Chicago Cougars (FABL) - Page 58

ayaghmour2 · 06-26-2023, 12:55 AM

I know, I know... I said there probably wouldn't be any more trades, but I just can't help myself! Like Sal Pestilli, the newest Cougar is someone I've attempted to acquire in the past, but nothing ever materialized. That changed tonight, when we acquire Saints slugger Red Bond for a pair of outfield prospects in Zeke Johnson and Joe Austin.

Selected in the 2nd Round of the 1931 draft, Bond spent his entire professional career to date with the Montreal Saints, debuting for them as a 22-year-old in 1935. He got into just 17 games (11 starts), but hit a pretty solid .320/.404/.480 (136 OPS+) with 2 doubles, 2 homers, and 3 RBIs. The next season he earned an Opening Day roster spot, but only appeared in 83 games due to a bunch of random injuries. Still, it was clear the Saints found a keeper, as Bond hit an absurd .362/.456/.657 (192 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 15 homers, and 53 RBIs, while walking (32) more then he struck out (17). Again, he dealt with injuries, limiting him to just 95 appearances and only 55 starts. Again, he took advantage of his at bats, hitting .310/.370/.515 (144 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 12 homers, and 42 RBIs.

1938 was a different ball game for Bond, who was now 25 and healthy enough to play nearly every game. The then right fielder had himself a breakout, making a then high 621 trips to the plate in 143 games. He produced an excellent .316/.372/.480 (138 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 20 homers, and 85 RBIs. He followed that up with his first of two All-Star appearances, this time appearing in 151 games and launching 22 homers. He hit 27 doubles and drove in 97 runs, slashing .327/.401/.500 (140 OPS+). Some might have thought that was the best he'd do, but Bond fought former Cougar John Lawson and Wolf Fred McCormick, who was looking to threepeat with Whitney Awards. We all know Lawson ended up with the award, but Bond had a tremendous season himself. He led the CA in homers (30), RBIs (111), slugging (.550), OPS (.945), and WRC+ (163). Awful right field defense cost him in the WAR department, as he was worth just 4.3 in 153 games. Unfortunately for Bond, that was the last time he'd contend for a Whitney, as his numbers took a tumble the following season. He hit just 18 homers and drove in 90 RBIs with a .279/.354/.414 (113 OPS+) line. The next week was even worse, and he posted his first below average WRC+ (92) as a big leaguer. And he didn't have a chance to bounce back from it either, as the military came calling.

Like most enlistees, Bond returned to for the 1946 season, and despite the three years off, he put together a really strong season. It wasn't prime Bond numbers, but the now 33-year-old hit .288/.355/.424 (125 OPS+) in 142 games. Sure the 14 homers were his lowest since 1937, but he still added 21 doubles, 61 RBIs, and 47 walks. This year hasn't been as great, but a lot has gone poorly for the Saints and he has 14 of the teams 32 homers, with no one else on the team having even five. Bond's .287/.322/.446 (103 OPS+) triple slash isn't great, but his 113 WRC+ is 24 points higher then Dick Walker's (89), and if he can hit homers as the Parc Cartier, he'll have no trouble at Cougars Park. Our offense has been very bad and I'm hoping Bond can give us some sort of thump.

So where does this leave Dick Walker? Well...

There's a few options. The best one would be a trade, so the almost 41-year-old can play more regular and add to his 2,731 career hit total. The worst option would be waivers, as it's a tough end to a potential Hall-of-Fame career. In 19 big league seasons, Walker posted a WRC+ below 100 just one other time (80), and has been worth nearly 80 wins above replacement since debuting at 21 back in 1928. He's 7 homers away from 200 and has swiped 419 bases, walking (1,754) more then twice as often as he's struck out (809). That's not the type of guy you want to waive, even this late in his career. Still, the alternative would be keeping three first basemen on the roster, and sending someone like George Sutterfield or Don Lee down. Both are 25 and have options, but haven't hit at all this season. Another option is cutting Jim Jenkins, who has a tiny 36 WRC+ and -0.3 WAR. Luckily I have time to mull my options, as with the trade coming late it may not even go through tomorrow. For now Walker and Ford will keep on platooning, and hopefully we can get some wins!

ayaghmour2 · 06-26-2023, 08:19 PM

Weekly Record: 3-5
Seasonal Record: 49-50 (4th, 8.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Harry Mead : 18 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.424 OPS
Hal Sharp : 24 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .333 AVG, .885 OPS

Schedule
7-21: Loss vs Foresters (4-2)
7-22: Loss at Foresters (3-5)
7-23: Win at Foresters (5-1)
7-24: Loss at Foresters (6-7): 12 Innings
7-25: Win at Sailors (6-0)
7-26: Win at Sailors (4-2)
7-27: Loss at Sailors (2-5)
7-27: Loss at Sailors (1-7)

Recap
I am really starting to hate this team...

It wasn't the Sailors who gave us trouble this week, we split. No -- that would make too much sense! Instead, it was those pesky seventh place Foresters who took three of four from us and have beat us 5 times in 6 tries in July. July has been an overall nightmare, as we're just 9-16 and a game under .500, trailing the Sailors by 8.5 games. Walt Pack aside, pretty much everything has gone wrong for the offense, but nothing has been as frustrating as Sal Pestilli.

Pestilli has endured a slump of the most inane proportions, going 3-for-32 last week to drop his Cougar line to a microscopic .118/.163/.158 (-12 OPS) in 82 PAs. Pestilli has struck out 34 times this season, already his most in any year, but the craziest part is he's struck out 8 times as a Cougar and recorded only 9 hits, which is just absolutely abysmal. This is a guy who hit 46 homers in a season, 30 or more three other times, and recorded 149 (stupid 1939...) or more hits in each of his seven prior seasons! But no, as a Cougar, zero home runs, zero offensive production, and somehow a sub 0 OPS+, WRC+ (-17...), and WAR (-0.7).

Make this suffering stop...

So... Was there anything good to talk about?

Well... Duke Bybee!

The young southpaw tossed his FABL best fourth shutout, allowing 9 hits and a walk as we beat the first place Sailors 6-0. Bybee is now 9-8 with a 3.13 ERA (122 ERA+) in 149.2 innings pitched, and while his 1.08 WHIP paces all CA pitchers, it's just a point lower then Ray Dalpman's out in Boston. Bybee has 66 strikeouts and 34 walks, and he's been able to survive 12 longballs in his 18 starts. His 3.39 FIP (88 FIP-) supports his overall line of work, and he's been about as reliable as it gets for us. We also got a good start from Joe Brown, who allowed 7 hits, a run, and a walk while striking out 5 in a complete game win. Pap got his first win since June 22nd, as he survived 8 walks and 6 hits, allowing just 2 runs with 6 strikeouts in a complete game win. The Jones Brothers were each lost two games, combining for 43 hits, 21 runs (20 earned), and 15 walks in four very uncharacteristic starts. Harry Parker also struggled, charged with 7 hits, 5 runs, and a walk and strikeout in just 5 innings. He'll head to the pen for now, but with a double header on the 17th of August, he may get a second start.

So now the hitters... Do I even want to talk about them???

Well... Harry Mead is heating up!

It was a huge week for our veteran backstop, as he went 9-for-18 with a double, triple, homer, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, and 4 walks and he's riding a 8 game hit streak, which includes a game he pinch hit this week and went 1-for-1! Ray Ford hit a bit too, 2-for-8 with a homer, 2 runs, and 3 RBIs. Hal Sharp dropped his average a bit (.344), but still went 8-for-24 with a double, 2 walks, 4 RBIs, and his 12th home run. His 154 WRC+ is beautiful, but even he's slumped in July, hitting just .270/.337/.404 (102 OPS+) in 23 games. Don Lee was surprisingly productive, 4-for-15 with a homer, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 3 RBIs. Still, Leo Mitchell (5-for-26) sucked, Dick Walker (3-for-22) did not do himself any favors, and George Sutterfield (0-for-8) now has a 38 WRC+ in 120 trips to the plate. Yay!

Along with more draftees signing, there's plenty of transactional news, as Carlos Montes is healthy and ready to begin rehabbing. He won't be playing any center field in Milwaukee, instead splitting time between right field and third base. Yes -- he can play third, and even though he's gotten just one pro inning there, he still has the positional rating, and as good as Walt Pack is against righties (149 WRC+) he just absolutely can't hit lefties (-33). Same goes for Hal Sharp (86 vs 179), and while Sal can't hit anyone, I just have to let him play his way out of it. Montes will get some time in center, but if he can be useful at third or right, we can get him in the lineup more often. We also have to make room for Red Bond, which I'm not too sure what I'm going to do. If I can find a trade partner for Walker, Bond may get the week off, but otherwise I'll send someone off. Whether it is Sutterfield, Lee, or Jenkins, I'm not too sure, but one way or another, we're going to have a tough decision to make.

Looking Ahead
Worst part of an online league? Having to wait a month before your team becomes relevant again!

That seems to be the curse for us now, as we seem to be too far out of first with just over two month to go. Can't win at home. Can't win on the road. Can't win in extras. Can't win one run games. Can't win blowouts. And can't win in July. Is there anything we can do?

Well, we can take Monday off, before heading to Toronto for three against the Wolves. At 46-51, they're worse at winning then we are, but haven't made any big seller moves so far. I think it's safe to say Chink Stickels (.271, 3, 38, 11), Joe Hancock (7-7, 3.80, 35), and Hal Wood (.282, 5, 55) will be in Toronto come next year, and I don't think there was ever a thought to move Charlie Artuso (.251, 1, 42, 8), George Garrison (5-7, 3.07, 65), or Fred McCormick (.327, 16, 60), with the latter publicly declared unavailable. Looking towards the series that will truly disappoint, we're going to have to deal with Garrison, Jimmy Gibbs (7-7, 3.64, 42), and Jerry York (5-7, 4.02, 49), which should give our lineup plenty of fits. I'm expecting the worse, that's the part of the season I'm at right now, but in reality we actually have a decent shot at this series. I just don't think much will happen.

The weekend series is just brutal, as we'll have three with the Cannons out in Cincinnati. At 54-45, they're just 3.5 games out of first, and they are much closer to the Sailors then to us (5 GA). The Cannons have made a few minor deals, but seem likely to stay put and try to content with what they have. I still think the rotation could use some help, especially after the Stars made the excellent acquisition of Richie Hughes (8-10, 4.18, 68) without having to part with top 25 prospects Ralph Hanson (1st) and Paul Watson (25th). The Cannons staff has held up rather well, but behind Rufus Barrell (8-8, 3.33, 85), who's 2.91 FIP (74 FIP-) suggest he's been unlucky, there's plenty of question marks. Bob Arman (10-7, 3.19, 75) has been good, but he's walked 100 hitters in 155 innings, and is prone to the occasional blowup. He's still a really good pitcher, and just 26, but he's not necessarily a guy you want pitching two or three times in a playoff series. Still, the Cannons play very good baseball, and their pen is very good at winning games. If they can get Chuck Adams (.242, 8, 49) or Jim Hensley (.235, 2, 28) to wake up, its not a lineup you want to deal with, as they can deal damage 1 through 6. I'm ready for the sweep, and I think we'd be lucky to salvage just one as the Cannons look to continue their pennant push.

ayaghmour2 · 06-27-2023, 09:15 PM

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record: 52-53 (5th, 9 GB)
Stars of the Week
Hal Sharp : 24 AB, 10 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .417 AVG, .857 OPS
Sal Pestilli : 26 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .346 AVG, .931 OPS
Duke Bybee : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 2 BB, 6 K, 0.00 ERA

Schedule
7-29: Loss at Wolves (3-7)
7-30: Win at Wolves (7-0)
7-31: Loss at Wolves (9-10)
8-1: Win at Cannons (2-0)
8-2: Loss at Cannons (1-5)
8-4: Win at Cannons (4-1)

Recap
We did it again... Dropped the series against the weaker team while taking two games from the better one! And we dropped another half game back... Yay...

Don't worry though! Plenty of good stuff!

Sal Pestilli finally decided to be a hitter this week, going 9-for-26 with 3 doubles, a triple, 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. This upped his Cougar line to a better then negative .176/.222/.255 (30 OPS+), although he has still not homered in any of his 110 PAs. Most of the production came in our 10-9 loss against the Wolves, as Pestilli was a perfect 4-for-4 with a walk, a triple, and three runs scored.

Duke Bybee, who due to Ralph Johnson did not win Rookie of the Month, and will not win the Kellogg Award, continued his string of dominance, extending his scoreless streak to 28 innings with a 6-hit shutout of the Wolves. He allowed just 6 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts, dropping his ERA to 2.95 (130 ERA+) in 158.2 innings pitched. He has also passed Roy Dalpman for the FABL lead in WHIP (1.07) and his five shutouts still pace the league. The lead was extended to two, but the day after that was cut back to one, as Donnie Jones twirled a shutout of his own. He allowed just 3 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts to break his three decision losing streak and record his first win since July 4th. Donnie's 2.52 ERA (151 ERA+) is best in the association, and if these guys keep pitching like they are, we may finish above .500!

Pete Papenfus may have endured the worst month since his debut season, as he ended April 1-5 after allowing 7 runs (6 earned), 7 walks, and 3 hits in just 2.2 innings. He didn't strike out a single batter, and walked (40) more hitters then he struck out (32) in 53.1 innings pitched. He had a poor 4.72 ERA (81 ERA+) and 1.54 WHIP, dropping his season marks to 3.57 (107 ERA+) and 1.43 on the season. It always sucks when your best pitcher isn't pitching as he does, but it's even worse when your best hitter is doing the same. Leo Mitchell had another bad week, going 5-for-21 with a homer, and he finished July with a .226/.321/.280 (66 OPS+) triple slash. His .258/.308/.388 (90 OPS+) season line looks more like something a reserve outfielder would have, and while he does have 11 homers and 53 RBIs, the overall production has really lacked. I can't imagine that he actually found the cliff, but Cliff Meyer keeps moving him down in the lineup, and since he is 34, you always have to worry about age. It would be a stunning fall off for someone so consistent, and it will hurt that much more that he was robbed of two Whitney' if this truly is the end of his effectiveness.

Red Bond had a decent enough debut week, and while he was just 4-for-18, he did launch 2 homers and drove in 6. Sure, we lost both games he homered in, and hitting just over .200 ain't too great, but compared to Sal's start, we pretty much posted banners for him. Otherwise, not much support from the rest of the cast. Yes, Hal Sharp continued to get hits, going 10-for-24 to up his CA high average to .347. And Billy Hunter hit, 6-for-13 with a triple, as he boosted his season line to .290/.361/.435 (117 OPS+). Add in a 125 WRC+, 23 extra base hits, and more walks (29) then strikeouts (23), and you have a pretty impressive season line. The pithing wasn't great, but one of the only things notable was that "closer" Harry Parker mopped up Pap in the 3rd, going 4.1 innings with 4 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Considering we were down 7-4, bringing Parker in made even less sense, and considering I have this nifty "long reliever" Mel Haynes who would have been perfect for the job, I can't really understand what happened here.

Although, let's be honest, I don't know much of anything that is going on this year... So why should this be any different?

Oh yeah, how about a Carlos Montes update? No games in right (oof), but 5 at third base. 8-for-8, 3 PO, 5 A, 0.1 zone rating. Let's get it!

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week, but we'll still have to deal with the trials of playing on the road. We'll face one of the hotter teams in the CA, stuck in Brooklyn for three with the Kings. They've jumped over us for 4th, and our sitting at an even 53-53, going 19-12 since the start of July. The most surprising thing is not that they're .500, but the fact that they've scored more runs (514) then the Stars (496)! The Stars! How does that happen!

Well, Ralph Johnson is a big part, as the likely Kellogg Winner might be in the Whitney conversation as well. Johnson may have turned 23 in June, but he's not hitting like it, owning an elite .305/.410/.451 (151 OPS+) triple slash with 17 doubles, 21 homers, and 79 RBIs. He's walked (79) more then he's struck out (42) and produced a 166 WRC+ in 101 games this season. He's not the only young hitter with plenty of promise, as Cougar target (shouldn't have gotten Pestilli...) John Moss (.273, 4, 52) has been excellent on both sides of the field while Chuck Collins (.283, 8, 37) and Billy Bryant (.289, 5, 49) have had solid rookie seasons. They've supplanted the young bats with vets like Juan Pomales (.292, 3, 34, 17) and Hank Barnett (.241, 5, 36), and they recently brought in a new member for the rotation. That would be 36-year-old Harry Carter (9-8, 3.67, 45), who is in line to start the opener in Chicago. He joins Buddy Long (12-9, 3.57, 59), Johnny Slaney (11-9, 2.99, 56) and the improving Leo Hayden (8-8, 4.67, 84) in what could be a really good rotation. We'll have to deal with their best, and they'll get our top three, so this could be a very exciting series for a neutral fan.

That ends our 13 game road trip, but considering we've been better away (28-26) then at home (24-27), it may not help us too much. What makes matters worse is it starts with the Stars, who love slugging in Chicago. They may be 3 games out of first, but at 59-48 they are still not to be taken lightly. Even more so now, as they added talented Chicagoan Richie Hughes (8-11, 4.36, 77) to back up Eli Panneton (13-9, 3.06, 80) giving them a really dangerous and young 1-2 punch. The rotation was really the one weakness for the Stars, but right now it looks much better. Chuck Cole (11-9, 2.94, 64) has been outstanding and Vern Hubbard (10-10, 4.25, 63) continues to get unlucky (91 ERA+; 85 FIP-) and you have to imagine his lucky will change. They should have no trouble keeping us off the board, and when you factor in a lineup with Bill Barrett (.296, 12, 59, 4), Mack Sutton (.252, 29, 84), Jack Welch (.272, 10, 48), and Bill Barnett (.230, 19, 63), it's pretty much a guarantee we'll end up with more losses then wins.

Just please, please, please let us finish above .500...

Minor League Report
CF Rupert Abbott (AA Mobile Commodores): Our farm is a little thin in terms of upper level depth, so I was forced to move the recently turned 22-year-old Rupert Abbott to AA. It's not that he was doing bad in A ball, as a .266/.335/.424 (104 OPS+) line is bad, but just over a year ago he was still enrolled in Opelika State. It turns out my worries were misplaced, as the hardworking Abbott took the promotion and ran with it. He's been up for just three weeks, and was named the Dixie League's most recent Player of the Week. He went 10-for-21 with 2 doubles, a triple, a homer, a steal, 3 walks, and 5 runs scored and driven in. This upped his Mobile line to .346/.424/.538 (144 OPS+) and he has accumulated 20 doubles, 6 triples, 8 homers, 10 steals, and 53 RBIs in 90 games split between the two levels. Initially a 4th Round selection of the Eagles, Abbott came over this offseason in the Billy Riley trade as I really liked his range, hit tool, and potential gap power. He's shown all of that so far, and has an impressive 7.9 zone rating with efficiencies of 1.052 (14, AA) and 1.042 (67, A) out in center. He's dropped a bit in the prospect ranks with all the new faces in the system, but still ranks 17th and 210th overall. We have plenty of talented center fielders, both on the 40 (Pestilli, Montes, Lee) and in the farm (Peters, Reece, Smith), but Abbott also looks like a future regular. He lacks the star potential the rest have shown, but he's always prepared for his at bats and should continue to show improvement at the plate. In another system, he may be groomed to be the center fielder of the future, but I'll be happy with plus defense and a threat on the bases. No prospect is a sure thing, so while some of our other center fielders rank ahead of him, he has the glove and work ethic to force us into a tough decision. And there's plenty of talent to be excited about!

RHP Fred Terry (B San Jose Cougars): One of our recent draftees, 8th Rounder Fred Terry has gotten off to an amazing start to his professional career. The 21-year-old from Yellowhammer State was unlucky in his debut, as despite 7 excellent innings with 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts, he was given the loss as 10th Rounder Chet Komer (3-2, 4.05, 11) of the Eagles' Class B affiliate threw a 6-hit shutout. That didn't deter Terry, just inspired him to pitch better, as he followed that up with 7 more frames of impressive ball, and even with two runs of support, this time he secured the victory. Terry allowed 6 hits and a walk with 7 strikeouts, and will now make his way up to Lincoln. He seems more then ready, even when you look past the 1.93 ERA (198 ERA+) and 1.00 WHIP. Yes, it's a small sample, but while top prospect Bert Rogers struck out 50 in 93 innings, Terry is on pace for 84 in that same amount. And when you add in the stellar command, it's worth seeing what he can do against tougher competition, as some of the Legislators rotation members haven't had much success. Terry's not one of our more highly touted prospects, but the advantage he has lies within his development, as he's much further along then most of are talented pitchers. He sacrifices future potential for the current success, as I'm not sure he's much more then a back end guy. But if you pitch and continue to pitch well at any level, you'll get plenty of chances to earn a shot in the majors. I'm hoping he finishes the season off here, and perhaps the 22-year-old righty will start next year in the Commodores rotation.

Cougars in the GWL
1B Jim Hatfield (Los Angeles Knights): Many Cougars struggled in July, but a former Cougar took home Batter of the Month in the GWL. Our 6th Round Pick way back in 1929, Jim Hatfield has made a really good career for himself in the independent league, going from the San Antonio Gunslingers to the war, to the Los Angeles Knights, and in the inaugural GWL season he matched his 165 OPS+ from his last season pre-war (1941) with an even higher 167 WRC+. This season has been more of the same, and Hatfield was named the best hitter for July. He hit a robust .393/.439/.571 (195 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, 19 RBIs, 10 walks, and 3 steals. The soon-to-be 36-year-old is now slashing .335/.387/.455 (146 OPS+) in 414 trips to the plate. He's tallied 8 doubles, 8 triples, 7 homers, 16 steals, and 37 RBIs, and bats third on a team with plenty of pennant aspirations.

The Kings are in the thick of things again, as last year's runner up are 54-48 and 3.5 games behind the Grays and Centurions (58-45). Hatfield hits in front of another one of our draftees in Elmer Hutchins (.299, 4, 45), with King Price (12-6, 3.18, 69) and former Cougar farmhand Karl Wallace (8-8, 3.12, 52) in the rotation. Wallace has been unlucky, following up a 17-8 season with a similar ERA and FIP with less luck, and you have to imagine that'll improve as the season goes on. In fact, Price is the only one who has gotten good support, as Bob Cummings (8-9, 3.26, 76), Red Nokes (9-9, 3.45, 64), and Steve Noel (9-9, 4.01, 45) are all .500 or worse. Part can be blamed on closer Chick Pappalardo (5-4, 15, 4.24, 31), but beyond Hatfield, Hutchins, and Les Hendrix (.238, 8, 26, 10), most of the lineup has been average or worse. They'll need a little help from someone else, maybe leadoff man Ernesto Perez (.262, 3, 34, 9), if they want to return to the playoffs for a second attempt at the GWL crown.

RHP Mac Watters (Dallas Centurions): While he never pitched a regular season game for us, we were the first of three teams to select Mac Watters in the Rule-5 draft. The second, the Gothams, were the only team to pitch him in FABL, and he made 139 appearances out of the pen. He struck out 79 and walked just 35, but his 4.31 ERA (96 ERA+) and 1.44 WHIP left plenty to be desired. The Gothams cut him after the '45 season, and he latched on to the Dallas Centurions. He pitched well for them out of the pen, going 4-6 with a 2.99 ERA (115 ERA+) and 1.14 WHIP. He had an almost identical 2.98 FIP (86 FIP-) and boasted an impressive 4.0 K/BB (36-to-9) in 75.1 inning. This season the Centurions have promoted him to the rotation, and he's been effective for a team that holds a share of first place.

The Chicagoan was great to start August, tossing a 8-hit shutout in Houston to even his season record at 8-8. His 3.40 ERA (99 ERA+) is just above league average, but he's sporting his highest walk rate (1.8) and second lowest strikeout rate (2.3). Still, considering Watters is Dallas' #5 starter, it's hard to be upset with the results, and he's given them 159 innings in his 20 starts. The star of the staff may be George Hunter (10-4, 10, 2.40, 38), who's excelled in the pen and rotation, but Watters is one of many former Cougars. I've written plenty of Ira Hawker (11-8, 3.59, 73), who was one of the lone bright spots for the Centurions last year, and the pen is filled with Rube Finegan (5-5, 6, 2.53, 39) and Joe Foote (2-2, 3.04, 25). The revamped lineup has notable big leaguers in Heinie Billings (.317, 10, 50, 14), Brooks Meeks (.310, 5, 46, 8), Al Gross (.266, 7, 43) and former Cougar Ken Mayhugh (.288, 6, 45), but there's longtime Minutemen infielder and former Cougar 2nd Rounder Charlie Reed (.228, 2, 19, 3) as well. The Centurions have plenty of former Cougars to thank for their success, and are hoping to hang on to one of the top two spots in year two.

ayaghmour2 · 06-28-2023, 08:22 PM

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record: 55-56 (5th, 8.5 GB)
Stars of the Week*
Joe Brown : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, 1.50 ERA
Walt Pack : 24 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .333 AVG, .921 OPS
Hal Sharp : 24 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .333 AVG, .845 OPS

*Slightly off as the email counted the last game of last week. Yesterday's might have been missing Sunday's game

Schedule
8-5: Loss at Kings (2-3)
8-6: Loss at Kings (3-6)
8-7: Win at Kings (6-4)
8-8: Win vs Stars (1-6)
8-9: Win vs Stars (2-6)
8-10: Loss vs Stars (3-1)

Recap
We continue to tread mediocrity with another 3-3 week, but we gained half a game in the standings! Yay! As ever, the pitching was great and the hitting sucked, but at least we scored six in two of the games. And yet again, we split with the better team (the Stars) and lose the series against the worst team (Kings), although to be fair, the Kings are probably better then we are. Not only do they have a better record, but they have played much better ball lately.

Duke Bybee's scoreless streak was snapped at 35 innings, but that didn't stop him from dominating the Stars once again. Our talented rookie allowed just 5 hits, a run, and 4 walks with 6 strikeouts in his fourth consecutive complete game victory. The 25-year-old is now 11-8 with a 2.84 ERA (134 ERA+), 1.07 WHIP, and 78 strikeouts in his 20 starts. Ray Dalpman was hit hard, so Bybee now leads in WHIP by 7 points, and he should end the season with the most shutouts. Peter the Heater wasn't nearly as lucky, as despite allowing just 5 runs in 2 starts, he picked up his 13th and 14th loss. He leads the CA in losses, walks (118), and strikeouts (116), and while 11 walks in a start isn't very good, he still deserved to win at least one of his starts. Pap is a loss away from tieing his total from his two Allen seasons, and he could legit lose 20 games this season. With how good Bybee is, I was thinking about skipping Pap's start, but we have a double header this Sunday, and I don't want to force anyone on short rest.

The other loss on the week went to Donnie Jones, who has now lost four of his last five starts. The All-Star game starter went 8 with 9 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts as the Kings got to him early and often. Johnnie didn't pitch much better, but he was the only one to beat the Kings, allowing 8 hits, 4 runs, and 5 walks with 5 strikeouts. Harry Parker finished that one off, picking up his first save with two strikeouts in a perfect ninth. His next appearance won't come till Sunday, as he's in line to start a tough double header in New York. The last start went to Joe Brown, who has now won four of his last five starts. Brown went all nine, allowing 6 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. Oh yeah, and our next run allowed will be #400 on the season. Next closest? The Sailors 427! If only we could hit...

Sal Pestilli hit his first homer as a Cougar, and it came in game #29. It was a good one overall, as he showed what he should be doing on a regular basis. Pestilli went 1-for-2 with 2 runs, 2 walks, and 3 RBIs. Walt Pack hit his 18th of the season, finishing the week 7-for-22 with a double, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs. He was one of the few guys to hit, but Harry Mead was 6-for-17 with a run, 2 doubles, and 2 RBIs. That's all I want to mention, as I don't want to talk about another bad Leo Mitchell week. Not sure how many more I can take!

Pretty much all our draftees are signed, at least the ones I planned to, and we sit in a tie with the Pittsburgh Miners with 175 prospect points. Our lead won't last much longer, as Eddie Howard is graduating, and since he's hitting .293/.397/.362 (109 OPS+), he's not going to head back to Milwaukee. Of the new class, plenty crack the top 500, with Jerry Smith (11th), Garland Phelps (26th), Dudley Sapp (71st), Buddy Jenkins (111th), Mike Emerson (197th), Ed Sutton (212th), Harley Dollar (218th), Willie Watson (251st), Bill Nash (260th), Roy Paulson (277th), Roy Gass (281st), George Carter (373rd), and the biggest surprise, 14th Rounder Ben Clough (465th). It turned out to be a pretty deep class for Dixie Marsh's first go of things, and far better then expected! This gives us 50 of the game's top 500 prospects, from Bob Allen (6th) to Al Robison (490th), so even though things aren't going well on the field, the farm will stay well stacked.

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week before we finish our quick homestand with three against the Kings. At 57-56, they are a game above .500 and us in the standings, and we may be competing with them the rest of the way for fourth place. It'll be a battle of the best offense versus the best pitching staff (and of course, worst offense), and we have a chance to get a little revenge. Their staff isn't great, ranked 6th in runs against (501) as their rotation hasn't been too great. Harry Carter (10-9, 3.56, 49) has looked good in his two starts, and we won't draw him in the series. Instead, it's looking like Johnny Slaney (11-10, 3.15, 60), Buddy Long (12-9, 3.42, 60), and former Cougar Rusty Petrick (10-7, 1, 3.88, 63). They'll be throwing to Solly Skidmore's replacement, Frank Reichardt (.308, 5, 25), who has a 152 WRC+ in 195 PAs and makes the Solly trade make plenty more sense. They got a really good prospect in Bill Cady and considering Reichardt will be 24 later this month, he could be their catcher of the future. They don't need any more good bats, and you can call me crazy, but I really think we'll keep them off the board. Just have to make sure Ralph Johnson (.310, 22, 84) doesn't control the game...

The last little note is that the Kings claimed Jim Jenkins off waivers, giving them a veteran infielder off the bench. I was a bit surprised that he didn't clear, as he was hitting just .260/.260/.274 (47 OPS+) in 75 trips to the plate. He also had a terrible time at third base, as the normally sure handed defender had a .925 fielding percentage, -1.1 zone rating, and .954 efficiency. Hope he gets plenty of at bats in the series!

We'll be on the road just for the weekend, with four games in three days against the Stars. I was surprised we took two of three from them, with the lone loss coming from new acquisition Richie Hughes (9-11, 4.14, 80), who, while in a small sample, has already corrected his walk issues. We're likely stuck with him again, although without a spot starter we'll have to deal with all but one of their pitchers. Sadly, we won't miss Eli Panneton (13-9, 2.97, 84), who will pitch the opener against the Saints, and my guess is the guy we miss will be Henry Shaffer (3-5, 2.28, 38), the guy I would rather face. Like the Kings, the Stars offense is very dangerous, as they rank 2nd in runs scored (503). Bill Barrett (.293, ,12, 59, 4) is having yet another excellent season and Mack Sutton (.251, 29, 84) is just a homer away from his second straight 30 homer season. The Stars do have a weakness, there's no really good catcher, as Chick MacKnight (.189, 3, 9) has overtaken Joe Rainbow (.201, 8, 35) as the starter. Pretty much all we can do is hope right now, but the Stars are off to a slow start in August, and we may have drawn them at the right time.

Minor League Report
2B Tom Brownleaf (A Lincoln Legislators): With an injury to Al Clement, the Mobile infield needed a new face, and Tom Brownleaf will be that one. A former 8th Rounder, Brownleaf looked pretty good in Lincoln, slashing .265/.353/.413 (106 OPS+) with 29 doubles, 9 triples, 2 homers, 47 RBIs, and 46 walks. His high walk rate led to a strong 111 WRC+ and his excellent defense at second helped him accumulate almost 3 WAR (2.8) in 97 games. A former 8th Round pick, Brownleaf is a very hard worker, and he's done an excellent job with both improving his defense and plate discipline. He could end up as a guy who walks a bit more then he strikes out, and as a switch hitter he has plenty of value off the bench. He can handle all three infield spots well, but to start in the big leagues he'll need to put the ball in play more often. He could end up with an above average hit tool, but it hasn't surfaced much in the minors. He hit just .206 in 52 games for the Legislators last year, and his .287 average in San Jose last season is the highest it's gotten. Mobile may be a tough challenge for the Oklahoma native, but I have faith that he can hold his own.

CF Frank Reece (B San Jose Cougars): After a slow start to the season, Frank Reece really started to heat up as the weather got better. He hit an impressive .286/.375/.438 (125 OPS+) in July with 5 doubles, 4 triples, a homer, 2 steals, and 7 RBIs. He followed that up with an even better first week in August, going an even 10-for-20 with 2 homers, 3 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. Currently ranked 11th in our system and 86th overall, the 19-year-old is now hitting .253/.340/.388 (102 OPS+) with a 110 WRC+ in 385 trips to the plate. Reece has tallied 11 doubles, 7 triples, 7 homers, 12 steals, 25 RBIs, and 41 walks in an impressive all-around showing. He's been a plus defender in center (3.9, 1.012) as well, and he has just 3 errors and a 1.4 ARM rating in 343 total chances. I was initially against moving him up to A ball this season, but with how he's done lately, he may earn a late season callup, especially once rosters expand. Even though he's now our third highest ranked center field prospect, Reece is plenty talented, projecting to make plenty of hard contact. His athleticism is a huge plus as well, as he's fast, strong, and should develop into an excellent defender. Of the three top guys, I think he may be the best defender, and if he keeps lining the all fields, we're going to have a very good young player for years to come.

ayaghmour2 · 06-29-2023, 09:14 PM

Weekly Record: 3-4
Seasonal Record: 58-60 (5th, 9.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Sal Pestilli : 30 AB, 14 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .467 AVG, 1.217 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 24 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .375 AVG, .798 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 27 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .296 AVG, .641 OPS

Schedule
8-12: Win vs Kings (2-3)
8-13: Loss vs Kings (10-6)
8-14: Loss vs King (3-1)
8-15: Win at Stars (3-1)
8-16: Loss at Stars (1-4)
8-17: Loss at Stars (7-8)
8-17: Win at Stars (1-0)

Recap
Can we do anything other then win three games? Like at all? This season man...

Despite yet another week of suckage, what should be our two best hitters had great weeks. Sal Pestilli is finally hitting line a Whitney Winner, putting together five multi-hit games in a six game stretch, including three straight three hit games. He was rewarded like a Whitney Winner too, picking up something I forgot Cougar bats could do -- win a Player of the Week. It was well deserved, as our star finished 14-for-30 with 3 doubles, a triple, homer, steal, and 4 RBIs. The 31-year-old vet is now hitting .338/.380/.538 (150 OPS+) with 5 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, 8 RBIs, and more walks (5) then strikeouts (2). And while Leo Mitchell still isn't having a good August, he went 9-for-24 with 2 runs, 2 walks, and 4 RBIs. Pretty much all the other every day players were pretty bad, but Clark Car and George Sutterfield also had a surprisingly good week, with the middle infield duo going 4-for-11 with a double, steal, 2 walks, and 3 runs scored. The offense continues to frustrate, as we'll likely finish the season out with the fewest runs scored (453) and runs allowed (427), which still should translate to 6 games over .500 (62-56).

On the mound, Johnnie Jones has really struggled, and after snapping his four game losing streak with a mediocre start, he was awful against the Kings, chased out with two outs in the 4th. He left with 10 hits, a walk, and a strikeout and was charged with 7 runs (6 earned) as his ERA inflated to 3.73 (103 ERA+), almost a full point higher then it was almost exactly one month (a month and a day) from the loss (2.84). Pete Papenfus lost yet another start, now 15 of them, leaving after just 7 innings. It was a bit shocking considering just 92 pitches and decent performance (5 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K), but the poor guy just doesn't strike guys out anymore. Donnie Jones had an uncharacteristically short start, completing just 4 innings in a no decision in New York where he allowed 8 hits, 6 runs, and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts. It came after a brilliant complete game win over the Kings, where he allowed 5 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 6 strikeouts in a tight 3-2 victory.

Duke Bybee and Joe Brown both stayed hot, but Bybee was tagged with a loss. He also didn't got deep, just 7 innings for the rook, allowing 7 hits, 3 runs, and 4 walks with a pair of punchouts. Brown picked up his second straight complete game victory over the Stars (maybe he should have pitched that tiebreaker...), finishing with 5 hits, 3 walks, a run, and 2 strikeouts. Harry Parker was much better in start two, as he held the Stars scoreless through seven and a third with 4 hits, 5 walks, and 6 strikeouts. With all the short starts, including Parker's, the pen got plenty of work, but only Paul Richardson kept runs off the board. He threw a perfect ninth in Parker's start to earn the save, as stopper Ken Matson got us out of the 8th. It was one of his four appearances, and he actually pitched both halves of the double header and three consecutive games. He allowed 6 hits and 2 runs with 3 strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched. Mel Haynes and Eddie Howard both struggled in long mop up spots, with Howard getting the loss in Donnie's start. He went 3.1 with 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout. Haynes' outing didn't matter, as he went 5.1 after Johnnie, allowing 4 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. With how poor we hit, we need to be better then this to get back over .500, and inch closer to our 62-56 expected record.

The roster will get a reinforcement for the coming week with Carlos Montes returning from the IL. He's missed a lot of time this season with injuries, appearing in just 23 games for the Cougars. The 31-year-old vet was hitting just .247/.287/.376 (81 OPS+), but he had a much better .250/.381/.412 (102 OPS+) in 18 rehab games down in Milwaukee. His 113 WRC+ was pretty solid and he added 5 doubles, 2 homers, 10 RBIs, and 5 steals while walking (15) more then he struck out (11). While all that's well and good, the bigger thing was his defense. He actually had a positive (0.1) zone rating in 125 innings at the hot corner, and he completed all 21 (17, 2, 2) of the even or harder balls hit to him, as well as 1 of the 4 unlikely. With Sal Pestilli entrenched in center for the rest of the season, Montes' natural position, where he started all 808 of his FABL appearances, is unavailable. He'll get some time in center, whether that is due to a double header or needed rest from Sal, but most of his time (unless he starts raking, of course) will come spelling lefties Hal Sharp and Walt Pack when a southpaw is on the mound. Both have been awful against same side pitchers, with Sharp going 23-for-106 (.217, 61 WRC+) and Pack 2-for-35 (.057, -39 WRC+). Pack is nearly unplayable against same side guys, so Montes will enter the lineup as the third basemen most days, but he'll get some time in right, opening up some time for George Sutterfield or even Dick Walker, as Ray Ford can shift to second and Billy Hunter to third. Ford has been awful since June, and isn't a good defensive second basemen, but it's still better then Pack or Sharp trying to hit lefties.

I debated the roster casualty for a while, but I think it's going to be Ray Struble, as I don't want to burn an option on Lee or Sutterfield, even if they can't hit. It's not like Struble can either, his .200/.314/.233 (52 OPS+) line equates to a 38 WRC+, and while he's stuck around because he's a plus center fielder, we don't really need that as much as Montes and Pestilli are as well. It didn't cost much to acquire Struble, and he has a chance to clear, but it feels weird cutting the guy who saved our season last year less then a year later. But the bat just can't be relied on, and he would have had a very limited role. By time he is off waivers, rosters will be expanded, so if he passes he'll be added right back.

Looking Ahead
We begin a nice long homestand with three against the Wolves, who have lost seven of their last eight to fall to 56-61 and 11 games back. Of course, that means they are just in time to turn their luck around against us, as we look to stay above them in the standings. A sweep would put us below them, something we cannot afford this late in the season. They look more like a .500 team then a 6 under team, with nearly equal runs scored (507) and allowed (510) through 117 games. Their rotation is weird, as all five members have ERAs between 3.53 and 3.97, but with a recent double header they may resort to a spot start from someone like Bob Walls (2-5, 4.22, 8) or Jim Morrison (4-5, 3, 4.24, 25), both of which have started frequently in the past but spent most of the season in the pen. Cookie Myers (9-6, 3.77, 32) is fully rested and ready for the opener, and with no changes they'd then throw co-aces George Garrison (6-10, 3.65, 81) and Joe Hancock (9-8, 3.53, 44) who have excellent FIP-s of 78 and 82, just what a struggling offense needs to deal with. To make things tougher, Hank Giordano (.255, 3, 57, 5) is starting to hit, slashing a robust .339/.371/.627 (160 OPS+) in August, which has upped his season WRC+ way up to 92. Tom Frederick (.272, 2, 36) is starting to play more regularly and the results have been solid (107 WRC+), and Chink Stickels (.274, 3, 42, 12) is trucking right along in another excellent year. And of course, there's Fred McCormick (.321, 23, 85), who reached 20 homers for the first time since his Whitney Winning 1939 season. This is the type of series that could help us string some wins together, but I have a feeling it won't end the way we want.

Then it's our new nemesis, the Foresters, who seem to have gotten really good at beating us despite trading two of (in not their best two) their best pitchers. At 57-64, they're a game behind the Wolves, so after we get swept by them, they could be sitting ahead of us. If not, they will be afterwards, as I have very little faith in beating the team that ranks 7th in both runs allowed (570) and scored (460). Despite that, they have the CA ERA leader in Ollie White, who is just 23 and has done it in both the pen and rotation. He's started just 10 of his 35 appearances, and is 9-5 with 6 saves through 121 innings. That league leading ERA is a sparkly 2.01 (198 ERA+), nearly two points lower then his nearly league average 3.96 FIP (99 FIP-). He walks (74) a ton but strikes out even more (88), and he has a pretty solid 1.29 WHIP. He's really grown on Dixie Marsh as well, as our rookie scout ranks this rookie a future #1. With Hughes (10-11, 3.99, 86) and Steinberg (16-5, 3.15, 59) out of the picture, he's probably the best pitcher on the staff now, but Augie Hayes Jr. (8-14, 4.15, 63) still ranks above him in the rotation.

The lineup doesn't have a high caliber starter like Ollie, but they did pick up a favorite of mine in Bill Grove (.210, 6) from the Stars in the Hughes trade. No longer a prospect, he'll turn 25 in September, but was frequently ranked in the top 100 before getting significant time on the 1945 Stars team. He excelled as well, slashing .273/.374/.372 (116 OPS+) in 96 games, adding 17 doubles, 5 triples, 2 homers, and 31 RBIs with 56 walks and just 37 strikeouts. With the addition of Mack Sutton (.241, 30, 87), there was no room for Grove, and he'll now compete with the recently optioned Bob Miller (.275, 13) for the title of third basemen of the future. Beyond Grove, first basemen Lorenzo Samuels (.306, 10, 38) and Ivey Henley (.302, 5, 34) have shown tremendous promise, with the latter trying his hand at left field to keep both bats in the lineup. Beyond that, not much to write home about, but they're over .500 in July and August, and seem likely to end up out of the cellar for just the second time since 1942. Can they finish above 7th for the first time since they were 2nd in 1939? If we keep falling, that seems like a lock!

Sunday will be spent hosting the Sailors for the first of three. Currently 3.5 games above the Stars (65-55). The Sailors do pretty much everything better then we do, and while we do have the advantage in the rotation, we could be stuck with their top three and David Medina as the stopper is no joke. Most people undervalue the use of relievers in the league, but Molina is an obvious exception. The 28-year-old doesn't really have the ability to start games, but that doesn't stop him from being ranked as the 3rd best pitcher (behind Eli Panneton and Ed Bowman) in either association, a spot that was previously awarded to the best pitcher who wasn't Pap or Donnie. What makes the Illinois native stand out from the pack is how effective he's able to pitch as often as he's able to pitch. He appeared in a league high 80 appearance last season, and his 62 this season give him a double digit lead over every other pitcher. And they aren't a ton of one inning outings either. He's thrown 97 inning and directly accounted for 28 (7 wins and 21 saves) of the Sailors 70 victories. His 2.69 ERA (148 ERA+) and 2.73 FIP (68 FIP-) are elite and his WHIP is a point below 1. He strikes out (79) almost twice as many batters as he walks (41) and his 2.3 WAR trails just Win Lewis (4.3) and Al Duster (2.4) on the staff. When the Sailors have a lead, he usually keeps it, and it's shown in extra innings (6-3) and (16-13) one run games. I'll cover more of their guys tomorrow, but I really hope those games will actually have some effect on the pennant race.

It is still just a single digit lead after all... Maybe Leo Mitchell is heating up? Maybe Sal Pestilli? Who knows, Carlos Montes has shown flashes of being a star. And the let Walt Pack face lefties experiment can officially end. I think it's time for a Don Lee redemption. After all, Rap will see Rip (281, 2, 43, 5) when Philly is in town. Oh yeah, expect to see Dick Walker all series. Sailor fans deserve one last look at their former star.

Let's win some games!

Minor League Report
C Bob Mundy (AA Mobile Commodores): Despite being a 13th Rounder, I inserted Mississippi A&M backstop Bob Mundy directly into the Commodores lineup. He has not disappointed. The 22-year-old has appeared in just 13 games, but his .347/.377/.592 (144 OPS+) triple slash fuels a 151 WRC+, and he's already doubled and homered three times. A hard working switch hitter, Mundy has really strengthened a lineup that now ranks 5th in runs scored. He's not a highly touted prospect, completely absent from the top 500 list, but he's very well developed and is basically at his ceiling of being a useful enough backup catcher. That's not to say he won't get any better, but what he does has already shown up. Dixie thinks he'll "catch and throw at a high level" which I take to mean good framing and a strong arm. The bat has more questions, as I don't believe in this power, but he does project to have a strong hit tool with consistent plate discipline. Everyone needs catchers and you can never have too many good ones, and I think if Mundy gets a shot like Joe Rainbow did, he could be a solid starting catcher for a big league club. He even has an up arrow to the big leagues, but with Homer Guthrie and Eddie Howard in the way, that promotion won't happen any time soon.

RHP Tommy Seymour (A Lincoln Legislators): My faith in Tommy Seymour has never wavered, and after an awful four game losing streak that finished with 14 hits and 8 runs in 5.1 innings in a 8-1 loss to the Peoria Pastimers, who are right behind Lincoln in the pennant race. He got right back on the mound and fired a perfect answer as this time a single run of support was enough. He allowed just 2 hits and 4 walks in the shutout, striking out 4 in the 1-0 victory. Recently turned 22, Seymour has been challenged in A ball, as more experienced players then him have solved his pitched. I'd love for the former 1st Rounder to continue adding velocity, as he upped his fastball to a max of 87 this spring. That's definitely hittable, and since he's susceptible to the walk (68, 5.2) runners tend to be on base when he makes his mistakes. He has a bloated 4.94 ERA (84 ERA+) and 1.70 WHIP in 116.2 innings pitched, and is one of thew few pitchers on the staff that is struggling. There's still plenty to like about our 15th ranked prospect (201st overall), who I didn't really expect to be ready for A ball anyways. He has a really nice change and an impressive splitter, but both are far from a finished product. The harder he throws, the better these pitches are going to be, and the more polished they get, the misses will look much better. There's plenty of risk, but I believe if his fastball can live in the 90s, he could be a very useful big league starter.

ayaghmour2 · 06-30-2023, 07:54 PM

Weekly Record: 5-2
Seasonal Record: 63-62 (t-4th, 9 GB)
Stars of the Week
Red Bond : 23 AB, 12 H, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .522 AVG, 1.522 OPS
Hal Sharp : 28 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .357 AVG, .887 OPS
Harry Mead : 23 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 7 RBI, .391 AVG, .923 OPS

Schedule
8-18: Win vs Wolves (2-10)
8-19: Win vs Wolves (2-7)
8-20: Loss vs Wolves (5-3)
8-21: Win vs Foresters (8-10)
8-22: Loss vs Foresters (7-6): 11 innings
8-23: Win vs Foresters (3-4)
8-24: Win vs Sailors (4-5): 12 innings

Recap
They listened! They actually listened! We won some games!

Five of them to be exact, taking two of three from both the Wolves and Foresters before a crazy extra inning opener with the Sailors. Down 4-1 heading into the bottom of the 7th, we took advantage of star stopper David Molina (8-3, 22, 2.56, 86), who tried to bail Al Duster (9-10, 3.14, 95) out of a jam, but instead Red Bond (.293, 21, 84) drove home two with a double to bring us within one. An error aided us in the ninth, as we would have lost as Don Lee (.202, 3, 17, 11), who led off the inning with a walk (about all he's been good at this year), scored on a Pete Woodward (.273, 1, 10) error, which was ironic as "Woodsie" came in as a defensive replacement. That forced extras, and after a few zeros, the struggling Leo Mitchell (.266, 12, 67) mustered up some heroics, walking it off with a solo blast that probably would have been a fly out in most other parks. That brought us back above .500, pushing us to a tie with the Kings for 4th.

Red Bond had plenty of big hits all week, as once again, a Cougar was named Player of the Week. The aging slugger continued his power surge, launching 3 homers and 2 doubles with 9 runs and 10 RBIs as he slashed .522/.522/1.000 (309 OPS+) in 23 trips to the plate. Bond is now hitting a superb .315/.329/.562 (140 OPS+) as a Cougar, and has already hit 5 homers in just 79 PAs since joining from the Saints. And for the first time in what feels like forever, it wasn't a one or two man show, as we put up 10 runs not once, but twice (!!) this week, as plenty of guys produced at the same time. Harry Mead continues to heat up, going 9-for-23 with 2 doubles, 7 RBIs, and 3 walks while Eddie Howard was 4-for-5. Hal Sharp finally pushed his average up, even if it was just a smidge, going 10-for-28 with a double, homer, and 7 RBIs as he tries to fend off Sam Brown (.333, 7, 57) and Ed Reyes (.333, 4, 55) in the batting race. Carlos Montes didn't start many games with a ton of righties on the mound, but he still went 2-for-6 with 2 walks, a run, and RBI, and made both plays at him in his first start at third base. The Foresters and Wolves don't have many lefties, so he didn't really get a chance to play, but the Sailors, Cannons, and Kings all have a pair of lefty starters which will give Montes plenty of more opportunities. It was nice to finally see some life in the bats, as we're up to 7th (498) in runs scored, but one has to wonder if it's far too little and far too late.

No loss for Peter the Heater this week, but he did not look good against the Foresters. They got 8 hits, 8 runs, and 6 walks in 6.1 innings as he struck out just 4. This inflated Pap's ERA to 3.74 (103 ERA+) in 214 innings, the highest mark of any of our five starters. The only good thing about this start is it allowed Mel Haynes to shine, as he picked up his first win of the season. Not only did he throw 2.2 innings of hitless ball (1 BB, 2 K), but he contributed in our huge 7 run 8th, driving in two with a single before scoring on a Sal Pestilli double. Haynes also singled in his first at bat, upping his season line to .320/.370/.320 (90 OPS+) with 9 RBIs and more walks (2) then strikeouts (1), good enough for a 104 WRC+ which is higher then 6-Time All-Stars Leo Mitchell (95), Skipper Schneider (84), and Sal Pestilli (79).

After a brutal stretch of starts, Johnnie Jones bounced back in a huge way, spinning back-to-back complete game victories. First he beat the Wolves, allowing just 6 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts in an easy 10-2 victory. Things were tougher when the Foresters came to town, but Johnnie pitched well enough to escape with a 4-3 win. He was charged with 11 hits, 3 runs, and 6 walks, but managed to strike out 4 and strand plenty of runners to improve to 12-8 on the season. Duke Bybee had a pair of starts as well, but the second ended in a no decision. That was against the Sailors where he went just 7 with 7 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. His complete game win against the Wolves was much more impressive, as despite 5 walks and just 1 strikeout, he held Toronto to just 6 hits and 2 runs. Bybee's 2.93 ERA (132 ERA+) is now best on the staff after Donnie Jones (9 IP, 12, 6 ER, 3 K) was hit hard in our extra inning loss against Cleveland, and his 1.10 WHIP is best of any qualified pitcher this season. When the season started, I said he could pitch his way into the three spot by seasons end, and that's where he finds himself now as we approach the final month of the season.

There was plenty of transactional news, including what maybe should have been a deadline deal. Brooklyn recently claimed Jim Jenkins off waivers, and to make room for him on Kings roster they DFA'd former Eagle and Forester Leon Blackridge, a player I've had my eye on (and even tried to trade for) since the 1934 draft. A 6th Round selection of the Stars, Blackridge was frequently a top 100 prospect but owns just a .258/.341/.363 (101 OPS+) career line in just under 3,000 career plate appearances. That's nothing to be ashamed of, but he never really got a chance to play everyday as he went from being stuck behind Mel Carrol to serving in the Air Force. He's only gotten into 42 games this season with just 17 of them starts. His .262/.395/.308 (89 OPS+) line isn't terrible, although he's gone 65 at bats without a home run. His 14 walks to 8 strikeouts are impressive, and his 108 WRC+ is solid, but the King wanted him to play second and he's pretty much a third basemen only. His leadership could be useful down the stretch, and there are bench spots up for grabs next season and we need a right side of the Walt Pack platoon. He may not get too many at bats this season, but if he survives the Winter, he'll get plenty of looks in the spring.

The deadline to sign draft picks just past, and in the end I caved and gave 20th Rounder Fred McHenry $1,600 to pass up his commitment to Tallmadge State. We've been hit hard recently with outfield injuries, and instead of the usual 20 batters I carry in La Crosse we were down to just 18, and now Phil Boyes is dealing with calf soreness. He'll be back next week, but without McHenry we would have just six outfielders, one of those being converted shortstop Hank Smithers, who was taken four rounds earlier. McHenry may not play too much, but there are plenty of at bats up for grabs. Then comes roster expansion, and depending who gets callups, their may be starting positions available at higher levels, further thinning the Lions roster. McHenry is a hard worker and as is wouldn't be the worst fourth outfielder, making him useful to hang onto. He'll basically has a ten month audition until next year's draftees come around, and without a first rounder, we may be without an impact prospect. He'll never hit for any power, but if he can put the ball in play and provide serviceable defense, he could stick around.

Here are the six players we decided not to give a contract to, as well as their round selected and new school. All six will be eligible for the 1950 draft:

CF Goldie Smith (18th Round): Western Florida
LHP Herb Bloom (19th Round): Coastal State
RHP Jacob Larry (21st Round): Redwood University
2B Bill Carrier (22nd Round): Eastern State
LF Curt Boyle (23rd Round): Darnell State
C Bill Haugen (25th Round): Red River State

Looking Ahead
We did it once, so can we do it twice more? The Sailors are going to be tough, as we'll have to beat the struggling Slick Wesolowski (12-9, 4.07, 75) and staff ace Win Lewis (14-10, 2.67, 74). That won't be easy, and with Joe Brown (12-9, 3.59, 73) and Pete Papenfus (8-15, 3.74, 123) there are plenty of ways this can go. The lineup looks a little different, as Eddie Heaton (.195, 1, 12) has somewhat surprisingly replaced Cotton Dillon (.275, 7, 66) in right field. Harvey Brown (.288, 4, 56, 23) and Ed Reyes (.333, 4, 55) are heating up and Bobby Boone (.319, 1,, 35, 8) has been another excellent Rule-5 find of the association leaders. These two games could determine our season, as a sweep makes things interesting if it can build some momentum.

Our next guest will be the Cincinnati Cannons, who would love for us to sweep the team in first. Cincinnati is 67-59, but 5.5 games behind the surging Sailors. Working in our favor is the favorable pitching matchup, as we'll get their bottom two in Charlie Griffith (16-6, 3.91, 84) and Les Bradshaw (9-11, 4.01, 76). Griffith has a knack for winning games, so that can't be taken lightly, and the Cannons have some firepower in the form of Denny Andrews (.305, 13, 60) and Chuck Adams (.264, 12, 64). Al Wheeler (.235, 9, 42) is playing more often while Sam Brown (.333, 7, 57) and Adam Mullins (.300, 5, 52) are adding another productive season to their resumes. This will be tough, but avoiding Rufus Barrell (9-12, 3.66, 114) is huge, and we need to capitalize in games where on paper we have the advantage.

The same is said of the weekend series as we host the last place Saints for three. Things haven't gone well for Montreal, as they're 10 games behind the seventh place Foresters and 28 games under .500. The pitching has let them down, as beyond Pat Weakly (10-13, 3.69, 98) and Bert Cupid (10-13, 3.53, 86) they haven't been getting quality starts. Andy Lyon (5-9, 4.30, 76) has a nearly matching ERA+ (93) and FIP- (94) so perhaps smoother sailing is ahead, and at just 24 he's only going to get better. Someone in the lineup to look at is another 24-year-old, Maurice Carter, who was a teammate of Duke Bybee, Eddie Howard, and more this winter on the Santa Clara Stallions. The first basemen was acquired from the Eagles for righty Jose Waggoner at the deadline. Carter, who debuted in '45 with the Eagles, went straight to the big league lineup, and he's hit .327/.400/.423 (118 OPS+) in 62 trips to the plate. "Big Moe" isn't the most highly touted prospect, and for a slugger like him Montreal may not be the perfect fit. But if he keeps drawing walks and putting the ball in play, he could become a building block as the Saints look to right the shift. I hope we can keep them down, but we're the team they've done the best against this season.

Minor League Report
C Garland Phelps (B San Jose Cougars): Is it already time to promote him? It's been just two months, but Garland Phelps has already won two Player of the Weeks. This time around wasn't as extravagant, as he went 11-for-27 with 2 doubles, a triple, and 6 RBIs. It was a nice gift as the brilliant backstop turned 18 on the 22nd, and has now hit .347/.392/.545 (160 OPS+) in his first 40 professional games. The 6 doubles and 5 homers don't surprise me one bit, but the fact that he has 6 triples? That's crazy! Speed isn't a part of his game, so I wonder if a lot of those are balls that are it very far in a large part. He's already drove in 42 runs and is a tenth of a win away from 2 WAR. There's no room in A ball with Bill Martin returning, so Einstein will finish his season out in California. He's already flashing the star level potential many saw in him, as he's going to be a truly special offensive talent. The defense hasn't been great, but he's got plenty of time to figure that out. If everything breaks right, Phelps is going to be the best ever Cougar catcher, and he may spend some time as the best FABL catcher. Wouldn't that be fun?

ayaghmour2 · 07-03-2023, 10:42 PM

Weekly Record: 4-3
Seasonal Record: 67-65 (5th, 6 GB)
Stars of the Week
Ray Ford : 12 AB, 8 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .667 AVG, 1.964 OPS
Don Lee : 11 AB, 5 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.629 OPS
Duke Bybee : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 2 BB, 7 K, 0.00 ERA

Schedule
8-25: Win vs Sailors (7-8)
8-26: Win vs Sailors (1-3)
8-27: Win vs Cannons (1-2)
8-28: Loss vs Cannons (4-2)
8-29: Win vs Saints (0-3)
8-30: Loss vs Saints (7-2)
8-31: Loss vs Saints (6-3)

Recap
What a missed opportunity...

After sweeping the first place Sailors and splitting with the second place Cannons, we once again stumble against the cellar dwelling Saints. If it wasn't for the superhuman southpaw Duke Bybee, they would've definitely swept us, and we are the only team (7-7) that the Saints are not below .500 against this season. If we pulled off the sweep, we would have been just four games out of first and in fourth place, but we instead find ourselves a still manageable six out as we head into the final month of the season.

Speaking of Bybee, this poor kid is going to have nothing to show for in his absurdly dominant season. He completed his six shutout of the season and fourth since June 30th, and it was a beaut. Bybee's only real blemish was a Gordie Perkins (.286, 17) single with one out in the first, as he retired 26 of the next 28 batters, with both baserunners reaching via the walk. He struck out 7 in his 1-hit shutout, and he now has at least twice as many shutouts as any non-Cougar, with Donnie Jones (4) the only FABL hurler with more then three. Bybee's 1.07 WHIP is 11 points better then Donnie, who again checks in at two, and his 2.79 ERA (138 ERA+) is third in the CA and fourth overall. He's on pace to strikeout 106 hitters in 233 innings, with the next out he records completing his 200th inning on the season. His 13 wins are second to just Donnie on the team and his 91 strikeouts rank third. He's not catching Pap (133) or Donnie (118), but considering Pap has 5 more starts and Donnie 2, he's been everything we wished for and more. He's in striking distance of a 5 WAR season (4.1) and his 3.32 FIP (86 FIP-) is well above average. For a kid who turned 25 this year and missed four years of development time while he was in the Marines, Bybee is talented well beyond his experience, and should be in contention for Allen Awards the rest of his career. But with how good Ralph Johnson (.316, 24, 96) of the Kings has been, the chances of him taking home the Kellogg Award are slim to none, and I have to imagine the combination of Donnie Jones' dominance and the Cougars mediocrity will cost him Allen votes as well. The young lefty will be leaned on heavily the rest of the way, a true test of his poise, but we have faith that the young captain will be more then up for the challenge.

The offense came to play this week, but the sources of the explosion were not the one's I was expecting. Ray Ford and Don Lee were extraordinary, going 13-for-23 with 4 walks, 6 runs, and 7 RBIs. Ford hit two homers and doubled while Lee had two triples and a homer. Both are red hot, with Ford finishing August with a .381/.469/.595 (190 OPS+) batting line while Lee, in a much smaller sample (29 PAs to 49) slashed an absurd .333/.481/.857 (260 OPS+). Both have been playing regularly against lefties, and it's finally coming together. Sal Pestilli matched Lee's 2 triples and a homer, going 6-for-21 with 2 runs and 3 walks. Red Bond was 5-for-15 with a homer and 3 RBIs, now with 6 in 28 games as a Cougar and 22 on the season. Hal Sharp's lead in the batting race is just one point, as his average ticked down slightly with a 5-for-15 week. Walt Pack was 4-for-14, but one of those hits was his 20th homer of the season, and if he reaches 21 it will tied for 10th most in a season as a Cougar. Pack's been inconsistent, but a .261/.332/.484 (121 OPS+) batting line is nothing to scoff at, and he could form a very powerful platoon with Otto Christian next year. We need to keep getting big numbers from him, Bond, and Pestilli as Leo Mitchell (4-24) may need an offseason to get things figured out, as aside from an otherworldly September, he's almost guaranteed to fail to hit the 130 WRC+ mark he effortlessly has posted year after year. But if we want to erase the six game deficit, we need Mitchell to hit, and I have to imagine their still something left in that bat. He's just too good to be this bad!

Speaking of too good to be this bad, guess what? Another week, another Papenfus loss...

At least this time he also got a win, and errors were the reason he got his loss. The win was exciting, 5 hits, a run, and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts to pick up his 9th on the season. The loss saw half his 6 runs unearned, as he went just 7 with 6 hits, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts. 9-16 is not the record I expected from our fireballing ace, who still has the most walks (135) and strikeouts (133) in the Continental Association. Donnie Jones pitched a great game, allowing 7 hits, a run, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts in a complete game win. Johnnie got a loss, allowing 8 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts in a complete game loss. Joe Brown had two starts, and neither went that well. The first at least ended in a win, even if it wasn't his, charged with 12 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts in 7.1 innings. He then lost to the Saints, allowing 11 hits, 7 runs, and a walk in 6 inning. The craziest part was the 4 homers, and Brown now has 18 in 209 innings. He's never allowed more then 15 in a season, and that came in 238.1 innings. He might be the guy who gets skipped a bit as we finish the year, but he's generally a dependable innings eater and I still think if I threw him in the playoff over the Stars we could have won a title.

Rosters are officially expanded as well, and we'll load up with some new players. Rejoining the roster is Ray Struble, who as expected, passed waivers. He'll be joined by waiver claim Leon Blackridge, who will be making his Cougar debut once he makes his first plate appearance. Joining from Milwaukee will be backstop Homer Guthrie, first basemen Bill Payne, outfielder Ducky Cole, lefty Rusty Watts, and righty Harry MacRae. I'll cover a few of the guys in more detail later on. We will have four additional roster spots that could be filled later, but a lot of the guys left on our 40 are youngsters I want to play regularly.

Looking Ahead
Our homestand comes to a quick end with an annoying double header with the Stars. Sure, neither of us have games on Tuesday or Wednesday, but yeah, let's just play them both on Monday instead! The Stars (72-61) are a percentage point below the Cannons (71-60) for second, but both are a game and a half behind the Stars. I have no idea who will be pitching for them as they had a double header to finish August, but one of the guys will be Chuck Cole, who doesn't pitch like a 37-year-old. The veteran righty is an unlucky 13-12 despite his stellar 2.77 ERA (142 ERA+) and 1.25 WHIP. He's struck out 79 hitters in his 27 starts and is on pace for the 5th 250+ inning season of his career. Roster expansion means plenty of reinforcements from Syracuse, including the two pieces of the Billy Riley trade Bill Chapman (9-4, 1, 3.45, 58) and Foster Smith (2-2, 2.40, 15), but there's Jack Wood (8-6, 4.38, 53) and Ed Cornett (3-6, 5.19, 25) in the pen as well as a short rest Richie Hughes (11-12, 4.07, 93). I don't care who it ends up being, as we'll have another Jones Brother double header and I'll take Donnie over Cole and Johnnie over whoever they scrap together. The offense is tough, as Mack Sutton (.243, 35, 100) is making a rather detailed Whitney campaign and a sprained knee isn't really making Bill Barrett (.299, 15, 75) any worse. Add in the pop from Bill Barnett (.226, 21, 70) and Jack Welch (.261, 16, 63) and I think you're looking at the favorite for the pennant this season. A sweep could put them in first, while us sweeping could make it tough to recover. These are huge games, and with the off days that follow, crucial in working our way back up.

The rest of the week is guaranteed to stuck, as we're playing four in Montreal with the almost 30 games below .500 Saints (50-79), who had no trouble beating us in Chicago. We'll have Bybee for one of the games, so that should be one win we can count on, but for some reason we just cannot handle the Association's clear worst team. Pat Weakly (10-13, 2.70, 100) left their 6-3 win over us in the 2nd with calf soreness so he may miss the series, and him and Bert Cupid (10-14, 3.50, 91) are both guys I'd love to miss. I don't think we miss Cupid, and Weakly may be better for the weekend, which means we're going to have to beat their best. Roster expansion could alter the roster a bit, but it looks like the other two hurlers we'll face our Wally Doyle (5-15, 5.08, 106) and Gordie Irwin (1-1, 5.22, 6). The lineup has a new face, as they called up 1941 2nd Rounder Gig Taylor for his big league debut. "The Dervish from the District" didn't get off to a great start, as he was just 2-for-16 in 4 starts. Sure, one of the hits was a solo homer off Joe Brown, but he's been otherwise ineffective. We really need to win these games, and on paper this should be a sweep, but I'm still very worried. Each season it seems like we struggle with a team we should handle, and each year it ends up costing us. If we don't win this series, it'll do it again, but a four game road sweep should bring us within five of the division lead.

Minor League Report
RHP Harry MacRae: I was surprised MacRae struggled so much in Chicago, but at least he was back to his normal self down in AAA. He was brilliant through 26 inning, working to a 2.42 ERA (190 ERA+) with 6 walks and 7 strikeouts. The 1.46 WHIP was on the high side, but that would rank 3rd or 6th if he was a qualified pitcher. MacRae won't return to a high leverage role, but if he records at least one more out he'll reach 20 innings pitched. He's allowed 23 hits, 10 runs, and 9 walks with 14 strikeouts. He won't get any leverage innings if we're even remotely in it, but when we eventually trickle out, he may get some innings that otherwise would have gone to Paul Richardson.

C Homer Guthrie: Our original back up catcher is back, as Homer Guthrie returns after posting a 131 WRC+ in 276 PAs. The 26-year-old hit .293/.427/.414 (114 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 5 homers, and 30 RBIs with a strong 52-to-29 walk-to-strikeout ratio. This was much better then the .192/.382/.231 (71 OPS+) he posted in a short time up in Chicago. Dixie Marsh thinks he's better then Eddie Howard and is good enough to play every day in the big leagues. The catcher battle in the Spring will be interesting, as Guthrie will get a chance to take a spot from Eddie Howard or potentially even Harry Mead, who is 33 and hitting just .235/.297/.348 (79 OPS+) on the season. It would be his worst offensive season since he became a full time starter in 1941, but at least he's still playing elite defense (51.1 RTO%, 2.4 FRM). All three may be wondering when their number is up with the addition of Garland Phelps, but Guthrie is the one in most danger of losing his spot. He can be optioned two more times, but Bob Mundy (.303, 4, 15) was crushing it in AA and will be taking Guthrie's regular at bats in AAA. A timeshare could work, but Guthrie will need to perform to keep getting consistent at bats.

1B Bill Payne: I know what you're thinking, is another first basemen really necessary? But when guys are already on the 40 and you have guys to cover at bats, it never hurts to have another bat off the bench. Initially a member of the Gothams organization, we claimed Payne off waivers and he spent time at first (67) and left (43) for the Blues this season. The promotion is a nice gift for Payne, who just celebrated his 25th birthday on the 29th. Payne is a bat only prospect who produced a 121 WRC+ with an excellent 60-to-15 walk-to-strikeout ratio. He slashed .309/.393/.452 (115 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 4 triples, 10 homers, and 60 RBIs in his first season with the Blues. He'll likely have a second, but he gets a head start on auditioning for a bench role for next season. He gives plenty of Hal Sharp vibes, even down to the attitude, and with an option left and plenty of other first basemen on the roster, it may be tough to sneak him on the roster.

RF Ducky Cole: The Blues aren't going to be playing any meaningful games in September, so I figured it was worth giving Ducky Cole a chance at a major league debut. We burned an option on the 7th Rounder already, and he's an excellent defensive right fielder. That's perfect when you employ Hal Sharp, who would be the perfect DH if someone ever decided to come up with it. Cole posted an 8.2 zone rating and 1.058 efficiency in right, and in just shy of 65 innings in left (1.012) and center (1.027) he wasn't too bad. Ducky's glove might be his best trait, but but he has a solid hit tool as well. Despite just 7 games in AA, he hit almost .300 in 106 games for the Blues, posting a .289/.340/.395 (87 OPS+) line. Along with the lack of AA time, he has just 54 games in A ball, and he continued to put the ball in play. He struck out just 36 times in 462 trips to the plate, with a similar 30 walks. Cole hasn't developed much power yet, but he hit 25 double and 7 triples. He's one of the hardest workers out there and I wouldn't be surprised if he continues to hit the weight room. Injuries have cost him plenty of time, but if he can stay healthy, he could end up a decent supplemental piece for a big league team.

LHP Andy Felton (C La Crosse Lions): The second piece in the Hank Barnett trade, 20-year-old southpaw Andy Fenton hasn't gotten too much time pitching this season. We have too many young arms and not enough low minors rotation spots, so Andy Felton was stuck in the pen for the first few months of the UMVA season. But he's an interesting arm that I wanted to see make some starts, and eventually with injuries, call ups, and some poor play, a rotation spot opened up for Andy Felton. The first start was good enough to earn a no decision in a game the Lions ended up winning 4-3. Felton was responsible for all three, and while he did allow 10 hits, he walked just one batters and struck out seven. The strong ratios earned him a second start, and Felton arguably had a better start then Duke Bybee (9 IP, H, 2 BB, 7 K) did this weekend. Felton had a one-hitter of his own, but he struck out eight and walked just one, needing 96 pitches to finish a 2-0 victory. The competition varies greatly, but you can't discredit Felton's performance. He's now struck out 15 batters in 18.1 innings, and the two walks is most impressive. Even Bob Allen walked 14 hitters in his 33.2 innings pitched. The former 15th Rounder is scheduled to pitch for the first place Lions (37-19) on the first day of September, and he'll have to face the second place Burlington Bears (36-20). It will be a true test of his abilities and the result may determine if he has a guaranteed rotation spot this season.

ayaghmour2 · 07-05-2023, 12:18 PM

Weekly Record: 1-5
Seasonal Record: 68-70 (5th, 8.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Walt Pack : 14 AB, 7 H, 2 HR, 3 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.517 OPS
Billy Hunter : 16 AB, 7 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .438 AVG, 1.096 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 23 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .304 AVG, .668 OPS

Schedule
9-1: Loss vs Stars (4-3)
9-1: Loss vs Stars (5-3)
9-4: Loss at Saints (2-4)
9-5: Loss at Saints (6-7)
9-6: Loss at Saints (2-4)
9-7: Win at Saints (6-4)

Recap
I just... I mean... I don't...

Do I even want to go on?

Getting swept in the double header is one thing, but letting the Saints take three of four? Just unacceptable... 1-5 drops us to two below .500, and with four losses of two or fewer runs, it's just beyond frustrating. Now 8.5 out, we're basically out without being out, and at this point we have to do everything we can to not finish below .500 for the first time since 1936. Our Pythagorean (73-65) would put us right behind the Kings and Stars (74-65) who are tied for third and just three out. Yay underperformance!

I'm not sure there's much worth mentioning, but the Jones Brothers hit pretty well! Johnnie was 1-for-2 with a double and run scored while Donnie was 3-for-7 with a double and run scored. Walt Pack was one of the few batters to not suck it up, 7-for-14 with 2 homers, 2 walks, 3 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. Billy Hunter was 7-for-16 with a homer, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs. Sal Pestilli was 6-for-21 with 2 triples, walks, RBIs, and 3 runs. And then the quartet of Eddie Howard, Bill Payne, Homer Guthrie, and Clark Car was 7-for-15. Otherwise? Plenty of failure...

Pitching? Well? Donnie had one good start -- so let's talk about that! He went all nine with 4 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 5 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Oh wait, that was the loss.. In the win, he allowed 9 hits, 4 runs, and a walk with 6 strikeouts in the complete game win. Otherwise, all four of our starters allowed 4 or more runs, and the lone reliever, Ken Matson, allowed 4 hits, 3 run, and 3 walks in 2.2 innings. So yeah, not much to talk about this week...

Looking Ahead
Do I even want to??? Well...

Off to start the week, but then there's two against the Cannons (74-62), three against the Wolves (66-69), and then a double header against the Foresters (63-76) to finish the week.

I think that's all for today. Maybe if I feel like it I'll come back and edit things later. Or maybe not. Seems like this year is over and done with :/

ayaghmour2 · 07-07-2023, 01:32 AM

Weekly Record: 0-7
Seasonal Record: 68-77 (6th, 13.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 27 AB, 12 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .444 AVG, 1.131 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 30 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .367 AVG, .822 OPS
Walt Pack : 21 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .286 AVG, .947 OPS

Schedule
9-9: Loss at Cannons (4-5)
9-10: Loss at Cannons (2-9)
9-11: Loss at Wolves (4-9)
9-12: Loss at Wolves (4-5)
9-13: Loss at Wolves (2-6)
9-14: Loss at Foresters (4-6)
9-14: Loss at Foresters (6-11)

Recap
Wow.

Just wow...

At this point, I'm at a complete loss for words :/

At least Skipper had a 5-for-5 game!

This might have been our worst week ever, as not only did we lose all seven games, but we were outscored 51-26 as we dropped to 68-77 and a whopping 13.5 games out of first place. Our next loss will secure a losing season, something we have not done since 1936. We also have a legitimate chance to finish in 7th, something I did not think was even possible. It's been so long since we finished bottom two in the association, as you have to go all the way back to 1929 where we finished 62-92 and allowed almost 1,000 (979) runs. That was a dead last finish for the Cougars, and was the fifth consecutive season we finished 7th or 8th. In fact, since 1939 we've only finished 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, and this season is something that has Cougar fans everywhere shaking their heads at the utter disappointment of the star-studded roster.

With the games meaningless, plenty of regulars will either stop playing all together (Pete Papenfus, Johnnie Jones, Harry Mead, Billy Hunter) while others (Duke Bybee, Donnie Jones, Red Bond, Hal Sharp, Walt Pack) will see their playing time decrease as we hobble through the miserable month of September. Even Skipper and Sal will get some rest, with only Leo Mitchell, who has appeared in all 145 games we've limped through so far, playing everyday. 1-12 for the month, it's likely going to be our worst ever, or at least in the past decade, and I just cannot wait to get it over with.

It's time for our youngsters to see what they can do, as George Oddo and Otto Christian are coming up from Milwaukee, and more time will be given to Don Lee, Eddie Howard, and George Sutterfield. Mel Haynes will also get to make his first start of the season, as our former first rounder has been brilliant out of the pen. He's thrown just 28 innings, but sports an elite 1.29 ERA (300 ERA+) and 1.00 WHIP with 21 strikeouts to just 11 walks. Him and Oddo, who struggled this season in AAA (7-11, 4.99, 95) seem likely to start two of our last nine games, and I may turn to Harry Parker or Charlie Kelsey, who is still in AAA, in the final week of the season. The Century League season ends this coming Sunday, so I expect Kelsey and 22-year-old Bob Schmelz to join the roster next week to fill up our active roster.

Looking Ahead
Really nothing left to play for, but the light is at the end of the tunnel. Plenty of off days litter the remaining schedule, as we don't play any of the next Mondays or Fridays with a final off day next Saturday. We get one in Cleveland on Tuesday, followed by two in Philly, before a quick two-game series hosting the Kings. I hate losing games, so I really want to win, but at this point it's probably best for us if we don't. The fewer wins we get this season, the better our lottery chances are next year, as I can't imagine we do any worse then we did this year. I can't believe our streak of winning seasons was snapped, but next year has to be different. We'll get a full year of Superstar Sal, and you have to expect a bounce back from Mitchell and Pap. There will be changes, not sure exactly what, but I can't imagine a quite offseason in the Windy City.

Class B and C finished up this week, while AAA, AA, and A will all end this week. The La Crosse Lions pulled a Chicago Cougars, as they entered the final day of the season in a deadlock with the Burlington Bears of the Cannons organization. And just as we did last year, they lost the tiebreaker, finishing 41-22 and second in the UMVA. San Jose started the year slow, but finished a more respectable 55-65 after going 21-17 in the final month and a half of the season. I'll do a more expansive minor league report over the weekend, but I'll use todays to cover the two callups and a few prospects with good weeks.

Minor League Report
RHP George Oddo: On the surface, it looks like George Oddo had an awful season. Going 7-11 with a 4.99 ERA (92 ERA+) in 23 starts looks bad, right? But in reality, he had one simple problem: the home run ball. Oddo allowed 27 (!!) in 162.1 innings, something he's never done anything close to. He allowed just 13 last year and 14 the following season, with his only other double digit season coming way back in 1943 (25). My money is on a fluke, as most pitchers with his stuff will not allow this many home runs. Despite all the homers, Oddo still had an impressive 1.39 WHIP and with 95 strikeouts he had a 5.3 K/9. A talented three pitch pitcher, Oddo's changeup can make the best batters look foolish, and his low 90s fastball is the perfect compliment. His curve is strong too, allowing him a third out pitch that should help generate weak contact and get plenty of swings and misses. His command needs some work, he allowed 62 free passes, and aside from the sudden home run surge, it's really his only weakness. Oddo and OSA are huge fans of the 24-year-old, expecting him to develop into a #2 starter. He's set to make his first start for us on the 17th in Philly, and I expect one more the following week. I'm hoping he does well here, as I'd love for him to enter 1948 on the Opening Day staff. Whether that's as a reliever, a spot starter, or even the #5, I want to see what he can do in a regular role.

3B Otto Christian: The next two weeks will be big for slugger Otto Christian, who will spend the remainder of 1947 in Chicago. 25 on the 26th, Christian dominated Century League pitching, slashing an impressive .300/.360/.503 (119 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 23 homers, and 94 RBIs. He's the only Century Leaguer with at least 20 homers, with the next closest Gig Taylor of the Saints organization checking in with 17. "The Walla Walla Walloper" produced a 125 WRC+ in 124 games for the Blues, and will now look to record the first big league homer of his career. He made just two at bats in a cup of coffee last year, but I expect him to start about five or so games, splitting time between first and third. This is a nice little audition for him, as Walt Pack will need someone to hit lefties for him, and the duo could combined for over 30 homers in a 154 game season. The power has always been his calling card, but what has shown through is his improved discipline. He showcased that in the CWL (29 BB, 19 K), and he walked (41) just shy of ten times more then he struck out (32). I don't expect him to hit .300 in the majors, but this kid has an elite ceiling, with the chance to surpass even Mack Sutton (.238, 39, 113) and Hank Koblenz (.282, 45, 118). We just need to provide him the necessary motivation.

