Chicago Cougars (FABL) - Page 54

ayaghmour2 · 04-06-2023, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by progen

Good read. Always interested in seeing how other people go about building their team. Helps me out

Thanks! I think that's one of my favorite parts of these forums, seeing all the ways we play OOTP

ayaghmour2 · 04-07-2023, 12:01 AM

Weekly Record: 3-4
Seasonal Record: 62-50 (2nd, 8.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Harry Mead : 13 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .462 AVG, 1.247 OPS
Hal Sharp : 16 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .375 AVG, 1.007 OPS
Harry Parker : 1 Win, 8.0 IP, 3 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA

Schedule
8-5: Loss at Kings (2-3)
8-6: Win at Saints (6-4)
8-7: Win at Saints (4-0)
8-9: Loss at Stars (0-2)
8-10: Loss at Stars (2-6)
8-11: Loss at Stars (0-1)
8-11: Win at Stars (7-5)

Recap
You know what? I'm just going to say it. We. Are. CURSED. Cursed I tell you!!! *waves fist at sky*

The Stars ripped off 13(!!) in a row, including the first three from us, before Billy Riley finally ended their rain of terror. It didn't matter all that much, as this brought us back within eight and a half games, and with a bit over a month to go, that's going to be hard to come. To think just two weeks ago we were only a single game out, my expectations of success have gone from 100 to 0. But what absolutely hurt me the most, was Johnnie Jones walking Bill Barrett with the bases loaded, scoring Eli Panneton, who walked off in his own no-hitter. Panneton struck out five and scattered four walks in our 21st one-run loss of the game.

With it being late, and the week rather glum, this one will be a rather short one, but it is still time to stay optimistic. We'll focus on the good, and this week that was players named Harry. Harry Parker won his start, allowing 4 hits and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts in 8 innings against the Saints. Harry Mead was our best hitter, 6-for-13 with 6 walks, 2 doubles, and 2 RBIs. And Harry MacRae continued his save streak, getting two outs in save five and two innings in save six. MacRae has allowed just one run in his 6.2 innings, scattering six walks and two hits while striking out two. To fully commit to the bit, I'm also going to pretend that Hal Sharp is really Harry Sharp, as he went 6-for-16 with a walk, a solo homer, and three runs scored. There wasn't much else, as even with two wins, Billy Riley didn't look good and while Pap kept the Stars in check, we couldn't score off Henry Shaffer (10-10, 3.69, 69). We have to be better, especially considering we've got three more with our leaders this weekend.

Looking Ahead
Wounds will be licked as we start the week with an off day. It'll also start a homestand, but at 28-26, I'm not sure it will help much. We beat the Saints both times in Montreal, so they'll probably beat us in the three in Chicago. We'll get Pat Weakley (9-12, 3.85, 106), Bert Cupid (12-5, 3.05, 95), and Wally Reif (6-3, 2.47, 51). All three are capable of beating us, especially if the offense stays asleep. Lucky for us, their offense hasn't been producing, and after a nice start to the season they've gone 15-22 since July 1st.

Our next guest is those surging Stars, who could conceivably finish the week up double digits on us. Mack Sutton went 11-for-29 with 5 doubles, a triple, 3 homers, and 9 RBIs in his first week in the CA, as the Stars lineup just got exponentially tougher. Even with a "down" year from Bill Barrett (.236, 19, 72, 8), he had plenty of support around him, and the offensive explosion will continue the rest of the way. Plus, if we can't hit score off their five and go hitless against their two, how are we going to keep up? All we can do is hope, and with Pap, Donnie, and Billy Riley, sometimes hope is enough. Joe Brown is healthy again, and to give us our best guys against the Stars, he'll take Charlie Kelsey's spot on the roster and look to extend his 28.2 inning scoreless streak.

ayaghmour2 · 04-09-2023, 01:54 PM

Weekly Record: 5-1
Seasonal Record: 67-51 (2nd, 5.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
None Generated

Schedule
8-13: Win vs Saints (1-4)
8-14: Win vs Saints (2-8)
8-15: Loss vs Saints (2-1): 10 innings
8-16: Win vs Stars (4-5)
8-17: Win vs Stars (4-5)
8-18: Win vs Stars (3-7)

Recap
Huh, a good week! We seem to be the only one who can stop the Stars, as even with the sweep and only a single loss on the week, we're still five and a half out of first. The craziest part was two one run wins, as while I knew we couldn't blow them out, the last thing I expected was one run victories. Sure, for old time's sake, the loss was of the one run variety, but there is very little to be upset about.

The Hal Sharp revenge tour continued, with the slugger going 8-for-17 with a double, triple, homer, 5 runs, and 6 RBIs. This brought his season line to .336/.395/.478 (151 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 12 homers, and 54 RBIs. He's past Leo Mitchell, tied with Sam Brown (.336, 3, 41) for second in the batting race. Mitchell has a rough August, 3-for-22 this week to drop his monthly line to .219/.275/.344 (78 OPS+) on the season. This slump makes a Whitney more difficult, as Ed Reyes (.367, 8, 56) is running away with the batting title and Mitchell's .324./365/.504 (149 OPS+) line isn't as good as it once was. I still think he's the favorite, with 22 doubles, 19 homers, 67 RBIs and a 163 WRC+ through 115 games. If the Stars when the pennant, Bill Barrett (.234, 22, 80, 8) will have a serious case, but Reyes' breakout deserves recognition, as does Fred McCormick (.296, 14, 49) even if the Wolves haven't been great. We need Mitchell if we want to break our playoff drought, as it's not shocking some of our worst ball came when he was having his first real rough patch.

Harry Mead has really started to heat up, going 7-for-19 with 3 doubles, 2 homers, 5 RBIs, 5 runs, and 3 walks. He's looking like even year Mead, now slashing .266/.343/.408 (116 OPS+) on the season. He's doubled his home run (8) total from last season while surpassing his WAR (3.0, 2.5) in 26 fewer games. Clark Car has done well too, 8-for-17 with a steal, 2 doubles, and 4 RBIs. He's hit a productive .306/.327/.510 (139 OPS+) this month, but it's nothing compared to the .391/.500/.696 (242 OPS+) Mead put up. Dick Walker had a bounce back week, 5-for-20 with a double, steal, RBI, two triples, 4 runs, and a pair of walks. Walker's next game will be his 100th, and he approaches his 40th birthday with a .263/.366/.479 (142 OPS+) triple slash. I would have expected this more from Barnett, but Walker has been tremendous, and with his speed and power he's got 17 doubles, 13 triples, 10 homers, 14 steals, 40 RBIs, and 54 walks. He's been big for us, and if we make the postseason his past experience could be crucial. Our vets will need to come through for us, and we can't afford any repeats of last week.

As he does always, Peter the Heater put the team on his back, picking up two more complete game victories. He held the Saints to 7 hits, a run, and 5 walk with 7 strikeouts. His control deserted him a bit against a deeper Stars lineup, as they drew 7 walks, but he allowed just 3 hits and 3 runs with 5 strikeouts to improve to 16-7. He's the co-leader with Stars ace Vern Hubbard (16-8, 3.51, 68) for wins, while continuing to pace the pack in ERA (2.20) and strikeouts (151). Joe Brown had an impressive return to the big leagues, but was tagged with the only loss. He allowed just one run in the first nine innings, but a 10th inning double from Jake Hughes (.247, 33, 11) gave Montreal a 2-1 lead that Bud Robbins (7-5, 14, 2.88, 28) finished us off. I'm not sure how many more starts he'll good, but it's good to know he can do fine with long rests between starts. We can use him to make sure we get our best guys against the Stars, which could make the difference if they start to slip.

Donnie Jones continued his stretch of rough starts, but he snapped his three game losing streak. He wasn't bad per say, a complete game win is always good, but it came with 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts. His 3.03 ERA (110 ERA+) is almost a full run higher then it was a month ago, and he's starting to fall out of the Allen race. Same goes for Billy Riley, who went just 6 with 10 hits, 4 runs (# earned), 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts. He didn't get a decision, that went to Ken Matson, who allowed two hits in a scoreless seventh. Harry MacRae came in for save seven, scattering two walk and a hit in two scoreless frames. The last start went to Harry Parker, who went 8 in our 8-2 win over the Saints. He allowed 7 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts to improve to 7-8 on the season. The last inning went to Rusty Watts, who needed just four pitchers to finish off the Saints. Our staff is the best, but if we can't score for them we'll be watching the postseason from our coaches yet again.

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week again, as we kick off a road trip that goes into September. After this ends, we'll have just two more road games, which could give us a huge advantage in the pennant race. Mark your calendars for September 23rd, 24th, and 25th, as we'll host the Stars in our second to last series. We don't play them again this month, instead starting with two in Philly. I mentioned how Ed Reyes is a legitimate Whitney Candidate, but they'll be without their Whitney Winner Marion Boismenu for the rest of the season. He tore his PCL the day after his 33rd birthday, and will not only miss the rest of the season, but potentially a good chunk of next season as well. He wasn't having a great season, hitting just .280/.331/.358 (91 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 5 triples, a homer, 9 steals, and 40 RBIs. They don't have an obvious replacement for him, and it creates a big hole in the lineup.

They do have a new center fielder, as they inserted 15th Pick Billy Forbes directly into the starting lineup. The 21-year-old has struggled, hitting just .222/.283/.296 (61 OPS+) in his first 15 big league games. Currently ranked as the 9th best prospect in the game, he has the potential to be one of the best center fielders in the game, and will be a big upgrade over
'45 one-and-done star Addie Aleman (.233, 1, 29). Interesting enough, the Sailors have three players that rank #1 at their position, and none of them are Ed Reyes. Les Cunha (.296, 8, 62) is doing exactly what I would have expected, but Harvey Brown (.317, 1, 42, 30) is on pace for nearly 7 WAR out in left. The last past Skipper Schneider, as Rap Lee's brother Rip (.297, 6, 43, 5) has a 134 WRC+ with a 4.6 WAR. It's going to be tough to keep them off the basepaths, so we'll have to get to the arms. We're stuck facing Charlie Gordon (11-8, 2.83, 72) in the opener and likely Win Lewis (11-7, 3.36, 62) in the finale. They're the top healthy arms, and either one could throw a shutout or strong complete game. It's going to be tough, but we're the better team, and I think we can hold them off. But they're 62-54 and the only other team within single digits of the Stars, and they're always tough to beat.

Next stop is Cleveland for three with the Foresters. At 50-68, they only have a game and a half lead over the Kings, who have crawled their way out of the cellar. Richie Hughes (15-11, 3.07, 123) and Ducky Davis (11-8, 3.31, 60) have started to cool down, and they're now going to be without Leon Blackridge (.245, 3, 38) the rest of the way. They have plenty of options to replace them, but none that are all that frightening. Si Crocker (.213, 5, 13) might, as he had a three homer game earlier and has been inserted in the starting lineup. I'm not buying Paul Porter's (.294, 3, 45, 12) breakout yet, as they still need to supply Jim Adams Jr. (.272, 4, 57, 5) with something else. Of course, Porter or even Glenn White (.281, 25) can be that, but I don't see much star power on the offensive side. They have plenty of pitching they could try to move for an impact bat, as teams are always looking to add pitching.

I'm really not looking forward to Sunday, where we have to deal with two in Toronto. They swept us last time out, and I can't take that again. At 53-64, they are significantly closer to last (5 GA+) then they are to first (19 GB). I still don't know what happened to Walt Pack (.216, 6, 45) as Charlie Artuso's (.248, 9, 59, 4) production cratered after a meteoric start. Juan Pomales (.267, 1, 27, 7) hasn't looked like himself, making Hank Giordano (.307, 5, 66, 16) the star of the outfield. The only thing that has gone well is Fred McCormick, who is slashing .296/.410/.516 (155 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 6 triples, 14 homers, and 49 RBIs. The 36-year-old's 170 WRC+ would be his best since the 210 he put up in his second Whitney. After keeping us in check, Joe Hancock (8-12, 3.73, 62) has had a rough couple of starts and George Garrison (10-11, 3.03, 76) has been a bit shaky himself. I don't think we'll get either, but I'm definitely worried that something will go wrong this week.

Minor League Report
1B Lou Thomas (AAA Milwaukee Blues): I mentioned Thomas not too long ago because of a five hit game, but he's now arguably done something better; win a Century League Player of the Week. Our 9th Round Pick in 1944, Thomas went 10-for-25 with three walks, a homer, and six RBIs. This upped his season line to .310/.408/.419 (123 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 7 homers, and 59 RBIs with more walks (64) then strikeouts (47). If we weren't so cash crunched I might have given him a cup of coffee in September, but he's not yet Rule-5 eligible 40-man roster spots are precious. He'll get another go of things in Milwaukee next year, but unless Dick Walker or Ray Ford makes a surprise retirement playing time will be very tough to find for the 24-year-old.

Cougars in the GWL
RHP Ira Hawker (Dallas Centurions): Pretty much everything has gone wrong in Dallas, as the Centurions are 50-66 and tied with the Seattle Thunderbirds for last in the inaugural GWL season, coming over from the Lone Star Association, where they finished last for three consecutive seasons. Ira Hawker is doing everything he can to prevent that happening this year, as the 27-year-old completed his fifth shutout of the season. This got his record over .500, now 13-12 in his 25 starts. The former Cougar farmhand has cooled off since his hot start, with his ERA an adjusted league average 3.30. His next inning will be his 200th, so far striking out 75 while allowing 55 walks. He has the lowest ERA on the team and is the only member of the staff who has won more then eight games. Another Cougar prospect, Joe Foote (3-3, 4.18, 22) has entered the rotation, but he has a much lower FIP (3.21) due to his ability to keep the ball in the park. It may be a lost season in Dallas, but they have a few pieces to build around, and if they spend money wisely, they could revamp the roster.

ayaghmour2 · 04-11-2023, 12:48 AM

Weekly Record: 5-2
Seasonal Record: 72-53 (2nd, 4.5 GB)
Stars of the Past Two Weeks
Hal Sharp : 33 AB, 14 H, 1 HR, 9 RBI, .424 AVG, 1.063 OPS
Dick Walker : 39 AB, 12 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .308 AVG, 1.039 OPS
Ray Ford : 22 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.111 OPS

Schedule
8-20: Loss at Sailors (3-6)
8-21: Loss at Sailors (3-8)
8-22: Win at Foresters (4-3): 16 innings
8-23: Win at Foresters (5-3)
8-24: Win at Foresters (5-3)
8-25: Win at Wolves (4-3)
8-25: Win at Wolves (4-3)

Recap
We had no success with the Sailors this week, but luckily, they only faced us in two of our seven games. The rest of the week came in Cleveland or Toronto, where we swept the Foresters and swept the double header against the Wolves. As happy as I am with a 5-2 win, as well as making up another game in the standings, there was plenty to be concerned about. Or maybe happy about? We won close games! Three of them were by a single run, the other two by two, as our expected record went below -6 for the first time in, like, three months? Now the Minutemen (-6) are the most underperforming team, but they're (72-54) 2.5 games behind the Eagles (75-52) and much closer to the playoffs then we are. With just a few games left in August, the Stars have already won 17 games, two more then we have. With five weeks left, we need to make up a game a week, and we're on the right track already.

Our first base duo was tremendous, with both posting OPS+ above 250. Dick Walker went 7-for-19 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, 2 walks, 3 RBIs, and 4 runs scored. Ray Ford went 8-for-16 with a homer, 2 walks, 2 runs, and 3 RBIs. After a slow start, Ford has finally brought his season above average, hitting .283/.362/.341 (103 OPS+) in 200 trips to the plate. I expected him to play more this season, but with his struggles and Walker's success, playing time hasn't come as easily for Ford. Walker, on the other hand, is slashing a still elite .269/.370/.499 (148 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 15 triples, 11 homers, 14 steals, 43 RBIs, and 56 walks, worth 4 WAR in 104 games. Carlos Montes had to deal with a sore back, so Ray Struble got to make his first three starts of the season. He was one of the few non first basemen to hit much of anything, 4-for-12 with a run, RBI, 2 doubles, and 6 walks. Hank Barnett was just 5-for-21, but it came with an RBI, 3 runs, 3 RBIs, 6 walks, and his first steal of the season. Recently 37, Barnett's 96 WRC+ would be a career low, and I doubt he'll be able to bring that up to 115 to prevent one. With not much time left, we need all the help we can get, and a resurgence from a Whitney Winner and 7-Time All-Star is just what the doctor ordered. Wasn't a great week for Leo Mitchell, just 7-for-28, but he hit his 20th homer of the season. The last time we had a 20 home run hitter was John Lawson in 1941, and a 21st would put him tied for 9th most in a season with Lawson (1939) and Doc Love (1934), both teammates of Mitchell's. A batting title seems unlikely, but his 159 WRC+ trails only Fred McCormick, while Mitchell paces the Reticent Reaper in homers and RBIs. Right now I'd give him my Whitney vote, but that's more because of my love for him then overall output. It's a tossup now, and unless Mitchell heats back up, he may be on the outside looking in once again.

Alright, can someone tell me what happened to Donnie Jones? The 26-year-old was hit hard yet again, allowing 12 hits, 8 runs, and 2 walks with just 1 strikeout in a six inning loss. Jones has been awful since the All-Star break, going from 11-4 with a 2.43 ERA to 15-9 with a barely above average 3.29 (102 ERA+). He's now thrown 205 innings in his 24 starts, with a still quality 1.08 WHIP and 114 strikeouts to 59 walks. If we got classic Donnie Jones the past two months, we might be in first place by a game or two, but I just have no idea why he stopped performing. We have to keep running him out, as he's one of the best pitchers in the game, but if we end up falling short, it's yet another thing we can point to as an excuse.

Can't point to Pap, who tossed yet another complete game victory, allowing 10 hits, 3 runs, and a walk with 5 strikeouts to own possession of all three triple crown categories (17, 2.23, 156). Joe Brown has done well himself, allowing 11 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) with a strikeout in a complete game win. Same for Harry Parker, who went 8 with 9 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and 4 strikeouts. Billy Riley got the no decision in our 16 inning win, going 8.1 innings with 8 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Johnnie Jones made a pair of starts, losing to the Sailors and beating the Wolves. In Philly he really struggled, 6 innings with 8 hits, 6 runs, and 4 walks to go with just a single strikeout. He rebounded against the Wolves, earning a complete game victory with 9 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. We had to use the pen a lot with the extra inning game, with each reliever getting two or more runs. Harry MacRae's save streak was snapped, as he was the first to relieve Riley, but he did close out the 5-3 win over the Foresters. He threw 2.2 hitless innings with just one walk. Rusty Watts finally looked like a reliable fireballer in the pen, six innings in two appearances with 3 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. The last 4 innings went to Ken Matson, who allowed just one hit and struck out 2. We now rank 1st in every pitching category except pen ERA (2nd, 2.59), WAR (2nd, 18.8), walks (2nd, 379), and homers allowed (t-3rd, 60). If we're making the playoffs, it's on the back of the staff, which continues to be the best in the league.

Looking Ahead
One more in Toronto to start the week, and while I'm not opposed to winning 4-3 again, I'd prefer a, you know, more comfortable win. We've got a good chance of scoring more then four runs today, as we'll face Jimmy Gibbs (8-7, 3.40, 50), instead of a George Garrison (10-12, 3.02, 78), Joe Hancock (9-12, 3.62, 64), or even Cookie Myers (6-4, 2.59, 16). The determinant of us winning will be Fred McCormick, as if we can keep him in check, I like our chances. He's 0-for-8 so far in the series, dropping his season line to a still elite .288/.403/.507 (150 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 6 triples, 15 homers, and 52 RBIs with more walks (70) then strike outs (60). They've gotten good performances from Hal Wood (.324, 1, 36) and Hank Giordano (.306, 5, 67, 16), but the rest of the lineup needs to pick up the slack. Its another must win game, and I think we can stay hot and leave town with another sweep.

We have plenty of off days this week, with one before the Cannons series and one after. It's just a two game series, with a struggling Cannons team dropping to 63-60 and 12.5 games outside of first. It's a huge drop for a dominant Cannons team, who's age has really showed. Lucky for us, Rufus Barrell (13-7, 2.56, 92) pitches the finale in Montreal, so things are looking good for a quick sweep. Despite his success against us, I like our chances against Bob Arman (12-5, 3.74, 82), and 1944 Allen Winner Butch Smith (8-14, 3.43, 71) doesn't pitch like an Allen winner anymore. They do score plenty of runs, even with a down year from Al Wheeler (.238, 13, 51), as they've gotten huge numbers from Sam Brown (.333, 4, 45), Denny Andrews (.280, 12, 61), Fred Galloway (.264, 5, 55), and Chuck Adams (.261, 23, 81). They've been without Adam Mullins (.269, 5, 33), who broke his hand and will miss the rest of the year, but backup Joe Green (.282, 1, 22) has a nice 120 WRC+. They've finished each of the previous two months below .500, and at 10-11, there's a chance it happens again. I'm not sure exactly what's going to happen here, but if form means anything in baseball, I really like our chances.

Our weekend will be spent in Montreal with two against the Saints. They've also struggled a bit, dropping to 59-65 and 17 games out of first. Bill Greene (.242, 17, 59, 13) is two steals away from back-to-back 15/15 seasons, while looking to hit 5 WAR for the second time as well. Red Bond (.303, 13, 53) is the only other hitter with more then three homers, and those two sluggers account for 30 of the teams 47 home runs. Ernie McCoy (.321, 1, 13) returned from the IL two weeks ago, but he's already heading back, fracturing his shoulder blade and potentially endangering the rest of his season. Offense has been tough to come by, and this won't make things any easier. The pitching does have a lot of young talent, with Wally Reif (8-3, 2.26, 56) has been one of the best pitchers in the game, while Bert Cupid (12-7, 3.53, 102) has a FIP (2.65) nearly a full run lower then his ERA. Pat Weakly (10-14, 3.89, 114) and Wally Doyle (11-11, 3.59, 119) can set down batters like its nothing, but they put just about as many on base. If we can stay disciplined, we can pick up two more, and all the wins are needed with the Stars lurking around the corner.

Two big events are coming up as well, as we reached the draft pick signing deadline, and are approaching roster expansion. I signed three more guys, with late round pitchers Joe Ament and Matt Stinson agreeing to deals, as well as shortstop Ike Cartwright. As expected, neither pitcher rank in the top 500, and while Ike doesn't yet, it could just be because he signed on the current day, so he wouldn't be included in the list until tomorrow. I wanted to sign 15th Rounder Lee Parker, but I may have sabotaged myself, as I thought I met his $450 demand, but instead sent $100 less. I tried to bring it back to $450, but with one day left, he may go to college. If he signs, we'll have just $99 of free space, and if he doesn't, eleven of our twenty-nine man draft class will not join the system. In tomorrow's report I'll give an update on the rankings of the draftees, as we currently have a 40 point lead over the next best system, the Detroit Dynamos (159). We're a point away from 200, one of more impressive showings of a system in recent memory.

ayaghmour2 · 04-11-2023, 09:08 PM

Weekly Record: 3-2
Seasonal Record: 75-55 (2nd, 3 GB)
Stars of the Week
Hal Sharp : 15 AB, 5 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .333 AVG, 1.012 OPS
Hank Barnett : 18 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .333 AVG, .868 OPS
Donnie Jones : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 3 BB, 8 K, 1.00 ERA

Schedule
8-26: Win at Wolves (4-1)
8-28: Win at Cannons (5-3)
8-29: Win at Cannons (5-2)
8-31: Loss at Saints (1-4)
9-1: Loss at Saints (1-3)

Recap
After stretching our win streak to eight, we hit a small snare, dropping both of our games in Montreal. If we managed to win those, we'd enter the Big Apple down just a single game, but instead have a chance to cut the lead to one after the double header. After falling so far back just under a month ago, to be back to just three out of first is huge, as that's easy enough to make up with five games against the Stars, and 24 games in total. I'm not saying it will be easy, but compared to how things were looking out? A cake walk!

As a team, we didn't do much hitting, but one man immune to that was Hal Sharp, as he continues his revenge tour. He went 5-for-15 with a double, homer, walk, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs. Hank Barnett showed some signs of life, going 6-for-18 with homer #11 and three runs scored. A few of the part-time guys did well too, with Jim Beard, Ray Ford, Fred Vargas, Don Lee, and Billy Hunter combining to go 4-for-11 with Beard and Hunter adding a double a piece. Dick Walker had just one hit, as did Carlos Montes and Clark Car, while Leo Mitchell just three. The fact we won any games this week with performances like that is a bit surprising, but when you have the best pitching in the game, sometimes you can survive subpar performance. When you know, it doesn't send you plummeting down the standings...

Donnie Jones finally got back on track, and just in time too, allowing 6 hits, a run, and 3 walks with 8 strikeouts in a complete game victory. Pap was the only other starter to go nine, with 7 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and 5 strikeouts. With a month left in the season, Pap leads all three triple crown categories with 18 wins, a 2.26 ERA, and 161 strikeouts. Can he hold it? I'd bet on it! But it will be tough to hold on. He was named Pitcher of the Month again as well, going 5-1 with a 2.04 ERA (165 ERA+), 1.00 WHIP, 18 walks, and 35 strikeouts in 53 innings pitched. It's crazy to think that five players, including teammate Johnnie Jones, were taken before him, but getting Papenfus at six has been huge for us. The likely Allen Winner is just 16 strikeouts away from Allen himself for 7th most strikeouts as a Cougar. He should pass him by season end, and if we want to return to the postseason for the first time since Pap's first Allen, we need a few more big starts from him.

Johnnie Jones and Harry Parker didn't go the distance, but that's what happens when you lose on the road. Jones allowed 8 hits, 4 runs, and 4 walks, with 3 strikeouts to drop to 9-12 despite his 2.59 ERA (130 ERA+). While unlucky in terms of record, he's vastly outperforming his FIP (3.44, 102), making him both lucky and unlucky at the same time. Harry Parker was unlucky not to win, as his 8 innings with 6 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and 2 strikeouts were very effective. He hasn't been his self all season long, and with the schedule running low, he might get some starts skipped. Billy Riley just went seven, which is shocking considering he only had 106 pitches. He's really cooled off, as the walks have come back, but his improved him to 14-6 on the season. Harry MacRae finished things off, two scoreless innings with just one hit to pick up his 9th save of the season. This coming week is going to be one of the most important of the year, as after Monday we could be either 1, 3, or 5 games out of first, with nearly all our remaining games coming at Cougars Park.

I managed to snag Lee Parker on the final day of signing, giving us a 19 man class for the 1946 draft. That's our smallest since the 15 man class back in 1925, but don't let the size fool you. This is a really good group! Bob Allen (3rd), Frank Reece (37th), and Harry Beardsley (85th) all rank in the top 100, with Phil Boyes (153rd), Bob Stout (178th), Joe Austin (184th), and Zeke Johnson (196th) in the top 200. In total, 13 of our 19 players rank in the top 500, with Franklin Thomas (262nd), Ernie Frost (273rd), Tony Scuccinello (306th), John Price (321st), Charlie Harvey (396th), and Kid Moore (416th) all in the top 500. Here are where the guys we didn't sign will attend, and when they will be eligible again:

LF Jake Hewitt (12th Round): Cumberland University, 1949
RHP Ken Rasmussen (13th Round): Strub College, 1949
CF Al Lucas (14th Round): St. Ignatius, 1949
SS Franke Moore (18th Round): Pittsburgh State, 1947
LF Tommy Burt (19th Round): Darnell State, 1949
RHP Pat Burnett (20th Round): Chesapeake State, 1949
CF Leo Anderson (21st Round): Baton Rouge State, 1949
1B Bill Bloom (23rd Round): Maryland State, 1949
3B Ron Cooper (24th Round): Oklahoma Bible College, 1949
CF Aanand Adani (25th Round): Fremont State, 1949

A fair amount of these guys are pretty solid, and should turn into human round picks, so I'm definitely going to juice up our draft budget a bit. We have 17 home games left, and we've already surpassed our revenue numbers from the past two seasons, so hopefully new owner Mack Dalmer will give us more money to work with. But someone who's demanding, controlling, and prioritizes profit? Good luck...

Looking Ahead
Big double header to start the week, as we'll head to the Big Apple and throw Peter the Heater (18-7, 2.26, 161) and Donnie Jones (16-9, 3.20, 122) in a huge pair of games with major pennant implications. Both are fully rested, while the Stars only have Jack Wood (13-7, 3.15, 85). This makes it likely that Vern Hubbard (17-9, 3.41, 74) will pitch on four instead of five days of rest. Who they throw doesn't really matter, all five guys are more or less the same, and success will be determined on if we can slow down the lineup. It will be tough, as not only do they boast two 25+ home run hitters with Bill Barrett (.240, 27, 92, 8) and deadline pickup Mack Sutton (.230, 26, 73). The rookie trio is missing Bob Riggins (.262, 8, 46, 10), but they replaced him another talented, albeit old, rookie Newt Cooper (.279, 1, 5, 2). He joins Jack Welch (.264, 13, 58) and Bill Barnett (.273, 16, 73), who should be in heavy consideration for Rookie of the Year. This team is as good as it gets, but we're playing well and they aren't, and I'm pretty confident we're going to come out on top. Or at least with a split.

Off after that before our second to last road series of the season. We'll get three in Brooklyn with the last place team. They were the first team to be eliminated from the Continental Association, but they're just a game behind the Foresters for 7th. These are three must win games, and we lead the Kings in nearly every category out there. Doc Newell (7-11, 4.45, 53) and Rusty Petrick (4-8, 4.16, 39) have started to cool down, but Leo Hayden (16-9, 3.04, 100) has really heated up. The now 24-year-old took home Rookie of the Month, going a perfect 4-0 with a 1.83 ERA (190 ERA+) and 1.02 WHIP with 17 walks and 21 strikeouts. We'll have to deal with him, Newell, and probably Merritt Thomas (3-4, 1, 3.29, 13), the former Cougar. The lineup has a sparkly new face, with #4 prospect Ralph Johnson going 8-for-22 with a double and four runs in his first week as a King. With rosters expanding, there could be plenty more new faces in Brooklyn, who's current lineup is almost completely different from Opening Day while having just one player, eight hitter and Rule-5 Pick Phil Gratz (.225, 1, 35) with enough PAs to qualify for a batting title. Even if some things go wrong this series, I really like our chances to come away with a sweep, or at least two of three. Anything less would be a failure, and could come back to bite us if we finish the season looking up to all the Stars in the night sky.

Our weekend will be spent back in Chicago, where we'll play 15 of our final 17 games. We host the Saints for two, and we'll need to get some revenge after they swept us in Montreal. Seemingly stuck below .500, the Saints are 63-68, and set for yet another second division start, finishing below 4th for what could be the 10th time in 11 seasons. It's not like they don't have good players, as Bill Greene (.239, 18, 61, 13) is as well-rounded as it gets, Bert Cupid (13-7, 3.46, 104) is one of the brightest young pitchers, and Gordie Perkins (.280, 1, 37) is a talented young shortstop who can produce both at the plate and in the field. Yes, they lack a clear star, but they have a pair of top 15 prospects and 8 in the top 100, and you have to think at some point Pat Weakly (10-14, 3.86, 114) and Wally Doyle (11-12, 3.76, 124) will figure things out. With Weakly, that might be later rather then sooner, as the Saints got terrible news regarding the 26-year-old righty. "Mr. Right" is dealing with shoulder inflammation, that will not only keep him out for the rest of the season, but also potentially the start of next season. It's a huge blow, as while the Saints do have plenty of young pitchers, Weakly is an established one who's a well respected team leader. He is not going to be easy to replace, but word out of Saints camp is 76th ranked prospect Gordie Irwin will get first crack at his rotation spot. After spending four seasons in the Navy, Irwin made 24 starts in AAA this year, and he's thoroughly impressed. The former 5th Rounder went 11-5 with a 3.03 ERA (130 ERA+) and 1.42 WHIP to go with 64 walks and 84 strikeouts. After our struggles in Montreal, I'm not overly confident here, but it seems like when our two teams meet, one takes all the games, and with the fans behind us and Pap and Donnie scheduled to start, a sweep is definitely in the cards.

Minor League Report
RHP Charlie Kelsey: Sorry Cougar fans, no Duke Bybee callup. We're bringing just one arm up for now, and with his experience in the pen, Charlie Kelsey is the perfect guy for the job. 25 in October, Kelsey faced two batters in his month in Chicago, and went 1-2 his four starts after. Kelsey has been really good in summation, 6-4 with a 2.94 ERA (135 ERA+) and 1.19 WHIP with 35 walks and 63 strikeouts in 119.1 innings pitched. An extreme groundballer, our infield defense is perfect for him, and the 141st ranked prospect will get an extended audition for a bullpen spot next season. He's still got another option left, which may work against him, but he's clearly a big league caliber pitcher. He has good raw stuff and outstanding command, which makes him the perfect guy to eat innings at the back of a rotation. Unfortunately for him, the back of our rotation has crazy upside, so if he stays a Cougar, the pen is a likely landing spot. His sinker is really good, and in an inning or two he can lean heavily on the pitch. I still like him as a starter, but with so many rotation spots locked down, he may be one of the many left out.

2B Jimmie James: After holding a bench spot for the past two seasons, the versatile Jimmie James has spent his season in Milwaukee, spending most of his time at second. His most recent games have come out in center, and the former 4th Rounder has actually held his own. He's played a bit out there in the past, but a .993 efficiency in 19 games is leaps and bounds better what I would have expected. He doesn't have a positional rating there, so perhaps it's just a fluke, but the 28-year-old has plenty of value if he can't cut it in center. He's capable at second, third, short, left, and right, and he hits from both sides of the plate. His .273/.343/.359 (89 OPS+) batting line isn't all that impressive, but he's a glove first guy who provided 10 doubles, 2 triples, 8 homers, and 53 RBIs in 118 games. In 107 FABL games, James has hit just .247/.294/.329 (80 OPS+), and with two options left, Milwaukee fans may get used to seeing the California kid in the lineup. He's a useful late game replacement, but I don't think he'll get too much time.

SS George Sutterfield: In nearly every FABL organization, George Sutterfield would be the shortstop of the future. But in the Cougars organization, you're not getting past Skipper Schneider and his league high 34.9 zone rating. Sutterfield is actually close, posting 27.3 (1.173 eff) in 117 games at short, and he's comparable to the game's best like Skipper, Harry Barrell, and Jim Hensley. With Hank Barnett's struggles, third base could be open, and the 24-year-old Sutterfield will be given every opportunity to seize the hot corner from the former Whitney Winner. As crazy as it is, Sutterfield ranks #1 in terms of potential for our shortstops, and if you can top Skipper, who's frequently ranked in the top 5 or 10 position players, you're going to be really good. Sutterfield's .283/.340/.373 (92 OPS+) line doesn't really stick out, and at the hot corner you'd like to see more of a bat, especially with just 3 homers. He makes up for it with his speed, totaling 26 doubles, 5 triples, and 11 steals, and obviously the defense is off the charts. Even if he doesn't start, I don't envision him going back to Milwaukee, as his glove alone provides elite value even just in the late innings. Barnett will need more off days, and with a healthy season this year, I can guarantee you Billy Hunter misses a few months next year. It may be a stretch, but I think Sutterfield will be elite, as he'll hit for a high average, wreck havoc on the bases, and make plays you'll have to clean your glasses to make sure you saw it right. I'm very excited by his development, and the sky truly is the limit for the young infielder.

CF Max Rucker: We have very few options for a backup outfielder in Milwaukee, so I decided I'd reward the former 7th Rounder, who spent 1942-1945 in the Army, which cost him a callup. Now 29, Rucker produced a 100 WRC+ and .295/.341/.380 (94 OPS+) line in 508 trips to the plate for the Blues. It was his first trip to AAA, with 42 games with Mobile back in 1941 his highest level of experience. Rucker isn't a great defender by any means, but he can hold his own in center, and offers plus performance in either corner. His bat is pretty solid too, as while there isn't much power, he should hit around .300 with relative consistency. He isn't the most exciting player, but he's a capable fourth outfielder who can help keep the legs fresh. We may bring up more guys as the season comes to a close, but for now we'll roll with 28 players and seven empty roster spots.

1B Billy Biggar (A Lincoln Legislators): With plenty of young guys pushed up higher then they may be ready for, there haven't been many accolades for Cougars farmhands. Billy Biggar took home a rare (although, not for him) Player of the Week, going 13-for-33 with 2 doubles and 5 RBIs. The 21-year-old has actually hit better in A ball then he did in Class B, hitting .308/.354/.428 (125 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 3 triples, 3 homers, and 27 RBIs with more walks (18) then strikeouts (12). Now 22, the Canadian first basemen has really showcased his hit tool, continuously putting the ball in play without sacrificing exit velocity. He's a strong and sturdy lefty who can really hit the ball hard, even if it doesn't end up with a lot of balls in the seats. He's starting to remind me more of Ray Ford, average power with a strong hit tool, and the discipline to walk more then he strikes out. Biggar could be a .330 hitter in the FABL, but he's still got ways to go before reaching that. I'd love to see him add some pop, something that may come later. Leo Mitchell isn't the norm by any means, but at 24 he hit just 6 homers, and now at 33 he's mashed 20. Without added power, or at least the ability to hit 10 or so homers, he's destined for the bench, but Biggar has made great strides since draft day, and his lack of versatility may work in our favor, as he wouldn't be an attractive Rule-5 guy. We can take our time with Biggar, and while I'm not necessarily betting on his big league success, I wouldn't be comfortable betting against it.

Cougars in the GWL
RHP Cy Sullivan (Oakland Grays): The inaugural GWL season has developed into a three-team race, with San Francisco and LA leading the Oakland Grays by a single game. Cy Sullivan is doing his best to capture the title for the Grays, throwing his third shutout of the season. It was a good one; a two-hitter with two walks and three strikeouts, improving the large righty to 14-8 on the season. His 2.65 ERA (128 ERA+) is best on the team, a few points higher then Johnny Cook, the 36-year-old journeyman who's career might be over. It was a big loss for the Grays, as Cook tore his rotator cuff, and is likely missing all of 1947 as well. The Grays will have to rely heavily on Cy, who boasts a 1.17 WHIP in 227.2 innings with 52 walks and 64 strikeouts. The Grays offense has been great, but beyond Sullivan, the rotation has let the team down. With guys like Clyde Zimmerman (.295, 11, 66, 8), Hank Grant (.289, 1, 30, 6), Frankie Cohen (.360, 2, 45), Joe Loyd (.318, 5, 81), and Larry Colaianni (.334, 5, 70), many thought Oakland would run away with the pennant, but instead the new circuit has an exciting final month that the new fans are sure to enjoy.

RHP King Price (Los Angeles Knights): With the three-team race developing, it only makes sense to give each team a feature! Another Cougar pitcher who can get things done, King Price done excellent after spending three seasons in the Air Force. He's an unlucky 11-10 despite a sterling 2.94 ERA (111 ERA+) with a 1.30 WHIP, 65 walks, and 119 strikeouts. Price has got hit hard his last two starts, allowing 4 earned in each of them, while losing six of his last seven. This has been tough for the Knights, who need their ace to help lead the staff. They've allowed the fewest runs in the GWL, getting great production from another Cougar farmhand, Karl Wallace (15-7, 2.99, 84), as well as Chicagoan Bob Cummings (10-9, 3.04, 97). The offense is good, led by Cougar draftee Jim Hatfield (.354, 10, 51, 14), who has plenty of support from Bennie Griffith (.311, 2, 16, 3), Les Hendrix (.258, 11, 61, 6), and John Kennedy (.260, 3, 36). The Knights will look to return to their May form (19-8), as the past few months have saw them win about as often as they've lost. It'll be a tough fight the rest of the way, but if I had to pick a favorite, I'd give them the slight edge.

CF Orlin Yates (San Francisco Hawks): Of the three teams in the race, the Hawks have the least amount of Cougars making contributions, but they have a potential 6 WAR player on hand in Orlin Yates. Known for his stellar center field defense, Yates has a 17.3 zone rating (1.043 efficiency) to go with a, get this, above average (!!) .262/.349/.352 (106 OPS+) batting line. I will say I expected more then 8 steals from the almost 35-year-old, but the 22 doubles, 4 triples, 3 homers, 48 RBIs, and 58 walks have been useful nonetheless. The star of the club, however, is John Herrick, who's mashed 21 homers and drove in 75 runs with a .247/.320/.406 (112 OPS+) batting line. Or if you're a batting average fan, Bob Land, who's hitting .400 with 205 hits, 36 doubles, 80 RBIs, and zero home runs. His 181 WRC+ and 7.1 WAR suggest that maybe he's the real star, but these three vets have been crucial for the Hawks pennant quest. The pitching isn't great, as Zeke King (17-7, 2.38, 113) is lucky to have Land and Yates track down his multitude of flyballs, but they do own one of the best hurlers in the league. That would be 32-year-old Jack Henderson, who is 13-5 with a 2.70 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.16 WHIP, 59 walks, and 141 strikeouts. In terms of run differential, the Hawks are the clear #3, but there's a reason you have to play out the games! It's anyone's guess who will come out on top, and I'm sure the magnates of the GWL are very happy with how the upstart or rebel league, depending on who you're conversing with, has kicked off.

ayaghmour2 · 04-12-2023, 08:43 PM

Weekly Record: 5-2
Seasonal Record: 80-57 (2nd, 3 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 31 AB, 14 H, 2 HR, 11 RBI, .452 AVG, 1.097 OPS
Carlos Montes : 31 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .323 AVG, .817 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 28 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .357 AVG, .893 OPS

Schedule
9-2: Win at Stars (8-1)
9-2: Loss at Stars (2-8)
9-4: Win at Kings (11-1)
9-5: Loss at Kings (0-4)
9-6: Win at Kings (9-4)
9-7: Win vs Saints (3-11)
9-8: Win vs Saints (0-5)

Recap
5-2 weeks are right, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't hit the same when the Stars also go 5-2, so we're stuck at two games out. We split the double header in New York, as Pap was dominant while Donnie, well, pitched like this new Donnie I don't like very much. Luckily, he made up for it (more on that later), but a double header sweep would have brought us within two. With the offensive explosion, we also returned to the dreaded -6 expected record, as well as clinching our tenth consecutive winning season. We won #78 on the 6th against the Kings, and are on pace for our most wins since the 97 we put up to win the pennant back in 1941. I think we can potentially get 93, but that would be an impressive 13-4 finish. Anything shy of that, and it will be tough to catch the Stars, but those three games in Chicago the final week of the season could be all we need to return to the postseason.

