OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The W.P. Kinsella League random update thread

BirdWatcher · 05-13-2022, 12:47 PM

Some of the stuff:

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Now let's break things down in a bit more detail as we approach the end of the regular season, one which it appears will end with the Brewers outside of the post-season mix in spite of having led the MGL West for much of the season.

Starting Pitching:

The rotation has been a mixed bag this season, with stretches during the middle of the season where it looked very strong, but limping towards the finish line collectively.

Eric Maisch: Maisch, who won the MGL Harris/Lee award (best pitcher) back in 1982 as a 22-year old, got off to a horrid start in 1986. But then, around mid-May, he seemed to get his groove back and heading into September it looked like he would be a strong Harris/Lee candidate again this season. But we all know what the month of September was like for the Brewers, and maybe for Maisch more than most. Actually, Maisch lost his last two starts in August also, but then was winless in September, seeing his ERA rise from 3.12 to 3.74. It is hard to pinpoint what goes wrong with Maisch, who on paper is one of the most talented arms in the game. Although his MGL-high 36 homers allowed is certainly a large factor. (He is a groundball pitcher with 6 movement on a 1-10 scale. Him giving up home runs isn't that surprising but the rate at which he does so seems to indicate that he is a soft 6 in movement.) His 3-pitch repertoire may leave him a bit more vulnerable than a starter with another offering or two, but the three pitches he has are all considered elite quality (changeup, curveball, fastball). He is second in the MGL in strikeouts with 203, first in K/BB at 4.5, fourth in K/9 with 7.8, and fifth in WHIP with 1.16. His FIP is 3.83 and FIP- is 87. He is a good pitcher. He just can't seem to sustain excellence.

Jim Atwell:
The veteran workhorse of the staff, who is an Iron Man, almost always seems to have better underlying stats than his back of the baseball card numbers. Atwell is 2nd in the MGL in (f)WAR at 5.9. He is 6th in FIP at 3.47 and his FIP- is 79. And yet he is only 12-14 with a 3.75 ERA this season. At age 33 he is an innings eater and a much better pitcher than those raw, basic stats make it appear. If he could just get a bit more support from his teammates in his starts he could contend for his second Harris/Lee award (he won it in 1980) before his fine career ends.

Stephen Brooks:
Brooks, the Brewers first round pick in the 1979 draft, was a top 20 prospect prior to joining the rotation, and at age 25 is still coming into his own. He needs to hone his control skills, as his 108 bases on balls allowed is the 2nd most in the MGL. But he has great stuff and is an extreme groundball pitcher with 4 great to elite offerings. His 4.30 FIP and 98 FIP- don't indicate that his luck has been particularly good or bad this season. His numbers are what they are. But the future still looks pretty bright for the young righty, particularly if he can harness his control a bit more.

Eric Fehrenbacher:
Fehrenbacher's biggest weakness as a prospect was always considered his below average movement. But the 27-year old right-hander has made solid strides in that area and although he remains somewhat home run prone (26 HR allowed in 185 IP this season), his movement is now solidly above average. With an elite changeup and a pair of other solid pitches (fastball, cutter) and a durable arm profile, not to mention a great work ethic, Fehrenbacher should be a valuable middle-to-back-end of the rotation arm for the foreseeable future.

Austin Bond:
The veteran left-hander with great work habits and a high baseball IQ has over-performed his perceived talents for years. But age and declining stuff may have finally caught up with him in 1986. Although he overcame a disastrous start to the season to have some quality starts as the season wore on, his 9-6 record is a bit generous given his 5.31 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, and poor 3.4 K/9. Then again, his FIP is 4.31 and FIP- is 98 and his BABIP against is .336, significantly higher than his career number of .289. What sort of role Bond will have on the team next season depends a great deal upon the health and development of the team's younger pitchers, but he is signed for a few more seasons and is the lone lefthanded starter the Brewers have at this time, so he surely will be on the active roster in some capacity.

Bernie Lopez:
At age 24 and having pretty fully conquered minor league hitters, there doesn't seem to be much point in having Lopez, who was a scouting discovery for the Brewers out of the Dominican Republic when he was a youngster back in 1978, in the minors any longer. His first start this season for the Brewers was tremendous. And then things got rocky for the kid, leading to his 6.86 ERA and 1.76 WHIP over the course of 9 games (7 starts) in a Brewers uniform this season. His most recent start, just a few days ago, was hopeful, as he went 6 1/3rd giving up just 2 runs on 7 hits, not walking anyone and striking out 4. Lopez will be given every chance to prove he belongs in the rotation in 1987. (He is durable, has 5 pitches, 3 of them elite, and if his control develops to full potential, should be at least a strong mid-rotation arm.)

The Bullpen:

The bullpen was a strength early in the season but has scuffled a bit, like the rest of the team, down the stretch.

Dan Folk:
If only the Brewers actually had played many games this last month where a closer was needed, Folk would likely have far more than his already impressive 33 saves. Folk is a dominant stuff reliever with two wicked offerings (fastball, changeup). He can work multiple innings, is smart and a very hard worker, is durable, and induces groundballs. He is the anchor of the bullpen and at age 25 should be for many years to come.

