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reds1 · 04-01-2023, 09:32 PM

December 1, 1956

Eastern League: Wellington, Brunswick Ride Power Surge to Top of Standings

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Someone call the fire department – the United Leagues are on fire. Offensive firepower has arrived in a big way, at least for the top teams. Over the course of just the first two months, four different players have hit 3 home runs in a game and 3 others (all in the West) have hit for the cycle. The four 3-run home run games equal the 1953-54 season. With regards to cycles, the 1954-55 season saw five accomplished. It will be interesting to see if there is more offensive flexing in store over the next four months to set new records. Indeed, the young season has already seen a new home run record set by a member of the Wellington Athletics.

The Athletics started off slowly, losing 4 of their first 5 games. But they soon got back on track and took over first place by the end of October where they remain just slightly ahead of a surprising Brunswick Legends squad.

For Wellington, their offense can (almost) be summed up in two words: Matthew Floyd. In fairness, the 29-year old LF Floyd (.348/.429/.744, 25 HR, 54 RBI, 28 BB, 4.7 WAR) has some able support surrounding him. He has always been one of the top players in the United Leagues, but his start this season is simply astounding. He has been easily the top player in the East, if not the entire United Leagues thus far and he is on course to hit over 70 home runs. While that pace may not be sustainable, he is just 20 away from the record of 45, set by Cobourg’s Raymond Williams in 1953-54. Floyd’s current high mark for home runs in a season is 30, reached back in 1950-51. He has never won a Babe Ruth Award and finished in the top 3 in voting only once back in 1951-52. That drought may very well end this season if he stays healthy.

As mentioned earlier, Wellington is hardly a one-trick pony. With Floyd batting in the No. 3 spot, the lineup from #2 through 5 has been solid:

#2 - 31-year old RF Jim Mars (.322/.396/.473, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 24 BB, 1.9 WAR)
#4 – 24-year old CF Greg Yates (.310/.355/.513, 8 HR, 33 RBI, 15 BB, 4 SB, 1.9 WAR)
#5 – 30-year old C Carlos Camasura (.360/.484/.456, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 29 BB, 2.2 WAR)

Camasura, acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Kingston Pelicans back in April, is currently rated as the No. 1 catcher in the ULB. The rest of the lineup, however, has not come close to matching the performances of these four players.

While somewhat overshadowed, the pitching staff has been holding their own in the East, with No. 2 starter 28-year old RHP Vinnie Snell (6-2, 3.16 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 4.15 FIP, 124 ERA+) and No. 5 starter 30-year old RHP Kazurnori Fujimoto (6-0, 2.95 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 4.12 FIP, 133 REA+) leading the way. They have recently been joined in the rotation by 23-year old rookie RHP Baskin Arncaple (3-1, 0.95 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 3.65 FIP, 413 ERA+ - 42/60), winner of back-to-back Rookie of the Month honors. The 3rd-round pick from last season was pitching out of the bullpen until the last week of November when he was installed as the team’s ace. He won his first start, 3-0 against the Kingston Pelicans, going 7.2 IP, 3 H, 6 BB, 3 K, 128 PI.

Player of the Week Awards:

October 8 – C Carlos Camasura (.706, 12 H, 9 RBI, 2 R)
November 5 – LF Matthew Floyd (.476, 10 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI)
November 19 – LF Matthew Floyd (.429, 9 H, 5 HR, 9 RBI)

Noteworthy:

October 28 – The visiting Athletics blasted the Brunswick Legends, 13-1 to take 3 of 4 games. Leading the way for Wellington was their superstar, Matthew Floyd who hit 3 home runs. His first of the afternoon came in the top of the 2nd when he hit a 2-run shot off RHP Mhelter Pilapil to make it 5-0. In the top of the 5th down 8-0, RHP Byron Ollson relieved Pilapil with two out and two men on base. The first batter he faced was Floyd, who took his 1-2 offering and slammed it into the rightfield bleachers for a 3-run shot, increasing the lead to 11-0. In the top of the 7th, Floyd struck again against Ollson, launching his first offering into the rightfield bleachers for a 2-run home run and making it 13-0 for Wellington. In all, Floyd went 3 for 5 with 1 BB, 7 RBI & 4 R. Brunswick finally broke the goose egg when 26-year old RF Jay Mitchell (.249/.328/.428, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 21 BB, 0.8 WAR) launched a lead-off solo shot against 25-year old RHP Mike Murray (4-4, 3.84 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, .237 BABIP, 102 ERA+) in the bottom of the 9th.

November 15 – The Athletics went into Cambria and took 2 of 3 games from the Cannons, including a convincing 13-2 win in the final match. RF Jim Mars was the star of the game, going 5 for 5. Mars hit 3 singles and 2 triples to along with 1 RBI, 3 R & 1 BB. Naturally his battery-mate, Matthew Floyd contributed to the offensive output as well, going 3 for 6 with 2 HR, 5 RBI & 2 R.

November 16 – After playing 12 straight games on the road, the Athletics finally returned home to host the Hespeler Stars. Nearly 25,000 fans jammed Santop Stadium with all eyes on their beloved star, Matthew Floyd. That’s because the leftfielder had hit two home runs the day before, the 5th straight game in which Floyd had hit a least one home run. That tied the home run streak record shared by four other players and first set by OF Kade Limeburner in the ULB’s inaugural season. Fans didn’t have to wait long to see if he could break it and establish a new record. In the bottom of the 1st with two out, Floyd jumped on the first pitch he saw from 30-year old RHP Dominic Whitmore, sending it 393 ft. down the rightfield line and into the history books, setting a new Home Run Streak at six games. Floyd hit 8 home runs over the course of the streak. Alas, the Athletics fell to the Stars, 3-2. While they would hang onto to win the next day 7-6, Floyd went 1 for 3 with 2 BB and no home runs to end the streak.

