1911 NL Preseason Predictions
Last season was remarkably tight in the National League with all teams within 9 games of first at the season's halfway point. This season should have a similar level of parity with no team truly standing above the rest. While the Cubs won last season's pennant, they are predicted to only finish 4th in my rankings below. That surprises me considering the fact that they added rookie
Vic Saier (5-6-9-7-4 ratings) to an already formidable lineup. However, the Cubs don't have anywhere for him to play regularly at this point. They are forced to get him as many at-bats as possible while splitting time between his natural first base and left field, a position he is trying to learn.
The team's lineup has also seen a considerable amount of turnover this season. Future HoF centerfielder
Bill Lange retired and veterans
Frank Chance (.234, 16 HR, 47 RBI, 42 SB),
Joe Tinker (.275, 9 HR, 46 RBI) and
Roger Bresnahan (.277, 10 HR, 43 RBI) are all slated for backup roles. The change is partly due to the trio's fading offensive skills but also a need for improved defense, although Tinker is still strong defensively. The other two are not. The Cubs also added exciting rookie pitchers
Fred Toney (7-6-7 ratings) and
Larry Cheney (7-6-5 ratings) to their rotation. Part of the reason Chicago is expected to slip to fourth place is the fact that their pitching staff fired on all cylinders last season and outperformed expectations. That is unlikely to happen again, even with the new additions.
The Pirates have finished in second place in five of the past six seasons. They were embarrassed by the Athletics in their only World Series appearance over that time frame. Fans are frustrated with what appears to be the team's inability to reach their full potential. They are expected to win the pennant again this season, and the team is feeling the urgency with so many veterans beginning to show their age. Star prospect
Max Carey (.248, 11 HR, 42 RBI, 36 SB in 319 AB) gets a full-time job in left field and he is expected to give the offense a boost. Rookie
Claude Hendrix (7-6-7 ratings) takes over the rotation spot vacated by the recently retired
Sam Leever, and fellow rookie
Hank Robinson moves into a key middle relief role. He will be called upon quickly if any of the aging starters falter. This team has plenty of pitching depth in the minors as well where several pitchers who would make most teams' rosters wait for their chance.
On paper, the Giants pose the biggest threat to Pittsburgh. However, their pitching rotation has never yet lived up to its immense potential. That is partly due to a porous defense. The organization has attempted to improve that defense with the additions of third-year player
Art Fletcher (.257, 29 RBI in 265 AB) at shortstop and rookie
George Burns (7-7-6-7-6 ratings) in left field. Burns will also provide additional offense and speed. He has 20+ home run power with 30+ stolen base potential and will be batting 3rd in the lineup ahead of 2-time BoY
Larry Doyle (.285, 27 HR, 91 RBI). However, a .500 finish two seasons ago is still the best performance this franchise has seen in 24 years. I will believe in their pitching rotation when I see some results. That unit is again the key to the Giants' season.
The Reds won their first pennant two seasons ago and missed a second pennant last season by just 3 games. That second place finish a year ago came after a miserable start to the season. So over the second half of last year, the Reds were the best team in the NL. They hope to build on that momentum this season and get off to a fast start. They certainly have the talent to do it. The pitching rotation needs a bounce back performance from 3-time PoY
Noodles Hahn (11-15, 5.03 ERA), who is just 31 but had his second poor season in the past three years. Oddly enough, the one good season he had over that three year period was good enough to earn him his third PoY award. Closer
Martin Glendon (7-5, 30 Sv, 1.43 ERA) proved his doubters wrong by having another superb season at age 33 and winning his 6th Fireman Award.
Predicted Standings
(Scale of 1-12)
| Rank | Team | Rotation | Bullpen | Offense | Bench | Speed | Defense | Totals | Grade | Predicted Wins |
| 1 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 7 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7.8 | B+ | 92 | 70 |
| 2 | San Francisco Giants | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7.6 | B | 90 | 72 |
| 3 | Cincinnati Reds | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7.5 | B | 89 | 73 |
| 4 | Chicago Cubs | 6 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 7.0 | B- | 83 | 79 |
| 5 | St. Louis Cardinals | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 6.8 | C+ | 80 | 82 |
| 6 | Philadelphia Phillies | 7 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 6.2 | C | 73 | 89 |
| 7 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 6 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6.1 | C | 72 | 90 |
| 8 | Atlanta Braves | 6 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6.0 | C | 70 | 92 |
MLB results for the NL in 1911
Champs: New York Giants, (99-54, .647)
World Series: Athletics defeated Giants 4-2
Combined WAR: Honus Wagner, Pirates, 6.5
Offensive WAR: Larry Doyle, Giants, 6.1
Defensive WAR: Joe Tinker, Cubs, 2.5
Batting Title: Honus Wagner, Pirates, .334
Runs: Jimmy Sheckard, Cubs, 121
RBI: Chief Wilson, Pirates and Frank Schulte, Cubs, 107
SB: Bob Bescher, Reds, 81
OPS+: Frank Schulte, Cubs, 157
AB/HR: Frank Schulte, Cubs, 27.5
Pitching WAR: Nap Rucker, Dodgers, 8.7
Win%: Rube Marquard, Giants, .774
WHIP: Babe Adams, Pirates, 1.006
K/9: Rube Marquard, Giants, 7.682
Innings: Grover Cleveland Alexander, Phillies, 367.0
Shutouts: Grover Cleveland Alexander, Phillies, 7
K/BB: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 3.711
ERA+: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 167
FIP: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 2.44
MLHR Milestone Watch
2500 Hits
Mike Donlin, STL, Age 32, 2465 Hits
Charlie Hickman, ATL, Age 34, 2338 Hits
600 Doubles
Honus Wagner, PIT, Age 37, 569 doubles
100 Triples
Honus Wagner, PIT, Age 37, 98 triples
500 Home Runs
Charlie Hickman, ATL, Age 34, 486 HR
400 Home Runs
Mike Donlin, STL, Age 32, 383 HR
1500 RBI
Charlie Hickman, ATL, Age 34, 1459 RBI
200 Wins
Joe Corbett, STL, Age 35, 199 Wins
4000 Innings
Jesse Tannehill, CIN, Age 36, 3931.1 IP
3000 Innings
Buttons Briggs, CHN, Age 35, 2872.2
Noodles Hahn, CIN, Age 31, 2835.0
Bill Donovan, LAD, Age 34, 2820.0
4000 Strikeouts
Rube Waddell, PIT, Age 35, 3860 K
3000 Strikeouts
Bill Donovan, LAD, Age 34, 2916 K
Joe Corbett, STL, Age 35, 2899 K
Noodles Hahn, CIN, Age 31, 2799 K
Christy Mathewson, SFG, Age 30, 2775 K
700 Games Pitched
Doc McJames, LAD, Age 36, 696 Games