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1905 SEASON PREVIEW………………………..

BALTIMORE- 3 Straight AL Pennants, 2 World Series all in the last 3 years and we are picking them again. J.Trimm(17-10, 2.49) and D.Desousa(15-9, 3.05) are back along with highly thought of prospect Don Roberts(9-9, 4.91) who is just 24. 36yr old Austin Johnson(16-12, 4.47) is still hanging around as the #4 starter. 3B M.Enow(.312,21,80), LF R.Imes(.322,37,117) and RF M.McIntyre(.306,54,131) are back to fuel a good offense……Prediction 1st

DETROIT- F.Jakes(15-11, 4.01) is the ace but don’t expect K.Yoder(19-10, 4.04) to duplicate last years numbers. J. Obrien(.318,35,95) can still carry an offense and he may have to. 1B G.Leiva(.337,20,106) need to repeat his numbers for the Tigers not to fall. Prediction 2nd

NEW YORK(A)- D.Leedom(17-11, 3.11) will lead a better than average staff. C.LaChance(.293,55,122), B. Stockstill(.312,24,87), R. Loflin(.306,37,108) and M.Dolin(.298,22,78) make the Yankees a contender….Predict 3rd.

MINNESOTA- J.Braziel(21-7, 2.81) had a great year. Long time Twins ace T.Saad(5-15, 5.22) will go to the bullpen at age 37. K.Longshore(.277,20,77) and C.Victoino(.286,22,77) aren’t what they used to be. Predict 4th

BOSTON- Look for Boston to move up with better than average pitching. Predict 5th

CHICAGO(A)- J. Madrigal(20-11, 2.99) probably isn’t the pitcher that won 2 Cy Youngs but he is pretty good. D.Robertson(.354,16,94) won the batting title. K.Pugsley(.327,20,77) is still good. Watch for 25yr old R.Thomas(.250,16,47) to blossom this year. Predict 6th

OAKLAND- B.Clayton(22-8, 2.81) was the CY winner and leads a pretty good staff. However they hit just .249 as a team. J.Kerney(.273,33,105) is getting better, but H.Risk(.315,8,85) and J.Nardi(.283,23,66) are not. Nardi is 39. Predict 7th

CLEVELAND- J.Bahr(15-11, 3.71) won the Cy in 1903 and M.Hawley(13-12, 3.75) is a great prospect. 1B D.Cogdell(.349,39,119) was the MVP in 1903...Predict 8th

KANSAS CITY- G.Carrick(.312,25,67) is a good player……..Predict 9th

CALIFORNIA- R.Gordon(13-10, 4.85) and J.Barreto(13-16, .407) need to have big years and W.Burford need to come back healthy from a major back injury then with the worst hitting team in the league, they still finish last..Predict 10th.

NATIONAL LEAGUE………

R.Squier(20-6, 3.00), K.Rubanek(15-10, 3.22) and S.Allen(16-8, 2.89) give the maybe the best staff in baseball and their 3.51 team era was the best in either league last year. World Series MVP T.Setliff(.338,36,100) and F.Eastland(.314,21,103) should score just enough for the Reds to repeat…Predict 1st

PITTSBURGH- H. Ferrer(11-6, 3.46) is the ace this year but the pitching is good but not as good as last year. G.Frasure(.343,43,122) is one of the best in the league and has 3 straight MVP to prove it. Speed demon E.Stamant(.326,4,47,59sb) and CF H.Hairston(.308,35,121) make this the best offense in baseball. Last year they hit.272 as a team…. Predict 2nd

CHICAGO(N)- B. Millsaps(25-5, 2.22) was the Cy winner, and W.Berkowitz(16-9, 3.39) is also very good. The big 3 again are C N.Dodson(.314,14,60), 2B R.Salter(.299,30,97) and 3B A.Sabb(.278,42,99). Predict 3rd

