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March 31, 1958

Eastern League: Queensland, Stratford to Meet in Playoffs for First Time





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After 11 long seasons, the Queensland Eagles are returning to the playoffs. The Eagles’ 11 seasons without a post-season berth was the third longest in the United Leagues, after the Balmoral Giants’ 14 seasons (and counting) and the Hespeler Stars, who have yet to qualify for the playoffs (21 seasons and counting). After being three games out of first place on March 1st, the Eagles quickly poured it on, finishing the final two weeks of the season 11-2 and clinching top spot on the final day. Queensland finishes in 1st place for only the second time in their history. The last time was in 1946-47 when they won their first and only United Cup. The club enters the playoffs with a strong rotation and lineup. Only the bullpen remains suspect.

For the playoffs, 55-year old rookie manager Daryl Rowde has set his 4-man rotation:

• 32-year old RHP Logan Belsey (18-12, 2.51 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 2.11 FIP, 150 ERA+)
• 30-year old RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (25-6, 1.84 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 2.37 FIP, 205 ERA+)
• 33-year old RHP Tyler Gissing (18-7, 4.25 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 3.81 FIP, 89 ERA+)
• 31-year old LHP Danilo Narvaez (15-6, 3.70 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 3.68 FIP, 102 ERA+)

Bullpen standout:

• 33-year old stopper RHP Kaula Mafileo (3-6, 18 SV, 3.95 ERA, 86.2 IP, 1.33 WHIP, 3.36 FIP, 96 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 25-year old 2B Dennis Purcell (.345/.431/.506, 18 HR, 73 RBI, 75 BB, 8 SB, 160 OPS+, 172 wRC+, 6.9 WAR). Purcell won his first batting title.
• 32-year old LF Rod Dennis (.326/.410/.594, 35 HR, 107 RBI, 76 BB, 176 OPS+, 185 wRC+, 5.8 WAR)
• 28-year old 3B Apia Yarrah (.311/.360/.446, 19 HR, 74 RBI, 44 BB, 14 SB, 123 OPS+, 132 wRC+, 5.1 WAR)

Player of the Week Awards:

March 24 – RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (2-0, 14 H, 20 K, 4 BB, 0.50 ERA, 18 IP)

New Season Records Set:

ERA: 1.839, Stiofan Micklethwait (Previous: 1.929, Arthur Bence, 1946-47)
Strikeouts: 266, Logan Belsey (Previous: 231, Logan Belsey, 1956-57)
Strikeouts/9 IP: 8.36, Logan Belsey (Previous: 7.66, Larry Kovnats, 1955-56)
Wins Above Replacement: 11.29, Logan Belsey (Previous: 10.09, Neil Guerin, 1937-38)

Noteworthy:

March 10 – Queensland took 2 of 3 from the Braeland City Monarchs, including a 6-5 win in game 1. Both teams collected 11 hits apiece, but for the Eagles, lead off hitter 3B Apia Yarrah went 5 for 5 with 1 R and 1 RBI on 5 singles. Also contributing were 24-year old RF Hal Dhu (.257/.331/.403, 18 HR, 60 RBI, 63 BB, 14 SB, 1.6 WAR) with a 3-run, 2-out home run in the 3rd inning and 27-year old CF Matsuo Oyama (.225/.320/.393, 15 HR, 46 RBI, 55 BB, 0.6 WAR) who connected for a 2-run, 2-out home run in the 4th.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

10th overall – IF/OF Edgar Rivera (36/57). The 21-year old Dominican was fantastic at the plate in Double-A, hitting .272/.329/.470, 11 HR, 54 RBI, 22 BB, 76 SO, 2 SB, 1.6 WAR in 77 games and 283 AB. He played mostly shortstop fielding .975 PCT, 4.64 RNG, -3.7 ZR, .972 EFF in 384.1 INN.

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The Stratford Barons return to the playoffs after a one-year absence. They won over 90 games for the first time since 1954-55 when they won 94 and won the United Cup. In contrast to the Eagles, the Barons were hot in February, only to cool off in March. In the final two weeks, they went only 7-7, including a four-game sweep at the hands of the Braeland City Monarchs to end the season, forcing them to settle for the wild card. But the Barons enter the playoffs healthy and remain strong in all facets: offense, pitching and defense.

