1902 Cleveland: Napoleon & Joss Are Fine - Page 5

Dukie98 · 11-26-2016, 12:48 PM

The Naps expected 1907 to be a possible transitional year; however, they did not expect the wide-ranging degradation in player skills that became apparent during spring training. As a result, the Naps were projected to have a last-place finish, with just a 65-89 record. Although their pitching staff was projected to be third-best in the league, their offense was expected to be the worst in the league. On the other hand, the writers also projected the five-time defending National League champion Pittsburgh Pirates to slip to sixth place, so perhaps they were a bit overaggressive in predicting the Naps' downfall. The Highlanders were expected to comfortably repeat in the American League, whereas the New York Giants were a surprise pick to prevail in the NL.

From a personnel standpoint, the Naps were alarmed at the continued decay in Addie Joss's arm strength. Having lost 39 games the last two years, and with a poor second half, his rotation spot was tenuous at best, and in a surprise move, the Naps decided to promote Alex Pearson, who pitched well as a mid-season fill-in, into the rotation behind Dummy Taylor, 24-game winner Jake Thielman, and Rookie of the Year Babe Adams. Joss was moved to long relief.

Dukie98 · 11-26-2016, 10:25 PM

Despite several new faces, the Cleveland Naps began 1907 the way they ended 1906 -- scuffling along near the .500 mark. The Naps went 7-8 in April, ending the month in sixth place, three games behind the defending champion New York Highlanders. However, the standings were closely bunched together, as the bottom six teams in the AL were separated by a single game.

The Naps started the year with a bang, as new leadoff hitter Matty McIntyre led off the season with an inside-the-park home run off of his former Detroit teammates; however, the Naps fell in fifteen innings. Just days later, that inauspicious beginning took a turn for the worst, as relief ace Lefty Leifield (who had a microscopic 0.47 ERA in 38.2 innings in 1906) tore a ligament in his elbow, causing him to miss the season. The Naps tentatively plugged in rookie Irv Higginbotham to fill Leifield's role.

Offensively, the Naps were led -- as always -- by Napoleon Lajoie, who hit .339, albeit with just a single extra base hit. George Stovall hit just .250, but led the way with 8 RBIs, and McIntyre hit a solid .293 with a .370 on base percentage -- a marked improvement over Mike Donlin, whom he replaced. However, shortstops Mickey Doolan and Freddy Parent struggled, hitting .158 and .154, respectively, and Elmer Flick hit a soft .226 with just 2 RBI's for the month.

On the mound, the Naps were led by Babe Adams, who went just 1-1, but had a sparkling 1.59 ERA. Jake Thielman went 2-2, with a strong 2.31 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. Alex Pearson was just 1-2 with a 3.42 ERA -- but his 0.84 WHIP suggested that better things were in store. Dummy Taylor struggled, however, with a 3.90 ERA, a 1.63 WHIP, and a 1-2 record.

Overall, the new-look Naps believed that substantial room for improvement remained, and they were optimistic that they remained near .500 despite not playing up to their full potential. They ended April last in the league in runs scored, despite subpar production from Flick, Stovall, and newcomer Chick Stahl. Meanwhile, in the NL, the Chicago Cubs threatened to derail the five-year pennant streak of the Pittsburgh Pirates; the Pirates ended the month in sixth place, but a distant six games behind the 14-4 Cubs.

Dukie98 · 11-27-2016, 12:50 AM

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

Dukie98 · 11-27-2016, 11:02 AM

Although the Cleveland Naps were ravaged by injuries to key contributors in May, they nonetheless rallied to go 17-10 for the month. Overall, they were 24-18, and just a half-game behind the surprising St. Louis Browns. Nap Lajoie tore a ligament in his thumb on May 4, and he was expected to miss 5-6 weeks. The Naps responded by immediately rattling off seven straight wins, and winning 12 of 15. Dummy Taylor tore his labrum and was expected to miss at least three months, but rookie Heinie Berger filled in admirably, winning all four of his starts.

Offensively, the Naps were paced by rookie third baseman Joe Ward, who hit .299 with a .420 slugging percentage and drove in a team-high 15 runs. Shortstop Mickey Doolan hit .319 with a .417 slugging percentage, and Matty McIntyre hit .294 and scored 18 runs in 21 games. Elmer Flick, however, continued to struggle, hitting just .222. First baseman George Stovall was even worse, hitting .188 and slugging just .196. And second baseman Jim Mullin, who replaced Lajoie, hit just .143.

On the mound, Berger was sensational, winning all four of his starts and posting a 0.97 ERA and 0.81 WHIP, and he won the AL Rookie of the Month Award for his efforts. Jake Thielman was just 4-3, but had a strong 2.29 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, culminating in an 11-inning, 2-hit shutout of the Philadelphia Athletics. Alex Pearson pitched better than his 3-4 record indicated, as he notched a 2.70 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Babe Adams went 3-2, with a solid 2.47 ERA.

Overall, the Naps were extremely pleased with where they stood as of the end of May. Lajoie and Barney Pelty were expected to return to active duty by mid-June, and the Browns did not appear to be the juggernaut that the Highlanders were in prior years. The Naps seemed poised to make a deep September run once again.

Dukie98 · 11-27-2016, 11:05 AM

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

Dukie98 · 12-04-2016, 12:06 PM

The Cleveland Naps had a slightly disappointing month, as they squandered an opportunity to make up ground at the start of the month by dropping six of their first seven games of the month. However, they rallied at the end of the month, finishing 14-12 overall, ending the month with a 38-30 record and finishing exactly where they started -- one half-game behind the first place St. Louis Browns.

Offensively, the Naps were led by third baseman Joe Ward, who was named AL Rookie of the Month after hitting .360, with a .440 slugging percentage and 18 RBIs. Elmer Flick chipped in with a .340 average and 15 RBIs of his own, and Matty McIntyre had a sparkling .333/ .411/ .449 slash line. The Naps were also encouraged by the return of Nap Lajoie midway through the month, although he hit just .226 in 13 games. Part-time catcher Frank Roth (who lost his role as the starting catcher to Boss Schmidt) also struggled, hitting just .229 with no walks.

