MLHR: Major League Historical Replay... what if?

[darnoff]

1906 Key Retirees - Batters

This may be the largest group of retirees we've ever seen. Not only is this group large in quantity, but the quality of the careers represented in the two lists to follow are quite impressive.


Steve Brodie, CF, Braves

Won two Gold Gloves. Finished Top 10 in hits four times and batting average twice.




Lave Cross, 3B, Phillies

A regular in the mighty Phillies lineup for 18 seasons. That should really say all you need to know about Cross. He hovered just above or just below league average offensively for his entire career, but he was a 5-time Gold Glover who was a steadying force on the field throughout their dynasty's dominance.




Bill Dahlen, SS, Cubs

Won one Gold Glove. Known more for defense than offense, but Dahlen was a regular in the powerful Cubs lineup for twelve years before finally being usurped by Joe Tinker in 1903.




Hugh Duffy, LF/CF, Cubs

One of the more productive hitters of his era and a centerpiece in Chicago's mighty offense for 17 seasons. He was part of one of the most productive outfields in history alongside Bill Lange and Jake Stenzel. Duffy led the league in OBP in 1899 and finished in the Top 10 in OBP eleven times and walks sixteen times. He won two Gold Gloves and finished in the Top 10 in hits four times, triples three times, home runs seven times, stolen bases four times, RBI ten times, runs ten times, batting average five times, slugging five times, OPS eight times and WAR six times. He retired with the 3rd best OBP, 6th most RBI, 8th most walks, 9th best OPS and 10th most runs scored in history.




Bill Everitt, 3B, Cubs

Everitt was a productive third baseman that started regularly in the mighty Cubs offense for 10 seasons. He twice led the league in at-bats and finished in the Top 10 in batting average and stolen bases three times.




Fred Hartman, 3B, Pirates

Pittsburgh's regular third baseman for eight seasons.




Bug Holliday, CF/LF, Reds

Finished 2nd all-time among centerfielders in hits, home runs, RBI and runs to San Francisco's Mike Tiernan, who also retired this offseason. Holliday was the leader of Cincinnati's offense for most of his 17 seasons. He won two Gold Gloves and led the league in home runs twice and slugging percentage once. He finished in the Top 10 in triples three times, home runs fifteen times, RBI seven times, slugging nine times, OPS five times and strikeouts six times. He retired 11th in all-time slugging, 4th in home runs and 9th in RBI.




Mike Tiernan, CF/LF, Giants

Tiernan debuted at the end of the era of dominant Giants' offenses centered around HOF'ers Dan Brouthers, Roger Conner and Buck Ewing. Tiernan actually debuted - and was named Rookie of the Year - the same season that Brouthers won the last of his six Batter of the Year awards. When those stars retired, Tiernan was one of few stars on some poor Giants teams along with Jesse Burkett and Willie Keeler. Over that time though, Tiernan won one Gold Glove and finished second or third in several BoY votes. He led the league with 120 runs scored and 87 walks in his rookie season and finished in the Top 10 in runs seven times and walks fourteen times. He led the league in OBP three times, slugging twice and OPS twice. He also finished in the Top 10 in hits three times, triples five times, home runs fourteen times, stolen bases six times, RBI six times and batting average four times. At the time of retirement, Tiernan was ranked 7th all-time in OBP, 10th in slugging, 5th in OPS, 7th in runs, 9th in hits, 3rd in home runs, 7th in RBI and 7th in walks.

[darnoff]

1906 Key Retirees - Pitchers


Clark Griffith, Cubs

Led the league in innings pitched in 1902, WHIP in 1899, K/BB three times, RA/9 in 1899, BB/9 seven times, complete games twice and shutouts three times. He retired just three wins shy of the 200 mark.




Bill Hoffer, Pirates

Led the league in shutouts in 1897 and 1898. He is best known for posting a 0.00 ERA over 25.2 innings in 1900 and then a 0.99 ERA over 45.1 innings the following year as a reliever.




Bill Quarles, Braves

Led the league in games pitched and games finished in 1904. Also led the league in holds three times and finished in the Top 10 in saves twice.




Ben Sanders, Phillies

An amazing rock in the Phillies dynasty rotation for seventeen seasons. He won three Pitcher of the Year awards and retired 3rd all-time in wins, 3rd in winning percentage, 2nd in shutouts, 2nd in complete games, 10th in BB/9 and 5th in WHIP. He led the NL in wins three times, surpassing 20 each time. He also led the league in winning percentage twice, innings twice, ERA three times, WHIP twice, fewest RA/9 three times, fewest HR/9 three times, fewest BB/9 once, quality starts three times, complete games four times, shutouts five times and WAR twice.




Zeke Wilson, Braves

Finished Top 8 in saves six times. Led league in games finished in 1898. Finished Top 10 in holds twice.

[darnoff]

1906 NL Preseason Predictions

Based on ratings alone, the Cubs are the clear favorite to win the National League pennant. They have the top offense in the league, led by 2-time BoY Bill Lange (.326, 35 HR, 133 RBI, 34 SB). Lange is surrounded by several other talented batters that give the team a great deal of run-scoring potential. Interestingly enough, Chicago's pitching rotation has average talent, but is still considered the lowest ranked staff in the league, again by ratings alone. Along with one of the better bullpens in the league, Chicago has plenty of pitching to compete for a second straight pennant, especially when you consider that their pitchers are aided by the top defense in the NL.

The Pirates are expected to be the top challengers to Chicago's dominance. They have a superbly talented pitching staff that was ranked #1 last season. Four of their five starting pitchers are already or will be aged 30 or greater by mid-season. That gives Pittsburgh some sense of urgency as an eventual decline in production is inevitable. Their offense is solid, but was ranked in the middle of the pack last season. They will need to improve on those results if they plan to take the pennant this season.

The rising Reds are ranked 3rd in the preseason ratings. They should have a pitching staff that is among the best in the league. However, the proof is in the pudding, as they say, and we will believe in Cincinnati's pitching when they decide to perform up to expectations. Unfortunately, with the retiring of several key performers over the past few years, an offense that was once their primary strength is now average at best. They are one of the best defensive teams though, and they hope that the combination of defense and pitching will be enough to keep them in contention. If their offense can out-perform expectations, they just may have a shot at the franchise's first pennant.

The Cardinals still have one of the most talented rosters in baseball. Their pitching is strong, especially with the addition of rookie Babe Adams (6-6-9 ratings). They will need a major improvement from former ace Amos Rusie (7-10, 5.60 ERA) if they hope to be a real contender though. Their biggest weakness is a porous defense.

The Phillies still have a shot at contention, although they have not been able to fully replace the production of their aging or retired stars. While the team still has several key veterans holding on to prominent roles, younger players like left fielder Sherry Magee (.284, 19 HR, 80 RBI, 39 SB), centerfielder Roy Thomas (.244 AVG, .348 OBP, 47 R in 266 AB) and pitcher Ralph Caldwell (18-7, 3.38 ERA) need to be shoulder much more of the load going forward. The bullpen will also need to hold together over the long season, as age is beginning to play a part in that unit's production as well.


