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

[darnoff]

1913 NL Preseason Predictions

Below, OOTP predicts a close pennant race in the National League this season. I believe that is true. What I don't buy is the fact that the Braves are a last place team. Granted, they only won 82 games last year, but I believe this is a team on the rise. They lost some power with the retirement of Charlie Hickman, but their infield defense will improve with Rabbit Maranville taking over the full-time job at second base. They have also improved their pitching staff with the addition of rookie Bill James (7-6-6 ratings).

That being said, the Reds and Pirates also won 82 games last season and the Dodgers won 81. Cincinnati is expected to be a legitimate contender this year. After all, they were ranked 2nd in both offense and pitching in the NL last season. The Pirates are aging fast and 5-time PoY Rube Waddell has retired. However, they added talented young pitcher Al Marmaux (8-6-5 ratings) to the rotation in his place. As for the Dodgers, I do not think they have enough pitching to remain in the pennant race this season.

However, depending on who you ask, the favorites are either the 3-time defending champion Cubs or the up-and-coming Giants. Chicago added rookie catcher Bubbles Hargrave (8-7-4-5-8 ratings) to what was already the highest scoring offense in MLHR. Unfortunately, they failed to add significant pitching depth to their roster. Pitching has been this team's post-season weakness three years running. The one addition they did make was hard-throwing young reliever Zip Zabel, who will get a shot at replacing retired closer Buttons Briggs.

In San Francisco, their primary addition was Milt Stock (7-6-2-5-8 ratings), a third baseman turned shortstop who will bring some added offense to the bottom of the Giants' lineup. The team already has an explosive offense, and their pitching staff is loaded with potential. However, staff ace Christy Mathewson (16-8, 3.46 ERA) is now 32, so time may be running out on finally reaching that potential.


Predicted Standings
(Scale of 1-12)




MLB results for the NL in 1913

Champs: New York Giants, (101-51, .664)
World Series: Athletics defeated Giants 4-1

Combined WAR: Gavvy Cravath, Phillies, 5.6
Offensive WAR: Gavvy Cravath, Phillies, 6.0
Defensive WAR: Art Fletcher, Giants, 1.9
Batting Title: Jake Daubert, Dodgers, .350
Runs: Max Carey, Pirates and Tommy Leach, Cubs, 99
RBI: Gavvy Cravath, Phillies, 128
SB: Max Carey, Pirates, 61
OPS+: Gavvy Cravath, Phillies, 172
AB/HR: Gavvy Cravath, Phillies, 27.6

Pitching WAR: Babe Adams, Pirates, 7.8
Win%: Bert Humphries, Cubs, .800
WHIP: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 1.020
K/9: Jeff Tesreau, Giants, 5.330
Innings: Tom Seaton, Phillies, 322.1
K/BB: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 4.429
ERA+: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 152
FIP: Babe Adams, Pirates, 2.40


MLHR Milestone Watch

3500 Hits
Nap Lajoie, PHI, Age 38, 3324 hits

3000 Hits
Honus Wagner, PIT, Age 39, 2895 hits
Mike Donlin, STL, Age 34, 2860 hits

700 Doubles
Honus Wagner, PIT, Age 39, 661 doubles

117 Triples - MLHR record
Honus Wagner, PIT, Age 39, 114 triples

600 Home Runs
Buck Freeman, ATL, Age 32, 587 HR

1500 Runs
Honus Wagner, PIT, Age 39, 1460 runs
Mike Donlin, STL, Age 34, 1432 runs

200 Wins
Noodles Hahn, CIN, Age 33, 199 Wins

429 Saves - MLHR record!
Martin Glendon, CIN, Age 36, 408 Sv

700 Games Pitched
Harry Howell, LAD, Age 36, 689 Games
Homer Hillebrand, PIT, Age 32, 678 Games
Martin Glendon, CIN, Age 36, 632 Games

[Hendu Style]

This is a fantastic thread. Can't wait to see it unfold into the 1920's and 30's... The A's had some great teams in that era.

[darnoff]

Originally Posted by Hendu Style

This is a fantastic thread. Can't wait to see it unfold into the 1920's and 30's... The A's had some great teams in that era.

Thanks. I really appreciate the comments.


I'm excited about the free agency era. I want to see how different things will turn out. I'm also excited to see the Expos of the early 90's. I have a feeling they will be very good.

[darnoff]

1913 AL Preseason Predictions

The White Sox have cemented themselves as a legitimate pennant contender. As if last year's franchise-best 94-win season was not enough, the White Sox went out and added pitcher Reb Russell (7-7-8 ratings), who could one day be a PoY candidate, to a pitching staff that was already the best in the AL last year. They also further bolstered their 3rd ranked offense with outfielder Edd Roush (8-7-6-5-9 ratings). They still don't have a lot of team speed, but this team will be very tough to beat and has a legitimate shot at their first pennant.

