The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Buffalo finally sees off Brownsville in an engrossing five-game AAA World Series to win the franchise's first-ever Championship.

[luckymann]

Not a one turnover in the managerial ranks – can’t remember the last time that was the case. The Cardinals franchise has switched hands – will this also usher in a change of fortune for the Redbirds?

“Old Aches and Pains” Luke Appling leads a relatively low-key bunch of retirees. Others entering the next phase of their life include Thornton Lee, Al Hollingsworth, Babe Dahlgren, Billy Herman, Hal Trosky, Mike Kreevich, Frankie Crosetti, Paul Dean and one more who merits his own post.

We do not renew Assistant GM Snow Snodgrass’s contract – it is another unnecessary expense with me handling almost everything as it is.

Stan Spence opts out, and we void Babe Young’s final year. His OF defensive abilities have all but vanished overnight and we don’t have room for a 1B-only type. Between the two of them, that frees up nearly $50k and with Rigney, Tobin, Haefner and Workman also coming off the books we have a nice nest egg with which to splurge – for us, at least – on an FA signing. Just Johnny Johnson and Pinky Woods heading to arbitration for us. We also let Bobby Sturgeon walk, as we’ve re-signed Sherry Robertson at half the cost, and Mike Tresh is also headed elsewhere.

[luckymann]

It feels like Mel Ott has been with us since the beginning - but, no, it has only been since 1926. Over those 21 seasons he has given us nothing but pleasure (well, except when playing against him - then, there's usually a fair dose of pain as well...).

I'm always disappointed when a guy ruins his one-club status with a wasteful and usually poor-quality final swansong season, which has happened with Mel at the Reds after 20 years with the Jints. Still, it can't be helped and doesn't lower him in my estimation one bit. He does manage to finish that season with 0.9 WAR to keep his streak alive - 21 seasons played, all with a positive bWAR score.

He'll obviously be a first-ballot HOFer, given those 537 HR (3rd all-time)1812 RBI (3rd) and 3122 hits (6th). His total of 125 bWAR won't hurt either, good for 6th best as well. He won 3 Wagner-Lajoies, 5 Silver Sluggers and 5 Tinker-Jones, and was named to 10 ASGs. In fact, and this is one of the great travesties, the only thing of importance to elude him was a Championship, with two losses in the Fall Classic very early in his career the closest he came.




NB The game once again shows how good it is, with Mel's totals incredibly close to the historical despite so many changed variables.

[luckymann]

AL 1947 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1947 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Unanimous Wagner-Lajoie wins to Ted Williams and Willard Brown, the two most dominant players of this current generation - the fourth win for each. Hal Newhouser and Ewell Blackwell each wins the second Johnson-Waddell Awards of his career. RoYs to Ferris Fain and Allie Clark, with Benny Frey winning his third Paige Plate and our own Art Houtteman his first.


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[luckymann]

Just five new Legacies this time around, with one of them a Marquee whose presence means another legend from the same club is up for grabs and very much on our radar – although I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t go 1st overall to the Browns.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1948 Season:

Chicago Cubs: Bob Rush (36.0; 339)
Cleveland Indians: Mike Garcia (30.4; 397)
New York Giants: Johnny Antonelli (31.9; 280)
New York Yankees: Hank Bauer (27.2; 1406)
Philadelphia Phillies: Robin Roberts (86.1; 529 (78%)) LEGACY

Richie Ashburn (64.2; 1794) was also eligible for the Phillies, but Roberts’ higher WAR makes him the selection.


There are 112 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 7 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1947 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Philadelphia Phillies (403, dice roll)
2. Chicago Cubs (448)
3. New York Giants (526)
4. Cleveland Indians (519)
5. New York Yankees (630)
6. St. Louis Browns (383)
7. Pittsburgh Pirates (403, dice roll)
8. Washington Senators (416)
9. Chicago White Sox (455)
10. Cincinnati Reds (474)
11. Philadelphia Athletics (506)
12. Boston Red Sox (539)
13. Detroit Tigers (552)
14. Boston Braves (558)
15. St. Louis Cardinals (578)
16. Brooklyn Dodgers (610)


Rounds 2 thru 7

1. St. Louis Browns (383)
2. Pittsburgh Pirates (403, dice roll)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (403, dice roll)
4. Washington Senators (416)
5. Chicago Cubs (448)
6. Chicago White Sox (455)
7. Cincinnati Reds (474)
8. Philadelphia Athletics (506)
9. Cleveland Indians (519)
10. New York Giants (526)
11. Boston Red Sox (539)
12. Detroit Tigers (552)
13. Boston Braves (558)
14. St. Louis Cardinals (578)
15. Brooklyn Dodgers (610)
16. New York Yankees (630)


Once again, our historical counterparts do the right thing by us and so we have a tasty pick throughout. Just how tasty, however, is greatly in the hands of others.

