The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Pittsburgh Pirates (104-50) v Boston Red Sox (98-56)

Best-of-seven, Pirates with the home-field advantage.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES S+ PAGE

BOSTON RED SOX S+ PAGE

Well this matchup kind of feels many years in the making. It sees the two winningest teams over the past few seasons finally meet head-to-head in what can easily be viewed as a heavyweight title fight.

At least that’s how it looks on paper.

But, with our late-season fadeout and all the playoff baggage we are carrying, there’s no doubt in my mind they have the edge on us. We will need to be at our absolute best to beat them. The offences are fairly even and both pitching squads – with the exception of Leonard – are more workmanlike than stacked with superstars. It is our defence that concerns me. Errors and poor plays are so magnified in these short series, and it is hard to ignore the vast (70 ZR) gap in favour of their defensive formation over the course of this season.

We cannot slip up here. The Cards are coming and coming fast and I’m not sure we can rely on too many more chances to get more shots at the title.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Pittsburgh, October 8th 1916
Rube Vickers (30-12, 2.51) v Dutch Leonard (29-9, 1.98)

As I mentioned in the preview, these are two evenly-matched sides. Which means the team that minimises its mistakes and maximises its opportunism will almost certainly emerge victorious. A home win against Leonard would be the perfect start for us.

An error in the 2nd by Charleston bodes ill and lets them go ahead 1-0 and they get another one in the next as Vickers struggles to find his rhythm.

We load the bases in the 5th but just can’t find the key hit and when Hooper leads off the 6th with a solo shot we’re in trouble deep, with only a fine OF assist at home by Rice keeping it at that.

We cancel that one out with a run on a two-out Fisher single in the home half and get back to 3-2 on a Carey run-scoring hit in the next.

I lift Leonard for a PH in the 8th but we still trail by a run as Drucke takes the hill. He gets a 1-2-3 9th and we get the winning runs on with one out but Carey GIDPs to end the game at 3-2.

Red Sox 3, Pirates 2

BOX SCORE



Game 2 in Pittsburgh, October 9th 1916
Wilbur Cooper (25-11, 2.24) v Bert Gallia (23-16, 2.51)
Red Sox lead series 1-0

Cooper had a great year and needs to deliver in this one to avoid us heading to Beantown in an 0-2 hole.

We fall behind in the 2nd on a costly mistake pitch by Cooper that Weaver deposits into the LF bleachers for a 3-run homer and things spiral from there as he puts in an absolute shocker, unable to finish the 3rd and eventually giving up 6 runs on 11 hits. Adams comes in.

We need runs quick, and Charleston obliges with an RBI triple and scores on a groundout by Baker, who is yet to register a hit. We chip away with another run in the next on a Cobb groundout to make it 6-3.

But then our defensive shortcomings come to bear as a Cobb error opens the door to a 2-run 6th and we are in all sorts yet again.

Again the bats respond as Carey singles one in and Smith – hitting for Adams – makes it 8-6 with a two-out two-run two-bagger, chasing Gallia. A Cobb single makes it a one-run affair. Williams enters the fray.

The momentum shifts as they make two errors and we tie the game at 8 on a Smith single then go ahead on a Cobb SF.

Williams stays in, sends them down in order, and we get a huge, miraculous win. Great effort by the lads.

Pirates 9, Red Sox 8

BOX SCORE



Game 3 in Boston, October 11h 1916
Claude Hendrix (25-13, 2.61) v Carl Mays (18-10, 3.61)
Series tied 1-1

A massive contest here, especially with Leonard back up next, and Mays will need to be at his very best against the underrated Hendrix.

We open the scoring in the 1st on a Charleston bloop single with Cobb at third, then two-out singles to Groh and Carey double our lead. We know their left-strong meat will be trouble here and through them, they come straight back with a deuce.

Cobb has found his swing and his speed is giving them trouble as well, and he’s in the thick of it again when we retake the lead on a Rice triple in the 2nd. Charleston then doubles and it’s 4-2 and a Baker single adds another one.

Speaker and Hooper once again smash Mays about in the 4th but he recovers to just let one run score and we immediately square it off with one in the 5th on a Fisher single. Cobb then crushes a long double to straightaway CF to make it 7-3 and that’s it for Hendrix. Gehring, his replacement, gets a rude welcome from Rice, who triples in another run.

