Tag: Frank Castillo

TWIWBL 8.0: Series VII Notes

On June 17, 2021

April 30th

Perhaps shockingly, given the nature of the featured game of Series VII, the real theme of the 40 games was quality pitching.

Game 3 of the series between the Wandering House of David and the Indianapolis ABCs saw the ABC’s Johnny Cueto improve to 3-2 with 8.2 innings of 6-hit, 1-run ball. Jack Taylor (2-2) took the loss, despite only giving up 2 earned runs himself. The final game saw 2 great performances as well, with the House of David’s Frank Sullivan and the ABC’s David Price each only allowing 1 run in 8 innings (Indianapolis would win the game in 11 innings).
The series between the Houston Colt 45’s and the Miami Cuban Giants saw Houston’s Stephen Strasburg throw 6 strong innings, giving up only 1 run in the opening game. The hottest pitcher in the WBL, the Cuban Giants’ Camilo Pascual dealt 6 innings of 1-run ball in game 3, and then Houston’s Toad Ramsey outdid them all with a complete game, 4-hit shutout in game 4.
The Birmingham Black Barons‘ Dick Rudolph opened their series against the Brooklyn Royal Giants with 8.1 innings giving up only 5 hits and 2 runs.
The Detroit Wolverine‘s Si Johnson improved to 2-2 with 5 shutout innings against the Baltimore Black Sox in their series opener. Baltimore only managed 3 hits in game 2, with Detroit’s Hal Newhouser (moving to 1-0 on his return from the DL), Gene Conley, and Kevin Hart combining on the 3-hit shutout. The Wolverines kept up their dominance in game 3 as Whitey Wilshere moved to 4-1 with 6-plus innings of shutout ball.
The Philadelphia Stars won their series opener against the New York Gothams behind 5.1 innings from Robin Roberts, who gave up only 1 earned run on 5 hits. Roberts improved to 3-1 with the effort. The Stars’ Ray Collins allowed 1 run in 8 innings in the series finale, but was not involved in the decision.
Frank Castillo of the Kansas City Monarchs allowed 5 hits and 1 run against the Memphis Red Sox, improving his record to 2-2. Memphis took game 2, as Kansas City could only manage 2 hits and 1 run against Nixey Callahan, who got his first victory. Jon Lester continued the Red Sox’s success on the mound in game 3, leveling his record at 2-2 with a 7 inning, 1-run, 7-hit effort.
Cy Falkenberg moved to 2-0 on the year, allowing 1 run in just over 5 innings as the San Francisco Sea Lions took the opening game from the Chicago American Giants.
Los Angeles‘ Brett Anderson threw a complete game, 3-hit shutout against the Homestead Grays.

The other big news of the series was the Portland Sea Dogs‘ statement series against the New York Black Yankees. Portland took 3 out of 4 from New York, and now has the 2nd best record in the league.

Also, Baltimore’s Curt Blefary took over the league HR lead from New York’s Babe Ruth with 12.

League Standings | League Statistics

Leading SP: Don Drysedale (BRK) 4-0, 1.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP; Walter Johnson (POR) 4-0, 2.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 2.85 FIP; Ron Guidry (NYY) 4-1, 2.32 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 51 K.

Leading RP: Johan Santana (POR) 0-1, 12 Sv, 3.72 ERA; Tom Henke (OTT) 0-0, 8 Sv, 0.84 ERA; Ron Reed (PHI) 0-0, 2 Sv, 8 H; 2.40 ERA; Frank DiPino (KCM) 0-1, 1 Sv, 1 H, 0.69 ERA.

Leading Batters: Babe Ruth (NYY) 421/504/807, 1.311 OPS, 11 HR, 32 RBI, 36 R; Kal Daniels (LAA) 329/441/579, 13 2B; Eric Davis (NYY) 288/323/517, 37 RBI; Rickey Henderson (SFS) 273/434/404, 27 BB, 20 SB; Shoeless Joe Jackson (CAG) 389/478/743, 1.221 OPS; Buster Posey (SFS) 416/470/733, 1.202 OPS; Curt Blefary (BAL) 289/408/747, 12 HR, 25 RBI.

Boldface indicates league leading mark.

Streaks

The House of David’s Ernie Banks‘ hitting streak ended at 20 games, leaving Ty Cobb‘s 14 game streak as the longest active. Banks has reached base in 14 straight contests. Cleveland’s Ron Blomberg has scored a run in 8 straight games and has an extra-base hit in 6. Baltimore’s Sean Marshall hasn’t allowed a hit in 6.1 innings.

Series VII Results

Series VII Sweeps

Detroit over Baltimore
Los Angeles over Homestead

Taking 3 of 4 in Series VII

Chicago over San Francisco
Cleveland over Ottawa
Portland over New York Black Yankees

Series VII Splits

Birmingham at Brooklyn
Houston @ Miami
House of David @ Indianapolis
Kansas City @ Memphis
Philadelphia @ New York Gothams

Season Preview: Kansas City Monarchs

By mknn

On August 21, 2020

In Team News

Kansas City feels like a team more for the future than the present. The pitching staff looks strong enough, led by Andy Pettite, but there are some questions about the bullpen as a whole. The lineup is potent, and the trio of Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, and Albert Pujols should provide some elite offense.

Final Roster

SP: Andy Petite, Frank Castillo, Rube Marquard, Luke Hamlin, Jose Rijo.
RP: Adam Wainwright & Connie Johnson; Charlie Comiskey & Craig Kimbrel; Trevor Rosenthal & Frank DiPino; Jeff Pfeffer.

