Tag: Bill Doak

TWIWBL 24.11: Mid-Season Reviews – Memphis Red Sox

On March 10, 2022

Summary

Just a poor season so far for Memphis. The pitching has gotten the bulk of the blame, but there’s plenty to go around.

What’s Gone Right

The Splendid Splinter. Despite a bit of a fade leading into the break, 20 year-old OF Ted Williams is the clear offensive leader here, tops on the team in most counting stats.

The Back End. Closer Joe Beggs leads a bullpen trio along with Jonathan Papelbon and Heath Bell that has been excellent.

Solidity. The lack of star power may be a weakness, but there’s really little to complain about in the production Memphis has received from Bill White, Reggie Smith, and Wade Boggs. Similarly, on the mound, Jon Lester and Dean Chance have been perfectly good.

What’s Gone Wrong

The Mound. Nothings really worked here–Lester and Chance have been the best starters, but it deteriorates rapidly from there, with Nixey Callahan and Roger Clemens fumbling chance after chance to nail down their rotation spots.

Middle Infield. The 2B conundrum seems to have been solved with Claude Ritchey, but that took a while to sort out. SS is still an issue, as Vern Stephens contributes almost nothing offensively.

The Reserves. Memphis’ bench is just a bit weak. Especially disappointing has been Eddie Rosario, although Manny Ramírez‘ performance has been head-scratching as well–but at least Ramirez has some power.

Key Storylines

The Red Sox have some talent they can move, so the key here is how the makeover goes.

A very minor note: Williams took the mound for a horrible two outs: he is asking to get another shot. The question is whether that would increase or decrease his 40.50 ERA.

Trading Outlook

SELLING!

There are a lot of useful parts here that could be of interest to potential contenders, including Tim Wakefield, Ritchey, Beggs, Jim Pagliaroni, Bell, Bob Brenly, and Papelbon.

Minor league talent would include Mike Timlin, Dom DiMaggio, Fred Lynn, and David Justice.

Like I said, a lot …

AAA Shuttle

Not great. Bascially, it’s been players being jettisoned for poor performance (Wayne Causey, Brenly, Dustin Pedroia), and then recalled because of a lack of options (Clemens). Lynn has done alright since being recalled.

Midseason Changes

Justice exchanges places with Rosario and Francisco Lindor joins the big league club.

Awards

All Stars: Craig Kimbrel (P); Reggie Smith (CF); Ted Williams (RF).

Offensive MVP: Ted Williams (OF)
Pitching MVP: Joe Beggs (RP)

Down on the Farm

AAA: New Orleans Pelicans

Next to the Show: P Hank Gehring, RP Mike Timlin, OF Tony Conigliaro, OF David Justice.

Prospects: OF Tony Conigliaro (21), OF Joe Kelley (20), P Andrew Miller (22).

Projects: RP Luiz Gohara (20), SS Francisco Lindor (24), OF Fred Lynn (32), 1B David Ortíz (26), P Hank Gehring (27), P Bill Doak (26).

Suspects: 3B Luis Salazar (35), OF Larry Hisle (34).

AA: Tulsa Drillers

Prospects: 2B Ozzie Albies (20), OF Willie Crawford (17).

Projects: P Sadie McMahon (22), 3B Butch Hobson (24), P Lance Broadway (25).

Suspects: Ps Rafael Pérez and Zack Segovia (both 25), OF Cecil Espy (21).

TWIWBL 23.1: AA & AAA All-Star Rosters

By mknn

On February 9, 2022

In All Star Games, TWIWBL

Because they deserve some love, too …

Note that these are all AI selections, so some may be weird (like Joe Harris playing 2B at AAA). The first time an affiliate is listed, I’ve also listed their WBL organization. All-Star Game starters are bold.

AAA All-Star Rosters

In a rich-get-richer moment, the New York Black Yankees lead the way, with 6 selections for the visitors coming from the Newark Eagles. For the Home team, the Memphis Red Sox affiliate, the New Orleans Pelicans, send 6 players and the Cincinnati Tigers (Indianapolis ABC’s) have 5.