We know no lead is truly safe from their lineup so I urge the lads to keep pressing. Fisher does what’s needed in the top 6th, banging a 2-run trip to make it 10-3. Now we need to keep it tight. Ingerton replaces Cobb at 1B.

A 2-run double by Fisher in the 8th puts the finishing touches to another strong offensive showing but Mays can’t see it through, coming out after giving up a 2-run homer to Milan. Dauss is unconvincing, giving up another run before we finally close it out 12-6.

Pirates 12, Red Sox 6

BOX SCORE



Game 4 in Pittsburgh, October 12th 1916
Dutch Leonard (1-0, 1.00) v Rube Vickers (0-1, 3.38)
Pirates lead series 2-1

Around we go again, Leonard v Vickers II.

An error by Weaver in the 1st puts us in the frame with a run and Carey plates another one with a single.

After a couple of near-misses in the early going, Vickers finally cracks in the 4th as they get a run. Ominously, Leonard has found his groove after that early wobble.

Vickers is a great competitor, and he gets us all the way to the 8th in front, only to stumble and they smack him all over the park in the 8th, scoring 4 before I can get him out, cursing my decision not to go to the bullpen. A decision that costs us the game as they post an 8-spot and we go down without a sound.

Red Sox 9, Pirates 2

BOX SCORE



Game 5 in Boston, October 13th 1916
Bert Gallia (0-0, 11.12) v Wilbur Cooper (0-0, 16.20)
Series tied 2-2

No time to mope about after yesterday’s disappointment, we need to get back at it straight away and put things to rights. The decision of who would be our starter here was – to put it mildly – a close-run thing. Cooper’s playoff performance spanning these past two Series has been nothing short of diabolical, with his ERA in 3 games north of 10. With Williams available as another southpaw option to try and counter their big LHB, I only just opted for the status quo by a hair’s breadth. Rest assured, the hook will be the shortest in MLB history, as I’m sure will be the case in the opposition camp. The last thing I want is for us to head home facing elimination again.

Things do not start well, as Lewis takes him deep in the 1st to make it 1-0, making it four homers to none in their favour for the series.

A two-base error by McDonald puts Baker on in the 3rd and Carey knots it up with a two-out single, with another by Easterly putting us in front.

The pitchers settle down until the bottom 7th, when they get a rally going and eventually tie it at 2.

Baker finally contributes meaningfully, singling one in for us in the 8th to make it 3-2.

We get men at the corners with one out in the 9th and I pull the trigger, hitting Bigbee for Cooper, and he comes through for us with a run-scoring double and Ingerton makes it 6-2 with a 2-run single. Drucke finishes them off with a clean bottom half for the win.

Pirates 6, Red Sox 2

BOX SCORE



Game 6 in Pittsburgh, October 15th 1916
Carl Mays (1-0, 5.62) v Claude Hendrix (0-1, 15.43)
Pirates lead series 3-2

We have been here before. This series is just as even as the moment the first pitch of Game 1 was thrown. We don’t close this out today then we have to do so against Leonard. It’s that simple.

We go ahead in the 1st on a two-out Baker hit and Carey adds two more with a double. The bats start the way we need, with Cobb adding a 4th in the next on a single and Charleston makes it 5-0 with a two-out triple.

A couple of outstanding plays by our cornermen in the next really lift the spirits. But there’s a long, long way to go.

They start to find their range and score two, with Charleston nailing one at home to kill the rally.

They keep belting Mays and I’ve seen enough, lifting him for Williams after they’ve scored one and put another on in the 5th.

The hits have completely dried up for us and they are full of running, scoring again in the 6th to make it a one-run affair.

We finally get a rally going in the bottom of that inning and I hit Harvey for Williams but it comes to nought.

Drucke into action to start the 7th. He gets a clean inning but then gives up the lead with a run conceded in the 8th.

5-5.

They bring Leonard on in relief.

Baker greets him with an ITP home run. With two out and a man on second, they choose to pitch to Fisher despite the empty base. He singles to make it 7-5.

Three lousy outs. Instead, we let them load the bases on two hits and an error by Cobb. That’s Drucke done.

We completely fall apart and they put 5 on the board. We have no response and take easily the toughest loss I’ve ever endured, made even more so by the fact that it is very much on me. In my stupid excitement, I left Drucke in too long and should have had Ingerton at 1B to replace Cobb. Sadly, there are neither crying nor mulligans permitted in baseball.

