Tag: Buddy Groom

TWIWBL 13.2: Series XI Notes – Cum Posey Division

On August 8, 2021

#Baltimore Black Sox

Paul Blair has been the subject of much skepticism lately, mired in a horrendous slump for most of the season Still, the Baltimore center fielder has provided solid defense, and may be showing signs of finally coming around at that plate. Blair went 3-for-4 including a walkoff homerun as the Black Sox edged Memphis 3-2, bringing his batting average, at long last, over .200. More impressively, the hit came off Jonathan Papelbon, one of the best relievers in the league so far. Papelbon dropped to 0-2. Bill Byrd put in a good start, but wasn’t involved in the decision, which went to Don Bessent, who improved to 1-1.

Dennis Martinez continues to impress with 7 strong innings. He was actually outpitched by Memphis’ Roger Clemens, but the Black Sox jumped all over Turk Farrell en route to a 6-2 victory, led by Larry Gardner‘s 3 hits and 2-RBI games from Gardner, Bobby Wallace, and Dan McGann. Martinez allowed 5 hits and 2 runs in 7 innings, improving his record to 5-1, and Buddy Groom and Bessent combined to allow only 1 walk over the final 2 innings.

A grand slam by Harlond Clift, 4 runs scored by McGann, and 3 hits from McGann and Frank Robinson powered the Red Sox to a 12-4 victory. McGann hit his 5th homerun of the year, and Robinson drove in 4. The win went to Mike Mussina–his first of the year–who pitched 3 scoreless innings in relief of a labored Johnny Sain.

#Houston Colt 45’s

Toad Ramsey continues to befuddle. Impress, but also befuddle. This time, it was a complete game effort against San Francisco, allowing only 6 hits and 2 runs. But the Colt 45’s didn’t score, so Ramsey’s effort resulted in his 4th loss of the year.

#Ottawa Mounties

Roy Halladay pitched a complete game against Brooklyn, allowing only 1 run and 5 hits in a 7-1 victory for the Mounties. He gave up 3 hits to Beals Becker and 2 to Roy White, and that was it. Anthony Rendon and Ken Griffey, Jr. each had 3 hits for Ottawa, with Roy Sievers delivering a key pinch-hit and Freddy Parent going yard for the 5th time this year.

TWIWBL Special Edition: All Star Preview – AL Relievers

By mknn

On July 17, 2021

In All Star Games, TWIWBL

{ The All-Star game is about a month away. We’ll post occasional articles about the contenders for participation in the mid-season classic. These are written “as of now,” so the final selections may vary dramatically, but hopefully these will add to the ongoing flavor of the league. The AL comprises the Bill James & Cum Posey Divisions}

There are, of course, a lot of candidates in relief. Many of these will fall off the radar, as a single bad outing (or injury) is likely to take them out of all-star contention.

Tom Henke of the Ottawa Mounties has 10 saves, with a 3.29 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP, easily the AL leading closer at this point.

Detroit‘s Mike Henneman (0-2, 2.89 ERA) and Kansas City‘s Jeff Pfeffer (4-1, 3.05 ERA) have 7 saves each (as does the House of David‘s Tom Niedenfuer, who was arguably having a better year before injuring his shoulder) and either could sneak in, with Pfeffer’s record perhaps giving him an edge. Memphis‘ Joe Beggs has only 4 saves, but he has yet to give up a run: clearly if that continues, he deserves serious consideration.

Baltimore‘s Don Bessent (0-1, 6 saves, 1.42 ERA) is the only other closer with decent usage with a WHIP below 1, at 0.87 (Baltimore has actually split closing opportunities between Bessent and Bob Miller, but Bessent has had more saves and save opportunities–Miller sits at 1-0 with 3 saves and 2 holds and a 3.29 ERA, but a similar 0.95 WHIP).

In addition to Beggs, the Memphis bullpen offers Jonathan Papelbon, who has a 1.35 ERA and a sparkling WHIP of 0.80 to go along with an 0-1 record, 3 saves, and 2 holds. Setting up Henke, Ottawa’s Gary Lavelle is 2-1 with 1 save and 2 holds and a 1.96 ERA and teammate Ted Bowsfield is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA.

Kansas City may have the best quartet of relievers in the league, with–in addition to Pfeffer as the closer–Craig Kimbrel, who has been virtually unhittable, at 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA and a WHIP of 1.00 and Adam Wainwright and Frank DiPino. Wainwright has only an 0-1 record, but a 1.80 ERA and 0.96 WHIP and DiPino is 0-2 with 1 save and 2 holds along with a 1.74 ERA.

