Chicago Cougars (FABL)

[ayaghmour2]

RHP Gene Madison (333rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Detroit (1945)
Drafted: 2nd Round, 18th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Sacred Heart Fightin' Irish

You know, this one might be on me. When a guy is nicknamed "Mean Gene," I probably should've assume that he was an issue in the clubhouse. A former 2nd Round selection of the Pioneers, Madison is very outspoken and won't make many friends in the clubhouse. Away in the Navy, Madison didn't pitch for us after being acquired in the Art White trade, but the now 23-year-old is penciled into our AA rotation. He last pitched there in 1944, and the then 21-year-old went 12-6 with a 2.91 ERA (133 ERA+) in 204.1 innings pitched. His 1.42 WHIP was a bit high, and he walked (104) more batters then he struck out (90), but he was one of the younger members of his level. A tall three-pitch righty, Madison is a flyball pitcher, but he managed to not allow a single homer in AA. His best pitch is a superb slider, but his low 90s fastball has nice movement and his curve can get a few whiffs as well. Walks are an issue now, and he'll have to keep them in check to fill a major league rotation, but his personality may impede his progress if he's not consistently putting up impressive numbers on the mound.

C Alex O'Dailey (338th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 75th Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Hartford Bulldogs

Our 5th Rounder this year, Alex O'Dailey started his minor league career down in La Crosse, appearing in 78 games and making 302 trips to the plate. He didn't do great, and really struggled with picking up extra base hits. He had just 5 doubles, a triple, and 2 homers, which held his slugging percentage a bit below .300. He finished his time with a .250/.327/.299 (83 OPS+) season line, walking 29 times and driving in 30 runs. A bat-first hitter, he is serviceable behind the plate and projects to hit for a high average while maintaining a high on-base percentage. He has a smooth swing and puts the ball in play consistently, and at just 18 he has plenty of developing ahead of him. He's no Eddie Howard, but catching depth can be very useful. In the league, it seems to come and go, as some years there are plenty of suitable catchers while others the potential regulars are few and far between. O'Dailey could be an above average catcher, but he carries plenty of risk, and may be stuck behind one of the best ones once Eddie is ready.

RHP Harry MacRae (350th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 112th Overall (1942)
Alma Mater: Topeka State Braves

Another tough 40-man decision, Harry MacRae didn't do himself any favors, as his 1945 season wasn't anything like 1944. Last year in 24 starts with the Commodores MacRae went 15-9 with a 2.84 ERA (140 ERA+), 1.25 WHIP, 60 walks, and 72 strikeouts. I expected him to pitch similar when he repeated the level, but he was just 12-12 with a 4.03 ERA (99 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 43 walks, and 60 strikeouts. Rather surprisingly, MacRae's FIP- was far better this season (83) then last (93), but he struggled to keep runs off the board. A two-pitch pitcher, MacRae seems destined for the pen, where he could be a pretty solid stopper. He has the stamina to pitch multiple innings multiple days in a row, and his command is elite. His 1.9 BB/9 was impressive, and he nearly always strikes out more hitters then he walks. His curveball is a very strong pitch, and his low 90s fastball is a consistent, reliable offering. He keeps the ball on the ground and should do a great job limiting the longball. We have open 40 spots, and there are waivable guys still hanging around, but right now I'm leaning towards leaving the 24-year-old unprotected.

LHP Bob Hobbs (354th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 119th Overall (1939)
Alma Mater: Brookhaven Panthers

Over the last three seasons, Bob Hobbs has been away, serving his country in the Marines. If he was stateside, he may have debuted this season, and our minor league coaches think he's big league ready. Now 24, his last minor league season was split between the A and B levels, going 8-5 in 23 starts. His 2.00 ERA (166 ERA+) in 85.2 innings with San Jose were amazing, and while it jumped to 4.06 (96 ERA+) after the promotion, he still held an average 97 FIP-. Hobbs has always been a big strikeout arm, and he has tremendous stuff. His command eludes him at times, as evidenced by the 44 walks in 71 innings with the Legislators, but the young southpaw has really exciting tools. He can also be selected in the Rule-5 draft, and while he could be a decent pen arm, I can't see another team taking a risk on a guy who hasn't pitched above A ball.

LF Bob Rogers (363rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 93rd Overall (1943)
Alma Mater: Newman Norseman

One of the few hitters to hit better the average at La Crosse, Rogers produced a 109 WRC+ in 54 games, slashing .272/.337/.347 (100 OPS+) with 8 doubles, a triple, homer, and 12 RBIs. He also got a few games in San Jose, but Rogers went just 10-for-43 without an extra base hit. 21 in January, Rogers has played 242 games for the Lions, so I'm hoping he'll be ready for San Jose next season. A hard working bat-first prospect, Rogers has a good eye and makes consistent contact, but I don't think he'll ever hit for much power. Competing for batting titles may be tough, even if OSA thinks there's a chance, but I can see him as a pretty consistent .300 hitter. "Snoot" has some versatility for a corner bat, capable in left, right, and first, but the bat will be his key to success. If he can hit, he'll crack a big league roster, but he's very underdeveloped and his ceiling isn't all that high. I see bench bat in his future, but his minor league numbers have been uninspiring, and I'm leaning towards the under on him. At bats will be tough to come by, so if he doesn't start hitting soon, he may be relegated to a bench role.

[ayaghmour2]

SS Tom Brownleaf (367th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 125th Overall (1943)
Alma Mater: Durant Lions

A natural shortstop, Tom Brownleaf split his time almost identically between short (292.1) and second (294.1), moving around depending on what level he was at and his fellow infielders. The 20-year-old was taken in the 8th Round of the 1943 draft, so that means he was one of the vets down in La Crosse and San Jose. After hitting just .225/.285/.282 (67 OPS+) with the Lions last year, Brownleaf got off to a quick start and hit .281/.343/.375 (109 OPS+) with 4 doubles, a triple, and 5 RBIs in 18 games. With guys like Pat Todd, Jim Mako, and Bill Cook all struggling in San Jose, Brownleaf was an obvious callup even with the small sample, and he spent the next 54 games with the Cougars. It didn't go too well, but he still produced a positive WAR (0.7) with a .206/.268/.333 (75 OPS+) batting line. One reason I kept him up was the five home runs, as it's not like Brownleaf was just singling and striking out. He had 12 extra base hits with 18 runs, 17 RBIs, and 9 steals and he drew 13 walks as well. The strikeouts were high, but in line with most of his similarly aged teammates, and his value isn't solely tied to his bat. He should hit far better next season in San Jose, as he has an excellent eye and uses his speed and baserunning abilities to his advantage. He may not put the ball in play enough to be counted on in the lineup, but he has a low floor due to his defensive abilities. He was superb at second and is capable at short, and Brownleaf has had some past experience at the hot corner. With his speed, outfield is likely an option, and even if it's just left and right that's plenty of value from one bench player. Add in the fact he's a switch hitter, giving him plenty of value if he comes in as a pinch runner or defensive replacement if his spot in the batting order comes around.

RHP Dick Garcia (331st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 45th Overall (1943)
Alma Mater: Geneva Vikings

Our regional pick in 1943, Dick Garcia started his season in San Jose, and was very effective in 19 starts. He went 11-5 with a 3.82 ERA (91 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 35 walks, and 95 strikeouts. Don't let that ERA fool you, as his 2.96 FIP (85 FIP-1) was elite, as was his 2.7 K/BB in 117.2 innings pitched. With a need for starters in Lincoln, the then 20-year-old was one of the few to not have a down arrow, so his last seven starts came with the Legislators. He went just 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA (61 ERA+) and 2.37 WHIP with 21 walks and just 6 strikeouts. He was clearly overmatched, and we may send him back to San Jose to start next season. If that's the case, it shouldn't feel like a demotion for Garcia, but next season will be a crucial one in his development. His age will work for him, but he's dropped to a borderline starter for future role and his competition has multiplied. Depending on who he gets stuck with in his level, he may start the season as a stopper. He does have a really good sinker, and his work in the weight room has helped him take it from 83-85 to 86-88. The issue is his cutter and change haven't overly impressed, and he really has to rely on the change as a sinker-cutter starter doesn't profile all that well. If he can't start, Garcia could be a devastating sinker-balling stopper, because right now he looks to be someone you'd only want to start in a dire emergency.

RHP Jimmy Ballard (415th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 84th Overall (1939)
Alma Mater: Donora Bombers

The best news for Jimmy Ballard this season was that he stayed healthy. Sure, he did have a sore knee that cost him a single start, but the 23-year-old has already had three ailments to keep him out more then a month. A former 6th Rounder, Ballard has been with us since 1939, and reached AA for the first time last season. He made 11 starts for the Commodores in 1944, but went just 3-6 with a 4.77 ERA (83 ERA+). This year Ballard made all 28 of his starts in Mobile, finishing 15-12 with a 3.83 ERA (104 ERA+) and 1.47 WHIP in 218.1 innings pitched. The 6'4'' righty was effectively wild, walking 108 hitters and striking out 106. He has a serious issue with his control, mostly due to the arm injuries, so he will need to continue to strike out a high amount of hitters. His sidearm windup can be tough for hitters to track, and its difficult to elevate the ball against him. His stuff is good enough to start in the big leagues, but if he can't locate his pitches he won't be any good.

RF Harry Austin (427th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 44th Overall (1944)
Alma Mater: New Athens Yellow Jackets

Another regional draftee, Harry Austin plummeted in the prospect rankings, dropping nearly 200 spots this season. He's still young, turning 19 in September, he split his time between La Crosse and San Jose, struggling mightily at each. In high school last season, Austin hit .525, so I wouldn't have expected lines of .172/.258/.246 (41 OPS+) and .147/.238/.224 (36 OPS+) at any level. Austin appeared in 81 games, tallying just 11 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, and 21 RBIs. Since Austin is a bat first prospect, he was worth nearly a full run and a half WAR less then a replacement player. If there was a plus to his production, he walked (28) a few less times then he struck out (38), so most of his outs were made by opposing defenses. He still projects well at the plate, with a strong hit tool that will see him place the ball in play regularly while not missing many pitches. He won't hit for much power, but he should make up for that with his consistency. A bit on the lazy side, I'm worried Austin may not be too interested in personal improvement. He has the natural ability to crack a big league roster, but without the drive, his career could get stuck in neutral very quickly.