In the end, we choose the following players:

1. SS Ray Boone, 24

• Unfortunately for us, the Browns do indeed take Ashburn with the first free pick. Ray, despite him only playing SS, is a pretty nice consolation prize who will allow us to make some follow-up moves.

2. OF Hal Jeffcoat, 23

• Once again, a guy who will not only help us out but free up others to be used to trade with. No superstar by any means and in the end more a fourth OF than a starter.

3. P Warren Hacker, 23

• Three rounds from three now the Browns have pinched our targeted player, which means we get Warren – a slow-boil project with a limited ceiling – instead of Ned Garver.

4. P Joe Ostrowski, 31

• A mature-age southpaw who might just fill a hole for us at some point.

5. OF Pete Layden, 23
6. P Forrest Thompson, 29
7. P Dick Welteroth, 20

• Filler.

Missed by that much from being a super day for us. Still, we did OK.




FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

All-time leader: Walter Johnson, 609

[luckymann]

Just the one, but he's a biggie.

[luckymann]

Well, in the end we go for a slightly more low-key FA signing, principally because there really wasn't anyone else on offer that I wanted but I know we need to keep turning players over. So Walt is a nice long-term pickup for us, and on a 4+1/$97 deal he's pretty reasonably-priced as well.



Following that, we pull this deal with the White Sox.




I call this sort of swap a "Now and Then" deal - one that doesn't hurt us too much now and really helps us then.

Kerr plateaus quickly and is expensive, which puts him on my hit list twice, and with Boone now on board he is even less essential. Hartung's lack of OF flexibility and the fact that the pitching side of his repertoire hasn't really come on made him dispensable. Would have liked to have kept Kennedy, but he was needed to close the deal.

I've had my eye on Raschi for some time and he is another longer-term type for us who we'll try and lock down on a multi-year deal. On the min for the next two years. Rojek gives us 2B/3B/SS utility value with an OK bat, but is out of contract at the end of '48. Zabala is for AAA.

[CubMariner]

Rough WS result...but hopefully the off-season tweaks to the roster can you back there in '48!

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by CubMariner

Rough WS result...but hopefully the off-season tweaks to the roster can you back there in '48!

Man, those Sox beat us like we'd said nasty stuff about their kids...

[luckymann]

Bill Veeck’s undeniable acumen puts the Tribe on top of the baseball world, his keen impresario skills makes Cleveland its epicentre. But they need a one-game tiebreak win over the Red Sox and six to get past the Braves along the way, with the late-season introduction of Negro League legend Satchel Paige integral to their success and wildly popular with the fans.

AL CHAMPIONS: Cleveland Indians (97-58)
NL CHAMPIONS: Boston Braves (91-62)
WORLD SERIES: Indians 4, Braves 2

AL MVP: Lou Boudreau (Indians)
NL MVP: Stan Musial (Cardinals)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. STAN MUSIAL, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .376 average, 135 runs, 230 hits, 46 doubles, 18 triples, 39 home runs, 131 RBIs, 79 walks, .450 on-base percentage, .702 slugging percentage.
• Musial’s greatest year at the plate included a sudden jump in homers to a career-high 39, four five-hit games (tying Ty Cobb’s season record), a career-best batting average and a slugging percentage that was the NL’s highest between 1930 and 1994. He was one homer away from grabbing a share of the NL lead with Johnny Mize and Ralph Kiner—and earning a triple crown in the process.

2. JOHNNY MIZE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .289 average, 110 runs, 26 doubles, 40 home runs, 125 RBIs, 94 walks.
• Mize was first cousin of Babe Ruth’s second wife—but his power (90 homers from 1947-48) suggested he should have been more a part of the Babe’s direct lineage. His home run on the last day of the season tied him with Kiner for the NL lead—for the second straight year.

