The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

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Most IP without a decision

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Groundball Percent (pitchers, 1913 season to date)

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On the verge of clinching the club's first AL Pennant, the Sox get a bonus lift when Dutch Leonard hurls the league's first no-no since 1909 and the first ever by a Red Sox pitcher.

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Full recap on its way but here are the Award winners for September to tide you over.

[luckymann]

We finish at 75-79, a distant 24 GB the Braves in equal 5th spot. While this isn't too far off my stated target of 500 ball, few good things happen for us this season. Dauss and Cooper both show some good signs, that's about it in the context of our franchise moving forward, and the negative column of the ledger far outweighs these two mild positives. Which means we have a lot of work to do to get us back on track. Definitely no short-term quick fix here.








No late shocks as the two Boston sides win going away.




The batting titles, like the Pennants, head to Beantown, with Tris Speaker (.373) and Bill Sweeney (.347) each winning it for the first time.

Washington's Smoky Joe Williams misses out on the AL Pitching Triple Crown by a measly 9 strikeouts, while Rube Foster of the Braves also wins two of the three legs in the NL.




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Boston Red Sox (100-54) v Boston Braves (99-55)

Best-of-seven, Red Sox with the home-field advantage.

BOSTON RED SOX S+ PAGE

BOSTON BRAVES S+ PAGE

Happy days in Beantown with both of their teams enjoying excellent campaigns to lock down their first pennants, guaranteeing us a first-time champion for the 1913 season. Just a game apart in their regular season records, this should be an evenly-matched and hard-fought series between two clubs with no obvious weaknesses.

I believe it will go the distance, but have no idea who’ll come out on top.

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Game 1 in Boston (AL), October 8th 1913
Dutch Leonard (25-14, 2.74) v Andrew Foster (29-9, 2.42)

With a combined 56-22 record and solid ERAs, you would think this Series will start with a pitching-dominant Game 1. It doesn’t. Not that either hurler is terrible, but the bats get plenty of licks and it ends up being an absolute classic.

The Braves hit first with 2 as Crawford gets busy, but the Red Sox score singles in each of innings 1, 2 and 3 to take a 3-2 lead. Two more for the visitors in the 5th give them a slight advantage that holds until the Sox send it into extras with a late score, setting up the dramatic finale.

With one out and a man on in the bottom 10th, Tris Speaker delivers the telling blow with a walkoff run-scoring double to get the hosts a 5-4 win and early Series lead.

Red Sox 5, Braves 4 (10 innings)

BOX SCORE


Game 2 in Boston (AL), October 9th 1913
Eustaquio Pedroso (25-14, 2.74) v Claude Hendrix (20-17, 3.06)
Red Sox lead series 1-0

This one does turn out a pitching duel as Claude Hendrix hurls a gem, blanking the Braves on 5 hits to put the Sox in the box seat as they head across town. The home side takes the early lead with one in the 1st and pads it with another in the 5th that they end up not needing. Speaker is again prominent, going 2-for-2 and driving in one of the runs.

Red Sox 2, Braves 0

BOX SCORE


Game 3 in Boston (NL), October 11th 1913
George Winter (8-1, 6.52) v Earl Yingling (27-9, 2.35)
Red Sox lead series 2-0

The underrated Yingling has been a revelation in his career to date, going 73-38 with a 2.90 ERA over the past 3 seasons, and the Sox would like this matchup against Winter.

Rightly so, as it turns out as the BoSox claim another win in a game that is never as close as the final scoreline with infer. They go ahead with singles in the 3rd and 6th, add 2 more in the 7th and then – after the Braves finally get on the sheet in the home half – blow it wide open with 4 in the 8th. Only a 3-spot by the Braves in the 9th makes this remotely respectable and the Red Sox look unstoppable from here.

Red Sox 8, Braves 4

BOX SCORE


Game 4 in Boston (NL), October 12th 1913
Andrew Foster (0-1, 4.82) v Dutch Leonard (0-0, 2.25)
Red Sox lead series 3-0

And the visitors make no mistake, coming back from a seemingly hopeless position to complete a superbly-played Series sweep.

