Maple Update - 2024

Maple had a very poor June going 10-16 after a solid start at 34-21.  We are still in 1st place in the Bill Martin division in the TML at 44-37 clinching on by 2 games over Jersey.  Our struggles surprisingly are at home with a 20-21 record versus 24-16 on the road.  Despite changes in the bullpen we also continue to struggle in close games or extra inning affairs (9-14).  On a bright note we certainly love the southpaws going 17-12 versus them through end of June.

Maple is in the top 4 in the TML in all Team Batting categories except HR and Slugging Pct (8th and 5th).  One area #GOLDI is happy about is On-Base Pct where they team is 2nd at .353.  We contribute this to putting the ball in play more often this year as we are #1 in Ks at 433.  Our top 3 hitters are George Soucy, Bartolo Valentin & Sal Ostendorff.

Maple started off really hot pitching in the TML but, of late have had a rough ride.  We are giving up far too many HRs (8th) and bases on balls (9th) than we did earlier in the year.  We are happy that we are 3rd in Opponents AVG .266 and hits allowed 748.  Those HRs with men on base are real killers though.  Our top 3 pitchers are Landy Lu, Zeus Hallman & Kent Tukulve Jr.

The Allstar game is right around the corner and we would expect a few Maple Marauders to make the TML team this year.  The ballots are going to be posted after the SIM tonight.  Maple has a series vs Mile High at home and on the road in Quebec City to hopefully get back on track in July prior to the Allstar game.

The farm system features our top prospect SP Dylan Butlin, 17 G, 7-5, 4.42 ERA, 93.2 IP pitching for AAA Astoria.  We recently acquired SP Juan Ayala in International Free Agency at 4.775M and he quickly was listed in our top spec listing by OSA scouting.  He ranks in our Top 8.  Another interesting player that has big on a hot streak this season is Wayne Soileau 2B.  Wayne doesn't appear to be rating high by our scouts account but, the hits keeping coming in for him.  He is reached AAA Astoria this year and is batting;  .307/.376/.484, 153 AB, 5 HR.

We have some talent in the minors so don't be surprised if Maple makes a move or two to help improve their team for a run at a championship this season.

Maple released news today regarding their 26 man active roster.  Just 1 day away from the opening pitch of our 13^th season in the ABL – 2024!  The Rotation this season will be slightly changed with Allstar Jake Nelson moving on to Duke City.  New arrivals Khurshid Durrani and George Bedford(acquired in the Gould trade to MTL) get their shot.  The pen also sees some changes as Tekulve Jr. takes over at CL for Jones who has lost some zip on the fastball.  New additions are Maulik Shaw and Glenn Ritter(acquired in the Nelson trade to DUK).  Brian Daniels also gets a chance at LR.  The rotation once settled will be Ramos, Ito, Ramirez, Bedford & Durrani.

The lineup in Maple this year will look a bit different.  We are expecting to bounce back from a disappointing display in 2023.  New additions George Soucy DH & Ricardo Corte C (both acquired in the Nelson trade to DUK) look to had some much needed punch.  Talley former Gold Glover at 2B moves over to 1B.  O’Doherty takes claim at 2B based on his defensive abilities.  Valentin once penciled in this year as the teams DH will go back to CF with the arrival of Soucy.  There were strong rumors that Felipe Navarro would get his shot this year at CF but, he was demoted to AAA after the team gambled on SF Veteran Dorsey for the 4^th OF spot on the team.  We like the way Dorsey finds a way to get on base.  McMahon 3B looks to be reaching his prime (acquired from DUK).  He will probably move to 3^rd in the lineup with Soucy batting cleanup.  Expect Corte to move to 6^th in the lineup behind Ostendorff then Orton 7^th and Rivera/O’Doherty 8/9^th.  We are hoping to get on base a bit more, run a bit faster and more often and play better defense this year.

Our major budding star is SP Butlin (Nimrod).  He is going to be a good one.  I’d don’t want to rush him this year but, if we are not in the race by trade deadline I’d expec to move Ramirez SP and Ramos SP to a contender and he might get the call up.  SP Lu (Pumpman) also looks solid too.  2B Soileau is highly rated too but, GM #GOLDI has his doubts.  Butlin is the prize of our minor league system.

International Complex features one really interesting player in 3B Rivero.  He could be a good one in the ABL for a few years!  Hutcheon, Iijima and Missel are all risks.

Maple Organization update

Maple enters the All-Star break in 3^rd place in the Billy Martin division race, 8 games back of San Francisco.  Georgia will be hosting this seasons All-Star game.

Maple has been inconsistent since the Flipper trade with South Carolina.  We haven’t been able to string along consecutive winning sims in a long time.  44-43 record considering the trade of Maurice Gould, SP to Montreal might be well expected though.