After a brutal August where he hit just .217/.265/.330 (71 OPS+), Leo Mitchell has taken it upon himself to will us back to the postseason. Our star outfielder took home the first Player of the Week in September, going 14-for-31 with 2 homers, 7 runs, and 11 RBIs. That brought his season line back up to .323/.360/.497 (145 OPS+), ranking third in all three triple crown categories (22 HR, 80 RBI). Fellow lefties Dick Walker and Clark Car provided support, 13-for-34 with 2 doubles, a triple, 4 steals, 3 RBIs, 11 runs, and 4 walks. Hank Barnett has started to turn things around as well, this week 8-for-27 with a double, 3 walks, 6 runs, 2 homers, and 8 RBIs. This upped his WRC+ to 102, and he now has 13 homers and 55 RBIs in 550 trips to the plate. Skipper had himself a nice week, 10-for-28 with a steal, 2 doubles, a homer, 4 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. Carlos Montes was productive as well, 10-for-31 with 2 doubles, a homer, 8 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. Hal Sharp remains second in the batting race, going 6-for-18 with a double, walk, RBI, and two runs scored. We need the offense to step up like this if we want to play in October, and I know the lineup is capable of producing. We just need to muster up a little luck...

Peter the Heater continues to solidify his campaign for his second Allen Award, picking up win #19 and 20, stretching his complete game win streak to six games. Pap allowed 4 hits in each start, with a run, walk, and 6 strikeouts in New York, and 3 runs, 2 walks, and 9 strikeouts in Chicago against the Saints. Pap continues to lead in wins (20), ERA (2.24), and strikeouts (176), and is an inning away from his second 250 inning season. I think he'll hit 200 strikeouts too, as we're going to give him plenty of starts the rest of the way. I want Donnie Jones to get a bunch too, but when you allow 9 hits, 8 runs (4 earned), and 3 walks against the Stars, and haven't looked like a co-ace, it's tough. He did strike out six, so that's a plus, but at least he dominated against the Saints. He threw our first shutout in over a month, tossing a 6-hit shutout with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts to improve to 17-10 in 27 starts. Donnie's second half hasn't been great, as he's alternated dominant starts with 8 run ones. We need Jones to pick things up, as when he's on, really only Pap can keep up with him.

Brother Johnnie got tagged with another loss, dropping to 9-13 with 8 innings, 8 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts. His 2.62 ERA (129 ERA+) is still extremely impressive, but his 3.41 FIP (100 FIP-) is just average. He's the first Cougar to 100 walks, with 104 in 209.1 innings pitched. Billy Riley was an error away from a shutout of his own, but it really wasn't a great start. Luckily we gave him 11 runs of support, allowing him to work around 5 hits and 6 walks. Harry Parker had some struggles, but 9 runs was plenty for him. He left with two outs in the 6th, leaving with 8 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. His record is even at nine, with Charlie Kelsey finishing the game off. The recent callup got his first big league save, as he went 3.1 innings with 5 hits, a run, and strikeout. This may be Parker's last start of the season, as I'm going to ride the hot arm of Joe Brown. The fifth spot may be skipped a bit to give Pap more starts, but we'll definitely need a fifth starter on occasion, and I need to make sure Pap and Jones are on the mound for the 23rd and 24th against the Stars, which then sets them up to pitch the final two games of the season. Parker will be unofficially shut down, but if we need an arm late, he's an option. With MacRae's dominance as a stopper, it might not be needed, but in a long extra inning game, having someone like Parker able to give 5+ solid innings could be huge.

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week, before hosting the Foresters for two. At 58-79, they have recently been eliminated, and have a 2.5 game cushion over the Kings for last. The Foresters have brought up top 100 prospect Ivey Henley with rosters expanding, and the former 5th Rounder went 7-for-17 in his debut week. He's not the only new face on the roster, as Henley is joined by former Cougar draftees Joe Crosby and Adolph Jacobson, as well as former 2nd Overall Pick Wally Fuller, who was part of the four player package for Mel Carroll. Fuller hasn't lived up to the hype, and doesn't even rank in the top 500 prospects in the FABL, as the 25-year-old may never be the replacement to Carroll Cleveland once thought he could be. With little to play for, the Foresters may give chances to some of the new faces, but since we're stuck with Richie Hughes (17-12, 3.25, 139) in the opener, it may be tough to earn the sweep. After Hughes, it's either "The Undertaker" (5-15, 3.67, 74) or "Auggie Doggie" (7-11, 4.60, 57), leading to a much more favorable matchup. These are must win games, but we haven't been that great against Cleveland (11-9), who will look to play spoiler in the Windy City.

Same goes for the Wolves, but they'll get three shots to dent our playoff hopes. I'm still a bit shocked they never turned things around, following a 9-18 July with a 11-17 August. They start the week with the Stars, and I'm hoping they skip #6 starter Jim Morrison (4-6, 1, 4.41, 41) to give George Garrison (10-14, 3.16, 83) and Joe Hancock (9-14, 3.86, 67) the ball in New York. That would leave us with the 3-4-5 of Bob Walls (11-11, 4.00, 25), Cougar Killer Cookie Myers (8-4, 2.76, 17), and Jimmy Gibbs (9-8, 3.48, 59). Zooming into Cookie, I think he's one of those guys that does good just to spite me, as there's really nothing about him that makes it look like he can start games at the highest level. The 127 ERA+ says otherwise, but it comes with just 17 strikeouts in 130.2 innings, with over twice as many walks (42). His 4.00 FIP (114 FIP-) agrees with me, but in two of his three starts against us this year, he's allowed just a single run. We cannot afford to let him best us yet again, but at least now the Wolves offense isn't doing much to help the staff. Walt Pack (.231, 8, 56) is hitting a little better, but Charlie Artuso's (.250, 9, 67) OPS+ is down to 88, with Juan Pomales' (.259, 2, 35, 7) just three points higher. Yes, they have Whitney Candidate Fred McCormick (.278, 16, 56, 5) and his 156 WRC+, and breakout outfielder Hank Giordano (.306, 5, 67, 17), but our staff will be tough to get runs off. We need to win these games, but last time the Wolves played us and the Stars, they swept us and then got swept by New York. Not this time, please? Thanks!

We finish the week with the first of three against the Cannons, who I'll cover more tomorrow. They've really struggled as well, just 71-65 and 11.5 games out of first. Beyond Rufus Barrell, they haven't pitched very well. "Deuce" is 15-8 with a 2.47 ERA (140 ERA+), 1.10 WHIP, 53 walks, and 109 strikeouts in his 28 starts. The fireballer has an elite 2.72 FIP and 78 FIP-, and he's matched his 5.7 WAR from last year in a few less innings. The lineup is dangerous, as they have plenty of sluggers who can impact the game with just one swing. Chuck Adams (.262, 25, 89) has surpassed 20 longballs for the third season in a row, and Denny Andrews (.279, 15, 70) set a personal best for homers. Al Wheeler's (.235, 14, 54) average has dipped, but he'll walk and homer enough to make up for it. The Cannons will be in New York for the two games before our series, so I'm hoping they'll be all tired out after a sweep, and they snooze their way through a series in the Chi.

Minor League Report
3B Otto Christian: With the Commodores out of a playoff run, I decided to get our first look at former 13th Overall Pick Otto Christian. The "Walla Walla Walloper" has appeared in 124 games for the Commodores, hitting .277/.339/.400 (106 OPS+) in 519 trips to the plate. He's mashed 19 doubles and 11 homers with 65 RBIs, while walking (44) one more time then he struck out (43). 24 on the 26th, Christian spent the past three seasons in the Air Force, and will now get a chance to make his big league debut. His power off the bench could be a game changer, as his raw power is off the charts. He's one of those guys that can hit the ball 450+ feet in batting practice, but Otto hasn't quite translated that into huge power numbers in the minors. He did lead the Commodores in homers, and was the only member of the team with more then five. The Dixie League as a whole suppresses power, as Otto is the only slugger with double digit longballs. It may be a few seasons before he's playing every day in Chicago, but I can see him hitting 20+ a year as long as he continues to swing at good pitches. He has a keen eye and makes decent contact. A .240 average may be the baseline, but I can see him getting it up to .270 in a better year. This cup of coffee will be his first audition for the hot corner, as Hank Barnett may have some competition in the Spring. Otto and George Sutterfield offer completely different profiles, and could co-exist despite both being righties. We could use Sutterfield with ground ballers on the mound and Otto when the fly ballers are out. They can pinch hit and defensive replace each other as well, depending on whether we are trailing or leading. I'm very excited for our first look at Christian, as while he has developed slowly, it's clear this kid's power potential is special.

LF Bill Rich: I had to release Bill Rich to afford some of our draft picks, but I was luckily able to bring the Chicagoan back into the fold on a minor league deal. He'll now return to the majors after hitting .283/.347/.363 (92 OPS+) in 92 games with 15 doubles, 4 triples, 2 homers, and 38 RBIs. Rich made 23 appearances for us last season, hitting an impressive .312/.371/.391 (120 OPS+) with 2 doubles, a homer, and 8 RBIs. Rich's stay on the 40 might be temporary, but we have Ducky Cole returning from injury, and this helps make room for everyone in the farm. He's a useful bat off the bench who can pinch hit late in games, especially against lefties.

RHP Harry Beardsley (B San Jose Cougars): Remember when I said I was really excited to get Harry Beardsley? This is why! Not your every day 10th Rounder, Beardsley currently ranks as the games 76th best prospect, and he's gotten off to a great start to his minor league career. He's made six starts, allowing zero runs in three of his last four. #4 was the best, a 3-hit, 1-walk shutout in a 5-0 Cougars win over the Vancouver Mounties. Beardsley struck out 3 and needed just 91 pitches to record all 27 outs. That improved the 21-year-old to 4-2 with a 2.68 ERA (149 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, 13 walks, and 18 strikeouts. Already listed as a current "Starter", Beardsley may be a quick riser, and I can see him starting next season up in Lincoln. A four pitch pitcher, he projects to have above average stuff, and since June he's seen his velocity rise from 84-86 to 86-88. As a youngster with a fastball and sinker, any added velocity is crucial. He commands his pitches well, as he took a huge step forward from his Sophomore to Junior year. That's carried over to pro ball, maintaining a serviceable 3.2 BB/9. I'd like to see it go a little lower, but if he can keep striking guys out at the rate he is, we can live with it. Pitching depth isn't a concern of ours, but you know what they say; you can't have too much pitching!

ayaghmour2 · 04-13-2023, 08:32 PM

Weekly Record: 5-1
Seasonal Record: 85-56 (2nd, 3 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 23 AB, 11 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI, .478 AVG, 1.197 OPS
Billy Riley : 2 Wins, 17.0 IP, 3 BB, 6 K, 0.53 ERA
Harry Mead : 23 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .348 AVG, .922 OPS

Schedule
9-10: Win vs Foresters (0-4)
9-11: Win vs Foresters (3-4): 11 innings
9-12: Win vs Wolves (0-1)
9-13: Win vs Wolves (4-13)
9-14: Loss vs Wolves (4-1)
9-15: Win vs Cannons (1-4)

Recap
For the second week in a row we won five games. And for the second week in a row, the Stars did too. Still stuck at three games out, our lone loss was to the Wolves, who once again, let the Stars sweep them. Lucky for us, the Cannons won a 10 inning nailbiter on Saturday before dropping the opener in Chicago, so the Stars week was not perfect. With two weeks left int he season, we may need to play perfectly, but 9 of the 11 remaining contests come in Chicago, including the three major games against the Stars. I imagine things will go down to the wire, but there just might not be enough time in the season left. I'm trying to hold out hope, but the realist in me knows that our terrible May (12-19) may very well be the difference between competing for a title or watching from our couches back home.

Peter the Heater did what he does best, put the Cougs on his back, and dominates opposing hitters. The run away Allen Winner, Pap needed to be his best in our 1-0 win over the Wolves, and on command, he was. The only blemish on his record was a Charlie Artuso double, as I'm not going to fault him for Clark Car's error. He struck out just three to stretch his complete game victory streak to seven. Now a CA best 21-7, Peter the Heater has not allowed more then three earned runs in a start since June 25th, where he allowed 5 in a 6-4 loss to the Foresters. He leads all pitchers in wins, strikeouts (179), WHIP (1.05), rWAR (9.3), quality starts (25), and opposing batting average (.197) while leading his association in ERA (2.16), ERA+ (156), WAR (6.4), complete games (24), K/9 (6.2), and win percentage (.750). He has three starts left this season, starting on the 17th against the Cannons, the 23rd against the Stars, and the Kings on the 28th. This gives him regular rest against the Cannons and Kings with an extra day against the Stars. I trust our rotation enough not to start him on short rest, and I'd much rather him (as well as Donnie and Riley) ready to go against the team in first.

Billy Riley had himself a week, picking up two more wins to improve to 17-6 with a 2.40 ERA (141 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP. Riley threw his fourth shutout of the season, a 3-hitter against the Foresters where he walked one and struck out five. He then picked up an 8 inning win to finish the week, allowing just one run and two walks with a strikeout in our 4-1 win. Harry MacRae did what he does best, striking out two and allowing just one hit in a scoreless 9th. That was his 10th save of the season, and it came one appearance after his first career win. He won the double header, going 2 with with just one hit allowed. He relieved Joe Brown, who continues to heat up. Billy Hunter's error ruined the win for Brown, who should have got a complete game win with 6 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts and a single earned run. Instead, the Foresters got two, so Brown will remain 5-7 with an above average 3.21 ERA (105 ERA+). As with all extra inning games, Harry Mead was the hero, doubling of Richie Hughes (18-13, 3.22, 146) to start the 11th before eventually scoring the winning run. He also homered off Hughes in the 4th, finishing 3-4 with a walk, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, and a triple away from the cycle.

Donnie Jones continues to alternate dominance with mediocrity, this time going just 7 with 11 hits, 4 runs, a walk, and 4 strikeouts. It was good enough to beat his old team, as Jones improved to 18-10 with a 3.18 ERA (106 ERA+) and 1.11 WHIP. Like Pap, Donnie has three starts left, getting the 18th against the Sailors, the 24th against the Stars, and the series finale on the 29th against the Kings. I still have complete faith in the talented righty, who has a few more shutouts left in him. His start was finished by Charlie Kelsey, who walked one and struck out two in two scoreless frames. Since we were up 13-4, no save for Kelsey, but it was another nice relief outing for the rookie. Johnnie Jones was tagged with the lone loss, going all nine with 8 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. This dropped "The Patron Saint of Groundballs" to 9-14 despite his 2.68 ERA (126 ERA+). He has just one start left, scheduled for the 21st against the Kings, and could be used out of the pen in the last week. The staff is the class of the association, leading all categories except pen ERA (2nd, 2.38), WAR (2nd, 22.5), and homers allowed (3rd, 68), which would set up a high octane battle of the arms if we face the Fed leading Minutemen in a rematch of the '41 series, which to this day, still gives me nightmares...

Leo Mitchell continues his September surge, once again named Player of the Week in the Continental Association. Mitchell socked his 23rd and 24th homers of the season, and finished 11-for-23 with 3 runs and 8 RBIs. He's hit ten more homers then in his Whitney Worthy season in 1944, and with one more longball he'll increase his season high by ten, previously slugging 15 in 1940. Mitchell's produced a 163 WRC+ with 24 doubles and 88 RBIs, slashing a robust .329/.364/.507 (149 OPS+) in 140 of our 143 games. He's not a run away winner like Pap, but it's going to be very tough to find a more worthy candidate then Mitchell, who (perhaps biasedly) is my lock for the award. He ranks third in all three triple crown categories, and is the only player in either association to rank top three in homers, average, and RBIs. He leads the Conti in slugging, total bases (279), wOBA (.399), WRC+, and of course, strikeouts (92). I won't be too angry if he doesn't win, it seems like Cougars tend to get snubbed, but there are plenty of worthy choices so I can't be too angry. Or at least fan angry, not award snatching angry. He is my favorite hitter after all!

Big week for the extra inning hero Harry Mead, who went 8-for-23 with a double, homer, 2 walks, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs. Mead has now hit 10 homers and produced a 112 WRC+ in 127 games for us this season, much better then the 4 and 93 from a season ago. Our second base duo did well, as Billy Hunter finally put together a few games. He got two starts this week, going 3-for-7 with a double, run, and two walks. Clark Car went 5-for-15 a double, walk, and two runs, steals, and RBIs. Skipper Schneider is making a late push to turn his WRC+ above 100, 7-for-22 with a double, walk, 2 steals, 4 runs, 4 RBIs, and a home run. After snapping his five season streak of four triples last year, Skipper has seven in 1946, and has hit .273/.318/.361 (95 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 4 homers, 8 steals, and 42 RBIs. Strikeouts have been a problem for Skipper, with a career high of 36, 14 more then last season, which was his first season with more then 15. With just 31 walks, it's not only his first season with less walks then strikeouts, but the first where he hasn't walked twice as often as he's struck out. We'll need everyone to contribute these final two weeks, as it seems like we never get all the bats going at once. Despite that, we're two runs away from 600, now 2nd behind only the Stars (686), who we have no shot of catching. It's going to be tough, but these guys all can hit, and we don't have to deal with a staff that is any where near the level of ours. Which might be why we've scored so many runs!

Looking Ahead
We're starting to run out of time, making it so we pretty much have to win every game that's left, as the Stars haven't lost a game since, well, May? They've gone 59-35 since June 1st, and have matched out 10-4 September. We start the second to last week with two more against the Cannons, with Bob Arman (12-7, 3.85, 90) and Les Bradshaw (13-13, 3.45, 107) the scheduled starters. The Cannons haven't made any callups yet, so it's a lot of the same group. They may make a move with Gail Gifford (.263, 4, 25) going down with a hamstring strain, but there lineup will not be affected. These games are big for us, and if we can keep Chuck Adams (.257, 25, 90) in the park and Denny Andrews (.283, 15, 71) and Fred Galloway (.264, 6, 61) off the bases, I really like our chances. It will be tough, but they have nothing to play for, and with so much pressure on us to keep winning, I think that will give us the edge as the boys are fighting for their lives, more then angry with all the close chances that have plagued the Cougars in recent years.

Up next is two with the Sailors, who sit at 76-66 and 3.5 games above the Cannons for third. With not much to play for, the Sailors have opted to use a six man rotation, giving the extra starts to Art Hull (2-0, 2.81, 3), who we are likely to miss. They have one more with the Stars tomorrow, who beat them 3-2 yesterday, before coming to town. It seems likely that we will face swingman Rule-5 Pick Troy Crockett (6-2, 2.84, 34) and Frank Sartori (9-4, 2.58, 59), both of which are lefties, but things are uncertain as another lefty, Sick Wesolowski (9-2, 2.69, 53) is finally healthy. With a lefty leaning lineup, you may think we'd struggle against southpaws, but we're a bit better (24-16, .600) against them then righties (61-42, .592) due to some excellent platoon bats. Rather surprisingly, the Sailors have the second best staff in terms of runs allowed, with 521 compared to our 441, as I think of them more for their offense then pitching. They also rank right behind us in runs scored (596), and are underperforming their expected record by four games. The lineup is dangerous, with huge seasons from Harvey Brown (.315, 1, 51, 33), Rip Lee (.301, 6, 53, 5), Ed Reyes (.364, 8, 60), Cotton Dillon (.271, 7, 60), and Les Cunha (.296, 9, 78). Lee's 126 WRC+ is the lowest of the bunch, with the other four all above 130. Billy Forbes has started to heat up too, with three multi hit games in a 9-for-20 week. The recent first rounder has hit .269/.305/.417 (98 OPS+) in his first 39 games, adding 5 doubles, 3 triples, 3 steals, 4 homers, and 24 RBIs to go with a 113 WRC+. The Sailors aren't the most active team on the trade market, but if they decide to go out and get a star, they could or even just a few solid pieces, they could be in the thick of a pennant race a year from now.

After the off day we'll play our final two road games, spending our weekend at Kings County Park. I am really hoping we avoid my old friend Leo Hayden, who is making a push for the inaugural Kellogg Award, which will be awarded to the best rookie in each association. Despite the Kings poor play this season, Hayden is 19-9 with a 2.88 ERA (121 ERA+) and 1.28 WHIP. The walks are always a concern for the still intimidating southpaw, with 105 in his 247 innings. He has struck out five more batters, but he'll either need to up his strikeout rate or cut the walks. To be fair, most 24-year-olds don't command their pitches well, and this is a kid who pretty much went from C ball to the majors with 5 AA starts after his fourth year in the Air Force. He shook off a slow start to the season, and has kicked it up a notch since the trade deadline. Hayden has won his eight August and September decisions, including a 6-hit shutout against us where he walked none and struck out three. He hasn't lost since July 23rd, and the four runs in a 5-4 win over the first place Stars was his only start with more then three earned runs. He allowed homers to Chubby Hall (.321, 5, 36), Mack Sutton (.228, 28, 60), and Bill Barrett (.251, 29, 97, 10), but he didn't allow a homer in the five starts prior or the three after. He's as good as it gets, and its crazy to think that if he was still a Cougar, he would have spent all season in Milwaukee. I could not be happier for the likeable ace, as he's blossomed into the pitcher I always knew he would when he was selected with Eddie Howard in the 2nd Round of the 1941 draft.

Hayden is one of many players with Cougar connections, as trade mates Harry Stewart and Pinch Lenhart are on the Kings 40. Neither is on the active roster, same for Mike Thorpe, who I would have loved to see in Brooklyn. He hasn't pitched the best in AAA, going 4-5 with a save in 11 appearances for Jersey City. His 4.63 ERA (93 ERA+) is higher then it was in Milwaukee (3.93, 100), and he's walking (24) and striking out (11) hitters more frequently. Merritt Thomas (3-6, 1, 3.66, 13) could start one of the two in Brooklyn, but Rusty Petrick (4-10, 4.24, 49) was moved to the pen after a rough August (1-4, 6.06, 13) where he walked 29 hitters in 35.2 innings. The lineup is Cougar free, as Frank Reichardt (.200, 1, 2) has replaced Solly Skidmore (.255, 35) as the every day catcher. The 23-year-old isn't a very highly rated prospect, but Solly hasn't been great, and the Kings will want to try many players out now as they prep for an improved 1947. Their outfield is loaded, with potential star Ralph Johnson (.352, 6), who recently passed Bob Allen in the prospect rankings, and other talented rookies in John Beaver (.252, 2, 30), John Moss (.243, 4, 29), and the now injured Joe Rutherford (.233, 3, 28, 6). While not scary now, they could eventually posses the association's best outfield, and future series in Brooklyn will not prove as painless as this one should.

ayaghmour2 · 04-14-2023, 10:33 PM

Weekly Record: 2-4
Seasonal Record: 87-60 (2nd, 5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Johnnie Jones : 1 Win, 7.0 IP, 7 BB, 6 K, 1.29 ERA
Leo Mitchell : 27 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .259 AVG, .556 OPS
Joe Brown : 1 Win, 19.0 IP, 4 BB, 4 K, 2.37 ERA

Schedule
9-16: Win vs Cannons (0-1): 10 innings
9-17: Loss vs Cannons (8-3)
9-18: Loss vs Sailors (3-2)
9-19: Loss vs Sailors (6-4): 11 innings
9-21: Win at Kings (4-1)
9-22: Loss at Kings (5-6): 10 innings

Recap
The Cougars and disappointing their fanbase? Can you name a better combo!?!?

Oh... Wait!!! The Cougars and losing close games!!!!

There's really not a wrong answer, as the Cougars are quite practiced at both, but this week really hurt. Not because it made a pennant seem impossible, but because we regressed to the annoying team that loses games they should win. We dropped four of six, with two games ending in extras, two games decided by a single run, and thankfully a loss where we did pretty much everything wrong in a game where Peter the Heater looked more like Peter the Piper who Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers. Close games have been our Achilles heel, 5-7 in extra inning games, 23-24 in one-run games, and 10-12 in two-run games. But games decided by three runs or more? 54-26! For a full 154 games, that would be about 104 wins! Imagine that!

Technically, we're not completely mathematically eliminated from the postseason, but it would take a few miracles, and then some, for us to return to the postseason. Not only would we have to sweep the Stars, but we would then have to sweep the Kings while the Saints simultaneously sweep the Stars. And even that's not enough! We'd still then have to beat the Stars again in a tiebreaker match, and I don't see the team that won 71 of their last 107 games (.664) is going to lose six games in a row. But nonetheless, we'll still act like we can do it, with the last five games going to Pap, Donnie, Riley, Pap, and Donnie.

Perhaps instead of those three, I should go to Joe Brown, who threw a 4-hit, 10-inning shutout to start the week. His second start wasn't as great, allowing 9 hits, 5 runs, and 3 walks in 9 innings, this time not continuing when the game went to extras. Brown was awful to start the season, and had a 5.68 ERA on June 29th. From the 30th on, Brown made nine starts, going 4-2 with a 1.39 ERA (!!) and 0.85 WHIP. I knew he'd turn things around, and if he didn't miss nearly four weeks with injury, perhaps we would have been a little closer to first. He's done for the year, so the captain of the staff will finish 6-7 with a 3.09 ERA (1.09 ERA+) and 1.07 WHIP with 25 walks and 46 strikeouts. 33 next March, Brown is penciled into the starting rotation, and could end up slotting anywhere between 3rd and 6th. Another guy fitting that classification is Johnnie Jones, who managed to win his 26th and final start. Jones went just 7, as 7 walks ran up his pitch count. He was able to work around it, as he allowed just three hits and a single run while striking out six. In his first season since 1943, Johnnie did have some walk issues, charged with 114 free passes in 225.1 innings pitched. His K/9 dropped from 4.4 to 3.5, and he actually struck out less batters this year (88) then he did in 196.2 innings (97) as a rookie. If we can get him to either cut down the walks or return to his previous strikeout numbers, he could be another ace to add to the collection. He has the ability to go deep into games, wiggle out of trouble, and keep the ball on the ground, all useful for back to middle rotation guys, but with so many high upside youngsters and a few years away from 30, he could get pushed out with out making any additional improvements.

Billy Riley still has a start left, but it may be his last as a Cougar. It's about time Duke Bybee gets a shot to impress, and Riley is the most appealing candidate. I don't think you could blackmail me into trading Papenfus or the Jones Brothers, and I doubt there is anyone that values Harry Parker even a quarter as much as I do. Joe Brown's a captain, and well versed as a stopper if we need to push someone out to make room for innings. Riley, on the other hand, doesn't have as deep of an attachment to Chicago as the rest. He's the only pitcher to start a game for us this year who did not debut in a Cougar uniform, and he's the only one who hasn't spent seven or more years in our organization. Add in his breakout season and inclusion in the top 20 pitchers list, and the market for him should be competitive in the offseason. While not quite as good as his Allen-Worthy 1942 season, Riley has been dominant, 17-6 with a 2.46 ERA (137 ERA+) and 1.11 WHIP. He's struck out 87 and walked 63 in 226.2 innings, giving him eight consecutive seasons with 200 or more innings pitched. He leads the CA in win percentage (.739) and opponent BABIP (.237), ranks second for ERA, ERA+ (137) and shutouts (4), third for WHIP, and seventh for wins. In a perfect world, we move him for an top 20 bat, potentially at third base, but he could also help bolster and already impressive farm system. We don't have many holes, but the more assets I can acquire, the more I can overpay for a difference maker. Luckily, this offseason will feel like a breeze with no military behind the scenes stuff, and with a huge improvement on our win total from last season, we're going to have a really good shot for an early pick. That's not going to make another season without the playoffs any easier, but the new lottery system makes it so you can take something away from a competitive season.

I touched on it earlier, but Peter the Heater had his first bad start since June 25th. The Cannons put up 9 hits, 6 runs, and 7 walks with 6 strikeouts in just 7 innings. He hasn't pitched less then 8 since the 25th, and the only start that wasn't 9 was during Henry Shaffer's 5-hit shutout in New York. Papenfus has two starts left, and will need 15 strikeouts to reach 200, which might be a bit too much. Especially with one of them against the Stars. His ERA jumped to 2.31 (146 ERA+), but he still leads in all three triple crown categories. Donnie Jones will enter the final week 18-11, so if he wins both his starts, we would have two 20-win starters. The 11 hits in his complete game loss were annoying, but he walked just two and struck out eight. Despite the high ERA (3.17, 106), his FIP (2.93, 86) is nearly identical to his elite rookie year (2.92, 88). Next season should be huge for Jones, and if we have him and Pap pitching at an Allen level, we really should be popping champagne come October.

While the pitching wasn't dominant, all of the blame for this week goes to the offense. The only two batters that did any sort of hitting happen to play the same position, so it didn't really help us all that much. That position would be first base, as Ray Ford was 3-for-8 with 6 walks and 3 runs scored while Dick Walker went 2-for-10 with a double, triple, 4 runs, 4 walks, and 2 steals. When that's all you get, it's hard to win games, so I shouldn't be too surprised with the results. Hal Sharp has gone ice cold, putting up a 1-for-11 performance with 2 runs and 2 walks, dropping his season line to .323/.381/.451 (139 OPS+). September has been awful, as he followed up a stellar August (.394/.442/.577, 208 WRC+) with a .188/.259/.208 line. At times, Sharp was a difference maker, but it's too bad that he couldn't come up when it mattered most. He's still in line for a majority of the at bats next season, but Don Lee (.239, 2, 19, 7) has looked really good in right (3.5, 1.047), and he's shown that he can hit big league pitching. They'll start in a platoon, but if Sharp starts out slow and Lee comes out hot, it won't be hard to choose between a popular leader and a selfish narcissist. But when those selfish narcissists hit 44% better then the average nice guy, you can play nice for nine innings a day.

Looking Ahead
Man... Do I really want to look ahead? All I see is us getting eliminated at home...

Just five games left in the season, three with the Stars and two with the Kings. New York is on their way to a pennant, and they've now matched our run differential (+152), but since they score runs and we prevent them, our expected record (93-56) is two games better then theirs (91-58). Obviously, that matters very little, as Pythagoras himself doesn't bestow the team with the best expected record a shiny trophy! A shiny trophy may be awarded to Bill Barrett, who is hitting .253/.407/.497 (154 OPS+) and willed his team to a title. William the Conqueror launched 29 homers with 97 RBIs, while drawing 128 walks, stealing 10 bases, tripling four times, and recording 22 doubles in a 6 WAR season. He's as good as it gets, leading the Stars to pennants in each of his last two seasons. And with all the youngsters in the lineup, I imagine this won't be his last trip. The pitching isn't great, which could hurt them in the postseason, as Eli Panneton (18-8, 3.05, 127) is really the only arm that would crack our rotation. Vern Hubbard (18-11, 3.63, 85) has been unlucky, as his 85 FIP- is way better then his 95 ERA+. Beyond that, plenty of question marks, but with an offense as potent as there's, it may not matter who's on the mound.

If there was an anti-Cougars, it would ironically be the team with plenty of the, as the Kings are great in one-run games (23-17) and have a won 10 (!!) more games then their run differential would suggest. They are a game and a half above the Foresters, and could avoid the cellar with a good showing in the final week. They've won one more game then last season, and will want to win more, as they could join us with two lottery balls. Add in the first rounders they've acquired, they could have plenty of shots to add Les Ledbetter if they receive the first or second pick. Young Leo Hayden (19-10, 2.87, 122) is a win away from a 20-win rookie season, while Doc Newell (7-14, 5.04, 55) has a chance for his 200th career win. Harry Stewart (2-5, 4.73, 22) has rejoined the rotation, so we might get to see our former 5th Rounder again, but other then Hayden I'm happy with whoever we face in those last two games. These games might be meaningless, but we'll still give them our two best, as we look to close the season on a high note.

ayaghmour2 · 04-15-2023, 05:45 PM

AAA Milwaukee Blues (Century League): 87-53, 1st, 8 GA: Just like last season, the Milwaukee Blues won the Century League by eight games, but this time they did it with one less win. That's now four consecutive seasons where the Blues have topped the circuit, and the tenth time since 1930. It's no surprise the Blues did so well, as even with trades and promotions, there were plenty of big league quality players on the roster, many of which probably would have dominated the GWL. Leading the staff was Duke Bybee, who had a historical season for the Blues. Bybee was 14-6 with a 2.05 ERA (190 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP with 100 strikeouts and 40 walks in 175.1 innings pitched. Bybee put up the best ERA in a single season for the Blues in this century, and fourth best overall. Looking at the league as a whole, Bybee checks in at 18th and third since 1901, as in 1928 both Doug Mott (1.82) and David Stokes (1.92) cracked the 2.00 mark. Even though Tom Weinstock still thinks Brown, Riley, Parker, and Johnnie Jones are all better then Bybee, Bybee will be inserted into the 1947 rotation one way or another. The current #7 prospect is more then ready for the big leagues, and adding another Captain to the clubhouse can only be a benefit. The sky is the limit for Bybee, who could be one of the best pitchers in the league. He can hit 97 with his fastball and cutter, and he locates all six of his pitches well. I don't think he'll ever be better then Pap or Donnie, but there are very few pitchers (Bob Allen, I'm looking at you) who could say that.

Bybee wasn't the only highly touted youngster on the staff, as even with the trades of Joe Swank (9-2, 1.70, 44) and Mike Thorpe (5-5, 3.93, 11), there was plenty of big league quality talent. Charlie Kelsey (6-4, 2.94, 63) looked great in his first full season as a starting pitcher, and he even produced a 118 WRC+ with 4 doubles and a triple in 58 trips to the plate. George Oddo (11-7, 3.70, 93) was effective as well, with an above average 106 ERA+ and 90 FIP- to go with a 5.5 K/9 and nearly 2.0 K/BB. Oddo doesn't have a spot, so I'd love to move the 23-year-old for an offensive upgrade, but it wouldn't be the worst case if he returns to Mobile next season. Jimmy Ballard (3-2, 3.67, 25) looked good before he tore his rotator cuff, again, and Bill Ballantine (2-2, 2.25, 17) had a Bybee-esque 174 ERA+ in his 9 starts. It's no surprise the Blues allowed the fewest runs in the league, but they were anything but one-dimensional.

The lineup was deep, and finished second in runs to the third place Minneapolis Lumberjacks. Eddie Howard had a big season in his return to the system, slashing .325/.380/.428 (119 OPS+) with 37 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, and 58 RBIs with 43 walks and just 23 strikeouts. He did alright on the mound too, throwing 30.1 innings while finishing 4-0 with a pair of saves. His 3.86 ERA (101 ERA+) and 1.45 WHIP were decent enough, with 14 walks and 20 strikeouts after just 10.2 innings in C and B ball. Homer Guthrie was very effective in Chicago, batting .289/.392/.361 (118 OPS+) in 98 trips to the plate, but Howard has a legit chance to snatch the starting job. He won't turn 24 until June 1st, so I'm not sure I want him to be in a part time role, but if Mead doesn't have a great spring and Howard has a big offseason, he could make two or three starts a week in Chicago. This kid is really good, currently ranked 38th in the prospect list, and he looks like a potential top five catcher despite not much power.

Another potential star, George Sutterfield (.283, 4, 66, 11) likely finished his last season in Milwaukee, providing competent at bats to go with elite defense. Those two were the main headliners, as at times we had a variety of "veterans" like Max Rucker (.295, 4, 63), Dan Collins (.247, 1, 14), Jimmie James (.273, 8, 53), Danny Richardson (.237, 7, 44), Bill Rich (.283, 2, 38), and Reginald Westfall (.317, 5, 37) getting consistent time. A lot of our more talented prospects are young, so there wasn't much of a need to move them up to far. That's not to say there weren't any youngsters in the lineup, as Lou Thomas had a really good season for the Blues. The 24-year-old first basemen hit .289/.388/.392 (112 OPS+) with 9 homers and 70 RBIs. This positions him to potentially overtake Dick Walker, if he decided to show his age next season. 22-year-old Don Jeppsen (.296, 1, 11) spent his September with the Blues, and either him or Johnny Peters could join the Blues lineup next season. Five titles in a row would be tough, but the Blues should be among the top contenders next season, with a variety of minor league journeymen, FABL washouts, and talented, big league ready youngsters.

AA Mobile Commodores (Dixie League): 67-73, 5th, 21 GB: Generally one of our top affiliates, the Mobile Commodores had a rough end of the season, going 19-32 in the final two months of the season. That dropped the Commodores to six games under .500, the first time since 1929 where they failed to finish above .500. Part of this was all the youngsters that were pushed up. They didn't pitch or hit much, but there were a few standout performers. "The Windy City Whip" was just as good in AA as he was in AAA, going 6-6 with a 2.47 ERA (140 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, 37 walks, and 51 strikeouts in 113 innings pitched. Ed Fisler (12-6, 2.90, 60) was effective as well, but the rest of the staff had ERA+ below 99. Part of that was guys not taking the jump from A to AA well, partially because some of the guys, like Bill Holloway (4-8, 3.49, 39), Babe Stinson (2-4, 4.93, 16), or Bob Petty (3-9, 5.76, 48), were definitely not ready to be called up.

The lineup had two of our best prospects, Otto Christian and Johnny Peters, but neither really set the world on fire. Otto's 11 homers were easily best in the league, but his .277/.339/.400 (106 OPS+) batting line wasn't all that great. Same for Peters' .268/.361/.387 (109 OPS+), but I shouldn't be mad at two guys in their early 20s producing a 116 WRC+. Don Jeppsen (.280, 3, 55, 8), Lee Teide (.273, 4, 41), and Norm Anderson (.275, 2, 52) all had rough goes, and while Jeppsen may still have claim to a starting spot, Teide and Anderson may have hit their way out of the lineup. Dick Pace (.282, 11, 7) and Bob Schmelz (.307, 21) each looked good post-promotion, and should be a nice upgrade for the Commodores next season. As our younger guys gain more experience, it should help Mobile return to .500 next season, but some of the top performers are going to be playing in AAA. The rotation will have some question marks, but considering the oldest member is just 24, there is a chance for some nice offseason talent bumps.

A Lincoln Legislators (Heartland League): 76-64, t-3rd, 9 GB: After there first losing season since 1942, the Legislators made a huge improvement, going from 50-82 to 76-64. While still not the consistent 80+ win team they were from 1938 to 1944, this was actually a lot better then I expected. The Legislators were 4th in both runs scored and allowed, so its pretty fitting we finished tied for third. Dick Garcia (8-7, 3.07, 58) was the only ERA qualifier on the staff, and was one of thirteen pitchers to start for the Legislators, ranging from the traded Howie Sharp (6-3, 2.66, 59) to Howard Miller Jr. (2-2, 4.34, 10), with the latter pitching for each of our bottom three affiliates. Top 100 prospect Ron Berry (0-1, 2.13, 13) impressed in his four starts, and should rejoin the club next season with former 1st Rounder Tommy Seymour (5-4, 3.28, 25). The lineup lost Bob Schmelz (.293, 1, 48, 5) and his 130 WRC+, leaving Billy Biggar (.298, 3, 40) and Jimmy Hairston (.294, 3, 27) a little unprotected. Those two were midseason callups, and are likely penciled into the lineup again next year. Lincoln always has plenty of movement, so a lot could change. Any number of guys like Pat Brown Jr. (.239, 8, 55), Everett Fuller (.242, 4, 40, 11), Bob Stout (.310, 1, 4, 1), Tom Brownleaf (.206, 21, 2, and Al Clement (.212, 10, 4) could get another go at it, giving them plenty of mid-tier prospects to develop.

B San Jose Cougars (California-Oregon-Washington League): 50-72, 6th, 32 GB: I am not the least bit surprised that the baby Cougars struggled this season, as I've never had so many red arrow guys on the roster. And any that weren't had a chance to be rushed up to Lincoln to cover for releases, trades, and/or injuries. There were a few bright spots, namely 10th Rounder Harry Beardsley, who dominated the C-O-W League. The 21-year-old righty went 4-3 with a 2.51 ERA (158 ERA+) and 1.26 WHIP in his first 7 starts. He walked 15 and struck out 24 in 43 innings, and while he may end up in Lincoln next season, I'm leaning towards starting him in San Jose. Like with Lincoln, he was one of 13 pitchers to make a start, but was the only one with an ERA below 3. Ron Berry (5-4, 4.47, 49) was much worse here then Lincoln, and last year's 7th Rounder Steve Davis (3-8, 472, 49) was hit hard. The 20-year-old stayed with no red arrow, while more effective arms Jack Maxwell (5-4, 3.36, 39) and Tommy Seymour (3-3, 3.20, 35) were pushed up to A ball.

The lineup had plenty of guys pushed up with any sort of performance, with Tom Brownleaf (.287, 3, 38, 8), Al Clement (.268, 1, 46, 17), Billy Biggar (.296, 1, 29), and Jimmy Hairston (.244, 4, 21) all finishing in Lincoln. Bob Rogers (.289, 4, 46) was one of the few to spend all season in San Jose, but his 100 WRC+ was nothing to write home about. A lot of guys better suited for C ball spent time in San Jose as we rotated our lineups, with Pat Todd one of the few to exceed expectations. Currently ranked 85th on the prospect list, last year's 3rd Rounder hit .337/.398/.446 (132 OPS+) in 93 trips to the plate. He produced an impressive 142 WRC+ with 6 doubles, a homer, 7 RBIs, and 2 steals. Carl Clark (.284, 4, 16, 2) showcased impressive power in 34 games, and his 111 WRC+ was higher then the 94 he posted in 40 games down in La Crosse. Those two, along with Buddy Brumbaugh (.271, 24), Clyde Parker (.278, 1, 13, 3), Bill Martin (.233, 3, 22), Bill Cook (.288, 1, 13), and Harry Austin (.275, 2, 9) could be here or in La Crosse, as there are plenty of options to fill out the bottom of the system. I think we'll look better next season, as our high school heavy classes have left the bottom a little weaker in exchange for added upside. 17 players made 75 or more at bats for the Cougars, and I expect a similar number next season as we gauge which guys are ready to advance, and which need more time to reach their peak.

