The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

The league structure changes again - this time in the AL, as the Browns head to Baltimore and become the Orioles.

A bit of managerial carnage, with the Indians cutting Tip Tobin, HOFer Bill Dickey chopped by the Athletics, and Doc Lavan getting his walking papers from the Cubs.

A late stint at AAA ends up keeping Alex Kellner on our books for one more year and so, in an effort to not leave us short-armed, we send him to arb along with Danny O’Connell. Relievers Joe Ostrowski is non-tendered, while Clyde Vollmer and Wally Westlake will both be let walk. We also get a nice WW claim off the Giants in pitcher Jim Lemon, who could slot in as a cheaper, younger replacement for Vollmer, or may even prove handy when trade time comes around, depending what happens during the FA / Draft period.

Players opting out of the game include Whitey Kurowski, Ken Keltner, Bill Nicholson, Eddie Stanky, Tommy Henrich, Dizzy Trout, Harry Brecheen, Jim Tabor,

[luckymann]

AL 1953 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1953 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Popular and unanimous Wagner-Lajoie wins to Mickey Mantle and Jackie Robinson, their second and first, respectively. Two first-time Johnson-Waddell winners this time around: Bob Lemon and Vinegar Bend Mizell. Our own Bob Miller wins his first Paige Plate, as does Al Aber, whom we traded away in the offseason, while RoYs go to Jack Harshman and Junior Gilliam.


S+ HOME

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PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

A relatively quiet year for the Legacy Players, with just four including another Marquee.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1954 Season:

Milwaukee Braves: Henry Aaron (143.0; 3076) MARQUEE 93%
Detroit Tigers: Frank Lary (30.4; 304)
New York Yankees: Bill Skowron (27.1; 1087)
Washington Senators: Harmon Killebrew (60.3; 2329)

Camilo Pascual (40.9; 432) was also eligible for the Senators, but Killebrew’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

There are 121 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 7 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1953 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Milwaukee Braves (597; dice roll)
2. Washington Senators (500)
3. Detroit Tigers (390)
4. New York Yankees (656)
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (325)
6. Baltimore Orioles (351)
7. Philadelphia Athletics (383)
8. Chicago Cubs (422)
9. Cincinnati Reds (442)
10. New York Giants (455)
11. Philadelphia Phillies (539; dice roll)
12. St. Louis Cardinals (539; dice roll)
13. Boston Red Sox (549)
14. Chicago White Sox (578)
15. Cleveland Indians (597; dice roll)
16. Brooklyn Dodgers (682)

Rounds 2 thru 7

1. Pittsburgh Pirates (325)
2. Baltimore Orioles (351)
3. Philadelphia Athletics (383)
4. Detroit Tigers (390)
5. Chicago Cubs (422)
6. Cincinnati Reds (442)
7. New York Giants (455)
8. Washington Senators (500)
9. Philadelphia Phillies (539; dice roll)
10. St. Louis Cardinals (539; dice roll)
11. Boston Red Sox (549)
12. Chicago White Sox (578)
13. Milwaukee Braves (597; dice roll)
14. Cleveland Indians (597; dice roll)
15. New York Yankees (656)
16. Brooklyn Dodgers (682)


Our historical counterparts are in the middle of the worst period in franchise history, which of course is good news for us and we get just our second-ever top unencumbered pick. The previous one was all the way back in 1914 and was used on future HOFer and current Giants manager Oscar Charleston.

No Charlies here I’m afraid, but my attitude here is – unless you have a desperate need that a particular player fills perfectly – you just gotta take the best one up for grabs. Which, I believe, we do, along with a couple other handy guys as well:

1. P Camilo Pascual, 19

• Yes, I know, another pitcher. The two best position players were Joe Cunningham and Wally Moon, both 1B / corner OF types, and we just didn’t think either of them were going to prove as valuable to us moving forward as Camilo. Our position player group is in pretty good shape for now and quality pitchers like Camilo just don’t come around unspoken for very often. We’ll go gently, gently with him given his age but when he joins us we should have just about the best rotation of all.

2. IF Don Zimmer, 22
3. IF Billy Gardner, 26

• I'm almost certain Billy will actually get first go at the backup IF slot with us, but this is one area we are a bit thin at, so both of these somewhat glove-heavy guys should see action in the years to come.

