The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Left on Base percentage, 1910 season to date

[luckymann]

Little to report, both races still alive.

News / awards / standings.

[luckymann]

We finish the season in an entirely appropriate manner for the worst campaign in franchise history, going 12-20 to come out in 5th place at 71-83.



While the offence has been outstanding all year, the pitching is just in terrible shape, and it is telling that we had just 4 shutouts all season, by far the lowest of any team. Our team ERA is 15th of 16 in the entire league, with only the Doves’ 3.61 worse than our 3.25 The defence is even worse, ranking dead last with an abhorrent minus 54 Fielding Runs.

After beginning the year 6-0, Rube Vickers went an ugly 3-17 for the remainder and is a real concern going forward. Louis Drucke is not a starter, and will take on a key reliever role from this point on.




Redeeming features? Campbell and Carey. Herzog confirming his star status. The time-defiant Wagner. Adams and Dismukes also looked OK. That is about it. Is it enough to build on? Perhaps, but the offseason will be key.

The Cubs and Sens clinch in relatively comfortable fashion to set up a World Series rematch. The Red Sox try hard and, despite coming up short, should be proud of their turnaround.



Ty Cobb wins his fourth AL batting crown in four tries with a 372 BA, while Brooklyn rookie Jake Daubert is the NL Champion, hitting 339. Vin Campbell finishes second in the NL with 12 home runs (behind Chicago outfielder Wildfire Schulte’s 17), while Honus’s 99 ribbies put him as runner-up to Philadelphia’s Jack Barry, who had 103.



Onto the World Series!

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Most wins in debut season

[luckymann]

Wins Probability Added, hitters - 1910 season

Wins Probability Added, pitchers - 1910 season

[luckymann]

Chicago Cubs (95-59) v Washington Senators (96-58)

Best-of-seven, Cubs with the home-field advantage.

CHICAGO CUBS S+ PAGE

WASHINGTON SENATORS S+ PAGE


I firmly believe this is the Sens Series to lose, especially with no Waddell for the Baby Bears. It just looks like their time, with Johnson and Jackson both in their prime, and the experienced gleaned from last year’s disappointing loss cannot be underestimated. Still, the Cubs are an amazing club and didn’t lose a step when their ace went down. They won’t go down and hand the title over without a huge fight, especially with the key home-field advantage on their side. Will Cy Young finally win that elusive ring? I believe so. Sens in six for mine.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Chicago, October 18th 1910
Mordecai Brown (25-17, 2.33) v Walter Johnson (26-17, 2.01)

Big shoes to fill, Waddell’s, but the Cubs don’t lose much with Brown stepping into them. Train had a poor ’09 Series and will be keen to atone.

And atone he does, limiting the potent Chicago bats to just 2 hits while fanning 8 in a dominant performance. After conceding an early run, the Sens take control and never look in danger, as catcher George Gibson and left-fielder Jimmy Walsh each drive in 2. Four errors by the hosts do not help their cause.

Senators 7, Cubs 2
BOX SCORE

Game 2 in Chicago, October 19th 1910
Hippo Vaughn (15-11, 2.47) v Jack Pfiester (24-12, 2.42)
Senators lead series 1-0

The pitchers hold sway before this game comes alive late. The Sens go ahead with a run in both the 4th and 6th, but the home side returns serve with a 3-spot in the 7th, chasing Pfiester. Jimmy Dygert gives the visitors 3 scoreless innings in relief and the bats do the rest, rallying with 4 in the 8th, with a 2-run double by Chick Gandil the key hit. Jackson drives in 3 as the Sens go home well and truly in control of their own destiny. Hippo Vaughn is valiant in defeat, but his defence lets the side down again with 7 errors, meaning all 6 of the Senators’ runs are unearned.

Senators 6, Cubs 3
BOX SCORE

Game 3 in Washington, October 21st 1910
Norwood Gibson (17-11, 2.39) v Jack Cronin (14-6, 2.33)
Senators lead series 2-0

The Cubs show all the gumption you’d expect of a successful club like theirs, never giving up in this one to earn a huge road win and drag themselves back into the Series.

