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All Star Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 1,392
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NEW FACES FOR YEAR TWO OF THE N.B.B.O.
NEW YORK CITY, May 4 (1858) The second season of National Base Ball Organization play begins tomorrow afternoon, and with that brings the end of the sport of base balls first offseason. There wasnt much in the way of player movement from club to club, but every club brought in new players either young prospects recently finished with school or locals & immigrants from lesser-known teams who made the grade during preseason training.
Below are ten newcomers who Northeastern base ball writers expect to have a major impact over the upcoming season. (Ratings shown in 20/80 Scale & in CURRENT/POTENTIAL format)
ANDERSON MacGYVER 2B, St. Johns 23 y/o, 57, 155 lbs. from New York City Grade: 5.0 stars BATTING: Contact 75/75, Gap 65/65, Eye 55/55, Avoid Ks 75/75
DEFENSE (INF): Range 60, Error 60, Arm 55, DP 65
POSITIONS: Second Base 60/65, Shortstop 55/55
OTHER: Speed 50, Stealing 80+, Baserunning 80, Sac. Bunt 50, Bunt for Hit 40
SUMMARY: Recruited from an informal club in N.Y.C., MacGyver hit over .400 during preseason and has the look of a player who could win the batting title in his first season. Outstanding baserunner whose instincts make a serious threat despite average speed. Defense is okay. Believed to be a hard worker and a vocal leader. COLLIN HENDERSON 1B, St. Johns 24 y/o, 57, 160 lbs. from Fraserburgh, Scotland Grade: 4.5 stars BATTING: Contact 75/75, Gap 70/70, Eye 60/70, Avoid Ks 70/70
DEFENSE (INF): Range 55, Error 60, Arm 35, DP 55
POSITIONS: First Base 50/50, Second Base 55/55
OTHER: Speed 50, Stealing 70, Baserunning 60, Sac. Bunt 80+, Bunt for Hit 80+
SUMMARY: St. Johns signed him from a club in Boston. In preseason looked like a player who could lead the N.E.L. in both average & extra-base hits. Runs the bases well and will steal off less-attentive pitchers. Can flip a coin onto the ground and place a bunt on it. Very intelligent and works tirelessly.
PER-OLAF BAKKEN SS, Kings Co. 25 y/o, 57, 170 lbs. from Vδxjφ, Sweden Grade: 4.5 stars BATTING: Contact 60/65, Gap 50/55, Eye 65/65, Avoid Ks 45/60
DEFENSE (INF): Range 70, Error 65, Arm 60, DP 75
POSITIONS: Shortstop 65/65, Second Base 70/75
OTHER: Speed 50, Stealing 70, Baserunning 80, Sac. Bunt 65, Bunt for Hit 55
SUMMARY: Was playing in New York City when K.C. invited him to preseason training. Looks like a very good hitter but could be even better. Great on defense can cover the middle of the infield effortlessly. Great runner who will rarely be caught between bases. Only lived in the U.S. for a few years, but has adapted well. WILLIAM LaVALLIER OF, Utica 25 y/o, 511, 175 lbs. from Montreal, Canada Grade: 4.5 stars BATTING: Contact 75/75, Gap 65/65, Eye 55/55, Avoid Ks 75/75
DEFENSE (INF/OF): Range 30 INF/45 OF, Error 50 INF/65 OF, Arm 45 INF/60 OF, DP 20
POSITIONS: Left Field 55/55, Right Field, 45/50, First Base 45/45
OTHER: Speed 45, Stealing 60, Baserunning 75, Sac. Bunt 65, Bunt for Hit 55
SUMMARY: Was playing in upstate N.Y. during the summer while living in Canada the rest of the year. Great hitter nearly .500 the last week of preseason so he looks more than ready for the N.B.B.O. Fielding is okay Range below average, arm decent, but at least he has good hands. Very smart baserunner. CALLUM BARR CF, Atlantic 25 y/o, 57, 165 lbs. from Glasgow, Scotland Grade: 4.0 stars BATTING: Contact 55/55, Gap 60/60, Eye 55/55, Avoid Ks 65/65
DEFENSE (OF): Range 70, Error 60, Arm 55
POSITIONS: Center Field 70/70, Left Field 80/80, Right Field 45/70
OTHER: Speed 70, Stealing 75, Baserunning 80, Sac. Bunt 55, Bunt for Hit 45
SUMMARY: Only hit .222 (8/36) in preseason but has the defensive ability and speed on the bases to positively affect games even if he isnt hitting well. Looks like a very rangy center fielder. Extremely good baserunner stole five times w/o being caught in preseason and took extra bases on several teammates hits. Works very hard. JOSEPH FORREST OF, Quinnipiac, 30 y/o, 57, 155 lbs. from New Haven, CT Grade: 4.0 stars BATTING: Contact 75/75, Gap 60/60, Eye 55/55, Avoid Ks 70/70
