2046 UMEBA Postion Rankings (First Basemen)
Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2021 4:12 pm
Gareth Hale
Baseball Research International Contributor
We now turn our attention to first base in our review of UMEBA position players. Someday this league might have a Hall of Fame, and one of these players might well find himself in it if it does. All referenced 2046 stats are current as of 6/09.
Adam Backhouse (70/70), Jerusalem
Backhouse and fellow countryman Baden Dutton bring the Thunder from Down Under to the heart of the Hammers lineup. Brisbane native Adam Backhouse is laying waste to UMEBA pitching. Taken second overall in the 2039 Unified draft (Beirut took pitcher Joe D'antonio with the first pick, to their lasting shame) Backhouse made his big league debut for Istanbul in his age 20 season, where he posted a .908 OPS in 352 at-bats. Subsequent season HR totals would be 46, 54, and 52. Now in his age 24 season, Backhouse is sitting on exactly 200 home runs after 56 games. Twenty-four years old and 200 home runs. Let that sink in. For a contemporary comparison, consider that Larry Stinson had 192 and Félix Román had 207 home runs at the end of their age twenty-four seasons. Different leagues, sure, but that's a big load of taters. So far in 2046 Backhouse has tallied a Ruthian OPS of 1.125, an OPS+ of 182, and a wRC+ of 196. And we likely haven't seen his best yet. So, about that WAR. Backhouse is tall and lean at 6' 8” and 210 pounds, but he isn't mobile. Not by a long shot. Running and fielding just aren't remotely a part of his game. He's a natural-born DH, in other words, but currently playing first base full time, something he hasn't done since 2043. And that may be something of a problem for Jerusalem, who appear to be experimenting with Backhouse in the field and León Torres (himself an absolute butcher with a glove) at DH in an effort to maximize offensive production. It might work out for them.
Masaki 'Icon' Sato (60/60), Riyadh
Former BBA journeyman Masaki Sato joined Riyadh this past off-season, inking a two-year, $6.7M deal to play in the Unified back in April. Desert sand must agree with him, because he signed a three-year extension a few days ago worth $17.5M. In the BBA, Sato never seemed to develop into the hitter that his rookie year indicated he might. The 121 OPS+ he posted in 2039 would be the best mark of his BBA career. Things are looking up for Sato in the UMEBA, however. He's posted an OPS+ of 151 for the Crescents so far in 2046, and at just 28, he may hold down a spot in the three-hole for several seasons to come.
Mario 'Buzzy' Guerrer (55/55), Manama
Guerrer joined Manama in 2044 after a pretty good, twelve-year BBA career in which he put up a career OPS+ of 133. After a stumble in 2043, he left that league for the UMEBA. The man called 'Buzzy' came to the Unified with something to prove, and it looks like he has. A force at the plate, he's delivered an OPS+ of 149 and 156 in two complete UMEBA seasons. So far in 2046, at the age of 34, his production has dipped to the tune of a 134 OPS+. Still a lot of baseball left to play this year for him to bring that figure up, but he's still a useful player even if this trend holds.
Yunosuke 'Godzilla' Terada (55/55), Athens
Rust? What rust? Terada played in the BBA for nine seasons with a career OPS+ of 110, and hadn't had a first-base caliber bat for some quite time when he signed on with Athens last week after more than six months effectively out of baseball. In the mere seven games he's played in a Centaurs uniform, he's put up a slash line of .292/.400/.542. We'll see whether Unified pitching catches up with Terada in the weeks to come, but early signs are certainly positive.
Joey 'The Dart' Newhouse (50/50), Baghdad
It's difficult to put into words just how fast The Dart used to be. 'Seventy-three stolen bases in 2040' will have to suffice. But it's 2046 and Newhouse is in his age thirty season. Base running is still a large part of his game, but not to the extent it used to be. Newhouse made a splash in his first season in Baghdad (2043) with a 4.6 WAR. He's struggled to match that production since, though things are looking up in 2046. Newhouse is swinging a mighty bat, posting a 147 OPS+ in 189 plate appearances.
