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ayaghmour2 · 02-23-2025, 07:00 PM

APRIL 8, 1963

Trade Season Erupts on Eve of Opening Day
1960 Allen Winner, 6-Time All-Star on the Move

All offseason, it felt like the trade market was about to explode, but very little happened. Sure, there were the two Washington deals, most notably the one sending Brad Keylon (.333, 4, 18) and Joe Holland (.262, 14, 39, 4) to the Dynamos, and a minor deal between the Miners and Cannons, but in just a two day span, the offseason trade count doubled.

It started with one of the biggest trades in a while, as the never satisfied Chicago Cougars made what they're hoping is a trade that can bring home a pennant. In a blockbuster move, the Cougars acquired 26-year-old righty Don "Doc" Griffin (15-6, 6, 3.23, 118) from the Minutemen, parting with veteran starter Andy Logue (11-17, 4.11, 126) and former 5th overall pick Bobby Martinez (.396, 1, 12, 4) to get the job done. Griffin, a 6-Time All-Star and winner of the 1960 Allen award, seemed to have fallen out of favor in Boston.

Doc debuted in 1955 at just 18, and spent his teen years pitching out of the Minutemen pen. Year two was the breakout, where he was 5-7 with a Fed high 19 saves. In 98.2 innings, he worked to a 2.74 ERA (1449 ERA+), 1.31 WHIP, and 54 strikeouts, proving he could pitch multiple innings at a time. This got him into a swingman role at 20 in 1957, where 19 of his 54 appearances were starts. This is when Griffin started to really turn heads, as in 181 innings he went 12-6 with 7 saves, a 2.73 ERA (150 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts. The performance earned him a rotation spot at 21, beginning what could have been the start of a great one. In 35 starts, Griffin earned himself an ERA crown, working to a 2.78 (155 ERA+) mark in 246 innings. His Fed low FIP was even lower, down to 2.67 (61 FIP-), also leading in WHIP (1.04), K/BB (3.4), and WAR (8.7). His 16-13 record didn't match the overall performance, but none of that mattered. The setting was set for Boston to snap their decade plus championship drought.

No one is more responsible for Boston's back-to-back titles then their former 7th Rounder, as Doc finished with back-to-back 20-win seasons, leading the Fed in FIP, FIP-, WHIP, K/BB, and WAR in each of his first three full seasons. 1959 had his career high mark of 10.9, going 20-7 with a 3.09 ERA (139 ERA+), 1.11 WHIP, and 199 strikeouts. In a Fed high 36 starts, he tossed 253.2 innings, and his 2.19 FIP (50 FIP-) was the lowest among Federal pitchers since 1920, and his 5.9 K/BB was over twice as high as any other pitcher. But if all that wasn't enough, he took it to another gear in 1960, coming home with the Fed's triple crown during a tough pennant defense. Doc was 21-6 with a 2.01 ERA (213 ERA+), 0.92 WHIP, and 186 strikeouts, starting a Fed high 33 games with 219.1 innings pitched. Worth an even 9 WAR, he finished off his dominant three season stretch with 28.6 WAR, which would rank tied for 22nd among active pitchers. Tied with a pitcher who has almost twice as many career innings as him, and less then a win behind someone pushing three times at much.

What came next, no one could expect, as it seemed like the reigning Allen winner must have made someone upset. Despite leading his team to consecutive championships, the then 24-year-old was banished back to the pen, almost cursing the franchise. Going from contender to pretender, they went from a 90 win team to a 69 win team, not once deciding to move their ace back where he belonged. Picking up an outing for each team win, Griffin threw 111.1 innings out of the pen, a respectable 6-7 with 25 saves, a 3.07 ERA (137 ERA+), and 1.14 WHIP. He struck out 74 to just 27 walks, still wroth an impressive 2.7 WAR despite not making a single start. Initially, there was no change in his role, Griffin was back to a stopper role, but a few months into the season, the Minutemen finally caved. Though it was clear he still fell out of favor, Griffin started 22 of his 40 starts, reaching 170 innings. In said innings he had 118 strikeouts to 51 walks, finishing 15-6 with 6 saves, a 3.23 ERA (143 ERA+), and 1.28 WHIP. Quite impressive numbers, it was clear Griffin had the talent, but he was upset with his organization, and was counting the days before he could finally be confident that he'd be on the mound every fifth day.

Enter the Chicago Cougars, who General Manager has long been enamored with the now 26-year-old righty. A team that you'd never call conventional, they recently did a reverse Don Griffin, moving ace Pug White to the pen as their starters weren't able to pitch deep enough into games. Unlike with Griffin, Pug fully embraced the role, as he transitioned from an innings eater to a two-pitch pitcher, and it proved to be a winning decision. Coming close to a qualifying season, Pug went 12-8 with 18 saves, a 3.10 ERA (145 ERA+), and 1.20 WHIP, striking out 110 with just 46 walks. He led the Cougars in wins and saves, and his ERA as the lowest among pitchers with at least 75 innings. Often pitching in back-to-back days or for multiple innings, he helped finish off game after game for Chicago, and his skillset should pair perfectly with his new ace. Where Pug has the stamina to go for hours, Doc is someone you don't want going too far past 100 pitches. Paired together, they can complete game after game, as the two arms have excellent stuff, excellent movement, and excellent command. A power pitcher and a groundball pitcher, they compliment each other well too, as once you get used to one look, the other may catch you off balance.

