The Whirled Baseball League

Baseball The Way It Never Was

TWIWBL 102.3: Year 3, Week 5 – Bill James Division

By

On October 15, 2026

In TWIWBL

TeamW/LPctGB
Memphis Red Sox20-11.645—
New York Black Yankees18-13.5812
Cleveland Spiders11-17.3937.5
Detroit Wolverines11-20.3559
Baltimore Black Sox8-22.26711.5
Bill James Division | 6 May

Baltimore Black Sox

John Tudor is back from the disabled list, with Mike Mussina heading to AAA after an unimpressive brief return to the WBL.

Cleveland Spiders

Tris Speaker hit 2 solo homeruns in a 4-3 loss to Los Angeles.

Louis Santop is out about a week, and Tucker Barnhart has been recalled from Buffalo. With 37 year old Ed Bailey and John Ellis likely to get most of the starts behind the plate, Cleveland opted for a defensive backstop as the recall.

Willie McCovey hit 2 solo homeruns, the second a game winner, giving Stretch 6 on the year. Aroldis Chapman — who spent April turning leads into wild adventures — struck out the side in the 9th for his first save.

Detroit Wolverines

Sid Fernandez moves into the rotation, replacing the 0-5 Pete Conway, who goes to long relief (with his bat and legs likely to get some use on the side as well). Fernandez has earned the opportunity with a strong start to the season.

Connie Johnson had struck out 10, but ended up without a decision in a 3-1 win over Miami.

In his first start Fernandez struck out 16 Spiders over 6.2 innings, walking one. The 16 whiffs set a league record–which is a bit shocking if you think about it–and even though the Wolverines lost the game, they have to be pleased with what looks like a solid surprise starter.

Wander Franco‘s rehab assignment ended without a recall. Damion Easley has held the flex-infield seat since Franco went down in the first week and keeps it; Franco stays at AAA.

Memphis Red Sox

Ted Williams hit 2 solo homeruns off Walter Johnson — one in the 1st, one in the 3rd — in a 4-1 win over Portland, in support of Don Drysdale, who struck out 9 over 7 innings.

The next day, Tom Seaver, Jon Lester, Rollie Fingers and Andrew Miller combined on a 5-hit shutout in a 1-0 win over the Sea Dogs.

Rick Wilkins went 4-for-5 with a homerun and 2 doubles in a 10-6 win at Baltimore. Andrew Benintendi hit his first of the year and Williams his 15th as part of a 17-hit barrage.

New York Black Yankees

Ron Guidry struck out 12 over 7 innings against San Francisco, but it took 12 innings for the Black Yankees to win the game on a single by Thurman Munson, driving in Ed Charles.

The next afternoon Gaylord Perry and Hoyt Wilhelm combined on a 5-hit shutout, as New York topped the Sea Lions once more, this time 4-0.

Tony Brizzolara struck out 7 in 5 innings, Tony Mullane got the win in relief, Rhéal Cormier got his 2nd hold, and Goose Gossage closed it out as the 4 New York pitchers combined on a 4 hit shutout against Chicago for a 3-0 win in the first game of a doubleheader.

In the nightcap, Rogers Hornsby hit 2 homeruns, Babe Ruth and Don Mattingly added longballs of their own, Joe Sewell reached five times, and Lou Gehrig singled home the winner in the 10th in a 12-11 win for the Black Yankees.

TWIWBL 102.2: Year 3, Week 5 – Spotlight on the Portland Sea Dogs

By

On October 14, 2026

In TWIWBL

{Each week, we pick one club at random and give them a bit more depth–how they thought the season would go, how it’s going, and what the future might hold.}

After making the playoffs in 2000, Portland lost 91 games last year. They are 16-15 right now, in second place, and are a little puzzled by it all.

PORWBL rank2001 rank
Batting average.24111th18th
On-base.30414th17th
Slugging.40315th20th
OPS.70814th19th
Runs scored13811th19th
Homeruns3614th18th
ERA3.906th9th
WHIP1.237th16th
Strikeouts per 910.302nd11th
Walks per 93.4014th17th
Homeruns per 91.138th5th
Portland Sea Dogs | 6 May

#How We Thought it Would Go

The season preview was blunt about it: “Nobody in Portland is selling 2002 as a contention year, but getting back on track is the highest priority for the organization.” The club had sold every veteran they could, and had decided 2002 was a year to allow an extraordinary–and extraordinarily young–rotation (a 20-year-old, two 21-year-olds and a 26-year-old) to develop.

#How It’s Going

Second in the Cum Posey, 2.5 games out, 138 runs scored and 123 allowed. Not bad.

The pitching has done more than just arrive ahead of schedule — Portland strikes out more men per nine innings than every club in the WBL except one, after ranking 11th at that last season.

That needs a caveat: the league ERA has fallen from 5.38 to about 4.19, so a staff ERA of 3.90 against last year’s 5.33 is mostly the league coming back to earth. Griffith Stadium is also a harder place to score in than it was a year ago. The rank is the signal — 9th to 6th in ERA, 16th to 7th in WHIP, and 11th to 2nd in strikeouts. That last one is not a park effect.

Can this rotation stay together? So far, yes. All five starters have taken every turn. Walter Johnson is pitching like the best arm in the league: 42.1 innings, a 2.76 ERA, and 64 strikeouts to share the league lead. And his control has come around, with only 13 walks allowed. Joseíto Muñoz is 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA, and Bert Blyleven, despite an 0-3 record, is sporting a 2.70 ERA.

Not all is great on the mound (remember, the Sea Dogs are hovering around .500). Walter Ball, Portland’s Pitcher of the Year last year, is struggling with his control and has an ERA over 6.00 and Jake Peavy, given a rotation spot despite a limited resume, isn’t doing much better.

Does Griffey learn the strike zone? The early answer is a cautious yes. Ken Griffey Jr is walking in 8.3% of his trips, up from 4.5% last season, and is hitting (287/342/491) with 4 homeruns. The strikeouts haven’t moved. One month is one month, but it is the first month of his career that the walk rate has looked more acceptable than not.

