The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Pittsburgh's team page can be accessed HERE.

Things look set to get tough from here for the Bucs. No Gibson, no Lanier, their remaining stars not getting any younger and not much coming through the pipeline. Still, some handy players left but the pitching is in tatters and how it performs will likely prove the difference between a full-blown cliff dive and a more orderly regressive path. No doubt, however - my return approacheth.

Here's the squad in full:






BUDGET: $700k - 13th
PAYROLL: $351k - 9th

[luckymann]

Mel Ott becomes just the third member of the 500 HR club. I've long felt Mel is the future heir to the all-time crown and, at 35 needing just 72 to do so, see no reason to doubt this will eventually be the case.





EDIT: Ahhh, good old commentator's curse strikes again...

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

The Bucs fly out of the starting blocks to sit at 31-12 on May 31, although a 13-13 June brings them back within reach of the chasing pack. Theirs has been a nice even performance across the metrics - nothing too unspectacularly unsustainable, just good, solid baseball.





This is a nice little squad Snow and Dutch have assembled, with few weak spots at all, perhaps other than the lower part of the rotation and even that is far from a disaster zone. Call me impressed. Very keen to see how it holds up down the stretch.





The Red Sox have grabbed a little break, but there's still plenty of juice left in this lemon.





Monthly Award Winners


May

American League

• Batter – Ted Williams (Red Sox): 398 / 9 HR / 17 RBI
• Pitcher – Dutch Leonard (Red Sox): 6-0 / 2.01 / 20 K / 49.1 IP
• Rookie – Ted Wilks (White Sox): 4-2 / 2.80 / 13 K / 54.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Enos Slaughter (Cardinals): 353 / 5 HR / 17 RBI
• Pitcher – Leroy Matlock (Pirates): 4-0 / 1.34 / 20 K / 47 IP
• Rookie – Johnny Sain (Cardinals): 5-1 / 3.02 / 27 K / 44.2 IP

June

American League

• Batter – Johnny Hopp (Indians): 350 / 5 HR / 24 RBI
• Pitcher – Paul Derringer (Yankees): 4-1 / 1.08 / 19 K / 41.2 IP
• Rookie – Joe Page (Red Sox): 3-0 / 2.95 / 32 K / 42.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Ron Northey (Phillies): 371 / 6 HR / 17 RBI
• Pitcher – Hank Wyse (Cubs): 5-1 / 1.38 / 14 K / 52 IP
• Rookie – Emil Kush (Phillies): 2-0 / 1.72 / 4 SV / 10 K / 15.2 IP

Milestones

• 300 wins: Roosevelt Davis
• 300 HR: Josh Gibson
• 200 wins: Larry French

Other Observations and Points of Interest

• A horror 8-17 start for the Reds is compounded when they lose star OF Willard Brown for six weeks with an elbow strain.
• In a season so far marked by its high injury toll, the Yanks lose Johnny Mize for three months to torn ankle ligaments and then Lee Grissom for the year with bone chips in his elbow.
• The Giants are struck a double blow on the same day when Satchel Paige suffers a herniated disc that will sideline him for up to two months and Monte Irvin fractures a finger and is expected to miss a similar amount of time.

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More Than One Run Scored per Game Played (Minimum 10 Games Played)

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Just three Bucs get the nod this time around.




A first HR Derby win for Josh Gibson, while Hank Greenberg wins his second MVP in three years as he leads the NL to a 4-2 win, their fourth straight.

[luckymann]

The Bucs have a real fight on their hands here, with the NL race one of the tightest on memory. They right the ship with a 16-12 August after looking ready to sink without a trace thanks to a 12-18 July.





I've been fairly liberal with my praise and won't make a habit of second-guessing but I am having trouble understanding the trade the Bucs do on Jul 10, that sees pitcher Russ Christopher swapped for outfielder Thurman Tucker. It seems utterly inexplicable, given they are already thin on pitching and have Pete Reiser at AAA. It makes even less sense retrospectively when Ken Heintzelman goes down with a season-ending injury, forcing them to then trade for Jim Tobin.

Ray Dandridge and WBW are each having another superb season, while Stan Spence is showing plenty as well. Leroy Matlock (12-2 / 1.90) has turned back the clock with a sublime performance and must be in Johnson-Waddell calculations, with Leon Day offering great support. Almost to a man, the staff has greatly outperformed my expectations.





Five teams within 5 games in the NL - we've seen fewer, if any, tighter races than this in the senior circuit. And, thanks to some exemplary play, both the A's and Yanks have crept right up on the BoSox. A double grandstand finish!




News and Leaders






Monthly Award Winners

July

American League

• Batter – Ted Williams (Red Sox): 416 / 5 HR / 28 RBI
• Pitcher – Eddie Lopat (Yankees): 5-0 / 2.66 / 17 K / 44 IP
• Rookie – Eddie Lopat

National League

• Batter – Phil Weintraub (Braves): 299 / 7 HR / 18 RBI
• Pitcher – Claude Passeau (Cubs): 5-0 / 1.31 / 20 K / 48 IP
• Rookie – Johnny Sain (Cardinals): 3-0 / 2.45 / 20 K / 29.1 IP

August

American League

• Batter – Charlie Keller (Yankees): 374 / 8 HR / 23 RBI
• Pitcher – Dutch Leonard (Red Sox): 5-0 / 2.08 / 16 K / 43.1 IP
• Rookie – Arnold Carter (Indians): 3-1 / 1.77 / 7 K / 20.1 IP

National League

• Batter – Stan Musial (Cardinals): 388 / 3 HR / 19 RBI
• Pitcher – Harry Brecheen (Cardinals): 4-1 / 1.47 / 31 K / 55 IP
• Rookie – Danny Gardella (Giants): 357 / 6 HR / 17 RBI

Milestones and Observations of Note

• Joe Cronin reaches 2500 career hits, Joe Medwick 2000.
• Ray Brown notches win #300, Bill Walker and Luis Tiant each make it to 200.
• Another injury for the Yanks, with Paul Derringer lost for the season through radial nerve compression. Ed Durham of the A’s has his season ended prematurely via a torn labrum, as does the Cards’ Stubby Overmire via a rotator cuff tear.
• Funny how some of these trades work out, as IRL long-time Card Marty Marion gets traded there by the Giants for P Murry Dickson and 2B Buddy Blattner.

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Most Home Runs without an Intentional Walk

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A great career is winding down, with Willie now in his 40s but still getting it done. He becomes just the sixth member of the 3000-hit club.

[luckymann]

A truly monumental season for the MLB here in 1944, with the Red Sox and Cubs holding on to set up a WS meeting and break the Yanks-Bucs dominance in the Fall Classic.




For the Bucs it is a matter of close but no cigar as they post a 10-17 stretch run that includes a 9-game losing streak. All the same, they far outperformed my expectations for the year - the pitching in particular.








A double coronation in the AL as Ted Williams wins the hitting Triple Crown and Hal Newhouser the pitching. It is the first of the latter since Dutch Leonard achieved it in 1914 - a good omen for the Red Sox, with whom he achieved it and then went on to win the WS.

Ray Dandridge wins his second straight NL batting crown, while Jeff Heath's 32 homers lead either league. The Cards' Harry Brecheen just pips Prince Hal for low ERA with 2.14, while Nick Strinchevich of the A's sets a new record with 27 Saves. No 20-game winner yet again.

Hank Greenberg and Josh Gibson each reach the 2000 career hit plateau.

Top 20s, awards, news and leaders at season's end:








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[luckymann]

Boston Red Sox (95-59) v Chicago Cubs (85-69)
Best-of-seven, Cubs with the home-field advantage.


BOSTON RED SOX S+ PAGE

CHICAGO CUBS S+ PAGE

The first time in five years this hasn't been a Yankees v Pirates matchup and, more importantly for Cubs fans, the first time their club has been in this position in 34 years, since the most recent of the franchise's four World Championships in 1910.

