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firstbigweekend · 05-19-2004, 03:01 PM

Cleveland Blues Update — June/July 1904
By Chauncey St. John, Associated Press

CLEVELAND — After battling New York, St. Louis and Philadelphia for the American League lead the first two months of the season, the Cleveland Broncos looked to add one more player who could help put them over the top.

General manager Levi Chronister thought he had found his man — New York (N) rookie SP Ed Walsh — but turned down a June 1 deal that would have cost him 2B Danny Murphy, rookie SP Nick Altrock, and first-round pick and No. 2-overall prospect Frank "Piano Mover" Smith.

"The cost was just too much right now," Chronister said. "The Giants are asking for fair value, but we're leading the AL, so we don't feel we have to add someone at this moment. We may revisit the deal after the season, though."

With the battle atop the AL getting no easier through June, though, Chronister decided he couldn't wait until after the season, pulling the trigger on the deal June 28.

"We saw how important a dominant starter was in last year's World Series," said Chronister, recalling the Broncos' troubles against Philadelphia (N)'s Al Orth. "Now we have Walsh, Bob Wicker and George Mullin as our top three starters, which we feel can match up with anyone else's top three. The deal also gives us the chance to see what (Miller) Huggins can do in the majors."

Huggins, the No. 1-overall prospect, was promoted to Cleveland after the deal. He was named the starting 2B and put in the eight hole in the lineup.

Altrock was named the Giants' closer and spot starter, Smith became the team's No. 2 starter, and Murphy was named the starting second baseman and the cleanup hitter against lefties.

The trade worked out for both teams, as Cleveland went 17-10 in July, opening their AL lead by just a game over second-place Philadelphia, but even farther ahead of the rest of the pack. Walsh went 5-2 with 1.75 ERA and 1.00 WHIP during the month, including a four-hit shutout of Chicago (A) on July 28.

New York, 34-46 before the trade, went 17-11 after it after. Altrock was 3-3 with a 4.15 ERA in July, Smith was 5-2 with a 2.97 ERA and Murray hit .373/.396/.461 with two HR and 15 RBI.

In other news
Wicker started June strong with a five-hit shutout against Boston (A) on June 1. Six days later, Mullin threw a five-hit shutout of his own, beating Washington. For his efforts over the week, Mullin (2-0, 1.50 ERA) was named AL player of the week for the second time this season.

Altrock also threw a shutout for the Broncos just three days before being traded, blanking St. Louis (A) on seven hits.

Wicker, Mullin, Walsh, Roger Mortenson, Larry Vaughn, Roger Bresnahan, Frank Chance, Jeffrey Schank, Mike Donlin and Sam Crawford were all named to the AL All-Star team. Chance (0-for-3) started at 1B, Crawford (1-for-3) started in RF, Schank (1-for-4, run) started at DH, Donlin (1-for-2, RBI, BB) started in LF. Walsh (3 IP, 1 H, 1 B, 1 K) started on the mound for the AL, Mullin (2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB) picked up a hold and Mortenson (1.1 IP, 1 H) earned the save in the American League's 4-3 victory.

Broncos team offensive ratings through July: average (.268, 3rd), home runs (41, 3rd), walks (296, 2nd), stolen bases (272, 2nd), runs (522, 3rd).

Broncos team pitching ratings through July: ERA (3.06, 3rd), opponents average (.261, 6th), homers allowed (16, 7th), walks allowed (263, 11th) and runs allowed (424, T-4th).

In the minors
After trade for Walsh, SS Simon Nicholls moved into leadoff spot for Buffalo, ahead of Walter Sarratt, who was hitting .351/.409/.967 with 61 HR and 130 RBI at the time.

Nicholls finished July at .307/.378/.592 with 27 HR, 72 RBI, 44 BB in 407 AB, and Sarratt finished the month hitting .357/.416/1.002 with 88 HR, 183 RBI in 454 AB. Jack Dunleavy was hitting .286/.349/.466, 16 HR, 34 BB, 22 SB in 416 AB.

In Akron, three players hit more than 80 home runs through July — Bill Morell (83), Ralph Frisbie (84) and Oliver Nyquist (82). John Daniels (69) and Reed Sherrer (62) both passed the 60-homer plateau.