RF Bill Rich (429th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 44th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Grange College Mustangs

1945 was a big year for Bill Rich, who was lucky enough to make his FABL debut, and as an Illinois native, playing for the Chiefs or the Cougars can be a dream come true. Rich seized an opportunity when Cliff Moss got hurt, and appeared in 23 games for us this season. He hit an impressive .312/.371/.391 (119 OPS+) in 70 trips to the plate, producing a 132 WRC+ with a homer and 8 RBIs. He walked (6) more then he struck out (4), and handled right field rather well. 27 in April, Rich isn't likely to make the Opening Day roster, but with an option year left he could hang on to his 40-man spot throughout the offseason. He's not the greatest defender either, but he handled both corners well, and he could fill in at first if necessary. He hit plenty well in the minors, so Rich could be a very valuable bat off the bench. I can't see him being anything more then a bench bat, but he could always hit himself into time as an injury replacement. Just like this season!

[ayaghmour2]

In what may be the biggest move of the offseason, and certainly the biggest in what has been a slow offseason and Winter Meetings, we made a trade with the Pioneers to upgrade a lineup that was very poor last season. Yes, we're getting a ton of guys back, but after finishing bottom three in offense for the first time in nearly a decade, it was time to make a change. We paid a pretty penny to acquire (who I think is) the best likely available player this offseason, Hal Sharp and cash, for youngsters Lefty Jones and Bill Perrin, with Ollie Page (who is likely to be released) joining the duo strictly for salary purposes.

Now you may be asking, why are we adding a below average defensive first basemen when we already have Ray Ford and Dick Walker? To play him in right field of course!

Look, I love Billy Hunter. We all know that. But the almost 31-year-old former 1st Rounder has sustained 35 separate injuries since debuting in our system in 1933, including 10(!!) separate knee sprains (six left, four right). 1934 was the only non-service season he wasn't hurt, so it's pretty clear I can't count on him handling a full workload. Instead of starting every day (or most) days in right, Hunter will work a super utility low, likely spending four days a week in the lineup, with two starts at second (likely against lefties) and a start each at third and right.

This leaves right field for Sharp, who hasn't started a game out in right since 1941, and has just 3.1 innings out there since. Don't get me wrong, he's going to be awful, but when you produce a 151 WRC+, who cares!

One of the guys who benefited a lot from the war, the Pioneers were looking to shop the recently turned 32-year-old in favor of playing one of Bob Johnston Jr. or Dutch Breunig at first, and while they could play him in left, 22-year-old Larry Gregory (The Pope of Chicago) had a nice rookie season and should be an excellent outfielder, and right fielder Al Tucker is one of the best hitters (and probably should be in the top 20 but for some reason isn't) in the game. This made Sharp expendable, despite an outstanding season in a career high 141 games.

A former 5th Round pick by the Kings back in 1931, Sharp cracked the top 100 in 1934, and was traded in a big July deal that brought him to the Pioneers. The Kings moved him, Al Sears, and Dixie League to St. Louis for a 2nd Round Pick, and a pitcher I really wanted at the time, Joe Shaffner. Sharp was just 20 at the time, but worked his way up to St. Louis and cracked the Opening Day roster in 1937. The then 23-year-old appeared in 126 games, and hit a productive .301/.360/.404 (103 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 8 homers, and 50 RBIs. He then alternated playing in St. Louis and then the farm, but he's appeared in 100 or more games for the Pioneers in each of the next five seasons. Discounting his 329 PA sample in 1942, Sharp has been an above average hitter in terms of OPS+ and WRC+, with a 110 or better in four of the last five seasons. Despite that, he's never started more then 125 games, but he cemented himself in the lineup last season.

Despite the Pioneers falling into the cellar last season, Sharp had himself a little breakout, slashing .322/.391/.387 (130 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 4 homers, and 40 RBIs, with a few more walks (41) then strikeouts (38). This season he took it to the next level, being selected to his first All-Star game and finishing the season 3rd in the FA batting title. The lefty swinger hit a robust .341/.406/.458 (138 OPS+) and was worth 3.5 WAR despite being a really bad defender (-8.6, .934). Sharp tallied 18 doubles, 2 triples, 12 homers, 84 RBIs, and 58 walks in 561 trips to the plate, providing tremendous production every time he stepped up to the plate. He's not quite a Leo Mitchell type player, but Sharp has one of the best swings in the league, and excels at hitting it where they ain't. He's got a nice eye and won't strike out too much, and he could be one of Mitchell's toughest competition for his third batting title in four years.

A hearty platoon guy, Sharp won't see much time against lefties, he had just a 38 WRC+ against lefties this season (177 against righties) and a 92 for his career (versus 129 against righties). Hunter or Don Lee will get the starts against southpaws, but the second a righty pitcher shows up, you know Sharp will be standing on the top step ready to make a huge impact. Sharp owns a career .303/.376/.402 (118 OPS+) line and a 122 WRC+ with 108 doubles, 47 triples, and 342 RBIs, so even if he has a stark drop-off with the return of all the vets, he should be a crucial bat in the lineup. My guess is the right field experiment will last just one year (if even that much), and with Dick Walker turning 40 next September, first base will be open very soon. Him and Ray Ford (143 career WRC+ against lefties) will form a devastating platoon, with the other a potential game changer off the bench. We already know our pitching is going to be elite, but the lineup may now be both the deepest and best in all of baseball. Harry Mead, who loves alternating between good and bad seasons, is the only lineup member who produced a below average WRC+ in his most recent season, and we now have 12 players on the roster (if you count Bill Rich and Fred Vargas) with an above average WRC+ and OPS+ in their most recent sample. I'm of the camp that you can never have too many good players, and after 14 consecutive seasons of failure, I will do everything in my power to bring a title back to Chicago.

One player who may not get to see that is Rich Langton, who may be on the fringes of the roster. Our 3rd Rounder way back in 1932, Langton has appeared in 60 or more games in each season for us since 1935, but the 34-year-old hasn't quite hit the same since straining his oblique in 1943. In the nine seasons (including '43) prior, he had just one season with a below average OPS+ and WRC+, with a 115 or better in all but two of those campaigns. Last season he hit just .244/.299/.389 (97 OPS+) with a 103 WRC+ in a part time role, but I thought 1945 would be big for Langton. With Mitchell overseas, left field was Langton's all year, but he didn't take advantage of the lineup spot. His .267/.333/.346 (95 OPS+) triple slash left lots to be desired, even if it came with 21 doubles, 5 triples, 3 homers, 13 steals, 51 walks, and 57 RBIs. He'll have to beat out Fred Vargas, who does have one option left, and/or Ray Struble, as spots are already reserved for Mitchell, Lee, Sharp, and Carlos Montes. If this spells the end for Langton, he'll finish his Cougar career with 1,209 games and a .291/.349/.435 (117 OPS+) line. I don't think he'll be on the chopping block, but even if he makes the roster, his playing time may be very limited.

The longtime Cougar who did lose his roster job, however, was Ollie Page, as our awful financial situation necessitated his involvement in the deal. While it may seem like he's a Cougar lifer, we acquired Page way back in 1934 from the Eagles for Claude Ramsey, Ike Quinn, and a 4th Round Pick. He spent 20 games in Milwaukee to start the season, before appearing in 95 games. He hit an impressive .296/.376/.441 (118 OPS+) in exactly 400 plate appearances while worth exactly three wins above replacement. Page played solid defense (3.2, 1.015) at short and added 14 doubles, 9 triples, 6 homers, and 37 RBIs with many more walks (43) then strikeouts (27). He was an every day player the next two seasons, but he never quite matched his production as a rookie.

Discounting the 1942 season, where he spent just September in Chicago, Page was a fixture of our roster, but from 1941 to 1944 he played very sparingly. 1945 was somewhat of a resurgence for the 35-year-old, who hit a rather impressive .284/.382/.381 (120 OPS+) against the watered down Continental Association pitching. His 279 PAs were the most since 1940, and just 15 less then his tally in the previous four seasons combined. In terms of both OPS+ and WRC+ (124), it was the best of his big league career and just one of six seasons he tallied more then 250 trips to the plate. If this marks the end of Page's big league career, the former 5th Rounder would have played 915 big league games. He was worth just over 10 (10.9) WAR with a .252/.335/.361 (91 OPS+) batting line. He made just under 3,000 trips to the plate, accumulating 74 doubles, 48 triples, 37 homers, 29 steals, 282 RBIs, and 322 walks. If he's cut and will accept a minor league deal, I'd quickly snap him up, but my guess is that he'll be one of the 100+ players delusional enough to think a team will cough up $10,000+ to sign them, while every organization is dealing with too many bodies and not enough spots.

[ayaghmour2]

RHP Bill Holloway (422nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 56th Overall (1943)
Alma Mater: Lincoln College Presidents

After a strong season in San Jose last year, Bill Holloway spent his entire season in Lincoln. It wasn't perfect, but Holloway competed in each start, going 11-14 with a 4.52 ERA (91 ERA+) in 29 starts. Holloway tallied 183 innings with 87 walks and 124 strikeouts, but his 1.60 WHIP was very elevated. FIP still thought he was an above average pitcher, as he recorded a 3.93 (94 FIP-) due to his impressive 6.1 K/9 and 0.3 BB/9. A big strikeout arm, Holloway has impressive stuff, featuring a nice high 80s fastball and sinker. His fastball is the go to, but his sinker is effective down in the zone. His change and knuckle curve can get strikeouts, but Holloway doesn't have full faith in them yet. The Chicago native has a lot of interesting tools, and very well developed stuff, but his command eludes him at times. Right now, he projects to be nothing more then a spot starter, but he's just 23 and could have a velo bump left in him to take him to the next level.

3B Buddy Brumbaugh (444th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 97th Overall (1944)
Alma Mater: Wallingford Wild Boars

Last year Holloway and Buddy Brumbaugh were back-to-back in the prospect rankings, but at 18 and 19 instead of 36 and 37. While Holloway didn't have a poor season, Buddy really struggled, and actually hit worse in his 18 games with the Lions then he did in 54 with the Cougars. That's not to say that he hit well in San Jose, as the third sacker hit just .222/.269/.351 (80 OPS+) with 8 hits, a triple, 4 homers, and 18 RBIs. He struck out a whopping 62 times in 182 trips to the plate, while drawing just 9 walks. To be fair, Buddy just turned 20, and spent all of his season as a teenager. He hit better then some of our other youngsters, and showed decent enough power. He won't be a big home run hitter, but he does a good job drawing walks and should develop into a strong defender. Third will be his spot, but he can handle second and short as well. The former 7th Rounder has dropped a bit in our prospect rankings, but he should be able to keep every day at bats through next season.