The Boston Red Sox are coming off their first pennant, not to mention a World Series victory. This offseason they focused on their pitching staff by adding Rube Foster (7-7-6 ratings), who will take over the #5 slot in the starting rotation, and Dutch Leonard (8-6-6 ratings), who begins his career as a middle reliever. The Red Sox are out to prove that they are just as dominant as the Athletics were from 1906-11. The only way they can prove that is to continue winning pennants.

As for Oakland, they hope to get back on top after a disappointing 3rd place finish. They added Wally Schang (6-5-4-7-6 ratings), who will split time initially between catcher and centerfield until the team settles on a full-time position for him. On the pitching side, they added Bob Shawkey (7-6-6 ratings) to their pitching rotation. The A's are still a very talented team, but they are beginning to show a little age, particularly on the pitching side.

It is unlikely that any other American League team will join the pennant race, but both Detroit and New York are close to becoming more of a threat. The Tigers continue to load up on offense with the addition of first baseman Wally Pipp (6-6-7-6-6 ratings), who will bat cleanup behind 5-time BoY Ty Cobb (.345, 37 HR, 99 RBI, 56 SB), and right fielder Ray Powell (6-5-6-6-3 ratings). They also upgraded their pitching rotation with Lefty Williams (6-7-6 ratings). However, their pitching staff as a whole is still incapable of keeping up with the top three AL teams.

In New York, the Yankees still have a strong pitching staff. Their offense has come a long way from previous years and was ranked 5th in the league last season. They have added some power hitters in recent years. This offseason, they brought in Fritz Maisel (5-4-3-7-6 ratings, 11 speed), who will be called upon to play second base every day and bat leadoff.


Predicted Standings
(Scale of 1-12)




MLB results for the AL in 1913

Champs: Philadelphia Athletics, (96-57, .627)
World Series: Athletics defeated Giants 4-1

Combined WAR: Eddie Collins, Athletics, 9.0
Offensive WAR: Joe Jackson, Naps (Indians), 8.2
Defensive WAR: George McBride, Senators (Twins), 3.6
Batting Title: Ty Cobb, Tigers, .390
Runs: Eddie Collins, Athletics, 125
RBI: Frank Baker, Athletics, 117
SB: Clyde Milan, Senators (Twins), 75
OPS+: Ty Cobb, Tigers, 196
AB/HR: Frank Baker, Athletics, 47.0

Pitching WAR: Walter Johnson, Senators (Twins), 14.6
Win%: Walter Johnson, Senators (Twins), .837
WHIP: Walter Johnson, Senators (Twins), 0.780
K/9: Walter Johnson, Senators (Twins), 6.321
Innings: Walter Johnson, Senators (Twins), 346.0
K/BB: Walter Johnson, Senators (Twins), 6.395
ERA+: Walter Johnson, Senators (Twins), 259
FIP: Walter Johnson, Senators (Twins), 1.90


MLHR Milestone Watch

1000 Walks
Tim Jordan, MIN, Age 34, 967 BB

500 Stolen Bases
Ty Cobb, DET, Age 26, 466 SB

200 Wins
Eddie Plank, OAK, Age 36, 188 Wins

3000 Innings
Pete Dowling, BAL, Age 32, 2803.2 IP
Eddie Plank, OAK, Age 36, 2782.1 IP
Addie Joss, CLE, Age 32, 2772.0 IP

3000 Strikeouts
Eddie Plank, OAK, Age 36, 2888 K

[darnoff]

NL Mid-Season Report

Thirty years after their last pennant and after several years of underperforming, it looks like things are finally going the Giants' way. They certainly have the talent to dominate the National League. In fact, I've been waiting for a few years to see this happen. Half way through the season, the Giants are a comfortable 9.5 games ahead of Pittsburgh. Their offense is ranked 1st in the NL, which is surprising when you consider how much power the Cubs have in their lineup. The Giants pitching staff is ranked second in the league, which is huge for this team. Dick Rudolph (12-4, 2.92 ERA) leads the rotation. Meanwhile, the bullpen has the best ERA of any pen in the NL.

The Pirates have a long way to go if they plan to make this a real race. Their pitching staff is ranked 3rd in the league, but their offense is ranked just 5th. Centerfielder Max Carey (.337, 15 HR, 48 RBI, 30 SB) is doing his part and right fielder Chief Wilson (.295, 19 HR, 62 RBI) is driving in runs. Now they need the rest of the lineup to produce.

The Phillies are a surprising 3rd place team thanks to the sheer dominance of their pitching staff. They lead the league with a 3.39 starters ERA and their bullpen is second to San Francisco. And it doesn't hurt that they have the best defense in the league right now. 28-year-old George McQuillan (7-4, 2.38 ERA) leads the NL in ERA and sophomore Eppa Rixey (6-4, 2.77 ERA) is right behind him. After posting a 1.97 ERA last season, closer Ad Brennan (2-3, 16 Sv, 1.15 ERA) is having another superb season. Unfortunately, the Phillies offense is ranked 7th. Few players are producing, and only third baseman Jimmy Walsh (.298, 23 HR, 59 RBI) is playing at a high level.

