1913 NL Preseason Predictions
Below, OOTP predicts a close pennant race in the National League this season. I believe that is true. What I don't buy is the fact that the Braves are a last place team. Granted, they only won 82 games last year, but I believe this is a team on the rise. They lost some power with the retirement of
Charlie Hickman, but their infield defense will improve with
Rabbit Maranville taking over the full-time job at second base. They have also improved their pitching staff with the addition of rookie
Bill James (7-6-6 ratings).
That being said, the Reds and Pirates also won 82 games last season and the Dodgers won 81. Cincinnati is expected to be a legitimate contender this year. After all, they were ranked 2nd in both offense and pitching in the NL last season. The Pirates are aging fast and 5-time PoY
Rube Waddell has retired. However, they added talented young pitcher
Al Marmaux (8-6-5 ratings) to the rotation in his place. As for the Dodgers, I do not think they have enough pitching to remain in the pennant race this season.
However, depending on who you ask, the favorites are either the 3-time defending champion Cubs or the up-and-coming Giants. Chicago added rookie catcher
Bubbles Hargrave (8-7-4-5-8 ratings) to what was already the highest scoring offense in MLHR. Unfortunately, they failed to add significant pitching depth to their roster. Pitching has been this team's post-season weakness three years running. The one addition they did make was hard-throwing young reliever
Zip Zabel, who will get a shot at replacing retired closer
Buttons Briggs.
In San Francisco, their primary addition was
Milt Stock (7-6-2-5-8 ratings), a third baseman turned shortstop who will bring some added offense to the bottom of the Giants' lineup. The team already has an explosive offense, and their pitching staff is loaded with potential. However, staff ace
Christy Mathewson (16-8, 3.46 ERA) is now 32, so time may be running out on finally reaching that potential.
Predicted Standings
(Scale of 1-12)
MLB results for the NL in 1913
Champs: New York Giants, (101-51, .664)
World Series: Athletics defeated Giants 4-1
Combined WAR: Gavvy Cravath, Phillies, 5.6
Offensive WAR: Gavvy Cravath, Phillies, 6.0
Defensive WAR: Art Fletcher, Giants, 1.9
Batting Title: Jake Daubert, Dodgers, .350
Runs: Max Carey, Pirates and Tommy Leach, Cubs, 99
RBI: Gavvy Cravath, Phillies, 128
SB: Max Carey, Pirates, 61
OPS+: Gavvy Cravath, Phillies, 172
AB/HR: Gavvy Cravath, Phillies, 27.6
Pitching WAR: Babe Adams, Pirates, 7.8
Win%: Bert Humphries, Cubs, .800
WHIP: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 1.020
K/9: Jeff Tesreau, Giants, 5.330
Innings: Tom Seaton, Phillies, 322.1
K/BB: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 4.429
ERA+: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 152
FIP: Babe Adams, Pirates, 2.40
MLHR Milestone Watch
3500 Hits
Nap Lajoie, PHI, Age 38, 3324 hits
3000 Hits
Honus Wagner, PIT, Age 39, 2895 hits
Mike Donlin, STL, Age 34, 2860 hits
700 Doubles
Honus Wagner, PIT, Age 39, 661 doubles
117 Triples - MLHR record
Honus Wagner, PIT, Age 39, 114 triples
600 Home Runs
Buck Freeman, ATL, Age 32, 587 HR
1500 Runs
Honus Wagner, PIT, Age 39, 1460 runs
Mike Donlin, STL, Age 34, 1432 runs
200 Wins
Noodles Hahn, CIN, Age 33, 199 Wins
429 Saves - MLHR record!
Martin Glendon, CIN, Age 36, 408 Sv
700 Games Pitched
Harry Howell, LAD, Age 36, 689 Games
Homer Hillebrand, PIT, Age 32, 678 Games
Martin Glendon, CIN, Age 36, 632 Games