The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Pittsburgh

Paul Derringer (18-9, 3.04) v Satchel Paige (22-9, 2.68)

Two masters of their craft kick things off here in a game in which I’m sure both sides will be wanting to set the tone of the Series.

Gibson opens the scoring in the 1st with a two-out RBI single and then disaster strikes the Yanks as Satchel is forced from the game hurt. Still, they show just what a tough unit they are by shrugging that off and going ahead in the 3rd as Derringer gets the shakes, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits.

A run-scoring double by Vaughan in the home half of that inning gets us back on level terms and then Foxx goes deep with a couple on to make it 5-2., only for DiMaggio to get them back within a run in the next on a two-run double.

We push away again in the 6th with one on an Elliott sac fly and, with a man on third I decide to hit for Derringer, and rookie Stan Spence doesn’t let me down, singling one in to get us back out by three.

We load the bases with none out in the 7th but, inexplicably, can’t bring one of them home. Fortunately we don’t have to regret it as the BP holds fast to get us home.


Pirates 7, Yankees 4

Game 2 in Pittsburgh

Ray Brown (17-9, 3.49) v Jim Willis (11-17, 5.12)

Pirates lead series 1-0

That early-season injury did Ray no favours and he struggled for consistency right throughout. Still, we know what he is capable of and how he so often rises to the occasion and will be looking for him to come through for us again.

Almost unbelievably, they lose their starter in the 1st inning for the second straight game as we go ahead in the 3rd on an RBI groundout to Dandridge.

It stays that way until Ray gets into strife in the 6th and they leapfrog us with a trio of runs. This is the sort of thing we’ve been seeing all year from Ray, just floating out of games at the least opportune time.

We immediately cut the deficit in half on another run-scoring groundout, this time by Vaughan, but they counter in the 7th with a solo shot by Henrich and Brown comes out after that frame.

We still trail by 2 entering the bottom 9th but two hits put the tying runs aboard and an error scores one of them and moves the winning runs into scoring position with one out. Lloyd Waner, in what could well be his last series as a Pirate, comes off the bench and wins it for us with a 2-run single.


Pirates 5, Yankees 4

Game 3 in New York

Ed Brandt (4-2, 3.66) v Whit Wyatt (18-4, 2.80)

Pirates lead series 2-0

With news that both Paige and Willis are done for the year, we head to the Big Apple in the same position we were in two years ago. And we know how that went for us.

One big difference here is that we have Wyatt and Lanier going for us in the next two games. Whit has arguably been our best pitcher this year, and I know he is keen to atone for a slightly disappointing performance in the corresponding game last year. He’ll have to beat a tricky one in Brandt, however, a guy who has proved problematic for us in the past. More to the point, guys like Dandridge, Vaughan, Leiber and Elliott will need to awaken from their torpor – the four are a combined 4-for-29 over the first two games.

No such issues with Gibson, and he puts us ahead in the 1st with a two-out single. Dandridge then gets his first hit of the game in the next, and Wright doubles him in to make it 2-0. Vaughan then singles in a third.

Wyatt pitches four no-hit innings before they get a run on a hit in the 5th, but he responds with a run-scoring double in the bottom half to restore out 3-run cushion.

After we have a man thrown out at home in the 7th, Keller bombs one out to make it 4-2. Wyatt is great, however, and comes out after 8 having given up just 3 hits and with us still two to the good. Matlock gives us a clean 9th and we take a 3-0 series lead.


Pirates 4, Yankees 2

Game 4 in New York

Lefty Gomez (6-4, 3.38) v Max Lanier (16-3, 2.94)

Pirates lead series 3-0

A battle of the southpaws in this one, with the crafty Gomez invariably a handful and a proven big-game pitcher. That said, Lanier has been the find of the year for us and I hope he can cap off his great season in fine style. A clinching win always looks good on the CV.

We go ahead in the 1st on a Vaughan double but they reply in kind to tie it back up and then add another in the 2nd to take the lead as Lanier begins nervously.

The game changes on two swings. In the 3rd, Leiber finally makes a contribution – and it’s a big one, a grand slam with two out to make it 5-2 and end Gomez’s game. Then, after we load the bases again in the 4th, Vaughan empties them with a double.

Dandridge extends our lead to 7 in the 6th with a solo jack but Lanier’s poor game ends when he lets them back into the game by giving up a 3-run home run to Henrich.