Who gets the ball in the 9th? Right now, Jack Billingham does. Billingham has 7 saves. There remain calls for Johan Santana to return to his closer role, but Portland seems set on seeing if the young lefty can make the transition to a starter. Santana currently has a 1.06 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 17 innings, clearly showing a full return from last season’s injury.

#The Crystal Ball

The rotation seems to be delivering on its promise.

The more challenging question is the offense. Five men with 50 or more trips to the plate are hitting under .220, and the fixes available are all 26-to-32-year-olds at Seattle having good months — useful, but not what a rebuild is for.

Portland is 11th in average and 14th in on-base, and the lineup is carried by Bobby Murcer (297/351/446) — graded the worst regular on the roster coming in — plus Griffey and Paul Molitor (261/300/479, 6 homeruns).

#Buy or Sell?

Who knows? It’s May. The Sea Dogs did sell last year, so they don’t really have veteran talent to move this year. But by midseason some of their depth questions might have clarified to the point they can be answered.

#Stories

Shortstop

The preview called it “Hughie Jennings and Clayton and hope.” Through a month: Hughie Jennings is at (183/206/233) in 63 plate appearances and Royce Clayton at (149/184/319) in 51. 114 PA between them and 19 hits.

So I guess there’s hope.

The DH Problem

Gil Hodges hit 38 homeruns in 2001 and was worth −1.4 wins doing it; he is now at (185/228/222) in 57 plate appearances. Kent Hrbek is doing a little better than that, but at least Hrbek has some pedigree to fall back on. Still, patience with Hodges may be wearing thin, and there are some intriguing bats in the minors that may get a look sooner rather than later.

Right Field, Three Ways

Chuck Klein has 5 homeruns, but only a .192 average. Bobby Abreu has been … fine … and then there is Murcer, who seems to have recaptured his form. Klein’s power continues to intrigue, but the OF feels like it is still in its exploratory phase.

The Big Train, Both Ways

Walter Johnson is hitting (333/379/778) with 3 homeruns in 29 plate appearances, mostly from hitting when he starts. 29 PAs decide nothing, but it’s easily the most fun line on the roster.

#Down on the Farm

The system is thin, but there are some names worth tracking.

Hugh Duffy (RF, 21, AAA): 373/413/508 in 63 plate appearances at Seattle, with 3 steals. The preview named him the organization’s best raw power in the minors; he is now also its best performer and, given the discussion of the OF above … may be the next man up.

Vladimir Guerrero (RF, 21, AA): 143/200/286 in 55 plate appearances at Vancouver. Stalled, but only 21.

Brant Alyea (LF, 29, AA): 333/390/710 with 8 homeruns in 77 plate appearances. Loud, but he’s 29 and at AA, which muffles quite a bit.

Not much on the mound. Shaun Marcum (P, 25, AAA): 3.70 in 41.1 innings with 32 strikeouts, the closest thing to a sixth starter. Bill Dietrich (P, 26, A): 2.18 in 33 innings. Tom Glavine (P, 20, A-ball) has thrown 13 innings.

Jack Fournier (1B, 16, A-ball): 225/262/375 in 42 plate appearances. He is sixteen, and playing. That by itself is a confirmation of potential.

#One Number

13.6. Walter Johnson’s strikeouts per nine innings, against 7.6 last season and 7.0 the year before. Whatever Portland thought it had in him, this is even better.

TWIWBL 102.1: Year 3, Week 5 – One Month In!

By

On October 13, 2026

In TWIWBL

6 May, 2002

And we enter the second month of the season! Whoo Hoo!

Which means we have monthly awards for the first time, and we have our first review of the early standings.

#Awards

Miami‘s Robin Yount is the AL Player of the Week, hitting .450 with 2 homeruns, 6 runs and 5 RBI, and slugging an even 1.000. Yount is up to .283 with 6 homeruns and 12 doubles on the year.

The NL Player of the Week goes to Grant Johnson of the New York Gothams for the second week running: Johnson hit .409 with 3 homeruns, 3 doubles and 7 RBI while slugging .955. Overall, he’s hitting .379 with 9 homeruns and a league-leading 15 doubles.

In the minors: Freddie Lindstrom (Chicago American Giants) took the award at AAA Milwaukee, where the 21-year-old third baseman is hitting .306 with 7 homeruns, making his early demotion seem a bit of a mistake in judgement by the American Giants; Raúl Mondesi (Wandering House of David) won at AA Albuquerque, and Al López (Brooklyn) at A-ball Albany, where the 33-year-old catcher is hitting .426.

#April Awards

The first month is in the books, and one name on the list is no surprise at all.

Ted Williams (Memphis) is the AL Batter of the Month, having hit .437 with 14 homeruns, 30 runs and 34 RBI in April while slugging an even 1.000. Grant Johnson takes the NL award–not a surprise given the above.

Waite Hoyt (Chicago) is the AL Pitcher of the Month, going 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 36.2 innings. For a team whose primary weakness was dependable starting pitching, the acquisition of Hoyt sure looks like good work for Chicago.

Over in the NL, the Pitcher of the Month goes to one of Johnson’s teammates on the Gothams, Christy Mathewson. Seemingly returning to his 2000 form, Matty has started the season perfectly, going 6-0 with a 2.27 ERA.

Whitey Ford (New York Black Yankees) went 3-2 with a 2.25 ERA in April, earning the AL Rookie of the Month Award, and in the NL, Philadelphia‘s Harmon Killebrew is the Rookie of the Month, despite only hitting .255. 9 homeruns in a calendar month will do that.

The minors have their own monthly awards too, of course.

At AAA, Roger Maris of the New York Black Yankees was the Batter of the Month, hitting .418 with 11 homeruns at Newark, and Mike Scott (Los Angeles) won the Pitcher of the Month, going 4-1 with a 1.98 ERA. Cody Bellinger (Wandering House of David) hit .404 at AA Albuquerque and Hugh Mulcahy (Homestead) went 3-0 with a 1.93 at AA Syracuse. At A-ball, John Bass (Philadelphia) hit 10 homeruns and Fred Gladding (Indianapolis) allowed only 2 earned runs in 15.1 innings, as they took home the monthly honors.