Although the Naps had their strongest offensive month in years, their pitching struggled, as all four of their primary starting pitchers had ERA's over 3.00. Jake Thielman was the least-ineffective, going 3-2 with a 3.19 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Babe Adams had a 4-1 record, but a 3.99 ERA for the month. Heinie Berger came down to earth after his strong May, going 2-4 with a 3.42 ERA. Alex Pearson also struggled, going 3-3, but with a 3.49 ERA and 1.56 WHIP. Pearson lost his role in the starting rotation when Barney Pelty returned from an elbow injury, and Pelty had a complete game victory with no earned runs in his first start.

Although the Naps didn't gain any ground on the Browns, they still remained primed for a strong second half run. After early season struggles, their offense was functioning on all cylinders, and they anticipate that Pelty's return should stabilize the rotation.

Dukie98 · 12-05-2016, 10:06 PM

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

Dukie98 · 12-10-2016, 12:33 AM

The Cleveland Naps struggled throughout July, going just 11-15- yet, in the cesspool of mediocrity that is the American League in 1907, they remained squarely in the thick of things, ending the month just a half game behind the upstart Boston Americans with a 49-45 record, after briefly seizing the league lead in late July.

No one had particularly strong or weak month offensively for the Naps. Third baseman Joe Ward led the way with a .293 batting average and .380 slugging percentage for the month, and catcher Boss Schmidt hit .288. Shortstop Mickey Doolan hit just .258, but hit the team's only home run for the month, and led the way with a team-high 13 RBIs. Elmer Flick continued his disappointing season, however, hitting just .222 with a single extra base hit for the month.

Barney Pelty picked up where he left off last season before his season-ending injury, going 4-2 with a team-best 1.80 ERA for the month. Heinie Berger went 5-1 with a 2.44 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. But Jake Thielman and Babe Adams struggled, as Thielman went 1-6 with a 2.97 ERA, and Adams was just 1-3 with a 3.15 ERA. Out of the bullpen, rookie Irv Higginbotham threw 10 2/3 shutout innings, with a sparkling 0.47 WHIP.

As the stretch run began, the two leagues could not be more divergent: in the American League, six teams were within two games of first place, and even the last-place Tigers were just eight games out -- yet they were closer to first place than the second-place team in the NL, as the Philadelphia Phillies lagged 12 games behind the red-hot Chicago Cubs. Remarkably, the third-place New York Giants sported a record which would have put them comfortably in first place in the AL. However, the worst teams in the NL (the Boston Doves and St. Louis Cardinals) were markedly worse than any AL squad.

Dukie98 · 12-10-2016, 01:56 AM

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

Dukie98 · 12-10-2016, 11:34 PM

The Cleveland Naps, while rarely outstanding, were consistently strong throughout August, going 15-10 and creating a slight separation from the logjam that is the American League standings. The Naps ended August with a 64-55 record, and a modest 1 1/2 game lead on the New York Highlanders. However, the Senators, Browns, White Sox, and Americans were all within five games of first place. Indeed, at one point, five teams were separated by a mere half-game in the standings.

Offensively, rookie third baseman Joe Ward had another strong month, hitting .309 with four triples and drove in 11 runs. Center fielder Chick Stahl hit .307 with a team-high eight doubles. Mickey Doolan continued his strong campaign by hitting .288 and led the team with a .488 slugging percentage. Outfielder Bris Lord struggled, hitting just .150 with zero extra base hits in part time play. Catcher Boss Schmidt had his slowest month of the season, hitting just .231 with a single RBI.

Barney Pelty continued his sizzling return to form, winning the AL Pitcher of the Month Award, going 4-1 with a 1.30 ERA. Heinie Berger was also sharp, going 3-2 with a 1.87 ERA and 1.04 WHIP -- including a no-hitter of the Philadelphia Athletics. Jake Thielman had a strong 2.25 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, but went just 3-3. Babe Adams continued to struggle to go deep into games, and he went just 1-2 in seven starts with a 2.81 ERA.

As September beckoned, the Naps were cautiously optimistic that they could hold off the fast-charging Highlanders, who were struggling in sixth place just weeks ago. The Senators, with their league-best pitching staff anchored by promising rookie Walter Johnson, lurked in the wings, as did the all-around steadiness of the White Sox. The Browns, who led the league for most of the first four months, faded after an eight-game losing streak, and although the defensive-minded Americans rallied to briefly seize the league lead, they also slipped in the standings after their bats went cold. Nonetheless, if either team put together a hot streak, they could create a fascinating six-way pennant race.

Dukie98 · 12-11-2016, 09:58 AM

Here's how the Naps shape up as they head into September:

Dukie98 · 12-14-2016, 02:45 AM

The Cleveland Naps started September strong, winning 10 out of 12 early on, to create some separation between them and the Washington Senators and New York Highlanders, who jockeyed for second place. The Naps finished the month with a season-best 19-11 record. As the final week of the season began, the Naps had a modest, but comfortable lead in the standings, with an 83-66 record and a 3 1/2 game lead on the Senators. Alas, even presuming that the Naps advanced to the World Series, they would likely be heavy underdogs to the Chicago Cubs, especially in light of Nap Lajoie's season-ending hamstring pull.

The Naps' bats sizzled throughout their monthlong hot streak. Their catching tandem of Frank Roth and Boss Schmidt hit .382 and .341 respectively, with a combined 23 RBI's. Chick Stahl hit .351 with a .400 on-base percentage. Third baseman Joe Ward won another Rookie of the Month award, hitting .297 with a team-high 16 RBI's and 7 steals for the month, and George Stovall chipped in with a .300 average and 15 RBI's of his own. Dark-horse MVP candidate Mickey Doolan (who led all position players with 6.6 WAR through the end of September) tacked on 9 extra-base hits and four steals. Elmer Flick had the lowest batting average of the team's regulars -- a modest .262 -- but he had a team-high 10 extra-base hits.