They chip away with another in the 7th to make it 9-6 but in the end run out of outs and we sweep them in a fairly uninspiring series if I am being totally honest.


Pirates 9, Yankees 6

PITTSBURGH WINS SERIES 4-0

SERIES MVP: Wild Bill Wright (Pittsburgh)

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

We claim another double as our Wilkes-Barre boys get home in a tough five-gamer against San Antonio.

[luckymann]

As I alluded to in an earlier post, I am going to take another sabbatical from running the Bucs for a few years and will revert to Commish during that time. We'll see what the AI does with the franchise in my absence, and when I feel things are looking a bit more challenging, I'll step back in once the position becomes vacant. This will also give me a chance to make sure everything is set up properly for the post-NeLer world.

There'll still be regular updates, though less so than is customary in this save - probably every second month, along with notable performances, milestones etc as always. Plus the other regular features as well.

[luckymann]

For the first time I can remember, no managers lose their jobs at season’s end, although I do see that Tris Speaker is fired as Hitting Coach for the Red Sox’s AAA club Beaumont.

Pretty quiet on the retiree front as well. Those leaving the game include Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe, Mickey Cochrane, Slim Branham, Goose Goslin, Webster McDonald and one other I think deserves his own mention.

[luckymann]

The end of the road has come for one of the most unexpected superstars the league has yet seen: the mighty Willis Flournoy.

He leaves the game as its third-winningest pitcher with 376, behind two HOFers in Walter Johnson and Dick Redding. He is also at the time of writing second in Games Started (775), third in Innings Pitched (6225), tied for fourth in Complete Games (417) and shutouts (53), and 10th in Strikeouts (2496). All of which leaves him perched behind only the Big Train in pWAR, with 126.

See you in five years, big guy - thanks for the memories.

[luckymann]

AL 1940 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1940 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Repeat Wagner-Lajoie wins for Ted Williams and Josh Gibson, with RoYs to Wally Judnich and Pete Reiser.

Satchel Paige wins his 7th Johnson-Waddell, Luis Tiant his first at age 34. Leroy Matlock wins another Reliever award, his 5th, with Joe Beggs of the Yankees getting his first.


S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[Brad K]

Nice to see Flouroy do so well. I like it when that happens and it's plausible. In my current game Connie Johnson won two Cy awards.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Nice to see Flouroy do so well. I like it when that happens and it's plausible. In my current game Connie Johnson won two Cy awards.

Yes, couldn't agree more. His ratings were never above 60 but he just stuck at it and aged gracefully to give him a long career. This save has had a few like him. Lefty Williams and John Donaldson come to mind, but there have been others.

[luckymann]

Eight Legacy Players joining the league this year, including a Marquee who you may have heard of before. Watch out National League pitchers!

These are the Legacy Players for the 1941 season:

Boston Red Sox: Tex Hughson (24.2; 225 – one-club player)
Chicago Cubs: Johnny Schmitz (22.7; 224)
Cleveland Indians: Steve Gromek (25.9; 309)
Detroit Tigers: Virgil Trucks (40.5; 316)
New York Giants: Dave Koslo (15.2; 332 conceded)
New York Yankees: Phil Rizzuto (42.2; 1661 – one-club player)
St. Louis Browns: Vern Stephens (46.2; 994 conceded)
St. Louis Cardinals: Stan Musial (128.6; 3026 – one-club player) MARQUEE


Whitey Kurowski (24.7; 916 – one-club player) was also eligible for the Cardinals, but Musial’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Howie Pollet (34.3; 247) was also eligible for the Cardinals, but Musial’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


I have imported a bunch of historical minor-leaguers to try and sort out the pitcher shortage at AAA, which means this year there are 191 rookies and the Draft will consist of 11 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1940 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. St. Louis Cardinals (549)
2. St. Louis Browns (435)
3. New York Yankees (571)
4. Detroit Tigers (584)
5. Cleveland Indians (578)
6. Boston Red Sox (532; dice roll)
7. Chicago Cubs (487)
8. New York Giants (474)
9. Philadelphia Phillies (327)
10. Philadelphia Athletics (351)
11. Washington Senators (416)
12. Boston Braves (428)
13. Pittsburgh Pirates (506)
14. Chicago White Sox (532; dice roll)
15. Brooklyn Dodgers (575)
16. Cincinnati Reds (654)