3. RALPH KINER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 156 games, .265 average, 104 runs, 40 home runs, 123 RBIs, 112 walks.
• The young Pirates slugger easily could have won the NL home run crown outright, but only went deep once over his last 23 games.

4. SID GORDON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .299 average, 100 runs, 26 doubles, 30 home runs, 107 RBIs, 74 walks.
• Muscular, Brooklyn-born Sid Gordon was no enemy in a Giants uniform, as the Dodgers even gave him a special day.

5. BOB ELLIOTT, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .283 average, 99 runs, 24 doubles, 5 triples, 23 home runs, 100 RBIs, 131 walks.
• Elliott’s 131 walks stick out like a sore thumb on his career stat sheet; it was his only time drawing at least 100.

6. JACKIE ROBINSON, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 108 runs, 170 hits, 38 doubles, 8 triples, 12 home runs, 85 RBIs, 7 hit-by-pitches, 22 stolen bases.
• In his second season with the Dodgers, Robinson settled in and hit for the only cycle of his career. And no, not all the pitchers that hit him a collective NL-high seven times were born in the South.

7. ENOS SLAUGHTER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .321 average, 91 runs, 176 hits, 27 doubles, 11 triples, 11 home runs, 90 RBIs, 81 walks.
• Slaughter failed to total exactly 100 runs for the fourth straight year, but that didn’t make the aggressive veteran any less dangerous.

8. ANDY PAFKO, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .312 average, 82 runs, 171 hits, 30 doubles, 26 home runs, 101 RBIs.
• In the second of 16 straight years with a winning record at Wrigley Field, the Cubs found a strong offensive presence in Pafko, making up for the decline of earlier Cubs stars of the decade (Bill Nicholson, Phil Cavarretta).

9. JEFF HEATH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 115 games, .319 average, 26 doubles, 5 triples, 20 home runs, 76 RBIs.
• One of the reasons Bob Elliott (above) drew so many walks was that opposing pitchers felt they could have an easier time than Heath, who frequently batted behind him; boy, we’re they wrong.

10. DEL ENNIS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .290 average, 86 runs, 171 hits, 40 doubles, 30 home runs, 95 RBIs.
• The young outfielder found his career jet stream, hitting more home runs than his first two seasons combined.

AL Hitters

1. TED WILLIAMS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .369 average, 124 runs, 188 hits, 44 doubles, 25 home runs, 127 RBIs, 126 walks, .497 on-base percentage, .615 slugging percentage.
• Williams’ great start had him at .400 by mid-season—even after being sidetracked at camp with appendicitis. He also set a major league record with 21 straight games reaching base safely at least twice.

2. JOE DIMAGGIO, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .320 average, 110 runs, 190 hits, 26 doubles, 11 triples, 39 home runs, 155 RBIs, 67 walks, 8 hit-by-pitches.
• Before age and injuries began to overcome him, Joe DiMaggio produced his last pure majestic set of numbers.

3. LOU BOUDREAU, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .355 average, 116 runs, 199 hits, 34 doubles, 6 triples, 18 home runs, 106 RBIs, 98 walks.
• All of Bill Veeck’s tricks and gimmicks would have been for naught had he traded away Boudreau before 1948—which he nearly did.

4. TOMMY HENRICH, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .308 average, 138 runs, 181 hits, 42 doubles, 14 triples, 25 home runs, 100 RBIs, 76 walks.
• It seemed as if the majority of numbers put up by clutch-time hero Tommy Henrich came when they were needed the most. It’s also impressive to note, given the big-time numbers put up above by Williams and DiMaggio, that he led the AL in extra-base hits.

5. JOE GORDON, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .280 average, 96 runs, 32 home runs, 124 RBIs, 77 walks.
• The veteran second baseman’s career renaissance peaked with career highs in both home runs and RBIs.

6. KEN KELTNER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .297 average, 91 runs, 166 hits, 31 home runs, 119 RBIs, 89 walks.
• Practically riding the same career track as Gordon, Keltner awoke from a prolonged career funk and was every bit the equal on the power stats.

7. VERN STEPHENS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 155 games, .269 average, 114 runs, 171 hits, 25 doubles, 8 triples, 29 home runs, 137 RBIs, 77 walks, 25 grounded into double plays.
• After struggling to build up great numbers with a Browns lineup that gave him no protection, Stephens was sent to Fenway and was given the dream job of hitting behind Ted Williams. He responded with his first of three seasons averaging 147 RBIs per year.