Visiting Team

C: Smoky Burgess (Newark/New York Black Yankees); Andy Etchebarren (Buffalo/Cleveland Spiders); Butch Wynegar (Norfolk/Philadelphia Stars).
1B: Cecil Cooper (Norfolk); Carlos Peña (Orlando/Miami Cuban Giants).
2B: Bobby Knoop (Buffalo).
3B: Chris Brown (Newark); Art Devlin (Hartford/New York Gothams).
LF: Matt Holliday (Queens/Brooklyn Royal Giants); Joe Rudi (Atlanta); George Van Haltren (Montréal).
CF: Curt Flood (Queens); Benny Kauff (Hartford); Andy Pafko (Atlanta/Birmingham Black Barons); Chick Stahl (Washington/Baltimore Black Sox).
RF: Joe Harris (Newark); Jackie Jensen (Montréal/Ottawa Mounties); Aaron Judge (Norfolk); Al Kaline (Toronto/Detroit Wolverines); Merv Rettenmund (Washington).

SP: George Blaeholder (Washington); AJ Burnett (Newark); Jim Clinton (Newark); Bill Laskey (Norfolk); George Mullin (Toronto); Johnny Podgajny (Montréal).
RP: Darren Dreifort (Queens); Mike Griffin (Toronto); Bryan Hickerson (Newark); Mickey Lolich (Toronto).

Home Team

C: Gabby Hartnett (Columbus/Wandering House of David); Hal King (Milwaukee/Chicago American Giants); Cliff W. Lee (Seattle/Portland).
1B: Wally Joyner (Las Vegas/Los Angeles Angels); Anthony Rizzo (Columbus); Joey Votto (Cincinnati/Indianapolis ABC’s); Kevin Young (Louisville/Homestead Grays).
2B: Ron Hunt (San Jose/San Francisco Sea Lions); DJ LeMahieu (San Antonio/Houston Colt 45’s).
3B: Sal Bando (San Jose); Jung Ho Kang (Columbus)
SS: Francisco Lindor (New Orleans/Memphis Red Sox)
LF: Bob Watson (Milwaukee)
CF: Charlie Hemphill (Cincinnati)
RF: Dwight Evans (New Orleans); Pete Rose (Cincinnati); Paul Waner (Louisiville).

SP: Nick Altrock (San Jose); Joe Blong (St. Louis/Kansas City Monarchs); Bob Friend (Louisville); Joe Kelly (New Orleans); Jock Menefee (St. Louis); Billy Pierce (Louisville); Eppa Rixey (Cincinnati); Frank Smith (Milwaukee); Virgil Trucks (Cincinnati).
RP: Bill Doak (New Orleans); Luke Gregerson (San Antonio); Tug McGraw (San Antonio); Mike Timlin (New Orleans).

Joe Rudi would lead the visitors to a 6-2 victory with a 3-run homerun.

Visitors 6 (Lolich 1-0; Blaeholder 1 H) @ Home 2 (Timilin 0-1, 1 BSv)
HRs: Home – Rudi (1); Visitors – Lee (1)
Box Score

AA All-Star Rosters

The Sacramento Solons (San Francisco Sea Lions) dominate the AA team for the visitors, with 7 players, while the Albuquerque Isotopes (Wandering House of David) have 6 and the Jersey City Skeeters (Brooklyn Royal Giants) 5. For the home team, both the Oklahoma City Redhawks (Kansas City Monarchs) and Montgomery Biscuits (Birmingham Black Barons) have 7 players in the game and the Austin Black Senators (Houston Colt 45’s) 5.