4. P Nelson King, 25

• Hopefully follows along the lines of Paige Plate winner from the season just ended, Bob Miller. Nellie is a strapping lad and will almost certainly come straight in to the BP at the parent club.

5. P Ryne Duren, 24

• A longer-term prospect for our relief corps.

6. OF Eric Rodin, 23
7. P Lee Wheat, 24

• MiLB filler

More pieces falling into place for another strong tilt at the title over the next few seasons.

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

I have hereby instructed my staff to start paying closer attention to what our players are getting up to in the off-season...

[luckymann]

Paul Waner finally gets his 75%, and will join first-ballot inductees Josh Gibson and Hank Greenberg at C-Town this year. Another close shave for Charlie Gehringer, while Lefty Gomez inches closer as well.

[luckymann]

The Tribe finally knocks the Yanks off their pedestal with a superb 111-win season, only for another New York club in the form of the Giants to steal their rightful prize with a humiliating sweep in the Series made memorable by “The Catch”.

AL CHAMPIONS: Cleveland Indians (111-43)
NL CHAMPIONS: New York Giants (97-57)
WORLD SERIES: Giants 4, Indians 0

Pittsburgh Pirates: 53-101, last in NL

AL MVP: Yogi Berra (Yankees)
NL MVP: Willie Mays (Giants)

AL RoY: Bob Grim (Yankees)
NL RoY: Wally Moon (Cardinals)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. DUKE SNIDER, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .341 average, 120 runs, 199 hits, 39 doubles, 10 triples, 40 home runs, 130 RBIs, 84 walks, 96 strikeouts.
• Whether it was because he stung lefties more, was protected by a gang of right-handed slugging stars, or that he was just simply getting better, Snider emerged into a monster force with the first of five straight years with 40-plus homers.

2. WILLIE MAYS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .345 average, 119 runs, 195 hits, 33 doubles, 13 triples, 41 home runs, 110 RBIs, 66 walks, .667 slugging percentage.
• Mays’ 41 homers reminded many in later years that had it not been for the loss of the previous two seasons to the military, he likely would have surpassed 700 for his career and challenged Babe Ruth’s then-record.

3. TED KLUSZEWSKI, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .326 average, 104 runs, 187 hits, 28 doubles, 49 home runs, 141 RBIs, 78 walks.
• Of Kluszewski’s league-leading 49 homers, 34 of them came at home—a NL record until Mark McGwire in 1998.

4. STAN MUSIAL, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .330 average, 120 runs, 195 hits, 41 doubles, 9 triples, 35 home runs, 126 RBIs, 103 walks, 27 intentional walks.
• Musial tallied 100-plus runs for the 11th straight year; he would never surpass it again in any of his remaining nine seasons.

5. EDDIE MATHEWS, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: .290 average, 96 runs, 35 home runs, 126 RBIs, 103 walks.
• After a modest start, Mathews hit .329 with 26 home runs over his final 75 games.

6. GIL HODGES, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 154 games, .304 average, 106 runs, 176 hits, 23 doubles, 5 triples, 42 home runs, 130 RBIs, 74 walks, 19 sacrifice flies.
• Nineteen of Gil Hodges’ RBIs came thanks to a still-record dose (19) of sacrifice flies—the first year they were officially counted as a statistic.

7. HANK SAUER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .288 average, 98 runs, 41 home runs, 103 RBIs, 70 walks.
• The aging (37) slugger flashed vintage muscle, setting a career high in home runs while becoming one of a then-record six National Leaguers to hit at least 40; 13 of his clouts came against the Pirates alone.

8. WALLY MOON, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .304 average, 106 runs, 193 hits, 29 doubles, 9 triples, 12 home runs, 76 RBIs, 71 walks, 18 stolen bases.
• Solid start for the NL Rookie of the Year, setting personal bests in runs, hits, doubles and steals; not that any of his ensuing years would be all that much worse.

9. GUS BELL, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .299 average, 104 runs, 185 hits, 38 doubles, 7 triples, 17 home runs, 101 RBIs.
• Bell suffered a power outage on the road but hit 15 of his 17 homers at Crosley Field, newly shrunk to heavily favor hitters.

10. HANK THOMPSON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .263 average, 28 home runs, 86 RBIs, 90 walks.
• In a year memorable for single-game performances—Joe Adcock’s four-homer effort and Stan Musial’s five-homer doubleheader among them—Thompson rivaled the top of the list with a three-homer, eight-RBI performance at St. Louis on June 3.

AL Hitters

1. TED WILLIAMS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 117 games, .345 average, 93 runs, 133 hits, 23 doubles, 29 home runs, 89 RBIs, 136 walks, 17 intentional walks, .513 on-base percentage, .635 slugging percentage.
• A busted collarbone was no help for Williams in his quest to take his first batting title in six years, but neither were his 136 walks—which held him under the 400 at-bats needed to qualify for the title. (Under today’s rules, he would earn the crown.)

2. MINNIE MINOSO, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .320 average, 119 runs, 182 hits, 29 doubles, 18 triples, 19 home runs, 116 RBIs, 77 walks, 16 hit-by-pitches, 18 stolen bases, 11 caught stealing.
• The man who would play forever—if only he was allowed—Minoso put up some of the year’s more immortal numbers in the AL, even if they were more reflective of the Deadball Era.

3. MICKEY MANTLE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 129 runs, 163 hits, 17 doubles, 12 triples, 27 home runs, 102 RBIs, 102 walks, 107 strikeouts.
• Mantle survived two operations on his right knee during the off-season to help continue improve his numbers.

4. LARRY DOBY, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .272 average, 94 runs, 32 home runs, 126 RBIs, 85 walks.
• Doby’s AL-best home run count didn’t include a 33rd hit at the All-Star Game in front of his home fans at Cleveland. Though he never won an MVP, he came closest in 1954, finishing a close second (230-210) to…

5. YOGI BERRA, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .307 average, 88 runs, 179 hits, 28 doubles, 6 triples, 22 home runs, 125 RBIs.
• It was déjà vu all over again for Berra, who won his second of three AL MVPs.

6. AL ROSEN, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .341 average, 112 runs, 189 hits, 27 doubles, 15 home runs, 67 RBIs, 19 sacrifice hits.
• Even the post-injured-finger Rosen had numbers good enough to make this list, but it’s a Hall of Fame-stealing shame that he never got close to emulating his early, prodigious stats.

7. BOBBY AVILA, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 137 games, .296 average, 80 runs, 23 doubles, 5 triples, 27 home runs, 108 RBIs.
• Rosen wasn’t the only Clevelander whose numbers suffered in the aftermath of a broken finger. Avila was hitting .384 when he fractured his thumb in early June—yet still managed to hang on to (officially) win the AL batting title.

8. JACKIE JENSEN, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .276 average, 92 runs, 25 doubles, 7 triples, 25 home runs, 117 RBIs, 79 walks, 22 stolen bases, 32 grounded into double plays, 11 sacrifice flies.
• Making up: Jensen led the league in grounding into double plays, but also led in steals.

9. MICKEY VERNON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .290 average, 90 runs, 173 hits, 33 doubles, 14 triples, 20 home runs, 97 RBIs.
• Vernon’s 33 doubles were the fewest hit by an American Leaguer leader (over a non-abbreviated season) until 1973.

10. NELLIE FOX, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 155 games, .319 average, 111 runs, 201 hits, 24 doubles, 8 triples, 2 home runs, 47 RBIs, 12 strikeouts, 16 stolen bases.
• The light-hitting but highly revered White Sox legend had it all going in 1954, setting personal bests in bat average, runs, hits and stolen bases.

NL Pitchers

1. JOHNNY ANTONELLI, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.30 ERA, 21 wins, 7 losses, .750 win percentage, 37 starts, 6 shutouts, 258.2 innings.
• A big-time breakout for Antonelli, who in his first year after being traded from Milwaukee surely helped make Giants fans forget about the guy they traded to get him: 1951 pennant-winning hero Bobby Thomson.

2. LEW BURDETTE, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 2.76 ERA, 15 wins, 14 losses, 38 appearances, 32 starts, 238 innings, 62 walks, 29 grounded into double plays.
• The early success of Burdette—born in Nitro, West Virginia—had opponents blowing up over his alleged headhunting and use of the spitter.

3. WARREN SPAHN, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 3.14 ERA, 21 wins, 12 losses, 3 saves, 39 appearances, 34 starts, 23 complete games, 283.1 innings.
• Here’s part of the secret to another good year for Spahn; the Braves made sure he never started against the potent Dodgers, for whom he was 6-17 against over the previous five years.

