Chicago Cougars (FABL)

[ayaghmour2]

2B Bob Schmelz (220th Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Detroit (1945)
Drafted: 1st Round, 11th Overall (1942)
Alma Mater: Dravosburg Flyers

The last remaining piece of the Art White trade, Bob Schmelz is remarkably the first, and only, member of our share of the top 500 that was not originally drafted by the Cougars. A former 1st Round selection of the Dynamos, Schmelz only played 31 games in their organization, as he was drafted into the Army his first offseason in their system. He hit very well, posting well above average numbers in 99 games with the Legislators and 40 more with the Commodores. He slashed .293/.406/.376 (123 OPS+) in A ball and a similar .307/.381/.405 (120 OPS+) in AA. Between the levels, he produced over a 130 WRC+ with 29 doubles, 6 triples, a homer, 6 steals, and 69 RBIs while boasting an impressive 69-to-54 walk-to-strikeout ratio. I'd like to see more power from Schmelz, as he's not much of a defender, but he has a strong hit tool and doesn't chase too often. He could work his way into a starting role, but we'll need to see more from the bat. He's either going to have to hit well above .300 or add strength for double digit home runs, otherwise his defense won't be put up with. At just 21, he's far from a finished product, but he's eligible for the Rule-5 Draft, and I may have to protect him.

RHP Jim Williams (225th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 123rd Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Chicopee Pacers

1946 was Jim Williams' first full season, and despite a minor hamstring injury, he was extremely productive. 12 of his 14 starts were with the Legislators, where he went 2-1 with a 1.95 ERA (219 ERA+) and 1.08 WHIP with 44 strikeouts and just 17 walks. His 2.6 K/BB was extremely impressive, as he showed a noticeable improvement in his command. Last season he walked 3.9 batters per nine and he cut a full batter (2.8) out of that this season. Williams also made two starts with San Jose, going 11.1 innings with 3 hits, 6 walks, and a strikeout. The lapse in command here was similar to last season. Dixie Marsh thinks he'll figure the command out, and OSA even thinks he can be a back-end starter, and I think part of it is due to his build. He's a towering 6'4'' righty with a 91 mph sinker, and the work ethic you want all your talented youngsters to display. He's got to work on the off-speed stuff, but the sinker generates plenty of whiffs, and when it doesn't, batters tend to beat it into the ground. Recently 20, Williams may return to La Crosse for one more go, as our rotations are pretty full.

LF Clyde Parker (230th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 103rd Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Liberty Bluejays

It wasn't an ideal season for Clyde Parker, who dropped almost 100 points in the prospect rankings. He spent almost equal time in La Crosse and San Jose, but neither stint impressed all that much. He hit .278/.325/.481 (109 OPS+) with the Lions, which was good enough for a 118 WRC+, but it wasn't much of an improvement on his .218/.285/.403 (111 OPS+) in a lesser run environment last year. He also saw drops in San Jose, going from .225/.262/.441 (104 OPS+) to .278/.316/.389 (94 OPS+). Now 20, I expected more from Parker, who has a really strong hit tool, and seemed to be an advanced hitter for his age. In 256 PAs, he accumulated 22 doubles, a triple, 4 homers, and 32 RBIs, which while not bad, isn't much to write home about. The former 7th Rounder isn't the greatest defender, so he'll have to up the offensive production to keep playing every day. He's not on a short lease yet, but he'll need to get off to a nice start in his third season in Class B. I'm hoping a year from now I'll be writing about his strong finish in A ball, as 1947 is shaping out to be a make or break year for the lefty.

RHP Babe Stinson (232nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 64th Overall (1942)
Alma Mater: Louisville Coyotes

After going 4-3 with a 3.99 ERA (104 ERA+) and 1.57 in 11 starts for the Legislators, Babe Stinson improved pretty much every metric in 18 starts this season. Stinson went 5-3 with a lower 2.93 ERA (123 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP, while upping his K/9 from 3.1 to 4.4 and his K/BB from 0.8 to 1.0. This got him a late season promotion to Mobile, but the former 4th Rounder hit a speed bump. He made six starts, going just 2-4 with a 4.93 ERA (70 ERA+) and 1.86 WHIP, while walking (28) far more hitters then he struck out (16). Stinson only turned 22 in August, so it's not like he should have dominated AA hitters already, and he'll have something to build on for next season. A five pitch pitcher, Stinson throws a mid 80s cutter he controls well, with a great change leading the way. His forkball and splitter are big league quality pitches as well, but his circle change needs some work. This is where I wish I could tell him that one change is enough, and that he should drop the circle change, but alas he will occasionally use it. His stuff is good now, but if he can start throwing harder, I can see it becoming a plus tool. Another guy who is Rule-5 eligible, Stinson isn't close to being big league ready, and to be anything more then a spot starter he'll need to have a strong season next year.

LHP Dutch Yoak (236th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 19th Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: La Porte Renegades

Our second of back-to-back picks in the 2nd last year, Dutch Yoak's prospect ranking is more then twice Carl Clark's, as he snuck into the top 100 while Yoak was left out of the top 200. I think he's a better pitcher then that would suggest, but he didn't have the greatest first full season. He made 7 starts for the Legislators and 6 for San Jose, and while the FIPs (4.90, 114 and 4.73, 118) were similar, the ERAs (3.30, 129 and 7.51, 54) couldn't have been further apart. Class B hitters were able to get a lot more hits then the lower level ones, as his 1.80 WHIP in 38.1 innings was very high. Part of that was the 20 walks, but 49 hitters successfully reached via the base hit. In La Crosse, he allowed just 35 in 46.1 innings. The defenses may have had some effect, as Yoak has turned into a flyballer. He didn't allow many homers, but he's giving up too much hard contact. Of course, he's just 19, and I don't think the 6'4'' lefty is going to top out at 89 on his fastball his entire career. His stuff has always been good, and it will only continue to improve, but his command struggles have been surprising. He seemed to have that handled in high school, but against tougher competition things haven't gone as well. If things break right, Yoak could be a very good big league starter, but his floor is still very low, and he has plenty of risk attached to him.

[ayaghmour2]

1B Cal Rice (263rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 158th Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Farmington Tigers

While most of the youngsters down in La Crosse struggled, Cal Rice was the glowing exceptions. Rice put together a tremendous season, slashing .325/.393/.509 (135 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 10 homers, and 54 RBIs while producing a 144 WRC+ in just shy of 300 trips to the plate. I always knew Rice had power, so seeing the ten longballs after just one the season before was very reassuring. The lefty slugger is an intimidating 6'3'' and he has outstanding strength. He has a solid hit tool, and could end up being a guy who hits around .290 with 15 or so home runs. That's exactly what you want from your first basemen, and I think he'll end up with a plus eye as well. Last season he displayed that, walking 42 times with 45 strikeouts, but this season he didn't fair as well. He still walked 29 times, but this year struck out nearly 60 (59) times in 78 games. As a bat first prospect, he's going to have to hit to stay in the lineup, but I'm not all too worried about that. The tools are evident, it's all about if he can bring it together against the best in the game. We don't have many first base prospects, and Rice is clearly the best of the group, and I think he could be a capable big league starter.

C Ernie Frost (266th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 108th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy Bulldogs

A 7th Rounder in the most recent draft, Ernie Frost was the only backstop we selected in the human portion of the draft, and was sent down to La Crosse to split time with Alex O'Dailey. In terms of WRC+ (104), Frost was slightly above average, but his OPS+ (88) was below average. Frost hit .279/.356/.356 in 118 trips to the plate, adding just 2 doubles, 2 homers, and 13 RBIs. He did walk 11 times, which contributed to his high on base percentage, but he still struck out twice as often. While somewhat of a concern, Frost does project to have an above average eye, leading to 40+ walks a year. Since he doesn't swing at many bad pitches, he tends to make solid contact when he offers. He's got some pop too, and could be a double digit home run hitter in the big leagues. At just 18, he's far from a finished product, but Frost has a lot of intriguing characteristics, and his power/eye combo is perfect for a catcher.

CF Franklin Thomas (268th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 9th Round, 134th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: President's College Prairie Stars

One of our three ninth rounders, Franklin Thomas got a week in San Jose before spending the rest of the season up in Lincoln. For being a recent draftee, he put up decent numbers, hitting .206/.299/.345 (84 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 4 triples, 2 homers, 7 steals, 15 RBIs, and 21 walks in 190 trips to the plate. While the average was low, in part due to 35 strikeouts in 44 games, he contributed well everywhere else. He hit plenty of extra base hits, was constantly on base due to the walks, and his speed led to a lot of stolen bases and plus defense in all three outfield spots. 22 in January, Thomas is a high floor, low ceiling type who has everything you look for in a fourth outfielder, but no standout tool to help develop him into a star. He won't hit many homers, but he displays an average to above average eye and contact tool. The defense is a plus, as he's got what it takes to stick in center, but you may have to sacrifice some offensive production. I expect him to get another shot in A ball, but it would not surprise me if the Coopertown native finishes next season up in Mobile. He could be a quick riser through the system, especially with a lack of quality outfield options in the upper minors. Beyond Johnny Peters, we don't have many exciting prospects in the upper levels, so Thomas won't have anyone in his way as he looks to make the big leagues.

SS Al Clement (272nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 29th Overall (1943)
Alma Mater: De Pere Redbirds

This was a nightmare season for Al Clement, who went back down to San Jose and really struggled. After hitting .329/.394/.478 (156 OPS+) the season before, the former 2nd Rounder hit just .268/.338/.336 (86 OPS+) in 496 trips to the plate. He did make 20 appearances in Lincoln, and seems likely to start there next season, but the on-field performance was certainly lacking from the talented infielder. Clement did do some things right, walking 53 times and swiping 21 bases with 19 doubles, 8 triples, and a homer run. The speed has always been a weapon for Clement, but this year it did not translate into range on the infield. He had a .960 efficiency and -4.7 zone rating at short with San Jose. I've started giving him some time at third, but Clement doesn't have the power to hold down a corner infield spot. Second base may be his final spot, but I want to continue giving him experience at short. His speed is elite, which helps raise his floor a bit, but he hasn't shown the ability to put the ball in play enough. His eye is impressive, and when he's on base he can make an impact, but it feels like a lot of his prospect shine has faded. Still 21, this coming season will be huge for Clement, as another rough season could make it hard for him to find playing time.

2B Tom Brownleaf (367th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 125th Overall (1943)
Alma Mater: Durant Lions

Taken a few rounds later then Clement in the same draft, Tom Brownleaf also had his share of struggles. Lucky for him, it came after some success, as he hit .287/.404/.396 (120 OPS+) in San Jose before receiving a promotion to Lincoln. That did not go well, as he hit just .206/.294/.286 (66 OPS+) in 214 trips to the plate. In 131 games between the two levels, Brownleaf tallied 25 doubles, 7 triples, 3 homers, 10 steals, and 59 RBIs with 59 walks and 92 strikeouts. Brownleaf does do a good job drawing walks, just like Clement, and he also has some issue putting the ball in play. He should develop a decent contact tool, but Brownleaf will never hit many home runs. A switch hitter, he tends to hit righties better, and we worked on his versatility this season. Projected to be a utility infielder, he barely played any short this year, as we gave him reps at second and third. His speed and versatility may help him crack a big league roster, but I wouldn't expect him to hit too much. His work ethic could unlock something hidden in him, but for now he's not expected to play everyday.

[ayaghmour2]

Something new is coming to the Figment baseball world, as there will be a Cuban Winter League for our prospects starting next week. The official rosters are yet to be announced, as teams can make minor adjustments, and tomorrow I will announce the prospects representing us. Each CA team is paired with an FA team, so us and the Washington Eagles will supply the 24 players for the Santa Clara Stallions. Games tend to be every other day, with the occasional back-to-back, to make things easier on the staff. This will be a nice way for us to see how our youngsters do against the rest of the league, and I think our prospects will fair quite well.

SS Tony Scuccinello (356th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 51st Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Redding Hornets

Better known as "Scooch", Tony Succinello was a late addition to the organization, as he was demanding around slot, and I thought I'd be able to get him to sign for it. That didn't work, so I instead had to meet the $1,800 demand for the 4th Rounder, and he appeared in just 35 games for the Lions. A natural shortstop, Scooch spent more time at third (20, 125) then at short (14, 89), and he did not fair too well at short. His -1.4 zone rating and .876 efficiency left a lot to be desired, but he did hit a respectable .265/.354/.382 (94 OPS+) in 79 trips to the plate. His 109 WRC+ was above average, and he hit 2 homers with 12 RBIs and 8 walks. He didn't have a double, but did pick up a triple, and the Cali kid swiped six bases in ten attempts. He's quick, has a strong eye, and an above average contact tool, so if he can put the ball in play, he's going to be a very good big league hitter. He won't ever hit many home runs, but he rarely chases and should manage to keep his strike outs under control. We'll keep giving him reps at short, but we may need to find a new position for him. Already a leader in the clubhouse, Scooch has the makeup you want for a shortstop, but without improvement in making plays that aren't right at him, he may end up a third instead.

SS John Price (317th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 9th Round, 140th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Holy Cross Tigers

Another shortstop from our recent draft class, John Price was taken in the 9th Round, and signed a larger $2,100 bonus and made starts at first, second, and short. Most of his time came in La Crosse, where he hit .298/.339/.544 (128 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 3 homers, and 13 RBIs in 62 trips to the plate. These were very impressive numbers for an 18-year-old, and he even spent a little time up in San Jose. Price then went just 2-for-17, but with no down arrow, Price may start the season in San Jose next year. A rather interesting prospect, Price is a bat first guy who showed decent pop and a strong hit tool. He could hit around .300 with 10 or so homers, but he doesn't draw many walks and could end up striking out more then his share. He's still young and has plenty of time to improve, but I think he'll have to move off of short, potentially to second or third. At six foot, even first base is an option, and if he can maintain the power it may not be a bad spot for him. He's a shortstop for now, but with guys like Scooch, Jim Mako, and Rupert Heinbaugh, we have plenty of depth their in the lower minors, so he may move off if he keeps hitting.

SS Rupert Heinbaugh (356th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 107th Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Weedsport Warriors

See, plenty of shortstop depth! Another shortstop, Rupert Heinbaugh was a 7th Rounder the draft before Scooch and Price were taken, so he made a lot more appearances then the two guys ranked above him. 67 of his 74 appearances came in La Crosse, where he hit a modest .274/.350/.447 (108 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 4 homers, and 30 RBIs. Pair that with a 3.1 zone rating and 1.080 efficiency at short, and the 19-year-old had a very productive first full season. Known more for his glove, he has plus speed and range on the infield, and he uses his athleticism in his favor. He can make some of the spectacular plays, while snapping up most of the routine ones. The bat shows some promise as well, as he's a line drive hitter who can barrel up the ball with consistency. OSA sees him as no more then a bench player, but with his bat, speed, and defense, I can see him developing into a second division starter. I'd rank him above both Price and Scooch myself, and I think the New York native will open some eyes this coming season.

RHP Jim N Smith (364th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 107th Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Georgia Baptist Gators

After ranking outside of our top 40 last year, "Noodles" checks in at 34th this season. The Georgia Baptist alum started the season with the Legislators, and was one of their best pitchers, going 6-3 with a 2.66 ERA (135 ERA+) in 14 starts. While those were solid numbers, his WHIP was a bit high at 1.57 as he walked (56) about as many hitters as he struck out (59) in 88 innings pitched. The walk issues took shape after a promotion to Mobile, as he allowed 43 free passes in 67 innings. This saw Smith finish just 3-4 with a 4.57 ERA (76 ERA+) and 1.87 WHIP, both very poor marks as his K/9 plummeted from an even 6 to 2.4 in his 9 starts. He'll get another go with the Commodores next season, as the 23-year-old is one of our more advanced prospects, and he should look better in the coming season. A five pitch pitcher, Smith has pretty good stuff, but his command needs a lot of work. OSA thinks the slider is the best pitch, Dixie Marsh views the change, and his mid 80s cutter is a third solid pitch. The curve and splitter could be good if he can locate them, as all his pitches have plenty of movement. He'll keep the ball in the park, even if its not on the ground, but for now too many pitches find themselves in the dirt or over the heart of the plate. If he can be more consistent, he'll pitch his way into a rotation, but for now most of his starts seem likely to come in the upper minors, not the majors.

RHP Lee Parker (368th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 15th Round, 236th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Marysville Monarchs

I almost didn't sign Lee Parker, who was our 15th Round pick this year, but I freed up just enough money to offer him $450 right before the deadline to forego his commitment to Central Kentucky. He then worked some high leverage innings out of the Lions pen, but Parker allowed 9 hits, 5 runs, and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts in 6 innings pitched. Due to this performance, you'd think he'd be an unranked prospect, but instead Parker was a surprise entrant into the top 500 at 368th. The 18-year-old did have a good senior season, going 8-1 with a 1.63 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 133 strikeouts for the Marysville Monarchs. Part of the struggles this year could be fatigue from a long season, the layoff between his senior year and minor league innings, or even the fact he's never pitched out of the pen. Next year I'll look to give him some starts, but while he does have a lot of pitches, they aren't necessarily good enough to fool FABL hitters. He's a projectable pitcher, standing 6'3'' on the mound with an interesting five pitch mix. He has a solid mid 80s fastball and a decent curve, but none of his offerings are expected to be plus pitches. He's shown strikeout potential, but like a lot of our other young pitchers, he has issues with command. Young pitchers are always interesting, and with his height, he could end up throwing consistently in the 90s. He's a project pitcher for sure, but I'd like to get a longer look at him before declaring him to be nothing more then pen fodder.

[ayaghmour2]

RHP Jimmy Ballard (370th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 84th Overall (1939)
Alma Mater: Donora Bombers

And the injury bug hit again... Jimmy Ballard tore his rotator cuff back in 1940, and on the first of September, he did it once again. The 24-year-old went under the knife again, ending what was one of his best career seasons. It started in Mobile, where he went 9-3 in 12 starts with a stellar 1.87 ERA (185 ERA+). He threw 106 innings with a 1.28 WHIP, 48 walks, and 53 strikeouts. Command has always eluded Ballard, and that caused him issues in his 49 innings in Milwaukee. Ballard walked 34 hitters with just 25 strikeouts, as his ERA and WHIP jumped to 3.67 (106 ERA+) and 1.45. His FIP painted a dimmer picture, sitting at a below average 5.00 (127 FIP-). 25 in April, it will be interesting to see if the sidearmer has anything left in his arm, as I'm hoping the fastball still sits in the 91-93 range. His stuff is his best asset, as effectively wild tends to best describe the former 6th Rounder. If he stayed healthy, I'd likely have a tough decision on whether or not I'd protect him, but I think he'll be left available for now. If he's healthy by Opening Day, he could return to the Blues rotation, but Ballard may not have the stamina to start anymore.

LF Bob Rogers (379th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 93rd Overall (1943)
Alma Mater: Newman Norseman

I expected a good season from the bat-first Rogers, but he got a red arrow when I tried bringing him to Lincoln, so he was stuck in the Cougars lineup all season long. In terms of WRC+, he was exactly average, but his triple slash of .289/.356/.359 (97 OPS+) was slightly below average. Rogers hit 13 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, and 46 RBIs in 465 trips to the plate. The former 6th Rounder isn't the most liked member of his team, as he's extremely selfish and loves any attention brought on to him. "Snoot" is a gifted hitter, who while not a home run hitter, hits the ball often and hard. He's not much of a defender, meaning his big league career rides on the bat, but it hasn't yet come around. He's still young, 22 in January, so it's not time to give up on him, but maybe giving $40k to an 18-year-old out of high school wasn't the best way to encourage him to develop into a big league hitter... Live and learn!