Visiting Team

C: Frankie Hayes (Vancouver/Portland Sea Dogs); Phil Lombardi (Jersey City/Brooklyn Royal Giants); Steve O’Neill (Troy/New York Gothams); Mark Salas (San Diego/Los Angeles Angels).
1B: Jimmie Foxx (Sacramento/San Francisco Sea Lions); Charlie Grimm (Rochester/Cleveland Spiders); Tim Harkness (Syracuse/Homestead Grays); Buck Jordan (Vancouver).
2B: Wally Backman (San Diego); Dick Green (Sacramento); Cookie Lavagetto (San Diego); Tyler Pastornicky (San Diego); Ed Romero (Jersey City).
3B: Xander Bogaerts (San Diego); Ken Keltner (Rochester); Hank Majeski (Jersey City); Mike Moustakas (Sacramento).
SS: Luis Aparicio (Albuquerque/Wandering House of David); Bert Campaneris (Albuquerque); Jack Wilson (Syracuse).
LF: Morrie Arnovich (Jersey City).
CF: John Briggs (Jersey City); Otto Briggs (Edmonton); Kevin Pillar (Hudson Valley).
RF: Danny Green (Albuquerque); Don Mueller (Troy).

SP: Dwight Bernard (Hudson Valley); Larry Dierker (Albuquerque); Matt Guerrier (Vancouver); Don Hood (Hudson Valley); Lew Krausse, Jr. (Troy); Jack Neagle (Rochester); Joe Nuxhall (Albuqueque); Al Spalding (Troy).
RP: Matt Barnes (Sacramento); Chad Gaudin (Sacramento); Joe Klink (Sacramento); Marty Kutyna (Jersey City); James Russell (Albuquerque); Turk Wendell (Sacramento).

Home Team

C: Josh Billings (Madison/Chicago American Giants); Rick Cerone (Austin/Houston Colt 45’s); Phil Masi (Charlotte/Baltimore Black Sox); Abe Wolstenholme (Nashville/Indianapolis ABC’s).
1B: Prince Fielder (Atlantic City/Philadelphia Stars); Greg Norton (Oklahoma City/Kansas City Monarchs); David Ortiz (Tulsa/Memphis Red Sox).
2B: Ken Boswell (Tulsa); Dave Cash (Oklahoma City); Charlie Gehringer (Fort Wayne/Detroit Wolverines); Jorge Orta (Fort Wayne); Kolten Wong (Oklahoma City).
3B: Joe Crede (Madison); Butch Hobson (Tulsa); Billy Nash (Fort Wayne); Candy Jim Taylor (Montgomery/Birmingham Black Barons).
SS: Woody English (Montgomery); Zoilo Versalles (Havana/Miami Cuban Giants).
LF: George Foster (Nashville); Pete Hill (Austin); Johnny Jeter (Fort Wayne).
CF: Richie Ashburn (Atlantic City); Bama Rowell (Austin).
RF: Adam Dunn (Nashville); Tommy McCarthy (Oklahoma City); Larry Sheets (Charlotte).

SP: Frank Bertaina (Charlotte); Lefty Clarke (Montgomery); Dick Jones (Montgomery); Jim Kaat (Austin); Kyle Kendrick (Austin); Andrew Miller (Tulsa); Bill Singer (Oklahoma City); Jeremy Sowers (Fort Wayne).
RP: John Anderson (Montgomery); Dick Coffman (Montgomery); Al Hrabosky (Oklahoma City); Ben Johnson (Montgomery); Mike Kume (Oklahoma City); Dave Smith (Charlotte).

Bama Rowell drove in 3 runs with a bases-loaded triple, leading the home team to a 10-2 victory in the All-Star Game. Richie Ashburn had 2 hits as well.

Visitors 2 (Nuxhall 0-1) @ Home 10 (Kendrick 1-0)
HRs: Visitors – Danny Green (1), Foxx (1); Home – Boswell (1)
Box Score

TWIWBL 20.1: Series XVII Notes – Bill James Division

By mknn

On January 5, 2022

In TWIWBL

#Los Angeles Angels

With an exhausted staff, Jeurys Familia was sent to AAA with Ron Romanick coming up to the big leagues to make a start. It didn’t go particularly well, as Romanick gave up 6 runs in 4 innings. But Kal Daniels hit 2 homeruns, and Doc Gooden continued his revival with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, picking up the win in the 8-6 victory over San Francisco.

#Memphis Red Sox

Young Roger Clemens clearly has talent. But a 1-5 with an ERA over 6, it’s time for him to get some seasoning at AAA before trying his stuff against WBL hitters once again. Joe Kelley was promoted to Memphis, with 35 year-old Nomar Garciaparra being released.

