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redmachine · 11-09-2004, 01:25 PM

1906 SEASON PREVIEW……………………..

The Baltimore Orioles will go down as one of the best teams to ever play and they are favored again. J.Trimm(19-7, 2.85), D.Desousa(18-6, 2.52) and D.Roberts(21-4, 2.63) are back as the winningest team ever. C P.Lenahan(.315,27,85), 3B M.Enlow(.306,29,82), LF R.Imes(.279,44,121) and 1904 MVP M.McIntyre(.286,42,115) are also ready for another year…Predict 1st again.

OAKLAND- Believe it or not, the A’s actually have a better pitching staff then the Orioles. The best staff in baseball is lead by Cy winner J.Mutch(22-7, 2.44). Former CY winners J.Bahr(21-11, 2.27) and B.Clayton(17-7, 3.47) also will be back. LF J.Kerney(.288,49,106) is quickly becoming one of the better hitters in baseball. Ex-Oriole backup catcher George Perkins(.286,28,93) is also ready to blossom…Predict 2nd.

MINNESOTA- J.Braziel(19-9, 3.56) will have a tough time repeating his 1905 season. C K.Longshore(.274,25,82) is 35 and past his prime. RF C.Victorino(.328,21,79) cant do it alone..Predict 3rd

DETROIT- Manager Willie Horton will have to keep working miracles for them to win. Pitching looks like it will be a problem. J.Obrien(.288,30,90) is still the leader of the offense but he is 39. Predict 4th……

CHICAGO(A)- Lack of pitching will be the problem here also. CF K.Pugsley(.310,14,46) can still hit some but he is 35... Predict 5th

NEW YORK(A)- R.Clore(19-8, 3.62) probably wont repeat his year. The Yankees have great hitters in 1B C.LaChance(.363,43,95), 3B B.Stockstill(.332,44,135) and CF M.Dolin(.318,22,93) but the rest is below average…Predict 6th

CALIFORNIA-Nap Lajoie(.245,11,39) is a former #1 prospect that is now 26 and needs to step up but rumor has it that last years torn groin muscle could almost ruin his career.… Predict 7th

KANSAS CITY- Actually has a pretty good pitching staff led by K.Petrone(17-11, 3.25). Garland Carrick(.255,21,66) saw his numbers drop…Predict 8th

CLEVELAND- W.Smith(17-13, 3.53) pitched well last year but the Indians have pitching and hitting problems. 1B D.Cogdell(.317,29,89) may have to carry the offense by itself….Predict 9th

BOSTON- Red Sox have the worst pitching in baseball so will give 25yr old Albert Saterfiel(4-9, 5.14) the #4 spot in the rotation and hope he explodes on the diamond. No hitting either makes them the worst team in baseball.

NATIONAL LEAGUE………

CHICAGO(N)- 1904 Cy winner B.Millsaps(15-13, 2.75) and A.McCoy(14-10, 2.98) will keep them near the top. 3B A.Sabb(.278,44,109) and RF G.Weedman(.313,30,81) will be the load carriers this year. N.Dodson(.309,15,61) and 2B R.Salter(.269,16,63) are 32 and 36 yrs old and are slowing down some….Predict 1st.

PITTSBURGH- H.Ferrer(21-5, 2.84) and T.Bock(16-9, 3.36) still give them one of the best pitching staffs. 4-time MVP G.Frasure(.337,41,120), SS blazer E.Stamant(.307,14,47) and CF H.Hairston(.311,23,110) give them good hitting also…Predict 2nd

ST.LOUIS- A.Bradford(13-15, 3.03) is becoming a very good pitcher. C M.McCreary(.299,15,56) is still very good…Predict 3rd

CINCINNATI- Look for the Reds to slip some. R.Squier(25-11, 2.48) is coming off a Cy Young year. L.Cammarata(10-9, 3.13) is also good. K.Rubanek(10-13, 3.19) will continue to strikeout people. 1B T.Setliff(.278,42,105) and RF F.Eastland(.283,23,95) still have the gas that runs the car. But SS J.Bryan(.300,7,35) might have found a team that wants him….Predict 4th

LOS ANGELES- W.Weems(14-11, 2.92) bounced back and had a good year and the Dodgers pitching is overall better. But hitting is awful young relying on 24yr old R.Conover(.270,22,64) and 22yr old J.Sheckard(.263,5,51). D.Yeldell(.340,13,71) won his 2nd batting title last year….Prediction 5th

HOUSTON- J.Castellano(16-12, 3.01), J.Johnson(12-7, 2.810 and A.Middleton(17-10, 3.02) give the Astros a good pitching staff but hitting is the problem. SS T.Roberson(.301,21,71) will get to learn from 38yr old 3B Raymond Tatham(.220,12,39) who had some good years for the Mets…..Predict 6th

SAN FRANSICO- This should be R.Bridgeman’s(15-16, 2.58) year. T.Swatzell(.295,13,33) will be back after bone chips ended his year in early June last year….Predict 7th

NEW YORK(N)- 2-time allstar William Potts(7-13, 4.26) is now 36. CF B.Townley(.297,28,71,39sb) a former MVP will be asked to carry this offense….Prediect 8th

PHILADELPHIA- With the 2nd worst staff in baseball and no hitting…Predict 9th

ATLANTA- With no pitching or hitting, it will be a long year for new manager Hank Aaron….Predict 10th

1906 ALLSTAR BREAK SUMMARY……………….

At the break, it is the pitching of Oakland, led by last years Cy winner J.Mutch(14-2, 3.01) that has them with a 1 game lead over the best hitting team in the AL Baltimore. New York is just 2 games back as they are getting some pitching to go with there hitting this year. Minnesota is 4th at 5.5 games back. Detroit has been the biggest disappointment, setting in 7th and already 18.5 games out.

