The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Held on 12/20/1917.

Some decent Legacies this year led by Waite Hoyt, with 7 in total.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1918 season:

Chicago Cubs: Charlie Hollocher (23.2; 760 (conceded – one-club player))
Chicago White Sox: Johnny Mostil (24.2; 972 (conceded – one-club player))
Cincinnati Reds: Dolf Luque (48.1; 395)
New York Yankees: Waite Hoyt (52.2; 365)
Philadelphia Athletics: Jimmy Dykes (34.1; 1702)
St. Louis Cardinals: Jesse Haines (32.6; 555)
Washington Senators: Tom Zachary (39.8; 273)

Bill Sherdel (31.1; 465) was also eligible for the Cardinals, but Haines’ higher WAR makes him the selection.

Austin McHenry (10.0; 543 (conceded – one-club player)) was also eligible for the Cardinals, but Haines’ higher WAR makes him the selection.

There are 90 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1917 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. New York Yankees (464; 28.5 GB)
2. Cincinnati Reds (506)
3. Washington Senators (484)
4. Philadelphia Athletics (359)
5. St. Louis Cardinals (539)
6. Chicago White Sox (649)
7. Chicago Cubs (481)
8. Pittsburgh Pirates (331)
9. St. Louis Browns (370)
10. Brooklyn Robins (464; 26.5 GB)
11. Boston Braves (471)
12. Detroit Tigers (510)
13. Cleveland Indians (571)
14. Philadelphia Phillies (572)
15. Boston Red Sox (592)
16. New York Giants (636)

Rounds 2 thru 5

1. Pittsburgh Pirates (331)
2. Philadelphia Athletics (359)
3. St. Louis Browns (370)
4. New York Yankees (464; 28.5 GB)
5. Brooklyn Robins (464; 26.5 GB)
6. Boston Braves (471)
7. Chicago Cubs (481)
8. Washington Senators (484)
9. Cincinnati Reds (506)
10. Detroit Tigers (510)
11. St. Louis Cardinals (539)
12. Cleveland Indians (571)
13. Philadelphia Phillies (572)
14. Boston Red Sox (592)
15. New York Giants (636)
16. Chicago White Sox (649)



No Legacy for us this year. Thanks to the continued poor run of our IRL counterparts, we get the #1 pick, which allows me to go into the Draft with a fully-formed idea of how to proceed.

Here’s who we end up selecting:

1. 3B Oliver Marcell, 23

• McHenry is possibly a better prospect, but we are flush with outfielders (Lord, please don’t make me regret saying that...) and so we go with Oliver. He looks a lively type, although one-positional—a trait you’d know by now I am not a fan of. The plan is to see how he progresses with the view of easing him into the everyday 3B slot over the next couple seasons. Baker’s defence has really fallen off and this seems like the best move for us, both now and for the future.

2. P Bill Sherdel, 21

• The thinness of this year’s pool means that even the 17th overall pick doesn’t buy you much. That said, Bill profiles as a bit of a late bloomer and that might make him handy indeed a few years down the track.

3. P Red Causey, 24
4. SS Bob Larmore, 21
5. P Red Shea, 19

• Scout’s picks.

If things pan out as hoped, that first pick will have made this a worthwhile Draft for us.

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

WW1 shortened the season by 20-odd games and made baseball feel trivial yet altogether necessary for the folks at home. While the Cubs cruised in the NL, the Red Sox had to survive a tough stretch run with the Indians and Senators before just getting home. They went on to claim the Series in 6, blissfully ignorant of all the pain to follow in the Red Sox Nation and Cubland.

AL CHAMPIONS: Boston Red Sox (75-51)
NL CHAMPIONS: Chicago Cubs (84-45)
WORLD SERIES: Red Sox 4, Cubs 2

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. EDD ROUSH, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .333 average, 18 doubles, 10 triples, 62 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, .455 slugging percentage.
• Roush missed out on what would have been his second of three straight NL batting titles, falling two points shy of first-place Zack Wheat.

2. GEORGE BURNS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .290 average, 80 runs, 135 hits, 22 doubles, 40 stolen bases.
• It was a good year to be George Burns (see George Burns on the AL hitters’ list below).

3. MAX CAREY, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .274 average, 70 runs, 6 triples, 62 walks, 58 stolen bases.
• Carey led the NL in steals as usual, but also led the circuit in walks for the first of two times in his career.

4. SHERRY MAGEE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .298 average, 15 doubles, 13 triples, 76 RBIs.
• The veteran star hitter made for a nice curtain call in Cincinnati by leading the NL in RBIs, even if it was only 76.

