Chicago Cougars (FABL) - Page 39

ayaghmour2 · 03-30-2022, 12:12 PM

Weekly Record: 4-2
Seasonal Record: 95-53 (1st, 10 GA)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 23 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .435 AVG, 1.184 OPS
Cliff Moss : 20 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .450 AVG, 1.078 OPS
Dick Walker : 20 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .400 AVG, 1.029 OPS

Schedule
9-15: Win at Foresters (13-8)
9-16: Win at Foresters (9-6)
9-17: Loss at Sailors (1-2)
9-18: Loss at Sailors (4-5)
9-20: Win at Stars (5-0)
9-21: Win at Stars (4-2)

Recap
Playoff bound! After beating the second place Stars 5-0 in a combined no-hitter, we clinched the 1941 Continental Association pennant. For the first season since 1933, the Cougars will be playing baseball after the regular season ends, and while that doesn't seem like a long time, the Cougars have never gone more then a decade without a pennant, and we were getting close to that. The team was as consistent as it gets, putting up .550 or better months since the season started, and the team currently has scored the most runs (764) while allowing the fewest (586). They've also been extremely lucky, doing something past Cougar teams tended to struggled with; winning one run games. Chicago is 23-13 in one run games and 11-5 in those that take longer then 9 innings. The staff has been extremely reliable, featuring potentially two 20 game winners in potential triple crown winner Pete Papenfus (20-7, 2.84, 225) and Harry Parker (19-10, 3.19, 117) with the duo of John Lawson (.317, 29, 129) and Leo Mitchell (.345, 11, 81) keeping Bill Barrett from a triple crown. With six games left, we need three wins to break our single season high and five to reach the century mark. We will also set the single season attendance mark, and become the first team in FABL history to draw 2 million fans. With a current attendance figure of 1,998,957 and two games remaining, we are guaranteed to draw at least 10,706 in each through season tickets alone, and have been averaging 26,653 on the season. With the Fed not wrapped up, we don't know who we will play; Boston or Pittsburgh most likely, but we can take it easy this week as we will have the better record regardless. Expect to see some of the youth, as Donnie Jones (0-1, 3.86, 4) already made his debut and his brother Johnnie will debut in the finale against the Stars. Papenfus will be shutdown with a sore elbow, ensuring he's healthy for potentially three starts in the playoffs.

Looking at the games themselves, we really struggled against the Sailors, who beat us both times by a single run. We had no trouble with the Foresters and looked really good against the Stars, and it was fitting that our clinch came against them. I do feel for Stars fans, as at 85-63, they would be just a game out of the Fed, tied with Boston, and would have had an exciting last week. I'm expecting to give my youngsters more time, with Donnie Jones getting another start and Johnnie set to make his debut against the Stars to start the week. Donnie got a loss in Philly, but went 7 with 10 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Sure, a win would have been nice, but it could have been much worse.

Papenfus and Parker both won this week, making their last starts of the regular season. Peter the Heater left his start in the 6th, but he didn't allow a hit with 4 walks and 4 strikeouts. Harl Haines came in to make his big league debut, and was just as good, if not better, then Papenfus, allowing just a single walk with a strikeout for the combined no-hitter that clinched us the playoffs. Parker through another complete game, 8 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts to close out his breakout third season. His 24 complete games were most in the CA, three more then Papenfus who finished second. Dick Lyons put together a nice start, 8 innings with 7 hits, 2 runs, a walk, and a strikeout. Lonardo and Fritz both struggled, both with just a single strikeout, while Jim allowed 10 hits and 6 runs (still no walks!) with Milt allowing 9 and 6 with 6 walks.

Leo Mitchell has started to catch fire again, and the 28-year-old was excellent for us. He went 10-for-23 with 2 doubles, a triple, homer, 7 runs, and 4 RBIs with just 2 strikeouts. Mitchell is now hitting an impressive .345/.391/.461 (131 OPS+) on the season, and is just four points below Bill Barrett in the race for a batting title. If he can keep his OPS+ above 130 in the last week, it will be the fifth consecutive season for Mitchell where he was between 30 and 39 percent better then the league average hitter. He also has just 94 strikeouts, and may managed to sit below the century mark for the first time since '38. Cliff Moss had himself another nice week, 9-for-20 with 3 doubles, 2 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. Freddie Jones looked good when he played, 5-for-12 with a homer and 4 runs scored and driven in. His platoon partner Ossie Grogan was 2-for-8, but with a double, triple, walk, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs. Dick Walker went 8-for-20 with 2 doubles, a triple, 3 RBIs, 6 runs, and 2 steals. Orlin Yates had a much better week, 4-for-16 with a homer and 3 RBIs. Carlos Montes is healthy again, but since this week isn't nearly as important as next, Yates will still get half the starts in center. John Lawson had a rare down week, just 3-for-21, but he did manage 5 walks and 4 RBIs with his new personal best 29th home run. "Jack the Ripper" won't win the Whitney, but his .317/.368/.524 (140 OPS+) line is best on the team, and his 129 RBIs lead all of baseball. Unless he goes 0-for-35 (and even then he'd probably be fine), he'll complete his 14th season with an OPS+ of 130 or better.

Looking Ahead
I decided to bring up two more players for the final week, giving Cal Knight and Ed Wilkinson a shot to take some innings out of the pen. Wilkinson was Rule-5 Eligible, and I decided to give the former 4th Rounder a 40-man spot a bit early. He ranks 29th in our system and 315th overall, and split his season between Mobile and Milwaukee. He was 9-3 with a 2.88 ERA (151 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP, 27 walks, and 34 strikeouts in 12 starts with the Commodores before his midseason promotion. His 11 starts in AAA weren't nearly as good, going 4-5 with a still above average 3.32 ERA (112 ERA+) and 1.24 WHIP with 13 walks and 47 strikeouts. It was nice seeing improvements in the BB/9 and K/9, even if he was allowing more runs and baserunners, but the 24-year-old should be ready to pitch in the big leagues. He has a deep five pitch mix, with a low 90s fastball his go to. None of the pitches really stand out, but his command has improved and he's able to eat a lot of innings. Knight has already debuted, appearing in each season since 1938, and he has one option left for next season. Formerly a starter in the minors, I used the former 2nd Rounder almost strictly out of the pen this year. The lefty looked okay , with a 3.32 ERA (112 ERA+) and 1.34 WHIP. He struck out 25 and walked 16, and will be in competition for a pen spot next year. He's thrown 46.1 big league innings and is 2-2 with a 2.53 ERA (165 ERA+) and 1.77 WHIP with 38 walks and 22 strikeouts. 41 of his innings came in the 1939 season, where he was a big part of our pen.

We have one more in New York with the Stars, and we'll end up finishing the season against them with two games in Chicago. We start with Vern Hubbard (18-7, 2.78, 77), who I want to absolutely wreck havoc upon. He's standing in the way of a Papenfus triple crown, has his ERA is 6 points better. I'm hoping we can pile on a ton of runs, and I will be using a full strength lineup to do it. I don't care if we win, although it would be nice for Johnnie, but I want to inflate Hubbard's ERA as much as possible. The Stars did win the pennant just two seasons ago in a surprise season, but I do feel for Stars fans as the team was talented enough for a pennant. Of course, they have Bill Barrett (.349, 33, 115), so pennants may become a frequent thing for them, and they'll have an extremely talented corner outfield duo with former Cougar prospect Chubby Hall. Hall and Jones will always be connected, as they were traded for each other, but neither joined from the other team. We sent Chubby to Washington for Johnnie at the 1939 deadline, and then next June the Stars sent a pair of prospects to Washington for him. Johnnie left New York in the '38 offseason, in a big trade with the Eagles, so despite being traded for each other, there was no Chicago-New York trade to make it possible. Hall debuted last season, and while he hasn't hit great this year (7-for-38), he ranks as the 13th best prospect in baseball, right below Johnnie at 12. They will get to face each other to start the week, and potentially to end the week, as Hall is slotted in as the everyday left fielder while Johnnie will pitch against New York on both the 22nd and 28th.

Between the Stars series we'll face the third place Kings, who at 83-65 would also be in a tight pennant race if they were a Fed team. Jim Lightbody has had a huge breakout for the Kings, hitting an outstanding .336/.429/.523 (149 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 7 triples, 3 homers, 11 steals, and 49 RBIs in 304 plate appearances. He just turned 25, and could end up being a fixture in a Kings lineup that almost always has a Lightbody. With 22-year-old Rats McGonigle (.296, 8, 47, 8) and 25-year-old Joe Herman (.323, 7, 75, 7), they have a lot of talented pieces to build around, and they have a nice core of vets with Al Wheeler (.290, 23, 75) and Harry Barrell (.298, 3, 63, 13). With a better season from their top two pitchers Art White (13-16, 3.90, 66) and Bob Cummings (14-8, 4.11, 100), I expect the Kings to be back in the pennant race next year, quickly rebounding from a pair of 80+ loss seasons after their threepeat atop the CA. Brooklyn has a trio of top 20 prospects, with outfielders John Moss (7th) and Orie Martinez (19th) potential trade pieces as they have a very strong outfield in Brooklyn. Brooklyn surprised some with their play this year, but I don't think anyone will be underestimating the Kings next year.

ayaghmour2 · 03-31-2022, 12:12 PM

Weekly Record: 2-4
Seasonal Record: 97-57 (1st, 8 GA)
Stars of the Week
Rich Langton : 13 AB, 4 H, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .308 AVG, 1.130 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 13 AB, 5 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .385 AVG, .742 OPS
Jim Lonardo : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K, 2.00 ERA

Schedule
9-22: Loss at Stars (4-5)
9-23: Win at Kings (5-4)
9-24: Win at Kings (10-2)
9-25: Loss at Kings (1-7)
9-27: Loss vs Stars (6-1)
9-28: Loss vs Stars (15-6)

Recap
The results of the last week weren't ideal, but it didn't matter, we were already a playoff team! We tied our single season record for wins with 97, which I set in 1932 and matched in 1933. We scored the most runs (792) in the league and allowed the fewest (625), and set the FABL record for attendance with 2,058,766 fans in attendance. We'll take on the Boston Minutemen (90-64), who like us, led most of the season. Of course, they did lose first for a little, but the Minutemen survived a really tough pennant race and they will play in the postseason for the first time since 1915. The Minutemen scored the most runs in the Fed (776), and we'll face a lineup that contains Skipper's brother Buddy (.336, 62, 11). They have a very deep lineup, with reliable bats such as Art Spencer (.342, 6, 52), Chick Donnelly (.293, 15, 92), Bill Burkett (.265, 15, 91, 30), Lew McClendon (.281, 10, 80), and Pete Day (.296, 2, 70, 17). They also picked up Bill Moore (.303, 11, 83) and Joe Watson (.320, 6, 54) at the deadline while they have starter quality sluggers on the bench in Bob Donoghue (.242, 5, 23) and Mack Sutton (.240, 15, 64) and the lineup is loaded with quality players. The pitching is just as deep, as they got big seasons for young hurlers Ray Dalpman (19-6, 3.43, 121) and Duke Hendricks (11-11, 3.57, 115) paired with veteran ace Ed Wood (20-7, 3.11, 68) and deadline pickups Walt Wells (17-10, 3.24, 75) and Dean Astle (10-16, 4.13, 69), who we are very familiar with. They have depth in their pen too with John Edwards (9-13, 2, 5.12, 81), Dick Higgins (2-2, 2, 5.33, 41), and Art Myers (9-9, 4.35, 24), and I'm expecting a very tough and hard fought series. I like our chances against anyone, and I think we'll pull away in six, but regardless of the outcome, it will be considered a very successful season.

Jim Lonardo finished his week off strong, picking up one of our two wins with yet another complete game. He allowed 10 hits, 2 runs, and a walk with two strikeouts to finish an inconsistent year. Milt Fritz had a rough final start, charged with 9 hits, 6 runs, and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts in 8. Same for Dick Lyons, who went just 6 with 9 hits, 7 runs (4 earned), and a walk. The Jones brothers made a pair of appearances, with Johnnie making two starts and Donnie making a start and relief outing. Johnnie was roughed up and lost both games, allowing 10 hits and 13 runs (12 earned) with 22 walks and 7 strikeouts in 13.1 innings pitched. Donnie didn't fair much better, but he did win his start. He went all nine against the Kings, allowing 8 hits, 4 runs, and 5 walks with 3 strikeouts. He then relieved his brother in a 15-6 loss to the Stars, going just two and a third with 8 hits, 7 runs, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Obviously, these aren't great numbers for our talented youngsters, but I kept my expectations low as their future is more then exciting.

I used a lot of different players this week, so I shouldn't have been too surprised most people didn't do too well. Rich Langton had a nice final week of the season, going 4-for-13 with a triple, homer, steal, and 8 RBIs. Johnny McDowell went 3-for-6 with a walk. Leo Mitchell went 5-for-13 with 3 runs and 2 RBIs, but fell just two points short of Bill Barrett (.348) for the batting title. Tip Harrison was 1-for-4 with a double, walk, and run. Skipper had a tough week, 4-for-17 to drop his OPS+ below 100 to 99. John Lawson went just 5-for-20 with 3 walks and 3 runs.

ayaghmour2 · 04-01-2022, 07:58 PM

October 1st, 1941: Chicago Cougars at Boston Minutemen
Since the host of the World Championship series alternates each season, odd years means the Fed champion does the hosting. This is bad luck for us, as in my three championships, they've all been in odd years, meaning we get less home games then our counterparts. So Peter the Heater (20-7, 2.84, 225) would make his postseason debut against midseason pickup Walt Wells (17-10, 3.24, 75) in Boston at a packed Cunningham field. Neither team scored in the first two innings, but things got fun in the third. Ray Ford (.310, 7, 54) led off the inning with a double, and then Wells walked both John Lawson (.315, 29, 129) and Cliff Moss (.285, 10, 59) to load the bases. Freddie Jones (.269, 4, 36) worked Wells to a 3-2 count, but the former Whitney Winner struck out for the first out of the inning. That brought up the almost batting champion Leo Mitchell (.346, 11, 83, 6), who silenced the crowd with a 378 foot grand slam, giving us a nice 4-0 lead which should be enough for our young ace. Wells got the next two batters out, but the damage was done.

Papenfus kept putting zeros on the board, and Wells recovered a bit, and the game remained 4-0 entering the 6th. Wells was still on the mound, but things started to unravel a bit for him. An Art Spencer (.342, 6, 52) error gave us an early base runner, but Wells got another ground out to bring up Papenfus. Papenfus roped one to left with an exit velo of 105, but as he slid into second and hurt his back. Lucky for us, it was just minor, but it is concerning seeing Peter the Heater leave another start. He left with just a hit, walk, and 6 strikeouts through five, and his start in game four was pushed back. We did get another run right after, as Carlos Montes (.253, 6, 41, 22) tripled home the pinch runner. Ray Ford flew out for the second out, bringing up John Lawson with a runner in scoring position. He hit a Wells fastball nearly 110 miles per hour, giving us an 8-0 lead and ending Wells' night. Art Myers (9-9, 4.35, 24) came in, and got Moss to ground out to stop the bleeding.

Dick Lyons (10-12, 3.91, 28) relieved Papenfus, and with the large lead, Clyde Meyer was hoping he could finish the last four innings. Lyons put up zeros in the 6th and 7th, and then we added some insurance in the 8th. He flew up to start the inning, but Carlos Montes singled and then Ray Ford drove him in with our third homer of the game. Lawson singled and Moss doubled, before Myers lost Jones to load the bases. That brought Leo Mitchell up once again with the bases juiced, but no grand slam this time. Instead, he grounded it to second, but beat out the return throw from the shortstop, allowing Lawson to score. Myers got a ground out to end the inning, but our lead was now up to 11-0. Lyons put up two more zeros, scattering 4 hits in an excellent finish. We couldn't have asked for a much better start to the series, besides the lack of back stiffness that may end Papenfus' postseason. Chicago 11, Boston 0

October 2nd, 1941: Chicago Cougars (1) at Boston Minutemen (0)
We looked to keep the momentum up, as with a win here, we'd head back to Chicago with a crucial 2-0 lead. We'd have to get runs off breakout rookie Ray Dalpman (19-6, 3.43, 121), who some across the league have been comparing to our vet and game three starter Jim Lonardo (16-8, 4.05, 60). Dalpman will face our complete game machine Harry Parker (19-10, 3.19, 117), in a duel of two of the best young pitchers. Just like game one, we got an early four run inning, but this time we struck in the second. Moss and Ford singled to start the inning, before Dalpman quickly set Leo Mitchell down on strikes. That brought up Harry Mead (.260, 6, 56), who singled to center. Moss rounded third and slid in just before Jack Flint's (.245, 1, 53) tag. Skipper (.298, 4, 70) hit into a fielder's choice, which did get the much slower Mead off the basepaths. With Harry Parker, a career .116/.157/.136 (-19 OPS+) at bat, Dalpman may have underestimated him, as he lobbed a pitch down the middle to try to get ahead in the count. Parker laced it between the third basemen and shortstop, scoring Ford to make it 2-0. This brought the lineup back around for Dick Walker (.263, 13, 53, 14), who roped one to center, clearing the bases to give us a comfortable 4-0 lead. Dalpman stopped the bleeding by getting Montes to roll over one, but just like with Papenfus, four runs should be enough for Parker.

Dalpman did settle down after that exciting inning, with him and Parker trading zeroes from the 3rd through 6th. The Minutemen made a risk, sending him back out for the 7th. He got Mead to fly out on one pitch, before Skipper sent his first pitch. Parker wasn't swing away this time, bunting him over to second, so we had a runner in scoring position with two outs, but the top of the lineup ready to extend the league. Dick Walker drew a walk, but then Dalpman got Montes to hit one in the dirt again. Unfortunately for the young pitcher, a fellow 24-year-old Lew McClendon (.281, 10, 80) didn't field the hard hit grounder, and with Montes' blazing speed, no play could be made. Minutemen fans could feel the game slipping away from them here, as the error allowed the FABL's RBI leader and reigning CA Whitney Winner John Lawson to bat with the bases loaded. They didn't stay loaded very long, as the 38-year-old hit one 379 feet to right, launching our second grand slam of the series to give us an 8-0 lead. This ended Dalpman's night, with former Cougar farmhand Joe Foote (1-0, 5.29, 10) looking to get the final out. He didn't have success with that, as both Moss and Ford singled to give us first and third for Leo Mitchell. He made it 9-0 with a liner to right center, scoring Moss to extend the inning. Foote did get Mead to fly out and end the inning, but Cunningham stadium was already starting to empty.

Parker continued to dominate, keeping Boston in check until the 9th. He allowed a single to Art Spencer to start the inning with McClendon following it up with a double. Parker got pinch hitter Les Rich (.338, 1, 23) to ground out to first. Skipper's brother Buddy (.336, 62, 11) hit what should have been a sac-fly to left, but Mitchell dropped it, allowing Spencer to score. Pinch hitter Bob Donoghue (.242, 5, 23) followed it up with a single to cut our lead to seven, with runners on first and second. Pete Day (.296, 2, 70, 17) flew out, meaning Bill Burkett (.265, 15, 91, 30) would be their last hope. He kept the game alive with a single. The bases were now loaded for Bill Moore (.303, 11, 83), but no one was warming up in the pen. Moore worked the count to 3-2, but eventually Parker got him to fly out to left, with this time, Mitchell securing the ball. Parker finished with just 115 pitches, scattering 10 hits and the 2 runs with 6 strikeouts. Chicago 9, Boston 2

Returning home up 2-0 in the series gives me a lot of hope for my second championship, but considering we were up 2-0 and returning home against the Keystones in 1933, it's far too early to start celebrating. I expect Boston to hit much better in Chicago, as most teams do, and while I have faith in Lonardo and Lyons, the veteran duo is no Papenfus and Parker. We're elite at home, 51-26 (.662), but the Minutemen are better away from Boston (46-31) then at home (44-33). Lonardo was named Pitcher of the Month for September, and I'm hoping he can keep up his hot stretch. He was a perfect 5-0 with a 2.36 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 1 walk, and 12 strikeouts in a near perfect month. It would be wonderful to win the series in front of our home fans, who supported us all season, but I really like our chances to wrap this one up quickly.

ayaghmour2 · 04-02-2022, 06:29 PM

AAA Milwaukee Blues (Century League): 75-65, 3rd, 8 GB: The top level of our system, the Milwaukee Blues had a decent enough season, but still finished with the worst record in our system, and the only team that didn't finish first or tied for first. I had a lot more depth pieces then usual on the roster who got a decent amount of time, but of course, our top two prospects Donnie and Johnnie Jones spent the entirety of the Blues season there. Donnie was the staff ace, and won the team triple crown with 12 wins, a 3.16 ERA, and 126 strikeouts. Donnie was worth nearly 4 WAR with a 1.28 WHIP and top notch 6.3 K/9. Johnnie wasn't as great, with a sub 100 ERA+ (3.93, 95) and he had more walks (89) then strikeouts (84), but Blues fans will likely get to see the talented duo again next year. Harl Haines (11-9, 3.29, 82) and Ray McNeill (12-5, 3.58, 73) were also reliable arms in the rotation, and they are all 25 or under. The offense was a bit weaker, as we had depth guys like Stu Johnson (.190, 4, 21), Freddie Bennett (.263, 1, 39, 8), Tip Harrison (.237, 4, 40, 7), Orlin Yates (.253, 2, 33, 7), and Bobby Mills (.298, 6, 54) get a lot of starts. Mills was the best of that group, but no one could match our talented young outfielder Fred Vargas. The 23-year-old hit an impressive .312/.450/.439 (148 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 5 homers, and 49 RBIs with a stellar 81-to-34 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Jocko Pollard (.279, 11, 80) and Ossie Grogan (.325, 45, 7) both had strong seasons at the plate and will get a lot of starts in Milwaukee again next year. The Blues are always competitive, and while they didn't have many exciting youngsters on the roster, but Bunny Hufford (.327, 1, 11, 2) was impressive in the final month of the season and Chick Browning (.226, 2, 5) and Bill Graham should spend most of their time next year in Milwaukee. The Blues are always competitive, but they tend to be our worst performing farm system despite not finishing below .500 since 1929.

