Chicago Cougars (FABL) - Page 61

ayaghmour2 · 09-05-2023, 09:03 PM

Weekly Record: 6-0
Seasonal Record: 33-27 (3rd, 2 GB)
Stars of the Week
Pete Papenfus : 2 Wins, 17.0 IP, 9 BB, 11 K, 1.06 ERA
Sal Pestilli : 22 AB, 6 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI, .273 AVG, .998 OPS
Walt Pack : 20 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .400 AVG, .950 OPS

Schedule
6-15: Win vs Foresters (0-6)
6-16: Win vs Foresters (0-7)
6-17: Win vs Foresters (3-5)
6-18: Win vs Cannons (8-12)
6-19: Win vs Cannons (4-5)
6-20: Win vs Cannons (2-3)

Recap
While not Leo Mitchell-led, it's hard to complain about a perfect week! Even if it is at home against the 7th and 8th place teams! It was a team effort, as 12 of the 15 hitters who accumulated four or more trips to the plate provided above average production, ranging from George Sutterfield (2-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB) to Sal Pestilli (6-22, 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R, 5 BB, 2 SB), and of course, the previously mentioned Mitchell (5-18, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 4 R) who unfortunately was the least inspired of the bunch. Even with two one run wins, our run differential swelled to a CA best +31, and our pitching staff has now allowed the fewest runs in either association.

Johnnie Jones has been a huge part of the league's best staff, and he fashioned 5-hit shutout in a commanding 7-0 win over the Foresters. He did walk 5, but struck out 4 to improve to 5-4 on the season. His 2.13 ERA (181 ERA+) leads the staff, and his 85 FIP- (3.31 FIP) would be the best of his career. He's still striking out (44) a few more guys then he's walked (41), something he hasn't done since his first full season back in 1943 (96 BB, 97). As good as that year was (15-8, 2.93, 97) he's currently holding personal bests in WHIP (1.19), BB% (10.6), K/BB (1.1), and ERA+. Pete Papenfus came an inning away from a shutout of his own, as despite the 6-0 lead, Max Wilder elected not to push the veteran past 137 pitches. If Pap didn't walk 6 guys, he could have gone 9, as he allowed just 2 hits and struck out 7 in a dominant performance against the Foresters. He followed it up with a more efficient 130-pitch complete game win over the Cannons to finish the sweep, allowing just 4 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. The runs came on solo shots from Sam Brown (.307, 6, 30) and Johnny Potter (.250, 1, 7) early in the game, as he finished strong with six shutout innings, as a pair of run in the 8th gave us the lead we would hold.

Interesting enough, our other three starters allowed two homers, and Duke Bybee and Donnie Jones were able to work around it. Bybee picked up his six consecutive victory, allowing 10 hits and 3 runs in a complete game victory. He didn't allow a walk and struck out three as we finished off a sweep of the Sailors. Donnie didn't fair as well, but still managed to earn a complete game victory. Donnie scattered 10 hits, 4 runs, and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts over nine innings, but left the game tied. This set up late inning heroics for Sal Pestilli to lead off the 9th. It was his second homer of the game, as Pestilli got to Jersey Jim (6-4, 2.59, 42) in the 6th and was responsible for three of the four runs. He reached base all four times, walking and singling earlier in the game.

George Oddo, however, was really roughed up in our 12-8 win over the Cannons. and he lasted just two innings. He was charged with 7 runs (4 earned), 5 hits, and a walk, but Clark Car's error on the second batter of the game set him up for failure. He's hit his first rough patch of the season, allowing 16 hits, 14 runs (9 earned), and 3 walks over his last two starts (6.2 IP). This has inflated his ERA from 2.66 to 3.51 (110 ERA+), and it's resemblant of his cup of coffee last September (16 IP, 14 H, 9 ER, 4 BB, 8 K). Oddo is scheduled for his 12th start this week against Sailors (29-33), and his performance may determine if his start gets skipped after our off-day next Monday. Harry Parker did the mop up work, keeping us in a game that was 7-3 when he threw his first pitch. Parker soaked up 6 innings, allowing just 4 hits and a run with 3 strikeouts. When he left we were up 12-8, allowing Eddie Howard (IP, 2 H) to get the final three outs. There's a stretch coming towards the end of the month where we play 14 games in 13 days, so it's encouraging to see Parker pitch like this for multiple innings. He could take a start to keep guys fresh if needed, and it may be one of the last chances for the 33-year-old to start an FABL game.

Harry Mead looked like even year Harry Mead, going an even 6-for-12 with a double, 3 walks, 3 RBIs, and 4 runs. Walt Pack and Red Bond kept up the good work, 14-for-41 with 6 runs and 9 RBIs. Pack hit his 9th homer and Bond put out 17 and 18 to extend his league leading total. Skipper Schneider continued a nice season at the plate, going 7-for-20 with a double, 3 walks, 4 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. Skipper's now hitting a strong .313/.378/.410 (114 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 4 homers, and 29 RBIs. His 120 WRC+ would be a career high, and after a slow start defensively, he's getting closer (7.3, 1.097) to his otherworldly defensive self. The 27-year-old has always been one of the game's more valuable players, and if he can continue like this he could end up making a legitimate case for a Whitney. He always gets a few votes because of his defense, but if we can stay hot and Skipper leads the team on offense and defense, he could actually deserve some of the consideration he has already received. I'd much rather prefer the team effort like we received this season, and with another week of home games against teams that may be under .500, our guys have a chance to shine.

Looking Ahead
It's draft day! The AI portion of the draft occurs today, and the mock that comes with it has a very high opinion of Elmer Grace. The scouting bureau ranks Grace as the 10th pick of the draft, which is surprising considering his lack of fanfare around the draft. He's a hard worker, so maybe something happened? It'll be interesting to see where the prospect pickers place him, but perhaps Grace made an improvement in his raw power, as he did go from 5 to 8 homers. Other draftees to get a placement are Jeff King (2.13), Bob Allie (3.14), Archie Cunningham (4.9), Cecil Burr (4.13), Amos Peterson (5.1), and Dixie Gaines (5.8). I wouldn't read into it too much, but it's somewhat reassuring to see so many of our guys included. We don't have any financial issues to worry about this time around, but the largest bonus demand of any draftee comes courtesy of Amos Peterson ($31,000). I'll very begrudgingly meet that, and this definitely adds pressure on the A-Train to succeed.

Our next guest is the Philadelphia Sailors who will get four chances to stop our win streak. I'm hoping they need all four, as they have lost six of their last seven and are just 29-33 entering the series. The just lost both halves of a double header in New York, so unless they use a spot starter like Vic Carroll (2-0, 3.15, 11) or Bill Martino (4-3, 3.83, 27), everyone will be throwing on short rest. One guy we'll see no matter what is David Molina (1-5, 9, 4.04, 32), although he's off to a rough start this year. The same cannot be said for Win Lewis (5-5, 2.64, 45), who has the best chance of beating us and will likely pitch the second game of the series. He hasn't gotten much run support, but the Sailors are hoping that inserting 48th ranked prospect Joe Scott in the lineup could spark some scoring additional scoring. The 24-year-old is hitting .377/.386/.547 (142 OPS+) in his first 14 big league games, adding 6 doubles, a homer, and 5 RBIs. Like most Sailors, he projects to hit for a high average and draw plenty of walks, and the former 3rd Rounder has all the talent to develop into an everyday player. They have him batting behind perennial batting title leader Ed Reyes (.369, 3, 35), and he should have plenty of RBI opportunities. Marion Boismenu (.344, 8, 4) could be on his way back, and he'll be a huge upgrade over replacement Frankie Gonnella (.170, 2). The 1944 Whitney Winner is expected to miss the next three days, so we should avoid him, but he could be back as early as the finale. I'm hoping we can stay hot, as we should be able to take advantage of a tired and beat up team who spent the week on the road.

The week finishes with three against the Wolves, with an off day to look forward after the week ends. At 31-30, the Wolves are a game and a half behind us, but are stuck facing the Kings (34-27) in Brooklyn for four. That'll be tough and I'm hoping that the Wolves will be tired and below .500 when we get them. Toronto has made the bold decision to demote Joe Hancock (4-4, 5.24, 23) to the bullpen, but replacement Jim Carter (5-0, 1, 2.29, 17) has been more then capable. The former 1st Rounder still has a 2.89 ERA (139 ERA+) when used as a starter, but he has been walking (14) more guys then he's struck out (8). I don't think we'll face him, but the three we draw will be determined by whether they use a spot starter after their double header. The opposing starter may not matter too much, as they have scored the fewest runs in FABL. Fred McCormick (.286, 8, 35, 4) is still one of the better hitters in the game and Hal Wood (.341, 2, 26) has an impressive 135 WRC+ in 59 games. The issue is the lineup doesn't have much power, with just McCormick and Chink Stickels (.256, 8, 31, 7) hitting more then three home runs. Still, there is plenty of talent in that lineup, as Charlie Artuso (.252, 3, 17, 4), Tom Frederick (.289, 3, 19, 4), and Hank Giordano (.306, 1, 23, 5) are all capable big leaguers. If they get hot the Wolves can just as easily work their way back into the playoff hunt, but there aren't many reinforcements waiting in the farm to help supplement a run. If they finish the month hot, they could be an buyer, but they're just as interesting as a seller.

Minor League Reports
1B Bill Payne (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Our first basemen really are doing great this year! After Billy Biggar's 30 game hit streak, Bill Payne now has one 25 games strong, and he's hitting .333/.368/.494 (114 OPS+) in 19 June games. That's similar to his .330/.400/.459 (114 OPS+) season line and he has an impressive 128 WRC+ in 265 trips to the plate. He's hit 16 doubles and 4 homers with 27 RBIs and 33 runs scored. 26 in August, Payne has the enviable position of being stuck behind Red Bond for playing time. There's not a callup likely in his future, but he could be huge when the rosters expand. He's always had a strong bat, and his patient approach has led to 29 walks and just 8 strikeouts. A guy like that could be huge off the bench, and we'll have plenty of defensive replacements that can step in. This also happens to be Payne's last option year, so a strong finish to the season will be crucial to keeping a roster. I'm not opposed to holding three first basemen, but it does seem like he'll have his work cut out for him.

RHP George Carter (B San Jose Cougars): Yeah, I think he's feeling it. George Carter followed up his 2-hit shutout with a 5-hit shutout, walking just one and striking out 4 in a 4-0 win over the second place Vancouver Mounties. Carter is on pace for Pitcher of the Month in the C-O-W, now 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA (664 ERA+), 0.62 WHIP, 4 walks, and 18 strikeouts. This most recent start brought his ERA up to a near adjusted league average 4.62 (99 ERA+), while his 3.63 FIP (79 FIP-) calls for a few more scoreless innings. Carter's hot stretch has powered by his control, striking out more batters then he walked in each of his last three starts, with eight total occurrence on the season. It's hard to find a young guy with a talent like this, as most of our low minors guys tend to have walk rates in the double digits. Instead, Carter's is a minuscule 4.8% and with nearly a 3 (2.9) K/BB. With all the draftees ready to join the system, Carter may be one of the guys going up, as with a few more stellar starts he may be ready for a new challenge.

ayaghmour2 · 09-06-2023, 08:52 PM

Weekly Record: 4-3
Seasonal Record: 37-30 (2nd, 2.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Duke Bybee : 2 Wins, 16.0 IP, 8 BB, 8 K, 1.69 ERA
Sal Pestilli : 25 AB, 7 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .280 AVG, .939 OPS
Clark Car : 17 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .353 AVG, .929 OPS

Schedule
6-21: Loss vs Sailors (4-1)
6-22: Win vs Sailors (0-3)
6-23: Loss vs Sailors (3-0)
6-24: Loss vs Sailors (3-2): 10 innings
6-25: Win vs Wolves (1-3)
6-26: Win vs Wolves (2-6)
6-27: Win vs Wolves (3-7)

Recap
Its not exactly two steps back, but following up a perfect 6-0 week with a 4-3 week seems very underwhelming. Underwhelming is also the best way to describe our performance against the Sailors, as they took three of four and held us to just six runs. We were lucky to win even one of the games, but luckily we heated back up when the Wolves came to town. We won all three contests, giving us three sweeps in our last four series. We dropped half a game in the standings, but are up to second as the Kings had a tough week and dropped half a game behind us.

The pitching kept us in every game this week, as after allowing 4 in the opener, we allowed 3 or fewer runs in the next six games. Duke Bybee was brilliant, twirling a 6-hit, 6-strikeout shutout of the Sailors in his first start of the week. He then saw his command fall with the Wolves, walking 6 in 7 innings, but he left with 6 hits, 3 runs, and 2 strikeout, which was enough for the win. Bybee has now won each of his last seven decisions and he hasn't lost a start since May 18th. He's an impressive 9-3 with a 2.77 ERA (141 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts through 110.1 innings pitched. Johnnie Jones was the other two start starter, but his command was nowhere to be found. He walked 8 in a loss to the Sailors and 7 in a win over the Wolves, going 15.2 total with 9 hits, 6 runs, and 7 strikeouts. He's now back to walking (56) more batters then he's struck out (51), but his 2.32 ERA (169 ERA+) is the lowest of any qualified pitcher this year. Still, the walks are starting to pile up, and he's allowed 5 free passes in each of his last four starts.

Peter the Heater was brilliant, and if it wasn't for a 66 minute rain delay with two outs in the 9th, he'd have come home with a sub-100 pitch (just 89!) complete game win. He allowed just 3 hits and a run with 2 strikeouts. Pap has now won each of his last four starts, allowing two or fewer runs and four or fewer hits each time out. With 8 wins in 14 starts, he's already one victory away from his season total last year, and it comes with an elite 2.69 ERA (145 ERA+) and 1.03 WHIP. His 62 strikeouts are third in the CA, and with 113.2 innings pitched he's on pace for another 250+ inning season. Donnie Jones had a nice start as well, going all nine with just 4 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. George Oddo had the last start, but picked up a loss despite a nice bounce-back. He went 8 with 6 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Ken Matson was the only busy member of the pen, throwing 4.2 innings across 4 games. He picked up a loss and save, allowing 3 hits, a run, and a walk. Harry Parker and Eddie Howard both threw scoreless innings, with Howard allowing a hit while Parker was perfect. I don't know what we'd do without our staff, as they've been as dominant as you could expect, and we lead in numerous pitching categories.

Now if only we could score...

There wasn't much of that this week, but Sal Pestilli continues his strong bounce-back season after posting uncharacteristically poor numbers last year. He went 7-for-25 with 2 doubles, a triple, steal, homer, 2 RBIs, 3 runs, and 4 walks. Clark Car is fully healed and certainly hitting like it, going 6-for-17 with a homer, 2 walks, 3 runs, 4 RBIs, and 3 steals. Car has slashed an impressive .327/.383/.577 (157 OPS+) with 2 doubles, 4 triples, a homer, 4 steals, and 9 RBIs in 14 June games. His .264/.299/.465 (104 OPS+) batting line is back above average, a huge increase from the career low .238/.289/.323 (73 OPS+) he hit in 84 games last year. Unfortunately most of the other everyday guys struggled, with Pack, Mitchell, Sharp, Bond, and Skipper combining to go 19-for-97 with just four extra base hits. Pack's 10th homer was this groups only homer, and Bond (double and third) was responsible for half of them. It extended Leo Mitchell's homerless streak to 32 games. as he may be pressing a bit. He's just two homers from tying the Cougars All-Time home run record, and since his only home run is on the road, he may feel the pressure of the home fans. The team captain is not used to extended slumps like this, and his .264/.309/.321 (71 OPS+) batting line is significantly lower then the pedestrian .270/.314/.391 (98 OPS+) he posted last season. Time is starting to run out this season for him, as this coming week may be the last one he remains a full-time starter.

Looking Ahead
The draft officially occurred in game, so later tonight I'll cover the fifteen newest members of the organization. At least one of our draftees will not sign, as 21st Rounder Dick Senatore announced he has no intention to sign, and will instead enroll at Johnstown State this fall. There will be plenty of others not to sign, but I expect to sign everyone in the first ten rounds. I'll also tender offers to the college seniors, but the priority will be the high upside prospects. You know, the Amos Peterson's (2nd, $31,000), Bob Allie's (3rd, $8,000), and Elmer Grace (4th, $2,500). In total, I sent out $60,150 to just eight players. This is almost all of our draft budget ($64,230), so I will have to take money away from the overall budget. Plus with eight additional players, there are six potential cuts to make. The Lions start up next Monday, so last year's draftees don't have much of a head start on their new competition.

We're off to start the week, but it's crazy to think that we could be back in first place at some point this week. That's because we host the leading New York Saints for three, and at 41-29, they would fall behind us if we pulled off the sweep. We do have a chance, as we'll miss ace Eli Panneton (9-4, 3.63, 47), who is one of the co-leaders in wins with Duke Bybee (9-3, 2.77, 43). Instead, it's Vern Hubbard (7-3, 3.11, 37), Chuck Cole (5-8, 5.36, 24), and Richie Hughes (6-6, 5.04, 58), which seems really winnable. Our offense hasn't been great, but with the home fans behind them they could put on a show. I'm worried Bill Barrett will do exactly that, as the Whitney frontrunner comes into the series hitting .337/.433/.658 (186 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 21 homers,44 walks, and 67 RBIs. His 197 WRC+ is the best in all of baseball, and he seems to love hitting against us. But if we can keep Barrett under control, the series could be ours. Third basemen Mack Sutton (.208, 10, 35) is scuffling through a down year, Bob Riggins (.249, 4, 25, 4) has fought injuries, and skilled shortstop Joe Angevine (.225, 15, 15) has not provided much with the bat. They have gotten another great season from "Jersey Jack" Welch (.268, 18, 45), and the duo looks primed for 30+ home run seasons. This may be the biggest series of the year, and I'm worried we'll once more crumble under the pressure. The Stars seem to always get in the way of our pennant races, and I cannot wait until Bill Barrett leaves the CA. Or becomes a Cougar. The second one please!

I'm hoping after a sweep the first place Cougars would be hosting the Montreal Saints, who are 35-34 and 5.5 games out of first. They have a tough series in Brooklyn before ours, so we could take advantage of a defeated team to finish our homestand. The Saints have the second best pitching staff in the league, allowing 264 runs. Unfortunately, they've only scored one more then that, so it's fitting they're basically .500. Wally Reif has been this year's breakout, as the 28-year-old is 9-3 with a 2.43 ERA (167 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts in 14 starts. His 15th start is scheduled for our series, but their Monday day off could change who we see. I'm hoping to avoid Bert Cupid (7-6, 2.47, 41), as he's the only other rotation member with an ERA below 4. Starters aside, Bud Robbins (3-1, 10, 1.44, 9) has been useful in the pen and I can already imagine all the one run losses. The lineup doesn't score much, and while they may not start him, they did acquire Gil London (.087, 3) from the Kings. He won't take any time from talented shortstop Gordie Perkins (.287, 4, 27, 6), but second basemen Bob Jennings (.231, 1, 13) is off to a slow start. and could get time off against lefties. If we can keep slugger Maurice Carter (.248, 11, 38) and Pinky Pierce (.260, 9, 30) in the park I like our chances, but with two similar teams these three games might all be close. And that worries me...

Minor League Report
1B Harry Austin (A Lincoln Legislators): What is it with our first basemen and hitting streaks? Bill Payne's may have been snapped at 25, but now Harry Austin has one that is 24 games strong. That's pretty much the entirety of his June, and the former regional pick has hit .370/.417/.480 (134 OPS+) with 6 doubles, a triple, a homer, and 11 RBIs. The Illinois native reached A ball for the first time this season at 21, and he followed up a strong 37 game sample with San Jose last year where produced a 131 WRC+ while hitting .309 with 8 doubles, 3 homers, and 16 RBIs. There's not much power from the converted outfielder, who has just 2 homers this season. Despite that, his .309/.379/.410 (106 OPS+) in productive for someone his age. He's walked (26) more then he's struck out (15) and he has an above average 119 WRC+ in 280 trips to the plate. With Biggar in Mobile, Austin is stuck here the rest of the season, but it will be nice to see how he handles his first full season, having never played more then the 64 games he's played this year.

1B Cal Rice (B San Jose Cougars): No hit streak for Cal Rice, but the 20-year-old first basemen did take home Player of the Week in the California-Oregon-Washington League. The former 10th Rounder went 12-for-21 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, 7 RBIs, 7 runs, and 3 walks. That upped the Canadian's triple slash to .289/.363/.452 (109 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 4 triples, 3 homers, and 38 RBIs. Somewhat surprisingly, the move to 24 has turned him into one of our higher ranked prospects, currently 9th in the system and 114th overall. This is higher then last year's third rounder Dudley Sapp (13th, 151st) and former second rounder Frank Reece (10th, 134) ranks one spot behind him in our system. I think that may be a bit too much praise, as while he has the tools to start, I don't expect him to be an extremely reliable regular without any power. He may hit around .300, but without 15+ home runs he doesn't have the ideal bat for first base. At 6'3'' there's hope he'll build the requisite power, but for now I just hope he can keep his strikeouts low (13.2%) and continue to record doubles.

RHP Al Robison (B San Jose Cougars): More callups will happen tomorrow, but I went ahead and sent 21-year-old Al Robison to Lincoln. The former 8th Rounder has dominated all season, going 7-2 with a 1.64 ERA (278 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, 36 walks, and 57 strikeouts in 11 starts. This is a huge improvement from last season, where his struggles force him into the pen at the end of the season. He started just 12 of the 20 games he pitched for San Jose last season, going 1-10 with a 6.08 ERA (62 ERA+) and 1.85 WHIP. A four pitch pitcher, Robison has a nasty slider and the 6'4'' righty can touch 92 with his fastball. He'll need to develop a third pitch, as neither his curve or change can be relied on yet. As a ground baller with solid velocity a strong changeup would be ideal, and it could turn him into a very productive pitcher. I hope he can get off to a good start for the Legislators and finish his season off with them. He's not one of our higher ranked prospects, but he's still young and an intriguing development project with his height and velocity.

ayaghmour2 · 09-06-2023, 10:05 PM

11th Round, 164th Overall: CF Clyde Skinner
School: San Bernardino Falcons
Commit School: CC Los Angeles Coyotes
1948: .455/.540/.752, 127 PA, 15 2B, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 8 SB
Career: .446/.535/.724, 509 PA, 54 2B, 6 3B, 16 HR, 124 RBI, 14 SB

A four year starter at San Bernardino, Clyde Skinner is our first and likely only AI pick of much value. He hit .446 with the Falcons, and complied a solid amount of extra base hits, most notably his 54 doubles and 16 home runs. He's on the slow side for a center fielder, and stole just 14 bases, which leads me to believe he'll be best suited for a corner. He does have the bat for it, as he could hit around .300 with strong plate discipline. In high school he drew 62 walks to just 22 strikeouts, and he could end up walking more then he strikes out in the big leagues. It may be tough to get the 18-year-old into many games this season, but he has the bat to develop into an average big league player. He's demanding $2,600 to sign, which is on the high side, but eventually I'll come around to meeting his demands. It'll be interesting to see how he handles center, as if he can provide plus defense there it would be a huge increase to his value. I'm not holding out hope, but we certainly could have done worse here.

12th Round, 180th Overall: 2B Bob Benton
School: Middlesboro Yellowjackets
Commit School: North Carolina Tech Techsters
1948: .431/.492/.696, 120 PA, 12 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 29 RBI, 15 SB
Career: .425/.499/.692, 470 PA, 49 2B, 8 3B, 12 HR, 110 RBI, 69 SB

Another four year starter, Bob Benton's best year came as a junior, where he hit .454/.513/.670 with 13 doubles, 2 homers, and 24 RBIs. In his four seasons with Middlesboro he's totaled 12 homers and 110 RBIs, but the .425/.499/.692 line leaves some to be desired. 19 in September, he doesn't have much versatility, as all 93 of his games have come at second base. OSA, however, is a big fan, labeling Benton a "above average big league second basemen" with praise for his bat. They think he can hit around .310, handle most fastballs, and have some effectiveness working the count. He may not be the most exciting prospect, but he has a decent bat from the left side. He can handle second fine, but at 6'1'' he's an ideal candidate to move to first. He's likely to sign, but don't expect Benton to start many games over the next few seasons.

13th Round, 196th Overall: LHP Curt Smith
School: Clearfield Bison
Commit School: Opelika State Wildcats
1948: 10-1, 115 IP, 1.41 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 41 BB, 165 K
Career: 26-3, 305.2 IP, 1.56 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 107 BB, 427 K

One of the youngest members of the draft, southpaw Curt Smith won a personal best 10 games as a junior, finishing his prep career with 26 wins and 427 strikeouts in three seasons. 17 in September, Smith's baseball talent and academic achievement allowed him to skip a year of high school, and if we decide not to sign him he'll enroll into Opelika State to pursue a non baseball-degree. A four pitch pitcher, Smith has an excellent slider that is lethal to same side hitters. His fastball has decent movement and hits 88, while his sinker and change can be used to get hitters to beat balls into the ground. Add in his 6'2'' height and his stuff could be pretty dominant. He's a project pick who's no more then an emergency starter now, but we'll give him a few years to polish his stuff, and he could earn a few starts.

14th Round, 212th Overall: 1B Charlie Everitt
School: Cowpens State Fighting Green
1948: .292/.368/.427, 203 PA, 6 2B, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 4 SB
Career: .287/.364/.411, 495 PA, 15 2B, 13 HR, 75 RBI, 6 SB

A member of the 14th Ranked Cowpens State Fighting Green, first basemen Charlie Everitt may be returning for his senior season. We are very deep at the first basemen and Everitt hit just 13 homers in his two seasons. There's not really an obvious spot in the system for the 21-year-old, but Dixie Marsh is more fond of the 6'4'' first basemen then I am. He thinks he could be an average big leaguer, one that displays an above average contact and eye tool. An endorsement like that from Marsh could be what ends up convincing me of bringing him in, but whether he signs or not he won't get much playing time this season. With his age he could start anywhere as high as Lincoln, but unless an injury comes up we won't have a starting spot for him.

15th Round, 228th Overall: RHP Ed Watson
School: Burnet Bulldogs
Commit School: Wapasha College Warriors
1948: 8-1, 96.1 IP, 1.49 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 29 BB, 130 K
Career: 28-7, 351.2 IP, 1.84 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 112 BB, 427 K

A four year starter at Burnet, Ed Watson failed to reach 100 innings as a high schooler, with the 96.1 he threw this season his career high. That's concerning as he started all 51 of his high school appearances, averaging under seven innings a start. That's not very encouraging, and the mix of low stamina and flyball tendencies could be an issue for future success. Add on the projected "bullpen" role for his future, and there's no need to sign him unless we're absolutely desperate for an arm. College could do him well, as he's an extremely competitive guy, but in the best of ways, and he's sure to help improve the morale of whatever dugout he's a part of.

16th Round, 244th Overall: SS Warren Ross
School: Rochester Tribunes
Commit School: Central Ohio Aviators
1948: .436/.508/.636, 135 PA, 12 2B, 5 3B, 29 RBI, 34 SB
Career: .434/.515/.653, 269 PA, 27 2B, 9 3B, HR, 57 RBI, 66 SB

A switch hitting infielder, Warren Ross made varsity for the Rochester Tribunes and played some short, second, and third in his two seasons. The light hitter only hit one homer, and it came last year, and his .434/.515/.653 career line leaves some to be desired. He does have a good eye, and with his speed he can make a difference once on base, but I don't know if he'll hit for a high enough average to be a useful big leaguer. Granted, switch hitting shortstops have plenty of value in a utility role, so Ross could be a useful bench piece. He does have a strong commitment to Central Ohio, which is one of the stronger baseball programs. I'm on the fence on signing him, as it may come down to who gets cut more then his future potential. He's a useful guy to keep around, but we have plenty others like him hanging around already.

17th Round, 260th Overall: RHP Marty Davis
School: Lee's Summit Tigers
Commit School: College of Waco Cowboys
1948: 9-2, 107.1 IP, 2.01 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 44 BB, 128 K
Career: 17-4, 202 IP, 2.05 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 74 BB, 238 K

A two year starter at Lee's Summit, Marty Davis didn't really excite, but went 17-4 with a 2.26 FIP and 238 strikeouts in 30 starts. A three pitch pitcher, he relies on his mid 80s fastball, but it's not a pitch that will fool many hitters. His slider isn't much better, but could be worked into an out pitch. At 5'9'' he's also on the short side for pitchers, and may not end up throwing very hard. I'm not too interested in Davis, and I don't expect making him a permanent member of the system.

18th Round, 276th Overall: C Ralph Greenlee
School: Redeemer Rams
Commit School: Mississippi Tech Cougars
1948: .416/.489/.619, 134 PA, 8 2B, 5 HR, 31 RBI, 5 SB
Career: .408/.489/.599, 524 PA, 43 2B, 3 3B, 11 HR, 113 RBI, 25 SB

One of just two catchers in the AI portion of the draft, Ralph Greenlee spent all four seasons at Redeemer catching for the Rams. One of the team's leaders, he hit .408 with 11 homers and 113 RBIs in 103 games, and will now move on to the Cougars. Whether that's the Chicago Cougars or the Mississippi Tech iteration is unknown, as we may already have three catchers in La Crosse with Alex O'Dailey, Ernie Frost, and Sam Bird. 18 next month, Greenlee could be a decent contact hitter, but his overall bat has a lot of developing ahead. The 5 homers this season was nice, but I don't know if that power will stay. He did walk 64 times with just 19 strikeouts, but he'll need to play plus defense to earn consistent time. If someone gets injured, I could sign him late, but my guess is he'll head to campus this fall.

19th Round, 292nd Overall: 2B Maury Hudson
School: Cowpens State Fighting Green
1948: .265/.325/.302, 212 PA, 7 2B, 24 RBI, 24 SB
Career: .272/.333/.322, 464 PA, 13 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 59 RBI, 46 SB

A teammate of 14th Rounder Charlie Everitt, we ended up with the entire left side of the Fighting Green's infield, picking up second basemen Maury Hudson in the 19th Round. An extremely light hitter, the two-year starter has just two homers in 92 games, with both coming last year as a sophomore. Even worse, he only had 16 extra base hits, so with Maury you pretty much get a single or an out. That's not a good strategy, and since he's just a junior, I don't have any qualms sending him right back to Cowpens State.

20th Round, 308th Overall: RHP Dutch Jones
School: Chicago Poly Panthers
1948: 6-5, 102.2 IP, 4.38 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 46 BB, 68 K
Career: 15-21, 328 IP, 4.38 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 169 BB, 204 K

Taken out of nearby Chicago Poly, David "Dutch" Jones was the Panthers ace all three years he attended Chicago Poly, and he had his best season as a junior. Dutch went 6-5 with a 4.38 ERA and 68 strikeouts. A five pitch pitcher, he's a kitchen sink guy who tries to keep you on his toes when he' on the mound. He won't overpower, sitting in the mid 80s with the hard stuff, but he does keep the ball in the park. His pitches are hittable, so command will be crucial. The Indiana native could soak up innings out of the pen for us if a need arises, and I'm actually leaning on tendering him a bonus. That's partially because of where he went to school, but I love guys with multiple pitches that can throw multiple innings.

21st Round, 324th Overall: SS Dick Senatore
School: Maysville Panthers
Commit School: Johnstown State Mountain Cats
1948: .441/.495/.753, 103 PA, 11 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 14 SB
Career: .443/.497/.684, 364 PA, 31 2B, 16 3B, 5 HR, 80 RBI, 55 SB

Already listed as an impossible, I'm not even going to try to sign the Doctor Senator doppelganger Dick Senatore. A three year starter at Maysville, Senatore hit .441 with 5 homers, 55 steals, and 80 RBIs. The switch hitter works the count well and has a decent hit tool, but at 6'4'' you'd think there would be more power. I think three years at Johnstown State could develop that, and Senatore could be a legit prospect when he's again eligible for the draft. He's got some versatility, playing left, third, and second as well as his primary short, and he did hit 6 triples in each of his last two seasons. Right now, he only projects as a bench guy, but if he fills out he could be an early round draft pick.

22nd Round, 340th Overall: RHP George Hutchison
School: Bayou State College Cougars
1948: 7-6, 125 IP, 4.25 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 75 BB, 137 K
Career: 12-14, 256.2 IP, 4.84 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, 187 BB, 250 K

Another college arm, George Hutchison had a much better junior season then sophomore season, improving his record (5-8 to 7-6), ERA (5.40 to 4.25), WHIP (1.87 to 1.57), walk rate (17.6 to 12.9) and strikeout rate (17.7 to 23.5) in slightly fewer innings pitched (131.2 to 125). They weren't the most encouraging numbers, but he had an above average 3.87 FIP (96 FIP-) and was hitting 90 with his fastball and sinker. Like Dutch, he could be an interesting inning eater for one of our affiliates pen, but I may decide to let him go back to Bayou State.

23rd Round, 356th Overall: SS Charlie Brunson
School: Lindsey College Greyhounds
1948: .286/.355/.368, 238 PA, 7 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 32 RBI, 37 SB
Career: .286/.355/.368, 807 PA, 21 2B, 4 3B, 10 HR, 121 RBI, 109 SB

A three year starter at Lindsey College, Charlie Brunson came close to hitting .300 as a freshman and sophomore, and currently owns a .286 lifetime average. He's added 109 steals, 10 homers, and 121 RBIs in 160 games. I expect the 22-year-old will return for his senior season, but he became the first player from his school to be selected in the FABL draft. I expect him to be signed next season, as he has a nice work ethic, acute strike zone abilities, and excellent pure speed. Where he lacks for in power, he does make up for in line drives, as he can get a hold of mistake pitches. As a decent defensive shortstop he has the nice floor of a utility infielder, and if we suffer an injury outbreak Brunson could join the team in August.

24th Round, 372nd Overall: RHP Joe Van Valkenburg
School: Cowpens State Fighting Green
1948: 4-7, 112.2 IP, 5.27 ERA, 1.82 WHIP, 81 BB, 65 K
Career: 7-14, 212.1 IP, 5.64 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, 152 BB, 116 K

I'm not sure if you can tell, but Dixie Marsh spent some of his summer watching Cowpens State games. 22 in September, Van Valkenburg was the #2 and was not needed after the early exit. He didn't have a great season, walking more hitters then he allowed while sporting an ERA above five. In less there's an emergency we won't sign him, as he isn't the most exciting pitcher. None of his four pitches are any good and I don't expect him to ever see the 90s. He does have a good work ethic, so by letting him go he'll have one more shot to improve his prospect status.

25th Round, 388th Overall: C Carl Evans
School: Opelika State Wildcats
1948: .275/.360/.374, 301 PA, 8 2B, 6 HR, 47 RBI, 4 SB
Career (HS): .405/.498/.589, 229 PA, 16 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 48 RBI, 19 SB
Career (COL): .266/.363/.346, 1,023 PA, 28 2B, 14 HR, 149 RBI, 13 SB

We finished things off with a senior catcher, Carl Evans, who was now drafted for the third time in his professional career. He played two years of varsity baseball at Forest Home, and was drafted by the Washington Eagles in the 19th Round. Instead of signing he went to Opelika State, and after three seasons the Miners took him in the 22nd Round. Evans finished his college career with a .266/.363/.346 batting line and hit 14 homers in 203 games. He's a really smart baseball mind and does an excellent job with his pitching staffs, and I expect he'll be a good presence in the clubhouse. After I take care of all our important signings, I'll bring in Evans, who I expect can replace Pat Brown Jr. as the Legislators backup catcher. Whether he gets released or promoted is up to his performance, as I have cuttable guys above. Like Brown, Evans won't be much more then a backup, but his glove will allow him to stick around. If he can provide value at the plate, that's a plus, but he has a lot of aspects of a useful organizational piece.

ayaghmour2 · 09-08-2023, 12:17 AM

Weekly Record: 4-2
Seasonal Record: 41-32 (2nd, 4 GB)
Stars of the Week
Hal Sharp : 19 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .421 AVG, 1.134 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 19 AB, 10 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .526 AVG, 1.076 OPS
Duke Bybee : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 1 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA

Schedule
6-29: Loss vs Stars (4-3)
6-30: Loss vs Stars (3-1)
7-1: Win vs Stars (3-6)
7-2: Win vs Saints (5-9): 10 innings
7-3: Win vs Saints (0-2)
7-4: Win vs Saints (0-4)

Recap
Its not every week you lose just two games and fall a game and a half in the standings, but when you lose games to the team you are chasing, you're in for a heck of a lot of trouble. The Stars left town winners of two of three, as yet again, the one-run games got in our way. We actually matched their scoring, with both teams winning ten. Luckily, we got back to sweeping, picking up our fourth in six series, sweeping the struggling Saints and moving back within four of the Stars. They are starting to pull away, but as you might expect, our +47 run differential laps their +27. Back to our old tricks!

But guess what!?!?!?! Leo Mitchell may be back!!! The veteran slugger finally put the ball in play, going 10-for-19 with a run scored and driven in. Still no homers, but it's nice to see a classic .500+ week from the former 2nd Rounder. Hal Sharp had success as well, 8-for-19 with 2 doubles, a homer, and 6 RBIs. Sal Pestilli kept up his consistent bat, 7-for-24 with a triple, homer, 2 steals, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs. He's been an extra base machine, hitting 11 doubles, 10 triples, and 12 homers with 12 steals, 25 walks, 43 runs, and 41 RBIs. Part-timers Ray Ford, Carlos Montes, and Billy Hunter all performed well, going 7-for-19, with Ford and Montes both hitting balls out of the park. Harry Mead went 4-for-15 with a double and homer while Clark Car was 6-for-19 with a double and steal. It's hard to be too mad at the lineup, but we need to heat Red Bond and Walt Pack up. Bond is now ice cold, and the sluggers went just 8-for-40 with Pack at least adding a double and homer. It is still early, but we're starting to fall back, and I'm not ready for another failed season. Can we just score some runs please?!?!?

The pitching was fantastic, and we had just one game where we allowed more then four runs. We still won that game, as a Hal Sharp walk-off grand slam in the 10th gave us the opener with the Saints. Johnnie started that one, charged with 9 hits, 5 runs, and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts in 9 innings pitched. The Saints used up all their scoring in that one, as Duke Bybee and Donnie Jones followed it up with shutouts. Bybee did allow 10 hits, but just 1 walk with 4 strikeouts to win his 10th game of the season. This was his first start after earning Pitcher of the Month for June, as he was a perfect 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA (218 ERA+), 1.10 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts. Bybee has put his name in the running for All-Star game starter, as the former 4th Rounder is 10-3 with a 2.56 ERA (153 ERA+) and 1.22 WHIP. He's struck out 47 in 15 starts and has already thrown three shutouts. Whether he starts or not, he deserves to represent us at the Midsummer Classic, as he's been one of the few guys to consistently win starts for us.

Donnie Jones allowed just 3 hits, but his came with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts to improve return to .500 at 6-6. It came after a loss against the Stars where he allowed 5 hits, 3 runs, and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts. Donnie has shaken off his slow start, and now owns a 3.16 ERA (124 ERA+) and 1.23 WHIP with 60 strikeouts through 16 starts. George Oddo was the only one to beat the Stars, going 8 with 7 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Pap got an unlucky no decision, going 8 with 11 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and 7 strikeouts. He's up to 69, good for third in the association. Our pitching is as good as it gets, and if the offense can start waking up, we'll be in very good shape.

A lot of our important draftees have signed, with plenty of surprising additions to the top 100 list. With no first rounder, I didn't expect any, but at least for now we have three. 4th Rounder Dixie Gaines ranks 5th in the system and 57th overall. Dixie ranks second so far among pitchers selected in the recent draft, trailing just 12th Overall Pick Jimmy Isgro (#45) He's not the only addition to the top 100, as fellow 4th Rounder Elmer Grace ranks 75th and 3rd Rounder Jeff King ranks 95th. Two more Cougar draftees Bob Allie (106th), Cecil Burr (142nd), and Archie Cunningham (178th) find themselves inside the top 200. The only guy who signed, but doesn't rank, is 2nd Rounder Amos Peterson, but that's because he signed on the last day of the sim. My only offer out left is Dick Cunningham, but I will begin to offer out more bonuses. La Crosse is getting started this week, and with three open spots, at least three of the guys who signed will be joining the Lions.

Looking Ahead
Remember early in the season where we kept alternating home-road-home-road? It's that time again! Fresh off an impressive homestand, we'll once again face the New York Stars, with two on Monday and a third on Tuesday. The Stars are 47-30, outperforming their expected record by 6 games. The pitching matchups should favor us, as while they can use a spot starter, we'll miss both Eli Panneton (10-5, 3.72, 54) and Vern Hubbard (8-3, 3.05, 41) who swept the Kings in a double header. That leaves Chuck Cole (6-8, 5.01, 25), Richie Hughes (7-6, 4.79, 65), and Henry Shaffer (6-4, 4.78, 34), and while Cole did beat us in Chicago, I really like our chances here. Making things difficult for New York is the sore elbow of Ed Holmes, as the Stars may be without the 51st ranked prospect for the next two weeks. He's having a great debut season, slashing .344/.398/.519 (141 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 6 triples, a homer, 4 steals, and 14 RBIs in 184 trips to the plate. They could decide to have him play through it, as it only effects his throwing, but Andy Gross (.257, 2, 21, 2) is a capable replacement. This is a huge series for us, as anything less then a series win could put us in a world of pain as we look to return to the postseason for the first time since 1941.

Then we're quickly back home for two with the Kings. Brooklyn had a rough week, dropping to 39-36 and seven place out of first, dropping all five if their July games so far. One of the few bright spots of the week for the Kings was former Cougar Hank Barnett hitting his 300th career home run off the talented Bert Cupid (8-6, 2.51, 45). A career .284/.363/.441 (123 OPS+) hitter, the 38-year-old hasn't gotten off to the best start, hitting just .228/.310/.386 (81 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 8 homers, and 40 RBIs. He has walked (31) more then he's struck out (28), but there have been very few instances this season where he looks like his prime self. They've announced the recently healthy Juan Pomales (.160, 1) will move to the bench, but the replacement Pat Petty (.285, 6, 41) is more then capable. He's no Ralph Johnson (.282, 17, 50) of course, and it's going to be annoying facing the two best non-Bobby Barrell right fielders in a row. I also expect to face strikeout machine Bob Arman (8-7, 2.34, 78) making things all the more difficult. I do think we'll miss out on Leo Hayden (6-8, 4.01, 49), but no matter who pitches, we'll have to keep up with their offense. The Kings (20-16) have been playing better on the road, so it may not be in our benefit to be hosting them. We'll have to keep up with their offense, so I'm really hoping Red Bond (.282, 18, 43), Walt Pack (.255, 11, 30), and Sal Pestilli (.259, 12, 41, 12) have some home runs up their sleeves.

More traveling and a tough one as we play the Saints three times before the All-Star break. Montreal followed up a 12-17 June with three losses in four games. They're one of the few offenses to score fewer (279) runs then us and are now 36-39 and ten out of first. We just swept them in Chicago, so it's a prime revenge opportunity for them. They'll have a few All-Stars, as Cupid and Wally Reif (9-3, 2.56, 53) are both deserving of their first All-Star selections. Relievers get picked as well, which means Bud Robbins (3-2, 10, 2.20, 10) has a good chance of making his second appearance as a reliever. The lineup has deserving candidates as well, with Gordie Perkins (.283, 5, 28, 6), Bill Greene (.245, 7, 29, 15), and Pinky Pierce (.269, 9, 32) all having strong seasons. This last week will have a huge impact on who make the bench spots, and the last thing the Saints will want to do is take two more shutouts. The Parc Cartier is a very pitcher friendly stadium, so I expect three very long games between the top two pitching staffs.

Minor League Report
1B Billy Biggar (AA Mobile Commodores): Can't say I'm surprised Billy Biggar was Batter of the Month in the Dixie League, as he hit an absurd .408/472/.560 (162 OPS+) with 13 doubles and 28 RBIs. No homers for the light hitting first basemen, as he still has one in 68 games. That hasn't made him any less effective, as his season .418/.468/.561 (162 OPS+) line is just as good as his monthly one. His 170 WRC+ is best on the team and he's tallied 26 doubles, 6 triples, 45 runs, and 53 RBIs with 28 walks and just 13 strikeouts. He's even swiped three bases, and is already worth 3.3 WAR -- the exact amount he accumulated in 135 games in A ball last year. He deserves a promotion, but there's no space in Milwaukee. He could be ready for the big leagues, and as a Rule-5 eligible player there's a chance he could leave the organization sometime soon. What works against him is he's unranked on the prospect list, as light hitting first basemen aren't the most highly sought out commodities. He's always going to hit, but his defensive shortcomings limit his value.

RHP Fred Terry (AA Mobile Commodores): One pitcher at each level needs to be moved from San Jose on up to make room for Dixie Gaines, and Fred Terry might very well be the guy getting the call to Milwaukee. He's certainly hot, winning five of his last six starts, including a 6-hit shutout of the Knoxville Knights. Terry struck out three and surrendered no free passes, improving to 8-4 on the season with a 3.64 ERA (122 ERA+) and 1.39 WHIP. Unfortunately for Terry, fellow 23-year-olds Harry Beardsley (7-4, 3.23, 52) and Dick Garcia (7-5, 2.27, 34) have been excellent as well. Luckily for the hardworking Terry, more spots will be needed once Hal Carter, Joe Oates, and Nick Tomlinson sign, so even if he's passed up this time, he'll have a few other chances. It would be a quick ascend to AAA if Terry makes it, as he threw just 2 starts in San Jose and 8 starts in Lincoln last year. As a college senior, he was more advanced then the average college starter, so I'm not worried about rushing him. If he can solidify is arsenal he could pitch his way into a big league rotation, but there's a tough path ahead for the Birmingham native.

LHP Ron Berry (A Lincoln Legislators): It has been a dominant start for Ron Berry in A ball, as through 12 starts he has an elite 2.11 ERA (205 ERA+) and 1.00 WHIP with 19 walks and 59 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched. It would be tough to keep this up for long, but considering Berry's 2.93 FIP (67 ERA+), he may continue to miss bats and keep runs off the board. The extreme groundballer has yet to allow a home run and is sporting an outstanding 3.1 K/BB in his 12 starts. This combination has allowed to many quick innings and he hasn't lost a start since May 11th. Currently ranked as the 65th prospect in baseball, Berry is doing everything he can to boost his prospect stock, and his stuff has impressed so far. He's not a very hard thrower, sitting at 85-87 with his fastball, but his change up is devastating as the bottom just craters out. His slider is particularly effective against same side hitters and his curveball is effective against the ones with the platoon advantage. Despite the low speed, all four of his pitches are already weapons, and he could probably strike out some FABL hitters at 22. It's clear he is ready to face tougher competition, and the former 7th Rounder will finish out his season with the Commodores.

RHP Bob Allen (B San Jose Cougars): It hasn't been the greatest start to the season for Bob Allen, and he's seen his K% drop from 11.1 to 8.9 down in San Jose. He did finish June strong, throwing a 5-hit shutout against the first place Salem Warriors. That dropped his ERA to a more palatable 4.65 (98 ERA+) in 81.1 innings pitched. The 20-year-old isn't having the same batted ball luck he did last year, and with the stark decline in strikeouts he hasn't wiggled out of jams as easily. He does tend to get outs on the ground, with an elevated 58% ground ball percentage. With a Skipper Schneider at short that's an advantage, but most minor league infielders aren't as gifted as him. I'm hoping Allen can start to miss more bats. His slider is an excellent pitch, but his fastball remains in the 80s. If he can sit in the 90s Allen will lead a rotation, as his pitches have plenty of bite and are difficult to elevate. His overall stuff is still raw, but he could be among the leagues strikeout leaders just like Pap, Oddo, and the Jones Brothers are now. A few of the new draftees rank above Allen, so he's just outside the top 10 (11th Overall), but he remains the second ranked pitcher. His future is bright and will surely spend years in our rotation. A full decade younger then Pap, they may not pitch too much together, but I'm hoping they will be good enough for a nice passing of the torch.

RHP Tommy Seymour (B San Jose Cougars): One of the pitchers who will be moving up, the former 1st Rounder Tommy Seymour will return to Lincoln, where he went just 6-14 with a 5.63 ERA (75 ERA+) in 24 starts last year. The 22-year-old was much better down a level, as despite his 5-6 record he had a strong 3.74 ERA (121 ERA+) and 1.37 WHIP with 33 walks and 45 strikeouts. A three pitch pitcher, Seymour was just pushed outside the top 300 prospect list and now ranks 31st (341st overall) in our system. When we selected him 13th Overall back in 1943, I was hoping he'd add some speed, potentially sitting in the low 90s by now. Instead, he tops out at 87, severely limiting the effectiveness of his excellent change up. He does still have his youth, but Seymour lacks the shine of some of our recent first rounders. If he doesn't debut in FABL, he'll break a 13 player streak going back to Ed Reyes in 1931 of FABL players. None of the first rounders selected after Seymour have debuted, but 1945 1st Rounder Johnny Peters is ticketed for a debut no later then this September as he'll be Rule-5 eligible. There's still some time left for Seymour to earn a big league callup, but he's no longer a 1st Round talent, and won't receive the benefits that distinction brings.

ayaghmour2 · 09-08-2023, 02:25 AM

We made a minor addition to the big league roster, acquiring left fielder Luke Berry from the Pittsburgh Miners. A 30-year-old veteran, Berry was recently relegated to the bench on a youthful Miners team, and carries a .233/.353/.335 (80 OPS+) line into the week. While that doesn't look too exciting on the surface, he's a righty swinger with an excellent 47-to-12 walk-to-strikeout ratio and a 96 WRC+. We don't have the greatest bench, and in a part-time role last year he hit .303/.371/.436 (122 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 3 homers, 21 walks, and 34 RBIs. We rank dead last in on-base percentage and Berry has drawn nearly twice as many walks (47) as any other Cougar. Skipper (29) is the only one with more then 25, so Berry provides a different look to the team.

He's had sporadic playing time over his 8-year career, but is best known for his All-Star season in 1944. The Miners 4th Rounder hit an impressive .299/.370/.423 (134 OPS+) that year with 30 doubles, 11 homers, 59 walks, and 78 RBIs. He never came too close to that again, but it's also the only time he managed to tally more then 450 plate appearances in a season. I don't think he'll hit that this year, but will add to his 666 career big league games. He owns a respectable .291/.358/.389 (115 OPS+) career line with 118 doubles, 23 homers, 225 walks, and 295 RBIs. He gives us insurance for Leo Mitchell, who's hitting just .213/.288/.213 (37 OPS+) against lefties this season. Berry's career WRC+ against lefties (117) is just one point higher then it is against righties (116), but that's still light-years better then Mitchell has hit this season. If he can handle left somewhat decently, he could get semi-regular playing time, but for now I just expect him to face the occasional lefty we run into.

The return for Pittsburgh is 23-year-old righty Babe Stinson, who was added to the 40-man roster in the offseason. He's the 274th ranked prospect and was 6-0 with a 3.61 ERA (130 ERA+) and 21 strikeouts in 67.1 innings for the Blues. This means our 40-man roster will stay at 34, leaving plenty of room for future additions. One spot will go to Johnny Peters, who I have even considered calling up. The 37th Ranked prospect is hitting .326/.417/.431 (112 OPS+) in 314 trips to the plate and has recently got five starts in left. I want to give him more time with the position before trying him in the majors. Berry will have a head start on Peters, so if he hits it will take until September for the former 3rd Pick to debut.

ayaghmour2 · 09-08-2023, 04:29 PM

Weekly Record: 2-6
Seasonal Record: 43-38 (t-3rd, 7.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Walt Pack : 19 AB, 10 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .526 AVG, 1.203 OPS
Harry Mead : 19 AB, 7 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .368 AVG, 1.244 OPS
Sal Pestilli : 26 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .231 AVG, .872 OPS

Schedule
7-5: Loss at Stars (10-15)
7-5: Lost at Stars (5-6)
7-6: Loss at Stars (2-7)
7-7: Loss vs Kings (5-4)
7-8: Loss vs Kings (11-2)
7-9: Loss at Saints (0-1)
7-10: Win at Saints (5-4)
7-11: Win at Saints (12-5)

Recap
This team is just so frustrating...

Everything went wrong this week, as we were swept by the Stars and Kings, and dropped to 43-38. We are now tied for third and trailing the first place Stars by 7.5 games at the half-way point. Despite the awful end to the first half, we still lead the CA with 5 All-Stars, as Duke Bybee (1st), Pete Papenfus (3rd), Red Bond (3rd), Skipper Schneider (7th), and Sal Pestilli (7th) will be representing us. We have just one starter, as Sal will man center for the CA team, but it's nice seeing Pap make it despite not being on the All-Star ballot. He would have gotten one of my three votes, and I was worried he may not have been recognized for an impressive first half.

I don't want to spend too much time on this awful week, so I'm not going to mention the pitching, as there is very little to mention. We did do plenty of hitting, and Harry Mead continues his red hot stretch. Our catcher went 7-for-19 with 2 doubles, 2 homer, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 6 RBIs. He's hitting a whopping .345/.441/.759 (216 OPS+) in 8 July games, and is now hitting a slightly above average .256/.325/.430 (101 OPS+) on the season. Pack and Bond didn't homer, but they combined to go 16-for-35 with 9 runs, 3 walks, 4 RBIs, and a triple a piece. Sal went just 6-for-26, but he hit a double, 2 triples, a homer, 2 steals, 3 runs, 4 walks, and 5 RBIs. Leo Mitchell really struggled, and he was 8-for-30 with 2 doubles, still without a homer. Luke Berry will join the roster, and Mitchell will now start to sit more often against lefties. Going down will be Otto Christian, as the slugger as hit just .162/.244/.270 (38 OPS+) with 2 homers, 8 RBIs, and 9 walks in 86 trips to the plate. George Sutterfield will see more time at third, taking over for Otto against lefties. He's cooled off from a quick start himself, but his .190/.292/.476 (103 OPS+) line is still better then average, and I'm hoping with more frequent playing time he can get into a grove.

More draftees are filing in, and the prospect rankings are ever changing. Amos Peterson (136th) and Doc Zimmerman (369th) both cracked the top 500. Rather surprisingly, Dick Cunningham is unranked, but I'm not surprised about Hal Carter, Joe Oates, and Gene Dibblee. We still need a lot of cuts, and I see at least seven more guys I will sign. I'm still shocked with where some of our prospects rank, as I was rather down on this class. This will be the last mega class, so I'm hoping we'll have a few nice gems to look back on a few decades from now.

Looking Ahead
Off until Thursday, where we play a three game set in Cleveland with the Foresters. At 31-51, they are 20 games out of first and 6 games behind the 7th place Cannons at the break. Cleveland has undergone a youth movement, with Bob Miller (.378, 6, 18), Chuck McHenry (.270, 3, 11), Tom Holmes Jr. (.318, 1, 11), Bill Sikorski (.347, 6, 30), Phil Ware (.212, 1, 1), Adrian Czerwinski (2-2, 5.83, 5), and Kirby Brewer (1-4, 8.49, 6) all taking more prominent roles. This has come at the expense of some talented players, including Ollie White (4-8, 2, 4.16, 72), Orie Martinez (.269, 7, 31), Paul Porter (.270, 2, 37, 3), and Lorenzo Samuels (.223, 5, 17). The Foresters have also brought up 20-year-old Sherry Doyal (.176, 1), but he's struggled a bit in a limited role. With the break here, they may decide to cycle in some new talent, but regardless of who the Foresters have out we need to win. We are already to far out to keep losing, and anything shy of a sweep hurts.

Our Sunday is then spent in Toronto for a double header with the Wolves. They are closer to last (7 GA) then first (13), and have dropped to 38-44. George Garrison (6-7, 3.42, 50) has allowed six or more runs in three of his last four starts, and Jim Carter (5-4, 1, 4.97, 25) has not been as sharp as he was out of the pen. They do have a legit All-Star in Hal Wood (.345, 2, 36), but very little has gone well for Toronto this season. These are two more important games for us, and if we have a losing week I'm really concerned about the chances of us playing meaningful games after August.

Minor League Report
1B Bill Payne (AAA Milwaukee Blues): The year of the first basemen continues with Bill Payne, who took home Century League Player of the Week. The 25-year-old lefty went 12-for-28 with 2 doubles, 3 homers, and 11 RBIs in an excellent showing. A bat only guy, the former outfielder really only plays first, and he's hit an impressive .346/.417/.488 (126 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 7 homers, and 41 RBIs through 76 games. He's drawn 38 walks with just 15 strikeouts, displaying excellent bat-to-ball skills. The power surge this week is nice, but Payne isn't one known for tape measure longballs. He does hit the ball in the air a lot, which is good for our park's shallow fences. Payne seems in line for an early September callup, as his bat would be excellent off the bench. He's in his last option year so once he's back in Chicago he can't go down, and if Ray Ford decides to come back for 1949, it may be hard to fit him and Payne on the roster.

2B Tom Brownleaf (AA Mobile Commodores): After putting up 2.1 WAR in just 39 games for the Commodores last year, Tom Brownleaf hasn't quite followed up that performance this year. The most recent week was an exception. Brownleaf went 12-for-22 with 4 doubles, 4 runs, 3 walks ,and 5 RBIs. The 23-year-old is now hitting a bit above average .318/.375/.432 (106 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 5 triples, 2 homers, 3 steals, and 42 RBIs. He's shown a keen eye, drawing 30 walks, and he's played very well at second and third this season. Right now he's playing more third, as Elmer Grace has move Al Clement from short to second. Brownleaf's best position may be second, but the switch hitter has a higher efficiency at third (1.044) then second (1.034) this season. Brownleaf isn't one of our highly touted prospects, but he's a high floor guys who could probably already make for a capable utility infielder at the big league level. His hard work rubs off on others and he's a good clubhouse guy, so he'll stick around until we are really in need of a cut. The AAA infield is very full, so unless we move someone there Brownleaf seems likely to finish the year in AA. I'm hoping this week can help him build some positive momentum, and he could put himself in line for a 40-man spot if he can provide with the bat.

ayaghmour2 · 09-12-2023, 01:54 AM

Weekly Record: 3-2
Seasonal Record: 46-40 (3rd, 5.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Sal Pestilli : 23 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .435 AVG, 1.152 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 15 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .467 AVG, 1.167 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 22 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .364 AVG, .917 OPS

Schedule
7-15: Win at Foresters (5-2)
7-16: Win at Foresters (17-3)
7-17: Win at Foresters (3-1)
7-18: Loss at Wolves (1-2)
7-18: Loss at Wolves (0-4)

Recap
So frustrating...

If we could beat anyone but the Foresters, we could have taken advantage of the Stars four game losing streak, but right after a sweep in Cleveland we went to Toronto and got swept in the double header. The offense went cold up north, as after 25 runs in Cleveland we got just 1 in 18 innings. Add another one-run loss -- that makes 17 -- more then the 32-55 Foresters and the same amount as the 30-60 Miners. Only the Pioneers (18) and Cannons (20) have more, with the Cannons (.333) the only team with a lower winning percentage then us (.392). You would think after nearly 15 years we'd finally start winning one-run games, but no, only in our title year and the 1945 season where I thought we'd have no chance of contending, we are allowed to win one-run games.

The CA did win the All-Star game, crushing the Fed 11-3, but Pap (IP, H, 2 ER, 2 BB) and Duke (IP, H, ER, 2 BB) were awful and allowed the only runs. Sal had a huge game against the squad he represented six times, going 3-for-4 with a double, homer, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs. Skipper didn't start, but played most of the game at short (which shows he deserved to start!), going 1-for-3 with a run scored. Our last All-Star, Red Bond, pinch hit in the 8th and got out in his only at bat. The two associations are now tied in All-Star wins, as the Conti is on a nice little stretch.

Luke Berry may have gone just 1-for-6 in his debut week, but his presence surely helped Leo Mitchell. The struggling outfielder is feeling the pressure, and produced a 7-for-15 week with a double, triple, walk, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs. Why he can't hit any homers, I don't know, but hey! He's hitting .290! That's progress! Skipper and Sal did well in the regular games too, with Skipper 7-for-19 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs while Sal was 7-for-19 with a triple and his 15th steal of the season. He's now just one away from his previous high coming back in 1942, and he's been caught (6) less then any season prior to last year, where he was a poor 5-for-9 on stolen base attempts. Red Bond hit his 19th homer and drove in 5, 5-for-17 in total with an a double and 3 runs scored. Not much more from the rest of the team, as while we did have that awesome 17 run game, in was pretty much all Bond, Mitchell, and Sal, with help from Hal Sharp (3-5, 3 R) and Clark Car (2-4, R, 2 RBI), but both had just two hits a piece in the other four games. I don't know how we put the fewest runners on base and rank bottom half in so many offensive statistics, but eventually these guys have to perform. Our rotation is just too good to blow another season, but that seems like where we are headed.

As always, we pitched well, and needed just two outs of relief. That was courtesy of Charlie Kelsey, who relieved Pap after 8.1 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs, and 7 walks with 5 strikeouts. Kelsey got a flyout and strike out to finish the 17-3 domination. Duke Bybee continued his Allen case, allowing just 6 hits and a run with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts in another complete game win. That's 11 now for Bybee, who leads the CA in wins and ranks 3rd with a 2.56 ERA. Last year's winner Donnie Jones picked up a complete game win of his own, with 7 hits, 2 runs, 5 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Brother Johnnie got a rather unlucky loss, just 5 hits, 2 runs, and 5 walks with 6 strikeouts in 8 innings. George Oddo didn't get any run support, but 8 hits and 4 runs isn't the best line for 8 innings. Still, he struck out 5 and walked 1, and his 3.64 ERA (109 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP are what people are happy with for their 3rd starters, let alone their distant five, and his 70 strikeouts are 4th in the CA and his 5.5 K/9 is best among all full-time starters as just Ollie White (6.4), who has started just 13 of his 23 games, has a higher mark. We've allowed 31 runs fewer then any other team, and four teams have allowed 100 or more runs then us. Even more impressive, our 1.26 team WHIP is the only one below 1.30, with all but two other teams above 1.40. In fact, 10 teams have a WHIP 20 points or higher then ours and and our 3.22 team ERA is the only one below 3.70. It might not be an All-Time great staff, as plenty have allowed fewer runs, but compared to the rest of the league we have really excelled.

The draftees continue to trickle in, and as I expected, Clyde Skinner, our first AI pick, is a pretty solid prospect. The 18-year-old hit .455/.540/.752 with 5 homers and 33 RBIs as a senior, and now ranks 16th in our system and 164th overall. That give us eight draftees in the top 200, something I didn't think we'd even come close to sniffing. I still can't believe Dixie Gaines (55th) and Elmer Grace (84th) are so highly ranked, and maybe I didn't give myself enough credit with this class. We didn't pick until 26th, but still got a very nice haul. I have one outstanding offer and submitted a second, but it may be mid-August when I start to finish off the class. We're just two weeks into short season ball, so I'd like a little more time to evaluate some of the fringe guys.

Looking Ahead
Can we avoid the sweep? Let's find out! Joe Hancock (4-4, 4.60, 30) is back in the rotation, and he'll take on a short-rested Donnie Jones (7-7, 3.38, 66) in Toronto. There's always rumors of Fred McCormick (.284, 10, 41, 5) being on the mound, but as usual, Bernie Mallard has zero interest in moving the superstar first basemen. A quiet deadline is expected for the Wolves, like many other teams, and at 42-45 they aren't an obvious buyer. They have some legit trade pieces in vets Hancock, Chink Stickels (.271, 11, 52, 12), and Hal Wood (.347, 2, 42), but the Wolves seem to have their eyes on 1949 for another run at contention. Jerry York (8-8, 2.85, 54) has been red hot and with him, George Garrison (6-7, 3.67, 51), Hancock, and Jimmy Gibbs (3-4, 3.58, 43) they have a pretty solid rotation. Add in a catcher, a bounce back from Charlie Artuso (.233, 3, 28, 4), and maybe an outfielder and they could be right back in it. We really need the win here, but I'll give a score prediction: Chicago 2, Toronto 3. Can't wait till it's that tomorrow!

Next stop on our road trip is Cincinnati, as we face the very unlucky Cannons. And no, not just because of Denny Andrews' (.222, 8, 28) uncharacteristically poor season, but because they actually have a +2 run differential despite being seven under .500. I mentioned how they're even worse then we are in one-run games, so I fully expect us to play three of them here, where the teams spend most of the game tied since no one will want the winning run. They aren't doing much hitting, as along with Andrews, Chuck Adams (.257, 15, 56) and Fred Galloway (.229, 2, 36) have really struggled, and Sam Brown (.296, 7, 37) and Adam Mullins (.278, 4, 33) have just been average. One bright spot in the lineup has been new entrant Johnny Potter, who is hitting a strong .305/.380/.496 (127 OPS+) with 4 homers and 21 RBIs in 152 trips to the plate. It's a nice little breakout for the 30-year-old, who excluding last year, performed well in a bench role. Again, we're likely stuck with Rufus Barrell (10-6, 2.17, 68) and Jim Anderson (9-5, 2.66, 57), but if we beat them once, maybe we can do it again!

The weekend series is weird, as we get one on Friday with the Sailors, are off Saturday, and then get a double header to finish the week. The defending pennant winners are white hot, winning 12 games in a row from late June through July, and are an impressive 12-5 for the month. The Sailors are again without Marion Boismenu (.347, 15, 4), but the lineup can still put up runs. Ed Reyes (.364, 5, 51) is well on his way to a fourth consecutive batting title, almost if doing it out of spite after I said he'd regress to a sub .300 hitter once the war vets returned. Joe Scott (.310, 4, 20) has cooled some, Solly Skidmore (.280, 1, 24) has seen his production plummet, David Molina (2-7, 14, 4.48, 41) no longer looks like himself, and they'll now be without Harvey Brown (.289, 2, 35, 25) for three weeks with a bone bruise. This could be the right time to catch them, as we also should miss Win Lewis (8-6, 3.09, 61). The Sailors are always tough to beat, and since they always have a next man ready to get up, they cannot be underestimated.

Minor League Report
2B Bob Schmelz (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Young infielder Bob Schmelz just keeps pushing for a promotion. The 23-year-old was instrumental in Milwaukee's 11-4 win over Indianapolis, as the former 1st Rounder went 5-for-6 with 3 runs scored and driven in. He was just a triple away from the cycle, and is now hitting .365/.457/.545 (150 OPS+) in 81 games. His 168 WRC+ is higher then any Cougar, and he's compiled 17 doubles, 5 triples, 9 homers, 61 RBIs, 58 runs, and 51 walks. He's struck out just 24 times in 359 trips to the plate, and despite an awful -9.9 zone rating (.916) at second he's on pace for a 5 WAR (5.5) season. That defense is the only thing keeping him in the minors, as Schmelz looks more like a first basemen then a second basemen. That limits his opportunity to get into games, but if thinks get bad I could get created. George Sutterfield isn't hitting much and I could send him to AAA to play more frequently. Billy Hunter could shift from second to third, opening a spot for Schmelz. With Sutterfield's immense potential I really want to give him a chance to shine. But if we keep flailing as we have, Schmelz could be the spark we need to win a few extra games.

LHP Ron Berry (AA Mobile Commodores): Yeah, Ron Berry was ready for AA. After a complete game victory with 7 strikeouts and just 1 walk in his first start with the division leading Commodores, Berry threw a 3-hit shutout in a dominant 10-0 win over the the last place Chieftains (32-49). He struck out just one and walked three, but he now has a 1.50 ERA (291 ERA+) and 0.89 WHIP, somehow better then the 2.11 (201 ERA+) and 1.00 he put up in 81 innings with the Legislators. Of course, his 3.36 FIP (77 FIP-) isn't as impressive (2.87, 67), but it's still a dream start for the 22-year-old. Currently ranked as the 76th best prospect in baseball, he's showing he should probably be ranked above, oh, say a Dixie Gaines. Yes, he doesn't throw very fast, but he has insane command, generates a ton of groundballs, and already has big league level stuff. I do want the extra velocity, don't get me wrong, but the young southpaw has a very high floor. He could probably be a spot starter now and he has the potential to be a really good #3. I don't think that cracks our top five, but he's 8 years younger then Pap and Johnnie Jones, and as much as I love Johnnie, I'm not sure how long he can hold off the talented youngsters. I won't go on too much on how the war cost him some of his best seasons, but I do think the veteran will have plenty to share to Berry once he gets up in the big leagues. He'll be protected for the Rule-5 draft this offseason, so that could be as early as next season. I expect Berry to use up all three options, but if we're in a pinch injury wise, he could be an exciting option, working his way into a spot like George Oddo did.

LHP Bob Hobbs (AA Mobile Commodores): After a poor showing in 11 AAA starts last year (3-7, 6.43, 37), 26-year-old Bob Hobbs was sent to AA to start the 1948 season. And after a slow start, Hobbs is really starting to turn things around. He's now won six of his last eight starts, capping that run off with a 3-hit, 3-strikeout shutout against the Atlanta Peaches. He's now 9-4 in 14 starts with a 3.88 ERA (112 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 43 walks, and 61 strikeouts. Those are pretty great numbers, and I'm ready to give him another chance as we need to make room for Joe Oates to start his pro career in San Jose. The former 8th Rounder has always had great stuff, as he almost always sports a K% above 10. This year's 11.8 is no different, but it comes with a near personal best 8.3 BB%. That's aided a similar 3.91 FIP (89 FIP-) and with such a good fastball he could really do well in the right environment. It'll be tough to find him a spot with us, but he's a live arm who wouldn't be the worst option to give a big league audition. As a Rule-5 eligible player every inning he throws is an audition, and teams love to take a chance on guys who can handle AAA hitters.

Cougars in the GWL
CF Orlin Yates (San Francisco Hawks): Remember Orlin Yates? He's making a decent living in the GWL as an every day player. He's in year three with the Hawks, and even stole a league high 19 bases last season and posted WRC+ of 106 and 98. With his stellar defense that meant 5+ WAR seasons (5.6 and 5.4), making him one of the more valuable players in the league. He wasn't great in the first two months of the season, but he hit a rough patch in June, hitting just .212/.288/.263 (60 OPS+) in 26 games. July has been a different story, and he had a day to remember in the Hawks 8-4 win at home. The original Bigsby Cup MVP did something he had no shot of doing in FABL, going a perfect 5-for-5 with a homer, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs. That's fueled his .329/.347/.471 (136 OPS+) month, and his monthly 144 WRC+ is much better then the 90 he has in the aggregate. At 36, he's not quite the defender he once was, but still a bit above average (4.4, 1.007) in his standard center. The Hawks have profited from his month, as they've gone 11-6 and have moved up to second, 4.5 games behind the leading Knights. Yates isn't the star, that would be Jack Henderson (11-5, 2.12, 50), Mr. .401 Bob Land (.346, 33), or richy rich Woody Stone (.247, 6, 33) but the former Coug is one of many useful supplemental pieces.

ayaghmour2 · 09-12-2023, 08:45 PM

Weekly Record: 4-3
Seasonal Record: 50-43 (3rd, 4 GB)
Stars of the Week
Pete Papenfus : 2 Wins, 15.0 IP, 10 BB, 6 K, 1.20 ERA
Red Bond : 17 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .412 AVG, 1.003 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 18 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .333 AVG, .923 OPS

Schedule
7-19: Loss at Wolves (2-5)
7-20: Win at Cannons (9-0)
7-21: Win at Cannons (3-2)
7-22: Loss at Cannons (7-0)
7-23: Loss at Sailors (1-3)
7-25: Win at Sailors (9-0)
7-25: Win at Sailors (4-3)

Recap
I was traveling yesterday, part of why the post came last night came late, and when I was about three minutes into trying to go to sleep I realized I forgot to set lineups for the double headers. Since I was tired and we have been awful in double headers, I decided to go back to sleep. I made the right decision. We swept that, with a shutout and the rare one run win. It was crucial as the Sailors (52-42) are a game and a half ahead of us and come to Chicago this weekend. This was one of two one-run wins, as while I did not expect the two blowouts in Cincinnati, did win the series because of the amazing Duke Bybee (12-4, 2.53, 55) outdueling the breakout Jersey Jim (9-6, 2.68, 58). The win did cost us Red Bond, who is dealing with a mild abdominal strain. He may play a little this week, as Max Wilder started him in game two of the double header. Ray Ford seems likely to man first on Monday, but I expect Bond to play most of the weekend series. And despite getting hurt, he still went 7-for-17 with 2 doubles, 2 walks, a run, and 3 RBIs. No homers on the road, but missing home games will hurt the slugger in his chase for setting our single season home run record. On June 18th Bond hit his 17th and 18th home run, but he's hit just one since. He's now on pace to only tie Tom Taylor's record of 31. I'm hoping this is why he was seeing his power fall, and once he's healthy he'll go back to launching longballs.

Pete Papenfus may never truly be back, but he was dominant against the Cannons and with a two win week has now won seven of his last nine decisions. The All-Star pitched a 4-hit shutout with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts in the 9-0 win. He also threw 100 pitches on short rest in the double header yesterday, walking 6 in 6 innings. Despite that, he allowed just 3 runs (2 earned) and 2 hits with 3 strikeouts. The walks are somewhat concerning, as but he's still struck out (85) significantly more hitters then he's walked (60) overall. The Cannons and Sailors are disciplined teams, and on the road it's always hard to overpower hitters. It's different when you have the fans behind you, and even in all the losses last year the home fans never got on him. He's treated them to 7 amazing home starts this season, going 5-2 with a 1.48 ERA (267 ERA+) and 0.86 WHIP with 32 strikeouts and 18 walks. Pap still ranks top three in wins (11) and strikeouts (85) and if he stays hot he could work his way into the Allen talk. He's already won more games then last season, and his current ERA and WHIP are lower then any season he didn't win the triple crown. I don't think he'll beat out Rufus Barrell (2.04), but he's six with plenty of time to climb the leaderboard.

Two weeks isn't a trend, but Leo Mitchell went 6-for-18 with 2 doubles, 4 runs, 5 walks, and an RBI. He's hitting a more respectable .338/.402/.432 (124 OPS+) in June and his 96 season WRC+ is almost back to average. A resurgent Leo Mitchell is exactly what the doctor ordered, and I hope "Mitch the Metronome" can start ticking again. Even Year Harry is certainly here, as our backstop went 5-for-15 with a double and his 6th homer of the season. The now 34-year-old veteran has a 113 WRC+ in 64 games, and in 54 fewer games he matched his WAR (1.1) total from last year. Some of our bench guys did well too, with Carlos Montes (2-7, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB), Don Lee (1-3, 2B, 2 R), and George Sutterfield (3-10, 2 2B, 3 RBI, R) contributing extra base hits. Despite a few big wins this week, we're still just 7th in average (.257) and wOBA (.319), last in walks (304) and OBP (.322), and despite 76 homers (2nd), we're jut 6th in extra base hits (236). Home cooking may help, but we're dealing with tough pitching staffs this week.

Johnnie Jones was hit hard, but he was this exception this week in a regularly well-pitched week. The Cannons tagged him for 9 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), and 5 walks, and when he left with two outs in the six it was the first start of the season where he failed to strike out a single batter. I'm too lazy to check the last time that happened, but Jones has struck out 10.2% of the batters he's faced through 819 FABL innings, and has set down five or more five separate occasions. Brother Donnie split his starts, as he had a rare loss to the Wolves, who he seems to do well against in the past. Donnie went 8, allowing 9 hits, 5 runs, and 4 walks with just 2 strikeouts. The 28-year-old veteran bounced back in a big way in the double header, twirling a 4-hit shutout with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts. His record remains even, now 8-8, but that's only his eight complete game and second shutout. The reigning Allen winner completed 21 with 4 shutouts last year, and has yet to throw fewer then 19 since he became a full time starter. With maybe 13 starts left, that doesn't seem likely, but strong finish from one of our team leaders would be huge.

Looking Ahead
It's a weird week, as we start our lengthy homestand with just one game against the Montreal Saints. Their offense has been an issue, scoring the fewest runs in the league. But they have some really good sluggers, and with one game in Chicago they could change the course of the game. The trio of Maurice Carter (.259, 14, 51), Pinky Pierce (.274, 12, 40), and Bill Greene (.249, 10, 42, 15) could have 20 homers in a friendlier park and All-Star starter Gordie Perkins (.289, 5, 40, 8) is one of the brightest young shortstops in the game. They could use an extra bat or two, but with few sellers they may have to wait for some of the youngsters to develop like the pitchers have. Bert Cupid (9-9, 2.98, 51) is one of the more talented pitcher already while Wally Reif (10-5, 3.00, 59) and Doyle (6-11, 3.56, 66) are having the best seasons of their careers. Montreal already has Bill Elkins (.280, 18, 8) and Jack Spahr (.291, 29) in the lineup, but 31st ranked prospect Hank Smith (.412, 2, 5) is on the bench and 36th ranked prospect Otis O'Keefe, who just picked up a Player of the Week (16-32, 4 HR, 17 RBI) could be joining him shortly. As an outfielder he doesn't have immediate playing time, so in the offseason he could be used to fill a hole. We may have gotten the Saints at the right time, as while they've won two of their last three, they are 22-40 since the end of May.

One team we can't beat is the Wolves, who are an even 47-47 because they recently swept us and have won nine of the fifteen contests this year. They're off on Monday, so there's plenty they can do with their rotation. Unfortunately, I'd expect some order of George Garrison (8-7, 3.24, 60), Jimmy Gibbs (3-4, 3.61, 46), and Jerry York (8-8, 2.75, 58), all while Red Bond (.295, 19, 52) is still at least partially incapacitated. Luckily the only lineup the Wolves have scored more frequently then is the Saints, so if we can keep Fred McCormick (.283, 10, 44, 5), Hal Wood (.355, 3, 49), and Chink Stickels (.269, 12, 59, 13) in check I like our chances. One guy to watch will be Tom Frederick, as Mr. Versatility has a 117 WRC+ and 2.3 WAR while playing 61 games at second and 32 in the outfield. He's hitting a fine .302/.359/.442 (106 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 7 triples, 4 homers, 7 steals, and 35 RBIs. The 32-year-old veteran is looking like a very useful leadoff hitter, and if the Wolves decide to move some of their players in the offseason he could be an interesting piece for a team with title aspirations.

The weekend series against the Sailors, who will look to get some revenge after we took the series against them in Philly. As mentioned they are ahead of us, so this series has huge playoff implications for both sides. Cotton Dillon (.257, 2, 27) has replaced Harvey Brown (.289, 2, 34, 25), shifting the rookie Joe Scott (.317, 4, 22) from Dillon's usual right to left. Ed Reyes (.346, 5, 53) has been replaced by Hal Wood at the top of the batting race, and the two former Cougar first rounders are competing while Leo Mitchell (.293, 1, 28) is trailing the duo in all three triple crown categories. Reyes has hit just .277/.307/.373 (75 OPS+) in 21 July games, but the first time All Star has plenty of time to pick thing back up. I'm hoping he waits until they leave town, as the Sailors are a deep team who play us tough. Eventually David Molina (3-7, 15, 4.18, 42) will return to his dominant self and even Art Hull (8-7, 1, 4.14, 62) has a near league average ERA+ (99), with a surprisingly strong 3.31 FIP (80 FIP-) out of the five spot. Their rotation isn't quite on the level of ours, but Win Lewis (9-7, 3.20, 66) leads a very impressive rotation, and I think we're stuck with him in the opener. This is a huge week for us as we approach the deadline, and with very little movement expected, we need every win we can get.

Minor League Report
1B Cal Rice (B San Jose Cougars): In the same week 5th Rounder John Kerr inks his signing bonus, 20-year-old Cal Rice won himself the C-O-W Player of the Week. The former 10th Rounder hit .500/.552/.846 (260 OPS+) with 7 doubles, a triple, 6 runs, and 9 RBIs. He's now hitting .302/.368/.458 (114 OPS+) in 366 trips to the plate with 32 doubles, 5 triples, 3 homers, and 52 RBIs. He's not at risk of losing playing time, and may be in line for a promotion to Lincoln as I could give Harry Austin time in left and figure things out from there. Rice is our highest ranked first basemen prospect, 13th in the organization and 148th in the league for all positions. Dixie Gaines like his hit tool and speculates that there may be some power to come from his bat. He is a big strong guy after all, and no C-O-W batter has double digit homers on the season. He did hit 10 homers in 78 game for the Lions back in 1946, so perhaps there's hope for 15 or so homers in a major league season. As a lefty, he can't play much with Red Bond in Chicago, but when Bond turns 38 Cal will only be 24. I don't know if he's the first basemen of our future, but Rice will be allowed a chance to earn a starting job in the majors.

CF Henry Norman (B San Jose Cougars): Of the three talented outfielders we had in San Jose, I did not think Henry Norman would be the first one promoted. But sure enough, the 19-year-old will head to A ball, where he did play 33 games in the Chiefs organization last year. He didn't hit much, just .207/.273/.289 (52 OPS+), but he looked much better in 52 games this season down in San Jose. The 68th ranked prospect hit .345/.392/.399 (105 OPS+) with 4 doubles, a triple, a homer, a steal, and 25 RBIs. That contributed to a 112 WRC+, and he accumulated almost a full win above replacement while functioning primarily as a left fielder. I view him as a center fielder, and that's exactly where he'll play in Lincoln. A former 3rd Rounder, he has both a strong arm and excellent range, and with above average speed he should be able to make most plays out in the outfield. His offensive value is plentiful as well, as the strong righty hits the ball hard and Dixie Marsh goes as far as saying he "projects to be a .330 hitter." That's a lofty projection, and considering our Red Bond's .295 average leads the team, it would be a welcomed addition to the lineup. He won't be joining the big league club any time soon, but he's a smart kid who will take advantage of all the resources at his disposal. OSA thinks he can "flourish as a center fielder" and I'm hoping that's true, as while he comes with plenty of risk, there is so much to like about the young outfielder.

Cougars in the GWL
RHP Luis Sandoval (Houston Bulls): I don't know why, but Luis Sandoval always throws shutouts. Despite being just 5-10 on the season, he's thrown a 7-hit and 6-hit shutout with a 2-run loss in between. Sandoval led the GWL with 4 shutouts for the Conquistadores last year, and he's already matched that despite his awful record. He has an average 3.12 ERA (103 ERA+) with a 1.37 WHIP, but he's walked just 34 with 74 strikeouts in 156 innings pitched. His 2.89 FIP (90 FIP-) is decent, as run support seems to be the issue. He's gotten 2 or fewer runs in 13 of his 20 starts. And it's not like the Bulls can't score, their 320 runs is in the top half and they have some pretty solid bats in Bob Montgomery (.304, 2, 35, 5), John Reginald (.278, 3, 29, 17), and Hal Landrum (.317, 6, 47). They do have another Cougar, Johnny Bunce (.236, 2, 26), who despite a strong glove at third cannot offer much at the plate. At 46-48, they're in fifth and double digit (11.5) games out of first, it's not likely the Bulls will play postseason ball.

RHP Del Burnes (Portland Green Sox): Not much has gone well for the Portland Green Sox, but the 32-year-old Del Burnes has been superb in his first season as a starter in the GWL. The former #3 Pick is just 6-9, but he owns an impressive 2.58 ERA (125 ERA+) and 1.24 WHIP with 73 strikeouts. His 2.72 FIP (84 FIP-) supports his overall body of work, and he's accumulated 3.2 WAR in 153.2 innings pitched. He's allowed just a single homer in 19 starts, and if he was on a contender he could be a legitimate contender for Pitcher of the Year. The Green Sox ace leads the team in ERA and strikeouts, but the only pitcher with more wins is their stopper Herb White (10-2, 15, 3.43, 41), who while never a Cougar, is a Chicago native. I will admit, I'm a little shocked to see a pitcher of Burnes' caliber in the GWL, and at just $4,200 for the season he's more then affordable. I'll admit, if I knew it took just $800 to get Burns on a minor league deal he'd have been a Cougar, but instead the veteran righty could be in line for a nice pay day at year's end.

ayaghmour2 · 09-14-2023, 01:39 AM

Weekly Record: 3-4
Seasonal Record: 53-47 (3rd, 5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Sal Pestilli : 27 AB, 8 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .296 AVG, .974 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 25 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .360 AVG, .785 OPS
Hal Sharp : 14 AB, 5 H, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .357 AVG, .899 OPS

Schedule
7-26: Win vs Saints (3-4)
7-27: Loss vs Wolves (5-3)
7-28: Loss vs Wolves (3-0)
7-29: Win vs Wolves (4-6)
7-30: Loss vs Sailors (4-2)
7-31: Loss vs Sailors (3-1)
8-1: Win vs Sailors (2-7)

Recap
We went backwards this week (yay!), as after beating the Saints in the one game series, we lost home series to both the Wolves and Sailors. We scored two or fewer runs in three of the four losses. Guess how many we got in the fourth? Three! This is not a good strategy for winning games, as even though we are the only team left to allow fewer then 400 runs (three teams even have more then 500!), it's hard to win when you don't put runs on the board. Part of this can be attributed to Red Bond's abdominal strain, which hasn't healed as planed, with his injury length now unknown. I really don't want to IL him, but he was just 3-for-13. He did hit his 20th homer, but with his IL placement now retroactive to 8/1 instead of the original 7/21, we will ride it out one more week. Ray Ford wasn't much better, just 4-for-14 with a double, but he'll pick up an extra start or two. We clearly don't need more first basemen, with all the one's at literally every level, but 14th Rounder Charlie Everitt checks inside the top 500 at 382, giving us five overall.. I can't believe this is what things have come too, as I usually had one or none, but now we have so many good first basemen. I'm -- not sure what's going on here, but a surplus is a surplus! Right???

George Oddo was royally screwed in his start, and after eight shutout innings he should have been in line for a shutout. Instead, we got no runs off Jim Morrison (7-5, 3.06, 43), so he went out for the ninth in a scoreless game. Even worse, a George Sutterfield error made things interesting, eventually leading to three unearned runs. Oddo had to exit with just one out, but allowed just 4 hits and a walk with 7 strikeouts. The 25-year-old is now an unlucky 5-8 despite an impressive 3.32 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.24 WHIP, and 1.8 K/BB ratio. Oddo gets overshadowed in our sterling rotation, but the young righty ranks 4th in the CA in strikeouts (80), second in K/9 (5.5), 7th in WHIP (1.24), and 3rd in K/BB. The season has gone about as well as I could have hoped for the hard working former 8th Rounder, who is quietly developing into one of the league's best starting pitchers, but even if we were to make the playoffs he wouldn't be ticketed for a single start. On the other 15 FABL teams, Oddo would rank 3rd or better (5th for us mind you) in ERA on all but other team, the Wolves, and there are only seven qualified players (two Cougars!) with a WHIP lower then him and just four qualified pitchers have a higher K/BB. He's been as good as it gets, and joins the long list of successful pitchers drafted by the Cougars.

We had two two-start pitchers this week, with both Duke Bybee and Johnnie Jones splitting their decisions. Bybee deserved wins in both, but he wasn't really his sharpest. He walked and struck out 4 in what was almost a complete game win over the Saints, getting all but the 27th out. He allowed 6 hits and 3 runs, which improved him to 13-4 on the season. He then did go all nine against the Sailors, but with just one run of support, he picked up loss #5. Bybee again walked four and struck out just one, finishing with 6 hits and 3 runs. He's survived the lack of strikeouts so far, but his beautiful 2.58 ERA (153 ERA+) is supported by a shaky 3.73 FIP (94 FIP-), and his walk, strikeout, ground ball, and home run rates are all worse then last season. Johnnie followed up his rough start with another poor one, going just 7.2 innings with 8 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Luckily a bounce back was in the cards, and he improved to 8-9 with a complete game win over the Sailors. Johnnie snapped his three game losing streak, allowing 7 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. Donnie was an out away from a complete game win, as like Bybee, he left with two outs in the ninth. He found himself in trouble, but beat the Wolves after they got to him in Toronto, leaving with 10 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), 4 walks, and 3 strikeouts. The last start went to Peter the Heater, who allowed 6 hits, 4 runs, 5 walks, and 4 strikeouts in 8 innings. While not great, a loss seems a bit tough for the vet, as with any semblance of an offense, we'd likely come out on top!

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week before the second leg of our homestand. We'll welcome the Cannons to town, who could use Monday as a travel day as they don't have any games scheduled. They may be 51-54 and closest to last (8 GA) then first (11.5 GB), but don't let the record fool you. They have scored (424) one more run then they've allowed (434), and are a Denny Andrews (.222, 8, 28) resurgence away from being a serious pennant contender. Rufus Barrell seems to be the shoe-in for the Allen this year, as the Cannons ace is 13-6 with a 1.90 ERA (213) and 1.00 WHIP with just 39 walks and 81 strikeouts. Luck finally gets us to skip him, as he pitched in their double header sweep of the Saints (48-53). They do have to make an adjustment to their rotation, as Normal native Jack G. Thompson (2-4, 5.12, 28) will miss the rest of the season with shoulder inflammation. I'd love to see Butch Smith (3-4, 6, 2.82, 19) make a return to the rotation, but they have plenty of options in AAA, including 10th ranked prospect Tony Britten, who was recently surpassed by Bob Allen (7th) as the highest ranked pitching prospect. Whoever takes the empty rotation spots first challenge will be us, with the other two games scheduled for Les Bradshaw (8-11, 5.48, 61) and Jim Anderson (9-7, 2.88, 61). Now that we've won our last three one-run games, I'm worried we'll drop a few of those in this one.

Lucky for us, our best friends in Cleveland will visit for a three game set. At 39-62, things haven't gone too well, and they've accounted for just over 20% of our wins this season. The pitching staff has really struggled, and they recently demoted 24-year-old Kirby Brewer (1-6, 9.84, 9) from the pen to rotation. Control has been an issue for the former 10th Rounder, who has walked 13.3% of the batters he faced and has 13 fewer strikeouts then walks. Returning to the rotation now is John Jackson (5-6, 4.62, 40), who made nine relief appearances after starting his first twelve appearances. Regardless of who takes the mound, we'll have the definite pitching advantage, so it's all about scoring more runs then them. We haven't on the season, and they've now started to give Sherry Doyal (.295, 1, 5) more time in center. With him, Ivey Henley (.331, 9, 55), and Tom Holmes Jr. (.311, 3, 20) they have a very exciting young outfield. Henley is better suited for first, but fellow 24-year-old Chuck McHenry (.291, 3, 17) has excelled since his debut in New York on the 21st of June. Furthering the logjam are "veterans" Bill Sikorski (.342, 6, 34) and Paul Porter (.271, 2, 37), and they optioned Orie Martinez (.269, 7, 31) a while back to make room for some of the youngsters. There's no shortage in the minors, and when the Foresters are ready to make a run at it I could see them moving an outfielder or two to upgrade the roster. That could be as early as next year, as the CA is wide open, and a busy offseason could really shake things up.

Minor League Report
2B Tom Brownleaf (AA Mobile Commodores): Tom Brownleaf has come up a few times already, and now he's back with his second Player of the Week in the past two months. Brownleaf went 11-for-20 with a double, 2 triples, 5 walks, and 6 RBIs. The 23-year-old finished his July with a .347/.434/.463 (130 OPS+) line and now has a 120 WRC+ in 91 games for the Commodores. Brownleaf has hit 19 doubles, 8 triples, 2 homers, and 55 RBIs to go with his .322/.386/.441 (111 OPS+) batting line. It's strong production from the 23-year-old, who has played a lot of second and third this season, with above average marks (1.036 at 2B; 1.047 at 3B) at both spots. Add all that with a stellar work ethic and the ability to hit from both sides and there's the foundation of a very useful regular. With Otto Christian hitting the IL with a concussion, there's a spot open in the Milwaukee lineup. He definitely deserves it, but since Al Clement is already on the 40, I'd like to see what he can do at the highest level. I don't expect him to get much time in the big leagues, if any, but he can help the Blues (52-41, 3 GB) in their quest for another pennant.

C Mike Bordes (AA Mobile Commodores): Hit-streaks have been common place for Cougar farmhands, but for once they didn't come from a first basemen. Backstop Mike Bordes hit safely in twenty straight, but right after reaching that OOTP milestone proceeded to go 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. That didn't do much to spoil his July, as the 22-year-older hit .341/.429/.477 (132 OPS+) in 24 games, tallying 3 doubles, 3 homers, 13 walks, 13 runs, and 18 RBIs with a 140 WRC+. Acquired in the Billy Riley trade, Mike Bordes no longer ranks in the top 500 prospects list, but that seems to be more about the change from 24 which doesn't like catchers nearly as much as it once did. For his part, Bordes looks like a good young hitter, and he's hitting .331/.426/.468 (129 OPS+) in 378 trips to the plate. That's a really strong number for someone his age, even in the offensive paradise that is the Dixie League. I wish he could hustle more, but he's a big dude who's not very tall, and takes a beating behind the plate. If he can continue to walk (51) more then he strikes out (32) and hit around .280 it'll more then make up for it, but don't expect many homers from him. He does have 7 this year, but even as a flyball hitter he doesn't quite have double digit pop. Think more Harry Mead, but what makes the lefty catcher so great is his defense. Bordes does not have that to fall back on, and will need to continue to hit to play everyday. Bob Mundy (.247, 8, 48) isn't doing great in AAA this year, and with Bordes Rule-5 eligible I'm toying with the idea of promotion Bordes to Milwaukee or even Chicago for the last month of the season. I love having a third catcher and there's no one in the minors on the 40. We have plenty of open spots, and it may go down between an early look at Bordes or a final good bye for his backup Steve Mountain (.324, 1, 5).

LHP Ben Clough (B San Jose Cougars): All season long, skipper Red Lang wanted Ben Clough in the rotation. But I just wasn't interested in using last year's 14th Rounder as anything more then a stopper. But after a 1.99 ERA (3.23 ERA+) and 1.15 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and just 19 walks in an out shy of 50 innings, I finally caved and gave "Preacher Man" a late birthday give and gave him his first pro start the day after his 23rd birthday. After never throwing more then 46 pitches all season, Clough threw 104, an out away from a 6-hit shutout. He struck out four and walked just one, a truly remarkable first professional start. The encore was somehow better, as the southpaw threw a 4-hit shutout with six strikeouts and just one walk. These are absurd performances, as even with the two starts Clough is striking out 20.8% of the batters he faces. Hal Hackney (14-6, 3.31, 122), who is what Pete Papenfus (11-8, 2.86, 89) should be, is striking out over five percentage points lower (15.6%) then Clough. That's enough to convince me that I should be giving Clough another look, and he'll pitch the rest of the season in the Legislators rotation. This give him the chance to show off and make a case to start next season in AA. I still see him as a reliever long term, but he's definitely well along in his development, and the stuff is legit. He mixes four pitches, with a wicked circle change the clear headliner. The other three pitches are various mid 80s fastballs, with none really standing out. For a guy who tops out at 87, that's not very exciting, but if he can sit in the 90s like John Stallings (8-7, 2.89, 91) who knows what's possible. Clough has the advantage of a circle change, but one recently turned 23-year-old (Stallings' birthday was seven days earlier).is an ace, and the other I'll be happy with making AAA.

Oh shoot I gave it away...

1B Dudley Sapp (C La Crosse Lions): Somebody isn't happy about John Kerr signing. After a huge week last week, Dudley Sapp's encore was even better, going 9-for-18 with a homer and 7 RBIs. It's just 53 PAs, but Sapp is hitting .468/.510/.553 (153 OPS+) with a double, homer, and 10 RBIs. With Christian going down, I finally decided to move up Cal Rice, so instead of a timeshare with Kerr, Sapp will play every day up in San Jose. Our 3rd Round selection last season, Sapp took a hit in the power rankings this offseason, but still shows a lot of the tools I liked when scouting him out of high school. A strong 6'4'' righty, Sapp has legit power, perhaps at the levels of even Walt Pack (.264, 12, 37) and Red Bond (.292, 20, 55). He has an above average hit tool, and even though defense at first isn't the most important, he's one of those lefty throwers who could have played elsewhere in the infield if he was a righty. Dixie Marsh is a big fan, labeling Sapp as "an above average, everyday big league player," and I think there's a chance for him to reach that. At 19 he has a long time to go, but you can't teach raw power, and Sapp certainly has that.

Cougars in the GWL
RHP Preacher Pietsch (Houston Bulls): No FABL team made a trade after we picked up Luke Berry from the Miners, but a former Cougar first rounder was on the move in the GWL. The last place Conquistadores picked up two pitching prospects from the Houston Bulls for the 32-year-old veteran. A longtime Pioneer, Pietsch spent two and a half seasons in the San Diego pen, going 19-14 with 26 save in 150.1 innings spread across 115 appearances. He worked to an average 3.29 ERA (99 ERA+), but his 3.13 FIP (95 FIP-) was a bit above average. He has struck out 56 and walked 42, and should be a useful supplement to Hank Mittan (4-3, 20, 2.19, 48) at the back of the Bulls pen. This season he's 7-4 with 7 saves, a 2.95 ERA (108 ERA+), and a 1.41 WHIP. His 9.5 K% would be a career best and he's allowed just one homer in 58 innings. He's not a game changer by any means, but the Bulls are just 4.5 games behind the San Francisco Hawks for second place. There's plenty of time to make up ground, and he's a guy who can pitch multiple innings when needed.

RHP Ira Hawker (Dallas Centurions): One of the starts of the of the GWL, Ira Hawker led the GWL with 19 wins last season and his 2.94 career ERA is best among qualifying players all time, which includes the time the GWL was a minor league with FABL affiliates. Hawker is doing more of the same this year, and he capped off a stellar July with a 4-hit shutout as the Centurions outlasted the Conquistadores 1-0 in ten. That made him 5-1 for the month with a 1.83 ERA (177 ERA+) and 1.22 WHIP. As those numbers would lead you to believe, Hawker was named Pitcher of the Month in the GWL, and is now 11-6 with a 2.42 ERA (134 ERA+) in 174.2 innings pitched. He leads his team of all three triple crown categories, but on a non-contender may not get any award consideration. Hawker is one of many players with Cougar connections, as former 11th Rounder Rube Finegan (3-6, 4.55, 46) is in the rotation. Ken Mayhugh (.307, 11, 48) mans the hot corner and is on pace for nearly 7 WAR in 154 games, former 2nd Rounder Charlie Reed (.229, 1, 26, 4) plays everyday at short, and a piece of the Rabbit Day trade, Cougar draftee Billy Marshall (.340, 1, 9), has played sporadically off the bench. Mayhugh should be back with Hawker in 1949, but at 37 and 36 Marshall or Reed may decide to hang it up. There will be plenty of FABL quality players lost from rosters in the offseason, so the Centurions could try to build around Hawker, Mayhugh, Cy Braden (.332, 3, 18), Heinie Billings (.303, 7, 49, 11), and Al Gross (.302, 7, 43). Add another member to the rotation, and they could be deadly.

ayaghmour2 · 09-14-2023, 09:22 PM

Weekly Record: 5-1
Seasonal Record: 58-48 (3rd, 4.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Sal Pestilli : 23 AB, 7 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, .304 AVG, 1.129 OPS
Walt Pack : 19 AB, 7 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .368 AVG, 1.165 OPS
Red Bond : 11 AB, 5 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.455 OPS

Schedule
8-3: Win vs Cannons (5-8)
8-4: Win vs Cannons (5-11)
8-5: Loss vs Cannons (4-3)
8-6: Win vs Foresters (1-3)
8-7: Win vs Foresters (2-5)
8-8: Win vs Foresters (4-8)

Recap
Baseball is funny, isn't it? We have our best week since last time we faced the Cannons and Foresters. No double sweeps this time, as the Cannons did manage to steal a one-run game, but we outscored our Ohio visitors 38-21, increasing our run differential to a FABL best +71. Ours is so stellar that it is one run higher then the combined total of the Stars (+34), Sailors (+6), and Kings (+30), the only other Continental Association clubs with a positive run differential. But since the Stars had a good week and continue to outperform their run differential (+6!!), we gained just half a game in the standings. This is what happens when you tread water (19-18) for two months. You finally get going, but all the chances you had to make up ground pass you up. On paper, there's no reason we shouldn't be in first place, but I'm not the least bit surprised we're on the outside looking in. It is what we do best!

Red Bond is healthy again and hitting like it, going 5-for-11 with 2 homers and 7 RBIs, giving him 22 and 62 on the season. He's got into just 84 games as his playing time has slowed down with his injury, but is back on pace to set our single season homer record. His two replacements for the week, Ray Ford and Luke Berry, were just as good if not better, 9-for-14 with a double a piece. Ford added 2 runs, 4 walks, and even a steal, but the now 37-year-old veteran is on pace for his first below average offensive season in both OPS+ (88) and WRC+ (81). Berry was really struggling coming into the week, but he's now hitting .353/.436/.412 (128 OPS+) in 39 trips to the plate. Half of his 12 hits came in his two starts (one in left, one at first), and he now has a 149 WRC+ as a Cougar and 102 overall.

For a chance there was production all through the lineup, and Walt Pack finally got thing back up again, He went 7-for-19 with a double, 2 homers, and 4 runs scored and driven in. Sal Pestilli continued his extra-base crusade, with 4 of his 7 hits going for extra bases. He tripled, homered three times, and tallied 8 RBIs and 6 runs, upping his season WAR to an even 4.0. It's not a classic Sal Pestilli season, but the 7-Time All-Star is hitting a productive .260/.325/.505 (119 OPS+) with a 127 WRC+. 47 of his 105 hits have gone for extra bases, as Pestilli has launched 19 homers with 14 doubles and triple, while swiping 16 bases and drawing 41 walks. Hal Sharp looked like the Hal Sharp of year's past, going 7-for-18 with a double, 4 RBIs, 7 runs, and even a steal. This upped his season line to .297/.371/.393 (105 OPS+), and while his 113 WRC+ is still strong, it would be his lowest in a sample of 450 PAs or more. He's on pace for almost 500, and he's seen his WRC+ (32, 98, 119, 130, 199) increase in each month. We also got strong performances from Clark Car, going 8-for-20 with a double, triple, steal, 2 walks, 4 runs, and 4 RBIs in a very complete week. If we can get this many guys to hit, it can make up for the eventual slumps (Leo Mitchell I'm looking at you...) elsewhere in the lineup, and who knows? Maybe we can make a run again! Can we just only play teams from Ohio?

The pitching wasn't great, but the back two in our rotation sure were! George Oddo continues to dominate, allowing just 6 hits, a run, and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts in a complete game victory. Johnnie Jones was just as good, with 9 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts in his complete game win. Both now have ERAs below Donnie Jones, who picked up his 10th and 11th wins of the year. The Cannons chased him out with two outs in the ninth, as he left with 10 hits, 4 runs, and 3 strikeouts. One of the runs came after he left, as Jim Kenny quickly allowed a two-run homer to Adam Mullins (.288, 5, 39) before getting Chuck Adams (.268, 21, 78) to flyout on the first pitch he saw. Donnie then went 8 against Cleveland, allowing 6 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts. Donnie's now won four consecutive starts, and the Cannons start was the only one he allowed more then two earned runs. It's funny our reigning Allen winner has the highest team ERA (3.24, 122), but he's still well on his way to another excellent year.

The lone loss went to Duke Bybee, who just refuses to strike guys out this year. He didn't have any in his 8 innings of work, and left with 5 hits, 4 runs, and 4 walks. He's still struck out (60) a few more batters then he's walked (56), but he's allowed one or fewer strikeouts in three of his last four starts, and after an elite 1.7 K/BB last season it's down over half a strikeout to just 1.1. Pete Papenfus had a less effective start, but with 14 runs of support he came away with his 12th victory and 4th victory since the break. Pap threw 132 pitches and got all but the final out, charged with 7 hits, 5 runs, and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts. Looking to the pen, one guy I haven't talked enough about is Ken Matson. Matson had an awful start to the year, allowing 7 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), and 3 walks in his first 3 appearances (3.1 innings). Since then he's been remarkable, and he's allowed just 7 earned runs in his last 38.2 innings pitched. With a perfect inning against the Cannons in the 4-3 loss, Matson has now thrown 12 consecutive scoreless outings, last allowing a run on June 29th. Our stopper is now 4-4 with 11 saves, and he sports a remarkable 2.79 ERA (142 ERA+) and 1.26 WHIP with 20 strikeouts in 39 appearances. The 30-year-old is definitely good enough to start, and Dixie Marsh thinks he's better then George Oddo. Having a guy like him should be useful for winning close games, and I'm hoping he can finish his season off on a high note like he has.

Looking Ahead
Well, the next one is a big one! And it could determine our season! Our 8-5 homestand ends with three crucial games against the Stars, who are 65-46 and have a 4-game lead on the Sailors (59-48). Even if we win all three, they're still right in the middle of things, but if they do the same we can kiss our season goodbye. They've bested us in 9 of our 13 contests this season, including seven of the last eight. That's a trend we'd like to stop, but after dealing with Henry Shaffer (8-6, 4.59, 51) in the opener we'll do battle with Eli Panneton (12-9, 3.74, 83) and Vern Hubbard (11-6, 3.41, 62) supported by the best offense in the association. I don't think I talk enough about Bill Barrett, who will likely win the Whitney this season. With Bobby Barrell nearing the end, there will be an opening for best hitter in baseball. "William the Conqueror" is my best, and it's going to really suck playing against him for a very long time. It's not like the Stars need help beating us, we've finished second in four of their last five pennants.

Barrett should take home his fourth Whitney this season, as he's hitting an absurd .323/.432/.649 (181 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 35 homers, and 102 RBIs. He's not only scored 78 runs, but walked 78 times, and has a 190 WRC+ and 6.6 WAR in 104 games this season. This is nothing new for the 28-year-old superstar, and if the season ended today, that 190 would only be his third highest WRC+. What makes him so great is exactly what Bobby does best, walking significantly more then they strike out. Bill has led the league in walks with 130 or more strikeouts three times, and this year he's walking at an elite 16.4 walk rate compared to a 6.7 k-rate. Among qualifying hitters, no hitter with a lower strikeout rate then Barrett have a higher walk rate, and just two have hit more then 20 home runs. He's a competent right fielder with a pretty strong arm, and as long as he's still in town they have a chance. They will be without the slick fielding Joe Angevine (.217, 1, 26, 18), but the Stars are far from a one-man band. Mack Sutton (.235, 20, 68) and Jack Welch (.274, 25, 66) are two of the top sluggers and when healthy 24-year-old Bob Riggins (.244, 7, 34, 7) is one of the more exciting young players. They're going to be tough to outscore, and Pap (12-8, 2.98, 94), Duke (13-6, 2.67, 60), and Oddo (6-8, 3.17, 85) are surely going to have their hands full.

The next series won't be any easier for the staff, as we'll be in Brooklyn for four with the Kings. Ralph Johnson (.297, 21, 71) might not be Bill Barrett, but he's another hindrance we're stuck with and he'll lead the #2 offense with support from Chuck Collins (.310, 7, 48), Pat Petty (.284, 10, 63), and offseason pickup Charlie Woodbury (.326, 8, 56). Another offseason pickup, 22-year-old Chuck Lewis (.340, 3, 15), has been excellent since his recall, and they have one of the top young outfielders John Mos (.226, 3, 36, 3) patrolling center. The balls aren't landing his way this year, but he's walked (61) just over twice as often as he's struck out (30) and has an impressive 17.5 zone rating (1.063 EFF) in 778 innings out in center. That's helped guys like Clarence Barton (4-7, 5, 3.11, 48) who give up a lot of flyball hits. Of course, for someone like Bob Arman (13-8, 2.50, 112), who's just flat out dominant Moss as a lesser impact, but with four games we'll see pretty much everything they have to offer. With an off day to start the week they can do make adjustments to the rotation, but with Arman beating his former team yesterday we're stuck getting him somewhere. Let's hope the offense shows up for the other three, as I'm predicting a 6-strikeout shutout.

Minor League Report
1B Billy Biggar (AA Mobile Commodores): It's not quite .400, as Billy Biggar's season line has dropped to .399, but the 24-year-old took home another Player of the Week. He went 13-for-30 with a double, 2 triples, and 4 RBIs. Like Leo Mitchell, he still has just one homer, but unlike our struggling star Biggar boasts a 158 WRC+ in 456 trips to the plate. He has a real shot to be the Commodores first .400 hitter since Cougar All-Time batting average leader Vince York hit .407 in 1928. Mitchell came three points shy in 1934, so let's see if the Ontario native can make Mobile history. He's on a 5.4 WAR pace and he's working on a 12-game hit streak. Biggar has drove in 76, walked 36 times, and tallied 37 doubles, frequently finding the holes with hard hit grounders. Next year he'll have a chance at the Blues modern record (post 1915), with Leo Mitchell slashing .359 in 1936. Eligible for the Rule-5 draft, I may have to protect Biggar, who has to be on the radar of scouts around the league.

RHP Fred Terry (AA Mobile Commodores): Year two has been tremendous for Fred Terry, but on Monday he was hit hard for 13 hits and 8 run with 4 walks and just 2 strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched. After a start like that, most pitchers would take their struggles into the next game, but Terry instead decided to bounce back. He threw a 7-hit, 4-strikeout shutout to improve to 11-5 in 17 starts. The 23-year-old now owns a 3.39 ERA (127 ERA+) and 1.37 WHIP with 39 walks and 47 strikeouts. A real innings hitter, he's gone nine or more in all but five of his starts, and last month picked up a 12-inning complete game win over this same Crackers lineup in Atlanta. The hard worker has been crucial on the Commodores pennant quest, even if not as big as Biggar, and he'll be allowed to finish the season in Mobile if they have any chance of winning it all.

ayaghmour2 · 09-15-2023, 11:51 PM

Weekly Record: 3-4
Seasonal Record: 61-52 (3rd, 6.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Hal Sharp : 30 AB, 14 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .467 AVG, 1.315 OPS
Walt Pack : 27 AB, 11 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .407 AVG, 1.303 OPS
Harry Mead : 24 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .375 AVG, 1.067 OPS

Schedule
8-9: Loss vs Stars (11-8)
8-10: Win vs Stars (3-8)
8-11: Loss vs Stars (3-2)
8-12: Loss at Kings (2-3): 11 innings
8-13: Loss at Kings (4-5)
8-14: Win at Kings (8-3)
8-15: Win at Kings (6-1)

Recap
The numbers people say that outscoring your opponents 38-29 would lead to more wins then losses. But not here! Here you lose three one-run games at home to fall six and a half games out of first. We have plenty of time to think about what we've done, with three off days in the next eight days. With games against the same two teams, we have a chance for revenge, but we'll have to do it away from home. Where we are not very good (26-30). Hal Sharp's not going to want to take any time off, as the 34-year-old veteran was named Player of the Week in the Continental Association, going 14-for-30 with a double and three home runs. He drew three walks, scored five runs, and drove in seven more. His bat has really started to heat up in August, hitting .442/.517/.673 (216 OPS+) in 14 games. That's a noticeable improvement on his .321/.383/.429 (117 OPS+) season line and a third of his season home run total came this week. I'm hoping he can keep things up, as Sharp has been one of our most consistent performers in the past two seasons. There is plenty of time left for him to make an impact, and he's quietly helped push us to 3rd in the association with 489 runs scored.

Offense wasn't the issue for a change, and Hal Sharp wasn't even the only hitter with a three homer week. Walt Pack's bat has started to thaw and and he went 11-for-27 with a double, 3 walks, 7 runs, and 7 RBIs. "The Wolf" now has 17 homers in 94 games to go with a respectable .282/.349/.491 (123 OPS+) triple slash. This is another big bat we needed to show life, and with another big week Pack and Sharp will be competing with each other for batter of the month. Even Year Mead hit his 7th homer of the season and went 9-for-24 with 4 doubles, 4 RBIs, and 3 runs. He's starting to play everyday now, as Eddie Howard has hit just .246/.286/.297 (56 OPS+) and Mead now has a 114 WRC+ in 82 games. Red Bond went just 5-for-27, but three of those hits found the seats. With 25 homers, he tied with John Lawson (1937) and Bill Ashbaugh (1928) for the fifth most homers in a season for the team. Interesting enough, Bond hits better on the road (.313/.370/.575) then at home (.313/.370/.575) with almost identical home run rates. With the extra rest and a clean bill of health Bond has a chance to re-energize himself.

But the biggest play of the week was on August 11th, where Leo Mitchell took Chuck Cole deep in the 6th. Just his 2nd homer on the season, Mitchell is now one home run away from tying the previously mentioned Cougar legends John Lawson and Bill Ashbaugh for the most home runs in Cougar history. Those two did it in far fewer tries (4,672 and 5,232), but unlike those sluggers Mitchell was known more for his hit tool. Not only is he a two time batting title winner, but twice he's led the league in hits, slugging, WRC+, and wOBA. He's fallen onto tough times now, hitting just .285/.342/.349 (85 OPS+) in 101 games. With his struggles he's on pace for his fewest amount of games (138) since 1937 (128). No matter how this season goes, Mitchell will retire a Cougar, but his time as an everyday player may be coming to an end. That's why it's going to be very important for him to set the record now. I'll never understand how a guy who hit .333 with 24 homers two years ago can drop to just .285 and 2, but the best of his days might be behind him.

It was a tail of two starts for Pete Papenfus, who didn't even make it out of the third innings against the Stars. He was tagged for 8 hits and 7 runs as the Stars put three in the seats. The four strikeouts to just two walks is good, but it was really a rare stinker from the two-time Allen Winner. What was more like him was the start in Brooklyn, where he allowed just 3 hits and runs in the 8-3 win. He got all but two outs, as six walks and five strikeouts had his pitch count up to 133. With the lead, I would have liked to see Wilder allow Pap to finish, but in his defense two of the runs, hits, and walks did come in the ninth. His 3.29 ERA (120 ERA+) is now highest on the team, but he ranks second (13) and first (103) in strikeouts and wins. While still not vintage Peter the Heater, it's far better then last season's nightmare, and his 10.1 BB% is over two percent lower then his career average. The strikeouts are still a bit down, but he's doing his best to win us games this season.

The same can be said for George Oddo, who lost another amazing start. Losing in four of his last five, Oddo went all nine against a tough Stars lineup, allowing just 8 hits, 3 runs, and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts, but since Chuck Cole (10-10, 5.23, 39) only allowed two runs he dropped to 6-9. Duke Bybee's luck was better, as when he allowed 3 runs against the Stars, we tagged ace Eli Panneton (13-10, 3.81, 89) for eight in the series opener. Bybee did not need any luck in Brooklyn, as the Brooklyn native showed out with a 6-1 complete game victory. The only blemish was a solo homer form former Cougar Juan Pomales (.195, 2, 7; 1-1, 3.60, 1), as Bybee finished with five hits, five strikeouts, and just one walk. After failing to strikeout any Cannons he's struck out 9 with just 3 walks in his past two starts, which is a trend I hope he can keep up. He's been getting away with single digit (8.9) strikeout percentage and that's not something that you can sustain indefinitely.

Johnnie and Donnie weren't too great, and while only Donnie was charged with a loss, both started in one-run losses. Johnnie worked around 6 hits and 7 walks, striking out just 2 in 8 innings. Donnie was tagged for 7 hits and 5 runs (3 earned) with 2 walks and just a single strikeout in 6 innings. That was his third shortest start of the season, and his 3.28 ERA (120 ERA+) is now one point away from the highest in the rotation. The loss also snapped his four game winning streak, and his nine starts are equal to his Allen winning season last year.

With short starts from Donnie and Pap, the bullpen was heavily used, with Harry Parker throwing 5.1 innings across two appearances. He did not mop up the Stars well, allowing 6 hit, 4 runs, and a walk with 2 strikeouts in 4 innings. He allowed just a single hit in his other outing, but Parker now owns a 6.97 ERA (56 ERA+) in 20.2 inning pitched. I have the weekend to decide about it, but I think Parker may be DFA'd, as we need roster spots and he just isn't the same pitcher he used to be. Most of the other innings were good, as Ken Matson extended his scoreless streak with 3.2 shutout innings. As nice as it sounds, he walked five and didn't record a strikeout, so those innings were far from stress free. The other three guys got into action as well, but Eddie Howard was the only one to allow a run. He got the loss against the Kings in extra, getting just one out in the 11th while charged with a hit, two walks, and the winning run. It's the most work our pen has gotten in a while, as the five man group has thrown just 128.2 innings on the season. That would rank sixth on the team behind George Oddo (148), as our front five tend to leave little scraps for their friends in the pen.

Looking Ahead
Is it a revenge week? Or is more embarrassment in the cards? We'll find out quickly in the Big Apple, as after shared off days we'll face the first place Stars for two. At 70-48, they're 3.5 games ahead of the Sailors, so even if we sweep them and the Sailors win all their games, they can't fall out of first. When we lose both we'll be unofficially eliminated, as we did nothing to stop the Stars in Chicago. Chuck Cole (10-10, 5.23, 39) has another chance to improve his aged 38 season before we face analytical darling Vern Hubbard (11-6, 3.40, 67) and his 3.02 FIP (75 FIP-) and 5.2 WAR. I'd be worried about this even if we one all three in Chicago 20-0, and I'll have all weekend to worry about how we're going to contain Bill Barrett (.315, 35, 104), Mack Sutton (.242, 25, 81), and Jack Welch (.282, 27, 69). Even "Mr. Contact" Paul Watson (.323, 2, 19, 1) got his first homer in the big leagues off us, coming in his 24th appearance of the season. A talented infielder, the former 1st Rounder has filled in for Joe Angevine (.217, 1, 28, 18) at short, and he's done a tremendous job hitting the ball hard. He has 2 doubles and 3 triples all while walking (7) more then he strikeout (4). It is a small sample, but if this is any indication of his bat, there is going to be another annoyance in an already deep lineup.

We'll use the off day to travel home after the quick New York road trip, and then we'll host the Kings for three in front of our fans. Brooklyn had a rough July, going 12-18, and with a 7-7 August they've hung around .500 at 58-56. Now ten games out of first, it's going to be tough for them to make a late push, and they announced that veteran Harry Carter (4-7, 4.51, 34) will be designated for assignment. I think we'll be placing a claim on the veteran righty, as he's the father of 6th Rounder Hal Carter, who's started all four of his appearances with the Lions. It will be the first time the hardworking veteran leaves the city of New York, as since debuting for the Stars in 1934 he's only played with them, the Gothams, and the Kings. He may be approaching the end of his time in the big leagues, but his work habits should rub off on the younger guys and he can still eat innings out of the pen. They have plenty of interesting young options in AAA to replace him, including 32nd ranked prospect Paul Byler, a former 2nd Rounder of the Chiefs who came over in the Tim Hopkins (.248, 26, 72) trade. He's already on the 40 and is 10-10 with a 3.70 ERA (117 ERA+) and 104 strikeouts in 21 starts. Carter's spot would be up when they come up, so whoever comes up seems likely to get their first try against us. Normally that wouldn't be all that scary, but things are cooking and we're the highest scoring offense that doesn't play in New York.

Minor League Report
2B Eddie Curtis (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Now you may be asking, did I go back in time? Is Eddie Curtis a prospect again? Well now, of course not! But there's something interesting about him this week:

When Eddie Curtis was promoted in 1943, he was riding a 26-game hit streak in the Century League as a member of the Milwaukee Blues. He was traded to the Gothams that offseason, but last year Curtis made his way back to the Cougars organization on a minor league deal. He appeared in four games for the Blues, but made just one at bat. It was a single. So his hit streak was pushed to 27. Curtis spent most of this season Mobile, but with injuries to both Otto Christian and Joe Dackett, a filler player was needed. Curtis was hitting .357/.420/.457 (124 OPS+) in 85 plate appearances that came mostly off the bench, and since he'd be easy to send back down, he was called to keep the seat warm. In the 9th inning of an 8-4 game he was called into pitch hit, and since he didn't get a hit this time, the streak was over. It's always unfair when a hit streak ends on a pinch hit appearance, especially considering he singled the next day in his only at bat. With the Walla Walla Walloper back healthy again, Curtis will return to AA. Was the trip worth it? Perhaps not, but the team leader can now tell the story about his hit streak that spanned eight years. That'll get some laughs for sure.

LF Clyde Parker (A Lincoln Legislators): Hal Sharp wasn't the only corner outfielder in the organization to take home Player of the Week, as Clyde Parker was the lucky fellow in the Heartland League. The 81st ranked prospect went 13-for-29 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 6 runs, and 6 RBIs. 22 next month, Parker is now hitting an amazing .393/.469/.679 (201 OPS+) in 15 August games. That doesn't look as impressive next to his .338/.410/.523 (146 OPS+) season line, as you realize Parker has been doing this all season. The former 7th Rounder has a 158 WRC+ with 26 doubles, 17 triples, 4 homers, 54 RBIs, and 46 walks, finally showing glimpses of what I always knew he could do. A lot like Leo Mitchell, Parker has the ability to put the ball in plate despite high strikeout numbers (67, 15.3%), and a lot of those triples will be homers in smaller ballparks. If he keeps hitting like this, he'll spend a long time in the big leagues, and without much value on the bases or in the field, he's going to have to rely on his offensive potential. I didn't initially plan to promote him, but with an injury to Ed Sutton, there's an opening in the Commodores outfield, and Parker deserves to fill it.

C Bill Martin (B San Jose Cougars): If it wasn't for Garland Phelps, Bill Martin would have been hitting with Clyde Parker in Lincoln. Instead, he's winning a Player of the Week in San Jose. The 22-year-old son of Chiefs Legend Bob Martin, "Mr. Semi-Automatic" isn't as automatic as his dad, but he went 11-for-28 with 2 homers and 9 RBIs to up his August line to .354/.483/.583 (176 OPS+). So how does he put up weeks like this? He doesn't strike out. In 422 plate appearances, he has been set down just 15 times, and his 3.6 K% is the best in the organization. He also walks at a hefty 15.9%, so pretty much every at bat of his provides value. In 102 games he owns a splendid .321/.434/.476 (135 OPS+) batting line. He's also hit a career high 8 homers with 20 doubles, 5 triples, 52 runs, and 55 RBIs. The young backstop has done everything we've asked of him so far, and he'll continue to get every day playing time in our system. Unfortunately, that means he moves when Garland Phelps moves, and the brilliant 18-year-old had a near identical 145 WRC+ there last year.

Cougars in the GWL
RHP Del Burns (Portland Green Sox): This dude is really feeling it right now. Despite being on a 53-61 team that is nowhere near the playoffs, Del Burns is flat out showing off, following up a 5-hit strikeout with a 10-inning, 4-hit shutout. These were just his 8th and 9th wins of the season, as despite a 2.45 ERA (131 ERA+) and 1.18 WHIP he's still lost (10) more starts then he's won. The 32-year-old has emerged as one of the top starters in the young league, on pace for a 5 WAR season. He's struck out 94 and walked just 50, and with only two home runs allowed he has a stellar 2.74 FIP (85 FIP-) in 187.2 innings. And while there may not be nearly as much talent in the GWL, it's not a stretch to think that there are a few contenders who would benefit from his services. One would be his former employers, as despite best efforts from Billy Riley (9-3, 2.92, 44), the Eagles have allowed the 3rd most runs in the Federal Association. No other rotation member has an ERA below 4, with another former Cougar Dan Everett (4-6, 5.47, 20) most happy Burns can't take his spot now. That's not to say Del would even want to leave Portland, as he's got the chance to be the dominant pitcher he showed signs of when selected 3rd overall in 1934.

ayaghmour2 · 09-19-2023, 01:08 AM

Weekly Record: 4-1
Seasonal Record: 65-53 (3rd, 4 GB)
Stars of the Week
Skipper Schneider : 20 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .400 AVG, .979 OPS
Clark Car : 18 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .389 AVG, 1.061 OPS
Red Bond : 14 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .429 AVG, 1.143 OPS

Schedule
8-17: Win at Stars (9-8)
8-18: Los at Stars (4-10)
8-20: Win vs Kings (12-13)
8-21: Win vs Kings (3-4)
8-22: Win vs Kings (0-1): 10 innings

Recap
I have some bad news, but for once, it's not about the on field performance! Our all-knowing commissioner is going on vacation, so instead of waiting until tomorrow (which is already hard enough) for our next sim, we will be off until next Tuesday. That means a full seven days without Cougar baseball, which for me, will feel like a millennium. Luckily the on-field performance was pretty solid, as we won not one, not two, and not even three one-run games, but four (!!) consecutive one-run games. This comes right after losing three against the same teams from this week, and we're now a far more respectable 18-21 in those pesky one-run outings and only a -3 on our expected record. We were outscored this week by two runs, but we won all but one of our five games and we are now within four games of the first place starts. It still feels like an insurmountable climb, and with four games against the Stars in our last seven, we have a chance to control our own destiny.

Although I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing yet...

Can you really trust these Cougars?

I know I can't!!!

One guy I know I can always trust is Duke Bybee, as he continues to find ways to win games. The 26-year-old southpaw survived no run support through nine innings, tossing a 10-inning, 4-hit shutout with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts in our tight 1-0 win over the Kings. Bybee improved to an impressive 16-6 on the season and lowered his ERA and WHIP to 2.49 ERA (157 ERA+) and 1.13. Unless Rufus Barrell (17-6, 1.82, 96) forgets how to dominant, Bybee isn't winning anything this year, but the talented sophomore ranks top five in the association in ERA (3rd), wins (2nd), shutouts (t-1st, 4), WHIP (3rd), ERA+ (3rd), rWAR (2nd, 7.1), opponent average (3rd, .225), win percentage (3rd, .727), and quality starts (2nd, 20). I still don't love the 3.75 FIP (95 FIP-) and the 1.2 K/BB, but his actual performance has been stellar and the team is an impressive 17-7 in games he starts, which is easily the best on the staff as the other four starters have nine or ten losses themselves.

We got a little injury scare in our 9-8 win over the Stars, as George Oddo left after just two innings with back stiffness. Thankfully he's fine, and will be able to make his next start, and as much as I love his hustle, I'd prefer he not slide head first into second base, even if it drove in a run during our massive 7-run third. Max Wilder made the worst substitution choice, letting pitcher Charlie Kelsey pinch-run just to not let him pitch. Ken Matson came in after, and he was not very good, allowing 5 hits, 5 runs, and a walk in 2.1 innings pitched. He still got the win, but Jim Kenny was far more effective, with just 3 hits, an unearned run, and a strikeout in 3 solid relief innings. Eddie Howard then picked up his first big league save, allowing just a single hit in 1.2 scoreless frames. We're lucky this didn't go into extras, as blowing a 9-2 lead against the Stars would have been detrimental to our playoff hopes, and we were down a reliever with Kelsey's surprising pinch-running appearance, and I have zero faith in Harry Parker throwing meaningful innings.

The lone loss of the week was charged to Johnnie Jones, but both of the Jones brothers pitched really poorly. Depending on how you look at it, Johnnie was slightly better, as he allowed 8 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), and 7 walks with 3 strikeouts in 5.2 innings. In an inning less, Donnie was tagged for 9 hits and 7 runs, but with a walk and four strikeouts you could make the case that he had the better outing. Of course, both were terrible, but we won Donnie's start despite both relievers allowing runs. Charlie Kelsey went 3.1 innings, but was tagged for 8 hits, 4 runs, and 4 walk without getting a strikeout. Ken Matson got the win, but only after blowing the save, allowing 2 hits, a run, and a walk with a strikeout in an inning of work. His scoreless streak was already over in the previously mentioned game when Oddo got hurt, but after allowing zero runs in 15.1 innings, he allowed 6 runs in just 3.1 innings this week, inflating his ERA and WHIP to 3.49 (112 ERA+) and 1.39. Those are still very respectable, but not quite the dominant numbers you want from your stopper. Our last start went to Peter the Heater, who picked up a complete game win with 7 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. His 14 wins trail just Rufus and Duke, he's on pace for 18 victories, which would be twice as many as last year.

Believe it or not, the offense continues to be good, even if it was more of a team effort then anything. Red Bond led the way, 6-for-14 with a homer, 4 RBIs, 3 runs, and get this -- a steal! It's his first as a Cougar, ninth in 1,323 FABL games, and just his second steal in since 1941! Sure, he missed three seasons with the war (1943-1945), but steals from the renowned slugger? That's a collector's item! Clark Car swiped two bags, and that's not unexpected at all, but a 7-for-18 with 2 doubles, a triple, 4 runs, and 4 RBIs is a welcomed surprise. Same goes for Skipper's 8-for-20 with 3 doubles, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs. It's been an up-and-down season for the 27-year-old, who's on pace for his lowest WAR (4.5) since he was a teenager (2.3 in 1940), while still elite, a 16.5 zone rating (1.111 eff) isn't too exciting. I don't think anything is wrong with his glove, him and Gordie Perkins (18.6, 1.116) are the only two shortstops with an efficiency above 1.100, and is likely more telling of how many excellent defenders there are at the position now. The days of 7.5+ WAR seasons may be over, but that won't stop Skipper from being one of the top players in the game. Sal Pestilli is another, and he slugged 2 homers and 2 triples, showing that even 4-for-21 can be useful when it comes with extra base hits, 3 RBIs, 5 runs, and 3 walks. Sal has a similar 13.8 zone rating (1.030 eff) in center, and despite a middling .257 average has a .509 slugging and 129 WRC+. He's 0.2 WAR away from sixth 5 WAR season, and just his second since 1941. It took some time for him to enjoy himself in Chicago, but he's been loving himself lately, and has posted a 125 WRC+ or higher in each of the last four months. If he wants to play baseball on his birthday (October 5th), we're going to need some magic from him, but it is so nice to see legitimate offensive production from a lineup that didn't get going until the weather started getting nicer.

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week, before we begin a road trip that takes us into September. The start is two with the Sailors, who are off as well and 2.5 games behind the Stars at 67-52. Marion Boismenu (.352, 24, 6) is healthy and back in the lineup, and Ed Reyes (.343, 5, 57) may be hoping he fails to reach the qualifying number of PAs this season. Reyes has an 18 point lead over Hal Wood (.325, 3, 53) in the batting race, but if qualified Boismenu would be the CA's leader. Harvey Brown (.287, 2, 40, 25) is healthy again too, so now all eight members of the Sailors lineup have a WRC+ above 90. Solly Skidmore (.270, 2, 32) is almost back to average at 99 while Les Cunha (.270, 5, 62) isn't too far back at 94. The Sailors score plenty of runs and do a solid job preventing them, so it's no surprise they are in the thick of things again. Their entire rotation has an ERA+ above 100, although I'm not sold on John Henry Johnson (8-6, 3.90, 46) or Art Hull (11-8, 1, 3.61, 76). I don't expect to see either, with the likeliest matchup Al Duster (9-9, 3.44, 66) in game one and ace Win Lewis (10-8, 2.83, 81) in game two. These will be two hard fought games, and I'm really hoping we still have a little one-run magic left when we return next week.

Our next three games come against our favorite foe, the Cleveland Foresters, who at 45-74 have helped inflate the Continental Association's records all season long. It's our last trip to Cleveland, where we'll face a team that has lost 14 of their last 20 in a brutal month of August. The offense stopped scoring, as they're now tied with the Saints for the fewest (477) runs scored in the association. Some of the youngsters have started to cool off, but first basemen Chuck McHenry (.292, 5, 24) boasts a 122 WRC+ in 58 games and the "veterans" Ivey Henley (.316, 9, 57) and Jim Adams Jr. (.281, 3, 29, 10) are always tough outs. One guy definitely keeping an eye on though is the exciting Sherry Doyal (.265, 3, 10), who has drawn comparisons to our own Sal Pestilli, as Doyal is quick, racks up extra base hits (10 XBH in 108 PAs), and plays a strong center field. Sherry has shown signs of plate discipline in the past, and while he's striking out (40, 15.9%) a lot more then he's walking (6, 5.6%), both OSA and Dixie Marsh are excited for his eventual eye. He has a very high ceiling and could be a star, so we're lucky he's far from a finished product now.

If you care a bout bullpen ERA (2.79) the Foresters are the best, but the rotation has contributed to allowing the most runs (600) of any Continental Association staff. Even with a rough week, we've allowed 158 fewer runs (442) in one fewer game. If all goes to plan, Pete Papenfus (14-9, 3.23, 106), Duke Bybee (16-6, 2.49, 74), and Johnnie Jones (9-103, 3.30, 85) will have no problem with whoever they face. Their best has been Ducky Davis (4-11, 3.61, 52), who seems likely to start the opener. Ollie White (5-9, 3.63, 90) is probably the most talented arm on the team, as despite his occasional control lapses he's been almost unhittable as a reliever (2-1, 7, 1.36, 29). The same goes for Walt Hill (1-3, 6, 1.53, 33), which makes me nervous in a close game. We're going to need to score early and often to win these games, as even with the recent luck I do not trust us in close games.

The week ends with one in Toronto, who enters the week tied for fifth with an identical record (58-62) as the recently swept Brooklyn Kings. 2-Time Whitney Winner Fred McCormick is having about as good of an August as you can, slashing .370/.477/.753 (213 OPS+) in 88 trips to the plate. McCormick has walked (15) much more frequently then he struck out (6), and he's tallied 9 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, 13 runs, and 15 RBIs. That's reminiscent of the dominant star before the war, where he led his association in WRC+ four times from 1935 to 1939. His .297/.406/.516 (137 OPS+) season line is remarkable for a 38-year-old, and his 15.3 walk rate is actually better then his career norm (13.9). The Reticent Reaper has added 28 doubles, 8 triples, 15 homers, 71 runs, 74 walks, and 66 RBIs in 115 games and is still one of the most dangerous hitters in the game. We'll definitely have to worry about him, as he's still the type of player who can takeover the game. I'm hoping his former teammate Walt Pack (.286, 17, 50) can counter him in a return to his old stadium. Pack hasn't homer in any of our trips north so I'm hoping he can show out in front of the fanbase that watched him for eight years.

I originally thought this would be the last post for a while, but then I realized I totally forgot to continue a series I was planning on doing. I love reviewing draft classes twenty years after the fact, and that's exactly what I started in 1945 with "A Look Back at the 1925 FABL Draft" last year during the 1945 draft. I was supposed to do these each year, but it totally slipped my mind. Now with a little break, I can get started on the 1926 class, which was one of the weakest drafts I can remember. I'm not sure how long this will take, so I might not get to '27 and '28, but the '26 one will definitely come out some time this week. If I remember in the future, the best time for these may be the offseason, so I may save the '28 one for a later lull before the draft. There may be a post tomorrow, or maybe not. but I for one can't wait for this regular season to end, as I'll spend the next week imagining all the creative ways we can come up short.

Should be fun!

Speaking of drafts, the signing deadline was today, and nine players announced their official institution for the 1949 season. Here are where are former draftees will be and when they will be draft eligible again:

2B Bob Benton (12th Round): North Carolina Tech (2051)
RHP Ed Watson (15th Round): Wapasha College (2051)
SS Warren Ross (16th Round): Central Ohio (2051)
RHP Marty Davis (17th Round): College of Waco (2051)
C Ralph Greenlee (18th Round): Mississippi Tech (2051)
SS Dick Senatore (21st Round): Johnstown State (2051)
RHP George Hutchison (22nd Round): Bayou State College (1949)
RHP Joe Van Valkenburg (24th Round): Cowpens State (1949)

Minor League Report
RHP Zane Kelley (AAA Milwaukee Blues): If I could predict the Century League Pitcher of the Month, I'd go for Milwaukee right hander Zane Kelley. His first start came in a 2-1 nailbiter out in Milwaukee against the Tornadoes, where Kelley went 8 and allowed just 7 hits, a run, and 3 walks with just 2 strikeouts. As fate would have it, he again drew the Tornadoes, but this time out in Toledo. The former 7th Rounder's encore impressed, as he twirled a 5-hit shutout with 4 walks and 2 strikeouts. Now in the most recent week, Kelley was back and home, and with 8 runs of support tossed a 9-hit shutout with 5 strikeouts and just 2 walks. The 22-year-old improved to 12-4, winning each of his last six starts. A four-pitch groundballer, Kelley has an excellent 3.75 ERA (122 ERA+) and 1.42 WHIP with 50 strikeouts in his first 19 starts in AAA. Ranked as our 21st best prospect and the 182nd in FABL, he get excellent movement on all his pitches, with the feature a gnarly changeup. He compliments it by pounding the zone with his fastball, getting chases with his cutter, and grounders with the sinker. He won't allow many homers, and his 0.6 HR/9 is actually his highest at any level. As someone who is eligible for the Rule-5 draft, he could get a late audition on the big league roster, but with the Blues (64-49) deep in a pennant race with Kansas City (64-49) and Minneapolis (63-50), he'll stick around in AAA and continue to lead the rotation. If he could every add some speed, he could be special, as he's super effective in the mid-80s. Just imagine if he was comfortably in the 90s like Pap, Bybee, or one of the Jones Brothers! That would be scary!

RHP Jackie Reynolds (C La Crosse Lions): Lions skipper Art Garey hasn't wanted to use Jackie Reynolds all season. But with a needed promotion, we had room in the rotation, and I thought the former 12th Rounder was deserving of a start. He did not disappoint. The 19-year-old allowed just 5 hits and a walk with 2 strikeouts in his fourth professional start. Reynolds threw 20 innings last season for the Lions, allowing 20 hits, 8 runs, and 9 walks with 16 strikeouts. A three pitch pitcher, this performance makes it highly like Reynold finishes the year in the rotation, giving him three weeks to make a case for permanent innings. As a finesse pitcher he'll have to master his command, as he's susceptible to long periods where he can't hit the zone. That will always get in the way of him making the big leagues as he doesn't project to be able to overpower hitters. He has a nice curve and the overall stuff is good, but he lacks a true third pitch. He has the stamina to start, but I'm not sure if he'll ever have success in the rotation without serious improvement.

Cougars in the GWL
RHP Del Burns (Portland Green Sox): And there goes the hat trick! GWL Pitcher of August Del Burns threw his third consecutive shutout, a 6-hit shutout to even his record at 10-10. The Green Sox ace now has a miniscule 1.06 ERA (303) and 0.91 WHIP with 15 strikeouts and just 9 walks in 34 innings. That makes 29 consecutive scoreless innings for Burns, who's ERA has been shrunk to 2.33 (137 ERA+) in 196.2 innings pitched. He's got a two start week ahead of him, so chance are he won't finish the week perfect, but you can bet that if he adds even one more shutout you'll hear all about it. He's been a nice and affordable pickup for a Portland team that is still a few pieces away from making a run at a postseason berth.

RHP Luis Sandoval (Houston Bulls): He also did it again! Mr. Shutout tossed another! It was another excellent tart from Luis Sandoval, who spun a 7-hit shutout with 4 strikeouts and zero walks, giving him his fifth win in six decisions. It's a nice change of pace for Sandoval, who started the season 4-10 before going on this impressive streak. This has helped the Bulls move up in the standings, now 64-56 -- good for second place and a ticket to the Bigsby Cup. The season is far from over, but they have a two game lead over San Francisco (62-58), the third and final team above .500. Sandoval now has a 2.78 ERA (114 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, and 98 strikeouts in 207 innings pitched. While more then solid, the Bulls have revamped their rotation, so he is now the highest of four pitchers with an ERA below 3. Bill McGraw (8-7, 2.55, 96) has been with the team all season, but they added former Eagle Tommy Shafer (4-3, 2.44, 44) and former Dynamo Jim Bob Jones (4-3, 2.51, 54) on minor league deals in July. Neither of these two pitches in an FABL game, but both threw innings for their respective Fed teams last season. Sandoval is probably the most talented of the bunch, and new additions Art Cascone (.281, 8, 49) and Wally Flowers (.298, 4, 20) have helped lengthen the lineup. They've turned from middle-of-the-pack to title contenders very quickly, and they're well positioned to make a run.

ayaghmour2 · 09-19-2023, 10:59 PM

Well guess what? I didn't forget to do he 1926 class. That was done here! And here! Not sure how I forgot post 1,000, but I did actually forget to do 1927, so here's the first of either two or three parts!

1st Round, 3rd Overall: CF Harry Humphrey
School: Whitney College Engineers
Career (AA): .298/.345/.378, 384 G, 1,607 PA, 47 2B, 33 3B, 2 HR, 152 RBI, 50 SB, 98 WRC+, 5.8 WAR

One of the biggest misses in Cougar history, I used pick #3 on Harry Humphrey, as I couldn't resist the center fielder from Whitney College. He had an excellent college career, as after an average freshman year (102 WRC+) he hit .414/.494/.600 (196 OPS+) as a sophomore and .413/.490/.630 (189 OPS+) as a junior with matching 188 WRC+. A strong defender with speed, Humphrey was the exact type of player I desired, but he never quite developed as planned. He quickly moved to A ball, getting one PA in San Jose first, and after hitting .308/.344/.454 (114 OPS+) in 109 games for the Legislators, he finished his season with 21 games in Mobile. That's where he spent most of his Cougar career, as he never got past AA and his minor league career stalled out.

In the 1932 offseason, Humphrey departed the organization in the old Independent Draft, as we swapped him to the Houston Bulls for Jose Serna. He didn't last long with the now GWL team, and was cut before the season started. He caught on with the Amarillo Stars, playing in parts of three seasons before they cut him. I brought him back to Chicago at 29, and he spent parts of the next three seasons appearing in 44 games for Lincoln (10) and Mobile (34) before calling it quits after the 1937 season. Obviously things didn't go as planned for the Florida native, but most of the top players from the 1927 draft did not amount to much. 1st Overall Pick Cliff Moss (51.1) was the only first rounder hitter worth more then 25 WAR, while Bill Anderson, taken 13th in the round, was the only first round pitcher worth more then 7 WAR (27.40). Yes, Frank Lightbody (4th, 29), Andy Carter (10th, 32), and Jim Watson (12th, 30.5) all had solid careers, but the best players came later. While not highly touted at the time, this class produced starts like Moss, Frank McCormick (6-11, 78.1), Hank Barnett (6-1, 72.3), Ed Wood (2-9, 61.1), Leon Drake (14-12, 58.9), Ron Rattigan (14-5, 57.4), Mahlon Strong (8-6, 43), Milt Fritz (12-12, 46.2), Mike Taylor (8-15, 45.9), and someone you'll see later, Dean Astle (9-3, 64.9).

2nd Round, 19th Overall: RHP Bobby Love
School: New Orleans HS Cavaliers
Career (AA): 32-37, 79 G, 570.2 IP, 5.38 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 377 BB, 168 K, 83 ERA+, 0.2 WAR
Career (A): 23-16, SV, 61 G, 408 IP, 3.22 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 178 BB, 331 K, 123 ERA+, 6.7 WAR

More of a project pick, Bobby Love had a remarkable high school career where he went 14-5 with a 2.39 ERA (191 ERA+), 1.09 WHIP, 60 walks, and 260 strikeouts in 222.1 innings pitched. That was more then enough to entice me for a selection, and while it didn't end up panning out, the 6'5'' righty was worth the risk. He sat in the low 90 with his sinker, one of his five pitches he never truly mastered. His command wasn't initially a problem, consistently posting K/BBs above 2 and even over 3 in the minor through the 1932 season, but things fell apart once he turned 24. He never again struck out more batters then he walked, totaling 487 walks to just 212 strikeouts. In the end, 89 walks and 38 strikeouts in 137 innings with a 5.39 ERA (82 ERA+) in AAA at 27 isn't anything to write home about, and after just 3 appearances with Mobile the following year he decided to hang up the cleats. Back then the Cougars weren't as adept at developing pitchers as we are now, and Love was one of many young pitchers who never quite found their footing in the system.

3rd Round, 35th Overall: RHP Ed Stevens
School: Travis College Bucks
Career (AAA): 43-26, SV, 93 G, 601 IP, 3.50 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 156 BB, 368 K, 127 ERA+, 11.4 WAR
Career (AA): 41-28, 4 SV, 118 G, 706.2 IP, 3.55 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 165 BB, 209 K, 125 ERA+, 10.8 WAR

Another failed pick, Ed Stevens was a three-year standout at Travis College, with hi best season coming as a junior. Stevens went 10-5 with a pair of saves, working to a 2.71 ERA (189 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP in 126.1 innings pitched. He walked 31 and struck out a whopping 120 hitters, equating to an impressive 22.9 K% and 3.9 K/BB. Unlike Love, he actually had a lot of success in the minors, so perhaps the 3rd Rounder deserved a shot at the major leagues. From his pro debut in 1928 through the 1932 season, Stevens had an above average ERA+ and FIP- at every stop, with the most impressive a six start stint in Lincoln as a 23-year-old where he went 4-2 with a 2.64 ERA (168 ERA+) and 2.97 FIP (66 FIP-), his best combination of the two metrics. Most of his work came in the upper minors, as from 1930 and to 1936 all his time came at either AA or AAA. Stevens left our organization before Opening Day on 1934, as he was waived to either make room on the 40 or 24. I'm not sure why that decision was made, but the Kings picked him up, and stashed him in the minors. He spent parts of the next four seasons in their organization, before his eventual release in June of 1937. At season's end, Stevens called it quits, and despite not having any FABL success, he was a very productive minor leaguer who probably deserved a chance to pitch his way onto a big league staff.

4th Round, 51st Overall: RF Howard Moss
School: Garden State Redbirds
1935 (DET): .294/.382/.555, 60 G, 249 PA, 8 2B, 7 3B, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 139 WRC+, 1.0 WAR
Career (FABL): .268/.371/.469, 132 G, 535 PA, 17 2B, 11 3B, 17 HR, 85 RBI, 118 WRC+, 1.3 WAR
Career (AAA): .298/.422/.498, 451 G, 1,885 PA, 61 2B, 48 3B, 49 HR, 318 RBI, 18 SB, 151 WRC+, 14.4 WAR

Hey, look at that! An actual big leaguer! They do exist! It was a long road to the big leagues for Howard Moss, who despite always tearing the cover off the ball, never really got a shot with us. He didn't have much of a glove, and spent a lot of time in a part-time role, and it took until he was 26 for him to reach AAA. Once he did, he made a huge impact, as he posted WRC+ of 139, 160, 187, and 194 in four seasons for the Blues. The first two came in 100+ games, the second two in just under 250 PAs total, but the start to his 1935 season was one to remember. He hit .430/.511/.701 (201 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 2 triples, 6 homers, 35 RBIs, and 18 walks in 36 games. This was enough to get him attention from elsewhere in the league, and the Dynamos sent us young third basemen Harry Peterson in a trade filled day that saw a bunch of Cougars find new homes.

Moss spent the rest of his season in Detroit, and it was about as good as his time in the minors. The 29-year-old outfielder hit an impressive .294/.382/.555 (143 OPS+) in a PA shy of 250 with 8 doubles, 7 triples, 11 homers, 52 RBIs, 33 walks, and 15 strikeouts. He was not very good in right (-3.9, .956), and even appeared for two innings at short, but it looked like the bat-first Moss finally found a home. Turns out, that wasn't the case, as Moss split 1936 between AAA and the majors. The AAA time was elite, as he hit .298/.426/.551 (152 OPS+) in 52 games with 6 doubles, 12 triples, 5 homers, 42 RBIs, 40 walks, and just 12 strikeouts. His time with the Dynamos wasn't quite the same, as in 72 FABL games he hit a just below average .245/.361/.392 (97 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 4 triples, 6 homers, 33 RBIs, 44 walks, and 24 strikeouts. Now 30, the future value wasn't too high, and despite his nice mix of extra base ability and plate discipline, he was cut early in the 1937 season. He did catch on with the Chiefs, and hit .221/.374/.332 (122 OPS+) in AAA Ft. Worth, walking 78 times to just 33 strikeouts with 11 doubles, 3 triples, 7 homers, and 61 RBIs. He did survive the offseason, but after just 5 games with the Warriors the next season, the Chiefs cut him 364 days after the Dynamos.

That didn't cause him to retire, as he toiled around free agency the rest of the year, all of 1939, and all of 1940 before finally hanging up the cleats that offseason. While not the most storied career, Moss certainly was a talented hitter, and like so many others from this class, probably deserved a more serious look. In hindsight, it looks like I didn't do a great job moving players up the system like I think I do now, and Moss is one of those guys lost in the shuffle. Granted, a lot of these guys don't have the upside of say a Jerry Smith, Bob Allen, or Johnny Peters, but even guys like Bob Schmelz, Zane Kelley, and Harley Dollar had far more upside then Moss ever had. He's more of a Bill Payne type, good bat but not much else, and I'm sure if I knew what I did now he would have gotten a bit more time on the fringes of the big league club.

5th Round, 67th Overall: RHP Art Black
School: Cincinnati HS Tigers
Career (FABL): 4-5, 18 G, 77.2 IP, 6.03 ERA, 2.05 WHIP, 69 BB, 24 K, 71 ERA+, -0.7 WAR
Career (AAA): 91-57, 69 SV, 1,296.2 IP, 3.68 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 694 BB, 510 K, 118 ERA+, 12.5 WAR

When I selected Art Black in the 5th Round, I thought I was selecting Art Blake, who the Kings selected in the 2nd Round and ended up making 121 FABL appearances (21), mostly with the Wolves. Despite the mix-up, "Burger" Black was a pretty interesting prospect, and after spending a season in the pen, he became a full-time starter during the 1929 season. By 1933 he was in AAA, and the following season he earned a promotion to the big league club. That came after 27 excellent starts with the Blues, going 12-5 with a 3.65 ERA (125 ERA+), 1.38 WHIP, and 39 strikeouts. The issue for Black, which eventually held him back, was the command, as he allowed 75 free passes in 150.1 innings pitched. As you might expect, hi time in Chicago didn't go great, as he was 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA (75 ERA+) and 2.17 WHIP in 19.1 innings pitched, walking 15 to just 6 strikeouts in his three starts.

With the subpar performance, Black started 1935 in Milwaukee, where he made 18 starts and finished 6-4 with a 4.78 ERA (111 ERA+) and 1.74 WHIP. He still walked (54) more guys then he struck out (49), but it was far more acceptable with such a slight difference. This earned him a rotation spot on a very poor pitching staff, and he started 7 of his 8 appearances with the big league club. Again, he didn't do great, going 2-4 with a pitiful 6.07 ERA (72 ERA+) and 2.02 WHIP and pathetic 44-to-17 walk-to-strikeout ratio. As you might expect, he was banished to Milwaukee, not returning to Chicago again. He spent the next two seasons in the Blues rotation, before eventually being moved down to the pen for the next two seasons. He still got his innings, 127 in '38 and 114.2 in '39, and he went an impressive 23-5 with 28 saves as the stopper. This caught the eye of the Cannons, who were set for their first season in Cincinnati, and they made him a Rule-5 selection. He made the Opening Day roster, but lasted just 12.1 innings, allowing 14 hits, 9 runs, and 10 walks with just one strikeout. He was then sent back to us, where he made 18 relief outings before being given his release papers a second time. He did catch on with the Eagles, finishing off the season there, and eventually bounced between the Kings and Houston Bulls organization before retiring after the 1946 season. It wasn't the prettiest career, but over 2,000 professional innings is more then most accomplish, and he'll be able to tell his kids and grandkids about the 77.2 innings he pitched against FABL hitters.

6th Round, 83rd Overall: RHP George DeForest
School: San Antonio HS Warriors
1934 (BRK): 3-6, 87.1 IP, 4.43 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 44 BB, 36 K, 95 ERA+, 0.7 WAR
1944 (DET/CIN): 1-1, 3 SV, 46.1 IP, 1.75 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 25 BB, 15 K, 196 ERA+, -0.1 WAR
1945 (CIN): 3-1, SV, 39.2 IP, 2.50 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 14 BB, 11 K, 148 ERA+, 0.3 WAR
Career (CIN): 3-2, 2 SV, 55.1 IP, 2.44 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 22 BB, 16 K, 150 ERA+, 0.2 WAR
Career (FABL): 16-12, 6 SV, 330.1 IP, 4.09 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 163 BB, 115 K, 98 ERA+, 0.7 WAR

Unlike the rest of these losers, George DeForest was a legitimate big league prospect. Not right away, but it took just one season for scouts to notice him, and he was named the 53rd best prospect on the 1929 Opening Day list. This came after a pretty solid season in San Jose where a 19-year-old DeForest went 16-9 with a 4.31 ERA (114 ERA+), 1.30 WHIP, and 160 strikeouts. He had a strong 4.06 FIP (82 FIP-), A 4.8 WAR, and 92 walks in 208.2 innings pitched. One of the first posts ever on this thread, as since I started around 1929 Opening Day, it was the first and only (as far as I know) time I covered top prospects in the spring instead of right when the season ended. DeForest was our 5th ranked prospect at the time, and was part of a top 20 where each member ended up playing in the majors. Most are role players like DeForest was, but this group included the headliner of the Tom Taylor deal Mack Deal, longtime Forester hurlers Ben Turner and Dean Astle, the guy I wanted to manage the 1948 Cougars Fred Barrell, and the Cougars All-Time batting leader Vince York (.347 in 2,121 PAs).

I was very fond of the then 20-year-old, declaring he "could be a #2 if not #3 in any rotation in baseball." While that may seem shocking now, that might have been an undersell, as DeForest had a really nice arsenal and could really rack up the strikeouts. He threw five pitches with a fastball that comfortably remained in the 90s, and he was one of the more exciting young pitchers in the league. The issue was always the control, which is eventually what prevented him from being a top or even middle rotation starter. He took his time climbing up the system, but he posted above average ERA+ with multiple stints where he struck out more then 20% of the players he faced. He eventually cracked the top 50 and even threw a no-hitter against the Fresno Falcons with 9 strikeouts and just 2 walks.

Despite the no-hitter, DeForest may be best known for his inclusion in the blockbuster that sent Barrell Brothers Tom and Fred to the Kings, as DeForest and Mike Murphy were included to get Tommy Wilcox and Mike Taylor. You could argue this trade cursed the Cougars, as we were coming off a championship and were trying to catch a John Lawson led Stars offense that was just as good as the one we're chasing this year. I pulled the trigger on what should have been the best pitcher of the 1930s, as the 25-year-old knuckler was coming off a 22 win, 320 inning season and sported a 3.19 ERA (131 ERA+) and 1.35 WHIP with 53 strikeouts and 29 walks through 20 starts. I could go on about how he then completely fell apart (6-6, 6.70, 28) in Chicago and we fell two short of the eventual champs. Since then we have yet to win another title while Tom and Fred won a title and three pennants in Brooklyn.

DeForest was eventually part of a title team, but it didn't come with the Fred and Tom in Brooklyn. He did debut for the Kings in 1934, which ended up being the only season he functioned primarily in the rotation. The 25-year-old held his own, going 3-6 with a 4.43 ERA (95 ERA+), but he walked (44) more hitters then he struck out (36), which led to an inflated 1.58 WHIP. The young righty then spend the following season in AAA, and since the Kings had plenty of quality pitching (Barrell, Murphy, Joe Shaffner, Ken Carpenter, and a young Art White) and they sent him to the Pioneers in a minor deal. They wanted to take advantage of his velocity and tried him out in the pen, but the now 27-year-old didn't find too much success. He did strike out (26) one more batter then he walked (25), but he allowed 50 hits and 27 earned runs (4.24 ERA, 1.72 WHIP) in 43.2 innings pitched. That was the most time he got in any of his three seasons out in St. Louis, as he again made appearances out of the pen during the '37 and '39 seasons. He spent '38 and '40 in the minors, and the Pioneers cut bait with him after the '40 season.

The next step of DeForest's career was a return to Chicago, as I inked him to a minor league deal and gave him innings for the Commodores (23) and Blues (3.2). We cut him twice during 1941, and a month into the 1942 season the Dynamos brought him on a minor league deal. He split time between the rotation and pen in AAA Newark, and eventually took advantage of a roster thinned by the war, and made a return to the big leagues in the 1943 season. It did not go well, as in 8 starts and 9 relief outings he had a 4.52 ERA (78 ERA+) and 1.60 WHIP with 33 walks and just 17 strikeouts. Still, with more players enlisting innings needed to be covered, and DeForest was used as a full time reliever. He was impressive in his 14 relief outings (1 start), working to a 1.47 ERA (233 ERA+) and 1.57 WHIP in 30.2 innings pitched. This caught the eye of the defending champs, and the Cannons sent Henry Jones and a 9th Rounder to Detroit to add DeForest to their pen. He pitched 15.2 innings down the stretch, and his 2.30 ERA (155 ERA+) looked much better then his 1.72 WHIP and 8 walks. He was included on the postseason roster, so even though he didn't pitch, DeForest was awarded a championship ring.

He spent the next season in the Cannons pen and might have put together his best season as a reliever. The 36-year-old veteran was 3-1 with a strong 2.50 ERA (148 ERA+) and 1.21 WHIP, despite still walking (14) more guys then he struck out (11). It was his last season in the majors, as he was eventually DFA'd and assigned to AAA Indianapolis. He spent 1946 in the pen and started 1947 in the rotation, but was cut in late June after 11 starts. That was the last time DeForest threw a baseball in affiliated ball, as he ended up hanging up the spikes that offseason. He ended up pitching in parts of seven big league seasons, finishing with a 4.09 ERA (98 ERA+), 1.59 WHIP, and 115 strikeouts in 330.1 innings pitched. He was one of the many players aided by the war, but he took full advantage, and got to do what most players never do: win a championship. Not many of our guys can say that!

7th Round, 99th Overall: LF Stan Mills
School: Swoyersville HS Kings
Career (A): .292/.322/.466, 122 G, 529 PA, 30 2B, 19 3B, 5 HR, 79 RBI, 5 SB, 86 WRC+, 0.7 WAR

If you're asking yourself "who," you aren't alone, as I have absolutely no idea who Stan Mills is. My best guess is he was an auto pick, as a left fielder with a 136 WRC+ in high school doesn't seem like my kind of pick. Perhaps my scout at the time loved him, but since it predates the dynasty I don't really have much of an explanation. Mills' career was short and sweet, starting with one at bat in San Jose in 1928. He was released the May after the draft, and spent the rest of the season as a free agent. He got one year with the independent Pueblo Mountaineers of the Western Baseball League, which at the time was a Single-A affiliate of FABL. He was their everyday left fielder, batting .292/.322/.466 (95 OPS+) with 30 doubles, 19 triples, 5 homers, 5 steals, and 79 RBIs. That was Pueblo's inaugural season, and since they finished just 46-77, they quickly rebuilt the roster to compete. Mills was one of the first casualties, as the Mountaineers went on to win 82 games in 1930 and 88 in 1931 before eventually winning their first WBL championship. Mills on the other hand retired right after being cut, and returned to his hometown San Antonio and enrolling at nearby Travis College to get his degree and start the next chapter of his life.

8th Round, 115th Overall: CF Pete Slater
School: Dickson Maroons
Career (A): .246/.349/.380, 180 G, 414 PA, 21 2B, 4 3B, 6 HR, 55 RBI, 13 SB, 106 WRC+, 1.5 WAR
Career (B): .290/.374/.430, 178 G, 485 PA, 19 2B, 8 3B, 8 HR, 52 RBI, 28 SB, 106 WRC+, 2.3 WAR

At one point Pete Slater was a relatively interesting prospect of ours, as he was quick and played an excellent center field. A very intelligent outfielder, Slater attended Dickson, which is this universe's Harvard, for three seasons and got plenty of time as an everyday player in the early days of his career. What prevented him from advancing was injuries, as the youngster couldn't stay on the field. This eventually relegated him to a bench role, pinch running and playing the outfield late in games. He did reach AA as a 26-year-old, and went 1-for-6 with a double and two walks in eight appearances. He survived that offseason, but was cut before Opening Day 1934. Independent teams liked him for organization depth, as he spent time with nine organizations, even appearing in games for three of them. This all happened in a three year period, and Slater eventually hung up the cleats after the 1936 season.

ayaghmour2 · 09-20-2023, 09:11 PM

9th Round, 131st Overall: LHP Dean Astle
School: Berkeley Bears
1934 (CLE): 17-7, 281.2 IP, 3.07 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 76 BB, 110 K, 137 ERA+, 6.5 WAR
1936 (CLE): 21-15, 2 SV, 283.1 IP, 3.59 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 73 BB, 90 K, 127 ERA+, 6.4 WAR
1938 (CLE): 17-15, 2 SV, 300.1 IP, 3.21 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 88 BB, 105 K, 124 ERA+, 6.1 WAR
1942 (BOS): 16-8, 235.1 IP, 2.60 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 47 BB, 85 K, 137 ERA+, 5.5 WAR
1946 (BOS): 11-6, 149.1 IP, 1.57 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 44 BB, 41 K, 213 ERA+, 3.5 WAR
Career (BOS): 60-38, 921.1 IP, 2.65 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 230 BB, 292 K, 133 ERA+, 20.0 WAR
Career (CLE): 127-107, 6 SV, 2,216.2 IP, 3.64 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 597 BB, 703 K, 114 ERA+, 44.9 WAR
Career (FABL): 187-145, 6 SV, 3,048 IP, 3.34 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 827 BB, 995 K, 119 ERA+, 64.9 WAR

If it wasn't for a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament last Spring, Dean Astle would still be pitching, as the now 38-year-old southpaw was coming off one of the best seasons of his career. He did miss some time with injury, but the Minutemen co-ace was 11-6 with an elite 1.57 ERA (213 ERA+), and 1.05 WHIP, and if he stayed healthy he would have been in the Allen race where Lloyd Stevens (19-12, 2.25, 125) was eventually named the winner. He was still at the top of his game, but as they had so often in the past, injuries took their toll. He had seven injuries in their the three years prior, and with a full season of recovery he decided this was a good time to call it quits. He's not the last remaining player left, but it's safe to say that even with the early exit, the 6-Time All Star was the best pitcher of his class.

The journey began way back to the 1927 draft, where each team passed on him plenty before we got lucky with Astle in the 9th Round. It didn't look like that at first, as the then 18-year-old had an awful debut season, going 7-13 with a 7.14 ERA (69 ERA+) and 1.89 WHIP with 91 walks and just 22 strikeouts. That came in the lowest level of the system, but back then that was San Jose, not La Crosse, so he was playing against older and more developed prospects. The prospect people still liked his stuff and Astle debuted on the top 100 prospect list in the spring before being named #50 on the Opening Day edition. That was a lofty ranking, but Astle proved they were on to something back then.

The La Crosse Lions were founded the following season, and Astle was a part of the inaugural squad that won the first UMVA title. Astle made 18 starts, finishing 12-4 with a 2.90 ERA (111 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP, this time with near equal walks (50) and strikeouts (51). He then finished the season in San Jose, where again the more developed guys got to him. He went 2-5 with a 6.83 ERA (69 ERA+) and 1.73 WHIP. The walk issues were back, and he allowed 31 of them while striking out just 9 in 83 innings. In my effort to improve a last place team, Astle was in plenty of talks, eventually being sent to the Gothams in a three player package for World Champion third basemen John Kincaid. He went 9-6 in 22 starts between three Gotham affiliates, and before the 1931 season Astle was part of another three player trade package, this time going to the Foresters in the Joe Perret trade with a fellow Cougar 9th Rounder Ben Turner. This was the best thing that could have happened for Astle, as once he arrived in Cleveland he broke out in a major way.

Astle spent the next few seasons in the Foresters farm, and they did an excellent job mastering Astle's control. In 1933 he got the call to the big leagues, and he proved it might have been a little late. Astle fired off a 12 start run, going 7-3 with a 2.57 ERA (140 ERA+), 1.13 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts. He walked just 18 batters (4.8%), and his 2.77 FIP (76 FIP-) and 2.3 WAR were all an indication of a top flight starter.

Now in 1934, the Chicago Cougars were looking to defend their pennant after falling short of a title with a loss to the Philadelphia Keystones. Many expected us to repeat, but the then 24-year-old was a crucial component of the Foresters first (and still only) World Championship ring. Astle was an All-Star in his first full season, going 17-7 with a 3.07 ERA (137 ERA+) and 1.23 WHIP in 35 starts. He walked 76 and struck out 110 in 281.2 innings, Astle was worth 6.5 WAR. He certainly helped them get there, but unfortunately when the lights were bright he didn't fair too well, allowing 22 hits and 10 runs with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts in his two starts. That didn't affect his regular season performance in their title defense, as Astle again led the Foresters to a first place finish. What made him so great was his ability to keep the ball in the park, and with 3 homers in 280.1 innings he led the CA in HR/9. He was an unlucky 16-12, as his 3.63 ERA (120 ERA+) and 3.44 FIP (78 FIP-) suggest he pitched worthy of a 20-win season. Again he didn't get the run support he deserved in the playoffs, as despite ten strikeouts and just one walk he had to pitch into the 11th. He eventually faltered, allowing 13 hits and 7 runs against a strong Gothams lineup that succeeded in the revenge match.

The Foresters have yet to return to the playoffs, but Astle was the undisputed ace of some pretty strong pitching staffs. He returned to the All-Star game again in 1936, and led the CA with 21 wins. He made 46 appearances, 34 of them starts, and even saved a pair of games as he pitched late innings for the Foresters. Even with all the moving around, he had a 3.59 ERA (127 ERA+), 1.30 WHIP, 73 walks, and 90 strikeouts in 283.1 innings pitched. That made three consecutive 280 inning seasons, with two more following. The final one was a 300 inning season, something very few modern pitchers have ever accomplished. Despite his 17-15 record, he led the league with a 6.1 WAR, and he owned a 3.21 ERA (124 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP with 88 walks and 105 strikeouts. But after falling two games short of the eventual champion Stars in 1939, the Foresters finished dead last in 1940 and have yet to finish above 6th since.

The losing was hard on Astle, who went 8-14 with a career worst 4.29 ERA (93 ERA+) and 1.52 WHIP and for the first time in his pro career, he walked (74) more batters then he struck out (68). He wasn't himself again the following year, and come July his Foresters career came to a close. He was sent to the Minutemen with Bill Moore in a deal that brought back a 1st Rounder, Pete Sigmund, Si Crocker, and Elmer Lockwood. At the time of the trade, the 31-year-old was just 6-11 with a middling 4.20 ERA (94 ERA+) and 3.88 FIP (97 FIP-), again walking (53) more batters then he struck out (41). After the trade, he did improve the control a bit, striking out 28 and walking 22, improving both his walk (7.9 to 6.9) and strikeout (6.9 to 7.5) percentages. Still, 4-5 with a 3.96 ERA (101 ERA+) and 1.46 WHIP isn't the Astle we were used to seeing.

Despite the average finish, Astle remains one of the best Foresters pitchers statistically. He ranks 6th in wins (127), 9th in win percentage (.543) and second among pitchers with more then 2,000 innings, 3rd in WAR (44.9), 5th in starts (271), tied for 6th in shutouts (15), 6th in strikeouts (703), and tied for 3rd in r-WAR (44.7). In 2,126.2 innings he owned an impressive 3.64 ERA (114 ERA+) and 3.56 FIP (85 FIP-) with a 1.34 WHIP, but there was still more to come from the veteran. He helped the Minutemen secure their first pennant since 1915, and if you remember, 1941 was the last year the Cougars won a pennant. After three playoff losses, Astle got the minimal run support he was used to from pitching in Cleveland, but it didn't matter. Astle dominated our lineup, spinning a 4-hit shutout with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts in the 1-0 win. Since we lost all four one-run games, Astle now won a title with a Federal Association team, each time directly in opposition with the team that drafted and made the mistake of trading him.

In his first full season with the Minutemen Astle made his fifth All-Star appearance, finishing 16-8 with a 2.60 ERA (137 ERA+), 1.14 WHIP, 47 walks, and 85 strikeouts. That 1.8 K/BB would prove to be a career best, and his 8.7 K% was tied for his second highest. The team fell short in their repeat efforts, as the eventual champion Gothams won the Fed. The following season he started to develop injury issues, which limited him to just 10 starts. He was still highly effective, 5-2 with a 2.26 ERA (156 ERA+) and 1.03 WHIP with 22 strikeouts. If he was healthy, he could have helped them take down the Cannons in the WCS. He was healthy the next two seasons, but the Minutemen were hit by some enlistments and they were just average (76-78, 79-75) the next two seasons. Astle won 12 games each year, posting similar ERAs (2.87, 119; 2.97, 116) and WHIPs (1.25 and 1.24). Astle again led the league in HR/9 (0.1) in 1945, but made just 22 starts and threw 169.2 innings as injuries cost him a month. It was just his second season since becoming a full-time starter he failed to reach 200 innings, with ten of them in an eleven year stretch.

Astle came back healthy for the 1946 season, and the 36-year-old was one of the best pitchers before the All-Star break. He was selected for a 6th time despite missing most of June. The Minutemen were this time in the run for a pennant, but their hopes were dashed on the first of September when Astle ruptured a tendon in his finger. At the time of the injury, he led the league with a 1.57 ERA (213 ERA+) and was 11-6 with a 1.05 WHIP, 44 walks, and 41 strikeouts. He fell just short (149.1 IP) of qualifying for the ERA crown. Still, Astle returned to camp for the 1947 season, and a healthy Astle would have had the Minutemen right back in the running for a postseason birth. Instead, Astle ruptured his UCL in his first spring start, effectively ending his big league career. After an injury like that in his advanced age, the odds of him returning to the pitcher he was before the injury were slim, and he ended his successful FABL career. In over 3,000 innings, Astle finished 187-145 with a strong 3.34 ERA (119 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP with 995 strikeouts in 416 appearances. 386 of those were starts, but Astle is one of the few pitchers who never had to work from the pen. His relief outings came while he was starting, making 25 or more starts in 11 of his 14 seasons. In his prime he was one of the best innings eaters in the league, and he seemed like a lock for the magical 200 win mark before the final injury. A Hall of Fame induction seems slim for Astle, but he was one of the finest pitchers in the 1930s and early 40s and will be remembered fondly by Foresters and Minutemen fans alike.

10th Round, 147th Overall: RHP Harry Stewart
School: Golden Gate Grizzlies
Career (C): 3-0, 18.2 IP, 6.27 ERA, 1.98 WHIP, 14 BB, 20 K, -0.6 WAR

No, not the Harry Stewart who was part of the Art White deal, but a journeyman reliever who went 3-16 in college with a 6.38 ERA (89 ERA+) and 1.71 WHIP. He did have 143 strikeouts in 139.2 innings, so the thought was he could become a decent reliever. He wasn't, and was quickly cut after allowing 22 hits, 17 runs, and 11 walks in 15.1 innings in his lone season as a Cougar (Class B San Jose). That wasn't the end of his career, as he caught on with the Foresters organization, and spent two years there. He was released before Opening Day in 1930, which triggered a crazy, money-filled year.

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Yeah, pretty crazy! Hard to blame him for retiring after!

11th Round,163rd Overall: 3B John Kane
School: College of San Diego Friars
Career (C): .300/.425/.413, 112 G, 514 PA, 14 2B, 13 3B, 2 HR, 67 RBI, 8 SB, 155 WRC+, 6.1 WAR

Despite being a late pick, John Kane got some serious time early in his career, as after spending a year on the bench, he was an every day player on the Lions team that won the first UMVA title. He excelled, batting .300/.425/.413 (159 OPS+) with 29 extra base hits, 67 RBIs, 84 runs, and 88 walks. It was the most, and definitely the best he played, but he hung around the organization until being cut during the 1933 season. That started a three year independent career where he played for the Pueblo Mountaineers (31 G), El Paso Missions (9 G), and Des Moines Bears (14 G). It was very erratic playing time, so after being cut by the Bears in 1935 and not receiving another offer, he retired at the age of 29.

12th Round, 179th Overall: RF Lou Baltes
School: Lubbock State Hawks
Career (AAA): .246/.333/.284, 119 G, 493 PA, 11 2B, 3B, HR, 42 RBI, 65 WRC+, -0.7 WAR

He never played a game in our system, and just lasted five months in the organization, but Lou Baltes did play minor league baseball. It came in 1929, when the Austin Violets signed Baltes to their first season in the brand new Lone Star Association. It mostly didn't go well, as he hit just .246/.333/.284 (64 OPS+) with just 13 extra base hits in nearly 500 PAs. If there was a bright side, he did walk (55) more then he struck out (32), but with little speed or power he was a pretty replaceable piece. He did survive the offseason, but made just one start (0-4, 2 K) the following season, and was cut in mid-April. He didn't get another offer, and retired at the end of the 1930 season.

13th Round, 195th Overall: 1B Claude Matthews
School: Cleveland HS Barons
Career (C): .275/.361/.345, 112 G, 437 PA, 13 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 46 RBI, 117 WRC+, 3.1 WAR

An organizational player, Claude Matthews spent eight season in our organization, and like many of the other guys from the class, he was a big part of the first Lions team. He made more PAs (429) that season then rest of his career (291), and posted a strong .276/.357/.343 (117 OPS+) line in 101 games. But as a first basemen with limited power (2 HR), the ceiling was always low, and he never again started more then 21 games he started (32 overall) in San Jose in 1931. He did reach AA at 22, but went just 9-for-38 with 3 runs, 3 walks, and no extra base hits. He got into one game for San Jose in 1933 and spent most of the year as a free agent. At year's end, Matthews retired and returned to his hometown Sherwood, Oregon.

14th Round, 211th Overall: 1B Omar Parker
School: Liberty College Bells
Career (C): .329/.422/.470, 69 G, 192 PA, 12 2B, 4 3B, HR, 21 RBI, 139 WRC+, 1.7 WAR

Back-to-back first basemen? Yay! Like Matthews, Omar Parker is a light hitting first basemen. Parker's career was strictly set in San Jose, where he hit .329 with 12 doubles, 4 triples, a homer, and 33 runs scored. 167 of his 192 PAs came in 1928 where he hit .329/.431/.486 (138 OPS+) with 16 extra base hits (including the homer!) and 24 walks. He made just 11 appearances the next two seasons and was cut in January of 1931. He remained unsigned until October, where he officially retired.

Just one more of these left, with the finale coming sometime this week. There is still one big leaguer left, so I didn't want this one to run large. I'll also share the totals as I did with the first two, and as expected this class comes up quite short. Astle was the lone gem, and while John Kincaid was a very reliable player for us, he's pretty much all we got out of this class. Very few of these guys even played in Chicago, with Black the only draftee to throw an inning or take an at bat in a Cougar uniform. I'd trade it all for a title, and that's what this class helped do, as without John Kincaid we may not win it all in '31 and the pennant in '33. Kincaid has an interesting player tree, coming from Astle and then indirectly leading to Donnie Jones. He was traded for Bill Dickens and Stumpy Beaman, with Beaman eventually part of the deal that brought Juan Pomales and Del Burns to Chicago. Pomales then went to Toronto with Hal Wood for the reigning Allen Winner, who at 28 is consistently ranked among the top 20 pitchers in FABL. If Donnie can win us a title, then maybe this class will become somewhat worth it a few decades later.

ayaghmour2 · 09-21-2023, 09:18 PM

15th Round, 227th Overall: C Ben Richardson
School: Houston HS Hurricanes
1937 (DET): .279/.335/.434, 104 G, 395 PA, 26 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR, 50 RBI, 98 WRC+, 2 SB, 1.7 WAR
1941 (MON): .240/.310/.360, 453 PA, 21 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 47 RBI, 89 WRC+, 1.9 WAR
1942 (MON): .265/.320/.361, 333 PA, 9 2B, 3B, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 106 WRC+, SB, 2.5 WAR
Career (FABL): .251/.306/.362, 823 G, 2,947 PA, 143 2B, 17 3B, 40 HR, 337 RBI, 84 WRC+, 7 SB, 11.6 WAR
Career (MON): .246/.306/.342, 476 G, 1,666 PA, 72 2B, 8 3B, 19 HR, 176 RBI, 85 WRC+ ,3 SB, 7.6 WAR

Despite being a rather unheralded prospect and a 15th Round Pick, Ben Richardson was by far the most successful position player we selected in the 1927 draft. A well-traveled catcher, Richardson got minimal time in his first season with us in San Jose (19 G, 54 PA, 115 WRC+), but played a solid amount on the inaugural Lions team. The 19-year-old appeared in 71 games, hitting .292/.345/.411 (134 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 4 homers, and 41 RBIs. He was never the best hitter or defender, but Richardson did manage to record a large amount of doubles, and he generally kept his strikeouts under control. This made him a relatively interesting prospect, and as I was rebuilding the roster heading into the 1930 season, he was one of the many prospects to be shipped out. He was part of the first, and probably most important of our offseason trades, part of the four player package that brought Russ Combs and current Cougar Manager Max Wilder to the Windy City. At the time, I think Richardson was the throw-in, but he was still our 17th ranked prospect at the time of the trade. Despite that, he became the most successful by a longshot, as that Harry Parker never pitched in the big leagues and Luke Nixon and Pat Schuring had very short careers.