Predicted Standings
(Scale of 1-12)

Rank	Team	Rotation	Bullpen	Offense	Bench	Speed	Defense	Totals	Grade
1	Chicago Cubs	6	8	10	10	10	11	8.9	A
2	Pittsburgh Pirates	8	8	8	6	7	9	8.0	B+
3	Cincinnati Reds	8	8	7	6	6	9	7.7	B
4	St. Louis Cardinals	9	7	8	8	8	4	7.3	B-
5	Philadelphia Phillies	7	7	8	7	6	7	7.2	B-
6	Los Angeles Dodgers	7	7	3	7	6	9	6.3	C
7	Atlanta Braves	7	4	9	6	6	2	5.9	C-
8	San Francisco Giants	7	4	5	5	6	3	5.1	D+

MLB results for the NL in 1906

Champs: Chicago Cubs, (116-36, .763)
World Series: White Sox defeated Cubs 4-2

Batting Title: Honus Wagner, Pirates, .339
OPS+: Harry Lumley, Dodgers, 179
AB/HR: Tim Jordan, Dodgers, 37.5
RBI: Harry Steinfeldt, Cubs and Joe Nealon, Pirates, 83
Runs: Frank Chance, Cubs and Honus Wagner, Pirates, 103
SB: Frank Chance, Cubs, 57
Offensive WAR: Honus Wagner, Pirates, 8.2
Defensive WAR: Joe Tinker, Cubs, 3.6
Combined WAR: Honus Wagner, Pirates, 9.3

ERA+: Mordecai Brown, Cubs, 253 (wow! 80 points higher than the #2 pitcher)
Win%: Ed Reulbach, Cubs, .826
WHIP: Mordecai Brown, Cubs, 0.934
K/9: Red Ames, Giants, 6.905
Pitching WAR: Vic Willis, Pirates, 8.2


MLHR Milestone Watch

3000 Hits
Billy Hamilton, PHI, Age 41, 2921 Hits
Willie Keeler, SFG, Age 35, 2830 Hits

2500 Hits
Bill Lange, CHN, Age 34, 2466 Hits
Jesse Burkett, SFG, Age 37, 2363 Hits
Jack Doyle, STL, Age 36, 2341 Hits

500 Home Runs
Ed Delahanty, PHI, Age 39, 495 HR

1500 Runs
Jake Stenzel, Cubs, Age 38, 1411 Runs
George Davis, Cardinals, Age 35, 1403 Runs

1500 RBI
Bill Joyce, LAD, Age 38, 1459 RBI

1500 Walks
John McGraw, STL, Age 32, 1497 BB
Mike Smith, PIT, Age 39, 1491 BB

700 Stolen Bases
Bill Lange, Cubs, Age 34, 669 SB

600 Stolen Bases
Hughie Jennings, LAD, Age 37, 564 SB

250 Wins
Amos Rusie, STL, Age 34, 243 Wins

200 Wins
Kid Nichols, ATL, Age 36, 190 Wins

4000 Strikeouts
Kid Nichols, ATL, Age 36, 3877 K's

3500 Strikeouts
Amos Rusie, STL, Age 34, 3423 K's

2500 Strikeouts
Ned Garvin, PHI, Age 32, 2385 K's
Jack Stivetts, ATL, Age 38, 2329 K's

700 Games Pitched
Frank Killen, PIT, Age 35, 676 Games

600 Games Pitched
Amos Rusie, STL, Age 34, 585 Games

[darnoff]

1906 AL Preseason Predictions

Last season, the Tigers made the biggest splash of the offseason by adding centerfielder Ty Cobb (.361, 27 HR, 112 RBI, 61 SB) and pitcher Eddie Cicotte (22-6, 2.63 ERA) to their roster. Those two players swept the BoY, PoY and RoY awards and the Tigers won the pennant. This offseason, the big splash was made by the Athletics.

The A's, who already have the best rotation around and one of the best bullpens in the league, finally bolstered their weak lineup with second baseman Eddie Collins (9-6-4-7-8 ratings), an all-around threat, and power hitting third baseman Ed Lennox (6-6-7-6-5). They also further upgraded their pitching staff with Jack Coombs (7-6-6 ratings), a pitcher who would easily make any other team's rotation, but with the mighty A's, he will begin his career as a middle reliever. These additions make the Athletics the preseason favorite in many eyes.

In Detroit, the Tigers are quick to remind you that they are the defending American League champs. They are returning the same starters from last season, but they also believe they have upgraded their pitching staff with the addition of rookie Ed Willett (5-6-6 ratings), who will take over the #5 slot in the rotation. According to my preseason rankings, the two key factors that may cause the Tigers to fail in their pursuit of another pennant is a thin bench and below average defense.

The Red Sox are consistently expected to join the pennant race but as of yet, they have not done that. Again this season, Boston is expected to be among the contenders for the AL pennant. One factor that consistently puts the Red Sox in this conversation is a defense with exceptional range. In fact, this defense garnered 13 points on my scale of 1-12. We will see if that pans out, but in Boston's defense, they have also added some pitching depth this season with Rube Kroh (6-6-6 ratings) joining the rotation and Ralph Glaze (6-6-6 ratings) joining the bullpen as a setup man.

The Indians are consistently undervalued by my rankings due to a defense with a significant lack of range. However, they still have an impressive pitching staff and an offense that is now considered average at best, considering the offensive additions that other teams have made in recent years. Meanwhile, the Yankees are expected to climb into contention for the first time in their 6-year history thanks to the additions of Tom Hughes (8-6-6 ratings) and Slow Joe Doyle (7-6-5 ratings) to the rotation and Cy Barger (5-6-6 ratings) to the bullpen.


Predicted Standings
(Scale of 1-12)

Rank	Team	Rotation	Bullpen	Offense	Bench	Speed	Defense	Totals	Grade
1	Oakland Athletics	9	7	8	9	6	12	8.8	A-
2	Boston Red Sox	6	7	5	8	8	13	7.6	B
3	Detroit Tigers	6	8	9	4	6	5	6.8	C+
4	Minnesota Twins	4	5	8	5	5	11	6.7	C+
5	New York Yankees	6	5	5	7	6	10	6.5	C+
6	Cleveland Indians	8	6	5	5	8	2	5.6	C-
7	Baltimore Orioles	5	4	7	7	6	4	5.4	C-
8	Chicago White Sox	6	4	3	3	6	7	5.0	D+

MLB results for the AL in 1906

Champs: Chicago White Sox, (93-58, .616)
World Series: White Sox defeated Cubs 4-2

Batting Title: George Stone, Browns (Orioles), .358
OPS+: George Stone, Browns (Orioles), 193
AB/HR: Harry Davis, Athletics, 45.9
RBI: Harry Davis, Athletics, 96
Runs: Elmer Flick, Naps (Indians), 98
SB: Elmer Flick, Naps (Indians) and John Anderson, Senators (Twins), 39
Offensive WAR: George Stone, Browns (Orioles), 7.9
Defensive WAR: Terry Turner, Naps (Indians), 5.4
Combined WAR: Nap Lajoie, Naps (Indians), 10.0

ERA+: Doc White, White Sox, 167
Win%: Eddie Plank, Athletics, .760
WHIP: Doc White, White Sox, 0.903
K/9: Rube Waddell, Athletics, 6.469
Pitching WAR: Al Orth, Highlanders (Yankees), 7.7

[darnoff]

NL Mid-Season Report

This season has been a tale of the have's and the have-not's in both leagues so far. In the National League, the Pirates and Cubs have battled for supremacy for three months with no clear cut winner as of yet. The Pirates currently lead the race thanks to an offense that is surprisingly ranked 1st in the league. This is the same offense that has consistently hovered around the middle of the pack in recent years. Shortstop Honus Wagner (.308, 14 HR, 75 RBI, 18 SB) and centerfielder Ginger Beaumont (.290, 13 HR, 50 RBI, 55 R) lead the way with three other Pirates recording double-digit home runs - third baseman and leadoff man Hans Lobert (.279, 13 HR, 45 RBI, 70 R, 22 SB), second baseman Jimmy WIlliams (.275, 14 HR, 60 RBI) and sophomore catcher Jimmy Archer (.276, 13 HR, 28 RBI), who is batting 8th in the lineup. The Pirates pitching staff is considered the best in the NL, but they are ranked just 3rd thus far.