C: Salvador Perez; Ted Simmons
1B: Boog Powell; Andre Thornton
2B: Rogers Hornsby; Rex Hudler
3B: Albert Pujols
SS: Ozzie Smith
LF: Lou Brock
CF: Fielder Jones & Willie McGee
RF: Stan Musial
DH: Gene Freese

Notes

Jeff Pfeffer beat out Trevor Rosenthal for the closer role going into the regular season … Charlie Comiskey went from Spring Training inning eater to bullpen contributor … Salvador Perez is the starting C, with Ted Simmons‘ ability to hit from both sides of the plate salvaging his spot on the roster as the backup … Ken Oberkfell showed very well in a limited chance, but at the end of the day, Jack Rowe‘s injury forced the Monarchs to keep Rex Hudler, who can also backup Ozzie Smith at SS. Once Rowe comes off the DL in about a week, Oberkfell may be recalled … many teams would appreciate the versatility of Mark DeRosa, but with Hudler and Gene Freese, he’s really redundant for Kansas City, and starts the year in AAA … the lineups are a little fluid, but basically Andre Thornton plays 1B against RHP, Lou Brock plays LF against LHP, and Albert Pujols, Boog Powell, and Freese move around with some flexibility between LF, 3B, 1B, and DH.

This is a young team with only 6 players over 30. The 3 oldest players are all in the rotation: Rube Marquard at 34 and Luke Hamlin and Connie Johnson each at 33. There are 4 21 year olds on the opening day roster: P Frank Castillo, OFs Stan Musial and Albert Pujols, and C Ted Simmons.

If Bob Gibson can find the strike zone, he may be the 1st pitcher recalled from AAA. 2 Cs with high ceilings are also at that level: 17 year old Johnny Bassler and 21 year old Lew Brown. Down at AA, 19 year old OF Cool Papa Bell and IFs Bill Bradley and Kolten Wong look the most likely to develop into impact players.

Spring Training Preview: Kansas City

By mknn

On June 19, 2020

In 2000 Spring Training, Team News

Kansas City is more “set” than most of the teams in the league, with only a few positions up for grabs, beginning with the 5th starter, who should come from the group of Joe Blong, Frank Castillo, and Luke Hamlin.
- Bob Gibson has struggled, but is still slotted to make the rotation. Blong has probably pitched himself out of the picture, with Castillo and Rube Marquard most likely to get the 5th spot.
  - This whole thing is rough now. The best SP have been Marquard, Andy Petite, Jock Menefee, and Castillo. Gibson’s stuff is apparent, and probably gives him a slot. But it’s really unclear who between Menefee, Castillo, Rijo, Hamlin, and Connie Johnson get the final 2 slots.
  - That situation moves Adam Wainwright into a long relief role, and sends Blong to AAA.
- Unexpectedly, Craig Kimbrel has struggled as the closer (3 saves, 2 losses, an ERA over 10 in 5 games), with both Jeff Pfeffer and Trevor Rosenthal making arguments for consideration for the role. Charlie Comiskey has been recalled from AAA as well.
  - It looks like closing will be split between Pfeffer and Rosenthal in the short term while Kimbrel tries to get back on track.
  - Jeremy Bonderman heads to AAA as well, with Todd Worrell coming in as middle/long relief.
After that, it’s really a matter of which reserve IFs are kept–the odds are one of Rex Hudler, Ozzie Smith, or Gene Freese start in the minors.
- This looks to be Hudler, as Freese is having a great Spring and Smith, whose glove compensates for a lot, is actually out-performing Jack Rowe at SS. The situation is complicated by Frankie Frisch‘s early struggles.
  - Freese is emerging as the leading candidate to start at 3B, while there is little to differentiate between Smith and Rowe still.
  - Ken Oberkfell has been recalled, as has Jim Bottomley.
Similarly, the final OF slot (perhaps, 2 slots) is unknown, with the competition between Lou Brock, Ducky Medwick, Willie McGee with Cool Papa Bell (due to his speed) and Mark DeRosa (due to his defensive flexibility) having outside shots as well.
- Stan Musial is yet to get going, but retains his likely starting spot. However, Steve Evans, Medwick, and Jim Edmonds are both struggling profoundly, with Edmonds being jettisoned to AAA.
  - The fact that Musial is hitting surprises noone, the fact that Fielder Jones continues to smash the ball is. Brock looks to be a solid bet for the roster, which may move both Medwick and Evens to AAA when all is said and done.
- The biggest question here is whether a team really need both Brock and Bell, especially with McGee playing fantastically?
Salvador Perez can’t stop hitting and Ted Simmons can’t start, throwing plans at C into turmoil.
- This is still true.

	Near Definite	Likely	Possible	Long Shot
Starting Pitchers	Andy Petite Rube Marquard	Bob Gibson	Connie Johnson Jose Rijo Luke Hamlin Jock Menafee Frank Castillo	Adam Wainwright
Middle Relievers		Craig Kimbrel	Charlie Comiskey	Todd Worrell
Setup		Adam Russell Frank DiPino
Closer		Trever Rosenthal Jeff Pfeffer
C			Ted Simmons Salvador Perez Lew Brown
1B	Boog Powell		Andre Thornton	Jim Bottomley
2B	Rogers Hornsby			Rex Hudler
3B		Gene Freese	Frankie Frisch	Ken Oberkfell
SS		Jack Rowe Ozzie Smith
OF	Albert Pujols Fielder Jones Stan Musial	Willie McGee Lou Brock	Steve Evans Ducky Medwick	Mark DeRosa Cool Papa Bell