The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

The Boston Americans, after trialling it unofficially during ’07, officially changed their team nickname to the Red Sox.

The MLB had cut the Reserve Clause in 1907 and introduced Free Agency, with players eligible for salary arbitration after three years’ major league service and full Free agency after 10.

So there were a lot of transactions in the offseason. Here are some of note:

• C Mike Grady signed as an FA by the Superbas for 3 years / $10140
• OF Fred Clarke signed as an FA by the Naps for 3 years / $9660
• 1B Harry Davis signed as an FA by the Red Sox for 1 year / $2700
• P Mike O’Neill (formerly with us) signed as an FA by the White Sox for 2 years / $2360
• P Jesse Tannehill signed as an FA by the A’s for 1 year / $2300
• 1B Fred Tenney signed as an FA by the A’s for 1 year / $1700
• P Jerry Nops signed as an FA by the Browns for 1 year / $1640
• 1B Dan McGann signed as an FA by the Superbas for 1 year / $1440
• C Jack Warner signed as an FA by the Giants for 1 year / $1440
• SS Bill Dahlen signed as an FA by the Browns for 1 year / $1340
• 3B Wid Conroy signed as an FA by the Highlanders for 1 year / $1280
• OF Tom McCreery signed as an FA by the Tigers for 1 year / $1260
• 1B Jack Doyle signed as an FA by the Phillies for 1 year / $1240
• OF Chick Stahl signed as an FA by the Giants for 1 year / $1240
• OF Sam Mertes signed as an FA by the Doves for 1 year / $1200
• C Harry Bemis signed as an FA by the Tigers for 1 year / $1160
• P Ed Doheny signed as an FA by the Reds for 1 year / $1120
• P Doc McJames signed as an FA by the Tigers for 1 year / $1080
• 1B Charlie Hickman signed as an FA by the Tigers for 1 year / $1040
• OF Algie McBride signed as an FA by the White Sox for 1 year / $1040
• P Cowboy Jones (formerly with us) signed as an FA by the Cards for 1 year / $930

We go 10-8 in ST, with reliever Charlie Rhodes picking up a niggle that will keep him off the mound for a week.

Interestingly, the pundits have picked the Naps to head the AL this season with 90 wins, while they fancy the Cubs to rebound from a disappointing ’07 to take the NL by a couple games from the Giants, with us in third 6 GB at 82-72.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

As always, HERE is our team page for those inclined to fully immerse. For the rest, a summary.

Catchers

• C Roger Bresnahan
• Art Hoelskoetter (R) – was fantastic as Roger’s backup last year and looking for more of the same.

Infielders

• 1B Del Howard (L)
• 2B Danny Murphy (R)
• 3B Tommy Leach (R)
• SS Honus Wagner (R)
• Harry Steinfeldt (R) – will play 2B v LHP, with Danny at RF
• Buck Herzog (R) also LF on occasion
• Charlie Dexter (R)

Outfielders

• LF Zaza Harvey (L)
• CF Matty McIntyre (L)
• RF Pop Foster (R)
• Rip Cannell (L) will play CF v LHP
• Otis Clymer (S)

Rotation

• RHP Cy Young
• RHP Jack Chesbro
• RHP Howie Camnitz
• LHP Nick Altrock

Bullpen

• RHP Babe Adams
• LHP Nick Maddox
• LHP Tacks Neuer
• RHP Charlie Rhodes
• RHP Biff Schlitzer

Deacon Phillippe, unfortunately, has been bumped onto the Reserve Roster and – injuries / form slumps notwithstanding – seems destined to spend the final three seasons of his contract with us there.

I have some fairly serious concerns about our pitching. Young continues to defy Father Time, but at 41 - for how long? Chesbro, at 33, is no spring chicken either. Maddox just hasn't come on as hoped, although he is young and hopefully this is still on the cards at some stage. Same with Adams. Altrock is injury-prone and Schlitzer, while capable, is likely a mark or two below what we need longer-term. So this is an area I'll be keeping the closest of eyes on and acting quickly and decisively if needs be.

[luckymann]

This season's schedule is a beast from the get-go. Seven straight, a day off and then 25 games without a break.

We split our first series against the Redbirds, drop two of three at Cincy. Odd start, really. Big losses followed by big wins.

Off we go on our long stretch.

It begins with our home opener, against St. Louis. Three from four gives us our first series win of the season. We head to Chi-Town for four at the Cubs, who have flown out of the blocks at 9-2. A split series comes at a huge cost, as we lose Harvey to an oblique strain for 5 weeks. Campbell gets his first taste of the Show.

We finish the month mid-standings at 8-8, 4 GB of the Cubs.


The View from the Gangplank

• Obviously the loss of Harvey isn’t what we wanted, but you have to make lemonade etc., and so I see this as a chance for Cannell to strut his stuff with more game time, same with Herzog and even young Campbell.
• The pitching is, as predicted, the first area of concern. Both Chesbro (3-1 / 3.74 / 1.51 WHIP / 116 FIP-) and, in particular, Young (1-4 / 3.35), have started shakily. The close eye gets closer.
• Tommy Leach and Danny Murphy have both begun the season well.
• Our run diff of +1 compares unfavourably with sides like the Cubs (+28), A’s (+27) and Superbas (+22).

