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ayaghmour2 · 07-13-2022, 09:17 PM

RHP Foster Smith (148th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 96th Overall (1942)
Alma Mater: Henderson Bulldogs

No one in our organization jumped up the prospect rankings post-conversion as much as Foster Smith, who now ranks 10th in our system and inside the league's top 150. "The Thin Man" was our 6th Round pick last year, and made 11 starts between La Crosse and San Jose for us in his first pro season. Rather surprisingly, his 7 starts in San Jose were infinitely better then the 4 in La Crosse. Smith really struggled in 21 innings, with an inflated 9.86 ERA (52 ERA+) and 2.00 WHIP with 9 walks and 13 strikeouts. I only promoted him because every other Lions rotation member had the red arrow in San Jose, and we needed to fill an injury, so despite performance he got a promotion. It seemed to work, as Smith went 2-1 with a 2.55 ERA (130 ERA+), 1.13 WHIP, 10 walks, and 20 strikeouts. Just 18, Smith is a very polished pitcher for his age, already featuring an average or better fastball, sinker, and change. This is all while just throwing in the 86-88 range, so any velocity boosts should make a huge impact on his ability. He did already add a mile in the offseason, and his sinker and fastball are really good pitches. It's a little concerning for those to be your 1-2, as that almost screams reliever, but 1940s pitching is not quite how it is now. Smith does a great job keeping the ball on the ground, and after a homer a start in La Crosse, he had just one in (0.2 HR/9) in San Jose. Tom Weinstock thinks he can develop into a back-end starter, and if he continues to have success in the low minors and doesn't get drafted, he could find himself pitching in Chicago far sooner then I would have ever expected.

RHP Ken Matson (255th Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Brooklyn (1942)
Drafted: 10th Round, 160th Overall (1936)
Alma Mater: Henderson Bulldogs

One of our Rule-5 Picks last season, I knew I couldn't keep both him and Hooks Camp, so I worked a minor trade to bring Matson into our organization. He looked really good in the minors, making 12 strong starts with both AA Mobile and AAA Milwaukee. Matson went 11-7 between the two stops with 108 strikeouts and 57 walks, with similar ERAs, 3.48 (127 ERA+) and 3.31 (114 ERA+). He had more innings (95.2) and a better WHIP (1.16) in AAA compared to AAA (70.2, 1.53), but Matson did a great job pitching deep into games and getting outs. He'll be 25 once Spring Training starts, and with all the arms on the 40 leaving for the draft, he could find himself in our pen or even as the fifth starter. Matson is a hard thrower, sitting in the 95-97 range with his cutter, and while it's a good pitch, his curve and change are far superior. He'll strike out a ton of hitters with his curve, and just when you're thinking fastball, the change will get you to swing out of your shoes. His raw stuff is so good that he'll always find a spot on a staff, but he doesn't have too high of a ceiling. Tom thinks he's currently a back-end guy, but probably won't get much better. That's still a valuable piece, and you can never have too much pitching.

RHP Pinch Lenhart (148th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 9th Round, 139th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Bloomfield Mustangs

Taken in the 9th Round of the 1941 Draft, this last season was the first full season for the young righty. He split his season between La Crosse and San Jose, and just like Smith, was much better in San Jose. Now in Lenhart's case it wasn't because he was awful in his 16 La Crosse starts; 7-2 with a 4.11 ERA (124 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 32 walks, and 56 strikeouts is nothing to scoff at, but because he was so good in San Jose. In the 7 up in San Jose, Pinch was a perfect 5-0 with a 1.49 ERA (124 ERA+) and 1.01 WHIP in 48.1 innings. The one downside was the 20 walks to 21 strikeouts, but command issues are something we were expecting with Lenhart. His stuff is really reliable, as he'll strike out a ton of hitters, and his pitches are very advanced for his age. It's not great enough to overcome his command issues, so he'll want to get that under control, but if he can harness his stuff he'll be a really good pitcher. Right now his upside is just a back-end starter, but he's already shown great improvements in our system. He added a sinker last offseason and upped his velo to 88-90 this offseason, and I'd love for him to continue that trend as he works his way up the organizational ladder.

LF Bill Rich (276th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 44th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Grange College Mustangs

Despite a superb season at the plate, Bill Rich has not gotten much love from the prospect pickers. Rich started the season in Lincoln, and hit an elite .343/.393/.532 (154 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 12 homers, and 70 RBIs. The power didn't quite hold up after the promotion, and in a few less games he had just 5 homers. Regardless, he hit a still impressive .349/.403/.504 (134 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 43 RBIs, and even 5 steals. An Illinois native, Rich has moved off of center to left, and while not great there, he should be more Rich Langton then Leo Mitchell. What will determine his success isn't the glove, but the power, as if he can hit 15+ homers at the FABL level, he will be an extremely valuable corner bat. The high average is a plus, but a bit of a breakthrough, as in nearly identical PAs at Lincoln last season (299 vs 303) he hit just .246. I haven't decided where to place Rich yet for next season, as we could have an open outfield spot in AAA if Bunny Hufford makes the team. I think he'll hit his way up there by the end of the season, and he's probably set to debut in 1944.

