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reds1 · 02-21-2019, 06:00 PM

February 1, 1951

Eastern League: Suns, Chiefs Surge; Monarchs ‘Scrap’ Paige

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Offense: .289/.357/.419 (1st/3rd/1st)
Pitching: 3.64/3.59/3.97 (3rd/2nd/4th)
Defense: .706 (4th)
Chemistry: Content

Baseball fans in this most easterly of the United League cities are holding their collective breath, as their Cobourg Red Stockings have taken over top spot in the Eastern League with just 48 games left to play in the regular season. Never before have the Red Stockings been this competitive this late in the season. But they will have to fend off the likes of the Embro Suns and defending United Cup champions Downie Chiefs, who are both surging in the second half of the season. The closest the Red Stockings have come to reaching the playoffs was back in 1946-47, when they won 81 games and finished one game back of the Brunswick Legends for the wildcard. But this year, Cobourg boasts a nicely balanced team that appears to have everything in place to finally end their 13-year playoff drought.

The offense is led by the Big Three: 24-year old CF Raymond Williams (.324/.399/.543, 16 HR, 77 RBI, 48 BB, 7 SB, 4.9 WAR), 29-year old 3B Alexander Tolmie (.331/.421/.499, 14 HR, 62 RBI, 62 BB, 4.5 WAR) and 25-year old 1B Harry Doxey (.346/.390/.527, 11 HR, 74 RBI, 33 BB, 4.3 WAR). But the rest of the lineup has been pretty consistent all season long as well.

There’s no question who is Cobourg’s pitching ace, as 22-year old LHP Bill Budd (13-7, 2.70 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 146 ERA+) has started to blossom and is now rated No. 8 among all pitchers in the United Leagues. His assumption as the No. 1 starter has taken pressure off 30-year old RHP Luis Cruz (11-8, 3.04 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 130 ERA+), who continues his steady play for the second consecutive season. But the apparent emergence of 27-year old LHP Hank Bennett (13-6, 3.90 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 101 ERA+) in his second full season as a starter gives further cause for optimism that Cobourg may finally reach the playoffs.

Six Red Stockings qualified for the All-Star game: SP Bill Budd (1st appearance), SP Luis Cruz (1st), RP William Say (1st), 1B Harry Doxey (2nd), 3B Alexander Tolmie (4th) and CF Raymond Williams (4th).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 11 – 1B Harry Doxey (.556, 20 H, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 9 R)
December 25 – 1B Harry Doxey (.452, 14 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI)
January 15 – 3B Alexander Tolmie (.526, 10 H, 3 RBI)

Noteworthy:

December 20 – The 18th CYCLE in ULB history was achieved by Cobourg’s 1B Harry Doxey against Embro, helping the Red Stockings defeat the Suns 4-2. Doxey singled in the 1st, hit a solo-shot off RHP Jim Hogue in the 3rd, hit an RBI double in the 5th, struck out in the 7th and hit an RBI triple in the 9th. In all, he drilled 4 hits in 5 at-bats, collecting 3 RBI, 1 R.

Current Injuries: None

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Offense: .264/.357/.406 (4th/2nd/3rd)
Pitching: 3.87/3.71/4.80 (5th/4th/7th)
Defense: .698 (6th)
Chemistry: Happy

A much-improved starting rotation has helped the Embro Suns move into the wild card spot, just 3.5 games back of Cobourg. The Suns have been laying low over the past four seasons, going 302-314 over that span. This season they are on pace for 82 wins. But with such a competitive field in the East and only 10 games separating first from worst, that may not be enough to return to the playoffs.

24-year old LHP Carl McBroom (8-5, 3.15 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 125 ERA+) has moved up to the No. 3 spot in the rotation. He has improved with each passing month and appears set to deliver on the promise the Suns had in him when they drafted him 6th overall back in 1944-45. His emergence now gives Embro three solid starters in the rotation, to go along with 31-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson (11-10, 3.50 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 112 ERA+) and 31-year old LHP Arthur Bence (11-9, 3.34 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 118 ERA+). But unless the bullpen improves its overall play, the Suns will be vulnerable.

27-year old SS Rafael De La Cruz (.326/.400/.464, 11 HR, 50 RBI, 49 BB, 13 SB, 3.8 WAR) has emerged this season as Embro’s top offensive player. But the lineup appears to be in flux. With 36-year old 1B Jim Friend (.264/.393/.436, 14 HR, 61 RBI, 68 BB, 2.1 WAR) no longer the dominant offensive force he once was, the Suns do not have a Top 20 position player. Thus the club is hoping that their young promising stars, such as 25-year old 3B Keon-chae Cho (.272/.343/.407, 11 HR, 66 RBI, 40 BB, 2.1 WAR) and 24-year old RF José Maldonado (.287/.381/.470, 13 HR, 46 RBI, 60 BB, 8 SB, 2.0 WAR) can return to the form they showed last season, when they earned 4.0 and 4.1 WAR respectively.

Three Suns were selected as All-Stars: SP Arthur Bence (3rd), SS Rafael De La Cruz (1st) and RF José Maldonado (3rd).

Player of the Week Awards:

January 22 – LF Rizalino Ringor (.524, 11 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI)

Noteworthy:

January 19 – Almost a month after Cobourg’s Harry Doxey achieved it, Rizalino Ringor (.272/.431/.388, 6 HR, 33 RBI, 89 BB, 2.1 WAR) hit for the CYCLE as well, the 19th in ULB history. Going 4 for 5 with 1 HR, 2 RBI and 3 R, he helped the Suns trounce the Queensland Eagles 12-3. Ringor hit an RBI triple in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, flied out in the 4th, doubled in the 6th and hit a solo home run off RHP Harvey Heseltine in the 8th.

Key Trade: January 26 with the Braeland City Monarchs:

To Embro – 31-year old CF Ricardo Castellanos (42/42) and 20-year old minor league SS Tom Ewin (20/30)
To Braeland City – 25-year old 3B On Tsao (48/48)

Knee-jerk reaction: One of four trades made by the Monarchs leading up to the January 31st deadline, this deal sees the 4-time all-star Castellanos head to Embro to add some outfield depth and playoff experience. He will serve as the Suns’ fourth outfielder, while Ewin has a decent chance of one day becoming a bench player in the majors, with average offense at best to go along with solid defensive skills at shortstop. Embro deemed Tsao expendable as they have promoted their top prospect, 22-year old Moromao Nakagawa (34/66 – rated No. 2 overall prospect) to the major league roster with the view of having the Braeland City-born Nakagawa take over the hot corner one day soon.

With Tsao on board, the Monarchs have him platooning 3B with 25-year old IF Andy Mack (.282/.331/.429/, 8 HR, 48 RBI, 20 BB, 1.5 WAR). For now, Tsao will face RHP, while Mack will be in the lineup against LHP.