In the NL, Chicago which was picked as an upset winner at the start of the year by this sportswriter has a 1.5 game lead over the Reds. Houston is a surprise at 44-37 and is 5.5 games back while defending champion Pittsburgh is 6 back.

ALLSTAR GAME 1906.…………………………….

The AL will start 1905 Cy winner Joesph Mutch(14-2, 3.01) of the Oakland A’s. This is Mutch’s 1st allstar game coming off a 22-7 season last year and is just 24yrs old. The NL counters with 3-time allstar and their Cy winner from last year Robert Squier(10-3, 2.14) of the Reds. Squire is a 2-time 20 game winner and went 25-11 last year.

The AL scored 13 runs on 17 hits and blew out the NL by a score of 13 to 2. 4-time allstar shortstop Brian Bramblett(.285,14,44) went 3 for 5 with a homer and 4 rbi. The Angels shortstop was also named the games’s MVP.

NEWS AND NOTES…………………….

The Philadelphia Phillies, already 17 games back, have been rumored to be shopping 24yr old allstar outfielder Kenneth McCarthy. McCarthy(.307,11,42) was the ROY in 1903 and was the starting LF for the National League allstars this year. He should interest many teams in the next couple weeks as the trade deadline nears.

TRADE DEADLINE COMES AND GOES…………………

It was the Angels who won the sweepstakes for Kenneth McCarthy, sending them 19yr old starting pitcher Arthur Whisler(8-2, 3.27 in AA) who scouts feel will develop into a decent #3 or #4 starter. They also got SS Joseph Bender who was the #3 pick in this years draft. According to scouts, Bender is a huge prospect and will be a star in the future with a shot at greatness.

The Phillies didn’t hold on to Bender long, sending him to the Giants for starting pitcher James King. King is said to have above average stuff and good enough to be in the upper part of most rotations. The Philadelphia papers are screaming for managements heads over the outcome of the McCarthy trade.

Pittsburgh sent a piece of its pennant winning teams to KC. SP Thomas Bock was part of a 3-way deal with the Royals and Cubs as the Pirates get 22yr old Eddie Plank. Plank was the 1st round pick of the Royals last year and will step right in as the #2 starter for the Pirates taking Bock’s spot. Bock(7-8, 3.97) was an allstar for the Pirates last year when he won 16 games.

St.Louis made its decision on its 1B, keeping 32yr old Bill Long who has 184 homers in his career and trading big prospect Jake Beckley to the Angels. CF Alex May who hit 30 homers last year went to the Cards and broke his hip the first day there and will miss 9 weeks.
Beckley will get a chance to play everyday at age 19 after being the #2 pick overall in 1904.

Houston traded one of its big 3 pitchers Adam Middleton to Philadelphia for another pitcher James Dixon. Middleton had been rumored to be a disruption in the clubhouse and had to be dumped. Dixon was an allstar back in 1904 for the Phillies but is out for the year with an elbow injury. Middleton(10-7, 3.99) had been a 3-time allstar in his 7 years with the Astros but is 35yrs old. He steps in as the Phillies #1 starter.

PENNANT RACES……….SEPTEMBER 1, 1906

It is a 3 way race in the AL with Baltimore regaining it old familiar spot on top of the league. Oakland is 1.5 games back and the surprising Yankees just 3 back.

In the NL, Pittsburgh looks to have fallen out of the race by going 14-14 in August including losing their last 6 in a row and are now 8.5 back. The Reds won their last 7 games of August and now lead the Cubs by a game.

PENNANT SUMMARY…………….

Baltimore used a 9 game win streak to go 17-11 in the next 28 games to keep its lead at 2 games over Oakland with 3 to play. The Yankees faltered going 13-14 in September. Someone needs to give the schedule maker a raise as Baltimore goes to Oakland for the final series of the year. The A’s need a sweep to unseat the Orioles dynasty.

The Cubs picked up a game on the Reds in September and both teams stand at 94-65 with 3 games to go. Los Angeles(81-78) will visit Cincy for the last 3 games while is at Pittsburgh(88-71). The schedule favors the Reds.

10/2- Baltimore(D.Desousa- 19-3, 3.50) vs. Oakland (Greg Bibeau- 11-3, 4.42)

Baltimore’s Robert Imes hit his 40th homer and Matty McIntyre hit his 52nd as the Orioles ended the suspense with a 8 to 7 win in the first game of the series. It is Baltimore’s 5th straight AL pennant.

10/2- Chicago @ Pittsburgh………..

The Pirates H.Ferrer won his 20th game and shutout the Cubs 3-0. Ferrer was dominate in allowing only a leadoff single by 2B R.Salter in the 1st inning.