The Braves look to have a comfortable 4-1 lead after Sam Crawford’s 2-run blast in the 6th, only for the Sox to storm back with 3 in the 7th to tie it. A run in the top 9th then puts the visitors ahead and Leonard holds his nerve to close it out for the win.

Red Sox 5, Braves 4

BOX SCORE


WASHINGTON SENATORS WIN SERIES 4-0

SERIES MVP: Tex McDonald (Boston Red Sox)



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Thought this update better-placed here than in the pre-season section.

Plenty of action on the first day of the offseason, no rest for the wicked.

Unexpectedly, Honus Wagner voids the option over the final year of his contract with us. As much as I would love Dutchie to retire a one-club player for us, I’m not going to stump up again for the privilege. He is a HOF lock, so I’ll cover his career at that time. For now, I just wish him well, wherever he lands, and thank him for all he’s done for the Pittsburgh Pirates these past 13 years.

Eddie Plank fails to meet his vesting option and, at 37, I let him go.

Both Hans Lobert’s and Howie Camnitz’s contracts with us are done and I also make no move to retain either.

I do, however, exercise Larry Lajoie’s last year.


A bunch of managerial firings to report:

• Tom Loftus (Cubs) – it’s a cruel game this Managing caper; all the success he’s had and at the first sign of underperformance, bang bang you’re dead.
• Frank Decker (Tigers)
• Frank Selee (Yankees)
• Red Woodhead (Giants)
• Steve Pittman (Phillies)

And some stalwarts of the game are leaving it, with the biggest names Fred Glade, Jack Pfiester, Earl Moore, Sammy Strang and Kid Elberfeld.

Finally, we need to find a new hitting coach after Jason Dagel also announces his retirement. We eventually replace him with John Gilroy.

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AL 1913 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1913 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Great to see Smoky Joe Williams and Jose Mendez winning the CYAs for their respective leagues this season. Tris Speaker repeats as AL MVP, while Bill Sweeney's great year is rewarded with the NL award.




All good on the sim accuracy again.

[luckymann]

Held on 12/20/13.

And so it begins. The Ruth Era. Will it in any way resemble the IRL timeline version? Only time will tell. Not many Legacies again this year, but the quality is high, with Heilmann and Faber in there as well as the Bambino.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1914 season:

Boston Red Sox: Everett Scott (16.2; 1096)
Chicago White Sox: Red Faber (63.9; 669)
Cleveland Naps: Guy Morton (15.9; 317)
Detroit Tigers: Harry Heilmann (71.9; 1990)
New York Yankees: Babe Ruth (182.5; 2084)
St. Louis Browns: Jack Tobin (20.5; 1133)

Sad Sam Jones (31.2; 202) was also eligible for the Yankees, but Ruth’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


There are 242 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 8 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1913 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1
1. New York Yankees (377)
2. Detroit Tigers (431)
3. Chicago White Sox (513)
4. St. Louis Browns (373)
5. Boston Red Sox (527)
6. Cleveland Naps (566)
7. St. Louis Cardinals (340)
8. Cincinnati Reds (418)
9. Brooklyn Robins (436)
10. Boston Braves (457)
11. Pittsburgh Pirates (523)
12. Chicago Cubs (575)
13. Philadelphia Phillies (583)
14. Washington Senators (584)
15. Philadelphia Athletics (627)
16. New York Giants (664)

Rounds 2 thru 8
1. St. Louis Cardinals (340)
2. St. Louis Browns (373)
3. New York Yankees (377)
4. Cincinnati Reds (418)
5. Detroit Tigers (431)
6. Brooklyn Robins (436)
7. Boston Braves (457)
8. Chicago White Sox (513)
9. Pittsburgh Pirates (523)
10. Boston Red Sox (527)
11. Cleveland Naps (566)
12. Chicago Cubs (575)
13. Philadelphia Phillies (583)
14. Washington Senators (584)
15. Philadelphia Athletics (627)
16. New York Giants (664)


No Legacy for us again this year. Between the end of the season and the night of the Draft, the boss and I have been mapping out our gameplan for the next 3 to 5 years, which is the timeframe we feel will be needed to get this squad where we want it to be.