RHP Angel Lopez (303rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Rule-5 Draft from Brooklyn (1942)
Drafted: 10th Round, 159th Overall (1939)
Alma Mater: Brookings State College Bisons

A player with shocking parallels to Ken Matson, Angel Lopez is a Rule-5 Pick from the Kings who was initially a 10th Rounder. If it was just one pick later, they would have been taken with identical picks (albeit, different teams) three seasons apart. I don't think I'll trade for Lopez, and I'm not even sure he'll make the Opening Day roster, but the short righty from Rhinelander, Wisconsin is a very interesting pitcher. He's a soft tosser, sitting at just 84-86, and one of those guys you would think would have eventually gotten a velo bump. He's gotten by with his stuff, as his fastball, splitter, curve, and slider are all quality offerings, he just had no luck locating them this season. He's always had control issues, but his 7.2 BB/9 in 61.2 innings up in AAA are very concerning. I'm hoping it's a case of having an awful catcher, as Harry Mead can help nearly any pitcher locate his pitches better and steal a few with his framing. We really only have 11 options for 9 spots on our staff, numbers that really work in Lopez's favor, so he might just have to beat two of Matson, Hooks Camp, and fellow Rule-5 pick and King Manny Franco. Franco is a lefty, which will give him a slight advantage, but Lopez has far more upside.

SS Eddie Curtis (321st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 990th Overall (1936)
Alma Mater: Milligan College Buffaloes

Eddie Curtis spent most of his season in AAA, hitting .313/.353/.403 (109 OPS+) in 632 PAs for the Blues, but I don't think he cares much about that. Sure, he had 20 doubles, 12 triples, 3 homers, 18 steals, and 55 RBIs, but the biggest takeaway for the young middle infielder is that he can tell all his friends that he is an FABL player. Curtis may have only played in one game, but that's something you can never take away from the Memphis native. He went 0-for-3 at the plate, but a perfect 3-for-3 at second in a 6-5 loss to the Stars. It was a long journey up for Curtis, but discounting his first pro season, he's had an 100 OPS+ and WRC+ at each stint since. He has a quick bat and should hit for a high average, and despite the nickname "Slick Eddie," he's one of those defenders whose versatility doesn't mean quality defense. Second is really his only plus position, but he won't kill you anywhere else. I think our bench is set, but there is rumblings that one of our infielders may be on the move, and you have to account for the consistent walking injury known as Billy Hunter. An Opening Day roster spot is a longshot, but I'd be surprised if Curtis big league game total ends at 1.

