Baseball in Boston -- 1901 & Beyond

[OmahaBaseball]

Player batting stats, sorted by WAR. I love the production I am getting from Fred Clarke (.330/.389/.436; 4.2 WAR), Frank Chance (.282/.352/.375; 4.8 WAR), and Bill Lange (.281/.338/.448; 3.7 WAR; 37 XBH). My infielders are doing okay, but the fact that not a single one of the starters has an OPS above .700 is concerning. I may need to shake things up there. I have mentioned this in my posts, but I struggle to know how to use Homer Smoot. He has the makings of being a good player, but I just cannot bring myself to replace Chick Stahl in the outfield. I need to do something though, because I feel like I am wasting talent here.

[OmahaBaseball]

Player pitching stats sorted by innings pitched. Overall, I am happy with the results and believe the tandem of Hahn and Lush will carry the team for many years. Despite the .500% record, Lush has pitched very well. Specifically, his ERA, WHIP, OAVG, and BAPIP leads the team. Once he can get his control issues sorted out, he is going to be dominant. The backend of the rotation is producing, but I am starting to look at replacement talent as Leever is now into his 30's.

[OmahaBaseball]

A look at MLB standings heading into the month of July. Rather interesting distribution in the National League, as 5 of the 8 teams have double-digit "games behind" totals. The home vs. road record of the Cardinals is something, and the Phillies are dominant in 1-run games.

[OmahaBaseball]

A snapshot of how the teams' financials are faring in the 1904 season. I have the Americans sitting 1st in attendance and 10th in payroll. With that said, I have 3 players (Clarke, Chance, and Hahn) in the Top 10 of season player salaries so as they age (and performance decreases), will need to look at moving.

[OmahaBaseball]

A fairly light month in the way of player development changes.

[OmahaBaseball]

Eugene Lumberjacks outfielder Bob Unglaub picked up the Batter of the Month award after batting .417 (50 for 120) with 9 Doubles, 1 Triple, 3 Homeruns, 27 Runs, 20 RBIs, 4 Walks, and 5 Stolen bases which was good for a slashline of .417/.432/.583 that generated 1.8 WAR. This is Unglaub's 2nd BofM award of his career. Clearly it is time for me to advance him up a level.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...nglabo01.shtml
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[OmahaBaseball]

What a dominant month of pitching for Eugene Lumberjacks pitcher Ralph Caldwell who picked up his 2nd career Pitcher of the Month award. On the month, Caldwell posted a 5-0 record with a 1.32 ERA in 47 2/3 innings of play. Like his teammate Bob Unglaub, it is time to move Caldwell up a level.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...aldwra01.shtml
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[OmahaBaseball]

What a whirlwind season it has been for pitcher Joe Turner. Signed out of the independent leagues to a minor-league contract by the Philadelphia Athletics, not much was expected out of the hard-tossing lefty. Whether it was a mechanical change, a does of good luck, or a little divine intervention, something clicked and Turner was given the chance to play at the Majors. In picking up his 1st AL Rookie of the Month award, Turner posted a 3-4 record with a 1.90 ERA in 61 2/3 innings of play. Turner is currently rated as the #10 prospect in MLB.

[OmahaBaseball]

New York Giants pitcher Ed Walsh took home his 1st National League Rookie of the Month award after posting a 6-1 record with a 0.80 ERA in 56 innings of play. Walsh was often dominant in his outings, limiting the opposition to just 5 earned runs while striking out 42 batters and walking just 7 during the month. His efforts generated 2.2 WAR for the month.

[OmahaBaseball]

Washington Senators infielder Duff Cooley earned his 1st career American League Batter of the Month award. In picking up the honors, Cooley batted .351 (33 for 94) with 9 Doubles, 2 Triples, 1 Homerun, 17 Runs, 20 RBIs, and 5 Walks for a slashline of .351/.384/.521 that resulted in 1.7 WAR on the month.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...ooledu01.shtml
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[OmahaBaseball]

Cincinnati Reds veteran 3rd baseman Bill Joyce put together a special month, as he smashed the ball to the tune of a .297 batting average (27 for 91) with 10 Doubles, 3 Triples, 3 Homeruns, 27 Runs, 8 RBIs, 14 Walks, and 7 Stolen Bases for a slashline of .297/.440/.571 that generated 2.2 WAR. This is Joyce's first career National League Batter of the Month award.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...oycebi01.shtml
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[OmahaBaseball]

A very nice month for Detroit Tigers ace Doc White. In picking up his 5th career American League Pitcher of the Month award, White posted a 5-2 record with a 1.97 ERA in 64 innings of play.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...hitedo01.shtml
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[OmahaBaseball]

As previously noted, Ed Walsh had an outstanding month. Taking home the National League Pitcher of the Month award validates just how dialed in Walsh was this month.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...alshed01.shtml
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[OmahaBaseball]

The New York Giants parted with 22-year old pitcher Tad Quinn (6-3, 2.30 ERA in 70.1 innings with 1.8 WAR at Triple-A; former Top-50 prospect), sending the reliever to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for 24-year old catcher Claude Berry (.293/.374/.390 in 294 PA, 1.9 WAR at Double-A) and 37-year old third baseman Charlie Reilly (.287/.396/.398 in 207 PA, 1.8 WAR at Triple-A).

[OmahaBaseball]

The list of international free agents is out. I may dip my toe into the Gomez negotiations, but don't see myself going overboard in effort to obtain him. I have requested an updated scouting report on Alexander, Hernandez, and Vega.

[OmahaBaseball]

With a solid pitching outing from Johnny Lush, the Boston Americans (47-36) topped the New York Highlanders (41-42) by a 4 to 2 score. The victory keeps the Americans in a 1st-place tie with the Washington Senators (47-36).