Jay Gamble (50/50), Bucharest
Sometimes the road takes some unexpected turns, but gets you where you wanted to go nonetheless. Gamble was a career minor-leaguer when Bucharest scooped him up off the BBA reject pile in 2041. He made his major league debut the next year at the age of twenty-five. After three decent, but not exceptional seasons, the Canadian broke loose in 2045, putting up a 139 OPS+ and garnering a UMEBA BANC Platinum Stick Award. He hasn't quite hit those same heights in 2046, though, with an OPS+ thus far of 112.
Marco Acheson (50/65), Beirut
Acquired via trade this past offseason, the twenty-four year-old Acheson is a work in progress. He had an okay 2045 for Athens (109 OPS+), but Acheson's not quite the bopper you're typically looking for in a first baseman. He might not get there. He looks to be taking a step back in 2046, with a 94 OPS+ so far.
Alejandro Carranza (40/40), Tripoli
Born in Costa Rica, schooled in Northern Ireland, drafted by Long Beach, and signed by Tripoli, Carranza's been around. In his premier major league season, Carranza has thus far posted a respectable slash line of .266/.338/.496, claiming the majority of starts at first base for the Piranha … Piranhas? … okay, Piranhas.
Lou Cotton (40/40), Cairo
Cotton appeared in 279 BBA games over nine seasons for some reason (a first round pick, so he must be good, right?). The Pharaohs signed him to a minor league contract in February. And there he is starting 20 games at first base, more than any other player on the team. He can play the position well, but the bat is largely absent. That said, there are no obvious alternatives for Cairo at first. Tough sledding for this expansion club.
Manuel Marino (50/50), Mumbai
Marino debuted for Rockville way back in 2033 at the tender age of 18, making the unorthodox leap from short season A-ball. He spent 2034 in AAA where he raked, and then returned to Rockville the next year, where he would stay for six seasons, winning it all twice. His last three seasons in the BBA were difficult and his production plummeted. Beirut signed Marino to a three year deal in 2043. His first year in Beirut was exceptional, with a 145 OPS+, but he again struggled to maintain consistency in subsequent seasons and Beirut non-tendered him after 2045. Mumbai gave him a shot on a one-year deal, but the old magic may well be gone. Marino is struggling to stay above replacement level so far in 2046.
Baseball Research International Contributor
We now turn our attention to first base in our review of UMEBA position players. Someday this league might have a Hall of Fame, and one of these players might well find himself in it if it does. All referenced 2046 stats are current as of 6/09.
Adam Backhouse (70/70), Jerusalem
Backhouse and fellow countryman Baden Dutton bring the Thunder from Down Under to the heart of the Hammers lineup. Brisbane native Adam Backhouse is laying waste to UMEBA pitching. Taken second overall in the 2039 Unified draft (Beirut took pitcher Joe D'antonio with the first pick, to their lasting shame) Backhouse made his big league debut for Istanbul in his age 20 season, where he posted a .908 OPS in 352 at-bats. Subsequent season HR totals would be 46, 54, and 52. Now in his age 24 season, Backhouse is sitting on exactly 200 home runs after 56 games. Twenty-four years old and 200 home runs. Let that sink in. For a contemporary comparison, consider that Larry Stinson had 192 and Félix Román had 207 home runs at the end of their age twenty-four seasons. Different leagues, sure, but that's a big load of taters. So far in 2046 Backhouse has tallied a Ruthian OPS of 1.125, an OPS+ of 182, and a wRC+ of 196. And we likely haven't seen his best yet. So, about that WAR. Backhouse is tall and lean at 6' 8” and 210 pounds, but he isn't mobile. Not by a long shot. Running and fielding just aren't remotely a part of his game. He's a natural-born DH, in other words, but currently playing first base full time, something he hasn't done since 2043. And that may be something of a problem for Jerusalem, who appear to be experimenting with Backhouse in the field and León Torres (himself an absolute butcher with a glove) at DH in an effort to maximize offensive production. It might work out for them.
Masaki 'Icon' Sato (60/60), Riyadh
Former BBA journeyman Masaki Sato joined Riyadh this past off-season, inking a two-year, $6.7M deal to play in the Unified back in April. Desert sand must agree with him, because he signed a three-year extension a few days ago worth $17.5M. In the BBA, Sato never seemed to develop into the hitter that his rookie year indicated he might. The 121 OPS+ he posted in 2039 would be the best mark of his BBA career. Things are looking up for Sato in the UMEBA, however. He's posted an OPS+ of 151 for the Crescents so far in 2046, and at just 28, he may hold down a spot in the three-hole for several seasons to come.
Mario 'Buzzy' Guerrer (55/55), Manama
Guerrer joined Manama in 2044 after a pretty good, twelve-year BBA career in which he put up a career OPS+ of 133. After a stumble in 2043, he left that league for the UMEBA. The man called 'Buzzy' came to the Unified with something to prove, and it looks like he has. A force at the plate, he's delivered an OPS+ of 149 and 156 in two complete UMEBA seasons. So far in 2046, at the age of 34, his production has dipped to the tune of a 134 OPS+. Still a lot of baseball left to play this year for him to bring that figure up, but he's still a useful player even if this trend holds.
Yunosuke 'Godzilla' Terada (55/55), Athens
Rust? What rust? Terada played in the BBA for nine seasons with a career OPS+ of 110, and hadn't had a first-base caliber bat for some quite time when he signed on with Athens last week after more than six months effectively out of baseball. In the mere seven games he's played in a Centaurs uniform, he's put up a slash line of .292/.400/.542. We'll see whether Unified pitching catches up with Terada in the weeks to come, but early signs are certainly positive.
Joey 'The Dart' Newhouse (50/50), Baghdad
It's difficult to put into words just how fast The Dart used to be. 'Seventy-three stolen bases in 2040' will have to suffice. But it's 2046 and Newhouse is in his age thirty season. Base running is still a large part of his game, but not to the extent it used to be. Newhouse made a splash in his first season in Baghdad (2043) with a 4.6 WAR. He's struggled to match that production since, though things are looking up in 2046. Newhouse is swinging a mighty bat, posting a 147 OPS+ in 189 plate appearances.
Jay Gamble (50/50), Bucharest
Sometimes the road takes some unexpected turns, but gets you where you wanted to go nonetheless. Gamble was a career minor-leaguer when Bucharest scooped him up off the BBA reject pile in 2041. He made his major league debut the next year at the age of twenty-five. After three decent, but not exceptional seasons, the Canadian broke loose in 2045, putting up a 139 OPS+ and garnering a UMEBA BANC Platinum Stick Award. He hasn't quite hit those same heights in 2046, though, with an OPS+ thus far of 112.
Marco Acheson (50/65), Beirut
Acquired via trade this past offseason, the twenty-four year-old Acheson is a work in progress. He had an okay 2045 for Athens (109 OPS+), but Acheson's not quite the bopper you're typically looking for in a first baseman. He might not get there. He looks to be taking a step back in 2046, with a 94 OPS+ so far.
Alejandro Carranza (40/40), Tripoli
Born in Costa Rica, schooled in Northern Ireland, drafted by Long Beach, and signed by Tripoli, Carranza's been around. In his premier major league season, Carranza has thus far posted a respectable slash line of .266/.338/.496, claiming the majority of starts at first base for the Piranha … Piranhas? … okay, Piranhas.
Lou Cotton (40/40), Cairo
Cotton appeared in 279 BBA games over nine seasons for some reason (a first round pick, so he must be good, right?). The Pharaohs signed him to a minor league contract in February. And there he is starting 20 games at first base, more than any other player on the team. He can play the position well, but the bat is largely absent. That said, there are no obvious alternatives for Cairo at first. Tough sledding for this expansion club.
Manuel Marino (50/50), Mumbai
Marino debuted for Rockville way back in 2033 at the tender age of 18, making the unorthodox leap from short season A-ball. He spent 2034 in AAA where he raked, and then returned to Rockville the next year, where he would stay for six seasons, winning it all twice. His last three seasons in the BBA were difficult and his production plummeted. Beirut signed Marino to a three year deal in 2043. His first year in Beirut was exceptional, with a 145 OPS+, but he again struggled to maintain consistency in subsequent seasons and Beirut non-tendered him after 2045. Mumbai gave him a shot on a one-year deal, but the old magic may well be gone. Marino is struggling to stay above replacement level so far in 2046.
