Chicago Cougars (FABL)

[ayaghmour2]

The Foresters are off to a quick start, winning the first two games in Chicago, making it look highly likely Cleveland will win their second title. We know far too well a 2-0 lead doesn't always work out the way it should, but if the Chiefs can't start winning, we'll be in the offseason in no time!

Catchers
Eddie Howard (CHC): 105 WRC+, 23 RBI, 0.8 WAR
Harry Mead (CHC): 69 WRC+, 4 HR, 39 RBI, 0.3 WAR

Infielders
Billy Hunter (CHC): 132 WRC+, 4 HR, 14 RBI, SB, 1.3 WAR
Tommy Wilson (CHI): 66 WRC+, 5 HR, 29 RBI, 4 SB, -0.8 WAR
Hal Wood (TOR): 124 WRC+, 6 HR, 81 RBI, 3.6 WAR
Skipper Schneider (CHC): 110 WRC+, 3 HR, 65 RBI, 5.8 WAR
Hank Stratton (CHI): 124 WRC+, 5 HR, 48 RBI, 1.8 WAR
Ed Reyes (PHS): 145 WRC+, 6 HR, 63 RBI, SB, 3.5 WAR
George Sutterfield (CHC): 102 WRC+, 2 HR, 32 RBI, 11 SB, 1.7 WAR

Outfielders
Leo Mitchell (CHC): 134 WRC+, 11 HR, 50 RBI, 3 SB, 1.9 WAR
Bunny Hufford (NYG): 111 WRC+, 4 HR, 40 RBI, 3 SB, 1.0 WAR
Chubby Hall (CHC): 126 WRC+, 12 HR, 67 RBI, SB, 2.6 WAR
Chink Stickels (TOR): 89 WRC+, 5 HR, 39 RBI, 12 SB, 1.3 WAR
Carlos Montes (CHC): 87 WRC+, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 5 SB, 1.5 WAR
Don Lee (CHC): 168 WRC+, 3 HR, 5 RBI, SB, 0.5 WAR

Pitchers
Duke Bybee (CHC): 14-12, 101 ERA+, 96 K, 3.1 WAR
Frank Gordon (DET): 3-2, 2 SV, 107 ERA+, 15 K, -0.0 WAR
Charlie Kelsey (CHC): 3-4, SV, 88 ERA+, 33 K, -0.6 WAR
Leo Hayden (BRK): 15-12, 118 ERA+, 92 K, 4.9 WAR
Danny Hern (STL): 13-18, 103 ERA+, 115 K, 6.1 WAR
Harry MacRae (CHC): 8-3, 15 SV, 138 ERA+, 24 K, -0.3 WAR
George Oddo (CHC): 8-7, 101 ERA+, 105 K, 2.4 WAR
Pete Papenfus (CHC): 13-12, SV, 127 ERA+, 150 K, 3.0 WAR
Harry Parker (CHC): SV, 49 ERA+, 2 K, -0.3 WAR

Totals
Hitters: 26.8
Pitchers: 18.3
Total: 45.1
Approximate Wins: 78

Notable Prospects/Picks Traded
None

Another year of disappointment for both the real and fake team. If I used more then five starting pitchers, we'd probably accumulate a bit more WAR then the real team. There are plenty of good former Cougar draftee staring pitchers, but on the position player side teams tend to employ more of their own draftees. Of course, there's also potential Kellogg Award winner Joe Austin, but we had enough at bats from the guys listed already and I try to limit replacements to demotions, retirements, or injury replacements. The exception being unless we have too few or too many games to go around. Now that we aren't able to trade extra players for draft picks, major league ready guys like Johnny Peters, Jimmy Hairston, Elmer Grace, and Al Clement are all stuck. A lot of our former draftees are good enough for regular time, but there just aren't enough spots for all of them.

[ayaghmour2]

Whoops, forgot to post! Some late night Cougars!

Well could you believe it!?!?!? A Chicago team won the World Championship Series!

Sure, it was the Chiefs, not the Cougars, and they did it in a very non-Chicago like way. They also managed something the Cougars almost did, just to fail. That would be erasing a three game deficit! After the Foresters won three straight, the bats got cold, with a pair of shutouts in game four and five before a blowout in game six. And in the most anti-Cougar way, they won the series with a one-run victory, surviving the Foresters in an 11 inning contest. All focus will be on the offseason, which should get going on Monday.

AAA Milwaukee Blues (Century League): 85-55, 2nd, 1 GB: In classic Cougar style, the Milwaukee Blues has a great season. All to fall just short. Despite an excellent end to the season, winning 14 of their last 20, all to be done in by a poor 18-23 record in one run games. It runs in the family!

The Blues were a far more complete team then the Cougars, however, finishing 1st in runs scored and 2nd in runs allowed. It's hard to pick the best bat in the lineup, but you can't go wrong with Johnny Peters. The former 3rd Overall Pick hit .307/.405/.502 (136 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 13 triples, 11 homers, 7 steals, 70 RBIs, and 69 walks. He played a lot of left field, worth 4.3 WAR in 110 games, and posted an elite 150 WRC+. Though his regular outfield partners impressed as well, as Don Lee (.289, 16, 75, 33) put up 5.5 WAR, a 142 WRC+, 45 extra base hits, and 77 walks, while Jimmy Hairston's (.316, 10, 52) 88 game sample saw him worth an impressive 160 WRC+ with 54 walks, 55 runs, and 33 extra base hits. All three spent time in Chicago, as did Ducky Cole (.299, 6, 55) and Al Clement (.294, 16, 73, 13). Clement was most impressive, worth almost 5 WAR (4.6) with a 138 WRC+, 68 walks, and 88 runs in 131 games. Other highlights include last year's 4th Rounder Elmer Grace (.264, 9, 58), who missed a month with an elbow issue and midseason callups Franklin Thomas (.333, 5, 23, 6) and Billy Biggar (.336, 36). I think the Blues were benefitted by having the depth to handle our minimal callups, but it's nice to see a cast of young players holding their own at the highest level.

This year was all about Ron Berry, who appears to be ready for FABL hitters. The 23-year-old went 12-3 in his 24 starts, working to a brilliant 2.62 ERA (155 ERA+) in 158 innings pitched. Berry struck out 116 hitters and maintained an impressive 1.20 WHIP. Harry Beardsley (11-7, 3.26, 122) was the only thing in the way of Berry earning a team triple crown, as he led the team in wins and ERA. Sure, Zane Kelley (11-4, 3.00, 80) could have caught him if he didn't make his first big league start on September 5th, and considering he beat two FABL teams it's easy to imagine he'd do that or better in the Century League. Losing him wasn't too big of a deal, as Bob Hobbs (11-2, 3.19, 103) turned into a shutout machine. Many pitchers started games for the Blues, including Ken Matson (6-2, 3.61, 36), who handled his demotion well. Even former first rounder Bert Rogers (0-0, 2.13, 18) pitched some in September, starting three games and relieving two. The Blues haven't won since their fourpeat, but they'll run back a deep lineup with plenty of rotation options, enough to survive thinning from trades.

AA Mobile Commodores (Dixie League): 76-64, t-3rd, 11 GB: After winning their 8th Dixie League title, Mobile didn't have nearly as much success this year, falling 11 short and never really coming close to first. Mobile didn't have the continuity Milwaukee had, with many of their top players finishing their season elsewhere. This is part of the reason they were middle-of-the-pack, but plenty good prospect spent some of their time in the Dixie League. Top 100 prospect Clyde Parker (.323, 9, 55) posted a 146 WRC+ in 102 games, Mike Bordes (.274, 11, 76), who was 1-for-6 in his big league debut, hit a team high 11 homers, and former 1st Rounder Bert Rogers (13-6, 3.32, 57) finally emerged as a useful minor league starter. A few of the guys left in September did well, as Frank Reece (.304, 6, 20, 16) managed a 118 WRC+ and 2.7 in 55 games after promotion, Jimmy Ballard (14-7, 3.60, 91) was a reliable innings eater all season long, Bob Stout (.270, 6, 66, 6) held down short, and George Carter (5-3, 3.23, 35) ended the season with a strong eight start run. Most, if not all, of these guys will be back for 1950, with support from September callups Harry Austin (.367, 1, 9), Roxy Hilts (.271, 1, 9), and Jim Williams (0-2, 1.59, 5). Add in a bounce back from Tommy Seymour (1-7, 5.33, 43), a full season of Cal Rice (.266, 7, 30), and one more solid starting pitcher, they are going to have the makings of a real title contender.

A Lincoln Legislators (Heartland League): 84-56, 1st, 1 GA: The only winners this season, it took a miracle September where Lincoln won 14 of 17 games, including each of the last five, to edge the Terre Haute Brewers by a single game. That's a pennant in two of the last three seasons, as they fell three short of the Gary Steelman. What kept the Legislators going was their pitching staff, with eight pitchers starting 10 or more games with an ERA+ above 110. The "worst" of the bunch was ace Dixie Gaines (8-6, 3.50, 73), who had a 3.50 ERA and 112 ERA+ with 73 strikeouts in 105.1 innings pitched. This of course came after his elite eight start run in San Jose. Another guy who came up was Dutch Yoak, and his 17 start run was tremendous. The former 2nd Rounder went 13-2 with a 2.55 ERA (154 ERA+) and 1.04 WHIP, and he even managed a 1.5 K/BB with 62 strikeouts and 41 walks. Him and Max Tanner (4-11, 2, 3.03, 73) were the only qualified pitchers, but they got great production from Jim Williams (8-3, 2.82, 41), Ben Clough (10-3, 3.03, 77), George Carter (6-5, 2.50, 55), Tommy Seymour (5-4, 3.19, 53), and Lonnie Sis (7-1, 3.03, 50).

It didn't seem to matter who was on the mound, and you can thank "Einstein" for that. Garland Phelps (.316, 3, 60) has already shown tremendous promise behind the plate, handling his staff with poise and experience behind his year. Just 20 this August, he's got a great bat too, slashing .316/.370/.387 (104 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 3 triples, 3 homers, 54 runs, and 60 RBIs. Consistently ranked in the top 50, Phelps is one of my absolute favorite prospects, and I can't wait until he's ready for big league action. He'll hit for a high average, draw his share of walks, and scouts expect him to hit for serious big league power. I think he's going to be up in Mobile next season, so Lincoln will have to find success without him. His bat will be easier to replace, but they'll be without some of their top hitters in Roxy Hilts (.338, 46), Cal Rice (.284, 6, 35), Harry Austin (.314, 4, 42), and Frank Reece (.306, 4, 33, 13). They may be without middle infielders Archie (.266, 2, 58, 13) and Dick Cunningham (.278, 4, 34) too, leaving Charlie Everitt (.331, 4, 23), Johnnie Cloud (.334, 4, 37), and five tool prospect Jerry Smith (.305, 4, 30) to shoulder the load. There's still a ton of talent in our low minors, but a pennant defense will be tough for the Legislators. The pitching will take somewhat of a fall without Garland, but if we find the right combination of pitchers, they should still mange to be among the leaders in most pitching categories.

B San Jose Cougars (California-Oregon-Washington League): 84-56, 2nd, 5 GB: The Baby Cougars had two more wins then we did and they did it in a lot fewer games. Even with the second place finish and a Cougar-esque -7 expected record, a second 80-win season is a welcomed outcome after three straight seasons with 55 or fewer wins. This team scored a ton of runs, led by 11th Rounder Charlie Harvey, who led the league in RBIs (88) and finished third int he batting race (.359). He led the team with 9 homers and Harvey produced a 150 WRC+ and was worth exactly four wins above replacement as the regular left fielder. Tony Scuccinello (.345, 3, 38, 8) competed with Harvey in the batting race, but he was one of many players that started here and ended somewhere else. Charlie Everitt (.340, 6, 44) was a fixture in the lineup through early July and they got 66 games of 12th ranked prospect Jerry Smith (.305, 2, 35, 12). They'll have a lot of returning lineup members, as while not set in stone, I imagine most of Freddie Hutchison (.281, 1, 7, 7), Buddy Jenkins (.299, 4, 42, 15), Lou Jackson (.353, 1, 43, 2), Harley Dollar (.294, 1, 16, 4), and Alex O'Dailey (.333, 2, 67) will be back. This team can score a ton of runs, and with plenty of reinforcements on the way, expect another season of pennant contention for San Jose.