Red Sox 10, Pirates 7

BOX SCORE



Game 7 in Pittsburgh, October 16th 1916
Rube Vickers (0-2, 5.87) v Dutch Leonard (3-0, 1.35)
Series tied 3-3

I wish I had some juste mot or five at my disposal, but I do not. Just as with Joe Williams last year, our opponents decide to start Leonard despite him throwing 44 pitches yesterday.

We get to him early with a run on a Charleston triple in the bottom 1st but fail to bring him in. We do, however, get a second run the next inning on a Vickers groundout.

We get Rube another run in the 4th on a two-out Cobb single. He is giving it everything but they get on the board with one in the 6th and this is in the balance again. Even more so when they make it 3-2 in the next.

Bottom of the 9th, still 3-2. I don’t make the same mistake with Cobb, but leave Vickers in.

Torriente grounds out.

Wilson grounds out.

Scott pops out to Groh.

I pop a heart tablet. Then the cork off some champagne. I do believe we’ve earned it.

Pirates 3, Red Sox 2

BOX SCORE



PITTSBURGH WINS SERIES 4-3

SERIES MVP: Bob Fisher (Pittsburgh)




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[luckymann]

A bit of carnage in the managerial ranks with Kid Camp (Yankees), Harry Davis (A’s) and Phil Powers (Braves) all in the market for a new gig.

Roger “The Duke of Tralee” Bresnahan announces his retirement, as does our stalwart long-time Pirate Danny Murphy. Other big names hanging them up include Ed Walsh (who you'd have to regard as a good chance for the HOF), Cy Falkenberg, and Tommy Leach.

After Andre White moves on, we hire Honus Wagner as our new Bench Coach.

We release Red Killefer and Nick Maddox.

[luckymann]

AL 1916 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1916 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY

Number 4 MVP for Tris Speaker and our own Frank Baker wins his third award in the NL.

A great result for veteran Rube Vickers, who caps off his 30-win season and Game 7 heroics with his first CYA at age 38. Dutch Leonard wins his second in the AL.

And a great result for my NeL project with Heavy Johnson of the A's and the Cardinals' Dave Malarcher winning the respective RoY gongs.

The HR figure continues to remain high, which is working out as I want it so that the figures aren't squashed by the addition of the NeL guys. I don't fancy tinkering with the LTMs so hopefully this continues along the same vein into the 1920s and beyond. Only the 2B rate seems to be ticking up, which I'm OK with but will continue to monitor.

[luckymann]

The great Tris Speaker is headed to the NL as Brooklyn gets serious...

[luckymann]

... as are we with this signing.



No need I'm sure to explain the significance of this acquisition for our club. We've lacked a true ace for some time and, with Vickers' career winding down, needed someone like Train to step in. But we've gone down this route before and been disappointed, so there are no guarantees.

Still, 5 CYA, 277 wins and a career 2.25 ERA aren't to be sniffed at. And he is still just 29. One can only speculate why Washington let him go, as is the case with Boston and Spoke (I'd say the presence of Torriente may have had something to do with this one...), and the Giants with gun infielder Larry Doyle, who has been snapped up by the Indians.

Hopefully, their loss is our gain.

WALTER JOHNSON PAGE

[luckymann]

The 20th-century version of Shohei Ohtani has made the switch to everyday player first, pitcher second.

Here, one would suspect, come the Yankees...

[luckymann]

The holdouts need their heads read...

[luckymann]

Held on 12/20/1916.

Another really weak class coming through for 1917 with just 3 Legacies and Youngs the only certified superstar.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1917 season:

New York Giants: Ross Youngs (32.3; 1211)
New York Yankees: Aaron Ward (13.9; 908 – conceded 99.3% at one club)
Philadelphia Phillies: Jimmy Ring (12.3; 218)

There are 108 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1916 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. New York Giants (566)
2. New York Yankees (519)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (595)
4. Philadelphia Athletics (235)
5. St. Louis Cardinals (392; dice roll)
6. Cincinnati Reds (392; dice roll)
7. Pittsburgh Pirates (422)
8. Chicago Cubs (438)
9. Washington Senators (497)
10. Cleveland Indians (500)
11. St. Louis Browns (513)
12. Detroit Tigers (565)
13. Chicago White Sox (578)
14. Boston Braves (586)
15. Boston Red Sox (591)
16. Brooklyn Robins (610)