Rounds 2 thru 11

1. Philadelphia Phillies (327)
2. Philadelphia Athletics (351)
3. Washington Senators (416)
4. Boston Braves (428)
5. St. Louis Browns (435)
6. New York Giants (474)
7. Chicago Cubs (487)
8. Pittsburgh Pirates (506)
9. Chicago White Sox (532; dice roll)
10. Boston Red Sox (532; dice roll)
11. St. Louis Cardinals (549)
12. New York Yankees (571)
13. Brooklyn Dodgers (575)
14. Cleveland Indians (578)
15. Detroit Tigers (584)
16. Cincinnati Reds (654)


New Bucs GM Snow Snodgrass and Manager Fred Mitchell take the following players:

1. OF Hoot Evers, 19
2. C Ray Lamanno, 21
3. SS George Sutch, 21
4. 1B Jake Jones, 20
5. 3B Bill Sinton, 20
6. IF Skippy Roberge, 23
7. C Sam Demma, 20
8. C Frank Mornino, 19
9. OF Buster Bray, 27
10. P Johnny Lindell, 24
11. P Phil Poole, 23

FULL DRAFT LOG


Here are Rounds 1 and 2 in full:

[luckymann]

C-Town welcomes two more legends of the game into its warm embrace. Poor old Beauty Bancroft comes agonisingly close yet again.

[luckymann]

Plenty happens in one of MLB’s seminal seasons as Joe DiMaggio’s hit streak vies with Ted Williams’ quest for 400 in the spotlight stakes. Meanwhile, Dem Brooklyn Bums start their famous run, overhauling the Cards late in the season and winning 100 games before coming up short against the Yanks in the World Series.

AL CHAMPIONS: New York Yankees (101-53)
NL CHAMPIONS: Brooklyn Dodgers (100-54)
WORLD SERIES: Yankees 4, Dodgers 1


AL MVP: Joe DiMaggio (Yankees)
NL MVP: Dolph Camilli (Dodgers)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. PETE REISER, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 137 games, .343 average, 117 runs, 184 hits, 39 doubles, 17 triples, 14 home runs, 76 RBIs, 11 hit-by-pitches, .558 slugging percentage.
• The reckless Reiser finished the season physically intact—in stark contrast to coming years—and showed how dominant he could be in good health.

2. DOLPH CAMILLI, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .285 average, 92 runs, 29 doubles, 6 triples, 34 home runs, 120 RBIs, 104 walks, 115 strikeouts.
• Despite the damage done to opponents by the tornado-like Reiser, Camilli still copped the NL MVP award, and by a rather wide (300-183) margin. The power of power.

3. JOHNNY MIZE, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 126 games, .317 average, 39 doubles, 8 triples, 16 home runs, 100 RBIs, 70 walks, 16 intentional walks.
• After clubbing 43 homers the year before, Mize had only four through the end of June before turning it up late in his last season at St. Louis.

4. MEL OTT, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .286 average, 89 runs, 29 doubles, 27 home runs, 90 RBIs, 100 walks.
• For the third straight year, Ott walked exactly 100 times.

5. ELBIE FLETCHER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .288 average, 95 runs, 29 doubles, 13 triples, 11 home runs, 74 RBIs, 118 walks, .421 on-base percentage.
• With the Waners on the wane and/or gone in Pittsburgh, Fletcher took over as the Bucs’ most reliable hitter, leading the NL in walks and OBP for the second straight year.

6. JOE MEDWICK, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 133 games, .318 average, 100 runs, 171 hits, 33 doubles, 10 triples, 18 home runs, 88 RBIs.
• In his first full year with the Dodgers, Medwick thought he made fans for life at Brooklyn by hitting .405 against the Giants in 84 at-bats—but two years later, he’d been playing for those same archrivals.

7. STAN HACK, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .317 average, 694 plate appearances, 111 runs, 186 hits, 33 doubles, 5 triples, 99 walks, 10 stolen bases.
• The veteran third baseman hit .317 for the second straight year and finished a streak of six consecutive seasons scoring at least 100 runs, tying a NL record at the time.

