Spring Training Ends......Thankfully
The Dynamo's walked off the field after their final spring training game (a 3-1 loss to Washington) left them and the Eagles tied for the worst spring records in baseball at 6-18. For the Eagles they are in much better shape and their spring results are somewhat surprisingly. Unfortunately for Detroit the spring record indicates that there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done.
Roster turnover is likely to be very high and the front office will be looking for every little crumb other organizations will be casting away. Below are the spring training stats for the Dynamo's.
The Detroit World
Saturday April 11th, 1936
Sports News
From the Desk of "Fast" Freddie Farhat
Dynamo's trade minor league Brown for Hank Spencer from Chicago
In a continuing effort to find anyone with an arm that can throw a baseball over the plate, the Dynamo's traded Joe Brown who went 10-7 with an ERA over 4.50 at Class C to the Cougars for former prospect Hank Spencer (26). Spencer was once considered the #38 prospect in the FABL but his career hasn't quite lived up to that expectation. His career record is just 3-6 with a 5.61 ERA (all last season). Detroit is hoping that he can find his pitching mojo and become something of an improvement over other pitchers returning from last season.
The Detroit World
Sunday April 12th, 1936
Sports News
From the Desk of "Fast" Freddie Farhat
Dynamo's swing a deal with Cleveland for 4 players
In the trend of picking through the bones the Dynamo's and their GM's former team the Cleveland Foresters completed a trade. The Dynamo's will send just a 10th round pick to Cleveland and in return will pick up 4 players the Forester's deemed didn't fit on their roster. The players include SP Carl Bragg, 1B/OF Ray Cochran, 2B/U Juan Sarmiento and SS Pat Schuring. All 4 players who are out of options look destined for Detroit's opening day roster.
One would ask why would Detroit send a low draft for 4 guys who were going on the waiver wire and they could have picked up there? With Cleveland in the CA and Detroit in the FA that meant that all CA teams would have priority over Detroit in the waiver wire claims. So the Dynamo's decided they would send the pick to give Cleveland (who was hoping some would fall back to them and they might have) something for losing organizational depth.
Right now the "prize" appears to be SP Carl Bragg who 23-18 record and a 4.21 ERA in parts of 4 major league seasons with the Forester's. Bragg was likely the one player that Detroit coveted most even though he spent all of last season in AAA at Cincinnati going 9-4. In our estimate Bragg will slot #3 in a still very porous Dynamo rotation.
SS Pat Schuring is a light hitting but steady defensive SS who will likely be in the opening day lineup.
The Detroit World
Sunday April 12th, 1936
Sports News
From the Desk of "Fast" Freddie Farhat
Dynamo's nab once great 3B Joe Masters in a minor deal
Detroit has become the home for reclamation projects as they sent an 11th round draft pick to the Chicago Cougars for 3B Joe Masters. Master until last season was considered the best power hitting 3B in FABL history, but it appears age has caught up with him. Last season Master hit just 224 with 10 home runs and 54 RBI's. He will get a chance to add to his career totals and maybe sell a few season tickets in Detroit while the Dynamo's wait for the arrival of 3B Hank Koblenz (expected maybe sometime in 1938 or 1939).
Next - The Opening Day Roster is Announced (Did Detroit find 23 players worthy of being on the big league team?)