The defending champion Cubs lead the league in pitching and are ranked second in offense and defense. Two-time BoY Bill Lange (.343, 18 HR, 65 RBI, 60 R, 26 SB) is having another superb season, and left fielder Frank Schulte (.258, 19 HR, 59 RBI) is thriving as the cleanup hitter after finally getting a full-time job. Last season, pitcher Pop Williams, who won 20 games in 1902, was moved to the bullpen. Midway through last season, he returned to the rotation and was a key performer for the Cubs down the stretch. He was then superb in his Game 4 World Series start. He returned this season as the #5 starter and he is outperforming his other rotation mates, going 13-1 with a 2.88 ERA.

The Cardinals and Phillies both began the season poorly. At the end of April, they were in 6th and 7th place. By the end of May, they had climbed to 5th and 6th but were still below .500. Now, at the end of June, they are in 3rd and 4th place but are a combined one game above .500. The Cardinals are ranked 5th in offense and 7th in pitching. Philly is tied for 3rd in offense and ranks 4th in pitching. Those numbers suggest that the Phillies have a greater chance to hang on over the remainder of the season, but it is difficult to imagine either team becoming a true threat.

The Dodgers and Reds were among the top of the standings for the first two months. Both teams performed poorly over the past six weeks and have since dropped near the bottom of the division. The Dodgers rank 3rd in offense and 2nd in pitching, while the Reds are 6th in both categories and a surprising 8th in defense. One thing worth pointing out is the fact that Cincinnati does still have the #1 ranked bullpen.


Standings




Batting Leaders




Pitching Leaders

[darnoff]

AL Mid-Season Report

Like the NL this season, the AL is also split pretty clearly into have's and have not's. The Athletics have been even more dominant than predicted. Their top ranked pitching staff has an incredible 1.97 ERA from the starting rotation, and the four best ERA's in the league belong to members of the A's rotation. After languishing for most the American League's five year history in the bottom half of the league in terms of offensive production, the A's actually lead the league in offense this season. Not only do they lead in overall offense, but they also lead in all major statistical categories - batting average (.267), OBP (.335), home runs (82) and stolen bases (55). Rookies Eddie Collins (.360, 45 RBI, 64 R, 23 SB) and Ed Lennox (.282, 23 HR, 80 RBI) lead the resurgence. The dominance of the starting rotation cannot be understated. Pitchers Eddie Plank (9-3, 1.76 ERA), Chief Bender (11-1, 1.72 ERA), Tom Walker (10-3, 2.74 ERA), Jimmy Dygert (13-1, 1.92 ERA) and Andy Coakley (9-2, 1.73 ERA) are quite possibly the best rotation the MLHR has ever seen in either league. If the A's have a weakness right now, it is a bullpen that is surprisingly ranked just 6th overall.

The Tigers are doing their best to remain within striking distance of Oakland, but their deficit has swelled from 2 1/2 games at the end of April to 9 games after May and now 10 games at the end of June. The team is ranked 2nd in offense and pitching, but despite being ranked just one spot below the A's, they have scored a whopping 73 fewer runs and have a starting rotation ERA of 3.46, which is nearly double that of the A's. The Tigers do, however, have the #1 bullpen in the league. If Detroit is going to catch Oakland, they have to get more production out of the bottom half of their lineup, particularly second baseman Harry Arndt (.253, 5 HR, 39 RBI), who bats 5th, and their starting rotation needs to continually improve. #1 starter Frank Owen (7-5, 4.21 ERA) has regressed again after having a strong 1905 season. The Tigers also have to hope that Oakland stumbles. After all, it is hard to believe that their offense can remain #1 and their pitching rotation can maintain a sub-2.00 ERA.


Standings




Batting Leaders




Pitching Leaders

[darnoff]

NL Season Wrap-up

At the season's halfway point, the Pirates led the Cubs by 2 1/2 games. In July, the Pirates would go 14-14 while the Cubs went 18-11. That gave the Cubs a 2-game lead they would never relinquish. Chicago went on to post a 18-9 record in August and a 14-6 record over the first three weeks of September before losing the final five games of the season. The Cubs won 101 games - the most by a Cubs team since they set the all-time record of 111 in 1880. Chicago's offense scored more runs than any team in MLHR. They are an interesting combination of speed and power - they stole an amazing 206 bases, which has become commonplace in Chicago, while hitting 193 long balls. Meanwhile, their pitching staff ranked 2nd in the NL and their defense was #1. The Cubs' primary concern going into the World Series will be their 6th ranked bullpen.

Several teams are disappointed with the results of this season. The Pirates had one of the most productive years in some time from their offense, and their pitching ranked first in the league, and yet they fell six games short of the pennant. The Cardinals and Reds both expected to be competitive this season, but both teams finished with losing records. Despite many strong performances, the Cardinals offense ranked just 5th in runs scored. The team's biggest issue was the poor performance of their 7th ranked pitching staff. Cincinnati's pitching staff performed well, but they could not make up for an offense that hit the fewest homers in the NL and scored the second fewest runs. Then you have the Dodgers, who thought they could reach .500 this season. They were 7 games above .500 at the end of May but finished the season in last place with 100 losses.

Here are two interesting facts from the season: first, Pittsburgh's Fred Clarke (.264, 18 HR, 85 RBI) became the first player since 1880 to record 12 triples in a season. That one-upped his previous best of 11 in 1900 but fell one short of the record 13. Philadelphia's Nap Lajoie (.316, 22 HR, 95 RBI) became the third player - and the first since 1881 - to hit 55 doubles in a season. That was good enough for 4th all-time, as the single season record is 62. It's also worth noting that the American League's Ty Cobb hit 54 this season.


Standings




Batting Leaders




Pitching Leaders




National League Rosters

[darnoff]

AL Season Wrap-up

The Athletics were on pace to set a new MLHR record for wins at the end of July. However, they dropped 18 of 23 games from August 1st through August 26th. Detroit failed to take full advantage of Oakland's misfortune by going just 14-10 over that same span. That did allow them to gain 8 1/2 games in the standings, but they still trailed by 6 1/2. Oakland then went on a 5-game winning streak, then lost 4 straight before winning 9 of their next 12. They clinched the pennant with two weeks left in the season.

The Athletics managed to finish the season ranked #1 among AL teams in offense, pitching and defense. Rookie Eddie Collins (.343, 72 RBI, 109 R, 57 SB) had a superb season and power hitting rookie Ed Lennox (.276, 42 HR, 153 RBI) was a monster. His 153 RBI was the second highest total of all time. It was the highest total since Philadelphia's Nap Lajoie hit 149 in 1899. It was also just the second time ever that a player passed the 150 RBI mark. The all-time record of 157 RBI was set by Hall of Famer Cap Anson of the inaugural 1876 Cubs.

There were a few other impressive records that were broken this season. Detroit's Ty Cobb (.377, 31 HR, 103 RBI, 131 R, 60 SB) set new MLHR records with a .456 OBP, 1.096 OPS, 128.1 VORP and 13.4 WAR. Cobb broke his own VORP record from last season, but the previous OPS record of 1.062 was set by Cap Anson in 1877. Anson's teammate and fellow HoF'er Ross Barnes set the previous OBP record of .447 in 1877 and the previous WAR record of 12.60 in 1878. White Sox pitcher Ed Walsh (13-11, 2.36 ERA) set a new WAR record for pitchers with a 10.42 mark, breaking the previous record of 9.90 set by Oakland's Eddie Plank in 1902.