Current Injuries: None

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Offense: .256/.350/.384 (7th/4th/5th)
Pitching: 4.08/4.22/3.47 (6th/6th/2nd)
Defense: .708 (3rd)
Chemistry: Unhappy

The Brunswick Legends have started to fade a bit in the Eastern League standings, after sporting the best record in the ULB after the first two months. That was largely due to an overachieving rotation, so their recent struggles are not entirely unexpected. But with the race in the East tightening and a playoff spot still in play, the Legends decided to go ‘all-in’ by beefing up their pitching with a couple of veteran acquisitions.

But the Legends appear to have a keeper in 23-year old RHP Kent Dundon (14-6, 3.28 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 121 ERA+), who came on strong in both December and January, winning back-to-back Pitcher of the Month honors. The New Zealand native was originally a 4th overall pick by the Hespeler Stars back in 1946-47 and has moved up to the No. 2 spot in the rotation. Brunswick also boasts one of the top bullpens, led by No. 1-rated stopper, 29-year old RHP Lao Chen (9-2, 11 SV, 3.25 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 122 ERA+).

34-year old 1B Stuart Bentham (.355/.440/.561, 19 HR, 70 RBI, 59 BB, 4.3 WAR) continues to perform at a high level on offense. He remains the top-ranked first baseman and leads the East in SLG (.561) and OPS (1.001).

Three Legends were selected to the All-Star game: CL Lao Chen (2nd), 1B Stuart Bentham (10th) and RF Marcus Peyto (5th).

Noteworthy:

December 12 –6-time All-Star LF Terry Aspden (.205/.352/.315, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 15 BB, 0.1 WAR) announced that he is retiring at the end of the season. The 14-year veteran, who spent the first 6-1/2 years of his career with the Queensland Eagles before being traded to Brunswick in January 1944, won two Top Fielder Awards while with the Eagles and a United Cup Championship in 1944-45 with Brunswick. To this point he has career line of .276/.370/.423 with 117 HR, 780 RBI, 888 R, 826 BB, 57 SB, 27.3 WAR. In 126 AB over 35 playoff games, Aspden batted .310/.400/.437, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 21 R, 21 BB. While not a serious Hall of Fame contender, he nevertheless has enjoyed a fine career.

Key Trade No. 1: January 19 with the Stratford Barons:

To Brunswick – 33-year old RHP Kelvin Hutchinson (53/53)
To Stratford – Two minor leaguers: 19-year old CF Mo Brinklow (20/49) and 20-year old RF Arthur Horton (20/30)

Knee-jerk reaction: The first of two trades made with the Barons sees Stratford’s No. 3 starter become Brunswick’s ace. The one-time all-star has had a respectable, if not great, career. The former 7th overall pick from 1937-38 is a groundball pitcher who should benefit from having an above-average defense supporting him. Although his four pitches are nothing special (his fastball is the best at 45/45), he can throw them all for strikes.

In return, Stratford gets two players originally drafted in the mid-rounds. Brinklow is a speedster with decent defense at centerfield while Horton also has impressive instincts on the base paths to go along with great pitch recognition. But both will need some further refining in the minors if they hope to have a shot at reaching the majors.

Key Trade No. 2: January 24 with the Stratford Barons:

To Brunswick – 32-year old RHP Charlie Gilbert (55/55) and 21-year old minor league C Tim Willey (20/30)
To Stratford – 26-year old OF Lance Oakley (31/38)

Knee-jerk reaction: Brunswick acquires another starter from Stratford looking for a fresh start. Gilbert, a two-time all-star, had his greatest success with the Kingston Pelicans, who drafted him 16th overall back in 1939-40. But in recent years he has struggled and was pitching out of Stratford’s bullpen at the time of the trade. He is now Brunswick’s No. 4 starter. He is also a groundball pitcher who has nice movement (60/60), but everything else about him is average. Willey was the final pick in the 1948-49 draft (16th pick; Round 10). He has no speed and is barely average defensively; but has a keen batting eye with good bat speed and barrel control. He has a chance to be a bench player one day.

Oakley is a former 1st-round pick from 1945-46, but a torn ligament back in 1948 put him out of commission for almost 10 months and dampened his progress. But the Wagga Wagga, Australia native still has incredible defensive and base running skills. While he has good strike zone judgment, he is not viewed as an everyday starter. He becomes the Barons’ fourth outfielder, just as he was with Brunswick.

Current Injuries: None

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Offense: .260/.343/.384 (5th/6th/6th)
Pitching: 3.60/3.63/3.45 (1st/3rd/1st)
Defense: .714 (2nd)
Chemistry: Unhappy

The Downie Chiefs came alive in January to get within a game and a half of the wildcard. The Chiefs have seen improved play all across the board, but the pitching staff in particular really stepped it up to bring the team back to relevance. But then disaster struck. Downie’s top two starters, Kelii Pelanekelina and Joong Ling, both fell to injury two weeks apart in January. A day after Ling went down, 35-year old RHP Harley Bracher (7-11, 1 SV, 4.90 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 79 ERA+) was injured. While the loss of Bracher may be addition by subtraction, it meant that the Chiefs were faced with replacing three-fifths of their rotation only days away from the trade deadline. In the end, Downie opted not to seek reinforcements via trade, but used other means to tide them over until their stars return from the DL. First, Downie brought up 28-year old journeyman RHP Virgil de Gilde (6-3, 3.13 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 123 ERA+) from AAA when Pelanekelina went down, then promoted 27-year old career minor league RHP Dexter Blackstock (20/20) when Ling was lost. Lastly, they claimed 35-year old LHP Gavin Hewat (9-11, 4.46 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 88 ERA+) off waivers from the Brunswick Legends, after that club acquired their two new pitchers from Stratford. Hewat now serves as their No. 1 starter for the time being.

But if Downie wants a realistic chance of returning to the playoffs and defend their crown, they will need to get back their top two starters soon. Both 28-year old RHP Kelii Pelanekelina (8-9, 2.33 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 165 ERA+) and 31-year old RHP Joong Ling (8-4, 2.77 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 139 ERA+) continue to be two of the top pitchers in the Eastern League this season, with Pelanekelina leading the League in eight pitching categories.

After slow Octobers (for them), 25-year old CF Alfonso León (.345/.403/.560, 15 HR, 74 EBI, 42 BB, 6.2 WAR) and 25-year old 2B Dominic Dudding (.332/.411/.534, 13 HR, 69 RBI, 55 BB, 5.3 WAR) have really turned it on and are two of the hottest players in the United Leagues right now.

Six Chiefs were selected as All-Stars: SP Joong Ling (2nd), SP Kelii Pelanekelina (3rd), RP Bill Lafontaine (2nd), 2B Dominic Dudding (4th), LF Howard Dumbrill (2nd) and CF Alfonso León (4th).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 4 – 2B Dominic Dudding (.706, 12 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI)
December 18 – CF Alfonso León (.435, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI)

Current Injuries:

RHP Kelii Pelanekelina – January 14 – elbow contusion. Out for: 2 more weeks
RHP Joong Ling – January 25 – oblique strain. Out for: 2 to 3 more weeks.
RHP Harley Bracher – January 26 – hamstring strain. Out for: 4 more weeks.