07-13-2022, 09:17 PM	#846
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,011	Additional Prospects: Part 1 RHP Foster Smith (148th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 96th Overall (1942) Alma Mater: Henderson Bulldogs No one in our organization jumped up the prospect rankings post-conversion as much as Foster Smith, who now ranks 10th in our system and inside the league's top 150. "The Thin Man" was our 6th Round pick last year, and made 11 starts between La Crosse and San Jose for us in his first pro season. Rather surprisingly, his 7 starts in San Jose were infinitely better then the 4 in La Crosse. Smith really struggled in 21 innings, with an inflated 9.86 ERA (52 ERA+) and 2.00 WHIP with 9 walks and 13 strikeouts. I only promoted him because every other Lions rotation member had the red arrow in San Jose, and we needed to fill an injury, so despite performance he got a promotion. It seemed to work, as Smith went 2-1 with a 2.55 ERA (130 ERA+), 1.13 WHIP, 10 walks, and 20 strikeouts. Just 18, Smith is a very polished pitcher for his age, already featuring an average or better fastball, sinker, and change. This is all while just throwing in the 86-88 range, so any velocity boosts should make a huge impact on his ability. He did already add a mile in the offseason, and his sinker and fastball are really good pitches. It's a little concerning for those to be your 1-2, as that almost screams reliever, but 1940s pitching is not quite how it is now. Smith does a great job keeping the ball on the ground, and after a homer a start in La Crosse, he had just one in (0.2 HR/9) in San Jose. Tom Weinstock thinks he can develop into a back-end starter, and if he continues to have success in the low minors and doesn't get drafted, he could find himself pitching in Chicago far sooner then I would have ever expected. RHP Ken Matson (255th Overall) Acquired: Via Trade with Brooklyn (1942) Drafted: 10th Round, 160th Overall (1936) Alma Mater: Henderson Bulldogs One of our Rule-5 Picks last season, I knew I couldn't keep both him and Hooks Camp, so I worked a minor trade to bring Matson into our organization. He looked really good in the minors, making 12 strong starts with both AA Mobile and AAA Milwaukee. Matson went 11-7 between the two stops with 108 strikeouts and 57 walks, with similar ERAs, 3.48 (127 ERA+) and 3.31 (114 ERA+). He had more innings (95.2) and a better WHIP (1.16) in AAA compared to AAA (70.2, 1.53), but Matson did a great job pitching deep into games and getting outs. He'll be 25 once Spring Training starts, and with all the arms on the 40 leaving for the draft, he could find himself in our pen or even as the fifth starter. Matson is a hard thrower, sitting in the 95-97 range with his cutter, and while it's a good pitch, his curve and change are far superior. He'll strike out a ton of hitters with his curve, and just when you're thinking fastball, the change will get you to swing out of your shoes. His raw stuff is so good that he'll always find a spot on a staff, but he doesn't have too high of a ceiling. Tom thinks he's currently a back-end guy, but probably won't get much better. That's still a valuable piece, and you can never have too much pitching. RHP Pinch Lenhart (148th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 9th Round, 139th Overall (1941) Alma Mater: Bloomfield Mustangs Taken in the 9th Round of the 1941 Draft, this last season was the first full season for the young righty. He split his season between La Crosse and San Jose, and just like Smith, was much better in San Jose. Now in Lenhart's case it wasn't because he was awful in his 16 La Crosse starts; 7-2 with a 4.11 ERA (124 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 32 walks, and 56 strikeouts is nothing to scoff at, but because he was so good in San Jose. In the 7 up in San Jose, Pinch was a perfect 5-0 with a 1.49 ERA (124 ERA+) and 1.01 WHIP in 48.1 innings. The one downside was the 20 walks to 21 strikeouts, but command issues are something we were expecting with Lenhart. His stuff is really reliable, as he'll strike out a ton of hitters, and his pitches are very advanced for his age. It's not great enough to overcome his command issues, so he'll want to get that under control, but if he can harness his stuff he'll be a really good pitcher. Right now his upside is just a back-end starter, but he's already shown great improvements in our system. He added a sinker last offseason and upped his velo to 88-90 this offseason, and I'd love for him to continue that trend as he works his way up the organizational ladder. LF Bill Rich (276th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 44th Overall (1940) Alma Mater: Grange College Mustangs Despite a superb season at the plate, Bill Rich has not gotten much love from the prospect pickers. Rich started the season in Lincoln, and hit an elite .343/.393/.532 (154 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 12 homers, and 70 RBIs. The power didn't quite hold up after the promotion, and in a few less games he had just 5 homers. Regardless, he hit a still impressive .349/.403/.504 (134 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 43 RBIs, and even 5 steals. An Illinois native, Rich has moved off of center to left, and while not great there, he should be more Rich Langton then Leo Mitchell. What will determine his success isn't the glove, but the power, as if he can hit 15+ homers at the FABL level, he will be an extremely valuable corner bat. The high average is a plus, but a bit of a breakthrough, as in nearly identical PAs at Lincoln last season (299 vs 303) he hit just .246. I haven't decided where to place Rich yet for next season, as we could have an open outfield spot in AAA if Bunny Hufford makes the team. I think he'll hit his way up there by the end of the season, and he's probably set to debut in 1944. RHP Angel Lopez (303rd Overall) Acquired: Via Rule-5 Draft from Brooklyn (1942) Drafted: 10th Round, 159th Overall (1939) Alma Mater: Brookings State College Bisons A player with shocking parallels to Ken Matson, Angel Lopez is a Rule-5 Pick from the Kings who was initially a 10th Rounder. If it was just one pick later, they would have been taken with identical picks (albeit, different teams) three seasons apart. I don't think I'll trade for Lopez, and I'm not even sure he'll make the Opening Day roster, but the short righty from Rhinelander, Wisconsin is a very interesting pitcher. He's a soft tosser, sitting at just 84-86, and one of those guys you would think would have eventually gotten a velo bump. He's gotten by with his stuff, as his fastball, splitter, curve, and slider are all quality offerings, he just had no luck locating them this season. He's always had control issues, but his 7.2 BB/9 in 61.2 innings up in AAA are very concerning. I'm hoping it's a case of having an awful catcher, as Harry Mead can help nearly any pitcher locate his pitches better and steal a few with his framing. We really only have 11 options for 9 spots on our staff, numbers that really work in Lopez's favor, so he might just have to beat two of Matson, Hooks Camp, and fellow Rule-5 pick and King Manny Franco. Franco is a lefty, which will give him a slight advantage, but Lopez has far more upside. SS Eddie Curtis (321st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 990th Overall (1936) Alma Mater: Milligan College Buffaloes Eddie Curtis spent most of his season in AAA, hitting .313/.353/.403 (109 OPS+) in 632 PAs for the Blues, but I don't think he cares much about that. Sure, he had 20 doubles, 12 triples, 3 homers, 18 steals, and 55 RBIs, but the biggest takeaway for the young middle infielder is that he can tell all his friends that he is an FABL player. Curtis may have only played in one game, but that's something you can never take away from the Memphis native. He went 0-for-3 at the plate, but a perfect 3-for-3 at second in a 6-5 loss to the Stars. It was a long journey up for Curtis, but discounting his first pro season, he's had an 100 OPS+ and WRC+ at each stint since. He has a quick bat and should hit for a high average, and despite the nickname "Slick Eddie," he's one of those defenders whose versatility doesn't mean quality defense. Second is really his only plus position, but he won't kill you anywhere else. I think our bench is set, but there is rumblings that one of our infielders may be on the move, and you have to account for the consistent walking injury known as Billy Hunter. An Opening Day roster spot is a longshot, but I'd be surprised if Curtis big league game total ends at 1.