Jake Thielman led the Naps' pitchers with a 5-2 record and a 1.72 ERA, capped off by a 15-inning shutout over the hapless Detroit Tigers. Dummy Taylor took over for Babe Adams in the starting rotation, and he went 4-1 with a 2.02 ERA and a sparkling 0.96 WHIP. Heinie Berger was solid with a 4-3 record and a 2.48 ERA, including a shutout over the second-place Senators in a crucial late-season series. Barney Pelty struggled after a brilliant August, going 4-4 with a 3.16 ERA.

Barring a collapse, the Naps entered October poised to return to the postseason for the first time since their championship season of 1903. Nonetheless, even though Lajoie was having his weakest season since joining the Naps (hitting .286 with a 114 OPS+), they were concerned about the tremendous offensive dropoff from him to backup Jim Mullin.

Dukie98 · 12-15-2016, 03:02 AM

Here's how the Naps look as the head into the stretch run:

Dukie98 · 12-18-2016, 09:41 AM

It wasn't pretty, but the Cleveland Naps avoided a disastrous October collapse, and backed into the postseason with an 84-70 record. The Naps had a comfortable lead heading into the final week, but got swept by the seventh-place Athletics, and then they lost the first game of a two-game season ending series to the Chicago White Sox. The Washington Senators and New York Highlanders ended the season the day before with identical 83-71 records, and the Naps needed to hold off the White Sox in the finale to clinch the pennant and avoid a three-way playoff. Fortunately, they prevailed 8-0 behind a Dummy Taylor six-hit shutout. Centerfielder Cozy Dolan broke the game open with a two-run triple in the seventh. Mickey Doolan had two doubles and scored three runs, and Jim Mullin, filling in at second base for the injured Nap Lajoie, drove in three runs.

Offensively, the Naps were led by Elmer Flick, who hit .350 with 4 doubles, and drove in 6 of the Naps' 17 runs during the course of the final five games of the season. George Stovall hit .333 over that stretch. The rest of the team, however, struggled, with Matty McIntyre and Boss Schmidt bringing up the rear by sporting matching .188 batting averages without an RBI between them.

On the mound, Taylor led the way with a 1.06 ERA in 17 innings, including the pennant-clinching shutout. Jake Thielman was solid, with a 7-inning no decision, allowing just one earned run. But Heinie Berger and Barney Pelty were hit hard in their lone starts of October.

The Naps would square off against the Chicago Cubs, who dominated the National League, finishing with a 98-56 record, 13 games ahead of the second-place Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs were led by 32-game winner Pop Williams and veteran outfielder Socks Seybold, who led the NL in both on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The Naps -- even putting aside the unavailability of Lajoie -- would be heavy underdogs.

Dukie98 · 12-23-2016, 11:46 PM

Here are the Naps' year-end stats:

Dukie98 · 12-24-2016, 12:06 AM

The Cleveland Naps entered the postseason as substantial underdogs to the Chicago Cubs, who not only enjoyed a 14-game edge in the standings (winning 98 games in the Senior Circuit), but also enjoying a fully-healthy roster. The Naps would be without second baseman Nap Lajoie for most, if not all, of the series. The Cubs had a top-heavy offense, led by slugger Socks Seybold, a strong defense captained by the keystone duo of Joe Tinker and Johnny Evers, and a strong starting rotation led by 32-game winner Pop Williams. The Cubs' potential downfall, however, was their weak bench and their nonexistent bullpen- a strength of the Naps.

Game 1: Cubs 4, Naps 0

The heavily-favored Cubs burst out of the gate as expected, with Pop Williams tossing a four-hit shutout over the Naps. The Cubs put pressure on Naps starter Barney Pelty, as the first five hitters of the game reached base, and the Cubs took a quick 2-0 lead. Matty McIntyre led the way for the Naps with two hits, and the Cubs were led offensively by left fielder Heinie Zimmerman, who had a triple and a single, and by center fielder Emmet Heidrick, who drove in two runs with two singles.

Game 2: Naps 6, Cubs 5 (10 innings)

The situation appeared dire for the Naps, as the Cubs took a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning, sparked by a bases-clearing triple by Cubs pitcher Ralph Glaze. The Naps roared back in dramatic fashion, however, scoring three runs in the top of the ninth inning to temporarily take a one run lead, and then after surrendering the lead in the bottom of the frame, tacking on another run in the tenth inning. The Naps were led once again by Matty McIntyre, who had three hits and a walk, including an RBI single in the 9th inning rally, and the game-winning single with two outs in the top of the tenth inning. Joe Ward chipped in with a two-run single in the top of the ninth. Reliever Irv Higginbotham, after surrendering the game-tying run in the ninth inning, pitched a scoreless tenth frame for the win.

Dukie98 · 12-24-2016, 09:37 AM

The Cleveland Naps and Chicago Cubs continued to trade wins in the best-of-seven series, with the Naps unable to solve Cubs' ace Pop Williams, and the Cubs' other starters unable to stop the Naps' offense.

Game 3: Naps 5, Cubs 3

The Cleveland Naps attacked Cubs starter Frank Corridon in the opening frame, scoring four runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run double by Elmer Flick. The Cubs rallied to cut the deficit to a single run and although they outhit the Naps 11-5, they could not string enough hits together to catch up. Naps' catcher Frank Roth threw out all four Cubs baserunners who tried to steal. Offensively, the Naps were led by Flick, who added two walks after his double, and by leadoff man Matty McIntyre who reached base three times and scored two runs. Frank Chance paced the Cubs with three hits. Dummy Taylor, while not sharp, was just effective enough to get the complete game victory for the Naps

Game 4: Cubs 3, Naps 2

Although the Naps drew first blood, the Cubs enjoyed the last laugh, as they eked out a 3-2 victory, scoring the winning run in the top of the eighth inning. Matty McIntyre opened the scoring with a two-out RBI double in the third inning, but the Cubs seized the lead in the fourth inning with an RBI triple from third baseman Frank Laporte, followed by a double by first baseman Moose Grimshaw. After the Naps tacked on an unearned run to tie the game at 2, Pop Williams and Jake Thielman traded scoreless frames until the eighth inning, when Cubs centerfielder Emmet Heidrick drove in shortstop Joe Tinker with a sacrifice fly. Although the Naps threatened in the ninth inning, Williams quashed the rally, earning his second complete-game victory of the series.

