The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

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Most SB in final season

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Win probability added, batters - 1918 season to date

Win probability added, pitchers - 1918 season to date

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The NL race never really eventuates as the Jints run out of puff. For all dolphins and porpoises it ends when we take 2 of 3 from them in that mid-month series I mentioned earlier, but we don't officially clinch until game 150.

Yet again it is the AL providing all the thrills and spills.

Can't really think of an IRL rivalry that comes close (maybe the Sox-Yanks 1940s races?) to what Boston and St. Louis have given us these past few seasons. A tiebreaker win for the Browns in 1915 and then a final day clinch for the Sox the following year.

This time around, the Browns reel and stagger and wobble and the Sox keep nipping at their heels but miss some key chances to overhaul them, and in the end a home loss to Washington in the final week seals the deal as the Browns book a rematch with us in the Fall Classic.

We lose 4 of our final 5 games to finish up at 90-64, same as the Browns. Not exactly the sort of form we're looking for right now.






Cobb comes good, winning the September Batter award and getting his BA back above 300. He also tops the NL with 82 RBI.



Train, on the other hand, continues to struggle, as does our entire rotation (2.75 ERA, 5th in the NL), a major concern heading into the playoffs.



Jim Viox swoops in at the death for the second straight season to pinch the NL Batting Crown, while Yankee Ken Williams wins it in the AL.

Awards, news, final leaders.





Series preview is next.

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REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

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Pittsburgh Pirates (90-64) v St. Louis Browns (90-64)

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

PITTSBURGH PIRATES S+ PAGE

ST. LOUIS BROWNS S+ PAGE

And so it is a rematch of last year’s epic World Series and, for mine, how we go here comes down to one thing: how our pitching performs.

Absolutely no doubt in my mind this is a superior Browns squad to 1917. Spratt had another monster year, Collins remains a menace, McHenry is a huge add, Sisler will punish you with great regularity. On the pitching side, Williams had perhaps his best year yet (which is saying something) and in Urban Shocker they have found the perfect backup man for him.

If we don’t keep their bats under control, it won’t matter how well we handle their pitching—this will be over quickly and painfully.

Cooper’s playoff record is just too poor to ignore, and I make the difficult choice of putting Mamaux in over him as our third starter. Another tough decision for me is Schultz as our 5th outfielder rather than Zaza Harvey. This one is a matter of flexibility and, given Zaza’s skills have waned, Schultz is not really much of a step down in that regard. Neither would be expected to see much action at any rate.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Pittsburgh, October 10th 1918
Walter Johnson (16-18, 3.26) v Joe Williams (28-12, 2.01)

Train will have to dig deep here and somehow rediscover his form. Williams has shown us plenty of times what a money pitcher he is, so I’m not expecting us to give him many runs to protect. But protect them he must do if we want to get off on the right foot here.

We are instead immediately on the back foot as they take advantage of a Smith error to take a 1-0 lead in the 1st, but we come right back in the home half with runs on sac flies by Cobb and then Marcell.

A nervous start by both hurlers, and it continues when Train gives up the lead on an RBI triple by Tobin in the 3rd. But once again we have the reply handy as Cobb doubles one in to make it 3-2, and he is subsequently thrown out at home trying to score.

Then these two heroes of the hill settle right down and take control.

They come at Train in the 7th, tying it with a run on 2 hits.

Walter has given us his all and comes out for a PH in the bottom 9th with the game still knotted at 3. That hitter is Bigbee, who comes in with two out and the winning run on third, but can only pop out meekly to CF and we’re into extra innings.

Reuther takes over on the mound in relief and a two-base error by Lundy practically hands them the go-ahead run in the 10th. They add a second and we look cooked.

We get a man aboard but Williams holds his nerve to close it out.

Browns 5, Pirates 3 (10 innings)

BOX SCORE


Game 2 in Pittsburgh, October 11th 1918
Andrew Foster (23-15, 2.53) v Urban Shocker (25-15, 2.30)
Browns lead series 1-0

Shocker was a revelation in his second full year and will take a ton of beating here. Charleston was 0-for-5 in Game 1 and we missed his leadoff spark. We need it back ASAP.

The pitchers control the early proceedings here, but then they find their range in the 5th and take a 2-0 lead as Foster gets the wobbles.

