Some offseason moves...
 

... so Danny Murphy has gone off to FA and Red Long (yeah, I had to look him up, too) retired.

We're still in 1911 when I make our first move toward shoring up that middle IF

TRADE 1 OF 5 (11/13/11)
P King Cole and P Tacks Neuer traded to Philadelphia (NL) for IF Al Bridwell

Al has spent most of his career at 2B but all his metrics at SS hold up OK as well. Should Pops come on as we so desperately hope he does, then Al becomes Larry’s replacement at 2B. He can also play the hot corner well and I’m pretty sure would have no problem at 1B. Whatever the case, he is a great add for us moving forward and, at just 27, should have plenty of productive years ahead of him. It costs us King Cole, which I'm not 100% happy about given we are still fairly thin in this regard, so I go find us some veteran reinforcement to compensate.

https://i.imgur.com/c9ABxie.png?1

Look, I hear the mumblings and can't say I totally disagree. At 36 Eddie is a risk. But we're still at the stage where salary considerations and budgetary constraints don't play much of a part, so the risk is a manageable one, especially with Year 3 being a 190 IP vesting option. At best, our SP4 problems are solved for a few years. At worst, Ed gives us a strong LHP presence in the pen. The comfort alone of knowing he's there to move into the rotation if needed makes the outlay seem an astute one.

1911/12 Rookie Draft
 

Held on 12/20/11.

Quantity over real quality this year, with 12 of the 16 teams receiving a Legacy but none of them being superstars.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1912 season:

Boston Braves: Rabbit Maranville (42.9; 1795)
Brooklyn Dodgers: Sherry Smith (27.1; 229)
Chicago White Sox: Ray Schalk (32.9; 1757)
Cincinnati Reds: Eppa Rixey (55.8; 440)
Cleveland Naps: Stan Coveleski (61.5; 360)
Detroit Tigers: Bobby Veach (47.8; 1604)
New York Giants: Jeff Tesreau (24.4; 247)
New York Highlanders: Herb Pennock (45.6; 346)
Philadelphia Phillies: Cy Williams (37.2; 1463)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Wilbur Cooper (53.8; 469)
St. Louis Browns: Carl Weilman (24.2; 239)
St. Louis Cardinals: Bill Doak (23.3; 376)

Jim Bagby (30.9; 290) and Ray Chapman (29.2; 1051) were also eligible for the Indians, but Coveleski’s higher WAR makes him the selection.
Heinie Groh (48.1; 1211) was also eligible for the Reds, but Rixey’s higher WAR makes him the selection.
Buck Weaver (21.2; 1254) was also eligible for the White Sox, but Schalk’s higher WAR makes him the selection.
Hooks Dauss (40.7; 538) was also eligible for the Tigers, but Veach’s higher WAR makes him the selection.
Erskine Mayer (13.4; 206) was also eligible for the Phillies, but Williams’ higher WAR makes him the selection.

Eppa Rixey was also eligible for the Phillies, but the Reds’ higher Draft Pick gets him.
Herb Pennock was also eligible for the Red Sox, but the Highlanders’ higher Draft Pick gets him.

There are 239 rookies for this season (including the mighty Cristobal Torriente), and the Draft will consist of 8 rounds.
The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1911 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Cleveland Naps (523) – Stan Coveleski
2. Cincinnati Reds (458) – Eppa Rixey
3. Pittsburgh Pirates (552) – Wilbur Cooper
4. Detroit Tigers (578) – Bobby Veach
5. New York Highlanders (500) – Herb Pennock
6. Boston Braves (291) – Rabbit Maranville
7. Philadelphia Phillies (520) – Cy Williams
8. Chicago White Sox (510) – Ray Schalk
9. Brooklyn Dodgers (427) – Sherry Smith
10. New York Giants (647) – Jeff Tesreau
11. St. Louis Browns (296) – Carl Weilman
12. St. Louis Cardinals (503) – Bill Doak
13. Washington Senators (416)
14. Boston Red Sox (510; dice roll)
15. Chicago Cubs (597)
16. Philadelphia Athletics (669)

