[Jiggs McGee]

A new regular features will be 10 random thoughts when we will have a quick comment on various happenings throughout the Figment World. But this is a special occasion with a new season almost here. So to mark the beginning of the 1929 season here is a super-sized 20 instead of 10 random thoughts on all things FABL.

1-Not sure if it the start of a trend or just a one off situation but there were 23 drafted players that failed to sign minor league contracts and will return to school. Last year there were just two: Cleveland's 6th round pick Jim Harris and Detroit's second rounder Bill Schindler, who went back to Northern Mississippi for a 4th year and was selected and signed by the Stars this draft. Starting a trend likely concerns Detroit as for the second year in a row they failed to ink their second round pick to a contract. This time it was Cambridge HS catcher Eddie Wells, who will ply his trade at Indiana A&M for the next three years instead. As for the 23 not signing this year, that is not such much an anomaly as just 2 players refusing to sign a year ago was. In fact, the 23 is closer to the norm. For example following the 1926 draft their were 18 unsigned players.

2- Speaking of the Dynamos, Detroit certainly seems to be in win-now mode. The Dynamos dealt a good chunk of their future away over the past few days in dealing 3 quality minor league arms and a second round draft pick but they brought in a pair of 26 year old players with loads of talent in second baseman Paul McLain from Boston and ex-Brooklyn catcher Dave Armstrong. Dynamos management feels these two might be the pieces that will put them over the top.

3- The Chicago Chiefs have unfinished business after being Johnny Davis'd in the World Championship Series. The Chiefs will likely be favored in the Fed again this year because they have Joe Masters and Jim Hampton along with pitcher Ruben Reyes. All 3 had huge production increases so the question is was it just a fluke or are all three of them that good. I think Reyes, who went 19-11 as a 30 year old after winning just 2 games in his FABL career prior to last season, is the most likely of the three to disappoint Chiefs fans this year.

4- Did you know that the Federal Association has not had a repeat pennant winner since the Washington Eagles in 1922-23. In fact it has had 5 different teams win the pennant in the past five years. So those of you banking on a Chiefs repeat may be as disappointed as any of us (yours truly included) who thought the Keystones were a lock to repeat a year ago after they added even more offense in the deal with Montreal.

5- What happened in Philadelphia last year and can the Keystones fix the problems? Yes, Masters and Hampton made Chicago nearly impossible to stop a year ago but how did the 'Stones sink like a rock and finish 8 games below .500? The answer was Pitching. Despite scoring the second most runs in either league (the Chiefs of course were first) the Keystones allowed 871 runs against. Everyone, even the sad-sack Eagles allowed less with Washington the next closest but allowing 56 fewer.

6-The Keystones had the best slugging percentage in baseball, even better than the Chiefs. So good in fact that their .444 mark was the the fourth highest in FABL history. Number one was .477 by St Louis, led by Max Morris in 1925.

7- Nice to see Mighty Mo healthy again in St Louis. The 7 time Whitney Award winner and owner of 423 career homeruns recently turned 34 years of age, so there is question as to how much longer he will be launching homeruns so enjoy him while you can Pioneer fans. Morris hit 29 homers in 90 games after missing over a year recovering from a ruptured achilles. He is said to be in great shape and ready to reclaim his homer crown from Joe Masters and the BNN rankings seem to agree as the veteran St Louis slugger is once again perched atop the top twenty player rankings. Masters, by the way, sits 8th.

8- Unlike the Fed, the Continental Association has had a repeat winner in recent years as the New York Stars won 3 straight pennants (and World Championship Series) starting in 1924 and they were book-ended by pair of Brooklyn Kings pennants. Last year, the New York area was no longer the center of the baseball world (at least as far as fans of the CA are concerned) with the Philadelphia Sailors snapping a 31 year pennant drought.

9- Is Bill Knapp the latest pitching phenom added by the Sailors, who seem to have great success in discovering or developing (maybe both) young arms. The 23 year old was a Rule V pickup from St Louis after going 16-16 with a 2.76 era in Class A a year ago. Seems like to big a jump from A ball to fitting in on the best pitching staff in baseball but the Sailors have a knack for getting the most out of their arms. Yes, the pitcher friendly ballpark helps but Philadelphia plays half their games away from the Sailors Memorial, where homeruns go to die - unless they are hit by Tom Taylor.

