United Leagues of Braeland

[reds1]

January 12, 1954

Here are the standings and leaderboards at the All-Star break:





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[DreamTeams]

Alright. Up half a game on the Unions at the half. Slim margin. Looks like Thirkettle is getting more help. Let's go Trolleys!

[Dark Horse]

Lidgate and the Monarchs are making a move!

The Stars are scoring a lot of runs...

[reds1]

Thought I'd start off with the Western League for a change.

February 1, 1954

Western League: Six Teams Battling It Out for the Playoffs





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Offense: .274/.332/.387 (3rd/6th/6th)
Pitching: 3.65/3.65/3.68 (2nd/2nd/1st)
Defense: .722 (1st)

With no truly dominant team this season in the United Leagues, the playoff races in both Leagues remain wide open. That is especially so in the West, where 6 of the 8 clubs remain in contention for the two playoff spots with two months remaining.

The Fort Richmond Generals remain in top spot but mediocre play over the past two months plus injuries to key players has allowed other clubs to catch up. A below average offense remains the main culprit, however. The Generals have attempted to address that by infusing some young talent into the lineup. Players such as 23-year old SS Benjamin Hollamby (.273/.273/.455 – 42/55) and 22-year old C Scott Sheelah (.264/.375/.386, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 36 BB, 1.7 WAR – 58/64) are now in the everyday lineup, replacing struggling veterans 28-year old SS Derek Reed (.251/.291/.299, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 14 BB, -0.5 WAR) and 32-year old C Louis Wearne (.275/.358/.493, 10 HR, 20 RBI, 18 BB, 1.4 WAR) respectively.

25-year old CF Greg Cusack (.335/.387/.466, 6 HR, 45 RBI, 35 BB, 6 SB, 3.8 WAR) continues to be Fort Richmond’s top position player, while third-year veteran 25-year old Mason Geake (.301/.365/.373, 18-2B, 47 RBI, 36 BB, 2.5 WAR), who is a solid defensive third baseman (75), continues to improve at the plate.

The pitching remains the biggest strength of the team, but long-term injuries to 33-year old LHP Nicholas Grimes (12-4, 2.90 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 144 ERA+) and 34-year old RHP Roberto Taváres (6-7, 3.51 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 119 ERA+) threaten to derail the Generals’ season. At present, the team is relying on 31-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock (14-2, 2.88 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 145 ERA+) and 31-year old RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li (6-9, 3.75 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 111 ERA+) to lead them the rest of the way.

Five Generals were selected to this year’s All-Star Game: SP Nicholas Grimes (4th), SP Nicky Sherlock (6th), CL José Rodríguez (5th), 3B Alberto Esquível (2nd) and CF Greg Cusack (1st).

Noteworthy:

December 29 – CF Greg Cusack went into Balmoral and blistered the Giants, going 5 for 5. His day at the plate included four singles, including an RBI single in the 6th inning as well as an RBI double in the 4th. In all he collected two RBI and scored 2 R, leading the Generals to an 8-4 win.

January 7 – The Sherburn Tigers could get nothing going against SP Kasunori Fujimoto (6-10, 4.96 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 84 ERA+), as the 27-year old right-hander went the distance, blanking the Tigers 1-0. Pitching a 2-hitter, the former 15th overall pick from 1949-50 went 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 107 PI (GS: 85).

Player of the Week Award:

February 1 – 3B Mason Geake (.556, 15 H, 6 RBI)

Key Trade: January 25 with the Balmoral Giants:

To Fort Richmond – 26-year old 2B Benjamin Donahue (51/51)

To Balmoral – 29-year old 2B Juan Ramírez (46/46) and 24-year old SS Morgan Tyreman (44/53)

Knee-jerk reaction: The United Leagues returned to the trade waters as the trade deadline approached. Four trades were consummated, one in the East and three in the West. In this deal, the Generals made a move essentially to deal with the injury to SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida as well as the indifferent play of 2B Derek Reed. Ramírez (.228/.273/.303, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 19 BB, 3 SB, 0.7 WAR) took over second base, but Fort Richmond ultimately felt that something else was needed. Donahue is an outstanding defender with blazing speed, although his bat is merely average at best. Although his best position is 2B (70), he can play shortstop (60) or leftfield (60) effectively as well. 23-year old rookie Benjamin Hollamby (.273/.273/.455, 11 AB – 42/55) takes over at shortstop, at least until Nobuyoshi Yoshida gets back from injury.

With Balmoral, Ramírez moves to shortstop, a glaring weakness for the club. He is very similar to Donahue – an outstanding defender with great speed but an unimpressive bat. But the Giant’s’ real motive may have been to acquire the rookie Tyreman. A former 15th overall pick from 1951-52, the Hespeler native is also an outstanding defender but with a much more promising bat. He has an outstanding eye (55/60) and home run power (50/60). For now, he will serve as backup to Ramírez. But it shouldn’t be long before he becomes an everyday player.



Current Injuries:

November 26 – LHP Frank Lita – torn flexor tendon. Out for: 4 months.
November 26 – RHP Roberto Taváres – shoulder inflammation. Out for: 4 months.
January 6 – SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida – strained abdominal muscle. Out for: 3 weeks.
January 14 – LHP Nicholas Grimes – bone chips (elbow). Out for: 3 months.

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Offense: .278/.339/.428 (2nd/4th/2nd)
Pitching: 3.87/3.79/4.15 (4th/4th/4th)
Defense: .710 (2nd)

The Pulberry Trolleys used a strong start to January to propel them to within a game of first place in the West, but they will need more contributions from their pitching staff and lineup if they hope to finally secure a playoff berth for the first time. After starting the month 13-4, they went 5-6 after that.

Depth, or the lack thereof on the roster, appears to be the biggest concern at present. There is no questioning the talent of 25-year old LF Aidan Thirkettle (.324/.414/.660, 28 HR, 90 RBI, 62 BB, 10 SB, 5.7 WAR – 76/76), who is currently leading or tied for the lead in 13 offensive categories in the West. As well, both 26-year old CF Cooper Tyson (.269/.339/.424, 10 HR, 47 RBI, 41 BB, 8 SB, 3.1 WAR – 76/76) and 29-year old RF Ellis Dibble (.334/.397/.539, 16 HR, 66 RBI, 40 BB, 3.1 WAR – 62/62) are providing able support, but neither are enjoying career years the way Thirkettle is. On the other hand, 26-year old 3B Makani Kahale (.317/.340/.454, 10 HR, 53 RBI, 15 BB, 3.0 WAR – 62/62) has upped his game from last season (which was still good).

But there is a bit of drop-off after them. The Trolleys appear to have a couple of mid-level prospects in AAA that are doing well and could potentially provide some nice depth in the infield. 23-year old 2B Sam Brown (.305/.397/.431, 3.9 WAR – 48/57) and 24-year old 3B Ángelo Ríos (.292/.406/.607, 1.1 WAR – 37/53) appear to handling Triple-A quite well and could provide some offensive options off the bench soon. Brown is exceptionally versatile defensively, being able to play 2B, 3B, SS and RF quite well.

On the pitching side of things, Pulberry is dealing with the regression of 24-year old LHP Ramón Castro (3-6, 5 SV, 4.79 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 87 ERA+ - 42/42), which started last season. He has been moved to the bullpen, but it has not been a success. 26-year old RHP Taylor Folkard (10-7, 5 SV, 3.68 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 114 ERA+ - 50/54) endured a rough January (1-3, 6.34 ERA, 13 BB, 12 K) and has fallen to the fourth spot in the rotation.

But it is not all bad news. 32-year old RHP Alexander Ellacott (11-5, 3.61 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 116 ERA+ – 53/53), 37-year old RHP Ron Cowen (8-10, 3.94 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 106 ERA+ - 50/50) and 26-year old RHP Harley Rodman (11-6, 3.20 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 131 ERA+ - 50/50) are all enjoying solid seasons and currently form the top three of the rotation.