Rounds 2 to 8

1. Boston Braves (291)
2. St. Louis Browns (296)
3. Washington Senators (416)
4. Brooklyn Dodgers (427)
5. Cincinnati Reds (458)
6. New York Highlanders (500)
7. St. Louis Cardinals (503)
8. Boston Red Sox (510; dice roll)
9. Chicago White Sox (510)
10. Philadelphia Phillies (520)
11. Cleveland Naps (523)
12. Pittsburgh Pirates (552)
13. Detroit Tigers (578)
14. Chicago Cubs (597)
15. New York Giants (647)
16. Philadelphia Athletics (669)


We get a Legacy this year, a pitcher, and can only hope he turns out better than those who have preceded him.

I go into the remainder of the Draft with only a very faintly-outlined plan: grab the best players available and / or look for longer-term prospects pretty much sums it up.
Here’s who we end up selecting:

1. P Wilbur Cooper, 19

• We are very much on the fence with regard to what to expect from Wilbur. Myself and Scouting Director Jim Carleton don’t see much there, but our new pitching coach Herminio Tamm is fairly keen on him and believes he can fashion him into something good. Anyway, he is young so we’ve got plenty of time on our side.

2. P Hooks Dauss, 22

• As reluctant as I am to take another pitcher, I do so here because I feel not only that Hooks seems an excellent long-term investment but also because I feel confident the other players I’m interested in will still be around for our next pick.

3. IF Joe Schultz, 18
Definitely one for a few years’ time, Joe looks a lively type who should provide some good infield utility for us down the track.
4. OF Dutch Sterrett, 22
A handy type, not least because he holds down two of the more difficult positions – catcher and CF
5. OF Tomas Calvo, 22
Getting pretty thin down here, and Tomas looks like he’s worth a punt.
6. P Jim Bagby, 22
Best of the rest.
7. OF Pat Maloney, 23
8. IF Dave Howard, 22
Scout’s picks.

Let’s see how this bunch turns out.

FULL DRAFT LOG

1912 The First Time Around
 

Another year with two decisive division champs as the Red Sox make the playoffs for their first time and go on to win an epic eight-gamer (with Game 2 a tie) that needs spares in the decider.

AL CHAMPIONS: Boston Red Sox (105-47)
NL CHAMPIONS: New York Giants (103-48)
WORLD SERIES: Red Sox 4, Giants 3 (one tie)

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. HEINIE ZIMMERMAN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .372 average, 95 runs, 207 hits, 41 doubles, 14 triples, 14 home runs, 104 RBIs, .571 slugging percentage.
• One of those good players with that one great year. Zimmerman was the NL’s first triple crown winner, but then he wasn’t; later research would “officially” strip him of the RBI title. (We still list him as the leader.)

2. HONUS WAGNER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .324 average, 91 runs, 181 hits, 35 doubles, 20 triples, 7 home runs, 101 RBIs.
• This would serve as the epilogue of Wagner’s elite status, even as the NL’s oldest player at age 38; from here he’d give it five more worthy years, but the decline was on.

3. LARRY DOYLE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .330 average, 98 runs, 184 hits, 33 doubles, 10 home runs, 90 RBIs, 36 stolen bases.
• Doyle’s value was reflected in the fact that he won the short-lived Chalmers Award as the NL’s Most Valuable Player. (Heinie Zimmerman, above, finished seventh in the vote.)

4. BILL SWEENEY, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 153 games, .344 average, 204 hits, 31 doubles, 13 triples, 100 RBIs, 68 walks.
• Typically a .250 hitter, Sweeney climaxed a two-year spike in which he led the Braves in almost all things offensive; too bad he couldn’t pitch for the team’s woeful staff (101 losses, major league-worst 4.17 ERA).

