1933 SPRING TRAINING
I feel like we were saying the exact same things at this time last year as what applies to the Brooklyn Kings heading into the 1933 season. A year ago the Kings were supposed to be ready to contend for the pennant after a solid 82-72 record in 1931. There was great expectations surrounding the young pitching rotation and Brooklyn always had plenty of offense. But then everything fell apart.
Doug Lightbody, the face of the franchise since being drafted in 1925, hurt his elbow in spring training and missed the first two months of the season. Without Lightbody the offense sputtered as it seemed everyone was in a slump. Brooklyn started the season 13-18 and that was enough to cost long-time manager Wally Grant his job. Walt Bailey was promoted from AA Knoxville to take over as skipper but by late July the Kings were mirred in 7th place and spinning their wheels. Then came "The Trade" as Brooklyn parted with young stars Tommy Wilcox and Mike Taylor in a deadline deal to acquire a pair of Barrell brothers, catcher Fred and pitcher Tom, from the Chicago Cougars. The two of them would join older brother Dan who, at age 27, was having a breakout rookie season in Brooklyn and one of the few bright spots for Brooklyn on the season.
Something suddenly clicked and the Kings would win 11 of their first 12 games after the deal and were 39-17 overall since the trade after starting the year 42-57. It renewed hope and now the Kings once again find themselves in exactly the same position they were a year ago - expecting no less than to challenge for the pennant. The question is which Kings team will show up when the games start for real in mid-April?
As we sit on the eve of spring training here are some things to watch as we progress through camp.
#1- THIRD BASE
By far the biggest question is can Jake Shadoan successfully transition to third base. A natural second basemen who was forced to first base because the Kings have Rabbit Mudd (a natural SS moved to second) and Walt Layton in the middle of the infield, the Kings suddenly found themselves trying to figure out how to get Dan Barrell into the lineup. Barrell (.340,6,64) was outstanding after earning a full-time job in June. Not bad for a 27 year old career minor leaguer who was out of professional for 2 years after high school and was lost in the Rule V draft only to be returned by the team that selected him. Barrell suddenly found a sweet hitting stroke but he was still a real liability in the field so can only be trusted at first base.
Shadoan (.324,11,70) is a very good second baseman and an excellent fielding first baseman but with no previous experience at any level was suddenly told to play the hot corner. The experiment did not go well, at least not early, but it appears Shadoan has mastered the skills necessary and will play a ton at third base during camp to be ready for opening day.
If Shadoan can't play third, or if Dan Barrell suddenly crashes back to earth, then the Kings will likely rely on 24 year old Buck Sargent, who hit .233 with 8 homers in a 50 game trial in Brooklyn a year ago, or Bill Scott, who hit 33 homers in 1930 for the Kings but struggles mightily to keep his batting average above .230.
The Kings are confident Shadoan will adapt to third leaving an infield of Barrell at 1B, Rabbit Mudd (.296,6,57) at second and glove wizard Walt Layton (.217,4,36) at shortstop. Layton and Mudd are among the best defensive infielders in the league. The Kings also have another Barrell brother waiting in the wings as 19 year old Harry is pencilled in to start the season at AA Knoxville. Harry was a former first overall pick acquired from Cleveland and is the full package at shortstop.
#2- THE BULLPEN
- The second question for Brooklyn is who will comprise the bullpen? The rotation seems set with 23 year old Milt Fritz, 25 year olds Tom Barrell and Mike Murphy along with 24 year old Johnny Jacob. Fritz won an Allen Award two seasons ago and was 16-12, 3.56 a year ago. The other 3 were all rookies last season with Barrell (8-3, 2.48) and Murphy (7-2, 2.53) coming over at the deadline from the Cougars and Jacob (11-7, 4.07) making his big league debut after working his way up the system although he, like the other 3, was acquired in a trade. Jacob came from Baltimore as a 20 year old prospect in 1929.