Dukie98 · 12-25-2016, 01:01 AM

After the Cleveland Naps jumped out to an unexpected 2-1 lead in the World Series, they dropped three straight low-scoring one-run games to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs won the series, 4 games to 2, and Pop Williams was named the series MVP after going 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA

Game 5: Cubs 2, Naps 1

Although the Cleveland Naps carried a narrow 1-0 lead into the ninth inning, the Cubs won in dramatic fashion, as third baseman Frank LaPorte blasted a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning off of Barney Pelty to give the Cubs all the offense they needed in a 2-1 victory. The Naps struck first, with Elmer Flick driving in Joe Ward after a fourth-inning triple. The Cubs repeatedly threatened to score off Pelty, but failed to break through until LaPorte's blast. Ralph Glaze scattered four hits in the complete game victory for the Cubs.

Game 6: Cubs 3, Naps 2

Once again, the Naps failed to hold on to an early-inning lead, and they struggled to score off Cubs' ace Pop Williams, who won his third outing of the series. Elmer Flick drove in Matty McIntyre with an RBI single in the first inning, but then gave the run back in the second inning with a critical throwing error. The Cubs then broke the game open with two runs in the fourth inning. Center fielder Chick Stahl led the way for the Naps with two singles and an RBI, and his counterpart, Emmet Heidrick, led the Cubs with a single, a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. Although Heinie Berger was effective, he took the loss for the Naps.

Dukie98 · 12-25-2016, 05:59 PM

Here are the major award winners for the 1907 season:

AL MVP: Roger Bresnahan, C, NYY: .325/ .434/ .417, 3 HR, 57 RBI, 70 runs, 32 steals, 161 OPS+, 6.2 WAR
Second place: Walter Johnson, SP, WAS: 22-16, 1.70 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 155 ERA+, 228 K, 8.9 WAR
Third place: Mickey Doolan, SS, CLE: .269/ .320/ .380, 2 HR, 44 RBI, 23 doubles, 14 triples, 64 runs, 18 steals, +20.0 zone rating, 121 OPS+, 6.6 WAR

AL Cy Young: Walter Johnson, WAS: 22-16, 1.70 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 339 IP, 228 K, 155 ERA+, 8.9 WAR
Second place: Red Ames, NYY: 23-16, 1.98 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 354 IP, 270 K, 140 ERA+, 8.5 WAR
Third place: Vic Willis, BOS: 25-14, 2.13 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 329 IP, 129 K, 128 ERA+, 5.8 WAR

AL Rookie of the Year: Walter Johnson, SP, WAS: 22-16, 1.70 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 339 IP, 228 K, 155 ERA+, 8.9 WAR

NL MVP: Socks Seybold, RF, CHC: .324/ .400/ .469, 7 HR, 72 RBI, 81 runs, 32 doubles, 15 triples, 70 walks, 172 OPS+, 7.5 WAR
Second place: Harry Lumley, RF, PIT: .322/ .373/ .433, 9 HR, 81 RBI, 99 runs, 50 steals, 153 OPS+, 7.3 WAR
Third place: Joe Tinker, SS, CHC: .280/ .314/ .363, 4 HR, 56 RBI, 11 triples, 72 runs, 40 steals, 112 OPS+, +32.2 zone rating, 8.2 WAR

NL Cy Young: Pop Williams, CHC, 32-8, 1.94 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 362 IP, 129 K, 140 ERA+, 6.6 WAR
Second place: Chief Bender, NYG, 23-17, 1.89 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 381 IP, 260 K, 146 ERA+, 9.8 WAR
Third place: Doc White, PHI, 24-12, 1.94 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 348 IP, 161 K, 141 ERA+, 7.2 WAR

NL Rookie of the Year: Nap Rucker, SP, BRO, 20-20, 2.55 ERA, 357 IP, 197 K, 105 ERA+, 4.7 WAR

Dukie98 · 12-26-2016, 05:25 PM

Following their surprising run to the American League pennant, expectations were high for the Cleveland Naps, although there still were several hard-to-fill holes on their roster. With a surplus of starting pitching, but little elite talent on the roster, the Naps shipped swingman Alex Pearson and center fielder Chick Stahl to the New York Giants for rookie pitcher Rube Marquard. Stahl suffered through a disappointing season in Cleveland, hitting an empty .290 with just 29 RBI's in over 400 at bats, and with unacceptably poor defense in center field. The Naps anticipated keeping Marquard in the bullpen for another year, before bringing him into the rotation in 1909.

In a related move, the Naps shipped 33-year-old pitcher Dummy Taylor, who had missed significant time in each of the past two seasons, along with backup shortstop Freddy Parent, who had clearly been supplanted by Mickey Doolan, to the Philadelphia Athletics for 21-year-old middle infielder Jack Barry. The trade of Taylor clears some of the Naps' pitching surplus, and allows Babe Adams to return to the rotation. But it does nothing to address their glaring weakness in center field (likely to be covered by a platoon of good field/ no-hit Cozy Dolan and jack-of-all-trades Bris Lord, or the mediocre play of first baseman George Stovall.

In preseason projections, the Naps were projected to finish third with an 80-74 record, behind the St. Louis Browns and New York Highlanders. While the Naps were once again expected to have a strong pitching staff, their offense was expected to struggle. To contend in 1908, the Naps would need a return to form from second baseman/ franchise namesake Napoleon Lajoie and right fielder Elmer Flick.

