Bob Elliot – The Whirled League https://wbl.dmlco.com/wp Baseball The Way It Never Was Thu, 27 Aug 2020 19:23:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8 178681366 TWIWBL 1.0: Final Preseason Notes https://wbl.dmlco.com/wp/2020/08/23/twiwbl-1-0-final-preseason-notes/ Sun, 23 Aug 2020 22:37:26 +0000 https://wbl.dmlco.com/wp/?p=759 #BAL

Bill Byrd was moved from the DL to the 5th rotation spot as expected–we’ll see if the risk pays off for the Black Sox. Miller Huggins, acquired from Indianapolis, steps into most of the playing time at 2B (Larry Gardner will play there some as well). Huggins cost Baltimore Rube Foster in a league where pitching is at a premium, so there’s some risk there.

Rick Ferrell, Don Aase, Jesse Burkett, and Bill Sweeney were all designated for assignment to make space on the 40 man roster.

#BBB

Birmingham has had to rejuggle some key parts of their roster as DH Emil Frisk, one of their standout Spring performers, will miss about 5 weeks with a concussion. The Black Barons have recalled Billy Southworth from AAA Atlanta.

#BRK

Tommy Corcoran showed enough to play at the WBL, but he still has minor league options, so along with Pee Wee Reese, untested Dickie Thon breaks camp at SS for Brooklyn.

#CAG

Julio Gotay went from competing for a WBL role at SS to being waived, as Chicago broke camp with Damian Jackson as a reserve IF instead.

#CLE

The Spiders picked up 3B Evan Longoria from Miami. Longoria will pair with Ken Keltner, sending Bob Elliott to AAA. Whit Wyatt will likely miss his first start of the season, with Stan Coveleski most likely to take his place.

#DET

The Wolverines made a minor deal coming out of Spring Training, picking up RP Ron Perranoski and 3B Billy Nash. Perranoski may see the big leagues this season; Nash is several years away. Si Johnson has some elbow tenderness, putting his first start in doubt: Detroit has 4 SP in their bullpen, so there are plenty of candidates to take his place.

#HOD

House of David RP Lee Smith was sent to AAA after he came off the DL. In a smaller deal, they obtained CF Jim Edmonds, who will start the year in the minors.

In a much bigger deal, the HoD picked up CF Pete Browning, Ps Rollie Fingers and Eddie Rommel, SS Bert Campenaris, and 1B Mark McGwire. All but

#IND

15 year old Piggy Ward was waived. The ABC’s added Rube Foster to their pitching staff from Baltimore, pushing Virgil Trucks to the bullpen to open the season.

#MIA

With 2 separate deals, Miami welcomed 1B/3B Jim Thome, CF Gus Bell, 1B Will Clark, C Harry Danning, and OF Carlos Moran to the club. It’s a little bit of a confusing haul, but a couple of things are clear from it: first, the club’s commitment to Martin Dihigo is solidified by clearing the way for the versatile 17 year old; secondly, Paul Molitor was recalled to Miami, presumably to play 2B while Dihigo develops.

Moran makes the roster as well, but Danning and Bell are both players for the future at this point.

#NYA

A bit of a blockbuster brought 27 year old Mike Schmidt–who had a historically bad Spring–over from Philadelphia. Schmidt steps into a lineup with no pressure, moving ahead of Doug DeCinces in the pecking order.

#NYG

The Gothams gained a starting 2B in Cookie Rojas and some veteran offense at 1B in Joe Adcock in a a trade with Miami. OF Yasiel Puig and P Livan Hernandez were also acquired in the deal, and moved to the minors.

#OTT

The most surprising news to come out of Ottawa is that SS Freddy Parent–considered one of the prizes on the market–remains with the team. Despite talent to offer at 1B as well, the Mounties were quiet on the preseason trading front.

#PHI

Moving Schmidt not only cleared the way for Scott Rolen at 3B, it also netted Philadelphia 2 big league talents in C Bill Dickey and OF Aaron Judge, as well as prospect 1B Prince Fielder. Dickey steps into a platoon with Sherm Lollar while Judge will begin the season in the minors.