The House of David’s Bob Rush may be the closest competition Wainwright has as a high inning reliever. Rush is 3-1 with a 1.66 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. Some would argue that Baltimore’s Ned Garvin belongs here as well–Garvin has made 2 starts and 8 relief appearances, accumulating a 3-1 record with 2 holds and a 2.62 ERA with a 0.96 WHIP.

Chuck Finley‘s role for Los Angeles has been in flux all year, but he’s been excellent no matter how he’s been used, at 2-0 with 4 holds and a 2.96 ERA to go along with a 1.11 WHIP.

The AI’s choices are somewhat inexplicable: Finley, Baltimore’s Buddy Groom (0-0, 1 save, 4 holds, 2.42 ERA), Lavelle, and the Gothams‘ Mike Norris (1-1, 1 hold, 2.25 ERA). I mean, I love me some Mike Norris, but …

I would project five relievers as Henke, Papelbon, Finley, Kimbrel, and Wainwright. But it’s very unpredictable this early in the game.

Series IX Featured Series: San Francisco Sea Lions @ Baltimore Black Sox

By mknn

On July 9, 2021

In Featured Series, Game Recaps

Series preview here.

#Game 1: Eddie Plank @ Bill Byrd

Eddie Joost is a mystery to San Francisco–and to most fans of the WBL. His batting average sits under .150, but he draws enough walks to have an OBP over 100 points higher, and while he doesn’t hit with much power, when he does, the ball leaves the ballpark. In early April, that meant his slash line was 267/333/567. A month later, he’s at 131/277/250.

With 2 outs in the top of the 3rd, Joost took Baltimore starter Bill Byrd‘s second pitch over the right field wall for an early 1-0 lead for the Sea Lions.

But the Sea Lions’ Eddie Plank struggled mightily with his command, and after an error by John Beckwith helped load the bases, Plank walked in a run, and then allowed two more to score on a wild pitch and a passed ball.

Curt Blefary tripled home a run in the bottom of the fifth, extending the lead to 4-1.

In the top of the 7th, a single by Mickey Cochrane chased Byrd, who was relieved by Mike Mussina. Beckwith–who has showed some signs of life at the plate recently–singled, bringing up Joost. The Sea Lions decided not to pinch hit, and Joost rewarded them with … a groundball double-play to second base. Cochrane would score on a single by Rickey Henderson, but a great opportunity to get back in the game went by the wayside.

The Black Sox are the only team in the WBL without a designated closer, instead rotating key situations between Bob Miller and Don Bessent. Today was Bessent’s turn, and despite struggling with control a bit, he only allowed a double to Beckwith in the 9th, preserving the victory for Baltimore.

Baltimore scored 4 runs on only 5 hits, with Blefary’s triple and a double from Paul Blair the only extra-base shots. Byrd moves to 3-2 on the year, allowing 2 runs in 6 innings, with Mussina and Bessent combining for 3 innings of 3-hit, scoreless ball.

The Sea Lions saw Beckwith go 3-for-4 in the losing effort, with Henderson stealing 3 bases in a game for the first time this season. Plank evened his record at 2-2 with the loss, despite only allowing 1 earned run in 5 innings.

SFS 2 (Plank 2-2) @ BAL 4 (Byrd 3-2; Mussina 1 H; Bessent 5 Sv)
HRs: BAL – Joost (4).
Box Score

Game 2: Jim Devlin @ Johnny Sain

This may be a make-or-break game for San Francisco’s Jim Devlin, who comes in with an 0-2 record and a 6.57 era, allowing almost 2 baserunners per inning.

Both Devlin and his opposite number, Johnny Sain, gave up runs in the first. For San Francisco, back-to-back doubles by Pedro Guerrero and Reggie Jackson gave the Sea Lions an early 1-0 lead, while the bottom of the first was very Devlin: 2 hits, 1 walk, an HBP, an error … 8 batters faced, 2 runs scored, 1 earned.

But both would settle down. Sain allowed 1 more run, on an RBI double from Charlie Reilly, scoring Wally Moon and Devlin 2 more, on a double from Dan McGann and a sacrifice fly by Brooks Robinson, leaving the score 4-3, Baltimore, after 7 innings.

It would stay that way, with Ned Garvin, Buddy Groom, Gregg Olson, and Bob Miller combining for 3 innings of 1-hit relief to preserve the Black Sox victory.

Garvin finished with a good enough line for him (7 innings, 6 hits, 2 walks, 3 earned runs)–perhaps enough to stave off the demotion, but not to preserve his spot in the rotation.

