1902 Cleveland: Napoleon & Joss Are Fine

[Dukie98]

Although the Naps stayed in contention up through the final week of the 1905 season, the prognosis was not universally rosy for 1906, as the writers picked them to slip to sixth place, with a projected 74-80 record.

Shortly before the start of spring training, the Naps shipped reliever Charlie Smith, who fell out of favor last summer, along with little-used backup infielder Germany Schaefer to the Cardinals for Big Jeff Pfeffer. Although the Cardinals used him sparingly as a backup outfielder, the Naps see more long-term potential from Pfeffer as a starting pitcher, and they have converted him accordingly.

The Naps struggled in spring training, going just 11-17. Nap Lajoie suffered a minor back injury and missed nearly two weeks, returning shortly before the end of spring training. Catcher Frank Roth solidified his hold on the starting catcher position with a terrific spring, as rookie Boss Schmidt struggled.

[Dukie98]

The Cleveland Naps struggled out of the gate, losing six of their first seven games, ending the month with a 5-7 record and in sixth place, 3 1/2 games behind the surprising St. Louis Browns. Although they pitched well, the Naps suffered from a mediocre offense and an often putrid defense -- indeed, they committed a stunning 29 errors in the first seven games of the year.

Offensively, the lone bright spot was Elmer Flick, who was named the American League player of the month after hitting .400 with two homers and ten RBI's. Nap Lajoie hit .320 with two homers of his own, and first baseman George Stovall chipped in by hitting .307 with 7 RBI's. But management's concerns about Bill Bradley became heightened, as the star third baseman hit just .204 with a single extra-base hit for the month. Shortstop also proved to be troublesome: after Freddy Parent broke his foot in the first week of the season, Wid Conroy took over for him. But after committing eight errors in four games, Conroy was benched for Mickey Doolan.

On the mound, the Naps were led by Jake Thielman, who built off his 7-0 record from last year by winning his first three starts with a 2.00 ERA. Barney Pelty nearly matched him with a 2.02 ERA, but had just a 1-2 won lost record. Addie Joss continued to underachieve, losing each of his three starts with a 3.57 ERA. Most ominously, shortly after a complete game victory, Dummy Taylor, who won 25 games last season, headed to the disabled list with an inflamed elbow, and he is not expected to return until July.

The Naps will plug rookie Babe Adams into the rotation to fill Taylor's spot. They anticipate Parent will return in mid-May. However, it will be an uphill task to catch the defending-champion New York Highlanders, who closed the month by winning seven straight after a slow start. In the National League, the story of the month was Pittsburgh's Harry Lumley, who was inexplicably traded by the Boston Bees for pennies on the dollar after a strong rookie campaign. Lumley ended April leading all of baseball (not just the National League) in each of the triple crown categories, as well as stolen bases to boot, hitting .426 with five homers, 22 RBI's and eight stolen bases.

[Dukie98]

Here's how the Naps shape up as of the end of April:

[Dukie98]

The Naps continued to sputter into May, losing ten of their first fourteen games, and bottoming out with an 11-20 record before winning seven of their final ten games of the month. The Naps ended May with an 18-23 record, but in seventh place, 10 1/2 games behind the streaking Highlanders.

The Naps' offense picked up in May. George Stovall hit a team-high .357 with 13 RBI's, and Nap Lajoie hit .345 with a matching total of 13 RBI's. Despite a very slow start to the month, Bill Bradley rallied to end the month with a team-high 18 RBI's. But outfielders Cozy Dolan and Mike Donlin continued to struggle, as they each hit just .210 with three extra base hits apiece, and shortstop Freddy Parent struggled to hit .203.

On the mound, Addie Joss won the AL Pitcher of the Month award, going 6-0 with a sparkling 1.27 ERA. Remarkably, hard-luck Barney Pelty went just 1-7 with a sharp 2.15 ERA. Babe Adams filled in admirably for Dummy Taylor, going just 2-4 but sporting a 2.56 ERA. Jake Thielman rounded out the rotation, going 4-3 but his ERA -- inflated by a 13-run outing against the Highlanders -- ballooned to 5.01 for the month.

Overall, while a postseason berth appeared unlikely in light of the Naps' early-season hole, they stood just four games out of second place at the end of May, and a first-division finish was well within reach.

[Dukie98]

Here's how the Naps shaped up as of the end of May:

[Dukie98]

Despite a strong June which saw the Naps jump from seventh place to a second-place tie in the American League standings, the Naps actually lost ground to the red-hot New York Highlanders. The Naps went 17-11 in June, and they closed the month tied with the St. Louis Browns, 11 games behind the Highlanders.

