The Liberty League

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

Fall 1880 - Spring 1881

All season long owner John Phillips of Chicago and President James Glazer of Philadelphia had a running feud over ticket prices. Phillips claimed the 50 cent admission price was too high and was costing him money by keeping patrons away from the Colts' games. The end result of the argument was that Glazer worked up the votes necessary to expel Phillips and Chicago from the League. The Baltimore Orioles owned by Wes Samson were recruited to fill the vacancy.

Other changes for 1881 voted on at the Annual Meeting:

All players 27 years old or older on December 1, not on a major league roster, will be become free agents able to sign with any club. Players selected in the most recent B League Draft are exempt from this rule.

It will now take 7 balls to walk a batter, down from 8.

The manager of the teams must announce their batting lineups the night before a game.

The pitcher's box will be moved back 5 feet to be 50 feet from home plate.

Also at the Annual Meeting the B League Draft was held. Here are the results of the first round:

[Westheim]

Monk Cunningham is back! Hoorah! Hoorah!

[Questdog]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Monk Cunningham is back! Hoorah! Hoorah!

I don't think we can expect much out of his 38-year-old arm.

He started out last season, 17-9 and finished up 11-32, losing his last 9 in a row.

Though, on the brighter side, he did strike out 10 in one of those last 9 losses and his ERA was lower at the end of the 9 game losing streak than it was before it started.

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

Opening Day 1881

Will the pitchers will be able to handle the extra five feet they have to throw now with one less ball to work with? Maybe some will and probably some won't. 53 runs scored on Opening Day 1881. There were 55 scored on Opening Day 1880. However, in 1880 there were 47 errors made in the opening games, whereas in 1881 only 31 were committed. In 1880 there were 9 walks and 22 strikeouts on Opening Day, but in 1881 the Getaway games saw 17 walks and only 15 strikeouts. Looks like the pitchers are going to have it rougher than they've been used to.

Philadelphia at New Haven - For the third year in a row, New Haven upsets the Centennials on Opening Day. This time they won 6 to 4. Down 4 to 3 in the 8th, C John Glasgow cleared the bases with a 3-run double. Charlie Charles bested Paul Skinner though Philadelphia out-hit New Haven 10 to 8. Each team made 4 errors.

Boston at Pittsburg - The Beaneaters blasted the Alleghenys, 13 to 6. Ex-Haymaker Dan Melvin gained the win over the Toccoan Terror, Tom Disbrow. Only Paul Skinner throws harder than Disbrow in the Liberty League. RF Jesse Austin had 4 hits for the losers, including a home run. He scored twice and had 3 RBIs. LF Ben Urban had 3 hits, including a double and a triple for Boston, scoring twice and knocking in 3. 24-year-old rookie 2B John Wright, making his Liberty League debut, had 3 hits and a double. He scored twice and had an RBI.

Baltimore at Louisville - The new Orioles shocked the Eclipse with 3 runs in the top of the 9th to win, 7 to 5. Last season Louisville only lost 6 times at home all year. John Kyle with the win over surprise starter 26-year-old rookie John Criswell. No word on why Miller Bullock was not in the box for the Champions. CF Joe Matlock had 3 hits and scored twice for the Orioles. 26-year-old SS Flip Finley, in his Liberty League debut, had 4 hits with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs.

Brooklyn at Cincinnati - The Reds and Frank Carlucci easily handled John Bailey and his new Atlantic teammates, 9 to 3. Carlucci held Brooklyn to 6 hits. RF Dummy Gibson had a triple and 3 hits and an RBI. LF Fred Campbell had 4 hits, including a home run. He scored 3 times. The Reds thought so highly of their 24-year-old rookie catcher George Armstrong, that they named him manager of the club. They also took to calling him "Custer". He did not disappoint in his Liberty League debut, knocking 3 hits, including a pair of doubles, good for 5 RBIs. He also scored a run for good measure. He had himself batting 6th in the lineup, but may be persuaded to move himself up the ladder a bit, if he continues to put on shows like that.

[Questdog]

April 1881

On April 6, Pittsburg humiliated Dan Melvin and Boston, 12 to 1. Tom Disbrow held Boston to 6 hits. RF Jesse Austin had his second straight 4-hit game to open the season. He had 2 doubles and knocked in 3 runs.

Also on April 6, Charlie Charles held Philadelphia to 5 hits and the Nutmegs scored a run in the bottom of the 9th to beat Paul Skinner and the Centennials, 3 to 2. SS John Nocella had the game-ending hit, a double that scored 3B Fred Stuckert when RF Jumbo Reeher's throw to third went awry.

On April 15, New Haven out-hit Pittsburg, 10 to 3, and 2B/Manager Joe Neill hit his second home run of the young season, a 2-run blast off Tom Disbrow in the top of the 9th to tie the game at 4, but the Nutmegs handed the game to the Alleghenys in the bottom of the inning with 2 errors that scored a run to give Pittsburg the 5 to 4 win. Charlie Charles held Pittsburg to 3 hits in defeat.