Around the Leagues

• The season starts with a bang as Ed Walsh of the White Sox pitches an 8-strikeout no-no, with just the one walk and one error stopping it from being a perfect game. Five of the eight Opening Day contests – including all four in the NL – end up in shutouts, and Walsh’s game isn’t even one of them, as the Tigers manage to score an unearned run in the 5-1 result.
• Cincy’s Noodles Hahn hurls a 15-inning 7-hit shutout in a 1-0 win over the Cards.

Awards

• 04/20 POTW: AL – Hal Chase (New York) 476 / 1 HR / 6 RBI; NL – Smoky Joe Wood (Brooklyn) 2-0 / 0.00 / 9 K / 18.1 IP.
• 04/27 POTW: AL – Admiral Schlei (Philadelphia) 588 / 1 HR / 6 RBI; NL – George Moriarty (Brooklyn) 545 / 2 RBI.

• AL Batter of the Month: Homer Smoot (Philadelphia) 397 / 0 HR / 8 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: George Moriarty (Brooklyn) 460 / 0 HR / 5 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Eddie Plank (Philadelphia) 4-0 / 2.37 / 21 K / 38 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Rube Waddell (Chicago) 5-1 / 1.29 / 40 K / 49 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Elmer Steele (Chicago) 2-2 / 1.82 / 15 K / 34.2 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Smoky Joe Wood (Brooklyn) 3-2 / 2.04 / 21 K / 35.1 IP.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Most wins over a 3-year span

[luckymann]

Our middling form continues into the new month, and matters compound further when we lose Cy for a week to a finger blister.

We get beaten up pretty badly at home by the Cubs, although we do enjoy a rare win over Waddell, with Biff Schlitzer accounting for himself very well. But it’s our only win in six as we can scrape up just 8 runs all told.

Even at this early stage it is becoming clear that, unless something dramatically changes things, we are a step or two off the pace this year. There’s no real quick-fix for this, clubs are hanging tightly onto the sort of players we would want to trade for, meaning inequitable sacrifices would be required to acquire them and we’re not going down that path again. Moreover, I’m not remotely convinced any such trade would be a net positive. We’re not playing horribly, just subpar and inconsistently at a time when the Cubs are just on fire. We just need to hang tough and do our best, but expectations are being tempered with every week. We’ve had some bad luck losing Harvey, and I’m not sure we can play much worse than we have with Wagner and McIntyre both hitting circa 200 to this point, so perhaps like last year we can pull it together and get back on track.

Perhaps.

Winning three from four against the Giants is a decent enough first step to that end. But the Cubs are unstoppable and, after a 2-2 split with the Phils, we trail them by a whopping 11 games with just 34 having been played. 3-1 series wins against the Superbas and Doves make no headway either, although they do put us above 500 for the first time since early days.

We finish the month strongly to give us a 17-13 sectional and lift us into third, albeit still a nasty 10½ GB the 36-11 Cubs.

The View from the Gangplank

• I think I’ve covered most of it in the run-through. There’s no doubt we’ve managed to turn things around somewhat and the lads are certainly trying their best. Let’s see if we can continue our upswing in June.
• Zaza, after suffering a mild setback, remains on the sidelines with no certain return date as yet. We’ll be proceeding as if he’s out for the year and take it in our stride if and when he does return.

Around the Leagues

• The A’s and Sens have just pulled away a little bit in the AL, with the equal-third-placed Tigers and White Sox 4½ behind the Sens, who trail the 28-15 A’s by 1½.
• The Cubs' ERA sits at an astonishing 1.69 to this point. The Senators, with 1.81, are the only other side who sit under 2 in this category. The league ERA is 2.44. We are presently at 2.40.
• One bit of bad news for the baby Bears is the loss of Ed Reulbach for a couple months due to a herniated disc in his back.

Awards

• 05/04 POTW: AL – Nap Lajoie (Philadelphia) 500 / 4 RBI; NL – Joe Tinker (Chicago) 500 / 1 RBI.
• 05/11 POTW: AL – Joe Lake (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.00 / 6 K / 18 IP; NL – Bill Keister (Brooklyn) 379 / 2 HR / 7 RBI.
• 05/18 POTW: AL – Slow Joe Doyle (Washington) 2-0 / 0.00 / 7 K / 18 IP; NL – Mordecai Brown (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.50 / 14 K / 18 IP.
• 05/25 POTW: AL – Eddie Collins (Chicago) 478 / 1 RBI; NL – Mike Mowrey (New York) 478 / 1 HR / 4 RBI.

• AL Batter of the Month: Eddie Collins (Chicago) 389 / 0 HR / 15 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Josh Devore (Brooklyn) 400 / 0 HR / 9 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Jimmy Dygert (Washington) 6-2 / 1.26 / 44 K / 71.1 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Mordecai Brown (Chicago) 8-0 / 1.00 / 37 K / 72 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Elmer Steele (Chicago) 4-2 / 2.23 / 23 K / 60.2 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Ed Summers (Cincinnati) 6-2 / 1.59 / 22 K / 68 IP.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Most seasons between strikeouts

[luckymann]

The series at Chicago continues as we enter June, and we split the remaining two games. A bout of forearm stiffness takes Jack out in the middle of a game we end up winning against the Cards, but the schedule fortunately lines up so that he doesn’t miss a turn.

It is about this time I try to initiate an extension with Pop Foster, whose contract with us runs out at the end of this season. However, like Hickman last year, he wants to test the FA market. I shop him around but for now the offers are pretty thin and it looks like we’ll have to let him go and buy him back if we so decide. What it most likely means is that, should it become apparent that we are no hope of challenging for the pennant, Campbell will be getting the majority of game time so as to hopefully accelerate his development.

Finally, we get Zaza back. Let’s see what that does to the group. I opt to send Neuer to the RR rather than a position player. Five relievers in these conditions is ample. He certainly doesn’t take long to get back into the swing, going 4-for-7 with a double and a ribbie his second game, an extra-inning 4-2 win at the Phils also notable for Cy’s excellent 13 IP / 3 H / 2 ER / 2 K performance. But this is another terrible series for us, with that the only win in four as we are shut out twice.

Leach hitting 074 for the month so far, Wagner 103, Foster 120. Little surprise we are struggling for consistency.

Harvey picks up another niggle. He’ll be able to play through it but we’ll be nursing him as much as possible.

By the time we head to Beantown for 5, the Cubs are 13 in front of us. We scrape by for a 3-2 series win that needs a 9th-inning rally and 2 dingers by Tommy Leach in the decider to secure with our second consecutive ugly 6-5 win.

And so on, and so forth. We crabwalk through the rest of June to finish with a 14-14 record that leaves us at 39-35 and still a dozen games adrift.

The View from the Gangplank

• If one series encapsulates this season, it is our final one of the month at the Cards, in which we go WLWLW, alternating strong performances with weak ones, but not at either extremity of the performance spectrum, just spooling tightly around the nucleus like some heavy proton.
• One rare bright spot is Cy Young, who puts in a stellar 6-1 / 1.97 performance to win the monthly pitching award.

Around the Leagues

• The Cubs do cool off a bit in the latter part of the month, just leaving the door ajar for the second-placed Phillies, who close to within 8 games. Over in the AL, the A’s still hold sway, although they, too, get the wobbles late to let both the Sens and White Sox pull within 2.
• Christy “Big Six” Mathewson no-hits the Doves. An error by Mike Mowrey stops it from being a perfect game. Ouch.

Awards

• 06/01 POTW: AL – Tris Speaker (Boston) 433 / 5 RBI; NL – Cy Young (Pittsburgh) 2-0 / 0.00 / 10 K / 18 IP.
• 06/08 POTW: AL – George Stone (St. Louis) 600 / 1 HR / 6 RBI; NL – Joe Tinker (Chicago) 448 / 2 HR / 4 RBI.
• 06/15 POTW: AL – Addie Joss (Cleveland) 2-0 / 0.00 / 4 K / 12 IP; NL – Buttons Briggs (Philadelphia) 2-0 / 0.50 / 7 K / 18 IP.
• 06/22 POTW: AL – Johnny Evers (St. Louis) 500 / 2 RBI; NL – Tommy Leach (Pittsburgh) 455 / 2 HR / 5 RBI.
• 06/29 POTW: AL – Homer Smoot (Philadelphia) 708 / 6 RBI; NL – Sam Crawford (Cincinnati) 481 / 1 RBI.

• AL Batter of the Month: Homer Smoot (Philadelphia) 351 / 2 HR / 14 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Sam Crawford (Cincinnati) 410 / 2 HR / 11 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Joe Lake (Chicago) 5-1 / 1.35 / 24 K / 66.2 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Cy Young (Pittsburgh) 6-1 / 1.97 / 26 K / 77.2 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Joe Lake (Chicago).
• NL Rookie of the Month: Ed Summers (Cincinnati) 3-5 / 2.64 / 22 K / 71.2 IP.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Most seasons between saves

[luckymann]

I feel fairly certain you want to read in great detail about what is shaping up as a close-to-500 season as little as I want to write about it. Mid-standings mediocrity is so tiresome I’m even getting bored of trying to find new ways of jazzing up the narrative to make it readable and interesting.

So – as I will be doing whenever this is the case (let’s regard this as my own version of the “mercy rule”) – I’m going to forgo further updates and I’ll see you at the end of the regular season. Unless of course, that is, something changes. For the better, that is.

[luckymann]

OK, so I got ahead of myself saying we'd play 500 ball - we end up going 74-80.

That said, for the briefest of moments it looks like I'll have to backtrack after we beat the Cubs six straight and close to within six games.

But that's the high water mark for us as we are pretty terrible down the stretch and finish with a losing record and in the second division for the very first time.

The Cubs cruise for the most part and, despite a late wobble, win the pennant by 8 from the Phillies. However it comes at a massive cost as they lose Waddell for the season to elbow inflammation.

The AL is an entirely different matter. The A's look to have total control of the division but then lose their way in September to let the Ones, Tigers and White Sox right back in it. Washington drops off quickly, and the Tigers are eliminated in the final week, leaving just the A's and Sox, who flip the lead until the A's are a half-game ahead with one to play.

They lose that game to the Red Sox, and then lose again in the tiebreaker to pit the past two champions against each other and make it an all-ChiTown World Series, which I shall cover in a separate post.

Some other points of note from the season:

• Brooklyn’s Nap Rucker suffers a career-ending torn rotator cuff injury.
• An UCL tear finishes Cincy’s Noodles Hahn for the year.
• Rube Waddell becomes the first player in league history to reach 200 career wins. He then goes on to win the NL Pitching Triple Crown with 27-11 / 1.54 / 246 strikeouts, before the aforementioned injury strikes.
• Ty Cobb’s 342 BA wins the AL batting crown, Judge McCredie of the Giants wins the NL title with 326.
• Detroit loses shortstop Kid Elberfeld again in the latter part of the season, this time to a broken kneecap that ends his year.
• Sam Crawford notches his 1500th career hit.

The View from the Gangplank

Obviously, 1908 will be remembered as a lost season for us. To the end I am unable to put my finger on what went wrong, so I think it's best learned from and moved on from post-haste.

When it becomes obvious we're out of contention, I use the time remaining to test out a few things for future reference. Maddox as starter is a disaster, Schlitzer less so. But it is obvious we need a complete overhaul of our rotation, commencing with the upcoming Rookie Draft.

Two highlights amid the gloom are the performances of Danny Murphy and Howie Camnitz. Murph is an absolute rock for us all year and finishes with near-career best numbers in various categories. Howie finishes the year at 20-17 / 2.26 over 350+ innings, hopefully a solid foundation for the years to come.


Monthly Awards

July

• AL Batter of the Month: Ty Cobb (Detroit) 391 / 1 HR / 12 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh) 336 / 3 HR / 15 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Ed Plank (Philadelphia) 6-1 / 1.65 / 50 K / 71 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Al Orth (Philadelphia) 6-0 / 1.31 / 19 K / 75.2 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Harry Krause (St. Louis) 6-2 / 1.34 / 24 K / 74 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Smoky Joe Wood (Brooklyn) 3-3 / 2.24 / 40 K / 60.1 IP.

August

• AL Batter of the Month: Johnny Evers (St. Louis) 297 / 10 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Sam Crawford (Cincinnati) 333 / 14 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Doc White (Detroit) 7-1 / 1.44 / 31 K / 75 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Rube Waddell (Chicago) 6-0 / 0.87 / 46 K / 62 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Joe Lake (Chicago) 6-0 / 2.04 / 21 K / 53 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Ed Summers (Cincinnati) 5-2 / 2.47 / 18 K / 65.2 IP.

September

• AL Batter of the Month: Ty Cobb (Detroit) 402 / 23 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Mike Mitchell (Philadelphia) 347 / 17 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Ed Walsh (Chicago) 7-1 / 1.34 / 41 K / 74 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Smoky Joe Wood (Brooklyn) 7-1 / 0.75 / 44 K / 72 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Frank Arellanes (Chicago) 5-1 / 0.85 / 19 K / 53 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Smoky Joe Wood (Brooklyn).

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Highest career hits-to-strikeouts ratio

[luckymann]

Chicago Cubs (95-59) v Chicago White Sox (91-64)
Back to best-of-seven, Cubs with the home-field advantage.

CHICAGO CUBS S+ PAGE
CHICAGO WHITE SOX S+ PAGE

Well this series obviously evened right up with Waddell’s injury, and should prove an absolute ripper.




Game 1 in Chicago (NL), October 12th 1908
Mordecai Brown (27-14, 1.95) v Joe Lake (22-12, 2.05)

Game 1 is about is diametrically-opposed as you could imagine of a contest featuring two pitchers who won 49 games between them in the regular season. From the off, the bats dominate, with the Sox leading 9-6 after just 3 innings and neither starter making it past the 4th. Frank Chance powers the visitors’ offence with four hits including a 5th-inning home run as well as 3 ribbies, while Collins, Jordan and Kane each drive in a pair.

White Sox 12, Cubs 7
BOX SCORE


Game 2 in Chicago (NL), October 13th 1908
Ed Reulbach (19-8, 2.26) v Ed Walsh (28-14, 1.87)
White Sox lead series 1-0

The Sox take a stranglehold on the series with a dogged win that once again lends itself more to the offence than one might have anticipated. A 3-3 tie thru 7 is broken by a 2-run single from Algie McBride that holds up for the duration. Despite outhitting their opponents 11-7, the Cubs now find themselves in deep trouble as they head across town.

White Sox 5, Cubs 3
BOX SCORE


Game 3 in Chicago (AL), October 15th 1908
Frank Arellanes (6-1, 0.73) v Dummy Taylor (11-13, 2.94)
White Sox lead series 2-0

Home-field advantage proves the difference as the Sox come from behind to score a 4-3 walkoff win that puts them on the verge of an unlikely sweep. Cubs starter Dummy Taylor pitches well, but just can’t see it through as Lee Tannehill writes his name into White Sox folklore with a somewhat anticlimactic RBI groundout to give the home side a dramatic win.

White Sox 4, Cubs 3
BOX SCORE


Game 4 in Chicago (AL), October 16th 1908
Joe Lake (0-0, 15.75) v Mordecai Brown (0-1, 13.50)
White Sox lead series 3-0

We get the pitching duel we were expecting in Game 1 as Brown shuts the Sox out on 10 hits and a 1st-inning sac fly by Heinie Zimmerman holds up for the duration to keep the series alive. Sox starter Joe Lake can rightfully feel aggrieved to cop the L, allowing just that early run on 3 hits.

Cubs 1, White Sox 0
BOX SCORE


Game 5 in Chicago (AL), October 17th 1908
Ed Walsh (1-0, 2.00) v Ed Reulbach (0-1, 3.00)
White Sox lead series 3-1

The Baby Bears show plenty of heart to fight back from an early deficit and send the series back to West Side Grounds still well and truly in the balance. A run-scoring double by Tim Jordan gives the Sox a 2nd-inning lead that holds up until the Cubs tie it in the 8th on a similar strike by Danny Green. It goes into spares and the Cubs finally take the lead with a deuce in the top 11th and Hippo Vaughn closes it out. Game. On.

Cubs 3, White Sox 1 (11 innings)
BOX SCORE


Game 6 in Chicago (NL), October 19th 1908
Dummy Taylor (0-1, 3.24) v Frank Arellanes (1-0, 3.00)
White Sox lead series 3-2

The White Sox look set to be on the receiving end of the treatment they doled out to us last year as the Cubs square it up with a dogged 5-1 win that isn’t safe until Zimmerman and Joe Tinker each knock one in for them in the 8th. Taylor again goes the distance, giving up just 3 hits while fanning five, and this oddball series will reach its dramatic climax tomorrow with the momentum all the Cubs’ way.

Cubs 5, White Sox 1
BOX SCORE


Game 7 in Chicago (NL), October 20th 1908
Mordecai Brown (1-1, 3.09) v Joe Lake (0-1, 5.54)
Series tied 3-3

Waddell must be cursing his misfortune now, as this would certainly have been his assignment.

Even without him, Game 7 lives up to expectations. That said, it doesn’t look like it will as the Sox bounce back from an early Cub score and run out to what seems to be an unassailable 5-1 lead entering the home 9th, with a 3-run double by Collins in the 5th the decisive blow. But the Cubs somehow drag themselves out of the dirt and a 3-run homer by Frank Schulte gets them within one. Rookie Lake, however, holds his nerve for the final two outs and the White Sox repeat as Champions.

White Sox 5, Cubs 4
BOX SCORE

CHICAGO WHITE SOX WIN SERIES 4-3
SERIES MVP: Eddie Collins (Chicago)







S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

AL 1908 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1908 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY

Rube Waddell, as you'd expect given he won the Triple Crown, makes it 8 CYAs in 8 seasons.

We have two first-time MVP winners in St. Louis infielder Johnny Evers and Cincy outfielder Sam Crawford.


Stats all in line.

[luckymann]

Commencing with the 1909 season, Major League Baseball in this timeline is integrating!

I've been - with the invaluable input of a couple others (you know who you are, and thanks a bunch!) - working on NeL player ratings over recent times and feel I am ready to start incorporating these players into this save.

So from this point on, certain NeL players will be joining the league as rookies in the same year they made their debut in the Negro Leagues.

Not all players are being added. I feel that to include a player purely on the basis of race is almost as insulting as excluding him on the same premise. So any players with insufficient data, or who import poorly beyond redemption, or who I deem would not have made it in were the league integrated IRL, will not make the cut. This league is a meritocracy and nothing more.

For 1909, 20 such players will form part of the Rookie Draft, with Ben Taylor, Dizzy Dismukes and Tullie McAdoo perhaps the best-known among them.

I can't wait to see these guys mixing it with the historical MLB players like they should have been able to all along.

[luckymann]

Held on 12/20/08.

Another big group of Legacy Players, with all but five clubs – including us – getting one. The mighty Zack Wheat, who has always been a personal favourite, is among them.

These were the Legacy Players for the 1909 season:

• Boston Red Sox: Harry Hooper (53.3; 1647)
• Brooklyn Superbas: Zack Wheat (60.1; 2322)
• Chicago White Sox: Jim Scott (25.0; 317)
• Cincinnati Reds: Tommy Clarke (10.5; 699 (conceded – all but 1 game))
• Cleveland Naps: Willie Mitchell (14.1; 219)
• New York Giants: Art Fletcher (47.1; 1321)
• New York Highlanders: Jack Quinn (58.6; 228)
• Philadelphia Athletics: Stuffy McInnis (34.3; 1042)
• Philadelphia Phillies: Fred Luderus (19.8; 1311)
• St. Louis Browns: Burt Shotton (23.7; 1041)
• St. Louis Cardinals: Bob Harmon (12.8; 200)

Jimmy Austin (22.8; 1311) was also eligible for the Browns, but Shotton’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Ray Collins (25.4; 199 – conceded (one-team player)) was also eligible for the Red Sox, but Hooper’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


There are 189 rookies for this season including the NeL players, so the Draft will consist of 7 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1908 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Brooklyn Superbas (344) – Zack Wheat
2. New York Highlanders (331) – Jack Quinn
3. Boston Red Sox (396) – Harry Hooper
4. New York Giants (636; dice roll) – Art Fletcher
5. Philadelphia Athletics (444) – Stuffy McInnis
6. Chicago White Sox (579) – Jim Scott
7. St. Louis Browns (546) – Burt Shotton
8. Philadelphia Phillies (539) – Fred Luderus
9. Cleveland Naps (584) – Willie Mitchell
10. St. Louis Cardinals (318) – Bob Harmon
11. Cincinnati Reds (474) – Tommy Clarke
12. Boston Doves (409)
13. Washington Senators (441)
14. Detroit Tigers (588)
15. Pittsburgh Pirates (636)
16. Chicago Cubs (643)

Rounds 2 thru 5

1. St. Louis Cardinals (318)
2. New York Highlanders (331)
3. Brooklyn Superbas (344)
4. Boston Doves (409)
5. Washington Senators (441)
6. Philadelphia Athletics (444)
7. Cincinnati Reds (474)
8. Boston Red Sox (396)
9. Philadelphia Phillies (539)
10. St. Louis Browns (546)
11. Chicago White Sox (579)
12. Cleveland Naps (584)
13. Detroit Tigers (588)
14. New York Giants (636; dice roll)
15. Pittsburgh Pirates (636)
16. Chicago Cubs (643)


No Legacy for us again this year, and as a result we are free to chase what we really are in dire need of: a quality starting pitcher. I have my eye on 3 and with the 4th free pick the Fates will have to totally turn against us for us not to get one of them.