AA Mobile Commodores (Dixie League): 80-60, 1st, 5 GA: It was a great season for the Commodores, who won their first pennant since 1936. The staff was strong, allowing tied for the fewest amount of runs in the Dixie League. 22-year-old Willie Gonzalez Jr. was excellent in his first season in AA, going 11-10 with a 3.58 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.40 WHIP, 70 walks, and 84 strikeouts. John Little (14-6, 3.87, 50) got much better run support and led the team in wins. Fred Thaxton's (3-5, 6.35, 28) nine starts didn't go great, and King Price (7-4, 4.90, 47) could have been better, but they'll both return next season and Thaxton was dominant with the Legislators. The offense was good as well, finishing with the second most runs, led by sluggers Chick Browning (.305, 13, 82) and Sammy Dillon (.313, 12, 53), but Browning will be in Milwaukee next season and I can't see Dillon staying a Commodore the whole time. Solly Skidmore (.417, 1, 13) looked good in September and he'll be a fixture in their lineup next year. Most of their top players will be moving up, but they'll get top young pitchers Danny Goff Jr. and Ira Hawker and some quality bats in Jimmie James, Hod Seagroves, and and Huck Hanes, as the Commodores will look to defend their title.

A Lincoln Legislators (Heartland League): 88-52, t-1st, 18 GA: It's not an outright title for the Legislators, who were also tied for first in 1939 after winning the league in '38. The Legislators had the best staff in the league, led by two-way star Danny Goff Jr. Goff went 12-9 with a 3.27 ERA (123 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 66 walks, and 49 strikeouts in nearly 200 innings. He was even better at the plate, slashing .309/.393/.489 (139 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 9 triples, 9 homers, and 68 RBIs. Goff won't return, but Bill Tuttle (14-7, 3.74, 82), who spent his entire season there, will be back, and midseason callups Oliver Allen (6-2, 2.97, 52), Tommy Davis (6-3, 3.32, 27), and Bob Hobbs (4-3, 3.57, 10) all looked up for the challenge. Former ace Tommy Wilcox (7-3, 21, 1.90, 36) anchored the pen, and all the young pitchers loved picking the team leader's brain on pitching strategy. The offense and defense were strong as well, and they got a huge season from Hod Seagroves. The 23-year-old Chicagoan hit an elite .351/.411/.497 (146 OPS+) with 30 doubles, 10 triples, 5 homers, and 55 RBIs with just one walk and 46 strikeouts. Seagroves is one of the most disciplined hitters in the game, striking out just 6 times in the past two seasons. Skidmore (.342, 8, 87) was just as good before his midseason callup, while Harry Carr (.333, 3, 64, 14) and Dan Collins (.306, 1, 18) were very effective in their time in Lincoln. Unfortunately our regional selection Jim Dickinson (.185, 13) was over matched while Huck Hanes (.304, 6, 21) was great in his first pro experience. They'll keep most of the same team next year, which should help them try to take the crown on their own, and they'll get Mel Haynes and Bill Hunt in the fold for next season.

B San Jose Cougars (California-Oregon-Washington League): 100-40, 1st, 4 GA): Only one team in our system managed to win 100 games, and while it was the Cougars, just not the ones in Chicago. San Jose completed their fourpeat, and they've now own 5 of the last 6 pennants in the C-O-W League. The 100 wins were the most in Cougar history, with the previous best 99 in 1939. San Jose saw a lot of movement, so it's surprising they did as well as they did, and while no pitcher qualified for ERA rankings, the Cougars allowed the fewest runs in the league. Reliever Pup White (9-6, 13, 3.19, 67) actually led the team in wins, and they got excellent starts from Tommy Davis (8-0, 3.66, 58), Mel Haynes (8-4, 2.58, 44), Ira Hawker (8-4, 2.75, 41), Ron Sexton (7-2, 2.05, 28), and Roscoe Brown (6-1, 2.73, 26). The offense wasn't great, just 4th in runs scored, but with the pitching it didn't matter too much. Don Lee did enough hitting for the rest of the team, as after his promotion from La Crosse, the former 2nd Rounder hit .303/.384/.545 (144 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 7 triples, 13 homers, 10 steals, and 65 RBIs. Bill Hunt (.306, 12, 67, 11) and Adolph Jacobson (.270, 8, 63, 6) flashed some power while the versatile Cy Howard (.284, 5, 50, 19) was much better this year then last. Danny Richardson (.305, 5, 29) was great after his promotion, and San Jose should be a force next season as well. Leo Davis will help the offense and Duke Bybee the staff, so I expect the Cougars will continue their run of dominance.

C La Crosse Lions (Heartland League): 99-41, 1st, 11 GA: The Lions almost reached the century mark, and after falling just two games short last year, they won their third title in four years. They led the league in nearly every category, including runs scored and allowed. Harry Stewart's (5-2, 1.96, 15) dominance was well documented, and like San Jose, La Crosse had a ton of different players get innings and at bats, and 18 different pitchers started games for the Lions. Duke Bybee was the lone qualifier, and the top 20 prospect made 23 superb starts. Bybee went 14-6 with a 2.74 ERA (152 ERA+), 1.08 WHIP, 46 walks, and 107 strikeouts. He won't be back, but the Lions still have Leo Hayden (8-1, 2.62, 30), Joe Swank (5-0, 2.53, 5), Pinch Lenhart (), George Oddo (2-4, 3.97, 19), and Russ Cushing (4-1, 1, 3.14, 19) should all be back in the rotation, at least to start the year. Mel Haynes (8-3, 3.72, 52) and Roscoe Brown (6-3, 3.57, 45) were great pre-promotion as well, and nearly all the Lions hurlers looked good. The offense was strong, and Lions fans got to see are top two picks from the recent draft. Otto Christian was elite, slashing a robust .285/.373/.576 (146 OPS+) with 13 homers and 44 RBIs in just 45 games. Eddie Howard (.308, 12) didn't look as good, a bit below average at the plate, but the 18-year-old held his own in his first taste of affiliated ball. Leo Davis spent his whole season in La Crosse, and since he'll be in San Jose next year, they'll miss his .330/.404/.489 (133 OPS+) line with 23 doubles, 13 triples, 10 homers, 35 steals, and 93 RBIs. Joe Dackett (.368, 4, 32, 3) managed a 152 OPS+ and Harry Harris (.299, 6, 76, 5), Steve Rosko (.290, 7, 50, 10), Lew Lord (.288, 6, 47) all put together really strong seasons. They are scheduled to start the season in La Crosse, but I'd be surprised if they all stayed down in the lowest level. The midseason draft always leads to a lot of players moving up and down, but I still expect them to win another pennant next year.

StLee · 04-02-2022, 11:53 PM

All this time that I do not get to spend on OOTP, and I am missing that the Cougars are in contention to win the Series!

I had meant to stop by at some point and comment on how disappointed I was that Rabbit Forest was no longer a part of your franchise. His alternate future self is in the Sole Survivor Series, though!

I am rooting hard that the Cougars will win two more to win it all. Hit and pitch well!

ayaghmour2 · 04-03-2022, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StLee

All this time that I do not get to spend on OOTP, and I am missing that the Cougars are in contention to win the Series!

I had meant to stop by at some point and comment on how disappointed I was that Rabbit Forest was no longer a part of your franchise. His alternate future self is in the Sole Survivor Series, though!

I am rooting hard that the Cougars will win two more to win it all. Hit and pitch well!

Thanks for stopping by! It's been a very good season, seems like everything is going right for us and I'm hoping we can have it all wrapped up tomorrow.

Looks like in your world Rabbit had a tough time in the regular season, but he's done well in the playoffs. While he's starting his career, this universes' Forrest may end in a season or two

ayaghmour2 · 04-03-2022, 05:39 PM

This is our first season since I started this annual post where we actually won the division, so the no-trade team can't really be any better then our actual team, as we may be declared champions tomorrow.

Catchers
Fred Barrell (BRK): 56 OPS+, HR, 47 RBI, 0.4 WAR
Harry Mead (CHC): 92 OPS+, 6 HR, 56 RBI, 2.0 WAR

Infielders
Ed Reyes (CHI): 74 OPS+, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 0.2 WAR
Billy Hunter (CHC): 125 OPS+, HR, 16 RBI, 1.5 WAR
Tommy Wilson (STL): 103 OPS+, 9 HR, 75 RBI, 5.1 WAR
Ducky Jordan (CHI): 77 OPS+, 3 HR, 22 RBI, SB, 0.2 WAR
Hal Wood (TOR): 56 OPS+, 30 RBI, -0.7 WAR
Skipper Schneider (CHC): 99 OPS+, 4 HR, 70 RBI, 4.8 WAR
John Lawson (CHC): 138 OPS+, 29 HR, 129 RBI, 6.2 WAR

Outfielders
Leo Mitchell (CHC): 130 OPS+, 11 HR, 83 RBI, 6 SB, 3.7 WAR
Reginald Westfall (TOR): 107 OPS+, 6 HR, 65 RBI, 1.2 WAR
Dave Haight (CIN): 112 OPS+, RBI, 0.2 WAR
Rich Langton (CHC): 125 OPS+, 3 HR, 47 RBI, 3 SB, 2.1 WAR
Chink Stickels (NYS): 100 OPS+, 9 HR, 68 RBI, 11 SB, 3.6 WAR
Carlos Montes (CHC): 87 OPS+, 6 HR, 41 RBI, 22 SB, 4.0 WAR

Pitchers
Dick Lyons (CHC): 10-12, 101 ERA+, 28 K, 2.5 WAR
Dean Astle (CLE/BOS): 10-16, 97 ERA+, 69 K, 3.5 WAR
Tom Barrell (PIT): 11-9, SV, 96 ERA+, 71 K, 1.4 WAR
Mike Murphy (DET): 10-9, 117 ERA+, 40 K, 3.8 WAR
Pete Papenfus (CHC): 20-7, 139 ERA+, 225 K, 7.6 WAR
Harry Parker (CHC): 19-10, 123 ERA+, 117 K, 3.2 WAR
Phil English (TOR): 4-1, 75 ERA+, 8 K, 0.2 WAR
Pug Bryan (CHC): 1-2, 73 ERA+, 9 K, 0.1 WAR
Rusty Watts (CHC): N/A

Totals
Hitters: 34.5
Pitchers: 22.3
Total: 56.8
Approximate Wins: 104

The no trade Cougars were worth a little more then the actual ones, but I think I can chalk that up to likely more PAs and innings from guys that don't all play on the same team. This team would be just as good as ours, and with a lot of talented young players in the system, we should be able to keep up with the no trade team. We do have a lot of talented draftees on other teams elsewhere, but it's still hard to complain about the roster we've put together.

Offseason Moves for 1942
Replace Rusty Watts with Frank Gordon
Replace Dick Lyons with Danny Hern
Replace Ed Reyes with Arnie Scurlock
Replace Dave Haight with John Johnson

Notable Prospects/Picks Traded
October 1940: Traded Lou Eaker and Ralph Kendall to the Chiefs for Cliff Moss

ayaghmour2 · 04-04-2022, 09:44 AM

I really have nothing to say, and there's no way to make these games more exciting then they were. We lost both games at home 1-0, and the series is now all tied up. We got just 7 total hits in the pair of games, but at least Lonardo and Lyons pitched well! Lonardo allowed just 5 hits, a run, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts in a complete game loss, while Lyons allowed just 4 hits, a run, and walk with 2 strikeouts in his complete game loss. Papenfus is still hurt for a day, so he'll pitch game five, while Harry Parker gets game four. I would have loved it the other way, as Parker has homer problems on occasion and it's easy to hit homers in Chicago, but we'll have our work cut out for us now.

ayaghmour2 · 04-05-2022, 12:09 PM

October 6th, 1941: Boston Minutemen (2) vs Chicago Cougars (2): After an absolute pitiful pair of games in Chicago, were the two best offenses in baseball scored just two total runs, this was a must win game for us. If it wasn't for Papenfus' injury, he'd be pitching this game, which would allow him to pitch out of the pen if needed in a crucial game seven. Instead, game two starter Harry Parker (19-10, 3.19, 117) would face Walt Wells (17-10, 3.24, 75), who we hit hard in Boston. Like most of the series, pitching had the upper hand, and through five innings the teams combined for just six hits and one runner in scoring position. We finally got things going in the 6th, where Carlos Montes (.253, 6, 41, 22) singled to start the inning and Ray Ford (.310, 7, 54) drew a five pitch walk. John Lawson (.315, 29, 129) got a 2-0 count, but instead of unloading on a pitch down the middle, he rolled one over to second. The sure handed Buddy Schneider (.336, 62, 11) couldn't field it cleanly, and after ineptness offensively on both sides, we had the bases loaded and needed to make the Minutemen pay. Manager Clyde Meyer, who has made many questionable decisions (pinch hitting for Skipper Schneider in the 2nd in game 4 stands out like a sore thumb), decided to go for another, and took out the power of Cliff Moss (.285, 10, 59) in favor of the speed of Johnny McDowell (.379, 3). He went down on strikes, and you could tell Cougar fans in attendance thought their scoring drought would continue. Luckily captain Freddie Jones (.269, 4, 36) had other ideas, attacking the first pitch and ripping it past short. Montes scored easily and then Ford beat Bill Burkett's (.265, 15, 91, 30) throw home, giving us a 2-0 lead. Unfortunately we'd get no more, as Wells bounced back and got Leo Mitchell (.346, 11, 83, 6) to ground into an inning ending double play. In the 7th Harry Mead (.260, 6, 56) grounded out to start the inning before a Skipper Schneider (.298, 4, 70) double. This brought up the pitcher Parker, who failed to bunt him over, but eventually got Skipper to third with a ground out. This turned the lineup over, and just like our first two runs, a first pitch ambush gave us two more. Carlos Montes sent one 358 feet to left, giving us a 4-0 lead that should be more then safe with Parker on the mound. It was, as Parker allowed just one more hit (to his opposition Wells) in the final two innings, finishing off a 4-hit shutout. He walked 4 and struck out 5, and needed just 114 pitches in the shutout as we at least left Chicago with the series lead reclaimed.

Just one more win...

Boston 0, Chicago 4

October 8th, 1941: Chicago Cougars (3) vs Boston Minutemen (2): With two games left, we needed just one win, and who better to get that win then fireballer and likely Allen Award Winner Pete Papenfus (20-7, 2.84, 225)? He'd get to take on Ray Dalpman (19-6, 3.43, 121), who we hit hard in game two. This game saw a lot more scoring, and the Minutemen got off to a quick 1-0 lead thanks to a trio of singles from Art Spencer (.342, 6, 52), Lew McClendon (.281, 10, 80), and Jack Flint (.245, 1, 53). They kept that lead until the 5th, where we had a nice two out rally. Dick Walker (.263, 13, 53, 14) singled Skipper over to third before Dalpman walked Montes to load the bases. Again, we pounced on a first pitch, with John Lawson promptly unloading the bases with a double to give the Cougars a nice 3-1 lead. Dalpman walked Moss on four pitches, but he got Freddie to ground out and end the inning. Papenfus seemed to lose his control in the bottom half, walking both Pete Day (.296, 2, 70, 17) and Bill Burkett before a Bill Moore (.303, 11, 83) single and Les Rich (.338, 1, 23) pinch hit double tied the game at three. The first out was Art Spencer flying out, but the bases were loaded with the third walk of the inning. Jack Flint then drove home two with a single, and after a risky double steal, Meyer called for the intentional walk of Buddy Schneider to load the bases. That proved costly, as the bases were quickly unloaded with a Day double, as the Minutemen batted around and Boston now had a huge 8-3 lead. That ended Papenfus' night quickly, with Ben Curtin (5-2, 2.13, 18) called on to get the final out. Bill Burkett singled, but Mitchell through Day out at home, thankfully keeping the game where it was.

We didn't go down quietly, and the Cougars tried to get something going in the seventh. Orlin Yates (.224, 1, 6), who came into play center when we brought in Curtin, started the inning with a walk, and then Dalpman walked Walker too. No walk for Ford, who singled home Yates, cutting the lead to four. Walker and Ford both advanced on a wild pitch with John Lawson up, but Dalpman got the reigning Whitney Winner to ground out, and prevent a run from scoring. Cliff Moss then attacked a first pitch, but hit a slow roller between first and second, and while he beat it out, Walker didn't make an attempt to score. Still, the bases were loaded for captain Freddie Jones with just one out, and he hit one deep to right. Day was under it, Walker was ready to tag, and with a wild throw from Day, he scored easily as Ford and Moss both moved up 90 feet. If Walker scored on the previous play, Ford would have scored here, but we were now down three. Mitchell struck out to end the inning, but we did manage to chip away at the lead. Joe Brown (9-2, 8, 2.94, 27) replaced Curtin for the 7th, and despite a walk and hit by pitch, he kept the Minutemen off the board. For the top of the 8th, John Edwards (9-13, 2, 5.12, 81) replaced the rookie Dalpman, and got a quick ground out to start the inning. He then walked Skipper and Yates, and they moved up 90 feet on a Walker ground out to bring up the pitcher's spot. Fred Vargas (.412, 3, 13) was called on to pinch hit, and he singled both home to bring us within one! John Lawson had a chance to tie it, but he grounded out to second to end the inning. Dick Lyons (10-12, 3.91, 28) came in for the 8th, and got Day, Burkett, and Moore to fly out, keeping us within one for the 9th. Edwards was still out for Boston, and after Moss flew out, Freddie Jones beat out a grounder to the pitcher. Mitchell struck out, again, and we were down to our final out. Mead swung at the first pitch, grounding it to second, but another Buddy Schneider error kept the game going. His brother Skipper then attacked Edwards' first pitch, lining it to right. Jones scored from third, and then Dom Pappas gave the waive to our catcher, who beat Day's throw with a slide, giving us the 9-8 lead! Bobby Montefusco (3-4, 3, 4.22, 8) then relived Edwards, striking out Yates on three pitches to end the inning.

Now up in the bottom of the 9th, Lyons needed just three outs to win the Cougars their first title since 1933. He got Joe Watson (.320, 6, 54) to ground out, but former Cougar draftee Charlie Reed (.290, 3, 1) got things going with a double. Lyons battled back to strike out Mack Sutton, so Jack Flint was the last chance for Boston. He lined one to left center, Yates played it and saw Reed rounding third, and made a throw to the plate. Reed evaded the tag, Flint moved to second, and the game was back to even. Buddy then reached on a Jones error, giving runners on the corners for pinch hitter Bill Van Ness (.302, 3, 21). Lyons threw three straight balls, but battled back to make it full, before a pop up ended the inning, but not the game. The 10th saw Dick Higgins (2-2, 2, 5.33, 41), who got two quick flyouts before John Lawson singled to extend the inning. Moss attacked his first pitch, looking to break the tie with one big swing, but he just missed it and flew out to right to end the inning. Pug Bryan (1-2, 5.40, 9) pitched the 10th, although I would have much rather thing Milt Fritz (8-8, 4.01, 25) or Eddie Quinn (6-3, 4.91, 17). Instead, Pug ran into issues right away, with another Pete Day double to start the inning. He got to third on Burkett's infield hit, and things were not looking good. Deadline pickup Bill Moore was up with runners on the corners and no outs, and instead of ending the game with a triple play, he singled home Day as the Minutemen walked off winners.

So close...

But yet, so far...

Oh well, we'll get a game seven! Jim Lonardo, I have faith...

Chicago 9, Boston 10 (10 innings)

ayaghmour2 · 04-06-2022, 12:13 PM

October 9th, 1941: Chicago Cougars (3) vs Boston Minutemen (3): It all comes down to this, game 7! Two top veteran arms in Jim Lonardo (16-8, 4.05, 60) and Ed Wood (20-7, 3.11, 68) would duel in a rematch of game three, where we couldn't score and they got just one run. I expected more of the same this game, and that's how it started. The first third of the game saw zeros, with the first real action in the fourth. Lew McClendon (.281, 10, 80) drew a one out walk, and then scored on a Jack Flint (.245, 1, 53) double to give Boston the early 1-0 lead. Buddy (.336, 62, 11) moved him over to third with a sac-fly, bringing up the opposing pitcher Ed Wood. He got the best of Lonardo, and singled him home to give Boston a 2-0 lead. Pete Day (.296, 2, 70, 17) singled him over to third, but Lonardo got Bill Burkett (.265, 15, 91, 30) to ground out to end the inning. Neither team scored in the 5th, but Carlos Montes (.253, 6, 41, 22) started the 6th off well. He doubled and later scored on a two out single from Cliff Moss (.285, 10, 59). Freddie Jones (.269, 4, 36) followed it up with a single, bringing up Leo Mitchell (.346, 11, 83). He brought the count to 3-0, but he hit a hard grounder to second that Buddy fielded well, ending the inning. Lonardo settled in, and pitched admirably, keeping the score 2-1 through 8. He allowed 9 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts, but Ed Wood was better. Through 8 he had just 6 hits, a run, 3 walks, and a strikeout, and would come back for the ninth. He'd have to face Mitchell, Harry Mead (.260, 6, 56), and Skipper Schneider (.298, 4, 70). Mitchell grounded out and then Mead flew out, making Skipper the final out of the game. He went down 0-2, but kept the game alive with a single. This brought up pinch hitter Fred Vargas (.412, 3, 13), who hit one out to right center. Pete Day was there, made the catch, and ended our series.