Things look grim for a good portion of the game for the visitors, with Washington leading 3-2 after 7. But Gibson flags and the Cubs pounce with 4 in the top 8th on a Jim Doyle pinch-hit grand slam, and Sam Frock closes it out.

Cubs 6, Senators 3
BOX SCORE

Game 4 in Washington, October 22nd 1910
Walter Johnson (1-0, 1.74) v Mordecai Brown (0-1, 6.23)
Senators lead series 2-1

An absolute classic here as Johnson and Brown fight to a no-decision and the Cubs win it in spares.

The teams swap early runs but then the pitchers regain the ascendancy, with it still tied 1-1 after regulation. The Cubs always look the more likely to score, and eventually go ahead in the 10th on an RBI single by Wildfire Schulte. Frock is magnificent once again in relief, earning the win with 3 scoreless as this Series is tied at 2 and guaranteed of a return to the Windy City.

Cubs 2, Senators 1 (10 innings)
BOX SCORE

Game 5 in Washington, October 23rd 1910
Jack Pfiester (1-0, 1.29) v Hippo Vaughn (0-1, 0.00)
Series tied 2-2

Undoubtedly the key game in this contest, although it ends up being a no-contest as the Cubs stun the home side with a clinical win.

Once again Chicago scores early with a run in the 1st, and they pad their lead with 2 more in the 3rd. The Sens creep closer with one in the 5th but the Cubs put them away with a deuce in the 7th and one more just to be sure in the 9th. Tinker is huge for the Cubs with 4 RBI, while Zimmerman goes 5-for-5 and Vaughn is superb, and you’d have to like your chances now if you are a Cubs fan.

Cubs 6, Senators 1
BOX SCORE

Game 6 in Chicago, October 25th 1910
Ed Reulbach (16-7, 2.11) v Norwood Gibson (0-1, 7.04)
Cubs lead series 3-2

No more tomorrows for the Senators, and the Cubs make a late change by bringing Reulbach in to start this crucial game.

It doesn’t prove the masterstroke Chicago were undoubtedly looking for, but it matters not as the Cubs reign supreme again, winning the franchise’s fourth Championship with a dogged 4-3 victory in front of 16000 adoring Chicagoans.

All the action happens early in this one, with the home side answering Washington’s pair of runs in the top 5th with three of their own in the bottom half to take a 4-3 lead they never surrender. Zimmerman stars again, and is rightfully named MVP, and you have to wonder how the Senators are going to bounce back from this setback, when they looked in complete control after the first couple games, only to be unable to get it done.

Cubs 4, Senators 3
BOX SCORE

CHICAGO CUBS WIN SERIES 4-2.
SERIES MVP: Heinie Zimmerman (Chicago)





S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

AL 1910 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1910 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY

It takes an injury, but for the first time in league history, Rube Waddell doesn't win the NL CYA. It doesn't go far, though, with teammate Mordecai Brown snagging the award.

Honus Wagner wins his 7th NL MVP Award.

Here are the others:




And another strong simulation result:

[luckymann]

He might be 36 and past his absolute best, but Nap Lajoie is still a premier player in this league. And now, I am overjoyed to announce, he is a Pirate. Signed to a 4-year, $18000 deal, we'll be looking to Larry not only for his production on the field, but his guidance and leadership on some of our younger players off it. HE will be our everyday 2B.

This is the first domino, and forms part of a broader plan I have formulated to bring our club back into contention, where it should be.

[luckymann]

Held on 12/20/10.

A fascinating Draft for the 1911 season, as a few of the NeL players who missed out because they were rookies prior to the integration of the league are being added retrospectively. This, along with the first group of Legacies becoming Free Agents, has certainly made for a lot of buzz and activity around the traps, ourselves very much included as you have already seen. If I get my way – I was actually hoping to have him signed, sealed and delivered before the Draft but it hasn’t worked out that way – there’ll be another huge signing announced fairly soon.