As you can tell by their expected record, they didn't have the greatest luck, as the #1 offense was supported by the #1 pitching staff. Our top prospect and #7 overall Bob Allen spent all season leading the rotation, but he wasn't one of the top producers. In terms of ERA+, his 4.28 was exactly average, while his 4.06 FIP was six points better. Allen came two outs away from 150 innings, striking out 87 and going 9-6 in 22 starts. Despite worse records, Cliff Wallace (7-9, 3.01, 94),. Wally Eversole (7-8, 3.25, 85), and Al Robison (6-7, 3.97, 69) all pitched better then the 21-year-old former first rounder. You can't forget about Dixie Gaines' (8-0, 1.21, 57) eight start win streak and Lonnie Sis (9-1, 1.92, 57) did his absolute best to match it. It seemed like whoever started the game pitched well enough to win it, and with stout late inning work from Doc Buckingham (1-1, 14, 1.70, 29) and Floyd Van Haven (5-5, 5, 3.03, 14) you think they'd have the recipe for success. But the Salem Warriors, who came very close to first for runs against (also second in scored), were 11-3 in extras and won seven more one-run games. Cougar fans are used to falling short to the Stars organization, and this time it was their Class B affiliate who managed to outlive us in a pennant race.

C La Crosse Lions (Upper Mississippi Valley Association): 35-27, 3rd, 3 GB: Our lowest affiliate team this season, the Lions finished third with a .565 win percentage ten games out. They didn't really cycle through too many players, as most of our young draftees started and finished their seasons in La Crosse. 4th Rounder Buster Clark (5-3, 5.71, 70) led the team in starts, and despite a 3.3 K/B and 6.7 BB%, he was not too successful. Fellow draftees Wilson McKinney (7-0, 4.28, 56), Luke Wright (1-2, 5.30, 38), and Pat Burnett (5-2, 4, 1.95, 43) all got significant innings, but there were plenty of holdovers from last year. Curt Smith (4-2, 3.24, 65), Mike Emerson (2-3, 4.57, 56), Marty Czyzewski (1-5, 5.84, 28), and Ray Paulson (2-1, 6.23, 24). Despite his struggles as a starter, fourth year Lion Lee Parker (4-6, 4, 6.43, 50) was one of many productive relievers, helping La Crosse hold leagues. July Pitcher of the Month Floyd Van Hoven (2-1, 7, 12, 28) started as the stopper, but Burnett and Art Whisenhunt (4, 1.90, 38) all performed the role well. I already moved a few of these guys up to San Jose, opening up some rotation spots, but these guys will always have to worry about losing their job early in the season once our draftees sign.

The lineup had too many quality players for too few spots, so most guys started between two and four games a week, with only some of the best making five or more. Biff Tiner (.367, 4, 22, 10) was one of those, as the 13th Overall Pick looked great at the plate in his pro debut, and the top 50 prospect may find himself on the west coast next season. As good as he was offensively, he was actually edged by 7th Rounder Danny Noonan, who hit .360/.490/.607 (168 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 8 homers, 27 RBIs, and 39 walks. He produced an absurd 180 WRC+ in 193 PAs, worth 2.6 WAR with a BB% (20.2) nearly ten percent higher then his K% (10.9). He's was clearly ready for a promotion, but right now everything revolves around Garland Phelps and he got to pad his stats. Many more exciting prospects came and went, as the Lions sent out Bob Allie (.400, 4, 29, 10), Cecil Burr (.242, 2, 15, 8), Jeff King (.285, 2, 22, 8), Amos Peterson (.226, 2, 17), and Fred Crawford (.287, 1, 6, 8). But it's the depth that makes them strong, as they got production from players like Noonan, Roy Gass (.327, 3, 20), Willie Watson (.340, 21, 2), Doc Zimmerman (.421, 1, 13, 2), and even pinch hitter extraordinaire Jimmy Overton (.488, 1, 9). With so many young players, I don't expect to win any UMVA titles, so it only brings joy to see a winning record and positive steps from many young players.

[ayaghmour2]

We kicked off the offseason with a trade, as we fulfilled Carlos Montes' request and sent him to the crosstown Chiefs in a minor deal to start the offseason. In return, we'll receive a young southpaw Mack Lyons, who spent his entire season in Class B.

Montes spent fifteen seasons as a Cougar, once drafted 12th Overall back in 1934 out of Citronelle High School in Alabama. A Cuban native, Montes was up quickly, debuting a few months into the 1937 season as a 21-year-old. He got off the ground running quickly, slashing .292/.365/.453 (127 OPS+), and with excellent center field defense he was worth 4.2 wins above replacement. He totaled 19 doubles, 9 triples, 10 homers, 55 RBIs, 9 steals, 71 runs, and 48 walks in exactly 100 games.

That happened because of a midseason callup, but 100 games was about all you could expect from Montes. In the next four seasons, he managed to play 100, 90, 120, and 120 games, with a career high 127 in 1942 before he enlisted in the Navy. Still, when healthy, Montes was as close to a five-tool outfielder as you get. He was a great defender with a cannon of an arm, had blazing speed on the bases, legit home run power, and plenty of extra base hits. He drew a ton of walks too, and made impact on the game in multiple ways. In those six pre-war seasons, Montes tallied 378 runs, 108 doubles, 46 triples, 55 homers, 287 RBIs, and 70 steals. He was worth 22.6 WAR in 657 games. He topped out with an elite 5.9 in 1942, and with a 119 WRC+, 38 extra base hits, 13 steals, 52 walks, 55 RBIs, and 67 runs, it was arguably the best season of his career.

He did return for the 1946 season, and with all the extra rest, appeared in a career high 148 games, and put together a classic, all-around performance as our every day center fielder, hitting .239/.319/.363 (97 OPS+) with 28 doubles, 10 homers, 19 steals, and 61 RBIs. He was worth 4.7 WAR and was looking like the same player he was before enlisting. Unfortunately, the durability and success was short lived, as a trio of injuries cost him nearly all of the 1947 season. He appeared in just 46 games, hitting what was significantly a career worst .239/.290/.345 (97 OPS+), and a monster acquisition of superstar Sal Pestilli from the Gothams cut into his playing time. No longer the clear center fielder of the team, Montes began working out in right field, but the offense in '47 wasn't good enough for a corner bat.

It was better in 1948, but inconsistency made his .240/.330/.401 (101 OPS+) line feel different then it was. Sure, that looks like an average season, and in the aggregate (192 PAs) it was, but he was hit or miss. Going o'fer for an entire month before ripping the cover off the ball. That was the same this year, as despite a .242/.339/.336 (81 OPS+) season line he had three months with a WRC+ of 130 or better, including a 1186 WRC+ in July we were actually winning games. But like every other Cougar he was unplayable in August and got off to an awful start to the season.

Despite the ups and downs, Montes is one of the best center fielders the Cougars have ever had, second only to superstar Hall-of-Famer John Dibblee for his production with the club. In 1,010 FABL games, the almost 34-year-old owns a career .256/.329/.393 (102 OPS+) career line with 148 doubles, 57 triples, 78 homers, 102 steals, and 417 RBIs. He drew 396 walks and scored 511 runs while worth just over 30 (30.2) WAR in ten seasons. An All-Star in 1942, he was best known for his glove, where he accumulated an impressive 104.9 zone rating and 1.047 efficiency in center, and he graded well in limited time in right (12.2, 1.066). A well-respected veteran, Montes will be missed by fans and teammates alike, but the now fourth outfielder wanted out, and the organization was willing to oblige. With no shortage of outfielder options for 1950, Montes was going to have to compete with Chubby Hall, Leo Mitchell, Johnny Peters, Jimmy Hairston, Don Lee, and Ducky Cole for the right to line up to either side of Super Sal Pestilli. It's sad a fixture in our lineup like him was never able to get a ring, as an entire generation of Cougars is coming and going without any team success.

Lyons, 20, may be the son of longtime Cougar Dick Lyons (at least in my mind he is), and the former 7th Rounder ranks as the 370th best prospect in the initial offseason rankings. A southpaw like his dad, Mack throws much harder, already hitting 90 with his fastball and sinker. Both are good pitches, and move enough to limit the longball, but its hard to be a successful staring pitcher with two pitches. Even hard if both are fastballs. He does throw a change, but right now there's not much to it. It's just a bit slower then the hard stuff, and if used to option, it may get hammered. The control needs some work too, but he has some legit strikeout potential. Despite a few more walks (110) then strikeouts (103) for the Class B Tacoma Captains, he set down nearly 12% (11.9) of hitters he faced and he set down 9.9% of batters in 218.1 innings last year. He won't turn 21 until next June, so there's plenty of room for growth, but we need a few things to break right for the 6'3' lefty for him to find success. I'll cover him more in his eventual top prospect post, but I see two paths for success: either throw hard enough where you can overpower everyone or make it so the change doesn't suck. Otherwise his best role may be a craft lefty inning eater, but with hard stuff, good movement, and the stamina to consistently give you 100+ pitches a start, there's plenty to be excited about. Even if it comes with a ton of risk.

Later today I'll get out our top 40-prospect list, which the newly acquired Crooks does crack, as the Chiefs' 11th ranked prospect checks in 39th in our system, pushing former first rounder Bert Rogers off the list. If trades thin our system, which I hope they will, I'll adjust the list a little for players that haven't come up yet. I'll go into it a bit later, but they system is as deep as ever, and there are so many excited prospects I'm excited to cover.

[ayaghmour2]

It's offseason time! And there's already been a trade!

We had a few notable retirements, with two of the three expected. As expected, Doc Love hung up the cleats, and thankfully, so did Ray Ford. He didn't sign anywhere else, so his entire career was spent with the two Chicago organizations. All his FABL time was with us, like the recently traded Montes, Ford was part of a talented generation of Cougars that never won anything. The last retirement, however, was unexpected, as George Dawson decided to take a broadcasting job with the Foresters instead of returning for the 1950 season. Dawson, 38, appeared in 35 games for us and hit .293/.396/.415 (117 OPS+). Pretty solid even if it was limited time, but a broadcasting job for an exciting up and coming team is probably more interesting then a bench job on a constant disappointment. Besides, then Foresters took Dawson 19th Overall in 1929, and he hit .298/.346/.383 (100 OPS+) in 1,181 games in Cleveland. He was part of the lone championship team in 1934, and for the first six years of his career he was an elite defensive shortstop Eventually he morphed into more of a bat then glove in the twilight of his career, and he actually had an above average WRC+ in each of his four big league stints.

This cuts the 40-man roster to just 33, although plenty of players will be later protected in the Rule-5 draft. The retirements and trades bode well for whoever is left standing, as bench spots will become easier to come by. Granted, more trades could bring players in, but I'm skeptical that any big upgrades will be available this offseason.

Looking at the prospects themselves, our group initially ranked 3rd among the 16 FABL franchises, earning 164 points. That trails just Boston (205) and the runner-up Foresters (174), as our mixed system was bested by both a top heavy and deep system. As always, we have a large number of the games top prospects, with 9 in the top 100, 29 in the top 250, and 46 in the top 500. Despite a weaker draft class then normal, we still had first rounder Biff Tiner inside the top 50, and five of our first six draftees on the list. I added another top 500 guy in the Carlos Montes trade, but even though this is how the list looks now, it's likely not to end this way. I'd like to take advantage of our depth to add either a top level player or prospect, but that's never an easy task.