RHP Billy Stoddard (385th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 16th Round, 253rd Overall (1944)
Alma Mater: Lubbock Chaparrals

It was another tough season for Billy Stoddard, who hasn't looked great out of the pen. He worked as a stopper most of the season, but finished just 3-8 with 6 saves, a 5.21 ERA (82 ERA+), and 1.41 WHIP. While that's not good on the surface, the underlying numbers are much better. He struck out 54 hitters in 46.2 innings while walking just 15 batters. That looks like it would lead to a good FIP, but since he allowed 12 (!!) homers, it was actually a bit higher (5.25, 122) then his ERA. As an extreme fly-baller, homers can be expected for Stoddard, but 2.3 per 9 is absolutely insane. That has to normalizes some bit, and with his work in the offseason, I am expecting a much better season. Formerly projected as a borderline starter, one of his pitches filled out, as he's now a projected starter and should get some starts next season. It will likely come in La Crosse again, which would be his fourth season at that level. His slow start may prevent him from being a quality big league starter, but if his stuff is improved, he could then move up quickly. If he can maintain a stellar K/BB while limiting the homers, Stoddard could pitch in a big league rotation, but he's extremely raw and I don't think he'll reach the high minors anytime soon.

RHP Bill Ballantine (391st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 91st Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Fenger Titans

As he has at nearly every level, "The Windy City Whip" has managed to keep the ball in the park despite allowing a lot of flyballs. In 157 innings between Mobile and Milwaukee, he allowed just a single homer, as he was one of the best starters in our system. 13 of his 22 starts came in Mobile, where he went 6-6 with a 2.47 ERA (140 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, 37 walks, and 51 strikeouts. This earned him a promotion to Milwaukee, where I thought he'd finally run into a wall. Instead, his FIP- dropped from 85 to 82, as he was 2-2 with a 2.25 ERA (174 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, 18 walks, and 17 strikeouts. This sent his walk and strikeout rates in the wrong direction, but Ballantine continued to drum up weak contact. Destined to be our stopper, the Chicago native has continued to excel starting games, and it's not time to move him to the pen yet. His fastball is a tough pitch to square up, topping up at 95 with plenty of late movement. He doesn't really have an out pitch, but the slider gets righties to whiff. The forkball and change aren't great, and to fool FABL hitters he'll need one to develop into a plus pitch. His stamina may also work against him, but its still good enough to pitch multiple innings a few days in a row. I just added him to the 40, so he's got three years to make a case for staying on the big league roster. He'll always have a chance to crack our roster, but for now his development is best suited to pitch every fifth day in the minors.

RHP Kid Moore (394th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 60th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Bellmore Cougars

Rounding out our top 40 is a young pitcher Kid Moore, who was one of our three fourth rounders in the recent draft, all of which place in our top 40 and the top 400. Moore struggled out of the rotation, going 2-3 with a 5.88 ERA (73 ERA+) and 1.57 WHIP with 18 walks and 27 strikeouts in seven starts and 33.2 innings. He then moved to the pen, where he was dominant, going 5-1 with a pair of saves in 28.2 innings pitched. He had a stellar 1.26 ERA (340 ERA+) and 0.94 WHIP with 32 strikeouts and 11 walks. This rescued his season, as the 6'5'' righty finished with a respectable 3.75 ERA (114 ERA+) and 1.28 WHIP in 21 appearances. I still view Moore as a starter, and the only reason I went with the demotion is we have so many options to start games in the lower level. Moore will be a part of the Lions rotation from the get go, and as long as he isn't mashed like he was this year, he'll start all his appearances. A projectable pitcher, the wiry righty features a fastball, sinker, and slider. He's not the hardest thrower, just 85-87 at the moment, but with his size I expect him to end up throwing in the low-to-mid 90s. His stuff is really good, and should allow him to strike out plenty of batters, but his command needs a lot of work. Right now he's nothing more then minor league depth, but that's how it was for tall righties Harry Parker and George Oddo at one point too. I think that's far too lofty for a guy like Moore, but I think he could pitch his way into a rotation role.

[ayaghmour2]

1946 is the start of what will be an annual winter league played in Cuba where the teams are filled with players from each of the FABL organizations. There are 8 teams, fed by one CA and FA team respectively, which play a 30 game schedule. We our paired with the Washington Eagles, and our shared team will be called the Santa Clara Stallions. The pairings and the teams aren't permanent, so we have a different partner and/or different team to follow. The players below will represent the Cougars in the inaugural season, and I also included their stats from the level they spent most of their time with:

`LHP Ron Berry, 21 (5-4, 102.2, 4.47, 1.47, 48, 49 with Class B San Jose)
RHP Roscoe Brown, 24 (9-13, 195, 4.06, 1.40, 70, 89 with AA Mobile)
`*LHP Duke Bybee, 24 (14-6, 175.1, 2.05, 1.12, 40, 100 with AAA Milwaukee)
RHP Bill Holloway, 24 (4-8, 100.2, 3.49, 1.40, 52, 39 with AA Mobile)
LHP Bob Petty, 24 (3-9, 86, 5.76, 1.80, 51, 48 with AA Mobile)
`*C Eddie Howard, 23 (.325/.380/.428, 536, 37, 2, 3, 58, 43 with AAA Milwaukee)
1B Lou Thomas, 24 (.289/.388/.392, 577, 23, 9, 70, 82 with AAA Milwaukee)
*2B Bob Schmelz, 22 (.293/.406/.376, 426, 18, 4, 1, 48, 68, 5 with A Lincoln)
`*3B Otto Christian, 24 (.277/.339/.400, 519, 19, 2, 11, 65, 44 with AA Mobile)
SS Everett Fuller, 24 (.242/.319/.323, 413, 14, 2, 4, 40, 40, 11 with A Lincoln)
LF Johnny Carlisle, 24 (.291/339/.382, 300, 18, 2, 1, 20, 18, 6 with AA Mobile)
CF Don Jeppsen, 22 (.280/.312/.388, 497, 27, 7, 3, 55, 18, 8 with AA Mobile)
RF Ducky Cole, 22 (.286/.347/.402, 124, 4, 3, 1, 14, 11 with A Lincoln)

*On 40-Man Roster
`Top 100 Prospect

The CWL teams play three or four games a week, and I'll mention some of the performances of our guys. I think the plan might be to highlight the starting pitchers and any members of the lineup who make an impact on the week. I'll also touch on any of the guys with prolonged struggles. In a stats only league, and games are useful to evaluate players, and it will be interesting to see how our upper minors prospects compare to those around the league. Unfortunately George Oddo and Sutterfield have too much service time, so they can't participate, as both spent more then 100 days on the Cougars roster. It would have been nice to get Sutterfield some time at third or showcase Oddo to improve his trade value, but instead they'll stay stateside this offseason. I don't think there are awards, but Bybee should be the best pitcher in the league. He is the second highest ranked prospect participating, as #6 prospect Billy Forbes will man center for the Holguin Hawks.

[ayaghmour2]

LHP Duke Bybee (#4 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 49th Overall (1940)
AAA: 14-6,175.1 IP, 2.05 ERA (190 ERA+), 1.12 WHIP, 40 BB, 100 K
CWL: 1-0, 9 IP, 0.00 ERA (999 ERA+), 0.67 WHIP, 2 BB, 9 K

I was almost 100% positive that Duke Bybee would throw a shutout in his first Cuban Winter League start. I was not disappointed. The 24-year-old southpaw was the only pitcher to pitch in the Santa Clara Stallions inaugural game, as our talented rookie allowed just 4 hits and 2 walks with 9 strikeouts in a 4-0 win over the Manzanillo Palms. The Palms actually won their next two games, so it's not like he was facing a bad team, but Bybee is far and away the best player in the Cuba. These winter games will show what I already know, Bybee is more then ready for the majors, but its been almost two months and Billy Riley is still a Cougar. The offseason trade market has been very quiet, but even if Riley doesn't find a new home, Bybee will be in Chicago. He's just too good to keep in the minors, as he's got ace potential with excellent stuff, movement, and control. He won't walk many guys, he doesn't allow many homers, and the whiffs! Oh so many whiffs! Add in the fact that he's a team captain, and the only real weakness Bybee has is that he's stuck on an organization with a lot of good pitchers.

C Eddie Howard (#36 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1941)
AAA: .325/.380/.428 (119 OPS+), 536 PA, 37 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 58 RBI
AAA: 4-0, 2 SV, 30.1 IP, 3.86 ERA (101 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, 14 BB, 20 K
CWL: .273/.273/.273 (93 OPS+), 11 PA,
CWL: 0-1, 7.2 IP, 3.52 ERA (59 ERA+), 1.30 WHIP, 5 BB, 5 K

While I may have expected the Bybee situation, I did not expect Eddie Howard to make a start, and be slotted in as the #2 member of the Stallions rotation. Our catcher of the future got the lone loss, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs, and 5 walks with 5 strikeouts in 7.2 innings pitched. Howard started the other two games behind the plate, going 3-for-11 with a run scored. The 23-year-old will use this time as an early audition for the Opening Day roster, as Howard will be in competition with Homer Guthrie for the right to backup Harry Mead. Howard has plenty of upside, with an elite contact tool and capable defense behind the plate, but he doesn't hit for much power. It's interesting to see if he can pitch well too, but he's never started in the minors. Coming into his start he had 41.1 minor league innings, with 30.1 with the Blues this season. Having a backup catcher who can mop up is a plus, and could make it easier for him to claim the backup spot.

RF Ducky Cole (Not Ranked)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 97th Overall (1942)
A: .286/.347/.402 (114 OPS+), 124 PA, 4 2B, 3 3B, HR, 14 RBI
CWL: .429/.636/.571 (325 OPS+), 11 PA, 2B, RBI, SB

Offense as a whole as been very low in the Cuban Winter League, but don't tell that to Ducky Cole. The 22-year-old outfielder is off to an outstanding start, going 3-for-7 with a double, run, RBI, and 3 walks in his first 3 games. For someone who missed almost four months during the season and has just 7 games above A ball, the CWL is a blessing for him as he'll get more playing time and a chance to showcase his skills. Cole is playing right for the Stallions, a position he's recently converted to and looked very capable at. Not one of our top prospects, Ducky is at risk of losing playing time, but he has a nice bat and hits plenty of line drives to right field. A strong showing here could entice someone to take a chance on him, as we won't be protecting him in the Rule-5 Draft.

