From Worst to First

[NYY #23]

With 7 active teams left to guide to the World Series, five of those teams finished with winning records. Sooner or later we might have to go from Worst to First to second best? That's ok though, for now we've still got a couple of bad teams, the Yankees and the Tigers -

Cincinnati Reds (89-65)
St. Louis Browns (88-66)
Boston Braves (86-68)
Chicago White Sox (81-73)
Pittsburgh Pirates (79-75)
New York Yankees (68-86)
Detroit Tigers (61-93)

The Tigers weren't quite the worst team in the league finishing just better than the Athletics, but at first glance they aren't too bad. I owe the Tigers a lot actually, since they helped knock off the Indians and get me out of Washington.

The big weakness in Detroit seems to be pitching, as we look to be about four pitchers short of a four man rotation. Of course we don't have a scouting director, so my view could be tainted, but with a starter's ERA of 4.60 it looks to be bad.

We've got a young star in Detroit, 22 year-old Ralph Kiner. 'King Kong' Keller is the big bopper in the middle of our line-up, coming off a poor year. Offensively we seem pretty solid, we just need to get some pitchers and I think we'll be moving in the right direction.

[NYY #23]

My first move running things in Detroit was to bring in scout Juan Rosa to help me evaluate my talent. Part of me wanted to fire him after I read about what he had to say about my rotation - "Back end filler", "Must be a con artist since he fooled scouts into thinking he has talent", "Pitcher in name only", "Could be a respectable fifth starter".

Welcome to Detroit. He is probably right though.

My first deal in Detroit was to trade our starting first baseman Eddie Robinson and our top prospect, third baseman Johnny Ostrowski to the Philadelphia Athletics for starting pitcher Tex Hughson. Hughson was 18-19 last season with a 2.77 ERA. Not quite an ace, but he'll play one in Detroit.

My second deal was to send Rookie of the Year third baseman Grady Hatton to the New York Yankees for starting pitcher Dave Ferriss(10-19, 3.61 ERA) and 34 year old third baseman Bobby Estalella.

In our final deal we shipped off right fielder Bill Burgo to the Cincinnati Reds for first baseman Mike Schemer. Who says persistence doesn't pay off? After turning down the same deal 10 times I finally gave in.

The fans already hate me in Detroit. The owner wants me to play .500 ball, and we've already suffered our first injury casualty of the new year, losing CF Johnny Hopp for 2 weeks. But we did start the season 7-8 and my new ace Ted Hughson is 4-0 with a 2.06 ERA.

[NYY #23]

I've found that every team you inherit is unique, and Detroit had a good solid young core of offensive players. I think that is why I decided to make a couple of trades for pitchers and see what happens. The Tigers seemed like a candidate for a quick turnaround.

So far so good in Detroit, as we finished our second straight winning month and are hanging around 4 1/2 games out of first place. Tex Hughson has been great so far (7-3, 2.12 ERA). Dave Ferriss hasn't been bad either (6-5, 2.77 ERA) and with Tommy Hughes (6-1, 2.07 ERA) pitching well, the fourth spot in our rotation is the only weak one.

No real complaints as we let the dust settle from the moves, our young guys develop, and we wait for the amateur draft where we pick 3rd overall.

[NYY #23]

Another winning month in Detroit going 18-10 and still hanging 4 1/2 games back in third place. With the draft coming up and the Tigers picking third I felt it was a good chance to grab a great player.

Sometimes the most intriguing name isn't always the best player available, or the one that fills the biggest need, but when Jackie Robinson was still on the board when we drafted I couldn't pass up drafting him. The color barrier will be broken in Detroit in my universe a year earlier.

We selected catcher Matt Batts in the second round, third baseman Jack Lohrke in the third round, and a pair of middle relievers to round out the draft (Eddie Erautt and Cot Deal).

