Tag: Billy Pierce

TWIWBL 23.1: AA & AAA All-Star Rosters

On February 9, 2022

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 18.3: Series XV Notes – Effa Manley Division

By mknn

On November 9, 2021

In TWIWBL

#Cleveland Spiders

John Ellis drove in 5 runs with 4 hits and 2 homeruns, leading the Spiders to a 10-3 victory over Houston. Stan Coveleski threw 7 solid innings, improving his record to 4-1.

Hardie Henderson was sent to AAA to make room for Bill Steen‘s return from injury. Despite a good recent start, Bob Feller moved to the bullpen, with Steen stepping back into the rotation. Rowland Office–he of the very early season heroics–was sent down as well, with Evan Longoria coming back to Cleveland. Larry Doby remains on the roster, but will see his playing time decrease significantly.

#Homestead Grays

Homestead shook up its pitching staff, demoting Frank Linzy and Billy Pierce to AAA, naming Stan Bahnsen as their #5 starter, and moving Michael Jackson into the closer role. Babe Adams and Cliff Lee were recalled. Peaches Graham was demoted to AAA, with Rick Ferrell being recalled and Jim Hegan released.

#Indianapolis ABC’s

Down a run in the top of the 9th and facing Miami’s Aroldis Chapman, things looked bleak for the ABC’s. But consecutive pinch hits from Dave Henderson and Johnny Bench tied the game and Oscar Charleston delivered the go-ahead run with a clean single to center. The comeback vindicated a strong start from David Price, who allowed 4 hits and 2 runs in 8 innings, moving to 2-4 on the year. Rob Dibble picked up his 9th save with a perfect bottom of the 9th.

Doc White has replaced Red Faber in the starting rotation for Indianapolis.

#Philadelphia Stars

Steve Carlton heads to the DL after being pulled having only thrown 2 innings against Memphis. He’ll miss 2 starts, at least. Fred Talbot was recalled from AAA.

Bob McClure was returned to AAA as the Stars continue to struggle to find both a couple more starters and a bridge to the excellent back end of their bullpen. In the meantime, John Montgomery Ward returns to the rotation, and Jack Easton was recalled. The Stars would be willing to ship Bill Dickey, Jimmy Rollins, and Mickey Doolin to AAA, but there just aren’t enough options. Dickey was moved down (making the preseason trade of, essentially, him for Mike Schmidt, look like a total fleecing), with Mike Scioscia moving up to the majors.

TWIWBL 17.3: Series XIV Notes – Effa Manley Division

By mknn

On September 18, 2021

In TWIWBL

#Cleveland Spiders

John Ellis drove in 5 with 2 homeruns, one a grand slam, and Cy Young threw a complete game allowing only 6 hits as the Spiders beat Miami, 6-2. Young improved to 5-2 on the year.

#Homestead Grays

Hal Carlson will miss just over a month with an elbow injury, prompting Homestead to recall Billy Pierce from AAA. More from necessity than a reward for their performance, both Carlos Zambrano and John Candelaria returned to the starting rotation for the Grays.

Francisco Liriano was recalled from his rehab assignment, with Bartolo Colon returning to AAA.

#Indianapolis ABC’s

Edd Roush went 4-for-4 and Red Faber threw a solid 6+ innings, improving his record to 4-3 as the ABC’s beat the best team in the WBL, Baltimore, 4-2. Roush hit his 2nd homerun of the season and Joe Morgan his 1st, and Rob Dibble pitched a scoreless 9th for his 7th save.

Johnny Bench hit 2 homeruns, and the ABC’s beat the Black Sox 3-1, with Dolf Luque out-dueling Dennis Martinez. Luque improved to 4-5 with 7 strong innings, and Dibble struck out the side for his 8th save of the season.

#New York Black Yankees

New York’s Waite Hoyt started off their series against Philadelphia with a 4 hit shutout, his best performance of the year. Eric Davis and Don Mattingly hit homeruns, and Thurman Munson, Babe Ruth, and Mattingly had 2 hits each as the Black Yankees won, 4-0.

3 hits from Davis, Lou Gehrig, and most surprisingly of all, Willie Randolph–who got his average up to .200 on the day–led the Black Yankees to a 10-3 win over the Stars. Jack Scott improved to 5-3 with 8 strong innings of work for New York.

#Philadelphia Stars

George Hendrick hit 2 homeruns to lead the Stars to a victory over the New York Black Yankees. Perhaps more importantly for Philadelphia, Jaret Wright only allowed 1 run in 7 innings in leveling his record at 2-2.