10/2- Los Angeles @ Cincinnati…………

The Reds take a 1 game lead with a 7-2 win. Pitcher Larry “Goose” Cammarata went the distance for his 16th win.

10/3- Chicago @ Pittsburgh

The Cubs bounced back with 13 hits and 10 runs in a 10-3 shellacking. 22yr old Eddie Plank(10-9) took the loss for the Pirates.

10/3- Los Angeles @ Cincinnati

The Dodgers scored 4 runs in the top of the 10th with 3 of the runs coming on D.Yeldell’s 3-run homer as the Dodgers help out the Cubs with a 7-3 win over the Reds. The Reds and Cubs are again all tied with 1 game to play.

10/4- Chicago @ Pittsburgh

The Cubs went with Thomas Bock(15-12, 3.63) who had come over from Pittsburgh in July and his old teammates gave his a rude welcome scoring 8 runs, 6 earned of Bock in 2 innings as the Pirates win 10-8. On a side note, Pirates 4-time MVP Gerald Frasure didn’t play in the game after being beaned in the head in yesterday’s game. Frasure missed 32 games this year with injuries but still managed to hit 33 homers.

10/4 - Los Angeles @ Cincinnati

With a chance to win the pennant on the final day of the season, the Reds sent their ace Robert Squier(16-10, 3.17) to the mound to face the Dodgers Paul Nadler(13-8, 4.27) who had no-hit the Braves back on June 29.

It was over early as the Reds hit 3 homers and scored 7 runs in the first 4 innings and went on to win 8-2. Squier went the distance striking out 10 for his 17th win.

WORLD SERIES PREVIEW…..BALTIMORE (101-61) VS CINCINNATI (96-66)

What more can be said about the Orioles, their 5th straight trip to the fall classic and a team who has averaged over 100 wins a season for those same 5 years. They are led by an offense that hit .277 and scored 835 runs. Both tops in the Majors. The big bats in the lineup are again C P.Lenahan(.303,31,89), 3B M.Enlow(.331,26,93), LF R.Imes(.334,40,113) and Mr.October Matty McIntyre(.282,52,131). The Pitching staff looks the same as last year as Jamel Trimm(18-11, 3.64), Don Roberts(16-10, 3.00) and Donnie Desousa(20-3, 3.47). Desousa, great numbers for a #3 starter!!!

Cincinnati will try to stop the Orioles domination with pitching as their 3.33 team era and their 602 runs allowed were both the best in either league. And when you say Cincy and pitching in the same breath you think of 3-time allstar and 1905 Cy winner Rober Squier(17-10, 3.13). Squier will be followed to the mound by John Rowenow(14-12, 3.08) and “Goose” Cammarata(16-11, 3.00).
On offense the Reds will rely on 2 familiar faces from the team that beat Baltimore in the 1904 series. Timothy Setliff(.335,34,102) and “Craps” Eastland(.300,25,90).
If you remember, Setliff hit 5 homers and drove in 13 runs in being named the MVP of the 1904 Series.

BALTIIMORE 5.……………………CINCINNATI 6
In what started out as a pitching duel, the Reds scraped a run together in the 3rd off Roberts and lead 1-0 behind the pitching of Rosenow. The Orioles however scored 3 runs in the top of the 8th only to see the Reds score 4 in their half of the inning.
The “never say die” Orioles however got doubles from backup LF J.Castle and Matty McIntyre to take the lead with 2 in the 9th. But closer Christopher Koski gave up a run in the bottom of the 9th to give the Reds game one.

BALTIMORE 2.…………………….CINCINNATI 4
Catcher Kenneth Kuffrey(.271,15,68) hit a 3-run homer as the Reds score 4 runs off Trimm in the 1st . Squier made it hold up going 8.1 innings and giving up 2 runs.

NOTES……………….

So far Mr. October Matty McIntyre is 3 for 9 with 2 rbi. Reds 1B T.Setliff is just 1 for 4 as the Orioles have walked him 4 times in the first 2 games.

CINCINNATI 7.…………………….BALTIMORE 2
Reds break it open with 4 in the top of the 9th off of the Orioles bullpen. Cammarata when 7.2 innings giving up just 2 runs for the win.

CINCINNATI 2.……………………..BALTIMORE 6
Orioles keep from being sweep as Don Roberts goes 7 1/3 giving up just 2 un-earned runs. Imes, McIntyre and 1B S.Otte all homered for Baltimore. McIntyre now has his average up to .400 with 2 homers and 7 rbi.
Reds starting pitcher John Rosenow left the game in the 2nd inning with back spasms and will likely miss the rest of the Series.

CIINCINNATI 3.……………………BALTIMORE 8
Trimm evened things out against R.Squier in a rematch of the game 2 match up. 3B M.Enlow was the player of the game going 2 for 3 with a homer and 2 rbi.

BALTIMORE 7.……………………….CINCINNATI 3
Once again back in Cincy the Reds couldn’t put the Orioles away as R.Imes went 2 for 4 with 2 rbi and 3 runs scored and Desousa went 7 innings giving up 3 runs for the win. Reds starter “Goose” Cammarata lasted just 2.2 innings giving up 5 runs.