4. ROBIN ROBERTS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.97 ERA, 23 wins, 15 losses, 4 saves, 45 appearances, 38 starts, 29 complete games, 336.2 innings, 56 walks, 185 strikeouts.
• Roberts never threw a no-hitter, but he tossed three one-hitters—two of them in 1954.

5. CURT SIMMONS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.81 ERA, 14 wins, 15 losses, 33 starts, 21 complete games, 253 innings, 27 grounded into double plays.
• Simmons did his best to emulate marquee pitching mate Roberts, hurling a career-high 21 complete games and pitching into extra innings three times.

6. HARVEY HADDIX, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 3.57 ERA, 18 wins, 13 losses, 4 saves, 43 appearances, 35 starts, 259.2 innings, 184 strikeouts.
• The third-year pitcher was at his hottest early on, winning 12 games before the end of June—including a seven-game stretch in which he went the distance every time and furnished a 37.1-inning scoreless streak, the year’s longest in the majors.

7. RUBEN GOMEZ, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.88 ERA, 17 wins, 9 losses, 37 appearances, 32 starts, 221.2 innings, 109 walks, 14 intentional walks.
• While Johnny Antonelli got much of the credit for the Giants’ big splash, not to be forgotten was #2 pitcher Ruben Gomez—wild, testy and, in 1954, as effective as ever.

8. GENE CONLEY, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 2.96 ERA, 14 wins, 9 losses, 27 starts, 194.1 innings.
• The 6’8” rookie pitcher was at his best before taking on a higher calling late in the decade: Playing power forward for the champion Boston Celtics in the NBA.

9. CARL ERSKINE, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 4.18 ERA, 18 wins, 15 losses, 37 starts, 260.1 innings.
• The hard-throwing righty was occasionally hard-hit—giving up 31 home runs and a NL-high 120 earned tallies—but still managed to lock up 18 wins.

10. MARV GRISSOM, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.35 ERA, 10 wins, 7 losses, 19 saves, 56 appearances, 3 starts, 122.1 innings.
• After bouncing about the AL, Grissom returned to the Giants (who initially brought him on in 1946) and set a then-franchise record for saves.

AL Pitchers

1. MIKE GARCIA, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.64 ERA, 19 wins, 8 losses, 5 saves, 45 appearances, 34 starts, 5 shutouts, 258.2 innings.
• The burly Californian won his second ERA title in five years, something none of his more esteemed Cleveland teammates could achieve.

2. EARLY WYNN, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.73 ERA, 23 wins, 11 losses, .676 win percentage, 40 appearances, 36 starts, 20 complete games, 270.2 innings.
• The man who would lead the AL in wins during the 1950s paced the league for the first time with a career high-tying 23.

3. BOB LEMON, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.72 ERA, 23 wins, 7 losses, .767 win percentage, 33 starts, 21 complete games, 258.1 innings, 22 grounded into double plays.
• Joining Wynn at the top of the victory charts was Lemon, who also tied a career mark.

4. VIRGIL TRUCKS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.79 ERA, 19 wins, 12 losses, 3 saves, 40 appearances, 33 starts, 5 shutouts, 264.2 innings, 22 grounded into double plays.
• The guy who threw two no-hitters just a couple of years earlier tossed two one-hitters in 1954.

5. NED GARVER, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.81 ERA, 14 wins, 11 losses, 32 starts, 246.1 innings, 23 grounded into double plays.
• The former St. Louis Browns ace, whose name seemed stolen from the 19th Century, regained fine form after a dip in quality through the previous few years.

6. BOB GRIM, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.26 ERA, 20 wins, 6 losses, 37 appearances, 20 starts, 199 innings, 26 grounded into double plays.
• The 24-year-old rookie became the first pitcher to win 20 games in under 200 innings.

7. SANDY CONSUEGRA, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.69 ERA, 16 wins, 3 losses, .842 win percentage, 39 appearances, 17 starts, 154 innings, 35 walks.
• A one-year wonder simply in terms of wins and losses, the Cuban-born starter/reliever maintained solid efficiency but was rewarded with an unusually high number of victories.

8. STEVE GROMEK, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.74 ERA, 18 wins, 16 losses, 36 appearances, 32 starts, 252.2 innings, 12 hit-by-pitches.
• After spending a decade failing to crack the stellar Cleveland rotation, Gromek got workhorse duty in Detroit and exclaimed, “It’s great to be a regular after 13 years as a rookie.”