*Sigh*

Outscored them 34-16...

Outhit them 57-49...

Lost all four one run games...

This was the team that went 24-14 in one run games during the season...

But we just could not get it done...

Chicago 1, Boston 2

Well, back to the drawing board for us, and while generally the team with the best record in baseball would be a favorite for the next season, but the War makes things murkier. Sure, all 16 teams will get hit with the not-so-fun draft, but only one team is all but guaranteed to lose a 23-year-old fireballer who just happens to be the best pitcher in baseball. Of course, if Papenfus is all we lose, we could be fine, but any team losing their ace is going to have a hard time rebounding. We do have great depth and a nice mix of young and veteran talent, so if next year was a normal one, I'd have no worries about returning, but we have a lot of uncertainty ahead of us.

StLee · 04-06-2022, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayaghmour2

October 9th, 1941: Chicago Cougars (3) vs Boston Minutemen (3): It all comes down to this, game 7! Two top veteran arms in Jim Lonardo (16-8, 4.05, 60) and Ed Wood (20-7, 3.11, 68) would duel in a rematch of game three, where we couldn't score and they got just one run. I expected more of the same this game, and that's how it started. The first third of the game saw zeros, with the first real action in the fourth. Lew McClendon (.281, 10, 80) drew a one out walk, and then scored on a Jack Flint (.245, 1, 53) double to give Boston the early 1-0 lead. Buddy (.336, 62, 11) moved him over to third with a sac-fly, bringing up the opposing pitcher Ed Wood. He got the best of Lonardo, and singled him home to give Boston a 2-0 lead. Pete Day (.296, 2, 70, 17) singled him over to third, but Lonardo got Bill Burkett (.265, 15, 91, 30) to ground out to end the inning. Neither team scored in the 5th, but Carlos Montes (.253, 6, 41, 22) started the 6th off well. He doubled and later scored on a two out single from Cliff Moss (.285, 10, 59). Freddie Jones (.269, 4, 36) followed it up with a single, bringing up Leo Mitchell (.346, 11, 83). He brought the count to 3-0, but he hit a hard grounder to second that Buddy fielded well, ending the inning. Lonardo settled in, and pitched admirably, keeping the score 2-1 through 8. He allowed 9 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts, but Ed Wood was better. Through 8 he had just 6 hits, a run, 3 walks, and a strikeout, and would come back for the ninth. He'd have to face Mitchell, Harry Mead (.260, 6, 56), and Skipper Schneider (.298, 4, 70). Mitchell grounded out and then Mead flew out, making Skipper the final out of the game. He went down 0-2, but kept the game alive with a single. This brought up pinch hitter Fred Vargas (.412, 3, 13), who hit one out to right center. Pete Day was there, made the catch, and ended our series.

*Sigh*

Outscored them 34-16...

Outhit them 57-49...

Lost all four one run games...

This was the team that went 24-14 in one run games during the season...

But we just could not get it done...

Chicago 1, Boston 2

Well, back to the drawing board for us, and while generally the team with the best record in baseball would be a favorite for the next season, but the War makes things murkier. Sure, all 16 teams will get hit with the not-so-fun draft, but only one team is all but guaranteed to lose a 23-year-old fireballer who just happens to be the best pitcher in baseball. Of course, if Papenfus is all we lose, we could be fine, but any team losing their ace is going to have a hard time rebounding. We do have great depth and a nice mix of young and veteran talent, so if next year was a normal one, I'd have no worries about returning, but we have a lot of uncertainty ahead of us.

Oh no!

ayaghmour2 · 04-07-2022, 06:14 PM

Just like we did in the season, we finished second in the prospect rankings. Of course, this one is actually a good things, as only Montreal (237) has more points then our 173. There are a few teams close to us, with fellow CA rivals Cleveland (168) and New York (158) pretty close. Our farm system continues to look strong, with 4 top 20 prospects, 8 top 100 prospects, 22 top 250 prospects, and 43 top 500 prospects. Our top two prospects debuted last season, and there is a chance either of them will graduate and the #100 prospect Bunny Hufford could get some time in Chicago next year. If we draft well, we may be able to maintain a top 3 system. As always, some of these guys may be traded, but I can't picture any trades materializing before the new year.

1. RHP Donnie Jones (11th Overall): 1st/10th
2. LHP Johnnie Jones (12th Overall): 2nd/13th
3. LHP Duke Bybee (15th Overall): 6th/54th
4. C Solly Skidmore (19th Overall):3rd/26th
5. C Eddie Howard (26th Overall): 20th Overall Pick
6. 3B Otto Christian (46th Overall): 13th Overall Pick
7. RHP Mel Haynes (70th Overall): 4th/49th
8. CF Bunny Hufford (100th Overall): 7th/68th
9. RHP/CF Danny Goff Jr. (123rd Overall): 5th/53rd
10. SS Jim Dickinson (126th Overall): 45th Overall Pick
11. CF Don Lee (130th Overall): 10th/159th
12. 2B Ossie Grogan (132nd Overall): Acquired from Philadelphia
13. LHP Leo Hayden (133rd Overall): 29th Overall
14. RHP Ira Hawker (136th Overall): 14th/221st
15. RHP Jack Huston (154th Overall): 77th Overall Pick
16. CF Harry Carr (184th Overall): 15th/229th
17. RHP Harry Stewart (196th Overall): 11th/173rd
18. RHP George Oddo (209th Overall): 125th Overall
19. LHP Harl Haines (210th Overall): 239th Overall
20. LF Bill Rich (211th Overall): 16th/230th
21. 2B Jimmie James (218th Overall): 9th/126th
22. RHP Roscoe Brown (245th Overall): 20th/268th
23. RHP Ron Sexton (285th Overall): 30th/363rd
24. RF Harry Harris (286th Overall): 18th/254th
25. RHP Joe Crosby (291st Overall): 23rd/312th
26. 3B Jocko Pollard (299th Overall): Not ranked
27. RF Dan Collins (302nd Overall): 109th Overall Pick
28. 1B Hod Seagroves (316th Overall): 12th/182nd
29. SS Joe Dackett (321st Overall): 93rd Overall Pick
30. LHP Ed Wilkinson (324th Overall): 24th/319th

ayaghmour2 · 04-07-2022, 11:02 PM

RHP Donnie Jones (11th Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Toronto (1939)
Drafted: 1st Round, 6th Overall (1938)
Alma Mater: Minneapolis Auggies

It wasn't a great debut for Donnie Jones, going 7 against the Sailors with 10 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. He pitched two more games, and finished 1-1 with a 6.87 ERA (57 ERA+), 1.85 WHIP, 8 walks, and 10 strikeouts through 18.1 innings pitched. He's just 21, so it's not the most concerning, but I was hoping for more from the young righty. "Mole Killer" was excellent in Milwaukee, finishing 12-8 with a 3.16 ERA (118 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, 57 walks, and 126 strikeouts in 179.2 effective innings. With Pete Papenfus expected to enlist in the Navy, so there will be a rotation spot that Donnie will get a chance to snag. He's got ace potential, featuring a wipeout curve, double play inducing sinker, powerful mid 90s fastball, and decent change is uses rather sparingly. Everyone raves about his elite stuff, but he gets great movement on his pitches and he's lowered his BB/9 in each minor league season. Jones is already a leader in the clubhouse, a huge boost to his value, and he has a higher ceiling then all pitchers in our system other then Peter the Heater. He's pretty well developed, but could probably benefit from a little more time in the minors, so the chances of him making the Opening Day rotation is on the lower side.

LHP Johnnie Jones (12th Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Washington (1939)
Drafted: 1st Round, 4th Overall (1936)
Alma Mater: St. Paul Golden Bears

Ranked right behind his brother in the prospect rankings, Johnnie Jones also debuted this season, and also struggled out of the gate. His issues were much more pronounced, walking 22 batters in just 13.1 innings. "The Patron Saint of Groundballs" is dealing with control issues just like fellow 1936 draftee "Peter the Heater," walking more hitters (89) then he struck out (84) in 185.2 innings for the Blues. Johnnie was a bit below average, 10-13 with a 3.93 ERA (95 ERA+) and 1.50 WHIP, and despite being two years older then Donnie, he's far less developed. The control issues are holding him back, but if he can get his command up, he should be a talented front of the rotation arm. He's got an elite 93-95 sinker which helped him earn his nickname, and his overall movement is even better then Donnie's. It's hard to get good contact off him, but since his pitches do have a lot of life, it does lead to some wildness. Still, his stuff is top notch, and his slider, change, and forkball are all big league quality pitches. He's almost guaranteed to start next season in Milwaukee, but next year he'll be 24 and we really hope he can take the next step forward.

LHP Duke Bybee (15th Overall)
Draft: 4th Round, 49th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Brooklyn Friends Quakers

Duke Bybee's stock was through the roof this year, as the talented lefty jumped almost 40 spots to 15th in the league. The now 19-year-old southpaw is one of the most talented young pitchers in the game, and his work ethic is second to none. The skinny 6'4'' righty has an advanced six pitch arsenal, and he's throwing 2 miles faster this year then last. He has a really tough change up, the best of his pitches, and he get's tons of movement on all his offerings. He doesn't over power, his fastball and cutter sit comfortably in the low 90s, but he mixes his pitches well and uses his smarts and location to befuddle even the best of hitters. His control is reliable, and after spending his season in La Crosse, I'm hoping he can start '42 in San Jose. Bybee made 23 starts, and went 14-6 with a 2.74 ERA (152 ERA+), 1.08 WHIP, 46 walks, and 107 strikeouts in an impressive 5 WAR season. We have plenty of high quality pitchers, leading to a lot of competition for the hard working New Yorker. Tom Weinstock thinks he has higher upside then the older Jones, but he'll have to outpitch both of them to join Parker and Papenfus is what could be the rotation of the 40s and 50s.

C Solly Skidmore (30th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 12th Overall (1938)
Alma Mater: Monroe Hurricanes

It was a big season for the former 1st Rounder Solly Skidmore, who had one of the best offensive seasons in our system. 107 of his 132 games came in Lincoln, where he hit an impressive .342/.398/.470 (135 OPS+) with 23 doubles, 4 triples, 8 homers, and 87 RBIs. He's very disciplined, walking 41 times compared to just 9 strikeouts, and Skidmore is the highest ranked catching prospect in the big leagues, and he's working his way up our minor league ladder. He'll return to Mobile, where his small sample displayed an elite .417/.462/.538 (154 OPS+) triple slash. He's a tall, long, and lean athlete who's bat will carry his glove. He's not a bad defender by any means, but compared to current starter Harry Mead, his glove is much worse while his bat is much better. He could hit well over .300 with 10 to 15 homers, and he'll be able to maintain a high on-base percentage at the big league level. I think he has a year or two to go before he can join us in Chicago, but since he's just 21, him and Mead can co-exist together, with them splitting at bats until Mead ages out.

C Eddie Howard (26th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: St. Joseph Chiefs

Not only do we have the #1 ranked catching prospect, but we also have the #2 catcher in Eddie Howard. Some thought the 18-year-old would be a 1st Rounder this January, but I was able to get Howard with the 20th Pick. A very young and experienced prospect, I expect Howard to take a while before developing into a potential top-5 catcher. But with Mead cemented in Chicago and Solly a few levels ahead, there is no need to rush him, and we can give him some innings on the mound as well. He threw just 4 innings this year, but as I continue to move guys up from La Crosse, he could get a few starts or work as a stopper. Tom thinks he could be a back-end starter, with great command and an excellent change up, He doesn't throw too hard, his sinker is tops out at 85, but he has a lot of time to add speed, which can only make his change better. I think he's going to be better as a position player, with an above average contact tool and reliable strike zone judgement. He's looked good defensively, and should be a benefit for his pitching staff. It may be hard for him and Solly to occupy the same roster, but if a need comes up, one of them would be a very enticing trade piece for a potential seller.

ayaghmour2 · 04-08-2022, 07:09 PM

A little award news before the prospects, as expected Peter the Heater and William the Conqueror were unanimous winners for the Allen and Whitney Awards. John Lawson (122) did get most of the second place voice, and many Cougars received votes in both award races, including Leo Mitchell (70), Skipper Schneider (32), and Harry Parker (36).

3B Otto Christian (46th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Walla Walla Warriors

Taken 13th Overall in the most recent draft, Otto Christian showcased his elite power in his professional debut. He missed some time with injury, but the 18-year-old slugger hit 13 homers in 45 games, most on the Lions and third in the UMVA. The two batters ahead of him (17 and 16) each had over 125 games, so it's not hard to imagine the "Walla Walla Walloper" have topped the league had he played a full season. He turned 19 this offseason, and hit an impressive .285/.373/.576 (146 OPS+) with 7 doubles and 44 RBIs. I may start him up in San Jose next season, but I know that their is no way he'll be a Lion after the midseason draft. Hopefully the heir apparent to future hall of famer John Lawson, Christian has the potential to break home run records, and there isn't a single active player with more raw home run power then him. He has a dangerous swing, with quick hands has a good understanding of the strike zone, and while he won't be a .300 hitter, he should be able to hit around .275.He hits the ball harder and farther then most, but he's got a lot of work to do at perfecting his swing. If he can stay out of his own head, he could end up the all time home run leader, but topping Max Morris' 711 is no easy feat.

RHP Mel Haynes (70th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 12th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Princeton Panthers

He dropped a bit in the prospect rankings, but I think that was more because of a top heavy draft class this year that saw many guys rank high in the prospect list. The now 20-year-old had a really good season, taking half of his 24 starts in La Crosse and the others in San Jose. He was actually better with the Cougars, and made huge strides on the mound as the season went on. He went 8-4 with a 2.58 ERA (165 ERA+), 1.18 WHIP, 28 walks, and 44 strikeouts in just shy of 100 innings. Haynes showed the ability to consistently throw over 100 pitches, with all 12 starts in San Jose and all but one in La Crosse (knocked around in 3.2 innings) where he surpassed the century mark. The 6'2'' righty has been overshadowed a bit by Duke Bybee, who was taken three rounds later then him, but he's much further along and still has tremendous upside. He has a solid four pitch mix with a plus change and reliable slider, sinker, and even forkball. He sits in the 89-91 range, generates a lot of groundballs, and does a good job keeping runners off base. He'll be tested next season, set to start in Lincoln, but if he continues to excel, he may be in Mobile this time next year.

CF Bunny Hufford (100th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 57th Overall (1949)
Alma Mater: Chesapeake State Clippers

Just barely sneaking in to the top 100, Bunny Hufford inched closer to making his big league debut, finishing the season up in Milwaukee, and he'll be in Chicago this spring to attempt to steal a big league job. Hufford showed no signs of being over matched, hitting .327/.400/.459 (138 OPS+) in a 112 PA sample. This was after hitting .344/.413/.470 (127 OPS+) in Mobile, and in the 112 games between the two levels, he recorded 26 doubles, 6 triples, 5 homers, 14 steals, and 61 RBIs. Hufford is experienced in all three outfield spots, but primarily lined up in center this year. He was actually better in Milwaukee then Mobile, and with Orlin Yates now out of options, Hufford is one of the few potential outfield options for the Blues that is trustworthy in center. I think he'll be best in right, but he has good range and a pretty strong arm. He's better at the plate, with well above average contact potential and excellent pitch recognition skills. Add in his speed and he has everything you want in a leadoff hitter, and we may see him starting games in Chicago if we lose some of our outfield. Hufford is an extremely hard worker as well, good at getting the most out of his teammates, and he's always competing and pushing himself to be better. We have a lot of talented outfielders in our system, but his versatility and work ethic could end up giving him the edge in future roster competitions.

RHP/CF Danny Goff Jr. (123rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 23rd Overall (1939)
Alma Mater: Hempstead Hawks

Danny took a bit of a tumble in the prospect rankings, dropping out of the top 100 for the first time in his minor league career. I'm just happy he's healthy, as after shoulder inflammation cost him 3 months last year, he was able to pitch 24 games and appear in 118 games overall. It was his best season on the mound, going 12-9 with a 3.27 ERA (123 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 66 walks, and 49 strikeouts in just shy of 200 innings pitched. He was even better at the plate, hitting .309/.393/.489 (139 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 9 triples, 9 homers, and 68 RBIs. He got time at first (23) and out in left (17), center (26), and right (32), and will move on up to Mobile next season. I like him more as a pitcher, but he's much further along at the plate. He has an elite hit tool and will draw an above average amount of walks, and he can be counted on defensively at all four positions. Still, he's got a lot of upside on the mound, even when you don't consider the fact that his dad and brother are big league pitchers. Jr. touches 90 with his fastball, and his curve and change are reliable off speed pitches. He can nibble around the corners a bit too much, leading to a few too many walks, but a good catcher like Harry Mead could help steal him some strikes. He'll continue as a two way guy, and he may end up getting a late season callup before I have to protect him from the Rule-5 Draft.

SS Jim Dickinson (126th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 45th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Calumet Catholic Missionaries

One of the more surprisingly high ranked prospects in our system, Jim Dickinson managed to round out our top 10, ranked 126th in the league. He was our regional pick this year, and due to a lack of quality middle infield options ahead of him, he started his pro career in Lincoln. He didn't hit very well, just .185/.267/.243 (39 OPS+), but the Springfield native was excellent defensively at short, and actually had a similar batting line to some of his infield teammates in Johnny Bunce and Connie Wright, who had big league experience before this season. I expect "Speck" will have a much better season at the plate next year, but his value lies in the glove. He should be a well average shortstop, and he has can be a top defensive third basemen or second basemen. He did strike out a bit too much this season, but his eye should improve as he matures. He won't hit for much power, but he does have nice bat speed and he'll eventually work the count better. With Skipper locking down short, he doesn't have an obvious spot in Chicago, but I love having quality shortstop prospects and he could be a relatively quick riser if he gets back on track next season.

ayaghmour2 · 04-08-2022, 10:20 PM

CF Don Lee (159th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 28th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Lincoln High School Lions

Few hitters in our system hit better then Don Lee, who raked at two levels in his first full minor league season. The former second rounder started the season in La Crosse, and hit an astronomical .360/.483/.596 (182 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 6 triples, 7 homers, 10 steals, and 34 RBIs in 205 trips to the plate. His discipline is advanced for a teen, walking 41 times with just 13 strikeouts. Lee showed no signs of slowing down up in San Jose, hitting an impressive .303/.384/.545 (145 OPS+) in 372 PAs for the Cougars. He added 25 more doubles, 7 triples, 13 homers, and 10 steals with 65 RBIs and again, more walks (42) then strikeouts (18). His defense was much better in La Crosse (6.0, 1.063) then San Jose (-7.7, .948), but I do have faith in his defense out in center. He can flat out fly on the bases and in the outfield, he took huge strides this season. He has plenty of bat speed and is hitting the ball hard and far, with a lot more power then I expected. He's a frustrating hitter who can work the count deep without striking out, and he's always looking to take the extra base. Add on his outstanding work ethic, and the sky truly is the limit for the Jersey native. I continue to say it, but he has the most upside of any of our outfielders, and while it may take him a while to reach the show, Lee could eventually supplant Carlos Montes as the every day center fielder, or at least move to left when Leo Mitchell's range makes him best suited for first base. I'm really excited for Lee, who may get to start next season in Lincoln, but with all the outfielders in our system, he may be stuck in San Jose until his offense is just too good to keep down.

2B Ossie Grogan (132nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Philadelphia (1941)
Drafted: 15th Round, 232nd Overall (1934)
Alma Mater: Wilson Tigers

Technically a Rule-5 Pick of ours, when the Sailors put veteran first basemen Dick Walker on the block, I looked to trade for Ossie Grogan's rights as well. I sent them a pair of corner outfielders in Jim McCarthy and Vince Conforti, and sent Ossie down to Milwaukee to get some time at short. It wasn't pretty, and he eventually got more time at second, but considering how good he is at the keystone, I thought short would be manageable. Of course, he is passable there, and with his bat, he could play short in a pinch. The switch hitting 25-year-old hit a strong .325/.379/.431 (125 OPS+) in Milwaukee with 18 doubles, 10 triples, 7 steals, and 45 RBIs. He's got elite plate discipline, owning a 33-to-4 walk-to-strikeout ratio in exactly 400 trips to the plate. He got some time in Chicago, most of it in September after Ollie Page got hurt, but he was just 5-for-26. He did walk and score four times, with 5 RBIs, 2 doubles, and a triple, but the offensive output he showed in AAA didn't quite translate to big league success. Being able to hit from both sides of the plate makes him valuable, and he's got a great contact tool which allows him to consistently put the ball in play. Not much power from him, but he's got good speed and can be a late inning replacement as a pinch runner or defensive replacement. Second base is a crowded position, but with the injury issues of Billy Hunter, Freddie Jones, and Ollie Page, Grogan may get a shot to stick in Chicago.