Rounds 2 thru 5

1. Philadelphia Athletics (235)
2. St. Louis Cardinals (392; dice roll)
3. Cincinnati Reds (392; dice roll)
4. Pittsburgh Pirates (422)
5. Chicago Cubs (438)
6. Washington Senators (497)
7. Cleveland Indians (500)
8. St. Louis Browns (513)
9. New York Yankees (519)
10. Detroit Tigers (565)
11. New York Giants (566)
12. Chicago White Sox (578)
13. Boston Braves (586)
14. Boston Red Sox (591)
15. Philadelphia Phillies (595)
16. Brooklyn Robins (610)


No Legacy for us this year. Our IRL counterparts were still in a rut in ’16, so we get a fairly high pick again here. No outright superstars up for grabs but some decent enough depth pieces which is pretty much all we are after.
Here’s who we end up selecting:

1. SS Dick Lundy, 20

• Dick isn’t exactly the all-round utility I was after but his projected potential made him a fairly straightforward selection. All the scouts love his makeup and were surprised he didn’t go before our pick. Only plays SS and 2B, but reportedly hits a ton and works his hindquarters off. A switchie who hits both handed pitchers equally well and, should Lloyd waste the one final chance we’re offering him to make everyday SS his position for the next few years, King Richard will be there waiting.

2. P / 1B Dutch Reuther, 23

• A bit of a punt here as there weren’t any players left even remotely suitable for us. Dutch profiles as a fairly handy southpaw who also plays first and bats OK. It is this latter attribute that sealed the deal, because I’m not sure his pitching alone would get him a spot at the table.

3. OF Frank Walker, 22
4. P Vic Aldridge, 23
5. 3B Arch Reilly, 25

• Scout’s picks.

A decent Draft for us, if things go as planned.

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

The White Sox finally make it back to the playoffs after a few years (with a 100-win campaign that is still the franchise record), easily winning the AL Pennant by 9 games from the Red Sox. The Giants reclaim the NL Pennant, but the Pale Hose prove too strong in the World Series, winning it in six.

AL CHAMPIONS: Chicago White Sox (100-54)
NL CHAMPIONS: New York Giants (98-56)
WORLD SERIES: White Sox 4, Giants 2

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. ROGERS HORNSBY, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .327 average, 86 runs, 24 doubles, 17 triples, 8 home runs, 66 RBIs, .484 slugging percentage.
• The Rajah’s rise to stardom included a league leading slugging percentage in spite of just eight home runs. He’d lead the NL again in the former department—but with a few more pops.

2. GEORGE BURNS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 103 runs, 180 hits, 25 doubles, 13 triples, 75 walks, 40 stolen bases.
• The consistent Burns, who hit anywhere between .272 and .303 over 11 full-time seasons, gave it a little extra while NL offense in general slumped.

3. EDD ROUSH, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .341 average, 82 runs, 178 hits, 14 triples.
• Using a 48-ounce bat said to be the heaviest ever in the bigs, Roush won his first NL batting crown.

4. GAVVY CRAVATH, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .280 average, 29 doubles, 16 triples, 12 home runs, 83 RBIs, 70 walks.
• It must be said: 11 of Cravath’s 12 home runs were hit in two ballparks (Philadelphia’s Baker Bowl and New York’s Polo Grounds) with cozy porches down the lines.

5. BENNY KAUFF, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .308 average, 89 runs, 172 hits, 68 RBIs, 30 stolen bases.
• The Ex-Fed searching for superstardom in the NL came the closest to it in 1917.

6. HEINIE GROH, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 156 games, .304 average, 91 runs, 182 hits, 39 doubles, 11 triples, 71 walks, .385 on-base percentage.
• After often just missing the .300 mark in his first four everyday seasons, Groh finally finished above it—as he would do for three of the next four years as well.

7. MAX CAREY, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 82 runs, 12 triples, 7 intentional walks, 46 stolen bases, 30 caught stealing.
• Though leading off for much of the year, Carey’s 51 RBIs led an otherwise dormant Pirates offense.

8. HEINIE ZIMMERMAN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .297 average, 22 doubles, 9 triples, 5 home runs, 100 RBIs.
• Going by Henry as anti-German sentiment swept across wartime America, Zimmerman nevertheless felt at home playing in his birthplace of New York City.