Here’s who we end up selecting:

1. RHP Louis Drucke, 20

• Full disclosure: Louis was our third pick; the other two – Russ Ford and Ray Collins – went to the Doves and Tigers, respectively. That said, he is a handy type who will step straight into the rotation if all goes to plan.

2. RHP King Cole, 22

• We again had our preferred pick – utility infielder Steve Yerkes – pinched (this time by the Giants), and so I added another pitcher. King at best profiles as a low-end starter, but will have to work his way up there.

3. SS Miguel Angel Gonzalez, 19

• We were all pretty cagey about the NeL players, unknown quantities that they are. But I decided to take a punt on “Mike”, an infielder I really like the look of, and...

4. C / 1B Marcelino Guerra, 22

• Could be anything or nothing—bat is big but not big enough to hit the ball with enough regularity, is the word on him. I guess we’ll find out one way or another. And...

5. RHP Dizzy Dismukes, 22

• A flamethrower with some serious control kinks we’ll try to iron out.

6. RHP Rip Hagerman, 22

• A Xmas stocking-filler.

7. RHP Steve Melter, 22

• You should have seen the other guys...

So not exactly how we wanted it to turn out but certainly no disaster, either.

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

’09 turned out to be a showcase for two of the league’s best as Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner shone brightly and led their respective teams to a fitting final matchup, which the 110-game-winning Bucs went on to take in an epic seven-gamer.

AL CHAMPIONS: Detroit Tigers (98-54)
NL CHAMPIONS: Pittsburgh Pirates (110-42)
WORLD SERIES: Pirates 4, Tigers 3

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. HONUS WAGNER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .339 average, 92 runs, 39 doubles, 10 triples, 5 home runs, 100 RBIs, 35 stolen bases
• It was clean sweep for the Flying Dutchman, who finished the decade #1 on this list in every season.

2. MIKE MITCHELL, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .310 average, 83 runs, 17 triples, 4 home runs, 86 RBIs, 37 stolen bases.
• The lanky slugger re-emerged to form after a dreadful, injury-plagued sophomore effort in 1908 when he hit only .222.

3. FRED CLARKE, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .287 average, 97 runs, 68 RBIs, 80 walks, 31 stolen bases.
• In was all vintage for the NL champion Pirates and for player-manager Clarke, who at age 36 logged the most games (152) of his career and made them all count.

4. ED KONETCHY, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .286 average, 88 runs, 14 triples, 80 RBIs, 65 walks.
• The Lacrosse, Wisconsin native had the body to play that sport; he was also developing into the NL’s premier defensive first baseman.

5. LARRY DOYLE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 86 runs, 172 hits, 27 doubles, 11 triples, six home runs.
• The young and excitable star impressed Giants manager John McGraw enough that he was named the team captain at age 22.

6. RED MURRAY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .263 average, 12 triples, 7 home runs, 91 RBIs, 48 stolen bases.
• Despite a tepid batting average, Murray had enough clout to become the first Giant to have sole possession of the NL home run title since Buck Ewing, way back in 1883.

7. TOMMY LEACH, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .261 average, 126 runs, 29 doubles, 8 triples, 6 home runs, 66 walks, 27 stolen bases.
• Yet another member of the Pirates’ old guard who showed they were far from done, Leach led the majors in runs scored.

8. SHERRY MAGEE, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .270 average, 33 doubles, 14 triples, 66 RBIs, 43 stolen bases.
• With little protection once again in the Phillies’ lineup, Magee made the best of an iffy situation. That would soon change.

9. DOTS MILLER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .279 average, 31 doubles, 13 triples, 3 home runs, 87 RBIs, 29 sacrifice hits.
• The rookie second baseman was one of the new guys on the Pirates’ block (along with Babe Adams and Chief Wilson) to successfully complement the aging-like-fine-wine vets.

10. DICK HOBLITZELL, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .308 average, 23 doubles, 11 triples, 4 home runs, 67 RBIs, 29 sacrifice hits.
• In a year strong on newcomers, the 20-year-old West Virginia native was probably one of the more underrated.

AL Hitters

1. TY COBB, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .377 average, 116 runs, 216 hits, 33 doubles, 10 triples, 9 home runs, 107 RBIs, 76 stolen bases.
• Taking his career into high gear, Cobb became a triple-crown winner by nabbing the only home run title—with all nine round-trippers hit inside the park.

2. EDDIE COLLINS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .347 average, 104 runs, 198 hits, 30 doubles, 10 triples, 62 walks, 63 stolen bases.
• Finishing second in the AL batting race to Cobb—as he often would—the young second baseman exploded onto the scene, hitting .408 in June and stealing 36 of his bases over the season’s last two months.

3. SAM CRAWFORD, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .314 average, 185 hits, 35 doubles, 14 triples, 6 home runs, 97 RBIs.
• The six-time leader in triples paced the AL in doubles for the only time in his career.

4. TRIS SPEAKER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .309 average, 26 doubles, 13 triples, 7 home runs, 77 RBIs.
• Like Eddie Collins (above), Speaker rose as yet another hot new name to initiate an elite and lengthy career; for the only time in his Hall-of-Fame career, he’d rack up more strikeouts (53) than walks (38).

5. FRANK BAKER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .305 average, 27 doubles, 19 triples, 4 home runs, 85 RBIs, 34 sacrifice hits.
• The man soon to be nicknamed for the home run was, for now, apparently concentrating on the triple—leading the AL in that department.

6. DONIE BUSH, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .273 average, 157 games, 115 runs, 88 walks, 53 stolen bases, 52 sacrifice hits.
• The petite (5’6”, 140 lbs.) Bush couldn’t slug for much with just 20 extra-base hits and no home runs, but he knew how to get on base via the walk—and then score.

7. PATSY DOUGHERTY, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .285 average, 13 triples, 36 stolen bases.
• As the White Sox took a much-needed refresher course in hitting, Dougherty was ahead of the learning curve by outhitting his teammates, .285 to .214.

8. JAKE STAHL, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .294 average, 12 triples, 6 home runs, 15 hit-by-pitches.
• The Red Sox were happy to keep Stahl, who was as gifted at banking as he was at baseball, happy enough to continue to make the game his day job…for now.

9. HARRY DAVIS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .268 average, 11 triples, 4 home runs, 75 RBIs, 20 stolen bases.
• The veteran A’s infielder still had enough juice left to welcome in the future members of the “$100,000 Infield.”

10. DANNY MURPHY, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .281 average, 28 doubles, 14 triples, 5 home runs, 69 RBIs, 34 sacrifice hits.
• Ditto Davis, above.

NL Pitchers

1. THREE FINGER BROWN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.31 ERA, 27 wins, 9 losses, 7 saves, 50 appearances, 342.2 innings.
• The disfigured wonder capped an impressive four-year run in which he won 102 games, lost 30 and recorded an overall 1.31 ERA.

2. CHRISTY MATHEWSON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 1.14 ERA, 25 wins, 6 losses, .806 win percentage, 275.1 innings.
• While many pitchers would be thrilled to hold opposing hitters to a .228 batting average, that’s what Mathewson allowed for an on-base percentage in the year of his lowest-ever ERA.

3. HOWIE CAMNITZ, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.62 ERA, 25 wins, 6 losses, .806 win percentage, 283 innings.
• Nicknamed the Kentucky Rosebud, Camnitz bloomed to match Mathewson’s record (and league-leading win percentage).

4. ORVIE OVERALL, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.42 ERA, 20 wins, 11 losses, 205 strikeouts, 285 innings.
• Proving once again in the deadball’s reign that posting an ERA in the low 1.00s didn’t guarantee you the team lead—let alone the league lead—Overall finished second behind Three Finger Brown. But his 205 Ks were the most by a Cub until Ferguson Jenkins, 58 years later.

5. ART FROMME, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 1.90 ERA, 19 wins, 13 losses, 279.1 innings.
• After successive 5-13 campaigns with the lowly Cardinals, Fromme developed a rare case of pitching over .500.

6. ED REULBACH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.78 ERA, 19 wins, 10 losses.
• Posting his fourth sub-2.00 ERA in five years, Reulbach’s 1.78 figure was actually higher than that of the team’s 1.75—the second lowest in major league history.

7. VIC WILLIS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.24 ERA, 22 wins, 11 losses, 35 starts, 289.2 innings.
• The future Hall of Famer enjoyed his final fling of fun with the Pirates before being sent to the low-rent Cardinals, with whom he quickly hit a wall and the end of his career.

8. BABE ADAMS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 1.11 ERA, 12 wins, 3 losses.
• A scintillating yet abbreviated debut for the pitcher arguably considered the greatest in Pirates history; he fell just 23 innings short of possibly (and officially) leading the NL in ERA and opposing batting average (.196).

9. HARRY GASPAR, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.01 ERA, 19 wins, 11 losses.
• For one season at least, nobody in Cincinnati—or outside, for that matter—was asking, “Who the hell is Harry Gaspar?”

10. HOOKS WILTSE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.00 ERA, 20 wins, 11 losses, 269.1 innings.
• Wiltse hit the 20-win milestone for the second straight year and, had he allowed just one less earned run, would have joined six other National Leaguers in the sub-2.00 class.

AL Pitchers

1. FRANK SMITH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.80 ERA, 25 wins, 17 losses, 51 appearances, 40 starts, 365 innings.
• With Ed Walsh (below) perhaps feeling tired after throwing 464 innings in 1908, teammate Smith admirably took over as the team’s iron man on the mound—before he, too, would burn out.

2. ED WALSH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.41 ERA, 15 wins, 11 losses.
• Despite missing a few months while hitters began to better figure out what pitch he’d throw next—leading to a surge in his walk rate and drop in his K rate—Walsh still came within 0.02 of earning the AL ERA title.

3. CHIEF BENDER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 1.66 ERA, 18 wins, 8 losses, 250 innings.
• Not a bad year for the stalwart A’s pitcher and half-Native American, considering that he’d all but decided to quit the game the winter before to focus more on trapshooting.

4. EDDIE PLANK, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 1.76 ERA, 19 wins, 10 losses, 265.1 innings.
• The steady veteran of the A’s furnished a career-best 1.76 ERA, a year after what would be his only sub-.500 record (excusing a 5-6 mark for the 1917 Browns in which he pitched only 131 innings).

5. GEORGE MULLIN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.22 ERA, 29 wins, 8 losses, .784 win percentage, 303.2 innings.
• The Tigers’ workhorse, who historically lost as frequently as he won, finally and deservedly got more than his share of wins.