While Griffin won't be ready for Opening Day, the Cougars do expect him to front their rotation, pitching on a strict five day schedule to maximize the most out of his starts. With his youth, this could be a deal that solves the Cougar rotation for a decade, especially considering his clean bill of health. Doc has yet to miss more then a week with an ailment, and both times his injuries took him out for precautionary soreness. Combined with the Cougars' medical staff's propensity for prevention, and they could strategically push him to 200 innings. Even with the talent they parted with, adding a top arm could push them closer to being a pennant favorite, as this is an 86 win team who got no production from what will be their top pitcher and hitter of 1963. Prior to the trade, OSA predicted the Cougars to win 99 games, second only to Kansas City, but in a crowded association it would be foolish to crown the Cougars the new frontrunners.

Boston, meanwhile, looks towards the future, as they acquire a traditional starter to replace Griffin in their rotation, as well as a promising young outfielder in Bobby Martinez. The 24-year-old now ranks 2nd in the Minutemen system, ranked as the 40th prospect in FABL. Debuting last year, the long-time top-100 prospect burst onto the scene in Chicago, temporarily replacing an injured Jerry McMillan (.328, 18, 65, 22) in center. Though he did get moved to a part-time role when McMillan returned, Martinez was a force at the plate, hitting .396/.434/.443 (133 OPS+) with 2 doubles, a homer, 12 RBIs, 24 runs, and 4 steals, often showing off a cannon in the outfield. The range is great too, and where Martinez really makes an impact is run creating. An elite contact hitter, Martinez could go straight into a leadoff role for Boston, as there were rumors prior to the trade that Martinez won an Opening Day spot in Chicago had he not been involved in this trade. With his speed an ability to put the ball in play, he forces defenses to be on their heels, as he's always able to make things happen. With his speed, defensive ability, and able to lace a liner, his at bats are must see TV, but with a deep, young outfield in Chicago, he was somewhat expendable.

Martinez will at least know one of his teammates should he makes Boston's initial roster, as he manned center for a few Andy Logue starts last season. Logue, a 30-year-old lefty, has now been part of two major trades, as the team leader was acquired by Montreal at the 1960 deadline in a trade for Ham Flanders (.361, 26, 105, 13) they might really wish they had back. A reliable starter, Logue was extremely effective for Chicago, going 27-32 with a 3.70 ERA (121 ERA+), 1.31 WHIP, and 308 strikeouts. An extreme groundballer, his 56% groundball rate was highest in the Conti, and his 51% career rate is well above average. His overall production did drop a bit last year, as his 4.57 FIP (101 FIP-) and 4.11 ERA (109 ERA+) are both higher then his career norms, but he's a reliable mid-to-back end guy who can keep runs off the board. Despite this, the Cougars were looking to move him most of the offseason, as they have a nice crop of young arms ready to go.

*** Kings Add Another Young Arm ***

Shortly after the Minutemen and Cougars completed their deals, both teams made separate deals with Continental Association teams. Boston's was more miner, sending 24-year-old southpaw Bob Green (6-4, 3.84, 74) to Toronto for catching prospect Larry Irwin. Green debuted last season for Boston, giving them 13 starts, but his next one is likely to come in Toronto. A former 6th Rounder, he's got four plus-plus pitches, and even though he'll give up a ton of homers, he's got the ability to pitch deeper into games. Toronto has a quality staff, so he might be stuck in the minors first, but almost all their top pitchers have tough injury histories. Green is completely clean, and while Irwin can be an average or better big league catcher, he's not anywhere close to ready yet, and they have a 20-year-old Fred Tollefson who ranks inside the top-50.

Chicago's move was far bigger, as after acquiring the 26-year-old Griffin, they were willing to move one of their exciting young pitchers. While not a prospect, 22-year-old Henry Henderson is no slouch, and when he had eligibility he ranked as high as 30th. Taken with the 6th pick of the 1958 draft, he debuted in 1961, making 16 starts and 12 relief outings. Just 20, he was 9-6 with 2 saves, a 3.72 ERA (120 ERA+), and 1.30 WHIP, striking out 66 with 48 walks in 123.1 innings pitched. As nice as that looks, he was much better in the pen, and he went down to Milwaukee the next year to improve his overall body of work. It worked well, he was 11-6 with a 2.65 ERA (144 ERA+) and 1.11 WHIP in 28 starts, and he set down 112 hitters on strikes. A six pitch pitcher, his repertoire is about half developed, as his fastball, curve, and screwball are outstanding pitches, while the change, sinker, and slider are vulnerable to hard contact. Pitching is Chicago is tough when you have flyball tendencies like Henderson, and while Chicago was expecting to break camp with Henderson in the rotation, there were worries about how he could pitch within the small confines of Cougars Park.