Four Trolleys qualified for the All-Star Game: SP Taylor Folkard (2nd), LF Aidan Thirkettle (2nd), CF Cooper Tyson (4th) and RF Ellis Dibble (3rd).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 21 – LF Aidan Thirkettle (.444, 8 H, 4 HR, 8 RBI)
December 28 – RF Ellis Dibble (.483, 14 H, 3 HR, 14 RBI)
January 4 – RHP Harley Rodman (1 W, 9.0 IP, 2 K, 0.00 ERA)

Noteworthy:

December 13 – The Trolleys defeated the Wellington Athletics 8-5 at Santop Stadium, thanks largely to big game from RF Ellis Dibble who went 2 for 4 with 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R and 1 BB. But the big story of the game was the bench-clearing brawl that erupted in the 3rd inning, resulting in the ejections of Pulberry’s CF Cooper Tyson and Wellington’s RHP Troy Conlin. After walking SS Francis Jones to lead off the inning, Conlin surrendered a two-run home run to Dibble. It was the second home run Conlin gave up on the afternoon, after Jones lead off the game with a solo home run. Next up was Cooper, who took a 1-2 pitch to the ribs. Cooper took objection and charged the mound, resulting in the benches clearing. After the dust settled, Tyson was suspended for 5 games while Conlin got suspended for 6.

December 15 – Two days later and with OF John Oldknow taking the suspended Tyson Cooper’s place in center, the Trolleys took on the Stratford Barons, the top team in the East. After dropping the first game of the 3-game set, 6-2, Pulberry took a 9-4 lead into the 6th inning of game 2, thanks largely to two home runs off the bat of LF Aiden Thirkettle. But the Barons battled back, scoring a run in the top of the 6th and 4 runs in the 7th to tie up the game. In that 7th inning, Stratford’s CF Sherwin Carasig banged out a 3-run triple, ending reliever Joel Coles’ afternoon. But in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, 1B Gerard Koerner singled into shallow leftfield with one out off LHP Marcello Dean, scoring 2B Wade Billyard for the walk-off win.

Key Trade: January 30 with the Queensland Eagles:

To Pulberry – 31-year old RHP Wilfried Schop (39/39) and 20-year old minor league 2B Dwayne Fields (21/46)

To Queensland – 25-year old OF John Oldknow (45/55)

Knee-jerk reaction: Once considered the No. 1 prospect back in 1947, Oldnow never really had a chance to blossom in the Trolley’s outfield, once both LF Aiden Thirkettle and CF Cooper Tyson arrived to join veteran RF Ellis Dibble. Its fair to say that Pulberry currently boasts the best outfield in the United Leagues (Thirkettle is rated 1st overall at left, Cooper rated 3rd at center and Dibble rated 2nd at right). But Oldknow is still a very capable player and my feeling is that the Eagles got the better of this deal.

Oldknow is a defensive marvel anywhere in the outfield and can impact the game with his wheels on the base. He has a solid stroke and will hit for a respectable average. The scouts’ only concern is that he may be injury prone (he is listed as fragile in the game). But it appears Queensland has their lead-off hitter for the present and future.

Schop however is a pitcher whose better days are behind him. His greatest success came with the Wellington Athletics. But after 10 seasons, the Athletics released him and shortly thereafter he suffered a torn UCL while pitching in the Downie Chiefs’ farm system. His stuff and movement are unimpressive, but he still has pinpoint control (75/75). His best pitch is his fastball (40/40). He will serve as Pulberry’s No. 5 starter, as the struggling 24-year old LHP Ramón Castro (3-6, 5 SV, 4.79 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 87 ERA+) has been relegated to the bullpen.

Fields was a 4th-round pick from 1951-52. He has above average contact skills with a smooth swing, quick hands and good pitch recognition. He could hit above .300 one day. Although speedy, he is not considered a base-stealing threat and his defense ratings are weak (second base is best at 30). He is currently considered a future reserve player.



Current Injuries:

January 17 – LHP Alan Fidge – surgery to remove bone chips (elbow). Out for: 3-4 months.
January 20 – LF John Pring – fractured knee. Out for: 5 months.

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Offense: .263/.341/.383 (8th/3rd/7th)
Pitching: 3.61/3.41/4.48 (1st/1st/5th)
Defense: .701 (5th)

Parity in the West has allowed the Wolseley Unions to remain very much a player in this year’s playoff race. But the Unions have played quite well over the past two months, winning 31 games. That’s one fewer than the Pulberry Trolleys. Fittingly, the Unions currently sit a game back of the Trolleys for the wild card.

Pitching, particularly the rotation, is doing the heavy lifting. Wolseley arguably has the best top three starting pitchers this season – that are not currently injured. 28-year old RHP Roberto Garza (10-8, 3.18 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 135 ERA+) 35-year old RHP Bill Blair (15-6, 2.55 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 169 ERA+) and 28-year old Axel MacKay (10-6, 3.04 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 142 ERA+) are all enjoying terrific seasons.

The offense is nothing special at this point and is heavily relying on a couple of aging all-stars: 32-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.317/.456/.468, 12 HR, 50 RBI, 96 BB, 3.6 WAR) and 32-year old SS George Kimpton (.297/.365/.439, 10 HR, 52 RBI, 40 BB, 2.3 WAR) to produce. With the exception of 24-year old 1B Carlos Ortíz (.268/.345/.420, 14 HR, 53 RBI, 50 BB, 1.2 WAR), this is a lineup that is in desperate need of a spark to prevent the team from fading down the stretch.

Four players were selected to the All-Star Game: SP Bill Blair (5th), SP Roberto Garza (2nd), SP Axel MacKay (3rd) and LF Carlton Hawking (9th).

Noteworthy:

January 18 – The Unions defeated the Stars 6-2 at The Fabulous Avalon in Hespeler. What made the game noteworthy was that rookie 3B Rusty McLaren (.750/.750/2.250, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0.3 WAR – 42/64) hit a home run in his first big-league at-bat. The 22-year old prospect, who was drafted 16th overall in 1950-51, came up to bat as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning with the Unions leading 4-1. After fellow rookie RF Gabriel Mabeza led off with a triple, McLaren slammed a 2-0 offering from RHP Nelson Wigley and sent it deep into the leftfield corner. With Hespeler’s LF Connor Buswell trying to corral it, McLaren raced home for a two-run inside-the-park home run in his first major league plate appearance.

Current Injuries: None.

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Offense: .271/.337/.393 (6th/5th/5th)
Pitching: 3.73/3.70/3.87 (3rd/3rd/2nd)
Defense: .705 (3rd)

The Balmoral Giants are nearly a carbon copy of the Unions. They too are a team who has a solid pitching core whose offense is being largely provided by a couple of players. That combination has enabled them to take advantage of the parity in the West and move to within 3-1/2 games of a playoff spot. And like the Unions, Balmoral also won 31 games over the course of December and January.

Both the rotation and bullpen have really developed into an impressive force. Really, the top four starters are all having fine seasons. 30-year old LHP Ron Albin (10-11, 3.28 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 129 ERA+), 27-year old LHP Lucas Nott (13-8, 3.55 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 120 ERA+), 28-year old RHP Rodrigo González (11-7, 3.05 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 139 ERA+) and 25-year old RHP Robert Embley (4-4, 3.77 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 113 ERA+) were particularly impressive in January. The bullpen’s top two relievers have been 34-year old RHP Lorenzo Morales (3-1, 5 SV, 1.14 WHIP, 3.09 FIP) and 34-year old RHP Brent Nix (3-1, 8 SV, 1.16 WHIP, 3.38 FIP). Nix seems to have gotten better with age, while Morales is enjoying his best season since he was signed as a free agent out of Panama four years ago.

But the pitching staff could still use some help from the offense. Right now, the Giants are heavily relying on two players: 33-year old rookie LF Ángel Costa (.338/.408/.550, 15 HR, 56 RBI, 44 BB, 3.5 WAR) and 28-year old C Alexander Pyatt (.338/.368/.491, 10 HR, 38 RBI, 15 BB, 2.8 WAR). Pyatt has really blossomed into a steady catcher since the Giants acquired him from the Cambria Cannons back in July 1952.

The Giants sent four players to the All-Star Game: SP Ron Albin (1st), SP Rodrigo González (4th), Alexander Pyatt (2nd) and LF Ángel Costa (1st).

Noteworthy:

January 6 – RHP Rodrigo González kept the Pulberry Trolleys off-balance all day, holding them to just two hits. González led the Giants to a 4-0 victory, as Balmoral took 2 of the 3 games in the series. In all, he went 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 103 PI (GS: 82).