On a side note, Kingston Pelicans’ 24-year old sophomore, 1B Ira Bannatyne, hit a home run in 5 straight games to start the season (Oct. 1 to 5).

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Over the past five seasons, the Brunswick Legends have been the model of mediocrity, averaging 75 wins a season and never finishing higher than fourth. But the start of this season has seen a turnaround. They got off to a fast start, winning their first 4 games and hanging onto to first place until October 29 when the Athletics finally caught up and overtook them. In early November they fell back to 4th place but rebounded against the Western League teams to get back to within a half game of Wellington. They finished off November strong, going 10-1. They also enjoy hitting against left-handers, having gone 11-1 thus far.

Their pitching staff is the main reason why, leading the East in ERA and fewest runs allowed. The pitching crew has been uniformly steady, with No. 3 starter 29-year old RHP Mhelter Pilapil (8-2, 3.29 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 3.48 FIP, 122 ERA+) and 34-year old stopper RHP Lao Chen (2-0, 4 SV, 0.34 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 1.53 FIP, 1,173 ERA+) leading the way.

The offense has been solid in the early going as well, particularly 27-year old sophomore RF Joshua Witherden (.285/.395/.557, 11 HR, 27 RBI, 29 BB, 2.4 WAR). The 3rd-round pick from 1952-53 leads the team in 9 offensive categories and is already rated 4th overall among right fielders. Curiously, despite his running speed/stealing ability/baserunning instincts being off the charts (70/80/80), he has yet to steal a base (and was caught on his lone attempt). He is batting second in the lineup, ahead of perennial all-star, 28-year old C Robert Kersey (.271/.387/.482, 10 HR, 32 RBI, 30 BB, 2.0 WAR).

Player of the Week Awards:

November 12 – CF Joshua Witherden (.529, 9 H, 5 HR, 8 RBI)

Noteworthy:

October 18 – The Legends won a wild one over the Monarchs, 19-11 at Kings Park in Braeland City. Leading 1-0, the Legends exploded for 10 runs in the top of the 2nd inning, thanks to 6 singles, 1 triple, 3 walks, a sac fly, an error and a 3-run homer by 28-year old 1B Francis Joicey (.288/.379/.527, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 19 BB, 1.0 WAR). Brunswick would make it 18-0 before Braeland City finally got on the board with a solo shot by 31-year old 2B Partrick Lidgate (.257/.383/.492, 9 HR, 28 RBI, 37 BB, 1.7 WAR) in the bottom of the 6th. The Monarchs would tack on 5 runs each in the 7th and 8th innings to get back into the game, although they still came up way short. In all, the two teams combined for 33 hits and 7 home runs.

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The Cobourg Redlegs took a tumble in the standings over the past couple of seasons, just a few years removed from their break-out 100-54 season where they won their first Eastern League Pennant. But an 8-game winning streak in late October and into early November, plus a 7-1 stretch to finish off the month of November has seen the club bounce back in a big way in the early going. That 8-game winning streak saw them get to within a game of first place. A continued strong showing in November where they feasted on Western League teams has them very much in the thick of things. But they will need greater contributions from more than just of few of their key players if they want to sustain it.

This is still very much CF Raymond Williams’ (.328/.410/.583, 11 HR, 39 RBI, 24 BB, 5 SB, 3.1 WAR) team. The 30-year old 2-time Babe Ruth Award winner remains among the very best position players in the ULB (5th overall) and is just 29 home runs away from reaching 300. But it appears that he will soon have company among the Leagues’ elite on the Redlegs’ roster. 25-year old SS Douglas Jones (.246/.329/.424, 8 HR, 25 RBI, 25 BB, 2.1 WAR – 76/80) is emerging as one of Cobourg’s best players in hist 4th season and is already rated as the United Leagues’ No. 1 shortstop. Last year’s EL Rookie of the Year, 26-year old LF Harrison Covey (.267/.345/.438, 9 HR, 29 RBI, 24 BB, 1.0 WAR), is contributing as well, hitting out of the No. 2 spot, between Jones and Williams. But outside of them and 31-year old 1B Harry Doxey (.322/.373/.480, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 13 BB, 1.0 WAR), there is a rather steep drop in production.

Just as Williams is the pillar of the offense, so too is 28-year old LHP Bill Budd (7-5, 2.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 3.20 FIP, 116 ERA+) to the pitching staff. The three-time all-star is the ace of the rotation and is currently rated 5th overall among all pitchers. But the rest of the rotation has been very solid in the early going as well. Pitching right behind Budd is 22-year old sophomore LHP Lachlan Lloyd (5-1, 1 SV, 2.92 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 1.99 FIP, 137 ERA+ - 39/54). Lachlan, who was acquired from the Braeland City Monarchs in a trade back in January, moved into the rotation in mid-November. Also, if their other young promising arm, 22-year old RHP Albert Johnson (6-3, 4.81 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 4.40 FIP, 83 ERA+ - 48/73), can continue to develop, the Redlegs rotation may become a formidable unit in its own right. For now, Johnson is pitching out of the No. 5 spot, so he is not under any undue pressure.

Noteworthy:

October 10 – The Redlegs and Downie Chiefs played a wild one just 8 games into the young season, going 15-innings before Cobourg’s 26-year old C Yoshiake Ikeda singled home Raymond Williams for the winning run. The final score was 5-4 with the Redlegs churning out 19 hits. Getting five of those was LF Harrison Covey. Covey went 5 for 8 with 5 singles, 1 K and 2 fly outs. Interestingly, he collected no runs or RBIs.

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The Stratford Barons currently enjoy the United Leagues longest active playoff streak, having qualified for the postseason for the past four straight years. They remain a high-caliber squad but with the resurgence of both the Brunswick Legends and Cobourg Redlegs, at least in the early going, the top of the Eastern League standings has gotten noticeable more crowded.