Their being here wouldn't come as a huge surprise, as there's no doubt they have been inching closer to a pennant these past few seasons. And, thanks to a couple of injuries for their opponents, they'd be quietly confident about their chances of going all the way.

That said, even with those injuries - particularly to Dutch Leonard and Dom DiMaggio - this is an imposing Red Sox lineup, led by clearly the best offensive player in the game right now in Ted Williams. He is well protected in the middle of a lineup that can hurt you top to bottom, with Bus Clarkson, Aaron Robinson and Bobby Doerr all power threats.

And I think the Sox will still be too good for the Baby Bears this time around, although those injuries and Chicago's home-field advantage will keep things tighter than they might otherwise have been. Boston in six for mine.

[luckymann]

Players with Win and Save and no Losses or Blown Saves

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Chicago

Hank Wyse (11-16, 3.05) v Max Lanier (15-7, 2.87)

A beauty to get this series underway as the Red Sox bats eventually get them home in a high-scoring affair. After a slow start and four scoreless, both offences explode with big 5th innings before a 3-run jack by Elbie Fletcher in the 6th gives Boston the lead for good and they tack on two more late for a 9-6 final.

Game 2 in Chicago

Claude Passeau (18-6, 2.39) v Tex Hughson (14-6, 4.23)

Red Sox lead series 1-0

The Cubs get 3 early but then the hits and runs dry up and the Red Sox zoom past them with another big 5th thanks to homers by Robinson and Clarkson. Hughson is fantastic after his wonky 1st and ends up going the distance as the Sox take a commanding 2-0 series lead back to Boston.

Game 3 in Boston

Joe Page (10-8, 4.00) v Denny Galehouse (11-10, 3.61)

Red Sox lead series 2-0

Six innings of one-hit shutout pitching by Joe Page lay the foundation for a controlled win for the Sox to get them within one of the grand prize. A game that never rises to any great heights.

Game 4 in Boston

Barney Brown (9-11, 3.53) v Marv Breuer (6-5, 3.38)

Red Sox lead series 3-0

Disappointment for Cubs fans, more so that after all these years in the wilderness their heroes simply don’t turn up in this series and go down meekly to a Red Sox side that is all business and claims the franchise's fourth MLB title. I doubt they’ll recall too much about this one when discussing the best World Series.

BOSTON WINS SERIES 4-0

SERIES MVP: Bus Clarkson (Boston)

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[luckymann]

Despite not figuring in the main event this year, the club still gets some silverware with the AAA Barons winning their 11th Championship in dramatic fashion, clinching the title in a 16-inning decider at San Antonio.

[luckymann]

Just the Dodgers’ GM cut at the end of this campaign.

Fairly quiet on the retirements as well. Those of note include Jim Willis, Ted Trent, Red “The Nashville Narcissus” Lucas, Buddy Myer, Dolph Camilli, Neck Stanley and 293-game winner Carl “Meal Ticket” Hubbell, whose #1 is retired by the Jints.

[luckymann]

Pirates Skipper Dutch Rudolph also calls time, affording me the opportunity to make my return to the fold after a four-year absence. I will be keeping Snow Snodgrass on as my Assistant GM for now.

A fair bit of work to do and man am I excited to be back. I'll need to reacquaint myself with the group and I'll report back with a review of where things are at.

[luckymann]

AL 1944 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1944 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


A third and most emphatic Waner-Lajoie for Teddy B, with Stan the Man winning his first across in the NL.

Likewise for Hal Newhouser, who wins his first Johnson-Waddell, as does Cardinal Harry Brecheen.

RoYs to Boston's Aaron Robinson in the AL and Chicgo's Irv Hall in the NL.

Relief awards to Arnold Carter of the Tribe and the Phillies' Dick Fowler - the first for each.


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[luckymann]

OK so I'm possibly coming back prematurely here, as the squad has nowhere near gone to seed like it usually does in my absence. Which means I may have to disappear for a while again, but we'll just wait and see on that. Jackie Robinson is the last NeLer to enter the league (via the upcoming Draft) and my yearly stat inputs for these guys end in 1948, which means I'll be looking to move this save across to v23 for the 1950 season onwards and will be able to use scouting settings and the like to up the challenge here. So I might not need to after all. As I said, we'll wait and see how things pan out.