The 3-time defending NL champion Cubs have had a very disappointing start to the season. They are just 1 game above .500 and they are 12.5 games behind the Giants. Despite leading the league in home runs, the mighty Cubs offense is ranked just 3rd in the league due to the fact that they are just 5th in batting average and stolen bases and 4th in OBP. When Chicago's offense struggles, we all know their pitching staff is not strong enough to carry the team. This season has continued to highlight that fact.

The Braves are trying to prove me wrong. After saying they were a team on the rise, the Braves have sunk to 6th place at 7 games below .500. Their offense has sputtered thanks to a lousy .237 team batting average and .304 OBP. Their pitching staff is a respectable 4th in the league, but the team has a lot of work to do in the second half.


Standings




Batting Leaders




Pitching Leaders

[darnoff]

AL Mid-Season Report

Similar to what the Giants have done in the NL, the Oakland A's are dominating the AL this season. Their offense is ranked 1st in the league thanks to the superior play of "Shoeless Joe" Jackson (.400, 13 HR, 60 RBI), who is hitting .400 at the halfway point. Frank Baker (.299, 24 HR, 74 RBI) is right behind him driving in runs. Oddly enough, the A's defense is ranked 7th in the league and their starters' ERA has suffered, ranked 5th. However, the team's pitching staff ranks 2nd overall in fewest runs allowed thanks partly to the performance of dominating closer Harry Krause (1-0, 24 Sv, 0.70 ERA).

The White Sox have slipped from last year due to the fact that their pitching staff went from the best in the league to ranking 7th. We all know their staff is much better than this, so if they start to perform at a high level right away, they may have a chance to catch Oakland. Their pitching woes are primarily due to an 8th ranked defense and a 7th ranked starting rotation. The bullpen is ranked 2nd and still doing a fine job, led by closer Harry Suter (3-2, 20 Sv, 1.38 ERA).

The defending World Champion Red Sox have suddenly forgotten how to hit the ball. They are ranked 6th in the AL in team batting average with only Tris Speaker (.321, 12 HR, 47 RBI) performing at his expected level. Thankfully, their pitching staff is still dominant and ranked 1st in the league. If their offense gets straightened out, they can make this an interesting race as well.

The Yankees are 4th in offense and 3rd in pitching. There really is no offensive standout at this point, but starting pitcher George McConnell (10-5, 2.07 ERA) is having a great season. In Detroit, Ty Cobb (.326, 17 HR, 59 RBI, 22 SB) leads the 2nd ranked offense in the AL. The Tigers even have the best bullpen in the league this season. However, the starting rotation is still struggling and ranked 6th.


Standings




Batting Leaders




Pitching Leaders

[darnoff]

NL Season Wrap-up

By the end of July, the Pirates closed to within 4 games of the Giants. Then in August, the Cubs came on strong. However, the Giants went 17-11 in August and 17-10 in September and managed to wrap up the pennant with three weeks left in the season. This is the first pennant for the Giants in 30 years. The last time they won the pennant, they had claimed their third straight in 1883 back when Hall of Famers Dan Brouthers, Roger Connor and Buck Ewing roamed the bases. This year, 2-time BoY Larry Doyle (.281, 43 HR, 140 RBI) led the Giants offense and the pitching staff was led by Dick Rudolph (23-7, 3.66 ERA), Jeff Tesreau (19-9, 3.09 ERA) and Rube Marquard (17-10, 3.74 ERA).

Pittsburgh's pitching staff ranked 1st overall this season with Claude Hendrix (21-6, 3.01 ERA) a front runner for the PoY Award and Al Mamaux (13-10, 3.17 ERA) a possible RoY. Centerfielder Max Carey (.306, 34 HR, 95 RBI, 65 SB) put himself in the BoY conversation.

In Chicago, the offense finally came around but it was too little, too late. They wound up scoring the 2nd most runs in the NL, but their 6th ranked pitching staff did not hold up their end of the bargain. Fred Luderus (.327, 44 HR, 109 RBI) may win his 3rd BoY Award. He led the NL in OPS and he finished mere percentage points from winning the batting title. That honor went to Giants catcher Chief Meyers.

Phillies second baseman Nap Lajoie (.294, 51 doubles, 17 HR, 80 RBI) became the 4th player to join the 3500 hit club. He had a great season at age 39. He is already the all-time leader in doubles by an impressive 69 two-baggers. He is also just 361 hits shy of the all-time mark of 3882 set in 1912 by John McGraw. If Lajoie comes back for another year, he will need just 33 hits to pass Hall of Famers Ed Delahanty and Ross Barnes for 2nd all-time.


Standings




Batting Leaders




Pitching Leaders




National League Rosters

[darnoff]

AL Season Wrap-up

No one posed a serious threat to Oakland this year as they won their 8th pennant in 10 years. They ranked 1st in offense in the AL, but just 8th in defense and 4th in pitching. Joe Jackson (.383, 28 HR, 122 RBI) was hitting .390 in early September. The all-time single season mark is .392 set by Hall of Famer Ross Barnes in 1878. Unfortunately, Jackson hit "only" .340 in September and fell short of Barnes' mark. With Frank Baker (.298, 46 HR, 147 RBI) and Ed Lennox (.269, 30 HR, 113 RBI), the A's have plenty of power in their lineup. Even leadoff man Eddie Collins (.327, 21 HR, 65 RBI, 136 R, 70 SB) got in on the action with 21 bombs. On the pitching side, Chief Bender (17-6, 3.12 ERA) rebounded from an ugly April to post fine numbers. The A's were also happy to see Jimmy Dygert (17-8, 3.37 ERA) rebound from a poor 1912 season.