#Team Performance

I know it’s early. You know it’s early. Still, it is May. And that’s no longer April, right?

The best records in the WBL belong to two surprise teams: Memphis leads the Bill James Division and Philadelphia tops the Effa Manley, each with a 20-11 record–that’s a .645 clip.

Ottawa (a game behind Philadelphia) and Chicago (leading the Cum Posey Division) are the only other teams playing over .600 ball.

The Baltimore Black Sox sit at the other end of the scale, already 11.5 games out in the Bill James Division, sitting at 8-22. But they aren’t the only major disappointments: both Birmingham and Indianapolis are only winning at a .333 clip (10-20).

Full standings are at the top of each divisional page for the curious.

#Player Performance

Five weeks in, qualifying is 3.1 plate appearances or 1 inning per team game — about 96 PA and 31 innings.

Some early season streaks of note: The Gothams’ Grant Johnson has a 15 game hitting streak going and Memphis’ Ted Williams has reached base in 30 straight. On the mound, Chicago’s Joel Horlen hasn’t allowed a run in 23 innings and Kansas City’s Smokey Joe Wood in 14.

#Batters

Ted Williams is still the story, and it is getting harder to describe without sounding like an advertisement: he leads the WBL in batting average, on-base, slugging, homeruns, runs, RBI, walks and WAR, outright. That only leaves 2B, 3B, and SB for others.

This list should reduce a little over time, but it’s got some decent WBL storylines in it–the resurgence of a healthy Pete Browning, Rico Carty‘s deal with the devil to combat his age, Cool Papa Bell giving Rickey Henderson some competition for the SB crown, etc.

But it’s really all about The Splendid Splinter for now.

Ernie Banks (HOD). .225/.299/.549. 9 HR, 27 RBI.
Cool Papa Bell (KAN). .204/.295/.280. 10 SB.
Dan Brouthers (BRK). .369/.416/.612. 11 2B.
Pete Browning (HOD). .331/.389/.508. 10 2B, 9 SB.
Rico Carty (PHI). .374/.442/.670.
Oscar Charleston (IND). .300/.341/.642. 12 HR, 29 RBI, 1.9 WAR.
Roberto Clemente (HOM). .372/.413/.698. 7 HR.
Ty Cobb (DET). .345/.390/.708. 10 HR, 2.0 WAR.
Eric Davis (NYY). .260/.353/.452. 8 SB.
Lou Gehrig (NYY). .288/.373/.635. 25 RBI.
Hank Greenberg (DET). .272/.348/.476. 4 3B.
Bobby Grich (BBB). .202/.362/.279. 22 BB.
Rickey Henderson (SFS). .229/.333/.365. 9 SB.
Grant Johnson (NYG). .379/.402/.741. 9 HR, 15 2B, 1.6 WAR.
Harmon Killebrew (PHI). .275/.325/.569. 10 HR.
Willie Mays (NYG). .289/.344/.588. 25 R.
Joe Morgan (IND). .253/.405/.374. 23 BB.
Jackie Robinson (BRK). .336/.381/.509. 14 2B.
Babe Ruth (NYY). .232/.387/.611. 11 HR, 21 BB.
Chino Smith (CAG). .292/.324/.736. 13 HR, 30 R, 32 RBI.
Mike Trout (LAA). .300/.349/.567. 12 2B.
Ted Williams (MEM). .419/.533/.914. 15 HR, 33 R, 39 RBI, 27 BB, 2.7 WAR.

#Pitchers

#Starters

There’s nowhere near the single person dominance on the mound–early days, of course, but it looks like we may have some good years on the mound coming.

Brett Anderson (HOD). 4-2, 2.84.
Steve Carlton (PHI). 4-1, 2.56. 41 K.
Don Drysdale (MEM). 2-1, 2.48. 49 K.
Bob Feller (CLE). 1-4, 4.58. 52 K.
Whitey Ford (NYY). 3-2, 3.19. 2.94 FIP.
Ned Garvin (BAL). 1-2, 4.10. 50 K, .208 BABIP.
Lefty Gomez (BBB). 2-4, 2.82. 2.30 FIP.
Dwight Gooden (LAA). 2-2, 4.30. 1.96 FIP, 1.7 WAR.
Lefty Grove (SFS). 3-1, 3.47. 62 K.
Waite Hoyt (CAG). 4-1, 2.52. 42 K, 2.60 FIP.
Walter Johnson (POR). 3-3, 2.76. 64 K, 2.66 FIP.
Christy Mathewson (NYG). 6-0, 2.74. 64 K, 49.1 IP.
José Méndez (MCG). 3-2, 2.57. 0.93 WHIP.
Joseíto Muñoz (POR). 2-0, 2.55. 46 K, 2.48 FIP.
David Price (HOM). 2-1, 2.90. 0.94 WHIP.
Charles Radbourn (OTT). 3-1, 1.57. 2.28 FIP, 1.5 WAR.
Toad Ramsey (HOU). 2-3, 3.24. 50 K, 2.53 FIP, 1.5 WAR.
Tom Seaver (MEM). 2-1, 1.59.
J.M. Ward (PHI). 4-2, 3.51. .213 BABIP.
Jim Whitney (MCG). 1-1, 3.40. 54 K, 0.86 WHIP.
Smokey Joe Wood (KAN). 3-0, 2.23. 47 K, 0.69 WHIP, 2.31 FIP.

#Relievers

Rate stats still want another week or two. The saves and holds:

Rod Beck (SFS). 1-2, 4.09. 7 Sv.
Dellin Betances (HOD). 2 Sv, 4 Hld.
Jack Billingham (POR). 3.60. 7 Sv.
Chad Bradford (DET). 2-2, 3.68. 5 Hld.
Jeurys Familia (LAA). 3.21. 5 Hld.
Eric Gagné (BRK). 0.75. 8 Sv.
Andrew Miller (MEM). 1.26. 6 Sv.
Jonathan Papelbon (MCG). 3.27. 7 Sv.
Eustaquio Pedroso (MCG). 4.87. 4 Hld.
Vito Tamulis (NYG). 3.38. 6 Hld.
Kent Tekulve (NYG). 2-0, 4.76. 5 Hld.
Brian Wilson (NYG). 1.74. 9 Sv.