LHP Leo Hayden (133rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 29th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Benicia Panthers

Our second round selection this Spring, Leo Hayden as everything you look for in a big league pitcher. The lefty is an imposing 6'6'' with great stuff and potentially above average command. The 19-year-old sits in the upper 80s, but with his height, I'd be surprised if he doesn't add any velocity as he rises through our system. As most teens do, he started his Cougar career in La Crosse, but he didn't not pitch like a teen. He was 8-1 in 11 starts with a 2.62 ERA (195 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 27 walks, and 30 strikeouts. He tossed three shutouts and had another two scoreless start through 8, throwing 101 or more pitches in each of his starts. He even reached 136 in a 5-hit shutout, and has shown no issues going as deep as he needs. I love this kids stuff, as he has a sweeping curve and a really good change, and his slider and fastball are solid pitches as well. When he's on he can dominate, and if he can find the strike zone a little more often, he could develop into one of the most dependable arms we have. I haven't decided where he'll start next season, but since we have a lot of young arms I'd like to give starts to, it might be worth pushing the towering lefty up to San Jose, and see if he can work his way up to Lincoln before the season ends.

RHP Ira Hawker (136th Overall)
Acquired: Via Minor League Free Agency (1938)
Drafted: 26th Round, 252nd Overall (1937)
Alma Mater: Glasgow Greyhounds

Ira Hawker has put us in a tough spot, as the 22-year-old is Rule-5 eligible and has yet to pitch in AA. The outfield convert has been slightly below average in most of his innings, but he was really good with the Legislators this year. Hawker went 8-4 with a 2.75 ERA (154 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP, 27 walks, and 41 strikeouts, before a promotion up to Lincoln. He had some struggles, but managed to go 5-3 with a 4.22 EAR (95 ERA+), 1.57 WHIP, 40 walks, and 27 strikeouts. He got 12 starts at both stops, but he has only 50 minor league starts in his pro career. It's tough to use up a 40-man roster spot on someone like that, but with his upside and the military draft looming, it's not too crazy to think that a team would be willing to commit a big league roster spot to him. He's a talented groundballer with a nice four pitch mix, headlined by a nice curve and 88-90 mile per hour fastball. Neither pitch is dominant, but he mixes his offerings well, and they're all big league quality pitches. He's able to get a lot of movement on his pitches, keeping the ball in the park while generating a lot of easy outs. I only have two open 40-man spots at this time, but I imagine Hawker will eventually grab one once the dust settles.

RHP Jack Huston (154th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 77th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Bay State Bulldogs

Taken in the 5th Round this Summer out of Bay State, Jack Huston seemed to be underdeveloped for a college arm, but despite him not having three big league quality pitches (something I look for in college arms), I thought it would be worth the risk. They early returns look good, as he's already ranked inside the top 200, and he's looked solid so far. He made 4 starts in La Crosse and 7 in San Jose, going 7-3 with 32 walks and 46 strikeouts across 83.2 innings pitched. As expected, he was much better with the Lions, but his 4.62 ERA (92 ERA+) and 1.56 WHIP in San Jose were respectable. A three pitch pitcher, Huston is a sidearmer who sits in the mid-to-high 80s, with a slider that is much better then his fastball and curve. As with most sidearmers, he's deceptive and gets a ton of movement, and when he locates the slider well, he's able to rack up the strikeouts. Command issues may by limit his effectiveness a bit, and depending on how quickly he masters it, he could be a back end or just spot starter. The real test will be the development of his secondary pitches, but with a slider as good as his, he could fallback as a late inning reliever who you can count on for multiple innings. I'd like to see him finish the season in Lincoln, but I can't see him advancing up our system very quickly.

ayaghmour2 · 04-09-2022, 11:38 PM

LF Harry Carr (184th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 156th Overall (1938)
Alma Mater: Buchtel Griffins

It was another strong offensive season for Harry Carr, who spent most of his season with the Lincoln Legislators. A former 10th Round selection, Carr made 416 trips to the plate with Lincoln, hitting an impressive .333/.388/.526 (147 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 22 triples, 3 homers, 14 steals, and 64 RBIs. This was the best offensive output in any of his minor league stops, and it happened at the highest one he's visited so far. Carr's speed is evident, and this year he tripled more then I even thought was possible, 34 total including 12 in just 32 games with San Jose. He's a solid outfielder as well, strong enough range to stick in center, but his future might be in a corner instead. He's not a flashy defender, but he's consistently solid and can always fall back as a fourth outfielder. His best asset is his speed, and could end up as an elite base stealer. Carr has a decent bat too, with improving pitch recognition and the hit tool to consistently hit above .300 in the big leagues. Tom thinks he's a bunch player at best, but I think that's a little too low for Carr. He projects to be a similar player to Tony Mullis, just with more speed, and he looks to be a reliable big league outfielder. Carr has the tools needed to start in the majors, but his lack of power could mean he'll need to stick in center and not move off to a corner.

RHP Harry Stewart (196th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 69th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Bell Academy Big Red

One of the most dominant pitchers in Class C this season, Harry Stewart allowed just a single run in his first two starts, followed by three consecutive shutouts. He finished the year with 9 starts in La Crosse, going 5-2 with an outstanding 1.96 ERA (212 ERA+) with a 1.23 WHIP, 26 walks, and 15 strikeouts. He made more starts in San Jose, 14 with the Cougars, and he was an average 7-4 with a 4.00 ERA (106 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, 30 walks, and 36 strikeouts. Pretty solid numbers for a 19-year-old, and the tall and slender righty will return to San Jose for next season. He's pitched better then his age, and he'll have a chance to continue to work his way up the organizational ladder. I thought he'd move up, not down, the prospect rankings, but there is a lot to like with him. He has a reliable low-to-mid 90s fastball, but other three pitches have a lot of work before they can be consistent offerings. His change and splitter may end up surpassing his fastball, but I'm not too keen on his curve. Plus, he does run into control issues now, which will continue to hurt him if he can't polish up his stuff. If he can develop a swing and miss pitch, likely his change, he could pitch his way into a big league rotation. As with all young arms, you have to be patient with them, and I think Stewart will be worth the wait.

RHP George Oddo (209th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 125th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Pawtucket Raiders

One of the more shocking top prospects, George Oddo was our second of two 8th Rounders this season, and he just missed cracking the league's top 200. When I selected him, I did mention he was risky, but with a lot of upside, and I think I was on the right track. He built off a dominant senior year, where he went 10-0 with a 0.95 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 15 walks, and 153 strikeouts in a near perfect season. Oddo got 8 starts in La Crosse, and while the 18-year-old was 2-4, he held his own on the mound. He worked to a 3.97 ERA (105 ERA+) and 1.50 WHIP with 25 walks and 19 strikeouts in 56.2 innings pitched. He managed to top 100 pitches in all but one of his starts, and while errors did hurt him, he did do a good job working around base runners. He has a decent mid 80s fastball with a money curve, and if his change comes around, he'll have a really nice three pitch arsenal. He has good raw stuff and could end up striking out a lot of batters, but the walks are in the way right now. The best part about Oddo is his size, as he's a towering 6'4'' who I can imagine will end up throwing much harder before he turns 21. He added 3 miles on his fastball this season, and while I don't expect that every year, he's already on the right track. If we can get him consistently in the 90s, his change will be an extremely valuable weapon, but he's a raw prospect with a lot of room for improvement.

LHP Harl Haines (210th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 149th Overall (1935)
Alma Mater: Niagara Falls Big Red

It was some sort of a dream debut for the most interesting southpaw in our system, who had to relieve Peter the Heater in the midst of a no-hitter. Haines was almost as lockdown as our young ace, allowing just a walk and strikeout in 3.2 hitless innings, to complete the combined no hitter. It was his only big league appearance this year, but it certainly won't be the last. The fireballing submariner put together 24 strong starts in Milwaukee before his debut, going 11-9 with a 3.29 ERA (113 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP, 37 walks, and 82 strikeouts in his second season with the Blues. He'll likely get a third season next year, but Haines will be in big league camp, and depending on how many pitchers we lose, he could earn one of our rotation spots. I do think the now 24-year-old would be a remarkable reliever, but I think his future is in the rotation, and I want to give him everyday starts. Right now he is in competition for the 5 spot with Joe Brown, Eddie Quinn, and the Jones brothers, but we could be losing some more arms and Milt Fritz and Dick Lyons are coming off up and down seasons. Even if he doesn't earn a rotation spot out of the Spring, one could open up during the season due to injury of poor performance, and Haines has been the picture of reliability and durability. His command and control are elite, his stuff is reliable, and it's very easy for him to keep the ball on the ground. Haines isn't someone you want leading your rotation, but if you need good innings and a guy who can take the mound every five days, Harl is your guy.

CF Bill Rich (211th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 44th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Grange College Mustangs

It wasn't the best first full season for Bill Rich, who started in Lincoln, got demoted, but eventually returned to Lincoln to finish his season. Rich wasn't as great as I thought he could be after hitting .353/.393/.667 (171 OPS+) in San Jose last year, but at 22 I was hoping he'd do better in Lincoln. He made one shy of 300 PAs in Lincoln, hitting just .246/.301/.373 (82 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 5 triples, 7 homers, and 48 RBIs. He'll get another go of things in Lincoln next season, and I'm hoping he can have a season much closer to he did last year. The Quincy native has a nice bat, with potentially above average contact and power, and he's managed to record double digit homers in each of his seasons. I'm not sure that power will last as he moves up the system. Rich isn't the best defender either, putting up below average numbers in all three outfield positions. A natural center fielder, he's really struggled up the middle, and I'm expecting him to end up in left. He did look better there in 18 games with the Legislators, but with more experience, he should be above average out there. For now, I think Rich's ceiling is a bench role, but if his power comes around, he may be able to steal a lineup spot somewhere.

StLee · 04-10-2022, 10:38 AM

I am still rooting hard for Donnie Jones to become the ace (or at least best 2nd pitcher) you need. Solly Skidmore looks like he could be a boon of a prospect, too, especially if he can catch and hit. I know in the era you're in, that is expected. In my OOTP games, though, it seems as though hitting catchers are few and far between. I almost always look for at least some BABIP potential over mega arm when scouting them. Don Lee is another name that I like, and I hope he develops into the leadoff that he looks that he can be.

ayaghmour2 · 04-10-2022, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StLee

I am still rooting hard for Donnie Jones to become the ace (or at least best 2nd pitcher) you need. Solly Skidmore looks like he could be a boon of a prospect, too, especially if he can catch and hit. I know in the era you're in, that is expected. In my OOTP games, though, it seems as though hitting catchers are few and far between. I almost always look for at least some BABIP potential over mega arm when scouting them. Don Lee is another name that I like, and I hope he develops into the leadoff that he looks that he can be.

Donnie has been developing really well. I'm hoping he can take a big step forward next year, steal a rotation spot, and not let it go! But yeah, it's tough finding really good catchers who can do both. There are four, maybe five high quality catchers and then a hue drop off with everyone else. Mead is good, not great, but has consistently been ranked #5, but he doesn't really "feel" like a top five catcher. Lee will be interesting too, lot of upside and if his 20 homer season is legit, he could be a part of our lineup for a long time.

ayaghmour2 · 04-10-2022, 04:05 PM

2B Jimmie James (218th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 53rd Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Lane State Emeralds

It was a tough season for 23-year-old Jimmie James, who after a strong season in San Jose his draft year, he took steps back in Lincoln. James hit just .246/.322/.343 (81 OPS+) with 21 doubles, 7 triples, 4 homers, and 63 RBIs. He did draw a decent amount of walks with 53, but the switch hitter could not replicate his .359/.439/.526 (150 OPS+) line with San Jose. A natural shortstop, James spent nearly all season at second this year, and he was tremendous in the field. He had a 14.5 zone rating and 1.108 efficiency, and while I think his future is at short, he could be a top defender at the keystone. He does project to be reliable hitter, with above average strike zone recognition and a decent hit tool, but he doesn't have much power and his strikeouts were way up this year. We don't have a lot of middle infield depth in the upper levels of the system, so James may be pushed up to Mobile for next season. His versatility will work well for him, he can field all infield positions and all outfield positions, so it won't be hard to find a spot for him in the lineup. I could see him as an Ollie Page type guy, good enough to start, but better used as a utility man getting 3 or 4 starts a week to keep the rest of the lineup fresh.

RHP Roscoe Brown (245th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 113th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Covington Cougars

It was a really good season for the young Roscoe Brown, who made 11 starts in both La Crosse and San Jose. With the Lions, he was 6-3 with a 3.57 ERA (116 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 23 walks, and 45 strikeouts, and with a lot of new young arms filling the La Crosse roster, Brown was pushed up to San Jose to accommodate some of our other arms. Believe it or not, he was much better in San Jose, going 6-1 with a 2.73 ERA (156 ERA+), 1.10 WHIP, 10 walks, and 26 strikeouts. Sure, his K/9 dropped a bit, but his ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 all declined, and he showed no signs of being overmatched. The 19-year-old is an exciting young arm, featuring a sharp curve and a decent 91-93 mph fastball and sinker. He's not a groundballer despite the sinker, but he allowed just two homers in La Crosse and none with San Jose. Brown isn't overpowering, more of a finesse pitcher, but he has electric stuff and will still get a lot of strikeouts. Right now he projects more long reliever then reliable starter, but with a few velocity bumps and a bit more movement on his pitches, he could work his way into a big league rotation.

RHP Ron Sexton (363rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Pittsburgh (1939)
Drafted: 5th Round, 79th Overall (1938)
Alma Mater: Canarsie Chiefs

Last July Ron Sexton tore his UCL, so his season didn't start until June. The 21-year-old got a few starts in La Crosse to shake off the rust, but made 11 of his 16 starts with the Cougars. He was dominant at both levels, and in San Jose he was dominant. Sexton went 7-2 with a 2.05 ERA (207 ERA+), 1.16 WHIP, 24 walks, and 28 strikeouts through 79 innings pitched. He managed 100 or more pitches in each start this season, so it doesn't look like the elbow injury will have many lasting effects. He's throwing a bit harder now, sitting in the 91-93 range with his fastball, and while none of his four pitches are plus pitches, his slider has looked good and he generates his share of swings and misses. Command was an issue in the past, but he managed to bring his BB/9 below 3 this season, a marked improvement from last year. OSA thinks he can be a backend starter, I think that might be a stretch, but if he continues to dominate like he did this year, he could force his way into an FABL rotation.

RF Harry Harris (286th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 108th Overall (1939)
Alma Mater: DuPont Manual Crimsons

It was another season in La Crosse for the soon-to-be 21-year-old Harry Harris, and it was the best season of his two and a half with the Lions. The former 7th Rounder hit a nice .299/.430/.417 (115 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 6 triples, 6 homers, 5 steals, and 76 RBIs in a personal high 568 trips to the plate. Harris spent time in three positions, with most of his games in either left or right as well as double digits at third. His defense hasn't been great, and while I think he could be a decent third basemen with more time, right or left may be better for him. His bat is better then his glove, as Harris has a smooth swing and quick hands with well above average plate discipline. The switch hitter will draw a ton of walks, more then twice (87) has many times as he struck out (42). Harris doesn't have the power you look for in a corner bat, and that may end up holding him back a little, but he could be a nice bench bat that always has the platoon advantage and can stay in at a few positions.

RHP Joe Crosby (291st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 53rd Overall (1937)
Alma Mater: St. Peter's Spartans

Now 22, Boney Joe Crosby started his season in Lincoln, and he was firing on all cylinders. In 86.2 innings with the Legislators, he was 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA (203 ERA+), 1.05 WHIP, 23 walks, and 43 strikeouts. This earned him a promotion to Mobile, and in the exact same amount of innings, he was a slightly below average 5-4 with a 4.57 ERA (95 ERA+), 1.57 WHIP, 40 walks, and 39 strikeouts. His walks jumped on the promotion, and more advanced hitters had far less issues with his stuff. Crosby is throwing a bit harder this year then last, sitting in the 90-92 range with a reliable fastball, and his curve and slider are big league quality pitches as well. The curve will be his best offering, and when he's on, he's unhittable, but he's inconsistent and his lack of command can sometimes lead to a lot of hard hit balls. At one time Crosby was one of our top young pitching prospects, but he hasn't made many improvements over the past few seasons, and now that he his Rule-5 eligible, he's likely to remain unprotected. The best thing for us would be he gets drafted and improves while enlisted, but unless he makes a few more steps forward, he won't be much more then just a filler arm.

ayaghmour2 · 04-12-2022, 11:40 AM

3B Jocko Pollard (299th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 95th Overall (1935)
Alma Mater: Grafton Indians

One of the most dangerous sluggers in our system, Jocko Pollard had a bit of a down year in his first taste of AAA, but hit well enough to secure a 40-man roster spot and September callup. He was 0-for-2 and appeared in 3 games, so he's still looking for his first big league hit, and will get a chance to earn a roster spot this Spring. It was his worst offensive season since his first, but he hit a bit above average .279/.333/.423 (109 OPS+) with 29 doubles, 3 triples, 11 homers, and 80 RBIs. He has yet to match his 1938 (25) and 1939 (21) homer totals in the past two seasons, but I'm hoping the Rhode Island can unlock some more of that power. Tom Weinstock is a big fan, thinking Pollard can force his way into the lineup due to his above average contact and eye. He likes his smooth swing and quick hands, as well as his pitch recognition, but he doesn't talk too much about his power anymore. Pollard does hit the ball in the air a lot, which will help the ball leave the yard in Chicago, but with John Lawson at first now and Otto Christian there in the future, Pollard's big league career might be bridging the gap between the two sluggers.

RF Dan Collins (302nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 109th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Wisconsin State Brewers

One of our 7th Round selections in the most recent draft, the hardworking corner outfielder actually hit better in the farm then he did in college. Dan Collins hit an impressive .402/.462/.610 (182 OPS+) in San Jose before slashing ..306/.405/.444 (131 OPS+) up in Lincoln. The 22-year-old from Wisconsin combined for 19 doubles, 7 homers, and 58 RBIs in 269 trips to the plate. His bat is nice, but his makeup is what really brought me to him. He takes full advantage of practice time, looking to improve the fundamental side of the game, and he takes charge on the field and in the dugout. He's already a leader in the clubhouse, and he pushes his teammates to be better. He has a nice eye and hit tool, but if the power comes along, he can be a really dangerous hitter. He'll never be a good defender, but he more then held his own out in right this season, and if he continues to work out, he could be respectable in either corner. Collins is one of those low ceiling, high floor type players, and while he likely won't be an everyday player, his makeup could be enough to secure him a big league roster spot.

1B Hod Seagroves (321st Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Detroit (1937)
Drafted: 3rd Round, 45th Overall (1936)
Alma Mater: Lake Park Panthers

In terms of prospect ranks, Hod Seagroves had a rough year, as he's almost completely fallen out of our top 30. He just turned 24 and is Rule-5 Eligible, but I don't think the Chicagoan is going to get a 40 spot year. He did hit really well in Lincoln, however, slashing .351/.411/.497 (146 OPS+) with 30 doubles, 10 triples, 5 homers, and 55 RBIs. 1941 was the best season in his minor league career, and if he stays in our system, he'll be up in Mobile for next season, with the chance to move up the ladder if he continues to hit like this. We don't really have any first basemen ahead of him, and since he's also a solid second basemen, he will control his own destiny. The most impressive part about Seagroves is his discipline, with 46 walks and just 1 strikeout in 501 PAs. He struck out just 5 times last season, and his 89 strikeouts since 1937 is less then Leo Mitchell's 97 this year in Chicago. I had high hopes for Hod, thinking he could be an everyday player for us, but I think he's just a bench piece now who will give good at bats late in the game, and can fill in for an injured starter for a few weeks at a time. Anything more then that, and you might want to upgrade.

SS Joe Dackett (321st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 93rd Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Darnell State Legislators

I could have, and probably should have, started Joe Dackett in San Jose, but we needed a shortstop in La Crosse, and he was easily our best option. Taken in the 6th Round of our most recent draft, Dackett had an offensive explosion for the Lions, hitting a robust .368/.467/.495 (152 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, and 32 RBIs. He also managed to draw 40 walks in 55 games, and owned an impressive 13.9 zone rating and 1.143 efficiency at short. These are all extremely impressive measures, and even if he was about 75% as good as he was, I'd still have moved him up to San Jose for the start of next season. An extremely athletic shortstop, Dackett has superb range and great hands, and he's one of those guys who makes the tough plays look easy. His future is definitely at short, and while there were a few concerns about his bat when I drafted him, they haven't materialized yet. He hits the ball hard and up the middle, but he'll hit a lot more groundballs then line drives. More importantly, he's a tough out, swinging at mostly strikes while taking more then his share of walks. His glove makes him the perfect utility player, and with his age he could move up our system rather quick. I'm still not sold on the bat, but he made huge strides forward with the Lions, and it'll be interesting how he adapts to tougher pitching next year.