Boston finished in 2nd place but they won just 88 games, their fewest in six years. Their offense never clicked this year and almost every batter had seasons below their career averages. Their pitching staff ranked 2nd in the league, led by Ray Collins (16-4, 3.15 ERA).

Chicago's pitching staff rebounded nicely and finished the season ranked 1st in fewest runs allowed, starters' ERA and bullpen ERA. This was despite a 6th ranked defense. Offensively, rookie Edd Roush (.302, 13 HR, 74 RBI) had a nice debut and cleanup hitter Jack Fournier (.297, 44 HR, 104 RBI) performed well too, even if his numbers were down from last year.


Standings




Batting Leaders




Pitching Leaders




National League Rosters

[Hendu Style]

Can't wait for a Bay Bridge Series... Even if a bridge there didn't technically exist til the 1930's.

[darnoff]

Originally Posted by Hendu Style

Can't wait for a Bay Bridge Series... Even if a bridge there didn't technically exist til the 1930's.

Yeah, this is the first World Series pitting two teams from the same state.

[darnoff]

1913 World Series

Game 1

Giants second baseman Larry Doyle, who went 4-for-4 on the day, started the game off with a 1st inning solo home run off Chief Bender. The score remained 1-0 until the 6th inning when Joe Jackson hit a solo homer off Giants starter Dick Rudolph. However, in the 7th, the Giants got four hits and a hit by pitch with 2 outs to score three runs and take a 4-1 lead. Giants lefty Hooks Wiltse came in with 1 out in the 8th and pitched 1 2/3 innings allowing only a single hit to shut the door on San Francisco's first ever World Series win.




Game 2

The Giants scored early and took a 6-0 lead in the 6th inning, chasing A's starter Jimmy Dygert from the game after just 5 2/3 innings. Meanwhile, Giants starter Jeff Tesreau did not allow a run until two in the 7th and two more in the 8th. Setup man Louis Drucke came in to seal the win in the 9th. Now the Giants go home with a 2-0 series lead.




Game 3

The Giants jumped out to a quick 4-run lead off Eddie Plank in the 1st inning. Then the A's got on the board in the 2nd and added 4 more runs off Giants starter Christy Mathewson in the 3rd to take a 5-4 lead. The A's added a run in the 7th but the Giants exploded for 5 runs in that same inning off relievers Andy Coakley, Tommy Atkins and Stan Coveleski thanks to four walks, two singles and a double. Relievers Hooks Wiltse, Doc Crandall and closer Red Ames pitched a combined three shutout innings for San Francisco to close out the game and give them a commanding 3-0 series lead. The A's did make it exciting though. They got two runners on base in the 9th and with two outs the tying run came to the plate in the form of Joe Jackson. He hit a deep drive to right-center off Ames that was snagged by right fielder Steve Evans just before crashing into the wall. Fortunately for Giants fans, he held onto the ball to end the game, making the home fans roar.




Game 4

Giants first baseman Fred Merkle hit a solo home run off Bob Shawkey in the bottom of the 2nd to start the scoring. Then in the 5th, the Giants strung together three singles to push across another key run. After that, both pitchers were nearly perfect until the top of the 9th when Giants starter Rube Marquard, still in the game to face the lefty-heavy top of Oakland's offense, allowed a 1-out solo homer to centerfielder Amos Strunk. After getting Joe Jackson to fly out, Marquard allowed a first pitch single to Frank Baker, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. That prompted the Giants to bring in closer Red Ames to face right-handed first baseman Ed Lennox, who struck out on a curveball to end the game and give San Francisco their first World Series title.




Recap

The Giants really dominated this series, even though all games were close. San Francisco's offense always came through with a clutch hit when needed. Meanwhile, Rudolph, Tesreau and Marquard pitched beautifully. Oakland performed well over all, especially their offense, but the Giants got more key hits and they pitched much better and that was the difference.

Series MVP

Larry Doyle, 2B: .375 AVG, .444 OBP, .875 SLG, 2 HR, 5 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 - Elmer Knetzer, LAD
C - Bill Rariden, ATL (2nd overall)
1B - Ed Konetchy, STL (2nd overall)
2B - Miller Huggins, CIN (3rd overall)
3B - Heinie Groh, SFG (2nd consecutive)
SS - Mickey Doolin, PHI (2nd overall)
LF - Zach Wheat, LAD (2nd overall)
CF - Max Carey, PIT
RF - Sam Crawford, CIN (4th overall)

AL Batter of the Year




AL Pitcher of the Year




AL Rookie of the Year




AL Fireman Award




AL Gold Gloves
P - Carl Weilman, BAL
C - Bill Carrigan, BOS
1B - Ed Lennox, OAK (2nd overall - one at 1B, one at 3B)
2B - Eddie Collins, OAK (4th overall)
3B - Eddie Foster, NYA
SS - Baldy Louden, NYA (3rd overall)
LF - Ping Bodie, CHA
CF - Clyde Milan, MIN (2nd consecutive)
RF - Rube Oldring, NYA

[darnoff]

1914 National League Rookies

This year, the National League only has one significant rookie. However, there are 12 in the American League. It will be interesting to see what this means long-term for the two leagues. Is there a power shift to the AL, or was this just a one-time anomaly?


