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Tag: John Candelaria

Series XII Featured Matchup: Ottawa Mounties @ Homestead Grays

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On August 18, 2021

In Featured Series, Game Recaps

Preview here.

Rain, rain, go away, give us a doubleheader another day. The opening game in this series was rained out, setting up a twinbill the following day.

#Game 1: Jamie Moyer @ Ray Brown

Both pitchers struggled early, and both turned it around, somewhat.

Jamie Moyer gave up 5 runs in 3 innings, including a solo homerun to Andrew McCutcheon and a 2 run shot to Willie Stargell. But with the bullpen on constant alert, Moyer settled down, making it through 6 innings, trailing 5-2.

Homestead’s Ray Brown gave up 7 hits, but only the 2 runs in 5 innings of work, and the Grays bullpen basically held down the fort, with John Candelaria, Kent Tekulve, Bartolo Colon, and Josh Lindblom combining for 4 solid innings. Lindblom picked up his 6th save.

Chris Leroux followed Moyer with a scoreless inning, but hopes of an Ottawa comeback were really dashed when Steve Howe allowed 2 runs, including a homerun to Honus Wagner.

McCutcheon had 3 hits and 3 RBIs for the Grays, while–in what really could be an important turnaround for Ottawa–Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey, Jr. combined to go 5-for-8 with 4 runs scored.

It was a solid win for Homestead, but one that could have implications for their bullpen in game 2.

OTT 4 (Moyer 1-2) @ HOM 7 (Brown 4-2; Candelaria 1 H; Tekulve 3 H; Colon 1 H; Lindblom 6 Sv)
HRs: OTT – none; HOM – Stargell (7), McCutcheon (7), Wagner (3)
Box Score

#Game 2: Jim Clancy @ Hal Carlson

Ottawa opened up the scoring in this one, relying on their two best performers of the season, as Tim Raines doubled and stole a base and scored on an RBI double from Carlos Delgado in the top of the first against Hal Carlson.

But Homestead began to hit Jim Clancy pretty hard in the 2nd: Josh Gibson led the inning off with a double, Rick Reichardt walked, and a single from Willie Stargell loaded the bases, setting the stage for two consecutive sacrifice flies, one from Tom Brown and one from Arky Vaughan. Chris Sabo added an RBI double, and the Grays emerged with a 3-1 lead.

Rick Monday, given a rare start, doubled to lead off the 3rd for Ottawa, and eventually scored on a wild pitch, cutting the lead to 3-2. But, Clancy was still struggling, again loading the bases to open the bottom of the 3rd. The Grays would score twice, once on a double play and once on an RBI single from Stargell, extending their lead to 5-2.

The wheels fell off for Carlson in the top of the 5th. Emil Gross led off with a double for the Mounties, Monday walked, and Raines and Anthony Rendon delivered RBI hits. A walk to Delgado loaded the bases, and the Grays brought in Earl Hamilton … who immediately walked in a run, giving Ottawa a 6-5 lead.

Given the lead, Clancy suddenly excelled, retiring 11 straight batters between a walk to Vaughan in the 4th and a 2-out single by Davey Johnson in the 7th. Greg Holland relieved Clancy and got out of the inning without allowing anything else.

Holland gave up a leadoff double to Gibson in the bottom of the 8th, and an RBI single to Brown to tie the game.

Hamilton’s work should not go unmentioned–he allowed only 2 hits in 5 innings in what is probably his best outing of the season. But he wouldn’t feature in the decision, as the offenses were unable to do much, sending the game into extra innings.

Ottawa’s closer, Tom Henke, gave up hits to Roberto Clemente and Andrew McCutcheon to open the bottom of the 11th, and after an out, a single to Mike Epstein to load the bases. The Mounties brought in Ted Bowsfield, who retired Honus Wagner, but gave up a walk-off grand slam to Reichardt to win the game for Homestead. Henke took the loss, as the winning run was his responsibility, and the win went to Michael Jackson, who threw a hitless 1.2 innings in relief of Hamilton.

Gibson had 4 hits for the Grays and scored twice, while Raines and Rendon had 2 hits each for Ottawa.