With the move of Henderson, the 5th spot in the rotation is now Ken Stone's alone, as the 23-year-old righty will look to keep a rotation spot long term. A former top-15 prospect, he pitched out of the Cougar pen in '60 and '61, making just 5 starts in 86 appearances. Like Henderson, he was sent to AAA for all of last season, matching his 28 starts with the Blues. Stone was outstanding, 14-8 with a 3.08 ERA (124 ERA+) and 2,84 FIP (74 FIP-). Showcasing tremendous command, he had a stellar 2.4 K/BB, striking out 137 hitters in nearly 200 innings (292.2). With a 1.14 WHIP, 5.3 WAR, and just 9 homers allowed, the side-armed Stone was difficult to solve. He also brings a different look to the Cougar rotation, as while most of those guys can't got all nine, Stone could go 10 or 11 if it was needed. With three great pitches, all that are located well, he's able to keep the pitch count low, but it can go up to 130 or 140 if his team needs it. He's the perfect guy to pitch when you're up seven or eight runs, as he'll get you the outs you need while saving the pen. At risk of returning to the minors again, his 0.82 ERA and WHIP helped him pitch too good to demote, and his comfortability against tougher competition gave the Cougars confidence to part with their other top young arm.

Henderson will now join reigning Allen winner Beau McClellan (17-10, 3.51, 197) and a collection of young arms. Both Gene Bailey (10-4, 3.30, 92) and Allie Boone (10-2, 3.36, 106) were outstanding as rookies, and the midseason callups enter their first full season 22 and 21. Henderson seems likely to fill the 4th spot, and the big question now is what will they do with 20-year-old Johnny Higgins (0-0, 0.00, 3). The 20-year-old debuted at 19 last season, making a 3.2 inning start, and flashed one of the nastiest fastball/slider combo you'll see. Both pitches are elite, but he could end up in the minors if the organization isn't ready to give up on veteran deadline pickup Jack Halbur (7-14, 4.57, 89). Too many good young pitchers is not a bad problem to have, and it's interesting to see how this deal impacts two contenders.

Both parted from areas of depth, as the Cougars could afford losing Henderson, while the Kings could afford losing Cal Randall. A top quality infielder, he didn't really have a spot, as 3-Time Whitney winner Hank Williams (.376, 43, 128) will man first, shifting Al Farmer (.302, 22, 99) to second and a now healthy Ken Newman (.336, 19, 87, 8) to third. Randall could have taken short, but KC has dubbed 24-year-old Bill Denney (.301, 14, 64, 7) the everyday shortstop. With an excellent glove and a 124 WRC+, he was worth 4.4 WAR in 114 games, leaving no room for the talented Randall.

27 on the 21st, Randall will suit up for his third team in three seasons, and he'll be in line to take over the third base job in Chicago. A natural shortstop, the Cougars already have the range Tom Halliday (.279, 2, 55, 9) there, and the duo could combine to be the best left side of the infield in FABL. Spending about equal time at third and short, Randall had a solid season at the plate, hitting .287/.336/.443 (105 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 11 triples, 47 runs, and 57 RBIs. A guy who puts the ball in play a lot, Randall owns a career 12.8 K%, helping him maintain a near average .278/.334/.402 (98 OPS+) line in 322 FABL games. While not very fast, his range is impressive, and he's about as sure-fielding a guy you would fine. He's got a .959 career fielding percentage, and is considered a captain in the infield. The Cougars are hoping that Randall can be a noticeable improvement over Mooney Vetter's (.272, 12, 64) bat, as the 28-year-old posted a paltry 71 WRC+ last season.

Finishing off the return is a young pitcher, Whitey Gates, who was a 5th Rounder of the Pioneers in 1959. Now 21, the imposing 6'4'' lefty ranks 171st overall, and 6th in the Kings organization. A five pitch pitcher, Gates sits comfortably in the mid-90s, and it looks even faster with his extension. The fastball is expected to be elite, and even if he does give up some flyballs, they don't expect to leave the park. With the ability to eat innings, he profiles as a useful back-end starter, and in a system without much pitching depth, he's set to be the only Cougar arm ranked between 75 and 325 on the prospect list.

OSA Releases Preseason Prediction, Anticipates a 108-Win Clash in the WCS

These predictions were released before the trade movement that came at the end of the spring, but even after, don't expect any change in the Fed. The scouting outlet doesn't expect either pennant team to repeat, but they expect the Pioneers to put together another amazing season. With Danny Davis, Bob Bell, Frenchy Mack, Steve Madden, and Billy Hasson, this team is loaded with talent, but OSA thinks Danny Daniels will emerge as a fourth ace in year two. They don't expect that to be enough to take out the Eagles, who led by star infielders Tom Lorang and George Whaley, could put up over 900 runs. They won't prevent nearly as many runs as St. Louis, but the gap and offense may be enough to give them the top spot.

It won't be easy for either projected 100-win team, as the Miners, Keystones, and Dynamos are all expected to win 90 or more games. The predictions assume healthy, so if one of the top two teams gets hit by the injury bug, things could open up for he next group. Detroit in particular is a team to watch, as they're a deep and talented team who should be motivated after

In the Conti, just the Kings are hitting the century mark, but I think if OSA got a do-over, adding Don Griffin is enough to push the Cougars from 99 to 100. Maybe not enough to replace the leaders, as the pickers view the Kings as the best offense and pitching staff in the game. That's a fair judgement, they've got stars on both sides, but OSA thinks the rest of the association will feast on the expansion teams. Just Cleveland, who completely fell off last season, is expected to join the new clubs below .500. With six teams predicted to win over 85 games, it could be a really crowded field at the top, and 1963 should deliver the pennant race 1962 teased, before letting the Sailors run away with it.

