Grading the Negro Leaguer's

With just two sim's complete it's too early to tell if these grades will stick, but it's interesting nonetheless to see how are newest eligible players are fairing.

Batters

Grade A

Four Negro Leaguer's of these have gotten off to tremendous starts.  First rounder's Turkey Stearnes and Oscar Charleston were expected to be great, but Ed Rile and Dobie Moore have been pleasant surprises for Snowhole and the Red Lectroids.  Moore gets the nod for the best of the bunch to date - .373 OBA with a .509 SLG out of a Ex fielding shortstop is as good as it gets.

Grade B

Both Heavy Johnson and Edgar Wesley have enjoyed success early on, but each are short in playing time to get an A grade.  In the case of Johnson, an untimely 15 day injury forced him to miss the middle of April, while Wesley is stuck behind Jack Clark in a first base platoon.  With Clark batting just .167 with no power it may just be a matter of time before Wesley is the full time first basemen.

Grade C

Perhaps I am being to hard on Pop Lloyd and Biz Mackey, but Bullet Joe Rogan and George Carr are plainly struggling, though showing plus power.  Pete Hill is holding his own despite a .226 batting average, his 16 walks bring him up to about a league average OBP.

Grade D

The Bears are 19-9 despite a poor start by Willie Wells, a Top-10 overall pick. The shortstop has shown flashes of power but has 30 strikeouts against just 6 walks.  He'll need to bring is average up at least 70 points or more to be worthy of a 1st round pick.

Grade F

It's no wonder DC is struggling right now, both Cristobal Torriente and Ben Taylor were pegged to be vital cogs in the Chips lineup.  Instead, both are terrible liabilities at the moment.  The Blackbirds Judy Johnson may be the worst everyday third basemen in the game right now.  That .472 OPS is staggering.

No Grade - Not Enough Playing Time

Pitchers

Grade A

These four are a combined 18-1 and have their owners looking like geniuses.  Juan Padron did not do particularly well in the 500 resims so he is our best graded pitcher so far.  Drafted in 19th round he looks like the steal of the draft, at least so far.

Grade B

Norman Yokely had 5 good starts and one poor one, but it was bad enough to almost drive him to a C grade.  As it stands he is on the cusp of a downgrade, 20 walks against 15 K's is just not sustainable.

Grade C

The 3.49 ERA is nice for Henderson, but a 1.57 WHIP not so much.  One will have to give sooner than later.  Trent is the exact definition of a league average starter.

Grade F

What a disappointment Satchel Paige turned out be.  15 walks vs 40 strikeouts sounds pretty good, but if you add in 9 HR in 36 innings it spells disaster.  Hilton Smith and Bill McCall are not particular good pitchers, but then they weren't expected to be either.

No Grade - Not Enough Playing Time