11-26-2016, 12:48 PM	#81
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	1907 Preseason The Naps expected 1907 to be a possible transitional year; however, they did not expect the wide-ranging degradation in player skills that became apparent during spring training. As a result, the Naps were projected to have a last-place finish, with just a 65-89 record. Although their pitching staff was projected to be third-best in the league, their offense was expected to be the worst in the league. On the other hand, the writers also projected the five-time defending National League champion Pittsburgh Pirates to slip to sixth place, so perhaps they were a bit overaggressive in predicting the Naps' downfall. The Highlanders were expected to comfortably repeat in the American League, whereas the New York Giants were a surprise pick to prevail in the NL. From a personnel standpoint, the Naps were alarmed at the continued decay in Addie Joss's arm strength. Having lost 39 games the last two years, and with a poor second half, his rotation spot was tenuous at best, and in a surprise move, the Naps decided to promote Alex Pearson, who pitched well as a mid-season fill-in, into the rotation behind Dummy Taylor, 24-game winner Jake Thielman, and Rookie of the Year Babe Adams. Joss was moved to long relief.

11-26-2016, 10:25 PM	#82
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	April 1907 Despite several new faces, the Cleveland Naps began 1907 the way they ended 1906 -- scuffling along near the .500 mark. The Naps went 7-8 in April, ending the month in sixth place, three games behind the defending champion New York Highlanders. However, the standings were closely bunched together, as the bottom six teams in the AL were separated by a single game. The Naps started the year with a bang, as new leadoff hitter Matty McIntyre led off the season with an inside-the-park home run off of his former Detroit teammates; however, the Naps fell in fifteen innings. Just days later, that inauspicious beginning took a turn for the worst, as relief ace Lefty Leifield (who had a microscopic 0.47 ERA in 38.2 innings in 1906) tore a ligament in his elbow, causing him to miss the season. The Naps tentatively plugged in rookie Irv Higginbotham to fill Leifield's role. Offensively, the Naps were led -- as always -- by Napoleon Lajoie, who hit .339, albeit with just a single extra base hit. George Stovall hit just .250, but led the way with 8 RBIs, and McIntyre hit a solid .293 with a .370 on base percentage -- a marked improvement over Mike Donlin, whom he replaced. However, shortstops Mickey Doolan and Freddy Parent struggled, hitting .158 and .154, respectively, and Elmer Flick hit a soft .226 with just 2 RBI's for the month. On the mound, the Naps were led by Babe Adams, who went just 1-1, but had a sparkling 1.59 ERA. Jake Thielman went 2-2, with a strong 2.31 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. Alex Pearson was just 1-2 with a 3.42 ERA -- but his 0.84 WHIP suggested that better things were in store. Dummy Taylor struggled, however, with a 3.90 ERA, a 1.63 WHIP, and a 1-2 record. Overall, the new-look Naps believed that substantial room for improvement remained, and they were optimistic that they remained near .500 despite not playing up to their full potential. They ended April last in the league in runs scored, despite subpar production from Flick, Stovall, and newcomer Chick Stahl. Meanwhile, in the NL, the Chicago Cubs threatened to derail the five-year pennant streak of the Pittsburgh Pirates; the Pirates ended the month in sixth place, but a distant six games behind the 14-4 Cubs.

11-27-2016, 12:50 AM	#83
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	April 1907 Here's how the Naps shape up as of the end of April: Attached Images

11-27-2016, 11:02 AM	#84
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	May 1907 Although the Cleveland Naps were ravaged by injuries to key contributors in May, they nonetheless rallied to go 17-10 for the month. Overall, they were 24-18, and just a half-game behind the surprising St. Louis Browns. Nap Lajoie tore a ligament in his thumb on May 4, and he was expected to miss 5-6 weeks. The Naps responded by immediately rattling off seven straight wins, and winning 12 of 15. Dummy Taylor tore his labrum and was expected to miss at least three months, but rookie Heinie Berger filled in admirably, winning all four of his starts. Offensively, the Naps were paced by rookie third baseman Joe Ward, who hit .299 with a .420 slugging percentage and drove in a team-high 15 runs. Shortstop Mickey Doolan hit .319 with a .417 slugging percentage, and Matty McIntyre hit .294 and scored 18 runs in 21 games. Elmer Flick, however, continued to struggle, hitting just .222. First baseman George Stovall was even worse, hitting .188 and slugging just .196. And second baseman Jim Mullin, who replaced Lajoie, hit just .143. On the mound, Berger was sensational, winning all four of his starts and posting a 0.97 ERA and 0.81 WHIP, and he won the AL Rookie of the Month Award for his efforts. Jake Thielman was just 4-3, but had a strong 2.29 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, culminating in an 11-inning, 2-hit shutout of the Philadelphia Athletics. Alex Pearson pitched better than his 3-4 record indicated, as he notched a 2.70 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Babe Adams went 3-2, with a solid 2.47 ERA. Overall, the Naps were extremely pleased with where they stood as of the end of May. Lajoie and Barney Pelty were expected to return to active duty by mid-June, and the Browns did not appear to be the juggernaut that the Highlanders were in prior years. The Naps seemed poised to make a deep September run once again.

11-27-2016, 11:05 AM	#85
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	May 1907 Here's how the Naps shape up as of the end of May: Attached Images

12-04-2016, 12:06 PM	#86
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	June 1907 The Cleveland Naps had a slightly disappointing month, as they squandered an opportunity to make up ground at the start of the month by dropping six of their first seven games of the month. However, they rallied at the end of the month, finishing 14-12 overall, ending the month with a 38-30 record and finishing exactly where they started -- one half-game behind the first place St. Louis Browns. Offensively, the Naps were led by third baseman Joe Ward, who was named AL Rookie of the Month after hitting .360, with a .440 slugging percentage and 18 RBIs. Elmer Flick chipped in with a .340 average and 15 RBIs of his own, and Matty McIntyre had a sparkling .333/ .411/ .449 slash line. The Naps were also encouraged by the return of Nap Lajoie midway through the month, although he hit just .226 in 13 games. Part-time catcher Frank Roth (who lost his role as the starting catcher to Boss Schmidt) also struggled, hitting just .229 with no walks. Although the Naps had their strongest offensive month in years, their pitching struggled, as all four of their primary starting pitchers had ERA's over 3.00. Jake Thielman was the least-ineffective, going 3-2 with a 3.19 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Babe Adams had a 4-1 record, but a 3.99 ERA for the month. Heinie Berger came down to earth after his strong May, going 2-4 with a 3.42 ERA. Alex Pearson also struggled, going 3-3, but with a 3.49 ERA and 1.56 WHIP. Pearson lost his role in the starting rotation when Barney Pelty returned from an elbow injury, and Pelty had a complete game victory with no earned runs in his first start. Although the Naps didn't gain any ground on the Browns, they still remained primed for a strong second half run. After early season struggles, their offense was functioning on all cylinders, and they anticipate that Pelty's return should stabilize the rotation.