Kelly’s start was unsuccessful–8 hits and 5 runs in just over 3 innings–sending him right back to AAA, with Derek Lowe returning to Memphis. Still needing a starter, Memphis brought Clemens back with Wayne Causey moving down to AAA.

3 hits from Wade Boggs and a 3-run inside-the-park homerun from Claude Ritchey provided more than enough support as Jon Lester improved to 7-5 with 6 innings of 4-hit ball without allowing an earned run as the Red Sox beat the Black Yankees, 6-1. Len Barker was injured on the mound, and will spend 10 days on the DL. Sadie McMahon was released and Bill Doak promoted to the big leagues.

#Wandering House of David

The House of David are thrilled to have Pete Browning back. Their star OF went 2-for-4 with his 8th homerun to support nearly 7 strong innings by Jack Taylor, who improved his record to 5-6. Scott Downs and Rollie Fingers bridged the way to Bruce Sutter, who picked up his 5th save in the 3 to 1 victory over Miami.

Wade Miley allowed 3 hits and 1 run in 7.2 innings and Elrod Hendricks hit his 14th and 15th homeruns of the year, leading the House of David to a 9-1 victory over Miami. Ron Santo, Ryne Sandberg, and Richie Hebner went deep as well in the rout.

Ferguson Jenkins‘ continued ineffectiveness finally landed him in AAA, with Phil Regan coming back to the team after his rehab assignment.

TWIWBL 7.2: Series VI Notes – Cum Posey Division

By mknn

On June 6, 2021

In TWIWBL

{With the day off on April 25th, it was a time of roster moves and lineup and pitching adjustments. As such, there are a few more notes for each team than usual.}

#Baltimore Black Sox

P Lindy McDaniel, massively ineffective over 7 appearances, was sent down to AAA with Mike Mussina coming back the other way. Chick Stahl is tearing up AAA, and if Paul Blair–currently slashing 205/287/337–continues to struggle, he may get a call-up in the next few weeks.

#Chicago American Giants

P Lee Meadows was waived and Joe Lake was sent down to AAA Milwaukee, with Sonny Dixon and Frank Smith joining Chicago. Herb Pennock will join the rotation, replacing Lake.

#Houston Colt 45’s

The final slot in the Colt 45’s rotation remains a mystery, with the team hoping someone from Stubby Overmire, Leon Day, and Dock Ellis steps forward.

Larry Hisle‘s continued struggles (194/275/222) sent him down to AAA San Antonio. 37 year-old Ken Caminiti was waived to make room for DJ LeMahieu‘s promotion to Houston.

Paul Goldschmidt‘s 176/300/265 line sees him likely getting much less playing time in the near future.

#Kansas City Monarchs

After a heart-breaking loss to the Black Yankees, the Monarchs had to do some roster juggling, both to help with bullpen fatigue and to bring in some help for Ozzie Smith at SS. Bob Gibson was sent back to AAA and Bill Doak was waived to free up roster space for RP Adam Russell and SS Jack Rowe.

But the Monarchs fought back, defeating the Black Yankees, first 8-3 and then on a walk-off 5-4 victory powered by Boog Powell‘s 2 HRs and Stan Musial‘s 4 hits in 4 at-bats.

The Monarchs ended up splitting the four game set with the Black Yankees–no mean feat.

1B Andre Thornton‘s slow start (139/333/250) earned him a trip to AAA St. Louis with 2B Robinson Cano, who was tearing up the league at 423/461/634 coming up to Kansas City. The roster still needed a RH OF, so Russell was sent back down after only a few days with the big league team in favor of Ducky Medwick.

#Ottawa Mounties

Randy Johnson may have done just enough–barely–to stay in the big leagues with a decent 5 inning performance against Los Angeles. After the game, RP Greg Holland hopped back on the AAA express, with the Mounties in desperate need for depth at 2B. They recalled George Cutshaw to help there (Cutshaw would have a nice debut, going 1-for-3 with a grand slam HR).

Freddy Parent delivered a 2-0ut, 2-run single that scored Carlos Delgado and Terry Puhl, giving Ottawa a walk-off victory against Los Angeles’ closer Joe Nathan, who fanned the first two batters before collapsing and giving up a three run lead.