Despite the efforts of Nicholls, Sarratt and Dunleavy at the plate, Buffalo was just 62-46, four games behind Boston, in the Triple-A standings. Akron led Double-A by 26 games with an 84-24 record, and Kinston (68-40) was three games behind Chicago in Single-A.

AROUND THE LEAGUE
• Chicago (A)'s Zaza Harvey hit for the cycle June 2 against Philadelphia.
• Brooklyn's Joe Kelley picked up his 2,000th career hit June 7 against New York (N).
• Pittsburgh's Phil Benner hit for the cycle June 7 against Chicago (N).
• Philadelphia (N)'s George Davis hit for the cycle June 25 against Brooklyn.
• Chicago (A)'s Red Ames one-hit New York (A) on June 28.
• Washington's Tully Sparks two-hit Philadelphia (A) on July 18.
• SP Vic Willis was traded from Detroit to Washington for CF Roy Thomas on July 30. The Senators became the third team of the season for Willis, who was signed as a free agent by the St. Louis Browns before being claimed off waivers by the Tigers.
• The New York Giants strengthened their pitching staff with another trade right before the deadline, sending SP Roger Denzer and $2.4 million to Philadelphia (N) for 25-year-old SP Clarence Currie.

June batters of the month: Boston (A)'s Benjamin Keever (.360, .607 SLG, 3 HR, 22 RBI) and Pittsburgh's Alexander Bufkin (.418, .604 SLG, 13 RBI).

June pitchers of the month: Boston (A)'s Cy Young (5-2, 1.29 ERA, 11 K in 63 IP) and St. Louis (N)'s Jesse Tannehill (7-0, 2.29 ERA, 15 K, 58 H in 63 IP).

July batters of the month: Boston (A)'s Freddy Parent (.426, 2 HR, 13 RBI) and Cincinnati's Steven Dunbar (.447, .606 SLG, 2 HR, 14 RBI).

July pitchers of the month: Philadelphia (A)'s James Callahan (6-1, 2.04 ERA, 2 SHO) and Boston (N)'s Jack Harper (6-1, 1.60 ERA).

League files are up-to-date.