[ayaghmour2]

3B Otto Christian (#50 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1941)
AA: ..277/.339/.400 (106 OPS+), 519 PA, 19 2B, 2 3B, 11 HR, 65 RBI
CWL: .273/.407/.545 (199 OPS+), 27 PA, 2 HR, 8 RBI

While most bats in the Cuban Winter League have been ice cold, Otto Christian is one of the stunning exceptions. In his first seven games, "The Walla Walla Walloper" has produced a 205 WRC+ with 2 homers, 8 RBIs, and 5 walks. Christian already has a pair of multi-hit games, a 2-for-4 at Matanzas and a 3-for-4 hosting Santiago. He homered in both and now leads the Stallions in slugging (.545), homers, RBIs, walks, total bases (12), and WAR (0.5). For a guy looking to earn a starting job this Spring, a huge offensive explosion in the CWL gives him an edge. Both Gig Taylor and John Fast have three homers, but I'd wager Otto passes them both by season end. His defense has looked good at the hot corner, already producing a 1.6 zone rating in just 62 innings. These extra at bats against quality pitchers are huge for his development, and could help give him the push he needs to handle big league pitchers.

[ayaghmour2]

C Eddie Howard (#36 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1941)
AAA: .325/.380/.428 (119 OPS+), 536 PA, 37 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 58 RBI
AAA: 4-0, 2 SV, 30.1 IP, 3.86 ERA (101 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, 14 BB, 20 K
CWL: .342/.444/.421 (159 OPS+), 145 PA, RBI
CWL: 1-1, 16.1 IP, 2.20 ERA (144 ERA+), 1.41 WHIP, 11 BB, 9 K

Well isn't this something! The best pitcher on the Stallions might be Eddie Howard! Duke Bybee struggled after his shutout, allowing 11 runs and 22 hits in his past two starts, albeit, still with 13 strikeouts and just 2 walks. Start two went much better for Howard, coming just one out shy of a complete game victory. He allowed 7 hits, 6 walks, and a run with 4 strikeouts. Howard has been hitting even better, slashing .342/.444/.421 (159 OPS+) with 3 doubles and 6 walks. It's just a small sample, but he's shown impressive production at the plate and on the mound, making it possible for him to try both once he makes the big leagues. I don't think there are starts available for him this season, but if he could function as a pitcher and a catcher, our roster construction will be much easier. If he follows this impressive performance with a strong spring, it will be tough to keep him off the big league roster, but Homer Guthrie is a more then capable backup and Howard may be best served playing regularly.

RF Ducky Cole (Not Ranked)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 97th Overall (1942)
A: .286/.347/.402 (114 OPS+), 124 PA, 4 2B, 3 3B, HR, 14 RBI
CWL: .375/.447/.656 (230 OPS+), 38 PA, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, SB

Recently featured in TWIFB, Ducky Cole has been one of the best hitters in the CWL. Ducky's 228 WRC+ is the best among qualified hitters, as the former 7th Rounder has slashed .375/.447/.656 (23 OPS+) with a pair of homers and 8 RBIs through 38 tips to the plate. Since he's eligible for the Rule-5 draft, we are at risk of losing the 22-year-old. Injuries and the war have held him to just 35 games in the past two years. With just 7 games above A ball, it would be tough to roster him all season, but we have plenty of open 40 spots and I don't envision needing any in the near future. So It's fair enough to say the hard worker earned a spot. Cole doesn't rank among the league's top 500 prospects, but he's always had an interesting bat and he can cover all three outfield spots. Cole will likely return to Mobile to next season, but he'll be useful outfield depth while he continues to improve. Dixie Marsh thinks he's are most advanced right field prospect, and he could be a bar to pass for some of our young outfield prospect like Jimmy Hairston and Zeke Johnson. I think he's a high floor, low ceiling guy who won't be more then a fourth outfielder, but with his work ethic, being surrounded by quality big leaguers could get a little more out of him,

[ayaghmour2]

RHP Roscoe Brown (#416 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 113th Overall (1940)
AA: 9-13, 195 IP, 4.05 ERA (85 ERA+), 1.40 WHIP, 70 BB, 89 K
CWL: 0-0, SV, 3.2 IP, 0.00 ERA (999 ERA+), 0.55 WHIP, B, 6 K

He isn't getting any starts, but when he's pitched, the innings have been impressive. In four appearances, Brown has allowed just one hit and a walk with 6 strikeouts, and he also picked up a save when Eddie Howard couldn't get the 27th out last week. These numbers are much better then his season stats at Mobile, where he had a 4.05 ERA (85 ERA+) and 1.40 WHIP in 24 starts. Brown hasn't pitched out of the pen since high school, but it seems to be a role better suited for him then starting games. Sure, it's a really small sample, but it allows him to showcase his tremendous stuff, and he hasn't been walking nearly as many hitters. Brown has had a K/9 over 5 four times in samples of over 50 innings, but it doesn't usually come with command. With the Commodores he had a high 3.2 BB/9 despite finally dropping it below 2 in the 1944 season. The hard thrower has an excellent sinker that generates whiffs and grounders, but third time through hitters seem to pick up on it better. Overpowering a few batters for an inning or seems right up his alley, and if his strong command in '44 was a fluke, this could be the start of a transition to a pen role for him.

[ayaghmour2]

While there hasn't been much transactional activity this offseason, today was a busy day in FABL as we completed the Rule-5 Draft and are a bit over a week away from starting the new year. That means the real draft is coming up, at least the first eight rounds, and Cougar head scout Dixie Marsh has been very busy trying to acquaint himself with what Tom Weinstock thought was a very deep group of prospects. That means little time for other activities, so I expected a quiet draft. That ended up not being the case, as there were a few players I've been interested in from the past, so instead of relying on Dixie for lottery tickets, I tried to grab players I was familiar with. We did lose a guy, but it was 33-year-old minor leaguer Reginald Westfall, who the Foresters may look to give everyday at bats to. He's a solid FABL hitter, producing a 118 WRC+ in 775 games with the Wolves, but he sat on the bench in 1944, missed 1945 with the war, and started 55 of his 112 appearances in Milwaukee this season.

The first player we selected came from the Cincinnati Cannons organization, southpaw Red Hampton. No, not the 40-year-old workhorse who went 12-13 with a 3.79 ERA (91 ERA+) in 31 starts for the Cannons this season, but Mr. Glass, a former 6th Round Pick. Red was on my draft list for 1940, but the nickname scared me away a bit and we took Mel Haynes, Duke Bybee, and Harry Stewart in the 1st, 4th, and 5th. Still, with two sixth rounders, I was ready to take him 92nd overall (that was Cy Howard), but the Cannons took him 10 picks earlier. As his nickname would suggest, staying healthy has been somewhat of an issue for the 24-year-old, as he missed 5 months in 1942 after undergoing radial nerve decompression surgery, and then almost a year to date later a partially torn UCL ended his season on the last day of May. He then served in the Army in 1945, which may have been good for his arm. Despite not pitching above Class B, the Cannons started Hampton in their AA rotation, and he definitely impressed. The young lefty went 11-11 with a 3.40 ERA (102 ERA+), starting 34 games and throwing 222.2 innings pitched. He did have some walk issues, allowing 128 (5.2) free passes, but he struck out 140 (5.7) hitters while allowing just four homers.

We don't "need" a pitcher by any means, but there are pen spots up for grabs, and there is a lot to like about the Auburn native. The stuff is impressive, so if he can just walk one less hitter a start, his effectiveness could increase significantly. A four pitch pitcher, Hampton features a sinker that can hit 96, and it's a very strong pitch. He's a real worm burner, allowing him to tightrope out of trouble with a double play, and he can use the pitch to finish off hitters as well. His slider, change, and forkball are all quality big league pitches, with the slider a weapon against lefty swingers. In the pen, he could be a really tough sinker/slider guy, but I think his future lies in the rotation. If we can get him to work the strike zone better, he could really surprise, but that's a tough hurdle to handle. Hampton is currently out in Cuba, working as the stopper for the first place Havana Sharks. He's made 9 appearances, throwing 11.1 innings with 6 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts and just 1 earned run. Obviously it's not FABL quality competition, but he's looked really good so far, and I expect he can more then handle his own if we leave him a pen spot.

Our second pick has a much tougher road to the roster, as we have plenty of in-house outfield options. Still, there is a lot to like about 22-year-old outfielder Joe Read. A 6th Round Pick in 1942 by the Miners, Read spent his season in AAA St. Paul, where he slashed a respectable .278/.344/.373 (97 OPS+) with 27 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers, and 32 RBIs. Best known for his eye, Read drew 41 base on balls, and projects to maintain a high OBP as he excels at working the walk. There's not much power in his bat, but he puts the ball in play a lot and despite not being much of a base stealer, he has above average foot speed. Read did hit 5 homers in each of A and AA last season, so we could see a few homers from him in the future, but 5'9'' guys who weigh 140 can't reasonably be counted on for tape measure blasts. He's a decent defender, with experience in all three outfield spots, but I'm not sure I want to see him in center much. Like Hampton, Read is currently overseas, and he's recently taken the starting left field job for the Matanzas Buccaneers. Read has taken 31 trips to the plate and hit .346/.452/.500 (167 OPS+) with a double, homer, 3 RBIs, and 5 walks. I'd love to see him carry this into the Spring, but with spots reserved for Mitchell, Montes, Lee, and Sharp, there's only one or two spots up for grabs. Veterans Ray Struble and Fred Vargas have the inside edge, but neither spot is locked in stone, and they don't have the upside of Read.