C La Crosse Lions (Upper Mississippi Valley Association): 40-37, t-4th, 4 GB: I fully expected the Lions to finish at the bottom of the UMVA, but low and behold, they survived all the roster churning, and finished three games above .500. Not only that, they were tied for 4th and just four games behind the co-winners in Ottumwa and Burlington. The only pitching qualifier was Bert Rogers, but the former 1st Rounder and current #60 prospect had plenty of issues. Rogers was 3-2, but that was in 13 starts, as his 6.19 ERA (69 ERA+) and 1.54 WHIP made it hard to win games. To be fair, luck was not on his side, as he struck out 82 hitters in 68.1 innings, while walking just 28. HIs 3.53 FIP (82 FIP-) was nearly half of his ERA, as for some reason hitters just really got to him when they put the ball in play. La Crosse was also home to the debut season of Bob Alen, who made 10 starts after signing his absurd, yet well worth, $27,000 signing bonus. Allen went 4-1 with a respectable 4.20 ERA (102 ERA+) and 1.38 WHIP. He struck out 53 with 19 walks in his first 49.1 innings, and the 18-year-old will be right back in La Crosse next season.

While those two were the most highly touted pitchers, both Jim Williams (2-1, 2.09, 36) and Al Robison (5-3, 2.96, 55) were really effective. Robison was so good that we moved him up to A ball, and while those starts weren't great, he could start there next season. Williams also earned a promotion to San Jose, where he made two starts before finishing his season in La Crosse, as the C-O-W league scheduled ended much earlier. We churned through a lot of pitchers, with potential starters Wally Eversole (0-4, 1, 2.85, 59), Ray Warren (1-7, 2, 3.71, 40), Kid Moore (6-4, 1, 4.42, 50), and Lonnie Sis (3-1, 1, 1.59, 30) all split time between the rotation and pen, while Dutch Yoak (4-1, 3.30, 30) and Bill Sweet (4-0, 1.35, 39) both split time between the La Crosse and San Jose rotations. I'd like to tap into our low minors pitching depth a bit, as we didn't have enough starts to go around, as guys like Billy Stoddard (2-7, 6, 5.31, 47) and Lee Parker (0-1, 4.50, 2) could start for other teams, but are stuck in strictly pen roles.

The lineup saw plenty of new faces, but one of the consistent ones was 2nd Rounder Frank Reece. He's set for San Jose next season after hitting .276/.356/.480 (117 OPS+) at 18. The 40th ranked prospect produced a 129 WRC+ in 51 games, and slugged 10 longballs with 10 doubles, 24 RBIs, and 14 steals. He did strike out (47) over four times as much as he did in his three years of high school, but I expect that to straighten out, and his defense and power production more then made up for it. Cal Rice (.329, 9, 46) had a big season as well, and could join Reece up in San Jose next season. Rupert Heinbaugh (.276, 4, 30, 15), Pat Todd (.305, 5, 25), John Price (.298, 3, 13), Zeke Johnson (.288, 2, 11) Harry Austin (.299, 1, 13), and Clyde Parker (.278, 3, 19) were all very effective, and could be done with C ball, but some of our other youngsters had some troubles. Carl Clark (.247, 4, 16, 5) was better in San Jose, Jim Mako (.233, 3, 21, 12) played good defense all around, but didn't hit much, and Phil Boyes (.262, 2, 16, 8) underperformed at the plate. Those three may be back in La Crosse with guys like Roxy Hilts (.301, 9, 3), Alex O'Dailey (.190, 3, 13), Ernie Frost (.267, 2, 12), and Charlie Harvey (.157, 1, 8, 2) all need some extra seasoning. There's plenty of talent, but if we don't get everyone enough at bats, it may be tough to get the most out of these guys. 13 of our top 30 prospects spent some time in La Crosse, with many other exciting youngsters getting some opportunities.

ayaghmour2 · 04-17-2023, 08:58 PM

Weekly Record: 5-0
Seasonal Record: 92-60 (t-1st, 9 GA)
Stars of the Week
Harry Parker : 3 Wins, 5.0 IP, 1 BB, 5 K, 0.00 ERA
Hal Sharp : 17 AB, 8 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI, .471 AVG, 1.647 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 21 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .524 AVG, 1.065 OPS

Schedule
9-23: Win vs Stars (6-7): 12 innings
9-24: Win vs Stars (3-4): 10 innings
9-25: Win vs Stars (8-12)
9-28: Win vs Kings (3-4): 13 innings
9-29: Win vs Kings (1-7)

Recap
Wow. Just Wow. I am at a complete and utter loss of words... And for once, regarding this frustrating beyond all ends team, its for a good reason! I'm still not quite sure what happened, how it happened, or why it happened, but we won not one, not two, but three extra inning, one-run games, where Harry Parker was the pitcher of record. Yeah! Crazy right!

Parker, who was supposed to be the six man in my rotation (thankfully part of my export didn't take?), made his first three relief appearances since 1938, and managed to finish the season 12-9, as we forced a one-game playoff as the Saints did us a huge solid and swept the Stars. This sets up a Billy Riley (17-6, 2.71, 87) vs Jack Wood (17-7, 3.09, 102) showdown after Riley nearly cost us our season. The former Star did his best to throw his start, allowing 5 hits, 7 runs, and 4 walks in 2.1 innings in what could have been his last start as a Cougar. But after those seven early runs, we put up 5 in the 4th and 2 in the 5th, 6th, and 7th, before each team scored a single run in the 8th. Riley has been very good for us, and with Pap and Donnie tired after keeping us alive, neither can pitch. It will be all hands on deck, with Johnnie Jones and Joe Brown heading to the pen, as we look to save our season with our six consecutive win. I truly can't believe we have a chance to make the playoffs, and after spending about ten to twenty minutes last night trying to manifest a 5-0 week before I went to sleep, it seems like all the hard work paid off!

More of the credit should go to Leo Mitchell, who finished his superb September with another amazing week. The Whitney Finalist went 11-for-21 with 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. He made 110 trips to the plate in September, slashing .415/.418/.547 (176 OPS+) with 4 homers and 21 RBIs. He appeared in 151 of our 154 games, hitting an outstanding .333/.366/.498 (147 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 24 homers, and 90 RBIs. His 161 WRC+ was best in all of baseball, and one of numerous categories he either led or ranked in the top three for in our association. He got plenty of help from Hal Sharp, who went 8-for-17 with a double, triple, 3 homers, 6 runs, and 6 RBIs. Part-timers Don Lee, Fred Vargas, and Ray Ford went 9-for-24, with each doubling. Lee tripled as well, and the trio scored six times and drove in four. Hank Barnett went 5-for-15 with 2 runs, 3 RBIs, and 4 walks, but his WRC+ rose to just 99. With a strong performance in the finale, it could bring it back over 100, but it will be his lowest since his first full season in 1932. The offense was stellar this final week, refusing to go down when the pitching imploded, and helping fuel us to a 17-8 September.

Peter the Heater didn't get any decisions, but the talented fireballer secured his triple crown with 21 wins, a 2.39 ERA (142 ERA+), and 199 strikeouts. The likely Alen Winner went nine in both his starts, but with both games ending in extras they weren't complete games. He allowed 18 hits, 7 runs, and 7 walks with 14 strikeouts. Donnie Jones looked like himself again, with two brilliant starts. His first was a no decision, 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts in nine innings. The second was a commanding win to force the playoff game, striking out 11 Kings in our 7-1 victory. He went just 8 as he threw 140 pitches due to 5 hits, 6 walks, and a run scored. He came a win away from 20, working to a 3.07 ERA (110 ERA+) and 1.13 WHIP with 161 strikeouts. That passed Richie Hughes, as Donnie struck out more CA-batters then anyone who wasn't Pete Papenfus. Harry Parker was stellar in getting us to the play-in, 5 innings with 2 hits, an unearned run, a walk, and 5 strikeouts. This gives me great belief that he can function in a stopper role if needed. We'll need one more good game to make the season worth it, but we won 10 more games then last season, and our -6 expected record dropped to -5. Yay!

Looking Ahead
I'll be honest, I didn't expect to have this column today! But we have something to look ahead to! We'll get one more with the Stars, and as mentioned, it will be Billy Riley versus Jack Wood. Pretty much everything that could go wrong, did go wrong for them this week, as they dropped three one-run games. It will be tough to keep down an offense that boasts Bill Barrett (.246, 29, 97, 10), Mack Sutton (.235, 31, 89), Jack Welch (.275, 19, 74), Bill Barnett (.257, 17, 82), and Joe Rainbow (.281, 10, 66). I'm not sure what to think about this one, but I'm excited for this high-powered matchup.

Awaiting the winner of game 145 will be the Washington Eagles, who haven't won the Fed since 1925, and haven't won a title since 1923. The Eagles have a strong offense, led by sluggers Sig Stofer (.234, 34, 96) and Jesse Alvarado (.257, 26, 88, 32), as well as batting title winner Mel Carrol (.355, 7, 58). The Eagles made a bold deadline move, acquiring Rats McGonigle (.257, 22, 67, 12) from the Kings in a move that arguably won them the pennant. "The Ringer from Stringer" exploded in Washington, slashing .280/.388/.584 (173 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 6 triples, 16 homers, and 44 RBIs in 59 games in the Nation's capital. His production was huge, and the Eagles lineup had plenty of supporting pieces with George Dawson (.288, 4, 43, 27), Henry Bush (.266, 5, 56, 20), and Bob Coon (.250, 12, 60). The rotation isn't great, and was dealt a big blow in August when 39-year-old Lou Ellertson (13-6, 2.65, 75) with a partially torn UCL. In his absence, the top three of Jack Elder (15-13, 2.75, 87), Jim Birdwell (16-10, 3.07, 98), and Buckeye Smith (14-8, 3.15, 90) held there own. I think they'll have their hands full with whatever lineup they'll have to face, and plenty of longballs will be flying when they attempt to navigate two powerful lineups.

StLee · 04-17-2023, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayaghmour2

Weekly Record: 5-0
Seasonal Record: 92-60 (t-1st, 9 GA)
Stars of the Week
Harry Parker : 3 Wins, 5.0 IP, 1 BB, 5 K, 0.00 ERA
Hal Sharp : 17 AB, 8 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI, .471 AVG, 1.647 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 21 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .524 AVG, 1.065 OPS

Schedule
9-23: Win vs Stars (6-7): 12 innings
9-24: Win vs Stars (3-4): 10 innings
9-25: Win vs Stars (8-12)
9-28: Win vs Kings (3-4): 13 innings
9-29: Win vs Kings (1-7)

Recap
Wow. Just Wow. I am at a complete and utter loss of words... And for once, regarding this frustrating beyond all ends team, its for a good reason! I'm still not quite sure what happened, how it happened, or why it happened, but we won not one, not two, but three extra inning, one-run games, where Harry Parker was the pitcher of record. Yeah! Crazy right!

Parker, who was supposed to be the six man in my rotation (thankfully part of my export didn't take?), made his first three relief appearances since 1938, and managed to finish the season 12-9, as we forced a one-game playoff as the Saints did us a huge solid and swept the Stars. This sets up a Billy Riley (17-6, 2.71, 87) vs Jack Wood (17-7, 3.09, 102) showdown after Riley nearly cost us our season. The former Star did his best to throw his start, allowing 5 hits, 7 runs, and 4 walks in 2.1 innings in what could have been his last start as a Cougar. But after those seven early runs, we put up 5 in the 4th and 2 in the 5th, 6th, and 7th, before each team scored a single run in the 8th. Riley has been very good for us, and with Pap and Donnie tired after keeping us alive, neither can pitch. It will be all hands on deck, with Johnnie Jones and Joe Brown heading to the pen, as we look to save our season with our six consecutive win. I truly can't believe we have a chance to make the playoffs, and after spending about ten to twenty minutes last night trying to manifest a 5-0 week before I went to sleep, it seems like all the hard work paid off!

More of the credit should go to Leo Mitchell, who finished his superb September with another amazing week. The Whitney Finalist went 11-for-21 with 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. He made 110 trips to the plate in September, slashing .415/.418/.547 (176 OPS+) with 4 homers and 21 RBIs. He appeared in 151 of our 154 games, hitting an outstanding .333/.366/.498 (147 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 24 homers, and 90 RBIs. His 161 WRC+ was best in all of baseball, and one of numerous categories he either led or ranked in the top three for in our association. He got plenty of help from Hal Sharp, who went 8-for-17 with a double, triple, 3 homers, 6 runs, and 6 RBIs. Part-timers Don Lee, Fred Vargas, and Ray Ford went 9-for-24, with each doubling. Lee tripled as well, and the trio scored six times and drove in four. Hank Barnett went 5-for-15 with 2 runs, 3 RBIs, and 4 walks, but his WRC+ rose to just 99. With a strong performance in the finale, it could bring it back over 100, but it will be his lowest since his first full season in 1932. The offense was stellar this final week, refusing to go down when the pitching imploded, and helping fuel us to a 17-8 September.

Peter the Heater didn't get any decisions, but the talented fireballer secured his triple crown with 21 wins, a 2.39 ERA (142 ERA+), and 199 strikeouts. The likely Alen Winner went nine in both his starts, but with both games ending in extras they weren't complete games. He allowed 18 hits, 7 runs, and 7 walks with 14 strikeouts. Donnie Jones looked like himself again, with two brilliant starts. His first was a no decision, 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts in nine innings. The second was a commanding win to force the playoff game, striking out 11 Kings in our 7-1 victory. He went just 8 as he threw 140 pitches due to 5 hits, 6 walks, and a run scored. He came a win away from 20, working to a 3.07 ERA (110 ERA+) and 1.13 WHIP with 161 strikeouts. That passed Richie Hughes, as Donnie struck out more CA-batters then anyone who wasn't Pete Papenfus. Harry Parker was stellar in getting us to the play-in, 5 innings with 2 hits, an unearned run, a walk, and 5 strikeouts. This gives me great belief that he can function in a stopper role if needed. We'll need one more good game to make the season worth it, but we won 10 more games then last season, and our -6 expected record dropped to -5. Yay!

Looking Ahead
I'll be honest, I didn't expect to have this column today! But we have something to look ahead to! We'll get one more with the Stars, and as mentioned, it will be Billy Riley versus Jack Wood. Pretty much everything that could go wrong, did go wrong for them this week, as they dropped three one-run games. It will be tough to keep down an offense that boasts Bill Barrett (.246, 29, 97, 10), Mack Sutton (.235, 31, 89), Jack Welch (.275, 19, 74), Bill Barnett (.257, 17, 82), and Joe Rainbow (.281, 10, 66). I'm not sure what to think about this one, but I'm excited for this high-powered matchup.

Awaiting the winner of game 145 will be the Washington Eagles, who haven't won the Fed since 1925, and haven't won a title since 1923. The Eagles have a strong offense, led by sluggers Sig Stofer (.234, 34, 96) and Jesse Alvarado (.257, 26, 88, 32), as well as batting title winner Mel Carrol (.355, 7, 58). The Eagles made a bold deadline move, acquiring Rats McGonigle (.257, 22, 67, 12) from the Kings in a move that arguably won them the pennant. "The Ringer from Stringer" exploded in Washington, slashing .280/.388/.584 (173 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 6 triples, 16 homers, and 44 RBIs in 59 games in the Nation's capital. His production was huge, and the Eagles lineup had plenty of supporting pieces with George Dawson (.288, 4, 43, 27), Henry Bush (.266, 5, 56, 20), and Bob Coon (.250, 12, 60). The rotation isn't great, and was dealt a big blow in August when 39-year-old Lou Ellertson (13-6, 2.65, 75) with a partially torn UCL. In his absence, the top three of Jack Elder (15-13, 2.75, 87), Jim Birdwell (16-10, 3.07, 98), and Buckeye Smith (14-8, 3.15, 90) held there own. I think they'll have their hands full with whatever lineup they'll have to face, and plenty of longballs will be flying when they attempt to navigate two powerful lineups.

Way to go, Cougars! Now go take this!

ayaghmour2 · 04-18-2023, 11:41 PM

So close! Yet, so far...

Our crazy turbulent success and failure filled season is over, as secret agent Billy Riley once again struggled against the Stars, blowing our 3-1 first inning lead with 6 hits, 5 runs, a walk, and 2 strikeouts in just 2.2 innings pitched. For some reason, Clyde Meyer decided it was a job for Rusty Watts, giving him 4 innings with 4 hits, 2 runs, a walk, and a strikeout. Harry Parker got the final out of the 7th, before Harry MacRae allowed 2 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with a strikeout in 2 innings. In the end, we lost 9-5, despite just one fewer hit. Leo Mitchell didn't homer like Bill Barrett, but his 2-for-5 is better then a 1-for-4 with a walk. Right? Carlos Montes had a big game, 2-for-3 with 2 runs, 2 RBIs, 2 walks, a double, and a homer. Ray Ford, who ended up spraining his ankle, was 2-for-5 with a double, run, and RBI. Don Lee was 1-for-3 with a run, double, and two walks.

So, how do I feel about this? Well, considering I gave up on the season at least three times, forcing a playoff and winning 92 games is pretty impressive. We have a major chip on our shoulder for next season, and with the lottery system, we get three shots at the first pick. It's a minor consolation, but considering that we won 10 more games then last season, brought our expected record differential from -6 to -5, and finished the season 54-29! Yes, it sucks to come up short. Again... But, we have a loaded roster, a farm system with over 200 points, and a bunch of talented AAA guys ready to contribute next season. There will be some roster movement as we look to get better, but its hard, and perhaps selfish, to complain about ten consecutive winning seasons and the second best record in the FABL.

Some questions marks going into next season are the corners of the infield, as we have a bunch of veterans that could fill out the positions, with a few youngsters mixed in, and potentially plenty of options on the trade market. First base was a strength for us, as both Dick Walker and Ray Ford hit really well, but they're both getting up their in age. Walker may not look like someone who just turned 40, as he had his best season since joining the Cougars. Walker slashed .262/.381/.467 (143 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 17 triples, 11 homers, 21 steals, 52 RBIs, and 82 walks in 130 games. Truly remarkable all-around numbers, he posted a 147 WRC+ and 4.8 WAR. While definitely hard to maintain, it's clear Walker still has plenty of talent, and he still hasn't lost a step. We've seen Dave Trowbridge, who granted, profiles as a much different player, play deep into his 40s, and Walker's herniated disc last season was his first injury as a baseball player. Ford, 35, got into 91 games, but he spent about half of those coming off the bench. He overcome a slow start, finishing with a .292/.381/.361 (114 OPS+) line. Ford's power took a steep drop, going from 10 homers in 1942 to just 2 this season, but his plate discipline is superb and he still puts the ball in play a ton. I don't see us adding another first basemen, but we have plenty of internal options, including third basemen Hank Barnett, 24-year-old Lou Thomas, and former 1st Rounder Otto Christian. Christian is an interesting option because he can cover first and third, and the now 24-year-old has game changing power potential. He hit 11 homers in a league where no one else came past 8, and he did it without playing the final month of the season. Christian got a cup of coffee, 0-for-2 with a run scored, but will have a shot in camp to earn the starting job.

At third base he's competing with 7-Time All Star Hank Barnett, who had the first below average offensive season of his career. It came down to the wire, as his 99 WRC+ fell just short, as the 37-year-old hit .236/.313/.357 (92 OPS+), a steep drop off from his .295/.370/.438 (132 OPS+) line two years ago. It was the first time since 1933 (.247) he hit below .250, first time since 1933 (.333) he had an OBP below .350, or slugging below .400 (.386), and '33 was his second season as an every day player. He did hit 14 home runs and drove in 61 with a bit above average defense (5.2, 1.010), so it might be a bit too early to give up on the former star. The issue is we need to make some sort of upgrade, as the Stars are only going to get better, and I have to believe the Wolves and Cannons will return to form, and the Sailors are maybe a piece away from being extremely scary. There are a few third basemen I have my eyes on, but there are plenty of internal options besides Otto.

The most interesting one might be George Sutterfield, a talented shortstop who's just a year younger then 7-year big leaguer Skipper Schneider. Sutterfield is comparable defensively to Skipper, and had an elite 28.4 zone rating and 1.180 efficiency down in Milwaukee. He even had a Skipper-like .283/.340/.373 (93 OPS+) triple slash with 26 doubles, 5 triples, 3 homers, 11 steals, and 66 RBIs. While not quite the line you want from someone at the hot corner, but with his glove, it's going to be next to impossible to get the ball through the left side of our infield. Tom Weinstock loves Sutterfield, thinking he could be better then Skipper, praising his defense and swing. 25 in March, Sutterfield will make the roster regardless, unlike Otto who will only get it if he's playing regularly, and he could easily hit his way into a role. The last option would be Billy Hunter, who quite fittingly decided that instead of spending time on the IL, he would just not hit. Coming into this season, Hunter had posted four consecutive seasons with a WRC+ above 120, but he hit just .224/.286/.315 (73 OPS+) in 262 trips to the plate. He hasn't played much third base in the big leagues, just 16 games with half back in 1942, but he's got a great arm and has played quality defense most of his career. The 31-year-old has plenty of talent and an amazing bat, but it's tough to rely on him. This was his first below average offensive season, but also the first one he didn't miss any time since 1939, which happens to be his previous worst season.

Beyond that, there's not too many areas for improvement. The outfield was superb, as Hal Sharp produced a 151 WRC+ and didn't absolutely kill us in right (-12.4, .959) while Carlos Montes and Leo Mitchell put up 4 WAR seasons. As expected, Mitchell took homer Batter of the Month for September, hitting .414/.417/.541 with 4 homers and 21 RBIs. Was it enough for a Whitney? Not sure, especially with the loss. But he should again finish top two, and I think he'll get more love this season. The thing that may hurt or work in his favor is some people like using old stats to select awards. While that means no 160 WRC+ and .396 wOBA, both bests in baseball, that means a .247 average may not be Whitney worthy. The 33-year-old continues to be one of the best hitters in baseball, and having someone like him in the middle of the lineup makes like for a manager much easier. It was also nice to see Montes healthy, as he hit .239/.319/.363 (96 OPS+) in a career high 148 games and 626 plate appearances. He provided a 103 WRC+ and 14.2 zone rating (.1.035 eff) with 28 doubles, 5 triples, 10 homers, 19 steals, and 61 RBIs. There's also Don Lee and his 113 WRC+ in 199 PAs, and I expect him to see more time in center and right next year. With Hunter's struggles, he took on the right side of the Hal Sharp platoon, and he looked very comfortable in right. After a healthy season, I'm sure Montes will get hurt next year, giving Lee time to man center again. Waiting in the farm is 32nd ranked prospect Johnny Peters, who hit .268/.361/.387 (109 OPS+) in AA this season, and will turn 23 in January. He's set for Milwaukee next season, played improved defense (5.1, 1.011), and could be ready for a taste of the big leagues next year. Catcher looks good too, as Harry Mead hit .258/.346/.386 (110 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 10 homers, and 64 RBIs, while continuing to be one of the best catcher's in the game. He threw out nearly 60% of runners who tried to steal, and earned a plus (0.7) frame rating while continuing to manage the staff well. Add in a .289/.398/.361 (119 OPS+) line for backup Homer Guthrie and Eddie Howard waiting in AAA, and it's hard to find a team with better catching depth.

The pitching was a strength all season, and with Duke Bybee joining a group with six pitchers that started 15 or more games with an ERA+ above 100, and it's quite clear that no new starters need to be added. In fact, one will likely be subtracted, as double agent Billy Riley should be dealt by Opening Day. Not sure for what or when, but a deal will come to fruition. Pap was the best pitcher, and perhaps best player, in either association this season, while Donnie Jones was a win away from 20. If we can avoid the stretch where he decides to suck next season, we'll have easily the best 1-2 in the game, with Joe Brown, Donnie Jones, and Duke Bybee filling out an elite rotation. Harry Parker will get some starts, but with Harry MacRae's late season struggles (5 ER, 9 H, 5 BB in 4 G), Parker seems like the favorite for the stopper role. I may start with a six man rotation again, but it will depend on Bybee's spring and the amount of double headers. Like this season, the most important thing will be getting Pap and Donnie as many starts as possible, while also pairing them with the best teams on the schedule. Having Parker (or Bybee or Brown) to enter the rotation for a week is a huge plus, and there's always the inevitable injury bug that you can't prep for.

While I'm not pleased with the final outcome, it's hard not to be happy about such a successful season. We won a lot of games, even if we dropped some we shouldn't have, and the future looks very bright. The system is loaded, the big league roster is stacked, and we could be picking top three for the second time in three seasons. I can't wait for the draft, as there are some very exciting prospects, and with no military callups or returns, it should move quicker then usual. Sure, a title would have been nice, but the Stars had a lot of things go well for them and plenty of talent to help them keep pace with us. This was another fun and exciting season of Figment baseball, and just being able to watch guys like Peter the Heater play fake baseball again is a joy. Let's just get him the ring he deserves! Cougars fans have suffered enough!

ayaghmour2 · 04-19-2023, 09:48 PM

While the Stars and Eagles are tied at one in the World Championship series, I decided to take the time to look back at the 1926 draft class of the Chicago Cougars. It has been 20 years and all 23 players selected have retired. It wasn't the strongest class, but it produced two really talented players that spent along time playing in the Continental Association. It is one of four draft classes that predates the dynasty report years, with the first recorded class coming in 1929. This will come in two parts, with the other coming tomorrow, as if I tried to stuff all 23 players on one post it would be even longer then my already lengthy posts. Most of the late rounders aren't all that interesting, so this first part will cover the first 10 rounds.

Edit: somewhat fitting, this was post 1,000 by me in this thread! Didn't realize until day after posting, but here's to the next 1,000!

1st Round, 3rd Overall: C Fred Barrell
School: Georgia Baptist Gators
1930 (CHC): .324/.376/.469, 132 G, 589 PA, 33 2B, 6 3B, 10 HR, 101 RBI, 117 WRC+, 4.8 WAR
1931 (CHC): .321/.385/.424, 105 G, 441 PA, 34 2B, 2 3B, HR, 63 RBI, 131 WRC+, 3.8 WAR
1934 (BRK): .280/.350/.418, 123 G, 512 PA, 31 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 81 RBI, SB, 110 WRC+, 3.7 WAR
1936 (BRK): .310/.381/.435, 140 G, 561 PA, 42 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 86 RBI, 118 WRC+, 4.5 WAR
Career (CHC): .306/.366/.434, 401 G, 1,728 PA, 101 2B, 16 3B, 21 HR, 278 RBI, SB, 115 WRC+, 12.1 WAR
Career (BRK): .260/.322/.360, 1,268 G, 4,889 PA, 263 2B, 20 3B, 44 HR, 602 RBI, SB, 85 WRC+, 20.3 WAR
Career (FABL): 272/.333/.379, 1,669 G, 6,617 PA, 364 2B, 36 3B, 65 HR, 880 RBI, 2 SB, 93 WRC+, 32.4 WAR

Taken third overall in 1926, Fred Barrell was one of the many Barrell's to be drafted, and the first to be selected in the first round. He spent a few seasons in the minors before debuting midseason in 1929. The then 23-year-old appeared in 79 games for the Cougars, slashing .247/.337/.387 (88 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 6 triples, 6 homers, and 48 RBIs. Barrell was inserted as the Opening Day starter the next season, and had a huge breakout year behind the plate. With a mix of excellent defense and superb hitting, Barrell was worth nearly 5 WAR (4.8) in 132 games, hitting an impressive .324/.376/.469 (115 OPS+) with 33 doubles, 6 triples, 10 homers, and 101 RBIs. During his 1930 season, Barrell set bests in average, homers, RBIs, slugging, and WAR that would stay for the rest of his career. His best year may have been the following one, but he played in just 105 games due to a pair of injuries. When healthy, Barrell hit an impressive .321/.385/.424 (124 OPS+) with 34 doubles and 63 RBIs. His 124 OPS+ and 131 WRC+ were personal bests, but what Barrell was best known for was his production in the playoffs. Fred was one of the main reasons the Cougars beat the Gothams, as the series MVP went 14-for-23, good for a .609 batting average, with a double, 4 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. It was his first of two rings, but as we all know, the second did not come with the Cougars.

Fighting with the New York Stars for a pennant, the Cougars were struggling in July, and a big move was needed. Barrell was hitting well, .311/.354/.433 (113 OPS+), but the Cougars GM had their eye on someone specific; a long-term target the GM had wanted for years. Tommy Wilcox. The now ill-fated trade took place on July 25th, 1932, sending Fred, brother Tom, George DeForest and Mike Murphy to the Kings for Wilcox and backstop Mike Taylor. Barrell finished off the season appearing in 48 games for the Kings, hitting a bit below average .291/.339/.394 (98 OPS+) with 2 homers and 31 RBIs. Between his time with both clubs, Barrell totaled 36 doubles, 6 homers, and 97 RBIs while worth 3.5 WAR in 133 games.

A longtime King, Barrell appeared in 100 or more games for Brooklyn in the next nine seasons, with his tenth being 82 at 36. 1933 was Barrell's first below average offensive season (98 OPS+, 97 WRC+) as a full-time starter, but it was well above average for a catcher, and his defense really made up for it. The following season he was selected to his first of three All-Star games, batting .280/.350/.418 (109 OPS+) with 31 doubles, 2 triples, 9 homers, and 81 RBIs in 512 trips to the plate. He won a title for the Kings in 1937, despite hitting just .211/.272/.298 (59 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 4 homers, and 50 RBIs. It was the start of Fred's decline, as it came after three excellent seasons where he was still one of the top catchers in the league. From '37 on, his best average was .253 in 1939, his best WRC+ was 74 that same year, and he failed to surpass 2 WAR after surpassing 3 in each of the seven previous seasons.

One of the better catchers of his time, Barrell finished with a career .272/.333/.379 (94 OPS+) batting line that was dragged down by his poor performances after 30. He appeared in 1,669 games, all coming with the Cougars or Kings, and Barrell recorded 364 doubles, 65 homers, and 880 RBIs. The skilled glove man and extra base hitter was worth an impressive 32.4 WAR in his 14-year career, and was an excellent choice for the third pick in the 1926 draft. No position player selected that year appeared in more FABL games then Barrell, while his 880 RBIs were second to just Ed Stewart (884). He was very useful as a Cougar, and if Wilcox never got injured, he would have been used to bring an ace to Cougars Stadium. It would have been nice for him to play out his whole career in Chicago, but Mike Taylor was a very good catcher for us, and he was effective for longer then Fred. Clearly a quality selection, Barrell was always the class of this group, and one of the more talented players to come through the Cougar system.

2nd Round, 19th Overall: RHP Bill Kline
School: Birmingham HS Bulldogs
1933 (CHC): 8-1, 24 G, 32.2 IP, 1.93 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 5 BB, 10 K, 187 ERA+, 0.1 WAR
1934 (CHC): 5-3, 4 SV, 28 G, 42.1 IP, 3.40 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 12 BB, 25 K, 124 ERA+, 0.6 WAR
Career (FABL): 25-15, 16 SV, 139 G, 220.2 IP, 4.16 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 59 BB, 85 K, 101 ERA+, 1.3 WAR

Just like in 1925, there was a huge drop off between the first and second picks, but at least this time, the second pick was somewhat useful. Drafted as a starting pitcher, Kline never developed a third pitch, and converted to a reliever full time in 1931. That was also his debut season, where he pitched 16 innings out of the pen, going 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA (237 ERA+) and 1.38 WHIP. He had another partial season in 1932, before starting a three year stretch as an important member of our pen. His best year was either '33 or '34, where he pitched in the late innings. The 27-year-old went 8-1 with a 1.93 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 32.2 innings while functioning as our primary setup man. He spent the next two seasons as our closer, recording 12 saves and going 8-8 in 95.1 innings pitched. He wasn't very good in '35, as despite the career high 8 saves, he also had a career high 6.96 ERA (63 ERA+), and he followed that up with a 5.75 (79 ERA+) the next season.

He threw 14 excellent innings in '31 and then 23 subpar frames the following season. He was waived three times that season, first by us, then by the Dynamos and Kings, but neither had him pitch an inning in their system. He didn't pitch each of the next two seasons, so all his professional innings came with our system. We drafted him twice, first 18th in 1923, and then the Saints took him 11th the following season, before we finally made him the 19th Pick in 1926. While not a career to write home about, 220.2 big league innings is nothing to sneeze at, and if he was played a few years later, he could have been a nice back-end option for a pen.

3rd Round, 35th Overall: CF Gene Ross
School: Memphis HS Pharaohs
Career (AAA): .245/.291/.337, 306 G, 1,343 PA, 21 2B, 9 3B, 25 HR, 120 RBI, 41 SB, 73 WRC+, 4.5 WAR
Career (B): .261/.319/.414, 406 G, 1,432 PA, 24 2B, 7 3B, 53 HR, 203 RBI, 30 SB, 88 WRC+, 3.7 WAR

An obvious mistake pick, Gene Ross never surpassed AA in affiliated ball, but spent a few seasons in AAA with the independent Houston Bulls and Charleston Blue Legs. He spent his first three pro seasons in Class B San Jose, before being shipped to the Eagles with Tex Young for righty Tommy Russel, who started 27 games for us in 1930, before injuries cut his career short. Ross toiled along in the minors before eventually retiring in 1939. He played about 1,100 minor league games, but he never quite took advantage of his speed.

4th Round, 51st Overall: RHP Heinie Bretz
School: Wilkes-Barre HS Warriors
Career (FABL): .15-18, 41 G, 40 GS, 303.2 IP, 3.88 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 113 BB, 93 K, 107 ERA+, 3.0 WAR
Career (BRK): 11-12, 25 G, 25 GS, 199.2 IP, 3.34 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 60 BB, 63 K, 124 ERA+, 2.7 WAR
Career (AAA): 42-28, SV, 105 G, 98 GS, 612 IP, 3.78 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 261 BB, 282 K, 111 ERA+, 9.3 WAR

I had really high hopes for 4th Rounder Heinie Bretz, who topped at 46th on the prospect list. He was getting ready for a big league debut, but we moved him to the Kings for a 2nd and 5th Round Pick after the end of the 1930 offseason. Bretz started the following season in the minors, but came up for seven starts at the end of the season. He looked like the talented pitcher we selected on draft day, going 4-2 with a 3.42 ERA (117 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 12 walks, and 20 strikeouts. He cracked the Kings Opening Day rotation for '32, going 7-10 with a 3.31 ERA (126 ERA+), 1.37 WHIP, 48 walks, and 43 strikeouts in 18 starts. Then on the deadline, he was part of the blockbuster that brought Harry Barrell to Brooklyn, as Bretz, a 1st, and 3rd Round Pick went to Cleveland for Barrell and their 7th and 8th Round selections.

The change of scenery did not do the young righty well, as he went 4-5 with his 10 starts. He walked 26 and struck out 23, working to a 4.88 ERA (86 ERA+) and 1.61 WHIP. Despite his struggles, the eventual pennant winners kept Bretz in the rotation. His time lasted one inning, as he left his first start of the season with a torn elbow ligament. That started a string of injuries for Bretz, who threw just 27.1 innings after that major injury. Another elbow injury cost him most of 1935, before a torn labrum officially ended his career in 1939 at just 31-years-old. Bretz is an interesting "what-if" pitcher who had plenty of talent, but an arm that let him down. Its hard to call this pick a miss, especially because all the injuries came after his time as a Cougar, but if a few things broke in his favor, he could have been a very good big league starter.

5th Round, 67th Overall: LHP Mickey Williams
School: Coastal California Dolphins
Career (AAA): 28-19, 12 SV, 124 G, 54 GS, 481.1 IP, 3.89 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 238 BB, 334 K, 114 ERA+, 5.8 WAR
Career (AA): 60-39, 2 SV, 141 G, 100 GS, 924.1 IP, 3.69 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 400 BB, 354 K, 119 ERA+, 12.7 WAR

Can you believe there was a time when the Cougars didn't know how to develop pitchers? Believe it or not, we missed on a lot of our pitching picks early on, and Mickey Williams is a prime example. A long time minor leaguer, he threw 1,606.1 innings in our system from 1927 to 1939. He spent a ton of time in AA and AA, with 1,405.2 of his innings coming at the two highest levels. A starter his first eight seasons, Williams was a good inning eater on the farm, but his age worked against him. He was stuck behind guys like Dick Lyons, Max Wilder, Jim Crawford, Dick Leudtke, and Tommy Wilcox, and he didn't have much upside.

6th Round, 83rd Overall: LF Heinie Glass
School: Brooklyn State Bears
Career (A): .298/.352/.581, 304 G, 788 PA, 25 2B, 3B, 59 HR, 163 RBI, 155 WRC+, 8.2 WAR

Simply put, this was not a good pick. I'm not sure what my thought process was here, but I guess I liked the big power numbers he put up at Brooklyn State. He only started 3 of his 55 games his first minor league season, and 1928 (98 G, 74 GS) was really the only season he got much time as an everyday player. He did hit plenty of homers in the minors, with 81 in 547 games, but his glove was bad, he had zero speed, and he was pretty much a three true outcomes type player. That didn't work well in the 20s and 30s, and there's a reason Glass never made it to AAA. He spent his whole minor league career in our system, released after the 1934 season before retiring in 1935.

9th Round, 131st Overall: RHP Ben Turner
School: Scranton HS Miners
1935 (CLE): 22-5, 37 G, 30 GS, 256.2 IP, 3.61 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 74 BB, 69 K, 121 ERA+, 3.8 WAR
1943 (CLE): 14-19, 32 G, 32 GS, 300 IP, 3.42 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 97 BB, 83 K, 100 ERA+, 5.1 WAR
Career (FABL): 154-168, 427 G, 371 GS, 2,956.2 IP, 4.23 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 1,017 BB, 775 K, 92 ERA+, 33.7 WAR

While Fred Barrell was clearly the class of the position players, Ben Turner was leaps and bounds better then any of the other arms we selected in 1926. Turner was instantly a late round steal, ranking as the 100th best prospect on Opening Day, and reaching up to 29th two Opening Days later. Turner had a solid minor league career, but during the 1930 offseason, we needed to upgrade the staff, so Turner was sent to the Gothams to bring back longtime Cougar Steve Castellini, who was inexplicably traded to the Gothams a few months before I took over the Cougars for a very useless corner outfielder, Richie Marshall. Castellini was a reliable starter for the Cougars in the 20s, and was moved despite an 11-5 record with a 2.83 ERA (148 ERA+) and 1.13 WHIP for a guy who got into just 34 games for the Gothams. Sure, he had a 132 WRC+ in 150 games the season before, but he was 31 and out of the league two seasons later.

When I acquired Castellini, he was 36 and coming off a 19-7 seasons with a Fed best 2.67 ERA (175 ERA+). He really struggled the next two seasons for us, but was apart of the 1931 team that won the Championship, making the deal worth it as he started 28 games despite below average performance. Turner, on the other hand, spent just a few months in the Gothams organization, and was traded with John Turner and fellow Cougar 9th Rounder Dean Astle to the Foresters for Joe Perrett, who was one of the best contact hitters from 1928 to 1937. For his career, Perrett hit .324/.369/.502 (132 OPS+), but it was a huge win for the Foresters, as he was a bat-only guy and Astle and Turner were crucial pieces of the Foresters pennant winning rosters. Turner got a cup of coffee in 1931, winning both of his starts, and ended up starting 371 games for the Foresters before retiring last season.

It took Turner a few seasons to get on track, but he had a huge breakout in 1935, the season after the Foresters won the championship. Turner was an impressive 22-5 with a 3.61 ERA (121 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, 74 walks, and 69 strikeouts in 256.2 innings. It was the first of five seasons where he threw more then 235 innings, but Turner never quite matched that production. He continued to be a reliable pitcher, one you're always comfortable starting, but at the same time willing to upgrade on. It happened a few times, as he pitched a lot in the pen in '37 and '38, and he did quite good in a swingman role. In '37 he had a 3.48 ERA (116 ERA+), but his 3.08 FIP (76 FIP-) was extremely impressive. The following season he dropped the ERA to 2.96 (137 ERA+), and after that the Foresters decided to keep him in the rotation. The next seven seasons he started 30 or more games, but his highest ERA+ for a season was 100.

That came in a 5 WAR 1943 season, where he did something we may not see happen too often; a 300 inning season. He started 36 games, going 14-19 with a 3.42 ERA and 1.39 WHIP, walking 97 while striking out 83. Walks were what prevented Turner from going past "reliable back-end guy" to "flashy, middle-to-top rotation arm" that he showed signs of turning into in 1935. For his career, he walked 1,017 batters and struck out just 775, good for a not-so-impressive 0.8 K/BB. That shouldn't take anything away from Turner, who threw nearly 3,000 innings and won over 150 games for the Foresters. He finds himself on plenty of their leaderboards, ranked 3rd in wins, innings, games pitched (427), and starts (371), 4th in strikeouts, 6th in WAR (33.7) and rWAR (29.8), and 8th in complete games (130). With our defense, I think he could have posted some better numbers, but Turner was an ironman who never missed a start, and gave you a chance to win day in and day out.

10th Round, 147th Overall: CF Bobby Allen
School: Brunswick Knights
1928 (CLE): .269/.326/.419, 129 G, 543 PA, 14 2B, 4 3B, 17 HR, 84 RBI, 2 SB, 107 WRC+, 3.2 WAR
1930 (CLE): .303/.369/.523, 96 G, 345 PA, 16 2B, 7 3B, 12 HR, 71 RBI, 2 SB, 123 WRC+, 2.2 WAR
1931 (CLE): .276/.336/.450, 126 G, 544 PA, 31 2B, 3 3B, 16 HR, 69 RBI, 2 SB, 118 WRC+, 2.0 WAR
1932 (CLE): .263/.342/.435, 149 G, 680 PA, 18 2B, 8 3B, 23 HR, 91 RBI, 4 SB, 115 WRC+, 3.1 WAR
Career (FABL): .274/.338/.437, 785 G, 3,253 PA, 122 2B, 33 3B, 94 HR, 455 RBI, 12 SB, 111 WRC+, 13.7 WAR

I'm not sure what possessed me to waive Bobby Allen before he ever played a game for us, but it worked out very well for the Cleveland Foresters, who snapped him up off waivers. The following season he was named the 90th best prospect in the league and made the Foresters Opening Day roster, jumping from A ball and just 218 minor league plate appearances. He proved to be more then capable, and slashed .269/.326/.419 (106 OPS+) in 543 trips to the plate. He produced a 107 WRC+ and 3.2 WAR, and slugged 17 homers with 14 doubles, 84 RBIs, and 42 walks. Power was a big aspect of Allen's game, as the outfielder slugged double digit longballs in each of his first five seasons. Strikeouts were also a bit part of his game, and as a sophomore he hit 19 homers with a league high 93 strikeouts. Injuries cost him time in 1930, but when healthy, he continued to mash. The 25-year-old slashed .303/.369/.523 (126 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 7 triples, 12 homers, and 71 RBIs.

He continued to find himself with an everyday role on the Foresters, slashing .276/.336/.450 (116 OPS+), but missed about a month with a strained rib cage muscle. That didn't stop him from being an extra base machine, recording a personal best 31 doubles with 16 homers and 69 RBIs. He took his power output to the next level in 1932, appearing in a career high 149 games with a career best 23 home runs. He drove in 91 runs, walked 72 times, and hit 18 doubles and 8 triples despite a league high 100 strikeouts. It was the second time he led the league in strike outs (93 in 1929), but it didn't take away from his .263/.342/.435 (110 OPS+) triple slash. Unfortunately for Allen, things went downhill from there, as he was moved to the bench in 1933 when the Foresters acquired Dan Fowler from the Minutemen. Allen hit a still effective .271/.333/.369 (105 OPS+) in 120 games, but he hit just 6 homers in 428 trips to the plate. He was relegated to a bench role the following season with the title winning Foresters, and was banished to the minors the following year. He appeared in just 122 games the next two seasons, starting just 19 of those games. He was out of baseball the whole 1937 season, eventually deciding to hang up the spikes.

Despite the sudden downturn, Allen was a very good big leaguer, slugging 94 homers with 122 doubles and 33 triples. He hit an above average .274/.338/.437 (109 OPS+) with 432 runs, 455 RBIs, and 282 walks in 785 games with the Foresters. Pretty solid numbers for a 10th Rounder, and he actually ranks 6th all-time in homers in a Forester uniform, with less PAs (3,253) then the five hitters ahead of him. It would have been interesting if he instead stayed a Cougar, as we may never have acquired Cy Bryant, who's defense, and somewhat surprisingly slightly above average bat, was crucial in our pennant years. Allen was a very useful big leaguer, albeit one with a very short career despite relative success at the plate.

ayaghmour2 · 04-20-2023, 08:56 PM

Surprisingly, the Washington Eagles are now just a game away from their first championship of the human era, as they picked up a pair of close wins over the Stars. With game five in Washington, they have a chance to win on their home turf. The Stars offense has hit their homers, but that's about it, batting under .200 as a team. My Stars in six prediction is already wrong, as they've stayed cold after snapping their six game losing streak in the tiebreaker. I don't think the offseason will start until Monday regardless, but tomorrow I'll have the No-Trade team before the eventual yearly top prospect list.

11th Round, 163rd Overall: 2B Phil Whitehead
School: Bayou State Cougars
Career (B): .265/.354/.535, 304 G, 987 PA, 26 2B, 68 HR, 196 RBI, 126 WRC+, 7.2 WAR

A very useless AI pick, Phil Whitehead appeared in just 41 games at Bayou State, and didn't start a single one of them. He did start a few games in our system, and had a nice two year run down in San Jose from '29 to '30 where he hit 25 home runs in each season. He had plenty of power, but didn't put the ball in play all that often. He then moved to the Pueblo Mountaineers by way of the Independent Draft, which brought John Banks into our system. He spent just one season in Pueblo, but helped them bring home a title, slashing an astronomical .254/.373/.643 (161 OPS+) with 36 homers and 71 RBIs in 353 trips to the plate. Despite that production, he was cut after 18 games the next season, and bounced between six independent organizations before catching on with the Kings in 1934. He hit .248/.310/.511 (96 OPS+) in 72 AAA games to finish the season, but from that point on, most of his action came in A or B ball. He hung around until 1940, where he decided to call it quits after 80 PAs, all but one in AA Knoxville.

12th Round, 179th Overall: CF Bob Worley
School: New Orleans HS Cavaliers
1934 (MON): .287/.355/.426, 132 G, 534 PA, 13 2B, 3B, 17 HR, 71 RBI, 11 SB, 116 WRC+, 4.1 WAR
Career (MON): .242/.308/.345, 490 G, 1,848 PA, 35 2B, 9 3B, 39 HR, 210 RBI, 32 SB, 83 WRC+, 7.4 WAR
Career (FABL): .237/.305/.342, 677 G, 2,407 PA, 49 2B, 11 3B, 52 HR, 272 RBI, 32 SB, 80 WRC+, 8.0 WAR

While most of the AI picks were pretty mundane, Bob Worley is anything but. While not a world beater by any means, Worley had plenty of pop and appeared in 120 or more games in four FABL seasons. He only started one of his thirteen games as a Cougar, traded in the offseason after he was drafted with Phil English and Bert Huston for Bob McCarty and Pat Schuring. He debuted three seasons later for the Stars in 1930, going 4-for-19 with a run, triple, and RBI. He entered the 1931 season as the 93rd ranked prospect, and was moved at the deadline to the Saints with Earl Whitten and Ed Smith for "Hard Luck Chuck", the 250 game winner Charlie Stedman.

Worley established himself in the big leagues the following season, but his rookie season didn't go quite well. The 23-year-old hit a very poor .222/.272/.289 (52 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, 13 steals, and 43 RBIs. The next season wasn't much better, but Worley seemingly broke out at 25 in 1934. He set many personal bests, slashing .287/.355/.426 (113 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 17 homers, 11 steals, and 71 RBIs. He produced a 116 WRC+ and was worth 4.1 WAR, but that wasn't enough for the Saints brass. He got off to a slow start in 1935, and appeared in just 49 games due to his 61 WRC+ and significant drop in homers and steals. He had another rough season off the bench the following season, and was cut before the 1937 season.

He caught on with the Fort Worth Cattleman of the Lone Star Association, and got off to a blazing start, slashing an absurd .426/.472/.954 (255 OPS+) with 32 homers and 87 RBIs... In just 48 (!!) games! That earned him a trade to the Sacramento Governors of the Great Western League, where he continued his power surge. It's a much tougher league, even before the emergence as a pseudo-major league, but he still hit .284/.358/.565 (157 OPS+) in 347 trips to the plate. He added 11 steals, 25 homers, and 61 RBIs, and earned himself a return to the FABL. The Dynamos snagged him in the Independent Draft, but quickly moved him to the Chiefs for Paul Grell and a draft pick. Worley struggled with the Chiefs, batting just .188/.269/.266 (46 OPS+) with 4 homers and 29 RBIs in 79 appearances out in center. Looking to upgrade that position, the Chiefs dealt him to the Kings in a huge blockbuster that send Bill May and Gene Jones to the Windy City for Worley, Chuck Adams (yes, the Cannons one), Jim Alarie, George Scruggs, and Sergio Vergara. Worley had a mini-resurgence with Brooklyn, slashing .283/.355/.467 (129 OPS+) with 8 homers and 25 RBIs to finish off the year.

That was really it for Worley, who didn't play much in either of the next two seasons, and he was cut around Opening Day in 1941. He didn't appear in a game that season, but we brought him back that September to add depth to the system. He never appeared in a game for us, as the Chiefs brought him back in the Rule-5 Draft. Competing for a starting job for the 1942 season, he ruptured his MCL in the Spring and missed the entire season. He was back in camp, still with Rule-5 designation, the next season, but since he didn't crack the Opening Day roster, Worley was returned to us for the 1943 season. He got a fair amount of time on the Blues, hitting .250/.327/.320 (86 OPS+) in 307 trips to the plate for the championship winning Blues. He got some time next season as well, but he tallied just 173 PAs before being cut in July. With no deal coming to him, Worley called it quits that offseason, ending a very interesting career. He had plenty of talent, just never quite put it together, and will always be remembered for his absurd 1937 season where he tore up the minors. Most players taken after the 10th Round never turn into anything, but Worley was an exception, even if he really only had one good year.

13th Round, 195th Overall: RHP Dick Cothern
School: Dallas HS Rangers
Career (A): 1-0, 2 SV, 15 G, 26.1 IP, 5.47 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 8 BB, 26 K, 84 ERA+, -0.7 WAR

Just like Bobby Allen, I'm not sure why I waived Dick Cothern before he debuted in our system. Luckily, he didn't turn out to be anything, and pitched just one season in the Sailors system. It did not go well, as the 19-year-old allowed 31 runs, 48 hits, and 24 walks with 51 strikeouts in 48.1 innings split between Class A and B. He was cut the following April, and then retired at the end of the month, capping off a very quick pro career.

14th Round, 211th Overall: 3B Pete Roach
School: Georgia Baptist Gators
Career (A): .259/.328/.451, 280 G, 884 PA, 38 2B, 5 3B, 34 HR, 156 RBI, 108 WRC+, 3.3 WAR

A teammate of 1st Rounder Fred Barrell, Roach made just 10 appearances in San Jose before being cut during the 1928 season. He quickly caught on with the Foresters, and filled their system, mainly in A ball, through 1932. He had a quick stop in Pueblo before returning to Cleveland, but was again cut prior to the 1934 season. He bounced around between the independent teams, before officially retiring in 1935. He had some power, but he wasn't useful with the glove, and didn't put the ball in play much.

15th Round, 227th Overall: RHP Jerry Lombard
School: Holyoke HS Oaks
Career (B): 0-0, 2 G, 2 IP, 13.50 ERA, 4.00 WHIP, 4 BB, 2 K, 33 ERA+, -0.1 WAR

It was a very quick pro career for Jerry Lombard, who's career stretched two games and two innings. Those two innings were rough, with 4 hits, 4 walks, and 3 runs. We cut him midway through the 1927 season, and while he bounced around between San Diego, New Orleans, and Sacramento, he never got an opportunity with either. After being cut a ninth time in two seasons, he decided to call it quits.

16th Round, 243rd Overall: LF Bill White
School: St Patrick's Shamrocks
Career (AA): .263/.332/.603, 172 G, 588 PA, 15 2B, 7 3B, 49 HR, 139 RBI, 136 WRC+, 4.7 WAR

Another guy with plenty of pop, Bill White spent a lot of his early career on the bench, but he got a shot with San Jose in 1929. He hit an impressive .303/.341/.601 (133 OPS+) with 15 homers and 37 RBIs in 221 trips to the plate. While on the surface, that looks pretty solid, he was 25 and not a very highly rated prospect. He stuck around the following season, but was cut before the start of the 1931 season. He caught on with the San Antonio Gunslingers, where he put together two pretty solid seasons in the Lone Star Association. He put up a 173 OPS+ and 159 WRC+ in 50 games the first season, before a 31-homer breakout in 1932. White hit .272/.325/.665 (160 OPS+) with 58 runs and 78 RBIs in 284 trips to the plate, as the Gunslingers won a title in both of his seasons. Despite that, he was cut in the middle of the following season, as the Gunslingers got off to a slow start and would not be able to win their fifth title in their fifth year of existence. That was good news for the Denver Plainsmen, as while he didn't hit that great (94 OPS+ and WRC+), he won a third consecutive title. They cut him in the offseason, in an ill-fated move, as the Plainsmen have yet to win a title since. He bounced around in 1934, but didn't appear in a game, and retired following the conclusion of the minor league season.

Maybe we should bring him back as we continue to not win titles...

17th Round, 259th Overall: RHP Bill Hartfield
School: Sadler Bluecoats
Career (A):5-3, 6 SV, 57 G, 3 GS, 121.1 IP, 4.82 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 34 BB, 94 K, 127 ERA+, -1.1 WAR

Despite an underwhelming minor league career, Bill Hartfield spent six seasons in our system, topping out at AAA where he threw 2 innings for the Blues at 22 in 1928. He wasn't an arm to write home about, but what allowed him to hand on was his ability to strike batters out, while also keeping walks down. This was best shown in his first season out of the organization, as he split time between the independent Galveston Gunners and Austin Violets. Hartfield struck out 58 hitters in 42.1 innings, while walking just 10 hitters. You'd think that would correspond with run prevention, but his 5.10 ERA (85 ERA+) and 5.01 FIP (115 FIP-) left a lot to be desired. He pitched four innings for the Fort Worth Cattleman in 1933, but retired following the conclusion of the season.

18th Round, 275th Overall: C Bobby Wilder
School: College of San Diego Friars
Career (B): .256/.380/.442, 68 G, 216 PA, 8 2B, 8 HR, 31 RBI, 3 SB, 114 WRC+, 1.3 WAR

Bobby Wilder spent his whole pro career as a Cougar farmhand, appearing in 169 games stretched between 1927 and 1934, reaching Mobile but spending most of his time in Lincoln and San Jose. He was a capable defensive catcher, with allowed him to stick around, but the bat never developed.

19th Round, 291st Overall: LHP Lou Liebert
School: Georgia Baptist Gators

The third member of the Georgia Baptist team to be selected by us in 1926, Liebert was drafted three times yet never pitched a professional inning. The first time was as a 16th Rounder by the Sailors out of Detroit HS, but after they cut him he enrolled at Nashville HS. He was drafted the following season in the 18th Round by the Saints, but was again cut on draft day. He took the '25 season off, but had a 3.13 ERA (145 ERA+) and 8 saves as the Gators stopper. We didn't cut him on draft day, instead waiting until the following June. No one gave him a shot after, and he quickly retired in April 1928.

20th Round, 307th Overall: C Hack Bailey
School: Lynn HS Legends
Career (FABL): .314/.385/.400, 14 G, 39 PA, HR, 6 RBI, 117 WRC+, 0.2 WAR
Career (B): 303/.387/.452, 303 G, 1,172 PA, 30 2B, 2 3B, 39 HR, 195 RBI, SB, 121 WRC+, 8.6 WAR

Full disclosure, I had no idea who Hack Bailey was, or that he actually played in the FABL. Our 20th Round Pick, Bailey made 5 appearances for San Jose before being cut in May of 1928. He had a brief stint with the Conquistadors, before catching on with the Brooklyn Kings. He spent the final four months of the season in their organization, but was a surprise pick by the Detroit Dynamos in the Rule-5 Draft despite never playing above Class B. He lasted 14 games on the Dynamos roster, and was a surprisingly effective 11-for-35 with a homer and 6 RBIs. After returning to the Kings, he went back to Class B Tampa, where he stayed until 1933, where he finally got a promotion to AA. That was as high as he'd go, spending most of the next five seasons at that level. He retired after the 1937 season, but no one can ever take those few months away from him where he was an FABL player.

21st Round, 323rd Overall: RHP Billy Roberson
School: Queens HS Islanders
Career (A): 27-14, 30 SV, 118 G, 36 GS, 355.1 IP, 3.29 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 109 BB, 230 K, 128 ERA+, 7.4 WAR

Another guy who was waived and claimed by the Foresters before debuting, Roberson spent plenty of time in the Foresters organization. It didn't go all that well at first, but he had a decent two-year stint in Class A Reading where he was 23-9 with 30 saves in 245.1 innings pitched. He did spend some time in AAA with the Cincinnati Steamers, but Roberson was overmatched at the highest rung of the minor league ladder. After a 20-start stint with the Pueblo Mountaineers in 1936, his only time outside of the Foresters organization, he failed to receive another opportunity, and retired in 1937.

22nd Round, 239th Overall: C Joe Pittman
School: Opelika State Wildcats
Career (AAA): .239/.317/.381, 1,373 G, 5,409 PA, 118 2B, 40 3B, 160 HR, 701 RBI, 153 SB, 90 WRC+, 22.0 WAR

While most of these late picks had rather boring career, Joe Pittman brings some flavor to the group of scrubs. He appeared in just 18 games for San Jose, and was cut during the 1928 season. The old adage about one man's trash being another man's treasure fits perfectly here, as our discarded spare part became a fixture in the lineup of the Hollywood Heroes. A switch-hitting catcher, he spent fifteen seasons with the Heroes before retiring in 1943. More used for his glove then his bat, Pittman slashed .239/.317/.381 (89 OPS+) in the AAA Great Western League, launching 160 homers and 701 RBIs while accumulating an impressive 22 WAR. The Heroes haven't had much success since their founding year in 1928, so Pittman is all over the career leaderboards. He's the all time leader in homers, RBIs, and steals (153), second in walks (447), runs (689), hits (1,140), games (1,373) and at bats (4,775), tied for 4th in WAR, and 6th in triples (40). He did strike out a lot, a whopping 1,332 times to be exact, but he handled their staff well, and was a consistent contributor for the independent team.

23rd Round, 355th Overall: LHP Charlie Mobley
School: Louisville HS Titans
Career (B): 14-29, 50 G, 48 GS, 338 IP, 7.51 ERA, 2.03 WHIP, 246 BB, 81 K, 69 ERA+, 0.8 WAR

Charlie Mobley appeared in just one game for San Jose before being claimed off waivers by the Saints. It was one of over a dozen organizations Mobley was a part of, as his issues with walks were tough to overcome. In the farm he walked 392 batters in 645 innings, with an awful 175 in 200 innings with Class B Mobile. But as a lefty, there was always some interest, and he even reached AAA as a 25-year-old. That was his last season, with 12 brutal innings with the Syracuse Excelsiors where he allowed 19 hits, 16 runs, and 16 walks in three starts.

24th Round, 371st Overall: RHP Hal Robinson
School: San Antonio HS Warriors
Career (C): 10-9, 25 G, 25 GS, 3.49 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 79 BB, 145 K, 105 ERA+, 2.0 WAR

Hal Robinson hung around a bit, appearing in games for our system from 1927 to 1930, before bouncing around the independent circuit. 1927 was an interesting season, as Robinson appeared in a game for all four levels (this was before Class C started) as an 18-year-old. As you might expect, the time in Milwaukee was brutal, as he allowed 22 hits, 32 runs, and 18 walks with just one strikeout in 8.1 innings pitched. My guess is I had no idea he was in AAA (sometimes when you auto sort minors, which I must have at the time, you get young guys in AAA), but his -1.3 WAR for that small sample is borderline elite. After sitting out the 1933 season, Robinson retired from pro-ball, but he lasted much longer then most guys taken in the last few rounds.

25th Round, 387th Overall: 3B Ernie Bartlett
School: Henry Hudson Explorers
Career (AA): .240/.333/.800, 53 G, 57 PA, 2B, 9 HR, 17 RBI, 172 WRC+, 0.5 WAR

Last, but not least, was third basemen Ernie Bartlett, who was our 23rd and final member of the 1926 class. He was pretty much a bench only guy, starting three games, all in 1929, during the four years he was in our system. He had some pop, as evidenced by his time with independent minor league teams, but he didn't get nearly enough hits to make it worth it. He did play until he was 28, retiring after spending the 1933 season with the Waco Wranglers and Dallas Centurions.

Summary
This was a weird class, as it actually produced more every day players then role players. Fred Barrell and Ben Turner were regulars with nice, long careers, and Bob Worley and Bobby Allen were quality every day players who could hit a lot of homers. Allen more so then Worley, but both outperformed their draft position. We did miss on too many of the early picks, as Bill Kline wasn't anything special, Heine Bretz got hurt too much, and Gene Ross, Mickey Williams, and Heinie Glass failed to make any sort of impact. Surprisingly, despite just 5 players playing in more then five seasons, this class produced more WAR (nearly 100!) then the 1925 class, where 10 of 15 players debuted. A 7 of 23 (30.4%) debut rate leaves a lot to be desired, but considering how overmatched I was at the beginning of my time in charge of the Cougars, this class produced more talent then I would have expected, as the late 1920s me really only had high hopes for Barrell, Kline, Turner, and Bretz.

FABL Totals
Big League Debuts: 7 (of 23)
Parts of 5 Seasons: 5
Parts of 10 Seasons: 3
Parts of 15 Seasons: 1
500 Games: 3
1,000 Games: 1
1,500 Games: 1
500 PA Seasons: 13
1,000 Career PAs: 3
2,500 Career PAs: 2
5,000 Career PAs: 1
15 HR Seasons: 5
20 HR Seasons: 1
50 Career HR: 3
100 Inning Seasons: 16
200 Inning Seasons: 11
300 Inning Seasons: 1
500 Career Innings: 1
1,000 Career Innings: 1
2,500 Career Innings: 1
10 Win Seasons: 9
20 Win Seasons: 1
50 Career Wins: 1
100 Career Wins: 1
150 Career Wins: 1
4 WAR Seasons: 4
Total WAR: 92.3

ayaghmour2 · 04-21-2023, 01:10 PM

The New York Stars' offense came roaring back to life, backing Chuck Cole's (13-12, 3.62, 89) 2-hit shutout with 12 runs in Washington to bring the series back to New York. The change of scenery worked well, as the Stars piled on seven in the second to even the series with a 7-3 win. Elijah Boudreau (.274, 5, 20), who was banished to the bench and wouldn't be starting if Bob Riggins (.265, 8, 47, 10) was healthy, hit two homers of young Eagle Buckeye Smith (14-8, 3.15, 90) in that second inning. With the series tied, you have to imagine Eli Panneton (18-9, 3.02, 132) gets the ball for the Stars with Vern Hubbard (18-12, 3.84, 86) ready in the pen if needed. The Eagles will counter with Jack Elder (15-13, 2.75, 87), who won game one and started game four. Its shaping up to be another exciting World Championship series, as game sevens have become the norm.

The most surprising news of the week came from the Great Western League, as the San Francisco Hawks beat the Los Angeles Knights 5-1 to earn the first every Bigsby Cup. Former Gotham Jack Snyder (16-13, 3.47, 103), who also evened the series with a game two win, struck out eight in a complete game victory. That's not the surprising part; it's who won series MVP. That would be former Cougar Orlin Yates (.255, 3, 57, 9), who hit .350/.500/.750 (246 OPS+) with a double, 2 homers, 5 RBIs, and 6 walks. He's not the only Cougar to win a ring, as undrafted free agent Art Jackson (1-1, 2, 3.83, 6) and released Rule-5 Pick Cliff Ray (.219, 9, 59) are also employed by the Hawks. It's okay if you don't remember either, Ray never appeared for us, but Jackson actually made two starts on the 1934 Cougars. It didn't go well, as he allowed 17 hits, 11 runs, and 7 walks with 6 strikeouts, and was traded the following offseason for veteran third basemen Jake Moore in a swap of DFA'd players. Moore spent two seasons on our bench, but Jackson didn't get into another FABL game.

Catchers
Solly Skidmore (BRK): 93 WRC+, 35 RBI, 1.0 WAR
Harry Mead (CHC): 107 WRC+, 10 HR, 64 RBI, 3.8 WAR

Infielders
Billy Hunter (CHC): 76 WRC+, 2 HR, 22 RBI, 3 SB, 0.1 WAR
Tommy Wilson (STL): 83 WRC+, 2 HR, 62 RBI, SB, 3.3 WAR
Hal Wood (TOR): 122 WRC+, 3 HR, 48 RBI, SB, 3.0 WAR
Skipper Schneider (CHC): 97 WRC+, 4 HR, 51 RBI, 9 SB, 7.9 WAR
Hank Stratton (CLE): 88 WRC+, 4 HR, 53 RBI, 1.0 WAR
Ed Reyes (PHS): 154 WRC+, 8 HR, 64 RBI, SB, 3.4 WAR
Elmer Hutchins (CHI): 97 WRC+, 7 HR, 48 RBI, -0.5 WAR

Outfielders
Leo Mitchell (CHC): 160 WRC+, 24 HR, 90 RBI, 4 SB, 4.6 WAR
Bunny Hufford (NYG): 116 WRC+, 2 HR, 11 RBI, SB, 0.3 WAR
Rich Langton (CHC): 56 WRC+, RBI, -0.2 WAR
Chink Stickels (NYS): 116 WRC+, 7 HR, 67 RBI, 11 SB, 5.4 WAR
Carlos Montes (CHC): 103 WRC+, 10 HR, 61 RBI, 19 SB, 4.8 WAR
Don Lee (CHC): 113 WRC+, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 7 SB, 1.5 WAR

Pitchers
Dean Astle (BOS): 11-6, 220 ERA+, 41 K, 3.4 WAR
Frank Gordon (DET): 3-11, 8 SV, 106 ERA+, 68 K, 2.2 WAR
Harl Haines (NYG): 14-8, 98 ERA+, 87 K, 3.3 WAR
Leo Hayden (BRK): 19-12, 119 ERA+, 130 K, 4.6 WAR
Danny Hern (STL): 0-4, 37 ERA+, 13 K, 0.3 WAR
Sam Hodge (NYG): 3-1, 3 SV, 92 ERA+, 15 K, -0.2 WAR
Harry MacRae (CHC): 1-2, 11 SV, 106 ERA+, 10 K, 0.1 WAR
Pete Papenfus (CHC): 21-8, 142 ERA+, 199 K, 6.6 WAR
Harry Parker (CHC): 12-9, 106 ERA+, 73 K, 1.9 WAR

Totals
Hitters: 39.4
Pitchers: 22.2
Total: 61.6
Approximate Wins: 93

Notable Prospects/Picks Traded
November 1945: Traded Ollie Page, Lefty Jones, and Bill Perrin to the Pioneers for Hal Sharp
February 1946: Traded Gene Madison, a 1st, and 3rd Round Pick to the Kings for a 1st Round Pick (that became now #2 prospect Bob Allen!!!)
February 1946: Traded Harl Haines and Tom Jovin to the Gothams for a 4th and 7th Round Pick
July 1946: Traded Joe Swank to the Dynamos for cash and a 5th Round Pick
July 1946: Traded Mike Thorpe to the Kings for cash and a 9th Round Pick

Crazy enough, this group of hitters was worth exactly as much as last years! What are the odds!?!? The pitchers were a bit better, as we got a full season of Pete Papenfus, as well as excellent seasons from Leo Hayden and Dean Astle. This team was almost identical in terms of WAR to the 1946 Cougars, who were worth a cumulative 61 WAR. The extra 0.6 gives us an extra win, picking up the 93rd victory we would have needed to avoid the tiebreaker all together. Still, I think the real Cougars are far superior, as they have the Jones brothers, Hal Sharp, Clark Car, Dick Walker, and Billy Riley, and despite another close call, we have the major league talent and minor league depth to make another run at the elusive title.

ayaghmour2 · 04-24-2023, 11:28 AM

After competing their 3-1 comeback against the Washington Eagles, the New York Stars won their 9th World Championship Series and first since 1939, giving them two more victories then the next closest team, the Philadelphia Keystones, who won #7 last season. The Stars have financial problems, which may mean that some salary will get cut, but the Stars have plenty of talent that they can compete without any upgrades

We got a nice budget increase, but it came with some bad news, as legendary amateur scout Tom Weinstock decided to call it a career after eight seasons in charge of the Cougars scouting department. He's a crucial reason that our farm ranks #1 in the league, and because of being scout-less, I'm going to wait on the individual player prospect reports until the vacancy is filled. I'm hoping we don't lose all his hard work, as I had the coming class scouted with every player either ":High" or "Very High" for accuracy.

Luckily the farm system is very deep, ranked first in the league and 40 points higher then the second place Dynamos. We have 200 prospect points, led by first Rounder Bob Allen, who ranks as the #2 prospect in baseball. Him and Duke Bybee (#7) rank in the top 10, with 5 in the top 50, 11 in the top 100, 25 in the top 250, and 48 in the top 500. Below is the list of our top 40: The early returns on our draft class are very high as well, with 13 prospects in our top 40, and a 14th (Charlie Harvey) at 43rd and 412th respectively. There's plenty of talent in the system, and it should allow us to pursue a top target if needed.

1. RHP Bob Allen (2nd Overall): 10th Overall Pick
2. LHP Duke Bybee (7th Overall): 1st/6th
3. CF Johnny Peters (32nd Overall): 2nd/14th
4. CF Frank Reece (37th Overall): 20th Overall Pick
5. C Eddie Howard (41st Overall): 3rd/44th
6. 3B Otto Christian (50th Overall): 4th/47th
7. LHP Bert Rogers (60th Overall): 6th/55th
8. LHP Ron Berry (70th Overall): Not Ranked
9. RHP Harry Beardsley (78th Overall): 156th Overall Pick
10. 3B Pat Todd (81st Overall): 7th/79th
11. CF Carl Clark (97th Overall): 5th/54th
12. RF Jimmy Hairston (122nd Overall): 10th/161st
13. RHP Charlie Kelsey (140th Overall): 9th/157th
14. CF Phil Boyes (149th Overall): 76th Overall Pick
15. RHP Tommy Seymour (158th Overall): 20th/236th
16. SS Bob Stout (169th Overall): 92nd Overall Pick
17. CF Joe Austin (178th Overall): 124th Overall Pick
18. 2B Roxy Hilts (181st Overall): 59th Overall Pick
19. RF Zeke Johnson (209th Overall): 129th Overall Pick
20. SS Jim Mako (218th Overall): 19th/229th
21. 2B Bob Schmelz (220th Overall): 13th.193rd
22. RHP Jim Williams (225th Overall): 24th/322nd
23. LF Clyde Parker (230th Overall): 12th.166th
24. RHP Babe Stinson (232nd Overall): 25th/328th
25. LHP Dutch Yoak (236th Overall): 17th/222nd
26. 1B Cal Rice (263rd Overall): 16th/214th
27. C Ernie Frost (266th Overall): 108th Overall Pick
28. CF Franklin Thomas (268th Overall): 134th Overall Pick
29. SS Al Clement (272nd Overall): 15th/207th
30. 2B Tom Brownleaf (285th Overall): 31st/367th
31. SS Tony Scuccinello (303rd Overall): 51st Overall Pick
32. SS John Price (317th Overall): 140th Overall Pick
33. SS Rupert Heinbaugh (356th Overall): 23rd/267th
34. RHP Jim N Smith (364th Overall): Not Ranked
35. RHP Lee Parker (368th Overall): 236th Overall Pick
36. RHP Jimmy Ballard (370th Overall): 33rd/415th
37. RF Bob Rogers (379th Overall): 30th.363rd
38. RHP Billy Stoddard (385th Overall): Not Ranked
39. RHP Bill Ballantine (391st Overall): Not Ranked
40. RHP Kid Moore (394th Overall): 60th Overall Pick

ayaghmour2 · 04-26-2023, 12:46 AM

While he's no Tom Weinstock, although, let's be honest, no one is, his replacement is still very solid. That would be Dixie Marsh, an easygoing 41-year-old from California. He was never drafted, but appeared in 16 games for the Allentown Cokers back in 1925. That's the extent of his minor league career, but after hanging up the spikes in 1928, he went back to Columbia and earned his degree. He began working in baseball, rejoining the Keystones organization that gave him his lone minor league shot. Marsh worked his way up the scouring department, working closely with head scout Harry Dunn. We lured him out to head his own department, getting $15,625 in each of the next two seasons. Weinstock will be missed, but I'm more then confident in his successor.

Dixie isn't as familiar with this draft class as Tom, who had all players as either "High" or "Very High" for scouting accuracy, with nearly 75% of the class at "Very High". Marsh has just six guys at "High" accuracy, including "The Rockford Rocket" who, you guessed it, is from Rockford, Illinois. The Tallmadge State product has stole 72 bases in 88 games and slashed .338/.411/.491. He doesn't have much pop, just a single homer back when he was a freshman, but he has all other tools needed to be a perennial All-Star. The hit tool is great, he has excellent command of the strike zone, and his speed makes an impact in the field and on the bases. Standing tall at 6'2'' and 200 pounds, you have to imagine the power will develop, and with his work ethic I expect him to spend time in the weight room so he can start putting balls over the fence. Even with two of our five top prospects as center fielders, he will get serious attention depending on where are pick lands.

Before starting with our top five prospects, I wanted to say a few things about Tom Weinstock. The former big league catcher was an integral part of our organization, and it's sad we never got him a ring. He's identified some much talent, and his draftees include Skipper Schneider, Don Lee, and likely inaugural Kellogg Award Winner Leo Hayden. I'm not sure when it will happen, but at some point in the offseason I'm going to put something together on his baseball career and some of the prospects he brought in. Unfortunately I won't have his final thoughts on this new class of prospects, but this group and the excellent 1946 draft class could end up being his legacy. While Tom wants to step away from baseball for now, the legendary scout will be welcomed back at any time in an advisory capacity. And once we finally get that elusive championship ring, he's going to have one set aside for him.

RHP Bob Allen (2nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 10th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Sonora Wildcats

Despite nine players being selected before Allen in the 1946 draft, just one player ranks above him in the opening offseason prospect rankings. The only player ranked higher is the Champion's young shortstop Ralph Hanson, a former 2nd Overall Pick who stole 46 bases and hit .219 in 84 games for the Class C Alexandria Generals. Allen will be the last of Tom Weinstock's seven first round selections, and I'm really hoping he ends up as the best one. Despite being just 18 and dealing with back stiffness, our #1 prospect was very effective, following up14 starts in his senior year with 58.2 innings with the Lions. He didn't maintain the 0.36 ERA and 0.60 WHIP, but he finished third among pitchers with 55 or more innings with a 3.99 ERA (107 ERA+). The California native missed plenty of bats, striking out 60 hitters while finishing 4-2 with a 1.41 WHIP. Allen's stuff is tremendous, and he's always at his best when the game is on the line. He's the type of kid you want pitching every fifth day and he's yet to show a real weakness in his game. He isn't the hardest thrower, sitting at 86-88 with his fastball, but his pitches have plenty of downward movement, allowing him to keep the ball on the ground. With Skipper Schneider and George Sutterfield in the infield, groundballs will be easily scooped up, and Allen should thrive at our park. Add in the the whiffs on his slider and you have the makings of a true Allen Award winner.

LHP Duke Bybee (7th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 49th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Brooklyn Friends Quakers

I'll be honest, it's almost a crime that I left Duke Bybee in Milwaukee, but he's not better then Harry Parker or Joe Brown yet, and since 1942, all he's thrown is 17 innings in Lincoln and 19.1 in Chicago. This will be his last prospect report, as Billy Riley will be traded one way or another, and Bybee will make plenty of starts with the big league club. He's coming off a record setting campaign for the Blues, finishing the season 14-6 with a 2.05 ERA (190 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP in 175.1 innings pitched. He struck out 100 batters and walked just 40, and was worth nearly five (4.8) wins above replacement. If there was an Allen Award in the Century League, Bybee would have been unanimous like Pap should be, as he led the circuit in ERA, K/BB (2.5), BB/9 (2.1), ERA+, rWAR (7.6), and win percentage (.700) while ranked tied for third in wins despite being outside the top 15 for starts (26). For a 24-year-old, his command is stellar and his stuff is good enough to maintain a 2+ K/BB. OSA loves him, praising his stuff and command, and the 6'4'' righty would be the #1 pitching prospect on any other team. Instead, he has to settle for the games highest rated left handed pitcher. With the new Kellogg award being given out for the top rookie, Bybee should be an early favorite to take home the second annual award. Even if he doesn't have a breakout rookie season, his leadership and poise will be key to the roster. If we have to, he can be stashed in the pen, but I'm confident he'll pitch his way to the #3 spot by season end.

CF Johnny Peters (32nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 3rd Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Liberty College Bells

He's dropped a bit on the prospect list, but I think that's more because of the strong draft class from this year, including 14 of the top 20 prospects. If Peters was available this year and I had he third overall pick, there's no way I'd use it on him, but that's not to say Peters isn't a very exciting prospect. Despite being just 22, he spent all season with the Commodores, and hit an above average. 268/.361/.387 (190 OPS+) in 603 trips to the plate. Like Bybee, he was worth 4.8 WAR, as Peters put up a 5.1 zone rating in center with 17 steals, 76 walks, and 40 extra base hits. I'm leaning on starting him in Milwaukee next season, and he could position himself into making his major league debut. We have plenty of 40-man roster flexibility, and with a big season a September callup may be warranted. Peters projects to be a premier player, projecting to hit around .300 with excellent plate discipline and base stealing abilities. I don't really have a good comp on the big league roster for Peters, as he shows shades of both Carlos Montes and Don Lee. Peters may not have to compete against them forever, as there will be a time where Leo Mitchell goes to first or Carlos Montes needs to be in a corner, but right now playing time seems to be scarce for the the Liberty College alumn.

CF Frank Reece (37th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Villisca Bluejays

After the draft, Frank Reece ranked above Johnny Peters, but he's sense slipped to 37th. Now 19, Reece had an excellent season with La Crosse, producing a 130 WRC+ in 222 trips to the plate. Reece hit a strong .276/.356/.480 (118 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 10 homers, 14 steals, 24 RBIs, and 21 walks. One of the best showings from the many youngsters that spent time in La Crosse, Reece is penciled into center field for San Jose, and with not much in the upper levels he could finish in Lincoln. Another speedy center fielder, Reece has a high ceiling both at the plate and in the field, The power was a bit of surprise, and he held a share of the team lead with Cal Rice, our slugging first basemen. A lot of Reece's homers would have been doubles or triples in a different park, but he could hit double digit homers in the big leagues. His speed will lead to extra bases and plus outfield defense, and he could be one of those guys that walks more then they strike out. He's got a lot of development ahead of him, but the ceiling is tantalizing and he's more developed then most of the other guys his age.

C Eddie Howard (41st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: St. Joseph Chiefs

Now a member of the 40-man roster, Eddie Howard will get a chance to win the backup job to Harry Mead, competing against our lone rookie position player Homer Guthrie next spring. He had a strong season in his first at bats since 1942, and he had just 7 games in a ball prior to this year. That didn't stop him from putting on a show, slashing .325/.380/.428 (119 OPS+) with 37 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, and 58 RBIs in 536 trips to the plate. He produced a 126 WRC+ and 3.8 WAR and struck out (23) almost half as often as he walked (43). Howard even pitched a bit, going 4-0 with a pair of saves in 30.1 innings pitched. His 3.86 ERA (101 ERA+) was just barely above average, but his 2.82 FIP (72 FIP-) was better then Peter the Heater (2.75, 81). Having him on hand as a reliable emergency guy could be useful, mopping up inning I don't want a high leverage guy in. He features an elite hit tool and lines the ball pull side with ease, and with his strength I think the power tool should develop. He will hit plenty of doubles off the big wall in left, and a few of his flyballs will sneak out as homers. Eventually he'll take over for Harry Mead, but until then, Mead will be an excellent mentor, and they can share starts if both are (or I guess, aren't) producing. That 1941 class is looking really good, as it's produced Otto Christian, Leo Hayden, Jack Huston, Jim Dickinson, Harl Haines, Joe Swank, and George Oddo, all of which have debuted in the majors. Howard will join them shortly, as will Bill Ballantine, and Howard will be a big part of whether it becomes a group to be remembered.

ayaghmour2 · 04-26-2023, 07:54 PM

3B Otto Christian (50th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Walla Walla Warriors

Otto spent most of his time in Mobile this season, but the "Walla Walla Walloper" appeared in the games and went 0-for-2 with a run scored. The 13th Pick of the 1941 draft, Christian produced in his first minor league season since 1942, slashing .277/.339/.400 (106 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 11 homers, and 65 RBIs, while walking (44) one more time then he stuck out (43). The power output is much more impressive then it looks, as Otto was the only Dixie League hitter with double digit home runs, hitting three more then anyone else in the league. His 116 WRC+ is comfortably above average and he played capable defense at third. Recently 24, Christian will get a shot to hit his way into the lineup, but he faces steep competition from George Sutterfield, Hank Barnett, Billy Hunter, and a potential outside of the organization addition. Very few players can come close to the raw power Otto boasts, and when he connects, the ball goes hard and far. He still has trouble with breaking balls, but that's something he'll figure out as he gains more experience. If he doesn't start the season in Chicago, he'll play every day in Milwaukee, and with a strong showing he can work his way into the lineup.

LHP Bret Rogers (60th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 12th Overall (1944)
Alma Mater: Wenona Braves

It was a brutal season for our first rounder two years ago, as he struggled in his return to the Lions. Rogers went just 3-2 with a 6.10 ERA (70 ERA+) and 1.53 WHIP through 69.1 innings pitched. On the surface, those numbers looked really poor, but Rogers was extremely unlucky. He struck out 83 hitters and walked just 28, for a superb 10.8 K/9 and 3.0 K/BB, which contributed to a very impressive 3.51 FIP and 82 FIP-. Yes, his ERA was nearly twice as high as his FIP, even with the groundballer allowing seven longballs. The 20-year-old Chicagoan may repeat C ball, as we have a lot of options for the San Jose rotation, but he may get a few starts with the Cougars. A three pitch pitcher, he has two excellent pitches, a hard biting slider and a sharp and deadly curve. His fastball is located well, and even at 86-88 its a tough pitch to do much with. All his pitches move well, which helps him keep the ball on the ground, but he's still got a lot of development ahead of him. While not an ace, the lefty has a very high ceiling, projecting to be a serviceable middle-of-the-rotation arm with the chance to work his way even higher. 1947 will be a big season for him, as he needs to show more on the mound.

LHP Ron Berry (70th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 112th Overall (1944)
Alma Mater: Elm Springs Knights

I'm not sure anyone has had a more meteoric rise in FABL then Ron Berry. From going from an unranked prospect outside of the top 500 all the way up to #70, Ron Berry has emerged into a very exciting pitching prospect. The secret for Berry was adding a curveball to his repertoire, adding to his money pitch change and superb slider. He also brought his fastball up to 85-87, and even though it's probably an average pitch at best, all three off-speed pitches are plus-plus or better. Recently turned 21, Berry didn't have the greatest season, but he finished off strong. Berry's first 17 starts came in San Jose, where he went 5-4 with a 4.47 ERA (89 ERA+) and 1.47 WHIP. He walked (48) about as many hitters as he struck out (49), but his 3.82 FIP (95 FIP-) was above average, aided by an impressive 0.3 HR/9. With many guys moving up in September, Berry got a taste of A ball, and he was very impressive. He did go 0-1, but his 2.13 ERA (169 ERA+) and 1.03 WHIP were pristine. Small sample and all that, but these were very encouraging signs for Berry, who is one of the few players Dixie Marsh has with "Very High" scouting accuracy. He's not as high on him as Tom Weinstock was, but he's a big fan of the stuff. He's worried about the command, which is a fair concern, but if the former 7th Rounder can hit the zone with more efficiency, he could develop into an excellent starting pitcher.

RHP Harry Beardsley (74th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 156th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Arkansas A&T Badgers

Already looking like a massive steal in the 10th Round, Harry Beardsley took a huge step forward as a junior at Arkansas A&T, and he maintained that production after the draft. Beardsley skipped La Crosse, making seven starts with San Jose. The 21-year-old righty went 4-3 with a stellar 2.51 ERA (158 ERA+) and 1.26 WHIP. He threw 43 innings, walking just 15 while striking out 24. A four pitch pitcher, Beardsley already has big league quality stuff, projecting to be above average, which will play well with average command. He doesn't over power, his fastball and sinker top out around 88, but he mixes his pitches well and misses a ton of bats. His changeup projects to be the best of his offerings, with the sinker a close second. His slider is good against same-side hitters, but he won't use it as often as his other three pitches. He'll be 22 to start next season, and I can see Beardsley moving up the system very quickly. OSA gives him a 1948 FABL ETA, but I'm not sure there will be a rotation spot available for him to claim. There's a lot to like about the young righty from Fayetteville, and he could be a very enticing trade piece in the next few seasons.

3B Pat Todd (81st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 43rd Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: University Red Devils

While most of our young hitters in the lower minors struggled, Pat Todd was the exception. The 19-year-old started his season in La Crosse, and hit an impressive .305/.345/.443 (106 OPS+) with 5 homers and 25 RBIs. He produced a 115 WRC+ in 142 trips to the plate, and played elite defense at the hot corner. This earned him a late season promotion to San Jose, where he took a huge step forward. Todd was not overmatched in the slightest during his 24 game stint, mashing to the tune of .337/.398/.446 (132 OPS+). That was good for a full win above replacement and a 142 WRC+, as Todd added another homer, 7 RBIs, and more walks (9) then strikeouts (6). He even stole two bases, giving him four on the season. This went far better then his cup of coffee with San Jose last season, where he went just 5-for-49 with one walk and sixteen strikeouts. A talented gloveman, Todd produced a 8.3 zone rating and 1.100 efficiency between his time with the Lions and Cougars, and he didn't make a single error in his 298 innings in C ball. Pair the elite defense with average contact and some power, and you have a very capable all-around third basemen. There's a lot to like about the young infielder, and while Otto Christian, or even George Sutterfield, are the third basemen of the future now, Todd is a very impressive prospect in his own right.

ayaghmour2 · 04-27-2023, 10:03 AM

CF Carl Clark (97th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 18th Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Springfield Panthers

It was a bit of a drop off in the rankings for Carl Clark, who went from a borderline top-50 prospect to spending some time outside the top 100. Eventually, Clark cracked back in, starting the offseason at 97th. He split time between La Crosse and San Jose, and like Pat Todd, produced better in San Jose. He slashed .284/.358/.410 (111 OPS+) with 3 doubles, a triple, 4 homers, 2 steals, and 16 RBIs in 152 trips to the plate. He wasn't bad with the Lions, with a slightly above average 101 WRC+. He sported a .263/.346/.381 (91 OPS+) line with 7 doubles, 4 homers, 5 steals, and 18 RBIs. Most of these at bats came when he was still 18, as Clark turned 19 on the 22nd of August, and played all but 8 of his 47 games before his birthday. Those last eight games came because the Class B season ended before the Class C season, and he hit .393/.379/.571 (146 OPS+) in that small sample. It's a sign "Fish" took a legitimate step forward during the season, but he currently has a down arrow when I move him back to San Jose. Part of this could be with Marsh joining recently, and I've had him strictly focused on scouting the draft. He does mention Clark's above average potential and speed and OSA projects him to be a leadoff hitter. He's played plus defense in center, accumulating a 2.8 zone rating in 509.1 innings this year. Since Class C ball doesn't begin until June, I don't think Clark will play another game with the Lions, but if he works hard in the offseason, he has the chance to open the season in the baby Cougars outfield.

RF Jimmy Hairston (161st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 61st Overall (1943)
Alma Mater: Bowman Mohawks

After spending the 1945 season in the Army, Hairston returned to San Jose, where he hit just .171/.237/.286 in 38 trips to the plate as a 19-year-old. Things worked out much better for Hairston the second time around, as he produced a 112 WRC+ in 205 trips to the plate. The former 4th Rounder slashed .244/.366/.378 (112 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, 21 RBIs, and 30 walks. He got a late July promotion to Lincoln, and finished the season on a high note. Hairston slashed .294/.384/.396 (123 OPS+) with 9 doubles, a triple, 3 homers, 27 RBIs, and 28 walks. He upped his WRC+ to 135 in a slightly large 229 PA sample. The 21-year-old showcased tremendous plate discipline and a little bit of pop. At 6'2'' 190, Hairston has the build to be a 15+ home run hitter, as our park plays well to power. He's looked good in right so far, but he still feels like a bat first prospect. He has plenty of time to hone his skills, as our outfield is pretty full, and there's a chance that when he's about 24 or 25, he could be a well above average big league hitter. We don't have many corner outfielders, as he's our only prospect of that type in the top 200. He will have competition from the center fielders, but this allows him to hold a spot in the minors.

RHP Charlie Kelsey (140th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 9th Round, 140th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Lancaster Buckskins

This was Charlie Kelsey's first full year as a starting pitcher in the minor leagues, but he made his big league debut as a reliever. He pitched 6.2 innings out of the pen and even earned a save in one of his four appearances. He allowed seven hits, a walk, and just one earned run with three strikeouts. These were impressive numbers in the small sample, matching impressive performance in 17 starts with the Blues. Kelsey went 6-4 with a 2.94 ERA (133 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP, 35 walks, and 63 strikeouts. His 4.8 K/9 was extremely impressive and he proved he has what it takes to be a big league starter. Kelsey just celebrated his 25th birthday, but there's plenty of guys stuck in front of him. His sinker is a very good pitch, generating whiffs and groundouts. He has good command of his three pitch repertoire, but he doesn't have much more room to grow. He's a serviceable back-end starter with the chance to develop into a solid #3, but he'll never lead a rotation. If he keeps the ball in the park and throw strikes, a good defense will make him look strong.

CF Phil Boyes (149th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 76th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Benton Zephyrs

Our 5th Rounder this season, Phil Boyes was stuck in a crowded outfield, so playing time was slim. It had an effect on his performance, as he hit just .260/.313/.338 (71 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 2 homers, 16 RBIs, and 8 steals in 166 trips to the plate. The defense, however, was superb, as he produced an efficiency of 1.300 or above in all three spots, including a 1.107 efficiency in 10 starts out in right. His future is likely in left or center, as he doesn't have the strongest arm. His speed leads me to believe center is a likely landing spot. While the then 18-year-old didn't hit much, he has a nice swing and a good sense of the zone. That should combine for a .300 or better average, but at times he can be too aggressive for his own good. He has plenty of time to work out his kinks, and there will be more consistent playing time for him as Frank Reece and Carl Clark will be up in San Jose. I think he can be an every day center fielder if he reaches his potential, but the path to the majors may be bumpy.

RHP Tommy Seymour (158th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1943)
Alma Mater: Olathe Pioneers

While a lot of people dropped in the prospect rankings, Tommy Seymour actually brought him back inside the top 200. The former 1st Rounder checks in at 158th, and made solid starts in San Jose and Lincoln. The now 21-year-old went 3-3 with a 3.20 ERA (124 ERA+) and 1.44 WHIP in 10 starts with the Cougars and 5-4 with a 3.28 ERA (110 ERA+) and 1.52 WHIP in 12 starts with the Legislators. The issue for Seymour was the walks, as he had a 0.5 K/BB (25/55) with the Lincoln after a 4.5 BB/9 in San Jose. In 144.1 innings between the two levels, he walked 87 batters while striking out only 60 (0.7 K/BB). Command seems to be the roadblock for the young righty, but his pitches have crazy movement and his change up is nearly unhittable. His splitter is tough too, but his fastball tops out at 86 and he leaves in over the center of the plate far too often. To move up in the rotation he needs to find the zone more often, but I'm willing to give him every opportunity to master his command.

ayaghmour2 · 04-27-2023, 11:37 PM

SS Bob Stout (169th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 92nd Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Eastern Virginia Dukes

Our 6th Round Pick in this most recent draft, I was a bit surprised with how high Stout ranked in the prospect rankings. It took a while for him to sign with all our money issues, and he missed a little time with a bone bruise on his wrist, so he made just 15 appearances in San Jose and 14 in Lincoln. He hit better with the Legislators, batting .310/.420/.429 (142 OPS+) compared to .218/.348/.364 (96 OPS+) in San Jose. Stout boasted an excellent eye, drawing 18 walks with just 22 strikeouts, and he played very good defense at shortstop. His 2.9 zone rating and 1.066 efficiency for the year was impressive, and he tallied 4 doubles, 3 homers, 14 RBIs, and a steal in 121 trips to the plate. Stout doesn't have off the charts tools, but he has a laser like arm and impressive range. He may not hit for a high average, but he should maintain a high on-base percentage and his baserunning is a plus tool. I think he could transition to the outfield if needed, and with his arm he could excel in right field. For now, the infield is where he'll be, but if I need to give him more at bats, he may have to break out an outfield glove.

CF Joe Austin (178th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 142nd Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Chesapeake State Clippers

Another guy that ranked higher then I expected, Joe Austin is my classic type of late round pick. A guy who can do anything. Austin played all around the diamond in his first minor league season, making a start at every position except third, catcher, and of course, pitcher. Most of his time came in his natural position in center field, a strained oblique cost him four weeks and took something out of his bat. In the 8th Rounders defense, he was pushed all the way up to A ball, so hitting .194/.268/.323 (68 OPS+) isn't the end of the world. Plus in a 71 PA sample, you can't take much out of it anyways. The bat isn't the draw anyways, as his speed is what excites. He went 5-for-6 in stolen base attempts and added three doubles, a triple, and a home run. He's an excellent base runner and superb defender which almost guarantees he'll make some teams big league roster. With his age, he could make a quick ascent up our system, but he'll remain in A ball to start the season. If he wants to work his way into a big league lineup, he'll need to start hitting more, but he has plenty of time to work on his bat.

2B Roxy Hilts (181st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 59th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Cedarburg Bulldogs

Another member of our most recent draft class, Roxy Hilts was the second of our three fourth round picks. He also ranks the highest, topping Tony Scuccinello (303rd Overall) and Kid Moore (398th Overall). Roxy got into 41 games for the Lions, hitting .291/.352/.368 (90 OPS+) with 7 doubles and 9 RBIs. He didn't homer, but he doesn't project to hit for much power. He's a guy who works the count and puts the ball in play, hitting plenty of pull side line drives that find the gaps. He won't steal many bases, but he's got average speed and runs the bases really well. He's looked okay at the keystone so far, but I'm worried that he may be better suited for first. There's not much room for a powerless first basemen, so the glove will be crucial as his bat is more acceptable at second. OSA is a big fan of Roxy, mentioning his plus contact tool and strong plate discipline, even going as far to say he "could develop into a productive regular on a contending team." I think that's wishful thinking on their part, but Hilts has a lot of raw talent and at 18 he's far from a finished product. He'll have to hit to keep a lineup spot, but he's still one of our more exciting infield prospects.

RF Zeke Johnson (209th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 9th Round, 129th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Crown Point Bulldogs

At first I thought I'd get Danny Cecil with the first pick of the AI round, but the Cannons decided to take the now 35th ranked prospect with the 128th and final pick of the human portion. Instead, we got Zeke Johnson, a three-year starter at Crown Point who hit above .500 in each of his seasons. The hit tool is very intriguing, and he could compete with Leo Mitchell for batting titles. He didn't quite show that in his first taste of minor league action, hitting .248/.327/.333 (74 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 2 homers, and 13 RBIs. Now 19, the Indiana Native ranks just outside the top 200, and Dixie Marsh thinks he'll hit for some power too. That would be helpful for the young outfielder, who spent all but one of his games out in right. He has experience in high school at first, left, and center too, so he's more then just a guy with an arm. Granted, I'm not going to play him much, if at all, in center, but that means he has some range on the grass. What scares me is his work ethic, as he's not someone to do more then the minimum amount of worth, so he could be his own worst enemy. If he can push himself to be a better player, he will be one, as his bat is very exciting.

SS Jim Mako (218th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 59th Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Erasmus Crusaders

"The Shark" does a little bit of everything, and the only position he didn't play this year was center, as La Crosse had highly touted prospects Frank Reece, Carl Clark, and Phil Boyes getting reps in the middle of the outfield. He played the most innings at his natural position, shortstop, but Mako made 15 or more starts at second and third as well. He looked great pretty much everywhere, and his 4.2 zone rating and 1.169 efficiency at short exceeded all expectations. These are Skipper Schneider type numbers, and while Mako's not at that level, his range is truly impressive. Unfortunately he didn't hit very much, just .233/.341/.317 (75 OPS+). He did that in 213 trips to the plate, and supplemented his line with 6 doubles, 3 homers, 12 steals, 21 RBIs, and 26 walks. The dream utility man, I wouldn't be surprised if he can offer plus defense at all seven positions, but the bat needs some work. Mako is actually a good bunter, and with his speed he'll leg out plenty of infield hits, but he hasn't shown much extra base pop. He does project to be a line drive hitter, but for now he's not making enough contact to be effective. He has a nice eye, so there's a chance he can be an Ollie Page type hitter, and his speed can be a weapon if he can get on base.

04-07-2023, 12:01 AM	#1062
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	Week 17: August 5th-August 11th Weekly Record: 3-4 Seasonal Record: 62-50 (2nd, 8.5 GB) Stars of the Week Harry Mead : 13 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .462 AVG, 1.247 OPS Hal Sharp : 16 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .375 AVG, 1.007 OPS Harry Parker : 1 Win, 8.0 IP, 3 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA Schedule 8-5: Loss at Kings (2-3) 8-6: Win at Saints (6-4) 8-7: Win at Saints (4-0) 8-9: Loss at Stars (0-2) 8-10: Loss at Stars (2-6) 8-11: Loss at Stars (0-1) 8-11: Win at Stars (7-5) Recap You know what? I'm just going to say it. We. Are. CURSED. Cursed I tell you!!! waves fist at sky The Stars ripped off 13(!!) in a row, including the first three from us, before Billy Riley finally ended their rain of terror. It didn't matter all that much, as this brought us back within eight and a half games, and with a bit over a month to go, that's going to be hard to come. To think just two weeks ago we were only a single game out, my expectations of success have gone from 100 to 0. But what absolutely hurt me the most, was Johnnie Jones walking Bill Barrett with the bases loaded, scoring Eli Panneton, who walked off in his own no-hitter. Panneton struck out five and scattered four walks in our 21st one-run loss of the game. With it being late, and the week rather glum, this one will be a rather short one, but it is still time to stay optimistic. We'll focus on the good, and this week that was players named Harry. Harry Parker won his start, allowing 4 hits and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts in 8 innings against the Saints. Harry Mead was our best hitter, 6-for-13 with 6 walks, 2 doubles, and 2 RBIs. And Harry MacRae continued his save streak, getting two outs in save five and two innings in save six. MacRae has allowed just one run in his 6.2 innings, scattering six walks and two hits while striking out two. To fully commit to the bit, I'm also going to pretend that Hal Sharp is really Harry Sharp, as he went 6-for-16 with a walk, a solo homer, and three runs scored. There wasn't much else, as even with two wins, Billy Riley didn't look good and while Pap kept the Stars in check, we couldn't score off Henry Shaffer (10-10, 3.69, 69). We have to be better, especially considering we've got three more with our leaders this weekend. Looking Ahead Wounds will be licked as we start the week with an off day. It'll also start a homestand, but at 28-26, I'm not sure it will help much. We beat the Saints both times in Montreal, so they'll probably beat us in the three in Chicago. We'll get Pat Weakley (9-12, 3.85, 106), Bert Cupid (12-5, 3.05, 95), and Wally Reif (6-3, 2.47, 51). All three are capable of beating us, especially if the offense stays asleep. Lucky for us, their offense hasn't been producing, and after a nice start to the season they've gone 15-22 since July 1st. Our next guest is those surging Stars, who could conceivably finish the week up double digits on us. Mack Sutton went 11-for-29 with 5 doubles, a triple, 3 homers, and 9 RBIs in his first week in the CA, as the Stars lineup just got exponentially tougher. Even with a "down" year from Bill Barrett (.236, 19, 72, 8), he had plenty of support around him, and the offensive explosion will continue the rest of the way. Plus, if we can't hit score off their five and go hitless against their two, how are we going to keep up? All we can do is hope, and with Pap, Donnie, and Billy Riley, sometimes hope is enough. Joe Brown is healthy again, and to give us our best guys against the Stars, he'll take Charlie Kelsey's spot on the roster and look to extend his 28.2 inning scoreless streak.

04-09-2023, 01:54 PM	#1063
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	Week 18: April 12th-April 18th Weekly Record: 5-1 Seasonal Record: 67-51 (2nd, 5.5 GB) Stars of the Week None Generated Schedule 8-13: Win vs Saints (1-4) 8-14: Win vs Saints (2-8) 8-15: Loss vs Saints (2-1): 10 innings 8-16: Win vs Stars (4-5) 8-17: Win vs Stars (4-5) 8-18: Win vs Stars (3-7) Recap Huh, a good week! We seem to be the only one who can stop the Stars, as even with the sweep and only a single loss on the week, we're still five and a half out of first. The craziest part was two one run wins, as while I knew we couldn't blow them out, the last thing I expected was one run victories. Sure, for old time's sake, the loss was of the one run variety, but there is very little to be upset about. The Hal Sharp revenge tour continued, with the slugger going 8-for-17 with a double, triple, homer, 5 runs, and 6 RBIs. This brought his season line to .336/.395/.478 (151 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 12 homers, and 54 RBIs. He's past Leo Mitchell, tied with Sam Brown (.336, 3, 41) for second in the batting race. Mitchell has a rough August, 3-for-22 this week to drop his monthly line to .219/.275/.344 (78 OPS+) on the season. This slump makes a Whitney more difficult, as Ed Reyes (.367, 8, 56) is running away with the batting title and Mitchell's .324./365/.504 (149 OPS+) line isn't as good as it once was. I still think he's the favorite, with 22 doubles, 19 homers, 67 RBIs and a 163 WRC+ through 115 games. If the Stars when the pennant, Bill Barrett (.234, 22, 80, 8) will have a serious case, but Reyes' breakout deserves recognition, as does Fred McCormick (.296, 14, 49) even if the Wolves haven't been great. We need Mitchell if we want to break our playoff drought, as it's not shocking some of our worst ball came when he was having his first real rough patch. Harry Mead has really started to heat up, going 7-for-19 with 3 doubles, 2 homers, 5 RBIs, 5 runs, and 3 walks. He's looking like even year Mead, now slashing .266/.343/.408 (116 OPS+) on the season. He's doubled his home run (8) total from last season while surpassing his WAR (3.0, 2.5) in 26 fewer games. Clark Car has done well too, 8-for-17 with a steal, 2 doubles, and 4 RBIs. He's hit a productive .306/.327/.510 (139 OPS+) this month, but it's nothing compared to the .391/.500/.696 (242 OPS+) Mead put up. Dick Walker had a bounce back week, 5-for-20 with a double, steal, RBI, two triples, 4 runs, and a pair of walks. Walker's next game will be his 100th, and he approaches his 40th birthday with a .263/.366/.479 (142 OPS+) triple slash. I would have expected this more from Barnett, but Walker has been tremendous, and with his speed and power he's got 17 doubles, 13 triples, 10 homers, 14 steals, 40 RBIs, and 54 walks. He's been big for us, and if we make the postseason his past experience could be crucial. Our vets will need to come through for us, and we can't afford any repeats of last week. As he does always, Peter the Heater put the team on his back, picking up two more complete game victories. He held the Saints to 7 hits, a run, and 5 walk with 7 strikeouts. His control deserted him a bit against a deeper Stars lineup, as they drew 7 walks, but he allowed just 3 hits and 3 runs with 5 strikeouts to improve to 16-7. He's the co-leader with Stars ace Vern Hubbard (16-8, 3.51, 68) for wins, while continuing to pace the pack in ERA (2.20) and strikeouts (151). Joe Brown had an impressive return to the big leagues, but was tagged with the only loss. He allowed just one run in the first nine innings, but a 10th inning double from Jake Hughes (.247, 33, 11) gave Montreal a 2-1 lead that Bud Robbins (7-5, 14, 2.88, 28) finished us off. I'm not sure how many more starts he'll good, but it's good to know he can do fine with long rests between starts. We can use him to make sure we get our best guys against the Stars, which could make the difference if they start to slip. Donnie Jones continued his stretch of rough starts, but he snapped his three game losing streak. He wasn't bad per say, a complete game win is always good, but it came with 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts. His 3.03 ERA (110 ERA+) is almost a full run higher then it was a month ago, and he's starting to fall out of the Allen race. Same goes for Billy Riley, who went just 6 with 10 hits, 4 runs (# earned), 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts. He didn't get a decision, that went to Ken Matson, who allowed two hits in a scoreless seventh. Harry MacRae came in for save seven, scattering two walk and a hit in two scoreless frames. The last start went to Harry Parker, who went 8 in our 8-2 win over the Saints. He allowed 7 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts to improve to 7-8 on the season. The last inning went to Rusty Watts, who needed just four pitchers to finish off the Saints. Our staff is the best, but if we can't score for them we'll be watching the postseason from our coaches yet again. Looking Ahead Off to start the week again, as we kick off a road trip that goes into September. After this ends, we'll have just two more road games, which could give us a huge advantage in the pennant race. Mark your calendars for September 23rd, 24th, and 25th, as we'll host the Stars in our second to last series. We don't play them again this month, instead starting with two in Philly. I mentioned how Ed Reyes is a legitimate Whitney Candidate, but they'll be without their Whitney Winner Marion Boismenu for the rest of the season. He tore his PCL the day after his 33rd birthday, and will not only miss the rest of the season, but potentially a good chunk of next season as well. He wasn't having a great season, hitting just .280/.331/.358 (91 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 5 triples, a homer, 9 steals, and 40 RBIs. They don't have an obvious replacement for him, and it creates a big hole in the lineup. They do have a new center fielder, as they inserted 15th Pick Billy Forbes directly into the starting lineup. The 21-year-old has struggled, hitting just .222/.283/.296 (61 OPS+) in his first 15 big league games. Currently ranked as the 9th best prospect in the game, he has the potential to be one of the best center fielders in the game, and will be a big upgrade over '45 one-and-done star Addie Aleman (.233, 1, 29). Interesting enough, the Sailors have three players that rank #1 at their position, and none of them are Ed Reyes. Les Cunha (.296, 8, 62) is doing exactly what I would have expected, but Harvey Brown (.317, 1, 42, 30) is on pace for nearly 7 WAR out in left. The last past Skipper Schneider, as Rap Lee's brother Rip (.297, 6, 43, 5) has a 134 WRC+ with a 4.6 WAR. It's going to be tough to keep them off the basepaths, so we'll have to get to the arms. We're stuck facing Charlie Gordon (11-8, 2.83, 72) in the opener and likely Win Lewis (11-7, 3.36, 62) in the finale. They're the top healthy arms, and either one could throw a shutout or strong complete game. It's going to be tough, but we're the better team, and I think we can hold them off. But they're 62-54 and the only other team within single digits of the Stars, and they're always tough to beat. Next stop is Cleveland for three with the Foresters. At 50-68, they only have a game and a half lead over the Kings, who have crawled their way out of the cellar. Richie Hughes (15-11, 3.07, 123) and Ducky Davis (11-8, 3.31, 60) have started to cool down, and they're now going to be without Leon Blackridge (.245, 3, 38) the rest of the way. They have plenty of options to replace them, but none that are all that frightening. Si Crocker (.213, 5, 13) might, as he had a three homer game earlier and has been inserted in the starting lineup. I'm not buying Paul Porter's (.294, 3, 45, 12) breakout yet, as they still need to supply Jim Adams Jr. (.272, 4, 57, 5) with something else. Of course, Porter or even Glenn White (.281, 25) can be that, but I don't see much star power on the offensive side. They have plenty of pitching they could try to move for an impact bat, as teams are always looking to add pitching. I'm really not looking forward to Sunday, where we have to deal with two in Toronto. They swept us last time out, and I can't take that again. At 53-64, they are significantly closer to last (5 GA+) then they are to first (19 GB). I still don't know what happened to Walt Pack (.216, 6, 45) as Charlie Artuso's (.248, 9, 59, 4) production cratered after a meteoric start. Juan Pomales (.267, 1, 27, 7) hasn't looked like himself, making Hank Giordano (.307, 5, 66, 16) the star of the outfield. The only thing that has gone well is Fred McCormick, who is slashing .296/.410/.516 (155 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 6 triples, 14 homers, and 49 RBIs. The 36-year-old's 170 WRC+ would be his best since the 210 he put up in his second Whitney. After keeping us in check, Joe Hancock (8-12, 3.73, 62) has had a rough couple of starts and George Garrison (10-11, 3.03, 76) has been a bit shaky himself. I don't think we'll get either, but I'm definitely worried that something will go wrong this week. Minor League Report 1B Lou Thomas (AAA Milwaukee Blues): I mentioned Thomas not too long ago because of a five hit game, but he's now arguably done something better; win a Century League Player of the Week. Our 9th Round Pick in 1944, Thomas went 10-for-25 with three walks, a homer, and six RBIs. This upped his season line to .310/.408/.419 (123 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 7 homers, and 59 RBIs with more walks (64) then strikeouts (47). If we weren't so cash crunched I might have given him a cup of coffee in September, but he's not yet Rule-5 eligible 40-man roster spots are precious. He'll get another go of things in Milwaukee next year, but unless Dick Walker or Ray Ford makes a surprise retirement playing time will be very tough to find for the 24-year-old. Cougars in the GWL RHP Ira Hawker (Dallas Centurions): Pretty much everything has gone wrong in Dallas, as the Centurions are 50-66 and tied with the Seattle Thunderbirds for last in the inaugural GWL season, coming over from the Lone Star Association, where they finished last for three consecutive seasons. Ira Hawker is doing everything he can to prevent that happening this year, as the 27-year-old completed his fifth shutout of the season. This got his record over .500, now 13-12 in his 25 starts. The former Cougar farmhand has cooled off since his hot start, with his ERA an adjusted league average 3.30. His next inning will be his 200th, so far striking out 75 while allowing 55 walks. He has the lowest ERA on the team and is the only member of the staff who has won more then eight games. Another Cougar prospect, Joe Foote (3-3, 4.18, 22) has entered the rotation, but he has a much lower FIP (3.21) due to his ability to keep the ball in the park. It may be a lost season in Dallas, but they have a few pieces to build around, and if they spend money wisely, they could revamp the roster.

04-11-2023, 12:48 AM	#1064
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	Week 19: August 19th-August 25th Weekly Record: 5-2 Seasonal Record: 72-53 (2nd, 4.5 GB) Stars of the Past Two Weeks Hal Sharp : 33 AB, 14 H, 1 HR, 9 RBI, .424 AVG, 1.063 OPS Dick Walker : 39 AB, 12 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .308 AVG, 1.039 OPS Ray Ford : 22 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.111 OPS Schedule 8-20: Loss at Sailors (3-6) 8-21: Loss at Sailors (3-8) 8-22: Win at Foresters (4-3): 16 innings 8-23: Win at Foresters (5-3) 8-24: Win at Foresters (5-3) 8-25: Win at Wolves (4-3) 8-25: Win at Wolves (4-3) Recap We had no success with the Sailors this week, but luckily, they only faced us in two of our seven games. The rest of the week came in Cleveland or Toronto, where we swept the Foresters and swept the double header against the Wolves. As happy as I am with a 5-2 win, as well as making up another game in the standings, there was plenty to be concerned about. Or maybe happy about? We won close games! Three of them were by a single run, the other two by two, as our expected record went below -6 for the first time in, like, three months? Now the Minutemen (-6) are the most underperforming team, but they're (72-54) 2.5 games behind the Eagles (75-52) and much closer to the playoffs then we are. With just a few games left in August, the Stars have already won 17 games, two more then we have. With five weeks left, we need to make up a game a week, and we're on the right track already. Our first base duo was tremendous, with both posting OPS+ above 250. Dick Walker went 7-for-19 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, 2 walks, 3 RBIs, and 4 runs scored. Ray Ford went 8-for-16 with a homer, 2 walks, 2 runs, and 3 RBIs. After a slow start, Ford has finally brought his season above average, hitting .283/.362/.341 (103 OPS+) in 200 trips to the plate. I expected him to play more this season, but with his struggles and Walker's success, playing time hasn't come as easily for Ford. Walker, on the other hand, is slashing a still elite .269/.370/.499 (148 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 15 triples, 11 homers, 14 steals, 43 RBIs, and 56 walks, worth 4 WAR in 104 games. Carlos Montes had to deal with a sore back, so Ray Struble got to make his first three starts of the season. He was one of the few non first basemen to hit much of anything, 4-for-12 with a run, RBI, 2 doubles, and 6 walks. Hank Barnett was just 5-for-21, but it came with an RBI, 3 runs, 3 RBIs, 6 walks, and his first steal of the season. Recently 37, Barnett's 96 WRC+ would be a career low, and I doubt he'll be able to bring that up to 115 to prevent one. With not much time left, we need all the help we can get, and a resurgence from a Whitney Winner and 7-Time All-Star is just what the doctor ordered. Wasn't a great week for Leo Mitchell, just 7-for-28, but he hit his 20th homer of the season. The last time we had a 20 home run hitter was John Lawson in 1941, and a 21st would put him tied for 9th most in a season with Lawson (1939) and Doc Love (1934), both teammates of Mitchell's. A batting title seems unlikely, but his 159 WRC+ trails only Fred McCormick, while Mitchell paces the Reticent Reaper in homers and RBIs. Right now I'd give him my Whitney vote, but that's more because of my love for him then overall output. It's a tossup now, and unless Mitchell heats back up, he may be on the outside looking in once again. Alright, can someone tell me what happened to Donnie Jones? The 26-year-old was hit hard yet again, allowing 12 hits, 8 runs, and 2 walks with just 1 strikeout in a six inning loss. Jones has been awful since the All-Star break, going from 11-4 with a 2.43 ERA to 15-9 with a barely above average 3.29 (102 ERA+). He's now thrown 205 innings in his 24 starts, with a still quality 1.08 WHIP and 114 strikeouts to 59 walks. If we got classic Donnie Jones the past two months, we might be in first place by a game or two, but I just have no idea why he stopped performing. We have to keep running him out, as he's one of the best pitchers in the game, but if we end up falling short, it's yet another thing we can point to as an excuse. Can't point to Pap, who tossed yet another complete game victory, allowing 10 hits, 3 runs, and a walk with 5 strikeouts to own possession of all three triple crown categories (17, 2.23, 156). Joe Brown has done well himself, allowing 11 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) with a strikeout in a complete game win. Same for Harry Parker, who went 8 with 9 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and 4 strikeouts. Billy Riley got the no decision in our 16 inning win, going 8.1 innings with 8 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Johnnie Jones made a pair of starts, losing to the Sailors and beating the Wolves. In Philly he really struggled, 6 innings with 8 hits, 6 runs, and 4 walks to go with just a single strikeout. He rebounded against the Wolves, earning a complete game victory with 9 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. We had to use the pen a lot with the extra inning game, with each reliever getting two or more runs. Harry MacRae's save streak was snapped, as he was the first to relieve Riley, but he did close out the 5-3 win over the Foresters. He threw 2.2 hitless innings with just one walk. Rusty Watts finally looked like a reliable fireballer in the pen, six innings in two appearances with 3 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. The last 4 innings went to Ken Matson, who allowed just one hit and struck out 2. We now rank 1st in every pitching category except pen ERA (2nd, 2.59), WAR (2nd, 18.8), walks (2nd, 379), and homers allowed (t-3rd, 60). If we're making the playoffs, it's on the back of the staff, which continues to be the best in the league. Looking Ahead One more in Toronto to start the week, and while I'm not opposed to winning 4-3 again, I'd prefer a, you know, more comfortable win. We've got a good chance of scoring more then four runs today, as we'll face Jimmy Gibbs (8-7, 3.40, 50), instead of a George Garrison (10-12, 3.02, 78), Joe Hancock (9-12, 3.62, 64), or even Cookie Myers (6-4, 2.59, 16). The determinant of us winning will be Fred McCormick, as if we can keep him in check, I like our chances. He's 0-for-8 so far in the series, dropping his season line to a still elite .288/.403/.507 (150 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 6 triples, 15 homers, and 52 RBIs with more walks (70) then strike outs (60). They've gotten good performances from Hal Wood (.324, 1, 36) and Hank Giordano (.306, 5, 67, 16), but the rest of the lineup needs to pick up the slack. Its another must win game, and I think we can stay hot and leave town with another sweep. We have plenty of off days this week, with one before the Cannons series and one after. It's just a two game series, with a struggling Cannons team dropping to 63-60 and 12.5 games outside of first. It's a huge drop for a dominant Cannons team, who's age has really showed. Lucky for us, Rufus Barrell (13-7, 2.56, 92) pitches the finale in Montreal, so things are looking good for a quick sweep. Despite his success against us, I like our chances against Bob Arman (12-5, 3.74, 82), and 1944 Allen Winner Butch Smith (8-14, 3.43, 71) doesn't pitch like an Allen winner anymore. They do score plenty of runs, even with a down year from Al Wheeler (.238, 13, 51), as they've gotten huge numbers from Sam Brown (.333, 4, 45), Denny Andrews (.280, 12, 61), Fred Galloway (.264, 5, 55), and Chuck Adams (.261, 23, 81). They've been without Adam Mullins (.269, 5, 33), who broke his hand and will miss the rest of the year, but backup Joe Green (.282, 1, 22) has a nice 120 WRC+. They've finished each of the previous two months below .500, and at 10-11, there's a chance it happens again. I'm not sure exactly what's going to happen here, but if form means anything in baseball, I really like our chances. Our weekend will be spent in Montreal with two against the Saints. They've also struggled a bit, dropping to 59-65 and 17 games out of first. Bill Greene (.242, 17, 59, 13) is two steals away from back-to-back 15/15 seasons, while looking to hit 5 WAR for the second time as well. Red Bond (.303, 13, 53) is the only other hitter with more then three homers, and those two sluggers account for 30 of the teams 47 home runs. Ernie McCoy (.321, 1, 13) returned from the IL two weeks ago, but he's already heading back, fracturing his shoulder blade and potentially endangering the rest of his season. Offense has been tough to come by, and this won't make things any easier. The pitching does have a lot of young talent, with Wally Reif (8-3, 2.26, 56) has been one of the best pitchers in the game, while Bert Cupid (12-7, 3.53, 102) has a FIP (2.65) nearly a full run lower then his ERA. Pat Weakly (10-14, 3.89, 114) and Wally Doyle (11-11, 3.59, 119) can set down batters like its nothing, but they put just about as many on base. If we can stay disciplined, we can pick up two more, and all the wins are needed with the Stars lurking around the corner. Two big events are coming up as well, as we reached the draft pick signing deadline, and are approaching roster expansion. I signed three more guys, with late round pitchers Joe Ament and Matt Stinson agreeing to deals, as well as shortstop Ike Cartwright. As expected, neither pitcher rank in the top 500, and while Ike doesn't yet, it could just be because he signed on the current day, so he wouldn't be included in the list until tomorrow. I wanted to sign 15th Rounder Lee Parker, but I may have sabotaged myself, as I thought I met his $450 demand, but instead sent $100 less. I tried to bring it back to $450, but with one day left, he may go to college. If he signs, we'll have just $99 of free space, and if he doesn't, eleven of our twenty-nine man draft class will not join the system. In tomorrow's report I'll give an update on the rankings of the draftees, as we currently have a 40 point lead over the next best system, the Detroit Dynamos (159). We're a point away from 200, one of more impressive showings of a system in recent memory.

