The Detroit World
Monday April 13th, 1936
Sports News
From the Desk of "Fast" Freddie Farhat
Let's Meet the 1936 Dynamo's
A lot of changes have been made to this team, will it help on the field who knows. But let's meet the Opening Day Detroit Dynamo's for what it is worth.
Pitching
SP Chuck Calvert (32 - RHP) Last Season 2-3 1 save 3.12 ERA in Detroit in 21 relief appearances. Just to show how desperate the pitching situation in Detroit is, career RP Calvert will make just his 3rd start since 1929 when he started 15 games for the Gothams. He is the opening day starter against his old team New York and one of their aces Rabbit Day. Good luck Chuckie!
SP Jim Crawford (30 - LHP) Never has a 2-6 5.43 SP looked so good, but in Detroit that is what a #2 SP looks like. Crawford will need to cut down on the baserunners he allowed last year 106 hits and 22 walks in 69.2 innings to have a shot a being effective. #2 SP in the rotation
SP Carl Bragg (27 - RHP) Just acquired from GM Martin's old team in Cleveland, Bragg has a 23-19 big league won/loss record and a decent 4.23 career ERA. The question is with Bragg despite the moderate success when given a chance as a SP, is he really a SP or a RP? #3 SP in the rotation
SP Hank Spencer (26 - LHP) Acquired in spring training from the Chicago Chiefs where he was 3-6 5.61 in 1935. Spencer will get the opportunity he has long desired, a chance to start in the big leagues. He has a deep arsenal but he really needs to work on his control to be successful. #4 SP in the rotation
SP Ben Watkins (26 - RHP)Will likely share the #5 spot in the rotation to start the season with fellow Rule 5 pitcher Ray Lee. He is making the jump from Class A where he was 11-8 until an arm injury derailed him in the Baltimore organization. He will likely be watched closely this season as he returns from injury.
SP Ray Lee (23 - RHP) Lee was also a rule 5 pick up in the off-season and will share the #5 spot with Watkins in the first month or two. He was in AA ball last year and had a 2-5 record with a 4.05 ERA. He is primarily considered a RP by many but will get a few starts to see how it goes.
Bullpen
ST Jim Simmons (28 - RHP) With Calvert in the rotation Simmons takes over the "stopper" role and for some reason he is highly rated by BNN as the #5 and #2 "closer" in league reports. Unfortunately the results in the big leagues really have never been on his side as evidenced by last years 1-2 8.20 ERA in Detroit (he was 2-3 with a 7.29 ERA in Chicago with the Chiefs. Once considered a top 100 prospect, but not anymore.
RP George Coleman (28 - RHP) Came over as another Rule 5 player from Cleveland. He was 9-7 with AAA Cincinnati in 1935 with a 4.73 ERA. He will be the likely #2 arm out of the bullpen and may be given a shot at starting at some point.
RP Ray Benson (29 - LHP) Rounding out the bullpen is left hander Ray Benson who was picked up on waivers from St. Louis during the off-season. He was 2-2 with a 6.46 ERA with the big league team in 35 but showed some promise in the hitter happy GWL (AAA) with a 7-3 4.91 effort.
Summary - The pitching could be argued is improved over last season, maybe. Time will tell but this team should still be looking for a lot of arms for the future as not many of these guys really look to be a part of the long term plan.
Position Players Bold denotes starter
C Red Jackson (30 - RH) Acquired from New York for an 8th round pick. He takes over the starting catcher duties. He is projected to hit around 270 and is likely a league average receiver.
C Les Dunbar (32 - RH) Was a waiver claim (familiar theme in Detroit) after having fallen out of favor in St. Louis. He is a career 284 hitter in the big leagues and will be given an opportunity to stick as the backup here surprisingly over last year's 2nd half starting C Jim Kyle who is in Newark (mainly because he had an option).
1B Ray Cochran (30 - RH) Acquired in a late spring trade with Cleveland (he and 4 others were DFA assignment and packaged for a 10 round pick). Cochran is a 270 hitter in limited chances (playing behind Max Morris in Cleveland) to show what he can do. He will get an opportunity here because management decided prospect Bill Moore wasn't ready after a rough spring.
2B/1B Claude Merrill (27 - RH) Merrill showed power hitting 45 pro home runs between AA-AAA and the majors. 15 of the homers where with the Dynamo's and the team has tried him in LF, 3B and 1B besides his "natural" 2B position. He is in the lineup for his pop so hopefully he finds it as his bat disappeared during spring training.
SS Pat Schuring (28 - RH) Blocked in Cleveland by George Dawson, Schuring was DFA but added to the care package from Cleveland trade. He will get a shot to immediately start in Detroit as a solid defensive SS with limited offensive talent (career 255 hitter) but did hit 409 last season (we won't say how many at-bats he got...22)
3B Joe Masters (36 - LH) Long time Chicago Chief terrorized the FA for many years and has hit 264 career home runs. Not sure what he has left in the tank but he will get the shot to be the everyday 3B here in Detroit and chase career home run #300 (not bloody likely)
2B Lynn Gray (28 - RH) and 2B Juan Sarmiento (22 - LH) Both are team captains and can play multiple positions. Gray was a waiver claim last season with Detroit and Sarmiento came in the Cleveland package on the eve of Opening Day. One is right handed, one is left, one is 28 and one is 22. Other than those differences they are pretty similar.
3B/1B Chief Raymond (29 - RH) Raymond hit 309 last season with 8 home runs and 56 RBI's after taking over for the departed Frank Vance. He was looking likely to be the starting 3B until the acquisition of Joe Masters. Still he is likely to see considerable playing time if Masters doesn't cut it.
SS/U Slim Bloom (30 - RH) SS hit 247 last season but lost the starting job when Pat Schuring was acquired. Was likely only holding onto it until minor league prospect Tip Harrison or Frank Davis was deemed ready. Neither are so here he is.
LF Henry Jones (31 - LH) The Dynamo's tried everything they could to trade Jones last year and it had an impact on his performance. His batting average went down (308 in 34 to 276 last season) and his power numbers fell as well (24-124 in 34 to 14 and 72 in 35). While the team hopes for a rebound, he is likely still on the trading block. There is just nobody really ready in the organization to take his spot.
CF Jose Serna (23 - RH) Rookie hit 316 in 225 PA's last year with the Dynamo's after coming over in the block buster Brooklyn deal. He didn't really flash his speed much (nor did anyone else) and one has to figure that will play a bigger role in his game this season.
RF Howard Moss (30 - RH) After being acquired at the deadline last season Moss hit 294/382/936 with 11 home runs and 52 RBI's in 54 starts. If he can come close to that production this season in a full slate of games the Dynamo's will have at least 1 hitter to put some fear in the opposing pitchers.
OF Joe Goodwin (24 - RH) The Rule 5 OF who has the nickname the "Demon of Demopolis" is an interesting prospect. He has some pop but he also likes to take his hacks.
Summary of the position players - Last year's offense was the worst in the FA and right now it doesn't look like it is going to be much better. The team needs a rebound from LF Henry Jones. 2B Claude Merrill to hit like he did at least power wise last season, and for RF Howard Moss to be the player he was after coming over from Chicago. If 3B Joe Masters has anything left in the tank that would be a plus. The team has to be looking forward to the arrival of 1B Red Johnson and 3B Hank Koblenz, but that is a few seasons away.
Overall Summary - While I expect the team to win more than 43 games, the question is how many more. Should have a chance to win 50 and if everything comes together avoid losing 100+. The pitching will have to show better than last seasons abysmal effort though. Its going to be a long season in Detroit but the real question is who will they select at #1 next draft or will they trade the pick?