C Homer Guthrie (446th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 110th Overall (1942)
Alma Mater: Maryland State Bengals

A hot-sauce connoisseur, no one benefitted from the Mike Taylor retirement as much as Homer Guthrie. Sure, I was likely planning on protecting him in the Rule-5 draft regardless, but now the former 7th Rounder seems to be locked in to the back-up catcher role on the big league club. 25 on New Year's, Guthrie had a big season for the Blues, appearing in 131 games and making 537 trips to the plate while worth nearly 5 (4.9) WAR. Guthrie produced a 123 WRC+ and slashed .275/.390/.351 (111 OPS+) with 21 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, and 62 RBIs. A disciplined hitter as well, he walked (80) nearly twice as often as he struck out (43), and his eye is likely the best of his tools. He's a capable defender too, throwing out over half (53.3%) the runners that tried to steal, and while efficiency/zone rating aren't great ways to measure catcher defense, his are off the charts (1.243, 4.7). Pitcher's love throwing to the tall and athletic 6'3'' righty, and he does a good job managing the staff. He could be a fringe starter, but with Mead there now and Eddie Howard ready, Guthrie could fill our backup catcher role for seasons to come. He's got all three options, which will prolong his time in the organization, but even if Mead gets injured, Howard likely gets the lion's share of the starts. Still, for a 7th Rounder, career cady isn't too bad. And you get to collect that pay check!

RHP Ray Warren (451st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 9th Round, 141st Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Westminster Warriors

A pretty solid AI pick, Ray Warren is good enough to start, but I had plenty of other arms I wanted to give starts to, so the now 18-year-old spent his time as the Lions stopper. He looked pretty good, going 5-4 with 6 saves, a 2.91 ERA (105 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 28 walks, and 29 strikeouts in 52.2 innings pitched. A three pitch pitcher, I will look to get him some starts, but we have so many arms and not enough innings. Warren could be subjected to the pen again, but I want him to get at least five starts (if not more) in the upcoming season. A soft-tosser, Warren won't pile up the strikeouts, but he does a good job generating weak contact. I'm not sure his future lies in a big league rotation, but he has the stuff to start, and his youth works against him. Crazy enough, he's been a live a year less then the human era, and no 18-year-olds are fully developed.

RHP Wally Eversole (469th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 9th Round, 143rd Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Centreville Choctaws

Taken two picks after Warren, Eversole checks in right after Warren in our prospect rankings, and rounds out our top 40. Unlike Warren, Eversole started all eight of his appearances, but he ran into some troubles. The 18-year-old went 2-5 with a 3.61 ERA (84 ERA+) and 1.37 WHIP with 23 walks and 31 strikeouts, but actually threw less (47.1) innings then Warren did out of the pen. It may be tough for Eversole to pick up starts next season, but right now La Crosse manager Ted Crittenden wants him in the four spot, pushing Al Robison and Lonnie Sis to the pen. A four pitch pitcher, Eversole has very raw stuff, with his best pitch projected to be a low 90s cutter. None of his four offerings are going to be plus or better, but he's a finesse guy opposed to a power pitcher. If he can keep his pitches in the zone, he could be effective, but his control will need some work. If he keeps walking batters, he'll be lucky to get the occasional spot start, and while there is some promise, he could be mopping up games in the farm a few seasons in the future.

[ayaghmour2]

It has been, and will continue to be, a slow offseason, but luckily not like most other slow offseason. Not only is there plenty in the works behind the scenes (including Figment Hockey!), but there has been plenty to do. The slower pace has allowed a more time for a gradual pruning of our roster. I've done well to guide us towards potential profitability, as there are so many intriguing players I've had to watch get released because we can't claim any players on waivers. Despite the demands their demands, the free agent pool now has plenty of talented players that could have been acquired much cheaper. Some of those include players of our own, who I would love to bring back on a minor league deal. With so many players available, there have been rumblings of a new competitive loop trying to organize.

The Cougars have seen plenty of changes, as our 40-man roster sits at 38 with plenty of deserving players currently left unprotected. Unless there is someone really good left I can't really see us making a pick, as that would mean dedicating a roster spot to someone all season to. We have plenty of FABL level players that will be stuck in Milwaukee already. We only have four players out of options with Ray Struble the only who may end up getting cut. Most others have lost their spot already. Below I'll cover some of the more prominent transactions that have happened so far, as well as our current 40-Man roster.

40-Man Roster
RHP Joe Brown (31)*
LHP Duke Bybee (23)
RHP Stan Flanders (22)
RHP Donnie Jones (26)
LHP Johnnie Jones (27)
RHP Charlie Kelsey (24)
RHP Angel Lopez (27)
RHP Ken Matson (27)
RHP George Oddo (23)
RHP Pete Papenfus (27)
RHP Harry Parker (30)
RHP Rusty Petrick (30)
RHP Billy Riley (31)
RHP Joe Swank (23)
RHP Mike Thorpe (23)
RHP Lyn Trease (25)
LHP Rusty Watts (30)
C Homer Guthrie (24)
C Eddie Howard (22)
C Harry Mead (31)
1B Ray Ford (34)
1B Dick Walker (39)
2B Clark Car (31)
2B Billy Hunter (31)
2B Jimmie James (27)
2B Rabbit Mudd (36)*
3B Hank Barnett (36)
3B Otto Christian (23)
SS Skipper Schneider (25)
SS George Sutterfield (23)
LF Rich Langton (34)
LF Leo Mitchell (32)
CF Don Lee (23)
CF Carlos Montes (29)
CF Ray Struble (31)*
RF Bill Rich (26)
RF Hal Sharp (32)*
RF Fred Vargas (27)

*Out of Options

Lost on Waivers
RHP Fred Thaxton (27) to Detroit
RHP Bill Tuttle (26) to Cincinnati
1B Bob Griffin (23) to Philadelphia
3B Ken Mayhugh (34) to Chicago
CF Henry DeVeaux (25) to Philadelphia
CF Ernie Martini (28) to Detroit

Notable Releases
RHP Rube Finegan (28)
C Gene Lee (25)
2B Bill Dickens (32)
2B Steve Rosko (27)
3B Dick Carson (28)
3B Steve Jones (28)
LF Bob Harris (24)
LF Huck Hanes (27)
CF Jim Madsen (28)
CF Orlin Yates (34)

Returned to Minors
LHP Ed Fisler (24)

Retired
RHP Ben Curtin (40)
LHP Dick Lyons (45)
C Mike Taylor (39)
2B Tip Harrison (34)
RF Cliff Moss (39)
RF Dick Earl (31)

[ayaghmour2]

As a team without any money to spend on players, the Rule-5 Draft was our only real shot at adding to the big league roster. Even though I later released Lyn Trease (for some reason he's still a Rule-5 Pick even though he spent 90 days in Chicago his draft year), I only would have wanted one player, as our roster is pretty full. Our addition could be a big one, as we added 33-year-old infielder Jim Beard from the Sailors. Even better, no one was lost!

Taken 3rd Overall way back in 1930, there was a time I believed the "The Flatbush Flash" would be the best shortstop in the entire FABL, and before settling on Ollie Page, I tried to poach the young shortstop from the Eagles before the 1935 season. They inserted Jim Beard into the starting lineup themselves, and the 22-year-old appeared in 106 games and hit .290/.371/.398 (102 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 7 triples, 4 homers, 10 steals, and 39 RBIs. Beard added to his games played total in each of the next three seasons, and had a huge breakout in 1937. Beard was worth a personal best 6.3 wins above replacement to go with a .360/.426/.462 (136 OPS+) batting line. He stole a league high 55 bags in 88 attempts, and tallied 27 doubles, 6 triples, 8 homers, and 89 RBIs. It was his second of two All-Star seasons, but after coming back down to earth the next year, his time in Washington was coming to a close. Beard hit .311/.382/.407 (110 OPS+) in 529 games in the Fed before being sent to the Sailors for Jack Bush and Brad Manguson.

Beard has been a Sailor ever sense, and played nearly every inning for them at the hot corner. His first season in Philly may have been his best there, hitting .303/.359/.420 (108 OPS+) with 27 doubles, 10 triples, 6 homers, 85 RBIs, and 19 steals. He took a step back in 1940 with similar production in '41, but the then 28-year-old endured a nightmare of a season in '42. While he did appear in a career high 152 games, Beard hit just .228/.303/.283 (75 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 4 triples, 3 homers, 10 steals, and 60 RBIs. In a non-war environment, that may have been his last chance as an everyday player, but the Sailors showed confidence in the Brooklyn native and returned him to third. He hit much better, worth nearly 4 WAR while slashing .263/.318/.368 (105 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 7 triples, 5 homers, 6 steals, and 64 RBIs. He won't start for us, with Hank Barnett locked in at third net season, Skipper at short forever, and Clark Car holding second with Billy Hunter in the mix for games whenever guys need some rest. Instead, Beard will be a very strong, league minimum bench piece. Not only is he fast, but arguably the best baserunner in the game, and has swiped 161 bags in 1,245 games. He's not going to put up 20+ anymore, but having him replace Barnett on the bases in a do-or-die situation is major. Tom Weinstock still thinks he's an above average starter, but I'll be happy with some help on the bases and a veteran presence in the clubhouse. The fans really like him too, and he's a favorite among the youngsters. He should be able to hold a roster spot all season long, and is excellent injury insurance if the ailments pile up on us.

A lot is going on elsewhere, with a "Rebel" league founded by Thomas X. Bigsby is getting started, which is great for all the free agents who think they're FABL-quality players. Once this gets underway, I'll report a little on some familiar faces joining the squads. We also have the draft to worry about, which will happen sometime between Thursday and next week. Our system could use a little jolt, as while it is still deep, a lot of our top prospects are either graduated or on the 40. The pool looks to be fairly deep, and as always, the draft should bring a lot of fun. We have an extra 4th from the Art White trade, and while I'd love to add more picks, my guess is there won't be many available. We're picking 12th in the non-lottery rounds, but have a good chance of picking a bit earlier in the lottery ones. I can't see us top five again, but there will be plenty of exciting players available when our number comes up.

[ayaghmour2]

The draft started today, and there have been plenty of trades after the lottery. This year the first and second rounds have different orders, which benefitted us as we drew 14 for the first round. With just one lottery, we would have picked 30th as well, but instead we were drew fourth and will slot in at 20. This is a really deep draft, but there is one player (not the best, as John Stallings was the obvious #1) I've been targeting since he was playing T-ball in the 30s. I am actively looking to move up, but we acquired a pick that guarantees us a top talent. In a three-team agreement, we sent pick 14 to the Chiefs, and pick 44 (our third) and Mean Gene Madison to the Kings to acquire pick 10 from the Kings, who acquired pick 27 and former Cougar Solly Skidmore from the Chiefs.

We'll pick 10th and 20th, but then a large gap before our next pick. There is still more time for scoring, but we then go 59th and 60th. Then for the last four rounds we'll pick 12th each go. I'm already working on more deals, and will update this post as needed until we make our first round selection.