Anyways, this is what the top 40 looked like after the first trade of the offseason:

1. RHP Bob Allen (7th Overall): 1st/11th
2. CF Jerry Smith (12th Overall): 2nd/12th
3. LHP Ron Berry (36th Overall): 7th/62nd
4. C Garland Phelps (38th Overall): 3rd/33rd
5. 2B Biff Tiner (40th Overall): 13th Overall Pick
6. CF Henry Norman (52nd Overall): 8th/70th
7. CF Johnny Peters (53rd Overall): 4th/42nd
8. SS Elmer Grace (71st Overall): 6th/52nd
9. LHP Dixie Gaines (91st Overall): 5th/44th
10. CF Jeff King (106th Overall): 11th/122nd
11. RF Jimmy Hairston (110th Overall): 14th/135th
12. LHP Buster Clark (122nd Overall): 61st Overall Pick
13. 1B Cal Rice (124th Overall): 15th/143rd
14. CF Bob Allie (126th Overall): 12th/125th
15. LF Clyde Parker (146th Overall): 9th/76th
16. CF Frank Reece (150th Overall): 17th/162nd
17. 3B Amos Peterson (154th Overall): 13th/130th
18. SS Buddy Jenkins (155th Overall): 19th167th
19. CF Clyde Skinner (156th Overall): 22nd/179th
20. SS Cecil Burr (157th Overall): 16th/154th
21. RHP Wilson McKinney (169th Overall): 23rd Overall Pick
22. CF Harley Dollar (179th Overall): 25th/33rd
23. CF Fred Crawford (180th Overall): 45th Overall Pick
24. 1B Dudley Sapp (206th Overall): 23rd/181st
25. LF Charlie Harvey (215th Overall): 27th/290th
26. 1B John Kerr (220th Overall): 26th/241st
27. 2B Roxy Hilts (230th Overall): 29th/303rd
28. RHP Harry Beardsley (232nd Overall): 10th/81st
29. SS Willie Watson (241st Overall): 24th/223rd
30. RHP Lee Parker (262nd Overall): 36th/368th
31. RHP Tommy Seymour (268th Overall): 35th/363rd
32. RHP Zane Kelley (293rd Overall): 18th/165th
33. CF Doc Zimmerman (309th Overall): 32nd/344th
34. 3B John Price (317th Overall): 38th/380th
35. SS Archie Cunningham (320th Overall): 20th/168th
36. LHP Mike Emerson (345th Overall): 39th/390th
37. 2B Rupert Heinbaugh (362nd Overall): 33rd/352nd
38. 1B Charlie Everitt (364th Overall): 34th/356th
39. LHP Mack Lyons (370th Overall): Acquired in Trade with Chiefs
40. 3B Lou Jackson (378th Overall): 93rd Overall Pick

[ayaghmour2]

RHP Bob Allen (7th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 10th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Sonora Wildcats

Another year, another top ranking for Bob Allen, who remains the highest ranked pitching prospect in all of baseball. The 10th Pick of the 1946 draft, Allen spent his entire season in Class B San Jose with the Cougars, as despite his lofty ceiling he is still a young and inexperienced prospect. The 21-year-old held his own in 22 starts, going 9-6 with a 4.28 ERA (100 ERA+) and 1.65 WHIP. Allen's 4.06 FIP (94 FIP-) was a few points lower, and in 149.1 innings pitched he struck out 87 and walked 73. A four pitch pitcher, Allen tops out at 89 with his fastball, but his pitching profile is excellent for Cougars Park. He gets plenty of movement on all his pitches, and he does a tremendous job keeping the ball in the park. He allowed just 3 homers (0.2 HR/9) this season and he doesn't leave pitches hanging and hittable. There's a lot of development ahead of him, but everything I've seen so far suggests ace. His slider is a wipeout pitch that could help him rack up seven plus strikeouts a game, and while not top pitches, he does locate his curve and change well. He has walked a decent amount of hitters so far, but he's expected to get that up to at least average. Paired with elite movement and stuff that's all he needs, but I think it could end up better then that. As good as our staff is now, there's no pitcher around with more upside then Allen, and there's a chance he'll win a few of those awards his last name shares.

CF Jerry Smith (12th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 5th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Jackson Generals

Once again ranked second in our system and twelfth overall once again, Jerry Smith had an excellent 1949 season, splitting it almost equally between San Jose (67) and Lincoln (66). He started with the Cougars, where he hit .298/.346/.400 (93 OPS+) in 131 games the season prior. This time around he looked much better, batting an above average .305/.376/.439 (114 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 7 triples, 2 homers, 35 RBIs, 12 steals, and 51 runs. He drew 28 walks and was worth 2.5 WAR due to impressive center field defense (3.7, 1.038). Surprisingly, the then 20-year-old was even better offensively after the promotion, as Smith quickly won Player of the Week and finished his Heartland League season with a .305/.392/.469 (131 OPS+) triple slash. He was worth two tenth of a win less and he swiped just two bags, but he walked (10.0 to 12.7) at a higher rate while hitting two more doubles and homers. The hardworking outfielder has always profiled as a legit five-tool player and potential star, and his stint in Lincoln was the first time he truly showcased that. Steals aside, Smith showed everything you want in a middle-of-the-order hitter, offering power, contact, and discipline with excellent speed on the bases. If he can also provide plus defense in center, he'll be among the best players in the game, potentially reaching Sal Pestilli level of excellence. He's got a few more seasons to go, and he may even return to Lincoln to start next year, but once he enters our lineup, I don't think he's going to give up the spot. He should go to plenty of All-Star and games and might even win a Whitney, something no Cougar has done since John Lawson in 1940. I'd love to get one before Smith is up, but I can see him being the next Cougar to earn that level of hardware.

LHP Ron Berry (36th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 112th Overall (1944)
Alma Mater: Elm Springs Knights

Few pitchers had as tremendous a season as Ron Berry did, so it's no surprise that OSA has him as the 2nd best southpaw and 6th best pitcher on their prospect list. He truly excelled in his first taste of Century League action, going 12-3 with a 2.62 ERA (155 ERA+) and 1.20 WHIP in his 24 starts. He struck out 116 and walked just 44 in 158 innings. A potential top of the rotation arm, Berry ranked top five in the Century League in ERA (2nd), ERA+ (2nd), wins (2nd), WAR (3rd, 3.8), K/BB (4th, 2.1), K/9 (4th, 6.6), WHIP (2nd), and quality starts (t-3rd, 18). Doing all of this at 23 makes it even more impressive, and even though he never got the call, he more then deserved a big league debut. A talented four pitch pitcher, OSA is calling him a #2 and Dixie thinks he'll "end up near the top of any major league rotation." There's no reason to think the former 7th Rounder hasn't turned himself into that, as he's thoroughly impressed in a two-year run that spans 48 starts. As good as he is, we have so many options in our rotation, and I'm worried he's going to be stuck back in Milwaukee next year. Zane Kelley is lightly penciled in as the Cougars sixth starter, and we may not even need one of those next year. I'd love to trade from our pitching surplus, and Berry seems like the obvious choice. I'd love to see him succeed in the Fed, but if he sticks around he's excellent injury insurance should one of our arms go down.

C Garland Phelps (38th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 21st Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Sheffield Fightin' Irish

We have an impressive collection of prospects, so there are plenty of players I'm excited for, but the one with the most excitement may be Garland Phelps. A brilliant backstop, Phelps is a 20-year-old from Pennsylvania who has a certain demeanor to him that projects knowledge well beyond his age. He uses his intelligence to his advantage on and off the field, and as a catcher all his tools are even more valuable. Probably the weakest position in the league, there's just four catchers in the top 200 prospects, and most teams don't have a George Cleaves or Pete Casstevens that they can plug in everyday. Catcher isn't an immediate need for us now, as Eddie Howard is ready to open 1950 as the every day catcher after finishing the season strong. Phelps is going to be even better and I really think he could at one point be the best catcher in the league. Projecting well at and behind the plate, Dixie Gaines thinks he can "flourish in the majors" and I think he's on the money. He may end up striking out more then you want, but just like Leo Mitchell, he'll hit for a high average and reward you with home runs.

The difference is the walks, as while Mitchell did manage to walk in a career high 9.9% of his plate appearances, that could be average at best for Phelps. He's not walking enough now, but given his age and level of competition, that's not to much of an issue. I'm conflicted on what to do with our young catcher, as "Einstein" has already spent two full seasons in Lincoln. It may be time to challenge him, even if he struggles at first, as his desire to improve may keep him focused. Plus, he showed plenty of promise this season, producing a 111 WRC+ in 131 games. You can live with the 95 strikeouts if he's producing runs, and since his best tool may be managing the staff, even average offense is a huge boost. He's still getting used to the extra time needed to manage multiple different types of pitchers. He even threw out a personal high 56.1% of attempted base stealers, and command of the run game would be an added bonus. As high as the ceiling is, there's a long road ahead of him. If he reaches his potential, he could be one of the franchises best catchers.

2B Biff Tiner (40th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1949)
Alma Mater: Elkin Elks

Aside from the obvious headliners of the class, I really wanted to end up with Tom Perkins (10th Pick, current 26th ranked prospect), and with three lottery balls I thought that was a lock. Somehow, all three managed to be selected last, leaving us with the last pick of the first round. For a while I thought I was going to end up with Perkins, who kept falling, but we did manage a decent pick with Biff Tiner.

Only one 1949 draftee taken after Tiner ranks above him on the prospect rankings, and he was extremely effective in his professional debut. The second basemen appeared in 54 games, hitting .367/.429/.516 (131 OPS+) with 4 homers, 10 steals, and 22 RBIs. Tiner drew 18 walks, scored 42 times, and added 10 doubles and 3 triples in 211 trips to the plate. Another hard worker, Tiner signed his bonus a week before his 18th birthday and was projected as "an elite big league second basemen" by OSA. That's lofty praise for the 4-year Elkin Elk, who twice hit over .500 in high school. .367 is almost more impressive, and he led all Lions with more then 150 PAs in batting average. He's not a batting title guy, but Tiner should be a consistent .300 hitter, almost like Ray Ford in his prime. I hope the defense becomes better then Ford's, as he had to shift to first, but at least at 6'2'' Biff would make as a better first basemen. I want him at second, and we'll continue to give him rep at the keystones to improve his familiarity with the position. With his pure speed, I'm hoping the range is at least average, and with his bat that's good enough. The extra base hits can be like a healthy Billy Hunter, who's injuries sapped his pure speed. If we can keep Tiner healthy, he's the second basemen of the future, but George Sutterfield will definitely look to hold him off as long as he can.

[ayaghmour2]

CF Henry Norman (52nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Chiefs (1948)
Drafted: 3rd Round, 36th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Cleveland Tigers

Just like in year one, Henry Norman had a five week injury, but he looked good when healthy and held his own in a full season of A-ball. Norman appeared in 113 games, hitting an a bit above average .319/.377/.382 (105 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 7 triples, 2 homers, 7 steals, and 50 RBIs. A natural center fielder, that's where Norman spent most of his time, but he performed better in right (11.9, 1.074) then in center (0.9, .993). That's to be expected once someone is familiar with the corner position, something Norman hasn't had much time doing. Less then a quarter of his innings in right field came before this season, and he's managed to catch on quick. I do think he has the range for center, but since he'll be moving up the system with our second ranked prospect Jerry Smith, center may be occupied most of the time. Dixie isn't as enthused, not expecting him to be much more then average. The offense is where most of the talent lies, as he grades out as a plus contact hitter and his speed will always have him looking to take an extra base. Power isn't to be expected, but he should make up for it in other ways. Right now he's also walking (43) about as often as he strikes out (45), and pair that with speed and hopefully plus defense, and you have all the ingredients for a stable career as a big league player.

CF Johnny Peters (53rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 3rd Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Liberty College Bells

After absolutely tearing the cover off the ball in Milwaukee, Johnny Peters could not make contact to save his life. He went just 2-for-34, striking out 10 times while drawing 4 walks. This couldn't be further from his performance in the Century League, where he slashed a gaudy .307/.405/.502 (136 OPS+) with a 150 WRC+ and 4.3 WAR. He added 70 runs, 69 walks, 19 doubles, 13 triples, 11 homers, 7 steals, and 70 RBIs. With numbers like that, I thought for sure he'd make an instant impact in our lineup, but Peters' floundering has made me rethink his role on the 1950 team. The initial plan was for him to play everyday in one of the corners, but with Leo Mitchell's resurgence and Peters' struggles, we may look outside the organization for an upgrade. If we stick with Peters, the hope is more offensive production, as both Dixie and OSA are huge fans of his game. They love his patient approach and reliable defense, and he has an above average contact tool that allows him to drive the ball hard when he makes contact. Right now, he's penciled into the eight spot, but I think his future is batting second or fifth. He doesn't quite have the power for cleanup, and I don't think he'll ever be the best bat in a lineup, but he's a great support bat who can work counts and create runs.