Another guy Read will have to compete with is Bill Payne, a 24-year-old we claimed off waivers from the Gothams. A bat only type player, Payne has hit at every level, and debut for the Gothams during the 1945 season. The former 3rd Rounder had an outstanding debut season, slashing .300/.369/.432 (136 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 6 homers, and 37 RBIs while walking (26) over twice as often as he struck out (11). He looked to be a building block in the Gothams lineup, but this season did not go as planned. He got off to a dreadful start, and on May 13th he was optioned to AAA after hitting just .194 with two extra base hits. The bat started to heat up in the minors, as hit .311/.408/.466 (136 OPS+) in 234 trips to the plate. That earned him a September callup, and while he still wasn't great, Payne finished his FABL time with a .196/.321/.239 (60 OPS+) batting line. The lack of power was a bit of a surprise, as he had 12 doubles and 6 homers in Toledo, and he usually makes a lot of contact. He's not a slugger by any means, but he does have solid gap power. His hit tool is his best one, and as a flyball hitter, some of those long flyouts at Gotham Stadium will clear the fence at Cougars Park. His biggest issuse is his defense, as he's been pretty terrible at first, left, and right, so much so in right that he does not have a positoinal rating. With two options left, we can hopefully have him work on the glove a bit more, but my vision with Payne is a solid lefty off the bench who can move runners over or work long at bats. I think we'll work him out in left, with Lou Thomas getting the at bats at first, but I could see him playing a bit of both.

Payne was one of two players I submitted claims on, but the other, righty Tom Richardson, will join the our crosstown rivals instead. This brings our 40-man roster up to 38, and I have a few more tricks under my sleeve that could end up filling it up. I wish that meant a Billy Riley trade, but it's looking more and more likely that he may stay a Cougar. That's not a bad thing, but it will make the pitching situation in Chicago very fluid, and we may get super wacky and use an abbreviated seven man rotation as Duke Bybee needs to start games in Chicago. After his shutout on Opening Day in the CWL, he hasn't been quite as sharp, but Bybee has a respectable 3.09 ERA (114 ERA+) and 1.09 WHIP with 24 strikeouts to just 5 walks. Harry Parker seems like the odd man out, and he may return to the pen after a stretch of nearly 250 consecutive starts. Plenty of teams could use an arm like Riley in their rotation, so the lack of interest is a bit of a surprise, but it may be best for our title aspirations if he's pitching every fifth or six day for us.

[ayaghmour2]

LF Johnny Carlisle (Not Ranked)
Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 116th Overall (1944)
AA: .291/.339/.382 (101 OPS+), 300 PA, 18 2B, 2 3B, HR, 20 RBI, 6 SB
CWL: .295/.337/.462 (129 OPS+), 85 PA, 4 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, SB

Much to my surprise, the Santa Clara Stallions sit in last place at 7-12 and 5 games out in the early season. Perhaps that's because Eddie Howard (.309, 3; 2-2, 4.50, 17) is the #2 in the rotation and guys like Otto Christian (.206, 4 HR, 13 RBI) and Duke Bybee (1-3, 3.09, 24) haven't been as good as expected. Most of our high upside prospects are in the low minors or have played too much in the majors, so we didn't have too much to offer. This gave an opportunity for a versatile unraked prospect to get a chance to showcase his skills. The 24-year-old missed some time this season with injury, but he produced a 169 WRC+ in just shy of 200 PAs with the Legislators. This was all before a case of wrist tendinitis, but his .362/.421/.523 (169 OPS+) batting line suggested he didn't need to return to Lincoln. Carlisle instead joined the Commodores lineup where he would finish the regular season. Carlisle hit a respectable .291/.339/.382 (101 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, 6 walks, and 20 RBIs.

The Cowpens State alum has appeared in all 19 games for the Stallions, batting second and playing left field. He's been one of the teams best producers, slashing .295/.337/.462 (129 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 3 homers, 10 RBIs, and a steal. I'm glad he's one of the guys who gets extra at bats, as the next game he plays will be his 132nd of the season. With 23 games left, he has the chance to play approximately a full FABL season if he can stay healthy. Right now he has 36 doubles, 6 triples, 6 homers, 59 RBIs, and 13 steals between the three levels. Even more impressive, he's been worth 4.2 WAR while making 15 or more appearances at five positions with 14 out in right. Santa Clara put him out there for an inning already, so there's some chance they'll move him there once more. His versatility has made him a personal favorite of mine, but this may bring some attention to him. But as a Tip Harrison like player, Carlisle has the chance to be a career utility man for us. I love having versatile guys like him who make constructing a bench infinitely easier, allowing us to keep bat first guys like Hal Sharp, Hank Barnett, and Ray Ford when their gloves completely go, as well as potential impact pinch hitters like Fred Vargas or the recently claimed Bill Payne. It's not the flashiest job, but five or so seasons as a season long bench guy pays pretty well. Especially considering he didn't receive a signing bonus when selected.

[ayaghmour2]

The offseason has gone slower then expected as we try to get Figment Hockey setup, but we are almost at the draft. The lottery will be run after Monday's sim, giving Dixie Marsh one more week to scout the pool before delivering his first draft list. With only a few months, I won't judge him very harshly on the first eight rounds, and thanks to shortlists I have a group of players that Tom Weinstock was fond of to help navigate the draft. It will be tough to get a player better then Bob Allen, the game's current third ranked prospect, but we have three shots at the first pick. I expect that to be Les Ledbetter, the reigning Christian winner and eventual top ranked pitching prospect. It would almost be unfair if he became a Cougar, giving us another potential ace. Even if we don't get Les, there are plenty of top players regardless of where we pick.

LF Joe Read (#218 Overall)
Acquired: Via Rule-5 Draft (1946)
Drafted: 6th Round, 93rd Overall (1942)
AAA: .278/.344/.373 (97 OPS+), 433 PA, 27 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 32 RBI, SB
CWL: ..324/.432/.486 (156 OPS+), 44 PA, 2B, 3B, HR, 5 RBI

Unlike the prospects who originally started in our system, Joe Read plays for the Matanzas Buccaneers, who are in the same division as the Santa Clara Stallions, but 12-11 and three games ahead. Read had a nice showing in his first week in our organization, recording a hit in all three of his games. In total, the former Miners farmhand was 3-for-11 with a triple and two walks, runs, and RBIs. Read has had an impressive showing in the CWL, producing a .324/.432/.486 (156 OPS+) batting line with 7 walks and just 2 strikeouts. The outfielder has a stellar 166 WRC+ with an extra base hit of each kind, with 5 RBIs and 8 runs scored. The hardworking outfielder knows his big league dream has come close to a reality, and his strong showing here and surprisingly high prospect ranking are helping build his case for a backup outfield role. I love his hit tool, he hits the ball often and with authority, and with an impressive eye he should be on the bases all the time. Add in the speed and you have a real threat on the bases. At just 22, he's farm from a finished product, so if we can keep him on the roster the entirety of the season, he can work on honing his skills to develop into a second division regular.

[ayaghmour2]

It happened! He was traded!

The double agent Billy Riley, who allowed 11 hits, 12 runs, and 5 walks in his last two starts against the Stars, including game 153, which officially eliminated us from the playoffs. Despite that, Riley did finish the season top five in the CA in ERA (4th, 2.87) and WHIP (5th, 1.16) as well as shutouts (2nd, 4). In two-and-a-half seasons as a Cougar, Riley was 39-26 with a 3.13 ERA (112 ERA+) and 1.17 WHIP with 160 walks and 238 strikeouts. Since debuting with the Stars back in 1938, Riley has made 279 starts and thrown 2,155.1 innings. He owns a 3.37 ERA (110 ERA+) and 1.26 WHIP with 617 walks and 899 strikeouts, and Riley has started 29 or more games in each of his last eight seasons. He's been a durable and reliable starting pitcher, but we have too many of those, and Duke Bybee needs to be pitching at the big league level.

His third team will be his first in the Federal Association, as he'll join the reigning Federal Association champions, along with $11,000 cash. In return, the Eagles will send us their 4th Round pick, veteran infielder Jim Jenkins, and a pair of prospects. The 32-year-old Jenkins was a surprise star in the final war season, going on a 36-game hit streak and slashing .334/.363/.461 (143 OPS+) in 99 games. The infielder swiped 24 bases and hit 23 doubles, 10 triples, and 4 homers with 60 runs and 52 RBIs. As good as that was, it was his first season with a WRC+ above 85 since his old career high of 93 in 1939. 85 is also his career mark, as it dropped to that after "Hoot" hit .268/.277/.372 (83 OPS+) in 193 PAs this season. He did still provide some value with the glove, playing above average defense at third and second. With an affordable $16,000 contract, he can replace Jim Beard for cheaper, filling his role as veteran infielder and good clubhouse presence. The initial trade saved just under $10,000 and then with Jenkins instead of Beard we'll save another $7,000. Beard did post a slightly higher 97 WRC+ this season, but his defense at third leaves plenty to be desired.

Neither of the two prospects acquired rank in the top 100, but Rupert Abbott comes close at 121. A 4th Rounder in the most recent draft, Abbott hit an impressive .320/.387/.435 (122 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 4 triples, 2 homers, 3 steals, and 32 RBIs in 226 trips to the plate. A natural center fielder, he spent most of his time in left field, where he produced a 6.2 zone rating with a 1.084 efficiency. I think he has the range and speed to stick in center, but they have another talented defensive center fielder Mickey Holloway (who I inquired on as well), on the roster who was already manning center once Abbott signed out of Opelika State. The glove is his best tool, but the 21-year-old outfielder has a good eye and the lefty can hit to all fields. He's a hard worker who comes prepared into his at bats, allowing him to give professional at bats each time he's up. He's not much of a home run hitter, but he could hit a lot of doubles and triples with his speed and level swing. He'll never be a star, but even if he doesn't reach his potential, he's got all the tools to be a capable fourth outfielder. He has the chance to be a capable regular, but he's got to earn his way up with all the talented outfielders in our system.

The other piece fills a need in our organization, as the Eagles are deep behind the plate while beyond Eddie Howard, we don't have many potential regulars in the farm. Mike Bordes is ranked 149th, very high for someone once selected in the 11th Round. After not playing much in his draft year of 1944, he played regularly last year and reached AA at just 19. He turned 21 this November, so he was 20 when he hit .262/.302/.342 (80 OPS+) with the Atlanta Peaches this year. I think we'll start him in Lincoln, but there's a chance he could finish out his year in AA. A bat first catcher, Bordes has a solid hit tool and strong knowledge of the zone. Defense isn't his strong suit, so he may have to play a little first as he moves up, but the offense should more then make up for it. Unlike Abbott, hard work isn't his thing, so he may never help too much behind the plate. But it's clear there's some talent, and he's already made himself a much better player in his two and a half seasons in the Eagles organization.