--

See? Told you! Quickly after sending picks away, we brought a few back, acquiring the Gothams 4th and 7th Round picks, which both come third in the round. The price was a pair of military vets in Harl Haines and Tom Jovin. Haines, now 28, debuted for us in 1941, and was set to crack our rotation when Peter the Heater decided to enlist. Instead, Haines was drafted into Navy, where he spent the next four years of his career. With all the pitching depth we have now, there was no obvious rotation spot for him, and now he'll get a chance to pitch with the run support of Sal Pestilli, Red Johnson, and Walt Messer. The prize is the former second rounder Jovin, who ranks 201st in the prospect rankings and won't turn 20 until May. He was in the Army this season, but posted a 99 WRC+ in 35 games for the Lions his draft year. With the institution of the rebel league, you need empty roster spots to add free agents, and there are a lot of exciting guys available wanting minor league deals I've had to miss out on.

[ayaghmour2]

1st Round, 10th Overall: RHP Bob Allen
School: Pullman Engineers
1945: 9-2, 109 IP, 1.32 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 26 BB, 156 K
Career: 18-3, 203 IP, 1.20 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 45 BB, 292 K

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

HE WENT THE PICK BEFORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TO A TEAM THAT ALREADY DRAFTED SOMEONE AT HIS POSITION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

*Sighs*

*Recomposes*

*Exhales*

Okay...

I'm okay...

So obviously, I didn't get the guy. That was Chicago baseball superstar Yank Taylor, who joins the equally talented Danny Taylor, as the future right fielder of the Boston Minutemen. At a total loss, I had to burn my entire draft plan as it all hinged on getting Yank.

It took some convincing, but I finally settled on a young 17-year-old who my scout thinks is the best pitcher not named John Stallings available. I should also make it clear, that this pool is very deep and Allen is a good player, but it's been over an hour of real life time since my pick and I still haven't gotten over missing out on Yank. So believe me, if it sounds like I'm not excited about Allen, it's not a knock on him.

I just really wanted Yank... :/

In actuality, Allen may be the better player, and Tom Weinstock ranks him two spots higher then Yank in his top 10. Don't let his size fool you, as despite weighting just 145 pounds and standing at just 5'9'', this kid is glowing with potential.18 in May, the California native has spent the past two seasons in the Sonora rotation, going 18-3 with a 1.20 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 45 walks, and 292 strikeouts. He started all 28 of his appearances and averaged over seven innings a start, sporting an excellent mix of stuff and control. He can pitch deep into games and attacks even the best hitters, and he should be able to come up when it matters most. In terms of fall back options, there aren't too many better then Allen.

Both OSA and Tom Weinstock rave about Allen's potential, labeling him an anchor of a rotation. Other then the built in risk of being a high schooler and a starter, it's hard to find a flaw with the young righty. A four pitch pitcher, Allen is an extreme groundball pitcher, and that's exactly the type of pitcher you want on the mound when you have the one and only Skipper Schneider at short. And with Allen, it's not a Dick Lyons or Art White type who doesn't get whiffs, it'll come with huge strikeout numbers. He's not a hard thrower, just 86-88 right now, but he has a devastating slider that could be one of the best in the games. That pitch alone is enough to earn him starts at the highest level, but he commands his fastball very well and it's a tough pitch to square up. The curve and change could use some work, but with his excellent control, he won't hang either over the center of the plate. Allen is a golden arm with crazy potential, but he's extremely raw and hasn't quite dominated the high school level. His senior year will be a big one for him, and a growth spurt or velocity boost could take him to the next level. He's smart and composed under pressure, and he's got grit you don't always see in young arms. I know we have plenty of talented young pitchers; Duke Bybee, George Oddo, Mike Thorpe, Joe Swank, and Bert Rogers, but hey! You can never have too many!

And maybe, one of them can turn into Yank Taylor! Just maybe...

[ayaghmour2]

2nd Round, 20th Overall: CF Frank Reece
School: Villisca Bluejays
1944: .484/.554/.934, 115 PA, 15 2B, 4 3B, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 32 SB
Career: .487/.561/.979, 234 PA, 30 2B, 10 3B, 14 HR, 62 RBI, 67 SB

In hindsight, despite not getting Yank, almost everything else worked out. As I expected, mine and my scouts top tens were decimated even at pick ten. Before settling on Bob Allen, I was debating between him and center fielder Bill Newhall, who ended up going to the Miners 13th. "The Hollis Hotshot" has elite potential and would be an excellent replacement once the gifted Pablo Reyes decides to call it quits. Even in a draft with plenty of bats, pitchers go off the board early, so I can safely assume both Allen and Newhall wouldn't have been available at 14. I now think going with Allen over Newhall is already looking like the better pick, as guess what position the best available prospect at pick 20 was? A center fielder!

Frank Reece would be the fourth at his position selected, joining three very exciting future All-Stars in Newall, the Sailors' Billy Forbes, and the Minutemen's Dick Helfand. Yes, those pesky Minutemen took a third outfielder in a span of just thirteen picks. And I think Frank Reece is on that level!

This now makes three top twenty center fielders we've selected in the past two drafts, but I'll have to watch more then twenty players I might want get snapped up before I pick again, and Reece is not the type of guy we'll be able find in the new fourth round. Plus with three picks in that round, we can spread the wealth and plan based on what positions have the most talent left. No need to reach on a shortstop, catcher, or pitcher, when I can do that with plenty of less risk later on.

Reece doesn't have the typical big league built, he's a skinny 18-year-old from Iowa, and that's part of the reason he didn't start varsity until his sophomore year of high school. Despite looking like a travel ball kid and not one who brought out big league scouts, he hit nearly .500 as a sophomore and owns an impressive .487/.561/.979 line in 234 trips to the plate. Despite his diminutive size, Reece has launched 14 longballs in 46 games with 67 steals and 54 extra base hits. A dedicated and focused worker, he's developed himself into a very exciting prospect, dubbed by the great Tom Weinstock as a future "elite starting center fielder" with specific praise to his speed, defense, and hit tool. He's one of the quickest players in the class and has a really nice swing. I don't think the power will play in the big leagues, but he still has some time to grow or add muscle. He can be effective without the power, as not only can he beat out any tough grounder, but he consistently puts the ball in play and projects to be a consistent .300+ hitter. His defense out in center is impressive as well, as he can stretch for nearly any ball hit in his direction, and he won't let many get the best of him. It's hard to find a better defender and he's always spending time in practice tracking fungos.

He might have the highest ceiling of all our talented center fielders, not just Carl Clark and Johnny Peters, but even Carlos Montes and Don Lee. We can take our time with him, and if he fulfils his lofty potential, our two best players wouldn't get a second look from most girls walking the streets of Chicago. Reece gives off serious Skipper Schneider vibes, with a very similar game to the 5'6'' superstar. Yes, he's a shortstop and not a center fielder, but even discounting the frame, they're both elite defenders with great speed, a strong hit tool, and not much power. Unlike Skipper, I don't see him in the big leagues at 19. Even if it takes him five years to reach the big leagues, Skipper will be just 30, and they could spend multiple seasons stealing hits from opposing batters. Oh how fun it would be to be a pitcher on the Cougars staff!

[ayaghmour2]

4th Round, 51th Overall: SS Tony Scuccinello
School: Redding Hornets
1945: .433/.505/.678, 108 PA, 11 2B, 4 3B, HR, 25 RBI, 23 SB
Career: .433/.505/.678, 108 PA, 11 2B, 4 3B, HR, 25 RBI, 23 SB

This pick may have been a reach, especially because a pair of arms and bats I wanted at 59 and 60 were scooped up before we were up again. That's not to same I'm upset to nab the high schooler shortstop from California, as there were really only four (maybe five or six if you really squint) shortstops that project to be every day players, and three were already taken, and as a shortstop aficionado like myself, I couldn't resist a chance to select "Scooch". The 18-year-old Tony Scuccinello (yes, all the Cs are in the right spot) played JV his first two seasons, but cracked the varsity roster as a Junior at Redding. He didn't have the greatest season, hitting just .433, but he tallied 16 extra base hits in 108 trips to the plate. I'm expecting much more for Scooch in his senior season, as the tools are there, and by November scouting reports are far more glowing then the ones from earlier in the season. He has an excellent hit tool, projecting to hit in the .300s when he's fully developed, and when you mix in his speed, opposing defenses will always be on their toes. He walked (13) more then he struck out (6) as well, and I don't think the young righty will ever have to worry about strikeouts. We'll get little power from him, but if he can provide plus defense once he's fully developed, Scuccinello could be a name the Chicago Daily News reporters will have to get used to spelling.

4th Round, 59th Overall: 2B Roxy Hilts
School: Cedarburg Bulldogs
1945: .458/.527/.771, 115 PA, 15 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 12 SB
Career: .461/.525/.778, 353 PA, 39 2B, 12 3B, 10 HR, 85 RBI, 47 SB

I had so many ideas with what to do with my three fourth. There was the Scooch plus a new battery plan, but my catcher was taken. There was the Scooch plus a pair of boppers, but one was already gone in the 3rd and the other directly in front of this pick. So in the end, I decided to grab a new double play duo and a young pitcher. The second of three prep picks in the round (and unintentionally, five of five total), Roxy Hilts as handled the keystone in each of his three seasons at Cedarburg. Set for a fourth, I'm hoping Hilts can match his production as a freshman, where he hit .479/.541/.787 with 12 doubles, 4 triples, 3 homers, and 26 RBIs with an excellent 13-to-3 walk-to-strikeout ratio. OSA loves the young hitter, projecting that he'll have "the potential to be an impact big leaguer" and they are enamored with his bat-to-ball skills and overall batting profile. I'm not quite as sold as they are, but there is plenty to like about our new infielder. He has one of the best bats of a non-corner player, projecting superior talent at the plate and well above average contact potential. He's useful with the glove too, and while I doubt his range is all that great, he has soft hands and fields his position well. 18 in June, Hilts has plenty of upside, and could be a productive regular for years to come.

4th Round, 60th Overall: RHP Kid Moore
School: Bellmore Cougars
1945: 10-2, 122 IP, 1.03 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 36 BB, 190 K
Career: 17-4, 214 IP, 1.18 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 72 BB, 335 K

In a more normal draft, this wouldn't be the pick for a risky projectable hurler, but there are very few talented young arms and I could not watch them keep falling off the board. 18 in March, Kid is exactly the kind of kid you want for a project, as the wiry righty stands at an impressive 6'5'' which allows him to generate outstanding downward movement on his mid 80s sinker. His best pitch, however, is a nasty slider, and since his fastball doesn't share movement with his sinker, it's an effective third offering. Right now, what stands in Moore's way is his command, and he's going to walk plenty of hitters. With his lofty strikeout numbers, it might not matter too much, as he topped 14 K/9 as a sophomore and junior, and I'd expect more of the same this spring. He's one of nine prep pitchers in the class to have a career K/9 above 14, and his stuff will only get better as he fills out his body. Easily our riskiest pick so far, he could flame out as nothing more then minor league depth, but I think he can pitch his way into a back-end role. His stuff is good enough for him to have the pen as a fallback, but we'll give him every chance to start before making the switch.

