Baseball Research International Contributor
And we now venture into the outfield with a look at left fielders in the UMEBA. All referenced 2046 stats are current as of 6/30.
Frank Mahaffey (50/50), Mumbai
Mahaffey's a nine-year BBA veteran who has spent the past three seasons in Mumbai. The thirty-four year-old American had some pretty good seasons on the field, but he is perhaps known as much for his, let's call it 'difficult', personality. Mahaffey had a strong first two seasons for the Stars, but took an alarming step back in '45 to more or less replacement level production. Being on the wrong side of thirty, you could imagine him continuing a downward slide. So far in '46, however, Mahaffey is producing like Mumbai had hoped (120 OPS+ / 2.6 WAR).
Virgil Shafer (50/50), Tripoli
Like Mahaffey, Shafer has some sharp edges to his personality. A former first round pick in the BBA ('32), this New Hampshire native made his big league debut at the age of 20 in 2035. Defensively, he's a peach, and good enough to play center on occasion, with good base-running talent and a power bat. After a 2.6 WAR season in 2043, Shafer turned his back on the BBA and jumped to the Unified and Kuwait City, who handed him a three-year deal. He exploded for the Alhafr in Kuwait City's magical 2043 season (132 OPS+ / 6.1 WAR). After contraction, he moved on to Tripoli where he's had a harder time producing in a tougher run-scoring environment. Things are looking good for him in '46, though (114 OPS+ / 2.0 WAR).
Mitch Dalrymple (50/50), Bucharest
This thrity-three year-old American had ten BBA seasons under his belt when Des Moines let him go after three down years. Bucharest picked him up in the winter of 2043, signing Dalrymple to a three year deal. He perked right up that first year with the club, earning a WAR score of 5.0, though sadly, his season was cut short by an MCL strain. While he's a sure-handed fielder with a good hit tool, Dalrymple has not returned to '44 form since (though he's still a productive player), posting a 2.5 WAR last season, and a 1.0 WAR so far in 2046.
Rafael 'Tofu' Mckinna (45/45), Manama
Mckinna has spent his entire professional career in the Pearls organization. Drafted in the second round in 2038, this twenty-six year-old Australian made his big league debut in 2043, posting a 139 OPS+ in 67 appearances. While he hasn't matched that level of offensive production in the years since, he has been a solid and steady contributor for Manama, with a career slash line of .338/.415./448. Defensively he's nothing special, but he shines at the plate, with average power and good on-base skills. So far in 2046, he's put up an OPS+ of 125 and a WAR of 1.2.
Mauro Saucedo (45/45), Jerusalem
Drafted by Edmonton in '31 and traded to Yellow Springs in '34, Saucedo debuted for the Nine in 2035 at the age of 21. His first four seasons were solid, and Saucedo showed steady improvement while playing center field. A ruptured tendon in his throwing hand, suffered in spring training, erased nearly all of his 2039 season, and ultimately cut short his Yellow Springs career. His next stop was Twin Cities for two seasons, but he would not perform above replacement level again in the BBA. He next washed up on the shores of Lebanon in 2042, where he played left field for the Cedars, posting a respectable 2.1 WAR. He next was traded to C.S.K.A. for cash, where he put up similar numbers. Contraction would bring him to Jerusalem. His production had declined in the past two seasons, but so far in 2046, he's looking pretty darn good (126 OPS+ / 1.7 WAR).
Jerry Bell (45/45), Baghdad
Baton Rouge native Jerry Bell never made any top prospect lists while in the Brewster. A talented and hard-working defensive outfielder, he's struggled with the bat. After four seasons of part-time duty in the BBA (career 77 OPS+ / 0.6 WAR), he signed on with Athens last winter. He made 106 appearances for the Centaurs, posting a pedestrian 75 OPS+ and 0.3 WAR. The Kings signed him to a two-year deal this past offseason. So far in '46, he's tallied an improved 91 OPS+ and 1.2 war.
Carlos Ricerdo (40/45), Beirut
Ricerdo is a left fielder with a right fielder's arm who has swung an effective, if not always spectacular, bat for Beirut the past three seasons. Des Moines signed a sixteen year-old Carlos to their international complex in 2035, but he never made it out of the Kernels' farm system. Beirut signed him to a three-year deal at a reasonable salary in the winter of '42. He's played a variety of roles for the Cedars, including both corner outfield spots and a little DH, and he's been okay. Now in his age twenty-seven season, Ricerdo is struggling to a degree he had not in the past, his OPS+ has dropped from 121 in '45 to a worrisome 64 in '46. His WAR currently stands at -0.8.
Jack 'Waddles' Moniker (40/40), Athens
Some scouts say that Moniker has never learned to judge a ball in flight. Though he possesses decent speed, his late breaks and wrong jumps can make it hard to get under the ball. At the plate, this lefty tends to walk more than he strikes out, though he has little power and his contact rate has declined over the years. In 2043, after four years of part-time work for his home town Kernels, and a few detours after being claimed off waivers, Moniker landed in Kuwait City. There, after playing his way out of the minors, he got on base, a lot (.410 OBP). After contraction, he moved on to Athens where he had a career season (2.5 WAR). Last year was not as good (1.2 WAR). And this year is troubling (-0.1 WAR).
Juan Martínez (45/50), Riyadh
The Crescents outfield lineup is prone to change, but Martínez has garnered the majority of starts in left field this season. This Hawai'i native was drafted by BBA Madison in 2039. He played 18 games for the Wolves in 2042, and did not impress anyone with his 39 OPS+. He was cast loose by Madison in 2045, and signed on with Riyadh this January. A decent fielder with some pop, Martínez has garnered an OPS+ of 94 and WAR of -0.4 in this, his age twenty-five season. Scouts are little puzzled by him. He looks great in batting practice, but in live games he has been prone to striking out. He just may need more time to acclimate himself to playing in the Unified and Arabian desert.
Thad Meyer (40/40), Cairo
This twelve-year BBA veteran from Aurora, Colorado came to the Unified to extend his pro career. One can see why Cairo signed him. A good defender with average to good plate production, who could boast of proven above-replacement value in his last couple of seasons in the BBA, Meyer seemed primed for a good UMEBA season. It so far has not worked out that way (58 OPS + / -1.0 WAR). Has Meyer just been slow to adapt to a new setting, or has age caught up with him? We'll wait and see.