04-11-2023, 09:08 PM	#1065
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	Week 20: August 26th-September 1st Weekly Record: 3-2 Seasonal Record: 75-55 (2nd, 3 GB) Stars of the Week Hal Sharp : 15 AB, 5 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .333 AVG, 1.012 OPS Hank Barnett : 18 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .333 AVG, .868 OPS Donnie Jones : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 3 BB, 8 K, 1.00 ERA Schedule 8-26: Win at Wolves (4-1) 8-28: Win at Cannons (5-3) 8-29: Win at Cannons (5-2) 8-31: Loss at Saints (1-4) 9-1: Loss at Saints (1-3) Recap After stretching our win streak to eight, we hit a small snare, dropping both of our games in Montreal. If we managed to win those, we'd enter the Big Apple down just a single game, but instead have a chance to cut the lead to one after the double header. After falling so far back just under a month ago, to be back to just three out of first is huge, as that's easy enough to make up with five games against the Stars, and 24 games in total. I'm not saying it will be easy, but compared to how things were looking out? A cake walk! As a team, we didn't do much hitting, but one man immune to that was Hal Sharp, as he continues his revenge tour. He went 5-for-15 with a double, homer, walk, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs. Hank Barnett showed some signs of life, going 6-for-18 with homer #11 and three runs scored. A few of the part-time guys did well too, with Jim Beard, Ray Ford, Fred Vargas, Don Lee, and Billy Hunter combining to go 4-for-11 with Beard and Hunter adding a double a piece. Dick Walker had just one hit, as did Carlos Montes and Clark Car, while Leo Mitchell just three. The fact we won any games this week with performances like that is a bit surprising, but when you have the best pitching in the game, sometimes you can survive subpar performance. When you know, it doesn't send you plummeting down the standings... Donnie Jones finally got back on track, and just in time too, allowing 6 hits, a run, and 3 walks with 8 strikeouts in a complete game victory. Pap was the only other starter to go nine, with 7 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and 5 strikeouts. With a month left in the season, Pap leads all three triple crown categories with 18 wins, a 2.26 ERA, and 161 strikeouts. Can he hold it? I'd bet on it! But it will be tough to hold on. He was named Pitcher of the Month again as well, going 5-1 with a 2.04 ERA (165 ERA+), 1.00 WHIP, 18 walks, and 35 strikeouts in 53 innings pitched. It's crazy to think that five players, including teammate Johnnie Jones, were taken before him, but getting Papenfus at six has been huge for us. The likely Allen Winner is just 16 strikeouts away from Allen himself for 7th most strikeouts as a Cougar. He should pass him by season end, and if we want to return to the postseason for the first time since Pap's first Allen, we need a few more big starts from him. Johnnie Jones and Harry Parker didn't go the distance, but that's what happens when you lose on the road. Jones allowed 8 hits, 4 runs, and 4 walks, with 3 strikeouts to drop to 9-12 despite his 2.59 ERA (130 ERA+). While unlucky in terms of record, he's vastly outperforming his FIP (3.44, 102), making him both lucky and unlucky at the same time. Harry Parker was unlucky not to win, as his 8 innings with 6 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and 2 strikeouts were very effective. He hasn't been his self all season long, and with the schedule running low, he might get some starts skipped. Billy Riley just went seven, which is shocking considering he only had 106 pitches. He's really cooled off, as the walks have come back, but his improved him to 14-6 on the season. Harry MacRae finished things off, two scoreless innings with just one hit to pick up his 9th save of the season. This coming week is going to be one of the most important of the year, as after Monday we could be either 1, 3, or 5 games out of first, with nearly all our remaining games coming at Cougars Park. I managed to snag Lee Parker on the final day of signing, giving us a 19 man class for the 1946 draft. That's our smallest since the 15 man class back in 1925, but don't let the size fool you. This is a really good group! Bob Allen (3rd), Frank Reece (37th), and Harry Beardsley (85th) all rank in the top 100, with Phil Boyes (153rd), Bob Stout (178th), Joe Austin (184th), and Zeke Johnson (196th) in the top 200. In total, 13 of our 19 players rank in the top 500, with Franklin Thomas (262nd), Ernie Frost (273rd), Tony Scuccinello (306th), John Price (321st), Charlie Harvey (396th), and Kid Moore (416th) all in the top 500. Here are where the guys we didn't sign will attend, and when they will be eligible again: LF Jake Hewitt (12th Round): Cumberland University, 1949 RHP Ken Rasmussen (13th Round): Strub College, 1949 CF Al Lucas (14th Round): St. Ignatius, 1949 SS Franke Moore (18th Round): Pittsburgh State, 1947 LF Tommy Burt (19th Round): Darnell State, 1949 RHP Pat Burnett (20th Round): Chesapeake State, 1949 CF Leo Anderson (21st Round): Baton Rouge State, 1949 1B Bill Bloom (23rd Round): Maryland State, 1949 3B Ron Cooper (24th Round): Oklahoma Bible College, 1949 CF Aanand Adani (25th Round): Fremont State, 1949 A fair amount of these guys are pretty solid, and should turn into human round picks, so I'm definitely going to juice up our draft budget a bit. We have 17 home games left, and we've already surpassed our revenue numbers from the past two seasons, so hopefully new owner Mack Dalmer will give us more money to work with. But someone who's demanding, controlling, and prioritizes profit? Good luck... Looking Ahead Big double header to start the week, as we'll head to the Big Apple and throw Peter the Heater (18-7, 2.26, 161) and Donnie Jones (16-9, 3.20, 122) in a huge pair of games with major pennant implications. Both are fully rested, while the Stars only have Jack Wood (13-7, 3.15, 85). This makes it likely that Vern Hubbard (17-9, 3.41, 74) will pitch on four instead of five days of rest. Who they throw doesn't really matter, all five guys are more or less the same, and success will be determined on if we can slow down the lineup. It will be tough, as not only do they boast two 25+ home run hitters with Bill Barrett (.240, 27, 92, 8) and deadline pickup Mack Sutton (.230, 26, 73). The rookie trio is missing Bob Riggins (.262, 8, 46, 10), but they replaced him another talented, albeit old, rookie Newt Cooper (.279, 1, 5, 2). He joins Jack Welch (.264, 13, 58) and Bill Barnett (.273, 16, 73), who should be in heavy consideration for Rookie of the Year. This team is as good as it gets, but we're playing well and they aren't, and I'm pretty confident we're going to come out on top. Or at least with a split. Off after that before our second to last road series of the season. We'll get three in Brooklyn with the last place team. They were the first team to be eliminated from the Continental Association, but they're just a game behind the Foresters for 7th. These are three must win games, and we lead the Kings in nearly every category out there. Doc Newell (7-11, 4.45, 53) and Rusty Petrick (4-8, 4.16, 39) have started to cool down, but Leo Hayden (16-9, 3.04, 100) has really heated up. The now 24-year-old took home Rookie of the Month, going a perfect 4-0 with a 1.83 ERA (190 ERA+) and 1.02 WHIP with 17 walks and 21 strikeouts. We'll have to deal with him, Newell, and probably Merritt Thomas (3-4, 1, 3.29, 13), the former Cougar. The lineup has a sparkly new face, with #4 prospect Ralph Johnson going 8-for-22 with a double and four runs in his first week as a King. With rosters expanding, there could be plenty more new faces in Brooklyn, who's current lineup is almost completely different from Opening Day while having just one player, eight hitter and Rule-5 Pick Phil Gratz (.225, 1, 35) with enough PAs to qualify for a batting title. Even if some things go wrong this series, I really like our chances to come away with a sweep, or at least two of three. Anything less would be a failure, and could come back to bite us if we finish the season looking up to all the Stars in the night sky. Our weekend will be spent back in Chicago, where we'll play 15 of our final 17 games. We host the Saints for two, and we'll need to get some revenge after they swept us in Montreal. Seemingly stuck below .500, the Saints are 63-68, and set for yet another second division start, finishing below 4th for what could be the 10th time in 11 seasons. It's not like they don't have good players, as Bill Greene (.239, 18, 61, 13) is as well-rounded as it gets, Bert Cupid (13-7, 3.46, 104) is one of the brightest young pitchers, and Gordie Perkins (.280, 1, 37) is a talented young shortstop who can produce both at the plate and in the field. Yes, they lack a clear star, but they have a pair of top 15 prospects and 8 in the top 100, and you have to think at some point Pat Weakly (10-14, 3.86, 114) and Wally Doyle (11-12, 3.76, 124) will figure things out. With Weakly, that might be later rather then sooner, as the Saints got terrible news regarding the 26-year-old righty. "Mr. Right" is dealing with shoulder inflammation, that will not only keep him out for the rest of the season, but also potentially the start of next season. It's a huge blow, as while the Saints do have plenty of young pitchers, Weakly is an established one who's a well respected team leader. He is not going to be easy to replace, but word out of Saints camp is 76th ranked prospect Gordie Irwin will get first crack at his rotation spot. After spending four seasons in the Navy, Irwin made 24 starts in AAA this year, and he's thoroughly impressed. The former 5th Rounder went 11-5 with a 3.03 ERA (130 ERA+) and 1.42 WHIP to go with 64 walks and 84 strikeouts. After our struggles in Montreal, I'm not overly confident here, but it seems like when our two teams meet, one takes all the games, and with the fans behind us and Pap and Donnie scheduled to start, a sweep is definitely in the cards. Minor League Report RHP Charlie Kelsey: Sorry Cougar fans, no Duke Bybee callup. We're bringing just one arm up for now, and with his experience in the pen, Charlie Kelsey is the perfect guy for the job. 25 in October, Kelsey faced two batters in his month in Chicago, and went 1-2 his four starts after. Kelsey has been really good in summation, 6-4 with a 2.94 ERA (135 ERA+) and 1.19 WHIP with 35 walks and 63 strikeouts in 119.1 innings pitched. An extreme groundballer, our infield defense is perfect for him, and the 141st ranked prospect will get an extended audition for a bullpen spot next season. He's still got another option left, which may work against him, but he's clearly a big league caliber pitcher. He has good raw stuff and outstanding command, which makes him the perfect guy to eat innings at the back of a rotation. Unfortunately for him, the back of our rotation has crazy upside, so if he stays a Cougar, the pen is a likely landing spot. His sinker is really good, and in an inning or two he can lean heavily on the pitch. I still like him as a starter, but with so many rotation spots locked down, he may be one of the many left out. 2B Jimmie James: After holding a bench spot for the past two seasons, the versatile Jimmie James has spent his season in Milwaukee, spending most of his time at second. His most recent games have come out in center, and the former 4th Rounder has actually held his own. He's played a bit out there in the past, but a .993 efficiency in 19 games is leaps and bounds better what I would have expected. He doesn't have a positional rating there, so perhaps it's just a fluke, but the 28-year-old has plenty of value if he can't cut it in center. He's capable at second, third, short, left, and right, and he hits from both sides of the plate. His .273/.343/.359 (89 OPS+) batting line isn't all that impressive, but he's a glove first guy who provided 10 doubles, 2 triples, 8 homers, and 53 RBIs in 118 games. In 107 FABL games, James has hit just .247/.294/.329 (80 OPS+), and with two options left, Milwaukee fans may get used to seeing the California kid in the lineup. He's a useful late game replacement, but I don't think he'll get too much time. SS George Sutterfield: In nearly every FABL organization, George Sutterfield would be the shortstop of the future. But in the Cougars organization, you're not getting past Skipper Schneider and his league high 34.9 zone rating. Sutterfield is actually close, posting 27.3 (1.173 eff) in 117 games at short, and he's comparable to the game's best like Skipper, Harry Barrell, and Jim Hensley. With Hank Barnett's struggles, third base could be open, and the 24-year-old Sutterfield will be given every opportunity to seize the hot corner from the former Whitney Winner. As crazy as it is, Sutterfield ranks #1 in terms of potential for our shortstops, and if you can top Skipper, who's frequently ranked in the top 5 or 10 position players, you're going to be really good. Sutterfield's .283/.340/.373 (92 OPS+) line doesn't really stick out, and at the hot corner you'd like to see more of a bat, especially with just 3 homers. He makes up for it with his speed, totaling 26 doubles, 5 triples, and 11 steals, and obviously the defense is off the charts. Even if he doesn't start, I don't envision him going back to Milwaukee, as his glove alone provides elite value even just in the late innings. Barnett will need more off days, and with a healthy season this year, I can guarantee you Billy Hunter misses a few months next year. It may be a stretch, but I think Sutterfield will be elite, as he'll hit for a high average, wreck havoc on the bases, and make plays you'll have to clean your glasses to make sure you saw it right. I'm very excited by his development, and the sky truly is the limit for the young infielder. CF Max Rucker: We have very few options for a backup outfielder in Milwaukee, so I decided I'd reward the former 7th Rounder, who spent 1942-1945 in the Army, which cost him a callup. Now 29, Rucker produced a 100 WRC+ and .295/.341/.380 (94 OPS+) line in 508 trips to the plate for the Blues. It was his first trip to AAA, with 42 games with Mobile back in 1941 his highest level of experience. Rucker isn't a great defender by any means, but he can hold his own in center, and offers plus performance in either corner. His bat is pretty solid too, as while there isn't much power, he should hit around .300 with relative consistency. He isn't the most exciting player, but he's a capable fourth outfielder who can help keep the legs fresh. We may bring up more guys as the season comes to a close, but for now we'll roll with 28 players and seven empty roster spots. 1B Billy Biggar (A Lincoln Legislators): With plenty of young guys pushed up higher then they may be ready for, there haven't been many accolades for Cougars farmhands. Billy Biggar took home a rare (although, not for him) Player of the Week, going 13-for-33 with 2 doubles and 5 RBIs. The 21-year-old has actually hit better in A ball then he did in Class B, hitting .308/.354/.428 (125 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 3 triples, 3 homers, and 27 RBIs with more walks (18) then strikeouts (12). Now 22, the Canadian first basemen has really showcased his hit tool, continuously putting the ball in play without sacrificing exit velocity. He's a strong and sturdy lefty who can really hit the ball hard, even if it doesn't end up with a lot of balls in the seats. He's starting to remind me more of Ray Ford, average power with a strong hit tool, and the discipline to walk more then he strikes out. Biggar could be a .330 hitter in the FABL, but he's still got ways to go before reaching that. I'd love to see him add some pop, something that may come later. Leo Mitchell isn't the norm by any means, but at 24 he hit just 6 homers, and now at 33 he's mashed 20. Without added power, or at least the ability to hit 10 or so homers, he's destined for the bench, but Biggar has made great strides since draft day, and his lack of versatility may work in our favor, as he wouldn't be an attractive Rule-5 guy. We can take our time with Biggar, and while I'm not necessarily betting on his big league success, I wouldn't be comfortable betting against it. Cougars in the GWL RHP Cy Sullivan (Oakland Grays): The inaugural GWL season has developed into a three-team race, with San Francisco and LA leading the Oakland Grays by a single game. Cy Sullivan is doing his best to capture the title for the Grays, throwing his third shutout of the season. It was a good one; a two-hitter with two walks and three strikeouts, improving the large righty to 14-8 on the season. His 2.65 ERA (128 ERA+) is best on the team, a few points higher then Johnny Cook, the 36-year-old journeyman who's career might be over. It was a big loss for the Grays, as Cook tore his rotator cuff, and is likely missing all of 1947 as well. The Grays will have to rely heavily on Cy, who boasts a 1.17 WHIP in 227.2 innings with 52 walks and 64 strikeouts. The Grays offense has been great, but beyond Sullivan, the rotation has let the team down. With guys like Clyde Zimmerman (.295, 11, 66, 8), Hank Grant (.289, 1, 30, 6), Frankie Cohen (.360, 2, 45), Joe Loyd (.318, 5, 81), and Larry Colaianni (.334, 5, 70), many thought Oakland would run away with the pennant, but instead the new circuit has an exciting final month that the new fans are sure to enjoy. RHP King Price (Los Angeles Knights): With the three-team race developing, it only makes sense to give each team a feature! Another Cougar pitcher who can get things done, King Price done excellent after spending three seasons in the Air Force. He's an unlucky 11-10 despite a sterling 2.94 ERA (111 ERA+) with a 1.30 WHIP, 65 walks, and 119 strikeouts. Price has got hit hard his last two starts, allowing 4 earned in each of them, while losing six of his last seven. This has been tough for the Knights, who need their ace to help lead the staff. They've allowed the fewest runs in the GWL, getting great production from another Cougar farmhand, Karl Wallace (15-7, 2.99, 84), as well as Chicagoan Bob Cummings (10-9, 3.04, 97). The offense is good, led by Cougar draftee Jim Hatfield (.354, 10, 51, 14), who has plenty of support from Bennie Griffith (.311, 2, 16, 3), Les Hendrix (.258, 11, 61, 6), and John Kennedy (.260, 3, 36). The Knights will look to return to their May form (19-8), as the past few months have saw them win about as often as they've lost. It'll be a tough fight the rest of the way, but if I had to pick a favorite, I'd give them the slight edge. CF Orlin Yates (San Francisco Hawks): Of the three teams in the race, the Hawks have the least amount of Cougars making contributions, but they have a potential 6 WAR player on hand in Orlin Yates. Known for his stellar center field defense, Yates has a 17.3 zone rating (1.043 efficiency) to go with a, get this, above average (!!) .262/.349/.352 (106 OPS+) batting line. I will say I expected more then 8 steals from the almost 35-year-old, but the 22 doubles, 4 triples, 3 homers, 48 RBIs, and 58 walks have been useful nonetheless. The star of the club, however, is John Herrick, who's mashed 21 homers and drove in 75 runs with a .247/.320/.406 (112 OPS+) batting line. Or if you're a batting average fan, Bob Land, who's hitting .400 with 205 hits, 36 doubles, 80 RBIs, and zero home runs. His 181 WRC+ and 7.1 WAR suggest that maybe he's the real star, but these three vets have been crucial for the Hawks pennant quest. The pitching isn't great, as Zeke King (17-7, 2.38, 113) is lucky to have Land and Yates track down his multitude of flyballs, but they do own one of the best hurlers in the league. That would be 32-year-old Jack Henderson, who is 13-5 with a 2.70 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.16 WHIP, 59 walks, and 141 strikeouts. In terms of run differential, the Hawks are the clear #3, but there's a reason you have to play out the games! It's anyone's guess who will come out on top, and I'm sure the magnates of the GWL are very happy with how the upstart or rebel league, depending on who you're conversing with, has kicked off. Attached Images

04-12-2023, 08:43 PM	#1066
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	Week 21: September 2nd-September 8th Weekly Record: 5-2 Seasonal Record: 80-57 (2nd, 3 GB) Stars of the Week Leo Mitchell : 31 AB, 14 H, 2 HR, 11 RBI, .452 AVG, 1.097 OPS Carlos Montes : 31 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .323 AVG, .817 OPS Skipper Schneider : 28 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .357 AVG, .893 OPS Schedule 9-2: Win at Stars (8-1) 9-2: Loss at Stars (2-8) 9-4: Win at Kings (11-1) 9-5: Loss at Kings (0-4) 9-6: Win at Kings (9-4) 9-7: Win vs Saints (3-11) 9-8: Win vs Saints (0-5) Recap 5-2 weeks are right, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't hit the same when the Stars also go 5-2, so we're stuck at two games out. We split the double header in New York, as Pap was dominant while Donnie, well, pitched like this new Donnie I don't like very much. Luckily, he made up for it (more on that later), but a double header sweep would have brought us within two. With the offensive explosion, we also returned to the dreaded -6 expected record, as well as clinching our tenth consecutive winning season. We won #78 on the 6th against the Kings, and are on pace for our most wins since the 97 we put up to win the pennant back in 1941. I think we can potentially get 93, but that would be an impressive 13-4 finish. Anything shy of that, and it will be tough to catch the Stars, but those three games in Chicago the final week of the season could be all we need to return to the postseason. After a brutal August where he hit just .217/.265/.330 (71 OPS+), Leo Mitchell has taken it upon himself to will us back to the postseason. Our star outfielder took home the first Player of the Week in September, going 14-for-31 with 2 homers, 7 runs, and 11 RBIs. That brought his season line back up to .323/.360/.497 (145 OPS+), ranking third in all three triple crown categories (22 HR, 80 RBI). Fellow lefties Dick Walker and Clark Car provided support, 13-for-34 with 2 doubles, a triple, 4 steals, 3 RBIs, 11 runs, and 4 walks. Hank Barnett has started to turn things around as well, this week 8-for-27 with a double, 3 walks, 6 runs, 2 homers, and 8 RBIs. This upped his WRC+ to 102, and he now has 13 homers and 55 RBIs in 550 trips to the plate. Skipper had himself a nice week, 10-for-28 with a steal, 2 doubles, a homer, 4 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. Carlos Montes was productive as well, 10-for-31 with 2 doubles, a homer, 8 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. Hal Sharp remains second in the batting race, going 6-for-18 with a double, walk, RBI, and two runs scored. We need the offense to step up like this if we want to play in October, and I know the lineup is capable of producing. We just need to muster up a little luck... Peter the Heater continues to solidify his campaign for his second Allen Award, picking up win #19 and 20, stretching his complete game win streak to six games. Pap allowed 4 hits in each start, with a run, walk, and 6 strikeouts in New York, and 3 runs, 2 walks, and 9 strikeouts in Chicago against the Saints. Pap continues to lead in wins (20), ERA (2.24), and strikeouts (176), and is an inning away from his second 250 inning season. I think he'll hit 200 strikeouts too, as we're going to give him plenty of starts the rest of the way. I want Donnie Jones to get a bunch too, but when you allow 9 hits, 8 runs (4 earned), and 3 walks against the Stars, and haven't looked like a co-ace, it's tough. He did strike out six, so that's a plus, but at least he dominated against the Saints. He threw our first shutout in over a month, tossing a 6-hit shutout with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts to improve to 17-10 in 27 starts. Donnie's second half hasn't been great, as he's alternated dominant starts with 8 run ones. We need Jones to pick things up, as when he's on, really only Pap can keep up with him. Brother Johnnie got tagged with another loss, dropping to 9-13 with 8 innings, 8 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts. His 2.62 ERA (129 ERA+) is still extremely impressive, but his 3.41 FIP (100 FIP-) is just average. He's the first Cougar to 100 walks, with 104 in 209.1 innings pitched. Billy Riley was an error away from a shutout of his own, but it really wasn't a great start. Luckily we gave him 11 runs of support, allowing him to work around 5 hits and 6 walks. Harry Parker had some struggles, but 9 runs was plenty for him. He left with two outs in the 6th, leaving with 8 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. His record is even at nine, with Charlie Kelsey finishing the game off. The recent callup got his first big league save, as he went 3.1 innings with 5 hits, a run, and strikeout. This may be Parker's last start of the season, as I'm going to ride the hot arm of Joe Brown. The fifth spot may be skipped a bit to give Pap more starts, but we'll definitely need a fifth starter on occasion, and I need to make sure Pap and Jones are on the mound for the 23rd and 24th against the Stars, which then sets them up to pitch the final two games of the season. Parker will be unofficially shut down, but if we need an arm late, he's an option. With MacRae's dominance as a stopper, it might not be needed, but in a long extra inning game, having someone like Parker able to give 5+ solid innings could be huge. Looking Ahead Off to start the week, before hosting the Foresters for two. At 58-79, they have recently been eliminated, and have a 2.5 game cushion over the Kings for last. The Foresters have brought up top 100 prospect Ivey Henley with rosters expanding, and the former 5th Rounder went 7-for-17 in his debut week. He's not the only new face on the roster, as Henley is joined by former Cougar draftees Joe Crosby and Adolph Jacobson, as well as former 2nd Overall Pick Wally Fuller, who was part of the four player package for Mel Carroll. Fuller hasn't lived up to the hype, and doesn't even rank in the top 500 prospects in the FABL, as the 25-year-old may never be the replacement to Carroll Cleveland once thought he could be. With little to play for, the Foresters may give chances to some of the new faces, but since we're stuck with Richie Hughes (17-12, 3.25, 139) in the opener, it may be tough to earn the sweep. After Hughes, it's either "The Undertaker" (5-15, 3.67, 74) or "Auggie Doggie" (7-11, 4.60, 57), leading to a much more favorable matchup. These are must win games, but we haven't been that great against Cleveland (11-9), who will look to play spoiler in the Windy City. Same goes for the Wolves, but they'll get three shots to dent our playoff hopes. I'm still a bit shocked they never turned things around, following a 9-18 July with a 11-17 August. They start the week with the Stars, and I'm hoping they skip #6 starter Jim Morrison (4-6, 1, 4.41, 41) to give George Garrison (10-14, 3.16, 83) and Joe Hancock (9-14, 3.86, 67) the ball in New York. That would leave us with the 3-4-5 of Bob Walls (11-11, 4.00, 25), Cougar Killer Cookie Myers (8-4, 2.76, 17), and Jimmy Gibbs (9-8, 3.48, 59). Zooming into Cookie, I think he's one of those guys that does good just to spite me, as there's really nothing about him that makes it look like he can start games at the highest level. The 127 ERA+ says otherwise, but it comes with just 17 strikeouts in 130.2 innings, with over twice as many walks (42). His 4.00 FIP (114 FIP-) agrees with me, but in two of his three starts against us this year, he's allowed just a single run. We cannot afford to let him best us yet again, but at least now the Wolves offense isn't doing much to help the staff. Walt Pack (.231, 8, 56) is hitting a little better, but Charlie Artuso's (.250, 9, 67) OPS+ is down to 88, with Juan Pomales' (.259, 2, 35, 7) just three points higher. Yes, they have Whitney Candidate Fred McCormick (.278, 16, 56, 5) and his 156 WRC+, and breakout outfielder Hank Giordano (.306, 5, 67, 17), but our staff will be tough to get runs off. We need to win these games, but last time the Wolves played us and the Stars, they swept us and then got swept by New York. Not this time, please? Thanks! We finish the week with the first of three against the Cannons, who I'll cover more tomorrow. They've really struggled as well, just 71-65 and 11.5 games out of first. Beyond Rufus Barrell, they haven't pitched very well. "Deuce" is 15-8 with a 2.47 ERA (140 ERA+), 1.10 WHIP, 53 walks, and 109 strikeouts in his 28 starts. The fireballer has an elite 2.72 FIP and 78 FIP-, and he's matched his 5.7 WAR from last year in a few less innings. The lineup is dangerous, as they have plenty of sluggers who can impact the game with just one swing. Chuck Adams (.262, 25, 89) has surpassed 20 longballs for the third season in a row, and Denny Andrews (.279, 15, 70) set a personal best for homers. Al Wheeler's (.235, 14, 54) average has dipped, but he'll walk and homer enough to make up for it. The Cannons will be in New York for the two games before our series, so I'm hoping they'll be all tired out after a sweep, and they snooze their way through a series in the Chi. Minor League Report 3B Otto Christian: With the Commodores out of a playoff run, I decided to get our first look at former 13th Overall Pick Otto Christian. The "Walla Walla Walloper" has appeared in 124 games for the Commodores, hitting .277/.339/.400 (106 OPS+) in 519 trips to the plate. He's mashed 19 doubles and 11 homers with 65 RBIs, while walking (44) one more time then he struck out (43). 24 on the 26th, Christian spent the past three seasons in the Air Force, and will now get a chance to make his big league debut. His power off the bench could be a game changer, as his raw power is off the charts. He's one of those guys that can hit the ball 450+ feet in batting practice, but Otto hasn't quite translated that into huge power numbers in the minors. He did lead the Commodores in homers, and was the only member of the team with more then five. The Dixie League as a whole suppresses power, as Otto is the only slugger with double digit longballs. It may be a few seasons before he's playing every day in Chicago, but I can see him hitting 20+ a year as long as he continues to swing at good pitches. He has a keen eye and makes decent contact. A .240 average may be the baseline, but I can see him getting it up to .270 in a better year. This cup of coffee will be his first audition for the hot corner, as Hank Barnett may have some competition in the Spring. Otto and George Sutterfield offer completely different profiles, and could co-exist despite both being righties. We could use Sutterfield with ground ballers on the mound and Otto when the fly ballers are out. They can pinch hit and defensive replace each other as well, depending on whether we are trailing or leading. I'm very excited for our first look at Christian, as while he has developed slowly, it's clear this kid's power potential is special. LF Bill Rich: I had to release Bill Rich to afford some of our draft picks, but I was luckily able to bring the Chicagoan back into the fold on a minor league deal. He'll now return to the majors after hitting .283/.347/.363 (92 OPS+) in 92 games with 15 doubles, 4 triples, 2 homers, and 38 RBIs. Rich made 23 appearances for us last season, hitting an impressive .312/.371/.391 (120 OPS+) with 2 doubles, a homer, and 8 RBIs. Rich's stay on the 40 might be temporary, but we have Ducky Cole returning from injury, and this helps make room for everyone in the farm. He's a useful bat off the bench who can pinch hit late in games, especially against lefties. RHP Harry Beardsley (B San Jose Cougars): Remember when I said I was really excited to get Harry Beardsley? This is why! Not your every day 10th Rounder, Beardsley currently ranks as the games 76th best prospect, and he's gotten off to a great start to his minor league career. He's made six starts, allowing zero runs in three of his last four. #4 was the best, a 3-hit, 1-walk shutout in a 5-0 Cougars win over the Vancouver Mounties. Beardsley struck out 3 and needed just 91 pitches to record all 27 outs. That improved the 21-year-old to 4-2 with a 2.68 ERA (149 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, 13 walks, and 18 strikeouts. Already listed as a current "Starter", Beardsley may be a quick riser, and I can see him starting next season up in Lincoln. A four pitch pitcher, he projects to have above average stuff, and since June he's seen his velocity rise from 84-86 to 86-88. As a youngster with a fastball and sinker, any added velocity is crucial. He commands his pitches well, as he took a huge step forward from his Sophomore to Junior year. That's carried over to pro ball, maintaining a serviceable 3.2 BB/9. I'd like to see it go a little lower, but if he can keep striking guys out at the rate he is, we can live with it. Pitching depth isn't a concern of ours, but you know what they say; you can't have too much pitching!

04-13-2023, 08:32 PM	#1067
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	Week 22: September 9th-September 15th Weekly Record: 5-1 Seasonal Record: 85-56 (2nd, 3 GB) Stars of the Week Leo Mitchell : 23 AB, 11 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI, .478 AVG, 1.197 OPS Billy Riley : 2 Wins, 17.0 IP, 3 BB, 6 K, 0.53 ERA Harry Mead : 23 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .348 AVG, .922 OPS Schedule 9-10: Win vs Foresters (0-4) 9-11: Win vs Foresters (3-4): 11 innings 9-12: Win vs Wolves (0-1) 9-13: Win vs Wolves (4-13) 9-14: Loss vs Wolves (4-1) 9-15: Win vs Cannons (1-4) Recap For the second week in a row we won five games. And for the second week in a row, the Stars did too. Still stuck at three games out, our lone loss was to the Wolves, who once again, let the Stars sweep them. Lucky for us, the Cannons won a 10 inning nailbiter on Saturday before dropping the opener in Chicago, so the Stars week was not perfect. With two weeks left int he season, we may need to play perfectly, but 9 of the 11 remaining contests come in Chicago, including the three major games against the Stars. I imagine things will go down to the wire, but there just might not be enough time in the season left. I'm trying to hold out hope, but the realist in me knows that our terrible May (12-19) may very well be the difference between competing for a title or watching from our couches back home. Peter the Heater did what he does best, put the Cougs on his back, and dominates opposing hitters. The run away Allen Winner, Pap needed to be his best in our 1-0 win over the Wolves, and on command, he was. The only blemish on his record was a Charlie Artuso double, as I'm not going to fault him for Clark Car's error. He struck out just three to stretch his complete game victory streak to seven. Now a CA best 21-7, Peter the Heater has not allowed more then three earned runs in a start since June 25th, where he allowed 5 in a 6-4 loss to the Foresters. He leads all pitchers in wins, strikeouts (179), WHIP (1.05), rWAR (9.3), quality starts (25), and opposing batting average (.197) while leading his association in ERA (2.16), ERA+ (156), WAR (6.4), complete games (24), K/9 (6.2), and win percentage (.750). He has three starts left this season, starting on the 17th against the Cannons, the 23rd against the Stars, and the Kings on the 28th. This gives him regular rest against the Cannons and Kings with an extra day against the Stars. I trust our rotation enough not to start him on short rest, and I'd much rather him (as well as Donnie and Riley) ready to go against the team in first. Billy Riley had himself a week, picking up two more wins to improve to 17-6 with a 2.40 ERA (141 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP. Riley threw his fourth shutout of the season, a 3-hitter against the Foresters where he walked one and struck out five. He then picked up an 8 inning win to finish the week, allowing just one run and two walks with a strikeout in our 4-1 win. Harry MacRae did what he does best, striking out two and allowing just one hit in a scoreless 9th. That was his 10th save of the season, and it came one appearance after his first career win. He won the double header, going 2 with with just one hit allowed. He relieved Joe Brown, who continues to heat up. Billy Hunter's error ruined the win for Brown, who should have got a complete game win with 6 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts and a single earned run. Instead, the Foresters got two, so Brown will remain 5-7 with an above average 3.21 ERA (105 ERA+). As with all extra inning games, Harry Mead was the hero, doubling of Richie Hughes (18-13, 3.22, 146) to start the 11th before eventually scoring the winning run. He also homered off Hughes in the 4th, finishing 3-4 with a walk, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, and a triple away from the cycle. Donnie Jones continues to alternate dominance with mediocrity, this time going just 7 with 11 hits, 4 runs, a walk, and 4 strikeouts. It was good enough to beat his old team, as Jones improved to 18-10 with a 3.18 ERA (106 ERA+) and 1.11 WHIP. Like Pap, Donnie has three starts left, getting the 18th against the Sailors, the 24th against the Stars, and the series finale on the 29th against the Kings. I still have complete faith in the talented righty, who has a few more shutouts left in him. His start was finished by Charlie Kelsey, who walked one and struck out two in two scoreless frames. Since we were up 13-4, no save for Kelsey, but it was another nice relief outing for the rookie. Johnnie Jones was tagged with the lone loss, going all nine with 8 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. This dropped "The Patron Saint of Groundballs" to 9-14 despite his 2.68 ERA (126 ERA+). He has just one start left, scheduled for the 21st against the Kings, and could be used out of the pen in the last week. The staff is the class of the association, leading all categories except pen ERA (2nd, 2.38), WAR (2nd, 22.5), and homers allowed (3rd, 68), which would set up a high octane battle of the arms if we face the Fed leading Minutemen in a rematch of the '41 series, which to this day, still gives me nightmares... Leo Mitchell continues his September surge, once again named Player of the Week in the Continental Association. Mitchell socked his 23rd and 24th homers of the season, and finished 11-for-23 with 3 runs and 8 RBIs. He's hit ten more homers then in his Whitney Worthy season in 1944, and with one more longball he'll increase his season high by ten, previously slugging 15 in 1940. Mitchell's produced a 163 WRC+ with 24 doubles and 88 RBIs, slashing a robust .329/.364/.507 (149 OPS+) in 140 of our 143 games. He's not a run away winner like Pap, but it's going to be very tough to find a more worthy candidate then Mitchell, who (perhaps biasedly) is my lock for the award. He ranks third in all three triple crown categories, and is the only player in either association to rank top three in homers, average, and RBIs. He leads the Conti in slugging, total bases (279), wOBA (.399), WRC+, and of course, strikeouts (92). I won't be too angry if he doesn't win, it seems like Cougars tend to get snubbed, but there are plenty of worthy choices so I can't be too angry. Or at least fan angry, not award snatching angry. He is my favorite hitter after all! Big week for the extra inning hero Harry Mead, who went 8-for-23 with a double, homer, 2 walks, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs. Mead has now hit 10 homers and produced a 112 WRC+ in 127 games for us this season, much better then the 4 and 93 from a season ago. Our second base duo did well, as Billy Hunter finally put together a few games. He got two starts this week, going 3-for-7 with a double, run, and two walks. Clark Car went 5-for-15 a double, walk, and two runs, steals, and RBIs. Skipper Schneider is making a late push to turn his WRC+ above 100, 7-for-22 with a double, walk, 2 steals, 4 runs, 4 RBIs, and a home run. After snapping his five season streak of four triples last year, Skipper has seven in 1946, and has hit .273/.318/.361 (95 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 4 homers, 8 steals, and 42 RBIs. Strikeouts have been a problem for Skipper, with a career high of 36, 14 more then last season, which was his first season with more then 15. With just 31 walks, it's not only his first season with less walks then strikeouts, but the first where he hasn't walked twice as often as he's struck out. We'll need everyone to contribute these final two weeks, as it seems like we never get all the bats going at once. Despite that, we're two runs away from 600, now 2nd behind only the Stars (686), who we have no shot of catching. It's going to be tough, but these guys all can hit, and we don't have to deal with a staff that is any where near the level of ours. Which might be why we've scored so many runs! Looking Ahead We're starting to run out of time, making it so we pretty much have to win every game that's left, as the Stars haven't lost a game since, well, May? They've gone 59-35 since June 1st, and have matched out 10-4 September. We start the second to last week with two more against the Cannons, with Bob Arman (12-7, 3.85, 90) and Les Bradshaw (13-13, 3.45, 107) the scheduled starters. The Cannons haven't made any callups yet, so it's a lot of the same group. They may make a move with Gail Gifford (.263, 4, 25) going down with a hamstring strain, but there lineup will not be affected. These games are big for us, and if we can keep Chuck Adams (.257, 25, 90) in the park and Denny Andrews (.283, 15, 71) and Fred Galloway (.264, 6, 61) off the bases, I really like our chances. It will be tough, but they have nothing to play for, and with so much pressure on us to keep winning, I think that will give us the edge as the boys are fighting for their lives, more then angry with all the close chances that have plagued the Cougars in recent years. Up next is two with the Sailors, who sit at 76-66 and 3.5 games above the Cannons for third. With not much to play for, the Sailors have opted to use a six man rotation, giving the extra starts to Art Hull (2-0, 2.81, 3), who we are likely to miss. They have one more with the Stars tomorrow, who beat them 3-2 yesterday, before coming to town. It seems likely that we will face swingman Rule-5 Pick Troy Crockett (6-2, 2.84, 34) and Frank Sartori (9-4, 2.58, 59), both of which are lefties, but things are uncertain as another lefty, Sick Wesolowski (9-2, 2.69, 53) is finally healthy. With a lefty leaning lineup, you may think we'd struggle against southpaws, but we're a bit better (24-16, .600) against them then righties (61-42, .592) due to some excellent platoon bats. Rather surprisingly, the Sailors have the second best staff in terms of runs allowed, with 521 compared to our 441, as I think of them more for their offense then pitching. They also rank right behind us in runs scored (596), and are underperforming their expected record by four games. The lineup is dangerous, with huge seasons from Harvey Brown (.315, 1, 51, 33), Rip Lee (.301, 6, 53, 5), Ed Reyes (.364, 8, 60), Cotton Dillon (.271, 7, 60), and Les Cunha (.296, 9, 78). Lee's 126 WRC+ is the lowest of the bunch, with the other four all above 130. Billy Forbes has started to heat up too, with three multi hit games in a 9-for-20 week. The recent first rounder has hit .269/.305/.417 (98 OPS+) in his first 39 games, adding 5 doubles, 3 triples, 3 steals, 4 homers, and 24 RBIs to go with a 113 WRC+. The Sailors aren't the most active team on the trade market, but if they decide to go out and get a star, they could or even just a few solid pieces, they could be in the thick of a pennant race a year from now. After the off day we'll play our final two road games, spending our weekend at Kings County Park. I am really hoping we avoid my old friend Leo Hayden, who is making a push for the inaugural Kellogg Award, which will be awarded to the best rookie in each association. Despite the Kings poor play this season, Hayden is 19-9 with a 2.88 ERA (121 ERA+) and 1.28 WHIP. The walks are always a concern for the still intimidating southpaw, with 105 in his 247 innings. He has struck out five more batters, but he'll either need to up his strikeout rate or cut the walks. To be fair, most 24-year-olds don't command their pitches well, and this is a kid who pretty much went from C ball to the majors with 5 AA starts after his fourth year in the Air Force. He shook off a slow start to the season, and has kicked it up a notch since the trade deadline. Hayden has won his eight August and September decisions, including a 6-hit shutout against us where he walked none and struck out three. He hasn't lost since July 23rd, and the four runs in a 5-4 win over the first place Stars was his only start with more then three earned runs. He allowed homers to Chubby Hall (.321, 5, 36), Mack Sutton (.228, 28, 60), and Bill Barrett (.251, 29, 97, 10), but he didn't allow a homer in the five starts prior or the three after. He's as good as it gets, and its crazy to think that if he was still a Cougar, he would have spent all season in Milwaukee. I could not be happier for the likeable ace, as he's blossomed into the pitcher I always knew he would when he was selected with Eddie Howard in the 2nd Round of the 1941 draft. Hayden is one of many players with Cougar connections, as trade mates Harry Stewart and Pinch Lenhart are on the Kings 40. Neither is on the active roster, same for Mike Thorpe, who I would have loved to see in Brooklyn. He hasn't pitched the best in AAA, going 4-5 with a save in 11 appearances for Jersey City. His 4.63 ERA (93 ERA+) is higher then it was in Milwaukee (3.93, 100), and he's walking (24) and striking out (11) hitters more frequently. Merritt Thomas (3-6, 1, 3.66, 13) could start one of the two in Brooklyn, but Rusty Petrick (4-10, 4.24, 49) was moved to the pen after a rough August (1-4, 6.06, 13) where he walked 29 hitters in 35.2 innings. The lineup is Cougar free, as Frank Reichardt (.200, 1, 2) has replaced Solly Skidmore (.255, 35) as the every day catcher. The 23-year-old isn't a very highly rated prospect, but Solly hasn't been great, and the Kings will want to try many players out now as they prep for an improved 1947. Their outfield is loaded, with potential star Ralph Johnson (.352, 6), who recently passed Bob Allen in the prospect rankings, and other talented rookies in John Beaver (.252, 2, 30), John Moss (.243, 4, 29), and the now injured Joe Rutherford (.233, 3, 28, 6). While not scary now, they could eventually posses the association's best outfield, and future series in Brooklyn will not prove as painless as this one should.

04-14-2023, 10:33 PM	#1068
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	Week 23: Septemebr 16th-September 22nd Weekly Record: 2-4 Seasonal Record: 87-60 (2nd, 5 GB) Stars of the Week Johnnie Jones : 1 Win, 7.0 IP, 7 BB, 6 K, 1.29 ERA Leo Mitchell : 27 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .259 AVG, .556 OPS Joe Brown : 1 Win, 19.0 IP, 4 BB, 4 K, 2.37 ERA Schedule 9-16: Win vs Cannons (0-1): 10 innings 9-17: Loss vs Cannons (8-3) 9-18: Loss vs Sailors (3-2) 9-19: Loss vs Sailors (6-4): 11 innings 9-21: Win at Kings (4-1) 9-22: Loss at Kings (5-6): 10 innings Recap The Cougars and disappointing their fanbase? Can you name a better combo!?!? Oh... Wait!!! The Cougars and losing close games!!!! There's really not a wrong answer, as the Cougars are quite practiced at both, but this week really hurt. Not because it made a pennant seem impossible, but because we regressed to the annoying team that loses games they should win. We dropped four of six, with two games ending in extras, two games decided by a single run, and thankfully a loss where we did pretty much everything wrong in a game where Peter the Heater looked more like Peter the Piper who Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers. Close games have been our Achilles heel, 5-7 in extra inning games, 23-24 in one-run games, and 10-12 in two-run games. But games decided by three runs or more? 54-26! For a full 154 games, that would be about 104 wins! Imagine that! Technically, we're not completely mathematically eliminated from the postseason, but it would take a few miracles, and then some, for us to return to the postseason. Not only would we have to sweep the Stars, but we would then have to sweep the Kings while the Saints simultaneously sweep the Stars. And even that's not enough! We'd still then have to beat the Stars again in a tiebreaker match, and I don't see the team that won 71 of their last 107 games (.664) is going to lose six games in a row. But nonetheless, we'll still act like we can do it, with the last five games going to Pap, Donnie, Riley, Pap, and Donnie. Perhaps instead of those three, I should go to Joe Brown, who threw a 4-hit, 10-inning shutout to start the week. His second start wasn't as great, allowing 9 hits, 5 runs, and 3 walks in 9 innings, this time not continuing when the game went to extras. Brown was awful to start the season, and had a 5.68 ERA on June 29th. From the 30th on, Brown made nine starts, going 4-2 with a 1.39 ERA (!!) and 0.85 WHIP. I knew he'd turn things around, and if he didn't miss nearly four weeks with injury, perhaps we would have been a little closer to first. He's done for the year, so the captain of the staff will finish 6-7 with a 3.09 ERA (1.09 ERA+) and 1.07 WHIP with 25 walks and 46 strikeouts. 33 next March, Brown is penciled into the starting rotation, and could end up slotting anywhere between 3rd and 6th. Another guy fitting that classification is Johnnie Jones, who managed to win his 26th and final start. Jones went just 7, as 7 walks ran up his pitch count. He was able to work around it, as he allowed just three hits and a single run while striking out six. In his first season since 1943, Johnnie did have some walk issues, charged with 114 free passes in 225.1 innings pitched. His K/9 dropped from 4.4 to 3.5, and he actually struck out less batters this year (88) then he did in 196.2 innings (97) as a rookie. If we can get him to either cut down the walks or return to his previous strikeout numbers, he could be another ace to add to the collection. He has the ability to go deep into games, wiggle out of trouble, and keep the ball on the ground, all useful for back to middle rotation guys, but with so many high upside youngsters and a few years away from 30, he could get pushed out with out making any additional improvements. Billy Riley still has a start left, but it may be his last as a Cougar. It's about time Duke Bybee gets a shot to impress, and Riley is the most appealing candidate. I don't think you could blackmail me into trading Papenfus or the Jones Brothers, and I doubt there is anyone that values Harry Parker even a quarter as much as I do. Joe Brown's a captain, and well versed as a stopper if we need to push someone out to make room for innings. Riley, on the other hand, doesn't have as deep of an attachment to Chicago as the rest. He's the only pitcher to start a game for us this year who did not debut in a Cougar uniform, and he's the only one who hasn't spent seven or more years in our organization. Add in his breakout season and inclusion in the top 20 pitchers list, and the market for him should be competitive in the offseason. While not quite as good as his Allen-Worthy 1942 season, Riley has been dominant, 17-6 with a 2.46 ERA (137 ERA+) and 1.11 WHIP. He's struck out 87 and walked 63 in 226.2 innings, giving him eight consecutive seasons with 200 or more innings pitched. He leads the CA in win percentage (.739) and opponent BABIP (.237), ranks second for ERA, ERA+ (137) and shutouts (4), third for WHIP, and seventh for wins. In a perfect world, we move him for an top 20 bat, potentially at third base, but he could also help bolster and already impressive farm system. We don't have many holes, but the more assets I can acquire, the more I can overpay for a difference maker. Luckily, this offseason will feel like a breeze with no military behind the scenes stuff, and with a huge improvement on our win total from last season, we're going to have a really good shot for an early pick. That's not going to make another season without the playoffs any easier, but the new lottery system makes it so you can take something away from a competitive season. I touched on it earlier, but Peter the Heater had his first bad start since June 25th. The Cannons put up 9 hits, 6 runs, and 7 walks with 6 strikeouts in just 7 innings. He hasn't pitched less then 8 since the 25th, and the only start that wasn't 9 was during Henry Shaffer's 5-hit shutout in New York. Papenfus has two starts left, and will need 15 strikeouts to reach 200, which might be a bit too much. Especially with one of them against the Stars. His ERA jumped to 2.31 (146 ERA+), but he still leads in all three triple crown categories. Donnie Jones will enter the final week 18-11, so if he wins both his starts, we would have two 20-win starters. The 11 hits in his complete game loss were annoying, but he walked just two and struck out eight. Despite the high ERA (3.17, 106), his FIP (2.93, 86) is nearly identical to his elite rookie year (2.92, 88). Next season should be huge for Jones, and if we have him and Pap pitching at an Allen level, we really should be popping champagne come October. While the pitching wasn't dominant, all of the blame for this week goes to the offense. The only two batters that did any sort of hitting happen to play the same position, so it didn't really help us all that much. That position would be first base, as Ray Ford was 3-for-8 with 6 walks and 3 runs scored while Dick Walker went 2-for-10 with a double, triple, 4 runs, 4 walks, and 2 steals. When that's all you get, it's hard to win games, so I shouldn't be too surprised with the results. Hal Sharp has gone ice cold, putting up a 1-for-11 performance with 2 runs and 2 walks, dropping his season line to .323/.381/.451 (139 OPS+). September has been awful, as he followed up a stellar August (.394/.442/.577, 208 WRC+) with a .188/.259/.208 line. At times, Sharp was a difference maker, but it's too bad that he couldn't come up when it mattered most. He's still in line for a majority of the at bats next season, but Don Lee (.239, 2, 19, 7) has looked really good in right (3.5, 1.047), and he's shown that he can hit big league pitching. They'll start in a platoon, but if Sharp starts out slow and Lee comes out hot, it won't be hard to choose between a popular leader and a selfish narcissist. But when those selfish narcissists hit 44% better then the average nice guy, you can play nice for nine innings a day. Looking Ahead Man... Do I really want to look ahead? All I see is us getting eliminated at home... Just five games left in the season, three with the Stars and two with the Kings. New York is on their way to a pennant, and they've now matched our run differential (+152), but since they score runs and we prevent them, our expected record (93-56) is two games better then theirs (91-58). Obviously, that matters very little, as Pythagoras himself doesn't bestow the team with the best expected record a shiny trophy! A shiny trophy may be awarded to Bill Barrett, who is hitting .253/.407/.497 (154 OPS+) and willed his team to a title. William the Conqueror launched 29 homers with 97 RBIs, while drawing 128 walks, stealing 10 bases, tripling four times, and recording 22 doubles in a 6 WAR season. He's as good as it gets, leading the Stars to pennants in each of his last two seasons. And with all the youngsters in the lineup, I imagine this won't be his last trip. The pitching isn't great, which could hurt them in the postseason, as Eli Panneton (18-8, 3.05, 127) is really the only arm that would crack our rotation. Vern Hubbard (18-11, 3.63, 85) has been unlucky, as his 85 FIP- is way better then his 95 ERA+. Beyond that, plenty of question marks, but with an offense as potent as there's, it may not matter who's on the mound. If there was an anti-Cougars, it would ironically be the team with plenty of the, as the Kings are great in one-run games (23-17) and have a won 10 (!!) more games then their run differential would suggest. They are a game and a half above the Foresters, and could avoid the cellar with a good showing in the final week. They've won one more game then last season, and will want to win more, as they could join us with two lottery balls. Add in the first rounders they've acquired, they could have plenty of shots to add Les Ledbetter if they receive the first or second pick. Young Leo Hayden (19-10, 2.87, 122) is a win away from a 20-win rookie season, while Doc Newell (7-14, 5.04, 55) has a chance for his 200th career win. Harry Stewart (2-5, 4.73, 22) has rejoined the rotation, so we might get to see our former 5th Rounder again, but other then Hayden I'm happy with whoever we face in those last two games. These games might be meaningless, but we'll still give them our two best, as we look to close the season on a high note. Last edited by ayaghmour2; 04-17-2023 at 01:47 PM.

