8 Teams in 8 Days: The Aginville Sketchers

Fogelberg – We continue our tour of 8 teams in 8 days with the Aginville Sketchers.

The Sketchers, who hold the second draft pick of the Single Season players look to improve on a feast of famine approach that earned them a second to the last place finish in last years Classic. This years version of the Sketchers is bound to improve with names like Babe Ruth, John McGraw, and Ted Williams being linked to them as possible selections.

Manager Dick Howser has a noticeable love for turn of the century and early 1900’s players with past draft selections of John McGraw, Arky Vaughn and Kiki Cuyler among others. All signs are pointing to Howser making a hard play for Babe Ruth this time around after passing him up (and watching him lead the Boilers to a title) in the first All-Star Baseball Classic.

If the Sketchers do land Ruth, look for them to stick to the 08′ Boilers blueprint of stacking rabbits in the first two slots of the lineup in front of him and franchise player Dale Murphy in the middle of the lineup. Without a doubt the Sketchers will be scouting second basemen and the outfield heavily to find players to get on base in front of the possible dynamic duo.

Scoring runs has historically not been a problem for Aginville as they scored 16 and 17 runs in their two games last year on Sunday. A major problem has been pitching and defense as the allowed 37 runs in two games last year.

“Looking at last years team, I am not sure what they could do differently in the draft,” ASB analysts Joe Gordon said via telephone Monday. “Howser better get his guys throwing the ball better… Their pitching was simply ATROCIOUS last year. I know that they have made changes to the staff every year hoping to find the right combo of guys, but they better find it quickly because this is THE YEAR to win it for them I think.”

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36 Days till the All-Star Baseball Classic!