Recently recalled Jim Clancy was called into duty as an emergency starter, and the jury is still out. On the one hand, 5 innings, only 1 run, and the victory in a 5-1 win over Los Angeles is great; on the other hand, the traffic on the basepaths was nonstop, with Clancy giving up 10 hits and 2 walks in the 5 innings. Gary Lavelle pitched 2.2 scoreless innings for his second hold, and Tom Henke finished it out for his 7th save.

The Mounties pitching staff is a mystery. They are committed to Johnson, despite the 25 year-old’s 7.27 ERA, as well as to 19 year-old Ken Griffey, Jr, who is only slashing 205/253/217 to date. Gary Peters has been very ineffective, and will spend some time at AAA trying to work out his kinks, joining John Olerud in Montreal with veteran 1B/OF Roy Sievers and P Jamie Moyer heading to the big time (Terry Mulholland was waived to make room for Moyer).

The fifth rotation slot is still unsettled, with Moyer, Clancy, and Monk Dubiel all in play.

TWIWBL 5.4: Series IV Notes – Cum Posey Division

By mknn

On May 14, 2021

In TWIWBL

Baltimore and Kansas City are tied atop the division at 12-6, with the Chicago American Giants a few games back at 9-9. Houston has lost 5 in a row, falling 4th, only a game ahead of cellar-dwelling Ottawa (6-12).

Leading Starter: Luke Hamlin, KAN, 2-1, 1.93 ERA, 1.07 WHIP.
Leading Reliever: Jeff Pfeffer, KAN, 5 SV, 0.90 ERA.
Leading Batters: Dan McGann, BAL, 358/443/623; Joe Jackson, CAG, 351/443/608, 5 HRs, 18 RBs; Frank Thomas, CAG, 343/425/600, 5 HRs, 21 RBIs; Eddie Collins, CAG, 343/470/552, 18 R, 11 SBs.

#Baltimore Black Sox

Bill Byrd was magnificent in Baltimore’s opening game against Brooklyn, allowing only 1 hit and 1 walk in 8 IP. Unfortunately, he left the game trailing 1-0, but was spared the loss when Frank Robinson tied it up in the 9th inning. A walk-off HR from Ken Singleton won the game for the Black Sox.

Richie Sexson–at one point in consideration to make the big league roster–was demoted from AAA to AA Charlotte.

#Chicago American Giants

Just look at those leaders: Thomas, Jackson, and Collins are probably the hottest trio in the league right now.

#Houston Colt 45’s

Houston has a bit of a bullpen problem heading into their next series, leading to the Colt 45’s placing Mike Hartley on the IL and demoting Ice Box Chamberlain to AAA (he was quickly moved to AA by the management staff in San Antonio in favor of Boots Poffenberger–yep, Ice Box for Boots transaction there) with Stubby Overmire and Leon Day returning to the WBL. Ismael Valdez and Jim Kaat moved from AAA to AA as well.

The rotation is likely to be a bit up in the air over the next series or two.

#Kansas City Monarchs

Stan Musial hit 3 doubles in a game for the 2nd time this year, given him 8 on the season.

The Monarchs’ bullpen is pretty decimated, forcing two roster moves. First, Charles Comiskey was sent to AAA (instead of the injured list) to rest a sore elbow; second, Rex Hudler was sent down, likely only for a few days, as his demotion leaves Kansas City without an experienced SS behind Ozzie Smith. Bill Doak and Bob Gibson–who has pitched well since being demoted from Spring Training–were recalled from AAA.

#Ottawa Mounties

In his first AB of the season after an injury rehab stint at AAA, Larry Walker deposited Waite Hoyt‘s pitch over the LCF fence for a HR: that’s the way to get the home fans on your side!

More a victim of a lack of opportunity and a worn-out bullpen than anything else, Chris Leroux was sent to AAA with Jim Clancy being recalled to help shore up the rotation in the upcoming series. Reggie Cleveland was put on waivers to make room for Clancy on the 40 man roster.

Karl Spooner–who went into Spring Training as the closer–was released.