Note that the Gothams may be back on track in their quest to rebuild their bullpen.

Two arms have yet to allow a run at all: Birmingham’s Kerry Ligtenberg over 16.1 innings, with 21 strikeouts and 4 hits allowed, and Chicago’s Joe Horlen over 20.2.

#Hardest Shots

Birmingham’s Eddie Mathews hit the hardest ball of the season so far, a 126 mph solo homerun. Mathews doesn’t hit many balls, but at least that one was a freaking rocket. Cleveland‘s Ed Bailey and Birmingham’s Bobby Grich also hit balls over 120 mph.

The hardest out belonged to a pitcher: Jim Whitney (Miami) flew out to center at 118 mph.

#Injuries

Houston‘s outfield took another hit–with Tony Gwynn already sidelined, the eternally underappreciated Jim Wynn will miss 2-3 weeks.

Frank Grant of the San Francisco Sea Lions is out a couple weeks and some other important names (Ottawa’s Gary Peters, Cleveland’s Louis Santop, Kansas City‘s Rube Foster, and Homestead’s Ricardo Rincón) will each miss about a week.

TWIWBL 101.6: Year 3, Week 4 – Marvin Miller Division

By

On September 22, 2026

In TWIWBL

TeamW/LPctGB
Wandering House of David16-10.615—
Houston Colt .45’s15-11.5771
Kansas City Monarchs14-12.5382
Birmingham Black Barons8-17.3207.5
Indianapolis ABC’s7-18.2808.5
Marvin Miller Division | 29 April

Birmingham Black Barons

Melky Cabrera was hit by a pitch 3 times in the same game, a 3-2 loss to Chicago, for a somewhat minor statistical oddity.

Jess Barbour is out about a week, not long after being recalled. Birmingham had already lost Asdrúbal Cabrera, the everyday shortstop, so the middle infield is down to Bobby Grich and Dick Groat with Tommy Davis as the spot cover. The once-prized Cupid Childs was recalled.

Bruce Chen has begun a rehab assignment.

Lefty Gomez struck out 12 in 6 innings at the House of David and lost 3-2. He is 2-4 with a 2.78 ERA, which is the shape of a man getting no run support.

Kerry Ligtenberg is quietly having about as good a start as any reliever in the league: 14.2 scoreless innings, 4 hits, 19 strikeouts, and a 0.61 WHIP. He came into the year with no WBL track at all, having only 24 rookie-ball innings under his belt, so this performance is quite a pleasant surprise for the Black Barons.

Eddie Mathews hit 2 homeruns the next day and Birmingham lost that one too, 9-6, with 3 errors behind a 12-hit attack. That is Mathews’ 2nd multi-homer game in a fortnight, but he still struggles in most of his at bats, with a batting average hovering around .200.

Indianapolis ABC’s

Luis Padrón struck out 11 and walked 1 against Homestead and lost anyway–marking just how much of a difference a year can make. Last year, that sentence would be followed by glory; in 2002, Padrón gives up only 6 hits, but 4 of them leave the yard, and the ABC’s lose the game, 5-4. The best pitcher in the league last year sits at 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA.

Kansas City Monarchs

Smokey Joe Wood struck out 10 and homered in the same game, a 3-2 win over Los Angeles in 10 innings — 8 innings of 4-hit ball and his 1st homerun of the year. Cool Papa Bell won the game with an RBI double in the 10th.

Bob Shawkey struck out 11 in 6 innings in another 1-run win over Los Angeles, this one 4-3.

Wandering House of David

Mark McGwire will get most of the DH role vacated by John Beckwith‘s injury. This will be the 3rd chance for McGwire to show that his legendary batting practice performances can transfer into everyday production at the WBL level. The House of David has 3 bodies for the 1B/DH group even with Beckwith out (McGwire, Anthony Rizzo, and Cap Anson), so we’ll see how long McGwire’s leash is.

He answered almost immediately: 2 homeruns and 5 RBI in a 12-3 rout of San Francisco, doubling his season total to 4. Could this be the year for Big Mac?

Beckwith has begun his rehab assignment, so the whole thing may become a roster construction question sooner than expected.

TWIWBL 101.5: Year 3, Week 4 – Effa Manley Division

By

On September 21, 2026

In TWIWBL

TeamW/LPctGB
Ottawa Mounties16-8.667—
Philadelphia Stars16-10.6151
Homestead Grays13-11.5423
New York Gothams13-11.5423
Brooklyn Royal Giants13-12.5203.5
Effa Manley Division | 29 April

Brooklyn Royal Giants

A 12-run fifth inning carried Brooklyn past Baltimore 18-6. The game was tied 4-4 when the inning started and it was 16-4 when it ended: Brooklyn scored 12 runs on 11 hits in the frame. In that game, Dan Brouthers went 5-for-6 with a homerun and 2 doubles and Roy White reached 5 times and scored 4 runs.

Ron Cey hit 2 homeruns and drove in 5 in the second game of a doubleheader, an 8-6 win over Philadelphia. Smokey Joe Williams struck out 12 in the game, but gave up all 6 runs (3 of them on homeruns, which are plaguing the young right-hander). Williams was 2-for-4 with a double as the DH, and did manage to get the victory, thanks to Cey’s heroics.

Homestead Grays

Andrew McCutchen hit 2 homeruns and drove in 3 against San Francisco in a game the Grays took 10 innings to win, 5-3.

New York Gothams

Christy Mathewson struck out 10 in 6 innings to beat Detroit 3-2 at the Polo Grounds, which was (foreshadowing here) his 4th win without a loss. The next day, HR Johnson hit 2 homeruns and drove in 5 in a 9-8 win over the Wolverines.

Don Buford hit 2 homeruns and a double the next afternoon in a 6-2 win over Baltimore. Mathewson took that one too, moving to 5-0.

Dave Righetti is out about 2 weeks. This may hurt, as Righetti posted a 2.84 ERA over his 4 starts, making an argument that he was more than a throw-in in the Gaylord Perry for HR Johnson trade. Vic Raschi was recalled to cover it.