Our bats have remained stubbornly quiet to this point, but in the home 5th Easterly triples and scores on a Foster hit, then we tie it on a throwing error by their catcher and then go ahead on a two-out RBI single by Lundy.

Charleston finally gets his first hit of the series to extend our lead in the next and we still hold a 4-2 lead when Foster comes out after 8. I (nervously) call on Cooper to handle their lefties and he does so without incident to get us the win and square the series heading to St. Louis.

Pirates 4, Browns 2

BOX SCORE


Game 3 in St. Louis, October 13th 1918
Pat Ragan (18-17, 2.63) v Al Mamaux (15-10, 2.38)
Series tied 1-1

A massive challenge for Al today against their big LHB, with Ragan a highly-underrated pitcher. On a hunch I insert Bigbee for Smith at LF.

The pitchers completely dominate this one through 5, but we take the lead in the 6th when Charleston doubles and scores on a two-out single by Carey.

It is still 1-0 entering the home 9th and, when Mamaux gives up a leadoff walk I again play the splits and call on Williams. He gets two outs and Drucke the third as we hang on for a dour win behind a superb game by Al Mamaux.

Pirates 1, Browns 0

BOX SCORE


Game 4 in St. Louis, October 14th 1918
Joe Williams (1-0, 0.90) v Walter Johnson (0-0, 2.00)
Pirates lead series 2-1

We can put ourselves in the box seat with a win here, but we need Train to repeat his Game 1 performance and our bats to find their mojo for that to happen. Smith back in at LF, Baker in for a struggling Marcell at 3B.

We get the start we were looking for when Cobb triples one home in the 1st, but we infuriatingly leave him stranded there.

Charleston has found his swing and that makes us a different side altogether. He’s in the thick of it in the 5th inning for our second run, when he walks, steals second and comes in on a Carey double.

Johnson is absolutely magnificent, as he sees off a number of challenges to give us back-to-back shutout wins and a 3-1 series lead.

Pirates 2, Browns 0

BOX SCORE


Game 5 in St. Louis, October 15h 1918
Urban Shocker (0-1, 3.38) v Andrew Foster (1-0, 2.25)
Pirates lead series 3-1

We have earned ourselves three bites at the cherry but, if it’s all the same to everyone, I’d rather just take the one, spit out the pip, and go home.

Charleston is again in the mix as we take a 1st-inning lead on a Cobb SF, but they cancel that out in the home half as Smith makes his third basic error of the series.

This is another game in which the offence is virtually non-existent. We do finally get the go-ahead run in the 8th on a Cobb single and then Ernie Johnson makes his 1st WS at-bat a memorable one with an RBI single to make it 3-1.

But then, in the shadows of the post, Foster loses it and they go ahead on a 3-run homer by Douglass.

We get a man aboard but are down to our last out when Bigbee hits for Foster. In the biggest AB of his short career, Carson triples the run in to tie the game at 4.

Cooper takes the mound and narrowly escapes losing the game in the bottom 9th.

In the 11th, two crucial errors by Collins let us load the bases with one out and a Schultz sac fly gives us the lead. Charleston makes it 6-4 with an RBI single and another by Carey gets us yet one more run. Cobb then all but seals it with a 2-run single to get us out by 5.

Williams sends them down in order as we get our threepeat.

A superb effort from our boys, especially the pitchers, who turned up when we needed it most. This group can now rest easy in the knowledge that they’ll be spoken of among the best for many years to come.

Pirates 9, Browns 4

BOX SCORE



PITTSBURGH WINS SERIES 4-1

SERIES MVP: Ty Cobb (Pittsburgh)


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[luckymann]

No great surprise when Rube Foster voids the remaining part of his contract with us. Despite numerous overtures throughout the past two seasons, he was unwilling to even discuss his future and so I knew the writing was on the wall. While I understand his right to go out there and test the FA market, there’s no doubt we would have matched the amount he'll attract had he allowed us to do so. And as much as I’d love to have Rube continue on with us, I just see this move in a poor light and therefore we won’t be trying to get him back on principle alone. I’ll have no truck with disloyalty at this ballclub.

We exercise the final year on Louis Drucke’s contract and will more than likely be looking to extend it. He has been an absolute rock in the pen for us. We let Zaza Harvey walk. He has been a great man for our club but we can’t do anything with him from here. We also offer no arbitration to Hooks Dauss in order to free up some salary for a potential FA acquisition or two.