5. CHIEF WILSON, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 175 hits, 19 doubles, 36 triples, 11 home runs, 95 RBIs.
• In a remarkable effort worthy of Bob Beamon, Wilson hit so many triples in 1912 that they add up to a full 10 more than the guy with the second most ever in one season (see Joe Jackson, below).

6. BOB BESCHER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .281 average, 120 runs, 11 triples, 83 walks, 67 stolen bases.
• Bescher led the NL in steals for the fourth straight year; his 120 runs set a career mark.

7. FRED MERKLE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .309 average, 11 home runs, 84 RBIs, 37 stolen bases.
• Four years later, Giants fans might still might have found it tough to forgive Merkle for his remarkable blunder that cost the team a pennant, but they were happy for his current-day contributions.

8. JOHN TITUS, PHILADELPHIA-BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .309 average, 99 runs, 32 doubles, 11 triples, 70 RBIs, 82 walks.
• The 36-year-old vet, in his last full season, hit .325 after being traded to Boston—but like Bill Sweeney (above), he still couldn’t help the Braves avoid losing 100 games.

9. MAX CAREY, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 114 runs, 45 stolen bases.
• As Wagner began to slow, the fleet-footed Carey began to speed up; somehow, his 114 runs would be his last triple-digit production for 10 years.

10. DODE PASKERT, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .315 average, 102 runs, 37 doubles, 91 walks, 36 stolen bases.
• Better known for his excellent center-field play, Paskert’s offensive effort turned a lot of heads as well.

AL Hitters

1. TRIS SPEAKER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .383 average, 136 runs, 222 hits, 53 doubles, 12 triples, 10 home runs, 90 RBIs, 82 walks, 52 stolen bases, .464 on-base percentage.
• Big year for Spoke; he earned his first of five 50-double seasons, led (or co-led, in this case) the AL in home runs for the only time, had a major league-record three hitting streaks of 20 straight games, and collected his first and only cycle.

2. TY COBB, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .409 average, 120 runs, 226 hits, 30 doubles, 23 triples, 7 home runs, 83 RBIs, 61 stolen bases, 34 caught stealing, .584 slugging percentage.
• A month after his fiery altercation with a handicapped heckler, Ty Cobb was simply on fire—batting .511 with a record 68 hits in July.

3. JOE JACKSON, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .395 average, 121 runs, 226 hits, 44 doubles, 26 triples, 90 RBIs.
• A prodigious effort for Shoeless Joe, who set a career high in hits and whose 26 triples, while paling alongside Chief Wilson’s 36 above, is still tied for the all-time American League mark.

4. FRANK BAKER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .347 average, 116 runs, 200 hits, 40 doubles, 21 triples, 10 home runs, 130 RBIs, 40 stolen bases.
• Arguably “Home Run’s” finest year, setting personal bests in hits, triples, RBIs and average; he accounted for nearly half of the A’s 22 home runs.

5. EDDIE COLLINS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .348 average, 137 runs, 189 hits, 11 triples, 101 walks, 63 stolen bases.
• Despite one of his most productive years yet, most of Collins’ teammates still hated him for his uppity attitude. With contributions like his, he must have really been rubbing people with all the texture of a cheese grater.

6. SAM CRAWFORD, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .325 average, 189 hits, 30 doubles, 21 triples, 109 RBIs, 42 stolen bases.
• It only seemed appropriate that the all-time leader in triples would get into the year’s popular three-base act, reaching 20 for the first time in nine years.

7. CLYDE MILAN, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .306 average, 105 runs, 11 triples, 79 RBIs, 63 walks, 88 stolen bases.
• One look at Milan’s basestealing totals, and it’s easy to understand how he got the nickname Deerfoot.

8. NAP LAJOIE, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .368 average, 34 doubles, 90 RBIs.
• Despite missing 40 games, Lajoie still managed over 90 RBIs, all without a home run.

9. LARRY GARDNER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .315 average, 88 runs, 24 doubles, 18 triples, 86 RBIs.
• The rising star third baseman hit two of his three homers in one day—July 2 at Fenway Park against the New York Highlanders.