SS Elmer Grace (71st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 52nd Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: St. Dominic's Padres

Another guy who fought injury, a bone spur in Elmer Grace's elbow cost him nearly a month of the season. Luckily there seemed to be no sign of ware, and in 69 games at short he posted a Skipper Schneider-like 10.7 zone rating and 1.108 efficiency. He looked good at second (0.8, 1.071) too, a position he may be stuck with because of Skipper Schneider, as on another team Grace might be in the lineup everyday at short. Our minor leaguers think he's been ready since draft day, and he produced a 113 WRC+ and 3.7 WAR in 106 games with the Blues. He hit an average .264/.371/.395 (100 OPS+), drawing six more walks (67) then strikeouts (61). Grace even hit 9 home runs, with 22 extra base h its in 471 trips to the plate. A former 4th Round Pick, he ranks as the fourth best shortstop prospect in all of baseball, and Dixies profiles him as "an above average player." Shortstops are always a hot commodity, which makes Grace an intriguing trade candidate. The hardworking shortstop is a skilled defender who's always out taking grounders and working on ways to improve his overall game. The bat may never be above average, but he's a switch hitter and he spends plenty of time in the cage. He could continue to draw more walks then strikeouts, but this little jump in power is likely something reserved for the minors. I think his power is more like Skipper then a double digit home run hitter, but he's going to find plenty of gaps instead. He's an advanced hitter who always gives good at bats, and if our middle infield depth takes a hit next year, he's an option for additional time. He's still not Rule-5 eligible, but even after additions we still have three empty spots and should carry a few into Opening Day. Grace is overdue a big league opportunity, and he might be the most developed position player yet to debut in our organization.

LHP Dixie Gaines (91st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 55th Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: Capital University Catamounts

For the life of me, I cannot fathom Dixie Gaines being ranked 91st in the prospect rankings. All he did was enter the season ranked 25th and then go 8-0 with a 1.21 ERA and 1.02 WHIP through 59.2 innings. He walked just 16 and struck out 57, quickly earning a promotion to Class A Lincoln. Obviously, that level of production cannot be expected, but his 16 start stint with the Legislators was impressive. 22 this August, Dixie went 8-6 with a 3.50 ERA (112 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 47 walks, and 73 strikeouts. Not sure what's wrong with that, especially in your first full season as a professional, but Gaines quick rise led to an equally quick fall. I don't think anything changed with the young southpaw, but perhaps this was some sort of overcorrection by the prospect pickers. I never really thought he was a top of the rotation arm, but maybe middle rotation is the best hope now. The game doesn't always like soft tosser, but even if he's sitting in the 84-86 range, three to five properly located plus pitches can really work in a guys favor. Assuming no changes in his pitch speed, his strategy will be throwing strikes with the sinker to get guys to chase the change. It's a great pitch that OSA goes as far to call "dominant," giving him two excellent pitches to pick between. But what could make him special is the remainder of the arsenal, as he mixes in a curve, splitter, and "fast" ball. If one of those three pitches, especially the curve, approaches the level of his other two, he could emerge as one of the better pitchers in the league. But for now, I'm just hoping for serviceable starter, as we already have plenty of candidate for the top three spots.

CF Jeff King (106th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 40th Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: Millville Middies

Our first non-top 100 prospect, Jeff King actually moved up a bit, checking in at 106 in the initial rankings. Taken a round before Dixie last year, King spent all of his season in La Crosse. so he only appeared in 60 games. That's not uncommon for most high school draftees, as the 19-year-old is one of our most under developed prospects. It showed both at the plate and in the field, as he posted negative metrics at all three outfield spots and hit just .285/.336/.372 (74 OPS+). Prospects like King are why I wish the UMVA was full season again, as project prospects like him could use the extra reps. Despite the uninspiring triple slash, Dixie actually thinks King can hit .350, which only two qualified FABL hitters did this season, and is something really only Leo Mitchell has done in a Cougar uniform since league averages have gone down. I'd be happy with just a consistent .300 hitter, something we don't have much of, and with his speed he's best when putting the ball in play. Despite the early results, he actually projects to draw walks and limit strikeouts, which will make up for the low power. But as a 6'3'' 19-year-old, you have to imagine there's more strength coming, so adding power to his game would make him a force. He's not as hard working as some of our other guys, but if we can get him to bulk up and stop hitting the ball on the ground, he could end up a legit middle-of-the-order hitter. It's fun to get excited like that, but odds there are slim, as King has a lot of developing to even be a serviceable fourth outfielder at this point.

[ayaghmour2]

RF Jimmy Hairston (110th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 61st Overall (1943)
Alma Mater: Bowman Mohawks

The first time up didn't go so well, as after hitting .267/.378/.267 (75 OPS+) in July, he was optioned after an 0-for-2 start to August. But when Jimmy Hairston was called back up after the Century League ended, he went 3-for-7 with a homer and three walks and runs driven in. That led to a surprisingly above average .282/.408/.359 (106 OPS+) in his first 50 FABL plate appearances. It demonstrates the danger of a small sample, as the larger portion was truly impressive.

Hairston made 361 trips to the plate for the Blues, and hit an impressive .316/.427/.502 (142 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 10 homers, and 52 RBIs. Hairston led the Blues with his 160 WRC+ and drew 55 walks while scoring 54 runs. While not enough time to be considered an MVP type season, he was one of the more valuable players on the team. Surprising enough, that's what Dixie Marsh expects of Hairston in the future, saying he has the "potential to be a cornerstone player as a right fielder." I'm not sure I agree with that, but former scout Tom Weinstock was a big fan when he was drafted 61st in 1943. But while he has plenty of outstanding qualities, he's no Ralph Johnson. Or Bill Barrett and Bobby Barrell. They all play his position and the next level down are all quality players in their own right. He's good but not a star, a guy that will hit for a high average and draw a lot of walks. He'll strike out some too, but he seems to have mastered the skill of consistency. There's not many players like him, but I think a best case scenario for Hairston would be a right handed Al Tucker. High average, double digit pop, and strong walk and strikeout rates. Tucker is someone I'd love to add to our lineup, as the soon-to-be 37-year-old won the Fed batting title by hitting .362/.435/.474 (135 OPS+) as every Pioneer pitcher pitched like they faced a lineup with him in it. The Carlos Montes trade opens a roster spot for guys like Hairston, who have a chance to earn a spot in the lineup. If he's as good as Dixie thinks he is, we'll have a star on our hands, but I'd settle for a capable short side platoon outfielder who can come up with a few clutch pinch hit home runs.

LHP Buster Clark (122nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 61st Overall (1949)
Alma Mater: Santa Cruz Pirates

Believe it or not, since we finish second place so often, Buster Clark was drafted with the exact same pick as Jimmy Hairston, just six whole years later. Currently the second highest ranked prospect of our draft class, the young southpaw wowed with a 104-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio as a senior at his California high school. The San Francisco kid pitched often, starting eight games and relieving seven, finishing 5-0 with a 0.78 ERA and 0.75 WHIP. He wasn't nearly as effective with us, as in a matching 69.1 innings pitched, Clark was 5-3 with a 5.71 ERA (82 ERA+) and 1.60 WHIP. FIP thinks he was quite unlucky, as his 4.39 (93 FIP-) was actually above average for the UMVA. FIP likes guys like him, as even with his high ERA he maintained a 3.3 K/BB. Clark struck out 70 hitters, just over a batter an inning in his 11 starts. Most guys he's facing aren't used to pitchers who can throw five pitches, especially a slider as good as his. When paired with a high 80s sinker he's extremely effective, and I don't ever expect him to deal with home run problems. He's going to be extremely effective against lefty sluggers, and he's exactly the type of guy I'd target in a modern game, as he's the perfect fallback lefty pen specialist. He's best used as a starter, but I agree with Dixie that his stuff would work best in relief. Like most teenagers, his arsenal is in need of refinement, and that will determine if he can be a reliable big league starter. The curve and splitter both project to be plus pitches, but it will take some work. This offseason will be a big one for him, as if he puts together a strong offseason he could open up in San Jose. He'll 19 in November, and any velocity would quicken his rise up the system. He seemed to wear out as the season went on, allowing five or more runs in each of his last three starts, so it will be interesting to see how he holds up in a full season. That could be reason to give him the first few months off, but if all goes well he ends next season on a new team.


1B Cal Rice (143rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 158th Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Farmington Tigers

I never really expected to do this, but after Billy Biggar (who was added as well) was taken in the Rule-5 Draft last offseason, I didn't want to risk a similar situation with Cal Rice. A former 10th Round Pick, Rice has had a nice rise of the prospect ladder, and in 139 games split between Lincoln and Mobile, he slugger a personal best 13 homers. That's encouraging for the 6'3'' lefty, who has the build of a prolific slugger. He has a fluid swing and makes good contact, with the potential to hit around .300 in the majors. That hasn't happened yet, as at 22 he's far from fully developed, but he posted WRC+ of 112 and 113 in similar samples. What was most interesting was his discipline, as he improved his walk and strikeout numbers after his promotion. In 312 plate appearances with the Legislators, he drew 20 walks and struck out 48 times, but in 273 PAs with the Commodores he managed to walk (32) more then he struck out (30). That would be a welcomed bonus from Rice, who technically stands as the heir apparent to Red Bond at first. Him and Biggar could even form a platoon, and both will be in camp this spring. I don't think Rice is ready, maybe two seasons out, but next year will be big for him. If he can get to AAA, that would put him in line for a starting role in 1951, but as long as Bond is producing there's no reason to rush the New Hampshire to the Windy City.

CF Bob Allie (126th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 36th Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: Millville Middies

Our third round pick last season, Allie spent the first few months of his season practicing with the Lions training staff, and he was ready to go when the UMVA season came around. In 45 games he hit an impressive .400/.453/.559 (147 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 4 homers, and 29 RBIs. "Alley Cat" was also 10-for-13 on stolen bases, and scored 30 runs in his 161 plate appearances. That earned him a promotion to San Jose, where he didn't find near the success. Sure, he was successful in his only stolen base attempt, but he posted a putrid 255/.250/.319 (49 OPS+) in 48 trips to the plate. As bad as that is, I'm hoping that he'll come into the new year invigorated, and ready to hold down an outfield spot long-term. With his speed, I'd love for him to stick in center, but he hasn't had much success early on. As things stand now, he'll remain there come Opening Day, with Harley Dollar an option to take some starts away from him. Regardless of position, he'll cover an outfield spot, as his bat is plenty exciting too. He hits the ball hard and makes plenty of contact, and with his speed good things happen when he puts the ball in play. I don't think he'll ever walk much, and power doesn't project to be a big part of his game, so a lot of his staying power hinges on the defense in center. He may not have the bat for a corner, but if he gives you good defense in center I like him as the leadoff or eighth hitter. At the top, he can get in scoring position for the heart, and at the bottom the pitcher can bunt him over. If all goes right, he'll be a coveted asset, but there's a lot of work to be done with his approach at the plate.

LF Clyde Parker (146th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 103rd Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Liberty Bluejays

No longer a top 100 prospect, Clyde Parker dropped towards the end of the season, but that didn't stop me from giving him one of our 40-man roster spots. I'd love for the 23-year-old to play in Cuba this Winter, as he's coming off a great season at the plate. He spent most of the year in Mobile, where he slashed .323/.395/.476 (129 OPS+) with a 146 WRC+ in 418 trips to the plate. Combined with his 57 September plate appearances with the Blues, he tallied 29 doubles, 2 triples, 10 homers, 62 RBIs, and 49 walks in a quality all-around season. The recently turned 23-year-old was worth exactly three wins above replacement, and the potential Leo Mitchell clone could eventually replace him if he puts everything together. As a hit-only prospect, Parker will need to either have streaks where he's unstoppable or a quiet consistency, and the Cuban Winter League is the perfect place to showcase that. That will also determine where he starts next season, as I'm prioritizing at bats over level. He needed to come cover a lineup spot for the Blues, so he could find himself back in AA to begin the 1950s. With a crowded outfield picture it may be tough for him to find playing time, but if he starts hitting and we aren't winning, don't put it past me calling him up sometime next season.

[ayaghmour2]

CF Frank Reece (150th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Villisca Bluejays

A former top 100 prospect and 2nd Round Pick, Frank Reece slipped a bit in the rankings last season, but has still managed to stay in the 100-200 range. That's fair enough, but what makes Reece more valuable is that he's a good defensive outfielder who can still hit some. He split his season between Lincoln and Mobile, posting zone ratings of 6.9 (1.054 EFF) and 8.2 (1.049) out in center. Recently turned 22, the speedy Reece swiped 29 bases, and in Lincoln it was at an eighty plus percent clip. The craziest part, however, was not only did he have a matching 118 WRC+ at both levels, he had an equal 107 OPS+. You'd think that would mean pretty similar lines, but aside from near identical averages (.306 and .304), he decided to be patient in Lincoln (.373 OBP, .397) before deciding t o slug with the Commodores (.354, 433). I'll take that to mean that he's a balanced hitter.

