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Dukie98 · 12-26-2016, 05:25 PM

Following their surprising run to the American League pennant, expectations were high for the Cleveland Naps, although there still were several hard-to-fill holes on their roster. With a surplus of starting pitching, but little elite talent on the roster, the Naps shipped swingman Alex Pearson and center fielder Chick Stahl to the New York Giants for rookie pitcher Rube Marquard. Stahl suffered through a disappointing season in Cleveland, hitting an empty .290 with just 29 RBI's in over 400 at bats, and with unacceptably poor defense in center field. The Naps anticipated keeping Marquard in the bullpen for another year, before bringing him into the rotation in 1909.

In a related move, the Naps shipped 33-year-old pitcher Dummy Taylor, who had missed significant time in each of the past two seasons, along with backup shortstop Freddy Parent, who had clearly been supplanted by Mickey Doolan, to the Philadelphia Athletics for 21-year-old middle infielder Jack Barry. The trade of Taylor clears some of the Naps' pitching surplus, and allows Babe Adams to return to the rotation. But it does nothing to address their glaring weakness in center field (likely to be covered by a platoon of good field/ no-hit Cozy Dolan and jack-of-all-trades Bris Lord, or the mediocre play of first baseman George Stovall.

In preseason projections, the Naps were projected to finish third with an 80-74 record, behind the St. Louis Browns and New York Highlanders. While the Naps were once again expected to have a strong pitching staff, their offense was expected to struggle. To contend in 1908, the Naps would need a return to form from second baseman/ franchise namesake Napoleon Lajoie and right fielder Elmer Flick.

12-26-2016, 05:25 PM	#100
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	1908 Preseason Following their surprising run to the American League pennant, expectations were high for the Cleveland Naps, although there still were several hard-to-fill holes on their roster. With a surplus of starting pitching, but little elite talent on the roster, the Naps shipped swingman Alex Pearson and center fielder Chick Stahl to the New York Giants for rookie pitcher Rube Marquard. Stahl suffered through a disappointing season in Cleveland, hitting an empty .290 with just 29 RBI's in over 400 at bats, and with unacceptably poor defense in center field. The Naps anticipated keeping Marquard in the bullpen for another year, before bringing him into the rotation in 1909. In a related move, the Naps shipped 33-year-old pitcher Dummy Taylor, who had missed significant time in each of the past two seasons, along with backup shortstop Freddy Parent, who had clearly been supplanted by Mickey Doolan, to the Philadelphia Athletics for 21-year-old middle infielder Jack Barry. The trade of Taylor clears some of the Naps' pitching surplus, and allows Babe Adams to return to the rotation. But it does nothing to address their glaring weakness in center field (likely to be covered by a platoon of good field/ no-hit Cozy Dolan and jack-of-all-trades Bris Lord, or the mediocre play of first baseman George Stovall. In preseason projections, the Naps were projected to finish third with an 80-74 record, behind the St. Louis Browns and New York Highlanders. While the Naps were once again expected to have a strong pitching staff, their offense was expected to struggle. To contend in 1908, the Naps would need a return to form from second baseman/ franchise namesake Napoleon Lajoie and right fielder Elmer Flick.