1971 Season Previews

[Alan T]

VALDOSTA PEANUTS
1970: 99-55, FOOL Champions

1970 was the tale of two tales so to speak for Valdosta and their fanbase that covers the majority of the Southeastern United States. After almost a decade of play, fans were finally treated to the team's full potential as the Peanuts won the FOOL Classic and were crowned champions of the league. The offseason however brought a new chapter to the story as the Prado era was over nearly as quickly as it begun. Although the team has received a large amount of leeway from their fans that a championship brings, many fans have shown their irritation of the offseason moves.

The departure of Prado leaves big shoes for SP Carlos Gonzales to fill as the defacto staff Ace. It is sometimes easy to forget that the 1967 Rookie of the Year and 1968 Pitcher of the Year is still only 24 years old. Last season Gonzales led the CL in Wins, VORP, Strikeouts and K/9 innings. Two new pitchers join the Peanuts in the starting rotation this year in their attempt to repeat as FOOL Champion. SP Charles Wilson came to Valdosta via a trade with Toronto during the offseason. Wilson last season was in the top 5 last season in K/9, H/9, ERA, Runs Allowed and led the league in HR/9. Valdosta's #3 starter this year is the former ace for Hartford SP Whit O'neil. O'neil had a dissapointing year last season for the equally disappointing Harpooners, but despite a down season he still led the league in Quality Starts.

The lineup kept the core together with the return of RF Roberto Pagan, 3B Rick Inman and LF Lawrence Wyatt to the team in 1971. Pagan quietly remains one of the most underrated players in the league as in his career he has only won a single player of the week award over his multiple years. Since entering the league in 1967, Pagan has finished in the top 10 every year for VORP, OPS, Runs Created, RC/27, and OBP which he was the league leader twice including last year with a .420 OBP. In addition he has one Fielder of the year award as well.

The key story this year for Valdosta will be if they can become the first repeat champion in half a decade. In an offseason where at best they stayed even, and more likely lost a step, several other teams in the CL have loaded up and are gearing up to take their shots at the champs.

[muns]

Hartford Harpooners
1970- all you really need to know is that we sucked

1970 was yet another year filled with high expectations and hopes for the Postseason. And like usual the "pooners" dissapointed all and at midseason were named "fools biggest dissapointment".

Fast foward another year and the entire team has just about changed.
Out of the 25 man roster this year only 7 remain from last years squad including 5 from the bullpen. The Pen interestingly enough should be the best assest the "pooners" have. If your saying that preseason.... lets just be honest here folks its not looking good.

Hartford stayed quiet in Free Agency this year despite having the lowest payroll in "FOOL" and only picked up 1b-Charles Lane from Seattle (now Columbus) and ex-Colorado second baseman Brian Sampson. Lane wont have much impact as he is gonna be regulated to back up duty at both 1b and the C position, but Sampson will start at 3rd base this year and is only two years removed when he hit 320 with an ops of 807 for the Rancheros.

The "pooners" might have stayed quiet during the FA period but they did have the busiest offseason to date in the history of "Fool". 6 trades were made and gone are the previous stars that used to shine and in are unknown kids with very high potential.

The starting rotation will be anchored by "Gabriel Riggs" who management felt would stay even though he would have fetched a pretty penny in a trade.

However the real spot light this year will be on 20 year old up and coming starter "Doyle Adams". Adams will be making the ballclub this year after spending his first and only year in AAA and had a stat line that doesnt look to shabby, 7-14 3.44 era, 182K, 1.18 whip. Adams was hartfords #1 pick in the 1970 draft and is currently the #12 rated prospect in "Fool".

The lineup this year doesnt have any names that anyone would recognize but they do have 6 guys starting that have a potential rating of 4.5 stars and above.

The hope in "whale land" from management is that with heavy playing time these guys can develop quickly and have the "pooners" headed back in the right direction while the young studs they got in the 6 trades (along with the picks they used in the draft) can use the time to develop into monsters.

Will it work???? the fans are hopeful, " the head kingpin" is hopeful, but only time is gonna be able to tell.

Gm muns does promise that his guys should be fun to watch though, especially on the basepaths. 4 guys will have the green light at any point with 2 more being able to add swipes in certain situations.

I wouldnt expect a good year from Hartford, and more than likely we will finish up in last, but well worth it from a developmental standpoint especially if the young guys start to pan out. On the horizon are and 5 first round picks in the upcoming draft, and 3 more in the following years draft. The future will be coming soon for Hartford, id bet my "Big Whale" on it!!!!!