Ottawa Mounties

Charles Radbourn threw a 2-hit shutout of Cleveland, for a game score of 87. The 2-0 win improved Radbourn’s record to 2-0 with a microscopic 1.38 ERA.

Dupee Shaw has begun a rehab assignment.

Philadelphia Stars

The injuries keep being the news in Philadelphia, with a couple big ones.

Charles Rogan is out about 2 weeks–a massive loss, but it is only 2 weeks. Obviously, nobody replaces both halves of Rogan, with the Stars opting to recall an arm in the form of John Burkett.

Closer Bob Howry is being shut down for about a month after a rocky start. Mark Melancon becomes the Stars’ closer, although expect Philadelphia to use Ryan Madson in that role as well.

But wait, there’s more: Ted Kennedy, recalled only a few days prior, hits the DL for a week and Bill Gatewood is out for a little more than that. All of this results in, in addition to Burkett, John Clarkson and Tommy Hunter being recalled.

On the other side of the seesaw, Jack Kralick has begun a rehab assignment.

Steve Carlton threw a complete game against the Black Yankees, holding them to a single run and striking out 11 for a game score of 84. With the 6-1 victory, Carlton improves to 4-1 with a 2.01 ERA.

TWIWBL 101.4: Year 3, Week 4 – Cum Posey Division

By

On September 20, 2026

In TWIWBL

TeamW/LPctGB
Chicago American Giants16-9.640—
Los Angeles Angels14-12.5382.5
Portland Sea Dogs14-12.5382.5
San Francisco Sea Lions14-12.5382.5
Miami Cuban Giants11-15.4235.5
Cum Posey Division | 29 April

Chicago American Giants

Jake Stenzel has started a rehab assignment. It was thought that Stenzel could have a crucial role to play for Chicago– Cristóbal Torriente‘s torrid start makes that seem less likely.

Wilbur Wood was sent to AAA, making room for Raisel Iglesias in a middle relief role.

Waite Hoyt carried a 1-hitter into the 9th at Birmingham and finished with a 2-0 combined 3-hitter. The game was scoreless through 8 — Chicago scored both runs in the top of the 9th — and Hoyt went back out and gave up 2 singles before A. J. Minter got the last out. Hoyt struck out 12 for a game score of 89, and is 3-1 with a 2.64 ERA: everything the American Giants could have hoped for in his arrival from the Black Yankees late last season.

Los Angeles Angels

Dwight Evans is on the disabled list, which leaves Los Angeles with no cover in CF, prompting the choice of Brian Giles being recalled as the fourth outfielder during Evans’ absence.

Carlos Delgado hit 2 homeruns and drove in 4 in a 6-3 win over Portland.

Miami Cuban Giants

José Méndez went the distance in a 4-1 win at Indianapolis, allowing 4 hits and no walks with 9 strikeouts for a game score of 84. Méndez is 2-2 with a 2.48 ERA–so he’s doing his job out there, but not getting a ton of support.

Robin Yount doubled 3 times in a 4-2 win at Cleveland on Sunday, giving him 11 on the season.

Julio Rodríguez has begun a rehab assignment, the first firm sign of a return date for the budding star CF.

Phenomenal Smith has been … well, less than that. Miami has moved Smith to the pen, with Cole Hamels sliding into the back of the rotation.

San Francisco Sea Lions

Watty Clark and Joe Nathan combined on a 3-hit shutout of the House of David, with San Francisco winning 2-0. Clark went 7.2 innings with 8 strikeouts and Nathan retired the last 4 for his 1st save.

TWIWBL 101.3: Year 3, Week 4 – Bill James Division

By

On September 19, 2026

In TWIWBL

TeamW/LPctGB
Memphis Red Sox15-10.600—
New York Black Yankees13-13.5002.5
Detroit Wolverines10-16.3855.5
Cleveland Spiders7-16.3047
Baltimore Black Sox7-17.2927.5
Bill James Division | 29 April

Baltimore Black Sox

Miller Huggins hit 2 homeruns in a 9-4 loss to the Gothams, his first 2 bleacher shots of the season.

Cleveland Spiders

Pat Malone and Firpo Marberry have both begun rehab assignments, which makes 3 Cleveland arms working their way back from injury simultaneously, with closer Terry Adams having started his last week. The stints were short-lived for Adams and Malone, who were recalled during the week, with Chuck Porter and Andrew Bailey optioned to Buffalo to make room. A decision on Marberry will come next week.

Adams slid back into the closer spot, much to the relief of Spiders’ fans, who were getting tired of Aroldis Chapman throwing gasoline on fires he was expected to put out. Malone looked like he had never been away, striking out 12 in his first start back. He didn’t get a decision, but Adams did get the save in the eventual 3-2 Cleveland win.

Detroit Wolverines

As evinced by his AL Player of the Week Award, it was quite a week for Al Kaline: 3 doubles in one game, and then 2 homeruns in another.

Jack F Wilson is out a week or two, with Felipe Vázquez being recalled.

Memphis Red Sox

Len Barker is on the DL, costing Memphis their end of rotation arm. Dean Chance was recalled once more, as the Red Sox reach for the same reserves in 2002 that have let them down in prior years–can Nixey Callahan or Eddie Cicotte be far behind?

New York Black Yankees

Babe Ruth hit 2 homeruns in a wild 7-5 win in 10 innings at Philadelphia. Ruth opened the game with a dinger in the 1st, then led off the 10th with his second. The Babe did it again 4 days later hitting a pair and driving in 4 in a 6-2 win at Baltimore. Ruth was off to a somewhat slow start, but finished the week with 9 homeruns, nearing his customary spot towards the top of those leaderboards.

Whitey Ford threw a 1-hitter at Baltimore, with the Black Yankees winning 4-0. Ford was masterful over the 9 innings allowing no walks and striking out 5. That comes out to a game score of 90, the best in the WBL to date this year. Ford is 3-2 with a 2.25 ERA, and is surpassing all expectations in New York.