Dolf Lugue, SP, Age 23, Braves

Luque is a solid pitcher with good control who should help deepen Atlanta's pitching staff. After a disappointing 1913 season, the Braves expect their offense to bounce back from a last place ranking. If that happens, having an improved pitching rotation will help their chances toward capturing their first pennant.

[darnoff]

1914 American League Rookies


George Burns, 1B, Age 21, Tigers

After just one season, could the addition of Burns already spell the end for Wally Pipp (.247, 23 HR, 96 RBI) at first base in Detroit? Pipp is better defensively and has a little more power, which could provide an edge. However, Burns is quite talented with the bat, although he does not walk as often as Detroit might like. There is a chance the two will form a righty-lefty platoon this season until someone wins the job.




Fritz Coumbe, RP, Age 24, Red Sox

The Red Sox pitching staff is full of talent, so it will be tough for Coumbe to make the team. However, I believe there is one bullpen spot up for grabs. Coumbe has great control and will make a fine reliever. He can even be a spot starter down the road if Boston needs one.




Red Faber, SP, Age 24, White Sox

Chicago has added another talented pitcher in Faber. He will compete with Joe Benz (14-12, 3.83 ERA) for a spot in the rotation this season. He may pitch in relief initially but I expect him to eventually find a starting job.




Joe Harris, 1B, Age 22, Yankees

With Hal Chase (.271, 27 HR, 97 RBI, 28 SB) entrenched at first base, Harris may begin his career in right field where he would replace Rube Oldring (.218, 8 HR, 60 RBI). Harris should provide a big offensive upgrade. He is a very talented hitter with 20+ home run power. Additional offense is what New York has been waiting several years for. Now they need to find a way to improve on their 81-81 record and compete for a pennant.




Harry Heilmann, RF, Age 19, Tigers

Hall of Famer Heilmann will give Detroit a huge offensive boost. He will likely bat cleanup behind Ty Cobb (.322, 36 HR, 118 RBI, 51 SB) just as he did in his real MLB career. He is loaded with talent and will help provide Detroit with an offense nearly on par with the mighty A's and Red Sox.




Sam Jones, SP, Age 21, Indians

Jones and fellow rookie Morton, below, will help bolster a Cleveland pitching staff that has begun to fade from its once dominant status of the previous decade. Jones will have to battle to make the rotation as a rookie, but he will be an upgrade wherever he goes.




Irish Meusel, LF, Age 20, Twins

Meusel is a slugging outfielder who will likely take over right field duties for 13-year Twins outfield fixture Jake Gettman (.231, 19 HR, 73 RBI, 24 SB). Meusel is an imposing hitter who will now team with Tillie Walker (.262, 43 HR, 103 RBI) to provide a powerful 1-2 punch. Perhaps their power, combined with Minnesota's perennially superb defense, will provide the boost that Walter Johnson (18-13, 2.58 ERA) and the rest of the Minnesota pitching staff needs.




Guy Morton, SP, Age 20, Indians

Morton is a hard-thrower with a nasty arsenal of pitches. He also tends to keep the ball down and give up fewer home runs than other pitchers. The Indians hope he will become a top-of-the-rotation pitcher and take some pressure off 33-year-old Addie Joss (14-15, 4.23 ERA), who had a down year last season.




Braggo Roth, RF, Age 21, White Sox

Roth is a speedy outfielder, known for stealing home. He also will provide some additional power for an already powerful lineup. His defense is a bit of a question mark, but he will likely play in right field, moving Edd Roush (.302, 13 HR, 74 RBI) to center. At least initially, Roth will share time with former center fielder Dutch Zwilling (.211, 20 HR, 65 RBI), who is superb defensively. Another option for Chicago would be to get Roth's bat in the lineup at third base, but that would require them to downgrade defensively as 2-time Gold Glover Dave Brain (.238, 17 HR, 47 RBI) currently holds down that job.




Babe Ruth, RF, Age 18, Red Sox

We have seem some superb players in MLHR, such as Cobb or Speaker, but Ruth is equally as talented, if not more so. OOTP would not let me give Ruth quite as much power as he should have in this setting, so it will be interesting to see how his career pans out. As I said many seasons ago with Cy Young, Ruth's career has tended to be a bit disappointing in replays I have run in the past, with his batting average typically far too low. However, I have a good feeling that this time will be different.

