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ayaghmour2 · 11-15-2023, 07:42 PM

Weekly Record: 3-3
Overall Record: 14-12 (3 GB)

Veteran Injuries Deplete Roster: With two weeks to go, we'll be two players short, as veterans Billy Hunter and Harry Parker sprained their knees. For Hunter it will be just day-to-day, and he could theoretically return for Opening Day, but Harry Parker is set to miss the next two months. His injury is one that should be easy to swallow, as our pen was crowded enough as is, and this allows me to kick the can down the road a bit. Formerly one of the best pitchers in the Continental Association, Parker owns a 3.25 ERA (115 ERA+) and 1.17 WHIP in nearly 2,000 (1,977.1) FABL innings, but after a elbow injury during the 1943 season, he's no longer the innings eater he once was. In fact, he's thrown just 59 innings across the past two seasons, allowing a whopping 14 home runs. Last year broke his ten-year stretch of seasons with a big league start, and he has just 25 since leading the league with 36 in 1945. Now 34, he's been held to the bullpen, and his next innings will be at Milwaukee instead of Chicago.

Hunter, on the other hand, was in line for big league at bats, and he was hitting .364/.405/.424 with 2 doubles and 5 RBIs this spring. He was looking for a bounce back season, hitting just .274/.309/.386 (91 OPS+) in 79 games last year. Hunter has always dealt with injuries, so him missing time is not the least bit surprising, but it's tough to come after the 34-year-old was really getting it going. He looked good in 1947, but after posting a WRC+ above 105 in each of his first eight seasons, in two of the last three seasons he's posted one below 95. In his absence, George Sutterfield seems in line for the right side of the second base platoon, and him and Skipper would make an outstanding defensive duo. Even if Hunter isn't ready and Sutterfield has some struggles, Clark Car seems more then capable of making a difference. He's coming off a 4-for-6 week with a double, triple, walk, steal, and 2 RBIs, and is now slashing an absurd .452/.485/.613 in 35 trips to the plate. He has 5 extra base hits, 3 steals, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs, and his 193 WRC+ is best on the team among players with 20 or more PAs so far. With Montreal first on the schedule, there's a good chance we start the season with a righty, so Car would be in line for the nod on Opening Day. Barring setbacks, Hunter should be back with the club before May, if we're lucky he starts the season in Chicago.

Donniemant: I'm sure this pun isn't half as funny as I think it is, but when you're pitching like Donnie Jones is, the work speaks for itself. He finished the week, and retired all fifteen Wolves he faced, three of which were set down on strikes. The Former Allen Winner has been simply spectacular in 22 innings, allowing just 9 hits, 2 runs, and 4 walks with 22 strikeouts. This all equates to a miniscule 0.82 ERA (484 ERA+) and 0.59 WHIP with a stellar 5.1 K/BB. Even his 1.75 FIP (44 FIP-) is absurd, exactly half (88) of his still impressive FIP-. Entering today as the 6th best pitcher in FABL, he's the second of three Cougars in the top 15 (Pap 2, Bybee 11), and will pitch the middle game against the Saints to open the season. I'm hoping for a big season from "Mole Killer," who posted career worsts in ERAs (3.36), ERA+ (113), WHIP (1.30), wins (13), and win percentage (52%), despite bests in FIP- (86) and WAR (5.3). Last year broke his stretch of consecutive All-Star selections as well, but it's hard to imagine that he won't return sometime soon. After Pap and him had down years, I'm expecting Duke Bybee to be next, so we'll really need our co-ace to put his best foot forward.

Pitching Continues to Impress: There's one less competitor in the race for the staff, and with plenty of worthy candidates, it's going to make my decision a little easier. Six pitchers have thrown 15 or more innings, and five of them have ERAs below 2.60. Looking towards the pen, we have a few arms who have yet to allow a run, with Harry MacRae's nine scoreless frames lead the way. Other competition includes Harry Carter (2-0, HLD, 2.89, 3), Bob Hobbs (0-3, 2 SV, 2 HLD, 1.17, 9), Frank Sartori (1-1, SV, HLD, 2.57, 9), Charlie Kelsey (3 SV, 2 HLD, 1.50, 7), Jim Kenny (2 HLD, 0.00, 2), and Ken Matson (HLD, 0.00, 4), and all of these guys aren't able to make the team. With four spots to secure, at least three of these guys won't remain on the team. Not all can be sent down to Milwaukee without waivers, so in the case of Kelsey and Kenny they're fighting for their spot on the 40-man roster as well. There are still two weeks to be played, and an injury can muddy the waters, but the most likely combination seems to be MacRae, Carter, Kelsey, and Matson. But as a lefty, there's value to Jim Kenny being included instead. Oh yeah, and don't forget about Zane Kelley (1-1, SV, 1.69, 13) We have no need for ten pitchers, especially since Eddie Howard will be on hand as well, so there's real risk we'll lose a guy who doesn't make the final roster.

