Out of the Shadows: The Eclipse League

[luckymann]

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

Brooklyn Royal Giants (90-72)



1969 Draftees

1. OF Jerald Clark
2. 1B Luis de los Santos
3. 2B Francisco Matos
4. 2B Orval Tucker
5. P Seranthony Dominguez

A great debut season for the RGs, the downside of which is of course the low Draft pick. Clark is a handy type who should slot in as a backup OF but their IF remains weak apart from Luis Arraez. Low stamina in their rotation is another problem, meaning prolonged pressure on the BP. Janus predicts some regression in '69.


New York Black Yankees (87-75)



1969 Draftees

1. OF Ivan Calderon
2. OF Jim Pendleton
3. OF John Reese
4. OF Marcus Lawton
5. P Maywood Brown

Just came up short and will be there or thereabouts again next season. Their spin is a a beast (2.84 ERA in '68) led by Sabathia, who looks set to dominate this league. It will only get better if Walker continues to improve. Calderon a great pickup to augment a pretty ordinary OF group.


Pittsburgh Crawfords (79-83)



1969 Draftees

1. P Jose Rijo
2. P Horacio Ramirez
3. OF Jim Steels
4. P Roosevelt Owens
5. OF Pedro Silva

Plenty of upside from here for the Crawfs through future guns like Whitaker, Oms and of course Dihigo. Nice scouting in the recent Draft, with Ramirez ready to go now and Rijo a real prospect. Maybe a couple years off peaking but that peak should be worth the wait.


Atlantic City Bacharach Giants (74-88)



1969 Draftees

1. OF Carlos Lee
2. P Mariano Rivera
3. P Hector Fajardo
4. 3B Isaac Lane
5. C Cleo Benson

Not quite sure what to make of the BGs just yet. Lots of pop in the bats (2nd) but little average (8th). Chito Martinez was a bit of surprise and I'm not convinced his great '68 is sustainable. There looks scant upside in the current playing group aside from Phillips and Clendenon, although Lee is a good add and of course they now have The Sandman to close out leads. How many leads he'll get to close out is the big concern, given what is a decidedly pedestrian rotation with the possible exception of Quevedo.


Newark Eagles (74-88)



1969 Draftees

1. 2B Jim Gilliam
2. C Cesar Deverez
3. P Craig House
4. P Bert Jones

The Eagles have taken the long view and so any improvement in record and standings will be seen as a win. They seem content with this strategy as Gilliam is some time off being a meaningful contributor in the bigs. Floyd looks ahead of schedule, but until their other prospects such as Bell, Rector, Leonard, Jackson and Smith come on the Eagles will struggle to be competitive.


NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

St. Louis Giants (102-60)



1969 Draftees

1. OF Rudy Pemberton
2. 2B Alexi Amarista
3. 2B Mo Harris
4. P John McFarland
5. P Jose Mujica

What can you say about the Champs and clearly dominant team in the league? Not huge amounts of blue sky in this group, but Judge looks likely to become one of the EL's true superstars and the other heroes from '68 don't look like they'll be dropping off the cliff anytime soon. Once again they have been astute with their Draft choices despite their low pick, with both Pembleton and Amarista sure to be contributors, albeit in backup roles. Will be amongst it again this season.


Cuban Stars West (90-72)



1969 Draftees

1. P Oil Can Boyd
2. P Jose Nunez
3. C Don Wakamatsu
4. P Armando Rodriguez
5. P Sam Cooper

A quality outfit that, cruelly, might not achieve the sort of success it should because of the presence of St. Louis in the same group. That said, they weren't vastly off the pace in '68 and the addition of Boyd gives them one of the best rotations in the league, with Nunez also a nice-looking type. That Soto-Ortiz-Burton heart will break those of many a pitcher in the years to come and will allow this club to give the Giants a run for their money.


Birmingham Black Barons (84-78)



1969 Draftees

1. OF Gary Matthews jr
2. SS Andre Robertson
3. 3B Leo Hernandez
4. P Randy Flores
5. P Johnny Mitchell

A bit lost in the rush last season, the BBs actually had a really solid campaign. 205th pick Tony Armas shot into the stratosphere with 30 HR and Willson Contreras delivered on the hype. But there's no doubt their pitching is a huge concern, one which will almost certainly hinder their chances of success. And, while Matthews jr is a key get, one wonders if - with John Briggs already a pretty solid OF prospect waiting in the wings - an ace would perhaps have been a more utile way to go. Because if a form slump or injury strikes the rotation, these guys are in a world of hurt.


