World Baseball Alliance

[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. This special All-Star Edition comes on a Monday.



All-Star Teams Announced

Amateur Draft & Signing Review
Last time we covered several of the top amateur prospects. Here's when they wound up and how much they signed for:

1B Yingjie Liu, Australasian League - Busan Mocs (4,752,000)
3B Vincent Russell, Australasian League - Perth Paladins (182,885)
CF Dae-Hwan Woo, Australasian League - Melbourne Mudfish (1,100,000)

CF Oriol Nuñez, Caribbean League - Mexico City Aztecs (650,000)
LF Armand Camargo, Caribbean League - Panama City Seabees (3,400,000)
2B Domingo Bernal, Caribbean League - Havana Lightning (869,678)

3B Theodor Friedrich, European Premier League - Kiev Comets (4,200,000)
CF Costa Panico, European Premier League - Paris Pride (950,000)
CF Julian Valberg, European Premier League - Rome Regiment (1,320,000)

3B Adam Cooper, North American League - San Francisco Prospectors (3,867,500)
SP Connor Newsom, North American League - Remains unsigned
CF Joshua Brannock, North American League - Detroit Chargers (730,000)
CF Korbin Moore, North American League - Seattle Bluejackets (1,200,000)

SP Archer Carveth, Australasian League - Round 1, Pick 4 by Seoul Wyverns
SP Anatoly Fernández, Caribbean League - Round 1, Pick 1 by Willemstad Wings
OF Robert Hedner, European Premier League - Round 1, Pick 3 by Istanbul Griffins
OF Ron Reddig, North American League - Round 5, Pick 1 by Vancouver Bruins

[Imperialism32]

Gianfranco Cochetti took a look around the London Werewolves' visitors locker room where the East Division All Stars were gathered and saw some familiar faces: his teammates.

The Kiev Comets cruised into the all star break at 60-21, easily the best record in the entire World Baseball Alliance. So it wasn't a surprise when rosters were announced and the Comets accounted for nearly a quarter of the All Stars (six of the 25-man roster).

Michaël Thierry, whose hitting streak captured the world's attention earlier this season, was starting at shortstop and leading off. Third baseman Mel Martin, third in the division in WAR, was there. Starting pitcher Adolph Borchardt hasn't taken a loss yet, he's 11-0. He was chatting with Henry Jones, another Kiev starting pitcher. In any other year, they might have earned the starting nod. But yet another Comets starter, Michael Reid, earned that role with his 14-2 record and 2.83 ERA. He was getting ready to go to the bullpen and warm up.

Another three Kiev Comets finished in the top three of the fan voting. It's been that kind of season in Kiev, and it's been Cochetti at the forefront of it all. Only beloved Berlin Knights shortstop Oliver Roosmalen received more fan votes than Cochetti.

"That was a really big honor for me," he said, beaming. "It's been a fun year so far."

Maybe he doesn't know it's not supposed to be this easy. For a player who just celebrated his 24th birthday a week ago, Cochetti appears at ease surrounded by others who, like him, have been deemed the cream of the crop. At one point, he went around each locker to introduce himself, his natural leadership skills taking over.

"It was mostly good to meet these other guys I'd played against but not really spoken with," he said. "A few were upset that I robbed them of a hit," he added with a straight face.

His defense has been just one of the facets of his game that have made him so special. Patrolling left field for the Comets, Cochetti isn't the biggest or the strongest, listed at 5'11" an 170 pounds. He's not the fastest, though is certainly a quick runner. But he has a keen sense for the game, in the right place at the right time. Oh, and a howitzer of an arm.

That was what the Comets thought they had in Cochetti: A very good defender whose set of intangibles -- his leadership, his smarts, his work ethic -- would fit in seamlessly, another productive cog of the Kiev machine.

He's been way more than that. His .980 OPS ranks second in the European Premier League, and he leads the circuit in RBIs and is tied for second in WAR at 3.5 (Vienna's Tom Caillaux is lapping the field with 4.6 WAR). He's added value on the basepaths, swiping ten bags in twelve attempts.

He's flummoxed opposing pitchers and managers as they try to find his weakness. Early in the year, the word was that the lefty-hitting Cochetti might be vulnerable to southpaw pitchers. So when in doubt, they'd call for a lefty reliever.

Cochetti is hitting .537/.568/.780 against left-handed pitching.

"They don't really bring in lefties to face me anymore," he said.

Probably a smart move.

Lenny Sloan, the star pitcher of the Paris Pride who got the nod as the starting pitcher for the West Division All Stars, has faced Kiev twice this season. He's come away with a win both times, but has hardly been his dominant self. In his first matchup, Cochetti went 3-4 with a double.

"I struck him out in the first at bat and the rest of the game he was all over me," Sloan recalled. He was able to get his revenge in the next game, walking him once but otherwise neutralizing him with a strikeout, a groundout, and a double play.

"You have to make really good pitches to get him out," Sloan said.

The same goes for the rest of the Comets lineup, and teams have found it difficult to make enough good pitches to get them all out. Cochetti is merely one of the landmines to navigate. Martin is right on his heels with 3.4 WAR, hitting a robust .328 with 11 home runs. Thierry is hitting .334 with more walks than strikeouts.

And then there are the guys that didn't make the All Star team. Like Freyr Hellmann, the team's funhouse mirror version of a first baseman. The position has long belonged to big, hulking sluggers but Kiev and Hellmann turn that notion on its head. He's hit just one home run this year, but has been wildly productive anyway with a .323 batting average from the leadoff spot with 18 doubles and 18 stolen bases.

"One reason we're so good is because guys feel comfortable being themselves," Cochetti said. "Freyr probably wouldn't get the chance to do what he does as a 1st baseman on other teams, but he helps us win."

Zach Paris, who mans right field, is tied with Cochetti for the team home run lead at 12. Second baseman - and fellow Italian - Gusmano Galatti is hitting .311. Designated hitter Wolf Heumann is hitting .292 with ten home runs. It's no wonder only three teams have score more than their 467 runs.

Then there's the other half of the story. With Reid, Jones, and Borchardt, the Comets boast one of baseball's best rotations. Baron Hewlitt also received All Star consideration with a 3.61 ERA. No team in the World Baseball Alliance has outscore their opponents by more runs. In fact, no team is all that close: Kiev leads the way at +147, and Paris is next-closest at +115.

All of which makes them the biggest threat to take home the first title. Cochetti admits that the team talks about it.

"We want to take it one day a time, sure," he said. "But we know what the ultimate goal is, and we know how good we can be because of what we've done so far."

And so far, nobody's been able to find a weakness in Cochetti - or the Comets.

[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.



Silver League Stars

It's only been a few games since our last whip around the top-tier leagues, so this seems like a good time to introduce you to some of the stars of the Silver Leagues. I've included the year they're signed through, but you'll be seeing some of these guys sooner because either their team will be promoted or another team will trade for them in the offseason.

2B Archie Mills, Chennai Steam: The leader in WAR in the Australasian Silver League, Mills has his team in third place, though they're 8 back of Newcastle. Mills is hitting .394/.437/.520, has stolen 13 bases, and plays a strong defensive second base. He was named MVP of the ASL All Star Game and will become a free agent after the 1961 season.

SP Yutaka Fujimura, Sendai Warlocks: The Warlocks are in last place, but it's not as bad as it seems. They're only 9 games behind 1st place, it just happens to be a very cramped division. Fujimura has been the undisputed star, carrying the pitching staff with his plus fastball and plus-plus curveball that he throws two ways, a regular version and a knuckle curve. He's eligible for free agency after the 1962 season.

CF Matt Nava, Nassau Nightwings: The Nightwings two of the top CSL players in Nava and starter Astor Alexander. They're sitting at 43-44, but that's good enough to be just one game back of 1st place. Regardless, Nava could be in the upper tier next year anyway as he is a free agent at season's end. He's hitting .309/.429/.479 and is an outstanding defender.

SP Nick González, Medellin Pathfinders: González has been the top starter in the CSL, working off his cutter to produce groundball after groundball. The Pathfinders are just two games out of 1st place, so he has a chance to take them into the upper tier with a strong finish. He's currently in arbitration, so should be in free agency after the 1963 or 1964 season.

LF Lennard Federer, Brussels Chevaliers: Currently riding a 34-game hitting streak, Federer has emerged as one of the biggest stars in Europe regardless of league level. His Brussels team holds a six-game lead over Munich, so there's a good chance we see him in the Premier League next season. He's hitting .390/.439/.653 and that sort of bat should play even against the best pitching.

SP Stefan Capidan, Lisbon Lions: Capidan was recognized as one of the ten best prospects in the entire world, and he's lived up to that billing. The Lions find themselves in seventh place but Capidan has been a bona-fide star, racking up 4.6 WAR. He's a long ways from free agency or promotion, but could be a trade target for a team looking to add pitching.

3B Sawyer Hart, Calgary Caracals: The, ahem, "Hart and soul" of the Calgary Caracals is hitting .336/.429/.637 and is the runaway favorite for MVP of the NASL. He has his team in first place, clear by six games of the next-closest teams. Calgary has an extremely dangerous lineup, one that should be able to compete right away if they earn their promotion. Hart, with his 26 home runs, is the leader of the pack. He's signed through 1964.

SP Matt Biggs, Las Vegas Rollers: The Rollers are going nowhere at 39-48 but Biggs has given their fans a show every fifth day, at least. He's tops in the NASL in WAR thanks to his complete set of pitching skills. He's not quite an ace but would be a really solid #2 or a terrific #3 starter on an upper-tier team. He's eligible to be signed as a free agent after the 1962 season.

[Imperialism32]

August 1, 1960

July Players of the Month

[pgd44]

You have done a great job presenting this !!!
Thank you for sharing.

Is there a quickstart or template for this?

[Imperialism32]

Originally Posted by pgd44

You have done a great job presenting this !!!
Thank you for sharing.

Is there a quickstart or template for this?

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.



Relegation Report

With the season three-quarters over, the race to avoid the bottom is on. Any team that finishes in last place in their division is relegated to the Silver League for next season. These eight teams (nine, actually: there's a tie in one division) are currently on the chopping block so we'll take a look at their situations heading into the final quarter of the season:

So Long!
Seoul Wyverns (29-70, 14 GB)

The Wyverns haven't merely been bad, they've practically been irredemable. A full six games worse than the next closest team in any division, their fate has been all but sealed for weeks. It's not that there have been no bright spots: Henry Welsh has a 136 ERA+, for example. But as a team they've been hapless in nearly facet except, weirdly, hitting home runs. They're hitting .237 as a team including two regulars below the .200 mark. They haven't supplemented that with on-base skills (just a .310 mark). Seven players in the Australasian League have stolen more bases than the 14 they've swiped all year.

Their pitching staff, even despite Welsh's quality starts most times, has hardly been better. They've allowed 523 runs, 7th in their division. They haven't even been able to have luck shine on them: They're 3-8 in extra inning games, 5-19 in one-run games, and seven games worse than their Pythagorean expected record, which would still have them in last place by daylight. They're not a particular young team (three of their five SPs are 30 or older). Five teams in the Australasian Silver League outspend them, so it's not even as if they can count on a quick ticket back once they're demoted. It's not good, is what I'm saying.

Trending Down
Santo Domingo Panthers (35-64, 4 GB)
Berlin Knights (38-61, 5 GB)
San Jose Hawks (40-59, 7 GB)

The poor, poor Berlin Knights. The injury to star shortstop Oliver Roosmalen completely derailed their season and it's looking less and less like they'll be able to recover. They're 1-9 in their past 10 games while the Rome Regiment have done enough to escape the cellar (they're closer to 6th-place Copenhagen than 8th-place Berlin). The Knights may be able to climb back for the 1962 season but not unless they acquire some pitching. Their best starting pitcher has a 4.76 ERA. That won't get it done even when adjusting for Silver League competition.

The Panthers and Hawks occupy the last-place slots in the Caribbean League. The Hawks have the tougher road to clumb but they're the better team. Above them, the Bogota Bolts are spiraling, losers of eight straight. Santo Domingo is within shouting distance of the La Romana Rascals, but they've shown little to spark optimism in their ability to avoid relegation. Their expected Pythagorean record is actually worse than Seoul's, making them arguably the worst team in the WBA. Unlike Seoul, the Panthers are actually spending money (8th in the CL) for these disastrous results. If they fall out, it's going to take an organizational makeover to climb back up.

Still Fighting
Chicago Crusaders (45-54, 1 GB)
Wellington Whistlers (46-53, 2 GB)
Seattle Bluejackets (38-61, 3 GB)
Vienna Wolf Pack/Istanbul Griffins (38-61, 6 GB)

Things are still very much unsettled in four of the eight divisions. In the NAL East Division, there are four teams within two games of last place! The Detroit Chargers, New York Empire, and Montreal Paragons all have reason to worry along with Chicago. In the opposite division, Seattle is in the midst of a 1-9 stretch to fall three games behind Denver.

Wellington remains in the mix in the AL South Division, helped out by the Brisbane Blackbirds' current six-game losing streak. And lastly, Vienna and Istanbul have been the smallest speed bumps on the Kiev Comets road to the division crown in the EPL East Division. They play a September series against each other that could prove pivotal in who gets to remain and who is sent down to the Silver League.

Kiev Comets Crusing

For an ever-so-brief moment, they looked vulnerable. Coming out of the All Star break, they won their first game 11-4 but then dropped the next four by a combined margin of 27-7. A crack in the armor? Were the Kiev Comets falling to Earth? Nope. They've since reeled off 13 wins in a row, extending their division lead to 19 games. There's a decent chance that they'll have the EPL East sewed up by the time the next edition of The Wheelhouse goes to print. Henry Jones has been on a particular tear, 7-0 in his last eight starts with an ERA below 2.00. Gusmano Galetti is hitting .526/.548/.895 in nine games in August. If you didn't believe it before, it's apparent now: The Kiev Comets have to be considered the favorites to win the first WBA championship.

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There's the arm.

There's Josh Dillow settling under a flyball in the Kansas City sun, planting his feet just so, ready to uncoil a bullet an eliminate any baserunner feeling lucky enough to take a gamble.

There's the glove, and the speed.

This is where we pause to acknowlede that, okay, despite his elite speed he's not quite the outfielder he could be. San Francisco's Andrey Burwell, the young sensation, uses his explosive speed to roam center field like few you've ever seen. Dillow doesn't do that, and he's not the threat on the bases you'd think given the raw speed. But when he gets a good jump on a flyball, or catches the pitcher napping and takes off for second base, it's a sight to behold.

But none of that is the story of Josh Dillow.

To watch him run, throw, or field is a nice enough experience. To watch him hit is to watch Shakespeare write or Fred Astaire dance. He is a magician at the plate, turning the left-handed batter's box into a stage, performing trick after trick. Now you see a fastball, now you don't, because he smoked it into the right-center gap.

Dillow has been named Hitter of the Month in the North American in both June and July, and he's aiming for a three-peat. In June, he hit .396 and socked six home runs. In July, he cut back on the power but hit .450, nearly averaging two hits per game (45 in 24 games). In both months, he walked more than he struck out. And for good measure, he added a home run in the NAL All Star Game.

Eight games into August, he's hitting .417 with three triples and a home run. His OPS for the past three months: 1.123, 1.126, 1.128. He has been not just amazing but consistent. His OPS is above 1.000 against both right- and left-handed pitching.

How about this stat: Any pitcher will tell you how important it is to get ahead in the count, to get two strikes and put the pressure on the batter. With two strikes, Josh Dillow is hitting ..355/.422/.533.

"He's incredible," said starting pitcher Josh Sarre, the other half of the All-Josh superstar duo keeping the Kansas City Wheat Kings in contention. "I sit in the dugout watching him and it's like, 'okay, how would I attack this guy?' and there's just no answer. He's been thrown every pitch in every location and he's hit it all."

Some hitters can hit it to all fields. Others consciously try to depending on the situation. Josh Dillow does it as a matter of course. Defenses can't possibly shade him because he is the true master of hitting it where they ain't.

The Wheat Kings sit at 54-45, second place in the NAL West Division, trailing the Vancouver Bruins by two games. On the other side are the Phoenix Devils, whom they lead by two games. So their spot in the playoffs is anything but assured.

Sarre is arguably the bigger piece to the puzzle given the state of their pitching staff. He's been worth 4.0 WAR while the other four starters have combined for 4.6 WAR. Aging fireballer Lee Alexander can still light up a radar gun, but his ERA has dipped below 6.00 just once all season and he allowed seven runs in 1.2 innings in his next start. The legendary Texan has seemed disinterested at times this season and is a free agent and year's end.

The offense has carried the team, and they lead their division in every relevant offensive category. Rick Tapia is hitting .337 and has stolen 23 bases. Linus Lee has hit 24 home runs. Isaac Mohammed has added 20 big flies of his own and puts on a show every single night defensively at shortstop. They've overcome a big injury to Isaiah Ward, a New Englander like Dillow and one of the team leader.

There are pieces, spokes of a good offense. But Dillow is the hub that turns the wheel, making it all go. He's understated to the point that, when this reporter informed him he was to be on the cover of this issue, he asked if we could find someone else. He was gracious, and has done some interviews with local media, but it's clear he prefers to do his talking between the lines.

Sarre is the self-proclaimed loudmouth of the team, and didn't hesitate to give his thoughts.

"He says the least but has the most respect around here," he said. "Everyone knows what Josh is about and what kind of effort he brings to the ballpark every day. When you're that good, you don't need to say a word."

[Imperialism32]

August 18, 1960

Comets Incredible Streak Ends At 17

It took more than 21 days, but the Kiev Comets have finally been defeated. The Prague Raptors survived a late-inning rally to perservere in extra innings with a 6-5 win. The Comets entered the game winners of 17 straight.

Kiev is now 78-26, averaging a tidy three wins for every loss. They have a 21-game lead in the division with a magic number of eight, rendering the final month of the season virtually meaningless. In the preseason predictions, they were selected to finish 80-52 so they'd need to go 2-26 over their last 28 games to match it.

Star outfielder Gianfranco Cochetti has led the way, hitting .446/.448/.692 in the month of August.

[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.



Comets Clinch

The Kiev Comets won their 82nd game on Thursday, making official what had been clear for months: They're headed to the playoffs. The celebration on the field was rather subdued, unsurprising since there has been no drama in the race for the European Premier League East Division. The Comets have been head and shoulders above the rest and now they officially cannot be caught. Next closest to clinching are the Toronto Giants, whose magic number is 15, and the Caracas Rangers (theirs is 16).

Promotion Report

Last time we looked at the upper-tier teams in danger of falling to the Silver League. This week we'll check in on who might replace them.

Feeling Good
Calgary Caracals (68-43, 7 game lead)

Led by star 3B Sawyer Hart and ace Kaleb Ray, the Caracals are in good shape to add another Canadian team to the North American League. Currently, Toronto and Vancouver are in first place in their divisions, and Montreal is well above the cut line. Calgary's magic number is still 15, so it's far from a shoe-in, but their +232 run differential blows away the rest of the competition and underscores their strength as a team.


In Their Sights
Newcastle Swoop (62-49, 4 game lead)
Nassau Nightwings (58-53, 4 game lead)
Brussels Chevaliers (69-42, 5 game lead)

These three teams are all in decent shape but things can still change over the final 21 games. Brussels has the best record of any Silver League team, led by the bat of Lennard Federer. Newcastle ace Kentaro Tachibana is doing his best to pitch the swoop into the upper tier including 8 innings with just one run allowed in his last start. Nassau is only five games above .500, but they're benefitting from a weak division.

Up In The Air
Tianjian Predators/Kyoto Blast (64-47, tied)
Medellin Pathfinders (68-43, 2 game lead)
Budapest Bruisers (59-52, 3 game lead)
Washington Eagles (60-51, 3 game lead)

[Imperialism32]

September 1, 1960

August Players of the Month

[Imperialism32]

September 2, 1960

Heading For Home

The calendar has flipped to September and each team is down to their final 15 games. Starting now we'll check in twice-weekly and hit all the series worthy of a look. NOTE: I really hate this format but I didn't realize until 3/4 done, so next time will look different.



Busan Mocs (61-56, 4 GB) at Shanghai Pandas (60-57, 5 GB)

These teams are both in the thick of it in the AL North Division. The Yokohama Lynx lead the division by 4 games, but there are three teams in the mix for the wildcard spot. The Mocs have been hot and are coming off a 17-10 month of August, but that's been matched by the Pandas. Either team can survive a 1-2 series, but getting swept at this juncture would be disastrous.

Also in the mix are the Beijing Maulers, tied with Busan and led by World Baseball Championship hero Soo-Keun Bae and his 7.7 WAR. They open up a series against the 50-67 Taipei Flames.

New Delhi Monarchs (62-55, 7 GB) at Canberra Rattlers (68-49, 1 GB)
Mumbai Vipers (69-48, 1st) at Melbourne Mudfish (65-52, 4 GB)

Canberra and Mumbai continue to battle for 1st place, but Melbourne and the Perth Paladins are right behind at only 4 games back. Taki Arakawa continues to lead the AL in ERA and will get the ball in the middle game against Melbourne.

San Juan Salamanders (64-53, 5 GB) at Santo Domingo Panthers (44-73, 25 GB)
Port-au Prince Palms (64-53, 5 GB) at Camaguey Terriers (60-57, 9 GB)

The Kingston Cockatoos lead the way in the CL North Division by five games, so San Juan and Port-au Prince are left to battle for the wildcard spot. San Juan has the benefit of facing Santo Domingo, but the Panthers are currently on the relegation chopping block by two games are sure to pull no punches in order to keep from being sent down to the Silver League.

Maracaibo Gledes (65-52, 8 GB) at Bogota Bolts (52-65, 21 GB)
Panama City Seabees (65-52, 8 GB) at Barranquilla Warhawks (61-56, 12 GB)

The situation in the CL South Division mirrors the North: Caracas leads this division by eight games, but there's a tie for the wildcard spot between Maracaibo and Panama City. None of these four teams battling for a playoff spot is playing particularly well: They're a combined 19-21 in their last 40 games (ten games each).

Athens Hoplites (51-66, 34 GB) at Prague Raptors (64-53, 21 GB)
Vienna Wolf Pack (49-68, 39 GB) at Warsaw Trappers (64-53, 21 GB)

Yet another tie for the wildcard spot here, as Prague and Warsaw are battling for the right to face the goliath, the Kiev Comets, in the playoffs. The Raptors have won nine in a row to get themselves into this position, and they'll try to keep the momentum going.

Los Angeles Seraphs (58-59, 11 GB) at Kansas City Wheat Kings (69-48, T-1st)
Vancouver Bruins (69-48, T-1st) at Seattle Bluejackets (46-71, 23 GB)

The Bruins led the way in the NAL West for much of the year, but the Wheat Kings are surging: They've won nine of their last ten games. Both teams are rather safe right now, though, so they're just playing for the division pennant. The next closest team is 9 games back.

[Imperialism32]

Henry Jones was feeling locked in.

It's hard to know if this is an unusual feeling, or what an unlocked Henry Jones looks like. In his last 15 starts, he's pitched at least 8 innings in all but ones of them. Six times he's recorded double-digit strikeouts. His ERA has fallen nearly a full run. If there's a difference, it's hard to detect. But he insists, and who are we to doubt?

"I was feeling really great, honestly," he said. "Some days it takes me a little while in the bullpen to get a feel for my changeup but I went out there to warm up and my second one fell off exactly how I wanted and I thought, alright, it's gonna be a good night."

Nearly every night has been a good night to be Henry Jones, or to be a Kiev Comet, or to face the lowly Istanbul Griffins. And like storm cells merging together to bring thunder, lightning, and floods, it was the perfect storm for Jones to not just have a good night, but nearly a perfect one.

He dominated the Griffins for nine innings in every way imaginable. He struck out eight, and induced 13 groundouts. He threw 76 of his 107 pitches for strikes. The game breezed by, taking a little over two hours. It ended with a soft groundball to second base, and then a party on the mound. Henry Jones had just thrown the first no-hitter in WBA history.

The Griffins managed just two baserunners all night. Leading off the 5th inning, Artem Vyhovsky took a 3-2 pitch just barely off the outside corner. For a second it seemed like the home plate umpire was ready to raise his fist anyway, but Vyhovsky tossed his bat and trotted down to first base. Jones followed that up with two groundball fielder's choice plays and a weak infield popout. In the 8th inning, Yevgeni Sarenko hit a knuckling line drive to center field. Job van den Heuvel had it lined up... until it veered at the last second and glanced off his glove. No worries, Jones quickly erased it with a double play.

The Comets had been staked to a comfortable early-game lead by Gianfranco Cochetti, who singled in a run in the 1st and then belted a 2-run homer in the 3rd. They cruised to a 4-0 win, their 86th of the year. They've since run that to 88. The next closest team in the entire WBA has 75 wins.

"We want 100," ever-cocky star 3B Mel Martin said. At 88-32 with twelve games to play, it would require running the table. In all, it would mean ending the season on a 17-game winning streak. "Why not?" Martin asked. "We've done it before. Every single time he put on the jersey and take the field, we plan to win. Simple as that."

The Comets' starting rotation has made that somehow seem plausible. Jones now leads the EPL in ERA at 2.84. Michael Reid is at 2.97, just barely behind Paris' Lenny Sloan (2.94). Adolph Borchardt, who started the season 11-0 before taking his first loss, has a 3.74 ERA. Jones, Reid, and Borchardt rank 1-2-3 in the EPL East Division in ERA.

For Jones, the season -- not to mention the no-hitter -- serve as something of a validation for the 24 year-old Englishman and the organization that employs him. The Kiev Comets do not do things the ordinary way. Their first baseman hits leadoff and has just two home runs, but 24 steals. And that trio of starting pitchers that's been so good? None is taller than 5'11". Jones and Reid are both listed at 5'9".

"It's why we're the best in baseball," Martin, the third baseman, said.

Jones was more modest. "There's a lot of smart people working in this organization," he said. "Some teams I think are looking for a certain type of baseball player. He's got to have the proper size, or the right style, or something. But here it's just: can you help us win?"

Reid, at least, is a freak of nature. Pitchers who are 5'9" and 165 pounds are not supposed to throw 100 miles per hour as he regularly does. They're supposed to throw like Jones does: in the low-90s, hitting 93 on a good day. But his fastball plays up because his changeup is so, so devastating. It's the reason he's currently sitting one strikeout behind Lenny Sloan for the EPL lead and just four strikeouts behind Willemstad's Gene Viveros for the WBA lead.

"My whole career has been, alright, I'm not the biggest, strongest, or fastest," Jones said. "So what can I do instead? When other kids started throwing harder and throwing curveballs, I didn't really do that. But I loved pitching, I didn't want to get cut because I wasn't throwing as hard, so I toyed around with some grips until it clicked in."

Jones eventually stopped trying to throw curveballs, eventually developing a slider that's quite a weapon for a third-best pitch. If Michael Reid is the physicist of the rotation, overwhelming batters with speed, spin, and momentum, then Henry Jones is the chemist, mixing and matching, perfecting the formula.

"I do try and use that in my pitching," Jones said. "My parents I think saw how much I loved to play baseball but they also saw that I was the shortest guy on the team and that it was probably a good idea to have a backup plan. So school was always something that was important and science appealed to me."

Reid, eleven years older than Jones, appreciates the intellectual approach both to pitching and to life.

"Jonesy always knows what he's doing, and what he's gonna do next," the Irishman said. "And he knows what hitters think he's gonna do next. And he uses that against them."

[Imperialism32]

By the way, bonus points if you know who these "real" cover athletes are. May is definitely the toughest month for two reasons. One is the intense blur I used, the other is a hint at the correct answer so I won't say it. The one I used for September was one of my favorite pitchers ever.

[Imperialism32]

September 5, 1960

Heading For Home

NOTE: I don't like this format either and am scrapping this idea entirely, but I already wrote out too much to bail.

Results
In the AL North, Busan, Beijing, and Shanghai remain tightly packed with just two games' difference between the three squads. The Busan Mocs had the best weekend, taking two out of three while Beijing and Shanghai went 1-2. Division-leading Yokahama swept their series and their magic number has dropped to 8.

Over in the AL South, Taki Arakawa picked up his 16th win as the Mumbai Vipers took two out of three games from Melbourne. The struggles for the Canberra Rattlers continued with them being swept at the hands of the New Delhi Monarchs. They've dropped six straight and were not even competitive in the last three, allowing eight runs in each of the games while scoring only three all series. This has opened the door for the teams behind them with second through sixth place separated by exactly one game apiece. Canberra (68 wins) is followed by the Perth Paladins (67), Melbourne Mudfish (66), New Delhi Monarchs (65), and Sydney Soar (64). It's an uphill climb, but certainly doable for any of these teams.

The Seoul Wyverns officially cannot finish higher than 8th place, so they will be relegated. The Brisbane Blackbirds are in danger of the same fate, now five games behind the Wellington Whistlers.

Up Next
Beijing and Shanghai will play a three-game series this week that will be pivotal for the AL North wildcard spot. Mumbai can all but bury Canberra as the two teams will face off in the Vipers' home park.

Results
The Port-au Prince Palms enjoyed the best weekend in the CL North, winning two of three to move a game ahead of the San Juan Salamanders (who lost two of three) and just four games back of division-leading Kingston Cockatoos. It could have been even better for the Palms, but they allowed four runs in the final two innings on Sunday to lose 7-6.

In the South Division, Panama City went 2-1 to move into the wildcard spot by themselves with the Maracaibo Gledes mirroring those results with a 2-1 loss. Panama City's Sebastian Cajar, who has clashed with teammates on multiple occasions this season, is demonstrating why they put up with him. He's hitting .345/.380/.450 with 19 steals and quality defense up the middle at shortstop.

In relegation news, the Santo Domingo Panthers remain in the North cellar by two games. In the South, the San Jose Hawks are five games behind the Bogota Bolts and are quickly running out of time.

Up Next
Port-au Prince gets to face Santo Domingo while San Juan has to battle with Kingston. That's either a big opportunity or a daunting challenge for San Juan, depending on how you look at it. Panama City and Maracaibo both face teams in the middle of the pack in the CL South.

Results
You might have heard that Henry Jones tossed the first no-hitter in WBA history. In playoff race news, the Warsaw Trappers swept their series to move a game ahead of the Prague Raptors.

Things remain tight in the EPL West. The Paris Pride lead the division by 6 games with a magic number of 7, but it's a jumbled mess behind them. The Madrid Kings are hanging onto the second playoff spot by a thread, a game ahead of the Amsterdam Valley Foxes and the Stockholm Bears.

The Istanbul Griffins are still in last in the EPL East. The good news for them is that even though they got swept, they didn't lose any ground because the Vienna Wolf Pack (2 games ahead) have now lost seven straight. Over in the West, the Berlin Knights are now 9 games worse than the next-closest. They'll need a miracle to avoid being relegated at this point.

Up Next
Warsaw and Prague will face each other in a gigantic series for both teams that could well decide who makes the playoffs. Likewise, Madrid will take on Amsterdam while Stockholm plays Paris in the EPL West, so we should have some more clarity on both divisions in just a few days.

Results
The Boston Bombers took two out of three from the Miami Sun Dogs to extend their lead in the race for the playoffs. The Toronto Giants have nearly sewn up a playoff spot. They're 7 games up in the division and 10 ahead of third-place Miami.

In the NAL West, the Kansas City Wheat Kings and Vancouver Bruins are still deadlocked in a tie for 1st. Barring some kind of ridiculous collapse by either, they'll face off in the playoffs as they're ten games ahead of the next closest team.

The relegation races are getting tighter. The New York Empire are two games behind the Detroit Chargers, but the Chicago Crusaders are only a game ahead of Detroit. On the other side, the Denver Grizzlies have dropped five in a row to fall into the basement, a game behind the Seattle Bluejackets.

Up Next
Boston faces Detroit while Miami will play middle-of-the-pack Atlanta. Kansas City gets to match up with Denver while Vancouver takes on San Francisco.

[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.



Toronto Clinches, Others On Verge

With nine games to play, only two playoff spots have officially been clinched, but several other teams are all but in. The Toronto Giants punched their ticket to the playoffs this past week, and they need just one more win (or Boston loss) to sew up the NAL East crown. Opposite of them in the NAL West, Vancouver and Kansas City remain tied for the division lead. They also need one win apiece (or Phoenix loss) to assure themselves of a playoff spot.

In the Australasian League, the Yokahama Lynx have a seven-game lead and a magic number of 3. The Mumbai Vipers lead the other division but only possess a four-game lead. The Kiev Comets long ago locked up their spot, and the Paris Pride will be joining them shortly. And in the Caribbean League, the Kingston Cockatoos and Caracas Rangers are each very close to taking home the division pennant.

Relegation Report

So Long!
Seoul Wyverns, AL North
Berlin Knights, EPL West

Technically Not Dead, But...
Brisbane Blackbirds, AL South (6 games behind Wellington Whistlers)
San Jose Hawks, CL South (6 games behind Bogota Bolts)

Down To The Wire
La Romana Rascals/Santo Domingo Panthers, CL North (tied)
Istanbul Griffins, EPL East (3 games behind Vienna Wolf Pack)
Detroit Chargers, NAL East (1 game behind Chicago Crusaders, 3 games behind New York Empire)
Denver Grizzlies, NAL West (2 games behind Seattle Bluejackets)

[Imperialism32]

September 17, 1960

OPINION: Sad Day For Detroit
Ted Itro, Detroit Gazette

It was five months ago, nearly to the day, that the World Baseball Association kicked off, and optimism reigned supreme in the Motor City. Detroit had been awarded an upper-level team, a point of pride. Take that, St. Louis. Can't hear you from down there, Minneapolis. The Chargers jumped up early on the New York Empire -- chew on THAT, east coast elite! -- and never looked back. Stephen Morris threw nine brilliant innings and the hometown crowd, 57,000 strong, rejoiced as one.

The Great Lakes Rivalry, with Detroit smack dab between Toronto and Chicago, should have been an epicenter of the sport. Instead, the dream died in Detroit last night. A crowd announced at just over 30,000, barely half of Opening Day's total, witnessed it. The lifeless Chargers managed three hits all game long. The Atlanta Razorbacks topped that in the 7th inning alone. This time it was Detroit on the losing side of a 9-0 affair, one that officially confirmed they will be relegated to the Silver League next season.

And Chicago? They've had barely a better run of things than Detroit. If the Chargers were going to survive, they'd have to overtake the Crusaders. Playing for their own lives, A.J. Flair shut down the juggernaut Toronto Giants. They scored twice early and cruised to a 3-0 victory, ensuring their presence in the North American League for another year. Folks in the Windy City can't brag on much, but they'll lean on a favorite crutch: "At least we're not Detroit."

Now the Chargers faithful, the ones who didn't let this miserable season shake their fandom, will slide down to the Silver League. So long, Chicago and Toronto. Hello, Minneapolis and Cincinnati. Not quite the same, is it?

I hope Stephen Morris can find his way out. His brilliant starting pitching was just about the only reason to tune in these past two months. It looks like he's going to end up second in the NAL in ERA. He's got just a 13-8 record to show for it, a testament to the offense that all too often let the team down.

Is there hope for a quick return? Well, the Chargers top minor league affiliate, the Providence Hivers, are sitting at 41-76. Help, it appears, is not on the way. The Chargers made it quick and painless at the end, so this eulogy will follow suit. Rest in peace, Detroit baseball. Born, 1960. Dead, 1960.

[Imperialism32]

September 19, 1960

Miracle Men: Tianjin Predators Deliver High Drama

The Australasian Silver League came through in a big way for fans expecting down-to-the-wire baseball in September. The Tianjin Predators earned a division title and, more importantly, a promotion to the upper league by walking off with wins in not only game #132 but also a special one-game playoff for the ultimate prize.

To set the scene, the Daegu Demons entered the final series a game ahead of the Predators and two ahead of the Kyoto Blast. Need some more drama? Daegu's final series was against Kyoto.

On Friday night, Kyoto dominated the Demons, getting a complete game shutout from ace pitcher Alan Weyker. Meanwhile, Tianjin managed just three hits but made them count, scoring a 3-1 victory. So now Tianjin and Daegu were tied, a game ahead of Kyoto.

On Saturday, Kyoto again silenced the Demons' bats and registering a 3-1 win of their own to pull even. At the same time, Tianjin had the winning run at the plate but couldn't get the hit they needed, falling 4-2 and creating a three way tie going into the final game.

Daegu finally got some offense, and gave Kyoto a taste of their own medicine. This time it was their own starting pitcher, Ikuo Omiya, who suffocated the opponents, ending Kyoto's season.

Around the same time they were closing that win out, Tianjin was down to their final three outs. They trailed 7-6 in what had been a wild back and forth game. But then the magic started. They quickly loaded the bases on a hit batsman, a single, and a walk. After a strikeout, their #9 hitter, Shuhei Manabe, came to the dish and smoked a 3-2 pitch up the middle. Bryan Boaz raced around from second to score the winning run, and the Predators celebrated their clinched playoff spot.

They were just getting warmed up. And there were bigger fish to fry. A playoff spot is nice, but the true glory for Silver League teams is the Division crown, which means they get a promotion to the upper league. And so that's how we ended up in Game 133, Daegu Demons vs. Tianjin Predators. Winner moves up.

And boy did it deliver. Daegu went up 2-0 with a home run in the 1st inning. Those would be their last runs of the season. Tianjin scratched across runs in the 6th and 8th innings, and then settled in for a battle of wills.

Tianjin stranded a double in the bottom of the 9th. Daegu put runners on 1st and 3rd in the top of the 11th, but Dinesh Islam notched a huge strikeout. Tianjin then got runners of their own on 1st and 3rd in the bottom half only to be retired on a fielder's choice. The Predators did that again in the bottom of the 12th, wasting a leadoff double.

Finally, in the bottom of the 14th, it was Bryan Boaz again. With one out, he pinch-hit and roped a double. The next better hit a groundball through the left side, and just like he did the night before, Boaz used his speed to beat the throw home and get mobbed at the plate.

When you see the Predators in the Australasian League next year, you'll never forget the tightrope walk they took to get there. And that's what September baseball is all about.

[Imperialism32]

September 19, 1960

.406*

In in its very first season, the World Baseball Alliance has a .400 hitter... or does it? Prague Raptors outfielder Louis Sicard finished the season with a .406 batting average. But the mark is not without some controversy. Sicard only played in 90 of the team's 132 games, spending the first part of the season in the minor leagues.

Supporters point out that Sicard does meet the threshold (3.1 PA per team game) and, what's more, even if you include his minor league numbers he eclipsed the .400 mark (with those included, it would be .402). But critics point out that he only played in 68% of Prague's 132 games and that the true wonder of hitting .400 is in doing it over the course of a full season.

The official record books will, for now, list Sicard as the single-season leader, but the debate is sure to play out for years to come. What do you think?

[Imperialism32]

September 19, 1960

Final Standings