SFS 3 (Devlin 0-3) @ BAL 4 (Sain 4-2; Garvin 2 H; Groom 3 H; Olson 2 H; Miller 2 Sv)
HR: SFS – Bloodworth (4)
Box Score

#Game 3: Cy Falkenberg @ Dennis Martinez

Dennis Martinez has been excellent so far, with a 3-1 record and a sub-4.00 ERA; Cy Falkenberg has been solid: his 2-0 record belies some poor outings leading to a 4.40 ERA.

Helped by a homerun from Eddie Joost, San Francisco was up 2-0 in the 6th, but then the wheels fell off for Falkenberg, with Harlond Clift hitting a grand slam as the Black Sox moved out to a 6-2 lead. A 2-run shot by Larry Gardner in the 8th provided the final margin of 8-2 as Baltimore moved to the verge of sweeping the four game series.

Martinez moved to 4-1, lowering his ERA to 3.42 in his 8 innings of work, while Falkenberg too his first loss of the year.

SFS 2 (Falkenberg 2-1) @ BAL 8 (Martinez 4-1)
HR: SFS – Joost (5); BAL – Clift (5), Gardner (3)
Box Score

#Game 4: Dennis Eckersley @ Mark Baldwin

Dennis Eckersley was absolutely hammered in his first start back from the DL, lowering his record to 1-3 and seeing his ERA balloon to 9.00. He’ll be opposed by Baltimore’s Mark Baldwin, who at 2-4, 6.62 has had his own fair share of struggle.

Both pitchers struggled, but somehow at the end of 5 innings, San Francisco only lead by 1, 3-2. A solo homerun by Jimmy Bloodworth in the 8th extended it to 4-2, and Ron Robinson and Rod Beck each pitched a 1-hit, scoreless inning in relief of Eckersley, who lowered his ERA by well over a run in his 7 innings of work.

Dan McGann and Frank Robinson each had 2 hits in the losing effort.

SFS 4 (Eckersley 2-3; Robinson 4 H; Beck 8 Sv) @ BAL 2 (Baldwin 2-5)
HR: SFS – Bloodworth (5)
Box Score

Series Notes

John Beckwith showed signs of emerging from his season-long slump, going 5-for-11 in the series for San Francisco.

For Baltimore, Dan McGann was 5-for-7 and Ken Singleton 5-for-15 in a series dominated by the pitchers.

Season Preview: Baltimore Black Sox

By mknn

On August 18, 2020

In Team News

It’s hard to see Baltimore as contenders although, like many teams, the pitching will determine how far they go. The rotation could be quite strong, anchored by Johnny Sain and Mark Baldwin. The team is quite strong defensively; the question is if players like Bobby Wallace and Paul Blair will hit enough to keep their gloves on the field.

Final Roster

SP: Johnny Sain, Mark Baldwin, Dennis Martinez, Jim Palmer, Rube Foster.
RP: Bill Byrd & Ned Garvin; Buddy Groom, Lindy McDaniel & Gregg Olson; Don Bessant & Bob Miller.

C: Ramon Hernandez & Curt Blefary
1B: Dan McGann
2B: Brian Roberts & Larry Gadner
3B: Harlond Clift; Brooks Robinson
SS: Bobby Wallce; Mark Belanger
LF:Frank Robinson
CF: Paul Blair
RF: Bryce Harper
DH: Ken Singleton

Notes

All Milt Pappas had to do was be mediocre, and he would have a roster spot sewn up. Instead, he was pounded, as was Don Aase, leaving the Black Sox with only 10 pitchers deserving of WBL slots … Bill Byrd looks to be back from injury before opening day, so he’ll claim a spot. The other goes to veteran Buddy Groom, recalled from AAA to add some depth to the bullpen … Don Bessent and Bob Miller look to split the closer duties, with Bessant being slightly more effective at the moment … a few of the final cuts were determined more by age than performance: 21 year old Cal Ripken, Jr. and 22 year old Bill Sweeney each performed well enough to earn a roster spot, but will start the season in AAA … 19 year old Bryce Harper was just brought to camp to get a taste of it. Instead he hit 375/432/775 and will start the season in RF … Harper’s success prevents the Black Sox from keeping 3 Cs, leaving Tom Haller–who hit .412 in Spring Training–on the outside looking in behind both Ramon Hernandez and Curt Blefary on the depth chart … Harlond Clift edges out Brooks Robinson for the starting job at 3B

36 year old 1B Dan McGann is the oldest player on the opening day roster, with 19 year old OF Bryce Harper the youngest (Frank Robinson is 20).

Eddie Murray and Mike Mussina were both expected to make the opening day roster: the pair of 21 year olds are still expected to return to Baltimore quickly after starting the season at AAA. There’s not a lot of talent at AA: perhaps the best is 2B Asdrubal Cabrera.