Paul Johnson:
Johnson was a Rule 5 pick for the Brewers back in 1979 and he has been a wonderful acquisition. He might not ever stand out as spectacular but he has provided consistent quality out of the 'pen, with multi-inning stamina, high baseball IQ, plus plus stuff, and a knack for inducing the groundball out. He is also considered an Iron Man and is a steadying influence in the Brewers bullpen. He's only 28 and the hope is that he remains a valuable part of the Brewers 'pen for years to come.

Diego Lopez:
Lopez is another guy the Brewers picked up through the Rule 5 draft, in this case in 1982. The 29-year old left-hander has a great cutter but a below average curveball is his only other offering. He is a groundball pitcher and controls the running game well. There is some fear that a crash in performance isn't far away. But so far Lopez has been a pretty consistent performer for the Brewers and the thought is that he will be the primary lefty out of the 'pen next season, pending the development of top relief prospect Sharaf Sanchez.

Rand Pinti:
Pinti, the other lefty in the 'pen these past several years, in spite of being a fan favorite and some really good seasons in a Brewers uniform, looks like he might be gone soon. At age 31, he is having a disappointing season. Truthfully though, as a 1-pitch pitcher (plus plus sinker, horrible, useless, no-good changeup), he has always been inconsistent. But his contract is up at the end of this season and it is unlikely he will be returning for 1987.

Willie Ramirez:
Theoretically, Ramirez is the closer-in-waiting. Though in truth he is the same age as Dan Folk and not quite a good, so he will mostly serve as a set-up man, assuming he starts to show more consistency. He has disappointing numbers this year after a good start to his career the previous two seasons. His makeup is a plus, as he is a strong leader with high intelligence. His slider is elite and he pairs it with a mid-to-upper 90's fastball. He is durable and can work multiple innings. He isn't going anywhere but it is up to him and his performance to dictate just what sort of leverage situations he will be used in next season.

B.J. Adams and Cesar Perez:
We will lump the kids together as the 22-year old Adams and the 23-year old Perez were both up and down between Denver and AAA Chester this season and have yet to prove themselves as legit big league relievers. Having said that, they both have relatively high ceilings (Adams, especially), with nasty stuff (both have wicked curveballs as their best pitch), and both can work multiple innings out of the 'pen. They will likely both be given ample chances to prove they belong in the WPK next season.

As this is getting pretty long, I'll continue this deeper dive in the next post, switching to position players.

