[ayaghmour2]

Among FABL center fielders the past three seasons, only one guy has managed to post at least a 20 zone rating and 1.045 efficiency in all three seasons. In fact, only one player has been able to accomplish that:

Your newest Cougar John Moss!

This has been a great offseason, at least for getting players I want, as after acquiring the elusive David Molina, we have also now brought in the elusive John Moss, who I've been trying to trade for on many occasions. In fact, I would have gotten him instead of Sal Pestilli, had I known "Johnny Reb" would be available shortly after. But now we have both!

With the addition of Moss, we now have the two top center fielders in terms of both zone rating and defensive efficiency, although as you might guess, Moss is leaps and bounds better defensively then Sal is. And not only is he the best defensive center fielder out there, Moss can hit too, owning a 110 WRC+ in 500 games as a King, and he currently ranks as the 17th best position player in either association.

Taken 4th Overall in 1940, Moss quickly made his way up the Kings system, and got a quick cup of coffee in 1942, before the Air Force called and took him in for the next three seasons. When he returned, he started back in the minors, but Moss finished off the season as Brooklyn's everyday center fielder. He impressed in his second taste of FABL pitching, batting .246/.339/.374 (106 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 5 homers, 31 RBIs and a 29-to-18 walk-to-strikeout ratio. That was enough to earn him the starting job on Opening Day, and the then 25-year-old Moss had his breakout. He appeared in 149 games, posting an excellent 6.7 WAR and 118 WRC+ with his .270/.364/.388 (113 OPS+) triple slash. Moss added 35 doubles, 5 triples, 8 homers, and 79 RBIs, but this time the difference in walks and strikeouts was huge. Moss drew 81 walks and struck out just 36 times, which helped raise his wOBA to .350.

Moss took a small step back in 1948, part which can be blamed on an intercostal strain, but he was right back to being one of the most valuable center fielders in 1949. Moss led all Continental Association players with 39 doubles, as well as 705 plate appearances. That really speaks to his durability, as besides the previously mentioned strain, Moss has not had to deal with any ailments despite his outstanding skill in the outfield. His .271/.378/.396 (101 OPS+) line was right around average, but due to his excellent discipline (98 BB, 53 K), he had a strong 117 WRC+. Combining that with the glove, he was worth 5.5 wins above replacement, and he hit a career high 11 homers with 96 runs and 74 RBIs.

Recently turned 28, Moss is still in the prime of his career, and he gives us the type of player I've been searching for since Carlos Montes started to slip. Sure, Sal Pestilli is an above average center fielder (12.5, 1.029) in his own right, but with Moss patrolling center, almost nothing is going to fall. This allows us to shift Sal to right, which at 34 was probably going to happen soon enough anyways. He's never played anywhere other then center in his 1,477 FABL games, but one full spring should be enough to get him acclimated to the new position. With arguably the two best defensive outfielders in the game, it won't matter who we throw out in left, as they will be shielded greatly by the two talented glove men. Finally, Leo Mitchell can just stand in left field an hope the ball isn't hit near him, allowing him to focus on the balls hit right at him. Our pitching is already great, and I still think the best, Duke and Pap allow way too many flyballs, and we should be able to corral all the ones that stay in the park. The 1950 Cougars are starting to look really good, and at this point I just cannot wait for the calendar to turn over to 1950.

The price we paid was costly, as I'm sure you could have guessed, Ron Berry is the headliner, as we parted with the #37 prospect and the #6 pitching prospect, along with infielder Tom Brownleaf and pitcher Dutch Yoak. I never expected to trade Yoak, who I've loved since his sophomore year of high school, but he's far more expendable then Berry. Berry is overdo a shot at a FABL rotation spot, and even after moving Harry Beardsley, there's no easy entrance for him to crack the rotation. I'm sure I'm going to face hating Berry this year, but I want him to succeed, and that's probably not an option in Chicago.

We also got back a prospect, adding the unranked Jack Moore. A 19-year-old middle infielder, Moore was an 8th Round pick in 1948 who spent his season with the Kings Class B affiliate. Moore appeared in 69 games and made 211 trips to the plate, hitting matching Moss' 117 WRC+ while hitting .326/.379/.474 (111 OPS+). A natural shortstop, Moore might not stick there, but he's an inquisitive prospect who's far off from the show, and he has some interesting characteristics. He did manage 6 homers, but I don't expect much pop from his bat. What I do expect is consistent .300+ batting averages, as he has a great swing. He still hits the ball on the ground too much, and he's not the type of speedster who can really take advantage of that, but this kid is really good at putting bat on ball, and as a switch hitter he's already got a nice floor of a utility infielder who can at least move over runners on second with a grounder to the second basemen.

Now I think we're done making moves this offseason, but as always, I never quite know what will happen. At this point, all the chips are in, and aside from Mitchell in left, I can't really see a hole on the roster. I don't think our rotation has ever had a hole, but the outfield is both talented and deep, we have too many infielders and not enough positions, and we can absorb multiple injuries if the worst case happens. At this point, I really think we are a few steps above the rest of the association, and all that's left to do is play to our abilities.

Something we are so good at!

Opening can't get here soon enough! I don't think I've ever been this excited for a Cougars team, well, ever! I don't think there are any other players I even want!

Well, at least the ones that would fit...