With potential Joe Austin level speed, Reece will be a big leaguer whether he can hit or not. The thing is, he's going to hit, as he does a great job putting the ball in play. He may hit a few too many flyballs, but Reece is the type of guy to make the most out of his contact. I was shocked he didn't triple with Mobile, but he finished the season with 23 doubles, 3 triples, and 10 home runs. I'm wondering how many of his 132 singles were of the infield variety, as any ball on the dirt puts pressure on the infield. He'll wreck havoc when he's on the base, and if he's drawing walks he adds another factor to make an impact. It's only 55 games, but AA tends to be a hard ceiling for under developed prospects, and Reece showed no signs of concern. He'll be penciled in as the Commodores leadoff hitter while patrolling center, something he'll do until Jerry Smith receives his promotion. It's the unfair reality for Reece, who will always be playing second fiddle to the team's top prospect. In reality, he's a well valued prospect, who is the superior defender and in our park a top center fielder is huge. Our park is one of the smaller ones, and the better our center fielder is the more we can focus on offense in the corners. Even if it's just late in game's covering for pinch hitters or guys he pinch ran for, this is the guy young want on the grass when the game is on the line.

3B Amos Peterson (154th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 26th Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: Union City Golden Tornadoes

The hardest part about being a young hitter in Class C is that you only get about 60 games to showcase yourself, and you tend to face guys who have played far more baseball then you. "A-Train" only played two years of varsity baseball, so even though he hit .514/.588/.883, it was just 42 games. He was our first pick last season, taken 26th Overall as our 1st was traded to acquire Sal Pestilli, but posted disappointing production at the plate. The then 18-year-old hit just .196/.274/.339 (55 OPS+), with 3 homers and 7 doubles in 124 trips to the plate. He made two more this year, but hit a similar .226/.274/.348 (52 OPS+) in the return. The extra base hit distribution was slightly different, this time 6 doubles, a triple, and 2 homers, but the Tennessee native did manage to swipe two bags. It may feel like a lost year for Peterson, but I'm hoping the versatile switch hitter takes it as a push to improve. I expect him to continue to get a majority of the time at third base, but if we draft a high upside infielder, he may be the guy to move. Since he can play multiple positions, a utility role allows another player to get regular time, with Amos able to play first, second, left, and right as well. 1950 will be a prove it year Peterson, as a third poor showing in La Crosse could put a damper on his prospect prowess.

SS Buddy Jenkins (167th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 77th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Whitman Panthers

Elbow inflammation interrupted Buddy Jenkins' season for almost a month, but he still managed to be worth 2.3 WAR in 105 games for the Cougars. The talented shortstop hit a respectable .299/.359/.385 (96 OPS+) with 15 steals, 33 walks, and 60 runs scored. He didn't do much in the extra base department, just 6 doubles, 6 triples, and 4 homers, but he drove in 42 runs and had a nice 6.8 zone rating and 1.047 efficiency at short. That will more then make up for the low power numbers, as he does everything you want your starting shortstop to do. The key for him his consistency, as if he can handle his business at short, all he has to do is give good, reliable at bats. Understand he's not going to be the big producer, but with his speed he can do a great job setting the table. He's still young, not 21 until May, so I think he's best served at least starting the season in San Jose. I'd love for him to finish the year in Lincoln, but with shortstop taken care of, he can work his way up at whatever pace best suits him.

CF Clyde Skinner (156th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 11th Round, 164th Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: San Bernadino Falcons

I'm not sure how much longer I can keep calling him a center fielder, as he's been quite awful (-3.5, .885 this season) their, but most teenagers aren't finished products. Despite not turning 20 until November, he spent his season in San Jose, as last year's 11th Rounder hit an adjusted league average .304/.343/.418 (100 OPS+) in 169 trips to the plate. That's not too bad, and paired with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, and 28 RBIs it was a pretty decent season. Despite that, towards the end of the season the staff thought he belonged in La Crosse, and he may not be guaranteed everyday time to start next season. He's on the younger side, so it's not too big of a deal now, but there's a lot of good outfielders in our system and most of them can play center field. If he can't, he'll be passed over for the guys that can, so I'm hoping he can make progress there defensively next season. Bob Allie is there in San Jose now, but Skinner could take a few starts there from him while getting time in the corners too.

SS Cecil Burr (157th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 71st Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: Anacortes Seahawks

Amos Peterson wasn't the only Lion to really struggle at the plate this season. Cecil Burr was right there with him, hitting just .242/.312/.315 (54 OPS+) -- a far cry from the .309/.335/.443 (96 OPS+) he posted in 18 more PAs the year before. 20 in January, our 5th Rounder last season isn't ever going to be a force at the plate, but far more is expected then this. I'd love for him to bulk up, as at 6'2'' he's just 175, and he's not hitting the ball with much authority. He has just four homers as a professional, and doesn't project to hit many homers in the future. That is without radical changes, something a mind wandered like Burr may not be up to. That's not always the case, as baseball has a funny way of working, but I see two paths to the majors for Burr. He either bulks up and starts hitting extra bases or really hones in on his defensive skills. Otherwise I don't see him being anything more then an average player, and average players don't play shortstop for the Cougars.

[ayaghmour2]

RHP Wilson McKinney (169th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 23rd Overall (1949)
Alma Mater: Colonel White Cougars

Our 2nd Round selection in the most recent draft, I was hoping that Wilson McKinney would crack the initial top 100. After all, he did strikeout 110 hitters in just 51 innings, striking out exactly 55% of the hitters he faced, while walking one guy for every eleven he struck out. Instead, he's been on the outside looking in, ranked 169th at the start of the offseason, before jumping up to 134 last sim. A hardworking righty, McKinney is one of my favorite prospects in our system, as he's a five pitch pitcher who throws hard and strikes people out. He managed to have plenty of success in La Crosse, going a perfect 7-0 in his 9 starts despite his strikeout rate cutting in half. Of course, as high as his was in high school, half is still arguably elite, as he struck out 56 hitters in 54.2 innings, this time good for a 23.6 K%. Most impressively, however, is how he kept the walks in check, as with 19 he had a near 3 K/BB that even the best FABL pitchers tend to never graze. His 4.28 ERA (110 ERA+) was 10 percent above average while his 53% groundball percentage would work out really well in Chicago. Keeping the ball in the park is huge, and with excellent raw stuff its not easy to make good contact. His cutter is tough high in the zone, while his change and splitter are tough down. He has two curves too, not sure how much they (or really any of his pitches) are going to be used, as I think he'll be primary a cutter/change pitcher. If we can get him in the 90s, that'll be even better, but at 87-89 he's good enough to blow hitters away if he's up in the zone. Since he turned 19 in September, I'm hoping he's more developed then the average prep pitcher, and he could pitch find himself in San Jose's rotation before the UMVA season kicks off.

CF Harley Dollar (179th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 131st Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Nutley Maroon Raiders

After a tough season split between three levels last year, Harley Dollar appeared in 66 games this season, all with San Jose, and the offense was finally starting to click. The 21-year-old outfielder hit a strong .294/.388/.416 (111 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 3 triples, a homer, 4 steals, and 16 RBIs. He even drew one more walk (29) then strikeout (28), although I was surprised with the defense. He made 20ish (21, 22, 26) appearances at all three outfield spots, but each time he posted negative zone ratings and efficiencies below 1.000. That's a little surprising, as I once thought he was more of a defender then hitter, but it turns out "Easy Money" may make his way up because of the bat. He has above average contact skills and a smooth swing with quick hands. He has good pitch recognition, something I always expected, but he's been hitting the ball hard. Don't expect many balls over the fence, as he tends to hit the ball on the ground, but with his speed he's able to make things happen. OSA is a big fan of the New Jersey native, and with a full season waiting for him in 1950, he might take the first step needed to become a legitimate FABL starter.

CF Fred Crawford (180th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 45th Overall (1949)
Alma Mater: Hardwick Friars

Like McKinney, I expected Fred Crawford to rank a little higher then he did. 180 is still pretty solid, but I think this year's 3rd Rounder should at least be inside the top 150. A fractured foot did keep him off the field for a few weeks, and that could contribute to the ranking, as well as his performance on the field. The now 19-year-old hit just .287/.327/.351 (66 OPS+) in 102 trips to the plate, adding 3 doubles, a homer, 4 walks, 6 RBIs, and 8 steals. The one thing he could take away from this season is the defense, as the center fielder looked great in the grass. It was just 121.2 innings, but he posted plus marks (0.8, 1.034) there and the hard work he put off the field has started to show. He's pretty versatile too, so even if he's not hitting, he can start a regular role off the bench at any of the three outfield spots, as well as second and third. I still want him in center, as Dixie thinks he is "a reliable hitter in the organization's grand scheme" and he's a big fan of his frame and swing. He has the speed to stick in center, and cause trouble on the bases, so if he keeps up his reps in the outfield he should be a great defender. I've said this about a lot of our outfielders, but he's got a ton of talent, and on other teams he might be the focus. There's plenty of room between his peak and floor, so I'm hoping he'll get a full season of health to show what he's got.

1B Dudley Sapp (206th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 45th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Union City Bulldogs

Not much went right for Dudley Sapp this season, who dropped out of the 200 and at 24, is our first non-top 200 prospect this season. Now 21, he spent most of his season in San Jose, but hit just .244/.322/.275 (58 OPS+) without a single homer in 149 trips to the plate. Even worse, our minor league coaches want him back in La Crosse, which is not somewhere a guy with two and a half minor league seasons under his belt should be. Especially a former 3rd Rounder who was supposed to be a prolific slugger. A muscular 6'4'' righty, Sapp is the last guy I would have expected to go homerless in a stint (well, of the minor leaguers, that is), and as a first basemen you either hit for a high average or hit for a lot of power. Ideally both, but since Sapp isn't doing either right now, something needs to change. But now in parts of two seasons with San Jose, he has just a .240/.311/.265 (52 OPS+) line in 228 homerless PAs. 1950 is a huge season for Sapp, as if he has another tough season, he may start losing his regular reps at first.

LF Charlie Harvey (215th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 11th Round, 172nd Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: LaSalle Cavaliers

I feel like of this group of five, there were a fair amount of struggles. None of them applied to Charlie Harvey. Pretty much all season, all he did for the baby Cougars was hit, as the September C-O-W Batter of the Month exceled in his first taste of Class B action. After hitting .375/.433/.484 (132 OPS+) in 142 PAs with the Lions last year, he hit an arguably more impressive .359/.437/.470 (138 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 9 homers, 88 RBIs, 86 runs, and 63 walks. His 150 WRC+ was one of the best of any player in our organization, and he was worth an even 4 WAR in 135 games. That's tremendous production from a bat first corner bat, who OSA thinks could even hit around .350. That's a lofty projection from the league's scouting service, and I'm sure they'd compare him to another former Cougar draftee Ed Reyes. If Harvey keep hitting, he'll get his chance. Eventually. But as a Chicago native? Well, that chance may come in Chicago! He's no star, but a quality bat who can help an offense score and produce runs.

[ayaghmour2]

I got a little behind on these, and we've now reached the announcement of CWL rosters. If I didn't skip Friday and Saturday, I would get the last set of reports out perfectly for Opening Day, but I was busy Friday and we didn't have a sim. Then and on Saturday? Well, I'm not all that sure... Guess I just didn't want to write? I was pretty tired. But I more then made up for it today, and will continue tomorrow! In a good way of course! Real life me was lucky enough to get his first outdoor run in a while, and it has completely energized me!

Anyways, while the Santa Clara Stallions will once again carry both Cougars and Eagles, I'm going to hold off on posting the rosters until after I finish the rest of our top prospects. Just to keep the "historical" so-to-speak record a little cleaner. Including the five minor leaguers below, who I will mention their place on the team, we have fifteen guys to go. So yes, if there was a Friday and Saturday the last five would come today, but it doesn't matter too much. Sure, the rosters were announced today, but the teams don't suit up for another in-game week. That gives me plenty of time to finish up, with a flurry of posts in the coming days.