Nine Legacy Players this year, with Pete Alexander the clear pick of the bunch. I think I speak for the rest of the league in expressing my relief that, thanks to a quirk of the IRL 1910 standings, he goes to the Phillies rather than the Cubs, for whom he was also eligible.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1911 season:

Brooklyn Dodgers: Jeff Pfeffer (38.1; 226)
Chicago Cubs: Vic Saier (15.2; 807 (93.3%))
Chicago White Sox: Joe Benz (16.5; 251)
Cincinnati Reds: Ivey Wingo (17.9; 1010)
Cleveland Naps: Steve O’Neill (26.3; 1365)
New York Giants: George Burns (39.4; 1362)
Philadelphia Phillies: Pete Alexander (119.0; 338)
St. Louis Browns: Earl Hamilton (24.3; 233)
Washington Senators: Ray Morgan (13.3; 741 (100%))

Hank Severeid (18.6; 1182) was also eligible for the Browns, but Hamilton’s higher WAR makes him the selection.
Sherry Smith (27.1; 229) was also eligible for the Dodgers, but Pfeffer’s higher WAR makes him the selection.
Jimmy Johnston (16.6; 1266) was also eligible for the Dodgers, but Pfeffer’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Pete Alexander was also eligible for the Chicago Cubs, but the Phillies’ higher Draft Pick gets him.

There are 216 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 8 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1910 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Philadelphia Phillies (510)
2. New York Giants (591)
3. Brooklyn Dodgers (416)
4. Cleveland Naps (467)
5. St. Louis Browns (305)
6. Cincinnati Reds (487)
7. Chicago White Sox (444)
8. Chicago Cubs (675)
9. Washington Senators (437)
10. Boston Rustlers (346)
11. St. Louis Cardinals (412)
12. Boston Red Sox (529)
13. Detroit Tigers (558)
14. Pittsburgh Pirates (562)
15. New York Highlanders (583)
16. Philadelphia Athletics (680)

Rounds 2 thru 10

1. St. Louis Browns (305)
2. Boston Rustlers (346)
3. St. Louis Cardinals (412)
4. Brooklyn Dodgers (416)
5. Washington Senators (437)
6. Chicago White Sox (444)
7. Cleveland Naps (467)
8. Cincinnati Reds (487)
9. Philadelphia Phillies (510)
10. Boston Red Sox (529)
11. Detroit Tigers (558)
12. Pittsburgh Pirates (562)
13. New York Highlanders (583)
14. New York Giants (591)
15. Chicago Cubs (675)
16. Philadelphia Athletics (680)


No Legacy for us and I go into this Draft with a pretty clear plan of attack, as long as one of the other GMs doesn’t mess it up for me.

Fortunately we get the main guy we were interested in and a couple other solid guys as well.

Here’s who we end up selecting:

1. SS John Henry Lloyd, 22

• There were perhaps a couple other more polished players still in available, but I only had eyes for Pop. We have to look past the Honus era and I can think of nothing more fitting than the “White Lloyd” handing over the reins to the “Black Wagner” at some stage over the next few years. Until then, Pop will get plenty of game time as a backup.

2. OF Armando Marsans, 23

• Matty McIntyre is unwilling to be the fourth outfielder and has requested a trade, so we needed reinforcements there and Armando – who plays all three OF slots decently – fit the bill to a tee.

3. C Les Nunamaker, 21

• Art Hoelskoetter’s decline has left us thin for catchers behind the Duke. Mike Gonzalez will move into that role to begin with, but Les will be there should that not work out. He’s a fairly handy type without being a superstar.

4. IF Scotty Ingerton, 24

• The barrel has been pretty well scraped of position players by this time, but Scotty isn’t totally hopeless and may be called upon if injuries or form make it necessary.

5. LHP George Mogridge, 18

• It wouldn’t be a Draft if I didn’t pick up a lefty reliever, which is what George is.

6. IF Mike Herrera, 19

• What you’d expect for a Round 6 pick.

7. RHP Harry Gardner, 23
8. LHP Curly Brown, 22

• I left these last two picks for the Scouting Director to handle, so you know as much about them at this point as I do.

A pretty good Draft for us, here's hoping it comes to fruition.

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

This took way longer than expected, not being finalised until the early new year after some pretty fraught negotiations that looked set to break down any number of times.

