[ayaghmour2]

This was actually the last of the three trades completed, as after eighteen million attempts to trade for a Buddy/Skipper middle infield duo, I finally managed to do it. Taken after Skipper and before Bart with the 8th pick of the 1939 draft, Buddy Schneider has not had the same career as Skipper, even if he did get the best of us in 1941. The second basemen Schneider debuted slightly after Skipper in 1940, appearing in 94 games and hitting .288/.332/.414 (110 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 7 triples, 3 homers, and 38 RBIs.

There was no sophomore slump, as in Buddy's first full season he led the Fed with 193 hits with a still career best 6.0 WAR in all but one game. The then 20-year-old hit .336/.396/.424 (128 OPS+), better then Skipper has ever done, and while none of his league leading hits came via. the home run, he collected 81 runs, 31 doubles, 10 triples, 62 RBIs, 55 walks, and 11 steals. Like his brother, he's impossible to strike out, just 7 times in 636 trips to the plate. That's a mini 1.1 K% that somehow wasn't the best that year.

Buddy's line dipped to .264/.318/.350 (94 OPS+) with 153 of his 154 starts at second, but with great defense, a tiny strikeout rate (2.3), 38 extra base hits, and 81 RBIs you'll definitely take it. Though when the war in Europe started, Buddy enlisted with Bart and Skipper. They all expected to serve with each other, but Skipper had an undiagnosed hernia that prevented him from joining the Navy. That was a blessing for us, but for the Minutemen they lost their triplet for three seasons, and when he came back he was just where he left off.

Now 25, he hit a simple .260/.300/.343 (91 OPS+). Good not great. But the defense was still good enough to push him over 5 WAR. He produced 62 runs, 30 doubles, 6 triples, 2 homers, and 63 RBIs, but his 38 strikeouts were more then his pre-war total. His WRC+ in 1947 then dropped to 79, coming off back-to-back 90s that followed his 111 and 124 to begin his career. He stayed under 90 the next two seasons, but finally started to click last season. He hit .283/.346/.404 (102 OPS+) with 38 doubles, 5 triples, 6 homers, 8 steals, and 70 RBIs. With his still relative youth, he was doing his best to fend off the talented Marshall Strickland, and 1951 would be a chance to prove himself.

Instead, Buddy has endured his worst season yet, hitting just .249/.302/.316 (62 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 5 triples, 31 RBIs, 10 steals, and 23 walks. It wasn't anything close to his past levels, but when the Minutemen GM approached me about acquiring him, I couldn't say no. At time of the trade he's still a .279/.334/.373 (97 OPS+) hitter with a 3.7 K% and 1,228 FABL hits. He can walk, steal some bases, and play solid defense, but most importantly he can do what he did at Northwestern (a high school, not the college): turn double plays with his brother. Skipper is hitting a similarly poor .247/.307/.323 (67 OPS+), but is a career .283/.335/.369 (100 OPS+) hitter who plays the best shortstop you'll ever see. The brothers are worth more then 100 WAR together, and it's going to eb so fun having them on the same team.

When I first wanted to form that duo, they were young and still at the top of their game, and they'd probably never take a day off. Now, there's this guy called Elmer Grace, and he's not going to stop getting playing time. Buddy will be the everyday second basemen against righties, but Elmer will get starts there and at third base, and if needed, short to give Skipper the occasional rest day. Then against lefties Grace will be the regular while Buddy makes some appearances off the bench. Of course, if someone isn't hitting, they won't play, do aside from Skipper manning short it's a fluid situation. If the brothers can unlock what's been ailing them this season together, it would bode well for our future title hopes. Buddy will always have the shorter lease, but even if he's relegated to a bench role we'll find time for him and Skipper to turn some of the fanciest double plays.

I can't wait!!!!

We did have to pay a price, of course, to land the veteran infielder, sending shortstop Cecil Burr and righty Jim Williams to Boston. Burr entered the week as the 200th ranked prospect, and he was off to a decent start in San Jose. The 21-year-old was hitting .321/.363/.415 (111 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 2 homers, and 11 RBIs in 113 trips to the plate. He's a solid defender with an above average contact tool, hitting line drives to all fields. He's far from the majors, but gives Boston another talented young infielder. They'll also take a shot on Little Rock star Jim Williams, who was struggling in Milwaukee this season. Last year Williams was 16-6 with a 2.33 ERA (172 ERA+) and 1.34 WHIP, but there isn't much room for him in Chicago. The package made sense so I just couldn't pass up on Buddy, even if he doesn't quite fit the team. I'm hoping more trades are coming, as Red Bond deserves to play for a pennant and Otto Christian really needs a change of scenery.