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ayaghmour2 · 12-16-2025, 07:54 PM

Before getting to the next crop of draftees, we did have another sim, which led to another extension. As opposed to the Halliday deal which was about affordability, this one was all about prolonging (although it saved money too), as we gave Pug White $44,000 if he decides to return for the 1976 season. 45 in June, he could still retire, but I figured an extra year on his contract makes it way less likely. 2 wins from the Franchise lead, he's 36th overall and 5th among active players. He's also 13 appearances away from matching Allan Allen's 914, though 891 of his were starts. Pug is at 503, so relieving certainly helps, though his 4,190 innings are still good for 39th and only 12 of the guys ahead of him even threw a single inning after 1940. It's a different game now, but Pug's longevity is still a rarity, and I'd be surprised if anyone comes close to it ever again.

5th Round, 105th Overall: SS Bill Ketchum
School: Plymouth Vikings
1974: .442/.520/.742, 196 PA, 32 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 46 RBI, 9 SB
Career: .462/.549/.775, 388 PA, 66 2B, 3 3B, 9 HR, 87 RBI, 19 SB

The guy I really wanted, Vern Ladd, was taken 2nd in the 5th Round, but it at least saved me from taking three pitchers with our first five picks. I then went to an old reliable, a young and athletic shortstop named Bill Ketchum.

18 in April, he's certainly not the best available prospect, just above average compared to the still elite crop, but he's a lot more valuable then what is left for us. A Virginia native who went to school in North Carolina, Ketchum has started two seasons on the varsity squad, hitting .462/.549/.775 with 54 walks, 78 extra base hits, and 126 runs scored. A capable defender despite minimal foot speed, he was worth just a hair shy of 8 WAR in 77 games, and he should have the glove to stick in the middle infield. It may be second instead of short, but at least for now he'll be getting regular reps at short. Our fifth high schooler, he has a bat I am very excited for, giving us another high-upside prospect with an elite hitting tool. Projected to have tools that will lead him to be an extraordinary contact hitter, expect high batting averages and miniscule strikeout rates, but don't expect power. I'd love for that to come, especially with his slowness, but it's not something I'm banking on. It also won't determine whether he can start in the majors, that's dependent on the glove and eye, but at 6'2'' his frame at athleticism could lead to more pop as he matures. Shortstop is not an issue for us long-term, Halliday has it locked up now and 18-year-old top-25 prospect Carl Carroll has the quality defensive skills I so admire, making Ketchum a risk that doesn't feel all that risky.

6th Round, 129th Overall: RHP Tom Ballard
School: Bouckville Yellowjackets
1974: 4-0, 2 SV, 58 IP, 0.62 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, 13 BB, 112 K
Career: 10-2, 2 SV, 127 IP, 0.85 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 27 BB, 228 K

Easily the most interesting pitcher in the draft I just couldn't keep passing up Tom Ballard. I don't even care if he ends up pitching a single FABL game, but he's the absolute softest tosser and my scout still thinks he can anchor a rotation. 18 in May, some of his fastballs sill register in the 70s but his pinpoint command makes up all the difference. Another guy who keeps the ball on the ground, the New Yorker is a sinkerballer who rolls up grounders like no-ones business, as the pitch just flutters through the zone and out of harms way. Impossible to elevate, his pitches start low and stay low, but for now none of them are really that good.

Stuff is the obvious issue, and why he's still available, but even OSA thinks he can be a #3. He's the guy I picture with ratings has like 85+ for both movement and control potential, and since he's at least a projected future starter the stuff can't be that bad. The gap between the currents and potentials are probably immense, but it's just hard to not be enamored with what could be. As a junior he excelled, working to a 0.62 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, 0.29 FIP, and 8.6 K/BB, but a lot of his time came out of the pen. We'll let him start regardless of results, but there's a very real chance he ends up in a bullpen.

7th Round, 153rd Overall: 3B Al Hall
School: Hopkinton Falcons
1974: .464/.566/.781, 191 PA, 34 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 45 RBI
Career: .473/.576/.797, 91 2B, 6 3B, 12 HR, 128 RBI

We stuck with the theme of prep picks, selecting the recently turned 18 Al Hall. Set to be a four year starter at his Rhode Island high school, Unfortunately for him, a lot of his numbers have been on a downward trend, which contributed some to his slip. An athletic third basemen, OSA calls him a potential key regular while Carr goes for cornerstone player, with plenty of love placed on his bat. While not a slugger, he does have projectable power, which would be lethal with his plus-plus contact potential. He hits the ball to all fields with his short swing, using his knowledge of the strike zone to determine the direction of his hits. That includes out of play if it's a pitch he can't handle it, allowing him to work counts and force mistakes. Unlikely to strikeout, he's great when you need to move a runner. He can then make the difference on the dirt, as he defends his position well. Another guy far from the majors, we went with upside over immediate impact, but without much to go on there really are no safe bets.

