Cardinal Rule: A Fictional Historical 1901 Replay

[Afino]

St. Louis dominated this one early and often in their first-ever meeting with the Brooklyn Superbas, taking it to them 10-2.

Every starter except for Preston Thomas had at least one hit, and seven different Cardinals had at least one RBI. John Burt added to his 21-game hitting streak with a 2-run HR in the 2nd inning, and Steve O'herlihy pitched another excellent game on short rest as Angelo Pacheco needed another day to recover. He'll start tomorrow.

----------

Saturday, May 18th, 1901

Chicago Orphans: D. Castillo was injured on a defensive play. The Diagnosis: high ankle sprain. He's expected to miss about 3 weeks.

Cincinnati Reds: F. Bader was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: back soreness. He's expected to miss about 1-2 weeks.

[Afino]

Congrats!

[Afino]

Beatdown in Brooklyn today, as the Cardinals wiped the floor with the Superbas by a score of 12-3.

Angelo Pacheco was sharp in his first start back, as he went the distance despite giving up two monster homers in the 8th. Other than that, he was very, very good.

John Burt kept his hit streak going (now at 22) with a single in the 6th.

Orlando Ortiz hit a grand slam to put St. Louis up 12-0 in the 6th, and the bench came in to finish out the game.

-------------

Boston Americans: H. Little goes 3-4 against the Baltimore Orioles, extending his hitting streak to 20 games!

[Afino]

The Cardinals worked overtime for a win today, as St. Louis took down the Superbas 6-4 in 13 innings. The deciding factor was Eddie Ortiz's 2-run double in the 13th.

Steve O'Herlihy, the workhorse that he is, went on short rest again and went all 13 innings for the win. He'll enjoy a well-deserved few days off.

John Burt went 5 for 7, extending his hit streak to 23!

--------

Tuesday, May 21st, 1901

Washington Senators: M. Robinson pitches a 3-hit shutout against the Cleveland Blues with 4 strikeouts and 2 BB allowed!

St. Louis Cardinals: J. Burt goes 5-7 against the Brooklyn Superbas, with 2 2B, 0 RBI and 2 R.

[Afino]

Sorry about the delay, life gets in the way sometimes

In a barnburner in Brooklyn, the Cardinals took the final game of the 4-game series against the Superbas 10-5. Preston Thomas was the big star, going 4-5, 2 runs scored, and 5 RBI, and ended up a double short of the cycle. Orlando Ortiz hit a 503 ft HR in the 9th to put an exclamation point on the victory.

John Burt got a hit in his last at bat to make it 24 games in a row, and Jorge Montalvo picked up the win to improve to 6-2.

Now it's off to the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia!

[glenn]

I've been waiting to see how Burt was going to do in his next game. Hope he keeps it up for you!

[Afino]

A late St. Louis rally fell short today in the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia, as the Cardinals fell to the Phillies this afternoon by a score of 4-3.

With the score tied at 1 in the 6th, Steve Downing dropped an easy flyball off the bat of Leonard O'Neil, and Willie Sellers singled him home off Jorge Velasco. Kenny Davis hit a triple into the left field corner to drive in Sellers, and Phillies were up by two.

But in the 9th, Phillies starter Thomas Ladner tired and the Cards finally got some men on base. Consecutive singles by Ortiz, Lopez, and Duarte put the tying run on 3rd, but a popout by Keith and an Allison line out put the Cardinals rally to bed.

Despite the loss, St. Louis is still 3.5 games ahead with a record of 21-10.

-------


And I know you're wondering.....

Thursday, May 23rd, 1901

St. Louis Cardinals: J. Burt goes 2-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies, extending his hitting streak to 25 games!

Boston Americans: P. Trahey goes 2-4 against the Detroit Tigers, extending his hitting streak to 20 games!
Cleveland Blues: J. Vargas was injured on a defensive play. The Diagnosis: sprained knee. He's expected to miss about 2 weeks.

Boston Americans: B. Wolfe was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: tired arm. He's expected to miss about 2 weeks.

Chicago Orphans: J. Myers was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: ankle soreness. He's expected to miss about 3 days.

[Afino]

Back to work today, and back to what Cardinals fans are used to - a victory.

This one was rather easy and over before the second inning was over as the Cardinals scored five in the first and again in the second en route to a 13-1 victory at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia and the hometown Phillies.

Every Cardinals starter had at least one hit as it was a total team effort today. Angelo Pacheco is now 8-0 after going eight strong innings. John Burt's hitting streak??

Now at 26.