12-05-2016, 10:06 PM	#87
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	June 1907 Here's how the Naps shape up as of the end of June: Attached Images

12-10-2016, 12:33 AM	#88
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	July 1907 The Cleveland Naps struggled throughout July, going just 11-15- yet, in the cesspool of mediocrity that is the American League in 1907, they remained squarely in the thick of things, ending the month just a half game behind the upstart Boston Americans with a 49-45 record, after briefly seizing the league lead in late July. No one had particularly strong or weak month offensively for the Naps. Third baseman Joe Ward led the way with a .293 batting average and .380 slugging percentage for the month, and catcher Boss Schmidt hit .288. Shortstop Mickey Doolan hit just .258, but hit the team's only home run for the month, and led the way with a team-high 13 RBIs. Elmer Flick continued his disappointing season, however, hitting just .222 with a single extra base hit for the month. Barney Pelty picked up where he left off last season before his season-ending injury, going 4-2 with a team-best 1.80 ERA for the month. Heinie Berger went 5-1 with a 2.44 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. But Jake Thielman and Babe Adams struggled, as Thielman went 1-6 with a 2.97 ERA, and Adams was just 1-3 with a 3.15 ERA. Out of the bullpen, rookie Irv Higginbotham threw 10 2/3 shutout innings, with a sparkling 0.47 WHIP. As the stretch run began, the two leagues could not be more divergent: in the American League, six teams were within two games of first place, and even the last-place Tigers were just eight games out -- yet they were closer to first place than the second-place team in the NL, as the Philadelphia Phillies lagged 12 games behind the red-hot Chicago Cubs. Remarkably, the third-place New York Giants sported a record which would have put them comfortably in first place in the AL. However, the worst teams in the NL (the Boston Doves and St. Louis Cardinals) were markedly worse than any AL squad.

12-10-2016, 01:56 AM	#89
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	July 1907 Here's how the Naps shape up as of the end of July: Attached Images

12-10-2016, 11:34 PM	#90
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	August 1907 The Cleveland Naps, while rarely outstanding, were consistently strong throughout August, going 15-10 and creating a slight separation from the logjam that is the American League standings. The Naps ended August with a 64-55 record, and a modest 1 1/2 game lead on the New York Highlanders. However, the Senators, Browns, White Sox, and Americans were all within five games of first place. Indeed, at one point, five teams were separated by a mere half-game in the standings. Offensively, rookie third baseman Joe Ward had another strong month, hitting .309 with four triples and drove in 11 runs. Center fielder Chick Stahl hit .307 with a team-high eight doubles. Mickey Doolan continued his strong campaign by hitting .288 and led the team with a .488 slugging percentage. Outfielder Bris Lord struggled, hitting just .150 with zero extra base hits in part time play. Catcher Boss Schmidt had his slowest month of the season, hitting just .231 with a single RBI. Barney Pelty continued his sizzling return to form, winning the AL Pitcher of the Month Award, going 4-1 with a 1.30 ERA. Heinie Berger was also sharp, going 3-2 with a 1.87 ERA and 1.04 WHIP -- including a no-hitter of the Philadelphia Athletics. Jake Thielman had a strong 2.25 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, but went just 3-3. Babe Adams continued to struggle to go deep into games, and he went just 1-2 in seven starts with a 2.81 ERA. As September beckoned, the Naps were cautiously optimistic that they could hold off the fast-charging Highlanders, who were struggling in sixth place just weeks ago. The Senators, with their league-best pitching staff anchored by promising rookie Walter Johnson, lurked in the wings, as did the all-around steadiness of the White Sox. The Browns, who led the league for most of the first four months, faded after an eight-game losing streak, and although the defensive-minded Americans rallied to briefly seize the league lead, they also slipped in the standings after their bats went cold. Nonetheless, if either team put together a hot streak, they could create a fascinating six-way pennant race.

12-11-2016, 09:58 AM	#91
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	August 1907 Here's how the Naps shape up as they head into September: Attached Images

12-14-2016, 02:45 AM	#92
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	September 1907 The Cleveland Naps started September strong, winning 10 out of 12 early on, to create some separation between them and the Washington Senators and New York Highlanders, who jockeyed for second place. The Naps finished the month with a season-best 19-11 record. As the final week of the season began, the Naps had a modest, but comfortable lead in the standings, with an 83-66 record and a 3 1/2 game lead on the Senators. Alas, even presuming that the Naps advanced to the World Series, they would likely be heavy underdogs to the Chicago Cubs, especially in light of Nap Lajoie's season-ending hamstring pull. The Naps' bats sizzled throughout their monthlong hot streak. Their catching tandem of Frank Roth and Boss Schmidt hit .382 and .341 respectively, with a combined 23 RBI's. Chick Stahl hit .351 with a .400 on-base percentage. Third baseman Joe Ward won another Rookie of the Month award, hitting .297 with a team-high 16 RBI's and 7 steals for the month, and George Stovall chipped in with a .300 average and 15 RBI's of his own. Dark-horse MVP candidate Mickey Doolan (who led all position players with 6.6 WAR through the end of September) tacked on 9 extra-base hits and four steals. Elmer Flick had the lowest batting average of the team's regulars -- a modest .262 -- but he had a team-high 10 extra-base hits. Jake Thielman led the Naps' pitchers with a 5-2 record and a 1.72 ERA, capped off by a 15-inning shutout over the hapless Detroit Tigers. Dummy Taylor took over for Babe Adams in the starting rotation, and he went 4-1 with a 2.02 ERA and a sparkling 0.96 WHIP. Heinie Berger was solid with a 4-3 record and a 2.48 ERA, including a shutout over the second-place Senators in a crucial late-season series. Barney Pelty struggled after a brilliant August, going 4-4 with a 3.16 ERA. Barring a collapse, the Naps entered October poised to return to the postseason for the first time since their championship season of 1903. Nonetheless, even though Lajoie was having his weakest season since joining the Naps (hitting .286 with a 114 OPS+), they were concerned about the tremendous offensive dropoff from him to backup Jim Mullin.