Standings




Batting Leaders




Pitching Leaders




National League Rosters

[darkcloud4579]

Do you use a ranking spreadsheet for your team grades or are you doing that manually?

[darnoff]

Originally Posted by darkcloud4579

Do you use a ranking spreadsheet for your team grades or are you doing that manually?

I assess the individual scores manually, then input them into a spreadsheet which does the final calculation for me.

[darnoff]

1906 World Series

Game 1

Cubs first baseman Frank Chance led off the game with a solo home run off Oakland's Eddie Plank. Plank settled down and battled Chicago starter Ed Reulbach for 5 innings of shutout ball. Then in the top of the 6th, Bill Lange hit a 2-run homer off Plank as the Cubs rolled to a 4-0 win.




Game 2

This game was scoreless until the bottom of the 4th when Oakland third baseman Ed Lennox hit a 3-run home run off Carl Lundgren. Chicago's Bill Lange hit a solo home run off Chief Bender in the 6th to make the score 3-1, but in the bottom of that inning, Lundgren coughed up a single and a walk. Both Oakland runners advanced a base on a passed ball, so Lundgren intentionally walked Doc Powers to load the bases. Lundgren then allowed an RBI single to opposing pitcher Bender, chasing him from the game in favor for regular season starter-turned-World Series reliever Buttons Briggs. Briggs promptly allowed another RBI single to outfielder Danny Hoffman, but later got out of the inning by inducing an infield pop out from #2 hitter Matty McIntyre and a ground out to second by A's star Eddie Collins. Oakland was far from finished though, and they added two more runs in the 7th and three in the 8th on a 3-run homer by right fielder Harry Armbruster, a rookie who has shown a lot of power in limited time this season.




Game 3

Chicago's Frank Schulte got the scoring started with a solo homer in the 2nd off Tom Walker. Oakland tied it up in the 4th when Ed Lennox and Harry Armbruster hit back-to-back doubles off Frank Corridon, last year's World Series MVP. In the bottom of the 5th, second baseman Johnny Evers got in on the action with a 2-run homer, his first hit of the series. Oakland narrowed the score to 3-2 in the top of the 7th but in the bottom of the inning, Chicago's Danny Green hit yet another home run for a 4-2 Cubs lead. Then one out later, Evers and shortstop Joe Tinker hit back-to-back singles and pinch hitter Jake Stenzel hit a two-run triple. That was it for Walker, but the damage had been done as Chicago went on to a 7-4 win.




Game 4

Oakland's Eddie Collins hit a solo home run off Pop WIlliams in the first inning in Chicago, and the score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the 5th when the Cubs tied it up on a two-out single by Frank Schulte. With the score still tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 8th, Chicago's Danny Green hit a solo home run off Oakland setup man Highball Wilson. The A's were unable to get a runner on base in the 9th and the Cubs took a 3-1 lead in the series.




Game 5

This was a tight game as Oakland's Eddie Plank and Chicago's Ed Reulbach, the starters from Game 1, threw four shutout innings. In the top of the 5th, light-hitting Oakland shortstop Jack Hannifin led off with a double and then moved to third when catcher Doc Powers grounded out to first. After Plank was struck out at the plate, Reulbach uncorked a wild pitch, scoring the first run of the game. In the bottom of the 6th, Johnny Evers led off with a triple but was stranded when the Chicago 8-9-1 hitters could not get a ball out of the infield.

An inning later, Cubs third baseman Sammy Strang led off with a single and after a fly out, Frank Schulte doubled him to third. With the infield playing in, a Danny Green ground out could not score a run. But with two outs, catcher Roger Bresnahan came through with a clutch 2-run single to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead. The Cubs then turned to their bullpen in the bottom of the 7th, but it mattered little as Oakland reliever Jack Coombs loaded the bases with the first three batters he faced in the 8th and closer Weldon Henley walked in a run, gave up a 2-run single and later allowed another run to score on a sac fly. Chicago went on to win the game 6-1, clinching their second straight World Series title, with the final play being one of their famous Tinker to Evers to Chance double plays.




Recap

Oakland's mighty pitching staff let them down in this series, but the A's also discovered that they are still some additional offense away from having a legitimate shot at defeating the more complete National League teams in a World Series.

Series MVP

Bill Lange, CF, Cubs, .368 AVG, .400 OBP, .737 SLG, 2 HR, 7 RBI

[darnoff]

Season Awards


NL Batter of the Year




NL Pitcher of the Year




NL Rookie of the Year




NL Fireman Award




NL Gold Gloves
P - Rube Waddell, PIT
C - Admiral Schlei, CIN
1B - Frank Chance, CHN (3rd overall)
2B - Jimmy Williams, PIT (3rd overall)
3B - Harry Steinfeldt, CIN
SS - Honus Wagner, PIT (4th overall)
LF - Joe Kelley, ATL (5th overall)
CF - Bill Lange, CHN (6th overall)
RF - Harry Lumley, LAD


AL Batter of the Year




AL Pitcher of the Year




AL Rookie of the Year

This was an incredibly close race between Collins and teammate Ed Lennox (.276, 42 HR, 153 RBI, 107 R). The vote came down to the wire and more voters preferred Collins' high batting average, walks and stolen bases to Lennox's power and the fact that he was the first player since the inaugural 1876 season to surpass 150 RBI.




AL Fireman Award




AL Gold Gloves
P - Eddie Cicotte, DET
C - Doc Powers, OAK (2nd overall)
1B - Jake Stahl, BOS (3rd overall)
2B - Harry Arndt, DET (2nd overall)
3B - Ed Lennox, OAK (rookie!)
SS - Joe Cassidy, MIN (3rd consecutive)
LF - Matty McIntyre, OAK
CF - Charlie Jones, BOS (5th overall)
RF - Zaza Harvey, CHW (3rd overall)

[darnoff]

1907 National League Rookies

For more than a decade, the incoming rookie classes have been very pitcher-heavy. There have been a few exceptions, of course, like Ty Cobb, Eddie Collins, Nap Lajoie and Mike Donlin. But for every superstar batter like these guys, there have been at least three potential superstar pitchers introduced over this time period. That changed this season, as several talented hitters will be debuting in 1907.

While we are seeing a major influx of talent this season that should finally force some of the older veterans to retire, I can't help but notice that the vast majority of batting talent is still heading to the National League. Granted, American League rookies like Cobb and Collins are exceptionally talented, but the AL as a whole is still quite talent starved when compared to the Senior Circuit, especially on the offensive front. That may not be the case if only half of the offensive talent over the past six offseasons was directed to the AL. Instead, only about a quarter of that talent (possibly less) has headed to the AL.

It is also worth noting that a large portion of the very top young talent over the past few seasons has been 20 or younger, with the best of the best debuting in their teens. That did not change this season as you will see some potential superstar teenagers getting their start in 1907. That says to me that we are seeing an official changing of the guard as the long-established stars of the late 19th century are winding up their superb, and lengthy, careers in favor of the next generation of MLB's "Deadball Era" stars.

I also want to mention that this may be the first time ever that every NL team was represented in the "top rookies" post.