10. STUFFY MCINNIS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .327 average, 186 hits, 25 doubles, 13 triples, 101 RBIs.
• Though statistically lost in the shadows of bigger talents like Eddie Collins and Home Run Baker, it should be noted that McInnis hit over .300—as he did practically every year of his baseball life.

NL Pitchers

1. CHRISTY MATHEWSON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.12 ERA, 23 wins, 12 losses, 310 innings, 34 walks.
• Mathewson continued to glide in cruise control in the latter stages of his Hall-of-Fame career, but threw no shutouts for the only time.

2. NAP RUCKER, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.21 ERA, 18 wins, 21 losses, 6 shutouts, 297.2 innings.
• The luckless Rucker undeservedly fell back below .500 as he lost 20 games for the only time in his career.

3. RUBE MARQUARD, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.57 ERA, 26 wins, 11 losses, 294.2 innings.
• Great Rube, not-so-great Rube: 19-0 with a 1.63 ERA through the Fourth of July, 7-11 with a 3.73 ERA afterward.

4. CLAUDE HENDRIX, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.54 ERA, 24 wins, 9 losses, .727 win percentage, 288.2 innings.
• As good as he was on the mound, the spitballing Hendrix was helped out by his defense (league-leading 91 assists) and hitting (.322, six triples in 121 at-bats).

5. HANK ROBINSON, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.26 ERA, 12 wins, 7 losses.
• A rarity in the times in that he pitched more in relief than in the rotation, Robinson was given 16 starts in 1912—and completed 11 of them.

6. JEFF TESREAU, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 1.96 ERA, 17 wins, 7 losses, 243 innings.
• Tesreau’s stingy year included a no-hitter, the first thrown by a rookie in modern annals.

7. SLIM SALLEE, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.60 ERA, 16 wins, 17 losses, 6 saves, 294 innings.
• Without Sallee’s stabilizing workhorse contribution, the Cardinals quite possibly could have been saddled with 100 losses.

8. LARRY CHENEY, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.85 ERA, 26 wins, 10 losses, 28 complete games, 303.1 innings, 18 wild pitches.
• Reinvented as a knuckleballer following a hand injury, Cheney became the latest in an impressive succession of rookies to jump off to a tremendous start to their careers, and gave the Cubs mound relief with Three Finger Brown falling quickly into decline.

9. BABE ADAMS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.91 ERA, 11 wins, 8 losses.
• A relative off-year for the Pirates ace (missing action in large chunks of two months), but he still among the NL’s best.

10. HOWIE CAMNITZ, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.83 ERA, 22 wins, 12 losses, 276.2 innings.
• The third 20-win campaign in four years for the 31-year-old right-hander; he’d go 23-39 over the next two years before fading out of the majors in the Federal League.

AL Pitchers

1. WALTER JOHNSON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 1.39 ERA, 33 wins, 12 losses, 369 innings, 303 strikeouts.
• The Big Train secured his first of five ERA titles and won the most games by an AL pitcher without leading the circuit.

2. SMOKY JOE WOOD, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 1.91 ERA, 34 wins, 5 losses, .872 win percentage, 35 complete games, 10 shutouts, 344 innings, 258 strikeouts.
• Whereas Johnson would average nearly 30 wins a year through the early 1910s, Wood would struggle just to win 34 more, period, for the remainder of his career after this incredible effort.

3. ED WALSH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.15 ERA, 27 wins, 17 losses, 10 saves, 62 appearances, 41 starts, 393 innings.
• In what would be his last year as, virtually, an everyday pitcher before collapsing into immediate decline, Walsh was both the White Sox’ top starter and reliever, leading the majors in games started and saves.

4. EDDIE PLANK, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.22 ERA, 26 wins, 6 losses, .813 win percentage, 259.2 innings.
• In what was surely a satisfying campaign, Plank won more games and lost fewer than any other season through his productive, Hall-of-Fame career.