No managerial changes for once.

This year’s retirees are led by two HoF locks: current all-time wins leader (327) Charles Bender and “Wahoo” Sam Crawford, who heads the all-time list for a host of offensive categories, including his 2957 base hits.





Others leaving the game include Jack Coombs, Johnny Evers, Jimmy Archer, Harry Lord and Rebel Oakes. Former Pirates Al Bridwell and Armando Marsans are also calling it a day.

And to honour two of the league’s greats, the Commissioner’s Office has announced that the MVP Award will henceforth be called the Wagner-Lajoie Medal. The Gold Glove Award has a new nomenclature as well, the Tinker-Jones Medal - named after Fielder Jones and Joe Tinker, each of whom won the award in their respective division ten times.

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AL 1918 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1918 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY

Heavy Johnson locks up back-to-back wins in the AL Wagner-Lajoie Medal, while Giants outfielder Ross Youngs wins his first in the NL. Joe Williams nails down a 4th AL Waddell Medal, while "Bombin" Pedroso earns his first across in the senior circuit.

Everything nice and green on the historical accuracy as well. Interestingly, the HR rate was slightly under its IRL counterpart this year.

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Held on 12/20/1918.

Just 5 Legacies this year with the Cards adding another gun to their squad in Frankie Frisch, a personal fave of mine IRL.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1919 season:

Chicago White Sox: Dickey Kerr (10.2; 140 (conceded – one-club player))
Cleveland Indians: George Uhle (55.6; 357)
St. Louis Browns: Elam Vangilder (15.3; 323)
St. Louis Cardinals: Frankie Frisch (70.8; 1000)
Washington Senators: Bucky Harris (15.4; 1252)

Frankie Frisch (70.8; 1000) was also eligible for the Giants, but the Cardinals’ higher Draft Pick gets him.

There are 115 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 6 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1918 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. St. Louis Cardinals (395)
2. Cleveland Indians (575)
3. Washington Senators (562)
4. St. Louis Browns (475)
5. Chicago White Sox (460)
6. Philadelphia Athletics (406)
7. Boston Braves (427)
8. Detroit Tigers (437)
9. Philadelphia Phillies (447)
10. Brooklyn Robins (452)
11. New York Yankees (488)
12. Pittsburgh Pirates (520)
13. Cincinnati Reds (531)
14. New York Giants (573)
15. Boston Red Sox (595)
16. Chicago Cubs (651)

Rounds 2 thru 6

1. St. Louis Cardinals (395)
2. Philadelphia Athletics (406)
3. Boston Braves (427)
4. Detroit Tigers (437)
5. Philadelphia Phillies (447)
6. Brooklyn Robins (452)
7. Chicago White Sox (460)
8. St. Louis Browns (475)
9. New York Yankees (488)
10. Pittsburgh Pirates (520)
11. Cincinnati Reds (531)
12. Washington Senators (562)
13. New York Giants (573)
14. Cleveland Indians (575)
15. Boston Red Sox (595)
16. Chicago Cubs (651)


No Legacy for us again this year and only a mid-range pick. Still, it’s a sneakily-deep pool this year and, with our current playing squad quite settled, I go into this year’s Draft looking for longer-term options.

Here’s who we end up selecting:

1. 2B Bernie Friberg, 19

• I had my eye on IF Dick Burrus without ever really thinking he’d still be available for our first pick. He goes just two before ours, so I go with my Plan B. Just 19 and a long ways off being ready, and yet Bernie has that X factor and I reckon he’ll be a handy addition in a couple seasons’ time. In the meantime, we’ll try and add 3B to his repertoire, which already includes some fairly decent OF skills as well.

2. 2B Hod Ford, 21

• A couple of years ahead of Bernie but not quite the prospect, Hod nevertheless projects as a reliable middle IF backup.

3. P Lefty O’Doul, 24

• Pretty excited about plucking this young man out of the pack. He has entered the Draft as a pitcher but we see him as a really good OF with some almost scary power waiting to be honed and unleashed. But he’ll take plenty of work. I have given him to Honus as a special project and honestly believe he is the rough diamond of the Draft.

4. OF Charlie High, 20
5. IF Danny Silva, 22
6. P Jack Wisner, 19

• Scout’s picks.