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Offense: .253/.358/.357 (8th/1st/8th)
Pitching: 4.44/4.33/5.35 (8th/7th/8th)
Defense: .690 (8th)
Chemistry: Content

Despite the tightness of the standings in the East, it appears that the Stratford Barons have no interest in competing this season, having traded two of their long-time pitchers away to Brunswick. That may not be such a bad idea. A number of the Barons’ once prominent players are approaching the end of their careers. While 38-year old 2B Jake Walker (.353/.456/.443, 2 HR, 55 RBI, 72 BB, 3.6 WAR) continues to play at a high level, both 42-year old LHP Ryan Borden (5-10, 4.30 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 91 ERA+) and 40-year old LHP Joel Fearn (11-9, 4.14 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 95 ERA+) are finally showing signs of regression, after years of stellar play. Between them, they have compiled 448 wins, 13 all-star appearances, three Satchel Paige Awards and were members of two United Cup Championship teams. Borden was also selected to two All-Braeland Teams. The two pitchers have been rotation partners for 12 straight seasons. If this is the end for both of them, it’s been an incredible run.

To replace pitchers Kelvin Hutchinson and Charlie Gilbert that were traded away, the Barons moved 24-year old RHP Bill Wolf (8-6, 3 SV, 5.35 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 73 ERA+) from the bullpen to the No. 5 slot in the rotation and promoted 22-year old LHP Robin Wadsworth (42/64) from AAA to be their middle reliever. Wadsworth was a 16th overall pick back in 1948-49.

Two Barons qualified for the All-Star team: C Aaron Skidmore (10th) and 2B Jake Walker (11th).

Player of the Week Awards:

January 8 – RF Nicky Willis (.542, 13 H, 3 HR, 9 RBI)
January 29 – 2B Jake Walker (.542, 13 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R)

Noteworthy:

December 22 –2B Jake Walker saw his 22-game hitting streak come to an end when he went 0-4 against the Brunswick Legends. Nevertheless, the Barons prevailed 8-6 in enemy territory at Babe Ruth Park. It’s the longest hitting streak thus far this season.

Current Injuries:

2B Jake Walker – January 29 – strained hamstring. Out for: DtD, 2 to 3 more weeks.

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Offense: .259/.334/.377 (6th/8th/7th)
Pitching: 3.79/3.80/3.72 (4th/5th/3rd)
Defense: .705 (5th)
Chemistry: Happy

Far from being left behind in the standings, the Queensland Eagles have company. While the Wellington Athletics and Braeland City Monarchs have regressed, the Eagles have been making modest improvements. That is starting to show in the standings. Queensland played .500 ball over December/January and their Pyt. Record has them at 54-54 (-3). They are only 7.5 games back of a wildcard and given the parity currently in the East, anything is possible. But it appears the Eagles are more focused on developing their young budding stars first before taking a serious stab at returning to the playoffs.

On that front, things seem to be going well. Two of their three all-stars this season are rookies: 24-year old 1B Ryan Conisford (.328/.384/.498, 15 HR, 65 RBI, 37 BB, 3.9 WAR) and 24-year old LF Rod Dennis (.339/.380/.498, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 20 BB, 1.9 WAR). Of the four Rookie of the Month honors handed out thus far this season, Conisford has won three and Dennis, one. But it’s not all about the greenhorns. 32-year old C Elijah Sheppard (.281/.374/.431, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 50 BB, 3.0 WAR) is enjoying his best season in three years.

The pitching staff continues to make modest improvements, thus giving hope to the Eagles’ fan base. While 33-year old RHP Pi-ao Quian (12-9, 3.47 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 112 ERA+) continues his consistent ways, 25-year old RHP Logan Belsey (7-13, 4.11 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 94 ERA+) and especially 23-year old RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (8-11, 3.65 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 106 ERA+) are improving as the season wears on.

Three Eagles qualified for the All-Star game: SP Pi-ao Quian (5th), 1B Ryan Conisford (1st) and LF Rod Dennis (1st).

Current Injuries: None

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Offense: .272/.342/.405 (2nd/7th/4th)
Pitching: 3.63/3.46/4.44 (2nd/1st/6th)
Defense: .722 (1st)
Chemistry: Happy

Wellington Athletics’ management must be pulling the hairs out of their heads right now, as they seem to be doing everything right but are not seeing the expected results in the standings. Wellington was still near the top of the standings at the end of December, but a disastrous January has knocked them for a loop. That month included an 8-game losing streak. Nevertheless, their overall play has actually improved over the course of the season. One clue to the disparity may be found in their Pyt. Record: 61-47 – a whopping difference of -10. And of their 18 losses last month, 9 of them were by a single run. So hopefully things will turn in the Athletics favor soon, as they have assembled a talented team and they are by no means out of the race in the East.

Whether it’s via the draft, trade market or free agency, GM Rick Stewart seems to have the Midas touch. Draft selections such as 23-year old LF Matthew Floyd (.304/.361/.541, 21 HR, 72 RBI, 37 BB, 4.5 WAR) and 22-year old C Declan Bugbie (.318/.352/.478, 10 HR, 85 RBI, 21 BB, 3.7 WAR) are both building on impressive rookie seasons. And players acquired by trades, such as 25-year old CF Jim Mars (.316/.380/.476, 9 HR, 63 RBI, 42 BB, 3.4 WAR) and 26-year old RHP Troy Conlin (7-9, 3.59 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 108 ERA+) are quickly becoming key pieces. Finally, free agent pick-up 24-year old 2B Vaiga Bultarro (.325/.374/.493, 7 HR, 56 RBI, 30 BB, 3.8 WAR) has firmly entrenched himself at second base in his second full season with Wellington. The American Samoan is rated 4th overall among all second basemen in the ULB.

Six Athletics were elected to the All-Star game: SP Scott Wheeler (1st), RP Finley Capstick (2nd), C Declan Bugbie (1st), 2B Vaiga Bultarro (1st), LF Matthew Floyd (1st) and CF Jim Mars (1st).

Key Trade: January 23 with the Hespeler Stars:

To Wellington – 30-year old RHP Ian Peter (50/50)
To Hespeler – 26-year old RF Edgardo Barrón (38/39)

Knee-jerk reaction: When No. 3 starter 28-year old RHP Wilfried Schop (9-6, 3.21 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 121 ERA+) went down to injury in early January, GM Stewart saw an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. By getting Peter (10-8, 3.82 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 103 ERA+), the Athletics not only acquired a capable veteran pitcher to fill in the gap, but also unloaded a player that no longer fits into their plans. Barrón (.277/.349/.383, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 22 BB, 0.9 WAR) enjoyed a couple of strong seasons with Wellington in 1946 and 1947, but then quickly declined offensively. He was the odd man out in the outfield the past couple of seasons with the arrival of LF Matthew Floyd, CF Jim Mars and RF Wayne Emmert. But Barrón is still an award-winning defender with tremendous speed and decent offense ratings. So perhaps a ‘change of scenery’ will help him get back on track.