HOUSTON- Astros move up thanks to the pitching staff of J.Castellano(19-8, 2.53), J.Johnson(9-12. 3.07) and A.Middleton(16-14, 3.45). They may be as good as the Cincy rotation. They also got AL ROY SS T.Roberson(.359,22,64) from the Twins last year and he along with C prospect J.Kling(.259,5,41) they will be better at the plate also…Predict 4th

NEW YORK(N)- W.Potts(11-11, 4.73) is 35yrs old and the staff that won in 1900 doesn’t look the same. Former MVP B.Townley(.325,35,93) can still produce. The Mets will give prospects C W.Seibert(.289,3,36) and 3B R.Vinton(.300,12,69) full time jobs this year….Predict 5th

PHILADELPHIA- J.Dixon(18-7, 3.81) is still the only pitcher they have. And the hitting will be down also…Predict 6th

SAN FRANSISCO- The Giants feel R.Bridgeman(14-8, 3.15) is ready to be an ace. C.Layfield(14-5, 2.84) and E.Kemmer(6-3, 2.62) give them one of the 3 best staffs in the league. However T.Swatzell(.315,26,69) again is the only bat in the lineup..Predict 7th

ATLANTA- Swordfish Davidson(12-9, 3.36) is back after missing almost 2 months last year. But the Braves hit just .243 last year…Predict 8th

ST.LOUIS- M.Richards(13-13, 3.37) and A.Bradford(5-10, 3.46) make the staff better than last year. C M.McCreary(.323,23,81) may be the best catcher in baseball. Prospect SS W.Little should be followed. 1B B. Long(.257,21,78) could be traded again soon as J.Beckley a big prospect may be about ready….Predict 9th

LOS ANGELES- W.Weems(6-15, 4.60) is nothing like the pitcher he once was. Watch prospect B.Lister(6-8, 3.72) he could be a good one….Predict 10th

1905 ALLSTAR BREAK REVIEW…………….

The Orioles are again sitting atop the AL standings. Kansas City, picked to finish 9th are a surprise only 1.5 games back along with the Twins. Baltimore’s pitching again is the boss, supporting a 3.26 era which is ½ point lower than anyone else. Detroit has been the biggest disappointment thanks to a league worst 4.66 era.

Pittsburgh and Cincy are again fighting it out with the Pirates holding a 1 game lead. St.Louis is 4.5 back and the Cubs just 5. Its Pittsburgh with the best hitting in baseball (.274) against the Reds 3.34 ERA which is 2nd to only the Orioles. If the Cards start hitting, they will be right there also.

Oakland landed 1903 Cy winner James Bahr from Cleveland after Bill Clayton was hurt. When they are both healthy, they will have a nice 1-2 combo. Oakland is just 5 back and Clayton only has a week left to recover.

ALLSTAR GAME 1905.………………

Starting pitchers for this years AS game will be Robert Squier(12-7, 2.75) of the Reds. Squier won 20 games for the World Champs last year. For the AL, Orioles ace Jamel Trimm(10-5, 3.41) gets the assignment.

Matty McIntyre’s 2-run homer in the bottom of the 13th inning gives the AL the victory. The homer which came with 2-out came off Braves 23yr old reliever Tom Cutler who has a 1.11 era during the season. McIntyre was awarded the games MVP.

The Yankees young and talented Mike Donlin, B.Stockstill and Candy LaChance hit 1-2-3 for the AL lineup this year. They are 1-2-3 in the league in hitting and Stockstill and LaChance are 1-2 in the league in homers. They are also 1-2-3 in the league in RBI. Think they will be any good in the future?

TRADE DEADLINE…………………….

Oakland wins 9 in a row to finish out the month of July and are within ½ game of the Orioles. Minnesota is 2.5 back. Yankees and Detroit have fallen out of the race. Oakland did what we thought and became a beast once Clayton and Bahr were in the same rotation.

Pittsburgh has expanded its lead to 5 games over the Cubs who have moved past the Reds who are tied with St.Louis 6.5 back.

The Mets who are all but out of the race, picked up a #1 pitcher from the Cards for 3B prospect Roland Vinton(.280,11,54). Vinton is just 23 and should eventually hit for average and power.

