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The Baseball Chronicle
1883 Season Preview
American League Preview
Cleveland Blues
Manager: Jamari Arms
Ball Park: League Park
Last Year Record: 69-43
Predicted Finish: 5th
Two ways of looking at this Cleveland club as they enter their third season under manager Jamari Arms. Either one can see definite improvement as the club finished second with 69 wins or one can see their efforts being not good enough for a frustrated fanbase who hasnt won in 10 years. Many see another regression coming with the pitching getting up in age lead by Joe Blong, Candy Cummings, and 38 year old George Zettlein whio is back for another turn. The offense will remain solid with Ed Swartwood and Hardy Richardson scoring plenty of runs. Wes Fisler and Ed Duffy add another two old beards the starting roster at 38 years each. Lacking true young talent, concern is raised that losing days once again are in the forecast.
Philadelphia Athletics
Manager: Malachi Thomas
Ball Park: Jefferson Street Grounds
Last Year Record: 61-51
Predicted Finish: 4th
A nice rebound season last year for the Athletics who gained some form and need to remind us that they won it all only 3 years ago. The outfield duo of George Wood and John O'Rourke are among the best on offense and defense and much is expected especially for O'Rourke who was MVP in 1879 but hasnt played much due to injury. Joe McDermott is still the ace of the pitching staff and an outstanding 2 way player but there are some signs that age is catching up to him at 33. Dick McBride makes the roster again and if anything will bring another managerial mind to the club. Hardie Henderson is a good 20 year old pitcher who is worth keeping an eye on. In any event, most see the Athletics finishing around .500 in the middle of the pack.
Columbus Buckeyes
Manager: Shamar Pate
Ball Park: Recreation Park
Last Season Record: 69-43
Predicted Finish: 2nd
Picked as the only real team that can give St. Louis a run for their money, the familiar faces of this franchise find a new home in Columbus. Ross Barnes and Deacon White are nearing the end but still contributing but the star power of this team is much deeper. Charlie Bennett is the new standard at catcher and is now making the money to prove it. Frank Mccarton continues to shine as well in center field coming off a 4.8 WAR season and a batting title. Bobby Mathews had another legendary season winning 27 games and is now just 33 shy of 300 for his career. He and the veteran Frank Fleet should work together to confound hitters again. There is always real enthusiasm when a club comes to a new city and home, but this time it is legit as the Buckeyes have the talent and the experience to get back to the top.
Detroit Wolverines
Manager: Jose Kim
Ball Park: Recreation Park
Last Season Record: 42-70
Predicted Finish: 3rd
Detroit did lose King Kelly this offseason, maybe their best player. The Wolverines however did not spend a minute feeling sorry for themselves but feel they have an up and coming squad. Some have even gone far enough to call the Kelly departure a good thing. Bill Boyd comes over from New York and continues to be as steady a player as the league has. Long John Reilly is expected to have a breakout season while Black Jack Burdock Honest John Morrill all have substantial talent. The pitching is still of concern as Laurie Reis has had an up and down career but is still just 24 years old. Top pick Dupee Shaw will soon make his impact known as the top pick in the draft and the world at his feet but he is expected to be eased in. The depth for this club really is there and their young age only will work in their favor as they come into form. Scouts really do like this team.
St. Louis Brown Stockings
Manager: Cachola Cortez
Ball Park: Sportsmans Park
Last Season Record: 76-36
Predicted Finish: 1st
This club built a legend behind it very quickly and their championship was a long time coming and very deserved. Jack Glasscock took home the MVP and in many ways is the face of the team playing defense in the middle of the diamond like no one else. Buck Ewong is already a star at catcher at only 23 years of age and among the best baserunners in the game. Of course John Ward now has a reputation of a champion and will again play both in the field at on the mound. Fred Goldsmith is a two time pitcher of the year winning but the club seems to have immense confidence in Harry Salisbury who rounds off an exceptional pitching staff. The expectation is of course to win it all again and no one would dare to bet against them. St. Louis is now a nationwide baseball hotbed and seems to be more sophisticated and astute then any other current baseball organization.
Baltimore Orioles
Manager: Jeremy Parker
Ball Park: Oriole Park
Last year record: 39-73
Predicted Finish: 7th
The addition of a new expansion club should help this Oriole team avoid finishing in the cellar even if they only won 39 games last season. The Oriole fans are quite patient and surely will let their club work things out. The only real star on the team is short stop Candy Nelson who is a former champion in New York and believes in doing things the right way. Charlie Comiskey seems to be the brightest mind on the club and even if his play hasnt been great, he is quite astute in all aspects of the game. Sam Weaver and the rest of the pitching staff are sure to let up alot of runs again. Still there likely wont be any suprises from this club this summer, the lack of true talent is out there for all to see.
Louisville Eclipse
Manager: Malik Felton
Ball Park: Eclipse Park
Last season record: 19-93
Predicted Finish: 6th
Choosing to go with aging star players rather then build for a future may have been a nice novelty act, but added up to just 19 wins last season. The club hasn't changed much, but really the only way for this club to go is up. Albert Spalding was once the best pitcher in the game and did manage two somehow win 10 times and Mickey Welch still has an excellent arm at 23 years old. The issue is not the pitching however, the issue is absolutely no offense to speak of or production from their lineup. To make matters worse the club went after pitching in the draft. It is hoped that outfielder Cliff Carroll amounts to something but he has only 4 career games played. Other names in the order like Count Sensenderfer and John Radcliff are average at best. Much like Baltimore, this club is going nowhere but the concern with Louisville is that they still are reluctant to focus on building through youth.
New York Metropolitans
Manager: Eddie Cardosa
Ball Park: Polo Grounds
Expansion Team
Predicted Finish: 8th
a club born out of spite and necessity, now its time to see if the new hastily established club can actually win any games. Former star Will White will look to find his form as the ace of the pitching staff that also has an 18 year old left hander named Will Sawyer. The lineup is really a mixture of youngsters and cast offs that will put the fear in no one. Scoring runs will really be an issue. Molly Moore and Joe Quest will try and play way above their career numbers while George Trenwith brings two championships from his former team and will do his best to try and prevent a losing habit. Everyone expects the Mets to be the worse team in the league, and the bold move to move a team to the big apple by the AL could turn into poison if the product on the field is much less then adequate.
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