6. ADDIE JOSS, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 1.71 ERA, 14 wins, 13 losses.
• A strong but muted swan song for Joss, though no one knew it at the time; he would die a year later after a fatal bout with meningitis.

7. HARRY KRAUSE, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 1.39 ERA, 18 wins, 8 losses, 7 shutouts.
• The A’s had four pitchers registering ERAs below 2.00, and one-shot wonder Krause had the very best of them; his seven shutouts remain one shy of a rookie record.

8. ED WILLETT, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.34 ERA, 21 wins, 10 losses, 292.2 innings.
• The right-hander who refused to room with Ty Cobb for fear of not surviving the experience turned in a workhorse effort and the lone 20-win campaign of his career.

9. ED SUMMERS, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.24 ERA, 19 wins, 9 losses, 281.2 innings.
• A year after winning 24 games as a rookie, Willett fell one victory short of joining Mullin and Willett (above) in the 20-win club.

10. CY MORGAN, BOSTON-PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 1.81 ERA, 18 wins, 17 losses, 293.1 innings.
• Morgan thrived for most of the year with the A’s after the Red Sox let him go following an unsuccessful half-hearted tag attempt on spike-sharp Ty Cobb.

[luckymann]

A few big casualties in the managerial ranks at the end of last season, with Connie Mack’s dismissal from the A’s the main talking point.

Also, we bid farewell to the mighty Deacon Phillippe, who decided to hang up his glove. He was a fine serviceman for our club and we wish him the best in his retirement. Buck Freeman and John McGraw have also given the game away.

As more of a depth-strengthening move than anything, we sign FA Barney Pelty to a 1-year deal for $1300.

Here are the other major offseason FA signings:

• P Jesse Tannehill signed as an FA by the A’s for 1 year / $2420
• OF Roy Thomas signed as an FA by the Reds for 1 year / $2380
• 1B Fred Tenney signed as an FA by the A’s for 1 year / $2080
• OF Pop Foster signed as an FA by the Browns for 1 year / $2060
• 1B Harry Davis signed as an FA by the Senators for 1 year / $1900
• P Jerry Nops signed as an FA by the Red Sox for 1 year / $1800
• P Willie Sudhoff signed as an FA by the White Sox for 1 year / $1580
• OF Charlie Hickman signed as an FA by the Senators for 1 year / $1440
• C Lew Drill signed as an FA by the Doves for 1 year / $1440
• OF Chick Stahl signed as an FA by the Giants for 1 year / $1240
• OF Socks Seybold signed as an FA by the Phillies for 1 year / $1240
• P Doc McJames signed as an FA by the A’s for 1 year / $1180
• P Watty Lee signed as an FA by the Cardinals for 1 year / $1180
• 3B Wid Conroy signed as an FA by the Browns for 1 year / $1140
• OF Sam Mertes signed as an FA by the Cardinals for 1 year / $1100
• P Sam Leevers signed as an FA by the Browns for 1 year / $1060
• P Jack Cronin signed as an FA by the Browns for 1 year / $1040

I further bolster our pitching ranks with a pre-season trade, as follows:

TRADE 1 OF 5: (04/01): P Charlie Rhodes and P Lew Brockett traded to Boston (NL) for P Rube Vickers.

While Cy shows only the barest signs of slowing down, the fact is he is 42, and Jack Chesbro a rising 35, which leaves us vulnerable to the inevitable. Rube, at 30, is no babe in arms, but he still should have a few decent seasons left in him, and is a real leader to boot. I’m going to start him in the rotation in Jack’s place, with Hagerman having to bide his time on the RR for now.

We go 12-6 in ST, with Nick Altrock suffering an ankle sprain that is anything but the ideal preparation.

Detroit loses rookie outfielder Jack Lelivelt for the year with a broken kneecap.

The A’s and Reds are the pundits’ fancies this year in close races once again. I’m not surprised to find is in mid-standings, the only real goal I have for 1909 is to get back to better than 500 ball.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

1909 sees us in a new home, Forbes Field - capacity 24000.

As always, HERE is our team page for those inclined to fully immerse. For the rest, a summary.

Catchers

• C Roger Bresnahan (R) – a really disappointing ’08 campaign, so we are expecting Duke to bounce back.
• Art Hoelskoetter (R)

Infielders

• 1B Del Howard (L)
• 2B Buck Herzog (R)
• 3B Tommy Leach (R)
• SS Honus Wagner (R)
• Harry Steinfeldt (R) – will play 2B v LHP, with Buck at 1B
• Red Killefer (R)
• Charlie Dexter (R)

Outfielders

• LF Zaza Harvey (L)
• CF Matty McIntyre (L)
• RF Danny Murphy (R)
• Vin Campbell (L)
• Rip Cannell (L)
• Otis Clymer (S)

Rotation

1. RHP Howie Camnitz
2. RHP Louis Drucke
3. RHP Rube Vickers
4. RHP Cy Young

Bullpen

• RHP Babe Adams
• RHP Jack Chesbro
• RHP Barney Pelty
• RHP Biff Schlitzer

LHP Nick Altrock will begin the year on the IL, but will almost certainly come into the bullpen when healthy.

[luckymann]

I'm going to strip back the reportage, give that a try. Post updates, performances and stats of note thru the early part as they come to hand rather than on the month, every month. Then, if we're contending, I'll amp it up down the stretch.

I'll still be updating the S+ page every month, so you can always get the most up-to-date info there.

Let's see how that goes for a bit.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

The first HR by an NeL player.