The player I have my eye on – Braggo Roth, who would have plugged our gap in CF nicely – has little chance of still being around for our 1st Rounder, so our shorter-term exigencies are forgone in favour of finding a player or hopefully more who we feel have the best chance of serving us well down the track.

Here’s who we end up selecting:
1. OF Elmer Smith, 21

• With Zaza entering his age-35 season and Vin’s metrics from last season worrying us, Elmer was a fairly easy selection. Being a corner outfielder, he doesn’t solve our CF problem but hopefully in the time he has to serve in a support role he can grow into that toughest of OF slots. A great pickup.

2. P Red Oldham, 20

• A southpaw whom our Scout like the look of and who thinks should evolve into a decent enough swing starter in a few years. Not much else on offer in a very thin Pool, so I back his call and grab him.

3. C Del Baker, 21

• Better glove than bat, but may prove handy in a few years’ time.

4. P Sad Sam Jones, 21

• Like Lefty Williams a year ago, Sam is a pure hunch pick by yours truly.

5. OF Grover Gilmore, 19
6. OF Alex Burr, 20
7. P Stan Baumgartner, 19
8. IF Frank Madden, 21

• Scout’s picks.

Thanks to Smith and perhaps Oldham, a not entirely wasteful venture.

FULL DRAFT LOG

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1914 is, of course, the year of the “Miracle Braves”, who recover from a 26-40 start thru mid-July to surge all the way to the club’s first Championship, securing the Fall Classic’s first-ever sweep with a stunning rout of a strife-torn A’s squad.

AL CHAMPIONS: Philadelphia Athletics (99-53)
NL CHAMPIONS: Boston Braves (94-59)
WORLD SERIES: Braves 4, Athletics 0

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. SHERRY MAGEE, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .314 average, 96 runs, 171 hits, 39 doubles, 11 triples, 15 home runs, 103 RBIs, .509 slugging percentage.
• Perhaps displaying the best numbers of his stellar career, Magee was one of three Phillies—and one of four overall in the NL—to reach double figures in home runs.

2. GEORGE BURNS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .303 average, 100 runs, 35 doubles, 10 triples, 89 walks, 62 stolen bases.
• “Silent George” would be heard from as the only man other than Max Carey to lead the NL in steals between 1913-20.

3. GAVVY CRAVATH, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .299 average, 27 doubles, 19 home runs, 100 RBIs, 83 walks.
• The slugger exploited the short reach to Baker Bowl’s right-field wall in Philadelphia like no one else; all 19 of his home runs came at home.

4. ZACK WHEAT, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .319 average, 26 doubles, 9 triples, 9 home runs, 89 RBIs.
• The all-time hits leader for the Dodgers continued his gradual emergence to the point that he helped lift Brooklyn to its best record since 1903 (even if it was still a below-.500 club).

5. BEALS BECKER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .325 average, 76 runs, 25 doubles, 9 home runs, 66 RBIs.
• Becker nearly made it four Phillies with at least 10 homers; eight of his nine came at home, too.

6. JOE CONNOLLY, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 120 games, .306 average, 28 doubles, 10 triples, 9 home runs, 65 RBIs.
• An epitome of the Miracle Braves’ flash-in-the-pan existence (see also Bill James, below), Connolly was the champions’ most effective hitter amid a short four-year career.

7. JAKE DAUBERT, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 126 games, .329 average, 89 runs, 6 home runs, 45 RBIs, 33 sacrifice hits, 25 stolen bases.
• The repeating batting champ was accompanied by three Brooklyn teammates (among seven total in the NL) to hit over the .300 mark.