Game 7 will have 25yr old Don Roberts facing John Rosenow. Rosenow will be pitching with a very bad back and some people in the Reds organization have questioned Sparky Anderson decision to use him here in game 7. Many thought Kenneth Urbanek may get a chance to bring his career back to life with a start in game 7. Urbanek if you remember went 18-9 and became the only pitcher to strikeout 300 hitters back in 1903. He has spent much of this year however in the bullpen getting just 15 starts and going 9-5 with a 4.42 era.

BALTIMORE 8.………………….CINCINNATI 6
People were right as Reds starter J.Rosenow lasted just 2.1 innings giving up 6 runs as the Orioles win their 4th World Series in 5 years.

NOTES……………

Matty McIntyre hit .333 with 2 homers and 10 Rbi and again showed why he is nicknamed Mr. October. McIntyre won his 2nd Series MVP award. The other was in 1902. McIntyre now has a career .339 average with 12 homers and 33 rbi in 33 World Series games.

Timothy Setliff ended up going 10 for 24 (.417) with a homer and 6 rbi. But the Orioles pitchers walked him 7 times in the Series.

AWARD WINNERS…………………..

AL CY YOUNG JOESPH MUTCH(OAK) (25-5, 2.61)… 2ND Straight
NL CY YOUNG HERMAN FERRER(PIT) (20-7, 2.41

AL MVP CANDY LACHANCE(NYA) (.322,57,128)
NL MVP TIMOTHY SETLIFF(CIN) (.335,34,102)

AL ROY CRAIG SCRANTON(OAK) (12-5, 3.01)
NL ROY CHRISTOPHER EDGERLY(STL) (19-7, 3.13)….5TH rounder

AL BATTING JAMES HEIDEMAN(CHA)* .353
NL BATTING JACK KOONS(PIT)** .339

* Heideman won the closest batting race yet, by just 4/100ths of a point over 24yr old Carroll Mendelsohn of the Angels.

** Koons actually hit .353 but needed didn’t have enough atbat. With the added at bats, Koons edged out David Yeldell(.335) and Timothy Setliff(.335) for the crown

NEW RECORDS………………………..

AL HITS ANTHONY LIPSEY(DET) 207
AL 3B JAMES KERNEY(OAK) 14
AL HR CANDY LACHANCE(NYA) 57
AL BB GARLAND CARRICK(KC) 165
AL HIT STREAK JAMES NATHANSON(MIN) 29
AL APP. RAYMOND TAI(CAL) 103
AL WINS JOESPH MUTCH(OAK) 25
AL SAVES ROSS STEPHENS(CAL) 39

NL WALKS HERMAN FERRER(PIT) 114
NL ROOKIE WINS CHRISTOPHER EDGERLY 19

NEWS AND NOTES……………………………..

Candy LaChance of the Yankees and Matty McIntyre are the only hitters to club 50 homers in a season and now both have did it twice. The other being in 1904.

Edwin Stamant the speedy SS for the Pirates became the first player to steal 400 bases in a career and finished the season with 422. Stamant holds 7 of the 8 top marks for steals in a year and holds the major league record of 68 set in 1901.

Oakland became the first team to win 100 games back to back and not win a pennant. Baltimore has won 105 and 102 in the same years.

Chuck Hinton lasted just 1 year as the skipper of the Indians guiding them to a record setting 104 losses. That breaks the mark set by the 1903 Atlanta Braves who lost 103 games. AAA manager Bob Feller was hired as the new manager of the Indians.

The Giants let Frank Robinson go after 2 years with a combined record of 136-188. The Giants finished 8th and 10th in his 2 year stint as the manager. Willie Mays was hired to replace Robinson.

Alan Trammell lasted just 2 years with the Royals and has now been fired by both the Tigers and the Royals. Trammell had a 138-186 record with the Royals and an overall record of 453-519. Amos Otis was hired to replace Trammell.

Larry Bowa was let go by the Phillies today after 2 straight 9th place finishes by the Phils. Bowa had a career record of 557-577 in 7 years, all with the Phillies. Richie Ashburn will leave his job as the GM to take over the job as manager. Bowa had his best years in his first two years as a manager, winning 89 and 87 games and finishing 3rd both season.

In a surprise move, the Mets let manager Casey Stengal go today. Stengal won the first ever World Series back in 1900 with the Mets as they went 95-67 and went on the defeat the Royals in 5 games. Stengal has an overall record of 573-561 with one Pennant and one World Series title to his name. The Mets hired Gil Hodges as their new manager.

In a sad note, former #1 pick overall of the Tigers “Wild Bill” Donovan announced his retirement with an arm injury. Donovan was drafted by the Tigers in 1903 and made it to the big club this year where he got 8 starts and went 4-1 with a 4.44 era as a 20yr old rookie. Originally doctors felt they could repair the shoulder but after surgery was attempted it was not going to be repairable.

RETIRED PLAYERS …………………..

TRENTON SAAB--- Minnesota 1900-1905
Saab won the first ever Cy Young award in the American League going 19-8 with a 2.79 era in 1900. He followed that up with another 19 win season in 1901 and won 16 games in 1903 at age 36. By 1905, the 38yr old Saab had been delegated to the bullpen where he pitched in just 11 games all in relief. Trenton was a 3-time allstar and finished his career with a 72-56 record and a 3.71 era. The question has to be asked, how good could he have been had he not been 33 yrs old when the league started.