10- While on the subject of Taylor, what do he and Johnny Davis do for an encore. Taylor hit 44 homers and drove in 126 runs despite the fact he missed the first month of the season as the rookie was terrorizing the Great West League last April. Meanwhile, fellow rookie Davis went 24-8 and almost single-handedly ruined the Chicago Chiefs October. Do the pair of them repeat as Allen and Whitney Award winners?

11- The Sailors do have some questions, just maybe a few less than most other teams. One of the big ones in Sailorland is how much does Denny Wren have left in the tank. The 38 year old was pitching like he was a decade younger early in 1928, going 12-6 with a 3.90 era before shoulder troubles ended his season in July. Wren is a legend, with 247 career victories but after his arm troubles and the fact he will turn 39 before opening day there is cause for concern he may not have too many more wins remaining in that right arm of his.

12- It's like a barrel of monkeys. Every time you turn around there is another one climbing the baseball ladder. I am speaking of famed scout Rufus Barrell's spawn. The latest preparing to make his mark on baseball is Harry, a 15 year old rookie shortstop at Atlanta High School. Atlanta HS is the same school that his brother Bobby just graduated from. Bobby, and outfielder, was selected 3rd overall by the Keystones and might have gone higher had he hot missed half his senior season with a knee injury that he is still recovering from.

13- Bobby debuted at #4 on the Top 100 prospects, putting him well ahead of Fred - the catcher in the family. Fred, also a 3rd overall pick - in 1926 by the Chicago Cougars - is currently #28 on the list after hitting .321 for AA Mobile in the Dixie League last season. He is likely ticketed for AAA this year.

14- The pitching Barrell, Tom, may be the first overall selection in next year's draft after he decided to spend a 4th season at Georgia Baptist and earn his degree. Tom has already won 28 games for the Gators and will likely graduate as the winningest pitcher in college baseball history.

15- While Rufus' pitching career came to a tragic end when he was hit in the head with a batted ball in an exhibition game just prior to his scheduled FABL debut, the Barrell's will soon have plenty of representation in the big leagues. The oldest baseball playing son, outfielder Dan, actually got there this September when Brooklyn, the club that had signed his father, called him up in September. He didn't show a lot, going 2-for-16, but he did get there ahead of his younger, and more talented brothers. Dan, 24, is considered a borderline prospect.

16- Speaking of family connections did you notice the numbers Frank Lightbody put up in a brief September trial with Pittsburgh. The former Mississippi A&M star and younger brother to Brooklyn's Doug, debuted as a 22 year old and hit .366 with a homer in 16 games. The 1927 fourth overall pick (has family bragging rights as Doug went 6th in 1925) looks like a carbon copy of his brother at the plate but unlike Doug -a left handed rightfielder, Frank plays centerfield and throws right. I am not sure he will live up to his older brother's growing reputation but Frank should be a pretty darn good ballplayer.

17- It is way to early to be thinking 1931 draft prospects but if I had to pick a pitcher to top that class it will be San Antonio High Schooler Mel Ennis. As a 15 year old the lefthander went 8-0 with a 0.59 era, a 0.76 WHIP and a startling 714 ERA+.

18- Defending National Champion Lubbock State was the college team hit hardest by graduation. The Hawks lost 7 players and all 7 were drafted including a pair of second rounders. They include 2B Andy Bethel (2nd rd Boston), SS Bobby Suire (2nd rd Washington), P George Allen (9th rd Washington), OF Doug Richardson (9th rd Boston), OF Dan Hawkins (11th rd Detroit), P Jim Crocker (19th rd St Louis) and P Tom Perrodin (21st rd St Louis).

19- The top Minor League system belongs to the Baltimore Cannons. It was already good with pitchers Johnny Jacob and Pinky Conlon leading the way but it received a huge boost from 8th overall pick Ken Curry. The centerfielder's is ranked 2nd on the top 100 list after hitting .308 with 61 stolen bases in 120 games at Denver High School. The Cannons selected him with the 8th pick of the draft.

20- Despite a rough year in Class B, 19 year old New York Gothams outfield prospect Mahlon Strong is ranked #1 in the BNN prospect top 100. Strong hit just .229 with 7 homers in 95 games at Fresno of the COW League. It is this writer's opinion that BNN has greatly over-estimated the youngster.