As big as the trade itself was, the biggest part of this means that Duke Bybee has a spot in our rotation. The 24-year-old had one of the best seasons ever for a Milwaukee Blues pitcher, going 14-6 with a 2.05 ERA (190 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP with 40 walks and 100 strikeouts. He made 26 starts with the Blues, and has now made 5 more in Cuba, an unlucky 1-4 despite a 3.07 ERA (117 ERA+) and 1.15 WHIP. The underlying numbers suggest Bybee is even unluckier then you think, as he's struck out 31 hitters while walking just 10 in 41 innings. This has helped contribute to an elite 2.09 FIP (58 FIP-), tied for third lowest in the CWL. Another potential ace, Bybee has a deep six pitch rotation, ranging from a fastball that can touch 97 to a devastating forkball that has turned into his out pitch. As good as the 6'4'' southpaws stuff is, the command is what makes him special, as he's truly gifted for someone his age. He has the makeup to compete in high stress environments and his leadership has made him one of the captains on any roster he inhabits. It's going to be exciting to see the consistent top 10 prospect get his first real shot in the majors, potentially rivaling even Donnie Jones once he reaches his full potential.

[ayaghmour2]

Its draft time! We had a very good chance for the first pick, a whopping 23% chance (same with the Sailors), but instead, the Toronto Wolves finally got one thing to go right for them, securing the first pick despite just about a 7.5% chance. Their reward for an awful and unlucky season is a chance to select Les Ledbetter #1 overall. If you don't know who Les is, he's a guy who's won all 34 of his decisions since debuting as a freshman in his local Fowlerville, Michigan high school. He had a teensy-weensy 0.24 ERA in 113.1 innings last season, with 245 strikeouts. In 346.2 prep innings, he's set down 643 batters on strikes while walking 57. He's a potential generational talent, and with George Garrison 29 and Joe Hancock 34, they can hand the reigns to Ledbetter once he's ready.

Of course, the Wolves could trade the pick, or select one of the excellent hitters available, but my money is on Les going #1. We didn't make out too bad, getting the 5th pick in both the first and second rounds (there are two separate lotteries). I am looking to move up, as while there are a lot of very good hitters, there is one guy I really want, and if he's not there, I'll look to move back as after Led and my guy, there's about a dozen or so really good players I'd be happy to end up with. If we keep our second, we have a chance to add two serious talents to the #1 system in the league. Lucky enough, I was a bit worried Dixie Marsh wouldn't be prepared, and he no longer has any "Low" or "Very Low" scouted players. 236 "Average" isn't great, but of his top 30 or so players, all but one were already on my watchlist.

Can't wait to get the draft started!

RHP Red Hampton (Unranked)
Acquired: Via Rule-5 Draft (1946)
Drafted: 8th Round, 113th Overall (1940)
AA: 11-11, 222.2 IP, 3.40 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.56 WHIP, 128 BB, 140 K
CWL: 2-1, 3 SV, 17 IP, 3.71 ERA (105 ERA+), 1.47 WHIP, 9 BB, 11 K

Other then Duke Bybee, I don't think anyone was as happy as Red Hampton when the Billy Riley trade went through, as it makes his road to the active roster a bit easier. Unfortunately for Mr. Glass, his most recent appearance was the worst, as the Havana Sharks stopper got the loss in a 5-2 game against Eddie Howard (8 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 6 BB, 6 K) and the Santa Clara Stallions. Hampton walked three and allowed two hits while allowing four runs. Even with that blowup, he's still had an impressive winter, allowing 16 hits, 7 runs, and 9 walks with 11 strikeouts in 17 innings pitched. His 3.31 FIP (85 FIP-) is much better then his 3.40 ERA (105 ERA+), and almost half his walks came in this most recent outing. Ranked right outside the top 500 and our top 50, the hard throwing lefty has elite stuff, with a great sinker and a sweeping slider that most lefties flail at when they try to protect the plate. Looking to the start of the season, we'll be carrying nine pitchers, with six spots claimed (Pap, the Jones Brothers, Brown, Parker, and Bybee) and another, Harry MacRae, likely to earn the seventh spot. Hampton will have to beat out fellow southpaw Rusty Watts, and righties Ken Matson and Charlie Kelsey. Working to his favor is he can't be optioned down, but all three of these guys are big league quality pen arms.

RF Ducky Cole (Not Ranked)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 97th Overall (1942)
A: .286/.347/.402 (114 OPS+), 124 PA, 4 2B, 3 3B, HR, 14 RBI
CWL: .237/.322/.368 (94 OPS+), 87 PA, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 2 SB

After a red-hot start to the Winter League, Ducky Cole has really started to slump. He's gone 4-for-his-last-38, dropping his CWL line to his below average .237/.322/.368 (94 OPS+). This partially makes me wish I didn't give him a 40 spot, but as mentioned earlier, we had extra spots, and I thought there was a chance someone would take a risk on the talented 22-year-old. Cole has a nice swing and puts the ball in play often, and he also does a good job in the outfield. The Stallions have been playing better ball, up to 12-15 and now tied for third, but if Cole can turn things around they could possibly finish over .500. The regular season finishes up on January 31st, so they could go 10-5 to finish 22-20. Cole isn't the only struggling Cougar, as Everett Fuller (.190, 6, 1) hasn't provided much offense. Cole will head to AA next month and potentially big league camp, but with a strong season he could be up in Chicago next fall.

[ayaghmour2]

Draft is live, with Les Ledbetter going #1 to the Wolves as expected, and the guy I wanted, shortstop Irv Clifford, going to the Miners at two. I made a few big offers, but they wanted to keep the pick. I could trade down, as there are a lot of guys I really like and am more or less split on, but I still expect to make the pick at five.

We also have a few transactions to go through as well. I will no longer have to release Jim Beard, as he was claimed by the Miners and they will be on the hook for his $23,100 salary. "The Flatbush Flash" spent one season in Chicago, hitting .190/.346/.286 (83 OPS+) with 2 doubles, a triple, and 3 RBIs in 78 games. In those 78 games, he started just one, and made only 54 trips to the plate, coming on frequently for Hank Barnett as a defensive sub. He will now join former Cougar Johnny McDowell, who has spent the last four plus seasons at third, and was selected to the All-Star game in each season from 1943 to 1945. McDowell hit .316/.349/.396 (106 OPS+) last season and .326/.369/.399 (123 OPS+) as a Miner, so you have to imagine his starting spot is safe.

We also added some minor league depth, claiming 24-year-old reliever Al Winn off waivers from the Sailors. He has a minor league contract, so we do not have to put him on the 40, and he can be used as minor league pen depth. Originally a 6th Round Pick of the Kings, Winn spent most of his time in AAA, throwing 41.1 innings for the Richmond Rebels. It didn't go great, as he had a 5.01 ERA (84 ERA+) and 1.84 WHIP with more walks (27) then strikeouts (18). I think he was overmatched there, and I expect him to start in AA Mobile for us. He's a sinker-baller who sits in the 89-91 range and produces plenty of groundballs. The 6'3'' righty also gets plenty of movement on all his pitches, with a decent curve and mediocre change to compliment the sinker. He doesn't use the change very often, and his sinker/curve combo could be enough in an inning or two.

I also learned something new today, we have Personality ratings on, so I was just guessing based on the personality blurbs on the player page. Turns out I can just see that Joe Brown has "High" (top rank) leadership and work ethic, something I already knew, or Harry Parker and Billy Hunter's work ethic was "Low" (bottom rank). Turns out Skipper is low too. I always knew he was a little lazy, despite literally being the best shortstop in the game, but it's a little sad seeing it in real life. I mean, how much better could a guy who's started over 1,000 FABL games before his 26th birthday. And he's approaching 50 WAR, already top 10 (6th, 47.7) in Cougars history. Imagine if he actually tried to be good at baseball!

LHP Duke Bybee (#4 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 49th Overall (1940)
AAA: 14-6,175.1 IP, 2.05 ERA (190 ERA+), 1.12 WHIP, 40 BB, 100 K
CWL: 2-5, 61 IP, 3.54 ERA (106 ERA+), 1.18 WHIP, 15 BB, 41 K

It's bad enough that he hasn't quite dominated the league, but now the Stallions aren't scoring runs for Duke Bybee. Most days, and especially in Chicago, 9 innings with just 3 earned runs is good enough to win you a ballgame. Instead, Gothams lefty Jerry Decker (3-4, 4.17, 39) matched that, sending the game in extras. Neither team scored in the tenth, but eventually Bybee fell apart in the 11th, as Sailor prospect turned Miner Rule-5 Pick Al Sturdivant (.243, 1, 10), who was on my list, hit a two-out, three-run blast to give the Hawks the lead they could hold. This dropped Bybee to 2-5 in the Winter with a 3.54 ERA (106 ERA+) and 41 strikeouts in 61 innings pitched. The underlying numbers still love the talented southpaw, as his 2.55 FIP (67 FIP-) is fifth among starting pitchers and no qualified arm has a higher K/BB then his 2.7. Traditional numbers aside, I'm psyched with how Bybee has pitched, and it makes me more and more excited to see him start games in 1947. I'm going to take it easy with him, and he's going to open as the #6 starter, but that's where Johnnie Jones (10-14, 2.64, 88) was and he'll start next season as the #3. The sky is the limit for this youngster, and if he has a big season, we may finally break the longest title drought in Cougar history.