LHP Ed Wilkinson (319th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 55th Overall (1938)
Alma Mater: CC Los Angeles Coyotes

When the season started, Ed Wilkinson probably did not expect to make his big league debut. He was just average in 9 outings with the Commodores last year, and he was set to return to Mobile to begin, and likely finish, his aged 24 season. Instead, Wilkinson dominated, going 9-3 with a 2.88 ERA (151 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP, 27 walks, and 34 strikeouts in 12 starts before a promotion to Milwaukee. Of course, it's very hard to maintain that level of performance, but the former 4th Rounder was effective in 11 starts with the Blues. The southpaw was 4-5, but with a 3.32 ERA (112 ERA+), 1.24 WHIP, 13 walks, and 47 strikeouts. Sure, the ERA and WHIP were higher, but unlike most pitchers making the jump from AA to AAA, his BB/9 (2.4 to 1.5) and K/9 (3.0 to 5.6) improved. This was enough for me to give him one final promotion, and he spent the last few weeks up in Chicago with the big league club. He pitched just one inning, but it was perfect 1-2-3 against Brooklyn, and the Ashland, PA native is officially an FABL player. A five pitch pitcher, Wilkinson has a nice low 90s fastball, and he mixes all his pitches well to keep hitters off balance. His stuff is average and he locates his pitches well, allowing him to keep walks low while striking out a few hitters as well. It will be tough for him to work his way into our rotation, but he could be counted on in the pen, and will have a shot to steal a spot this Spring. That being said, he may not get another inning in the big leagues, but he's interesting enough that I don't think he's a guy I could sneak through waivers if I wanted to give his spot to someone else.

03-30-2022, 12:12 PM	#761
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 23: September 15th-September 21st Weekly Record: 4-2 Seasonal Record: 95-53 (1st, 10 GA) Stars of the Week Leo Mitchell : 23 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .435 AVG, 1.184 OPS Cliff Moss : 20 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .450 AVG, 1.078 OPS Dick Walker : 20 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .400 AVG, 1.029 OPS Schedule 9-15: Win at Foresters (13-8) 9-16: Win at Foresters (9-6) 9-17: Loss at Sailors (1-2) 9-18: Loss at Sailors (4-5) 9-20: Win at Stars (5-0) 9-21: Win at Stars (4-2) Recap Playoff bound! After beating the second place Stars 5-0 in a combined no-hitter, we clinched the 1941 Continental Association pennant. For the first season since 1933, the Cougars will be playing baseball after the regular season ends, and while that doesn't seem like a long time, the Cougars have never gone more then a decade without a pennant, and we were getting close to that. The team was as consistent as it gets, putting up .550 or better months since the season started, and the team currently has scored the most runs (764) while allowing the fewest (586). They've also been extremely lucky, doing something past Cougar teams tended to struggled with; winning one run games. Chicago is 23-13 in one run games and 11-5 in those that take longer then 9 innings. The staff has been extremely reliable, featuring potentially two 20 game winners in potential triple crown winner Pete Papenfus (20-7, 2.84, 225) and Harry Parker (19-10, 3.19, 117) with the duo of John Lawson (.317, 29, 129) and Leo Mitchell (.345, 11, 81) keeping Bill Barrett from a triple crown. With six games left, we need three wins to break our single season high and five to reach the century mark. We will also set the single season attendance mark, and become the first team in FABL history to draw 2 million fans. With a current attendance figure of 1,998,957 and two games remaining, we are guaranteed to draw at least 10,706 in each through season tickets alone, and have been averaging 26,653 on the season. With the Fed not wrapped up, we don't know who we will play; Boston or Pittsburgh most likely, but we can take it easy this week as we will have the better record regardless. Expect to see some of the youth, as Donnie Jones (0-1, 3.86, 4) already made his debut and his brother Johnnie will debut in the finale against the Stars. Papenfus will be shutdown with a sore elbow, ensuring he's healthy for potentially three starts in the playoffs. Looking at the games themselves, we really struggled against the Sailors, who beat us both times by a single run. We had no trouble with the Foresters and looked really good against the Stars, and it was fitting that our clinch came against them. I do feel for Stars fans, as at 85-63, they would be just a game out of the Fed, tied with Boston, and would have had an exciting last week. I'm expecting to give my youngsters more time, with Donnie Jones getting another start and Johnnie set to make his debut against the Stars to start the week. Donnie got a loss in Philly, but went 7 with 10 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Sure, a win would have been nice, but it could have been much worse. Papenfus and Parker both won this week, making their last starts of the regular season. Peter the Heater left his start in the 6th, but he didn't allow a hit with 4 walks and 4 strikeouts. Harl Haines came in to make his big league debut, and was just as good, if not better, then Papenfus, allowing just a single walk with a strikeout for the combined no-hitter that clinched us the playoffs. Parker through another complete game, 8 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts to close out his breakout third season. His 24 complete games were most in the CA, three more then Papenfus who finished second. Dick Lyons put together a nice start, 8 innings with 7 hits, 2 runs, a walk, and a strikeout. Lonardo and Fritz both struggled, both with just a single strikeout, while Jim allowed 10 hits and 6 runs (still no walks!) with Milt allowing 9 and 6 with 6 walks. Leo Mitchell has started to catch fire again, and the 28-year-old was excellent for us. He went 10-for-23 with 2 doubles, a triple, homer, 7 runs, and 4 RBIs with just 2 strikeouts. Mitchell is now hitting an impressive .345/.391/.461 (131 OPS+) on the season, and is just four points below Bill Barrett in the race for a batting title. If he can keep his OPS+ above 130 in the last week, it will be the fifth consecutive season for Mitchell where he was between 30 and 39 percent better then the league average hitter. He also has just 94 strikeouts, and may managed to sit below the century mark for the first time since '38. Cliff Moss had himself another nice week, 9-for-20 with 3 doubles, 2 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. Freddie Jones looked good when he played, 5-for-12 with a homer and 4 runs scored and driven in. His platoon partner Ossie Grogan was 2-for-8, but with a double, triple, walk, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs. Dick Walker went 8-for-20 with 2 doubles, a triple, 3 RBIs, 6 runs, and 2 steals. Orlin Yates had a much better week, 4-for-16 with a homer and 3 RBIs. Carlos Montes is healthy again, but since this week isn't nearly as important as next, Yates will still get half the starts in center. John Lawson had a rare down week, just 3-for-21, but he did manage 5 walks and 4 RBIs with his new personal best 29th home run. "Jack the Ripper" won't win the Whitney, but his .317/.368/.524 (140 OPS+) line is best on the team, and his 129 RBIs lead all of baseball. Unless he goes 0-for-35 (and even then he'd probably be fine), he'll complete his 14th season with an OPS+ of 130 or better. Looking Ahead I decided to bring up two more players for the final week, giving Cal Knight and Ed Wilkinson a shot to take some innings out of the pen. Wilkinson was Rule-5 Eligible, and I decided to give the former 4th Rounder a 40-man spot a bit early. He ranks 29th in our system and 315th overall, and split his season between Mobile and Milwaukee. He was 9-3 with a 2.88 ERA (151 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP, 27 walks, and 34 strikeouts in 12 starts with the Commodores before his midseason promotion. His 11 starts in AAA weren't nearly as good, going 4-5 with a still above average 3.32 ERA (112 ERA+) and 1.24 WHIP with 13 walks and 47 strikeouts. It was nice seeing improvements in the BB/9 and K/9, even if he was allowing more runs and baserunners, but the 24-year-old should be ready to pitch in the big leagues. He has a deep five pitch mix, with a low 90s fastball his go to. None of the pitches really stand out, but his command has improved and he's able to eat a lot of innings. Knight has already debuted, appearing in each season since 1938, and he has one option left for next season. Formerly a starter in the minors, I used the former 2nd Rounder almost strictly out of the pen this year. The lefty looked okay , with a 3.32 ERA (112 ERA+) and 1.34 WHIP. He struck out 25 and walked 16, and will be in competition for a pen spot next year. He's thrown 46.1 big league innings and is 2-2 with a 2.53 ERA (165 ERA+) and 1.77 WHIP with 38 walks and 22 strikeouts. 41 of his innings came in the 1939 season, where he was a big part of our pen. We have one more in New York with the Stars, and we'll end up finishing the season against them with two games in Chicago. We start with Vern Hubbard (18-7, 2.78, 77), who I want to absolutely wreck havoc upon. He's standing in the way of a Papenfus triple crown, has his ERA is 6 points better. I'm hoping we can pile on a ton of runs, and I will be using a full strength lineup to do it. I don't care if we win, although it would be nice for Johnnie, but I want to inflate Hubbard's ERA as much as possible. The Stars did win the pennant just two seasons ago in a surprise season, but I do feel for Stars fans as the team was talented enough for a pennant. Of course, they have Bill Barrett (.349, 33, 115), so pennants may become a frequent thing for them, and they'll have an extremely talented corner outfield duo with former Cougar prospect Chubby Hall. Hall and Jones will always be connected, as they were traded for each other, but neither joined from the other team. We sent Chubby to Washington for Johnnie at the 1939 deadline, and then next June the Stars sent a pair of prospects to Washington for him. Johnnie left New York in the '38 offseason, in a big trade with the Eagles, so despite being traded for each other, there was no Chicago-New York trade to make it possible. Hall debuted last season, and while he hasn't hit great this year (7-for-38), he ranks as the 13th best prospect in baseball, right below Johnnie at 12. They will get to face each other to start the week, and potentially to end the week, as Hall is slotted in as the everyday left fielder while Johnnie will pitch against New York on both the 22nd and 28th. Between the Stars series we'll face the third place Kings, who at 83-65 would also be in a tight pennant race if they were a Fed team. Jim Lightbody has had a huge breakout for the Kings, hitting an outstanding .336/.429/.523 (149 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 7 triples, 3 homers, 11 steals, and 49 RBIs in 304 plate appearances. He just turned 25, and could end up being a fixture in a Kings lineup that almost always has a Lightbody. With 22-year-old Rats McGonigle (.296, 8, 47, 8) and 25-year-old Joe Herman (.323, 7, 75, 7), they have a lot of talented pieces to build around, and they have a nice core of vets with Al Wheeler (.290, 23, 75) and Harry Barrell (.298, 3, 63, 13). With a better season from their top two pitchers Art White (13-16, 3.90, 66) and Bob Cummings (14-8, 4.11, 100), I expect the Kings to be back in the pennant race next year, quickly rebounding from a pair of 80+ loss seasons after their threepeat atop the CA. Brooklyn has a trio of top 20 prospects, with outfielders John Moss (7th) and Orie Martinez (19th) potential trade pieces as they have a very strong outfield in Brooklyn. Brooklyn surprised some with their play this year, but I don't think anyone will be underestimating the Kings next year. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe Last edited by ayaghmour2; 08-22-2023 at 04:56 PM.

03-31-2022, 12:12 PM	#762
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Week 24: September 22nd-September 28th Weekly Record: 2-4 Seasonal Record: 97-57 (1st, 8 GA) Stars of the Week Rich Langton : 13 AB, 4 H, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .308 AVG, 1.130 OPS Leo Mitchell : 13 AB, 5 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .385 AVG, .742 OPS Jim Lonardo : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K, 2.00 ERA Schedule 9-22: Loss at Stars (4-5) 9-23: Win at Kings (5-4) 9-24: Win at Kings (10-2) 9-25: Loss at Kings (1-7) 9-27: Loss vs Stars (6-1) 9-28: Loss vs Stars (15-6) Recap The results of the last week weren't ideal, but it didn't matter, we were already a playoff team! We tied our single season record for wins with 97, which I set in 1932 and matched in 1933. We scored the most runs (792) in the league and allowed the fewest (625), and set the FABL record for attendance with 2,058,766 fans in attendance. We'll take on the Boston Minutemen (90-64), who like us, led most of the season. Of course, they did lose first for a little, but the Minutemen survived a really tough pennant race and they will play in the postseason for the first time since 1915. The Minutemen scored the most runs in the Fed (776), and we'll face a lineup that contains Skipper's brother Buddy (.336, 62, 11). They have a very deep lineup, with reliable bats such as Art Spencer (.342, 6, 52), Chick Donnelly (.293, 15, 92), Bill Burkett (.265, 15, 91, 30), Lew McClendon (.281, 10, 80), and Pete Day (.296, 2, 70, 17). They also picked up Bill Moore (.303, 11, 83) and Joe Watson (.320, 6, 54) at the deadline while they have starter quality sluggers on the bench in Bob Donoghue (.242, 5, 23) and Mack Sutton (.240, 15, 64) and the lineup is loaded with quality players. The pitching is just as deep, as they got big seasons for young hurlers Ray Dalpman (19-6, 3.43, 121) and Duke Hendricks (11-11, 3.57, 115) paired with veteran ace Ed Wood (20-7, 3.11, 68) and deadline pickups Walt Wells (17-10, 3.24, 75) and Dean Astle (10-16, 4.13, 69), who we are very familiar with. They have depth in their pen too with John Edwards (9-13, 2, 5.12, 81), Dick Higgins (2-2, 2, 5.33, 41), and Art Myers (9-9, 4.35, 24), and I'm expecting a very tough and hard fought series. I like our chances against anyone, and I think we'll pull away in six, but regardless of the outcome, it will be considered a very successful season. Jim Lonardo finished his week off strong, picking up one of our two wins with yet another complete game. He allowed 10 hits, 2 runs, and a walk with two strikeouts to finish an inconsistent year. Milt Fritz had a rough final start, charged with 9 hits, 6 runs, and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts in 8. Same for Dick Lyons, who went just 6 with 9 hits, 7 runs (4 earned), and a walk. The Jones brothers made a pair of appearances, with Johnnie making two starts and Donnie making a start and relief outing. Johnnie was roughed up and lost both games, allowing 10 hits and 13 runs (12 earned) with 22 walks and 7 strikeouts in 13.1 innings pitched. Donnie didn't fair much better, but he did win his start. He went all nine against the Kings, allowing 8 hits, 4 runs, and 5 walks with 3 strikeouts. He then relieved his brother in a 15-6 loss to the Stars, going just two and a third with 8 hits, 7 runs, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Obviously, these aren't great numbers for our talented youngsters, but I kept my expectations low as their future is more then exciting. I used a lot of different players this week, so I shouldn't have been too surprised most people didn't do too well. Rich Langton had a nice final week of the season, going 4-for-13 with a triple, homer, steal, and 8 RBIs. Johnny McDowell went 3-for-6 with a walk. Leo Mitchell went 5-for-13 with 3 runs and 2 RBIs, but fell just two points short of Bill Barrett (.348) for the batting title. Tip Harrison was 1-for-4 with a double, walk, and run. Skipper had a tough week, 4-for-17 to drop his OPS+ below 100 to 99. John Lawson went just 5-for-20 with 3 walks and 3 runs. Attached Images __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

04-01-2022, 07:58 PM	#763
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	1941 World Championship Series: Game 1-2 October 1st, 1941: Chicago Cougars at Boston Minutemen Since the host of the World Championship series alternates each season, odd years means the Fed champion does the hosting. This is bad luck for us, as in my three championships, they've all been in odd years, meaning we get less home games then our counterparts. So Peter the Heater (20-7, 2.84, 225) would make his postseason debut against midseason pickup Walt Wells (17-10, 3.24, 75) in Boston at a packed Cunningham field. Neither team scored in the first two innings, but things got fun in the third. Ray Ford (.310, 7, 54) led off the inning with a double, and then Wells walked both John Lawson (.315, 29, 129) and Cliff Moss (.285, 10, 59) to load the bases. Freddie Jones (.269, 4, 36) worked Wells to a 3-2 count, but the former Whitney Winner struck out for the first out of the inning. That brought up the almost batting champion Leo Mitchell (.346, 11, 83, 6), who silenced the crowd with a 378 foot grand slam, giving us a nice 4-0 lead which should be enough for our young ace. Wells got the next two batters out, but the damage was done. Papenfus kept putting zeros on the board, and Wells recovered a bit, and the game remained 4-0 entering the 6th. Wells was still on the mound, but things started to unravel a bit for him. An Art Spencer (.342, 6, 52) error gave us an early base runner, but Wells got another ground out to bring up Papenfus. Papenfus roped one to left with an exit velo of 105, but as he slid into second and hurt his back. Lucky for us, it was just minor, but it is concerning seeing Peter the Heater leave another start. He left with just a hit, walk, and 6 strikeouts through five, and his start in game four was pushed back. We did get another run right after, as Carlos Montes (.253, 6, 41, 22) tripled home the pinch runner. Ray Ford flew out for the second out, bringing up John Lawson with a runner in scoring position. He hit a Wells fastball nearly 110 miles per hour, giving us an 8-0 lead and ending Wells' night. Art Myers (9-9, 4.35, 24) came in, and got Moss to ground out to stop the bleeding. Dick Lyons (10-12, 3.91, 28) relieved Papenfus, and with the large lead, Clyde Meyer was hoping he could finish the last four innings. Lyons put up zeros in the 6th and 7th, and then we added some insurance in the 8th. He flew up to start the inning, but Carlos Montes singled and then Ray Ford drove him in with our third homer of the game. Lawson singled and Moss doubled, before Myers lost Jones to load the bases. That brought Leo Mitchell up once again with the bases juiced, but no grand slam this time. Instead, he grounded it to second, but beat out the return throw from the shortstop, allowing Lawson to score. Myers got a ground out to end the inning, but our lead was now up to 11-0. Lyons put up two more zeros, scattering 4 hits in an excellent finish. We couldn't have asked for a much better start to the series, besides the lack of back stiffness that may end Papenfus' postseason. Chicago 11, Boston 0 October 2nd, 1941: Chicago Cougars (1) at Boston Minutemen (0) We looked to keep the momentum up, as with a win here, we'd head back to Chicago with a crucial 2-0 lead. We'd have to get runs off breakout rookie Ray Dalpman (19-6, 3.43, 121), who some across the league have been comparing to our vet and game three starter Jim Lonardo (16-8, 4.05, 60). Dalpman will face our complete game machine Harry Parker (19-10, 3.19, 117), in a duel of two of the best young pitchers. Just like game one, we got an early four run inning, but this time we struck in the second. Moss and Ford singled to start the inning, before Dalpman quickly set Leo Mitchell down on strikes. That brought up Harry Mead (.260, 6, 56), who singled to center. Moss rounded third and slid in just before Jack Flint's (.245, 1, 53) tag. Skipper (.298, 4, 70) hit into a fielder's choice, which did get the much slower Mead off the basepaths. With Harry Parker, a career .116/.157/.136 (-19 OPS+) at bat, Dalpman may have underestimated him, as he lobbed a pitch down the middle to try to get ahead in the count. Parker laced it between the third basemen and shortstop, scoring Ford to make it 2-0. This brought the lineup back around for Dick Walker (.263, 13, 53, 14), who roped one to center, clearing the bases to give us a comfortable 4-0 lead. Dalpman stopped the bleeding by getting Montes to roll over one, but just like with Papenfus, four runs should be enough for Parker. Dalpman did settle down after that exciting inning, with him and Parker trading zeroes from the 3rd through 6th. The Minutemen made a risk, sending him back out for the 7th. He got Mead to fly out on one pitch, before Skipper sent his first pitch. Parker wasn't swing away this time, bunting him over to second, so we had a runner in scoring position with two outs, but the top of the lineup ready to extend the league. Dick Walker drew a walk, but then Dalpman got Montes to hit one in the dirt again. Unfortunately for the young pitcher, a fellow 24-year-old Lew McClendon (.281, 10, 80) didn't field the hard hit grounder, and with Montes' blazing speed, no play could be made. Minutemen fans could feel the game slipping away from them here, as the error allowed the FABL's RBI leader and reigning CA Whitney Winner John Lawson to bat with the bases loaded. They didn't stay loaded very long, as the 38-year-old hit one 379 feet to right, launching our second grand slam of the series to give us an 8-0 lead. This ended Dalpman's night, with former Cougar farmhand Joe Foote (1-0, 5.29, 10) looking to get the final out. He didn't have success with that, as both Moss and Ford singled to give us first and third for Leo Mitchell. He made it 9-0 with a liner to right center, scoring Moss to extend the inning. Foote did get Mead to fly out and end the inning, but Cunningham stadium was already starting to empty. Parker continued to dominate, keeping Boston in check until the 9th. He allowed a single to Art Spencer to start the inning with McClendon following it up with a double. Parker got pinch hitter Les Rich (.338, 1, 23) to ground out to first. Skipper's brother Buddy (.336, 62, 11) hit what should have been a sac-fly to left, but Mitchell dropped it, allowing Spencer to score. Pinch hitter Bob Donoghue (.242, 5, 23) followed it up with a single to cut our lead to seven, with runners on first and second. Pete Day (.296, 2, 70, 17) flew out, meaning Bill Burkett (.265, 15, 91, 30) would be their last hope. He kept the game alive with a single. The bases were now loaded for Bill Moore (.303, 11, 83), but no one was warming up in the pen. Moore worked the count to 3-2, but eventually Parker got him to fly out to left, with this time, Mitchell securing the ball. Parker finished with just 115 pitches, scattering 10 hits and the 2 runs with 6 strikeouts. Chicago 9, Boston 2 Returning home up 2-0 in the series gives me a lot of hope for my second championship, but considering we were up 2-0 and returning home against the Keystones in 1933, it's far too early to start celebrating. I expect Boston to hit much better in Chicago, as most teams do, and while I have faith in Lonardo and Lyons, the veteran duo is no Papenfus and Parker. We're elite at home, 51-26 (.662), but the Minutemen are better away from Boston (46-31) then at home (44-33). Lonardo was named Pitcher of the Month for September, and I'm hoping he can keep up his hot stretch. He was a perfect 5-0 with a 2.36 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 1 walk, and 12 strikeouts in a near perfect month. It would be wonderful to win the series in front of our home fans, who supported us all season, but I really like our chances to wrap this one up quickly. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