[NYY #23]

It was that time of year again, and the Tigers were well represented at the All-Star game -

SP Dave Ferriss - 11-7, 2.58 ERA
SP Tex Hughson - 10-6, 2.08 ERA
LF Ralph Kiner - .251/.345/.463, 16 HR, 51 RBI
CF Goody Rosen - .308/.366/.425, 5 HR, 41 RBI
RF Charlie Keller - .300/.418/.453, 9 HR, 36 RBI

Hughson got the start for the American League after allowing 4 unearned runs in 2 innings. Ferriss pitched a scoreless inning. Keller and Rosen each collected a pinch hit in their only at-bat, while Kiner was 0-3 as the AL fell 4-2.

On the field we experienced our first losing month of the season and are now 13 games behind the Senators. We are in second place though, and for the most part my first season in Detroit has been a successful one.

I chose to stand pat at the deadline. We don't have enough to make a run at first place, or trade chips to get the players we need, so it just seemed better to stand pat and let the dust settle.

[NYY #23]

Another losing month in Detroit with a 14-15 record, as our early season success is a distant memory. Overall in our first season in Detroit I'm pretty please though, as we have some positives to build on. Injuries have taken a toll on a team that doesn't have too much depth to begin within, but I won't use that as an excuse.

Surprisingly our pitching staff has been the strength of our team, at least our one through three. Hughson has been all we've expected when we traded for, going 15-12 with a 2.49 ERA. I think once our offense develops a little bit more things will be pretty good.

[NYY #23]

My first year in Detroit is complete with a 76-78 record, 20 games back. We came just short of a winning record, and the Tigers finished with their best record since 1939. I expect that next season we'll cross that .500 hump, as we try to return the Tigers to their first World Series since 1922.

I expect a quiet off-season since we have a fairly young team as we chase those Senators, who are heading back to the World Series for the second straight year.

[NYY #23]

While we are still chasing the two time defending champion Washington Senators, we've enjoyed some early success with a 11-5 record. Our offense has been rolling along early with Jackie Robinson (.380, 3 HR), Charlie Keller (.357, 5 HR), and Ralph Kiner (.320, 3 HR) all getting off to a fast start as we lead the league in runs scored.

We've given up more runs than I would like with our starters sporting a 3.76 ERA, but I'm not worried yet. I think they'll turn things around, and who knows, maybe we'll be able to surprise some people this year.

[NYY #23]

We're locked in a tough battle with the Senators, tied in first place. Our offense is playing real well, led by Jackie Robinson and Charlie Keller, with Ralph Kiner supplying the pop.

Our pitching could be doing a little bit better, but I'm satisfied with a 18-13 record for the month.

[NYY #23]

It was a tough draft for me, as we drafted seventh overall, and I was forced to make a tough decision with our first round pick. I always like to take the best available player, but had a tough choice between outfielder Hank Bauer and catcher Stan Lopata. Lopata had an age and intelligence advantage, and plays a tougher position, so we made him our first round pick and resisted the temptation to pick Bauer and dangle Keller to fill a bigger need.

In the second round we selected first baseman Preston Ward and shortstop Roy Smalley in the third round. My scout was really high on catcher Rube Walker, so we took a flyer on another catcher in the fourth round and to round out the draft we picked up reliever Al 'Lefty' Porto.

With the addition of Lopata, 32 year old catcher Frankie Hayes had to go. Since he refused to be demoted I shopped him around and the Yankees were interested. They didn't offer much, but we netted starting pitcher Doyle 'Porky' Lade, who is 7-6 with a 3.97 ERA this season, coming off a year in which he lost 22 games. My scout thinks he is a minor league journeyman, but the plan was for him to serve as an emergency starter.

The Indians made us an offer for Lade and catcher Rube Walker, and offered second baseman Bobby Doerr. Spare parts for us in exchange for a two time All-Star second baseman. Doerr comes with question marks though, as his stats have steadily declined the past four seasons, and he is hitting .212 with a .302 on base percentage this year. Hopefully he needs a change of scenery, and hasn't suffered one back injury too many. His .400 batting average since the trade is an encouraging sign.