1B John Kerr (220th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 65th Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: Chicopee Pacers

If you thought Dudley Sapp had a bad year, John Kerr had it worse, as it's hard to do as poorly as he did in someone's first full season as a professional. The then 19-year-old hit a pitiful .181/.261/.261 (29 OPS+) in 50 games. He was worth an impressive 1.4 wins below replacement, and unless you count Duke Bybee the hitter (.130, 5, -1.5), Kerr was the most useless player in our system. If you believe in WAR. Don't get me wrong, he definitely deserved it, as the former 5th Rounder was downright awful at everything. He struck out in 25.5% of his attempts and for the second season in a row has hit .200 or worse. It's a concerning result for someone Dixie Marsh thinks will once "hit for a .310 batting average" as the "above average contact skills" is the main draw. There's also the fact that he's a 6'4'' potential slugger, and you wonder if he's actually Dudley Sapp in disguise. Both are quite similar prospects, and part of me wants to just alternate days with these two next season until the draft. Once La Crosse gets back under way, the least bad can stay, or best case once rakes and hits there way up. I don't think either of them are ready, but during the offseason risky high ceiling prospects have a chance to refine their tools, and inch ever closer to their towering potential.

2B Roxy Hilts (230th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 59th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Cedarburg Bulldogs

it was a great season for Roxy Hilts, who jumped nearly 100 points up the prospect rankings. His production on the field was even more impressive, as the former 4th Rounder managed to hit his way up from San Jose to Mobile. Most of the time was spent in the middle, as 98 of his 130 games came with the Legislators. Hilts' .338/.387/.471 (131 OPS+) triple slash was similar to the other levels, and here he hit 24 doubles and 14 triples with 29 walks and 46 RBIs. Sure, he didn't hit a homer, but I'll take all those triples over two or three longballs, as the young infielder has never hit for much home run power. He's more of a contact hitter anyway, and he's one of the toughest guys to get a fastball buy. He puts the ball in play often and struck out in just 9.2% of his plate appearances this season. This will only improve as he gains more experience, and he should put together many tough at bats. I want to see more from his glove at second, and he's really just average at best. With the numbers he put up this season, it's enough to make up for middling defense, but it will be tough to post WRC+ of 148 (B), 131 (A), and 121 (AA) in the majors consistently. Plenty could change between this season and next, but if he remains in Mobile to start the year, there's an outside chance of Hilts taking his first big league at bat next season. He's going to be Rule-5 eligible then, and with continued production at the plate he's going to have to be protected.

RHP Harry Beardsley (232nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 156th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Arkansas A&T Badgers

I'm not sure what it is with the prospect people, but they can never make their minds up about Harry Beardsley. Right now, they don't like him very much at all, but it's not for how he played. Beardsley did excellent in his first 24 starts with the Blues, going 11-7 with a 3.26 ERA (125 ERA+) and 1.25 WHIP with 122 strikeouts in 171 innings. With the high strikeouts, there weren't a lot of walks, as Beardsley allowed just 72 walks, leading to an impressive 10.1 BB% and 1.7 K/BB. He also did a good job keeping the ball apart, yet again maintaining a HR/9 below one despite being a flyball pitcher. Anything more then that and you might run into trouble, and that will be the biggest test for him once he gets promoted. 25 next month, Beardsley will have a chance to showcase himself in Cuba, and he actually led the GWL in groundball percentage (0.59) last season. Right now, he's ticketed into the third spot in the Stallions rotation, behind Milwaukee and 40-man counterparts Zane Kelley and Ron Berry. That front three may be tough to beat, and I'm hoping our trio can really showcase their stuff. Beardsley's may be the best right now, as his high 80s fastball goes right past hitters as it looks way faster then his brutal change. He takes full advantage of the velocity difference, and he'll generate funky swings when someone is sitting on the hard stuff. As long as he can stay around the zone, he'll be fine, so avoiding hangers will be crucial to his success. I think this guy is already good enough to pitch every fifth day in FABL, and perhaps another team out there might think the same. He's available for trade, but nothing has materialized yet in an offseason that's really just seen the Carlos Montes trade.

SS Willie Watson (241st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 157th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Evansville Eagles

A lot of Lions didn't hit too well, but Willie Watson was surely an exception. Even as a singles hitter, he produced a 126 WRC+ with a decent enough .340/.408/.443 (109 OPS+) batting line. He has almost no power, but a 4.4 zone rating and 1.154 efficiency will open a lot of doors. Yeah, it's a miniscule sample, but Watson is one of the rare prospects who's been pretty impressive everywhere defensively despite not playing too much. The Illinois native is stuck in a big group of quality infielders in La Crosse, but this year may be enough to give him a chance at more playing time. There's a crowd in San Jose too, but there may be a utility spot available for him early next season. I really like his glove, and he's done a great job putting the ball in play. He had 7 doubles and 2 triples in 121 PAs this season, and he was able to drive in 21 runs. Watson took advantage of the limited time, and he was huge for them late in games. His defensive ability makes him an asset anywhere, where even average offensive production is enough.

RHP Lee Parker (262nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 15th Round, 236th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Marysville Monarchs

It was a nightmare of a season for Lee Parker, who after four awful starts was moved to the pen, where he was actually worse. In total, Parker went 4-6 with 4 saves, a 6.43 ERA (73 ERA+), 1.84 WHIP, 23 walks, and 50 strikeouts. Despite all that, Parker had a 100 point jump on the prospect rankings, and perhaps the bad performances were a mix of bad luck. He did have a 4.27 FIP (90 FIP-) in 49 innings, and it was actually better in his four start (3.63, 77). I was originally ready to demote him to the pen full time, but Parker has made me rethink things a bit. I've always liked his deep arsenal, but it's tough seeing him struggle so much at 21. Against my better judgement, I might move him up to San Jose before the draft. He has a good curve and I really thought it would play well in the pen, but guys with a five pitch repertoire belong in a rotation.

[ayaghmour2]

RHP Tommy Seymour (268th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1943)
Alma Mater: Olathe Pioneers

Another member of the Santa Clara Stallions, Tommy Seymour will return to the pen, where he spent 37.2 innings in 1947. A former first rounder, Seymour's season was pretty much split in half. The good half, in Lincoln. And the bad half, in Mobile. For someone who is eligible for the Rule-5 draft, you want to perform after a promotion, and that's the opposite of what Seymour did. He stumbled to go 1-7 with a 5.33 ERA (75 ERA+) and 1.73 WHIP with 43 walks and strikeouts. The 3.92 FIP is somewhat encouraging, but the 24-year-old has never gotten over his walk issues. His changeup is hittable when it's floated in the zone, but when he's on it'll get plenty of whiffs. The only issue is he doesn't have another pitch to compliment it, and the window may have closed on him. He does have a good chance to stick around, as I'll always have some attachment to him, but I think it's only a matter of time before he ends up an organizational depth arm.

RHP Zane Kelley 293rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Kings (1947)
Drafted: 7th Round, 102nd Overall (1944)
Alma Mater: Media Lions

See, I'll never understand why guys like this don't rank higher in the prospect rankings. All Zane Kelley did was go 11-4 with a 3.00 ERA (136 ERA+) in 20 starts with the Blues. Then he followed that up by going 2-2 with a 2.78 ERA (145 ERA+) and 1.09 WHIP with the big league club. Yet Kelley fell out of the top 200 and nearly the top 300 to open the offseason. Kelley turned 24 today, and in AAA he struck out exactly twice (80) as many batters as he walked (40). This kid has performed at every level, and he'll have another chance to do it down south. He's the reigning ERA and innings leader, and the do-it-all ace-and-stopper will have a chance to defend his crown. I've written plenty about Kelley, and I'm sure that'll continue, so I can keep this short and sweet. If he stays with the club, he'll enter the season as the sixth starter, and I can see him getting some high leverage innings out of the pen when we don't need him to start. I'd love for him to get a chance to start somewhere else, but I'd bet on him staying put this offseason.

CF Doc Zimmerman (344th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 68th Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: Bryan Rams

1949 was shaping up to be Doc Zimmerman's big break. Then he had to visit the doctor himself.

The diagnosis was not great, as Doc's season was cut short at 18 games after a torn PCL. Knee injuries are tough, especially for a contact/speed type guy, and it interrupted his second attempt for a .400 season. He was one point shy, and was off to a torrid .421/.450/.649 (167 OPS+) start. He mashed an astronomical 191 WRC+ with 9 runs, 4 doubles, 3 triples, a homer, 13 RBIs, and 2 steals. It's a shame he didn't get to finish it off, as this kid has looked like a gifted hitter early on. Instead, I'm a little worried he might stall out, as for a guy who relies so much on speed a knee injury is brutal. Not everyone is a Billy Hunter, who never stopped getting hurt, but Doc is a groundball hitter who uses his speed to get on base. One thing working in his favor is he has the work ethic Hunter lacks. He'll do what he needs to get back in shape and with a longer offseason in a short-season league, he should be more then 100% ready for 1950.

3B John Price (317th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 9th Round, 140th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Holy Cross Tigers

For the first time since being selected back in 1946, John Price did not play any game in La Crosse, so it's no surprise he appeared in a career high 75 games. It was just one more then two seasons ago, but Price produced much better offensive numbers. He had a nice 120 WRC+ to go with his .328/.399/.396 (109 OPS+) batting line, as he drew 28 walks with just 20 strikeouts. He added 9 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, and 46 RBIs while making appearances at all four infield positions. The former 9th Rounder has had to fight for playing time, but I think he's found his spot at third base. Shortstop didn't work too well for him, and while he doesn't hit for much power, I think his bat can play at third. He'll draw plenty of walks and can hit for a high average, and if everything works out well, he could be a John Kincaid type.

SS Archie Cunningham (320th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 116th Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: Carolina Poly Cardinals

After spending his draft year in San Jose, Archie Cunningham spent all season in Lincoln, as "A.C" once gain played the middle infield with his twin better. Archie was as reliable as ever on the field, but he hit just .266/.332/.368 (88 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 10 triples, 2 homers, and 58 RBIs. He was a perfect 13-for-14 on stolen base attempts, drew 46 walks, and scored 65 runs in 513 trips to the plate. For his efforts he was rewarded with an above average 3.1 wins above replacement, showing that with speed and defense, you can still be valuable without knocking the ball out of the park. Despite all that, I was disappointed with his steep fall in the prospect rankings, as there's no reason he can't be a second division starter for a FABL team. His speed is a weapon, and paired with great sense of the plate, he'll find his way on base. Either a walk, bloop single, or hustle double, he'll do whatever it takes to get on base. Not because he's a team player, but because he thinks he's him, so any drop in production could lead to an issue in the clubhouse. If we can keep him on track, A.C. will get to play under the bright lights, but for now he'll continue to play with his brother as he continues to grow.

[ayaghmour2]

LHP Mike Emerson (345th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 61st Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Jamesville Bullets

This was year three in La Crosse for Mike Emerson, and even with our pitching logjam, I'm hoping it's his last year. Emerson wasn't quite as sharp as last year, but the 20-year-old made 10 starts and held an average 4.57 ERA (103 ERA+). He didn't pitch many innings, averaging 6.3 innings a start, but he did manage to strike out 56 while walking just 24. That's back-to-back seasons with a K/BB above 2, a good sign that he's ready for more advanced hitters. He'll be 21 in May, and I'd like the former 4th Rounder to start a game above Class C before that. Problem is, we have a lot of young starting pitchers with better repertoires in his way. Right now his best and only pitch is a cutter, but and it still doesn't fool too many hitters. What he does do is keep the ball on the ground, and while not standout pitches, his three off-speed options move a lot of and are hard to track. If he mixes them well, he'll keep hitters guessing, but I'm worried he'll develop a tendency to nibble. He's got a lot of development ahead of him, but I'm afraid he might get lost in the mix.

2B Rupert Heinbaugh (362nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 107th Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Weedsport Warriors

Rather shockingly, Rupert Heinbaugh has shot up the prospect ladder since I placed him on the 40-man roster. 23 in a few days, he's up all the way to 222nd after today's sim despite battling a pair of injuries this season. This held him to 67 AA and 16 AAA games, and his time in Mobile didn't go well. He hit just .258/.339/.350 (82 OPS+) in 85% of the plate appearances, finishing with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 4 homers, 6 steals, and 22 RBIs. Luckily, when his time with the Commodores ended, the season didn't, and he finished off the year at the league's highest level. Sure, small sample and all that, but it's hard to be mad about a .256/.396/.465 (124 OPS+) finish. One thing that stayed the same was his discipline, as after a 32-to-15 walk-to-strikeout ratio in Mobile, he upped it to 10-to-3 with 3 doubles, 2 homers, and 8 RBIs. I hoped he'd ride that momentum into the CWL, but he was absent from the roster. The Stallions have the middle infield covered, but I do think he would do better this year then Chicagoan and this year's Eagles second rounder Joe Edmonds. Instead, his next action he'll face is with the big league club in the spring, before an expected return to Milwaukee for the Century League season.

