1910 NL Preseason Predictions
After coming off the franchise's first ever pennant and a gut-wrenching Game 7 loss to the Athletics in the World Series, the Reds are favored to repeat as National League champs this year. Their pitching led them last season, but their offense is expected to be one of the best offenses in the NL this season. And don't forget that they have the best defense in the league too, which really helps that pitching staff. Part of the reason Cincinnati's offense is expected to improve is the presence of slugging rookie third baseman
Jim Doyle (6-7-7-6-4 ratings). Rookie
Rube Denton (6-6-7 ratings) is moving into the #5 slot in an already strong rotation. That move pushes
Rube Vickers (10-9, 3.35 ERA) to the bullpen. He should help solidify a relief corps that some think will backslide after a fine 1909 campaign.
While I still believe that the Pirates will be the primary challenger to the Reds, my rankings say that Cincy needs to watch out for the Giants instead. San Francisco's defense appears to have improved on paper. If it has, their pitching staff should benefit. Again, on paper, the Giants' starting rotation should be the best in the league this year after adding rookie
Dick Rudolph (6-6-8 ratings) and bumping the always underperforming
Red Ames (8-18, 5.04 ERA) to the bullpen where hopefully he can thrive. Speaking of the bullpen, it has come a long, long way since being one of the worst bullpens I have seen in MLHR just a few short years ago.
The Pirates, meanwhile, are beginning to show their age like the Cubs, Cardinals and Phillies have done before them. Their once-dominant pitching rotation is showing some wear and tear, but their bullpen remains an elite unit. The offense is also slowing down with age, but in addition to 26-year-old
Chief Wilson (.280, 32 HR, 94 RBI), they will be giving another young outfielder, 23-year-old
Beals Becker (.248, 20 HR, 63 RBI in 407 AB), a much anticipated shot at an everyday job due to the retirement of
Fred Clarke. Age is also wearing down the team's speed and their overall offensive depth is poor. All those factors are why they are expected to finish third.
The Cubs still have an offense to be proud of and a ridiculously deep bench. As usual, their pitching is a big question mark and the fact that their defense will likely be one of the worst in the league just exacerbates their pitching weakness. To highlight their pitching concerns, 28-year-old rookie
Fred Beebe (7-6-4 ratings) will be joining the rotation as their #5 starter. Ahead of him in the rotation are
Bob Rhoads (11-15, 4.40 ERA), who did a fair job in his first season as a starter, and
Carl Lundgren (8-4, 4.65 ERA), who couldn't even stay in the rotation all season. Both Rhoads and Lundgren are 30 now.
If things break just right, the Phillies could be a sleeper team. Their rotation, bullpen, offense and defense are all considered to be above average, with their bullpen and defense being their primary strengths. Their biggest weakness is a poor hitting bench. However, they added slugging rookie third baseman
Jimmy Walsh (6-6-7-4-4 ratings) to the mix this season. He will bat 6th and just might hit 30-35 home runs. Their biggest offensive concern is the reliability of leadoff man
Roy Thomas' (.235 AVG, .366 OBP, 82 R, 2 SB) ability to get on base consistently. Unfortunately, he has below average speed, as does #2 hitter
John Titus (.265 AVG, .340 OBP, 17 HR, 73 RBI, 95 R, 5 SB). Another reason why the Phillies feel good about this year is the addition of rookie starting pitchers
Bert Humphries (5-6-9 ratings) and
Ad Brennan (6-6-7 ratings).
Predicted Standings
(Scale of 1-12)
| Rank | Team | Rotation | Bullpen | Offense | Bench | Speed | Defense | Totals | Grade | Predicted Wins |
| 1 | Cincinnati Reds | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7.9 | B+ | 94 | 68 |
| 2 | San Francisco Giants | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7.8 | B+ | 92 | 70 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 7 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 7.3 | B | 86 | 76 |
| 4 | Chicago Cubs | 6 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 7.0 | B- | 83 | 79 |
| 5 | Philadelphia Phillies | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 6.9 | B- | 82 | 80 |
| 6 | St. Louis Cardinals | 8 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6.8 | B- | 80 | 82 |
| 7 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 6 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 5.7 | C- | 67 | 95 |
| 8 | Atlanta Braves | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5.2 | D+ | 62 | 100 |
MLB results for the NL in 1910
Champs: Chicago Cubs, (104-50, .675)
World Series: Athletics defeated Cubs 4-1
Combined WAR: Sherry Magee, Phillies, 6.7
Offensive WAR: Sherry Magee, Phillies, 7.1
Defensive WAR: Mickey Doolin, Phillies, 2.8
Batting Title: Sherry Magee, Phillies, .331
Runs: Sherry Magee, Phillies, 110
RBI: Sherry Magee, Phillies, 123
SB: Bob Bescher, Reds, 70
OPS+: Sherry Magee, Phillies, 174
AB/HR: John Flynn, Pirates, 55.3 (rookie!)
Pitching WAR: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 7.3
Win%: Deacon Phillippe, Pirates, .875
WHIP: Mordecai Brown, Cubs, 1.084
K/9: Louis Drucke, Giants, 6.311
Innings: Nap Rucker, Dodgers, 320.1
Shutouts: Four Player Tied, 6
K/BB: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 3.067
ERA+: King Cole, Cubs, 160
FIP: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 1.96
MLHR Milestone Watch
3500 Hits
John McGraw, STL, Age 36, 3428 Hits
2500 Hits
Honus Wagner, PIT, Age 36, 2404 Hits
700 Doubles
Nap Lajoie, PHI, Age 35, 649 doubles
600 Doubles
Joe Kelley, ATL, Age 38, 586 doubles
100 Triples
Honus Wagner, PIT, Age 36, 90 triples
500 Home Runs
Buck Freeman, ATL, Age 29, 457 HR
400 Home Runs
Bill Lange, CHN, Age 38, 398 HR
2000 Walks
John McGraw, STL, Age 36, 1941 BB
600 Stolen Bases
Joe Kelley, ATL, Age 38, 594 SB
200 Wins
Ned Garvin, PHI, Age 36, 198 Wins
Jesse Tannehill, CIN, Age 35, 191 Wins
Joe Corbett, STL, Age 34, 186 Wins
3000 Strikeouts
Buttons Briggs, CHN, Age 34, 2998 K's
Jesse Tannehill, CIN, Age 35, 2955 K's
800 Games Pitched
Frank Kitson, LAD, Age 35, 778 Games - the all-time record is 802!
700 Games Pitched
Jim Hughes, LAD, Age 36, 679 Games
Red Donahue, SFG, Age 37, 659 Games
Doc McJames, LAD, Age 35, 649 Games