Harry Coveleski, SP, Age 20, Phillies

With the quantity of talented pitchers currently in the league, Coveleski would rank as slightly above average. Due to the age of the Phillies staff, there is room for him in the bullpen. He will likely thrive there. The immediate question is whether or not he will settle into a middle relief role or if he will jump into a setup, or potentially even a closer, role. Current closer Bill Bernhard's best days are likely behind him, but after a disastrous 1905 season, he did bounce back in 1906 to post a 4-3 record with 38 saves and a strong 2.56 ERA. That will likely be enough to assure him another season as closer.




Larry Doyle, 2B, Age 20, Giants

One of San Francisco's few offensive strengths right now is the second base position held by Danny Murphy (.265, 35 HR, 116 RBI). However, the team is in desperate need of more offense like Doyle should provide. That means that Murphy may move to his secondary position of right field. The trick there is that right field is manned by 35-year-old Willie Keeler (.320, 23 HR, 89 RBI), a 5-time Gold Glover who surprisingly hit the most home runs of his career last season while also winning his 7th batting title. Needless to say, he is still in top form. The Giants need Doyle to play. The questions is where, and what trickle-down effect it will have on the rest of the roster.




Sam Frock, SP, Age 24, Braves

The Braves are in desperate need of more pitching help. They have starters, but they need a major bullpen upgrade. Frock will likely break the rotation, but that should in turn upgrade the bullpen. It is difficult to say who will move to the pen, but 31-year-old Bill Dinneen (12-9, 3.89 ERA), 30-year-old Vic Willis (15-12, 4.15 ERA) and even 37-year-old Kid Nichols (10-16, 4.08 ERA) are the most likely candidates. Although, the youngest starters on the team, Irv Young (16-7, 4.49 ERA) and Vive Lindaman (11-15, 4.93 ERA) struggled the most last season, so there's a chance that the team will keep their veterans in the rotation and slide a youngster to the bullpen for additional seasoning.




Ed Konetchy, 1B, Age 21, Cardinals

Koney is a superb defender with plenty of power. His addition will likely force former BoY Mike Donlin (.312, 30 HR, 99 RBI, 21 SB) to move to the outfield. To be fair, Donlin is actually an outfielder by trade. He was forced into the first baseman's role at the time of his debut due to the Cardinals glut of talented outfielders. The Cards still have plenty of talent in the outfield but Donlin will likely move to left field, squeezing out 1906 Rookie of the Year Red Murray (.252, 19 HR, 56 RBI, 28 SB in 433 AB), because right field is manned by future HOF'er Jimmy Bannon (.299, 31 HR, 109 RBI), who is still playing well at age 35.




Nick Maddox, SP, Age 20, Pirates

One of the toughest things to do in the current MLHR is break into Pittsburgh's pitching staff. The team has a large number of pitchers on their reserve roster who have not broken through, and probably never will. Luckily for Maddox, there are a few pitchers in their 30's who will probably be fighting to remain on the major league roster. Most likely, at least one of those pitchers will lose their battle. That means that Maddox should start his career in the bullpen, but a role in the rotation may not be that far away.




George McQuillan, SP, Age 21, Phillies

Unlike fellow Phillies rookie pitcher Coveleski, McQuillan is expected to take a rotation spot this season. Ralph Caldwell (9-15, 4.07 ERA) fizzled after a strong 1905 campaign, former ace Ned Garvin (10-13, 3.99 ERA) has been less reliable over the past two seasons, and rookie Lew Richie (12-14, 4.87 ERA) struggled in his debut. All this means that there is a good chance that McQuillan can crack the rotation this spring.




Fred Merkle, 1B, Age 18, Giants

First base has been unpredictable offensively for the Giants since HOF'er Dan Brouthers retired after the 1898 season. Last season, 32-year-old Tom McCreery (.257, 26 HR, 61 RBI) got a shot at the job and did well. With Merkle's arrival, McCreery will likely return to a super-sub role making routine starts at first base and all outfield positions if for no other reason than the fact that Merkle is a superior defender. With fellow rookie Larry Doyle's arrival at second base complicating the outfield assignments, McCreery may have difficulty finding playing time there as well. Of course, there is also the possibility of McCreery remaining as the primary first baseman initiallyto let Merkle get his feet wet. In that scenario, Merkle would be a defensive replacement in late innings and would get about a quarter (or more) of the starts.




Mike Mitchell, RF, Age 24, Reds

Mitchell is a solid all-around player. The Reds have a star in Sam Crawford (.303, 28 HR, 90 RBI) in right field so Mitchell will likely be battling 34-year-old Kip Selbach (.256, 13 HR, 59 RBI) for playing time in left. While Mitchell is a fine defender, most of his experience is in right whereas Selbach is skilled defensively in left and won the 1901 Gold Glove there. Mitchell's transition to left field will make for an interesting saga to watch as the season unfolds.




Dode Paskert, CF, Age 24, Reds

As if the Reds outfield wasn't already crowded, along comes Paskert. While fellow Reds rookie outfielder Mitchell is battling for time in left field, Paskert has a tougher hill to climb in unseating 31-year-old Jimmy Barrett (.251, 18 HR, 59 RBI) in center, where he won the 1904 Gold Glove. Fortunately for Paskert, centerfielders with his defensive skill are tough to find in MLHR. Unfortunately for him, Barrett is one of those few fielders with the range and talent to play center field well. That said, Barrett's offensive production slipped last season and Paskert is younger and faster. They may split time initially with the better performer slowly taking on more playing time as the season progresses.




Nap Rucker, SP, Age 22, Dodgers

With veteran Joe McGinnity (10-15, 4.44 ERA) and 26-year-old Harry McIntire (6-11, 5.65 ERA) struggling the past two seasons, Rucker likely has the inside track on a rotation spot in L.A. this year. He will be a welcome addition to the rotation, but the Dodgers are in desperate need of additional help for their last-placed offense.




Bill Sweeney, 2B, Age 20, Cubs

Sweeney and fellow rookie Zimmerman (see below) present an interesting quandary for the two-time defending champion Cubs. They have had solid, but perhaps unspectacular, offensive production from their infield the past two seasons and reliable defense. The question for Sweeney is whether or not he begins his career in a backup role, getting regular starts at both second base, where he excels, and shortstop, or if he takes a starting spot from either second baseman Johnny Evers (.269, 11 HR, 60 RBI) or shortstop Joe Tinker (.276, 14 HR, 61 RBI, 12 SB) right away. My guess is that he will be eased into the job and the team will eventually make him a regular in 1908 at whichever position he can provide the biggest upgrade.




Heinie Zimmerman, 3B, Age 19, Cubs

Like Sweeney, Zimmerman is trying to break into a reliable infield for a team coming off consecutive World Series victories - not an easy task. That said, Zimmerman's offensive potential will likely be too intriguing for Chicago to ignore. While 30-year-old Sammy Strang (.267, 24 HR, 81 RBI, 33 SB) had a breakout offensive performance last season, it is unlikely that he can duplicate that level of power. Therefore, Zimmerman will likely get the starting nod on opening day while Strang will get regular playing time at third, right field and other positions. However, Strang will be poised to retake the job if the youngster struggles.

[darnoff]

1907 American League Rookies

Heinie Berger, SP, Age 24, Indians

The Indians are built on pitching, and Berger will only improve this team strength. He has a shot at breaking into the rotation, especially since former RoY Charlie Smith (8-13, 5.35 ERA) struggled so much last season. If Smith moves to the bullpen, that unit should be improved which they need after finishing 6th in the AL last season. However, Cleveland once again failed to address their offensive needs. Like Oakland last year, if the Indians could add some potent offense, they would become a bonafide pennant contender.