The Naps were led offensively by infielders George Stovall and Nap Lajoie, who closed the month ranked in the top two in the league in batting average. Stovall hit a team-high .371 with 9 doubles and 13 RBI's for the month, while Lajoie hit .368 with a team-high .442 on-base percentage and scored twenty runs. But catcher Frank Roth struggled mightily, hitting just .163 for the month with a .203 slugging percentage. Leftfielder and leadoff hitter Mike Donlin continued his disastrous 1906 campaign, hitting just .225 and losing his starting job against lefthanded pitching to Frank Delahanty.

On the mound, Barney Pelty continued his hard-luck season, sporting a sparkling 0.89 ERA for the month, yet still going just 4-3 for the month. Pelty ended the month with a 1.65 ERA and 0.93 WHIP for the season-- yet just a 6-12 record. Rookie Babe Adams filled in admirably for the injured Dummy Taylor, going 6-1 with a 2.30 ERA. Addie Joss continued his strong season, going 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA. Jake Thielman struggled with his control at times, and he went 3-4 in June with a 3.28 ERA.

Overall, the Naps appeared poised to make a strong second-half run for second place, particularly once Taylor and shortstop Freddy Parent returned to action. But they likely found themselves in too deep of a hole behind the powerful Highlanders to make a legitimate run for the pennant.

[Dukie98]

Here's how the Naps shape up as of the end of June, 1906:

[Lee]

Pelty with a 1.65 ERA and 6-12, ugh, what type of run support is he getting? Those numbers make Walter Johnson glad he is pitching for the Senators

[Dukie98]

Originally Posted by Lee

Pelty with a 1.65 ERA and 6-12, ugh, what type of run support is he getting? Those numbers make Walter Johnson glad he is pitching for the Senators

By my count, he's had 16 runs scored in his 11 losses which he started (plus one in relief). The only time he's given up more than two earned runs, he pitched a complete game and lost in 15 innings.

If anything, his luck has taken a turn for the worse-- in his first start in July, he blew out an elbow tendon and is out for 11-12 months...

[Dukie98]

The Cleveland Naps treaded water in the month of July, going 13-13, and ending the month exactly where they started: one game over .500 (48-47), and 11 games behind the New York Highlanders. However, the red-hot Boston Americans lapped the Naps, relegating them to a distant third place.

The Naps were once again led offensively by stalwart second baseman Napoleon Lajoie, who hit .344 for the month with twelve extra base hits and six steals, and by catcher Frank Roth, who hit .333. But their big bats let them down, as Bill Bradley hit just .202 (although he had a team-high 16 RBI for the month), Elmer Flick hit just .190 with three extra-base hits, and George Stovall sported an ignominious .172/ .181/ .204 slash line for the month.

On the mound, the Naps struggled to stay healthy. Hard-luck Barney Pelty blew out an elbow tendon in his first starts of the month, and is expected to be out for another twelve months, as the Naps' medical staff tried anxiously to perfect the necessary technology for this procedure. Pelty was replaced by spot starter Alex Pearson, who was picked acquired earlier in the season for shortstop Wid Conroy. Pearson, however, suffered a significant arm injury of his own, and he is expected to miss most, if not all, of the rest of the season. Rookie Babe Adams continued his strong season with a stellar 1.48 ERA for the month, although he sported a middling 2-1 won lost record. Pearson led the way with a team-best 4-3 record and a 2.74 ERA. Addie Joss struggled, however, with a 3-4 record and a team-worst 3.36 ERA.

The Naps appeared to be stuck in neutral, finishing July a hair over .500, but struggling against the elite offense of the Highlanders and the strong pitching of the Americans. Barring a miraculous run, they likely will miss the playoffs yet again.

[Dukie98]

Here's how the Naps look as of the end of July:

[Dukie98]

The Cleveland Naps had a disappointing August, finishing at just 13-12 for the month despite having a majority of their games against the bottom-feeding Washington Senators and Philadelphia Athletics. The once-potent Naps' offense abandoned them, as they scored just 3.0 runs per game. The Naps ended the month with a 61-59 record and in third place, a distant 14 1/2 games behind the league-leading New York Highlanders.

Offensively, the Naps were once again led by Napoleon Lajoie, who hit .384 with a .450 on base percentage. Left fielder Mike Donlin, relegated to part-time duty, rallied with his strongest month of the year, hitting .318 and slugging .523 for the month. But Elmer Flick continued his calamitous collapse, hitting just .205 with a .274 slugging percentage. George Stovall was even worse, hitting just .163 with a .212 slugging percentage.