[ayaghmour2]

I've been trying to pick up extra picks, but no luck so far. There are plenty of talented players still left, which makes me think there will be some solid players left in the AI rounds, even before counting for any development changes in the next five months. Another nice thing I stumbled on is new infielder Jim Beard is considered a leader, strengthening an already strong group. He wasn't really at risk of losing his roster spot, but this pretty much locks it the rest of the way.

5th Round, 76th Overall: CF Phil Boyes
School: Benton Zephyrs
1945: .486/.556/.752, 135 PA, 13 2B, 5 3B, 2 HR, 34 RBI, 11 SB
Career: .473/.548/.775, 371 PA, 40 2B, 16 3B, 6 HR, 86 RBI, 48 SB

You wouldn't believe me if I told you, but before the draft started, I actually wanted to target college players as we have so many teens in the system. But lo and behold, our sixth pick of the draft is yet another prep player. A soon-to-be four year starter at Benton in Wisconsin, Phil Boyes is a lean and athletic outfielder who has hit over .480 in each of the past seasons and projects to be a force at the plate. He walked nearly three times per every strikeout and Boyes excels at putting the ball in play. Pair that with excellent speed and he's exactly the type of guy you want on base when the big boppers are ready to come up. He won't chase, giving them plenty of pitches to look at, and when he connects he's always looking for the extra base. His heart and hustle play well with his teammates, and his style of play will be adored by the fans. I'm not sure he'll ever hit for much power, but his extra base hits should more then make up for it. His position will remain undetermined, as while he can definitely handle center, he may be best suited in a corner. Any value he can provide defensively is a plus, as he'll more then hit his way up our system.

6th Round, 92nd Overall: SS Bob Stout
School: Eastern Virginia Dukes
1945: .286/.394/.429, 284 PA, 9 2B, 5 3B, 5 HR, 43 RBI, 38 SB
Career: .291/.399/.423, 590 PA, 18 2B, 10 3B, 9 HR, 89 RBI, 77 SB

Well Stout may not be the first Bob we drafted this year, but he is the first college player! After six picks from high school, I forced myself to grab a college kid in the 20-year-old shortstop Bob Stout. I mentioned when I took Scooch in the 4th there were only really four good shortstops in the class, but Stout is one of those where if you squint, you can see the talent. A very prototypical pick of mine, Stout is the versatile college shortstop who can play good defense and provide some value with the bat. Set to be a three year starter for the Dukes, Stout hit nearly .300 as a Freshman and has accumulated 37 extra base hits and 2.6 WAR across the past two seasons. An athletic youngster, Stout is also a superior gloveman, providing above average value at short while making a handful of appearances at second, third, and right. He has good speed and works the count well, but it's yet to be seen if he can consistently put the ball in play. He could hit a few homers too, but he'll need to get on base if he wants to play every day. If everything breaks right, he'll develop into an average big leaguer, but his glove and versatility provide him the very high floor of a useful utility infielder.

[StLee]

Originally Posted by ayaghmour2

1st Round, 10th Overall: RHP Bob Allan
School: Pullman Engineers
1945: 9-2, 109 IP, 1.32 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 26 BB, 156 K
Career: 18-3, 203 IP, 1.20 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 45 BB, 292 K

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

HE WENT THE PICK BEFORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TO A TEAM THAT ALREADY DRAFTED SOMEONE AT HIS POSITION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

*Sighs*

*Recomposes*

*Exhales*

Okay...

I'm okay...

So obviously, I didn't get the guy. That was Chicago baseball superstar Yank Taylor, who joins the equally talented Danny Taylor, as the future right fielder of the Boston Minutemen. At a total loss, I had to burn my entire draft plan as it all hinged on getting Yank.

It took some convincing, but I finally settled on a young 17-year-old who my scout thinks is the best pitcher not named John Stallings available. I should also make it clear, that this pool is very deep and Allen is a good player, but it's been over an hour of real life time since my pick and I still haven't gotten over missing out on Yank. So believe me, if it sounds like I'm not excited about Allen, it's not a knock on him.

I just really wanted Yank... :/

In actuality, Allen may be the better player, and Tom Weinstock ranks him two spots higher then Yank in his top 10. Don't let his size fool you, as despite weighting just 145 pounds and standing at just 5'9'', this kid is glowing with potential.18 in May, the California native has spent the past two seasons in the Sonora rotation, going 18-3 with a 1.20 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 45 walks, and 292 strikeouts. He started all 28 of his appearances and averaged over seven innings a start, sporting an excellent mix of stuff and control. He can pitch deep into games and attacks even the best hitters, and he should be able to come up when it matters most. In terms of fall back options, there aren't too many better then Allen.

Both OSA and Tom Weinstock rave about Allen's potential, labeling him an anchor of a rotation. Other then the built in risk of being a high schooler and a starter, it's hard to find a flaw with the young righty. A four pitch pitcher, Allen is an extreme groundball pitcher, and that's exactly the type of pitcher you want on the mound when you have the one and only Skipper Schneider at short. And with Allen, it's not a Dick Lyons or Art White type who doesn't get whiffs, it'll come with huge strikeout numbers. He's not a hard thrower, just 86-88 right now, but he has a devastating slider that could be one of the best in the games. That pitch alone is enough to earn him starts at the highest level, but he commands his fastball very well and it's a tough pitch to square up. The curve and change could use some work, but with his excellent control, he won't hang either over the center of the plate. Allen is a golden arm with crazy potential, but he's extremely raw and hasn't quite dominated the high school level. His senior year will be a big one for him, and a growth spurt or velocity boost could take him to the next level. He's smart and composed under pressure, and he's got grit you don't always see in young arms. I know we have plenty of talented young pitchers; Duke Bybee, George Oddo, Mike Thorpe, Joe Swank, and Bert Rogers, but hey! You can never have too many!

And maybe, one of them can turn into Yank Taylor! Just maybe...

I can feel the frustration there! Have you been able to dig in a little more about why Boston took your guy? Are they just a best player available draft team type?

Maybe Bob Allan will turn out like Louisiana Lightning, Ron Guidry. Short but with an arm molded by the gods.

[ayaghmour2]

A minor, yet to be announced trade was agreed upon, as we shipped off young righty Tommy Crowe to the Stars for their 9th Round Pick. That pick won't happen until June, but as we approached our last pick, there were still plenty of exciting players to scoop up. Crowe himself was an AI pick, a 12th Rounder in 1944 who went 2-5 with a 3.20 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 70.1 innings for the Lions.

7th Round, 99th Overall: RHP Bill Sweet
School: Catholic Central Crusaders
1945: 9-2, 122 IP, 1.25 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 21 BB, 157 K
Career: 28-3, 328.2 IP, 1.29 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 62 BB, 425 K

The second of two picks acquired from the Gothams during the draft, Bill Sweet will be the last of the two digit draftees. An 18-year-old from Ohio, Sweet is set to start his fourth season as the ace of the Catholic Central Crusaders. Sweet followed up a 10-0 sophomore year with personal bests for ERAs and WHIP with additional bests in strikeouts, starts (16), innings, WAR (6.6), and K/BB (7.5). The talented righty has yet to post an ERA above 1.35, a WHIP above 0.95, or a BB/9 above 2. Signability concerns may have caused him to fall, but now that our owner actually raised our budget by over $100k, I think we'll have the dough to convince him to forego college. A four pitch pitcher, the sidearmer has an excellent slider and a reliable high 80s sinker that produces a multitude of ground balls. His change and knuckle curve don't project to be plus pitches, but if he can locate them, both could be useful change of pace offerings. OSA and Tom Weinstock disagree a bit on his profile, with OSA thinking his stuff could hold him back while Tom thinks its the command. Despite that disagreement, both think he could pitch his way into a back-end role, as he has the tools to pitch as a starter at the highest level.

7th Round, 108th Overall: C Ernie Frost
School: New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy Bulldogs
1945: .450/.534/.670, 121 PA, 10 2B, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 7 SB
Career: .450/.534/.670, 121 PA, 10 2B, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 7 SB

One of Tom Weinstock's favorite bats in the draft, I finally caved and selected backstop Ernie Frost with our 7th Round pick. Yet another high schooler, Frost didn't start until a Junior, but he hit 4 homers and slugged .670 in 24 games at the New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy. A bit on the younger side, he won't turn 18 until August, and he'll join Bill Martin and/or Alex O'Dailey in La Crosse post-draft. What really intrigues on Frost is his power, as he projects to be a pretty strong slugger despite his size. He does swing too much, but he won't chase the real bad pitches, as he can lay off the junk and work the count. Sometimes his aggressiveness hurts him, as he'll put a bad ball in play, but he doesn't yet make enough contact for a high average. The longballs will help, as he profiles as one of those guys who will have high OBPs and slugging without much average. He has obvious offensive potential, but it comes with a lot of developing in the future. Plus there is the risk of being a catcher, with the game spitting out so many subpar ones. Not every catcher can be a Harry Mead or Eddie Howard, but guys like Frost find there way into lineup one way or another.

8th Round, 124th Overall: CF Joe Austin
School: Chesapeake State Clippers
1945: .276/.341/.430, 246 PA, 11 2B, 7 3B, 3 HR, 37 RBI, 34 SB
Career: .276/.341/.430, 246 PA, 11 2B, 7 3B, 3 HR, 37 RBI, 34 SB

Wrapping up the human portion, we drafted just our second college player, Canadian outfielder Joe Austin. Austin enrolled in Chesapeake State in Maryland as a sophomore and hit .276 with 3 homers, 34 steals, and 37 RBIs. The Montreal native is a natural center fielder, but made appearances at first, second, short, left, and right as well. As you might expect, that's a large part of what attracted me to him, as not only can he play all around the diamond, but he's a "defensive marvel" out in center and has played plenty up the middle of the diamond. His speed is a huge plus, but his bat isn't too shabby either. He's a line drive hitter who sprays the ball around the field, and with a a short and compact swing, he can catch up to even the quickest fastballs. Not much home run power, but Austin could be a triples machine, as he'll hit plenty of balls down the line and in the gaps. Whether it's on the bases, in the box, or on the field, he has plenty to offer, but Austin doesn't come with the upside that many of our previous picks boasted. He's a solid reliable roster member who helps the team win, and his hustle and versatility will make him very popular in our organization.

