Introducing the Footnote League

[luckymann]

World Series Game 1: Washington Senators (0-0) @ Chicago Orphans (0-0)

CHC: Wilbur Wood (0-0) v WAS: Lou Brissie (0-0)

Washington got out of the blocks quickly, scoring a run in each of the first two innings, but Chicago got one back in the home 2nd on a Todd Dunwoody single. The Sens pushed back out in the 4th when the home team gifted them a run with two errors but the home half of that one would prove pivotal, with Chicago piling on 5 runs on 6 hits as Brissie came apart at the seams. The Senators tried hard but Chicago seemed to have all the answers, scoring singles in each of the 6th and 7th to erase a Washington run with interest. 5 more off Terry Forster in the 8th put the visitors to the sword as the hosts took a comfortable 13-4 win to open the Series.

[luckymann]

World Series Game 2: Washington Senators (0-1) @ Chicago Orphans (1-0)

CHC: Bill Parsons (0-0) v WAS: Billy Hoeft (0-0)

The home side struck first in this one, with a Ted Kubiak RBI single putting them ahead in the 2nd. The Senators got the reply they needed in the 5th, tying the game on an error by George Cutshaw. They then went ahead 3-1 in the 6th thanks to singles by Keppinger and Law, only for Hoeft to lose his way in the bottom half and concede 4, with a 2-run triple by Bill Parsons the big hit. Still trailing by 2 in the 9th, Washington got a glimmer of hope when Backman led it off with a double. But they used up two outs plating him, and when Parsons struck out Ernie Courteney looking, Chicago had locked down the win and 2-0 series lead as the teams head to the nation’s capital.

[Brad K]

So, having played this a while, what are your impressions?

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

So, having played this a while, what are your impressions?

Well I'm absolutely loving the whole exercise. It is fascinating to see who steps up in the absence of the big guys, and the Backman / Dunwoody performances have been spectacular.

I'm particularly enjoying becoming a bit more familiar with guys I'd never heard of before and following their career trajectory under these conditions in the FL. It's not easy, as there are so many of them, but I am learning along the way how to widen my net to pluck out guys with really interesting stories.

I was never as concerned about the statistical accuracy of the simulation as I would have been if it was a true "historical" league. But I'm miffed at having messed up the BABIP for 1901 as it really skewed certain areas of the game in a way that will undoubtedly prove anomalous. Hopefully that isn't too noticeable once we've got a few more seasons under the belt.

The one thing that is really frustrating me is the AI with regard to rosters. Loads of really talented guys unsigned and sitting in the FA pool not being used. I'm trying to keep out of it as much as possible, but will probably have to start deleting some 20/20s just to keep things tight. I hate doing that, it seems contrary to the mantra of the league, but it is necessary and will improve the overall quality and enjoyment factor.

How about you? Anything you'd like to see more / less of in the reportage?

[luckymann]

WAS: Pete Schourek (0-0) v CHC: Danny Duffy (0-0)

This crucial game was always going to be about scoreboard pressure, so when Chicago put the first run of the game on the board via a Kubiak triple in the 2nd the Senators were once again under the pump. How would they respond? If you’re a Washington fan, I’m afraid to tell you the answer to that question is “quietly”. As they have all series, they tried valiantly but just couldn’t come up with that key hit, and in the end it was Chicago who scored next, with singles by Snyder and Hebner extending their lead in the 5th to 3-0. A run-scoring single by Backman in the 7th raised home fans’ hopes of a comeback but it wasn’t to be, with Duffy keeping them quiet over the final innings to get a complete game win and give his side a seemingly unassailable 3-0 advantage.

[luckymann]

WAS: Lou Brissie (0-1) v CHC: Wilbur Wood (1-0)

With everything on the line it should come as no surprise that Game 4 turned out to be what can only be described as an “instant classic”. Both sides opted to go with their Game 1 starters on three days’ rest, meaning heart was going to be just as big a factor – perhaps even more so – as talent in this one.

There was no feeling-out period as Chicago put one in the frame in the 1st on a Cutshaw groundout, and when they added 3 in the 3rd the home side was right on the precipice to say the least. They steadied to get on the board in the home half via an RBI single by Garrett Anderson and another in the 4th on a Keppinger groundout got them right back into it. Back-to-back doubles by Brissie and Law in the next made it 4-3 and when Anderson got his second ribbie of the game with a sac fly later that inning it was knotted up at 4.

