World Baseball Alliance

[Imperialism32]

Table of Contents
Introduction | Team Listing | Record Book |
1960 | 1961 | 1962 |

January 1, 1960

In the aftermath of World War II, people wanted two things: normalcy and unity. Old attitudes lingered, to be sure, but years of war had drained collective energies, and folks around the world were looking for an escape. The game of baseball proved to be the answer.

Almost immediately the game exploded in popularity across the globe. It was already America's Pastime, of course, but Europe quickly got on board as well. Popular in Japan and South Korea, the game spread to China, Australia, and New Zealand as well. Dozens of leagues and tournaments began to pop up all over, official and unofficial, formal and informal.

Governments began to take an interest, still looking to flex their muscle but much more eager to do it with a dinger over the fence than a bomb over the border. With the dawning of a new decade, they saw a chance for a new beginning and launched plans to codify the structure of the sport so it could continue to thrive. The high cost of travel was offset by the sport's popularity and governments' willingness to invest.

An agreement was reached in 1956 to bring together many of the major leagues that had sprung up on each continent, and the following years were spent hammering out the details.

Relay Magazine Archives
Click the cover to be taken to that issue's feature story
1960

May - Jay Givens . . . . . . . June - Taki Arakawa . . . . July - Gianfranco Cochetti . . . August - Josh Dillow . . . . . . . Sept - Henry Jones . . . . . . . Oct - Kiev Comets

1961

March - Olivier Roosmalen . . . . . . May - Evans/Java

What This Will Be
My goal is to tell the story of the World Baseball Alliance in a fun, immersive way. I want the world to feel alive and so this project will involve a good deal of writing. My belief has always been that the history of baseball is best told through stories of the players and moments. There will of course be many straight-stats posts, not unlike poring over baseball-reference or the Sunday newspaper. But I want there to be context. It's one thing to see that a shortstop named Jay Givens leads the Alliance in WAR (hey, in my universe, they were calculating WAR back in the '60s, okay?). It's another to see that and have an image of Jay Givens in your head and a real sense for his game because you saw what a scout had to say about him and then read a feature story about him in the universe's quarterly baseball magazine.

What's Real, What's Not
All of the player ratings, simulation results, injuries, trades, etc are 100% for real. I do *not* re-sim to get desired results, mess with ratings, force trades or FA signings, or do anything else to falsify outcomes.

I *do* take occasional liberties with things like nicknames, FaceGens, cities of birth, etc. For example, if two players share a last name a home country then I might adjust their birth city so that I can weave a narrative around them being brothers. And if a guy has a terrible mustache, I'll remove it and refresh his FaceGen.

Players' backstories are going to be largely my own creation, but I try to base them around their game-generated personality traits.

Let's Talk Money
My own preference is to play OOTP with finances remaining the same, so that 25,000,000 means the same thing in 1960 that it does in 2010. Now, obviously baseball players were not making that kind of money in the 1960s, which is where our story begins. To that end, all player contracts are represented in Universal Baseball Currency (UBC) amounts. These numbers remain static over time. The highest paid player in 1960 will make something like 40,000,000. The highest paid player in 2010 will ALSO make something like 40,000,000. Don't get too hung up on it.

Picture it this way: The going rate of a bobblehead is ten marbles. Ten marbles costs me $1. Then, thirty years later, I can still trade ten marbles for a bobblehead. But now ten marbles costs me $5 thanks to inflation. In this OOTP universe, players (more specifically, their baseball services) are the bobbleheads. UBC is the marbles. This is the amount you'll see. The actual dollars and cents are the fictional owner's problems to deal with, we won't concern ourselves with that.

Basic League Structure
Four major leagues were created under the umbrella of the World Baseball Alliance. Each league features 16 teams, with two minor league teams apiece. They are separated into two divisions of eight teams. There is also an affiliated league for each with the identical setup (16 teams, two division, two minor leagues), dubbed the Silver League. The four leagues are:

*North American League
*Caribbean League
*European Premier League
*Australasian League

These are considered the A-level leagues, while the Silver Leagues are B-level.

Promotion and Relegation
At the conclusion of each season, the last-place team in each division at the highest level will be relegated to the corresponding division in the Silver League. The first-place team in each Silver League division is promoted to the higher league. Once promoted, teams must spend at least two seasons in the higher league before being relegated back down. If a promoted team finishes in last place in their first season, then the 7th-place team is relegated in their stead.

Playoffs and World Championship
The 1st and 2nd place teams in each division qualify for the playoffs in their league. These four teams play to decide a champion of the league. The winner from each league advances to the World Series to square off and determine the ultimate champion.

World Baseball Classic
Each March, players represent their home country in the World Baseball Classic. 32 countries are represented, divided into four pools. Every team plays a round-robin within their pool (seven games) and the top two teams from each pool advance to the modified double-elimination playoff. Rounds 1 and 2 are single games, while the final four and championship rounds are best-of-3 series. May the best country win!

Player Acquisition
When a player reaches 16 years old, they are eligible to be signed by an organization, including Silver League teams. Team scouts are only allowed to sign players from their league's region. That is, teams in the North American League cannot sign an amateur player from the Dominican Republic, Italy, or Japan. They can sign at any time.*

*These are scouting discoveries in OOTP. I set discoveries per team up to the highest amount, and restricted the nationalities for each region. So teams in the United States will "discover" players from... the United States. Think of this as the old-timey scout canvassing the country and stumbling upon players. To spice things up a bit, I set the random nationality percentage to 2%, so every so often a scout will discover someone from outside the region. For our purposes, we'll assume the player was born in whatever country he signed from and emigrated to the region.

Many of the best players, though, opt to participate in the scouting combine for their region. By doing this, players cannot sign until July 1 of the current year. Teams are still only allowed to sign amateurs from their own region.*

*As you might have guessed, this is the international amateur pool. Again I've restricted the nationalities, so players from the United States and Canada will populate the "international" pool for the North American League.

Players who don't sign through one of those two avenues must wait until they are 20. At that point they'll be selected by an organization based on prior year records. Once again players are only eligible to be drafted by organizations in their region. The draft takes place on the same day, July 1, that the amateur signing period begins.

*I'll be editing the player creation age so that the draft pool is all 20 year olds and older. Obviously every player will have an American high school or college listed, even those from non-American leagues. We'll be ignoring that

Of course, many of the smaller leagues that came to be in the last 15 years are still in existence, and each off-season some free agents will pop up from these leagues to try and make it at this level.

Player Movement
For much of the year, players cannot leave their league. Trades between the leagues, even between the A-league and the Silver League in the same region, are prohibited.

Then the off-season comes, and those rules go out the window. Players can be traded from any league to any other league, and free agents are eligible to sign with any league. Maybe a terrific Spanish slugger didn't get a good enough contract offer from his team in the European Premier League and decides to sign with a Canadian team. Or a Dominican team needs a starting pitcher and they see a great prospect on a Silver League team in Australia... no problem, now they can trade for him!

What Else?
Well, there's a lot more but why bore you with spelling out every single procedural detail? I'll be doing a lot of writing in addition to posting screenshots so all will be revealed. Much of the written content will be complete fictional lore but I hope it'll at least be fun to read. If there's anything in particular you're wondering about, ask away!

[Imperialism32]

March 7, 1960

Inaugural World Baseball Championship Set To Kick Off

It's the day baseball fans around the globe have been dreaming of. Today marks the start of the first annual World Baseball Championship, a showcase tournament featuring 32 nations coming together for a celebration of the beloved game before leagues begin play under the new World Baseball Alliance in April.

And it's not just the fans who are excited.

"It's a big moment for baseball," Dutch shortstop Olivier Roosmalen said. "I think everybody wants to put on that jersey for their country and prove they're the best."



Roosmalen is considered one of the top young stars of the sport, spending the last few years winning batting crowns in his native Netherlands. In April, though, he'll be playing against all the stars of Europe when he suits up for the Berlin Knights. Not that he expects that to slow him down.

"I can hit anybody," he said confidently. "I've been itching to dig in for a long time."

The Netherlands is in Pool B, which also features one of the perceived favorites in the United States. The top two teams from each pool will advance, and their Day 1 starter C.J. Gorski isn't backing down.

"We've heard some stories over here about guys like Roosmalen and Mathew Alkire, and they're some pretty tall tales," he said. "Guys throwing fastballs you can't even see, ballparks needing to be rebuilt because of the home runs they hit, we've heard it all. But baseball is America's pasttime for a reason, and we're gonna show 'em why."

"I'll be playing for a Canadian team during the regular season, actually," he added. "So I definitely plan on making the most of my time playing for my country."



Alkire, a star Australian outfielder, insists that the stories that made their way across the ocean aren't just exaggerated legends.

"No, it's true, they had to move the fences back for Ken Duffield," he insisted, referring to the star 37-year-old Australian catcher. "If they held this tournament in 1950 instead of 1960, he'd be the one everyone is paying to see."

Alkire may be showing his modesty. He's considered not just the best played in Australia but those who have seen him swear he matches up favorably with anyone from any country.

"It's gonna be fun, for sure," he said. "But it's also gonna be instense. This is the beginning of a great chapter in baseball history, so settle in and enjoy the story."

[Imperialism32]

March 11, 1960

World Baseball Championship Pool Play Update

We've only been playing baseball for four days but already a host of storylines have emerged. The host country, South Korea, is off to a 3-0 start and got a massive performance from their ace, Soo-Keun Bae, in their first game. They are tied with Puerto Rico for the Pool A lead.


The United States shook off a surprising day 1 loss to Germany to win the next three and they sit tied with the Germans at 3-1 atop Pool B. Third baseman Sawyer Hart has had a nice month packed into four games, and the USA leads the WBC in home runs so far.


The Dominican Republic team beat Cuba in an extra-innings thriller, the best game of day 1, and they've cruised since then. They're 3-0 and have allowed just four runs. This complete shutout by Angel Varela definitely helped.

[Imperialism32]

March 14, 1960

World Baseball Championship Pool Play - Final Day


Things remain unsettled as we head into the last day of pool play.

In Pool A, Puerto Rico has not only assured themselves of advancing, they've established themselves as the favorites as the only undefeated team left. Host South Korea has dropped two of their last three, and they need a win over India in their final game to keep things going.

The United States and Germany have been atop Pool B all week, and they simply need to win to advance. Germany takes on rival Poland, while the USA faces off against New Zealand.

Things have been decided in Pool C, where Venezuela and Russia have outpaced the field. Venezuela was considered a favorite, of course, but Russia surprisingly took down Japan and Mexico to earn their way forward.

And in Pool D, the Dominican Republic and China are in control and can guarantee their advancement with a win.

[Imperialism32]

March 16, 1960

World Baseball Championship - Playoff Preview



Everyone who needed to take care of business on the final day of qualifying did so, and we have our final eight teams.

In Pod A, the host team South Korea appear to have gotten a very favorable draw thanks to some tiebreakers, getting Germany and Russia in their pod rather than the United States and Venezuela.

"None of these teams are pushovers, but we're really happy to be where we are," said starting pitcher Hyun-Koo Chai. He and rotation-mate Soo-keun Bae have been two of the early breakout stars on the national stage. They've combined for four starts, throwing 31 innings and allowing just 22 hits and 5 earned runs while walking 12 and striking out 28.


Not surprisingly, the other Pod A teams also see an opportunity. Led by third baseman Yevgeni Sarenko, the Russian squad is relishing their moment in the spotlight. He's been trying to keep his team grounded, though.

"A lot of guys are hyped to advance but I've been reminding them that we should be aiming higher. We won six of our seven games and we fought tough against Venezuela in the one loss [an 8-6 defeat] so we know we can play with anybody.


The elder statesmen of the German team, Daniel Zech, has already befuddled France and New Zealand and he's eager for more. He'll suit up for Berlin when the season starts in April, and he's already seemingly overcome with joy.

"It's really been a dream come true. When you think about where things were 10, 15 years ago to now... It's truly been incredible. I was 20 years old and thinking I might die out there in a war I didn't even agree with. So to be here representing my country in such a different way is just, it shows how special this game can really be."


Meanwhile Pod B might as well be re-named the Group of Death. It's also turned into a Western vs. Eastern Hemisphere battle, with two teams set to advance from each pod.

A relaxed Puerto Rico team, with their spot already clinched, dropped their final game to Panama. So no team made it unscathed through the qualifying round, but star slugger Luis Cueva made it clear he considers his team the favorite.

"I don't think it's arrogance," he said. "We were up there at 6-0 and let out foot off the gas because we could. That's not going to happen this round. Obviously there are some tough pitchers like C.J. Gorski and Vicente Acevedo in our pod, but we've seen these guys before in leagues here. The Asian and European guys we faced last round we hadn't seen as much, but I think we're better prepared this round.


Puerto Rico will face Gorski in game 1, but it's another US ace, Reggie Thurmond, that stole the show in the qualifying round. He dominated Poland and New Zealand, and while the will certainly be a step up in competition, he feels ready.

"I feel like I'm at the top of my game right now," the 30 year-old said. "Any lineup you put in front of me, I'm gonna mow down," he said.


Thurmond is in line to face the Dominican Republic in the third of three round-robin games. Upon hearing this quote, star outfielder Julio Gamez chuckled.

"He can think that, sure," he said. "But it's a different ballgame pitching against us than Poland and Zealand. I was in the stands for the New Zealand game, and no offense to them but he was throwing some hittable pitches that they just missed.


If the USA and Dominican Republic have some serious stakes to play for in that game, you'd better tune in because it could get spicy.

[Imperialism32]

March 20, 1960

World Baseball Championship - Dominican Republic Prevails

United States starting pitcher Reggie Thurmond took a lot of confidence to the mound against the Dominican Republic. That confidence was turned around quickly and deposited over the wall again and again.

Three different players hit two-run home runs off Thurmond and the Dominican Republic defeated the USA in a de-facto play-in game for both teams. With the win, the DR advances to the semifinals while the United States will have to try again next March.



Elsewhere, Germany and South Korea each defeated Russia and China to earn their two wins to move ahead. South Korea won the mostly meaningless third game between the two teams.

In the other pod, it was Venezuela taking care of business and knocking off the USA and Puerto Rico to earn their trip forward.

[Imperialism32]

March 26, 1960

World Baseball Championship - South Korea vs. Dominican Republic

The host of the first-ever World Baseball Championship tournament is now just two wins away from capturing the glory and holding bragging rights for the next year.

The South Korean team dispatched Venezuela, winning 4-1 and 3-2 to advance to the title series. Not surprisingly, it was the pitching getting it done as Soo-Keun Bae and Hyun-Koo Chai each turned in another brilliant start.

The pair of 26 year-old hurlers, born just five days apart, have now combined for 62 innings pitched with just 38 hits and 10 earned runs allowed. They've tallied 66 strikeouts against just 13 walks. While they faced off against each other in a previous iteration of Korea's baseball league, being teammates has bonded them.

"I look at it as a friendly rivalry," Bae said. "Every time I go out to the mound I want to do better than he did. And he's right there at the top of the dugout rooting for me. I think that's why we've gotten this far, really, that sense of teamwork and camaraderie."

Chai agreed. "People have been pairing us together because of our age but we're different pitchers. He's out early doing long toss, reading scouting reports. Me? I just like to get out there and throw. It's been working so far."

With one more blazing start, either pitcher would wind up taking home WBC Most Outstanding Players honors. Though it will be their third starter, Byung-Hee Jun, getting the start in game 1 against the Dominican Republic. Jun has been no slouch himself, checking in at 3-0 with a 2.31 ERA in 23.1 innings.



The three will be rivals once again when the tournament concludes, each headed to a different team in the Australasian League. For now, though, they're trying to make history and send their fellow citizens home happy.

Standing in their way is the team from the Dominican Republic. Like the Koreans, they needed just two games to advance, outscoring the upstart German team 14-3 on their way.

They've been led on the field and off by Angel Varela. At 35, Varela is the oldest player on the team, a full five years older than the next closest pitcher. He's already a hero in his native country, one of the most popular pitchers since he began playing professionally at age 20.



He pitched brilliantly in a qualifying round shutout of Colombia before taking a hard-luck loss to Taiwan. Since then, he's been moved to the bullpen where he's pitched four perfect innings.

"I've been a starter ever since I can remember," he said. "Spring games, all-star games, sandlot games, I consider myself a starter. I don't have to prove that to anyone. But I do have to prove that the Dominican Republic has the best baseball in the word, so I'll pitch in whatever role is needed."

The Dominican team is literally bridging generations with their battery. Varela, the oldest player, has been throwing to catcher Yordano Mirano, the team's youngest.



He's sure looked like a veteran, belting four home runs while providing defense and leadership from behind the plate.

"I grew up watching him whenever he would come back home to San Cristóbal," Mirano said of Varela. "So it means a lot to me that that I'll be the one behind the plate when he closes out the tournament and brings home the win," he added confidently.

[Imperialism32]

March 30, 1960

World Baseball Championship - Dominican Republic Celebrates



With two swings of the bat, Maximo Loaiza showed he knows how to start a party - and how to end one.

He came to bat in the bottom of the 3rd inning of the deciding game with the Dominican Republic already ahead 4-0. He smoked a line drive to left field that had just enough height to get over the wall, giving his team a 6-0 lead and seemingly putting the game to bed.

The next two innings were more like a coronation of the Dominican team. The Korean fans had been quieted and Gene Viveros was tossing a gem. But something sparked in the 6th inning, and the fans began to waken as the Korean team scratched across a run with two outs and then loaded the bases.

Ji-Hoon Choi unloaded them, and unloaded on a Viveros fastball, sending it over the wall and sending the crowd into a frenzy as the lead was cut to 6-5. The lifeless game had been given CPR and surely sent millions around the world back to their radios and televisions to catch the conclusion.

The easygoing smiles in the Dominican dugout turned to tension as they gritted through the next inning, stranding two baserunners. The Koreans further threatened in the 8th but a brilliant throw from rightfielder Lukas Caneda prevented a 1st-and-3rd situation with just one out.

And in the bottom of the 8th, Loaiza returned to the plate with a man aboard. He waited out Byung-Soo Shin, working the count to 3-2 before getting one he could drive, launching his 7th home run of the tournament.



Angel Varela, who had escaped the 8th inning jam, returned for the 9th and calmly closed it out, firing a high fastball past Soo-Il Minh and into the mitt of Yordano Mirano, just as Mirano had promised.

For their efforts, Loaiza and Varela were respectively named Most Outstanding Player and Best Pitcher of the tournament.

[Imperialism32]

April 1, 1960

OPINION: World Baseball Alliance Already A Resounding Success
Eric Maier, The New York Leder

The first official pitch of the newly-formed World Baseball Alliance hasn't even technically been thrown, but I'm ready to declare it a wild success. There were doubters. They said the leagues were too different, the countries were too different, you'd never be able to get everyone on the same page.

But the World Baseball Championship knocked those arguments out of the yard like Maximo Loaiza when he sees a flat slider. In Busan, South Korea, we witnessed 32 countries come together and put on a heck of a show.

It ended with Loaiza and his Dominican Republic teammates moving the party from the mound out to the right field bleachers, where their supporters had gathered. A Dominican flag that had been waving all game long in the upper deck had made its way down. It was passed over the fence and Loaiza grabbed it and draped himself in it, then took off around the warning track for a victory lap.

The Korean fans surely felt crushed. They had shown up in the tens of thousands all tournament long, showcasing to the world their fervor for the sport. And they packed the stands for the finale, eager to see their team take the title in their home country. The air got sucked out early with a pair of home runs, but then that miraculous grand slam to bring them within a run... and then disappointment, their boys unable to rally one final time.

Some had long exited, bolting practically before the final pitch smacked into the catcher's mitt. But others were still inside, maybe in their seats, maybe on the concourse. Loaiza made his way around the dirt track, and for a second they didn't know what to do.

Boo him? This was their enemy, the one who had almost single-handedly ripped the trophy from their hands. (The Dominican team won by 3, Loaiza had 4 RBIs... you can do the math) And how he was parading around their ballpark with his flag. Booing would have been appropriate.

But there was no booing. There was a moment of quiet, and then... applause. Starting low and rising high, the Korean fans clapped as the Dominican team made their way around with their flag and the trophy.

And sure, they were applauding the champs. But more than that, they were applauding baseball. The sport was the star, all tournament long. 32 countries coming together for one sport. For the dawn of a new era.

It's now April, which means the party is over and the true test begins. Last year some teams were barnstorming, others were sideshows. Some leagues played 100 games, some played 150. Now we've got four major leagues, with uniform rules across the board. The winners of each will meet in October and declare a true World Series champion. Will it work?

Well, the World Baseball Championship proved that we have far more in common than apart. Consider me a believer.

[Imperialism32]

April 1, 1960

Interlude - A Listing Of Teams

Well, here's something I should have done sooner. Here are some screenshots showing each league... I hope you guys pick some out and root for them! If you are rooting for a particular team, let me know and I'll make sure I give them some extra focus for you.

Remember that promotion/relegation is in effect. Two teams down and two teams up from the Silver League each off-season.

Australasian League



Caribbean League



European Premier League



North American League

[Imperialism32]

April 14, 1960

Best Tools Report - Hitters

Every year I talk to dozens of scouts across the globe to get their thoughts on which players boast the best tools. For even-numbered years I look at hitters and odd-numbered years are for pitchers. Here are the categories:
Best Overall Hitter - Awarded to the player with the best combination of contact, gap, power, and eye
Best Contact Hitter - These players are going to threaten for the batting title
Best Power Hitter - Because chicks dig the long ball
Most Discerning Eye - A walk's as good as a hit, right?
Best Baserunner - Find out who'll be blazing on the basepaths.
Best Defender - Web gems! We've got some web gems!



Click HERE for a much larger version for better zooming.

Best Overall Hitter
Australasian League: RF Han-Soo Park, Canberra Rattlers (HM: RF Mathew Alkire, Yokohama Lynx)
Caribbean League: 2B Maximo Loaiza, Kingston Cockatoos (HM: 1B Severo Sanchez, La Romana Rascals)
European Premier League: CF Václav Kanerva, London Werewolves (HM: 3B Mel Martin, Kiev Comets)
North American League: SS Jay Givens, Boston Bombers (LF Josh Dillow, Kansas City Wheat Kings)

Scout's Take: "To me, Park is the best hitter in the world right now. He maybe won't lead the league in home runs but you're talking about a guy who can hit .330 and get on base other ways, too. [NOTE: Park hit .333/.452/.567 in 15 World Baseball Championship games] Maximo Loaiza is similarly well-rounded but Park is a touch better across the board. A few years ago I would have said Givens but he's on the wrong side of 30 now. He also plays a terrific shortstop and can run a bit compared to those two, so if you're asking about the best player then it's probably him, but for just hitting he's a bit behind. I would've loved to see what kind of numbers he could've put up in a league like this if he were Park's age. Kanerva is fourth for me in this group but he's no slouch, and he's also the youngest (23). And he's doing it a premium position like Givens, too."

Best Contact Hitter
Australasian League: LF Milton Link, Sydney Soar (HM: CF Nobuhiro Niita, Melbourne Mudfish)
Caribbean League: SS Jay Reyes, Barranquilla Warhawks (HM: RF Nicolás Navas, Havana Lightning)
European Premier League: SS Olivier Roosmalen, Berlin Knights (HM: 1B Syarhey Sverchinski, Madrid Kings)
North American League: LF Josh Dillow, Kansas City Wheat Kings (HM: SS Otis Smythe, Seattle Bluejackets)

Scout's Take: "Olivier Roosmalen is the answer and I think even the scouts who spit on European players would say that. I still hear people saying that Euro ball is a rung below the US and the Caribbean and Asian countries but I saw Roosmalen hit last year against a team of Cuban all-stars and he was the best hitter on the field by far. He hit .310 in the WBC and had 3 HRs in 7 games, and that's not even his game. He's gonna sting line drives all over the field and if anyone is gonna threaten .400 he's my bet. Oh, and he's right up there on the defensive list too. He can really get after it at shortstop.

Reyes is probably the next best of the bunch. He and Milton Link are both older guys but they still have some of the best wrists I've seen. Reyes is the better overall hitter but Link is damn near impossible to strike out. Dillow's young still (24) but he's already a better overall hitter than Reyes and Link. But you asked about contact only, so I'd put him 4th."

Best Power Hitter
Australasian League: RF Mathew Alkire, Yokogama Lynx (HM: CF Shunli Li, Tokyo Tsunami)
Caribbean League: 1B Severo Sanchez, La Romana Rascals (HM: 1B Luis Cueva, Barranquilla Warhawks)
European Premier League: RF Dilano Salij, London Werewolves (HM: 1B Tomas Tucios, Warsaw Trappers)
North American League: 1B Ryne Howells, Los Angeles Seraphs (HM: LF Noah Edenfield, Phoenix Devils)

Scout's Take: "This one's harder to say for sure. Playing with uniform rules and in more similar ballparks will help clear it up. I'd pay to see Mathew Alkire do anything on the baseball diamond, I'll tell you that. Matter of fact, he might be the second-best hitter in the world after Park. Howells is, what, 5-foot-11? It's crazy to see him launching balls just as far as Severo Sanchez who's 6-2, 220. I don't know how you say one is better than the other at hitting for power. I'd put Salij last, not because he lacks the power but because he doesn't always seem to have his head screwed on straight."

Most Discerning Eye
Australasian League: RF Han-Soo Park, Canberra Rattlers (HM: 1B Kevin Dawkes, Mumbai Vipers)
Caribbean League: 2B Maximo Loaiza, Kingston Cockatoos (HM: RF J.C. Garcia, Panama City Seabees)
European Premier League: CF Václav Kanerva, London Werewolves (HM: CF Rowdy Almanzar, Copenhagen Condors)
North American League: SS Jay Givens, Boston Bombers (HM: LF Noah Edenfield, Phoenix Devils)

Scout's Take: "It's Park again. Not surprising, by the way, that all four of these guys are on another list, too. It's not just that they know how to draw a walk, they know how to work the count and make the pitcher throw them something he doesn't want to. Park is a hitting savant and he does it better than anybody. Givens, like I said, five years ago he was on that level. Now he's one notch below. Loaiza just drew 10 walks in 15 WBC games, and that was in a loaded Dominican lineup. And it's a shame we're comparing Kanerva to these guys and putting him at #4 but he's 23 years old, plays center field, and can really run. If you asked me one batter to take to start my franchise with... well, it's Park, but Kanerva is probably second."

Best Baserunner
Australasian League: CF Katsuma Watanabe, New Delhi Monarchs (HM: 2B Harshan Candramani, Hong Kong Claws)
Caribbean League: SS Sebastian Cajar, Panama City Seabees (HM: LF Pirro Gonzalez, Maracaibo Gledes)
European Premier League: CF Lucas Dawson, Paris Pride (HM: 1B Freyr Hellmann, Kiev Comets)
North American League: LF Jordan Fenton, Atlanta Razorbacks (HM: SS Upton Abdul, Toronto Giants)

Scout's Take: "All of these guys are absolute burners. Dawson was the only guy we got to see in the WBC and of course he stole 2 bases in 7 games. The thing about three of these guys is when you watch them they go hard all the time. And it's not false hustle. I can't say one is faster the other but if you put them on a track and raced 'em against each other, I'd be first in line to buy tickets. The one exception is Cajar. I've heard too much smoke about him. He might demand 50% of the profits before he even thought about showing up."

Best Defender
Australasian League: CF Katsuma Watanabe, New Delhi Monarchs (HM: SS Taiki Kimura, Perth Paladins)
Caribbean League: SS Juan Machado, Panama City Seabees (HM: 3B Antonio Santana, Willemstad Wings)
European Premier League: CF Tom Caillaux, Vienna Wolf Pack (HM: SS Gerd Celer, Madrid Kings)
North American League: CF Noah Durst, Montreal Paragons (HM: SS Isaac Mohammed, Kansas City Wheat Kings)

Scout's Take: "Really tough again, especially comparing different positions. Tom Caillaux is probably the slowest of the three centerfielders but he finds a way to track down just as many balls. He and Durst are good enough hitters to be in the lineup every single day. I'm not sure that's true for Watanabe. His best role is probably pinch-running and coming in late for defense. Same thing for Machado. He's the best defensive infielder I've ever seen but he's stuck on the same team as Cajar who's no slouch at shortstop either. Tell you what, I wouldn't want to be Panama City's manager dealing with that."

[Imperialism32]

April 15, 1960

Pre-Season Projections - Austalasian League

[Imperialism32]

April 15, 1960

Pre-Season Projections - Caribbean League

[Imperialism32]

April 15, 1960

Pre-Season Projections - European Premier League

[Imperialism32]

April 15, 1960

Pre-Season Projections - North American League

[Klew1986]

Wow. This looks amazing. Any chance this is available as a quickstart?

[Imperialism32]

April 15, 1960

Top Prospects Report

After some more consulting with scouts from all four major leagues, I've made a list of the top 10 prospects, combined across the globe.

1. LF T.C. Anand, Busan Mocs


The righty outfielder from India is seen as the top up-and-coming hitter in the world, earning high praise for his contact and power. He's not going to wow you with his athleticism but he has enough tools to be an average outfielder, or he can always be DH'd. The only thing missing from his offensive game is that he's too aggressive at times, but if you hit the ball as hard as he does some overeagerness can be excused. Anand will start the season in the A2, the lower of the minor leagues, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him hit his way to the majors by the end of the year.

2. RHP Kuniyoshi Takeda, Wellington Whistlers


Takeda has been a household name in Japan for years. He pitched his high school team to a championship in the country's Koshien tournament, and decided to turn pro not long after and ink a contract with the Wellington Whistlers. The only thing he has to prove is that he can continue to refine his game against professionals but his coaches rave about his intelligence. They'll take it slowly with the 17 year-old, leaving him in their training complex to beging the season.

3. RF Nicolas Navas, Havana Lightning


At just 20 years old, there's little doubt Navas is ready. His organization agrees, and he'll start the season in the Caribbean League with the Havana Lightning. He already has two legitimate plus-plus tools with his ability to make contact and his absolute rocket of an arm. He's not a premium athlete but he works hard to get the most out of his tools and scouts still think there is untapped power potential. It remains to be seen how that will play out, but the consensus is that he'll rake from day 1.

4. RHP Daniel Rocha, San Juan Salamanders


Rocha has an ideal frame at 6'3" and 190 pounds with plenty enough strength to sit in the 96-98 mph range. His stuff is wicked but the only speed bump is that it's not always consistent. He flashes a plus-plus curveball but mixes in too many flat ones. The same goes for his other off-speed pitches, but those who've coached him believe he has the work ethic to develop them and become a big-league starter in the Caribbean League for 1961. He'll start the year in the A1 league, quite possibly first in line for a call-up if a starter is needed in San Juan.

5. RHP Sammy Chevit, Madrid Kings


Chevit doesn't lead the crop of pitching prospects in any one category but he possesses arguably the most well-rounded game. He generates a ton of groundballs throwing a sinker and a splitter rather than a traditional changeup, but calling him a pure sinkerballer does a disservice to his ability to miss bats.

6. CF Lucas Dawson, Paris Pride


The diminutive Dawson - he's only 5'11" 155 - isn't nearly the same hitter as others on this list, but he's certainly capable enough across the board. The rest of his game, though, is off the charts. He'll man center field for the Paris Pride and has a chance to set the standard at the position in the European Premier League. He was already named best baserunner, and he might well be the best defender, too. His bat gets a little bit underrated because of his other tools. He should be an above-average hitter with stellar defense, and he's major-league ready right now.

7. CF Elliot Turner, Sydney Soar


Turner, who plays for his hometown organization in Sydney, and it shouldn't be too long until he makes the leap up from A2. He has prodiguous power potential though right now he's more of a gap hitter. The home runs should follow as he adds strength to his 160 lbs. He also shows high potential in center field, flashing the speed and arm to become a plus defender. Mostly he just needs more game-time action to develop his skills across the board.

8. RHP Stefan Capidan, Lisbon Lions [Silver League]


Capidan will spend his first year in the Silver league and attempt to lead Lisbon into the upper league. He doesn't have great control and there are whispers about his makeup, but one thing is for sure: his stuff plays in the Silver League, the Premier League, and any other league on this planet. Probably on Mars, too. His fastball, slider, and changeup all rate as plus-plus pitches.

9. CF Andrjez Jablonski, Kiev Comets


He's a ways away from his ceiling at just 17 years old (and a young 17), but the skills are all there to make him a superstar. His own organization still isn't sure if his future is an infielder or an outfielder, and it will likely depend on how much he grows. He projects to be an excellent contact hitter and his swing is built for power, too.

10. RHP Ramsden Peterman, Boston Bombers


Peterman is a tinkerer on the mound, but everything he throws seems to just move. He will throw a sinker, a splitter, a knuckle curve, and, why not, a screwball. His pitches are already pretty well-refined though he tends to induce more weak contact than missing bats outright at this stage. He'll start out the year in A1 but if he shows some improvement generating strikeouts, or cuts down on his walks, then he should be in line for a promotion.

[Imperialism32]

Originally Posted by Klew1986

Wow. This looks amazing. Any chance this is available as a quickstart?

It is now!

You can find it here: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=316348

[Imperialism32]

The Wheelhouse is a joint production of the World Baseball Alliance and media outlets around the world. It is published every other Friday during the regular season.






Paris and Willemstad Remain Unbeaten

Each team has played six games but only two teams are yet to record a blemish in the loss column. The Paris Pride swept away Copenhagen and Berlin in their first two series, not just winning games but demolishing their opponents. They sport a +37 run differential, meaning they've won their games by an average of 6.2 runs! They've been led on offense by Kai Krenn, who leads the entire Alliance in batting average. He's been equaled on the mound by ace Lenny Sloan, who has tossed 16 innings and allowed just a single earned run in two starts.

In the Caribbean League, the Willemstad Wings have also produced a 6-0 record, but they haven't been quite the behemoth that Paris is. The Wings have already won three games by a single run, and another by two runs. Gene Viveros, who started the decisive game of the World Baseball Championship for the Dominican Republic, has pitched brilliantly so far with just one run allowed in 17 innings. Willemstad had been projected to finish with a losing record, but the team's confidence is high after the hot start.

Astor Alexander Causing Trouble?

The Wheelhouse generally focuses on the A-level league, but there's been a serious development in the Caribbean Silver League already. Star pitcher Astor Alexander already seems to be alienating teammates. One anonymouse source was quoted in a local paper, and we've since heard from another.

"He doesn't want to be here [in the Silver League]," our source said. "He shows up when he wants, leaves when he wants, and does his own thing when he wants. We asked one guy who played with him last season if he's always like this, and he just smiled and nodded like he knows it's gonna get worse."

Alexander hasn't let the kerfuffle distract from his pitching, throwing complete game shutouts in each of his two starts. One member of the Nassau ownership group has publicly backed him. "Astor is a valued part of our team. The fans love him and we love having him. We expect him to be an anchor of our team for years to come." Alexander is under contract through 1965.

WBC Hero Upset With New Role

[Imperialism32]

May 1, 1960

April Players of the Month