It is the 5th starter/swingman role that is open along with the entire bullpen, which struggled a year ago. Brooklyn will likely carry 8 or 9 pitchers so the remaining four or five spots will come from the following:
DEL LYONS - The 27 year old has spent 3 seasons in the Brooklyn pen including last year when he was 8-5 with 8 saves and a 4.16 era. Once thought to be an elite reliever, his stock has soured over recent seasons and he needs big camp to keep his job.
HAL GALVAN- The 40 year old was waived by St Louis despite saving a Federal League high 21 games for the Pioneers last season. He will be looked to provide veteran leadership and stability in the pen, if he still has enough left in the tank.
MARCEL BESSON - Another waiver pickup, the 28 year old Besson joined the Kings late last season after being cut by the Philadelphia Keystones. He was 4-6 with 8 saves and a 5.63 era in Philadelphia before having two poor outings in Brooklyn. Likely a long shot to make the club.
LOU LOISELLE - The 26 year old was acquired from San Diego of the Great West League a couple of seasons ago. He split last year between Brooklyn and AAA Rochester, going 1-5 with a 3.96 era for the Kings.
FRANK PARSONS- He has had 2 brief stints in Brooklyn the past two years with mixed results after being very impressive at Rochester. Now 25 years old, there is hope the former top 100 prospect might be ready to assume a bigger role in the Brooklyn pen.
LYMAN WEIGEL- Won 19 games for the Kings two seasons ago but has been forced out of the rotation - or at best to the #5 slot. Went 6-9, 4.89 in 15 starts and 5 relief appearances last season. The bet is the 28 year old was a 1 year wonder but a good camp will certainly get him a spot in Brooklyn. Perhaps complicating things is the fact that Weigel is out of minor league options.
Beyond those six we have a collection of young talent, any one of whom could grab a spot with a big camp. They include:
George Johnson, a 25 year old who pitched briefly in Brooklyn last year.
Roy Pierce, a 23 year old rule V pickup who was 11-11, 2.79 in AA a year ago.
Art Blake, a 23 year old former 3rd round pick who was 17-9 at AA Knoxville last season.
George DeForest, a 24 year old who was acquired in the big deal with the Cougars and went 17-13 at 2 levels with two organizations last season.
Larry Brown, a highly touted 24 year old lefthander who went 4-5 with a 6.01 era in Brooklyn last season but was dominant in AAA.
Chuck Wirtz, a 24 year old former 19th round draft pick who has worked his way up the system and looked very good in doing so. He likely needs at least one more year at AAA Rochester, for whom he went 9-14 a year ago.
The expectation is 4 of the original six guys on this list will make it and perhaps the rule v pickup Pierce will stick. The rest of the younger guys likely go to AAA and depending who the two odd-men are out of the first six, they will either go to Rochester or be released.
#3 LIGHTBODY
The only other question that concerns the Kings this camp is whether or not Doug Lightbody can rebound. Lightbody (.299,8,55) was limited to just 83 games because of injury and posted the lowest slash numbers of his career. He has dealt with injury all to often before and bounced back so the Kings are hoping for the same from the player who despite being just 29 years old was recently named to the Kings 40th anniversary team.
Assuming Lightbody is good the outfield will likely once again consist of him in right, Ab Thomas (.328,0,50) as the lead-off man and centerfielder with Art Summers (.297,11,71) likely returning in left field. If Summers struggles or Lightbody can't stay healthy there are a collection of prospects like Elmer Nolde and Jimmy Schlosser and cast-offs from other organizations such as Ed Rhoden or former first overall draft pick Karl Stevens to fight it out for a spot.
Catcher is set with Fred Barrell starting and Bill Smith once again being a dependable backup although the Kings did invite 33 year old former Gotham backstop Johnny Simpson to camp but he will likely go to Rochester or be released.
Some questions for sure, but the Kings are expecting to be a pennant contender in 1933. Although we did say the same thing last year.