I just couldn't help myself! I had to do it! I had to make a trade!
It's a pretty big one too, as I added a former Cougar draft pick and a longtime target of mine. That would be Hal Wood and Jim Morrison, as I made one last effort to get us over the hump. It really hurts, but I had to part with Zane Kelley, who should slot right into the Wolves rotation after the trade. He'll be joined by Ducky Cole, which makes room for Wood on the active roster, while prospects George Carter and Mike Emerson make their way to the Wolves as well. I didn't like parting with young pitchers, but this will make room for some of our draftees, and I just couldn't stand pat and watch us wither off in the second half.
If we wither, it's going to be after pushing more chips in! That's the only way I know!
Wood, who just turned 36 in June, was the
8th Pick of the 1935 Draft, and he began his professional career with us. All 1,228 of his previous games came in Toronto, but he spent four seasons in our system and made his way up to AAA. He was ranked as high as 38 on the prospect list, and right as he was about to make his Cougar debut, he
brought in our current ace Donnie Jones.
No matter how you look at that deal now, it was an instant success for the Wolves, as Wood and Juan Pomales both had roles on the 1940 Wolves team that won their first title since 1911. Wood himself wasn't great, hitting .248/.311/.349 (83 OPS+) in 346 trips to the plate, but at 27 in 1942, Wood started a rather impressive streak. The infielder hit .389/.341/.405 (121 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 3 triples, 4 homers, and 36 RBIs. He also produced a 115 WRC+, the first of six consecutive seasons with an above average mark. 1950 would make seven, and the 4-Time All Star is slashing .332/.408/.448 (121 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 4 triples, 3 homers, and 41 RBIs. He has drawn 40 walks to just 21 strikeouts, and his 140 WRC+ would be a career best. He's still held his own defensively at third base (0.4, .984), and he'll join Chubby Hall as former Cougar draftees who were traded before debuting just to return years later.
Prior to the trade, Hall has had a very successful FABL career, batting .298/.365/.395 (114 OPS+) with 214 doubles, 31 triples, 37 homers, and 519 RBIs. Never known for much power, what he brings instead is a lot of line drives and very few strike outs. His 4.6 K% in 4,520 plate appearances is truly inspiring, and only Eddie Howard (4.0%) has a lower mark on the season. This year Wood's is a bit higher, but 5.5 is a comfortable 4th. He will give a lot of good, tough at bats, and our lineup should benefit greatly from his addition.
The other addition is a pitcher I really wanted in the 1936 draft. Rightfully, I took Peter the Heater with the 6th pick, but when pick 22 came (
eventually Newt Jackson), I was really hoping Morrison would be available.
Instead, he went 16th to the Wolves, where he spent every moment of his FABL career until today. It took him just a bit over a year to debut, as he made 25 appearances (22 starts) as a 23-year-old in 1938. He was 11-10, but his 4.70 ERA (84 ERA+) was much higher then his 4.12 FIP (103 FIP-). It took him a few seasons to get settled in, but unfortunately for the southpaw, he was one of the first calls to the military. Morrison enlisted in the Army after the 1941 season, spending the next four years away from baseball.
When he returned, it took him a while to get acclimated to pitching again, but things changed in the 1948 season. 33 that year, Morrison threw his first 200 inning season, going 9-10 with a 3.15 ERA (124 ERA+) and 1.31 WHIP. He struck out 81 with 71 walks in his 29 starts, and was worth an impressive 4.9 wins above replacement. He matched that in 1949, where he went a much better 16-8 and earned his first and so far only All Star selection. Morrison finished with a similar 3.38 ERA (120 ERA+) and identical 1.31 WHIP, this time walking 95 while striking out 91 in 240 innings pitched.
35 this May, Morrison is on his way to a third productive season, as despite his 5-9 record, he has a 3.71 ERA (111 ERA+) and 1.56 WHIP. In a move that may have seen absurd at the start of the season, George Oddo will actually be optioned to Milwaukee, as Morrison will take the fifth spot in the rotation. It pains me to say this, but Oddo has been dreadful, as after just 4 homers in his first 11 starts, he's allowed two in six of his last seven.
No, not two total. Two. Per. Game.
I don't know what's wrong, but we can't let this continue, and Morrison gives us a short term stopgap and future depth. Oddo has just one option left, but unless something crazy happens he'll return to the rotation in the 1951 season. It's still his job to lose, but I can't keep watching him struggle in our pennant race, and Morison should be able to give us quality starts. He's never had many home run issues, and two of his six allowed this season came against us. One even came this week, as Sal Pestilli took him deep in the 7th for the only earned run he allowed (three unearned) in his loss. Injuries aside, Morrison finishes the season in our rotation and Otto in Milwaukee, and it is sure to be one of the most interesting storylines to watch next spring.
Especially if we fall short again...