Whittaker's Peanut Slab Baseball: A History - Page 2

mrbucket · 05-21-2021, 10:54 PM

1974: Offseason

Whittakers Peanut Slab Baseball hits it's fifth year!

Some of the major transactions over the offseason kicked off with a trade as the Hawkes Bay Moonshots sent a couple of prospects off to Auckland in exchange for 36 year old RF Alan Golding. Golding, signed a big $190k/5yr deal with the Sharks before a pitch was even thrown at the start of competition.

Golding was an All-Star and Cheese Roll (best hitter in his position) winner in 1970 though he got suspended early in the season for his part in inciting a brawl.

He didn't receive any further awards in the seasons that followed by 1971 and 1972 were still elite. This despite some nutritional misfires before the 1972 season.

The decline started in earnest in 1973 as his BB% crept down, the K% went up, and the Dingers stopped coming. The Sharks decided to offload him in the final year of his deal (though they did have to eat half) in a hope to build for the future. They got #27 prospect Ben Hollenberger and #76 prospect Richard Carrell. Both pitchers.

Hollenberger has a decent three pitch mix to his name: Fastball topping out at 96mph, a Changeup and a Splitter but not much control and a tendency to give up home runs. The Sharks will eventually trade him back to the Moonshots.

Speaking of Auckland 36 year olds, their longstanding 2B Yushi Burnow signed a big $162k/3yr deal with the Wellington Bees. Unlike Golding, the 4-time All Star has not been a victim of age: he's been improving the last few years. With Jay Hall already having a hold on the 2B spot in the Wellington infield. Burnow will make a move to LF.

But as Wellington gain a LF, they lose a RF as Alan Webb, fresh off an incredible offensive season makes the move slightly North to the Manawatu Vikings with a $245k/6yr deal. He'll potentially be in Viking colours until his age 37 season. Webb already offers limited value defensively, will his bat stay active enough for the deal to be worth it?

Not to be outdone, but the Otago Penguins kept hold of their 2B Ray Dickerson with a $315k/5yr deal. Dickerson is a 4 time All-Star and three time Cheese Roll winner.

Wait a month and the Wellington Bees get the biggest deal of the offseason with Pitcher George Furlong signing a $354k/7yr deal. Furlong, fresh off a 1.85 ERA season joins the best pitching team in the league.

The Vikings made some big one year deals as well with $63k for 34 year old LF Nicholas Hayes and $49k for 29 year old C Charlie Milligan though they weren't expected to make much of an impact as the experts predicted a 33-47 season for the Vikings.

05-21-2021, 10:54 PM	#21
mrbucket All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: New Zealand Posts: 902	1974: Offseason Whittakers Peanut Slab Baseball hits it's fifth year! Some of the major transactions over the offseason kicked off with a trade as the Hawkes Bay Moonshots sent a couple of prospects off to Auckland in exchange for 36 year old RF Alan Golding. Golding, signed a big $190k/5yr deal with the Sharks before a pitch was even thrown at the start of competition. Golding was an All-Star and Cheese Roll (best hitter in his position) winner in 1970 though he got suspended early in the season for his part in inciting a brawl. He didn't receive any further awards in the seasons that followed by 1971 and 1972 were still elite. This despite some nutritional misfires before the 1972 season. The decline started in earnest in 1973 as his BB% crept down, the K% went up, and the Dingers stopped coming. The Sharks decided to offload him in the final year of his deal (though they did have to eat half) in a hope to build for the future. They got #27 prospect Ben Hollenberger and #76 prospect Richard Carrell. Both pitchers. Hollenberger has a decent three pitch mix to his name: Fastball topping out at 96mph, a Changeup and a Splitter but not much control and a tendency to give up home runs. The Sharks will eventually trade him back to the Moonshots. Speaking of Auckland 36 year olds, their longstanding 2B Yushi Burnow signed a big $162k/3yr deal with the Wellington Bees. Unlike Golding, the 4-time All Star has not been a victim of age: he's been improving the last few years. With Jay Hall already having a hold on the 2B spot in the Wellington infield. Burnow will make a move to LF. But as Wellington gain a LF, they lose a RF as Alan Webb, fresh off an incredible offensive season makes the move slightly North to the Manawatu Vikings with a $245k/6yr deal. He'll potentially be in Viking colours until his age 37 season. Webb already offers limited value defensively, will his bat stay active enough for the deal to be worth it? Not to be outdone, but the Otago Penguins kept hold of their 2B Ray Dickerson with a $315k/5yr deal. Dickerson is a 4 time All-Star and three time Cheese Roll winner. Wait a month and the Wellington Bees get the biggest deal of the offseason with Pitcher George Furlong signing a $354k/7yr deal. Furlong, fresh off a 1.85 ERA season joins the best pitching team in the league. The Vikings made some big one year deals as well with $63k for 34 year old LF Nicholas Hayes and $49k for 29 year old C Charlie Milligan though they weren't expected to make much of an impact as the experts predicted a 33-47 season for the Vikings. __________________ Russell Crowe Baseball Association