Current Injuries:

December 23 – RHP Brent Nix – strained oblique. Out for: 1 day.
January 10 – LF Won-ho Kim – ruptured tendon (finger). Out for: 2-3 months.
January 17 – 1B Erik Perry – strained oblique. Out for: DtD, 2 days.
January 31 – SS Juan Ramírez – strained back. Out for: DtD, 3 days.

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Offense: .282/.349/.440 (1st/1st/1st)
Pitching: 4.58/4.41/5.14 (7th/6th/6th)
Defense: .680 (8th)

The Cambria Cannons are being carried by their offense and while it may be the top producing offense in the West right now, they are being betrayed by a weak pitching staff and a porous defense. They lead the Western League with 555 runs scored but have allowed 554. Thus, they have a bit of work to do if they want to keep up with the teams ahead of them in the standings.

24-year old CF Sam Tite (.270/.382/.500, 20 HR, 78 RBI, 67 BB, 3.8 WAR) still leads the team as the centerpiece of an enviable core of talented, young position players. But the sophomore cooled off in January (.233/.333/.322). 22-year old rookie LF Calvin Hanbridge (.262/.384/.464, 14 HR, 52 RBI, 72 BB, 2.2 WAR) also struggled in January (.220/.351/.308), but he appears to be a multiple all-star in the making. They have been joined in the lineup by another promising rookie, the No. 2 rated prospect in 22-year old SS Doug Martin (.369/.430/.571, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 8 BB, 3 SB, 1.3 WAR).

Cambria’s pitching and overall fortunes would be dire straits if not for RHP Ray Lambright (10-3, 3.53 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 119 ERA+). The 25-year old New York City native is currently rated the 4th best starter in the United Leagues in just his second full season. But the rest of the pitching staff have been hot and cold from month to month.

Six Cannons made it to the All-Star Game: SP Ray Lambright (1st), C Min-gook Lee (1st), 1B Carlos Corea (3rd), 3B Luis Torres (2nd), LF Calvin Hanbridge (1st) and CF Sam Tite (1st).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 14 – CF Sam Tite (.385, 10 H, 4 HR, 7 RBI)
January 11 – SS César Ruíz (.500, 11 H, 4 HR, 7 RBI)

Noteworthy:

December 12 – The Cannons blasted the Hespeler Stars at the Fabulous Avalon, 11-1, but the big story was that 27-year old 1B Carlos Corea (.337/.374/.559, 21 HR, 75 RBI, 21 BB, 2.1 WAR) hit for the cycle in the process. Corea flied out in the 1st, hit an RBI triple in the 3rd, flied out in the 5th, singles in the 7th, hit a solo-shot off RHP Nelson Wigley in the 8th and hit an RBI double in the 9th to complete the cycle. He is the fourth Cannon to hit for the cycle and it’s the 6th time a player for Cambria has accomplished it (former player Ron Westmacott accomplished the feat three times). It was the 21st cycle in United Leagues’ history. Interestingly, the 22nd cycle would be hit just 5 days later in the Eastern League.



January 5 – The Cannons and Kingston Pelicans engaged in a shoot-out at Alexander Field, where the teams banged out 16 hits each and 6 home runs altogether. Three of those came off the bat of 33-year old SS César Ruíz (.279/.369/.478, 18 HR, 59 RBI, 52 BB, 2.3 WAR), who became the 11th player in United Leagues history to hit 3 home runs in a single game. In all, he went 3 for 4, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 RBI. His home runs were all solo shots, hit in the 6th, 7th and 9th innings. Alas it was not enough, as the Pelicans held one to win 10-8.

Key Trade: January 8 with the Balmoral Giants:

To Cambria – 36-year old RHP Hun Park (52/52)

To Balmoral – 27-year old 3B Darren Hasegawa (50/50)

Knee-jerk reaction: Not a huge deal by any means, but this one certainly favours the Cannons in my estimation. Hun Park (10-4, 4.06 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 105 ERA+), while not the two-time all-star pitcher he once was, represents an upgrade on the back-end of the rotation. The ten-year veteran has pedestrian stuff (40/40) but still has very good movement (60/60) and control (70/70).

For a team that appears poised to challenge for a playoff spot this season, this is a puzzling move by the Giants. Hasegawa (.271/.370/.371, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 10 BB, 0.2 WAR) has the tools to be a standout infielder but his bat is decidedly average and does not represent an upgrade to what Balmoral already had. In addition, Park’s place in the rotation has been taken over for now by 29-year old LHP Pat Houseman (41/41) who is little more than an emergency starter. The troubling aspect in all of this is that both Houseman and Hasegawa have low work ethics and in the case of Houseman, is considered a cancer in the clubhouse.



Current Injuries:

December 9 – LHP Hirotada Fukushima – fractured elbow. Out for: 4 months.
December 23 – 2B George Lasseter – broken bone in elbow. Out for: 5 months.
January 27 – RHP Lenny Tennison – torn UCL. Out for: 6 months.

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Offense: .273/.346/.410 (5th/2nd/4th)
Pitching: 4.36/4.47/3.93 (5th/7th/3rd)
Defense: .702 (4th)

The Kingston Pelicans hung in there with the Fort Richmond Generals, remaining just a game back of the League leaders, but by the latter half of December, the Pelicans began to slide. That slide became an avalanche in January as the team tumbled in the standings, unable to put together more than two victories in a row during the month. The culprit is a struggling rotation. The offence, on the other hand, has been holding its own.

Though batting just 7th in the lineup, 25-year old SS Charlie Cockin (.309/.372/.469, 6 HR, 59 RBI, 35 BB, 3.3 WAR) has emerged as Kingston’s top player and one of the ULB’s top shortstops (4th overall). He may soon be overtaken by 26-year old 3B Harry Herold (.301/.359/.508, 16 HR, 72 RBI, 29 BB, 3.1 WAR) who has been getting stronger as the season progresses. 27-year old C Carlos Camasura (.277/.427/.381, 5 HR, 43 RBI, 85 BB, 2.8 WAR) meanwhile, has started to fade, both offensively and defensively (.237/.354/.300 in January). Kingston needs him to get back on track.

But the Pelicans really need their pitching core to step it up. January was a rough month for all concerned, but only 27-year old LHP Rob Hutchence (10-7, 3.22 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 133 ERA+) and 27-year old RHP Brian Marsland (12-7, 4.05 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 106 ERA+) have shown any consistency. Out of the bullpen, 29-year old RHP Kaula Mafileo (6-5, 13 SV, 2.67 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 3.72 FIP) and 24-year old RHP Lester Beddoes (3-3, 5 SV, 2.85 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 4.63 FIP) have been reliable, although Beddoes does have a propensity to give up a lot of walks (43 BB vs. 25 K).

Seven Pelicans made the All-Star team: SP Rob Hutchence (1st), CL Kaula Mafileo (2nd), C Carlos Camasura (4th), 1B Dean Bishop (8th), 3B Harry Herold (1st), SS Charlie Cockin (1st) and RF Mo Spenceley (2nd).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 7 – SS Charlie Cockin (.444, 12 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R)
January 25 – 3B Harry Herold (.440, 11 H, 4 HR, 11 R, 4 R)

Noteworthy:

January 7 – In the first game of a 4-game series, RHP Brian Marsland put on a pitching clinic, leading the Pelicans to an 8-0 victory over the Balmoral Giants at Kingston Park. Marsland blanked them on 3 hits. In all, he went 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 91 PI (GS: 81).

Current Injuries:

November 3 – CF George Nipper – torn meniscus (knee). Out for: 3-4 weeks.
January 29 – 2B Ryoma Hakui – strained back. Out for: 3 weeks.

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Offense: .269/.322/.371 (7th/8th/8th)
Pitching: 4.45/3.99/6.21 (6th/5th/7th)
Defense: .695 (6th)

The past two months were forgettable for the Sherburn Tigers, at least in the standings. But in looking over their roster, one can’t help feeling positive or even excited at their future. Sherburn has four promising rookies in the lineup that are getting acclimated to the majors and an argument could be made that there should be five. And if it weren’t for injuries, the rotation could be quite impressive as well.