11-09-2004, 01:25 PM	#4
redmachine Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Billings, MT Posts: 145	1906 SEASON PREVIEW…………………….. The Baltimore Orioles will go down as one of the best teams to ever play and they are favored again. J.Trimm(19-7, 2.85), D.Desousa(18-6, 2.52) and D.Roberts(21-4, 2.63) are back as the winningest team ever. C P.Lenahan(.315,27,85), 3B M.Enlow(.306,29,82), LF R.Imes(.279,44,121) and 1904 MVP M.McIntyre(.286,42,115) are also ready for another year…Predict 1st again. OAKLAND- Believe it or not, the A’s actually have a better pitching staff then the Orioles. The best staff in baseball is lead by Cy winner J.Mutch(22-7, 2.44). Former CY winners J.Bahr(21-11, 2.27) and B.Clayton(17-7, 3.47) also will be back. LF J.Kerney(.288,49,106) is quickly becoming one of the better hitters in baseball. Ex-Oriole backup catcher George Perkins(.286,28,93) is also ready to blossom…Predict 2nd. MINNESOTA- J.Braziel(19-9, 3.56) will have a tough time repeating his 1905 season. C K.Longshore(.274,25,82) is 35 and past his prime. RF C.Victorino(.328,21,79) cant do it alone..Predict 3rd DETROIT- Manager Willie Horton will have to keep working miracles for them to win. Pitching looks like it will be a problem. J.Obrien(.288,30,90) is still the leader of the offense but he is 39. Predict 4th…… CHICAGO(A)- Lack of pitching will be the problem here also. CF K.Pugsley(.310,14,46) can still hit some but he is 35... Predict 5th NEW YORK(A)- R.Clore(19-8, 3.62) probably wont repeat his year. The Yankees have great hitters in 1B C.LaChance(.363,43,95), 3B B.Stockstill(.332,44,135) and CF M.Dolin(.318,22,93) but the rest is below average…Predict 6th CALIFORNIA-Nap Lajoie(.245,11,39) is a former #1 prospect that is now 26 and needs to step up but rumor has it that last years torn groin muscle could almost ruin his career.… Predict 7th KANSAS CITY- Actually has a pretty good pitching staff led by K.Petrone(17-11, 3.25). Garland Carrick(.255,21,66) saw his numbers drop…Predict 8th CLEVELAND- W.Smith(17-13, 3.53) pitched well last year but the Indians have pitching and hitting problems. 1B D.Cogdell(.317,29,89) may have to carry the offense by itself….Predict 9th BOSTON- Red Sox have the worst pitching in baseball so will give 25yr old Albert Saterfiel(4-9, 5.14) the #4 spot in the rotation and hope he explodes on the diamond. No hitting either makes them the worst team in baseball. NATIONAL LEAGUE……… CHICAGO(N)- 1904 Cy winner B.Millsaps(15-13, 2.75) and A.McCoy(14-10, 2.98) will keep them near the top. 3B A.Sabb(.278,44,109) and RF G.Weedman(.313,30,81) will be the load carriers this year. N.Dodson(.309,15,61) and 2B R.Salter(.269,16,63) are 32 and 36 yrs old and are slowing down some….Predict 1st. PITTSBURGH- H.Ferrer(21-5, 2.84) and T.Bock(16-9, 3.36) still give them one of the best pitching staffs. 4-time MVP G.Frasure(.337,41,120), SS blazer E.Stamant(.307,14,47) and CF H.Hairston(.311,23,110) give them good hitting also…Predict 2nd ST.LOUIS- A.Bradford(13-15, 3.03) is becoming a very good pitcher. C M.McCreary(.299,15,56) is still very good…Predict 3rd CINCINNATI- Look for the Reds to slip some. R.Squier(25-11, 2.48) is coming off a Cy Young year. L.Cammarata(10-9, 3.13) is also good. K.Rubanek(10-13, 3.19) will continue to strikeout people. 1B T.Setliff(.278,42,105) and RF F.Eastland(.283,23,95) still have the gas that runs the car. But SS J.Bryan(.300,7,35) might have found a team that wants him….Predict 4th LOS ANGELES- W.Weems(14-11, 2.92) bounced back and had a good year and the Dodgers pitching is overall better. But hitting is awful young relying on 24yr old R.Conover(.270,22,64) and 22yr old J.Sheckard(.263,5,51). D.Yeldell(.340,13,71) won his 2nd batting title last year….Prediction 5th HOUSTON- J.Castellano(16-12, 3.01), J.Johnson(12-7, 2.810 and A.Middleton(17-10, 3.02) give the Astros a good pitching staff but hitting is the problem. SS T.Roberson(.301,21,71) will get to learn from 38yr old 3B Raymond Tatham(.220,12,39) who had some good years for the Mets…..Predict 6th SAN FRANSICO- This should be R.Bridgeman’s(15-16, 2.58) year. T.Swatzell(.295,13,33) will be back after bone chips ended his year in early June last year….Predict 7th NEW YORK(N)- 2-time allstar William Potts(7-13, 4.26) is now 36. CF B.Townley(.297,28,71,39sb) a former MVP will be asked to carry this offense….Prediect 8th PHILADELPHIA- With the 2nd worst staff in baseball and no hitting…Predict 9th ATLANTA- With no pitching or hitting, it will be a long year for new manager Hank Aaron….Predict 10th 1906 ALLSTAR BREAK SUMMARY………………. At the break, it is the pitching of Oakland, led by last years Cy winner J.Mutch(14-2, 3.01) that has them with a 1 game lead over the best hitting team in the AL Baltimore. New York is just 2 games back as they are getting some pitching to go with there hitting this year. Minnesota is 4th at 5.5 games back. Detroit has been the biggest disappointment, setting in 7th and already 18.5 games out. In the NL, Chicago which was picked as an upset winner at the start of the year by this sportswriter has a 1.5 game lead over the Reds. Houston is a surprise at 44-37 and is 5.5 games back while defending champion Pittsburgh is 6 back. ALLSTAR GAME 1906.