64-year old manager Xavier Ahernfeld has set his 4-man playoff rotation:

• 29-year old LHP Robin Wadsworth (19-7, 2.96 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.18 FIP, 129 ERA+)
• 31-year old RHP Joseph Sellwood (18-10, 3.16 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 313 FIP, 121 ERA+)
• 30-year old RHP Ted Smith (17-10, 3.46 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 3.61 FIP, 110 ERA+)
• 31-year old RHP Bill Wolf (14-13, 3.48 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.37 FIP, 110 ERA+)

Bullpen standouts:

• 34-year old stopper RHP José Rodríguez (12-5, 18 SV, 2.94ERA, 82.2 IP, 1.12 WHIP, 2.00 FIP, 130 ERA+)
• 28-year old MR RHP Glen Limon (1-1, 2 SV, 2.45 ERA, 29.1 IP, 1.02 WHIP, 2.08 FIP, 156 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 29-year old 2B Matthew Channing (.315/.370/.500, 16 HR, 94 RBI, 47 BB, 14 SB, 137 OPS+, 148 wRC+, 7.8 WAR)
• 26-year old SS Callum Spalton (.307/.347/.521, 18 HR, 77 RBI, 25 BB, 6 SB, 135 OPS+, 147 wRC+, 6.0 WAR)
• 32-year old CF Alfonso León (.298/.361/.453, 13 HR, 58 RBI, 42 BB, 3 SB, 123 OPS+, 135 wRC+, 3.9 WAR)

Noteworthy:

February 25 – The Barons went into Sherburn and took 2 of 3 from the Tigers with Game 2 highlighted with 38-year old C Aaron Skidmore (.232/.361/.345, 10 HR, 48 RBI, 80 BB, 95 OPS+, 110 wRC+, 2.9 WAR) collecting his 2000th career hit. The 18-year veteran becomes the 17th hitter in ULB history to reach that milestone. The historic hit came in the top of the 2nd when he singled of RHP Orlando Quiñonez with one out. The Tigers still led 3-0 heading into the 4th when Callum Spalton and Skidmore led off with back-to-back home runs off Quiñonez to get the Barons on the board. Stratford would go on to win, 6-3, with Skidmore going 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB.

First Round Draft Pick Update:

12th overall – OF Hal Wilson (34/59). The 21-year old Wilson enjoyed a fine first professional season in Double-A. In 94 G and 327 AB, he hit .266/.322/.379, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 24 BB, 84 SO, 3 SB, 2.0 WAR. He played almost entirely in centerfield and was solid there as well (.996 PCT, 2.85 RNG, +3.0 ZR, 1.031 EFF).

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On February 3rd, the Cobourg Redlegs were tied for the wild card and just 1 game back of first place. Alas, they were unable to keep up with either Queensland or Stratford, scuffling to a 26-26 record in the final two months of the season. They finish with 86 wins, 10 less than last season. Cobourg is at a crossroads. They have the horses on the pitching staff to compete with the best in the ULB, but they are quickly turning into a one-trick pony on offense. They are relying too heavily on just two players right now. And with their 11-time all-star, 3-time Babe Ruth Award winner, Raymond Williams, about to turn 32 in early April, time may be running out for them to take advantage of his special talent. They need to beef up their lineup – and fast.

Rotation standouts:

• 24-year old RHP Albert Johnson (21-10, 2.60 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.22 FIP, 148 ERA+)
• 29-year old LHP Bill Budd (16-14, 2.65 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 2.61 FIP, 145 ERA+)
• 23-year old LHP Seb Frew (15-6, 3.82 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 3.81 FIP, 101 ERA+)

Bullpen standouts:

• 28-year old stopper RHP Brian McDaniel (6-5, 240 SV, 3.00 ERA, 72.0 IP, 1.26 WHIP, 3.39 FIP, 128 ERA+)
• 25-year old MR RHP Shunen Minamimure (4-0, 2.87 ERA, 31.1 IP, 1.40 WHIP, 3.49 FIP, 134 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 31-year old CF Raymond Williams (.327/.406/.589, 337 HR, 95 RBI, 72 BB, 8 SB, 168 OPS+, 182 wRC+, 7.5 WAR)
• 26-year old SS Douglas Jones (.280/.357/.464, 21 HR, 64 RBI, 57 BB, 3 SB, 122 OPS+, 136 wRC+, 5.1 WAR)

Player of the Week Awards:

February 24 – CF Raymond Williams (.500, 10 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

15th overall – RHP Akinori Umaba (29/65). The Japanese-born Umaba is enjoying an impressive first season in the minors. In 19 starts in Double-A, the 20-year old went 9-6, 3.74 ERA, 144.1 IP, 1.48 WHIP, 3.45 FIP, 117 ERA+ before being promoted to Triple-A. With the Oakville Oaks, he went 4-0, 1.82 ERA, 34.2 IP, 1.33 WHIP, 3.20 FIP, 204 ERA+ in 5 regular season starts. Thus far, he has gone 1-0, 4.05 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 2.74 FIP in the playoffs as the Oaks swept the Quinlan Maroons 3-0 to win the East Cape League Pennant. They are set to meet the West Cape League Pennant winners, the Elmhurst Black Cats, for the Triple-A Kings Cup.

