TEN THINGS I THINK WITH JIGGS MCGEE
1- The New York Gothams are clearly the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of this universe (Jiggs must have the ability to see about 90 years into the future). They got their Brady in Max Morris. Staying with the Tampa analogy, the addition of Joe Perret from Cleveland gives the Gothams a dependable sidekick to Morris along the lines of Gronk. Perret and Sprague will get on base and set the table for the big three power guys. If this top half of batting order doesn't scare Federal Association pitchers then I am not sure what would:
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POSSIBLE GOTHAM BATTING ORDER 1-5
1 CF Bobby Sprague .339/.393/.444 4 HR 64 RBI
2 LF Joe Perret .356/.403/.564 14 HR 64 RBI
3 RF Bud Jameson .381/.446/.668 32 HR 114 RBI
4 1B Max Morris .360/.432/.709 48 HR 132 RBI
5 2B Mose Christopher .281/.344/.452 25 HR 103 RBI
Jameson, Morris and Christopher combined for 105 homeruns last season. Other than the St Louis Pioneers, who are now in a complete rebuild without Morris and the Gothams themselves, no other Federal Association team hit more then 99 homers. That is team - as in the entire ballclub, not just 3 guys.
Now New York's Bigsby Oval is not the power hitter's paradise that Pioneers Field has been all these years for Morris, so the thinking is his production might drop a bit in New York. On the other hand it will be tough for team's to pitch around Morris unlike in previous seasons (No one has been intentionally walked more over the past two seasons than Morris). Either way there will be plenty of excitement this season at the Bigsby Oval for fans who love the long ball.
2- I am not sure that this trade just guarantees the Gothams a second straight pennant. Were we not saying the same thing about the Keystones a couple of years back when they brought in Phil Sandman and Jimmy Endler to join Rankin Kellogg and his crew to try and win a second straight title in 1928. They club nose-dived to 5th and Stones fans in Philly are still waiting for that pennant to follow up the 1927 championship.
3- The Gothams added a lot of offense but did they give a way a key insurance piece in the decision to move on from 31 year old Carlos Cano? Cano had a tremendous year and while he is 31, an age where a lot of players seem to tail off, I am not certain this was the best move for a team with it's sights set on another title and relying on a 36 year old Max Morris to help get them there. If he stays healthy, the Gothams likely won't miss Cano's bat. But what if Mighty Mo, who has already dealt with 2 serious injuries in the past three seasons, breaks down. If I am the Gothams I would have felt a lot better having Cano ready to step in to the lineup. I am also worried more than a bit about the Gothams pitching.
4- I think the Montreal Saints got great value in the deal to acquire Cano without sacrificing a top 100 prospect. Cano is a doubles hitting machine - his 52 last season is the 6th highest total of all-time and he should thrive at hitting them into the huge left field at Parc Cartier.
5- The Philadelphia Sailors have won 3 straight Continental Association titles and 2 World Championships in that span. However, last season they finished just two games up on both Baltimore and Montreal and 4 ahead of the Chicago Cougars. The Sailors have not changed much but the other 3 teams have all upgraded: Cano to Montreal, 25 year old outfielder Joe Snider who hit .300 last year to the Cannons while the Cougars went all in by acquiring 36 year old ace Steve Castellini, who was 19-7 a year ago with the Gothams. And perhaps the Brooklyn Kings, with two of the best young arms in baseball in Tommy Wilcox and newly acquired Milt Fritz, might also be in the mix. The CA is going to be fun this year.
6- It was quite an off-season for Montreal. The big news was the recent deal to acquire Cano but the Saints also have to be very excited with the news that their first round pick, pitcher Chuck Murphy, debuted at #17 on the top prospects list. The 21 year old righthander, who was 14-13 over his career at Ellery College, was selected 12th overall.
7- The highest ranked position player prospect from the draft is Art McMahon, who was taken 8th overall by the New York Stars and sits at #30 on his initial appearance on the prospect list. McMahon actually sat last season out rather than enrolling in college so he could be eligible for the draft again this year, after failing to sign with the New York Gothams a year ago when they took him in the 11th round.
8- Harry Barrell, the latest in baseball's first family, headlines the 1931 draft crop which just has to be stronger then this years group. The youngest Barrell brother is a terrific shortstop for Atlanta High School and he hit .371 in 40 games last season, before batting .519 in 7 playoff contests. The first overall pick next year might be Barrell but it could also be Central Ohio second baseman Freddie Jones, who followed up an outstanding .486 batting average his freshman year by hitting .418 last season. Jones looks to be a plus defender at second and has a little pop in his bat with 6 homers each of the past two seasons.
9- Looking two years down the road, one should keep an eye on Memphis High School catcher Harry Mead. In his 15 year old season last summer, Mead hit .443 with 7 homers while also throwing out 46% of would be base stealers. George Fox outfielders Chink Stickles and Henry Reid are another pair to watch for in the 1932 draft. Centerfielder Stickles hit .405 with 7 homers in 50 games while leftfielder batted .404 with 5 round-trippers as freshmen.
10- Speaking of the draft. It was an unusual draft class this past December, to say the least. Old Jiggs nailed the first overall pick, correctly guessing on catcher Jack Flint going to St Louis but only got 5 other first rounders correct. McGee got the round right on Johnny Turner, Bitch Waldron, Donnie Scheuermann, Rip Curry and Al Horton. In comparison, Jiggs had 10 of 16 correct in the 1929 draft, which was far more heavily weighted with talented collegiate players.