1930 NL Preseason Predictions
The Cardinals and Giants appear on paper to be evenly matched, but it is hard to pick against a Cardinals team that has won back-to-back pennants and just added MLB Hall of Fame pitcher
Dizzy Dean (11-7-8 ratings) to their roster. For most of the past two decades, pitching has been St. Louis' main weakness. In 1925, they added
Bill Hallahan, who went on to win the NL Pitcher of the Year Award the next season. In 1927, they added Rookie of the Year
Fred Frankhouse. Then last season, they added another ROY in pitcher
Al Grabowski. And let's not forget that 6-year veteran
Flint Rhem (11-11, 3.47 ERA) is no slouch. Then they add Dean to this stable to thoroughbreds, so you can see why the Cardinals should be favored this season.
The one thing St. Louis lost during the offseason was experience in the bullpen, because relievers Lee Meadows and Bob Steele, who combined for 29 years in the big leagues, retired after last season. The Cardinals still feel as though their bullpen is strong enough, especially with
Hi Bell (12-1, 38 Sv, 1.40 ERA) closing out games. After all, he has been named the NL Fireman Award winner for two straight seasons. St. Louis also has a great offense, which was made even stronger with slugger
George Puccinelli (6-7-7-7-3 ratings) splitting time with fleet-footed
Pepper Martin (.293, 62 R, 52 SB) in right field.
As for the Giants, they are still a very dangerous team, but they felt the need to make a few tweaks in the offseason.
Freddie Lindstrom (.295, 10 HR, 41 RBI in 275 AB), who is just 24 years old after biding his time as a role player for six seasons with the Giants, will finally get a shot to play every day. He takes over in centerfield for defensive standout
Jigger Statz (.221, 20 RBI, 33 R in 438 AB), who struggled at the plate last year. The team also moved long time starter
Red Lucas (6-8, 4.50 ERA) to the bullpen. They now have possibly the best bullpen in the NL, but their pitching rotation is very much in question outside of ace
Carl Hubbell (20-5, 2.52 ERA).
The Cubs and Pirates will again be part of the pennant chase, but they will have a tough time overcoming both St. Louis and San Francisco. The only significant change that either team made this offseason was Chicago's adding rookie
Lon Warneke (7-7-7 ratings) to their pitching rotation. Meanwhile, the Pirates have five MLB Hall of Famers in their lineup, but I still believe that Chicago's pitching gives them an edge.
Predicted Standings
(Scale of 1-12)
| Rank | Team | Rotation | Bullpen | Offense | Bench | Speed | Defense | Totals | Grade | Predicted Record |
| 1 | St. Louis Cardinals | 10 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 8.9 | A | 104 | 58 |
| 2 | San Francisco Giants | 7 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 8.8 | A | 103 | 59 |
| 3 | Chicago Cubs | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7.6 | B | 88 | 74 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 7 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7.3 | B | 84 | 78 |
| 5 | Philadelphia Phillies | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 6.2 | C+ | 73 | 89 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 7 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 5.9 | C | 68 | 94 |
| 7 | Atlanta Braves | 7 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 5.6 | C- | 65 | 97 |
| 8 | Cincinnati Reds | 7 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 5.3 | C- | 62 | 100 |
MLB results for the NL in 1930
Champs: St. Louis Cardinals, (92-62, .597)
World Series: Athletics defeated Cardinals 4-2
For players who appear below on a team they are not playing with in MLHR, their MLHR team is listed in parenthesis
Combined WAR: Bill Terry, Giants, 7.6
Offensive WAR: Hack Wilson, Cubs (Giants), 8.4
Defensive WAR: Glenn Wright, Dodgers (Pirates), 2.7
Batting Title: Bill Terry, Giants, .401
On-Base%: Mel Ott, Giants, .458
Slugging%: Hack Wilson, Cubs (Giants), .723
Runs: Chuck Klein, Phillies, 158
RBI: Hack Wilson, Cubs (Giants), 191 (This is the MLB record!)
SB: Kiki Cuyler, Cubs (Pirates), 37
OPS+: Hack Wilson, Cubs (Giants), 177
AB/HR: Hack Wilson, Cubs (Giants), 10.4
Pitching WAR: Dazzy Vance, Dodgers (Pirates), 7.1
Win%: Freddie Fitzsimmons, Giants, .731
WHIP: Dazzy Vance, Dodgers (Pirates), 1.144
K/9: Bill Hallahan, Cardinals, 6.712
Innings: Ray Kremer, Pirates, 276.0
K/BB: Dazzy Vance, Dodgers (Pirates), 3.146
ERA+: Dazzy Vance, Dodgers (Pirates), 189
FIP: Dazzy Vance, Dodgers (Pirates), 3.61
MLHR Milestone Watch
3000 Hits
Rogers Hornsby, STL, Age 33, 2877 Hits
200 Wins
Waite Hoyt, SFG, Age 30, 189 Wins
3000 Innings Pitched
Hod Eller, CIN, Age 35, 2797.0 IP