Done with drafting for the Winter, which means baseball is really close to returning. My excitement level is up to 1,000, as we finally get a full season of good 'ol Peter the Heater! Add in the returns of plenty of other favorites in Leo Mitchell, Carlos Montes, and the Jones Brothers, and things are really looking good in Chicago. I don't think we've ever had this level of overall talent in the organization, and while I do say it almost every year, I think this is ours. A new GM in Cincinnati may help too, but on paper I don't think any team in the FABL can keep up with us. At current town, OSA says we are top four in every position except catcher (5th), first (8th), and if you count it, reliever (12th). Our pitching depth is unmatched, with budding stars like Duke Bybee and George Oddo not needed in the rotation, and a former top 15 prospect and #4 pick is our #6 starter. Our bench consists of Ray Ford, Clark Car, Rabbit Mudd, Jim Beard, and Don Lee, all guys who are more then capable of playing every day. Of course, Ford, Car, and Lee will get plenty of at bats, but unlike this season when our best hitter (Cliff Moss) went down and we collapsed, it would take a lot of injuries before we had to tap into a sub-optimal starter. Spring Training starts in almost exactly one month, so as long as we can keep everyone on the field, I think we'll open up a big lead early on.

This time, just try not to blow it? Okay!?

I never want to relive the 1944 collapse ever again...

[ayaghmour2]

BASEBALL IS BACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

After another long offseason where all I could think about is what new ways we'd find to not win a pennant, we at least get to watch some baseball games! And we'll win some of them! Most of the roster is set, so I'm not really going to break down any positional battles, but our roster for the Spring is below:

RHP Joe Brown
LHP Duke Bybee
RHP Charlie Everett
RHP Stan Flanders
LHP Floyd Frost
RHP Art Gilbert
LHP Bob Hobbs
RHP Donnie Jones
LHP Johnnie Jones
RHP Charlie Kelsey
RHP Angel Lopez
RHP Harry MacRae
RHP Ken Matson
RHP George Oddo
RHP Pete Papenfus
RHP Harry Parker
RHP Rusty Petrick
RHP Billy Riley
RHP Joe Swank
RHP Mike Thorpe
LHP Rusty Watts
RHP Chet Williams
C Homer Guthrie
C Eddie Howard
C Harry Mead
C Steve Mountain
1B Norm Anderson
1B Ray Ford
1B Jocko Pollard
1B Dick Walker
2B Clark Car
2B Billy Hunter
2B Jimmie James
2B Rabbit Mudd
2B Connie Wright
3B Hank Barnett
3B Jim Beard
3B Otto Christian
3B Danny Richardson
SS Freddie Bennett
SS Skipper Schneider
SS George Sutterfield
LF Red Blackburn
LF Rich Langton
LF Leo Mitchell
CF Don Lee
CF Carlos Montes
CF Ray Struble
RF Sammy Dillon
RF Dave Haight
RF Bill Rich
RF Hal Sharp
RF Fred Vargas

In other news, we actually got hit by a military callup, as Russ Cushing will spend 1946 in the Army. A former 10th Rounder, the now 21-year-old went 5-8 with a 4.79 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 18 starts for the Legislators. He made four more starts in San Jose, and threw 136 innings between the spots.

Now that we have money, the most exciting part of the spring will be waivers, as we could potentially upgrade the roster. As long as we stay healthy, the overall record doesn't matter, as we're expected to be one of the best teams in the league. The early, very inaccurate preseason predictions think we're going to win the CA, something I'd agree with, but a one game edge over the Cannons will make for a tough season. The craziest part is the runs against -- just 492 runs which is good for only 3.19 runs a game.

[ayaghmour2]

Well, hey! Look at this! A really good week! The Cougars had a minor injury scare, with Duke Bybee dealing with a forearm cramp, but that's really all that didn't go well for us this week. We won six of seven, with the only loss a 6-5 defeat at the hands of the Foresters. With Bybee, we'll take it easy, as even though it's day-to-day for three days, he's getting the whole week off. Not only did the 23-year-old not pitch all that great, but our golden arm is not one worth risking. Now up to fourth in the prospect rankings, Bybee also ranks as our 5th best starter, passing both Billy Riley and Johnnie Jones. He's still ticketed for the farm, as I can't justify moving either to the pen, but the first sign of a long term injury, and Bybee will resume his big league career. I added a few more non-roster invitees to the big league club as well, as we signed FABL vets Johnnie Sundberg and Reginald Westfall on minor league deals. Sundberg, who hit .245 with 21 homers, 12 steals, and 252 RBIs in 712 games, most with the Eagles and a few with the Dynamos, may not be known to many readers, but Westfall should be. The longtime Wolf hit .281/.364/.407 (118 OPS+) with 173 doubles, 34 homers, 324 walks, and 362 RBIs from 1938 to 1944, but he was originally a 7th Round selection of ours in 1932. Traded two seasons later for Clyde Hinzman, Westfall was with the Wolves until enlisting in the Air Force last year, and they cut him this offseason.

Speaking of Riley, he had an excellent start, tossing five scoreless with 4 hits and 2 walks. Johnnie didn't quite match that, just 4 frames with 4 hits, 2 runs, and a strikeout, but its the first start he's made sense 1943. His brother hasn't pitched in a whole nother year, but with 2 hits, 3 strikeouts, and an unearned run, you wouldn't be able to tell. Joe Brown had a similar start, 4 innings of his own with 2 hits, a walk, 2 strikeouts, and an unearned run in his first start since '43. Harry Parker threw 4 scoreless with 5 hits and a walk. Peter the Heater was the lone two start starter, throwing 8 impressive innings with 7 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts, and an unearned run. Looking at the pen, every pitcher, even catcher Eddie Howard, made an appearance, and he was the only one who got less then a full inning. Ken Matson led the way with 4, allowing 3 hits, a run, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. Potential pen member Rusty Watts had a tough go of things, charged with 7 hits, 2 walks, and 4 unearned runs with a single strikeout in 3.2 innings pitched. Bob Hobbs threw three scoreless with 2 hits, a walk, and 4 strikeouts. Harry MacRae tossed 2.1 scoreless with with a pair of hits. Chet Williams struck out three in two perfect frames. Joe Swank struck out one in two perfect innings. Interesting enough, the only two guys who really struggled both made starts last year, with George Oddo and Mike Thorpe roughed up a bit. Oddo went 2 with 5 hits, 2 runs, and 3 strikeouts while Thorpe went 1 with 5 hits and 3 runs. Still, I'm very excited by our performance on the mound, and it bodes very well for the regular season.

While every pitcher got into a game, two hitters didn't, with both Otto Christian and Norm Anderson failing to make a trip to the plate. I was surprised with Otto, but since he'll be in the minors anyways, it won't matter too much. The most at bats went to Carlos Montes, who was just 2-for-20 with a double, walk, 2 RBIs, and 3 runs. The only other with more then 15 was Clark Car, who was 5-for-17 with a double, walk, and 2 runs scored. The Ray's hit very well, with Ford 5-for-12 and Struble 6-for-13. Ford homered, scored 4 times, and drove in 5 while Struble doubled, triples, stole a base, walked twice, and both scored and drove in three. Skipper Schneider was 5-for-13 with 3 runs and 2 RBIs. Billy Hunter went just 1-for-10 with a walk and RBI, but he stayed healthy! He also got time all around the diamond, making plays in left and right as well as second and third. Our hopeful third time batting title winner Leo Mitchell started hot, 5-for-11 with 2 doubles, a homer, and 3 RBIs. A trio of guys ticketed to AAA, Steve Mountain, George Sutterfield, and Freddie Bennett each went 4-for-11, with 3 doubles for Mountain. Hal Sharp went 2-for-9 with an RBI in his first week as a Cougar. We did plenty of hitting, something that didn't happen last year, and while it is just Spring, I am very excited to see what this Cougars team can do.

[ayaghmour2]

We freed up another roster spot, sending 27-year-old righty Angel Lopez to the Chiefs for the first pick in the 9th Round. A former Rule-5 Pick, I always thought Lopez never got a fair shake with us, and with all the vets back from overseas, he might have been pushed to the Milwaukee pen. He's clearly better then that, as evidenced by his 23-11 record in 48 starts for the Blues, where he's been worth 7 WAR in just under 300 innings. Lopez posted ERA+s of 150 and 147 with equally dominant FIP- of 78 and 84, but we have a healthy helping of FABL quality pitchers, and he's lower on the pecking order. He's got a really high floor, and is better currently then guys like Mike Thorpe or George Oddo, but I don't envision a future where six or seven SPs get hurt and Lopez enters the rotation. Instead, Lopez will get a shot to earn the Chiefs 4th or 5th spot in the rotation, as beyond the talented duo of Al Miller and Gus Goulding, there is some work to be done.

Not only does this free up a 40-man spot, but we get another open roster spot to add some minor league depth, and we get more innings for some of our younger guys. I've also mentioned how there were plenty of guys available that I would have wanted to draft if we had more picks, and now we get first crack at the remaining talent. Don't expect a Duke Bybee or George Sutterfield, but there's a bat first prospect who hits .500 that I have my eye on. Plus with any regular development/regression, there could be a few potential big leaguers hanging around after a strong amateur season. Of course, all picks come with risk, but last year's 9-1 is sitting at 369th in the league prospect rankings, and a few of our AI round picks are hanging out in the back half of our prospect rankings.

[ayaghmour2]

Guess what? He's injured again! That's 35! While the Cougars had another great week, this time 4-2 to improve to a league best 10-3, we were dealt another minor injury. The walking hospital bed known best as Billy Hunter is dealing with a mild abdominal strain, costing him yesterday's game and the next three. Worst part was, is it came in his best game, as he was 2-for-3 with a double and steal. The injury came on the steal, something I might just tell him not to do. I can't remember the last time I set an individual strategy in any league, I generally just let my managers call the shots (or manage play-by-play so the strategies don't matter), but we need Hunter healthy, and he was 6-for-19 in 1944, so it's not like he's very good at it. Since he can't stay healthy enough to play every day, Hunter will be bouncing around the diamond. And with a position rating at every position except catcher and pitcher, he can fill the role recently vacated by Tip Harrison. Sure, he's the anti-Tip (game changing talent, occasional production versus unspectacular, extremely consistent utility guy), but they share so many similarities. Both always will have spots on the roster, but they can't give you everything you want.

I have to honor Tip, the absolute Cougar legend, who decided to call it quits. The longtime utility man felt 131 plate appearances was just too much, as he was used to cheering on stars like John Lawson, Hank Barnett, Leo Mitchell and Cliff Moss and not actually picking up a bat. That, or hitting .190/.271/.241 (49 OPS+) at 33 and knowing Barnett, Mitchell, Hunter, Clark Car, Ray Ford, and Carlos Montes are coming back, and realizing there is very little room for a gadget player. Don't get me wrong, I would have found a way to fit him on the roster, as that's what's happened the past few seasons.