TWIWBL 101.2: Year 3, Week 4 – Spotlight on The Brooklyn Royal Giants

By

On September 18, 2026

In TWIWBL

{Each week, we pick one club at random and give them a bit more depth–how they thought the season would go, how it’s going, and what the future might hold. In a nice bit of luck, defending champion Brooklyn is up first.}

The defending champions are 13–12, sitting fifth in the Effa Manley Division but only 3.5 games behind Ottawa. They have scored 124 runs and allowed 117.

BRKWBL rank
————
Batting average.2604th5th
On-base.3235th15th
Slugging.4339th5th
OPS.7567th10th
Runs scored1248th10th
Homeruns3113th4th
ERA4.3812th2nd
WHIP1.258th1st
Strikeouts per 99.65th6th
Walks per 93.616th7th
Homeruns per 91.6416th3rd
Brooklyn Royal Giants | 29 April

Such a hard league. The offense has improved, even with some significantly poor performances from key people. But the pitching … yeah, they’re still striking people out, but that’s about it when compared to last season.

#How We Thought it Would Go

Brooklyn’s season preview called the job “not to defend a title, but to turn a surprise into a dynasty.” A decent summary: Brooklyn was lightly regarded going into 2001; 2002 sees them wearing Whirled Series rings.

They did not stay still, with pouting ace Don Drysdale and continual surprise John Briggs being the biggest names sent on their way, while Mookie Betts is the most significant new addition to the lineup.

With Drysdale gone, they are betting big on the trio of Orel Hershiser, Fernando Valenzuela, and, perhaps especially, Smokey Joe Williams to provide a rotation core, and for the bullpen to continue to dominate. There is also pressure on Duke Snider to justify Briggs’ departure, and general concern over offensive regression–especially Mike Piazza and Ron Cey have to land closer to their 2001 levels than what they did in 2000.

#How It’s Going

It’s … OK. Not great, but not an implosion for sure; or, at least, not yet. Here are the current answers to the questions asked in the season preview:

  • Can the rotation hold? Maybe? The peripherals are good, but the staff has caught a case of homeritis: young Dick Redding has given up 3 per 9 innings, Williams 2.7, and, of the starters, only Hershiser (1-2, 3.74) is doing a decent job of keeping the ball in the park. Still, WHIPs are solid across the board, and 5 starts isn’t enough to get too concerned about. But the overall ERA is high enough for there being some rumbles of complaint.

It doesn’t help that Drysdale is doing very well for Memphis (a 2.82 ERA with 12.9 strikeouts per 9).

  • How much of Duke Snider is real? This is a concern. Snider is slashing 202/253/404 with 4 homeruns and 30 strikeouts in 95 plate appearances. That’s … not great.
  • Where does the Whirled Series MVP play? The answer might be AAA. Ray Dandridge has 45 plate appearances as the roving infielder and is slashing 162/244/297. The plan was to find him a near-everyday load without a fixed position; now, he’s struggling to find time anywhere.

That all sounds pretty dire, but the Royal Giants are being carried by the core of Jackie Robinson (323/368/515), Roy White (303/402/487), and Dan Brouthers (337/398/584), with Vern Stephens (270/316/483, 17 RBI) continuing to mash at SS.

In the bullpen, Terry Forster (11.57 in 7 innings) has struggled and Trevor Hildenberger is just recently returned from injury, but Darren Dreifort (1.10 in 16.1) and Ralph Branca (2-1, 3.86) have made up for it, and Eric Gagné (1.00, 5 saves, 16 strikeouts per 9) continues to be a truly elite closer.

The concern is really that Betts (205/261/301)–the return for Drysdale–is struggling mightily, Piazza (257/288/405) has regressed, and Brooklyn’s best player last season, Cey (198/275/383, 24 strikeouts in 91 PA), is yet to really find his bearings.

#The Crystal Ball

Nobody is reaching for the panic button. But …

The focus is on the offense–there is enough signal that the pitching will stabilize. But if the team isn’t able to find more runs in May, look for Dandridge’s time to continue to be reduced, and George Hendrick (200/256/225) to get some of Beals Becker‘s PAs as the team tries to find something new.

#Buy or Sell?

Who knows? The team is committed to contending this year, but not willing to break the bank: they passed on FA Sudden Sam McDowell due to the size of contract he demanded. It was an understandable move, but it also points to Brooklyn not being willing to do anything to improve their chances.

#Stories

CF

The door is open. Snider is at .202 with a strikeout every third trip, and the obvious tactical fallback — sit him against lefties, slide Betts to center, Hendrick to right — isn’t really on the table with Hendrick hitting .200 and Betts .205. The three men who can play center for Brooklyn are hitting a combined .203 with 7 homers. Al Simmons, 21, is hitting .340 at AA and plays all three outfield spots. He may not wait.

Going Gentile Into the Night

Jim Gentile came up to cover Pedro Guerrero and is 5-for-8. Ten plate appearances is nothing — but the DH slot was supposed to be a rotation built on Becker (195/298/341 in 47 PA) and Guerrero. Guerrero started the year very hot, but is on the disabled list. Gentile is a left-handed power bat, not the best fit for Ebbets Field. Still, if he keeps hitting, he’s a DH even after Guerrero’s return.

The Staff

Redding (0-1, 5.57) was the question coming into the year, but Valenzuela (1-1, 5.16) has struggled and those two, along with Smokey Joe (2-1, 5.13), all sport an ERA over 5.00. All 3 are also averaging more than a strikeout per inning, so it’s not clear this is anything more than noise.

The Royal Giants would be in much worse shape if Dutch Leonard (3-0, 3.71) hadn’t shown up somewhat surprisingly.

#Down on the Farm

The preview called this “the best farm system in baseball — it isn’t close.” The names that matter are mostly at AA.

Al Simmons (CF, 21, AA): 340/386/415 in 57 plate appearances, after .262 with 9 homers at A-ball last year. The clock is ticking a bit faster.

Ed Delahanty (2B, 21, AA): 312/380/453 with 2 homers, after .262 and 15 homers at A. He’s a year away, and may end up in LF.

Sonny Jackson (SS, 21, AAA): 316/355/421 in 62 PA, on .341 and .302 at A and AA last year. There’s not any pressure on him due to Stephens’ performance, but he still looks like the long-term solution at shortstop.

