Can Blaine Prince win 300 games?

St. Louis Cardinals

Blaine Prince

The Jersey League's all time wins leader is Blaine Prince, with 212 wins, 38 more than the closest rival. Before last year, few thought that Price had a shot at 300, but his age 33 season changed expectations, as Prince put up a stellar 23-4 record and won his second AL Cy Young. Prince, a tall skinny lefty, also kept himself in great shape over the off-season, showing virtually no ratings drop off as he enters his age 34 season. This ratings maintenance, along with his top-notch health, indicates that Prince might have several more Cy Young caliber years in him.

Prince, who hails from Bath, Maine, has never hit the free agent market, signing two long-term extensions with the same team (but now on 4th owner). He was an original ML player at league creation and he's only spent 15 days on the DL.

Can he win 300? The odds are still against him. Here is a projection of what I see happening:

Season 13 (age 34, SP1): 19 wins, total 231. Prince is in top form but needs help from offense and relief pitching to hit 20 wins again.

Season 14 (age 35, SP1): 17 wins, total 248. Prince is still near peak effectiveness but his stamina starts to wane, so he leaves games a bit earlier, losing a couple wins.

Season 15 (age 36, SP3): 14 wins, total 262. Prince's effectiveness starts to fade, but he's still a very good pitcher.

Season 16 (age 37, SP5): 12 wins, total 276. Prince is still a good arm, but he's really a soft tosser now and doesn't stay in games past the 5th or 6th inning.

Season 17 (age 38, SP5): 10 wins, total 286. Prince has lost a lot in key ratings, but is still a solid arm.

Season 18 (age 39, LRA): 7 wins, total 293. The tank is running empty but he's making a contribution out of the pen. Low health rating is a worry.

Season 19 (age 40, LRB): 5 wins, total 298. Its the end of the line here, barely hanging on to a roster spot.

Season 20 (age 41, LRB): 2 wins, total 300. A kindly owner gives Prince a few starts at a cut-rate salary to get him up to 300.

Season 21 (age 42, Retired): Prince retires back home to a life of leisure in Maine.

Key Variables: #1 the training budget, key to maintenance of veteran player ratings, #2 injury luck, #3 team quality, can't get wins on your own

All Time Pitching Leaders

Following up on the hitting leaders, below are the all-time Jersey League leaders in several key pitching categories. Again, this is probably a preview of the Hall of Fame when WiS gets it up and running. Hard to believe our all-time Wins leader is just 29 years old!

Wins
#1, 126 Wins (can he get to 300?)

Blaine Prince Kansas City Rumpshakers Age: 29 B/T: L/L Born: Bath, ME Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#2, 117 Wins

Rube Campbell Boston Royal Rooters Age: 37 B/T: L/L Born: Waverly, IA Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#3, 116 wins

Tim Buehrle Trenton Patriots Age: 33 B/T: S/L Born: Douglas, AZ Position(s): P (SP5) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Strikeouts
#1, 1396 Ks

Rube Campbell Boston Royal Rooters Age: 37 B/T: L/L Born: Waverly, IA Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#2, 1358 Ks

Bobby Patel Buffalo Beagles Age: 35 B/T: L/L Born: New York, NY Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#3, 1337 Ks

George Reagan none none Age: 30 B/T: R/R Born: Park Rapids, MN Position(s): P (P) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

ERA (810 IP min.)
#1, 2.56 ERA

Rube Campbell Boston Royal Rooters Age: 37 B/T: L/L Born: Waverly, IA Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#2, 3.10 ERA

Blaine Prince Kansas City Rumpshakers Age: 29 B/T: L/L Born: Bath, ME Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#3, 3.21 ERA

Ivan Gomez none none Age: 39 B/T: R/R Born: Santo Domingo, DO Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Saves
#1, 268

Julian Freeman Pawtucket T's Age: 35 B/T: R/R Born: Roswell, NM Position(s): P (ClA) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#2, 260

Carlos Prieto Helena Vigilantes Age: 36 B/T: R/R Born: Rancho Viejo, DO Position(s): P (ClA) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#3, 240

Jose Plata Trenton Patriots Age: 38 B/T: S/R Born: Don Gregorio, DO Position(s): P (ClA) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

All Time Offensive Leaders

After 7 seasons, here are the all-time leaders in four key offensive categories. A surprising number of them are under 30 years old, so we could see them rack up big totals before retirement. Perhaps this is a preview of the future Jersey League Hall of Fame? (Pitching leaders to follow)

Home Runs

#1, 430 HRs

Bernie Gongora Houston We Have a Problem Age: 27 B/T: S/R Born: Perico, CU Position(s): RF/1B/LF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#2, 394 HRs

Julius Costello Montreal Expos Age: 35 B/T: S/R Born: Fairview, OK Position(s): LF/1B/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#3, 367 HRs

Louie Hiro none Open Franchise Age: 28 B/T: R/R Born: Tokyo, JP Position(s): 1B/LF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

RBIs

#1, 1020 RBI

Bernie Gongora Houston We Have a Problem Age: 27 B/T: S/R Born: Perico, CU Position(s): RF/1B/LF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#2, 964 RBI

Jimmie Bell Buffalo Beagles Age: 35 B/T: R/R Born: West Helena, AR Position(s): RF/1B/LF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#3, 962 RBI

Louie Hiro none Open Franchise Age: 28 B/T: R/R Born: Tokyo, JP Position(s): 1B/LF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

On-Base Percentage (2510 minimum plate appearances)

#1, .448 OBP

Dave Gardner Portland Beavers Age: 33 B/T: S/R Born: Middletown, IN Position(s): DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#2, .441 OBP

Blake Price Portland Beavers Age: 34 B/T: L/L Born: Hillsboro, TX Position(s): 1B View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#3, .440 OBP

Jeremy Richard none Open Franchise Age: 32 B/T: L/R Born: Charlestown, MA Position(s): C/1B/LF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Stolen Bases

#1, 456 SBs

Braden Bynum Houston We Have a Problem Age: 28 B/T: R/R Born: Queens Village, NY Position(s): 1B/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#2, 357 SBs

Wayne Burba none none Age: 34 B/T: R/R Born: Asheville, NC Position(s): LF/1B/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

#3, 339 SBs

Felipe Barcelo Scranton Backyard Groove Age: 29 B/T: R/R Born: Colon, CU Position(s): 2B/3B/RF/CF View Hardball Dynasty Profile