Meet the Merry Fellows
via the Old Forest Press
OLD FOREST - With opening day of the 2010 season literally only hours away, the sports department here at the Old Forest Press have decided that an extensive profile of the championship team would be fitting.
The Merry Fellows shocked baseball last year when they won the Wild Card and later the World Championship. However, they didn't shock themselves. The team always felt they could win the big games, according to veteran infielder Rognash Kidneyslammer.
"We knew we had what it takes," Kidneyslammer said. "We had a good, young team last year. I think a lot of us are pleased that so many players returned for the 2010 campaign."
In fact, many of the Merry Fellows have returned. 17 of the 25 players on the championship team are back for the new season, including 8 of last year's positional starters and 4 of the starting pitchers in the rotation. In fact, there are only two entirely new faces in the offense. Here's a look at how Old Forest pans out:
Catcher:
Joining the team is four-time All Star Rafur Rockback, who was acquired in the off season. Although only 32 years of age, Rockback is the old man on the team. In 7 years of play, "Rocky" has averaged 30 homeruns a season, along with more than 100 RBI, while sporting a career batting average of .284 and OBP of .384. Rockback should be a drastic upgrade at the catcher's position over last year's duo of Ugbag Blacktooth and Thor Wingnutt. Wingnutt, 22, will return as the backup catcher for the 2010 campaign.
Infield:
The Merry Fellows currently have an abundance of infield talent. The starting first baseman, and team captain is 27-year-old Cinquefoil "Homer King" Boartooth. Boartooth, 27, is beginning his fourth season with the Merry Fellows, and is coming off a career year in 2009 where he batted .267 while blasting 40 homers and 103 RBI while walking 92 times and stealing 17 bases.
At second is 24-year-old Petunia Gamgee, who has been a Merry Fellow ever since she was traded to the team from Moria in 2007. Gamgee underachieved last year, batting .278 with only 12 homers and 76 RBI. However, the team is expecting an offensive surge from her in 2010, especially after batting .326 along with 10 homers and 41 RBI in her final 313 at bats of the 2009 season (including a .371 post season AVG in 62 at bats).
Playing shortstop is the original Merry Fellow, Rognash Kidneyslammer. Kidneyslammer, 27, finally met his potential last season after batting .256 with 29 doubles, 9 triples, 18 homeruns, 76 RBI, 101 runs scored, and 32 steals - all from the leadoff spot. Kidneyslammer also drew 94 walks and batted .320 with 13 RBI in the post season.
At third is the underachieving Gamaithor Elylith, 25. Elylith has perhaps the best eye of any player in the game, but unfortunately has lacked the ability to consistantly make contact. Last year, Elylith lost his starting job after batting just .163, but with 18 homers and 41 RBI in 392 at bats. In spite of having only 392 at bats, Elylith drew 71 walks - only 11 fewer than Shaglakh the Devastator, who was 10th in the Conference (and had 515 at bats). Elylith has worked on improving his contact and will begin the season as the starter.
Also in the infield mix is 27-year-old super sub Eolf Elrithor. Elrithor was instrumental in the Merry Fellows post season drive last year, batting .294 with a .350 OBP, along with 30 doubles, 13 homeruns, 83 RBI, and 25 steals. Elrithor will be the primary backup at all four infield positions for the Merry Fellows in 2010, but will be poised to step in for any starter who may get injured. It would also be a mistake to forget Alrond Hubbard, a 22-year-old infield prospect who could be starting for the team right now, but will begin the year in the minors.
Outfield:
Starting in left field is 26-year-old Hudash "Rolling Thunder" Elfprodder. Elfprodder had a down season in 2009. He batted .263 with only 22 homeruns and 91 RBI after missing almost a month of action with a broken finger. Elfprodder is looking to return to form in 2010, as he has the potential to slam 50 homeruns a year. While Elfprodder was the regular cleanup hitter in 2009, the Merry Fellows offense is so loaded at the moment that he has been relegated to the 8th spot in the batting order.
In center field is 25-year-old youngster Peromer Moraman, who was acquired from Dead Marshes in a mid-season trade last year. Moraman worked hard in the off-season to improve his contact, and is looking to improve upon a .216 batting average and .333 OBP. Moraman was 9th in the league in steals last year with 50, in spite of having only 385 at bats.
Starting in right field is the 2009's Team MVP, Gollauman Gandilhil. The "Hit Machine" was acquired from Dol Guldur during the middle of the 2009 season, and went on to put up huge numbers for the Merry Fellows. In 81 games with the team, Gandilhil batted .341 with 16 homers and 64 RBI. He won back-to-back Player of the Month Awards for July and August.