……………………………. The AL will start 1905 Cy winner Joesph Mutch(14-2, 3.01) of the Oakland A’s. This is Mutch’s 1st allstar game coming off a 22-7 season last year and is just 24yrs old. The NL counters with 3-time allstar and their Cy winner from last year Robert Squier(10-3, 2.14) of the Reds. Squire is a 2-time 20 game winner and went 25-11 last year. The AL scored 13 runs on 17 hits and blew out the NL by a score of 13 to 2. 4-time allstar shortstop Brian Bramblett(.285,14,44) went 3 for 5 with a homer and 4 rbi. The Angels shortstop was also named the games’s MVP. NEWS AND NOTES……………………. The Philadelphia Phillies, already 17 games back, have been rumored to be shopping 24yr old allstar outfielder Kenneth McCarthy. McCarthy(.307,11,42) was the ROY in 1903 and was the starting LF for the National League allstars this year. He should interest many teams in the next couple weeks as the trade deadline nears. TRADE DEADLINE COMES AND GOES………………… It was the Angels who won the sweepstakes for Kenneth McCarthy, sending them 19yr old starting pitcher Arthur Whisler(8-2, 3.27 in AA) who scouts feel will develop into a decent #3 or #4 starter. They also got SS Joseph Bender who was the #3 pick in this years draft. According to scouts, Bender is a huge prospect and will be a star in the future with a shot at greatness. The Phillies didn’t hold on to Bender long, sending him to the Giants for starting pitcher James King. King is said to have above average stuff and good enough to be in the upper part of most rotations. The Philadelphia papers are screaming for managements heads over the outcome of the McCarthy trade. Pittsburgh sent a piece of its pennant winning teams to KC. SP Thomas Bock was part of a 3-way deal with the Royals and Cubs as the Pirates get 22yr old Eddie Plank. Plank was the 1st round pick of the Royals last year and will step right in as the #2 starter for the Pirates taking Bock’s spot. Bock(7-8, 3.97) was an allstar for the Pirates last year when he won 16 games. St.Louis made its decision on its 1B, keeping 32yr old Bill Long who has 184 homers in his career and trading big prospect Jake Beckley to the Angels. CF Alex May who hit 30 homers last year went to the Cards and broke his hip the first day there and will miss 9 weeks. Beckley will get a chance to play everyday at age 19 after being the #2 pick overall in 1904. Houston traded one of its big 3 pitchers Adam Middleton to Philadelphia for another pitcher James Dixon. Middleton had been rumored to be a disruption in the clubhouse and had to be dumped. Dixon was an allstar back in 1904 for the Phillies but is out for the year with an elbow injury. Middleton(10-7, 3.99) had been a 3-time allstar in his 7 years with the Astros but is 35yrs old. He steps in as the Phillies #1 starter. PENNANT RACES……….SEPTEMBER 1, 1906 It is a 3 way race in the AL with Baltimore regaining it old familiar spot on top of the league. Oakland is 1.5 games back and the surprising Yankees just 3 back. In the NL, Pittsburgh looks to have fallen out of the race by going 14-14 in August including losing their last 6 in a row and are now 8.5 back. The Reds won their last 7 games of August and now lead the Cubs by a game. PENNANT SUMMARY……………. Baltimore used a 9 game win streak to go 17-11 in the next 28 games to keep its lead at 2 games over Oakland with 3 to play. The Yankees faltered going 13-14 in September. Someone needs to give the schedule maker a raise as Baltimore goes to Oakland for the final series of the year. The A’s need a sweep to unseat the Orioles dynasty. The Cubs picked up a game on the Reds in September and both teams stand at 94-65 with 3 games to go. Los Angeles(81-78) will visit Cincy for the last 3 games while is at Pittsburgh(88-71). The schedule favors the Reds. 10/2- Baltimore(D.Desousa- 19-3, 3.50) vs. Oakland (Greg Bibeau- 11-3, 4.42) Baltimore’s Robert Imes hit his 40th homer and Matty McIntyre hit his 52nd as the Orioles ended the suspense with a 8 to 7 win in the first game of the series. It is Baltimore’s 5th straight AL pennant. 10/2- Chicago @ Pittsburgh……….. The Pirates H.Ferrer won his 20th game and shutout the Cubs 3-0. Ferrer was dominate in allowing only a leadoff single by 2B R.Salter in the 1st inning. 