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Since winning 90 games and finishing in first place two seasons ago, the Wellington Athletics have embarked on a gradual decline. Last year they won 88 games, but only 84 this season. And like Cobourg, they scuffled to a .500 finish (25-25) over the last two months of the season and were eliminated with 5 games left to play. The Athletics are not terrible, but with the exception of a couple of outstanding players, like LF Matthew Floyd and stopper RHP Christian Wiley, they are bereft of truly impact players to help them rise above the crowd. Their only truly outstanding prospect in their farm system is 20-year old OF Jorge López, their 4th overall pick from 1955-56 who is still trying to figure out Double-A in his second season in the minors.

Rotation standouts:

• 26-year old RHP Mike Murray (11-9, 3.35 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.93 FIP, 112 ERA+)
• 24-year old RHP Baskin Arncaple (14-8, 3.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 3.91 FIP, 112 ERA+)
• 34-year old RHP Hyun-kyoo Sin (14-11, 3.40 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 3.97 FIP, 111 ERA+)

Bullpen standouts:

• 24-year old stopper RHP Christian Wiley (11-2, 19 SV, 2.22 ERA, 85.0 IP, 1.16 WHIP, 2.60 FIP, 169 ERA+)
• 32-year old MR RHP Kazunori Fujimoto (7-5, 2.94 ERA, 104.0 IP, 1.17 WHIP, 3.83 FIP, 128 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 30-year old LF Matthew Floyd (.334/.413/.585, 37 HR, 102 RBI, 73 BB, 12 SB, 176 OPS+, 182 wRC+, 8.2 WAR)
• 25-year old CF Greg Yates (.273/.345/.428, 15 HR, 70 RBI, 63 BB, 5 SB, 115 OPS+, 123 wRC+, 4.5 WAR)
• 22-year old RF Wan-hua Gu (.298/.339/.485, 22 HR, 69 RBI, 27 BB, 9 SB, 128 OPS+, 138 wRC+, 4.4 WAR)
• 30-year old 1B Wayne Emmert (.300/.384/.441, 14 HR, 65 RBI, 60 BB, 130 OPS+, 141 wRC+, 3.6 WAR)

Player of the Week Awards:

February 3 – LF Matthew Floyd (.536, 15 H, 3 HR, 11 RBI)
February 17 – RF Wan-hua Gu (.500, 13 H, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 3 R)
March 17 – LF Matthew Floyd (.536, 15 H, 6 HR, 13 RBI, 9 R)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

13th overall – IF Kahua Aremana (33/49). The 21-year old American Samoan enjoyed a promising first season in the minors, hitting .289/.352/.399, 6 HR, 23 RBI, 27 BB, 76 K, 13 SB, 95 OPS+, 104 wRC+, 1.5 WAR in 343 AB. He played primarily at shortstop, where he struggled (.969 PCT, 4.25 RNG, -5.0 ZR, .949 EFF).

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A strong finish in the final two months of the season, where they went 30-21, allowed the Braeland City Monarchs to reach .500 and avoid a losing record for the third consecutive season. While the Monarchs were mediocre across the board, they really need an infusion of talent in the rotation, their biggest weakness right now. They do have 22-year old sophomore LHP Charlie Honeysett (8-5, 4.50 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 4.60 FIP, 86 ERA+ - 54/68) who worked out of the bullpen this season. He is considered a future No. 2 starter, but the Monarchs will need a lot more of him if they really want to make some noise in the East. But with a 13th-ranked farm system that boasts few, if any, impact players, that may be a tall order for now.

