[Nick Soulis]

BASEBALL MONTHLY

May 1890

Comiskey Clashing With Players

The Chicago Colts struggled through the second month of the season finishing three games under .500. This is another of many disapointments in recent years as the club tries to regain their championship swagger of years past.

There is a cultural change for the team that isnt as easy as it seems. In the middle of the storm is new Colt manager Charlie Comiskey. Mant reports are coming out that Comiskey has alienated some of the team's players and that a divide may be building in the locker room. Not since the days of George Wright and Al Splading have there been such off field issues of significance in Chicago.

"Commy" as he has become known is a harsh competitor and is all about winning. His beliefs include a disciplined life off the field to improve perfromance on it. This is includes a drinking ban during gamedays and a curfew for players on nights before games. Some players were caught at their usual places around town nights before the games and were promptly fined or rebuked. Some of the "quastionable" company of some of the players also has caught the eye of the manager.

Some of the culprits were Billy Shindle and Pete Hotaling. Shindle especially is said to have had a comfrontation with Comiskey and to no one's suprize the player was traded away last month. Comiskey is even said to have butted heads with city and team favorite King Kelly. Kelly and Comiskey were said to have a closed door meeting to try and work things out. Hotaling for his part has spent most of the season on the bench.

Mickey Welch

For all the theatrics the team continues to underperform on the field and the largest problem is with the pitching staff, as well as a poor defense. The team traded for 23 year old starter Harry Staley and pushed Mickey Welch to the bullpen, another move that has caused an mini uproar as Welch wants to start. The team is 7th in the league in ERA and other then John Valentine have struggled in key situations. Both Adonis Terry and Bob Black have losing records despite their talents as the Colts lead the league in errors.

"Its poor discipline and concentration" says the new manager, "we will get it right or continue to move players and personel."

Bill Sweeney

In the division standings the Boston Beaneaters are back on top after a long long drought. Bill Sweeney has been heroic on the mound and the team that hasnt won since the 70's is coming back to life. The New York Giants are also in the mix for a pennant race for the first time in their history causing quite a stir.

Chicago Stats:

Pitching Staff Role T Pitcher G GS W L SV ERA WHIP Status Starter R Harry Staley 5 5 1 3 0 3.07 1.44 Rested Starter R Adonis Terry 18 17 6 9 0 3.52 1.79 Rested Starter R Bob Black 19 19 8 9 0 2.78 1.53 Rested Middle Reliever R Ed Fuller 2 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.67 Rested Middle Reliever R John Fitzgerald 2 0 0 1 0 20.26 8.25 Rested Middle Reliever R George Bausewine 3 0 1 0 0 2.70 1.20 Rested Middle Reliever R Babe Doty 4 0 0 0 0 3.00 3.67 Rested Setup Reliever R Mickey Welch 11 11 5 5 0 3.93 1.66 Rested Setup Reliever R John Valentine 9 0 4 0 4 2.16 1.08 Rested Closer R Norm Baker 5 0 1 0 3 5.25 2.08 Rested

Catchers # B Player Pos G AB H HR RBI R BB K .AVG OBP SLG 40 R King Kelly C 42 166 55 0 39 34 23 14 .331 .404 .392 92 R Billy Earle C 24 85 28 1 15 15 16 7 .329 .437 .447

Infielders # B Player Pos G AB H HR RBI R BB K .AVG OBP SLG 47 S Jack (RL) Jones SS 34 128 38 0 20 13 4 13 .297 .319 .305 48 L Billy Reid 2B 7 27 5 0 2 3 1 3 .185 .207 .259 96 R Fred Dunlap 2B 39 151 29 0 17 14 14 13 .192 .257 .232 93 R Cap Anson 1B 53 197 55 1 35 26 38 17 .279 .394 .325 24 S Charlie Briggs 2B 4 11 3 0 1 2 1 2 .273 .308 .364 6 S Walter Hackett 2B 1 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 .250 .250 .250 68 L Ecky Stearns 1B 51 217 56 0 15 33 19 22 .258 .313 .290

Outfielders # B Player Pos G AB H HR RBI R BB K .AVG OBP SLG 36 L Jocko Halligan RF 41 155 40 1 21 24 28 17 .258 .370 .316 45 L Billy Hamilton LF 53 193 51 0 31 46 52 13 .264 .419 .358 95 L Pete Hotaling CF 3 12 3 0 0 0 1 4 .250 .308 .250 61 L Tom Gettinger LF 5 15 3 0 5 4 5 2 .200 .381 .267 50 R Marty Sullivan LF 53 212 66 1 25 40 27 30 .311 .384 .382 69 L Bill Hughes RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000

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American Association Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
Cleveland Spiders	35	20	.636	-
Boston Americans	34	21	.618	1.0
Baltimore Orioles	29	25	.537	5.5
Detroit Tigers	27	27	.500	7.5
Louisville Colonels	25	29	.463	9.5
Washington Statesmen	23	30	.434	11.0
Chicago White Sox	23	31	.426	11.5
Philadelphia Athletics	21	34	.382	14.0

National League Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
Boston Beaneaters	33	20	.623	-
Philadelphia Phillies	32	22	.593	1.5
New York Giants	31	23	.574	2.5
Cincinnati Reds	28	27	.509	6.0
Chicago Colts	26	29	.473	8.0
St. Louis Browns	24	30	.444	9.5
Brooklyn Bridegrooms	24	31	.436	10.0
Pittsburg Alleghenys	19	35	.352	14.5

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League Notes

• The King of Swing has been fasinating fans in Boston. Cupid Childs is batting .353 and the 22 year old is playing as well as anyone has had before at his age. Childs went 5-5 against Philadelphia recently and has the quickest bat in the league.
• The great Tim Keefe is showing signs of his age and use on the mound for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. Keefe is only 6-12 with a 4.22 ERA while the team struggles at 24-31. Still Keefe manged to win his 250th game this month, becoming only the thirds player in history to do so.
• Old wonders Cy Bentely and Al Splalding have important decisions to make. Spalding still hasnt been picked up by a team and at 38 may have to call it quits. Cy Bentley has bigger issues as the star pither hurt himslef while trying out for Chicago this month. Bentley hurt his arms and will miss a number of months, it may well be the end of the road for him as well, but havent we heard this before?