10/2- Los Angeles @ Cincinnati………… The Reds take a 1 game lead with a 7-2 win. Pitcher Larry “Goose” Cammarata went the distance for his 16th win. 10/3- Chicago @ Pittsburgh The Cubs bounced back with 13 hits and 10 runs in a 10-3 shellacking. 22yr old Eddie Plank(10-9) took the loss for the Pirates. 10/3- Los Angeles @ Cincinnati The Dodgers scored 4 runs in the top of the 10th with 3 of the runs coming on D.Yeldell’s 3-run homer as the Dodgers help out the Cubs with a 7-3 win over the Reds. The Reds and Cubs are again all tied with 1 game to play. 10/4- Chicago @ Pittsburgh The Cubs went with Thomas Bock(15-12, 3.63) who had come over from Pittsburgh in July and his old teammates gave his a rude welcome scoring 8 runs, 6 earned of Bock in 2 innings as the Pirates win 10-8. On a side note, Pirates 4-time MVP Gerald Frasure didn’t play in the game after being beaned in the head in yesterday’s game. Frasure missed 32 games this year with injuries but still managed to hit 33 homers. 10/4 - Los Angeles @ Cincinnati With a chance to win the pennant on the final day of the season, the Reds sent their ace Robert Squier(16-10, 3.17) to the mound to face the Dodgers Paul Nadler(13-8, 4.27) who had no-hit the Braves back on June 29. It was over early as the Reds hit 3 homers and scored 7 runs in the first 4 innings and went on to win 8-2. Squier went the distance striking out 10 for his 17th win. WORLD SERIES PREVIEW…..BALTIMORE (101-61) VS CINCINNATI (96-66) What more can be said about the Orioles, their 5th straight trip to the fall classic and a team who has averaged over 100 wins a season for those same 5 years. They are led by an offense that hit .277 and scored 835 runs. Both tops in the Majors. The big bats in the lineup are again C P.Lenahan(.303,31,89), 3B M.Enlow(.331,26,93), LF R.Imes(.334,40,113) and Mr.October Matty McIntyre(.282,52,131). The Pitching staff looks the same as last year as Jamel Trimm(18-11, 3.64), Don Roberts(16-10, 3.00) and Donnie Desousa(20-3, 3.47). Desousa, great numbers for a #3 starter!!! Cincinnati will try to stop the Orioles domination with pitching as their 3.33 team era and their 602 runs allowed were both the best in either league. And when you say Cincy and pitching in the same breath you think of 3-time allstar and 1905 Cy winner Rober Squier(17-10, 3.13). Squier will be followed to the mound by John Rowenow(14-12, 3.08) and “Goose” Cammarata(16-11, 3.00). On offense the Reds will rely on 2 familiar faces from the team that beat Baltimore in the 1904 series. Timothy Setliff(.335,34,102) and “Craps” Eastland(.300,25,90). If you remember, Setliff hit 5 homers and drove in 13 runs in being named the MVP of the 1904 Series. BALTIIMORE 5.……………………CINCINNATI 6 In what started out as a pitching duel, the Reds scraped a run together in the 3rd off Roberts and lead 1-0 behind the pitching of Rosenow. The Orioles however scored 3 runs in the top of the 8th only to see the Reds score 4 in their half of the inning. The “never say die” Orioles however got doubles from backup LF J.Castle and Matty McIntyre to take the lead with 2 in the 9th. But closer Christopher Koski gave up a run in the bottom of the 9th to give the Reds game one. BALTIMORE 2.…………………….CINCINNATI 4 Catcher Kenneth Kuffrey(.271,15,68) hit a 3-run homer as the Reds score 4 runs off Trimm in the 1st . Squier made it hold up going 8.1 innings and giving up 2 runs. NOTES………………. So far Mr. October Matty McIntyre is 3 for 9 with 2 rbi. Reds 1B T.Setliff is just 1 for 4 as the Orioles have walked him 4 times in the first 2 games. CINCINNATI 7.…………………….BALTIMORE 2 Reds break it open with 4 in the top of the 9th off of the Orioles bullpen. Cammarata when 7.2 innings giving up just 2 runs for the win. CINCINNATI 2.……………………..BALTIMORE 6 Orioles keep from being sweep as Don Roberts goes 7 1/3 giving up just 2 un-earned runs. Imes, McIntyre and 1B S.Otte all homered for Baltimore. McIntyre now has his average up to .400 with 2 homers and 7 rbi. Reds starting pitcher John Rosenow left the game in the 2nd inning with back spasms and will likely miss the rest of the Series. CIINCINNATI 3.……………………BALTIMORE 8 Trimm evened things out against R.Squier in a rematch of the game 2 match up. 3B M.Enlow was the player of the game going 2 for 3 with a homer and 2 rbi. BALTIMORE 7.……………………….CINCINNATI 3 Once again back in Cincy the Reds couldn’t put the Orioles away as R.Imes went 2 for 4 with 2 rbi and 3 runs scored and Desousa went 7 innings giving up 3 runs for the win. Reds starter “Goose” Cammarata lasted just 2.2 innings giving up 5 runs. Game 7 will have 25yr old Don Roberts facing John Rosenow. Rosenow will be pitching with a very bad back and some people in the Reds organization have questioned Sparky Anderson decision to use him here in game 7. Many thought Kenneth Urbanek may get a chance to bring his career back to life with a start in game 7. Urbanek if you remember went 18-9 and became the only pitcher to strikeout 300 hitters back in 1903. He has spent much of this year however in the bullpen getting just 15 starts and going 9-5 with a 4.42 era. BALTIMORE 8.