04-02-2022, 06:29 PM	#764
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Minor League Report AAA Milwaukee Blues (Century League): 75-65, 3rd, 8 GB: The top level of our system, the Milwaukee Blues had a decent enough season, but still finished with the worst record in our system, and the only team that didn't finish first or tied for first. I had a lot more depth pieces then usual on the roster who got a decent amount of time, but of course, our top two prospects Donnie and Johnnie Jones spent the entirety of the Blues season there. Donnie was the staff ace, and won the team triple crown with 12 wins, a 3.16 ERA, and 126 strikeouts. Donnie was worth nearly 4 WAR with a 1.28 WHIP and top notch 6.3 K/9. Johnnie wasn't as great, with a sub 100 ERA+ (3.93, 95) and he had more walks (89) then strikeouts (84), but Blues fans will likely get to see the talented duo again next year. Harl Haines (11-9, 3.29, 82) and Ray McNeill (12-5, 3.58, 73) were also reliable arms in the rotation, and they are all 25 or under. The offense was a bit weaker, as we had depth guys like Stu Johnson (.190, 4, 21), Freddie Bennett (.263, 1, 39, 8), Tip Harrison (.237, 4, 40, 7), Orlin Yates (.253, 2, 33, 7), and Bobby Mills (.298, 6, 54) get a lot of starts. Mills was the best of that group, but no one could match our talented young outfielder Fred Vargas. The 23-year-old hit an impressive .312/.450/.439 (148 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 5 homers, and 49 RBIs with a stellar 81-to-34 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Jocko Pollard (.279, 11, 80) and Ossie Grogan (.325, 45, 7) both had strong seasons at the plate and will get a lot of starts in Milwaukee again next year. The Blues are always competitive, and while they didn't have many exciting youngsters on the roster, but Bunny Hufford (.327, 1, 11, 2) was impressive in the final month of the season and Chick Browning (.226, 2, 5) and Bill Graham should spend most of their time next year in Milwaukee. The Blues are always competitive, but they tend to be our worst performing farm system despite not finishing below .500 since 1929. AA Mobile Commodores (Dixie League): 80-60, 1st, 5 GA: It was a great season for the Commodores, who won their first pennant since 1936. The staff was strong, allowing tied for the fewest amount of runs in the Dixie League. 22-year-old Willie Gonzalez Jr. was excellent in his first season in AA, going 11-10 with a 3.58 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.40 WHIP, 70 walks, and 84 strikeouts. John Little (14-6, 3.87, 50) got much better run support and led the team in wins. Fred Thaxton's (3-5, 6.35, 28) nine starts didn't go great, and King Price (7-4, 4.90, 47) could have been better, but they'll both return next season and Thaxton was dominant with the Legislators. The offense was good as well, finishing with the second most runs, led by sluggers Chick Browning (.305, 13, 82) and Sammy Dillon (.313, 12, 53), but Browning will be in Milwaukee next season and I can't see Dillon staying a Commodore the whole time. Solly Skidmore (.417, 1, 13) looked good in September and he'll be a fixture in their lineup next year. Most of their top players will be moving up, but they'll get top young pitchers Danny Goff Jr. and Ira Hawker and some quality bats in Jimmie James, Hod Seagroves, and and Huck Hanes, as the Commodores will look to defend their title. A Lincoln Legislators (Heartland League): 88-52, t-1st, 18 GA: It's not an outright title for the Legislators, who were also tied for first in 1939 after winning the league in '38. The Legislators had the best staff in the league, led by two-way star Danny Goff Jr. Goff went 12-9 with a 3.27 ERA (123 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 66 walks, and 49 strikeouts in nearly 200 innings. He was even better at the plate, slashing .309/.393/.489 (139 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 9 triples, 9 homers, and 68 RBIs. Goff won't return, but Bill Tuttle (14-7, 3.74, 82), who spent his entire season there, will be back, and midseason callups Oliver Allen (6-2, 2.97, 52), Tommy Davis (6-3, 3.32, 27), and Bob Hobbs (4-3, 3.57, 10) all looked up for the challenge. Former ace Tommy Wilcox (7-3, 21, 1.90, 36) anchored the pen, and all the young pitchers loved picking the team leader's brain on pitching strategy. The offense and defense were strong as well, and they got a huge season from Hod Seagroves. The 23-year-old Chicagoan hit an elite .351/.411/.497 (146 OPS+) with 30 doubles, 10 triples, 5 homers, and 55 RBIs with just one walk and 46 strikeouts. Seagroves is one of the most disciplined hitters in the game, striking out just 6 times in the past two seasons. Skidmore (.342, 8, 87) was just as good before his midseason callup, while Harry Carr (.333, 3, 64, 14) and Dan Collins (.306, 1, 18) were very effective in their time in Lincoln. Unfortunately our regional selection Jim Dickinson (.185, 13) was over matched while Huck Hanes (.304, 6, 21) was great in his first pro experience. They'll keep most of the same team next year, which should help them try to take the crown on their own, and they'll get Mel Haynes and Bill Hunt in the fold for next season. B San Jose Cougars (California-Oregon-Washington League): 100-40, 1st, 4 GA): Only one team in our system managed to win 100 games, and while it was the Cougars, just not the ones in Chicago. San Jose completed their fourpeat, and they've now own 5 of the last 6 pennants in the C-O-W League. The 100 wins were the most in Cougar history, with the previous best 99 in 1939. San Jose saw a lot of movement, so it's surprising they did as well as they did, and while no pitcher qualified for ERA rankings, the Cougars allowed the fewest runs in the league. Reliever Pup White (9-6, 13, 3.19, 67) actually led the team in wins, and they got excellent starts from Tommy Davis (8-0, 3.66, 58), Mel Haynes (8-4, 2.58, 44), Ira Hawker (8-4, 2.75, 41), Ron Sexton (7-2, 2.05, 28), and Roscoe Brown (6-1, 2.73, 26). The offense wasn't great, just 4th in runs scored, but with the pitching it didn't matter too much. Don Lee did enough hitting for the rest of the team, as after his promotion from La Crosse, the former 2nd Rounder hit .303/.384/.545 (144 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 7 triples, 13 homers, 10 steals, and 65 RBIs. Bill Hunt (.306, 12, 67, 11) and Adolph Jacobson (.270, 8, 63, 6) flashed some power while the versatile Cy Howard (.284, 5, 50, 19) was much better this year then last. Danny Richardson (.305, 5, 29) was great after his promotion, and San Jose should be a force next season as well. Leo Davis will help the offense and Duke Bybee the staff, so I expect the Cougars will continue their run of dominance. C La Crosse Lions (Heartland League): 99-41, 1st, 11 GA: The Lions almost reached the century mark, and after falling just two games short last year, they won their third title in four years. They led the league in nearly every category, including runs scored and allowed. Harry Stewart's (5-2, 1.96, 15) dominance was well documented, and like San Jose, La Crosse had a ton of different players get innings and at bats, and 18 different pitchers started games for the Lions. Duke Bybee was the lone qualifier, and the top 20 prospect made 23 superb starts. Bybee went 14-6 with a 2.74 ERA (152 ERA+), 1.08 WHIP, 46 walks, and 107 strikeouts. He won't be back, but the Lions still have Leo Hayden (8-1, 2.62, 30), Joe Swank (5-0, 2.53, 5), Pinch Lenhart (), George Oddo (2-4, 3.97, 19), and Russ Cushing (4-1, 1, 3.14, 19) should all be back in the rotation, at least to start the year. Mel Haynes (8-3, 3.72, 52) and Roscoe Brown (6-3, 3.57, 45) were great pre-promotion as well, and nearly all the Lions hurlers looked good. The offense was strong, and Lions fans got to see are top two picks from the recent draft. Otto Christian was elite, slashing a robust .285/.373/.576 (146 OPS+) with 13 homers and 44 RBIs in just 45 games. Eddie Howard (.308, 12) didn't look as good, a bit below average at the plate, but the 18-year-old held his own in his first taste of affiliated ball. Leo Davis spent his whole season in La Crosse, and since he'll be in San Jose next year, they'll miss his .330/.404/.489 (133 OPS+) line with 23 doubles, 13 triples, 10 homers, 35 steals, and 93 RBIs. Joe Dackett (.368, 4, 32, 3) managed a 152 OPS+ and Harry Harris (.299, 6, 76, 5), Steve Rosko (.290, 7, 50, 10), Lew Lord (.288, 6, 47) all put together really strong seasons. They are scheduled to start the season in La Crosse, but I'd be surprised if they all stayed down in the lowest level. The midseason draft always leads to a lot of players moving up and down, but I still expect them to win another pennant next year. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

04-02-2022, 11:53 PM	#765
StLee Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NC Posts: 4,831	All this time that I do not get to spend on OOTP, and I am missing that the Cougars are in contention to win the Series! I had meant to stop by at some point and comment on how disappointed I was that Rabbit Forest was no longer a part of your franchise. His alternate future self is in the Sole Survivor Series, though! I am rooting hard that the Cougars will win two more to win it all. Hit and pitch well! __________________ Fan of LSU sports (especially baseball and football), New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Pelicans, and Atlanta Braves (Dale Murphy for the HOF!). Current dynasties: Fallout 4's Commonwealth Baseball Organization Completed dynasty: Fallout: New Vegas' Mojave Baseball League Uniforms: My custom uniforms

04-03-2022, 05:39 PM	#767
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	1941 No Trade Team This is our first season since I started this annual post where we actually won the division, so the no-trade team can't really be any better then our actual team, as we may be declared champions tomorrow. Catchers Fred Barrell (BRK): 56 OPS+, HR, 47 RBI, 0.4 WAR Harry Mead (CHC): 92 OPS+, 6 HR, 56 RBI, 2.0 WAR Infielders Ed Reyes (CHI): 74 OPS+, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 0.2 WAR Billy Hunter (CHC): 125 OPS+, HR, 16 RBI, 1.5 WAR Tommy Wilson (STL): 103 OPS+, 9 HR, 75 RBI, 5.1 WAR Ducky Jordan (CHI): 77 OPS+, 3 HR, 22 RBI, SB, 0.2 WAR Hal Wood (TOR): 56 OPS+, 30 RBI, -0.7 WAR Skipper Schneider (CHC): 99 OPS+, 4 HR, 70 RBI, 4.8 WAR John Lawson (CHC): 138 OPS+, 29 HR, 129 RBI, 6.2 WAR Outfielders Leo Mitchell (CHC): 130 OPS+, 11 HR, 83 RBI, 6 SB, 3.7 WAR Reginald Westfall (TOR): 107 OPS+, 6 HR, 65 RBI, 1.2 WAR Dave Haight (CIN): 112 OPS+, RBI, 0.2 WAR Rich Langton (CHC): 125 OPS+, 3 HR, 47 RBI, 3 SB, 2.1 WAR Chink Stickels (NYS): 100 OPS+, 9 HR, 68 RBI, 11 SB, 3.6 WAR Carlos Montes (CHC): 87 OPS+, 6 HR, 41 RBI, 22 SB, 4.0 WAR Pitchers Dick Lyons (CHC): 10-12, 101 ERA+, 28 K, 2.5 WAR Dean Astle (CLE/BOS): 10-16, 97 ERA+, 69 K, 3.5 WAR Tom Barrell (PIT): 11-9, SV, 96 ERA+, 71 K, 1.4 WAR Mike Murphy (DET): 10-9, 117 ERA+, 40 K, 3.8 WAR Pete Papenfus (CHC): 20-7, 139 ERA+, 225 K, 7.6 WAR Harry Parker (CHC): 19-10, 123 ERA+, 117 K, 3.2 WAR Phil English (TOR): 4-1, 75 ERA+, 8 K, 0.2 WAR Pug Bryan (CHC): 1-2, 73 ERA+, 9 K, 0.1 WAR Rusty Watts (CHC): N/A Totals Hitters: 34.5 Pitchers: 22.3 Total: 56.8 Approximate Wins: 104 The no trade Cougars were worth a little more then the actual ones, but I think I can chalk that up to likely more PAs and innings from guys that don't all play on the same team. This team would be just as good as ours, and with a lot of talented young players in the system, we should be able to keep up with the no trade team. We do have a lot of talented draftees on other teams elsewhere, but it's still hard to complain about the roster we've put together. Offseason Moves for 1942 Replace Rusty Watts with Frank Gordon Replace Dick Lyons with Danny Hern Replace Ed Reyes with Arnie Scurlock Replace Dave Haight with John Johnson Notable Prospects/Picks Traded October 1940: Traded Lou Eaker and Ralph Kendall to the Chiefs for Cliff Moss __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

04-04-2022, 09:44 AM	#768
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	1941 World Championship Series: Games 3-4 I really have nothing to say, and there's no way to make these games more exciting then they were. We lost both games at home 1-0, and the series is now all tied up. We got just 7 total hits in the pair of games, but at least Lonardo and Lyons pitched well! Lonardo allowed just 5 hits, a run, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts in a complete game loss, while Lyons allowed just 4 hits, a run, and walk with 2 strikeouts in his complete game loss. Papenfus is still hurt for a day, so he'll pitch game five, while Harry Parker gets game four. I would have loved it the other way, as Parker has homer problems on occasion and it's easy to hit homers in Chicago, but we'll have our work cut out for us now. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

04-05-2022, 12:09 PM	#769
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	1941 World Championship Series: Game 5-6 October 6th, 1941: Boston Minutemen (2) vs Chicago Cougars (2): After an absolute pitiful pair of games in Chicago, were the two best offenses in baseball scored just two total runs, this was a must win game for us. If it wasn't for Papenfus' injury, he'd be pitching this game, which would allow him to pitch out of the pen if needed in a crucial game seven. Instead, game two starter Harry Parker (19-10, 3.19, 117) would face Walt Wells (17-10, 3.24, 75), who we hit hard in Boston. Like most of the series, pitching had the upper hand, and through five innings the teams combined for just six hits and one runner in scoring position. We finally got things going in the 6th, where Carlos Montes (.253, 6, 41, 22) singled to start the inning and Ray Ford (.310, 7, 54) drew a five pitch walk. John Lawson (.315, 29, 129) got a 2-0 count, but instead of unloading on a pitch down the middle, he rolled one over to second. The sure handed Buddy Schneider (.336, 62, 11) couldn't field it cleanly, and after ineptness offensively on both sides, we had the bases loaded and needed to make the Minutemen pay. Manager Clyde Meyer, who has made many questionable decisions (pinch hitting for Skipper Schneider in the 2nd in game 4 stands out like a sore thumb), decided to go for another, and took out the power of Cliff Moss (.285, 10, 59) in favor of the speed of Johnny McDowell (.379, 3). He went down on strikes, and you could tell Cougar fans in attendance thought their scoring drought would continue. Luckily captain Freddie Jones (.269, 4, 36) had other ideas, attacking the first pitch and ripping it past short. Montes scored easily and then Ford beat Bill Burkett's (.265, 15, 91, 30) throw home, giving us a 2-0 lead. Unfortunately we'd get no more, as Wells bounced back and got Leo Mitchell (.346, 11, 83, 6) to ground into an inning ending double play. In the 7th Harry Mead (.260, 6, 56) grounded out to start the inning before a Skipper Schneider (.298, 4, 70) double. This brought up the pitcher Parker, who failed to bunt him over, but eventually got Skipper to third with a ground out. This turned the lineup over, and just like our first two runs, a first pitch ambush gave us two more. Carlos Montes sent one 358 feet to left, giving us a 4-0 lead that should be more then safe with Parker on the mound. It was, as Parker allowed just one more hit (to his opposition Wells) in the final two innings, finishing off a 4-hit shutout. He walked 4 and struck out 5, and needed just 114 pitches in the shutout as we at least left Chicago with the series lead reclaimed. Just one more win... Boston 0, Chicago 4 October 8th, 1941: Chicago Cougars (3) vs Boston Minutemen (2): With two games left, we needed just one win, and who better to get that win then fireballer and likely Allen Award Winner Pete Papenfus (20-7, 2.84, 225)? He'd get to take on Ray Dalpman (19-6, 3.43, 121), who we hit hard in game two. This game saw a lot more scoring, and the Minutemen got off to a quick 1-0 lead thanks to a trio of singles from Art Spencer (.342, 6, 52), Lew McClendon (.281, 10, 80), and Jack Flint (.245, 1, 53). They kept that lead until the 5th, where we had a nice two out rally. Dick Walker (.263, 13, 53, 14) singled Skipper over to third before Dalpman walked Montes to load the bases. Again, we pounced on a first pitch, with John Lawson promptly unloading the bases with a double to give the Cougars a nice 3-1 lead. Dalpman walked Moss on four pitches, but he got Freddie to ground out and end the inning. Papenfus seemed to lose his control in the bottom half, walking both Pete Day (.296, 2, 70, 17) and Bill Burkett before a Bill Moore (.303, 11, 83) single and Les Rich (.338, 1, 23) pinch hit double tied the game at three. The first out was Art Spencer flying out, but the bases were loaded with the third walk of the inning. Jack Flint then drove home two with a single, and after a risky double steal, Meyer called for the intentional walk of Buddy Schneider to load the bases. That proved costly, as the bases were quickly unloaded with a Day double, as the Minutemen batted around and Boston now had a huge 8-3 lead. That ended Papenfus' night quickly, with Ben Curtin (5-2, 2.13, 18) called on to get the final out. Bill Burkett singled, but Mitchell through Day out at home, thankfully keeping the game where it was. We didn't go down quietly, and the Cougars tried to get something going in the seventh. Orlin Yates (.224, 1, 6), who came into play center when we brought in Curtin, started the inning with a walk, and then Dalpman walked Walker too. No walk for Ford, who singled home Yates, cutting the lead to four. Walker and Ford both advanced on a wild pitch with John Lawson up, but Dalpman got the reigning Whitney Winner to ground out, and prevent a run from scoring. Cliff Moss then attacked a first pitch, but hit a slow roller between first and second, and while he beat it out, Walker didn't make an attempt to score. Still, the bases were loaded for captain Freddie Jones with just one out, and he hit one deep to right. Day was under it, Walker was ready to tag, and with a wild throw from Day, he scored easily as Ford and Moss both moved up 90 feet. If Walker scored on the previous play, Ford would have scored here, but we were now down three. Mitchell struck out to end the inning, but we did manage to chip away at the lead. Joe Brown (9-2, 8, 2.94, 27) replaced Curtin for the 7th, and despite a walk and hit by pitch, he kept the Minutemen off the board. For the top of the 8th, John Edwards (9-13, 2, 5.12, 81) replaced the rookie Dalpman, and got a quick ground out to start the inning. He then walked Skipper and Yates, and they moved up 90 feet on a Walker ground out to bring up the pitcher's spot. Fred Vargas (.412, 3, 13) was called on to pinch hit, and he singled both home to bring us within one! John Lawson had a chance to tie it, but he grounded out to second to end the inning. Dick Lyons (10-12, 3.91, 28) came in for the 8th, and got Day, Burkett, and Moore to fly out, keeping us within one for the 9th. Edwards was still out for Boston, and after Moss flew out, Freddie Jones beat out a grounder to the pitcher. Mitchell struck out, again, and we were down to our final out. Mead swung at the first pitch, grounding it to second, but another Buddy Schneider error kept the game going. His brother Skipper then attacked Edwards' first pitch, lining it to right. Jones scored from third, and then Dom Pappas gave the waive to our catcher, who beat Day's throw with a slide, giving us the 9-8 lead! Bobby Montefusco (3-4, 3, 4.22, 8) then relived Edwards, striking out Yates on three pitches to end the inning. Now up in the bottom of the 9th, Lyons needed just three outs to win the Cougars their first title since 1933. He got Joe Watson (.320, 6, 54) to ground out, but former Cougar draftee Charlie Reed (.290, 3, 1) got things going with a double. Lyons battled back to strike out Mack Sutton, so Jack Flint was the last chance for Boston. He lined one to left center, Yates played it and saw Reed rounding third, and made a throw to the plate. Reed evaded the tag, Flint moved to second, and the game was back to even. Buddy then reached on a Jones error, giving runners on the corners for pinch hitter Bill Van Ness (.302, 3, 21). Lyons threw three straight balls, but battled back to make it full, before a pop up ended the inning, but not the game. The 10th saw Dick Higgins (2-2, 2, 5.33, 41), who got two quick flyouts before John Lawson singled to extend the inning. Moss attacked his first pitch, looking to break the tie with one big swing, but he just missed it and flew out to right to end the inning. Pug Bryan (1-2, 5.40, 9) pitched the 10th, although I would have much rather thing Milt Fritz (8-8, 4.01, 25) or Eddie Quinn (6-3, 4.91, 17). Instead, Pug ran into issues right away, with another Pete Day double to start the inning. He got to third on Burkett's infield hit, and things were not looking good. Deadline pickup Bill Moore was up with runners on the corners and no outs, and instead of ending the game with a triple play, he singled home Day as the Minutemen walked off winners. So close... But yet, so far... Oh well, we'll get a game seven! Jim Lonardo, I have faith... Chicago 9, Boston 10 (10 innings) __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