Lush (11-10) picked up the win by limiting the opposition to 2 runs (0 earned) on just 3 hits, 3 walks, and 2 wild pitches while striking out 6 on a total of 147 pitches; Game Score 80. Barney Wolfe (9-9) was tagged with the loss after he allowed 4 runs (1 earned) on 9 hits and 1 walk; Game Score 60. The defenses for both teams did not help their pitchers.

The hit distribution was nicely spread today for Boston, as they received support from Chick Stahl (2 for 4, Triple, Run), Kid Elberfeld (2 for 3, Walk), Frank Chance (1 for 4, Homerun, Run, RBI), and Johnny Lush (1 for 4, Run, RBI). Otto Krueger (1 for 3, Run, Sacrifice Bunt) was the bright-spot for the Highlanders.

Player of the Game: Johnny Lush (Season: #13 / Career: #13)

[OmahaBaseball]

What a special day for Cleveland Naps pitcher Watty Lee. To the great delight of the 5,698 fans in attendance, Lee (12-8) tossed a No-Hitter shutout in which he allowed 4 walks and 1 hit batsman in his 113-pitch gem; Game Score 85. This is the 3rd No-Hitter in MLB history.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/p.../leewa01.shtml
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[OmahaBaseball]

This was a solid win for Boston over a good Detroit team, and was a nice display for the 7,767 fans in attendance. In what turned out to be a low-offense affair, the Boston Americans (48-36) beat the visiting Detroit Tigers (44-40) by a 3 to 1 score. With the victory, Boston remains in a 1st-place tie for the American League race.

Jesse Tannehill (10-10) made the most of the situation, but allowing just 1 earned run on 4 hits in his 101-pitch outing; Game Score 78. The victory snapped a 3-game consecutive start losing streak. Nixey Callahan (9-11) was tagged with the loss after he allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits, 1 walk, and 1 wild pitch in 8 innings of play; Game Score 61.

While offense was limited for both teams, there were a few performances that warrant some attention. For the Americans, Bill Lange (1 for 3, Triple, Run, Sacrifice Bunt), Danny Shay (2 for 4, Double, Run), and Frank Chance (1 for 3, Double) played well, while the Tigers were led by Mike Donlin (1 for 3, Homerun, Run, RBI) and Jack McCarthy (1 for 3, Double).

Player of the Game: Jesse Tannehill (Season: #9 / Career: #67)

[OmahaBaseball]

I placed Ambrose Puttmann on the trading block several months ago, but had failed to draw interest from other teams. Out of the blue, the Brooklyn Superbas sent me trade offer for Puttmann; one that I felt okay to accept.

The trade details worked out so that the Boston Americans dealt 23-year old pitcher Ambrose Puttman (18 Wins at MLB 1903, 5-0 record with 1.76 ERA and 1.9 WAR in 61.1 IP at Double-A this season; former #23 ranked prospect) to the Brooklyn Superbas in return for 20-year old SS Gil Ybarra (recently promoted from international complex, former #59 ranked prospect), 27-year old 2B She Donahue (3rd round selection 1903 draft), and 24-year old C Jack Coveney (5th round selection in 1902 draft).

On its face, the trade favors the Superbas as Puttman was an MLB starter that accumulated 18 wins last year. Despite that success, I don't see him having the goods to make it given his low stamina (3 on a 1-10 scale) and questionable control (3/4 on 1-10 scale). My scout sees Puttman as bullpen material and I saw an opportunity to pick up minor-league infield help. If I am wrong, then I will deal these chips down the road.

[OmahaBaseball]

What an odd game. Despite chasing All-Star pitcher Doc White after scoring 11 runs on 15 hits, the game was pushed into extra-innings and ultimately won by the Detroit Tigers (45-40) by a 12 to 11 score over the Boston Americans (48-37). The loss, coupled to another Washington win (8th in a row), drops Boston into 2nd-place in the American League standings.

In a game that saw both starters getting roughed up and sloppy defensive play, the pitching lines were not pretty. For the Tigers, Doc White went 7 1/3 innings in which he allowed 11 runs (9 earned) on 15 hits, 4 walks, 1 wild pitch, and 1 hit batsman on a total of 149-pitches; Game Score 6. Jim St. Vrain was tagged with a blown save (2nd of season) as he allowed both of the inherited runners to score in his 1 2/3 innings of work. Kaiser Wilhelm (1-0) picked up the victory for his 2 innings of scoreless, 1-hit ball.

For the Americans, Sam Leever lasted 5 1/3 innings before he was removed from the game; allowing 9 runs (7 earned) on 9 hits and 2 walks in his 104-pitch effort; Game Score 18. Jose Ramos pitched 1 2/3 innings in which he allowed 1 of 2 inherited runners to score, as well as allowed an additional earned run on 3 hits. Oscar Jones (0-1) took the loss after permitting 2 earned runs on 5 hits and 1 walk in 4 innings of play.

There was no shortage of offense in this game. The Detroit Tigers were led by Tom O'Brien (2 for 6, Homerun, 2 Runs, 4 RBIs, Stolen Base), Charlie Hickman (2 for 5, Double, 3 Runs, Walk), Roger Bresnahan (4 for 5, 2 Runs, RBI, Sacrifice Bunt), and Freddy Parent (2 for 3, 3 Runs, 3 Stolen Bases, Sacrifice Bunt). On the other side of the field, the Boston Americans' offense was powered by Dave Brain (3 for 6, 4 Runs, 2 RBIs, 3 Stolen Bases), Solly Hofman (4 for 6, 2 Doubles, 3 RBIs), Frank Chance (3 for 6, 2 Runs, RBI), and Danny Shay (2 for 5, Run, Walk, Hit-by-Pitch).

Player of the Game: Dave Brain (Season: #1 / Career: #6)