Current Injuries:

RHP Wilfried Schop – January 3 – sprained ankle. Out for: 3 more days.
RHP Bert Morrow – January 26 – herniated disc. Out for: 1 more week.

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Offense: .269/.347/.415 (3rd/5th/2nd)
Pitching: 4.43/4.51/4.10 (7th/8th/5th)
Defense: .691 (7th)
Chemistry: Happy

Give General Manager Adam Trelawny this much: when things didn’t transpire the way he had hoped, he didn’t waste any time changing course. As a result, the Braeland City Monarchs not only ended the Satchel Paige experiment after just 4 months, but also completed three other trades that have substantially changed the make-up of the team. The decline of the pitching staff began late last season, and although the Monarchs made the playoffs, they had to settle for the wildcard after holding down first place for most of the season. After they were swept by the Downie Chiefs in the Pennant Series, Trelawny imported Satchel Paige during the offseason in the hopes that the legendary hurler could spark the rotation for at least another playoff run. But the 44-year old Paige (7-12, 4.56 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 87 ERA+) never got comfortable and the problems plaguing the team were more than one pitcher could solve. Now the team appears set on rebuilding on the fly. On offense, they boast some of the finest talent in the United Leagues and added to it via trades. But the pitching staff will need to see a significant infusion of talent if Braeland City wants to get back to the playoffs sooner rather than later.

Despite the upheaval, the Monarchs are blessed with an incredible core of talent in the lineup. 25-year old 2B Patrick Lidgate (.292/.373/.505, 17 HR, 67 RBI, 52 BB, 4.0 WAR) is enjoying another outstanding season, while 28-year old C Christopher Dainty (.356/.464/.505, 7 HR, 46 RBI, 62 BB, 5.1 WAR), 27-year old 1B Dean Witherden (.351/.391/.514, 15 HR, 56 RBI, 29 BB, 3.6 WAR) and 29-year old SS Simon Flatt (.269/.368/.434, 10 HR, 49 RBI, 59 BB, 3.0 WAR) are all enjoying career years.

But only 29-year old RHP Okura Suzuki (11-9, 3.78 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 105 ERA+) can be said to pitching with any consistency this season. With the trades, he inherits the No. 1 spot in the rotation.

Four players represented the Monarchs at the All-Star game: SP Okura Suzuki (2nd), C Christopher Dainty (3rd), 1B Dean Witherden (3rd) and 2B Patrick Lidgate (2nd).

Key Trade No. 1: December 23 with the Fort Richmond Generals:

To Braeland City – 26-year old LF Jesús Rodríguez (51/51)
To Fort Richmond – 25-year old IF Derek Reed (42/44)

Knee-jerk reaction: A trade that benefits both teams and both players. Rodríguez and Reed were utility players for their respective clubs but after the trade they have become everyday players. Rodríguez is a smart and speedy baserunner with decent defence on the outfield corners. His ratings suggest he should be a formidable hitter, but with a crowded outfield in Fort Richmond, he had difficulty cracking the lineup. That shouldn’t be an issue in Braeland City, at least for now, where he has been slotted into the No. 3 spot in the lineup between Witherden and Lidgate. But the Monarchs will have a decision to make when 25-year old OF Daniel Tantoco (2.96/.326/.482, 13 HR, 29 RBI, 8 BB, 1.1 WAR) returns from the DL.

Reed is an outstanding infield defender with moderate speed and good contact skills. However, he does not have quite the same offensive abilities as Rodríguez. But he is now the Generals’ starting second baseman as it appears they have lost patience with 27-year old IF Brad Richards (.237/.327/.295, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 35 BB, 0.7 WAR).

Key Trade No. 2: January 28 with the Fort Richmond Generals:

To Braeland City – 26-year old LF Jake Stunt (50/50)
To Fort Richmond – 30-year old LHP Nicholas Grimes (57/57)

Knee-jerk reaction: With the departure of CF Ricardo Castellanos two days earlier to Embro, Braeland City installs Jake Stunt as their new leftfielder and lead-off hitter. Stunt is an award-winning defender at leftfield with tremendous speed. He has respectable offensive ratings but had been regressing since he racked up 3.8 WAR two seasons ago. The Monarchs are banking that a fresh start will do him good. With Stunt’s departure, Fort Richmond has shifted 23-year old Daniel Paterson (.288/.348/.495, 14 HR, 57 RBI, 29 BB, 2.0 WAR) to leftfield and given 29-year old Brian Earle (.222/.290/.289, 1 HR, 13 HR, 6 BB, -0.2 WAR) another chance to become their everyday starting first baseman.

Grimes strengthens an already strong pitching staff and will serve as Fort Richmond’s No. 3 starter. Grimes is a workhorse with very good movement and control. 24-year old RHP Danilo Narvaez (2-0, 2.13 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, .229 BABIP – 28/42), a second-round pick from 1945-46, was promoted from AAA to take his place in the Monarchs’ rotation.

Key Trade No. 3: January 30 with the Kingston Pelicans:

To Braeland City – 29-year old LF Luca Bewick (47/47)
To Kingston – 44-year old RHP Satchel Paige (56/56)

Knee-jerk reaction: Despite the embarrassment of shipping off Paige to Kingston after having made a big splash of bringing him to Braeland, the Monarchs nevertheless bit the bullet and moved on. Paige moves on to a team that enjoyed a strong January (16-9) and is now 6 games out of a playoff spot. Kingston has installed him as their No. 3 starter. Despite his struggles, Paige is still a capable pitcher with good control and an eclectic assortment of pitches. 25-year old OF Benjamin Nishikawa (.266/.309/.484, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 BB, -0.1 WAR – 29/29) takes over leftfield from Bewick full-time. Nishikawa was a 16th overall pick back in 1944-45.

Meanwhile, Bewick becomes Braeland City’s everyday rightfielder. Bewick is a two-time all-star with good defense, decent speed and respectable offense. He was regressing a bit with Kingston the past couple of seasons, but he too gets a fresh start with a new team. To replace Paige in the rotation, the Monarchs promoted their top pitching prospect, 23-year old RHP Taylor Folkard (27/50), a 16th overall pick from 1949-50. He is rated 49th overall among prospects and takes over the No. 5 spot.

Current Injuries:

RHP Freddie Trerise– January 4 – torn elbow ligament. Out for: 6 to 7 more months.
LF Daniel Tantoco – January 6 – fractured foot. Out for: 1 more week.

