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DD Martin · 03-09-2023, 02:45 PM

The Brooklyn Eagle
Sunday March 17th, 1946
By Percy Pringle Sr.

Spring Training is Upon Us
What do the Kings have in Store for the 46 Season

The Brooklyn King's returned to their spring training home in Florida this week to begin preparations for the 1946 season. There is a whole new cast from the GM office to the Manager to some on field personnel as the Kings look to improve upon last season's disappointing 61-93 record. In fact since winning 3 straight CA pennants (and 1 World Series breaking the dreaded Hawkins Curse), the Kings have had only 1 winning season finishing 86-68 in 1941 good for 3rd place. In the seven seasons since the 38 title win the Kings have gone just 502-576 for a 465 winning percentage. The 61-93 record last season was the worst showing by a King's team since 1918's dreadful 44-82 showing.

Can things get better quickly? That is the question that we posed to new GM DD Martin. "I'd like to think that with the young talent that we have that we will make improvements this season. You never know in baseball with injuries, talent and a little luck you can be in a September pennant race." When asked about the make over of the club Martin stated that "We had a lot of talent that would do well in that outlaw league out west, but seriously they were not FABL caliber players. If that group could only win 61 games last year, think of where they would be with all the boys returning from the war. Half of them would have ran away from the likes of Peter the Heater's 100+ mph fastball." While Martin didn't speak highly of some of the guys talent that are no longer here, he is praising his new manager Tom Barrell. "I think we have a great hirer in Tom Barrell as our manager. I think he is going to be one of the all-time greats someday as a manager. But remember just like a lot of this teams talent are rookies, so is Tom as a manager. He will have growing pains as well. In the end though I think we will look at this season as a major building block for the King's future. And that future continues to be a look at how we can update or possibly built a new stadium for this franchise." While talk of a new stadium is exciting to many fans, it is likely years away as the country recovers from the anguish of WW2.

Manager Tom Barrell also talked briefly about the upcoming season. "I am really glad to be back in Brooklyn and to help rebuild a team that I have such fond memories of. We had some great teams here in Brooklyn and it started with young talent. We have a lot of young talent and we are going to be working very hard to develop that talent this spring and during the season. We have 45 guys here in camp, a lot of them top 100 prospects. Some will be ready this year to open the season, some will be called up in the future. But that is what we are doing here this spring, laying the foundation of a great future for Brooklyn Kings baseball. People may not be taking us seriously right now, but I'm telling you to watch out. The Brooklyn Kings will be back where they belong, leading the way in the CA! I guarantee it!"

Both Barrell and Martin are very bullish on the King's future. But what have some other observers said. One noted scout said "the club lacks any real threat of a power hitter outside of 1B "Tiny" Tim Hopkins. It will help that CF Rats McGonigle is back and LF Vernon Ruch is a solid veteran hitter. But outside of that on offense, we will need to see how this club gels. The new hitting coach who doesn't have a lot of experience with FABL clubs and he is going to be tested with this bunch." Another scout chimed in about the lacking of pitching. "The Kings have some good youngsters and not a lot else. The guys tossing the ball last year are mostly GWL type of guys. So if they are going to improve much this year, they need to either acquire some pitching to improve things or hope that the kids mature quickly and don't wear down over the course of a major league season. If you thinking CA contention, think 1948 and beyond."

So while the Kings brass feel good about their club, a lot of the serious baseball types right now feel that another likely sub-par year is in order. The guess on wins ranged from 63-69 so that would be some improvement. Let's hope the Kings can find some nuggets of talent and hope that they can truly built this club back into a dynasty once again.

03-09-2023, 02:45 PM	#5
DD Martin All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Seattle area Posts: 1,013	The Brooklyn Eagle Sunday March 17th, 1946 By Percy Pringle Sr. Spring Training is Upon Us What do the Kings have in Store for the 46 Season The Brooklyn King's returned to their spring training home in Florida this week to begin preparations for the 1946 season. There is a whole new cast from the GM office to the Manager to some on field personnel as the Kings look to improve upon last season's disappointing 61-93 record. In fact since winning 3 straight CA pennants (and 1 World Series breaking the dreaded Hawkins Curse), the Kings have had only 1 winning season finishing 86-68 in 1941 good for 3rd place. In the seven seasons since the 38 title win the Kings have gone just 502-576 for a 465 winning percentage. The 61-93 record last season was the worst showing by a King's team since 1918's dreadful 44-82 showing. Can things get better quickly? That is the question that we posed to new GM DD Martin. "I'd like to think that with the young talent that we have that we will make improvements this season. You never know in baseball with injuries, talent and a little luck you can be in a September pennant race." When asked about the make over of the club Martin stated that "We had a lot of talent that would do well in that outlaw league out west, but seriously they were not FABL caliber players. If that group could only win 61 games last year, think of where they would be with all the boys returning from the war. Half of them would have ran away from the likes of Peter the Heater's 100+ mph fastball." While Martin didn't speak highly of some of the guys talent that are no longer here, he is praising his new manager Tom Barrell. "I think we have a great hirer in Tom Barrell as our manager. I think he is going to be one of the all-time greats someday as a manager. But remember just like a lot of this teams talent are rookies, so is Tom as a manager. He will have growing pains as well. In the end though I think we will look at this season as a major building block for the King's future. And that future continues to be a look at how we can update or possibly built a new stadium for this franchise." While talk of a new stadium is exciting to many fans, it is likely years away as the country recovers from the anguish of WW2. Manager Tom Barrell also talked briefly about the upcoming season. "I am really glad to be back in Brooklyn and to help rebuild a team that I have such fond memories of. We had some great teams here in Brooklyn and it started with young talent. We have a lot of young talent and we are going to be working very hard to develop that talent this spring and during the season. We have 45 guys here in camp, a lot of them top 100 prospects. Some will be ready this year to open the season, some will be called up in the future. But that is what we are doing here this spring, laying the foundation of a great future for Brooklyn Kings baseball. People may not be taking us seriously right now, but I'm telling you to watch out. The Brooklyn Kings will be back where they belong, leading the way in the CA! I guarantee it!" Both Barrell and Martin are very bullish on the King's future. But what have some other observers said. One noted scout said "the club lacks any real threat of a power hitter outside of 1B "Tiny" Tim Hopkins. It will help that CF Rats McGonigle is back and LF Vernon Ruch is a solid veteran hitter. But outside of that on offense, we will need to see how this club gels. The new hitting coach who doesn't have a lot of experience with FABL clubs and he is going to be tested with this bunch." Another scout chimed in about the lacking of pitching. "The Kings have some good youngsters and not a lot else. The guys tossing the ball last year are mostly GWL type of guys. So if they are going to improve much this year, they need to either acquire some pitching to improve things or hope that the kids mature quickly and don't wear down over the course of a major league season. If you thinking CA contention, think 1948 and beyond." So while the Kings brass feel good about their club, a lot of the serious baseball types right now feel that another likely sub-par year is in order. The guess on wins ranged from 63-69 so that would be some improvement. Let's hope the Kings can find some nuggets of talent and hope that they can truly built this club back into a dynasty once again.