The Barons have felt the stiffer competition. A rough patch in early November where they lost 5 straight games and 1-6 overall, saw them fall to 19-19 and 5-1/2 games out of first place. But the rest of the month saw them go 12-3, helping to keep them very much in the thick of things.

30-year old CF Alfonso León (.356/.429/.600, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 26 BB, 3.2 WAR) is off to a torrid start, something not unusual for the two-time Babe Ruth Award winner who is enjoying his first full season with the Barons, after 9-1/2 seasons as the Downie Chiefs’ premier player. Right behind him in the lineup, batting 4th and 5th, are the Barons’ other top position players this season: 28-year old 2B Matthew Channing (.294/.361/.537, 9 HR, 40 RBI, 22 BB, 11 SB, 2.9 WAR) and 25-year old SS Callum Spalton (.291/.330/.429,4 HR, 28 RBI, 11 BB, 2.5 WAR). Both are off to the best starts of their careers.

Although he may no longer be rated as the top catcher in the United Leagues, 37-year old Aaron Skidmore (.230/.412/.492, 10 HR, 22 RBI, 38 BB, 1.9 WAR) continues his excellent all-around play. He is the ULB’s all-time leader in career walks (1,828) by a healthy margin (Wolseley’s Carlton Hawking is second with 1,561).

The pitching has been hot and cold thus far. Last year’s EL Satchel Paige Award winner, 28-year old LHP Robin Wadsworth (8-0, 2.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 3.13 FIP, 193 ERA+) has simply picked up where he left off and is on pace for 23 wins. But besides 32-year old No. 3 starter RHP Stephen Tindall (4-4, 2.93 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 3.67 FIP, 136 ERA+) and 33-year old reliever RHP Bill Lafontaine (4-1, 1 SV, 2.37 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 2.92 FIP, 168 ERA+), the rest of the staff have been mediocre at best.

Player of the Week Awards:

November 26 – CF Alfonso León (.391, 9 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R)

Noteworthy:

October 17 – The Barons doubled up the visiting Brunswick Legends, 10-5 in a mid-week matinee. Leading the charge was CF Alfonso León, who batted 5 for 5 with 2 RBI & 3 R off 4 singles and a triple. Down 4-0, the Barons exploded for 5 runs in the 5th and never looked back, scoring 10 runs off 16 hits.

November 13 – The Barons swept a 3-game set against the Giants in Balmoral. In game 1, LHP Robin Wadsworth pitched his club to a 3-0 win, giving up just two hits. Wadsworth was pitching a perfect game until the bottom of the 5th, when he surrendered a one-out single to CF Quido De Jesús. Balmoral got two men on base in the bottom of the 9th with a single and walk, but Wadsworth got 1B Erik Perry to fly out to center to end the threat and game. In all, Wadsworth went 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 114 PI, GS: 84.

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A strong showing in November has catapulted the Queensland Eagles back into the thick of things after a sluggish start to the season. The Eagles are aiming for their third consecutive winning season, but they have their work cut out for them if they are to succeed in ending their 10-year playoff drought. The top of the standings in the East has gotten decidedly more crowded this year.

Several their key players either got off to slow starts in October or are in fact still struggling. 30-year old LF Rod Dennis (.304/.373/.552, 13 HR, 34 RBI, 21 BB, 1.4 WAR) endured a somewhat rough October for him (.247/.308/.515) but bounced back last month (.369/.443/.595). He finished 3rd in the Babe Ruth Award voting last season and the Eagles desperately need him to lead the way if they hope to make some noise in March. 30-year old 1B Ryan Conisford (.299/.419/.514, 7 HR, 24 RBI, 37 BB, 2.3 WAR) has been Queensland’s most consistent position player thus far, with 23-year old RF Hal Dhu (.251/.340/.480, 12 HR, 28 RBI, 23 BB, 5 SB, 1.7 WAR) going from ice cold in October (.170/.266/.362) to red hot in November (.341/.423/.612).

Two-time Satchel Paige Award winner, 31-year old RHP Logan Belsey (9-2, 1.71 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 1.88 FIP, 230 ERA+), is rated as the No. 1 pitcher in the United Leagues and its hard to argue. He is on pace to win 26 starts. But the rest of the staff has been underwhelming. Especially concerning are the struggles of 29-year old RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (5-4, 4.46 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 3.00 FIP, 88 ERA+). Queensland also needs the 3-time all-star find his groove soon if they want to keep pace in the East.

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After back-to-back 80+ win seasons, it appears that the Embro Suns are running out of steam. Both the offense and the pitching are struggling. A 3-11 stretch in the middle of October has knocked them down in the standings and they are finding it hard to keep up in the competitive East.

The reigning two-time EL Babe Ruth Award winner and No. 1 rated third baseman in the United Leagues is currently a shadow of his former self. 28-year old Moromao Nakagawa (.218/.357/.410, 10 HR, 26 RBI, 39 BB, 1.9 WAR – 71/71) epitomizes the Suns’ struggles this season, batting only .182/327/.352 in November. Embro desperately needs him to find his groove fast if they hope to stay relevant this season. But it may be moot as no one else in the lineup has stepped up. Only 26-year old LF Jesús Abreu (.286/.409/.550, 12 HR, 28 RBI, 35 BB, 1.8 WAR) is having anything close to what can be considered a career year. The rest have regressed along with Nakagawa.

The pitching is perhaps in even more desperate shape. Embro’s ace, 29-year old RHP Bradley Strawson (5-3, 2.99 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 2.95 FIP, 133 ERA+), is carrying his weight, but the rest of the staff has not. The team promoted their No. 10 overall prospect, 23-year old RHP Jun Kichida (1-0, 4.07 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 4.17 FIP, 98 ERA+ - 42/59), from Triple-A in early November. The second-round pick from last season is currently ensconced as their No. 3 starter. The Suns have the second-highest rated farm system in the ULB, but outside of 22-year old RHP Kieran Dare (7-4, 2.27 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 2.56 FIP, 129 ERA+ - 38/53), they have no one playing higher than Double-A.

