Out of the Shadows: The Eclipse League

[luckymann]

As if to compensate for a lack of it last season, 1981 comes to one of the more dramatic ends in EL history, at least in the Fleet Conference.

With the Grays having cruised to the WCA title and Detroit having finally seen off a dogged challenge from the Buckeyes with a few days to spare, both FC races go down to the final game with the standings as follows before those final contests:

The BGs waste their chance with a tight loss at Newark and the RGs make them pay for it with a late comeback giving them a 7-5 home victory over the Grays to force a tiebreaker. Nothing doing in the other division, however, with both teams losing and the West therefore scraping home for their first playoff appearance since 1975 and just third overall.

The decider is appropriately dramatic, with AC making amends for its earlier wastefulness in a seesaw 7-5 win that propels them to a first postseason spot since their only previous time all the way back in 1969. An even more amazing achievement given they have done so without Monte Irvin and King Felix Hernandez, both of whom might make it back if they can reach the WS, as well as Walter Ball, who is done for the year.

Just to highlight how tight things have been this year, no team either wins nor loses 100 games.

Batting titles to Chris Chambliss (353, 1st) and rookie Pedro Guerrero, who hits 332. Birmingham's Keston Hiura fails to drive in a run over his final six games, leaving him tied with Rich Coggins for the single-season RBI record of 136. Johns Mayberry and Beckwith, each with 33, lead the HR list this season.

Jim Jeffries leads either league with 21 wins, just one more than Bob Gibson and Gene Collins, who misses the TC by finishing runner-up to Chet Brewer's EL-low 2.92 ERA. Gene has a league-high 313 K, while the most Saves for 1981 are recorded by both Maceo Broadnax and Manuel Godinez with 40.

A couple milestones reached late in the year, with Carlos Zambrano the second player (behind CC Sabathia) to reach 250 Wins and Jose Abreu the second player (behind Papi Ortiz) to reach 400 HR.

Final Top 20s

Hitters - Overall

Hitters - NeLers

Pitchers - Overall

Pitchers - NeLers

Final Leaders

[luckymann]

Fleet Conference

Cuban Stars West (89-73) v Atlantic City Bacharach Giants (87-76)

Best of seven, West with home-field advantage.


The aforementioned litany of key injuries (Irvin, Jeffries, Ball) for the BGs skew this otherwise even series toward the CSW, whose big lineup heart might now just be a bit too much for the boys from the Boardwalk, although if all their young talent doesn't get overawed by the occasion then they are still right in this.

The BGs acquit themselves admirably, but still find themselves outmanned and outgunned as the West dispose of them in six. Big Papi goes 8-for-24 with 3 HR to win the MVP.





Weldy Conference

Detroit Motown Stars (94-68) v Homestead Grays (92-70)

Best of seven, Motown Stars with home-field advantage.

The defending Champs will be hardened by a frantic stretch race, while that was not the case for a Grays unit that dominated its division. All the same, this is a top-shelf matchup between to outstanding squads and I'd be surprised if it doesn't go all the way.

And surprised I am as the MoStars show in graphic fashion just what a powerhouse they are when they put their mind to it, absolutely demolishing the Grays in five with Jonathan Schoop named MVP.

[luckymann]

Detroit Motown Stars v Cuban Stars West

Best of seven, Motown Stars with home-field advantage.


On paper, the 14th edition of the EL World Series looks a mismatch of biblical proportions, even more so with the CSW being without top-line CF Ender Inciarte and having Closer Harry Rhodes being under a bit of an injury cloud. But this is a real bunch of gamers and, with five of their starting lineup going deep 15 times or more this season, they have plenty of ways to beat an opponent. So underestimate them at your own peril.

Despite themselves clearly being the EL's glamour club and reigning champs with wall-to-wall superstars at their disposal, I doubt Detroit will see the West as anything other than a dangerous and worthy opponent. They would feel confident they have the firepower to withstand any challenge, but this bunch will be vividly aware of their chance to make history here by becoming just the second club to successfully defend their title, after the 1970-71 Black Yankees.

I do believe the MoStars will have to work for the four wins, nevertheless I expect them to lock them down in five or six.











Well self-praise is no praise at all, but that's pretty much exactly how it goes in this series, with the MoStars winning in six but really being pushed to the limit. A couple of the final scorelines aren't reflective of how close the games are until late flurries by the Detroit bats blow the West out.

There's little if anything Cristobal Torriente isn't capable of right now, so winning his second straight World Series MVP is a mere walk in the park for the mighty Cubano.


Game 1





Game 2





Game 3





Game 4





Game 5





Game 6

[luckymann]

Managerial Culls

No firings again, but the Buckeyes franchise changes owners.


Roster News

Key Extensions: SS Monte Irvin (Bacharach Giants) 5/6320; P Steel Arm Tyler (Elite Giants) 4/3266; SS Garry Templeton (American Giants) 1/1220.

Opt-Outs: OF Barry Bonds, C Earl Battey (Dodgers); C Cliff Johnson, 2B Ozzie Albies, 3B Jose Ramirez (Monarchs); P Vida Blue (Crawfords).

Voided Contracts: 2B Tim Anderson, P Octavio Dotel (Motown Stars); P Lefty Holmes (American Giants); P Luis Castillo (Giants); 2B Luis Arraez (Monarchs); P Johnny Markham (West); P Jose Alvarado (Black Barons); P Ramon Ramirez (Dodgers).


Prospect Pipeline

[luckymann]

The Catskill Wildman certainly deserves a plaque, while Ruppert Jones' early seasons in which he simply dominated this league will no doubt get him some votes. I doubt, however, they'll get him enough. The problematic EL careers of Cool Papa Bell and Sam Jethroe, neither of whom could ever keep it going for long, come to their ends.

[luckymann]

GRANT MEDAL (MOST VALUABLE PLAYER)

STOVEY MEDAL (PITCHER OF THE YEAR)

WHITE PLATE (RELIEVER OF THE YEAR)




FOWLER MEDAL (ROOKIE OF THE YEAR)




GARRETT BUTTON (MANAGER OF THE YEAR)

FC: Adam Moll, Black Barons
WC: Ryan Reed, American Giants


KINDLING AWARD (SILVER SLUGGER)
FC / WC




SLICK AWARD (GOLD GLOVE)
FC / WC

[luckymann]

The annual influx of talent for 1981/82 includes Cat A NeLers Pelayo Chacon and Dobie Moore via the Draft and FAs Willie Wells and Dick Redding. (No links, sorry, as Seamheads seems to be down.)

Of the MLB rookies, Nomah, Junior, Yadi and Jim Wynn head those who are Draft-eligible; Derrek Lee and Andrelton Simmons the FAs.

It is the ABCs with the first pick this year, and they use it on the Black Cat, ahead of Nomah (BYs) and Junior (East). Fernando Tatis sr joins his son in the league.

Here are the first two rounds in their entirety.

[luckymann]

The 1982 Eclipse League season coming to you live and direct! What does it hold in store for us?

Here's all the important news from over the break and how things stand on Opening Day.


WAR GAINS & LOSSES




MAJOR FA SIGNINGS



Dick Redding is at Hilldale; Willie Wells at Newark; Derrek Lee at Brooklyn and Andrelton Simmons at Birmingham.


TRADES OF NOTE










That's both Frank Duncans on the move, for those following the OotS features.


PRESEASON PREDICTIONS





TOP PLAYERS




TOP PROSPECTS




TOP FARM SYSTEMS




DOLLARS AND CENTS




BUMPS AND BRUISES





Among many, many things I will be very interested to see if the predicted re-emergence of the Black Yankees and Buckeyes materialises, and that WC American race looks utterly epic - can the little LGs get it done?

Just the Janus Reports to be completed and we'll be off and running!

[luckymann]

Atlantic City Bacharach Giants

Brooklyn Royal Giants

Newark Dodgers

New York Black Yankees

Pittsburgh Crawfords

[luckymann]

Birmingham Black Barons

Cuban Stars West

Kansas City Monarchs

Memphis Red Sox

St. Louis Giants

[luckymann]

Baltimore Elite Giants

Hilldale Athletic Club

Homestead Grays

New York Lincoln Giants

Philadelphia Liberty Stars

[luckymann]

Chicago American Giants

Cleveland Buckeyes

Cuban Stars East

Detroit Motown Stars

Indianapolis ABCs

[luckymann]

All-time Leader: Sixto Sanchez

[luckymann]

The Cuban Stars matchup is nice and early this year, and yet somehow it still arrives with the East already well back in the standings after they lose their first nine games and sit at 3-12 entering this series. And while they manage to avoid a sweep with a win in the finale, this series continues to be very one-sided indeed, now sitting at 11-4 to the West.

[luckymann]

He's still got a few years left in him one would think, but what a nice exclamation point this is on a fantastic EL career for Juan Marichal.

[luckymann]

Off and running in the 1982 Eclipse and Transit League seasons. In the EL, Atlantic City has flown out of the gates while the East looks set for a long and challenging year ahead.

Monthly Award Winners

• FC BATTER OF THE MONTH: David Ortiz (West) 387 / 7 HR / 14 RBI.
• FC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Taijuan Walker (West) 5-0 / 1.75 / 30 K / 46.1 IP.
• FC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Mack Jones (Black Yankees) 377 / 4 HR / 19 RBI.
• WC BATTER OF THE MONTH: John Beckwith (Buckeyes) 394 / 8 HR / 23 RBI.
• WC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Willie Hutchinson (Lincoln Giants) 3-0 / 0.00 / 4 SV / 8 K / 10.1 IP.
• WC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Willie Powell (Lincoln Giants) 3-0 / 4.19 / 23 K / 34.1 IP.

Points of Interest

• Bill Lindsay gets his 200th career Win.
• A wrist fracture sidelines AC's Edgar Martinez for 6 weeks.

Transit League

The Habaneros go straight to their traditional spot in the FRC National cellar.

Monthly Award Winners

• CAC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Aledmys Diaz (Blue Birds) 347 / 7 HR / 22 RBI.
• CAC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: R. T. Walker (White Sox) 2-0 / 0.59 / 0 K / 15.1 IP.
• FRC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Jose Malave (Wolves) 472 / 2 HR / 9 RBI.
• FRC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Rocky Ellis (Tigers) 3-0 / 2.48 / 12 K / 29 IP.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

With the ongoing improvements being made to how OOTP treats NeLers, there's no doubt that the way OOTP has historically given preferential treatment to NeL pitchers over hitters is becoming less and less the case with each new version. Even in this save, where most of the big-name NeL guys are hand curated, if you track the WAR top 20s throughout this thread you can clearly see this shift in action. The profusion of quality NeL hitters entering the league of late is also a factor, but there's no doubt a much better balance is currently in evidence.

In saying this, I'm not necessarily suggesting the pitchers are made too strong - although that is sometimes the case - but rather that the hitters have been made too weak. Look at how Torriente, Beckwith and Co are dominating the league and clearly things are looking up.

Which is great because it allows me a less equivocal feeling about how some of these mid-range pitchers have done in this league. The next few of these features will focus on these types of players.

The first is Andy "Pullman" Porter, to whom EC allotted 25-odd WAR points in his original MLE assessment. That's a decent enough career by any stretch and he has exceeded that by some margin over 15 productive Eclipse League seasons, currently sitting at roughly 54 (43 rWAR). One of the smattering of foundation guys still in action, just last week saw Andy become just the 12th EL player to reach 200 career wins, doing it in fine style with a 1-0 shutout against the Royal Giants.

He has been a member of the KC Monarchs since the start of the season currently in progress, after being drafted 237th overall in the Inaugural Draft back in '68 by the Red Sox (where he stayed until 1971), and also spending various amounts of time with Indy (1972), Cleveland (1973-5 - winning it all in the first and last of these) Baltimore (1976-9) and Philly (1980-1). At 35, he's definitely in his twilight but still has another three years left on his KC contract and so we expect he's got a few more wins in him.

IRL, Andy also spread his time around various clubs in both US and Mexican leagues in a career that lasted from 1932 thru 1948 and saw him finish with an 81-75 record and a handy ERA+ of 111. He entered "organised" ball right at the end of his career, playing for Winnipeg in the indy Mandak league in 1950 and then for Porterville of the Southwest International League the season after that.

He lived to the ripe old age of 100!

Can he squeeze out a few more Wins and keep moving up the all-time leaderboard? We'll keep an eye on him and report back as things progress.

EDIT: I just realised I had already covered Andy back in 1975. Oh well, big guy, you deserve a second look!

[luckymann]

Eclipse League

Perhaps the biggest news early on in the 1982 Eclipse League season is the travails of the Elite Giants, who lose 13 straight at one point and currently sit well off the pace and in the cellar of the WC American. The Dodgers, Black Yankees, Red Sox and Black Barons will also be concerned about their slow start and know that this next little period could very well decide whether or not they are to be a factor this year.

Monthly Award Winners

• FC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Frank Robinson (Giants) 392 / 10 HR / 28 RBI.
• FC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Ted Trent (Monarchs) 6-0 / 1.84 / 21 K / 44 IP.
• FC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Nelson Dean (Royal Giants) 4-2 / 2.87 / 34 K / 47 IP.
• WC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Cristobal Torriente (Motown Stars) 408 / 10 HR / 31 RBI.
• WC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Dicta Johnson (Grays) 4-1 / 1.31 / 25 K / 34.1 IP.
• WC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Ken Griffey jr (East) 323 / 5 HR / 25 RBI.

Points of Interest

• Hilldale extends OF Charles Earle with a 5/6660 deal.
• As posted, Andy Porter earns 200th career win by shutting out the Royal Giants 1-0.
• Key Injuries: Pitchers Kelvim Escobar (Liberty Stars) and veteran Connie Rector (Grays) both done for season thanks to some shoulder problems.

Transit League

Apart from the Habaneros and Bears in the FRC National, things remain tight thru the end of May in the TL.

Monthly Award Winners

• CAC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Willie Bobo (Red Caps) 389 / 4 HR / 18 RBI.
• CAC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Nerio Rodriguez (Marcos) 4-2 / 2.23 / 34 K / 44.1 IP.
• FRC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Glenn Burke (Cubans) 388 / 6 HR / 26 RBI.
• FRC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Heathcliff Slocumb (Clowns) 1-0 / 1.56 / 11 SV / 13 K / 16 IP.

[luckymann]

Another one of those dream matchups here as Satch and Smokey Joe duke it out. They don't disappoint, with Joe taking Satchel downtown in the 4th a particular highlight for the 30000-plus in attendance. Top Santop also parks one in the seats.