8. HEINIE ZIMMERMAN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 36 doubles, 12 triples, 87 RBIs.
• Zim continued to be a pain to opposing pitchers—but arguably an even bigger pain to everyone else, including umpires and his own teammates, for his hot temper and lackadaisical play in the field.

9. VIC SAIER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .240 average, 87 runs, 24 doubles, 8 triples, 18 home runs, 72 RBIs, 94 walks.
• Despite the sub-standard average, Saier made up by racking up enough walks to lead everyday Cubs players with a .357 on-base percentage, while his 18 home runs were second in the NL behind Cravath.

10. CASEY STENGEL, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 126 games, .316 average, 10 triples, .404 on-base percentage.
• In his second full season at Brooklyn, Stengel took the risk of shunning a multi-year contract to play for a better one the next year. The move paid off.

AL Hitters

1. EDDIE COLLINS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .344 average, 122 runs, 181 hits, 23 doubles, 14 triples, 85 RBIs, 97 walks, 58 stolen bases, .452 on-base percentage.
• Collins repeated his top echelon routine and finally got his due as the last recipient of the Chalmers version of the AL MVP. He didn’t get the car for winning the batting title—because he didn’t “win” it; they gave it to Ty Cobb for the reason explained in #4 below.

2. TRIS SPEAKER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 158 games, .338 average, 101 runs, 193 hits, 46 doubles, 18 triples, 90 RBIs, 77 walks, 42 stolen bases, .503 slugging percentage.
• Brash as ever—and for good reason—the Red Sox’ star continued to excel even while fueling a fractured clubhouse that would soon lead to his departure.

3. SAM CRAWFORD, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .314 average, 22 doubles, 26 triples, 8 home runs, 104 RBIs, 69 walks.
• The all-time triples leader tied Joe Jackson’s AL season mark of a few years earlier; 18 of his three-baggers were hit at home.

4. TY COBB, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 98 games, .368 average, 69 runs, 11 triples, 35 stolen bases.
• Though the batting title rules of the day said you had to play in at least 100 games, the AL still gave the crown to Cobb, whose season was limited to 98 games thanks to a broken thumb suffered during an attack upon a fish vendor. Under today’s guidelines, he wouldn’t be close to winning the batting title.

5. FRANK BAKER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .319 average, 84 runs, 182 hits, 23 doubles, 10 triples, 9 home runs, 89 RBIs.
• Baker produced the last of four consecutive AL HR titles; he would concede a fifth straight year by sitting out from suddenly penurious A’s manager Connie Mack.

6. TILLIE WALKER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .298 average, 24 doubles, 16 triples, 6 home runs, 78 RBIs.
• The future live-ball slugger (he would hit 37 homers in 1922), played to the mindset of the Deadball Era for now, leading the Browns with six jacks in his breakout season.

7. DEL PRATT, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 158 games, .283 average, 85 runs, 34 doubles, 13 triples, 37 stolen bases.
• The second baseman led the AL in games played, but his chance to add to that by one was foiled when he was suspended for the second game of a September doubleheader. If not for that, he would have logged a consecutive-game streak of over 700.

8. JOE JACKSON, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 122 games, .338 average, 22 doubles, 13 triples.
• Shoeless Joe did his best to make life for what few Cleveland fans showed up tolerable as the Naps nosedived to 102 losses—thanks in large part to Federal League defections.

9. STUFFY MCINNIS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .314 average, 181 hits, 95 RBIs.
• The powerless McInnis (17 home runs in 2,128 career games) collected just one to go with 95 RBIs; he remained so consistent and so well liked by A’s manager Connie Mack that he was one of the few players retained during the team’s 1915 plunge into the abyss.

10. FRITZ MAISEL, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .239 average, 78 runs, 9 triples, 76 walks, 74 stolen bases.
• Amid a brief six-year career, Maisel’s 74 steals in 1914 would be the most by a Yankee not named Rickey Henderson.