TWIWBL 12.3: Series X Notes – Effa Manley Division

By mknn

On July 24, 2021

In TWIWBL

#Cleveland Spiders

Whit Wyatt was on the verge of WBL history, having allowed 1 hit through 8 innings against Portland. He struck out Jeff Burroughs for the first out, his 9th of the game, and then retired pinch-hitter Ivan Rodriguez on a popout to Jake Stahl at first base. But back-to-back singles by Harry Hooper and Joe Mauer were followed by a walk to Bobby Murcer to load the bases, chasing Wyatt from the mound. Terry Adams relived him and gave up an RBI single to Buddy Bell, making the score 3-1. But Adams earned the save, his 10th, by inducing another popout to Stahl to end the game, this one by Gil Hodges.

Johnny Bates hit a homerun and Stahl had 2 hits in support of Wyatt’s great outing, which improved his record to 3-1.

#Homestead Grays

The 19 inning marathon with Birmingham decimated the Grays’ pitching, a situation that worsened when Corey Kluber had to leave after just 2 innings, and was placed on the DL after the game. The Grays used 9 pitchers, necessitating additional roster moves, complicated by the previously struggling Carlos Zambrano and Kent Tekulve pitched better lately, leaving Billy Pierce the odd man out for the time being. Bartolo Colon and Cliff Lee were recalled back to Homestead, despite their earlier struggles at the big league level.

Birmingham’s Harley Young had a horrible 9th inning, giving up a double, 3 walks (driving in the tying run), and a game-winning single to Rick Reichardt as the Grays stole a 5-4 victory from the jaws of defeat. Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente, and Mike Epstein had 2 hits each for Homestead, with Wagner adding his 2nd homerun of the year and Clemente his 3rd.

#New York Black Yankees

Babe Ruth hit 2 homeruns, and Lou Gehrig and Derek Jeter also went deep for New York, but it wasn’t enough, as Sparky Lyle gave up 2 runs in the 9th and Baltimore came from behind for an 8-7 victory over the Black Yankees.

Series X Featured Game: Birmingham Black Barons @ Homestead Grays

By mknn

On July 18, 2021

In Featured Games, Game Recaps

This one is a little different …

Birmingham‘s Alejandro Pena came into the game on a bit of a roll, having improved his numbers to a record of 3-3 and an ERA of 3.35. Homestead‘s Corey Kluber was just trying to stay in the league, with a record of 0-6 and an ERA over 6.

Kluber lasted only 2 innings before injury forced him from the game. He had given up one unearned run when, in the top of the first, an error by Mike Epstein allowed Tom Herr to score. Carlos Zambrano who, if anything, has been hit harder than Kluber, relieved him.

Pena allowed a run in the bottom of the 3rd and the bottom of the 4th on a sacrifice fly from Andrew McCutcheon and a bases-loaded walk to Honus Wagner that scored Josh Gibson.

So, 2-1 Homestead after 4 innings.

And then … that was it.

Pena put in 8 innings, allowing 6 hits and the 2 runs (only 1 was earned), and the combination of Kluber, Zambrano, Billy Pierce, and Michael Jackson had kept Birmingham from scoring again.

Homestead’s closer, Josh Lindblom, came into the game in the top of the 9th to close out the impressive win … and, after getting the first out, gave up a single to Billy Southworth, a walk to Troy Tulowitzki, a single to Herr, and a sacrifice fly to Frank McCormick, tying the game.

And then … that was it. For a long time, that was it.

For Birmingham, Wilhelm added 2 more innings, closer Carlos Diaz followed with 2 more, and Larry Benton added 3. For Homestead, Kent Tekulve added 2.2 and then Hal Carlson stepped in with the bullpen deeply depleted and delivered 4 crucial innings.

All scoreless. Through the 12th, scoreless. Through the 16th, scoreless. Through the 18th, scoreless.

And then … that was it.

Earl Hamilton had followed Carlson, and held Birmingham scoreless for 1.2 innings. He took the mound in the top of the 19th, and induced a groundout from Hank Aaron.

But then the floodgates opened: Omar Infante doubled, Southworth singled, and Tulowitzki broke the tie with an RBI single. Herr singled to load the bases, and McCormick walked. Then the Black Barons really took control, with Frank Isbell doubling home 2 more runs.