8. DOM DIMAGGIO, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 155 games, .285 average, 648 at-bats, 127 runs, 185 hits, 40 doubles, 9 home runs, 87 RBIs, 101 walks, 10 stolen bases.
• A great year for the DiMaggio family; besides Joe’s vintage effort above, younger brother Dom hit prewar stride and then some.

9. BOBBY DOERR, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .285 average, 94 runs, 23 doubles, 6 triples, 27 home runs, 111 RBIs, 83 walks.
• Like Vern Stephens above, Doerr relished in hitting behind both Ted Williams and Stephens, and thus became the third member of the Red Sox’ 100-RBI club (a common occurrence in the years after World War II).

10. PAT MULLIN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .288 average, 91 runs, 16 doubles, 11 triples, 23 home runs, 80 RBIs, 77 walks.
• A future top scout and coach for Detroit, Mullin made the most of his one full-time year—leading the Tigers in most offensive categories.

NL Pitchers

1. HARRY BRECHEEN, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.24 ERA, 20 wins, 7 losses, 7 shutouts, .741 win percentage, 233.1 innings, 49 walks, 149 strikeouts.
• The Mean Brecheen returned after a decent 1947 campaign—but even despite this effort and Stan Musial’s enormous set of numbers, the Cardinals couldn’t make it to first place.

2. JOHNNY SCHMITZ, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.64 ERA, 18 wins, 13 losses, 242 innings.
• After losing a NL-high 18 games in 1947, Schmitz won 18 for a last-place Cub team while batters hit a league-low .215 against him.

3. JOHNNY SAIN, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.60 ERA, 24 wins, 15 losses, 42 appearances, 39 starts, 28 complete games, 314.2 innings.
• Sain gave everything he had, notching the most innings and wins of any single-season NL pitcher during the 1940s.

4. DUTCH LEONARD, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.51 ERA, 12 wins, 17 losses, 225.2 innings, 54 walks.
• Despite a better ERA than the previous year, Leonard’s record was reversed for the worse—from 17-12 to 12-17. As expected, poor run support was the culprit.

5. REX BARNEY, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 3.10 ERA, 15 wins, 13 losses, 44 appearances, 34 starts, 246.2 innings, 122 walks, 6 hit-by-pitches.
• Barney had his one year in the sun, racking up 15 of his 35 career wins, one of which was the only no-hitter ever thrown by a Dodger at the Polo Grounds, home of the archrival Giants. Wildness would eventually get the better of him.

6. LARRY JANSEN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.61 ERA, 18 wins, 12 losses, 42 appearances, 36 starts, 277 innings, 54 walks.
• In his second year at the major league level, Jansen figured out how to pitch at the oblong Polo Grounds, posting a far better ERA (2.76) than on the road (4.57).

7. WARREN SPAHN, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 3.71 ERA, 15 wins, 12 losses, 35 starts, 257 innings.
• What would be considered a fine year for most pitchers was a relative downer for Spahn—who produced his highest season ERA until 1964, the year he finally began to fall apart at age 43.

8. PREACHER ROE, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.63 ERA, 12 wins, 8 losses, 34 appearances, 22 starts, 177.2 innings, 33 walks.
• Struggling at Pittsburgh for two years—the result of a skull fracture suffered fighting a referee while coaching a prep basketball team—Roe came to Brooklyn and, as he would admit years later, revived his career with the occasional spitball.

9. JOHNNY VANDER MEER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 3.41 ERA, 17 wins, 14 losses, 33 starts, 232 innings, 124 walks.
• With Ewell Blackwell slipping into temporary decline, Vander Meer channeled his earlier self and briefly bumped himself up to vintage form.

10. SHELDON JONES, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.35 ERA, 16 wins, 8 losses, .667 win percentage, 5 saves, 55 appearances, 21 starts, 201.1 innings, 17 intentional walks, 10 wild pitches, 6 hit-by-pitches.
• Despite a certain lack of control, Jones was relied upon by the Giants to the point that he was pegged with the nickname “Available.”