OSA wasn't the only group to make predictions, as along with TWIFS, a few local beat writers gave their best guess on how things would shake out. Below you can find a collection of predictions, as well as an aggregate ranking from the prognosticators:

One thing everyone agreed on was the Wranglers and Imperials finishing 9th and 10th in the CA, but no other team received the same rank on each list. The Pioneers and Stars came close, coming 1st in the Fed and 6th in the Conti on all six rankings. As expected, the consensus is St. Louis and Kansas City are the favorites, with half of the scribes picking that to be the WCS matchup. Almost impossible to guess the exact rankings, it will be fun to look back on this in October when the regular season is wrapped up.

Tales From The Den
Wolves Ready For Season Start In LA

The Wolves finished spring training with 5 straight losses to end up with a 11-7 record. As the team heads to LA to open their season with the Stars the biggest questions facing Manager Hohlt is how the shortened spring, down to 3 weeks, coupled with a season extended to 162 games affect the team in the early season? The pitchers, in particular the starters, will face the biggest challenge in April. After 3 weeks in the sunny climates starters are just beginning to stretch out their innings. Now they will be starting games that count. Hohlt communicated with all players over the winter that they would have to do work on their own to come into camp in better shape than in previous years there would not be time to shake off the winter excesses in only three weeks. When ask if players heeded his advice the answer was a short, terse "some but not all".

After 2 games on the West Coast the Wolves will fly back to Toronto with two days off to get settled before hosting Montreal for 3 games in 2 days including an early doubleheader on Sunday April 14th. Opening Day starter has been announced as Arnie Smith, who had a miserable spring in his 3 starts posting an ERA north of 6. The other starter facing the Stars will be George Hoxworth making his first start since late last May. He had a good spring in limited action giving fans hope that the two time All-Star has fully recovered from elbow surgery. With two days off Hohlt could go with 3 starters in the first week of play leaving him with eight arms to provide relief as pitchers will be on a short leash. Phil Colantuono could start the home opener on Saturday then go back to Smith, Hoxworth for the Sunday twinbill which promises to be not ideal weather to watch baseball at Dominion Stadium, with cool, clear being the best fans can expect on an early April evening. With an off-day Monday then 7 games in 6 days Hohlt will be forced to go to a more normal rotation during the second week of play.

In the field the regulars look to be:
C- Rusconi
1B- Tom Reed
2B- Story
3B- Fisher
SS- Taylor
LF- Chick Reed
CF- Cullen
RF- Savage

On the bench will be Williams providing backup behind the plate or when Rusconi takes a turn in the OF, Rule 5 pick 1B- Tom Sexton, 1B- Charlie Harvey who was said to be on the bubble until he had a .556/.619/1.508 spring with 2HR in 21 PA, 1B/3B Cal Wells, 2B/SS Dick Rabkin who was acquired in a trade with Washington.

The Wolves were lucky to avoid the injury bug in March. The only player on the DL in the entire organization on the DL is Jim Jackson still recovering from shoulder surgery that took place over a year ago. He is not expected to be ready to throw the ball in a game until mid-May.

Toronto made one more move at the end of spring work when they trade a C/1B prospect Larry Irwin to Boston for LHP Bob Green, 24. Green is a southpaw the team was looking for given the entire rotation are righties. Zeke Blake, who was probably overused last season, Fred Clark, who had a trying spring are the only lefties available to Hohlt. Green will start the season in Buffalo while the team sorts the paper work for a Canadian work visa plus any passport issues. The hope is Green will add a lefty to the team's pitching depth. If he starts well in AAA expect to see him in Toronto before the end of April.

Cal Randall is no stranger to being traded with left handed pitching prospect Whitey Gates. Both initially members of the Pioneers organization, Randall and Gates were traded to the Kings together, acquiring catcher Dutch Miller (.233, 3, 19). Now, that same package is being used to acquire Henderson, who was set to be teammates with Miller. In one of the strangest transactions, the entirety of that October 1961 trade is property of the Chicago Cougars less then a year and a half later. Miller was the Cougars big offseason signing, agreeing to a $47,000 deal to open the season as the starting catcher.
Rosters are far from official, but FABL's top three prospects are all expected to be included on the Opening Day rosters. Both the Keystones and Cougars will be starting Bobby Phelps and Dode Caudill in left field, while the guy ranked between them, Mark Boyd, seems to have first base locked up.
Boyd's teammate Marco Middleton (#7) has a loose grasp on a pen spot, but John Edwards (#5) and Henry Woods (#6) look to have secured center and catcher for the Millers and Saints. As expected, St. Louis has stared with Harry Johnson (#8) in AAA, while the Gothams Steve Burris (#10) may not have done enough to displace veteran Rex Pilcher in right.
A lot of talented vets have hit the waiver wire, including 38-year-old Pat Petty. A 4-time champ, Petty has spent the last twelve years in Detroit after coming over from Brooklyn for former #1 pick Ray Schaub. Petty owns a .280/.384/.439 (125 OPS+) career line, but it will be tough for him to catch on elsewhere.
Wolves beat writer Brett Bing had a few comments regarding his predictions, expecting "a surge by the Wolves along with a steep decline in Cleveland." In the Fed, he sees a "four team race that goes down to the end of the season." Afterwards, he chuckles, quipping that his "predictions along with a nickel will get you a cup of coffee at your favourite diner."