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The Braeland City Monarchs continue to regress three years after they made their last playoff appearance. After winning just 74 games last season, they are on pace for only 66 this year. A disastrous November has seen them tumble to the depths of the standings, at one point going 3-10 in the first half of the month and then 2-7 to finish it.

Overall, the offense is in somewhat better shape than the pitching. Leading the way is 27-year old LF Hayden Goodale (.352/.441/.615, 13 HR, 40 RBI, 28 BB, 2.9 WAR), who is off to the best start of his 5-year career. On the other hand, 31-year old 2B Patrick Lidgate (.257/.383/.492, 9 HR, 28 RBI, 37 BB, 1.7 WAR) has been sluggish to start the season. He is still rated as one of the top players in the ULB (4th overall) however, so a resurgence is still very much anticipated. Braeland City is also getting much needed contributions from both 32-year old 1B Dean Witherden (.289/.357/.567, 14 HR, 30 RBI, 20 BB, 1.5 WAR) and 26-year old RF Aidan Trembath (.272/.318/.485, 12 HR, 31 RBI, 14 BB, 0.6 WAR). 21-year old sophomore Bernard Burkitt (.207/.234/.272, 18 RBI, 5 BB, 2 SB, -0.4 WAR – 45/60) has been installed as their full-time centerfielder, but he continues to struggle at the plate. He was their 5th overall pick from 1953-54.

The pitching staff, however, appears to be in dire straights with the unit ranked near the bottom in almost all categories. The lone bright spot has been 30-year old LHP Larry Kovnats (7-2, 2.65 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 3.26 FIP, 152 ERA+). The former 3rd overall pick from 1948-49 has been a below average pitcher in eight of his previous 10 seasons. But he has been very impressive to start the season. But with perhaps the exception of 30-year old journeyman RHP Bobby Hogg (4-5, 3.37 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 4.63 FIP, 119 ERA+), the rest of the crew is really struggling.

The Monarchs do have the deepest farm system with several still promising arms in the pipeline that could one day solidify things. One prospect is 20-year old LHP Charlie Honeysett (1-3, 1 SV, 5.56 ERA, 2.38 WHIP, .407 FIP, 72 ERA+ - 45/71), who has started his major league career pitching out of the bullpen. If the former 2nd-round pick from 1953-54 can settle in, he could give the rotation a much-needed boost.

Player of the Week Awards:

October 15 – 1B Dean Witherden (.391, 9 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI)
October 29 – 2B Patrick Lidgate (.364, 8 H, 4 HR, 8 RBI)

Noteworthy:

October 12 –27-year old SS Natsu Sakei (.221/.297/.315, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 16 BB, 0.1 WAR) may be batting 8th in the lineup, but the Japanese native who signed with Braeland City as a free agent back in 1953 came up big against the Embro Suns, leading the Monarchs to a 12-10 victory. He went 5 for 5 with 5 RBI & 2 R off 2 doubles and 3 singles.

November 21 – The Monarchs were swept by the visiting Pulberry Trolleys, but they made a game of it in the third & final match. Down 11-5 going into the bottom of the 8th, Braeland City scored 6 runs to tie things up. Ultimately, Pulberry pushed 2 runs across in the top of the 11th and held on to win, 13-11. But 1B Dean Witherden got game honors in a losing cause, banging out 3 home runs. Witherden hit a solo shot off RHP Quintiliano Galeo in the 1st as well as a 2-run home run in the 5th. He then hit a solo home run off RHP Bonie Bandong in the eventful 8th inning. In total, he went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP.

November 24 – LF Hayden Goodale became the 4th player this season and 19th overall to hit 3 home runs in a game, just 3 days after his teammate, Dean Witherden accomplished the same feat. He achieved it in Braeland City’s 9-3 win over the Wolseley Unions at Kings Park. Goodale hit a 3-run home run off RHP Joseph Sellwood in the 1st, singled in the 3rd and a slammed a 2-run homer in the 4th. His third dinger was a solo shot off RHP José Fernández in the 6th. In all, Goodale went 4 for 4, with 6 RBI, 4 R.

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The Downie Chiefs are off to their worst start since the 1945-46 season, the last time they finished at the bottom of the Eastern League standings. In those intervening 11 seasons, they have made playoffs three times, winning the United Cup in 1949-50. But they have endured a losing record the past four seasons and don’t appear to be anywhere near to turning things around. Both the pitching crew and batting lineup share the blame for the team’s struggles but there still are a few bright spots on both sides of the ball.

Batting fifth in the RHP lineup, 28-year old 1B Louie Revill (.296/.363/.513, 11 HR, 39 RBI, 22 BB, 1.9 WAR) is finally enjoying a break-out season after six years in the majors and after having been drafted 4th overall in 1947-48. Batting in front of him are 30-year old 2B Dominic Dudding (.333/.409/.620, 11 HR, 27 RBI, 17 BB, 1.7 WAR) and 24-year old rookie RF Ewan Komaki (.289/.347/.493, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 14 BB, 1.6 WAR – 49/49). Dudding, a 9-time all-star, appears destined to make his 10th, while Komaki, a 2nd-round pick from 1953-54, has taken over rightfield from 29-year old Connor Bing (.181/.200/.250, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, -0.8 WAR).

Two young pitchers at the top of the rotation are providing some optimism that they can form a nucleus to build a pitching staff around. 25-year old RHP Stefan Rankin (4-3, 3.14 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 3.55 FIP, 124 ERA+) is now Downie’s ace while 25-year old LHP Quinn Merrifield (4-6, 2.68 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.95 FIP, 146 ERA+) is starting right behind him after two seasons pitching out of the bullpen. But outside of 25-year old rookie LHP Lucas Franklin (1-1, 3 SV, 0.86 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 2.25 FIP, 453 ERA+), the rest of the staff is a sorry lot.