OTT 6 (Henke 0-3; Holland 3 BSv) @ HOM 10 (Jackson 2-1)
HRs: Reichardt (5)
Box Score

#Game 3: Old Hoss Radbourn @ Carlos Zambrano

With Vean Gregg not ready to go, Homestead turned to Carlos Zambrano to make the start against Old Hoss Radbourn. Zambrano’s performance–especially since losing his spot in the rotation–has been far better than his 1-2 record and 6.28 ERA might indicate. Radbourn sits at 3-3, 4.94.

The first inning had a couple of minor baseball moments: In the top of the first, Tim Raines was thrown out stealing by Josh Gibson, something that has only happened 4 times in 37 attempts this season. Then, in the bottom of the frame, Radbourn loaded the bases with no outs, but got out of the inning unscathed.

Gary Carter gave Ottawa a 2-0 lead with a homerun in the top of the 2nd.

In the top of the 3rd, Gibson did it again, ending the inning with a strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play by nailing Raines at second base once more. A few innings later, Pops Stargell tied the game with a solo shot down the rightfield line. They would take the lead when an RBI single from Andrew McCutcheon scored Roberto Clemente.

It was a see-saw game for a bit: in the top of the 5th, a solo homerun from Ken Griffey, Jr. would tie the game at 3; in the bottom of the inning, another hit from Stargell, this one an RBI double, would return the lead to the Grays; in the top of the 6th, Terry Puhl would go yard to again tie the game, 4-4.

Cliff Lee-considered for the start originally–relieved Zambrano in the top of the 5th, and Greg Holland took over from Radbourn in the bottom of the inning.

Holland was greeted by a Clemente homerun, and gave up 3 walks and another hit before being relieved managing to record only a single out. Ottawa’s bullpen was already stretched, and it got worse: Steve Howe surrendered a run on a sacrifice fly, but was forced from the ballgame with an apparent back injury. Chris Leroux–already a bit overworked–replaced him, and when the inning ended, Homestead was up, 7-4.

Rick Reichardt added a 2-run homerun, and Kent Tekulve slammed the door with 2 scoreless innings as the Grays won, 9-4. McCutcheon, Stargell, and Clemente had 3 hits each, with Reichardt driving in 3.

After the game, Howe was put on the DL, with Ottawa recalling the impressive Johnny Podgajny from AAA.

OTT 4 (Holland 2-1) @ HOM 9 (Lee 3-0; Tekulve 1 Sv)
HRs: OTT – Carter (4), Griffey Jr (2), Puhl (4); HOM – Reichardt (6), Stargell (8), Clemente (6)
Box Score

#Game 4: Bob Brown @ Vean Gregg

Vean Gregg was ready to take the ball for game four, hoping to lead Homestead to the sweep over Ottawa and Bob Brown.

Brown and Gregg matched zero’s through five innings, each allowing only 3 hits.

It remained scoreless until the top of the 8th, when with two outs Carlos Delgado doubled in Tim Raines for a 1-0 Ottawa lead. After an error by Honus Wagner, Ottawa added another run, making it 2-0.

Brown couldn’t come out to take the mound in the 8th, so the Mounties turned to one of the hottest pitchers in the WBL, Gary Lavelle.

It got interesting in the bottom of the 9th. Lavelle got the first out before giving way to closer Tom Henke, who has struggled in his last few appearances. Henke gave up 3 consecutive hits to load the bases with one out. But he struck out Phil Garner and got Andrew McCutcheon to fly out to Ken Griffey, Jr. in centerfield to end the game, salvaging a win in the series for Ottawa.

Arky Vaughan had 3 hits for Homestead, who outhit the Mounties, 7-6 but were unable to put a run on the board.

OTT 2 (Brown 3-3; Lavelle 4 H; Henke 11 Sv) @ HOM 0 (Gregg 3-5)
HRs: none
Box Score

#Series Notes

The story of the series was the collapse of Ottawa’s bullpen–a strength up to now. But Tom Henke, Steve Howe, and Greg Holland all struggled quite a bit in the series.