Before 1945, he made just 159 in seven seasons, and 69% of his career starts came this season in our very lame lineup. The Bluegrass State Alum hit .190/.271/.241 (49), which was nearly identical to his .193/.264/.252 (49 OPS+) career line. He'll finish his 276 FABL games, which is a lot more then most FABL prospects can say. Always a favorite of mine, Harrison was drafted in the 2nd Round back in 1934 by the Brooklyn Kings, and quickly found himself ranked within the top 100 prospects. His time in the Kings organization was short, as he was involved a blockbuster eleven piece trade that sent Jack Beach and "The Wonder Wheel" Al Wheeler to the Motor City. On the older side for a prospect, Harrison quickly rose through the system, but ended up stalling out in the upper minors of the Dynamos system. He spent three seasons in AAA Newark before I picked him and Homer Ray up before Spring Training in 1938.

I loved his versatility, and he was handed a September callup to get a head start on protecting him in the Rule-5 Draft. He started six games and six positions, penciled in the starting lineup at second, third, short, left, center, and right. He didn't do much hitting, just 3-for-21, but he walked, doubled, and scored three times. Unfortunately that was the most starts he made until this season, as almost all his time was spent with the Blues for the next two seasons. He put up OPS+ of 100 and 103, but it never really translated at the big league level. He did have a nice 1941, but the 20 PA sample diminishes the .333/.400/.444 (134 OPS+) triple slash. He hit .111 the year before and .176 the year, which followed the pitcher-esque .083/.185/.083 (-18 OPS+) line that trailed last year's worst Cougar, Ken Matson's .176/.176/.176 (2 OPS) triple slash for players with more then 15 PAs. He was very hit or miss at the plate, but always reliable with the defense, allowing plenty of flexibility with the bench. That role now falls with Hunter, who not only offers positional flexibility, but a really impressive bat. There's also a third spot, as with all his injuries, his constant time on the IL means we could keep a guy without an option a bit longer until a roster move is needed because he's hurt, on rehab, or getting ready to get hurt again!

Oh yeah, we also played some Spring Training games! The vibe in the Cougar clubhouse is ecstatic, as all the familiar faces are reunited for the first time since the war started. It seemed like each year the roster got smaller, and now our core is all back together. Leo Mitchell is back to being one of the game's best hitters, slashing .391/.440/.739 with 3 doubles, a triple, a homer, and 5 RBIs. Carlos Montes hit three homers last week, going 8-for-15 with 5 runs, 5 RBIs, 2 steals, and 2 doubles. Ray Struble is trying to hit his way onto the big league roster, slashing .333/.385/.500 in 26 trips to the plate with 2 doubles, a triple, steal, 2 walks, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs. Hank Barnett looks just like we left him, going 5-for-17 so far with a walk, a homer, and even a steal. Both our first basemen our hitting over .300, and while Walker has four walks and a pair of steals, him and Ford both have a homer and six runs scored. Don Lee has reached base in 10 of his 20 PAs, swiping three bags and driving in three runs with four more scored himself. We're firing on most cylinders, and it feels so good to have an offense again.

The pitching is always great, and now we get vintage Peter the Heater getting back in the groove. 28 in April, he enters the season with 661 strikeouts, and I can only dream of how many more he'd have if he never enlisted. He's already set down 8 in 12 innings, allowing 12 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and 5 walks. He's the only Cougar to make three starts, as the rest of the rotation got one last week and one this week. Johnnie Jones has been hit the hardest, but he won both his starts, going 9 innings with 9 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. The Kings got to Harry Parker on the 27th, piling on 8 hits and 4 runs in 4 innings. It's rather ironic, as he threw 4 shutout innings against the reigning CA champs. Baseball is funny sometimes, isn't it? Billy Riley has been the best, as he followed up 4 shutout innings with 5 against those same Cannons. Ken Matson has gotten the most innings out of the pen, pitching 8 good ones with 4 hits, a run, 6 walks, and 8 strikeouts. Joe Swank has thrown the most scoreless innings out of the pen, with 5 of them. He's allowed just a single hit and struck out four, making it very hard to option him to AAA. We've pitched well now and that should continue, and as long as we stay healthy, we should have the best staff in the league.

[ayaghmour2]

Another four wins for the Cougars this week, but it came after three heart breaking one run losses. Get them out of the way now! Right?!?! Still, we enter the last few games with a one game lead over the Wolves for first, anxiously await Opening Day. I hope this is a preview of the regular season, as the Wolves are also anxiously awaiting the start of the season, as we're both looking to take advantage of the front office change in Cincinnati. The Cannons reign has lasted three years, but between the three of us, they had less positive impact in player movements, as they didn't lose as many contributors. Add in that Bob Griffin was traded in the service and Adam Mullins is a net neutral with the retirement of fellow backstop Tom Bird. More of the returning players will join the rotation, but each comes with their own question marks. I've said plenty of the guys we're bringing back, and the Wolves welcome back plenty of useful players, from Allen Winner Joe Hancock and All-Star Tom Frederick, former Cougar 1st Rounder Hal Wood, Jim Morrison, and Hank Giordano.

The two start starter of the week was Donnie Jones, who is OSA's #1 ranked pitcher in the FABL. He flashed some of that in his appearances, tossing 8 innings with 6 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. No one has been hotter then Billy Riley, who set down fifteen consecutive Kings to pick up his first win of the spring. The 31-year-old has thrown fourteen scoreless innings this spring, allowing just nine hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts. 1946 is a big year for Riley, as he's now ranked as our sixth best starter, almost pushing him completely out of the rotation. Duke Bybee is knocking on the door like a wrecking ball and it's only a matter of time before George Oddo starts. Mike Thorpe, Rusty Petrick, and Johnnie Jones are all more then capable starters, so if Riley struggles he could find himself out of rotation spot or potentially on the block. A good season would increase his value, as eventually someone from the rotation will need to be moved. Since he's been here the shortest, it's the obvious choice, and I can't break up the Jones Brothers or move Harry Parker.

Joe Brown is another who could be available, but he's an Illinois native who's pitched with us since he was 23. His start wasn't as great, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Parker didn't fair really well, allowing 7 hits with 4 runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Peter the Heater set down six in four with four hits, two walks, and an earned run. Johnnie Jones looked much better this week, allowing just one hit with a strikeout and three walks in four innings. Rusty Watts bounced back too, allowing just a pair of hits in four scoreless frames. Eddie Howard threw four solid innings, just a hit, walk, strikeout, and run charged to him. He also went 2-for-3 at the plate and is hitting .500 with a double and RBI. The now healthy Duke Bybee made two appearances, and while they were both scoreless, his two innings saw two hits and walks. George Oddo faired worse, allowing 4 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts. With just four games left, a lot of guys have thrown their last innings, but I'll keep every arm in camp just in case.

Same goes for the bats, which cooled down plenty this week. Carlos Montes came back to earth, just 4-for-17. He did hit his fourth homer, and added a double, 3 walks, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs. Fellow center fielder Don Lee had a worse week, 2-for-14 with a walk, steal, run, and RBI. Clark Car went just 2-for-16 with a double and RBI. We did get production from new vet Jim Beard, who was 5-for-12 with a double, walk, run, and 2 RBIs. Skipper went 4-for-12 with a double, run, and 3 RBIs. Staying healthy was all that mattered this week.

[ayaghmour2]

And with a 16-8 final record, your 1946 Chicago Cougars are champions of the world!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh wait, just the Cactus League? Huh...

Baby steps!

In what I hope is a sign of things to come, we had the best spring in the entire FABL, finishing a game ahead of the Toronto Wolves, who would have been tied with the St. Louis Pioneers for the best record on the Fed side. Our trio was the only team to surpass 13 wins, with four teams finishing 13-11 (two in each association) and three more Fed teams stuck at 11-11. No person hit more homers then Carlos Montes, who rode a three homer week to a spring high four longballs. Plenty of Fed hitters had three of there own, but superstar Bill Barrett was the only in the Conti to match in a month what Montes did in a week.

After starting the spring with a four inning shutout, Harry Parker had no fun. His next three starts saw four runs a piece, accounting for nearly 38% of our losses. He allowed three homers, but walked just two while striking out six. as the Kings, Foresters, and Saints got the best of us. Johnnie Jones and Billy Riley finished with identical 2.50 ERA's, as Riley allowed 10 hits and 5 runs with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts in 4+ shaky innings. He allowed more hits in this start then the previous three, while matching his walk total. On the flip side, Johnnie finished off strong, with 5 walks, 2 hits, and 5 strikeouts in the equivalent of a complete game shutout. Joe Brown had a nice spring too, tossing 17 strong innings with 16 hits, 7 runs (4 earned), 5 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Our rotation is definitely going to be a strength this season, and while things might change a bit when we officially hit Opening Day, Donnie Jones and Pete Papenfus rank 1st and 2nd in the league with Joe Brown checking in at #12. Johnnie Jones is easily the best sixth starter in the league, and there are four rotations elsewhere he could potentially lead. Our pitching staffs generally rank in the top three, but we haven't had a rotation this dominant since, well. Ever. I'm so excited for this season to start!

Despite all the homers, Carlos Montes ended up hitting just .255/.328/.545 in a team high 62 plate appearances. 8 of his 14 hits were for extra bases, and he accumulated 12 RBIs, 13 runs, 6 walks, and 2 steals. Clark Car had a rough spring, but it won't stop him from getting regular at bats at second. The 32-year-old vet went 11-for-50 with just 3 doubles, a single RBI, three runs, and two walks. Leo Mitchell slashed .386/.413/.636 with 3 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, 2 walks, 6 runs, and 9 RBIs. Dick Walker didn't look 39, and went 11-for-34 with a double, 2 homers, 4 steals, 4 RBIs, 10 runs, and 11 walks. Skipper hit an even .300 with 2 walks, 4 runs, and 8 RBIs. Harry Mead looked like odd year Harry Mead and not the even year he should be, just 8-for-38 with 2 doubles, 4 runs, and 7 RBIs. Don Lee struggled a bit too, just 7-for-33, but it did come with 4 steals, 4 RBIs, 6 runs, and 8 walks. Hank Barnett didn't hit much either, 8-for-32 with 2 homers, 4 RBIs, 6 runs, and 3 walks. I'm not the least bit worried for the 36-year-old star, who actually ranks 14th in the top hitters list. He's an iron man who hasn't been hurt in nearly two decades and has produced a 130 or higher WRC+ in six of his last seven seasons. Our lineup won't be nearly as punches as it was last year, as instead of crossing our fingers for run support, this group of sluggers can keep any staff in the game.