Player of the Week Awards:

October 22 – 1B Louie Revill (.478, 11 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R)

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04-01-2023, 09:32 PM	#770
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,926	December 1, 1956 Eastern League: Wellington, Brunswick Ride Power Surge to Top of Standings -------- Someone call the fire department – the United Leagues are on fire. Offensive firepower has arrived in a big way, at least for the top teams. Over the course of just the first two months, four different players have hit 3 home runs in a game and 3 others (all in the West) have hit for the cycle. The four 3-run home run games equal the 1953-54 season. With regards to cycles, the 1954-55 season saw five accomplished. It will be interesting to see if there is more offensive flexing in store over the next four months to set new records. Indeed, the young season has already seen a new home run record set by a member of the Wellington Athletics. The Athletics started off slowly, losing 4 of their first 5 games. But they soon got back on track and took over first place by the end of October where they remain just slightly ahead of a surprising Brunswick Legends squad. For Wellington, their offense can (almost) be summed up in two words: Matthew Floyd. In fairness, the 29-year old LF Floyd (.348/.429/.744, 25 HR, 54 RBI, 28 BB, 4.7 WAR) has some able support surrounding him. He has always been one of the top players in the United Leagues, but his start this season is simply astounding. He has been easily the top player in the East, if not the entire United Leagues thus far and he is on course to hit over 70 home runs. While that pace may not be sustainable, he is just 20 away from the record of 45, set by Cobourg’s Raymond Williams in 1953-54. Floyd’s current high mark for home runs in a season is 30, reached back in 1950-51. He has never won a Babe Ruth Award and finished in the top 3 in voting only once back in 1951-52. That drought may very well end this season if he stays healthy. As mentioned earlier, Wellington is hardly a one-trick pony. With Floyd batting in the No. 3 spot, the lineup from #2 through 5 has been solid: #2 - 31-year old RF Jim Mars (.322/.396/.473, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 24 BB, 1.9 WAR) #4 – 24-year old CF Greg Yates (.310/.355/.513, 8 HR, 33 RBI, 15 BB, 4 SB, 1.9 WAR) #5 – 30-year old C Carlos Camasura (.360/.484/.456, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 29 BB, 2.2 WAR) Camasura, acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Kingston Pelicans back in April, is currently rated as the No. 1 catcher in the ULB. The rest of the lineup, however, has not come close to matching the performances of these four players. While somewhat overshadowed, the pitching staff has been holding their own in the East, with No. 2 starter 28-year old RHP Vinnie Snell (6-2, 3.16 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 4.15 FIP, 124 ERA+) and No. 5 starter 30-year old RHP Kazurnori Fujimoto (6-0, 2.95 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 4.12 FIP, 133 REA+) leading the way. They have recently been joined in the rotation by 23-year old rookie RHP Baskin Arncaple (3-1, 0.95 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 3.65 FIP, 413 ERA+ - 42/60), winner of back-to-back Rookie of the Month honors. The 3rd-round pick from last season was pitching out of the bullpen until the last week of November when he was installed as the team’s ace. He won his first start, 3-0 against the Kingston Pelicans, going 7.2 IP, 3 H, 6 BB, 3 K, 128 PI. Player of the Week Awards: October 8 – C Carlos Camasura (.706, 12 H, 9 RBI, 2 R) November 5 – LF Matthew Floyd (.476, 10 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI) November 19 – LF Matthew Floyd (.429, 9 H, 5 HR, 9 RBI) Noteworthy: October 28 – The visiting Athletics blasted the Brunswick Legends, 13-1 to take 3 of 4 games. Leading the way for Wellington was their superstar, Matthew Floyd who hit 3 home runs. His first of the afternoon came in the top of the 2nd when he hit a 2-run shot off RHP Mhelter Pilapil to make it 5-0. In the top of the 5th down 8-0, RHP Byron Ollson relieved Pilapil with two out and two men on base. The first batter he faced was Floyd, who took his 1-2 offering and slammed it into the rightfield bleachers for a 3-run shot, increasing the lead to 11-0. In the top of the 7th, Floyd struck again against Ollson, launching his first offering into the rightfield bleachers for a 2-run home run and making it 13-0 for Wellington. In all, Floyd went 3 for 5 with 1 BB, 7 RBI & 4 R. Brunswick finally broke the goose egg when 26-year old RF Jay Mitchell (.249/.328/.428, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 21 BB, 0.8 WAR) launched a lead-off solo shot against 25-year old RHP Mike Murray (4-4, 3.84 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, .237 BABIP, 102 ERA+) in the bottom of the 9th. November 15 – The Athletics went into Cambria and took 2 of 3 games from the Cannons, including a convincing 13-2 win in the final match. RF Jim Mars was the star of the game, going 5 for 5. Mars hit 3 singles and 2 triples to along with 1 RBI, 3 R & 1 BB. Naturally his battery-mate, Matthew Floyd contributed to the offensive output as well, going 3 for 6 with 2 HR, 5 RBI & 2 R. November 16 – After playing 12 straight games on the road, the Athletics finally returned home to host the Hespeler Stars. Nearly 25,000 fans jammed Santop Stadium with all eyes on their beloved star, Matthew Floyd. That’s because the leftfielder had hit two home runs the day before, the 5th straight game in which Floyd had hit a least one home run. That tied the home run streak record shared by four other players and first set by OF Kade Limeburner in the ULB’s inaugural season. Fans didn’t have to wait long to see if he could break it and establish a new record. In the bottom of the 1st with two out, Floyd jumped on the first pitch he saw from 30-year old RHP Dominic Whitmore, sending it 393 ft. down the rightfield line and into the history books, setting a new Home Run Streak at six games. Floyd hit 8 home runs over the course of the streak. Alas, the Athletics