DEFENSE (INF/OF): Range 45 INF/45 OF, Error 45 INF/45 OF, Arm 55 INF/60 OF, DP 50
POSITIONS: Left Field 50/50, First Base 45/50, Second Base 35/40, Third Base 40/40
OTHER: Speed 45, Stealing 45, Baserunning 50, Sac. Bunt 65, Bunt for Hit 50
SUMMARY: Was playing for a smaller club in New Haven when Quinnipiac told him to come on over for preseason. Looks like hell hit for a very high average and a decent amount of power. Instincts arent great, either on defense or on the basepaths. ARCHIE GREEN P, Green Mtn., 29 y/o, 57, 170 lbs. from Aberdeen, Scotland Grade: 4.0 stars PITCHING: Stuff 55/55, Movement 70/75, Control 65/65
DEFENSE (P): Range 30/30, Error 30/30, Arm 50/50, Overall 50/50
OTHER: Stamina 55/55, Hold Runners 20/20
SUMMARY: Was playing elsewhere in Vermont before he was invited to preseason. Looks to have very good control over the ball and can do just enough with it to make solid contact difficult to come by. THOMAS SILKE C, Shamrock, 23 y/o, 510, 170 lbs. from Haverhill, NH Grade: 4.0 stars BATTING: Contact 55/55, Gap 45/45, Eye 40/40, Avoid Ks 70/70
DEFENSE (C/INF): Ability 70 C, Arm 60 C, Range 50 INF, Error 55 INF, Arm 50 INF, DP 25
POSITIONS: Catcher 70/70, First Base 50/60
OTHER: Speed 35, Stealing 55, Baserunning 50, Sac. Bunt 50, Bunt for Hit 35
SUMMARY: Another Irish American for Shamrock B.C. Young but very advanced catcher who will make fewer mistakes than most. Will be a better batsman than most other backstops. Can also play first base if needed. WILLIE SMITH 2B, Alleghany, 26 y/o, 57, 150 lbs. from Falmouth, MA Grade: 4.0 stars BATTING: Contact 70/70, Gap 55/55, Eye 65/75, Avoid Ks 75/75
DEFENSE (INF): Range 50, Error 60, Arm 40, DP 60
POSITIONS: Second Base 55/55, First Base 45/50
OTHER: Speed 50, Stealing 55, Baserunning 60, Sac. Bunt 65, Bunt for Hit 55
SUMMARY: Traveled to Western PA to try out for Alleghany and proceeded to hit 18/36 (.500) in preseason. Looked very comfortable with the bat. Stealing & baserunning are above average, as is bunting. Hands are good on defense but is a little stiff, and that makes range an issue.
GROVER WRIGHT P, Kings Co., 27 y/o, 60, 200 lbs. from Brooklyn Grade: 4.0 stars PITCHING: Stuff 60/60, Movement 75/75, Control 65/65
DEFENSE (P): Range 45/45, Error 40/40, Arm 45/45, Overall 70/70
OTHER: Stamina 80/80, Hold Runners 55/55
SUMMARY: Beefy not many six-footers or two-hundred-pounders in the 1850s, and hes both in one. That means he has the stamina to pitch all day long without getting tired. Believed to use four different grips when pitching and has fine ability to make the ball move enough to make it difficult to hit hard. St. Johns, the defending N.B.B.O. champions, brought in the two highest-rated newcomers for 1958 so they could have both a frightening outfield AND a frightening infield. It almost goes without saying, but they are now the obvious favorites the hoist the Tucker-Wheaton Cup again.
There is also one very interesting young player in Pennsylvania that the writers have collectively been telegramming one another about:
WILLIE DAVIS OF, Susquehanna 21 y/o, 510, 180 lbs. from Philadelphia CUR/POT: 2.5/4.5 stars BATTING: Contact 50/70, Gap 60/75, Eye 50/55, Avoid Ks 35/70
DEFENSE (OF): Range 70, Error 65, Arm 40
POSITIONS: Left Field 65/80, Center Field 55/65, Right Field 25/65
OTHER: Speed 75, Stealing 70, Baserunning 80, Sac. Bunt 75, Bunt for Hit 65
SUMMARY: Decided to play for a somewhat smaller club in PA instead of American or Quaker St. in his home city, and it looks like the decision paid off. Hit .341 with nine steals (0 CS) in preseason and was rewarded with an outfield spot and the #4 place in the batting order. Has the potential to be an elite hitter. Excellent outfielder, even with a weak arm. Outstanding baserunner.
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Logo & uniform work here
Thread about my fictional universe that begins in 1857 here
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