Worst to First - The Sequel

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by lotsofluck

This is a great idea for a dynasty. Good luck

Thank you! It takes a little getting used to switching teams just when you start to like them, but I'm having fun with it.

[NYY #23]

After going 19-8 for the month there really wasn't much else the Cardinals could have done. Unfortunately for us, the Braves went 15-8 and we were only able to make up 2 games in the standings.

Heading into the final few games, we have to win the rest of our games, and hope the Braves lose the rest of their games. Not likely, but I guess we can take a little comfort in our pythagorean records, which would put the Cards at 90-61, and the Braves at 88-61.

10/2 Update -

It didn't take long, but our 10-8 extra innings loss to the Reds ends our postseason chances.

[NYY #23]

Despite finishing in second place, we really didn't have a bad season. We scored the second most runs in the league, allowed the fewest, and had the best defensive efficiency.

Of course we finished second, but our pythagorean record was the best in the NL. The Braves went on to the World Series, losing to the Red Sox 4 games to2 in an all-Boston match-up.

The Cardinals regroup and look to 1913. I don't expect big changes in the offseason, because I think we are close.

In the amateur draft we selected Keith Hernandez with our first pick. 3B Ray Bates was our second pick. 2B Kevin Frandsen was our third pick, with reliever Fred Cambria fourth, and catcher Al Shaw fifth.

Around the league -

• Toad Ramsey of the Philadelphia Athletics was named Rookie of the Year going 14-24.
• Jim Whitney of the Reds won the NL Rookie of the Year after going 22-17 with a 3.13 ERA
• Dan Miceli won the AL Pitcher of the Year award by going 21-16 with a 2.13 ERA
• Ben Sanders of the Braves won the NL Pitcher of the Year by going 24-9 with a 2.63 ERA
• Jack Smith of the Red Sox won the Outstanding Hitter Award, hitting .324 with 3 home runs, 77 RBI, and 96 runs scored
• Cy Williams of the Braves won the Outstanding Hitter Award in the NL, hitting .363 with 14 home runs, 77 RBI, and 81 runs scored.
• Dick Allen, Rogers Hornsby, and Red Murray each collected their 2000th hit of their career this season.
• Bert Abbey of the New York Giants won his 200th game of his career.

St Louis Browns - 54-86 (.386) 28 GB
1902 - St. Louis Browns 69-71 (.493) 20 GB (Season Score - 35)
1903 - St. Louis Browns 69-71 (.493) 11 GB (Season Score - 36)
1904 - St. Louis Browns 89-65 (.578) - GB, Lost World Series 4-3 to Pittsburgh Pirates (Season Score - 94)
1905 - St. Louis Browns 88-66 (.571) - GB, Lost World Series 4-2 to Pittsburgh Pirates (Season Score - 78)
1906 - St. Louis Browns 85-69 (.552) 3 GB (Season Score - 41)
1907 - St. Louis Browns 81-73 (.526) 19 GB (Season Score - 5)
1908 - St. Louis Browns 94-60 (.610) - GB, Lost World Series 4-2 to Philadelphia Phillies (Season Score - 93)
1909 - St. Louis Browns 86-68 (.558) - GB, Lost World Series 4-1 to Boston Doves (Season Score - 57)
1910 - St. Louis Browns 97-57 (.630) - GB, Won World Series 4-3 over Pittsburgh Pirates (Season Score - 97)
St Louis Cardinals - 59-95 (.383) 29 GB
1911 - St. Louis Cardinals 85-69 (.552) 2 GB (Season Score - 40)
1912 - St. Louis Cardinals 89-65 (.578) 3 GB (Season Score - 34)

[scott1964]

Cy Williams is tearing up my league. Batting .340 with 14 HRs, 46 RBIs. He has more home runs than Babe Ruth.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by scott1964

Cy Williams is tearing up my league. Batting .340 with 14 HRs, 46 RBIs. He has more home runs than Babe Ruth.

He debuted about 8 years sooner in this random environment, so he may be robbed of that chance by the deadball era, but has been pretty impressive so far.

[NYY #23]

But before the season begins I wanted to talk about the offseason. With the addition of Keith Hernandez, I felt that it would be in my best interest to at least shop first baseman Billy Cowan around. There was quite a bit interest, and we found the best match with the Broooklyn Superbas.

We traded Billy Cowan and starting pitcher Arlie Pond, along with 2B Cesar Crespo while getting back starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw. I've long coveted Kershaw, who will turn 34 next season. He has had two straight losing seasons, finishing 15-19 and then 11-15, but to me it looks like that has more to do with Brooklyn than Kershaw. While his strikeouts are down, and opponents batting average is up, I think that he still can help the Cardinals.