fell to the Stars, 3-2. While they would hang onto to win the next day 7-6, Floyd went 1 for 3 with 2 BB and no home runs to end the streak. On a side note, Kingston Pelicans’ 24-year old sophomore, 1B Ira Bannatyne, hit a home run in 5 straight games to start the season (Oct. 1 to 5). -------- Over the past five seasons, the Brunswick Legends have been the model of mediocrity, averaging 75 wins a season and never finishing higher than fourth. But the start of this season has seen a turnaround. They got off to a fast start, winning their first 4 games and hanging onto to first place until October 29 when the Athletics finally caught up and overtook them. In early November they fell back to 4th place but rebounded against the Western League teams to get back to within a half game of Wellington. They finished off November strong, going 10-1. They also enjoy hitting against left-handers, having gone 11-1 thus far. Their pitching staff is the main reason why, leading the East in ERA and fewest runs allowed. The pitching crew has been uniformly steady, with No. 3 starter 29-year old RHP Mhelter Pilapil (8-2, 3.29 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 3.48 FIP, 122 ERA+) and 34-year old stopper RHP Lao Chen (2-0, 4 SV, 0.34 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 1.53 FIP, 1,173 ERA+) leading the way. The offense has been solid in the early going as well, particularly 27-year old sophomore RF Joshua Witherden (.285/.395/.557, 11 HR, 27 RBI, 29 BB, 2.4 WAR). The 3rd-round pick from 1952-53 leads the team in 9 offensive categories and is already rated 4th overall among right fielders. Curiously, despite his running speed/stealing ability/baserunning instincts being off the charts (70/80/80), he has yet to steal a base (and was caught on his lone attempt). He is batting second in the lineup, ahead of perennial all-star, 28-year old C Robert Kersey (.271/.387/.482, 10 HR, 32 RBI, 30 BB, 2.0 WAR). Player of the Week Awards: November 12 – CF Joshua Witherden (.529, 9 H, 5 HR, 8 RBI) Noteworthy: October 18 – The Legends won a wild one over the Monarchs, 19-11 at Kings Park in Braeland City. Leading 1-0, the Legends exploded for 10 runs in the top of the 2nd inning, thanks to 6 singles, 1 triple, 3 walks, a sac fly, an error and a 3-run homer by 28-year old 1B Francis Joicey (.288/.379/.527, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 19 BB, 1.0 WAR). Brunswick would make it 18-0 before Braeland City finally got on the board with a solo shot by 31-year old 2B Partrick Lidgate (.257/.383/.492, 9 HR, 28 RBI, 37 BB, 1.7 WAR) in the bottom of the 6th. The Monarchs would tack on 5 runs each in the 7th and 8th innings to get back into the game, although they still came up way short. In all, the two teams combined for 33 hits and 7 home runs. -------- The Cobourg Redlegs took a tumble in the standings over the past couple of seasons, just a few years removed from their break-out 100-54 season where they won their first Eastern League Pennant. But an 8-game winning streak in late October and into early November, plus a 7-1 stretch to finish off the month of November has seen the club bounce back in a big way in the early going. That 8-game winning streak saw them get to within a game of first place. A continued strong showing in November where they feasted on Western League teams has them very much in the thick of things. But they will need greater contributions from more than just of few of their key players if they want to sustain it. This is still very much CF Raymond Williams’ (.328/.410/.583, 11 HR, 39 RBI, 24 BB, 5 SB, 3.1 WAR) team. The 30-year old 2-time Babe Ruth Award winner remains among the very best position players in the ULB (5th overall) and is just 29 home runs away from reaching 300. But it appears that he will soon have company among the Leagues’ elite on the Redlegs’ roster. 25-year old SS Douglas Jones (.246/.329/.424, 8 HR, 25 RBI, 25 BB, 2.1 WAR – 76/80) is emerging as one of Cobourg’s best players in hist 4th season and is already rated as the United Leagues’ No. 1 shortstop. Last year’s EL Rookie of the Year, 26-year old LF Harrison Covey (.267/.345/.438, 9 HR, 29 RBI, 24 BB, 1.0 WAR), is contributing as well, hitting out of the No. 2 spot, between Jones and Williams. But outside of them and 31-year old 1B Harry Doxey (.322/.373/.480, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 13 BB, 1.0 WAR), there is a rather steep drop in production. Just as Williams is the pillar of the offense, so too is 28-year old LHP Bill Budd (7-5, 2.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 3.20 FIP, 116 ERA+) to the pitching staff. The three-time all-star is the ace of the rotation and is currently rated 5th overall among all pitchers. But the rest of the rotation has been very solid in the early going as well. Pitching right behind Budd is 22-year old sophomore LHP Lachlan Lloyd (5-1, 1 SV, 2.92 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 1.99 FIP, 137 ERA+ - 39/54). Lachlan, who was acquired from the Braeland City Monarchs in a trade back in January, moved into the rotation in mid-November. Also, if their other young promising arm, 22-year old RHP Albert Johnson (6-3, 4.81 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 4.40 FIP, 83 ERA+ - 48/73), can continue to develop, the Redlegs rotation may become a formidable unit in its own right. For now, Johnson is pitching out of the No. 5 spot, so he is not under any undue pressure. Noteworthy: October 10 – The Redlegs and Downie Chiefs played a wild one just 8 games into the young season, going 15-innings before Cobourg’s 26-year old C Yoshiake Ikeda singled home Raymond Williams for the winning run. The final score was 5-4 with the Redlegs churning out 19 hits. Getting five of those was LF Harrison Covey. Covey went 5 for 8 with 5 singles, 1 K and 2 fly outs. Interestingly, he collected no runs or RBIs. -------- The Stratford Barons currently enjoy the United Leagues longest active playoff streak, having qualified for the postseason for the past four straight years. They remain a high-caliber squad but with the resurgence of both the Brunswick Legends and Cobourg Redlegs, at least in the early going, the top of the Eastern League standings has gotten noticeable more crowded. The Barons have felt the stiffer competition. A rough patch in early November where they lost 5 straight games and 1-6 overall, saw them fall to 19-19 and 5-1/2 games out of first place. But the rest of the month saw them go 12-3, helping to keep them very much in the thick of things. 