………………….CINCINNATI 6 People were right as Reds starter J.Rosenow lasted just 2.1 innings giving up 6 runs as the Orioles win their 4th World Series in 5 years. NOTES…………… Matty McIntyre hit .333 with 2 homers and 10 Rbi and again showed why he is nicknamed Mr. October. McIntyre won his 2nd Series MVP award. The other was in 1902. McIntyre now has a career .339 average with 12 homers and 33 rbi in 33 World Series games. Timothy Setliff ended up going 10 for 24 (.417) with a homer and 6 rbi. But the Orioles pitchers walked him 7 times in the Series. AWARD WINNERS………………….. AL CY YOUNG JOESPH MUTCH(OAK) (25-5, 2.61)… 2ND Straight NL CY YOUNG HERMAN FERRER(PIT) (20-7, 2.41 AL MVP CANDY LACHANCE(NYA) (.322,57,128) NL MVP TIMOTHY SETLIFF(CIN) (.335,34,102) AL ROY CRAIG SCRANTON(OAK) (12-5, 3.01) NL ROY CHRISTOPHER EDGERLY(STL) (19-7, 3.13)….5TH rounder AL BATTING JAMES HEIDEMAN(CHA)* .353 NL BATTING JACK KOONS(PIT)** .339 * Heideman won the closest batting race yet, by just 4/100ths of a point over 24yr old Carroll Mendelsohn of the Angels. ** Koons actually hit .353 but needed didn’t have enough atbat. With the added at bats, Koons edged out David Yeldell(.335) and Timothy Setliff(.335) for the crown NEW RECORDS……………………….. AL HITS ANTHONY LIPSEY(DET) 207 AL 3B JAMES KERNEY(OAK) 14 AL HR CANDY LACHANCE(NYA) 57 AL BB GARLAND CARRICK(KC) 165 AL HIT STREAK JAMES NATHANSON(MIN) 29 AL APP. RAYMOND TAI(CAL) 103 AL WINS JOESPH MUTCH(OAK) 25 AL SAVES ROSS STEPHENS(CAL) 39 NL WALKS HERMAN FERRER(PIT) 114 NL ROOKIE WINS CHRISTOPHER EDGERLY 19 NEWS AND NOTES…………………………….. Candy LaChance of the Yankees and Matty McIntyre are the only hitters to club 50 homers in a season and now both have did it twice. The other being in 1904. Edwin Stamant the speedy SS for the Pirates became the first player to steal 400 bases in a career and finished the season with 422. Stamant holds 7 of the 8 top marks for steals in a year and holds the major league record of 68 set in 1901. Oakland became the first team to win 100 games back to back and not win a pennant. Baltimore has won 105 and 102 in the same years. Chuck Hinton lasted just 1 year as the skipper of the Indians guiding them to a record setting 104 losses. That breaks the mark set by the 1903 Atlanta Braves who lost 103 games. AAA manager Bob Feller was hired as the new manager of the Indians. The Giants let Frank Robinson go after 2 years with a combined record of 136-188. The Giants finished 8th and 10th in his 2 year stint as the manager. Willie Mays was hired to replace Robinson. Alan Trammell lasted just 2 years with the Royals and has now been fired by both the Tigers and the Royals. Trammell had a 138-186 record with the Royals and an overall record of 453-519. Amos Otis was hired to replace Trammell. Larry Bowa was let go by the Phillies today after 2 straight 9th place finishes by the Phils. Bowa had a career record of 557-577 in 7 years, all with the Phillies. Richie Ashburn will leave his job as the GM to take over the job as manager. Bowa had his best years in his first two years as a manager, winning 89 and 87 games and finishing 3rd both season. In a surprise move, the Mets let manager Casey Stengal go today. Stengal won the first ever World Series back in 1900 with the Mets as they went 95-67 and went on the defeat the Royals in 5 games. Stengal has an overall record of 573-561 with one Pennant and one World Series title to his name. The Mets hired Gil Hodges as their new manager. In a sad note, former #1 pick overall of the Tigers “Wild Bill” Donovan announced his retirement with an arm injury. Donovan was drafted by the Tigers in 1903 and made it to the big club this year where he got 8 starts and went 4-1 with a 4.44 era as a 20yr old rookie. Originally doctors felt they could repair the shoulder but after surgery was attempted it was not going to be repairable. RETIRED PLAYERS ………………….. TRENTON SAAB--- Minnesota 1900-1905 Saab won the first ever Cy Young award in the American League going 19-8 with a 2.79 era in 1900. He followed that up with another 19 win season in 1901 and won 16 games in 1903 at age 36. By 1905, the 38yr old Saab had been delegated to the bullpen where he pitched in just 11 games all in relief. Trenton was a 3-time allstar and finished his career with a 72-56 record and a 3.71 era. The question has to be asked, how good could he have been had he not been 33 yrs old when the league started.