[Jazzmosis]

Oh wow, it's been a LONG LONG time since I've had enough spare time to write this up... but lo and behold, WWBA is making a random comeback!

The first thing is the draft of 2044. There were some serious monsters in the draft class this year (power hitters galore, and let's not forget the domination of the pitchers), but rookie Brett Evans was drafted in the 3rd round, 47th overall pick.... by Kyoto. He starts his career in hopes of finding a starting position on the big club, but for now he's in A ball.

We start after the first two months of 2044: And WOW, what a surprise it's been so far. In the USA league, Ocean City (33-25) has a slim 2 game lead over Sacramento (fueled by Carter Shane, as usual). Meanwhile, the biggest surprise is in the Canada division, where London (36-22) has a 4 game lead over... Quebec City! Yes, the preannual cellar dwellars are fighting for some glory this year. And where's Vancouver in all this? Tied for 3rd, 8 games back, and below .500 (28-30)!. Mexico City (34-24) is back in the driver's seat in the Mexico division, with a large 6 game lead over Tijuana. And finally, Sapporo is making a guest appearance in the always rocky Japan division, who at 36-22 have a 4 game spread over Tokyo. Look for Tokyo to crash like they normally do. Kyoto is 5 back (31-27).

Doc Watson, the 30 year old fan favourite in Vancouver, has been around, but his presence has not been felt. He's struggled to only a .161 average, although he's walked 40 times to 12 K's and has roped 5 HR's. However, all of his numbers are down from their usual glory, as his OBP of .315 is a far cry from the .372 he posted just a year previous.

X-Man is back with Ocean City to defend his active K lead over Carter Shane, and for a while the two pitchers were neck and neck (just like the teams in the standings.... what a surprise!), swapping the K lead per start. However, X-Man missed one start and Shane pounced on that opportunity, taking 30 K's in two starts while Harris only whiffed 9. However for the year X-Man is 7-2 in 13 starts, spanning 101.1 Innings with 108 K's, to a mere 18 free passes. His ERA is a career-best 1.15 and his WHIP is a miniscule 0.64. The most impressive factor is that he's only given up 47 hits so far, which has translated into him throwing 8 CG's and 5 CGSO's... almost half his starts are 9 inning goose eggs. While Shane may have 131 K's, Ocean City and X-Man still have the division lead.

Tim Moungey has been on fire all year. He lead the WWBA with a .306 average (50 points higher then 2nd), while he's knocked in 21 with 4 HRs and an OPS of .822. He's also swiped 19 bases, scored 19 times, and tallied 19 Extra-base hits (out of 60 total). Even his walks are up, at 17 in 196 ABs. He's K'd 28 times.

Alan Liao is still a pile of glorius success since taking over the starting role in Ocean City, and although he's hitting a respectable but not fantastic .200 in 190 AB's, he's absolutely mashed the ball when he does hit it, racking up 10 HR's and 24 RBI, both second overall in the NAL. He's also scored 24 times, and walked as many times as he has struck out (16). His OPS of .700 leads the Hurricanes. Not to mention his 6 stolen bases (station to station, much?).

Pete Kahle has rebounded after a poor 2043. So far in '44 he's hitting the ball at a .238 clip, complete with 10 HRs, 28 RBI, 16 Runs, and an OPS of .718. This all leads Sapporo's charts, but his high K's (39 in 214 AB) is still a concern. He seems to make up for it with his 10 doubles though. If he could drop the K's he would be an absolute powerhouse.

26 year old Scotty Menza is up to his usual tricks, hitting .228 with only 1 HR and 13 RBIs from the leadoff spot. He's only stolen 3 bags, but he's scored 13 times and his OPS of .612 is leadoff worthy. He's actually walked (18) more than he's K'd (16), which is helpful for Sacramento as they continue the chase on Ocean City. Look for Menza to be dropped in the order when some hot prospects develop, however. He's 1 more season away from free agency...

Will Ntsky's career is going nowhere, as he takes his 5th tour of AA in Tijuana. He's already made an AAA start, getting that pointless callup out of the way. This time, he got roughed up. Meanwhile in AA he's sporting a brutal 2.72 ERA, complete with a 4-6 record in 11 starts, which have totalled 86 innings and 72 K's (28BB). He does have 4 CG's (5 if you include his AAA start), but his WHIP of 1.01 isn't desireable. They're not hitting off him (59 hits), but his walks are killing him. Look for him to move on when he becomes a MLFA.