05-13-2022, 12:47 PM	#305
BirdWatcher Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 4,263	October 1st, 1986 Denver Brewers Update Some of the stuff: Now let's break things down in a bit more detail as we approach the end of the regular season, one which it appears will end with the Brewers outside of the post-season mix in spite of having led the MGL West for much of the season. Starting Pitching: The rotation has been a mixed bag this season, with stretches during the middle of the season where it looked very strong, but limping towards the finish line collectively. Eric Maisch: Maisch, who won the MGL Harris/Lee award (best pitcher) back in 1982 as a 22-year old, got off to a horrid start in 1986. But then, around mid-May, he seemed to get his groove back and heading into September it looked like he would be a strong Harris/Lee candidate again this season. But we all know what the month of September was like for the Brewers, and maybe for Maisch more than most. Actually, Maisch lost his last two starts in August also, but then was winless in September, seeing his ERA rise from 3.12 to 3.74. It is hard to pinpoint what goes wrong with Maisch, who on paper is one of the most talented arms in the game. Although his MGL-high 36 homers allowed is certainly a large factor. (He is a groundball pitcher with 6 movement on a 1-10 scale. Him giving up home runs isn't that surprising but the rate at which he does so seems to indicate that he is a soft 6 in movement.) His 3-pitch repertoire may leave him a bit more vulnerable than a starter with another offering or two, but the three pitches he has are all considered elite quality (changeup, curveball, fastball). He is second in the MGL in strikeouts with 203, first in K/BB at 4.5, fourth in K/9 with 7.8, and fifth in WHIP with 1.16. His FIP is 3.83 and FIP- is 87. He is a good pitcher. He just can't seem to sustain excellence. Jim Atwell: The veteran workhorse of the staff, who is an Iron Man, almost always seems to have better underlying stats than his back of the baseball card numbers. Atwell is 2nd in the MGL in (f)WAR at 5.9. He is 6th in FIP at 3.47 and his FIP- is 79. And yet he is only 12-14 with a 3.75 ERA this season. At age 33 he is an innings eater and a much better pitcher than those raw, basic stats make it appear. If he could just get a bit more support from his teammates in his starts he could contend for his second Harris/Lee award (he won it in 1980) before his fine career ends. Stephen Brooks: Brooks, the Brewers first round pick in the 1979 draft, was a top 20 prospect prior to joining the rotation, and at age 25 is still coming into his own. He needs to hone his control skills, as his 108 bases on balls allowed is the 2nd most in the MGL. But he has great stuff and is an extreme groundball pitcher with 4 great to elite offerings. His 4.30 FIP and 98 FIP- don't indicate that his luck has been particularly good or bad this season. His numbers are what they are. But the future still looks pretty bright for the young righty, particularly if he can harness his control a bit more. Eric Fehrenbacher: Fehrenbacher's biggest weakness as a prospect was always considered his below average movement. But the 27-year old right-hander has made solid strides in that area and although he remains somewhat home run prone (26 HR allowed in 185 IP this season), his movement is now solidly above average. With an elite changeup and a pair of other solid pitches (fastball, cutter) and a durable arm profile, not to mention a great work ethic, Fehrenbacher should be a valuable middle-to-back-end of the rotation arm for the foreseeable future. Austin Bond: The veteran left-hander with great work habits and a high baseball IQ has over-performed his perceived talents for years. But age and declining stuff may have finally caught up with him in 1986. Although he overcame a disastrous start to the season to have some quality starts as the season wore on, his 9-6 record is a bit generous given his 5.31 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, and poor 3.4 K/9. Then again, his FIP is 4.31 and FIP- is 98 and his BABIP against is .336, significantly higher than his career number of .289. What sort of role Bond will have on the team next season depends a great deal upon the health and development of the team's younger pitchers, but he is signed for a few more seasons and is the lone lefthanded starter the Brewers have at this time, so he surely will be on the active roster in some capacity. Bernie Lopez: At age 24 and having pretty fully conquered minor league hitters, there doesn't seem to be much point in having Lopez, who was a scouting discovery for the Brewers out of the Dominican Republic when he was a youngster back in 1978, in the minors any longer. His first start this season for the Brewers was tremendous. And then things got rocky for the kid, leading to his 6.86 ERA and 1.76 WHIP over the course of 9 games (7 starts) in a Brewers uniform this season. His most recent start, just a few days ago, was hopeful, as he went 6 1/3rd giving up just 2 runs on 7 hits, not walking anyone and striking out 4. Lopez will be given every chance to prove he belongs in the rotation in 1987. (He is durable, has 5 pitches, 3 of them elite, and if his control develops to full potential, should be at least a strong mid-rotation arm.) The Bullpen: The bullpen was a strength early in the season but has scuffled a bit, like the rest of the team, down the stretch. Dan Folk: If only the Brewers actually had played many games this last month where a closer was needed, Folk would likely have far more than his already impressive 33 saves. Folk is a dominant stuff reliever with two wicked offerings (fastball, changeup). He can work multiple innings, is smart and a very hard worker, is durable, and induces groundballs. He is the anchor of the bullpen and at age 25 should be for many years to come. Paul Johnson: Johnson was a Rule 5 pick for the Brewers back in 1979 and he has been a wonderful acquisition. He might not ever stand out as spectacular but he has provided consistent quality out of the 'pen, with multi-inning stamina, high baseball IQ, plus plus stuff, and a knack for inducing the groundball out. He is also considered an Iron Man and is a steadying influence in the Brewers bullpen. He's only 28 and the hope is that he remains a valuable part of the Brewers 'pen for years to come. Diego Lopez: Lopez is another guy the Brewers picked up through the Rule 5 draft, in this case in 1982. The 29-year old left-hander has a great cutter but a below average curveball is his only other offering. He is a groundball pitcher and controls the running game well. There is some fear that a crash in performance isn't far away. But so far Lopez has been a pretty consistent performer for the Brewers and the thought is that he will be the primary lefty out of the 'pen next season, pending the development of top relief prospect Sharaf Sanchez. Rand Pinti: Pinti, the other lefty in the 'pen these past several years, in spite of being a fan favorite and some really good seasons in a Brewers uniform, looks like he might be gone soon. At age 31, he is having a disappointing season. Truthfully though, as a 1-pitch pitcher (plus plus sinker, horrible, useless, no-good changeup), he has always been inconsistent. But his contract is up at the end of this season and it is unlikely he will be returning for 1987. Willie Ramirez: Theoretically, Ramirez is the closer-in-waiting. Though in truth he is the same age as Dan Folk and not quite a good, so he will mostly serve as a set-up man, assuming he starts to show more consistency. He has disappointing numbers this year after a good start to his career the previous two seasons. His makeup is a plus, as he is a strong leader with high intelligence. His slider is elite and he pairs it with a mid-to-upper 90's fastball. He is durable and can work multiple innings. He isn't going anywhere but it is up to him and his performance to dictate just what sort of leverage situations he will be used in next season. B.J. Adams and Cesar Perez: We will lump the kids together as the 22-year old Adams and the 23-year old Perez were both up and down between Denver and AAA Chester this season and have yet to prove themselves as legit big league relievers. Having said that, they both have relatively high ceilings (Adams, especially), with nasty stuff (both have wicked curveballs as their best pitch), and both can work multiple innings out of the 'pen. They will likely both be given ample chances to prove they belong in the WPK next season. As this is getting pretty long, I'll continue this deeper dive in the next post, switching to position players. __________________ The Denver Brewers of the W.P. Kinsella League-- The fun starts here(1965-1971: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=289570 And continues here (1972-1976): https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=300500 On we go (1977- 1979): https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=314601 For ongoing and more random updates on the WPK:https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=325147, https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=330717 Last edited by BirdWatcher; 05-13-2022 at 12:51 PM.