But after a 10-10 start to the season, it hasn't worked out that way for Kershaw. His 1-3 record and 3.96 ERA have Cardinal's fans nervous. Keith Hernandez has been everything advertised so far, hitting .346 with a pair of home runs.

[NYY #23]

After going 18-10 for the month, the Cardinals moved within 1 game of the first place Braves. We lead the league in runs scored, are 2nd in runs allowed, and are best in defensive efficiency.

Despite Kershaw's early April struggles, he turned things around nicely in May, going 6-1 with a 1.94 ERA. Both Mookie Wilson and Keith Hernandez are playing really well right now, in their '86 Mets' reunion.

[NYY #23]

It seems like it's been a real long time since I've been in first place, so going 17-10 in June and ending the month in a first place tie feels good.

Another 6-1 month for Clayton Kershaw, this time with a 1.17 ERA. Kershaw was named NL Pitcher of the Month for his efforts.

The Cardinals ranked 3rd in the latest power rankings, behind the Braves and Reds.

One bit of 'Around the League' news - The Only Nolan picked up the 250th win of his career for the Detroit Tigers. Part of me really would like to trade for Nolan, but the realistic part of me knows better that I'm just being sentimental. I could get him real cheap though.

[NYY #23]

We finished the month with a 16-12 record, and now sit 2 1/2 games behind the Braves. It wouldn't even be that close without finishing the month with a 6 game winning streak, including two wins against the Braves.

We've got 5 games in August against the Braves, and Mookie Wilson should be back in a couple of weeks. I'm hoping that our hot end to the month continues into August.

[NYY #23]

On the field the Cardinals were 11-15, and we lost starting catcher William Fischer for the rest of the season, and at 36 years old we may have seen the last of Fischer starting for the Cards.

We do sit just 1 1/2 games back though, packed tightly with three other teams. We should be doing better though, with a good offense, good pitching, and good defense. In fact, by the pythagorean record we should be leading the league, but we've been unlucky (-4), while the Braves +3, Phillies +2, and Reds +1 have been lucky.

Against the three teams we are closest too, we have just three home games against the Phillies, and three home games against the Braves in September, and two home games against the Reds in October. Hopefully we've got strength of schedule going for us as we try to head to the World Series.

[NYY #23]

We headed into October with a 2 game lead over the Reds, with 2 games left, both against the Reds. Winning just one of the games would send us to the World Series.

Clayton Kershaw was on the mound for us, but it really didn't matter. Jim Whitney of the Reds held us to just two hits, and Kershaw didn't have his best stuff as we lost 7-0.

The final game of the year went well, until the 9th inning. We were clinging to a 1-0 lead, but the Reds scored three runs. The big blow was a two run triple by Ben Steiner.

The loss forces us into a one game playoff with the same Cincinnati Reds. We were 11-11 this season against the Cardinals.

I'm playing the percentages and skipping Vic Keen to have Sam Weaver get the start. He was 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA against the Reds, and 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA on the road. Here's hoping he can give me one more good start.

[NYY #23]

Our season came down to this game - win and advance to the World Series, lose and go home until 1914. How will year 3 turn out for the Cardinals?

Tom Walker took the mound for the Reds, while Sam Weaver was getting the ball for us. We put runners on first and third in the first, but couldn't capitalize. Weaver looked fabulous in the first inning, and the second.

The third inning was when my season fell apart. Seven straight singles plated 5 runs and sent Weaver to the showers. Kershaw was fabulous for four innings, but a UL Washington error led to 2 more unearned runs. We managed just 3 hits the entire game, two of which came in the first inning.

A 9-0 blowout to end our season. The Red Sox went on to their second straight World Series.

1 down, 29 to go:

St Louis Browns - 54-86 (.386) 28 GB
1902 - St. Louis Browns 69-71 (.493) 20 GB (Season Score - 35)
1903 - St. Louis Browns 69-71 (.493) 11 GB (Season Score - 36)
1904 - St. Louis Browns 89-65 (.578) - GB, Lost World Series 4-3 to Pittsburgh Pirates (Season Score - 94)
1905 - St. Louis Browns 88-66 (.571) - GB, Lost World Series 4-2 to Pittsburgh Pirates (Season Score - 78)
1906 - St. Louis Browns 85-69 (.552) 3 GB (Season Score - 41)
1907 - St. Louis Browns 81-73 (.526) 19 GB (Season Score - 5)
1908 - St. Louis Browns 94-60 (.610) - GB, Lost World Series 4-2 to Philadelphia Phillies (Season Score - 93)
1909 - St. Louis Browns 86-68 (.558) - GB, Lost World Series 4-1 to Boston Doves (Season Score - 57)
1910 - St. Louis Browns 97-57 (.630) - GB, Won World Series 4-3 over Pittsburgh Pirates (Season Score - 97)
St Louis Cardinals - 59-95 (.383) 29 GB
1911 - St. Louis Cardinals 85-69 (.552) 2 GB (Season Score - 40)
1912 - St. Louis Cardinals 89-65 (.578) 3 GB (Season Score - 34)
1913 - St. Louis Cardinals 89-66 (.574) 1 GB (Season Score - 53)

[NYY #23]

The Cardinals were drafting fourteenth in the amateur draft, and with our first pick in the draft we drafted BJ Upton out of high school. Lou Collier was drafted second, with catcher Ches Crist, outfielder Colin Curtis, and shortstop Jerry Gil rounding out the draft.