Finally, we got our man.



Big Six may not be the pitcher he once was (we've got a theme going here), but if all goes well he gives us the spine and leadership our rotation needs for the next few years as the others develop.

[luckymann]

Not much by way of pennant race excitement again as the A’s and Giants (despite the polo Grounds burning down) get home relatively comfortably. The A’s then knock off the New Yorkers in the World Series in which Frank “Home Run” Baker makes his name.

AL CHAMPIONS: Philadelphia Athletics (101-50)
NL CHAMPIONS: New York Giants (99-54)
WORLD SERIES: Athletics 4, Giants 2

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. WILDFIRE SCHULTE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 105 runs, 30 doubles, 21 triples, 21 home runs, 107 RBIs, 76 walks, .534 slugging percentage.
• A monster year by Deadball Era standards: Schulte became the first major leaguer in the 20th Century to reach 20 homers, the first player ever to collect at least 20 doubles, triples and homers each in the same year, belted the only four grand slams of his career and, proving he could do it all, finished second in the NL with 31 sacrifice bunts.

2. LARRY DOYLE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .310 average, 102 runs, 25 doubles, 25 triples, 13 home runs, 77 RBIs, 71 walks, 38 stolen bases.
• Two things were on fire at the Polo Grounds: One was the ballpark itself, the other was Doyle, who arguably put together his best season yet.

3. HONUS WAGNER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .334 average, 87 runs, 23 doubles, 16 triples, 9 home runs, 89 RBIs, 67 walks.
• Wagner won his eighth and final batting crown, thanks in part to a forfeited game that erased a 0-for-4 and preserved his lead by a single point over Boston’s Doc Miller.

4. JIMMY SHECKARD, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .276 average, 121 runs, 26 doubles, 11 triples, 147 walks, 32 stolen bases, .434 on-base percentage.
• After five years of standard results, Sheckard displayed more patience at the plate and was rewarded with a then-NL record 147 walks and NL-leading 121 runs scored.

5. SHERRY MAGEE, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .288 average, 32 doubles, 15 home runs, 94 RBIs.
• In any other Deadball Era season, Magee might have run away with the NL home run crown, but his 15—10 of which were hit at his home park of Baker Bowl—were a distant second to Schulte.

6. BOB BESCHER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .275 average, 106 runs, 32 doubles, 10 triples, 102 walks, 78 strikeouts, 81 stolen bases.
• Bescher’s 81 steals would stand as a NL record until Maury Wills broke it 51 years later.

7. RED MURRAY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .291 average, 27 doubles, 15 triples, 78 RBIs, 48 stolen bases.
• On a Giants roster obsessed with stolen bases, Murray’s 48 were good enough to only place fourth on the team.

8. ED KONETCHY, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 158 games, .289 average, 90 runs, 38 doubles, 13 triples, 6 home runs, 88 RBIs, 81 walks.
• The Cardinals’ main bopper for the moment, who was said to be nicknamed the Bohemian Candy Dropper (wow), was on top of his game in 1911.

9. CHIEF WILSON, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 34 doubles, 12 triples, 12 home runs, 107 RBIs.
• Called “Chief” not because of any Native American heritage but as a reference to law enforcement in his native Texas, Wilson displayed much of the offensive spunk that long buoyed teammate Honus Wagner.

10. DOC MILLER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .333 average, 192 hits, 36 doubles, 7 home runs, 91 RBIs, 32 stolen bases.
• The man who barely lost the NL batting crown to Wagner was a lone bright spot on a miserable (44-107) Rustlers team. It was his second of four NL teams he’d play for in a short five-year career before becoming—you guessed it—a doctor.

AL Hitters

1. TY COBB, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .419 average, 148 runs, 248 hits, 47 doubles, 24 triples, 8 home runs, 127 RBIs, 83 stolen bases, .620 slugging percentage.
• Thanks to the introduction of a juiced-up ball in the AL, Cobb put up the most prolific numbers of his legendary career.

