Quote:
Originally Posted by marc
Close but no cigar again for Lancaster, looks like they are headed in the right direction though. Nice to see Nicol selected to the all-decade team (though not at all surprising).
|
The Red Roses demonstrate that pitching and power win ballgames. Their three top starters--
McKernan, Mortensen, and
Cormier--are as good a trio as any in the Keystone League, including
Parker, Wagner, and
Davis of the Steelers. The Reds' threesome is younger, too.
Nicol can still mash, and
Andrew Crafts is a very productive hitter who should be in his prime. Twenty-eight year old rookie first baseman
Larry Nichol hit only .239, but hammered 12 homers and knocked in 83 runs.
Lancaster could use another bat or two, and there's some possible help on the way from the farm.
Bruno Whobrey and
Wayne Kitchens are both promising hitters; Whobrey has more power, while Kitchens makes better contact. Both are first basemen, although Whobrey might be athletic enough to learn another position.
The Reds' 1969 first-round pick, outfielder
George MacFater, hit .332/.409/.463 at Class A, and looks like he might be a good one someday. If some of these youngsters break out before
Bryce Nicol declines, the Red Roses will probably hoist a pennant or two, and might find themselves sipping champagne from the Governor's Cup.