-------------

Friday, May 24th, 1901

Baltimore Orioles: A. Castellanos goes 3-5 against the Milwaukee Brewers, extending his hitting streak to 20 games!

Chicago Orphans: J. Cavanaugh was injured on a defensive play. The Diagnosis: oblique strain. He's expected to miss about 6 days.

[Afino]

The hits keep on coming.

I drafted a team high on Contact ratings, hoping that I could nickel and dime my way to glory, and so far, it's working. Every Cardinals starter had at least one hit in a 7-5 victory over the Phillies today. 27 games in a row for John Burt, which is actually becoming less and less impressive as there is THREE other active streaks in the MLB longer than 20 games.

One roster note. Catcher Stan Hahn was claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh, and current backup catcher Tim Bishop was sent to AAA Madison. To make room on the 30-man roster, Madison infielder Ruben Balbuena was DFA'd.

Off day the 26th, so I'm combining the news from the 25th to the beginning of the 27th here - which includes player of the week.

------------------

Monday, May 27th, 1901

CF T. Warren of the Milwaukee Brewers honored: Wins the MLB AL Player of the Week Award.

3B W. Atkins of the Pittsburgh Pirates honored: Wins the MLB NL Player of the Week Award.

Saturday, May 25th, 1901

Boston Americans: H. Little goes 2-4 against the Cleveland Blues, extending his hitting streak to 25 games!

Detroit Tigers: H. Hernández was injured in a collision at a base. The Diagnosis: strained rib cage muscle. He's expected to miss about 4 weeks.


Monday, May 27th, 1901

St. Louis Cardinals: Demoted C T. Bishop to Triple A Madison.

St. Louis Cardinals: 3B R. Balbuena was designated for assignment and placed on waivers.

St. Louis Cardinals: Placed C S. Hahn on the active roster. Sunday, May 26th, 1901

St. Louis Cardinals: Claimed C S. Hahn off waivers from Pittsburgh.

[Afino]

Jorge Montalvo pitched an excellent game today in Philadelphia, allowing only six hits in a complete game effort - a 9-3 win over the Phillies - as the Cardinals took 3 out of 4 from Philly.

Preston Thomas and Willie Keith both hit 3-run homers, and John Burt had a third inning triple to extend the hitting streak to 28 games.

Off to New York tomorrow to face the Giants!

-------------------

Boston Americans: P. Trahey goes 0-4 against the Cleveland Blues, ending his hitting streak at 22 games.

[Afino]

Time for something a little different to liven things up so this isn't another "boring" dynasty.

Every once in a while I'll spotlight a different Cardinals player so you fans can get a little more familiar with these players that I pulled out of thin air

#11 Steve O'Herlihy - SP

Age: 28 (birthday: 4/11/1873)
From: Eden Isle, LA
Height/Weight: 5'10/218
Pitches: Left
Salary: $590
Big League Service Time: 1 year, 22 days
Popularity: Extremely Popular

Endurance: 98/100
Groundball Pct: 39%
Rating at Pitcher: 97

Acquired: Inaugural draft, Round 3, Pick 1 by St. Louis

---------------

O'Herhily is a reliable #2 starter, left handed, and a workhorse to boot. He is the perfect complement to power righty Angelo Pacheco in the St. Louis rotation. He currently leads all of baseball in innings pitched with 87 2/3 in 10 starts this season (7 complete games). Not only does he give you a lot of innings, but quality ones as well with a 2.98 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Unfortunately, due to a lack of run support, he's only 6-4 in those 10 starts.

[Afino]

A late Giants rally crushed Angelo Pacheco's hopes of starting 9-0 this season, as New York picked up five runs in the eighth inning of a 8-4 win today at the Polo Grounds.

The offense went dry with the exceptions of Burt (2-4, 29 game hit streak) and Ortiz (3-4, 13 game hit streak) and Pacheco gave up 13 hits, including 6 in the 8th inning before his departure. Just didn't have his best today.

--------------------

Tuesday, May 28th, 1901

Boston Americans: H. Little goes 0-4 against the Cleveland Blues, ending his hitting streak at 26 games.

Washington Senators: J. Vargas was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: sore ankle. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last 5 days.

Chicago White Sox: E. Graves was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: hamstring tendinitis. He's expected to miss about 4 days.

[Afino]

Well, it's over.

The Giants' Steve Mayes just shut down the Cardinals to the tune of a 1-0, 3-hit shutout, and John Burt did not have one of those three hits, ending his hit streak at 29.