5. HEINIE GROH, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .320 average, 86 runs, 158 hits, 28 doubles, 54 walks, .395 on-base percentage.
• In a year where the ball was as dead as ever, Groh used his infamous bottle bat to emerge as the closest thing to an all-around hitting force in the NL.

6. CHARLIE HOLLOCHER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 131 games, .316 average, 509 at-bats, 72 runs, 161 hits, 23 doubles, 6 triples, 26 stolen bases.
• The rookie shortstop led the NL in hits and gave the Cubs their only .300 batter.

7. DODE PASKERT, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .286 average, 69 runs, 132 hits, 24 doubles, 59 RBIs, 53 walks, 49 strikeouts.
• The 37-year old led the NL in striking out—with 49.

8. GEORGE CUTSHAW, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .285 average, 132 hits, 16 doubles, 10 triples, 5 home runs, 68 RBIs, 25 stolen bases.
• After six years spent with Brooklyn, Cutshaw had a productive first try with the Bucs.

9. AL WICKLAND, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 95 games, .262 average, 55 runs, 13 triples, 4 home runs, 53 walks.
• The sparingly used but nevertheless productive Wickland, in his first major league activity since plying his trade for the Federal League’s Pittsburgh Rebels in 1915, had no doubles but six triples in 44 games played at Braves Field.

10. FRED MERKLE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .286 average, 25 doubles, 3 home runs, 65 RBIs, 21 stolen bases.
• The publicly disgraced one, who actually had a pretty good career, lifted the Cubs and made his fifth World Series. (Yes, we know, it should have been six—but, 1908.)

AL Hitters

1. TY COBB, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .382 average, 83 runs, 161 hits, 19 doubles, 14 triples, 64 RBIs, 34 walks, .440 on-base percentage.
• Cobb turned it up as the rest of baseball slowed down in preparation to close shop early, hitting .436 over his last 65 games.

2. TRIS SPEAKER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .318 average, 73 runs, 150 hits, 33 doubles, 11 triples, 61 RBIs, 64 walks, 27 stolen bases.
• Spoke might have helped the Indians topple the Red Sox for the AL pennant, but he hit just .238 against his former team.

3. GEORGE SISLER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .341 average, 69 runs, 154 hits, 21 doubles 9 triples, 45 stolen bases.
• Playing in his last relatively lean offensive campaign, Sisler was still good enough to finish third in the AL batting race and first in steals.

4. GEORGE BURNS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 130 games, .352 average, 178 hits, 22 doubles, 9 triples, 6 home runs, 70 RBIs, 8 hit-by-pitches.
• Finishing as runner-up to Cobb for the AL batting crown after hitting .226 in 1917, Burns finally stole some limelight from the George Burns who starred for the Giants, and the George Burns who starred on Vaudeville.

5. BABE RUTH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 95 games, .300 average, 26 doubles, 11 triples, 11 home runs, 66 RBIs, 58 walks, 10 intentional walks, 58 strikeouts, .555 slugging percentage.
• Two of Ruth’s 11 triples were actually home runs that didn’t count since they were hit in extra innings with a man on first—rules then stipulated the batter being credited with only the amount of bases the lead runner needed to score. Still, it was the first of many home run titles for the Bambino.

6. HARRY HOOPER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .289 average, 81 runs, 137 hits, 26 doubles, 13 triples, 75 walks.
• Beyond all the above numbers, Hooper’s biggest contribution of the year might have been encouraging Red Sox brass that, “Hey, this Ruth kid—you should have him bat every day.”

7. BRAGGO ROTH, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .283 average, 21 doubles, 12 triples, 59 RBIs, 53 walks, 8 hit-by-pitches.
• The Indians suspended Roth for the rest of the season in mid-August for being out of shape—never mind that he hit .329 over the six weeks before.

8. RAY CHAPMAN, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .267 average, 84 runs, 19 doubles, 8 triples, 84 walks, 35 stolen bases.
• The Cleveland sparkplug might have made it to double figures in both runs and walks had the season not been shortened by a month…

9. BOBBY VEACH, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .279 average, 139 hits, 21 doubles, 13 triples, 84 RBIs, 21 stolen bases.
• …And Veach might have gotten to 100 RBIs. As it was, he led the AL in that department for the third time in four years.

10. FRANK BAKER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .306 average, 65 runs, 154 hits, 24 doubles, 6 home runs, 62 RBIs.
• Now with the Yankees, Baker continued to play well (but without the spectacular verve) in his post-“Home Run Baker” era.