The offensive struggles wasted the strongest month of the season by the Naps' revamped pitching staff. Jake Thielman won back-to-back Player of the Week awards, and he went 6-1 with a 1.29 ERA. Dummy Taylor was nearly his equal, going 5-1 with a 1.36 ERA. Babe Adams sported a 2.22 ERA, but was just 1-4 due to a lack of offensive support and some defensive backgrounds. Addie Joss struggled, going 1-5 with a 3.40 ERA. In addition, relief ace Lefty Leifield continued his stellar season, closing a months-long scoreless streak of 22 innings. Curiously, Leifield threatened to end the season with more losses than earned runs: through the end of August, he was 0-4 with just two earned runs allowed (plus three unearned runs).

As they headed into September, it was apparent that significant changes would be in store for the Naps, as they appeared to be treading water organizationally and unable to catch up to the Highlanders and Americans. To make matters worse, starting centerfielder Cozy Dolan, who finally started to hit after a slow first half, suffered a knee injury and would miss the rest of the season.

[Dukie98]

Here's how the Naps shape up as of the end of August:

[Dukie98]

The Cleveland Naps continued their season-long flirtation with .500, finishing September with a 13-13 record, and with a 74-72 overall record, in a distant third place. The Naps' struggles were doubly frustrating because their schedule was relatively easier, with a majority of their games against sub-.500 teams. What little chance they had to sneak into second place vanished when the Boston Americans won the first three games of a four-game series. To their credit, the Naps played the second half of the month without Nap Lajoie, who suffered a minor shoulder injury, then, upon his return, immediately sprained his ankle, effectively finishing his season.

The Naps were led offensively by centerfielder Bris Lord, who filled in capably for the injured Cozy Dolan by hitting .337 with a team-high 18 runs. Elmer Flick finally recovered from his disastrous midseason slump by hitting .323 with a .411 on base percentage, and 14 RBIs. George Stovall also chipped in with two homers and a team-high 16 RBIs.

On the mound, Jake Thielman continued his strong second half with a 4-2 record and a 1.69 ERA for the month. Babe Adams notched a 3-2 record, but a team-high 2.85 ERA. Addie Joss and Dummy Taylor were bitten by the hard-luck bug, combining for a 2-9 record, despite a 2.22 ERA by Joss and a 2.53 ERA by Taylor. Also, the Naps' bullpen continued their stellar season: Lefty Leifield, Big Jeff Pfeffer, Bucky Veil, and Jack Hickey combined to allow two earned runs in 23 1/3 innings.

Overall, the 1906 campaign would unquestionably prove to be a disappointment for the Naps, even presuming that they managed to stay above .500 and remain in third place. Substantial changes would be needed to reduce the nearly 20-game gap between them and the dominant New York Highlanders.

[Dukie98]

Here's how the Naps shape up as of the start of October, 1906:

[Dukie98]

The Cleveland Naps closed October on a high note, winning five of eight games to finish with a 79-75 record. They ended the year in a distant third place finish -- 18 games behind the New York Highlanders, and they were closer to sixth place than to second.

Offensively, the Naps were led by Mike Donlin, who hit .333 with a stellar .478 on base percentage and .667 slugging percentage, and by Elmer Flick, who hit .321 with a .571 slugging percentage. Freddy Parent continued to struggle, however, going just 2-for-24 with no walks; Jim Mullin wasn't much better as an injury replacement for Nap Lajoie, hitting just 3-for-28.

The Naps' pitching was excellent. Dummy Taylor was stellar, throwing a 5-hit shutout and a 1-hit shutout to close out the season. Jake Thielman wasn't far behind him, with 2 complete game victories and a 1.50 ERA. Addie Joss split two decisions, with a 2.00 ERA, while Babe Adams finished a strong rookie season on a sour note, losing both of his starts while sporting a 4.50 ERA.

Having never been in contention throughout the season, and with their leading core players getting a year older, the Naps expected that this would be a transitional off-season. If opportunities allow, the Naps will likely trade some of their underproducing veterans for younger assets with upside. However, they planned to build around Nap Lajoie, who won yet another American League batting title, with a .348 mark, and ERA champion Barney Pelty, who had a microscopic 1.61 ERA in 160 innings before suffering his season-ending injury. Meanwhile, the baseball world prepared for a World Series rematch between the high-powered offense of the New York Highlanders and the sustained excellence of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

[Dukie98]

Here are the Naps' year-end stats:

[Dukie98]

In an anticlimactic World Series, the New York Highlanders prevailed over the overmatched Pittsburgh Pirates 4 games to 1. Highlanders ace Red Ames matched his dominant regular season by winning three games, including a 10-strikeout shutout in the series clincher. The Highlanders jumped out to a 3-0 series lead before dropping game 4; Ames, however, shut the door on any comeback by the Pirates in game 5.