The extent of Bob Brown‘s injury is unknown at this time, which could be quite a blow for Ottawa, as his 3.43 ERA is quite respectable.

Carlos Delgado was 6-for-12 and Phil Bradley 4-for-10 in a series where the Mounties struggled to do much offensively.

For Homestead, Roberto Clemente was 7-for-12, Josh Gibson was 5-for-12, Arky Vaughan was 5-for-10, Andrew McCutcheon 8-for-19, Rick Reichardt 5-for-17 with 2 homeruns, and Pops Stargell 6-for-17 with 2 homeruns, 2 doubles, and 5 RBIs. Yeah, they feasted a bit on Ottawa pitching.


TWIWBL 11.3: Notes from Series IX – Effa Manley Division

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On July 11, 2021

In TWIWBL

#Cleveland Spiders

Both Phenomenal Smith and Nap Lajoie were eligible to return from the DL for the Spiders. Smith will head to AAA for a rehab assignment, but Lajoie rejoins the big league club, with Kenny Lofton heading back to Buffalo. Lofton was never really given a shot, which is puzzling given that Larry Doby is still struggling to get his OPS to .600.

A single by Bill Dahlen in the bottom of the 14th gave the Spiders a come from behind win over Kansas City. The player of the game was probably Stan Coveleski, who allowed 1 run in over 4 innings of relief, but he wasn’t involved in the decision with the win going to Chuck Porter, who improved his record to 3-2. Dahlen finished the game 3-for-6 with 2 RBIs, and Louis Santop had 3 hits as well.

Pinch-hitting in the bottom of the 9th, Ron Blomberg hit his 8th homerun of the year to give the Spiders a 4-3 victory in the 3rd game of the series with the Monarchs. Bob Feller earned the win with 4 innings of hitless relief, following a largely ineffective Cy Young, and Terry Adams picked up his 9th save.

The Spiders needed a starter, and sent the highly ineffective Chad Qualls to AAA in favor of Hardie Henderson.

On the one hand, once-time wunderkind Rowland Office, Sammy Strang, and Doby are all struggling, with OPS around .600; on the other, the Spiders are surging. So, for now, all 3 stay in the WBL, but the clock is ticking.

#Homestead Grays

Needing a starter, the Grays send Bartolo Colon back down to AAA after just 4 innings of work, bringing up 21 year-old John Candelaria to make the start in their final game against Indianapolis.

Candelaria was mediocre, allowing 10 baserunners over 7 innings, but only 4 runs. A long homerun by Pops Stargell, 3 hits from Davey Johnson, and 4 RBI’s from Roberto Clemente helped drive the Grays to an 11-4 victory.

Stan Bahnsen has allowed 4 hits and no runs in 8 innings, enough for him to slide into the rotation. Jeff Kent was sent to AAA with Phil Garner getting the call to the big leagues (Bill Mazeroski is hitting a little better than Garner, but Garner’s defensive versatility was probably the deciding factor).

#Indianapolis ABC’s

Jake Stenzel hit a grand slam, more than enough to support a fantastic outing by Red Faber against Homestead. Faber allowed 4 hits in the complete game effort as the ABC’s won easily, 9-1.

Looking for a way to get Edd Roush more playing time, the ABC’s have inserted him into a platoon with Dave Henderson in CF. Perhaps more importantly, Joe Morgan was finally cleared to return from the DL, waiving Lonny Frey.

#New York Black Yankees

The Eric Davis RBI engine just keeps on going–given a start against the Gothams, Davis went 3-for-4 with a double and a homerun and 4 RBIs in a 5-3 victory for the Black Yankees. The win went to AJ Burnett and the save to Sparky Lyle, his 4th.

Despite the win, Burnett was sent to AAA to straighten himself out, with Cole Hamels being recalled into New York’s bullpen. The Black Yankees would gladly move Craig Counsell (178/260/289), but their only real option is Aaron Hill, who isn’t hitting that well all the way down at AA, so for the time being, they’ll accept Counsell’s lack of offense in exchange for his defensive versatility.