9. RED SMITH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .295 average, 31 doubles, 2 home runs, 62 RBIs.
• After a poor start, Smith kicked it into high gear and nearly hit .300 for the first time in his career.

10. HAL CHASE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .277 average, 602 at-bats, 28 doubles, 15 triples, 86 RBIs.
• The veteran first baseman reportedly began to show that his above numbers could have been better had gambling money not taken a higher priority.

AL Hitters

1. TY COBB, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .383 average, 588 at-bats, 107 runs, 225 hits, 44 doubles, 24 triples, 6 home runs, 102 RBIs, 55 stolen bases, .444 on-base percentage, .570 slugging percentage.
• Perched at or near the top of practically every offensive category, Cobb had one of his most dominant campaigns yet.

2. TRIS SPEAKER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .352 average, 90 runs, 184 hits, 42 doubles, 11 triples, 67 walks, 7 intentional walks, 30 stolen bases.
• Another terrific year for Spoke despite a scary beaning in mid-August that cost him just over a week of play; it might have been far longer had the ball struck him an inch lower, according to the team doctor.

3. BOBBY VEACH, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .319 average, 182 hits, 31 doubles, 12 triples, 110 RBIs, 9 hit-by-pitches.
• For no particular reason, Veach hit 100 points higher on the road (.368) than he did at home (.268).

4. EDDIE COLLINS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .289 average, 91 runs, 12 triples, 89 walks, 53 stolen bases.
• A rare showing below the .300 mark didn’t keep Collins from remaining one of the AL’s most potent offensive threats.

5. JOE JACKSON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .301 average, 91 runs, 20 doubles, 17 triples, 75 walks.
• Shoeless Joe had the lowest batting average of his career, but it could have been even worse; he was hitting as low as .261 in mid-August before going on a rampage down the stretch.

6. RAY CHAPMAN, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 98 runs, 170 hits, 28 doubles, 13 triples, 52 stolen bases, 22 caught stealing, 67 sacrifice hits.
• Growing into his own as a shortstop and leadoff hitter, Chapman gave the Indians a big lift at the top and up the middle—and set a major league mark with 67 sacrifice bunts.

7. HAPPY FELSCH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .308 average, 177 hits, 10 triples, 6 home runs, 99 RBIs.
• Even as opposing pitchers quelled White Sox stars Eddie Collins and Joe Jackson (above) to a modest degree of success, they then had to contend with Felsch, who outhit, out-RBI’d and outhomered the other two.

8. BRAGGO ROTH, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .285 average, 30 doubles, 9 triples, 72 RBIs, 73 strikeouts, 51 stolen bases.
• Roth stole a career-high 51 bags—six of them at home, just two shy of the all-time mark.

9. GEORGE SISLER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .353 average, 190 hits, 30 doubles, 9 triples, 37 stolen bases.
• Were it not for Sisler—who hit some 100 points higher than his teammates—the Browns would have surely landed in the AL cellar.

10. SAM RICE, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 177 hits, 35 stolen bases.
• Rice was the latest in a growing trend of future Hall of Famers (Sisler, Babe Ruth) who arrived as hot pitching prospects and emerged as even better hitters.

NL Pitchers

1. PETE ALEXANDER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 1.83 ERA, 30 wins, 13 losses, 44 starts, 34 complete games, 8 shutouts, 388 innings, 56 walks, 200 strikeouts.
• Alexander finished his salad days at Philadelphia—leading the NL in wins, shutouts and ERA for the third straight year—before reporting to the front lines of the Great War.

2. FERDIE SCHUPP, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 1.95 ERA, 21 wins, 7 losses, .750 win percentage, 272 innings.
• Later wildness would make Schupp’s wonderful 1917 effort stand out like a major spike in his year-by-year ledger.

3. FRED TONEY, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.20 ERA, 24 wins, 16 losses, 339.2 innings.
• Never more needed with a career-high number of innings, Toney showed he was well-prepped for his 10-inning no-hit victory over fellow no-no contender Hippo Vaughn; he once threw a 17-inning no-hitter in the minors.

4. FRED ANDERSON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 1.44 ERA, 8 wins, 8 losses, 38 appearances, 18 starts.
• A Federal League refugee who years earlier had quit baseball to take up dentistry, Anderson was all smiles upon returning to the game and stealing away with the NL ERA title.

