Better Late than Never
My meeting with Mr. Bouquet Jr.
Always a pleasure to meet with the Architects penny-pinching owner, but in all honesty he wasn't really a penny-pincher. He has given me good budgets in the past, but he lacks the temperment to achieve winning at all costs. He didn't understand my wheeling and dealing and spending every penny. And we spent and then some, to the tune of being in the whole almost $9 million bucks at the end of the season. If figured that I had a budget slashing coming.......
But instead of that he did express his disappointment in our losing money this year. He did point out that making large sums of cash was not my fortay but he wasn't going to fire me. No instead he just stated that I will give you $180 million dollar budget and I expect you to have the club out of financial distress within 3 seasons or I will fire you.
He then preceed to tell me that we were going to retire the number of a former Architect in Dave Moss. Moss had a good career and started with the Architects for his first 7 seasons. He then went to Owen Sound for 6 years, then 2 years in Toledo before coming back to Chicago for a season (signed by the former GM). He then played for Kingston in 53-54 while also playing for Thunder Bay in 54. Finally he pitched a year in Duluth while the Sea Gulls rebuilt and then went to Traverse City or better known as a year in pergatory before calling it a career.
Moss was an All-Star 6 times and won 4 titles. His overall record was 194-165 with a career ERA of 3.21 In 2048 he won the Canadian League pitcher of the year award with Owen Sound. In parts of 8 seasons with Chicago he was 93-68 with a 3.28 ERA.
He is a close Hall of Fame candidate, certainly no shoe-in as most of his "metrics" are below GLBL standards. He is at the standard with a 44.2 JAWS (HOF average 44) and in Gray Ink 252 (HOF average 207), but below in the other 3 categories. While he won 93 games in Chicago, he won 101 games elsewhere. I suppose if he was elected to the Hall he would go in as an Architect, but I am not sure he is deserving of his number being retired. None the less Mr. Bouquet was going on and on about him and how we would have a night to retire his number and hopefully draw a big crowd. I simply nodded in agreement.
I that the Chicago voters will vote for Moss when it comes time, but maybe he has enough support from the old-timers to sneak in. Hall of hte Very Good perhaps, but baseball immortal.......NO.
I was shocked at how well the meeting went. He wasn't pleased that he couldn't take his grandkids to Disney World next summer, at least not on the team's dime.
So after the meeting with Mr. Bouquet the awards were announced for the 2056 season.
Top USA Player of the Year
Chicago LF Robert "Rodeo" LeRoy
Robert Leroy has been around Great Lakes Baseball League enough to know a good hot streak when he sees one -- and he got to see one firsthand all year. For his standout run through the 2056 season, he's taking home the Lake Superior Player Award in the USA.
The Chicago left fielder put up a batting average of .339 with 47 doubles, 1 triple, 32 home runs and 107 RBIs.
Carlos Sánchez of the Duluth Sea Gulls finished second in voting, while Jorge Rangel of the Duluth Sea Gulls finished third.
Top USA Pitcher Honors
Toledo SP Nick Keddy
This year, the top vote-getter for the 2056 Lake Michigan POY Award was Nick Keddy of the Toledo Neptunes, who finished with an outstanding 14-8 mark and an impressive 3.16 ERA.
In his award-winning season, the 29-year-old Neptunes star hurled 191 innings, chalking up 225 strikeouts and 47 walks, and limited hitters to a .233 batting average. Keddy won his 3rd straight USA pitcher of the Year award and his 4th in the last 5 seasons. Unlike Moss, this is the type of resume a Hall of Famer produces.
Tim Gross of the Duluth Sea Gulls finished second in voting, while José Cedeño of the Chicago Architects finished third.
Top USA Fireman Award
Duluth Sea Gulls RP Pedro Saldaña
Pedro Saldaña was a calming influence out of the Duluth Sea Gulls bullpen this season.
His teammates and manager said he had a poised demeanor about him that was typical of someone much older and more experienced. His poise has paid off, as the 25-year-old turned in a sparkling season and has been named the winner of the USA Lake Ontario Relief Award for 2056.
The Scottsbluff, Nebraska native won the award with 4 saves in 79 relief appearances, 89 strikeouts in 81.2 innings and a record of 3-1 to go with his 2.42 ERA.
Kevin McAskill of the Traverse City Bears finished second in voting, while Pat Wright of the Chicago Architects finished third.
USA Top Rookie Named
Duluth SS Jeff Beasley
Duluth's shortstop Jeff Beasley is the latest winner of the USA Lake Huron Rookie Award.
During his first year in the league, the 24-year-old Beasley hit .286 with 99 hits, 20 home runs, 57 RBIs and 64 runs scored. He also walked 21 times and put up a .350 on-base percentage.
Carlos Montaño of the Toledo Neptunes finished second in voting, while Ricardo Valentín of the Toledo Neptunes finished third.
USA Flashing the Leather Award Winners
They flashed the leather all year and saved countless hits and runs for their teams. The following players are the Flashing Leather Award winners for the USA in 2056:
Pitcher
Dwayne Miller (Detroit Thunderbirds)
Catcher
Dai-lin Tah (Detroit Thunderbirds)
First Baseman
Reagan Osborn (Chicago Architects)
Second Baseman
John Lambert (Chicago Architects)
Third Baseman
Thomas Arnaud (Chicago Architects)
Shortstop
Larry Thomson (Detroit Thunderbirds)
Left Fielder
Robert Leroy (Chicago Architects)
Center Fielder
Cris Luna (Chicago Architects)
Right Fielder
Earl Foote (Traverse City Bears)
Top Bats by Position in the USA
For some it's the first time winning the award, and others have already established themselves as one of the top offensive players at their position. The 2056 USA Lake Erie Bat Award winners are:
Catcher
Cecil Phillips (Milwaukee Eagles)
.295/.360/.455, 413 AB, 15 HR, 2 SB, 115 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
First Baseman
Jorge Rangel (Duluth Sea Gulls)
.273/.436/.613, 480 AB, 45 HR, 1 SB, 111 R, 111 RBI, 4.2 WAR
Second Baseman
John Lambert (Chicago Architects)
.279/.350/.502, 538 AB, 24 HR, 37 SB, 116 wRC+, 4.3 WAR
Third Baseman
Luis González (Toledo Neptunes)
.312/.369/.518, 504 AB, 22 HR, 106 RBI, 3.8 WAR
Shortstop
Jeff Beasley (Duluth Sea Gulls)
.286/.350/.520, 346 AB, 20 HR, 5 SB, 118 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
Left Fielder
Robert Leroy (Chicago Architects)
.339/.400/.617, 522 AB, 32 HR, 5 SB, 107 RBI, 5.6 WAR
Center Fielder
Cal Braud (Traverse City Bears)
.349/.381/.565, 496 AB, 20 HR, 26 SB, 104 RBI, 5.3 WAR
Right Fielder
Carlos Sánchez (Duluth Sea Gulls)
.346/.391/.581, 547 AB, 28 HR, 45 SB, 102 RBI, 5.5 WAR
Designated Hitter
Eric Molina (Toledo Neptunes)
.291/.401/.576, 484 AB, 32 HR, 8 SB, 107 R, 144 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
With all that defensive award winners and hitters that didn't include 1B Reagan Osborn, it is still a wonder to me how Chicago did not win more games.
Quote:
We will hit the less important Canadian Team Award winners tomorrow 
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