8. ENOS SLAUGHTER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 113 games, .311 average, 71 runs, 22 doubles, 9 triples, 13 home runs, 76 RBIs, 53 walks.
• A late-season shoulder injury kept Slaughter from rising higher on this chart—and possibly kept the Cardinals from rising above the Dodgers in the NL standings.

9. NICK ETTEN, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .311 average, 78 runs, 168 hits, 27 doubles, 14 home runs, 79 RBIs, 82 walks.
• Wartime star Etten enjoyed his one pre-war success even as the Phillies plunged toward bankruptcy.

10. DIXIE WALKER, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .311 average, 88 runs, 165 hits, 32 doubles, 8 triples, 9 home runs, 71 RBIs, 70 walks.
• The consistent .300 hitter was one of many expatriates from other major league teams to make a positive impression on the NL champion Dodgers.

AL Hitters

1. TED WILLIAMS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .406 average, 135 runs, 185 hits, 33 doubles, 37 home runs, 120 RBIs, 147 walks, 25 intentional walks, .553 on-base percentage, .735 slugging percentage, 1.288 OPS.
• Had the Splendid Splinter’s six sacrifice flies not been counted as at-bats—as they were in 1941—his final season average actually would have been .411.

2. JOE DIMAGGIO, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 139 games, .357 average, 122 runs, 193 hits, 43 doubles, 11 triples, 30 home runs, 125 RBIs, 76 walks, 21 intentional walks.
• As amazing as Williams could possibly be, DiMaggio still stole the AL MVP because, perhaps, his numbers were more valuable; likeability may have had something to do with it as well.

3. JEFF HEATH, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .340 average, 89 runs, 199 hits, 32 doubles, 20 triples, 24 home runs, 123 RBIs, 18 stolen bases.
• Heath became the AL’s first 20-20-20 man—20 doubles, 20 triples and 20 home runs.

4. CHARLIE KELLER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 140 games, .298 average, 102 runs, 24 doubles, 10 triples, 33 home runs, 122 RBIs, 102 walks.
• While DiMaggio rightfully stole the headlines, Keller held his own in the Yankee lineup as the team’s leader in home runs and walks—while finishing just three RBIs behind Joltin’ Joe.

5. CECIL TRAVIS, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .359 average, 106 runs, 218 hits, 39 doubles, 19 triples, 7 home runs, 101 RBIs.
• The timing of World War II was no worse than on Travis, who peaked in 1941 and was flying along with a .327 career average—but war wounds would depreciate his talent to that of a common player upon his return in 1945.

6. SAM CHAPMAN, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .322 average, 97 runs, 178 hits, 29 doubles, 9 triples, 25 home runs, 106 RBIs.
• A marvelous year for the 25-year-old slugger who hit nearly 60 points above his eventual career average while setting a personal best in home runs—but he found a greater calling at year’s end by enlisting in the Navy following the attack on Pearl Harbor, essentially shelving his peak years.

7. ROY CULLENBINE, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .317 average, 82 runs, 29 doubles, 9 triples, 9 home runs, 98 RBIs, 121 walks.
• Teams never knew what they were going to get with the inconsistent Cullenbine, but in 1941 he gave the Browns an All-Star performance.

8. JIMMIE FOXX, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 87 runs, 27 doubles, 8 triples, 19 home runs, 105 RBIs, 93 walks, 103 strikeouts.
• The last potent campaign for Double-X; injuries and off-field issues would precipitate a fast decline in the years to follow as he entered his late 30s.

9. JOE CRONIN, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .311 average, 98 runs, 38 doubles, 8 triples, 16 home runs, 95 RBIs, 82 walks, 14 sacrifice hits.
• In his last year as a full-time threat before concentrating more on managerial duties, Cronin gave himself the sweet assignment of often batting in front of or right behind Ted Williams in the lineup.

10. TOMMY HENRICH, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .277 average, 106 runs, 27 doubles, 5 triples, 31 home runs, 85 RBIs, 81 walks.
• Able to play full-time in his fourth year with the Yankees, Henrich broke loose with a career-high 31 homers.

NL Pitchers

1. WHIT WYATT, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.34 ERA, 22 wins, 10 losses, .688 win percentage, 38 appearances, 35 starts, 23 complete games, 7 shutouts, 288.1 innings, 176 strikeouts.
• Along with Kirby Higbe, Wyatt became half of the first duo from the same NL team to share the lead in wins.