Kansas City Monarchs (67-95)



1969 Draftees

1. C Hal King
2. C Poindexter Williams
3. P Henry Miller
4. P Elias Sosa
5. P Dennis Santana

The 1-2 punch of Marichal and Marquez will get the Mons their share of wins, and they have two of the better SP prospects going around in Joe Black and Bill Lindsay. Now they need some offence. Minus 154 run diff last season tells you all you need to know about how far off the pace they are. King is a good add, but they'll need a couple more like him to help Jones, Jordan and Gurriel jr.


Memphis Red Sox (64-98)



1969 Draftees

1. OF Eddie Rosario
2. 1B Yonder Alonso
3. P David Hernandez
4. 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes
5. 2B Carlisle Perry

Another club taking the patient route. MVP Billy Sample was a revelation on a club that barely missed losing 100 and the addition of Rosario should, along with Khris Davis, Ozzie Virgil jr and Jose Vidro, help them put more runs on the board and win more games. The development of Andy Porter and William Tyler will be key to them doing so. A couple more juicy Draft picks in the meantime won't hurt either.

[luckymann]

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

Homestead Grays (90-72)



1969 Draftees

1. OF Bob Thurman
2. P Albert Davis
3. P Everett Stull
4. 2B Ambrose Morris
5. P Nivaldo Rodriguez

Riding the EL's best pitching staff, the Grays fell just short of winning it all in '68. That staff should hold its own again this time around and therefore put this club right back in the mix. Amos Otis aside, there's not much improvement in the position player group, but Thurman is a solid enough add to an OF that needs upgrading. Davis is also an interesting type worth keeping an eye on.


Hilldale Athletics (82-80)



1969 Draftees

1. OF Melvin Nieves
2. P Santiago Guzman
3. P Emmett Bowman
4. 3B JH Hamilton
5. SS Frisco Thomas

Highest BA, 3rd most HR, 4th best ERA in the league - so how come the Athletics barely played 500 ball last year? I don't know but I don't see it happening again in '69 with Pops Stargell, Chino Smith, Eric Chavez, Oddibe McDowell and Dave Brown all still on the up. I'm expecting them to make up the 8 games to the Grays and really push them. The addition of Nieves is spot on and Guzman should be in their rotation on OD one would think.


Baltimore Elite Giants (79-83)



1969 Draftees

1. P Don Newcombe
2. SS Sanford Jackson
3. OF Art Gardner
4. 2B Valentin Gonzalez
5. 2B Roy Ford

Looked ready to challenge at the halfway point last season, only to flag and finish with a 23-34 run that left them well off the pace. Some live arms on this club that still need seasoning, to which list can now be added the mighty Don Newcombe. He's a while off his peak so look for this to be more of a consolidation year than anything else for the EGs. George Bell showed flickers of the brilliance earmarked for him and his projection should mirror that of his club. Sanford Jackson joins Bartolo Portuondo as a strong utility IF for down the track a ways.


Philadelphia Liberty Stars (68-94)



1969 Draftees

1. OF Bake McBride
2. OF Fred Boyd
3. P Simon Castro
4. P Eddy Rodriguez
5. P Rube Washington

It's a case of short-term pain / long-term gain for the Libs. So much offensive talent here: Spot Poles, Bobby Bonilla, George Hendrick, Bob Watson and now Bake McBride. But Boyd with their next pick was foolish as they desperately needed some more pitching. Armenteros is strong and Angel Garcia projects well, but that's about it and unless they address this all the offence in the world may well come up short.


New York Lincoln Giants (63-99)



1969 Draftees

1. OF Rickey Henderson
2. P Army Cooper
3. 3B Rico Washington
4. OF Raul Gonzalez
5. 1B Sam Gordon
6. OF Jeff McNeeley

99 losses in '68 = 1st pick overall in '69 and they used it wisely on the great Man of Steal. That said, given their underwhelming pitching staff, perhaps Shotime would have been a better option. I guess we'll find out soon enough. And they did get a serviceable enough pitcher in Army Cooper with their 2nd pick. Still, I think it stays flat or perhaps even gets worse for the LGs before it gets better.


NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Cuban Stars East (90-72)



1969 Draftees

1. OF Bill Kern
2. 3B Carlos Rivero
3. P Hector Rondon
4. C William Webster
5. P Miguel Yajure

A disappointing end to a great season for the East, falling one step short of the Series. No disgrace there, and with the players at their disposal it won't be their only chance to get to the mountaintop. Far and away the best OF in the league, with MVP Ruppert Jones at its heart, which - especially given their profusion of decent backups at the position - makes me question intensely their selection of Kern rather than the 4th SP they so desperately need. Lefty Calhoun is no doubt marked for that role at some stage, but until he's ready they are basically playing for .750. And that could well prove the difference this season.


Detroit Motown Stars (87-75)



1969 Draftees

1. OF Esteban Montalvo
2. C Junior Ortiz
3. 2B Elmer Wilson
4. 2B Flash Miller
5. 3B Andres Ogarzon

I really like the look of this group. Well, their offence at least. 1B Andre Thornton's 1968 campaign (323/398/537 with 30 HR / 101 RBI; 421 wOBA; 179 OPS+; 8.1 WAR) was an understated thing of beauty and I see no reason he won't go well again in '69. SS Tim Anderson is a gun at the plate while offering solid enough defence. Gerry Davis and Xavier Scruggs are real gamers. The Montalvo add is a positive. But the pitching. Ay caramba! Until this aspect of their play is fixed, I just don't see them acquiring any silverware.


Chicago American Giants (86-76)



1969 Draftees

1. P Yovani Gallardo
2. P Carlos Frias
3. SS Allen Cordoba
4. OF Eli Chism
5. 3B Jimmy Shamberger

Arguably the biggest disappointment of the 1968 season. Which, given they finished 86-76 and just 4 GB, tells you plenty about how good this group can be. Strength at pretty much every slot and they have bolstered their pitching nicely with a couple handy picks in Gallardo and Frias. Should prove the East's main rival these next few seasons.


Indianapolis ABCs (83-79)



1969 Draftees

1. OF Eddie Milner
2. SS Travis Demeritte
3. P Daniel Corcino
4. OF Mitch Murphy
5. P Jonathan Hernandez

Another club who threatened for a good portion of the year before running out of puff a bit down the stretch (11-14 in Sep). The WC National was a blanket finish with just 9 games from top to bottom, so ignore the fact they came 5th and focus on their relative proximity to the top. One would have to presume Reuben Curry goes into the spin at some stage and that'll improve them no end. As far as their offence goes, Carew is godlike and Bill North very good, but they need some of the others such as Brantley, Hidalgo and Brooks to catch up and share the load if they want to be closer again to where it counts.


Cleveland Buckeyes (81-81)



1969 Draftees

1. P Shohei Ohtani
2. SS Damian Jackson
3. 2B Nelson Liriano
4. 3B AJ Lockhart
5. OF Willie Ward

Even before acquiring Ohtani, this group looked almost guaranteed of being dominant from about 1972 onward. Cesar Hernandez, Dolf Luque and Joe Strong all project as elite; Lewis Hampton perhaps just a level under that. Still, a bunch of subpar players means the Buckeyes will need to keep adding quality to their roster at every turn if they want to fulfil their promise.

[luckymann]

We are ready to rock and roll for the 1969 Eclipse League Season.

A couple of noteworthy (well, actually, the only) trades were conducted in the offseason:

• OF Jimmy Hurst from the Bacharach Giants to the Elite Giants for 3B Martin Prado
• P Chuck Smith from the Buckeyes to the Grays for P Hop Bartlett and SS Esteban Beltre

FWIW here are my tips for the season ahead:

• FLEET AMERICAN: New York Black Yankees
• FLEET NATIONAL: St. Louis Giants
• WELDY AMERICAN: Hilldale Athletics
• WELDY NATIONAL: Chicago American Giants

EL WORLD SERIES: Black Yankees v Athletics

CHAMPIONS: Black Yankees


And here's how the game sees it panning out:

Here are the 10 Top-Rated EL Prospects as at OD 1969:

