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Eugene Church · 03-06-2006, 10:15 PM

ALLTIME ALLSTAR ASSOCIATION

Wednesday, April 9,1902

OPENING DAY JUST ONE DAY AWAY IN THE AAA

NATIONAL LEAGUE ROSTER CHANGES FOR THE NEW SEASON, PART 1

BOSTON BRAVES - 7TH PLACE (69-85)

Manager Bobby Cox and the Boston Braves went looking for hitters. He has a very fine pitching staff with the best ERA in the AAA. He also has the worst hitting ballclub in the AAA. A .231 team batting average won't cut it anywhere, even if your team ERA is an excellent 3.28. You can't win, if you can't score. First in the Special Draft, he took a topnotch hardhitting Negro League outfielder, Phil Hill. Then he went to his farm system and plucked a fine hitting catcher, Joe Torre and a good hitter for average, outfielder Tommy Holmes. Cox will immediately put Torre and Hill in the lineup and give some playing time to Holmes as well. Boston thinks that these newcomers will definitely add a boost to the team's batting average and run production. Skipper Cox also thinks his holdover players will rebound from bad years and his club will surprise a lot of people. He says a jump to the first division is not out of the question.

BROOKLYN DODGERS - 5TH PLACE (78-76)

Dodger Manager Tommy Lasorda seems to have only made a modest improvement to his ballclub. None of the new acqusitions have excited the fans. Mediocre pitchers Bob Welch and Burleigh Grimes have been replaced by southpaws Fernando Valuezuela and Preacher Roe. Second baseman Steve Sax and outfielder Babe Herman have been signed. Sax, a speedy, steady-handed infielder, that hits for a good average, but not much power. Herman is a hitting machine, but not much of an outfielder. Sax will get a fair try to take second base from Jackie Robinson, who had only a fair season. Herman will find it tough to replace outfielders Zach Wheat, Duke Snider and Cristobel Torriente. But he might sneak past Torriente, if he doesn't pick up his batting average. In the Special Draft Lasorda took Japanese third sacker, Hiromitsu Ochiai, an average fielder with good power. Others gone from last year are UIF Junior Gilliam, 3B Ron Cey, OF/1B Pedro Guerrero and OF/1B Sean Green. The Ebbets Field bunch still look like a second division team.

CHICAGO CUBS - 6TH PLACE (75-79)

The Chicubs' Manager Charlie Grimm says it wouldn't take much for his club to move up in the standings. A good third starter to go with his two aces, Mordecai Brown and Ferguson Jenkins...a good leadoff man...and moderate improvement at catcher, second and third. He is putting his hopes in lefty Jack Pfiester and righthander Claude Hendrix in the pitching department. Pfiester will be a spot starter and share starts with Hippo Vaughn. Hendrix will be use in long relief in the middle innings. Grimm used the sixth choice in the Special Draft for Negro speed merchant Cool Papa Bell, who may hit over .300 and steal a slew of bases for him. Bell will be given the centerfield position and leadoff position in the batting order. Pitchers demoted from last year were Pat Malone, Lee Smith and Charlie Root. Also farmed out to the minors were 3B Ron Santo and OF Sammy Sosa.

CINCINNATI REDS - 8TH PLACE (62-92)

It was a long and dismal year for Sparky Anderson and his Big Red Machine. Terrible pitching and a whole host of players, who did not live up to expectations, were the culprits. He is optimistic that his two new moundsmen will provide some improvement. He selected Japanese star righthander, Kazuhisa Inao, as the first pick in the draft. He has great stuff and great control and will split starts with another new signee, portsider Ken Raffensberger. Raffensberger has splendid control, too. Anderson also added a solid all around outfielder in Gus Bell and a respectable backup catcher, who can hit for average, Bubbles Hargrave. Cincinnati sent down pitchers Rob Dibble, Don Gullett, Bucky Walters and Paul Derringer. 1B Frank McCormick and SS Leo Cardenas failed to make the roster this year. Frank Robinson, Ed Roush, Vada Pinson and Pete Rose were the only dependable hitters last year. Cincy's pinching staff had a combined 4.18 ERA, by far the worst in both leagues. Anderson said it is going to be a slow building process to make the team a winner.

Check League Reports here:
http://aaa.allsimbaseball.com/

03-06-2006, 10:15 PM	#389 (permalink)
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 16,947 Thanks: 92 Thanked 96x in 50 posts	ALLTIME ALLSTAR ASSOCIATION Wednesday, April 9,1902 OPENING DAY JUST ONE DAY AWAY IN THE AAA *NATIONAL LEAGUE ROSTER CHANGES FOR THE NEW SEASON, PART 1* BOSTON BRAVES - 7TH PLACE (69-85) Manager Bobby Cox and the Boston Braves went looking for hitters. He has a very fine pitching staff with the best ERA in the AAA. He also has the worst hitting ballclub in the AAA. A .231 team batting average won't cut it anywhere, even if your team ERA is an excellent 3.28. You can't win, if you can't score. First in the Special Draft, he took a topnotch hardhitting Negro League outfielder, Phil Hill. Then he went to his farm system and plucked a fine hitting catcher, Joe Torre and a good hitter for average, outfielder Tommy Holmes. Cox will immediately put Torre and Hill in the lineup and give some playing time to Holmes as well. Boston thinks that these newcomers will definitely add a boost to the team's batting average and run production. Skipper Cox also thinks his holdover players will rebound from bad years and his club will surprise a lot of people. He says a jump to the first division is not out of the question. BROOKLYN DODGERS - 5TH PLACE (78-76) Dodger Manager Tommy Lasorda seems to have only made a modest improvement to his ballclub. None of the new acqusitions have excited the fans. Mediocre pitchers Bob Welch and Burleigh Grimes have been replaced by southpaws Fernando Valuezuela and Preacher Roe. Second baseman Steve Sax and outfielder Babe Herman have been signed. Sax, a speedy, steady-handed infielder, that hits for a good average, but not much power. Herman is a hitting machine, but not much of an outfielder. Sax will get a fair try to take second base from Jackie Robinson, who had only a fair season. Herman will find it tough to replace outfielders Zach Wheat, Duke Snider and Cristobel Torriente. But he might sneak past Torriente, if he doesn't pick up his batting average. In the Special Draft Lasorda took Japanese third sacker, Hiromitsu Ochiai, an average fielder with good power. Others gone from last year are UIF Junior Gilliam, 3B Ron Cey, OF/1B Pedro Guerrero and OF/1B Sean Green. The Ebbets Field bunch still look like a second division team. CHICAGO CUBS - 6TH PLACE (75-79) The Chicubs' Manager Charlie Grimm says it wouldn't take much for his club to move up in the standings. A good third starter to go with his two aces, Mordecai Brown and Ferguson Jenkins...a good leadoff man...and moderate improvement at catcher, second and third. He is putting his hopes in lefty Jack Pfiester and righthander Claude Hendrix in the pitching department. Pfiester will be a spot starter and share starts with Hippo Vaughn. Hendrix will be use in long relief in the middle innings. Grimm used the sixth choice in the Special Draft for Negro speed merchant Cool Papa Bell, who may hit over .300 and steal a slew of bases for him. Bell will be given the centerfield position and leadoff position in the batting order. Pitchers demoted from last year were Pat Malone, Lee Smith and Charlie Root. Also farmed out to the minors were 3B Ron Santo and OF Sammy Sosa. CINCINNATI REDS - 8TH PLACE (62-92) It was a long and dismal year for Sparky Anderson and his Big Red Machine. Terrible pitching and a whole host of players, who did not live up to expectations, were the culprits. He is optimistic that his two new moundsmen will provide some improvement. He selected Japanese star righthander, Kazuhisa Inao, as the first pick in the draft. He has great stuff and great control and will split starts with another new signee, portsider Ken Raffensberger. Raffensberger has splendid control, too. Anderson also added a solid all around outfielder in Gus Bell and a respectable backup catcher, who can hit for average, Bubbles Hargrave. Cincinnati sent down pitchers Rob Dibble, Don Gullett, Bucky Walters and Paul Derringer. 1B Frank McCormick and SS Leo Cardenas failed to make the roster this year. Frank Robinson, Ed Roush, Vada Pinson and Pete Rose were the only dependable hitters last year. Cincy's pinching staff had a combined 4.18 ERA, by far the worst in both leagues. Anderson said it is going to be a slow building process to make the team a winner. Check League Reports here: http://aaa.allsimbaseball.com/ Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-10-2006 at 11:03 PM.