|
Let's Start a Mutuals Appreciation Society!
Pitchers
Lee Sprague (24-3.5)
Only the best pitcher in the Association last year. And lest you think his superiority was due mostly to our excellent defense, he led the circuit in strikeouts per 9 inning and was second in fewest walks allowed. Only ancient Charlie Moss, who basically just tossed it across the plate, walked fewer men than Sprague. He strained a bicep during our practice games and will have to miss the first week of the schedule.
Tom Lee (26-6.0)
The only thing separating Lee and Sprague is Lee's control is not as sharp. He was superb in his rookie season and we expect even greater things from him this year. He was awesome in the practice games, striking out an incredible 7.1 batters per 9 innings.
Jim Cook (29-5.9)
Billy Jenkins (31-4.9)
They will both get a chance in the first week to see who sticks around when Sprague comes back. Cook will be 30 in a few days. He was awesome last year in A ball, but in his only big league trial he walked more than he struck out. Both he and Jenkins looked strong in the practice games, with little to choose between them.
Catcher
Harry Farrell (32-5.6)
He was one of our few consistent hitters last year and he won a Gold Glove. Did not hit or field very well in the Spring games and I have some concern about whether he's starting to get old on me. Charlie Lefevre (30-5.0) will be the backup and will get plenty of playing time. I do not like my catchers to have to start more than 2 days in a row and with Farrel's age, I will stick to that pretty consistently. Lefevre did not hit much either in the practice games. I'm hoping that Ezra Wall (23-5.2) will have a breakout season in Richmond. I really like his play behind the plate, but his bat has been anemic in his professional career thus far.
First Base
Lew Bartholomew (29-4.0)
Began last season as the starter, but did not hit and more importantly made 9 errors in the first 9 games and was sent packing to Pottsville. He redeemed himself at the end of the season and will get another shot to win the full time job. Rube Ford (33-5.1) will be around to take over should Lew stumble. I was hoping Charlie Toner (22-8.7) would win the job this Spring, but he did not hit well. He will begin the year at Richmond where he will celebrate his 23rd birthday on May 3.
Second Base
Felix Hill (25-4.2)
This was not the plan. Warren Hogan was the plan, but plans had to change. Hill will get a shot to show his talent, but will not get long to show it. Should he not hit, Hogan will move back to second base.
Shortstop
Warren Hogan (29-7.2)
Sam Hinkle (27-6.3), our Gold Glove shortstop of a year ago, broke his elbow this Spring and will miss the entire season. Now I don't mind having a great fielding shortstop who does not hit much, but the other slick fielders we could scrounge up did not hit even a little bit. Harry Coats (30-4.9) struggled to hit .100 and did not look all that slick in the field, either. Will Linn (27-6.7) fielded well, but hit under .200 in practice games. He did show an ability to coax a walk from a pitcher and his fielding was so good that he made the squad as our reserve infielder, but he's not ready to be the starter. After Hinkle got hurt, I signed Ed Page (27-7.4). He has a reputation as a good fielder and has hit a little in his minor league career, but by the time he signed, the Spring games were done and I did not get a chance to seem him play. So, I sent him to Richmond to see what he can do there. If Felix Hill does not hit at second and/or Hogan does not field well enough at short and Page shows me something in Richmond, he'll end up being our starting shortstop.
Third Base
George Dominick (30-4.8)
I'm pretty happy with Dominick's glove at the hot corner; not so thrilled with his bat. But I don't really have any other options. Rube Ford can play here, but at this point in his career he's not any better a hitter than Dominick. I signed Ben Dennis (28-5.4) to give Dominick some competition in the Spring games, but he did not hit much either. Maybe he'll light the town up in Richmond.
Left Field
Dave Cunningham (28-5.4)
Dave got hurt early last year and never really did get it going. But this Spring, he knocked the cover off the ball, and I'm hoping he'll be among the leading batsmen in the Association this season. Spider Coleman (30-6.2) is back after a solid season last year to spell Cunningham against some of the lefties he has a hard time against.
Center Field
Stub Orlando (29-6.1)
The third of our 3 Gold Glove winners last season, he had a great season, but is really not much of a hitter. He swings at just about everything the pitcher tosses at him and he strikes out quite a bit.
Right Field
Hank Roberts (25-3.0)
Roberts had a terrific May last year and did not hit much at all after that. He is another one who swings at just about everything he sees and strikes out even more than Orlando. We drafted him with our first pick last year because of his 30 extra-base hits in the B Leagues in 1882. He had 11 for us last year. This Spring he did not hit well and did not have a single extra-base hit until the second to last game of the practice schedule when he hit a pair of doubles. This year's first pick in the B League Draft, Abe Cupp (23-4.7) had 47 extra-base hits last year for Lawrence and hit very well in the Spring Games. He will get plenty of playing time early and will supplant either Orlando at center or Roberts in right as the everyday starter, depending on which of them gets off to a slow start. If they both do, Cupp will play for Roberts, to give us our best defensive outfield lineup.
Bart Levy, April 30, 1884
|