Baltimore is search of someone to play SS instead of Gaston Redwine(.182,8,22) dealt their 2-time Rolaids winning closer Delbert Earnshaw (9sv, 3.28)to the Phillies for 22yr old SS Michael West(.253,13,42). The Orioles felt that Christopher Koski(8sv, 1.93) could step right into the closer role.

PENNANT FEVER………………..

Just when you thought Oakland might be the new big dog on the block, Baltimore goes 24-7 in August to take a 6.5 game lead. The pitching of AS game starter J.Timm(17-7, 2.91) and 24yr old D.Roberts(17-2, 2.15) have been just as good as Oakland’s big 2, J.Bahr(16-10, 2.23) and B.Clayton(13-6, 3.52).

Cincy won 11 in a row in August to get within ½ game of the Pirates but when the smoke cleared the Pirates were still up 3 games headed into September.

Going into the last series of the year, the Pirates had clinched their 2nd Pennant in 3 years but the Reds hung close till the end. In the AL, Baltimore leads by 2 games over Oakland with 3 to play. Oakland is at home entertaining the last place Angels, the Orioles will be trying to shut down the powerful Bronx Bomers who are 2nd in the league in scoring but 16th in runs allowed.

Baltimore clinched at least a tie in the first game as R.Imes hit his 44th homer and D.Desousa won his 18th game in a 4 to 3 win.

The A’s Pennant hopes died when “The Big Cat” Burford threw a complete game 3-hitter at Oakland in a 3 to 1 final score. One of Oakland’s big two B.Clayton(17-7) took the loss.
So it will be the Orioles and Pirates in a replay of the 1903 Series….

WORLD SERIES PREVIEW………….

Baltimore is making their 4 straight trip to the World Series and have a chance to win their 3rd. The Orioles won a record 105 games and along with Oakland(100) became the first time 2 teams in the same league have won 100 games. Pitching was only part of the Orioles success as they were 4th with 619 runs allowed while the offense was 2nd with 775 runs scored.
The Orioles however will be without two of their top 4 starting pitchers as Jamel Trimm(19-7, 2.85) and Austin Johnson(11-11, 3.95) will miss the Series. That leaves Don Roberts(21-4, 2.63), Donnie Desousa(18-6, 2.52) and probably Alton Lepley(4-7, 4.98) who had been a spot starter.
The Offense however will be there in full force led by outfielders Robert Imes(.279,44,121) and Matty McIntyre(.286,42,115). 22yr old C Patrick Lenahan(.315,27,85) and 3B Matthew Enlow(.306,29,82) contributed.

The Pirates were the best hitting team in baseball with a .280 team average and 838 runs scored both best in either league. Perenial MVP candidate Gerald Frasure(.337,41,120) leads the way with Jack “The Radar” Koons(.306,22,110) and CF Herman Hairston(.311,23,95) playing great 2nd fiddle.
Pitching wise the Pirates are similar to the Orioles in that Christian Hibner(5-1, 3.33) was lost in June for the season and former CY winner Robert Stevens(1-2, 4.24) was lost in May. The Pirates will go with Herman Ferrer(21-5, 2.84), Thomas Bock(16-9, 3.36) and 25yr old rookie Gregg Dupre(9-7, 2.80).

It could boil down to which #3 starter does the job…….Look for the Orioles to win their 3rd World Series title in 6 games.