#Philadelphia Stars

Ray Collins gave up 6 hits–3 to Alexei Ramirez–in a complete game shutout of Miami, improving his record to 4-0 and lowering his ERA to 2.57. Collins was helped by homeruns from Jose Ramirez–the first of his WBL career–and Sherm Lollar.

Trailing 9-5 after 5 innings, the Stars scored the next 5 runs in a 10-9 victory. Mickey Doolin and Buck Freeman had 3 RBIs each, and Scott Rolen had 4 hits. Each of the three of them hit homeruns, with the victory going to Rheal Cormier (3-0) and Bob Howry earning his 10th save.

Jack Easton was sent to the IL with a burnt hand, having not really done enough to guarantee a return to Philadelphia when he becomes eligible. Larry Jackson was recalled to take his place.

Another ineffective outing by Pedro Feliciano has ended his time in the WBL for now, with the reliever unable to get his ERA into single digits. Don Carman was promoted to take his spot in the bullpen, and Feliciano was eventually waived to clear room on the 40-man roster for other transactions.

Jackson was quickly returned to AAA, with Bob McClure moving to Philadelphia and 37-year old Ken Forsch being released. The Stars have declined to indicate whether Jaret Wright or JM Ward will take the final rotation spot.

Gene DeMontreville has some value with his glove, but hitting 156/156/178 is rough, and his defense means less on a team with Doolin already at SS. DeMontreville was sent to AAA, with 22-year old Jimmy Rollins recalled from AA to backup Doolin.

Season Preview: Homestead Grays

By

On August 18, 2020

In Team News

The Grays should hit, but the pitching staff is a bit patchwork. A lot hinges on whether Corey Kluber or Carlos Zambrano can establish themselves as an ace. Zambrano is the biggest surprise of the Spring, coming from nowhere to the front of the rotation. Josh Gibson‘s injury allowed Peaches Graham to show what he could do–not enough to unseat Gibson, but far more than was expected offensively.

Final Roster

SP: Corey Kluber, Carlos Zambrano, Vean Gregg, Francisco Liriano, Ray Brown.
RP: Bill Fischer & Hal Carlson; Daniel Hudzon & Frank Linzy; Michael Jackson & Kent Tekulve; Josh Lindblom.

C: Josh Gibson; Peaches Graham.
1B: Mike Epstein; Honus Wagner
2B: Davey Johnson; Jeff Kent
3B: Pedro Feliz
SS: Arky Vaughan
LF: Rick Reichardt
CF: Andrew McCutchen
RF: Roberto Clemente; Tom Brown
DH: Willie Stargell

Notes

Ray Brown recovered from injury to beat out Hal Carlson for the final rotation spot … Josh Lindblom‘s hold on the closer role is fairly tenuous … John Candelaria was the final cut on the pitching staff … Paul Waner came back from injury to hit decently, but with near-zero power, sending the 22 year old to AAA … the final cut for Homestead is a bit odd, as Khalil Greene goes back to AAA, leaving the Grays without a SS behind Arky Vaughan. The plan is to give Honus Wagner time as a reserve SS, but that’s quite a risk to take on the 24 year old.

36 year old reserve 2B Jeff Kent is the oldest player on the opening day roster, with 20 year old C Josh Gibson the youngest.

OF Paul Waner and P Babe Adams are the most likely to receive a call from AAA, with Phil Garner‘s versatility in the mix as well. Down at AA, three teenagers–pitchers Earl Hamilton and Catfish Hunter and 3B Freddie Lindstrom are held in high regard, while Andy Van Slyke looks impressive as well.

Getting to 30: Effa Manley Division

By

On August 7, 2020

In 2000 Spring Training, Team News

#Cleveland Spiders

The pitching staff seems set with Hank Gastright and Firpo Marberry heading back to the minors. The only real question is the long reliever roles, where 1 or 2 of Hardie Henderson, Sudden Sam McDowell, and Stan Coveleski will make the roster. They’ve all struggled a bit, especially with their control.

Surprisingly, Jim Thome ends up losing the battle at 1B. But 5 players remain on the roster who can play 1B, and all of them were significantly better than Thome during the Spring.