With Hamilton clearly gassed, the Grays called on Ray Brown, who got out of the inning, but not before allowing RBI singles to Gene Tenace, Eddie Mathews, and Infante.

So, inning after inning of no offense and then, in the top of the 19th, 7 runs for Birmingham.

It was enough: Warren Spahn retired the side in order and the Black Barons left with the win, 9-2. Honestly, Birmingham deserved to win much earlier: they banged out 28 hits during the 19 innings, with Herr and Isbell each going 5-for-10, Aaron adding 4 hits, and Infante and Southworth 3 hits apiece. But 24 of their 28 hits were singles: the Black Barons left a whopping 23 batters on base in the game.

Homestead had only 10 hits on the day, with 3 of them coming off the bat of Rick Reichardt. All 10 were singles, and the Grays had their own struggles with timing base knocks, leaving 14 runners on base.

A remarkable, and totally unexpected pitching performance from Birmingham. Even with that, both teams bullpens are likely to suffer for a few games from this one.

BBB 9 (Spahn 2-4) @ HOM 2 (Hamilton 0-1; Jackson 2 H; Lindblom 2 BS) [19 Innings]
HRs: none
Box Score

Spring Training Preview: Homestead

By mknn

On June 19, 2020

In 2000 Spring Training, Team News

The rotation is pretty much set: it would take a stellar spring for the most likely candidates of Carlos Zambrano, John Candelaria, or Bartolo Colon to break through.
- Best laid plans and all that. Billy Pierce and Babe Adams have both been hit hard, with Pierce especially ineffective. So more SPs are being looked at. Zambrano, Carlson, and Francisco Liriano look to be firmly in the mix.
  - Pierce is off to AAA. Carlson has moved into the starting rotation, joining Zambrano, Corey Kluber, Vean Gregg, and Liriano. Barring a collapse, that’s the starting rotation right there. The question for them then becomes whether Brown, Adams, Colon, and Candelaria are better served in long relief in MLB or starting at AAA.
That said, that trio along with Hal Carlson and Ray Brown have a decent shot at a bullpen role, especially if Frank Linzy or Kent Tekulve struggle.
- Linzy has, but Tekulve–along with closer Josh Lindblom and Michael Jackson–have been excellent.
  - Bill Fischer and Will Thompson are struggling at the back end of the bullpen.
The backup 2B job is up for grabs between Jeff Kent and Phil Garner, as is the starter at 3B, between Chris Sabo and Pedro Feliz.
- At 2B, Kent is pushing Davey Johnson for the starting role, while Garner has yet to show anything of note, although his defensive flexibility is useful.
  - Kent has the clear edge at 2B, while Sabo has moved ahead of Feliz.
The biggest mess is in the OF, where Roberto Clemente and Paul Waner are both guaranteed slots and both strongest at RF. How that plays out, with Rick Reichardt, Tom Brown, Pops Stargell, Andrew McCutcheon, and Max Carey all vying for 3 roster spots, will go a long way to determining the opening day lineups.
- While Waner has done well, Clemente has hit poorly enough to throw his starting position in doubt. Brown, Stargell, and McCutcheon are all excelling.
Josh Gibson is out for a few weeks, prompting Homestead to add Hobie Landrith and Blake Swihart to the roster to support Peaches Graham at C.
- Swihart and Graham would make the roster at this point.
Jay Bell hasn’t shown enough to lock down the backup SS role, so Khalil Greene has been recalled from AAA as a possibility.
- Perhaps most surprisingly, right now Honus Wagner and Andy Van Slyke are likely to start at AAA.

	Near Definite	Likely	Possible	Long Shot
Starting Pitchers		Corey Kluber Carlos Zambrano Vean Gregg Francisco Liriano Hal Carlson		John Candelaria Ray Brown Bartolo Colon Babe Adams
Middle Relievers		Daniel Hudson	Bill Fischer Will Thompson	Frank Linzy
Setup		Michael Jackson Kent Tekulve
Closer		Josh Lindblom
C	~~Josh Gibson~~	Peaches Graham	Blake Swihart	Hobie Landrith
1B	Mike Epstein			Honus Wagner
2B		Davey Johnson	Jeff Kent	Phil Garner
3B		Chris Sabo	Pedro Feliz	Andy Van Slyke
SS	Arky Vaughan		Jay Bell Khalil Greene
OF	~~Goose Goslin~~	Pops Stargell Andrew McCutcheon Tom Brown	Rick Reichardt Paul Waner Roberto Clemente	Max Carey Jack Cust