Finally, the Merry Fellows boast one of the best designated hitters in the game, in 26-year-old star Relin Rockmaster. Rockmaster was acquired from Dunharrow mid-season last year after the Disaster couldn't afford his contract demands. After joining Old Forest, the young slugger batted .286 with 17 homeruns and 69 RBI, along with a .372 OBP. He also won the Bilbo Playoff MVP award after batting .325 with 12 doubles, 4 homers, and 18 RBI.
All around, these players comprise the most dangerous offense in Tolkien Baseball, and should challenge a variety of team offensive records in the 2010 season.
But have we mentioned that the Merry Fellows also have great pitching?
The Rotation:
Topping the rotation is 27-year-old ace Frodo Chubb. "Bubbha" won 17 games last year for the Merry Fellows with an ERA of 3.29 and 216 k's in 229.2 innings pitched. Chubb has won 16 games or more each year for the last three seasons and is looking to have his first 20-win season this year.
In the two slot is 27-year-old righty Sjors Cheeseslicer, who was acquired mid-season from Dol Guldur. Cheeseslicer went 12-14 last year (7-6 as a Merry Fellow) with a 3.64 ERA.
The third Merry Fellow starter is 27-year-old Bifur Snowlegs. Snowlegs was also acquired in the Dol Goldur trade and went 14-9 (7-3 as a Merry Fellow) last year with a 3.45 ERA.
Starting in the fourth rotation spot is 28-year-old Eralqua Megilwen. Megliwen was acquired in the off season trade that also sent the Merry Fellows Rafur Rockback. Megilwen went 11-13 last year with a 4.74 ERA. Old Forest is hoping to see an improvement in his ERA.
Finally, the fifth starter for the Merry Fellows is 27-year-old RotK hero Gromwakh the Masher. Last year, the Masher (who was acquired from Dagolord) went 9-13 (5-6 for the Merry Fellows) with a 4.37 ERA. However, he became an indespensible asset for the Merry Fellows once the post season began. He threw in 5 games for 16.2 innings worth of work, allowing only 2 earned runs in the process for a post season ERA of 1.08. The Masher also won the deciding Game Seven of the RotK Series while making an emergency start.
The Bullpen:
The area of greatest turnover between the 2009 and 2010 season is the bullpen. The Merry Fellows will be sporting four new faces here, comprising of more than half of their total changes. Gone is ace closer Wuurg Wolfwalker, a Merry Fellow since 2004. Also gone is Tathor Legŕndil, a 39-year-old star reliever who retired after achieving his dream of winning a World Championship.
New to the team include 27-year-old Haleodriel Grilbo, the first former Bree Cheese to ever be traded to Old Forest. Grilbo is effectively wild - while lacking control, he makes up for it with pure stuff and movement. Also joining the team is 26-year-old Galulas Elvörŕ, an ex-Merry Fellow taken in the 17th round of the inaugural draft. Elvörŕ is perhaps the riskiest reliever on the team, having ERAs of 6, 6.23, and 5.93 in his last three minor league stops.
The Merry Fellows also added 27-year-old Kenton Ayo, acquired in a blockbuster trade with Dunharrow. Ayo has a career 3.48 ERA, along with 15 saves in the 2009 campaign. Ayo will be primarily used in the setup capacity along with the demonic force of nature known as Sauron the Evil, Jr. Sauron the Lesser was acquired from Dagolord during the 2009 campaign and posted a 3.93 ERA in his first season with the Merry Fellows. Sauron was also a clutch pitcher in the post season, accumulating a 1.80 ERA in 7 appearances.
Also new to the team is 28-year-old closer Boremir Boreagrin, acquired before the start of the season from Dead Marshes. Boreagrin has yet to prove himself in the Major Leagues, but he is already being trusted by team manager Kigush Eyeslobberer to close the ballgames.
Finally, returning to the Merry Fellows for perhaps his final season is strikeout legend Boriam Celebrin. Celebrin, 27, has been with the Merry Fellows since the Tolkien League's inaugural season. He struck out an absurd 414 batters in the 2005 campaign, but after a torn bicep during the 2006 season, Celebrin lost his strikeout ability and eventually, his job in the Merry Fellows rotation. Celebrin remains the career leader in strikeouts, although he should be eclipsed sometime in the next two years. After losing his job as a starter during the 2009 campaign, Celebrin still managed to win 11 games, marking the 4th time in his career that he has won in double digits. He will be used mostly as a spot starter and in long relief.
The Merry Fellows may win a second championship, or they may disappoint. Regardless, they are young and talented enough to compete for years to come. It may also be relevant to note this: the Merry Fellows will remain intact as they are for at least two seasons, and they should remain together for many years even beyond that.
Posted at October 17, 2005 03:24 PM | more from Old Forest