3 P’s were released: Bob Moose, Edwin Jackson, and Hal Kelleher.

#SFS

The Seals made a deal that left their fan base scratching their head. But they’re confident that 20 year old SS Dick Lundy has a great future, OF Bobby Bonds will step right in at the WBL level, and Nick Altrock will prove a useful arm to have around. All 3 made the roster, sending Eddie Miller to the minors.

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Spring Training Preview: Cleveland https://wbl.dmlco.com/wp/2020/06/21/spring-training-preview-cleveland/ Mon, 22 Jun 2020 01:57:13 +0000 https://wbl.dmlco.com/wp/?p=352
  • The starting rotation seems set, which means Hardie Henderson, Whit Wyatt, Stan Coveleski, and Bill Steen are battling for some long relief innings.
    • Injuries to Steen and Phenomenal Smith have opened some opportunities here, especially with Smith being out until sometime in June. Adding to the uncertainty, the projected top 3–Bob Feller, Pat Malone, and Mel Harder–have all struggled mightily. It feels like Cy Young and Wyatt will end up in the rotation, but its all up for grabs right now.
      • Wyatt, Young Feller, and Henderson are in, leaving 5 pitchers–Harder, Malone, Coveleski, Hank Gastright, and Sudden Sam McDowell–vying for the final slot.
  • Chad Qualls and Terry Adams are fighting for the closer role.
    • Cory Gearrin, Qualls, and Doug Corbett will setup Adams at the back end of the bullpen. Firpo Marberry has been recalled for some help in middle relief.
  • Louis Santop has an edge over John Ellis to start at C who has an edge over Andy Etchebarren to back him up.
    • Ellis’ Spring has him pushing for playing time, but he won’t displace Top behind the plate.
  • Jake Stahl and Hal Trosky are fighting to backup Jim Thome at 1B as are Bob Elliot and Sammy Strang at 3B behind Ken Keltner.
    • Not only has Strang played well, his ability to serve as a backup to Chuck Knoblauch at 2B probably assures him a roster spot.
      • 1B is very crowded, making Trosky’s Spring struggles enough to send him to AAA.
  • Bill Dahlen starts at SS, and Joe Sewell looks to be his backup, but Tom Veryzer could slip in if the Spiders decide a defensive option at SS is needed.
    • If Sewell continues to hit no better than Veryzer, the better glove will make the roster.
      • None of them have an OPS over .300. OPS. Someone had better hit soon. Bill Knickerbocker has been recalled to see if some more competition helps.
  • Either Harry Stovey or Kenny Lofton should make the team, but probably not both.
    • Tris Speaker is out for several months, opening the door for Lofton. Gus Bell, called up from AAA, will also get a look as a CF option.
    • The Spiders have also recalled OF Rowland Office and IF Jim Gantner to help with the Spring roster.
      • Office is making an argument to stay; Gantner is just sticking around for Spring flexibility.
  • Near DefiniteLikelyPossibleLong Shot
    Starting PitchersWhit Wyatt
    Cy Young
    Bob Feller
    Hardie Henderson
    Phenomenal Smith
    Stan Coveleski
    Hank Gastright
    Sam McDowell
    Pat Malone
    Mel Harder
    Bill Steen
    Middle RelieversChuck Porter
    Yordano Ventura
    Firpo Marberry
    SetupChad Qualls
    Doug Corbett
    Cory Gearrin
    CloserTerry Adams
    CLouis SantopJohn EllisAndy Etchebarren
    1BJake Stahl
    Jim Thome
    Napoleon Lajoie
    2BChuck Knoblauch
    Sammy Strang
    Jim Gantner
    3BKen KeltnerBob Elliott
    SSBill Dahlen
    Joe Sewell
    Tom Veryzer
    Bill Knickerbocker
    OFTris Speaker
    Harry Stovey
    Larry Doby
    Johnny Bates
    Ron Blomberg
    Kenny Lofton
    Rowland Office
    Gus Bell
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