NL Pitchers

1. DICK RUDOLPH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.35 ERA, 26 wins, 10 losses, 336.1 innings.
• As Rudolph reached elite status with the Miracle Braves, Giants manager John McGraw had to be wondering, “Why didn’t you pitch like that when we had you (in 1910-11)?”

2. BILL JAMES, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 1.90 ERA, 26 wins, 7 losses, .788 win percentage, 332.1 innings.
• Not to be confused with Bill James, the future stats guru, this James developed into one of the game’s great one-year wonders; he won only six games before 1914, five afterward.

3. PETE ALEXANDER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.38 ERA, 27 wins, 15 losses, 32 complete games, 6 shutouts, 355 innings, 214 strikeouts.
• As he would often, Alexander showed that he could tame Baker Bowl’s hitter-happy expanses; he was 20-4 with a 1.84 ERA at his home park, on the eve of his über-dominance in the NL.

4. BILL DOAK, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 1.72 ERA, 19 wins, 6 losses, .760 win percentage, 7 shutouts, 256 innings.
• After a substandard debut in 1913, Doak was encouraged to try out the spitball; it was the best advice he ever took.

5. JEFF PFEFFER, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 1.97 ERA, 23 wins, 12 losses, 315 innings.
• So bad in his first shot at the majors in 1911 that even the St. Louis Browns let him go, Pfeffer’s second chance resulted in a sterling rookie effort.

6. BABE ADAMS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.51 ERA, 13 wins, 16 losses, 283 innings, 39 walks.
• The early superiority of Adams’ career came to an end as he endured in spite of bad support and a 21-inning performance in mid-July that took him nearly five years to fully recover from.

7. HIPPO VAUGHN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.05 ERA, 21 wins, 13 losses, 293.2 innings.
• After enduring a lack of respect and playing time (32-33) over his previous six years, Vaughn began a new six-year stretch (124-77) that earned a bit more attention.

8. SLIM SALLEE, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.10 ERA, 18 wins, 17 losses, 6 saves, 282.1 innings.
• Rather than try and enhance a scoring opportunity with a hit, opponents laid down 48 sacrifice bunts against Sallee in what was surely a big sign of respect.

9. JEFF TESREAU, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.37 ERA, 26 wins, 10 losses, 41 starts, 8 shutouts, 322.1 innings.
• For the third straight year, Tesreau (.209 opponents’ batting average) was the toughest pitcher to get a hit off of.

10. CHRISTY MATHEWSON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.00 ERA, 24 wins, 13 losses, 312 innings.
• In his last workhorse effort, Matty pitched over 300 innings for the fifth straight year and won at least 20 for the 12th straight—but his ERA hit 3.00 for the first time ever and he allowed a NL-high 16 home runs.

AL Pitchers

1. WALTER JOHNSON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 1.72 ERA, 28 wins, 18 losses, 51 appearances, 40 starts, 33 complete games, 9 shutouts, 371.2 innings, 225 strikeouts, 14 wild pitches.
• It didn’t matter if opposing hitters represented the AL, NL or FL; Johnson remained in a league of his own.

2. DUTCH LEONARD, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 0.96 ERA, 19 wins, 5 losses, .792 win percentage.
• In setting the all-time season mark for lowest ERA, Leonard showed no weaknesses via his splits; he was exceptional whether he was at home, away, pitching in spring or early fall, etc., etc.

3. CARL WEILMAN, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.08 ERA, 17 wins, 12 losses, 299 innings.
• The tall (6’5”) and underappreciated southpaw had one of his few above-.500 efforts for the Browns.

4. RAY CALDWELL, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 1.94 ERA, 17 wins, 9 losses, 5 shutouts.
• The tempestuous and nightlife-prone Caldwell might have been the Yankees’ first 20-game winner in three years, but he bolted from the team in mid-August and attempted to join the Federal League in a messy and ultimately legal-intensive battle that took time to untangle.