Ruth will take what was the second best offense in the AL and turn them into the best, surpassing Oakland. He will be batting alongside the likes of Tris Speaker (.332, 23 HR, 96 RBI,13 SB), Gavvy Cravath (.224, 46 HR, 113 RBI) and Harry Hooper (.248, 15 HR, 70 RBI). He will actually play in MLHR as a left fielder, taking over for 11-year veteran George Stone (.242, 11 HR, 52 RBI). Ruth has an unheard of combination of batting average, power and a keen eye at the plate that will earn him a ton of walks. He should be an OPS-machine! My only concern will be his strikeout rate.




Elmer Smith, RF, Age 21, Indians

Cleveland is steadily becoming a team to fear in the AL. Last season they added RoY Billy Southworth (.273, 28 HR, 92 RBI) to the lineup. This year it is Smith, who should provide plenty of power. His defense is a little suspect, but Cleveland hasn't had the greatest defense out of their right fielders in recent years anyway.




Mellie Wolfgang, MR, Age 23, White Sox

A little-known pitcher, Wolfgang had a brief but successful career with the MLB White Sox as a starter and reliever. In MLHR, he will likely not make Chicago's starting rotation. Instead, he should become a great setup man for 2-time Fireman Award winning closer Harry Suter (5-8, 34 Sv, 1.77 ERA).

[darnoff]

I was watching a spring training game with the A's today and got to thinking about how they always trade their stars before free agency and bring in more young talent - most which will eventually make their MLB debuts with the A's, not the team that drafted them. This makes me think that the A's of the 2000's and 2010's will be pretty talented.

Now.... just to get that far :P

[darnoff]

1914 Key Retirees - Batters


Erve Beck, 2B, Dodgers

A top offensive performer for most of his 16 years with the Dodgers. Finished in the Top 10 in doubles six times.




Wid Conroy, 3B, Orioles

Won two Gold Gloves. Finished in the Top 10 in triples five times and home runs three times.




Doc Gessler, 1B/RF, Tigers

Won one Gold Glove in right field. Led the league in triples in 1906 and in both runs and walks in 1905. Finished in the Top 10 in hits five times, walks five times, runs eight times, triples four times, stolen bases four times, batting average five times, OBP six times and OPS five times.




Jake Gettman, RF, Twins

Won three Gold Gloves. Led the league in triples in 1907 and home runs in 1904. Finished in the Top 10 in hits three times, triples four times, home runs eight times, stolen bases twelve times, RBI six times, runs five times, SLG eight times and OPS seven times.




Danny Hoffman, CF, Athletics

Won one Gold Glove. Was the starting centerfielder for the Athletics in seven World Series. Finished in the Top 10 in stolen bases six times.




Kid Nance, LF, Tigers

Won two Batter of the Year awards and three Gold Gloves. Nance was one of the preeminent power hitters in the AL before the debut of Cobb and Speaker. Led the league in home runs once, runs once, OBP once, SLG twice, OPS twice, WAR twice and RBI four times. Finished in the Top 10 in hits six times, doubles nine times, triples four times, home runs nine times, RBI eleven times, runs five times, walks six times, AVG four times, OBP six times, SLG eight times, OPS nine times and WAR eight times.




Socks Seybold, 1B, Reds

Won the 1902 NL Batter of the Year award. Led the league in doubles, home runs, RBI and SLG once each. Finished in the Top 10 in doubles four times, home runs five times and RBI five times.




George Stone, LF/RF, Red Sox

Won one Gold Glove. Led the league in doubles and OBP once each. Finished in the Top 10 in hits four times, doubles five times, batting average four times, OBP five times, SLG four times and OPS four times.




Honus Wagner, SS, Pirates

Won two Batter of the Year awards and eight Gold Gloves. Led the league in hits once, doubles twice, triples four times, SLG once, OPS twice, WAR twice and won one batting title. Finished in the Top 10 in hits ten times, doubles thirteen times, triples fifteen times, stolen bases eight times, RBI four times, runs five times, AVG seven times, SLG four times, OPS five times and WAR fourteen times.

[darnoff]

1914 Key Retirees - Pitchers


Bill Donovan, Dodgers

"Wild Bill" was the anchor of a relatively poor Dodgers rotation for many years. He was in the Top 10 in wins five times but also in losses six times. He was also the 1898 Rookie of the Year. He led the NL in K/9 in 1906 and finished in the Top 10 thirteen times. He also led the league twice in quality start percentage and once in shutouts. He was in the Top 10 in WAR eight times.




Pete Dowling, Orioles

Dowling finished in the Top 10 in wins three times and losses five times. He led the AL in walks allowed four times but also finished in the Top 10 in strikeouts seven times. He led the AL in fewest HR/9 in 1910 and finished in the Top 10 in the ERA rankings three times.




Charlie Smith, Indians

Smith was the 1902 AL Rookie of the Year. He was a solid starter for Cleveland for four years before falling on hard times. He became their closer for three seasons, but again fell on hard times before finally settling in a middle relief role. He led the AL in saves in 1908. As a starter, he finished 2nd in the ERA rankings in 1903 and 3rd in 1902.

