB, 9 SB, 55 OPS+, 63 wRC+, 0.5 WAR) led off with a single, promptly stole second base, then scored when LF Matthew Floyd singled him home.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

15th overall – OF José Salas (41/50). The Grand Rapids, Michigan native earned a promotion to Triple-A after hitting .366/.437/.739, 12 HR, 25 RBI, 12 BB, 40 SO, 5 SB, 2.0 WAR in 36 starts and 134 AB. In Triple-A, he batted .176/.268/.296, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 18 BB, 76 SO, 7 SB, 0.9 WAR in 45 starts and 159 AB. He primarily played centerfield but saw significant playing time in left as well.

--------



After hovering anywhere from 3rd to 5th place in the East, the Stratford Barons moved into a two-way tie for the wildcard with the Legends on February 4. But the Barons began to fade in mid-month, dropping 10 of their next 12 games while the Legends and Redlegs continued to surge. By March 16, they were officially eliminated, ending their 4-year streak of consecutive playoff appearances. And there may be signs that it won’t be a one-year blip. The lineup is starting to show its age with five regulars now 29-years or older. The Barons also have the weakest farm system in the ULB that may hamper any attempt at a quick turnaround should their star players start to fade over the next couple of seasons.

Rotation standouts:

• 28-year old LHP Robin Wadsworth (20-7, 2.48 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 3.09 FIP, 157 ERA+)
• 29-year old RHP Ted Smith (14-7, 3.07 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.40 FIP, 127 ERA+)
• 30-year old RHP Magtanggol Jaojoco (15-9, 3.72 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.30 FIP, 105 ERA+)

Bullpen standouts:

• 33-year old stopper RHP José Rodríguez (8-11, 19 SV, 3.13 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 2.72 FIP, 125 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 31-year old CF Alfonso León (.315/.390/.539, 21 HR, 72 RBI, 71 BB, 10 SB, 149 OPS+, 162 wRC+, 7.7 WAR)
• 28-year old 2B Matthew Channing (.268/.321/.484, 21 HR, 110 RBI, 47 BB, 18 SB, 115 OPS+, 120 wRC+, 5.0 WAR)
• 37-year old C Aaron Skidmore (.231/.398/.408, 19 HR, 52 RBI, 99 BB, 119 OPS+, 135 wRC+, 4.2 WAR)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

14th overall – IF/OF Kosaku Fukushima (37/54). The Japanese-born Fukushima had an impressive first year in professional baseball. In Double-A, he hit .293/.329/.493, 9 HR, 28 RBI, 15 BB, 80 SO, 3 SB, 1.5 WAR in 69 starts and 276 AB before being promoted to Triple-A. He then batted .281/.303/.406, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 25 SO, 2 SB, 0.6 WAR in 14 starts and 64 AB. He primarily played centerfield and was outstanding defensively.

--------



The Queensland Eagles finished the year strong but it was not enough for them to get anywhere near the wildcard and they were eliminated on March 15. Still, their 86 wins represent their best finish in 10 seasons. In 1946-47, their 86 victories were good enough for top spot in the East, but this season it got them only 5th place. They have some tantalizing young pitching prospects in 22-year old Kevin Jones (58/75) and 24-year old Derek Tarn (56/62) that should greatly bolster the rotation in the near future, but the biggest concern is the offense. The Eagles appear to have a very respectable lineup on paper, but they will need more consistency if they want to finally end their playoff drought.

Rotation standouts:

• 31-year old RHP Logan Belsey (19-10, 2.77 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 2.40 FIP, 139 ERA+)
• 29-year old RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (17-13, 3.43 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 2.69 FIP, 113 ERA+)
• 32-year old RHP Tyler Gissing (12-13, 3.53 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 3.71 FIP, 109 ERA+)

Bullpen standouts:

• 27-year old MR RHP Harvey Heseltine (7-5, 4 SV, 3.33 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 4.51 FIP, 116 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 24-year old sophomore 2B Dennis Purcell (.298/.389/.533, 21 HR, 93 RBI, 59 BB, 6 SB, 150 OPS+, 161 wRC+, 5.2 WAR)
• 31-year old LF Rod Dennis (.309/.385/.537, 30 HR, 94 RBI, 67 BB, 150 OPS+, 162 wRC+, 4.6 WAR)
• 23-year old RF Hal Dhu (.260/.355/.413, 20 HR, 65 RBI, 76 BB, 17 SB, 110 OPS+, 121 wRC+, 3.9 WAR)

New Season Records Set:

Strikeouts: 231, Logan Belsey
Wins Above Replacement, Pitcher: 10.15, Logan Belsey

