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TWIWBL 34.0: Series XXVII Notes

On February 27, 2023

July 27th

Let’s Talk About D, