As we rejoin FABL for the 1975 season, the team at This Week in Figment Sports will take a look at a few players from each of the 24 FABL organizations. Our journey starts in the Continental West, which featured the top 3 records in the CA and 3 of the top 5 in all of baseball. With the good came two of the worst teams, as both Western divisions had the worst and second worst teams as well.
Chicago Cougars
Last Year Record: 74-88 (4th, .457)
Best Year Since 1964: 1966, 99-63 (2nd, .611)
Top Pitcher: RHP Roger Alford (26, 17-9, 2.35, 139; 54-40, 1, 2.88, 485)
One of the top pitchers in FABL, Roger Alford trails just Houston's Joe McCarthy (21-7, 2.48, 194; 101-88, 3.09, 1,329) in OSA's list of top 20 pitchers, and at 26 he's tied for the second youngest pitcher on the list. Taken by the Cougars in the 2nd Round of the 1966 draft, Alford ranked as high as the 23rd prospect in baseball and debuted at 22 as a September callup in 1970. In 1971 he split time between the pen and rotation, but 1972 was when his career really took off. Starting a Continental high 37 games, he was an unlucky 15-17 with a 3.33 ERA (106 ERA+), 3.06 FIP (87 FIP-), and 1.23 WHIP. His 152 strikeouts still rank as a career high, and despite the slightly above average ERA, it was quite clear he had the stuff to stick in the big leagues.
Returning to the Cougar rotation the following season, he dropped his ERA to 3.05 (125 ERA+) and his WHIP to 1.16, striking out 142 in his 34 starts. Alford's breakout then came this following season, as the new Cougar ace was an impressive 17-9 with an association low 2.35 ERA (161 ERA+) and 1.00 WHIP. His 2.8 K/BB was also the best in the Conti as he dropped his BB% to a minuscule 4.5 while striking out 139 in a career high 276 innings. Despite a middling season for the rest of the team, Alford's season was filled with accolades, as not only was he the Continental Association's All-Star game starter, but he took home a Diamond Defense Award and Allen Award, and he no-hit the Mavericks in August. 27 come Opening Day, the hardworking righty will be a favorite to repeat, as his masterful eight pitch mix has been almost impossible for opposing hitters to deal with. Paired with elite control and he's a lethal weapon for any staff, and if the Cougars want to get their record back above .500, he's going to be a huge part of it.
Top Hitter: C Charlie Sanders (28, .300, 15, 82, 1; .262, 58, 338, 2)
Another member of OSA's top 20 lists, Cougar backstop Charlie Sanders ranks 15th among FABL position players, though his season did not end as well as his battery mates. In mid September, Sanders' 5th FABL season ended in pain, as he broke a bone in his elbow and may not be ready for camp in the spring. Coming a long way for a former 9th Rounder, 1974 was a big breakout, as he hit a career best .300/.350/.438 (122 OPS+) in 503 PAs. Sanders also set personal bests for homers (15), WRC+ (127), wOBA (.353), and WAR (4.3), as the generally durable backstop surpassed the 500 PA mark for the fifth time in as many tries.
Working on getting him back to full strength will be a priority for team trainer Bob Richards, who is considered the best of the best when it comes to rehabbing arm injuries. A key part of the Cougar offense, he led the team in all three triple crown categories, and he's a threat from both sides of the plate. He doesn't usually hit for as high average as he did last year, but what you can rely on him is an elite eye at the plate and behind. He steals strikes better then most, and many members of the staff want him behind the plate even if he lacks the filter of an average catcher. A legit top-5 catcher when healthy, he should hold on to the catching job long-term despite a pair of farmhands in the top 75 of the prospect rankings.
Top Prospect: RHP Bob Hays (8th Overall)
Chicago has always been known for producing a ton of quality pitchers, and Bob Hays could be the next to join that group. Taken in the 5th Round of the most recent draft, the Cougars minor league staff seems to have unlocked something in the 18-year-old righty. The minor league numbers may not have been great, a 9.68 ERA (56 ERA+) in 30.2 rookie league innings and a 4.11 (98 ERA+) in 15.1 in A ball, all three of his pitches are elite and there are rumors that he's working on perfecting a fourth. For now, he's your traditional fastball/slider/change guy, and scouts expect that low 90s fastball to end up in the 93-95 range. His strong work ethic should work in his advantage, as scouts expect him to end up reaching his lofty command potential. With his age and lack of early minor league success, Hays still comes with plenty of risk, but he's got the tools to be an ace and the organization will look to turn him into exactly that.
Active Legend: LHP Pug White (44, 11-15, 3.86, 97; 251-206, 96, 3.32, 2,595)
That's no typo -- Cougar lefty Pug White is 44 and still pitching like he's got plenty to give. Drafted way back in the 5th Round of the 1948 draft, White came over from the Saints in a 1951 deadline deal for 9-Time All-Star Sal Pestilli. Pug has stuck with the Cougar system ever since, debuting about two years later during the 1953 season. A then thin and tiny southpaw made 25 appearances (10 starts), going 8-3 with 4 saves, a 3.17 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts. Never sent back to the minors, Pug has pitched at least 80 innings in each of the next 21 seasons. Splitting time between the pen and rotation, he's appeared in 901 games (503 starts) while amassing an impressive 4,190.2 innings pitched. A rarity both for longevity, talent, and flexibility, he's one of the few players to lead his association in both starts (37 in 1955 and 36 in 1960) and appearances (87 in 1964).
Expected to remain in the middle of the Cougars rotation, he ranks 5th among active pitchers with 251 and 36th All-Time and his 901 appearances are 9 behind Paul Williams for 2nd and 13 behind the Allen Award's namesake Allan Allen. Among Cougars, he's just 2 wins away from Hall-of-Famer Jack Long, and is almost a lock to secure that. Sure, his 206 losses are also the most, but he ranks top-5 in saves (4th, 96), WAR (2nd, 72.6), starts (2nd, 503), shutouts (t-3rd, 22), innings (1st, 4,190.2), strikeouts (1st, 2,595), and obviously, games (1st, 901). He's showed no signs of slowing down or even quitting, as he started a full 34 games. The 7-Time All-Star was 11-15 with a 3.86 ERA (98 ERA+), 1.35 WHIP, and 97 strikeouts, and if he can make it to the end of the season, he'll pass Dick Lyons (45) for the oldest Cougar to make a start in team history.
Star Out of Place: RHP Jim Norris (44, 9-14, 23, 4.80, 51; 325-240, 55, 3.57, 2,923)
Somehow. Someway. Pug White is not the oldest pitcher on the Cougars.
That would be the also 44-year-old Jim Norris, though his February birthday will come before Pug's June celebration. The active win leader with 325 victories, Norris is best known for his time with the Dynamos, who took him in the 2nd Round of the 1951 draft. Debuting the next season, he stayed with the Dynamos through the 1965 season, going 215-136 with a 3.45 ERA (120 ERA+), 3.50 FIP (83 FIP-), 1.26 WHIP, and 1,884 strikeouts in 3,320 innings pitched. All of his best years came with the Dynamos, though his near decade in the Windy City has had some success. Sure, none of his 3 Allens, 8 All-Stars, or 4 Championships came with the Cougars, and no one really thinks of Norris as one, but due to the Cougars' special career lengthening potions he's thrown nearly 2,000 innings (1,828.1) with his second team. Transitioning to the stopper the past two seasons, he has recorded 37 saves, but his 5.04 (76 ERA+) and 4.80 ERAs (79 ERA+) look a lot more like a 40-something-year-old then Pug. Still, he managed positive WAR, and with his next tenth of a win he'll become the 10th FABL hurler to surpass the century mark. An All-Time great, it's nice to see Norris still chasing history, and even if there is no encore in 1976 he will finish his career as one of the game's most accomplished hurlers.
Dallas Wranglers
Last Year Record: 95-67 (3rd, .586)
Best Year Since 1964: 1974, 95-67 (3rd, .586)
Top Pitcher: RHP Pete Rosenbaum (27, 15-13, 3.29, 167; 43-40, 1, 3.32, 530)
One of the many new expansion teams in FABL, the Dallas Wranglers have yet to crack the postseason, but they won a franchise high 95 games this season and could have earned their first birth of the CA West wasn't so stacked. Years of sucking helped make it possible, as homegrown ace Pete Rosenbaum was snagged with the 2nd pick in the 1965 draft. One of the most skilled groundball pitchers, Rosenbaum led the Conti with a 55% ground ball rate last year, and while it didn't lead this year, he matched that total in his third season as a full-time rotation member. Debuting to an 8 game pen stint in 1970, he has since made 115 consecutive starts, including 36 this season. Dallas has supplied their ace with an elite middle infield defense, but it seemed like his defense still let him down. He was just 15-13 and his 3.29 ERA (113 ERA+) was not as impressive as an impressive 2.90 FIP (77 FIP-).
A lot of his success came from cutting his home run rate in half, allowing just 10 this season compared to 20 last season in once less out. This led to a career best 6.2 WAR to go with 167 strikeouts -- one shy of his previous best -- while continuing to lower his BB% in each of his FABL seasons. That 8.1% still isn't great, and the only thing preventing him from becoming a true ace, but he's still the most talented pitcher the franchise has seen in their 13 seasons. Through 816.2 innings pitched he has a 3.29 ERA and 2.90 FIP, both 10 percent better then average, and his 14.9 WAR is already the most in team history. He's set the team single season record in each of the last two seasons (4.2 in 1973), and if he sticks with Dallas he's got a great chance of setting plenty of team records.
Top Hitter: 1B Nick Parker (26, .346, 17, 88, 2; .298, 71, 327, 11)
If you trust OSA, they think Wrangler backup catcher John Miller (23, .307, 3, 39; .286, 10, 85) is the top dog, but until Dallas finally gives him the keys over former 2nd Rounder Roscoe Daniels (28, .216, 6, 29; .207, 34, 257, 4), I can't in good conscious give him the nod. Especially when they have FABL's best first basemen Nick Parker, who ranks as the 6th best player in the league. Sure, he's recovering from a torn ACL, and the former 6th Overall pick has had his issues staying on the field, but when he's healthy there are few hitters better then him.
In 472 PAs this season, Parker was an offensive juggernaut, slashing a robust .346/.449/.574 (186 OPS+) with 27 doubles, 5 triples, 17 homers, 88 RBIs, 79 runs, and an elite 74-to-28 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Some might say this is unstainable, and sure it might be, but he's coming off back-to-back 160+ WRC+ seasons and owns a well above average career .298/.399/.493 (156 OPS+) 304 walks to just 187 strikeouts, and he hasn't struck out more then 10% of the time since his debut as a part-time player in 1970. Parker has emerged as a team leader, always cheering on his team even if his coaches wish he'd jump less on his bad knee when things go well, and Wrangler fans line up hours early to see him take hacks in batting practice. It's hard to believe there is any pitch he can't hit, and the imposing 6'3'' slugger has really got the power stroke working. Of course, with all the good you have to deal with injuries, his molasses like speed, and his complete defensive ineptness (he was once an "outfielder" if you can call his performance that), but you'd be hard pressed to find a tougher at bat then him, and he will continue to fit comfortably in the heart of Dallas' lineup for the next decade.
Top Prospect: 3B Dick Frost (18th Overall)
No, "Dick Frost" it's not a bizarre disease you might wish on your worst enemy, but instead the cream of the Wranglers farm system. Taken 7th Overall last season, the towering 6'4'' switch hitter ranked 10th to open the season, but he struggled a little in rookie ball. His .258/.415/.352 (87 OPS+) batting line lacked his expected power, but the 19-year-old still got a promotion after 43 games to A ball. The power didn't come, but he upped his triple slash to .295/.436/.369 (112 OPS+) as his WRC+ leaped from 103 to 137 in 101 more PAs. Like Nick Parker, Frost as an elite eye, drawing 47 walks with an 18+ walk percentage at both spots, but unlike Parker there's still a ton of swing and miss. Rookie pitchers didn't strike him out too much, but with the promotion his K% jumped from 12.6 to 17.6. Wranglers fans can live with that if his projectable power ever surfaces, but currently he's more of a doubles hitter then a true slugger. Still, when he gets a hold of one it can really carry, and if he keeps avoiding pitches outside the zone, he'll be a perfect third to Parker and back-to-back batting title winner Buck Stout (29, .326, 18, 111, 5; .294, 93, 474, 26).
Active Legend: CF John Vance (30, .292, 2, 85, 18; .292, 127, 826, 118)
You wouldn't expect an expansion franchise to already have a guy who could qualify as a team legend, but John Vance was the second ever amateur pick by the Wranglers, and it took him just a year and a half to make it to Dallas. Debuting on Opening Day in 1964 at just 19, the versatile catcher quickly proved he belonged with a 4 WAR rookie campaign. Appearing in 147 games, he hit an impressive .273/.331/.438 (119 OPS+) with 23 doubles, 8 triples, 16 homers, 69 RBIs, 66 runs, 42 walks, and 11 steals. Clearly a building block for the future, Vance was back in 1965, and has started more then 125 games in each of his now eleven seasons. The first four came behind the plate, but he spent a season at first before a seamless transition to the outfield. He may not be a Diamond Defense winner, and a move to a corner in the near future may be best for the team, but he's yet to have a WRC+ below 100.
A 4-Time All-Star, Vance has appeared in a franchise high 1,671 games, owning a career .292/.346/.429 (125 OPS+) batting line. He's surpassed 100 steals (118) and homers (127), adding in 346 doubles, 57 triples, 493 walks, 823 runs, and 826 RBIs. The 30-year-old enters 1975 as the team leader in runs, doubles, homers, RBIs, walks, and WAR (44.0), and the ultra-aggressive lefty still profiles as one of the top leadoff hitters in the league. Still, as Dallas continues to improve, he may be looking in from the outside for the first time in his career, which is where his versatility will help him gain playing time. Along with center, catcher, and first, he's got experience at third, and can help spell injury prone guys like Parker, Steve Prather (30, .319, 9, 72, 23; .303, 90, 569, 120), and Joe Black (26, .242, 11, 62, 18; .252, 26, 130, 21). No matter what role he ends up taking, he'll provide value to a club looking to earn their first ever playoff birth.
Star Out of Place: RHP Owen Lantz (34, 3-1, 3.18, 18; 63-37, 7, 3.33, 734)
I may be stretching the definition of a star here, but there was a time when Owen Lantz looked like he was going to be one. Taken in the 4th Round by the Cannons in 1958, they traded him in the 1959 offseason to the Eagles in a deal for 38-year-old former Kellogg winner Wally Hunter. Quickly a mistake, Lantz became a top-100 prospect while Hunter filled a pen role, and by 1962 he was ranked as FABL's 7th best prospect. With that ranking he cracked the team's opening day roster, and by the summer he was both an All-Star and starting pitcher. Finishing the season with 172 innings, he went 13-8 with 4 saves, a 3.72 ERA (124 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, and 112 strikeouts. His ascent continued in '63, where Lantz was an elite 16-3 with a 2.54 ERA (166 ERA+), 1.13 WHIP, and 164 strikeouts in is first 200 inning and 5 WAR season. In 1964 the ERA rose a bit to 2.87 (124 ERA+), but his 2.56 FIP (72 FIP-) was among the league leaders and he struck out an impressive 227 hitters in 247.2 innings -- both career highs that still stand -- while work an also personal best 7 wins above replacement. So through three seasons the soon-to-be 24-year-old had 43 wins, 503 strikeouts, and 14.7 WAR.
And then it all fell apart...
You can't blame injuries for his regression, but at 24 even going 13-10 with a 3.82 ERA (96 ERA+), 1.26 WHIP, and 121 strikeouts, especially with all the dominance that came before. He also managed 214.2 innings in 35 starts, still useful numbers for a starting pitcher even if the overall results are average. Unfortunately for Lantz, he just couldn't find it again, as after the 1965 season he's only tallied 7 wins, 97 strikeouts, and 158 innings, worth -0.1 WAR in time with the Eagles, Mavericks, Imperials, Chiefs, Dynamos, and now Wranglers. Picked up before this season on a minor league deal, he actually had a little resurgence, working to a 3.18 ERA (117 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP, walking 8 with 18 strikeouts in 34 innings. Now 34, you have to give him credit for sticking around, but the stuff just isn't there, and he'd be lucky to end his FABL career with even 800 strikeouts, something fans in 1966 would have found unfathomable when he was already at 624. Even in a weak pen he struggled to get innings, and there's a legitimate chance that the once bright star may see his light completely extinguished by this time next year.
Kansas City Mavericks
Last Year Record: 62-100 (6th, .383)
Best Year Since 1964: 1973, 69-93 (6th, .426)
Top Pitcher: RHP Cal Newman (26, 7-14, 3.01, 88; 13-24, 2, 3.12, 131)
Even a 10-game losing streak at the end of the season by the Sailors couldn't save the Mavericks from a sixth straight sixth place finish, as the divisions youngest club is still looking to get off the ground. That tells you all you need to know about the current state of the team, but that doesn't mean they're completely devoid of talent. Sure, Cal Newman probably wouldn't crack most rotations, but the 26-year-old did breakout in his second stint with the Mavericks. Taken by KC in the 3rd Round of the 1970 draft, they actually traded him in January of 1972, shipping him and righty Emmett Thornton (30, 10-13, 4.54, 106; 40-52, 1, 3.76, 450) to the Imperials for a pair of prospects. Newman debuted midseason for the Imperials, throwing 53.2 innings out of the pen as a rookie. It looked good, 4-5 with 2 saves, 10 holds, a 2.85 ERA (121 ERA+), and 1.29 WHIP, but he did walk 19 with just 24 strikeouts. This led to him being waived almost a year after being acquired, with the clear date set for the exactly one year after.
That brought him back to the Mavs, who sent him to the minors for a good chunk of the season. He did end up playing in KC, making 7 starts and 4 relief outings to mixed results (2-5, 3.81, 19). But with so little nailed down, Newman entered camp in 1974 as a top starting option, and he finished the year atop the rotation that finished 12th of 12 in starter's ERA. It'd be even worse without Newman, who in 35 starts had an impressive 3.01 ERA (125 ERA+) and 1.26 WHIP. He still walks (79) about as many guys as he strikes out (88), but he threw 206.1 innings and deserved a record far better then the 7-14 he finished as. A five pitch pitcher, the stuff is more good then great, but his curve gets whiffs and the variety of pitches allows him to keep runs off the board. Along with middling control, he hasn't shown the ability to pitch deep into games, rarely pushing past 100 pitches, but right now he's the best they got, and he could make an interesting trade candidate with another strong season.
Top Hitter: 1B Chuck Cohen (26, .297, 7, 55, 7; .265, 14, 177, 11)
While the pitching is clearly suspect, the Mavs do have a few useful building blocks in the lineup. The most interesting might be shortstop-turned-first-basemen Chuck Cohen, a former top-100 prospect they picked up from the Eagles in the 1970 offseason. Washington's 1st Rounder six months earlier, Kansas City gave him just 3 AAA games before calling him up to the FABL roster. Starting 86 of 108 games and coming just shy of 400 PAs, he wasn't very good, hitting just .223/.294/.287 (71 OPS+), turning 23 in the middle of his rookie year. Since then he's alternated good and bad seasons, capped off by his breakout 4.5 WAR season this year.
He won his 2nd Diamond Defense award and was selected to his first All-Star game, slashing .297/.371/.414 (119 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 5 triples, 7 homers, 55 RBIs, 67 runs, and 7 steals in 608 trips to the plate. Cohen lacks the power you tend to see at first, but his 132 WRC+ was clearly above average for the position, and he continues to walk (62) more then he strikes out (43). A plus hitter with strong bat speed, he makes consistent contact and lines the ball to all fields, keeping the defense on their toes whenever he's in the box. Even without much protection aside from former Saint prospect Tony Keil (25, .294, 8, 62) and 28-year-old slugger Bobby Frost (.225, 22, 70), both of who are rookies, Cohen finally showed he was more then just "expansion good." Now what's left for him is to beat the alternating year allegations, hoping to show he can hit well even in an odd season like 1975.
Top Prospect: C Chuck Barton (1st Overall)
Yeah the big league club is barren, but the farm is deep and the gem is elite. Ranked as the 4th best system, Kansas City boats the games top prospect, as former 2nd pick Chuck Barton is a potential cornerstone and even Hall-of-Famer. 1974 was his first full season, and he clobbered rookie league pitchers before a promotion to low-A. Even there the then 19-year-old was an average hitter, batting .258/.377/.387 (100 OPS+) in a 19 game sample. He didn't add to his 9 homers, but he clubbed 6 more doubles and finished his year with 24 extra base hits. But despite the potent bat, he's actually best behind the plate, with the ability to change the game from the crouch. Calm and confident even with his youth, he's the king of a helpful mound visit, and he gets nods for his receiving and arm. His eye works from both the box and behind the plate, and when he gets a hold of one he hits hit hard. Add in an above average hit tool, an athletic 6'4'' frame, and pretty much everything else you look for in a prospect, and it's pretty clear that the Minnesota native could be the guy who changes his franchises fortune.
So long as he can handle the immense pressure that comes with being a savior. Which so far he's shown is no issue.
Active Legend: SS Sam Pratt (32, .225, 6, 37, 9; .215, 48, 246, 38)
Can a team like the Mavericks even have a team legend? I mean, no one even has 20 career wins (seriously) and Chuck Cohen is pretty much the most successful hitter they have, but hey! Sam Pratt has played a lot of games! And he's a really good shortstop!
To clarify, I mean with the glove, he doesn't really hit, but 1974 was his first of all six Kansas City seasons he didn't appear in at least 155 games. He got into 127, probably still too much for a hitter like him, as his .225/.284/.304 (65 OPS+) batting line is just like his .215/.268/.309 (65 OPS+) career line. But despite that, he posted a career best 2.5 WAR, posting a 16.8 zone rating and 1.088 efficiency at the game's most difficult defensive position. A former 4th Rounder they picked up from the Cougars with their 25th pick in the 1968 expansion draft, he's now accumulated an impressive 56.6 zone rating (1.042 EFF) at short, helping bail out out plenty of the awful pitchers he's watched in his 910 game career. Granted, you can say the same thing when he bats, but Pratt did hit 12 homers last season and he does sort of make the most of his speed, though a lot is countered by striking out (564) more then twice as often as he walks (203). He's been set down at least 83 times in each of his six seasons, and I'm sure if they had a useful shortstop he'd be gone. But they don't, so he's not, and Pratt should be the first Maverick to play 1,000 games or make 3,000 at bats, or strikeout 600 times. He's a legend in my book!
Star Out of Place: RHP Van Taylor (32, 8-2, 1, 3.38, 77; 53-31, 90, 2.63, 463
From 1865 to 1969 Van Taylor was one of the top relievers in all of baseball, and in four of those seasons he was a shutdown closer for the Eagles. His ERA never went above 2.86, his ERA+ below 123, or his WHIP above 1.22, and he put together 4 seasons with over 100 innings. Add in 3 20-save seasons and 85+ strikeout campaigns and FIP- of 86 or better, and you really had a dominant late inning arm.
Then 1970 came, he allowed 6 runs in 7.2 innings, and for some reason the Eagles banished him.
Really! They just said we don't need you anymore despite the fact that he was elite. It was so bad that no one wanted him on waivers and he was released, and he had to spend three seasons in the minors with the Keystones before they finally let him pitch out of the pen. It didn't work too well, 5 hits, 3 runs, and 2 walks in 5 innings, leading to his waiving. The Millers thought maybe we can put him in our rotation, claiming the former top stopper, and it sort of worked. He started 17 of 30 games and worked to a nice 3.29 ERA (112 ERA+), and his 3.07 FIP (83 FIP-) was similar to his time in the nation's capital. In the offseason Milwaukee made a strange trade, sending their 19-year-old 9th Rounder to Minneapolis, but before the Rule-5 draft they DFA'd him to make room for some prospects. His time with the Arrows lasted just a month, as the Mavs decided "well we can certainly do worse then him" and grabbed him with the first pick of the Rule-5 draft. Projected to be the team's #3 starter, the 2-Time All-Star will begin his KC career with a 2.63 ERA (135 ERA+) and 2.83 FIP (79 FIP-), something you'd expect from an Allen winner not lottery ticket, but clearly the league has lost faith in him. Still, there's no better place for an almost 33-year-old to be then a bad club with limited upper level rotation depth, and I for one am rooting for a career resurgence from the disrespected stopper who might still have something left in the tank.
Los Angeles Stars
Last Year Record: 97-65 (2nd, .599)
Best Year Since 1964: 1969 and 1969, 111-51 (1st, .685): Won World Championship Series! Both times! With the same record!
Top Pitcher: RHP Bill Dunham (30, 16-8, 3.00, 198; 65-64, 49, 3.48, 775)
Despite all the success the Stars have had lately, the reason they came up just short of the Kings is the pitching. Ranked 10th in the Conti in runs allowed, the rotation is in clear need of an upgrade, and it would be even more dire if the well traveled Bill Dunham didn't turn into an unlikely ace. Once the 13th Round selection of their division mate Chicago Cougars, Dunham lasted just over two seasons in the Cougar organization before a fun carousel between FABL teams. He spent about a year in the Pioneers system, but between June 18th and November 13th of the 1965 season, he spent time with the Saints, Keystones, Dynamos, Cannons, Wranglers, Pioneers, Suns, Dynamos again, Wolves, Dynamos a third time, and Millers. He finally found a home in Minneapolis, eventually cracking the big league roster in 1968.
Pitching in a swingman role, he threw 126 innings across 62 outings (7 starts), going 11-13 with 10 saves, a 3.57 ERA (88 ERA+), 1.35 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts. He had an inflated 10.2 BB%, and that was about where he sat for the rest of his Millers career. He started and relieved games in each of the next two seasons, but after the 1970 season, the Stars saw enough in him to send their recent first rounder Don Phelps for Dunham. The deal shocked many at the time, especially after he had a solid debut season (7-5, 7, 3.33, 39) and they optioned him to start 1972. It seemed to wake Dunham up, as after securing a pen spot the next year he worked his way into the rotation, finishing 12-11 with a 2.85 ERA (133 ERA+), 1.07 WHIP, and 159 strikeouts. In 40 appearances (27 starts) he threw 227 innings, and did about all he could to help the Stars secure an 8th consecutive division title. The team fell 5 games short, but they at least knew they had a rotation arm they could rely on. Dunham rewarded the faith, turning in 34 starts with a 3.00 ERA (125 ERA+) and 3.21 FIP (85 FIP-). He finished 16-8, striking out 198 while walking 80 in 246 innings pitched. The results show ace even if the talent doesn't, and even if the Stars make a much needed add to their rotation, he should still end up the guy on top of it.
Top Hitter: 1B Bobby Garrison (32, .296, 20, 88, 38; .301, 311, 1,206, 254)
Most first basemen and 30+ year olds don't steal 38 bases in a season, but Bobby Garrison is far from the average first basemen. It was clear when he was drafted 15th by the Minutemen, clear when he was the centerpiece in a trade for Frank Kirouac (37, .208, 7, 34, 6; .256, 273, 870, 118), and clear every day since he debuted as a teen in 1962. A crucial piece of the Stars four championships and the WCS MVP in 1966, Garrison has already been selected to 8 All-Star games while totaling 2,095 hits in 1,912 games. A common entrant on the leaderboards, his 115 runs this year were the sixth time he's led the CA in that category, along with an association high in hits (195, 1964), doubles (42, 1968), homers (33, 1967), RBIs (118, 1966; 127, 1967), slugging (.510, 1967), WRC+ (161, 1967), and wOBA (.390, 1966; .381, 1967). He did have a slight down season this year, hitting only .296/.385/.466 (139 OPS+), snapping a streak of 8 consecutive seasons with an OPS+ and WRC+ above 150.
Already a Stars legend, the Chicago native has put his name into the team record books, ranked top-10 in OBP (8th, .386), slugging (2nd, .519), OPS (4th, .905), WAR (5th, 74.5), games (5th, 1,912), at bats (6th, 6,953), runs (2nd, 1,323), hits (5th, 2,095), doubles (4th, 405), homers (2nd, 311), RBIs (4th, 1,206), steals (t-7th, 254), and walks (4th, 869). Playing for a franchise with as many stars as the Stars have seen, being the team leader is no easy task, but at 32 he's got a chance to pass greats like John Waggoner, Dave Trowbridge, Bill Barrett, and longtime current teammate Ralph Barrell (34, .266, 19, 94, 19; .279, 394, 1,434, 101). Granted, he does have them all beat with 135 hit by pitches, but I'm sure the star first basemen will want to be remembered as more then the multi-time champion who had a nose for getting beamed.
Though most current Stars fans will always remember him for the titles he helped bring, and I'm sure he has a trick or two up his sleeve to make #5 come true.
Top Prospect: SS Bob Branson (#29 Prospect)
The Stars farm system is just like the big league roster, filled with tons of talented position players and not many pitchers. Shortstop Bob Branson is the best of the bunch, and while there's no real spot for him on the big league roster, this year's 20th overall pick is not too far off from being ready for big league action. A two-year starter at St. John's, his trip their was actually do to his academic history, not his baseball talent, though that clearly blossomed when he was there. A natural athlete, he picked up baseball as quickly as he does everything else, already sporting top-of-the-line bat-to-ball skills. Speed and discipline are big parts of his game too, so if he can handle shortstop defensively he'll never have to hit for much power. Line drives are more his style, and while he'll have to wait a bit for former Whitney Winner and 6-Time All-Star Lew Smith (31, .239, 16, 68, 28; .277, 229, 821, 147), he has a great mentor who can help him make the most of his mental and physical skills.
Active Legend: RHP Floyd Warner (38, 9-6, 2, 3.83, 84; 242-148, 4, 3.48, 2,367)
Garrison and Barrell both fit this bill, but since they're still performing at a star level, the rehabbing Floyd Warner best fits this bill. Acquired way back in 1955 from the Dynamos in the Paul Anderson blockbuster, Warner debuted as a reliever at 20 in 1957, but 520 of his 562 career appearances have came as a starter. That includes 21 of his 31 this year, though a ruptured disc sidelined him in August, just over two months before turning 38. A tough injury to overcome, his best days were already behind him, but his 3.83 ERA (98 ERA+) and 1.30 WHIP are actually good for the Stars rotation. His best season was in 1967, where the 23-3 ace took home an All-Star and Allen Award, working to a 1.94 ERA (175 ERA+), 2.66 FIP (78 FIP-), and 0.97 WHIP. Across 269 innings he had 169 strikeouts with just 55 walks, and his wins and ERA were association highs. He did both another time, winning 18 in 1969 and recording a 2.36 ERA for the '66 champion team, and the 7-Time All Star spent most of his career among the games most feared hurlers.
In Stars history, there are few who can match him, as however many wins he finishes with will be a team record, and his Allen winning ERA was the only top-10 Star single season mark that came after 1920. Nearly 100 games over .500, he's lost just the 4th most games despite a franchise high 3,747.1 innings. His 62.8 WAR could technically fall below Vern Hubbard's 61.3, but along with wins and innings he'll continue to add to his team high in starts (520), while his 2,367 strikeouts are exactly 1,000 more then the next closest Star. His days in the rotation may be numbered, but no pitcher has given as much to the organization as he has, and his #17 belongs only in the rafters at Bigsby Stadium when he eventually retires.
Star Out of Place: RHP Bill Dunlop (32, 5-2, 3, 4.58, 40; 155-92, 3, 3.02, 1,568)
Once ranked as the #1 prospect in all of baseball, "The Tobacco Twister" Bill Dunlop was supposed to lead the Boston Minutemen to the promise land. At first, it seemed like he would, as the 23-year-old rookie won a Fed high 23 games in 1965, leading the Association with 37 starts and 291 innings pitched. A talented pitcher with filthy stuff, he took home the Kellogg and finished 2nd in Allen voting to French Mack (19-10, 2.24, 224), who won his 4th consecutive Allen, posting a 2.60 ERA (142 ERA+) and 0.95 WHIP with 193 strikeouts and just 53 walks. In '66, however, Dunlop became the only player to interrupt Mack's run of 6 of 7 Allens, stealing the award with a 7 WAR season. A middling 15-10, he did have an outstanding 2.55 ERA (145 ERA+) and 1.09 WHIP, striking out what still stands as a career high 215 strikeouts. If there was a weakness, it was his tendency to allow homers, 24 and 22 in his first two seasons, and it became a bit of an issue as his Fed high 26 in '67 led to a below average 3.48 ERA (93 ERA+).
No longer a top pitcher, he was more average then good, and halfway through the '69 season they tried to capitalize on his former promise in a deadline trade with the dynasty building Stars. A deal that the Minutemen brass would definitely want back, they acquired four prospects that even our most avid readers probably don't remember. One of the four already retired and the other three are in the minors, while Dunlop became reinvigorated by a pennant race. Starting 13 games down the stretch for LA, he finished 7-2 with a 2.06 ERA (180 ERA+), 0.80 WHIP, and 5.2 K/BB -- a noticeable improvement over his 4.00 ERA (98 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, and 2.1 K/BB before the trade. He wasn't great in the postseason, but Dunlop got them there and got to win his first championship. What came next, however, is what makes Minutemen fan blood boil, as Dunlop looked like the 24-year-old superstar that bested Frenchy Mack. Dunlop missed out on just strikeouts for a triple crown, finishing 24-3 with a 2.48 ERA (168 ERA+), 1.03 WHIP, and 203 strikeouts to become the first pitcher to win an Allen in both associations (Marco Middleton later accomplished this with his 4th in 1972).
He followed up his rebirth with his third 20-win season, 20-9 with a 3.05 ERA (119 ERA+) and 1.11 WHIP, again leading the Stars to a championship. He picked up his 4th All-Star selection in 1972, but the 1973 season is where he reverted to pre-trade Dunlop. His ERA jumped to 4.25 (89 ERA+), but a lot of this had to do with elbow inflammation he suffered in late May. When he returned two months later he clearly wasn't the same pitcher, but the Stars were hoping a full offseason could get him back to himself. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case, and that's exactly why he's out of place here: the former ace is now a mop up arm. They tried giving him some starts this year, but they were bad even by Star standards, and he finished the season pitching mainly low leverage. His 4.58 ERA (82 ERA+) is a career worst, as he walked 19 with 8 homers in 78.2 innings. The 40 strikeouts are decent enough, but even that led to a career low 12.2 K%. Going into 1975, there's no guarantee he even cracks the perennial contenders roster, but given his prospect pedigree and past success, one of the other 23 teams will surely find room for him if his current employers cannot.
San Francisco Sailors
Last Year Record: 69-93 (5th, .426)
Best Year Since 1964: 1965, 101-61 (1st, .623): Lost World Championship Series
Top Pitcher: RHP Jim Teal (33, 11-12, 3.57, 178; 191-125, 77, 3.61, 1,568)
If I had to pick a worst rotation, the Sailors would get plenty of consideration, but Jim Teal is no slouch. A member of the 1965 Keystone team that beat the Sailors in the WCS, Teal's career starter in Philly. Their 6th Round selection in 1959, he debuted at 21 in 1962, but really made his name in the 1964 season. Functioning as the Keystones stopper, he made his first and only All-Star game, he led the Fed in saves (28) and appearances (86), going 11-4 with a 2.35 ERA (154 ERA+), 1.11 WHIP, 41 walks, and 105 strikeouts, throwing a near-starter level 141.2 innings pitched. With such a great showing, they gave him a try in the rotation the following season, but with middling results (3.84 ERA, 97 ERA+), he returned to the stopper role in their pennant defense. He did make a few spot starts that season and the following year, but Philly made the surprising decision to waive the then 26-year-old before the the 1968 season.
There loss was Minneapolis' gain, as they claimed Teal and inserted him into the rotation. It could not have gone much better, as the righty made 32 starts, an even 9-9 with a 2.60 ERA (121 ERA+), 2.59 FIP (82 FIP-), and 1.06 WHIP. All this on a really bad team, he struck out a then career high 170 in 218 innings. He couldn't repeat the magic in 1969, but he still pitched well enough (9-7, 4.07, 107) that the Sailors added him for a pennant run as pen help, moving longtime infielder Heinie Spitler (34, .222, 2; .300, 66, 608, 123), who's just barely still hanging on in Minneapolis. Teal collapsed, seeing his ERA balloon to 4.65 (81 ERA+), but his 3.31 FIP (87 FIP-) suggested he pitched far better then the numbers showed. After asking to go back to the rotation, the Sailors brass obliged, and Teal put together a season reminiscent of his 1968 breakout. In 33 starts he was 14-12 with a 3.44 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, and a career high 190 strikeouts, re-establishing himself as a reliable starter. Now 33, he's coming off a solid 1974 campaign, but he's been extremely consistent overall. He went from leading the CA in losses in '72 to a sterling 2.87 ERA (134 ERA+) in '73, and when you put together his 1,108.2 innings as a Sailor he's been basically average (3.82 ERA, 99 ERA+), striking out 806 in 221 outings (156 starts). The type of starter who you love towards the back and hate at the front, he's only an "ace" on a technicality, but you can certainly do worse then a veteran with over 2,000 FABL innings and 1,568 strikeouts.
Top Hitter: RF Pete Gibson (24, .282, 10, 58, 7; .284, 10, 60, 7)
If you thought the pitching was bad, the hitting is even worse. OSA doesn't even rank him in their top three players, but Pete "Twinkletoes" Gibson is easily the most promising bat in the Sailor lineup. The graduated 74th prospect was taken 11th by San Fran in 1968, and after a cup of coffee last season he secured an Opening Day roster spot in 1974. Initially it was a bench role, but considering how poor the team was it didn't take too long for the now 24-year-old to hit his way into the lineup. He did play a lot early, so Gibson recorded 150 appearances, but just 92 of those were in the starting lineup. Eventually securing right field, he was even a surprising All-Star nod, batting .282/.337/.434 (118 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 8 triples, 10 homers, 56 RBIs, 61 runs, and 7 steals.
A skilled bat-to-ball hitter, Gibson doesn't walk (36) or strikeout (25) much, and as he continues to mature he will learn the best way to approach most pitchers. An above average hitter with a quick and loose swing, he hits a lot of line drives, but there's not much power. That's not to say he can't get a hold of one, and at 6'3'' he has plenty of raw strength, but he sacrifices some power for long and competitive at-bats. Tough to put away, he usually wins the at bat, but top pitchers can still dispose of him without too much effort. It will be interesting to see how he does with a full season of big league play, but for now his numbers may not stick out with a complete lack of protection in the lineup.
Top Prospect: RHP Lee Jones (3rd Overall)
One of the perks of being bad is that you get a lot of high picks, and the Sailors' first rounder last season is evidence of that. Taken 4th overall, Lee Jones entered the 1974 season as the #2 prospect, now down to 3 behind just KC's Chuck Barton and Boston's Sal Baldassari. A hard thrower with ace written all over him, Jones decided at an early age that offspeed pitches were overrated, punishing hitters with a fastball, cutter, and sinker. The fastball is just good, but the cutter and sinker are off the charts, two of the toughest pitches for minor league hitters to try and solve. They'd likely fool FABL hitters too, as they have the break of a breaking pitch with the velocity of a fastball. With a change, he could be the best pitcher in baseball, but he's shown little interest in deviating from the hard stuff. 20 in February, he should start the 1975 season out of rookie ball, but unfortunately for Sailors fans, they'll have to wait multiple season for the hometown kid to pitch for his hometown team.
Active Legend: LF John Kingsbury (37, .258, 8, 56, 15; .282, 189, 1,154, 167
One of the most consistent players of his time, John Kingsbury has played in 150 or more games in all but one of his fifteen seasons, and his OPS+ and WRC+ have yet to dip below 95. Taken 13th in 1955, it took him a while to get to San Francisco, but once he did he produced. A 3-Time All-Star and 5-Time Diamond Defense winner, he was one of the top players in the league during the start of his career. 1961-1965 was his peak, producing a WAR above 6 and WRC+ above 140 in each season. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't keep that going, as his bat became just average. Still a top defender and a reliable addition to the lineup, and he's been worth at least 2 WAR each year of his career.
The Sailors have seen plenty of talented hitters, but he still ranks top-5 in WAR (4th, 57.7), runs (3rd, 1,258), hits (2nd, 2,434), doubles (1st, 396), triples (4th, 135), homers (2nd, 189), RBIs (1st, 1,154), and walks (3rd, 786) to go with a .282/.342/.425 (117 OPS+) career line. As their rebuild continues, they can continue to pencil him in the starting lineup, allowing him to climb up some of the counting stat categories he doesn't lead. It's still a little disappointing he never maintained his star level production, but he's still one of the most accomplished Canadians to play the game.
Star Out of Place: RF George Wagner (34, .333, 1, 11, 2; .257, 203, 668, 102
Once a feared slugger with the Minutemen, George Wagner's best days are clearly behind him, and the 34-year-old appeared in just 40 games. That and his 62 PAs were easily a career low, and his spot on the '75 Sailors is far from secure. His value now provides in mentoring the young sluggers, as Wagner slugged 184 homers in Boston, including 30 in the 1965 season. The best year of his career, the then 25-year-old hit .282/.365/.543 (164 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 12 triples, 103 RBIs, 90 runs, 71 walks, 10 steals, and 4.3 WAR, most of which were career bests. Interestingly, his lone All-Star appearance was the year before, where he hit a still solid .257/.327/.437 (123 OPS+) in his first year as a starter. A recent add to the Sailors, they picked him up in a 6-player trade during the 1972 season which has not aged well for the Sailors. Lucky for them, none of the prospects they gave up have done much yet, but after an 18-homer season he was quickly pushed out of the lineup. Never a good defender, he's even more statuesque there then before, which has limited him to a righty off the bench bat. But if the Sailors average a veteran presence who can go yard off the bench, he can hang around a few more seasons as he continues to add to his 203 career home runs.
Seattle Kings
Last Year Record: 98-64 (1st, .605): Won World Championship Series!
Best Year Since 1964: 1974, 98-64 (1st, .605): Won World Championship Series!
Top Pitcher: RHP Moe Lowery (26, 17-10, 3.11, 182; 86-54, 23, 2.84, 182
There are a ton of reasons why the Seattle Kings won both their division and the eventual title, but a rotation of 26-year-old aces is a big part of it. Leading the way is the CA's start (37) and innings leader (278) Moe Lowery, who ranks as the 3rd best pitcher in FABL. Swede Hawkins (26, 19-9, 2.95, 181; 64-34, 58, 2.81, 570) and Bill Harris (26, 10-16, 3.22, 137; 20-19, 3.23, 200) join him in the top 20 and John Howell (18-10, 3.26, 120) can't be too far off, but Lowery is the clear top dog. A six year veteran, Lowery has been a full-time starter since 1971, starting 34 or more games since his addition to the rotation. Along with the association bests this year, Lowery led the CA with 20 wins in 1972 and ERA in 1971 at 2.15 (167 ERA+), as well as two WAR titles of 6.3 in '71 and '73. Ironically, he posted more this year (6.8) and in 1972 (7.3) despite not leading the league, and discounting his 88 ERA+ in 26 relief outings as a rookie, he's never seen that number drop below 119.
His durability and dependability are huge, but his outstanding control and ability to keep the ball on the ground are what make him an enviable rotation lead. A former 2nd Rounder, he's yet to post a BB% above 7.5 as a starter, which allows him to overcome more middling strikeout numbers. That's not to say the stuff isn't good -- he's one of the toughest guys to make good contact off of -- but as a traditional sinkerballer he focuses more on getting batters to roll over pitches early in at bats to keep his pitch count down. It's helped him throw over 250 innings in each of the last four seasons, a trend that I don't see that stopping any time soon, and as long as he's pitching in Seattle they'll have a good chance of surpassing their single title in Brooklyn.