That score held thru regulation as the pitchers gained the upper hand and into extras it went. Both teams had their chances to score over the next few innings but it was still 4-4 entering the home 12th. SS Orlando Arcia led off the Washington half with a single before Chance Sisco walked, putting the winning run in scoring position with no outs. Wood, who was still in the game at that point, then loaded them up when he hit Rudy Law. Chicago skipper Tom Loftus elected not to go to the bullpen, and Wood repaid his faith by getting Backman to hit into a forceout at home to record the first out. But cometh the hour, cometh the man as they say, and this was Garrett Anderson’s hour and today he was the man. His sharp single to left scored the walkoff game-winning run to extend the series and keep his side’s hopes alive for another day.

[luckymann]

CHC: Bill Parsons (1-0) v WAS: Billy Hoeft (0-1)

A rematch of the Game 2 combatants and it proved another ripper. The Orphans missed a prime scoring opportunity in the 2nd when the pitcher Parsons whiffed with the bags full and just one out and it would be the home side who scored first in this one, taking a 1-0 lead in the 4th on an RBI single by that man Anderson. That run held until the 6th when Dunwoody doubled one home to tie it, and then the visitors went ahead on a successful squeeze play in that inning. Washington responded immediately, regaining the lead in the bottom half on a 2-run single by catcher Heinie Peitz. After a scoreless 7th Chicago tied the game once more when Mangual tripled a man in, and then went ahead 4-3 on a Greg Gross single. A Kubiak single got the Orphans an insurance run in the top 9th, but they wouldn’t need it as the Senators went down meekly to give Chicago their first Footnote League Championship.

Nobody can argue against the fact that the best team of the season won it all. But the Senators gave it everything and can be proud of their achievements. Don’t be surprised to see both these teams competing for the next few years.

There were plenty of candidates, but in the end Chicago shortstop Woody Woodward was a worthy MVP. Woodward went 13-for-25 in the Series, with at least two hits in every game, and scored 7 runs.

[luckymann]

Perhaps, given the high drama in both the regular and postseason the previous year, 1902 was fated to be a letdown in comparison before it had even begun. But it was still a fantastic competition and a great consolidation year for this nascent league, with some superb individual performances and an inarguably worthy Champion. Bring on 1903!

[luckymann]

A slight improvement on the previous year in most key stats. But 3B were way out of whack, BABIP was worryingly still a way above the IRL and RPG were slightly higher.

[luckymann]

American League

• BA: .322 v .275
• OBP: .372 v .331
• SLG: .415 v .369
• OPS: .787 v .700
• R: 6552 v 5407
• 2B: 1937 v 1660
• 3B: 699 v 569
• HR: 152 v 258
• BB: 3046 v 2815
• K: 3471 v 2720
• SB: 1511 v 1315
• ERA: 4.57 v 3.57
• CG: 597 v 954
• SHO: 29 v 59
• SV: 69 v 12
• WHIP: 1.63 v 1.36
• BABIP: .347 v .339 (for MLB combined)

National League

• BA: .328 v .259
• OBP: .377 v .313
• SLG: .426 v .318
• OPS: .803 v .631
• R: 6910 v 4490
• 2B: 1963 v 1172
• 3B: 819 v 414
• HR: 163 v 96
• BB: 3090 v 2627
• K: 3592 v 3910
• SB: 1371 v 1369
• ERA: 4.81 v 2.78
• CG: 578 v 1000
• SHO: 27 v 99
• SV: 88 v 21
• WHIP: 1.67 v 1.25
• BABIP: .354 v .339 (for MLB combined)

[luckymann]

MVP

• American League: Rudy Law WAS
• National League: Todd Dunwoody CHC

Cy Young Award

• American League: Steve Cooke PHA
• National League: Wilbur Wood CHC (unanimous)

Reliever of the Year

• American League: No award given
• National League: Alex Pearson NYG (unanimous)

Rookie of the Year

• American League: Danny O’Connell BAL
• National League: Buddy Lewis PIT

Manager of the Year

• American League: Jim Manning WAS
• National League: Tom Loftus CHC

Platinum Stick
American League

• P: Allen Watson BOS
• C: Buck Rodgers BOS
• 1B: Patsy Tebeau DET
• 2B: Danny O’Connell BAL
• 3B: Wally Backman WAS
• SS: Solly Hemus CWS
• LF: Gene Richards DET
• CF: Rudy Law WAS
• RF: Emil Frisk CWS

National League

• P: Red Lucas BRO
• C: Frank Snyder CHC
• 1B: Pete Runnels PHI
• 2B: Terry Harmon NYG
• 3B: Billy Johnson NYG
• SS: Derek Jeter NYG
• LF: Otis Clymer NYG
• CF: Todd Dunwoody CHC
• RF: Jay Johnstone CHC

