Notes on 1951-52 All-Braeland Team
This past season was somewhat peculiar in terms of player performances. While a few players enjoyed tremendous years, the overall play in the United Leagues was rather lacklustre, or so it seemed to me. Some players, like Downie’s 26-year old CF Alfonso León, still enjoyed very good seasons but it paled in comparison to the season they enjoyed the year before (in León’s case, his WAR went down from 9.3 to 5.6). Others fell off the map without any obvious reason why. The most dramatic were a pair of catchers: Fort Richmond’s 30-year old Louis Wearne, who earned All-Braeland Team honours last year (7.2 down to 2.4 WAR) as well as Braeland City’s 30-year old Christopher Dainty (6.7 down to 2.1 WAR).
On the surface, offense appeared to suffer a bit in both Leagues, but stronger pitching wasn’t the sole reason, at least not in the East. Looking at League totals, the breakdown was as follows:
Eastern League:
LgERA regressed from the season before, going from 4.08 to
4.27;
LgAvg went down slightly:
.266 from 2.69.
Western League:
LgERA continued its downward trend for the third straight season: 4.15 to 3.99 to
3.72 this season.
LgAvg dropped to
.257, its lowest level in 5 years.
Here are the 1951 American and National Leagues season averages for comparison:
American League:
LgERA – 4.12
LgAvg – .262
National League:
LgERA – 3.96
LgAvg – .260
So, while the United Leagues averages are comparable to the Major League averages overall, its clear that offense is down. Also, the Western League has developed a virtual monopoly on quality pitching, with Fort Richmond (3.8 R/G), Balmoral (3.9) and Wolseley (3.9) leading the way. In terms of selecting the All-Braeland Team, this has meant that all serious pitching candidates came from the West.
Starting Pitcher
It was Fort Richmond’s 31-year old LHP
Nicholas Grimes and then there was everyone else, at least in my opinion. He was the clear choice as top pitcher in the United Leagues this past season. The rest of the candidates all came from the Western League as well, as the Eastern League pitching was paltry in comparison, with apologies to RHP Magtanggol Jaojoco (16-19, 3.07 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 3.20 FIP, 129 ERA+, 7.1 WAR), who won the Eastern League Satchel Paige Award (league leading stats in
bold).
• LHP
Nicholas Grimes - 20-10,
2.02 ERA, 34 GS,
299.0 IP, 105 K,
1.11 WHIP, 0.5 HR/9, 2.65 BB/9, 3.16 K/9,
.233 BABIP, 3.27 FIP,
193 ERA+, 6.6 WAR.
Here was the rest of the field that I considered:
• Wolseley’s 26-year old RHP
Roberto Garza – 17-10, 2.70 ERA, 34 GS, 243.1 IP, 152 K, 1.17 WHIP, 0.4 HR/9, 2.8 BB/9, 5.6 K/9, .263 BABIP, 2.84 FIP, 149 ERA+,
7.2 WAR.
• Kingston’s 32-year old LHP
Patrick Denman –
21-11, 2.98 ERA, 34 GS, 284.1 IP, 113 K, 1.33 WHIP, 0.7 HR/9, 3.2 BB/9, 3.6 K/9, .270 BABIP, 3.73 FIP, 135 ERA+, 4.8 WAR
• Pulberry’s 22-year old LHP
Ramón Castro – 14-6, 2.59 ERA, 30 GS, 212.0 IP, 88 K, 1.25 WHIP,
0.3 HR/9, 2.9 BB/9, 3.7 K/9, .266 BABIP, 3.05 FIP, 151 ERA+, 5.4 WAR.
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Catcher
This one kind of snuck up on me. Bugbie and Camasura both won Ball Hawk Awards for their defensive prowess and Kersey won Rookie of the Year honors this season. But Stratford’s
Aaron Skidmore quietly put up the best overall season by catcher this year. It wasn’t a runaway though. All four catchers appear in the Top 20 players list, with Skidmore rated the highest (9th overall). But with some fine young players nipping at his heels, that could change in the not-too-distant future.
• 32-year old
Aaron Skidmore – .298/
.458/.444, 112 H, 18-2B, 11 HR, 69 RBI, 115 BB, .902 OPS, 143 OPS+, 5.9 WAR, 1.017 EFF.
• Brunswick’s 23-year old
Robert Kersey – .284/.379/.464, 131 H, 26-2B, 19 HR, 75 RBI, 74 BB, .843 OPS, 124 OPS+, 5.2 WAR, 1.047 EFF.
• Wellington’s 24-year old
Declan Bugbie - .309/.339/.450, 158 H, 33-2B, 11 HR, 82 RBI, 25 BB, .790 OPS, 114 OPS+, 4.7 WAR, 1.191 EFF.
