Tag: John Burkett

TWIWBL 69.5: Effa Manley Division

On December 6, 2024

Team	W/L	Pct	GB
Brooklyn Royal Giants	39-30	.565	—
Homestead Grays	37-33	.529	2.5
New York Gothams	37-34	.521	3
Philadelphia Stars	37-35	.514	3.5
Ottawa Mounties	33-35	.485	5.5

Effa Manley Division | 18 June

#Brooklyn Royal Giants

Darren Dreifort‘s struggles proved too much, with Brooklyn sending him to AAA in exchange for Rick Aguilera.

Mike Piazza, Dan Brouthers, and John Briggs each hit 2 out as the Royal Giants bowled over the Mounties, 17-8. Brouthers scored 4 times and Piazza drove in 6 in the win.

#Homestead Grays

Brickyard Kennedy failed his WBL audition, heading back to AAA in exchange for Moose Haas. The Grays also stabilized their rotation for the time being, naming Cliff Lee and Billy Pierce to the final 2 spots.

Mike Epstein reached 20 homers on the year with 2 longballs in a 10-2 win over Kansas City.

Honus Wagner had 4 hits including 2 homeruns as the Grays moved past the Stars, 7-4.

#Indianapolis ABC’s

Oscar Charleston went deep twice, leading the ABC’s to a 6-2 win over the Gothams behind a strong outing from Doc White.

#New York Gothams

Last season’s AAA MVP Benny Kauff hit 2 out, giving him 18 on the year, as the Gothams beat Philadelphia, 9-2.

Needing a starter, the Gothams exchanged Guy Hecker for Vean Gregg, who will make his WBL debut. It did not go well, as Gregg surrendered 7 runs in under 4 IP in an 8-2 loss to Indianapolis.

#Ottawa Mounties

Bill Smith moved into the rotation for Ottawa, while Clark Griffith was sent t0 AAA with Clayton Richard being recalled for his first shot at WBL action this season.

Rick Monday continues to press for playing time, hitting 2 out in a 6-3 win over Brooklyn. Monday now has 14 on the year, and Sam Thompson, Roberto Alomar, and Gary Carter also went deep for Ottawa. Bob Brown was hurt in the game, and will miss about 6 weeks, with Chris Bosio rejoining the Mounties.

#Philadelphia Stars

John Burkett, who did fine in his time in the WBL, was sent down as closer Bob Howry was ready to return from injury.

TWIWBL 63.5: Effa Manley Division

By mknn

On July 16, 2024

In TWIWBL

#Brooklyn Royal Giants

Roy White went deep twice, but it wasn’t enough as the Royal Giants gave up a late lead and lost in 12 innings, 6-5, to the Gothams.

Frank Knauss became the league’s first 6 game winner with a 2 hit shutout, striking out 10 en route to a 2-0 victory over Ottawa. Solo homeruns from Duke Snider and Pedro Guerrero were all Knauss needed to move to 6-1 on the year.

#Homestead Grays

Daniel Hudson and Carlos Zambrano are both struggling mightily, but both hold their roster spots for now. It’s assumed that one will go down when Corey Kluber comes back from injury; it’s likely the other will follow shortly thereafter unless something turns around.

Francisco Liriano tossed a 2-hit shutout, leading the Grays to a 5-0 win over Kansas City. Liriano walked 4 and whiffed 8, and was helped along with homeruns from Mike Epstein and Willie Stargell.

Owen Wilson, struggling to regain his from from last season, will miss about a month and a half with a separated shoulder. OF Goose Goslin was recalled from AAA to take Wilson’s role as lefty OF off the bench.

Doug Drabek–perhaps the Grays’ best hurler in the early going–hit the DL with a sore wrist. Drabek should only miss a couple starts, but still. Brickyard Kennedy was recalled from AAA. Kennedy pitched well for Brooklyn last season in limited opportunities, but at 35, was released by the Royal Giants in February.

#New York Gothams

Brandon Crawford hit the shortest homerun of the day, but it was enough to give the Gothams a 6-5 walkoff victory in 12 innings over Brooklyn. In great news for the Gothams, Brian Wilson saw his first action of the year, giving up 1 hit and striking out 3 in 1.2 innings. The win went to Mike Norris, who improved to 2-0 with 2+ perfect innings.

Willie Mays went deep twice and Carl Furillo might have staved off his release with his first homerun of the year as the Gothams beat the House of David, 7-5.

Benny Kauff went deep twice, giving him 10 on the year, as the Gothams beat the House of David, 7-3.

#Ottawa Mounties

It was assumed that Ryan Dempster would lose his role as closer when Tom Henke returned. The surprise came when the Mounties moved Dempster to AAA, along with Dupee Shaw, as both Henke and Johnny Podgajny were recalled from their rehab assignments.

#Philadelphia Stars

Tim Belcher was sent to AAA with John Burkett being recalled as the Stars try to address their bullpen.

Joe Rogan tossed a complete game, 2-hit shutout as the Stars beat Birmingham, 7-0. He also drove in 2 while Art Fletcher and Willie Davis had 3 hits each, with Fletcher driving in 4.

Rogan was again the star, delivering a walkoff 2 run single to lead the Stars, who scored 6 runs over the final 3 innings, to a 7-6 victory over Birmingham. Ted Kluszewski went deep twice in the game and Burkett was excellent in his debut, delivering 2+ innings of 1 hit relief with the victory going to Ted Kennedy, now 2-1 on the year.

Scott Rolen went deep twice, but the Stars couldn’t hold a lead, falling to Homestead, 7-6.