Gold Glove
American League

• P: Don Nottebart BAL
• C: Buck Rodgers BOS
• 1B: Scott Spiezio CLE
• 2B: Danny O’Connell BAL
• 3B: Eric Soderholm BAL
• SS: Orlando Arcia WAS
• LF: Willie Wilson CLE
• CF: Rudy Law WAS
• RF: Mark DeRosa CLE

National League

• P: Chappie McFarland BSN
• C: Frank Snyder CHC
• 1B: Pete Runnels PHI
• 2B: Terry Harmon NYG
• 3B: Jeff King CIN
• SS: Mike Benjamin CIN
• LF: Sam Fuld PIT
• CF: Todd Dunwoody CHC
• RF: Jay Johnstone CHC

And ALB123, before you ask, Danny O'Connell was runner up in AL MVP voting, missing out by just 5 votes

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by luckymann

How about you? Anything you'd like to see more / less of in the reportage?

You've reported very well on league events.

Give the format of the reports there isn't a way for you to comment on your impressions. But I was curious.

I look over things for familiar players and post if I think I can say something interesting.

[luckymann]

MVP

• PSL American League: Deron Johnson, Waterloo
• PSL National League: Warren Cromartie, Harrisburg (unanimous)

Pitcher of the Year

• PSL American League: Ray Kolp, Waterloo
• PSL National League: Bob Harmon, Houston

Reliever of the Year

• PSL American League: Rosman Garcia, Chattanooga (unanimous)
• PSL National League: Clarence Currie, Reading (unanimous)

Rookie of the Year
No award given

Manager of the Year

• PSL American League: Ben Oates, Waterloo
• PSL National League: Mike Martin, Harrisburg

Platinum Stick
PSL American League

• P: Ray Kolp, Waterloo
• C: Art Hoelskoetter, Waterloo
• 1B: Deron Johnson, Waterloo
• 2B: Irv Hall, Waterloo
• 3B: Austin Riley, Newark
• SS: Ivan de Jesus, Waterloo
• LF: Mike Vail, Newark
• CF: Peter Bergeron, Waterloo
• RF: Mark Newfield, Williamsport

PSL National League

• P: Erskine Mayer, Harrisburg
• C: Brent Mayne, Jersey City
• 1B: Rip Russell, Reading
• 2B: Bobby Valentine, Hazleton
• 3B: Mark Teahan, Reading
• SS: Ian Desmond, Cedar Rapids
• LF: Todd Benzinger, Jersey City
• CF: Chris Owings, Houston
• RF: Warren Cromartie, Harrisburg

Gold Glove
PSL American League

• P: Red Embree, Waterloo
• C: Steve Nicosia, Chattanooga
• 1B: Marv Blaylock, Newark
• 2B: Irv Hall, Waterloo
• 3B: Larry Brown, Joplin
• SS: Ivan de Jesus, Waterloo
• LF: John Vander Wal, Williamsport
• CF: Luis Melendez, Newark
• RF: Jimmy Sebring, Joplin

PSL National League

• P: Sammy Ellis, Bridgeport
• C: Fred Payne, Harrisburg
• 1B: Jack Hannahan, Houston
• 2B: Christian Colon, Cedar Rapids
• 3B: Dawel Lugo, Jersey City
• SS: Wayne Tollison, Wichita Falls
• LF: Todd Benzinger, Jersey City
• CF: Gary Woods, Jersey City
• RF: Warren Cromartie, Harrisburg

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

You've reported very well on league events.

Give the format of the reports there isn't a way for you to comment on your impressions. But I was curious.

I look over things for familiar players and post if I think I can say something interesting.

Thanks for following and participating. I'm always honing trying to get just the right mix of baseball / stat-related info and human interest. Hopefully it keeps improving and stays interesting.

[Brad K]

"C: Steve Nicosia, Chattanooga"

Nicosia was the right handed part of the catcher platoon on the World Champion 1979 Pirates with left handed hitting Ed Ott. He appeared in 70 games that year, his first full year in the Majors. That turned out to be the most games played in a year in his career. His number of appearances steadily decreased every year through 1983.

The disparity between his performances was huge for a right handed batter: a more than respectable 272/325/391 against left handers, but only 220/293/290 against right handers. His managers recognized the skill difference. In his career he had more PAs against left handers than right handed pitching.

[luckymann]

• OUT: Cincinnati GM Simon Newton. IN: Chris Hamilton.