Note that none of those are pitchers: there is some good veteran depth, but the promising arms are still a few years away.

#One Number

10. Homeruns allowed by Smokey Joe Williams in 33.1 innings. He is striking out 11 men per 9 and carrying a 5.13 ERA. As The Cyclone goes, so go the Royal Giants.

TWIWBL 101.1: Year 3, Week 4 – Easing Into the Season

By

On September 17, 2026

In TWIWBL

29 April, 2002

#Awards

Al Kaline is the AL Player of the Week for Detroit, on a .400 week with 6 doubles, 2 homeruns and 10 RBI — powered by a 3-double game followed by a 2-homer, 5-RBI day. He is hitting .326 with 7 homeruns.

The NL Player of the Week is the New York Gothams‘ HR Johnson, who hit .400 with 4 homeruns and 9 RBI over 6 games, slugging .960. Johnson is fast becoming a fan favorite for the Gothams, for obvious reasons, but also for confirmation that perhaps they pulled a fast one on the Black Yankees in the offseason with his acquistion.

In the minors: Josh Harrison (New York Black Yankees) took the award at AAA Newark on a 14-for-28 week, and continues to make an argument for a longer trial at the WBL level; Steve Henderson (Los Angeles) took the AA Player of the Week, and Bob Cerv (Houston) won it at A-ball.

#Three Games

{A new section: when I can’t think of better topic for the front page, we’ll highlight 3 games of note from the week that was.}

Cleveland @ Ottawa, 24 April

Two pitchers with lightning in their arms and massive question marks on their futures faced off in Ottawa, with Cleveland’s Bob Feller taking the mound against the Mounties’ Big Question Mark, Randy Johnson. Both did well, allowing only a single run each. Feller’s day was better, with 11 strikeouts in over 6 innings, while Johnson did his usual thing, walking as many as he whiffed (5 of each).

Neither were around for the exciting parts of the game.

First, in the top of the 7th, RBI’s by Tris Speaker and Larry Doby gave Cleveland a 3-1 lead. Then, the Spiders turned the game over to Aroldis Chapman–their key offseason acquisition, who has been even more important with closer Terry Adams hurt for about a week. Chapman has been … awful. Which continued here.

First, he hit Gary Carter, then gave up singles to Álex Rodríguez and Adrián Beltré, loading the bases. And then Ottawa’s manager got creative, first sending pitcher Bill Smith in to pinch run for Beltré and then sending Old Hoss Radbourn, another pitcher, up to hit for the struggling John Olerud. While the fans were scratching their heads–Olerud is obviously better at the plate than Radbourn–Radbourn simply delivered, driving in 2 with a sharply hit single to left.

Chapman got to 2 outs, but no further, as a single from Roberto Alomar plated Radbourn with the winning run.

CLE 3 (Chapman 0-2, 3 BSv) @ OTT 4 (Holland 2-0)
HRs: none.
Box Score

Chicago @ San Francisco, 28 April

After a rough start, San Francisco has begun to right the ship while Chicago has been surprisingly good in the early going. This game felt like the Sea Lions continuing to reassert their dominance … until ….

Hits from Reggie Jackson and Jack Clark were the big blows, each driving in 2, and San Francisco led 5-0 behind easily the best start of the year so far from Tom Brewer. With the strength of the Sea Lions’ bullpen a well known commodity, some fans had even begun to eye the exits.

And then came the 8th.

Charlie Ferguson allowed a single to Jack Doyle before being relieved by Ken Howell. Howell got two outs–strikeouts of Chino Smith and Mickey Vernon–but allowed 2 singles and 2 doubles before giving way to Trevor Hoffman. Cristóbal Torriente doubled in 2, Kevin Mitchell and Travis Jackson had RBIs, and Eddie Collins greeted Hoffman with a double of his own and suddenly the American Giants were, somehow, ahead, 6-5.

They didn’t need it, but Chicago wasn’t done: Smith hit a 2 run shot in the 9th and Jackson drove in 2 more with a double. With Alex Reyes shutting down San Francisco in the 8th and 9th, that was it and the American Giants emerged with a 10-5 victory.

Allen, Collins, and Jackson each had 3 hits for Chicago on the day.

CAG 10 (Reyes 1-0) @ SFS 5 (Howell 1-1; Hoffman 1 BSv)
HRs: CAG – C. Smith (9); SFS – none.
Box Score

Birmingham @ the House of David, 28 April

It was the last game of the week. We were all just tired.

So nobody thought much about it when Paul Konerko blasted a solo shot off Bob Shaw to tie the game 5-5 in the top of the 8th. Given how well the offenses performed earlier, it seemed obvious that more runs were coming (Birmingham’s John Malarkey had surrendered 11 hits and 5 runs in 5 innings, including a 3 run shot by Ernie Banks; Jack Taylor was barely better for the House of David, giving up 4 runs in his 5 innings of work).

But the bullpens decided to change the script. For Birmingham, Al Javery, Akinori Otsuka, Harley Young, and Kerry Ligtenberg combined to allow 3 hits and zero runs over 9 innings of work, while for the home team, Scott Downs, Ed Bauta, Dellin Betances, Fergie Jenkins, and Karl Spooner gave up more hits (6), but were equally effective over 8 combined frames.

So, what happened?

Birmingham turned to Slim Embrey in the bottom of the 16th. And Embrey can’t really be blamed for what happened: he retired Ryne Sandberg, then saw Pete Browning and Ernie Banks reach on errors before Ron Santo singled to load the bases. Embrey then grooved one to Anthony Rizzo, who deposited in the seats for a walkoff grandslam homerun.

Cap Anson, Sandberg, and Santo had 3 hits each for the House of David, and Bobby Grich and Melky Cabrera had 3 for the Black Barons.

BBB 5 (Embrey 0-1) @ HOD 9 (Spooner 2-0; Shaw 1 BSv)
HRs: BBB – Konerko (5); HOD – Banks (6), Rizzo (4).
Box Score

#Player Performance

Four weeks in, the lists are starting to hold their shape. Qualifying is 3.1 plate appearances or 1 inning per team game — about 80 PA and 26 innings.