02-23-2025, 07:00 PM	#1085
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,028	April 8th, 1963: Special Opening Day Edition APRIL 8, 1963 Trade Season Erupts on Eve of Opening Day 1960 Allen Winner, 6-Time All-Star on the Move All offseason, it felt like the trade market was about to explode, but very little happened. Sure, there were the two Washington deals, most notably the one sending Brad Keylon (.333, 4, 18) and Joe Holland (.262, 14, 39, 4) to the Dynamos, and a minor deal between the Miners and Cannons, but in just a two day span, the offseason trade count doubled. It started with one of the biggest trades in a while, as the never satisfied Chicago Cougars made what they're hoping is a trade that can bring home a pennant. In a blockbuster move, the Cougars acquired 26-year-old righty Don "Doc" Griffin (15-6, 6, 3.23, 118) from the Minutemen, parting with veteran starter Andy Logue (11-17, 4.11, 126) and former 5th overall pick Bobby Martinez (.396, 1, 12, 4) to get the job done. Griffin, a 6-Time All-Star and winner of the 1960 Allen award, seemed to have fallen out of favor in Boston. Doc debuted in 1955 at just 18, and spent his teen years pitching out of the Minutemen pen. Year two was the breakout, where he was 5-7 with a Fed high 19 saves. In 98.2 innings, he worked to a 2.74 ERA (1449 ERA+), 1.31 WHIP, and 54 strikeouts, proving he could pitch multiple innings at a time. This got him into a swingman role at 20 in 1957, where 19 of his 54 appearances were starts. This is when Griffin started to really turn heads, as in 181 innings he went 12-6 with 7 saves, a 2.73 ERA (150 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts. The performance earned him a rotation spot at 21, beginning what could have been the start of a great one. In 35 starts, Griffin earned himself an ERA crown, working to a 2.78 (155 ERA+) mark in 246 innings. His Fed low FIP was even lower, down to 2.67 (61 FIP-), also leading in WHIP (1.04), K/BB (3.4), and WAR (8.7). His 16-13 record didn't match the overall performance, but none of that mattered. The setting was set for Boston to snap their decade plus championship drought. No one is more responsible for Boston's back-to-back titles then their former 7th Rounder, as Doc finished with back-to-back 20-win seasons, leading the Fed in FIP, FIP-, WHIP, K/BB, and WAR in each of his first three full seasons. 1959 had his career high mark of 10.9, going 20-7 with a 3.09 ERA (139 ERA+), 1.11 WHIP, and 199 strikeouts. In a Fed high 36 starts, he tossed 253.2 innings, and his 2.19 FIP (50 FIP-) was the lowest among Federal pitchers since 1920, and his 5.9 K/BB was over twice as high as any other pitcher. But if all that wasn't enough, he took it to another gear in 1960, coming home with the Fed's triple crown during a tough pennant defense. Doc was 21-6 with a 2.01 ERA (213 ERA+), 0.92 WHIP, and 186 strikeouts, starting a Fed high 33 games with 219.1 innings pitched. Worth an even 9 WAR, he finished off his dominant three season stretch with 28.6 WAR, which would rank tied for 22nd among active pitchers. Tied with a pitcher who has almost twice as many career innings as him, and less then a win behind someone pushing three times at much. What came next, no one could expect, as it seemed like the reigning Allen winner must have made someone upset. Despite leading his team to consecutive championships, the then 24-year-old was banished back to the pen, almost cursing the franchise. Going from contender to pretender, they went from a 90 win team to a 69 win team, not once deciding to move their ace back where he belonged. Picking up an outing for each team win, Griffin threw 111.1 innings out of the pen, a respectable 6-7 with 25 saves, a 3.07 ERA (137 ERA+), and 1.14 WHIP. He struck out 74 to just 27 walks, still wroth an impressive 2.7 WAR despite not making a single start. Initially, there was no change in his role, Griffin was back to a stopper role, but a few months into the season, the Minutemen finally caved. Though it was clear he still fell out of favor, Griffin started 22 of his 40 starts, reaching 170 innings. In said innings he had 118 strikeouts to 51 walks, finishing 15-6 with 6 saves, a 3.23 ERA (143 ERA+), and 1.28 WHIP. Quite impressive numbers, it was clear Griffin had the talent, but he was upset with his organization, and was counting the days before he could finally be confident that he'd be on the mound every fifth day. Enter the Chicago Cougars, who General Manager has long been enamored with the now 26-year-old righty. A team that you'd never call conventional, they recently did a reverse Don Griffin, moving ace Pug White to the pen as their starters weren't able to pitch deep enough into games. Unlike with Griffin, Pug fully embraced the role, as he transitioned from an innings eater to a two-pitch pitcher, and it proved to be a winning decision. Coming close to a qualifying season, Pug went 12-8 with 18 saves, a 3.10 ERA (145 ERA+), and 1.20 WHIP, striking out 110 with just 46 walks. He led the Cougars in wins and saves, and his ERA as the lowest among pitchers with at least 75 innings. Often pitching in back-to-back days or for multiple innings, he helped finish off game after game for Chicago, and his skillset should pair perfectly with his new ace. Where Pug has the stamina to go for hours, Doc is someone you don't want going too far past 100 pitches. Paired together, they can complete game after game, as the two arms have excellent stuff, excellent movement, and excellent command. A power pitcher and a groundball pitcher, they compliment each other well too, as once you get used to one look, the other may catch you off balance. While Griffin won't be ready for Opening Day, the Cougars do expect him to front their rotation, pitching on a