[luckymann]

• C Boileryard Clarke (38)
• RP Darren Oliver (35)
• SS Daryl Spencer (35)
• CF Earl Averill (40)
• RP Mike Marshall (37)
• SP Orlando Pena (37)
• CF Steve Lyons (32)
• 3B Wid Conroy (31)
• OF Jose Cardenal (35)
• SP Nate Robertson (32)
• RP Tom Glavine (39)

[luckymann]

These are the organisational changes that have taken place in the offseason between the 1902 and 1903 Footnote League seasons:

• The Baltimore Orioles franchise has been relocated to New York and will be unofficially known as the Highlanders.
• The Chicago franchise in the National League has advised us that they wish henceforth to be referred to as the Cubs, while Cleveland’s nickname will be the Naps, effective immediately.

[luckymann]

• The White Sox sent left-fielders Bill Buckner (also known to occasionally play first base...) and Alex Presley to the Phillies, getting catcher Eli Marrero in return.
• Newly-formed franchise the New York Highlanders wasted no time before tinkering with their roster, swapping relievers with the Browns in a trade that sees Dave Patterson head to St Louis and Mike Paul to the Big Apple.
• A blockbuster trade between the Naps and the Pirates sees Cleveland acquire LF Eric Young, 2B Rob Picciolo and reliever John Briggs in exchange for catcher Scott Spiezio and OF Nelson Mathews.
• The A’s offloaded veteran SP Hooks Dauss, along with reliever Tom Walker and a 5th round pick, to the Americans, getting third baseman Chris Nelson in return.
• Cleveland fans were left scratching their heads when the Naps shipped popular players RF Mark DeRosa and LF Mark Brouhard to Cincinnati in exchange for catcher Bill Rariden.
• The Reds got active in an attempt to bolster their roster, trading reliever Fay Thomas and outfielder Dick Simpson to Washington in exchange for RF Carlos Gomez.
• The Phillies and Superbas finally came to terms on a deal that sent LF Buddy Bradford to Philadelphia and 3B Fred Haney and reliever Tim Mayza to Brooklyn.
• A huge trade during the Winter Meetings between the Giants and Naps, with New York dealing LF Otis Clymer – who has hit above .400 in both FL seasons to date – for relievers Kelvim Escobar and Frank Seminara.
• Another one from that session sees 1B Alex McKinnon and 2B Jack Rothrock moving to the Americans from the Bucs in return for relievers Tiny Osborne and Eric Show.
• The Highlanders have offloaded talented but erratic SP Jose Quintana to the Americans for 1B Rip Radcliff. A few days later they sent reliever Luis Garcia to the A’s for shortstop Angel Salazar, reliever Matt Strahm and a 6th round pick.
• Cleveland’s offseason reshuffle continued in earnest with them trading away reliever John Stuper to the Phillies, getting 1B/OF Charlie Hickman in return.

[luckymann]

This year’s Time to Shine Medal was a tough decision. Wilbur Wood dominated the NL and led the Orphans / Cubs to their first Championship. White Sox shortstop had a fantastic rookie season and looks set to play a big part in the FL for some time to come, same goes for Danny O’Connell of the Highlanders. SP Steve Cooke was one highlight in a disappointing year for the A’s. All were candidates. But in the end I couldn’t go past Chicago’s Todd Dunwoody, who led the NL in triples (28), RBI (122) and WAR (7.1) and was a key contributor to his team’s 1902 triumph. Well done Todd, shine on you crazy diamond.

And as the strains of Auld Lang Syne float through the ether, I’ll finish with an update on how our spotlight players are going.

• Ed Head’s 1902 mirrored that of his Philadelphia Athletics franchise. After mixing his form over the first half of the season (7-8 / 4.38 over 158 IP), Ed suffered a partially-torn UCL and missed the remainder of the campaign. All reports indicate his rehab is going according to plan and we should see him back on the mound in 1903.
• Curt Roberts spent the entire 1902 season at Wichita Falls of the PSL, where he hit .343 with 12 ribbies in limited game time.
• At 39 and after a year that saw him almost exclusively deployed off the bench, Cy Seymour decided to hang up the cleats.
• Despite a solid enough season that saw him go 10-9 with 93 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.25 (ERA+ 110), the star-crossed Otto Hess was released on the first day of the offseason by Boston and is reportedly spruiking his talents to anyone within earshot.
• After being traded from the Americans to the Reds in the 1901 offseason, Arnold Hauser was released late in the year without having played a game for the parent club. A happy ending, though, as he was picked up by Pittsburgh during the World Series and signed to a minor league contract.
• And finally, Ray Starr. Ray spent most of his 1902 at Newark of the PSL, pitching just 22 innings in the FL and going 1-0 with a 2.78 ERA.