1. Shohei Ohtani (Buckeyes)
2. Rickey Henderson (Lincoln Giants)
3. Don Newcombe (Elite Giants)
4. Jose Rijo (Crawfords)
5. Eddie Rosario (Red Sox)
6. Bake McBride (Liberty Stars)
7. Yovani Gallardo (American Giants)
8. Oil Can Boyd (West)
9. Hal King (Monarchs)
10. Jim Gilliam (Eagles)

While these are the Top 20 overall pitchers and position players:

[luckymann]

Friday 4th April, 1969 – Chicago American Giants @ Cleveland Buckeyes
7.05pm ET, Buckeyes Ballpark, Cleveland OH

Shohei Ohtani (0-0, 0.00) v Yovani Gallardo (0-0, 0.00)

No way I was going to pass up on an Opening Day matchup between two of the league's new young guns making their EL debuts.





Both sides will be looking to improve on disappointing 1968 seasons, and keen to see if their 1st Round picks (Ohtani 9th overall; Gallardo 13th) are set to help in this regard. Entering the new season, you'd have to think the AGs are slightly further along that curve than their opponents tonight.

Here's how the two teams line up:




Let's go - PLAY BALL!

After each pitcher gets a scoreless 1st, Gallardo serves up a juicy gopher ball to Damian Jackson in the home 2nd that lands in the LF bleachers to give the Buckeyes the lead.

This remains the only base hit until there are two out in the bottom 5th, when Cesar Hernandez walks and Leonys Martin triples him all the way home. 2-0 Cleveland.

Excitement mounts as Shotime works a no-no into the 6th and actually looks to be getting stronger, then deflates entirely when he gives up a two-out double to Gregory Polanco and then an RBI single to Jose Abreu. A 2-run bomb by Karim Garcia completely upsets the apple cart.

Rookies...

The hosts rally immediately, tying the game at 3 in the home half on a single by Jon Nunnally and regaining the lead on a SF by catcher Raymond Taylor.

Ohtani gives up a leadoff double in the 7th to Neifi Perez but holds his nerve and gets out of the inning unscathed.


(Apologies for the crappy camera angle, I'll have to fix that...)

A leadoff single to Jerry Hairston jr in the 8th ends Shotime's night, with southpaw Felix Heredia on in relief. He is greeted by a Mark Davis single and then the wheels kind of come off for the Buckeyes. Jose Abreu whacks a crisp single to RF and Nunnally's errant throw not only scores the tying run but puts two more in scoring position with still none out. He gets Garcia to fly out to shallow LF but Ji-man Choi gives the AGs the lead with a SF.

Juan Sosa leads off the bottom 8th with an infield hit, prompting Chicago skipper Ryan McCharen to go to the pen, with Hisanori Takahashi getting the call. He obliges by shutting down the rally.

Bottom of the 9th, still 5-4 Chicago. A one-out single by Jon Nunnally puts the tying run aboard for the Buckeyes. A fielder's choice gets the second out and keeps that run at first, and then Ed Steele flies out to right to give the visitors the hard-fought win.

So a no-decision for Shohei while Yovani gets his first win in the bigs, with their line scores very similar indeed. Most likely by dint of his 9 strikeouts, Ohtani wins the PotG. At the plate, hitting in the 3 slot, he goes 0-for-3 with one strikeout.

Plenty of positives to be taken out for both sides, but in the end the AGs just had too much firepower.

[luckymann]

A couple familiar names among the OD news, as well as one new one.

[luckymann]

Bernie starts his 1969 campaign on the right foot...

[luckymann]

... getting it done at both ends as Jose de Jesus, one of the brightest stars of the '68 season, looks like he's ready for another big year.

[luckymann]

The Lincoln Giants, powered by 5 hits from Raimel Tapia, post a 13-spot in the 5th en route to a wild, wild win over the american Giants.

[luckymann]

... where to look.

So much going on here.

• Shotime hurls a 6-strikeout 2-hitter against the Liberty Stars in a 6-0 win.
• El Inmortal hurls a 5 hit shutout against the Giants in a 6-0 win for the Crawfords.
• Ruben Quevedo of the BGs blanks the Black Barons on 2-hits in a 6-0 win.
• Reynaldo Lopez of the Black Yankees pitches a 5-hit shutout in a 5-0 victory against the West.