5. SLIM SALLEE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.17 ERA, 18 wins, 7 losses, 4 saves.
• After struggling to reach .500 with some bad Cardinals teams of the early 1910s, Sallee found victorious bliss from a much more supportive Giants lineup.

6. HIPPO VAUGHN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.01 ERA, 23 wins, 13 losses, 295.2 innings.
• Though he didn’t win the one game in which he threw no-hit ball for nine innings (thanks, Fred Toney), Vaughn still managed to rack up enough victories to set a personal mark.

7. POL PERRITT, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 1.88 ERA, 17 wins, 7 losses.
• Throwing a career-high 12 innings without conceding an earned run in his last start of the year made Perritt one of three Giants pitchers with a sub-2.00 ERA.

8. ART NEHF, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.16 ERA, 17 wins, 8 losses.
• The young southpaw gave signs of good things to come by throwing a Braves franchise-record 41 consecutive scoreless innings toward the end of the season.

9. EPPA RIXEY, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.27 ERA, 16 wins, 21 losses, 281.1 innings.
• A notorious clubhouse destroyer when he lost, Rixey probably had his teammates scurrying to clear their lockers early, fast and often in 1917 with 21 defeats in spite of a fine ERA.

10. WILBUR COOPER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.36 ERA, 17 wins, 11 losses, 297.2 innings.
• A sole shining light on a Pirates team that was clearly baseball’s worst; they were 34-92 in games in which he didn’t have a decision.

AL Pitchers

1. EDDIE CICOTTE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.53 ERA, 28 wins, 12 losses, 49 appearances, 346.2 innings.
• Cicotte was a long way from the bad ol’ days when the Tigers traded him to a minor league team in exchange for ballpark rent.

2. STAN COVELESKI, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 1.81 ERA, 19 wins, 14 losses, 9 shutouts, 298.1 innings.
• As the career of older brother Harry began to disintegrate in Detroit, Stan’s took off in Cleveland in his second full season, posting a career-low ERA.

3. WALTER JOHNSON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.21 ERA, 23 wins, 16 losses, 47 appearances, 8 shutouts, 328 innings, 188 strikeouts, 14 hit-by-pitches.
• The Big Train’s ERA finished above 2.00 for the only time in the decade, but he still managed to do all the other things—win games, strike out batters, etc.—and do them quite well.

4. JIM BAGBY, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 1.96 ERA, 23 wins, 13 losses, 7 saves, 49 appearances, 320.2 innings.
• While Sisler, Ruth and Rice went from pitching to hitting, Bagby went the opposite way—thriving as a screwball pitcher after years toiling as a minor league outfielder.

5. CARL MAYS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 1.74 ERA, 22 wins, 9 losses, 289 innings, 14 hit-by-pitches.
• Known for his penchant of throwing in at hitters—as Ray Chapman would fatally find out in 1920—Mays led the AL in hit batsmen for the only time in his career.

6. BABE RUTH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.01 ERA, 24 wins, 13 losses, 35 complete games, 326.1 innings.
• In his last year as a full-time starting pitcher, Ruth continued to perform as if he would be a cinch for the Hall of Fame based on his exploits on the mound.

7. REB RUSSELL, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.95 ERA, 15 wins, 5 losses, .750 win percentage.
• Despite being occasionally sidelined from a sore arm—said to be the fault of trying to learn the curve—Russell still looked sharp when healthy.

8. DUTCH LEONARD, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.17 ERA, 16 wins, 17 losses, 294.1 innings.
• Hard-luck season for Leonard, whose sharp ERA was complicated by poor offensive support (less than three runs per start).

9. HOOKS DAUSS, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.43 ERA, 17 wins, 14 losses, 270.2 innings.
• The eventual 223-game winner threw six of his 22 career shutouts in 1917.

10. RED FABER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.92 ERA, 16 wins, 13 losses.
• Playing for a championship team with that ERA, you would think Faber would have won more games; he made it up by nailing down three W’s in the World Series.

[luckymann]

Other than our big signing, the other offseason moves and FA signings of note are:

• OF Tris Speaker: Robins, 8 years / $77600
• 2B Larry Doyle: Indians, 5 years / $30500
• P Eddie Cicotte: Senators, 4 years / $24300
• P Red Ames: White Sox, 2 years / $3800

The Robins trade P Harry Coveleski and OF Merlin Kopp to the Reds for 3B Del Paddock and OF Pat Duncan.