strict five day schedule to maximize the most out of his starts. With his youth, this could be a deal that solves the Cougar rotation for a decade, especially considering his clean bill of health. Doc has yet to miss more then a week with an ailment, and both times his injuries took him out for precautionary soreness. Combined with the Cougars' medical staff's propensity for prevention, and they could strategically push him to 200 innings. Even with the talent they parted with, adding a top arm could push them closer to being a pennant favorite, as this is an 86 win team who got no production from what will be their top pitcher and hitter of 1963. Prior to the trade, OSA predicted the Cougars to win 99 games, second only to Kansas City, but in a crowded association it would be foolish to crown the Cougars the new frontrunners. Boston, meanwhile, looks towards the future, as they acquire a traditional starter to replace Griffin in their rotation, as well as a promising young outfielder in Bobby Martinez. The 24-year-old now ranks 2nd in the Minutemen system, ranked as the 40th prospect in FABL. Debuting last year, the long-time top-100 prospect burst onto the scene in Chicago, temporarily replacing an injured Jerry McMillan (.328, 18, 65, 22) in center. Though he did get moved to a part-time role when McMillan returned, Martinez was a force at the plate, hitting .396/.434/.443 (133 OPS+) with 2 doubles, a homer, 12 RBIs, 24 runs, and 4 steals, often showing off a cannon in the outfield. The range is great too, and where Martinez really makes an impact is run creating. An elite contact hitter, Martinez could go straight into a leadoff role for Boston, as there were rumors prior to the trade that Martinez won an Opening Day spot in Chicago had he not been involved in this trade. With his speed an ability to put the ball in play, he forces defenses to be on their heels, as he's always able to make things happen. With his speed, defensive ability, and able to lace a liner, his at bats are must see TV, but with a deep, young outfield in Chicago, he was somewhat expendable. Martinez will at least know one of his teammates should he makes Boston's initial roster, as he manned center for a few Andy Logue starts last season. Logue, a 30-year-old lefty, has now been part of two major trades, as the team leader was acquired by Montreal at the 1960 deadline in a trade for Ham Flanders (.361, 26, 105, 13) they might really wish they had back. A reliable starter, Logue was extremely effective for Chicago, going 27-32 with a 3.70 ERA (121 ERA+), 1.31 WHIP, and 308 strikeouts. An extreme groundballer, his 56% groundball rate was highest in the Conti, and his 51% career rate is well above average. His overall production did drop a bit last year, as his 4.57 FIP (101 FIP-) and 4.11 ERA (109 ERA+) are both higher then his career norms, but he's a reliable mid-to-back end guy who can keep runs off the board. Despite this, the Cougars were looking to move him most of the offseason, as they have a nice crop of young arms ready to go. * Kings Add Another Young Arm * Shortly after the Minutemen and Cougars completed their deals, both teams made separate deals with Continental Association teams. Boston's was more miner, sending 24-year-old southpaw Bob Green (6-4, 3.84, 74) to Toronto for catching prospect Larry Irwin. Green debuted last season for Boston, giving them 13 starts, but his next one is likely to come in Toronto. A former 6th Rounder, he's got four plus-plus pitches, and even though he'll give up a ton of homers, he's got the ability to pitch deeper into games. Toronto has a quality staff, so he might be stuck in the minors first, but almost all their top pitchers have tough injury histories. Green is completely clean, and while Irwin can be an average or better big league catcher, he's not anywhere close to ready yet, and they have a 20-year-old Fred Tollefson who ranks inside the top-50. Chicago's move was far bigger, as after acquiring the 26-year-old Griffin, they were willing to move one of their exciting young pitchers. While not a prospect, 22-year-old Henry Henderson is no slouch, and when he had eligibility he ranked as high as 30th. Taken with the 6th pick of the 1958 draft, he debuted in 1961, making 16 starts and 12 relief outings. Just 20, he was 9-6 with 2 saves, a 3.72 ERA (120 ERA+), and 1.30 WHIP, striking out 66 with 48 walks in 123.1 innings pitched. As nice as that looks, he was much better in the pen, and he went down to Milwaukee the next year to improve his overall body of work. It worked well, he was 11-6 with a 2.65 ERA (144 ERA+) and 1.11 WHIP in 28 starts, and he set down 112 hitters on strikes. A six pitch pitcher, his repertoire is about half developed, as his fastball, curve, and screwball are outstanding pitches, while the change, sinker, and slider are vulnerable to hard contact. Pitching is Chicago is tough when you have flyball tendencies like Henderson, and while Chicago was expecting to break camp with Henderson in the rotation, there were worries about how he could pitch within the small confines of Cougars Park. With the move of Henderson, the 5th spot in the rotation is now Ken Stone's alone, as the 23-year-old righty will look to keep a rotation spot long term. A former top-15 prospect, he pitched out of the Cougar pen in '60 and '61, making just 5 starts in 86 appearances. Like Henderson, he was sent to AAA for all of last season, matching his 28 starts with the Blues. Stone was outstanding, 14-8 with a 3.08 ERA (124 ERA+) and 2,84 FIP (74 FIP-). Showcasing tremendous command, he had a stellar 2.4 K/BB, striking out 137 hitters in nearly 200 innings (292.2). With a 1.14 WHIP, 5.3 WAR, and just 9 homers allowed, the side-armed Stone was difficult to solve. He also brings a