2. JOE JACKSON, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .408 average, 126 runs, 233 hits, 45 doubles, 19 triples, 7 home runs, 83 RBIs, 41 stolen bases, .468 on-base percentage.
• An astounding rookie showing for the ill-fated Shoeless Joe; he’s the only major leaguer to ever bat .400 and not win a batting title.

3. SAM CRAWFORD, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .378 average, 109 runs, 217 hits, 36 doubles, 14 triples, 7 home runs, 115 RBIs, 37 stolen bases.
• Along with Cobb and Jackson, Crawford set a career high in batting average—and by 43 points over his second-best performance, back in 1903.

4. BIRDIE CREE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .348 average, 90 runs, 181 hits, 30 doubles, 22 triples, 88 RBIs, 48 stolen bases.
• Birdie tweeted the sweetest baseball song of his career before it all went sour over the next four years due to injury, illness and lack of exercise.

5. FRANK BAKER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .334 average, 96 runs, 198 hits, 42 doubles, 14 triples, 11 home runs, 115 RBIs, 38 stolen bases.
• The young third baseman ramped up the power and led the AL in homers for the first of four straight years, an achievement accomplished by fading 38-year-old teammate Harry Davis years before.

6. EDDIE COLLINS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .365 average, 92 runs, 180 hits, 13 triples, 73 RBIs, 38 stolen bases.
• Fast Eddie had to settle for fourth in the AL batting race despite a .365 average that was the second-best of his Hall-of-Fame career.

7. TRIS SPEAKER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .334 average, 88 runs, 34 doubles, 13 triples, 8 home runs, 70 RBIs.
• Speaker joined Cobb and Jackson in hitting .400—against Washington, that is. He batted .405 against the Senators—or .462 when Walter Johnson didn’t start.

8. JIM DELAHANTY, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .339 average, 83 runs, 184 hits, 30 doubles, 14 triples, 94 RBIs.
• One of five brothers to play MLB and sputtering around the bigs for 10 years, Delahanty finally scored a hit with the Tigers—his seventh team.

9. DANNY MURPHY, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .329 average, 104 runs, 27 doubles, 11 triples, 6 home runs.
• In his last full season as a major leaguer—before a broken kneecap the following year made him a quality bench player—the 35-year-old Murphy saved his best for last, setting career highs in batting average, runs and walks (50).

10. CLYDE MILAN, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 154 games, .315 average, 616 at-bats, 109 runs, 194 hits, 74 walks, 58 stolen bases.
• The speedy outfielder flourished into a rare, early offensive threat for the woebegone Senators—and gave the underappreciated-to-date Walter Johnson some overdue and much-needed support.

NL Pitchers

1. PETE ALEXANDER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.57 ERA, 28 wins, 13 losses, 48 appearances, 31 complete games, 7 shutouts, 367 innings.
• The Phillies downplayed concerns about Alexander’s drinking habits and dished out the best $750 they would ever spend to acquire him from the minors.

2. CHRISTY MATHEWSON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 1.99 ERA, 26 wins, 13 losses, 29 complete games, 307 innings, 38 walks.
• Not as sharp with the fastball but definitely more accurate, Mathewson began to cut down on the walks and logged his fourth straight sub-2.00 ERA.

3. BABE ADAMS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.33 ERA, 22 wins, 12 losses, 6 shutouts, 293.1 innings.
• Like Mathewson, Adams also began to give away far fewer free passes—it would get even better in the years to come—and set a personal best with 22 wins.

4. RUBE MARQUARD, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.50 ERA, 24 wins, 7 losses, .774 win percentage, 277.2 innings, 237 strikeouts.
• Marquard’s sudden success could be attributed to the arrival of coach Wilbert Robinson, who was specifically signed on by John McGraw to tutor the young pitcher.

5. LEW RICHIE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.13 ERA, 15 wins, 11 losses, 253 innings.
• Six of Richie’s 15 wins came against the Giants; when he won five more the next season against New York, he developed a reputation as the “Giant Killer.”

6. THREE FINGER BROWN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.80 ERA, 21 wins, 11 losses, 13 saves, 53 appearances, 270 innings.
• As sunset beckoned for the 35-year-old Brown, he won another 20-plus games but relieved as often as he started—saving 13 games to establish a new record.