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02-21-2019, 06:00 PM	#488
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,863	February 1, 1951 Eastern League: Suns, Chiefs Surge; Monarchs ‘Scrap’ Paige -------- Offense: .289/.357/.419 (1st/3rd/1st) Pitching: 3.64/3.59/3.97 (3rd/2nd/4th) Defense: .706 (4th) Chemistry: Content Baseball fans in this most easterly of the United League cities are holding their collective breath, as their Cobourg Red Stockings have taken over top spot in the Eastern League with just 48 games left to play in the regular season. Never before have the Red Stockings been this competitive this late in the season. But they will have to fend off the likes of the Embro Suns and defending United Cup champions Downie Chiefs, who are both surging in the second half of the season. The closest the Red Stockings have come to reaching the playoffs was back in 1946-47, when they won 81 games and finished one game back of the Brunswick Legends for the wildcard. But this year, Cobourg boasts a nicely balanced team that appears to have everything in place to finally end their 13-year playoff drought. The offense is led by the Big Three: 24-year old CF Raymond Williams (.324/.399/.543, 16 HR, 77 RBI, 48 BB, 7 SB, 4.9 WAR), 29-year old 3B Alexander Tolmie (.331/.421/.499, 14 HR, 62 RBI, 62 BB, 4.5 WAR) and 25-year old 1B Harry Doxey (.346/.390/.527, 11 HR, 74 RBI, 33 BB, 4.3 WAR). But the rest of the lineup has been pretty consistent all season long as well. There’s no question who is Cobourg’s pitching ace, as 22-year old LHP Bill Budd (13-7, 2.70 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 146 ERA+) has started to blossom and is now rated No. 8 among all pitchers in the United Leagues. His assumption as the No. 1 starter has taken pressure off 30-year old RHP Luis Cruz (11-8, 3.04 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 130 ERA+), who continues his steady play for the second consecutive season. But the apparent emergence of 27-year old LHP Hank Bennett (13-6, 3.90 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 101 ERA+) in his second full season as a starter gives further cause for optimism that Cobourg may finally reach the playoffs. Six Red Stockings qualified for the All-Star game: SP Bill Budd (1st appearance), SP Luis Cruz (1st), RP William Say (1st), 1B Harry Doxey (2nd), 3B Alexander Tolmie (4th) and CF Raymond Williams (4th). *Player of the Week Awards:* December 11 – 1B Harry Doxey (.556, 20 H, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 9 R) December 25 – 1B Harry Doxey (.452, 14 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI) January 15 – 3B Alexander Tolmie (.526, 10 H, 3 RBI) *Noteworthy:* December 20 – The 18th CYCLE in ULB history was achieved by Cobourg’s 1B Harry Doxey against Embro, helping the Red Stockings defeat the Suns 4-2. Doxey singled in the 1st, hit a solo-shot off RHP Jim Hogue in the 3rd, hit an RBI double in the 5th, struck out in the 7th and hit an RBI triple in the 9th. In all, he drilled 4 hits in 5 at-bats, collecting 3 RBI, 1 R. *Current Injuries:* None -------- Offense: .264/.357/.406 (4th/2nd/3rd) Pitching: 3.87/3.71/4.80 (5th/4th/7th) Defense: .698 (6th) Chemistry: Happy A much-improved starting rotation has helped the Embro Suns move into the wild card spot, just 3.5 games back of Cobourg. The Suns have been laying low over the past four seasons, going 302-314 over that span. This season they are on pace for 82 wins. But with such a competitive field in the East and only 10 games separating first from worst, that may not be enough to return to the playoffs. 24-year old LHP Carl McBroom (8-5, 3.15 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 125 ERA+) has moved up to the No. 3 spot in the rotation. He has improved with each passing month and appears set to deliver on the promise the Suns had in him when they drafted him 6th overall back in 1944-45. His emergence now gives Embro three solid starters in the rotation, to go along with 31-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson (11-10, 3.50 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 112 ERA+) and 31-year old LHP Arthur Bence (11-9, 3.34 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 118 ERA+). But unless the bullpen improves its overall play, the Suns will be vulnerable. 27-year old SS Rafael De La Cruz (.326/.400/.464, 11 HR, 50 RBI, 49 BB, 13 SB, 3.8 WAR) has emerged this season as Embro’s top offensive player. But the lineup appears to be in flux. With 36-year old 1B Jim Friend (.264/.393/.436, 14 HR, 61 RBI, 68 BB, 2.1 WAR) no longer the dominant offensive force he once was, the Suns do not have a Top 20 position player. Thus the club is hoping that their young promising stars, such as 25-year old 3B Keon-chae Cho (.272/.343/.407, 11 HR, 66 RBI, 40 BB, 2.1 WAR) and 24-year old RF José Maldonado (.287/.381/.470, 13 HR, 46 RBI, 60 BB, 8 SB, 2.0 WAR) can return to the form they showed last season, when they earned 4.0 and 4.1 WAR respectively. Three Suns were selected as All-Stars: SP Arthur Bence (3rd), SS Rafael De La Cruz (1st) and RF José Maldonado (3rd). *Player of the Week Awards:* January 22 – LF Rizalino Ringor (.524, 11 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI) *Noteworthy:* January 19 – Almost a month after Cobourg’s Harry Doxey achieved it, Rizalino Ringor (.272/.431/.388, 6 HR, 33 RBI, 89 BB, 2.1 WAR) hit for the CYCLE as well, the 19th in ULB history. Going 4 for 5 with 1 HR, 2 RBI and 3 R, he helped the Suns trounce the Queensland Eagles 12-3. Ringor hit an RBI triple in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, flied out in the 4th, doubled in the 6th and hit a solo home run off RHP Harvey Heseltine in the 8th. *Key Trade:* January 26 with the Braeland City Monarchs: To Embro – 31-year old CF Ricardo Castellanos (42/42) and 20-year old minor league SS Tom Ewin (20/30) To Braeland City – 25-year old 3B On Tsao (48/48) *Knee-jerk reaction:* One of four trades made by the Monarchs leading up to the January 31st deadline, this deal sees the 4-time all-star Castellanos head to Embro to add some outfield depth and playoff experience. He will serve as the Suns’ fourth outfielder, while Ewin has a decent chance of one day becoming a bench player in the majors, with average offense at best to go along with solid defensive skills at shortstop. Embro deemed Tsao expendable as they have promoted their top prospect, 22-year old Moromao Nakagawa (34/66 – rated No. 2 overall prospect) to the major league roster with the view of having the Braeland City-born Nakagawa take over the hot corner one day soon. With Tsao on board, the Monarchs have him platooning 3B with 25-year old IF Andy Mack (.282/.331/.429/, 8 HR, 48 RBI, 20 BB, 1.5 WAR). For now, Tsao will face RHP, while Mack will be in the lineup against LHP. *Current Injuries:* None -------- Offense: .256/.350/.384 (7th/4th/5th) Pitching: 4.08/4.22/3.47 (6th/6th/2nd) Defense: .708 (3rd) Chemistry: Unhappy The Brunswick Legends have started to fade a bit in the Eastern League standings, after sporting the best record in the ULB after the first two months. That was largely due to an overachieving rotation, so their recent struggles are not entirely unexpected. But with the race in the East tightening and a playoff spot still in play, the Legends decided to go ‘all-in’ by beefing up their pitching with a couple of veteran acquisitions. But the Legends appear to have a keeper in 23-year old RHP Kent Dundon (14-6, 3.28 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 121 ERA+), who came on strong in both December and January, winning back-to-back Pitcher of the Month honors. The New Zealand native was originally a 4th overall pick by the Hespeler Stars back in 1946-47 and has moved up to the No. 2 spot in the rotation. Brunswick also boasts one of the top bullpens, led by No. 1-rated stopper, 29-year old RHP Lao Chen (9-2, 11 SV, 3.25 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 122 ERA+). 34-year old 1B Stuart Bentham (.355/.440/.561, 19 HR, 70 RBI, 59 BB, 4.3 WAR) continues to perform at a high level on offense. He remains the top-ranked first baseman and leads the East in SLG (.561) and OPS (1.001). Three Legends were selected to the All-Star game: CL Lao Chen (2nd), 1B Stuart Bentham (10th) and RF Marcus Peyto (5th). *Noteworthy:* December 12 –6-time All-Star LF Terry Aspden (.205/.352/.315, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 15 BB, 0.1 WAR) announced that he is retiring at the end of the season. The 14-year veteran, who spent the first 6-1/2 years of his career with the Queensland Eagles before being traded to Brunswick in January 1944, won two Top Fielder Awards while with the Eagles and a United Cup Championship in 1944-45 with Brunswick. To this point he has career line of .276/.370/.423 with 117 HR, 780 RBI, 888 R, 826 BB, 57 SB, 27.3 WAR. In 126 AB over 35 playoff games, Aspden batted .310/.400/.437, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 21 R, 21 BB. While not a serious Hall of Fame contender, he nevertheless has enjoyed a fine career. *Key Trade No. 1:* January 19 with the Stratford Barons: To Brunswick – 33-year old RHP Kelvin Hutchinson (53/53) To Stratford – Two minor leaguers: 19-year old CF Mo Brinklow (20/49) and 20-year old RF Arthur Horton (20/30) *Knee-jerk reaction:* The first of two trades made with the Barons sees Stratford’s No. 3 starter become Brunswick’s ace. The one-time all-star has had a respectable, if not great, career. The former 7th overall pick from 1937-38 is a groundball pitcher who should benefit from having an above-average defense supporting him. Although his four pitches are nothing special (his fastball is the best at 45/45), he can throw them all for strikes. In return, Stratford gets two players originally drafted in the mid-rounds. Brinklow is a speedster with decent defense at centerfield while Horton also has impressive instincts on the base paths to go along with great pitch recognition. But both will need some further refining in the minors if they hope to have a shot at reaching the majors. *Key Trade No. 2:* January 24 with the Stratford Barons: To Brunswick – 32-year old RHP Charlie Gilbert (55/55) and 21-year old minor league C Tim Willey (20/30) To Stratford – 26-year old OF Lance Oakley (31/38) *Knee-jerk reaction:* Brunswick acquires another starter from Stratford looking for a fresh start. Gilbert, a two-time all-star, had his greatest success with the Kingston Pelicans, who drafted him 16th overall back in 1939-40. But in recent years he has struggled and was pitching out of Stratford’s bullpen at the time of the trade. He is now Brunswick’s No. 4 starter. He is also a groundball pitcher who has nice movement (60/60), but everything else about him is average. Willey was the final pick in the 1948-49 draft (16th pick; Round 10). He has no speed and is barely average defensively; but has a keen batting eye with good bat speed and barrel control. He has a chance to be a bench player one day. Oakley is a former 1st-round pick from 1945-46, but a torn ligament back in 1948 put him out of commission for almost 10 months and dampened his progress. But the Wagga Wagga, Australia native still has incredible defensive and base running skills. While he has good strike zone judgment, he is not viewed as an everyday starter. He becomes the Barons’ fourth outfielder, just as he was with Brunswick. *Current Injuries:* None -------- Offense: .260/.343/.384 (5th/6th/6th) Pitching: 3.60/3.63/3.45 (1st/3rd/1st) Defense: .714 (2nd) Chemistry: Unhappy The Downie Chiefs came alive in January to get within a game and a half of the wildcard. The Chiefs have seen improved play all across the board, but the pitching staff in particular really stepped it up to bring the team back to relevance. But then disaster struck. Downie’s top two starters, Kelii Pelanekelina and Joong Ling, both fell to injury two weeks apart in January. A day after Ling went down, 35-year old RHP Harley Bracher (7-11, 1 SV, 4.90 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 79 ERA+) was injured. While the loss of Bracher may be addition by subtraction, it meant that the Chiefs were faced with replacing three-fifths of their rotation only days away from the trade deadline. In the end, Downie opted not to seek reinforcements via trade, but used other means to tide them over until their stars return from the DL. First, Downie brought up 28-year old journeyman RHP Virgil de Gilde (6-3, 3.13 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 123 ERA+) from AAA when Pelanekelina went down, then promoted 27-year old career minor league RHP Dexter Blackstock (20/20) when Ling was lost. Lastly, they claimed 35-year old LHP Gavin Hewat (9-11, 4.46 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 88 ERA+) off waivers from the Brunswick Legends, after that club acquired their two new pitchers from Stratford. Hewat now serves as their No. 1 starter for the time being. But if Downie wants a realistic chance of returning to the playoffs and defend their crown, they will need to get back their top two starters soon. Both 28-year old RHP Kelii Pelanekelina (8-9, 2.33 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 165 ERA+) and 31-year old RHP Joong Ling (8-4, 2.77 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 139 ERA+) continue to be two of the top pitchers in the Eastern League this season, with Pelanekelina leading the League in eight pitching categories. After slow Octobers (for them), 25-year old CF Alfonso León (.345/.403/.560, 15 HR, 74 EBI, 42 BB, 6.2 WAR) and 25-year old 2B Dominic Dudding (.332/.411/.534, 13 HR, 69 RBI, 55 BB, 5.3 WAR) have really turned it on and are two of the hottest players in the United Leagues right now. Six Chiefs were selected as All-Stars: SP Joong Ling (2nd), SP Kelii Pelanekelina (3rd), RP Bill Lafontaine (2nd), 2B Dominic Dudding (4th), LF Howard Dumbrill (2nd) and CF Alfonso León (4th). *Player of the Week Awards:* December 4 – 2B Dominic Dudding (.706, 12 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI) December 18 – CF