Two rookies are already leading the team. 24-year old SS Dwayne Vick (.299/.334/.405, 2 HR, 37 RBI, 17 BB, 3.3 WAR) struggled in January, but he is no flash in the pan. He is a star in the making. 22-year old CF Ryan Blenkhorn (.362/.405/.469, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 19 BB, 2.0 WAR) took over centerfield and lead-off duties last month and was sensational, winning Rookie of the Month honours. 23-year old RF Albert Sulley (.282/.333/.397, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 13 BB, 0.3 WAR) is rated 9th overall among right fielders, but he has struggled at the plate since an impressive November. Here’s hoping the former 7th-round pick 1950-51 finds his groove soon. There are no concerns with his defense in either corner (RF-65, LF-60, CF-45) however. This season’s first overall pick, 23-year old 2B Bernard Kerkin (.389/.500/.556), joined the club in late January and should provide another huge boost. Finally, 25-year old 3B Archie Eridge (45/62) was inexplicably sent down to Double-A, where (no surprise) he is dominating (.471, 4 HR, last 9 games). Perhaps the Tigers are just giving him some final seasoning, as third base is a glaring weakness on Sherburn’s roster and Eridge is just the solution they need.

The rotation took a blow when 27-year old RHP Ben Buschlen (5-5, 2.22 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 194 ERA+) was lost for the season just three pitches into his start against the Cambria Cannons back on December 26. Sherburn still won, 9-2, but his loss is huge. The Tigers understandably, hope he can bounce back next season. On the positive side, 30-year old RHP Jesús Chapa (5-13, 3.75 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 115 ERA+) found his old form in December and was terrific in January (2-2, 1.57 ERA, 6 GS). Four-year veteran, 26-year old RHP Bradley Strawson (4-7, 3.95 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 109 ERA+ - 50/58), still has room to grow into a reliable pitcher. But Sherburn should consider looking into beefing up their bullpen before next season.

SS Dwayne Vick (1st) was the lone Tiger representative at the All-Star Game.

Noteworthy:

January 19 – 23-year old 2B Bernard Kerkin (minor league record: .444/.494/.771, 10 HR, 39 RBI, 14 BB, 3.5 WAR – 45/72) spent all of 41 games in Double-A before getting the call to the major league roster. But before he got called up, Kerkin picked up two Player of the Week honors and enjoyed a 25-game hitting streak, the fourth longest in Heritage Leagues’ history. On January 26, Kerkin’s contract was purchased by Sherburn and currently the former 1st overall pick is batting second in the Tigers’ lineup.

Current Injuries:

December 26 – RHP Ben Buschlen – torn flexor tendon. Out for: 5 months.
December 28 – C Christopher Dainty – torn labrum. Out for: 5 months.
January 21 – RF Louie Pate – sprained ankle. Out for: DtD, unknown.
January 28 – RHP Wesley Murphy – dead arm. Out for: 2 weeks.

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Offense: .273/.331/.418 (4th/7th/3rd)
Pitching: 5.43/5.16/6.38 (8th/8th/8th)
Defense: .680 (7th)

The Hespeler Stars are in complete disarray. Unlike the Sherburn Tigers, who at least appear to have a road map laid out for returning to relevance, the Stars seem to be directionless, unable to deploy what talent they have on hand properly. They know how to put runs on the board, as they are third in the West in runs scored (513), but they are by far the worst in runs allowed (612). The next worst are the Embro Suns with 584.

A result of all this squandering has been the oversight of the play of 30-year old SS Zhao-hui Qian (.346/.391/.521, 15 HR, 75 RBI, 32 BB, 5.0 WAR). Qian has been one of the best players this season in the United Leagues and is enjoying the best season of his 8-year career so far. 27-year old 3B Mike Park (.358/.403/.505, 8 HR, 49 RBI, 29 BB, 2.4 WAR) continues to lead the West in batting average and he has been joined in the lineup by another ‘M.P.’: 24-year old rookie LF Mike Pope (47/54), who was called up from Triple-A in early January. He was a 2nd-round pick from 1950-51 and is considered the top leftfield prospect in the Leagues. His bat should be very good very soon (60/60/55/55/60). But the promising talent of a couple of players continues to be squandered. 23-year old RF Bill Spaeth (41/56), their 2nd overall pick from 1950-51, is suffering from riding the bench. And 24-year old SS Apia Yarrah (50/70) is suffering the same fate. Yarrah is being blocked from starting by Qian. Both need regular starts. If not in majors, then at least in Triple-A while the Stars sort out their roster. But with the trade deadline having come and gone with no action taken by the Stars, it doesn’t appear they are inclined to try and compete anytime soon.

If Spaeth or Yarrah are not in the Stars’ future, they could have used them as trade bait to acquire some much-needed pitching talent. Or Hespeler could have been bold and traded Qian to a contender for a nice haul. For all the Stars prospect depth, they are utterly lacking in quality arms. Right now, only 25-year old ace RHP Battista Corotta (8-13, 4.17 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 104 ERA+) has been effective on the mound.

Three players represented the Stars at the All-Star Game: 2B Vic Lewis (3rd), 3B Mike Park (1st) and SS Zhao-hui Qian (3rd).

Player of the Week Award:

January 18 – SS Zhao-hui Qian (.529, 9 H, 3 HR, 9 RBI)

Current Injuries:

January 9 – 2B Vic Lewis – strained hamstring. Out for: DtD, 1 week.

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[Bottom Of The Sixth]

Hey Daren,


I really miss the "Thanks" feature to this forum as it was one of my favorite features of this board.


Just wanted to let you know that I am still following and you still have the classicist Dynasty out there and I greatly appreciate you going through so much time and effort to share it publicly with us.


Within the last few years, I have fired off a few emails to you with no reply.


Hope all is well up north!


Keep up the great work!



Take Care and Thanks Again!


Chad

[reds1]

Originally Posted by Bottom Of The Sixth

Hey Daren,


I really miss the "Thanks" feature to this forum as it was one of my favorite features of this board.


Just wanted to let you know that I am still following and you still have the classicist Dynasty out there and I greatly appreciate you going through so much time and effort to share it publicly with us.


Within the last few years, I have fired off a few emails to you with no reply.


Hope all is well up north!


Keep up the great work!



Take Care and Thanks Again!


Chad

Thank you so much, Chad! I miss being able to use the 'thanks' feature as well.

That's strange about the email disconnect. My email address hasn't changed and I regularly check my spam folder to make sure its not filtering something it shouldn't.

I'll send you a PM to confirm my email address. Believe me, I'm not ignoring you! (at least not intentionally.)

[DreamTeams]

Wow! Crowded field, but here's to hoping the the Trolleys can overcome.

Hate that we gave up Oldknow, but that outfield is pretty hot.

Go Trolleys Go!

[reds1]

February 1, 1954

Eastern League: Monarchs Making a Move for First





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Offense: .277/.361/.422 (4th/2nd/4th)
Pitching: 4.07/3.92/4.98 (2nd/2nd/5th)
Defense: .706 (2nd)

A 9-game winning streak in early December launched the Stratford Barons into first place in the East. At one time they held a 4-game lead on the Cobourg Red Stockings, but they had seen that lead dwindle as they cooled off a bit in January while the Braeland City Monarchs have surged.

After a few down years, 30-year old LF Roberto Ríos (.313/.454/.467, 10 HR, 60 RBI, 98 BB, 8 SB, 4.8 WAR) is enjoying a tremendous season and has returned to the Top 20 position player rankings (No. 17). 24-year old CF Sherwin Carasig (.350/.422/.558, 11 HR, 57 RBI, 32 BB, 7 SB, 3.7 WAR) is right there with him, although he did miss over a month due to a strained hamstring.

The pitching staff has been the strength of the team overall but has suffered from hot and cold streaks this season. That cannot be said however of 27-year old RHP Magtanggol Jaojoco (17-6, 3.24 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 131 ERA+), who leads the League in 6 pitching categories and is currently ranked No. 2 overall among all pitchers. 28-year old RHP Alonso Martínez (6-6, 3.26 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 130 ERA+ - 38/38) is showing some promise in his first full season in the United Leagues. He was a 14th overall pick back in 1946-47.

Four Barons qualified for the All-Star team: SP Magtanggol Jaojoco (3rd), C Aaron Skidmore (13th), 2B Matthew Channing (1st) and LF Roberto Ríos (5th).

Current Injuries:

January 28 – LF Roberto Ríos – hip flexor strain. Out for: DtD, 6 days.

