TWIFB note - today is an off-day in the league with the preseason predictions issue set for tomorrow and Opening Day 1944 to follow.
CANNONS SET FOR OPENING DAY -- Cleveland, OH Tuesday April 18, 1944: Cincinnati Cannons manager Ad Doria say he is all set for Opening Day of the 1944 baseball campaign after the club made a move yesterday to bring in veteran righthander Tom Barrell from Pittsburgh. That name, of course, is well known to Cincinnati ball fans and the Cannons organization. Barrell, 36, is a 3-time Allen Award winner during his time with the Brooklyn Kings. He is also the son of former Cannons Scouting Director Rufus Barrell, the uncle of injured Cincinnati ace and 2-time Allen Award winner Deuce Barrell and the childhood friend of 30-year-old rookie outfielder Rufus Daniels. Oh, and those 3 Allen Awards and 3 pennants Tom won in Brooklyn came on team in which the current Cannons General Manager Tiger Fan was overseeing. So, it was certainly a familiar face that will join the team in Cleveland today as the Cannons prepare for the lid lifter against the Foresters this afternoon.
Barrell is a mere shadow of what he once was as a pitcher and certainly will not replace his nephew Deuce, out for the season with elbow woes, as the ace of the Cincinnati staff. But he is a veteran pitcher (152-98 career mark) with plenty of experience and a tremendous work ethic who will act almost as a second pitching coach and hopefully give the team a few solid innings in relief and perhaps even the occasional start when the doubleheaders start to pile up. The cost was not particularly expensive with 37-year-old outfielder Moxie Pidgeon going the other way. Pidgeon was hanging on by a thread to his big league career -and surviving on name and past history alone- after two very poor seasons and a spring that was no better.
The Cannons, who were considered unlikely to make a waiver wire move prior to the acquisition, now seem all but assured of not making any changes as they begin their season with 3 games in Cleveland against the lowly Foresters before returning home to Tice Memorial Stadium to face the Toronto Wolves in a weekend series that will be highlighted by Friday's ceremony to hoist the 1943 World Championship Banner.
***PITCHING STAFF SHOULD BE SOLID ***
Deuce Barrell will, of course, be on hand for the flag raising but that will be the only time this year the 26 year old steps on the field. A devastating injury in the opening week of spring ended the lefthanders season before it began and put an end to any chances he might have had of duplicating his uncle's feat of three straight Allan Awards.
Despite Deuce's absence the Cannons staff still projects to be very solid. 32-year-old Butch Smith (18-9, 2.69) will be counted on to be the number one starter with veteran lefthanders Chris Clarke (13-14, 2.60) and Roger Perry (11-7, 3.84) joined by 25-year-old Vic Carroll (13-7, 2.40) as returning starters. 29-year-old rookie Dan Adams, who went 10-5 in Indianapolis a year ago will battle with veteran southpaw Jake Smith (2-5, 3.00) for the fifth starter role with 35-year-old Larry Brown (8-7, 2.30) being the main option out of the bullpen. Veteran newcomers Fred Hall (5-2, 2.63), a waiver pick-up from the Philadelphia Sailors, and Tom Barrell (2-4, 3.79) will round out the mound staff.
*** LINEUP LACKS PUNCH ***
Losing Deuce Barrell for the season obviously hurts but where the Cannons might feel the strain more is on the offensive side of things. Adam Mullins -the 1943 Continental Association Whitney Award winner and arguably the best catcher in the game- is gone after heeding the call of the Navy. With his bat, along with that of 5-time all-star center fielder Fred Galloway -who is now a member of the Coast Guard- gone from the lineup runs may be tough to come by.
The catching duties will be given to Buster Farrar (.270,6,26), a former Cannons farmhand who was lost to the New York Stars in the rule five draft a few years back but reacquired over the winter, with 28 year old rookie Tommy Morris acting as his caddy.
The infield is pretty well intact with first baseman Chuck Adams (.271,16,84), shortstop Jim Hensley (.231,8,64) and third baseman Billy Dalton (.277,16,72) returning. The lone newcomer to the starting quartet will be 32 year old Tony White, who spent last season in Indianapolis but has more than 500 games of FABL experience and is considered a gloveman nearly the equal of Charlie Rivera, who held down second base a year ago but is now in the Navy. Veterans Jack Cleaves (.269,3,40), Denny Andrews (.251,4,20) and Charlie Ross (.212,0,7) will be the reserves.
The loss of Galloway forces a reshuffling in the outfield as Bob Griffith (.288,2,64) will shift from left field to center. Sam Brown (.307,4,78) -who played such a key role in the title win after coming over from Washington last season- will again handle the rightfield duties. Left is going to begin as the domain of Rufus Daniels -a 30-year-old with just 18 career FABL at bats on his resume. His glovework will not come into question and Daniels can also spell Griffith in centerfield if need be but there are worries about whether or not he will hit enough to stick in the lineup. If he falters, look to veteran Alf Pestilli (.254,6,36) to get a shot at the position but if one was expecting the Cannons to make a roster upgrade or two, similar to the frenzy that went on at the deadline a year ago, a new left fielder is the most likely place to start. Rounding out the outfield crew are veterans Jim Mason (.229,1,9) and Mel Alvarez, a waiver pickup who hit .306 in AAA Toledo last season.
*** A REPEAT IS LIKELY TOO MUCH TO ASK ***
Most experts felt the Cannons would be competitive this season and prior to the Rufus Barrell injury some even felt that a second consecutive Continental Association crown was certainly a possibility. However, the loss of Barrell, coupled with the Chicago Cougars addition of veteran lefthander Mike Murphy from Detroit, makes the Windy City Gang a clear favorite to claim the title this time around. Toronto will also be tough so even finishing second might be too much to ask of this group.
Here is how this writer sees the Continental race finishing up: 1-Chicago, 2- Toronto, 3-Cincinnati, 4-Philadelphia, 5-Montreal, 6-New York, 7-Brooklyn, 8-Cleveland. 1943 was a very special season for the Queen City. Let's celebrate the Cannons crowning achievement Friday by packing the ballpark but remember to temper your expectations for 1944. This will be a good Cincinnati ballclub, an entertaining one, but unless some drastic upgrades are made during the season or Selective Service leaves the Cannons alone but hits the Cougars and Wolves during the campaign, we will not see another flag raising on Opening Day 12 months from now.