Here's what will be happening to the group in the offseason.

LEAVING

P Leon Day: we actually tried pretty hard to keep Leon but man was he ornery and in the end we just walked away - a shame because our pitching is the one area that is looking pretty ratty and, at just 27, if he were reasonable, we would have been happy to offer him a long-term deal.

OF Wild Bill Wright: as was the case with Leon, Bill wanted absolute top dollar - literally the highest salary in the league in Bill's case - which we obviously can't and won't pay.

C Frankie Hayes: $30k+ per for a poor defensive backstop who hit 232 / 6 / 42? Pass.

OF Joe Medwick, P Dick Barrett: both had no interest in re-upping.

And we won't be re-signing P Peaches Davis, P Jim Winford or P Hal Kelleher.


STAYING




Our position player group is in decent enough shape that, with these signings, we will be able to focus all of our energy and use our available resources almost exclusively on pitchers.

A reminder, I am permitted one full FA signing per season (but unlimited MiLB FA deals, including those with options), along with two trades - one in the off- / preseason period, and one during the regular season itself.

We have no arb cases. We sign Shoeless Joe as our Hitting Coach. Our budget on the day FAs declare is $550k (14th) vs payroll of just under $300k (5th), so no real issues there.

Let's get busy.

[luckymann]

The Reds are up to their old tricks again, trading away their best player despite him being under contract for two more years on a very reasonable rate (just over half what Bill Wright is seeking).

Not a total loss, as Pafko is a good type, but still - two Pennants in 44 years and they do this?

[luckymann]

The last of the WW2 years sees just four Legacies coming in again, including the very final NeLer who needs no introduction.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1945 season:

Brooklyn Dodgers: Jackie Robinson (63.8; 1382 – one-club player)
Chicago White Sox: Billy Pierce (53.3; 456)
New York Giants: Sal Maglie (30.5; 221)
St. Louis Cardinals: Red Schoendienst (44.5; 1795)


There are 125 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 7 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1944 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Brooklyn Dodgers (409)
2. Chicago White Sox (461)
3. St. Louis Cardinals (682)
4. New York Giants (435)
5. Philadelphia Phillies (399)
6. Washington Senators (416)
7. Boston Braves (422)
8. Philadelphia Athletics (468; dice roll)
9. Cleveland Indians (468; dice roll)
10. Chicago Cubs (487)
11. Boston Red Sox (500)
12. New York Yankees (539)
13. Detroit Tigers (571)
14. Cincinnati Reds (578; dice roll)
15. St. Louis Browns (578; dice roll)
16. Pittsburgh Pirates (588)


Rounds 2 thru 7

1. Philadelphia Phillies (399)
2. Brooklyn Dodgers (409)
3. Washington Senators (416)
4. Boston Braves (422)
5. New York Giants (435)
6. Chicago White Sox (461)
7. Philadelphia Athletics (468; dice roll)
8. Cleveland Indians (468; dice roll)
9. Chicago Cubs (487)
10. Boston Red Sox (500)
11. New York Yankees (539)
12. Detroit Tigers (571)
13. Cincinnati Reds (578; dice roll)
14. St. Louis Browns (578; dice roll)
15. Pittsburgh Pirates (588)
16. St. Louis Cardinals (682)


Once again, our IRL counterparts do us no favours as we are well down in the pecking order, pick-wise – by which time the pantry is pretty much bare, and so in the end it is a fairly uninspiring Draft for us.

Here are our new additions:

1. P Art Houtteman, 17

• Young RHP with decent stuff who projects into a quite nice SP in a few years and who'll hold down a BP spot until then.

2. P Ken Holcombe, 26
3. P Cliff Fannin, 20
4. P Walter Wilson, 31
5. IF Barney White, 21
6. P Herm Wehmeier, 17
7. P Bob Whitcher, 27

• These are all purely guys we are hoping to get some use from as we realign the squad over the next few seasons.

FULL DRAFT LOG