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Offense: .300/.363/.462 (1st/1st/1st)
Pitching: 4.57/3.99/5.87 (7th/3rd/8th)
Defense: .688 (6th)

Their pitching may not have improved any, but the Braeland City Monarchs have climbed up the standings in the East thanks to their high-octane offense. It is currently No. 1 in the United Leagues, averaging 5.8 runs per game. Cobourg is next with 5.6. They have taken over the wild card spot from Cobourg and have designs on top spot. However, their pitching staff is one of the weakest, allowing 5.3 R/G. Only the Embro Suns are worse at 5.6. Thus, the Monarchs are riding heavily on their offense hoping to end their four-year playoff drought. Through 105 games, Braeland City has hit 121 home runs as a team. That puts them on pace for 177 on the season. The current ULB record is 157, set by the Monarchs in 1948-49.

28-year old 2B Patrick Lidgate (.370/.458/.689, 24 HR, 70 RBI, 60 BB, 7.9 WAR – 80/80) is enjoying an incredible season, the best by far of his 6-year career. He leads the East in 8 offensive categories. But the rest of the lineup is firing on all cylinders as well, with 7 of the 8 starters batting over .300. 23-year old RF Aidan Trembath (.333/.405/.534, 19 HR, 61 RBI, 46 BB, 3.9 WAR), 28-year old C Hayden Billyard (.316/.361/.504, 14 HR, 68 RBI, 26 BB, 3.6 WAR) and 24-year old CF Hayden Goodale (.318/.407/.531, 14 HR, 59 RBI, 43 BB, 3.5 WAR) are all enjoying the best seasons of their young careers.

The rotation has not been terrible, but most of the pitchers struggled in January. The one exception was No. 4 starter, 28-year old RHP Bobby Hogg (6-3, 2 SV, 3.61 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 120 ERA+) who went 4-0, 2.92 ERA on the month. 34-year old stopper RHP Rizal Doctolero (10-3, 11 SV, 3.33 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 129 ERA+) remains the lone bright spot in the bullpen.

Five players represented the Monarchs at the All-Star game: RHP Rizal Doctolero (3rd), C Hayden Billyard (1st), 2B Patrick Lidgate (5th), CF Hayden Goodale (1st) and RF Aidan Trembath (3rd).

Player of the Week Awards:

January 11 – 1B Dean Witherden (.536, 15 H, 2 HR, 14 RBI)
February 1 – 2B Patrick Lidgate (.500, 14 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI)

Noteworthy:

December 3 – The Monarchs and Tigers slugged it out in Sherburn in a high-scoring affair, with Braeland City pulling out a 15-11 win. Sherburn appeared to have the game well in hand by the end of the 5th inning where they broke open a 1-1 tie with 8 hits and two walks. The first three hits were singles followed by two doubles and two walks. That scored four runs. Then starting pitcher RHP Bradley Strawson stepped up and sent a 1-0 pitch from RHP Dara Eaddy 378 ft. into the leftfield bleachers for a Grand Slam home run, his second home run of the season. The Tigers would tack on another run to make it 10-1. But in the top of the 8th inning, Strawson would injure his hamstring and be forced out of the game. That proved to be a game changer, as the Monarchs came roaring back in the top of the 9th, feasting on Strawson’s replacements. That inning would see a three-run home run by C Hayden Billyard, a Grand Slam home run by RF Jesús Ortega and a solo shot by 2B Patrick Lidgate. In all, Braeland City would score 12 runs on 7 hits in the inning to take a 15-10 lead. Sherburn tried to come back in the bottom of the 9th but could only muster one more run.

December 30 – It was all Monarchs on this day as the visitors confounded the Cobourg Red Stockings 9-0 on 4 this. Braeland City collected 16 hits, five of them coming off the bat of 23-year old RF Aidan Trembath. Trembath hit an RBI single in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, 5th and 6th innings, flied out in the 8th and hit an RBI single in the 9th. In all, he went 5 for 6, 1 R, 2 RBI.

Current Injuries:

November 23 – 2B Patrick Lidgate – knee tendinitis. Out for: DtD, 3 weeks.
January 7 – 3B Danny Silk – sprained knee. Out for: 2 weeks.

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Offense: .289/.359/.440 (2nd/3rd/2nd)
Pitching: 4.42/4.28/5.02 (5th/6th/6th)
Defense: .693 (4th)

The Cobourg Red Stockings have started to fade and are in danger of missing out on a return to the playoffs to defend their Eastern League Pennant championship. The offense has been holding its own. The pitching is starting to become suspect, however. There is enough talent on this team to compete with the Barons and Monarchs, but Cobourg appears to be strangely lethargic or unmotivated. That may be the result of brewing dissention in the clubhouse, simply over the fact that there are no clear team leaders or sparkplugs on the team. To me that appears to be a very lame excuse. There are no troublemakers on the roster and the team is a winner. If the team was in the second division, I could see it becoming a sore point. But it appears to be a too severe penalty to a competitive team. If the Red Stockings could call up a player – any player – with some leadership abilities, then I can see them quickly turning this thing around.

27-year old CF Raymond Williams (.350/.421/.667, 30 HR, 84 RBI, 46 BB, 7.3 WAR) continues his elite play, the 5th straight season where he is among the United Leagues’ very best. With 30 home runs, he is just 9 shy of the season record, currently held by Kingston Pelicans 1B Dean Bishop, who set the record in 1949-50. Williams is on pace for 45. Also continuing to dominate this season is 28-year old 1B Harry Doxey (.384/.433/.556, 12 HR, 78 RBI, 30 BB, 4.9 WAR). If his batting average holds up, it will be highest in the United Leagues since Brunswick Legends’ Rovilson Valdevieso hit .398 back in 1939-40.

Consistency is still proving elusive for the pitching staff as the majority are having up and down seasons or are bouncing back from slow starts. 27-year old rookie RHP Marcus Turvill (9-6, 3.35 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 128 ERA+) has been the most consistent, while 26-year old RHP Fergus Hirst (10-11, 4.10 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 104 ERA+) rebounded in January (4-2, 3.12 ERA) after a rough December (0-4, 7.71 ERA). 24-year old RHP Brian McDaniel (7-4, 8 SV, 3.65 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 117 ERA) has recovered from a rough first two months to become one of the better stoppers in the League.

Four Red Stockings qualified for the All-Star game: RHP Marcus Turvill (2nd), 1B Harry Doxey (5th), 3B Alexander Tolmie (7th) and CF Raymond Williams (7th).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 21 – RF Nathan Ashman (.500, 8 H, 2 HR, 11 RBI)
January 18 – 1B Harry Doxey (.579, 11 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI)
January 25 – 1B Harry Doxey (.526, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI)

Noteworthy:

December 7 – It was an afternoon for a couple of young players to shine, as both 26-year old LF Robert Burgess (.565/.600/.913, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB, 0.6 WAR – 40/44) and 22-year old SS Douglas Jones (.271/.323/.432, 12 HR, 70 RBI, 28 BB, 2.5 WAR – 62/70) collected 5 hits in the Red Stockings’ 15-6 trouncing of the Brunswick Legends. Burgess has yet to fully establish himself in the major leagues, having spent just 9 games this season so far on the Red Stockings roster. But on this day, he went 5 for 5, collecting three singles as well as a 3-run triple in the 5th and then hit a solo home run off RHP Charlie Gilbert in the 6th. In all, he collected 3 R and 4 RBI.
Leading off the game, Jones went 5 for 6. He also batted out 3 singles in addition to a 2-run double in the 4th and an RBI double in the 5th. That led to him scoring 2 R and 4 RBI.

December 23 – The Red Stockings were on a tear in Embro, slashing out 25 hits en route to a 21-3 spanking of the Suns. 30-year old back-up 2B Gijsbert Jacobse (.344/.408/.484, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 7 BB, 0.6 WAR) was the game star, going 4 for 6 with a 3-run triple, 4 R, 5 RBI. 32-year old 3B Alexander Tolmie (.296/.394/.433, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 61 BB, 3.2 WAR) had a big day as well, going 5 for 5, with three singles and two doubles, scoring 2 R.

January 3 –1B Harry Doxey is enjoying a phenomenal season, as he leads the United Leagues in batting average. He also enjoyed a 22-game hitting streak that ended when he went 0-4 with 1 BB against the Stratford Barons. However, Cobourg still won easily, 10-3.

Current Injuries:

January 17 – 3B Bob Voeller – undisclosed injury. Out for: 3 days.