3B Otto Christian (#50 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1941)
AA: ..277/.339/.400 (106 OPS+), 519 PA, 19 2B, 2 3B, 11 HR, 65 RBI
CWL: .245/.385/.481 (145 OPS+), 130 PA, 2B, 8 HR, 29 RBI

Otto Christian has gone on a rampage, as the 24-year-old slugger has hit three homers in his last nine at bats, including two in a 6-3 loss to the Holguin Hawks. "The Walla Walla Walloper" has now surpassed Eagles first basemen Maurice Carter (.299, 6, 25) for the team lead with eight longballs, and he shares the league lead with the Wolves John Fast (.235, 8, 26) and the Saints Gig Taylor (.263, 8, 29, 2). Otto's power surge has upped his season line to .245/.385/.481 (145 OPS+) and he has a 150 WRC+ with 16 runs, 29 RBIs, and more walks (24) then strikeouts (13). Known for his power, what has impressed most is the eye, as he's getting more comfortable at the plate after a three year tour in the Air Force. If he can keep his strikeouts down, that's a lot more balls in play, and he hits it high and far to all fields. I think he's going to love our shallow fields, as a ten foot wall is nothing for someone with his strength. This is a big year for him, as third base is one of the few positions up for grab. We lacked a true righty slugger last season with Hank Barnett's, and Otto is exactly the type of guy you want batting fourth behind Leo Mitchell.

[ayaghmour2]

1st Round, 5th Overall: CF Jerry Smith
School: Jackson Generals
1946: .524/.588/1.107, 102 PA, 14 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 31 RBI, 20 SB
Career: .524/.585/1.112, 207 PA, 25 2B, 9 3B, 19 HR, 67 RBI, 38 SB

Just uhh, asking for a "friend"... Can you have too many center fielders?

That's something the Chicago Cougars will be having to debate, as we have two very talented big league center fielders in Carlos Montes and Don Lee, but in the last three drafts, we have now selected four center fielders in the first two rounds. 1945's 3rd Overall Pick Johnny Peters, who ranks 35th in the top 100, last year's 2nd Rounder Frank Reece, who's a few spots lower at 38, and 1945 2nd Rounder Carl Clark is towards the back at 95th. In fact, after the Riley trade, five of our top fifteen prospects (all top 150!) are center fielders. The newest addition, Jerry Smith, may actually be the best of them.

Yes, I know we don't need any center fielders, but Irv Clifford went #2, and if Dixie Marsh had his way, he'd go with Smith two. Plus, as a Rick and Morty fan, how can I pass up on the Matriarch of the Smith family! (There's actually a Morty in last year's class I may have to go trade for...). And center fielders... They can play the a corner too!!!

Okay, enough about that nonsense! The numbers hear speak for themselves:

The Hartford native didn't play as a freshman, as his small Connecticut school didn't have a baseball team, so the travel ball standout instead crossed state to spend his weekends taking BP off St. Pancras College hurlers. The rest of his free time was spent in his schools weight room, as he developed tremendous strength for his size. After seeing him clear the fences of a college park, his parents decided to take advantage of his talent, and moved him to the queens to play for the Jackson Generals. Smith did not disappoint, and slashed an astronomical .523/.581/1.116 with 11 doubles, 5 triples, 10 homers, and 36 RBIs.

Yes, you are reading that right. A .528 batting average. A 1.116 slugging percentage. 10 homers. In high school! Smith was one of six prep players to hit double digit homers that season, and while he was tied for fourth behind Dick Steel (13, 14th Overall 1946), Danny Taylor (12, 7th Overall 1946), and Dudley Sapp (11, eligible this year). Of these six sluggers, no one else hit better then Smith, with next best Taylor 13 points lower.

Smith didn't follow that up with double digits as a junior, but he still slugged nine with an impressive .524/.588/1.107. line. His 1.107 slugging percentage and his 1.699 OPS were best of draft eligible players. Same goes for career going into this season, as his 1.112 slugging and 1.696 OPS are the highest as well. The power is obvious and his raw power is tantalizing. His consistent workout routine keeps him in the best of shape, and despite being 6'1', he weights just 160 pounds at 18. He can add plenty of muscle to get the most out of this raw power. Both Dixie and OSA think he'll have the added benefit of hitting .330, giving Leo Mitchell type vibes just with the added speed. I'm not sure if he has what it takes to stick in center, but he's fast and has spent most of his time their so far. Smith also walked 28 times while striking out just 10 times, which should translate to at least an average eye at the plate. The sky is truly the limit, something I feel like I've been saying too often about players, but there's no other way to describe him. If he reaches his potential, he'll have a Skipper Schneider like streak of All-Star appearances, and despite his basic name, he will make an impact on FABL fans across the country.

Even though Smith could be ready for Class B, I expect the young outfielder will man center in La Crosse all season. Carl Clark and Frank Reece may spend sometime there, but by time the draft rolls around they should be playing every day in San Jose. That will give Smith consistent playing time as he adapts to the professional game. Depending on who shares the roster with him, he may get a few games in left or right, but I want him to spend a majority of his time out in center. If he can be at least average there defensively, he could develop into the player some thought rookie year Sal Pestilli would be. Obviously that's very high praise, as the Gothams superstar is one of the game's finest players, but I am very excited to add Smith to our system, even if he wasn't my top target. That worked very well last year, when we got Bob Allen when I wanted Yank Taylor, but even if he's a Johnny Peters level prospect it's far better then what we would have got at 13. There are a lot of really good bats, five of the first six have been position players, so it was very tough trying to pick the best of them. With all this depth, I'm looking to jump back into the first, but if no trades are made our next pick is at 21. Then there's a very long gap with our next pick at 45. That's the 13th pick of the third round, and we hold 13 in each of the remaining rounds. We picked up three picks in rounds 4 through 8 with trades with the Eagles (4.16), Dynamos (5.6), and Kings (8.3). Like last year, I expect plenty of interesting players left for the AI portion, as this another deep class.

[ayaghmour2]

I just had to do it! After drafting Jerry Smith, the Rick and Morty fan inside of me had to trade for Morty Smith to bring the family together. A 9th Round selection of the Dynamos last season, Morty is not nearly the player that Jerry is, but that's not stopping me! The now 19-year-old spent his first pro season in Class C Biloxi, making 13 starts and going 7-5. He had a decent 3.25 ERA (111 ERA+) and 1.30 WHIP with 32 walks and 84 strikeouts. Like plenty of other Cougars, Morty is a high stuff, low command pitcher. But unlike most of those, he's a finesse guy who tops out at 90. He has plenty of time to get comfortable in the 90s, something I'd love for him to do before he approaches the big leagues. After not ranking in the top 500, he just snuck in this week at 434, so while plenty is expected of Jerry, Morty does not have nearly as bright of a future. The cost was righty Bill Sweet, who was selected two rounds before Smith. Sweet pitched really well in Class C and B at 18, but like Smith, he's a very comparable lottery ticket. Plenty could happen in the next five or so years, but my guess is this trade will be on the low side for future impact.

But I needed my Morty!

LF Joe Read (#223 Overall)
Acquired: Via Rule-5 Draft (1946)
Drafted: 6th Round, 93rd Overall (1942)
AAA: .278/.344/.373 (97 OPS+), 433 PA, 27 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 32 RBI, SB
CWL: .308/.438/.513 (158 OPS+), 96 PA, 2 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 13 RBI

Very few CWL players are having a better January then Matanzas Buccaneers outfielder Joe Read. The second of our two Rule-5 Picks has had a power surge, slashing .324/.468/.595 (188 OPS+) with 3 homers, 8 RBIs, and 10 walks in 11 January games. Those three homers are one more then the two he hit in 433 AAA PAs, and he's now doubled that total with four in just under 100 PAs this winter. Is the power legit?

Unfortunately, the best answer I have is maybe...

Read has always been good at hitting the ball hard, aided by tremendous bat speed, but he's really starting to square up the ball. He did have 27 doubles this season and 37 between A and AA last year, as well as five homers at each level. The drop to two this season was a bit shocking, especially because he hit 5 homers in the notoriously anti-home run Dixie League in just 52 games. And while the Century League is far more homer friendly (his teammate and fringe Miners starter Vern Wilson hit 22!), the St. Paul stadium (Miners AAA affiliate) is much tougher on righties (.915) then AA Birmingham (1.100). This could have a larger effect on someone like Read who's homeruns are line drives, not towering blasts you'd expect from an Otto Christian type.

Another thing Read has done better is control the strike zone. He's always had a good eye, walking about as often as he strikes out, but he's taken that to the next level in Cuba. He's drawn 18 walks, good for an absurd 19% walk rate, while striking out in just 5 of his 96 plate appearances. This heightened command is huge for someone who makes solid contact, as if he can continue to avoid pitches out of the zone he could be a very good hitter. Granted, the competition in the CWL is a little unbalanced, and we'll never really get out of small sample territory, but it appears that the young outfielder has made legitimate strides as a hitter. Most 22-year-olds are far from a finished product, and Read is really showing that. It's still going to be tough for him to crack the Opening Day roster, but he keeps on impressing, and if I have to choose between Ray Struble and him, it will be very close. Surprisingly, Struble finished the season with a 152 WRC+, but when you only make 35 trips to the plate, homering in your last at bat will raise your slugging 115 points. And considering it kept our season alive (we were down two in the tenth and he tied it), it's going to be tough to cut bait.

3B Otto Christian (#50 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1941)
AA: .277/.339/.400 (106 OPS+), 519 PA, 19 2B, 2 3B, 11 HR, 65 RBI
CWL: .282/.403/.556 (165 OPS+), 149 PA, 2B, 11 HR, 35 RBI

Okay, I lied...

There is a hitter hotter then Joe Read in January! And it's not even close!

But before jumping to the month as a whole, what about the last five games? The Walla Walla Walloper has hit a, dare I say, Jerry Smith-esque .524/.565/1.476 with 5 homers and 9 RBIs. If we focus on just the games on the 11th, 13th, and 15th, where all the homers came, Otto was 9-for-12 with a pair of walks. The 24-year-old has now posted a 323 WRC+ in 11 January games, hitting an inflated .447/.580/.1.000 with 7 homers, 18 RBIs, and 12 walks. His 11 homers are not only equal to this total with Mobile this season, but also best in the league, two ahead of the Wolves' John Fast. For the season, he's hitting .282/.403/.556 (165 OPS+) with 21 runs, 25 walks, and 35 RBIs, and the slugger has helped the Stallions improve to 18-17. They are now just a game out of first with two weeks left, but all four teams are within three games of the top spot.