30-year old CF Alfonso León (.356/.429/.600, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 26 BB, 3.2 WAR) is off to a torrid start, something not unusual for the two-time Babe Ruth Award winner who is enjoying his first full season with the Barons, after 9-1/2 seasons as the Downie Chiefs’ premier player. Right behind him in the lineup, batting 4th and 5th, are the Barons’ other top position players this season: 28-year old 2B Matthew Channing (.294/.361/.537, 9 HR, 40 RBI, 22 BB, 11 SB, 2.9 WAR) and 25-year old SS Callum Spalton (.291/.330/.429,4 HR, 28 RBI, 11 BB, 2.5 WAR). Both are off to the best starts of their careers. Although he may no longer be rated as the top catcher in the United Leagues, 37-year old Aaron Skidmore (.230/.412/.492, 10 HR, 22 RBI, 38 BB, 1.9 WAR) continues his excellent all-around play. He is the ULB’s all-time leader in career walks (1,828) by a healthy margin (Wolseley’s Carlton Hawking is second with 1,561). The pitching has been hot and cold thus far. Last year’s EL Satchel Paige Award winner, 28-year old LHP Robin Wadsworth (8-0, 2.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 3.13 FIP, 193 ERA+) has simply picked up where he left off and is on pace for 23 wins. But besides 32-year old No. 3 starter RHP Stephen Tindall (4-4, 2.93 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 3.67 FIP, 136 ERA+) and 33-year old reliever RHP Bill Lafontaine (4-1, 1 SV, 2.37 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 2.92 FIP, 168 ERA+), the rest of the staff have been mediocre at best. Player of the Week Awards: November 26 – CF Alfonso León (.391, 9 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R) Noteworthy: October 17 – The Barons doubled up the visiting Brunswick Legends, 10-5 in a mid-week matinee. Leading the charge was CF Alfonso León, who batted 5 for 5 with 2 RBI & 3 R off 4 singles and a triple. Down 4-0, the Barons exploded for 5 runs in the 5th and never looked back, scoring 10 runs off 16 hits. November 13 – The Barons swept a 3-game set against the Giants in Balmoral. In game 1, LHP Robin Wadsworth pitched his club to a 3-0 win, giving up just two hits. Wadsworth was pitching a perfect game until the bottom of the 5th, when he surrendered a one-out single to CF Quido De Jesús. Balmoral got two men on base in the bottom of the 9th with a single and walk, but Wadsworth got 1B Erik Perry to fly out to center to end the threat and game. In all, Wadsworth went 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 114 PI, GS: 84. -------- A strong showing in November has catapulted the Queensland Eagles back into the thick of things after a sluggish start to the season. The Eagles are aiming for their third consecutive winning season, but they have their work cut out for them if they are to succeed in ending their 10-year playoff drought. The top of the standings in the East has gotten decidedly more crowded this year. Several their key players either got off to slow starts in October or are in fact still struggling. 30-year old LF Rod Dennis (.304/.373/.552, 13 HR, 34 RBI, 21 BB, 1.4 WAR) endured a somewhat rough October for him (.247/.308/.515) but bounced back last month (.369/.443/.595). He finished 3rd in the Babe Ruth Award voting last season and the Eagles desperately need him to lead the way if they hope to make some noise in March. 30-year old 1B Ryan Conisford (.299/.419/.514, 7 HR, 24 RBI, 37 BB, 2.3 WAR) has been Queensland’s most consistent position player thus far, with 23-year old RF Hal Dhu (.251/.340/.480, 12 HR, 28 RBI, 23 BB, 5 SB, 1.7 WAR) going from ice cold in October (.170/.266/.362) to red hot in November (.341/.423/.612). Two-time Satchel Paige Award winner, 31-year old RHP Logan Belsey (9-2, 1.71 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 1.88 FIP, 230 ERA+), is rated as the No. 1 pitcher in the United Leagues and its hard to argue. He is on pace to win 26 starts. But the rest of the staff has been underwhelming. Especially concerning are the struggles of 29-year old RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (5-4, 4.46 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 3.00 FIP, 88 ERA+). Queensland also needs the 3-time all-star find his groove soon if they want to keep pace in the East. -------- After back-to-back 80+ win seasons, it appears that the Embro Suns are running out of steam. Both the offense and the pitching are struggling. A 3-11 stretch in the middle of October has knocked them down in the standings and they are finding it hard to keep up in the competitive East. The reigning two-time EL Babe Ruth Award winner and No. 1 rated third baseman in the United Leagues is currently a shadow of his former self. 28-year old Moromao Nakagawa (.218/.357/.410, 10 HR, 26 RBI, 39 BB, 1.9 WAR – 71/71) epitomizes the Suns’ struggles this season, batting only .182/327/.352 in November. Embro desperately needs him to find his groove fast if they hope to stay relevant this season. But it may be moot as no one else in the lineup has stepped up. Only 26-year old LF Jesús Abreu (.286/.409/.550, 12 HR, 28 RBI, 35 BB, 1.8 WAR) is having anything close to what can be considered a career year. The rest have regressed along with Nakagawa. The pitching is perhaps in even more desperate shape. Embro’s ace, 29-year old RHP Bradley Strawson (5-3, 2.99 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 2.95 FIP, 133 ERA+), is carrying his weight, but the rest of the staff has not. The team promoted their No. 10 overall prospect, 23-year old RHP Jun Kichida (1-0, 4.07 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 4.17 FIP, 98 ERA+ - 42/59), from Triple-A in early November. The second-round pick from last season is currently ensconced as their No. 3 starter. The Suns have the second-highest rated farm system in the ULB, but outside of 22-year old RHP Kieran Dare (7-4, 2.27 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 