5. HARRY COVELESKI, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.49 ERA, 22 wins, 12 losses, 303.1 innings.
• Absent from the majors since 1910 with only 12 wins before then—all of them, it seemed, against the Giants—Coveleski made for a triumphant return in Detroit.

6. RAY COLLINS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.51 ERA, 20 wins, 13 losses, 272.1 innings.
• Although Dutch Leonard (above) had by far the lower ERA, Collins had more wins; it would be his last hurrah before becoming victim of an overcrowded and talented Red Sox rotation.

7. RUBE FOSTER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 1.70 ERA, 14 wins, 8 losses.
• Not the Negro League founder of the same name, Foster broke onto the Red Sox’ scene as part of a short but sweet tenure.

8. JOE BENZ, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.26 ERA, 15 wins, 19 losses, 283.1 innings.
• True to form with most White Sox pitchers of the time, Benz threw exceptionally well enough to be saddled with a losing record—all despite recording the AL’s lone no-hitter of the year.

9. EDDIE CICOTTE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.04 ERA, 11 wins, 16 losses, 269.1 innings.
• See Joe Benz, above. No wonder White Sox owner Charles Comiskey went out and grabbed Joe Jackson and Eddie Collins for the following season.

10. HOOKS DAUSS, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.86 ERA, 18 wins, 15 losses, 302 innings.
• The Tigers wisely locked the young right-hander up when the Federal League came calling, as he delivered with his initial workhorse campaign and long lifespan (through 1926) with Detroit.

[luckymann]

A few offseason moves and FA signings of note:

• P Ed Walsh: Senators, 5 years / $24300
• 2B Miller Huggins: Cardinals, 3 years / $14240
• 3B Mike Mowrey: Cardinals, 1 year / $3460
• 1B Hans Lobert: Giants, 1 year / $3320
• OF Danny Murphy: Tigers, 1 year / $3080
• OF John Titus: Cardinals, 1 year / $3060
• P John Burke: White Sox, 1 year / $2940
• 2B Dots Miller: Yankees, 1 year / $2420
• P John Skopec: A’s, 1 year / $1760
• 2B Larry Schlafly: Senators, 1 year / $1720
• P Red Ames: A’s, 1 year / $1540
• P Addie Joss: A’s, 1 year / $1540
• P Fred Burchill: Robins, 1 year / $1540
• P Bill Hogg: White Sox, 1 year / $1540
• P Chick Robitaille: White Sox, 1 year / $1540
• P Cy Falkenberg: Braves, 1 year / $1520

Yankees owner Salvatore Martinez has sadly passed away, with his son Sal jr taking over control of the franchise.
We finish up ST with a 10-8 record and I am most surprised when we come in third in the preseason predictions with an 80-74 record. The BoSox are tipped top of the AL, while the Cards are favoured to win their first NL Pennant.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

Don’t forget you can access our team page if so inclined HERE HERE, but here’s the annual summary.

Sadly I foresee another pretty unfruitful season for us as we enter a transition phase partly of desire and partly of necessity. Once again this is going to be all about getting some miles under the hood for the younger guys and figuring out what to do with the rest. Lots of trial and error on the cards. A 77-77 season will be more than acceptable from where we stand right now.

Catchers

• C Les Nunamaker (R)
• Roger Bresnahan (R)

Duke has really lost a step and we’re giving Les his chance to become our everyday catcher for the next few seasons. Should he not take it we’ll have to look elsewhere.

Infielders

• 1B Wally Pipp (L)
• 2B John Henry Lloyd (L)
• 3B Scotty Ingerton (R)
• SS Buck Herzog (R)

• Nap Lajoie (R)
• Al Bridwell (L)
• Joe Gedeon (R) also plays LF

JHL gets an early chance to show us what he's got after an excellent offseason. Scotty Ingerton's good performances in a bit role over the past couple of seasons get him the nod here at 3B with an eye toward the future. Buck switches to SS.