NL Pitchers

1. HIPPO VAUGHN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.74 ERA, 22 wins, 10 losses, 33 starts, 8 shutouts, 290.1 innings, 148 strikeouts.
• The steady Cubs ace dominated the top of the pitching charts previously monopolized by war-bound teammate Pete Alexander.

2. LEFTY TYLER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.00 ERA, 19 wins, 8 losses, 269.1 innings.
• After solid but not spectacular results in eight years with the off-and-on Braves, Lefty righted his ship to the Cubs and produced his best year.

3. WILBUR COOPER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.11 ERA, 19 wins, 14 losses, 3 saves, 273.1 innings.
• After losing seven straight decisions to start the month of June, Cooper got more than even by reeling off eight straight victories.

4. BURLEIGH GRIMES, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.14 ERA, 19 wins, 9 losses, 40 appearances, 269.2 innings.
• After suffering a miserable 3-16 mark with a rotten Pittsburgh team in 1917, Grimes escaped to Brooklyn and turned his luck around 180 degrees.

5. SLIM SALLEE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.25 ERA, 8 wins, 8 losses, 132 innings, 12 walks.
• Back issues ended Sallee’s season in mid-July and depressed his record even though he remained efficient; he walked less than one better per nine innings.

6. CLAUDE HENDRIX, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.78 ERA, 20 wins, 7 losses, .741 win percentage.
• Second in the NL—and on the Cubs, behind Hippo Vaughn—in wins, Hendrix had his best year since winning 29 for the Federal League’s Pittsburgh Rebels.

7. POL PERRITT, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.74 ERA, 18 wins, 13 losses, 233 innings.
• Perritt became the latest in a line of short-lived Giants aces; he would win just four more games over the next three years and never be heard from again in the majors.

8. PHIL DOUGLAS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.13 ERA, 10 wins, 9 losses.
• Better late than never; Douglas turned in a fine performance despite missing the first two months while recovering from appendicitis.

9. FRED TONEY, CINCINNATI-NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.43 ERA, 12 wins, 12 losses, 3 saves.
• A tale of two teams and two seasons for the right-hander; he was 6-10 with a 2.90 ERA with the Reds, but then 6-2 with a 1.69 figure for the Giants.

10. ART NEHF, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.69 ERA, 15 wins, 15 losses, 28 complete games, 284.1 innings.
• Nehf was forced to labor hard for a Braves team that hit just .244 and featured no other pitchers with 10 or more wins; a move to the Giants in 1919 would take care of those woes.

AL Pitchers

1. WALTER JOHNSON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 1.27 ERA, 23 wins, 13 losses, 8 shutouts, 326 innings, 162 strikeouts.
• In posting the second lowest ERA of his legendary career, Johnson made up for a shortened schedule by pitching into extra innings nine times.

2. STAN COVELESKI, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 1.82 ERA, 22 wins, 13 losses, 311 innings.
• Stan became part of the first brotherly duo in the majors (after Harry in 1914) to each win 20 games.

3. CARL MAYS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.21 ERA, 21 wins, 13 losses, 30 complete games, 8 shutouts, 293.1 innings.
• In his last full (and mentally benign) campaign for Boston—and the Red Sox’ last with a championship for 86 years—Mays emerged as the team ace.

4. SCOTT PERRY, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 1.98 ERA, 20 wins, 19 losses, 36 starts, 30 complete games, 8 shutouts, 332.1 innings.
• With no other A’s pitcher winning more than eight games, it’s easy to see why manager Connie Mack fought tooth and nail to keep the controversial 20-game winner.

5. ALLEN SOTHORON, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 1.94 ERA, 12 wins, 12 losses, 209 innings.
• After losing 19 games in his rookie season the year before, the spitballer still didn’t get much of a break from his teammates in the won-loss column—even as he led the AL with an opposing .205 batting average.

6. BULLET JOE BUSH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.11 ERA, 15 wins, 15 losses, 272.2 innings.
• Speaking of poor support, Bush got less than three runs per start while his Red Sox rotation mates each got over four. Thus, 15-15.

7. BABE RUTH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.22 ERA, 16 wins, 5 losses, .762 win percentage.
• Ruth becomes the only player ever to make it on both a Top 10 hitter’s and pitcher’s list in the same season.

8. GEORGE MOGRIDGE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.18 ERA, 16 wins, 13 losses, 7 saves, 45 appearances, 239.1 innings.
• Mogridge became Everyman for the Yankees, leading the team in innings and relief appearances (26).

9. JIM BAGBY, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.69 ERA, 17 wins, 16 losses, 45 appearances, 271.1 innings.
• Unspectacular yet respectable effort for the pitcher just two seasons away from hauling down over 30 wins.