ALL TRANSACTIONS

We go 10-8 in ST, little to report. Everyone seems ready.

Those “in the know” are expecting a rematch between ourselves and the BoSox, but for both races to be extremely close—especially in the AL where they are tipping just a dozen games to cover the field. The Yankees are notable improvers in their eyes.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

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

I feel confident that the injection of new blood will stave off any staleness and complacency in the group. My main focus early on will be how our new defensive formation is working out and what, if any, tinkering is needed. Here’s the squad as it lines up on OD.

Catchers

• C Ted Easterly (L)

• Les Nunamaker (R) – will once again see almost all of his starts v LHP

Easterly was sensational last year for us and we’re looking for the same again this time around. Gibson isn’t too far off ready, O’Farrell still a while off.

Infielders

• 1B Oscar Charleston (L)
• 2B Heinie Groh (R)
• 3B Frank Baker (L)
• SS John Henry Lloyd (L)

• Scott Ingerton (R)
• Bob Fisher (R)
• Dick Lundy (S)
• Joe Schultz (R)

Pop gets one more chance at SS, but the line is taut. Lundy and Fisher both ready to step up. Keen to see how Charlie handles 1B.

Outfielders

• LF Elmer Smith (L)
• CF Max Carey (S)
• RF Ty Cobb (L)

• Carson Bigbee (L)
• Zaza Harvey (L)

Joe Schultz will actually get the LHP platoon in left. We'll rotate players whenever rest is needed.

Rotation

1. RHP Walter Johnson
2. RHP Andrew Foster
3. LHP Wilbur Cooper
4. RHP Carl Mays

Well we’ve done everything possible to tighten this group up. Now it’s all about performing.

Bullpen

• RHP Louis Drucke
• RHP Al Mamaux
• RHP Rube Vickers
• LHP Lefty Williams

Dauss, Adams and a few others ready to be deployed if and when needed.

[luckymann]

We fairly limp out of the gates going 4-6 over our first ten as the group struggles to find its feet, but then get it together and carry over into May a 10-game win string including a road sweep of four at the Redbirds.



Lundy makes an immediate impact in the league, winning the Rookie award for the month with a 346/382/431 slash line and 13 RBI in just 52 AB. Lloyd remains our starting SS but not for long should this continue.



Standings, awards, news, leaders.








S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Most innings with a 0.00 ERA

[luckymann]

... some contract news from late April.

• The Red Sox give SS Arnold Hauser a 5-year extension worth $16180.
• The Senators lock P Dick Redding down until 1922 for $26580 and sign FA OF Bris Lord to a 1-year / $1920 deal.

[luckymann]

We stretch our winning streak to an MLB-record 17 games before losing to the Braves. Perhaps the two oddest things about this are that, in all honesty, I feel we are playing beneath our best, especially on offence; and that we are still only a half-game ahead of the Robins when it ends, despite their big off-season signing Tris Speaker only slashing 202/319/277 to that point.

After a bit of a slump, we rediscover our mojo and eventually finish with an excellent 21-6 sectional.





The bats are doing just enough to get us the few runs our pitchers need, which isn't many most of the time. They have gelled superbly and are really looking good.




A good result late in the month over the Robins does finally kick us away from the pack. In the AL, the Indians are doing well, as are the Browns.



Awards, news, leaders.






S+ HOME

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[luckymann]

Most innings without a decision

[luckymann]

Weighted Stolen Base Runs, 1917 season to date

[Makonnen]

The offseason stuff is always interesting.

How financially constrained are the teams? That is, will the acquisition of some higher end, older talent be challenging to the budget in a few years?

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Makonnen

The offseason stuff is always interesting.

How financially constrained are the teams? That is, will the acquisition of some higher end, older talent be challenging to the budget in a few years?

No real problem in this regard just yet, even with FA invoked in place of the Reserve Clause.

Our budget is like $750k vs our payroll of just under $100k. Things are changing now, though, with the onset of Ruth, so it will get a lot tighter in a decade or so.

Foster is the interesting one. He's only on $3k per and has an opt-out at the end of this season that I am 100% convinced he will exercise. It'll come down to how much he wants for how long as to whether we sign him or let him walk. That said, he'd have to be incredibly unreasonable for us not to re-sign him.

You see Pete Hill 2.0?