Clayton Kershaw, Keith Hernandez, Honus Wagner, and Barry Bonds all won Gold Gloves. Eddie Collins, Sr. was named Rookie of the Year in the AL, hitting .317 with 98 runs scored. Dick McBride of the Brooklyn Robins was both the Rookie of the Year and the Outstanding Pitcher award in the NL, going 24-13 with a 2.00 ERA, while holding opponents to a .244 average.

Red Sox ace Javier Vazquez won the Outstanding Pitcher Award, going 27-9 with a 2.59 ERA. Teammate Willie Davis hit .373 with 5 home runs, 122 RBI, and 98 runs scored to win the Outstanding Hitter Award. Jim Rice of the New York Giants captured the Outstanding Hitter Award in the NL, hitting .294 with 15 home runs and 85 RBI.

Willie Davis set a host of single season records, with his batting average (.373), VORP (66.9), hits (223), total bases (327), RBI (122), and WAR (9.5) setting new records. Jim Rice and his 15 home runs set the new home run mark.

Looking at the top 10 in career wins, I have connections to half of the pitchers.

1. The Only Nolan - 258 * Browns
2. Jack Stivetts - 252
3. Bobby Shantz - 241
4. Win Mercer - 239
5. Clayton Kershaw - 238 * Cardinals
6. Sam Weaver - 238 * Cardinals
7. JesseTannehill - 226
8. Arlie Pond - 217 * Cardinals
9. Bert Abbey - 208
10. Wes Ferrell - 206 * Browns

I still marvel at the 14th pitcher on the list, Dan Miceli of the Yankees, who now has 180 career wins. I guess I remember him best for his brief tenure with the Yankees when he didn't seem capable of getting anyone out in the bullpen. But he has turned into one of the better starters in the game.

What's missing from the season recap is anything to do with the Cardinals. We led the league in runs scored, gave up the second fewest runs, and led the league in defensive efficiency. Of course there is room for improvement, but it's hard to find a big place for improvement. So that means it should be a slow offseason, with minor tweaking.

[NYY #23]

We made one deal this offseason with the Cleveland Naps, sending minor league centerfielder Ray Bates to the Naps for minor league catcher Jason LaRue. We also sent minor league shortstop Alejandro Machado to the Washington Senators for backup catcher Eric Helfand.

Before the season even began I felt the wrath of Spring Training, as player after player started dropping with injuries. We've got 6 players currently on the DL, but the good part is we are playing well, and are just a 1/2 game out of first place. Of course, it's a long season, and it's real early. If our players keep dropping like flies it will be hard to keep up our good start.

[NYY #23]

After a 19-10 month, we've opened up a 2 1/2 game lead over the Phillies. Our pitching and defense is carrying us so far, as our offense is struggling with a host of injuries.

I think our offense will pick up though, although I have a couple of concerns now - catcher and UL Washington. He's taken a big hit in contact, and eye, and has dropped from a .310 batting average his rookie season to .250, to .157 this season.

[NYY #23]

The Washington Senators sent a trade proposal, offering 2B Willie Randolph and C Don McCormick in exchange for CF Don Bosch. I asked for veteran SP Jack Stivetts to be added to the deal, and I had to add back Doug Fister. I always get nervous trading youth for veterans, but it's time to go for it all with the Cardinals.

We did struggle slightly in June though with a 15-11 record. We still hold a 2 1/2 game lead in what looks like a two team race.

[scott1964]

One good thing, Dixie Walker is also a pitcher.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by scott1964

One good thing, Dixie Walker is also a pitcher.

I may have to check out how good his ratings are!

[NYY #23]

I've been waiting for a month like this for a long time. Our record for the month was 18-9 and we opened up an 8 1/2 game lead over the Phillies.

I'm hoping that we can keep up this pace, and finally head to the World Series with the Cardinals.

[NYY #23]

We had our first losing month of the season with a 12-14 record, and our lead fluctuated quite a bit all month, going as small as 4 games, but we finished the month with an 8 game lead.

We are now completely healthy, so it's time to put things away. Our magic number is now 24…

Russ Bauers was named the top pitcher for the month of August after going 4-0 with a 0.57 ERA.