12-16-2025, 07:54 PM	#1653
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,100	1975 Draft: Rounds 5-7 Before getting to the next crop of draftees, we did have another sim, which led to another extension. As opposed to the Halliday deal which was about affordability, this one was all about prolonging (although it saved money too), as we gave Pug White $44,000 if he decides to return for the 1976 season. 45 in June, he could still retire, but I figured an extra year on his contract makes it way less likely. 2 wins from the Franchise lead, he's 36th overall and 5th among active players. He's also 13 appearances away from matching Allan Allen's 914, though 891 of his were starts. Pug is at 503, so relieving certainly helps, though his 4,190 innings are still good for 39th and only 12 of the guys ahead of him even threw a single inning after 1940. It's a different game now, but Pug's longevity is still a rarity, and I'd be surprised if anyone comes close to it ever again. 5th Round, 105th Overall: SS Bill Ketchum School: Plymouth Vikings 1974: .442/.520/.742, 196 PA, 32 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 46 RBI, 9 SB Career: .462/.549/.775, 388 PA, 66 2B, 3 3B, 9 HR, 87 RBI, 19 SB The guy I really wanted, Vern Ladd, was taken 2nd in the 5th Round, but it at least saved me from taking three pitchers with our first five picks. I then went to an old reliable, a young and athletic shortstop named Bill Ketchum. 18 in April, he's certainly not the best available prospect, just above average compared to the still elite crop, but he's a lot more valuable then what is left for us. A Virginia native who went to school in North Carolina, Ketchum has started two seasons on the varsity squad, hitting .462/.549/.775 with 54 walks, 78 extra base hits, and 126 runs scored. A capable defender despite minimal foot speed, he was worth just a hair shy of 8 WAR in 77 games, and he should have the glove to stick in the middle infield. It may be second instead of short, but at least for now he'll be getting regular reps at short. Our fifth high schooler, he has a bat I am very excited for, giving us another high-upside prospect with an elite hitting tool. Projected to have tools that will lead him to be an extraordinary contact hitter, expect high batting averages and miniscule strikeout rates, but don't expect power. I'd love for that to come, especially with his slowness, but it's not something I'm banking on. It also won't determine whether he can start in the majors, that's dependent on the glove and eye, but at 6'2'' his frame at athleticism could lead to more pop as he matures. Shortstop is not an issue for us long-term, Halliday has it locked up now and 18-year-old top-25 prospect Carl Carroll has the quality defensive skills I so admire, making Ketchum a risk that doesn't feel all that risky. 6th Round, 129th Overall: RHP Tom Ballard School: Bouckville Yellowjackets 1974: 4-0, 2 SV, 58 IP, 0.62 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, 13 BB, 112 K Career: 10-2, 2 SV, 127 IP, 0.85 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 27 BB, 228 K Easily the most interesting pitcher in the draft I just couldn't keep passing up Tom Ballard. I don't even care if he ends up pitching a single FABL game, but he's the absolute softest tosser and my scout still thinks he can anchor a rotation. 18 in May, some of his fastballs sill register in the 70s but his pinpoint command makes up all the difference. Another guy who keeps the ball on the ground, the New Yorker is a sinkerballer who rolls up grounders like no-ones business, as the pitch just flutters through the zone and out of harms way. Impossible to elevate, his pitches start low and stay low, but for now none of them are really that good. Stuff is the obvious issue, and why he's still available, but even OSA thinks he can be a #3. He's the guy I picture with ratings has like 85+ for both movement and control potential, and since he's at least a projected future starter the stuff can't be that bad. The gap between the currents and potentials are probably immense, but it's just hard to not be enamored with what could be. As a junior he excelled, working to a 0.62 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, 0.29 FIP, and 8.6 K/BB, but a lot of his time came out of the pen. We'll let him start regardless of results, but there's a very real chance he ends up in a bullpen. 7th Round, 153rd Overall: 3B Al Hall School: Hopkinton Falcons 1974: .464/.566/.781, 191 PA, 34 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 45 RBI Career: .473/.576/.797, 91 2B, 6 3B, 12 HR, 128 RBI We stuck with the theme of prep picks, selecting the recently turned 18 Al Hall. Set to be a four year starter at his Rhode Island high school, Unfortunately for him, a lot of his numbers have been on a downward trend, which contributed some to his slip. An athletic third basemen, OSA calls him a potential key regular while Carr goes for cornerstone player, with plenty of love placed on his bat. While not a slugger, he does have projectable power, which would be lethal with his plus-plus contact potential. He hits the ball to all fields with his short swing, using his knowledge of the strike zone to determine the direction of his hits. That includes out of play if it's a pitch he can't handle it, allowing him to work counts and force mistakes. Unlikely to strikeout, he's great when you need to move a runner. He can then make the difference on the dirt, as he defends his position well. Another guy far from the majors, we went with upside over immediate impact, but without much to go on there really are no safe bets.