Rotation standout:

• 31-year old LHP Larry Kovnats (18-10, 3.23 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.69 FIP, 120 ERA+)

Bullpen standouts:

• 22-year old rookie RHP Ramón González (6-4, 16 SV, 2.45 ERA, 55.0 IP, 1.33 WHIP, 2.42 FIP, 158 ERA+)
• 24-year old MR RHP Jonathan Brookins (13-5, 9 SV, 2.83 ERA, 82.2 IP, 1.35 WHIP, 3.12 FIP, 137 ERA+)
• 27-year old LR RHP Clive Howard (2-1, 2 SV, 2.59 ERA, 59.0 IP, 1.27 WHIP, 3.16 FIP, 149 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 34-year old 1B Dean Witherden (.310/.363/.528, 28 HR, 97 RBI, 42 BB, 138 OPS+, 152 wRC+, 3.8 WAR)
• 27-year old RF Aidan Trembath (.310/.352/.496, 29 HR, 88 RBI, 39 BB, 127 OPS+, 141 wRC+, 4.2 WAR)
• 32-year old 2B Patrick Lidgate (.266/.360/.468, 21 HR, 73 RBI, 71 BB, 6 SB, 123 OPS+, 136 wRC+, 5.5 WAR)
• 28-year old LF Hayden Goodale (.253/.326/.491, 32 HR, 99 RBI, 61 BB, 5 SB, 118 OPS+, 130 wRC+, 4.1 WAR)
• 22-year old CF Bernard Burkitt (.281/.317/.413, 7 HR, 68 RBI, 23 BB, 8 SB, 96 OPS+, 105 wRC+, 6.2 WAR)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

6th overall – IF Phillip White (39/49). The 22-year old Australian enjoyed an outstanding first year in Double-A, going .333/.384/.554, 8 HR, 49 RBI, 16 BB, 25 K, 11 SB, 140 OPS+, 154 wRC+, 2.4 WAR at the plate while making 55 starts at 2B. By season’s end, he was promoted to the Clifton Whales, Braeland City’s Triple-A farm club.

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The Embro Suns finished the season with one more victory than they did last season, but that is of small comfort. Embro enjoyed its first above .500 month this season in March. But it was a tale of two halves. While they started the month off 11-2, they then cratered in the second half, going 3-11, including a 7-game losing streak. It made little difference, as the Suns were eliminated with 15 games left to go, just before they went into their tailspin. Despite a very respectable lineup, they Suns are being held back by a weak pitching staff. And it appears that won’t change anytime soon. While Embro has some promising prospects working their way up through the farm system, all of them are position players.

Rotation standouts:

• 24-year old RHP Jun Kichida (14-8, 3.84 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 4.27 FIP, 100 ERA+)
• 30-year old RHP Bradley Strawson (10-8, 3.96 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.29 FIP, 97 ERA+)

Bullpen standout:

• 27-year old stopper RHP Rob Gladstone (10-5, 20 SV, 2.30 ERA, 115 IP, 1.30 WHIP, 2.92 FIP, 188 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 28-year old LF Jesús Abreu (.296/.403/.530, 34 HR, 90 RBI, 93 BB, 8 SB, 154 OPS+, 168 wRC+, 6.5 WAR)
• 24-year old 1B Damien Whetter (.298/.381/.532, 28 HR, 77 RBI, 66 BB, 148 OPS+, 161 wRC+, 5.1 WAR)
• 29-year old 3B Moromao Nakagawa (.271/.342/.426, 19 HR, 86 RBI, 63 BB, 109 OPS+, 120 wRC+, 4.1 WAR)
• 29-year old C Gareth Mawle (.319/.366/.496, 10 HR, 68 RBI, 29 BB, 134 OPS+, 146 wRC+, 4.1 WAR)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

8th overall – OF Craig Radford (40/60). 23-year old Radford was impressive in Double-A, hitting .271/.333/.409, 5 HR, 26 RBI, 25 BB, 72 K, 34 SB, 94 OPS+, 96 wRC+, 2.5 WAR in 72 games and 291 AB before getting called up to Triple-A. After being promoted to the Birmingham Comets, he went .357/.400/.512, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 6 BB, 25 K, 5 SB, 148 OPS+, 159 wRC+, 1.1 WAR while playing solid defense in centerfield.

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What a difference a year makes. And not in a good way. After winning 97 games last year and finishing in top spot for the 1st time in 12 years, the Brunswick Legends threw in the towel this season after getting off to a so-so start. Although they were 39-39 at the end of December, they collapsed in January when they went only 8-18, a month that included a 10-game losing streak. They waved the white flag by trading their best player, 29-year old C Robert Kersey (69/69) to the Sherburn Tigers and one of their best starters, 30-year old RHP Mhelter Pilapil (52/52) to the Wellington Athletics. The final two months weren’t pretty as a result and the Legends ultimately lost 31 more games than they did the year before. A quick turn-around does not seem likely. Underwhelming returns from their recent high profile trades haven’t boosted a farm system that is ranked only 9th overall.