[darnoff]

1914 Hall of Fame Induction


John McGraw, 3B/SS, Cardinals

3882 H, 397 doubles, 62 triples, 214 HR, 2423 R, 1139 RBI, 2224 BB, 2903 K, 1309 SB, .293 AVG, .401 OBP, .381 SLG, .782 OPS, 123 OPS+, 13229 AB, 3439 G

1891 ROY
2 Gold Gloves
4 Pennants
3-0 in World Series

All-time leaderboards Top 10: Games (1st), AB (1st), Runs (1st), Hits (1st), Singles (1st), Stolen bases (1st), Walks (1st), VORP (1st), OBP (2nd), WAR (2nd), Strikeouts (5th), AVG (6th), Total Bases (9th)

Single season records: Stolen bases (102 in 1903)


Rube Waddell, SP, Pirates

243-150, .618 Win%, 533 G, 509 GS, 3605.2 IP, 56 CG, 18 SHO, 1225 BB, 3.1 BB/9, 4188 K, 10.5 K/9, 2738 HA, 380 HRA, 3.02 ERA, 138 ERA+, 1.10 WHIP

1897 ROY
5 POY
1 Gold Glove
2 Pennants
1-1 in World Series

All-time leaderboards Top 10: ERA (1st among starters), OAVG (1st among starters), OSLG (1st among starters), OOPS (1st among starters), WAR (2nd), Win percentage (3rd), Strikeouts (3rd), OOBP (3rd), Wins (5th), Walks (10th)

[darnoff]

1914 NL Preseason Predictions

This season, the Pirates are predicted to edge out the Giants for the pennant. However, I have to disagree. The Giants are coming off an impressive World Series victory, not to mention a season in which they dominated the NL standings. They return virtually their entire roster intact. Their biggest question mark is the fifth starters' spot where Al Demaree (6-6, 5.72 ERA) will once again attempt to hold down the job after losing it halfway through last season.

Meanwhile, the Pirates finished 10 games behind the Giants last season in second place, and they said goodbye to offensive leader Honus Wagner just a year after losing Hall of Fame pitcher Rube Waddell to retirement. That being said, the future looks bright for Pittsburgh. Last season they dominated the post-season awards with a BoY in Max Carey (.306, 34 HR, 95 RBI, 101 R, 65 SB), a PoY in Claude Hendrix (21-6, 3.01 ERA) and a RoY in Al Mamaux (13-10, 3.17 ERA). Awards are nice, but the pennant is all that really matters and this team has something to prove.

In Chicago, the Cubs offense should continue to mash the ball, while their pitching staff should continue to struggle. This year they added rookie Mike Prendergast (6-6-6 ratings) to the pitching rotation but I doubt that will be enough to solve their pitching woes. In Cincinnati, the Reds hope to bounce back from a disappointing 79-83 record, but their only real change was the addition of rookie pitcher Chief Johnson (6-6-6 ratings) to the rotation.

Braves first baseman Buck Freeman (.243, 35 HR, 90 RBI) quietly set the new all-time home run record last season at 622. His accomplishment was overshadowed by the offense's inability to score runs. They expect that to improve this year and that was part of the reason that they shuffled their outfield. Joe Connolly (.310, 7 HR, 33 RBI in 239 AB) will get the bulk of the work in left field, while Les Mann (.359, 3 HR, 13 RBI in 92 AB) takes over in center and Tommy Griffith (.263, 14 HR, 53 RBI in 346 AB) should get even more playing time in right. They also added the top player from the offseason in the NL in pitcher Dolf Luque (6-6-7 ratings).

The Phillies may have the best pitching staff in the NL, but their offense is getting excessively old with almost no depth. The Cardinals are piecing together a nice offense and they have three strong pitchers atop their rotation but their last two starting pitchers are a huge question mark and their bullpen is a mess. The Dodgers made big upgrades to their bullpen this offseason, but their starting rotation is a big weakness. Their offense has some serious fire power with players like Zack Wheat (.304, 41 HR, 91 RBI), Jake Daubert (.262, 32 HR, 72 HR, 86 R) and Casey Stengel (.288, 42 HR, 111 RBI) but I do not believe the entire offense is consistent enough to overcome their pitching issues.

Predicted Standings
(Scale of 1-12)




MLB results for the NL in 1914

Champs: Boston Braves, (94-59, .614)
World Series: Braves defeated Athletics 4-0

Combined WAR: George Burns, Giants, 6.4
Offensive WAR: Sherry Magee, Phillies, 5.8
Defensive WAR: Rabbit Maranville, Braves, 4.2
Batting Title: Jake Daubert, Robins (Dodgers), .329
On-Base%: Casey Stengel, Robins (Dodgers), .404
Runs: George Burns, Giants, 100
RBI: Sherry Magee, Phillies, 103
SB: George Burns, Giants, 62
OPS+: Gavvy Cravath, Phillies, 161
AB/HR: Gavvy Cravath, Phillies, 26.3