10. HARRY HARPER, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.18 ERA, 11 wins, 10 losses, 244 innings, 13 wild pitches.
• A year before his career crashed with a 6-21 record, Harper put together his most respectable grouping of numbers.

[luckymann]

With the FA eligibility period shortened at the end of the '17 campaign, I expect the market to be busier than it is. Instead, a number of key extensions are signed. Here are the major deals:

• OF Pete Hill: Cardinals, 7 years / $47940 (extension)
• 1B Jack Fournier: Senators, 4 years / $46140 (extension)
• P Bullet Rogan: Braves, 7 years / $33660 (extension)
• 1B Ed McDonald: Reds, 5 years / $32000
• OF Sherry Magee: Phillies, 4 years / $19760 (extension)
• P Glenn Liebhardt: Cardinals, 3 years / $16800
• OF Dave Robertson: Athletics, 4 years / $16660 (extension)
• 2B George Cutshaw: Braves, 4 years / $15900 (extension)
• OF Josh Devore: Senators, 3 years / $14100
• OF Walton Cruise: Senators, 4 years / $8920 (extension)
• P Alex Malloy: Tigers, 3 years / $5820
• OF Vin Campbell: Tigers, 1 year / $4640
• P Heinie Berger: Braves, 1 year / $4540
• 1B Hal Chase: Tigers, 1 year / $3820
• 2B Jim Delahanty: Tigers, 1 year / $3560
• C Art Wilson: Braves, 1 year / $3200

Not a trade is done the entire off- and preseason. Go figure.

ALL TRANSACTIONS

We go 12-6 in ST. Baker struggles, and we will be monitoring him closely to see how he goes in the money games. Train looks in great nick.
If the experts are to be believed, we are in for grandstand finishes in both divisions, with the Red Sox just getting past the Browns in the AL and us seeing off a two-pronged challenge from the Giants and Cards in the NL.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

Our team page can be accessed HERE, but here’s the annual summary.

A “threepeat” is exponentially harder than going back-to-back, and with no offseason moves aside from the addition of Marcell, we are relying on continued improvement from our existing group. No doubt Baker is a trade option if Oliver looks ready, we simply don’t need two 3B who can’t play elsewhere. And if the Cards and Giants do as expected, there’ll be no room for passengers on this bus.

That notwithstanding, here’s how we’ll lineup as at OD:

Catchers

• C Ted Easterly (L)
• Bob O’Farrell (R)
• Frank Gibson (S) – only keeps his spot because he can play 1B. Should the aforementioned trade eventuate, it may well be for a backup cornerman, which will put his spot in jeopardy.

Infielders

• 1B Oscar Charleston (L)
• 2B Heinie Groh (R)
• 3B Frank Baker (L)
• SS Dick Lundy (S)

• Oliver Marcell (R) will play 3B v LHP
• Bob Fisher (R)
• John Henry Lloyd (L)

Outfielders

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

• Carson Bigbee (L)
• Zaza Harvey (L)

Schultz was fantastic for us last year, but just hasn’t come on and has been put on the RR. We are too LHB-strong here and weak defensively. Another trade option beckons, although we don't have much leeway with both Bigbee and Carey being Legacies and Harvey, at 39, unlikely to garner any interest.

Rotation

1. RHP Walter Johnson
2. RHP Andrew Foster
3. LHP Wilbur Cooper
4. RHP Al Mamaux

Looking for a better year from Foster.

Bullpen

• RHP Louis Drucke
• RHP Carl Mays
• LHP Dutch Reuther
• LHP Lefty Williams

A few in reserve and Reuther will get first chance in the rotation should the need arise.

[luckymann]

A trade falls into our laps in the first week of the season when the Giants show interest in Bob Fisher. After perhaps the shortest negotiation I’ve been involved in, the following deal is made:

TRADE 1 OF 5 (04/20/18)

2B Bob Fisher traded to New York (NL) for IF / OF Spotswood Poles.

Spot is a handy switch-hitter who plays excellent defence at a variety of infield and outfield spots and moves us somewhat toward the flexibility we seek. He’s a bit weak at 3B, but I have my eye on another player who should fill that gap...

... and so, while the pen is still hot, I make that move as well:

TRADE 2 OF 5 (04/20/18)

OF Frank Walker and P Bunny Hearn traded to Chicago (NL) for IF Ernie Johnson, P Al Gould and P Oscar Horstmann.

Ernie, acquired purely to shore up our infield depth, will come onto the AR with Zaza Harvey unfortunately off to the RR to make room.

Forgot to post a team pic on OD, here's the updated one.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by luckymann

They went on to claim the Series in 6, blissfully ignorant of all the pain to follow in the Red Sox Nation and Cubland.