Rotation standout:

• 21-year old rookie LHP Randy Goodwin (8-7, 2 SV, 3.12 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.67 FIP, 123 ERA+)

Bullpen standouts:

• 36-year old stopper RHP Lao Chen (6-3, 14 SV, 2.70 ERA, 70.0 IP, 1.36 WHIP, 2.77 FIP, 143 ERA+)
• 26-year old MR RHP Maurice Laverack (1-3, 2.55 ERA, 35.1 IP, 1.05 WHIP, 3.95 FIP, 151 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 27-year old RF Jay Mitchell (.292/.369/.478, 18 HR, 62 RBI, 49 BB, 129 OPS+, 143 wRC+, 3.1 WAR)
• 36-year old 3B Jorge Arredondo (.257/.336/.410, 17 HR, 70 RBI, 69 BB, 102 OPS+, 114 wRC+, 3.3 WAR)

Noteworthy:

March 4 – 41-year old RHP Pi-ao Quian (13-18, 3.86 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 4.08 FIP, 100 ERA+) pitched like he was a 26-year old version of himself, leading the Legends to a 5-1 victory over the Braeland City Monarchs, surrendering just 3 singles. The 5-time all-star went the distance for his 322nd complete game of his 19-year career. His final line was 9.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 K, 98 PI, GS: 81. It also represented the 250th win of his career, the fourth pitcher to reach that milestone in the ULB. He finished the season with 251, putting him in a three-way tie with Hall of Famer Anastasio Rodríguez and Wolseley’s 38-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson for top spot in career wins.



First Round Draft Pick Update:

16th overall – RHP Martín López (20/53). The 19-year old from Coral Gables, Florida got his feet wet in Double-A, making 21 starts. He finished the season 4-9, 4.94 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 4.37 FIP, 87 ERA+. He is currently rated 9th overall among prospects in the ULB.

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The Downie Chiefs picked up their play in the second half of the season, with double digits in wins for each of the last three months. This represented a definite improvement from the first three months, where they averaged less than 8 wins a month. But it was not enough to prevent them from finishing in last place in the East or be officially eliminated from the playoffs with 28 games left in the season. On the other hand, their improved play resulted in them picking second overall next season’s amateur draft instead of first overall like they did this year. While they have a farm system ranked 2nd overall, cultivating more high-end prospects certainly won’t hurt as the Chiefs appear to be still years away from returning to contention.

Rotation standouts:

• 26-year old LHP José Hernández (7-8, 2.94 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 4.28 FIP, 127 ERA+)
• 26-year old RHP Stefan Rankin (12-13, 3.49 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.71 FIP, 108 ERA+)

Bullpen standouts:

• 24-year old stopper RHP Frank Greggs (4-8, 20 SV, 2.43 ERA, 118.2 IP, 1.26 WHIP, 3.15 FIP, 155 ERA+)
• 26-year old LR RHP Sinfronio Origenes (0-0, 1.46 ERA, 40.1 IP, 1.26 WHIP, 3.10 FIP, 240 ERA+)

Position Player standouts:

• 32-year old 2B Dominic Dudding (.302/.372/.501, 19 HR, 62 RBI, 42 BB, 4 SB, 142 OPS+, 152 wRC+, 4.2 WAR)
• 29-year old 1B Louie Revill (.275/.327/.468, 26 HR, 75 RBI, 45 BB, 120 OPS+, 127 wRC+, 3.2 WAR)

Player of the Week Awards:

February 10 – 2B Dominic Dudding (.500, 7 H, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R)
March 3 – 1B Louie Revill (.478, 11 H, 5 HR, 8 RBI)
March 10 – RF Ewan Komaki (.480, 12 H, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 10 R)

First Round Draft Pick Update:

1st overall – OF Jon Berose (62/80). The 1st overall pick from this season’s amateur draft and the No. 1 rated prospect in the United Leagues showed why he is so highly regarded. In 48 games in Double-A, he batted .394/.473/.596, 4 HR, 32 RBI, 29 BB, 29 K, 28 SB, 176 OPS+, 191 wRC+, 3.3 WAR. He didn’t miss beat after being promoted to Triple-A, hitting .361/.414/.669, 10 HR, 31 RBI, 15 BB, 45 K, 193 OPS+, 205 wRC+, 3.6 WAR in 46 games, all the while playing solid defense in centerfield. Look for the 23-year old Berose to get the call-up to the big leagues next season.

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