Noteworthy:

February 4 – The Eagles hosted the Pulberry Trolleys and took two of three from the defending United Cup Champions. The first matchup featured a stand-out performance by 27-year old 3B/SS Apia Yarrah (.317/.363/.478, 12 HR, 56 RBI, 31 BB, 13 SB, 128 OPS+, 135 wRC+, 2.9 WAR) in Queensland’s 8-5 win over the Trolleys. The former 1st overall pick went 5 for 5 on the afternoon – all singles. As a result of his knack of getting on base, Yarrah scored three runs.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

11th overall – 3B Vaughan Oakley (24/66). The young Australian got off to a slow start in Double-A, where he hit .235/.265/.407, 10 HR, 16 RBI, 8 BB, 87 SO, 5 SB, -0.3 WAR in 70 starts and 268 AB.

--------



The Embro Suns appeared to be coming alive in December/January when they won 32 games but came back to earth immediately after that, losing 31 games the rest of the way. That stretch included a 9-game losing streak in February. By March 4, they were eliminated from the playoffs for the second-straight year. There is no mystery as the Suns struggles: they lack impact pitching. They do have a couple of young starters that could help going forward in Jun Kichida (46/61) and 22-year old RHP Kieran Dare (48/64), but it may not be quite enough to seriously challenge for the playoffs.

Rotation standouts:

• 23-year old rookie RHP Jun Kichida (5-7, 3.48 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.84 FIP, 113 ERA+)
• 29-year old RHP Bradley Strawson (12-11, 3.62 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 3.11 FIP, 108 ERA+)
• 31-year old RHP Juan Rivas (7-9, 3.88 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.00 FIP, 101 ERA+)

Bullpen standouts:

• 26-year old stopper RHP Rob Gladstone (11-14, 18 SV, 3.70 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 3.10 FIP, 106 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 28-year old 3B Moromao Nakagawa (.274/.370/.512, 35 HR, 103 RBI, 83 BB, 136 OPS+, 148 wRC+, 6.5 WAR)
• 27-year old LF Jesús Abreu (.265/.380/.483, 31 HR, 83 RBI, 89 BB, 9 SB, 131 OPS+, 144 wRC+, 4.7 WAR)
• 29-year old 1B Napana Mamo (.270/.342/.496, 23 HR, 71 RBI, 53 BB, 9 SB, 124 OPS+, 134 wRC+, 3.3 WAR)

Player of the Week Awards:

February 4 – LF Jesús Abreu (.500 AVG, .548 OBP, 14 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

10th overall – IF Benjamin Browne (44/57). Browne started 69 games in Double-A before being promoted to Triple-A for his final 15 games of the season. In Double-A, he hit .312/.382/.524, 9 HR, 25 RBI, 26 BB, 55 SO, 7 SB, 2.6 WAR in 269 AB. After his promotion he batted .154/.185/.250, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 16 SO, 2 SB, 0.0 WAR in 52 AB.

--------



Like the Embro Suns, the Braeland City Monarchs were largely done in by a mediocre pitching staff but an aging core on offense is becoming a growing concern as well. It all added up to an uneven season that saw Braeland City eliminated by March 1. They miss the post-season for the third straight year. They do have a fairly strong farm system (4th overall) and have a few promising arms that got their first taste of the majors this season in 21-year old LHP Charley Honeysett (46/72), 23-year old RHP Bailey Organ (48/60) and 23-year old LHP Johnny Hunter (42/57). All are projected as starters, something the Monarchs desperately need. But it may be too late to help a lineup that is starting to show signs of fading.

Rotation standouts:

• 30-year old LHP Larry Kovnats (14-15, 3.83 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 4.24 FIP, 103 ERA+)
• 31-year old RHP Bobby Hogg (11-14, 3.88 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 4.34 FIP, 102 ERA+)

Bullpen standouts:

• 26-year old MR RHP Clive Howard (8-2, 8 SV, 2.59 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 3.11 FIP, 153 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 27-year old LF Hayden Goodale (.315/.386/.575, 38 HR, 117 RBI, 61 BB, 153 OPS+, 169 wRC+, 5.8 WAR)
• 31-year old 2B Patrick Lidgate (.285/.400/.538, 29 HR, 83 RBI, 94 BB, 148 OPS+, 163 wRC+, 6.5 WAR)
• 33-year old 1B Dean Witherden (.279/.355/.484, 27 HR, 73 RBI, 62 BB, 134 OPS+, 135 wRC+, 3.4 WAR)
• 26-year old RF Aidan Trembath (.281/.348/.504, 31 HR, 79 RBI, 58 BB, 125 OPS+, 135 wRC+, 3.0 WAR)

Noteworthy:

February 9 – It was a long season for the Monarch faithful but on a warm, Saturday afternoon, the fans got to cheer for their star player, 2B Patrick Lidgate. The 9-year veteran hit the 200th home run of his career and 20th of the season. It came in the bottom of the 1st, when Lidgate jumped on a 0-1 pitch from LHP Kozue Saito for a 2-run homer that landed 357 ft. into the leftfield stands. The Monarchs went on to win, 8-2.