11-15-2023, 07:42 PM	#1259
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,010	Spring Training: Week 4 Weekly Record: 3-3 Overall Record: 14-12 (3 GB) Veteran Injuries Deplete Roster: With two weeks to go, we'll be two players short, as veterans Billy Hunter and Harry Parker sprained their knees. For Hunter it will be just day-to-day, and he could theoretically return for Opening Day, but Harry Parker is set to miss the next two months. His injury is one that should be easy to swallow, as our pen was crowded enough as is, and this allows me to kick the can down the road a bit. Formerly one of the best pitchers in the Continental Association, Parker owns a 3.25 ERA (115 ERA+) and 1.17 WHIP in nearly 2,000 (1,977.1) FABL innings, but after a elbow injury during the 1943 season, he's no longer the innings eater he once was. In fact, he's thrown just 59 innings across the past two seasons, allowing a whopping 14 home runs. Last year broke his ten-year stretch of seasons with a big league start, and he has just 25 since leading the league with 36 in 1945. Now 34, he's been held to the bullpen, and his next innings will be at Milwaukee instead of Chicago. Hunter, on the other hand, was in line for big league at bats, and he was hitting .364/.405/.424 with 2 doubles and 5 RBIs this spring. He was looking for a bounce back season, hitting just .274/.309/.386 (91 OPS+) in 79 games last year. Hunter has always dealt with injuries, so him missing time is not the least bit surprising, but it's tough to come after the 34-year-old was really getting it going. He looked good in 1947, but after posting a WRC+ above 105 in each of his first eight seasons, in two of the last three seasons he's posted one below 95. In his absence, George Sutterfield seems in line for the right side of the second base platoon, and him and Skipper would make an outstanding defensive duo. Even if Hunter isn't ready and Sutterfield has some struggles, Clark Car seems more then capable of making a difference. He's coming off a 4-for-6 week with a double, triple, walk, steal, and 2 RBIs, and is now slashing an absurd .452/.485/.613 in 35 trips to the plate. He has 5 extra base hits, 3 steals, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs, and his 193 WRC+ is best on the team among players with 20 or more PAs so far. With Montreal first on the schedule, there's a good chance we start the season with a righty, so Car would be in line for the nod on Opening Day. Barring setbacks, Hunter should be back with the club before May, if we're lucky he starts the season in Chicago. Donniemant: I'm sure this pun isn't half as funny as I think it is, but when you're pitching like Donnie Jones is, the work speaks for itself. He finished the week, and retired all fifteen Wolves he faced, three of which were set down on strikes. The Former Allen Winner has been simply spectacular in 22 innings, allowing just 9 hits, 2 runs, and 4 walks with 22 strikeouts. This all equates to a miniscule 0.82 ERA (484 ERA+) and 0.59 WHIP with a stellar 5.1 K/BB. Even his 1.75 FIP (44 FIP-) is absurd, exactly half (88) of his still impressive FIP-. Entering today as the 6th best pitcher in FABL, he's the second of three Cougars in the top 15 (Pap 2, Bybee 11), and will pitch the middle game against the Saints to open the season. I'm hoping for a big season from "Mole Killer," who posted career worsts in ERAs (3.36), ERA+ (113), WHIP (1.30), wins (13), and win percentage (52%), despite bests in FIP- (86) and WAR (5.3). Last year broke his stretch of consecutive All-Star selections as well, but it's hard to imagine that he won't return sometime soon. After Pap and him had down years, I'm expecting Duke Bybee to be next, so we'll really need our co-ace to put his best foot forward. Pitching Continues to Impress: There's one less competitor in the race for the staff, and with plenty of worthy candidates, it's going to make my decision a little easier. Six pitchers have thrown 15 or more innings, and five of them have ERAs below 2.60. Looking towards the pen, we have a few arms who have yet to allow a run, with Harry MacRae's nine scoreless frames lead the way. Other competition includes Harry Carter (2-0, HLD, 2.89, 3), Bob Hobbs (0-3, 2 SV, 2 HLD, 1.17, 9), Frank Sartori (1-1, SV, HLD, 2.57, 9), Charlie Kelsey (3 SV, 2 HLD, 1.50, 7), Jim Kenny (2 HLD, 0.00, 2), and Ken Matson (HLD, 0.00, 4), and all of these guys aren't able to make the team. With four spots to secure, at least three of these guys won't remain on the team. Not all can be sent down to Milwaukee without waivers, so in the case of Kelsey and Kenny they're fighting for their spot on the 40-man roster as well. There are still two weeks to be played, and an injury can muddy the waters, but the most likely combination seems to be MacRae, Carter, Kelsey, and Matson. But as a lefty, there's value to Jim Kenny being included instead. Oh yeah, and don't forget about Zane Kelley (1-1, SV, 1.69, 13) We have no need for ten pitchers, especially since Eddie Howard will be on hand as well, so there's real risk we'll lose a guy who doesn't make the final roster.