05-19-2004, 03:01 PM	#30
firstbigweekend Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 43	Cleveland Blues Update — June/July 1904 By Chauncey St. John, Associated Press CLEVELAND — After battling New York, St. Louis and Philadelphia for the American League lead the first two months of the season, the Cleveland Broncos looked to add one more player who could help put them over the top. General manager Levi Chronister thought he had found his man — New York (N) rookie SP Ed Walsh — but turned down a June 1 deal that would have cost him 2B Danny Murphy, rookie SP Nick Altrock, and first-round pick and No. 2-overall prospect Frank "Piano Mover" Smith. "The cost was just too much right now," Chronister said. "The Giants are asking for fair value, but we're leading the AL, so we don't feel we have to add someone at this moment. We may revisit the deal after the season, though." With the battle atop the AL getting no easier through June, though, Chronister decided he couldn't wait until after the season, pulling the trigger on the deal June 28. "We saw how important a dominant starter was in last year's World Series," said Chronister, recalling the Broncos' troubles against Philadelphia (N)'s Al Orth. "Now we have Walsh, Bob Wicker and George Mullin as our top three starters, which we feel can match up with anyone else's top three. The deal also gives us the chance to see what (Miller) Huggins can do in the majors." Huggins, the No. 1-overall prospect, was promoted to Cleveland after the deal. He was named the starting 2B and put in the eight hole in the lineup. Altrock was named the Giants' closer and spot starter, Smith became the team's No. 2 starter, and Murphy was named the starting second baseman and the cleanup hitter against lefties. The trade worked out for both teams, as Cleveland went 17-10 in July, opening their AL lead by just a game over second-place Philadelphia, but even farther ahead of the rest of the pack. Walsh went 5-2 with 1.75 ERA and 1.00 WHIP during the month, including a four-hit shutout of Chicago (A) on July 28. New York, 34-46 before the trade, went 17-11 after it after. Altrock was 3-3 with a 4.15 ERA in July, Smith was 5-2 with a 2.97 ERA and Murray hit .373/.396/.461 with two HR and 15 RBI. In other news Wicker started June strong with a five-hit shutout against Boston (A) on June 1. Six days later, Mullin threw a five-hit shutout of his own, beating Washington. For his efforts over the week, Mullin (2-0, 1.50 ERA) was named AL player of the week for the second time this season. Altrock also threw a shutout for the Broncos just three days before being traded, blanking St. Louis (A) on seven hits. Wicker, Mullin, Walsh, Roger Mortenson, Larry Vaughn, Roger Bresnahan, Frank Chance, Jeffrey Schank, Mike Donlin and Sam Crawford were all named to the AL All-Star team. Chance (0-for-3) started at 1B, Crawford (1-for-3) started in RF, Schank (1-for-4, run) started at DH, Donlin (1-for-2, RBI, BB) started in LF. Walsh (3 IP, 1 H, 1 B, 1 K) started on the mound for the AL, Mullin (2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB) picked up a hold and Mortenson (1.1 IP, 1 H) earned the save in the American League's 4-3 victory. Broncos team offensive ratings through July: average (.268, 3rd), home runs (41, 3rd), walks (296, 2nd), stolen bases (272, 2nd), runs (522, 3rd). Broncos team pitching ratings through July: ERA (3.06, 3rd), opponents average (.261, 6th), homers allowed (16, 7th), walks allowed (263, 11th) and runs allowed (424, T-4th). In the minors After trade for Walsh, SS Simon Nicholls moved into leadoff spot for Buffalo, ahead of Walter Sarratt, who was hitting .351/.409/.967 with 61 HR and 130 RBI at the time. Nicholls finished July at .307/.378/.592 with 27 HR, 72 RBI, 44 BB in 407 AB, and Sarratt finished the month hitting .357/.416/1.002 with 88 HR, 183 RBI in 454 AB. Jack Dunleavy was hitting .286/.349/.466, 16 HR, 34 BB, 22 SB in 416 AB. In Akron, three players hit more than 80 home runs through July — Bill Morell (83), Ralph Frisbie (84) and Oliver Nyquist (82). John Daniels (69) and Reed Sherrer (62) both passed the 60-homer plateau. Despite the efforts of Nicholls, Sarratt and Dunleavy at the plate, Buffalo was just 62-46, four games behind Boston, in the Triple-A standings. Akron led Double-A by 26 games with an 84-24 record, and Kinston (68-40) was three games behind Chicago in Single-A. AROUND THE LEAGUE • Chicago (A)'s Zaza Harvey hit for the cycle June 2 against Philadelphia. • Brooklyn's Joe Kelley picked up his 2,000th career hit June 7 against New York (N). • Pittsburgh's Phil Benner hit for the cycle June 7 against Chicago (N). • Philadelphia (N)'s George Davis hit for the cycle June 25 against Brooklyn. • Chicago (A)'s Red Ames one-hit New York (A) on June 28. • Washington's Tully Sparks two-hit Philadelphia (A) on July 18. • SP Vic Willis was traded from Detroit to Washington for CF Roy Thomas on July 30. The Senators became the third team of the season for Willis, who was signed as a free agent by the St. Louis Browns before being claimed off waivers by the Tigers. • The New York Giants strengthened their pitching staff with another trade right before the deadline, sending SP Roger Denzer and $2.4 million to Philadelphia (N) for 25-year-old SP Clarence Currie. June batters of the month: Boston (A)'s Benjamin Keever (.360, .607 SLG, 3 HR, 22 RBI) and Pittsburgh's Alexander Bufkin (.418, .604 SLG, 13 RBI). June pitchers of the month: Boston (A)'s Cy Young (5-2, 1.29 ERA, 11 K in 63 IP) and St. Louis (N)'s Jesse Tannehill (7-0, 2.29 ERA, 15 K, 58 H in 63 IP). July batters of the month: Boston (A)'s Freddy Parent (.426, 2 HR, 13 RBI) and Cincinnati's Steven Dunbar (.447, .606 SLG, 2 HR, 14 RBI). July pitchers of the month: Philadelphia (A)'s James Callahan (6-1, 2.04 ERA, 2 SHO) and Boston (N)'s Jack Harper (6-1, 1.60 ERA). League files are up-to-date. __________________ -- Life, its beauty, is all bound up in the fact it can surprise you.