Opening Day – Braeland’s second official holiday, has finally arrived! After spending the off-season evaluating their roster and staff, the 16 charter members of the United Leagues have made either their tweaks or substantial changes as the case may be. On September 7th, the Coconut Leagues commenced with 30 exhibition games on tap for each team, after which the clubs settled upon their Opening Day rosters. What follows are the spring training results, pre-season predictions and selected career leaderboards.
Such events are par for the course for each new season. But this year represented something different as the United Leagues reached a milestone that some openly doubted would be reached when the Leagues were launched back in 1937 – its 20th anniversary.
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United Leagues Celebrate 20th Anniversary with New Logos
On October 6th, the day before Opening Day, newly installed Commissioner Okura Ito was in the nation’s capital to officially kick-off the Leagues’ year-long celebration of its 20th anniversary. Among the announcements was the unveiling of new logos for the United Leagues. Speaking from the steps of Parliament, Mr. Ito declared that the new logo is intended
“to commemorate the Leagues’ rich history with an eye on its future, as we enter our third decade. We thank the creator of these wonderful logos, Mr. txranger, for providing this new identity that will serve the United Leagues well for years to come.”
The Commissioner was joined by Braeland Prime Minister Wesley Bryans, who announced that for
‘his meritorious service in enriching the identity of our humble enterprise here in Braeland’, txranger was being bestowed with honorary Braeland citizenship.
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New Uniforms
After nine seasons, the Braeland City Monarchs updated their look a bit with new uniforms and logos.
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Eastern League Results
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The Stratford Barons and Brunswick Legends were the top two teams during spring training and the projections seem to confirm that they will be the teams to beat this year in the East.
One reason for the Legend’s recent resurgence is 25-year old RHP
Dave Ball (53/53) who is entering his fifth full season in the ULB after being drafted in the 2nd-round in 1950-51 by Brunswick. Ball has been improving with each passing season and that progression is predicted to continue this year as well. Last season he pitched out of the No. 3 spot in the rotation, but Brunswick has installed him as their ace this year. Ball picked up his first all-star selection last season as well.
Also making his first appearance in the Top Players list is Embro’s
Damien Whetter (55/57). The 13th overall pick from 1951-52 is entering his sophomore season and is forecasted to have a big year. He completed the 32nd Cycle in United Leagues’ history last season and will be starting at first base against righties.
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Western League Results
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Last season, the West standings were extremely tight throughout Spring Training, with only five games separating first from last place for nearly the entire stretch of exhibition games. But not this year. The Pulberry Trolleys jumped out to a 12-0 start and finished well ahead of their nearest competitor. Still, the projections point once again to a two-team race in the West between the two-time defending United Cup Champions Trolleys and the Sherburn Tigers, despite the Tigers last-place finish in the Coconut Leagues. But if the spring training results are any indication, Pulberry is not quite ready to give up their crown just yet.
There are no high expectations for the Fort Richmond Generals again this season as they are being held back by an anemic offense and an aging pitching core. But the offense may have one bright spot. 25-year old
Takuji Kanno (48/55) enjoyed a very respectable campaign last season, coming in 3rd-place among votes for top rookie in the West. If the projections are correct, it appears he will be building on that success this year and hopefully provide some much needed spark hitting from the No. 3 spot for the Generals.
It would seem offense will be dominant this year in the West as four of the pitchers listed in the Top Pitchers list are predicted to lose 21 or more games. But better things should soon be store for Wolseley’s No. 2 starter, 21-year old RHP
Theo Morse (58/80). In just his second full season, Morse is already rated 8th-overall among all starters in the ULB. His stuff is considered elite (65/70) and he will not give up many long balls (movement-65/65, control-45/55). He boasts three quality pitches (sinker-65/65, curveball-45/60, slider-65/70).
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Here are the top players and pitchers and top 20 prospects as updated on Opening Day. Also included are the latest leaderboards for a slew of offensive and pitching categories.
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Leaderboards
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