Our best performer has been Jake Nelson SP, who was acquired from Eureka a few seasons ago in the deal that brought All-Star 1B to the Hornets in Braden Murphy.  Jake is 11-4, 2.63 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and an ERA+ of 191.  Without him, the season for the Marauders would all over by now.  Bartolo Valentin, CF is also having a decent year but, recently hit the DL with a sprained wrist.  Valentin is hitting .261, .365, .475, .840, 1.2 WAR.  34 of his 84 hits have been for extra bases.  His defense has been suffering with a -1.1 ZR rating so far this year despite only having 1 error.

Joining Valentin on the DL is Pete Moore OF so, the Marauders will showcase two new players vs. San Francisco in a critical 3 game series at home versus the division leaders.  Entering the active roster is Sal Ostendorff, RF and Felipe Navarro, CF.  Sal was acquired from PAX earlier this season in a trade that sent a couple of talented SPs their way.  Felipe was a R2 pick in the 2021 draft out of Kansas.  He had been listed as high as the #88 prospect in the ABL.  There are serious concerns if Felipe can handle ABL pitching but, there is no doubt about his stellar defense roaming the CF greenery.  We expect Ostendorff on the other hand to fit right in the lineup and contribute both offensively and defensively.

Down on the farm, the minor league system is doing fairly well.  AAA Astoria is in 3^rd place 3 games back, Sandy Springs AA is the division leader with a 55-34, .618 record and finally A Kingwood is in 3^rd place 5 games back and in striking range for another division title.  Kingwood has won 3 out of the last 4 Single A titles and has been division champs 3 out of the last 4 years.

Prospect watch includes; Maulik Shaw our show stopper at CL in Kingwood (A), George Bedford SP in (AAA) acquired in the Gould trade from Monreal, Dylan Butlin SP (A) an International Scout find out of England who had spent some time in the International Complex before being called up, Felipe Navarro CF who was just called up to the big club in Maple and lastly a SP named Landy Lu in A ball Kingwood, a Round 5 pick in the 2021 draft.  #18, #29, #57, #70 & #83 rests Maple as the 9^th best overall organization with top 100 prospects.

If Maple is going to catch SF (We simply ignore Jersey), the bats will have to wake up.  We are towards the bottom of the league in almost every category in hitting.  Then we will need our stellar pitching to hold up and be consistent.  We are near the top in almost every pitching category so far this season.  Defensively we are #2 overall in the TML and that should help in some close games down the stretch.  2 of our better hitters are out of our lineup heading towards the trade deadline this Tuesday so, there could a good chance we see a deal or two from #GOLDI as we finish the Tuesday sim.

Maple acquired Flipper! & sits in 2nd place behind SF

Maple enters the Amateur Draft in 2022, 4 games behind San Francisco in the Billy Martin Division in the Thurman Munson League.  Maple has been playing better ball of late after going .500 in April they improved to 16-11 in May.  Most fans expected a very tight Billy Martin Divisional race again this year especially when last year champions dealt Maurice Gould SP to Montreal.  Well, Maple as usual is never finished with the “merry-go-round” of transactions as they worked with division rivals South Carolina to land “Flipper” John Martin SP.  The Scouts didn’t like the trade from the Maple perspective as the price was extremely high, however;  we decided to take a chance here on Flipper based on his age.

Maple is 9-10^th in most batting team categories in the TML while 1-4^th in most team pitching categories in the TML and 1^st in team defense in the TML.  The batting has been getting better as the season wears on and so has the pitching and defense.  We hope to continue this momentum and trend into June.

Some bright spots for Maple early in the season have been 1) Ronnie Talley – GG winner from last year is hitting .330, 2) George Evans finally getting a chance to play full-time has 11 HRs and is tied for the team lead with Bartolo Valentin.  Valentin also leads the team in swipes with 14.  Pitching wise, Jake Nelson has been fabulous so far; 2.17 ERA, 7 Wins and 84Ks in 78.2 IP which are all #1 for the team.

Only one costly injury so far and that was to Arama Huanu OF, who at the time was hitting .321 with 37 RBI.

Down on the farm, Maple continues to field very competitive teams in AAA, AA and A ball.  Astoria (AAA) is 2^nd, 1.5 games back at 31-25, Sandy Springs (AA) is 1^st, 39-16 record and Kingwood (A) is 2.5 games back in 2^nd with a 31-25 record.

Top Prospects have been ever changing since the moves in the off-season.  However; we have some fantastic prospects up and coming to the ABL led by:  CF Felipe Navarro .287/.387/.500 in AA, 1B Adam Hounsell .232/.295/.311 in A, C Sean Clare, .226/.312/.401 in A and SP George Bedford, 11G, 1S, 37.1 IP in AAA to just name a few.  Also watch out for Mark Blackburn 1B, Maulik Shaw MR, Dylan Butlin SP and Wayne Soileau 2B

Attendance is down -13.6% so far this season and is typical of the cold early weather near Toronto.  We expect to close the gap as the summer approaches.

In the International Complex look out for one of our best finds ever in 3B Anastasio Rivero.  He is up to 2.5* potential and climbing.  This 16 year old from Venezuela should be a keeper for years to come.