04-06-2022, 12:13 PM	#770
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	1941 World Championship Series: Game 7 October 9th, 1941: Chicago Cougars (3) vs Boston Minutemen (3): It all comes down to this, game 7! Two top veteran arms in Jim Lonardo (16-8, 4.05, 60) and Ed Wood (20-7, 3.11, 68) would duel in a rematch of game three, where we couldn't score and they got just one run. I expected more of the same this game, and that's how it started. The first third of the game saw zeros, with the first real action in the fourth. Lew McClendon (.281, 10, 80) drew a one out walk, and then scored on a Jack Flint (.245, 1, 53) double to give Boston the early 1-0 lead. Buddy (.336, 62, 11) moved him over to third with a sac-fly, bringing up the opposing pitcher Ed Wood. He got the best of Lonardo, and singled him home to give Boston a 2-0 lead. Pete Day (.296, 2, 70, 17) singled him over to third, but Lonardo got Bill Burkett (.265, 15, 91, 30) to ground out to end the inning. Neither team scored in the 5th, but Carlos Montes (.253, 6, 41, 22) started the 6th off well. He doubled and later scored on a two out single from Cliff Moss (.285, 10, 59). Freddie Jones (.269, 4, 36) followed it up with a single, bringing up Leo Mitchell (.346, 11, 83). He brought the count to 3-0, but he hit a hard grounder to second that Buddy fielded well, ending the inning. Lonardo settled in, and pitched admirably, keeping the score 2-1 through 8. He allowed 9 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts, but Ed Wood was better. Through 8 he had just 6 hits, a run, 3 walks, and a strikeout, and would come back for the ninth. He'd have to face Mitchell, Harry Mead (.260, 6, 56), and Skipper Schneider (.298, 4, 70). Mitchell grounded out and then Mead flew out, making Skipper the final out of the game. He went down 0-2, but kept the game alive with a single. This brought up pinch hitter Fred Vargas (.412, 3, 13), who hit one out to right center. Pete Day was there, made the catch, and ended our series. Sigh Outscored them 34-16... Outhit them 57-49... Lost all four one run games... This was the team that went 24-14 in one run games during the season... But we just could not get it done... Chicago 1, Boston 2 Well, back to the drawing board for us, and while generally the team with the best record in baseball would be a favorite for the next season, but the War makes things murkier. Sure, all 16 teams will get hit with the not-so-fun draft, but only one team is all but guaranteed to lose a 23-year-old fireballer who just happens to be the best pitcher in baseball. Of course, if Papenfus is all we lose, we could be fine, but any team losing their ace is going to have a hard time rebounding. We do have great depth and a nice mix of young and veteran talent, so if next year was a normal one, I'd have no worries about returning, but we have a lot of uncertainty ahead of us. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

04-07-2022, 06:14 PM	#772
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Top Prospects! Just like we did in the season, we finished second in the prospect rankings. Of course, this one is actually a good things, as only Montreal (237) has more points then our 173. There are a few teams close to us, with fellow CA rivals Cleveland (168) and New York (158) pretty close. Our farm system continues to look strong, with 4 top 20 prospects, 8 top 100 prospects, 22 top 250 prospects, and 43 top 500 prospects. Our top two prospects debuted last season, and there is a chance either of them will graduate and the #100 prospect Bunny Hufford could get some time in Chicago next year. If we draft well, we may be able to maintain a top 3 system. As always, some of these guys may be traded, but I can't picture any trades materializing before the new year. 1. RHP Donnie Jones (11th Overall): 1st/10th 2. LHP Johnnie Jones (12th Overall): 2nd/13th 3. LHP Duke Bybee (15th Overall): 6th/54th 4. C Solly Skidmore (19th Overall):3rd/26th 5. C Eddie Howard (26th Overall): 20th Overall Pick 6. 3B Otto Christian (46th Overall): 13th Overall Pick 7. RHP Mel Haynes (70th Overall): 4th/49th 8. CF Bunny Hufford (100th Overall): 7th/68th 9. RHP/CF Danny Goff Jr. (123rd Overall): 5th/53rd 10. SS Jim Dickinson (126th Overall): 45th Overall Pick 11. CF Don Lee (130th Overall): 10th/159th 12. 2B Ossie Grogan (132nd Overall): Acquired from Philadelphia 13. LHP Leo Hayden (133rd Overall): 29th Overall 14. RHP Ira Hawker (136th Overall): 14th/221st 15. RHP Jack Huston (154th Overall): 77th Overall Pick 16. CF Harry Carr (184th Overall): 15th/229th 17. RHP Harry Stewart (196th Overall): 11th/173rd 18. RHP George Oddo (209th Overall): 125th Overall 19. LHP Harl Haines (210th Overall): 239th Overall 20. LF Bill Rich (211th Overall): 16th/230th 21. 2B Jimmie James (218th Overall): 9th/126th 22. RHP Roscoe Brown (245th Overall): 20th/268th 23. RHP Ron Sexton (285th Overall): 30th/363rd 24. RF Harry Harris (286th Overall): 18th/254th 25. RHP Joe Crosby (291st Overall): 23rd/312th 26. 3B Jocko Pollard (299th Overall): Not ranked 27. RF Dan Collins (302nd Overall): 109th Overall Pick 28. 1B Hod Seagroves (316th Overall): 12th/182nd 29. SS Joe Dackett (321st Overall): 93rd Overall Pick 30. LHP Ed Wilkinson (324th Overall): 24th/319th __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe Last edited by ayaghmour2; 04-09-2022 at 11:31 PM.

04-07-2022, 11:02 PM	#773
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Top Prospects: 1-5 RHP Donnie Jones (11th Overall) Acquired: Via Trade with Toronto (1939) Drafted: 1st Round, 6th Overall (1938) Alma Mater: Minneapolis Auggies It wasn't a great debut for Donnie Jones, going 7 against the Sailors with 10 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. He pitched two more games, and finished 1-1 with a 6.87 ERA (57 ERA+), 1.85 WHIP, 8 walks, and 10 strikeouts through 18.1 innings pitched. He's just 21, so it's not the most concerning, but I was hoping for more from the young righty. "Mole Killer" was excellent in Milwaukee, finishing 12-8 with a 3.16 ERA (118 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, 57 walks, and 126 strikeouts in 179.2 effective innings. With Pete Papenfus expected to enlist in the Navy, so there will be a rotation spot that Donnie will get a chance to snag. He's got ace potential, featuring a wipeout curve, double play inducing sinker, powerful mid 90s fastball, and decent change is uses rather sparingly. Everyone raves about his elite stuff, but he gets great movement on his pitches and he's lowered his BB/9 in each minor league season. Jones is already a leader in the clubhouse, a huge boost to his value, and he has a higher ceiling then all pitchers in our system other then Peter the Heater. He's pretty well developed, but could probably benefit from a little more time in the minors, so the chances of him making the Opening Day rotation is on the lower side. LHP Johnnie Jones (12th Overall) Acquired: Via Trade with Washington (1939) Drafted: 1st Round, 4th Overall (1936) Alma Mater: St. Paul Golden Bears Ranked right behind his brother in the prospect rankings, Johnnie Jones also debuted this season, and also struggled out of the gate. His issues were much more pronounced, walking 22 batters in just 13.1 innings. "The Patron Saint of Groundballs" is dealing with control issues just like fellow 1936 draftee "Peter the Heater," walking more hitters (89) then he struck out (84) in 185.2 innings for the Blues. Johnnie was a bit below average, 10-13 with a 3.93 ERA (95 ERA+) and 1.50 WHIP, and despite being two years older then Donnie, he's far less developed. The control issues are holding him back, but if he can get his command up, he should be a talented front of the rotation arm. He's got an elite 93-95 sinker which helped him earn his nickname, and his overall movement is even better then Donnie's. It's hard to get good contact off him, but since his pitches do have a lot of life, it does lead to some wildness. Still, his stuff is top notch, and his slider, change, and forkball are all big league quality pitches. He's almost guaranteed to start next season in Milwaukee, but next year he'll be 24 and we really hope he can take the next step forward. LHP Duke Bybee (15th Overall) Draft: 4th Round, 49th Overall (1940) Alma Mater: Brooklyn Friends Quakers Duke Bybee's stock was through the roof this year, as the talented lefty jumped almost 40 spots to 15th in the league. The now 19-year-old southpaw is one of the most talented young pitchers in the game, and his work ethic is second to none. The skinny 6'4'' righty has an advanced six pitch arsenal, and he's throwing 2 miles faster this year then last. He has a really tough change up, the best of his pitches, and he get's tons of movement on all his offerings. He doesn't over power, his fastball and cutter sit comfortably in the low 90s, but he mixes his pitches well and uses his smarts and location to befuddle even the best of hitters. His control is reliable, and after spending his season in La Crosse, I'm hoping he can start '42 in San Jose. Bybee made 23 starts, and went 14-6 with a 2.74 ERA (152 ERA+), 1.08 WHIP, 46 walks, and 107 strikeouts in an impressive 5 WAR season. We have plenty of high quality pitchers, leading to a lot of competition for the hard working New Yorker. Tom Weinstock thinks he has higher upside then the older Jones, but he'll have to outpitch both of them to join Parker and Papenfus is what could be the rotation of the 40s and 50s. C Solly Skidmore (30th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 12th Overall (1938) Alma Mater: Monroe Hurricanes It was a big season for the former 1st Rounder Solly Skidmore, who had one of the best offensive seasons in our system. 107 of his 132 games came in Lincoln, where he hit an impressive .342/.398/.470 (135 OPS+) with 23 doubles, 4 triples, 8 homers, and 87 RBIs. He's very disciplined, walking 41 times compared to just 9 strikeouts, and Skidmore is the highest ranked catching prospect in the big leagues, and he's working his way up our minor league ladder. He'll return to Mobile, where his small sample displayed an elite .417/.462/.538 (154 OPS+) triple slash. He's a tall, long, and lean athlete who's bat will carry his glove. He's not a bad defender by any means, but compared to current starter Harry Mead, his glove is much worse while his bat is much better. He could hit well over .300 with 10 to 15 homers, and he'll be able to maintain a high on-base percentage at the big league level. I think he has a year or two to go before he can join us in Chicago, but since he's just 21, him and Mead can co-exist together, with them splitting at bats until Mead ages out. C Eddie Howard (26th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1941) Alma Mater: St. Joseph Chiefs Not only do we have the #1 ranked catching prospect, but we also have the #2 catcher in Eddie Howard. Some thought the 18-year-old would be a 1st Rounder this January, but I was able to get Howard with the 20th Pick. A very young and experienced prospect, I expect Howard to take a while before developing into a potential top-5 catcher. But with Mead cemented in Chicago and Solly a few levels ahead, there is no need to rush him, and we can give him some innings on the mound as well. He threw just 4 innings this year, but as I continue to move guys up from La Crosse, he could get a few starts or work as a stopper. Tom thinks he could be a back-end starter, with great command and an excellent change up, He doesn't throw too hard, his sinker is tops out at 85, but he has a lot of time to add speed, which can only make his change better. I think he's going to be better as a position player, with an above average contact tool and reliable strike zone judgement. He's looked good defensively, and should be a benefit for his pitching staff. It may be hard for him and Solly to occupy the same roster, but if a need comes up, one of them would be a very enticing trade piece for a potential seller. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

04-08-2022, 07:09 PM	#774
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Top Prospects: 6-10 A little award news before the prospects, as expected Peter the Heater and William the Conqueror were unanimous winners for the Allen and Whitney Awards. John Lawson (122) did get most of the second place voice, and many Cougars received votes in both award races, including Leo Mitchell (70), Skipper Schneider (32), and Harry Parker (36). 3B Otto Christian (46th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1941) Alma Mater: Walla Walla Warriors Taken 13th Overall in the most recent draft, Otto Christian showcased his elite power in his professional debut. He missed some time with injury, but the 18-year-old slugger hit 13 homers in 45 games, most on the Lions and third in the UMVA. The two batters ahead of him (17 and 16) each had over 125 games, so it's not hard to imagine the "Walla Walla Walloper" have topped the league had he played a full season. He turned 19 this offseason, and hit an impressive .285/.373/.576 (146 OPS+) with 7 doubles and 44 RBIs. I may start him up in San Jose next season, but I know that their is no way he'll be a Lion after the midseason draft. Hopefully the heir apparent to future hall of famer John Lawson, Christian has the potential to break home run records, and there isn't a single active player with more raw home run power then him. He has a dangerous swing, with quick hands has a good understanding of the strike zone, and while he won't be a .300 hitter, he should be able to hit around .275.He hits the ball harder and farther then most, but he's got a lot of work to do at perfecting his swing. If he can stay out of his own head, he could end up the all time home run leader, but topping Max Morris' 711 is no easy feat. RHP Mel Haynes (70th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 12th Overall (1940) Alma Mater: Princeton Panthers He dropped a bit in the prospect rankings, but I think that was more because of a top heavy draft class this year that saw many guys rank high in the prospect list. The now 20-year-old had a really good season, taking half of his 24 starts in La Crosse and the others in San Jose. He was actually better with the Cougars, and made huge strides on the mound as the season went on. He went 8-4 with a 2.58 ERA (165 ERA+), 1.18 WHIP, 28 walks, and 44 strikeouts in just shy of 100 innings. Haynes showed the ability to consistently throw over 100 pitches, with all 12 starts in San Jose and all but one in La Crosse (knocked around in 3.2 innings) where he surpassed the century mark. The 6'2'' righty has been overshadowed a bit by Duke Bybee, who was taken three rounds later then him, but he's much further along and still has tremendous upside. He has a solid four pitch mix with a plus change and reliable slider, sinker, and even forkball. He sits in the 89-91 range, generates a lot of groundballs, and does a good job keeping runners off base. He'll be tested next season, set to start in Lincoln, but if he continues to excel, he may be in Mobile this time next year. CF Bunny Hufford (100th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 57th Overall (1949) Alma Mater: Chesapeake State Clippers Just barely sneaking in to the top 100, Bunny Hufford inched closer to making his big league debut, finishing the season up in Milwaukee, and he'll be in Chicago this spring to attempt to steal a big league job. Hufford showed no signs of being over matched, hitting .327/.400/.459 (138 OPS+) in a 112 PA sample. This was after hitting .344/.413/.470 (127 OPS+) in Mobile, and in the 112 games between the two levels, he recorded 26 doubles, 6 triples, 5 homers, 14 steals, and 61 RBIs. Hufford is experienced in all three outfield spots, but primarily lined up in center this year. He was actually better in Milwaukee then Mobile, and with Orlin Yates now out of options, Hufford is one of the few potential outfield options for the Blues that is trustworthy in center. I think he'll be best in right, but he has good range and a pretty strong arm. He's better at the plate, with well above average contact potential and excellent pitch recognition skills. Add in his speed and he has everything you want in a leadoff hitter, and we may see him starting games in Chicago if we lose some of our outfield. Hufford is an extremely hard worker as well, good at getting the most out of his teammates, and he's always competing and pushing himself to be better. We have a lot of talented outfielders in our system, but his versatility and work ethic could end up giving him the edge in future roster competitions. RHP/CF Danny Goff Jr. (123rd Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 23rd Overall (1939) Alma Mater: Hempstead Hawks Danny took a bit of a tumble in the prospect rankings, dropping out of the top 100 for the first time in his minor league career. I'm just happy he's healthy, as after shoulder inflammation cost him 3 months last year, he was able to pitch 24 games and appear in 118 games overall. It was his best season on the mound, going 12-9 with a 3.27 ERA (123 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 66 walks, and 49 strikeouts in just shy of 200 innings pitched. He was even better at the plate, hitting .309/.393/.489 (139 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 9 triples, 9 homers, and 68 RBIs. He got time at first (23) and out in left (17), center (26), and right (32), and will move on up to Mobile next season. I like him more as a pitcher, but he's much further along at the plate. He has an elite hit tool and will draw an above average amount of walks, and he can be counted on defensively at all four positions. Still, he's got a lot of upside on the mound, even when you don't consider the fact that his dad and brother are big league pitchers. Jr. touches 90 with his fastball, and his curve and change are reliable off speed pitches. He can nibble around the corners a bit too much, leading to a few too many walks, but a good catcher like Harry Mead could help steal him some strikes. He'll continue as a two way guy, and he may end up getting a late season callup before I have to protect him from the Rule-5 Draft. SS Jim Dickinson (126th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 45th Overall (1941) Alma Mater: Calumet Catholic Missionaries One of the more surprisingly high ranked prospects in our system, Jim Dickinson managed to round out our top 10, ranked 126th in the league. He was our regional pick this year, and due to a lack of quality middle infield options ahead of him, he started his pro career in Lincoln. He didn't hit very well, just .185/.267/.243 (39 OPS+), but the Springfield native was excellent defensively at short, and actually had a similar batting line to some of his infield teammates in Johnny Bunce and Connie Wright, who had big league experience before this season. I expect "Speck" will have a much better season at the plate next year, but his value lies in the glove. He should be a well average shortstop, and he has can be a top defensive third basemen or second basemen. He did strike out a bit too much this season, but his eye should improve as he matures. He won't hit for much power, but he does have nice bat speed and he'll eventually work the count better. With Skipper locking down short, he doesn't have an obvious spot in Chicago, but I love having quality shortstop prospects and he could be a relatively quick riser if he gets back on track next season. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

04-08-2022, 10:20 PM	#775
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Top Prospects: 11-15 CF Don Lee (159th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 28th Overall (1940) Alma Mater: Lincoln High School Lions Few hitters in our system hit better then Don Lee, who raked at two levels in his first full minor league season. The former second rounder started the season in La Crosse, and hit an astronomical .360/.483/.596 (182 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 6 triples, 7 homers, 10 steals, and 34 RBIs in 205 trips to the plate. His discipline is advanced for a teen, walking 41 times with just 13 strikeouts. Lee showed no signs of slowing down up in San Jose, hitting an impressive .303/.384/.545 (145 OPS+) in 372 PAs for the Cougars. He added 25 more doubles, 7 triples, 13 homers, and 10 steals with 65 RBIs and again, more walks (42) then strikeouts (18). His defense was much better in La Crosse (6.0, 1.063) then San Jose (-7.7, .948), but I do have faith in his defense out in center. He can flat out fly on the bases and in the outfield, he took huge strides this season. He has plenty of bat speed and is hitting the ball hard and far, with a lot more power then I expected. He's a frustrating hitter who can work the count deep without striking out, and he's always looking to take the extra base. Add on his outstanding work ethic, and the sky truly is the limit for the Jersey native. I continue to say it, but he has the most upside of any of our outfielders, and while it may take him a while to reach the show, Lee could eventually supplant Carlos Montes as the every day center fielder, or at least move to left when Leo Mitchell's range makes him best suited for first base. I'm really excited for Lee, who may get to start next season in Lincoln, but with all the outfielders in our system, he may be stuck in San Jose until his offense is just too good to keep down. 2B Ossie Grogan (132nd Overall) Acquired: Via Trade with Philadelphia (1941) Drafted: 15th Round, 232nd Overall (1934) Alma Mater: Wilson Tigers Technically a Rule-5 Pick of ours, when the Sailors put veteran first basemen Dick Walker on the block, I looked to trade for Ossie Grogan's rights as well. I sent them a pair of corner outfielders in Jim McCarthy and Vince Conforti, and sent Ossie down to Milwaukee to get some time at short. It wasn't pretty, and he eventually got more time at second, but considering how good he is at the keystone, I thought short would be manageable. Of course, he is passable there, and with his bat, he could play short in a pinch. The switch hitting 25-year-old hit a strong .325/.379/.431 (125 OPS+) in Milwaukee with 18 doubles, 10 triples, 7 steals, and 45 RBIs. He's got elite plate discipline, owning a 33-to-4 walk-to-strikeout ratio in exactly 400 trips to the plate. He got some time in Chicago, most of it in September after Ollie Page got hurt, but he was just 5-for-26. He did walk and score four times, with 5 RBIs, 2 doubles, and a triple, but the offensive output he showed in AAA didn't quite translate to big league success. Being able to hit from both sides of the plate makes him valuable, and he's got a great contact tool which allows him to consistently put the ball in play. Not much power from him, but he's got good speed and can be a late inning replacement as a pinch runner or defensive replacement. Second base is a crowded position, but with the injury issues of Billy Hunter, Freddie Jones, and Ollie Page, Grogan may get a shot to stick in Chicago. LHP Leo Hayden (133rd Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 29th Overall (1941) Alma Mater: Benicia Panthers Our second round selection this Spring, Leo Hayden as everything you look for in a big league pitcher. The lefty is an imposing 6'6'' with great stuff and potentially above average command. The 19-year-old sits in the upper 80s, but with his height, I'd be surprised if he doesn't add any velocity as he rises through our system. As most teens do, he started his Cougar career in La Crosse, but he didn't not pitch like a teen. He was 8-1 in 11 starts with a 2.62 ERA (195 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 27 walks, and 30 strikeouts. He tossed three shutouts and had another two scoreless start through 8, throwing 101 or more pitches in each of his starts. He even reached 136 in a 5-hit shutout, and has shown no issues going as deep as he needs. I love this kids stuff, as he has a sweeping curve and a really good change, and his slider and fastball are solid pitches as well. When he's on he can dominate, and if he can find the strike zone a little more often, he could develop into one of the most dependable arms we have. I haven't decided where he'll start next season, but since we have a lot of young arms I'd like to give starts to, it might be worth pushing the towering lefty up to San Jose, and see if he can work his way up to Lincoln before the season ends. RHP Ira Hawker (136th Overall) Acquired: Via Minor League Free Agency (1938) Drafted: 26th Round, 252nd Overall (1937) Alma Mater: Glasgow Greyhounds Ira Hawker has put us in a tough spot, as the 22-year-old is Rule-5 eligible and has yet to pitch in AA. The outfield convert has been slightly below average in most of his innings, but he was really good with the Legislators this year. Hawker went 8-4 with a 2.75 ERA (154 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP, 27 walks, and 41 strikeouts, before a promotion up to Lincoln. He had some struggles, but managed to go 5-3 with a 4.22 EAR (95 ERA+), 1.57 WHIP, 40 walks, and 27 strikeouts. He got 12 starts at both stops, but he has only 50 minor league starts in his pro career. It's tough to use up a 40-man roster spot on someone like that, but with his upside and the military draft looming, it's not too crazy to think that a team would be willing to commit a big league roster spot to him. He's a talented groundballer with a nice four pitch mix, headlined by a nice curve and 88-90 mile per hour fastball. Neither pitch is dominant, but he mixes his offerings well, and they're all big league quality pitches. He's able to get a lot of movement on his pitches, keeping the ball in the park while generating a lot of easy outs. I only have two open 40-man spots at this time, but I imagine Hawker will eventually grab one once the dust settles. RHP Jack Huston (154th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 77th Overall (1941) Alma Mater: Bay State Bulldogs Taken in the 5th Round this Summer out of Bay State, Jack Huston seemed to be underdeveloped for a college arm, but despite him not having three big league quality pitches (something I look for in college arms), I thought it would be worth the risk. They early returns look good, as he's already ranked inside the top 200, and he's looked solid so far. He made 4 starts in La Crosse and 7 in San Jose, going 7-3 with 32 walks and 46 strikeouts across 83.2 innings pitched. As expected, he was much better with the Lions, but his 4.62 ERA (92 ERA+) and 1.56 WHIP in San Jose were respectable. A three pitch pitcher, Huston is a sidearmer who sits in the mid-to-high 80s, with a slider that is much better then his fastball and curve. As with most sidearmers, he's deceptive and gets a ton of movement, and when he locates the slider well, he's able to rack up the strikeouts. Command issues may by limit his effectiveness a bit, and depending on how quickly he masters it, he could be a back end or just spot starter. The real test will be the development of his secondary pitches, but with a slider as good as his, he could fallback as a late inning reliever who you can count on for multiple innings. I'd like to see him finish the season in Lincoln, but I can't see him advancing up our system very quickly. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