With how great Otto's been hitting, it's making me really consider giving him the third base job out of camp and letting him run with it. Third base will likely be the focus of our Spring, as we have a ton of quality players all competing for the spot. Hank Barnett will have a tough time holding off youngsters like Otto and George Sutterfield, as well as offseason addition Jim Jenkins, who Clyde Meyer really seems to like (don't as me why). Even Billy Hunter could be in the conversation, although a utility role seems more likely for him. Christian's power gives the potential for such a high ceiling, and he can easily clear the 14 foot fences down the left and right field lines. Still, he's far from a finished product, and Dixie Marsh thinks even Ducky Jordan is still better now then Otto. With championship aspirations, it can be tough to rely on young players (I even tried trading Otto and Riley for a certain slugging third basemen), but his pure raw power gives him the ability to change a game with one swing. The more pitches he sees, the better he's going to get, and even if we still need to wait a few seasons before we see a 20 home run season, I think he's almost a lock to do that before he turns 30.

Sidenote: not sure when this happened, but I just noticed I'm now a Hall of Famer. Yay for me!

[ayaghmour2]

2nd Round, 21st Overall: C Garland Phelps
School: Sheffield Fightin' Irish
1946: .550/.626/.863, 99 PA, 8 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 5 SB
Career: .549/.625/.870, 201 PA, 17 2B, 3B, 11 HR, 60 RBI, 7 SB

Many GMs around the league, myself included, viewed backstop Garland Phelps as a first round talent, but his personality scared them away. I'm not as concerned, to the point even where I wanted to trade back into the first to select him. Instead, nothing materialized, and when I woke up this morning, I was very excited to see that "Einstein" fell into our laps at 21.

The brilliant, albeit, arrogant and greedy youngster won't turn 18 until April, so let's just say its immaturity, alright? He's probably the smartest guy in the pool, maybe even in the entire league, so perhaps he'll learn to at least let his teammates tolerate him? As opposed to being too smart for his own good? And he's not the worst worker out there. He'll put in more then the minimum effort, just not much more then needed to show off to his fans! Perhaps he can go the Hal Sharp route and just be selfish and not a jerk, realizing he's better then everyone but just needs to not consistently remind them. Instead, let them watch his towering shots to right! Then they'll appreciate you!

Phelps is another guy who can hit the ball hard and far, and just like Sharp, it doesn't come at the expense of his batting average. Garland actually hit for a better average then Jerry Smith, batting .549 as a sophomore and .550 as a junior. There's not the same level of power, but he's hit 11 homers in his 39 high school games, which is very good for any prep hitter, let alone a catcher. This may be the last time I mention "for a catcher" as that really disservices how good this young stud really is. OSA and Dixie Marsh can't get enough of his bat, with the scouting service raving about his "dynamic tools" that can allow him to "make an impact" in the big leagues while Dixie predicts "multiple trips to the All-Star game" if he can reach his lofty potential. Both expect above average power and a tremendous hit tool, and it's almost like we went into the lab and took the best parts of Eddie Howard and Harry Mead and mashed them together. Of course, in that process the glove was forgotten, but he has Howard's borderline elite bat-to-ball skills and Mead's power and discipline. Like all high school prospects, he carries plenty of risk, and I'm sure him and Smith are going to take a huge chunk out of our pocketbooks. It should be more then worth the cost, as I think Phelps is one of the best ten players in the draft, and he could be his generations best catcher. There's a lot of good ones, but if he can use his brain to work on the mental side of catching (read pitch calling and framing), the only missing part of his game may be footspeed. He may not have the work ethic to get it done, but sometimes cocky guys like him will put in the effort just to spite their haters. We tend to have multiple strong clubhouse presence in the minors, and a few strong mentors can help guide him on the right path while making it seem like it was all his brilliant idea. Because, let's be honest, all his ideas are brilliant!

Unfortunately, the lottery only lasts for the first two rounds, so we now have a long wait before we're up again. 23 players will go off the board before our next selection, and I'm really hoping there's still at least one of the few pitchers I like available. Luckily, I know there will be a good hitter, but that will be the case through the fourth and maybe even in the fifth and sixth. Regardless of who we end up with next, I'm very happy with how the draft has gone so far. It's another year where we got two of our scouts top ten players (3rd and 10th as he keeps moving Jerry around), and we filled one of our largest holes in terms of prospect depth. First base is the only real weakness now, and I'm pretty sure the first basemen I want will be there next time we're up. And even if he's not, there are a few corner guys that could make the move rather effortlessly. I'm somewhat worried we won't get a good pitcher, but that's more so because it appears to be a thin group of hurlers behind the obvious top dog Les Ledbetter. This may be a very hitter friendly, high school leaning class, as with our big league depth we can wait a few seasons for guys who can contribute.

[ayaghmour2]

C Eddie Howard (#36 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1941)
AAA: .325/.380/.428 (119 OPS+), 536 PA, 37 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 58 RBI
AAA: 4-0, 2 SV, 30.1 IP, 3.86 ERA (101 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, 14 BB, 20 K
CWL: .292/.404/.403 (125 OPS+), 8 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 14 RBI
CWL: 5-3, 65.2 IP, 4.25 ERA (90 ERA+), 1.69 WHIP, 42 BB, 31 K

Instead of pitching Eddie Howard every fifth game, I really wish the Stallions would use Ron Berry, or even Bob Petty, Roscoe Brown, or Bill Holloway, but instead, our 23-year-old catcher has made 8 somewhat okay. Luckily, with adequate off days it hasn't stopped him from catching, so Howard has still appeared in all 39 games for the Stallions. As expected, he's getting plenty of hits, but he's also allowing even more. He's conceded 69 base hits in 65.2 innings, and when you add in 42 walks it inflates his WHIP to an ghastly 1.69. He has struck out 31 hitters, good for a 4.2 K/9, so his 3.48 FIP (90 FIP-) is actually a bit above average. So even though he's unlucky in terms of ERA, he really shouldn't be 5-3, while Duke Bybee is 2-6 despite a much better 3.78 ERA (101 ERA+) and his dominant 2.81 FIP (73 FIP-) and 5.5 K/9.

Most of his production has came at the plate, producing a 132 WRC+ with 8 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, and 14 RBIs. He's hitting a solid .292/.404/.403 (125 OPS+) with exactly twice as many walks (24) as strikeouts (12). The winter has served as an early trial for Howard, who currently ranks as our best position player prospect. Formerly our only legitimate catcher prospect, Howard now has to deal with trade acquisition Mike Bordes and second rounder Garland Phelps. This doesn't effect him too much, as the 23-year-old is the only one close to contributing, and two catchers can always coexist. With Harry Mead now 32, he's on the back half of his career, and is more at risk of losing a roster spot then Howard because of the new additions. I mentioned earlier with Phelps that he's almost a combo of Howard and Mead at the plate, as Howard shares the tremendous bat-to-ball skills that Phelps has shown in high school. He's also a pretty solid defender, so if he can hit .300 with a .400 OBP, it won't matter if he doesn't provide the power Mead and Phelps can. Since Phelps is still 17, he's a full six years younger then Howard, which is almost perfect for them to share time.

Howard's floor is already a quality backup catcher, but the talented youngster could be one of the better catchers of the early 50s. Only former 4th Overall Pick Ike Perry ranks higher then Howard on the prospect list, and he's just three spots higher. His elite hit tool may be the best in our farm, rivaling even Leo Mitchell and Harry Sharp on the big league club. Like Tom Weinstock, Dixie Marsh still gives Homer Guthrie a slight edge on current talent, and since I don't mind if Guthrie isn't playing every day, Howard seems likely to start the season in the minors. He'll have a chance to hit his way up, as an early season struggle from Mead (it is an odd year after all) could open up a spot for him. This guy deserves to start, but Mead is a top-5 catcher who has given us 130-ish games a season since 1942 with last year's 2.5 WAR the only season he failed to hit 3. Not many catchers have one 5 WAR season, let alone 2, although that's something Howard seems more then likely to do. Howard's time will come, so I'm hoping for now the former 2nd Rounder will learn as much as he can from our 2-Time All Star.

[ayaghmour2]

3rd Round, 45th Overall: 1B Dudley Sapp
School: Union City Bulldogs
1946: .483/.560/.820, 109 PA, 6 2B, 8 HR, 36 RBI, 4 SB
Career: .489/.566/.839, 343 PA, 24 2B, 4 3B, 22 HR, 100 RBI, 18 SB

Despite the long wait for our third pick, it was all worth it! We got our guy! I mentioned in Jerry Smith's writeup that he was one of six players to hit double digit homers two seasons ago, and one of those that hit more, was our new first basemen Dudley Sapp. Now I almost never draft first basemen, in fact, he's the first natural first basemen I've selected in the first three round since a certain should be Whitney Winner Leo Mitchell back in 1931, and it's safe to say that it was a wise selection. I don't expect nearly s much from Sapp, and he's probably staying at first, but Dixie Marsh thinks he could develop into a defensive marvel. Whether that means the lefty thrower is an Anthony Rizzo type first basemen, or like Mitchell, can play the outfield, but my guess is the 6'4'' slugger is just aided by his height and hopefully a high error rating.

But we don't care about the glove, let's talk about the bat! A soon-to-be four-year-starter, Sapp wasn't the intimidating slugger he is now as a freshman. He hit just 3 homers, but a .485/.565/.699 batting line is still very impressive. His sophomore season has been the best so far, as Union City's slugger hit .500/.574/.1.023 with 9 doubles, 2 triples, 11 homers, 36 RBIs, and 46 runs scored. The power dropped a bit as a junior, but he still hit 8 homers and slashed .483/.560/.820 with a personal best 11-to-4 walk-to-strikeout ratio. I'm expecting a big senior season from Sapp, who has one of the best bats available. He projects to have well above average contact potential with even better pop, and while it might be a little bit of a stretch, he looks a lot like the Chiefs version of Tim Hopkins. Hopkins may have an extra inch on him, but Sapp can match his power, and may even walk a little more. He's not the hardest worker, which may work against him, but his raw talent and strength is extremely impressive. He hits the ball in the air a lot as well, which bodes really well for our park. If we can get this young kid on the right track, we may have found our starting first basemen for the 50s. And a very good one at that.