On April 16, 1B Willard DeVaux hit a single, double and a home run to help the Nutmegs best the Louisville Eclipse, 5 to 4. Still no official word on the status of pitcher Miller Bullock, but Louisville sent him to Rochester and recalled 40-year-old Willard Marshall to pitch this game. With the loss, Louisville drops their record to 3-4.

Also on April 16, 41-year-old Al Byrne, making his first Liberty League start since 1876 when he led the league in ERA, had 2 hits and 4 RBIs and pitched well enough for Brooklyn to beat Pop Coleman and Philadelphia, 9 to 7. Coleman had 2 hits and 2 RBIs for the Centennials. RF Jumbo Reeher strained a muscle in his forearm and is expected to miss 5 to 6 weeks for Philadelphia.

Also on April 16, 2B Pat Lee hit a 2-out single in the bottom of the 9th to give Cincinnati a 4 to 3 win over Pittsburg. The Reds did not make an error in the game.

On April 20, Tom Disbrow held Cincinnati to 5 hits and struck out 8 in Pittsburg's 7 to 2 victory. 3B Con Stone had a double and 3 hits and drove in 2 runs.

Also on April 20, oft-injured RF Highball Perritano did it again, hurting his arm making a throw in Brooklyn's 10 to 6 win against Philadelphia. He'll be out about 6 weeks.

Also on April 20, New Haven beat Louisville 4 to 2 to sweep the 3-game series against the Champions. RBI's by rookie 3B Joe Craig with a double and CF Tom May with a triple, both in the 7th inning, were the difference in the game. May's triple was his first hit of the season. Louisville out-hit New Haven 11 to 8 and only made 1 error to 5 for the Nutmegs.

Also on April 20, 28-year-old SS Enoch Polm, who had not played in the Liberty League since 1876, when he was a Troy Haymaker, broke his knee cap in Boston's 6 to 4 win at Baltimore. Polm, who had recently won the starting shortstop job for the Beaneaters led off the 3rd inning with a bunt single. When Ben Duncan grounded one back to the pitcher, Polm slid in hard at second to break up the double play chance. He was successful, but will now miss the next 4 months. He was off to a good start, going 4 for 11 with a triple, scoring 3 times and driving in 2 runs.

On April 22, Brooklyn signed 38-year-old pitcher Jim Rebovich, formerly of Philadelphia. Brooklyn, who is currently in 1st place at 7-2, made Rebovich their number one starter and sent 32-year-old John Baily, who was 6-2, to Albany, preferring to keep 41-year-old Al Byrne as the number 2 pitcher.

On April 23, the game between Boston and Philadelphia was tied at 8 all with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 9th. 2B Jumbo Meek of the Centennials hit a groundball down the line to first base where rookie Nick Reeves scooped it up and then dropped it back on the ground to let the winning run score. Reeves is an excellent right fielder playing out of position because the Beaneaters already have one of the best right fielders in the League in Ben Duncan, who refuses to play anywhere else. 1B Fred Palmer had 3 doubles for Philadelphia, driving in 3 runs and scoring once.

Also on April 23, Tom Disbrow of Pittsburg became the first pitcher to toss a shutout from 50 feet when the Alleghenys bested the Orioles, 4 to 0. Baltimore only managed 6 hits. Disbrow had 2 hits and an RBI.

Also on April 23, Jim Rebovich made his debut for Brooklyn, holding Louisville to 6 hits, but losing 2 to 1. Rookie John Criswell held Brooklyn to only 5 knocks. CF Frank Griffin had 2 doubles and an RBI for the Eclipse. LF William Carroll was injured making a defensive play and will miss a week or two for the Atlantics.

On April 26, with the team at 5-6, C Tony Stevens stepped down as manager of the Louisville Eclipse. He said the team had become complacent after their championship and needed a new man at the helm to stir things up. CF Frank Griffin was chosen to lead the team. He had previously led the team for the first 18 games of 1879 until he stepped down with the team 9-9.

On April 30, Tom Disbrow won his 10th game in April as Pittsburg edged Philadelphia 5 to 4. Former batting champ 2B Jumbo Meek was injured for Philly in a collision with the catcher and will miss a month. He was out at the plate to add insult to injury, literally.

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

May 1881

On May 2, John Kyle was shutting the Reds out in the 5th inning, but he broke his elbow throwing a pitch that struck out Reds pitcher Gene Brandt. He will miss the rest of the season. There has been much speculation about whether the extra five feet the pitchers have to throw this season will be too much of a strain on their arms. Red pitcher Gene Brandt, 24, made his Liberty League debut in this game, holding Baltimore to 7 hits, but losing, 5 to 2. Erstwhile starter Frank Carlucci, who has struggled to find the range at 50 feet has been sent to Manchester to work out his issues. 28-year-old rookie Fred Gilson of Baltimore earned his first career win finishing the game for the injured Kyle.