On the field we really heated up in June, going 21-7 to open up a 7 and a half game lead over the Senators, who had a losing record for the month.

[NYY #23]

The Tigers contribution to the All-Star game involved sending a pair of starting pitchers - Dave Ferriss and Tex Hughson, along with 1B Jackie Robinson and RF Charlie Keller. Unfortunately all were unspectacular in the AL's 8-4 loss.

In what was a strange day, we say the left half of our infield go down on the same day, when 3B Bobby Estella and SS George Myatt both went down for an injury. The next day, their replacements 3B Don Savage and SS Ralph Winegarner also both went down for an injury. Just as a strange coincidence, minor league 3B Connie Ryan also went down for a 4 month injury the same day.

Could we hold on to our 8 game lead with problems at both third and short?

Well, it was cut to 6 1/2 at the trading deadline, but I didn't feel the need to panic. Another injury to starting center fielder Goody Rosen forced us to recall Soup Campbell, who I hope will be just what the doctor ordered as we head into August with a 5 1/2 game lead.

[NYY #23]

First things first, I've kind of gotten in a rut with this dynasty. I'm at a point where I play a month, and dread doing the write up. I don't know if it is because I'm in my 42 year or what, but I've gotten tired of the same format, or if I just need a change or what. But I'm still having fun doing it, when I get the chance. Maybe it is just that I don't have too much free time, but whatever the reason I've decided to change up the format.

I was going to go to a twice per year format, but I've decided that I'm not going to worry about timelines, screenshots, or anything else, and just throw out all the rules and post whenever it makes sense and see what happens….

On the field the Tigers are having a bad month, dropping 13 of our 21 games. If that wasn't bad enough Ted Hughson (19-4, 2.56 ERA) tore his rotator cuff and is out for the next 9 months.

After taking 2 of 3 from the second place Senators, we are clinging to a slim 2 game lead. I have to keep telling myself we are only in our second year in Detroit.

[NYY #23]

Over the last ten games we are 4-6 and the Senators are 5-5 as we cling to a 1/2 game lead. I'm beginning to think that nobody wants to win the American League. We better keep an eye out for those hard charging Philadelphia Athletics, who are only 5 1/2 games back.

So when looking at the standings, I noticed an interesting thing when looking at our Pythagorean records -
Tigers - 71-61 (+6)
Senators - 82-51 (-5)
Athletics - 69-64
Indians - 69-63
White Sox - 68-65

I guess you can say we are a bit lucky being where we are, but sometimes it is better to be lucky than good.

[NYY #23]

We've got 4 games left to play, with a 1 1/2 game lead over the Senators, and a 3 1/2 game lead over the Athletics. Taking a look at our remaining games we have one game to go against the Browns, and three against the .500 White Sox.

The Senators meanwhile have 3 games to go against the last place Yankees, and a pair against the second to last place Red Sox. The Athletics play the rest of their games against the Red Sox and Yankees as well.

The remaining schedule isn't in our favor, but we did get back Jackie Robinson, who is returning from injury.

[NYY #23]

With two games left it is all tied up between us and the Washington Senators. The Athletics have been eliminated, so it is a two team race. Over in the National League it is another tight race, with the Pirates (92-61) leading the Reds (91-61) by a game.

On paper it at least looks like the National League is going to win the World Series, regardless of which of the four teams is in the World Series.

At least we've got our top two arms going the last two games of the season, with Dave Ferriss (18-15) and Ken Burkhart (20-16) set to take the mound.

[NYY #23]

It's all come down to this, which seems to be where we were heading all along. After a 154 game season we finished the season tied with the Senators, each finishing the season with a 88-66 record.

How do I feel about our chances?

Not very good. Taking the ball for us will be Manny Salvo. He isn't exactly the type of pitcher you'd want to take the ball in a winner take all game, and this is exactly the reason why Ted Hughson and his torn rotator cuff hurts so much.