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Offense: .280/.351/.427 (3rd/4th/3rd)
Pitching: 4.85/4.62/5.51 (8th/8th/7th)
Defense: .670 (8th)

If the Red Stockings have started to back-slide, the Embro Suns have entered free-fall, as they have fallen from first place to being 8 games back of a playoff spot over the past two months. Their initial strong play appears to have been an illusion, as they have started to struggle in almost all aspects, particularly in pitching and defense. A 9-game losing streak in early December quickly knocked them out of first place and they have yet to recover.

25-year old 3B Moromao Nakagawa (.309/.380/.503, 14 HR, 58 RBI, 43 BB, 3.5 WAR) continues to pace the offense, but the lineup as a whole has cooled off, particularly 24-year old LF Jesús Abreu (.272/.369/.497, 15 HR, 51 RBI, 46 BB, 2.0 WAR) and 27-year old CF Orlando Morales (.303/.352/.472, 10 HR, 55 RBI, 33 BB, 2.9 WAR), who went .177/.278/.291 and .229/.292/.375 respectively in January.

The pitching has regressed over the past two months, with only 28-year old RHP Juan Rivas (12-8, 3.25 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 131 ERA+) and 23-year old rookie RHP Bob Nord (3-5, 2.40 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.85 FIP) playing with any kind of consistency.

Seven Suns were selected as All-Stars: CL Bob Nord (1st), 1B Napana Mamo (2nd), 2B Robert Jameson (1st), 3B Moromao Nakagawa (2nd), LF Jesús Abreu (1st), CF Orlando Morales (2nd) and RF José Maldonado (4th).

Noteworthy:

December 27 – LF Jesús Abreu was more than the Downie Chiefs could handle, as the 24-year old from Mexico went 5 for 6, leading the Suns to a 10-5 victory. Abreu started off with a solo home run off RHP Freddie Trerise in the 1st inning, hit an RBI double in the 3rd, struck out in the 5th, doubled in the 6th, singled in the 8th and hit a 2-run home run off RHP Bill Lafontaine in the top of the 9th. In total, he collected 3 R and 4 RBI.

Current Injuries: None.

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Offense: .269/.334/.398 (5th/5th/7th)
Pitching: 4.31/4.24/4.53 (4th/5th/3rd)
Defense: .695 (3rd)

The loss of their best player has taken a toll on the Wellington Athletics, but while this season may be lost, there are enough promising signs that better days may be on the horizon. Their pitching and defense have improved as the season has worn on and they have some solid young talent currently on the major league roster with more on the way.

The absence of 26-year old LF Matthew Floyd (.350/.429/.613, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 21 BB, 2.6 WAR) from the lineup is being felt, but 28-year old RF Jim Mars (.317/.375/.441, 3 HR, 49 RBI, 37 BB, 3.1 WAR) and 26-year old 1B Wayne Emmert (.296/.377/.495, 10 HR, 69 RBI, 51 BB, 2.9 WAR) are doing an admirable job in the heart of the lineup. In addition, 21-year old rookie CF Greg Yates (.314/.347/.502, 7 HR, 37 RBI, 13 BB, 2.0 WAR – 50/55) is developing nicely, winning Rookie of the Month honors in February. If he continues to progress, the Athletics should boast a strong outfield next season, with Mars and a healthy Floyd flanking him.

The pitching has improved, but Wellington seems unable to catch a break, having lost their ace, 26-year old RHP Vinnie Snell (11-5, 3.81 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 110 ERA+) for the season. Taking over has been 23-year old rookie RHP Darren Etheridge (10-8, 3.34 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 126 ERA+) who has been impressive despite the added pressure. The rest of the staff has been mediocre, however. But waiting in the wings is 22-year old RHP Mike Murray (33/70), who was a 2nd-round draft pick this season. He has been dominant in AA (9-1, 1.74 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 270 ERA+). He is currently rated as the 10th overall prospect in the ULB.

Four Athletics headed to the All-Star game: SP Darren Etheridge (1st), 1B Wayne Emmert (2nd), LF Matthew Floyd (3rd) and Jim Mars (4th).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 28 – CF Greg Yates (.444, 12 H, 1 HR, 9 RBI)

Noteworthy:

January 15 – Future hall of famer LHP Anastasio Rodríquez (3-1, 1 SV, 4.87 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 88 ERA+) was released by the Wolseley Unions back on November 12, just one win short of the retired Joel Fearn for the most victories in the United Leagues. On November 16, the 37-year old signed a minor league contract with the Athletics and soon joined their bullpen. On December 8, Rodríquez entered the 11th inning in a 5-5 tie against his old team and kept them off the board for two innings until 27-year old 2B Vaiga Bultarro slammed a two-out, walk-off solo home run into the leftfield bleachers off 26-year old RHP Joseph Sellwood. That gave Rodríquez his 250th career win, putting him in a tie with Fearn. On January 15, the Panamanian Rodríquez broke the tie when he came on in relief of 29-year old RHP Troy Conlin after just two batters when Colin injured his elbow. Rodríquez kept the Braeland City Monarchs’ bats quiet, pitching 5.1 innings and scattering 4 hits. The Athletics won the game 9-0, giving Rodríquez his 251st victory, the most in United Leagues history.



Current Injuries:

November 22 – LF Matthew Floyd – broken bone in elbow. Out for: 7-8 weeks.
January 5 – SS Rupert Bricknell – sprained thumb. Out for: DtD, unknown.
January 9 – RHP Vinnie Snell – ruptured disc. Out for 5 months.

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Offense: .256/.320/.403 (8th/8th/6th)
Pitching: 4.10/4.15/3.97 (3rd/4th/1st)
Defense: .710 (1st)

The Downie Chiefs are simply biding their time as their young players get acclimated to the majors. Still, the Chiefs have become more competitive as the season has progressed, thanks largely to their pitching staff, but a long-term injury to their no. 1 starter may put a damper on things for the remainder of the season.

Their offense is being carried by three starters. 28-year old CF Alfonso León (.322/.382/.480, 12 HR, 48 RBI, 38 BB, 7 SB, 4.1 WAR) continues to be one the best players in the United Leagues, but his production is down from previous years. 28-year old 2B Dominic Dudding (.335/.392/.501, 15 HR, 55 RBI, 42 BB, 3.6 WAR) continues his fine play as well, although it too is a step below to what it was a few years ago. On the other hand, 27-year old C Whatahui Inoke (.281/.338/.448, 10 HR, 46 RBI, 26 BB, 2.3 WAR) is enjoying arguably the best season of his 4-year career. The rookies, however, are either experiencing growing pains, such as 22-year old Freddie Ogburn (.207/.258/.319, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 21 BB, -0.4 WAR), or have yet to get any meaningful starts, such as 24-year old OF Jack Jefferson (.237/.348/.289, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 6 BB, 0.1 WAR) and 26-year old IF Harley Truman (.388/.423/.687, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 4 BB, 1.2 WAR). Truman though has been very effective when he has been able to get into games.

The loss of 31-year old RHP Kelii Pelanekelina (4-2, 2.05 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 3.08 FIP) to repeated injuries this season has hurt the club, as the fragile Pelanekelina remains Downie’s best pitcher. Two young pitchers, namely 22-year old RHP Stefan Rankin (2-3, 4.18 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 100 ERA+) and 23-year old LHP Quinn Merrifield (3-6, 6.13 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, 68 ERA+) are being given every chance to succeed.

The bullpen is being led by 30-year old RHP Bill Lafontaine (10-4, 10 SV, 2.61 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 160 ERA+) and 23-year old RHP Eddie Stannard (2-2, 4 SV, 3.64 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 115 ERA+).

Three Chiefs were selected as All-Stars: RHP Kelii Pelanekelina (5th), Dominic Dudding (7th) and CF Alfonso León (7th).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 14 – CF Alfonso León (.522, 12 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI)

Noteworthy:

December 31 – The Brunswick Legends could get nothing going against RHP Kelii Pelanekelina, as he shut them out, 4-0, on 2 hits. The 31-year old Fijian went the distance, going 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K (GS: 90).

January 27 – It was a rough day for the Hespeler Stars as the Chiefs pummelled them 22-8 on 22 hits. Five Chiefs’ players collected at least 2 hits, but CF Alfonso León was the toughest out, going 6 for 7 on the afternoon. After flying out in the 1st inning, León hit an RBI single in the 3rd, an RBI double in the 4th, singled in the 6th and 8th innings, then hit RBI singles in the 8th and 9th. In all, he went 6 for 7, 2 R, 4 RBI.