Pitching WAR: Grover Cleveland Alexander, Phillies, 8.4
Win%: Bill James, Braves, .788
WHIP: Babe Adams, Pirates, 1.032
K/9: Ben Tincup, Phillies, 6.271 (rookie!)
Innings: Grover Cleveland Alexander, Phillies, 355.0
K/BB: Christy Mathewson, Giants, 3.478
ERA+: Bill Doak, Cardinals, 162
FIP: Grover Cleveland Alexander, Phillies, 2.26


MLHR Milestone Watch

2500 Hits
Sam Crawford, CIN, Age 33, 2491 Hits
Buck Freeman, ATL, Age 33, 2488 Hits
Elmer Flick, PHI, Age 38, 2469 Hits

650 Home Runs
Buck Freeman, ATL, Age 33, 622 HR

2000 RBI
Nap Lajoie, PHI, Age 39, 1962 RBI

500 Stolen Bases
Bob Bescher, CIN, Age 30, 429 SB

200 Wins
Christy Mathewson, SFG, Age 33, 189 Wins

3500 Innings Pitched
Christy Mathewson, SFG, Age 33, 3283.0 Innings

3000 Innings Pitched
Doc White, PHI, Age 34, 2943.1 Innings

3500 Strikeouts
Noodles Hahn, CIN, Age 34, 3420 K's
Christy Mathewson, SFG, Age 33, 3346 K's

800 Games Pitched
Harry Howell, LAD, Age 37, 738 Games

700 Games Pitched
Homer Hillebrand, PIT, Age 33, 688 Games
Martin Glendon, CIN, Age 37, 683 Games
Cy Falkenberg, PIT, Age 34, 673 Games

[darnoff]

1914 AL Preseason Predictions

After winning their 8th AL pennant in the past 10 years, the A's are once again predicted to finish first in the league. Their offense looks very similar to last year's unit, but there have been several changes to the pitching staff. 37-year-old Eddie Plank (17-11, 4.40 ERA) moves to the bullpen for the first time in his great career. The team has also brought in rookies Dave Danforth (6-6-5 ratings) and Boardwalk Brown (6-6-5 ratings) to the pen. Meanwhile, Stan Coveleski (7-5, 3.05 ERA) takes Plank's spot in the rotation.

I have my eyes on Boston this year. All they did was add the greatest hitter of all time to their lineup in Babe Ruth (9-7-13-10-3 ratings). They have also given the starting shortstop job to rookie Everett Scott (5-5-2-3-8 ratings) in order to upgrade their defense. The pitching staff is identical to last season except that rookie Fritz Coumbe (6-6-8 ratings) moves into the bullpen. This is a very dangerous team that I believe is being underrated. They have an incredibly powerful lineup and some superstar pitchers. I really do believe they are better than Oakland, but the MLHR Red Sox have a long history of underperforming.

The White Sox are also a dangerous team to watch out for. They added speedy right fielder Braggo Roth (6-7-7-6-3 ratings, 9 speed) to the #2 slot in their lineup ahead of Edd Roush (.302, 13 HR, 74 RBI), Jack Fournier (.297, 44 HR, 104 RBI) and Ping Bodie (.248, 31 HR, 90 RBI). They have a pitching staff on par with Boston and Oakland, and they made a big upgrade to the bullpen with the addition of exciting rookie Mellie Wolfgang (8-6-7 ratings).

The Yankees are hoping that this is the year they finally get into the pennant race. They still have a very good pitching staff and they upgraded their offense with the addition of Joe Harris (8-8-6-6-8 ratings), who will start in right field. Detroit has a powerful offense, but their pitching staff is still a big issue. Cleveland is predicted by some to climb to .500 with an improved offense and a steady pitching staff.


Predicted Standings
(Scale of 1-12)




MLB results for the AL in 1914

Champs: Philadelphia Athletics, (99-53, .651)
World Series: Braves defeated Athletics 4-0

Combined WAR: Tris Speaker, Red Sox, 9.9
Offensive WAR: Eddie Collins, Athletics, 9.1
Defensive WAR: George McBride, Senators (Twins), 3.0
Batting Title: Ty Cobb, Tigers, .368
Runs: Eddie Collins, Athletics, 122
RBI: Sam Crawford, Tigers, 104
SB: Fritz Maisel, Yankees, 74
OPS+: Ty Cobb, Tigers, 190
AB/HR: Jack Fournier, White Sox, 63.2

Pitching WAR: Walter Johnson, Senators (Twins), 11.9
Win%: Chief Bender, Athletics, .850
WHIP: Dutch Leonard, Red Sox, 0.886
K/9: Dutch Leonard, Red Sox, 7.050
Innings: Walter Johnson, Senators (Twins), 371.2
K/BB: Walter Johnson, Senators (Twins), 3.041
ERA+: Dutch Leonard, Red Sox, 282
FIP: Dutch Leonard, Red Sox, 1.95


MLHR Milestone Watch

500 Stolen Bases
Eddie Collins, OAK, Age 26, 469 SB

200 Wins
Chief Bender, OAK, Age 29, 181 Wins

3000 Innings
Addie Joss, CLE, Age 33, 2997.2 IP
Eddie Plank, OAK, Age 37, 2985.0 IP