7. BOBBY KEEFE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.58 ERA, 22 wins, 15 losses, 6 shutouts, 283 innings, 185 strikeouts.
• Son of a California gold rush prospector, Keefe briefly struck it rich in the majors in a short stint sandwiched by long stretches in the minors.

8. NAP RUCKER, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.71 ERA, 22 wins, 18 losses, 48 appearances, 315.2 innings.
• After the tough-luck Superbas ace lost his first six starts of the year and muttered, “Here we go again,” he rebounded nicely to grab his lone 20-win campaign and a rare above-.500 finish.

9. LEFTY LEIFIELD, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.63 ERA, 16 wins, 16 losses, 318 innings.
• The end of the line for the southpaw (as if the name didn’t give it away), capping a six-year run in which he won 103 games before a dead arm temporarily killed his big-league career. He made a small comeback with the St. Louis Browns from 1918-20.

10. BOB HARMON, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 3.13 ERA, 23 wins, 16 losses, 51 appearances, 41 starts, 28 complete games, 348 innings, 181 walks.
• Securing the only winning season in a nine-year career, Harmon managed despite walking 181 batters—the most by a modern-era major leaguer until Bob Feller came along.

AL Pitchers

1. ED WALSH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.22 ERA, 27 wins, 18 losses, 4 saves, 56 appearances, 368.2 innings, 255 strikeouts.
• The typically sleepwalking White Sox offense awoke to give Ed Walsh long-overdue support.

2. SMOKY JOE WOOD, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.02 ERA, 23 wins, 17 losses, 275.2 innings, 231 strikeouts.
• The Red Sox were thrilled with what they thought was his breakout campaign. They had no idea.

3. VEAN GREGG, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 1.80 ERA, 23 wins, 7 losses, .767 win percentage, 244.2 innings.
• Had it not been for the tragic death of Addie Joss, rookie southpaw Vean Gregg would have given the Naps one of the game’s best one-two punches on the mound.

4. WALTER JOHNSON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 1.90 ERA, 25 wins, 13 losses, 36 complete games, 6 shutouts, 322.1 innings, 17 wild pitches.
• Saddled by horrible run support in his early years, Johnson was finally given love from his teammates with an average of nearly five runs per start—the highest he received until more live-ball times in the 1920s. (Also to note; deduct Johnson’s 25-13 record from the Senators’ ledger, and they’re 39-77.)

5. RUSS FORD, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.27 ERA, 22 wins, 11 losses, 281.1 innings.
• Solid sophomore campaign for the AL Rookie of the Year of 1910—that is, if the honor had existed.

6. EDDIE PLANK, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.10 ERA, 23 wins, 8 losses, 4 saves, 6 shutouts, 256.2 innings.
• The reliable, ever-constant A’s ace was a little frisky to boot; he was ejected for the only time in his career.

7. CHIEF BENDER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.16 ERA, 17 wins, 5 losses, .773 win percentage.
• Plank’s long-time teammate continued to rack up one win after another while rarely losing; his 17-5 mark made it 58-18 for three seasons running.

8. JACK COOMBS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 3.53 ERA, 28 wins, 12 losses, 40 starts, 336.2 innings.
• Coombs gave up nearly three times as many earned runs than during his phenomenal 1910 outburst, but he still managed to win nearly as many games.

9. RAY COLLINS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.40 ERA, 11 wins, 12 losses.
• In a year where offense took a healthy upswing, the Red Sox’ lefty must have been wondering, “Where’s my cut of all of this?”

10. JIM SCOTT, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.39 ERA, 14 wins, 11 losses.
• The Bret Saberhagen of his time—up one year, down the next, and so on—Scott enjoyed the upside of the parabolic with a modest but sharp effort.

[luckymann]

Not long after the Matty signing, the other Matty – McIntyre – gets his wish of a new home, swapped for another reportedly disgruntled player.

TRADE 1 OF 5 (01/11/11)

OF Matty McIntyre and OF Marcelino Guerra traded to Boston (NL) for P Russ Ford

This is a huge score for us, as in tandem with Big Six it gives us the 1-2 punch we’ve not had since Phillippe and Chesbro were in their prime. Russ is a quality pitcher and a real workhorse and, at just 27, hopefully continues to be a force for some years to come.