04-15-2023, 05:45 PM	#1069
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	Minor League Report AAA Milwaukee Blues (Century League): 87-53, 1st, 8 GA: Just like last season, the Milwaukee Blues won the Century League by eight games, but this time they did it with one less win. That's now four consecutive seasons where the Blues have topped the circuit, and the tenth time since 1930. It's no surprise the Blues did so well, as even with trades and promotions, there were plenty of big league quality players on the roster, many of which probably would have dominated the GWL. Leading the staff was Duke Bybee, who had a historical season for the Blues. Bybee was 14-6 with a 2.05 ERA (190 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP with 100 strikeouts and 40 walks in 175.1 innings pitched. Bybee put up the best ERA in a single season for the Blues in this century, and fourth best overall. Looking at the league as a whole, Bybee checks in at 18th and third since 1901, as in 1928 both Doug Mott (1.82) and David Stokes (1.92) cracked the 2.00 mark. Even though Tom Weinstock still thinks Brown, Riley, Parker, and Johnnie Jones are all better then Bybee, Bybee will be inserted into the 1947 rotation one way or another. The current #7 prospect is more then ready for the big leagues, and adding another Captain to the clubhouse can only be a benefit. The sky is the limit for Bybee, who could be one of the best pitchers in the league. He can hit 97 with his fastball and cutter, and he locates all six of his pitches well. I don't think he'll ever be better then Pap or Donnie, but there are very few pitchers (Bob Allen, I'm looking at you) who could say that. Bybee wasn't the only highly touted youngster on the staff, as even with the trades of Joe Swank (9-2, 1.70, 44) and Mike Thorpe (5-5, 3.93, 11), there was plenty of big league quality talent. Charlie Kelsey (6-4, 2.94, 63) looked great in his first full season as a starting pitcher, and he even produced a 118 WRC+ with 4 doubles and a triple in 58 trips to the plate. George Oddo (11-7, 3.70, 93) was effective as well, with an above average 106 ERA+ and 90 FIP- to go with a 5.5 K/9 and nearly 2.0 K/BB. Oddo doesn't have a spot, so I'd love to move the 23-year-old for an offensive upgrade, but it wouldn't be the worst case if he returns to Mobile next season. Jimmy Ballard (3-2, 3.67, 25) looked good before he tore his rotator cuff, again, and Bill Ballantine (2-2, 2.25, 17) had a Bybee-esque 174 ERA+ in his 9 starts. It's no surprise the Blues allowed the fewest runs in the league, but they were anything but one-dimensional. The lineup was deep, and finished second in runs to the third place Minneapolis Lumberjacks. Eddie Howard had a big season in his return to the system, slashing .325/.380/.428 (119 OPS+) with 37 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, and 58 RBIs with 43 walks and just 23 strikeouts. He did alright on the mound too, throwing 30.1 innings while finishing 4-0 with a pair of saves. His 3.86 ERA (101 ERA+) and 1.45 WHIP were decent enough, with 14 walks and 20 strikeouts after just 10.2 innings in C and B ball. Homer Guthrie was very effective in Chicago, batting .289/.392/.361 (118 OPS+) in 98 trips to the plate, but Howard has a legit chance to snatch the starting job. He won't turn 24 until June 1st, so I'm not sure I want him to be in a part time role, but if Mead doesn't have a great spring and Howard has a big offseason, he could make two or three starts a week in Chicago. This kid is really good, currently ranked 38th in the prospect list, and he looks like a potential top five catcher despite not much power. Another potential star, George Sutterfield (.283, 4, 66, 11) likely finished his last season in Milwaukee, providing competent at bats to go with elite defense. Those two were the main headliners, as at times we had a variety of "veterans" like Max Rucker (.295, 4, 63), Dan Collins (.247, 1, 14), Jimmie James (.273, 8, 53), Danny Richardson (.237, 7, 44), Bill Rich (.283, 2, 38), and Reginald Westfall (.317, 5, 37) getting consistent time. A lot of our more talented prospects are young, so there wasn't much of a need to move them up to far. That's not to say there weren't any youngsters in the lineup, as Lou Thomas had a really good season for the Blues. The 24-year-old first basemen hit .289/.388/.392 (112 OPS+) with 9 homers and 70 RBIs. This positions him to potentially overtake Dick Walker, if he decided to show his age next season. 22-year-old Don Jeppsen (.296, 1, 11) spent his September with the Blues, and either him or Johnny Peters could join the Blues lineup next season. Five titles in a row would be tough, but the Blues should be among the top contenders next season, with a variety of minor league journeymen, FABL washouts, and talented, big league ready youngsters. AA Mobile Commodores (Dixie League): 67-73, 5th, 21 GB: Generally one of our top affiliates, the Mobile Commodores had a rough end of the season, going 19-32 in the final two months of the season. That dropped the Commodores to six games under .500, the first time since 1929 where they failed to finish above .500. Part of this was all the youngsters that were pushed up. They didn't pitch or hit much, but there were a few standout performers. "The Windy City Whip" was just as good in AA as he was in AAA, going 6-6 with a 2.47 ERA (140 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, 37 walks, and 51 strikeouts in 113 innings pitched. Ed Fisler (12-6, 2.90, 60) was effective as well, but the rest of the staff had ERA+ below 99. Part of that was guys not taking the jump from A to AA well, partially because some of the guys, like Bill Holloway (4-8, 3.49, 39), Babe Stinson (2-4, 4.93, 16), or Bob Petty (3-9, 5.76, 48), were definitely not ready to be called up. The lineup had two of our best prospects, Otto Christian and Johnny Peters, but neither really set the world on fire. Otto's 11 homers were easily best in the league, but his .277/.339/.400 (106 OPS+) batting line wasn't all that great. Same for Peters' .268/.361/.387 (109 OPS+), but I shouldn't be mad at two guys in their early 20s producing a 116 WRC+. Don Jeppsen (.280, 3, 55, 8), Lee Teide (.273, 4, 41), and Norm Anderson (.275, 2, 52) all had rough goes, and while Jeppsen may still have claim to a starting spot, Teide and Anderson may have hit their way out of the lineup. Dick Pace (.282, 11, 7) and Bob Schmelz (.307, 21) each looked good post-promotion, and should be a nice upgrade for the Commodores next season. As our younger guys gain more experience, it should help Mobile return to .500 next season, but some of the top performers are going to be playing in AAA. The rotation will have some question marks, but considering the oldest member is just 24, there is a chance for some nice offseason talent bumps. A Lincoln Legislators (Heartland League): 76-64, t-3rd, 9 GB: After there first losing season since 1942, the Legislators made a huge improvement, going from 50-82 to 76-64. While still not the consistent 80+ win team they were from 1938 to 1944, this was actually a lot better then I expected. The Legislators were 4th in both runs scored and allowed, so its pretty fitting we finished tied for third. Dick Garcia (8-7, 3.07, 58) was the only ERA qualifier on the staff, and was one of thirteen pitchers to start for the Legislators, ranging from the traded Howie Sharp (6-3, 2.66, 59) to Howard Miller Jr. (2-2, 4.34, 10), with the latter pitching for each of our bottom three affiliates. Top 100 prospect Ron Berry (0-1, 2.13, 13) impressed in his four starts, and should rejoin the club next season with former 1st Rounder Tommy Seymour (5-4, 3.28, 25). The lineup lost Bob Schmelz (.293, 1, 48, 5) and his 130 WRC+, leaving Billy Biggar (.298, 3, 40) and Jimmy Hairston (.294, 3, 27) a little unprotected. Those two were midseason callups, and are likely penciled into the lineup again next year. Lincoln always has plenty of movement, so a lot could change. Any number of guys like Pat Brown Jr. (.239, 8, 55), Everett Fuller (.242, 4, 40, 11), Bob Stout (.310, 1, 4, 1), Tom Brownleaf (.206, 21, 2, and Al Clement (.212, 10, 4) could get another go at it, giving them plenty of mid-tier prospects to develop. B San Jose Cougars (California-Oregon-Washington League): 50-72, 6th, 32 GB: I am not the least bit surprised that the baby Cougars struggled this season, as I've never had so many red arrow guys on the roster. And any that weren't had a chance to be rushed up to Lincoln to cover for releases, trades, and/or injuries. There were a few bright spots, namely 10th Rounder Harry Beardsley, who dominated the C-O-W League. The 21-year-old righty went 4-3 with a 2.51 ERA (158 ERA+) and 1.26 WHIP in his first 7 starts. He walked 15 and struck out 24 in 43 innings, and while he may end up in Lincoln next season, I'm leaning towards starting him in San Jose. Like with Lincoln, he was one of 13 pitchers to make a start, but was the only one with an ERA below 3. Ron Berry (5-4, 4.47, 49) was much worse here then Lincoln, and last year's 7th Rounder Steve Davis (3-8, 472, 49) was hit hard. The 20-year-old stayed with no red arrow, while more effective arms Jack Maxwell (5-4, 3.36, 39) and Tommy Seymour (3-3, 3.20, 35) were pushed up to A ball. The lineup had plenty of guys pushed up with any sort of performance, with Tom Brownleaf (.287, 3, 38, 8), Al Clement (.268, 1, 46, 17), Billy Biggar (.296, 1, 29), and Jimmy Hairston (.244, 4, 21) all finishing in Lincoln. Bob Rogers (.289, 4, 46) was one of the few to spend all season in San Jose, but his 100 WRC+ was nothing to write home about. A lot of guys better suited for C ball spent time in San Jose as we rotated our lineups, with Pat Todd one of the few to exceed expectations. Currently ranked 85th on the prospect list, last year's 3rd Rounder hit .337/.398/.446 (132 OPS+) in 93 trips to the plate. He produced an impressive 142 WRC+ with 6 doubles, a homer, 7 RBIs, and 2 steals. Carl Clark (.284, 4, 16, 2) showcased impressive power in 34 games, and his 111 WRC+ was higher then the 94 he posted in 40 games down in La Crosse. Those two, along with Buddy Brumbaugh (.271, 24), Clyde Parker (.278, 1, 13, 3), Bill Martin (.233, 3, 22), Bill Cook (.288, 1, 13), and Harry Austin (.275, 2, 9) could be here or in La Crosse, as there are plenty of options to fill out the bottom of the system. I think we'll look better next season, as our high school heavy classes have left the bottom a little weaker in exchange for added upside. 17 players made 75 or more at bats for the Cougars, and I expect a similar number next season as we gauge which guys are ready to advance, and which need more time to reach their peak. C La Crosse Lions (Upper Mississippi Valley Association): 40-37, t-4th, 4 GB: I fully expected the Lions to finish at the bottom of the UMVA, but low and behold, they survived all the roster churning, and finished three games above .500. Not only that, they were tied for 4th and just four games behind the co-winners in Ottumwa and Burlington. The only pitching qualifier was Bert Rogers, but the former 1st Rounder and current #60 prospect had plenty of issues. Rogers was 3-2, but that was in 13 starts, as his 6.19 ERA (69 ERA+) and 1.54 WHIP made it hard to win games. To be fair, luck was not on his side, as he struck out 82 hitters in 68.1 innings, while walking just 28. HIs 3.53 FIP (82 FIP-) was nearly half of his ERA, as for some reason hitters just really got to him when they put the ball in play. La Crosse was also home to the debut season of Bob Alen, who made 10 starts after signing his absurd, yet well worth, $27,000 signing bonus. Allen went 4-1 with a respectable 4.20 ERA (102 ERA+) and 1.38 WHIP. He struck out 53 with 19 walks in his first 49.1 innings, and the 18-year-old will be right back in La Crosse next season. While those two were the most highly touted pitchers, both Jim Williams (2-1, 2.09, 36) and Al Robison (5-3, 2.96, 55) were really effective. Robison was so good that we moved him up to A ball, and while those starts weren't great, he could start there next season. Williams also earned a promotion to San Jose, where he made two starts before finishing his season in La Crosse, as the C-O-W league scheduled ended much earlier. We churned through a lot of pitchers, with potential starters Wally Eversole (0-4, 1, 2.85, 59), Ray Warren (1-7, 2, 3.71, 40), Kid Moore (6-4, 1, 4.42, 50), and Lonnie Sis (3-1, 1, 1.59, 30) all split time between the rotation and pen, while Dutch Yoak (4-1, 3.30, 30) and Bill Sweet (4-0, 1.35, 39) both split time between the La Crosse and San Jose rotations. I'd like to tap into our low minors pitching depth a bit, as we didn't have enough starts to go around, as guys like Billy Stoddard (2-7, 6, 5.31, 47) and Lee Parker (0-1, 4.50, 2) could start for other teams, but are stuck in strictly pen roles. The lineup saw plenty of new faces, but one of the consistent ones was 2nd Rounder Frank Reece. He's set for San Jose next season after hitting .276/.356/.480 (117 OPS+) at 18. The 40th ranked prospect produced a 129 WRC+ in 51 games, and slugged 10 longballs with 10 doubles, 24 RBIs, and 14 steals. He did strike out (47) over four times as much as he did in his three years of high school, but I expect that to straighten out, and his defense and power production more then made up for it. Cal Rice (.329, 9, 46) had a big season as well, and could join Reece up in San Jose next season. Rupert Heinbaugh (.276, 4, 30, 15), Pat Todd (.305, 5, 25), John Price (.298, 3, 13), Zeke Johnson (.288, 2, 11) Harry Austin (.299, 1, 13), and Clyde Parker (.278, 3, 19) were all very effective, and could be done with C ball, but some of our other youngsters had some troubles. Carl Clark (.247, 4, 16, 5) was better in San Jose, Jim Mako (.233, 3, 21, 12) played good defense all around, but didn't hit much, and Phil Boyes (.262, 2, 16, 8) underperformed at the plate. Those three may be back in La Crosse with guys like Roxy Hilts (.301, 9, 3), Alex O'Dailey (.190, 3, 13), Ernie Frost (.267, 2, 12), and Charlie Harvey (.157, 1, 8, 2) all need some extra seasoning. There's plenty of talent, but if we don't get everyone enough at bats, it may be tough to get the most out of these guys. 13 of our top 30 prospects spent some time in La Crosse, with many other exciting youngsters getting some opportunities. Last edited by ayaghmour2; 07-08-2023 at 05:36 PM.

04-17-2023, 08:58 PM	#1070
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	Week 23: September 23rd-Septmeber 29th Weekly Record: 5-0 Seasonal Record: 92-60 (t-1st, 9 GA) Stars of the Week Harry Parker : 3 Wins, 5.0 IP, 1 BB, 5 K, 0.00 ERA Hal Sharp : 17 AB, 8 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI, .471 AVG, 1.647 OPS Leo Mitchell : 21 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .524 AVG, 1.065 OPS Schedule 9-23: Win vs Stars (6-7): 12 innings 9-24: Win vs Stars (3-4): 10 innings 9-25: Win vs Stars (8-12) 9-28: Win vs Kings (3-4): 13 innings 9-29: Win vs Kings (1-7) Recap Wow. Just Wow. I am at a complete and utter loss of words... And for once, regarding this frustrating beyond all ends team, its for a good reason! I'm still not quite sure what happened, how it happened, or why it happened, but we won not one, not two, but three extra inning, one-run games, where Harry Parker was the pitcher of record. Yeah! Crazy right! Parker, who was supposed to be the six man in my rotation (thankfully part of my export didn't take?), made his first three relief appearances since 1938, and managed to finish the season 12-9, as we forced a one-game playoff as the Saints did us a huge solid and swept the Stars. This sets up a Billy Riley (17-6, 2.71, 87) vs Jack Wood (17-7, 3.09, 102) showdown after Riley nearly cost us our season. The former Star did his best to throw his start, allowing 5 hits, 7 runs, and 4 walks in 2.1 innings in what could have been his last start as a Cougar. But after those seven early runs, we put up 5 in the 4th and 2 in the 5th, 6th, and 7th, before each team scored a single run in the 8th. Riley has been very good for us, and with Pap and Donnie tired after keeping us alive, neither can pitch. It will be all hands on deck, with Johnnie Jones and Joe Brown heading to the pen, as we look to save our season with our six consecutive win. I truly can't believe we have a chance to make the playoffs, and after spending about ten to twenty minutes last night trying to manifest a 5-0 week before I went to sleep, it seems like all the hard work paid off! More of the credit should go to Leo Mitchell, who finished his superb September with another amazing week. The Whitney Finalist went 11-for-21 with 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. He made 110 trips to the plate in September, slashing .415/.418/.547 (176 OPS+) with 4 homers and 21 RBIs. He appeared in 151 of our 154 games, hitting an outstanding .333/.366/.498 (147 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 24 homers, and 90 RBIs. His 161 WRC+ was best in all of baseball, and one of numerous categories he either led or ranked in the top three for in our association. He got plenty of help from Hal Sharp, who went 8-for-17 with a double, triple, 3 homers, 6 runs, and 6 RBIs. Part-timers Don Lee, Fred Vargas, and Ray Ford went 9-for-24, with each doubling. Lee tripled as well, and the trio scored six times and drove in four. Hank Barnett went 5-for-15 with 2 runs, 3 RBIs, and 4 walks, but his WRC+ rose to just 99. With a strong performance in the finale, it could bring it back over 100, but it will be his lowest since his first full season in 1932. The offense was stellar this final week, refusing to go down when the pitching imploded, and helping fuel us to a 17-8 September. Peter the Heater didn't get any decisions, but the talented fireballer secured his triple crown with 21 wins, a 2.39 ERA (142 ERA+), and 199 strikeouts. The likely Alen Winner went nine in both his starts, but with both games ending in extras they weren't complete games. He allowed 18 hits, 7 runs, and 7 walks with 14 strikeouts. Donnie Jones looked like himself again, with two brilliant starts. His first was a no decision, 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts in nine innings. The second was a commanding win to force the playoff game, striking out 11 Kings in our 7-1 victory. He went just 8 as he threw 140 pitches due to 5 hits, 6 walks, and a run scored. He came a win away from 20, working to a 3.07 ERA (110 ERA+) and 1.13 WHIP with 161 strikeouts. That passed Richie Hughes, as Donnie struck out more CA-batters then anyone who wasn't Pete Papenfus. Harry Parker was stellar in getting us to the play-in, 5 innings with 2 hits, an unearned run, a walk, and 5 strikeouts. This gives me great belief that he can function in a stopper role if needed. We'll need one more good game to make the season worth it, but we won 10 more games then last season, and our -6 expected record dropped to -5. Yay! Looking Ahead I'll be honest, I didn't expect to have this column today! But we have something to look ahead to! We'll get one more with the Stars, and as mentioned, it will be Billy Riley versus Jack Wood. Pretty much everything that could go wrong, did go wrong for them this week, as they dropped three one-run games. It will be tough to keep down an offense that boasts Bill Barrett (.246, 29, 97, 10), Mack Sutton (.235, 31, 89), Jack Welch (.275, 19, 74), Bill Barnett (.257, 17, 82), and Joe Rainbow (.281, 10, 66). I'm not sure what to think about this one, but I'm excited for this high-powered matchup. Awaiting the winner of game 145 will be the Washington Eagles, who haven't won the Fed since 1925, and haven't won a title since 1923. The Eagles have a strong offense, led by sluggers Sig Stofer (.234, 34, 96) and Jesse Alvarado (.257, 26, 88, 32), as well as batting title winner Mel Carrol (.355, 7, 58). The Eagles made a bold deadline move, acquiring Rats McGonigle (.257, 22, 67, 12) from the Kings in a move that arguably won them the pennant. "The Ringer from Stringer" exploded in Washington, slashing .280/.388/.584 (173 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 6 triples, 16 homers, and 44 RBIs in 59 games in the Nation's capital. His production was huge, and the Eagles lineup had plenty of supporting pieces with George Dawson (.288, 4, 43, 27), Henry Bush (.266, 5, 56, 20), and Bob Coon (.250, 12, 60). The rotation isn't great, and was dealt a big blow in August when 39-year-old Lou Ellertson (13-6, 2.65, 75) with a partially torn UCL. In his absence, the top three of Jack Elder (15-13, 2.75, 87), Jim Birdwell (16-10, 3.07, 98), and Buckeye Smith (14-8, 3.15, 90) held there own. I think they'll have their hands full with whatever lineup they'll have to face, and plenty of longballs will be flying when they attempt to navigate two powerful lineups.

04-18-2023, 11:41 PM	#1072
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	Game 145/End of Season Review So close! Yet, so far... Our crazy turbulent success and failure filled season is over, as secret agent Billy Riley once again struggled against the Stars, blowing our 3-1 first inning lead with 6 hits, 5 runs, a walk, and 2 strikeouts in just 2.2 innings pitched. For some reason, Clyde Meyer decided it was a job for Rusty Watts, giving him 4 innings with 4 hits, 2 runs, a walk, and a strikeout. Harry Parker got the final out of the 7th, before Harry MacRae allowed 2 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with a strikeout in 2 innings. In the end, we lost 9-5, despite just one fewer hit. Leo Mitchell didn't homer like Bill Barrett, but his 2-for-5 is better then a 1-for-4 with a walk. Right? Carlos Montes had a big game, 2-for-3 with 2 runs, 2 RBIs, 2 walks, a double, and a homer. Ray Ford, who ended up spraining his ankle, was 2-for-5 with a double, run, and RBI. Don Lee was 1-for-3 with a run, double, and two walks. So, how do I feel about this? Well, considering I gave up on the season at least three times, forcing a playoff and winning 92 games is pretty impressive. We have a major chip on our shoulder for next season, and with the lottery system, we get three shots at the first pick. It's a minor consolation, but considering that we won 10 more games then last season, brought our expected record differential from -6 to -5, and finished the season 54-29! Yes, it sucks to come up short. Again... But, we have a loaded roster, a farm system with over 200 points, and a bunch of talented AAA guys ready to contribute next season. There will be some roster movement as we look to get better, but its hard, and perhaps selfish, to complain about ten consecutive winning seasons and the second best record in the FABL. Some questions marks going into next season are the corners of the infield, as we have a bunch of veterans that could fill out the positions, with a few youngsters mixed in, and potentially plenty of options on the trade market. First base was a strength for us, as both Dick Walker and Ray Ford hit really well, but they're both getting up their in age. Walker may not look like someone who just turned 40, as he had his best season since joining the Cougars. Walker slashed .262/.381/.467 (143 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 17 triples, 11 homers, 21 steals, 52 RBIs, and 82 walks in 130 games. Truly remarkable all-around numbers, he posted a 147 WRC+ and 4.8 WAR. While definitely hard to maintain, it's clear Walker still has plenty of talent, and he still hasn't lost a step. We've seen Dave Trowbridge, who granted, profiles as a much different player, play deep into his 40s, and Walker's herniated disc last season was his first injury as a baseball player. Ford, 35, got into 91 games, but he spent about half of those coming off the bench. He overcome a slow start, finishing with a .292/.381/.361 (114 OPS+) line. Ford's power took a steep drop, going from 10 homers in 1942 to just 2 this season, but his plate discipline is superb and he still puts the ball in play a ton. I don't see us adding another first basemen, but we have plenty of internal options, including third basemen Hank Barnett, 24-year-old Lou Thomas, and former 1st Rounder Otto Christian. Christian is an interesting option because he can cover first and third, and the now 24-year-old has game changing power potential. He hit 11 homers in a league where no one else came past 8, and he did it without playing the final month of the season. Christian got a cup of coffee, 0-for-2 with a run scored, but will have a shot in camp to earn the starting job. At third base he's competing with 7-Time All Star Hank Barnett, who had the first below average offensive season of his career. It came down to the wire, as his 99 WRC+ fell just short, as the 37-year-old hit .236/.313/.357 (92 OPS+), a steep drop off from his .295/.370/.438 (132 OPS+) line two years ago. It was the first time since 1933 (.247) he hit below .250, first time since 1933 (.333) he had an OBP below .350, or slugging below .400 (.386), and '33 was his second season as an every day player. He did hit 14 home runs and drove in 61 with a bit above average defense (5.2, 1.010), so it might be a bit too early to give up on the former star. The issue is we need to make some sort of upgrade, as the Stars are only going to get better, and I have to believe the Wolves and Cannons will return to form, and the Sailors are maybe a piece away from being extremely scary. There are a few third basemen I have my eyes on, but there are plenty of internal options besides Otto. The most interesting one might be George Sutterfield, a talented shortstop who's just a year younger then 7-year big leaguer Skipper Schneider. Sutterfield is comparable defensively to Skipper, and had an elite 28.4 zone rating and 1.180 efficiency down in Milwaukee. He even had a Skipper-like .283/.340/.373 (93 OPS+) triple slash with 26 doubles, 5 triples, 3 homers, 11 steals, and 66 RBIs. While not quite the line you want from someone at the hot corner, but with his glove, it's going to be next to impossible to get the ball through the left side of our infield. Tom Weinstock loves Sutterfield, thinking he could be better then Skipper, praising his defense and swing. 25 in March, Sutterfield will make the roster regardless, unlike Otto who will only get it if he's playing regularly, and he could easily hit his way into a role. The last option would be Billy Hunter, who quite fittingly decided that instead of spending time on the IL, he would just not hit. Coming into this season, Hunter had posted four consecutive seasons with a WRC+ above 120, but he hit just .224/.286/.315 (73 OPS+) in 262 trips to the plate. He hasn't played much third base in the big leagues, just 16 games with half back in 1942, but he's got a great arm and has played quality defense most of his career. The 31-year-old has plenty of talent and an amazing bat, but it's tough to rely on him. This was his first below average offensive season, but also the first one he didn't miss any time since 1939, which happens to be his previous worst season. Beyond that, there's not too many areas for improvement. The outfield was superb, as Hal Sharp produced a 151 WRC+ and didn't absolutely kill us in right (-12.4, .959) while Carlos Montes and Leo Mitchell put up 4 WAR seasons. As expected, Mitchell took homer Batter of the Month for September, hitting .414/.417/.541 with 4 homers and 21 RBIs. Was it enough for a Whitney? Not sure, especially with the loss. But he should again finish top two, and I think he'll get more love this season. The thing that may hurt or work in his favor is some people like using old stats to select awards. While that means no 160 WRC+ and .396 wOBA, both bests in baseball, that means a .247 average may not be Whitney worthy. The 33-year-old continues to be one of the best hitters in baseball, and having someone like him in the middle of the lineup makes like for a manager much easier. It was also nice to see Montes healthy, as he hit .239/.319/.363 (96 OPS+) in a career high 148 games and 626 plate appearances. He provided a 103 WRC+ and 14.2 zone rating (.1.035 eff) with 28 doubles, 5 triples, 10 homers, 19 steals, and 61 RBIs. There's also Don Lee and his 113 WRC+ in 199 PAs, and I expect him to see more time in center and right next year. With Hunter's struggles, he took on the right side of the Hal Sharp platoon, and he looked very comfortable in right. After a healthy season, I'm sure Montes will get hurt next year, giving Lee time to man center again. Waiting in the farm is 32nd ranked prospect Johnny Peters, who hit .268/.361/.387 (109 OPS+) in AA this season, and will turn 23 in January. He's set for Milwaukee next season, played improved defense (5.1, 1.011), and could be ready for a taste of the big leagues next year. Catcher looks good too, as Harry Mead hit .258/.346/.386 (110 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 10 homers, and 64 RBIs, while continuing to be one of the best catcher's in the game. He threw out nearly 60% of runners who tried to steal, and earned a plus (0.7) frame rating while continuing to manage the staff well. Add in a .289/.398/.361 (119 OPS+) line for backup Homer Guthrie and Eddie Howard waiting in AAA, and it's hard to find a team with better catching depth. The pitching was a strength all season, and with Duke Bybee joining a group with six pitchers that started 15 or more games with an ERA+ above 100, and it's quite clear that no new starters need to be added. In fact, one will likely be subtracted, as double agent Billy Riley should be dealt by Opening Day. Not sure for what or when, but a deal will come to fruition. Pap was the best pitcher, and perhaps best player, in either association this season, while Donnie Jones was a win away from 20. If we can avoid the stretch where he decides to suck next season, we'll have easily the best 1-2 in the game, with Joe Brown, Donnie Jones, and Duke Bybee filling out an elite rotation. Harry Parker will get some starts, but with Harry MacRae's late season struggles (5 ER, 9 H, 5 BB in 4 G), Parker seems like the favorite for the stopper role. I may start with a six man rotation again, but it will depend on Bybee's spring and the amount of double headers. Like this season, the most important thing will be getting Pap and Donnie as many starts as possible, while also pairing them with the best teams on the schedule. Having Parker (or Bybee or Brown) to enter the rotation for a week is a huge plus, and there's always the inevitable injury bug that you can't prep for. While I'm not pleased with the final outcome, it's hard not to be happy about such a successful season. We won a lot of games, even if we dropped some we shouldn't have, and the future looks very bright. The system is loaded, the big league roster is stacked, and we could be picking top three for the second time in three seasons. I can't wait for the draft, as there are some very exciting prospects, and with no military callups or returns, it should move quicker then usual. Sure, a title would have been nice, but the Stars had a lot of things go well for them and plenty of talent to help them keep pace with us. This was another fun and exciting season of Figment baseball, and just being able to watch guys like Peter the Heater play fake baseball again is a joy. Let's just get him the ring he deserves! Cougars fans have suffered enough! Attached Images

04-20-2023, 08:56 PM	#1074
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	A Look Back at the 1926 Draft: Part 2 Surprisingly, the Washington Eagles are now just a game away from their first championship of the human era, as they picked up a pair of close wins over the Stars. With game five in Washington, they have a chance to win on their home turf. The Stars offense has hit their homers, but that's about it, batting under .200 as a team. My Stars in six prediction is already wrong, as they've stayed cold after snapping their six game losing streak in the tiebreaker. I don't think the offseason will start until Monday regardless, but tomorrow I'll have the No-Trade team before the eventual yearly top prospect list. 11th Round, 163rd Overall: 2B Phil Whitehead School: Bayou State Cougars Career (B): .265/.354/.535, 304 G, 987 PA, 26 2B, 68 HR, 196 RBI, 126 WRC+, 7.2 WAR A very useless AI pick, Phil Whitehead appeared in just 41 games at Bayou State, and didn't start a single one of them. He did start a few games in our system, and had a nice two year run down in San Jose from '29 to '30 where he hit 25 home runs in each season. He had plenty of power, but didn't put the ball in play all that often. He then moved to the Pueblo Mountaineers by way of the Independent Draft, which brought John Banks into our system. He spent just one season in Pueblo, but helped them bring home a title, slashing an astronomical .254/.373/.643 (161 OPS+) with 36 homers and 71 RBIs in 353 trips to the plate. Despite that production, he was cut after 18 games the next season, and bounced between six independent organizations before catching on with the Kings in 1934. He hit .248/.310/.511 (96 OPS+) in 72 AAA games to finish the season, but from that point on, most of his action came in A or B ball. He hung around until 1940, where he decided to call it quits after 80 PAs, all but one in AA Knoxville. 12th Round, 179th Overall: CF Bob Worley School: New Orleans HS Cavaliers 1934 (MON): .287/.355/.426, 132 G, 534 PA, 13 2B, 3B, 17 HR, 71 RBI, 11 SB, 116 WRC+, 4.1 WAR Career (MON): .242/.308/.345, 490 G, 1,848 PA, 35 2B, 9 3B, 39 HR, 210 RBI, 32 SB, 83 WRC+, 7.4 WAR Career (FABL): .237/.305/.342, 677 G, 2,407 PA, 49 2B, 11 3B, 52 HR, 272 RBI, 32 SB, 80 WRC+, 8.0 WAR While most of the AI picks were pretty mundane, Bob Worley is anything but. While not a world beater by any means, Worley had plenty of pop and appeared in 120 or more games in four FABL seasons. He only started one of his thirteen games as a Cougar, traded in the offseason after he was drafted with Phil English and Bert Huston for Bob McCarty and Pat Schuring. He debuted three seasons later for the Stars in 1930, going 4-for-19 with a run, triple, and RBI. He entered the 1931 season as the 93rd ranked prospect, and was moved at the deadline to the Saints with Earl Whitten and Ed Smith for "Hard Luck Chuck", the 250 game winner Charlie Stedman. Worley established himself in the big leagues the following season, but his rookie season didn't go quite well. The 23-year-old hit a very poor .222/.272/.289 (52 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, 13 steals, and 43 RBIs. The next season wasn't much better, but Worley seemingly broke out at 25 in 1934. He set many personal bests, slashing .287/.355/.426 (113 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 17 homers, 11 steals, and 71 RBIs. He produced a 116 WRC+ and was worth 4.1 WAR, but that wasn't enough for the Saints brass. He got off to a slow start in 1935, and appeared in just 49 games due to his 61 WRC+ and significant drop in homers and steals. He had another rough season off the bench the following season, and was cut before the 1937 season. He caught on with the Fort Worth Cattleman of the Lone Star Association, and got off to a blazing start, slashing an absurd .426/.472/.954 (255 OPS+) with 32 homers and 87 RBIs... In just 48 (!!) games! That earned him a trade to the Sacramento Governors of the Great Western League, where he continued his power surge. It's a much tougher league, even before the emergence as a pseudo-major league, but he still hit .284/.358/.565 (157 OPS+) in 347 trips to the plate. He added 11 steals, 25 homers, and 61 RBIs, and earned himself a return to the FABL. The Dynamos snagged him in the Independent Draft, but quickly moved him to the Chiefs for Paul Grell and a draft pick. Worley struggled with the Chiefs, batting just .188/.269/.266 (46 OPS+) with 4 homers and 29 RBIs in 79 appearances out in center. Looking to upgrade that position, the Chiefs dealt him to the Kings in a huge blockbuster that send Bill May and Gene Jones to the Windy City for Worley, Chuck Adams (yes, the Cannons one), Jim Alarie, George Scruggs, and Sergio Vergara. Worley had a mini-resurgence with Brooklyn, slashing .283/.355/.467 (129 OPS+) with 8 homers and 25 RBIs to finish off the year. That was really it for Worley, who didn't play much in either of the next two seasons, and he was cut around Opening Day in 1941. He didn't appear in a game that season, but we brought him back that September to add depth to the system. He never appeared in a game for us, as the Chiefs brought him back in the Rule-5 Draft. Competing for a starting job for the 1942 season, he ruptured his MCL in the Spring and missed the entire season. He was back in camp, still with Rule-5 designation, the next season, but since he didn't crack the Opening Day roster, Worley was returned to us for the 1943 season. He got a fair amount of time on the Blues, hitting .250/.327/.320 (86 OPS+) in 307 trips to the plate for the championship winning Blues. He got some time next season as well, but he tallied just 173 PAs before being cut in July. With no deal coming to him, Worley called it quits that offseason, ending a very interesting career. He had plenty of talent, just never quite put it together, and will always be remembered for his absurd 1937 season where he tore up the minors. Most players taken after the 10th Round never turn into anything, but Worley was an exception, even if he really only had one good year. 13th Round, 195th Overall: RHP Dick Cothern School: Dallas HS Rangers Career (A): 1-0, 2 SV, 15 G, 26.1 IP, 5.47 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 8 BB, 26 K, 84 ERA+, -0.7 WAR Just like Bobby Allen, I'm not sure why I waived Dick Cothern before he debuted in our system. Luckily, he didn't turn out to be anything, and pitched just one season in the Sailors system. It did not go well, as the 19-year-old allowed 31 runs, 48 hits, and 24 walks with 51 strikeouts in 48.1 innings split between Class A and B. He was cut the following April, and then retired at the end of the month, capping off a very quick pro career. 14th Round, 211th Overall: 3B Pete Roach School: Georgia Baptist Gators Career (A): .259/.328/.451, 280 G, 884 PA, 38 2B, 5 3B, 34 HR, 156 RBI, 108 WRC+, 3.3 WAR A teammate of 1st Rounder Fred Barrell, Roach made just 10 appearances in San Jose before being cut during the 1928 season. He quickly caught on with the Foresters, and filled their system, mainly in A ball, through 1932. He had a quick stop in Pueblo before returning to Cleveland, but was again cut prior to the 1934 season. He bounced around between the independent teams, before officially retiring in 1935. He had some power, but he wasn't useful with the glove, and didn't put the ball in play much. 15th Round, 227th Overall: RHP Jerry Lombard School: Holyoke HS Oaks Career (B): 0-0, 2 G, 2 IP, 13.50 ERA, 4.00 WHIP, 4 BB, 2 K, 33 ERA+, -0.1 WAR It was a very quick pro career for Jerry Lombard, who's career stretched two games and two innings. Those two innings were rough, with 4 hits, 4 walks, and 3 runs. We cut him midway through the 1927 season, and while he bounced around between San Diego, New Orleans, and Sacramento, he never got an opportunity with either. After being cut a ninth time in two seasons, he decided to call it quits. 16th Round, 243rd Overall: LF Bill White School: St Patrick's Shamrocks Career (AA): .263/.332/.603, 172 G, 588 PA, 15 2B, 7 3B, 49 HR, 139 RBI, 136 WRC+, 4.7 WAR Another guy with plenty of pop, Bill White spent a lot of his early career on the bench, but he got a shot with San Jose in 1929. He hit an impressive .303/.341/.601 (133 OPS+) with 15 homers and 37 RBIs in 221 trips to the plate. While on the surface, that looks pretty solid, he was 25 and not a very highly rated prospect. He stuck around the following season, but was cut before the start of the 1931 season. He caught on with the San Antonio Gunslingers, where he put together two pretty solid seasons in the Lone Star Association. He put up a 173 OPS+ and 159 WRC+ in 50 games the first season, before a 31-homer breakout in 1932. White hit .272/.325/.665 (160 OPS+) with 58 runs and 78 RBIs in 284 trips to the plate, as the Gunslingers won a title in both of his seasons. Despite that, he was cut in the middle of the following season, as the Gunslingers got off to a slow start and would not be able to win their fifth title in their fifth year of existence. That was good news for the Denver Plainsmen, as while he didn't hit that great (94 OPS+ and WRC+), he won a third consecutive title. They cut him in the offseason, in an ill-fated move, as the Plainsmen have yet to win a title since. He bounced around in 1934, but didn't appear in a game, and retired following the conclusion of the minor league season. Maybe we should bring him back as we continue to not win titles... 17th Round, 259th Overall: RHP Bill Hartfield School: Sadler Bluecoats Career (A):5-3, 6 SV, 57 G, 3 GS, 121.1 IP, 4.82 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 34 BB, 94 K, 127 ERA+, -1.1 WAR Despite an underwhelming minor league career, Bill Hartfield spent six seasons in our system, topping out at AAA where he threw 2 innings for the Blues at 22 in 1928. He wasn't an arm to write home about, but what allowed him to hand on was his ability to strike batters out, while also keeping walks down. This was best shown in his first season out of the organization, as he split time between the independent Galveston Gunners and Austin Violets. Hartfield struck out 58 hitters in 42.1 innings, while walking just 10 hitters. You'd think that would correspond with run prevention, but his 5.10 ERA (85 ERA+) and 5.01 FIP (115 FIP-) left a lot to be desired. He pitched four innings for the Fort Worth Cattleman in 1933, but retired following the conclusion of the season. 18th Round, 275th Overall: C Bobby Wilder School: College of San Diego Friars Career (B): .256/.380/.442, 68 G, 216 PA, 8 2B, 8 HR, 31 RBI, 3 SB, 114 WRC+, 1.3 WAR Bobby Wilder spent his whole pro career as a Cougar farmhand, appearing in 169 games stretched between 1927 and 1934, reaching Mobile but spending most of his time in Lincoln and San Jose. He was a capable defensive catcher, with allowed him to stick around, but the bat never developed. 19th Round, 291st Overall: LHP Lou Liebert School: Georgia Baptist Gators The third member of the Georgia Baptist team to be selected by us in 1926, Liebert was drafted three times yet never pitched a professional inning. The first time was as a 16th Rounder by the Sailors out of Detroit HS, but after they cut him he enrolled at Nashville HS. He was drafted the following season in the 18th Round by the Saints, but was again cut on draft day. He took the '25 season off, but had a 3.13 ERA (145 ERA+) and 8 saves as the Gators stopper. We didn't cut him on draft day, instead waiting until the following June. No one gave him a shot after, and he quickly retired in April 1928. 20th Round, 307th Overall: C Hack Bailey School: Lynn HS Legends Career (FABL): .314/.385/.400, 14 G, 39 PA, HR, 6 RBI, 117 WRC+, 0.2 WAR Career (B): 303/.387/.452, 303 G, 1,172 PA, 30 2B, 2 3B, 39 HR, 195 RBI, SB, 121 WRC+, 8.6 WAR Full disclosure, I had no idea who Hack Bailey was, or that he actually played in the FABL. Our 20th Round Pick, Bailey made 5 appearances for San Jose before being cut in May of 1928. He had a brief stint with the Conquistadors, before catching on with the Brooklyn Kings. He spent the final four months of the season in their organization, but was a surprise pick by the Detroit Dynamos in the Rule-5 Draft despite never playing above Class B. He lasted 14 games on the Dynamos roster, and was a surprisingly effective 11-for-35 with a homer and 6 RBIs. After returning to the Kings, he went back to Class B Tampa, where he stayed until 1933, where he finally got a promotion to AA. That was as high as he'd go, spending most of the next five seasons at that level. He retired after the 1937 season, but no one can ever take those few months away from him where he was an FABL player. 21st Round, 323rd Overall: RHP Billy Roberson School: Queens HS Islanders Career (A): 27-14, 30 SV, 118 G, 36 GS, 355.1 IP, 3.29 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 109 BB, 230 K, 128 ERA+, 7.4 WAR Another guy who was waived and claimed by the Foresters before debuting, Roberson spent plenty of time in the Foresters organization. It didn't go all that well at first, but he had a decent two-year stint in Class A Reading where he was 23-9 with 30 saves in 245.1 innings pitched. He did spend some time in AAA with the Cincinnati Steamers, but Roberson was overmatched at the highest rung of the minor league ladder. After a 20-start stint with the Pueblo Mountaineers in 1936, his only time outside of the Foresters organization, he failed to receive another opportunity, and retired in 1937. 22nd Round, 239th Overall: C Joe Pittman School: Opelika State Wildcats Career (AAA): .239/.317/.381, 1,373 G, 5,409 PA, 118 2B, 40 3B, 160 HR, 701 RBI, 153 SB, 90 WRC+, 22.0 WAR While most of these late picks had rather boring career, Joe Pittman brings some flavor to the group of scrubs. He appeared in just 18 games for San Jose, and was cut during the 1928 season. The old adage about one man's trash being another man's treasure fits perfectly here, as our discarded spare part became a fixture in the lineup of the Hollywood Heroes. A switch-hitting catcher, he spent fifteen seasons with the Heroes before retiring in 1943. More used for his glove then his bat, Pittman slashed .239/.317/.381 (89 OPS+) in the AAA Great Western League, launching 160 homers and 701 RBIs while accumulating an impressive 22 WAR. The Heroes haven't had much success since their founding year in 1928, so Pittman is all over the career leaderboards. He's the all time leader in homers, RBIs, and steals (153), second in walks (447), runs (689), hits (1,140), games (1,373) and at bats (4,775), tied for 4th in WAR, and 6th in triples (40). He did strike out a lot, a whopping 1,332 times to be exact, but he handled their staff well, and was a consistent contributor for the independent team. 23rd Round, 355th Overall: LHP Charlie Mobley School: Louisville HS Titans Career (B): 14-29, 50 G, 48 GS, 338 IP, 7.51 ERA, 2.03 WHIP, 246 BB, 81 K, 69 ERA+, 0.8 WAR Charlie Mobley appeared in just one game for San Jose before being claimed off waivers by the Saints. It was one of over a dozen organizations Mobley was a part of, as his issues with walks were tough to overcome. In the farm he walked 392 batters in 645 innings, with an awful 175 in 200 innings with Class B Mobile. But as a lefty, there was always some interest, and he even reached AAA as a 25-year-old. That was his last season, with 12 brutal innings with the Syracuse Excelsiors where he allowed 19 hits, 16 runs, and 16 walks in three starts. 24th Round, 371st Overall: RHP Hal Robinson School: San Antonio HS Warriors Career (C): 10-9, 25 G, 25 GS, 3.49 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 79 BB, 145 K, 105 ERA+, 2.0 WAR Hal Robinson hung around a bit, appearing in games for our system from 1927 to 1930, before bouncing around the independent circuit. 1927 was an interesting season, as Robinson appeared in a game for all four levels (this was before Class C started) as an 18-year-old. As you might expect, the time in Milwaukee was brutal, as he allowed 22 hits, 32 runs, and 18 walks with just one strikeout in 8.1 innings pitched. My guess is I had no idea he was in AAA (sometimes when you auto sort minors, which I must have at the time, you get young guys in AAA), but his -1.3 WAR for that small sample is borderline elite. After sitting out the 1933 season, Robinson retired from pro-ball, but he lasted much longer then most guys taken in the last few rounds. 25th Round, 387th Overall: 3B Ernie Bartlett School: Henry Hudson Explorers Career (AA): .240/.333/.800, 53 G, 57 PA, 2B, 9 HR, 17 RBI, 172 WRC+, 0.5 WAR Last, but not least, was third basemen Ernie Bartlett, who was our 23rd and final member of the 1926 class. He was pretty much a bench only guy, starting three games, all in 1929, during the four years he was in our system. He had some pop, as evidenced by his time with independent minor league teams, but he didn't get nearly enough hits to make it worth it. He did play until he was 28, retiring after spending the 1933 season with the Waco Wranglers and Dallas Centurions. Summary This was a weird class, as it actually produced more every day players then role players. Fred Barrell and Ben Turner were regulars with nice, long careers, and Bob Worley and Bobby Allen were quality every day players who could hit a lot of homers. Allen more so then Worley, but both outperformed their draft position. We did miss on too many of the early picks, as Bill Kline wasn't anything special, Heine Bretz got hurt too much, and Gene Ross, Mickey Williams, and Heinie Glass failed to make any sort of impact. Surprisingly, despite just 5 players playing in more then five seasons, this class produced more WAR (nearly 100!) then the 1925 class, where 10 of 15 players debuted. A 7 of 23 (30.4%) debut rate leaves a lot to be desired, but considering how overmatched I was at the beginning of my time in charge of the Cougars, this class produced more talent then I would have expected, as the late 1920s me really only had high hopes for Barrell, Kline, Turner, and Bretz. FABL Totals Big League Debuts: 7 (of 23) Parts of 5 Seasons: 5 Parts of 10 Seasons: 3 Parts of 15 Seasons: 1 500 Games: 3 1,000 Games: 1 1,500 Games: 1 500 PA Seasons: 13 1,000 Career PAs: 3 2,500 Career PAs: 2 5,000 Career PAs: 1 15 HR Seasons: 5 20 HR Seasons: 1 50 Career HR: 3 100 Inning Seasons: 16 200 Inning Seasons: 11 300 Inning Seasons: 1 500 Career Innings: 1 1,000 Career Innings: 1 2,500 Career Innings: 1 10 Win Seasons: 9 20 Win Seasons: 1 50 Career Wins: 1 100 Career Wins: 1 150 Career Wins: 1 4 WAR Seasons: 4 Total WAR: 92.3