Walter Johnson, SP, Age 19, Twins

Johnson is ranked on baseball-reference.com as the #1 pitcher of all time, and I have to agree. In fact, he is also my favorite player from this era, so I am excited to see him join the league. The Twins have been known as an offense-only team since the first American League season in 1901. That season just happened to end with the Twins winning the first AL pennant. However, they have not finished higher than 3rd place since and they have not had a winning season in two years. The rest of the AL is steadily improving, so Johnson alone may not make this team an instant pennant contender. However, he is a star in the making and is a considerable upgrade over the 5th-best starter that will now be moved to the bullpen, likely 34-year-old Al Orth (10-12, 4.51 ERA). The other good news is that Minnesota's offense is good enough to provide Johnson plenty of support, which means he should have quite a bit of success.




Tris Speaker, CF, Age 18, Red Sox

Speaker is another huge batting star to join the AL ranks over the past three seasons. He will compete with Detroit's Ty Cobb in all sorts of batting categories. Speaker is, after all, the MLB all-time leader in doubles and he should have similar success in MLHR. He is also a superb fielder who should challenge Cobb for Gold Gloves year in and year out. And that's especially good news for Boston since Speaker will be taking over the starting center field job from light-hitting Charlie Jones (.244, 10 HR, 48 RBI, 12 SB), who has won every American League Gold Glove award in center field since the AL debuted in 1901 except for one won by Cobb in 1905.




Elmer Steele, SP, Age 20, Red Sox

As the Red Sox hope to finally contend for the pennant, Steele provides them with a much needed top of the rotation starter alongside the dependable arms of George Winter (16-9, 2.67 ERA) and Nick Altrock (9-14, 3.44 ERA). The addition of Steele and centerfielder Speaker should be the impetus Boston needs to move forward and challenge mighty Oakland for American League supremacy. However, it looks like they will be joined in that race by Detroit, Minnesota and possibly Cleveland and New York in what should be a tough season.

[darnoff]

1907 Key Retirees - Batters


Charlie Frank, LF, Cardinals

Frank was a threat in the Cardinals lineup, often batting 4th or 5th, for many seasons. He was the 1893 Rookie of the Year. He finished in the Top 10 in home runs three times, RBI three times, walks three times, batting average four times, OBP six times, SLG five times, OPS six times and WAR four times.




Mike Grady, C, Phillies

Grady was the primary catcher for Philadelphia through most of their dynasty years. He ranked in the Top 10 in triples twice - not bad for a catcher!




Billy Hamilton, CF, Phillies

Hamilton was one of the most disruptive forces on the base paths and perhaps the most adept at reaching base in the history on MLHR. He won the 1891 BoY Award and three consecutive Gold Gloves in center field from 1888-1890. He led the league in stolen bases eight times, runs scored eight times, walks eight times, OBP five times, WAR twice and triples once. He also won two batting titles in 1896 and 1897. He is the all-time MLHR leader in runs (2041), stolen bases (1129), walks (1899) and OBP (.404).




Hughie Jennings, SS, Dodgers

Jennings was a 7-time Gold Glove winner at perhaps the most demanding position - shortstop. He also retired as the all-time leader among shortstops in hits (2686). He finished in the Top 10 in hits eight times, doubles four times, triples eight times, stolen bases thirteen times, runs twice and WAR eight times.




Bill Joyce, 1B, Dodgers

Joyce was the 1890 RoY and 1894 BoY. He was known as a low average, high power, high strikeout guy but he also had a keen ability to draw walks. He was the most intimidating batter in the Dodgers lineup for about 16 years and is one of only seven players to eclipse the 500 home run plateau. He led the league in home runs four times and finished in the Top 10 an impressive 15 times. He also led the league in walks and slugging once each, OPS twice and yes, even strikeouts twice. He finished in the Top 10 in OBP eight times, which is particularly impressive when you consider his lifetime batting average was just .251.




Mike Smith, RF, Pirates

Smith was an understated but integral part of the Pirates roster for an impressive 21 seasons. He surpassed the 3,000 hit mark giving him the most of any right fielder. He also leads all right fielders in runs (1748) and walks (1520) by a significant margin - almost doubling the next highest right field total in walks. He also leads all right fielders in career stolen bases and strikeouts. He led the league in OBP and OPS in 1887. He also finished in the Top 10 in triples six times, stolen bases seven times, runs five times, walks twelve times, batting average twice, OBP six times, and OPS twice.





Joe Sullivan, SS/2B, Phillies

Sullivan was a bench player throughout the heart of Philly's dynasty years. He was known for his bat much more than for his glove and in 1904 he had his moment in the spotlight. He began that season among the batting race leaders and most people expected him to fade as the season wore on. He did not, instead finishing second with an impressive .323 average, not to mention 21 HR and 80 RBI.




Bobby Wallace, SS, Cardinals

Known strictly for his glove, Wallace manned the shortstop position in St. Louis for thirteen seasons, although he won only one Gold Glove. He finished in the Top 10 in strikeouts seven times.

[darnoff]

1907 Key Retirees - Pitchers


Frank Killen, Pirates

Led the league in losses in 1893. Ranked in the Top 10 in holds four times, innings twice, strikeouts three times, K/BB three times, BB/9 twice, complete games three times and WAR twice, but also in home runs allowed three times.




Billy Rhines, Reds

Led the league with an impressive six shutouts in 1891 - tying him with four other pitchers for the 3rd highest single season total - but later led the league with 22 losses in 1894 before moving to the bullpen. He ranked in the Top 10 in losses seven times and walks allowed twice but also holds three times, innings twice, fewest HR/9 seven times and WAR four times.




Jack Stivetts, Braves

Finished in the Top 10 in wins twice, losses twice, winning percentage three times, holds six times, most home runs allowed six times, ERA twice, fewest BB/9 twice and quality starts three times.




Cy Young, Cardinals

I've said before that this is my third historical replay with Cy Young and he has never turned out to be a superstar in any of them. He was a bit of an enigma for the MLHR Cardinals - dominant some years but slightly above league average in most. He did lead the league in winning percentage once, innings three times, most home runs allowed twice, strikeouts once, WHIP three times, K/BB five times, fewest RA/9 twice, fewest BB/9 three times, most K/9 once, quality starts once, complete games twice and shutouts once. He also won the 1897 ERA title (2.42) and finished in the Top 10 in WAR an impressive ten times. Some say he was robbed of the 1897 Pitcher of the Year Award when he led the league in ERA and VORP (72.0) due to only recording 14 wins and finishing 3rd in WAR to the actual PoY Kid Nichols (17-13, 2.66 ERA, 8.1 WAR) and Rookie of the Year Rube Waddell (16-7, 2.55 ERA, 8.0 WAR).