Some more offseason shakeups at the managerial level, with Detroit’s patience running out with George Stallings (he is later replaced by Frank Decker) and Cincinnati showing the door to Jimmy Bertolette, with Bill Echols his replacement. The Giants also changed skippers, with Bill Stith out and Red Woodhead in.

Our pitching coach Yepthet Coleman retires, and we replace him with Herminio Tamm.

Major retirees among the playing ranks at the end of the 1910 campaign include George Davis, Harry Bemis, Gene DeMontreville, one-time Pirate Doc McJames and Jake Weimer.

The Doves are now to be called the Rustlers, and the Superbas have changed their nickname to the Dodgers.

As I mentioned earlier, plenty of excitement in the FA market. In addition to our big acquisitions, here are the major signings:

• OF Sam Crawford: Rustlers, 5 years / $17300
• OF Jimmy Sheckard: Giants, 4 years / $16040
• C Mike Grady: Cubs, 3 years / $13020
• OF Fielder Jones: White Sox (re-sign), 3 years / $9820
• OF Sammy Strang: Cardinals, 1 year / $3740
• P Noodles Hahn: Red Sox, 1 year / $3680
• P Jack Cronin: Senators, 1 year / $3220
• OF Fred Clarke: Senators, 1 year / $2820
• P Ed Zmick: Cubs, 2 years / $2400
• SS Whitey Alperman: Naps, 1 year / $2340
• P Lefty Russell: Athletics, 2 years / $2300
• 3B Kid Elberfeld: Cardinals, 1 year / $2120

Our two exiting free-agents are both snapped up – Jack Chesbro by Brooklyn and Harry Steinfeldt by Cleveland.

We are 10-8 in ST, with the biggest news the absolute undoing of Dizzy Dismukes, who has completely lost his stuff and will start the season on the Reserve Roster. Those offseason moves make even more sense now.

And, finally, we are the experts’ tip in the NL by 2 games from the Cubs with a big gap to third, while they see the Sens as making it three AL pennants in a row, with the Red Sox 5 GB them.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

As always, HERE is our team page for those inclined to fully immerse. For the rest, a summary.

A lot of new faces, so one of the keys here will be how quickly and how well they gel.

Catchers

• Roger Bresnahan (R)
• Les Nunamaker (R)

In the end, Les just looks more ready to compete at this level than Mike Gonzalez does.


Infielders

• 1B Danny Murphy (R)
• 2B Nap Lajoie (R)
• 3B Buck Herzog (R)
• SS Honus Wagner (R)

• Alex McCarthy (R)
• Red Killefer (R)
• John Henry Lloyd (L)
• Scotty Ingerton (R)
• Hans Lobert (R)

We will have to see if the defensive liability outweighs the offensive asset for Murph; he’ll definitely be getting yanked out late in close games.

Outfielders

• LF Max Carey (S)
• CF Vin Campbell (L)
• RF Zaza Harvey (L)

• Rip Cannell (L)
• Armando Marsans (R)

Armando will man CF v LHP. Killefer can also play all three OF slots, and Ingerton LF.

Rotation

1. RHP Christy Mathewson
2. RHP Russ Ford
3. RHP Babe Adams
4. RHP Rube Vickers

Bullpen

• RHP Howie Camnitz
• RHP King Cole
• RHP Louis Drucke

It almost goes without saying that expectations are high for this group.

[luckymann]

The big guy becomes the league's first 250-game winner.



Here's the Top 10 in this category at the time of posting:

[luckymann]

Just a quick snapshot at end April, with the Tigers flying out of the blocks and the White Sox again in disarray being the main points of note.





S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Failing to hit his weight

[luckymann]

We'll have to do without our big offseason signing for a spell...



Going to give Drucke another chance in the spin over Camnitz. George Mogridge to make his MLB debut in the pen.

[luckymann]

... we're all full up here.

[luckymann]

... seeing these NeL legends strutting their stuff and mixing it with the big boys.