We lose three of four in our opening series at the Reds but bounce back with a four-game home sweep of the Cards.
Three in a row at the Cubs takes our win streak to six before Brown shuts us out on two hits and then Taylor one-hits us in a rain-shortened six-inning game to put us back in our place.
Another loss and then a 1-0 win in which we collect just three hits but a superb game by Phillippe gets us home and I’ve seen just about enough. There’s no way I’m letting this season get away from us.
Out go the feelers.
I know precisely the two players I want. Problem is to get them both I’d have to clone the same two players the other sides each want in return. For me to swing the second deal without them in it would take four players and really rip the stuffing out of our squad. I’m not after a gutting here, just an improvement. Even the first trade would mean giving up a pitcher I’m not all that keen to lose. While we have excess mound depth, neither Jack nor Deacon are getting any younger and we still don’t know if Camnitz and Leifield are going to turn out.
So I play it on the conservative tip, sit and wait to see if we can turn things around over the next fortnight or so.
We finish April at 9-6, 2 ½ GB Brooklyn.
Hot- Deacon Phillippe: only early, but so far none of the fatigue problems I feared Deacon may be suffering have made an appearance; on the contrary he has been sensational, going 3-1 / 0.74 with a FIP- of 70. Here’s hoping I was only imagining things.
- Honus Wagner: his 357 BA is even more important given how poorly those around him are going.
Not- Our offence ex-Wagner: 226 team BA is 7th in the league, as is our 278 wOBA. The grand total of 1 HR to our credit.
- Our bullpen: with three of our four starters struggling to assert themselves, our performance has not been helped by a relief corps bleeding runs like nobody’s business, to the tune of a 5.62 ERA.
Around the Leagues- The Cards get off to a nightmare start to the campaign, losing their first 12 games.
- The White Sox begin their ’05 campaign strongly to lead the AL by 3 games with a 12-4 record.
- Cincinnati’s Noodles Hahn joins Rube Waddell in the 100-win club.
Awards- 04/28 POTW: AL – George Stovall (St. Louis) .529 / 6 RBI; NL – John Titus (Philadelphia) .619 / 4 RBI.
- AL Batter of the Month: Nap Lajoie (Philadelphia) 345 / 13 RBI.
- NL Batter of the Month: Harry Lumley (Brooklyn) 356 / 3 HR / 13 RBI.
- AL Pitcher of the Month: Frank Corridon (Chicago) 4-0 / 1.00 / 23 K / 36 IP.
- NL Pitcher of the Month: Bill Donovan (Brooklyn) 5-0 / 1.00 / 29 K / 45 IP.
- AL Rookie of the Month: Harry McIntire (Chicago) 3-1 / 2.00 / 13 K / 36 IP.
- NL Rookie of the Month: Ed Reulbach (Chicago) 2-2 / 1.42 / 9 K / 38 IP.
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