12-15-2016, 03:02 AM	#93
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	September 1907 Here's how the Naps look as the head into the stretch run: Attached Images

12-18-2016, 09:41 AM	#94
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	October 1907 It wasn't pretty, but the Cleveland Naps avoided a disastrous October collapse, and backed into the postseason with an 84-70 record. The Naps had a comfortable lead heading into the final week, but got swept by the seventh-place Athletics, and then they lost the first game of a two-game season ending series to the Chicago White Sox. The Washington Senators and New York Highlanders ended the season the day before with identical 83-71 records, and the Naps needed to hold off the White Sox in the finale to clinch the pennant and avoid a three-way playoff. Fortunately, they prevailed 8-0 behind a Dummy Taylor six-hit shutout. Centerfielder Cozy Dolan broke the game open with a two-run triple in the seventh. Mickey Doolan had two doubles and scored three runs, and Jim Mullin, filling in at second base for the injured Nap Lajoie, drove in three runs. Offensively, the Naps were led by Elmer Flick, who hit .350 with 4 doubles, and drove in 6 of the Naps' 17 runs during the course of the final five games of the season. George Stovall hit .333 over that stretch. The rest of the team, however, struggled, with Matty McIntyre and Boss Schmidt bringing up the rear by sporting matching .188 batting averages without an RBI between them. On the mound, Taylor led the way with a 1.06 ERA in 17 innings, including the pennant-clinching shutout. Jake Thielman was solid, with a 7-inning no decision, allowing just one earned run. But Heinie Berger and Barney Pelty were hit hard in their lone starts of October. The Naps would square off against the Chicago Cubs, who dominated the National League, finishing with a 98-56 record, 13 games ahead of the second-place Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs were led by 32-game winner Pop Williams and veteran outfielder Socks Seybold, who led the NL in both on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The Naps -- even putting aside the unavailability of Lajoie -- would be heavy underdogs.

12-23-2016, 11:46 PM	#95
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	October 1907 Here are the Naps' year-end stats: Attached Images

12-24-2016, 12:06 AM	#96
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	October 1907: World Series The Cleveland Naps entered the postseason as substantial underdogs to the Chicago Cubs, who not only enjoyed a 14-game edge in the standings (winning 98 games in the Senior Circuit), but also enjoying a fully-healthy roster. The Naps would be without second baseman Nap Lajoie for most, if not all, of the series. The Cubs had a top-heavy offense, led by slugger Socks Seybold, a strong defense captained by the keystone duo of Joe Tinker and Johnny Evers, and a strong starting rotation led by 32-game winner Pop Williams. The Cubs' potential downfall, however, was their weak bench and their nonexistent bullpen- a strength of the Naps. Game 1: Cubs 4, Naps 0 The heavily-favored Cubs burst out of the gate as expected, with Pop Williams tossing a four-hit shutout over the Naps. The Cubs put pressure on Naps starter Barney Pelty, as the first five hitters of the game reached base, and the Cubs took a quick 2-0 lead. Matty McIntyre led the way for the Naps with two hits, and the Cubs were led offensively by left fielder Heinie Zimmerman, who had a triple and a single, and by center fielder Emmet Heidrick, who drove in two runs with two singles. Game 2: Naps 6, Cubs 5 (10 innings) The situation appeared dire for the Naps, as the Cubs took a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning, sparked by a bases-clearing triple by Cubs pitcher Ralph Glaze. The Naps roared back in dramatic fashion, however, scoring three runs in the top of the ninth inning to temporarily take a one run lead, and then after surrendering the lead in the bottom of the frame, tacking on another run in the tenth inning. The Naps were led once again by Matty McIntyre, who had three hits and a walk, including an RBI single in the 9th inning rally, and the game-winning single with two outs in the top of the tenth inning. Joe Ward chipped in with a two-run single in the top of the ninth. Reliever Irv Higginbotham, after surrendering the game-tying run in the ninth inning, pitched a scoreless tenth frame for the win.

12-24-2016, 09:37 AM	#97
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	October 1907: World Series The Cleveland Naps and Chicago Cubs continued to trade wins in the best-of-seven series, with the Naps unable to solve Cubs' ace Pop Williams, and the Cubs' other starters unable to stop the Naps' offense. Game 3: Naps 5, Cubs 3 The Cleveland Naps attacked Cubs starter Frank Corridon in the opening frame, scoring four runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run double by Elmer Flick. The Cubs rallied to cut the deficit to a single run and although they outhit the Naps 11-5, they could not string enough hits together to catch up. Naps' catcher Frank Roth threw out all four Cubs baserunners who tried to steal. Offensively, the Naps were led by Flick, who added two walks after his double, and by leadoff man Matty McIntyre who reached base three times and scored two runs. Frank Chance paced the Cubs with three hits. Dummy Taylor, while not sharp, was just effective enough to get the complete game victory for the Naps Game 4: Cubs 3, Naps 2 Although the Naps drew first blood, the Cubs enjoyed the last laugh, as they eked out a 3-2 victory, scoring the winning run in the top of the eighth inning. Matty McIntyre opened the scoring with a two-out RBI double in the third inning, but the Cubs seized the lead in the fourth inning with an RBI triple from third baseman Frank Laporte, followed by a double by first baseman Moose Grimshaw. After the Naps tacked on an unearned run to tie the game at 2, Pop Williams and Jake Thielman traded scoreless frames until the eighth inning, when Cubs centerfielder Emmet Heidrick drove in shortstop Joe Tinker with a sacrifice fly. Although the Naps threatened in the ninth inning, Williams quashed the rally, earning his second complete-game victory of the series. Last edited by Dukie98; 12-24-2016 at 09:49 AM.