#Batters

The Ted Williams problem has not gone away. He leads the WBL in batting average, on-base, slugging, runs, RBI, walks and WAR outright, and shares the homerun lead with Indianapolis’ Oscar Charleston at 12. Williams is hitting .434 with a .952 slugging percentage.

As usual, top 2-3 in most all stats below.

Cool Papa Bell (KAN). .203/.292/.291. 8 SB.
John Briggs (MEM). .247/.306/.438. 12 2B.
Pete Browning (HOD). .337/.393/.525. 9 SB.
Rico Carty (PHI). .375/.446/.694.
Oscar Charleston (IND). .304/.345/.676. 12 HR, 29 RBI, 1.8 WAR.
Ty Cobb (DET). .348/.402/.685. 1.5 WAR.
Lou Gehrig (NYY). .311/.398/.711. 24 RBI.
Hank Greenberg (DET). .241/.327/.448. 3 3B.
HR Johnson (NYG). .372/.400/.691. 12 2B.
Willie Mays (NYG). .283/.343/.641. 21 R.
Joe Morgan (IND). .230/.396/.297. 20 BB.
Jackie Robinson (BRK). .323/.368/.515. 13 2B.
Bullet Joe Rogan (PHI). .344/.385/.885. 9 HR.
Babe Ruth (NYY). .228/.384/.608. 9 HR, 19 BB.
Chino Smith (CAG). .277/.307/.699. 9 HR, 22 R.
Turkey Stearnes (SFS). .259/.300/.635. 9 HR.
Roy White (BRK). .303/.402/.487.
Ted Williams (MEM). .434/.542/.952. 12 HR, 28 R, 32 RBI, 22 BB, 2.4 WAR.

At the other end, Los Angeles’s Dobie Moore has now struck out 55 times, 9 clear of anyone else. Moore has shown some signs of life lately, but it’s a deep hole to crawl out of.

#Pitchers

Christy Mathewson of the New York Gothams is the league’s only 5-game winner, sitting at 5-0.

#Starters

Steve Carlton (PHI). 4-1, 1.89.
Whitey Ford (NYY). 3-2, 2.25. .195 BABIP.
Dwight Gooden (LAA). 2-2, 4.41. 1.90 FIP, 1.5 WAR.
Lefty Grove (SFS). 3-1, 3.63. 54 K.
Waite Hoyt (CAG). 4-1, 2.45.
Walter Johnson (POR). 3-1, 2.37. 45 K, 0.82 WHIP, 1.74 FIP, 1.3 WAR.
Dennis Martínez (BAL). 3-1, 3.45. .178 BABIP.
Christy Mathewson (NYG). 5-0, 2.50. 48 K.
Charles Radbourn (OTT). 2-0, 1.38.
Toad Ramsey (HOU). 2-3, 3.28. 1.4 WAR.
Tom Seaver (MEM). 1-1, 1.95.
Smokey Joe Wood (KAN). 2-0, 2.78. 0.77 WHIP.

#Relievers

One more week until we actually have some decent insight into the relievers–for now, here are the 4 closers tied atop the league with 6 saves each.

Rod Beck (SFS). 1-1, 3.00. 6 Sv.
Jack Billingham (POR). 0-1, 4.00. 6 Sv.
Jonathan Papelbon (MCG). 0-0, 3.00. 6 Sv.
Brian Wilson (NYG). 0-1, 2.35. 6 Sv.

#Hardest Shots

Josh Gibson owned the week: a 124 mph solo homerun off Indianapolis‘s Luis Padrón on Saturday was the hardest ball struck by anyone, and he also had a 120 mph double and a 119 mph homerun. Gibson’s overall stats aren’t showing it yet, but the thunder in the bat is clearly still there.

The hardest out was Ted Williams‘s — a 122 mph fly ball to right.

#Injuries

The big one is Bullet Joe Rogan, out about 2 weeks — Philadelphia loses a rotation turn and a bat with 9 homeruns in one move, and he is the fourth Stars pitcher on the disabled list in 10 days. The Gothams lose Dave Righetti for about the same stretch.

Memphis swingman Len Barker and Los Angeles OF Dwight Evans both hit the DL this week as well.

TWIWBL 100.5: Year 3, Week 3 – Marvin Miller Division

By

On September 6, 2026

In TWIWBL

TeamW/LPctGB
Houston Colt .45’s11-8.579—
Kansas City Monarchs10-9.5261
Wandering House of David10-9.5261
Birmingham Black Barons8-10.4442.5
Indianapolis ABC’s4-14.2226.5
Marvin Miller Division | 22 April

Birmingham Black Barons

Paul Konerko went 4-for-5 with 2 homeruns and 5 RBI in a 6-5 comeback victory at Homestead.

Four Black Barons hit the DL inside a week: Bruce Chen, Alejandro Peña, Rube Melton and Asdrúbal Cabrera will all miss at least a week, but none of them are expected to be out much longer than that. The slots were filled by Akinori Otsuka (returning from his own rehab assignment), Bill Phyle, Jess Barbour and Don Cardwell.

Eddie Mathews, hitting .192 at the time, hit 2 homeruns off Dolf Luque in a 5-1 win at Indianapolis.

Houston Colt .45’s

Tony Gwynn will miss 3 about weeks; with a very deep roster, the Colt 45’s opted to deepen their bullpen by recalling Jim Kern.

George Brett hit 2 homeruns as Houston beat Indianapolis 3-0 behind a combined 4-hitter from Toad Ramsey, Kern, Billy Wagner and Tug McGraw.

Kansas City Monarchs

Mickey Welch threw a 2-hit shutout of Brooklyn, 4-0, with 8 strikeouts and a game score of 89 — the highest in the WBL this season. All the offence came in the 2nd on a Merv Rettenmund grand slam.

Wandering House of David

John Beckwith is out about a week. The House of David have enough depth to absorb the PAs (Mark McGwire will see most of the time at DH in the meantime). Jim Clinton was recalled, and slotted straight into the rotation.

Kyle Peterson will miss just over a month, and with Clinton already recalled, the club brought up utility IF Dave Malarcher.

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