In the broader scheme of things, I am really pleased with how this played out

FULL DRAFT LOG

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Yeah, well we all know what happened - let's not dwell on it here...

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. GEORGE BURNS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .303 average, 86 runs, 30 doubles, 9 triples, 82 walks, 40 stolen bases, .396 on-base percentage.
• Burns used more than his bat to rankle pitchers, leading the NL in walks and steals.

2. EDD ROUSH, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .321 average, 19 doubles, 12 triples, 71 RBIs.
• Roush’s average may have been the NL’s best, but it was his personal worst between 1917-26.

3. HEINIE GROH, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .310 average, 79 runs, 17 doubles, 11 triples, 56 walks.
• Roush’s prime equal in the Reds lineup was in the top five of most NL offensive categories—but he failed to place first in any of them.

4. ROGERS HORNSBY, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .318 average, 163 hits, 9 triples, 8 home runs, 71 RBIs.
• The Rajah collected nearly half of the Cardinals’ total home run output (18).

5. ROSS YOUNGS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .311 average, 31 doubles, 7 triples.
• The compact, aggressive and quiet Youngs—a favorite pet of John McGraw—began to make an impact for the Giants at age 22.

6. BENNY KAUFF, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .277 average, 27 doubles, 7 triples, 10 home runs, 67 RBIs.
• The last rodeo at the top for the former Federal League star; within a year he’d be dogged by auto theft charges and his involvement in the Black Sox Scandal.

7. HI MYERS, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .307 average, 23 doubles, 14 triples, 73 RBIs, .436 slugging percentage.
• Myers’ RBI total and slugging percentage were both the lowest ever by a modern-day NL leader.

8. ZACK WHEAT, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .297 average, 23 doubles, 11 triples, 5 home runs, 62 RBIs, 15 stolen bases.
• At age 31, Wheat was given the captainship of the Robins and responded with one of his more productive Deadball Era campaigns; the coming live ball would catapult his statistical game even more.

9. LARRY DOYLE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 113 games, .289 average, 10 triples, 7 home runs, 52 RBIs, 12 stolen bases.
• In his penultimate season, the 33-year-old Giants captain gave a solid renaissance after a couple of relatively mediocre seasons.

10. IRISH MEUSEL, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .305 average, 26 doubles, 7 triples, 5 home runs, 59 RBIs, 24 stolen bases.
• Before the live ball aided his game, Meusel was given a boost from his home ballpark (Baker Bowl) where he hit .368, while only posting a .238 figure on the road.

AL Hitters

1. BABE RUTH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .322 average, 103 runs, 34 doubles, 12 triples, 29 home runs, 113 RBIs, 101 walks, .456 on-base percentage, .657 slugging percentage.
• The Bambino gave the Red Sox a fleeting taste of what they were going to miss over the next 15 years.

2. BOBBY VEACH, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .355 average, 87 runs, 191 hits, 45 doubles, 17 triples, 3 home runs, 101 RBIs.
• Banner year for the star outfielder with career highs in batting average, hits, doubles and triples.

3. GEORGE SISLER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .352 average, 96 runs, 180 hits, 31 doubles, 15 triples, 10 home runs, 83 RBIs, 28 stolen bases.
• Sisler hit at least .340 for the third straight year to round out the Deadball Era; that would be nothing compared to what he had in store for the next three seasons.

4. TY COBB, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .384 average, 92 runs, 191 hits, 36 doubles, 13 triples, 28 stolen bases.
• The Georgia Peach won the last of his 12 batting crowns, but his best years were hardly behind him.

5. JOE JACKSON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .351 average, 181 hits, 31 doubles, 14 triples, 7 home runs, 96 RBIs.
• Shoeless Joe returned to early-career form by hitting on the north side of .350, but it was mere prologue to the fateful events of the ensuing World Series.

6. EDDIE COLLINS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .319 average, 87 runs, 4 home runs, 80 RBIs, 68 walks, 33 stolen bases.
• Unlike Jackson, Collins was not part of the Black Sox cabal but he too had one of his stronger years in recent times.

7. HARRY HEILMANN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .320 average, 74 runs, 30 doubles, 15 triples, 8 home runs, 93 RBIs.
• The Tigers skipped nary a beat with the loss of retired Sam Crawford, as the equally talented Heilmann took over.