12-25-2016, 01:01 AM	#98
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	October 1907: World Series After the Cleveland Naps jumped out to an unexpected 2-1 lead in the World Series, they dropped three straight low-scoring one-run games to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs won the series, 4 games to 2, and Pop Williams was named the series MVP after going 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA Game 5: Cubs 2, Naps 1 Although the Cleveland Naps carried a narrow 1-0 lead into the ninth inning, the Cubs won in dramatic fashion, as third baseman Frank LaPorte blasted a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning off of Barney Pelty to give the Cubs all the offense they needed in a 2-1 victory. The Naps struck first, with Elmer Flick driving in Joe Ward after a fourth-inning triple. The Cubs repeatedly threatened to score off Pelty, but failed to break through until LaPorte's blast. Ralph Glaze scattered four hits in the complete game victory for the Cubs. Game 6: Cubs 3, Naps 2 Once again, the Naps failed to hold on to an early-inning lead, and they struggled to score off Cubs' ace Pop Williams, who won his third outing of the series. Elmer Flick drove in Matty McIntyre with an RBI single in the first inning, but then gave the run back in the second inning with a critical throwing error. The Cubs then broke the game open with two runs in the fourth inning. Center fielder Chick Stahl led the way for the Naps with two singles and an RBI, and his counterpart, Emmet Heidrick, led the Cubs with a single, a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. Although Heinie Berger was effective, he took the loss for the Naps.

12-25-2016, 05:59 PM	#99
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	1907 Postseason Here are the major award winners for the 1907 season: AL MVP: Roger Bresnahan, C, NYY: .325/ .434/ .417, 3 HR, 57 RBI, 70 runs, 32 steals, 161 OPS+, 6.2 WAR Second place: Walter Johnson, SP, WAS: 22-16, 1.70 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 155 ERA+, 228 K, 8.9 WAR Third place: Mickey Doolan, SS, CLE: .269/ .320/ .380, 2 HR, 44 RBI, 23 doubles, 14 triples, 64 runs, 18 steals, +20.0 zone rating, 121 OPS+, 6.6 WAR AL Cy Young: Walter Johnson, WAS: 22-16, 1.70 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 339 IP, 228 K, 155 ERA+, 8.9 WAR Second place: Red Ames, NYY: 23-16, 1.98 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 354 IP, 270 K, 140 ERA+, 8.5 WAR Third place: Vic Willis, BOS: 25-14, 2.13 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 329 IP, 129 K, 128 ERA+, 5.8 WAR AL Rookie of the Year: Walter Johnson, SP, WAS: 22-16, 1.70 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 339 IP, 228 K, 155 ERA+, 8.9 WAR NL MVP: Socks Seybold, RF, CHC: .324/ .400/ .469, 7 HR, 72 RBI, 81 runs, 32 doubles, 15 triples, 70 walks, 172 OPS+, 7.5 WAR Second place: Harry Lumley, RF, PIT: .322/ .373/ .433, 9 HR, 81 RBI, 99 runs, 50 steals, 153 OPS+, 7.3 WAR Third place: Joe Tinker, SS, CHC: .280/ .314/ .363, 4 HR, 56 RBI, 11 triples, 72 runs, 40 steals, 112 OPS+, +32.2 zone rating, 8.2 WAR NL Cy Young: Pop Williams, CHC, 32-8, 1.94 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 362 IP, 129 K, 140 ERA+, 6.6 WAR Second place: Chief Bender, NYG, 23-17, 1.89 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 381 IP, 260 K, 146 ERA+, 9.8 WAR Third place: Doc White, PHI, 24-12, 1.94 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 348 IP, 161 K, 141 ERA+, 7.2 WAR NL Rookie of the Year: Nap Rucker, SP, BRO, 20-20, 2.55 ERA, 357 IP, 197 K, 105 ERA+, 4.7 WAR

12-26-2016, 05:25 PM	#100
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	1908 Preseason Following their surprising run to the American League pennant, expectations were high for the Cleveland Naps, although there still were several hard-to-fill holes on their roster. With a surplus of starting pitching, but little elite talent on the roster, the Naps shipped swingman Alex Pearson and center fielder Chick Stahl to the New York Giants for rookie pitcher Rube Marquard. Stahl suffered through a disappointing season in Cleveland, hitting an empty .290 with just 29 RBI's in over 400 at bats, and with unacceptably poor defense in center field. The Naps anticipated keeping Marquard in the bullpen for another year, before bringing him into the rotation in 1909. In a related move, the Naps shipped 33-year-old pitcher Dummy Taylor, who had missed significant time in each of the past two seasons, along with backup shortstop Freddy Parent, who had clearly been supplanted by Mickey Doolan, to the Philadelphia Athletics for 21-year-old middle infielder Jack Barry. The trade of Taylor clears some of the Naps' pitching surplus, and allows Babe Adams to return to the rotation. But it does nothing to address their glaring weakness in center field (likely to be covered by a platoon of good field/ no-hit Cozy Dolan and jack-of-all-trades Bris Lord, or the mediocre play of first baseman George Stovall. In preseason projections, the Naps were projected to finish third with an 80-74 record, behind the St. Louis Browns and New York Highlanders. While the Naps were once again expected to have a strong pitching staff, their offense was expected to struggle. To contend in 1908, the Naps would need a return to form from second baseman/ franchise namesake Napoleon Lajoie and right fielder Elmer Flick.