SS is just a desolation for the Spiders: neither Bill Dahlen, Joe Sewell, or Tom Veryzer have hit over .133 or posted an OPS over .360 over the Spring games. Bill Knickerbocker has shown some spark, but it’s only been 10 ABs. Sewell and Veryzer are sent down for now, but a better performance has to come out eventually.

#Homestead Grays

Ray Brown and John Candelaria stay in camp as long relievers, which means Bartolo Colon and Babe Adams are off to the minors.

Josh Lindblom is holding on to the closer role, but Kent Tekulve and Michael Jackson are clearly poised to help out if he falters.

Khalil Greene impressed enough in his stint to beat out Jay Bell for the backup SS role behind Arky Vaughan. The final cut was rough, first of all because Paul Waner‘s short-term injury complicates the situation. Beyond that, Honus Wagner has struggled, but has shown some power, making Phil Garner the final cut for now.

#Indianapolis ABC’s

The ABC’s are one of the few teams to have an embarrassment of riches of starting pitching. It’s great for them, but makes the roster cuts rough. Rob Dibble and Lefty James in the bullpen are locks, as are Red Faber, Dolf Luque, and Johnny Cueto in the rotation. Paul Derringer joins as the 4th starter.

The 5th slot is between Virgil Trucks, David Price, and Bronson Arroyo. But Willie Mitchell and Dixie Leverett would have earned starting positions on other teams: look for their return or for them to be trade bait.

The rest of the cuts were pretty pedestrian, if a little surprising: Barry Larkin was eliminated from the crush of options at SS, Charlie Hemphill just couldn’t do enough in the OF.

#New York Black Yankees

Like Indianapolis, too much starting pitching is a blessing in disguise. Ron Guidry is a lock, along with Red Ruffing and Dave Righetti. Beyond that, 5 pitchers are competing for 4 spots: 2 in the rotation, 2 in the pen. AJ Burnett, Lady Baldwin, Waite Hoyt, and Whitey Ford all deserve another start, while Jack Scott should get some more bullpen innings before the final decision.

It’s complicated by Sparky Lyle and Goose Gossage both being sidelined with injury.

Luckily 4 of the 6 remaining cuts are clear, as Joe Harris, Chris Brown, Hardy Richardson, and Aaron Hill head to AAA. Sam Thompson will join them, but the final cut is difficult, especially as both Red Rolfe and Moose Skowron have torn the cover off the ball in limited action. Skowron has the biggest challenge to make the team, as 1B is well blocked, so he also returns to the minors.

#Philadelphia Stars

There are 2 pending questions on the pitching staff: first, while Monte Ward, Jack Katoll, and Pete Alexander are all on the roster, it’s not clear who starts the season as the 5th starter. Second, Brad Kilby, Rheal Cormier, and Pedro Feliciano are 3 hurlers trying to fill 2 spots.

Mickey Doolin can’t return from injury soon enough; in the meantime, Larry Bowa will start at SS, backed up by Roger Peckingpaugh, with Pat Meares heading to the minors.

Sending both Bobby Abreu and Dusty Baker to AAA clears up a crowded OF, and Cecil Cooper will join them after failing to displace Ted Kluszewski at 1B.

Spring Training Preview: Homestead

By

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 DefiniteLikelyPossibleLong Shot
Starting PitchersCorey Kluber
Carlos Zambrano
Vean Gregg
Francisco Liriano
Hal Carlson		John Candelaria
Ray Brown
Bartolo Colon
Babe Adams
Middle RelieversDaniel HudsonBill Fischer
Will Thompson		Frank Linzy
SetupMichael Jackson
Kent Tekulve
CloserJosh Lindblom
CJosh GibsonPeaches GrahamBlake SwihartHobie Landrith
1BMike EpsteinHonus Wagner
2BDavey JohnsonJeff KentPhil Garner
3BChris SaboPedro FelizAndy Van Slyke
SSArky VaughanJay Bell
Khalil Greene
OFGoose GoslinPops Stargell
Andrew McCutcheon
Tom Brown		Rick Reichardt
Paul Waner
Roberto Clemente		Max Carey
Jack Cust

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