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percy_sutherland · 12-19-2019, 06:06 PM

Next week at this time, the clubs will be leaving their southern locales, heading back north, ready for the 1929 season to begin. So it's time for me to give you my predictions on the order of finish in each league. I'll group the clubs that I think will finish close to one another, starting with the Federal Association.

Federal Association

1. Philadelphia Keystones

I'm not sure what happened to the Keystones last season, but for my money the lineup they can field puts them in a class by themselves. If they get any kind of pitching--and I believe they will--they will be difficult for anyone to catch in the Federal.

2. Detroit Dynamos
3. Pittsburgh Miners

The two clubs that are the best positioned in case the Keystones stumble. Detroit made some moves over the winter that should strengthen the club. Pittsburgh will really feel the loss of Jim Renfroe for the first part of the season, but they have some help on the farm that may be able to come to the rescue.

4. New York Gothams

The Gothams are a team in transition. They won the championship in 1926 but have had consecutive losing seasons since. Led by Bud Jameson, they are strong enough to stay out of the 2nd division, but too many questions surround an aging pitching staff to catch the top teams.

5. Chicago Chiefs
6. St. Louis Pioneers
7. Washington Eagles
8. Boston Minutemen

The Chiefs took advantage of a down year by Philadelphia and historic seasons from Masters and Hampton to catch some lightening in a bottle in 1928. I think they'll be hard-pressed to duplicate their success. St. Louis, Washington, and Boston are all in various stages of rebuilding.

Continental Association

1. Philadelphia Sailors
2. New York Stars
3. Cleveland Foresters

With good young talent in the majors, and a deep farm, the Sailors will be tough to supplant in the Continental. The Stars are the closest match to the Sailors. And while Cleveland has one of the better lineups in the game, there are too many questions about the pitching for the club to rise to the top.

4. Brooklyn Kings

Brooklyn, too, has one of the better lineups in the game. And that should be enough to keep them out of the 2nd division, but let's just say that the pitching staff is "in transition."

5. Montreal Saints
6. Baltimore Cannons

Montreal has a good, young pitching staff that keeps getting better and a young lineup that is on the verge of coming of age. They are a club to watch. Baltimore just doesn't have enough in the lineup after Joe Welch and Lou Kelly to break out of the 2nd division, even with a strong pitching staff.

7. Chicago Cougars
8. Toronto Wolves

Chicago has some good young talent--Bill Asbaugh, Mack Deal, and Fred Barrell--to go with the ageless wonder John Dibblee. It's the pitching that will hold them back. Toronto is another club that may be transitioning toward a rebuild.

12-19-2019, 06:06 PM	#21
percy_sutherland Bat Boy Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 11	April 8th, 1929: From the Desk of Percy Sutherland Next week at this time, the clubs will be leaving their southern locales, heading back north, ready for the 1929 season to begin. So it's time for me to give you my predictions on the order of finish in each league. I'll group the clubs that I think will finish close to one another, starting with the Federal Association. Federal Association 1. Philadelphia Keystones I'm not sure what happened to the Keystones last season, but for my money the lineup they can field puts them in a class by themselves. If they get any kind of pitching--and I believe they will--they will be difficult for anyone to catch in the Federal. 2. Detroit Dynamos 3. Pittsburgh Miners The two clubs that are the best positioned in case the Keystones stumble. Detroit made some moves over the winter that should strengthen the club. Pittsburgh will really feel the loss of Jim Renfroe for the first part of the season, but they have some help on the farm that may be able to come to the rescue. 4. New York Gothams The Gothams are a team in transition. They won the championship in 1926 but have had consecutive losing seasons since. Led by Bud Jameson, they are strong enough to stay out of the 2nd division, but too many questions surround an aging pitching staff to catch the top teams. 5. Chicago Chiefs 6. St. Louis Pioneers 7. Washington Eagles 8. Boston Minutemen The Chiefs took advantage of a down year by Philadelphia and historic seasons from Masters and Hampton to catch some lightening in a bottle in 1928. I think they'll be hard-pressed to duplicate their success. St. Louis, Washington, and Boston are all in various stages of rebuilding. Continental Association 1. Philadelphia Sailors 2. New York Stars 3. Cleveland Foresters With good young talent in the majors, and a deep farm, the Sailors will be tough to supplant in the Continental. The Stars are the closest match to the Sailors. And while Cleveland has one of the better lineups in the game, there are too many questions about the pitching for the club to rise to the top. 4. Brooklyn Kings Brooklyn, too, has one of the better lineups in the game. And that should be enough to keep them out of the 2nd division, but let's just say that the pitching staff is "in transition." 5. Montreal Saints 6. Baltimore Cannons Montreal has a good, young pitching staff that keeps getting better and a young lineup that is on the verge of coming of age. They are a club to watch. Baltimore just doesn't have enough in the lineup after Joe Welch and Lou Kelly to break out of the 2nd division, even with a strong pitching staff. 7. Chicago Cougars 8. Toronto Wolves Chicago has some good young talent--Bill Asbaugh, Mack Deal, and Fred Barrell--to go with the ageless wonder John Dibblee. It's the pitching that will hold them back. Toronto is another club that may be transitioning toward a rebuild.