1B Charlie Everitt (364th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 14th Round, 212th Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: Cowpens State Fighting Green

While the first basemen not too far ahead of him didn't do much hitting, Charlie Everitt hit his way up to A ball. Last year's 14th Rounder, Everitt crushed C-O-W pitching, slashing .340/.465/.498 (153 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 6 homers, and 44 RBIs. He produced a 167 WRC+ in 316 trips to the plate with a superb 59-to-25 walk-to-strikeout ratio. He couldn't come close to that after promotion, as he had a higher K% (12.4) then BB% (10.4). Both moved in the wrong direction, but that didn't stop him from producing runs for the Legislators. He hit .331/.399/.465 (132 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, and 23 RBIs. The 22-year-old had one of the better seasons in our farm, and if Cal Rice wasn't in AA I think Everitt would be there. He seems to be close to big league ready, and he's attempting to make himself to be Red Bond's eventual replacement. Despite being an AI pick, he's actually a guy I wanted to take, as I think he's way better then the game gives him credit for. All he needs is some pop to be a top performer, as he has a great swing and should spend most of his baseball career with an average over .300.

LHP Mack Lyons (370th Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Chiefs (1949)
Drafted: 7th Round, 100th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Big Bend Miners

Due to new trade rules, "Mack" Lyons was the return for a disgruntled Carlos Montes, as the pitcher I initially wanted couldn't be traded because he was drafted this year. And since he's a 7th Rounder from 1947, Lyons ended up being the lottery ticket prospect I acquired. If it wasn't for a *spoiler* trade this morning, Mack would be the newest prospect of the Cougars organization. Instead, he's not even the newest pitching prospect! But none of that matters, because of who his father is!

Dick Lyons was so committed to his job that he actually lost to the Montreal Saints at our old stadium before heading to the hospital to see his wife give birth. Unlike most children of ballplayers, Mack never had to move, as his dad spent the next sixteens season in a Cougar uniform, finishing his career with 237 FABL wins.

Mack will be lucky to win a single game, as he's not nearly the pitcher his father once were. And that's not an insult. Well -- completely... But aside from being lefties, that's about all they share. Legally named Richard Lyons Jr., Mack is seven inches taller then his dad and has a fastball and sinker that can hit 90. He has a change too, but unlike the hard stuff, it isn't any good. That's why he doesn't project as a starter, but with his baseball pedigree and work ethic, I'm willing to roll the dice. He can blow guys away, evidenced by an 11.9 K% in 189 innings (103 Ks), but considering it comes with a higher BB% (12.7, 110). Control was never the issue for his dad, making it ironic that it's his biggest issue. Dick never once had a BB% above the 8.8 he posted in 9.1 innings before I was even in charge of the Cougars and he was fresh out of college. And the only time above 7.5 was in 5 starts with the 1927 Blues before he never went back to the minors. Mack has been in double digits since his promotion from Class C his draft year. I think I'll give him a chance to start, but if he adds speed and his change doesn't get any better, I might just let him throw fastballs in the late innings and try to win games. Wouldn't it be fun if Dick gets 200 wins and Mack gets 200 saves?

I like the sound of that!

3B Lou Jackson (378th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 93rd Overall (1949)
Alma Mater: College of San Diego Friars

A natural center fielder, Lou Jackson spent most of his season at third, although he got a few starts at center and a few more innings late in games. I love his speed, so center could be his best spot, but we have plenty of outfielders and not many infielders. Jackson has held his own at third, and he hit an elite .353/.411/.572 (157 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 12 triples, and 43 RBIs. Sure, he hit just one homer in his first 215 plate appearances in our system, and that's not the ideal look for a third basemen. But if he's hitting like this, we'll find somewhere to play him. This year's 6th Rounder, Jackson made appearances at every position but catcher and pitcher for San Jose, and when you add in the fact that he's a switch hitter it's hard to find boxes he doesn't check off. The position he plays will be determined by who's around him, but I think his best value may be in center. The speed is really impressive, and I think he's ahead of most center fielders from his class with the bat. That should continue as he moves up the system, and an outside organization may want to give him a chance to be their future center fielder.

[ayaghmour2]

Forgot to post, computer crashed. Thought I lost this (and rosters), but I didn't! Good news! Back-to-back posts coming:

Right before the action got going in the CWL, we ended up making a second trade with our crosstown companions. Reunited on the left side of the infield with Charlie Artuso, Walt Pack will keep his address but change his park, sent to the Chiefs for a pair of prospects from their 1948 draft class.

This trade was more about the lineup spot, then the return, as moving on from Pack opens a roster spot for Otto Christian. Now 27, he managed to hit two more homers then Pack this year, despite appearing in just 250 trips to the plate. Otto certainly made the most of it, slashing an impressive .271/.333/.548 (132 OPS+) with 12 doubles and 46 RBIs. He kept his K% below 10% (9.6) with a similar BB% (8.0), which isn't too common among sluggers. Among regular playing time, I'm really excited to see how many homers he'd hit. In a full 500+ PA season he could hit over 30, and he'll now have a chance to do that. It took a while, as he has just 18 FABL homers in 124 games. A slugger as good as him needs stability, and he'll play a lion's share of the starts at the hot corner next season. Sure, George Sutterfield will play some third, and Otto may spell Bond at first sometimes, but most days he'll have the good pleasure of getting to drive in Leo Mitchell, Sal Pestilli, and Red Bond. That's 17 All-Star appearances!

As Otto is getting into his peak, Pack is far from his, as at 35 his best days are likely behind him. He's still solid and coming off a decent year where he hit 13 homers and drove in 54 runs with a 106 WRC+. He walked (51) more often then he struck out (47), but his .253/.340/.405 (98 OPS+) triple slash was a bit below average. Still, he's posted a WRC+ above 100 in nine of his eleven career seasons, and his overall production in Chicago was impressive. In 376 games, Pack hit .268/.346/.470 (123 OPS+) with 44 doubles, 62 homers, and 205 RBIs. That triple slash isn't too far rom his .273/.343/.442 (122 OPS+) career line, as through highs and lows Pack's been one of the better sluggers out there. And because of that, he deserved a chance to play everyday. With the Chiefs, he has at least one year before #3 prospect Ed Bloom is ready to go, and if Pack keeps hitting they can find away to get all the hot hitters in the lineup. He's a great veteran presence on a team that could use a third basemen right now, and he'll help a team looking to make a title defense.

The return brings something I've been focusing on, new young players, as we'll welcome righty Walt Cooper and shortstop Bunny Bruce to the system. Cooper is a guy I wanted in the 1948 draft, but we were without a first and didn't pick until 26th in the draft. He went a few picks higher at 17. and we ended up with Amos Peterson, who ranks near Cooper on the prospect list today. He's at 166th, good for third in their system and 21st in ours (Peterson is actually 18th and 156th). 19 in January, Cooper spent his season with the Chief's Class B affiliate, but I'm not too sure where he'll go for us. He had real issues with the walks, allowing 102 in his 190 innings. I'm not concerned, as Dixie actually believes that "as he develops his pinpoint command and movement should limit the number of home runs he allows." That seems like the type of pitcher who would work well in our park, with the stuff he boats he could end up being a really nasty pitcher. He's got a lot of developing before he can reach his potential, but if "Skip" comes close to it we'll have another top hurler on our hands. Once he gets over his control issues, he might make it back in the top 100 prospect list, but we'll have to get our staff working with him right away.

Bruce, on the other hand, is really just a lottery ticket with a cool name. He's not a ranked prospect, but he was a 9th Rounder and has some interesting tools of his own. He's a line drive hitter and could be a decent defensive infielder, and I really like his speed. He could draw plenty of walks and hit for a decent average, and even hit three homers in A ball. I think that's too advanced for the 19-year-old, who likely starts in a bench role for one of our two bottom organizations. He's a project pick for sure, but shortstop depth is key, aside from their top two prospects, the Chiefs don't have many position player prospects that match what I was looking for.

[ayaghmour2]

As promised, it's time for the rosters! Games start tomorrow in the Cuban Winter League, where the Cougars and Eagles once more attempt to bring the Santa Clara Stallions to glory. We have a pretty good group of players, including the top three members in the rotation and the two through six hitters. You can find them, and more, listed below:

RHP Harry Beardsley (#242 Prospect)*
LHP Ron Berry (#36 Prospect)*
RHP Zane Kelley (#249 Prospect)*
C Mike Bordes (Not Ranked)*
3B Al Clement (Not Ranked)*
SS Elmer Grace (#72 Prospect)
LF Clyde Parker (#150 Prospect)*
CF Henry Norman (#52 Prospect)
RF Jimmy Hairston (#117 Prospect)*

*On 40-Man Roster

Some of our top prospects are going to be on the Stallions, including our third ranked prospect Ron Berry, but the headliner has to be Zane Kelley. He's returning to the league he dominated last year, and will be on the mound as the Stallions host the Havana Sharks to kick off the season on Tuesday. If all goes well, him Berry, and Beardsley (in that order) will make 75% of the starts for the team, while the lineup will see Norman, Hairston, Grace, Clement, and Parker. Only the outfielders are playing their natural position, while Grace is at second and Clement rather surprisingly at first. It's also cool seeing seven top 250 prospects, and five of them are also part of the seven 40-man roster members. I expect we'll have plenty of highlights, and I'm excited to have some players to cover in the coming weeks!

[ayaghmour2]

LHP Ron Berry (#44 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 122nd Overall (1944)
AAA: 12-3, 158 IP, 2.62 ERA (155 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP, 55 BB, 116 K
CWL: 1-0, 9 IP, 1.00 ERA (412 ERA+), 0.67 WHIP, 2 BB, 3 K

I don't think there is a single pitcher in the CWL that both has a higher ceiling and a higher floor then Ron Berry. As good as Zane Kelley and Harry Beardsley were this season, Ron Berry was the best of the Blues rotation, as he finished 12-3 with a 2.62 ERA (155 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP, and 116 strikeouts in his 24 starts. As you might expect, the dominance continued, as Berry picked up a complete game victory in the Stallions 6-1 victory. Berry allowed just one run on 2 walks and 7 hits, striking out 3 in the win. It's one of the best CWL starts Berry's had, as he didn't make any in 1946 and had a 5.24 ERA (89 ERA+) and 1.64 WHIP in 11 appearances (7 starts) last season. Berry is a much more polished pitcher this season, and I expect him to be one of the better starters down south this winter. He has a strong defense behind him, so if he can keep the walks in check, he'll really showcase himself to the rest of the league. And as a member of the 40-man roster he'll be able to stick around he can pitch his way into our rotation.

SS Elmer Grace (#73 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 52nd Overall (1948)
AAA: .264/.371/.395 (100 OPS+), 471 PA, 21 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 58 RBI, 3 SB
CWL: .467/.467/.667 (188 OPS+), HR, 3 RBI

Elmer Grace was here last year, and started all 42 of the Stallions games, but just two at his natural shortstop. He hit a respectable .268/.384/.378 (96 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 5 homers, and 19 RBIs. He's back at second again after spending most of his year at short, but he did not let that get to him. Instead, he let his bat do the talking, going 7-for-15 with a homer and three RBIs. He had multi-hit games in each of his three appearances, and he also scored or drove in a run. It's a great start for the talented young middle infielder, who may be one of the more skilled hitters out there. Not only is he a top 100 prospect, but he's a contact oriented hitter who's discipline allowed him to produce a 113 WRC+ in 106 AAA games. It's obviously just the first week, but it's hard to imagine a better start for Grace and the 3-0 Stallions, as they're ready to start their first back-to-back of the year.

