73 LIBERTY REVIEW: #2 FLOUR CITY HOP DEVILS

 FLOUR CITY HOP DEVILS 

Memorial Stadium 
Chris Hawes (112-104) 
Franchise (112-104) 
History:
69:  lost EDC
70:  lost EWC
71:  lost EWC
72:  lost WS
73 Rankings 
2nd hitting 
6th pitching 

LINEUP 

Bench c 119
Yastrzemski 1b 139
Grich 2b 116
Belanger ss 61 
Evans Da 3b 156
Garr lf  97 
Smith Reg cf 150
Paciorek rf 92 

BENCH 

Goodson 3b 112 
Harris of 90 
Hernandez Ja ss 68
May M. c 104 
Mota of 108 
Schaal if 118 

PITCHING 

Lee 146
Burris 135 
Messersmith 129
Hough 127 
Billingham 113 
Bradley 99 
Hall T. 99 
Norman 96 
Culp 90 



PITCHING 

Lee 146
Burris 135 
Messersmith 129
Hough 127
Billingham 113 
Bradley 99
Hall T  99
Norman 96 
Culp 90 

NOTES 

The Rochester NY area is not only famous for the Erie Canal and the flour mills of the late 1800's but it is also the home of the Flour City Hop Devils.  That's right, the team who has made 4 playoff appearances in 4 consecutive seasons.  

Some interesting story lines this year...

Johnny Bench... what can you say ?? 
In my book, the greatest catcher in baseball history.  I was the starting catcher at a small Catholic high school here in Joplin Mo and idolized Bench.  Bench is an example of the America dream coming true.  The kid from the small town in Oklahoma spent his 20s in the MLB giving every catcher in America a clinic on how to catch.  Injuries eventually took their toll but he was something to behold in his heyday.  He anchors the Hop Devils with a 119 OPS+ and a -2 arm rating.  

The key to this team is the outstanding hitting.  Carl Yastrzemski, Reggie Smith, Darrel Evans and Bench will subdue any hot shot pitcher in the league.  The overall depth on the team is also impressive. 

The pitching staff is led by the most eccentric pitcher in the league.  Bill Lee aka Spaceman  always gave  baseball scribes plenty of dissertations on any subject known to man.  He checks in with a 146 ERA+ and should have had many more successful  years until he injured his arm in a brawl with the Yankees. 

https://www.overthemonster.com/2016/5/20/11718616/red-sox-baseball-brawl-yankees-bill-lee

Flour City will enjoy watching Lee take the mound. 


The rotation of Lee, Burris, Messersmith and Hough is credible and should take advantage of a high level of run support.  The bullpen is an open question and it will take all of Hawes' managerial expertise to avoid exposing this weakness. 

The numbers say the Hop Devils will win the Eastern Division title and make another appearance in the World Series.  Who knows what will happen in the tournament of randomness but the Hop Devils have a great shot at winning it all.