Rewarded with a chance to play in Cincy, Doc put up a .200/.293/.300/.593 in August and followed it up with a .163/.227/.200/.427 in Sept/Oct. A staggering .216/.305/.314/.619 in 351 PA's for the season. They type of "quality" play that will likely have the Reds looking for a SS in the off season, or pulling the plug on him if he gets off to a poor start in 1942.
GRRRRRRR~!
"Doc is an exceptional hitter with an enviable ability to draw walks and get on base any way possible."
-1934 TWB Scouting Report on John "Doc" Barton
For the Class of 1934, Willie had another mediocre year for the Pirates still buried on the bench. Easy Out is buried in the Red Sox pen and was horrid when given the rock. Buster Darling got part time play for the Tigers at 3B and in LF and his .304/.320/.453/.773 shows some promise (sans the poor batting eye)... until you look at his home/road splits - killed Tiger Stadium (.365/.365/.649/1.014) and struggled on the road (.271/.297/.350/.647). For the irony of the ratings, Doc is a 6/10 in Contact/Eye, while Buster is a 5/4. You tell me why the one with the 6/10 hit .216 and the one with the 5/4 hit .304... gotta be the park.
In contrast, the Savior of the Class of 1934 continues to be Speedy Perly. A lot of positive to the season for Speedy. The biggest is probably setting a career high with 82, 22 more than next best *even with* fewer PA's this year than in his previous three seasons. He hasn't gotten his power or his BA back up to the levels of his break through 1938 season, but *some* of that may be due to the general decline in offense in baseball. He did hit for his best power since 1938, and set a carrer high in OBP and Runs. And of course a new TWB record in SB. Given his speed, those BB are key in getting on base to steal. With that Discipline/Eye of 10, and that off the charts speed, he looks to be a nifty leadoff hitter even if he doesn't hit .300 like clockwork.
The Class of '34 kicked out three top SS prospects, all bringing different things to the table. Willie had the power and BA, Doc had the BB and BA, and Speedy had the speed and defense. Willie's gotten buried to the point that we don't really know what he would have if he got a chance to play, and how long it would take for him to refind himself. All that Doc seems to left is the BB. Speedy has all his speed, his defense looks good (though hasn't seemed to yet break through to the high level expected of him), and he's added to that a really good batting eye.
Thank god we have Speedy or the whole lot of the Class would be a bust.
John