Current Injuries:

January 10 – RHP Kelii Pelanekelina – forearm inflammation. Out for: 6 weeks.
January 30 – LF Howard Dumbrill – forearm soreness. Out for: DtD, 4 days.

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Offense: .269/.334/.406 (6th/6th/5th)
Pitching: 4.46/4.60/4.05 (6th/7th/2nd)
Defense: .687 (7th)

The predicted standings made before the start of the season called for the Brunswick Legends to win 84 games, just one game back of the wild card. That obviously was a wildly optimistic projection. The Legends are simply not that good and winning 70 games is much more realistic.

Offensively, 25-year old C Robert Kersey (.333/.411/.615, 25 HR, 80 RBI, 48 BB, 5.3 WAR) is Brunswick’s only player of note. But what a player! He is the top-rated catcher in the United Leagues and is rated 3rd overall among position players. But it comes at a cost, as he is considered a cancer in the clubhouse and has a low work ethic among other things. But in fairness, he is pulling his weight (even if he’s throwing it around at the same time).

The rest of lineup is essentially non-descript and pales in comparison to Kersey. 23-year old rookie RF Jay Mitchell (.263/.345/.481, 9 HR, 26 RBI, 20 BB, 0.6 WAR – 47/53) has been dealing with the pressure of having to bat behind Kersey in the No. 4 spot all season. He was an 11th overall pick back in 1951-52.

Apart from the bullpen, the pitching staff has not been very impressive. That said, 26-year old RHP Mhelter Pilapil (10-8, 3.44 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 125 ERA+) has been very effective at times (3-3, 1.93 ERA in December). 21-year old rookie RHP Dave Ball (6-7, 5.24 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 82 ERA+ - 40/54) looks to be part of Brunswick’s future. A 2nd-round pick from 1950-51, he is the Legends’ top-ranked prospect (23rd overall).

In the bullpen, both 28-year old RHP Byron Ollson (2-1, 2 SV, 1.78 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 241 ERA+) and 32-year old RHP Lao Chen (6-6, 13 SV, 1.34 WHIP, 132 ERA+) have been outstanding.

Four Legends were selected to the All-Star game: SP Mhelter Pilapil (1st), CL Lao Chen (5th), C Robert Kersey (3rd) and SS Harris Yaag (1st).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 7 – LF Carl Patton (.591, 13 H, 3 RBI)
January 4 – C Robert Kersey (.625, 5 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 3 R)

Noteworthy:

December 17 – Just days after Cambria Cannons 1B Carlos Corea accomplished the feat, 32-year old 3B Jorge Arredondo (.260/.330/.376, 7 HR, 42 RBI, 41 BB, 1.7 WAR) hit for the cycle in a game against the Braeland City Monarchs, the 22nd in United Leagues history. As the Legends outscored the Monarchs 15-11, Arredondo hit a 2-run home run off 27-year old RHP Danilo Narvaez in the 1st inning, walked in the 2nd, hit an RBI single in the 3rd, walked in the 5th, tripled in the 7th and doubled in the 9th. In all, he went 4 for 4 with 3 R, 3 R and 2 BB.



January 16 – It was the hot bat of C Robert Kersey that led the Legends to a 10-9 come-from-behind win over the Cobourg Red Stockings. He went 5 for 5 with 4 R and 4 RBI. Kersey singled in the 1st, 3rd and 5th innings, hit an RBI single in the 6th and then, when trailing 9-7, crushed a 3-run home run off 31-year old LHP William Say, 393 ft. to dead centerfield in the 8th.

Key Trade: December 5 with the Queensland Eagles:

To Brunswick – 36-year old RHP Pi-ao Quian (54/54)
To Queensland – 25-year old C Robbie Leivers (50/60) and 22-year-old minor-league LF Seb Kingman (40/52)

Knee-jerk reaction: This trade certainly makes sense for Queensland, as they need an upgrade at catcher. For Brunswick, it also makes some sense that they would be willing to part with Leivers as no one is going to usurp Kersey, the best catcher in the United Leagues, anytime soon. But to do so for a 36-year old pitcher nearing the end of the career when you are nowhere near to competing for a playoff spot is a bit of a headscratcher. Nevertheless, Brunswick considers Quian their new ace. The five-time all-star has very good movement and control (60/60) to offset his below average stuff (40/40). He has five pitches, with his cutter (45/45) being his best. He is an iron man with stamina (75) and is considered a leader, something the team needs. So perhaps the Legends knew what they were doing. He should provide them with some quality innings.

Leivers was a 3rd-round pick back in 1947-48. He knows how to hit, having won the Double-A Lou Gehrig Award last season. When fully developed, he should provide a much-needed spark in the lineup and steal an above average number of bases. His basic batting ratings potential are 55/65/55/55/65. While not overly blessed defensively, he should be an average starter catcher someday. Currently, he is starting against left-handed pitchers for now. Meanwhile, Kingman was a 5th-round pick from 1949-50. He is a defensively-sound leftfielder with an excellent eye at the plate and above average power. He is currently on the major league roster as a depth player.



Current Injuries:

January 31 – 1B Stuart Bentham – fractured wrist. Out for: 6 weeks.

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Offense: .257/.325/.381 (7th/7th/8th)
Pitching: 4.00/3.87/4.57 (1st/1st/4th)
Defense: .691 (5th)

The Queensland Eagles remain the doormat of the Eastern League, but its exciting nonetheless to see a team taking definite steps to improve its fortunes. The Eagles have made a couple of trades to try and revitalize its lackluster lineup, while at the same time promoting more promising arms onto its pitching staff.

27-year old 3B Ryan Conisford (.304/.382/.519, 18 HR, 71 RBI, 49 BB, 3.7 WAR) remains the lone bright spot in the lineup. In fact, he has been getting stronger as the season has progressed. He was particularly hot in December (.374/.453/.637). 25-year old rookie CF Liam Banfield (.231/.317/.350, 7 HR, 30 RBI, 40 BB, 10 SB, 0.5 WAR) is still getting used to the major league level, at least when he is injury-free. The recent acquisitions of 25-year old CF John Oldknow (.268/.315/.362, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 10 BB, -0.1 WAR) and 25-year old C Robbie Leivers (.203/.309/.322, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 8 BB, 0.1 WAR), two players that saw limited playing time with their previous clubs, should help. The influx of new players has allowed Queensland to return 20-year old RF Hal Dhu (33/63), the No. 2 overall prospect, to Double-A, allowing him to get more playing time.

The Eagles boast both the No. 1 and No. 3-rated pitchers in the United Leagues: 28-year old RHP Logan Belsey (14-9, 2.81 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 150 ERA+) and 26-year old RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (10-8, 3.08 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 137 ERA+). Give them a decent offense and this team should immediately move up in the standings. In the meantime, Queensland has no less than three promising young pitchers on the major league staff.

The departure of 36-year old RHP Pi-ao Quian has allowed 21-year old RHP Derek Tarn (4-3, 4.62 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 91 ERA+), a former 3rd overall pick, to finally join the rotation. But the Eagles have promoted two more of their promising young arms to the majors: 24-year old LHP Amoka Kalea (43/56) just joined the rotation after going 8-3, 3.33 ERA, 159.2 IP in Triple-A, while 21-year old RHP Wayne O’Reilly (43/67) was recently added to the bullpen. If all three develop, Queensland will soon have a most formidable rotation from top to bottom.

Three Eagles qualified for the All-Star game: SP Logan Belsey (3rd), SP Stiofan Micklethwait (1st) and 3B Ryan Conisford (2nd).

Noteworthy:

January 18 – RHP Stiofan Micklethwait started off the 1st game of a 3-game series against the Brunswick Legends with an overpowering performance, blanking the Legends 9-0 on just 2 hits. His line was: 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K (GS: 88). The Eagles scored all their runs in the bottom of the 8th inning, which was highlighted by a 3-run home run by lead-off hitter CF Liam Banfield.

Current Injuries:

October 24 – LHP Steven Selkirk – torn flexor tendon. Out for: 3 months.
January 9 – RHP Bartolo Sánchez – sore elbow. Out for: 1-2 weeks.
January 17 – 2B Eric Maher – strained hamstring. Out for: 3-4 weeks.
January 22 – CF Liam Banfield – lacerated finger. Out for: 4 days.