AL Pitchers

1. BOB LEMON, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.82 ERA, 20 wins, 14 losses, 43 appearances, 37 starts, 20 complete games, 10 shutouts, 293.2 innings, 129 walks.
• Two years earlier, Lemon was a struggling center fielder for the Indians; now he was the AL’s best pitcher. Highlights from his 1948 résumé: Authoring the two longest consecutive scoreless-inning streaks of his career (31 and 29), and his only no-hitter.

2. GENE BEARDEN, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.43 ERA, 20 wins, 7 losses, .741 win percentage, 37 appearances, 29 starts, 6 shutouts, 229.2 innings, 106 walks, 42 grounded into double plays.
• The one-year wonder was Cleveland’s biggest stars-and-planets-aligning story in a year where everything went right for the Indians; the knuckleballer went 25-31 over six other major league seasons.

3. HAL NEWHOUSER, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 3.01 ERA, 21 wins, 12 losses, 39 appearances, 35 starts, 272.1 innings.
• A year after getting shafted by poor-hitting teammates, Newhouser was allowed to return to perceptive form with his fourth (and last) 20-win campaign.

4. BOB FELLER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 3.56 ERA, 19 wins, 15 losses, 44 appearances, 38 starts, 280.1 innings, 116 walks, 164 strikeouts.
• Feller’s 164 strikeouts weren’t even half of the 348 he registered in 1946, but it was good enough to lead the AL for his last time.

5. RAY SCARBOROUGH, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.82 ERA, 15 wins, 8 losses, 31 appearances, 26 starts, 185.1 innings.
• For a year at least, the right-hander was head-and-shoulders above the rest of the Senators’ staff; without him, DC pitchers were 41-89 with a 4.95 ERA.

6. MEL PARNELL, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 3.14 ERA, 15 wins, 8 losses, 35 appearances, 27 starts, 212 innings, 10 intentional walks.
• The 26-year-old lefty grew well into the role as future Red Sox ace in his first full season, winning 12 of his games after the All-Star break.

7. JOE DOBSON, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 3.56 ERA, 16 wins, 10 losses, 38 appearances, 32 starts, 245.1 innings.
• Parnell’s late-season rise contrasted with Dobson’s erosion during the same time, but the overall effort was still met with thumbs-ups from Red Sox teammates.

8. VIC RASCHI, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.84 ERA, 19 wins, 8 losses, .704 win percentage, 36 appearances, 31 starts, 222.2 innings.
• In his first full season, Raschi ran out of gas down the stretch and was demoted to the bullpen for the final two weeks—costing him a chance at 20 wins. He’d make up for it in each of the next three years.

9. DIZZY TROUT, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 3.43 ERA, 10 wins, 14 losses, 32 appearances, 23 starts, 183.2 innings.
• For the second straight year, Trout pitched well enough to win 20 games—but only got halfway there.

10. ALLIE REYNOLDS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.77 ERA, 16 wins, 7 losses, .696 win percentage, 39 appearances, 31 starts, 236.1 innings, 111 walks, 9 wild pitches.
• The man who was traded one-up for the revived Joe Gordon a year earlier didn’t make the Yankees regret it, running his two-year record in pinstripes since the trade to 35-15. It would only get better (96-45) from there.

[luckymann]

Relatively subdued, but still a few points of note. The Cards and Giants both went so close last year and look to be making a push to get over the hump, while the Braves make a rare big-money deal as well. After picking up Hank Greenberg last year, the Pale Hose continue to put a nice squad together with the addition of Sam Jethroe.

Here are the major moves:

• OF Sam Jethroe: White Sox, 6 years / $314400
• 3B Sid Gordon: Cardinals, 7 years / $305200
• C Phil Masi: Braves, 6 years / $242400
• P Paul Derringer: Yankees, 3 years / $137000
• P Cliff Melton: Giants, 3 years / $127400
• 3B Stan Hack: Giants, 3 years / $122200
• P Fritz Ostermueller: Cubs, 3 years / $105600
• OF Harry Walker: Browns, 3 years / $102600
• OF Ron Northey: Tigers, 3 years / $93000
• C Bill Salkeld: Phillies, 5 years / $91200 (extension)

• 1B Nick Etten from Cardinals to Indians for P Everett Fagan
• 1B Elbie Fletcher from Athletics to Giants for P Charlie Gassaway and OF Jose Zardon
• P Johnny Vander Meer from Reds to Athletics for 1B Dick Sisler
• 2B Jerry Priddy and 2B Gene Mauch from White Sox to Braves for C Sal Yvars
• OF Junior Wooten and OF Don Lund from Phillies to Braves for OF Jeff Heath
• P Marv Breuer and P Cal McLish from Phillies to Athletics for OF Sam Chapman

ALL TRANSACTIONS


We look pretty flat in ST, limping to a 9-9 record. Still, BNN has us pegged to repeat by a slender margin. The big surprise is Boston being picked to finish mid-standings with the Yanks reclaiming top spot. We shall see how that all pans out.


FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

A reminder that our team page can be accessed HERE.

Look, after last season who knows what to expect here. I think we are once again a tougher, tighter squad than we were a year ago, which hopefully means we will remain competitive. Still a relatively young group, and how the newer guys come along will be almost as central as the raw results with regard to how I judge this season in retrospect.

The first derivation of our familiar black and gold colourway makes its long-awaited arrival. Looking sharp, lads!

[luckymann]

A lovely start to the MLB careers of Vic Wertz - who belts the game-winning solo HR in the top 12th - and Ray Boone, who chimes in with 2 ribbies as we get an OD victory at Cincy.

[luckymann]

Only early doors, of course, but the Cards are playing with an intent we've not often seen of them - a league-best 12-4 start / +38 run diff both being testament to that fact. Big offseason signing Sid Gordon is only hitting 200 or so to this point, which means they likely have another gear or two in them.

Country Slaughter will be front and centre in all of this, should it eventuate - and he, too, has started strongly, including this fine game in a demolition of the Phils.

[luckymann]

I use my in-season trade coupon earlier than I'd perhaps have liked to after extension talks with catcher Andy Seminick break down and I want him off our books while we can still get something for him.

Andy wanted 9 years at more than 40k per and, while flexible on duration, was anything but on price. He's good, but he'd have to be way better for us to even contemplate that sort of investment in a 100-120 games per season player.

Things snowball a bit from there as I take the opportunity to do a bit of tweaking - eventually the following deal is struck:

Basically dollar-neutral and pretty even all round, really. We get a great OF who can also play 3B in Paf, a handy all-slot OF in Wyrostek and some catcher depth after Andy's departure in Kluttz.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

A messy old start for us and it's fair to say the good run we've had with basically everything falling our way these past couple years is just swinging back over to the other side of the spirit level a bit for the moment. 9-12 at home, 9-16 v RHP, 4-8 in one-run games - all fairly conclusive evidence against us being in a good space right now. A brutal schedule has not helped.





20-22 is not disastrous by any stretch and it's still relatively early, but we're already 9 GB which means our next move best be a positive one if we want to take a run at it again this year.





Little wrong with our offence to this point - our problem is the pitching, both starting and relief. Meyer and Raschi have held their own, but Sain and Hutchinson have struggled and Masterson has been an unmitigated disaster. In the BP, last season's hero Art Houtteman has done it tough so far and that has put the other guys under the pump. The whole things been one of those domino shows and needs to be tightened up, top to bottom, if we're to have any chance of bridging the gap.


Dodgers and Cards fans - dare to dream?




Monthly Award Winners

May

American League

• Batter – Ted Williams (Red Sox): 442 / 10 HR / 26 RBI
• Pitcher – Vern Bickford (White Sox): 5-1 / 1.51 / 27 K / 47.2 IP
• Rookie – Vern Bickford

National League

• Batter – Stan Musial (Cardinals): 365 / 6 HR / 28 RBI
• Pitcher – Ewell Blackwell (Reds): 6-0 / 1.09 / 41 K / 49.1 IP
• Rookie – Marino Pieretti (Giants): 4-1 / 1.91 / 10 K / 33 IP

News and Leaders

• The Phillies’ season starts in terrible fashion with ace Curt Simmons lost for 3 months to a torn meniscus and then boom rookie Robin Roberts also hurt and out for the same length of time with an elbow injury, with reliever Slim Emmerich done for the year as well. Their crosstown rival Athletics fare little better, with 2B Benny McCoy ruled out for most of the year with another meniscus tear.
• Willard Brown reaches 2000 career hits, Benny Frey 100 saves.

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[luckymann]

Highest % of Wins Saved

[luckymann]

Not all that much differently to his IRL career, Mickey Vernon has been quietly chipping in over his 10 seasons for the Sens without ever dominating.

This is a nice game for him.