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01-20-2007, 12:45 PM
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#41 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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West Division
 Chillicothe Indians Predicted finish in division – 4th Minor League system ranking – 4th (out of 16 teams) Last year’s surprise team returns the majority of their players for the 1941 season but I really think that last year’s team overachieved and could return to earth this season. They have a good young player in 21-year old LF Anderson Juarez, who had a fabulous spring training (.433, 6 HR, 16 RBI); the Indians really have high hopes for this slugger. They also return Gold Glove CF Jaime ‘Destiny’ Rijo, but this lineup will struggle to get on base consistently. They don’t walk very much, nor do they hit for a good average. The pitching staff looks decent, but there are no true aces. They have one of the best closers in LHP Myles ‘Tired’ Shaffer and a strong bullpen to complement Shaffer, but this staff that can be knocked around from time to time. Best Hitter – LF Anderson Juarez (8 Contact, 19 Gap, 15 Power, 14 Eye, 7 Avoiding K’s) Best Pitcher – Closer LHP Myles ‘Tired’ Shaffer (20 Stuff, 18 Movement, 11 Control) Best Prospect not in the majors – A 2B Antonio Amparan, 22 Years Old, Potential – (19 Contact, 15 Gap, 2 Power, 12 Eye, 17 Avoiding K’s) The Indians 1st round pick of 1940 was switched to 2B during his first season playing professional ball and it was a smart move. He is much better defensively there. Amparan is what every team dreams of in a leadoff hitter, he doesn’t strike out, gets on base frequently, has some ability to hit doubles and triples, and is a switch hitter. He struggled a bit in Short Season Circleville last year, but should see some significant improvement in his first full season. He is ranked #31 by SISA.  Columbus Archers Predicted finish in division – 3rd Minor League system ranking – 3rd (out of 16 teams) The Archers were arguably the most disappointing team down the stretch last year. After playing some excellent baseball, they made some questionable trades and tanked the last month of the season. They still have a very strong core and have some very good young players ready for permanent roles with the big club. Columbus is blessed with having some of the best young arms in the game, starting with RHP Tony ‘Wall’ Navarro, who had an excellent rookie season (14-10, 3.05 ERA). They also have an excellent prospect in AAA Lima with RHP Bill ‘Lumberjack’ Herr. Lumberjack made some excellent strides, jumping from single A to triple A, last year. Columbus also moved star middle reliever, LHP Roberto Pagan, to a starter’s role this year. Nobody doubts Pagan’s ability, but question his endurance and ability to last in that role all season long. The lineup has some good players, but should also struggle with the ability to get on base, more so than Chillicothe. They will be led again by CF Jake ‘Jitters’ Richards and slugger 1B Joseph Currey, but both are in their mid-30’s. They picked up a good looking young catcher, Thomas O’Doyne, from Akron for a pretty good pitcher. Although I picked them to finish 3rd, this division will be tight all season long again and they have a chance to finish in 1st. Best Hitter – CF Jake ‘Jitters’ Richards (12 Contact, 17 Gap, 16 Power, 10 Eye, 13 Avoiding K’s) Best Pitcher – RHP Tony ‘Wall’ Navarro (14 Stuff, 13 Movement, 17 Control) Best Prospect not in the majors – AAA RHP Bill ‘Lumberjack’ Herr, 21 Years Old, Potential – (8 Stuff, 14 Movement, 17 Control) Herr made vast improvements all year long during the 1940 season, impressively jumping from A to AAA and not missing a beat at any stop along the way. He still has some growing to do, but Columbus doesn’t have to rush him and Archers fans can expect this young stud either late in the season or during the 1942 season. SISA ranks him at #7.  Dayton Pilots Predicted finish in division – 2nd Minor League system ranking – 7th (out of 16 teams) The Pilots had a pretty good year last year, but were stuck in the basement all season long, which is something Dayton fans hope changes this year. They have a real good team overall and should be in competition for the division title. The offense is led once again by CF Greg Bleasdale. The 37-year old had a very solid season last year, but Pilots brass are expecting an even better season if they are to compete for the playoffs. He will have some help in 3B Marron Jones (switched from 2B) and SS Loxley Birtles. The real strength of this ballclub is in the pitching staff though. Staff ace RHP Kristopher ‘Gimmick’ MacKail will hope to improve on an excellent 1940 season. He will be aided by LHP Gurkan Tiffany and LHP Sergio Rodriguez. While the staff is excellent, the bullpen is pretty poor and will be breaking in a new closer (23-year old RHP Joey Iveson) this year. The bullpen will be sure to blow its share of leads, but the Pilots should still be in the hunt all year long. Best Hitter – CF Greg Bleasdale (13 Contact, 14 Gap, 15 Power, 19 Eye, 11 Avoiding K’s) Best Pitcher – RHP Kristopher ‘Gimmick’ MacKail (13 Stuff, 16 Movement, 15 Control) Best Prospect not in the majors – AAA LF Humberto Hernandiz, 22 Years Old, Potential – (16 Contact, 15 Gap, 10 Power, 11 Eye, 12 Avoiding K’s) This young contact hitting outfielder has plenty of room to grow this year in AAA Springfield. He spent last season between AA and AAA, but should be ready for a full season in AAA this year. Nothing too fancy about him and could turn into a decent OFer in the MOBL when he is ready. SISA ranks him at #50.  Toledo Admirals Predicted finish in division – 1st Minor League system ranking – 12th (out of 16 teams) Last year’s Ohio League champs, the Admirals return virtually the same team from last year and will again be one of the favorites to win the OL again this year. While they look weaker this year, they are the favorites to win the OL West. Again, they return an absolutely filthy lineup and will score runs in bunches all season long. They did both Bob Harvey and Jon Koepke a favor when they traded Koepke to Mackinac for an excellent middle reliever in RHP Bill ‘Jetsam’ Oliver. CF Harvey will really benefit from playing every day and is the prohibitive favorite to win MOB. He is the complete package in every sense of the word and at 26 years old, is just entering his prime and his replica uniform is flying off the racks all over Ohio. I’m actually excited to see how good of a season he can have playing every day. He still has his “Three Musketeers” teammates in LF Alfredo ‘Slap’ Arcos and RF Juan Satelo. SS Tony ‘Ducky’ Tiner and 1B John Slipper also make this, by far, the most lethal lineup you may ever see in the MOBL. Harvey, Satelo and Tiner are arguably the top three MOB candidates in the whole league and they just happen to play for the same team. Tiner may, one day, end up better than Harvey (Tiner is still only 23 years old). The pitching staff is not as good as it was at this point last year. RHP Julian Dearda, their best pitcher, is out for another two months. RHP Hershel ‘Megavolt’ Capers is back, but his injury took a major toll on him and is just an average pitcher right now. LHP Pat McMurdoch is back though and should be improved from an up and down 1940 season. The Admirals have an excellent bullpen though, with Oliver, RHP Willie Krol and closer RHP Mike Ditchburn. Best Hitter – CF Bob Harvey (18 Contact, 18 Gap, 18 Power, 17 Eye, 15 Avoiding K’s) Best Pitcher – RHP Julian Dearda (8 Stuff, 17 Movement, 12 Control) Best Prospect not in the majors – Short Season 1B Chris Cox, 19 Years Old, Potential – (17 Contact, 19 Gap, 3 Power, 13 Eye, 6 Avoiding K’s) The Admirals’ first round pick from last year has plenty of ability to get on base but for a man his size (6’4” 220 lbs), he should have a lot more power potential. He is still very young though and Toledo will bring him along slowly. They hope he ends this season in A Findlay. SISA ranks him #44 on the top 100 prospects list. |
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01-20-2007, 01:46 PM
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#42 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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 Code:
Michigan League Standings North Team W L PCT GB Iron Mountain Miners 13 9 .591 - Mackinac Trolleys 12 10 .545 1.0 Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers 12 11 .522 1.5 Traverse City Cherries 8 13 .381 4.5 South Team W L PCT GB Kalamazoo Bells 13 8 .619 - Lansing Capitals 12 9 .571 1.0 Ann Arbor Democrats 9 13 .409 4.5 Grand Rapids Blue Lakers 8 14 .364 5.5 Ohio League Standings East Team W L PCT GB Canton Terriers 12 11 .522 - Akron Red Irons 10 12 .455 1.5 Youngstown Black Irons 9 13 .409 2.5 Zanesville Engineers 8 13 .381 3.0 West Team W L PCT GB Columbus Archers 15 7 .682 - Dayton Pilots 12 9 .571 2.5 Toledo Admirals 12 9 .571 2.5 Chillicothe Indians 9 13 .409 6.0 The first month of the 1941 season went about as I had expected. The teams I thought would be at the top of the standings are there and the teams I thought would perform poorly are near the bottom. Although there have been some surprises as far as individual performances go. I figured I would be watching Toledo CF Bob Harvey’s statistics all season long, seeing if he could be the first Triple Crown winner of the MOBL. Needless to say, Harvey had a month of April he’d like to forget. He batted only .250 with 2 HR and 8 RBI’s. He has a very respectable .381 OBP, but that is still much lower than it was last season. “Now that the calendar has flipped to May, I can just erase the bad memory of April away,” Harvey said after the Admirals’ April 30th game against Canton, a game in which he was 0 for 4 with 2 K’s. Picking up Harvey’s slack has been the Grandpa of the Three Musketeers – LF Alfredo ‘Slap’ Arcos. He leads many statistical categories as he batted .388 with 8 HR, 16 RBI’s, and 7 Doubles. Other struggling players are Youngstown’s new acquisition, C Calvin Faithorne, and Sault Ste. Marie’s potential MOB, CF Jesus Ortiz. Both players are batting below the Mendoza line one month into the season.  The Kalamazoo Bells picked up where they left off and are April’s Michigan League Team of the Month. (Go figure!) The Bells are dominating with hitting this season, as the pitching has been slightly disappointing, due to the bullpen. They have 4 players batting .300 or better and lead all Michigan League teams with 25 HR’s. When Kalamazoo traded MLCS Game 1 hero Tejano Bermaez in order to give 3B Stan McQuistan a permanent job, nobody could have expected the quick adaptation to the MOBL. McQuistan hit .352 with 4 HR and 14 RBI and is performing well above expectations. “Stan has really hit the ground running with the opportunity given to him,” Bells manager Wilson Labato said. The pitching rotation is playing very well (all have ERA’s below 3.00), but it’d be nice if the bullpen could hold up their end. The starters’ ERA is 2.40 (best in the ML), but the bullpen ERA is 4.69 (7th in the ML). Bells management think the ship will be righted sooner than later and if it does, look out. The Mackinac Trolleys look like they got the additional offensive help they needed and are sitting close to 1st place, where they should be with the kind of talent they have. New addition RF Jon Koepke has played fantastic thus far, batting .298 with 6 HR and 17 RBI’s. He leads the entire ML with those 17 RBI’s and leads the ML with 13 XBH. Top Rookie of the Year candidate RHP Timothy Hart has been just as fantastic thus far, sporting a 4-1 record with a 2.02 ERA, while striking out 30. The Columbus Archers are proving to be a team to reckon with, especially early in the season. They are the OL Team of the Month by doing the little things that create success – winning on the road consistently and winning close games. They aren’t dominating all statistical categories but are playing very consistent baseball and winning those close, dramatic games. They have to be excited with RF Adrian Morales’ start to the season, as he is batting .338 with 5 HR and 15 RBI’s, which is well above his performance last year. He is getting help in the power department as the Archers have 4 players with at least 4 HR’s. RHP Mario Corcoro didn’t have the same April he had in 1940, but still performed well – 3-2, 2.58 ERA, 27 K’s. Closer John Goforth leads the league with 9 Saves as well. Dayton Pilots fans are finally getting to see a team that’s in contention and not sitting in last place. Veteran CF Greg Bleasdale is trying to win a Gehringer-Sisler Cup before he retires and is putting this team on his back. He batted .320 with 10 HR and 21 RBI’s in April (his 10 HR lead the entire MOBL). The Pilots also got some great pitching from their excellent top 4 pitchers (LHP Gurkan Tiffany, RHP Kristopher MacKail, LHP Sergio Rodriguez, and RHP Anker Woodruff) in the rotation. The fans are starting to come out in droves around Dayton to see this very good team compete for the division title. Michigan League Batter of the Month - SS Telo Welter, Kalamazoo Bells - .305, .380 OBP, 7 HR, 13 RBI, 17 Runs, 5 Doubles  Michigan League Pitcher of the Month - RHP Timothy Hart, Mackinac Trolleys - 4-1, 2.02 ERA, 30 K's, 40 IP Ohio League Batter of the Month - LF Alfredo 'Slap' Arcos, Toledo Admirals - .388, 8 HR, 16 RBI, 20 Runs, 7 Doubles (2nd BOM of his career) Ohio League Pitcher of the Month - RHP John Goforth, Columbus Archers - 2-0, 1.74 ERA, 9 Saves, 12 K's, 10.1 IP Last edited by woodfeld; 01-20-2007 at 01:48 PM. |
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01-20-2007, 06:08 PM
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#43 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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Code:
Michigan League Standings North Team W L PCT GB Mackinac Trolleys 29 21 .580 - Iron Mountain Miners 28 22 .560 1.0 Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers 24 27 .471 5.5 Traverse City Cherries 19 31 .380 10.0 South Team W L PCT GB Lansing Capitals 29 21 .580 - Grand Rapids Blue Lakers 24 24 .500 4.0 Ann Arbor Democrats 24 26 .480 5.0 Kalamazoo Bells 22 27 .449 6.5 Ohio League Standings East Team W L PCT GB Canton Terriers 26 25 .510 - Zanesville Engineers 21 29 .420 4.5 Youngstown Black Irons 20 30 .400 5.5 Akron Red Irons 18 32 .360 7.5 West Team W L PCT GB Columbus Archers 35 15 .700 - Dayton Pilots 32 17 .653 2.5 Toledo Admirals 30 20 .600 5.0 Chillicothe Indians 17 31 .354 17.0 The month of May 1941 was about as standings shaking as it gets. Plenty of teams surprised with either good months or horrible months. We are beginning to see some new players at the top of leader boards from last season and new teams in the playoff hunt. But I think most of all is that this season seems to have more parity and any one team has the ability to beat another team. Whatever happened to the Kalamazoo Bells in the month of May is about as crazy as I’ve seen for any one team in a month. Not sure if the team went on a collective vacation, but a 9-19 record in May is not what this team is capable of nor is accurate of what type of team they are. The news got worse on May 30 when top pitcher Jake Thomas goes down for the rest of the season with a herniated disk in his back. Thomas was pitching better than staff ace Rickey ‘Moby Dick’ Benson up to this point (5-4, 2.35 ERA for Thomas). The pitching staff really has struggled this season and is not as good as last year’s staff. The offense was a major disappointment this month. SS Telo Welter was the batter of the month in April and followed that up by completely awful in May, batting .152 with 2 HR and 7 RBI. The good news for the Bells is that it’s still early and they aren’t far out of 1st place.  The Michigan League Team of the Month goes to the Grand Rapids Blue Lakers, who really bounced back from a subpar April. Looking at the statistics, it’s surprising to see this team sitting in 2nd in the ML South. They rank in the bottom half of both the batting and pitching statistics. Those numbers are slightly deceiving as they are getting some magnificent production out of some players, starting with starting pitchers RHP Jorge Diodosio and RHP Antonio Curione. Diodosio is tied for the league lead with 8 wins on the year (8-2, 2.97 ERA), while Curione is leading the league in ERA with a 1.57 ERA (3-3 record). While Curione has the right qualities to be a good starting pitcher, he doesn’t have the endurance. He hasn’t made it past the middle of the 7th inning yet this year. Diodosio, on the other hand, has kind of come out of nowhere to post his excellent numbers. He had a decent year last year (11-12, 4.45 ERA), but the 27-yearl old has really stepped up his game this year. “Jorge kind of put it all together this year. He took what he learned last season and made the adjustments in order to become a great starting pitcher,” Blue Lakers manager Ed Lopez said. After opening with a pretty solid April, it’s back to “same old same old” for the Akron Red Irons. They caught some unlucky injury breaks in May though as 3/5 of their starting rotation is on the DL now (although only RHP John Reinheart is out for a significant period of time (the rest of the season)). But where the Red Irons have been really let down is on the offensive side of the ball. They rank dead last in almost every batting category in the OL. Only 3B Alyn LaPierre seems to be having a decent or better season (.286, 11 HR, 23 RBI). RF Bernard Darrington has been almost nonexistent this season and is probably the most disappointing player in the entire OL as of right now (.212, 1 HR, 16 RBI). The hope is that some of the pitchers come off the DL, pitch well, and that Darrington eventually wakes up. The Ohio League Team of the Month goes to the Dayton Pilots. The excitement couldn’t be any higher in Dayton after the Pilots went 20-8 during the month of May. Unfortunately, they play in the OL West where Columbus also went 20-8 and holds a 2.5 game lead over the Pilots. After an excellent month of April, CF Greg Bleasdale followed it up with equally impressive May (.361, 4 HR, 13 RBI). “I know I don’t have many years left in this body, but I want to make sure I give it my all while I still can and hopefully this organization is rewarded with a Cup,” Bleasdale said during the tail end of the month. More impressive than Bleasdale during May was 1B Dookie Trout. The hulking first baseman from New Mexico hit .411 with 9 HR and 32 RBI in one incredible May. He leads the league in total RBI’s with 45. But the real success story for this team has been the starting pitching. LHP Gurkan Tiffany (7-0, 2.39 ERA), RHP Kristofer MacKail (4-4, 2.63 ERA), LHP Sergio Rodriguez (8-1, 2.20 ERA), and RHP Anker Woodruff (7-2, 2.88 ERA) have been the story of the year thus far in the MOBL.  Michigan League Batter of the Month - LF Vernon 'Clueless' Wareham, Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers - .350, 8 HR, 18 RBI, 25 Runs Michigan League Pitcher of the Month - RHP Jorge Diodosio, Grand Rapids Blue Lakers - 6-0, 1.96 ERA, 31 K's, 41.1 IP Ohio League Batter of the Month - 1B Dookie Trout, Dayton Pilots - .411, .467 OBP, 9 HR, 32 RBI, 21 Runs, 13 XBH Ohio League Pitcher of the Month - LHP Sergio Rodriguez, Dayton Pilots - 6-0, 2.25 ERA, 28 K's, 44 IP |
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01-21-2007, 01:33 PM
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#44 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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June 15, 1941
The middle of June means summer is here and so is the annual MOBL Draft. This year’s draft brings no clear-cut superstars, light in the pitching prospect department, but strong in the infielder department (particularly third basemen).  1) Akron Red Irons – RHP Paul Gray, 18 years old – The Red Irons went with the top pitching prospect available, even though there were probably some better position players out there. Gray is a long ways away from a MOBL roster, but has the ability to be a very good, consistent starting pitcher. “Gray won’t ever overpower you and blow you away, but he knows how to pitch and is a fantastic leader,” a rival scout said on draft day. The Red Irons will wait patiently for Gray to progress in their system.  2) Traverse City Cherries – SS Chet ‘Pongo’ Dowdell, 21 years old – The Cherries decided to take one of the more talked about prospects in Dowdell. ‘Pongo’ could be a dominant 5-tool player according to some, but many scouts question his power. He will get on base though and play very strong defense at the most key defensive position, in addition to being a good clubhouse guy. Dowdell could make his way through the Cherries system pretty quickly.  3) Zanesville Engineers – 3B Alexander Grove, 17 years old – If there is one player in the draft that has the potential for superstardom in the MOBL, it would be Grove. Strong with the glove, strong leadership, good stroke, with some ability to hit for power, Engineer fans will be thrilled to have this Illinois native. He is still only 17 years old (which was a common theme in this draft – very young players), but many in the Zanesville brain trust are ecstatic with this pick.  4) Youngstown Black Irons – C Jordy Sankey, 18 years old – The blue collar town of Youngstown loves to have players that play 110% and keep their egos in check. Sankey is exactly that. He has a very strong work ethic, plays sound defensively and has a nice batting stroke. He probably won’t ever hit for power, but this is a solid pick and someone that Calvin Faithorne can mentor and groom for everyday action in the MOBL. 5) Mackinac Trolleys – RHP Bartolo Salgueno, 22 years old – The Trolleys went with pitching with their first round pick for the second year in a row. Scouts opinions on Salgueno vary widely. Some see him as a career minor leaguer, while others see him as a solid #2 or 3 starter. He was placed directly into A Petoskey as opposed to Short Season Charlevoix so that is a good sign for his ability. He has strong control and good stuff, but doesn’t move the ball around much. “He doesn’t good enough stuff to just rip back and throw it, he needs to be able to mix it up a little, vary his speeds. I just don’t see him as anything more than a minor leaguer unless he can significantly change and improve,” an OL GM said. 6) Grand Rapids Blue Lakers – 3B Ron Ewing, 18 years old – As with most teenagers drafted into the MOBL, scouts opinions will vary quite drastically on their opinions of them. Ewing is no different, but has the potential to be a wonderful third baseman in the MOBL. Very strong with the glove, Ewing also has a pretty solid swing and should hit plenty of doubles. He may not put up power numbers and isn’t the greatest clubhouse guy, but if he can live up to his potential, he’ll make many Blue Laker fans happy. 7) Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers – SS Todd Walker, 17 years old – Walker looks to be the prototypical shortstop. Very solid defensively, and also has the ability to take walks and get on base, but won’t hit very many homeruns. White Laker scout Seabrook Bell says, “To me, Walkeris the complete package. He cares about defense as much as offense, has a sweet stroke and I personally think he has the potential for power numbers in the future. We were very happy to see his availability when it was our turn to pick.”  8) Iron Mountain Miners – 2B Cecil MacSorley, 22 years old – The Miners went with the pesky second baseman from Chicago. MacSorley will be a terror on the basebaths at whatever level he plays at. With his ability to take walks and not strikeout, you can rest assured he should be on base pretty frequently to be able to annoy opposing teams. It will be a few years though before Miner fans can expect to see him in the MOBL. |
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01-21-2007, 01:36 PM
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#45 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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9) Dayton Pilots – SS Felix Perez, 18 years old – Perez, the native Texan, can play every infield position (although his best position is first base), so his versatility is very much a hot commodity in the MOBL. Many scouts really wonder about his offensive ability though. “To me, Perez is a defensive specialist and a team captain, but that’s about it. He just doesn’t show me anything with his bat,” one overheard a OL scout say. Perez will have plenty of time to develop some offensive firepower though in the Pilots system. 10) Columbus Archers – 3B Jonathon Bennett, 17 years old – The first true power hitter goes tenth overall to the Archers. Bennett will put up big homerun numbers in any league he plays in, but some wonder if that’s all he’ll be able to do. “At times, he really looks like he could put it all together and be a complete player, but other times he just looks a step behind. But make no doubt about it, he can crush the ball,” a ML GM said. A born leader that plays his position well, Bennett probably won’t see a MOBL roster for a few years.  11) Lansing Capitals – RF Oscar Mallam, 18 years old – Lansing went with the enigmatic and outspoken Mallam with their pick. A true genius with the glove, Mallam can play CF almost as well as RF and will be a nightmare for opposing pitcher/teams when on base (should be a league leader in SB wherever he plays). He makes good contact, but doesn’t walk very often and can swing wildly at times. He won’t ever hit homeruns but as he says “I create more opportunities and take runs off the board with my defense than any home run hitter in this draft.” 12) Chillicothe Indians – 2B Andrew Brummett, 18 years old – The Indians made a very nice pick with Brummett at the tail end of this draft. He looks like he could be a potential All Star starting second baseman. While he probably won’t hit for power, he knows how to get on base and will hit plenty of doubles. “Brummett looks to be the most overlooked player in this draft. He’s a switch hitting doubles and singles hitter that will take his share of walks as well. You won’t find many second basemen that can do that,” Chillicothe head scout Robby MacTause said.  13) Ann Arbor Democrats – LF Julio Andujar, 17 years old – Andujar appears to be a poor man’s 5-tool player. What I mean is that he looks like he can do everything pretty well, but isn’t all that strong in any of those areas. Regardless, the Democrats look to have gotten themselves a very solid player that works extremely hard every day. As with most 17-year olds, he will take a few years before he’s ready for the big leagues. 14) Toledo Admirals – SS Joe Keesee, 17 years old – Keesee is a solid contact hitter from Illinois (many of these 1st rounders have come from the Prairie State), but is most definitely not a SS. He is a potential gold glove winner at first, but seems to think he can play SS. No doubt he will eventually move to a different position. Keesee doesn’t have much power but displays a pretty nice compact swing that will get him on base often. Some scouts question whether he’ll ever develop as he has a poor work ethic and has been in trouble with the law recently.  15) Canton Terriers – RHP Ismael Ovalle, 18 years old – Yet another Illinois native, Ovalle does not look to be anything more than a #5 starter. He has a nice four-pitch arsenal but just doesn’t look like he has the makeup to be a good starting pitcher in the MOBL. “That pick baffles me to tell you the truth. Ovalle has plenty of work to do in order to see a MOBL roster,” a OL scout said. This is the 2nd year in a row that the Terriers have gone with a very questionable pick. 16) Kalamazoo Bells – LHP Christian Blanch, 17 years old – Another reach pick, Blanch looks like he’ll have plenty of work to do in order to pitch in the MOBL. The tall, lanky Massachusetts native has a four-pitch repertoire and can pitch all night, but looks like he could be a career minor leaguer. I wonder if these last two picks were more of a result of a lack of good quality players available than making reach picks. |
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01-26-2007, 12:13 AM
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#46 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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Code:
Michigan League Standings North Team W L PCT GB Mackinac Trolleys 41 36 .532 - Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers 41 37 .526 .5 Iron Mountain Miners 39 38 .506 2.0 Traverse City Cherries 28 50 .359 13.5 South Team W L PCT GB Lansing Capitals 44 33 .571 - Grand Rapids Blue Lakers 39 36 .520 4.0 Ann Arbor Democrats 39 39 .500 5.5 Kalamazoo Bells 37 39 .487 6.5 Ohio League Standings East Team W L PCT GB Canton Terriers 42 36 .538 - Zanesville Engineers 33 45 .423 9.0 Akron Red Irons 31 46 .403 10.5 Youngstown Black Irons 30 47 .390 11.5 West Team W L PCT GB Columbus Archers 50 28 .641 - Dayton Pilots 49 27 .645 - Toledo Admirals 44 33 .571 5.5 Chillicothe Indians 29 46 .387 19.5 At the halfway point, we have some very tight divisional races and Canton appears to be the only team that has and will run away with their division for the second year in a row. Nowhere is it more heated than in the OL West. Last year’s OL Champs, Toledo, would be at least tied for 1st place in every other division, but in the OL West, they sit in 3rd, 5.5 games back. “That division is so tightly contested. I’m glad we aren’t in that division, that’s for sure. All three teams are excellent and good enough to win it all,” Canton RF Syman Shores said. The race for first in the OL West will be the biggest story during the second half of the season. Each game they play against each other will sure to be a hotly contested battle. Dayton may have the advantage come September though as they play both teams in 4-game series at Pilots Park, where they have a 27-10 record this year. For the second month in a row, the Dayton Pilots played the best baseball in the entire OL and are named the Ohio League Team of the Month. CF Greg Bleasdale has played phenomenally all season long and has an outside shot at the Triple Crown in the OL if he plays in the second half as well as he did in the first half. He is hitting .338 with a .452 OBP, 17 HR and 45 RBI’s right now and is the leading candidate for OL MOB. Dayton manager Joseph Parker said “What can be said about Greg that hasn’t already been said? He’s been leading this team all year long with his work ethic, both on and off the field and all the guys in this organization, from the top on down, have a great deal of respect for him.” He’s had help though with guys like 2B Damaso Sanabnia (.286, 3 HR, 29 RBI, 27 Doubles), 1B Dookie Trout (.280, 15 HR, 58 RBI) and RF Antonio Dorado (.271, 12 HR, 37 RBI, 18 Doubles). This Pilots team has a very balanced lineup that can hurt you in so many different ways and is an excellent complement to their stellar pitching staff. Meanwhile, the team tied for 1st place with Dayton, the Columbus Archers, has been equally strong all year long. This can be attributed mostly to their excellent pitching so far this year. Their bullpen has been dynamite, starting with amazing closer RHP John Goforth (4-1, 23 Saves, 1.09 ERA), and leads the entire OL with a 3.03 ERA. Their starters haven’t been too shabby either. The risky move of LHP Roberto Pagan to a starter’s role has paid off extremely well. He has an 8-1 record with a 3.13 ERA and 84 K’s in 92 IP. While he doesn’t last past the 6th inning often, this was a move that has worked wonders for the Archers. Meanwhile, RHP Tony ‘Wall’ Navarro has turned into one of the best looking young pitchers in the MOBL. He has led this staff with a 9-6 record and a 2.33 ERA this year. He is very much in the running for the OL MOP. The Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers have quietly hung around in the ML North and with a very solid month of June, they have jumped into the race for the North title. Having gone 17-10 in June makes them the Michigan League Team of the Month. Their success can largely be attributed to the maturation of star CF Jesus Ortiz. Ortiz started out of the gates very slowly, but had a fantastic June (.400, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 10 Doubles) to put him on the leaderboards in a number of categories. He is currently hitting .319 with a .385 OBP, 12 HR, 54 RBI and 20 Doubles. “I’m not sure what was wrong with me at the beginning of the year, but I made some slight adjustments, thanks to Nick [MacCansh, the Lakers’ hitting coach] and I’ve just been able to not give any AB’s away,” Ortiz said recently. His outfield mates have been just as spectacular this year. LF Vernon ‘Clueless’ Wareham (.302, 16 HR, 47 RBI) and RF Isaiah Stroud (.305, 9 HR, 43 RBI) have made the middle of this lineup quite a gauntlet. When you throw in the unexpected seasons from C Ken Clark (.253, 15 HR, 35 RBI) and LHP Glenden Session (7-5, 2.59 ERA in 93.2 IP), it’s easy to see why this ballclub is in contention. Michigan League Batter of the Month - LF Kev Taylor, Grand Rapids Blue Lakers - .289, 14 HR, 27 RBI, 23 R (3rd BOM in career) Michigan League Pitcher of the Month - RHP Rickey 'Moby Dick' Benson, Kalamazoo Bells - 4-0, 1.36 ERA, 58 K's, 46.1 IP (4th POM in career) Ohio League Batter of the Month - RF Bernard Darrington, Akron Red Irons - .347, 6 HR, 26 RBI, 19 R, 19 XBH Ohio League Pitcher of the Month - LHP Pat McMurdoch, Toledo Admirals - 4-1, 1.34 ERA, 39 K's, 47 IP |
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01-28-2007, 11:26 AM
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#47 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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July 15, 1941 The second annual All-Star Game is being held in Chillicothe, Ohio. This year’s game brings many familiar faces from last year’s game, but there are still plenty of excellent new players to this year’s festivities. Only one team is not represented on the teams as Akron did not send any players to the mid-summer game. Here is the Michigan League lineup… 1. SS Mike Helmick – Mackinac Trolleys - .286, .396 OBP, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 45 Runs, 13 Doubles, 2 Triples, 5 SB’s 2. 1B Teo Mendiviel – IronMountain Miners - .339, .408 OBP, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 43 Runs, 21 Doubles, 2 Triples 3. LF Vernon ‘Clueless’ Wareham – Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers - .303, .377 OBP, 19 HR, 54 RBI, 65 Runs, 25 Doubles, 2 Triples, 15 SB’s 4. 2B John Watson – IronMountain Miners - .269, .381 OBP, 22 HR, 51 RBI, 52 Runs, 9 Doubles, 2 SB’s (2nd All-Star Game) 5. RF Kev Taylor – Grand Rapids Blue Lakers - .279, .375 OBP, 29 HR, 59 RBI, 67 Runs, 12 Doubles, 2 Triples, 15 SB’s (2nd All-Star Game) 6. CF Jon Koepke – Mackinac Trolleys - .298, .374 OBP, 15 HR, 52 RBI, 48 Runs, 21 Doubles, 2 Triples, 4 SB’s 7. C Benjamin Landers – Kalamazoo Bells - .324, .387 OBP, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 39 Runs, 14 Doubles, 1 Triple, 1 SB (2nd All-Star Game) 8. 3B Stan McQuistan – Kalamazoo Bells - .325, .348 OBP, 13 HR, 44 RBI, 44 Runs, 19 Doubles, 3 Triples, 1 SB 9. RHP Carlton Wunderlich – Iron Mountain Miners – 9-3, 3.02 ERA, 94 K’s, 1.10 WHIP, 122 IP BENCH RHP Rickey ‘Moby Dick’ Benson – Kalamazoo Bells – 13-4, 2.30 ERA, 169 K’s, 141 IP (2nd All-Star Game) LHP John ‘Cobra’ Durham – Ann Arbor Democrats – 10-6, 2.48 ERA, 154 K’s, 137.2 IP (2nd All-Star Game) LHP Joe O’Crouley – Lansing Capitals – 10-5, 2.33 ERA, 108 K’s, 135 IP (2nd All-Star Game) RHP Ramon Sinsun – Lansing Capitals – 11-6, 3.20 ERA, 97 K’s, 135 IP RHP Luis Vecino – Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers – 10-3, 3.53 ERA, 109 K’s, 119.2 IP RHP Jorge Diodosio – Grand Rapids Blue Lakers – 9-3, 3.35 ERA, 72 K’s, 96.2 IP RHP Bob Aylmer – Kalamazoo Bells – 1-1, 26 Saves, 0.50 ERA, 33 K’s, 36.1 IP (2nd All-Star Game) RHP Stephen ‘Music’ Buchan – Lansing Capitals – 2-3, 25 Saves, 1.70 ERA, 42 K’s, 42.1 IP LHP Seth ‘Hack’ Gabriel – Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers – 4-2, 22 Saves, 2.75 ERA, 38 K’s, 39.1 IP RHP John ‘Slush’ Gladstone – Ann Arbor Democrats – 1-1, 20 Saves, 1.30 ERA, 32 K’s, 34.2 IP (2nd All-Star Game) RHP Roald Plume – Mackinac Trolleys – 6-6, 21 Saves, 3.15 ERA, 43 K’s, 40 IP (2nd All-Star Game) C Carl Dunn – Lansing Capitals - .277, .336 OBP, 15 HR, 47 RBI, 35 Runs, 20 Doubles, 6 Triples 1B Jhon Sarceda – Traverse City Cherries - .316, .375 OBP, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 59 Runs, 24 Doubles, 2 Triples, 1 SB 1B Florinio ‘Tag’ Hernando – Kalamazoo Bells - .279, .359 OBP, 7 HR, 40 RBI, 34 Runs, 22 Doubles, 3 Triples, 18 SB’s (2nd All-Star Game) 1B Tejano Bemaez – Ann Arbor Democrats - .293, .363 OBP, 12 HR, 38 RBI, 41 Runs, 12 Doubles, 1 Triple, 2 SB’s LF Jacob Davis – Ann Arbor Democrats - .315, .391 OBP, 15 HR, 40 RBI, 58 Runs, 16 Doubles, 4 Triples, 3 SB’s LF Elroy Graves – Iron Mountain Miners - .319, .418 OBP, 13 HR, 42 RBI, 16 Doubles, 2 Triples (2nd All-Star Game) CF Jesus Ortiz – Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers - .310, .380 OBP, 14 HR, 61 RBI, 40 Runs, 22 Doubles, 4 Triples, 4 SB’s (2nd All-Star Game) RF Edward ‘Barbwire’ Chisholm – Lansing Capitals - .282, .336 OBP, 28 HR, 59 RBI, 63 Runs, 15 Doubles, 4 Triples, 3 SB’s And the Ohio League lineup and bench… 1. CF Greg Bleasdale – Dayton Pilots - .324, .435 OBP, 18 HR, 46 RBI, 75 Runs, 23 Doubles, 4 Triples, 15 SB’s 2. LF Alfredo ‘Slap’ Arcos – Toledo Admirals - .342, .429 OBP, 24 HR, 61 RBI, 76 Runs, 20 Doubles, 1 Triple, 1 SB (2nd All-Star Game) 3. C Calvin Faithorne – Youngstown Black Irons - .279, .346 OBP, 21 HR, 44 RBI, 48 Runs, 7 Doubles (2nd All-Star Game) 4. RF Syman Shores – Canton Terriers - .329, .384 OBP, 21 HR, 56 RBI, 66 Runs, 32 Doubles, 1 Triple, 28 SB’s 5. 1B Martin Cook – Youngstown Black Irons - .328, .353 OBP, 24 HR, 66 RBI, 53 Runs, 26 Doubles, 3 Triples, 2 SB’s (2nd All-Star Game) 6. 3B Paul ‘Horse’ Jenkins – Canton Terriers - .313, .375 OBP, 13 HR, 33 RBI, 43 Runs, 14 Doubles, 2 Triples, 1 SB 7. 2B Harden Evans – Toledo Admirals - .297, .409 OBP, 11 HR, 56 RBI, 43 Runs, 19 Doubles, 2 Triples, 1 SB 8. SS Eric Harvis – Canton Terriers - .279, .347 OBP, 17 HR, 46 RBI, 44 Runs, 9 Doubles, 3 Triples, 2 SB’s 9. LHP Gurkan Tiffany – Dayton Pilots – 12-0, 2.22 ERA, 127 K’s, 1.02 WHIP, 121.2 IP BENCH LHP Ray Campbell – Canton Terriers – 12-1, 2.59 ERA, 97 K’s, 128.2 IP (2nd All-Star Game) LHP Pat McMurdoch – Toledo Admirals – 14-3, 2.42 ERA, 122 K’s, 145 IP (2nd All-Star Game) RHP Tony ‘Wall’ Navarro – Columbus Archers – 11-7, 2.52 ERA, 115 K’s, 135.2 IP RHP Rich Nichols – Columbus Archers – 10-3, 2.90 ERA, 62 K’s, 124 IP LHP Roberto Pagan – Columbus Archers – 9-2, 3.13 ERA, 92 K’s, 103.2 IP LHP Sergio Rodriguez – Dayton Pilots – 13-2, 2.01 ERA, 107 K’s, 134 IP LHP Howard ‘Merlin’ West – Canton Terriers – 11-7, 2.50 ERA, 155 K’s, 133.1 IP RHP Mike Ditchburn – Toledo Admirals – 2-4, 20 Saves, 1.71 ERA, 31 K’s, 31.2 IP RHP John Goforth – Columbus Archers – 4-2, 26 Saves, 1.19 ERA, 50 K’s, 37.2 IP (2nd All-Star Game) RHP Joey Iveson – Dayton Pilots – 2-1, 27 Saves, 2.22 ERA, 33 K’s, 44.2 IP LHP Myles ‘Tired’ Shaffer – Chillicothe Indians – 3-2, 20 Saves, 0.83 ERA, 35 K’s, 32.2 IP (2nd All-Star Game) C Tim Crase – Canton Terriers - .247, .352 OBP, 14 HR, 42 RBI, 43 Runs, 7 Doubles, 2 Triples (2nd All-Star Game) 1B Jesus Badilla – Zanesville Engineers - .312, .372 OBP, 15 HR, 48 RBI, 41 Runs, 17 Doubles, 1 Triple (2nd All-Star Game) 1B Joseph Currey – Columbus Archers - .300, .374 OBP, 17 HR, 42 RBI, 46 Runs, 10 Doubles, 1 Triple (2nd All-Star Game) 1B Dookie Trout – Dayton Pilots - .281, .354 OBP, 17 HR, 65 RBI, 52 Runs, 11 Doubles, 3 Triples 2B Damaso Sanabnia – Dayton Pilots - .296, .356 OBP, 5 HR, 35 RBI, 57 Runs, 32 Doubles, 5 Triples, 6 SB’s LF Pablo Portio – Youngstown Black Irons - .307, .356 OBP, 19 HR, 59 RBI, 45 Runs, 23 Doubles, 5 Triples LF Anderson Juarez – Chillicothe Indians - .271, .335 OBP, 19 HR, 49 RBI, 45 Runs, 21 Doubles, 2 Triples, 6 SB’s RF Adrian Morales – Columbus Archers - .287, .365 OBP, 16 HR, 46 RBI, 44 Runs, 15 Doubles, 3 Triples, 5 SB’s Wunderlich gets the start for the ML mainly due to the fact that Rickey Benson just pitched before the break. It’s clear that first base has the most stars in each league and the Ohio League seems to have more power and offense. I have to think that they will be able to pull this game out. As expected, the Ohio League prevented plenty of power as they hit 4 HR’s in the game, including the biggest, a 3-run shot in the 6th off of Jorge Diodosio by the unlikeliest of sources – 2B Damaso Sanabnia. Sanabnia went on to win Game MVP because of the homer as the Ohio League won 8-2. The Ohio League pitchers actually had a no hitter through 5 1/3 innings. Home runs hit by the OL came from Sanabnia, 1B Martin Cook, 2B Harden Evans and SS Eric Harvis. “I am very honored to be the MVP of the All-Star Game. I certainly never would have thought coming into this game that I’d win it with a home run, but I’ll certainly take it,” a smiling Sanabnia said after the game. On to the rest of the season!! P.S. End of July’s standings are somewhat surprising with new division leaders and one team that is making a run to be considered the best team ever in the MOBL (I know it’s only year two but still)… |
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02-04-2007, 03:07 PM
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#48 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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Code:
Michigan League Standings North Team W L PCT GB Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers 55 48 .534 - Mackinac Trolleys 51 51 .500 3.5 Iron Mountain Miners 48 54 .471 6.5 Traverse City Cherries 40 62 .392 14.5 South Team W L PCT GB Kalamazoo Bells 56 45 .554 - Ann Arbor Democrats 55 47 .539 1.5 Lansing Capitals 53 49 .520 3.5 Grand Rapids Blue Lakers 50 52 .490 6.5 Ohio League Standings East Team W L PCT GB Canton Terriers 58 45 .563 - Akron Red Irons 43 59 .422 14.5 Youngstown Black Irons 42 60 .412 15.5 Zanesville Engineers 37 65 .363 20.5 West Team W L PCT GB Dayton Pilots 68 33 .673 - Columbus Archers 61 41 .598 7.5 Toledo Admirals 61 41 .598 7.5 Chillicothe Indians 38 64 .373 30.5 What a crazy month of July it has been. Some changes in division leaders and some division leaders are running away with their division. Not to mention the changes in the leaders on the statistics boards. I’ve decided to add a new feature to my dynasty report by reporting the current leaders for MOB and MOP in each league. For how much craziness the month brought in standings and leaders boards, it brought very little trading. “I think with how up and down this season has been and with so many teams still having a legitimate shot at making the playoffs, it really hindered trading,” one ML GM said. Look out, here come the Kalamazoo Bells! The Bells certainly made quite the statement in the month of July, going 19-6 and putting themselves back atop the ML South, which is something they are very accustomed to. They are named the Michigan League Team of the Month for the second time this season. When star RHP Jake Thomas went down with a season-ending injury, the Bells knew they needed some guys to step up and they really have. RHP Rickey Benson has been pretty much exactly what was expected of him, leading this staff and being the front-runner for ML MOP, yet again. But guys like LHP Willard Nasmyth (12-5, 2.89 ERA), LHP Colin Weakley (9-5, 3.54 ERA) and young RHP Jose Guatarrez (6-7, 3.04 ERA) are the real reasons this team leads the ML in many pitching categories. The bullpen, led by RHP Bob Aylmer (3-2, 30 Saves, 1.24 ERA), has really bounced back from a rough start as well. Meanwhile, the offense really stepped it up in July, and will continue to be needed if they want to repeat as Cup champs. They lead the ML in batting average but are dead last in extra base hits. They need guys like SS Telo Welter (.249, 23 HR, 56 RBI) and C Benjamin Landers (.317, 9 HR, 45 RBI) to step up and lead this team in the extra base hits department. Just nipping at the Bells heels with an excellent month are the Ann Arbor Democrats. In fact the Dems are on a 8-game winning streak that featured a 3-game sweep of Kalamazoo to end the month. They have been led all season by their strong pitching staff. LHP John Durham (12-6, 2.33 ERA) ranks near the top of the MOP candidate list, while RHP George Price (8-11, 3.27 ERA) and LHP Roberto ‘The Scorpion’ Serrano (9-7, 3.48 ERA) have been a good #2 and #3. The real story though has been the pitching of the Ann Arbor bullpen. Closer RHP John ‘Slush’ Gladstone (1-2, 25 Saves, 1.80 ERA) has been fantastic all season, but has been helped by the lefty combo of LHP Vernon Carpenter (3-3, 1 Save, 2.63 ERA) and LHP Mark Seager (4-3, 1 Save, 2.55 ERA). Together, they have formed the best bullpen in the entire Michigan League. The offense is a different story though, as the Dems rank in the bottom half of the ML in most categories. That hasn’t stopped LF Jacob Davis from having an excellent season though. Davis is near the top of most MOB ballots with these stats - .307, .385 OBP, 16 HR, 47 RBI, 68 Runs, 19 Doubles, and 6 Triples. The Dayton Pilots are just a well-oiled machine at this point. They had another fantastic month, going 19-6, and are named the Ohio League Team of the Month for the third month in a row. A very interesting subplot to this season’s stories has been LHP Gurkan Tiffany’s run for perfection. He has not lost a game yet this season, standing at 13-0 with a 2.16 ERA, and has been one of the four anchors in this excellent rotation. “Tell you the truth, I’m not even thinking about it (the perfect record),” Tiffany said. “I just want to help this team win the division and then the Cup, everything else is just gravy.” Meanwhile, on the offensive side of the ball, 1B Dookie Trout continues to be a one man RBI machine. He had another fantastic month, hitting .276 with 9 HR and 27 RBI’s. This was certainly helped by his amazing day on July 29 against Columbus, going 3-5 with 2 HR and 8 RBI’s. He is far and away the leader in RBI’s with 85 at this point in the season. Where CF Greg Bleasdale has been the leader of this multi-faceted offense, Trout has been the powerful core. Michigan League MOB Top Candidates 2B John Watson – Iron Mountain Miners - .280, .394 OBP, 24 HR, 59 RBI, 61 Runs, 13 Doubles LF Jacob Davis – Ann Arbor Democrats - .307, .385 OBP, 16 HR, 47 RBI, 68 Runs, 19 Doubles, 6 Triples LF Vernon Wareham – Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers - .308, .378 OBP, 26 HR, 65 RBI, 78 Runs, 27 Doubles, 3 Triples, 19 SB’s This hasn’t been a real exceptional individual year for offensive players in the ML, but these three should have a hotly contested battle for MOB in these final two months. Wareham seems to be having the best season, but don’t discount the other guys. Michigan League MOP Top Candidates RHP Rickey Benson – Kalamazoo Bells – 14-5, 2.44 ERA, 193 K’s, 1.05 WHIP, 162.1 IP LHP John Durham – Ann Arbor Democrats – 12-6, 2.33 ERA, 179 K’s, 1.01 WHIP, 158.2 IP LHP Joe O’Crouley – Lansing Capitals – 11-7, 2.51 ERA, 128 K’s, 1.09 WHIP, 158 IP While not having the same type of season he had last year, Benson has been turning it up recently and is the favorite to take home the hardware for the second year in a row, but this race could depend on who leads their team to the division title. Ohio League MOB Top Candidates RF SymanShores – Canton Terriers - .325, .383 OBP, 25 HR, 69 RBI, 78 Runs, 38 Doubles, 33 SB’s CF Greg Bleasdale – Dayton Pilots - .324, .438 OBP, 19 HR, 50 RBI, 85 Runs, 25 Doubles, 5 Triples, 18 SB’s 1B Martin Cook – Youngstown Black Irons - .321, .347 OBP, 28 HR, 73 RBI, 59 Runs, 27 Doubles, 4 Triples This is pretty much a two horse race between Shores and Bleasdale. They are both having absolutely phenomenal seasons, but Shores has quietly been stepping out of teammate Peter Northcutt’s shadow and is the leading candidate at this point. Ohio League MOP Top Candidates LHP Pat McMurdoch – Toledo Admirals – 17-3, 2.29 ERA, 142 K’s, 1.07 WHIP, 169 IP LHP Howard West – Canton Terriers – 12-9, 2.43 ERA, 184 K’s, 1.05 WHIP, 155.2 IP LHP Sergio Rodriguez – Dayton Pilots – 13-2, 2.00 ERA, 122 K’s, 1.12 WHIP, 153 IP Apparently, there are plenty of left handed batters in the OL as the top candidates for MOP are all lefties. McMurdoch has been tremendous all year and has a decent shot of winning 25 or more games this year, but I’m sure he’d trade it in for a division title. Michigan League Batter of the Month - LF Vernon 'Clueless' Wareham, Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers - .327, 10 HR, 18 RBI (2nd BOM in career) Michigan League Pitcher of the Month - LHP Roberto 'The Scorpion' Serrano, Ann Arbor Democrats - 5-1, 2.89 ERA, 27 K's, 46.2 IP Ohio League Batter of the Month - LF Pablo Portio, Youngstown Black Irons - .304, 9 HR, 25 RBI, 17 Runs, 19 XBH Ohio League Pitcher of the Month - LHP Pat McMurdoch, Toledo Admirals - 5-0, 1.54 ERA, 36 K's, 41 IP (2nd POM in career) |
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02-10-2007, 01:08 PM
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#49 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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Code:
Michigan League Standings North Team W L PCT GB Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers 66 64 .508 - Mackinac Trolleys 65 65 .500 1.0 Iron Mountain Miners 62 69 .473 4.5 Traverse City Cherries 50 81 .382 16.5 South Team W L PCT GB Kalamazoo Bells 75 55 .577 - Ann Arbor Democrats 70 60 .538 5.0 Grand Rapids Blue Lakers 70 60 .538 5.0 Lansing Capitals 63 67 .485 12.0 Ohio League Standings East Team W L PCT GB Canton Terriers 71 59 .546 - Youngstown Black Irons 58 73 .443 13.5 Akron Red Irons 53 77 .408 18.0 Zanesville Engineers 48 83 .366 23.5 West Team W L PCT GB Toledo Admirals 82 48 .631 - Dayton Pilots 81 49 .623 1.0 Columbus Archers 77 53 .592 5.0 Chillicothe Indians 51 79 .392 31.0 With one month left in the season, there are more division changes, tighter races and more intrigue than last year. Only Canton looks to be a sure fire slam dunk division champion at this point. What will be the difference in each of the races as the season draws to a close? Here’s a closer picture at what will happen in September/October. In the ML North, Sault Ste. Marie plays both Iron Mountain and Mackinac 6 times (3 home, 3 away) and will be able to control their own destiny. To top it off, they play their home games against these two teams late in the month. Mackinac visits Iron Mountain for a 4-game set in the middle of the month. In the ML South, Kalamazoo has 6 games left against Grand Rapids (3 home early, 3 away late) and a HUGE 4-game set at home against Ann Arbor in the middle of the month. Ann Arbor visits Grand Rapids for a 3 game set early in the month and hosts them in a crucial 4 game set late in the month. The OL West, Toledo plays Columbus 6 times (3 home late, 3 away early) and Dayton 6 times (2 home early, 4 away late). That 4 game tilt in Dayton could be the most anticipated regular season series ever in the MOBL. Columbus also visits Dayton for a 4 game set one week before Toledo does. My predicted division champs – Sault Ste. Marie, Kalamazoo and Dayton. After closing out the month of August 20-8, the Grand Rapids Blue Lakers put themselves right in the thick of it for the ML South and are this month’s Michigan League Team of the Month. They start September with a crucial 3 game series against the Bells in Kalamazoo that will go a long way in proving how legitimate this team’s threat is. The torrid month was helped with team leader and team MVP LF Kev Taylor’s strong play. Taylor has clearly established himself as the preeminent slugger in the MOBL as he is only 10 HR’s shy of back to back 50-HR seasons. A very underrated aspect of Taylor’s game is his speed. He is third on the team with 17 SB’s and will be sorely counted upon to help lead this team to the promise land. “Kev, what can I say? He’s our MVP and captain and keeps us focused through the long season. I can’t think of a better teammate,” SS Phil High said. Two of the players Taylor has taken under his wing is rookie 3B Zach von Bohlen, who had a tremendous month of August (.284, 4 HR, 27 RBI) and rookie CF Edgardo Grateda (.304 (leads team), 19 HR, 57 RBI, 26 Doubles this year). Meanwhile, the pitching has been very dependable this year for this club. RHP Antonio Curione (11-7, 3.13 ERA) and LHP Alton Smith (10-7, 4.22 ERA) will have to continue to pitch like they have in order for this team to overcome their 5 game deficit in the division. Look at who is leading the OL West. With a record of 21-7 in August, the Toledo Admirals jumped into the division lead and are named the Ohio League Team of the Month. The biggest reason for this monstrous month was the monstrous month put up by CF Bob Harvey, who finally awoke from his slumber, by hitting .406 with a .565 OBP, 11 HR, 27 RBI and a whopping 39 runs in August. He has placed himself right back into the thick of the Triple Crown talk (although his chances are very small) and the OL MVP. “I only knew it was a matter of time before Bob would play like the outstanding player he is,” manager Jason Perkins said. “It couldn’t have arrived at a better time for our club; we needed Bob Harvey to be Bob Harvey in the worst way possible.” If there is any doubt that Toledo has the best lineup in the entire MOBL, one only needs to look at the leaderboard for team stats - Toledo ranks 1st in every single category in the OL except one – stolen bases. Five players have 75 RBI’s or more, which is unbelievable. To top it off, they have the best pitcher in the OL as well in LHP Pat McMurdoch (21-4, 2.63 ERA, 178 K’s). “I want to stress the importance Pat plays in our team’s success. He’s been our stabilizing force all year and will be rewarded handsomely in the offseason with all the postseason awards he should win,” Perkins said. Toledo has all the key components of a championship team but will be tested big time in this last month of the season. Michigan League MOB Top Candidates 2B John Watson – Iron Mountain Miners - .291, .397 OBP, 34 HR, 83 RBI, 83 Runs, 17 Doubles LF Jacob Davis – Ann Arbor Democrats - .314, .378 OBP, 21 HR, 59 RBI, 83 Runs, 24 Doubles, 6 Triples SS Mike ‘Patches’ Helmick – Mackinac Trolleys - .314, .419 OBP, 13 HR, 58 RBI, 73 Runs, 33 Doubles, 7 Triples, 8 SB’s Helmick had a tremendous month of August to jump into a two horse race (at this point) with Watson. It’s even possible that an unknown guy will jump up and take this away from all three. Michigan League MOP Top Candidates RHP Rickey Benson – Kalamazoo Bells – 18-6, 2.42 ERA, 240 K’s, 1.07 WHIP, 204.2 IP LHP John Durham – Ann Arbor Democrats – 15-8, 2.11 ERA, 225 K’s, 0.96 WHIP, 205 IP LHP Joe O’Crouley – Lansing Capitals – 14-10, 2.25 ERA, 162 K’s, 1.04 WHIP, 200 IP After an excellent month of August, Durham jumps into the lead, but if we know one thing, it is that you shouldn’t count Rickey Benson and the Kalamazoo Bells out of anything. It should be an interesting last month to see who takes home the hardware. Ohio League MOB Top Candidates RF SymanShores – Canton Terriers - .329, .393 OBP, 28 HR, 82 RBI, 97 Runs, 41 Doubles, 47 SB’s CF Greg Bleasdale – Dayton Pilots - .313, .432 OBP, 28 HR, 68 RBI, 110 Runs, 30 Doubles, 6 Triples, 20 SB’s CF Bob Harvey – Toledo Admirals - .322, .452 OBP, 32 HR, 77 RBI, 105 Runs, 16 Doubles, 3 Triples, 6 SB’s It’s a shame that one of those top two guys, Shores and Bleasdale, will come up short in winning the award. They are both having such unreal years, that you can certainly argue for co-MOB’s. They are both complete 5-tool players and you really want to see them match up against each other for the Ohio League Championship. Ohio League MOP Top Candidates LHP Pat McMurdoch – Toledo Admirals – 21-4, 2.63 ERA, 178 K’s, 1.11 WHIP, 212.1 IP LHP Howard West – Canton Terriers – 15-10, 2.28 ERA, 233 K’s, 1.02 WHIP, 197.1 IP LHP Ray Campbell – Canton Terriers – 17-1, 2.37 ERA, 154 K’s, 1.01 WHIP, 197.1 IP McMurdoch has been the stabilizing force and true ace all season for the Admirals and deserves to win this award. He has some stiff competition, but McMurdoch hasn’t had the same kind of support in his staff nor have they had the same kind of pressure McMurdoch has. Anybody care to make predictions for the final month of the season? Division Champs? MOB/MOP? Michigan League Batter of the Month - 2B John Watson, Iron Mountain Miners - .330, 10 HR, 24 RBI, 22 Runs Michigan League Pitcher of the Month - LHP Willard Nasmyth, Kalamazoo Bells - 5-1, 2.15 ERA, 47 K's, 50.1 IP Ohio League Batter of the Month - CF Bob Harvey, Toledo Admirals - .406, 11 HR, 27 RBI, 39 Runs, .812 Slugging, 1.377 OPS Ohio League Pitcher of the Month - RHP John Goforth, Columbus Archers - 1-0, 0.53 ERA, 9 Saves, 17 K's, 17 IP (2nd POM award) |
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02-11-2007, 11:26 PM
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#50 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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Code:
Michigan League Standings North Team W L PCT GB Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers 81 81 .500 - Mackinac Trolleys 80 82 .494 1.0 Iron Mountain Miners 79 83 .488 2.0 Traverse City Cherries 64 98 .395 17.0 South Team W L PCT GB Kalamazoo Bells 94 68 .580 - Ann Arbor Democrats 90 72 .556 4.0 Grand Rapids Blue Lakers 82 80 .506 12.0 Lansing Capitals 78 84 .481 16.0 Ohio League Standings East Team W L PCT GB Canton Terriers 91 71 .562 - Youngstown Black Irons 72 90 .444 19.0 Akron Red Irons 66 96 .407 25.0 Zanesville Engineers 61 101 .377 30.0 West Team W L PCT GB Dayton Pilots 99 63 .611 - Toledo Admirals 98 64 .605 1.0 Columbus Archers 95 67 .586 4.0 Chillicothe Indians 66 96 .407 33.0 Well, it came down to the final week of the season to determine three of the division champs. And it came down to the last day for one of the divisions. The huge advantage that Dayton held with having a 4 game series at home against Columbus and Toledo turned out to be an even split in both series, but Toledo’s ineptitude the final seven games of the season (a 3 game sweep by Columbus in Toledo and unfathomably losing 3 of 4 to Zanesville in Toledo), when they had the division lead left the door open and the Pilots just squeezed in, even though they were swept by Youngstown to finish the season. Meanwhile, in the ML North, it came down to the final day and the White Lakers just sneaked in, thanks to winning all six games against the Trolleys in September. “We have no one to blame except ourselves….We had every chance in the world this past month,” a dejected and upset LF Donovan Beller said after the final game of the year. In the ML South, the Ann Arbor Democrats had an excellent September, going 17-11, and put a good scare into everyone around the Kalamazoo Bells organization. They are this month’s Michigan League Team of the Month. The Dems had a great month, but can look at their crucial 4 game series in Kalamazoo in the middle of the month as the reason they didn’t quite make it. They lost 3 of 4 in that series, when they were only a game or two behind Kalamazoo at the time. Ann Arbor’s pitching was excellent all season long and probably produces this year’s ML MOP in LHP John ‘Cobra’ Durham, who was phenomenal all year (21-9, 2.15 ERA, 270 K’s) and won 9 of his last 10 starts, clearly trying to will this team to a division title. “We battled hard all year…[We] just came up short to the defending champs. We’ll be back in it again next year though,” Durham said while he was clearing out his locker for the offseason. While the Dems ranked high in most pitching categories, the same cannot be said for the batting categories. This team will need to improve their lineup if they have hopes of winning the division next year. While they have some good offensive players (RF Jacob Davis, 1B Tejano Bemaez), they don’t have a superstar guy they can rely on. We’ll see if a full season of having LF Pancho Niera will make the difference in this team’s offense. Niera was amazing in the final 26 games of the year after coming back from injury, batting .306 with 7 HR and 20 RBI’s. Even though they had their division wrapped up in June pretty much, the Canton Terriers went out and finished the season strong and are named this month’s Ohio League Team of the Month. The Terriers cruised to their second straight OL East title thanks to their tremendous pitching staff and their two star outfielders. They got some unfortunate news at the end of the season though as LHP Tommy Lafferty is out for 1-2 weeks and will surely miss the first round of the playoffs, yet again. “This is a real bad break for Tommy, who went through this last year and really wanted to help contribute this year. But we’ll have to pick up the slack and make sure he can pitch for us in the Cup Finals,” manager Delmar Martinez said. But don’t fret Terrier fans as you have LHP Howard West (20-11, 2.13 ERA), LHP Ray Campbell (22-1, 2.50 ERA), RHP Josh MacCord (8-6, 3.58 ERA) and RHP Amauris Alberro (7-4, 2.92 ERA) to go up against that powerful Pilot offense. The bullpen has struggled this year though. Meanwhile, this team’s offense has relied a bit on the all around games of RF Syman Shores (.331, 32 HR, 97 RBI) and LF Peter Northcutt (.328, 20 HR, 78 RBI). 2B Barrie Burgoyne has provided plenty of power (38 HR, 103 RBI) but his .217 batting average and 162 K’s are a real detriment to him being a guy that can be counted on. SS Eric Harvis has quietly put up a solid season (.283, 24 HR, 81 RBI) and has been a nice consistent player behind Shores and Northcutt. Michigan League Batter of the Month - SS Telo Welter, Kalamazoo Bells - .387, 10 HR, 22 RBI, 26 Runs (2nd BOM in career) Michigan League Pitcher of the Month - LHP John 'Cobra' Durham, Ann Arbor Democrats - 5-1, 2.49 ERA, 37 K's, 43.1 IP (2nd POM in career) Ohio League Batter of the Month - CF Greg Bleasdale, Dayton Pilots - .344, .468 OBP, 10 HR, 23 RBI, 22 Runs, 5 Doubles Ohio League Pitcher of the Month - LHP Howard 'Merlin' West, Canton Terriers - 4-1, 1.11 ERA, 53 K's, 40.2 IP (3rd POM in career) Playoff Previews coming next! |
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02-13-2007, 11:03 PM
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#51 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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 October 6, 1941 Michigan League – Sault Ste. Marie White Lakers vs. Kalamazoo Bells (Bells won season series 14-9) This series will be a test of whether or not the White Lakers hitters can beat the Bells pitchers. The Bells will get their runs, there’s no doubt about that, but for the White Lakers to stay in it and compete, they’ll have to put some runs on the board. They will need guys like CF Jesus Ortiz and LF Vernon Wareham to step up and play their best right now. If they can steal a game in Kalamazoo in the first two games or if RHP Luis Vecino or LHP Jonathan Crew can steal a game, it will build some confidence. The Bells just want to play smart baseball and not beat themselves. They are clearly the better team, with a better offense, defense and pitching. And they have the one true ace in RHP Rickey Benson and a guy that is developing into an ace in LHP Willard Nasmyth (20-8, 2.58 ERA). “We know the pressure is all on us, but we’ve been through this before,” Benson said before Game 1. “And we have Telo on our side. He finished this season hot and after last year’s playoffs, I’d say he’s just warming up.” My prediction – Kalamazoo in 5 – This Bells team is clearly better in all facets of the game, but I’m not counting out Ortiz and Wareham stepping up. And if one of Vecino or Crew can steal a game, then the White Lakers have a chance, but on paper, I just don’t see it happening. Ohio League – Canton Terriers vs. Dayton Pilots (Terriers won season series 12-11) As you might have guessed when looking at the matchup between these two teams, you would have to think it’ll be a pitching duel and low scoring. To top it off, both these teams’ offenses are heavy with lefty batters and each team has two of the strongest left handed pitchers in the game: Howard ‘Merlin’ West and Ray Campbell for Canton and Gurkan Tiffany and Sergio Rodriguez for Dayton. This very evenly matched series may come down to which right handed pitchers can step up to the plate and keep the other team’s offense in check. The pressure is on Josh MacCord, Amauris Alberro, Kristopher ‘Gimmick’ MacKail, and Anker Woodruff to be better than the opposing pitcher. This series almost pits the two top hitters in the entire MOBL all season long in Dayton’s CF Greg Bleasdale and Canton’s RF Syman Shores. “We all know Bleasdale and Shores will continue to put up amazing stats, but it’s the supporting cast that I’ll be watching,” an opposing OL GM said before the series. True enough, this series may come down to guys like Dayton’s 1B Dookie Trout, 2B Damaso Sanabnia, LF Saul Marcker and Canton’s LF Peter Northcutt, 2B Barrie Burgoyne, SS Eric Harvis. A key statistic to note was the Terriers’ bullpen and its poor ERA. Closer RHP Dan MacCall will need to step up his game. My prediction – Canton in 7 – I’m going with the slight upset here. I just think last year’s experience will help the Terriers and they have a fire to make up for just falling short. I like the pitching staff slightly better for Canton and I think Peter Northcutt really steps up his game while Dayton’s pitchers are focused on Shores. |
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02-24-2007, 04:00 PM
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#52 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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October 14, 1941
Both series were short and sweet for the most part, one was a surprise (somewhat) and the other was clearly the end result everyone had expected. The battle for the second Gehringer-Sisler Cup will be decided between the top two teams from each League and it should be an interesting battle at that. Michigan League Kalamazoo wins series 4 games to 1. Everyone knew going into this series that Kalamazoo was better than Sault Ste. Marie in all facets of the game and just had to play their game and play smart to win. That pretty much sums up how the series played out. They got solid contributions from a number of players, got solid pitching (although closer Bob Aylmer had one bad outing) and excellent defense. “We knew we’d be tough to beat if we kept playing our game. Even after losing game two at home, we stuck with what got us here,” manager Wilson Labato said during the post-series celebration. The defending champs got the game started with runs in the 1st inning of every game of this series. The only game they lost, Game 2, saw the White Lakers score more in the 1st than them, but you can directly point to the early scoring as part of the reason the Bells controlled and handled the White Lakers all series long. The White Lakers starting pitching was disappointing. Obviously, to put their team in a hole right off the bat in every game is not ideal and they just couldn’t provide their team with what they needed in order to win. MVP – Kalamazoo CF Manny Maldonado - .316, .333 OBP, 2 HR, 9 RBI Manny was an unexpected power source in this series, including an excellent Game 3, going 2-3 with 4 RBI’s, including a 3-run shot in the 1st inning. Unsung Hero – Kalamazoo LHP Willard Nasmyth – 2-0, 0.69 ERA, 6 K’s, 13 IP Nasmyth continues to improve and blossom into a true ace with a couple of dynamite outings in this league championship series. Goat – Sault Ste. Marie Starting Pitching – 1-4, 5.47 ERA, 12 K’s, 24.2 IP They didn’t give their team a chance to win by giving up runs in the 1st inning of every game in the series LVP (Least Valuable Player) – Kalamazoo 3B Stan McQuistan - .048, 3 RBI, 7 K’s Only getting one hit in 21 AB’s and striking out once every 3 AB’s would equate to a pretty poor series, though McQuistan did manage to get 3 RBI’s somehow. Ohio League Dayton wins series 4 games to 1. This may look like it was a walk in the park for the Pilots (they only lost a high scoring Game 4), but this series was completely decided on one swing of the bat. That swing happened to come in the bottom of the 9th in Game 2. Having watched this game unfold, what happened in the 9th is what deflates the losing team and raises the confidence level of the winning team. Canton had just taken a one run lead in the top of the 9th after a Tim Crase single knocked in Peter Northcutt with two outs. In comes closer Dan MacCall, who was brought in specifically because of last year’s playoff troubles of York Marcker. MacCall walks the first batter, but then gets the next two guys out. After a couple of hits, one of which tied the game and sent the Dayton fans into a frenzy, in stepped MOB candidate Greg Bleasdale. Bleasdale had been 4 for 4 at this point in the game and Canton arguably should have pulled MacCall for a lefty in this situation. Instead, Bleasdale takes the first pitch he sees and proves why he deserves to be MOB with a walk-off 3-run homer. “I knew it as soon as I hit it. He seemed a bit rattled out there [after Dayton had tied it] and I knew the first pitch would be one to jump on,” Bleasdale said afterwards. After that monstrous homer, you just had the feeling that Dayton wasn’t going to lose this series and that they had taken complete control. The crucial pitching matchup between the top two pitching staffs was won by Dayton. RHP Kristopher MacKail pitched wonderfully in his Game 3 win, and LHP Gurkan Tiffany was even better in his Game 1 and Game 5 wins. “I guess its back to the drawing board for us,” Canton LHP Howard West said after the series loss. “We have the talent to win it all, we just can’t seem to put it all together at the right time.” MVP – Dayton CF Greg Bleasdale - .429, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2 Runs, 1 SB With as big of a home run as Bleasdale hit, he could have gone 0-fer the rest of the series and still won this award. Unsung Hero – Dayton 3B Marron Jones – .368, .455 OBP, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 4 Runs, 1 SB Although one can argue for LHP Gurkan Tiffany here (2-0, 1.32 ERA, 13 K’s, 13.2 IP), but I really thought Jones came up big in crucial situations and quietly led this team all series long. Goat – Canton Closer RHP Dan MacCall – 0-1, 1 Sv, 27.01 ERA, 1 K, 1.2 IP, 1 Blown Save Looks like the Terriers search for a dependable closer is still on. MacCall gave up one of the biggest homers in MOBL history and showed that he’s no better than RHP York Marcker last year. LVP (Least Valuable Player) – Dayton 1B Dookie Trout - .095, 1 RBI, 11 K’s He got two hits in 21 AB’s and struck out more than half the times he came to the plate, that is simply pathetic for a guy that was dominant all year long. Last edited by woodfeld; 02-24-2007 at 04:23 PM. |
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03-17-2007, 10:32 AM
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#53 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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1941 Gehringer-Sisler Cup Preview
Kalamazoo Bells vs. Dayton Pilots Code:
Kalamazoo Category Dayton
Offense
.262 BA .259
.326 OBP .329
.395 Slugging .416
684 Runs 753
1435 Hits 1456
142 HR 184
523 BB 573
975 K's 1150
159 SB 111
Pitching
3.14 ERA 3.34
2.97 Starters ERA 3.21
3.45 Bullpen ERA 3.65
554 Runs Allowed 589
1256 Hits Allowed 1264
.233 Opp Avg .229
151 HR Allowed 158
426 BB 510
1186 K's 1184
My prediction – Dayton in 7 – The Ohio League has no doubt been the tougher league this year and dominated the All Star Game. I think this bodes well for Dayton, who have the pitching to match Kalamazoo’s, and I think they have the slightly better lineup. Certainly, the Bells know what it takes to win though so it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see a repeat championship. |
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03-18-2007, 12:56 PM
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#54 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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Game 1
The city of Dayton has seen a community that’s come alive with excitement and has supported their Pilots by decorating downtown with Pilots flags, banners and murals. “These boys have represented our city well, especially Greg [Bleasdale]. To go from last place in the division last year to winning the toughest division this year and getting to the Cup has been incredible. We owe them to support them like this,” a retired Dayton police officer said while helping paint the town black and red. The city has built up enough tension that they are ready for Game 1 of this series. The game sees two right handed pitchers take the mound, Dayton’s Kristopher MacKail vs. Kalamazoo’s Jose Guatarrez. With neither of these pitchers being the true “ace” of their staff, this could be a critical game for the offenses to gain some confidence. And with that, the 1941 Gehringer-Sisler Cup begins! The first inning went by nice and clean for both pitchers (especially Guatarrez who struck out CF Greg Bleasdale and C Benjamin Landers then threw out 2B Damaso Sanabnia). MacKail gets out of a jam in the 2nd inning by striking out 2B Pedro Mateo with guys on 2nd and 3rd. In the bottom half of the inning, Dayton gets a guy to the third with two outs, but 3B Marron Jones lines out to SS Telo Welter to end the inning. Well ladies and gentlemen, through five innings, it looks as if we have ourselves a pitching duel. MacKail has given up four hits and Guatarrez three, both teams hope they can keep it up. In the bottom of the 6th, Dayton finally gets on the board. After making two running catches at the wall, Greg Bleasdale ropes a single to start the bottom half of the inning, then steals 2nd and scores after Dookie Trout hits a single. “That was all Greg there. He comes up with some nice defensive plays and then generates a crucial run for us in the bottom half,” manager Joseph Parker said. After walking off the field during the 7th inning stretch, an exhausted Kristopher MacKail was greeted by a standing ovation, many knowing he would be pinch hit for in the bottom of the 7th. “That was something special from the fans. I put everything out there tonight and they really showed me it was worth it,” MacKail said postgame. Thanks to the pinch-hitter Johnny Burroughs, the Pilots added to their lead. Three straight hits leads to Burroughs crossing home and giving Dayton a 2-0 lead going into the 8th. Dayton closer Joey Iveson shuts the Bells down in the 9th as Dayton takes Game 1 thanks to an outstanding pitching performance from Kristopher MacKail. Lead the best of 7 series 1-0
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03-25-2007, 09:57 AM
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#55 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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Game 2
On a crisp October night, the Bells send the best pitcher in the entire MOBL, Rickey Benson, to the hill with the hopes of returning to Kalamazoo with the series tied and a chance to win the Cup at home. “We all know what he’s [Benson] done in his career thus far and we know it’s going to be a battle. I think we’ve got the guys that can manufacture some runs here and there and we have Sergio on the mound for us, so we think it’s going to be just as tough for them,” 3B Marron Jones said. With LHP Sergio Rodriguez on the mound for the Pilots (11-1, 1.86 ERA at home this year), this is the pitching matchup everybody as been waiting for. If Game 1 ended 2-0, this could be an extra innings 0-0 game. Rodriguez allows a hit and a walk with two outs but gets Stan McQuistan swinging to end the threat in the 1st. Benson goes The Pilots make the Bells pay in the bottom of the 3rd. After Benson routinely gets the first two batters out, he gives up five straight hits and Benson gets in another jam in the 6th but pitches out of it and is lifted for a pinch hitter in the Meanwhile, Sergio Rodriguez seemed to be getting stronger as the game went on. Then in the top of the 8th, he got into a bit of a jam with runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Dayton brought in closer Joey Iveson one out early to try and quell the Bells’ hopes, but pinch hitter Miguel Bermejo crushes a go-ahead 3-run shot sending the Bells dugout into jubilation! “Got a good pitch to hit and got good wood on it,” Bob Aylmer quickly jumps up and starts warming up to shut this game down and he does just that as the Pilots go quietly and the series is now tied at one game apiece. Pilots fans leave the game in complete disbelief of what they just saw. Series tied at 1 game apiece.
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03-25-2007, 11:03 AM
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#56 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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Game 3
Southpaw vs. southpaw tonight in Kalamazoo in what is being billed as the most crucial game in MOBL history. “We did what we wanted to do in Dayton and that was getting a split, now it’s our job to take care of business here at home,” starter LHP Willard Nasmyth said. Both pitchers seem focused and ready and the Bells fans have come out in full force for a critical Game 3. The Pilots go quietly in the first, but the same cannot be said for the Bells as it seems that Gurkan Tiffany seems to be wrapped a bit too tightly. After giving up a single to leadoff hitter Sawyl Mitchum and worrying about him stealing, Tiffany is called for a balk and then Rowan Howard gets a single to put guys at 1st and 3rd with no one out as the Bells fans are cheering loudly and trying to rattle Tiffany further. He gets Telo Welter to ground into a double play but Mitchum scores to put the Bells up 1-0. After Benjamin Landers gets a single, Tiffany finally gets out of the inning by getting Stan McQuistan to fly out. “To get out of that inning with only one run on the board, I consider myself lucky. I was just overthrowing and overthinking,” Tiffany was heard by cameras saying between innings. Nasmyth strikes Greg Bleasdale and Dookie Trout out and gets Jose Rayo to ground out weakly as he appears to be “on” tonight. The Bells fans cheer him wildly as he walks towards the dugout after making the Pilots hitters look silly. Meanwhile, Tiffany still seems off as he struggles with his control in the bottom of the 2nd, but the Bells fail to score any runs. The Pilots go 1-2-3 on seven pitches in the top of the 3rd. This does not look like the same Dayton team we saw in Games 1 and 2. They look rattled and on edge, that Bermejo homer seems to have affected their psyche. The Bells continue to spray Tiffany’s pitches all over the field as they add another run to their lead on a Florinio Hernando RBI single. Disaster strikes for the Bells as Nasmyth is injured on a pitch that results in a double for SS Loxley Birtles. The Bells fans get quiet as Nasmyth leaves the game, they hope it is nothing serious, but you know if a guy like Nasmyth has to be taken out, it’s something serious. Telo Welter shows why he is an All Star and top players in the game in the bottom of the 4th. With guys on 1st and 3rd with two outs, Welter has an epic battle with Tiffany, fighting to a 3-2 count while fouling several pitches off until he gets a pitch he can handle after seeing about 10 or 12 pitches and laces a hit to center that pushes the Bells lead to 3-0. “Anything Telo does these days doesn’t surprise us. He’s a clutch performer and is such a smart player,” teammate Benjamin Landers said postgame. After pitching two scoreless innings with three strikeouts, Antonio Fernandez’s performance after the unexpected injury to Nasmyth doesn’t go unnoticed as his teammates congratulate him in the dugout. “Antonio’s performance under that situation was excellent. We couldn’t have been more vulnerable and he came in and shut them down,” manager Wilson Labato said. The Bells continue to make plenty of noise with their bats but can’t add to their lead. But that’s alright as the story of the game was the Kalamazoo pitching staff, who pitched marvelously and barely gave Dayton a sniff of home plate. Kalamazoo wins 3-0 convincingly. Leads the best of 7 series 2-1.
Last edited by woodfeld; 03-25-2007 at 11:08 AM. |
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03-25-2007, 03:00 PM
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#57 |
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Major Leagues
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 432
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Booo for not having a Monroe team. Monroe>Ann Arbor.
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03-26-2007, 01:35 PM
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#58 |
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Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 198
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You're talking to someone that spent four years in Ann Arbor attending the Univ of Michigan and then one year there post-graduation so you're going to have to come up with something a lot better than "Monroe>Ann Arbor" to convince me that Monroe should be one of the cities.
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03-26-2007, 03:07 PM
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#59 |
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Major Leagues
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 457
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They're brave, I'll say that for them -- it takes a lot to still proudly announce to visitors that your 'favorite son' is George Armstrong Custer
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03-27-2007, 03:15 PM
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#60 | |
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Major Leagues
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 432
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Quote:
Fastest growing county in the state, 3rd fastest growing city. We don't have any of those sissy foo foo anti-war protest  Um The Raisin River is still the most polluted river int he world, BUT ITS GETTING BETTER . Ok, so maybe we arn't better than Ann Arbor, but maybe we can have an expansion team
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