On May 7, Henry Theroux had 4 hits, including 2 doubles, in Brooklyn's 10 to 9 win over Boston. He had 3 RBIs, but was injured in the bottom of the 8th scoring his second run of the game and will miss a week or two.

Also on May 7, rookie SS Flip Finley hit a 2-run triple in the bottom of the 9th to make Baltimore winners over New Haven, 5 to 4. It was his third hit of the game. Rookie Nat Thompson held New Haven to 5 hits in gaining his second win. RF Porter Thorpe had 2 hits and scored 3 runs, including the game-winning one.

On May 9, Baltimore won their second game in a row against New Haven in the bottom of the 9th, 4 to 3. This time, with two-out and runners at first and third, Nutmeg hurler Charlie Charles attempted to pick-off Henry Shaw at first and threw the ball away, allowing Oriole pitcher Nat Thompson to score from third. 1B Bill Goldberg had 2 hits and knocked in the first 3 of Baltimore's runs.

Also on May 9, Louisville gave 40-year-old Walt Marshall his second turn in the box this season and lost to Pittsburg and Tom Disbrow, 14 to 4. Marshall went the distance allowing 22 hits. RF Jesse Austin had a single, 2 doubles and 5 RBIs for Pittsburg. After the game it was announced that Miller Bullock would be returning to the team.

On May 11, in his first start of the season, reigning Hurler Trophy winner Miller Bullock of Louisville beat Pittsburg, 7 to 3. He held the Alleghenys to 7 hits and did not allow an earned run.

On May 13, in his Liberty League debut, New Haven pitcher Bobby Pullan held Boston to 6 hits and won, 5 to 2. 2B/Manager Joe Neill had 2 doubles and a single and knocked in 3 runs.

On May 30, 2 singles, 3 errors and a final game-ending passed ball allowed New Haven to score 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th to beat Pittsburg, 4 to 3.

Also on May 30, Miller Bullock shutout Philadelphia, 7 to 0, for his second straight shutout and third in his last four starts. Since last June 15, he is now 31-2. Speculation that his April absence was due to not being able to master the new pitching distance seem unfounded. The only people who know the real reason are keeping quiet about it.

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

Okay.......

Miller Bullock got me all upset and I started doing some research to figure out why the stupid Louisville team sent him to the minors to start 1881 after having been the best pitcher in the League by far in 1880.

I decided it comes down to 2 issues:

1) I wanted the teams to base decisions on a player's stats much more than their ratings. But I have found that something is odd in the way OOTP is evaluating these stats for the 1800's and Miller Bullock is not getting any credit for pitching well in 1880. In fact, if I get the AI to rate players 100% based on 1880 stats (last year), he barely makes the top 20 list of pitchers. If I get them to rate based solely on ratings, he is in the top 5. And doing some dickering around, it looks to me like ranking solely on ratings does a better job of ranking by stats than ranking solely by stats does. Another oddity is that old washed up pitchers are ranking very high based on stats, regardless of what their stats actually were. Don't know if this is a bug or a by-product of 1800's-style ball. I will have to research it some more. But anyway, I am going to have to have the AI rate 100% based on ratings.

2) The other issue is that there are just too many good pitchers in the league. The game is producing too many pitchers for a league with a 2-man staff. It makes the competition for those 2 spots very, very competitive. There are too many viable candidates for jobs and pitchers will find it very hard to keep their spot for more than a couple of seasons. We have already seen this. Plus when there are so many good pitchers bunched together, it is hard for one to standout and be a superstar.


Sooooo......


Since this is my last league ever and I want it to be perfect, I am going to start over from scratch.....

Yeah!

I cannot just delete 80% of the pitchers and keep going; have to restart....

Same premise, better execution. I'll also implement the rule where the rich teams like Philly and New York cannot horde good players in the minors from the get go and that will make it more fun. Anyone 27 on Dec. 1 not on the active roster becomes a free agent.

I'll redo everything from scratch, so the initial teams won't be the same, though Philly and New York are a virtual lock to be in, and all the players will be different.

If anyone has any ideas of what I could do differently to make the league better, speak up now!

One idea I'd like to figure out: I want the better teams to have an advantage in acquiring good players. But I wish I could force them to draft for needs instead of just picking the best player. Often they already have someone awesome where that best player plays, but they pick him anyway and stick him in the minors or force him to play out of position, where he's maybe not even a good player. I'd rather them pick someone that is a better fit. Any ideas on accomplishing this without manually drafting for every team?

[Westheim]

Oh noes. Crushing defeat again?

Just when I got to know some of the players. Like Miller Bullock.

Unfortunately I can offer little help. I have never fiddled much with how the AI evaluates players...