Ken Matson has made things rather difficult on me, as the optionable righty allowed just 6 hits, a run, and 8 walks with 10 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched. This is near identical to southpaw Rusty Watts, who also allowed just a single earned run (four unearned, however), with 13 hits, 4 walks, and a strikeout. Chet Williams struck out 5 in 8 dominant innings with 6 hits, a walk, and unearned run. Now 23, he last pitched in La Crosse back in 1942, and has returned with a green arrow up to the majors. He's a bullpen only guy, but surprisingly ranks inside the top 500, and ranks behind just Harry MacRae and Watts in Tom Weinstock's reliever ranks. He'll fill in somewhere in the minors, and could be a guy to keep an eye on for a surprise big league debut. We don't really have a need for a reliever only guy, but injuries strike often, and he could be a perfect stopgap to save an option on a more talented youngster if only a short stint is required. One who will get an option burned is Joe Swank, who we had to protect in the Rule-5 draft. He allowed just a single hit and walk with 5 strikeouts in 8 innings, but he's too good to waste away in our pen, and will get everyday starts in the farm. Other of our youngsters struggled, with Oddo, Thorpe, and Bybee allowing 4 or more runs in 6 or fewer innings. Bybee was the only one to allow fewer runs then innings pitched, but they were all ticketed for the farm regardless of performance. I expect them to recover quickly, and my guess is Bybee will look much better after getting back into the groove.

Our bench hasn't been nailed down yet, but former Sailors Ray Struble and Jim Beard will be included. Struble's ability to play center work in his favor, but he also went 15-for-45 with 3 doubles, a triple, steal, 3 walks, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs. Beard was productive as well, 13-for-42 with 2 doubles, a homer, 5 RBIs, 3 runs, 4 walks, and a steal. Beard's ability to handle short is a huge plus as well, and the duo can cover five of the eight positions needed. Of course, a healthy Billy Hunter can play anywhere, and with him and either Ray Ford or Dick Walker, manning two positions they don't have experience at, we have plenty of flexibility for the remaining spots. Backup catcher is still in the air, as Homer Guthrie hit just .211/.286/.211 in 22 PAs. Depending on who's on waivers, he could be optioned down, but if he struggles to be a capable substitute Steve Mountain could have his contract purchased. The 28-year-old didn't hit much before joining the Marines himself, but he's a strong defender and was 8-for-32 with 3 doubles and 4 RBIs. Veterans Dave Haight (5-12, 2B, HR, 6 RBI), Reginald Westfall (4-10, 2 2B), and Johnnie Sundberg (4-8, HR), and minor league captain Connie Wright (5-7, 2 RBI) took advantage of limited opportunities, securing organization spots and consideration for the bench.

Plenty of decisions were made, but I got stuck with 25 players for 24 spots. Rich Langton was on the verge of losing his roster spot, but I couldn't go through with it. I just couldn't cut him. Our former 3rd Rounder has been on the roster since 1935, and he's appeared in over 1,200 games with a Cougar uniform. To solve the issue, I shipped veteran Rabbit Mudd to the Stars to fill our one minor league vacancy, as I didn't really have three outfielders in San Jose. I'm not sure if he'll be the one (I might move a Lincoln outfielder down), but we welcome Art Goins to the organization. A former 2nd Rounder, Art is best known for his father, T.R., who was one of the best catchers the game has seen. The longtime Eagle and then Forester hit .336/.401/.511 (141 OPS+) in 2,025 games from 1923 to 1938. He hit 270 homers and drove in 1,456 runs while accumulating 86.1 WAR. Arguably the best catcher all time, no backstop has a higher average, slugging, or OPS, or more games, runs (1,329), hits (2,622), total bases (3,990), doubles (486), homers, RBIs, and WAR.

Don't expect anything similar from Art, who doesn't rank as one of the Stars 44 top 500 prospects. He avoided the war, and spent last season in Class B Salem. Goins did hit well, slashing an impressive .302/.383/.474 (151 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 7 triples, 14 homers, 19 steals, and 64 RBIs. He played average center field and looked really good in right. He makes all the routine plays in center, and should be plus in either corner. OSA and Tom Weinstock aren't overly high on his offensive ability, but he's a strong kid with a good eye and great speed. He's a leader in the clubhouse and has a good rapport with his teammates, making him the ideal candidate for a fourth outfield spot. He's Rule-5 eligible in the offseason, which makes this season huge if he wants to stay a Cougar. I don't envision him being protected, but some more impressive production at the plate and he may hit his way into our future picture. And while Mudd is a really good hitter, he's stuck behind Hunter and Car, and was making $20,000 to take up the bench. This may bite us back if Mudd helps the Stars steal wins from us, but he should cause equal havoc to our other competitors. Even when Hunter inevitably gets injured, we have plenty of depth with Jim Beard on the active roster and Jimmie James and George Sutterfield on the 40 in Milwaukee. Plus Ray Ford could get more at bats and play semi-passable defense when you factor all the balls Skipper can get to. Mudd deserve every day at bats, and it likely wouldn't have been with us.

[ayaghmour2]

BASEBALL IS BACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After another long offseason, there is a scent of hope and joy in the air, as the 16 FABL teams have concluded camp and are ready to kick off the 1946 season. The fine people at OSA think this will be the year of the Cougar, projecting us to finish an FABL best 97-57, good for a six game lead over the defending CA champs. This would put us in a rematch of the 1941 World Series, where the Minutemen survived a seven game series by winning four one run games. They expect a historic pitching season from us as well, projected to allow just 488 runs with the two best pitchers. That of course means Donnie Jones (32-10, 2.01, 218) and Pete Papenfus (23-18, 3.13, 261) with Joe Brown (19-12, 3.16, 108) checking in at ninth. The trio are all in the top 20 as well, with Jones and Pap 1 and 2 and Brown at 11. We also have a pair of projected top hitters, with Leo Mitchell (.318, 11, 79) and Hank Barnett (.291, 21, 95), who rank 20th and 13th respectively. They are both joined in the top 20 by Skipper Schneider (8th) and Billy Hunter (18th), giving us 7 of the top 40 players. There is plenty of talent on the roster, and we should be one of the best teams this year. That's the consensus around the league, as each season prediction had the Cougars listed as the top team in the CA. Like myself, a majority of prognosticators have the Keystones as our opponent, with them ranked first in five of the eight non-random selections. Here's who we're bringing with us as we look to capture that elusive pennant:

RHP Joe Brown
RHP Donnie Jones
LHP Johnnie Jones
RHP Ken Matson
RHP Pete Papenfus
RHP Harry Parker
RHP Rusty Petrick
RHP Billy Riley
LHP Rusty Watts
C Homer Guthrie
C Harry Mead
1B Ray Ford
1B Dick Walker
2B Clark Car
2B Billy Hunter
3B Hank Barnett
3B Jim Beard
SS Skipper Schneider
LF Rich Langton
LF Leo Mitchell
CF Don Lee
CF Carlos Montes
CF Ray Struble
RF Hal Sharp

Our farm system graduated a lot of talent last season, but still ranks 7th in the league, with 7 top 100 prospects, 21 in the top 250, and 43 in the top 500. Duke Bybee leads the group at #4, and ranks as the #1 pitching prospect in the entire FABL. Johnny Peters dropped a bit to 23, giving us a pair of top 25 prospects with Eddie Howard (32nd) not too far behind. Bybee may graduate this year, but is regardless good to go. If Johnnie Jones or Billy Riley struggle, he'll be called up quickly, but what's more likely is that someone gets hurt. We have the minor league depth to weather most storms, and talented youngsters like George Oddo and Sutterfield are high octane youngsters that are technically not prospects due to their playing time last year.

We start our season in Brooklyn, with a pair of games against the Kings, who have a new GM for the season. They have plenty of Cougar prospects on their Opening Day roster, including Mel Haynes and Harry Stewart, but the headliner is former 2nd Rounder Leo Hayden. The centerpiece in the Art White deal, Hayden is a pitcher I am very high on, but was comfortable moving because we have plenty of pitching, and he would not be able to fully blossom with us. The imposing 6'6'' southpaw ranks as the 19th best prospect, and is set to make his big league debut against us on Opening Day. This kid is the real deal, and could develop into an ace, but if he was still in our system he'd be with Oddo, Bybee, Swank, and Kelsey in Milwaukee instead of leading a big league rotation. We'll also get the debut of Wally Graves, who like Hayden, enlisted after the 1941 season. He didn't return last fall, as Hayden did make a few starts in AA, and last pitch as a 19-year-old in C ball. The former 12th Rounder was 12-10 with a 4.66 ERA (87 ERA+), but made huge strides while in the Navy. Ranked 5th in their system and 41st overall, the converted outfielder has an off the charts circle change, and pretty solid control. He doesn't throw hard, but Graves projects as a middle rotation arm, and at 23 is an excellent building block. The lineup isn't as young, but they returned superstar Rats McGonigle in center field and Tiny Tim Hopkins at first. They also brought in former Cougar Solly Skidmore to catch, but have elected to place 28-year-old Roger Upton as the starter, despite just 15 FABL games in the past two seasons. I don't think we'll have much trouble with the Kings, especially since they drew Pap and Donnie, but this is a team we need to take advantage of now, as they won't be a cellar dweller forever.

Our time on the road will be short, as we return to the Chi to host the Saints on the 18th. We're then off on the 19th, before finishing the series with two more. The biggest name Montreal brings back is Wally Doyle, who last pitched in 1942 where he led the league with a 5.4 K/9. Now 27, the Waco Kid returns to the top of the Saints rotation for his aged 27 season. It's a big year for the lefty, who can almost be thought as Papenfus-lite. He has massive stuff, but with massive control issues, and he can throw a ton of innings. He led the league in walks his last two big league seasons, and despite his ability to miss bats, has still yet to put up an ERA+ above 100. The talent is there, but Montreal can be a tough place to pitch. Fellow Wally, Wally Reif, is another returnee, and he'll join Pat Weakly (13-9, 3.13, 136) and former 4th Overall pick Bert Cupid, who took a year off to join the army. The Saints rotation will strike out a ton of hitters, but if you can get them rattled, free passes will be plentiful. The lineup is solid, but doesn't have many new faces. They added clubhouse leader Joe Henry (.246, 4, 38) from the Dynamos to catch and Otis Parker (.241, 1, 8) was discharged in September to make his big league debut. Bert Lass will look to get back on track after a poor (by his standards) 1943, and they'll get another year of Bill Greene (.280, 18, 99, 17), Jake Hughes (.310, 5, 68, 33), and Gordie Perkins (.289, 5, 54). The trio were all above average offensively last season, and should produce similarly in a deeper lineup this year. The Saints are a really solid club who should play plenty of spoiler, but we can't afford to play as terribly as we did last year again. They're not quite on the level of us, the Cannons, or Wolves, but they're just a piece or two away from being a legit contender in what will soon be a very crowded association.