8. TRIS SPEAKER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 83 runs, 38 doubles, 12 triples, 73 walks.
• Perhaps adjusting to a mid-season inheriting of the Indians’ manager position, Speaker batted below .300 for the only time outside of his first and last years.

9. SAM RICE, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 141 games, .321 average, 179 hits, 23 doubles, 9 triples, 26 stolen bases.
• After serving the military in 1918—ultimately costing him a shot at 3,000 hits—Rice returned to Washington and resumed his early stellar form.

10. HAPPY FELSCH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .275 average, 34 doubles, 11 triples, 7 home runs, 86 RBIs, 19 stolen bases.
• No White Sox player hit more home runs during the 1910s than the 24—yes, 24—collected by Felsch, who hit seven in 1919 alone.

NL Pitchers

1. BABE ADAMS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 1.98 ERA, 17 wins, 10 losses, 263.1 innings, 23 walks.
• All but forgotten after a two-year absence, Adams marveled anew at age 37—and for the first of three straight years would be the NL’s toughest pitcher to reach base against.

2. HIPPO VAUGHN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.79 ERA, 21 wins, 14 losses, 37 starts, 306.2 innings, 141 strikeouts.
• Vaughn retained his standing as NL workhorse; if not again for a shortened (140 games) schedule, his innings total would have been all the more impressive.

3. PETE ALEXANDER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.72 ERA, 16 wins, 11 losses, 9 shutouts.
• Though his traumatizing front-line duty during the Great War may have changed the great ace off the mound, it didn’t seem to affect him while he was on it as he grabbed his third ERA crown.

4. SLIM SALLEE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.06 ERA, 21 wins 7 losses.
• So homesick that he refused to return to the Giants, Sallee was granted a trade closer to his Ohio home with the Reds and responded with his best effort at age 34.

5. JESSE BARNES, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.40 ERA, 25 wins, 9 losses, 295.2 innings.
• The Giants beat the Yankees and Red Sox to the punch in initiating a one-sided Boston-to-New York pipeline, as former Braves pitcher and 25-game winner Barnes proved.

6. PHIL DOUGLAS, CINCINNATI-NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.03 ERA, 12 wins, 10 losses.
• The unpredictable, alcohol-inclined talent pitched well for both the Reds and Giants, but his trade to New York was one that Giants manager John McGraw likely would come to regret.

7. DUTCH RUETHER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 1.82 ERA, 19 wins, 6 losses, .760 win percentage.
• The southpaw’s first full season would be his best; all but one of his wins would come after the end of May.

8. WILBUR COOPER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.67 ERA, 19 wins, 13 losses, 27 complete games, 286.2 innings, 15 hit-by-pitches.
• Cooper settled for 19 wins for the second straight year after losing each of his last three starts; he made sure that would never happen again.

9. HAL CARLSON, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.23 ERA, 8 wins, 10 losses.
• A mixed bag of sorts for a pitcher who tolerating a yo-yo career, as he was unable to translate a career-best ERA into a winning record.

10. HOD ELLER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.39 ERA, 19 wins, 9 losses, 248.1 innings.
• Eller’s career peaked because the rules made him; the shineballer would not be given the same “grandfather” leniency as spitball artists starting in 1920.

AL Pitchers

1. EDDIE CICOTTE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.82 ERA, 29 wins, 7 losses, 30 complete games, .806 win percentage, 306.2 innings.
• Fixing the World Series notwithstanding, Cicotte’s emotions were yo-yo-ing enough, leading the AL in wins one year (1917), in losses the next (1918) and in wins again during 1919.

2. WALTER JOHNSON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 1.49 ERA, 20 wins, 14 losses, 7 shutouts, 290.1 innings, 147 strikeouts.
• The Decade of Walter concluded with the Big Train winning his fourth ERA title, his ninth strikeout crown (and eighth in succession), and with a win in his final start ensured that he would win 20 or more games every year during the 1910s.

3. LEFTY WILLIAMS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.64 ERA, 23 wins, 11 losses, 40 starts, 297 innings, 11 hit-by-pitches.
• The first of two consecutive 20-win campaigns for the young southpaw; there may have been more such results in his future—but because of the Black Sox Scandal, we’ll never know.

4. STAN COVELESKI, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.61 ERA, 24 wins, 12 losses, 286 innings.
• The Cleveland ace consistently carried on, racking up another 20-plus wins.

5. CARL MAYS, BOSTON-NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.10 ERA, 14 wins, 14 losses, 266 innings.
• Despite his house burning down, run-ins with fans and a demand for a trade from Boston—which he got—Mays managed to stay focused on the mound.

6. BOB SHAWKEY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.72 ERA, 20 wins, 11 losses, 5 saves, 261.1 innings.
• The veteran pitcher who experienced the best and worst of times earlier in the decade with the A’s was enjoying high times in New York; he was particularly good at the Polo Grounds (the Yankees’ home until 1923), where he posted a 12-1 record.

7. CARL WEILMAN, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.07 ERA, 10 wins, 6 losses.
• A rare, if limited, winning year for the veteran lefty who struggled for support earlier in the decade.

8. JIM SHAW, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.73 ERA, 17 wins, 17 losses, 5 saves, 45 appearances, 306.2 innings, 10 wild pitches.
• Walter Johnson may have remained the Washington ace, but Shaw could officially claim the title of team workhorse—becoming the first Senator besides Johnson to lead the team in innings pitched since 1908.

9. ALLEN SOTHORON, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.20 ERA, 20 wins, 13 losses, 270 innings.
• Sothoron, who like Eddie Cicotte once led the AL with 19 losses (in 1917), also enjoyed his finest year; he couldn’t maintain his excellence going forward even as he was allowed to continue throwing the spitter after 1920.

10. JACK QUINN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.61 ERA, 15 wins, 14 losses, 266 innings.
• Back in New York City after seven years wandering about elsewhere, Quinn put together a solid effort at age 36; little did anyone realize that he’d be sticking around for quite a while.

[luckymann]

A fairly busy time all around.

We make a couple of lower-key FA acquisitions:

2B Smoky Joe Wood: 3 years, $16000 (Year 3 a vesting option)

While I am very comfortable with our first line, should any injuries befall us the drop to the backups is too steep for my liking. Joe helps improve that situation at 2B and also plays decently enough at the corner OFs. We will actually platoon him at LF against LHP with Smith. He still pitches as well, albeit in quick bursts, and will be used in that capacity if and as needed.

P Harry Krause: 1 year, $2000

Harry is merely a bridge to Dutch Reuther, still it seems a year away, moving into the rotation.

We also make a couple trades:

TRADE 1 OF 5 (12/27/18)

SS Bob Larmore traded to Philadelphia (NL) for IF Possum Whitted.

Possum is a handy utility who plays a solid enough 1B / 2B / 3B / LF, as well as SS and the other two OF spots with less polish.

TRADE 2 OF 5 (12/27/18)

P George Mogridge traded to Brooklyn for C Frank Snyder.

With Easterly at 33 and O’Farrell not quite developing as we’d hoped, I felt we needed a better backup catcher. Frank is only 24 and I believe is already good enough to take over the everyday role should Ted show signs of slipping.

This year certainly saw the offseason market heat up, both for FA and in trading, although no real blockbuster swaps were made. Here are the major deals:

• P Joe Williams: Giants, 7 years / $63300 (extension)
• C Heavy Johnson: Athletics, 8 years / $47980 (extension)
• C William Fischer: Cardinals, 5 years / $38000 (extension)
• P Rube Marquard: Giants, 5 years / $37000 (extension)
• OF Tilly Walker: Tigers, 5 years / $30000
• OF Cristobal Torriente: Red Sox, 4 years / $29600 (extension)
• P Andrew Foster: Red Sox, 4 years / $27200
• P Ferdie Schupp: Cardinals, 5 years / $18080 (extension)
• 3B Heinie Zimmerman: Robins, 3 years / $16800
• P Jim Scott: Red Sox, 3 years / $12680
• OF Fred Beck: Braves, 3 years / $11940 (extension)
• OF Wally Schang: Braves, 1 year / $7200 (extension)
• P Chick Brandom: Cardinals, 1 year / $5200
• P Hugh Bedient: Cardinals, 1 year / $4360 (extension)