Right fielder Kip Selbach led the Highlanders' bats by hitting .444, and catcher Roger Bresnahan chipped in with a .333 mark and a team-high 5 RBIs. Ames was named series MVP by going 3-0 without giving up an earned run in 28 innings; he also struck out 27 Pirates.

The Pirates struggled offensively, as only three hitters topped .167 for the series. Third baseman Tommy Leach led the way with a .368 mark, and shortstop Honus Wagner hit an even .300.

[Dukie98]

Here are the major award winners for the 1906 season:

AL MVP: Red Ames: NYY, 35-6, 2.37 ERA, 308 K, 1.20 WHIP, 11.1 WAR
2nd place: Nap Lajoie, CLE: .348/.406/ .468, 44 doubles, 73 runs, 27 steals, 171 OPS+, 6.8 WAR
3rd place: Roger Bresnahan: NYY: .319/ .405/ .453, 4 HR, 70 RBI, 72 runs, 30 steals, 150 OPS+, 6.1 WAR

AL Cy Young: Red Ames, NYY: 35-6, 2.37 ERA, 308 K, 1.20 WHIP, 11.1 WAR
2nd place: Vic Willis, BOS: 26-12, 1.65 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 148 K, 168 ERA+, 6.4 WAR
3rd place: Rube Waddell, PHA: 25-16, 1.85 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 302 K, 152 ERA+, 8.5 WAR

AL Rookie of the Year: Babe Adams, CLE: 14-14, 2.42 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 1.2 BB/9, 114 ERA+, 3.1 WAR

NL MVP: Sam Crawford, CIN: .355/ .414/ .552, 7 HR, 98 RBI, 91 runs, 37 triples, 17 steals, 189 OPS+, 8.5 WAR
2nd place: Harry Lumley, PIT: .300/ .351/ .488, 13 HR, 100 RBI, 23 doubles, 19 triples, 34 steals, 158 OPS+, 5.5 WAR
3rd place: Chief Bender, NYG: 22-13, 1.26 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 245 K, 223 ERA+, 10.6 WAR

NL Cy Young: Chief Bender, NYG: 22-13, 1.26 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 245 K, 223 ERA+, 10.6 WAR
2nd place: Wiley Piatt, PIT: 27-11, 1.75 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 145 K, 158 ERA+, 6.3 WAR
3rd place: Pop Williams, CHC: 23-13, 1.86 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 121 K, 151 ERA+, 5.4 WAR

NL Rookie of the Year: Ed Karger, NYG: 15-17, 2.52 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 126 K, 111 ERA+, 4.7 WAR

[Dukie98]

As expected, the Cleveland Naps shook up their roster, ridding it of several disappointing veterans, while still maintaining most of their core.

Shortly after the season ended, the Naps traded leftfielder and leadoff hitter Mike Donlin, who struggled for most of 1906 before a strong September, to Detroit for left fielder Matty McIntire. Although McIntire lacks Donlin's extra base power, he was second in the American League with a .320 batting average, and he should afford Nap Lajoie and Elmer Flick plenty of RBI opportunities.

But the Naps were not done. A growing concern had been the steady decline of third baseman Bill Bradley, whose slugging percentage had plummeted from .538 in 1904 to .458 in 1905 to just .329 in 1906, with a similar decline in his defensive prowess. Unfortunately, while they shopped Bradley following the 1905 season, the Naps did not pull the trigger on a deal involving Bradley. Soon after the World Series, however, they shipped him and relief pitcher Bucky Veil to the Philadelphia Athletics for center fielder Chick Stahl, reliever Tad Quinn, and corner outfielder Otis Clymer. Stahl, a career .319 hitter, hit .370 in part-time action in 1906, but his defense in center field is troublesome. However, the Naps needed an upgrade on the offensive impotence of Cozy Dolan. The Naps envision Stahl as occupying center field for the next two years. Rookie Joe Ward, a 2nd round draft pick in 1906, will take over third base for Bradley.

Finally, the Naps dealt veteran right fielder Charlie Hemphill and young shortstop Andy Sullivan (who appeared completely overmatched in limited play) to the Phillies for pitchers Irv Higginbotham and Bob Ewing.

There was no player draft in 1907; the league office decided to allow teams to sign players in accordance with historic reality for a few years. The Naps' most noteworthy addition was pitcher Heinie Berger, who was expected to compete for a spot in their starting rotation by 1908. Meanwhile, the Washington Senators received the biggest haul of all in signing young fireballer Walter Johnson.