Paul Grant continues to play backup 3B for the Hurricanes, but he's still on the active roster, which is all he's wanted. In 27 ABs, he's hitting .185 with 0 HR and 0 RBI (hot!), not to mention 0 runs, 0 Stolen bases, 0 caught stealing, and a fantastic 1 walk. (5K's, 5 hits). Not much else to say, although his AVG isn't embarrassing. Just the rest of his 0s are.

Lil' China Chiang's average is dipping once again (.170 from .189 last year), but his power numbers have increased (8 HR in 194AB to 11 in 355 last year), and so have his RBIs. He's got 20 of those, 8 shy of his last year total. He's walked 20 times to 32 K's, while scoring 16 times out of his 33 hits. What's concerning is his serious lack of extra base power, with only 4 doubles after his HR's. Hopefully he'll improve some more, helping to keep London on top and making them the first non-Vancouver team to go the postseason in the Canada division.

Kit Pellows and St. John's are back from London, but still within striking distance. Tied for third, Pellows is helping his club out with a .198 average (2nd), 17 runs scored (1st), 13 stolen bases (1st), and an OPS of .480 (2nd). His power is the usual non-existent self, with only 2 HR's in 202 ABs and only 10 RBI on the season. He's K'd 28 times and only walked 9, and like Chiang, his XB hits aren't anywhere to be seen, as he's got only 6 in 40 hits. But at least he's scoring. If St. John's wants to get up in the standings though, they'll need Pellows to start rapping the doubles. He's doing everything else they expected.

Crazy Taito has become one of the bigger threats in the WWBA, as with Veracruz he's pacing the club with a .220 avg (45/205), complete with 7 HRs and 20 RBIs. He's even stolen two bases, but he leads his club with 23 runs scored, as well as with a .710 OPS. And his 16 doubles are a pleasant extra, as his BB:K ratio is nearing 1:1 (24:28). Too bad Veracruz is nowhere to be seen in the Mexico division (4th, 27-31, 7GB).

Last year's top rookie Gerald Williams is having a sophomore year to remember, as in a platoon role he's hitting .226, with 2 HRs and 7 RBI, while he's stolen 9 bases in his 24 hits and 14 walks. He's K'd 20 times (nearly once every 5 AB), which is probably keeping him from becoming an everydayer at 2B or SS, but he has scored 10 times. Quite the enigma, and with Tokyo still in the race, look for him to either get alot more playing time, or none at all.

Stonehenge was sent from the active roster back to A by Tokyo to start the year. The 19 year old was bummed out after a few years at the show, but he's learning well in A, hitting .264 with 10 HR and 29 RBI in 57 games (212 AB). He's got an OPS of .811, and is slugging an impressive .472. His 19 walks have put his OBP to .339, which should give him a promotion to AA to AAA soon. Then again, it IS Tokyo A ball - where careers go to go.... nowhere.

JD Boom, meanwhile, is enjoying life as a Catcher in Quebec City, hitting a career high .213 in 144 ABs as the lead catcher. He's got 1 bomb and 11 RBI, while walking 22 times (28 Ks), and finding the gap nicely (9 doubles in 30 hits). He's also throwing out 40% of base stealers, good for tops in the WWBA among backstops. This undoubtedly is helping the Imperials to stay on London.

Davey Devereux, what did I tell you! After only a year in the minors, Mexico City called him up in a backup OF role. He's not doing much right now, hitting only .143 with 2 hits in 14 AB, complete with only 1 RBI (0 HR), but he's yet to K and he has walked twice and scored 3 times. He may not be getting on alot, but he's making the most of the basepaths when he is. His first career hit came May 9th, a single. His callup straight from A ball was deserved, as in 29 games in he was hitting .208 with 8 HRs and 15 RBI in 106 AB, with 6 doubles and 3 triples. His great gap power should keep him in the bigs for some time, as the 23 year old has been a can't-miss spec since draft day.

Brett Evans is still getting his bearings right in A ball Kyoto, but at least he's living up to his nickname. "Muscles" has 6 bombs in 36 hits, and despite only hitting .169 in 213 AB, he's scored 28 times and stolen 11 bases (22 walks would help), He's got 11 RBIs and 7 doubles (4 triples), which should negate to him turning into a great hitter when he develops. He's K'd 33 times.

My predictions?

Shane and X-Man finish 1-2 in the K's this year (currently 1-3). Vancouver turns it around but can't overpass London, Mexico City walks all over their division, and Stonehenge spends the year in Tokyo A, despite Tokyo's predictable collapse. Kyoto will win the division (I just have a feeling about this one).