Mayes and Steve O'Herlihy were engaged in a good old fashioned pitchers' duel, as O'Herlihy only allowed 6 hits himself in a CG effort.

Doubleheader tomorrow!

-------------------

Wednesday, May 29th, 1901

New York Giants: S. Mayes pitches a 3-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals with 5 strikeouts and 6 BB allowed!

St. Louis Cardinals: J. Burt goes 0-3 against the New York Giants, ending his hitting streak at 29 games.

Baltimore Orioles: A. Castellanos goes 2-5 against the Chicago White Sox, extending his hitting streak to 25 games!

Baltimore Orioles: J. Shannon goes 5-5 against the Chicago White Sox, with 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI and 2 R.Chicago Orphans: M. Bryant was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: sore ankle. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last one week.

Philadelphia Athletics: T. Williamson was injured being hit by a pitch. The Diagnosis: bruised calf. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last 4 days.

[glenn]

John Burt had a nice run while it lasted though!

[Afino]

Originally Posted by glenn

John Burt had a nice run while it lasted though!

Yeah, I knew I was due to just run into a pitching buzzsaw sooner or later

[Afino]

Cards Split Twin Bill

As someone said in a galaxy far, far away....."Let's Play Two!"

Today in the Polo Grounds, the Cardinals and Giants played to a split of the two-game series, with the Cardinals winning the first game 5-2 on the strength of a 3-4, 2 RBI performance from John Burt and a solid start from Jorge Montalvo.

In the second game, the bats went silent again, as St. Louis dropped the series finale 6-1 as Jim Farris pitched a two-hitter and Jorge Velasco, well, sucked.

Off day tomorrow the 31st, as we turn the calendar to June.

June 1st is Draft Day in the MLB! Expect full coverage here on STL Sports!

-------------------

Friday, May 31st, 1901

Boston Americans: T. Huff pitches a 1-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox with 0 strikeouts and 1 BB allowed!

Thursday, May 30th, 1901

Philadelphia Athletics: F. Gonzáles pitches a 3-hit shutout against the Cleveland Blues with 1 strikeouts and 1 BB allowed!

Baltimore Orioles: A. Castellanos hits for the CYCLE, going 6-6 against the Detroit Tigers, with 4 RBI and 3 runs scored.

Baltimore Orioles: A. Castellanos goes 6-6 against the Detroit Tigers, with 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI and 3 R.

Thursday, May 30th, 1901

Boston Americans: R. González was injured in a collision at a base. The Diagnosis: lacerated hand. He's expected to miss about 2 weeks.

Chicago Orphans: L. Rivera was injured in a collision at a base. The Diagnosis: hamstring strain. He's expected to miss about 3 weeks.

Pittsburgh Pirates: P. Espinosa was injured on a defensive play. The Diagnosis: foot contusion. He's expected to miss about one week.

Philadelphia Phillies: R. Nelson was injured while throwing the ball. The Diagnosis: abdominal soreness. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last 2 days.

[Afino]

Cards up by 3!

[Afino]

Look at all the red!

John Burt = God

[Afino]

.

[Afino]

The best player in this draft is probably SP Anthony Howard (73/80), and I'd be shocked if he's not the #1 overall pick. He's 22 years old, out of college, and projected as a #1 starter.

Right behind him is 2B Patrick Burt (75/80 - brother of John??), who will be an offensive force just like John.

As far as outfielders, it's a toss up between RF Gregg Lynn (69/80) and CF Tom Ashe (68/80). Ashe is more polished, can run, and is good defensively. Lynn has more offensive tools, but is BRUTAL defensively.

Of course, there's the litany of too many good MR prospects that will wallow in the free agent pool in a few years.... *rolls eyes*


What are we going to focus on? Well, there's not much in the way of starting pitching in the pipeline. However, with the 16th pick, we're not going to get much there. Young catcher, maybe? Outside of Lopez, there's not much else going on there either. However, the draft isn't very deep at C.

Could also look at outfield as well.



--------------------

Draft Order

The draft order will be in the reverse of the inaugural draft order. 12 rounds scheduled!

1. New York Giants
2. Philadelphia Athletics
3. Pittsburgh Pirates
4. Chicago Orphans
5. Cincinnati Reds
6. Cleveland Blues
7. Philadelphia Phillies
8. Boston Beaneaters
9. Brooklyn Superbas
10. Chicago White Sox
11. Milwaukee Brewers
12. Baltimore Orioles
13. Detroit Tigers
14. Washington Senators
15. Boston Americans
16. St Louis Cardinals