5. BOB GROOM, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.62 ERA, 24 wins, 13 losses, 40 starts, 316 innings.
• Three years after losing 15 straight games as a rookie, Groom briefly righted himself and became the Senators’ last 20-game winner (besides Walter Johnson) until 1925.

6. BUCK O’BRIEN, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.58 ERA, 20 wins, 13 losses, 275.2 innings.
• One of baseball’s great one-shot wonders; O’Brien’s 29 career victories are the fewest ever by one with a 20-win season. His clubhouse feuding with Smoky Joe Wood didn’t help his cause to stick around any more than his sudden inability to throw strikes a year later.

7. RAY COLLINS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.53 ERA, 13 wins, 8 losses.
• Handicapped with a late start due to a knee injury, Collins caught up and showed that he was just as tough at retiring opponents as Boston’s two 20-game winners and one 30-game winner.

8. VEAN GREGG, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.59 ERA, 20 wins, 13 losses, 271.1 innings.
• A perfect 5-0 September helped ensure Gregg’s second straight 20-win season to begin his big-league career.

9. HUGH BEDIENT, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.92 ERA, 20 wins, 9 losses.
• Bedient, who once struck out 42 batters in a 23-inning minor league game in 1908, made for a more humbling yet still effective first impression in what would be a short major league career.

10. JACK COOMBS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 3.29 ERA, 21 wins, 10 losses, 262.1 innings.
• Another solid effort for the former 30-game winner, before a nasty bout with typhoid fever a year later temporarily derailed his career.

1912 Preseason / Spring Training
 

The usual firings and hirings took place at the end of last season, with both Washington’s Kid Camp and Brooklyn’s Bill Shettsline given their marching orders and replaced by Connie Mack and Pete Weckbecker, respectively.

Fielder Jones was the biggest name among last year’s retiring players.

The Doves have once again changed their nickname, this time to the Braves.

And as for the FA market, here are the major signings:

• OF Sammy Strang: Detroit, 3 years / $12980
• C Johnny Kling: Giants, 2 years / $7040
• OF Fred Clarke: Senators, 2 years / $6240
• P Jack Chesbro: Tigers, 2 years / $4100
• P Jack Cronin: Tigers, 1 years / $3160
• P George Zackert: Phillies, 2 years / $2520
• SS Whitey Alperman: Athletics, 1 year / $2380
• P Ben Van Dyke: Cubs, 2 years / $2340
• P Toots Schulz: Red Sox, 2 years / $2240
• P Ed Karger: White Sox, 1 year / $2140
• P Ed Siever: Tigers, 1 year / $1740
• 3B Kid Elberfeld: White Sox, 1 year / $1500
• 3B Harry Steinfeldt: Naps, 1 year / $1360

A quick word on Danny Murphy, who has signed with the White Sox for 1 year @ $2680.

Danny was with us at the Pirates from the start in 1901 and I would have loved for him to finish out his career here, but that simply wasn’t possible.

Danny played 1379 games (2nd all-time) for us with a slash of 287 / 326 / 402. He had 4896 at-bats (2nd), 1405 hits (2nd), 253 doubles (2nd), 97 triples (2nd), 39 HR (2nd), 591 RBI (2nd) and scored 662 runs (2nd). His WAR total for us of 26.1 (4th) would certainly have been much higher if not for his defensive shortcomings (-40.3 fielding runs), the very reason we couldn’t keep him.

On top of that, Danny was a superb leader and club man. We wish him all the best over the remainder of his career.

In honour of his massive contribution to our franchise, owner Kevin Sanchez has agreed to retire Murph’s number 60, making him the first Pittsburgh player to be accorded such a gesture.


We go 10-8 again in ST, with little to report.

And it comes as a great shock to me when we are chosen as runaway winners of the NL, expected to finish 11 games ahead of a packed division with a 93-61 record. Would that it were. I’d take it. The Red Sox are tipped to scrape through in the AL by a game over the Sens.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

1912 Opening Day
 

Don’t forget you can access our team page HERE if so inclined, but here’s the annual OD summary as well.