Top Hitter: LF Mike Griffith (23, .311, 20, 76, 4; .312, 24, 90, 4)
Technically backstop Fred Tollefson (32, .257, 11, 43; .276, 160, 722, 49) is the top hitter in Seattle, but I'll give the edge to the former 420th overall Mike Griffith, who proved that location does not deter Kings from winning Kellogg Awards. Already the organization's sixth winner since the award was founded in 1946, Griffith is the first Seattle King to take home the award for the top rookie of the association. Defying all expectations just to get an 18 game cup of coffee last season, the never ranked top-100 prospect proved that his .317/.358/.587 (169 OPS+) triple slash last season was no fluke. In 591 PAs compared to 68, it did drop slightly to .311/.378/.475 (141 OPS+), but his 143 WRC+ still ranked 15th among all qualified FABL hitters. Griffith added 22 doubles, 20 homers, and 76 runs and RBIs, worth a strong 4.7 WAR in 147 games.
Already a fan favorite for highlight real catches and his propensity to put the ball in play, there's an argument that his addition to the lineup helped the Kings go from division winner to league champ. A natural center fielder, the presence of two-time Diamond Defense winner Tom Hicks (32, .246, 6, 53, 16; .278, 162, 899, 154) pushed Griffith into a corner most of the season, but he put up an above average efficiency in all three spots. Interestingly, he was best in his smallest sample (169.2) in center (1.037), but he still impressed in both left (660.2, 1.010) and right (3.0, 1.023). Even now, he's had more time in center then left and right combined, so there's a good chance he improves on both metrics after a full offseason focused on one of the corners. At the plate, however, he'll have to keep up the work to avoid a dreaded sophomore slump, but his consistency this season should give Kings fans some belief that he can maintain this level of play even after FABL hurlers start to learn his weaknesses.
Top Prospect: SS Sam Beadle (16th Overall)
Seattle doesn't really have a weakness, but it is convenient for them that one of their oldest starters, Ben Baker (33, .279, 12, 70, 5; .278, 106, 634, 54), plays the same position as their recent first rounder and top prospect. Taken with the 21st pick, Sam Beadle has already looked like a steal in the back end of the first, ranked 16th among all FABL prospects. 19 this November, Beadle spent just 22 games in rookie ball before his .385/.449/.604 (150 OPS+) batting line earned him a promotion to A-ball. There he hit a still above average .276/.385/.391 (108 OPS+), and by walking (39) more then he struck out (32) he produced an impressive 121 WRC+ in 292 PAs. An elite defender with great speed, what stands out the most about Beadle right now is his makeup, as he's got the intangibles that organizations adore. Poised in the field and at the plate, he's the first guy in and the last one out, and that mentality is the reason he's ranked so highly among FABL prospects. And while he does have that extreme risk that comes with any prep prospect, his ability to drive line drives to all fields sets him apart. Batting title winner may be a stretch, but he's got the tools to hit well above .300 and capture another Kellogg award for the Kings.
Active Legend: 1B Hank Williams (41, .234, 19, 55, 2; .313, 491, 1,638, 51)
Boy am I glad Hank Williams is still around!
One of the best sluggers in FABL history, the 41-year-old Hank Williams can still muscle balls out of the park, knocking out 19 in 131 games for the Kings this season. A King lifer, he was drafted 5th Overall back in 1951 when the team was in Brooklyn, debuted at 22 in 1956 with Kansas City, and he'll hopefully spend a few more seasons before retiring in Seattle. No longer the contact hitter that won his 5th batting title in 1971, Williams has still yet to have a season as a starter with an OPS+ or WRC+ below 115, and before turning 39 he never had one below 137. With more black ink then you can count, the still imposing slugger strikes fears into his opponents, as they know they're dealing with a top-10 hitter of All-Time.
Entering 1974, he ranks top-10 all-time in slugging (4th, .5436), OPS (4th, .9600), homers (7th, 491), and RBIs (10th, 1,638), while he just barely misses the round cutoff with the 11th best OBP (.4164) -- just 0.0002 behind turn of the century outfielder Ira Phillips, who's 8,783 PAs are about 2,000 behind. No active player has a higher OBP or more doubles (514), homers, RBIs, or walks (1,511). On the Kings leaderboard, he's pretty much the guy, #1 in OBP, slugging, OPS, and homers, while top-3 in WAR (2nd, 93.7), games (2nd, 2,569), at-bats (3rd, 9,023), runs (2nd, 1,639), hits (3rd, 2,825), doubles (3rd), RBIs (2nd), and walks (2nd), while owning the single season records for average (.406, 1959), OBP (.490, 1959), slugging (.696, 1963), OPS (1.184, 1959), doubles (60, 1959), and homers (44, 1963), while owning the top-3 for OBP, slugging, OPS (top-4!), homers, as well as 3rd in WAR (10.8, 1959) and 2nd and 3rd in RBIs (141, 1963; 131, 1969). With no signs of slowing down, he can pass former teammate Ken Newman for team records and Hall-of-Famers for FABL records as he seems likely to return to cleanup role he looks so good in.
Star Out of Place: 2B Sam Barnes (33, .245, 4, 46, 27; .263, 104, 583, 122)
It may be a bit of a stretch to call him a star, but on a team with a ton of homegrown players, there aren't really any guys who fit the bill. Sure, Charlie Rushing (39, 14-9, 3.58, 93; 212-136, 72, 3.33, 1,867) had a nice long career with the Keystones (1958-1968; 104-79, 72, 3.49, 1,048), but the aging righty has actually been better with the Kings (1969-1974; 108-57, 3.18, 819) and he should pass his Keystone inning total this season.
That leaves Sam Barnes, who spent over 1,000 games with the Sailors before being shipped to the Kings for a pair of minor leaguers near the 1971 deadline. 34 this December, Barnes struggled after the trade (.210, 4, 17, 5), but he's been a reliable second basemen in each of the last three seasons and exactly what you want in the eight hole. His power did dip a little this season, but his .245/.354/.339 (98 OPS+) batting line is serviceable, and with solid defense he was worth 3.4 WAR in 149 appearances. Not expected to be replaced, he's still a top-10 second basemen in FABL, and young ace Moe Lowery credits Barnes for making him look good. His best days may have been in San Francisco, but teams when championships when guys like him have less pressure to carry the load, instead lengthening the lineup to keep innings going.