9. JOHNNY SCHMITZ, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.91 ERA, 11 wins, 8 losses, 29 appearances, 23 starts, 185.1 innings, 29 grounded into double plays.
• Six years after peaking with the Cubs, Schmitz found himself back on strong footing as one of four full-time starting lefties for the Senators—the most for any major league club until the 2013 White Sox.

10. WHITEY FORD, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.82 ERA, 16 wins, 8 losses, 34 appearances, 28 starts, 210.2 innings, 101 walks, 25 grounded into double plays.
• Just another ho-hum year of stardom for the young southpaw, though he did overcome a rough start—posting a 2.23 ERA from May 25 on.

[luckymann]

A fairly subdued market over the break, but it’s nice to see the Orioles getting amongst it with a couple big deals. The White Sox splash some cash to shore up their staff, while the Red Sox make the biggest signing of all.

• OF Richie Ashburn: Red Sox, 8 years / $755000
• P Ned Garver: Orioles, 7 years / $417000
• P Early Wynn: White Sox, 5 years / $365000
• P Carl Erskine: Phillies, 5 years / $340000
• OF Larry Doby: Phillies, 4 years / $332000
• P Bob Lemon: White Sox, 4 years / $264000 (extension)
• Al Dark: Red Sox, 3 years / $261000
• SS Bobby Morgan: Orioles, 5 years / $190000 (extension)
• P Marv Breuer: Phillies, 3 years / $181000
• 2B Cass Michaels: Braves, 3 years / $167000
• P Allie Reynolds: Red Sox, 2 years / $132000
• OF Gus Bell: Cardinals, 5 years / $126000 (extension)
• 1B Luke Easter: Senators, 3 years / $102000 (extension)

• P Walt Masterson from Braves to Giants for OF Faye Throneberry and P Hector Azamar
• P Woodie Main and SS Billy Consolo from Giants to Tigers for C Bill Sarni
• P Paul LaPalme and P Ray Herbert from Tigers to Cubs for 3B Tommy Glaviano
• P Marlin Stuart and SS Dick Schofield from Athletics to Orioles for P James Clarich and 1B Marv Blaylock
• P Al Worthington and 1B Alfred Viotto from Braves to Cardinals for OF Tom Umphlett

ALL TRANSACTIONS

13-5 for ST but it costs us Kiner for a fortnight or so with an ab strain, the cause of much mirth among the lads in their lighter moments given it has been some years since Ralph had discernible abs to speak of.

BNN is looking for plenty of late drama this year, with the White Sox narrowly on top of the AL and ourselves and the newly-coined Redlegs tied atop the senior circuit. Mays and Mantle look set to continue on their path to world domination.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

Deep-divers can access our team page HERE.

Happy as I am with our progress, I still just feel we're a couple notches away from being ready to challenge. Brooky's letting-go of Ashburn is certainly to our benefit vis-a-vis closing the gap on them, but they remain the side to beat, no doubt in my mind.

We picked up both Johnny Groth and Sam Dente on option deals and Groth will actually be in our group on OD with Kiner out injured. We're keeping Lemon in the group for the experience although he won't see much action and will most likely be sent down once Ralph is ready to return.

Among the pitching, both King and Face are up, with King taking on the Stopper's role. Kellner gets one more crack at starting, with Gomez in the wings ready to go should he blow it.

[luckymann]

The first week of the 1954 season will rank with the worst in our franchise’s long and storied history. Completely out of the blue, with no ostensible explanation whatsoever. We are outscored 26-74 in eight games, with Friend's first two starts totalling 3 IP combined in which he gives up 14 ER.






Little to be done about it, just have to roll with the punches and try to get things back on track but this has rattled us. Have you ever seen anything like it?

[luckymann]

All-time leader is Walter Johnson with 162.6

[luckymann]

A big collective effort by the lads to get us back on track after that horror start, but you have to worry about the toll these exertions will take later in the year. At any rate, we enter June at 26-24 and just 3 GB the Dodgers in a tightly-bunched division.







A slow start from Kiner was one of the many reasons for our early woes, but he's looking better now. Sievers also underwhelming to this point, barely replacement value. Hopefully, all of this is upside from where we currently stand. Boone, on the other hand, has flown out of the gates to continue his excellent form from last year.