RHP Zane Kelley (#250 Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Kings (1947)
FABL: 2-2, 35.2 IP, 2.78 ERA (145 ERA+), 1.09 WHIP, 13 BB, 10 K
AAA: 11-4, 156 IP, 3.00 ERA (136 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP, 40 BB, 80 K
CWL: 1-0, 9 IP, 1.00 ERA (412 ERA+), 0.67 WHIP, 2 BB, 3 K

As you might expect, Zane Kelley was on the mound to start the Santa Clara Stallions season, and he picked up right where he left off. Stallions started the perfect week, allowing just 4 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts in a complete game victory. That's exactly the type of start I expected from him, as the first 24 were about as good as this. Between three levels, he's now 14-6 and he could end up winning 20 games by the end of the season. He's got a shot for ten more starts to add to his win total, and if this week a sign of how things are going to go, wins will be a plenty for our prospect group.

[ayaghmour2]

Another great week for the Stallions as they win three of four, but more importantly, we reached the Rule-5 Draft. I'm not sure if we'll get a guy, but we have three open spots. I'm not sure anyone can stick, but it's worth throwing some bait and trying to catch a fish that could help finish up the edges of the roster.

SS Elmer Grace (#72 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 52nd Overall (1948)
AAA: .264/.371/.395 (100 OPS+), 471 PA, 21 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 58 RBI, 3 SB
CWL: .406/.411/.812 (211 OPS+), 34 PA, 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI

You thought last week was good? Check out this one!

Grace started the week with an 0-for-4, but followed it with three more multi-hit games, including a two homer night where the Stallions dropped their first game of the season in Santiago, 5-4. Grace also homered in the 9-4 win over the Crocodiles, so he now has 4 in 7 games after hitting just 7 in 106 for the Blues. Grace now sports an impressive .406/.441/.812 (211 OPS+) season line and has been instrumental in the Stallions hot start. Right now he's leading all CWL hitters in homers and RBIs, as well as hits (13), slugging, and total bases (26), while top three in numerous other categories. Surprisingly, his second base defense hasn't been very good, but the young infielder might be having the best start for anyone in the CWL this winter.

3B Al Clement (Not Ranked)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 29th Overall (1943)
FABL: .000/.000/.000 (-100 OPS+), PA
AAA: .294/.378/.496 (127 OPS+), 576 PA, 36 2B, 9 3B, 16 HR, 73 RBI, 13 SB
CWL: .333/.484/.750 (208 OPS+), 31 PA, 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI

Elmer Grace may be the early star, but it's not because Al Clement hasn't been trying. Our former 2nd Rounder is off to a great start, slugging 3 homers in 7 games while drawing 7 walks, driving in 7, and scoring 6 times. His .333/.484/.740 (208 OPS+) batting line coincides with an impressive 215 WRC+, and he's followed up a great Century League season with a great to start to his offseason. Aside from a two game callup to the big league club, Clement appeared in 131 games for the Blues, and hit a strong .294/.378/.496 (126 OPS+) with 16 homers and 73 RBIs. Clement scored 88 runs, drew 68 walks, stole 13 bases, and hit 36 doubles and 9 triples in an very complete season. 25 in August, Clement is looking to earn a bench spot in Chicago, and a showing like this is helping him make his case. A versatile infielders, he's actually started all seven games at first, a position he doesn't play too much. He spent most of 1949 at the hot corner, but Clement came up as a middle infielder, and adding first base to his game is making him a more complete player. There's a long road ahead, but Clement has taken the first step to earning a bench role, and he'll be an interesting guy to watch as the Stallions look for their first division title.

[ayaghmour2]

It's been well documented. The Chicago Cougars are bad at one run games. Like really, really, really bad. I hope that's the going to change.

Because we got David Molina.

I've lost track of how many times I tried to trade for the Quincy native, but I finally got the once 2nd Round pick of the Detroit Dynamos. He didn't last too long, traded the following year with longtime teammate Al Duster (10-13, 4.45, 82) for longtime Sailor ace William Jones. Medina spent the next three season working up the minors before making the Sailors Opening Day roster in 1942. He just turned 23 and was ranked the 66th best prospect, but they didn't have room for him in the rotation. He made all 44 of his appearances as a rookie out of the pen, going 6-4 with 7 saves, a 2.52 ERA (130 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, 40 walks, and 62 strikeouts. Unfortunately for Molina, the country was at war, and the Navy took him before he had a chance to establish himself as a big league starter. Even through high school, before his rookie year he never pitched out of the pen, and could have conceivably entered the rotation had he not been drafted.

Instead, it may have been the best thing to happen for him.

All that was left for the then 27-year-old was the stopper job, and it has been a role that looks very good on him. If you can look pass his 6-10, Molina was leaps and bounds the most valuable relief pitcher, appearing in a league high 80 games with an also high 27 saves. He had an impressive 3.10 ERA (117 ERA+) and 1.45 WHIP with 70 walks and 101 strikeouts. His 3.17 FIP (87 FIP-) supported the overall work and he finished an absurd 69 games.

And the most impressive part? He basically did it three more times!

He's led the league in saves, games, and game finished in the three years following. Each season he's had an ERA and FIP below 3.55, 79 or more appearances, and 115 or more innings. He's never struck out fewer then 14% of the batters he's faced and he's been worth 1.7 or more wins above replacement each time. In total, he's appeared in 367 games and thrown 562.1 innings. Molina has a pristine 3.14 ERA (122 ERA+) and 3.20 FIP (83 FIP-). He's struck out 422 hitters, good for a 17.4 K% and 1.3 K/BB. I like to think we have the best rotation in the game, and having someone as reliable as Molina may be the missing piece we need.

As an organization, the Cougars have never prioritized the bullpen. So much so that only one pitcher, Bill Mendine, has saved more then 20 games in a season. And one pitcher, Bill Mendine, has saved more then 60 games as a Cougar. If all goes well, Molina will do the first this year and the second in three years, as for once I have faith in our team late in the games. These winnable starts will be won.

The price we paid was large, but as long as we received what was advertised, it's well worth the price. I'm going to miss Johnny Peters, who we took 3rd Overall in 1945, but our outfield pitcher is crowded and this fills one of our biggest holes. Harry MacRae was decent this year, and he'll be joining Peters as well, but the underlying stats expected major regression and he's rather streaky. Finishing up the return are infielder prospects Cal Rice and Amos Peterson, who both rank outside the top 100 but inside the top 200. Rice was on the 40, so this deal actually nets us two open spots. We don't really need space, as we weren't near the limit yet, but you never know who could be available on waivers or through trade. I have most of the roster ready for next season, but that's not going to stop me from making another move if one materializes.

[ayaghmour2]

I didn't initially expect to add in the Rule-5 draft, but after freeing up some roster spots I realized that we have very few guys who can't be optioned and our bench was on the thinner side. That doesn't necessarily mean the guy we took is going to stick, but there were a few guys I liked available, and we ended up with my #1 choice.

That would be former Minutemen 3rd Round Pick Paul Caissie, who has been passed up in the prospect ladder by Rick Masters, Yank Taylor, and Danny Taylor, all young corner bats in the minors who rank inside the game's top 100 prospect list. Caissie himself ranks a respectable 272nd, good enough for 30th in our organization after the Molina trade. A lefty bat, he's got experience at left and first, but most of his time has come in his natural position of right field. This year, however, Boston began working him out more at his secondary positions, with 73 games at first, 25 in left, and just 44 in right. He's not a great defender, so it may not end up where he plays, but he does have an exciting bat. He made 627 trips to the plate for AA Worcester, and the 23-year-old hit an impressive .330/.399/.464 (123 OPS+) with a personal high 10 home runs. He added 38 doubles, 3 triples, 73 runs, 71 RBIs, and 64 walks in an impressive all-around season. Dixie's always been a fan of his game, labeling him an above average player, but I really liked what he did at the plate this season. He's always had a strong hit tool, but this season the extra base hits come, and he's now had back-to-back 60 walk seasons. Only one Cougar, Skipper Schneider, drew 60 walks this season (61), and Caissie's 10.2 BB% top Skip's 9.5. That would rank third among Cougars with 450 or more PAs, and the two guys who walked more frequently then him had nearly 200 fewer chances. As exciting as he is, Caissie is probably not quite big league ready, so about all he can do for us is give us a lefty bat off the bench. Our outfield skews right, which works in his favor, but he'll need to impress this spring to stick.

We also lost one player, as the Stars snapped up Franklin Thomas. That's back-to-back years the Stars poached our system, although they did let Billy Biggar back before the season started. That could be the case again, as the unranked Thomas was their fourth selection. Thomas had a great end to the season, slashing .333/.439/.503 (145 OPS+) in 49 games after receiving a promotion to Milwaukee. As great as that looks, he's never hit near that, and was at .272/.361/.444 (112 OPS+) in a sample that was actually above 200 PAs. 25 in January, we have a lot of outfielders like Thomas, but one advantage he has is his decent center field defense. I used him mostly in the corners, but the former 9th Rounder has great speed and was only not in center because of all the talented center fielders we have. If he makes the opening roster, it's likely as a 4th outfielder, but that's a role he's perfect for. You can never have too much depth, so it's not good we lost him, but at the same time it's a loss we can afford, and if I really wanted him I could have protected him myself.

[ayaghmour2]

LF Clyde Parker (#148 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 103rd Overall (1945)
AAA: .255/.368/.383 (96 OPS+), 57 PA, 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI
AA: .323/.395/.476 (129 OPS+), 418 PA, 28 2B, 3B, 9 HR, 55 RBI, 2 SB
CWL: .394/.545/.576 (183 OPS+), 44 PA, 2B, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 2 SB

Very little went right for the Stallions, who dropped each of their last three, but Clyde Parker was not among the culprits. The 23-year-old kept up his great start, hitting an even 5-for-10 with three runs scored. The former 7th Rounder is now hitting an impressive .394/.545/.576 (183 OPS+) and a 11-to-2 walk-to-strikeout ratio has fueled his 204 WRC+. Parker also has one of each extra base hits, 9 runs, 6 RBIs, and even a pair of steals, as he's started every game in left field for Santa Clara. It's nice to see him off to such a nice start, but after a strong year in Mobile it's not all that surprising. He made 102 of his 121 appearances there, hitting a productive .323/.395/.476 (129 OPS+) with 28 doubles, 9 homers, and 55 RBIs. He's always been a disciplined hitter, keeping his walks up and strikeouts low, but with the Commodores he came close to equal walks (41) and strikeouts (45). That's a huge skill when you're already hitting over .300, as the lefty swinger has an excellent contact tool. You can't expect too much from him in the field, but he makes up for it at the plate. He's a good table setter who can get on base, and while there's not much speed, he's a good base runner. I like to think of him as a potential Leo Mitchell lite, just without the strikeouts, but he's not ready to contribute yet. On Opening Day we'll burn his first of three options, but if he hits and someone in the lineup isn't, there's a chance he'll make his debut sometime next season.

[ayaghmour2]

A few quick notes as we get close to the start of 1950. Nothing official, but my best guess is the draft will happen over the weekend. That means the lottery should happen by Friday, where we have just one ball after losing three more games then last season. Considering we had no luck with three balls, I'm not sure one makes much difference, but I don't expect us to pick in the top ten. Otherwise, we'll pick 14th in rounds 3 through 10, with the remaining rounds coming in the summer, still at the 14th pick.

LHP Ron Berry (#37 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 122nd Overall (1944)
AAA: 12-3, 158 IP, 2.62 ERA (155 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP, 55 BB, 116 K
CWL: 3-1, 158 IP, 3.45 ERA (124 ERA+), 1.18 WHIP, 16 BB, 26 K

After two really good starts, the Santiago Scorpions got to Ron Berry, hitting 3 homers in just 4.1 innings, as Berry left with 8 runs, 6 walks, 4 hits, and 6 strikeouts. Luckily for Berry, he was on it the next time he got on the mound, twirling a 2-hit shutout in a tight 1-0 victory over Havana. He did again walk 6, but Berry struck out 9 in the complete game victory to improve to 3-1 in his first four starts. Berry, who has been the subject of many trade talks, potentially made his last start as a member of the Cougars organization, but it was definitely a good way to end it. Currently ranked as the 37th prospect and 6th among pitchers, Berry has the make up of an ace or #2, but there's no spot for him in the Cougars rotation. He could end up being better then Johnnie Jones and George Oddo, but I don't think I could separate the Jones Brothers while Oddo has already shown he's at least a back-end starter, and his stuff is as good or even better then Berry's. Berry has three stellar off-speed pitches, including an absurd change, but he sits in the mid 80s with his fastball and I like velocity. His command is great, he generates a ton of grounders, and the stuff will make you salivate, but the former 7th Rounder is best served being used to win the 1950 pennant.

And I think I found a way to do that...