04-21-2023, 01:10 PM	#1075
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	1946 No Trade Team The New York Stars' offense came roaring back to life, backing Chuck Cole's (13-12, 3.62, 89) 2-hit shutout with 12 runs in Washington to bring the series back to New York. The change of scenery worked well, as the Stars piled on seven in the second to even the series with a 7-3 win. Elijah Boudreau (.274, 5, 20), who was banished to the bench and wouldn't be starting if Bob Riggins (.265, 8, 47, 10) was healthy, hit two homers of young Eagle Buckeye Smith (14-8, 3.15, 90) in that second inning. With the series tied, you have to imagine Eli Panneton (18-9, 3.02, 132) gets the ball for the Stars with Vern Hubbard (18-12, 3.84, 86) ready in the pen if needed. The Eagles will counter with Jack Elder (15-13, 2.75, 87), who won game one and started game four. Its shaping up to be another exciting World Championship series, as game sevens have become the norm. The most surprising news of the week came from the Great Western League, as the San Francisco Hawks beat the Los Angeles Knights 5-1 to earn the first every Bigsby Cup. Former Gotham Jack Snyder (16-13, 3.47, 103), who also evened the series with a game two win, struck out eight in a complete game victory. That's not the surprising part; it's who won series MVP. That would be former Cougar Orlin Yates (.255, 3, 57, 9), who hit .350/.500/.750 (246 OPS+) with a double, 2 homers, 5 RBIs, and 6 walks. He's not the only Cougar to win a ring, as undrafted free agent Art Jackson (1-1, 2, 3.83, 6) and released Rule-5 Pick Cliff Ray (.219, 9, 59) are also employed by the Hawks. It's okay if you don't remember either, Ray never appeared for us, but Jackson actually made two starts on the 1934 Cougars. It didn't go well, as he allowed 17 hits, 11 runs, and 7 walks with 6 strikeouts, and was traded the following offseason for veteran third basemen Jake Moore in a swap of DFA'd players. Moore spent two seasons on our bench, but Jackson didn't get into another FABL game. Catchers Solly Skidmore (BRK): 93 WRC+, 35 RBI, 1.0 WAR Harry Mead (CHC): 107 WRC+, 10 HR, 64 RBI, 3.8 WAR Infielders Billy Hunter (CHC): 76 WRC+, 2 HR, 22 RBI, 3 SB, 0.1 WAR Tommy Wilson (STL): 83 WRC+, 2 HR, 62 RBI, SB, 3.3 WAR Hal Wood (TOR): 122 WRC+, 3 HR, 48 RBI, SB, 3.0 WAR Skipper Schneider (CHC): 97 WRC+, 4 HR, 51 RBI, 9 SB, 7.9 WAR Hank Stratton (CLE): 88 WRC+, 4 HR, 53 RBI, 1.0 WAR Ed Reyes (PHS): 154 WRC+, 8 HR, 64 RBI, SB, 3.4 WAR Elmer Hutchins (CHI): 97 WRC+, 7 HR, 48 RBI, -0.5 WAR Outfielders Leo Mitchell (CHC): 160 WRC+, 24 HR, 90 RBI, 4 SB, 4.6 WAR Bunny Hufford (NYG): 116 WRC+, 2 HR, 11 RBI, SB, 0.3 WAR Rich Langton (CHC): 56 WRC+, RBI, -0.2 WAR Chink Stickels (NYS): 116 WRC+, 7 HR, 67 RBI, 11 SB, 5.4 WAR Carlos Montes (CHC): 103 WRC+, 10 HR, 61 RBI, 19 SB, 4.8 WAR Don Lee (CHC): 113 WRC+, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 7 SB, 1.5 WAR Pitchers Dean Astle (BOS): 11-6, 220 ERA+, 41 K, 3.4 WAR Frank Gordon (DET): 3-11, 8 SV, 106 ERA+, 68 K, 2.2 WAR Harl Haines (NYG): 14-8, 98 ERA+, 87 K, 3.3 WAR Leo Hayden (BRK): 19-12, 119 ERA+, 130 K, 4.6 WAR Danny Hern (STL): 0-4, 37 ERA+, 13 K, 0.3 WAR Sam Hodge (NYG): 3-1, 3 SV, 92 ERA+, 15 K, -0.2 WAR Harry MacRae (CHC): 1-2, 11 SV, 106 ERA+, 10 K, 0.1 WAR Pete Papenfus (CHC): 21-8, 142 ERA+, 199 K, 6.6 WAR Harry Parker (CHC): 12-9, 106 ERA+, 73 K, 1.9 WAR Totals Hitters: 39.4 Pitchers: 22.2 Total: 61.6 Approximate Wins: 93 Notable Prospects/Picks Traded November 1945: Traded Ollie Page, Lefty Jones, and Bill Perrin to the Pioneers for Hal Sharp February 1946: Traded Gene Madison, a 1st, and 3rd Round Pick to the Kings for a 1st Round Pick (that became now #2 prospect Bob Allen!!!) February 1946: Traded Harl Haines and Tom Jovin to the Gothams for a 4th and 7th Round Pick July 1946: Traded Joe Swank to the Dynamos for cash and a 5th Round Pick July 1946: Traded Mike Thorpe to the Kings for cash and a 9th Round Pick Crazy enough, this group of hitters was worth exactly as much as last years! What are the odds!?!? The pitchers were a bit better, as we got a full season of Pete Papenfus, as well as excellent seasons from Leo Hayden and Dean Astle. This team was almost identical in terms of WAR to the 1946 Cougars, who were worth a cumulative 61 WAR. The extra 0.6 gives us an extra win, picking up the 93rd victory we would have needed to avoid the tiebreaker all together. Still, I think the real Cougars are far superior, as they have the Jones brothers, Hal Sharp, Clark Car, Dick Walker, and Billy Riley, and despite another close call, we have the major league talent and minor league depth to make another run at the elusive title. Last edited by ayaghmour2; 04-21-2023 at 01:15 PM.

04-24-2023, 11:28 AM	#1076
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	Top Prospects! After competing their 3-1 comeback against the Washington Eagles, the New York Stars won their 9th World Championship Series and first since 1939, giving them two more victories then the next closest team, the Philadelphia Keystones, who won #7 last season. The Stars have financial problems, which may mean that some salary will get cut, but the Stars have plenty of talent that they can compete without any upgrades We got a nice budget increase, but it came with some bad news, as legendary amateur scout Tom Weinstock decided to call it a career after eight seasons in charge of the Cougars scouting department. He's a crucial reason that our farm ranks #1 in the league, and because of being scout-less, I'm going to wait on the individual player prospect reports until the vacancy is filled. I'm hoping we don't lose all his hard work, as I had the coming class scouted with every player either ":High" or "Very High" for accuracy. Luckily the farm system is very deep, ranked first in the league and 40 points higher then the second place Dynamos. We have 200 prospect points, led by first Rounder Bob Allen, who ranks as the #2 prospect in baseball. Him and Duke Bybee (#7) rank in the top 10, with 5 in the top 50, 11 in the top 100, 25 in the top 250, and 48 in the top 500. Below is the list of our top 40: The early returns on our draft class are very high as well, with 13 prospects in our top 40, and a 14th (Charlie Harvey) at 43rd and 412th respectively. There's plenty of talent in the system, and it should allow us to pursue a top target if needed. 1. RHP Bob Allen (2nd Overall): 10th Overall Pick 2. LHP Duke Bybee (7th Overall): 1st/6th 3. CF Johnny Peters (32nd Overall): 2nd/14th 4. CF Frank Reece (37th Overall): 20th Overall Pick 5. C Eddie Howard (41st Overall): 3rd/44th 6. 3B Otto Christian (50th Overall): 4th/47th 7. LHP Bert Rogers (60th Overall): 6th/55th 8. LHP Ron Berry (70th Overall): Not Ranked 9. RHP Harry Beardsley (78th Overall): 156th Overall Pick 10. 3B Pat Todd (81st Overall): 7th/79th 11. CF Carl Clark (97th Overall): 5th/54th 12. RF Jimmy Hairston (122nd Overall): 10th/161st 13. RHP Charlie Kelsey (140th Overall): 9th/157th 14. CF Phil Boyes (149th Overall): 76th Overall Pick 15. RHP Tommy Seymour (158th Overall): 20th/236th 16. SS Bob Stout (169th Overall): 92nd Overall Pick 17. CF Joe Austin (178th Overall): 124th Overall Pick 18. 2B Roxy Hilts (181st Overall): 59th Overall Pick 19. RF Zeke Johnson (209th Overall): 129th Overall Pick 20. SS Jim Mako (218th Overall): 19th/229th 21. 2B Bob Schmelz (220th Overall): 13th.193rd 22. RHP Jim Williams (225th Overall): 24th/322nd 23. LF Clyde Parker (230th Overall): 12th.166th 24. RHP Babe Stinson (232nd Overall): 25th/328th 25. LHP Dutch Yoak (236th Overall): 17th/222nd 26. 1B Cal Rice (263rd Overall): 16th/214th 27. C Ernie Frost (266th Overall): 108th Overall Pick 28. CF Franklin Thomas (268th Overall): 134th Overall Pick 29. SS Al Clement (272nd Overall): 15th/207th 30. 2B Tom Brownleaf (285th Overall): 31st/367th 31. SS Tony Scuccinello (303rd Overall): 51st Overall Pick 32. SS John Price (317th Overall): 140th Overall Pick 33. SS Rupert Heinbaugh (356th Overall): 23rd/267th 34. RHP Jim N Smith (364th Overall): Not Ranked 35. RHP Lee Parker (368th Overall): 236th Overall Pick 36. RHP Jimmy Ballard (370th Overall): 33rd/415th 37. RF Bob Rogers (379th Overall): 30th.363rd 38. RHP Billy Stoddard (385th Overall): Not Ranked 39. RHP Bill Ballantine (391st Overall): Not Ranked 40. RHP Kid Moore (394th Overall): 60th Overall Pick Last edited by ayaghmour2; 04-28-2023 at 09:38 PM.

04-26-2023, 12:46 AM	#1077
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	Top Prospects: 1-5 While he's no Tom Weinstock, although, let's be honest, no one is, his replacement is still very solid. That would be Dixie Marsh, an easygoing 41-year-old from California. He was never drafted, but appeared in 16 games for the Allentown Cokers back in 1925. That's the extent of his minor league career, but after hanging up the spikes in 1928, he went back to Columbia and earned his degree. He began working in baseball, rejoining the Keystones organization that gave him his lone minor league shot. Marsh worked his way up the scouring department, working closely with head scout Harry Dunn. We lured him out to head his own department, getting $15,625 in each of the next two seasons. Weinstock will be missed, but I'm more then confident in his successor. Dixie isn't as familiar with this draft class as Tom, who had all players as either "High" or "Very High" for scouting accuracy, with nearly 75% of the class at "Very High". Marsh has just six guys at "High" accuracy, including "The Rockford Rocket" who, you guessed it, is from Rockford, Illinois. The Tallmadge State product has stole 72 bases in 88 games and slashed .338/.411/.491. He doesn't have much pop, just a single homer back when he was a freshman, but he has all other tools needed to be a perennial All-Star. The hit tool is great, he has excellent command of the strike zone, and his speed makes an impact in the field and on the bases. Standing tall at 6'2'' and 200 pounds, you have to imagine the power will develop, and with his work ethic I expect him to spend time in the weight room so he can start putting balls over the fence. Even with two of our five top prospects as center fielders, he will get serious attention depending on where are pick lands. Before starting with our top five prospects, I wanted to say a few things about Tom Weinstock. The former big league catcher was an integral part of our organization, and it's sad we never got him a ring. He's identified some much talent, and his draftees include Skipper Schneider, Don Lee, and likely inaugural Kellogg Award Winner Leo Hayden. I'm not sure when it will happen, but at some point in the offseason I'm going to put something together on his baseball career and some of the prospects he brought in. Unfortunately I won't have his final thoughts on this new class of prospects, but this group and the excellent 1946 draft class could end up being his legacy. While Tom wants to step away from baseball for now, the legendary scout will be welcomed back at any time in an advisory capacity. And once we finally get that elusive championship ring, he's going to have one set aside for him. RHP Bob Allen (2nd Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 10th Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Sonora Wildcats Despite nine players being selected before Allen in the 1946 draft, just one player ranks above him in the opening offseason prospect rankings. The only player ranked higher is the Champion's young shortstop Ralph Hanson, a former 2nd Overall Pick who stole 46 bases and hit .219 in 84 games for the Class C Alexandria Generals. Allen will be the last of Tom Weinstock's seven first round selections, and I'm really hoping he ends up as the best one. Despite being just 18 and dealing with back stiffness, our #1 prospect was very effective, following up14 starts in his senior year with 58.2 innings with the Lions. He didn't maintain the 0.36 ERA and 0.60 WHIP, but he finished third among pitchers with 55 or more innings with a 3.99 ERA (107 ERA+). The California native missed plenty of bats, striking out 60 hitters while finishing 4-2 with a 1.41 WHIP. Allen's stuff is tremendous, and he's always at his best when the game is on the line. He's the type of kid you want pitching every fifth day and he's yet to show a real weakness in his game. He isn't the hardest thrower, sitting at 86-88 with his fastball, but his pitches have plenty of downward movement, allowing him to keep the ball on the ground. With Skipper Schneider and George Sutterfield in the infield, groundballs will be easily scooped up, and Allen should thrive at our park. Add in the the whiffs on his slider and you have the makings of a true Allen Award winner. LHP Duke Bybee (7th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 49th Overall (1940) Alma Mater: Brooklyn Friends Quakers I'll be honest, it's almost a crime that I left Duke Bybee in Milwaukee, but he's not better then Harry Parker or Joe Brown yet, and since 1942, all he's thrown is 17 innings in Lincoln and 19.1 in Chicago. This will be his last prospect report, as Billy Riley will be traded one way or another, and Bybee will make plenty of starts with the big league club. He's coming off a record setting campaign for the Blues, finishing the season 14-6 with a 2.05 ERA (190 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP in 175.1 innings pitched. He struck out 100 batters and walked just 40, and was worth nearly five (4.8) wins above replacement. If there was an Allen Award in the Century League, Bybee would have been unanimous like Pap should be, as he led the circuit in ERA, K/BB (2.5), BB/9 (2.1), ERA+, rWAR (7.6), and win percentage (.700) while ranked tied for third in wins despite being outside the top 15 for starts (26). For a 24-year-old, his command is stellar and his stuff is good enough to maintain a 2+ K/BB. OSA loves him, praising his stuff and command, and the 6'4'' righty would be the #1 pitching prospect on any other team. Instead, he has to settle for the games highest rated left handed pitcher. With the new Kellogg award being given out for the top rookie, Bybee should be an early favorite to take home the second annual award. Even if he doesn't have a breakout rookie season, his leadership and poise will be key to the roster. If we have to, he can be stashed in the pen, but I'm confident he'll pitch his way to the #3 spot by season end. CF Johnny Peters (32nd Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 3rd Overall (1945) Alma Mater: Liberty College Bells He's dropped a bit on the prospect list, but I think that's more because of the strong draft class from this year, including 14 of the top 20 prospects. If Peters was available this year and I had he third overall pick, there's no way I'd use it on him, but that's not to say Peters isn't a very exciting prospect. Despite being just 22, he spent all season with the Commodores, and hit an above average. 268/.361/.387 (190 OPS+) in 603 trips to the plate. Like Bybee, he was worth 4.8 WAR, as Peters put up a 5.1 zone rating in center with 17 steals, 76 walks, and 40 extra base hits. I'm leaning on starting him in Milwaukee next season, and he could position himself into making his major league debut. We have plenty of 40-man roster flexibility, and with a big season a September callup may be warranted. Peters projects to be a premier player, projecting to hit around .300 with excellent plate discipline and base stealing abilities. I don't really have a good comp on the big league roster for Peters, as he shows shades of both Carlos Montes and Don Lee. Peters may not have to compete against them forever, as there will be a time where Leo Mitchell goes to first or Carlos Montes needs to be in a corner, but right now playing time seems to be scarce for the the Liberty College alumn. CF Frank Reece (37th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Villisca Bluejays After the draft, Frank Reece ranked above Johnny Peters, but he's sense slipped to 37th. Now 19, Reece had an excellent season with La Crosse, producing a 130 WRC+ in 222 trips to the plate. Reece hit a strong .276/.356/.480 (118 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 10 homers, 14 steals, 24 RBIs, and 21 walks. One of the best showings from the many youngsters that spent time in La Crosse, Reece is penciled into center field for San Jose, and with not much in the upper levels he could finish in Lincoln. Another speedy center fielder, Reece has a high ceiling both at the plate and in the field, The power was a bit of surprise, and he held a share of the team lead with Cal Rice, our slugging first basemen. A lot of Reece's homers would have been doubles or triples in a different park, but he could hit double digit homers in the big leagues. His speed will lead to extra bases and plus outfield defense, and he could be one of those guys that walks more then they strike out. He's got a lot of development ahead of him, but the ceiling is tantalizing and he's more developed then most of the other guys his age. C Eddie Howard (41st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1941) Alma Mater: St. Joseph Chiefs Now a member of the 40-man roster, Eddie Howard will get a chance to win the backup job to Harry Mead, competing against our lone rookie position player Homer Guthrie next spring. He had a strong season in his first at bats since 1942, and he had just 7 games in a ball prior to this year. That didn't stop him from putting on a show, slashing .325/.380/.428 (119 OPS+) with 37 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, and 58 RBIs in 536 trips to the plate. He produced a 126 WRC+ and 3.8 WAR and struck out (23) almost half as often as he walked (43). Howard even pitched a bit, going 4-0 with a pair of saves in 30.1 innings pitched. His 3.86 ERA (101 ERA+) was just barely above average, but his 2.82 FIP (72 FIP-) was better then Peter the Heater (2.75, 81). Having him on hand as a reliable emergency guy could be useful, mopping up inning I don't want a high leverage guy in. He features an elite hit tool and lines the ball pull side with ease, and with his strength I think the power tool should develop. He will hit plenty of doubles off the big wall in left, and a few of his flyballs will sneak out as homers. Eventually he'll take over for Harry Mead, but until then, Mead will be an excellent mentor, and they can share starts if both are (or I guess, aren't) producing. That 1941 class is looking really good, as it's produced Otto Christian, Leo Hayden, Jack Huston, Jim Dickinson, Harl Haines, Joe Swank, and George Oddo, all of which have debuted in the majors. Howard will join them shortly, as will Bill Ballantine, and Howard will be a big part of whether it becomes a group to be remembered.

04-26-2023, 07:54 PM	#1078
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	Top Prospects: 6-10 3B Otto Christian (50th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1941) Alma Mater: Walla Walla Warriors Otto spent most of his time in Mobile this season, but the "Walla Walla Walloper" appeared in the games and went 0-for-2 with a run scored. The 13th Pick of the 1941 draft, Christian produced in his first minor league season since 1942, slashing .277/.339/.400 (106 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 11 homers, and 65 RBIs, while walking (44) one more time then he stuck out (43). The power output is much more impressive then it looks, as Otto was the only Dixie League hitter with double digit home runs, hitting three more then anyone else in the league. His 116 WRC+ is comfortably above average and he played capable defense at third. Recently 24, Christian will get a shot to hit his way into the lineup, but he faces steep competition from George Sutterfield, Hank Barnett, Billy Hunter, and a potential outside of the organization addition. Very few players can come close to the raw power Otto boasts, and when he connects, the ball goes hard and far. He still has trouble with breaking balls, but that's something he'll figure out as he gains more experience. If he doesn't start the season in Chicago, he'll play every day in Milwaukee, and with a strong showing he can work his way into the lineup. LHP Bret Rogers (60th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 12th Overall (1944) Alma Mater: Wenona Braves It was a brutal season for our first rounder two years ago, as he struggled in his return to the Lions. Rogers went just 3-2 with a 6.10 ERA (70 ERA+) and 1.53 WHIP through 69.1 innings pitched. On the surface, those numbers looked really poor, but Rogers was extremely unlucky. He struck out 83 hitters and walked just 28, for a superb 10.8 K/9 and 3.0 K/BB, which contributed to a very impressive 3.51 FIP and 82 FIP-. Yes, his ERA was nearly twice as high as his FIP, even with the groundballer allowing seven longballs. The 20-year-old Chicagoan may repeat C ball, as we have a lot of options for the San Jose rotation, but he may get a few starts with the Cougars. A three pitch pitcher, he has two excellent pitches, a hard biting slider and a sharp and deadly curve. His fastball is located well, and even at 86-88 its a tough pitch to do much with. All his pitches move well, which helps him keep the ball on the ground, but he's still got a lot of development ahead of him. While not an ace, the lefty has a very high ceiling, projecting to be a serviceable middle-of-the-rotation arm with the chance to work his way even higher. 1947 will be a big season for him, as he needs to show more on the mound. LHP Ron Berry (70th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 112th Overall (1944) Alma Mater: Elm Springs Knights I'm not sure anyone has had a more meteoric rise in FABL then Ron Berry. From going from an unranked prospect outside of the top 500 all the way up to #70, Ron Berry has emerged into a very exciting pitching prospect. The secret for Berry was adding a curveball to his repertoire, adding to his money pitch change and superb slider. He also brought his fastball up to 85-87, and even though it's probably an average pitch at best, all three off-speed pitches are plus-plus or better. Recently turned 21, Berry didn't have the greatest season, but he finished off strong. Berry's first 17 starts came in San Jose, where he went 5-4 with a 4.47 ERA (89 ERA+) and 1.47 WHIP. He walked (48) about as many hitters as he struck out (49), but his 3.82 FIP (95 FIP-) was above average, aided by an impressive 0.3 HR/9. With many guys moving up in September, Berry got a taste of A ball, and he was very impressive. He did go 0-1, but his 2.13 ERA (169 ERA+) and 1.03 WHIP were pristine. Small sample and all that, but these were very encouraging signs for Berry, who is one of the few players Dixie Marsh has with "Very High" scouting accuracy. He's not as high on him as Tom Weinstock was, but he's a big fan of the stuff. He's worried about the command, which is a fair concern, but if the former 7th Rounder can hit the zone with more efficiency, he could develop into an excellent starting pitcher. RHP Harry Beardsley (74th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 156th Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Arkansas A&T Badgers Already looking like a massive steal in the 10th Round, Harry Beardsley took a huge step forward as a junior at Arkansas A&T, and he maintained that production after the draft. Beardsley skipped La Crosse, making seven starts with San Jose. The 21-year-old righty went 4-3 with a stellar 2.51 ERA (158 ERA+) and 1.26 WHIP. He threw 43 innings, walking just 15 while striking out 24. A four pitch pitcher, Beardsley already has big league quality stuff, projecting to be above average, which will play well with average command. He doesn't over power, his fastball and sinker top out around 88, but he mixes his pitches well and misses a ton of bats. His changeup projects to be the best of his offerings, with the sinker a close second. His slider is good against same-side hitters, but he won't use it as often as his other three pitches. He'll be 22 to start next season, and I can see Beardsley moving up the system very quickly. OSA gives him a 1948 FABL ETA, but I'm not sure there will be a rotation spot available for him to claim. There's a lot to like about the young righty from Fayetteville, and he could be a very enticing trade piece in the next few seasons. 3B Pat Todd (81st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 43rd Overall (1945) Alma Mater: University Red Devils While most of our young hitters in the lower minors struggled, Pat Todd was the exception. The 19-year-old started his season in La Crosse, and hit an impressive .305/.345/.443 (106 OPS+) with 5 homers and 25 RBIs. He produced a 115 WRC+ in 142 trips to the plate, and played elite defense at the hot corner. This earned him a late season promotion to San Jose, where he took a huge step forward. Todd was not overmatched in the slightest during his 24 game stint, mashing to the tune of .337/.398/.446 (132 OPS+). That was good for a full win above replacement and a 142 WRC+, as Todd added another homer, 7 RBIs, and more walks (9) then strikeouts (6). He even stole two bases, giving him four on the season. This went far better then his cup of coffee with San Jose last season, where he went just 5-for-49 with one walk and sixteen strikeouts. A talented gloveman, Todd produced a 8.3 zone rating and 1.100 efficiency between his time with the Lions and Cougars, and he didn't make a single error in his 298 innings in C ball. Pair the elite defense with average contact and some power, and you have a very capable all-around third basemen. There's a lot to like about the young infielder, and while Otto Christian, or even George Sutterfield, are the third basemen of the future now, Todd is a very impressive prospect in his own right.

04-27-2023, 10:03 AM	#1079
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	Top Prospects: 11-15 CF Carl Clark (97th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 18th Overall (1945) Alma Mater: Springfield Panthers It was a bit of a drop off in the rankings for Carl Clark, who went from a borderline top-50 prospect to spending some time outside the top 100. Eventually, Clark cracked back in, starting the offseason at 97th. He split time between La Crosse and San Jose, and like Pat Todd, produced better in San Jose. He slashed .284/.358/.410 (111 OPS+) with 3 doubles, a triple, 4 homers, 2 steals, and 16 RBIs in 152 trips to the plate. He wasn't bad with the Lions, with a slightly above average 101 WRC+. He sported a .263/.346/.381 (91 OPS+) line with 7 doubles, 4 homers, 5 steals, and 18 RBIs. Most of these at bats came when he was still 18, as Clark turned 19 on the 22nd of August, and played all but 8 of his 47 games before his birthday. Those last eight games came because the Class B season ended before the Class C season, and he hit .393/.379/.571 (146 OPS+) in that small sample. It's a sign "Fish" took a legitimate step forward during the season, but he currently has a down arrow when I move him back to San Jose. Part of this could be with Marsh joining recently, and I've had him strictly focused on scouting the draft. He does mention Clark's above average potential and speed and OSA projects him to be a leadoff hitter. He's played plus defense in center, accumulating a 2.8 zone rating in 509.1 innings this year. Since Class C ball doesn't begin until June, I don't think Clark will play another game with the Lions, but if he works hard in the offseason, he has the chance to open the season in the baby Cougars outfield. RF Jimmy Hairston (161st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 61st Overall (1943) Alma Mater: Bowman Mohawks After spending the 1945 season in the Army, Hairston returned to San Jose, where he hit just .171/.237/.286 in 38 trips to the plate as a 19-year-old. Things worked out much better for Hairston the second time around, as he produced a 112 WRC+ in 205 trips to the plate. The former 4th Rounder slashed .244/.366/.378 (112 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, 21 RBIs, and 30 walks. He got a late July promotion to Lincoln, and finished the season on a high note. Hairston slashed .294/.384/.396 (123 OPS+) with 9 doubles, a triple, 3 homers, 27 RBIs, and 28 walks. He upped his WRC+ to 135 in a slightly large 229 PA sample. The 21-year-old showcased tremendous plate discipline and a little bit of pop. At 6'2'' 190, Hairston has the build to be a 15+ home run hitter, as our park plays well to power. He's looked good in right so far, but he still feels like a bat first prospect. He has plenty of time to hone his skills, as our outfield is pretty full, and there's a chance that when he's about 24 or 25, he could be a well above average big league hitter. We don't have many corner outfielders, as he's our only prospect of that type in the top 200. He will have competition from the center fielders, but this allows him to hold a spot in the minors. RHP Charlie Kelsey (140th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 9th Round, 140th Overall (1940) Alma Mater: Lancaster Buckskins This was Charlie Kelsey's first full year as a starting pitcher in the minor leagues, but he made his big league debut as a reliever. He pitched 6.2 innings out of the pen and even earned a save in one of his four appearances. He allowed seven hits, a walk, and just one earned run with three strikeouts. These were impressive numbers in the small sample, matching impressive performance in 17 starts with the Blues. Kelsey went 6-4 with a 2.94 ERA (133 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP, 35 walks, and 63 strikeouts. His 4.8 K/9 was extremely impressive and he proved he has what it takes to be a big league starter. Kelsey just celebrated his 25th birthday, but there's plenty of guys stuck in front of him. His sinker is a very good pitch, generating whiffs and groundouts. He has good command of his three pitch repertoire, but he doesn't have much more room to grow. He's a serviceable back-end starter with the chance to develop into a solid #3, but he'll never lead a rotation. If he keeps the ball in the park and throw strikes, a good defense will make him look strong. CF Phil Boyes (149th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 76th Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Benton Zephyrs Our 5th Rounder this season, Phil Boyes was stuck in a crowded outfield, so playing time was slim. It had an effect on his performance, as he hit just .260/.313/.338 (71 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 2 homers, 16 RBIs, and 8 steals in 166 trips to the plate. The defense, however, was superb, as he produced an efficiency of 1.300 or above in all three spots, including a 1.107 efficiency in 10 starts out in right. His future is likely in left or center, as he doesn't have the strongest arm. His speed leads me to believe center is a likely landing spot. While the then 18-year-old didn't hit much, he has a nice swing and a good sense of the zone. That should combine for a .300 or better average, but at times he can be too aggressive for his own good. He has plenty of time to work out his kinks, and there will be more consistent playing time for him as Frank Reece and Carl Clark will be up in San Jose. I think he can be an every day center fielder if he reaches his potential, but the path to the majors may be bumpy. RHP Tommy Seymour (158th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1943) Alma Mater: Olathe Pioneers While a lot of people dropped in the prospect rankings, Tommy Seymour actually brought him back inside the top 200. The former 1st Rounder checks in at 158th, and made solid starts in San Jose and Lincoln. The now 21-year-old went 3-3 with a 3.20 ERA (124 ERA+) and 1.44 WHIP in 10 starts with the Cougars and 5-4 with a 3.28 ERA (110 ERA+) and 1.52 WHIP in 12 starts with the Legislators. The issue for Seymour was the walks, as he had a 0.5 K/BB (25/55) with the Lincoln after a 4.5 BB/9 in San Jose. In 144.1 innings between the two levels, he walked 87 batters while striking out only 60 (0.7 K/BB). Command seems to be the roadblock for the young righty, but his pitches have crazy movement and his change up is nearly unhittable. His splitter is tough too, but his fastball tops out at 86 and he leaves in over the center of the plate far too often. To move up in the rotation he needs to find the zone more often, but I'm willing to give him every opportunity to master his command.

04-27-2023, 11:37 PM	#1080
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,012	Top Prospects: 16-20 SS Bob Stout (169th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 92nd Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Eastern Virginia Dukes Our 6th Round Pick in this most recent draft, I was a bit surprised with how high Stout ranked in the prospect rankings. It took a while for him to sign with all our money issues, and he missed a little time with a bone bruise on his wrist, so he made just 15 appearances in San Jose and 14 in Lincoln. He hit better with the Legislators, batting .310/.420/.429 (142 OPS+) compared to .218/.348/.364 (96 OPS+) in San Jose. Stout boasted an excellent eye, drawing 18 walks with just 22 strikeouts, and he played very good defense at shortstop. His 2.9 zone rating and 1.066 efficiency for the year was impressive, and he tallied 4 doubles, 3 homers, 14 RBIs, and a steal in 121 trips to the plate. Stout doesn't have off the charts tools, but he has a laser like arm and impressive range. He may not hit for a high average, but he should maintain a high on-base percentage and his baserunning is a plus tool. I think he could transition to the outfield if needed, and with his arm he could excel in right field. For now, the infield is where he'll be, but if I need to give him more at bats, he may have to break out an outfield glove. CF Joe Austin (178th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 142nd Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Chesapeake State Clippers Another guy that ranked higher then I expected, Joe Austin is my classic type of late round pick. A guy who can do anything. Austin played all around the diamond in his first minor league season, making a start at every position except third, catcher, and of course, pitcher. Most of his time came in his natural position in center field, a strained oblique cost him four weeks and took something out of his bat. In the 8th Rounders defense, he was pushed all the way up to A ball, so hitting .194/.268/.323 (68 OPS+) isn't the end of the world. Plus in a 71 PA sample, you can't take much out of it anyways. The bat isn't the draw anyways, as his speed is what excites. He went 5-for-6 in stolen base attempts and added three doubles, a triple, and a home run. He's an excellent base runner and superb defender which almost guarantees he'll make some teams big league roster. With his age, he could make a quick ascent up our system, but he'll remain in A ball to start the season. If he wants to work his way into a big league lineup, he'll need to start hitting more, but he has plenty of time to work on his bat. 2B Roxy Hilts (181st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 59th Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Cedarburg Bulldogs Another member of our most recent draft class, Roxy Hilts was the second of our three fourth round picks. He also ranks the highest, topping Tony Scuccinello (303rd Overall) and Kid Moore (398th Overall). Roxy got into 41 games for the Lions, hitting .291/.352/.368 (90 OPS+) with 7 doubles and 9 RBIs. He didn't homer, but he doesn't project to hit for much power. He's a guy who works the count and puts the ball in play, hitting plenty of pull side line drives that find the gaps. He won't steal many bases, but he's got average speed and runs the bases really well. He's looked okay at the keystone so far, but I'm worried that he may be better suited for first. There's not much room for a powerless first basemen, so the glove will be crucial as his bat is more acceptable at second. OSA is a big fan of Roxy, mentioning his plus contact tool and strong plate discipline, even going as far to say he "could develop into a productive regular on a contending team." I think that's wishful thinking on their part, but Hilts has a lot of raw talent and at 18 he's far from a finished product. He'll have to hit to keep a lineup spot, but he's still one of our more exciting infield prospects. RF Zeke Johnson (209th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 9th Round, 129th Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Crown Point Bulldogs At first I thought I'd get Danny Cecil with the first pick of the AI round, but the Cannons decided to take the now 35th ranked prospect with the 128th and final pick of the human portion. Instead, we got Zeke Johnson, a three-year starter at Crown Point who hit above .500 in each of his seasons. The hit tool is very intriguing, and he could compete with Leo Mitchell for batting titles. He didn't quite show that in his first taste of minor league action, hitting .248/.327/.333 (74 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 2 homers, and 13 RBIs. Now 19, the Indiana Native ranks just outside the top 200, and Dixie Marsh thinks he'll hit for some power too. That would be helpful for the young outfielder, who spent all but one of his games out in right. He has experience in high school at first, left, and center too, so he's more then just a guy with an arm. Granted, I'm not going to play him much, if at all, in center, but that means he has some range on the grass. What scares me is his work ethic, as he's not someone to do more then the minimum amount of worth, so he could be his own worst enemy. If he can push himself to be a better player, he will be one, as his bat is very exciting. SS Jim Mako (218th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 59th Overall (1945) Alma Mater: Erasmus Crusaders "The Shark" does a little bit of everything, and the only position he didn't play this year was center, as La Crosse had highly touted prospects Frank Reece, Carl Clark, and Phil Boyes getting reps in the middle of the outfield. He played the most innings at his natural position, shortstop, but Mako made 15 or more starts at second and third as well. He looked great pretty much everywhere, and his 4.2 zone rating and 1.169 efficiency at short exceeded all expectations. These are Skipper Schneider type numbers, and while Mako's not at that level, his range is truly impressive. Unfortunately he didn't hit very much, just .233/.341/.317 (75 OPS+). He did that in 213 trips to the plate, and supplemented his line with 6 doubles, 3 homers, 12 steals, 21 RBIs, and 26 walks. The dream utility man, I wouldn't be surprised if he can offer plus defense at all seven positions, but the bat needs some work. Mako is actually a good bunter, and with his speed he'll leg out plenty of infield hits, but he hasn't shown much extra base pop. He does project to be a line drive hitter, but for now he's not making enough contact to be effective. He has a nice eye, so there's a chance he can be an Ollie Page type hitter, and his speed can be a weapon if he can get on base.