2. ELMER RIDDLE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.40 ERA, 17 wins, 7 losses, .708 win percentage, 210 innings.
• First-year pitcher Riddle was certainly puzzling for opposing hitters with the NL ERA title.

3. ERNIE WHITE, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.80 ERA, 16 wins, 5 losses, .762 win percentage, 33 appearances, 23 starts.
• White thrived in his first full year before arm troubles and war duty quickly derailed any future success.

4. BUCKY WALTERS, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.83 ERA, 19 wins, 15 losses, 37 appearances, 35 starts, 27 complete games, 302 innings.
• Despite topping 300 innings and leading the NL in complete games for the third straight year each, Walters fell short of that third straight 20-win campaign as offensive support waned.

5. KIRBY HIGBE, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 3.14 ERA, 22 wins, 9 losses, .710 win percentage, 48 appearances, 39 starts, 298 innings, 132 walks, 9 wild pitches.
• Liberated from an awful Phillies team, Higbe was the most pleasantly relieved of the Dodgers’ new veteran arrivals, receiving two more runs of support per start than with Philadelphia the year before.

6. CURT DAVIS, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.97 ERA, 13 wins, 7 losses, 5 shutouts, 154.1 innings, 27 walks.
• Like Higbe, another (more distant) Phillies escapee, Davis found solace and success at Brooklyn and was especially marvelous down the stretch, posting a 6-1 record and 1.97 ERA from mid-August on.

7. JOHNNY VANDER MEER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.82 ERA, 16 wins, 13 losses, 32 starts, 6 shutouts, 226.1 innings, 126 walks, 202 strikeouts.
• Overcoming two years of wildness (which led to just eight total wins), Vander Meer fueled his comeback with the first of three straight seasons leading the NL in strikeouts.

8. MAX LANIER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.82 ERA, 10 wins, 8 losses, 35 appearances, 18 starts, 153 innings.
• The young southpaw warmed up for a productive wartime tenure with a top curve, all despite increasing elbow issues.

9. LON WARNEKE, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 3.15 ERA, 17 wins, 9 losses, 37 appearances, 30 starts, 246 innings.
• The veteran’s return to ace form (albeit for the last time) was highlighted with his lone career no-hitter on August 30, losing a chance for a perfect game with a seventh-inning walk.

10. MAX BUTCHER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.05 ERA, 17 wins, 12 losses, 32 starts, 236 innings.
• The sixth-year pitcher finally earned his winning record, ironically, on an 81-73 team that included no other rotation players finishing above .500.

AL Pitchers

1. THORNTON LEE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.37 ERA, 22 wins, 11 losses, 30 complete games, .667 win percentage, 34 starts, 300.1 innings.
• Lee discovered the wonders of what an ERA title could do to shake off years of .500 pitching.

2. DUTCH LEONARD, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 3.45 ERA, 18 wins, 13 losses, 33 starts, 256 innings, 29 grounded into double plays.
• Yeah, he’s a knuckleballer; for the fourth straight year, Leonard led the AL in inducing passed balls out of his catchers.

3. BOB FELLER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 3.15 ERA, 25 wins, 13 losses, 44 appearances, 40 starts, 28 complete games, 6 shutouts, 343 innings, 194 walks, 260 strikeouts.
• At age 22, Feller became the youngest pitcher to win 100 career games.

4. AL BENTON, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.97 ERA, 15 wins, 6 losses, .714 win percentage, 7 saves, 38 appearances, 14 starts, 157.2 innings.
• In a transitional year for Tigers pitching, Benton came to the rescue as the staff’s glue; after making just eight starts through August, Benton was given the keys to the rotation and started six games in September—winning them all.

5. MARIUS RUSSO, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.09 ERA, 14 wins, 10 losses, 27 starts, 209.2 innings.
• The Yankees’ lack of an ace was apparent with Russo leading the club with 27 starts; the underrated hurler made the most of it.

6. SPUD CHANDLER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.19 ERA, 10 wins, 5 losses, 4 saves, 28 appearances, 20 starts, 163.2 innings.
• Chandler made up for lost time in the season’s second half, recording all 10 of his wins after going 0-3 over 15 appearances before the All-Star Break.