Our improved performance in May is most directly linked with better pitching. And yet, this area of our game is miles away from where we both want and need it to be. I find myself despairing that Bob Friend and Vern Law will never be much chop, with both struggling yet again. King and Stobbs have led the BP admirably, but others like Face, Miller and Gomez need to be more parsimonious by half.




A 21-9 May that includes a long win streak sets the Tribe up nicely and I think they are a real dark horse to replicate their historical counterparts this year. Both races look like they'll once again be impossible to look away from in the late part of the season.


Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

• Batter – Jim Greengrass (Athletics): 377 / 5 HR / 22 RBI
• Pitcher – Frank Sullivan (Red Sox): 4-0 / 2.53 / 22 K / 32 IP
• Rookie – Bill Skowron (Yankees): 418 / 3 HR / 9 RBI

National League

• Batter – Jim Gilliam (Dodgers): 391 / 1 HR / 13 RBI
• Pitcher – Saul Rogovin (Cubs): 3-1 / 2.18 / 17 K / 33 IP
• Rookie – Henry Aaron (Braves): 373 / 5 HR / 11 RBI

May

American League

• Batter – Ted Williams (Red Sox): 375 / 6 HR / 24 RBI
• Pitcher – Howie Pollet (Indians): 5-0 / 1.89 / 20 K / 47.2 IP
• Rookie – Bill Skowron (Yankees): 318 / 6 HR / 28 RBI

National League

• Batter – Ted Kluszewski (Redlegs): 449 / 9 HR / 30 RBI
• Pitcher – Johnny Podres (Pirates): 5-1 / 3.27 / 26 K / 41.1 IP
• Rookie – Henry Aaron (Braves): 372 / 3 HR / 17 RBI

News and Leaders






Milestones and Observations of Note

• The Senators lose OF Bob Addis and then George Strickland for the season, while Bobby Hofman of the Redlegs has his return from a fractured foot put back by 6 weeks.
• The White Sox lose one of their best, with Sherm Lollar done for the year after suffering a broken kneecap.
• It might be all over for Phillies hurler Marv Breuer, who at 40 will find it extremely difficult to come back from a UCL tear.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Most Seasons Between Stolen Bases

[CubMariner]

Nice turnaround from that start. Friend pitching to a 3.9 ERA after that awful start...it'll be interesting to see where he ends up at the end of the season

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by CubMariner

Nice turnaround from that start. Friend pitching to a 3.9 ERA after that awful start...it'll be interesting to see where he ends up at the end of the season

I think the Dodgers look beatable this year - the loss of Ashburn has hurt, especially so soon after letting Campy walk, and their main guys are getting older now. And, even though I think the Phils or Redlegs are better-positioned than us to fill the void, man was I bummed when when stumbled like that. But we seem to have survived it and may even be better for the experience - we shall see. There's a mini-window closing for us here because Kiner loses a step pretty soon and we'll be moving O'Connell and Burgess on next year as they finish TC and become too expensive. So I'd love us to give it a good run.

[luckymann]

We've got the coverage, but this is the last thing we needed at this point in time. If one were a superstitious man, one might feel this is not our year. Fortunately <rubs rabbit foot while crossing himself>, I'm not that way inclined <ritually sacrifices chicken in the classical manner>...

[luckymann]

The Cubbies might just be the under-appraised gem in the NL this year, with Ernie Banks the missing facet that has now made them shine. He's still raw and isn't rattling the fences just yet, but gives them a steadying presence at the pivot and shows what he's capable of in this outstanding performance against Brooky that, for now at least, puts the Baby Bears on top of the NL.

[luckymann]

Our AAA lads are having another strong year but here they find themselves on the wrong end of a no-hit gem by Syracuse's Carl Scheib.

Loving the blasé response by the recap writer, not even mentioning the feat.

[luckymann]

Man it is a real struggle, as it has been from the first pitch this year, with very little going right for us and a bunch of guys badly underperforming. This looks likes another dropped game behind another shocker by Bob Friend before we somehow manage to Hail Mary our way out of it with 8 in the 9th to win walkoff. Still, this is no way for a supposedly professional ballclub to be playing and one can only hope this has some sort of cathartic effect on the group to get them back in the game.

[luckymann]

Five from our group to get a run this year.




Stan Musial beats Duke Snider to win his first HR Derby, while Minnie Miñoso is named MVP for his role in the AL's 4-3 ASG victory.

[luckymann]

Only in this completely bizarre season would this happening not even seem the slightest bit out of the ordinary...