04-09-2022, 11:38 PM	#776
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Top Prospects: 16-20 LF Harry Carr (184th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 156th Overall (1938) Alma Mater: Buchtel Griffins It was another strong offensive season for Harry Carr, who spent most of his season with the Lincoln Legislators. A former 10th Round selection, Carr made 416 trips to the plate with Lincoln, hitting an impressive .333/.388/.526 (147 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 22 triples, 3 homers, 14 steals, and 64 RBIs. This was the best offensive output in any of his minor league stops, and it happened at the highest one he's visited so far. Carr's speed is evident, and this year he tripled more then I even thought was possible, 34 total including 12 in just 32 games with San Jose. He's a solid outfielder as well, strong enough range to stick in center, but his future might be in a corner instead. He's not a flashy defender, but he's consistently solid and can always fall back as a fourth outfielder. His best asset is his speed, and could end up as an elite base stealer. Carr has a decent bat too, with improving pitch recognition and the hit tool to consistently hit above .300 in the big leagues. Tom thinks he's a bunch player at best, but I think that's a little too low for Carr. He projects to be a similar player to Tony Mullis, just with more speed, and he looks to be a reliable big league outfielder. Carr has the tools needed to start in the majors, but his lack of power could mean he'll need to stick in center and not move off to a corner. RHP Harry Stewart (196th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 69th Overall (1940) Alma Mater: Bell Academy Big Red One of the most dominant pitchers in Class C this season, Harry Stewart allowed just a single run in his first two starts, followed by three consecutive shutouts. He finished the year with 9 starts in La Crosse, going 5-2 with an outstanding 1.96 ERA (212 ERA+) with a 1.23 WHIP, 26 walks, and 15 strikeouts. He made more starts in San Jose, 14 with the Cougars, and he was an average 7-4 with a 4.00 ERA (106 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, 30 walks, and 36 strikeouts. Pretty solid numbers for a 19-year-old, and the tall and slender righty will return to San Jose for next season. He's pitched better then his age, and he'll have a chance to continue to work his way up the organizational ladder. I thought he'd move up, not down, the prospect rankings, but there is a lot to like with him. He has a reliable low-to-mid 90s fastball, but other three pitches have a lot of work before they can be consistent offerings. His change and splitter may end up surpassing his fastball, but I'm not too keen on his curve. Plus, he does run into control issues now, which will continue to hurt him if he can't polish up his stuff. If he can develop a swing and miss pitch, likely his change, he could pitch his way into a big league rotation. As with all young arms, you have to be patient with them, and I think Stewart will be worth the wait. RHP George Oddo (209th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 125th Overall (1941) Alma Mater: Pawtucket Raiders One of the more shocking top prospects, George Oddo was our second of two 8th Rounders this season, and he just missed cracking the league's top 200. When I selected him, I did mention he was risky, but with a lot of upside, and I think I was on the right track. He built off a dominant senior year, where he went 10-0 with a 0.95 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 15 walks, and 153 strikeouts in a near perfect season. Oddo got 8 starts in La Crosse, and while the 18-year-old was 2-4, he held his own on the mound. He worked to a 3.97 ERA (105 ERA+) and 1.50 WHIP with 25 walks and 19 strikeouts in 56.2 innings pitched. He managed to top 100 pitches in all but one of his starts, and while errors did hurt him, he did do a good job working around base runners. He has a decent mid 80s fastball with a money curve, and if his change comes around, he'll have a really nice three pitch arsenal. He has good raw stuff and could end up striking out a lot of batters, but the walks are in the way right now. The best part about Oddo is his size, as he's a towering 6'4'' who I can imagine will end up throwing much harder before he turns 21. He added 3 miles on his fastball this season, and while I don't expect that every year, he's already on the right track. If we can get him consistently in the 90s, his change will be an extremely valuable weapon, but he's a raw prospect with a lot of room for improvement. LHP Harl Haines (210th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 149th Overall (1935) Alma Mater: Niagara Falls Big Red It was some sort of a dream debut for the most interesting southpaw in our system, who had to relieve Peter the Heater in the midst of a no-hitter. Haines was almost as lockdown as our young ace, allowing just a walk and strikeout in 3.2 hitless innings, to complete the combined no hitter. It was his only big league appearance this year, but it certainly won't be the last. The fireballing submariner put together 24 strong starts in Milwaukee before his debut, going 11-9 with a 3.29 ERA (113 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP, 37 walks, and 82 strikeouts in his second season with the Blues. He'll likely get a third season next year, but Haines will be in big league camp, and depending on how many pitchers we lose, he could earn one of our rotation spots. I do think the now 24-year-old would be a remarkable reliever, but I think his future is in the rotation, and I want to give him everyday starts. Right now he is in competition for the 5 spot with Joe Brown, Eddie Quinn, and the Jones brothers, but we could be losing some more arms and Milt Fritz and Dick Lyons are coming off up and down seasons. Even if he doesn't earn a rotation spot out of the Spring, one could open up during the season due to injury of poor performance, and Haines has been the picture of reliability and durability. His command and control are elite, his stuff is reliable, and it's very easy for him to keep the ball on the ground. Haines isn't someone you want leading your rotation, but if you need good innings and a guy who can take the mound every five days, Harl is your guy. CF Bill Rich (211th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 44th Overall (1940) Alma Mater: Grange College Mustangs It wasn't the best first full season for Bill Rich, who started in Lincoln, got demoted, but eventually returned to Lincoln to finish his season. Rich wasn't as great as I thought he could be after hitting .353/.393/.667 (171 OPS+) in San Jose last year, but at 22 I was hoping he'd do better in Lincoln. He made one shy of 300 PAs in Lincoln, hitting just .246/.301/.373 (82 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 5 triples, 7 homers, and 48 RBIs. He'll get another go of things in Lincoln next season, and I'm hoping he can have a season much closer to he did last year. The Quincy native has a nice bat, with potentially above average contact and power, and he's managed to record double digit homers in each of his seasons. I'm not sure that power will last as he moves up the system. Rich isn't the best defender either, putting up below average numbers in all three outfield positions. A natural center fielder, he's really struggled up the middle, and I'm expecting him to end up in left. He did look better there in 18 games with the Legislators, but with more experience, he should be above average out there. For now, I think Rich's ceiling is a bench role, but if his power comes around, he may be able to steal a lineup spot somewhere. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe

04-10-2022, 10:38 AM	#777
StLee Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NC Posts: 4,831	I am still rooting hard for Donnie Jones to become the ace (or at least best 2nd pitcher) you need. Solly Skidmore looks like he could be a boon of a prospect, too, especially if he can catch and hit. I know in the era you're in, that is expected. In my OOTP games, though, it seems as though hitting catchers are few and far between. I almost always look for at least some BABIP potential over mega arm when scouting them. Don Lee is another name that I like, and I hope he develops into the leadoff that he looks that he can be. __________________ Fan of LSU sports (especially baseball and football), New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Pelicans, and Atlanta Braves (Dale Murphy for the HOF!). Current dynasties: Fallout 4's Commonwealth Baseball Organization Completed dynasty: Fallout: New Vegas' Mojave Baseball League Uniforms: My custom uniforms

04-10-2022, 04:05 PM	#779
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Top Prospects: 21-25 2B Jimmie James (218th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 53rd Overall (1940) Alma Mater: Lane State Emeralds It was a tough season for 23-year-old Jimmie James, who after a strong season in San Jose his draft year, he took steps back in Lincoln. James hit just .246/.322/.343 (81 OPS+) with 21 doubles, 7 triples, 4 homers, and 63 RBIs. He did draw a decent amount of walks with 53, but the switch hitter could not replicate his .359/.439/.526 (150 OPS+) line with San Jose. A natural shortstop, James spent nearly all season at second this year, and he was tremendous in the field. He had a 14.5 zone rating and 1.108 efficiency, and while I think his future is at short, he could be a top defender at the keystone. He does project to be reliable hitter, with above average strike zone recognition and a decent hit tool, but he doesn't have much power and his strikeouts were way up this year. We don't have a lot of middle infield depth in the upper levels of the system, so James may be pushed up to Mobile for next season. His versatility will work well for him, he can field all infield positions and all outfield positions, so it won't be hard to find a spot for him in the lineup. I could see him as an Ollie Page type guy, good enough to start, but better used as a utility man getting 3 or 4 starts a week to keep the rest of the lineup fresh. RHP Roscoe Brown (245th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 113th Overall (1940) Alma Mater: Covington Cougars It was a really good season for the young Roscoe Brown, who made 11 starts in both La Crosse and San Jose. With the Lions, he was 6-3 with a 3.57 ERA (116 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 23 walks, and 45 strikeouts, and with a lot of new young arms filling the La Crosse roster, Brown was pushed up to San Jose to accommodate some of our other arms. Believe it or not, he was much better in San Jose, going 6-1 with a 2.73 ERA (156 ERA+), 1.10 WHIP, 10 walks, and 26 strikeouts. Sure, his K/9 dropped a bit, but his ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 all declined, and he showed no signs of being overmatched. The 19-year-old is an exciting young arm, featuring a sharp curve and a decent 91-93 mph fastball and sinker. He's not a groundballer despite the sinker, but he allowed just two homers in La Crosse and none with San Jose. Brown isn't overpowering, more of a finesse pitcher, but he has electric stuff and will still get a lot of strikeouts. Right now he projects more long reliever then reliable starter, but with a few velocity bumps and a bit more movement on his pitches, he could work his way into a big league rotation. RHP Ron Sexton (363rd Overall) Acquired: Via Trade with Pittsburgh (1939) Drafted: 5th Round, 79th Overall (1938) Alma Mater: Canarsie Chiefs Last July Ron Sexton tore his UCL, so his season didn't start until June. The 21-year-old got a few starts in La Crosse to shake off the rust, but made 11 of his 16 starts with the Cougars. He was dominant at both levels, and in San Jose he was dominant. Sexton went 7-2 with a 2.05 ERA (207 ERA+), 1.16 WHIP, 24 walks, and 28 strikeouts through 79 innings pitched. He managed 100 or more pitches in each start this season, so it doesn't look like the elbow injury will have many lasting effects. He's throwing a bit harder now, sitting in the 91-93 range with his fastball, and while none of his four pitches are plus pitches, his slider has looked good and he generates his share of swings and misses. Command was an issue in the past, but he managed to bring his BB/9 below 3 this season, a marked improvement from last year. OSA thinks he can be a backend starter, I think that might be a stretch, but if he continues to dominate like he did this year, he could force his way into an FABL rotation. RF Harry Harris (286th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 108th Overall (1939) Alma Mater: DuPont Manual Crimsons It was another season in La Crosse for the soon-to-be 21-year-old Harry Harris, and it was the best season of his two and a half with the Lions. The former 7th Rounder hit a nice .299/.430/.417 (115 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 6 triples, 6 homers, 5 steals, and 76 RBIs in a personal high 568 trips to the plate. Harris spent time in three positions, with most of his games in either left or right as well as double digits at third. His defense hasn't been great, and while I think he could be a decent third basemen with more time, right or left may be better for him. His bat is better then his glove, as Harris has a smooth swing and quick hands with well above average plate discipline. The switch hitter will draw a ton of walks, more then twice (87) has many times as he struck out (42). Harris doesn't have the power you look for in a corner bat, and that may end up holding him back a little, but he could be a nice bench bat that always has the platoon advantage and can stay in at a few positions. RHP Joe Crosby (291st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 53rd Overall (1937) Alma Mater: St. Peter's Spartans Now 22, Boney Joe Crosby started his season in Lincoln, and he was firing on all cylinders. In 86.2 innings with the Legislators, he was 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA (203 ERA+), 1.05 WHIP, 23 walks, and 43 strikeouts. This earned him a promotion to Mobile, and in the exact same amount of innings, he was a slightly below average 5-4 with a 4.57 ERA (95 ERA+), 1.57 WHIP, 40 walks, and 39 strikeouts. His walks jumped on the promotion, and more advanced hitters had far less issues with his stuff. Crosby is throwing a bit harder this year then last, sitting in the 90-92 range with a reliable fastball, and his curve and slider are big league quality pitches as well. The curve will be his best offering, and when he's on, he's unhittable, but he's inconsistent and his lack of command can sometimes lead to a lot of hard hit balls. At one time Crosby was one of our top young pitching prospects, but he hasn't made many improvements over the past few seasons, and now that he his Rule-5 eligible, he's likely to remain unprotected. The best thing for us would be he gets drafted and improves while enlisted, but unless he makes a few more steps forward, he won't be much more then just a filler arm. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe Last edited by ayaghmour2; 04-12-2022 at 10:58 AM.

04-12-2022, 11:40 AM	#780
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,992	Top Prospects: 26-30 3B Jocko Pollard (299th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 95th Overall (1935) Alma Mater: Grafton Indians One of the most dangerous sluggers in our system, Jocko Pollard had a bit of a down year in his first taste of AAA, but hit well enough to secure a 40-man roster spot and September callup. He was 0-for-2 and appeared in 3 games, so he's still looking for his first big league hit, and will get a chance to earn a roster spot this Spring. It was his worst offensive season since his first, but he hit a bit above average .279/.333/.423 (109 OPS+) with 29 doubles, 3 triples, 11 homers, and 80 RBIs. He has yet to match his 1938 (25) and 1939 (21) homer totals in the past two seasons, but I'm hoping the Rhode Island can unlock some more of that power. Tom Weinstock is a big fan, thinking Pollard can force his way into the lineup due to his above average contact and eye. He likes his smooth swing and quick hands, as well as his pitch recognition, but he doesn't talk too much about his power anymore. Pollard does hit the ball in the air a lot, which will help the ball leave the yard in Chicago, but with John Lawson at first now and Otto Christian there in the future, Pollard's big league career might be bridging the gap between the two sluggers. RF Dan Collins (302nd Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 109th Overall (1941) Alma Mater: Wisconsin State Brewers One of our 7th Round selections in the most recent draft, the hardworking corner outfielder actually hit better in the farm then he did in college. Dan Collins hit an impressive .402/.462/.610 (182 OPS+) in San Jose before slashing ..306/.405/.444 (131 OPS+) up in Lincoln. The 22-year-old from Wisconsin combined for 19 doubles, 7 homers, and 58 RBIs in 269 trips to the plate. His bat is nice, but his makeup is what really brought me to him. He takes full advantage of practice time, looking to improve the fundamental side of the game, and he takes charge on the field and in the dugout. He's already a leader in the clubhouse, and he pushes his teammates to be better. He has a nice eye and hit tool, but if the power comes along, he can be a really dangerous hitter. He'll never be a good defender, but he more then held his own out in right this season, and if he continues to work out, he could be respectable in either corner. Collins is one of those low ceiling, high floor type players, and while he likely won't be an everyday player, his makeup could be enough to secure him a big league roster spot. 1B Hod Seagroves (321st Overall) Acquired: Via Trade with Detroit (1937) Drafted: 3rd Round, 45th Overall (1936) Alma Mater: Lake Park Panthers In terms of prospect ranks, Hod Seagroves had a rough year, as he's almost completely fallen out of our top 30. He just turned 24 and is Rule-5 Eligible, but I don't think the Chicagoan is going to get a 40 spot year. He did hit really well in Lincoln, however, slashing .351/.411/.497 (146 OPS+) with 30 doubles, 10 triples, 5 homers, and 55 RBIs. 1941 was the best season in his minor league career, and if he stays in our system, he'll be up in Mobile for next season, with the chance to move up the ladder if he continues to hit like this. We don't really have any first basemen ahead of him, and since he's also a solid second basemen, he will control his own destiny. The most impressive part about Seagroves is his discipline, with 46 walks and just 1 strikeout in 501 PAs. He struck out just 5 times last season, and his 89 strikeouts since 1937 is less then Leo Mitchell's 97 this year in Chicago. I had high hopes for Hod, thinking he could be an everyday player for us, but I think he's just a bench piece now who will give good at bats late in the game, and can fill in for an injured starter for a few weeks at a time. Anything more then that, and you might want to upgrade. SS Joe Dackett (321st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 93rd Overall (1941) Alma Mater: Darnell State Legislators I could have, and probably should have, started Joe Dackett in San Jose, but we needed a shortstop in La Crosse, and he was easily our best option. Taken in the 6th Round of our most recent draft, Dackett had an offensive explosion for the Lions, hitting a robust .368/.467/.495 (152 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, and 32 RBIs. He also managed to draw 40 walks in 55 games, and owned an impressive 13.9 zone rating and 1.143 efficiency at short. These are all extremely impressive measures, and even if he was about 75% as good as he was, I'd still have moved him up to San Jose for the start of next season. An extremely athletic shortstop, Dackett has superb range and great hands, and he's one of those guys who makes the tough plays look easy. His future is definitely at short, and while there were a few concerns about his bat when I drafted him, they haven't materialized yet. He hits the ball hard and up the middle, but he'll hit a lot more groundballs then line drives. More importantly, he's a tough out, swinging at mostly strikes while taking more then his share of walks. His glove makes him the perfect utility player, and with his age he could move up our system rather quick. I'm still not sold on the bat, but he made huge strides forward with the Lions, and it'll be interesting how he adapts to tougher pitching next year. LHP Ed Wilkinson (319th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 55th Overall (1938) Alma Mater: CC Los Angeles Coyotes When the season started, Ed Wilkinson probably did not expect to make his big league debut. He was just average in 9 outings with the Commodores last year, and he was set to return to Mobile to begin, and likely finish, his aged 24 season. Instead, Wilkinson dominated, going 9-3 with a 2.88 ERA (151 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP, 27 walks, and 34 strikeouts in 12 starts before a promotion to Milwaukee. Of course, it's very hard to maintain that level of performance, but the former 4th Rounder was effective in 11 starts with the Blues. The southpaw was 4-5, but with a 3.32 ERA (112 ERA+), 1.24 WHIP, 13 walks, and 47 strikeouts. Sure, the ERA and WHIP were higher, but unlike most pitchers making the jump from AA to AAA, his BB/9 (2.4 to 1.5) and K/9 (3.0 to 5.6) improved. This was enough for me to give him one final promotion, and he spent the last few weeks up in Chicago with the big league club. He pitched just one inning, but it was perfect 1-2-3 against Brooklyn, and the Ashland, PA native is officially an FABL player. A five pitch pitcher, Wilkinson has a nice low 90s fastball, and he mixes all his pitches well to keep hitters off balance. His stuff is average and he locates his pitches well, allowing him to keep walks low while striking out a few hitters as well. It will be tough for him to work his way into our rotation, but he could be counted on in the pen, and will have a shot to steal a spot this Spring. That being said, he may not get another inning in the big leagues, but he's interesting enough that I don't think he's a guy I could sneak through waivers if I wanted to give his spot to someone else. __________________ Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe