United Leagues of Braeland - Page 27

Hageneezz · 08-03-2019, 01:08 PM

Anyway, kutgw!

reds1 · 08-03-2019, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hageneezz

Do you also watch cpu vs cpu games? 2d/3d?

Usually I'll pick a game on Opening Day to watch, but especialy in the playoffs will I watch games as well as replays of others, which help me in my writeups.

reds1 · 08-09-2019, 01:01 PM

December 1, 1951

Western League: Unions Taking the Upper Hand

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Offense: .276/.361/.422 (1st/1st/1st)
Pitching: 3.40/3.63/2.24 (1st/1st/1st)
Defense: .709 (4th)

On November 2, the Wolseley Unions were sitting 4.5 games out of first place, behind a red-hot Pulberry team. But the Unions then ramped up the heat, ripping off a 9-game winning streak and go 20-5 to finish the month. At month’s end, they sit 5.5 games ahead of those same upstart Trolleys. In a League with an abundance of impressive starts, Wolseley’s is the most impressive. The defending United Cup Champions have dominated practically all facets of the game.

There’s perhaps no hotter player in the United Leagues right now than 30-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.340/.486/.539, 7 HR, 42 RBI, 55 BB, 3.2 WAR), as exemplified by his back-to-back Player of the Month honors. Over the past three seasons, he’s earned 7.0, 6.9 and 6.9 WAR respectively. This year he’s on pace for 9.1. Even his defensive play, long below average, is strong: .986 PCT, 2.80 RNG, +2.7 ZR, .987 EFF.

But this offense is not a one-trick pony. The line-up is stacked, with the likes of No. 2 batter, 22-year old 3B Carlos Ortíz (.299/.377/.445, 9 HR, 42 RBI, 29 BB, 2.2 WAR), building on his Rookie of the Year season.

The pitching is simply jaw-dropping. Free agent signing, 26-year old RHP Roberto Garza (6-3, 2.53 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 2.70 FIP), has not disappointed and perhaps has had the most auspicious start to a career in ULB history as noted below. He is now Wolseley’s No. 1 starter, ably supported by the likes of 28-year old RHP Jeremy Albury (8-1, 2.70 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 3.41 FIP) and 33-year old RHP Bill Blair (6-1, 3.38 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 3.49 FIP). Wolseley has so many dominant starters in the rotation right now that 26-year old LHP Axel MacKay (0-1, 1 SV, 3.18 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 3.02 FIP), a 15-game winner last year is now pitching out of the bullpen. If 35-year old LHP Anastasio Rodríguez (5-4, 4.81 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 3.36 FIP) can find his groove in the ensuing months, then watch out.

Player of the Week Awards:

November 5 – RF Howard Ockey (.450, 9 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
November 19 – 3B Carlos Ortíz (.478, 11 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R)

Noteworthy:

October 7 –RHP Roberto Garza was impressive in his first major league start back on October 2, where he went 7.0 innings and gave up just 2 hits and no earned runs (along with 1 BB, 6 K) in Wolseley’s 3-2 victory over Kingston.
But that only set the stage for his second major league start on October 7 against the Sherburn Tigers. Garza pitched the 9th NO-HITTER in United Leagues’ history and the first in nearly two years. Garza faced 29 batters and threw 101 pitches, 60 of them for strikes, as he breezed through the Tigers’ lineup for a 6-0 victory. He struck out 5 batters and issued two walks in his masterpiece, finishing with a game score of 90, the highest thus far in the United Leagues. 27-year old C Éric Denis (.303/.333/.500, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 10 BB, 1.5 WAR) led the offense with a two-run home run in the 1st inning and a run-scoring double in the 5th.

Current Injuries: None.

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Offense: .272/.344/.400 (2nd/2nd/3rd)
Pitching: 3.87/3.69/4.54 (4th/3rd/6th)
Defense: .733 (1st)

The Pulberry Trolleys are getting better at fast starts. Last year, they finished the first week of the regular season tied for first place with the Wolseley Unions before fading the rest of the way. This season they were scorching hot, getting out to an incredible 23-7 start, capped with an 8-game winning streak. Alas, they could not keep it up. After taking the first game of a 4-game set against the Wolseley Unions for their eighth consecutive win, the Trolleys dropped the next three and then got swept 3-straight by the Kingston Pelicans. They recovered somewhat, finishing the rest of November 10-9.

The abundance of young talent on the roster appears to be delivering this season. Free agent signing, 22-year old LHP Ramón Castro (2-2, 2.72 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 3.27 FIP), is already Pulberry’s No. 1 starter and should get stronger as the season wears on. The rest of the rotation could be better, but No. 5 starter, 33-year old RHP Lenny Tennison (3-3, 2.64 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 4.35 FIP) is off to the best start of his 7-year career. Tennison has yet to finish a season with a winning record. 24-year old RHP Harley Rodman (5-2, 3.52 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 4.21 FIP) has been solid pitching out of the bullpen. Rodman was a 6th-round pick back in 1945-46.

At the beginning of the season, it was expected that the starting outfield would comprise Pulberry’s top young studs: 23-year old LF Aidan Thirkettle (2.62/.364/.460, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 21 BB, 0.9 WAR), 24-year old CF Cooper Tyson (.284/.379/.438, 5 HR, 26 RBI, 31 BB, 2.8 WAR) and 23-year old OF John Oldknow (.306/.370/.468, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 11 BB, 1.0 WAR). But Oldknow has been relegated to back-up duty against RHP in favor of 26-year old RF Ellis Dibble (3.42/.401/.490, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 24 BB, 1.7 WAR). The four-year veteran has been improving with each passing season, but it will be interesting to see how much longer he can keep a regular spot in the lineup. For now, Oldnow is starting against LHP with Dibble replacing Thirkettle at LF.

But its not all about the outfield. 24-year old Makani Kahale (.347/.384/.500, 3 HR, 37 RBI, 13 BB, 2.1 WAR) is off to an incredible start in just his third season and is second only to Cobourg Red Stockings’ Alexander Tolmie among third basemen in the ULB.

Current Injuries: None.

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Offense: .251/.327/.391 (8th/5th/4th)
Pitching: 3.90/4.20/2.66 (5th/6th/2nd)
Defense: .704 (6th)

The Kingston Pelicans struggled in October, starting off with a 5-10 record before turning it around and getting back to .500 by month’s end. The turning point of their season may have been the October 18 game against the Cambria Cannons, where they crushed the home-town team 23-2 on 18 hits. 27-year old RF Mo Spenceley (.301/.379/.579, 11 HR, 34 RBI, 24 BB, 1.5 WAR) paced the team, going 3 for 6 with a 3-run home, a 2-run double and a Western League record of 9 RBI. Spenceley is Kingston’s top offensive player thus far; the rest of the lineup has been rather lackluster. But Kingston finally saw fit to place 33-year old back-up C Danny Trowbridge (.308/.400/.692, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 0.2 WAR – 47/47) on the trading block on October 24. So perhaps the Pelicans can get some additional offensive talent in return and give the 9-time all-star a chance to start again with someone else.

The pitching staff is currently buoyed by a few excellent starts. 26-year old RHP Kieran Bunce (7-3, 3.34 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.62 FIP) is enjoying the best start of his 3-year major-league career. The former 16th overall pick from 1947-48 was recently promoted to the No. 1 spot in the rotation. No. 5 starter 25-year old LHP Rob Hutchence (5-1, 2.11 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 4.60 FIP) is also enjoying a terrific start in his second year. A torn UCL cut short his rookie season. Finally, 27-year old RH stopper Kaula Mafileo (3-5, 9 SV, 2.22 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 3.98 FIP) is far and away enjoying the best start of his 4-year career.

Player of the Week Awards:

October 22 – LHP Rob Hutchence (2-0, 10.1 IP, 2 K, 0.87 ERA)
October 29 – RF Mo Spenceley (.400, 10 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI)

Current Injuries:

RHP Ben Currall – October 16 – strained hamstring. Out for: 6 more weeks.

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Offense: .260/.320/.366 (5th/7th/7th)
Pitching: 3.82/3.87/3.51 (3rd/4th/3rd)
Defense: .729 (2nd)

The Fort Richmond Generals got off to a sluggish start, hovering near the bottom of the Western League standings before picking things up in November. An 8-game winning streak against Eastern League teams didn’t hurt.

Both the pitching and offense have been slow to start the season. 30-year old C Louis Wearne (.236/.310/335, 4 HR, 23 RBI, 19 BB, 0.7 WAR), who won the WL Babe Ruth Award last season, has really struggled in the early going. 27-year old SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida (.307/.373/.396, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 21 BB, 2.1 WAR) and a resurgent 29-year old CF Dylan Moyne (.304/.361/.449, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 18 BB, 5 SB, 2.1 WAR) have been the leaders on offense thus far.

On the pitching side of things, 32-year old ace RHP Roberto Taváres (4-6, 3.90 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 3.41 FIP) is struggling a bit to find his award-winning form as well. But No. 2 starter, 31-year old LHP Nicholas Grimes (8-1, 1.93 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 3.40 FIP), has been sensational.

Player of the Week Awards:

November 12 – LF Daniel Paterson (.458, 11 H, 4 HR, 6 RBI)

Current Injuries: None.

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Offense: .267/.332/.407 (3rd/4th/2nd)
Pitching: 4.28/4.05/4.94 (6th/5th/8th)
Defense: .684 (7th)

The Cambria Cannons are a team in transition, with some fresh blood in the lineup. However, they will need to beef up their pitching if they hope to contend soon. Losing No. 1 prospect, 22-year old CF Sam Tite (.245/.269/.408, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 0.3 WAR – 47/80), to a long-term injury certainly doesn’t help.

The pitching staff has been nothing to write home about. Nevertheless, No. 3 starter, 33-year old LHP Callum Stonehouse (6-2, 3.57 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 3.46 FIP) is off to his best start since the 1946-47 season, when he went 13-11, 2.81 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.44 FIP. Stonehouse was claimed on waivers from the Balmoral Giants back on October 3; Cambria had previously traded him to Balmoral in December 1949. 26-year old RH stopper Keith Roche (1-2, 11 SV, 2.67 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 3.49 FIP) is off to the best start of his 3-year career.

31-year old SS César Ruíz (.305/.413/.561, 12 HR, 32 RBI, 32 BB, 2.0 WAR) continues his elite ways. But he has been joined by a couple of youngsters. Lead-off hitter, 23-year old RF Seung-jae Park (.329/.354/.460, 2 HR, 32 RBI, 9 BB, 1.1 WAR), appears to have finally emerged as a solid offensive player. And 30-year old rookie, 3B Alberto Esquivel (.299/.358/.493, 6 HR, 25 RBI, 14 BB, 1.4 WAR) has emerged as Cambria’s second-best position player. The free agent from Venezuela was signed to a minor-league contract back in May and was quickly installed as the Cannons’ starting third baseman. He has been outstanding from the get-go, winning a Rookie of the Month honor in October.

Player of the Week Awards:

October 8 – 1B Carlos Correa (.483, 14 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI)
October 15 – SS César Ruíz (.375, 9 H, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 9 R)

Noteworthy:

October 13 – The top-ranked position player in the ULB, SS César Ruíz, demonstrated why he is ranked so highly. Ruíz brought an 8-game hitting streak into the new season and extended it to 21 games before being held hitless by the Sherburn Tigers. Ruíz went 0-4 with a walk and a run. However, the Cannons still prevailed, defeating Sherburn, 10-3.

Current Injuries:

CF Sam Tite – October 20 – post-concussion syndrome. Out for: 2-3 more months.

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Offense: .251/.324/.357 (7th/6th/8th)
Pitching: 3.76/3.68/4.12 (2nd/2nd/5th)
Defense: .715 (3rd)

It’s a familiar story with the Balmoral Giants, as their pitching staff continues to excel (or overachieve depending on how you look at it) while their offense sputters. Although a couple of veterans achieved milestones as noted below, the lineup is decidedly ho-hum. Paired with the second-worst ranked farm system in the ULB, things could get even bleaker before too long.

Only 23-year old rookie 2B Erik Perry (.286/.333/.500, 3-2B, 9 RBI, 3 BB, 0.4 WAR – 44/64) is generating any sort of a spark. The 7th overall pick from last season stepped into the starting lineup in mid-November after 28-year old Sean Brearton (.285/.372/.364, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 19 BB, 0.9 WAR) went down to injury.

31-year old LHP Ricardo Cruz (6-0, 0.99 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 2.89 FIP) was absolutely jaw-dropping in October, picking up Pitching of the Month honors; alas he will miss significant playing time due to injury. However, 28-year old LHP Ron Albin (4-4, 3.45 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.30 FIP) has had his moments since stepping into the rotation from the bullpen after Cruz went down. Albin just needs to string together some consistent starts.

Noteworthy:

October 11 & November 7 – A pair of Balmoral legends reached a similar milestone nearly one month apart. 33-year old SS Francisco Rodríguez (.292/.333/.359, 10-2B, 12 RBI, 11 BB, 1.0 WAR) and 33-year old LF Carlton Broadbent (.264/.337/.493, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 17 BB, 0.1 WAR) have 17 all-star selections between over their respective 13-year careers. Now they both reached the 2000 Career Hit milestone.
Rodríguez first reached it in a game against the Wolseley Unions. In the bottom of the 4th inning at Balmoral’s Foster Field, Rodríguez led off with a single into right-centerfield off LHP Anastasio Rodríguez to reach the mark. He would go 3 for 5 with two runs on the day; however, the Unions prevailed 8-6.
In a game against the Brunswick Legends at Babe Ruth Park on November 7, Carlton Broadbent came up big, going 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and 2 BB as the led the Giants to a 5-2 victory. His first hit of the day was his 2000th, a two run, two-out line drive single to left field.

Current Injuries:

RF Roy Belknap – October 10 – broken hand. Out for: 5 more weeks.
LHP Ricardo Cruz – November 2 – elbow tendinitis. Out for: 3 more weeks.
2B Sean Brearton – November 14 – herniated disc. Out for: 2-3 more weeks.

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Offense: .253/.332/.380 (6th/3rd/5th)
Pitching: 4.39/4.60/3.60 (7th/8th/4th)
Defense: .708 (5th)

The Hespeler Stars picked things up a bit in November, but it appears once again that it will be a long season in the ‘Hes’. The Stars have built up a long history now of selecting young, promising players only to see them wilt and fade by the time they get to the majors. Or at least it has appeared that way.

The latest candidates are 25-year old LHP Larry Kovnats (2-8, 6.14 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 3.73 FIP) and 24-year old CF John McMurray (.255/.317/.399, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 17 BB, 0.8 WAR). Kovnats, a former 3rd overall pick from 1948-49, has never delivered on his initial promise and likely never will. McMurray, who was selected first overall in 1949-50, is just in his second season so there is no need to write him off anytime soon. Still, his recent struggles seem all too familiar to the Stars.

But there is some room for optimism that things could change. 29-year old RF Kominiko Hokulani (.147/.244/.267, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 8 BB, -0.0 WAR), another former first-round draft pick whose performance has cratered, has been replaced in the starting lineup by 22-year old rookie RF Tim Beattie (.293/.382/.383, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 18 BB, 0.7 WAR – 49/80). Beattie, Hespeler’s No. 2 overall prospect was originally selected 7th overall in 1947-48. And 26-year old Vic Lewis (.311/.388/.495, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 22 BB, 2.1 WAR), a second-round pick from 1946-47 now in his fourth season, is off to an outstanding start. He has already matched his WAR output from last season.
But Hespeler’s best player continues to be 28-year old SS Zhao-hui Qian (.313/.370/.457, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 20 BB, 2.7 WAR). He was outstanding last season (6.2 WAR), his first full year with Hespeler, but he’s on pace to top that.

The pitching staff though, is forgettable. But 27-year old ace RHP Stephen Tindall (6-5, 3.35 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 3.97 FIP) is that rare Hespeler-groomed player that has lived up to his high draft selection (7th overall in 1943-44).

Player of the Week Awards:

November 26 – 2B Vic Lewis (.500, 13 H, 4 HR, 8 RBI)

Current Injuries:

RHP Stephen Tindall – November 18 – back stiffness. Out for: Dtd, unknown.
RHP Rodney Gabrielson – November 21 – acute elbow soreness. Out for: 2 more months.

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Offense: .262/.320/.371 (4th/8th/6th)
Pitching: 4.57/4.45/4.92 (8th/7th/7th)
Defense: .679 (8th)

While neither Balmoral or Hespeler are great teams, the only truly awful team in the West this year is the Sherburn Tigers. Predicted to finish near .500, the Tigers are already 16 games below that mark and are sinking farther. While they are not entirely devoid of talent, they just do not have enough to compete in the tough Western League, especially on the pitching and defensive side of things. But they do have a couple of individual performances worthy of note.

27-year old RHP Jesús Chapa (4-6, 2.80 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 3.59 FIP) is one of the best pitchers in the United Leagues today (ranked 3rd overall) and his outstanding play continues into this season. One can only imagine how he would fare on a more competitive team. The rest of the staff is largely forgettable, but Sherburn has a couple youngsters that could give the club a much-needed boost. 24-year old RHP Bradley Strawson (4-6, 4.65 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 3.69 FIP – 50/60) is slowing but steadily improving in his second year. But he could certainly benefit from a sounder defensive team behind him. The former 4th overall pick from last year is now the Tigers’ No. 3 starter. And 23-year old RHP Roy Hay (1-2, 3 SV, 2.70 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 3.99 FIP) is the Tigers’ lone outstanding reliever right now. He is in his second season after being selected in the 3rd round in 1946-47.

The offense hasn’t been much better but 25-year old 2B Jack Burt (.354/.403/.500, 1 HR, 23 RBI, 13 BB, 2.8 WAR) has been a revelation. The former second-overall pick from 1947-48 appears to be finally joining the upper echelon of players in the ULB. He averaged 3.4 WAR over his first three seasons.

Noteworthy:

November 26 –2B Jack Burt was held hitless by the Braeland City Monarchs in a 4-1 loss at The Paramount in Sherburn. It was the first time in 22 games he failed to hit safely, going 0-4 on the day.

Current Injuries: None.

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reds1 · 08-13-2019, 03:01 AM

WELLINGTON, Dec. 6 – Although he’s just in his first year on the job, Sherburn Tigers’ GM Jack Clayton is fully aware that the choices he and Scouting Director Bill Gunter make in this year’s Amateur Draft will have a direct affect on the fortunes of the organization in the ensuing years. He is also aware that the team needs to start getting the best ‘bang for its buck’. Over the past four seasons, the Tigers have drafted no lower than 8th. However only one player, 25-year old 2B Jack Burt (.346/.393/.492, 1 HR, 31 RBI, 21 BB, 3.3 WAR – 2nd overall in 1947-48), is finally approaching his initial lofty expectations. In fairness, last year’s 4th overall pick, 24-year old RHP Bradley Strawson (7-8, 3.48 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 3.89 FIP) is having a promising year – his first full season in the majors. But Sheburn’s farm system remains one of the weakest in the ULB (13th overall) and its been eight years since they drafted their last true cornerstone player: two-time Satchel Paige Award winner and six-time All-Star, 28-year old RHP Jesús Chapa (8-7, 2.64 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 3.37 FIP), their 4th overall pick from 1942-43.

“When an organization selects high in the draft over several consecutive years, obviously you would expect them to have at least have a deep farm system. For whatever reason, that hasn’t happened with the Tigers”, acknowledged Clayton. “But it’s not always about draft picks that simply don’t pan out. We have drafted outstanding players, such as [Fort Richmond Generals’] SP Roberto Taváves and [Kingston Pelicans’] SP Dana Listman who were either traded or released outright with, shall we say, an ‘unbalanced’ return – or no return at all. We need to change that. We need to change the culture of how we approach the draft here – and that starts with me. It’s not just about the first round either. We need to look at all our selections as assets that we can’t afford to squander. And [Tigers’] ownership is committed to that philosophy as well.”

This year’s Amateur Draft affords a perfect time to test that ‘philosophy’, as the Sherburn Tigers enter the proceedings with the first overall pick. The Pearl Sound Hotel in Wellington hosts the 15th Annual Draft, welcoming not only the Tigers’ contingent, but general managers and scouting directors from the other 15 members of the United Leagues.

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Here is a brief overview of the 16 players taken in the first round:

1st Pick – Sherburn Tigers:

3B Archie Eridge (34/74) – 23-years old; 6’-1”, 210 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.

With his first professional pick, GM Jack Clayton selected third baseman Archie Eridge from Hespeler. Eridge is considered a dynamic player with well above -average contact potential and an excellent eye at the plate. With decent defense at the hot corner and some home run power potential, scouts feel he has the talent to develop into a franchise cornerstone player. He will report to Sherburn’s AA team, the Hannon Greyhounds.

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2nd Pick – Pulberry Trolleys:

C Paul England (22/70) – 21-years old; 5’-11”, 195 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.

After drafting first overall last year, the Trolleys selected second this time. With their first pick, they went with Braeland City’s Paul England. England’s calling card is his offense, as he has above -average contract skills, a smooth swing, quick hands and good pitch recognition. He also has a good sense for the zone and a high ceiling. England projects well both on the field and at the plate. He gets his start with the AA Hopetown Islanders.

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3rd Pick – Hespeler Stars:

IF/OF Clive Yarwood (20/70) – 20-years old; 6’-0”, 185 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.

The Wellington-born Yarwood was selected by the Stars. Yarwood offers an elite balance of offense and defense at either third base and in leftfield. Scouts like his swing and his ability to draw a walk and get pitches to hit by laying off the bad stuff. He heads to Hespeler’s AA club, the Muir Electrics.

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4th Pick – Queensland Eagles:

OF Hal Dhu (20/80) – 18-years old; 5’-8”, 150 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.

Dhu hails from the small town of Avening in the north-west province of Norfolk. But he will be heading to the east side of the country as the Queensland Eagles selected him 4th overall. Dhu’s greatest strength is his game changing speed on the base paths and above-average contact potential. Although not the strongest defensive player, he boasts a powerful throwing arm and range. Scouts who have seen him feel he has the dynamic tools to make an impact in the majors. He starts with the AA Innerkip Oysters.

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5th Pick – Braeland City Monarchs:

IF Nicholas Malcolm (26/66) – 22-years old; 5’-10”, 175 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.

The Monarchs go with Sherburn’s Nicholas Malcolm, a plus infield defender who know his way around the base paths despite not being blessed with blazing speed. When fully developed, he should have an above-average eye and contact ability, drawing 60 walks a season and batting around .290. Scouts are concerned of his proneness to injury however. He heads off to the AA Kingsville Royals.

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6th Pick – Wellington Athletics:

IF Brayden Docking (21/64) – 21-years old; 5’-10”, 175 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.

The host team selects Docking from Pulberry, who scouts feel can be an impact player at the major league level. Docking projects to be an infielder with good contact potential, plate discipline and defense at either second or third base. He reports to the AA Evansville Clowns.

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7th Pick – Cambria Cannons:

1B Jay Durham (28/72) – 22-years old; 6’-1”, 220 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.

The second Wellington-born player to be selected in the first round, Durham projects to be an elite first baseman. He has a quick bat that can handle most fastballs with above-average strike zone recognition. However, off-speed stuff may challenge him. The Cannons have assigned him to the AA Vandecar Spurs.

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8th Pick – Kingston Pelicans:

IF/OF Chris Ramsbottom (20/72) – 21-years old; 5’-9”, 170 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.

The Pelicans select the speedy Ramsbottom from Cobourg with their first pick. In addition to his plus running speed and ability to steal a high number of bases, he’s expected to be a very athletic outfielder. He has good patience at the plate and knows his strike zone well. He has a very promising future and gets his start with the AA Elgin Angels.

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9th Pick – Stratford Barons:

C Hollis Chase (20/63) – 18-years old; 6’-1”, 195 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.

The second catcher selected in the draft, Chase should develop respectable contact and strike zone recognition. With further development, the Queensland-native should one day make an impact in the majors. He will begin his development with the AA Brockville Bears.

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10th Pick – Balmoral Giants:

LHP Euan MacKenzie (41/73) – 23-years old; 6’-1”, 200 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws LH.

The first pitcher selected, MacKenzie has the potential to be a top reliever in the United Leagues, with an outstanding changeup and above-average fastball. With great stuff and top-notch movement, he should whiff his share of batters and keep the ball in the park. The Wellington-native heads to the Giants’ AAA ballclub, the Canterbury Seals.

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11th Pick – Brunswick Legends:

IF/OF Jay Mitchell (20/59) – 21-years old; 6’-0”, 195 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws RH.

The Legends select Mitchell, a solid hitter with hard contact and slightly above-average defensive skills, especially in the outfield corners. He also has good plate discipline and should draw his share of walks. Although not projected to be an all-star, the Sherburn-native has the potential to develop into a big league regular for the bulk of his career. He’s off to the AA Jarvis Smokers.

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12th Pick – Cobourg Red Stockings:

LHP Ethan Hoyes (39/68) – 21-years old; 5’-10”, 175 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws LH.

The second and final pitcher selected in the first round as well as the fourth Wellington-native, Hoyes has the stuff and movement to become a dominant reliever in the major leagues one day. Like Euan MacKenzie selected earlier, Hoyes is blessed with an outstanding curveball and a terrific fastball that should serve him well. His first assignment will be with the AA Cardiff Crushers.

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13th Pick – Embro Suns:

1B Damien Whetter (20/67) – 18-years old; 6’-4”, 220 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws RH.

The Suns go with the young Whetter from Fort Richmond. Whetter has the potential to be an above-average contact hitter with a good eye and some pop. But with no speed and limited defensive ability, Embro is no doubt hoping his bat fully develops. He starts his development with the AA Lythmore Atoms.

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14th Pick – Downie Chiefs:

IF Harley Truman (34/59) – 23-years old; 5’-9”, 170 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.

The Downie Chiefs select Harley Truman from the small town of Woodham in Norfolk. Truman appears to have already developed his potential enough that he may reach the majors very soon. He boasts a nice balance of tools, as he has above-average contact potential, impressive speed, solid hands and defensive ability, especially at second base and shortstop. He gets his start with the AA Minto Tribe.

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15th Pick – Fort Richmond Generals:

IF Morgan Tyreman (20/58) – 21-years old; 5’-10”, 170 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.

The Hespeler-native Tyreman has the chance to be an above-average big-league shortstop. While he may struggle to make consistent contact, he his blessed with a good eye, solid defensive ratings and a strong arm. He is off to the AA Marburg Mustangs.

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16th Pick – Wolseley Unions:

IF/OF Kaituoe Mowan (24/56) – 22-years old; 5’-10”, 180 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.

The last pick in the first round saw the first foreign-born player selected in the draft; the speedy Mowan from Fiji. Second base is viewed as his strongest position to compliment his impressive range and arm. Scouts also like his bat, with his speed and ability to square up the ball. The Unions have assigned him to their AA Waterloo Whips.

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Here are the standings at the end of games on December 31:

reds1 · 08-21-2019, 11:46 PM

January 1, 1952

Looking Back: The 1941-42 Amateur Draft

If the 1941-42 draft could be summed up in one sentence, it would probably be: ‘Move along – there’s nothing here to see’. Only in this case, there would be no irony as the draft class has proven to be so underwhelming. That’s not to say the draft was devoid of talent. But unlike previous and subsequent drafts, there are no bona fide stars, much less future hall of famers. Tellingly, not one player selected in this draft currently appears in the Top 20 Position Player/Pitcher lists. Not one. That is surprising, as I would have expected at least one player to have had some staying power. This draft wasn’t simply ho-hum – it turned out to be a non-event.

Cream of the Crop:

RF Marcus Peyto – 2nd overall pick originally by the Hespeler Stars.

Career: .271/.360/.466, 1327 G, 1355 H, 301-2B, 76-3B, 174 HR, 816 RBI, 777 R, 729 BB, 374 K, 41 SB, .827 OPS, 126 OPS+, 128 wRC+, 31.5 WAR

Achievements:

• 5-time All-Star
• Finished 2nd in 1947-48 Eastern League Babe Ruth Award voting
• 1 Ball Hawk Award
• 2 selections to the All-Braeland Team

What the original scouting report said:

“Peyto projects to be an above-average contact hitter with elite power and good plate discipline. Right field and first base are his strongest positions in field defensively. He has very good speed on the base paths once he gets going but is not considered an elite base stealer.”

Comments: Peyto was as good as it got in this draft. He spent all of seven games and 26 at-bats in the minor leagues before joining his home-town Stars. His first full season was one of his best, earning 4.6 WAR and his lone Ball Hawk Award. But he regressed severely the following year (-0.1 WAR) and didn’t get back on track until his fifth season (4.9 WAR), his last with Hespeler. After being traded to the Brunswick Legends in the off-season, Peyto enjoyed his best season in 1947-48, earning 6.1 WAR and his first selection to the All-Braeland Team. During a remarkable stretch in March and early April of that year, Peyto picked up four Player of the Week Awards in a span of six weeks. Alas, he has never approached those heights again. While he has not been a terrible player by any means (in fact, he’s earned two All-Star selections since then), Peyto has been eclipsed by more dynamic, younger outfielders in the ULB.

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Given that the rest of the draft class was utterly unremarkable, I’ve decided to focus on a couple of players that, while not superstars by any means, have had at least somewhat interesting career arcs:

LF Rizalino Ringor – 7th overall pick originally by the Wolseley Unions.

Career: .266/.390/.397, 1028 G, 884 H, 126-2B, 35-3B, 81 HR, 439 RBI, 591 R, 694 BB, 302 K, 99 SB, .788 OPS, 117 OPS+, 124 wRC+, 19.9 WAR

Achievements:

• 3-time All-Star
• 1943-44 Western League Rookie of the Year
• 1 Ball Hawk Award
• Hit for the Cycle, January 1951
• 1950-51 Eastern League Pennant Series MVP

What the original scouting report said:

“The Unions pick up an outstanding offensive prospect with great contact, power and patience. Ringor boasts tremendous speed and base stealing instincts. Only his defensive game betrays any weakness.”

Comments: Ringor entered the United Leagues with a bang. After spending two seasons in the minors, he made the Wolseley Unions lineup full-time at 21-years of age and was rated as the No. 3 overall prospect. He earned 5.6 WAR in his first season, winning an All-Star selection, Ball Hawk award and Western League Rookie of the Year honors. Then he left baseball to join the Braeland Armed Forces who were fighting in the Pacific, missing the entire 1944-45 season. Although he returned the following year, he has yet to approach his rookie season performance.

After three listless seasons in Wolseley, he was finally shipped off to the Embro Suns in August 1948. Ringor’s first season in Embro was not any better, but he then delivered two solid back-to-back seasons (3.8 WAR each), picking up two more All-Star selections and helping the Suns reach the United Cup finals last year. But this season he has reverted to his old, mediocre ways. I’ve always wondered if his ‘army stint’ (i.e. forced one-year retirement) had a direct impact on his performance in OOTP and what his career might have been had his sophomore season not been interrupted. But then again, baseball – real and/or otherwise, is full of ‘what ifs’.

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C Christopher Dainty – 30th overall pick (Round 2, Pick 14) originally by the Kingston Pelicans.

Career: .288/.388/.439, 630 G, 619 H, 125-2B, 8-3B, 62 HR, 315 RBI, 318 R, 358 BB, 290 K, 1 SB, .827 OPS, 120 OPS+, 120 wRC+, 19.6 WAR

Achievements:

• 3-time All-Star
• 1947-48 Eastern League Rookie of the Year
• Finished 3rd in 1948-49 Eastern League Babe Ruth Award voting

Comments: Dainty was a late bloomer, not reaching the major leagues full-time until his 25th year and hitting his stride a year later. During his six years in the minors, he was traded by the Pelicans to the Queensland Eagles, released then signed by the Braeland City Monarchs. Dainty rewarded them by picking up Rookie of the Year honors and soon emerging as the United Leagues’ No. 1-rated catcher. For a three-year stretch, he earned 6.3, 4.7 and 6.7 WAR. It appeared that Dainty was emerging as the top player in the Draft Class. But something happened this season. After enjoying a strong spring training, Dainty’s performance has fallen off a cliff. He is now considered only the 9th top catcher in the ULB and will struggle to earn 1.5 WAR. It remains to be seen whether this is just a blip or a harbinger of things to come.

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Biggest Draft Disappointments:

It was tempting to write-off the entire draft class as a bust, but that would not have been accurate nor fair. That said, there were a couple of players who did not live up to anywhere near their lofty draft pick. There were nearly three, but that last player appears to have gotten a ‘late-inning’ reprieve, as discussed further down:

3B Shelby Cain – 1st overall pick by the Cobourg Red Stockings.

Career: .236/.327/.339, 943 H, 166-2B, 50-3B, 49 HR, 458 RBI, 461 R, 545 BB, 591 K, 65 SB, .666 OPS, 91 OPS+, 95 wRC+, 16.3 WAR

Achievements:

• 3-time All-Star

What the original scouting report said:

“The Red Stockings selected the 23-year old infielder from the small town of Port Talbot, Perth that is predicted to reach the major league level very soon. Cain is a very solid hitter with tremendous power and unparalleled plate discipline. Third base is his strongest position defensively and he has good foot speed.”

Comments: One thing you learn about drafting amateur players is that you never really know. No matter how thorough you study the players, there’s no guarantee that that hot young stud you targeted will pan out. Well Shelby Cain is that hot, young stud that never delivered on his initial promise. Cain was drafted by the Red Stockings, who promptly promoted him to their big-league roster. Cobourg was then a team starving for talent. That was a lot to ask of a 22-year old, and Cain struggled in his first season. His second season only saw modest improvements, mostly on defense, before his season was cut short due to a broken thumb. But he returned in 1943-44 and enjoyed his best season, earning 4.8 WAR and his first all-star selection. It looked as if Cain finally arrived.

But then the Red Stockings abruptly traded him to the Cambria Cannons in the off-season. Although he earned a second all-star selection in his first season with Cambria, Cain’s performance soon cratered, and he has never recovered. His last (and only) productive season since then was in 1948-49 when he earned 2.8 WAR. Over the other seven seasons, he has averaged less than 0.5 WAR. Injuries do not appear to be the culprit, as he has missed less than a month of playing time in total over that time. Cain is now a bench player for the Kingston Pelicans. A fitting symbol for a draft class that has been more of a whimper than a bang.

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2B Matthew Welson – 8th overall pick by the Fort Richmond Giants.

Career: .268/.310/.375, 318 G, 262 H, 37-2B, 14-3B, 13 HR, 135 RBI, 111 R, 62 BB, 60 K, 6 SB, .685 OPS, 96 OPS+, 97 wRC+, 3.3 WAR

Achievements:

• 1-time All-Star

What the original scouting report said:

“Welson is an interesting prospect. While he has poor eye/discipline (30/40), he somehow will be terrific at avoiding strikes (45/80)? At any rate, he is another speedy player with fearsome base-stealing instincts and some defensive skills, especially at second base.”

Comments: It appears at the time that I had expressed some incredulity at Welson’s ability as a player. But his minor-league performance was promising, and he was rated 10th overall among prospects shortly before his big-league call-up. He peaked in his second season and the first half of his third, where he was selected to the All-Star game. But he quickly faded into oblivion after that and despite solid performances in AAA, he has been unable to make it stick in the majors.

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1B Andre Gale – 9th overall pick by the Queensland Eagles.

Career: .299/.376/.421, 117 G, 100 H, 11-2B, 0-3B, 10 HR, 51 RBI, 39 R, 39 BB, 57 K, 0 SB, .797 OPS, 116 OPS+, 124 wRC+, 1.1 WAR

What the original scouting report said:

“The New Zealander projects to be a major power hitter, coupled with decent contact. Defense and speed however, are not part of his repertoire.”

Comments: Like Welson selected before him, Gale became a mainstay in AAA, never able to make the big-league roster. He was on the Eagles’ roster however, when they won the United Cup in 1946-47 and earned a Rookie of the Month award in February 1948. But he was soon back in AAA and eventually became a free agent in April 1950. He earned a platinum stick in AAA that season (as a pitcher!) and was signed by the Stratford Barons a few weeks later. He won another platinum stick award at 1B last season and got the call to play in the majors once again this year. He has been in the lineup since December 14, starting regularly as the Barons’ first baseman (.339/.378/.473, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 7 BB, 0.4 WAR in 112 AB). Can he finally breath some life in his major league career and become a mainstay? It will be interesting to see how Gale writes the rest of that chapter.

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Later-Round Standout:

RHP Kelii Pelanekelina – 37th overall pick (Round 3, Pick 5) originally by the Downie Chiefs.

Career: 112-110, 3.44 ERA, 254 GS, 1999.2 IP, 133 CG, 25 SHO, 1.29 WHIP, .252 BABIP, 3.99 FIP, 22.4 WAR, 114 ERA+

Achievements:

• 3-time All-Star
• 1 Ball Hawk Award
• United Cup MVP (1949-50)
• Finished 2nd in 1949-50 Eastern League Satchel Paige Award voting
• 1 United Cup Championship

Comments: In the 1940-41 draft review, I went with LHP Arthur Bence, selected 37th overall, as the late-round standout. Well, this time I’m doing again, as I’m going with a pitcher who was also selected 37th overall. The Fijian-born Pelanekelina made the jump to the majors from AA partway through the 1943-44 season, after having nothing left to prove in the minors. For years he was the lone bright spot on a very bad team. But things started to change in 1948-49. The club finished above .500 for the first time in 10 years, and then a year later it all came together when the Chiefs won the United Cup. Pelanekelina was front and center that year, winning 19 games and going 3-0, 0.67 ERA, 0.69 WHIP in three playoff games, winning MVP honors in the United Cup Series. But then he went down with a torn UCL in January 1951, missing the latter half of last season. That has affected his durability and he has struggled in the first half of the season. But it appears he is slowly improving. But even if he doesn’t find his groove again, nothing can take away that one fairy-tale season.

reds1 · 08-30-2019, 06:10 PM

January 6, 1952

Eastern All-Stars Strike Late to Take Mid-Season Classic

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Fort Richmond, Norfolk (BP) – The Eastern League All-Stars used a pair of late-inning homeruns to come from behind and capture their third-straight All-Star game. With beautiful, sunny skies and a mid-day temperature of 83F at Fort Richmond’s Generals Stadium, a packed house of 24,500 witnessed both a pitching and defensive duel for most of the afternoon. The Eastern League got on the board first when they manufactured a run off Sherburn’s Jesús Chapa in the top of the first inning. The West then took the lead in the bottom of the 5th when Kingston’s RF Mo Spenceley drove in a pair of runs off Embro’s RHP Yin-ti Shih.

But with the home-team Western All-Stars still holding onto to their 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth inning with two out, Wolseley’s rookie RHP Roberto Garza surrendered a solo home run to Brunswick’s rookie C Robert Kersey. That sent the All-Star game into extra innings for just the second time in United Leagues history.

In the top of the 10th, Balmoral’s LHP Ricardo Cruz took over and induced two ground outs before Braeland City’s LF Jesús Rodríquez came up to bat as a pinch hitter and connected for his own solo home run that gave the lead back to the East. That run proved to be the game winner as the Western League All-Stars were unable to respond in the bottom half of the inning. It was another heart-breaking loss for the Westerners, who have now lost nine of the 15 All-Star games played thus far.

“That was a tough way to lose, no question”, admitted Western League manager John Mathis, who had the distinct privilege of managing in the All-Star game on home turf. “We came close to closing things out but couldn’t get it done. Give them credit. They never gave up and found a way to win. We didn’t.”

Although he had only one plate appearance, Player of the Game Jesús Rodríquez made the most of it, connecting on a 371 ft. home run into the rightfield bleachers that broke the tie in extra innings and ultimately proved to be the game-winner.

“Was that neat or what”, enthused the first-time all-star, who was originally drafted by the Fort Richmond Generals and won a United Cup with them in 1947-48. “One minute your cheering on your teammates from the dugout and the next your told to grab a bat and get in the box. You dream of those moments. I just waited for the right pitch, y’know, and fortunately I got one that hung over the plate and was able to get under it. Watching that ball sail over the fence here in my old stomping grounds is something I’ll never forget.”

Below is a summary of the notable plays of the 15th Annual All-Star Game:

Top of the 1st:
RHP Jesús Chapa starts off by striking out Cobourg’s John Medley. But he then gives up a single and a double to Brunswick’s Stuart Bentham and Cobourg’s Alexander Tolmie respectively. Queensland’s Rod Dennis then flies out to leftfield. Bentham tags up and beats out the throw from Wolseley’s Carlton Hawking to get the East on the board first.
Eastern League 1 – Western League 0

Bottom of the 5th:
Eastern League pitchers keep the Western League hitters at bay until the 5th, when Cambria’s César Ruíz leads off with a first-pitch double off Embro’s stopper Yin-ti Shih. Kingston’s Carlos Camasura then draws a four-pitch walk followed by Pulberry’s Ellis Dibble, who sac bunts the runners over 90 ft.
Kingston’s Mo Spenceley then battles Shih to a full-count before singling into the leftfield corner. Ruíz scores easily and Camasura beats out the throw from LF Rod Dennis to put the West ahead.
Eastern League 1 – Western League 2

Top of the 9th:
The West hold the Easterners at bay until the 9th. Roberto Garza starts the inning by inducing a fly out from Stratford’s Aaron Skidmore and a 6-3 ground-out by Stratford’s Sherwin Carasig. Down to their last out, Brunswick’s Robert Kersey keeps the East’s hopes alive when he connects on Garza’s second pitch, driving it 392 ft. into the rightfield bleachers.
Embro’s LHP Arthur Bence gets the West to go down in order in the bottom of the inning, sending the game into extras.
Eastern League 2 – Western League 2

Top of the 10th:
Taking over in the 10th, Balmoral’s Ricardo Cruz starts off with back-to-back ground outs by Braeland City’s On Tsao and Cobourg’s Harry Doxey. But Jesús Rodríquez slams Cruz’s second pitch into the rightfield bleachers, giving the East the lead once again.
Downie’s LHP Gavin Hewat needs just 10 pitches to get the West to go down in order in the bottom the 10th, sealing the Eastern All-Stars’ victory.
FINAL: Eastern League 3 – Western League 2

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Here are the complete All-Star rosters:

reds1 · 09-30-2019, 01:08 AM

February 1, 1952

Eastern League: Athletics Seize the Initiative, Move Into First Place

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Offense: .274/.346/.400 (2nd/5th/4th)
Pitching: 4.01/4.27/3.13 (3rd/4th/1st)
Defense: .713 (1st)

With the Eastern League as a whole middling through the first two months of the season, the Wellington Athletics came alive in December, going on a 10-game winning streak at one point and racking up 21 wins in total. In all, they have gone 34-18 since November to not only get above .500 but take over 1st place as well. If they can hold onto to top spot the rest of the way, it will mark the first time they would finish on top in the East since the 1937-38 inaugural season.

The pitching staff has been unremarkable overall. If the rotation as a whole can catch fire, the Athletics could really put a stranglehold on first place. Over the past two months, No. 3 starter 27-year old RHP Matt Price (10-7, 3.58 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.97 FIP) has really stepped up his play (going 5-0, 3.45 ERA in December) while No. 5 starter 29-year old RHP Wilfried Schop (7-8, 4.49 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.96 FIP) found some consistency in December/January (5-3, 3.59 ERA) compared to October/November (2-5, 5.69 ERA).

The bullpen remains the best in the East. While he may not be the darling of the scouts (13th best reliever in the positional strength overview), 29-year old middle reliever RHP Finlay Capstick (8-4, 2.53 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 4.80 FIP) has been unquestionably Wellington’s top pitcher out of the bullpen this season, his eighth in the ULB.

But it’s the offense that has really propelled the Athletics into first place. 26-year old CF Jim Mars (.335/.403/.453, 6 HR, 60 RBI, 49 BB, 4.4 WAR) has emerged as Wellington’s top player after the first four months. Even 25-year old 2B Vaiga Bultarro (.271/.338/.398, 6 HR, 51 RBI, 38 BB, 2.1WAR), who I disparaged in the Oct/Nov report for his poor performance, has returned to the solid play he put up last season. In Dec/Jan, he batted .310/.391/.460 & .321/.378/.531 respectively.

Five Athletics headed to the All-Star game: RP Finley Capstick (3rd), C Declan Bugbie (2nd), LF Harvey Thornber (1st), CF Jim Mars (2nd) and RF Wayne Emmert (1st).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 3 – C Declan Bugbie (.440, 11 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R)
December 24 – 1B Wayne Emmert (.485, 16 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 10 R)
January 21 – 2B Vaiga Bultarro (.455, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI)

Current Injuries:

RHP Zachary Collingham – December 27 – torn meniscus. Out for: 3 more months.

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Offense: .273/.349/.402 (3rd/4th/3rd)
Pitching: 4.45/4.25/5.26 (5th/3rd/8th)
Defense: .695 (7th)

The Queensland Eagles barely played .500 baseball over the past two months and it cost them first place in the East. Not only that, they are in danger of dropping out of a playoff spot completely as both the Downie Chiefs and Cobourg Red Stockings have surged up the standings and are threatening to overtake them. The Eagles did not sit idle leading up to the trade deadline, making a couple of trades. But its open to debate as to whether they are now better off than they were prior to January 31.

The offense is still led by 25-year old LF Rod Dennis (.327/.382/.518, 17 HR, 65 RBI, 40 BB, 2.4 WAR) but his performance has cooled off a bit since his fast start in Oct/Nov. In fact, one of the Eagles biggest weaknesses right now is the lack of a truly impact player (like Downie’s Dominic Dudding or Cobourg’s Raymond Williams), both in the lineup and rotation. Perhaps one or more players will step up into that role, as the Eagles are still a comparatively young team.

The pitching staff continues its inconsistent ways, up and down from month-to-month. However, 24-year old No. 2 starter RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (11-7, 3.43 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 2.68 FIP) really stepped things up in Dec/Jan (5-3, 1.80 ERA) after going 6-4, 4.89 ERA in Oct/Nov.

Four Eagles qualified for the All-Star game: SP Logan Belsey (1st), SP Tyler Gissing (1st), C Elijah Sheppard (6th) and LF Rod Dennis (2nd).

Key Trade No. 1: January 6 with the Hespeler Stars:

To Queensland – 34-year old RHP Francisco López (49/49) and 24-year old minor league OF Salvador Rivera (38/49)
To Hespeler – 38-year old LF Terence Durney (50/50)

Knee-jerk reaction: With the Eagles in the playoff hunt for the first time since their successful championship run back in 1946-47, the club made a couple of moves to try and bolster their rotation and lineup. But the moves they made are curious at best.

López is a very average starter with slightly below average stuff. He is more suited to the backend of a rotation – if he can stay healthy. He has been battling various injuries over his entire career which should have raised alarms in the Eagles camp. So it should have come as no surprise when López went down to injury just 1.2 innings into his first start with his new team. He suffered a torn UCL and is gone for the season. Meanwhile, Rivera has been promoted to the big club and will serve as their main utility outfielder against RHP while starting in centerfield against LHP. Rivera is a great runner with good base path instincts and solid defensive skills especially in leftfield. He has some offensive skills but won’t be anything more than an average contact hitter.

The Stars are once again an afterthought in the West, so the move to acquire the veteran Durney is a head-scratcher. Durney is an 11-time all-star and future hall of famer. While he may be past his peak years, he is still very capable at the plate and at leftfield. He is an intelligent team leader and a very popular player among his teammates, so that should help things out in the clubhouse. But like López, his proneness to injury is a major concern.

Key Trade No. 2: January 14 with the Cobourg Red Stockings:

To Queensland – 31-year old 2B George Simpson (45/45)
To Cobourg – 20-year old minor league LF Francis Dawang (20/42) and 22-year old C Derek Brunskill (20/27)

Knee-jerk reaction: I’m not sure what both clubs were thinking about when they made this trade. Simpson is a former 7th overall pick from 1939-40 and a two-time all-star but has not enjoyed a decent season in four years. Evidently, Cobourg lost patience with him and have decided to install 28-year old Gijsbert Jacobse (.223/.320/.308, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 16 BB, -0.1 WAR – 39/41) as their starting second baseman, at least until 20-year old IF Douglas Jones (32/80), a 6th overall pick from 1949-50, is ready to take over.

Scouts consider Simpson to be ‘on the bubble for a big-league role’ and Queensland apparently agrees, as so far, he is little more than their top pinch hitter. So other than as a depth player, its hard to see what Queensland will gain from this move for their late-season push for the playoffs.

In Dawang and Brunskill, Cobourg receive two players that have very good defensive skills at their respective positions but depending how their bats develop, they may be little more than fringe players at best.

Current Injuries:

RHP Bartolo Sánchez – October 10 – dislocated shoulder. Out for: 3 more days.
RHP Quentin Goldsmith – October 30 – ulnar nerve entrapment. Out for: 4-5 more weeks.
RHP Francisco López – January 12 – torn ULC. Out for: 6 more months.
RHP Gael Yule – January 17 – torn labrum. Out for: 6 more months.

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Offense: .265/.345/.386 (5th/6th/7th)
Pitching: 4.25/4.49/3.63 (4th/5th/3rd)
Defense: .710 (Tied for 2nd)

Like the Athletics, the Downie Chiefs used a strong December to race up the standings. But they quickly reverted to the previous form in January. So it remains to be seen whether they can sustain a real push for the playoffs this season.

The pitching overall has improved as the season has progressed, but still has a way to go to be considered a strength. 36-year old No. 3 starter LHP Gavin Hewat (10-7, 3.26 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.69 FIP) continues to be Downie’s top pitcher this season. But 29-year old No. 2 starter RHP Kelii Pelanekelina (7-9, 4.68 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 4.66 FIP) appears to be recovering from his rough start. 34-year old RHP Carl Luscombe (9-3, 14 SV, 2.80 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 3.86 FIP) continues to be one of the best stoppers in the United Leagues.

The offense has held steady despite a rash of injuries. Both 26-year old Dominic Dudding (.337/.415/.566, 13 HR, 52 RBI, 38 BB, 4.2 WAR) and 26-year old CF Alfonso León (.292/.367/.439, 13 HR, 70 RBI, 51 BB, 4.2 WAR) are not quite up to the torrid pace they were last season, but even that still adds up to a very, very good season that other teams would die for. On the other hand, lead-off hitter 27-year old LF Howard Dumbrill (.256/.380/.404, 14 HR, 45 RBI, 81 BB, 8 SB, 3.5 WAR) is enjoying the best season yet of his 6-year career.

Five Chiefs were selected as All-Stars: SP Gavin Hewat (1st), Dominic Dudding (5th), LF Howard Dumbrill (3rd), CF Alfonso León (5th) and RF Conor Bing (1st).

Noteworthy:

January 25 – The reigning Babe Ruth Award winner, 26-year old CF Alfonso León was in the zone against the Cambria Cannons, going 5 for 5 on the day, collecting 3 RBI and 1 R. León singled in the 1st and 3rd innings, hit a two-run single in the 5th as well as an RBI single in the 6th, capping things off with a single in the 8th. The Chiefs prevailed 8-6.

Key Trade: January 10 with the Brunswick Legends:

To Downie – 33-year old LHP Jake Osmotherley (49/49) and 23-year old RHP Eddie Stannard (51/63)
To Brunswick – 25-year old SS Dermott Morris (44/49)

Knee-jerk reaction: The head scratching continues as Downie acquires a couple of pitchers only to release one of them outright a few days later.

Osmotheley is a veteran reliever who has been league average for most of his 12-year career. His stuff is unimpressive but balances things out with pinpoint control. Alas, he was released by Downie for some unknown reason 10 days after the trade. On January 30, he was picked up by the Kingston Pelicans who installed him as one of their long relievers.

Stannard, a second-round pick back in 1949-50 for Brunswick, has promise of moving to the rotation one day if he can develop his slider a bit more (30/45). His movement and control are outstanding but his stuff (40/45) may limit him to the back end of the rotation in the future.

Morris is just an outstanding defensive shortstop and second baseman with tremendous speed. He has some offensive potential, but it is still very raw. Nevertheless, Brunswick installed him as their everyday shortstop, although 23-year old Harris Yaag (.315/.366/.477, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 11 BB, 1.4 WAR) was developing quite nicely.

Current Injuries:

2B Dominic Dudding – December 25 – fractured finger. Out for: 1-2 more weeks.
RF Connor Bing – January 11 – torn quadriceps. Out for: 6 more days.

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Offense: .286/.350/.428 (1st/3rd/1st)
Pitching: 4.55/4.54/4.60 (6th/6th/7th)
Defense: .685 (8th)

The Cobourg Red Stockings also used a strong month to get into the first division; in this case it was a 16-9 January, their first winning month this season. Still, there remain serious questions as to their staying power, as their pitching staff has regressed even further since November. They were busy leading up to the trade deadline (as noted in the other team writeups), but none of the moves really fall into a ‘win now’ column. More of a casting off of dead weight and adding some depth to their farm system than anything else.

The pitching staff simply does not inspire confidence. That said, 23-year old LHP Bill Budd (11-9, 3.52 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 4.06 FIP) is solidly entrenched as Cobourg’s ace, while rookie 23-year old RHP Bobby Williams (4-1, 3.40 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 4.50 FIP) has shown promise. The former 4th-round pick is currently pitching out of the No. 5 spot.

The offense rivals any team in the ULB and for good reason. Cobourg boasts two elite players: 30-year old 3B Alexander Tolmie (.334/.412/.541, 19 HR, 79 RBI, 57 BB, 5.4 WAR) and 25-year old CF Raymond Williams (.337/.427/.586, 17 HR, 79 RBI, 66 BB, 7 SB, 5.2 WAR). Both are former 1st overall picks and are in the conversation for this season’s Babe Ruth Award.

Five Red Stockings qualified for the All-Star game: 1B Harry Doxey (3rd), 3B Alexander Tolmie (5th), SS John Medley (6th), CF Raymond Williams (5th) and RF Salvador Hernández (2nd).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 31 – 1B Harry Doxey (.593, 16 H, 10 RBI)
January 28 – CF Raymond Williams (.462, 12 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI)

Current Injuries: None

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Offense: .253/.352/.362 (7th/1st/8th)
Pitching: 3.93/3.84/4.55 (2nd/1st/6th)
Defense: .708 (4th)

The Stratford Barons crashed in December, falling to last place in the East before recovering somewhat in January. The Barons are at a crossroads this season, as they are equally capable of finishing near the top of the standings as they are of finishing at the bottom. They have a capable pitching staff but could stand to beef up their offense. They made a couple of moves before the trade deadline to try and address their offensive weaknesses.

25-year old RHP Magtanggol Jaojoco (11-13, 3.09 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 3.29 FIP) is an ace in the making but like the rest of the rotation, has been ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ from month to month. In December, he went 4-2, 1.55 ERA while going 1-5, 4.37 ERA in January. But 23-year old No. 5 starter LHP Robin Wadsworth (8-4, 2 SV, 4.25 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 4.34 FIP) has been the most extreme: 0-3, 9.18 ERA in December; 4-0, 1.50 ERA in January. No doubt the Barons hope his January performance is more indicative of their former 16th overall pick’s future performance.

The pitching staff could certainly benefit from more offensive performances as seen from 32-year old C Aaron Skidmore (.304/.468/.462, 9 HR, 55 RBI, 92 BB, 4.8 WAR) and 22-year old CF Sherwin Carasig (.320/.393/.489, 12 HR, 58 RBI, 47 BB, 6 SB, 4.3 WAR). After them there is a bit of a drop-off in the lineup, something that rookie GM Kieran Sturtevant attempted to address before the trade deadline.

Three Barons qualified for the All-Star team: SP Magtanggol Jaojoco (1st), C Aaron Skidmore (11th) and CF Sherwin Carasig (1st).

Key Trade: January 15 with the Cobourg Red Stockings:

To Stratford – 32-year old RF Salvador Hernández (59/59)
To Cobourg – 23-year old CF Frank Maher (32/49) and 24-year old LF Robert Burgess (35/46)

Knee-jerk reaction: A steal for the Barons and a misstep by the Red Stockings in my opinion. Hernández, a second-round pick from 1941-42, is an above-average player who is aggressive at the plate, sturdy defensively in rightfield, a team leader and an ‘iron man’ injury-wise. So why would Cobourg want to part with him? His replacement is 28-year old Fergus Thackwray (.233/.295/.368, 9 HR, 26 RBI, 23 BB, 0.4 WAR – 43/43). While Thackwray has defense and speed to spare, he is not the offensive player Hernández is right now. As for Stratford, they have installed him as their starting rightfielder, electing to ship off their former rightfielder to Kingston later in the month (more on that in the Western League report).

Maher and Burgess are both intriguing players. Both are outstanding defensive players with speed with some impressive batting skill potential. Scouts suggest however, that they will be little more than bench players at best. At any rate, both are tearing up Double-A at the moment, so we’ll have to see.

Current Injuries:

RHP Dylan Cluett – December 7 – herniated disc. Out for: 7-8 more weeks.
LHP Joel Fearn – December 21 – torn posterior cruciate ligament. Out for: 5 more months.
2B Chris Spiller – January 22 – torn labrum. Out for: 4-5 more months.

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Offense: .251/.330/.389 (8th/8th/6th)
Pitching: 3.82/3.89/3.53 (1st/2nd/2nd)
Defense: .710 (Tied for 2nd)

The Embro Suns are quickly fading in the East in spite of a remarkably consistent pitching staff, no doubt due to a rather lackluster offense. On the surface, it appears that Embro has thrown in the towel on the season, shipping out their defending Satchel Paige Award winner to the Wolseley Unions before the trade deadline. In spite of that, they didn’t exactly ‘gut’ themselves either. The Suns have the top-rated farm system and added to it prior to the deadline. Three of those players are on the major league roster and could help things turn around. If not for this season, then perhaps the next.

21-year old rookie Kieron Bradridge (.275/.324/.448, 10 HR, 53 RBI, 26 BB, 3.1 WAR) has emerged as Embro’s top offensive player and entrenched himself as the Suns’ regular shortstop, despite 28-year old Rafael De La Cruz (.409/.462/.613, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 10 BB, 1.6 WAR) still being a very capable player. But Bradridge has the potential of being the break-out player Embro hasn’t had since 37-year old Jim Friend (.258/.424/.455, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 19 BB, 0.4 WAR) was in his prime. But Friend is still a very capable offensive player in his own right, so it’s a little painful to see him wither in a back-up role. 23-year old rookie 3B Moromao Nakagawa (.252/.352/.393, 10 HR, 52 RBI, 63 BB, 1.1 WAR) has cooled off since November, but Embro’s top prospect still has tons of potential.

Embro’s starters have not been getting a lot of support, as evidenced by 25-year old LHP Carl McBroom (5-12, 3.62 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 3.70 FIP) win-loss record, but he gives his club a fighting chance each start. 32-year old No. 2 starter LHP Arthur Bence (12-7, 3.51 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.02 FIP) continues to be the Suns’ most effective hurler.

With the departure of 32-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson (6-12, 3.86 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 4.13 FIP), 26-year old RHP Juan Rivas (5-3, 5 SV, 2.08 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 3.26 FIP) appears to have finally earned a permanent promotion to the rotation. He inherits Saunderson’s No. 3 spot.

Five Suns were selected as All-Stars: SP Arthur Bence (4th), SP Carl McBroom (1st), RP Yin-ti Shih (1st), SS Kieron Bradridge (1st) and RF José Maldonado (4th).

Player of the Week Awards:

January 14 – 3B Moromao Nakagawa (.389, 7 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI)

Noteworthy:

December 25 –RF José Maldonado (.281/.387/.429, 11 HR, 40 RBI, 53 BB, 7 SB, 2.4 WAR) was signed by the Cambria Cannons to a minor league contract back in 1942 but was released nearly three years later. The Suns quickly picked him up though and the 25-year old Colombian has become a four-time All-Star. On Christmas day he showed why, going 5 for 7 against the Stratford Barons in an extra-inning affair. Maldonado singled in the first, flied out in the 2nd, singled in the 5th, hit an RBI double in the 6th, hit an RBI single in the 8th, grounded out in the 10th and hit a two-run single in the 11th. All in all, he collected 4 RBI with 2 R in Embro’s 9-5 victory.

Key Trade: January 13 with the Wolseley Unions:

To Embro – 25-year old 2B Robert Jameson (49/57)
To Wolseley – 32-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson (55/55)

Knee-jerk reaction: With their chances of returning to the playoffs to successfully defend their Pennant title dwindling by the day, the Suns have elected to re-configure things. The first to go is the 13-year veteran SP Saunderson. This is the second time that Embro has traded Saunderson to the Unions. After originally drafting him 13th overall back in 1937-38, the Suns sent him off to Wolseley in 1939 along with a slew of players for OF Terence Durney (who was recently involved in a trade as noted earlier). Saunderson, a five-time all-star and last year’s Satchel Paige winner, will give the Unions’ rotation an immediate boost, as they deal with seemingly never-ending injuries to both RHP Jeremy Albury and LHP Anastasio Rodríguez. Saunderson doesn’t have great stuff, but his terrific movement, control, stamina and iron man health make him an innings eater who can pitch deep into games. He is currently installed as Wolseley’s No. 3 starter.

Jameson is a former 7th round pick from 1948-49 who is beating the odds. He gets to start (and lead off) regularly with Embro, taking over from 26-year old Keon-Chae Cho (.266/.324/.421, 14 HR, 60 RBI, 29 BB, 2.0 WAR), who moves over to leftfield, his strongest position defensively. Jameson has very good defense skills to go along with jaw-dropping speed and stealing ability. His bat has developed nicely as well. His overall ratings have really improved in the past year, making him Embro’s 6th overall prospect.

Current Injuries: None.

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Offense: .269/.342/.414 (4th/7th/2nd)
Pitching: 4.59/4.64/4.64 (7th/7th/5th)
Defense: .700 (5th)

The Braeland City Monarchs have continued to struggle since their strong start in October. However, that has not stopped them from trying to become relevant this season, believing that a playoff spot is still within their reach in a League with no clear dominant team. But they’re going to have to try and turn around things quickly – they have been regressing in all facets since the start of the season.

26-year old 2B Patrick Lidgate (.285/.399/.505, 18 HR, 55 RBI, 71 BB, 4.1 WAR) continues to lead the offense. In fact, he is head and shoulders above his teammates. But as good as he is, he’s needs a lot more support if the Monarchs want to compete. That may come in the form of 21-year old rookie RF Aidan Trembath (.359/.409/.585, 9 HR, 40 RBI, 17 BB, 2.6 WAR) who is already considered the No. 3 rigthfielder in the United Leagues. And with the recent acquisition of 30-year old SS Roland Binns (.402/.456/.707, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 4 BB, 1.5 WAR) from Pulberry to replace the constantly injured 30-year old Simon Flatt (.194/.263/.301, 9-2B, 8 RBi, 10 BB, -0.2 WAR), the offense could become a strength before too long.

30-year old RHP Okura Suzuki (10-8, 3.72 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.33 FIP) continues to be Braeland City’s ace, but the pitching staff as a whole is not one of the United League’s more formidable unit. With the departure of No. 2 starter 30-year old RHP Robin Medellin (6-14, 4.61 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 4.34 FIP), who at one point suffered 8 straight losses in Dec/Jan, the Monarchs have promoted 24-year old RHP Pei Ming (39/51), their 49th overall prospect, to be their No. 5 starter.

Five players represented the Monarchs at the All-Star game: SP Okura Suzuki (3rd), 2B Patrick Lidgate (3rd), 3B On Tsao (1st), LF Jesús Rodríguez (1st), RF Aidan Trembath (1st).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 10 – 2B Patrick Lidgate (.545, 12 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI)
January 7 – 1B Dean Witherden (.481, 13 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI)

Key Trade: January 31 with the Pulberry Trolleys:

To Braeland City – 30-year old SS Roland Binns (60/60)
To Pulberry – 30-year old RHP Robin Medellin (48/48), 24-year old RHP Taylor Folkard (49/65) and 22-year old minor league 2B Bert Towes (20/45)

Knee-jerk reaction: An intriguing trade for both teams to say the least. Binns is rated 6th overall in a the ULB among shortstop, higher than the 9th overall rated 26-year old Francis Jones (.282/.382/.384, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 59 BB, 8 SB, 2.8 WAR – 61/61). Nevertheless, the Trolleys elected to keep the younger Jones and flip Binns in order to try and beef up their pitching staff. Binns is a 5-time all-star with wonderful defense and speed. However, his bat while decent, is nothing to get excited about and his performance has regressed over the past three seasons. Perhaps a change of scenery and all that will energize his game.

Pulberry gets 2-1/2 pitchers in return, as Towes also has very impressive ratings as a reliever. Medellin is not the kind of pitcher I would have liked in return for Binns; while he has great stamina, he is barely average in every other department. He is currently installed as Pulberry’s No. 3 starter. Folkard has the chance to be the key player in this trade in the long run if he can get things figured out. A 16th overall pick from 1949-50, he has not impressed in his first two seasons. But he is a future starter with solid stuff/movement/control and four decent pitches. Towes has a chance to either be a future infielder or reliever in the majors. Right now, the Trolleys have him playing second base in Double A. He has plenty of bat speed and a great eye to go along with very good defense at second base. Nevertheless, scouts rave about his potential as a future cornerstone reliver, so we’ll just have to see how his career plays out.

Current Injuries:

SS Simon Flatt – November 21 – broken bone in elbow. Out for: 6 more weeks.

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Offense: .264/.352/.393 (6th/2nd/5th)
Pitching: 4.68/4.90/4.08 (8th/8th/4th)
Defense: .699 (6th)

The Brunswick Legends crashed in January and their seeming inattention at grooming a good young stable of starters has been exposed. The pitching staff is the worked ranked in the United Leagues and it appears that will not change any time soon. They have a respectable farm system (6th overall), but the only pitching prospect of note is 19-year old RHP Dave Ball (20/48), a second-round pick from 1950-51.

Only their ‘ace’, 24-year old RHP Mhelter Pilapil (9-11, 3.99 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 4.22 FIP) is offering them some consistent outings, while 30-year old RHP Lao Chen (2-4, 14 SV, 3.33 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 3.08 FIP) remains the top-ranked stopper in the United Leagues.

The offense offers a bit more optimism, as 25-year old LF Carl Patton (.284/.372/.407, 5 HR, 45 RBI, 55 BB, 3.4 WAR) is enjoying a terrific sophomore season and 23-year old rookie C Robert Kersey (.268/.352/.452, 14 HR, 51 RBI, 45 BB, 3.0 WAR) continues his impressive start.

Three Legends were selected to the All-Star game: CL Lao Chen (3rd), C Robert Kersey (1st) and 1B Stuart Bentham (11th).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 17 – RF Marcus Peyto (.571, 8 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI)

Noteworthy:

December 1 – LF Carl Patton came over to the Legends in the blockbuster SP Anastasio Rodríguez trade with Wolseley back April 1950. In his second full-season in the ULB, the former third-round pick from 1948-49 has firmly entrenched himself in the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Against the Braeland City Monarchs he showed why, going 5 for 5 in the Legends’ 14-11 triumph. Patton hit a 3-run double in the 1st, hit an RBI single in the 3rd, walked in the 4th, hit an RBI triple in the 5th and singled in the 7th and 8th innings. In all, he collected 5 RBIs.

January 11 - 35-year old 1B Stuart Bentham (.353/.440/.562, 15 HR, 73 RBI, 53 BB, 2.7 WAR) reached a significant milestone when he smacked a solo home run to lead off the 4th inning against the Cobourg Red Stockings’ RHP Fergus Hirst. When it cleared the left-field wall 337 ft. away, it marked his 300th career home run. Bentham is the first player to reach that milestone in the United Leagues’ history. Alas it wasn’t enough as the Legends fell to the Red Stockings 7-3. To make matters worse, Bentham separated his shoulder the next day while successfully breaking up a double play at second base. He is expected to miss 5-6 weeks at least.

Current Injuries:

1B Stuart Bentham – January 12 – separated shoulder. Out for: 2 more weeks.
RHP Kelvin Hutchinson – January 23 – strained triceps. Out for: DtD, 2-3 more weeks.

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reds1 · 09-30-2019, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hageneezz

Do you also watch cpu vs cpu games? 2d/3d?

I should learn to read more carefully - I totally overlooked your last question!

I love 3D and can't go back. It may not be perfect (yet), but I love the 3D stadiums. For now, I've just assigned MLB stadiums to my Braeland teams, but if I can acquire a little patience, I'd like to try and import some custom-made ones the community has made.

reds1 · 11-07-2019, 11:38 PM

February 1, 1952

Western League: Trolleys, Pelicans in Tight Battle for Wild Card

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Offense: .277/.358/.414 (1st/1st/1st)
Pitching: 3.00/3.12/2.36 (1st/1st/1st)
Defense: .712 (4th)

The Wolseley Unions continue to be the class of the United Leagues, dominating both sides of the ball and sporting the best record in the ULB. But the defending United Cup Champions did experience a bit of a hiccup in January. After opening the month with a 6-game winning streak before the All-Star break, the Unions faltered thereafter, going just 9-10 the rest of the way. That stretch included a 6-game losing streak where they were swept by the Pulberry Trolleys and dropped 2 of 3 to the Sherburn Tigers. They did right the ship at the end of the month however, taking 2 of 3 from the Kingston Pelicans and sweeping a 2-game series from the Trolleys to exact some revenge. Those are the teams chasing the Unions right now, so Wolseley can’t afford to become complacent.

Despite injuries to 28-year old RHP Jeremy Albury (8-1, 3.05 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 3.34 FIP - gone for the season) and 35-year old LHP Anastasio Rodríguez (7-5, 4.04 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.29 FIP - currently on rehab assignment) for the second season in a row, the pitching staff is still firing on all cylinders. Though a rookie, 26-year old RHP Roberto Garza (12-7, 2.55 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 2.59 FIP) is currently considered by scouts as the top-rated pitcher in the ULB and its hard to argue with that assessment. But he is not alone – there is nary a weak spot on the entire staff. The team acquired 32-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson (6-12, 3.86 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 4.13 FIP) from Embro to address the injuries and the Unions also promoted 24-year old RHP Joseph Sellwood (2-2, 3.30 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 4.95 FIP) to serve in long relief. The future starter was drafted 14th overall in 1949-50 and is rated as the No. 2 pitching prospect (10th overall).

The lineup continues to be arguable the strongest in the United Leagues, with 30-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.342/.467/.553, 16 HR, 90 RBI, 93 BB, 5.2 WAR) continuing his awesome ways and 30-year old SS George Kimpton (.289/.375/.459, 22 HR, 65 RBI, 59 BB, 4.3 WAR) enjoying the best season of his eight-year career.

Eight players were selected to the All-Star game: SP Bill Blair (3rd), SP Roberto Garza (1st), CL John Palm (11th), C Éric Denis (5th), 2B Make-Make Kamaka (2nd), 3B Carlos Ortíz (2nd), SS George Kimpton (3rd) and LF Carlton Hawking (7th).

Current Injuries:

December 10 – RHP Jeremy Albury – ruptured ulnar collateral ligament. Out for: 5 more months.

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Offense: .267/.337/.400 (2nd/2nd/2nd)
Pitching: 3.75/3.46/4.95 (5th/2nd/7th)
Defense: .721 (2nd)

After an impressive 22-7 start to the season, the Pulberry Trolleys fell back to earth in November and December, losing 5 more games than they won. They rebounded in January however and continue to hang onto the wild card spot. Their lead over the Kingston Pelicans is now down to just half a game though, so the final two months of the season should be very interesting. Both Kingston and Fort Richmond are well within reach of overtaking the Trolleys down the stretch if they’re not careful.

The club’s overall ERA is the best its been in four seasons, but the rotation still has that patchwork feel to it and the bullpen has been downright awful. The Trolleys acquired 30-year old RHP Robin Medellin (6-14, 4.61 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 4.34 FIP) and 24-year old RHP Taylor Folkard (1-1, 1 SV, 5.13 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 5.30 FIP) from Braeland City to try and beef up its rotation and bullpen respectively, but it remains to be seen whether they will actually make a difference down the stretch. Like Roberto Garza in Wolseley, 22-year old LHP Ramón Castro (8-4, 2.39 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 2.68 FIP) is a rookie who has become his team’s top starter. He is also highly rated: 5th overall among all pitchers in the ULB. But Castro does not have the supporting cast that Garza enjoys. That said, 24-year old RHP Harley Rodman (8-4, 2 SV, 3.12 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 3.17 FIP), a former 6th-round pick from 1945-46 and long-time minor leaguer, is pitching effectively out of the No. 5 spot.

The offense is on a much surer footing and looks more impressive with each passing day. 24-year old CF Cooper Tyson (.300/.387/.468, 11 HR, 63 RBI, 58 BB, 5.5 WAR) has been tremendous and leads the entire ULB in WAR (Cobourg’s Alexander Tolmie is just behind him with 5.4). Four-year veteran, 27-year old RF Ellis Dibble (.339/.399/.476, 6 HR, 55 RBI, 42 BB, 3.2 WAR), is enjoying his best season thus far. His performance this year has forced 23-year old OF John Oldknow (.274/.346/.421, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 20 BB, 1.3 WAR) to remain riding the pine, after pre-season expectations that he would be Pulberry’s everyday rightfielder. Finally, 23-year old LF Aidan Thirkettle (.272/.354/.482, 9 HR, 51 RBI, 41 BB, 12 SB, 2.0 WAR) is enjoying a fine rookie campaign.

Four Trolleys were selected to the All-Star Game: SP Ramón Castro (1st), 3B Makani Kahale (2nd), LF Ellis Dibble (1st) and CF Cooper Tyson (2nd).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 31 – CF Cooper Tyson (.565, 13 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
January 14 – LF Aidan Thirkettle (.444, 8 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
January 21 – SP Harley Rodman (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 10 K, .159 OBA)

Noteworthy:

January 26 – Indicative of his impressive season, RF Ellis Dibble went 5 for 5 against the Sherburn Tigers. He singled 5 times, in the 1st, 3r, 5th, 7th and 8th innings, collecting 2 R. The Trolleys prevailed 6-2.

Current Injuries: None.

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Offense: .250/.330/.384 (7th/3rd/4th)
Pitching: 3.63/3.86/2.68 (3rd/6th/2nd)
Defense: .708 (6th)

In mid-December, the Kingston Pelicans set their team focus from ‘neutral’ to ‘rebuild’, but you wouldn’t know it from their play in January. Their strong play moved them into second place ahead of the Fort Richmond Generals and just a half-game back of the Trolleys. But a closer look at their roster indicates that they may not have the depth to sustain a serious push for the wild card the rest of the way.

After 31-year old LHP Patrick Denman (14-7, 3.37 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.87 FIP) and 26-year old RHP Kieran Bunce (11-6, 3.15 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 3.63 FIP), the rotation has been inconsistent. The numbers indicate that the bullpen has performed a little better overall, but there has been quite of bit of turnover through continuous promotions/demotions and waiver wire losses. But the Pelicans do boast one of the best relievers in the ULB: 27-year old RHP stopper Kaula Mafileo (7-5, 18 SV, 2.35 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 3.61 FIP).

The offense isn’t actually dominant either, with only 36-year old 2B Katsunan Chikafuji (.283/.356/.466, 16 HR, 59 RBI, 42 BB, 3.4 WAR) and 25-year old C Carlos Camasura (.274/.380/.362, 4 HR, 32 RBI, 60 BB, 3.2 WAR) having decent years. But both are having down years compared to last season. 27-year old RF Mo Spenceley (.294/.368/.483, 13 HR, 55 RBI, 46 BB, 1.6 WAR) continues to contribute offensively, but his poor defensive work is a liability (.980 PCT, 2.51 RNG, -6.7 ZR, .978 EFF).

Five Pelicans made the All-Star team: SP Kieran Bunce (1st), RP Kaula Mafileo (1st), C Carlos Camasura (2nd), SS Katsunan Chikafuji (12th) and RF Mo Spenceley (1st).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 3 – RF Mo Spenceley (.478, 11 H, 3 HR, 5 RBI)
December 17 – CF Glen Traill (.409, 9 H, 5 RBI)

Key Trade: January 27 with the Stratford Barons:

To Kingston – 27-year old OF Lance Oakley (48/48)
To Stratford – 26-year old 1B Bob Goodyear (52/52) and 24-year old minor league 1B John Finnell (26/35)

Knee-jerk reaction: In the recent 1941-42 draft review, I noted that 29-year old 1B Andre Gale (.307/.349/.416, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 9 BB, 0.2 WAR) finally had a chance playing regularly in the majors after toiling in the minors for nine seasons. But after just 39 games, the Barons have decided to acquire the 4-year veteran Goodyear to take over first base and ship Gale back down to Triple-A. Goodyear, a former 2nd-round pick from 1943-44, is considered an above average first baseman with solid batting skills, good strike zone judgement and decent defense. He takes over the No. 5 spot of the lineup.
As for the Pelicans, they acquire Oakley, a former 16th overall pick from 1945-46 to take over centerfield and the lead-off spot from 30-year old Glen Traill (.195/.301/.326, 9 HR, 32 RBI, 61 BB, 10 SB, 0.8 WAR). Traill was struggling this season and Oakley, who hails from Wagga Wagga, Australia, should be a modest upgrade. He is simply outstanding defensively, with a strong, accurate throwing arm and blazing speed. He has modest to slightly above batting skills. But the real concern going forward is their giving up Goodyear, who at the very least, provided some insurance should 37-year old 1B Dean Bishop (.235/.371/.415, 12 HR, 61 RBI, 66 BB, 1.6 WAR) suffer a major injury. Kingston is gambling that Bishop can stay healthy during their push for a playoff spot. We’ll have to see whether that pays off or blows up in their face.

Current Injuries:

January 4 – SS Ryoma Hakui – strained groin. Suffered setback. Out for: 3-4 more weeks.
January 20 – 1B Dean Bishop – sore knee. Out for: DtD, unknown.
January 27 – RHP Paddy Vanderven – mild oblique strain. Out for: DtD, 2 more days.

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Offense: .257/.318/.370 (5th/7th/6th)
Pitching: 3.53/3.54/3.49 (2nd/3rd/3rd)
Defense: .726 (1st)

The Fort Richmond Generals are just on the verge of making a serious push for the playoffs, but perhaps didn’t do enough at the trade deadline to beef up their offense. In the final month of the regular season, they will play six games against both the Wolseley Unions and Pulberry Trolleys as well as four against the Kingston Pelicans. Those are the teams that are ahead of them in standings. Thus, March will either make or break their playoff hopes.

The pitching staff is about as good as any in the United Leagues, with 31-year old LHP Nicholas Grimes (15-6, 1.97 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 3.12 FIP) enjoying his best season yet, even better than his Satchel Paige Award winning season back in 1948-49 (where he went 21-9, 3.06 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.39 FIP). 29-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock (9-10, 3.52 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 3.71 FIP) is providing able support, but like the rest of the staff, could use a little more support from the offense.

The offense is resting largely on the shoulders of two men: 29-year old CF Dylan Moyne (.295/.354/.437, 13 HR, 46 RBI, 37 BB, 4.3 WAR) and 27-year old SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida (.310/.368/.429, 6 HR, 60 RBI, 35 BB, 4.3 WAR). There is quite a drop-off after them in terms of WAR. That includes 30-year old C Louis Wearne (.212/.299/.328, 10 HR, 48 RBI, 42 BB, 1.2 WAR), who has really struggled at the plate this season. A startling downturn considering he won the Western League Babe Ruth Award last season.

Six Generals were selected to this year’s All-Star game: SP Nicholas Grimes (2nd), CL José Rodriguez (4th), 1B Jacob Gadsden (1st), 3B Alberto Esquivel (1st), SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida (3rd) and CF Dylan Moyne (6th).

Noteworthy:

January 13 – The Generals and Cambria Cannons battled for 15 innings before the hometown Cannons prevailed 8-7 on a run-scoring triple by 1B Carlos Correa. But the game may have ended sooner had it not been for SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida. He went 6 for 8 with all his hits coming as singles. He collected 2 R and 1 RBI on the day.

Key Trade: December 25 with the Cambria Cannons:

To Fort Richmond – 30-year old 3B Alberto Esquivel (54/54)
To Cambria – 22-year old minor league 2B Quincy Blencowe (30/48) and 24-year old league LF Callum Follitt (26/33)

Knee-jerk reaction: This deal would normally fly under the radar without much comment, except that Esquivel (.295/.349/.496, 12 HR, 41 RBI, 22 BB, 2.4 WAR) won Rookie of the Month honors for October and earned a trip to the All-Star game. The Venezuelan native was signed to a minor league contract by the Cannons and made an immediate impression in the ULB. He has excellent contact and strike zone judgment with solid defensive skills at the hot corner. He is already rated as the 3rd-top third baseman in the United Leagues, so it’s not entirely clear why Cambria parted ways with him. None of his replacements are an improvement. In Fort Richmond, Esquivel is now a utility player. Another rookie, 23-year old Mason Geake (.211/.310/.286, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 27 BB, 0.1 WAR – 40/60), is getting the starts. Geake should be a fine player one day, but to me playing Esquivel regularly would make more of an impact on the Generals’ push for a playoff spot.
Blencowe is a phenomenal defensive player who can handle either third base or shortstop. But his offensive ratings are not overly impressive (45/55-contact, 50/50-gap, 30/30-eye) and while he’s in the lineup at present, that may change once some of the regulars return from injury. So I don’t see a positive in this deal for Cambria. But Fort Richmond does get some infield depth for the stretch run.

Current Injuries:

December 11 – SS Juan Ramírez – broken hand. Out for: 7 more weeks.
January 28 – RHP Glen Limon – mild shoulder strain. Out for: DtD, 1 more week.

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Offense: .259/.327/.393 (4th/5th/3rd)
Pitching: 4.32/4.07/5.17 (8th/8th/8th)
Defense: .693 (8th)

With all the injuries and struggles experienced by the pitching staff, it’s a marvel that the Cambria Cannons are not farther down in the standings. Cambria has been bitten by the injury bug big-time. Their top position player prospect (22-year old CF Sam Tite – 49/79) and top pitching prospect (24-year old RHP Mario Gallardo – 23/45) have missed extended playing time this year. The Canadian-born Tite is the No. 1-rated prospect and his absence has been a major setback for the club, who no doubt were expecting exciting things from him this season.

Their pitching is the worst in the Western League (second only to the Brunswick Legends overall), but if not for the injury bug, things might have been a little different. 28-year old LHP Jamie Wigley (4-6, 4.12 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 3.69 FIP) finished second in the Western League Satchel Paige Award voting last season but was sidelined for over four months this season with a torn labrum. But the upheaval has at least opened up opportunities for a couple of young pitchers to get some regular playing time. 26-year old RHP Masami Fujihara (10-9, 3.51 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 3.52 FIP) and 22-year old LHP Bill Southern (9-13, 4.06 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 4.21 FIP), came over in the same trade with the Stratford Barons back in January 1950. Fujihara, an 8th-round pick from 1944-45 and Southern, a 1st-round pick from 1947-48, are now holding down the top two spots in the rotation respectively.

The offense is performing a little bit better, led by 30-year old SS César Ruíz (.296/.407/.515, 17 HR, 59 RBI, 68 BB, 4.8 WAR), 25-year old 1B Carlos Correa (.274/.330/.413, 12 HR, 54 RBI, 30 BB, -0.2 WAR) and 23-year old RF Seung-jae Park (.305/.334/.429, 3 HR, 48 RBi, 19 BB, 1.5 WAR), but their overall contributions have been undermined by some dreadful defensive work. That applies to the entire lineup at the moment.

SS César Ruíz (3rd) was the lone Cannon selected to the All-Star game.

Player of the Week Awards:

December 10 – 1B Carlos Correa (.481, 13 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
January 28 – 1B Carlos Correa (.464, 13 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R)

Current Injuries:

October 20 – CF Sam Tite – post-concussion syndrome. Out for: 1 more week.
December 19 – 2B Wenceslas Jasmin – fractured hand. Out for: 2 more days.
December 23 – RHP Mario Gallardo – shoulder inflammation. Out for: 5 more weeks.
December 25 – 3B Wayne Hudson – fractured wrist. Suffered setback in January; required surgery. Out for: 2 more months.
January 12 – C Alexander Pyatt – torn posterior cruciate ligament. Out for: 6 more months.
January 13 – RHP Luke Woodward – partially torn UCL. Out for: 6 more months.

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Offense: .266/.323/.367 (3rd/6th/7th)
Pitching: 3.94/3.69/4.87 (6th/5th/6th)
Defense: .698 (7th)

A winning record over the previous two months, along with the struggles of both the Hespeler Stars and Balmoral Giants have ‘catapulted’ the Sherburn Tigers out of the basement, if just barely. The lack of front-line talent is evident, and the Tigers just don’t have a deep farm system at present. Its going to be tough going in Sherburn in the short term at least.

But the Tigers do have the making of an impressive 1-2-3 punch in the rotation. 28-year old RHP Jesús Chapa (9-10, 2.77 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 3.05 FIP) has consistently ranked as one of the top starters in the ULB (currently 2nd only to Wolseley’s Roberto Garza), but 25-year old RHP Ben Buschlen (11-11, 3.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 4.10 FIP) has been a solid No. 2 starter since he was acquired from the Fort Richmond Generals three seasons ago. And 24-year old RHP Bradley Strawson (7-11, 3.69 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 3.86 FIP) is making strides in this first full season. He was a 4th-overall pick just last season.

But any improvements made by the pitching staff will be all for naught, if the club doesn’t address their anemic offensive and defensive efforts. 25-year old 2B Jack Burt (.343/.386/.492, 1 HR, 41 RBI, 23 BB, 3.9 WAR) is the Tigers’ best player and is enjoying the best season of his four-year career. But he has yet to join the upper echelon of the top stars in the United Leagues. Both 28-year old RF Louie Pate (.300/.337/.460, 10 HR, 47 RBI, 20 BB, 0.7 WAR) and 30-year old CF Karl-Anthony Nuñez (.286/.334/.365, 6 HR, 30 RBI, 28 BB, -0.2 WAR) can hit but have been god-awful in the field. 25-year old LF Noah Teale (.265/.336/.415, 7 HR, 53 RBI, 44 BB, 13 SB, 1.8 WAR) has improved a bit compared to last year, but that’s still a far cry from his 1949-50 season when he earned 4.6 WAR.

Three Tigers qualified for the All-Star Game: SP Jesús Chapa (6th), 2B Jack Burt (2nd) and LF Noah Teale (2nd).

Player of the Week Awards:

December 24 – LF Louie Pate (.478, 11 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI)

Current Injuries:

December 23 – RHP Bobby Hogg – torn labrum. Out for: 3 more months.
January 22 – 2B Jack Burt – bone marrow edema (knee). Out for: 4-5 more weeks.

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Offense: .256/.330/.382 (6th/4th/5th)
Pitching: 4.12/4.04/4.49 (7th/7th/5th)
Defense: .709 (5th)

The Hespeler Stars crashed in January after hovering close to .500 for the first half of the season. The Stars enjoyed some success in December, going 10-3 against the top clubs in the West. That included a 3-game sweep of the Wolseley Unions and a 4-game sweep of the Pulberry Trolleys. But the Unions and Kingston Pelicans brought them back down to earth in January when the Unions took 5 of 6 games and the Pelicans took 3 of 4.

Hespeler should have a decent rotation, at least on paper. But 25-year old LHP Larry Kovnats (7-15, 4.24 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 3.53 FIP) shows no sign of developing into an effective pitcher. The former 3rd-overall pick from 1948-49 Achilles’ heel has been his lack of control (35/35). That is a shame. His stuff (55/60) and movement (60/65) are top drawer. He also boasts five impressive pitches: fastball (60/60), curve (55/60), changeup (55/55), sinker (55/60) and splitter (55/55), to go along with excellent stamina (75) and velocity (91-93 mph).
As of now, 27-year old RHP Stephen Tindall (11-10, 3.36 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 3.70 FIP) and 27-year old RHP Paul Woodruff (6-3, 3.32 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 4.25 FIP) have been offering up consistent outings and perhaps 25-year old RHP Dominic Whitmore (3-8, 5.38 ERA, 1.98 WHIP, 4.93 FIP), an 11th-overall pick from 1946-47, will develop one day into a useful starter as well.

The offense has provided it share of disappointing results, but there is room for some optimism. 26-year old 2B Vic Lewis (.311/.372/.516, 19 HR, 70 RBI, 32 BB, 4.4 WAR) is developing into a legitimate star and joins 28-year old SS Zhao-hui Qian (.306/.349/.439, 9 HR, 55 RBI, 32 BB, 4.3 WAR) in that category. But 24-year old sophomore CF John McMurray (.249/.309/.394, 9 HR, 42 RBI, 34 BB, 0.9 WAR) and 23-year old rookie RF Tim Beattie (.278/.359/.370, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 33 BB, 0.8 WAR) exude a lot of promise as they acclimate to the majors.

Four players represented the Stars are the All-Star Game: SP Stephen Tindall (1st), C Enrique García (1st), 2B Vic Lewis (1st) and SS Zhao-hui Qian (2nd).

Player of the Week Awards:

January 7 – SS Zhao-hui Qian (.550, 11 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R)

Current Injuries:

November 21 – RHP Rodney Gabrielson – acute elbow soreness. Setback in January; required surgery. Out for: 8-9 more weeks.

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Offense: .232/.309/.321 (8th/8th/8th)
Pitching: 3.66/3.68/3.60 (4th/4th/4th)
Defense: .713 (3rd)

Its more of the same for the Balmoral Giants, as they are holding their own in terms of pitching while being down-right awful at the plate. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more impotent offense in any of my United Leagues iterations in the past, let alone this dynasty. They are averaging just 3.2 R/G, which would tie them with the 1943 Downie Chiefs for the worst runs generated per game average. Their .232 team batting average would set a new low, ‘surpassing’ the 1946-47 Sherburn Tigers, who batted .240 in that offensively-depressed season. And there’s not much optimism that things will turn around soon. GM Victor Lynch, who has been with the organization since Day 1, is in the final year of his current contract. I would expect that a change would be in order after the season for this mess.

The pitching staff continues to impress. They are second only to the Wolseley Unions in fewest R/G (4.0 to Wolseley’s 3.7) in the ULB. Despite suffering elbow tendinitis that sidelined him for two months, 32-year old LHP Ricardo Cruz (6-5, 2.81 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 3.39 FIP) continues as Balmoral’s ace. However, he has struggled to get back into his groove. He endured a rough January (0-5, 5.04 ERA, 1.54 WHIP) and has gone 1-6 in his last 7 starts. But in his most recent start, he went 9.2 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K in a 1-0 loss to the Downie Chiefs.
But both 26-year old RHP Quintiliano Galeo (12-11, 3.22 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 3.83 FIP) and 26-year old RHP Rodrigo González (8-10, 3.12 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.20 FIP) have been consistently good all season. Finally, journeyman stopper, 32-year old RHP Brent Nix (4-4, 8 SV, 3.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 4.24 FIP) is enjoying his best season in five years.

23-year old 2B Erik Perry (.203/.284/.287, 9-2B, 17 RBI, 23 BB, -0.3 WAR) enjoyed a promising November (.263/.317/.474) but has disappeared since then. Perhaps 25-year old LF Connor Wadsworth (.271/.344/.312, 1 HR, 15 RBI, 21 BB, 0.7 WAR), who has taken over leftfield from 34-year old Carlton Broadbent (.257/.315/.482, 13 HR, 45 RBI, 19 BB, 0.1 WAR), can provide some spark – someday? All in all, what a train wreck.

The Giants sent two players to the All-Star game: SP Ricardo Cruz (2nd) and SP Rodrigo González (3rd).

Current Injuries:

December 16 – SS Francisco Rodríguez – partially torn labrum. Out for: 6 more days.

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reds1 · 11-11-2019, 02:09 AM

March 23, 1952

Kingston, Pulberry to Play Tie-Breaker for Western League Wild Card

After battling each other for the wild card all season, it only seems fitting that the Pulberry Trolleys and Kingston Pelicans will need one more game to settle the matter once and for all. In late February, it appeared that the Trolleys were going to come out on top, as the Pelicans went into a severe tailspin. By February 20th, Kingston had gone just 3-14 on the month and were in the midst of a 12-game losing skid. But the Trolleys didn’t exactly take advantage, as they put up just an 8-9 record over the same period and enjoyed only a 5-1/2 game cushion.

Then Kingston got hot. After finishing the rest of February 5-2, the Pelicans went 16-7 in March. That included a 10-game winning streak. Meanwhile, Pulberry went just 15-14 the rest of the way, allowing the Pelicans to catch up. On the last day of the regular season, with Kingston a game up on the Trolleys for the wild card, the Pelicans needed just one more victory over the Fort Richmond Generals to lock it up. But they didn’t get it. Despite taking the first three games of the series, Kingston fell to the Generals, 8-6. Meanwhile in Pulberry, the Trolleys defeated the Hespeler Stars, 6-3 to split their four-game series and finish in a tie for the wild card.

The tie-breaker game is scheduled for March 24 at Kingston Park. It’s expected that Pulberry will tab their No. 2 starter, 30-year old RHP Alexander Ellacott (12-9, 3.67 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 3.65 FIP), to take the hill, while Kingston’s No. 3 starter, 26-year old RHP Brian Marsland (13-14, 3.30 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.80 FIP), will counter for the Pelicans.

In the Eastern League, the wild card went down to the final day as well. In the last weeks of the regular season, both the Embro Suns and Downie Chiefs caught up to the faltering Queensland Eagles. In fact, on the morning of the final day of the season, all three teams were tied for the wild card. But the Suns’ playoff hopes were dashed when the Cobourg Red Stockings defeated them, 7-5. Meanwhile, Downie and Queensland faced each other in a four-game series to end the season. The Chiefs swept the series, and punched their ticket to the playoffs on the final day, defeating Queensland, 6-5.

--------

Hawking Wins Western League Triple Crown

Wolseley Unions’ 30-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.348/.476/.587, 26 HR, 126 RBI, 138 BB, 7.9 WAR) enjoyed a season for the ages, as he won the Western League Triple Crown. It’s the first time in seven years that a position player has won the Triple Crown and third overall. Before Hawking, Balmoral Giants' RF Carlton Broadbent was the most recent position player to win it, back in 1944-45. Embro’s SP Arthur Bence won the pitching Triple Crown five years ago in 1946-47, when he was with the Wellington Athletics.

Hawking finished second overall in batting average in the entire United Leagues, behind Brunswick’s 1B Stuart Bentham (.348) and tied for top spot in home runs with both Queensland’s LF Rod Dennis and Cobourg’s 3B Alexander Tolmie. However, he led all of the United Leagues this season in Runs batted in (126), Walks (138), OBP (.476), OPS (1.064), Runs (120), OPS+ (181), WPA (7.17) and WOBA (.460).

DreamTeams · 11-12-2019, 02:35 AM

Come on Trolleys, you can do it! Win or lose, what a season for Pulberry.

Hageneezz · 11-12-2019, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamTeams

Come on Trolleys, you can do it! Win or lose, what a season for Pulberry.

Booooooooo!

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A505FN met Tapatalk

Eugene Church · 11-12-2019, 10:23 AM

Glad you are back, my friend.

reds1 · 11-12-2019, 07:53 PM

March 24, 1952

Moving On: Pelicans Triumph over Trolleys 4-1 to Take Wild Card

The Kingston Pelicans punched their ticket to the playoffs this afternoon by defeating the Pulberry Trolleys 4-1 at Kingston Park in their tie-breaker game, necessitated after the two clubs finished tied for the wild card at season’s end. The Pelicans will now head to Satchel Paige Park in Wolseley to face the Unions in Game 1 of the Western League Pennant Series, scheduled to start Wednesday, March 26.

26-year old RHP Brian Marsland pitched a fine game for Kingston, holding the Trolleys scoreless until the 9th inning. In all, he scattered 6 hits, striking out three and walking 1, while giving up just a single run to earn Player of the Game honors. Pulberry’s 30-year old RHP Alexander Ellacott matched zeros with Marsland until the 4th inning when the Pelicans broke things open.

C Carlos Camasura led off the bottom of the 4th with a line drive single. With one out, 2B Katsunan Chikafuji doubled into deep rightfield. That scored Camasura for the game’s first run. Chikafuji was able to stretch his double into a triple on the play when he beat RF Ellis Dibble’s throw to third. Next up was 1B Dean Bishop, who connected on a 1-0 pitch for a two-run home run, 407 ft. into left-centerfield, extending Kingston’s lead to three.

The Pelicans would tack on another run in the 7th, after SP Brian Marsland led off with a single and advanced to second on a CF Lance Oakley ground out. With two out, Carlos Camasura doubled home Marsland, increasing Kingston’s lead to four.

Marsland kept Pulberry’s hitters off the board until the top of the 9th, when SS Francis Jones led off with a solo home run that landed 378 ft. in the leftfield bleachers.
1B Gerard Koerner immediately singled off Marsland and LF Aiden Thirkettle singled off stopper Kaula Mafileo, putting runners on first and second with one out. But Mafileo got RF Ellis Dibble to fly out to CF Lance Oakley and 3B Makani Kahale to ground out to SS Charlie Cockin to end the game.

Twice the Trolleys managed to put a runner on third base (CF Cooper Tyson both times), but were unable cash in. Tyson drew a walk with two out in the top of the 1st and reached third when Aiden Thirkettle singled. But Ellis Dibble popped up to 3B Ryoma Hakui to end the inning. In the top of the 4th, Tyson led off with a double and reached third base on a Thirkettle ground out. But once again, Pulberry was unable to take advantage, as Ellis Dibble flied out to rightfield and Makani Kahale grounded out 3B Hakui. Kingston then broke it open in the bottom half of the inning. That ultimately swung the momentum in the Pelicans’ favor for good.

reds1 · 11-12-2019, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamTeams

Come on Trolleys, you can do it! Win or lose, what a season for Pulberry.

I was hoping that Pulberry could pull it out as well. I immediately turned off the computer and stormed away after it was over to cool down. But it was their first winning season ever and their future looks bright. Hopefully they can build on it next season.

reds1 · 11-12-2019, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

Glad you are back, my friend.

Thanks, Eugene!

Health problems have come back to limit my involvement with my dynasty for a bit, but this time, it's with my wife. You just gotta roll with the punches.

Archelirion · 11-13-2019, 10:33 AM

I think everyone was a Pulberry fan for that game. I'm a little bit gutted.

I fancy Downie for this year. Queensland and Embro blew it in a big way, whereas Downie finished clutch and that's the kinda intangible which separates the winners from the losers.

I'm glad the United Leagues are continuing. They set a standard which I can only hope to aspire to, in terms of storytelling and visually (especially with my painfully limited graphical skills). My best wishes to you and your wife.

DreamTeams · 11-13-2019, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reds1

I was hoping that Pulberry could pull it out as well. I immediately turned off the computer and stormed away after it was over to cool down. But it was their first winning season ever and their future looks bright. Hopefully they can build on it next season.

Congrats to the Pelicans. Solid promise for the Trolleys as we wait till next year.

Hageneezz · 11-13-2019, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archelirion

I think everyone was a Pulberry fan for that game. I'm a little bit gutted.

I fancy Downie for this year. Queensland and Embro blew it in a big way, whereas Downie finished clutch and that's the kinda intangible which separates the winners from the losers.

I'm glad the United Leagues are continuing. They set a standard which I can only hope to aspire to, in terms of storytelling and visually (especially with my painfully limited graphical skills). My best wishes to you and your wife.

Not everyone

Archelirion · 11-13-2019, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hageneezz

Not everyone

Oh you heartless being you

08-09-2019, 01:01 PM	#523
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,860	December 1, 1951 Western League: Unions Taking the Upper Hand -------- Offense: .276/.361/.422 (1st/1st/1st) Pitching: 3.40/3.63/2.24 (1st/1st/1st) Defense: .709 (4th) On November 2, the Wolseley Unions were sitting 4.5 games out of first place, behind a red-hot Pulberry team. But the Unions then ramped up the heat, ripping off a 9-game winning streak and go 20-5 to finish the month. At month’s end, they sit 5.5 games ahead of those same upstart Trolleys. In a League with an abundance of impressive starts, Wolseley’s is the most impressive. The defending United Cup Champions have dominated practically all facets of the game. There’s perhaps no hotter player in the United Leagues right now than 30-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.340/.486/.539, 7 HR, 42 RBI, 55 BB, 3.2 WAR), as exemplified by his back-to-back Player of the Month honors. Over the past three seasons, he’s earned 7.0, 6.9 and 6.9 WAR respectively. This year he’s on pace for 9.1. Even his defensive play, long below average, is strong: .986 PCT, 2.80 RNG, +2.7 ZR, .987 EFF. But this offense is not a one-trick pony. The line-up is stacked, with the likes of No. 2 batter, 22-year old 3B Carlos Ortíz (.299/.377/.445, 9 HR, 42 RBI, 29 BB, 2.2 WAR), building on his Rookie of the Year season. The pitching is simply jaw-dropping. Free agent signing, 26-year old RHP Roberto Garza (6-3, 2.53 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 2.70 FIP), has not disappointed and perhaps has had the most auspicious start to a career in ULB history as noted below. He is now Wolseley’s No. 1 starter, ably supported by the likes of 28-year old RHP Jeremy Albury (8-1, 2.70 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 3.41 FIP) and 33-year old RHP Bill Blair (6-1, 3.38 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 3.49 FIP). Wolseley has so many dominant starters in the rotation right now that 26-year old LHP Axel MacKay (0-1, 1 SV, 3.18 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 3.02 FIP), a 15-game winner last year is now pitching out of the bullpen. If 35-year old LHP Anastasio Rodríguez (5-4, 4.81 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 3.36 FIP) can find his groove in the ensuing months, then watch out. Player of the Week Awards: November 5 – RF Howard Ockey (.450, 9 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI) November 19 – 3B Carlos Ortíz (.478, 11 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R) Noteworthy: October 7 –RHP Roberto Garza was impressive in his first major league start back on October 2, where he went 7.0 innings and gave up just 2 hits and no earned runs (along with 1 BB, 6 K) in Wolseley’s 3-2 victory over Kingston. But that only set the stage for his second major league start on October 7 against the Sherburn Tigers. Garza pitched the 9th NO-HITTER in United Leagues’ history and the first in nearly two years. Garza faced 29 batters and threw 101 pitches, 60 of them for strikes, as he breezed through the Tigers’ lineup for a 6-0 victory. He struck out 5 batters and issued two walks in his masterpiece, finishing with a game score of 90, the highest thus far in the United Leagues. 27-year old C Éric Denis (.303/.333/.500, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 10 BB, 1.5 WAR) led the offense with a two-run home run in the 1st inning and a run-scoring double in the 5th. Current Injuries: None. -------- Offense: .272/.344/.400 (2nd/2nd/3rd) Pitching: 3.87/3.69/4.54 (4th/3rd/6th) Defense: .733 (1st) The Pulberry Trolleys are getting better at fast starts. Last year, they finished the first week of the regular season tied for first place with the Wolseley Unions before fading the rest of the way. This season they were scorching hot, getting out to an incredible 23-7 start, capped with an 8-game winning streak. Alas, they could not keep it up. After taking the first game of a 4-game set against the Wolseley Unions for their eighth consecutive win, the Trolleys dropped the next three and then got swept 3-straight by the Kingston Pelicans. They recovered somewhat, finishing the rest of November 10-9. The abundance of young talent on the roster appears to be delivering this season. Free agent signing, 22-year old LHP Ramón Castro (2-2, 2.72 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 3.27 FIP), is already Pulberry’s No. 1 starter and should get stronger as the season wears on. The rest of the rotation could be better, but No. 5 starter, 33-year old RHP Lenny Tennison (3-3, 2.64 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 4.35 FIP) is off to the best start of his 7-year career. Tennison has yet to finish a season with a winning record. 24-year old RHP Harley Rodman (5-2, 3.52 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 4.21 FIP) has been solid pitching out of the bullpen. Rodman was a 6th-round pick back in 1945-46. At the beginning of the season, it was expected that the starting outfield would comprise Pulberry’s top young studs: 23-year old LF Aidan Thirkettle (2.62/.364/.460, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 21 BB, 0.9 WAR), 24-year old CF Cooper Tyson (.284/.379/.438, 5 HR, 26 RBI, 31 BB, 2.8 WAR) and 23-year old OF John Oldknow (.306/.370/.468, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 11 BB, 1.0 WAR). But Oldknow has been relegated to back-up duty against RHP in favor of 26-year old RF Ellis Dibble (3.42/.401/.490, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 24 BB, 1.7 WAR). The four-year veteran has been improving with each passing season, but it will be interesting to see how much longer he can keep a regular spot in the lineup. For now, Oldnow is starting against LHP with Dibble replacing Thirkettle at LF. But its not all about the outfield. 24-year old Makani Kahale (.347/.384/.500, 3 HR, 37 RBI, 13 BB, 2.1 WAR) is off to an incredible start in just his third season and is second only to Cobourg Red Stockings’ Alexander Tolmie among third basemen in the ULB. Current Injuries: None. -------- Offense: .251/.327/.391 (8th/5th/4th) Pitching: 3.90/4.20/2.66 (5th/6th/2nd) Defense: .704 (6th) The Kingston Pelicans struggled in October, starting off with a 5-10 record before turning it around and getting back to .500 by month’s end. The turning point of their season may have been the October 18 game against the Cambria Cannons, where they crushed the home-town team 23-2 on 18 hits. 27-year old RF Mo Spenceley (.301/.379/.579, 11 HR, 34 RBI, 24 BB, 1.5 WAR) paced the team, going 3 for 6 with a 3-run home, a 2-run double and a Western League record of 9 RBI. Spenceley is Kingston’s top offensive player thus far; the rest of the lineup has been rather lackluster. But Kingston finally saw fit to place 33-year old back-up C Danny Trowbridge (.308/.400/.692, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 0.2 WAR – 47/47) on the trading block on October 24. So perhaps the Pelicans can get some additional offensive talent in return and give the 9-time all-star a chance to start again with someone else. The pitching staff is currently buoyed by a few excellent starts. 26-year old RHP Kieran Bunce (7-3, 3.34 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.62 FIP) is enjoying the best start of his 3-year major-league career. The former 16th overall pick from 1947-48 was recently promoted to the No. 1 spot in the rotation. No. 5 starter 25-year old LHP Rob Hutchence (5-1, 2.11 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 4.60 FIP) is also enjoying a terrific start in his second year. A torn UCL cut short his rookie season. Finally, 27-year old RH stopper Kaula Mafileo (3-5, 9 SV, 2.22 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 3.98 FIP) is far and away enjoying the best start of his 4-year career. Player of the Week Awards: October 22 – LHP Rob Hutchence (2-0, 10.1 IP, 2 K, 0.87 ERA) October 29 – RF Mo Spenceley (.400, 10 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI) Current Injuries: RHP Ben Currall – October 16 – strained hamstring. Out for: 6 more weeks. -------- Offense: .260/.320/.366 (5th/7th/7th) Pitching: 3.82/3.87/3.51 (3rd/4th/3rd) Defense: .729 (2nd) The Fort Richmond Generals got off to a sluggish start, hovering near the bottom of the Western League standings before picking things up in November. An 8-game winning streak against Eastern League teams didn’t hurt. Both the pitching and offense have been slow to start the season. 30-year old C Louis Wearne (.236/.310/335, 4 HR, 23 RBI, 19 BB, 0.7 WAR), who won the WL Babe Ruth Award last season, has really struggled in the early going. 27-year old SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida (.307/.373/.396, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 21 BB, 2.1 WAR) and a resurgent 29-year old CF Dylan Moyne (.304/.361/.449, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 18 BB, 5 SB, 2.1 WAR) have been the leaders on offense thus far. On the pitching side of things, 32-year old ace RHP Roberto Taváres (4-6, 3.90 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 3.41 FIP) is struggling a bit to find his award-winning form as well. But No. 2 starter, 31-year old LHP Nicholas Grimes (8-1, 1.93 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 3.40 FIP), has been sensational. Player of the Week Awards: November 12 – LF Daniel Paterson (.458, 11 H, 4 HR, 6 RBI) Current Injuries: None. -------- Offense: .267/.332/.407 (3rd/4th/2nd) Pitching: 4.28/4.05/4.94 (6th/5th/8th) Defense: .684 (7th) The Cambria Cannons are a team in transition, with some fresh blood in the lineup. However, they will need to beef up their pitching if they hope to contend soon. Losing No. 1 prospect, 22-year old CF Sam Tite (.245/.269/.408, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 0.3 WAR – 47/80), to a long-term injury certainly doesn’t help. The pitching staff has been nothing to write home about. Nevertheless, No. 3 starter, 33-year old LHP Callum Stonehouse (6-2, 3.57 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 3.46 FIP) is off to his best start since the 1946-47 season, when he went 13-11, 2.81 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.44 FIP. Stonehouse was claimed on waivers from the Balmoral Giants back on October 3; Cambria had previously traded him to Balmoral in December 1949. 26-year old RH stopper Keith Roche (1-2, 11 SV, 2.67 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 3.49 FIP) is off to the best start of his 3-year career. 31-year old SS César Ruíz (.305/.413/.561, 12 HR, 32 RBI, 32 BB, 2.0 WAR) continues his elite ways. But he has been joined by a couple of youngsters. Lead-off hitter, 23-year old RF Seung-jae Park (.329/.354/.460, 2 HR, 32 RBI, 9 BB, 1.1 WAR), appears to have finally emerged as a solid offensive player. And 30-year old rookie, 3B Alberto Esquivel (.299/.358/.493, 6 HR, 25 RBI, 14 BB, 1.4 WAR) has emerged as Cambria’s second-best position player. The free agent from Venezuela was signed to a minor-league contract back in May and was quickly installed as the Cannons’ starting third baseman. He has been outstanding from the get-go, winning a Rookie of the Month honor in October. Player of the Week Awards: October 8 – 1B Carlos Correa (.483, 14 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI) October 15 – SS César Ruíz (.375, 9 H, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 9 R) Noteworthy: October 13 – The top-ranked position player in the ULB, SS César Ruíz, demonstrated why he is ranked so highly. Ruíz brought an 8-game hitting streak into the new season and extended it to 21 games before being held hitless by the Sherburn Tigers. Ruíz went 0-4 with a walk and a run. However, the Cannons still prevailed, defeating Sherburn, 10-3. Current Injuries: CF Sam Tite – October 20 – post-concussion syndrome. Out for: 2-3 more months. -------- Offense: .251/.324/.357 (7th/6th/8th) Pitching: 3.76/3.68/4.12 (2nd/2nd/5th) Defense: .715 (3rd) It’s a familiar story with the Balmoral Giants, as their pitching staff continues to excel (or overachieve depending on how you look at it) while their offense sputters. Although a couple of veterans achieved milestones as noted below, the lineup is decidedly ho-hum. Paired with the second-worst ranked farm system in the ULB, things could get even bleaker before too long. Only 23-year old rookie 2B Erik Perry (.286/.333/.500, 3-2B, 9 RBI, 3 BB, 0.4 WAR – 44/64) is generating any sort of a spark. The 7th overall pick from last season stepped into the starting lineup in mid-November after 28-year old Sean Brearton (.285/.372/.364, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 19 BB, 0.9 WAR) went down to injury. 31-year old LHP Ricardo Cruz (6-0, 0.99 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 2.89 FIP) was absolutely jaw-dropping in October, picking up Pitching of the Month honors; alas he will miss significant playing time due to injury. However, 28-year old LHP Ron Albin (4-4, 3.45 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.30 FIP) has had his moments since stepping into the rotation from the bullpen after Cruz went down. Albin just needs to string together some consistent starts. Noteworthy: October 11 & November 7 – A pair of Balmoral legends reached a similar milestone nearly one month apart. 33-year old SS Francisco Rodríguez (.292/.333/.359, 10-2B, 12 RBI, 11 BB, 1.0 WAR) and 33-year old LF Carlton Broadbent (.264/.337/.493, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 17 BB, 0.1 WAR) have 17 all-star selections between over their respective 13-year careers. Now they both reached the 2000 Career Hit milestone. Rodríguez first reached it in a game against the Wolseley Unions. In the bottom of the 4th inning at Balmoral’s Foster Field, Rodríguez led off with a single into right-centerfield off LHP Anastasio Rodríguez to reach the mark. He would go 3 for 5 with two runs on the day; however, the Unions prevailed 8-6. In a game against the Brunswick Legends at Babe Ruth Park on November 7, Carlton Broadbent came up big, going 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and 2 BB as the led the Giants to a 5-2 victory. His first hit of the day was his 2000th, a two run, two-out line drive single to left field. Current Injuries: RF Roy Belknap – October 10 – broken hand. Out for: 5 more weeks. LHP Ricardo Cruz – November 2 – elbow tendinitis. Out for: 3 more weeks. 2B Sean Brearton – November 14 – herniated disc. Out for: 2-3 more weeks. -------- Offense: .253/.332/.380 (6th/3rd/5th) Pitching: 4.39/4.60/3.60 (7th/8th/4th) Defense: .708 (5th) The Hespeler Stars picked things up a bit in November, but it appears once again that it will be a long season in the ‘Hes’. The Stars have built up a long history now of selecting young, promising players only to see them wilt and fade by the time they get to the majors. Or at least it has appeared that way. The latest candidates are 25-year old LHP Larry Kovnats (2-8, 6.14 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 3.73 FIP) and 24-year old CF John McMurray (.255/.317/.399, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 17 BB, 0.8 WAR). Kovnats, a former 3rd overall pick from 1948-49, has never delivered on his initial promise and likely never will. McMurray, who was selected first overall in 1949-50, is just in his second season so there is no need to write him off anytime soon. Still, his recent struggles seem all too familiar to the Stars. But there is some room for optimism that things could change. 29-year old RF Kominiko Hokulani (.147/.244/.267, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 8 BB, -0.0 WAR), another former first-round draft pick whose performance has cratered, has been replaced in the starting lineup by 22-year old rookie RF Tim Beattie (.293/.382/.383, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 18 BB, 0.7 WAR – 49/80). Beattie, Hespeler’s No. 2 overall prospect was originally selected 7th overall in 1947-48. And 26-year old Vic Lewis (.311/.388/.495, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 22 BB, 2.1 WAR), a second-round pick from 1946-47 now in his fourth season, is off to an outstanding start. He has already matched his WAR output from last season. But Hespeler’s best player continues to be 28-year old SS Zhao-hui Qian (.313/.370/.457, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 20 BB, 2.7 WAR). He was outstanding last season (6.2 WAR), his first full year with Hespeler, but he’s on pace to top that. The pitching staff though, is forgettable. But 27-year old ace RHP Stephen Tindall (6-5, 3.35 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 3.97 FIP) is that rare Hespeler-groomed player that has lived up to his high draft selection (7th overall in 1943-44). Player of the Week Awards: November 26 – 2B Vic Lewis (.500, 13 H, 4 HR, 8 RBI) Current Injuries: RHP Stephen Tindall – November 18 – back stiffness. Out for: Dtd, unknown. RHP Rodney Gabrielson – November 21 – acute elbow soreness. Out for: 2 more months. -------- Offense: .262/.320/.371 (4th/8th/6th) Pitching: 4.57/4.45/4.92 (8th/7th/7th) Defense: .679 (8th) While neither Balmoral or Hespeler are great teams, the only truly awful team in the West this year is the Sherburn Tigers. Predicted to finish near .500, the Tigers are already 16 games below that mark and are sinking farther. While they are not entirely devoid of talent, they just do not have enough to compete in the tough Western League, especially on the pitching and defensive side of things. But they do have a couple of individual performances worthy of note. 27-year old RHP Jesús Chapa (4-6, 2.80 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 3.59 FIP) is one of the best pitchers in the United Leagues today (ranked 3rd overall) and his outstanding play continues into this season. One can only imagine how he would fare on a more competitive team. The rest of the staff is largely forgettable, but Sherburn has a couple youngsters that could give the club a much-needed boost. 24-year old RHP Bradley Strawson (4-6, 4.65 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 3.69 FIP – 50/60) is slowing but steadily improving in his second year. But he could certainly benefit from a sounder defensive team behind him. The former 4th overall pick from last year is now the Tigers’ No. 3 starter. And 23-year old RHP Roy Hay (1-2, 3 SV, 2.70 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 3.99 FIP) is the Tigers’ lone outstanding reliever right now. He is in his second season after being selected in the 3rd round in 1946-47. The offense hasn’t been much better but 25-year old 2B Jack Burt (.354/.403/.500, 1 HR, 23 RBI, 13 BB, 2.8 WAR) has been a revelation. The former second-overall pick from 1947-48 appears to be finally joining the upper echelon of players in the ULB. He averaged 3.4 WAR over his first three seasons. Noteworthy: November 26 –2B Jack Burt was held hitless by the Braeland City Monarchs in a 4-1 loss at The Paramount in Sherburn. It was the first time in 22 games he failed to hit safely, going 0-4 on the day. Current Injuries: None. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland

08-13-2019, 03:01 AM	#524
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,860	WELLINGTON, Dec. 6 – Although he’s just in his first year on the job, Sherburn Tigers’ GM Jack Clayton is fully aware that the choices he and Scouting Director Bill Gunter make in this year’s Amateur Draft will have a direct affect on the fortunes of the organization in the ensuing years. He is also aware that the team needs to start getting the best ‘bang for its buck’. Over the past four seasons, the Tigers have drafted no lower than 8th. However only one player, 25-year old 2B Jack Burt (.346/.393/.492, 1 HR, 31 RBI, 21 BB, 3.3 WAR – 2nd overall in 1947-48), is finally approaching his initial lofty expectations. In fairness, last year’s 4th overall pick, 24-year old RHP Bradley Strawson (7-8, 3.48 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 3.89 FIP) is having a promising year – his first full season in the majors. But Sheburn’s farm system remains one of the weakest in the ULB (13th overall) and its been eight years since they drafted their last true cornerstone player: two-time Satchel Paige Award winner and six-time All-Star, 28-year old RHP Jesús Chapa (8-7, 2.64 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 3.37 FIP), their 4th overall pick from 1942-43. “When an organization selects high in the draft over several consecutive years, obviously you would expect them to have at least have a deep farm system. For whatever reason, that hasn’t happened with the Tigers”, acknowledged Clayton. “But it’s not always about draft picks that simply don’t pan out. We have drafted outstanding players, such as [Fort Richmond Generals’] SP Roberto Taváves and [Kingston Pelicans’] SP Dana Listman who were either traded or released outright with, shall we say, an ‘unbalanced’ return – or no return at all. We need to change that. We need to change the culture of how we approach the draft here – and that starts with me. It’s not just about the first round either. We need to look at all our selections as assets that we can’t afford to squander. And [Tigers’] ownership is committed to that philosophy as well.” This year’s Amateur Draft affords a perfect time to test that ‘philosophy’, as the Sherburn Tigers enter the proceedings with the first overall pick. The Pearl Sound Hotel in Wellington hosts the 15th Annual Draft, welcoming not only the Tigers’ contingent, but general managers and scouting directors from the other 15 members of the United Leagues. -------- Here is a brief overview of the 16 players taken in the first round: 1st Pick – Sherburn Tigers: 3B Archie Eridge (34/74) – 23-years old; 6’-1”, 210 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. With his first professional pick, GM Jack Clayton selected third baseman Archie Eridge from Hespeler. Eridge is considered a dynamic player with well above -average contact potential and an excellent eye at the plate. With decent defense at the hot corner and some home run power potential, scouts feel he has the talent to develop into a franchise cornerstone player. He will report to Sherburn’s AA team, the Hannon Greyhounds. -------- 2nd Pick – Pulberry Trolleys: C Paul England (22/70) – 21-years old; 5’-11”, 195 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. After drafting first overall last year, the Trolleys selected second this time. With their first pick, they went with Braeland City’s Paul England. England’s calling card is his offense, as he has above -average contract skills, a smooth swing, quick hands and good pitch recognition. He also has a good sense for the zone and a high ceiling. England projects well both on the field and at the plate. He gets his start with the AA Hopetown Islanders. -------- 3rd Pick – Hespeler Stars: IF/OF Clive Yarwood (20/70) – 20-years old; 6’-0”, 185 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. The Wellington-born Yarwood was selected by the Stars. Yarwood offers an elite balance of offense and defense at either third base and in leftfield. Scouts like his swing and his ability to draw a walk and get pitches to hit by laying off the bad stuff. He heads to Hespeler’s AA club, the Muir Electrics. -------- 4th Pick – Queensland Eagles: OF Hal Dhu (20/80) – 18-years old; 5’-8”, 150 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. Dhu hails from the small town of Avening in the north-west province of Norfolk. But he will be heading to the east side of the country as the Queensland Eagles selected him 4th overall. Dhu’s greatest strength is his game changing speed on the base paths and above-average contact potential. Although not the strongest defensive player, he boasts a powerful throwing arm and range. Scouts who have seen him feel he has the dynamic tools to make an impact in the majors. He starts with the AA Innerkip Oysters. -------- 5th Pick – Braeland City Monarchs: IF Nicholas Malcolm (26/66) – 22-years old; 5’-10”, 175 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. The Monarchs go with Sherburn’s Nicholas Malcolm, a plus infield defender who know his way around the base paths despite not being blessed with blazing speed. When fully developed, he should have an above-average eye and contact ability, drawing 60 walks a season and batting around .290. Scouts are concerned of his proneness to injury however. He heads off to the AA Kingsville Royals. -------- 6th Pick – Wellington Athletics: IF Brayden Docking (21/64) – 21-years old; 5’-10”, 175 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. The host team selects Docking from Pulberry, who scouts feel can be an impact player at the major league level. Docking projects to be an infielder with good contact potential, plate discipline and defense at either second or third base. He reports to the AA Evansville Clowns. -------- 7th Pick – Cambria Cannons: 1B Jay Durham (28/72) – 22-years old; 6’-1”, 220 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. The second Wellington-born player to be selected in the first round, Durham projects to be an elite first baseman. He has a quick bat that can handle most fastballs with above-average strike zone recognition. However, off-speed stuff may challenge him. The Cannons have assigned him to the AA Vandecar Spurs. -------- 8th Pick – Kingston Pelicans: IF/OF Chris Ramsbottom (20/72) – 21-years old; 5’-9”, 170 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. The Pelicans select the speedy Ramsbottom from Cobourg with their first pick. In addition to his plus running speed and ability to steal a high number of bases, he’s expected to be a very athletic outfielder. He has good patience at the plate and knows his strike zone well. He has a very promising future and gets his start with the AA Elgin Angels. -------- 9th Pick – Stratford Barons: C Hollis Chase (20/63) – 18-years old; 6’-1”, 195 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. The second catcher selected in the draft, Chase should develop respectable contact and strike zone recognition. With further development, the Queensland-native should one day make an impact in the majors. He will begin his development with the AA Brockville Bears. -------- 10th Pick – Balmoral Giants: LHP Euan MacKenzie (41/73) – 23-years old; 6’-1”, 200 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws LH. The first pitcher selected, MacKenzie has the potential to be a top reliever in the United Leagues, with an outstanding changeup and above-average fastball. With great stuff and top-notch movement, he should whiff his share of batters and keep the ball in the park. The Wellington-native heads to the Giants’ AAA ballclub, the Canterbury Seals. -------- 11th Pick – Brunswick Legends: IF/OF Jay Mitchell (20/59) – 21-years old; 6’-0”, 195 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws RH. The Legends select Mitchell, a solid hitter with hard contact and slightly above-average defensive skills, especially in the outfield corners. He also has good plate discipline and should draw his share of walks. Although not projected to be an all-star, the Sherburn-native has the potential to develop into a big league regular for the bulk of his career. He’s off to the AA Jarvis Smokers. -------- 12th Pick – Cobourg Red Stockings: LHP Ethan Hoyes (39/68) – 21-years old; 5’-10”, 175 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws LH. The second and final pitcher selected in the first round as well as the fourth Wellington-native, Hoyes has the stuff and movement to become a dominant reliever in the major leagues one day. Like Euan MacKenzie selected earlier, Hoyes is blessed with an outstanding curveball and a terrific fastball that should serve him well. His first assignment will be with the AA Cardiff Crushers. -------- 13th Pick – Embro Suns: 1B Damien Whetter (20/67) – 18-years old; 6’-4”, 220 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws RH. The Suns go with the young Whetter from Fort Richmond. Whetter has the potential to be an above-average contact hitter with a good eye and some pop. But with no speed and limited defensive ability, Embro is no doubt hoping his bat fully develops. He starts his development with the AA Lythmore Atoms. -------- 14th Pick – Downie Chiefs: IF Harley Truman (34/59) – 23-years old; 5’-9”, 170 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. The Downie Chiefs select Harley Truman from the small town of Woodham in Norfolk. Truman appears to have already developed his potential enough that he may reach the majors very soon. He boasts a nice balance of tools, as he has above-average contact potential, impressive speed, solid hands and defensive ability, especially at second base and shortstop. He gets his start with the AA Minto Tribe. -------- 15th Pick – Fort Richmond Generals: IF Morgan Tyreman (20/58) – 21-years old; 5’-10”, 170 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. The Hespeler-native Tyreman has the chance to be an above-average big-league shortstop. While he may struggle to make consistent contact, he his blessed with a good eye, solid defensive ratings and a strong arm. He is off to the AA Marburg Mustangs. -------- 16th Pick – Wolseley Unions: IF/OF Kaituoe Mowan (24/56) – 22-years old; 5’-10”, 180 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. The last pick in the first round saw the first foreign-born player selected in the draft; the speedy Mowan from Fiji. Second base is viewed as his strongest position to compliment his impressive range and arm. Scouts also like his bat, with his speed and ability to square up the ball. The Unions have assigned him to their AA Waterloo Whips. -------- Here are the standings at the end of games on December 31: __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 08-13-2019 at 03:04 AM.

08-21-2019, 11:46 PM	#525
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,860	January 1, 1952 Looking Back: The 1941-42 Amateur Draft If the 1941-42 draft could be summed up in one sentence, it would probably be: ‘Move along – there’s nothing here to see’. Only in this case, there would be no irony as the draft class has proven to be so underwhelming. That’s not to say the draft was devoid of talent. But unlike previous and subsequent drafts, there are no bona fide stars, much less future hall of famers. Tellingly, not one player selected in this draft currently appears in the Top 20 Position Player/Pitcher lists. Not one. That is surprising, as I would have expected at least one player to have had some staying power. This draft wasn’t simply ho-hum – it turned out to be a non-event. Cream of the Crop: RF Marcus Peyto – 2nd overall pick originally by the Hespeler Stars. Career: .271/.360/.466, 1327 G, 1355 H, 301-2B, 76-3B, 174 HR, 816 RBI, 777 R, 729 BB, 374 K, 41 SB, .827 OPS, 126 OPS+, 128 wRC+, 31.5 WAR *Achievements:* • 5-time All-Star • Finished 2nd in 1947-48 Eastern League Babe Ruth Award voting • 1 Ball Hawk Award • 2 selections to the All-Braeland Team What the original scouting report said: “Peyto projects to be an above-average contact hitter with elite power and good plate discipline. Right field and first base are his strongest positions in field defensively. He has very good speed on the base paths once he gets going but is not considered an elite base stealer.” *Comments:* Peyto was as good as it got in this draft. He spent all of seven games and 26 at-bats in the minor leagues before joining his home-town Stars. His first full season was one of his best, earning 4.6 WAR and his lone Ball Hawk Award. But he regressed severely the following year (-0.1 WAR) and didn’t get back on track until his fifth season (4.9 WAR), his last with Hespeler. After being traded to the Brunswick Legends in the off-season, Peyto enjoyed his best season in 1947-48, earning 6.1 WAR and his first selection to the All-Braeland Team. During a remarkable stretch in March and early April of that year, Peyto picked up four Player of the Week Awards in a span of six weeks. Alas, he has never approached those heights again. While he has not been a terrible player by any means (in fact, he’s earned two All-Star selections since then), Peyto has been eclipsed by more dynamic, younger outfielders in the ULB. -------- Given that the rest of the draft class was utterly unremarkable, I’ve decided to focus on a couple of players that, while not superstars by any means, have had at least somewhat interesting career arcs: LF Rizalino Ringor – 7th overall pick originally by the Wolseley Unions. Career: .266/.390/.397, 1028 G, 884 H, 126-2B, 35-3B, 81 HR, 439 RBI, 591 R, 694 BB, 302 K, 99 SB, .788 OPS, 117 OPS+, 124 wRC+, 19.9 WAR *Achievements:* • 3-time All-Star • 1943-44 Western League Rookie of the Year • 1 Ball Hawk Award • Hit for the Cycle, January 1951 • 1950-51 Eastern League Pennant Series MVP What the original scouting report said: “The Unions pick up an outstanding offensive prospect with great contact, power and patience. Ringor boasts tremendous speed and base stealing instincts. Only his defensive game betrays any weakness.” *Comments:* Ringor entered the United Leagues with a bang. After spending two seasons in the minors, he made the Wolseley Unions lineup full-time at 21-years of age and was rated as the No. 3 overall prospect. He earned 5.6 WAR in his first season, winning an All-Star selection, Ball Hawk award and Western League Rookie of the Year honors. Then he left baseball to join the Braeland Armed Forces who were fighting in the Pacific, missing the entire 1944-45 season. Although he returned the following year, he has yet to approach his rookie season performance. After three listless seasons in Wolseley, he was finally shipped off to the Embro Suns in August 1948. Ringor’s first season in Embro was not any better, but he then delivered two solid back-to-back seasons (3.8 WAR each), picking up two more All-Star selections and helping the Suns reach the United Cup finals last year. But this season he has reverted to his old, mediocre ways. I’ve always wondered if his ‘army stint’ (i.e. forced one-year retirement) had a direct impact on his performance in OOTP and what his career might have been had his sophomore season not been interrupted. But then again, baseball – real and/or otherwise, is full of ‘what ifs’. -------- C Christopher Dainty – 30th overall pick (Round 2, Pick 14) originally by the Kingston Pelicans. Career: .288/.388/.439, 630 G, 619 H, 125-2B, 8-3B, 62 HR, 315 RBI, 318 R, 358 BB, 290 K, 1 SB, .827 OPS, 120 OPS+, 120 wRC+, 19.6 WAR *Achievements:* • 3-time All-Star • 1947-48 Eastern League Rookie of the Year • Finished 3rd in 1948-49 Eastern League Babe Ruth Award voting *Comments:* Dainty was a late bloomer, not reaching the major leagues full-time until his 25th year and hitting his stride a year later. During his six years in the minors, he was traded by the Pelicans to the Queensland Eagles, released then signed by the Braeland City Monarchs. Dainty rewarded them by picking up Rookie of the Year honors and soon emerging as the United Leagues’ No. 1-rated catcher. For a three-year stretch, he earned 6.3, 4.7 and 6.7 WAR. It appeared that Dainty was emerging as the top player in the Draft Class. But something happened this season. After enjoying a strong spring training, Dainty’s performance has fallen off a cliff. He is now considered only the 9th top catcher in the ULB and will struggle to earn 1.5 WAR. It remains to be seen whether this is just a blip or a harbinger of things to come. -------- Biggest Draft Disappointments: It was tempting to write-off the entire draft class as a bust, but that would not have been accurate nor fair. That said, there were a couple of players who did not live up to anywhere near their lofty draft pick. There were nearly three, but that last player appears to have gotten a ‘late-inning’ reprieve, as discussed further down: 3B Shelby Cain – 1st overall pick by the Cobourg Red Stockings. Career: .236/.327/.339, 943 H, 166-2B, 50-3B, 49 HR, 458 RBI, 461 R, 545 BB, 591 K, 65 SB, .666 OPS, 91 OPS+, 95 wRC+, 16.3 WAR *Achievements:* • 3-time All-Star What the original scouting report said: “The Red Stockings selected the 23-year old infielder from the small town of Port Talbot, Perth that is predicted to reach the major league level very soon. Cain is a very solid hitter with tremendous power and unparalleled plate discipline. Third base is his strongest position defensively and he has good foot speed.” *Comments:* One thing you learn about drafting amateur players is that you never really know. No matter how thorough you study the players, there’s no guarantee that that hot young stud you targeted will pan out. Well Shelby Cain is that hot, young stud that never delivered on his initial promise. Cain was drafted by the Red Stockings, who promptly promoted him to their big-league roster. Cobourg was then a team starving for talent. That was a lot to ask of a 22-year old, and Cain struggled in his first season. His second season only saw modest improvements, mostly on defense, before his season was cut short due to a broken thumb. But he returned in 1943-44 and enjoyed his best season, earning 4.8 WAR and his first all-star selection. It looked as if Cain finally arrived. But then the Red Stockings abruptly traded him to the Cambria Cannons in the off-season. Although he earned a second all-star selection in his first season with Cambria, Cain’s performance soon cratered, and he has never recovered. His last (and only) productive season since then was in 1948-49 when he earned 2.8 WAR. Over the other seven seasons, he has averaged less than 0.5 WAR. Injuries do not appear to be the culprit, as he has missed less than a month of playing time in total over that time. Cain is now a bench player for the Kingston Pelicans. A fitting symbol for a draft class that has been more of a whimper than a bang. -------- 2B Matthew Welson – 8th overall pick by the Fort Richmond Giants. Career: .268/.310/.375, 318 G, 262 H, 37-2B, 14-3B, 13 HR, 135 RBI, 111 R, 62 BB, 60 K, 6 SB, .685 OPS, 96 OPS+, 97 wRC+, 3.3 WAR *Achievements:* • 1-time All-Star What the original scouting report said: “Welson is an interesting prospect. While he has poor eye/discipline (30/40), he somehow will be terrific at avoiding strikes (45/80)? At any rate, he is another speedy player with fearsome base-stealing instincts and some defensive skills, especially at second base.” *Comments:* It appears at the time that I had expressed some incredulity at Welson’s ability as a player. But his minor-league performance was promising, and he was rated 10th overall among prospects shortly before his big-league call-up. He peaked in his second season and the first half of his third, where he was selected to the All-Star game. But he quickly faded into oblivion after that and despite solid performances in AAA, he has been unable to make it stick in the majors. -------- 1B Andre Gale – 9th overall pick by the Queensland Eagles. Career: .299/.376/.421, 117 G, 100 H, 11-2B, 0-3B, 10 HR, 51 RBI, 39 R, 39 BB, 57 K, 0 SB, .797 OPS, 116 OPS+, 124 wRC+, 1.1 WAR What the original scouting report said: “The New Zealander projects to be a major power hitter, coupled with decent contact. Defense and speed however, are not part of his repertoire.” *Comments:* Like Welson selected before him, Gale became a mainstay in AAA, never able to make the big-league roster. He was on the Eagles’ roster however, when they won the United Cup in 1946-47 and earned a Rookie of the Month award in February 1948. But he was soon back in AAA and eventually became a free agent in April 1950. He earned a platinum stick in AAA that season (as a pitcher!) and was signed by the Stratford Barons a few weeks later. He won another platinum stick award at 1B last season and got the call to play in the majors once again this year. He has been in the lineup since December 14, starting regularly as the Barons’ first baseman (.339/.378/.473, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 7 BB, 0.4 WAR in 112 AB). Can he finally breath some life in his major league career and become a mainstay? It will be interesting to see how Gale writes the rest of that chapter. -------- Later-Round Standout: RHP Kelii Pelanekelina – 37th overall pick (Round 3, Pick 5) originally by the Downie Chiefs. Career: 112-110, 3.44 ERA, 254 GS, 1999.2 IP, 133 CG, 25 SHO, 1.29 WHIP, .252 BABIP, 3.99 FIP, 22.4 WAR, 114 ERA+ *Achievements:* • 3-time All-Star • 1 Ball Hawk Award • United Cup MVP (1949-50) • Finished 2nd in 1949-50 Eastern League Satchel Paige Award voting • 1 United Cup Championship *Comments:* In the 1940-41 draft review, I went with LHP Arthur Bence, selected 37th overall, as the late-round standout. Well, this time I’m doing again, as I’m going with a pitcher who was also selected 37th overall. The Fijian-born Pelanekelina made the jump to the majors from AA partway through the 1943-44 season, after having nothing left to prove in the minors. For years he was the lone bright spot on a very bad team. But things started to change in 1948-49. The club finished above .500 for the first time in 10 years, and then a year later it all came together when the Chiefs won the United Cup. Pelanekelina was front and center that year, winning 19 games and going 3-0, 0.67 ERA, 0.69 WHIP in three playoff games, winning MVP honors in the United Cup Series. But then he went down with a torn UCL in January 1951, missing the latter half of last season. That has affected his durability and he has struggled in the first half of the season. But it appears he is slowly improving. But even if he doesn’t find his groove again, nothing can take away that one fairy-tale season. __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 08-22-2019 at 12:03 AM.

08-30-2019, 06:10 PM	#526
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,860	January 6, 1952 Eastern All-Stars Strike Late to Take Mid-Season Classic -------- Fort Richmond, Norfolk (BP) – The Eastern League All-Stars used a pair of late-inning homeruns to come from behind and capture their third-straight All-Star game. With beautiful, sunny skies and a mid-day temperature of 83F at Fort Richmond’s Generals Stadium, a packed house of 24,500 witnessed both a pitching and defensive duel for most of the afternoon. The Eastern League got on the board first when they manufactured a run off Sherburn’s Jesús Chapa in the top of the first inning. The West then took the lead in the bottom of the 5th when Kingston’s RF Mo Spenceley drove in a pair of runs off Embro’s RHP Yin-ti Shih. But with the home-team Western All-Stars still holding onto to their 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth inning with two out, Wolseley’s rookie RHP Roberto Garza surrendered a solo home run to Brunswick’s rookie C Robert Kersey. That sent the All-Star game into extra innings for just the second time in United Leagues history. In the top of the 10th, Balmoral’s LHP Ricardo Cruz took over and induced two ground outs before Braeland City’s LF Jesús Rodríquez came up to bat as a pinch hitter and connected for his own solo home run that gave the lead back to the East. That run proved to be the game winner as the Western League All-Stars were unable to respond in the bottom half of the inning. It was another heart-breaking loss for the Westerners, who have now lost nine of the 15 All-Star games played thus far. “That was a tough way to lose, no question”, admitted Western League manager John Mathis, who had the distinct privilege of managing in the All-Star game on home turf. “We came close to closing things out but couldn’t get it done. Give them credit. They never gave up and found a way to win. We didn’t.” Although he had only one plate appearance, Player of the Game Jesús Rodríquez made the most of it, connecting on a 371 ft. home run into the rightfield bleachers that broke the tie in extra innings and ultimately proved to be the game-winner. “Was that neat or what”, enthused the first-time all-star, who was originally drafted by the Fort Richmond Generals and won a United Cup with them in 1947-48. “One minute your cheering on your teammates from the dugout and the next your told to grab a bat and get in the box. You dream of those moments. I just waited for the right pitch, y’know, and fortunately I got one that hung over the plate and was able to get under it. Watching that ball sail over the fence here in my old stomping grounds is something I’ll never forget.” Below is a summary of the notable plays of the 15th Annual All-Star Game: Top of the 1st: RHP Jesús Chapa starts off by striking out Cobourg’s John Medley. But he then gives up a single and a double to Brunswick’s Stuart Bentham and Cobourg’s Alexander Tolmie respectively. Queensland’s Rod Dennis then flies out to leftfield. Bentham tags up and beats out the throw from Wolseley’s Carlton Hawking to get the East on the board first. Eastern League 1 – Western League 0 Bottom of the 5th: Eastern League pitchers keep the Western League hitters at bay until the 5th, when Cambria’s César Ruíz leads off with a first-pitch double off Embro’s stopper Yin-ti Shih. Kingston’s Carlos Camasura then draws a four-pitch walk followed by Pulberry’s Ellis Dibble, who sac bunts the runners over 90 ft. Kingston’s Mo Spenceley then battles Shih to a full-count before singling into the leftfield corner. Ruíz scores easily and Camasura beats out the throw from LF Rod Dennis to put the West ahead. Eastern League 1 – Western League 2 Top of the 9th: The West hold the Easterners at bay until the 9th. Roberto Garza starts the inning by inducing a fly out from Stratford’s Aaron Skidmore and a 6-3 ground-out by Stratford’s Sherwin Carasig. Down to their last out, Brunswick’s Robert Kersey keeps the East’s hopes alive when he connects on Garza’s second pitch, driving it 392 ft. into the rightfield bleachers. Embro’s LHP Arthur Bence gets the West to go down in order in the bottom of the inning, sending the game into extras. Eastern League 2 – Western League 2 Top of the 10th: Taking over in the 10th, Balmoral’s Ricardo Cruz starts off with back-to-back ground outs by Braeland City’s On Tsao and Cobourg’s Harry Doxey. But Jesús Rodríquez slams Cruz’s second pitch into the rightfield bleachers, giving the East the lead once again. Downie’s LHP Gavin Hewat needs just 10 pitches to get the West to go down in order in the bottom the 10th, sealing the Eastern All-Stars’ victory. FINAL: Eastern League 3 – Western League 2 -------- Here are the complete All-Star rosters: __________________ United Leagues of Braeland

09-30-2019, 01:08 AM	#527
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,860	February 1, 1952 Eastern League: Athletics Seize the Initiative, Move Into First Place -------- Offense: .274/.346/.400 (2nd/5th/4th) Pitching: 4.01/4.27/3.13 (3rd/4th/1st) Defense: .713 (1st) With the Eastern League as a whole middling through the first two months of the season, the Wellington Athletics came alive in December, going on a 10-game winning streak at one point and racking up 21 wins in total. In all, they have gone 34-18 since November to not only get above .500 but take over 1st place as well. If they can hold onto to top spot the rest of the way, it will mark the first time they would finish on top in the East since the 1937-38 inaugural season. The pitching staff has been unremarkable overall. If the rotation as a whole can catch fire, the Athletics could really put a stranglehold on first place. Over the past two months, No. 3 starter 27-year old RHP Matt Price (10-7, 3.58 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.97 FIP) has really stepped up his play (going 5-0, 3.45 ERA in December) while No. 5 starter 29-year old RHP Wilfried Schop (7-8, 4.49 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.96 FIP) found some consistency in December/January (5-3, 3.59 ERA) compared to October/November (2-5, 5.69 ERA). The bullpen remains the best in the East. While he may not be the darling of the scouts (13th best reliever in the positional strength overview), 29-year old middle reliever RHP Finlay Capstick (8-4, 2.53 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 4.80 FIP) has been unquestionably Wellington’s top pitcher out of the bullpen this season, his eighth in the ULB. But it’s the offense that has really propelled the Athletics into first place. 26-year old CF Jim Mars (.335/.403/.453, 6 HR, 60 RBI, 49 BB, 4.4 WAR) has emerged as Wellington’s top player after the first four months. Even 25-year old 2B Vaiga Bultarro (.271/.338/.398, 6 HR, 51 RBI, 38 BB, 2.1WAR), who I disparaged in the Oct/Nov report for his poor performance, has returned to the solid play he put up last season. In Dec/Jan, he batted .310/.391/.460 & .321/.378/.531 respectively. Five Athletics headed to the All-Star game: RP Finley Capstick (3rd), C Declan Bugbie (2nd), LF Harvey Thornber (1st), CF Jim Mars (2nd) and RF Wayne Emmert (1st). Player of the Week Awards: December 3 – C Declan Bugbie (.440, 11 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R) December 24 – 1B Wayne Emmert (.485, 16 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 10 R) January 21 – 2B Vaiga Bultarro (.455, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI) Current Injuries: RHP Zachary Collingham – December 27 – torn meniscus. Out for: 3 more months. -------- Offense: .273/.349/.402 (3rd/4th/3rd) Pitching: 4.45/4.25/5.26 (5th/3rd/8th) Defense: .695 (7th) The Queensland Eagles barely played .500 baseball over the past two months and it cost them first place in the East. Not only that, they are in danger of dropping out of a playoff spot completely as both the Downie Chiefs and Cobourg Red Stockings have surged up the standings and are threatening to overtake them. The Eagles did not sit idle leading up to the trade deadline, making a couple of trades. But its open to debate as to whether they are now better off than they were prior to January 31. The offense is still led by 25-year old LF Rod Dennis (.327/.382/.518, 17 HR, 65 RBI, 40 BB, 2.4 WAR) but his performance has cooled off a bit since his fast start in Oct/Nov. In fact, one of the Eagles biggest weaknesses right now is the lack of a truly impact player (like Downie’s Dominic Dudding or Cobourg’s Raymond Williams), both in the lineup and rotation. Perhaps one or more players will step up into that role, as the Eagles are still a comparatively young team. The pitching staff continues its inconsistent ways, up and down from month-to-month. However, 24-year old No. 2 starter RHP Stiofan Micklethwait (11-7, 3.43 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 2.68 FIP) really stepped things up in Dec/Jan (5-3, 1.80 ERA) after going 6-4, 4.89 ERA in Oct/Nov. Four Eagles qualified for the All-Star game: SP Logan Belsey (1st), SP Tyler Gissing (1st), C Elijah Sheppard (6th) and LF Rod Dennis (2nd). Key Trade No. 1: January 6 with the Hespeler Stars: To Queensland – 34-year old RHP Francisco López (49/49) and 24-year old minor league OF Salvador Rivera (38/49) To Hespeler – 38-year old LF Terence Durney (50/50) *Knee-jerk reaction:* With the Eagles in the playoff hunt for the first time since their successful championship run back in 1946-47, the club made a couple of moves to try and bolster their rotation and lineup. But the moves they made are curious at best. López is a very average starter with slightly below average stuff. He is more suited to the backend of a rotation – if he can stay healthy. He has been battling various injuries over his entire career which should have raised alarms in the Eagles camp. So it should have come as no surprise when López went down to injury just 1.2 innings into his first start with his new team. He suffered a torn UCL and is gone for the season. Meanwhile, Rivera has been promoted to the big club and will serve as their main utility outfielder against RHP while starting in centerfield against LHP. Rivera is a great runner with good base path instincts and solid defensive skills especially in leftfield. He has some offensive skills but won’t be anything more than an average contact hitter. The Stars are once again an afterthought in the West, so the move to acquire the veteran Durney is a head-scratcher. Durney is an 11-time all-star and future hall of famer. While he may be past his peak years, he is still very capable at the plate and at leftfield. He is an intelligent team leader and a very popular player among his teammates, so that should help things out in the clubhouse. But like López, his proneness to injury is a major concern. Key Trade No. 2: January 14 with the Cobourg Red Stockings: To Queensland – 31-year old 2B George Simpson (45/45) To Cobourg – 20-year old minor league LF Francis Dawang (20/42) and 22-year old C Derek Brunskill (20/27) *Knee-jerk reaction:* I’m not sure what both clubs were thinking about when they made this trade. Simpson is a former 7th overall pick from 1939-40 and a two-time all-star but has not enjoyed a decent season in four years. Evidently, Cobourg lost patience with him and have decided to install 28-year old Gijsbert Jacobse (.223/.320/.308, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 16 BB, -0.1 WAR – 39/41) as their starting second baseman, at least until 20-year old IF Douglas Jones (32/80), a 6th overall pick from 1949-50, is ready to take over. Scouts consider Simpson to be ‘on the bubble for a big-league role’ and Queensland apparently agrees, as so far, he is little more than their top pinch hitter. So other than as a depth player, its hard to see what Queensland will gain from this move for their late-season push for the playoffs. In Dawang and Brunskill, Cobourg receive two players that have very good defensive skills at their respective positions but depending how their bats develop, they may be little more than fringe players at best. Current Injuries: RHP Bartolo Sánchez – October 10 – dislocated shoulder. Out for: 3 more days. RHP Quentin Goldsmith – October 30 – ulnar nerve entrapment. Out for: 4-5 more weeks. RHP Francisco López – January 12 – torn ULC. Out for: 6 more months. RHP Gael Yule – January 17 – torn labrum. Out for: 6 more months. -------- Offense: .265/.345/.386 (5th/6th/7th) Pitching: 4.25/4.49/3.63 (4th/5th/3rd) Defense: .710 (Tied for 2nd) Like the Athletics, the Downie Chiefs used a strong December to race up the standings. But they quickly reverted to the previous form in January. So it remains to be seen whether they can sustain a real push for the playoffs this season. The pitching overall has improved as the season has progressed, but still has a way to go to be considered a strength. 36-year old No. 3 starter LHP Gavin Hewat (10-7, 3.26 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.69 FIP) continues to be Downie’s top pitcher this season. But 29-year old No. 2 starter RHP Kelii Pelanekelina (7-9, 4.68 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 4.66 FIP) appears to be recovering from his rough start. 34-year old RHP Carl Luscombe (9-3, 14 SV, 2.80 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 3.86 FIP) continues to be one of the best stoppers in the United Leagues. The offense has held steady despite a rash of injuries. Both 26-year old Dominic Dudding (.337/.415/.566, 13 HR, 52 RBI, 38 BB, 4.2 WAR) and 26-year old CF Alfonso León (.292/.367/.439, 13 HR, 70 RBI, 51 BB, 4.2 WAR) are not quite up to the torrid pace they were last season, but even that still adds up to a very, very good season that other teams would die for. On the other hand, lead-off hitter 27-year old LF Howard Dumbrill (.256/.380/.404, 14 HR, 45 RBI, 81 BB, 8 SB, 3.5 WAR) is enjoying the best season yet of his 6-year career. Five Chiefs were selected as All-Stars: SP Gavin Hewat (1st), Dominic Dudding (5th), LF Howard Dumbrill (3rd), CF Alfonso León (5th) and RF Conor Bing (1st). Noteworthy: January 25 – The reigning Babe Ruth Award winner, 26-year old CF Alfonso León was in the zone against the Cambria Cannons, going 5 for 5 on the day, collecting 3 RBI and 1 R. León singled in the 1st and 3rd innings, hit a two-run single in the 5th as well as an RBI single in the 6th, capping things off with a single in the 8th. The Chiefs prevailed 8-6. Key Trade: January 10 with the Brunswick Legends: To Downie – 33-year old LHP Jake Osmotherley (49/49) and 23-year old RHP Eddie Stannard (51/63) To Brunswick – 25-year old SS Dermott Morris (44/49) *Knee-jerk reaction:* The head scratching continues as Downie acquires a couple of pitchers only to release one of them outright a few days later. Osmotheley is a veteran reliever who has been league average for most of his 12-year career. His stuff is unimpressive but balances things out with pinpoint control. Alas, he was released by Downie for some unknown reason 10 days after the trade. On January 30, he was picked up by the Kingston Pelicans who installed him as one of their long relievers. Stannard, a second-round pick back in 1949-50 for Brunswick, has promise of moving to the rotation one day if he can develop his slider a bit more (30/45). His movement and control are outstanding but his stuff (40/45) may limit him to the back end of the rotation in the future. Morris is just an outstanding defensive shortstop and second baseman with tremendous speed. He has some offensive potential, but it is still very raw. Nevertheless, Brunswick installed him as their everyday shortstop, although 23-year old Harris Yaag (.315/.366/.477, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 11 BB, 1.4 WAR) was developing quite nicely. Current Injuries: 2B Dominic Dudding – December 25 – fractured finger. Out for: 1-2 more weeks. RF Connor Bing – January 11 – torn quadriceps. Out for: 6 more days. -------- Offense: .286/.350/.428 (1st/3rd/1st) Pitching: 4.55/4.54/4.60 (6th/6th/7th) Defense: .685 (8th) The Cobourg Red Stockings also used a strong month to get into the first division; in this case it was a 16-9 January, their first winning month this season. Still, there remain serious questions as to their staying power, as their pitching staff has regressed even further since November. They were busy leading up to the trade deadline (as noted in the other team writeups), but none of the moves really fall into a ‘win now’ column. More of a casting off of dead weight and adding some depth to their farm system than anything else. The pitching staff simply does not inspire confidence. That said, 23-year old LHP Bill Budd (11-9, 3.52 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 4.06 FIP) is solidly entrenched as Cobourg’s ace, while rookie 23-year old RHP Bobby Williams (4-1, 3.40 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 4.50 FIP) has shown promise. The former 4th-round pick is currently pitching out of the No. 5 spot. The offense rivals any team in the ULB and for good reason. Cobourg boasts two elite players: 30-year old 3B Alexander Tolmie (.334/.412/.541, 19 HR, 79 RBI, 57 BB, 5.4 WAR) and 25-year old CF Raymond Williams (.337/.427/.586, 17 HR, 79 RBI, 66 BB, 7 SB, 5.2 WAR). Both are former 1st overall picks and are in the conversation for this season’s Babe Ruth Award. Five Red Stockings qualified for the All-Star game: 1B Harry Doxey (3rd), 3B Alexander Tolmie (5th), SS John Medley (6th), CF Raymond Williams (5th) and RF Salvador Hernández (2nd). Player of the Week Awards: December 31 – 1B Harry Doxey (.593, 16 H, 10 RBI) January 28 – CF Raymond Williams (.462, 12 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI) Current Injuries: None -------- Offense: .253/.352/.362 (7th/1st/8th) Pitching: 3.93/3.84/4.55 (2nd/1st/6th) Defense: .708 (4th) The Stratford Barons crashed in December, falling to last place in the East before recovering somewhat in January. The Barons are at a crossroads this season, as they are equally capable of finishing near the top of the standings as they are of finishing at the bottom. They have a capable pitching staff but could stand to beef up their offense. They made a couple of moves before the trade deadline to try and address their offensive weaknesses. 25-year old RHP Magtanggol Jaojoco (11-13, 3.09 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 3.29 FIP) is an ace in the making but like the rest of the rotation, has been ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ from month to month. In December, he went 4-2, 1.55 ERA while going 1-5, 4.37 ERA in January. But 23-year old No. 5 starter LHP Robin Wadsworth (8-4, 2 SV, 4.25 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 4.34 FIP) has been the most extreme: 0-3, 9.18 ERA in December; 4-0, 1.50 ERA in January. No doubt the Barons hope his January performance is more indicative of their former 16th overall pick’s future performance. The pitching staff could certainly benefit from more offensive performances as seen from 32-year old C Aaron Skidmore (.304/.468/.462, 9 HR, 55 RBI, 92 BB, 4.8 WAR) and 22-year old CF Sherwin Carasig (.320/.393/.489, 12 HR, 58 RBI, 47 BB, 6 SB, 4.3 WAR). After them there is a bit of a drop-off in the lineup, something that rookie GM Kieran Sturtevant attempted to address before the trade deadline. Three Barons qualified for the All-Star team: SP Magtanggol Jaojoco (1st), C Aaron Skidmore (11th) and CF Sherwin Carasig (1st). Key Trade: January 15 with the Cobourg Red Stockings: To Stratford – 32-year old RF Salvador Hernández (59/59) To Cobourg – 23-year old CF Frank Maher (32/49) and 24-year old LF Robert Burgess (35/46) *Knee-jerk reaction:* A steal for the Barons and a misstep by the Red Stockings in my opinion. Hernández, a second-round pick from 1941-42, is an above-average player who is aggressive at the plate, sturdy defensively in rightfield, a team leader and an ‘iron man’ injury-wise. So why would Cobourg want to part with him? His replacement is 28-year old Fergus Thackwray (.233/.295/.368, 9 HR, 26 RBI, 23 BB, 0.4 WAR – 43/43). While Thackwray has defense and speed to spare, he is not the offensive player Hernández is right now. As for Stratford, they have installed him as their starting rightfielder, electing to ship off their former rightfielder to Kingston later in the month (more on that in the Western League report). Maher and Burgess are both intriguing players. Both are outstanding defensive players with speed with some impressive batting skill potential. Scouts suggest however, that they will be little more than bench players at best. At any rate, both are tearing up Double-A at the moment, so we’ll have to see. Current Injuries: RHP Dylan Cluett – December 7 – herniated disc. Out for: 7-8 more weeks. LHP Joel Fearn – December 21 – torn posterior cruciate ligament. Out for: 5 more months. 2B Chris Spiller – January 22 – torn labrum. Out for: 4-5 more months. -------- Offense: .251/.330/.389 (8th/8th/6th) Pitching: 3.82/3.89/3.53 (1st/2nd/2nd) Defense: .710 (Tied for 2nd) The Embro Suns are quickly fading in the East in spite of a remarkably consistent pitching staff, no doubt due to a rather lackluster offense. On the surface, it appears that Embro has thrown in the towel on the season, shipping out their defending Satchel Paige Award winner to the Wolseley Unions before the trade deadline. In spite of that, they didn’t exactly ‘gut’ themselves either. The Suns have the top-rated farm system and added to it prior to the deadline. Three of those players are on the major league roster and could help things turn around. If not for this season, then perhaps the next. 21-year old rookie Kieron Bradridge (.275/.324/.448, 10 HR, 53 RBI, 26 BB, 3.1 WAR) has emerged as Embro’s top offensive player and entrenched himself as the Suns’ regular shortstop, despite 28-year old Rafael De La Cruz (.409/.462/.613, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 10 BB, 1.6 WAR) still being a very capable player. But Bradridge has the potential of being the break-out player Embro hasn’t had since 37-year old Jim Friend (.258/.424/.455, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 19 BB, 0.4 WAR) was in his prime. But Friend is still a very capable offensive player in his own right, so it’s a little painful to see him wither in a back-up role. 23-year old rookie 3B Moromao Nakagawa (.252/.352/.393, 10 HR, 52 RBI, 63 BB, 1.1 WAR) has cooled off since November, but Embro’s top prospect still has tons of potential. Embro’s starters have not been getting a lot of support, as evidenced by 25-year old LHP Carl McBroom (5-12, 3.62 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 3.70 FIP) win-loss record, but he gives his club a fighting chance each start. 32-year old No. 2 starter LHP Arthur Bence (12-7, 3.51 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.02 FIP) continues to be the Suns’ most effective hurler. With the departure of 32-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson (6-12, 3.86 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 4.13 FIP), 26-year old RHP Juan Rivas (5-3, 5 SV, 2.08 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 3.26 FIP) appears to have finally earned a permanent promotion to the rotation. He inherits Saunderson’s No. 3 spot. Five Suns were selected as All-Stars: SP Arthur Bence (4th), SP Carl McBroom (1st), RP Yin-ti Shih (1st), SS Kieron Bradridge (1st) and RF José Maldonado (4th). Player of the Week Awards: January 14 – 3B Moromao Nakagawa (.389, 7 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI) Noteworthy: December 25 –RF José Maldonado (.281/.387/.429, 11 HR, 40 RBI, 53 BB, 7 SB, 2.4 WAR) was signed by the Cambria Cannons to a minor league contract back in 1942 but was released nearly three years later. The Suns quickly picked him up though and the 25-year old Colombian has become a four-time All-Star. On Christmas day he showed why, going 5 for 7 against the Stratford Barons in an extra-inning affair. Maldonado singled in the first, flied out in the 2nd, singled in the 5th, hit an RBI double in the 6th, hit an RBI single in the 8th, grounded out in the 10th and hit a two-run single in the 11th. All in all, he collected 4 RBI with 2 R in Embro’s 9-5 victory. Key Trade: January 13 with the Wolseley Unions: To Embro – 25-year old 2B Robert Jameson (49/57) To Wolseley – 32-year old RHP Aaron Saunderson (55/55) *Knee-jerk reaction:* With their chances of returning to the playoffs to successfully defend their Pennant title dwindling by the day, the Suns have elected to re-configure things. The first to go is the 13-year veteran SP Saunderson. This is the second time that Embro has traded Saunderson to the Unions. After originally drafting him 13th overall back in 1937-38, the Suns sent him off to Wolseley in 1939 along with a slew of players for OF Terence Durney (who was recently involved in a trade as noted earlier). Saunderson, a five-time all-star and last year’s Satchel Paige winner, will give the Unions’ rotation an immediate boost, as they deal with seemingly never-ending injuries to both RHP Jeremy Albury and LHP Anastasio Rodríguez. Saunderson doesn’t have great stuff, but his terrific movement, control, stamina and iron man health make him an innings eater who can pitch deep into games. He is currently installed as Wolseley’s No. 3 starter. Jameson is a former 7th round pick from 1948-49 who is beating the odds. He gets to start (and lead off) regularly with Embro, taking over from 26-year old Keon-Chae Cho (.266/.324/.421, 14 HR, 60 RBI, 29 BB, 2.0 WAR), who moves over to leftfield, his strongest position defensively. Jameson has very good defense skills to go along with jaw-dropping speed and stealing ability. His bat has developed nicely as well. His overall ratings have really improved in the past year, making him Embro’s 6th overall prospect. Current Injuries: None. -------- Offense: .269/.342/.414 (4th/7th/2nd) Pitching: 4.59/4.64/4.64 (7th/7th/5th) Defense: .700 (5th) The Braeland City Monarchs have continued to struggle since their strong start in October. However, that has not stopped them from trying to become relevant this season, believing that a playoff spot is still within their reach in a League with no clear dominant team. But they’re going to have to try and turn around things quickly – they have been regressing in all facets since the start of the season. 26-year old 2B Patrick Lidgate (.285/.399/.505, 18 HR, 55 RBI, 71 BB, 4.1 WAR) continues to lead the offense. In fact, he is head and shoulders above his teammates. But as good as he is, he’s needs a lot more support if the Monarchs want to compete. That may come in the form of 21-year old rookie RF Aidan Trembath (.359/.409/.585, 9 HR, 40 RBI, 17 BB, 2.6 WAR) who is already considered the No. 3 rigthfielder in the United Leagues. And with the recent acquisition of 30-year old SS Roland Binns (.402/.456/.707, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 4 BB, 1.5 WAR) from Pulberry to replace the constantly injured 30-year old Simon Flatt (.194/.263/.301, 9-2B, 8 RBi, 10 BB, -0.2 WAR), the offense could become a strength before too long. 30-year old RHP Okura Suzuki (10-8, 3.72 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.33 FIP) continues to be Braeland City’s ace, but the pitching staff as a whole is not one of the United League’s more formidable unit. With the departure of No. 2 starter 30-year old RHP Robin Medellin (6-14, 4.61 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 4.34 FIP), who at one point suffered 8 straight losses in Dec/Jan, the Monarchs have promoted 24-year old RHP Pei Ming (39/51), their 49th overall prospect, to be their No. 5 starter. Five players represented the Monarchs at the All-Star game: SP Okura Suzuki (3rd), 2B Patrick Lidgate (3rd), 3B On Tsao (1st), LF Jesús Rodríguez (1st), RF Aidan Trembath (1st). Player of the Week Awards: December 10 – 2B Patrick Lidgate (.545, 12 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI) January 7 – 1B Dean Witherden (.481, 13 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI) Key Trade: January 31 with the Pulberry Trolleys: To Braeland City – 30-year old SS Roland Binns (60/60) To Pulberry – 30-year old RHP Robin Medellin (48/48), 24-year old RHP Taylor Folkard (49/65) and 22-year old minor league 2B Bert Towes (20/45) *Knee-jerk reaction:* An intriguing trade for both teams to say the least. Binns is rated 6th overall in a the ULB among shortstop, higher than the 9th overall rated 26-year old Francis Jones (.282/.382/.384, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 59 BB, 8 SB, 2.8 WAR – 61/61). Nevertheless, the Trolleys elected to keep the younger Jones and flip Binns in order to try and beef up their pitching staff. Binns is a 5-time all-star with wonderful defense and speed. However, his bat while decent, is nothing to get excited about and his performance has regressed over the past three seasons. Perhaps a change of scenery and all that will energize his game. Pulberry gets 2-1/2 pitchers in return, as Towes also has very impressive ratings as a reliever. Medellin is not the kind of pitcher I would have liked in return for Binns; while he has great stamina, he is barely average in every other department. He is currently installed as Pulberry’s No. 3 starter. Folkard has the chance to be the key player in this trade in the long run if he can get things figured out. A 16th overall pick from 1949-50, he has not impressed in his first two seasons. But he is a future starter with solid stuff/movement/control and four decent pitches. Towes has a chance to either be a future infielder or reliever in the majors. Right now, the Trolleys have him playing second base in Double A. He has plenty of bat speed and a great eye to go along with very good defense at second base. Nevertheless, scouts rave about his potential as a future cornerstone reliver, so we’ll just have to see how his career plays out. Current Injuries: SS Simon Flatt – November 21 – broken bone in elbow. Out for: 6 more weeks. -------- Offense: .264/.352/.393 (6th/2nd/5th) Pitching: 4.68/4.90/4.08 (8th/8th/4th) Defense: .699 (6th) The Brunswick Legends crashed in January and their seeming inattention at grooming a good young stable of starters has been exposed. The pitching staff is the worked ranked in the United Leagues and it appears that will not change any time soon. They have a respectable farm system (6th overall), but the only pitching prospect of note is 19-year old RHP Dave Ball (20/48), a second-round pick from 1950-51. Only their ‘ace’, 24-year old RHP Mhelter Pilapil (9-11, 3.99 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 4.22 FIP) is offering them some consistent outings, while 30-year old RHP Lao Chen (2-4, 14 SV, 3.33 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 3.08 FIP) remains the top-ranked stopper in the United Leagues. The offense offers a bit more optimism, as 25-year old LF Carl Patton (.284/.372/.407, 5 HR, 45 RBI, 55 BB, 3.4 WAR) is enjoying a terrific sophomore season and 23-year old rookie C Robert Kersey (.268/.352/.452, 14 HR, 51 RBI, 45 BB, 3.0 WAR) continues his impressive start. Three Legends were selected to the All-Star game: CL Lao Chen (3rd), C Robert Kersey (1st) and 1B Stuart Bentham (11th). Player of the Week Awards: December 17 – RF Marcus Peyto (.571, 8 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI) Noteworthy: December 1 – LF Carl Patton came over to the Legends in the blockbuster SP Anastasio Rodríguez trade with Wolseley back April 1950. In his second full-season in the ULB, the former third-round pick from 1948-49 has firmly entrenched himself in the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Against the Braeland City Monarchs he showed why, going 5 for 5 in the Legends’ 14-11 triumph. Patton hit a 3-run double in the 1st, hit an RBI single in the 3rd, walked in the 4th, hit an RBI triple in the 5th and singled in the 7th and 8th innings. In all, he collected 5 RBIs. January 11 - 35-year old 1B Stuart Bentham (.353/.440/.562, 15 HR, 73 RBI, 53 BB, 2.7 WAR) reached a significant milestone when he smacked a solo home run to lead off the 4th inning against the Cobourg Red Stockings’ RHP Fergus Hirst. When it cleared the left-field wall 337 ft. away, it marked his 300th career home run. Bentham is the first player to reach that milestone in the United Leagues’ history. Alas it wasn’t enough as the Legends fell to the Red Stockings 7-3. To make matters worse, Bentham separated his shoulder the next day while successfully breaking up a double play at second base. He is expected to miss 5-6 weeks at least. Current Injuries: 1B Stuart Bentham – January 12 – separated shoulder. Out for: 2 more weeks. RHP Kelvin Hutchinson – January 23 – strained triceps. Out for: DtD, 2-3 more weeks. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 09-30-2019 at 08:58 PM.

08-03-2019, 01:08 PM	#521
Hageneezz All Star Reserve Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The Hague,Netherlands Posts: 838	Anyway, kutgw!

11-11-2019, 02:09 AM	#530
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,860	March 23, 1952 Kingston, Pulberry to Play Tie-Breaker for Western League Wild Card After battling each other for the wild card all season, it only seems fitting that the Pulberry Trolleys and Kingston Pelicans will need one more game to settle the matter once and for all. In late February, it appeared that the Trolleys were going to come out on top, as the Pelicans went into a severe tailspin. By February 20th, Kingston had gone just 3-14 on the month and were in the midst of a 12-game losing skid. But the Trolleys didn’t exactly take advantage, as they put up just an 8-9 record over the same period and enjoyed only a 5-1/2 game cushion. Then Kingston got hot. After finishing the rest of February 5-2, the Pelicans went 16-7 in March. That included a 10-game winning streak. Meanwhile, Pulberry went just 15-14 the rest of the way, allowing the Pelicans to catch up. On the last day of the regular season, with Kingston a game up on the Trolleys for the wild card, the Pelicans needed just one more victory over the Fort Richmond Generals to lock it up. But they didn’t get it. Despite taking the first three games of the series, Kingston fell to the Generals, 8-6. Meanwhile in Pulberry, the Trolleys defeated the Hespeler Stars, 6-3 to split their four-game series and finish in a tie for the wild card. The tie-breaker game is scheduled for March 24 at Kingston Park. It’s expected that Pulberry will tab their No. 2 starter, 30-year old RHP Alexander Ellacott (12-9, 3.67 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 3.65 FIP), to take the hill, while Kingston’s No. 3 starter, 26-year old RHP Brian Marsland (13-14, 3.30 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.80 FIP), will counter for the Pelicans. In the Eastern League, the wild card went down to the final day as well. In the last weeks of the regular season, both the Embro Suns and Downie Chiefs caught up to the faltering Queensland Eagles. In fact, on the morning of the final day of the season, all three teams were tied for the wild card. But the Suns’ playoff hopes were dashed when the Cobourg Red Stockings defeated them, 7-5. Meanwhile, Downie and Queensland faced each other in a four-game series to end the season. The Chiefs swept the series, and punched their ticket to the playoffs on the final day, defeating Queensland, 6-5. -------- Hawking Wins Western League Triple Crown Wolseley Unions’ 30-year old LF Carlton Hawking (.348/.476/.587, 26 HR, 126 RBI, 138 BB, 7.9 WAR) enjoyed a season for the ages, as he won the Western League Triple Crown. It’s the first time in seven years that a position player has won the Triple Crown and third overall. Before Hawking, Balmoral Giants' RF Carlton Broadbent was the most recent position player to win it, back in 1944-45. Embro’s SP Arthur Bence won the pitching Triple Crown five years ago in 1946-47, when he was with the Wellington Athletics. Hawking finished second overall in batting average in the entire United Leagues, behind Brunswick’s 1B Stuart Bentham (.348) and tied for top spot in home runs with both Queensland’s LF Rod Dennis and Cobourg’s 3B Alexander Tolmie. However, he led all of the United Leagues this season in Runs batted in (126), Walks (138), OBP (.476), OPS (1.064), Runs (120), OPS+ (181), WPA (7.17) and WOBA (.460). __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 11-11-2019 at 12:14 PM.

11-12-2019, 02:35 AM	#531
DreamTeams Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 2,521	Come on Trolleys, you can do it! Win or lose, what a season for Pulberry. __________________

11-12-2019, 10:23 AM	#533
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,088 Blog Entries: 1	Glad you are back, my friend.

11-12-2019, 07:53 PM	#534
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,860	March 24, 1952 Moving On: Pelicans Triumph over Trolleys 4-1 to Take Wild Card The Kingston Pelicans punched their ticket to the playoffs this afternoon by defeating the Pulberry Trolleys 4-1 at Kingston Park in their tie-breaker game, necessitated after the two clubs finished tied for the wild card at season’s end. The Pelicans will now head to Satchel Paige Park in Wolseley to face the Unions in Game 1 of the Western League Pennant Series, scheduled to start Wednesday, March 26. 26-year old RHP Brian Marsland pitched a fine game for Kingston, holding the Trolleys scoreless until the 9th inning. In all, he scattered 6 hits, striking out three and walking 1, while giving up just a single run to earn Player of the Game honors. Pulberry’s 30-year old RHP Alexander Ellacott matched zeros with Marsland until the 4th inning when the Pelicans broke things open. C Carlos Camasura led off the bottom of the 4th with a line drive single. With one out, 2B Katsunan Chikafuji doubled into deep rightfield. That scored Camasura for the game’s first run. Chikafuji was able to stretch his double into a triple on the play when he beat RF Ellis Dibble’s throw to third. Next up was 1B Dean Bishop, who connected on a 1-0 pitch for a two-run home run, 407 ft. into left-centerfield, extending Kingston’s lead to three. The Pelicans would tack on another run in the 7th, after SP Brian Marsland led off with a single and advanced to second on a CF Lance Oakley ground out. With two out, Carlos Camasura doubled home Marsland, increasing Kingston’s lead to four. Marsland kept Pulberry’s hitters off the board until the top of the 9th, when SS Francis Jones led off with a solo home run that landed 378 ft. in the leftfield bleachers. 1B Gerard Koerner immediately singled off Marsland and LF Aiden Thirkettle singled off stopper Kaula Mafileo, putting runners on first and second with one out. But Mafileo got RF Ellis Dibble to fly out to CF Lance Oakley and 3B Makani Kahale to ground out to SS Charlie Cockin to end the game. Twice the Trolleys managed to put a runner on third base (CF Cooper Tyson both times), but were unable cash in. Tyson drew a walk with two out in the top of the 1st and reached third when Aiden Thirkettle singled. But Ellis Dibble popped up to 3B Ryoma Hakui to end the inning. In the top of the 4th, Tyson led off with a double and reached third base on a Thirkettle ground out. But once again, Pulberry was unable to take advantage, as Ellis Dibble flied out to rightfield and Makani Kahale grounded out 3B Hakui. Kingston then broke it open in the bottom half of the inning. That ultimately swung the momentum in the Pelicans’ favor for good. __________________ United Leagues of Braeland

11-13-2019, 10:33 AM	#537
Archelirion Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Ashford, UK Posts: 203	I think everyone was a Pulberry fan for that game. I'm a little bit gutted. I fancy Downie for this year. Queensland and Embro blew it in a big way, whereas Downie finished clutch and that's the kinda intangible which separates the winners from the losers. I'm glad the United Leagues are continuing. They set a standard which I can only hope to aspire to, in terms of storytelling and visually (especially with my painfully limited graphical skills). My best wishes to you and your wife.