[darnoff]

1907 Hall of Fame Induction


Denny Lyons, 3B, Dodgers

3107 H, 563 doubles, 39 triples, 538 HR, 1770 R, 1807 RBI, 1526 BB, 2794 K, 76 SB, .270 AVG, .356 OBP, .466 SLG, .822 OPS, 11514 AB, 3110 G

1 ROY
1 GG
4 Pennants

All-time leaderboards: Hits (4th), RBI (4th), Doubles (5th), Runs (5th), Walks (5th), Strikeouts (5th), Home Runs (6th), OPS (11th)


Bill Vinton, SP, Phillies

307-217, .586 Win%, 680 G, 667 GS, 4876.1 IP, 161 CG, 35 SHO, 1692 BB, 3.12 BB/9, 4136 K, 7.63 K/9, 4375 HA, 359 HRA, 3.44 ERA, 1.24 WHIP

3 POY
10 Pennants

All-time leaderboards: Wins (1st), Games Started (1st), Complete Games (1st), Innings (1st), VORP (1st), WAR (1st), Shutouts (4th), OSLG (10th)


Ben Sanders, SP, Phillies

275-177, .608 Win%, 569 G, 542 GS, 4054.1 IP, 153 CG, 36 SHO, 842 BB, 1.87 BB/9, 2581 K, 5.73 K/9, 3854 HA, 325 HRA, 3.39 ERA, 1.16 WHIP

3 POY
10 Pennants

All-time leaderboards: Shutouts (T-2nd), Wins (3rd), Win% (3rd), Complete Games (3rd), Innings (4th), VORP (4th), OOBP (4th), WAR (5th), Games Started (6th), WHIP (6th), OOPS (9th), ERA (10th), BB/9 (11th)

[darnoff]

1907 NL Preseason Predictions

According to my ratings below, the National League pennant race will be much tighter this season. The two-time defending champion Cubs are the preseason favorites. Their biggest perceived weakness is their pitching rotation. That unit has over-performed in recent seasons and they should come back to earth at some point. The difference maker for those pitchers is the fact that the Cubs maintain the best defense in the league. They also have the top offense in just about every aspect and one of the top bullpens around.

The Pirates really believe that they should be the preseason favorites, and they are not alone in that belief. They have a top notch pitching staff, bolstered by the addition of rookie Nick Maddox (7-6-6 ratings) to the rotation. Their offense will need to replicate it's strong performance from last season in order to unseat Chicago.

The Reds and Cardinals made some key offensive additions this offseason and both teams feel like they are poised to challenge for the pennant after disappointing seasons a year ago. Both teams are very similar with the primary difference being St. Louis' superior offense compared to Cincinnati's superior defense.

The Phillies feel like they can surprise some people this season. They should remain in the mix but they are more likely to wind up a few wins above .500. They're feeling good thanks to the upgrade of their rotation with rookies George McQuillan (6-6-7 ratings) and Harry Coveleski (6-6-6 ratings).

The Giants and Dodgers made some upgrades as well. San Fran would probably be competitive if it were not for the their bullpen woes and a defense that negatively impacts their (mostly) talented pitching rotation. As for LA, their offense is borderline pathetic but they are solid in all other aspects.

There has been a NL-wide degradation in talent over the past 2-3 seasons due to the bulk of players showing signs of age. While the NL is still more talented as a whole than the AL, that aging factor will play a part in the World Series very soon, if not this season. It can also be seen in the fact that so many NL teams are bunched together in the preseason ratings, not to mention the fact that overall team ratings are dropping. Case in point are the Braves, who have scored one of the lowest scores for an NL team in perhaps a decade or more. They still have a talented offense, but three of their everyday hitters are aged 34+ and two more are aged 30 and 31. While their pitching staff has gotten younger in recent seasons, there is still a lack of depth because of several recent retirements as well as the fact that former ace Kid Nichols (10-16, 4.08 ERA) is now 37. Their window for winning a pennant with their once-powerful offense has probably closed.


Predicted Standings
(Scale of 1-12)

Rank	Team	Rotation	Bullpen	Offense	Bench	Speed	Defense	Totals	Grade
1	Chicago Cubs	6	8	9	9	9	9	8.1	B+
2	Pittsburgh Pirates	8	9	8	6	6	8	7.9	B+
3	Cincinnati Reds	8	7	7	8	6	9	7.6	B
4	St. Louis Cardinals	8	7	8	7	7	7	7.5	B
5	Philadelphia Phillies	7	7	6	7	6	9	7.1	B-
6	San Francisco Giants	7	4	6	8	7	6	6.2	C
7	Los Angeles Dodgers	6	7	3	7	5	8	5.8	C-
8	Atlanta Braves	7	4	6	6	5	3	5.3	D+

MLB results for the NL in 1907

Champs: Chicago Cubs, (107-45, .704)
World Series: Cubs defeated Tigers 4-0

Combined WAR: Honus Wagner, Pirates, 9.7
Offensive WAR: Honus Wagner, Pirates, 9.0
Defensive WAR: Johnny Evers, Cubs, 3.3
Batting Title: Honus Wagner, Pirates, .350
Runs: Spike Shannon, Giants, 104
RBI: Sherry Magee, Phillies, 85
SB: Honus Wagner, Pirates, 61
OPS+: Honus Wagner, Pirates, 187
AB/HR: Harry Lumley, Dodgers, 50.4

Pitching WAR: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 7.6
Win%: Ed Reulbach, Cubs, .810
WHIP: Mordecai Brown, Cubs, 0.944
K/9: Red Ames, Giants, 5.631
Innings: Stoney McGlynn, Cardinals, 352.1
Shutouts: Orval Overall, Cubs and Christy Mathewson, Giants, 8
K/BB: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 3.359
ERA+: Jack Pfiester, Cubs, 216
FIP: K/BB: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 1.78


MLHR Milestone Watch

3500 Hits
Ed Delahanty, PHI, Age 40, 3409 Hits

3000 Hits
John McGraw, STL, Age 33, 2914 Hits

2500 Hits
Jesse Burkett, SFG, Age 38, 2485 Hits
Jack Doyle, STL, Age 37, 2477 Hits
Jimmy Bannon, STL, Age 35, 2406 Hits

400 Home Runs
Jimmy Bannon, STL, Age 35, 386 HR

2000 Runs
Ed Delahanty, PHI, Age 40, 1962 Runs

1500 Runs
Joe Kelley, ATL, Age 35, 1476 Runs
George Davis, STL, Age 36, 1476 Runs
Jake Stenzel, CHN, Age 39, 1434 Runs

1500 RBI
Jimmy Bannon, STL, Age 35, 1456 RBI

600 Stolen Bases
Joe Kelley, ATL, Age 35, 555 SB

200 Wins
Jimmy Callahan, PHI, Age 33, 190 Wins

3000 Strikeouts
Rube Waddell, PIT, Age 31, 2894 K's

2500 Strikeouts
Jesse Tannehill, CIN, Age 32, 2462 K's
Jimmy Callahan, PHI, Age 33, 2315 K's

700 Games Pitched
Jack Taylor, SFG, Age 33, 652 Games

600 Games Pitched
Frank Kitson, LAD, Age 32, 595 Games
Red Donahue, SFG, Age 34, 565 Games
Jack Powell, STL, Age 32, 563 Games
Kid Nichols, ATL, Age 37, 560 Games

[darnoff]

1907 AL Preseason Predictions

Despite a brief scare late in the season, the Athletics were dominant in 1906 and had the best regular season of any AL team yet. Nothing has really changed this season except for the fact that Eddie Plank (15-9, 2.32 ERA), a two-time AL PoY and the very first AL RoY, has become the first AL superstar to turn 30. He still sits atop the best rotation in the league and arguably the best in the MLHR. However, Plank and the A's are beginning the see the offensive production of the AL steadily improve, and while the A's made some major offensive upgrades last season, they could have used another bat or two to really round them off and put them on par with any NL team they might face in the World Series.

But that did not happen. Instead, the consistently under-producing Red Sox made some major upgrades with the addition of Elmer Steele (6-6-8 ratings) to the rotation and centerfielder Tris Speaker (9-10-7-7-9 ratings) and third baseman Harry Lord (6-5-3-5-7 ratings) to the offense. The team hopes that Speaker's presence can transform the team into a pennant favorite the way that Ty Cobb's addition did for the Tigers in 1905 and Eddie Collins' addition did for the A's in 1906. Speaker and Lord are upgrading two of the weakest offensive positions for the Red Sox, as well.