• Kingston’s 26-year old
Carlos Camasura – .273/.373/.366, 135 H, 24-2B, 6 HR, 53 RBI, 81 BB, .739 OPS, 97 OPS+, 4.5 WAR, 1.208 EFF.
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First Base
Another position where it felt as though there was not a clear choice. That would not have been the case had Brunswick’s Stuart Bentham not been injured. Bentham missed 6 weeks due to a separated shoulder in mid-January. Had he remained healthy for a full season, there’s little doubt he would have earned the honor. Offensively, he was on course to do even better than last season, when he won his third selection to the All-Braeland Team. As it is, Braeland City’s
Dean Witherden earned his first selection. It was his finest season yet, despite not picking up All-Star honors this year. Bentham and Cobourg’s Harry Doxey represented the East at this past season’s All-Star game, but I gave the edge to Witherden this time.
• 28-year old
Dean Witherden – .332/.379/.460,
206 H, 30-2B, 15 HR, 80 RBI, 47 BB, .839 OPS, 122 OPS+, 5.0 WAR, 1.034 EFF.
• 35-year old
Stuart Bentham –
.348/.446/.565, 156 H, 28-2B, 21 HR, 90 RBI, 77 BB, 1.010 OPS, 168 OPS+, 3.8 WAR, .874 EFF.
• 26-year old
Harry Doxey – .328/.370/.467, 196 H, 39-2B, 12 HR, 108 RBI, 43 BB, .836 OPS, 122 OPS+, 3.7 WAR, 1.033 EFF.
• Queensland’s 25-year old
Ryan Conisford – .273/.363/.438, 150 H, 37-2B, 18 HR, 68 RBI, 79 BB, .801 OPS, 117 OPS+, 3.8 WAR, 1.103 EFF.
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Second Base
Like first base, this choice would have been a runaway if not for injuries. Downie’s
Dominic Dudding lost two months of action due to a fractured finger in late December, but still came out on top. Had he not missed so much time, he just may well have bettered his previous season, when he earned 7.7 WAR. Lidgate had a fine season but it represented a step back from his previous two seasons (6.8 & 6.2 WAR). But there’s always next year.
• 26-year old
Dominic Dudding – .343/.418/.554, 143 H, 25-2B, 17 HR, 70 RBI, 52 BB, .972 OPS, 165 OPS+, 5.8 WAR, .998 EFF.
• Braeland City’s 26-year old
Patrick Lidgate – .285/.390/.500, 159 H, 21-2B, 23 HR, 82 RBI, 89 BB, .890 OPS, 135 OPS+, 5.7 WAR, 1.002 EFF.
• Kingston’s 36-year old
Katsunan Chikafuji – .276/.358/.443, 148 H, 26-2B, 20 HR, 85 RBI, 67 BB, .801 OPS, 112 OPS+, 4.8 WAR, 1.007 EFF.
• Hespeler’s 27-year old
Vic Lewis – .284/.342/.457, 163 H, 24-2B, 23 HR, 86 RBI, 43 BB, .800 OPS, 110 OPS+, 4.4 WAR, 1.020 EFF.
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Third Base
Cobourg’s
Alexander Tolmie wins his third selection to the All-Braeland Team and he bucked the general trend doing it – improving on his performance from last season. The five-time all-star is rated 5th overall among all players and certainly backed up that lofty rating with his stellar play. He is currently the only third baseman in the Top 20, but a couple of youngsters manning the hot corner made their presence know this season. Both Pulberry’s Makani Kahale and Embro’s Moromao Nakagawa were outstanding this season. Kahale already has two all-star selections and two Ball Hawk Awards to his credit, while Nakagawa finished fourth in the EL Rookie of the Year voting this season.
• 30-year old
Alexander Tolmie – .338/.415/.535, 192 H, 30-2B,
26 HR, 115 RBI, 83 BB, .951 OPS, 152 OPS+, 7.7 WAR, .990 EFF.
• 25-year old
Makani Kahale – .308/.343/.454, 182 H, 32-2B, 10 HR, 92 RBI, 33 BB, .798 OPS, 116 OPS+, 4.3 WAR, 1.025 EFF.
• 23-year old
Moromao Nakagawa – .266/.362/.424, 153 H, 32-2B, 17 HR, 77 RBI, 87 BB, .786 OPS, 110 OPS+, 4.3 WAR, 1.020 EFF.
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Shortstop
Although Fort Richmond’s
Nobuyoshi Yoshida regressed a little from last season, he was nevertheless, still outstanding and won his second consecutive selection to the Team. The former 8th overall pick from 1946-47 is the complete package, combining top-notch offense with award-winning defense (four Ball Hawk Awards and counting). Interestingly, the same four candidates considered were the same from last season. But Yoshida was once again the top choice.
• 27-year old
Nobuyoshi Yoshida – .312/.367/.439, 187 H,
44-2B, 8 HR, 78 RBI, 47 BB, .806 OPS, 120 OPS+, 6.8 WAR, 1.078 EFF.