Alfonso León (.435, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI) *Current Injuries:* RHP Kelii Pelanekelina – January 14 – elbow contusion. Out for: 2 more weeks RHP Joong Ling – January 25 – oblique strain. Out for: 2 to 3 more weeks. RHP Harley Bracher – January 26 – hamstring strain. Out for: 4 more weeks. -------- Offense: .253/.358/.357 (8th/1st/8th) Pitching: 4.44/4.33/5.35 (8th/7th/8th) Defense: .690 (8th) Chemistry: Content Despite the tightness of the standings in the East, it appears that the Stratford Barons have no interest in competing this season, having traded two of their long-time pitchers away to Brunswick. That may not be such a bad idea. A number of the Barons’ once prominent players are approaching the end of their careers. While 38-year old 2B Jake Walker (.353/.456/.443, 2 HR, 55 RBI, 72 BB, 3.6 WAR) continues to play at a high level, both 42-year old LHP Ryan Borden (5-10, 4.30 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 91 ERA+) and 40-year old LHP Joel Fearn (11-9, 4.14 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 95 ERA+) are finally showing signs of regression, after years of stellar play. Between them, they have compiled 448 wins, 13 all-star appearances, three Satchel Paige Awards and were members of two United Cup Championship teams. Borden was also selected to two All-Braeland Teams. The two pitchers have been rotation partners for 12 straight seasons. If this is the end for both of them, it’s been an incredible run. To replace pitchers Kelvin Hutchinson and Charlie Gilbert that were traded away, the Barons moved 24-year old RHP Bill Wolf (8-6, 3 SV, 5.35 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 73 ERA+) from the bullpen to the No. 5 slot in the rotation and promoted 22-year old LHP Robin Wadsworth (42/64) from AAA to be their middle reliever. Wadsworth was a 16th overall pick back in 1948-49. Two Barons qualified for the All-Star team: C Aaron Skidmore (10th) and 2B Jake Walker (11th). *Player of the Week Awards:* January 8 – RF Nicky Willis (.542, 13 H, 3 HR, 9 RBI) January 29 – 2B Jake Walker (.542, 13 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R) *Noteworthy:* December 22 –2B Jake Walker saw his 22-game hitting streak come to an end when he went 0-4 against the Brunswick Legends. Nevertheless, the Barons prevailed 8-6 in enemy territory at Babe Ruth Park. It’s the longest hitting streak thus far this season. *Current Injuries:* 2B Jake Walker – January 29 – strained hamstring. Out for: DtD, 2 to 3 more weeks. -------- Offense: .259/.334/.377 (6th/8th/7th) Pitching: 3.79/3.80/3.72 (4th/5th/3rd) Defense: .705 (5th) Chemistry: Happy Far from being left behind in the standings, the Queensland Eagles have company. While the Wellington Athletics and Braeland City Monarchs have regressed, the Eagles have been making modest improvements. That is starting to show in the standings. Queensland played .500 ball over December/January and their Pyt. Record has them at 54-54 (-3). They are only 7.5 games back of a wildcard and given the parity currently in the East, anything is possible. But it appears the Eagles are more focused on developing their young budding stars first before taking a serious stab at returning to the playoffs. On that front, things seem to be going well. Two of their three all-stars this season are rookies: 24-year old 1B Ryan Conisford (.328/.384/.498, 15 HR, 65 RBI, 37 BB, 3.9 WAR) and 24-year old LF Rod Dennis (.339/.380/.498, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 20 BB, 1.9 WAR). Of the four Rookie of the Month honors handed out thus far this season, Conisford has won three and Dennis, one. But it’s not all about the greenhorns. 32-year old C Elijah Sheppard (.281/.374/.431, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 50 BB, 3.0 WAR) is enjoying his best season in three years. The pitching staff continues to make modest improvements, thus giving hope to the Eagles’ fan base. While 33-year old RHP Pi-ao Quian (12-9, 3.47 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 112 ERA+) continues his consistent ways, 25-year old RHP Logan Belsey (7-13, 4.11 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 94 ERA+) and especially 23-year old RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (8-11, 3.65 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 106 ERA+) are improving as the season wears on. Three Eagles qualified for the All-Star game: SP Pi-ao Quian (5th), 1B Ryan Conisford (1st) and LF Rod Dennis (1st). *Current Injuries:* None -------- Offense: .272/.342/.405 (2nd/7th/4th) Pitching: 3.63/3.46/4.44 (2nd/1st/6th) Defense: .722 (1st) Chemistry: Happy Wellington Athletics’ management must be pulling the hairs out of their heads right now, as they seem to be doing everything right but are not seeing the expected results in the standings. Wellington was still near the top of the standings at the end of December, but a disastrous January has knocked them for a loop. That month included an 8-game losing streak. Nevertheless, their overall play has actually improved over the course of the season. One clue to the disparity may be found in their Pyt. Record: 61-47 – a whopping difference of -10. And of their 18 losses last month, 9 of them were by a single run. So hopefully things will turn in the Athletics favor soon, as they have assembled a talented team and they are by no means out of the race in the East. Whether it’s via the draft, trade market or free agency, GM Rick Stewart seems to have the Midas touch. Draft selections such as 23-year old LF Matthew Floyd (.304/.361/.541, 21 HR, 72 RBI, 37 BB, 4.5 WAR) and 22-year old C Declan Bugbie (.318/.352/.478, 10 HR, 85 RBI, 21 BB, 3.7 WAR) are both building on impressive rookie seasons. And players acquired by trades, such as 25-year old CF Jim Mars (.316/.380/.476, 9 HR, 63 RBI, 42 BB, 3.4 WAR) and 26-year old RHP Troy Conlin (7-9, 3.59 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 108 ERA+) are quickly becoming key pieces. Finally, free agent pick-up 24-year old 2B Vaiga Bultarro (.325/.374/.493, 7 HR, 56 RBI, 30 BB, 3.8 WAR) has firmly entrenched himself at second base in his second full season with Wellington. The American Samoan is rated 4th overall among all second basemen in the ULB. Six Athletics were elected to the All-Star game: SP Scott Wheeler (1st), RP Finley Capstick (2nd), C Declan Bugbie (1st), 2B Vaiga Bultarro (1st), LF Matthew Floyd (1st) and CF Jim Mars (1st). *Key Trade:* January 23 with the Hespeler Stars: To Wellington – 30-year old RHP Ian Peter (50/50) To Hespeler – 26-year old RF Edgardo Barrón (38/39) *Knee-jerk reaction:* When No. 3 starter 28-year old RHP Wilfried Schop (9-6, 3.21 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 121 ERA+) went down to injury in early January, GM Stewart saw an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. By getting Peter (10-8, 3.82 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 103 ERA+), the Athletics not only acquired a capable veteran pitcher to fill in the gap, but also unloaded