different look to the Cougar rotation, as while most of those guys can't got all nine, Stone could go 10 or 11 if it was needed. With three great pitches, all that are located well, he's able to keep the pitch count low, but it can go up to 130 or 140 if his team needs it. He's the perfect guy to pitch when you're up seven or eight runs, as he'll get you the outs you need while saving the pen. At risk of returning to the minors again, his 0.82 ERA and WHIP helped him pitch too good to demote, and his comfortability against tougher competition gave the Cougars confidence to part with their other top young arm. Henderson will now join reigning Allen winner Beau McClellan (17-10, 3.51, 197) and a collection of young arms. Both Gene Bailey (10-4, 3.30, 92) and Allie Boone (10-2, 3.36, 106) were outstanding as rookies, and the midseason callups enter their first full season 22 and 21. Henderson seems likely to fill the 4th spot, and the big question now is what will they do with 20-year-old Johnny Higgins (0-0, 0.00, 3). The 20-year-old debuted at 19 last season, making a 3.2 inning start, and flashed one of the nastiest fastball/slider combo you'll see. Both pitches are elite, but he could end up in the minors if the organization isn't ready to give up on veteran deadline pickup Jack Halbur (7-14, 4.57, 89). Too many good young pitchers is not a bad problem to have, and it's interesting to see how this deal impacts two contenders. Both parted from areas of depth, as the Cougars could afford losing Henderson, while the Kings could afford losing Cal Randall. A top quality infielder, he didn't really have a spot, as 3-Time Whitney winner Hank Williams (.376, 43, 128) will man first, shifting Al Farmer (.302, 22, 99) to second and a now healthy Ken Newman (.336, 19, 87, 8) to third. Randall could have taken short, but KC has dubbed 24-year-old Bill Denney (.301, 14, 64, 7) the everyday shortstop. With an excellent glove and a 124 WRC+, he was worth 4.4 WAR in 114 games, leaving no room for the talented Randall. 27 on the 21st, Randall will suit up for his third team in three seasons, and he'll be in line to take over the third base job in Chicago. A natural shortstop, the Cougars already have the range Tom Halliday (.279, 2, 55, 9) there, and the duo could combine to be the best left side of the infield in FABL. Spending about equal time at third and short, Randall had a solid season at the plate, hitting .287/.336/.443 (105 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 11 triples, 47 runs, and 57 RBIs. A guy who puts the ball in play a lot, Randall owns a career 12.8 K%, helping him maintain a near average .278/.334/.402 (98 OPS+) line in 322 FABL games. While not very fast, his range is impressive, and he's about as sure-fielding a guy you would fine. He's got a .959 career fielding percentage, and is considered a captain in the infield. The Cougars are hoping that Randall can be a noticeable improvement over Mooney Vetter's (.272, 12, 64) bat, as the 28-year-old posted a paltry 71 WRC+ last season. Finishing off the return is a young pitcher, Whitey Gates, who was a 5th Rounder of the Pioneers in 1959. Now 21, the imposing 6'4'' lefty ranks 171st overall, and 6th in the Kings organization. A five pitch pitcher, Gates sits comfortably in the mid-90s, and it looks even faster with his extension. The fastball is expected to be elite, and even if he does give up some flyballs, they don't expect to leave the park. With the ability to eat innings, he profiles as a useful back-end starter, and in a system without much pitching depth, he's set to be the only Cougar arm ranked between 75 and 325 on the prospect list. OSA Releases Preseason Prediction, Anticipates a 108-Win Clash in the WCS These predictions were released before the trade movement that came at the end of the spring, but even after, don't expect any change in the Fed. The scouting outlet doesn't expect either pennant team to repeat, but they expect the Pioneers to put together another amazing season. With Danny Davis, Bob Bell, Frenchy Mack, Steve Madden, and Billy Hasson, this team is loaded with talent, but OSA thinks Danny Daniels will emerge as a fourth ace in year two. They don't expect that to be enough to take out the Eagles, who led by star infielders Tom Lorang and George Whaley, could put up over 900 runs. They won't prevent nearly as many runs as St. Louis, but the gap and offense may be enough to give them the top spot. It won't be easy for either projected 100-win team, as the Miners, Keystones, and Dynamos are all expected to win 90 or more games. The predictions assume healthy, so if one of the top two teams gets hit by the injury bug, things could open up for he next group. Detroit in particular is a team to watch, as they're a deep and talented team who should be motivated after In the Conti, just the Kings are hitting the century mark, but I think if OSA got a do-over, adding Don Griffin is enough to push the Cougars from 99 to 100. Maybe not enough to replace the leaders, as the pickers view the Kings as the best offense and pitching staff in the game. That's a fair judgement, they've got stars on both sides, but OSA thinks the rest of the association will feast on the expansion teams. Just Cleveland, who completely fell off last season, is expected to join the new clubs below .500. With six teams predicted to win over 85 games, it could be a really crowded field at the top, and 1963 should deliver the pennant race 1962 teased, before letting the Sailors run away with it. OSA wasn't the only group to make predictions, as along with TWIFS, a few local beat writers gave their best guess on how things would shake out. Below you can find a collection of predictions, as well as an aggregate ranking from the prognosticators: One thing