CF Johnny Peters (AAA Milwaukee Blues): It was a big week for Johnny Peters, who is ending his season on a nice little hot streak. The former 3rd Pick was named Player of the Week in the Century League, going 11-for-23 with 6 runs, 2 doubles, a triple, 2 steals, 2 homers, 3 RBIs, and 9 walks. This upped his September line to .333/.448/.604 (167 OPS+) and his season line to .290/.393/.460 (117 OPS+). He has plenty of extra base pop, tallying 26 doubles, 9 triples, and 16 home runs, while swiping 8-of-9 bases. The 113 strikeouts was somewhat concerning, but his 93 walks more then made up for it. This season was his first taste of the highest minor league level, and Peters is getting closer and closer to big league ready. He could probably debut this season, but he's not yet Rule-5 eligible and I'm not ready to burn an option on him. 24 in January, Peters currently ranks 4th in our system and 46th overall, but Dixie Marsh is more fond of the outfielder. He likes his swing and speed, and projecting him to end up "unleash(ing) his obvious talent on the field and at the plate." He's not bad in center, although I view him more of a corner guy, and with Sal Pestilli and Jerry Smith I'm not sure Peters will ever play much up the middle. It's all he's done so far, although I expect to give him some reps in right next season. Peters has all the tools to succeed in the majors, and even though I expect him to debut next season, I wouldn't bet on him being a regular until '49 or even '50 at the earliest.

1B Billy Biggar (A Lincoln Legislators): Skipper Schneider wasn't the only member of the Cougars organization to record a 5-hit game, as Canadian first basemen Billy Biggar was a perfect 5-for-5, and a homer away from the cycle. Not only that, the Legislators won 7-0, and while it wasn't a shutout, Fred Terry was brilliant in his 7th start in A ball. This year's 8th Rounder allowed just 2 hits and a walk with 7 strikeouts in 8 shutout innings. Back to Biggar, he's finishing up an excellent season, slashing .333/.389/.474 (130 OPS+) with 42 doubles, 7 triples, 4 homers, and 65 RBIs with more walks (44) then strikeouts (25). A 10th Round selection in 1942, Biggar isn't one of our more highly rated prospects, but he's in line for a promotion to AA for next season as he works his way up our system. He's Rule-5 eligible, although I doubt he'd be considered by the other 15 teams, and at 23 he's got plenty of development left. His hit tool is the strength, as he'll always hit for a high average, but he hasn't yet developed the power we hoped for. His future likely ends up with him on the bench, but he does give off some left handed Ray Ford eyes with an excellent hit tool and great eye, but prime Ford had more pop. With Dudley Sapp and even Cal Rice working their way up, the pressure is on Biggar, who will need to hit to keep getting starts.

ayaghmour2 · 07-08-2023, 12:00 AM

Weekly Record: 2-3
Seasonal Record: 70-80 (7th, 14 GB)
Stars of the Week
Hal Sharp : 10 AB, 5 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.300 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 13 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .462 AVG, .923 OPS
Walt Pack : 11 AB, 4 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .364 AVG, 1.000 OPS

Schedule
9-16: Loss at Foresters (7-11)
9-17: Loss at Sailors (1-5)
9-18: Win at Sailors (5-2)
9-20: Win vs Kings (2-3)
9-21: Loss vs Kings (8-3)

Recap
Two whole wins? Wow! That tripled our win total for the month!

Of course, that also means we lost three games, and have now reached the 80 loss mark for the season. We had a few milestones that are worth mentioning, starting with Leo Mitchell's 2,000th career hit. Our struggling slugger recorded that magical hit in the 4th inning of our 8-3 loss against the Kings in Chicago, a single off veteran righty Buddy Long. Mitchell later scored and recorded a second single later in the game. It's a small consolation for Mitchell, who despite hitting .330/.373/.445 (130 OPS+) in 1,563 career games is hitting just .269/.313/.385 (90 OPS+) in exactly 600 trips to the plate. Mitchell will not hit .300 for the first time, well, ever and there are plenty of new firsts he's setting this year. At least the popular veteran has something to be happy about, as 2,000 big league hits is a very impressive milestone, and he becomes the 4th Cougar to record 2,000 hits with the franchise.

The second milestone is a first, with Otto Christian hitting the first of hopefully many home runs in what should be a prolific home run hitting career. The 24-year-old took Harry Carter deep in the first inning of our 3-2 win over the Kings, depositing an 0-2 screwball 431 feet to left field. That gave us the 3-0 lead that proved to be enough for Duke Bybee, who will finish his season 14-11 with a 2.91 ERA (132 ERA+) and 1.09 WHIP. Bybee was worth exactly 5 WAR in 228.2 innings, and he struck out 104 batters while walking just 63. Bybee has a legit shot at the Allen Award, ranking top five in the CA for ERA (4th), complete games (5th, 18), shutouts (1st, 6), K/BB (5th, 1.7), WHIP (1st), ERA+ (4th), rWAR (5th, 6.3), and opponents average (4th, .225). The rest of Otto's week wasn't so great, as he was just 2-for-11 with the second hit an RBI single that scored Mitchell after his milestone hit. With four games left, I expect two starts for Otto, who I'm hoping will platoon with Walt Pack next season.

A few other notable notes... Well, I definitely shouldn't have started Mel Haynes, who got teed off of by the Foresters. He lasted just 6.1 innings, allowing 13 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), and 2 walks with just one strikeout. His ERA (2.62) is actually higher then his FIP (2.38) now, and the overall numbers still look solid. George Oddo's home run struggles continued, allowing two in seven innings during our 5-1 loss to the Sailors. He finished with 9 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Not great, but it was on the road against a very good team. He'll get one more start, going again on the 24th against the Saints in Chicago. Another guy getting a final start is Joe Brown, who will finish off the season in New York on the 25th. Brown has lost five straight decisions and hasn't won since the 15th of August, and I want him to get one last shot at ending the season on a high note. He allowed 7 hits, 7 runs (3 earned), and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts in just 5.2 innings. He only threw 87 pitches and could probably pitch on Tuesday if we needed him, but I'm really hoping he can lower his 3.98 ERA (97 ERA+). Brown hasn't had a below average ERA+ since 1940, which was also the first season he threw more then 50 innings. 34 next March, this start may be his last as a Cougar, as I need to upgrade our offense and he's one of the few pitchers I'd be willing to consider trading. While his age may work against him, his personality will benefit, as Captain's are very valuable in the clubhouse. I hope he has one last shutout in him, but the Stars are good and capable of hitting plenty out of the park.

Donnie Jones' Allen candidacy is now official, ending his season with his 15th complete game victory. That includes four shutouts, which may make him the only other pitcher Duke Bybee won't have at least twice as many shutouts as. Like Bybee, Donnie ranks top five in many categories, including ERA (3rd, 2.89), innings (5th, 249.1), complete games (3rd, 21), strikeouts (2nd, 139), K/BB (4th, 1.7), WHIP (2nd, 1.16), ERA+ (3rd, 134), rWAR (1st, 7.1), opposing average (2nd, .222) and win percentage (3rd, .640). There's no clear favorite this season, so it'll be cool to see who people end up picking. Plenty of teams will want their guys to win and it would make sense for the hometown scribes to vote for their worthy candidates. I'm going Jones one, Bybee two, but I wouldn't blame anyone for not picking either.

Our bats still have time to improve their final lines, but there's a few guys worth mentioning what they did for the last week. Dick Walker started both games in Philly, and their former star was 1-for-5 with a triple, 2 runs, and 3 walks. Despite an underwhelming .209/.352/.286 (76 OPS+) triple slash, Walker produced a 91 WRC+ with 6 doubles, 5 triples, 8 steals, and 16 RBIs in 257 trips to the plate. 44 walks have gotten him on base plenty of times, but he never really looked like himself this year. He may get a few bench appearances in the final week, but this will be his last week as a Cougar. He may decide to retire, but we won't have room for him, and at a projected $34,000 that's a very high price to pay for a backup first basemen. I hope he doesn't go to the GWL, but there's a chance an FABL team could add him for a boost in ticket sales.

Looking Ahead
Four more games left, two with the Saints (59-89) in Chicago, one with the Stars (79-72) on Thursday, and the finale in Brooklyn (81-70) to end the season. What's more interesting is the race to take on the St. Louis Pioneers (91-58), who pretty much curb stomped the Fed and went through a dominant worst to first campaign. The CA was far more competitive, and the Sailors (84-66) and Cannons (83-66) are neck-and-neck entering the final week. The Sailors will be in Philly for their final four games, as they host the Wolves (72-76) for three before one more against the Foresters (71-80). The Cannons have an extra game, as they start with three road games before finishing the season in Cincinnati. They play the Wolves on the 22nd in Toronto before two in Cleveland. They're then off the next two days before the Wolves come to Cincinnati for the final two games.

It should be a fun end of the season, as both teams are very good and deep teams that have plenty of talent at their disposal. A few guys to watch in the final week are Denny Andrews (.290, 15, 73), who could secure his first Whitney Award if he wills the Cannons to their fourth championship series in five years. Then there's the batting title race between the Cannons' Sam Brown (.338, 9, 84) and the Sailors Ed Reyes (.334, 5, 65). It would be the first for Brown while Reyes is looking to making it three in a row despite hitting just .233/.313/.350 on May 7th. The Cannons don't have a standout Allen candidate, but that's not to discredit Bob Arman (17-10, 3.40, 98) and Rufus Barrell (13-13, 3.56, 131), but that's because there are guys like Win Lewis (17-11, 2.79, 84), the talented ace of the Sailors. The two time All-Star got the Sailors win 84, and would be in line to pitch the last game of the regular season if needed. Regardless who starts, there will be David Molina (9-3, 26, 2.94, 101) to help finish it off, and the star stopper could make a case for an Allen vote as well. While not quite a qualifier, 125.2 innings is still a relatively large sample, and I could see him getting a few down ballot votes. It sucks not to be in the race, but it's been an exciting pennant race nonetheless, it just feels a little incomplete without the Cougars. 3rd or higher since 1939. Is this the start of our comeback arc? Or is this a new era of Cougars baseball?

Minor League Report
RHP Jack Maxwell (AA Mobile Commodores): One of the many arms scrambling to keep hold of a rotation spot, Jack Maxwell got one last chance to salvage his season. He went out and delivered something spectacular -- a 10-inning, 3-hit shutout of the Memphis Excelsiors. This was Maxwell's first start since July 6th, as he split time between the pen and rotation in both of his stops this season. Down in Lincoln he started 8 of his 10 appearances, going 4-2 with a 4.30 ERA (98 ERA+) and 1.72 WHIP with 33 walks and 34 strikeouts. That really wasn't too inspiring, but the Commodores needed some pitching depth and the 22-year-old has been around since we took him in the 11th Round back in 1943. He wasn't really ready for the tougher competition, which is why 8 of his 13 appearances came out of the pen. The shutout helped make his final counts look better, but 31 walks to just 20 strikeouts and a 4.66 ERA (90 ERA+) in 46.1 innings isn't very impressive. Next season will be a big one for the righty, as it will determine his future in the organization. Now that he's Rule-5 eligible, another team could get an extended look if they were interested, and I don't have plans of protecting him. We have plenty of talented young pitchers above him in terms of prospect status, but most are in the lower minors. If he can give steady starts, he could hold some of them off, but a slow start and he could be one of the first guys banished to the pen. Sometimes, like today, you come back. Other times? That's where you end up. For Maxwell, I'd bet on the latter.

ayaghmour2 · 07-08-2023, 06:54 PM

AAA Milwaukee Blues (Century League): 70-70, 5th, 22 GB: After winning four consecutive Century League titles, the Milwaukee Blues had a miserable season in 1947. Like the Cougars, they had a long stretch of over .500 seasons, but unlike us, they at least finished even at 70-70. They did that in 1937 as well, with their last sub .500 season coming all the way back in 1929 when they finished 68-72 and in 5th place. The Blues actually finished the season well, as after a 14-23 start, they finished above .500 in each of the last four months of the season.

The pitching staff was hit hard most of the season, with the surprising struggle of George Oddo (7-11, 4.99, 95) really holding the team back. The rotation was young, and guys like Roscoe Brown (7-12, 6.90, 70), Ed Fisler (5-5, 6.94, 44), and Bill Ballantine (8-6, 4.84, 36) all had tough seasons. Even Charlie Kelsey (3-5, 5.92, 44) was hit hard in his ten starts with the Blues, and while Babe Stinson (9-4, 4.46, 56) had a good record and above average ERA+ (104), he walked 105 hitters in 127 innings. One of the few bright spots though was veteran stopper Art Keeter, who went 9-4 with 18 saves, a 3.44 ERA (135 ERA+), 1.34 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts in 136 innings. He was worth nearly 2 WAR (1.9) out of the pen and the 38-year-old has had somewhat of a resurgence in the Blues pen. He hasn't played in the big leagues since 1939, but with an excellent season he may be able to force his way into the Cougars pen next year.

The offense was one of the better ones in the Century League, and one of the only reasons we would win games aside from a strong finish from Keeter. Former 3rd Overall Pick Johnny Peters could be considered the heart of the lineup, and the 23-year-old hit an impressive .289/.390/.456 (115 OPS+) with 28 doubles, 9 triples, 16 homers, 10 steals, and 77 RBIs in 676 trips to the plate. The defense wasn't terrible either (-1.6, .990), and Peters was worth an impressive 4 WAR in 139 games. I'd love to see him strike out less then 117 times, but the 95 walks were impressive enough to make up for it. He's going to be in camp next season, but with Sal Pestilli and Carlos Montes, I can't really see him breaking the Opening Day roster. Elsewhere the Blues got good production from current Cougars Bill Payne (.309, 10, 60), Homer Guthrie (.293, 5, 30), Eddie Howard (.347, 1, 20), and Bob Schmelz (.271, 11, 58). All four of these guys will be fighting for a roster spot, but it's possible just one of Guthrie or Howard don't return to Milwaukee. It's weird seeing the Blues struggle to the level they did this year, and with a lot of their top producers returning, they could make a quick recovery.

AA Mobile Commodores (Dixie League): 69-71, 4th, 18 GB: It's now back-to-back sub .500 seasons for the Commodores, who haven't done that since the 1923 and 1924 seasons, which predates my time with the Cougars. Granted, it was just two games below and they improved two games in record and three in games back, and a 13-7 September gives reason for excitement next season. Mobile was a middle of the pack team, 4th in runs allowed and tied for 4th in runs scored, so a basically .500 season isn't too surprising. On the mound, Hank Beardsley (5-6, 3.95, 40), Zane Kelley (11-12, 3.97, 63), Dick Garcia (7-16, 3.58, 48), Bob Petty (11-5, 3.66, 68), and Bob Hobbs (6-5, 3.44, 50) were all effective, but neither stood out and dominated. Jimmy Ballard (12-9, 4.68, 92) won games despite his walk issues (116 in 182.2), and was one of the few rotation members with an ERA+ below 100. He's probably not returning, and Kelley may be moved up to AAA, but Beardsley and Garcia should make up a solid 1-2 punch.

The lineup had a lot of moving parts, with very few players spending all of their time in AA. One who came close was Jimmy Hairston, as our 12th ranked prospect played 120 of his 137 games with the Commodores. They were good ones too, as the 22-year-old outfielder slashed .318/.386/.441 (113 OPS+), which was good for a 121 WRC+. He hit 32 doubles, 4 triples, and 6 homers with 63 RBIs and 55 walks, spending most of his time in the three hole. He had some support with Rupert Abbott (.305, 2, 31, 4), who was part of the Billy Riley trade, Norm Anderson (.312, 3, 45), Israel Holmes (.272, 9, 50), and Tom Brownleaf (.326, 3, 24), who somehow accumulated 2.1 WAR in just 39 games. Al Clement (.270, 4, 22, 13) was much better in Lincoln, but did a great job leading off the order. Hairston could be ready for Milwaukee, but with his age, he could at least start the season anchoring the Commodores lineup again. Brownleaf, Clement, Abbott, and former 6th Rounder Bob Stout (.265, 5, 41) should all be back next season, and I think this lineup could really make some noise next year.

A Lincoln Legislators (Heartland League): 79-61, 1st, 3 GA: The only affiliate this year to secure a title, the Lincoln Legislators edged out the Peoria Pastimers (76-64) by three games, securing their first title since 1938. It was on the strength of their pitching, as the lineup really wasn't that great, posting just the 6th most runs scored, although they made up for it somewhat with the defense. Billy Biggar had a huge year for the Legislators, as the Canadian first basemen hit .336/.390/.473 (130 OPS+) with 44 doubles, 7 triples, 4 homers, and 71 RBIs, while walking 46 times compared to just 25 strikeouts. Catcher Mike Bordes (.250, 10, 67) and outfielder Franklin Thomas (.254, 9, 40, 13) supplied the power, but both had below average OPS+ with a slightly above average WRC+. Some of the best production came from guys with limited time, as Bill Cook (.302, 2, 27), Bill Martin (.343, 1, 12), and Bob Rogers (.353, 15) all impressed in limited time while Al Clemet (.342, 1, 30, 8) and Rupert Abbott (.305, 2, 31, 4) both excelled before earning promotions up to Mobile. There are a lot of question marks for next year, as Thomas and Biggar may not return, opening the door for some of the younger players to secure regular playing time.

The pitching had a lot of churning, with just reliever Johnny Romberg (11-3, 1.80, 75) and former first rounder Tommy Seymour (6-14, 5.63, 58) qualifying for rate stats. Top 100 prospect Harry Beardsley (8-3, 3.50, 56) was excellent prior to promotion while Dutch Yoak (4-1, 2.64, 17) and this year's 8th Rounder Fred Terry (4-2, 2.98, 34) were outstanding after coming up from San Jose. Beardsley wasn't the only top 100 prospect either, as Ron Berry (4-5, 4.13, 42) and Bert Rogers (5-3, 4.26, 27) both made double digit starts in Lincoln. In terms of prospect status, the rotation looks to be stacked, with the top five containing the 54th, 73rd, 193rd, 326th, and 433rd ranked prospects. In terms of pitchers in our system, that's 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 10th, and, 14th, and there's a chance that our top ranked and the #6 ranked prospect overall Bob Allen joins them at sometime next season. Of course, they had Beardsley who's 75th overall and our 4th ranked pitcher, and 373rd ranked prospect Jim N Smith (4-2, 5.07, 41) is likely set in the 6th spot. His struggles may prevent him from starting in AA, but at 24 he may be pushed up. The Legislators were one of the lone bright spots in the system this year, and we're hoping for more of the same next season.

B San Jose Cougars (California-Oregon-Washington League): 55-65, 6th, 20 GB: Overall it was a tough season for Cougar fans in San Jose, but the second half was much better then the first. Not only did they finish the season 21-17, but they got to watch 57 games of Garland Phelps. The highest ranked catching prospect (21st) in any system, Phelps turned 18 on the 22nd of August, and hit .324/.370/.475 (136 OPS+) in 257 PAs. He produced a near elite 144 WRC+ with 9 doubles, 6 triples, 5 homers, and 46 RBIs. He was supported by fellow top 100 prospect and 2nd Rounder Frank Reece (.245, 9, 34, 19), another teenager who held his own against older competition. The same can be said of this years 9th Rounder Harley Dollar (.237, 5, 27) and his 110 WRC+ and the 109 this years 5th Rounder and current 100th ranked prospect Buddy Jenkins (.262, 1, 17, 9) posted. In fact, most of the ending lineup came from this year's class, with Billy Nash (.261, 4, 12), a college guy who excelled, and Willie Watson (.151, 1, 7), a high schooler who, well... Didn't... Cal Rice (.281, 5, 48), Bob Rogers (.353, 15), and Harry Austin (.281, 3, 16) are all holdovers who had some success, but I think all three won't return.

The pitching staff had crazy churning, with just Dutch Yoak (6-7, 3.72, 48), who ended the season in Lincoln, qualifying for rate stats. In total, 14 pitchers made starts, ranging from Yoak's 15 to Fred Terry (1-1, 1.93, 13) and Russ Cushing's (2-0, 1, 1.88, 33) two. Bert Rogers had a really nice stretch, going 8-5 with a 3.19 ERA (119 ERA+) and 50 strikeouts in 13 starts. Cliff Wallace (3-3, 3.90, 27), Max Tanner (2-3, 1, 2.53, 15), Wally Eversole (3-1, 2.97, 22) and Billy Stoddard (3-1, 2.61, 28), but none from this group made more then ten starts. Our top ranked prospect Bob Allen finished the season in San Jose, going 5-1 in 8 starts with a 3.62 ERA (105 ERA+) and 28 strikeouts at a 19-year-old. Allen should lead the rotation again next year, but there's going to be plenty of young hurlers moving up and down as the Cougars look to snap a three year stretch with 55 or fewer victories.

C La Crosse Lions (Upper Mississippi Valley Association): 41-22, 2nd, 1 GB: Oh so close... It was the shortest UMVA season yet, just 62 games. Or at least it would have been had the Lions not tied the Burlington Bears. It was a tough loss to end it, as Andy Felton (1-1, 4.08, 26) allowed 6 hits and runs in 3.1 innings, as we eventually fell 7-5, extending the pennant drought to six seasons.

Just like in San Jose, there were a ton of arms to make starts, and no Lion made more then the 9 from Lee Parker (5-4, 3.71, 40), a former 15th Rounder who has shot up the prospect rankings to 268th after not cracking our top 40 last year. He was one of the many young pitchers who produced an above average ERA+, joined by 1947 draftees Mike Emerson (6-2, 3.71, 46), Ray Paulson (2-2, 3.57, 54), Marty Czyzewski (2-3, 2.55, 45), and Jackie Reynolds (2-1, 3.60, 16), as well as Bob Allen (4-0, 0.53, 46), Morty Smith (3-2, 1, 2.09, 44), Wally Eversole (2-0, 2.38, 24), Billy Stoddard (4-1, 1, 2.70, 41), and Lonnie Sis (2-1, 2.86, 34). Even former 17th Rounder Art Whisenant (0-0, 0.00, 15) threw 13 scoreless innings out of the pen!

The offense scored plenty of runs too, but the most exciting Lion was Jerry Smith, our 5th overall selection and the 11th ranked prospect Jerry Smith. Smith produced a 118 WRC+ with a .284/.329/.413 (106 OPS+) line. He hit 10 doubles, a triple, 5 homers, 28 RBIs, and 20 steals in his first 51 games as a professional ballplayer. Injuries ended 3rd Rounder Dudley Sapp's (.271, 2, 13) season early, and the teen cooled off after a slow start. Phil Boyes (.309, 4, 32, 9) improved his WRC+ from 84 to 129 this year while Roy Gass (.265, 4, 16, 4), Roxy Hilts (.301, 3, 26, 9), John Price (.248, 3, 13, 2), Hank Smithers (.338, 1, 6, 2) and Ernie Frost (.297, 2, 20) were all very productive. Most of these guys will be back for next season, but I expect a few to move up and down between La Crosse and San Jose before the draft. The Lions roster was as deep as any in our system, and while at times it was tough to find enough playing time for everyone, we had plenty of exciting players that I want to get longer looks at.

ayaghmour2 · 07-10-2023, 09:05 PM

Weekly Record: 1-3
Seasonal Record: 71-83 (7th, 15 GB)
Stars of the Week
George Sutterfield : 11 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .545 AVG, 1.636 OPS
Joe Brown : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 1 BB, 5 K, 1.00 ERA
Ray Ford : 7 AB, 2 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .286 AVG, 1.000 OPS

Schedule
9-23: Loss vs Saints (2-1)
9-24: Loss vs Saints (4-6): 10 innings
9-25: Win at Stars (7-3)
9-28: Loss at Kings (4-5)

Recap
Well, at least its over!

The worst month ever is finally done and this nightmare of a season is over. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong, and we're stuck heading into the offseason with a lot of questions and no good answers. The month in particular was historically bad, as we went 4-18 (.181) in September. I only have records back to 1930, but this is our worst month since, the next closest the 7-18 (.280) we put up September 1936. We finished with a negative run differential (-3) for the first time since 1938 (-26), and our -6 expected record would have actually had us at .500. In five of the last six seasons we've underperformed our expected record by at least five games, so I'm really hoping we used up all our bad luck this year,

Adding injury to insult, Leo Mitchell could not finish the season in all 154 games, as he left game 151 with a herniated disc in his back. It would have cost him an IL stint, something he's never had to undergo unless you include his year in the Army. 35 next May, Mitchell hit just .270/.314/.391 (92 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 14 homers, and 73 RBIs. He was exactly a replacement player (0.0) and his 98 WRC+ was almost average. No Cougar is happier the season ended then Mitchell, who may be in danger of losing his starting spot for the first time ever. I won't actively look to upgrade on him in the offseason, but if Mitchell has another unnatural start, we may have to look to upgrade on him during the season.

Joe Brown ended his season on the right note, picking up a complete game win over the Stars in his last start of 1947. He allowed 6 hits, 3 runs (1 earned), and a walk with 5 strikeouts to break his five game losing streak. This evened his record at 13-13 with a 3.87 ERA (99 ERA+), 1.24 WHIP, 53 walks, and 86 strikeouts in 30 starts. Harry Parker lost both of his starts, as homeruns were a big problem. He was unlucky in the loss against the Saints, going 7 with 4 hits, 2 runs, and 5 walks with just one strikeout in a 2-1 loss. The Kings, however, got to him good, hitting three homers as Parker went 8 with 7 hits, 5 runs, and 3 strikeouts. Injuries kept him off the field most of the season, as Parker threw just 34.2 innings with 12 walks, 17 strikeouts, and a 4.41 ERA (87 ERA+). It may be time for the 32-year-old to transition to the pen full time, but if we need a spot starter or injury replacement he could give us a few starts. He's not at risk of trade, but both Parker and Brown may not do much in our rotation after this season.

George Sutterfield ended his season on a high note, going 6-for-11 with a double, triple, homer, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs to up his season line to .250/.290/.333 (71 OPS+), which is not what the 25-year-old wanted to be at. Despite being projected as a better overall shortstop then Skipper, Sutterfield has really struggled in Chicago, hitting just .239/.282/.323 (68 OPS+) in 252 career plate appearances. I was hoping he'd finally show something with the bat, but even his quality defense wasn't very good. In the Spring I'll have to work him out more at second and third to find him a way into the lineup, but he has a chance to play somewhat frequently next year at second or third base. The odds of Billy Hunter staying healthy a third season is almost zero, and there's no guarantee Otto Christian can produce in the big leagues. Dixie thinks he has the untapped potential to be one of the best players in the game, but a change of scenery may be needed to help him reach that. Unfortunately, I doubt his value is very high, but him or Don Lee are young potential regulars that could help solidify our lineup through trade or an improved 1948. With all that went wrong this year, you have to imagine it will balance back out...

Last little note goes to Sal Pestilli, who finished his nightmarish season 0-for-20 to drop his season line to .232/.288/.360 (75 OPS+) in 587 trips to the plate. His 76 WRC+ with us was a bit lower then the 80 from his time with the Gothams, but he did walk (23) more as a Cougar then he struck out (19) and supplied 12 doubles, 7 triples, 3 homers, and 3 steals. This was the first season Pestilli had an OPS+ or WRC+ below 110, and the first season he walked (42) less then he struck out (45). As disappointing as this season was, there nowhere to go but up for Pestilli. He's a star, whether you can see it or not, and when he's on there's very few players better. He's a legit five tool guy with oodles of talent, and if we want to reverse our fortunes, he's going to be a big reason why. With starts like him, Mitchell, Pap, the Jones Brothers, Duke Bybee, Walt Pack, and Red Bond, the Cougars should be much better next season.

Just next season can't come soon enough...

Looking Ahead
While most baseball fans are anxiously awaiting the upcoming World Championship Series (more on that later), the Cougars have more pressing matters to attend to. The hiring of a new manager. After the Cougars' 5-4 loss in Brooklyn, Clyde Meyer was officially let go. The 68-year-old finished eight seasons with the Cougars, going 684-549 with a pennant and seven winning seasons. It wasn't enough, as year-in and year-out (excluding 1945) Meyer was gifted the best roster in the Association, and he couldn't get anything done with it. This year was the final straw, as the dominant Cougars treaded water most of the season before completely falling off in September. The Cougars failed to live up to their expected record while losing close and extra inning games, and this year was no different. We had a -6 expected record with a 20-28 record in one-run games and a 4-10 record in extra inning games. The new manager will have their hands full as they will inherit a roster with a lot of talented and angry players.

Looking towards the series, the Philadelphia Sailors (86-68) survived the crazy and contested Continental Association, edging the Cincinnati Cannons (85-69) by a single game. It will be a tough series, but I think the Sailors will outlast the St. Louis Pioneers (94-60) in a seven game series. The Sailors have plenty of depth, and a talented roster consisting of potential Allen Winner Win Lewis (17-12, 2.88, 87) and batting title winner Ed Reyes (.338, 5, 66), who has won each of the last three. Even though he struggled a bit towards the end, they have a strong rotation with Charlie Gordon (2-8, 4.14, 33), Al Duster (11-12, 3.43, 122), and Slick Wesolowski (15-11, 3.80, 92). The lineup can score some runs too, as Reyes is supplemented by Harvey Brown (.311, 5, 66, 28), Cotton Dillon (.267, 7, 69), Les Cunha (.268, 8, 85), Bobby Boone (.303, 2, 42, 11), and Rip Lee (.282, 3, 62, 5).

They'll have their hands full with the Pioneers, who shocked the league this year and took the pennant by ten games. They spent pretty much every day in first place, going 11-5 in April. They did slump in September, going just 11-13, which was the only month they finished below .500. The worst-to-first bit was very impressive, and you can thank former Cougar draftee Danny Hern (25-5, 2.78, 127), who should run away with the Allen Award. It was a huge improvement from when he went 0-4 with a 9.39 ERA (36 ERA+) in 23 innings last year, and him, Hiram Steinberg (19-9, 3.11, 82), and Hal Hackney (16-11, 3.95, 199). Hiram and Hackney are potential aces, and should keep the Sailors lineup in check, but scoring runs may be tough. Do I really buy that Zip Sullivan (.296, 3, 23), Bill Freeman (.327, 4, 69, 7), Buck Pusey (.304, 2, 49, 27), and Ray Bates (.320, 3, 50) are above average hitters? Not really... But Larry Gregory (.295, 17, 101), Al Tucker (.328, 13, 96), and Homer Mills (.276, 9, 80) are legit and this is a team that ranked #1 in average and OBP. They've impressed all season long, and there's no reason that will stop now.

Regardless of the outcome, this should be a very exciting series, and it's a brand new matchup for the WCS. Part of that is St. Louis' pennant drought that spanned 1922 to 1946, as they will be making just their third trip to the series. The Sailors haven't been here for a while, last appearing when they made a threepeat from 1928-1930, where they captured the '28 and '30 series. My gut is telling me Sailors in seven, but it wouldn't be to surprising if the Pioneers took this one. I think the consensus leans towards St. Louis, which would finish off a remarkable turn around for a team that hadn't had much success in the human era.

ayaghmour2 · 07-12-2023, 01:44 PM

It's another close series as the Sailors and Pioneers are tied at two. The last two games have been as tight as it gets, with both teams winning 3-2 games. The Pioneers did it in regulation while the Sailors needed an extra inning, scoring a pair in the 9th and then 10th to walk it off. One more game in Philly, but the Pioneers will be guaranteed for the series to end on their turf. Whether that means six games, seven, a win, or a loss is up in the air. Selfishly, I want the Sailors winning it in six so the offseason can start, but as a fan its tough to root against a game seven. They're the best!

Catchers
Solly Skidmore (BRK/PHS): 112 WRC+, 2 HR, 56 RBI, 2.3 WAR
Harry Mead (CHC): 76 WRC+, 6 HR, 49 RBI, 1.2 WAR

Infielders
Billy Hunter (CHC): 121 WRC+, 8 HR, 32 RBI, 3 SB, 2.3 WAR
Tommy Wilson (CHI): 85 WRC+, 3 HR, 52 RBI, SB, 0.8 WAR
Hal Wood (TOR): 108 WRC+, 8 HR, 94 RBI, SB, 2.8 WAR
Skipper Schneider (CHC): 92 WRC+, 3 HR, 49 RBI, 7 SB, 7.0 WAR
Hank Stratton (CLE/CHI): 77 WRC+, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 0.5 WAR
Ed Reyes (PHS): 129 WRC+, 5 HR, 66 RBI, SB, 2.3 WAR
George Sutterfield (CHC): 65 WRC+, HR, 12 RBI, 3 SB, 0.1 WAR

Outfielders
Leo Mitchell (CHC): 98 WRC+, 14 HR, 73 RBI, 2 SB, 0.0 WAR
Bunny Hufford (NYG): 116 WRC+, 2 HR, 11 RBI, SB, 0.3 WAR
Elias Canady (CHI): 112 WRC+, HR, 9 RBI, 0.6 WAR
Chink Stickels (TOR): 113 WRC+, 4 HR, 51 RBI, 16 SB, 5.1 WAR
Carlos Montes (CHC): 77 WRC+, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 3 SB, 0.6 WAR
Don Lee (CHC): 81 WRC+, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 12 SB, -0.0 WAR

Pitchers
Duke Bybee (CHC): 14-11, 132 ERA+, 104 K, 5.0 WAR
Frank Gordon (DET): 6-9, SV, 107 ERA+, 54 K, 1.8 WAR
Harl Haines (NYG): 2-3, 70 ERA+, 20 K, 0.2 WAR
Leo Hayden (BRK): 12-13, 89 ERA+, 125 K, 5.2 WAR
Danny Hern (STL): 25-5, 144 ERA+, 127 K, 7.6 WAR
Sam Hodge (NYG): 9-6, 15 SV, 107 ERA+, 22 K, 0.8 WAR
Harry MacRae (CHC): 1-5, 101 ERA+, 19 K, 0.1 WAR
Pete Papenfus (CHC): 9-18, 97 ERA+, 146 K, 3.1 WAR
Harry Parker (CHC): 1-3, 1, 87 ERA+, 17 K, -0.3 WAR

Totals
Hitters: 25.9
Pitchers: 23.5
Total: 49.4
Approximate Wins: 80

Notable Prospects/Picks Traded
April 1947: Traded Pat Todd and Kid Moore to the Wolves for Walt Pack
July 1947: Traded Jim Mako, Carl Clark, and a 1st Round Pick for Sal Pestilli
July 1947: Traded Joe Austin and Zeke Johnson to the Saints for Red Bond

The no-trade team did a bit better then the real one, but the struggles of Leo Mitchell, Carlos Montes, and Pete Papenfus dragged this team now. We would have had huge implications on the Fed race, as I don't think the Pioneers do what they did without Danny Hern, but the Sailors would be pretty much untouched. The young pitching here is immense, but the outfield was thin. Sure, a no trade team probably has Johnny Peters in the outfield all year, but this team comes fall short just like the real one. Unless luck was on our side!

ayaghmour2 · 07-14-2023, 03:38 PM

Well, it's official: the Pioneers are legit! After curb-stomping the Fed in a dominant performance, they kept the Sailors in check, holding them to two runs in each of the last two games of the WCS, winning the best of seven series in six. In reality, it's all because of us. No, not because we sucked this season... But because of Danny Hern. The odds-on and potentially unanimous Allen Winner, Hern was the centerpiece of the Freddie Jones trade way back in 1938. He threw 301.1 inning and won 25 games, working to a stellar 2.78 ERA (144 ERA+) and 1.25 WHIP with 127 strikeouts. He led the league with a 7.6 WAR and 78 FIP- while leading St. Louis to their first championship in the human era.

We also said good bye to Dick Walker, who hung up the cleats at 41 after hitting just .220/.359/.297 (81 OPS+) in his first ever sub-100 game season. Walker, who debuted in 1928, spent 20 seasons in professional baseball, appearing in 2,784 games with the Sailors and Cougars. Walker finished his career with a .272/.379/.426 (123 OPS+) batting line and accumulated 78.9 WAR with 422 steals, 2,742 hits, and 1,769 walks. Known for his consistency and durability, a herniated disc that cost him just one week in 1945 was his only injury of note, and before his quick decline this season, he posted a WRC+ above 100 in 18 consecutive seasons. He was boasted impressive leadoff abilities, as Walker was always able to find a way on base, and once on, his speed made him a nightmare for the opposition. His name is all over the Sailors career record books, as the first basemen ranked 1st in homers (136). walks (1,189), runs scored (1,314), and triples (209), 2nd in RBIs (959), games played (1,911), and at bats (7,102), 3rd in hits (1,995), steals (298), WAR (55) and OPS (.825), 4th in doubles (325), OBP (.382) and slugging (.443). As a Cougar, he appeared in 873 games and hit a productive .250/.372/.386 (119 OPS+) with 108 doubles, 63 triples, 57 homers, 124 steals, 303 RBIs, and 580 walks. He lasted a bit longer then I thought, getting a good six and a half seasons in the Windy City. I expect the Sailors to retire his number, and he's got a shot to don their cap in the Hall of Fame. He wasn't a prototypical first basemen, but he was a consistent and reliable top of the order bat for 90% of his career.

Now, on to the actual purpose of the post, the top prospects! I won't lie, this list will probably look much different as early as next week, as I'm going to spend a lot of time retooling the organization. But at this point, our system ranks 3rd in the league with 158 points, trailing just the co-leading (167) Kings and Foresters. Unlike those two teams, and the rest of the league, we are the only team with two top ten prospects. That would be back-to-back first rounders Bob Allen (6th) and Jerry Smith (10th), which makes me believe that trading our first was a huge mistake. A third to add would be nice, but we do have 9 prospects in the top 100 with one more at 101, 24 in the top 250, and 49 in the top 500. The full list is below:

1. RHP Bob Allen (6th Overall): 1st/2nd
2. CF Jerry Smith (10th Overall): 5th Overall Pick
3. C Garland Phelps (24th Overall): 21st Overall Pick
4. CF Johnny Peters (44th Overall): 3rd/32nd
5. LHP Ron Berry (56th Overall): 8th/70th
6. RHP Harry Beardsley (74th Overall): 9th/78th
7. LHP Bert Rogers (76th Overall): 7th/60th
8. CF Frank Reece (81st Overall): 4th/37th
9. 3B Otto Christian (82nd Overall): 6th/50th
10. SS Buddy Jenkins (101st Overall): 77th Overall Pick
11. 1B Dudley Sapp (103rd Overall): 44th Overall Pick
12. RF Jimmy Hairston (129th Overall): 12th/122nd
13. RHP George Carter (177th Overall): 141st Overall Pick
14. C Mike Bordes (181st Overall): Acquired in trade with Eagles
15. LHP Mike Emerson (185th Overall): 61st Overall Pick
16. RHP Tommy Seymour (195th Overall): 15th/158th
17. CF Rupert Abbott (197th Overall): Acquired in trade with Eagles
18. CF Ed Sutton (204th Overall): 93rd Overall Pick
19. 2B Bob Schmelz (205th Overall): 21st/220th
20. SS Bob Stout (212th Overall): 16th/169th
21. CF Harley Dollar (214th Overall): 131st Overall Pick
22. SS Roy Gass (222nd Overall): 64th Overall Pick
23. SS Willie Watson (243rd Overall): 157th Overall Pick
24. LF Clyde Parker (244th Overall): 23rd/230th
25. 3B Bill Nash (253rd Overall): 177th Overall Pick
26. CF Phil Boyes (261st Overall): 14th/149th
27. 2B Roxy Hilts (274th Overall): 18th/181st
28. LHP Ray Paulson (276th Overall): 70th Overall Pick
29. RHP Lee Parker (300th Overall): 35th/368th
30. 1B Cal Rice (305th Overall): 26th/263rd
31. RHP Jim Williams (321st Overall): 22nd/225th
32. LHP Dutch Yoak (329th Overall): 25th/236th
33. RHP Jim N Smith (341st Overall): 34th/364th
34. RHP Bill Ballantine (351st Overall): 39th/391st
35. RF Bob Rogers (355th Overall): 37th/379th
36. SS Tom Brownleaf (361st Overall): 30th/285th
37. SS John Price (375th Overall): 32nd/317th
38. RHP Babe Stinson (378th Overall): 24th/232nd
39. RHP Fred Terry (384th Overall): 115th Overall Pick
40. RHP Dick Garcia (385th Overall): Not Ranked

ayaghmour2 · 07-15-2023, 04:59 PM

RHP Bob Allen (6th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 10th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Sonora Wildcats

While no longer the top pitching prospect in baseball (that would be Les Ledbetter), Bob Allen is the next in a long run of elite pitching prospects that have come through the Cougars organization, following Pete Papenfus, the Jones Brothers, and Duke Bybee. All four have had plenty of big league success. And Allen should be no different. Just 19, Allen was brilliant this season, starting with a dominant four start stretch for the Lions. He won all four outings, allowing just 20 hits, 14 walks, and 2 runs with 46 strikeouts in 33.2 innings. That produced a microscopic 0.53 ERA (700 ERA+) and a still elite 2.12 FIP (56 FIP-). Clearly, he was ready for a bigger challenge, and we moved the former 10th Overall Pick to San Jose. Obviously he didn't dominate to the same level, but Allen had a strong 8 start stretch, going 5-1 with a 3.62 ERA (105 ERA+), 1.59 WHIP, 34 walks, and 28 strikeouts. The drop in command was somewhat concerning, but there are no concerns about Allen's command.

Granted, there are really no concerns of any kind for Allen, who despite being 5'9'', has everything you look for in a pitcher. He has a strong four pitch mix, and his slider is a legitimate wipeout pitch that will have the bet hitters swinging out of their shoes. He's got a decent mid 80s fastball that will improve as he adds velocity, while his curve can get whiffs if hitters are keyed in on the slider. His last pitch, a changeup, may not be used too much, but it's a nice weapon to keep guys on their toes. His pitches generate plenty of downward movement, which will keep the ball in the park and erase base runners with numerous double plays. The command is stellar and he won't leave pitches over the plate, so there's no mistake pitches for batters to capitalize off of. There's still plenty of development ahead, but he's got all the tools to be an ace, and even about 50% of his peak is a solid middle of the rotation member. He could lead the league in strikeouts, and unlike Pap, not in walks as well, giving us a perfect combination of Pap's stuff, Donnie's command, and Duke's poise. OSA think he'll be ready by 1950, I think that's a bit too optimistic, but once he enters the rotation, he's not going anywhere. This kid is going to be something special.

CF Jerry Smith (10th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 5th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Jackson Generals

Our second of two top ten prospects, Jerry Smith rounds out the top ten, making us the only team with two. Taken third overall this January, Smith hit over .520 in each of his three high school seasons, while slugging 1.100 or better. While impossible to replicate in affiliated ball, the now 19-year-old center fielder had a great debut for the Lions, slashing .284/.329/.413 (106 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 5 homers, 28 RBIs, and 20 steals. He produced a 118 WRC+ and 2.1 WAR in 51 games, and the talented outfielder spent all of his free time in the weight room. A potential five tool player, Smith doesn't do much wrong, as he's got great speed, excellent power, and a swing that will lead to a high average. He did strike out 44 times compared to just 14 walks, but his plate discipline was never a calling card. That's not to say it's a flaw, he should be at least average there, and with the contact/power/speed combo he's exactly what you want in a center fielder. He's strong and will only get stronger, and there's a lot to like about his defense in center. We only have two untouchable prospects, and as good as Smith is, he's not one of them. He's our most valuable trade chip that I can stomach parting with, and if we want a star, Smith may be the cost. That's not to say I'm shopping him, I'd love to keep a guy this good around for decades, but we'll have to wait a while for him to be elite, and our outfield is very deep. If he stays in the system, I expect him to join Allen in San Jose, but with all the talent he has on display he may move up the system quickly.

C Garland Phelps (24th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 21st Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Sheffield Fightin' Irish

That other untouchable prospect? This guy right here! Recently turned 18, Garland Phelps decided he didn't need to play for the Lions, instead skipping right up to San Jose. The results? A glimpse at the catcher of the future. Sorry Eddie Howard!

Despite starting at 17, Phelps tore the cover off the ball, slashing .324/.370/.475 (136 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 6 triples, 5 homers, and 46 RBIs in his first 257 trips to the plate. His 144 WRC+ was highest on the team for players with 50 or more games played (although you could go all the way down to 3 for kicks) and he put together eight 3+ hit games. Nicknamed "Einstein" for his brilliance, both in general and in baseball, Phelps ranks as the #1 catching prospect in the league. A force on both offense and defense, it's hard to find a better overall catcher if Phelps lives up to his lofty potential. He has a clean stroke that should lead to a high average and his raw power is truly remarkable. As he builds muscle the ball is really going to fly, and he could hit 20+ homers a season. His plate discipline is impressive as well, as he should draw plenty of walks while keeping his strikeouts under control. Pitchers love throwing to him, both due to his knowledge of the game and his ability to receive the ball, and he calls an exceptional game. OSA thinks he could debut as early as 1949, I'm not sure that's realistic, but he's clearly a special prospect, and someone we want to mold into a future star.

CF Johnny Peters (44th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 3rd Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Liberty College Bells

A guy who has dropped a bit in the prospect rankings, Johnny Peters is now stuck behind a superstar in Sal Pestilli. 24 in January, he's probably ready for a shot to play everyday, but there's no room for him right now. While he does have experience at first as well as left and right, Peters has almost exclusively played center since we selected him 3rd back in 1945. A talented hitter, Peters spent his year in Milwaukee, and hit an exceptional .289/.390/.456 (115 OPS+) with 28 doubles, 9 triples, 16 homers, 77 RBIs, and 10 steals with 95 walks in 676 PAs. Known more for his bat then the glove, he has an elite eye, although that hasn't stopped him from striking out. He could league the league in walks with regular time, both due to his power and tendency to stay in the zone. He's got great speed, caught just once in eleven stolen base attempts, and he makes plenty of contact. He'll rack up extra bases and due damage on the bases, providing value in many different way. As exciting as he is, Peters is a guy I'd love to trade for a big league upgrade, but if he stays we have plenty of ways to work him into the lineup. I doubt he's making the Opening Day roster as I want to expand his versatility, but he could start as the short-side of a platoon as early as next season. Red Bond and Hal Sharp can't hit lefties, opening spots up at first and right. And if Leo Mitchell is no longer Leo Mitchell, that leaves room out in left. Peters somewhat feels like a Bobby Barrell type corner outfielder -- good enough for center but best in a corner. Yes, he'll never hit like Bobby, maybe more of a Walt Messer, but that's an extremely valuable player.

LHP Ron Berry (56th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 112th Overall (1944)
Alma Mater: Elm Springs Knights

A strained shoulder limited Ron Berry to just 15 starts, but the soon-to-be 22-year-old showed plenty to be excited about. The young southpaw went 4-5 with a 4.13 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.30 WHIP, 32 walks, and 42 strikeouts in 89.1 innings pitched. Like #1 prospect Bob Allen, he doesn't have the build for a starter, just 5'7'' and 140 pounds. He's not going to throw hard, sitting in the 85-87 range, but he's not the type to blow by you. He keeps the ball on the ground and generates weak contact, excelling at finding the corners. His change is very good, with plenty of whiff potential, and his slider is absolutely devastating for same-side hitters. If his fastball can just graze 90, he's going to be great, otherwise he'll have to polish the command up. When he nibbles it can lead to walks, but I trust that he'll put in the necessary work to develop into a legit big league starter. I can't seem him being an ace, although I thought the same of Danny Hern, but Berry looks like a reliable mid-rotation arm. Like Peters, his value to us may be more via. trade, as our rotation won't have any openings for a while. I'm still really high on George Oddo, who could end up starting regularly for us next season, and Berry's development may be best served in an environment where he can be the focus of the farm, not a luxury as he is here. Next season will be important for him, as he has a chance to work his way up to AA, and position himself for a big league debut the following season.

ayaghmour2 · 07-15-2023, 11:57 PM

RHP Harry Beardsley (74th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 156th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Arkansas A&T Badgers

Last year was Harry Beardsley's ascension up the prospect ladder. This year, it was his ascension up the organizational ladder. The former 10th Rounder started his season in A ball, going 8-3 in 13 starts. The overall results were as good as the record implied, working to a 3.50 ERA (121 ERA+) and 1.15 WHIP with 36 walks and 56 strikeouts in 87.1 innings pitched. This earned him a post-draft promotion to AA where he made 11 starts, but actually threw more innings (95.2). He ran into a few bumps along the road, but his 3.95 ERA (106 ERA+) was still above average and when you go from a pennant winner to a .500 team, 5-6 isn't too bad. The issues showed in his FIP (4.59, 109), WHIP (1.45), and 2 point drop in K/9 (5.8 to 3.8) while he walked (49) more hitters then he struck out (40). Even before considering the fact that AA is not where most guys a year removed from college are playing, he not only ate innings but provided more or less average results. The most impressive instance came in a 13-inning complete game victory, where the young righty threw 198 pitches and would have gone out for the 14th had the Commodores not walked things off. I doubt it will be the last time Beardsley throws a ton of his pitches to help his team win, as he profiles as a pre-injury Harry Parker type. The upside isn't flashy, but he's should be a durable #3 or #4 who gives you all nine all the time. All his tools are average or better, but there's nothing he truly excels at. There's nothing wrong with being good, and if he can stay healthy, Beardsley should be a good big league pitcher.

LHP Bret Rogers (76th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 12th Overall (1944)
Alma Mater: Wenona Braves

Just two spots back is another young pitcher, the Chicago native Bert Rogers. He is the fourth and final of our past first rounders to land in the top 100 this season, giving us an impressive hit rate in recent seasons. In fact, if you go all the way back to 1934, 9 of the 13 first rounders either rank in the top 100 or have been to an All-Star game. Of the four that don't match the criteria, one is 22-year-old Tommy Seymour, and the other three (Solly Skidmore, Mel Haynes, and Preacher Pietsch) have made it to the show. I think Rogers will join them, but the 21-year-old has a lot of developing ahead of him. A three-pitch pitcher, his stuff is still raw and his fastball hits just 88. How he gets out is his movement, as his fastball gets plenty of spin and the break on his slider and curve are impressive. The slider will be the best pitch, as lefties won't have any success trying to make contact on it. That should lead to plenty of strikeouts, but against righties he hasn't yet developed an out pitch. That showed more in Lincoln then in San Jose, as Rogers' BB/9 (4.3 to 5.2), K/9 (4.8 to 3.5), K/BB (1.1 to 0.7), WHIP (1.47 to 1.51), ERA (3.19 to 4.26), ERA+ (119 to 99), FIP (3.62 to 5.38), and FIP- (95 to 127) all went in the wrong direction. He did benefit from playing for a pennant winning team and will return for the repeat campaign. Whether he stays will be determined on his performance, but I'm comfortable leaving him for the full season as he will be one of the youngest players on the staff. Like the rest of our prospects, he could be used as a trade piece, but we have a tendency to hold onto hometown players and it would be awesome if his first FABL pitch came as a Cougar.

CF Frank Reece (81st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Villisca Bluejays

1947 was not a great year for Frank Reece, who not only dropped almost 50 spots in the prospect rankings, but didn't quite impress in his first full season of baseball. In his defense, most 19-year-olds in Class B don't hold their own and Reece produced a slightly above average WRC+ (102) and defensive efficiency (1.012). Still, I expected more then a .245/.331/.369 (96 OPS+) triple slash and he actually homered (9) less then he did (10) in half as many plate appearances last year. Reece also had marginal increases in doubles (10 to 13) and steals (14 to 19). The former 2nd Rounder may have to take another go in San Jose, but I'd love to have him finish the season in Lincoln. He just turned 20, so that might be a stretch, but with tools as exciting as his you want to push him to succeed. He's got a nice hit tool and blazing speed, so even when he's not lining balls in the outfield he makes the defense sweat on any ball on the ground. His athleticism makes me hope he could produce average power numbers, but most 130 pound guys aren't clearing fences, and at 5'7'' he can only get so strong. Any sort of power is icing for someone as talented in the outfield as him, as there's no worry about Reece having to move into a corner. He reminds me a little of Carlos Montes, just hopefully without all the injury issues.

3B Otto Christian (82nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Walla Walla Warriors

A theme in our prospect rankings this year is back-to-backs, as Frank Reece and Otto Christian are the first of many guys who rank back-to-back on both ours and the OSA prospect list. The acquisition of Walt Pack made Otto's future a little murkier, and "The Walla Walla Walloper" spent most of his season in AAA. It was his first go at the level, and he hit 23 homers with 26 doubles and 94 RBIs in 124 games. He hit .300/.360/.503 (119 OPS+) for the Blues and walked (41) more often then he struck out (32). He then spent the last two weeks in Chicago, and hit his first big league home run off a talented veteran in Harry Carter. Known for his power, Otto may end up leading the league in home runs, and if he can survive the offseason, he's more-or-less guaranteed to open the season on our Opening Day roster. Pack can't hit lefties (.064/.118/.064 in 47 PAs), so someone needs to man the hot corner against them and it might as well be Otto. Sure, we could opt for George Sutterfield, but Otto could get some at bats at first since Red Bond (.267/.272/.307, in 101 PAs) isn't too great either. The more at bats he gets, the more souvenirs those who buy tickets will receive. He may not be the star I once thought he was, but if you have power, you'll get a shot, as even Claude Merrill crossed the 1,000 PA threshold. If he starts hot, he could make a few All-Star trips, and if he really grooves it for a season he could win a surprise Whitney. I hope that's as a Cougar, but Pack just turned 33 and if he follows the Hank Barnett and John Lawson track, he could have four or more solid seasons ahead of him. You can never have too many good players, but we need to add offense and if the price is Otto, then that's a price we have to pay.

SS Buddy Jenkins (101st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 77th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Whitman Panthers

If I wanted to be cheeky, I could say we have 10 top 101 prospects, but since I prefer consistency, it's 9 top 100 prospects. The first to miss is Buddy Jenkins, who at 18 posted a 109 WRC+ in San Jose while making starts at all three infield positions. That's impressive for a guy who was just taken in the 5th Round, as Jenkins was also a perfect 9-for-9 in swiping bases. The Boston native hit .262/.359/.346 (98 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, 17 RBIs, and 21 walks in 153 trips to the plate. A versatile youngster, Jenkins played a little center and right in high school, and I'm sure he could pick up left and first in a snap. Despite his positional versatility, he's a legit shortstop, and posted a remarkable 2.0 zone rating (1.105 eff) in just 133 innings. He won't hurt you at the plate either, as while he doesn't have much power he does a great job working the count and he can elevate a mistake. With his speed any ball in play could cause trouble and when he's on you know he's looking to run. Skipper won't ever give up short, but if Jenkins can hit we'll find somewhere for him to play. His defense secures at minimal a future as a utility player, but OSA thinks Jenkins could "fill a key role for a contending team" and I think that's a reasonable expectation if his development goes according to plan.

ayaghmour2 · 07-16-2023, 05:06 PM

1B Dudley Sapp (103rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 45th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Union City Bulldogs

Checking in two spots below 5th Rounder Buddy Jenkins is 3rd Rounder Dudley Sapp, who was originally in the top 100 but found his way on the outside this offseason. Part of that could be accounted for the fractured thumb that ended his season in early August, limiting him to just 29 games in his draft season. He also really cooled off after an excellent start, batting just .271/.322/.346 (87 OPS+) in 118 trips to the plate. Now 19, all those came when he was 18, and while the overall numbers weren't great, it's something to build on. The main concern is the power, as Sapp is known for his slug and he hit just two homers and no doubles. He does have a very strong hit tool, but if he wants to make it to the big leagues, he's going to have to tap into his above average power. He's a strong 6'4'' slugger who should be able to hit 25+ homers in the big leagues, and the mix of contact and eye should allow him to reach base frequently. OSA loves him at first, so perhaps that means he could fill in at a corner outfield spot, but I'm not sure he has the speed to cover much ground. Everything relies on the power potential, as if he hits it he could spend a decade manning first in a Cougar uniform. If not? He'll be lucky to get the call from AAA. There's plenty of risk, but it's hard to pass up a guy who can hit the ball as hard as he does.

RF Jimmy Hairston (129th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 61st Overall (1943)
Alma Mater: Bowman Mohawks

It was a big season for Jimmy Hairston, who spent most of his season as a 22-year-old in AA. 120 of his 137 appearances came with the Commodores, where he hit an impressive .318/.386/.441 (113 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 4 triples, 6 homers, and 63 RBIs. He also drew 55 walks and produced a 121 WRC+ while playing decent defense out in right (6.4, 1.005). A former 4th Rounder back in 1943, Hairston is now Rule-5 eligible, and I've just given him our 36th 40-man roster spot that was vacated with Dick Walker's retirement. I'd love for him to get an extra look in the Cuban Winter League, as the extra development can really do him wonders. As a corner outfielder, he's going to need to hit, and he does have the bat to keep his average above .300 for a full season. He won't hit many homers, but as demonstrated by his time in Mobile he'll make up for it with plenty of doubles. He has a good eye and can draw a walk, but he still chases a bit too often. If he can hit just about average power, maybe 10-15 home runs a season, he could live up to Dixie's projection to "unleash obvious talent both on the field and at the plate" while OSA thinks he has "the talent to flourish as a right fielder." These are glowing reviews for the young righty, but I think he's going to need a few more seasons before even sniffing that. If all breaks right, he could be a useful every day player, but our outfield picture is crowded and won't loosen up any time soon.

RHP George Carter (177th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 9th Round, 141st Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Bluegrass State Mustangs

A ninth round pick out of Bluegrass State, it's a bit shocking to see righty George Carter ranked so high on the prospect list. He struggled in the rotation down in La Crosse and actually finished the season in the pen. He started just 3 of his 9 appearances and had a 5.06 ERA (74 ERA+) and 1.91 WHIP in 26.2 innings. The underlying metrics are much stronger, as he had a tremendous 4.3 K/BB (30-to-7) and 2.37 FIP (63 FIP-) in the small sample. A four pitch pitcher, he does have the stuff to start, and I'm hoping he can enter the San Jose rotation to start next season. He did have a red arrow and since we had plenty of pitchers in the low minors, there wasn't really a spot for him there. The Maywood, Illinois native is also a bit of a soft-tosser, as his fastball sits in the mid 80s and he's been susceptible to the flyball. No homers allowed, but he's a flyball pitcher who's not going to blow people away with his stuff. I'd like to see more from his sinker, which doesn't generate the groundballs it should. Carter may be one of those "misses" on the prospect list, but the command has been special, and if he can sit in the 3-4 range with his K/BB we can live with all the other problems he may run into.

C Mike Bordes (181st Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Washington (1946)
Drafted: 11th Round, 169th Overall (1944)
Alma Mater: Newburgh Knights

Our highest ranked prospect not to be drafted by us, Mike Bordes was part of the offseason trade last year that sent Billy Riley to the Eagles. Bordes spent 1946 with their AA team, but the results weren't great, and I wanted the 21-year-old in A ball to start. He spent most of his season there, hitting .250/.323/.423 (98 OPS+) with 23 doubles, 5 triples, 10 homers, and 67 RBIs. His WRC+ (102) was a bit better then his OPS+, and if you average them together he was basically a league average hitter while walking (40) one more time then he struck out (39). When we moved Homer Guthrie up to Chicago for the final month of the season, that moved Bordes up to Mobile, but it did not go well. He did still walk (9) more then he struck out (7), but his triple slash dropped to .211/.294/.263 (45 OPS+) in 87 trips to the plate. Bordes is now in a tough spot, as I expect Guthrie or Eddie Howard to end up in Milwaukee, and I want 13th Rounder Bob Mundy playing everyday as well. This could mean Bordes will have to start the season back in A ball, as that trio all have green arrows up to Chicago. Bordes has a lot more upside then Guthrie and Mundy, boasting a nice hit tool and a good feel of the zone, but since he's not the greatest defender, him and Mundy could split time between catcher and first. I'm not sure he has the power to last at first, but if he cost too many runs catching most days, he could be a useful C/1B piece off the bench.

LHP Mike Emerson (185th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 61st Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Jamesville Bullets

The first pitcher we selected in the winter draft, Mike Emerson ranks higher then all the pitchers selected after him excluding the previously mentioned Carter. Emerson had much more success in La Crosse then Carter, going 6-2 with a 3.71 ERA (101 ERA+) and 1.43 WHIP. And while he doesn't have the 4 K/BB Carter did, 46 strikeouts to 25 walks isn't too bad. The young lefty doesn't throw all that hard, just 85-87 right now, but he has an intriguing four pitch repertoire. His changeup should be really good and he's commanded it well so far. The cutter won't be great until he adds velocity, but if he can develop his slider or curve into an outpitch he'll be able to start in the big leagues. A Wisconsin native, Emerson has the upside to fill the back of a rotation with the potential to move to the middle if he can sit in the low 90s. If not, his stuff may never be better then average, and he'll have to rely more on keeping the ball on the ground and generating weak contact, forcing him to rely more on his defense then his pitches. If neither of his breakers develop, he could be a very useful change up heavy reliever, and since he's already effortlessly pushed past 100 pitches (lowest pitch count in a game was 108 and he left in the 6th), he could pitch multiple innings at any point in the game. I'm hoping he can add velocity in the offseason, and the Lions win leader has a chance to match that again next season.

ayaghmour2 · 07-17-2023, 07:23 PM

Plenty of housekeeping ahead, as not only do we have a new manager, but another Allen Award. The first was expected, but the second? That sparked some controversy. Six pitchers were given a first place vote, with Win Lewis receiving the most with 5. It didn't matter, as Donnie got one less, but was higher on more ballots then Lewis, finishing two points (57 to 55) higher then the Sailors ace. That makes it back-to-back Allen Awards for Cougar pitchers, with Donnie following Pap. Our 27-year-old co-ace went 16-9 in his 30 starts, working to a 2.89 ERA (133 ERA+) and 1.16 WHIP. In two outs shy of 250 innings, Jones walked 84 and struck out 139, and finished top 3 in the CA in ERA (3rd), complete games (3rd, 21), shutouts (2nd, 4), strikeouts (2nd), WHIP (2nd), ERA+ (3rd), rWAR (1st, 7.1), opponent average (2nd, .222), and win percentage (.640). Donnie also started the All-Star game for the CA this year, and is coming off his third consecutive season with 240 or more innings, an ERA below 3.10, an ERA+ above 110, a WAR above 4.5, and a FIP- below 90. If we want to return to contention next season, we'll need another season like this from Jones, as we cannot afford for him to slump like Pap did this year. It would be nice to have them both pitch like Allen winners in the same season, as last year Donnie had a rough end to the season and this year Pap was never himself.

The new skipper of the Cougars is someone who used to throw pitches for them, as 1931 World Championship member Max Wilder was named the manager for the 1948 season. Wilder will receive $12,145 for the next two seasons after spending five seasons as the Chiefs pitching coach. Known as a conventional manager who prefers pitching, defense, and power, Wilder has been coaching since 1936, with all but one of his seasons coming as a pitching coach. Like his predecessor, Wilder has not managed at the big league level, but there is very little concern that he won't be able to pick it up quickly. He has an average or better relationship with a majority of the team, and just the selfish Hal Sharp listed as "poor".

As a pitcher, Wilder debuted in 1921 with the Cannons, although they were called the Clippers when they drafted him 10th in 1916. He later pitched for the Saints, Foresters, Cougars, Minutemen, Kings, and Dynamos, appearing in 377 games with 354 of them being starts. He was a very productive pitcher, going 157-137 with a 3.70 ERA (111 ERA+), 1.34 WHIP, and 1,116 strikeouts in 2,710.1 career innings pitched. Wilder also accumulated 40.4 WAR, and he's probably best known for his time with the Cougars, where he tossed 1,005.2 innings from 1930 to 1934. They were also some of his best seasons, as in the four full years he had an ERA+ of 118 or better and a FIP- of 98 or lower, and Wilder was 61-45 with a 3.39 ERA (122 ERA+). I'm hoping that having a member of our most recent championship team can help inspire a winning attitude.

RHP Tommy Seymour (195th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1943)
Alma Mater: Olathe Pioneers

After improving on a rough 1945 last year, things went the opposite way this year as Tommy Seymour had a terrible season for the Legislators. After going 5-4 with a 3.28 ERA (110 ERA+) in 12 starts last season, he dropped to 6-14 with a 5.63 ERA (75 ERA+) in 24 starts this season. Some of this should have been expected, as his 4.83 FIP (134 FIP-) predicted plenty of regression. Command issues did Seymour in this year, as he walked 93 hitters while striking out just 58. It's his glaring weakness, as he has good stuff and his pitches generate plenty of movement. His change and splitter have tremendous downward movement and his fastball isn't tough to hit. The problem so far has been locating his pitches, as movement only does you so much when you don't know where the pitches are going to end up. On the plus side, Seymour was throwing harder this season, up to 85-87. That's still not hard enough, but at 22 it may be where he maxes out. He's likely ticketed for A ball again next season, but I'm hoping he'll be up in AA in no time.

CF Rupert Abbott (197th Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Washington (1946)
Drafted: 4th Round, 61st Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Opelika State Wildcats

While not initially back-to-back, the mot recent sim actually has Seymour and Abbott at 196 and 197, as opposed to 195 and 197. The other prospect in the Billy Riley trade, Abbott had a nice first season in our organization, hitting well with both Lincoln and Mobile. He started in Lincoln, slashing .266/.335/.424 (102 OPS+) before improving that to .305/.367/.439 (108 OPS+) after the promotion. His WRC+ (108 and 116) were even better, and he tallied 35 doubles, 8 triples, 9 homers, 13 steals, and 78 RBIs in 137 games between the two levels. Abbott also provided plus defense out in center, with a 1.032 (AA) and 1.042 (A) efficiency. The hardworking outfielders best tool may be his defense, but he also has a pretty solid eye at the plate. He can work the count and shouldn't end up whiffing too much, and when he's on base he'll always be a threat to run. If he can continue to provide extra base pop, he could be an excellent leadoff hitter, but with a lot of talented outfielders ranked ahead of him, it may be tough for Abbott to carve out a starting role.

CF Ed Sutton (204th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 93rd Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: College of Cairo Pharaohs

Here it is! Another back-to-back! Ed Sutton edged out Bob Schmelz by one spot in both rankings after a decent debut season. His age pushed him up to Lincoln, where he played solid center field defense (5.6, 1.035) and hit an okay enough .247/.316/.383 (86 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 2 triples, 6 homers, 20 RBIs, and 25 walks. The recent 6th Round Pick displayed his plus defensive ability and patience at the plate, but he was susceptible to off-speed pitches at time. He also projects to have above average contact potential, and with his speed there's a chance he could be a solid doubles hitter. Don't expect many homer runs, but any sort of power from him would be a bonus. OSA is a bigger fan of him then Dixie, going as far to say he could "fill a key role for a contending team." I'd be happy with a fourth outfielder that can start when someone's hurt, but there's plenty of upside and Sutton could be in the big leagues in just a few seasons.

2B Bob Schmelz (205th Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Detroit (1945)
Drafted: 1st Round, 11th Overall (1942)
Alma Mater: Dravosburg Flyers

He was supposed to start one of our last games, but for some reason Bob Schmelz ended up on the bench. At least he did get into two games as a Cougar, going 1-for-3. The 22-year-old spent most of his season in Milwaukee, batting .271/.390/.379 (96 OPS+) with 23 doubles, 11 homers, and 58 RBIs with an elite 98-to-39 walk-to-strikeout ratio in 651 trips to the plate. He didn't look very good at second (-8.6, .965) so we gave him some reps at first, but I'd love for him to be at least passable at the keystone. He doesn't have the power for first base, but his discipline will be important for his major league success. He reminds me a lot of Ray Ford, who also started as a second basemen, as both have great discipline, very little swing and miss in their game, and a plus hit tool. Ford was the more highly touted prospect, but pretty much everything else, even the height (both 5'10''!), lines up. Schmelz will be in camp and will be given a shot to earn a bench spot in the Spring, but expect him to split time between second and first in Milwaukee next year.

SS Bob Stout (212th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 92nd Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Eastern Virginia Dukes

A torn back muscle ended Bob Stout's season a few weeks early, but it was a productive season for the former 6th Round Pick. The 22-year-old appeared in 88 games for the Commodores and 44 games for the Legislators. In Lincoln he hit .250/.392/.391 (110 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers, and 13 RBIs while hitting .265/.353/.424 (100 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 7 triples, 5 homers, and 41 RBIs for the Commodores. This is impressive offense for a gifted defender, who posted efficiencies above 1.100 (1.107 in A, 1.137 in AA) at both levels. There's no concern about moving Stout off of short, as while he may not be Skipper Schneider, he's a remarkable shortstop who will make all the routine plays and more then his share of the outstanding ones. The bat has some questions, but he more then held his own, and he even managed 8 steals which adds another facet to his game. His glove ensures that he can at least function as a utility player off the bench, which I think is the likeliest career path for him. That's not to say he can't start, but beyond his eye, he doesn't have an average or better offensive tool. He'll either have to hit around .300 or provide double digit home runs to start, both things I think may be too ambitious. Still, an excellent defensive shortstop can start even when the bat leaves something to be desired, and if he can stay healthy, Stout could carve out a solid big league career for himself.

ayaghmour2 · 07-18-2023, 08:05 PM

CF Harley Dollar (214th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 131st Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Nutley Maroon Raiders

Despite being just 19, Harley Dollar pretty much skipped C ball, as his week involved him going 6-for-17 with 2 doubles, a homer, 2 RBIs, and 3 walks. He was then moved up to San Jose, where he still provided above average offensive production. The 7th Rounder hit .237/.318/.421 (106 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, 27 RBIs, and 18 walks. A natural center fielder, Dollar spent almost all his time in the corners, with a majority of his outings coming in right field. While he doesn't steal many bases, he has decent foot speed and could stick in center. I do think he's best suited for a corner, but he won't kill you up the middle. What "Easy Money" does best is put the ball in play, as he has an above average contact tool that pairs well with excellent strike zone recognition. There's some swing and miss in his game early on, but most teens have huge strikeouts numbers in their first few seasons. I expect him to be one of those guys who walks more then he strikes out, but what surprised me was the power he showed. After just 3 high school homers in 62 games, I was impressed with his 6 in the 51 post-draft. Sure, I expected some doubles and triples, but if he's hitting home runs he's going to force himself into our future plans. He's more then just a cool name regardless, as he's got big league talent, with the floor of a fourth outfielder and the ceiling as an every day player. Just maybe one you'll have in the back-half of the order.

SS Roy Gass (244th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 64th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Council Grove Braves

A lot of our young infielders struggled either in La Crosse or San Jose this past season. Roy Gass was not one of them. One of our 4th Rounders in the most recent draft, Gass didn't turn 18 until late August, but still posted a 120 WRC+ in 45 games for the Lions after finishing his four year prep career at Council Grove. The Lions everyday shortstop hit a strong .265/.349/.408 (111 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 3 triples, 4 homers, 4 steals, and 16 RBIs. Like with Dollar, the power from Gass was somewhat of a shock, as he had just 13 extra base hits as a senior. At 6'2'', he's not your prototypical shortstop, but perhaps the Topeka native will continue to hit the ball out of the park. If we can get him in the weight room, perhaps their double digit home runs locked away, but it may be tough. Not because he's lazy, but because he practically lives on the baseball diamond. One of the hardest workers in the system, Gass takes extra grounders before and after games, and it shows in his play at short. He'll take extra reps in the cage as well, which shows in his long and tough at bats and his plus contact tool. With Gass, we're betting hard on the upside and less on the current project, but what I saw this year really impressed. Dixie Marsh thinks he'll develop into an "above average, everyday big league player" and I don't think this is as good as we'll see him. His work ethic will push him past his current ceiling, and with a little muscle building in the offseason I can see him forcing his way up the prospect rankings. If I had to bet on one of our "middle tier" prospects making the jump by next year, it would be Gass, and he's a guy we have a close eye on. He's no Skipper, but he does remind me a bit of Ollie Page, but with the upside we though he had when we grabbed him from the Eagles. Shortstop is not going to be open, but with some added pop, Gass could be our everyday third basemen once Otto Christian has his time in the sun.

SS Willie Watson (243rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 157th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Evansville Eagles

Another one of our numerous young shortstops, Willie Watson did struggle. A lot. But it's not his fault.

The Illinois native was pushed up to San Jose, because he was one of the few infielders that did not have a down arrow. Although he labored at the plate, hitting a pitcher-like .151/.248/.198 (26 OPS+) in 123 trips to the plate. Yes, there's no silver lining there, but he did play plus defense at third (0.5, 1.060) and short (0.3, 1.007), and he still managed to draw 11 walks. 19 in December, he may start the season in San Jose again, but if a Roxy Hilts or John Price has a good offseason, we may let Watson get back on track in C ball. But for a guy known more for his glove then the bat, it may be worth letting Watson struggle on the fly. He gives good at bats and is composed under pressure, and he doesn't take his offensive struggles onto the field with him. He's a marvelous shortstop and his arm is more then strong enough for third, and any offense he provides will be a plus. As a groundball hitter, there's never going to be much pop, so putting the ball in play is a must. Lucky for Watson, there's no where to go but up, and I'm sure if he spent the season in La Crosse he would have been somewhat production in the aggregate as his defense can make up for a lot of offensive shortcomings. Just nothing can excuse a 22 WRC+...

LF Clyde Parker (244th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 103rd Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Liberty Bluejays

Recently turned 21, Clyde Parker seems to have stalled out a bit. The former 7th Rounder flashed some Leo Mitchell when he first came up, but like Mitchell this year, the results were very disappointing. He spent all season in San Jose, and hit a bit below average .240/.320/.382 (96 OPS+) in 104 games. The 24 doubles and 11 triples were nice, but he hit just 3 homers with 43 RBIs, 45 walks, and 85 strikeouts. As a corner outfielder, that's not going to cut it, and with Parker's hit tool he should be hitting consistently over .300. Instead, he hasn't hit above .280 at any stop yet, and he had his worst power showing so far. We're going to need him to hit more, but it's easy to forget how young he is. Not everyone is a quick riser so we'll have to be patient here, but he's got the build of a batting title winner. He's a line drive hitter who can hit both lefties and righties, and until this season he's never really had strikeout problems. With the right motivation, a big season could be in his future, but for now my expectations have been tempered.

3B Bill Nash (253rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 11th Round, 177th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Piedmont University Pipers

Despite being an AI pick, I was very happy to add Bill Nash to our system. A third basemen at Piedmont University, Nash should've been a human round pick, but all 16 (well, this year 15) of us passed on the Pipers star hitter. The 21-year-old then skipped C ball, and put together a strong season for the Cougars in the second half of the year. The Cali kid hit .261/.327/.428 (111 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, and 21 RBIs. A strong athlete who hits a ton of line drives, I think there's power to be exploited in Nash, who even without it could be a capable every day third basemen. He's got a good, reliable glove and he's always a tough out. He'll draw his share of walks and he's improving his pitch selection, and a more filled out Nash should be a very disciplined hitter. He doesn't have a great contact tool, but since he hits the ball hard a .270 or so hitter isn't out of the question. What will make things tough for Nash is eventually some of our shortstops will have to move off, which could take some time away from Nash. The power will be the key to his success, as if he can scare pitchers to pitching around him, he won't chase the bad pitches, and can punish the mistakes. Right now he's a borderline starter, but the pieces are in place for a borderline All-Star instead.

ayaghmour2 · 07-19-2023, 08:04 PM

CF Phil Boyes (261st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 76th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Benton Zephyrs

It was a big drop for Phil Boyes, who ranks over 100 points lower this year compared to last year. Despite that, Boyes had a much better season in similar time (183 PAs vs 166), slashing .309/.372/.414 (119 OPS+) with 4 homers, 32 RBIs, and a 129 WRC+. He also looked really good in center (0.4, 1.030), surprisingly better then right (0.8, .999) and left (-0.1, 1.021), as the now 20-year-old showed excellent range in the position he's most comfortable at. He also swiped nine bags as speed will always be a big part of his game. I love his hit tool, and I don't think this is going to be the last season he'll hit above .300. He has a real nice swing, and even with all the line drives he hits, he's more of a single guy then an extra base guy. His prospect stock may have taken a small hit, but I think he's on the right track. If we need someone for the San Jose outfield, he's a good candidate, and I don't think he's going to finish his season in La Crosse. He's a very raw prospect, but he has two really nice tools and sometimes that's enough to stick in the big leagues.

2B Roxy Hilts (274th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 59th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Cedarburg Bulldogs

It wasn't quite an 100 point drop for Roxy Hilts, but he dropped outside of the top 200 to 274. And like Boyes, he also hit better, increasing his triple slash from .291/.352/.368 (100 OPS+) to .301/.358/.425 (118 OPS+). Hilts increased pretty much all his numbers, including doubles (7 to 11), triples (1 to 3), walks (10 to 19), steals (3 to 9), and WAR (0.4 to 1.6). He didn't homer last season, but hit three out this year in 19 more games. Granted, he also struck out (53) over twice as often as he walked (19), but that doesn't project to be an issue once he's fully developed. He has a good swing and projects to become a solid contact hitter. He's a decent defensive second basemen, but we've given him some time at first to improve his versatility. Without some power, first isn't a likely landing spot, but if he can keep the ball in play, he can hit his way into a lineup. Like with Boyes, I'd like to make room for him in San Jose, but there's a chance the 19-year-old gets one final shot at C ball.

LHP Ray Paulson (276th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 70th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Forest Park Foresters

One of our 5th Rounders this year, Ray Paulson is a tiny lefty awesomely nicknamed "Half-Pint" for his small stature. But despite that, he has the poise of a Duke Bybee, and you don't want to face him when he's on. He's crazy intense and always prepared, and you know he's going to give it 100% each time. Half-Pint showed flashes of greatness on the mound for the Lions, including a 13-strikeout victory in a 3-2 Lions win. He had 54 in just 45.1 innings, huge whiff numbers for a guy who sits in the mid-80s. His 3.57 ERA (105 ERA+) was solid and his 3.28 FIP (87 FIP-) was even better. He did allow a lot of baserunners, as his 1.41 WHIP was on the high side, but if he's striking out guys it doesn't matter how many get on base. If he can keep the ball in the park, he can work around the baserunners, but he did allow three homers in his seven starts. What's interesting about all the strikeouts, or even somewhat concerning, is his stuff isn't that great. His slider will be his best pitch, and while it's excellent against lefties, it's not a real out pitch. He's going to be an interesting arm to keep an eye on, but the deck is stacked against him. I'll bet on his fire, but he'll have to beat out his height, velocity, and the general risks of being a high school lefty. But man, if you see the way he handles himself on the mound, you believe that anything's possible.

RHP Lee Parker (300th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 15th Round, 236th Overall (1946)
Alma Mater: Marysville Monarchs

The surprising addition in the top 500 last year, Lee Parker got up a few more spots to 300 in the initial offseason list. This comes after nine starts with the Lions, going 5-4 with a 3.71 ERA (101 ERA+), 1.46 WHIP, 23 walks, and 40 strikeouts. He was one of just two qualified pitchers on the Lions staff, sharing the ERA crown with Mike Emerson. The tall 19-year-old has an interesting five pitch arsenal -- the type where none of them are bad, but none of them are good. That means to be a useful starter, he's going to have to locate them, otherwise he's going to get hit hard. As a finesse pitcher, he doesn't usually miss over the plate, but the best hitters have no trouble with 87 anywhere. If Parker polishes his stuff or hits 90, he could work his way into a rotation, but for now he's got to perform to keep earning starts.

1B Cal Rice (305th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 158th Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Farmington Tigers

The addition of Dudley Sapp puts the first roadblock in the path of Cal Rice, who went from the only real first base prospect in the system to an after thought behind a potential star. Rice didn't let that effect his performance, as he hit .281/.344/.417 (113 OPS+) in 111 games for the baby Cougars. Unfortunately, 5 homers in 448 PAs is not what you want from your first basemen, and 24 doubles and 8 triples isn't enough to make up for it. Add on the 83-to-39 walk-to-strikeout ratio and there's work to be done if you only play first base. He's far from a lost cause, however, as there's a lot that plays in his favor. He turned 20 this August so he could still grow, and at 6'3'' there has to be some home run power. Dixie Marsh thinks it'll be at least average, and if we can get him in the weight room it could be plus or better. His bat will need to carry him, but a flyball hitter with strength works well at Cougars Park, and if he can improve his discipline, he could become an average big leaguer.

06-26-2023, 12:55 AM	#1141
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Trade News! I know, I know... I said there probably wouldn't be any more trades, but I just can't help myself! Like Sal Pestilli, the newest Cougar is someone I've attempted to acquire in the past, but nothing ever materialized. That changed tonight, when we acquire Saints slugger Red Bond for a pair of outfield prospects in Zeke Johnson and Joe Austin. Selected in the 2nd Round of the 1931 draft, Bond spent his entire professional career to date with the Montreal Saints, debuting for them as a 22-year-old in 1935. He got into just 17 games (11 starts), but hit a pretty solid .320/.404/.480 (136 OPS+) with 2 doubles, 2 homers, and 3 RBIs. The next season he earned an Opening Day roster spot, but only appeared in 83 games due to a bunch of random injuries. Still, it was clear the Saints found a keeper, as Bond hit an absurd .362/.456/.657 (192 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 15 homers, and 53 RBIs, while walking (32) more then he struck out (17). Again, he dealt with injuries, limiting him to just 95 appearances and only 55 starts. Again, he took advantage of his at bats, hitting .310/.370/.515 (144 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 12 homers, and 42 RBIs. 1938 was a different ball game for Bond, who was now 25 and healthy enough to play nearly every game. The then right fielder had himself a breakout, making a then high 621 trips to the plate in 143 games. He produced an excellent .316/.372/.480 (138 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 20 homers, and 85 RBIs. He followed that up with his first of two All-Star appearances, this time appearing in 151 games and launching 22 homers. He hit 27 doubles and drove in 97 runs, slashing .327/.401/.500 (140 OPS+). Some might have thought that was the best he'd do, but Bond fought former Cougar John Lawson and Wolf Fred McCormick, who was looking to threepeat with Whitney Awards. We all know Lawson ended up with the award, but Bond had a tremendous season himself. He led the CA in homers (30), RBIs (111), slugging (.550), OPS (.945), and WRC+ (163). Awful right field defense cost him in the WAR department, as he was worth just 4.3 in 153 games. Unfortunately for Bond, that was the last time he'd contend for a Whitney, as his numbers took a tumble the following season. He hit just 18 homers and drove in 90 RBIs with a .279/.354/.414 (113 OPS+) line. The next week was even worse, and he posted his first below average WRC+ (92) as a big leaguer. And he didn't have a chance to bounce back from it either, as the military came calling. Like most enlistees, Bond returned to for the 1946 season, and despite the three years off, he put together a really strong season. It wasn't prime Bond numbers, but the now 33-year-old hit .288/.355/.424 (125 OPS+) in 142 games. Sure the 14 homers were his lowest since 1937, but he still added 21 doubles, 61 RBIs, and 47 walks. This year hasn't been as great, but a lot has gone poorly for the Saints and he has 14 of the teams 32 homers, with no one else on the team having even five. Bond's .287/.322/.446 (103 OPS+) triple slash isn't great, but his 113 WRC+ is 24 points higher then Dick Walker's (89), and if he can hit homers as the Parc Cartier, he'll have no trouble at Cougars Park. Our offense has been very bad and I'm hoping Bond can give us some sort of thump. So where does this leave Dick Walker? Well... There's a few options. The best one would be a trade, so the almost 41-year-old can play more regular and add to his 2,731 career hit total. The worst option would be waivers, as it's a tough end to a potential Hall-of-Fame career. In 19 big league seasons, Walker posted a WRC+ below 100 just one other time (80), and has been worth nearly 80 wins above replacement since debuting at 21 back in 1928. He's 7 homers away from 200 and has swiped 419 bases, walking (1,754) more then twice as often as he's struck out (809). That's not the type of guy you want to waive, even this late in his career. Still, the alternative would be keeping three first basemen on the roster, and sending someone like George Sutterfield or Don Lee down. Both are 25 and have options, but haven't hit at all this season. Another option is cutting Jim Jenkins, who has a tiny 36 WRC+ and -0.3 WAR. Luckily I have time to mull my options, as with the trade coming late it may not even go through tomorrow. For now Walker and Ford will keep on platooning, and hopefully we can get some wins!

06-26-2023, 08:19 PM	#1142
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Week 15: July 21st-July 27th Weekly Record: 3-5 Seasonal Record: 49-50 (4th, 8.5 GB) Stars of the Week Harry Mead : 18 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.424 OPS Hal Sharp : 24 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .333 AVG, .885 OPS Schedule 7-21: Loss vs Foresters (4-2) 7-22: Loss at Foresters (3-5) 7-23: Win at Foresters (5-1) 7-24: Loss at Foresters (6-7): 12 Innings 7-25: Win at Sailors (6-0) 7-26: Win at Sailors (4-2) 7-27: Loss at Sailors (2-5) 7-27: Loss at Sailors (1-7) Recap I am really starting to hate this team... It wasn't the Sailors who gave us trouble this week, we split. No -- that would make too much sense! Instead, it was those pesky seventh place Foresters who took three of four from us and have beat us 5 times in 6 tries in July. July has been an overall nightmare, as we're just 9-16 and a game under .500, trailing the Sailors by 8.5 games. Walt Pack aside, pretty much everything has gone wrong for the offense, but nothing has been as frustrating as Sal Pestilli. Pestilli has endured a slump of the most inane proportions, going 3-for-32 last week to drop his Cougar line to a microscopic .118/.163/.158 (-12 OPS) in 82 PAs. Pestilli has struck out 34 times this season, already his most in any year, but the craziest part is he's struck out 8 times as a Cougar and recorded only 9 hits, which is just absolutely abysmal. This is a guy who hit 46 homers in a season, 30 or more three other times, and recorded 149 (stupid 1939...) or more hits in each of his seven prior seasons! But no, as a Cougar, zero home runs, zero offensive production, and somehow a sub 0 OPS+, WRC+ (-17...), and WAR (-0.7). Make this suffering stop... So... Was there anything good to talk about? Well... Duke Bybee! The young southpaw tossed his FABL best fourth shutout, allowing 9 hits and a walk as we beat the first place Sailors 6-0. Bybee is now 9-8 with a 3.13 ERA (122 ERA+) in 149.2 innings pitched, and while his 1.08 WHIP paces all CA pitchers, it's just a point lower then Ray Dalpman's out in Boston. Bybee has 66 strikeouts and 34 walks, and he's been able to survive 12 longballs in his 18 starts. His 3.39 FIP (88 FIP-) supports his overall line of work, and he's been about as reliable as it gets for us. We also got a good start from Joe Brown, who allowed 7 hits, a run, and a walk while striking out 5 in a complete game win. Pap got his first win since June 22nd, as he survived 8 walks and 6 hits, allowing just 2 runs with 6 strikeouts in a complete game win. The Jones Brothers were each lost two games, combining for 43 hits, 21 runs (20 earned), and 15 walks in four very uncharacteristic starts. Harry Parker also struggled, charged with 7 hits, 5 runs, and a walk and strikeout in just 5 innings. He'll head to the pen for now, but with a double header on the 17th of August, he may get a second start. So now the hitters... Do I even want to talk about them??? Well... Harry Mead is heating up! It was a huge week for our veteran backstop, as he went 9-for-18 with a double, triple, homer, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, and 4 walks and he's riding a 8 game hit streak, which includes a game he pinch hit this week and went 1-for-1! Ray Ford hit a bit too, 2-for-8 with a homer, 2 runs, and 3 RBIs. Hal Sharp dropped his average a bit (.344), but still went 8-for-24 with a double, 2 walks, 4 RBIs, and his 12th home run. His 154 WRC+ is beautiful, but even he's slumped in July, hitting just .270/.337/.404 (102 OPS+) in 23 games. Don Lee was surprisingly productive, 4-for-15 with a homer, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 3 RBIs. Still, Leo Mitchell (5-for-26) sucked, Dick Walker (3-for-22) did not do himself any favors, and George Sutterfield (0-for-8) now has a 38 WRC+ in 120 trips to the plate. Yay! Along with more draftees signing, there's plenty of transactional news, as Carlos Montes is healthy and ready to begin rehabbing. He won't be playing any center field in Milwaukee, instead splitting time between right field and third base. Yes -- he can play third, and even though he's gotten just one pro inning there, he still has the positional rating, and as good as Walt Pack is against righties (149 WRC+) he just absolutely can't hit lefties (-33). Same goes for Hal Sharp (86 vs 179), and while Sal can't hit anyone, I just have to let him play his way out of it. Montes will get some time in center, but if he can be useful at third or right, we can get him in the lineup more often. We also have to make room for Red Bond, which I'm not too sure what I'm going to do. If I can find a trade partner for Walker, Bond may get the week off, but otherwise I'll send someone off. Whether it is Sutterfield, Lee, or Jenkins, I'm not too sure, but one way or another, we're going to have a tough decision to make. Looking Ahead Worst part of an online league? Having to wait a month before your team becomes relevant again! That seems to be the curse for us now, as we seem to be too far out of first with just over two month to go. Can't win at home. Can't win on the road. Can't win in extras. Can't win one run games. Can't win blowouts. And can't win in July. Is there anything we can do? Well, we can take Monday off, before heading to Toronto for three against the Wolves. At 46-51, they're worse at winning then we are, but haven't made any big seller moves so far. I think it's safe to say Chink Stickels (.271, 3, 38, 11), Joe Hancock (7-7, 3.80, 35), and Hal Wood (.282, 5, 55) will be in Toronto come next year, and I don't think there was ever a thought to move Charlie Artuso (.251, 1, 42, 8), George Garrison (5-7, 3.07, 65), or Fred McCormick (.327, 16, 60), with the latter publicly declared unavailable. Looking towards the series that will truly disappoint, we're going to have to deal with Garrison, Jimmy Gibbs (7-7, 3.64, 42), and Jerry York (5-7, 4.02, 49), which should give our lineup plenty of fits. I'm expecting the worse, that's the part of the season I'm at right now, but in reality we actually have a decent shot at this series. I just don't think much will happen. The weekend series is just brutal, as we'll have three with the Cannons out in Cincinnati. At 54-45, they're just 3.5 games out of first, and they are much closer to the Sailors then to us (5 GA). The Cannons have made a few minor deals, but seem likely to stay put and try to content with what they have. I still think the rotation could use some help, especially after the Stars made the excellent acquisition of Richie Hughes (8-10, 4.18, 68) without having to part with top 25 prospects Ralph Hanson (1st) and Paul Watson (25th). The Cannons staff has held up rather well, but behind Rufus Barrell (8-8, 3.33, 85), who's 2.91 FIP (74 FIP-) suggest he's been unlucky, there's plenty of question marks. Bob Arman (10-7, 3.19, 75) has been good, but he's walked 100 hitters in 155 innings, and is prone to the occasional blowup. He's still a really good pitcher, and just 26, but he's not necessarily a guy you want pitching two or three times in a playoff series. Still, the Cannons play very good baseball, and their pen is very good at winning games. If they can get Chuck Adams (.242, 8, 49) or Jim Hensley (.235, 2, 28) to wake up, its not a lineup you want to deal with, as they can deal damage 1 through 6. I'm ready for the sweep, and I think we'd be lucky to salvage just one as the Cannons look to continue their pennant push.

06-27-2023, 09:15 PM	#1143
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Week 16: July 28th-August 3rd Weekly Record: 3-3 Seasonal Record: 52-53 (5th, 9 GB) Stars of the Week Hal Sharp : 24 AB, 10 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .417 AVG, .857 OPS Sal Pestilli : 26 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .346 AVG, .931 OPS Duke Bybee : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 2 BB, 6 K, 0.00 ERA Schedule 7-29: Loss at Wolves (3-7) 7-30: Win at Wolves (7-0) 7-31: Loss at Wolves (9-10) 8-1: Win at Cannons (2-0) 8-2: Loss at Cannons (1-5) 8-4: Win at Cannons (4-1) Recap We did it again... Dropped the series against the weaker team while taking two games from the better one! And we dropped another half game back... Yay... Don't worry though! Plenty of good stuff! Sal Pestilli finally decided to be a hitter this week, going 9-for-26 with 3 doubles, a triple, 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. This upped his Cougar line to a better then negative .176/.222/.255 (30 OPS+), although he has still not homered in any of his 110 PAs. Most of the production came in our 10-9 loss against the Wolves, as Pestilli was a perfect 4-for-4 with a walk, a triple, and three runs scored. Duke Bybee, who due to Ralph Johnson did not win Rookie of the Month, and will not win the Kellogg Award, continued his string of dominance, extending his scoreless streak to 28 innings with a 6-hit shutout of the Wolves. He allowed just 6 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts, dropping his ERA to 2.95 (130 ERA+) in 158.2 innings pitched. He has also passed Roy Dalpman for the FABL lead in WHIP (1.07) and his five shutouts still pace the league. The lead was extended to two, but the day after that was cut back to one, as Donnie Jones twirled a shutout of his own. He allowed just 3 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts to break his three decision losing streak and record his first win since July 4th. Donnie's 2.52 ERA (151 ERA+) is best in the association, and if these guys keep pitching like they are, we may finish above .500! Pete Papenfus may have endured the worst month since his debut season, as he ended April 1-5 after allowing 7 runs (6 earned), 7 walks, and 3 hits in just 2.2 innings. He didn't strike out a single batter, and walked (40) more hitters then he struck out (32) in 53.1 innings pitched. He had a poor 4.72 ERA (81 ERA+) and 1.54 WHIP, dropping his season marks to 3.57 (107 ERA+) and 1.43 on the season. It always sucks when your best pitcher isn't pitching as he does, but it's even worse when your best hitter is doing the same. Leo Mitchell had another bad week, going 5-for-21 with a homer, and he finished July with a .226/.321/.280 (66 OPS+) triple slash. His .258/.308/.388 (90 OPS+) season line looks more like something a reserve outfielder would have, and while he does have 11 homers and 53 RBIs, the overall production has really lacked. I can't imagine that he actually found the cliff, but Cliff Meyer keeps moving him down in the lineup, and since he is 34, you always have to worry about age. It would be a stunning fall off for someone so consistent, and it will hurt that much more that he was robbed of two Whitney' if this truly is the end of his effectiveness. Red Bond had a decent enough debut week, and while he was just 4-for-18, he did launch 2 homers and drove in 6. Sure, we lost both games he homered in, and hitting just over .200 ain't too great, but compared to Sal's start, we pretty much posted banners for him. Otherwise, not much support from the rest of the cast. Yes, Hal Sharp continued to get hits, going 10-for-24 to up his CA high average to .347. And Billy Hunter hit, 6-for-13 with a triple, as he boosted his season line to .290/.361/.435 (117 OPS+). Add in a 125 WRC+, 23 extra base hits, and more walks (29) then strikeouts (23), and you have a pretty impressive season line. The pithing wasn't great, but one of the only things notable was that "closer" Harry Parker mopped up Pap in the 3rd, going 4.1 innings with 4 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Considering we were down 7-4, bringing Parker in made even less sense, and considering I have this nifty "long reliever" Mel Haynes who would have been perfect for the job, I can't really understand what happened here. Although, let's be honest, I don't know much of anything that is going on this year... So why should this be any different? Oh yeah, how about a Carlos Montes update? No games in right (oof), but 5 at third base. 8-for-8, 3 PO, 5 A, 0.1 zone rating. Let's get it! Looking Ahead Off to start the week, but we'll still have to deal with the trials of playing on the road. We'll face one of the hotter teams in the CA, stuck in Brooklyn for three with the Kings. They've jumped over us for 4th, and our sitting at an even 53-53, going 19-12 since the start of July. The most surprising thing is not that they're .500, but the fact that they've scored more runs (514) then the Stars (496)! The Stars! How does that happen! Well, Ralph Johnson is a big part, as the likely Kellogg Winner might be in the Whitney conversation as well. Johnson may have turned 23 in June, but he's not hitting like it, owning an elite .305/.410/.451 (151 OPS+) triple slash with 17 doubles, 21 homers, and 79 RBIs. He's walked (79) more then he's struck out (42) and produced a 166 WRC+ in 101 games this season. He's not the only young hitter with plenty of promise, as Cougar target (shouldn't have gotten Pestilli...) John Moss (.273, 4, 52) has been excellent on both sides of the field while Chuck Collins (.283, 8, 37) and Billy Bryant (.289, 5, 49) have had solid rookie seasons. They've supplanted the young bats with vets like Juan Pomales (.292, 3, 34, 17) and Hank Barnett (.241, 5, 36), and they recently brought in a new member for the rotation. That would be 36-year-old Harry Carter (9-8, 3.67, 45), who is in line to start the opener in Chicago. He joins Buddy Long (12-9, 3.57, 59), Johnny Slaney (11-9, 2.99, 56) and the improving Leo Hayden (8-8, 4.67, 84) in what could be a really good rotation. We'll have to deal with their best, and they'll get our top three, so this could be a very exciting series for a neutral fan. That ends our 13 game road trip, but considering we've been better away (28-26) then at home (24-27), it may not help us too much. What makes matters worse is it starts with the Stars, who love slugging in Chicago. They may be 3 games out of first, but at 59-48 they are still not to be taken lightly. Even more so now, as they added talented Chicagoan Richie Hughes (8-11, 4.36, 77) to back up Eli Panneton (13-9, 3.06, 80) giving them a really dangerous and young 1-2 punch. The rotation was really the one weakness for the Stars, but right now it looks much better. Chuck Cole (11-9, 2.94, 64) has been outstanding and Vern Hubbard (10-10, 4.25, 63) continues to get unlucky (91 ERA+; 85 FIP-) and you have to imagine his lucky will change. They should have no trouble keeping us off the board, and when you factor in a lineup with Bill Barrett (.296, 12, 59, 4), Mack Sutton (.252, 29, 84), Jack Welch (.272, 10, 48), and Bill Barnett (.230, 19, 63), it's pretty much a guarantee we'll end up with more losses then wins. Just please, please, please let us finish above .500... Minor League Report CF Rupert Abbott (AA Mobile Commodores): Our farm is a little thin in terms of upper level depth, so I was forced to move the recently turned 22-year-old Rupert Abbott to AA. It's not that he was doing bad in A ball, as a .266/.335/.424 (104 OPS+) line is bad, but just over a year ago he was still enrolled in Opelika State. It turns out my worries were misplaced, as the hardworking Abbott took the promotion and ran with it. He's been up for just three weeks, and was named the Dixie League's most recent Player of the Week. He went 10-for-21 with 2 doubles, a triple, a homer, a steal, 3 walks, and 5 runs scored and driven in. This upped his Mobile line to .346/.424/.538 (144 OPS+) and he has accumulated 20 doubles, 6 triples, 8 homers, 10 steals, and 53 RBIs in 90 games split between the two levels. Initially a 4th Round selection of the Eagles, Abbott came over this offseason in the Billy Riley trade as I really liked his range, hit tool, and potential gap power. He's shown all of that so far, and has an impressive 7.9 zone rating with efficiencies of 1.052 (14, AA) and 1.042 (67, A) out in center. He's dropped a bit in the prospect ranks with all the new faces in the system, but still ranks 17th and 210th overall. We have plenty of talented center fielders, both on the 40 (Pestilli, Montes, Lee) and in the farm (Peters, Reece, Smith), but Abbott also looks like a future regular. He lacks the star potential the rest have shown, but he's always prepared for his at bats and should continue to show improvement at the plate. In another system, he may be groomed to be the center fielder of the future, but I'll be happy with plus defense and a threat on the bases. No prospect is a sure thing, so while some of our other center fielders rank ahead of him, he has the glove and work ethic to force us into a tough decision. And there's plenty of talent to be excited about! RHP Fred Terry (B San Jose Cougars): One of our recent draftees, 8th Rounder Fred Terry has gotten off to an amazing start to his professional career. The 21-year-old from Yellowhammer State was unlucky in his debut, as despite 7 excellent innings with 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts, he was given the loss as 10th Rounder Chet Komer (3-2, 4.05, 11) of the Eagles' Class B affiliate threw a 6-hit shutout. That didn't deter Terry, just inspired him to pitch better, as he followed that up with 7 more frames of impressive ball, and even with two runs of support, this time he secured the victory. Terry allowed 6 hits and a walk with 7 strikeouts, and will now make his way up to Lincoln. He seems more then ready, even when you look past the 1.93 ERA (198 ERA+) and 1.00 WHIP. Yes, it's a small sample, but while top prospect Bert Rogers struck out 50 in 93 innings, Terry is on pace for 84 in that same amount. And when you add in the stellar command, it's worth seeing what he can do against tougher competition, as some of the Legislators rotation members haven't had much success. Terry's not one of our more highly touted prospects, but the advantage he has lies within his development, as he's much further along then most of are talented pitchers. He sacrifices future potential for the current success, as I'm not sure he's much more then a back end guy. But if you pitch and continue to pitch well at any level, you'll get plenty of chances to earn a shot in the majors. I'm hoping he finishes the season off here, and perhaps the 22-year-old righty will start next year in the Commodores rotation. Cougars in the GWL 1B Jim Hatfield (Los Angeles Knights): Many Cougars struggled in July, but a former Cougar took home Batter of the Month in the GWL. Our 6th Round Pick way back in 1929, Jim Hatfield has made a really good career for himself in the independent league, going from the San Antonio Gunslingers to the war, to the Los Angeles Knights, and in the inaugural GWL season he matched his 165 OPS+ from his last season pre-war (1941) with an even higher 167 WRC+. This season has been more of the same, and Hatfield was named the best hitter for July. He hit a robust .393/.439/.571 (195 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, 19 RBIs, 10 walks, and 3 steals. The soon-to-be 36-year-old is now slashing .335/.387/.455 (146 OPS+) in 414 trips to the plate. He's tallied 8 doubles, 8 triples, 7 homers, 16 steals, and 37 RBIs, and bats third on a team with plenty of pennant aspirations. The Kings are in the thick of things again, as last year's runner up are 54-48 and 3.5 games behind the Grays and Centurions (58-45). Hatfield hits in front of another one of our draftees in Elmer Hutchins (.299, 4, 45), with King Price (12-6, 3.18, 69) and former Cougar farmhand Karl Wallace (8-8, 3.12, 52) in the rotation. Wallace has been unlucky, following up a 17-8 season with a similar ERA and FIP with less luck, and you have to imagine that'll improve as the season goes on. In fact, Price is the only one who has gotten good support, as Bob Cummings (8-9, 3.26, 76), Red Nokes (9-9, 3.45, 64), and Steve Noel (9-9, 4.01, 45) are all .500 or worse. Part can be blamed on closer Chick Pappalardo (5-4, 15, 4.24, 31), but beyond Hatfield, Hutchins, and Les Hendrix (.238, 8, 26, 10), most of the lineup has been average or worse. They'll need a little help from someone else, maybe leadoff man Ernesto Perez (.262, 3, 34, 9), if they want to return to the playoffs for a second attempt at the GWL crown. RHP Mac Watters (Dallas Centurions): While he never pitched a regular season game for us, we were the first of three teams to select Mac Watters in the Rule-5 draft. The second, the Gothams, were the only team to pitch him in FABL, and he made 139 appearances out of the pen. He struck out 79 and walked just 35, but his 4.31 ERA (96 ERA+) and 1.44 WHIP left plenty to be desired. The Gothams cut him after the '45 season, and he latched on to the Dallas Centurions. He pitched well for them out of the pen, going 4-6 with a 2.99 ERA (115 ERA+) and 1.14 WHIP. He had an almost identical 2.98 FIP (86 FIP-) and boasted an impressive 4.0 K/BB (36-to-9) in 75.1 inning. This season the Centurions have promoted him to the rotation, and he's been effective for a team that holds a share of first place. The Chicagoan was great to start August, tossing a 8-hit shutout in Houston to even his season record at 8-8. His 3.40 ERA (99 ERA+) is just above league average, but he's sporting his highest walk rate (1.8) and second lowest strikeout rate (2.3). Still, considering Watters is Dallas' #5 starter, it's hard to be upset with the results, and he's given them 159 innings in his 20 starts. The star of the staff may be George Hunter (10-4, 10, 2.40, 38), who's excelled in the pen and rotation, but Watters is one of many former Cougars. I've written plenty of Ira Hawker (11-8, 3.59, 73), who was one of the lone bright spots for the Centurions last year, and the pen is filled with Rube Finegan (5-5, 6, 2.53, 39) and Joe Foote (2-2, 3.04, 25). The revamped lineup has notable big leaguers in Heinie Billings (.317, 10, 50, 14), Brooks Meeks (.310, 5, 46, 8), Al Gross (.266, 7, 43) and former Cougar Ken Mayhugh (.288, 6, 45), but there's longtime Minutemen infielder and former Cougar 2nd Rounder Charlie Reed (.228, 2, 19, 3) as well. The Centurions have plenty of former Cougars to thank for their success, and are hoping to hang on to one of the top two spots in year two. Attached Images

06-28-2023, 08:22 PM	#1144
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Week 17: August 4th-August 10th Weekly Record: 3-3 Seasonal Record: 55-56 (5th, 8.5 GB) Stars of the Week* Joe Brown : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, 1.50 ERA Walt Pack : 24 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .333 AVG, .921 OPS Hal Sharp : 24 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .333 AVG, .845 OPS Slightly off as the email counted the last game of last week. Yesterday's might have been missing Sunday's game Schedule* 8-5: Loss at Kings (2-3) 8-6: Loss at Kings (3-6) 8-7: Win at Kings (6-4) 8-8: Win vs Stars (1-6) 8-9: Win vs Stars (2-6) 8-10: Loss vs Stars (3-1) Recap We continue to tread mediocrity with another 3-3 week, but we gained half a game in the standings! Yay! As ever, the pitching was great and the hitting sucked, but at least we scored six in two of the games. And yet again, we split with the better team (the Stars) and lose the series against the worst team (Kings), although to be fair, the Kings are probably better then we are. Not only do they have a better record, but they have played much better ball lately. Duke Bybee's scoreless streak was snapped at 35 innings, but that didn't stop him from dominating the Stars once again. Our talented rookie allowed just 5 hits, a run, and 4 walks with 6 strikeouts in his fourth consecutive complete game victory. The 25-year-old is now 11-8 with a 2.84 ERA (134 ERA+), 1.07 WHIP, and 78 strikeouts in his 20 starts. Ray Dalpman was hit hard, so Bybee now leads in WHIP by 7 points, and he should end the season with the most shutouts. Peter the Heater wasn't nearly as lucky, as despite allowing just 5 runs in 2 starts, he picked up his 13th and 14th loss. He leads the CA in losses, walks (118), and strikeouts (116), and while 11 walks in a start isn't very good, he still deserved to win at least one of his starts. Pap is a loss away from tieing his total from his two Allen seasons, and he could legit lose 20 games this season. With how good Bybee is, I was thinking about skipping Pap's start, but we have a double header this Sunday, and I don't want to force anyone on short rest. The other loss on the week went to Donnie Jones, who has now lost four of his last five starts. The All-Star game starter went 8 with 9 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts as the Kings got to him early and often. Johnnie didn't pitch much better, but he was the only one to beat the Kings, allowing 8 hits, 4 runs, and 5 walks with 5 strikeouts. Harry Parker finished that one off, picking up his first save with two strikeouts in a perfect ninth. His next appearance won't come till Sunday, as he's in line to start a tough double header in New York. The last start went to Joe Brown, who has now won four of his last five starts. Brown went all nine, allowing 6 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. Oh yeah, and our next run allowed will be #400 on the season. Next closest? The Sailors 427! If only we could hit... Sal Pestilli hit his first homer as a Cougar, and it came in game #29. It was a good one overall, as he showed what he should be doing on a regular basis. Pestilli went 1-for-2 with 2 runs, 2 walks, and 3 RBIs. Walt Pack hit his 18th of the season, finishing the week 7-for-22 with a double, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs. He was one of the few guys to hit, but Harry Mead was 6-for-17 with a run, 2 doubles, and 2 RBIs. That's all I want to mention, as I don't want to talk about another bad Leo Mitchell week. Not sure how many more I can take! Pretty much all our draftees are signed, at least the ones I planned to, and we sit in a tie with the Pittsburgh Miners with 175 prospect points. Our lead won't last much longer, as Eddie Howard is graduating, and since he's hitting .293/.397/.362 (109 OPS+), he's not going to head back to Milwaukee. Of the new class, plenty crack the top 500, with Jerry Smith (11th), Garland Phelps (26th), Dudley Sapp (71st), Buddy Jenkins (111th), Mike Emerson (197th), Ed Sutton (212th), Harley Dollar (218th), Willie Watson (251st), Bill Nash (260th), Roy Paulson (277th), Roy Gass (281st), George Carter (373rd), and the biggest surprise, 14th Rounder Ben Clough (465th). It turned out to be a pretty deep class for Dixie Marsh's first go of things, and far better then expected! This gives us 50 of the game's top 500 prospects, from Bob Allen (6th) to Al Robison (490th), so even though things aren't going well on the field, the farm will stay well stacked. Looking Ahead Off to start the week before we finish our quick homestand with three against the Kings. At 57-56, they are a game above .500 and us in the standings, and we may be competing with them the rest of the way for fourth place. It'll be a battle of the best offense versus the best pitching staff (and of course, worst offense), and we have a chance to get a little revenge. Their staff isn't great, ranked 6th in runs against (501) as their rotation hasn't been too great. Harry Carter (10-9, 3.56, 49) has looked good in his two starts, and we won't draw him in the series. Instead, it's looking like Johnny Slaney (11-10, 3.15, 60), Buddy Long (12-9, 3.42, 60), and former Cougar Rusty Petrick (10-7, 1, 3.88, 63). They'll be throwing to Solly Skidmore's replacement, Frank Reichardt (.308, 5, 25), who has a 152 WRC+ in 195 PAs and makes the Solly trade make plenty more sense. They got a really good prospect in Bill Cady and considering Reichardt will be 24 later this month, he could be their catcher of the future. They don't need any more good bats, and you can call me crazy, but I really think we'll keep them off the board. Just have to make sure Ralph Johnson (.310, 22, 84) doesn't control the game... The last little note is that the Kings claimed Jim Jenkins off waivers, giving them a veteran infielder off the bench. I was a bit surprised that he didn't clear, as he was hitting just .260/.260/.274 (47 OPS+) in 75 trips to the plate. He also had a terrible time at third base, as the normally sure handed defender had a .925 fielding percentage, -1.1 zone rating, and .954 efficiency. Hope he gets plenty of at bats in the series! We'll be on the road just for the weekend, with four games in three days against the Stars. I was surprised we took two of three from them, with the lone loss coming from new acquisition Richie Hughes (9-11, 4.14, 80), who, while in a small sample, has already corrected his walk issues. We're likely stuck with him again, although without a spot starter we'll have to deal with all but one of their pitchers. Sadly, we won't miss Eli Panneton (13-9, 2.97, 84), who will pitch the opener against the Saints, and my guess is the guy we miss will be Henry Shaffer (3-5, 2.28, 38), the guy I would rather face. Like the Kings, the Stars offense is very dangerous, as they rank 2nd in runs scored (503). Bill Barrett (.293, ,12, 59, 4) is having yet another excellent season and Mack Sutton (.251, 29, 84) is just a homer away from his second straight 30 homer season. The Stars do have a weakness, there's no really good catcher, as Chick MacKnight (.189, 3, 9) has overtaken Joe Rainbow (.201, 8, 35) as the starter. Pretty much all we can do is hope right now, but the Stars are off to a slow start in August, and we may have drawn them at the right time. Minor League Report 2B Tom Brownleaf (A Lincoln Legislators): With an injury to Al Clement, the Mobile infield needed a new face, and Tom Brownleaf will be that one. A former 8th Rounder, Brownleaf looked pretty good in Lincoln, slashing .265/.353/.413 (106 OPS+) with 29 doubles, 9 triples, 2 homers, 47 RBIs, and 46 walks. His high walk rate led to a strong 111 WRC+ and his excellent defense at second helped him accumulate almost 3 WAR (2.8) in 97 games. A former 8th Round pick, Brownleaf is a very hard worker, and he's done an excellent job with both improving his defense and plate discipline. He could end up as a guy who walks a bit more then he strikes out, and as a switch hitter he has plenty of value off the bench. He can handle all three infield spots well, but to start in the big leagues he'll need to put the ball in play more often. He could end up with an above average hit tool, but it hasn't surfaced much in the minors. He hit just .206 in 52 games for the Legislators last year, and his .287 average in San Jose last season is the highest it's gotten. Mobile may be a tough challenge for the Oklahoma native, but I have faith that he can hold his own. CF Frank Reece (B San Jose Cougars): After a slow start to the season, Frank Reece really started to heat up as the weather got better. He hit an impressive .286/.375/.438 (125 OPS+) in July with 5 doubles, 4 triples, a homer, 2 steals, and 7 RBIs. He followed that up with an even better first week in August, going an even 10-for-20 with 2 homers, 3 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. Currently ranked 11th in our system and 86th overall, the 19-year-old is now hitting .253/.340/.388 (102 OPS+) with a 110 WRC+ in 385 trips to the plate. Reece has tallied 11 doubles, 7 triples, 7 homers, 12 steals, 25 RBIs, and 41 walks in an impressive all-around showing. He's been a plus defender in center (3.9, 1.012) as well, and he has just 3 errors and a 1.4 ARM rating in 343 total chances. I was initially against moving him up to A ball this season, but with how he's done lately, he may earn a late season callup, especially once rosters expand. Even though he's now our third highest ranked center field prospect, Reece is plenty talented, projecting to make plenty of hard contact. His athleticism is a huge plus as well, as he's fast, strong, and should develop into an excellent defender. Of the three top guys, I think he may be the best defender, and if he keeps lining the all fields, we're going to have a very good young player for years to come. Last edited by ayaghmour2; 06-29-2023 at 12:24 PM.

06-29-2023, 09:14 PM	#1145
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Week 18: August 11th-August 17th Weekly Record: 3-4 Seasonal Record: 58-60 (5th, 9.5 GB) Stars of the Week Sal Pestilli : 30 AB, 14 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .467 AVG, 1.217 OPS Leo Mitchell : 24 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .375 AVG, .798 OPS Skipper Schneider : 27 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .296 AVG, .641 OPS Schedule 8-12: Win vs Kings (2-3) 8-13: Loss vs Kings (10-6) 8-14: Loss vs King (3-1) 8-15: Win at Stars (3-1) 8-16: Loss at Stars (1-4) 8-17: Loss at Stars (7-8) 8-17: Win at Stars (1-0) Recap Can we do anything other then win three games? Like at all? This season man... Despite yet another week of suckage, what should be our two best hitters had great weeks. Sal Pestilli is finally hitting line a Whitney Winner, putting together five multi-hit games in a six game stretch, including three straight three hit games. He was rewarded like a Whitney Winner too, picking up something I forgot Cougar bats could do -- win a Player of the Week. It was well deserved, as our star finished 14-for-30 with 3 doubles, a triple, homer, steal, and 4 RBIs. The 31-year-old vet is now hitting .338/.380/.538 (150 OPS+) with 5 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, 8 RBIs, and more walks (5) then strikeouts (2). And while Leo Mitchell still isn't having a good August, he went 9-for-24 with 2 runs, 2 walks, and 4 RBIs. Pretty much all the other every day players were pretty bad, but Clark Car and George Sutterfield also had a surprisingly good week, with the middle infield duo going 4-for-11 with a double, steal, 2 walks, and 3 runs scored. The offense continues to frustrate, as we'll likely finish the season out with the fewest runs scored (453) and runs allowed (427), which still should translate to 6 games over .500 (62-56). On the mound, Johnnie Jones has really struggled, and after snapping his four game losing streak with a mediocre start, he was awful against the Kings, chased out with two outs in the 4th. He left with 10 hits, a walk, and a strikeout and was charged with 7 runs (6 earned) as his ERA inflated to 3.73 (103 ERA+), almost a full point higher then it was almost exactly one month (a month and a day) from the loss (2.84). Pete Papenfus lost yet another start, now 15 of them, leaving after just 7 innings. It was a bit shocking considering just 92 pitches and decent performance (5 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K), but the poor guy just doesn't strike guys out anymore. Donnie Jones had an uncharacteristically short start, completing just 4 innings in a no decision in New York where he allowed 8 hits, 6 runs, and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts. It came after a brilliant complete game win over the Kings, where he allowed 5 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 6 strikeouts in a tight 3-2 victory. Duke Bybee and Joe Brown both stayed hot, but Bybee was tagged with a loss. He also didn't got deep, just 7 innings for the rook, allowing 7 hits, 3 runs, and 4 walks with a pair of punchouts. Brown picked up his second straight complete game victory over the Stars (maybe he should have pitched that tiebreaker...), finishing with 5 hits, 3 walks, a run, and 2 strikeouts. Harry Parker was much better in start two, as he held the Stars scoreless through seven and a third with 4 hits, 5 walks, and 6 strikeouts. With all the short starts, including Parker's, the pen got plenty of work, but only Paul Richardson kept runs off the board. He threw a perfect ninth in Parker's start to earn the save, as stopper Ken Matson got us out of the 8th. It was one of his four appearances, and he actually pitched both halves of the double header and three consecutive games. He allowed 6 hits and 2 runs with 3 strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched. Mel Haynes and Eddie Howard both struggled in long mop up spots, with Howard getting the loss in Donnie's start. He went 3.1 with 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout. Haynes' outing didn't matter, as he went 5.1 after Johnnie, allowing 4 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. With how poor we hit, we need to be better then this to get back over .500, and inch closer to our 62-56 expected record. The roster will get a reinforcement for the coming week with Carlos Montes returning from the IL. He's missed a lot of time this season with injuries, appearing in just 23 games for the Cougars. The 31-year-old vet was hitting just .247/.287/.376 (81 OPS+), but he had a much better .250/.381/.412 (102 OPS+) in 18 rehab games down in Milwaukee. His 113 WRC+ was pretty solid and he added 5 doubles, 2 homers, 10 RBIs, and 5 steals while walking (15) more then he struck out (11). While all that's well and good, the bigger thing was his defense. He actually had a positive (0.1) zone rating in 125 innings at the hot corner, and he completed all 21 (17, 2, 2) of the even or harder balls hit to him, as well as 1 of the 4 unlikely. With Sal Pestilli entrenched in center for the rest of the season, Montes' natural position, where he started all 808 of his FABL appearances, is unavailable. He'll get some time in center, whether that is due to a double header or needed rest from Sal, but most of his time (unless he starts raking, of course) will come spelling lefties Hal Sharp and Walt Pack when a southpaw is on the mound. Both have been awful against same side pitchers, with Sharp going 23-for-106 (.217, 61 WRC+) and Pack 2-for-35 (.057, -39 WRC+). Pack is nearly unplayable against same side guys, so Montes will enter the lineup as the third basemen most days, but he'll get some time in right, opening up some time for George Sutterfield or even Dick Walker, as Ray Ford can shift to second and Billy Hunter to third. Ford has been awful since June, and isn't a good defensive second basemen, but it's still better then Pack or Sharp trying to hit lefties. I debated the roster casualty for a while, but I think it's going to be Ray Struble, as I don't want to burn an option on Lee or Sutterfield, even if they can't hit. It's not like Struble can either, his .200/.314/.233 (52 OPS+) line equates to a 38 WRC+, and while he's stuck around because he's a plus center fielder, we don't really need that as much as Montes and Pestilli are as well. It didn't cost much to acquire Struble, and he has a chance to clear, but it feels weird cutting the guy who saved our season last year less then a year later. But the bat just can't be relied on, and he would have had a very limited role. By time he is off waivers, rosters will be expanded, so if he passes he'll be added right back. Looking Ahead We begin a nice long homestand with three against the Wolves, who have lost seven of their last eight to fall to 56-61 and 11 games back. Of course, that means they are just in time to turn their luck around against us, as we look to stay above them in the standings. A sweep would put us below them, something we cannot afford this late in the season. They look more like a .500 team then a 6 under team, with nearly equal runs scored (507) and allowed (510) through 117 games. Their rotation is weird, as all five members have ERAs between 3.53 and 3.97, but with a recent double header they may resort to a spot start from someone like Bob Walls (2-5, 4.22, 8) or Jim Morrison (4-5, 3, 4.24, 25), both of which have started frequently in the past but spent most of the season in the pen. Cookie Myers (9-6, 3.77, 32) is fully rested and ready for the opener, and with no changes they'd then throw co-aces George Garrison (6-10, 3.65, 81) and Joe Hancock (9-8, 3.53, 44) who have excellent FIP-s of 78 and 82, just what a struggling offense needs to deal with. To make things tougher, Hank Giordano (.255, 3, 57, 5) is starting to hit, slashing a robust .339/.371/.627 (160 OPS+) in August, which has upped his season WRC+ way up to 92. Tom Frederick (.272, 2, 36) is starting to play more regularly and the results have been solid (107 WRC+), and Chink Stickels (.274, 3, 42, 12) is trucking right along in another excellent year. And of course, there's Fred McCormick (.321, 23, 85), who reached 20 homers for the first time since his Whitney Winning 1939 season. This is the type of series that could help us string some wins together, but I have a feeling it won't end the way we want. Then it's our new nemesis, the Foresters, who seem to have gotten really good at beating us despite trading two of (in not their best two) their best pitchers. At 57-64, they're a game behind the Wolves, so after we get swept by them, they could be sitting ahead of us. If not, they will be afterwards, as I have very little faith in beating the team that ranks 7th in both runs allowed (570) and scored (460). Despite that, they have the CA ERA leader in Ollie White, who is just 23 and has done it in both the pen and rotation. He's started just 10 of his 35 appearances, and is 9-5 with 6 saves through 121 innings. That league leading ERA is a sparkly 2.01 (198 ERA+), nearly two points lower then his nearly league average 3.96 FIP (99 FIP-). He walks (74) a ton but strikes out even more (88), and he has a pretty solid 1.29 WHIP. He's really grown on Dixie Marsh as well, as our rookie scout ranks this rookie a future #1. With Hughes (10-11, 3.99, 86) and Steinberg (16-5, 3.15, 59) out of the picture, he's probably the best pitcher on the staff now, but Augie Hayes Jr. (8-14, 4.15, 63) still ranks above him in the rotation. The lineup doesn't have a high caliber starter like Ollie, but they did pick up a favorite of mine in Bill Grove (.210, 6) from the Stars in the Hughes trade. No longer a prospect, he'll turn 25 in September, but was frequently ranked in the top 100 before getting significant time on the 1945 Stars team. He excelled as well, slashing .273/.374/.372 (116 OPS+) in 96 games, adding 17 doubles, 5 triples, 2 homers, and 31 RBIs with 56 walks and just 37 strikeouts. With the addition of Mack Sutton (.241, 30, 87), there was no room for Grove, and he'll now compete with the recently optioned Bob Miller (.275, 13) for the title of third basemen of the future. Beyond Grove, first basemen Lorenzo Samuels (.306, 10, 38) and Ivey Henley (.302, 5, 34) have shown tremendous promise, with the latter trying his hand at left field to keep both bats in the lineup. Beyond that, not much to write home about, but they're over .500 in July and August, and seem likely to end up out of the cellar for just the second time since 1942. Can they finish above 7th for the first time since they were 2nd in 1939? If we keep falling, that seems like a lock! Sunday will be spent hosting the Sailors for the first of three. Currently 3.5 games above the Stars (65-55). The Sailors do pretty much everything better then we do, and while we do have the advantage in the rotation, we could be stuck with their top three and David Medina as the stopper is no joke. Most people undervalue the use of relievers in the league, but Molina is an obvious exception. The 28-year-old doesn't really have the ability to start games, but that doesn't stop him from being ranked as the 3rd best pitcher (behind Eli Panneton and Ed Bowman) in either association, a spot that was previously awarded to the best pitcher who wasn't Pap or Donnie. What makes the Illinois native stand out from the pack is how effective he's able to pitch as often as he's able to pitch. He appeared in a league high 80 appearance last season, and his 62 this season give him a double digit lead over every other pitcher. And they aren't a ton of one inning outings either. He's thrown 97 inning and directly accounted for 28 (7 wins and 21 saves) of the Sailors 70 victories. His 2.69 ERA (148 ERA+) and 2.73 FIP (68 FIP-) are elite and his WHIP is a point below 1. He strikes out (79) almost twice as many batters as he walks (41) and his 2.3 WAR trails just Win Lewis (4.3) and Al Duster (2.4) on the staff. When the Sailors have a lead, he usually keeps it, and it's shown in extra innings (6-3) and (16-13) one run games. I'll cover more of their guys tomorrow, but I really hope those games will actually have some effect on the pennant race. It is still just a single digit lead after all... Maybe Leo Mitchell is heating up? Maybe Sal Pestilli? Who knows, Carlos Montes has shown flashes of being a star. And the let Walt Pack face lefties experiment can officially end. I think it's time for a Don Lee redemption. After all, Rap will see Rip (281, 2, 43, 5) when Philly is in town. Oh yeah, expect to see Dick Walker all series. Sailor fans deserve one last look at their former star. Let's win some games! Minor League Report C Bob Mundy (AA Mobile Commodores): Despite being a 13th Rounder, I inserted Mississippi A&M backstop Bob Mundy directly into the Commodores lineup. He has not disappointed. The 22-year-old has appeared in just 13 games, but his .347/.377/.592 (144 OPS+) triple slash fuels a 151 WRC+, and he's already doubled and homered three times. A hard working switch hitter, Mundy has really strengthened a lineup that now ranks 5th in runs scored. He's not a highly touted prospect, completely absent from the top 500 list, but he's very well developed and is basically at his ceiling of being a useful enough backup catcher. That's not to say he won't get any better, but what he does has already shown up. Dixie thinks he'll "catch and throw at a high level" which I take to mean good framing and a strong arm. The bat has more questions, as I don't believe in this power, but he does project to have a strong hit tool with consistent plate discipline. Everyone needs catchers and you can never have too many good ones, and I think if Mundy gets a shot like Joe Rainbow did, he could be a solid starting catcher for a big league club. He even has an up arrow to the big leagues, but with Homer Guthrie and Eddie Howard in the way, that promotion won't happen any time soon. RHP Tommy Seymour (A Lincoln Legislators): My faith in Tommy Seymour has never wavered, and after an awful four game losing streak that finished with 14 hits and 8 runs in 5.1 innings in a 8-1 loss to the Peoria Pastimers, who are right behind Lincoln in the pennant race. He got right back on the mound and fired a perfect answer as this time a single run of support was enough. He allowed just 2 hits and 4 walks in the shutout, striking out 4 in the 1-0 victory. Recently turned 22, Seymour has been challenged in A ball, as more experienced players then him have solved his pitched. I'd love for the former 1st Rounder to continue adding velocity, as he upped his fastball to a max of 87 this spring. That's definitely hittable, and since he's susceptible to the walk (68, 5.2) runners tend to be on base when he makes his mistakes. He has a bloated 4.94 ERA (84 ERA+) and 1.70 WHIP in 116.2 innings pitched, and is one of thew few pitchers on the staff that is struggling. There's still plenty to like about our 15th ranked prospect (201st overall), who I didn't really expect to be ready for A ball anyways. He has a really nice change and an impressive splitter, but both are far from a finished product. The harder he throws, the better these pitches are going to be, and the more polished they get, the misses will look much better. There's plenty of risk, but I believe if his fastball can live in the 90s, he could be a very useful big league starter.

06-30-2023, 07:54 PM	#1146
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Week 19: August 18th-August 24th Weekly Record: 5-2 Seasonal Record: 63-62 (t-4th, 9 GB) Stars of the Week Red Bond : 23 AB, 12 H, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .522 AVG, 1.522 OPS Hal Sharp : 28 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .357 AVG, .887 OPS Harry Mead : 23 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 7 RBI, .391 AVG, .923 OPS Schedule 8-18: Win vs Wolves (2-10) 8-19: Win vs Wolves (2-7) 8-20: Loss vs Wolves (5-3) 8-21: Win vs Foresters (8-10) 8-22: Loss vs Foresters (7-6): 11 innings 8-23: Win vs Foresters (3-4) 8-24: Win vs Sailors (4-5): 12 innings Recap They listened! They actually listened! We won some games! Five of them to be exact, taking two of three from both the Wolves and Foresters before a crazy extra inning opener with the Sailors. Down 4-1 heading into the bottom of the 7th, we took advantage of star stopper David Molina (8-3, 22, 2.56, 86), who tried to bail Al Duster (9-10, 3.14, 95) out of a jam, but instead Red Bond (.293, 21, 84) drove home two with a double to bring us within one. An error aided us in the ninth, as we would have lost as Don Lee (.202, 3, 17, 11), who led off the inning with a walk (about all he's been good at this year), scored on a Pete Woodward (.273, 1, 10) error, which was ironic as "Woodsie" came in as a defensive replacement. That forced extras, and after a few zeros, the struggling Leo Mitchell (.266, 12, 67) mustered up some heroics, walking it off with a solo blast that probably would have been a fly out in most other parks. That brought us back above .500, pushing us to a tie with the Kings for 4th. Red Bond had plenty of big hits all week, as once again, a Cougar was named Player of the Week. The aging slugger continued his power surge, launching 3 homers and 2 doubles with 9 runs and 10 RBIs as he slashed .522/.522/1.000 (309 OPS+) in 23 trips to the plate. Bond is now hitting a superb .315/.329/.562 (140 OPS+) as a Cougar, and has already hit 5 homers in just 79 PAs since joining from the Saints. And for the first time in what feels like forever, it wasn't a one or two man show, as we put up 10 runs not once, but twice (!!) this week, as plenty of guys produced at the same time. Harry Mead continues to heat up, going 9-for-23 with 2 doubles, 7 RBIs, and 3 walks while Eddie Howard was 4-for-5. Hal Sharp finally pushed his average up, even if it was just a smidge, going 10-for-28 with a double, homer, and 7 RBIs as he tries to fend off Sam Brown (.333, 7, 57) and Ed Reyes (.333, 4, 55) in the batting race. Carlos Montes didn't start many games with a ton of righties on the mound, but he still went 2-for-6 with 2 walks, a run, and RBI, and made both plays at him in his first start at third base. The Foresters and Wolves don't have many lefties, so he didn't really get a chance to play, but the Sailors, Cannons, and Kings all have a pair of lefty starters which will give Montes plenty of more opportunities. It was nice to finally see some life in the bats, as we're up to 7th (498) in runs scored, but one has to wonder if it's far too little and far too late. No loss for Peter the Heater this week, but he did not look good against the Foresters. They got 8 hits, 8 runs, and 6 walks in 6.1 innings as he struck out just 4. This inflated Pap's ERA to 3.74 (103 ERA+) in 214 innings, the highest mark of any of our five starters. The only good thing about this start is it allowed Mel Haynes to shine, as he picked up his first win of the season. Not only did he throw 2.2 innings of hitless ball (1 BB, 2 K), but he contributed in our huge 7 run 8th, driving in two with a single before scoring on a Sal Pestilli double. Haynes also singled in his first at bat, upping his season line to .320/.370/.320 (90 OPS+) with 9 RBIs and more walks (2) then strikeouts (1), good enough for a 104 WRC+ which is higher then 6-Time All-Stars Leo Mitchell (95), Skipper Schneider (84), and Sal Pestilli (79). After a brutal stretch of starts, Johnnie Jones bounced back in a huge way, spinning back-to-back complete game victories. First he beat the Wolves, allowing just 6 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts in an easy 10-2 victory. Things were tougher when the Foresters came to town, but Johnnie pitched well enough to escape with a 4-3 win. He was charged with 11 hits, 3 runs, and 6 walks, but managed to strike out 4 and strand plenty of runners to improve to 12-8 on the season. Duke Bybee had a pair of starts as well, but the second ended in a no decision. That was against the Sailors where he went just 7 with 7 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. His complete game win against the Wolves was much more impressive, as despite 5 walks and just 1 strikeout, he held Toronto to just 6 hits and 2 runs. Bybee's 2.93 ERA (132 ERA+) is now best on the staff after Donnie Jones (9 IP, 12, 6 ER, 3 K) was hit hard in our extra inning loss against Cleveland, and his 1.10 WHIP is best of any qualified pitcher this season. When the season started, I said he could pitch his way into the three spot by seasons end, and that's where he finds himself now as we approach the final month of the season. There was plenty of transactional news, including what maybe should have been a deadline deal. Brooklyn recently claimed Jim Jenkins off waivers, and to make room for him on Kings roster they DFA'd former Eagle and Forester Leon Blackridge, a player I've had my eye on (and even tried to trade for) since the 1934 draft. A 6th Round selection of the Stars, Blackridge was frequently a top 100 prospect but owns just a .258/.341/.363 (101 OPS+) career line in just under 3,000 career plate appearances. That's nothing to be ashamed of, but he never really got a chance to play everyday as he went from being stuck behind Mel Carrol to serving in the Air Force. He's only gotten into 42 games this season with just 17 of them starts. His .262/.395/.308 (89 OPS+) line isn't terrible, although he's gone 65 at bats without a home run. His 14 walks to 8 strikeouts are impressive, and his 108 WRC+ is solid, but the King wanted him to play second and he's pretty much a third basemen only. His leadership could be useful down the stretch, and there are bench spots up for grabs next season and we need a right side of the Walt Pack platoon. He may not get too many at bats this season, but if he survives the Winter, he'll get plenty of looks in the spring. The deadline to sign draft picks just past, and in the end I caved and gave 20th Rounder Fred McHenry $1,600 to pass up his commitment to Tallmadge State. We've been hit hard recently with outfield injuries, and instead of the usual 20 batters I carry in La Crosse we were down to just 18, and now Phil Boyes is dealing with calf soreness. He'll be back next week, but without McHenry we would have just six outfielders, one of those being converted shortstop Hank Smithers, who was taken four rounds earlier. McHenry may not play too much, but there are plenty of at bats up for grabs. Then comes roster expansion, and depending who gets callups, their may be starting positions available at higher levels, further thinning the Lions roster. McHenry is a hard worker and as is wouldn't be the worst fourth outfielder, making him useful to hang onto. He'll basically has a ten month audition until next year's draftees come around, and without a first rounder, we may be without an impact prospect. He'll never hit for any power, but if he can put the ball in play and provide serviceable defense, he could stick around. Here are the six players we decided not to give a contract to, as well as their round selected and new school. All six will be eligible for the 1950 draft: CF Goldie Smith (18th Round): Western Florida LHP Herb Bloom (19th Round): Coastal State RHP Jacob Larry (21st Round): Redwood University 2B Bill Carrier (22nd Round): Eastern State LF Curt Boyle (23rd Round): Darnell State C Bill Haugen (25th Round): Red River State Looking Ahead We did it once, so can we do it twice more? The Sailors are going to be tough, as we'll have to beat the struggling Slick Wesolowski (12-9, 4.07, 75) and staff ace Win Lewis (14-10, 2.67, 74). That won't be easy, and with Joe Brown (12-9, 3.59, 73) and Pete Papenfus (8-15, 3.74, 123) there are plenty of ways this can go. The lineup looks a little different, as Eddie Heaton (.195, 1, 12) has somewhat surprisingly replaced Cotton Dillon (.275, 7, 66) in right field. Harvey Brown (.288, 4, 56, 23) and Ed Reyes (.333, 4, 55) are heating up and Bobby Boone (.319, 1,, 35, 8) has been another excellent Rule-5 find of the association leaders. These two games could determine our season, as a sweep makes things interesting if it can build some momentum. Our next guest will be the Cincinnati Cannons, who would love for us to sweep the team in first. Cincinnati is 67-59, but 5.5 games behind the surging Sailors. Working in our favor is the favorable pitching matchup, as we'll get their bottom two in Charlie Griffith (16-6, 3.91, 84) and Les Bradshaw (9-11, 4.01, 76). Griffith has a knack for winning games, so that can't be taken lightly, and the Cannons have some firepower in the form of Denny Andrews (.305, 13, 60) and Chuck Adams (.264, 12, 64). Al Wheeler (.235, 9, 42) is playing more often while Sam Brown (.333, 7, 57) and Adam Mullins (.300, 5, 52) are adding another productive season to their resumes. This will be tough, but avoiding Rufus Barrell (9-12, 3.66, 114) is huge, and we need to capitalize in games where on paper we have the advantage. The same is said of the weekend series as we host the last place Saints for three. Things haven't gone well for Montreal, as they're 10 games behind the seventh place Foresters and 28 games under .500. The pitching has let them down, as beyond Pat Weakly (10-13, 3.69, 98) and Bert Cupid (10-13, 3.53, 86) they haven't been getting quality starts. Andy Lyon (5-9, 4.30, 76) has a nearly matching ERA+ (93) and FIP- (94) so perhaps smoother sailing is ahead, and at just 24 he's only going to get better. Someone in the lineup to look at is another 24-year-old, Maurice Carter, who was a teammate of Duke Bybee, Eddie Howard, and more this winter on the Santa Clara Stallions. The first basemen was acquired from the Eagles for righty Jose Waggoner at the deadline. Carter, who debuted in '45 with the Eagles, went straight to the big league lineup, and he's hit .327/.400/.423 (118 OPS+) in 62 trips to the plate. "Big Moe" isn't the most highly touted prospect, and for a slugger like him Montreal may not be the perfect fit. But if he keeps drawing walks and putting the ball in play, he could become a building block as the Saints look to right the shift. I hope we can keep them down, but we're the team they've done the best against this season. Minor League Report C Garland Phelps (B San Jose Cougars): Is it already time to promote him? It's been just two months, but Garland Phelps has already won two Player of the Weeks. This time around wasn't as extravagant, as he went 11-for-27 with 2 doubles, a triple, and 6 RBIs. It was a nice gift as the brilliant backstop turned 18 on the 22nd, and has now hit .347/.392/.545 (160 OPS+) in his first 40 professional games. The 6 doubles and 5 homers don't surprise me one bit, but the fact that he has 6 triples? That's crazy! Speed isn't a part of his game, so I wonder if a lot of those are balls that are it very far in a large part. He's already drove in 42 runs and is a tenth of a win away from 2 WAR. There's no room in A ball with Bill Martin returning, so Einstein will finish his season out in California. He's already flashing the star level potential many saw in him, as he's going to be a truly special offensive talent. The defense hasn't been great, but he's got plenty of time to figure that out. If everything breaks right, Phelps is going to be the best ever Cougar catcher, and he may spend some time as the best FABL catcher. Wouldn't that be fun?

07-03-2023, 10:42 PM	#1147
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Week 20: August 25th-August 31st Weekly Record: 4-3 Seasonal Record: 67-65 (5th, 6 GB) Stars of the Week Ray Ford : 12 AB, 8 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .667 AVG, 1.964 OPS Don Lee : 11 AB, 5 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.629 OPS Duke Bybee : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 2 BB, 7 K, 0.00 ERA Schedule 8-25: Win vs Sailors (7-8) 8-26: Win vs Sailors (1-3) 8-27: Win vs Cannons (1-2) 8-28: Loss vs Cannons (4-2) 8-29: Win vs Saints (0-3) 8-30: Loss vs Saints (7-2) 8-31: Loss vs Saints (6-3) Recap What a missed opportunity... After sweeping the first place Sailors and splitting with the second place Cannons, we once again stumble against the cellar dwelling Saints. If it wasn't for the superhuman southpaw Duke Bybee, they would've definitely swept us, and we are the only team (7-7) that the Saints are not below .500 against this season. If we pulled off the sweep, we would have been just four games out of first and in fourth place, but we instead find ourselves a still manageable six out as we head into the final month of the season. Speaking of Bybee, this poor kid is going to have nothing to show for in his absurdly dominant season. He completed his six shutout of the season and fourth since June 30th, and it was a beaut. Bybee's only real blemish was a Gordie Perkins (.286, 17) single with one out in the first, as he retired 26 of the next 28 batters, with both baserunners reaching via the walk. He struck out 7 in his 1-hit shutout, and he now has at least twice as many shutouts as any non-Cougar, with Donnie Jones (4) the only FABL hurler with more then three. Bybee's 1.07 WHIP is 11 points better then Donnie, who again checks in at two, and his 2.79 ERA (138 ERA+) is third in the CA and fourth overall. He's on pace to strikeout 106 hitters in 233 innings, with the next out he records completing his 200th inning on the season. His 13 wins are second to just Donnie on the team and his 91 strikeouts rank third. He's not catching Pap (133) or Donnie (118), but considering Pap has 5 more starts and Donnie 2, he's been everything we wished for and more. He's in striking distance of a 5 WAR season (4.1) and his 3.32 FIP (86 FIP-) is well above average. For a kid who turned 25 this year and missed four years of development time while he was in the Marines, Bybee is talented well beyond his experience, and should be in contention for Allen Awards the rest of his career. But with how good Ralph Johnson (.316, 24, 96) of the Kings has been, the chances of him taking home the Kellogg Award are slim to none, and I have to imagine the combination of Donnie Jones' dominance and the Cougars mediocrity will cost him Allen votes as well. The young lefty will be leaned on heavily the rest of the way, a true test of his poise, but we have faith that the young captain will be more then up for the challenge. The offense came to play this week, but the sources of the explosion were not the one's I was expecting. Ray Ford and Don Lee were extraordinary, going 13-for-23 with 4 walks, 6 runs, and 7 RBIs. Ford hit two homers and doubled while Lee had two triples and a homer. Both are red hot, with Ford finishing August with a .381/.469/.595 (190 OPS+) batting line while Lee, in a much smaller sample (29 PAs to 49) slashed an absurd .333/.481/.857 (260 OPS+). Both have been playing regularly against lefties, and it's finally coming together. Sal Pestilli matched Lee's 2 triples and a homer, going 6-for-21 with 2 runs and 3 walks. Red Bond was 5-for-15 with a homer and 3 RBIs, now with 6 in 28 games as a Cougar and 22 on the season. Hal Sharp's lead in the batting race is just one point, as his average ticked down slightly with a 5-for-15 week. Walt Pack was 4-for-14, but one of those hits was his 20th homer of the season, and if he reaches 21 it will tied for 10th most in a season as a Cougar. Pack's been inconsistent, but a .261/.332/.484 (121 OPS+) batting line is nothing to scoff at, and he could form a very powerful platoon with Otto Christian next year. We need to keep getting big numbers from him, Bond, and Pestilli as Leo Mitchell (4-24) may need an offseason to get things figured out, as aside from an otherworldly September, he's almost guaranteed to fail to hit the 130 WRC+ mark he effortlessly has posted year after year. But if we want to erase the six game deficit, we need Mitchell to hit, and I have to imagine their still something left in that bat. He's just too good to be this bad! Speaking of too good to be this bad, guess what? Another week, another Papenfus loss... At least this time he also got a win, and errors were the reason he got his loss. The win was exciting, 5 hits, a run, and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts to pick up his 9th on the season. The loss saw half his 6 runs unearned, as he went just 7 with 6 hits, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts. 9-16 is not the record I expected from our fireballing ace, who still has the most walks (135) and strikeouts (133) in the Continental Association. Donnie Jones pitched a great game, allowing 7 hits, a run, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts in a complete game win. Johnnie got a loss, allowing 8 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts in a complete game loss. Joe Brown had two starts, and neither went that well. The first at least ended in a win, even if it wasn't his, charged with 12 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts in 7.1 innings. He then lost to the Saints, allowing 11 hits, 7 runs, and a walk in 6 inning. The craziest part was the 4 homers, and Brown now has 18 in 209 innings. He's never allowed more then 15 in a season, and that came in 238.1 innings. He might be the guy who gets skipped a bit as we finish the year, but he's generally a dependable innings eater and I still think if I threw him in the playoff over the Stars we could have won a title. Rosters are officially expanded as well, and we'll load up with some new players. Rejoining the roster is Ray Struble, who as expected, passed waivers. He'll be joined by waiver claim Leon Blackridge, who will be making his Cougar debut once he makes his first plate appearance. Joining from Milwaukee will be backstop Homer Guthrie, first basemen Bill Payne, outfielder Ducky Cole, lefty Rusty Watts, and righty Harry MacRae. I'll cover a few of the guys in more detail later on. We will have four additional roster spots that could be filled later, but a lot of the guys left on our 40 are youngsters I want to play regularly. Looking Ahead Our homestand comes to a quick end with an annoying double header with the Stars. Sure, neither of us have games on Tuesday or Wednesday, but yeah, let's just play them both on Monday instead! The Stars (72-61) are a percentage point below the Cannons (71-60) for second, but both are a game and a half behind the Stars. I have no idea who will be pitching for them as they had a double header to finish August, but one of the guys will be Chuck Cole, who doesn't pitch like a 37-year-old. The veteran righty is an unlucky 13-12 despite his stellar 2.77 ERA (142 ERA+) and 1.25 WHIP. He's struck out 79 hitters in his 27 starts and is on pace for the 5th 250+ inning season of his career. Roster expansion means plenty of reinforcements from Syracuse, including the two pieces of the Billy Riley trade Bill Chapman (9-4, 1, 3.45, 58) and Foster Smith (2-2, 2.40, 15), but there's Jack Wood (8-6, 4.38, 53) and Ed Cornett (3-6, 5.19, 25) in the pen as well as a short rest Richie Hughes (11-12, 4.07, 93). I don't care who it ends up being, as we'll have another Jones Brother double header and I'll take Donnie over Cole and Johnnie over whoever they scrap together. The offense is tough, as Mack Sutton (.243, 35, 100) is making a rather detailed Whitney campaign and a sprained knee isn't really making Bill Barrett (.299, 15, 75) any worse. Add in the pop from Bill Barnett (.226, 21, 70) and Jack Welch (.261, 16, 63) and I think you're looking at the favorite for the pennant this season. A sweep could put them in first, while us sweeping could make it tough to recover. These are huge games, and with the off days that follow, crucial in working our way back up. The rest of the week is guaranteed to stuck, as we're playing four in Montreal with the almost 30 games below .500 Saints (50-79), who had no trouble beating us in Chicago. We'll have Bybee for one of the games, so that should be one win we can count on, but for some reason we just cannot handle the Association's clear worst team. Pat Weakly (10-13, 2.70, 100) left their 6-3 win over us in the 2nd with calf soreness so he may miss the series, and him and Bert Cupid (10-14, 3.50, 91) are both guys I'd love to miss. I don't think we miss Cupid, and Weakly may be better for the weekend, which means we're going to have to beat their best. Roster expansion could alter the roster a bit, but it looks like the other two hurlers we'll face our Wally Doyle (5-15, 5.08, 106) and Gordie Irwin (1-1, 5.22, 6). The lineup has a new face, as they called up 1941 2nd Rounder Gig Taylor for his big league debut. "The Dervish from the District" didn't get off to a great start, as he was just 2-for-16 in 4 starts. Sure, one of the hits was a solo homer off Joe Brown, but he's been otherwise ineffective. We really need to win these games, and on paper this should be a sweep, but I'm still very worried. Each season it seems like we struggle with a team we should handle, and each year it ends up costing us. If we don't win this series, it'll do it again, but a four game road sweep should bring us within five of the division lead. Minor League Report RHP Harry MacRae: I was surprised MacRae struggled so much in Chicago, but at least he was back to his normal self down in AAA. He was brilliant through 26 inning, working to a 2.42 ERA (190 ERA+) with 6 walks and 7 strikeouts. The 1.46 WHIP was on the high side, but that would rank 3rd or 6th if he was a qualified pitcher. MacRae won't return to a high leverage role, but if he records at least one more out he'll reach 20 innings pitched. He's allowed 23 hits, 10 runs, and 9 walks with 14 strikeouts. He won't get any leverage innings if we're even remotely in it, but when we eventually trickle out, he may get some innings that otherwise would have gone to Paul Richardson. C Homer Guthrie: Our original back up catcher is back, as Homer Guthrie returns after posting a 131 WRC+ in 276 PAs. The 26-year-old hit .293/.427/.414 (114 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 5 homers, and 30 RBIs with a strong 52-to-29 walk-to-strikeout ratio. This was much better then the .192/.382/.231 (71 OPS+) he posted in a short time up in Chicago. Dixie Marsh thinks he's better then Eddie Howard and is good enough to play every day in the big leagues. The catcher battle in the Spring will be interesting, as Guthrie will get a chance to take a spot from Eddie Howard or potentially even Harry Mead, who is 33 and hitting just .235/.297/.348 (79 OPS+) on the season. It would be his worst offensive season since he became a full time starter in 1941, but at least he's still playing elite defense (51.1 RTO%, 2.4 FRM). All three may be wondering when their number is up with the addition of Garland Phelps, but Guthrie is the one in most danger of losing his spot. He can be optioned two more times, but Bob Mundy (.303, 4, 15) was crushing it in AA and will be taking Guthrie's regular at bats in AAA. A timeshare could work, but Guthrie will need to perform to keep getting consistent at bats. 1B Bill Payne: I know what you're thinking, is another first basemen really necessary? But when guys are already on the 40 and you have guys to cover at bats, it never hurts to have another bat off the bench. Initially a member of the Gothams organization, we claimed Payne off waivers and he spent time at first (67) and left (43) for the Blues this season. The promotion is a nice gift for Payne, who just celebrated his 25th birthday on the 29th. Payne is a bat only prospect who produced a 121 WRC+ with an excellent 60-to-15 walk-to-strikeout ratio. He slashed .309/.393/.452 (115 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 4 triples, 10 homers, and 60 RBIs in his first season with the Blues. He'll likely have a second, but he gets a head start on auditioning for a bench role for next season. He gives plenty of Hal Sharp vibes, even down to the attitude, and with an option left and plenty of other first basemen on the roster, it may be tough to sneak him on the roster. RF Ducky Cole: The Blues aren't going to be playing any meaningful games in September, so I figured it was worth giving Ducky Cole a chance at a major league debut. We burned an option on the 7th Rounder already, and he's an excellent defensive right fielder. That's perfect when you employ Hal Sharp, who would be the perfect DH if someone ever decided to come up with it. Cole posted an 8.2 zone rating and 1.058 efficiency in right, and in just shy of 65 innings in left (1.012) and center (1.027) he wasn't too bad. Ducky's glove might be his best trait, but but he has a solid hit tool as well. Despite just 7 games in AA, he hit almost .300 in 106 games for the Blues, posting a .289/.340/.395 (87 OPS+) line. Along with the lack of AA time, he has just 54 games in A ball, and he continued to put the ball in play. He struck out just 36 times in 462 trips to the plate, with a similar 30 walks. Cole hasn't developed much power yet, but he hit 25 double and 7 triples. He's one of the hardest workers out there and I wouldn't be surprised if he continues to hit the weight room. Injuries have cost him plenty of time, but if he can stay healthy, he could end up a decent supplemental piece for a big league team. LHP Andy Felton (C La Crosse Lions): The second piece in the Hank Barnett trade, 20-year-old southpaw Andy Fenton hasn't gotten too much time pitching this season. We have too many young arms and not enough low minors rotation spots, so Andy Felton was stuck in the pen for the first few months of the UMVA season. But he's an interesting arm that I wanted to see make some starts, and eventually with injuries, call ups, and some poor play, a rotation spot opened up for Andy Felton. The first start was good enough to earn a no decision in a game the Lions ended up winning 4-3. Felton was responsible for all three, and while he did allow 10 hits, he walked just one batters and struck out seven. The strong ratios earned him a second start, and Felton arguably had a better start then Duke Bybee (9 IP, H, 2 BB, 7 K) did this weekend. Felton had a one-hitter of his own, but he struck out eight and walked just one, needing 96 pitches to finish a 2-0 victory. The competition varies greatly, but you can't discredit Felton's performance. He's now struck out 15 batters in 18.1 innings, and the two walks is most impressive. Even Bob Allen walked 14 hitters in his 33.2 innings pitched. The former 15th Rounder is scheduled to pitch for the first place Lions (37-19) on the first day of September, and he'll have to face the second place Burlington Bears (36-20). It will be a true test of his abilities and the result may determine if he has a guaranteed rotation spot this season. Attached Images

07-05-2023, 12:18 PM	#1148
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Week 21: September 1st-Septemebr 7th Weekly Record: 1-5 Seasonal Record: 68-70 (5th, 8.5 GB) Stars of the Week Walt Pack : 14 AB, 7 H, 2 HR, 3 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.517 OPS Billy Hunter : 16 AB, 7 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .438 AVG, 1.096 OPS Skipper Schneider : 23 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .304 AVG, .668 OPS Schedule 9-1: Loss vs Stars (4-3) 9-1: Loss vs Stars (5-3) 9-4: Loss at Saints (2-4) 9-5: Loss at Saints (6-7) 9-6: Loss at Saints (2-4) 9-7: Win at Saints (6-4) Recap I just... I mean... I don't... Do I even want to go on? Getting swept in the double header is one thing, but letting the Saints take three of four? Just unacceptable... 1-5 drops us to two below .500, and with four losses of two or fewer runs, it's just beyond frustrating. Now 8.5 out, we're basically out without being out, and at this point we have to do everything we can to not finish below .500 for the first time since 1936. Our Pythagorean (73-65) would put us right behind the Kings and Stars (74-65) who are tied for third and just three out. Yay underperformance! I'm not sure there's much worth mentioning, but the Jones Brothers hit pretty well! Johnnie was 1-for-2 with a double and run scored while Donnie was 3-for-7 with a double and run scored. Walt Pack was one of the few batters to not suck it up, 7-for-14 with 2 homers, 2 walks, 3 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. Billy Hunter was 7-for-16 with a homer, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs. Sal Pestilli was 6-for-21 with 2 triples, walks, RBIs, and 3 runs. And then the quartet of Eddie Howard, Bill Payne, Homer Guthrie, and Clark Car was 7-for-15. Otherwise? Plenty of failure... Pitching? Well? Donnie had one good start -- so let's talk about that! He went all nine with 4 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 5 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Oh wait, that was the loss.. In the win, he allowed 9 hits, 4 runs, and a walk with 6 strikeouts in the complete game win. Otherwise, all four of our starters allowed 4 or more runs, and the lone reliever, Ken Matson, allowed 4 hits, 3 run, and 3 walks in 2.2 innings. So yeah, not much to talk about this week... Looking Ahead Do I even want to??? Well... Off to start the week, but then there's two against the Cannons (74-62), three against the Wolves (66-69), and then a double header against the Foresters (63-76) to finish the week. I think that's all for today. Maybe if I feel like it I'll come back and edit things later. Or maybe not. Seems like this year is over and done with :/

07-07-2023, 01:32 AM	#1149
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Week 22: September 8th-September 15th Weekly Record: 0-7 Seasonal Record: 68-77 (6th, 13.5 GB) Stars of the Week Leo Mitchell : 27 AB, 12 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .444 AVG, 1.131 OPS Skipper Schneider : 30 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .367 AVG, .822 OPS Walt Pack : 21 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .286 AVG, .947 OPS Schedule 9-9: Loss at Cannons (4-5) 9-10: Loss at Cannons (2-9) 9-11: Loss at Wolves (4-9) 9-12: Loss at Wolves (4-5) 9-13: Loss at Wolves (2-6) 9-14: Loss at Foresters (4-6) 9-14: Loss at Foresters (6-11) Recap Wow. Just wow... At this point, I'm at a complete loss for words :/ At least Skipper had a 5-for-5 game! This might have been our worst week ever, as not only did we lose all seven games, but we were outscored 51-26 as we dropped to 68-77 and a whopping 13.5 games out of first place. Our next loss will secure a losing season, something we have not done since 1936. We also have a legitimate chance to finish in 7th, something I did not think was even possible. It's been so long since we finished bottom two in the association, as you have to go all the way back to 1929 where we finished 62-92 and allowed almost 1,000 (979) runs. That was a dead last finish for the Cougars, and was the fifth consecutive season we finished 7th or 8th. In fact, since 1939 we've only finished 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, and this season is something that has Cougar fans everywhere shaking their heads at the utter disappointment of the star-studded roster. With the games meaningless, plenty of regulars will either stop playing all together (Pete Papenfus, Johnnie Jones, Harry Mead, Billy Hunter) while others (Duke Bybee, Donnie Jones, Red Bond, Hal Sharp, Walt Pack) will see their playing time decrease as we hobble through the miserable month of September. Even Skipper and Sal will get some rest, with only Leo Mitchell, who has appeared in all 145 games we've limped through so far, playing everyday. 1-12 for the month, it's likely going to be our worst ever, or at least in the past decade, and I just cannot wait to get it over with. It's time for our youngsters to see what they can do, as George Oddo and Otto Christian are coming up from Milwaukee, and more time will be given to Don Lee, Eddie Howard, and George Sutterfield. Mel Haynes will also get to make his first start of the season, as our former first rounder has been brilliant out of the pen. He's thrown just 28 innings, but sports an elite 1.29 ERA (300 ERA+) and 1.00 WHIP with 21 strikeouts to just 11 walks. Him and Oddo, who struggled this season in AAA (7-11, 4.99, 95) seem likely to start two of our last nine games, and I may turn to Harry Parker or Charlie Kelsey, who is still in AAA, in the final week of the season. The Century League season ends this coming Sunday, so I expect Kelsey and 22-year-old Bob Schmelz to join the roster next week to fill up our active roster. Looking Ahead Really nothing left to play for, but the light is at the end of the tunnel. Plenty of off days litter the remaining schedule, as we don't play any of the next Mondays or Fridays with a final off day next Saturday. We get one in Cleveland on Tuesday, followed by two in Philly, before a quick two-game series hosting the Kings. I hate losing games, so I really want to win, but at this point it's probably best for us if we don't. The fewer wins we get this season, the better our lottery chances are next year, as I can't imagine we do any worse then we did this year. I can't believe our streak of winning seasons was snapped, but next year has to be different. We'll get a full year of Superstar Sal, and you have to expect a bounce back from Mitchell and Pap. There will be changes, not sure exactly what, but I can't imagine a quite offseason in the Windy City. Class B and C finished up this week, while AAA, AA, and A will all end this week. The La Crosse Lions pulled a Chicago Cougars, as they entered the final day of the season in a deadlock with the Burlington Bears of the Cannons organization. And just as we did last year, they lost the tiebreaker, finishing 41-22 and second in the UMVA. San Jose started the year slow, but finished a more respectable 55-65 after going 21-17 in the final month and a half of the season. I'll do a more expansive minor league report over the weekend, but I'll use todays to cover the two callups and a few prospects with good weeks. Minor League Report RHP George Oddo: On the surface, it looks like George Oddo had an awful season. Going 7-11 with a 4.99 ERA (92 ERA+) in 23 starts looks bad, right? But in reality, he had one simple problem: the home run ball. Oddo allowed 27 (!!) in 162.1 innings, something he's never done anything close to. He allowed just 13 last year and 14 the following season, with his only other double digit season coming way back in 1943 (25). My money is on a fluke, as most pitchers with his stuff will not allow this many home runs. Despite all the homers, Oddo still had an impressive 1.39 WHIP and with 95 strikeouts he had a 5.3 K/9. A talented three pitch pitcher, Oddo's changeup can make the best batters look foolish, and his low 90s fastball is the perfect compliment. His curve is strong too, allowing him a third out pitch that should help generate weak contact and get plenty of swings and misses. His command needs some work, he allowed 62 free passes, and aside from the sudden home run surge, it's really his only weakness. Oddo and OSA are huge fans of the 24-year-old, expecting him to develop into a #2 starter. He's set to make his first start for us on the 17th in Philly, and I expect one more the following week. I'm hoping he does well here, as I'd love for him to enter 1948 on the Opening Day staff. Whether that's as a reliever, a spot starter, or even the #5, I want to see what he can do in a regular role. 3B Otto Christian: The next two weeks will be big for slugger Otto Christian, who will spend the remainder of 1947 in Chicago. 25 on the 26th, Christian dominated Century League pitching, slashing an impressive .300/.360/.503 (119 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 23 homers, and 94 RBIs. He's the only Century Leaguer with at least 20 homers, with the next closest Gig Taylor of the Saints organization checking in with 17. "The Walla Walla Walloper" produced a 125 WRC+ in 124 games for the Blues, and will now look to record the first big league homer of his career. He made just two at bats in a cup of coffee last year, but I expect him to start about five or so games, splitting time between first and third. This is a nice little audition for him, as Walt Pack will need someone to hit lefties for him, and the duo could combined for over 30 homers in a 154 game season. The power has always been his calling card, but what has shown through is his improved discipline. He showcased that in the CWL (29 BB, 19 K), and he walked (41) just shy of ten times more then he struck out (32). I don't expect him to hit .300 in the majors, but this kid has an elite ceiling, with the chance to surpass even Mack Sutton (.238, 39, 113) and Hank Koblenz (.282, 45, 118). We just need to provide him the necessary motivation. CF Johnny Peters (AAA Milwaukee Blues): It was a big week for Johnny Peters, who is ending his season on a nice little hot streak. The former 3rd Pick was named Player of the Week in the Century League, going 11-for-23 with 6 runs, 2 doubles, a triple, 2 steals, 2 homers, 3 RBIs, and 9 walks. This upped his September line to .333/.448/.604 (167 OPS+) and his season line to .290/.393/.460 (117 OPS+). He has plenty of extra base pop, tallying 26 doubles, 9 triples, and 16 home runs, while swiping 8-of-9 bases. The 113 strikeouts was somewhat concerning, but his 93 walks more then made up for it. This season was his first taste of the highest minor league level, and Peters is getting closer and closer to big league ready. He could probably debut this season, but he's not yet Rule-5 eligible and I'm not ready to burn an option on him. 24 in January, Peters currently ranks 4th in our system and 46th overall, but Dixie Marsh is more fond of the outfielder. He likes his swing and speed, and projecting him to end up "unleash(ing) his obvious talent on the field and at the plate." He's not bad in center, although I view him more of a corner guy, and with Sal Pestilli and Jerry Smith I'm not sure Peters will ever play much up the middle. It's all he's done so far, although I expect to give him some reps in right next season. Peters has all the tools to succeed in the majors, and even though I expect him to debut next season, I wouldn't bet on him being a regular until '49 or even '50 at the earliest. 1B Billy Biggar (A Lincoln Legislators): Skipper Schneider wasn't the only member of the Cougars organization to record a 5-hit game, as Canadian first basemen Billy Biggar was a perfect 5-for-5, and a homer away from the cycle. Not only that, the Legislators won 7-0, and while it wasn't a shutout, Fred Terry was brilliant in his 7th start in A ball. This year's 8th Rounder allowed just 2 hits and a walk with 7 strikeouts in 8 shutout innings. Back to Biggar, he's finishing up an excellent season, slashing .333/.389/.474 (130 OPS+) with 42 doubles, 7 triples, 4 homers, and 65 RBIs with more walks (44) then strikeouts (25). A 10th Round selection in 1942, Biggar isn't one of our more highly rated prospects, but he's in line for a promotion to AA for next season as he works his way up our system. He's Rule-5 eligible, although I doubt he'd be considered by the other 15 teams, and at 23 he's got plenty of development left. His hit tool is the strength, as he'll always hit for a high average, but he hasn't yet developed the power we hoped for. His future likely ends up with him on the bench, but he does give off some left handed Ray Ford eyes with an excellent hit tool and great eye, but prime Ford had more pop. With Dudley Sapp and even Cal Rice working their way up, the pressure is on Biggar, who will need to hit to keep getting starts.

07-08-2023, 12:00 AM	#1150
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Week 23: September 15th-September 21st Weekly Record: 2-3 Seasonal Record: 70-80 (7th, 14 GB) Stars of the Week Hal Sharp : 10 AB, 5 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.300 OPS Skipper Schneider : 13 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .462 AVG, .923 OPS Walt Pack : 11 AB, 4 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .364 AVG, 1.000 OPS Schedule 9-16: Loss at Foresters (7-11) 9-17: Loss at Sailors (1-5) 9-18: Win at Sailors (5-2) 9-20: Win vs Kings (2-3) 9-21: Loss vs Kings (8-3) Recap Two whole wins? Wow! That tripled our win total for the month! Of course, that also means we lost three games, and have now reached the 80 loss mark for the season. We had a few milestones that are worth mentioning, starting with Leo Mitchell's 2,000th career hit. Our struggling slugger recorded that magical hit in the 4th inning of our 8-3 loss against the Kings in Chicago, a single off veteran righty Buddy Long. Mitchell later scored and recorded a second single later in the game. It's a small consolation for Mitchell, who despite hitting .330/.373/.445 (130 OPS+) in 1,563 career games is hitting just .269/.313/.385 (90 OPS+) in exactly 600 trips to the plate. Mitchell will not hit .300 for the first time, well, ever and there are plenty of new firsts he's setting this year. At least the popular veteran has something to be happy about, as 2,000 big league hits is a very impressive milestone, and he becomes the 4th Cougar to record 2,000 hits with the franchise. The second milestone is a first, with Otto Christian hitting the first of hopefully many home runs in what should be a prolific home run hitting career. The 24-year-old took Harry Carter deep in the first inning of our 3-2 win over the Kings, depositing an 0-2 screwball 431 feet to left field. That gave us the 3-0 lead that proved to be enough for Duke Bybee, who will finish his season 14-11 with a 2.91 ERA (132 ERA+) and 1.09 WHIP. Bybee was worth exactly 5 WAR in 228.2 innings, and he struck out 104 batters while walking just 63. Bybee has a legit shot at the Allen Award, ranking top five in the CA for ERA (4th), complete games (5th, 18), shutouts (1st, 6), K/BB (5th, 1.7), WHIP (1st), ERA+ (4th), rWAR (5th, 6.3), and opponents average (4th, .225). The rest of Otto's week wasn't so great, as he was just 2-for-11 with the second hit an RBI single that scored Mitchell after his milestone hit. With four games left, I expect two starts for Otto, who I'm hoping will platoon with Walt Pack next season. A few other notable notes... Well, I definitely shouldn't have started Mel Haynes, who got teed off of by the Foresters. He lasted just 6.1 innings, allowing 13 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), and 2 walks with just one strikeout. His ERA (2.62) is actually higher then his FIP (2.38) now, and the overall numbers still look solid. George Oddo's home run struggles continued, allowing two in seven innings during our 5-1 loss to the Sailors. He finished with 9 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Not great, but it was on the road against a very good team. He'll get one more start, going again on the 24th against the Saints in Chicago. Another guy getting a final start is Joe Brown, who will finish off the season in New York on the 25th. Brown has lost five straight decisions and hasn't won since the 15th of August, and I want him to get one last shot at ending the season on a high note. He allowed 7 hits, 7 runs (3 earned), and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts in just 5.2 innings. He only threw 87 pitches and could probably pitch on Tuesday if we needed him, but I'm really hoping he can lower his 3.98 ERA (97 ERA+). Brown hasn't had a below average ERA+ since 1940, which was also the first season he threw more then 50 innings. 34 next March, this start may be his last as a Cougar, as I need to upgrade our offense and he's one of the few pitchers I'd be willing to consider trading. While his age may work against him, his personality will benefit, as Captain's are very valuable in the clubhouse. I hope he has one last shutout in him, but the Stars are good and capable of hitting plenty out of the park. Donnie Jones' Allen candidacy is now official, ending his season with his 15th complete game victory. That includes four shutouts, which may make him the only other pitcher Duke Bybee won't have at least twice as many shutouts as. Like Bybee, Donnie ranks top five in many categories, including ERA (3rd, 2.89), innings (5th, 249.1), complete games (3rd, 21), strikeouts (2nd, 139), K/BB (4th, 1.7), WHIP (2nd, 1.16), ERA+ (3rd, 134), rWAR (1st, 7.1), opposing average (2nd, .222) and win percentage (3rd, .640). There's no clear favorite this season, so it'll be cool to see who people end up picking. Plenty of teams will want their guys to win and it would make sense for the hometown scribes to vote for their worthy candidates. I'm going Jones one, Bybee two, but I wouldn't blame anyone for not picking either. Our bats still have time to improve their final lines, but there's a few guys worth mentioning what they did for the last week. Dick Walker started both games in Philly, and their former star was 1-for-5 with a triple, 2 runs, and 3 walks. Despite an underwhelming .209/.352/.286 (76 OPS+) triple slash, Walker produced a 91 WRC+ with 6 doubles, 5 triples, 8 steals, and 16 RBIs in 257 trips to the plate. 44 walks have gotten him on base plenty of times, but he never really looked like himself this year. He may get a few bench appearances in the final week, but this will be his last week as a Cougar. He may decide to retire, but we won't have room for him, and at a projected $34,000 that's a very high price to pay for a backup first basemen. I hope he doesn't go to the GWL, but there's a chance an FABL team could add him for a boost in ticket sales. Looking Ahead Four more games left, two with the Saints (59-89) in Chicago, one with the Stars (79-72) on Thursday, and the finale in Brooklyn (81-70) to end the season. What's more interesting is the race to take on the St. Louis Pioneers (91-58), who pretty much curb stomped the Fed and went through a dominant worst to first campaign. The CA was far more competitive, and the Sailors (84-66) and Cannons (83-66) are neck-and-neck entering the final week. The Sailors will be in Philly for their final four games, as they host the Wolves (72-76) for three before one more against the Foresters (71-80). The Cannons have an extra game, as they start with three road games before finishing the season in Cincinnati. They play the Wolves on the 22nd in Toronto before two in Cleveland. They're then off the next two days before the Wolves come to Cincinnati for the final two games. It should be a fun end of the season, as both teams are very good and deep teams that have plenty of talent at their disposal. A few guys to watch in the final week are Denny Andrews (.290, 15, 73), who could secure his first Whitney Award if he wills the Cannons to their fourth championship series in five years. Then there's the batting title race between the Cannons' Sam Brown (.338, 9, 84) and the Sailors Ed Reyes (.334, 5, 65). It would be the first for Brown while Reyes is looking to making it three in a row despite hitting just .233/.313/.350 on May 7th. The Cannons don't have a standout Allen candidate, but that's not to discredit Bob Arman (17-10, 3.40, 98) and Rufus Barrell (13-13, 3.56, 131), but that's because there are guys like Win Lewis (17-11, 2.79, 84), the talented ace of the Sailors. The two time All-Star got the Sailors win 84, and would be in line to pitch the last game of the regular season if needed. Regardless who starts, there will be David Molina (9-3, 26, 2.94, 101) to help finish it off, and the star stopper could make a case for an Allen vote as well. While not quite a qualifier, 125.2 innings is still a relatively large sample, and I could see him getting a few down ballot votes. It sucks not to be in the race, but it's been an exciting pennant race nonetheless, it just feels a little incomplete without the Cougars. 3rd or higher since 1939. Is this the start of our comeback arc? Or is this a new era of Cougars baseball? Minor League Report RHP Jack Maxwell (AA Mobile Commodores): One of the many arms scrambling to keep hold of a rotation spot, Jack Maxwell got one last chance to salvage his season. He went out and delivered something spectacular -- a 10-inning, 3-hit shutout of the Memphis Excelsiors. This was Maxwell's first start since July 6th, as he split time between the pen and rotation in both of his stops this season. Down in Lincoln he started 8 of his 10 appearances, going 4-2 with a 4.30 ERA (98 ERA+) and 1.72 WHIP with 33 walks and 34 strikeouts. That really wasn't too inspiring, but the Commodores needed some pitching depth and the 22-year-old has been around since we took him in the 11th Round back in 1943. He wasn't really ready for the tougher competition, which is why 8 of his 13 appearances came out of the pen. The shutout helped make his final counts look better, but 31 walks to just 20 strikeouts and a 4.66 ERA (90 ERA+) in 46.1 innings isn't very impressive. Next season will be a big one for the righty, as it will determine his future in the organization. Now that he's Rule-5 eligible, another team could get an extended look if they were interested, and I don't have plans of protecting him. We have plenty of talented young pitchers above him in terms of prospect status, but most are in the lower minors. If he can give steady starts, he could hold some of them off, but a slow start and he could be one of the first guys banished to the pen. Sometimes, like today, you come back. Other times? That's where you end up. For Maxwell, I'd bet on the latter.

07-08-2023, 06:54 PM	#1151
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Minor League Report AAA Milwaukee Blues (Century League): 70-70, 5th, 22 GB: After winning four consecutive Century League titles, the Milwaukee Blues had a miserable season in 1947. Like the Cougars, they had a long stretch of over .500 seasons, but unlike us, they at least finished even at 70-70. They did that in 1937 as well, with their last sub .500 season coming all the way back in 1929 when they finished 68-72 and in 5th place. The Blues actually finished the season well, as after a 14-23 start, they finished above .500 in each of the last four months of the season. The pitching staff was hit hard most of the season, with the surprising struggle of George Oddo (7-11, 4.99, 95) really holding the team back. The rotation was young, and guys like Roscoe Brown (7-12, 6.90, 70), Ed Fisler (5-5, 6.94, 44), and Bill Ballantine (8-6, 4.84, 36) all had tough seasons. Even Charlie Kelsey (3-5, 5.92, 44) was hit hard in his ten starts with the Blues, and while Babe Stinson (9-4, 4.46, 56) had a good record and above average ERA+ (104), he walked 105 hitters in 127 innings. One of the few bright spots though was veteran stopper Art Keeter, who went 9-4 with 18 saves, a 3.44 ERA (135 ERA+), 1.34 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts in 136 innings. He was worth nearly 2 WAR (1.9) out of the pen and the 38-year-old has had somewhat of a resurgence in the Blues pen. He hasn't played in the big leagues since 1939, but with an excellent season he may be able to force his way into the Cougars pen next year. The offense was one of the better ones in the Century League, and one of the only reasons we would win games aside from a strong finish from Keeter. Former 3rd Overall Pick Johnny Peters could be considered the heart of the lineup, and the 23-year-old hit an impressive .289/.390/.456 (115 OPS+) with 28 doubles, 9 triples, 16 homers, 10 steals, and 77 RBIs in 676 trips to the plate. The defense wasn't terrible either (-1.6, .990), and Peters was worth an impressive 4 WAR in 139 games. I'd love to see him strike out less then 117 times, but the 95 walks were impressive enough to make up for it. He's going to be in camp next season, but with Sal Pestilli and Carlos Montes, I can't really see him breaking the Opening Day roster. Elsewhere the Blues got good production from current Cougars Bill Payne (.309, 10, 60), Homer Guthrie (.293, 5, 30), Eddie Howard (.347, 1, 20), and Bob Schmelz (.271, 11, 58). All four of these guys will be fighting for a roster spot, but it's possible just one of Guthrie or Howard don't return to Milwaukee. It's weird seeing the Blues struggle to the level they did this year, and with a lot of their top producers returning, they could make a quick recovery. AA Mobile Commodores (Dixie League): 69-71, 4th, 18 GB: It's now back-to-back sub .500 seasons for the Commodores, who haven't done that since the 1923 and 1924 seasons, which predates my time with the Cougars. Granted, it was just two games below and they improved two games in record and three in games back, and a 13-7 September gives reason for excitement next season. Mobile was a middle of the pack team, 4th in runs allowed and tied for 4th in runs scored, so a basically .500 season isn't too surprising. On the mound, Hank Beardsley (5-6, 3.95, 40), Zane Kelley (11-12, 3.97, 63), Dick Garcia (7-16, 3.58, 48), Bob Petty (11-5, 3.66, 68), and Bob Hobbs (6-5, 3.44, 50) were all effective, but neither stood out and dominated. Jimmy Ballard (12-9, 4.68, 92) won games despite his walk issues (116 in 182.2), and was one of the few rotation members with an ERA+ below 100. He's probably not returning, and Kelley may be moved up to AAA, but Beardsley and Garcia should make up a solid 1-2 punch. The lineup had a lot of moving parts, with very few players spending all of their time in AA. One who came close was Jimmy Hairston, as our 12th ranked prospect played 120 of his 137 games with the Commodores. They were good ones too, as the 22-year-old outfielder slashed .318/.386/.441 (113 OPS+), which was good for a 121 WRC+. He hit 32 doubles, 4 triples, and 6 homers with 63 RBIs and 55 walks, spending most of his time in the three hole. He had some support with Rupert Abbott (.305, 2, 31, 4), who was part of the Billy Riley trade, Norm Anderson (.312, 3, 45), Israel Holmes (.272, 9, 50), and Tom Brownleaf (.326, 3, 24), who somehow accumulated 2.1 WAR in just 39 games. Al Clement (.270, 4, 22, 13) was much better in Lincoln, but did a great job leading off the order. Hairston could be ready for Milwaukee, but with his age, he could at least start the season anchoring the Commodores lineup again. Brownleaf, Clement, Abbott, and former 6th Rounder Bob Stout (.265, 5, 41) should all be back next season, and I think this lineup could really make some noise next year. A Lincoln Legislators (Heartland League): 79-61, 1st, 3 GA: The only affiliate this year to secure a title, the Lincoln Legislators edged out the Peoria Pastimers (76-64) by three games, securing their first title since 1938. It was on the strength of their pitching, as the lineup really wasn't that great, posting just the 6th most runs scored, although they made up for it somewhat with the defense. Billy Biggar had a huge year for the Legislators, as the Canadian first basemen hit .336/.390/.473 (130 OPS+) with 44 doubles, 7 triples, 4 homers, and 71 RBIs, while walking 46 times compared to just 25 strikeouts. Catcher Mike Bordes (.250, 10, 67) and outfielder Franklin Thomas (.254, 9, 40, 13) supplied the power, but both had below average OPS+ with a slightly above average WRC+. Some of the best production came from guys with limited time, as Bill Cook (.302, 2, 27), Bill Martin (.343, 1, 12), and Bob Rogers (.353, 15) all impressed in limited time while Al Clemet (.342, 1, 30, 8) and Rupert Abbott (.305, 2, 31, 4) both excelled before earning promotions up to Mobile. There are a lot of question marks for next year, as Thomas and Biggar may not return, opening the door for some of the younger players to secure regular playing time. The pitching had a lot of churning, with just reliever Johnny Romberg (11-3, 1.80, 75) and former first rounder Tommy Seymour (6-14, 5.63, 58) qualifying for rate stats. Top 100 prospect Harry Beardsley (8-3, 3.50, 56) was excellent prior to promotion while Dutch Yoak (4-1, 2.64, 17) and this year's 8th Rounder Fred Terry (4-2, 2.98, 34) were outstanding after coming up from San Jose. Beardsley wasn't the only top 100 prospect either, as Ron Berry (4-5, 4.13, 42) and Bert Rogers (5-3, 4.26, 27) both made double digit starts in Lincoln. In terms of prospect status, the rotation looks to be stacked, with the top five containing the 54th, 73rd, 193rd, 326th, and 433rd ranked prospects. In terms of pitchers in our system, that's 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 10th, and, 14th, and there's a chance that our top ranked and the #6 ranked prospect overall Bob Allen joins them at sometime next season. Of course, they had Beardsley who's 75th overall and our 4th ranked pitcher, and 373rd ranked prospect Jim N Smith (4-2, 5.07, 41) is likely set in the 6th spot. His struggles may prevent him from starting in AA, but at 24 he may be pushed up. The Legislators were one of the lone bright spots in the system this year, and we're hoping for more of the same next season. B San Jose Cougars (California-Oregon-Washington League): 55-65, 6th, 20 GB: Overall it was a tough season for Cougar fans in San Jose, but the second half was much better then the first. Not only did they finish the season 21-17, but they got to watch 57 games of Garland Phelps. The highest ranked catching prospect (21st) in any system, Phelps turned 18 on the 22nd of August, and hit .324/.370/.475 (136 OPS+) in 257 PAs. He produced a near elite 144 WRC+ with 9 doubles, 6 triples, 5 homers, and 46 RBIs. He was supported by fellow top 100 prospect and 2nd Rounder Frank Reece (.245, 9, 34, 19), another teenager who held his own against older competition. The same can be said of this years 9th Rounder Harley Dollar (.237, 5, 27) and his 110 WRC+ and the 109 this years 5th Rounder and current 100th ranked prospect Buddy Jenkins (.262, 1, 17, 9) posted. In fact, most of the ending lineup came from this year's class, with Billy Nash (.261, 4, 12), a college guy who excelled, and Willie Watson (.151, 1, 7), a high schooler who, well... Didn't... Cal Rice (.281, 5, 48), Bob Rogers (.353, 15), and Harry Austin (.281, 3, 16) are all holdovers who had some success, but I think all three won't return. The pitching staff had crazy churning, with just Dutch Yoak (6-7, 3.72, 48), who ended the season in Lincoln, qualifying for rate stats. In total, 14 pitchers made starts, ranging from Yoak's 15 to Fred Terry (1-1, 1.93, 13) and Russ Cushing's (2-0, 1, 1.88, 33) two. Bert Rogers had a really nice stretch, going 8-5 with a 3.19 ERA (119 ERA+) and 50 strikeouts in 13 starts. Cliff Wallace (3-3, 3.90, 27), Max Tanner (2-3, 1, 2.53, 15), Wally Eversole (3-1, 2.97, 22) and Billy Stoddard (3-1, 2.61, 28), but none from this group made more then ten starts. Our top ranked prospect Bob Allen finished the season in San Jose, going 5-1 in 8 starts with a 3.62 ERA (105 ERA+) and 28 strikeouts at a 19-year-old. Allen should lead the rotation again next year, but there's going to be plenty of young hurlers moving up and down as the Cougars look to snap a three year stretch with 55 or fewer victories. C La Crosse Lions (Upper Mississippi Valley Association): 41-22, 2nd, 1 GB: Oh so close... It was the shortest UMVA season yet, just 62 games. Or at least it would have been had the Lions not tied the Burlington Bears. It was a tough loss to end it, as Andy Felton (1-1, 4.08, 26) allowed 6 hits and runs in 3.1 innings, as we eventually fell 7-5, extending the pennant drought to six seasons. Just like in San Jose, there were a ton of arms to make starts, and no Lion made more then the 9 from Lee Parker (5-4, 3.71, 40), a former 15th Rounder who has shot up the prospect rankings to 268th after not cracking our top 40 last year. He was one of the many young pitchers who produced an above average ERA+, joined by 1947 draftees Mike Emerson (6-2, 3.71, 46), Ray Paulson (2-2, 3.57, 54), Marty Czyzewski (2-3, 2.55, 45), and Jackie Reynolds (2-1, 3.60, 16), as well as Bob Allen (4-0, 0.53, 46), Morty Smith (3-2, 1, 2.09, 44), Wally Eversole (2-0, 2.38, 24), Billy Stoddard (4-1, 1, 2.70, 41), and Lonnie Sis (2-1, 2.86, 34). Even former 17th Rounder Art Whisenant (0-0, 0.00, 15) threw 13 scoreless innings out of the pen! The offense scored plenty of runs too, but the most exciting Lion was Jerry Smith, our 5th overall selection and the 11th ranked prospect Jerry Smith. Smith produced a 118 WRC+ with a .284/.329/.413 (106 OPS+) line. He hit 10 doubles, a triple, 5 homers, 28 RBIs, and 20 steals in his first 51 games as a professional ballplayer. Injuries ended 3rd Rounder Dudley Sapp's (.271, 2, 13) season early, and the teen cooled off after a slow start. Phil Boyes (.309, 4, 32, 9) improved his WRC+ from 84 to 129 this year while Roy Gass (.265, 4, 16, 4), Roxy Hilts (.301, 3, 26, 9), John Price (.248, 3, 13, 2), Hank Smithers (.338, 1, 6, 2) and Ernie Frost (.297, 2, 20) were all very productive. Most of these guys will be back for next season, but I expect a few to move up and down between La Crosse and San Jose before the draft. The Lions roster was as deep as any in our system, and while at times it was tough to find enough playing time for everyone, we had plenty of exciting players that I want to get longer looks at.

07-10-2023, 09:05 PM	#1152
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Week 24: September 22nd-September 28th Weekly Record: 1-3 Seasonal Record: 71-83 (7th, 15 GB) Stars of the Week George Sutterfield : 11 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .545 AVG, 1.636 OPS Joe Brown : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 1 BB, 5 K, 1.00 ERA Ray Ford : 7 AB, 2 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .286 AVG, 1.000 OPS Schedule 9-23: Loss vs Saints (2-1) 9-24: Loss vs Saints (4-6): 10 innings 9-25: Win at Stars (7-3) 9-28: Loss at Kings (4-5) Recap Well, at least its over! The worst month ever is finally done and this nightmare of a season is over. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong, and we're stuck heading into the offseason with a lot of questions and no good answers. The month in particular was historically bad, as we went 4-18 (.181) in September. I only have records back to 1930, but this is our worst month since, the next closest the 7-18 (.280) we put up September 1936. We finished with a negative run differential (-3) for the first time since 1938 (-26), and our -6 expected record would have actually had us at .500. In five of the last six seasons we've underperformed our expected record by at least five games, so I'm really hoping we used up all our bad luck this year, Adding injury to insult, Leo Mitchell could not finish the season in all 154 games, as he left game 151 with a herniated disc in his back. It would have cost him an IL stint, something he's never had to undergo unless you include his year in the Army. 35 next May, Mitchell hit just .270/.314/.391 (92 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 14 homers, and 73 RBIs. He was exactly a replacement player (0.0) and his 98 WRC+ was almost average. No Cougar is happier the season ended then Mitchell, who may be in danger of losing his starting spot for the first time ever. I won't actively look to upgrade on him in the offseason, but if Mitchell has another unnatural start, we may have to look to upgrade on him during the season. Joe Brown ended his season on the right note, picking up a complete game win over the Stars in his last start of 1947. He allowed 6 hits, 3 runs (1 earned), and a walk with 5 strikeouts to break his five game losing streak. This evened his record at 13-13 with a 3.87 ERA (99 ERA+), 1.24 WHIP, 53 walks, and 86 strikeouts in 30 starts. Harry Parker lost both of his starts, as homeruns were a big problem. He was unlucky in the loss against the Saints, going 7 with 4 hits, 2 runs, and 5 walks with just one strikeout in a 2-1 loss. The Kings, however, got to him good, hitting three homers as Parker went 8 with 7 hits, 5 runs, and 3 strikeouts. Injuries kept him off the field most of the season, as Parker threw just 34.2 innings with 12 walks, 17 strikeouts, and a 4.41 ERA (87 ERA+). It may be time for the 32-year-old to transition to the pen full time, but if we need a spot starter or injury replacement he could give us a few starts. He's not at risk of trade, but both Parker and Brown may not do much in our rotation after this season. George Sutterfield ended his season on a high note, going 6-for-11 with a double, triple, homer, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs to up his season line to .250/.290/.333 (71 OPS+), which is not what the 25-year-old wanted to be at. Despite being projected as a better overall shortstop then Skipper, Sutterfield has really struggled in Chicago, hitting just .239/.282/.323 (68 OPS+) in 252 career plate appearances. I was hoping he'd finally show something with the bat, but even his quality defense wasn't very good. In the Spring I'll have to work him out more at second and third to find him a way into the lineup, but he has a chance to play somewhat frequently next year at second or third base. The odds of Billy Hunter staying healthy a third season is almost zero, and there's no guarantee Otto Christian can produce in the big leagues. Dixie thinks he has the untapped potential to be one of the best players in the game, but a change of scenery may be needed to help him reach that. Unfortunately, I doubt his value is very high, but him or Don Lee are young potential regulars that could help solidify our lineup through trade or an improved 1948. With all that went wrong this year, you have to imagine it will balance back out... Last little note goes to Sal Pestilli, who finished his nightmarish season 0-for-20 to drop his season line to .232/.288/.360 (75 OPS+) in 587 trips to the plate. His 76 WRC+ with us was a bit lower then the 80 from his time with the Gothams, but he did walk (23) more as a Cougar then he struck out (19) and supplied 12 doubles, 7 triples, 3 homers, and 3 steals. This was the first season Pestilli had an OPS+ or WRC+ below 110, and the first season he walked (42) less then he struck out (45). As disappointing as this season was, there nowhere to go but up for Pestilli. He's a star, whether you can see it or not, and when he's on there's very few players better. He's a legit five tool guy with oodles of talent, and if we want to reverse our fortunes, he's going to be a big reason why. With starts like him, Mitchell, Pap, the Jones Brothers, Duke Bybee, Walt Pack, and Red Bond, the Cougars should be much better next season. Just next season can't come soon enough... Looking Ahead While most baseball fans are anxiously awaiting the upcoming World Championship Series (more on that later), the Cougars have more pressing matters to attend to. The hiring of a new manager. After the Cougars' 5-4 loss in Brooklyn, Clyde Meyer was officially let go. The 68-year-old finished eight seasons with the Cougars, going 684-549 with a pennant and seven winning seasons. It wasn't enough, as year-in and year-out (excluding 1945) Meyer was gifted the best roster in the Association, and he couldn't get anything done with it. This year was the final straw, as the dominant Cougars treaded water most of the season before completely falling off in September. The Cougars failed to live up to their expected record while losing close and extra inning games, and this year was no different. We had a -6 expected record with a 20-28 record in one-run games and a 4-10 record in extra inning games. The new manager will have their hands full as they will inherit a roster with a lot of talented and angry players. Looking towards the series, the Philadelphia Sailors (86-68) survived the crazy and contested Continental Association, edging the Cincinnati Cannons (85-69) by a single game. It will be a tough series, but I think the Sailors will outlast the St. Louis Pioneers (94-60) in a seven game series. The Sailors have plenty of depth, and a talented roster consisting of potential Allen Winner Win Lewis (17-12, 2.88, 87) and batting title winner Ed Reyes (.338, 5, 66), who has won each of the last three. Even though he struggled a bit towards the end, they have a strong rotation with Charlie Gordon (2-8, 4.14, 33), Al Duster (11-12, 3.43, 122), and Slick Wesolowski (15-11, 3.80, 92). The lineup can score some runs too, as Reyes is supplemented by Harvey Brown (.311, 5, 66, 28), Cotton Dillon (.267, 7, 69), Les Cunha (.268, 8, 85), Bobby Boone (.303, 2, 42, 11), and Rip Lee (.282, 3, 62, 5). They'll have their hands full with the Pioneers, who shocked the league this year and took the pennant by ten games. They spent pretty much every day in first place, going 11-5 in April. They did slump in September, going just 11-13, which was the only month they finished below .500. The worst-to-first bit was very impressive, and you can thank former Cougar draftee Danny Hern (25-5, 2.78, 127), who should run away with the Allen Award. It was a huge improvement from when he went 0-4 with a 9.39 ERA (36 ERA+) in 23 innings last year, and him, Hiram Steinberg (19-9, 3.11, 82), and Hal Hackney (16-11, 3.95, 199). Hiram and Hackney are potential aces, and should keep the Sailors lineup in check, but scoring runs may be tough. Do I really buy that Zip Sullivan (.296, 3, 23), Bill Freeman (.327, 4, 69, 7), Buck Pusey (.304, 2, 49, 27), and Ray Bates (.320, 3, 50) are above average hitters? Not really... But Larry Gregory (.295, 17, 101), Al Tucker (.328, 13, 96), and Homer Mills (.276, 9, 80) are legit and this is a team that ranked #1 in average and OBP. They've impressed all season long, and there's no reason that will stop now. Regardless of the outcome, this should be a very exciting series, and it's a brand new matchup for the WCS. Part of that is St. Louis' pennant drought that spanned 1922 to 1946, as they will be making just their third trip to the series. The Sailors haven't been here for a while, last appearing when they made a threepeat from 1928-1930, where they captured the '28 and '30 series. My gut is telling me Sailors in seven, but it wouldn't be to surprising if the Pioneers took this one. I think the consensus leans towards St. Louis, which would finish off a remarkable turn around for a team that hadn't had much success in the human era. Attached Images

07-12-2023, 01:44 PM	#1153
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	1947 No Trade Team It's another close series as the Sailors and Pioneers are tied at two. The last two games have been as tight as it gets, with both teams winning 3-2 games. The Pioneers did it in regulation while the Sailors needed an extra inning, scoring a pair in the 9th and then 10th to walk it off. One more game in Philly, but the Pioneers will be guaranteed for the series to end on their turf. Whether that means six games, seven, a win, or a loss is up in the air. Selfishly, I want the Sailors winning it in six so the offseason can start, but as a fan its tough to root against a game seven. They're the best! Catchers Solly Skidmore (BRK/PHS): 112 WRC+, 2 HR, 56 RBI, 2.3 WAR Harry Mead (CHC): 76 WRC+, 6 HR, 49 RBI, 1.2 WAR Infielders Billy Hunter (CHC): 121 WRC+, 8 HR, 32 RBI, 3 SB, 2.3 WAR Tommy Wilson (CHI): 85 WRC+, 3 HR, 52 RBI, SB, 0.8 WAR Hal Wood (TOR): 108 WRC+, 8 HR, 94 RBI, SB, 2.8 WAR Skipper Schneider (CHC): 92 WRC+, 3 HR, 49 RBI, 7 SB, 7.0 WAR Hank Stratton (CLE/CHI): 77 WRC+, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 0.5 WAR Ed Reyes (PHS): 129 WRC+, 5 HR, 66 RBI, SB, 2.3 WAR George Sutterfield (CHC): 65 WRC+, HR, 12 RBI, 3 SB, 0.1 WAR Outfielders Leo Mitchell (CHC): 98 WRC+, 14 HR, 73 RBI, 2 SB, 0.0 WAR Bunny Hufford (NYG): 116 WRC+, 2 HR, 11 RBI, SB, 0.3 WAR Elias Canady (CHI): 112 WRC+, HR, 9 RBI, 0.6 WAR Chink Stickels (TOR): 113 WRC+, 4 HR, 51 RBI, 16 SB, 5.1 WAR Carlos Montes (CHC): 77 WRC+, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 3 SB, 0.6 WAR Don Lee (CHC): 81 WRC+, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 12 SB, -0.0 WAR Pitchers Duke Bybee (CHC): 14-11, 132 ERA+, 104 K, 5.0 WAR Frank Gordon (DET): 6-9, SV, 107 ERA+, 54 K, 1.8 WAR Harl Haines (NYG): 2-3, 70 ERA+, 20 K, 0.2 WAR Leo Hayden (BRK): 12-13, 89 ERA+, 125 K, 5.2 WAR Danny Hern (STL): 25-5, 144 ERA+, 127 K, 7.6 WAR Sam Hodge (NYG): 9-6, 15 SV, 107 ERA+, 22 K, 0.8 WAR Harry MacRae (CHC): 1-5, 101 ERA+, 19 K, 0.1 WAR Pete Papenfus (CHC): 9-18, 97 ERA+, 146 K, 3.1 WAR Harry Parker (CHC): 1-3, 1, 87 ERA+, 17 K, -0.3 WAR Totals Hitters: 25.9 Pitchers: 23.5 Total: 49.4 Approximate Wins: 80 Notable Prospects/Picks Traded April 1947: Traded Pat Todd and Kid Moore to the Wolves for Walt Pack July 1947: Traded Jim Mako, Carl Clark, and a 1st Round Pick for Sal Pestilli July 1947: Traded Joe Austin and Zeke Johnson to the Saints for Red Bond The no-trade team did a bit better then the real one, but the struggles of Leo Mitchell, Carlos Montes, and Pete Papenfus dragged this team now. We would have had huge implications on the Fed race, as I don't think the Pioneers do what they did without Danny Hern, but the Sailors would be pretty much untouched. The young pitching here is immense, but the outfield was thin. Sure, a no trade team probably has Johnny Peters in the outfield all year, but this team comes fall short just like the real one. Unless luck was on our side!

07-14-2023, 03:38 PM	#1154
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Top Prospects! Well, it's official: the Pioneers are legit! After curb-stomping the Fed in a dominant performance, they kept the Sailors in check, holding them to two runs in each of the last two games of the WCS, winning the best of seven series in six. In reality, it's all because of us. No, not because we sucked this season... But because of Danny Hern. The odds-on and potentially unanimous Allen Winner, Hern was the centerpiece of the Freddie Jones trade way back in 1938. He threw 301.1 inning and won 25 games, working to a stellar 2.78 ERA (144 ERA+) and 1.25 WHIP with 127 strikeouts. He led the league with a 7.6 WAR and 78 FIP- while leading St. Louis to their first championship in the human era. We also said good bye to Dick Walker, who hung up the cleats at 41 after hitting just .220/.359/.297 (81 OPS+) in his first ever sub-100 game season. Walker, who debuted in 1928, spent 20 seasons in professional baseball, appearing in 2,784 games with the Sailors and Cougars. Walker finished his career with a .272/.379/.426 (123 OPS+) batting line and accumulated 78.9 WAR with 422 steals, 2,742 hits, and 1,769 walks. Known for his consistency and durability, a herniated disc that cost him just one week in 1945 was his only injury of note, and before his quick decline this season, he posted a WRC+ above 100 in 18 consecutive seasons. He was boasted impressive leadoff abilities, as Walker was always able to find a way on base, and once on, his speed made him a nightmare for the opposition. His name is all over the Sailors career record books, as the first basemen ranked 1st in homers (136). walks (1,189), runs scored (1,314), and triples (209), 2nd in RBIs (959), games played (1,911), and at bats (7,102), 3rd in hits (1,995), steals (298), WAR (55) and OPS (.825), 4th in doubles (325), OBP (.382) and slugging (.443). As a Cougar, he appeared in 873 games and hit a productive .250/.372/.386 (119 OPS+) with 108 doubles, 63 triples, 57 homers, 124 steals, 303 RBIs, and 580 walks. He lasted a bit longer then I thought, getting a good six and a half seasons in the Windy City. I expect the Sailors to retire his number, and he's got a shot to don their cap in the Hall of Fame. He wasn't a prototypical first basemen, but he was a consistent and reliable top of the order bat for 90% of his career. Now, on to the actual purpose of the post, the top prospects! I won't lie, this list will probably look much different as early as next week, as I'm going to spend a lot of time retooling the organization. But at this point, our system ranks 3rd in the league with 158 points, trailing just the co-leading (167) Kings and Foresters. Unlike those two teams, and the rest of the league, we are the only team with two top ten prospects. That would be back-to-back first rounders Bob Allen (6th) and Jerry Smith (10th), which makes me believe that trading our first was a huge mistake. A third to add would be nice, but we do have 9 prospects in the top 100 with one more at 101, 24 in the top 250, and 49 in the top 500. The full list is below: 1. RHP Bob Allen (6th Overall): 1st/2nd 2. CF Jerry Smith (10th Overall): 5th Overall Pick 3. C Garland Phelps (24th Overall): 21st Overall Pick 4. CF Johnny Peters (44th Overall): 3rd/32nd 5. LHP Ron Berry (56th Overall): 8th/70th 6. RHP Harry Beardsley (74th Overall): 9th/78th 7. LHP Bert Rogers (76th Overall): 7th/60th 8. CF Frank Reece (81st Overall): 4th/37th 9. 3B Otto Christian (82nd Overall): 6th/50th 10. SS Buddy Jenkins (101st Overall): 77th Overall Pick 11. 1B Dudley Sapp (103rd Overall): 44th Overall Pick 12. RF Jimmy Hairston (129th Overall): 12th/122nd 13. RHP George Carter (177th Overall): 141st Overall Pick 14. C Mike Bordes (181st Overall): Acquired in trade with Eagles 15. LHP Mike Emerson (185th Overall): 61st Overall Pick 16. RHP Tommy Seymour (195th Overall): 15th/158th 17. CF Rupert Abbott (197th Overall): Acquired in trade with Eagles 18. CF Ed Sutton (204th Overall): 93rd Overall Pick 19. 2B Bob Schmelz (205th Overall): 21st/220th 20. SS Bob Stout (212th Overall): 16th/169th 21. CF Harley Dollar (214th Overall): 131st Overall Pick 22. SS Roy Gass (222nd Overall): 64th Overall Pick 23. SS Willie Watson (243rd Overall): 157th Overall Pick 24. LF Clyde Parker (244th Overall): 23rd/230th 25. 3B Bill Nash (253rd Overall): 177th Overall Pick 26. CF Phil Boyes (261st Overall): 14th/149th 27. 2B Roxy Hilts (274th Overall): 18th/181st 28. LHP Ray Paulson (276th Overall): 70th Overall Pick 29. RHP Lee Parker (300th Overall): 35th/368th 30. 1B Cal Rice (305th Overall): 26th/263rd 31. RHP Jim Williams (321st Overall): 22nd/225th 32. LHP Dutch Yoak (329th Overall): 25th/236th 33. RHP Jim N Smith (341st Overall): 34th/364th 34. RHP Bill Ballantine (351st Overall): 39th/391st 35. RF Bob Rogers (355th Overall): 37th/379th 36. SS Tom Brownleaf (361st Overall): 30th/285th 37. SS John Price (375th Overall): 32nd/317th 38. RHP Babe Stinson (378th Overall): 24th/232nd 39. RHP Fred Terry (384th Overall): 115th Overall Pick 40. RHP Dick Garcia (385th Overall): Not Ranked

07-15-2023, 04:59 PM	#1155
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Top Prospects: 1-5 RHP Bob Allen (6th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 10th Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Sonora Wildcats While no longer the top pitching prospect in baseball (that would be Les Ledbetter), Bob Allen is the next in a long run of elite pitching prospects that have come through the Cougars organization, following Pete Papenfus, the Jones Brothers, and Duke Bybee. All four have had plenty of big league success. And Allen should be no different. Just 19, Allen was brilliant this season, starting with a dominant four start stretch for the Lions. He won all four outings, allowing just 20 hits, 14 walks, and 2 runs with 46 strikeouts in 33.2 innings. That produced a microscopic 0.53 ERA (700 ERA+) and a still elite 2.12 FIP (56 FIP-). Clearly, he was ready for a bigger challenge, and we moved the former 10th Overall Pick to San Jose. Obviously he didn't dominate to the same level, but Allen had a strong 8 start stretch, going 5-1 with a 3.62 ERA (105 ERA+), 1.59 WHIP, 34 walks, and 28 strikeouts. The drop in command was somewhat concerning, but there are no concerns about Allen's command. Granted, there are really no concerns of any kind for Allen, who despite being 5'9'', has everything you look for in a pitcher. He has a strong four pitch mix, and his slider is a legitimate wipeout pitch that will have the bet hitters swinging out of their shoes. He's got a decent mid 80s fastball that will improve as he adds velocity, while his curve can get whiffs if hitters are keyed in on the slider. His last pitch, a changeup, may not be used too much, but it's a nice weapon to keep guys on their toes. His pitches generate plenty of downward movement, which will keep the ball in the park and erase base runners with numerous double plays. The command is stellar and he won't leave pitches over the plate, so there's no mistake pitches for batters to capitalize off of. There's still plenty of development ahead, but he's got all the tools to be an ace, and even about 50% of his peak is a solid middle of the rotation member. He could lead the league in strikeouts, and unlike Pap, not in walks as well, giving us a perfect combination of Pap's stuff, Donnie's command, and Duke's poise. OSA think he'll be ready by 1950, I think that's a bit too optimistic, but once he enters the rotation, he's not going anywhere. This kid is going to be something special. CF Jerry Smith (10th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 5th Overall (1947) Alma Mater: Jackson Generals Our second of two top ten prospects, Jerry Smith rounds out the top ten, making us the only team with two. Taken third overall this January, Smith hit over .520 in each of his three high school seasons, while slugging 1.100 or better. While impossible to replicate in affiliated ball, the now 19-year-old center fielder had a great debut for the Lions, slashing .284/.329/.413 (106 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 5 homers, 28 RBIs, and 20 steals. He produced a 118 WRC+ and 2.1 WAR in 51 games, and the talented outfielder spent all of his free time in the weight room. A potential five tool player, Smith doesn't do much wrong, as he's got great speed, excellent power, and a swing that will lead to a high average. He did strike out 44 times compared to just 14 walks, but his plate discipline was never a calling card. That's not to say it's a flaw, he should be at least average there, and with the contact/power/speed combo he's exactly what you want in a center fielder. He's strong and will only get stronger, and there's a lot to like about his defense in center. We only have two untouchable prospects, and as good as Smith is, he's not one of them. He's our most valuable trade chip that I can stomach parting with, and if we want a star, Smith may be the cost. That's not to say I'm shopping him, I'd love to keep a guy this good around for decades, but we'll have to wait a while for him to be elite, and our outfield is very deep. If he stays in the system, I expect him to join Allen in San Jose, but with all the talent he has on display he may move up the system quickly. C Garland Phelps (24th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 21st Overall (1947) Alma Mater: Sheffield Fightin' Irish That other untouchable prospect? This guy right here! Recently turned 18, Garland Phelps decided he didn't need to play for the Lions, instead skipping right up to San Jose. The results? A glimpse at the catcher of the future. Sorry Eddie Howard! Despite starting at 17, Phelps tore the cover off the ball, slashing .324/.370/.475 (136 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 6 triples, 5 homers, and 46 RBIs in his first 257 trips to the plate. His 144 WRC+ was highest on the team for players with 50 or more games played (although you could go all the way down to 3 for kicks) and he put together eight 3+ hit games. Nicknamed "Einstein" for his brilliance, both in general and in baseball, Phelps ranks as the #1 catching prospect in the league. A force on both offense and defense, it's hard to find a better overall catcher if Phelps lives up to his lofty potential. He has a clean stroke that should lead to a high average and his raw power is truly remarkable. As he builds muscle the ball is really going to fly, and he could hit 20+ homers a season. His plate discipline is impressive as well, as he should draw plenty of walks while keeping his strikeouts under control. Pitchers love throwing to him, both due to his knowledge of the game and his ability to receive the ball, and he calls an exceptional game. OSA thinks he could debut as early as 1949, I'm not sure that's realistic, but he's clearly a special prospect, and someone we want to mold into a future star. CF Johnny Peters (44th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 3rd Overall (1945) Alma Mater: Liberty College Bells A guy who has dropped a bit in the prospect rankings, Johnny Peters is now stuck behind a superstar in Sal Pestilli. 24 in January, he's probably ready for a shot to play everyday, but there's no room for him right now. While he does have experience at first as well as left and right, Peters has almost exclusively played center since we selected him 3rd back in 1945. A talented hitter, Peters spent his year in Milwaukee, and hit an exceptional .289/.390/.456 (115 OPS+) with 28 doubles, 9 triples, 16 homers, 77 RBIs, and 10 steals with 95 walks in 676 PAs. Known more for his bat then the glove, he has an elite eye, although that hasn't stopped him from striking out. He could league the league in walks with regular time, both due to his power and tendency to stay in the zone. He's got great speed, caught just once in eleven stolen base attempts, and he makes plenty of contact. He'll rack up extra bases and due damage on the bases, providing value in many different way. As exciting as he is, Peters is a guy I'd love to trade for a big league upgrade, but if he stays we have plenty of ways to work him into the lineup. I doubt he's making the Opening Day roster as I want to expand his versatility, but he could start as the short-side of a platoon as early as next season. Red Bond and Hal Sharp can't hit lefties, opening spots up at first and right. And if Leo Mitchell is no longer Leo Mitchell, that leaves room out in left. Peters somewhat feels like a Bobby Barrell type corner outfielder -- good enough for center but best in a corner. Yes, he'll never hit like Bobby, maybe more of a Walt Messer, but that's an extremely valuable player. LHP Ron Berry (56th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 112th Overall (1944) Alma Mater: Elm Springs Knights A strained shoulder limited Ron Berry to just 15 starts, but the soon-to-be 22-year-old showed plenty to be excited about. The young southpaw went 4-5 with a 4.13 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.30 WHIP, 32 walks, and 42 strikeouts in 89.1 innings pitched. Like #1 prospect Bob Allen, he doesn't have the build for a starter, just 5'7'' and 140 pounds. He's not going to throw hard, sitting in the 85-87 range, but he's not the type to blow by you. He keeps the ball on the ground and generates weak contact, excelling at finding the corners. His change is very good, with plenty of whiff potential, and his slider is absolutely devastating for same-side hitters. If his fastball can just graze 90, he's going to be great, otherwise he'll have to polish the command up. When he nibbles it can lead to walks, but I trust that he'll put in the necessary work to develop into a legit big league starter. I can't seem him being an ace, although I thought the same of Danny Hern, but Berry looks like a reliable mid-rotation arm. Like Peters, his value to us may be more via. trade, as our rotation won't have any openings for a while. I'm still really high on George Oddo, who could end up starting regularly for us next season, and Berry's development may be best served in an environment where he can be the focus of the farm, not a luxury as he is here. Next season will be important for him, as he has a chance to work his way up to AA, and position himself for a big league debut the following season.

07-15-2023, 11:57 PM	#1156
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Top Prospects: 6-10 RHP Harry Beardsley (74th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 156th Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Arkansas A&T Badgers Last year was Harry Beardsley's ascension up the prospect ladder. This year, it was his ascension up the organizational ladder. The former 10th Rounder started his season in A ball, going 8-3 in 13 starts. The overall results were as good as the record implied, working to a 3.50 ERA (121 ERA+) and 1.15 WHIP with 36 walks and 56 strikeouts in 87.1 innings pitched. This earned him a post-draft promotion to AA where he made 11 starts, but actually threw more innings (95.2). He ran into a few bumps along the road, but his 3.95 ERA (106 ERA+) was still above average and when you go from a pennant winner to a .500 team, 5-6 isn't too bad. The issues showed in his FIP (4.59, 109), WHIP (1.45), and 2 point drop in K/9 (5.8 to 3.8) while he walked (49) more hitters then he struck out (40). Even before considering the fact that AA is not where most guys a year removed from college are playing, he not only ate innings but provided more or less average results. The most impressive instance came in a 13-inning complete game victory, where the young righty threw 198 pitches and would have gone out for the 14th had the Commodores not walked things off. I doubt it will be the last time Beardsley throws a ton of his pitches to help his team win, as he profiles as a pre-injury Harry Parker type. The upside isn't flashy, but he's should be a durable #3 or #4 who gives you all nine all the time. All his tools are average or better, but there's nothing he truly excels at. There's nothing wrong with being good, and if he can stay healthy, Beardsley should be a good big league pitcher. LHP Bret Rogers (76th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 12th Overall (1944) Alma Mater: Wenona Braves Just two spots back is another young pitcher, the Chicago native Bert Rogers. He is the fourth and final of our past first rounders to land in the top 100 this season, giving us an impressive hit rate in recent seasons. In fact, if you go all the way back to 1934, 9 of the 13 first rounders either rank in the top 100 or have been to an All-Star game. Of the four that don't match the criteria, one is 22-year-old Tommy Seymour, and the other three (Solly Skidmore, Mel Haynes, and Preacher Pietsch) have made it to the show. I think Rogers will join them, but the 21-year-old has a lot of developing ahead of him. A three-pitch pitcher, his stuff is still raw and his fastball hits just 88. How he gets out is his movement, as his fastball gets plenty of spin and the break on his slider and curve are impressive. The slider will be the best pitch, as lefties won't have any success trying to make contact on it. That should lead to plenty of strikeouts, but against righties he hasn't yet developed an out pitch. That showed more in Lincoln then in San Jose, as Rogers' BB/9 (4.3 to 5.2), K/9 (4.8 to 3.5), K/BB (1.1 to 0.7), WHIP (1.47 to 1.51), ERA (3.19 to 4.26), ERA+ (119 to 99), FIP (3.62 to 5.38), and FIP- (95 to 127) all went in the wrong direction. He did benefit from playing for a pennant winning team and will return for the repeat campaign. Whether he stays will be determined on his performance, but I'm comfortable leaving him for the full season as he will be one of the youngest players on the staff. Like the rest of our prospects, he could be used as a trade piece, but we have a tendency to hold onto hometown players and it would be awesome if his first FABL pitch came as a Cougar. CF Frank Reece (81st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Villisca Bluejays 1947 was not a great year for Frank Reece, who not only dropped almost 50 spots in the prospect rankings, but didn't quite impress in his first full season of baseball. In his defense, most 19-year-olds in Class B don't hold their own and Reece produced a slightly above average WRC+ (102) and defensive efficiency (1.012). Still, I expected more then a .245/.331/.369 (96 OPS+) triple slash and he actually homered (9) less then he did (10) in half as many plate appearances last year. Reece also had marginal increases in doubles (10 to 13) and steals (14 to 19). The former 2nd Rounder may have to take another go in San Jose, but I'd love to have him finish the season in Lincoln. He just turned 20, so that might be a stretch, but with tools as exciting as his you want to push him to succeed. He's got a nice hit tool and blazing speed, so even when he's not lining balls in the outfield he makes the defense sweat on any ball on the ground. His athleticism makes me hope he could produce average power numbers, but most 130 pound guys aren't clearing fences, and at 5'7'' he can only get so strong. Any sort of power is icing for someone as talented in the outfield as him, as there's no worry about Reece having to move into a corner. He reminds me a little of Carlos Montes, just hopefully without all the injury issues. 3B Otto Christian (82nd Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1941) Alma Mater: Walla Walla Warriors A theme in our prospect rankings this year is back-to-backs, as Frank Reece and Otto Christian are the first of many guys who rank back-to-back on both ours and the OSA prospect list. The acquisition of Walt Pack made Otto's future a little murkier, and "The Walla Walla Walloper" spent most of his season in AAA. It was his first go at the level, and he hit 23 homers with 26 doubles and 94 RBIs in 124 games. He hit .300/.360/.503 (119 OPS+) for the Blues and walked (41) more often then he struck out (32). He then spent the last two weeks in Chicago, and hit his first big league home run off a talented veteran in Harry Carter. Known for his power, Otto may end up leading the league in home runs, and if he can survive the offseason, he's more-or-less guaranteed to open the season on our Opening Day roster. Pack can't hit lefties (.064/.118/.064 in 47 PAs), so someone needs to man the hot corner against them and it might as well be Otto. Sure, we could opt for George Sutterfield, but Otto could get some at bats at first since Red Bond (.267/.272/.307, in 101 PAs) isn't too great either. The more at bats he gets, the more souvenirs those who buy tickets will receive. He may not be the star I once thought he was, but if you have power, you'll get a shot, as even Claude Merrill crossed the 1,000 PA threshold. If he starts hot, he could make a few All-Star trips, and if he really grooves it for a season he could win a surprise Whitney. I hope that's as a Cougar, but Pack just turned 33 and if he follows the Hank Barnett and John Lawson track, he could have four or more solid seasons ahead of him. You can never have too many good players, but we need to add offense and if the price is Otto, then that's a price we have to pay. SS Buddy Jenkins (101st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 77th Overall (1947) Alma Mater: Whitman Panthers If I wanted to be cheeky, I could say we have 10 top 101 prospects, but since I prefer consistency, it's 9 top 100 prospects. The first to miss is Buddy Jenkins, who at 18 posted a 109 WRC+ in San Jose while making starts at all three infield positions. That's impressive for a guy who was just taken in the 5th Round, as Jenkins was also a perfect 9-for-9 in swiping bases. The Boston native hit .262/.359/.346 (98 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, 17 RBIs, and 21 walks in 153 trips to the plate. A versatile youngster, Jenkins played a little center and right in high school, and I'm sure he could pick up left and first in a snap. Despite his positional versatility, he's a legit shortstop, and posted a remarkable 2.0 zone rating (1.105 eff) in just 133 innings. He won't hurt you at the plate either, as while he doesn't have much power he does a great job working the count and he can elevate a mistake. With his speed any ball in play could cause trouble and when he's on you know he's looking to run. Skipper won't ever give up short, but if Jenkins can hit we'll find somewhere for him to play. His defense secures at minimal a future as a utility player, but OSA thinks Jenkins could "fill a key role for a contending team" and I think that's a reasonable expectation if his development goes according to plan.

07-16-2023, 05:06 PM	#1157
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Top Prospects: 11-15 1B Dudley Sapp (103rd Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 45th Overall (1947) Alma Mater: Union City Bulldogs Checking in two spots below 5th Rounder Buddy Jenkins is 3rd Rounder Dudley Sapp, who was originally in the top 100 but found his way on the outside this offseason. Part of that could be accounted for the fractured thumb that ended his season in early August, limiting him to just 29 games in his draft season. He also really cooled off after an excellent start, batting just .271/.322/.346 (87 OPS+) in 118 trips to the plate. Now 19, all those came when he was 18, and while the overall numbers weren't great, it's something to build on. The main concern is the power, as Sapp is known for his slug and he hit just two homers and no doubles. He does have a very strong hit tool, but if he wants to make it to the big leagues, he's going to have to tap into his above average power. He's a strong 6'4'' slugger who should be able to hit 25+ homers in the big leagues, and the mix of contact and eye should allow him to reach base frequently. OSA loves him at first, so perhaps that means he could fill in at a corner outfield spot, but I'm not sure he has the speed to cover much ground. Everything relies on the power potential, as if he hits it he could spend a decade manning first in a Cougar uniform. If not? He'll be lucky to get the call from AAA. There's plenty of risk, but it's hard to pass up a guy who can hit the ball as hard as he does. RF Jimmy Hairston (129th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 61st Overall (1943) Alma Mater: Bowman Mohawks It was a big season for Jimmy Hairston, who spent most of his season as a 22-year-old in AA. 120 of his 137 appearances came with the Commodores, where he hit an impressive .318/.386/.441 (113 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 4 triples, 6 homers, and 63 RBIs. He also drew 55 walks and produced a 121 WRC+ while playing decent defense out in right (6.4, 1.005). A former 4th Rounder back in 1943, Hairston is now Rule-5 eligible, and I've just given him our 36th 40-man roster spot that was vacated with Dick Walker's retirement. I'd love for him to get an extra look in the Cuban Winter League, as the extra development can really do him wonders. As a corner outfielder, he's going to need to hit, and he does have the bat to keep his average above .300 for a full season. He won't hit many homers, but as demonstrated by his time in Mobile he'll make up for it with plenty of doubles. He has a good eye and can draw a walk, but he still chases a bit too often. If he can hit just about average power, maybe 10-15 home runs a season, he could live up to Dixie's projection to "unleash obvious talent both on the field and at the plate" while OSA thinks he has "the talent to flourish as a right fielder." These are glowing reviews for the young righty, but I think he's going to need a few more seasons before even sniffing that. If all breaks right, he could be a useful every day player, but our outfield picture is crowded and won't loosen up any time soon. RHP George Carter (177th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 9th Round, 141st Overall (1947) Alma Mater: Bluegrass State Mustangs A ninth round pick out of Bluegrass State, it's a bit shocking to see righty George Carter ranked so high on the prospect list. He struggled in the rotation down in La Crosse and actually finished the season in the pen. He started just 3 of his 9 appearances and had a 5.06 ERA (74 ERA+) and 1.91 WHIP in 26.2 innings. The underlying metrics are much stronger, as he had a tremendous 4.3 K/BB (30-to-7) and 2.37 FIP (63 FIP-) in the small sample. A four pitch pitcher, he does have the stuff to start, and I'm hoping he can enter the San Jose rotation to start next season. He did have a red arrow and since we had plenty of pitchers in the low minors, there wasn't really a spot for him there. The Maywood, Illinois native is also a bit of a soft-tosser, as his fastball sits in the mid 80s and he's been susceptible to the flyball. No homers allowed, but he's a flyball pitcher who's not going to blow people away with his stuff. I'd like to see more from his sinker, which doesn't generate the groundballs it should. Carter may be one of those "misses" on the prospect list, but the command has been special, and if he can sit in the 3-4 range with his K/BB we can live with all the other problems he may run into. C Mike Bordes (181st Overall) Acquired: Via Trade with Washington (1946) Drafted: 11th Round, 169th Overall (1944) Alma Mater: Newburgh Knights Our highest ranked prospect not to be drafted by us, Mike Bordes was part of the offseason trade last year that sent Billy Riley to the Eagles. Bordes spent 1946 with their AA team, but the results weren't great, and I wanted the 21-year-old in A ball to start. He spent most of his season there, hitting .250/.323/.423 (98 OPS+) with 23 doubles, 5 triples, 10 homers, and 67 RBIs. His WRC+ (102) was a bit better then his OPS+, and if you average them together he was basically a league average hitter while walking (40) one more time then he struck out (39). When we moved Homer Guthrie up to Chicago for the final month of the season, that moved Bordes up to Mobile, but it did not go well. He did still walk (9) more then he struck out (7), but his triple slash dropped to .211/.294/.263 (45 OPS+) in 87 trips to the plate. Bordes is now in a tough spot, as I expect Guthrie or Eddie Howard to end up in Milwaukee, and I want 13th Rounder Bob Mundy playing everyday as well. This could mean Bordes will have to start the season back in A ball, as that trio all have green arrows up to Chicago. Bordes has a lot more upside then Guthrie and Mundy, boasting a nice hit tool and a good feel of the zone, but since he's not the greatest defender, him and Mundy could split time between catcher and first. I'm not sure he has the power to last at first, but if he cost too many runs catching most days, he could be a useful C/1B piece off the bench. LHP Mike Emerson (185th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 61st Overall (1947) Alma Mater: Jamesville Bullets The first pitcher we selected in the winter draft, Mike Emerson ranks higher then all the pitchers selected after him excluding the previously mentioned Carter. Emerson had much more success in La Crosse then Carter, going 6-2 with a 3.71 ERA (101 ERA+) and 1.43 WHIP. And while he doesn't have the 4 K/BB Carter did, 46 strikeouts to 25 walks isn't too bad. The young lefty doesn't throw all that hard, just 85-87 right now, but he has an intriguing four pitch repertoire. His changeup should be really good and he's commanded it well so far. The cutter won't be great until he adds velocity, but if he can develop his slider or curve into an outpitch he'll be able to start in the big leagues. A Wisconsin native, Emerson has the upside to fill the back of a rotation with the potential to move to the middle if he can sit in the low 90s. If not, his stuff may never be better then average, and he'll have to rely more on keeping the ball on the ground and generating weak contact, forcing him to rely more on his defense then his pitches. If neither of his breakers develop, he could be a very useful change up heavy reliever, and since he's already effortlessly pushed past 100 pitches (lowest pitch count in a game was 108 and he left in the 6th), he could pitch multiple innings at any point in the game. I'm hoping he can add velocity in the offseason, and the Lions win leader has a chance to match that again next season.

07-17-2023, 07:23 PM	#1158
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Top Prospects: 16-20 Plenty of housekeeping ahead, as not only do we have a new manager, but another Allen Award. The first was expected, but the second? That sparked some controversy. Six pitchers were given a first place vote, with Win Lewis receiving the most with 5. It didn't matter, as Donnie got one less, but was higher on more ballots then Lewis, finishing two points (57 to 55) higher then the Sailors ace. That makes it back-to-back Allen Awards for Cougar pitchers, with Donnie following Pap. Our 27-year-old co-ace went 16-9 in his 30 starts, working to a 2.89 ERA (133 ERA+) and 1.16 WHIP. In two outs shy of 250 innings, Jones walked 84 and struck out 139, and finished top 3 in the CA in ERA (3rd), complete games (3rd, 21), shutouts (2nd, 4), strikeouts (2nd), WHIP (2nd), ERA+ (3rd), rWAR (1st, 7.1), opponent average (2nd, .222), and win percentage (.640). Donnie also started the All-Star game for the CA this year, and is coming off his third consecutive season with 240 or more innings, an ERA below 3.10, an ERA+ above 110, a WAR above 4.5, and a FIP- below 90. If we want to return to contention next season, we'll need another season like this from Jones, as we cannot afford for him to slump like Pap did this year. It would be nice to have them both pitch like Allen winners in the same season, as last year Donnie had a rough end to the season and this year Pap was never himself. The new skipper of the Cougars is someone who used to throw pitches for them, as 1931 World Championship member Max Wilder was named the manager for the 1948 season. Wilder will receive $12,145 for the next two seasons after spending five seasons as the Chiefs pitching coach. Known as a conventional manager who prefers pitching, defense, and power, Wilder has been coaching since 1936, with all but one of his seasons coming as a pitching coach. Like his predecessor, Wilder has not managed at the big league level, but there is very little concern that he won't be able to pick it up quickly. He has an average or better relationship with a majority of the team, and just the selfish Hal Sharp listed as "poor". As a pitcher, Wilder debuted in 1921 with the Cannons, although they were called the Clippers when they drafted him 10th in 1916. He later pitched for the Saints, Foresters, Cougars, Minutemen, Kings, and Dynamos, appearing in 377 games with 354 of them being starts. He was a very productive pitcher, going 157-137 with a 3.70 ERA (111 ERA+), 1.34 WHIP, and 1,116 strikeouts in 2,710.1 career innings pitched. Wilder also accumulated 40.4 WAR, and he's probably best known for his time with the Cougars, where he tossed 1,005.2 innings from 1930 to 1934. They were also some of his best seasons, as in the four full years he had an ERA+ of 118 or better and a FIP- of 98 or lower, and Wilder was 61-45 with a 3.39 ERA (122 ERA+). I'm hoping that having a member of our most recent championship team can help inspire a winning attitude. RHP Tommy Seymour (195th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1943) Alma Mater: Olathe Pioneers After improving on a rough 1945 last year, things went the opposite way this year as Tommy Seymour had a terrible season for the Legislators. After going 5-4 with a 3.28 ERA (110 ERA+) in 12 starts last season, he dropped to 6-14 with a 5.63 ERA (75 ERA+) in 24 starts this season. Some of this should have been expected, as his 4.83 FIP (134 FIP-) predicted plenty of regression. Command issues did Seymour in this year, as he walked 93 hitters while striking out just 58. It's his glaring weakness, as he has good stuff and his pitches generate plenty of movement. His change and splitter have tremendous downward movement and his fastball isn't tough to hit. The problem so far has been locating his pitches, as movement only does you so much when you don't know where the pitches are going to end up. On the plus side, Seymour was throwing harder this season, up to 85-87. That's still not hard enough, but at 22 it may be where he maxes out. He's likely ticketed for A ball again next season, but I'm hoping he'll be up in AA in no time. CF Rupert Abbott (197th Overall) Acquired: Via Trade with Washington (1946) Drafted: 4th Round, 61st Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Opelika State Wildcats While not initially back-to-back, the mot recent sim actually has Seymour and Abbott at 196 and 197, as opposed to 195 and 197. The other prospect in the Billy Riley trade, Abbott had a nice first season in our organization, hitting well with both Lincoln and Mobile. He started in Lincoln, slashing .266/.335/.424 (102 OPS+) before improving that to .305/.367/.439 (108 OPS+) after the promotion. His WRC+ (108 and 116) were even better, and he tallied 35 doubles, 8 triples, 9 homers, 13 steals, and 78 RBIs in 137 games between the two levels. Abbott also provided plus defense out in center, with a 1.032 (AA) and 1.042 (A) efficiency. The hardworking outfielders best tool may be his defense, but he also has a pretty solid eye at the plate. He can work the count and shouldn't end up whiffing too much, and when he's on base he'll always be a threat to run. If he can continue to provide extra base pop, he could be an excellent leadoff hitter, but with a lot of talented outfielders ranked ahead of him, it may be tough for Abbott to carve out a starting role. CF Ed Sutton (204th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 93rd Overall (1947) Alma Mater: College of Cairo Pharaohs Here it is! Another back-to-back! Ed Sutton edged out Bob Schmelz by one spot in both rankings after a decent debut season. His age pushed him up to Lincoln, where he played solid center field defense (5.6, 1.035) and hit an okay enough .247/.316/.383 (86 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 2 triples, 6 homers, 20 RBIs, and 25 walks. The recent 6th Round Pick displayed his plus defensive ability and patience at the plate, but he was susceptible to off-speed pitches at time. He also projects to have above average contact potential, and with his speed there's a chance he could be a solid doubles hitter. Don't expect many homer runs, but any sort of power from him would be a bonus. OSA is a bigger fan of him then Dixie, going as far to say he could "fill a key role for a contending team." I'd be happy with a fourth outfielder that can start when someone's hurt, but there's plenty of upside and Sutton could be in the big leagues in just a few seasons. 2B Bob Schmelz (205th Overall) Acquired: Via Trade with Detroit (1945) Drafted: 1st Round, 11th Overall (1942) Alma Mater: Dravosburg Flyers He was supposed to start one of our last games, but for some reason Bob Schmelz ended up on the bench. At least he did get into two games as a Cougar, going 1-for-3. The 22-year-old spent most of his season in Milwaukee, batting .271/.390/.379 (96 OPS+) with 23 doubles, 11 homers, and 58 RBIs with an elite 98-to-39 walk-to-strikeout ratio in 651 trips to the plate. He didn't look very good at second (-8.6, .965) so we gave him some reps at first, but I'd love for him to be at least passable at the keystone. He doesn't have the power for first base, but his discipline will be important for his major league success. He reminds me a lot of Ray Ford, who also started as a second basemen, as both have great discipline, very little swing and miss in their game, and a plus hit tool. Ford was the more highly touted prospect, but pretty much everything else, even the height (both 5'10''!), lines up. Schmelz will be in camp and will be given a shot to earn a bench spot in the Spring, but expect him to split time between second and first in Milwaukee next year. SS Bob Stout (212th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 92nd Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Eastern Virginia Dukes A torn back muscle ended Bob Stout's season a few weeks early, but it was a productive season for the former 6th Round Pick. The 22-year-old appeared in 88 games for the Commodores and 44 games for the Legislators. In Lincoln he hit .250/.392/.391 (110 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers, and 13 RBIs while hitting .265/.353/.424 (100 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 7 triples, 5 homers, and 41 RBIs for the Commodores. This is impressive offense for a gifted defender, who posted efficiencies above 1.100 (1.107 in A, 1.137 in AA) at both levels. There's no concern about moving Stout off of short, as while he may not be Skipper Schneider, he's a remarkable shortstop who will make all the routine plays and more then his share of the outstanding ones. The bat has some questions, but he more then held his own, and he even managed 8 steals which adds another facet to his game. His glove ensures that he can at least function as a utility player off the bench, which I think is the likeliest career path for him. That's not to say he can't start, but beyond his eye, he doesn't have an average or better offensive tool. He'll either have to hit around .300 or provide double digit home runs to start, both things I think may be too ambitious. Still, an excellent defensive shortstop can start even when the bat leaves something to be desired, and if he can stay healthy, Stout could carve out a solid big league career for himself.

07-18-2023, 08:05 PM	#1159
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Top Prospects: 21-25 CF Harley Dollar (214th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 131st Overall (1947) Alma Mater: Nutley Maroon Raiders Despite being just 19, Harley Dollar pretty much skipped C ball, as his week involved him going 6-for-17 with 2 doubles, a homer, 2 RBIs, and 3 walks. He was then moved up to San Jose, where he still provided above average offensive production. The 7th Rounder hit .237/.318/.421 (106 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, 27 RBIs, and 18 walks. A natural center fielder, Dollar spent almost all his time in the corners, with a majority of his outings coming in right field. While he doesn't steal many bases, he has decent foot speed and could stick in center. I do think he's best suited for a corner, but he won't kill you up the middle. What "Easy Money" does best is put the ball in play, as he has an above average contact tool that pairs well with excellent strike zone recognition. There's some swing and miss in his game early on, but most teens have huge strikeouts numbers in their first few seasons. I expect him to be one of those guys who walks more then he strikes out, but what surprised me was the power he showed. After just 3 high school homers in 62 games, I was impressed with his 6 in the 51 post-draft. Sure, I expected some doubles and triples, but if he's hitting home runs he's going to force himself into our future plans. He's more then just a cool name regardless, as he's got big league talent, with the floor of a fourth outfielder and the ceiling as an every day player. Just maybe one you'll have in the back-half of the order. SS Roy Gass (244th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 64th Overall (1947) Alma Mater: Council Grove Braves A lot of our young infielders struggled either in La Crosse or San Jose this past season. Roy Gass was not one of them. One of our 4th Rounders in the most recent draft, Gass didn't turn 18 until late August, but still posted a 120 WRC+ in 45 games for the Lions after finishing his four year prep career at Council Grove. The Lions everyday shortstop hit a strong .265/.349/.408 (111 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 3 triples, 4 homers, 4 steals, and 16 RBIs. Like with Dollar, the power from Gass was somewhat of a shock, as he had just 13 extra base hits as a senior. At 6'2'', he's not your prototypical shortstop, but perhaps the Topeka native will continue to hit the ball out of the park. If we can get him in the weight room, perhaps their double digit home runs locked away, but it may be tough. Not because he's lazy, but because he practically lives on the baseball diamond. One of the hardest workers in the system, Gass takes extra grounders before and after games, and it shows in his play at short. He'll take extra reps in the cage as well, which shows in his long and tough at bats and his plus contact tool. With Gass, we're betting hard on the upside and less on the current project, but what I saw this year really impressed. Dixie Marsh thinks he'll develop into an "above average, everyday big league player" and I don't think this is as good as we'll see him. His work ethic will push him past his current ceiling, and with a little muscle building in the offseason I can see him forcing his way up the prospect rankings. If I had to bet on one of our "middle tier" prospects making the jump by next year, it would be Gass, and he's a guy we have a close eye on. He's no Skipper, but he does remind me a bit of Ollie Page, but with the upside we though he had when we grabbed him from the Eagles. Shortstop is not going to be open, but with some added pop, Gass could be our everyday third basemen once Otto Christian has his time in the sun. SS Willie Watson (243rd Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 157th Overall (1947) Alma Mater: Evansville Eagles Another one of our numerous young shortstops, Willie Watson did struggle. A lot. But it's not his fault. The Illinois native was pushed up to San Jose, because he was one of the few infielders that did not have a down arrow. Although he labored at the plate, hitting a pitcher-like .151/.248/.198 (26 OPS+) in 123 trips to the plate. Yes, there's no silver lining there, but he did play plus defense at third (0.5, 1.060) and short (0.3, 1.007), and he still managed to draw 11 walks. 19 in December, he may start the season in San Jose again, but if a Roxy Hilts or John Price has a good offseason, we may let Watson get back on track in C ball. But for a guy known more for his glove then the bat, it may be worth letting Watson struggle on the fly. He gives good at bats and is composed under pressure, and he doesn't take his offensive struggles onto the field with him. He's a marvelous shortstop and his arm is more then strong enough for third, and any offense he provides will be a plus. As a groundball hitter, there's never going to be much pop, so putting the ball in play is a must. Lucky for Watson, there's no where to go but up, and I'm sure if he spent the season in La Crosse he would have been somewhat production in the aggregate as his defense can make up for a lot of offensive shortcomings. Just nothing can excuse a 22 WRC+... LF Clyde Parker (244th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 103rd Overall (1945) Alma Mater: Liberty Bluejays Recently turned 21, Clyde Parker seems to have stalled out a bit. The former 7th Rounder flashed some Leo Mitchell when he first came up, but like Mitchell this year, the results were very disappointing. He spent all season in San Jose, and hit a bit below average .240/.320/.382 (96 OPS+) in 104 games. The 24 doubles and 11 triples were nice, but he hit just 3 homers with 43 RBIs, 45 walks, and 85 strikeouts. As a corner outfielder, that's not going to cut it, and with Parker's hit tool he should be hitting consistently over .300. Instead, he hasn't hit above .280 at any stop yet, and he had his worst power showing so far. We're going to need him to hit more, but it's easy to forget how young he is. Not everyone is a quick riser so we'll have to be patient here, but he's got the build of a batting title winner. He's a line drive hitter who can hit both lefties and righties, and until this season he's never really had strikeout problems. With the right motivation, a big season could be in his future, but for now my expectations have been tempered. 3B Bill Nash (253rd Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 11th Round, 177th Overall (1947) Alma Mater: Piedmont University Pipers Despite being an AI pick, I was very happy to add Bill Nash to our system. A third basemen at Piedmont University, Nash should've been a human round pick, but all 16 (well, this year 15) of us passed on the Pipers star hitter. The 21-year-old then skipped C ball, and put together a strong season for the Cougars in the second half of the year. The Cali kid hit .261/.327/.428 (111 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, and 21 RBIs. A strong athlete who hits a ton of line drives, I think there's power to be exploited in Nash, who even without it could be a capable every day third basemen. He's got a good, reliable glove and he's always a tough out. He'll draw his share of walks and he's improving his pitch selection, and a more filled out Nash should be a very disciplined hitter. He doesn't have a great contact tool, but since he hits the ball hard a .270 or so hitter isn't out of the question. What will make things tough for Nash is eventually some of our shortstops will have to move off, which could take some time away from Nash. The power will be the key to his success, as if he can scare pitchers to pitching around him, he won't chase the bad pitches, and can punish the mistakes. Right now he's a borderline starter, but the pieces are in place for a borderline All-Star instead.

07-19-2023, 08:04 PM	#1160
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Top Prospects: 26-30 CF Phil Boyes (261st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 76th Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Benton Zephyrs It was a big drop for Phil Boyes, who ranks over 100 points lower this year compared to last year. Despite that, Boyes had a much better season in similar time (183 PAs vs 166), slashing .309/.372/.414 (119 OPS+) with 4 homers, 32 RBIs, and a 129 WRC+. He also looked really good in center (0.4, 1.030), surprisingly better then right (0.8, .999) and left (-0.1, 1.021), as the now 20-year-old showed excellent range in the position he's most comfortable at. He also swiped nine bags as speed will always be a big part of his game. I love his hit tool, and I don't think this is going to be the last season he'll hit above .300. He has a real nice swing, and even with all the line drives he hits, he's more of a single guy then an extra base guy. His prospect stock may have taken a small hit, but I think he's on the right track. If we need someone for the San Jose outfield, he's a good candidate, and I don't think he's going to finish his season in La Crosse. He's a very raw prospect, but he has two really nice tools and sometimes that's enough to stick in the big leagues. 2B Roxy Hilts (274th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 59th Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Cedarburg Bulldogs It wasn't quite an 100 point drop for Roxy Hilts, but he dropped outside of the top 200 to 274. And like Boyes, he also hit better, increasing his triple slash from .291/.352/.368 (100 OPS+) to .301/.358/.425 (118 OPS+). Hilts increased pretty much all his numbers, including doubles (7 to 11), triples (1 to 3), walks (10 to 19), steals (3 to 9), and WAR (0.4 to 1.6). He didn't homer last season, but hit three out this year in 19 more games. Granted, he also struck out (53) over twice as often as he walked (19), but that doesn't project to be an issue once he's fully developed. He has a good swing and projects to become a solid contact hitter. He's a decent defensive second basemen, but we've given him some time at first to improve his versatility. Without some power, first isn't a likely landing spot, but if he can keep the ball in play, he can hit his way into a lineup. Like with Boyes, I'd like to make room for him in San Jose, but there's a chance the 19-year-old gets one final shot at C ball. LHP Ray Paulson (276th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 70th Overall (1947) Alma Mater: Forest Park Foresters One of our 5th Rounders this year, Ray Paulson is a tiny lefty awesomely nicknamed "Half-Pint" for his small stature. But despite that, he has the poise of a Duke Bybee, and you don't want to face him when he's on. He's crazy intense and always prepared, and you know he's going to give it 100% each time. Half-Pint showed flashes of greatness on the mound for the Lions, including a 13-strikeout victory in a 3-2 Lions win. He had 54 in just 45.1 innings, huge whiff numbers for a guy who sits in the mid-80s. His 3.57 ERA (105 ERA+) was solid and his 3.28 FIP (87 FIP-) was even better. He did allow a lot of baserunners, as his 1.41 WHIP was on the high side, but if he's striking out guys it doesn't matter how many get on base. If he can keep the ball in the park, he can work around the baserunners, but he did allow three homers in his seven starts. What's interesting about all the strikeouts, or even somewhat concerning, is his stuff isn't that great. His slider will be his best pitch, and while it's excellent against lefties, it's not a real out pitch. He's going to be an interesting arm to keep an eye on, but the deck is stacked against him. I'll bet on his fire, but he'll have to beat out his height, velocity, and the general risks of being a high school lefty. But man, if you see the way he handles himself on the mound, you believe that anything's possible. RHP Lee Parker (300th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 15th Round, 236th Overall (1946) Alma Mater: Marysville Monarchs The surprising addition in the top 500 last year, Lee Parker got up a few more spots to 300 in the initial offseason list. This comes after nine starts with the Lions, going 5-4 with a 3.71 ERA (101 ERA+), 1.46 WHIP, 23 walks, and 40 strikeouts. He was one of just two qualified pitchers on the Lions staff, sharing the ERA crown with Mike Emerson. The tall 19-year-old has an interesting five pitch arsenal -- the type where none of them are bad, but none of them are good. That means to be a useful starter, he's going to have to locate them, otherwise he's going to get hit hard. As a finesse pitcher, he doesn't usually miss over the plate, but the best hitters have no trouble with 87 anywhere. If Parker polishes his stuff or hits 90, he could work his way into a rotation, but for now he's got to perform to keep earning starts. 1B Cal Rice (305th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 158th Overall (1945) Alma Mater: Farmington Tigers The addition of Dudley Sapp puts the first roadblock in the path of Cal Rice, who went from the only real first base prospect in the system to an after thought behind a potential star. Rice didn't let that effect his performance, as he hit .281/.344/.417 (113 OPS+) in 111 games for the baby Cougars. Unfortunately, 5 homers in 448 PAs is not what you want from your first basemen, and 24 doubles and 8 triples isn't enough to make up for it. Add on the 83-to-39 walk-to-strikeout ratio and there's work to be done if you only play first base. He's far from a lost cause, however, as there's a lot that plays in his favor. He turned 20 this August so he could still grow, and at 6'3'' there has to be some home run power. Dixie Marsh thinks it'll be at least average, and if we can get him in the weight room it could be plus or better. His bat will need to carry him, but a flyball hitter with strength works well at Cougars Park, and if he can improve his discipline, he could become an average big leaguer.