Richardson spent the next three seasons in the Foresters farm system, eventually cracking the big league roster a few months into the 1933 season. He appeared in 20 games for the Foresters, hitting .247/.295/.342 (85 OPS+) with 4 doubles, a homer, and 5 RBIs with 5 walks and 8 strikeouts. While not awful numbers, the 1933 Foresters were trying to catch an exciting young Cougars roster, and at the trade deadline they decided to put all the chips in. Again, Richardson was a throw in, going to the Eagles with eventual 230-game winner Karl Johnson and a 1st Round Pick for Hall-of-Fame catcher T.R. Goins. It didn't help them catch us, but Goins was crucial in their back-to-back pennants and Richardson was set to join his third FABL organization.

Richardson finished the season in the Eagles AAA affiliate, and didn't return to the majors until the end of the 1935 season. He appeared in just in just seven games, but made the most of it, going 11-for-30 with 3 doubles and 8 RBIs. That earned him the roll of backup catcher for the rebuilding club the next season. Unfortunately for Richardson, he was hit hard with regression, and had just 6 hits in his first 36 trips to the plate. Out of options, he was DFA'd in June, and he joined his fourth team when the Dynamos claimed him off waivers. They had an opening on the roster for a catcher, and Richardson made 200 PAs while starting 50 of his 51 appearances. He showed a little power, hitting 9 doubles and 6 home runs, but the 26-year-olds .232/.274/.400 (74 OPS+) triple slash was still well below average.

The Dynamos were in a rebuilding phase, so Richardson was allowed to return as the team's starting catcher. He took full advantage of the role, and hit an impressive .279/.335/.434 (103 OPS+) with a career high 26 doubles. Richardson struck out (33) just twice more then he walked (31) and finished with 7 homers, 37 runs, and 50 RBIs. His time as a starter was short, however, as the Dynamos replaced him with Clem Bliss (.240, 5, 35) on a reinvigorated 94-win team led by Red Johnson (.304, 19, 85) and our very own Sal Pestilli (.307, 46, 132, 13). Richardson was the backup on the team, and hit just .252/.305/.360 (80 OPS+) in 85 games. At the end of the season the Dynamos released Richardson, which for most fringe players signifies the end of their career. But catchers are always in demand and less then a month later Richardson secured a $14,000 contract with the set for relocation Baltimore Cannons. Richardson was the backup for the team's first year in Cincinnati, sharing starts with former 1st Overall pick Jack Flint (.313, 5, 70). Despite a miniscule strikeout rate (7.0) Richardson produced a measly 73 WRC+ in 229 PAs, though he did manage 14 doubles. Like Flint, his time in Cincinnati was short, and even nearing 31 he was again used as a throw-in for a major trade,

Fresh off the move, the new Cannons GM was ready to make a splash, so after Adam Mullins refused a trade to Detroit the Cannons sent plenty of picks and top prospects to Montreal for Adam Mullins. In total, two first round picks, two top 25 prospects in Otis Parker and Jackie James, and the well-traveled Ben Richardson was the cost of a likely Hall-of-Famer who was at the top of his game. The Mullins-sized hole in the Saint lineup was filled by Richardson, and he appeared in a career high 117 game for the 1941 Saints. He was worth almost 2 WAR (1.9) and hit .240/.310/.360 (86 OPS+) with 21 doubles, 2 triples, 8 homers, 47 RBIs, 49 runs, and 42 walks. He made 450 trips to the plate, the first and only time he surpassed the 400 mark. The following year was his most productive offensive season, as in 333 PAs he slashed .265/.320/.361 (102 OPS+) with a 106 WRC+. The doubles weren't there, just 9, but he did hit 6 homers and drive in 46. He was worth a career high 2.5 wins above replacement. For the next three years he played a decent amount, starting 60 or more games and making 250 or more PAs. 1945 was his last of five seasons with the Saints, and Richardson hit a respectable .246/.306/.342 (87 OPS+) with 72 doubles and 176 RBIs. He started 418 of his 476 appearances, was due to his solid defense behind the plate he was worth over a win above replacement in four of the five years.

He was cut before Opening Day in 1946, as 36-year-old backup catchers were the first to go when all the war veterans came home. He remained unsigned for the season, and retired at the end of the year. He seems like the type who may end up going into coaching, as he went from late round pick to nearly 3,000 FABL plate appearances. A .251/.306/.362 (86 OPS+) career line isn't too bad for a good defensive catcher, and he managed to accumulate 11.6 WAR in 823 games. Not only that, Richardson has one of the largest trade trees. Not many players can say they have been traded for two Hall of Famers (Goins and Mullins), but his trades have involved regulars Max Wilder, Russ Combs, Karl Johnson, Otis Parker, and Jackie James, and two of the picks ended up being Gordie Perkins and Bert Cupid. Richardson was never that quality of player, but he carved our a decent eleven season career and made over $100,000 as a professional. Dean Astle was the only other member of the class to record double digit WAR, so in this company, Richardson was the Adam Mullins or T.R. Goins. It's a shame he never got into a game for us, but with talented catchers like Fred Barrell, Mike Taylor, and Harry Mead starting from 1929 to the present day, there wasn't much room for at bats.

16th Round, 243rd Overall: 2B Don Berger
School: Queens HS Islanders
Career (AA): .238/.391/.329, 121 G, 534 PA, 14 2B, 10 3B, 3 HR, 38 RBI, 19 SB, 53 WRC+, -0.6 WAR

Part of the one game club, 16th Rounder Don Berger appeared in just one game in our organization. He came off the bench to go 0-for-2, but he was on base so he was able to score a run. He was cut soon after, and spent the rest of the 1928 season as a free agent. 1929 was the inaugural season for the Texas League, and Berger was one of the lucky free agents who filled the first year rosters. He played second for the Pueblo Mountaineers, but hit just .238 with 3 homers and 38 RBIs. He did swipe 19 bases and walked (30) more then he struck out (23), but that's not enough to overcome a 52 WRC+. He was cut in the offseason and instead of pursuing another job, the Chicago native decided to pursue another career path.

17th Round, 259th Overall: RHP Pete Carey
School: Swoyersville HS Kings
1934 (CLE): 17-7, 281.2 IP, 3.07 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 76 BB, 110 K, 137 ERA+, 6.5 WAR
Career (FABL): 0-2, 12.1 IP, 2.92 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 11 BB, 6 K, 159 ERA+, -0.1 WAR
Career (AA): 20-20, SV, 343.2 IP, 4.37 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 97 BB, 165 K, 102 ERA+, 4.4 WAR

If you can throw fast, there will always be a spot for you in professional baseball. And Pete Carey threw fast. At his peak, the fireballer could hit 97, and he was always able to strike guys out. He pitched out of the pen his first year out of high school, and struck out 74 hitters in 62 innings, which translated to a 3.92 ERA (125 ERA+), 1.26 WHIP, and 3.9 K/BB. He spent time between the rotation and pen the next season, but truly broke out in 1930. 19 of his 20 starts came with the Lincoln Legislators, where he went 7-4 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. He struck out 120 hitters with just 33 walks in 111.1 innings, and he had an incredible 3.54 FIP (69 FIP-), 3.6 K/BB, and 3.5 WAR. This brought him to my attention, but unfortunately with great speed comes great injury risk.

Carey was injured often in the early years, but a ruptured disc in his back ended his 1931 season in early June. Just 21 at the time, it was already his 16th injury, but the first to cost him more then three months. I was really worried that his velocity was gone, but when the fireballer returned in 1932 he was better then ever. Again, most of his starts (16 of 18) came in Lincoln, where he had a minuscule 1.93 ERA (202 ERA+), 1.01 WHIP, and 2.32 FIP (59 FIP-) in 93.1 innings. He had a personal high 33.2 K% with just a 6.2 BB%, and his 5.3 K/BB was also a career best. His two starts in Mobile (12 IP, 20 H, 14 ER, 4 BB, 6 K), but he returned there for the 1933 season. Again, injuries kept him out of games, and he made just 16 appearances (13 starts). He was still effective, posting a 2.90 ERA (145 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP with 22 walks and 52 strikeouts. With a big league rotation that posted a stellar 2.84 team ERA, there was no room for Carey, so again he spent the season in AA. He made 17 starts and went 8-7 with a 3.41 ERA (131 ERA+) and 21 strikeouts and was added to the 40-man roster during the year.

Carey never pitched an inning for us, as before Opening Day 1935 we sent him to Washington for catcher Mel Goldenberg, as we needed somebody to give Mike Taylor the occasional day off. Injuries kept him out of action most of the season, as he made just 8 starts due to three separate ailments. Two came in the big leagues, but the command was not there. He allowed just 4 earned runs, but walked 11 and gave up 8 hits in 12.1 innings. He struck out just 6 and lost both his starts, and did not make the Opening Day roster the following season. He spent all of 1936 in the minors, and was eventually DFA'd that September. He did not clear, as I claimed him off waivers while he was recovering from elbow surgery. Unfortunately, the velocity was pretty much tapped, as the 27-year-old struck out just 8.6% of the A ball hitters he faced, and his season ended early again, this time a torn back muscle.

Carey suffered two setbacks the following year, and was eventually cut in July. He lasted just one day as a free agent, as the Des Moines Bears quickly snapped him up. He also was healthy for a day, pulling an abdominal muscle in his first appearance of the season. He did return a week later, and ended up pitching six seasons in the Western Baseball League. He ended up starting 142 games for the Bears, going 38-49 with 517 strikeouts. He stayed relatively healthy there, but after fighting four nagging injuries in the 1943 season, he retired at the age of 34. He's an interesting what-if case, as he throws as hard as Duke Bybee and had even better K/BB numbers in the minor leagues. Our now 26-year-old is currently dominating Continental Association hitters despite dropping to a single digit K%, and him and Carey drew plenty of similarities. Health is the resounding difference, which proved to be the difference in their careers. Bybee is still young, but right now it's looking like the odds of him retiring as a 34-year-old independent leaguer are as close to zero as you can get. Health can be the determining factor in developing into a successful big leaguer, as there are plenty of talented players like Carey who were sabotaged by their body.

18th Round, 275th Overall: SS Dave Griffin
School: St. Louis Explorers
Career (AA): .278/.331/.395, 166 G, 375 PA, 26 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 43 RBI, 14 SB, 93 WRC+, -0.7 WAR
Career (A): .228/.299/.355, 182 G, 601 PA, 28 2B, 4 3B, 11 HR, 61 RBI, 31 SB, 83 WRC+, 0.3 WAR
Career (B): .280/.360/.436, 152 G, 576 PA, 38 2B, 3B, 13 HR, 74 RBI, 19 SB, 112 WRC+, 2.6 WAR

No more big leaguers left, but that's not to say there aren't any more interesting players left. Dave Griffin was a real journeyman, and the 18th Round draft pick ended up being a regular in 1930. A member of the fledging Lions, Griffin appeared in 50 games (32 starts) years one, and he had more of an impact the following season. Griffin started 98 of his 120 appearances and hit a productive .285/.354/.463 (107 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 13 homers, 60 RBIs, and 18 steals. The issue for Griffin was strikeouts, as he was set down on strikes 112 times, just over one-fourth (25.1%) of his total plate appearances. Still, he had early success the following season, and hit .357/.400/.457 (139 OPS+) despite an elevated 22.4 K% in 22 games up in San Jose. This earned the 21-year-old a promotion to Lincoln, where his proneness to whiffing caught up to him. He hit just .202/.283/.347 (86 OPS+) and struck out in 90 of his 270 PAs (33.3%). 12 doubles, 7 homers, 23 walks, and 17 steals helped provide some value back, but in 1932 he wasn't in our top 30, which was thinned down to just 13 prospects in the top 200 (Art Black, 11th/189th, was the only member from this class), and he didn't get nearly as much playing time as he had in the past. He struck out 85 times in just shy of 300 PAs, and was released prior to the 1933 season.

That's when the carousel came for Griffin, who was a mainstay in independent ball the next eight seasons. He appeared for eleven separate clubs and signed twenty five separate contracts before retiring after the conclusion of the 1940 season. None of the stints were very long, as he started more then 50 games for a team just once. That came in 1937, where he was 27 and a member of the San Antonio Missions in the Lone Star League. Griffin held his own, hitting a slightly below average .292/.330/.435 (95 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 3 homers, 13 steals, and 29 RBIs. All told, he appeared in 301 games for independent minor league teams, and even made a little over $6.5 grand as a baseball player.

19th Round, 291st Overall: RHP Mack James
School: High Point HS Highlanders
Career (B): 6-4, 6 SV, 107 IP, 6.22 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 53 BB, 72 K, 76 ERA+, -1.3 WAR
Career (C): 4-5, 86.2 IP, 4.36 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 38 BB, 111 K, 117 ERA+, 2.2 WAR

A starter in high school, Mack James pitched almost exclusively out of the pen for us, but threw less innings (50, 11.2, 6.2) each season. He was cut during his third year, but spent just a month unemployed before the Cleveland Foresters offered him a minor league deal. The 20-year-old East Orange native repaid their efforts, giving their C ball team 14 quality starts. He was unlucky, just 3-3, with an ERA (4.61, 113) almost a full point higher then his FIP (3.79, 73). He struck out 91 and walked just 30 and held a respectable 1.38 WHIP in 68.1 innings. Unfortunately for James, he would never make another start, as he spent the next four seasons in the Class B Savannah Privateers bullpen. The most remarkable part was he saved exactly one game in all four seasons, but once again, his innings total dropped (19, 15.2, 12, 8.1) each year. A torn UCL was the cause in his final season, and when still recovering he was cut in January of the following year. He signed a pair of minor league deals with independent teams that year, but didn't get an inning, and retired shortly after being released for the final time.

20th Round, 307th Overall: 2B Phil Peterson
School: Memphis HS Pharaohs
Career (AA): .320/.350/.471, 123 G, 576 PA, 29 2B, 19 3B, 5 HR, 55 RBI, 3 SB, 107 WRC+, 1.0 WAR

Phil Peterson's time in our system was short, as he was retired in both of his pinch hit appearances for San Jose in 1928. He was released that May, and like many others from this class, was part of the inaugural Texas League season. Unlike some of the guys selected ahead of him, Peterson had a really good year, and the 20-year-old hit .320/.350/.471 (104 OPS+) with 29 doubles, 19 triples, 5 homers, 55 RBIs, and 3 steals. Unfortunately, he met their same fate, and the Amarillo Stars did not bring him back for the 1930 season. He retired the day they released him, but I'm sure some team would have given him a flier after posting strong offensive numbers with a 5.4 K%.

This ended up getting longer then I expected, and with no games until Tuesday there is no rush, so there will be a part four! I'll cover the last five guys, and I'll release the pretty barren final totals of what this class produced. There are a lot of 1s and 0s, so it's not surprising the 6 of 25% debut rate may be one of, if not the lowest, since I started in 1925. I also want to do a quick summary, and touch upon the alternative use that this class had. I mentioned it a few times, but while it lacked in production for the big league club, some of the guys were traded for useful big league pieces. The drafts weren't always deep with talent, but we managed to maximize some of the depth even if we let the true diamond slip away.

Just keep reminding yourself it helped win a title! You know now how hard that is! What good are top farm systems if your fingers remain ringless!

At least there is always next year...

ayaghmour2 · 09-24-2023, 07:19 PM

21st Round, 323rd Overall: LF Art Miller
School: Chicago Poly Panthers
Career (A): .292/.377/.474, 162 G, 483 PA, 17 2B, 22 3B, 5 HR, 58 RBI, SB, 131 WRC+, 2.9 WAR
Career (B): .311/.425/.441, 58 G, 274 PA, 6 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 4 SB, 163 WRC+, 3.1 WAR

He didn't play much at nearby Chicago Poly, so it's no real surprise that Art Miller fell all the way to the 21st round. He played sparingly in his first pro season, but Miller started all 58 of the games he played with the 1929 Lions. The 23-year-old dominated the younger competition, slashing .311/.425/.441 (168 OPS+) with an impressive 43 walks in 274 trips to the plate. He recorded 15 extra base hits and scored 60 runs, and was given a promotion to San Jose. Again, he played very little to finish the season, and I actually waived him before Opening Day in 1930. The Foresters claimed many of the young players I waived, and Miller was one of many to join their organization. He spent the next two seasons split between their AA and A affiliates, appearing in 125 games before being released before the 1932 season. Miller spent the next two seasons in independent ball, but appeared in just 78 games (13 starts) for the Oklahoma City Chiefs. He did hit five triples in just over 100 trips to the plate, but before the 1934 season he was 28, and the Chiefs were ready to move on. He retired that offseason, never reaching the highest level of the minors.

22nd Round, 339th Overall: C Dick Porter
School: San Antonio HS Warriors
Career (AAA): .225/.289/.301, 112 G, 403 PA, 9 2B, 6 HR, 41 RBI, 2 SB, 52 WRC+, -0.0 WAR
Career (B): .267/.329/.342, 217 G, 733 PA, 25 2B, 3B, 7 HR, 87 RBI, 2 SB, 73 WRC+, 1.2 WAR

Dick Porter spent just a few months in our organization before being released the May following his draft. He didn't stay unemployed very long, as later that month he inked a minor league deal with the Brooklyn Kings organization. Porter ended up having a lengthy minor league career with the Tampa Kings, the Class B affiliate, and appeared in 217 games across 7 years there. He didn't hit very much, just a .267/.329/.342 (76 OPS+) career line, but he was a solid defender and good organization piece. He ended up spending almost a full decade in the Kings organization, playing for their AA, A, and B affiliate. He was cut during year nine, and the then 26-year-old headed to independent ball.

His first stop was with the Fort Worth Cattlemen, going 9-for-28 with a homer and 6 RBIs in the last month and a half of the season. His next stop was Denver, where he started the 1937 season. He hit .210/.297/.346 (79 OPS+) with 3 homers, 8 RBIs, and 10 walks. The Bears decided to cut bait after just 26 games, and he was once again on the move midseason. The next stop would be his last, as Porter agreed to a deal with the Sacramento Governors. Again, he didn't hit much, just .214/.236/.320 (56 OPS+). Still, the glove was solid, so he returned to Sacramento for the following season. Unfortunately, the bat was pretty poor, as he posted a 53 WRC+ and hit just .230/.309/.294 (65 OPS+) in 81 games. He was released after the season ended, and five days later he announced his retirement.

23rd Round, 355th Overall: RHP Harry Parker
School: Cleveland HS Barons
Career (AAA): 19-21, 405 IP, 3.93 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 157 BB, 286 K, 123 ERA+, 8.0 WAR
Career (AA): 23-17, 363 IP, 3.87 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 113 BB, 230 K, 109 ERA+, 5.4 WAR
Career (A): 66-98, 10 SV, 1,436 IP, 4.56 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 633 BB, 1,053 K, 94 ERA+, 15.1 WAR

No, not the 6'6'', lazy, and formerly durable innings eater Harry Parker, but a tiny little 5'7'' Harry Parker who threw over 2,500 innings since his time in high school. Despite never pitching in the majors, Parker had a long and intriguing career, pitching for eleven different teams after being drafted in the 23rd Round. Despite the low selection, Parker was always a semi-decent prospect, and he started 21 of his 23 appearances with the Cougars as a 19-year-old. The righty went 6-5 with a 4.64 ERA (106 ERA+) and 1.33 WHIP. While not the greatest numbers, Parker was rather unlucky, as he posted an elite 3.57 FIP (72 FIP-) with 3.8 WAR and an elite 111-to-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 130 innings pitched. It was clear he had talent, and while he bounced around a lot the next season, he still started 20 of his 23 games between La Crosse, San Jose, and Lincoln. The most time came again out west, but his K% plummeted from an even 20% to just 8.5 in 103.1 innings. He was again 6-5, but this time in 17 starts with a similar 4.01 ERA (118 ERA+) and 1.36 WHIP. A young pitcher who doesn't walk many guys is always something other teams are looking for, and Parker joined 15th Rounder Ben Richardson in the Combs-Wilder swap right after the World Series ended.

Now in the Foresters organization, Parker was assigned to Single A Reading, and the 21-year-old was back to striking out guys. He set down 105 with 41 walks in his 25 starts (153 innings). He finished 12-7 with a 3.76 ERA (109 ERA+) and 1.24 WHIP, but he was back in A ball to start the 1931 season. He did eventually get to AA later that season, and for a 23rd birthday gift the following season he managed to reach AAA. He started 21 of the 24 games he pitches for the now-defunct Cincinnati Steamers, but was limited to just 119.1 innings. That's why he was just 3-4 despite an excellent 3.47 ERA (123 ERA+) and 1.21 WHIP. He struck out a whopping 149 batters, walking just 45. His 29.7 K% was the best at any level he threw more then 5 innings at, and his 3.3 K/BB would be the last time he surpassed the elite 3.0 K/BB threshold.

As he was preparing for Spring Training, Parker found out his time in Cleveland was done, as he was shipped to the Miners with a 4th Round Pick for Miners stopper Leo Proctor. Proctor isn't a very well known pitcher, but he was coming off an aged 28 season where he was 4-2 with 12 saves, a 2.13 ERA (209 ERA+) and 1.23 WHIP with 25 walks and 26 strikeouts. He ended up spending two seasons, but played the most with Washington, where he threw 233.1 innings across five and a half seasons, including a dominant 1939 where he sported a 1.97 ERA (212 ERA+) in 50.1 innings.

Parker was not part of the 40-man roster at the time, so he was sent to AA Birmingham for the 1933 season. It was a bit of a step back, going 13-13 with a 4.15 ERA (101 ERA+) and 1.04 WHIP against lower competition. He also posted his first sub-10 K% (9.8) since he was 20 in the Cougars organization, striking out 104 hitters in a career high 238.1 innings pitched. Still unprotected at Rule-5 time, he was one of three pitchers we took in the Rule-5 draft. He didn't last long, and was returned to Pittsburgh where he was promoted to AAA St. Paul. The 25-year-old had a rough start, going 2-7 in 14 starts and one relief appearance. His 4.17 ERA (110 ERA+) was decent, but this is one of the first seasons his FIP (4.94, 107) was above 100. The Miners decided to release him by the deadline, but he lasted just two days before the Portland Green Sox of the Great Western League snapped him up. He made 9 more starts with them, and while the 4-3 record was an improvement, pretty much all his metrics went the wrong way.

Parker spent the offseason in Portland, but he was cut before the 1936 season. A few days later he went to to the Denver Plainsmen, and he almost pitched them to a Western Baseball League pennant. They finished just one game out, an impressive 80-60. The team they fell short to, the Des Moines Bears, had Pete Slater (.317, 1, 14, 5), and it was their most recent WBL title. Parker might have been the Plainsmen's best pitcher, going 11-6 with a 2.29 ERA (187 ERA+), 1.16 WHIP, and 121 strikeouts. He was worth a personal best 4.3 WAR in 180.2 innings pitched, but it wasn't enough for the Bears to consider him a long-term piece. He made cut after 15 starts, despite a solid 3.51 ERA (116 ERA+) and 1.22 WHIP. He had 75 strikeouts to just 33 walks, but the 28-year-older had to find a new home.

The home he found was Wichita, and while he had an awful 11-start stretch (3-5, 5.58, 42), the Rustlers allowed Parker to spend the next seven seasons in their rotation or pen. He ended up throwing almost 900 (895.1) innings, but the results weren't always great. He ended with a 5.38 ERA and and 456 strikeouts. They were willing to bring him back in a relief role for the 1945 season, as he had his best year as a member of the bullpen. That came in 1942, where Parker had a 2.04 ERA (197 ERA+) and 1.02 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 21 walks. The Rustlers were never a very good team, so despite those excellent numbers he, was just 1-6 with a single save. Instead, Parker decided to hang up the cleats, and left professional baseball in 1944. Despite never playing a big league game, he struck out nearly 2,000 (1,852) batters and pitched just two less seasons then the gem of the class Dean Astle. Those two happened to be teammates in 1931 and 1932 on the Portland Pipers, and both received promotions that season to AAA Cincinnati. He struck out a few more hitters then Astle (1,647), but of course, 995 of those came in FABL, while the highest parker got was 405 innings in AAA.

24th Round, 371st Overall: LF Joe James
School: Macon HS Musketeers
Career (C): .250/.312/.386, 41 G, 48 PA, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 3 SB, 85 WRC+, .0.1 WAR

Despite being a towering 6'4'', short and sweet is the best way to describe Joe James' professional career, as he made just 53 appearances across three seasons in our organization. Most came in La Crosse, where he spent the 1929 and 1930 season. He hit his only homer in 1930, but his best production came in 1928 with San Jose. He was an even 7-for-14 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 RBIs, which translated to a 1.462 OPS (272 OPS+) and 271 WRC+. Unfortunately, a small sample as a teen won't get you a deal, and after spending all of 1931 unsigned, James hung up the cleats in October.

21st Round, 323rd Overall: LF Art Miller
School: Chicago Poly Panthers
Career (A): .292/.377/.474, 162 G, 483 PA, 17 2B, 22 3B, 5 HR, 58 RBI, SB, 131 WRC+, 2.9 WAR
Career (B): .311/.425/.441, 58 G, 274 PA, 6 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 4 SB, 163 WRC+, 3.1 WAR

He didn't play much at nearby Chicago Poly, so it's no real surprise that Art Miller fell all the way to the 21st round. He played sparingly in his first pro season, but Miller started all 58 of the games he played with the 1929 Lions. The 23-year-old dominated the younger competition, slashing .311/.425/.441 (168 OPS+) with an impressive 43 walks in 274 trips to the plate. He recorded 15 extra base hits and scored 60 runs, and was given a promotion to San Jose. Again, he played very little to finish the season, and I actually waived him before Opening Day in 1930. The Foresters claimed many of the young players I waived, and Miller was one of many to join their organization. He spent the next two seasons split between their AA and A affiliates, appearing in 125 games before being released before the 1932 season. Miller spent the next two seasons in independent ball, but appeared in just 78 games (13 starts) for the Oklahoma City Chiefs. He did hit five triples in just over 100 trips to the plate, but before the 1934 season he was 28, and the Chiefs were ready to move on. He retired that offseason, never reaching the highest level of the minors.

22nd Round, 339th Overall: C Dick Porter
School: San Antonio HS Warriors
Career (AAA): .225/.289/.301, 112 G, 403 PA, 9 2B, 6 HR, 41 RBI, 2 SB, 52 WRC+, -0.0 WAR
Career (B): .267/.329/.342, 217 G, 733 PA, 25 2B, 3B, 7 HR, 87 RBI, 2 SB, 73 WRC+, 1.2 WAR

Dick Porter spent just a few months in our organization before being released the May following his draft. He didn't stay unemployed very long, as later that month he inked a minor league deal with the Brooklyn Kings organization. Porter ended up having a lengthy minor league career with the Tampa Kings, the Class B affiliate, and appeared in 217 games across 7 years there. He didn't hit very much, just a .267/.329/.342 (76 OPS+) career line, but he was a solid defender and good organization piece. He ended up spending almost a full decade in the Kings organization, playing for their AA, A, and B affiliate. He was cut during year nine, and the then 26-year-old headed to independent ball.

His first stop was with the Fort Worth Cattlemen, going 9-for-28 with a homer and 6 RBIs in the last month and a half of the season. His next stop was Denver, where he started the 1937 season. He hit .210/.297/.346 (79 OPS+) with 3 homers, 8 RBIs, and 10 walks. The Bears decided to cut bait after just 26 games, and he was once again on the move midseason. The next stop would be his last, as Porter agreed to a deal with the Sacramento Governors. Again, he didn't hit much, just .214/.236/.320 (56 OPS+). Still, the glove was solid, so he returned to Sacramento for the following season. Unfortunately, the bat was pretty poor, as he posted a 53 WRC+ and hit just .230/.309/.294 (65 OPS+) in 81 games. He was released after the season ended, and five days later he announced his retirement.

23rd Round, 355th Overall: RHP Harry Parker
School: Cleveland HS Barons
Career (AAA): 19-21, 405 IP, 3.93 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 157 BB, 286 K, 123 ERA+, 8.0 WAR
Career (AA): 23-17, 363 IP, 3.87 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 113 BB, 230 K, 109 ERA+, 5.4 WAR
Career (A): 66-98, 10 SV, 1,436 IP, 4.56 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 633 BB, 1,053 K, 94 ERA+, 15.1 WAR

No, not the 6'6'', lazy, and formerly durable innings eater Harry Parker, but a tiny little 5'7'' Harry Parker who threw over 2,500 innings since his time in high school. Despite never pitching in the majors, Parker had a long and intriguing career, pitching for eleven different teams after being drafted in the 23rd Round. Despite the low selection, Parker was always a semi-decent prospect, and he started 21 of his 23 appearances with the Cougars as a 19-year-old. The righty went 6-5 with a 4.64 ERA (106 ERA+) and 1.33 WHIP. While not the greatest numbers, Parker was rather unlucky, as he posted an elite 3.57 FIP (72 FIP-) with 3.8 WAR and an elite 111-to-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 130 innings pitched. It was clear he had talent, and while he bounced around a lot the next season, he still started 20 of his 23 games between La Crosse, San Jose, and Lincoln. The most time came again out west, but his K% plummeted from an even 20% to just 8.5 in 103.1 innings. He was again 6-5, but this time in 17 starts with a similar 4.01 ERA (118 ERA+) and 1.36 WHIP. A young pitcher who doesn't walk many guys is always something other teams are looking for, and Parker joined 15th Rounder Ben Richardson in the Combs-Wilder swap right after the World Series ended.

Now in the Foresters organization, Parker was assigned to Single A Reading, and the 21-year-old was back to striking out guys. He set down 105 with 41 walks in his 25 starts (153 innings). He finished 12-7 with a 3.76 ERA (109 ERA+) and 1.24 WHIP, but he was back in A ball to start the 1931 season. He did eventually get to AA later that season, and for a 23rd birthday gift the following season he managed to reach AAA. He started 21 of the 24 games he pitches for the now-defunct Cincinnati Steamers, but was limited to just 119.1 innings. That's why he was just 3-4 despite an excellent 3.47 ERA (123 ERA+) and 1.21 WHIP. He struck out a whopping 149 batters, walking just 45. His 29.7 K% was the best at any level he threw more then 5 innings at, and his 3.3 K/BB would be the last time he surpassed the elite 3.0 K/BB threshold.

As he was preparing for Spring Training, Parker found out his time in Cleveland was done, as he was shipped to the Miners with a 4th Round Pick for Miners stopper Leo Proctor. Proctor isn't a very well known pitcher, but he was coming off an aged 28 season where he was 4-2 with 12 saves, a 2.13 ERA (209 ERA+) and 1.23 WHIP with 25 walks and 26 strikeouts. He ended up spending two seasons, but played the most with Washington, where he threw 233.1 innings across five and a half seasons, including a dominant 1939 where he sported a 1.97 ERA (212 ERA+) in 50.1 innings.

Parker was not part of the 40-man roster at the time, so he was sent to AA Birmingham for the 1933 season. It was a bit of a step back, going 13-13 with a 4.15 ERA (101 ERA+) and 1.04 WHIP against lower competition. He also posted his first sub-10 K% (9.8) since he was 20 in the Cougars organization, striking out 104 hitters in a career high 238.1 innings pitched. Still unprotected at Rule-5 time, he was one of three pitchers we took in the Rule-5 draft. He didn't last long, and was returned to Pittsburgh where he was promoted to AAA St. Paul. The 25-year-old had a rough start, going 2-7 in 14 starts and one relief appearance. His 4.17 ERA (110 ERA+) was decent, but this is one of the first seasons his FIP (4.94, 107) was above 100. The Miners decided to release him by the deadline, but he lasted just two days before the Portland Green Sox of the Great Western League snapped him up. He made 9 more starts with them, and while the 4-3 record was an improvement, pretty much all his metrics went the wrong way.

Parker spent the offseason in Portland, but he was cut before the 1936 season. A few days later he went to to the Denver Plainsmen, and he almost pitched them to a Western Baseball League pennant. They finished just one game out, an impressive 80-60. The team they fell short to, the Des Moines Bears, had Pete Slater (.317, 1, 14, 5), and it was their most recent WBL title. Parker might have been the Plainsmen's best pitcher, going 11-6 with a 2.29 ERA (187 ERA+), 1.16 WHIP, and 121 strikeouts. He was worth a personal best 4.3 WAR in 180.2 innings pitched, but it wasn't enough for the Bears to consider him a long-term piece. He made cut after 15 starts, despite a solid 3.51 ERA (116 ERA+) and 1.22 WHIP. He had 75 strikeouts to just 33 walks, but the 28-year-older had to find a new home.

The home he found was Wichita, and while he had an awful 11-start stretch (3-5, 5.58, 42), the Rustlers allowed Parker to spend the next seven seasons in their rotation or pen. He ended up throwing almost 900 (895.1) innings, but the results weren't always great. He ended with a 5.38 ERA and and 456 strikeouts. They were willing to bring him back in a relief role for the 1945 season, as he had his best year as a member of the bullpen. That came in 1942, where Parker had a 2.04 ERA (197 ERA+) and 1.02 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 21 walks. The Rustlers were never a very good team, so despite those excellent numbers he, was just 1-6 with a single save. Instead, Parker decided to hang up the cleats, and left professional baseball in 1944. Despite never playing a big league game, he struck out nearly 2,000 (1,852) batters and pitched just two less seasons then the gem of the class Dean Astle. Those two happened to be teammates in 1931 and 1932 on the Portland Pipers, and both received promotions that season to AAA Cincinnati. He struck out a few more hitters then Astle (1,647), but of course, 995 of those came in FABL, while the highest parker got was 405 innings in AAA.

[B]25th Round, 387th Overall: 1B Ed Jones
School: Opelika State Wildcats
Career (B): .323/.362/.434, 137 G, 246 PA, 10 2B, 6 3B, HR, 39 RBI, 3 SB, 107 WRC+, 1.0 WAR/B]

The twenty fifth and final selection was first basemen Ed Jones, who spent his three-year professional career in San Jose. Most of his 246 plate appearances (181) came his debut year, where he hit .307/.354/.404 (97 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 4 triples, a homer, 39 runs, and 28 RBIs. He was an impressive 15-for-28 with 11 runs, 4 doubles, 2 triples, and 8 RBIs. But as a first basemen with little power, he didn't make any starts, and after seeing his line drop to .219/.257/.250 (31 OPS+), he roster safety was a concern. He did not last for Opening Day 1931, and retired that fall after not receiving any offers.

FABL Totals
Big League Debuts: 6 (of 25)
Parts of 5 Seasons: 3
Parts of 10 Seasons: 2
Parts of 15 Seasons: 0
500 Games: 1
1,000 Games: 0
1,500 Games: 0
500 PA Seasons: 0
1,000 Career PAs: 1
2,500 Career PAs: 1
5,000 Career PAs: 0
15 HR Seasons: 0
20 HR Seasons: 0
50 Career HR: 0
100 Inning Seasons: 12
200 Inning Seasons: 10
300 Inning Seasons: 1
500 Career Innings: 1
1,000 Career Innings: 1
2,500 Career Innings: 1
10 Win Seasons: 11
20 Win Seasons: 1
50 Career Wins: 1
100 Career Wins: 1
150 Career Wins: 1
4 WAR Seasons: 9
Total WAR: 77.7

Not very impressive, huh? Sure the WAR seems nice, but there are a lot of 1s, going either to Ben Richardson or Dean Astle. 6-for-25 (24%) is not a very good success rate, as many of our classes have at least four draftees currently on FABL rosters. Our current roster is filled with our draftees, as Duke Bybee (16-6, 2.49, 74), Charlie Kelsey (1-0, 4.80, 7), George Oddo (13-17, 3.24, 172), Pete Papenfus (14-9, 3.23, 106), Harry Parker (1-3, 1, 6.86, 8), Eddie Howard (.261, 1, 9; 0-2, 1, 3.04, 3), Harry Mead (.268, 7, 41, 1), Billy Hunter (.260, 2, 23, 2), Skipper Schneider (.288, 4, 52, 3), George Sutterfield (.259, 5, 2), Leo Mitchell (.285, 2, 34, 2), Don Lee (.186), and Carlos Montes (.218, 5, 19, 4) were all drafted by us. Howard Moss and Art Black were the only two 1927 selections to get a single appearance in Chicago, but the success from this class came from other sources.

This draft's best asset was helping assist in a title campaign and a second pennant, providing half the package for Max Wilder and Russ Combs and a third of the package for John Kincaid. We also used selections from this class to get a backup catcher and a fourth of the Wilcox/Taylor package. Even though that trade looks bad in hindsight, Wilcox won an Allen in '33 and helped us win the pennant, and Taylor was superb in a lengthy thirteen and a half season career. DeForest wasn't what made the deal bad. Trading away Astle hurt, but pitching has never been an issue, as even in some of our bad years we've had talented pitching staffs. His success came in Cleveland, not New York, so things could have turned out differently if he never left the Gothams. Until we win another title, a class like this that helped us get there will always be at least a little bit valuable.

ayaghmour2 · 09-28-2023, 09:45 PM

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record: 68-56 (3rd, 4 GB)
Stars of the Week
Sal Pestilli : 26 AB, 8 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .308 AVG, 1.037 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 22 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .409 AVG, 1.049 OPS
George Oddo : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 1 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA

Schedule
8-24: Loss at Sailors (3-4)
8-25: Win at Sailors (4-0)
8-26: Win at Foresters (10-0)
8-27: Loss at Foresters (3-7)
8-28: Loss at Foresters (4-9)
8-29: Win at Wolves (6-1)

Recap
Yeah, not worth the wait...

Of course, with the week plus hiatus, you know this is going to be a long one...

It was a classic Cougar week, as we outscored our opponents 37-21, but still manage to finish just 3-3 and lose our lone one-run game. What makes things worse, is that even though we finally beat the Wolves, and managed to split with the Sailors, we dropped two of three in Cleveland. And guess what? We outscored them 17-16! What's the point of scoring runs if you keep losing games?!?!?!

Despite our continued mediocrity, August will be out best month of the season, as at worst we'll be 16-11 (.593), better then our previous best month, May, where we were 17-14 (.548). Every other month we were either .500 or a game above. The Stars were 3-3 as well, leaving them four above us, as rosters expand and we approach the final month of the season. I'll cover our first set of reinforcements towards the end, but until the Class C season ends on the 11th, most of the callups will be to stay within roster rules. I have a few DFA guys that need assigning, and one injury returning, but expect a few callups as the season winds down.

As always, the pitching was great, and we had not one, but two 5-hit, 1-walk shutouts this week, both coming from former Cougar draftees who are on fire! The differences came only in strikeouts, opponent, and final score, as Pete Papenfus struck out 6 in the 10-0 win in Cleveland while George Oddo struck out 4 in a 4-0 win in Philadelphia. With the win, Papenfus improved to 15-9 on the season, and he's won four of his five September starts. The shutout dropped his season ERA to an impressive 3.08 (127 ERA+) with a 1.14 WHIP, 80 walks, and 112 strikeouts. Oddo has a slightly lower 3.06 ERA (128 ERA+), but he's just 7-9 as the team has refused to score for the 25-year-old righty. Oddo has fewer walks (50) and strikeouts (97) then Pap, and his 1.19 WHIP is a little higher, but he has a better K% (14.7), BB% (7.6), K/BB (1.9), FIP (3.59), FIP- (91), and he's accumulated just two tenths of a WAR less in 40 fewer frames. Both guys are looking better then they did in their most recent full seasons, pitching much closer to their talent level. Pap isn't quite prime Pap yet, but if a few less strikeouts is the price of a lot less walks, it's a Pap I can get used to.

Duke Bybee, who's been great all season, wasn't nearly as effective, and he allowed 9 hits and 7 runs with a walk and 2 strikeouts in 7.1 innings pitched. Johnnie Jones was roughed up as well, walking 8 in 3.2 innings with 5 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), and 2 walks. Johnnie now owns a 3.47 ERA (113 ERA+), two hundredths higher then his brother, who split his two starts. The Sailors got to him in Philly, as he went 8 with 7 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts, which on other days is good enough to win. And as he has so often in the past, Donnie did well out in Toronto, going all nine with 6 hits, a run, and 4 walks and strikeouts. That brought his record back up to 12-10 with 101 strikeouts in 211 innings. I'm hoping he can take it to the next level in September, but all-in-all it's been another strong season for our co-ace, who's put together his fourth consecutive 4 WAR season.

We hit plenty, and the offense was fueled by yet another extra-base filled week from Sal Pestilli. Sal may have been 8-for-26, still good for an average a bit above .300 (.308), but the production came from 2 doubles, 2 homers, a triple, 2 walks, 5 runs, and 6 RBIs. Skipper Schneider hit about 100 points higher, going 9-for-22 with 4 doubles, 2 walks, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs. Those two carried the load, but Luke Berry (3-7, 2B, RBI), Billy Hunter (2-5, HR, 2 R), and Charlie Kelsey (2-3, 2B, R, RBI) were excellent in limited time. Hal Sharp went 6-for-18 with 2 RBIs and 4 runs. Red Bond was 6-for-19 with 2 doubles, 3 walks, and 3 RBIs. Clark Car was 6-for-22 with 4 doubles, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs. It's hard to get mad at the lineup overall, but we are still getting nothing from Leo Mitchell (5-21, RBI, 5 R, 3 BB) and Walt Pack (4-20, HR, 4 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB) has really started to cool off. We've gotten very luck that the Stars haven't been able to pull away, but we're running out of chances to make up ground, and even though we should be the best team in either association, the chances of us finishing on top the association dwindle with every chance we fail to take advantage of.

Looking Ahead
One more with the Wolves, who sit two games under .500 (62-64) after we took the opener in Toronto. Game two seems to pit Jim Morrison (8-7, 3.20, 62) against George Oddo (7-9, 3.06, 97) in a battle of the team's fifth starters. Morrison has arguably been the most effective Wolf this season, as his 3.12 FIP (76 FIP-) is even lower then his already impressive 3.20 ERA (127 ERA+), and he's been worth 4.2 WAR in his 23 starts. His 7.1 BB% is lowest on the team, and even with George Garrison (12-8, 3.24, 83) leading the staff, Morrison or second-year starter Jerry York (12-10, 2.86, 81) have been nothing short of outstanding for Toronto. That goes for Fred McCormick too, who went 12-for-20 with 5 doubles, a triple, a homer, 6 runs, and 5 RBIs in his 20th FABL Player of the Week. 39 in October, McCormick still hits like a guy in the middle of his prime, slashing .311/.416/.543 (146 OPS+) with 33 doubles, 9 triples, 16 homers, and 71 RBIs with more walks (76) then strikeouts (63). He's not the reason the Wolves rank bottom three in average, OBP, slugging, OPS, WAR, wOBA, runs, hits, extra base hits, homers, and walks, and if him, Chink Stickels (.265, 15, 76, 16), or Hal Wood (.325, 3, 55) had missed time this season, they'd probably be way below .500. It's a time of transition for the Wolves, but they play good baseball and seem to play us tough regardless of either teams form.

Our road trip then ends in Cincinnati where we'll play the 59-66 Cannons three times before returning home to Chicago. Luck is on our side, as Rufus Barrell (18-6, 1.99, 101) struck out four in a complete game victory yesterday, meaning we will not have to face the run-away Allen Winner. We'll also miss either breakout hurler Jim Anderson (10-9, 2.92, 76) or starter-turned-stopper-turned-starter Butch Smith (5-6, 7, 3.34, 29), with both cases being good one. That leaves an almost guarantee to face Charlie Griffith (9-12, 4.83, 62) and Chris Clarke (2-3, 2.96, 15), who like Smith moved from the pen back to the rotation at the beginning of the month. I like our chances to pile up runs here, and since the Cannons don't get on base much, we have a chance to leave the Queen City happy. The lineup does look a bit different, as long-time first basemen Chuck Adams (.268, 23, 90) has moved to left, making room for 12th ranked prospect Jim Stone (.203, 2). He's not off to the greatest start, but the 23-year-old hits the ball hard, draws his share of walks, and he's got top of the charts power even if he's homerless in 81 PAs. It's been a while since the Cannons have had talented young hitters, as they've found their success with vets like Adams, Denny Andrews (.248, 11, 37), Adam Mullins (.276, 6, 44), Sam Brown (.303, 7, 50), and Fred Galloway (.242, 5, 52). All are still in the lineup, but with a vacancy at the General Manger spot, that might not be the case next year. A crossroad is coming for the Cannons, as they can either try to retool around Barrell, Andrews, and Adams, or look to the future to build around Stone for the lineup and 7th Ranked prospect Tony Britten (0-1, 23.62, 1), who we battered around in his first (and so far only) big league start. I think the latter may be the path they choose, as with very few sellers and perhaps a dozen teams with their eyes focused on a pennant, they could reap a king's ransom from their talented vets. Only Rufus (who better retire a Cannon) should be untouchable, and the city that has seen so much recent success may have to deal with some lean years. Something Baltimore Cannons fans have plenty of experience with.

Our homestand will be quick, as it's just a Friday-Saturday-Sunday series with the Montreal Saints. Montreal currently sits in fourth place, slightly ahead of the Wolves with one more win and loss. Their lineup has really cooled off, scoring the fewest runs in the association, but their run differential is just -3 as they're tied with those same Wolves for the second fewest runs allowed. That's still 41 more runs then we've surrendered, and this series should help us extend that gap. If Bill Greene (.266, 12, 55, 21) can reach 15 homers, this year may be the first season ever Montreal has three 15+ home run hitters, as Maurice Carter (.263, 19, 67) and Pinky Pierce (.269, 16, 48) already have their eyes set on 20. That may not seem all that impressive, but just five Saints (Greene being one of them!) have hit 20 homers in a season. I'm sure you can guess who's done it most often and who's hit the most -- that would be our Red Bond -- who hit 20 in 1938, 22 in 1939, and the single season record of 30 in 1940. If Carter spends his whole career in Montreal, I like his chances of a 30-homer season, as he's just 25 and in his first year as an everyday player.

Like many CA teams, the Saints are in a bit of a cross roads of their own, as they have a lot of good pieces while still being a few more away from being a pennant contender. In the past, the rotation has been the question mark, but Bert Cupid (12-12, 2.80, 79) is having a dominant season despite the even record. Wally Doyle (9-5, 3.26, 108) should finally walk (74) fewer hitters then he's struck out, something he hasn't done since 157.2 innings back in 1940 when he was 21. Pat Weakly (9-11, 3.84, 74) is in the midst of another strong season, and while Wally Reif (13-7, 3.43, 77) has cooled off from his five scoreless outings in six starts to start the season, he's been a very dependable pitcher. You don't really need five top starters, and they have a few young arms they could dangle for an impact bat. There's plenty of room, as beyond the slugger trio and Gordie Perkins (.307, 5, 55, 9), there are multiple areas they could improve. With our fans in front of us, we really need to win, but if the bats get cold, this might be the beginning of our end.

Minor League Report
C Steve Mountain: I love having a third catcher, so Steve Mountain is the lucky guy to receive the callup. It's temporary, and I may DFA him later to bring up Mike Bordes, but with the AA season still going on I want Bordes playing everyday. Mountain last played in Chicago back in 1943, and has hit just .148/.279/.161 (33 OPS+) in 68 trips to the plate. As bad as that is, he's an excellent defender, and is excellent working with his pitching staff. He actually hit pretty well in 42 PAs for the Commodores this year, batting .324/.405/.459 (121 OPS+). I don't expect him to play much, but on the off chance Harry Mead or Eddie Howard get hurt, we'll have someone who can fill in effectively. This also allows Max Wilder more flexibility to use Howard out of the pen, as Mountain can still enter the game later behind the plate if our two-way guy leaves the game.

1B Bill Payne: When filling a bench, what's better then a lefty who puts the ball in play and draws a ton of walks? That's exactly what Bill Payne does, and while his overall value is limited by his lack of versatility, we just need guys who can get hits. It's a nice day after his 26th birthday present, as the former 3rd Rounder hit went 2-for-4 with a run scored on his birthday Sunday. That increased his season line to .316/.383/.439 (107 OPS+) in 536 trips to the plate. He posted a strong 118 WRC+ and hit 26 doubles and 10 homers with 62 runs, 66 RBIs, and 55 walks. Once Payne makes an appearance off the bench, it will be his fourth season with big league action, and the lefty own a .278/.356/.402 (122 OPS+) career line with more walks (35) then strikeouts (17). Just 10 of his 317 plate appearances have been in a Cougar uniform. This is his last option, so the only way he leaves the roster is by trade or DFA, so every at bat he takes will determine how many more he'll have left in Chicago.

2B Johnny Carlisle: Two infielders are coming up, and they could not be any different. While Bill Payne is a lefty hitter who can only play first base, Johnny Carlisle is a versatile righty who's played everywhere except first base. The season wasn't kind to the 26-year-old, but he'll still get a chance to make his big league debut, as it never hurts to have an extra defender to get you out of a tough spot. We haven't had too many crazy games, but every so often there is one that goes more then 15, and having someone like Carlisle gives you plenty of options. He doesn't hit much, just .271/.334/.317 (65 OPS+) in 106 games this year, but he's made 20 or more appearances at second, third, and short this year with appearances in all three outfield spots as well. A potential Tip Harrison type, Carlisle seems likely to hold a 40-man spot for the next few seasons, as we tend to run below the limit and he could be the perfect 24th man. His heart and hustle could end up paying dividends in a late season pennant run, as he could impact the game more off the field then on it.

LF Ducky Cole: It's been an excellent return to the Century League for Ducky Cole, who followed up a .289/.340/.395 (91 OPS+) season with a .345/.396/.497 (124 OPS+) line in 110 games. He was worth nearly 4 WAR (3.8) and produced a 138 WRC+ with 34 doubles, 5 triples, 8 homers, and 70 RBIs. Ducky will now get to finish his season in Chicago, and will have all month to work on getting his first big league hit. 0-for-2 off the bench last year, Cole gets another chance to fulfil a childhood dream, but more importantly he's getting a chance to prove he's capable of keeping a big league spot. He does have one option left, so it's not do-or-die time for Cole, but with all the talented outfielders in the system it may be tough to keep a 40-man roster spot. He's not a highly touted prospect, but Dixie Marsh thinks he deserves a look out in right and he could hit comfortably above .300. What works in his favor is his makeup, as hard workers are in high demand when filling out a bench. As a lefty he'll have plenty of chances to play late in games, but unless we're out early I don't expect him to make a start.

RHP Zane Kelley (AAA Milwaukee Blues): After finishing .500 for the first time since 1937, the Milwaukee Blues (69-51) are right back into the playoff hunt, and ace Zane Kelley is one of the main reasons they are holding on to a three game lead over the Minneapolis Lumberjacks (66-54). Kelley wont end up earning the team triple crown, but he leads the Blues in wins and ERA while ranking third in strikeouts. It's the first attempt at AAA for the 22-year-old, who was acquired last February with Andy Felton for Hank Barnett. He's showed plenty of promise, going 13-5 with a 3.76 ERA (121 ERA+) and 1.45 WHIP through 167.1 innings pitched. The one thing Kelley has struggled with is command, as this year is the first time he has a chance to walk (56) more batters then he's struck out (53). His 7.8 BB% is a personal high, but that's the lowest of any of the six current rotation members and only reliever Jack Hale (6.1%) have walked hitters at a smaller rate.

If we were in need of a starter, Kelley could have been the guy to get the call, but with our rotation pitching as expected the former 7th Rounder is able to lead his team in a pennant race. If Milwaukee was out of it, he'd be coming up today, but I'll let him finish the season out in Milwaukee. As he's eligible for the Rule-5 draft, he will be protected at some point, and if we're out after the Blues' season is over he could get a start with the big league club. Despite living in the 80s, Kelley has superb stuff, as he can place any of his three fastballs in the zone. None compare to the change up, which is his go two pitch when he needs an out. That alone will allow him to pitch high leverage innings out of the pen, but I think he has what it takes to start. He's gotten prospect love recently, now 21st in our system and 180th overall, despite the lack of pitchers ranked in the top 200. His command is like Duke Bybee, and we know how good he's been since joining the rotation fulltime. That's not something I expect from Kelley, but he'll give you good innings each start and in the right environment he could thrive as a major league starter.

1B Harry Austin (A Lincoln Legislators): 22 in a few weeks, Harry Austin gave himself a nice early birthday gift, capturing the Heartland League Player of the Week by going 11-for-27 with a homer, 7 runs, and 7 RBIs. The former regional selection from New Athens, Illinois is now hitting .304/.369/.416 (109 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 3 triples, and 7 homers. He's scored 63 runs, drove in 59 more, and is walking (43) more then he's struck out (29). A bat first prospect, Austin has spent most of the season as the Legislators first basemen, but he's been playing more right field as injuries have thinned our outfield depth. He was drafted as an outfielder as well, but it's been hard for him to find his position. Currently ranked 31st in our system and 350th overall, Austin profiles as a lefty bat off the bench, but if he can continue to play passable (-0.8, 1.001) outfield defense he could turn himself into a Hal Sharp (.312, 9, 53) type player. He gives good at bats, puts the ball and play, and can hit a homer or two when he really gets a hold of one. With plenty of outfield depth, his best bet is at first, but there' a lot of talented prospects in line to take away his at bats. He's hitting well enough to stay in the lineup, but as a Rule-5 eligible player he's under a lot of pressure to perform.

RHP Cliff Wallace (B San Jose Cougars): Before this season, former 9th Rounder Cliff Wallace has only functioned as a starting pitcher. This year his first 21 appearances came out of the Cougars pen, before he returned to the rotation. The results haven't been as good since the 22-year-old began starting games again, but #9 was about as good as you can ask for. Wallace didn't get any run support until a Cunningham-led 5-run inning that Wallace found himself in the middle of. With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the 10th, Dick (.296, 1, 31, 4) gave San Jose their first lead of the game, sending all three runners home with a triple. D.C. was in the eight spot, so that meant Wallace was on deck, and he extended inning with a walk. Archie (.269, 1, 14, 14) was batting leadoff and at his usual shortstop, and he brought his brother and pitcher home with a triple of his own.

Now with the five run cushion, Wallace had an easy 1-2-3, capping off a ten inning shutout where he allowed just five hits and one walk. Wallace struck out three and improved to 6-6 on the season, and eleven outs away from his third consecutive 100-inning season. He hasn't had the greatest showing, working to a 4.48 ERA (99 ERA+) and 1.47 WHIP with 42 walks and 58 strikeouts. That's a little deceptive, as Wallace was superb out of the pen, earning a 2.95 ERA (150 ERA+) and 3.36 FIP (75 FIP-) with 24 strikeouts and just 15 walks in 36.2 innings pitched. One of the consistencies with Wallace is he always strikes guys out, sporting a K% above 10 (12.9 and 15.3) in both roles. His stuff works better out of the pen, as righties can't do a thing with his slider or change up. The problem is his fastball is hittable, so if he is missing his spots he's prone to blowups. That's evidenced by five or more runs in five of his nine starts, including 9 of 5 hits and 4 walks in just a third of an inning. Yes, his shortest appearance this year is a start, as in all 21 of his relief outings he got at least two outs. As a 6'5'' righty, Wallace is always going to be rostered, but it's tough to pinpoint his eventual use. He gives up a lot of home runs, and since he's never going to throw very hard he'll need to stay in the zone. Very few sidearmer are able to hold onto a rotation spot, and he's no different. I expect him to make at least two more starts, and he'll have every opportunity to earn a rotation spot next season. He needs to show he's ready for an opportunity in A ball, as there will be spots in Lincoln available.

LHP Dutch Yoak (B San Jose Cougars): Shutouts galore this week! It's a good thing Dutch Yoak was the recipient of one, as the former 2nd Rounder has really struggled. But on Sunday this week everything was working, and he allowed just two hits and walks with five strikeouts. He has now won each of his last three starts, now 8-11 with a poor 5.49 ERA (81 ERA+) and 1.71 WHIP. There are a few bright spots, as his 4.73 FIP (106 FIP-) is respectable for a 21-year-old. He's walking (62) about as many guys as he's striking outs (57), but his stuff has looked good. He's doing well preventing homers, but this is something Dixie Marsh doesn't think well last. He does think his change and curve are going to be very good strikeout pitches, but the deciding factor will be his fastball. At 6'4'', he should have the length to work in the 90s, and his work ethic is second to none. He's got all the tools to develop into an excellent big league pitcher, but the prospect people have never been his fan. He checks in at 40th overall, still inside the top 500 at 436. I think that's a little harsh, as he's still a developing talent with improving control and strikeout stuff. 1949 will be a big season for Yoak, as if he stalls out in San Jose it may be tough for him to keep getting starts. I'd love for him to finish the year strong and start next year in Lincoln, but the high minors are still plenty of starts away.

CF Doc Zimmerman (C La Crosse Lions): There have been nearly a dozen different Lions in the outfield this season, but none have had a week like Zimmerman. One of our fifth rounders this season, Zimmerman went 11-for-19 with 7 runs, 3 doubles, 6 RBIs, and 2 walks. This all translated to an absurd .579/.591/.737 (214 OPS+) line, upping his full season triple slash to .406/.435/.528 (128 OPS+). He hasn't homered in 117 professional plate appearances, but he has a near elite 145 WRC+ with 11 doubles, a triple, 15 RBIs, and 6 steals. As good as all that has been, he's really struggled with strikeouts, and has been set down 21 times with just 5 walks. His 17.9 K% is way higher then Leo Mitchell (13.3%), and is not something he will be able to sustain. On a 162 game pace he'd have 97 strikeouts (542 PAs) with his .400 average, something that doesn't seem very likely. He does project to have a good eye, so I'm guessing some of it is inexperience. It's hard to complain about a guy hitting .400, and while it won't last, mid .300s aren't out of the question. I'm not sure he has the glove for center, so hitting around .300 with strong walk and strikeout numbers' may be his ticket to the big leagues. At 17, it's hard to think that far in the future, but if he reaches his potential he should end up on a big league ballclub.

Cougars in the GWL
RHP Del Burns (Portland Green Sox): He did it! He really did it again! Four shutouts! This time it was a 3-hitter in Seattle, as Burns improved to 11-11 in his 26 starts. You'll hear all about him tomorrow when he wins GWL Pitcher of the Month, but I couldn't not mention his impressive 1-0 victory where he walked two and struck out six. The Green Sox never do him any favors, but battery mate Greg Haddis (.196, 2, 15) homered off Don Miller (6-9, 3.34, 84) to lead off the eighth. Burns responded with a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth, but he did run into trouble in the ninth. Former King Howard Brown Jr. (.235, 3, 23, 15) walked to start the inning and got to second when Burns tried to get him out on a sac-bunt. He did settle down to retire the next three hitters, but former Dynamo Red Evans (.265, 3, 12) made the second out difficult, flying to deep right on the eleventh pitch of his at bat.

ayaghmour2 · 09-30-2023, 01:30 AM

Weekly Record: 3-4
Seasonal Record: 71-60 (3rd, 4 GB)
Stars of the Week
Sal Pestilli : 27 AB, 10 H, 3 HR, 12 RBI, .370 AVG, 1.303 OPS
Billy Hunter : 18 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .389 AVG, .778 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 20 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .300 AVG, .650 OPS

Schedule
8-30: Loss at Wolves (4-5)
8-31: Loss at Cannons (1-7)
9-1: Win at Cannons (8-5)
9-2: Loss at Cannons (0-1)
9-3: Loss vs Saints (6-3)
9-4: Win vs Saints (5-4): 11 innings
9-5: Win vs Saints (8-4)

Recap
Again, we were given the opportunity to make a dent in the divisional lead. And again, we chose mediocrity over winning games. We lost two more one run games, including the finale in Toronto and the rubber match in Cincinnati. I was wrong, we did get Rufus Barrell (20-6, 1.84, 114), who threw back-to-back 1-0 shutouts against us and the Sailors. Luckily we did better at home, and took two of three from the Saints. That included a rare walk-off victory, as once again George Oddo (7-9, 3.17, 110), but didn't get a decision. The walk-off hero was about as surprising as you could expect, as in the 11th pinch hitter George Sutterfield's (.235, 1, 8, 2) first homer of the season ended the game. That improved us to 6-5 in extra inning games, as we tend to get thing sorted out in regulation.

No one is hotter then Sal Pestilli, who used a two-homer game on Sunday to pass Red Bond for the team lead in homers. Pestilli hit three hit this week, giving him 27 on the season. It was another excellent week for our center fielder, who went 10-for-27 with a double, 2 triples, 8 runs, 12 RBIs, and a steal. He's now a tenth away from a 6 WAR season and is on pace to become the first Cougar to hit 32 home run in a year. He now leads both associations in extra base hits, as his 65 are more then even Bill Barrett (.317, 42, 125, 7) and Bobby Barrell (.303, 36, 101). He's not having quite as spectacular seasons as those two superstars, but after a dreadful start to his Cougar career, .265/.331/.539 (129 OPS+) feels like its even better. His 138 WRC+ is second to just Red Bond (145), but Super Sal can do so much more. He has 19 doubles and triples, 52 walks to just 30 strikeouts, and is 18-for-25 in stolen base attempts. Add in excellent (15.1, 1.031) defense in center and you have one of the most complete players in the league. He may never be the best again, but he's a legit 5-tool guy which is something we don't see too often. If he can push a struggling Cougars squad to the postseason, Chicago fans will pretend his 1947 season didn't exist, and 1948 can be the season that starts is legacy in Chicago.

Yesterday I challenged Walt Pack and Leo Mitchell to make a difference, and to my surprise, they actually did! Pestilli was clearly the class of the week, but the lefties were the starters that made the most impact. With a lot of lefty pitchers this week, they each started just three games, but Pack was 3-for-8 with a homer and two walks while Mitchell was 5-for-13. They carried the load against the lefties, while Billy Hunter and Carlos Montes were the lone supplemental producers against righties. Hunter was 7-for-18 with 2 RBIs and 3 runs while Montes was 5-for-15 with a walk, RBI, and two runs scored. Not the greatest numbers overall, but considering Bond, Mead, Sharp, Car, and Berry went 9-for-74, the bar was pretty low. Two callups made at bats, but both Bill Payne and Johnny Carlisle struck out in the lone trips. For Carlisle it was his first big league at bat, but he also made appearances at third and short.

Duke Bybee got hit hard again, allowing 9 hits, 5 runs, and 2 walks in 6 innings pitched. I guess I should be careful for what I wish for, as he struck out a season high 8 hitters. We ended up winning that game, as Ken Matson (W, 2 IP, BB, 2 K) and Harry Parker (SV, IP, H) got the game to the finish line, as a Sal Pestilli triple and Eddie Howard in the ninth gave us an 8-5 lead we'd keep. That was one of five appearances Matson made in his busiest week of the year, but the results were mixed. He picked up two wins, also going two scoreless innings (H, K) back in Chicago, but he was roughed up by both teams he beat the appearance before. The Cannons got 3 hits, 4 runs, and 4 walks the first time while the Saints had 3 hits, 3 runs, and a walk. Those bad outings inflated his season ERA to 4.18 (94 ERA+), despite opening the week at a much lower 3.44. He's now on pace to walk (35) more hitters then he strikes out (25) for the first time since he was a rookie in 1943. I have faith in him turning it around, as we'll need our stopper at his best to make a return to the postseason.

Johnnie Jones had a nice rebound start despite the loss, 8 innings with 7 hits, a run, two walks, and a strikeout. Donnie also pitched well in a loss, 8 innings with 9 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Both two start starters went .500, with Pete Papenfus 1-1 and George Oddo 0-0. Pap's control was a bit off, as he walked 10 hitters in 15 innings with 15 hits, 7 runs, and 6 strikeouts. Not quite what we are used to, and both of his outings were equally boring, but he's pulled into a tie with Bybee for the team lead in wins, securing his 16th in 28 starts. George Oddo was as unlucky as ever, and despite allowing 4 runs in each of his starts, he had a WHIP of 1.00 or better and 13 strikeouts to just 5 walks. On track for his first 200 inning season, Oddo has won just seven starts despite an impressive 3.17 ERA (124 ERA+) and 1.16 WHIP. He's struck out 110 and walked just 55, and his 2.0 K/BB trails just Rufus in the association. He leads most categories, but Oddo ranks top five in K/9 (5.6), WHIP (1.16), and opponent average (.232). He's the best fifth starter in baseball, but both Dixie Marsh and OSA still won't rate him anything more then an emergency starter. He's been effective all season long, and it's a shame he pitched during the war or he'd probably be in the Kellogg running this season.

Looking Ahead
Our long stretch of games ends in Brooklyn, where we'll play two with the Kings. They've been on an awful stretch lately, losers of 23 of their last 33 games, so expect us to get swept here. With a double header there is a lot they could do with their rotation, and I'm really hoping we get rookie Joe Potts (0-1, 7.94) and Jake Roberts (0-1, 7.88, 3) instead of Potts and Bob Arman. If it wasn't for his old teammate, Arman would be on track to win his first Allen Award, as the first year King is 14-9 with a 2.43 ERA (167 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP. His 138 strikeouts are most in the association, and he's already accumulated a career high 6.3 WAR in a still career low 218.2 innings pitched. If Leo Hayden (8-13, 4.96, 84) can regain his former form, those two will be a devastating 1-2 punch atop the rotation. They have a lineup to support that, led by superstar Ralph Johnson (.296, 24, 83, 5) they've scored more runs (607) then everyone except the Stars (682). This lineup isn't as deep, but Charlie Woodbury (.309, 9, 60), Chuck Collins (.309, 7, 63), and Pat Petty (.278, 13, 77) are all doing well in their first season in the lineup. While all productive, there's no Jack Welch (.282, 30, 84) or Mack Sutton (.254, 28, 96), but the Kings have the #1 system and can either wait for #3 prospect Ken Newman to develop into the star he is or tap into their prospect reserves to add an establish player to the lineup. I'm very surprised the Kings are in the second division, but they're always a threat. Assuming we avoid Arman, Duke Bybee (16-7, 2.84, 84) and Johnnie Jones (9-12, 3.38, 88) should get plenty of run support.

We're then off for two days, one of which we'll use to travel to Montreal. We'll be there for four games, before having an off day to return home. At 65-68, the Saints are three games behind the Wolves for fourth, and still closer to first (11 GB) then last (12.5 GB). We took two of three from them, as the lowest scoring offense had trouble with the best staff at preventing runs. That should again work in our favor at the Parc Cartier, which has one of the largest outfields. Maurice Carter (.275, 20, 69) homered in our 5-4 win in Chicago, becoming the sixth Saint to hit twenty homers in a season. Pinky Pierce (.265, 18, 88) should become the seventh by season's end, and those two account for just over half (55%) of the teams home runs. Add in Bill Greene (.260, 12, 56, 21), who has already had a 20-homer season, and nearly 75% (72.4) of the team slug is accounted for. These are four must win games for us, as we cannot fall further back in the standings. Four games is already tough enough, and any more and we may have to shift our focus to the future.

Minor League Report
RHP Zane Kelley (AAA Milwaukee Blues): I won't go too deep into it as I covered him yesterday, but Zane Kelley was named the Century League Pitcher of the Month for August. He made 5 starts in August, going 4-1 with a 1.70 ERA (266 ERA+) and 1.37 WHIP. Kelley struck out 12 in 42.1 innings pitched, and had both a 5-hit and 9-hit shutout. His first September start wasn't nearly as good, as Indianapolis got to him for 10 hits, 6 runs, and 3 walks. He struck out just 4 in 7.1 innings pitched, falling to 13-6 on the season. Despite the loss, the Blues hold a conformable 4.5 game lead over the Hoosiers and the Kansas City Eagles. Milwaukee is done with the Eagles, but will host the Hoosiers while we are in Montreal, and Kelley will get a chance for some revenge in the third game of the series.

Cougars in the GWL
RHP Bill Ballantine: Our first and only pitcher to be recalled, "The Windy City Whip" split his time between the rotation and the pen. He had a near identical ERA in the rotation (4.31 ERA+) and pen (130 ERA+), and he has a 1.54 WHIP and 39 strikeouts in 94 innings pitched. A former 6th Rounder, Bill Ballantine will get a chance to make his major league debut, as while he was on the 40 last season as well he never got a callup. I like him a lot out of the pen, as his fastball hits 95 and is easily his best pitch. He does have major issues with the longball (1.1 HR/9), as his control isn't refined and when he misses his spot the balls will travel. While he could start games, he hasn't really filled out his arsenal, so I expect the majority of his future innings come out of the pen. I'm hoping he can be the dominant stopper we've never quite had, and him and Harry MacRae will battle each other for that role in the longterm.

3B Leon Blackridge: After failing to make the final roster this season, Leon Blackridge was DFA'd and went unclaimed on waivers. He was willing to stick around, reporting to Milwaukee instead of heading to free agency, and he'll now be rewarded with a spot on the expanded roster. The 32-year-old appeared in 73 games for the Blues, but made took just 114 at bats. His .246/.363/.368 (85 OPS+) line wasn't too impressive, but his 95 WRC+ is just a hair below average and he's well regarded clubhouse leader. Now 32, he'll have a chance to add to his 771 career FABL games. His hold on a 40-man spot won't be very tight, but with four more available I didn't mind allowing him the opportunity to make a few appearances off the bench.

1B Jim Hatfield (Los Angeles Knights): The Knights season might be over, but that hasn't stopped "The Bandit" from having an amazing week. A 5-hit game in a 8-6 with in Seattle capped off a week that earned him Player of the Week. It's an aged 37 surge for Hatfield, who did this all after his birthday. He's been great all season, hitting .323/.358/.407 (124 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, 48 RBIs, and 14 steals. If he keeps hitting like this, he'll come back for a fourth season, as Hatfield owns a strong .328/.372/.442 (141 OPS+) line in 398 games for the Knights. Always a hard worker, he should be able to stay in shape to keep playing till his 40s. The Knights value him enough to bat him above their top two hitters in Ace Anderson (.316, 4, 46) and Bennie Griffith (.309, 20, 63), and if they look to compete next season he'll again be a useful contributor.

ayaghmour2 · 10-02-2023, 08:59 PM

Weekly Record: 4-2
Seasonal Record: 75-62 (3rd, 4 GB)
Stars of the Week
Duke Bybee : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 1 BB, 4 K, 1.50 ERA
Billy Hunter : 10 AB, 5 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.645 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 22 AB, 7 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .318 AVG, .875 OPS

Schedule
9-6: Win at Kings (6-2)
9-6: Loss at Kings (2-7)
9-9: Loss at Saints (3-4): 10 innings
9-10: Win at Saints (4-1)
9-11: Win at Saints (4-3)
9-12: Win at Saints (4-2)

Recap
A 4-2 week is always nice, but our situation hasn't changed much. We're still in third, we're still four games out, and we're still not performing to our standard. What did change is the team that we are following, as the Stars slump has continued and they have been replaced in first by the defending pennant winning Philadelphia Sailors. Splitting with the Kings is a little annoying, considering how bad they've been lately, but I was right about the Saints series. We took most of the games, and there was very little scoring. The winning team scored four runs in each game, and we were lucky that the four was next to our name for three of them.

It was a rare good week for Leo Mitchell, who not only went 7-for-22 with a double, 3 walks, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs, but the 35-year-old slugger hit his 3rd homer of the season. While not impressive on its own, he now has slugged 136 homers since his debut in 1935, and is tied with club legends Bill Ashbaugh and John Lawson. Our next nine games are at home, which is nice for Mitchell as he looks to make history on his home turf. He's appeared in 1,684 games donning a Cougar uniform, and owns an impressive .327/.371/.439 (128 OPS+) batting line in over 7,000 trips to the plate. There hasn't been much to like about this season, as he's not going to play 150 games for the first time since 1941, but he does have a career best 8.0 BB% (min 500 PAs) and his 13.5 K% is below his 14.9 career mark. But that hasn't helped the overall production, as .287/.344/.350 (86 OPS+) will be his worst career line and his 96 WRC+ is on pace to be the first time he did not post at least a 100. I'm afraid my loyalty to Mitchell may keep us out of the postseason, and if we fail to return left field will be an area to upgrade over. The former 2nd Rounder will always have a spot on our roster, but 1948 is looking like the last season he'll be an everyday guy.

Most of the staff was great, but Johnnie Jones put up his third rough outing in four starts. The Kings hit him hard, allowing 8 hits, 5 runs, and 6 walks with just one strikeout before leaving with two outs in the six. Harry Parker finished off the game, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs (1 earned) in an inning and a third. Ken Matson got the only other loss, coming in with two outs in the ninth for Donnie Jones. An error cost Jones a complete game win, as two of the three runs he allowed were unearned. He struck out 6 and walked 4 while allowing 8 hits in the no-decision. Matson got the final out of the 9th, but after getting just one out in the 10th, Jack Spahr (.267, 2, 46) walked it off with a double. Luckily he rebounded for the rest of the week, picking up saves in each of the next two games. He had a strikeout in a perfect inning on the 11th and then despite a hit and walk, eventually getting Maurice Carter (.277, 20, 69) to fly out and end the game. One of the hits caused the third of George Oddo's runs on the day, but he inched one win closer to .500. He did all right, allowing 6 hits and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts. This kept his ERA at 3.17 (124 ERA+) in 184.2 innings pitched, and as people were discussing how few candidates there were for the CA Kellogg Award, it makes me wish Oddo never pitched in the last year of the war. He has been leaps and bounds better then who I would say are the two frontrunners, Pat Petty (.279, 13, 78) of the Kings and Ed Holmes (.289, 2, 36, 11) of the Stars. Neither have accumulated 3 WAR yet while Oddo's at 3.4 in 25 starts. He ranks top 7 in strikeouts (6th, 113), K/BB (2nd, 1.9), K/9 (3rd, 5.5), WHIP (4th, 1.16), and opponents average (4th, 2.30) and is the latest young Cougar to blossom in his first full season in the rotation.

The star of the week was the young Cougar to blossom last year, Duke Bybee, who improved to 18-7 after a pair of complete game victories. This was a commanding bounce back, as he allowed 9 hits and 5 runs in just 6 innings in Cincinnati. Despite facing the second best lineup, Bybee was dominant in Brooklyn, allowing just 3 hits and 2 runs (1 earned). I'll take one strikeout if it means no walks, and he had just one in the win over the Saints. This time he struck out three, scattering 7 hits and 2 runs to end the week. If it wasn't for Rufus Barrell (20-7, 1.97, 117), Bybee would be the Allen winner, as he's got a stellar 2.74 ERA (144 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP with 88 strikeouts in 230 innings pitched. It's somehow even better then last season, where Bybee was 14-11 with a 2.91 ERA (129 ERA+) and 104 strikeouts. His 1.09 WHIP was best in the Association and he walked just 63 in 228.2 innings pitched. Him and Peter the Heater have been quite the duo, with the veteran improving to 17-10 with in a win over the Saints. He didn't go all nine, leaving with 127 pitches after 8 innings. He did walk 6, but allowed just 4 hits and a run with 5 strikeouts. His 3.09 ERA (127 ERA+) is nearly a full point lower then last season (3.95). Pap's WHIP has dropped from 1.51 to 1.18 and his BB% dropped almost 3 points (13.3 to 10.4) despite holding a near identical K% (13.3 vs 13.2). These two have been giving it their all all season long as we try to fight our way up the standings.

Billy Hunter has started to heat up, hitting an even 5-for-10 with a double, triple, homer, a walk, 3 runs, and 2 RBIs to up his season line to a more respectable .287/.319/.401 (92 OPS+). He was hitting just .258/.293/.354 at the end of August, and he could recover from what was an awful start to the season. We could use a boost from him, but Clark Car was productive as well. The lefty went 6-for-16 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and a steal. Harry Mead at a nice week too, 6-for-15 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, 3 walks, and an RBI. Skipper did well too, 5-for-17 with 2 doubles, a homer, 2 RBIs, 3 walks, and 4 runs. Walt Pack homered as well, 5-for-17 with 2 runs and 3 walks. It made up for Red Bond's rough week, as the slugger was just 1-for-19, the one hit being a double. He picked the worst time to cool off, and if we want to cut our deficit we'll need him to return to his spring form.

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week, and we'll use them to prepare for our nine game homestand. The first three are must wins, as we'll host the 52-85 Foresters. They've dropped to 27 back and are 11.5 behind the 7th place Cannons (63-75). They are off too, so they have an opportunity to structure their rotation how ever they want. They could use their top three, but those are the ones with the highest ERAs. Adrian Czerwinski (3-10, 6.57, 28) is the least rested, and while he may be missed, I expect to see John Jackson (7-9, 5.30, 56) and Dick Lamb (7-8, 3, 4.83, 43). We won't see Ducky Davis (4-13, 3.42, 66), who pitched in the 5-4 loss against the Wolves. He's done the best at preventing runs, but he's been extremely unlucky in the record department. The offense doesn't always score for him, but all season long Ivey Henley (.314, 10, 65) has done what the team has asked of him. He's on pace for 101 walks and is sporting a 15.0 BB% and 9.8 SO% in 602 trips to the plate. Chuck McHenry (.295, 5, 33) has been great since promotion, and when healthy, Jim Adams Jr. (.278, 3, 34, 10) has been impressive. We have to take them seriously, but we've handled the Foresters all season, and if we can't do that at home in September, we don't deserve to play meaningful games in October.

The next two will be against the Wolves, who have won six in a row and eleven of their last twelve. They are now just 6.5 games out of first and comfortably over .500 at 73-65. Fred McCormick (.313, 18, 83, 6) is again proving he's an All-Time great, and if he can will the Wolves to the pennant he may get his 3rd Whitney Award. Charlie Artuso (.222, 6, 48, 5) hasn't done much at the plate, but McCormick has gotten a ton of support from Tom Frederick (.278, 5, 51, 11), Chink Stickels (.268, 15, 82, 18), Hal Wood (.332, 5, 69), and Dom Tripp (.284, 2, 53). None are producing star level numbers, but all four have a WRC+ of 100 or better. But the pitching is what has fueled the comeback, as they now rank behind only us with 545 runs allowed. Like us, all five of their starters have an ERA below 4, but unlike us, they don't have any under 3.20 (we have three!). Jerry York (12-11, 3.21, 89) comes close, but Joe Hancock's (8-8, 3.93, 54) ERA+ is just four points above average. They're not quite as deep as we are, but they will cause plenty of fits for our hitters. This is a huge series for both teams, as the short sweep would be detrimental to either club's slim playoff hopes.

The week ends with the first of two against the Cannons, who we need to get a little revenge on. I think we're stuck with Rufus Barrell again, and he's the only 20-game winner out there. He owns an elite 1.97 ERA (206 ERA+) and 1.05 WHIP with 55 walks and 117 strikeouts in his 30 starts. When the season ends, he'll win his third Allen Award, and first since he was an FABL champion in 1943. No champions on the horizon for the Cannons, but Denny Andrews is now hitting .262/.363/.412 (101 OPS+) with a 117 WRC+. He's walking (59) more guys then he strikes out (46), and he's tallied 14 doubles, 14 homers, 58 runs, and 48 RBIs. He was hitting just .190/.301/.324 as late as June 24th, and has hit an impressive .349/.417/.448 (151 OPS+) in 11 September days, and this has come after a 172 WRC+ in June and 151 in July. A strong start could boost his trade value in the offseason if the Cannons decide to rebuild, and the same can be said of Adam Mullins (.276, 6, 47), Chuck Adams (.266, 23, 91), Sam Brown (.304, 8, 53), Fred Galloway (.252, 6, 56), and Jim Hensley (.214, 5, 52). All five are on the wrong side of 30, but would still command a strong prospect return. Barrell should be untouchable, but the rotation has seen a break out from 33-year-old Jim Anderson (11-9, 2.86, 81), and Chris Clarke (3-4, 2.88, 24) has impressed in his short time as a starter. They could be an active team in the offseason, but there's a lot of paths they could take even if a rebuild is not on the horizon.

Minor League Report
RF Harry Austin (A Lincoln Legislators): A 5-hit game helped earn Harry Austin a Player of the Week award, as the recently turned 22-year-old went 14-for-27 with 3 doubles, 3 homers, and 6 RBIs. He scored 8 times and drew 2 walks, and is now hitting .318/.380/.450 (120 OPS+) in 569 trips to the plate. His 131 WRC+ matches a 37 game sample from last season in San Jose. He's powered 27 doubles, 4 triples, and 11 homers with 69 RBIs and 74 runs scored. Austin has been worth nearly 3 WAR in 131 games, and he's played acceptable defense at both first and right. He may not be the hardest worker out there, but Austin has showed serious improvement, and is trying to hit his way back into our future plans. He'll finish out the season in Lincoln, but Austin will be in Mobile next year and will have a way to work his way up to Milwaukee or even Chicago. His hit tool is outstanding, and it could be enough to earn him a major league callup.

ayaghmour2 · 10-04-2023, 12:39 AM

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record: 78-65 (t-2nd, 5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Hal Sharp : 25 AB, 10 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .400 AVG, 1.164 OPS
Walt Pack : 24 AB, 6 H, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .250 AVG, .947 OPS
Red Bond : 14 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .429 AVG, 1.315 OPS

Schedule
9-14: Win vs Foresters (4-10)
9-15: Win vs Foresters (2-6)
9-16: Loss vs Foresters (5-6)
9-17: Win vs Wolves (4-7)
9-18: Loss vs Wolves (4-3)
9-19: Loss vs Cannons (3-2)

Recap
Yep, I think that's it... A useless 3-3 week may prove detrimental, as the Sailors have won eight of their last ten and expanded their lead to five. The Stars continue their collapse, dropping all four games this week, now tied with us for second but behind on percentage points. All three of our losses this week were of the one-run variety, dropping us to 20-28 on the season. This time we outscored our opponents 34-22, and there's really no excuse for us not having a perfect week. It's not even funny at this point how awful we are in one run games, and it's something I'm going to investigate a bit deeper come season's end. We still have eleven games left in 1948, but we have to pretty much win them all, as Philly's magic number is down to just seven. We do play them twice in Chicago before the season ends, but even with a sweep our chances of coming out on top are barely non-zero.

History was made this week -- and no -- not consecutive seasons as the preseason favorite with nothing to show for it, but it didn't even take a game after Leo Mitchell tied the franchise home run record, for him to set it. He saw just one pitch against Augie Hayes Jr. (14-14, 4.25, 67) in the first inning of our 10-4 win, lacing one almost 400 feet to right center to open the scoring. It was the second time Mitchell has taken Hayes deep in his career, and the 35-year-old got a wild ovation from the Cougars faithful, as they cheered on their beloved outfielder as he rounded the bases. It took 1,685 games for Mitchell to set the record, and with no active player having even 100 homers, the record should stand for a fairly long time. Ray Ford (93) is closest, but at 37 I don't think he has 44 more homers in him, and Mitchell should add a few more to his tally before he retired. The only other Cougar in the top 10 is Carlos Montes (73), but since Sal Pestilli entered the lineup playing time has been tough for the Cuban native. I'd wager Pestilli has the best chance to top Mitchell, as he'll need 5 or 6 20+ homer seasons. Still, it's an astounding feat for the 6-Time All-Star, who has hit .326/.370/.438 (127 OPS+) since debuting back in 1935. His streak of 12-consecutive 100 or higher WRC+ seasons is in danger of being snapped, and his 9-year streak of 130 or higher was snapped last season. 36 in May, he's not the same hitter he once was, but he's the captain in the clubhouse and one of the best to don a Cougar uniform. When he inevitably hangs it up, his #2 will be retired, and we'd love to keep the well-liked lefty in the organization as a coach or front office member to reward him for all he's done for the franchise.

One guy we'll be without for the final two weeks is Red Bond, who took a Cookie Myers fastball to the face, causing a fractured cheekbone and ending his season early. It's the third injury of the season for Bond, who was on track to shatter the Cougars single season home run record. His first full season as a Cougar will be just 114 games, pounding 27 homers with 14 doubles and 77 RBIs. He produced a 141 WRC+ in 467 PAs, slashing .281/.347/.524 (130 OPS+) with 40 walks and just 47 strikeouts. His 8.6 BB% was his best since 1941, and his 27 homers were more then all seasons except 1940, when he led the CA with 30 homers and 111 RBIs. With the injury, our franchise home run leader will shift from left to first, and with the AAA season over, his replacement in left will be Johnny Peters. Peters, 24, spent most of his season in center, and hit .320/.415/.462 (122 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 5 triples, 13 homers, and 63 RBIs. The former 3rd Overall Pick produced a robust 136 WRC+ and added 97 runs, 80 walks, and 7 steals, worth 4.5 WAR in 136 games. Currently ranked as the 40th best prospect in baseball, Peters is a tremendous hitter, boasting an elite eye and plus-plus hit tool. He's got legit power, good speed, and with his strength he can really hit the ball hard. Left field may be his final position, but he's a capable center fielder with experience in right and at first as well. The last two weeks will function as an early audition for the starting left field role next year, and he'll spend most of the Spring there as he gets more acquainted with the corner outfield. Peters isn't the only guy joining the roster for the last two weeks, but I'll cover them in the minor league report.

We hit a lot of homers this week, but only four guys did anything during the week. Three of the homers came from Walt Pack, who went 6-for-24 with a double and ten RBIs. Pack now has 23 homers in 120 games, upping his season line to .282/.352/.494 (124 OPS+) with a 130 WRC+ and more walks (45) then strikeouts (36). Hal Sharp hit his 10th and 11th homers of the season, going 10-for-25 with a pair of doubles, walks, 5 RBIs, and 6 runs. It's been a bit of a down year for him, but he's hitting a respectable .313/.387/.433 (119 OPS+) with a more impressive 130 WRC+. Still lowest as a Cougar and first time with us below 145, but the 34-year-old can still hit. Another 34-year-old, Harry Mead, was 7-for-20 with a double, homer, and 3 RBIs, and his .269/.336/.426 (103 OPS+) season line is a bit above average. The last productive hitter was Ray Ford, who was 2-for-7 with a double, run, and RBI. The 37-year-old may see less playing time the rest of the way, as we have a lot of guys coming up from AAA that could use his at bats. I'm not sure if he's coming back next season, but there's a chance we could move on from him in the offseason. I doubt a trade will come, but for the first time in his FABL career, he's at actual risk of losing his roster spot. I'm hoping there is some magic left in the bats, but it may just be about padding stats the rest of the way.

Johnnie Jones' rough end of the season continues, with his fourth start out of five with five or more earned runs. It was exactly five this time, as he lasted just 6.1 innings with 11 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. His ERA was at 3.10 as late as August 17th, but that has ballooned to 3.60 (109 ERA+) in 207.2 innings. He's walked (115) a lot more guys then he's struck out (92), and his 1.46 WHIP is just okay. He's prone to stretches like this, but when he's on he's on, and maybe 1949 will be the first season he can dominate start to finish. Donnie was much better, picking up a win and no decision. He went all nine against the Foresters, allowing 7 hits, 4 runs, and 2 walks with 7 strikeouts. He went just 7 in our 3-2 loss against the Foresters, but he allowed just 7 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. Despite a middling 13-11 record, he's been worth an even 5 WAR in 31 starts, and he's now put together his 4th consecutive season with 140 or more innings pitched.

Pete Papenfus has stayed hot, winning his 18th game of the season after a complete game win over the Foresters. Peter the Heater set down 5, charged with just 6 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks as he lowered his season ERA to 3.05 (129 ERA+), a full 90 points lower then last season. George Oddo evened his record to 9-9 with a complete game win, but he didn't strike out a single hitter. It wasn't his best start either, allowing 10 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), and a walk, but he's now won each of his last three decisions and hasn't lost since August 11th. Duke Bybee lost to the Wolves, going all nine with 4 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Ken Matson did all the relief work, but drew losses in two of his three appearances. It's been a rough end to the season for him, but he was charged with just two runs in 5.2 innings on 7 hits, 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. His 4.10 (96 ERA+) season ERA is a bit below average, and his 9.8 K% would be his first season in single digits. He'll have to fight for the stopper job next season, with Harry MacRae his main competitor.

Looking Ahead
The game says that Chris Clarke (3-4, 2.88, 24) will be the Cannons starter in the finale, but I'm not buying it. Rufus Barrell (21-7, 1.97, 122) is fully rested, and with our luck, I don't see how he's not on the mound against one of our Allen Winners, Pete Papenfus (18-10, 3.05, 128). Butch Smith (6-9, 7, 4.25, 43) beat us in possibly his best start of the season, and his RBI single proved to be the difference in our 3-2 loss. I know if the Cannons are looking to sell, I may reach out on Sam Brown (.305, 8, 54) or Fred Galloway (.254, 6, 59). Brown is on the older side, 38 in November, but we don't necessarily need anything more then a one-year stop gap, and he had a 117 WRC+ with 20 doubles, 5 triples, 8 homers, 54 RBIs and a .305/.369/.429 (107 OPS+) batting line. Galloway is five years younger, turning 33 next week, but he's on pace for his lowest OPS+ (92) and WRC+ (104) since his debut season back in 1938. What he does do is play excellent center field (11.1, 1.030), and he'd do outstanding out in left. And despite the low average, he walks (79) more then he strikes out (46), has been worth over 4 (4.1) wins above replacement in 141 games, and owns a career .268/.366/.388 (113 OPS+) line in almost 6,000 PAs (5,939). There are many other interesting trade pieces in that lineup, and Cannons fans may be stuck listening to trade rumors until baseball returns again in the Spring.

At times I get dramatic, so stop me if you have heard this, but this series does actually determine our season. I wish it was four games, like we have against the Stars, but we get just two chances to cut directly into the Sailors division lead. They don't play Monday, so they get to reset their rotation for the rest of the week. The Sailors are red hot, 11-5 in September, and at 83-60 they've out performed their expected record by seven by going 24-15 in one run games. They are just 4-3 against us in one run games, so expect the fifth and six victories to come here. Hypothetically, if we lose both games, that would increase our elimination number (not necessarily their magic number as that depends on the Stars and Wolves as well) by four. If we beat the Cannons, we would be down to 4 of a combination of Sailor losses and Cougar wins in the final week and a half.

Win Lewis (14-9, 2.77, 94) was the winner of the 11-0 beatdown of the Stars to finish the week, which is good news for us. The Sailors do have a deep rotation, and the numbers display no "easy" matchup, but we're expected to face their #2 and #3 in Charlie Gordon (13-6, 3.88, 86) and Al Duster (13-9, 2.87, 89). It's been a breakout season for Duster, who's 142 ERA+ and 1.34 WHIP are personal bests. He's setting personal bests for wins and WAR (2.5) in his aged 29-season, and has been exactly what the Sailors needed to replace Slick Wesolowski. Focusing on the lineup, Ed Reyes (.343, 7, 71) is doing exactly what I thought Leo Mitchell would do, on pace for his fourth consecutive batting title. So badly do I wish I traded for my former 1st Rounder when I was offered him after the 1945 season, as once again it looks like a former draftee of ours is going to lead an opposing team to a Continental Association title. He's the closest thing they have to a star, and the supporting cast is a lot of above average hitters. Top 100 prospect Joe Scott (.292, 7, 57) has been as advertised in his debut season, while veterans Harvey Brown (.295, 3, 53, 30), Rip Lee (.281, 1, 71), and Marion Boismenu (.368, 37, 8) have put together solid years. They score runs, keep runs off the board, and seem to have the "clutch" factor needed to win games. If things hold up, they'll get a chance for revenge against the St. Louis Pioneers (83-60), who hold a 4.5 game lead over the Eagles (83-60) and a 5 game lead over the preseason favorite Gothams (77-64). The 3-H rotation led by former Cougar draftee Danny Hern (11-7, 3.65, 75) while Chicago native Larry Gregory (.328, 22, 95) is making a push to dethrone Bobby Barrell (.302, 41, 112) as the Whitney Winner in the Fed. If the rematch happens, it will be the first time since 1934 and 1935 win the Foresters and Gothams trading titles. The Sailors will hope that pattern continues, but if we can pull of the short sweep in front of our home fans in what could be another 2-million ticket season. It'd be nice to give them a reward for showing out and make the repeat quest a bit tougher, but I'm definitely nervous about this one.

After that it's on the road for our last road trip of the season. It's just three games, starting with just one against the Saints. They've officially been eliminated from the playoffs, but at 72-73 they still have a chance for their first winning season since 1930. I'm rooting for them, but I'm hoping they'll repay me for my support by dropping this one. The Saints system has moved down to sixth, but that's not all bad as they've graduated #10 prospect Bill Elkins (.282, 1, 38, 13) and 24th ranked prospect Ted Coffin finished the season in AAA. Nicknamed "The Grim Reaper", Coffin was the 8th Pick in the 1944 draft, and was who I wanted to take instead of Bert Rogers, who went 12th. Coffin is probably still a year away, but he's got plenty of upside, featuring an excellent knuckle curve and slider that get funky swings due to the break. He keeps the ball on the ground and his command has improved, but his sinker tops out at 87. Lucky for him, he has a deep arsenal with a strong splitter and 12-6 curve, so he can pick his spots with the sinker. If Coffin lives up to his potential, he could join an improving rotation led by young ace Bert Cupid (15-13, 2.69, 95).

We're off on Friday, and will get a chance to pile on to the Stars slump with a weekend series in the Big Apple. Down to 80-67, they're a percentage point behind us and four of their last seven games are against us. They've gone just 4-11 in September, as the back three of Chuck Cole (13-13, 4.94, 47), Richie Hughes (11-13, 4.52, 108), and Henry Shaffer (11-10, 4.84, 69) hasn't held up and Vern Hubbard (12-11, 3.77, 80) has gone 0-4 with a 5.40 ERA (74 ERA+) in his September starts. With all the off days we're probably stuck with Hubbard and Eli Panneton (16-13, 3.95, 107), making our life very difficult. And one thing are staff struggles with is home runs, so dealing with Barrett, Mack Sutton (.248, 29, 100) and Jack Welch (.273, 30, 87) will be tough. This is an important series for both teams, but if we beat up on each other all we're going to do is let the Sailors skip to the finish. If either wants a chance, they have to at least win these two to stay in reach of first and a Sailors stumble.

Minor League Report
The Minor League seasons ended today, and eventually I'll do a standalone Minor League Report. Today, we'll get the rest of our callups as well as an impressive weekly performance.

RHP Harry MacRae (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Like the rest of the team, Harry MacRae had an awful September, but the 27-year-old still put together an excellent season for the Blues. He made 73 appearances and threw nearly 100 innings (94.1), finishing 8-4 with 23 saves. He was worth almost 3 WAR (2.7) and posted an elite 2.10 ERA (215 ERA+) with a 1.25 WHIP, 32 walks, and 48 strikeouts. MacRae will finish out the season as our setup man, and will have a shot to prove he deserves the stopper role next season. A two-pitch pitcher, MacRae has a sharp curve and effective low 90s fastball, but he didn't have the greatest showing with us last time. He was just 1-5 with a 3.80 ERA (99 ERA+) and 1.56 WHIP in 23.2 innings pitched. He did walk 9 while striking out 19, but he's never come close to that 17.8 K% again. I'm hoping he can regain some of that form in some huge wins over the Sailors.

LHP Frank Sartori: Joining MacRae in our pen will be southpaw Frank Sartori, who probably wishes he was never claimed off waivers. A former Sailors 11th Rounder, he pitched in parts of the past two seasons on their staff, going 11-9 with a 3.69 ERA (102 ERA+) and 1.47 WHIP with 85 walks and 101 strikeouts in 183 innings pitched. He started 23 of his 39 appearances, but started all 24 of the games he pitched for the Blues this year. It went all right, as he finished 9-5 with a 4.46 ERA (101 ERA+) and 1.58 WHIP. Those are average numbers, as were his 80 walks and 83 strikeouts, but he was able to go 100 pitchers with regularity while still sitting in the 95-97 range. The velocity is what I love most, as the lanky lefty can pound the zone with his fastball while his slider is almost unhittable for same side hitters. The change is a reliable third pitch as well, and all three will play very well out of the pen. I do like him as starter depth, so there's a chance for him to make a few starts if innings are needed. 26 in a few weeks, his work ethic has earned him an opportunity to fill a big league staff, and I wouldn't bet against him carving out a solid career for himself.

1B Bob Schmelz: One of the most talented hitters in our system, the 23-year-old hit .324/.429/.498 (134 OPS+) with an impressive 149 WRC+ in 113 games. Schmelz fell just short of 500 PAs, accumulating 20 doubles, 6 triples, 13 homers, 75 RBIs, and 74 runs with a whopping 76-to-29 walk-to-strikeout ratio. He'll get at least one start this week, and if we get eliminated, I may give him a few more to give Leo Mitchell a few extra days off. Currently ranked as the 169th best prospect in baseball, Schmelz is a bat only prospect, but that bat could be a great one. He hits the ball hard and often, and his plate discipline is bordering on elite. He can hit the ball to all fields and has started to hit the ball out a few times as well. I don't think he'll ever be a 15 homer guy in the majors, and as a guy who can't play much defense, adding that to his game would be huge. I may have to give him a few reps in the outfield to see if he can become a Hal Sharp type, but right now more at bats are available at first and second, and with an option left he'll likely play both in Milwaukee next year.

3B Otto Christian: After a rough start with the Blues, Otto Christian had an amazing August, and ended up making 201 trips to the plate with a 130 WRC+. He hit .322/.363/.508 (119 OPS+) with a whopping 10 homers, driving in 35 runs with 24 runs and 12 walks. One of the top young sluggers, "The Walla Walla Walloper" was ineffective in 31 games for us, hitting just .162/.244/.270 (38 OPS+) with 2 doubles, 2 homers, and 8 RBIs. His 15.1 K% was on the high side, but his 10.5 BB% was the highest its been since he spent some time in the Cuban Winter League. He won't return to the lineup this week, but if we fall out for the final week he'll get a handful of starts to finish things off. I'm hoping next year is the year he takes off, but power prospects tend to take a long time to develop. He'll be in the running for at least a share of the third base job next year, and I'm hoping he can add to his three career homers before the year ends.

We still have one spot left, but I'm saving that for now as I have a claim out, and I'm debating if I want to bring Mike Bordes up. For now, I'm sticking with Steve Mountain, but if starts behind the plate open up, I'll give Bordes a quick cup of coffee to end the year.

LHP Ron Berry (AA Mobile Commodores): Wow, this young lefty is really good! As the Commodores were looking to close out a Dixie League pennant, their Ace gave one of his best efforts, putting together an 8-hit shutout in his second to last start of the season. He finished with 12 starts, the same tally as he had in Lincoln, but saw his inning count jump from 81 to 104. He couldn't quite match the dominance with the Legislators when he went 7-3 with a 2.11 ERA (192 ERA+), 1.00 WHIP, and 3.1 K/BB ratio, but Berry again won seven games and finished with a 2.94 ERA (146 ERA+) and 1.20 WHIP. He struck out 51 and walked 41, and while his 3.86 FIP (88 FIP-) was about a run higher, it was still well above average. When you consider he doesn't turn 23 until October, it's even more impressive, and he's done everything he can to show he has what it takes to be a top pitcher. A four pitch starter, Berry has excellent stuff, dominating opposing hitters with a nasty change. Eventually FABL hitters will be able to solve it, so I'd like for the former 7th Rounder to throw harder then the 85-87 he does now. The more separation between the fastball and change the better, but his slider and curve are good enough that it doesn't matter if he stays a soft tosser. It would determine whether he'd be an ace or just a regular old starting pitcher, but I find it hard to believe that Berry won't be at least a dependable back-end guy. Our rotation is full, but if we miss the playoffs there's no way I don't make a move, and Berry could be a high valued prospect for a team without many pitching prospects.

09-05-2023, 09:03 PM	#1201
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	Week 9: June 14th-June 20th Weekly Record: 6-0 Seasonal Record: 33-27 (3rd, 2 GB) Stars of the Week Pete Papenfus : 2 Wins, 17.0 IP, 9 BB, 11 K, 1.06 ERA Sal Pestilli : 22 AB, 6 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI, .273 AVG, .998 OPS Walt Pack : 20 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .400 AVG, .950 OPS Schedule 6-15: Win vs Foresters (0-6) 6-16: Win vs Foresters (0-7) 6-17: Win vs Foresters (3-5) 6-18: Win vs Cannons (8-12) 6-19: Win vs Cannons (4-5) 6-20: Win vs Cannons (2-3) Recap While not Leo Mitchell-led, it's hard to complain about a perfect week! Even if it is at home against the 7th and 8th place teams! It was a team effort, as 12 of the 15 hitters who accumulated four or more trips to the plate provided above average production, ranging from George Sutterfield (2-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB) to Sal Pestilli (6-22, 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R, 5 BB, 2 SB), and of course, the previously mentioned Mitchell (5-18, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 4 R) who unfortunately was the least inspired of the bunch. Even with two one run wins, our run differential swelled to a CA best +31, and our pitching staff has now allowed the fewest runs in either association. Johnnie Jones has been a huge part of the league's best staff, and he fashioned 5-hit shutout in a commanding 7-0 win over the Foresters. He did walk 5, but struck out 4 to improve to 5-4 on the season. His 2.13 ERA (181 ERA+) leads the staff, and his 85 FIP- (3.31 FIP) would be the best of his career. He's still striking out (44) a few more guys then he's walked (41), something he hasn't done since his first full season back in 1943 (96 BB, 97). As good as that year was (15-8, 2.93, 97) he's currently holding personal bests in WHIP (1.19), BB% (10.6), K/BB (1.1), and ERA+. Pete Papenfus came an inning away from a shutout of his own, as despite the 6-0 lead, Max Wilder elected not to push the veteran past 137 pitches. If Pap didn't walk 6 guys, he could have gone 9, as he allowed just 2 hits and struck out 7 in a dominant performance against the Foresters. He followed it up with a more efficient 130-pitch complete game win over the Cannons to finish the sweep, allowing just 4 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. The runs came on solo shots from Sam Brown (.307, 6, 30) and Johnny Potter (.250, 1, 7) early in the game, as he finished strong with six shutout innings, as a pair of run in the 8th gave us the lead we would hold. Interesting enough, our other three starters allowed two homers, and Duke Bybee and Donnie Jones were able to work around it. Bybee picked up his six consecutive victory, allowing 10 hits and 3 runs in a complete game victory. He didn't allow a walk and struck out three as we finished off a sweep of the Sailors. Donnie didn't fair as well, but still managed to earn a complete game victory. Donnie scattered 10 hits, 4 runs, and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts over nine innings, but left the game tied. This set up late inning heroics for Sal Pestilli to lead off the 9th. It was his second homer of the game, as Pestilli got to Jersey Jim (6-4, 2.59, 42) in the 6th and was responsible for three of the four runs. He reached base all four times, walking and singling earlier in the game. George Oddo, however, was really roughed up in our 12-8 win over the Cannons. and he lasted just two innings. He was charged with 7 runs (4 earned), 5 hits, and a walk, but Clark Car's error on the second batter of the game set him up for failure. He's hit his first rough patch of the season, allowing 16 hits, 14 runs (9 earned), and 3 walks over his last two starts (6.2 IP). This has inflated his ERA from 2.66 to 3.51 (110 ERA+), and it's resemblant of his cup of coffee last September (16 IP, 14 H, 9 ER, 4 BB, 8 K). Oddo is scheduled for his 12th start this week against Sailors (29-33), and his performance may determine if his start gets skipped after our off-day next Monday. Harry Parker did the mop up work, keeping us in a game that was 7-3 when he threw his first pitch. Parker soaked up 6 innings, allowing just 4 hits and a run with 3 strikeouts. When he left we were up 12-8, allowing Eddie Howard (IP, 2 H) to get the final three outs. There's a stretch coming towards the end of the month where we play 14 games in 13 days, so it's encouraging to see Parker pitch like this for multiple innings. He could take a start to keep guys fresh if needed, and it may be one of the last chances for the 33-year-old to start an FABL game. Harry Mead looked like even year Harry Mead, going an even 6-for-12 with a double, 3 walks, 3 RBIs, and 4 runs. Walt Pack and Red Bond kept up the good work, 14-for-41 with 6 runs and 9 RBIs. Pack hit his 9th homer and Bond put out 17 and 18 to extend his league leading total. Skipper Schneider continued a nice season at the plate, going 7-for-20 with a double, 3 walks, 4 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. Skipper's now hitting a strong .313/.378/.410 (114 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 4 homers, and 29 RBIs. His 120 WRC+ would be a career high, and after a slow start defensively, he's getting closer (7.3, 1.097) to his otherworldly defensive self. The 27-year-old has always been one of the game's more valuable players, and if he can continue like this he could end up making a legitimate case for a Whitney. He always gets a few votes because of his defense, but if we can stay hot and Skipper leads the team on offense and defense, he could actually deserve some of the consideration he has already received. I'd much rather prefer the team effort like we received this season, and with another week of home games against teams that may be under .500, our guys have a chance to shine. Looking Ahead It's draft day! The AI portion of the draft occurs today, and the mock that comes with it has a very high opinion of Elmer Grace. The scouting bureau ranks Grace as the 10th pick of the draft, which is surprising considering his lack of fanfare around the draft. He's a hard worker, so maybe something happened? It'll be interesting to see where the prospect pickers place him, but perhaps Grace made an improvement in his raw power, as he did go from 5 to 8 homers. Other draftees to get a placement are Jeff King (2.13), Bob Allie (3.14), Archie Cunningham (4.9), Cecil Burr (4.13), Amos Peterson (5.1), and Dixie Gaines (5.8). I wouldn't read into it too much, but it's somewhat reassuring to see so many of our guys included. We don't have any financial issues to worry about this time around, but the largest bonus demand of any draftee comes courtesy of Amos Peterson ($31,000). I'll very begrudgingly meet that, and this definitely adds pressure on the A-Train to succeed. Our next guest is the Philadelphia Sailors who will get four chances to stop our win streak. I'm hoping they need all four, as they have lost six of their last seven and are just 29-33 entering the series. The just lost both halves of a double header in New York, so unless they use a spot starter like Vic Carroll (2-0, 3.15, 11) or Bill Martino (4-3, 3.83, 27), everyone will be throwing on short rest. One guy we'll see no matter what is David Molina (1-5, 9, 4.04, 32), although he's off to a rough start this year. The same cannot be said for Win Lewis (5-5, 2.64, 45), who has the best chance of beating us and will likely pitch the second game of the series. He hasn't gotten much run support, but the Sailors are hoping that inserting 48th ranked prospect Joe Scott in the lineup could spark some scoring additional scoring. The 24-year-old is hitting .377/.386/.547 (142 OPS+) in his first 14 big league games, adding 6 doubles, a homer, and 5 RBIs. Like most Sailors, he projects to hit for a high average and draw plenty of walks, and the former 3rd Rounder has all the talent to develop into an everyday player. They have him batting behind perennial batting title leader Ed Reyes (.369, 3, 35), and he should have plenty of RBI opportunities. Marion Boismenu (.344, 8, 4) could be on his way back, and he'll be a huge upgrade over replacement Frankie Gonnella (.170, 2). The 1944 Whitney Winner is expected to miss the next three days, so we should avoid him, but he could be back as early as the finale. I'm hoping we can stay hot, as we should be able to take advantage of a tired and beat up team who spent the week on the road. The week finishes with three against the Wolves, with an off day to look forward after the week ends. At 31-30, the Wolves are a game and a half behind us, but are stuck facing the Kings (34-27) in Brooklyn for four. That'll be tough and I'm hoping that the Wolves will be tired and below .500 when we get them. Toronto has made the bold decision to demote Joe Hancock (4-4, 5.24, 23) to the bullpen, but replacement Jim Carter (5-0, 1, 2.29, 17) has been more then capable. The former 1st Rounder still has a 2.89 ERA (139 ERA+) when used as a starter, but he has been walking (14) more guys then he's struck out (8). I don't think we'll face him, but the three we draw will be determined by whether they use a spot starter after their double header. The opposing starter may not matter too much, as they have scored the fewest runs in FABL. Fred McCormick (.286, 8, 35, 4) is still one of the better hitters in the game and Hal Wood (.341, 2, 26) has an impressive 135 WRC+ in 59 games. The issue is the lineup doesn't have much power, with just McCormick and Chink Stickels (.256, 8, 31, 7) hitting more then three home runs. Still, there is plenty of talent in that lineup, as Charlie Artuso (.252, 3, 17, 4), Tom Frederick (.289, 3, 19, 4), and Hank Giordano (.306, 1, 23, 5) are all capable big leaguers. If they get hot the Wolves can just as easily work their way back into the playoff hunt, but there aren't many reinforcements waiting in the farm to help supplement a run. If they finish the month hot, they could be an buyer, but they're just as interesting as a seller. Minor League Reports 1B Bill Payne (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Our first basemen really are doing great this year! After Billy Biggar's 30 game hit streak, Bill Payne now has one 25 games strong, and he's hitting .333/.368/.494 (114 OPS+) in 19 June games. That's similar to his .330/.400/.459 (114 OPS+) season line and he has an impressive 128 WRC+ in 265 trips to the plate. He's hit 16 doubles and 4 homers with 27 RBIs and 33 runs scored. 26 in August, Payne has the enviable position of being stuck behind Red Bond for playing time. There's not a callup likely in his future, but he could be huge when the rosters expand. He's always had a strong bat, and his patient approach has led to 29 walks and just 8 strikeouts. A guy like that could be huge off the bench, and we'll have plenty of defensive replacements that can step in. This also happens to be Payne's last option year, so a strong finish to the season will be crucial to keeping a roster. I'm not opposed to holding three first basemen, but it does seem like he'll have his work cut out for him. RHP George Carter (B San Jose Cougars): Yeah, I think he's feeling it. George Carter followed up his 2-hit shutout with a 5-hit shutout, walking just one and striking out 4 in a 4-0 win over the second place Vancouver Mounties. Carter is on pace for Pitcher of the Month in the C-O-W, now 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA (664 ERA+), 0.62 WHIP, 4 walks, and 18 strikeouts. This most recent start brought his ERA up to a near adjusted league average 4.62 (99 ERA+), while his 3.63 FIP (79 FIP-) calls for a few more scoreless innings. Carter's hot stretch has powered by his control, striking out more batters then he walked in each of his last three starts, with eight total occurrence on the season. It's hard to find a young guy with a talent like this, as most of our low minors guys tend to have walk rates in the double digits. Instead, Carter's is a minuscule 4.8% and with nearly a 3 (2.9) K/BB. With all the draftees ready to join the system, Carter may be one of the guys going up, as with a few more stellar starts he may be ready for a new challenge. __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312

09-06-2023, 08:52 PM	#1202
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	Week 10: June 21st-June 27th Weekly Record: 4-3 Seasonal Record: 37-30 (2nd, 2.5 GB) Stars of the Week Duke Bybee : 2 Wins, 16.0 IP, 8 BB, 8 K, 1.69 ERA Sal Pestilli : 25 AB, 7 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .280 AVG, .939 OPS Clark Car : 17 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .353 AVG, .929 OPS Schedule 6-21: Loss vs Sailors (4-1) 6-22: Win vs Sailors (0-3) 6-23: Loss vs Sailors (3-0) 6-24: Loss vs Sailors (3-2): 10 innings 6-25: Win vs Wolves (1-3) 6-26: Win vs Wolves (2-6) 6-27: Win vs Wolves (3-7) Recap Its not exactly two steps back, but following up a perfect 6-0 week with a 4-3 week seems very underwhelming. Underwhelming is also the best way to describe our performance against the Sailors, as they took three of four and held us to just six runs. We were lucky to win even one of the games, but luckily we heated back up when the Wolves came to town. We won all three contests, giving us three sweeps in our last four series. We dropped half a game in the standings, but are up to second as the Kings had a tough week and dropped half a game behind us. The pitching kept us in every game this week, as after allowing 4 in the opener, we allowed 3 or fewer runs in the next six games. Duke Bybee was brilliant, twirling a 6-hit, 6-strikeout shutout of the Sailors in his first start of the week. He then saw his command fall with the Wolves, walking 6 in 7 innings, but he left with 6 hits, 3 runs, and 2 strikeout, which was enough for the win. Bybee has now won each of his last seven decisions and he hasn't lost a start since May 18th. He's an impressive 9-3 with a 2.77 ERA (141 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts through 110.1 innings pitched. Johnnie Jones was the other two start starter, but his command was nowhere to be found. He walked 8 in a loss to the Sailors and 7 in a win over the Wolves, going 15.2 total with 9 hits, 6 runs, and 7 strikeouts. He's now back to walking (56) more batters then he's struck out (51), but his 2.32 ERA (169 ERA+) is the lowest of any qualified pitcher this year. Still, the walks are starting to pile up, and he's allowed 5 free passes in each of his last four starts. Peter the Heater was brilliant, and if it wasn't for a 66 minute rain delay with two outs in the 9th, he'd have come home with a sub-100 pitch (just 89!) complete game win. He allowed just 3 hits and a run with 2 strikeouts. Pap has now won each of his last four starts, allowing two or fewer runs and four or fewer hits each time out. With 8 wins in 14 starts, he's already one victory away from his season total last year, and it comes with an elite 2.69 ERA (145 ERA+) and 1.03 WHIP. His 62 strikeouts are third in the CA, and with 113.2 innings pitched he's on pace for another 250+ inning season. Donnie Jones had a nice start as well, going all nine with just 4 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. George Oddo had the last start, but picked up a loss despite a nice bounce-back. He went 8 with 6 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Ken Matson was the only busy member of the pen, throwing 4.2 innings across 4 games. He picked up a loss and save, allowing 3 hits, a run, and a walk. Harry Parker and Eddie Howard both threw scoreless innings, with Howard allowing a hit while Parker was perfect. I don't know what we'd do without our staff, as they've been as dominant as you could expect, and we lead in numerous pitching categories. Now if only we could score... There wasn't much of that this week, but Sal Pestilli continues his strong bounce-back season after posting uncharacteristically poor numbers last year. He went 7-for-25 with 2 doubles, a triple, steal, homer, 2 RBIs, 3 runs, and 4 walks. Clark Car is fully healed and certainly hitting like it, going 6-for-17 with a homer, 2 walks, 3 runs, 4 RBIs, and 3 steals. Car has slashed an impressive .327/.383/.577 (157 OPS+) with 2 doubles, 4 triples, a homer, 4 steals, and 9 RBIs in 14 June games. His .264/.299/.465 (104 OPS+) batting line is back above average, a huge increase from the career low .238/.289/.323 (73 OPS+) he hit in 84 games last year. Unfortunately most of the other everyday guys struggled, with Pack, Mitchell, Sharp, Bond, and Skipper combining to go 19-for-97 with just four extra base hits. Pack's 10th homer was this groups only homer, and Bond (double and third) was responsible for half of them. It extended Leo Mitchell's homerless streak to 32 games. as he may be pressing a bit. He's just two homers from tying the Cougars All-Time home run record, and since his only home run is on the road, he may feel the pressure of the home fans. The team captain is not used to extended slumps like this, and his .264/.309/.321 (71 OPS+) batting line is significantly lower then the pedestrian .270/.314/.391 (98 OPS+) he posted last season. Time is starting to run out this season for him, as this coming week may be the last one he remains a full-time starter. Looking Ahead The draft officially occurred in game, so later tonight I'll cover the fifteen newest members of the organization. At least one of our draftees will not sign, as 21st Rounder Dick Senatore announced he has no intention to sign, and will instead enroll at Johnstown State this fall. There will be plenty of others not to sign, but I expect to sign everyone in the first ten rounds. I'll also tender offers to the college seniors, but the priority will be the high upside prospects. You know, the Amos Peterson's (2nd, $31,000), Bob Allie's (3rd, $8,000), and Elmer Grace (4th, $2,500). In total, I sent out $60,150 to just eight players. This is almost all of our draft budget ($64,230), so I will have to take money away from the overall budget. Plus with eight additional players, there are six potential cuts to make. The Lions start up next Monday, so last year's draftees don't have much of a head start on their new competition. We're off to start the week, but it's crazy to think that we could be back in first place at some point this week. That's because we host the leading New York Saints for three, and at 41-29, they would fall behind us if we pulled off the sweep. We do have a chance, as we'll miss ace Eli Panneton (9-4, 3.63, 47), who is one of the co-leaders in wins with Duke Bybee (9-3, 2.77, 43). Instead, it's Vern Hubbard (7-3, 3.11, 37), Chuck Cole (5-8, 5.36, 24), and Richie Hughes (6-6, 5.04, 58), which seems really winnable. Our offense hasn't been great, but with the home fans behind them they could put on a show. I'm worried Bill Barrett will do exactly that, as the Whitney frontrunner comes into the series hitting .337/.433/.658 (186 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 21 homers,44 walks, and 67 RBIs. His 197 WRC+ is the best in all of baseball, and he seems to love hitting against us. But if we can keep Barrett under control, the series could be ours. Third basemen Mack Sutton (.208, 10, 35) is scuffling through a down year, Bob Riggins (.249, 4, 25, 4) has fought injuries, and skilled shortstop Joe Angevine (.225, 15, 15) has not provided much with the bat. They have gotten another great season from "Jersey Jack" Welch (.268, 18, 45), and the duo looks primed for 30+ home run seasons. This may be the biggest series of the year, and I'm worried we'll once more crumble under the pressure. The Stars seem to always get in the way of our pennant races, and I cannot wait until Bill Barrett leaves the CA. Or becomes a Cougar. The second one please! I'm hoping after a sweep the first place Cougars would be hosting the Montreal Saints, who are 35-34 and 5.5 games out of first. They have a tough series in Brooklyn before ours, so we could take advantage of a defeated team to finish our homestand. The Saints have the second best pitching staff in the league, allowing 264 runs. Unfortunately, they've only scored one more then that, so it's fitting they're basically .500. Wally Reif has been this year's breakout, as the 28-year-old is 9-3 with a 2.43 ERA (167 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts in 14 starts. His 15th start is scheduled for our series, but their Monday day off could change who we see. I'm hoping to avoid Bert Cupid (7-6, 2.47, 41), as he's the only other rotation member with an ERA below 4. Starters aside, Bud Robbins (3-1, 10, 1.44, 9) has been useful in the pen and I can already imagine all the one run losses. The lineup doesn't score much, and while they may not start him, they did acquire Gil London (.087, 3) from the Kings. He won't take any time from talented shortstop Gordie Perkins (.287, 4, 27, 6), but second basemen Bob Jennings (.231, 1, 13) is off to a slow start. and could get time off against lefties. If we can keep slugger Maurice Carter (.248, 11, 38) and Pinky Pierce (.260, 9, 30) in the park I like our chances, but with two similar teams these three games might all be close. And that worries me... Minor League Report 1B Harry Austin (A Lincoln Legislators): What is it with our first basemen and hitting streaks? Bill Payne's may have been snapped at 25, but now Harry Austin has one that is 24 games strong. That's pretty much the entirety of his June, and the former regional pick has hit .370/.417/.480 (134 OPS+) with 6 doubles, a triple, a homer, and 11 RBIs. The Illinois native reached A ball for the first time this season at 21, and he followed up a strong 37 game sample with San Jose last year where produced a 131 WRC+ while hitting .309 with 8 doubles, 3 homers, and 16 RBIs. There's not much power from the converted outfielder, who has just 2 homers this season. Despite that, his .309/.379/.410 (106 OPS+) in productive for someone his age. He's walked (26) more then he's struck out (15) and he has an above average 119 WRC+ in 280 trips to the plate. With Biggar in Mobile, Austin is stuck here the rest of the season, but it will be nice to see how he handles his first full season, having never played more then the 64 games he's played this year. 1B Cal Rice (B San Jose Cougars): No hit streak for Cal Rice, but the 20-year-old first basemen did take home Player of the Week in the California-Oregon-Washington League. The former 10th Rounder went 12-for-21 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, 7 RBIs, 7 runs, and 3 walks. That upped the Canadian's triple slash to .289/.363/.452 (109 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 4 triples, 3 homers, and 38 RBIs. Somewhat surprisingly, the move to 24 has turned him into one of our higher ranked prospects, currently 9th in the system and 114th overall. This is higher then last year's third rounder Dudley Sapp (13th, 151st) and former second rounder Frank Reece (10th, 134) ranks one spot behind him in our system. I think that may be a bit too much praise, as while he has the tools to start, I don't expect him to be an extremely reliable regular without any power. He may hit around .300, but without 15+ home runs he doesn't have the ideal bat for first base. At 6'3'' there's hope he'll build the requisite power, but for now I just hope he can keep his strikeouts low (13.2%) and continue to record doubles. RHP Al Robison (B San Jose Cougars): More callups will happen tomorrow, but I went ahead and sent 21-year-old Al Robison to Lincoln. The former 8th Rounder has dominated all season, going 7-2 with a 1.64 ERA (278 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, 36 walks, and 57 strikeouts in 11 starts. This is a huge improvement from last season, where his struggles force him into the pen at the end of the season. He started just 12 of the 20 games he pitched for San Jose last season, going 1-10 with a 6.08 ERA (62 ERA+) and 1.85 WHIP. A four pitch pitcher, Robison has a nasty slider and the 6'4'' righty can touch 92 with his fastball. He'll need to develop a third pitch, as neither his curve or change can be relied on yet. As a ground baller with solid velocity a strong changeup would be ideal, and it could turn him into a very productive pitcher. I hope he can get off to a good start for the Legislators and finish his season off with them. He's not one of our higher ranked prospects, but he's still young and an intriguing development project with his height and velocity. __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312

09-06-2023, 10:05 PM	#1203
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	1948 Draft: Round 11-25 11th Round, 164th Overall: CF Clyde Skinner School: San Bernardino Falcons Commit School: CC Los Angeles Coyotes 1948: .455/.540/.752, 127 PA, 15 2B, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 8 SB Career: .446/.535/.724, 509 PA, 54 2B, 6 3B, 16 HR, 124 RBI, 14 SB A four year starter at San Bernardino, Clyde Skinner is our first and likely only AI pick of much value. He hit .446 with the Falcons, and complied a solid amount of extra base hits, most notably his 54 doubles and 16 home runs. He's on the slow side for a center fielder, and stole just 14 bases, which leads me to believe he'll be best suited for a corner. He does have the bat for it, as he could hit around .300 with strong plate discipline. In high school he drew 62 walks to just 22 strikeouts, and he could end up walking more then he strikes out in the big leagues. It may be tough to get the 18-year-old into many games this season, but he has the bat to develop into an average big league player. He's demanding $2,600 to sign, which is on the high side, but eventually I'll come around to meeting his demands. It'll be interesting to see how he handles center, as if he can provide plus defense there it would be a huge increase to his value. I'm not holding out hope, but we certainly could have done worse here. 12th Round, 180th Overall: 2B Bob Benton School: Middlesboro Yellowjackets Commit School: North Carolina Tech Techsters 1948: .431/.492/.696, 120 PA, 12 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 29 RBI, 15 SB Career: .425/.499/.692, 470 PA, 49 2B, 8 3B, 12 HR, 110 RBI, 69 SB Another four year starter, Bob Benton's best year came as a junior, where he hit .454/.513/.670 with 13 doubles, 2 homers, and 24 RBIs. In his four seasons with Middlesboro he's totaled 12 homers and 110 RBIs, but the .425/.499/.692 line leaves some to be desired. 19 in September, he doesn't have much versatility, as all 93 of his games have come at second base. OSA, however, is a big fan, labeling Benton a "above average big league second basemen" with praise for his bat. They think he can hit around .310, handle most fastballs, and have some effectiveness working the count. He may not be the most exciting prospect, but he has a decent bat from the left side. He can handle second fine, but at 6'1'' he's an ideal candidate to move to first. He's likely to sign, but don't expect Benton to start many games over the next few seasons. 13th Round, 196th Overall: LHP Curt Smith School: Clearfield Bison Commit School: Opelika State Wildcats 1948: 10-1, 115 IP, 1.41 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 41 BB, 165 K Career: 26-3, 305.2 IP, 1.56 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 107 BB, 427 K One of the youngest members of the draft, southpaw Curt Smith won a personal best 10 games as a junior, finishing his prep career with 26 wins and 427 strikeouts in three seasons. 17 in September, Smith's baseball talent and academic achievement allowed him to skip a year of high school, and if we decide not to sign him he'll enroll into Opelika State to pursue a non baseball-degree. A four pitch pitcher, Smith has an excellent slider that is lethal to same side hitters. His fastball has decent movement and hits 88, while his sinker and change can be used to get hitters to beat balls into the ground. Add in his 6'2'' height and his stuff could be pretty dominant. He's a project pick who's no more then an emergency starter now, but we'll give him a few years to polish his stuff, and he could earn a few starts. 14th Round, 212th Overall: 1B Charlie Everitt School: Cowpens State Fighting Green 1948: .292/.368/.427, 203 PA, 6 2B, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 4 SB Career: .287/.364/.411, 495 PA, 15 2B, 13 HR, 75 RBI, 6 SB A member of the 14th Ranked Cowpens State Fighting Green, first basemen Charlie Everitt may be returning for his senior season. We are very deep at the first basemen and Everitt hit just 13 homers in his two seasons. There's not really an obvious spot in the system for the 21-year-old, but Dixie Marsh is more fond of the 6'4'' first basemen then I am. He thinks he could be an average big leaguer, one that displays an above average contact and eye tool. An endorsement like that from Marsh could be what ends up convincing me of bringing him in, but whether he signs or not he won't get much playing time this season. With his age he could start anywhere as high as Lincoln, but unless an injury comes up we won't have a starting spot for him. 15th Round, 228th Overall: RHP Ed Watson School: Burnet Bulldogs Commit School: Wapasha College Warriors 1948: 8-1, 96.1 IP, 1.49 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 29 BB, 130 K Career: 28-7, 351.2 IP, 1.84 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 112 BB, 427 K A four year starter at Burnet, Ed Watson failed to reach 100 innings as a high schooler, with the 96.1 he threw this season his career high. That's concerning as he started all 51 of his high school appearances, averaging under seven innings a start. That's not very encouraging, and the mix of low stamina and flyball tendencies could be an issue for future success. Add on the projected "bullpen" role for his future, and there's no need to sign him unless we're absolutely desperate for an arm. College could do him well, as he's an extremely competitive guy, but in the best of ways, and he's sure to help improve the morale of whatever dugout he's a part of. 16th Round, 244th Overall: SS Warren Ross School: Rochester Tribunes Commit School: Central Ohio Aviators 1948: .436/.508/.636, 135 PA, 12 2B, 5 3B, 29 RBI, 34 SB Career: .434/.515/.653, 269 PA, 27 2B, 9 3B, HR, 57 RBI, 66 SB A switch hitting infielder, Warren Ross made varsity for the Rochester Tribunes and played some short, second, and third in his two seasons. The light hitter only hit one homer, and it came last year, and his .434/.515/.653 career line leaves some to be desired. He does have a good eye, and with his speed he can make a difference once on base, but I don't know if he'll hit for a high enough average to be a useful big leaguer. Granted, switch hitting shortstops have plenty of value in a utility role, so Ross could be a useful bench piece. He does have a strong commitment to Central Ohio, which is one of the stronger baseball programs. I'm on the fence on signing him, as it may come down to who gets cut more then his future potential. He's a useful guy to keep around, but we have plenty others like him hanging around already. 17th Round, 260th Overall: RHP Marty Davis School: Lee's Summit Tigers Commit School: College of Waco Cowboys 1948: 9-2, 107.1 IP, 2.01 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 44 BB, 128 K Career: 17-4, 202 IP, 2.05 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 74 BB, 238 K A two year starter at Lee's Summit, Marty Davis didn't really excite, but went 17-4 with a 2.26 FIP and 238 strikeouts in 30 starts. A three pitch pitcher, he relies on his mid 80s fastball, but it's not a pitch that will fool many hitters. His slider isn't much better, but could be worked into an out pitch. At 5'9'' he's also on the short side for pitchers, and may not end up throwing very hard. I'm not too interested in Davis, and I don't expect making him a permanent member of the system. 18th Round, 276th Overall: C Ralph Greenlee School: Redeemer Rams Commit School: Mississippi Tech Cougars 1948: .416/.489/.619, 134 PA, 8 2B, 5 HR, 31 RBI, 5 SB Career: .408/.489/.599, 524 PA, 43 2B, 3 3B, 11 HR, 113 RBI, 25 SB One of just two catchers in the AI portion of the draft, Ralph Greenlee spent all four seasons at Redeemer catching for the Rams. One of the team's leaders, he hit .408 with 11 homers and 113 RBIs in 103 games, and will now move on to the Cougars. Whether that's the Chicago Cougars or the Mississippi Tech iteration is unknown, as we may already have three catchers in La Crosse with Alex O'Dailey, Ernie Frost, and Sam Bird. 18 next month, Greenlee could be a decent contact hitter, but his overall bat has a lot of developing ahead. The 5 homers this season was nice, but I don't know if that power will stay. He did walk 64 times with just 19 strikeouts, but he'll need to play plus defense to earn consistent time. If someone gets injured, I could sign him late, but my guess is he'll head to campus this fall. 19th Round, 292nd Overall: 2B Maury Hudson School: Cowpens State Fighting Green 1948: .265/.325/.302, 212 PA, 7 2B, 24 RBI, 24 SB Career: .272/.333/.322, 464 PA, 13 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 59 RBI, 46 SB A teammate of 14th Rounder Charlie Everitt, we ended up with the entire left side of the Fighting Green's infield, picking up second basemen Maury Hudson in the 19th Round. An extremely light hitter, the two-year starter has just two homers in 92 games, with both coming last year as a sophomore. Even worse, he only had 16 extra base hits, so with Maury you pretty much get a single or an out. That's not a good strategy, and since he's just a junior, I don't have any qualms sending him right back to Cowpens State. 20th Round, 308th Overall: RHP Dutch Jones School: Chicago Poly Panthers 1948: 6-5, 102.2 IP, 4.38 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 46 BB, 68 K Career: 15-21, 328 IP, 4.38 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 169 BB, 204 K Taken out of nearby Chicago Poly, David "Dutch" Jones was the Panthers ace all three years he attended Chicago Poly, and he had his best season as a junior. Dutch went 6-5 with a 4.38 ERA and 68 strikeouts. A five pitch pitcher, he's a kitchen sink guy who tries to keep you on his toes when he' on the mound. He won't overpower, sitting in the mid 80s with the hard stuff, but he does keep the ball in the park. His pitches are hittable, so command will be crucial. The Indiana native could soak up innings out of the pen for us if a need arises, and I'm actually leaning on tendering him a bonus. That's partially because of where he went to school, but I love guys with multiple pitches that can throw multiple innings. 21st Round, 324th Overall: SS Dick Senatore School: Maysville Panthers Commit School: Johnstown State Mountain Cats 1948: .441/.495/.753, 103 PA, 11 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 14 SB Career: .443/.497/.684, 364 PA, 31 2B, 16 3B, 5 HR, 80 RBI, 55 SB Already listed as an impossible, I'm not even going to try to sign the Doctor Senator doppelganger Dick Senatore. A three year starter at Maysville, Senatore hit .441 with 5 homers, 55 steals, and 80 RBIs. The switch hitter works the count well and has a decent hit tool, but at 6'4'' you'd think there would be more power. I think three years at Johnstown State could develop that, and Senatore could be a legit prospect when he's again eligible for the draft. He's got some versatility, playing left, third, and second as well as his primary short, and he did hit 6 triples in each of his last two seasons. Right now, he only projects as a bench guy, but if he fills out he could be an early round draft pick. 22nd Round, 340th Overall: RHP George Hutchison School: Bayou State College Cougars 1948: 7-6, 125 IP, 4.25 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 75 BB, 137 K Career: 12-14, 256.2 IP, 4.84 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, 187 BB, 250 K Another college arm, George Hutchison had a much better junior season then sophomore season, improving his record (5-8 to 7-6), ERA (5.40 to 4.25), WHIP (1.87 to 1.57), walk rate (17.6 to 12.9) and strikeout rate (17.7 to 23.5) in slightly fewer innings pitched (131.2 to 125). They weren't the most encouraging numbers, but he had an above average 3.87 FIP (96 FIP-) and was hitting 90 with his fastball and sinker. Like Dutch, he could be an interesting inning eater for one of our affiliates pen, but I may decide to let him go back to Bayou State. 23rd Round, 356th Overall: SS Charlie Brunson School: Lindsey College Greyhounds 1948: .286/.355/.368, 238 PA, 7 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 32 RBI, 37 SB Career: .286/.355/.368, 807 PA, 21 2B, 4 3B, 10 HR, 121 RBI, 109 SB A three year starter at Lindsey College, Charlie Brunson came close to hitting .300 as a freshman and sophomore, and currently owns a .286 lifetime average. He's added 109 steals, 10 homers, and 121 RBIs in 160 games. I expect the 22-year-old will return for his senior season, but he became the first player from his school to be selected in the FABL draft. I expect him to be signed next season, as he has a nice work ethic, acute strike zone abilities, and excellent pure speed. Where he lacks for in power, he does make up for in line drives, as he can get a hold of mistake pitches. As a decent defensive shortstop he has the nice floor of a utility infielder, and if we suffer an injury outbreak Brunson could join the team in August. 24th Round, 372nd Overall: RHP Joe Van Valkenburg School: Cowpens State Fighting Green 1948: 4-7, 112.2 IP, 5.27 ERA, 1.82 WHIP, 81 BB, 65 K Career: 7-14, 212.1 IP, 5.64 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, 152 BB, 116 K I'm not sure if you can tell, but Dixie Marsh spent some of his summer watching Cowpens State games. 22 in September, Van Valkenburg was the #2 and was not needed after the early exit. He didn't have a great season, walking more hitters then he allowed while sporting an ERA above five. In less there's an emergency we won't sign him, as he isn't the most exciting pitcher. None of his four pitches are any good and I don't expect him to ever see the 90s. He does have a good work ethic, so by letting him go he'll have one more shot to improve his prospect status. 25th Round, 388th Overall: C Carl Evans School: Opelika State Wildcats 1948: .275/.360/.374, 301 PA, 8 2B, 6 HR, 47 RBI, 4 SB Career (HS): .405/.498/.589, 229 PA, 16 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 48 RBI, 19 SB Career (COL): .266/.363/.346, 1,023 PA, 28 2B, 14 HR, 149 RBI, 13 SB We finished things off with a senior catcher, Carl Evans, who was now drafted for the third time in his professional career. He played two years of varsity baseball at Forest Home, and was drafted by the Washington Eagles in the 19th Round. Instead of signing he went to Opelika State, and after three seasons the Miners took him in the 22nd Round. Evans finished his college career with a .266/.363/.346 batting line and hit 14 homers in 203 games. He's a really smart baseball mind and does an excellent job with his pitching staffs, and I expect he'll be a good presence in the clubhouse. After I take care of all our important signings, I'll bring in Evans, who I expect can replace Pat Brown Jr. as the Legislators backup catcher. Whether he gets released or promoted is up to his performance, as I have cuttable guys above. Like Brown, Evans won't be much more then a backup, but his glove will allow him to stick around. If he can provide value at the plate, that's a plus, but he has a lot of aspects of a useful organizational piece. __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312

09-08-2023, 12:17 AM	#1204
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	Week 11: June 28th-July 4th Weekly Record: 4-2 Seasonal Record: 41-32 (2nd, 4 GB) Stars of the Week Hal Sharp : 19 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .421 AVG, 1.134 OPS Leo Mitchell : 19 AB, 10 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .526 AVG, 1.076 OPS Duke Bybee : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 1 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA Schedule 6-29: Loss vs Stars (4-3) 6-30: Loss vs Stars (3-1) 7-1: Win vs Stars (3-6) 7-2: Win vs Saints (5-9): 10 innings 7-3: Win vs Saints (0-2) 7-4: Win vs Saints (0-4) Recap Its not every week you lose just two games and fall a game and a half in the standings, but when you lose games to the team you are chasing, you're in for a heck of a lot of trouble. The Stars left town winners of two of three, as yet again, the one-run games got in our way. We actually matched their scoring, with both teams winning ten. Luckily, we got back to sweeping, picking up our fourth in six series, sweeping the struggling Saints and moving back within four of the Stars. They are starting to pull away, but as you might expect, our +47 run differential laps their +27. Back to our old tricks! But guess what!?!?!?! Leo Mitchell may be back!!! The veteran slugger finally put the ball in play, going 10-for-19 with a run scored and driven in. Still no homers, but it's nice to see a classic .500+ week from the former 2nd Rounder. Hal Sharp had success as well, 8-for-19 with 2 doubles, a homer, and 6 RBIs. Sal Pestilli kept up his consistent bat, 7-for-24 with a triple, homer, 2 steals, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs. He's been an extra base machine, hitting 11 doubles, 10 triples, and 12 homers with 12 steals, 25 walks, 43 runs, and 41 RBIs. Part-timers Ray Ford, Carlos Montes, and Billy Hunter all performed well, going 7-for-19, with Ford and Montes both hitting balls out of the park. Harry Mead went 4-for-15 with a double and homer while Clark Car was 6-for-19 with a double and steal. It's hard to be too mad at the lineup, but we need to heat Red Bond and Walt Pack up. Bond is now ice cold, and the sluggers went just 8-for-40 with Pack at least adding a double and homer. It is still early, but we're starting to fall back, and I'm not ready for another failed season. Can we just score some runs please?!?!? The pitching was fantastic, and we had just one game where we allowed more then four runs. We still won that game, as a Hal Sharp walk-off grand slam in the 10th gave us the opener with the Saints. Johnnie started that one, charged with 9 hits, 5 runs, and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts in 9 innings pitched. The Saints used up all their scoring in that one, as Duke Bybee and Donnie Jones followed it up with shutouts. Bybee did allow 10 hits, but just 1 walk with 4 strikeouts to win his 10th game of the season. This was his first start after earning Pitcher of the Month for June, as he was a perfect 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA (218 ERA+), 1.10 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts. Bybee has put his name in the running for All-Star game starter, as the former 4th Rounder is 10-3 with a 2.56 ERA (153 ERA+) and 1.22 WHIP. He's struck out 47 in 15 starts and has already thrown three shutouts. Whether he starts or not, he deserves to represent us at the Midsummer Classic, as he's been one of the few guys to consistently win starts for us. Donnie Jones allowed just 3 hits, but his came with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts to improve return to .500 at 6-6. It came after a loss against the Stars where he allowed 5 hits, 3 runs, and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts. Donnie has shaken off his slow start, and now owns a 3.16 ERA (124 ERA+) and 1.23 WHIP with 60 strikeouts through 16 starts. George Oddo was the only one to beat the Stars, going 8 with 7 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Pap got an unlucky no decision, going 8 with 11 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and 7 strikeouts. He's up to 69, good for third in the association. Our pitching is as good as it gets, and if the offense can start waking up, we'll be in very good shape. A lot of our important draftees have signed, with plenty of surprising additions to the top 100 list. With no first rounder, I didn't expect any, but at least for now we have three. 4th Rounder Dixie Gaines ranks 5th in the system and 57th overall. Dixie ranks second so far among pitchers selected in the recent draft, trailing just 12th Overall Pick Jimmy Isgro (#45) He's not the only addition to the top 100, as fellow 4th Rounder Elmer Grace ranks 75th and 3rd Rounder Jeff King ranks 95th. Two more Cougar draftees Bob Allie (106th), Cecil Burr (142nd), and Archie Cunningham (178th) find themselves inside the top 200. The only guy who signed, but doesn't rank, is 2nd Rounder Amos Peterson, but that's because he signed on the last day of the sim. My only offer out left is Dick Cunningham, but I will begin to offer out more bonuses. La Crosse is getting started this week, and with three open spots, at least three of the guys who signed will be joining the Lions. Looking Ahead Remember early in the season where we kept alternating home-road-home-road? It's that time again! Fresh off an impressive homestand, we'll once again face the New York Stars, with two on Monday and a third on Tuesday. The Stars are 47-30, outperforming their expected record by 6 games. The pitching matchups should favor us, as while they can use a spot starter, we'll miss both Eli Panneton (10-5, 3.72, 54) and Vern Hubbard (8-3, 3.05, 41) who swept the Kings in a double header. That leaves Chuck Cole (6-8, 5.01, 25), Richie Hughes (7-6, 4.79, 65), and Henry Shaffer (6-4, 4.78, 34), and while Cole did beat us in Chicago, I really like our chances here. Making things difficult for New York is the sore elbow of Ed Holmes, as the Stars may be without the 51st ranked prospect for the next two weeks. He's having a great debut season, slashing .344/.398/.519 (141 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 6 triples, a homer, 4 steals, and 14 RBIs in 184 trips to the plate. They could decide to have him play through it, as it only effects his throwing, but Andy Gross (.257, 2, 21, 2) is a capable replacement. This is a huge series for us, as anything less then a series win could put us in a world of pain as we look to return to the postseason for the first time since 1941. Then we're quickly back home for two with the Kings. Brooklyn had a rough week, dropping to 39-36 and seven place out of first, dropping all five if their July games so far. One of the few bright spots of the week for the Kings was former Cougar Hank Barnett hitting his 300th career home run off the talented Bert Cupid (8-6, 2.51, 45). A career .284/.363/.441 (123 OPS+) hitter, the 38-year-old hasn't gotten off to the best start, hitting just .228/.310/.386 (81 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 8 homers, and 40 RBIs. He has walked (31) more then he's struck out (28), but there have been very few instances this season where he looks like his prime self. They've announced the recently healthy Juan Pomales (.160, 1) will move to the bench, but the replacement Pat Petty (.285, 6, 41) is more then capable. He's no Ralph Johnson (.282, 17, 50) of course, and it's going to be annoying facing the two best non-Bobby Barrell right fielders in a row. I also expect to face strikeout machine Bob Arman (8-7, 2.34, 78) making things all the more difficult. I do think we'll miss out on Leo Hayden (6-8, 4.01, 49), but no matter who pitches, we'll have to keep up with their offense. The Kings (20-16) have been playing better on the road, so it may not be in our benefit to be hosting them. We'll have to keep up with their offense, so I'm really hoping Red Bond (.282, 18, 43), Walt Pack (.255, 11, 30), and Sal Pestilli (.259, 12, 41, 12) have some home runs up their sleeves. More traveling and a tough one as we play the Saints three times before the All-Star break. Montreal followed up a 12-17 June with three losses in four games. They're one of the few offenses to score fewer (279) runs then us and are now 36-39 and ten out of first. We just swept them in Chicago, so it's a prime revenge opportunity for them. They'll have a few All-Stars, as Cupid and Wally Reif (9-3, 2.56, 53) are both deserving of their first All-Star selections. Relievers get picked as well, which means Bud Robbins (3-2, 10, 2.20, 10) has a good chance of making his second appearance as a reliever. The lineup has deserving candidates as well, with Gordie Perkins (.283, 5, 28, 6), Bill Greene (.245, 7, 29, 15), and Pinky Pierce (.269, 9, 32) all having strong seasons. This last week will have a huge impact on who make the bench spots, and the last thing the Saints will want to do is take two more shutouts. The Parc Cartier is a very pitcher friendly stadium, so I expect three very long games between the top two pitching staffs. Minor League Report 1B Billy Biggar (AA Mobile Commodores): Can't say I'm surprised Billy Biggar was Batter of the Month in the Dixie League, as he hit an absurd .408/472/.560 (162 OPS+) with 13 doubles and 28 RBIs. No homers for the light hitting first basemen, as he still has one in 68 games. That hasn't made him any less effective, as his season .418/.468/.561 (162 OPS+) line is just as good as his monthly one. His 170 WRC+ is best on the team and he's tallied 26 doubles, 6 triples, 45 runs, and 53 RBIs with 28 walks and just 13 strikeouts. He's even swiped three bases, and is already worth 3.3 WAR -- the exact amount he accumulated in 135 games in A ball last year. He deserves a promotion, but there's no space in Milwaukee. He could be ready for the big leagues, and as a Rule-5 eligible player there's a chance he could leave the organization sometime soon. What works against him is he's unranked on the prospect list, as light hitting first basemen aren't the most highly sought out commodities. He's always going to hit, but his defensive shortcomings limit his value. RHP Fred Terry (AA Mobile Commodores): One pitcher at each level needs to be moved from San Jose on up to make room for Dixie Gaines, and Fred Terry might very well be the guy getting the call to Milwaukee. He's certainly hot, winning five of his last six starts, including a 6-hit shutout of the Knoxville Knights. Terry struck out three and surrendered no free passes, improving to 8-4 on the season with a 3.64 ERA (122 ERA+) and 1.39 WHIP. Unfortunately for Terry, fellow 23-year-olds Harry Beardsley (7-4, 3.23, 52) and Dick Garcia (7-5, 2.27, 34) have been excellent as well. Luckily for the hardworking Terry, more spots will be needed once Hal Carter, Joe Oates, and Nick Tomlinson sign, so even if he's passed up this time, he'll have a few other chances. It would be a quick ascend to AAA if Terry makes it, as he threw just 2 starts in San Jose and 8 starts in Lincoln last year. As a college senior, he was more advanced then the average college starter, so I'm not worried about rushing him. If he can solidify is arsenal he could pitch his way into a big league rotation, but there's a tough path ahead for the Birmingham native. LHP Ron Berry (A Lincoln Legislators): It has been a dominant start for Ron Berry in A ball, as through 12 starts he has an elite 2.11 ERA (205 ERA+) and 1.00 WHIP with 19 walks and 59 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched. It would be tough to keep this up for long, but considering Berry's 2.93 FIP (67 ERA+), he may continue to miss bats and keep runs off the board. The extreme groundballer has yet to allow a home run and is sporting an outstanding 3.1 K/BB in his 12 starts. This combination has allowed to many quick innings and he hasn't lost a start since May 11th. Currently ranked as the 65th prospect in baseball, Berry is doing everything he can to boost his prospect stock, and his stuff has impressed so far. He's not a very hard thrower, sitting at 85-87 with his fastball, but his change up is devastating as the bottom just craters out. His slider is particularly effective against same side hitters and his curveball is effective against the ones with the platoon advantage. Despite the low speed, all four of his pitches are already weapons, and he could probably strike out some FABL hitters at 22. It's clear he is ready to face tougher competition, and the former 7th Rounder will finish out his season with the Commodores. RHP Bob Allen (B San Jose Cougars): It hasn't been the greatest start to the season for Bob Allen, and he's seen his K% drop from 11.1 to 8.9 down in San Jose. He did finish June strong, throwing a 5-hit shutout against the first place Salem Warriors. That dropped his ERA to a more palatable 4.65 (98 ERA+) in 81.1 innings pitched. The 20-year-old isn't having the same batted ball luck he did last year, and with the stark decline in strikeouts he hasn't wiggled out of jams as easily. He does tend to get outs on the ground, with an elevated 58% ground ball percentage. With a Skipper Schneider at short that's an advantage, but most minor league infielders aren't as gifted as him. I'm hoping Allen can start to miss more bats. His slider is an excellent pitch, but his fastball remains in the 80s. If he can sit in the 90s Allen will lead a rotation, as his pitches have plenty of bite and are difficult to elevate. His overall stuff is still raw, but he could be among the leagues strikeout leaders just like Pap, Oddo, and the Jones Brothers are now. A few of the new draftees rank above Allen, so he's just outside the top 10 (11th Overall), but he remains the second ranked pitcher. His future is bright and will surely spend years in our rotation. A full decade younger then Pap, they may not pitch too much together, but I'm hoping they will be good enough for a nice passing of the torch. RHP Tommy Seymour (B San Jose Cougars): One of the pitchers who will be moving up, the former 1st Rounder Tommy Seymour will return to Lincoln, where he went just 6-14 with a 5.63 ERA (75 ERA+) in 24 starts last year. The 22-year-old was much better down a level, as despite his 5-6 record he had a strong 3.74 ERA (121 ERA+) and 1.37 WHIP with 33 walks and 45 strikeouts. A three pitch pitcher, Seymour was just pushed outside the top 300 prospect list and now ranks 31st (341st overall) in our system. When we selected him 13th Overall back in 1943, I was hoping he'd add some speed, potentially sitting in the low 90s by now. Instead, he tops out at 87, severely limiting the effectiveness of his excellent change up. He does still have his youth, but Seymour lacks the shine of some of our recent first rounders. If he doesn't debut in FABL, he'll break a 13 player streak going back to Ed Reyes in 1931 of FABL players. None of the first rounders selected after Seymour have debuted, but 1945 1st Rounder Johnny Peters is ticketed for a debut no later then this September as he'll be Rule-5 eligible. There's still some time left for Seymour to earn a big league callup, but he's no longer a 1st Round talent, and won't receive the benefits that distinction brings. Attached Images __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312 Last edited by ayaghmour2; 09-08-2023 at 03:58 PM.

09-08-2023, 02:25 AM	#1205
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	Trade News! We made a minor addition to the big league roster, acquiring left fielder Luke Berry from the Pittsburgh Miners. A 30-year-old veteran, Berry was recently relegated to the bench on a youthful Miners team, and carries a .233/.353/.335 (80 OPS+) line into the week. While that doesn't look too exciting on the surface, he's a righty swinger with an excellent 47-to-12 walk-to-strikeout ratio and a 96 WRC+. We don't have the greatest bench, and in a part-time role last year he hit .303/.371/.436 (122 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 3 homers, 21 walks, and 34 RBIs. We rank dead last in on-base percentage and Berry has drawn nearly twice as many walks (47) as any other Cougar. Skipper (29) is the only one with more then 25, so Berry provides a different look to the team. He's had sporadic playing time over his 8-year career, but is best known for his All-Star season in 1944. The Miners 4th Rounder hit an impressive .299/.370/.423 (134 OPS+) that year with 30 doubles, 11 homers, 59 walks, and 78 RBIs. He never came too close to that again, but it's also the only time he managed to tally more then 450 plate appearances in a season. I don't think he'll hit that this year, but will add to his 666 career big league games. He owns a respectable .291/.358/.389 (115 OPS+) career line with 118 doubles, 23 homers, 225 walks, and 295 RBIs. He gives us insurance for Leo Mitchell, who's hitting just .213/.288/.213 (37 OPS+) against lefties this season. Berry's career WRC+ against lefties (117) is just one point higher then it is against righties (116), but that's still light-years better then Mitchell has hit this season. If he can handle left somewhat decently, he could get semi-regular playing time, but for now I just expect him to face the occasional lefty we run into. The return for Pittsburgh is 23-year-old righty Babe Stinson, who was added to the 40-man roster in the offseason. He's the 274th ranked prospect and was 6-0 with a 3.61 ERA (130 ERA+) and 21 strikeouts in 67.1 innings for the Blues. This means our 40-man roster will stay at 34, leaving plenty of room for future additions. One spot will go to Johnny Peters, who I have even considered calling up. The 37th Ranked prospect is hitting .326/.417/.431 (112 OPS+) in 314 trips to the plate and has recently got five starts in left. I want to give him more time with the position before trying him in the majors. Berry will have a head start on Peters, so if he hits it will take until September for the former 3rd Pick to debut. __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312

09-08-2023, 04:29 PM	#1206
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	Week 12: July 5th-July 11th Weekly Record: 2-6 Seasonal Record: 43-38 (t-3rd, 7.5 GB) Stars of the Week Walt Pack : 19 AB, 10 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .526 AVG, 1.203 OPS Harry Mead : 19 AB, 7 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .368 AVG, 1.244 OPS Sal Pestilli : 26 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .231 AVG, .872 OPS Schedule 7-5: Loss at Stars (10-15) 7-5: Lost at Stars (5-6) 7-6: Loss at Stars (2-7) 7-7: Loss vs Kings (5-4) 7-8: Loss vs Kings (11-2) 7-9: Loss at Saints (0-1) 7-10: Win at Saints (5-4) 7-11: Win at Saints (12-5) Recap This team is just so frustrating... Everything went wrong this week, as we were swept by the Stars and Kings, and dropped to 43-38. We are now tied for third and trailing the first place Stars by 7.5 games at the half-way point. Despite the awful end to the first half, we still lead the CA with 5 All-Stars, as Duke Bybee (1st), Pete Papenfus (3rd), Red Bond (3rd), Skipper Schneider (7th), and Sal Pestilli (7th) will be representing us. We have just one starter, as Sal will man center for the CA team, but it's nice seeing Pap make it despite not being on the All-Star ballot. He would have gotten one of my three votes, and I was worried he may not have been recognized for an impressive first half. I don't want to spend too much time on this awful week, so I'm not going to mention the pitching, as there is very little to mention. We did do plenty of hitting, and Harry Mead continues his red hot stretch. Our catcher went 7-for-19 with 2 doubles, 2 homer, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 6 RBIs. He's hitting a whopping .345/.441/.759 (216 OPS+) in 8 July games, and is now hitting a slightly above average .256/.325/.430 (101 OPS+) on the season. Pack and Bond didn't homer, but they combined to go 16-for-35 with 9 runs, 3 walks, 4 RBIs, and a triple a piece. Sal went just 6-for-26, but he hit a double, 2 triples, a homer, 2 steals, 3 runs, 4 walks, and 5 RBIs. Leo Mitchell really struggled, and he was 8-for-30 with 2 doubles, still without a homer. Luke Berry will join the roster, and Mitchell will now start to sit more often against lefties. Going down will be Otto Christian, as the slugger as hit just .162/.244/.270 (38 OPS+) with 2 homers, 8 RBIs, and 9 walks in 86 trips to the plate. George Sutterfield will see more time at third, taking over for Otto against lefties. He's cooled off from a quick start himself, but his .190/.292/.476 (103 OPS+) line is still better then average, and I'm hoping with more frequent playing time he can get into a grove. More draftees are filing in, and the prospect rankings are ever changing. Amos Peterson (136th) and Doc Zimmerman (369th) both cracked the top 500. Rather surprisingly, Dick Cunningham is unranked, but I'm not surprised about Hal Carter, Joe Oates, and Gene Dibblee. We still need a lot of cuts, and I see at least seven more guys I will sign. I'm still shocked with where some of our prospects rank, as I was rather down on this class. This will be the last mega class, so I'm hoping we'll have a few nice gems to look back on a few decades from now. Looking Ahead Off until Thursday, where we play a three game set in Cleveland with the Foresters. At 31-51, they are 20 games out of first and 6 games behind the 7th place Cannons at the break. Cleveland has undergone a youth movement, with Bob Miller (.378, 6, 18), Chuck McHenry (.270, 3, 11), Tom Holmes Jr. (.318, 1, 11), Bill Sikorski (.347, 6, 30), Phil Ware (.212, 1, 1), Adrian Czerwinski (2-2, 5.83, 5), and Kirby Brewer (1-4, 8.49, 6) all taking more prominent roles. This has come at the expense of some talented players, including Ollie White (4-8, 2, 4.16, 72), Orie Martinez (.269, 7, 31), Paul Porter (.270, 2, 37, 3), and Lorenzo Samuels (.223, 5, 17). The Foresters have also brought up 20-year-old Sherry Doyal (.176, 1), but he's struggled a bit in a limited role. With the break here, they may decide to cycle in some new talent, but regardless of who the Foresters have out we need to win. We are already to far out to keep losing, and anything shy of a sweep hurts. Our Sunday is then spent in Toronto for a double header with the Wolves. They are closer to last (7 GA) then first (13), and have dropped to 38-44. George Garrison (6-7, 3.42, 50) has allowed six or more runs in three of his last four starts, and Jim Carter (5-4, 1, 4.97, 25) has not been as sharp as he was out of the pen. They do have a legit All-Star in Hal Wood (.345, 2, 36), but very little has gone well for Toronto this season. These are two more important games for us, and if we have a losing week I'm really concerned about the chances of us playing meaningful games after August. Minor League Report 1B Bill Payne (AAA Milwaukee Blues): The year of the first basemen continues with Bill Payne, who took home Century League Player of the Week. The 25-year-old lefty went 12-for-28 with 2 doubles, 3 homers, and 11 RBIs in an excellent showing. A bat only guy, the former outfielder really only plays first, and he's hit an impressive .346/.417/.488 (126 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 7 homers, and 41 RBIs through 76 games. He's drawn 38 walks with just 15 strikeouts, displaying excellent bat-to-ball skills. The power surge this week is nice, but Payne isn't one known for tape measure longballs. He does hit the ball in the air a lot, which is good for our park's shallow fences. Payne seems in line for an early September callup, as his bat would be excellent off the bench. He's in his last option year so once he's back in Chicago he can't go down, and if Ray Ford decides to come back for 1949, it may be hard to fit him and Payne on the roster. 2B Tom Brownleaf (AA Mobile Commodores): After putting up 2.1 WAR in just 39 games for the Commodores last year, Tom Brownleaf hasn't quite followed up that performance this year. The most recent week was an exception. Brownleaf went 12-for-22 with 4 doubles, 4 runs, 3 walks ,and 5 RBIs. The 23-year-old is now hitting a bit above average .318/.375/.432 (106 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 5 triples, 2 homers, 3 steals, and 42 RBIs. He's shown a keen eye, drawing 30 walks, and he's played very well at second and third this season. Right now he's playing more third, as Elmer Grace has move Al Clement from short to second. Brownleaf's best position may be second, but the switch hitter has a higher efficiency at third (1.044) then second (1.034) this season. Brownleaf isn't one of our highly touted prospects, but he's a high floor guys who could probably already make for a capable utility infielder at the big league level. His hard work rubs off on others and he's a good clubhouse guy, so he'll stick around until we are really in need of a cut. The AAA infield is very full, so unless we move someone there Brownleaf seems likely to finish the year in AA. I'm hoping this week can help him build some positive momentum, and he could put himself in line for a 40-man spot if he can provide with the bat. __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312 Last edited by ayaghmour2; 09-08-2023 at 08:15 PM.

09-12-2023, 01:54 AM	#1207
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	Week 13: July 12th-July 18th Weekly Record: 3-2 Seasonal Record: 46-40 (3rd, 5.5 GB) Stars of the Week Sal Pestilli : 23 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .435 AVG, 1.152 OPS Leo Mitchell : 15 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .467 AVG, 1.167 OPS Skipper Schneider : 22 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .364 AVG, .917 OPS Schedule 7-15: Win at Foresters (5-2) 7-16: Win at Foresters (17-3) 7-17: Win at Foresters (3-1) 7-18: Loss at Wolves (1-2) 7-18: Loss at Wolves (0-4) Recap So frustrating... If we could beat anyone but the Foresters, we could have taken advantage of the Stars four game losing streak, but right after a sweep in Cleveland we went to Toronto and got swept in the double header. The offense went cold up north, as after 25 runs in Cleveland we got just 1 in 18 innings. Add another one-run loss -- that makes 17 -- more then the 32-55 Foresters and the same amount as the 30-60 Miners. Only the Pioneers (18) and Cannons (20) have more, with the Cannons (.333) the only team with a lower winning percentage then us (.392). You would think after nearly 15 years we'd finally start winning one-run games, but no, only in our title year and the 1945 season where I thought we'd have no chance of contending, we are allowed to win one-run games. The CA did win the All-Star game, crushing the Fed 11-3, but Pap (IP, H, 2 ER, 2 BB) and Duke (IP, H, ER, 2 BB) were awful and allowed the only runs. Sal had a huge game against the squad he represented six times, going 3-for-4 with a double, homer, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs. Skipper didn't start, but played most of the game at short (which shows he deserved to start!), going 1-for-3 with a run scored. Our last All-Star, Red Bond, pinch hit in the 8th and got out in his only at bat. The two associations are now tied in All-Star wins, as the Conti is on a nice little stretch. Luke Berry may have gone just 1-for-6 in his debut week, but his presence surely helped Leo Mitchell. The struggling outfielder is feeling the pressure, and produced a 7-for-15 week with a double, triple, walk, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs. Why he can't hit any homers, I don't know, but hey! He's hitting .290! That's progress! Skipper and Sal did well in the regular games too, with Skipper 7-for-19 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs while Sal was 7-for-19 with a triple and his 15th steal of the season. He's now just one away from his previous high coming back in 1942, and he's been caught (6) less then any season prior to last year, where he was a poor 5-for-9 on stolen base attempts. Red Bond hit his 19th homer and drove in 5, 5-for-17 in total with an a double and 3 runs scored. Not much more from the rest of the team, as while we did have that awesome 17 run game, in was pretty much all Bond, Mitchell, and Sal, with help from Hal Sharp (3-5, 3 R) and Clark Car (2-4, R, 2 RBI), but both had just two hits a piece in the other four games. I don't know how we put the fewest runners on base and rank bottom half in so many offensive statistics, but eventually these guys have to perform. Our rotation is just too good to blow another season, but that seems like where we are headed. As always, we pitched well, and needed just two outs of relief. That was courtesy of Charlie Kelsey, who relieved Pap after 8.1 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs, and 7 walks with 5 strikeouts. Kelsey got a flyout and strike out to finish the 17-3 domination. Duke Bybee continued his Allen case, allowing just 6 hits and a run with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts in another complete game win. That's 11 now for Bybee, who leads the CA in wins and ranks 3rd with a 2.56 ERA. Last year's winner Donnie Jones picked up a complete game win of his own, with 7 hits, 2 runs, 5 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Brother Johnnie got a rather unlucky loss, just 5 hits, 2 runs, and 5 walks with 6 strikeouts in 8 innings. George Oddo didn't get any run support, but 8 hits and 4 runs isn't the best line for 8 innings. Still, he struck out 5 and walked 1, and his 3.64 ERA (109 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP are what people are happy with for their 3rd starters, let alone their distant five, and his 70 strikeouts are 4th in the CA and his 5.5 K/9 is best among all full-time starters as just Ollie White (6.4), who has started just 13 of his 23 games, has a higher mark. We've allowed 31 runs fewer then any other team, and four teams have allowed 100 or more runs then us. Even more impressive, our 1.26 team WHIP is the only one below 1.30, with all but two other teams above 1.40. In fact, 10 teams have a WHIP 20 points or higher then ours and and our 3.22 team ERA is the only one below 3.70. It might not be an All-Time great staff, as plenty have allowed fewer runs, but compared to the rest of the league we have really excelled. The draftees continue to trickle in, and as I expected, Clyde Skinner, our first AI pick, is a pretty solid prospect. The 18-year-old hit .455/.540/.752 with 5 homers and 33 RBIs as a senior, and now ranks 16th in our system and 164th overall. That give us eight draftees in the top 200, something I didn't think we'd even come close to sniffing. I still can't believe Dixie Gaines (55th) and Elmer Grace (84th) are so highly ranked, and maybe I didn't give myself enough credit with this class. We didn't pick until 26th, but still got a very nice haul. I have one outstanding offer and submitted a second, but it may be mid-August when I start to finish off the class. We're just two weeks into short season ball, so I'd like a little more time to evaluate some of the fringe guys. Looking Ahead Can we avoid the sweep? Let's find out! Joe Hancock (4-4, 4.60, 30) is back in the rotation, and he'll take on a short-rested Donnie Jones (7-7, 3.38, 66) in Toronto. There's always rumors of Fred McCormick (.284, 10, 41, 5) being on the mound, but as usual, Bernie Mallard has zero interest in moving the superstar first basemen. A quiet deadline is expected for the Wolves, like many other teams, and at 42-45 they aren't an obvious buyer. They have some legit trade pieces in vets Hancock, Chink Stickels (.271, 11, 52, 12), and Hal Wood (.347, 2, 42), but the Wolves seem to have their eyes on 1949 for another run at contention. Jerry York (8-8, 2.85, 54) has been red hot and with him, George Garrison (6-7, 3.67, 51), Hancock, and Jimmy Gibbs (3-4, 3.58, 43) they have a pretty solid rotation. Add in a catcher, a bounce back from Charlie Artuso (.233, 3, 28, 4), and maybe an outfielder and they could be right back in it. We really need the win here, but I'll give a score prediction: Chicago 2, Toronto 3. Can't wait till it's that tomorrow! Next stop on our road trip is Cincinnati, as we face the very unlucky Cannons. And no, not just because of Denny Andrews' (.222, 8, 28) uncharacteristically poor season, but because they actually have a +2 run differential despite being seven under .500. I mentioned how they're even worse then we are in one-run games, so I fully expect us to play three of them here, where the teams spend most of the game tied since no one will want the winning run. They aren't doing much hitting, as along with Andrews, Chuck Adams (.257, 15, 56) and Fred Galloway (.229, 2, 36) have really struggled, and Sam Brown (.296, 7, 37) and Adam Mullins (.278, 4, 33) have just been average. One bright spot in the lineup has been new entrant Johnny Potter, who is hitting a strong .305/.380/.496 (127 OPS+) with 4 homers and 21 RBIs in 152 trips to the plate. It's a nice little breakout for the 30-year-old, who excluding last year, performed well in a bench role. Again, we're likely stuck with Rufus Barrell (10-6, 2.17, 68) and Jim Anderson (9-5, 2.66, 57), but if we beat them once, maybe we can do it again! The weekend series is weird, as we get one on Friday with the Sailors, are off Saturday, and then get a double header to finish the week. The defending pennant winners are white hot, winning 12 games in a row from late June through July, and are an impressive 12-5 for the month. The Sailors are again without Marion Boismenu (.347, 15, 4), but the lineup can still put up runs. Ed Reyes (.364, 5, 51) is well on his way to a fourth consecutive batting title, almost if doing it out of spite after I said he'd regress to a sub .300 hitter once the war vets returned. Joe Scott (.310, 4, 20) has cooled some, Solly Skidmore (.280, 1, 24) has seen his production plummet, David Molina (2-7, 14, 4.48, 41) no longer looks like himself, and they'll now be without Harvey Brown (.289, 2, 35, 25) for three weeks with a bone bruise. This could be the right time to catch them, as we also should miss Win Lewis (8-6, 3.09, 61). The Sailors are always tough to beat, and since they always have a next man ready to get up, they cannot be underestimated. Minor League Report 2B Bob Schmelz (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Young infielder Bob Schmelz just keeps pushing for a promotion. The 23-year-old was instrumental in Milwaukee's 11-4 win over Indianapolis, as the former 1st Rounder went 5-for-6 with 3 runs scored and driven in. He was just a triple away from the cycle, and is now hitting .365/.457/.545 (150 OPS+) in 81 games. His 168 WRC+ is higher then any Cougar, and he's compiled 17 doubles, 5 triples, 9 homers, 61 RBIs, 58 runs, and 51 walks. He's struck out just 24 times in 359 trips to the plate, and despite an awful -9.9 zone rating (.916) at second he's on pace for a 5 WAR (5.5) season. That defense is the only thing keeping him in the minors, as Schmelz looks more like a first basemen then a second basemen. That limits his opportunity to get into games, but if thinks get bad I could get created. George Sutterfield isn't hitting much and I could send him to AAA to play more frequently. Billy Hunter could shift from second to third, opening a spot for Schmelz. With Sutterfield's immense potential I really want to give him a chance to shine. But if we keep flailing as we have, Schmelz could be the spark we need to win a few extra games. LHP Ron Berry (AA Mobile Commodores): Yeah, Ron Berry was ready for AA. After a complete game victory with 7 strikeouts and just 1 walk in his first start with the division leading Commodores, Berry threw a 3-hit shutout in a dominant 10-0 win over the the last place Chieftains (32-49). He struck out just one and walked three, but he now has a 1.50 ERA (291 ERA+) and 0.89 WHIP, somehow better then the 2.11 (201 ERA+) and 1.00 he put up in 81 innings with the Legislators. Of course, his 3.36 FIP (77 FIP-) isn't as impressive (2.87, 67), but it's still a dream start for the 22-year-old. Currently ranked as the 76th best prospect in baseball, he's showing he should probably be ranked above, oh, say a Dixie Gaines. Yes, he doesn't throw very fast, but he has insane command, generates a ton of groundballs, and already has big league level stuff. I do want the extra velocity, don't get me wrong, but the young southpaw has a very high floor. He could probably be a spot starter now and he has the potential to be a really good #3. I don't think that cracks our top five, but he's 8 years younger then Pap and Johnnie Jones, and as much as I love Johnnie, I'm not sure how long he can hold off the talented youngsters. I won't go on too much on how the war cost him some of his best seasons, but I do think the veteran will have plenty to share to Berry once he gets up in the big leagues. He'll be protected for the Rule-5 draft this offseason, so that could be as early as next season. I expect Berry to use up all three options, but if we're in a pinch injury wise, he could be an exciting option, working his way into a spot like George Oddo did. LHP Bob Hobbs (AA Mobile Commodores): After a poor showing in 11 AAA starts last year (3-7, 6.43, 37), 26-year-old Bob Hobbs was sent to AA to start the 1948 season. And after a slow start, Hobbs is really starting to turn things around. He's now won six of his last eight starts, capping that run off with a 3-hit, 3-strikeout shutout against the Atlanta Peaches. He's now 9-4 in 14 starts with a 3.88 ERA (112 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 43 walks, and 61 strikeouts. Those are pretty great numbers, and I'm ready to give him another chance as we need to make room for Joe Oates to start his pro career in San Jose. The former 8th Rounder has always had great stuff, as he almost always sports a K% above 10. This year's 11.8 is no different, but it comes with a near personal best 8.3 BB%. That's aided a similar 3.91 FIP (89 FIP-) and with such a good fastball he could really do well in the right environment. It'll be tough to find him a spot with us, but he's a live arm who wouldn't be the worst option to give a big league audition. As a Rule-5 eligible player every inning he throws is an audition, and teams love to take a chance on guys who can handle AAA hitters. Cougars in the GWL CF Orlin Yates (San Francisco Hawks): Remember Orlin Yates? He's making a decent living in the GWL as an every day player. He's in year three with the Hawks, and even stole a league high 19 bases last season and posted WRC+ of 106 and 98. With his stellar defense that meant 5+ WAR seasons (5.6 and 5.4), making him one of the more valuable players in the league. He wasn't great in the first two months of the season, but he hit a rough patch in June, hitting just .212/.288/.263 (60 OPS+) in 26 games. July has been a different story, and he had a day to remember in the Hawks 8-4 win at home. The original Bigsby Cup MVP did something he had no shot of doing in FABL, going a perfect 5-for-5 with a homer, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs. That's fueled his .329/.347/.471 (136 OPS+) month, and his monthly 144 WRC+ is much better then the 90 he has in the aggregate. At 36, he's not quite the defender he once was, but still a bit above average (4.4, 1.007) in his standard center. The Hawks have profited from his month, as they've gone 11-6 and have moved up to second, 4.5 games behind the leading Knights. Yates isn't the star, that would be Jack Henderson (11-5, 2.12, 50), Mr. .401 Bob Land (.346, 33), or richy rich Woody Stone (.247, 6, 33) but the former Coug is one of many useful supplemental pieces. __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312 Last edited by ayaghmour2; 09-12-2023 at 02:17 AM.

09-12-2023, 08:45 PM	#1208
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	Week 14: July 19th-July 25th Weekly Record: 4-3 Seasonal Record: 50-43 (3rd, 4 GB) Stars of the Week Pete Papenfus : 2 Wins, 15.0 IP, 10 BB, 6 K, 1.20 ERA Red Bond : 17 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .412 AVG, 1.003 OPS Leo Mitchell : 18 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .333 AVG, .923 OPS Schedule 7-19: Loss at Wolves (2-5) 7-20: Win at Cannons (9-0) 7-21: Win at Cannons (3-2) 7-22: Loss at Cannons (7-0) 7-23: Loss at Sailors (1-3) 7-25: Win at Sailors (9-0) 7-25: Win at Sailors (4-3) Recap I was traveling yesterday, part of why the post came last night came late, and when I was about three minutes into trying to go to sleep I realized I forgot to set lineups for the double headers. Since I was tired and we have been awful in double headers, I decided to go back to sleep. I made the right decision. We swept that, with a shutout and the rare one run win. It was crucial as the Sailors (52-42) are a game and a half ahead of us and come to Chicago this weekend. This was one of two one-run wins, as while I did not expect the two blowouts in Cincinnati, did win the series because of the amazing Duke Bybee (12-4, 2.53, 55) outdueling the breakout Jersey Jim (9-6, 2.68, 58). The win did cost us Red Bond, who is dealing with a mild abdominal strain. He may play a little this week, as Max Wilder started him in game two of the double header. Ray Ford seems likely to man first on Monday, but I expect Bond to play most of the weekend series. And despite getting hurt, he still went 7-for-17 with 2 doubles, 2 walks, a run, and 3 RBIs. No homers on the road, but missing home games will hurt the slugger in his chase for setting our single season home run record. On June 18th Bond hit his 17th and 18th home run, but he's hit just one since. He's now on pace to only tie Tom Taylor's record of 31. I'm hoping this is why he was seeing his power fall, and once he's healthy he'll go back to launching longballs. Pete Papenfus may never truly be back, but he was dominant against the Cannons and with a two win week has now won seven of his last nine decisions. The All-Star pitched a 4-hit shutout with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts in the 9-0 win. He also threw 100 pitches on short rest in the double header yesterday, walking 6 in 6 innings. Despite that, he allowed just 3 runs (2 earned) and 2 hits with 3 strikeouts. The walks are somewhat concerning, as but he's still struck out (85) significantly more hitters then he's walked (60) overall. The Cannons and Sailors are disciplined teams, and on the road it's always hard to overpower hitters. It's different when you have the fans behind you, and even in all the losses last year the home fans never got on him. He's treated them to 7 amazing home starts this season, going 5-2 with a 1.48 ERA (267 ERA+) and 0.86 WHIP with 32 strikeouts and 18 walks. Pap still ranks top three in wins (11) and strikeouts (85) and if he stays hot he could work his way into the Allen talk. He's already won more games then last season, and his current ERA and WHIP are lower then any season he didn't win the triple crown. I don't think he'll beat out Rufus Barrell (2.04), but he's six with plenty of time to climb the leaderboard. Two weeks isn't a trend, but Leo Mitchell went 6-for-18 with 2 doubles, 4 runs, 5 walks, and an RBI. He's hitting a more respectable .338/.402/.432 (124 OPS+) in June and his 96 season WRC+ is almost back to average. A resurgent Leo Mitchell is exactly what the doctor ordered, and I hope "Mitch the Metronome" can start ticking again. Even Year Harry is certainly here, as our backstop went 5-for-15 with a double and his 6th homer of the season. The now 34-year-old veteran has a 113 WRC+ in 64 games, and in 54 fewer games he matched his WAR (1.1) total from last year. Some of our bench guys did well too, with Carlos Montes (2-7, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB), Don Lee (1-3, 2B, 2 R), and George Sutterfield (3-10, 2 2B, 3 RBI, R) contributing extra base hits. Despite a few big wins this week, we're still just 7th in average (.257) and wOBA (.319), last in walks (304) and OBP (.322), and despite 76 homers (2nd), we're jut 6th in extra base hits (236). Home cooking may help, but we're dealing with tough pitching staffs this week. Johnnie Jones was hit hard, but he was this exception this week in a regularly well-pitched week. The Cannons tagged him for 9 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), and 5 walks, and when he left with two outs in the six it was the first start of the season where he failed to strike out a single batter. I'm too lazy to check the last time that happened, but Jones has struck out 10.2% of the batters he's faced through 819 FABL innings, and has set down five or more five separate occasions. Brother Donnie split his starts, as he had a rare loss to the Wolves, who he seems to do well against in the past. Donnie went 8, allowing 9 hits, 5 runs, and 4 walks with just 2 strikeouts. The 28-year-old veteran bounced back in a big way in the double header, twirling a 4-hit shutout with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts. His record remains even, now 8-8, but that's only his eight complete game and second shutout. The reigning Allen winner completed 21 with 4 shutouts last year, and has yet to throw fewer then 19 since he became a full time starter. With maybe 13 starts left, that doesn't seem likely, but strong finish from one of our team leaders would be huge. Looking Ahead It's a weird week, as we start our lengthy homestand with just one game against the Montreal Saints. Their offense has been an issue, scoring the fewest runs in the league. But they have some really good sluggers, and with one game in Chicago they could change the course of the game. The trio of Maurice Carter (.259, 14, 51), Pinky Pierce (.274, 12, 40), and Bill Greene (.249, 10, 42, 15) could have 20 homers in a friendlier park and All-Star starter Gordie Perkins (.289, 5, 40, 8) is one of the brightest young shortstops in the game. They could use an extra bat or two, but with few sellers they may have to wait for some of the youngsters to develop like the pitchers have. Bert Cupid (9-9, 2.98, 51) is one of the more talented pitcher already while Wally Reif (10-5, 3.00, 59) and Doyle (6-11, 3.56, 66) are having the best seasons of their careers. Montreal already has Bill Elkins (.280, 18, 8) and Jack Spahr (.291, 29) in the lineup, but 31st ranked prospect Hank Smith (.412, 2, 5) is on the bench and 36th ranked prospect Otis O'Keefe, who just picked up a Player of the Week (16-32, 4 HR, 17 RBI) could be joining him shortly. As an outfielder he doesn't have immediate playing time, so in the offseason he could be used to fill a hole. We may have gotten the Saints at the right time, as while they've won two of their last three, they are 22-40 since the end of May. One team we can't beat is the Wolves, who are an even 47-47 because they recently swept us and have won nine of the fifteen contests this year. They're off on Monday, so there's plenty they can do with their rotation. Unfortunately, I'd expect some order of George Garrison (8-7, 3.24, 60), Jimmy Gibbs (3-4, 3.61, 46), and Jerry York (8-8, 2.75, 58), all while Red Bond (.295, 19, 52) is still at least partially incapacitated. Luckily the only lineup the Wolves have scored more frequently then is the Saints, so if we can keep Fred McCormick (.283, 10, 44, 5), Hal Wood (.355, 3, 49), and Chink Stickels (.269, 12, 59, 13) in check I like our chances. One guy to watch will be Tom Frederick, as Mr. Versatility has a 117 WRC+ and 2.3 WAR while playing 61 games at second and 32 in the outfield. He's hitting a fine .302/.359/.442 (106 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 7 triples, 4 homers, 7 steals, and 35 RBIs. The 32-year-old veteran is looking like a very useful leadoff hitter, and if the Wolves decide to move some of their players in the offseason he could be an interesting piece for a team with title aspirations. The weekend series against the Sailors, who will look to get some revenge after we took the series against them in Philly. As mentioned they are ahead of us, so this series has huge playoff implications for both sides. Cotton Dillon (.257, 2, 27) has replaced Harvey Brown (.289, 2, 34, 25), shifting the rookie Joe Scott (.317, 4, 22) from Dillon's usual right to left. Ed Reyes (.346, 5, 53) has been replaced by Hal Wood at the top of the batting race, and the two former Cougar first rounders are competing while Leo Mitchell (.293, 1, 28) is trailing the duo in all three triple crown categories. Reyes has hit just .277/.307/.373 (75 OPS+) in 21 July games, but the first time All Star has plenty of time to pick thing back up. I'm hoping he waits until they leave town, as the Sailors are a deep team who play us tough. Eventually David Molina (3-7, 15, 4.18, 42) will return to his dominant self and even Art Hull (8-7, 1, 4.14, 62) has a near league average ERA+ (99), with a surprisingly strong 3.31 FIP (80 FIP-) out of the five spot. Their rotation isn't quite on the level of ours, but Win Lewis (9-7, 3.20, 66) leads a very impressive rotation, and I think we're stuck with him in the opener. This is a huge week for us as we approach the deadline, and with very little movement expected, we need every win we can get. Minor League Report 1B Cal Rice (B San Jose Cougars): In the same week 5th Rounder John Kerr inks his signing bonus, 20-year-old Cal Rice won himself the C-O-W Player of the Week. The former 10th Rounder hit .500/.552/.846 (260 OPS+) with 7 doubles, a triple, 6 runs, and 9 RBIs. He's now hitting .302/.368/.458 (114 OPS+) in 366 trips to the plate with 32 doubles, 5 triples, 3 homers, and 52 RBIs. He's not at risk of losing playing time, and may be in line for a promotion to Lincoln as I could give Harry Austin time in left and figure things out from there. Rice is our highest ranked first basemen prospect, 13th in the organization and 148th in the league for all positions. Dixie Gaines like his hit tool and speculates that there may be some power to come from his bat. He is a big strong guy after all, and no C-O-W batter has double digit homers on the season. He did hit 10 homers in 78 game for the Lions back in 1946, so perhaps there's hope for 15 or so homers in a major league season. As a lefty, he can't play much with Red Bond in Chicago, but when Bond turns 38 Cal will only be 24. I don't know if he's the first basemen of our future, but Rice will be allowed a chance to earn a starting job in the majors. CF Henry Norman (B San Jose Cougars): Of the three talented outfielders we had in San Jose, I did not think Henry Norman would be the first one promoted. But sure enough, the 19-year-old will head to A ball, where he did play 33 games in the Chiefs organization last year. He didn't hit much, just .207/.273/.289 (52 OPS+), but he looked much better in 52 games this season down in San Jose. The 68th ranked prospect hit .345/.392/.399 (105 OPS+) with 4 doubles, a triple, a homer, a steal, and 25 RBIs. That contributed to a 112 WRC+, and he accumulated almost a full win above replacement while functioning primarily as a left fielder. I view him as a center fielder, and that's exactly where he'll play in Lincoln. A former 3rd Rounder, he has both a strong arm and excellent range, and with above average speed he should be able to make most plays out in the outfield. His offensive value is plentiful as well, as the strong righty hits the ball hard and Dixie Marsh goes as far as saying he "projects to be a .330 hitter." That's a lofty projection, and considering our Red Bond's .295 average leads the team, it would be a welcomed addition to the lineup. He won't be joining the big league club any time soon, but he's a smart kid who will take advantage of all the resources at his disposal. OSA thinks he can "flourish as a center fielder" and I'm hoping that's true, as while he comes with plenty of risk, there is so much to like about the young outfielder. Cougars in the GWL RHP Luis Sandoval (Houston Bulls): I don't know why, but Luis Sandoval always throws shutouts. Despite being just 5-10 on the season, he's thrown a 7-hit and 6-hit shutout with a 2-run loss in between. Sandoval led the GWL with 4 shutouts for the Conquistadores last year, and he's already matched that despite his awful record. He has an average 3.12 ERA (103 ERA+) with a 1.37 WHIP, but he's walked just 34 with 74 strikeouts in 156 innings pitched. His 2.89 FIP (90 FIP-) is decent, as run support seems to be the issue. He's gotten 2 or fewer runs in 13 of his 20 starts. And it's not like the Bulls can't score, their 320 runs is in the top half and they have some pretty solid bats in Bob Montgomery (.304, 2, 35, 5), John Reginald (.278, 3, 29, 17), and Hal Landrum (.317, 6, 47). They do have another Cougar, Johnny Bunce (.236, 2, 26), who despite a strong glove at third cannot offer much at the plate. At 46-48, they're in fifth and double digit (11.5) games out of first, it's not likely the Bulls will play postseason ball. RHP Del Burnes (Portland Green Sox): Not much has gone well for the Portland Green Sox, but the 32-year-old Del Burnes has been superb in his first season as a starter in the GWL. The former #3 Pick is just 6-9, but he owns an impressive 2.58 ERA (125 ERA+) and 1.24 WHIP with 73 strikeouts. His 2.72 FIP (84 FIP-) supports his overall body of work, and he's accumulated 3.2 WAR in 153.2 innings pitched. He's allowed just a single homer in 19 starts, and if he was on a contender he could be a legitimate contender for Pitcher of the Year. The Green Sox ace leads the team in ERA and strikeouts, but the only pitcher with more wins is their stopper Herb White (10-2, 15, 3.43, 41), who while never a Cougar, is a Chicago native. I will admit, I'm a little shocked to see a pitcher of Burnes' caliber in the GWL, and at just $4,200 for the season he's more then affordable. I'll admit, if I knew it took just $800 to get Burns on a minor league deal he'd have been a Cougar, but instead the veteran righty could be in line for a nice pay day at year's end. __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312

09-14-2023, 01:39 AM	#1209
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	Week 15: July 26th-August 2nd Weekly Record: 3-4 Seasonal Record: 53-47 (3rd, 5 GB) Stars of the Week Sal Pestilli : 27 AB, 8 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .296 AVG, .974 OPS Skipper Schneider : 25 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .360 AVG, .785 OPS Hal Sharp : 14 AB, 5 H, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .357 AVG, .899 OPS Schedule 7-26: Win vs Saints (3-4) 7-27: Loss vs Wolves (5-3) 7-28: Loss vs Wolves (3-0) 7-29: Win vs Wolves (4-6) 7-30: Loss vs Sailors (4-2) 7-31: Loss vs Sailors (3-1) 8-1: Win vs Sailors (2-7) Recap We went backwards this week (yay!), as after beating the Saints in the one game series, we lost home series to both the Wolves and Sailors. We scored two or fewer runs in three of the four losses. Guess how many we got in the fourth? Three! This is not a good strategy for winning games, as even though we are the only team left to allow fewer then 400 runs (three teams even have more then 500!), it's hard to win when you don't put runs on the board. Part of this can be attributed to Red Bond's abdominal strain, which hasn't healed as planed, with his injury length now unknown. I really don't want to IL him, but he was just 3-for-13. He did hit his 20th homer, but with his IL placement now retroactive to 8/1 instead of the original 7/21, we will ride it out one more week. Ray Ford wasn't much better, just 4-for-14 with a double, but he'll pick up an extra start or two. We clearly don't need more first basemen, with all the one's at literally every level, but 14th Rounder Charlie Everitt checks inside the top 500 at 382, giving us five overall.. I can't believe this is what things have come too, as I usually had one or none, but now we have so many good first basemen. I'm -- not sure what's going on here, but a surplus is a surplus! Right??? George Oddo was royally screwed in his start, and after eight shutout innings he should have been in line for a shutout. Instead, we got no runs off Jim Morrison (7-5, 3.06, 43), so he went out for the ninth in a scoreless game. Even worse, a George Sutterfield error made things interesting, eventually leading to three unearned runs. Oddo had to exit with just one out, but allowed just 4 hits and a walk with 7 strikeouts. The 25-year-old is now an unlucky 5-8 despite an impressive 3.32 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.24 WHIP, and 1.8 K/BB ratio. Oddo gets overshadowed in our sterling rotation, but the young righty ranks 4th in the CA in strikeouts (80), second in K/9 (5.5), 7th in WHIP (1.24), and 3rd in K/BB. The season has gone about as well as I could have hoped for the hard working former 8th Rounder, who is quietly developing into one of the league's best starting pitchers, but even if we were to make the playoffs he wouldn't be ticketed for a single start. On the other 15 FABL teams, Oddo would rank 3rd or better (5th for us mind you) in ERA on all but other team, the Wolves, and there are only seven qualified players (two Cougars!) with a WHIP lower then him and just four qualified pitchers have a higher K/BB. He's been as good as it gets, and joins the long list of successful pitchers drafted by the Cougars. We had two two-start pitchers this week, with both Duke Bybee and Johnnie Jones splitting their decisions. Bybee deserved wins in both, but he wasn't really his sharpest. He walked and struck out 4 in what was almost a complete game win over the Saints, getting all but the 27th out. He allowed 6 hits and 3 runs, which improved him to 13-4 on the season. He then did go all nine against the Sailors, but with just one run of support, he picked up loss #5. Bybee again walked four and struck out just one, finishing with 6 hits and 3 runs. He's survived the lack of strikeouts so far, but his beautiful 2.58 ERA (153 ERA+) is supported by a shaky 3.73 FIP (94 FIP-), and his walk, strikeout, ground ball, and home run rates are all worse then last season. Johnnie followed up his rough start with another poor one, going just 7.2 innings with 8 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Luckily a bounce back was in the cards, and he improved to 8-9 with a complete game win over the Sailors. Johnnie snapped his three game losing streak, allowing 7 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. Donnie was an out away from a complete game win, as like Bybee, he left with two outs in the ninth. He found himself in trouble, but beat the Wolves after they got to him in Toronto, leaving with 10 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), 4 walks, and 3 strikeouts. The last start went to Peter the Heater, who allowed 6 hits, 4 runs, 5 walks, and 4 strikeouts in 8 innings. While not great, a loss seems a bit tough for the vet, as with any semblance of an offense, we'd likely come out on top! Looking Ahead Off to start the week before the second leg of our homestand. We'll welcome the Cannons to town, who could use Monday as a travel day as they don't have any games scheduled. They may be 51-54 and closest to last (8 GA) then first (11.5 GB), but don't let the record fool you. They have scored (424) one more run then they've allowed (434), and are a Denny Andrews (.222, 8, 28) resurgence away from being a serious pennant contender. Rufus Barrell seems to be the shoe-in for the Allen this year, as the Cannons ace is 13-6 with a 1.90 ERA (213) and 1.00 WHIP with just 39 walks and 81 strikeouts. Luck finally gets us to skip him, as he pitched in their double header sweep of the Saints (48-53). They do have to make an adjustment to their rotation, as Normal native Jack G. Thompson (2-4, 5.12, 28) will miss the rest of the season with shoulder inflammation. I'd love to see Butch Smith (3-4, 6, 2.82, 19) make a return to the rotation, but they have plenty of options in AAA, including 10th ranked prospect Tony Britten, who was recently surpassed by Bob Allen (7th) as the highest ranked pitching prospect. Whoever takes the empty rotation spots first challenge will be us, with the other two games scheduled for Les Bradshaw (8-11, 5.48, 61) and Jim Anderson (9-7, 2.88, 61). Now that we've won our last three one-run games, I'm worried we'll drop a few of those in this one. Lucky for us, our best friends in Cleveland will visit for a three game set. At 39-62, things haven't gone too well, and they've accounted for just over 20% of our wins this season. The pitching staff has really struggled, and they recently demoted 24-year-old Kirby Brewer (1-6, 9.84, 9) from the pen to rotation. Control has been an issue for the former 10th Rounder, who has walked 13.3% of the batters he faced and has 13 fewer strikeouts then walks. Returning to the rotation now is John Jackson (5-6, 4.62, 40), who made nine relief appearances after starting his first twelve appearances. Regardless of who takes the mound, we'll have the definite pitching advantage, so it's all about scoring more runs then them. We haven't on the season, and they've now started to give Sherry Doyal (.295, 1, 5) more time in center. With him, Ivey Henley (.331, 9, 55), and Tom Holmes Jr. (.311, 3, 20) they have a very exciting young outfield. Henley is better suited for first, but fellow 24-year-old Chuck McHenry (.291, 3, 17) has excelled since his debut in New York on the 21st of June. Furthering the logjam are "veterans" Bill Sikorski (.342, 6, 34) and Paul Porter (.271, 2, 37), and they optioned Orie Martinez (.269, 7, 31) a while back to make room for some of the youngsters. There's no shortage in the minors, and when the Foresters are ready to make a run at it I could see them moving an outfielder or two to upgrade the roster. That could be as early as next year, as the CA is wide open, and a busy offseason could really shake things up. Minor League Report 2B Tom Brownleaf (AA Mobile Commodores): Tom Brownleaf has come up a few times already, and now he's back with his second Player of the Week in the past two months. Brownleaf went 11-for-20 with a double, 2 triples, 5 walks, and 6 RBIs. The 23-year-old finished his July with a .347/.434/.463 (130 OPS+) line and now has a 120 WRC+ in 91 games for the Commodores. Brownleaf has hit 19 doubles, 8 triples, 2 homers, and 55 RBIs to go with his .322/.386/.441 (111 OPS+) batting line. It's strong production from the 23-year-old, who has played a lot of second and third this season, with above average marks (1.036 at 2B; 1.047 at 3B) at both spots. Add all that with a stellar work ethic and the ability to hit from both sides and there's the foundation of a very useful regular. With Otto Christian hitting the IL with a concussion, there's a spot open in the Milwaukee lineup. He definitely deserves it, but since Al Clement is already on the 40, I'd like to see what he can do at the highest level. I don't expect him to get much time in the big leagues, if any, but he can help the Blues (52-41, 3 GB) in their quest for another pennant. C Mike Bordes (AA Mobile Commodores): Hit-streaks have been common place for Cougar farmhands, but for once they didn't come from a first basemen. Backstop Mike Bordes hit safely in twenty straight, but right after reaching that OOTP milestone proceeded to go 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. That didn't do much to spoil his July, as the 22-year-older hit .341/.429/.477 (132 OPS+) in 24 games, tallying 3 doubles, 3 homers, 13 walks, 13 runs, and 18 RBIs with a 140 WRC+. Acquired in the Billy Riley trade, Mike Bordes no longer ranks in the top 500 prospects list, but that seems to be more about the change from 24 which doesn't like catchers nearly as much as it once did. For his part, Bordes looks like a good young hitter, and he's hitting .331/.426/.468 (129 OPS+) in 378 trips to the plate. That's a really strong number for someone his age, even in the offensive paradise that is the Dixie League. I wish he could hustle more, but he's a big dude who's not very tall, and takes a beating behind the plate. If he can continue to walk (51) more then he strikes out (32) and hit around .280 it'll more then make up for it, but don't expect many homers from him. He does have 7 this year, but even as a flyball hitter he doesn't quite have double digit pop. Think more Harry Mead, but what makes the lefty catcher so great is his defense. Bordes does not have that to fall back on, and will need to continue to hit to play everyday. Bob Mundy (.247, 8, 48) isn't doing great in AAA this year, and with Bordes Rule-5 eligible I'm toying with the idea of promotion Bordes to Milwaukee or even Chicago for the last month of the season. I love having a third catcher and there's no one in the minors on the 40. We have plenty of open spots, and it may go down between an early look at Bordes or a final good bye for his backup Steve Mountain (.324, 1, 5). LHP Ben Clough (B San Jose Cougars): All season long, skipper Red Lang wanted Ben Clough in the rotation. But I just wasn't interested in using last year's 14th Rounder as anything more then a stopper. But after a 1.99 ERA (3.23 ERA+) and 1.15 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and just 19 walks in an out shy of 50 innings, I finally caved and gave "Preacher Man" a late birthday give and gave him his first pro start the day after his 23rd birthday. After never throwing more then 46 pitches all season, Clough threw 104, an out away from a 6-hit shutout. He struck out four and walked just one, a truly remarkable first professional start. The encore was somehow better, as the southpaw threw a 4-hit shutout with six strikeouts and just one walk. These are absurd performances, as even with the two starts Clough is striking out 20.8% of the batters he faces. Hal Hackney (14-6, 3.31, 122), who is what Pete Papenfus (11-8, 2.86, 89) should be, is striking out over five percentage points lower (15.6%) then Clough. That's enough to convince me that I should be giving Clough another look, and he'll pitch the rest of the season in the Legislators rotation. This give him the chance to show off and make a case to start next season in AA. I still see him as a reliever long term, but he's definitely well along in his development, and the stuff is legit. He mixes four pitches, with a wicked circle change the clear headliner. The other three pitches are various mid 80s fastballs, with none really standing out. For a guy who tops out at 87, that's not very exciting, but if he can sit in the 90s like John Stallings (8-7, 2.89, 91) who knows what's possible. Clough has the advantage of a circle change, but one recently turned 23-year-old (Stallings' birthday was seven days earlier).is an ace, and the other I'll be happy with making AAA. Oh shoot I gave it away... 1B Dudley Sapp (C La Crosse Lions): Somebody isn't happy about John Kerr signing. After a huge week last week, Dudley Sapp's encore was even better, going 9-for-18 with a homer and 7 RBIs. It's just 53 PAs, but Sapp is hitting .468/.510/.553 (153 OPS+) with a double, homer, and 10 RBIs. With Christian going down, I finally decided to move up Cal Rice, so instead of a timeshare with Kerr, Sapp will play every day up in San Jose. Our 3rd Round selection last season, Sapp took a hit in the power rankings this offseason, but still shows a lot of the tools I liked when scouting him out of high school. A strong 6'4'' righty, Sapp has legit power, perhaps at the levels of even Walt Pack (.264, 12, 37) and Red Bond (.292, 20, 55). He has an above average hit tool, and even though defense at first isn't the most important, he's one of those lefty throwers who could have played elsewhere in the infield if he was a righty. Dixie Marsh is a big fan, labeling Sapp as "an above average, everyday big league player," and I think there's a chance for him to reach that. At 19 he has a long time to go, but you can't teach raw power, and Sapp certainly has that. Cougars in the GWL RHP Preacher Pietsch (Houston Bulls): No FABL team made a trade after we picked up Luke Berry from the Miners, but a former Cougar first rounder was on the move in the GWL. The last place Conquistadores picked up two pitching prospects from the Houston Bulls for the 32-year-old veteran. A longtime Pioneer, Pietsch spent two and a half seasons in the San Diego pen, going 19-14 with 26 save in 150.1 innings spread across 115 appearances. He worked to an average 3.29 ERA (99 ERA+), but his 3.13 FIP (95 FIP-) was a bit above average. He has struck out 56 and walked 42, and should be a useful supplement to Hank Mittan (4-3, 20, 2.19, 48) at the back of the Bulls pen. This season he's 7-4 with 7 saves, a 2.95 ERA (108 ERA+), and a 1.41 WHIP. His 9.5 K% would be a career best and he's allowed just one homer in 58 innings. He's not a game changer by any means, but the Bulls are just 4.5 games behind the San Francisco Hawks for second place. There's plenty of time to make up ground, and he's a guy who can pitch multiple innings when needed. RHP Ira Hawker (Dallas Centurions): One of the starts of the of the GWL, Ira Hawker led the GWL with 19 wins last season and his 2.94 career ERA is best among qualifying players all time, which includes the time the GWL was a minor league with FABL affiliates. Hawker is doing more of the same this year, and he capped off a stellar July with a 4-hit shutout as the Centurions outlasted the Conquistadores 1-0 in ten. That made him 5-1 for the month with a 1.83 ERA (177 ERA+) and 1.22 WHIP. As those numbers would lead you to believe, Hawker was named Pitcher of the Month in the GWL, and is now 11-6 with a 2.42 ERA (134 ERA+) in 174.2 innings pitched. He leads his team of all three triple crown categories, but on a non-contender may not get any award consideration. Hawker is one of many players with Cougar connections, as former 11th Rounder Rube Finegan (3-6, 4.55, 46) is in the rotation. Ken Mayhugh (.307, 11, 48) mans the hot corner and is on pace for nearly 7 WAR in 154 games, former 2nd Rounder Charlie Reed (.229, 1, 26, 4) plays everyday at short, and a piece of the Rabbit Day trade, Cougar draftee Billy Marshall (.340, 1, 9), has played sporadically off the bench. Mayhugh should be back with Hawker in 1949, but at 37 and 36 Marshall or Reed may decide to hang it up. There will be plenty of FABL quality players lost from rosters in the offseason, so the Centurions could try to build around Hawker, Mayhugh, Cy Braden (.332, 3, 18), Heinie Billings (.303, 7, 49, 11), and Al Gross (.302, 7, 43). Add another member to the rotation, and they could be deadly. Attached Images __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312 Last edited by ayaghmour2; 09-14-2023 at 12:06 PM.

09-14-2023, 09:22 PM	#1210
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	Week 16: August 2nd-August 8th Weekly Record: 5-1 Seasonal Record: 58-48 (3rd, 4.5 GB) Stars of the Week Sal Pestilli : 23 AB, 7 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, .304 AVG, 1.129 OPS Walt Pack : 19 AB, 7 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .368 AVG, 1.165 OPS Red Bond : 11 AB, 5 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.455 OPS Schedule 8-3: Win vs Cannons (5-8) 8-4: Win vs Cannons (5-11) 8-5: Loss vs Cannons (4-3) 8-6: Win vs Foresters (1-3) 8-7: Win vs Foresters (2-5) 8-8: Win vs Foresters (4-8) Recap Baseball is funny, isn't it? We have our best week since last time we faced the Cannons and Foresters. No double sweeps this time, as the Cannons did manage to steal a one-run game, but we outscored our Ohio visitors 38-21, increasing our run differential to a FABL best +71. Ours is so stellar that it is one run higher then the combined total of the Stars (+34), Sailors (+6), and Kings (+30), the only other Continental Association clubs with a positive run differential. But since the Stars had a good week and continue to outperform their run differential (+6!!), we gained just half a game in the standings. This is what happens when you tread water (19-18) for two months. You finally get going, but all the chances you had to make up ground pass you up. On paper, there's no reason we shouldn't be in first place, but I'm not the least bit surprised we're on the outside looking in. It is what we do best! Red Bond is healthy again and hitting like it, going 5-for-11 with 2 homers and 7 RBIs, giving him 22 and 62 on the season. He's got into just 84 games as his playing time has slowed down with his injury, but is back on pace to set our single season homer record. His two replacements for the week, Ray Ford and Luke Berry, were just as good if not better, 9-for-14 with a double a piece. Ford added 2 runs, 4 walks, and even a steal, but the now 37-year-old veteran is on pace for his first below average offensive season in both OPS+ (88) and WRC+ (81). Berry was really struggling coming into the week, but he's now hitting .353/.436/.412 (128 OPS+) in 39 trips to the plate. Half of his 12 hits came in his two starts (one in left, one at first), and he now has a 149 WRC+ as a Cougar and 102 overall. For a chance there was production all through the lineup, and Walt Pack finally got thing back up again, He went 7-for-19 with a double, 2 homers, and 4 runs scored and driven in. Sal Pestilli continued his extra-base crusade, with 4 of his 7 hits going for extra bases. He tripled, homered three times, and tallied 8 RBIs and 6 runs, upping his season WAR to an even 4.0. It's not a classic Sal Pestilli season, but the 7-Time All-Star is hitting a productive .260/.325/.505 (119 OPS+) with a 127 WRC+. 47 of his 105 hits have gone for extra bases, as Pestilli has launched 19 homers with 14 doubles and triple, while swiping 16 bases and drawing 41 walks. Hal Sharp looked like the Hal Sharp of year's past, going 7-for-18 with a double, 4 RBIs, 7 runs, and even a steal. This upped his season line to .297/.371/.393 (105 OPS+), and while his 113 WRC+ is still strong, it would be his lowest in a sample of 450 PAs or more. He's on pace for almost 500, and he's seen his WRC+ (32, 98, 119, 130, 199) increase in each month. We also got strong performances from Clark Car, going 8-for-20 with a double, triple, steal, 2 walks, 4 runs, and 4 RBIs in a very complete week. If we can get this many guys to hit, it can make up for the eventual slumps (Leo Mitchell I'm looking at you...) elsewhere in the lineup, and who knows? Maybe we can make a run again! Can we just only play teams from Ohio? The pitching wasn't great, but the back two in our rotation sure were! George Oddo continues to dominate, allowing just 6 hits, a run, and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts in a complete game victory. Johnnie Jones was just as good, with 9 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts in his complete game win. Both now have ERAs below Donnie Jones, who picked up his 10th and 11th wins of the year. The Cannons chased him out with two outs in the ninth, as he left with 10 hits, 4 runs, and 3 strikeouts. One of the runs came after he left, as Jim Kenny quickly allowed a two-run homer to Adam Mullins (.288, 5, 39) before getting Chuck Adams (.268, 21, 78) to flyout on the first pitch he saw. Donnie then went 8 against Cleveland, allowing 6 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts. Donnie's now won four consecutive starts, and the Cannons start was the only one he allowed more then two earned runs. It's funny our reigning Allen winner has the highest team ERA (3.24, 122), but he's still well on his way to another excellent year. The lone loss went to Duke Bybee, who just refuses to strike guys out this year. He didn't have any in his 8 innings of work, and left with 5 hits, 4 runs, and 4 walks. He's still struck out (60) a few more batters then he's walked (56), but he's allowed one or fewer strikeouts in three of his last four starts, and after an elite 1.7 K/BB last season it's down over half a strikeout to just 1.1. Pete Papenfus had a less effective start, but with 14 runs of support he came away with his 12th victory and 4th victory since the break. Pap threw 132 pitches and got all but the final out, charged with 7 hits, 5 runs, and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts. Looking to the pen, one guy I haven't talked enough about is Ken Matson. Matson had an awful start to the year, allowing 7 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), and 3 walks in his first 3 appearances (3.1 innings). Since then he's been remarkable, and he's allowed just 7 earned runs in his last 38.2 innings pitched. With a perfect inning against the Cannons in the 4-3 loss, Matson has now thrown 12 consecutive scoreless outings, last allowing a run on June 29th. Our stopper is now 4-4 with 11 saves, and he sports a remarkable 2.79 ERA (142 ERA+) and 1.26 WHIP with 20 strikeouts in 39 appearances. The 30-year-old is definitely good enough to start, and Dixie Marsh thinks he's better then George Oddo. Having a guy like him should be useful for winning close games, and I'm hoping he can finish his season off on a high note like he has. Looking Ahead Well, the next one is a big one! And it could determine our season! Our 8-5 homestand ends with three crucial games against the Stars, who are 65-46 and have a 4-game lead on the Sailors (59-48). Even if we win all three, they're still right in the middle of things, but if they do the same we can kiss our season goodbye. They've bested us in 9 of our 13 contests this season, including seven of the last eight. That's a trend we'd like to stop, but after dealing with Henry Shaffer (8-6, 4.59, 51) in the opener we'll do battle with Eli Panneton (12-9, 3.74, 83) and Vern Hubbard (11-6, 3.41, 62) supported by the best offense in the association. I don't think I talk enough about Bill Barrett, who will likely win the Whitney this season. With Bobby Barrell nearing the end, there will be an opening for best hitter in baseball. "William the Conqueror" is my best, and it's going to really suck playing against him for a very long time. It's not like the Stars need help beating us, we've finished second in four of their last five pennants. Barrett should take home his fourth Whitney this season, as he's hitting an absurd .323/.432/.649 (181 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 35 homers, and 102 RBIs. He's not only scored 78 runs, but walked 78 times, and has a 190 WRC+ and 6.6 WAR in 104 games this season. This is nothing new for the 28-year-old superstar, and if the season ended today, that 190 would only be his third highest WRC+. What makes him so great is exactly what Bobby does best, walking significantly more then they strike out. Bill has led the league in walks with 130 or more strikeouts three times, and this year he's walking at an elite 16.4 walk rate compared to a 6.7 k-rate. Among qualifying hitters, no hitter with a lower strikeout rate then Barrett have a higher walk rate, and just two have hit more then 20 home runs. He's a competent right fielder with a pretty strong arm, and as long as he's still in town they have a chance. They will be without the slick fielding Joe Angevine (.217, 1, 26, 18), but the Stars are far from a one-man band. Mack Sutton (.235, 20, 68) and Jack Welch (.274, 25, 66) are two of the top sluggers and when healthy 24-year-old Bob Riggins (.244, 7, 34, 7) is one of the more exciting young players. They're going to be tough to outscore, and Pap (12-8, 2.98, 94), Duke (13-6, 2.67, 60), and Oddo (6-8, 3.17, 85) are surely going to have their hands full. The next series won't be any easier for the staff, as we'll be in Brooklyn for four with the Kings. Ralph Johnson (.297, 21, 71) might not be Bill Barrett, but he's another hindrance we're stuck with and he'll lead the #2 offense with support from Chuck Collins (.310, 7, 48), Pat Petty (.284, 10, 63), and offseason pickup Charlie Woodbury (.326, 8, 56). Another offseason pickup, 22-year-old Chuck Lewis (.340, 3, 15), has been excellent since his recall, and they have one of the top young outfielders John Mos (.226, 3, 36, 3) patrolling center. The balls aren't landing his way this year, but he's walked (61) just over twice as often as he's struck out (30) and has an impressive 17.5 zone rating (1.063 EFF) in 778 innings out in center. That's helped guys like Clarence Barton (4-7, 5, 3.11, 48) who give up a lot of flyball hits. Of course, for someone like Bob Arman (13-8, 2.50, 112), who's just flat out dominant Moss as a lesser impact, but with four games we'll see pretty much everything they have to offer. With an off day to start the week they can do make adjustments to the rotation, but with Arman beating his former team yesterday we're stuck getting him somewhere. Let's hope the offense shows up for the other three, as I'm predicting a 6-strikeout shutout. Minor League Report 1B Billy Biggar (AA Mobile Commodores): It's not quite .400, as Billy Biggar's season line has dropped to .399, but the 24-year-old took home another Player of the Week. He went 13-for-30 with a double, 2 triples, and 4 RBIs. Like Leo Mitchell, he still has just one homer, but unlike our struggling star Biggar boasts a 158 WRC+ in 456 trips to the plate. He has a real shot to be the Commodores first .400 hitter since Cougar All-Time batting average leader Vince York hit .407 in 1928. Mitchell came three points shy in 1934, so let's see if the Ontario native can make Mobile history. He's on a 5.4 WAR pace and he's working on a 12-game hit streak. Biggar has drove in 76, walked 36 times, and tallied 37 doubles, frequently finding the holes with hard hit grounders. Next year he'll have a chance at the Blues modern record (post 1915), with Leo Mitchell slashing .359 in 1936. Eligible for the Rule-5 draft, I may have to protect Biggar, who has to be on the radar of scouts around the league. RHP Fred Terry (AA Mobile Commodores): Year two has been tremendous for Fred Terry, but on Monday he was hit hard for 13 hits and 8 run with 4 walks and just 2 strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched. After a start like that, most pitchers would take their struggles into the next game, but Terry instead decided to bounce back. He threw a 7-hit, 4-strikeout shutout to improve to 11-5 in 17 starts. The 23-year-old now owns a 3.39 ERA (127 ERA+) and 1.37 WHIP with 39 walks and 47 strikeouts. A real innings hitter, he's gone nine or more in all but five of his starts, and last month picked up a 12-inning complete game win over this same Crackers lineup in Atlanta. The hard worker has been crucial on the Commodores pennant quest, even if not as big as Biggar, and he'll be allowed to finish the season in Mobile if they have any chance of winning it all. __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312

09-15-2023, 11:51 PM	#1211
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	Week 17: August 9th-August 15th Weekly Record: 3-4 Seasonal Record: 61-52 (3rd, 6.5 GB) Stars of the Week Hal Sharp : 30 AB, 14 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .467 AVG, 1.315 OPS Walt Pack : 27 AB, 11 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .407 AVG, 1.303 OPS Harry Mead : 24 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .375 AVG, 1.067 OPS Schedule 8-9: Loss vs Stars (11-8) 8-10: Win vs Stars (3-8) 8-11: Loss vs Stars (3-2) 8-12: Loss at Kings (2-3): 11 innings 8-13: Loss at Kings (4-5) 8-14: Win at Kings (8-3) 8-15: Win at Kings (6-1) Recap The numbers people say that outscoring your opponents 38-29 would lead to more wins then losses. But not here! Here you lose three one-run games at home to fall six and a half games out of first. We have plenty of time to think about what we've done, with three off days in the next eight days. With games against the same two teams, we have a chance for revenge, but we'll have to do it away from home. Where we are not very good (26-30). Hal Sharp's not going to want to take any time off, as the 34-year-old veteran was named Player of the Week in the Continental Association, going 14-for-30 with a double and three home runs. He drew three walks, scored five runs, and drove in seven more. His bat has really started to heat up in August, hitting .442/.517/.673 (216 OPS+) in 14 games. That's a noticeable improvement on his .321/.383/.429 (117 OPS+) season line and a third of his season home run total came this week. I'm hoping he can keep things up, as Sharp has been one of our most consistent performers in the past two seasons. There is plenty of time left for him to make an impact, and he's quietly helped push us to 3rd in the association with 489 runs scored. Offense wasn't the issue for a change, and Hal Sharp wasn't even the only hitter with a three homer week. Walt Pack's bat has started to thaw and and he went 11-for-27 with a double, 3 walks, 7 runs, and 7 RBIs. "The Wolf" now has 17 homers in 94 games to go with a respectable .282/.349/.491 (123 OPS+) triple slash. This is another big bat we needed to show life, and with another big week Pack and Sharp will be competing with each other for batter of the month. Even Year Mead hit his 7th homer of the season and went 9-for-24 with 4 doubles, 4 RBIs, and 3 runs. He's starting to play everyday now, as Eddie Howard has hit just .246/.286/.297 (56 OPS+) and Mead now has a 114 WRC+ in 82 games. Red Bond went just 5-for-27, but three of those hits found the seats. With 25 homers, he tied with John Lawson (1937) and Bill Ashbaugh (1928) for the fifth most homers in a season for the team. Interesting enough, Bond hits better on the road (.313/.370/.575) then at home (.313/.370/.575) with almost identical home run rates. With the extra rest and a clean bill of health Bond has a chance to re-energize himself. But the biggest play of the week was on August 11th, where Leo Mitchell took Chuck Cole deep in the 6th. Just his 2nd homer on the season, Mitchell is now one home run away from tying the previously mentioned Cougar legends John Lawson and Bill Ashbaugh for the most home runs in Cougar history. Those two did it in far fewer tries (4,672 and 5,232), but unlike those sluggers Mitchell was known more for his hit tool. Not only is he a two time batting title winner, but twice he's led the league in hits, slugging, WRC+, and wOBA. He's fallen onto tough times now, hitting just .285/.342/.349 (85 OPS+) in 101 games. With his struggles he's on pace for his fewest amount of games (138) since 1937 (128). No matter how this season goes, Mitchell will retire a Cougar, but his time as an everyday player may be coming to an end. That's why it's going to be very important for him to set the record now. I'll never understand how a guy who hit .333 with 24 homers two years ago can drop to just .285 and 2, but the best of his days might be behind him. It was a tail of two starts for Pete Papenfus, who didn't even make it out of the third innings against the Stars. He was tagged for 8 hits and 7 runs as the Stars put three in the seats. The four strikeouts to just two walks is good, but it was really a rare stinker from the two-time Allen Winner. What was more like him was the start in Brooklyn, where he allowed just 3 hits and runs in the 8-3 win. He got all but two outs, as six walks and five strikeouts had his pitch count up to 133. With the lead, I would have liked to see Wilder allow Pap to finish, but in his defense two of the runs, hits, and walks did come in the ninth. His 3.29 ERA (120 ERA+) is now highest on the team, but he ranks second (13) and first (103) in strikeouts and wins. While still not vintage Peter the Heater, it's far better then last season's nightmare, and his 10.1 BB% is over two percent lower then his career average. The strikeouts are still a bit down, but he's doing his best to win us games this season. The same can be said for George Oddo, who lost another amazing start. Losing in four of his last five, Oddo went all nine against a tough Stars lineup, allowing just 8 hits, 3 runs, and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts, but since Chuck Cole (10-10, 5.23, 39) only allowed two runs he dropped to 6-9. Duke Bybee's luck was better, as when he allowed 3 runs against the Stars, we tagged ace Eli Panneton (13-10, 3.81, 89) for eight in the series opener. Bybee did not need any luck in Brooklyn, as the Brooklyn native showed out with a 6-1 complete game victory. The only blemish was a solo homer form former Cougar Juan Pomales (.195, 2, 7; 1-1, 3.60, 1), as Bybee finished with five hits, five strikeouts, and just one walk. After failing to strikeout any Cannons he's struck out 9 with just 3 walks in his past two starts, which is a trend I hope he can keep up. He's been getting away with single digit (8.9) strikeout percentage and that's not something that you can sustain indefinitely. Johnnie and Donnie weren't too great, and while only Donnie was charged with a loss, both started in one-run losses. Johnnie worked around 6 hits and 7 walks, striking out just 2 in 8 innings. Donnie was tagged for 7 hits and 5 runs (3 earned) with 2 walks and just a single strikeout in 6 innings. That was his third shortest start of the season, and his 3.28 ERA (120 ERA+) is now one point away from the highest in the rotation. The loss also snapped his four game winning streak, and his nine starts are equal to his Allen winning season last year. With short starts from Donnie and Pap, the bullpen was heavily used, with Harry Parker throwing 5.1 innings across two appearances. He did not mop up the Stars well, allowing 6 hit, 4 runs, and a walk with 2 strikeouts in 4 innings. He allowed just a single hit in his other outing, but Parker now owns a 6.97 ERA (56 ERA+) in 20.2 inning pitched. I have the weekend to decide about it, but I think Parker may be DFA'd, as we need roster spots and he just isn't the same pitcher he used to be. Most of the other innings were good, as Ken Matson extended his scoreless streak with 3.2 shutout innings. As nice as it sounds, he walked five and didn't record a strikeout, so those innings were far from stress free. The other three guys got into action as well, but Eddie Howard was the only one to allow a run. He got the loss against the Kings in extra, getting just one out in the 11th while charged with a hit, two walks, and the winning run. It's the most work our pen has gotten in a while, as the five man group has thrown just 128.2 innings on the season. That would rank sixth on the team behind George Oddo (148), as our front five tend to leave little scraps for their friends in the pen. Looking Ahead Is it a revenge week? Or is more embarrassment in the cards? We'll find out quickly in the Big Apple, as after shared off days we'll face the first place Stars for two. At 70-48, they're 3.5 games ahead of the Sailors, so even if we sweep them and the Sailors win all their games, they can't fall out of first. When we lose both we'll be unofficially eliminated, as we did nothing to stop the Stars in Chicago. Chuck Cole (10-10, 5.23, 39) has another chance to improve his aged 38 season before we face analytical darling Vern Hubbard (11-6, 3.40, 67) and his 3.02 FIP (75 FIP-) and 5.2 WAR. I'd be worried about this even if we one all three in Chicago 20-0, and I'll have all weekend to worry about how we're going to contain Bill Barrett (.315, 35, 104), Mack Sutton (.242, 25, 81), and Jack Welch (.282, 27, 69). Even "Mr. Contact" Paul Watson (.323, 2, 19, 1) got his first homer in the big leagues off us, coming in his 24th appearance of the season. A talented infielder, the former 1st Rounder has filled in for Joe Angevine (.217, 1, 28, 18) at short, and he's done a tremendous job hitting the ball hard. He has 2 doubles and 3 triples all while walking (7) more then he strikeout (4). It is a small sample, but if this is any indication of his bat, there is going to be another annoyance in an already deep lineup. We'll use the off day to travel home after the quick New York road trip, and then we'll host the Kings for three in front of our fans. Brooklyn had a rough July, going 12-18, and with a 7-7 August they've hung around .500 at 58-56. Now ten games out of first, it's going to be tough for them to make a late push, and they announced that veteran Harry Carter (4-7, 4.51, 34) will be designated for assignment. I think we'll be placing a claim on the veteran righty, as he's the father of 6th Rounder Hal Carter, who's started all four of his appearances with the Lions. It will be the first time the hardworking veteran leaves the city of New York, as since debuting for the Stars in 1934 he's only played with them, the Gothams, and the Kings. He may be approaching the end of his time in the big leagues, but his work habits should rub off on the younger guys and he can still eat innings out of the pen. They have plenty of interesting young options in AAA to replace him, including 32nd ranked prospect Paul Byler, a former 2nd Rounder of the Chiefs who came over in the Tim Hopkins (.248, 26, 72) trade. He's already on the 40 and is 10-10 with a 3.70 ERA (117 ERA+) and 104 strikeouts in 21 starts. Carter's spot would be up when they come up, so whoever comes up seems likely to get their first try against us. Normally that wouldn't be all that scary, but things are cooking and we're the highest scoring offense that doesn't play in New York. Minor League Report 2B Eddie Curtis (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Now you may be asking, did I go back in time? Is Eddie Curtis a prospect again? Well now, of course not! But there's something interesting about him this week: When Eddie Curtis was promoted in 1943, he was riding a 26-game hit streak in the Century League as a member of the Milwaukee Blues. He was traded to the Gothams that offseason, but last year Curtis made his way back to the Cougars organization on a minor league deal. He appeared in four games for the Blues, but made just one at bat. It was a single. So his hit streak was pushed to 27. Curtis spent most of this season Mobile, but with injuries to both Otto Christian and Joe Dackett, a filler player was needed. Curtis was hitting .357/.420/.457 (124 OPS+) in 85 plate appearances that came mostly off the bench, and since he'd be easy to send back down, he was called to keep the seat warm. In the 9th inning of an 8-4 game he was called into pitch hit, and since he didn't get a hit this time, the streak was over. It's always unfair when a hit streak ends on a pinch hit appearance, especially considering he singled the next day in his only at bat. With the Walla Walla Walloper back healthy again, Curtis will return to AA. Was the trip worth it? Perhaps not, but the team leader can now tell the story about his hit streak that spanned eight years. That'll get some laughs for sure. LF Clyde Parker (A Lincoln Legislators): Hal Sharp wasn't the only corner outfielder in the organization to take home Player of the Week, as Clyde Parker was the lucky fellow in the Heartland League. The 81st ranked prospect went 13-for-29 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 6 runs, and 6 RBIs. 22 next month, Parker is now hitting an amazing .393/.469/.679 (201 OPS+) in 15 August games. That doesn't look as impressive next to his .338/.410/.523 (146 OPS+) season line, as you realize Parker has been doing this all season. The former 7th Rounder has a 158 WRC+ with 26 doubles, 17 triples, 4 homers, 54 RBIs, and 46 walks, finally showing glimpses of what I always knew he could do. A lot like Leo Mitchell, Parker has the ability to put the ball in plate despite high strikeout numbers (67, 15.3%), and a lot of those triples will be homers in smaller ballparks. If he keeps hitting like this, he'll spend a long time in the big leagues, and without much value on the bases or in the field, he's going to have to rely on his offensive potential. I didn't initially plan to promote him, but with an injury to Ed Sutton, there's an opening in the Commodores outfield, and Parker deserves to fill it. C Bill Martin (B San Jose Cougars): If it wasn't for Garland Phelps, Bill Martin would have been hitting with Clyde Parker in Lincoln. Instead, he's winning a Player of the Week in San Jose. The 22-year-old son of Chiefs Legend Bob Martin, "Mr. Semi-Automatic" isn't as automatic as his dad, but he went 11-for-28 with 2 homers and 9 RBIs to up his August line to .354/.483/.583 (176 OPS+). So how does he put up weeks like this? He doesn't strike out. In 422 plate appearances, he has been set down just 15 times, and his 3.6 K% is the best in the organization. He also walks at a hefty 15.9%, so pretty much every at bat of his provides value. In 102 games he owns a splendid .321/.434/.476 (135 OPS+) batting line. He's also hit a career high 8 homers with 20 doubles, 5 triples, 52 runs, and 55 RBIs. The young backstop has done everything we've asked of him so far, and he'll continue to get every day playing time in our system. Unfortunately, that means he moves when Garland Phelps moves, and the brilliant 18-year-old had a near identical 145 WRC+ there last year. Cougars in the GWL RHP Del Burns (Portland Green Sox): This dude is really feeling it right now. Despite being on a 53-61 team that is nowhere near the playoffs, Del Burns is flat out showing off, following up a 5-hit strikeout with a 10-inning, 4-hit shutout. These were just his 8th and 9th wins of the season, as despite a 2.45 ERA (131 ERA+) and 1.18 WHIP he's still lost (10) more starts then he's won. The 32-year-old has emerged as one of the top starters in the young league, on pace for a 5 WAR season. He's struck out 94 and walked just 50, and with only two home runs allowed he has a stellar 2.74 FIP (85 FIP-) in 187.2 innings. And while there may not be nearly as much talent in the GWL, it's not a stretch to think that there are a few contenders who would benefit from his services. One would be his former employers, as despite best efforts from Billy Riley (9-3, 2.92, 44), the Eagles have allowed the 3rd most runs in the Federal Association. No other rotation member has an ERA below 4, with another former Cougar Dan Everett (4-6, 5.47, 20) most happy Burns can't take his spot now. That's not to say Del would even want to leave Portland, as he's got the chance to be the dominant pitcher he showed signs of when selected 3rd overall in 1934. __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312

09-19-2023, 01:08 AM	#1212
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	Week 18: August 16th-August 22nd Weekly Record: 4-1 Seasonal Record: 65-53 (3rd, 4 GB) Stars of the Week Skipper Schneider : 20 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .400 AVG, .979 OPS Clark Car : 18 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .389 AVG, 1.061 OPS Red Bond : 14 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .429 AVG, 1.143 OPS Schedule 8-17: Win at Stars (9-8) 8-18: Los at Stars (4-10) 8-20: Win vs Kings (12-13) 8-21: Win vs Kings (3-4) 8-22: Win vs Kings (0-1): 10 innings Recap I have some bad news, but for once, it's not about the on field performance! Our all-knowing commissioner is going on vacation, so instead of waiting until tomorrow (which is already hard enough) for our next sim, we will be off until next Tuesday. That means a full seven days without Cougar baseball, which for me, will feel like a millennium. Luckily the on-field performance was pretty solid, as we won not one, not two, and not even three one-run games, but four (!!) consecutive one-run games. This comes right after losing three against the same teams from this week, and we're now a far more respectable 18-21 in those pesky one-run outings and only a -3 on our expected record. We were outscored this week by two runs, but we won all but one of our five games and we are now within four games of the first place starts. It still feels like an insurmountable climb, and with four games against the Stars in our last seven, we have a chance to control our own destiny. Although I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing yet... Can you really trust these Cougars? I know I can't!!! One guy I know I can always trust is Duke Bybee, as he continues to find ways to win games. The 26-year-old southpaw survived no run support through nine innings, tossing a 10-inning, 4-hit shutout with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts in our tight 1-0 win over the Kings. Bybee improved to an impressive 16-6 on the season and lowered his ERA and WHIP to 2.49 ERA (157 ERA+) and 1.13. Unless Rufus Barrell (17-6, 1.82, 96) forgets how to dominant, Bybee isn't winning anything this year, but the talented sophomore ranks top five in the association in ERA (3rd), wins (2nd), shutouts (t-1st, 4), WHIP (3rd), ERA+ (3rd), rWAR (2nd, 7.1), opponent average (3rd, .225), win percentage (3rd, .727), and quality starts (2nd, 20). I still don't love the 3.75 FIP (95 FIP-) and the 1.2 K/BB, but his actual performance has been stellar and the team is an impressive 17-7 in games he starts, which is easily the best on the staff as the other four starters have nine or ten losses themselves. We got a little injury scare in our 9-8 win over the Stars, as George Oddo left after just two innings with back stiffness. Thankfully he's fine, and will be able to make his next start, and as much as I love his hustle, I'd prefer he not slide head first into second base, even if it drove in a run during our massive 7-run third. Max Wilder made the worst substitution choice, letting pitcher Charlie Kelsey pinch-run just to not let him pitch. Ken Matson came in after, and he was not very good, allowing 5 hits, 5 runs, and a walk in 2.1 innings pitched. He still got the win, but Jim Kenny was far more effective, with just 3 hits, an unearned run, and a strikeout in 3 solid relief innings. Eddie Howard then picked up his first big league save, allowing just a single hit in 1.2 scoreless frames. We're lucky this didn't go into extras, as blowing a 9-2 lead against the Stars would have been detrimental to our playoff hopes, and we were down a reliever with Kelsey's surprising pinch-running appearance, and I have zero faith in Harry Parker throwing meaningful innings. The lone loss of the week was charged to Johnnie Jones, but both of the Jones brothers pitched really poorly. Depending on how you look at it, Johnnie was slightly better, as he allowed 8 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), and 7 walks with 3 strikeouts in 5.2 innings. In an inning less, Donnie was tagged for 9 hits and 7 runs, but with a walk and four strikeouts you could make the case that he had the better outing. Of course, both were terrible, but we won Donnie's start despite both relievers allowing runs. Charlie Kelsey went 3.1 innings, but was tagged for 8 hits, 4 runs, and 4 walk without getting a strikeout. Ken Matson got the win, but only after blowing the save, allowing 2 hits, a run, and a walk with a strikeout in an inning of work. His scoreless streak was already over in the previously mentioned game when Oddo got hurt, but after allowing zero runs in 15.1 innings, he allowed 6 runs in just 3.1 innings this week, inflating his ERA and WHIP to 3.49 (112 ERA+) and 1.39. Those are still very respectable, but not quite the dominant numbers you want from your stopper. Our last start went to Peter the Heater, who picked up a complete game win with 7 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. His 14 wins trail just Rufus and Duke, he's on pace for 18 victories, which would be twice as many as last year. Believe it or not, the offense continues to be good, even if it was more of a team effort then anything. Red Bond led the way, 6-for-14 with a homer, 4 RBIs, 3 runs, and get this -- a steal! It's his first as a Cougar, ninth in 1,323 FABL games, and just his second steal in since 1941! Sure, he missed three seasons with the war (1943-1945), but steals from the renowned slugger? That's a collector's item! Clark Car swiped two bags, and that's not unexpected at all, but a 7-for-18 with 2 doubles, a triple, 4 runs, and 4 RBIs is a welcomed surprise. Same goes for Skipper's 8-for-20 with 3 doubles, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs. It's been an up-and-down season for the 27-year-old, who's on pace for his lowest WAR (4.5) since he was a teenager (2.3 in 1940), while still elite, a 16.5 zone rating (1.111 eff) isn't too exciting. I don't think anything is wrong with his glove, him and Gordie Perkins (18.6, 1.116) are the only two shortstops with an efficiency above 1.100, and is likely more telling of how many excellent defenders there are at the position now. The days of 7.5+ WAR seasons may be over, but that won't stop Skipper from being one of the top players in the game. Sal Pestilli is another, and he slugged 2 homers and 2 triples, showing that even 4-for-21 can be useful when it comes with extra base hits, 3 RBIs, 5 runs, and 3 walks. Sal has a similar 13.8 zone rating (1.030 eff) in center, and despite a middling .257 average has a .509 slugging and 129 WRC+. He's 0.2 WAR away from sixth 5 WAR season, and just his second since 1941. It took some time for him to enjoy himself in Chicago, but he's been loving himself lately, and has posted a 125 WRC+ or higher in each of the last four months. If he wants to play baseball on his birthday (October 5th), we're going to need some magic from him, but it is so nice to see legitimate offensive production from a lineup that didn't get going until the weather started getting nicer. Looking Ahead Off to start the week, before we begin a road trip that takes us into September. The start is two with the Sailors, who are off as well and 2.5 games behind the Stars at 67-52. Marion Boismenu (.352, 24, 6) is healthy and back in the lineup, and Ed Reyes (.343, 5, 57) may be hoping he fails to reach the qualifying number of PAs this season. Reyes has an 18 point lead over Hal Wood (.325, 3, 53) in the batting race, but if qualified Boismenu would be the CA's leader. Harvey Brown (.287, 2, 40, 25) is healthy again too, so now all eight members of the Sailors lineup have a WRC+ above 90. Solly Skidmore (.270, 2, 32) is almost back to average at 99 while Les Cunha (.270, 5, 62) isn't too far back at 94. The Sailors score plenty of runs and do a solid job preventing them, so it's no surprise they are in the thick of things again. Their entire rotation has an ERA+ above 100, although I'm not sold on John Henry Johnson (8-6, 3.90, 46) or Art Hull (11-8, 1, 3.61, 76). I don't expect to see either, with the likeliest matchup Al Duster (9-9, 3.44, 66) in game one and ace Win Lewis (10-8, 2.83, 81) in game two. These will be two hard fought games, and I'm really hoping we still have a little one-run magic left when we return next week. Our next three games come against our favorite foe, the Cleveland Foresters, who at 45-74 have helped inflate the Continental Association's records all season long. It's our last trip to Cleveland, where we'll face a team that has lost 14 of their last 20 in a brutal month of August. The offense stopped scoring, as they're now tied with the Saints for the fewest (477) runs scored in the association. Some of the youngsters have started to cool off, but first basemen Chuck McHenry (.292, 5, 24) boasts a 122 WRC+ in 58 games and the "veterans" Ivey Henley (.316, 9, 57) and Jim Adams Jr. (.281, 3, 29, 10) are always tough outs. One guy definitely keeping an eye on though is the exciting Sherry Doyal (.265, 3, 10), who has drawn comparisons to our own Sal Pestilli, as Doyal is quick, racks up extra base hits (10 XBH in 108 PAs), and plays a strong center field. Sherry has shown signs of plate discipline in the past, and while he's striking out (40, 15.9%) a lot more then he's walking (6, 5.6%), both OSA and Dixie Marsh are excited for his eventual eye. He has a very high ceiling and could be a star, so we're lucky he's far from a finished product now. If you care a bout bullpen ERA (2.79) the Foresters are the best, but the rotation has contributed to allowing the most runs (600) of any Continental Association staff. Even with a rough week, we've allowed 158 fewer runs (442) in one fewer game. If all goes to plan, Pete Papenfus (14-9, 3.23, 106), Duke Bybee (16-6, 2.49, 74), and Johnnie Jones (9-103, 3.30, 85) will have no problem with whoever they face. Their best has been Ducky Davis (4-11, 3.61, 52), who seems likely to start the opener. Ollie White (5-9, 3.63, 90) is probably the most talented arm on the team, as despite his occasional control lapses he's been almost unhittable as a reliever (2-1, 7, 1.36, 29). The same goes for Walt Hill (1-3, 6, 1.53, 33), which makes me nervous in a close game. We're going to need to score early and often to win these games, as even with the recent luck I do not trust us in close games. The week ends with one in Toronto, who enters the week tied for fifth with an identical record (58-62) as the recently swept Brooklyn Kings. 2-Time Whitney Winner Fred McCormick is having about as good of an August as you can, slashing .370/.477/.753 (213 OPS+) in 88 trips to the plate. McCormick has walked (15) much more frequently then he struck out (6), and he's tallied 9 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, 13 runs, and 15 RBIs. That's reminiscent of the dominant star before the war, where he led his association in WRC+ four times from 1935 to 1939. His .297/.406/.516 (137 OPS+) season line is remarkable for a 38-year-old, and his 15.3 walk rate is actually better then his career norm (13.9). The Reticent Reaper has added 28 doubles, 8 triples, 15 homers, 71 runs, 74 walks, and 66 RBIs in 115 games and is still one of the most dangerous hitters in the game. We'll definitely have to worry about him, as he's still the type of player who can takeover the game. I'm hoping his former teammate Walt Pack (.286, 17, 50) can counter him in a return to his old stadium. Pack hasn't homer in any of our trips north so I'm hoping he can show out in front of the fanbase that watched him for eight years. I originally thought this would be the last post for a while, but then I realized I totally forgot to continue a series I was planning on doing. I love reviewing draft classes twenty years after the fact, and that's exactly what I started in 1945 with "A Look Back at the 1925 FABL Draft" last year during the 1945 draft. I was supposed to do these each year, but it totally slipped my mind. Now with a little break, I can get started on the 1926 class, which was one of the weakest drafts I can remember. I'm not sure how long this will take, so I might not get to '27 and '28, but the '26 one will definitely come out some time this week. If I remember in the future, the best time for these may be the offseason, so I may save the '28 one for a later lull before the draft. There may be a post tomorrow, or maybe not. but I for one can't wait for this regular season to end, as I'll spend the next week imagining all the creative ways we can come up short. Should be fun! Speaking of drafts, the signing deadline was today, and nine players announced their official institution for the 1949 season. Here are where are former draftees will be and when they will be draft eligible again: 2B Bob Benton (12th Round): North Carolina Tech (2051) RHP Ed Watson (15th Round): Wapasha College (2051) SS Warren Ross (16th Round): Central Ohio (2051) RHP Marty Davis (17th Round): College of Waco (2051) C Ralph Greenlee (18th Round): Mississippi Tech (2051) SS Dick Senatore (21st Round): Johnstown State (2051) RHP George Hutchison (22nd Round): Bayou State College (1949) RHP Joe Van Valkenburg (24th Round): Cowpens State (1949) Minor League Report RHP Zane Kelley (AAA Milwaukee Blues): If I could predict the Century League Pitcher of the Month, I'd go for Milwaukee right hander Zane Kelley. His first start came in a 2-1 nailbiter out in Milwaukee against the Tornadoes, where Kelley went 8 and allowed just 7 hits, a run, and 3 walks with just 2 strikeouts. As fate would have it, he again drew the Tornadoes, but this time out in Toledo. The former 7th Rounder's encore impressed, as he twirled a 5-hit shutout with 4 walks and 2 strikeouts. Now in the most recent week, Kelley was back and home, and with 8 runs of support tossed a 9-hit shutout with 5 strikeouts and just 2 walks. The 22-year-old improved to 12-4, winning each of his last six starts. A four-pitch groundballer, Kelley has an excellent 3.75 ERA (122 ERA+) and 1.42 WHIP with 50 strikeouts in his first 19 starts in AAA. Ranked as our 21st best prospect and the 182nd in FABL, he get excellent movement on all his pitches, with the feature a gnarly changeup. He compliments it by pounding the zone with his fastball, getting chases with his cutter, and grounders with the sinker. He won't allow many homers, and his 0.6 HR/9 is actually his highest at any level. As someone who is eligible for the Rule-5 draft, he could get a late audition on the big league roster, but with the Blues (64-49) deep in a pennant race with Kansas City (64-49) and Minneapolis (63-50), he'll stick around in AAA and continue to lead the rotation. If he could every add some speed, he could be special, as he's super effective in the mid-80s. Just imagine if he was comfortably in the 90s like Pap, Bybee, or one of the Jones Brothers! That would be scary! RHP Jackie Reynolds (C La Crosse Lions): Lions skipper Art Garey hasn't wanted to use Jackie Reynolds all season. But with a needed promotion, we had room in the rotation, and I thought the former 12th Rounder was deserving of a start. He did not disappoint. The 19-year-old allowed just 5 hits and a walk with 2 strikeouts in his fourth professional start. Reynolds threw 20 innings last season for the Lions, allowing 20 hits, 8 runs, and 9 walks with 16 strikeouts. A three pitch pitcher, this performance makes it highly like Reynold finishes the year in the rotation, giving him three weeks to make a case for permanent innings. As a finesse pitcher he'll have to master his command, as he's susceptible to long periods where he can't hit the zone. That will always get in the way of him making the big leagues as he doesn't project to be able to overpower hitters. He has a nice curve and the overall stuff is good, but he lacks a true third pitch. He has the stamina to start, but I'm not sure if he'll ever have success in the rotation without serious improvement. Cougars in the GWL RHP Del Burns (Portland Green Sox): And there goes the hat trick! GWL Pitcher of August Del Burns threw his third consecutive shutout, a 6-hit shutout to even his record at 10-10. The Green Sox ace now has a miniscule 1.06 ERA (303) and 0.91 WHIP with 15 strikeouts and just 9 walks in 34 innings. That makes 29 consecutive scoreless innings for Burns, who's ERA has been shrunk to 2.33 (137 ERA+) in 196.2 innings pitched. He's got a two start week ahead of him, so chance are he won't finish the week perfect, but you can bet that if he adds even one more shutout you'll hear all about it. He's been a nice and affordable pickup for a Portland team that is still a few pieces away from making a run at a postseason berth. RHP Luis Sandoval (Houston Bulls): He also did it again! Mr. Shutout tossed another! It was another excellent tart from Luis Sandoval, who spun a 7-hit shutout with 4 strikeouts and zero walks, giving him his fifth win in six decisions. It's a nice change of pace for Sandoval, who started the season 4-10 before going on this impressive streak. This has helped the Bulls move up in the standings, now 64-56 -- good for second place and a ticket to the Bigsby Cup. The season is far from over, but they have a two game lead over San Francisco (62-58), the third and final team above .500. Sandoval now has a 2.78 ERA (114 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, and 98 strikeouts in 207 innings pitched. While more then solid, the Bulls have revamped their rotation, so he is now the highest of four pitchers with an ERA below 3. Bill McGraw (8-7, 2.55, 96) has been with the team all season, but they added former Eagle Tommy Shafer (4-3, 2.44, 44) and former Dynamo Jim Bob Jones (4-3, 2.51, 54) on minor league deals in July. Neither of these two pitches in an FABL game, but both threw innings for their respective Fed teams last season. Sandoval is probably the most talented of the bunch, and new additions Art Cascone (.281, 8, 49) and Wally Flowers (.298, 4, 20) have helped lengthen the lineup. They've turned from middle-of-the-pack to title contenders very quickly, and they're well positioned to make a run. __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312 Last edited by ayaghmour2; 09-28-2023 at 03:51 PM.

09-20-2023, 09:11 PM	#1214
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	A Look Back at the 1927 Draft: Part 2 9th Round, 131st Overall: LHP Dean Astle School: Berkeley Bears 1934 (CLE): 17-7, 281.2 IP, 3.07 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 76 BB, 110 K, 137 ERA+, 6.5 WAR 1936 (CLE): 21-15, 2 SV, 283.1 IP, 3.59 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 73 BB, 90 K, 127 ERA+, 6.4 WAR 1938 (CLE): 17-15, 2 SV, 300.1 IP, 3.21 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 88 BB, 105 K, 124 ERA+, 6.1 WAR 1942 (BOS): 16-8, 235.1 IP, 2.60 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 47 BB, 85 K, 137 ERA+, 5.5 WAR 1946 (BOS): 11-6, 149.1 IP, 1.57 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 44 BB, 41 K, 213 ERA+, 3.5 WAR Career (BOS): 60-38, 921.1 IP, 2.65 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 230 BB, 292 K, 133 ERA+, 20.0 WAR Career (CLE): 127-107, 6 SV, 2,216.2 IP, 3.64 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 597 BB, 703 K, 114 ERA+, 44.9 WAR Career (FABL): 187-145, 6 SV, 3,048 IP, 3.34 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 827 BB, 995 K, 119 ERA+, 64.9 WAR If it wasn't for a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament last Spring, Dean Astle would still be pitching, as the now 38-year-old southpaw was coming off one of the best seasons of his career. He did miss some time with injury, but the Minutemen co-ace was 11-6 with an elite 1.57 ERA (213 ERA+), and 1.05 WHIP, and if he stayed healthy he would have been in the Allen race where Lloyd Stevens (19-12, 2.25, 125) was eventually named the winner. He was still at the top of his game, but as they had so often in the past, injuries took their toll. He had seven injuries in their the three years prior, and with a full season of recovery he decided this was a good time to call it quits. He's not the last remaining player left, but it's safe to say that even with the early exit, the 6-Time All Star was the best pitcher of his class. The journey began way back to the 1927 draft, where each team passed on him plenty before we got lucky with Astle in the 9th Round. It didn't look like that at first, as the then 18-year-old had an awful debut season, going 7-13 with a 7.14 ERA (69 ERA+) and 1.89 WHIP with 91 walks and just 22 strikeouts. That came in the lowest level of the system, but back then that was San Jose, not La Crosse, so he was playing against older and more developed prospects. The prospect people still liked his stuff and Astle debuted on the top 100 prospect list in the spring before being named #50 on the Opening Day edition. That was a lofty ranking, but Astle proved they were on to something back then. The La Crosse Lions were founded the following season, and Astle was a part of the inaugural squad that won the first UMVA title. Astle made 18 starts, finishing 12-4 with a 2.90 ERA (111 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP, this time with near equal walks (50) and strikeouts (51). He then finished the season in San Jose, where again the more developed guys got to him. He went 2-5 with a 6.83 ERA (69 ERA+) and 1.73 WHIP. The walk issues were back, and he allowed 31 of them while striking out just 9 in 83 innings. In my effort to improve a last place team, Astle was in plenty of talks, eventually being sent to the Gothams in a three player package for World Champion third basemen John Kincaid. He went 9-6 in 22 starts between three Gotham affiliates, and before the 1931 season Astle was part of another three player trade package, this time going to the Foresters in the Joe Perret trade with a fellow Cougar 9th Rounder Ben Turner. This was the best thing that could have happened for Astle, as once he arrived in Cleveland he broke out in a major way. Astle spent the next few seasons in the Foresters farm, and they did an excellent job mastering Astle's control. In 1933 he got the call to the big leagues, and he proved it might have been a little late. Astle fired off a 12 start run, going 7-3 with a 2.57 ERA (140 ERA+), 1.13 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts. He walked just 18 batters (4.8%), and his 2.77 FIP (76 FIP-) and 2.3 WAR were all an indication of a top flight starter. Now in 1934, the Chicago Cougars were looking to defend their pennant after falling short of a title with a loss to the Philadelphia Keystones. Many expected us to repeat, but the then 24-year-old was a crucial component of the Foresters first (and still only) World Championship ring. Astle was an All-Star in his first full season, going 17-7 with a 3.07 ERA (137 ERA+) and 1.23 WHIP in 35 starts. He walked 76 and struck out 110 in 281.2 innings, Astle was worth 6.5 WAR. He certainly helped them get there, but unfortunately when the lights were bright he didn't fair too well, allowing 22 hits and 10 runs with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts in his two starts. That didn't affect his regular season performance in their title defense, as Astle again led the Foresters to a first place finish. What made him so great was his ability to keep the ball in the park, and with 3 homers in 280.1 innings he led the CA in HR/9. He was an unlucky 16-12, as his 3.63 ERA (120 ERA+) and 3.44 FIP (78 FIP-) suggest he pitched worthy of a 20-win season. Again he didn't get the run support he deserved in the playoffs, as despite ten strikeouts and just one walk he had to pitch into the 11th. He eventually faltered, allowing 13 hits and 7 runs against a strong Gothams lineup that succeeded in the revenge match. The Foresters have yet to return to the playoffs, but Astle was the undisputed ace of some pretty strong pitching staffs. He returned to the All-Star game again in 1936, and led the CA with 21 wins. He made 46 appearances, 34 of them starts, and even saved a pair of games as he pitched late innings for the Foresters. Even with all the moving around, he had a 3.59 ERA (127 ERA+), 1.30 WHIP, 73 walks, and 90 strikeouts in 283.1 innings pitched. That made three consecutive 280 inning seasons, with two more following. The final one was a 300 inning season, something very few modern pitchers have ever accomplished. Despite his 17-15 record, he led the league with a 6.1 WAR, and he owned a 3.21 ERA (124 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP with 88 walks and 105 strikeouts. But after falling two games short of the eventual champion Stars in 1939, the Foresters finished dead last in 1940 and have yet to finish above 6th since. The losing was hard on Astle, who went 8-14 with a career worst 4.29 ERA (93 ERA+) and 1.52 WHIP and for the first time in his pro career, he walked (74) more batters then he struck out (68). He wasn't himself again the following year, and come July his Foresters career came to a close. He was sent to the Minutemen with Bill Moore in a deal that brought back a 1st Rounder, Pete Sigmund, Si Crocker, and Elmer Lockwood. At the time of the trade, the 31-year-old was just 6-11 with a middling 4.20 ERA (94 ERA+) and 3.88 FIP (97 FIP-), again walking (53) more batters then he struck out (41). After the trade, he did improve the control a bit, striking out 28 and walking 22, improving both his walk (7.9 to 6.9) and strikeout (6.9 to 7.5) percentages. Still, 4-5 with a 3.96 ERA (101 ERA+) and 1.46 WHIP isn't the Astle we were used to seeing. Despite the average finish, Astle remains one of the best Foresters pitchers statistically. He ranks 6th in wins (127), 9th in win percentage (.543) and second among pitchers with more then 2,000 innings, 3rd in WAR (44.9), 5th in starts (271), tied for 6th in shutouts (15), 6th in strikeouts (703), and tied for 3rd in r-WAR (44.7). In 2,126.2 innings he owned an impressive 3.64 ERA (114 ERA+) and 3.56 FIP (85 FIP-) with a 1.34 WHIP, but there was still more to come from the veteran. He helped the Minutemen secure their first pennant since 1915, and if you remember, 1941 was the last year the Cougars won a pennant. After three playoff losses, Astle got the minimal run support he was used to from pitching in Cleveland, but it didn't matter. Astle dominated our lineup, spinning a 4-hit shutout with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts in the 1-0 win. Since we lost all four one-run games, Astle now won a title with a Federal Association team, each time directly in opposition with the team that drafted and made the mistake of trading him. In his first full season with the Minutemen Astle made his fifth All-Star appearance, finishing 16-8 with a 2.60 ERA (137 ERA+), 1.14 WHIP, 47 walks, and 85 strikeouts. That 1.8 K/BB would prove to be a career best, and his 8.7 K% was tied for his second highest. The team fell short in their repeat efforts, as the eventual champion Gothams won the Fed. The following season he started to develop injury issues, which limited him to just 10 starts. He was still highly effective, 5-2 with a 2.26 ERA (156 ERA+) and 1.03 WHIP with 22 strikeouts. If he was healthy, he could have helped them take down the Cannons in the WCS. He was healthy the next two seasons, but the Minutemen were hit by some enlistments and they were just average (76-78, 79-75) the next two seasons. Astle won 12 games each year, posting similar ERAs (2.87, 119; 2.97, 116) and WHIPs (1.25 and 1.24). Astle again led the league in HR/9 (0.1) in 1945, but made just 22 starts and threw 169.2 innings as injuries cost him a month. It was just his second season since becoming a full-time starter he failed to reach 200 innings, with ten of them in an eleven year stretch. Astle came back healthy for the 1946 season, and the 36-year-old was one of the best pitchers before the All-Star break. He was selected for a 6th time despite missing most of June. The Minutemen were this time in the run for a pennant, but their hopes were dashed on the first of September when Astle ruptured a tendon in his finger. At the time of the injury, he led the league with a 1.57 ERA (213 ERA+) and was 11-6 with a 1.05 WHIP, 44 walks, and 41 strikeouts. He fell just short (149.1 IP) of qualifying for the ERA crown. Still, Astle returned to camp for the 1947 season, and a healthy Astle would have had the Minutemen right back in the running for a postseason birth. Instead, Astle ruptured his UCL in his first spring start, effectively ending his big league career. After an injury like that in his advanced age, the odds of him returning to the pitcher he was before the injury were slim, and he ended his successful FABL career. In over 3,000 innings, Astle finished 187-145 with a strong 3.34 ERA (119 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP with 995 strikeouts in 416 appearances. 386 of those were starts, but Astle is one of the few pitchers who never had to work from the pen. His relief outings came while he was starting, making 25 or more starts in 11 of his 14 seasons. In his prime he was one of the best innings eaters in the league, and he seemed like a lock for the magical 200 win mark before the final injury. A Hall of Fame induction seems slim for Astle, but he was one of the finest pitchers in the 1930s and early 40s and will be remembered fondly by Foresters and Minutemen fans alike. 10th Round, 147th Overall: RHP Harry Stewart School: Golden Gate Grizzlies Career (C): 3-0, 18.2 IP, 6.27 ERA, 1.98 WHIP, 14 BB, 20 K, -0.6 WAR No, not the Harry Stewart who was part of the Art White deal, but a journeyman reliever who went 3-16 in college with a 6.38 ERA (89 ERA+) and 1.71 WHIP. He did have 143 strikeouts in 139.2 innings, so the thought was he could become a decent reliever. He wasn't, and was quickly cut after allowing 22 hits, 17 runs, and 11 walks in 15.1 innings in his lone season as a Cougar (Class B San Jose). That wasn't the end of his career, as he caught on with the Foresters organization, and spent two years there. He was released before Opening Day in 1930, which triggered a crazy, money-filled year. Yeah, pretty crazy! Hard to blame him for retiring after! 11th Round,163rd Overall: 3B John Kane School: College of San Diego Friars Career (C): .300/.425/.413, 112 G, 514 PA, 14 2B, 13 3B, 2 HR, 67 RBI, 8 SB, 155 WRC+, 6.1 WAR Despite being a late pick, John Kane got some serious time early in his career, as after spending a year on the bench, he was an every day player on the Lions team that won the first UMVA title. He excelled, batting .300/.425/.413 (159 OPS+) with 29 extra base hits, 67 RBIs, 84 runs, and 88 walks. It was the most, and definitely the best he played, but he hung around the organization until being cut during the 1933 season. That started a three year independent career where he played for the Pueblo Mountaineers (31 G), El Paso Missions (9 G), and Des Moines Bears (14 G). It was very erratic playing time, so after being cut by the Bears in 1935 and not receiving another offer, he retired at the age of 29. 12th Round, 179th Overall: RF Lou Baltes School: Lubbock State Hawks Career (AAA): .246/.333/.284, 119 G, 493 PA, 11 2B, 3B, HR, 42 RBI, 65 WRC+, -0.7 WAR He never played a game in our system, and just lasted five months in the organization, but Lou Baltes did play minor league baseball. It came in 1929, when the Austin Violets signed Baltes to their first season in the brand new Lone Star Association. It mostly didn't go well, as he hit just .246/.333/.284 (64 OPS+) with just 13 extra base hits in nearly 500 PAs. If there was a bright side, he did walk (55) more then he struck out (32), but with little speed or power he was a pretty replaceable piece. He did survive the offseason, but made just one start (0-4, 2 K) the following season, and was cut in mid-April. He didn't get another offer, and retired at the end of the 1930 season. 13th Round, 195th Overall: 1B Claude Matthews School: Cleveland HS Barons Career (C): .275/.361/.345, 112 G, 437 PA, 13 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 46 RBI, 117 WRC+, 3.1 WAR An organizational player, Claude Matthews spent eight season in our organization, and like many of the other guys from the class, he was a big part of the first Lions team. He made more PAs (429) that season then rest of his career (291), and posted a strong .276/.357/.343 (117 OPS+) line in 101 games. But as a first basemen with limited power (2 HR), the ceiling was always low, and he never again started more then 21 games he started (32 overall) in San Jose in 1931. He did reach AA at 22, but went just 9-for-38 with 3 runs, 3 walks, and no extra base hits. He got into one game for San Jose in 1933 and spent most of the year as a free agent. At year's end, Matthews retired and returned to his hometown Sherwood, Oregon. 14th Round, 211th Overall: 1B Omar Parker School: Liberty College Bells Career (C): .329/.422/.470, 69 G, 192 PA, 12 2B, 4 3B, HR, 21 RBI, 139 WRC+, 1.7 WAR Back-to-back first basemen? Yay! Like Matthews, Omar Parker is a light hitting first basemen. Parker's career was strictly set in San Jose, where he hit .329 with 12 doubles, 4 triples, a homer, and 33 runs scored. 167 of his 192 PAs came in 1928 where he hit .329/.431/.486 (138 OPS+) with 16 extra base hits (including the homer!) and 24 walks. He made just 11 appearances the next two seasons and was cut in January of 1931. He remained unsigned until October, where he officially retired. Just one more of these left, with the finale coming sometime this week. There is still one big leaguer left, so I didn't want this one to run large. I'll also share the totals as I did with the first two, and as expected this class comes up quite short. Astle was the lone gem, and while John Kincaid was a very reliable player for us, he's pretty much all we got out of this class. Very few of these guys even played in Chicago, with Black the only draftee to throw an inning or take an at bat in a Cougar uniform. I'd trade it all for a title, and that's what this class helped do, as without John Kincaid we may not win it all in '31 and the pennant in '33. Kincaid has an interesting player tree, coming from Astle and then indirectly leading to Donnie Jones. He was traded for Bill Dickens and Stumpy Beaman, with Beaman eventually part of the deal that brought Juan Pomales and Del Burns to Chicago. Pomales then went to Toronto with Hal Wood for the reigning Allen Winner, who at 28 is consistently ranked among the top 20 pitchers in FABL. If Donnie can win us a title, then maybe this class will become somewhat worth it a few decades later. __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312

09-21-2023, 09:18 PM	#1215
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	A Look Back at the 1927 Draft: Part 3 15th Round, 227th Overall: C Ben Richardson School: Houston HS Hurricanes 1937 (DET): .279/.335/.434, 104 G, 395 PA, 26 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR, 50 RBI, 98 WRC+, 2 SB, 1.7 WAR 1941 (MON): .240/.310/.360, 453 PA, 21 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 47 RBI, 89 WRC+, 1.9 WAR 1942 (MON): .265/.320/.361, 333 PA, 9 2B, 3B, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 106 WRC+, SB, 2.5 WAR Career (FABL): .251/.306/.362, 823 G, 2,947 PA, 143 2B, 17 3B, 40 HR, 337 RBI, 84 WRC+, 7 SB, 11.6 WAR Career (MON): .246/.306/.342, 476 G, 1,666 PA, 72 2B, 8 3B, 19 HR, 176 RBI, 85 WRC+ ,3 SB, 7.6 WAR Despite being a rather unheralded prospect and a 15th Round Pick, Ben Richardson was by far the most successful position player we selected in the 1927 draft. A well-traveled catcher, Richardson got minimal time in his first season with us in San Jose (19 G, 54 PA, 115 WRC+), but played a solid amount on the inaugural Lions team. The 19-year-old appeared in 71 games, hitting .292/.345/.411 (134 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 4 homers, and 41 RBIs. He was never the best hitter or defender, but Richardson did manage to record a large amount of doubles, and he generally kept his strikeouts under control. This made him a relatively interesting prospect, and as I was rebuilding the roster heading into the 1930 season, he was one of the many prospects to be shipped out. He was part of the first, and probably most important of our offseason trades, part of the four player package that brought Russ Combs and current Cougar Manager Max Wilder to the Windy City. At the time, I think Richardson was the throw-in, but he was still our 17th ranked prospect at the time of the trade. Despite that, he became the most successful by a longshot, as that Harry Parker never pitched in the big leagues and Luke Nixon and Pat Schuring had very short careers. Richardson spent the next three seasons in the Foresters farm system, eventually cracking the big league roster a few months into the 1933 season. He appeared in 20 games for the Foresters, hitting .247/.295/.342 (85 OPS+) with 4 doubles, a homer, and 5 RBIs with 5 walks and 8 strikeouts. While not awful numbers, the 1933 Foresters were trying to catch an exciting young Cougars roster, and at the trade deadline they decided to put all the chips in. Again, Richardson was a throw in, going to the Eagles with eventual 230-game winner Karl Johnson and a 1st Round Pick for Hall-of-Fame catcher T.R. Goins. It didn't help them catch us, but Goins was crucial in their back-to-back pennants and Richardson was set to join his third FABL organization. Richardson finished the season in the Eagles AAA affiliate, and didn't return to the majors until the end of the 1935 season. He appeared in just in just seven games, but made the most of it, going 11-for-30 with 3 doubles and 8 RBIs. That earned him the roll of backup catcher for the rebuilding club the next season. Unfortunately for Richardson, he was hit hard with regression, and had just 6 hits in his first 36 trips to the plate. Out of options, he was DFA'd in June, and he joined his fourth team when the Dynamos claimed him off waivers. They had an opening on the roster for a catcher, and Richardson made 200 PAs while starting 50 of his 51 appearances. He showed a little power, hitting 9 doubles and 6 home runs, but the 26-year-olds .232/.274/.400 (74 OPS+) triple slash was still well below average. The Dynamos were in a rebuilding phase, so Richardson was allowed to return as the team's starting catcher. He took full advantage of the role, and hit an impressive .279/.335/.434 (103 OPS+) with a career high 26 doubles. Richardson struck out (33) just twice more then he walked (31) and finished with 7 homers, 37 runs, and 50 RBIs. His time as a starter was short, however, as the Dynamos replaced him with Clem Bliss (.240, 5, 35) on a reinvigorated 94-win team led by Red Johnson (.304, 19, 85) and our very own Sal Pestilli (.307, 46, 132, 13). Richardson was the backup on the team, and hit just .252/.305/.360 (80 OPS+) in 85 games. At the end of the season the Dynamos released Richardson, which for most fringe players signifies the end of their career. But catchers are always in demand and less then a month later Richardson secured a $14,000 contract with the set for relocation Baltimore Cannons. Richardson was the backup for the team's first year in Cincinnati, sharing starts with former 1st Overall pick Jack Flint (.313, 5, 70). Despite a miniscule strikeout rate (7.0) Richardson produced a measly 73 WRC+ in 229 PAs, though he did manage 14 doubles. Like Flint, his time in Cincinnati was short, and even nearing 31 he was again used as a throw-in for a major trade, Fresh off the move, the new Cannons GM was ready to make a splash, so after Adam Mullins refused a trade to Detroit the Cannons sent plenty of picks and top prospects to Montreal for Adam Mullins. In total, two first round picks, two top 25 prospects in Otis Parker and Jackie James, and the well-traveled Ben Richardson was the cost of a likely Hall-of-Famer who was at the top of his game. The Mullins-sized hole in the Saint lineup was filled by Richardson, and he appeared in a career high 117 game for the 1941 Saints. He was worth almost 2 WAR (1.9) and hit .240/.310/.360 (86 OPS+) with 21 doubles, 2 triples, 8 homers, 47 RBIs, 49 runs, and 42 walks. He made 450 trips to the plate, the first and only time he surpassed the 400 mark. The following year was his most productive offensive season, as in 333 PAs he slashed .265/.320/.361 (102 OPS+) with a 106 WRC+. The doubles weren't there, just 9, but he did hit 6 homers and drive in 46. He was worth a career high 2.5 wins above replacement. For the next three years he played a decent amount, starting 60 or more games and making 250 or more PAs. 1945 was his last of five seasons with the Saints, and Richardson hit a respectable .246/.306/.342 (87 OPS+) with 72 doubles and 176 RBIs. He started 418 of his 476 appearances, was due to his solid defense behind the plate he was worth over a win above replacement in four of the five years. He was cut before Opening Day in 1946, as 36-year-old backup catchers were the first to go when all the war veterans came home. He remained unsigned for the season, and retired at the end of the year. He seems like the type who may end up going into coaching, as he went from late round pick to nearly 3,000 FABL plate appearances. A .251/.306/.362 (86 OPS+) career line isn't too bad for a good defensive catcher, and he managed to accumulate 11.6 WAR in 823 games. Not only that, Richardson has one of the largest trade trees. Not many players can say they have been traded for two Hall of Famers (Goins and Mullins), but his trades have involved regulars Max Wilder, Russ Combs, Karl Johnson, Otis Parker, and Jackie James, and two of the picks ended up being Gordie Perkins and Bert Cupid. Richardson was never that quality of player, but he carved our a decent eleven season career and made over $100,000 as a professional. Dean Astle was the only other member of the class to record double digit WAR, so in this company, Richardson was the Adam Mullins or T.R. Goins. It's a shame he never got into a game for us, but with talented catchers like Fred Barrell, Mike Taylor, and Harry Mead starting from 1929 to the present day, there wasn't much room for at bats. 16th Round, 243rd Overall: 2B Don Berger School: Queens HS Islanders Career (AA): .238/.391/.329, 121 G, 534 PA, 14 2B, 10 3B, 3 HR, 38 RBI, 19 SB, 53 WRC+, -0.6 WAR Part of the one game club, 16th Rounder Don Berger appeared in just one game in our organization. He came off the bench to go 0-for-2, but he was on base so he was able to score a run. He was cut soon after, and spent the rest of the 1928 season as a free agent. 1929 was the inaugural season for the Texas League, and Berger was one of the lucky free agents who filled the first year rosters. He played second for the Pueblo Mountaineers, but hit just .238 with 3 homers and 38 RBIs. He did swipe 19 bases and walked (30) more then he struck out (23), but that's not enough to overcome a 52 WRC+. He was cut in the offseason and instead of pursuing another job, the Chicago native decided to pursue another career path. 17th Round, 259th Overall: RHP Pete Carey School: Swoyersville HS Kings 1934 (CLE): 17-7, 281.2 IP, 3.07 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 76 BB, 110 K, 137 ERA+, 6.5 WAR Career (FABL): 0-2, 12.1 IP, 2.92 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 11 BB, 6 K, 159 ERA+, -0.1 WAR Career (AA): 20-20, SV, 343.2 IP, 4.37 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 97 BB, 165 K, 102 ERA+, 4.4 WAR If you can throw fast, there will always be a spot for you in professional baseball. And Pete Carey threw fast. At his peak, the fireballer could hit 97, and he was always able to strike guys out. He pitched out of the pen his first year out of high school, and struck out 74 hitters in 62 innings, which translated to a 3.92 ERA (125 ERA+), 1.26 WHIP, and 3.9 K/BB. He spent time between the rotation and pen the next season, but truly broke out in 1930. 19 of his 20 starts came with the Lincoln Legislators, where he went 7-4 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. He struck out 120 hitters with just 33 walks in 111.1 innings, and he had an incredible 3.54 FIP (69 FIP-), 3.6 K/BB, and 3.5 WAR. This brought him to my attention, but unfortunately with great speed comes great injury risk. Carey was injured often in the early years, but a ruptured disc in his back ended his 1931 season in early June. Just 21 at the time, it was already his 16th injury, but the first to cost him more then three months. I was really worried that his velocity was gone, but when the fireballer returned in 1932 he was better then ever. Again, most of his starts (16 of 18) came in Lincoln, where he had a minuscule 1.93 ERA (202 ERA+), 1.01 WHIP, and 2.32 FIP (59 FIP-) in 93.1 innings. He had a personal high 33.2 K% with just a 6.2 BB%, and his 5.3 K/BB was also a career best. His two starts in Mobile (12 IP, 20 H, 14 ER, 4 BB, 6 K), but he returned there for the 1933 season. Again, injuries kept him out of games, and he made just 16 appearances (13 starts). He was still effective, posting a 2.90 ERA (145 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP with 22 walks and 52 strikeouts. With a big league rotation that posted a stellar 2.84 team ERA, there was no room for Carey, so again he spent the season in AA. He made 17 starts and went 8-7 with a 3.41 ERA (131 ERA+) and 21 strikeouts and was added to the 40-man roster during the year. Carey never pitched an inning for us, as before Opening Day 1935 we sent him to Washington for catcher Mel Goldenberg, as we needed somebody to give Mike Taylor the occasional day off. Injuries kept him out of action most of the season, as he made just 8 starts due to three separate ailments. Two came in the big leagues, but the command was not there. He allowed just 4 earned runs, but walked 11 and gave up 8 hits in 12.1 innings. He struck out just 6 and lost both his starts, and did not make the Opening Day roster the following season. He spent all of 1936 in the minors, and was eventually DFA'd that September. He did not clear, as I claimed him off waivers while he was recovering from elbow surgery. Unfortunately, the velocity was pretty much tapped, as the 27-year-old struck out just 8.6% of the A ball hitters he faced, and his season ended early again, this time a torn back muscle. Carey suffered two setbacks the following year, and was eventually cut in July. He lasted just one day as a free agent, as the Des Moines Bears quickly snapped him up. He also was healthy for a day, pulling an abdominal muscle in his first appearance of the season. He did return a week later, and ended up pitching six seasons in the Western Baseball League. He ended up starting 142 games for the Bears, going 38-49 with 517 strikeouts. He stayed relatively healthy there, but after fighting four nagging injuries in the 1943 season, he retired at the age of 34. He's an interesting what-if case, as he throws as hard as Duke Bybee and had even better K/BB numbers in the minor leagues. Our now 26-year-old is currently dominating Continental Association hitters despite dropping to a single digit K%, and him and Carey drew plenty of similarities. Health is the resounding difference, which proved to be the difference in their careers. Bybee is still young, but right now it's looking like the odds of him retiring as a 34-year-old independent leaguer are as close to zero as you can get. Health can be the determining factor in developing into a successful big leaguer, as there are plenty of talented players like Carey who were sabotaged by their body. 18th Round, 275th Overall: SS Dave Griffin School: St. Louis Explorers Career (AA): .278/.331/.395, 166 G, 375 PA, 26 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 43 RBI, 14 SB, 93 WRC+, -0.7 WAR Career (A): .228/.299/.355, 182 G, 601 PA, 28 2B, 4 3B, 11 HR, 61 RBI, 31 SB, 83 WRC+, 0.3 WAR Career (B): .280/.360/.436, 152 G, 576 PA, 38 2B, 3B, 13 HR, 74 RBI, 19 SB, 112 WRC+, 2.6 WAR No more big leaguers left, but that's not to say there aren't any more interesting players left. Dave Griffin was a real journeyman, and the 18th Round draft pick ended up being a regular in 1930. A member of the fledging Lions, Griffin appeared in 50 games (32 starts) years one, and he had more of an impact the following season. Griffin started 98 of his 120 appearances and hit a productive .285/.354/.463 (107 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 13 homers, 60 RBIs, and 18 steals. The issue for Griffin was strikeouts, as he was set down on strikes 112 times, just over one-fourth (25.1%) of his total plate appearances. Still, he had early success the following season, and hit .357/.400/.457 (139 OPS+) despite an elevated 22.4 K% in 22 games up in San Jose. This earned the 21-year-old a promotion to Lincoln, where his proneness to whiffing caught up to him. He hit just .202/.283/.347 (86 OPS+) and struck out in 90 of his 270 PAs (33.3%). 12 doubles, 7 homers, 23 walks, and 17 steals helped provide some value back, but in 1932 he wasn't in our top 30, which was thinned down to just 13 prospects in the top 200 (Art Black, 11th/189th, was the only member from this class), and he didn't get nearly as much playing time as he had in the past. He struck out 85 times in just shy of 300 PAs, and was released prior to the 1933 season. That's when the carousel came for Griffin, who was a mainstay in independent ball the next eight seasons. He appeared for eleven separate clubs and signed twenty five separate contracts before retiring after the conclusion of the 1940 season. None of the stints were very long, as he started more then 50 games for a team just once. That came in 1937, where he was 27 and a member of the San Antonio Missions in the Lone Star League. Griffin held his own, hitting a slightly below average .292/.330/.435 (95 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 3 homers, 13 steals, and 29 RBIs. All told, he appeared in 301 games for independent minor league teams, and even made a little over $6.5 grand as a baseball player. 19th Round, 291st Overall: RHP Mack James School: High Point HS Highlanders Career (B): 6-4, 6 SV, 107 IP, 6.22 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 53 BB, 72 K, 76 ERA+, -1.3 WAR Career (C): 4-5, 86.2 IP, 4.36 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 38 BB, 111 K, 117 ERA+, 2.2 WAR A starter in high school, Mack James pitched almost exclusively out of the pen for us, but threw less innings (50, 11.2, 6.2) each season. He was cut during his third year, but spent just a month unemployed before the Cleveland Foresters offered him a minor league deal. The 20-year-old East Orange native repaid their efforts, giving their C ball team 14 quality starts. He was unlucky, just 3-3, with an ERA (4.61, 113) almost a full point higher then his FIP (3.79, 73). He struck out 91 and walked just 30 and held a respectable 1.38 WHIP in 68.1 innings. Unfortunately for James, he would never make another start, as he spent the next four seasons in the Class B Savannah Privateers bullpen. The most remarkable part was he saved exactly one game in all four seasons, but once again, his innings total dropped (19, 15.2, 12, 8.1) each year. A torn UCL was the cause in his final season, and when still recovering he was cut in January of the following year. He signed a pair of minor league deals with independent teams that year, but didn't get an inning, and retired shortly after being released for the final time. 20th Round, 307th Overall: 2B Phil Peterson School: Memphis HS Pharaohs Career (AA): .320/.350/.471, 123 G, 576 PA, 29 2B, 19 3B, 5 HR, 55 RBI, 3 SB, 107 WRC+, 1.0 WAR Phil Peterson's time in our system was short, as he was retired in both of his pinch hit appearances for San Jose in 1928. He was released that May, and like many others from this class, was part of the inaugural Texas League season. Unlike some of the guys selected ahead of him, Peterson had a really good year, and the 20-year-old hit .320/.350/.471 (104 OPS+) with 29 doubles, 19 triples, 5 homers, 55 RBIs, and 3 steals. Unfortunately, he met their same fate, and the Amarillo Stars did not bring him back for the 1930 season. He retired the day they released him, but I'm sure some team would have given him a flier after posting strong offensive numbers with a 5.4 K%. This ended up getting longer then I expected, and with no games until Tuesday there is no rush, so there will be a part four! I'll cover the last five guys, and I'll release the pretty barren final totals of what this class produced. There are a lot of 1s and 0s, so it's not surprising the 6 of 25% debut rate may be one of, if not the lowest, since I started in 1925. I also want to do a quick summary, and touch upon the alternative use that this class had. I mentioned it a few times, but while it lacked in production for the big league club, some of the guys were traded for useful big league pieces. The drafts weren't always deep with talent, but we managed to maximize some of the depth even if we let the true diamond slip away. Just keep reminding yourself it helped win a title! You know now how hard that is! What good are top farm systems if your fingers remain ringless! At least there is always next year... __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312 Last edited by ayaghmour2; 09-24-2023 at 05:40 PM.

09-30-2023, 01:30 AM	#1218
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	Week 20: August 30th-September 5th Weekly Record: 3-4 Seasonal Record: 71-60 (3rd, 4 GB) Stars of the Week Sal Pestilli : 27 AB, 10 H, 3 HR, 12 RBI, .370 AVG, 1.303 OPS Billy Hunter : 18 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .389 AVG, .778 OPS Skipper Schneider : 20 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .300 AVG, .650 OPS Schedule 8-30: Loss at Wolves (4-5) 8-31: Loss at Cannons (1-7) 9-1: Win at Cannons (8-5) 9-2: Loss at Cannons (0-1) 9-3: Loss vs Saints (6-3) 9-4: Win vs Saints (5-4): 11 innings 9-5: Win vs Saints (8-4) Recap Again, we were given the opportunity to make a dent in the divisional lead. And again, we chose mediocrity over winning games. We lost two more one run games, including the finale in Toronto and the rubber match in Cincinnati. I was wrong, we did get Rufus Barrell (20-6, 1.84, 114), who threw back-to-back 1-0 shutouts against us and the Sailors. Luckily we did better at home, and took two of three from the Saints. That included a rare walk-off victory, as once again George Oddo (7-9, 3.17, 110), but didn't get a decision. The walk-off hero was about as surprising as you could expect, as in the 11th pinch hitter George Sutterfield's (.235, 1, 8, 2) first homer of the season ended the game. That improved us to 6-5 in extra inning games, as we tend to get thing sorted out in regulation. No one is hotter then Sal Pestilli, who used a two-homer game on Sunday to pass Red Bond for the team lead in homers. Pestilli hit three hit this week, giving him 27 on the season. It was another excellent week for our center fielder, who went 10-for-27 with a double, 2 triples, 8 runs, 12 RBIs, and a steal. He's now a tenth away from a 6 WAR season and is on pace to become the first Cougar to hit 32 home run in a year. He now leads both associations in extra base hits, as his 65 are more then even Bill Barrett (.317, 42, 125, 7) and Bobby Barrell (.303, 36, 101). He's not having quite as spectacular seasons as those two superstars, but after a dreadful start to his Cougar career, .265/.331/.539 (129 OPS+) feels like its even better. His 138 WRC+ is second to just Red Bond (145), but Super Sal can do so much more. He has 19 doubles and triples, 52 walks to just 30 strikeouts, and is 18-for-25 in stolen base attempts. Add in excellent (15.1, 1.031) defense in center and you have one of the most complete players in the league. He may never be the best again, but he's a legit 5-tool guy which is something we don't see too often. If he can push a struggling Cougars squad to the postseason, Chicago fans will pretend his 1947 season didn't exist, and 1948 can be the season that starts is legacy in Chicago. Yesterday I challenged Walt Pack and Leo Mitchell to make a difference, and to my surprise, they actually did! Pestilli was clearly the class of the week, but the lefties were the starters that made the most impact. With a lot of lefty pitchers this week, they each started just three games, but Pack was 3-for-8 with a homer and two walks while Mitchell was 5-for-13. They carried the load against the lefties, while Billy Hunter and Carlos Montes were the lone supplemental producers against righties. Hunter was 7-for-18 with 2 RBIs and 3 runs while Montes was 5-for-15 with a walk, RBI, and two runs scored. Not the greatest numbers overall, but considering Bond, Mead, Sharp, Car, and Berry went 9-for-74, the bar was pretty low. Two callups made at bats, but both Bill Payne and Johnny Carlisle struck out in the lone trips. For Carlisle it was his first big league at bat, but he also made appearances at third and short. Duke Bybee got hit hard again, allowing 9 hits, 5 runs, and 2 walks in 6 innings pitched. I guess I should be careful for what I wish for, as he struck out a season high 8 hitters. We ended up winning that game, as Ken Matson (W, 2 IP, BB, 2 K) and Harry Parker (SV, IP, H) got the game to the finish line, as a Sal Pestilli triple and Eddie Howard in the ninth gave us an 8-5 lead we'd keep. That was one of five appearances Matson made in his busiest week of the year, but the results were mixed. He picked up two wins, also going two scoreless innings (H, K) back in Chicago, but he was roughed up by both teams he beat the appearance before. The Cannons got 3 hits, 4 runs, and 4 walks the first time while the Saints had 3 hits, 3 runs, and a walk. Those bad outings inflated his season ERA to 4.18 (94 ERA+), despite opening the week at a much lower 3.44. He's now on pace to walk (35) more hitters then he strikes out (25) for the first time since he was a rookie in 1943. I have faith in him turning it around, as we'll need our stopper at his best to make a return to the postseason. Johnnie Jones had a nice rebound start despite the loss, 8 innings with 7 hits, a run, two walks, and a strikeout. Donnie also pitched well in a loss, 8 innings with 9 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Both two start starters went .500, with Pete Papenfus 1-1 and George Oddo 0-0. Pap's control was a bit off, as he walked 10 hitters in 15 innings with 15 hits, 7 runs, and 6 strikeouts. Not quite what we are used to, and both of his outings were equally boring, but he's pulled into a tie with Bybee for the team lead in wins, securing his 16th in 28 starts. George Oddo was as unlucky as ever, and despite allowing 4 runs in each of his starts, he had a WHIP of 1.00 or better and 13 strikeouts to just 5 walks. On track for his first 200 inning season, Oddo has won just seven starts despite an impressive 3.17 ERA (124 ERA+) and 1.16 WHIP. He's struck out 110 and walked just 55, and his 2.0 K/BB trails just Rufus in the association. He leads most categories, but Oddo ranks top five in K/9 (5.6), WHIP (1.16), and opponent average (.232). He's the best fifth starter in baseball, but both Dixie Marsh and OSA still won't rate him anything more then an emergency starter. He's been effective all season long, and it's a shame he pitched during the war or he'd probably be in the Kellogg running this season. Looking Ahead Our long stretch of games ends in Brooklyn, where we'll play two with the Kings. They've been on an awful stretch lately, losers of 23 of their last 33 games, so expect us to get swept here. With a double header there is a lot they could do with their rotation, and I'm really hoping we get rookie Joe Potts (0-1, 7.94) and Jake Roberts (0-1, 7.88, 3) instead of Potts and Bob Arman. If it wasn't for his old teammate, Arman would be on track to win his first Allen Award, as the first year King is 14-9 with a 2.43 ERA (167 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP. His 138 strikeouts are most in the association, and he's already accumulated a career high 6.3 WAR in a still career low 218.2 innings pitched. If Leo Hayden (8-13, 4.96, 84) can regain his former form, those two will be a devastating 1-2 punch atop the rotation. They have a lineup to support that, led by superstar Ralph Johnson (.296, 24, 83, 5) they've scored more runs (607) then everyone except the Stars (682). This lineup isn't as deep, but Charlie Woodbury (.309, 9, 60), Chuck Collins (.309, 7, 63), and Pat Petty (.278, 13, 77) are all doing well in their first season in the lineup. While all productive, there's no Jack Welch (.282, 30, 84) or Mack Sutton (.254, 28, 96), but the Kings have the #1 system and can either wait for #3 prospect Ken Newman to develop into the star he is or tap into their prospect reserves to add an establish player to the lineup. I'm very surprised the Kings are in the second division, but they're always a threat. Assuming we avoid Arman, Duke Bybee (16-7, 2.84, 84) and Johnnie Jones (9-12, 3.38, 88) should get plenty of run support. We're then off for two days, one of which we'll use to travel to Montreal. We'll be there for four games, before having an off day to return home. At 65-68, the Saints are three games behind the Wolves for fourth, and still closer to first (11 GB) then last (12.5 GB). We took two of three from them, as the lowest scoring offense had trouble with the best staff at preventing runs. That should again work in our favor at the Parc Cartier, which has one of the largest outfields. Maurice Carter (.275, 20, 69) homered in our 5-4 win in Chicago, becoming the sixth Saint to hit twenty homers in a season. Pinky Pierce (.265, 18, 88) should become the seventh by season's end, and those two account for just over half (55%) of the teams home runs. Add in Bill Greene (.260, 12, 56, 21), who has already had a 20-homer season, and nearly 75% (72.4) of the team slug is accounted for. These are four must win games for us, as we cannot fall further back in the standings. Four games is already tough enough, and any more and we may have to shift our focus to the future. Minor League Report RHP Zane Kelley (AAA Milwaukee Blues): I won't go too deep into it as I covered him yesterday, but Zane Kelley was named the Century League Pitcher of the Month for August. He made 5 starts in August, going 4-1 with a 1.70 ERA (266 ERA+) and 1.37 WHIP. Kelley struck out 12 in 42.1 innings pitched, and had both a 5-hit and 9-hit shutout. His first September start wasn't nearly as good, as Indianapolis got to him for 10 hits, 6 runs, and 3 walks. He struck out just 4 in 7.1 innings pitched, falling to 13-6 on the season. Despite the loss, the Blues hold a conformable 4.5 game lead over the Hoosiers and the Kansas City Eagles. Milwaukee is done with the Eagles, but will host the Hoosiers while we are in Montreal, and Kelley will get a chance for some revenge in the third game of the series. Cougars in the GWL RHP Bill Ballantine: Our first and only pitcher to be recalled, "The Windy City Whip" split his time between the rotation and the pen. He had a near identical ERA in the rotation (4.31 ERA+) and pen (130 ERA+), and he has a 1.54 WHIP and 39 strikeouts in 94 innings pitched. A former 6th Rounder, Bill Ballantine will get a chance to make his major league debut, as while he was on the 40 last season as well he never got a callup. I like him a lot out of the pen, as his fastball hits 95 and is easily his best pitch. He does have major issues with the longball (1.1 HR/9), as his control isn't refined and when he misses his spot the balls will travel. While he could start games, he hasn't really filled out his arsenal, so I expect the majority of his future innings come out of the pen. I'm hoping he can be the dominant stopper we've never quite had, and him and Harry MacRae will battle each other for that role in the longterm. 3B Leon Blackridge: After failing to make the final roster this season, Leon Blackridge was DFA'd and went unclaimed on waivers. He was willing to stick around, reporting to Milwaukee instead of heading to free agency, and he'll now be rewarded with a spot on the expanded roster. The 32-year-old appeared in 73 games for the Blues, but made took just 114 at bats. His .246/.363/.368 (85 OPS+) line wasn't too impressive, but his 95 WRC+ is just a hair below average and he's well regarded clubhouse leader. Now 32, he'll have a chance to add to his 771 career FABL games. His hold on a 40-man spot won't be very tight, but with four more available I didn't mind allowing him the opportunity to make a few appearances off the bench. 1B Jim Hatfield (Los Angeles Knights): The Knights season might be over, but that hasn't stopped "The Bandit" from having an amazing week. A 5-hit game in a 8-6 with in Seattle capped off a week that earned him Player of the Week. It's an aged 37 surge for Hatfield, who did this all after his birthday. He's been great all season, hitting .323/.358/.407 (124 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, 48 RBIs, and 14 steals. If he keeps hitting like this, he'll come back for a fourth season, as Hatfield owns a strong .328/.372/.442 (141 OPS+) line in 398 games for the Knights. Always a hard worker, he should be able to stay in shape to keep playing till his 40s. The Knights value him enough to bat him above their top two hitters in Ace Anderson (.316, 4, 46) and Bennie Griffith (.309, 20, 63), and if they look to compete next season he'll again be a useful contributor. Attached Images __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312

10-02-2023, 08:59 PM	#1219
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2,758	Week 21: September 6th-September 12th Weekly Record: 4-2 Seasonal Record: 75-62 (3rd, 4 GB) Stars of the Week Duke Bybee : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 1 BB, 4 K, 1.50 ERA Billy Hunter : 10 AB, 5 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.645 OPS Leo Mitchell : 22 AB, 7 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .318 AVG, .875 OPS Schedule 9-6: Win at Kings (6-2) 9-6: Loss at Kings (2-7) 9-9: Loss at Saints (3-4): 10 innings 9-10: Win at Saints (4-1) 9-11: Win at Saints (4-3) 9-12: Win at Saints (4-2) Recap A 4-2 week is always nice, but our situation hasn't changed much. We're still in third, we're still four games out, and we're still not performing to our standard. What did change is the team that we are following, as the Stars slump has continued and they have been replaced in first by the defending pennant winning Philadelphia Sailors. Splitting with the Kings is a little annoying, considering how bad they've been lately, but I was right about the Saints series. We took most of the games, and there was very little scoring. The winning team scored four runs in each game, and we were lucky that the four was next to our name for three of them. It was a rare good week for Leo Mitchell, who not only went 7-for-22 with a double, 3 walks, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs, but the 35-year-old slugger hit his 3rd homer of the season. While not impressive on its own, he now has slugged 136 homers since his debut in 1935, and is tied with club legends Bill Ashbaugh and John Lawson. Our next nine games are at home, which is nice for Mitchell as he looks to make history on his home turf. He's appeared in 1,684 games donning a Cougar uniform, and owns an impressive .327/.371/.439 (128 OPS+) batting line in over 7,000 trips to the plate. There hasn't been much to like about this season, as he's not going to play 150 games for the first time since 1941, but he does have a career best 8.0 BB% (min 500 PAs) and his 13.5 K% is below his 14.9 career mark. But that hasn't helped the overall production, as .287/.344/.350 (86 OPS+) will be his worst career line and his 96 WRC+ is on pace to be the first time he did not post at least a 100. I'm afraid my loyalty to Mitchell may keep us out of the postseason, and if we fail to return left field will be an area to upgrade over. The former 2nd Rounder will always have a spot on our roster, but 1948 is looking like the last season he'll be an everyday guy. Most of the staff was great, but Johnnie Jones put up his third rough outing in four starts. The Kings hit him hard, allowing 8 hits, 5 runs, and 6 walks with just one strikeout before leaving with two outs in the six. Harry Parker finished off the game, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs (1 earned) in an inning and a third. Ken Matson got the only other loss, coming in with two outs in the ninth for Donnie Jones. An error cost Jones a complete game win, as two of the three runs he allowed were unearned. He struck out 6 and walked 4 while allowing 8 hits in the no-decision. Matson got the final out of the 9th, but after getting just one out in the 10th, Jack Spahr (.267, 2, 46) walked it off with a double. Luckily he rebounded for the rest of the week, picking up saves in each of the next two games. He had a strikeout in a perfect inning on the 11th and then despite a hit and walk, eventually getting Maurice Carter (.277, 20, 69) to fly out and end the game. One of the hits caused the third of George Oddo's runs on the day, but he inched one win closer to .500. He did all right, allowing 6 hits and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts. This kept his ERA at 3.17 (124 ERA+) in 184.2 innings pitched, and as people were discussing how few candidates there were for the CA Kellogg Award, it makes me wish Oddo never pitched in the last year of the war. He has been leaps and bounds better then who I would say are the two frontrunners, Pat Petty (.279, 13, 78) of the Kings and Ed Holmes (.289, 2, 36, 11) of the Stars. Neither have accumulated 3 WAR yet while Oddo's at 3.4 in 25 starts. He ranks top 7 in strikeouts (6th, 113), K/BB (2nd, 1.9), K/9 (3rd, 5.5), WHIP (4th, 1.16), and opponents average (4th, 2.30) and is the latest young Cougar to blossom in his first full season in the rotation. The star of the week was the young Cougar to blossom last year, Duke Bybee, who improved to 18-7 after a pair of complete game victories. This was a commanding bounce back, as he allowed 9 hits and 5 runs in just 6 innings in Cincinnati. Despite facing the second best lineup, Bybee was dominant in Brooklyn, allowing just 3 hits and 2 runs (1 earned). I'll take one strikeout if it means no walks, and he had just one in the win over the Saints. This time he struck out three, scattering 7 hits and 2 runs to end the week. If it wasn't for Rufus Barrell (20-7, 1.97, 117), Bybee would be the Allen winner, as he's got a stellar 2.74 ERA (144 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP with 88 strikeouts in 230 innings pitched. It's somehow even better then last season, where Bybee was 14-11 with a 2.91 ERA (129 ERA+) and 104 strikeouts. His 1.09 WHIP was best in the Association and he walked just 63 in 228.2 innings pitched. Him and Peter the Heater have been quite the duo, with the veteran improving to 17-10 with in a win over the Saints. He didn't go all nine, leaving with 127 pitches after 8 innings. He did walk 6, but allowed just 4 hits and a run with 5 strikeouts. His 3.09 ERA (127 ERA+) is nearly a full point lower then last season (3.95). Pap's WHIP has dropped from 1.51 to 1.18 and his BB% dropped almost 3 points (13.3 to 10.4) despite holding a near identical K% (13.3 vs 13.2). These two have been giving it their all all season long as we try to fight our way up the standings. Billy Hunter has started to heat up, hitting an even 5-for-10 with a double, triple, homer, a walk, 3 runs, and 2 RBIs to up his season line to a more respectable .287/.319/.401 (92 OPS+). He was hitting just .258/.293/.354 at the end of August, and he could recover from what was an awful start to the season. We could use a boost from him, but Clark Car was productive as well. The lefty went 6-for-16 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and a steal. Harry Mead at a nice week too, 6-for-15 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, 3 walks, and an RBI. Skipper did well too, 5-for-17 with 2 doubles, a homer, 2 RBIs, 3 walks, and 4 runs. Walt Pack homered as well, 5-for-17 with 2 runs and 3 walks. It made up for Red Bond's rough week, as the slugger was just 1-for-19, the one hit being a double. He picked the worst time to cool off, and if we want to cut our deficit we'll need him to return to his spring form. Looking Ahead Off to start the week, and we'll use them to prepare for our nine game homestand. The first three are must wins, as we'll host the 52-85 Foresters. They've dropped to 27 back and are 11.5 behind the 7th place Cannons (63-75). They are off too, so they have an opportunity to structure their rotation how ever they want. They could use their top three, but those are the ones with the highest ERAs. Adrian Czerwinski (3-10, 6.57, 28) is the least rested, and while he may be missed, I expect to see John Jackson (7-9, 5.30, 56) and Dick Lamb (7-8, 3, 4.83, 43). We won't see Ducky Davis (4-13, 3.42, 66), who pitched in the 5-4 loss against the Wolves. He's done the best at preventing runs, but he's been extremely unlucky in the record department. The offense doesn't always score for him, but all season long Ivey Henley (.314, 10, 65) has done what the team has asked of him. He's on pace for 101 walks and is sporting a 15.0 BB% and 9.8 SO% in 602 trips to the plate. Chuck McHenry (.295, 5, 33) has been great since promotion, and when healthy, Jim Adams Jr. (.278, 3, 34, 10) has been impressive. We have to take them seriously, but we've handled the Foresters all season, and if we can't do that at home in September, we don't deserve to play meaningful games in October. The next two will be against the Wolves, who have won six in a row and eleven of their last twelve. They are now just 6.5 games out of first and comfortably over .500 at 73-65. Fred McCormick (.313, 18, 83, 6) is again proving he's an All-Time great, and if he can will the Wolves to the pennant he may get his 3rd Whitney Award. Charlie Artuso (.222, 6, 48, 5) hasn't done much at the plate, but McCormick has gotten a ton of support from Tom Frederick (.278, 5, 51, 11), Chink Stickels (.268, 15, 82, 18), Hal Wood (.332, 5, 69), and Dom Tripp (.284, 2, 53). None are producing star level numbers, but all four have a WRC+ of 100 or better. But the pitching is what has fueled the comeback, as they now rank behind only us with 545 runs allowed. Like us, all five of their starters have an ERA below 4, but unlike us, they don't have any under 3.20 (we have three!). Jerry York (12-11, 3.21, 89) comes close, but Joe Hancock's (8-8, 3.93, 54) ERA+ is just four points above average. They're not quite as deep as we are, but they will cause plenty of fits for our hitters. This is a huge series for both teams, as the short sweep would be detrimental to either club's slim playoff hopes. The week ends with the first of two against the Cannons, who we need to get a little revenge on. I think we're stuck with Rufus Barrell again, and he's the only 20-game winner out there. He owns an elite 1.97 ERA (206 ERA+) and 1.05 WHIP with 55 walks and 117 strikeouts in his 30 starts. When the season ends, he'll win his third Allen Award, and first since he was an FABL champion in 1943. No champions on the horizon for the Cannons, but Denny Andrews is now hitting .262/.363/.412 (101 OPS+) with a 117 WRC+. He's walking (59) more guys then he strikes out (46), and he's tallied 14 doubles, 14 homers, 58 runs, and 48 RBIs. He was hitting just .190/.301/.324 as late as June 24th, and has hit an impressive .349/.417/.448 (151 OPS+) in 11 September days, and this has come after a 172 WRC+ in June and 151 in July. A strong start could boost his trade value in the offseason if the Cannons decide to rebuild, and the same can be said of Adam Mullins (.276, 6, 47), Chuck Adams (.266, 23, 91), Sam Brown (.304, 8, 53), Fred Galloway (.252, 6, 56), and Jim Hensley (.214, 5, 52). All five are on the wrong side of 30, but would still command a strong prospect return. Barrell should be untouchable, but the rotation has seen a break out from 33-year-old Jim Anderson (11-9, 2.86, 81), and Chris Clarke (3-4, 2.88, 24) has impressed in his short time as a starter. They could be an active team in the offseason, but there's a lot of paths they could take even if a rebuild is not on the horizon. Minor League Report RF Harry Austin (A Lincoln Legislators): A 5-hit game helped earn Harry Austin a Player of the Week award, as the recently turned 22-year-old went 14-for-27 with 3 doubles, 3 homers, and 6 RBIs. He scored 8 times and drew 2 walks, and is now hitting .318/.380/.450 (120 OPS+) in 569 trips to the plate. His 131 WRC+ matches a 37 game sample from last season in San Jose. He's powered 27 doubles, 4 triples, and 11 homers with 69 RBIs and 74 runs scored. Austin has been worth nearly 3 WAR in 131 games, and he's played acceptable defense at both first and right. He may not be the hardest worker out there, but Austin has showed serious improvement, and is trying to hit his way back into our future plans. He'll finish out the season in Lincoln, but Austin will be in Mobile next year and will have a way to work his way up to Milwaukee or even Chicago. His hit tool is outstanding, and it could be enough to earn him a major league callup. __________________ Check out my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of the FABL!: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...12#post4571312