That pain was karma in advance for how they treated Bill Buckner and Steve Bartman.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

That pain was karma in advance for how they treated Bill Buckner and Steve Bartman.

Church!

[luckymann]

Another no-no for the collection. Nice way to get your first win of the season. But those 7 walks must have made it hairy on occasion.

[luckymann]

No apparent Championship hangover as we get a flyer, sweeping our first two series on the road against the Reds and Redbirds. We end up winning our first 11 before dropping one at the Cubs, then split the final two games to finish the month at a sterling 12-2.

Everything going well, as you'd expect with that record. Rube wins the monthly pitching award. Ghost Marcell has started well, but not as well as Carey and Smith.




Standings, awards, news, leaders.








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[luckymann]

Most career OF assists

[luckymann]

Batting leaderboards, career (active players)

Pitching leaderboards, career (active players)

[luckymann]

... we're in store for a very tight race if the early going is any indication...

[luckymann]

Ahhh, that ineffable concept called form...

We completely lose ours in a terrible first half of the month that sees us beaten in 9 of our first 11 games as our offence almost totally disappears.

Then, without any sign whatsoever as to where it had gone and why it has returned, we get our groove back. Or should I say, we start winning games again, albeit narrowly and without playing anywhere near our capabilities.

Still, it’s better than the alternative.

We have good and bad moments over the remainder and finish with a 15-13 month.





Still evenly-poised in both division and way too early to be worrying about standings anyway.




Awards, news, leaders. Great to see Cristobal Torriente coming into his own this year after a fairly subdued start to his career under Tris Speaker's shadow.






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[luckymann]

Most hits in rookie season

[luckymann]

Our month begins poorly as our offence regresses to inexplicable levels. Apart from that initial spurt they have just not got things together so far. Lundy, Charleston and Smith, in particular are having dreadful starts to the year, with the latter’s BA hovering way too close to 200 for anyone’s liking. Train, too, is struggling and we’re a bit of a mess, to be quite honest. Even the wins come tough, with 3 of the 4 we get in our first 10 going to extra innings and the fourth requiring a 5-run rally in the 9th to get us home while Cooper – the only member of our rotation with a winning record at this point – strains an oblique and is off for a short IL stint.

Like I said, a bit of a mess.

As they almost invariably do, the group digs deep and we slowly turn things around, starting with a 4-game sweep at the Braves. But it is precarious and capricious form that ebbs and flows for the rest of the month, and we will need a huge improvement if we want to compete at the pointy end.

We finish the month with a 14-13 mark.





The Browns look like they are set on getting another bite at the cherry this go-around, and have just got themselves a mini-break atop the AL standings. But still very close in both races.



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[luckymann]

Biggest Delta Between Times on Base and Runs Scored

[luckymann]

Strikeouts less Walks Percentage, 1918 season to date

[luckymann]

A solid month from the lads, with a 17-10 record and plenty of signs we are gathering momentum as the stretch run approaches.




Still pretty tight in both divisions, with ourselves and the Browns with our noses in front.



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[luckymann]

Highest BA in Final Season (Retired Players, Min 100 ABs)

[luckymann]

There’s no doubt this side has struggled for consistency from the get-go, mainly stemming from the fact that our offensive and pitching spearheads Cobb and Johnson are both having relatively down years. Johnson (13-15, 3.19) looks set not just for his first season with less than 20 wins but also with an ERA of over 3, while Cobb (291 / 356 / 371) is on the cusp of his first season with a sub-300 BA since his rookie year.

Little surprise, then, that we've had the struggles we've had.

August is no different. Good days and bad in roughly equal proportion, as our 16-14 tells you.





Offsetting Ty's dropoff (mind you, he is still second in the NL with 57 RBI), our young guns have stepped up, which makes me feel the franchise is in good long-term shape. Lundy (who won the BotM Award for August) has been super with nearly 7 WAR while his defence (+19 ZR) has really tightened us up in the field, Marcell has already forced his way into the everyday 3B role, Smith has found his swing again after his slow start, and Charleston continues to be a solid presence - not to mention a veritable triples machine - in the leadoff spot. Poles has been a fantastic add, with his versatility a boon for resting tired players.




On the pitching side of things, Cooper has been our best all year (although August is not a great month for him). Foster has been solid, and Mamaux has contributed in a minor but consistent way from the SP4 slot.



The Giants have also had their problems, which means we enter the stretch run 3 games in front. The Browns lead by a similar margin, but let the door swing ever so slightly ajar for the Red Sox and Sens, both of whom are close enough if good enough.



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