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[Dark Horse]

Go Monarchs Go!!!

[reds1]

March 1, 1954

Here are the standings, playoff pictures and leaderboards with 4 weeks left in the regular season:







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[Dark Horse]

Gonna' be some memorable games down to the wire.
And looks like the Stars have been playing .500 ball (11-12) lately. Maybe there's hope for a turnaround for next season.

Go Monarchs Go!

[reds1]

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

Gonna' be some memorable games down to the wire.
And looks like the Stars have been playing .500 ball (11-12) lately. Maybe there's hope for a turnaround for next season.

Go Monarchs Go!

Things are definitely going down to the wire! In fact, with two weeks left in the regular season, it's getting, um, wild in the West.

March 14, 1954





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[DreamTeams]

Oh yeah! Trolleys dipped a little, but managed to pull even in what could be a three way race to the finish.

[Dark Horse]

Go Monarchs Go!
And the Stars climbed out of last place!

[Tyke]

It's nice that you guys have something to cheer about - it looks as if the possible resurgence of the Sherburn Tigers is on hold for another year!!

[reds1]

March 28, 1954

Not Done Yet: Both Leagues Need Tiebreakers to Settle Standings





For the first time in United Leagues history, both the Eastern and Western Leagues will need tiebreaker games to finalize the playoff picture. With extremely tight races all season long in both Leagues, it was really no surprise that extra games would be needed to settle things.

In the East, the Stratford Barons quickly regained first place after temporarily losing it back on the 14th. They managed to open up a 2-game lead and eventually a 3-game lead on the Braeland City Monarchs and held on until they locked up top spot on March 26th with two games remaining. As for the Monarchs, they held a 4-game lead on the Cobourg Red Stockings as late as the 16th, but faltered the rest of the way, going 4-7. That included dropping two of three to the Red Stockings and three of four to the Barons in their final series. Cobourg, meanwhile, went 8-3 in that same stretch, concluding with an 11-2 win over the Embro Suns on the last day to put them in a tie for the wild card. That forced a winner-take-all tiebreaker to see who will face the Barons for the Eastern League Pennant.

In the West, the two playoff contenders have been decided. But who will finish in first place and who will settle for the wild card remains to be decided, as the Pulberry Trolleys and Fort Richmond Generals finished in a tie for top spot. In a tight 4-way race, the Trolleys and Generals eventually emerged as the top two teams. Pulberry locked up their first playoff appearance in franchise history on the 27th, thanks to a 4-game winning streak. But losing their last two games of the season to the Hespeler Stars allowed the Generals to pull into a tie with the Trolleys on the last day of the season. Taking three of four from the Kingston Pelicans in their final series, Fort Richmond secured their 5th playoff appearance and first in three seasons.

Both tie-breaker games are scheduled for Monday, March 29th. The Braeland City Monarchs will host the Cobourg Red Stockings at Kings Park. The Monarchs are expected to prevail upon their No. 1 starter, 33-year old RHP Okura Suzuki (11-5, 4.12 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 103 ERA+). Cobourg will be looking to their ace, 25-year old Bill Budd (19-9, 3.69 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 114 ERA+), to lead the charge.

Over in the West, Trolleys Stadium will be the focus as Pulberry will be hosting the Fort Richmond Generals. Their No. 1 starter, 32-year old RHP Alexander Ellacott (15-7, 3.88 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 106 ERA+) is expected to take the hill, while Fort Richmond will respond with their No. 3 starter, 31-year old RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li (10-16, 4.24 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 97 ERA+).

The first pitch for both games is scheduled for just after 3:00 am, for those listening in along the North American Eastern seaboard. 😉

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[reds1]

March 29, 1954

Monarchs Shut Down Red Stockings to Capture Wild Card



The Braeland City Monarchs are heading to the playoffs for the first time in 4 years after blanking the Cobourg Red Stockings 5-0 at Kings Park in the Eastern League tie-breaker. The Monarchs now move on to face the Stratford Barons in the Eastern League Pennant Series, while Cobourg returns home as their season abruptly comes to an end.

Cobourg’s LHP Bill Budd and Braeland City’s RHP Okura Suzuki mowed down the respective lineups until the 6th inning, when Budd ran into trouble. In the bottom half with one out, 2B Patrick Lidgate launched a 2-1 pitch 444 ft into the left-centerfield bleachers for a solo home run to open the scoring. But the Monarchs were not finished. C Hayden Billyard followed with a walk. 1B Dean Witherden then crushed Budd’s first offering 396 ft. into the rightfield bleachers for a two-run shot before the Red Stockings could get out of the inning. The Monarchs had all the runs they would need but tacked on a couple more in the bottom of the 8th. With LHP William Say taking over from Budd, Lidgate led off with a walk and moved over to 3B when Dean Witherden reached 1B safely after CF Raymond Williams mishandled a fly ball. A sac fly by LF John Anthony and a double by SS Natsu Sakei made the score 5-0.

For the Red Stockings, it was a disappointing end to their season and a disappointing effort from their offense. Although they banged out 8 hits, only one was for extra bases (a one-out double by LF Rizalino Ringor in the 4th) and managed to put a runner on 3B just once.

But the win came at a price for the Monarchs. Okura Suzuki injured a hamstring after giving up a lead-off single to 2B Alexander Tolmie in the top of 5th inning. He was forced out of the game and it appears he is unavailable for the duration of the playoffs.

The Monarchs now move on to face the Stratford Barons. Game 1 of the Pennant Series is scheduled for March 31st at Stratford’s Bosworth Field. RHP Lee Corp (8-11, 3.49 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 121 ERA+) is expected to face the Barons’ ace RHP Magtanggol Jaojoco (22-10, 3.18 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 131 ERA+).

[DreamTeams]

Hooray for the Trolleys!

[reds1]

March 29, 1954

Trolleys Capture Top Spot in the West in Battle of Pitchers



The Pulberry Trolleys earned the right of homefield advantage in the Western League Pennant Series with a hard-fought win against the Fort Richmond Generals. In a battle of starting pitchers, RHP Alexander Ellacott pulled out a complete game victory over the equally impressive RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li of Fort Richmond.

At first though, it looked as though the Generals had seized the momentum early when 2B Benjamin Donahue opened the scoring in the top of the first with a one-out solo home run that travelled 428 ft. into the left-field stands. But Ellacott quickly shook off that early setback and gave up only five more hits in the game – a double and four singles.

Ellacott, in fact, would get that run back in the bottom of the 4th. After C Paul England led off with a walk and advanced to 2B when 3B Makani Kahale followed him with a single, 2B Wade Billyard hit into a fielder’s choice at second, allowing England to reach 3B. Ellacott then connected on a 1-0 pitch from Li that sailed out to leftfield. England tagged up and scored when he beat out LF Daniel Paterson’s throw home.

Neither team was able to break the tie until the 8th. In the bottom half with one out, LF Aidan Thirkettle battled Li for 10 pitches, fouling off 6 pitches until finally drawing a walk. 1B Gerad Koerner then promptly lined a single into right-centerfield, allowing Thirkettle to reach 3B. After Paul England struck out, Makani Kahale lined a single over the head of 1B Jacob Gadsden down the rightfield line that just stayed fair. Thirkettle scored easily giving Pulberry the lead, but the inning ended when Koerner was thrown out by RF Brandon Robinson on the play when trying to reach 3B.

Given a one-run lead, Ellacott looked to close things out in the 9th. CF Greg Cusack scratched out an infield hit to lead off that appeared to make things look interesting. But Ellacott needed just two more pitches to seal the win. On the next pitch, Daniel Paterson grounded into a fielder’s choice at second base. On the final offering, Jacob Gadsden grounded into a 6-4-3 double play that ended the game and gave the Pulberry Trolleys top spot in the West for the first time in franchise history.

These same two teams will face each other in the Western League Pennant Series with Games 1 and 2 set for Pulberry’s Trolleys Stadium. No. 4 starter, LHP Diarmid Rowet (10-7, 3.72 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 110 ERA+) has been penciled in as the Generals’ starter for Game 1. Facing him will be Pullberry’s No. 3 starter, RHP Taylor Folkard (16-10, 3.04 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 135 ERA+).

[DreamTeams]

Solid performance from Ellacott. What a game! Way to go Trolleys!

Now the heavy lifting begins.