[luckymann]

This makes it 7 in the first dozen games for Mr Floyd, most in the EL.

[luckymann]

After a rough old rookie campaign (15-24 / 3.65 on the mound, 236/320/312 at the plate), Marty D looks to be on his way in his sophomore season. As you may have seen in the Did You Know? section of the game, no less a player than Johnny Mize called Martin the best player he ever saw. Here's hoping we get to witness the same in the EL. This win - his second straight CG shutout - leaves him at 2-2 / 2.12 with a FIP- of 82.

[luckymann]

Willie looks set to dominate this season: 9 HR already with 19 RBI, a 415/485/814 slash line, 563 wOBA and OPS+ of 252, good for 2 WAR in just 21 games.

[luckymann]

Oftentimes the anticipation is greater than the reality.

Not so, it seems, for Shotime, who is taking the EL by storm.

This is his third shutout in the past 5 starts, and puts him at 5-0 / 1.92. 44 K in 51.2 IP. FIP- of 62.

Plus he's hitting 328.

The Buckeyes, who put together a 12-game win streak earlier this month and are currently tied with the AGs atop the WC National at 15-6, are going along for the ride.

Watch this space.

[luckymann]

East outfielder Rod Allen is continuing on from his fine rookie year with a strong start to 1969, and quadruples his HR tally in three fell swoops here.

[luckymann]

A fairly even start to the 1969 EL season, with the Newark Giants - thanks mainly to a rampaging Cliff Floyd - perhaps the biggest surprise of all, leading the FC American with a 15-9 record. The Athletics ride a sensational month from Pops Stargell to head the WC American narrowly from the Grays and Elite Giants, while the American Giants are currently on a 10-game winning streak that has them atop the WC National. Finally, St. Louis once again looks the team to beat in the FC National.

A minor controversy erupts when Chicago's Yovani Gallardo is awarded both the Pitcher and Rookie of the Month awards ahead of Shohei Ohtani, but at 5-1 / 2.44 there's no denying he earned it.

The ABCs and Motown Stars both have horror starts to the campaign, with their 6-17 records leaving them well adrift and in need of a quick turnaround to avoid their seasons being over almost before they've begun. The ABCs in particular, already 11 1/2 GB in the WCN, will need to get a proper hurry on.



Here are the awards for the month in full:

• FC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Cliff Floyd (Eagles) 372 / 10 HR / 29 RBI.
• FC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Ruben Quevedo (Bacharach Giants) 5-1 / 1.34 / 39 K / 47 IP.
• FC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Horacio Ramirez (Crawfords) 3-3 / 2.54 / 19 K / 49.2 IP.
• WC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Willie Stargell (Athletics) 400 / 10 HR / 21 RBI.
• WC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Yovani Gallardo (American Giants) 5-1 / 2.44 / 44 K / 48 IP
• WC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Yovani Gallardo (American Giants).

And the top 10s / news / and leaders:

[luckymann]

No stopping Ruben Quevedo this year, as he moves to 6-1 / 1.12 with this peachy one-hitter against the Giants.



Born in Valencia, Venezuela, Ruben's MLB career never amounted to much, just 326 IP over four seasons in the early 2000s in which he posted a 14-30 record and ERA north of 6. OOTP has, it seems on that basis, been very generous with his ratings and he looks like he'll be a force in the EL over the course of his career.

[luckymann]

Amazing stuff. Now 6-0 / 1.63.

[luckymann]

... in a Ducey-do.

This sets a new single game RBI mark for the EL, not to mention doubles his season tally in one big leap.

[luckymann]

No sophomore slump it seems for Jose, who finished 3rd in the WC Walker Medal voting in 1968, and is looking the goods again in the early part of '69.

His effort in this one - with an assist to Karim Garcia, who goes solo yard twice - offsets another huge game by Hilldale's Pops Stargell, who has 4 hits including a double and 2 triples while driving in a run as well.

[luckymann]

In a repeat of their Opening Day matchup, Yovani Gallardo and the American Giants get the better of Shohei Ohtani and the Cleveland Buckeyes, this time handing Shohei his first career loss in the EL. One gets the feeling there's a serious rivalry in the making here.