2.56 FIP, 129 ERA+ - 38/53), they have no one playing higher than Double-A. -------- The Braeland City Monarchs continue to regress three years after they made their last playoff appearance. After winning just 74 games last season, they are on pace for only 66 this year. A disastrous November has seen them tumble to the depths of the standings, at one point going 3-10 in the first half of the month and then 2-7 to finish it. Overall, the offense is in somewhat better shape than the pitching. Leading the way is 27-year old LF Hayden Goodale (.352/.441/.615, 13 HR, 40 RBI, 28 BB, 2.9 WAR), who is off to the best start of his 5-year career. On the other hand, 31-year old 2B Patrick Lidgate (.257/.383/.492, 9 HR, 28 RBI, 37 BB, 1.7 WAR) has been sluggish to start the season. He is still rated as one of the top players in the ULB (4th overall) however, so a resurgence is still very much anticipated. Braeland City is also getting much needed contributions from both 32-year old 1B Dean Witherden (.289/.357/.567, 14 HR, 30 RBI, 20 BB, 1.5 WAR) and 26-year old RF Aidan Trembath (.272/.318/.485, 12 HR, 31 RBI, 14 BB, 0.6 WAR). 21-year old sophomore Bernard Burkitt (.207/.234/.272, 18 RBI, 5 BB, 2 SB, -0.4 WAR – 45/60) has been installed as their full-time centerfielder, but he continues to struggle at the plate. He was their 5th overall pick from 1953-54. The pitching staff, however, appears to be in dire straights with the unit ranked near the bottom in almost all categories. The lone bright spot has been 30-year old LHP Larry Kovnats (7-2, 2.65 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 3.26 FIP, 152 ERA+). The former 3rd overall pick from 1948-49 has been a below average pitcher in eight of his previous 10 seasons. But he has been very impressive to start the season. But with perhaps the exception of 30-year old journeyman RHP Bobby Hogg (4-5, 3.37 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 4.63 FIP, 119 ERA+), the rest of the crew is really struggling. The Monarchs do have the deepest farm system with several still promising arms in the pipeline that could one day solidify things. One prospect is 20-year old LHP Charlie Honeysett (1-3, 1 SV, 5.56 ERA, 2.38 WHIP, .407 FIP, 72 ERA+ - 45/71), who has started his major league career pitching out of the bullpen. If the former 2nd-round pick from 1953-54 can settle in, he could give the rotation a much-needed boost. Player of the Week Awards: October 15 – 1B Dean Witherden (.391, 9 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI) October 29 – 2B Patrick Lidgate (.364, 8 H, 4 HR, 8 RBI) Noteworthy: October 12 –27-year old SS Natsu Sakei (.221/.297/.315, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 16 BB, 0.1 WAR) may be batting 8th in the lineup, but the Japanese native who signed with Braeland City as a free agent back in 1953 came up big against the Embro Suns, leading the Monarchs to a 12-10 victory. He went 5 for 5 with 5 RBI & 2 R off 2 doubles and 3 singles. November 21 – The Monarchs were swept by the visiting Pulberry Trolleys, but they made a game of it in the third & final match. Down 11-5 going into the bottom of the 8th, Braeland City scored 6 runs to tie things up. Ultimately, Pulberry pushed 2 runs across in the top of the 11th and held on to win, 13-11. But 1B Dean Witherden got game honors in a losing cause, banging out 3 home runs. Witherden hit a solo shot off RHP Quintiliano Galeo in the 1st as well as a 2-run home run in the 5th. He then hit a solo home run off RHP Bonie Bandong in the eventful 8th inning. In total, he went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP. November 24 – LF Hayden Goodale became the 4th player this season and 19th overall to hit 3 home runs in a game, just 3 days after his teammate, Dean Witherden accomplished the same feat. He achieved it in Braeland City’s 9-3 win over the Wolseley Unions at Kings Park. Goodale hit a 3-run home run off RHP Joseph Sellwood in the 1st, singled in the 3rd and a slammed a 2-run homer in the 4th. His third dinger was a solo shot off RHP José Fernández in the 6th. In all, Goodale went 4 for 4, with 6 RBI, 4 R. -------- The Downie Chiefs are off to their worst start since the 1945-46 season, the last time they finished at the bottom of the Eastern League standings. In those intervening 11 seasons, they have made playoffs three times, winning the United Cup in 1949-50. But they have endured a losing record the past four seasons and don’t appear to be anywhere near to turning things around. Both the pitching crew and batting lineup share the blame for the team’s struggles but there still are a few bright spots on both sides of the ball. Batting fifth in the RHP lineup, 28-year old 1B Louie Revill (.296/.363/.513, 11 HR, 39 RBI, 22 BB, 1.9 WAR) is finally enjoying a break-out season after six years in the majors and after having been drafted 4th overall in 1947-48. Batting in front of him are 30-year old 2B Dominic Dudding (.333/.409/.620, 11 HR, 27 RBI, 17 BB, 1.7 WAR) and 24-year old rookie RF Ewan Komaki (.289/.347/.493, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 14 BB, 1.6 WAR – 49/49). Dudding, a 9-time all-star, appears destined to make his 10th, while Komaki, a 2nd-round pick from 1953-54, has taken over rightfield from 29-year old Connor Bing (.181/.200/.250, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, -0.8 WAR). Two young pitchers at the top of the rotation are providing some optimism that they can form a nucleus to build a pitching staff around. 25-year old RHP Stefan Rankin (4-3, 3.14 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 3.55 FIP, 124 ERA+) is now Downie’s ace while 25-year old LHP Quinn Merrifield (4-6, 2.68 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.95 FIP, 146 ERA+) is starting right behind him after two seasons pitching out of the bullpen. But outside of 25-year old rookie LHP Lucas Franklin (1-1, 3 SV, 0.86 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 2.25 FIP, 453 ERA+), the rest of the staff is a sorry lot. Player of the Week Awards: October 22 – 1B Louie Revill (.478, 11 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R) -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland