Black Sox Bulletin
You wouldn’t necessarily think it, but the competition for the Chicago/Huntsville team Newcomer of the Year award was intense.
Bad as the team was this season (74-88), the Black Sox/Phantoms had a number of bright new stars in the lineup – plus one pitcher (Amayas Moelling) who struggled through a tough rookie season but emerged with skill ratings that should give opponents pause next year.
So, let’s look at who was in the running for the team award:
Catcher Hotha Popo. Hardly a rookie, but new to the Phantoms via free agency this year. He played outstanding defense, as usual, and produced as advertised at the plate: .263/.369/.368, 2.0 WAR in a platoon role.
Hotha Popo
Catcher Diesel Dave. In his first year in the majors, Dave forced his way into the lineup with a potent bat: .280/.329/.550, 15 HRs, 44 RBIs, 1.3 WAR in just 60 games. His defense was fine, too. Oh … plus, he’s the team captain. Paired with Popo, he gives the Sox an enviable situation at catcher going forward.
RF Manny Cleide. Although he played 4 games for the Phantoms late in 2038, this was Cleide’s first real season in Huntsville and he played well. He’s not exactly an offensive machine (.254/.317/.366), but he’s an electrifying presence in the lineup. He led the season in bunting for base hits, he’s aggressive on the base paths, and he played a monster right field (10.19 zone rating). Plus, he’s owner Vinnie Vitale’s favorite player, so … go ahead and pencil him into the lineup for 2040, folks.
2B Rocky Wattson. The young second baseman rocketed through the Huntsville minor league system, with scouts insisting he could play at the major league level. And after a July 21 call-up, he proceeded to prove them right: a .295/.335/.453 slashline, with 5 homers and 24 RBIs in 56 games.
SP Amayas Moelling. Admittedly, his stat line looks a little grim: 6-6, 4.50 ERA, 5.9 K/9, 4.5 BB/9 … well, you might be excused for thinking Moelling might be a bust in the making. Except for all the pummeling he took on the mound in 2039, scouts say he seemed to learn something, because his skill ratings all bumped significantly at the end of the season: 8/8 stuff; 7/7 movement; 7/7 control; 99-101 velocity; 11/11 fastball; 6/6 cutter; 7/8 slider. To say he’s looking forward to 2040 in a new pitcher-friendly park is an understatement.
So, who gets the nod here?
Diesel Dave
Considering that, between them, Popo and Dave posted 3.3 WAR, they virtually matched last season’s 3.4 WAR from Luis Barrera (who exited via free agency) and Sergio Hernandez (who spent the year in AAA). And given that Barrera had a down season in Charm City (1.8 WAR), Sox brass feel pretty good about where they stand.
Now, if only they can coax that kind of production out of the rest of the lineup …