everyone agreed on was the Wranglers and Imperials finishing 9th and 10th in the CA, but no other team received the same rank on each list. The Pioneers and Stars came close, coming 1st in the Fed and 6th in the Conti on all six rankings. As expected, the consensus is St. Louis and Kansas City are the favorites, with half of the scribes picking that to be the WCS matchup. Almost impossible to guess the exact rankings, it will be fun to look back on this in October when the regular season is wrapped up. Tales From The Den Wolves Ready For Season Start In LA The Wolves finished spring training with 5 straight losses to end up with a 11-7 record. As the team heads to LA to open their season with the Stars the biggest questions facing Manager Hohlt is how the shortened spring, down to 3 weeks, coupled with a season extended to 162 games affect the team in the early season? The pitchers, in particular the starters, will face the biggest challenge in April. After 3 weeks in the sunny climates starters are just beginning to stretch out their innings. Now they will be starting games that count. Hohlt communicated with all players over the winter that they would have to do work on their own to come into camp in better shape than in previous years there would not be time to shake off the winter excesses in only three weeks. When ask if players heeded his advice the answer was a short, terse "some but not all". After 2 games on the West Coast the Wolves will fly back to Toronto with two days off to get settled before hosting Montreal for 3 games in 2 days including an early doubleheader on Sunday April 14th. Opening Day starter has been announced as Arnie Smith, who had a miserable spring in his 3 starts posting an ERA north of 6. The other starter facing the Stars will be George Hoxworth making his first start since late last May. He had a good spring in limited action giving fans hope that the two time All-Star has fully recovered from elbow surgery. With two days off Hohlt could go with 3 starters in the first week of play leaving him with eight arms to provide relief as pitchers will be on a short leash. Phil Colantuono could start the home opener on Saturday then go back to Smith, Hoxworth for the Sunday twinbill which promises to be not ideal weather to watch baseball at Dominion Stadium, with cool, clear being the best fans can expect on an early April evening. With an off-day Monday then 7 games in 6 days Hohlt will be forced to go to a more normal rotation during the second week of play. In the field the regulars look to be: C- Rusconi 1B- Tom Reed 2B- Story 3B- Fisher SS- Taylor LF- Chick Reed CF- Cullen RF- Savage On the bench will be Williams providing backup behind the plate or when Rusconi takes a turn in the OF, Rule 5 pick 1B- Tom Sexton, 1B- Charlie Harvey who was said to be on the bubble until he had a .556/.619/1.508 spring with 2HR in 21 PA, 1B/3B Cal Wells, 2B/SS Dick Rabkin who was acquired in a trade with Washington. The Wolves were lucky to avoid the injury bug in March. The only player on the DL in the entire organization on the DL is Jim Jackson still recovering from shoulder surgery that took place over a year ago. He is not expected to be ready to throw the ball in a game until mid-May. Toronto made one more move at the end of spring work when they trade a C/1B prospect Larry Irwin to Boston for LHP Bob Green, 24. Green is a southpaw the team was looking for given the entire rotation are righties. Zeke Blake, who was probably overused last season, Fred Clark, who had a trying spring are the only lefties available to Hohlt. Green will start the season in Buffalo while the team sorts the paper work for a Canadian work visa plus any passport issues. The hope is Green will add a lefty to the team's pitching depth. If he starts well in AAA expect to see him in Toronto before the end of April. Cal Randall is no stranger to being traded with left handed pitching prospect Whitey Gates. Both initially members of the Pioneers organization, Randall and Gates were traded to the Kings together, acquiring catcher Dutch Miller (.233, 3, 19). Now, that same package is being used to acquire Henderson, who was set to be teammates with Miller. In one of the strangest transactions, the entirety of that October 1961 trade is property of the Chicago Cougars less then a year and a half later. Miller was the Cougars big offseason signing, agreeing to a $47,000 deal to open the season as the starting catcher. Rosters are far from official, but FABL's top three prospects are all expected to be included on the Opening Day rosters. Both the Keystones and Cougars will be starting Bobby Phelps and Dode Caudill in left field, while the guy ranked between them, Mark Boyd, seems to have first base locked up. Boyd's teammate Marco Middleton (#7) has a loose grasp on a pen spot, but John Edwards (#5) and Henry Woods (#6) look to have secured center and catcher for the Millers and Saints. As expected, St. Louis has stared with Harry Johnson (#8) in AAA, while the Gothams Steve Burris (#10) may not have done enough to displace veteran Rex Pilcher in right. A lot of talented vets have hit the waiver wire, including 38-year-old Pat Petty. A 4-time champ, Petty has spent the last twelve years in Detroit after coming over from Brooklyn for former #1 pick Ray Schaub. Petty owns a .280/.384/.439 (125 OPS+) career line, but it will be tough for him to catch on elsewhere. Wolves beat writer Brett Bing had a few comments regarding his predictions, expecting "a surge by the Wolves along with a steep decline in Cleveland." In the Fed, he sees a "four team race that goes down to the end of the season." Afterwards, he chuckles, quipping that his "predictions along with a nickel will get you a cup of coffee at your favourite diner."