The 1949 season to date has been - and by some margin - the most frustrating I’ve ever endured. There have been times I’ve been so enraged it has left me unable to see straight.
And yet, somewhat perversely, it has also been - and by some margin - the most enjoyably challenging. In the end, I believe this is because more than at any time prior to this what I'm experiencing is as close as I've yet come to how things work running a baseball club IRL. Or at least my preconceived notion of what that might be.
The boys have put up a mighty effort these past two months, going a combined 33-24 to put us at 52-46. At 7 GB the Dodgers, we aren't out of it just yet. But we'll need pretty much EVERYTHING to fall our way from this point onward.
Ahhh, but it could have been so much different.
I try to keep my life and my managerial style here as loose as possible, with as few roadblocks along the way. I try not to apply too many aphorisms or tenets to how I do things or how I approach them. I, as one wag put it, try to avoid clichés like the plague.
One of the few I do wholeheartedly endorse and embrace is the following:
Scared money never wins.
Our season to date has proved this in spades.
Not once, but twice, the lads have fought tooth-and-nail to get themselves within a a handful of games of the Dodgers entering into a homestand series against them.
Not once, but twice, we have played in that series with money so scared you couldn't prise it out of your wallet with needle-nose pliers. Both times they swept us handily. Of the 14 games we have played so far against Brooklyn, we have won 2.
We are 11-20 in one-run games for the year. We are also at -4 vs our Pythag Record and have the best RD in either division, at +69 - 12 better than Brooky, who are +4 v their Pythag.
Numbers don't lie.
The individual performances back up those strong metrics.
Every position player currently sits above replacement value. Elliott, Dark, Wertz and Joost (sounds like a sketchy Prohibition Era Detective Agency) have led the way, each with > 3 bWAR. Kiner has been belting his share of homers but has also frustrated with long bouts of quietude. We need a big stretch run from Ralphy Boy.
This mix of young and old pitching staff of ours has tried hard with varying levels of success. Sadly, we've lost Russ Meyer for the better part of a year to a UCL tear, which will test our depth. We've put young Chuck Stobbs into the spin first-up but Herm Wehmeier has been fantastic at AAA and is pushing for a call-up.
Alex Kellner, whom we acquired in the Boone-Dark trade, has had one of the most extraordinary starts to a career I have ever seen, giving up just 1 ER in his first 46 IP in the bigs.
While the two leading teams do each have a nice break entering August, something tells me there's a twist or two left in this fascinating tale.
News, Leaders and Top 20s
Big Klu is giving the NL Triple Crown a serious nudge, but has a ways to catch George Kell in BA. Ewell Blackwell is also looking a chance for the pitching version.
Monthly Award Winners
June
American League
- Batter – Joe DiMaggio (Yankees): 384 / 5 HR / 22 RBI
- Pitcher – Billy Pierce (White Sox): 4-0 / 2.89 / 27 K / 43.2 IP
- Rookie – Al Rosen (Indians): 312 / 6 HR / 23 RBI
National League
- Batter – Ted Kluszewski (Reds): 343 / 12 HR / 33 RBI
- Pitcher – Harry Brecheen (Cardinals): 4-1 / 1.66 / 23 K / 43.1 IP
- Rookie – Johnny Antonelli (Giants): 3-2 / 3.00 / 25 K / 48 IP
July
American League
- Batter – Vern Stephens (Browns): 347 / 7 HR / 29 RBI
- Pitcher – Mel Parnell (Red Sox): 3-0 / 1.36 / 15 K / 46.1 IP
- Rookie – Al Rosen (Indians): 267 / 4 HR / 20 RBI
National League
- Batter – Ted Kluszewski (Reds): 348 / 11 HR / 31 RBI
- Pitcher – Dutch Dietz (Dodgers): 4-1 / 1.27 / 5 SV / 4 K / 21.1 IP
- Rookie – Bob Porterfield (Reds): 4-1 / 1.55 / 18 K / 40.2 IP
Milestones and Observations of Note
- The Phillies lose 3B Billy Cox for the season after he breaks a bone in his elbow. The same fate befalls Browns young gun Carl Erskine due to some elbow problems. The need for elbow surgery curtails Cubs SP Red Munger’s season. Veteran Giants hurler Cliff Melton blows out his elbow and is also set to miss the rest of the season, as is Browns catcher Harry Danning after he injures a shoulder. The A’s recent run of injury woes continues as they lose key relievers Charlie Gassaway and Steve Roser for the year within a couple days of each other, then a third when Fred Martin also gets hurt. After initially being ruled out for 5 weeks with torn ankle ligaments, a subsequent setback ends Cleveland OF Dale Mitchell’s season. In late July, the Phillies lose young star Curt Simmons for a couple months to a hamstring tear.
- Keen to keep the magic going for as long as possible, the Dodgers lock down Preacher Roe on a 5-year deal for $231k.
- Johnny Mize reaches 300 HR, Paul Derringer 300 wins and Bill Sayles 100 saves.
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