a player that no longer fits into their plans. Barrón (.277/.349/.383, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 22 BB, 0.9 WAR) enjoyed a couple of strong seasons with Wellington in 1946 and 1947, but then quickly declined offensively. He was the odd man out in the outfield the past couple of seasons with the arrival of LF Matthew Floyd, CF Jim Mars and RF Wayne Emmert. But Barrón is still an award-winning defender with tremendous speed and decent offense ratings. So perhaps a ‘change of scenery’ will help him get back on track. *Current Injuries:* RHP Wilfried Schop – January 3 – sprained ankle. Out for: 3 more days. RHP Bert Morrow – January 26 – herniated disc. Out for: 1 more week. -------- Offense: .269/.347/.415 (3rd/5th/2nd) Pitching: 4.43/4.51/4.10 (7th/8th/5th) Defense: .691 (7th) Chemistry: Happy Give General Manager Adam Trelawny this much: when things didn’t transpire the way he had hoped, he didn’t waste any time changing course. As a result, the Braeland City Monarchs not only ended the Satchel Paige experiment after just 4 months, but also completed three other trades that have substantially changed the make-up of the team. The decline of the pitching staff began late last season, and although the Monarchs made the playoffs, they had to settle for the wildcard after holding down first place for most of the season. After they were swept by the Downie Chiefs in the Pennant Series, Trelawny imported Satchel Paige during the offseason in the hopes that the legendary hurler could spark the rotation for at least another playoff run. But the 44-year old Paige (7-12, 4.56 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 87 ERA+) never got comfortable and the problems plaguing the team were more than one pitcher could solve. Now the team appears set on rebuilding on the fly. On offense, they boast some of the finest talent in the United Leagues and added to it via trades. But the pitching staff will need to see a significant infusion of talent if Braeland City wants to get back to the playoffs sooner rather than later. Despite the upheaval, the Monarchs are blessed with an incredible core of talent in the lineup. 25-year old 2B Patrick Lidgate (.292/.373/.505, 17 HR, 67 RBI, 52 BB, 4.0 WAR) is enjoying another outstanding season, while 28-year old C Christopher Dainty (.356/.464/.505, 7 HR, 46 RBI, 62 BB, 5.1 WAR), 27-year old 1B Dean Witherden (.351/.391/.514, 15 HR, 56 RBI, 29 BB, 3.6 WAR) and 29-year old SS Simon Flatt (.269/.368/.434, 10 HR, 49 RBI, 59 BB, 3.0 WAR) are all enjoying career years. But only 29-year old RHP Okura Suzuki (11-9, 3.78 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 105 ERA+) can be said to pitching with any consistency this season. With the trades, he inherits the No. 1 spot in the rotation. Four players represented the Monarchs at the All-Star game: SP Okura Suzuki (2nd), C Christopher Dainty (3rd), 1B Dean Witherden (3rd) and 2B Patrick Lidgate (2nd). *Key Trade No. 1:* December 23 with the Fort Richmond Generals: To Braeland City – 26-year old LF Jesús Rodríguez (51/51) To Fort Richmond – 25-year old IF Derek Reed (42/44) *Knee-jerk reaction:* A trade that benefits both teams and both players. Rodríguez and Reed were utility players for their respective clubs but after the trade they have become everyday players. Rodríguez is a smart and speedy baserunner with decent defence on the outfield corners. His ratings suggest he should be a formidable hitter, but with a crowded outfield in Fort Richmond, he had difficulty cracking the lineup. That shouldn’t be an issue in Braeland City, at least for now, where he has been slotted into the No. 3 spot in the lineup between Witherden and Lidgate. But the Monarchs will have a decision to make when 25-year old OF Daniel Tantoco (2.96/.326/.482, 13 HR, 29 RBI, 8 BB, 1.1 WAR) returns from the DL. Reed is an outstanding infield defender with moderate speed and good contact skills. However, he does not have quite the same offensive abilities as Rodríguez. But he is now the Generals’ starting second baseman as it appears they have lost patience with 27-year old IF Brad Richards (.237/.327/.295, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 35 BB, 0.7 WAR). *Key Trade No. 2:* January 28 with the Fort Richmond Generals: To Braeland City – 26-year old LF Jake Stunt (50/50) To Fort Richmond – 30-year old LHP Nicholas Grimes (57/57) *Knee-jerk reaction:* With the departure of CF Ricardo Castellanos two days earlier to Embro, Braeland City installs Jake Stunt as their new leftfielder and lead-off hitter. Stunt is an award-winning defender at leftfield with tremendous speed. He has respectable offensive ratings but had been regressing since he racked up 3.8 WAR two seasons ago. The Monarchs are banking that a fresh start will do him good. With Stunt’s departure, Fort Richmond has shifted 23-year old Daniel Paterson (.288/.348/.495, 14 HR, 57 RBI, 29 BB, 2.0 WAR) to leftfield and given 29-year old Brian Earle (.222/.290/.289, 1 HR, 13 HR, 6 BB, -0.2 WAR) another chance to become their everyday starting first baseman. Grimes strengthens an already strong pitching staff and will serve as Fort Richmond’s No. 3 starter. Grimes is a workhorse with very good movement and control. 24-year old RHP Danilo Narvaez (2-0, 2.13 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, .229 BABIP – 28/42), a second-round pick from 1945-46, was promoted from AAA to take his place in the Monarchs’ rotation. *Key Trade No. 3:* January 30 with the Kingston Pelicans: To Braeland City – 29-year old LF Luca Bewick (47/47) To Kingston – 44-year old RHP Satchel Paige (56/56) *Knee-jerk reaction:* Despite the embarrassment of shipping off Paige to Kingston after having made a big splash of bringing him to Braeland, the Monarchs nevertheless bit the bullet and moved on. Paige moves on to a team that enjoyed a strong January (16-9) and is now 6 games out of a playoff spot. Kingston has installed him as their No. 3 starter. Despite his struggles, Paige is still a capable pitcher with good control and an eclectic assortment of pitches. 25-year old OF Benjamin Nishikawa (.266/.309/.484, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 BB, -0.1 WAR – 29/29) takes over leftfield from Bewick full-time. Nishikawa was a 16th overall pick back in 1944-45. Meanwhile, Bewick becomes Braeland City’s everyday rightfielder. Bewick is a two-time all-star with good defense, decent speed and respectable offense. He was regressing a bit with Kingston the past couple of seasons, but he too gets a fresh start with a new team. To replace Paige in the rotation, the Monarchs promoted their top pitching prospect, 23-year old RHP Taylor Folkard (27/50), a 16th overall pick from 1949-50. He is rated 49th overall among prospects and takes over the No. 5 spot. *Current Injuries:* RHP Freddie Trerise– January 4 – torn elbow ligament. Out for: 6 to 7 more months. LF Daniel Tantoco – January 6 – fractured foot. Out for: 1 more week. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 02-23-2019 at 09:36 PM.