Catchers

• C Roger Bresnahan (R)

• Les Nunamaker (R)
• Dutch Sterrett will also be available for backstop duties if so required.

Infielders

• 1B Honus Wagner (R)
• 2B Nap Lajoie (R)
• 3B Buck Herzog (R)
• SS Al Bridwell (L)

• Alex McCarthy (R) will play SS v LHP a lot of the time
• John Henry Lloyd (L)
• Scotty Ingerton (R)
• Hans Lobert (R)

Outfielders

• LF Zaza Harvey (L)
• CF Max Carey (S)
• RF Vin Campbell (L)

• Red Killefer (R)
• Armando Marsans (R)
• Dutch Sterrett (R)

Armando and Red will form a rotating platoon v LHP.

Rotation

1. RHP Christy Mathewson
2. RHP Russ Ford
3. RHP Rube Vickers
4. LHP Eddie Plank

Bullpen

• RHP Babe Adams
• RHP Howie Camnitz
• RHP Hooks Dauss

I want to move Hooks into the rotation at some stage, but don’t want to put the rook under undue pressure too early.

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The View from the Gangplank May 1, 1912
 

A bit of a streaky start and, for once, it is our hitting more than our pitching that is holding us back. Let's hope the bats come around and the pitching remains solid.

Just standings and awards.

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A huge oversight on my part...
 

I completely missed the fact that the mighty Rube Waddell had decided to hang them up at the end of 1911.

Not sure some of his records will ever be broken, especially his 9 straight NL CYAs from 1901 thru '09, 55 FIP- in 1903 and 373 strikeouts / 14.2 WAR in 1905. He was a beast and will in all likelihood be the first player into the HoF for this league.

267-109 / 2.08 ERA
3162 strikeouts / 7.2 K9
115 career WAR
201 career FIP / 70 FIP-
67 career WPA

2 x 30-win seasons

4 x World Championships
2 x World Series MVP

https://i.imgur.com/wuOa4nL.png?1

Enjoy your retirement, big guy - you've earned it!

Big Six wins #250 in style
 

https://i.imgur.com/gs58JXd.png?1

The career Top 5 currently looks this way:

Doc White 274
Rube Waddell 267
Eddie Plank 266
Christy Mathewson 250
Noodles Hahn 229

However, unless something goes horribly amiss, I'd think The Big Train ends up atop this list, and by some margin. He currently sits at 142 wins in his age-24 season. Please Lord, don't let this post put the mocker on him.

The View from the Gangplank June 1, 1912
 

After a 17-11 May puts us at 27-19 and just a handful of games behind the NL-leading Braves, I guess I should be happy. And don’t get me wrong, I am. But the fact is that, despite the winning record, we simply aren’t playing like a team ready to take the next step and reach the playoffs. We certainly aren’t playing like a team that – should we successfully negotiate that first hurdle – has any chance of competing against the all-conquering Senators, who have started this season with their hair on fire and look on a mission to finally win it all.

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That said there are still plenty of positives, with Lajoie and Mathewson both showing why we recruited them so heavily, Harvey his usual reliable self and Bresnahan enjoying a bit of a renaissance. And even though plenty of the other guys have underperformed to this point, that must be a positive as we've done what we've done without as much of a contribution from them as we'd like.

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I mentioned the Sens and they are just dominating the junior circuit, with Walter Johnson winning his first 12 decisions before taking his first loss in the final week of May and Cannonball Redding also enjoying a sensational sophomore season so far (he actually edged out Train in the monthly pitching award). As you can see from the standings above, they are on track to become the first team to win 100 games in a season and the others will really need to get cracking if they're going to even come close to reining them in.

Awards, news and leaders - back with a full update at the end of July.

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Stat of the Day
 

Stat of the Month: BB%
 

A nice milestone for the Dutchman, but...
 

Honus becomes just the third player - after current teammate Nap Lajoie and Wahoo Sam Crawford to reach the 200-hit plateau.

https://i.imgur.com/T8OS92h.png?1

This, only two days after having his all-time HR record to Wildfire Schulte.