7. EDDIE SMITH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.18 ERA, 13 wins, 17 losses, 33 starts, 21 complete games, 263.1 innings, 114 walks.
• With Thornton Lee finally getting win-loss respect, Smith emerged as his hard-luck replacement on the White Sox’ staff; it would get worse (7-20, 3.98 ERA, 2.6 runs per start) the following year.

8. TED LYONS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.70 ERA, 12 wins, 10 losses, 22 starts, 19 complete games, 187.1 innings, 37 walks.
• “Sunday with Lyons” became more of the routine as the veteran hurler, now 40 years of age and in his 19th year with the White Sox, got the ball at the end of every week.

9. DICK NEWSOME, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 4.13 ERA, 19 wins, 10 losses, 36 appearances, 29 starts, 213.2 innings, 7 hit-by-pitches.
• Newsome tried the majors after years finding success in the Pacific Coast League and became a 31-year old rookie star for the Red Sox.

10. SID HUDSON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 3.46 ERA, 13 wins, 14 losses, 33 starts, 249.2 innings.
• Hudson easily improved from his rookie 4.57 ERA of 1940, but it didn’t translate to a better won-loss record.

[luckymann]

The Iron Horse gets what may well be his final run at those five pesky homers he needs to overhaul the Babe.

[luckymann]

The biggest news by far over the offseason is the Tigers - having earlier offloaded OF John Stone to the White Sox - trading Hammerin' Hank Greenberg to the Phillies. They later spend all that freed-up cash on easily the biggest contract of the break, and one of the largest in MLB history. Two long-term Cardinals are shipped out as well, with Ducky Medwick headed to our joint and Dizzy Dean off to the White Sox.

We also see an all-too-rare splash from the Tribe and some other very interesting moves indeed.

Here are the highlights:

• C Billy Sullivan jr: Tigers, 7 years / $271600
• P Bill Byrd: Indians, 5 years / $164000
• P Larry French: Braves, 3 years / $141800
• OF Ival Goodman: Phillies, 5 years / $138000
• P Ray Brown: Yankees, 4 years / $136000
• 2B Willie Wells: Senators, 3 years / $100200
• P Jim Willis: Indians, 3 years / $79200
• P Chet Brewer: Dodgers, 3 years / $77400
• P Ed Brandt: Giants, 3 years / $71400

• OF Hank Greenberg from Tigers to Phillies for P Bill Sayles and OF Harry Walker
• OF John Stone and SS Frank Trechock from Tigers to White Sox for 3B Lee Handley
• OF Joe Medwick from Cardinals to Pirates for SS Sherry Robertson and 2B Hal Marnie
• C Ken Silvestri from White Sox to Cardinals for P Dizzy Dean
• 2B Bama Rowell from Yankees to Cubs for P Willie Cornelius
• 3B Steve Mesner, C Al Evans, P Johnny Gee and P Mike Naymick from Red Sox to Phillies for 1B Zeke Bonura
• 3B Merrill May from Browns to Reds for P Cy Blanton and 3B Sibby Sisti
• P Tot Presnell from Giants to Pirates for P Jim Bagby, C Dick West and P Bill Clemensen
• P Jack Kramer and OF Mike McCormick from Phillies to Giants for 2B Buddy Myer
• C Don Padgett from Pirates to Red Sox for P Jim Turner and OF Charlie Gilbert

ALL TRANSACTIONS


The Bucs go 11-7 in S/T and get through with no injuries.

The pundits are predicting pretty decisive repeats for Pittsburgh and the Yanks. No 400 season on the cards for Teddy B according to them, not sure about Joe's hit streak - you, like I, will just have to wait and see!


FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

The Bucs team page can be accessed HERE.


Here's how Fred has the squad lined up on OD:

Still a solid-looking squad and should give it a great shake again. Payroll of $329k is 3rd; $570k budget is the lowest.

[luckymann]

566!!!!!

Three to share, four to go solo top!

[luckymann]

Sadly, as it coincides with an IRL injury, Lefty gets no respite here and will have to sit it out.

[luckymann]

567!!!!!

So close and yet so far.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

A rare 6-hit game by Cleveland's Danny Litwhiler, who is enjoying a fine sophomore season so far. His club started the season in strong fashion but a recent 10-game losing streak has put them back into the all-too-familiar mid-standings territory.

[luckymann]

568!!!!!

Nearly there.