March 16 – The Brunswick Legends could not keep RF Aidan Trembath off the basepaths, as the Hespeler native went 5 for 5 in the Monarchs 8-3 triumph over the Legends. Trembath hit four singles and double, scoring 1 RBI. Braeland City would take 2 of 3 from the Legends in their final series win of the season.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

8th overall – 2B Carlos Cruz (40/61). The 21-year old San Francisco-native was simply outstanding in his first season. In 85 starts, he batted .328/.375/.588, 15 HR, 50 RBI, 19 BB, 82 SO, 6 SB, 3.6 WAR in 320 AB. With the Double-A Kingsville Royals, he led the team to their second consecutive championship, winning MVP honors in the Surf Coast League Pennant Series. He was rewarded with a promotion to Triple-A at the end of the playoffs.

--------



The Downie Chiefs may have avoided losing 100 games, but it comes as small comfort as they finish in last place in the East for the first time in 11 years and suffer their worst season since they lost 99 games back in 1941-42. They were eliminated from contention back on February 25, the first team in the United Leagues to achieve that ignoble distinction. The Chiefs simply do not have enough young impact players on their roster with the exception of closer Frank Greggs (65/75) and RF Ewan Komaki (54/54). They do not have a particularly strong farm system either (12th overall) but having the No. 1 pick in next year’s amateur draft will certainly help. Either way, its clear Downie is in for a lengthy rebuilding process.

Rotation standouts:

• 25-year old RHP Stefan Rankin (11-13, 3.18 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 3.77 FIP, 121 ERA+)
• 26-year old LHP Quinn Merrifield (12-16, 3.44 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 3.92 FIP, 112 ERA+)

Bullpen standouts:

• 23-year old stopper RHP Frank Greggs (3-10, 30 SV, 3.32 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 4.21 FIP, 116 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 31-year old 2B Dominic Dudding (.317/.395/.504, 22 HR, 65 RBI, 58 BB, 6 SB, 147 OPS+, 158 wRC+, 5.8 WAR)
• 25-year old rookie RF Ewan Komaki (.311/.362/.506, 16 HR, 59 RBI, 39 BB, 137 OPS+, 143 wRC+, 5.1 WAR)
• 28-year old 1B Louie Revill (.268/.328/.465, 28 HR, 99 RBI, 49 BB, 116 OPS+, 125 wRC+, 2.5 WAR)

Player of the Week Awards:

March 11 – RF Ewan Komaki (.579, 11 H, 3 HR, 9 RBI)

New Season Records Set:

Saves: 30, Frank Greggs

Noteworthy:

February 2 – In a battle of cellar dwellers, the Chiefs took two of three against the Fort Richmond Generals, blanking them 7-0 and 5-0 in the first two games. That second game was highlighted by an outstanding performance from 34-year old RHP Kelii Pelanekelina (10-18, 4.47 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 4.78 FIP, 86 ERA+) who blanked the Generals on two hits. The 14-year veteran went 9.0 innings with 5 BB, 1 K, 109 PI, GS: 79.

February 5 – The Chiefs began the month of February on a hot streak, winning 11 of their first 13 games. Their fourth win of the hot streak featured a commanding performance by RHP Stefan Rankin, who blanked the Hespeler Stars 1-0 on 1 hit. Rankin went 9.0 IP with 4 K, 0 BB, 86 PI, GS: 89. His bid for a perfect game was broken up in the 7th inning, when 33-year old SS Zhao-hui Qian smacked a one-out single to rightfield. The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the second, when 25-year old 3B Freddie Ogburn (.222/.286/.339, 10 HR, 53 RBI, 48 BB, 0.7 WAR) connected for a lead-off solo home off LHP Patrick Denman, 333 ft. down the leftfield line.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

7th overall – RHP Jim Harbaugh (20/65). The 18-year old Harbaugh had a so-so first year in the minors, going 5-7, 6.00 ERA, 20 GS, 90.0 IP, 1.54 WHIP, .279 BABIP, 6.73 FIP, 75 ERA+.

--------