PITTSBURGH 2.………………BALTIMORE 4
Desousa went 8 strong innings despite a 48 minute rain delay in the 2nd inning as the O’s win game one.
PITTSBURGH 5.………………BALTIMORE 0
21-game winner Ferrer evened the series with a 4-hit shutout. G.Frasure went 1 for 3 with a homer and 3 RBI for the Pirates.
BALTIMORE 3.……………….PITTSBURGH 4
Neither #3 starter Dupre or Lepley got a decision and the Pirates scored with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th off Baltimore closer C.Koski for the win. Is the trade of former closer Delbert Earnshaw going to haunt the Orioles?
BALTIMORE 2.……………….PITTSBURGH 3
Seldom used LF James Feuerstein hit a pinch hit 2-run homer in the bottom of the 7th to make a winner out of Thomas Bock as the Pirates take a 3 games to 1 lead.
BALTIMORE 6.……………….PITTSBURGH 2
In a rematch of 20-game winners, Roberts went 8 innings giving up 2 runs to beat Ferrer the winner in game 2.
PITTSBURGH 8.………………BALTIMORE 9
After the Pirates catcher Alan Henton hit a 3-run homer in the top of the 8th to give the Pirates a 8 to 6 lead, the Orioles scored three of their own with the help of a 2-run homer by Matty McIntyre. C.Koski pitched a scoreless 9th for the save. Dupre and Lepley both showed why they were fill ins, giving up 5 and 6 runs respectively.
PITTSBURGH 4.………………BALTIMORE 7
Robert Imes homered and drove in 4 runs while Matty McIntyre hit his 3rd homer of the Series and drove in 3 runs as the Orioles won their 3rd World Series title in four years. Donnie Desousa went 8 innings to get his 2nd win of the Series.

NOTES………………………..
Robert Imes and Matty McIntyre combined for 6 homers and 17 rbi. McIntyre hit .333 to Imes’s .250 to win the MVP of the World Series. McIntyre has now hit 10 homers in 26 World Series games and has won 2 Series MVP awards. He officially becomes MR. OCTOBER.
Don’t forget Matty is just 25yrs old.

AWARD WINNERS……………….

AL CY YOUNG JOESPH MUTCH(OAK) (22-7, 2.44).. Only 24yrs old.
NL BY YOUNG ROBERT SQUIER(CIN) (25-11, 2.48).. Set record for wins.

AL MVP BRUCE STOCKSTILL(NYA) (.332,44,135)
NL MVP GERALD FRASURE(PIT) (.337,41,120).. 4th straight

AL ROY WILLIE GENTRY(CAL) (.279,13,62)
NL ROY KELLY MIELE(NYM) (13-6, 3.23)

AL BATTING CANDY LACHANCE(NYA) .363
NL BATTING DAVID YELDELL(LOS) .340.…..His 2nd

NOTES………….
Anthony Bradford of the Cards became the 10th guy in history to throw a no-hitter. Anthony struck out 13 on that day.

RECORDS……………….

AL AVG CANDY LACHANCE (NYA) .363
AL RBI BRUCE STOCKSTILL(NYA) 135
AL RUNS JAMES KERNEY(OAK) 131
AL WINS JOESPH MUTCH(OAK) 22
AL LOSSES PAUL KROEKER(KC) 20

NL APP BRANDON TOLLE(PIT) 102
NL WINS ROBERT SQUIER(CIN) 25
NL LOSSES WILLIAM DAVIDSON(ATL) 21
NL BB KENNETH URBANEK(CIN) 114
NL ROOKIE WINS KELLY MIELE(NYM) 13

NEWS AND NOTES……………………..

Atlanta’s 18yr old 2B Neil Chiodo is considered the best prospect in baseball. Chiodo was the 3rd overall pick this year and hit .350 in AAA before being call up to the Braves where he hit .276 in 87 at-bats.

William “Wild Bill” Donovan a 19yr old Detroit Tiger starting pitcher went 13-8 with a 3.98 era in AA this year and is considered the best pitching prospect in baseball.

The Braves announced they would be firing Davey Johnson as their manager. HenryAaron was given the thank less job of rebuilding the Braves and will be their 3rd manager in 7 years. Johnson lasted just 2 years finishing 9th and 10th and had a record of 135-189.

The Indians fired their manager Mike Hargrove at season’s end replacing him with Chuck Hinton. Hargrove was the only manager the Indians have had going 463-509. He had 2 years with a winning record but never finished above 3rd.

The Red Sox have finally had enough of Ralph Houk and let him go after a 6yr record of 466-506. Houk’s team finished 8th last year and in last this year. His best finish was in 1901 when the Red Sox were 84-78 and finished 4th.