Just for the record he was 2-3 with a 3.88 ERA for the season. He'll be opposing Johnny Beazley, who went 16-13 with a 3.14 ERA. It's going to be a tough game, and we'll need quite a bit of luck if we are going to make it to the World Series in our second year.

[NYY #23]

One game. The winner moves on and the loser goes home. Manny Salvo vs Johnny Beazley, and high hopes that we can do the improbable.

I like to watch our playoff games, or important games like this, although sometimes it is difficult to not fire my manager on the spot and take over control.

With Salvo on the mound I honestly didn't expect much, I was just hoping he'd be able to limit the damage enough that our bats could get hot and we'd win in a shootout.

The first two innings were surprisingly uneventful, with neither team able to buy a hit. The Tigers did strike first after Preston Ward singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and came home to score on a single from George Myatt.

Of course our lead lasted just two batters, as the first batter of the inning for the Senators, Charlie Gilbert, hit a solo home run to tie the game. Jackie Robinson doubled to start off the bottom of the fourth, and later scored on a single by Bobby Estalella to put us back up 2-1.

Manny Salvo worked out of a jam in the fifth, and with two men on base Ralph Kiner had the big three run blast to put us up 5-1. Maybe we can pull this thing off after all!

Salvo kept rolling, allowing just four hits all game, and held the Senators to just one run. We tacked on a few insurance runs to win the one game playoff 8-1.

On to the World Series we go in our second year, as we take on the Pittsburgh Pirates.

[NYY #23]

How do we match up with the Pirates? It doesn't look too well. The Pirates look like the better team with a strong offense, and a strong pitching staff. Their rotation consists of Hal Newhouser (24-10, 2.69 ERA), Bob Feller (17-14, 3.25 ERA), Lou Brissie (18-12, 2.97 ERA), and Hal White (18-13, 3.77 ERA).

Offensively the Pirates lack the star power, but top to bottom they have a very solid lineup. In fact the Pirates outscored us 756-690 this season and hit .279 as a team with a .347 OBP.

We're at least a pitcher short, and our offensive is young and inconsistent at times. Dave Ferriss took the ball for us to open the series to oppose Newhouser, and for the first four innings there was nothing but zeroes on the board.

The Tigers struck first in the top of the fifth, when Jackie Robinson hit a sacrifice fly to score the first run of the game. Our lead was short lived though, as the Pirates got one back in the bottom of the fifth to tie things up.

Dave Ferriss took matters in his own hands in the seventh though, and collected a two out single that drove home Johnny Hopp, who doubled earlier in the inning. We were up 2-1, and that proved to be all the scoring we would need. Ralph Kiner added an insurance run in the eighth inning when he tripled and came home to score on a passed ball.

Ferriss got the complete game win as we took a 1-0 lead in the World Series.

[NYY #23]

I expected our second game to be a pitcher's duel, with Ken Burkhart taking the mound against Bob Feller. It didn't exactly live up to my expectations though. I knew we were in for a long night when we fell behind 1-0 in the first, and then 2-0 in the second.

The Pirates went on to score 4 runs in the bottom of the third and we found ourselves down 6-0 and unable to get anything going offensively. We scored 4 runs in the fifth to narrow the gap to 2 runs, but it wasn't meant to be. The Pirates scored 4 runs in the bottom of the seventh, after a crucial error by Jackie Robinson and we fell 10-4 and the series was tied up.

[NYY #23]

With the series tied up at 1 game apiece, Dave Ferris was set to take the mound after winning the series opener. Charlie Keller singled home the first run in the bottom of the first, but it was all downhill from there. The Pirates tied it up in the third, and after scoring 3 in the fourth and Ferris didn't have his best stuff, allowing 12 hits, and 5 runs in seven innings.

We scraped a couple of runs together late in the game, but dropped the game 5-4 and fell behind in the series 2-1.