Boston has been consistently ranked much higher in the preseason than they finish in the real season. Therefore, I am very hesitant to proclaim them as pennant favorites, as my ratings below suggest, especially when you consider how dominant Oakland was last year. In my opinion, the Red Sox should finally become a true pennant contender this season but they will most likely be battling Detroit - and perhaps Minnesota - for second place to the A's.

Speaking of Detroit, they failed to address a mediocre pitching rotation and their overall team defense is still negatively affecting an already shaking pitching staff. However, they should continue to boost their offense with the addition of slugging rookie catcher Tex Erwin (5-3-7-6-7 ratings) this winter. That also allows them to move second baseman Harry Arndt (.248, 14 HR, 94 RBI) from 5th in the lineup to 2nd, which better suits his skill set.

Not to be forgotten, the Twins added perhaps the best pitcher in MLHR history - or at least they hope he will be - in "The Big Train" Walter Johnson (8-8-8 ratings). While the rest of the Twins rotation is mediocre, Johnson alone raised the preseason rating of the rotation from 4 to 6 (on a scale of 1-12). That's a pretty big impact for a single player to make. Of course, Twins fans hope that Johnson can carry the team to the pennant much like Red Sox fans hope that Speaker can do for them. No pressure, right! Well, the Twins have long had one of the more productive offenses in the league so it will be fun to watch what they can do when Johnson's on the mound.

While the Indians surprised many with a 82-80 season last year, it is unlikely that they can do that again when you consider that they have yet again made no upgrades to their offense or defense while so many other teams are improving around them. On the other hand, I was very surprised to see the Yankees struggle with 90 losses last season after upgrading their pitching staff just a year after upgrading their offense. Well, they've done it again this season with the addition of rookie Bobby Keefe (6-6-6 ratings) to the pitching rotation and fellow rookies Tacks Neuer (8-6-5 ratings), Rube Manning (6-6-6 ratings) and Roy Castleton (5-6-6 ratings) to the bullpen. The Yankees are believed to have the best bullpen in the AL now. Neuer would be a closer candidate on many other AL teams, but in New York he is 3rd in line behind current closer Walter Clarkson (5-3, 37 Sv, 2.28 ERA) and setup man Ambrose Puttman (9-5, 2.31 ERA). If they could add just a little more offense, they might find themselves on the right side of .500 for the first time ever.


Predicted Standings
(Scale of 1-12)

Rank	Team	Rotation	Bullpen	Offense	Bench	Speed	Defense	Totals	Grade
1	Boston Red Sox	7	7	9	8	7	11	8.4	B+
2	Oakland Athletics	8	7	9	8	6	10	8.3	B+
3	Minnesota Twins	6	5	7	8	6	11	7.2	B-
4	Detroit Tigers	6	7	11	4	6	4	6.9	B-
5	New York Yankees	7	8	4	9	7	8	6.7	C+
6	Baltimore Orioles	6	6	7	8	6	4	6.0	C
7	Cleveland Indians	8	5	3	7	4	5	5.3	C-
8	Chicago White Sox	6	3	2	4	6	6	4.5	D

MLB results for the AL in 1908

Champs: Detroit Tigers, (92-58, .613)
World Series: Cubs defeated Tigers 4-0

Combined WAR: Nap Lajoie, Naps (Indians), 7.6
Offensive WAR: Ty Cobb, Tigers, 6.5
Defensive WAR: Nap Lajoie, Naps (Indians), 3.3
Batting Title: Ty Cobb, Tigers, .350
Runs: Sam Crawford, Tigers, 102
RBI: Ty Cobb, Tigers, 119
SB: Ty Cobb, Tigers, 53
OPS+: Ty Cobb, Tigers, 167
AB/HR: Harry Davis, Athletics, 72.8

Pitching WAR: Ed Walsh, White Sox, 7.7
Win%: Bill Donovan, Tigers, .862
WHIP: Cy Young, Red Sox, 0.982
K/9: Rube Waddell, Athletics, 7.335
Innings: Ed Walsh, White Sox, 422.1
Shutouts: Eddie Plank, Athletics, 8
K/BB: Doc White, White Sox, 3.711
ERA+: Ed Walsh, White Sox, 150
FIP: K/BB: Rube Waddell, Athletics, 1.57

[darnoff]

NL Mid-Season Report

Well, the Phillies have accomplished Mission #1 which was to surprise the rest of the NL and be in first place at the mid-point of the season. Pitching and defense has been their formula. Doc White (10-2, 2.52 ERA) is having the best season of his career at age 28, and rookie Harry Coveleski (12-3, 2.95 ERA) is having a superb debut. Closer Bill Bernhard (0-5, 26 Sv, 1.99 ERA) has been dominant out of the bullpen. The offense, which should be more of their strength, has been somewhat sluggish, ranking just 5th in runs scored. If that unit can increase production, the Phillies will have a leg up on accomplishing Mission #2, which is capturing the pennant.

The two-time defending champion Cubs have been hot as of late and are currently just a half-game behind Philadelphia and will provide the stiffest competition going forward. Rookie third baseman Heinie Zimmerman (.309, 26 HR, 65 RBI) is slugging the ball at an unexpected rate, which is huge for the Cubbies since three-time BoY Bill Lange (.253, 13 HR, 44 RBI, 11 SB), who turned 36 in June, has struggled to live up to his lofty standards so far.

Cincinnati has also warmed up over the past month and sits a respectable 5 1/2 games behind the Phillies. They are basically around league average in all offensive, pitching and defensive categories, with offense and defense being their primary strength so far. The offensive success has been a bit surprising, but they will need their pitching staff - especially the 5th ranked bullpen - to improve if they hope to have any shot at the pennant.

Pittsburgh's record is baffling. They sit 6 games behind the Phillies at just 6 games above .500. Meanwhile, they are ranked 1st in most offensive categories, 2nd in most pitching categories and 2nd in defense. They need to find a way to get it done in the second half. With the talent on this roster, there really is no excuse for them not to be at the top of the standings. Just about the entire offense is having a good season. The team would like to see some improvement from a few members of the starting rotation, particularly Jack Pfiester (5-9, 4.57 ERA), but they believe that will happen and they can make a run.

Here are two interesting facts I have noticed this season:

First, Atlanta's Buck Freeman (.287, 34 HR, 82 RBI), who moved from right field to first base this season, is having another phenomenal start to the season. Just two years ago he had 33 home runs at the halfway point in the season but hit just 16 in the second half en route to a career high 49. This season, he has 34 homers at the halfway point with a slightly higher batting average. He is on pace to hit 66 dingers - and drive in 160 RBI for a 7th place team by the way - but no one expects that to happen. I do wonder if he will become the first player in 22 seasons to reach the 50 HR plateau.

In San Francisco, I have watched in disappointment as Christy Mathewson (4-5, 4.44 ERA) has gotten off to the worst start of his career. I looked further, trying to determine the cause, and I noticed that opposing batters have recorded an ugly .351 BABIP (batting average on balls in play) against Mathewson and the Giants defense. I blame a lot of this on that defense and their lack of range. His career BABIP is .310, well above league average, which lends credence to the theory that even in OOTP, defense counts. We can compare Mathewson's season to the one that Walter Johnson is having in the AL, since they have similar ratings (although Johnson's are better) but Minnesota has a considerably better defense.


Standings




Batting Leaders




Pitching Leaders