Outfielders

• LF Max Carey (S)
• CF Vin Campbell (L)
• RF Zaza Harvey (L)

• Red Killefer (R)
• Armando Marsans (R) will see plenty of game time v LHP
• Elmer Smith (L)

It won't take much for me to deploy Elmer, he looks ready to go.

Rotation

1. RHP Rube Vickers
2. RHP Hooks Dauss
3. LHP Wilbur Cooper
4. RHP Al Mamaux

Bullpen

• RHP Louis Drucke
• RHP Russ Ford
• RHP Christy Mathewson
• LHP Lefty Williams

One pleasant surprise over the offseason has been the huge development from Al Mamaux, to the point that he has pushed Matty from the spin for Opening Day. Obviously the proof will be in the playing, but fingers crossed he delivers on the promise he has shown.

[luckymann]

After dropping our first four games we get it together somewhat and end the month at 7-9. Too small a sample size for any conclusions to be drawn just yet, about us or anyone else.

The Phillies lose pitcher Tom Hughes for the year to an elbow injury.

Brooklyn's Zack Wheat hits for the cycle in an 8-4 win over the Braves.

Standings, awards, news. Deeper recap in a month.






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[luckymann]

Achieved with his trademark panache.



This also happened on the same day and I thought it should be noted for posterity just in case this kid ends up being half-decent.

[luckymann]

Ahead of the full recap at end May, some important news.

Things are going pretty well so far, but one position we are struggling at production-wise is 3B. I have a bit of a sniff around for options to upgrade until, in the middle of a series against the other team involved, the following big trade is formulated, canvassed and completed.

TRADE 1 OF 5 (05/18/14)

OF Vin Campbell, 2B Nap Lajoie, P Harry Harper and P Lou Fiene traded to Boston (NL) for 3B Frank Baker

I need not explain the quality of Frank "Home Run" Baker. 1912 MVP, a huge bat (career 318 / 369 / 456 slash) and reliable glove (2.5 fielding runs this season already).

That said, there’s no doubt we’ve taken a risk here trading a proven commodity like Vin, even with Elmer Smith having slotted in so well. And Harper has every chance of becoming a valuable SP down the track. (Larry Lajoie is a FA at season-end and Lou Fiene had little chance of featuring for us.)

But Frank is just 28 and should therefore have plenty of productive seasons to come. Only plays the one position which makes us somewhat inflexible at the corners with Pipp similarly one-dimensional. But I have no doubt this makes us a markedly improved ballclub moving forward.

It leaves us just a tad thin for OF backup, and I'll be on the lookout for an upgrade there. Carey moves back to CF, with Smith in left. Ingerton will continue to platoon v LHP at 1B and now backup the corners for the remainder.

[luckymann]

A super streaky but ultimately pleasing 17-11 May for our boys that features win streaks of seven, six and four games, along with losing streaks of three and four.



As you'd expect, both our hitting and pitching have had their hot and cold moments. But, overall, things are looking decidedly positive to this point. Herzog remains a huge concern at the plate, again hitting well under what we need from him. Harvey, too, has struggled. But Smith and Pipp are both hitting over 300 and Lloyd is finally showing more along the lines of what we've thought he had all along. Our rotation has been great, and we currently have an NL-best starter ERA of 2.69. Somewhat surprisingly given his stellar performance last year, it is Dauss dragging the chain a bit and we're looking for a sharp improvement from him henceforth. One really pleasing point is the steep improvement in our defence (+6.6 ZR, 4th in the NL), and we'll be working hard for that trend to continue.





Obviously still very early doors, but the BoSox are looking strong again in the AL, while the Cards have done as the tipsters thought and started the campaign well.



Awards, news, leaders.







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[luckymann]

Worst 100 RBI seasons by OBP (scaled to 95)

[luckymann]

Weighted Runs Created Plus (1914 season to date)

[luckymann]

Smoky Joe adds his name to the no-no honour roll with a gem against Cincy....



... while Wahoo Sam becomes the 2nd member of the 2500-hit Club.



Congratulations to both.