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The View from the Gangplank July 1, 1912
 

When the schedule for this season was released, July immediately jumped out as a true test, with 25 of the 27 games on the road. and so it proves to be, as we limp to a 14-13 sectional and drop 7 games out of first at 41-32, a game behind the Cubs with the Braves still looking strong on top. Not panic stations by any means, but again we find ourselves with little room for error.

We lose Larry Lajoie for a fortnight after a baserunning mishap in the final game of the month. Given Nap is leading the NL in BA, it is a loss we can ill-afford.

Russ Ford's continued struggles cost him his rotation spot, with rookie Hooks Dauss moved into the spin in his place.

The Sens remain in control of the AL.

Standings, awards and news.

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Stat of the Day
 

Stat of the Month: XFIP
 

I thought some of you might be interested...
 

... in seeing how the NeL players are faring so far. After a few early missteps, I believe I've got this problematic area sorted out to a satisfactory level. That said, I'll continue to hone and hopefully improve things in this regard as we progress.

Whatever the case, I'm just chuffed to see them there.

The big news on the hitters is that Cleveland has finally relented and started playing Ben Taylor as their everyday 1B. And it has paid off for them, with Old Reliable leading either league with 11 HR.

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And there's no doubt it is Dick "Cannonball" Redding who is the story among the pitchers, as he and Walter Johnson are proving a killer 1-2 combo for the Sens. Rube Foster is also following up his outstanding rookie year with a strong sophomore campaign, and Eustaquio Pedroso is coming along nicely for the Braves as well.

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Nothing doing again here with a 12-13 July and no excuses available for our continued underperformance.

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No doubt when we look back on this season it will be our performance against the sides lower down in the standings that will tell the story of yet another fruitless campaign.

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That’s not to say we’re out of it just yet, especially with a bunch of games still to play against the division-leading Braves, but should we fail to win the vast majority of those – or if they keep on keeping on, as they have done to this point – at 10 GB, we are almost certainly too far back to catch them.

The AL looks done as the Sens remain utterly dominant.

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Bridwell has been a bit of a bust so far, both at the plate (242 / 348 / 278 with 14 RBI and 0.7 WAR) and in the field (-2.5 ZR), and with us not getting much from the cornermen (2.7 combined WAR from Honus and Herzog) I make a move putting Wagner back at SS and Lobert in at 1B.

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Awards, news, leaders.

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The View from the Gangplank September 1, 1912
 

Dear Lord, what a wild and woolly month.

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After we do what’s needed and take 3 of 4 at Boston in the first week, the wheels fall off completely and we lose 9 from our next 10 to put us on the verge of dropping out of contention.

In response, with no sign of a turnaround in his wretched form (hitting just 114 for the month), I am forced to do the unthinkable and take Honus out of the everyday lineup. He has 4.5 WAR from last season and this and has simply fallen off the cliff. We need to think beyond him and we need to do it now.

I’m not trying to hang what is happening here on Dutchie alone. Herzog’s putrid season continues, as does our pitching inconsistency, and we cannot get a shortstop to hit to save our lives.

I almost feel sad to report that it seems to do the trick as we finish off the month strongly with 12 wins from our next 14 to end up with a 16-11 record for the month. This, combined with a late wobble by the Braves, means this race is not done quite yet.

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So much of the heavy lifting to this has been done by Lajoie, Harvey, Bresnahan and Campbell, that if we can just get the others to lift I feel we can give this a decent shake. The first fortnight of September will be crucial, as it leads into a 3-game series with the Braves that may prove pivotal if we can creep closer in the time preceding. We'll have to do the early part of this without Duke, who has picked up a niggle that will keep him out of action for the better part of a week.

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Awards, news, leaders. Back at the end of the regular season with some updates in-between should the need present itself.

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Stat of the Month: Leaderboards
 

Batting Leaderboard, 1900-12

Pitching Leaderboard, 1900-12

Stat of the Day