• Hespeler's 28-year old
Zhao-hui Qian – .305/.351/.450, 179 H, 32-2B, 13 HR, 78 RBI, 47 BB, .801 OPS, 111 OPS+, 6.3 WAR, 1.045 EFF.
• Cambria’s 32-year old
César Ruíz – .301/.406/.508, 162 H, 32-2B, 24 HR, 83 RBI, 93 BB, .915 OPS, 147 OPS+, 6.3 WAR, .965 EFF.
• Wolseley's 30-year old
George Kimpton – .303/.376/.453, 183 H, 32-2B, 14 HR, 96 RBI, 71 BB, .829 OPS, 119 OPS+, 5.9 WAR, .992 EFF.
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Left Field
Four Batter of the Month honors, one WL Babe Ruth Award, one WL Triple Crown, an All-Star selection and a United Cup championship. That would be an impressive resume on any player’s career resume, but Wolseley's 31-year old
Carlton Hawking achieved that all in one season. He led the West in 15 offensive categories. He is without question, the United Leagues best player and made this selection automatic. Wellington’s Matthew Floyd enjoyed another solid season, but this season belonged to Hawking.
•
Carlton Hawking –
.348/.476/.587,
189 H, 42-2B,
26 HR,
126 RBI,
138 BB,
1.064 OPS, 181 OPS+, 7.9 WAR, .957 EFF.
• 24-year old
Matthew Floyd – .305/.386/.566, 152 H,
42-2B, 22 HR, 111 RBI, 65 BB, .952 OPS, 157 OPS+, 6.2 WAR, 1.055 EFF.
• Brunwick’s 25-year old
Carl Patton – .295/.382/.412, 163 H, 26-2B, 7 HR, 61 RBI, 75 BB, .794 OPS, 112 OPS+, 4.9 WAR, 1.029 EFF.
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Center Field
This was by far the most competitive position to consider and making a final decision was not easy. If this exercise was based purely on WAR, then Pulberry’s Cooper Tyson would have gotten the nod. He is just in his second season in the majors but has already established himself as one of the most dynamic defensive outfielders in the United Leagues. He is also developing into one most aggressive players at the plate and on the base paths. But in the end, I went with Cobourg’s
Raymond Williams. True, he is not the defensive player Tyson is, but he still provides quality defense at a key position. Williams is also one of the best offensive players. In fact, he is currently rated the No. 1 position player in the entire United Leagues and won his second Babe Ruth Award. For all he brings to the table, I ended up giving Williams the edge – this time. But with the way Cooper Tyson is developing, it may not be long before he forces my hand to give him his due.
• 25-year old
Raymond Williams – .346/.428/.595, 197 H, 31-2B, 25 HR,
119 RBI, 86 BB,
1.023 OPS, 171 OPS+,
8.4 WAR, .999 EFF.
• 25-year old
Cooper Tyson – .313/.405/.504, 176 H, 33-2B, 14 HR, 96 RBI, 89 BB, .908 OPS, 146 OPS+,
8.8 WAR, 1.043 EFF.
• Fort Richmond’s 30-year old
Dylan Moyne – .297/.364/.435, 178 H, 18-2B, 19 HR, 66 RBI, 61 BB, .799 OPS, 119 OPS+, 6.1 WAR, 1.006 EFF.
• Wellington’s 26-year old
Jim Mars - .322/.390/.435, 192 H, 22-2B, 9 HR, 84 RBI, 69 BB, .825 OPS, 125 OPS+, 5.8 WAR, .995 EFF.
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Right Field
Four the past four seasons, right field has not been home to exactly the most dynamic performance from a player (the 1947-48 season saw Marcus Peyto racked up 6.1 WAR). That did not change this year, but this past season did see a couple of promising young players make their mark. Pulberry’s
Ellis Dibble enjoyed his best yet in the United Leagues and earned his first All-Star selection. His impressive work at the plate and terrific defense gave him the edge over Downie’s Connor Bing. Bing made nice progress in his second season in the majors, but Dibble, rated at the No. 1 right fielder in the ULB, was the clear choice.
• 27-year old
Ellis Dibble – .323/.385/.468, 181 H, 29-2B, 12 HR, 87 RBI, 61 BB, .853 OPS, 132 OPS+, 4.4 WAR, 1.019 EFF.
• 25-year old
Connor Bing – .270/.354/.452, 95 H, 20-2B, 10 HR, 54 RBI, 44 BB, .806 OPS, 120 OPS+, 3.7 WAR, 1.112 EFF.
• Brunswick’s 31-year old
Marcus Peyto – .263/.363/.477, 126 H, 28-2B, 21 HR, 90 RBI, 79 BB, .840 OPS, 122 OPS+, 3.6 WAR, .975 EFF.