• OF Joe Riggert from Indians to Senators for OF Walton Cruise and P George Cunningham
• C Verne Clemons from Giants to Cubs for OF Tim Hendryx and C Wickey McAvoy
• C Patsy Gharrity from Indians to Robins for OF Benny Kauff and C Eufemio Abreu
• SS Pelayo Chacon from Indians to Braves for OF Jack Dalton
• P Dick Rudolph from the Giants to the Red Sox for 3B Jimmy Johnstone and 2B Bruno Betzel
• 3B Ramon Gonzalez from the Browns to the White Sox for P Roy Hitt
• OF Casey Stengel and OF Sammy Vick from the Yankees to the Browns for C Lew McCarty and 1B Ed Douglass

ALL TRANSACTIONS

We have a solid 15-3 ST and all seems ready for us to push for a fourpeat!

The prognosticators have kept the faith with us, tipping us to hold off the Giants and Cards by a narrow margin, while they fancy the Senators to win the AL pretty comfortably this year from the Red Sox and Browns.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

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

Here’s how we’ll lineup as at OD:

Catchers

• C Ted Easterly (L)
• Frank Snyder (R)

Infielders

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

• Smoky Joe Wood (R)
• Frank Baker (L)
• Ernie Johnson (L)
• John Henry Lloyd (L)

Outfielders

• LF Elmer Smith (L) / Smoky Joe Wood (R)
• CF Max Carey (S)
• RF Ty Cobb (L)

• Carson Bigbee (L)
• Spotswood Poles (S)

Nunamaker, O’Farrell, Eller and Schultz all in the wings. Friberg and O’Doul will see action after the rosters are expanded but will get most of their developmental experience from next season in the minors.

Rotation

1. RHP Walter Johnson
2. LHP Wilbur Cooper
3. RHP Al Mamaux
4. LHP Harry Krause

All members of the bullpen except Drucke can be called upon for starting duties, as can Sherdel in a pinch.

Bullpen

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

Aldridge, Horstmann and Pernoll all in reserve.

[luckymann]

A somewhat condensed schedule this year so no update until end May after a late start.

We are humming along nicely with Ghost putting together a career-best game.



But then this happens in the very same day.



So glad I upped the injury rate to "keep things challenging". Which, of course, it will. Bigbee will get first crack at RF and if that doesn't work out then I've got some thinking upon it ahead of me.

[luckymann]

On top of losing Ty for the season, an injury in the second half of the month to Max Carey (elbow tendinitis; 5 weeks) that leaves us without two of our higher-quality and more experienced players makes our 16-13 record for the month fairly admirable.



That said, there's no doubt this twin misfortune has knocked us for six, myself included, as you'd expect being without two players of this calibre. Nothing too drastic, just taken us off-kilter across the board to a noticeable degree.



But we need to dig deep and simply get on with things, because we'll be getting no preferential treatment from our rivals. This is shaping up as another incredibly tight race in both divisions.



The other engrossing point of interest is the HR battle that is busily fomenting across in the AL between Heavy Johnson and Babe Ruth, both of whom have gone deep 7 times already this season.

Awards, news, leaders.






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[luckymann]

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

... but this win is Train's 328th, moving him to the top of the all-time list.

Not one of his prettiest, but at just 31 - fingers crossed - he should set a mark that will prove almost impossible to be topped.

[luckymann]

Regardless how this season plays out, the way the group applies itself this month ranks right up there among the best performances I have seen. No Cobb nor Carey, and still they put together a 21-7 June. Adding to the pressure is this year’s schedule, far more condensed than in previous years. That means a run of 30 days without a break, which makes what they’ve done here even more magnificent.





Everyone is chiming in on offence without any one player dominating. Just a really solid team effort across the board. Easterly and Groh both have BAs north of 350 for the month. No news as yet on a possible return date for Max.



The pitching has been simply superb. Cooper wins the monthly award for his 7-0 / 1.18 effort, while Johnson also goes 7-0 with a sub-2.00 ERA. Only Mamaux has struggled so far and we'll be looking for him to turn things around.



Standings, awards, news, leaders.








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[luckymann]

IP/Game Ratio, season (Minimum 5 Appearances)

[luckymann]

Team hitting leaderboards, 1919 season to date

Team pitching leaderboards, 1919 season to date

[luckymann]

The first no-hitter of the season, and Jose's first of his MLB career. This makes him and Smoky Joe Williams the only NeL players to have so far achieved this feat.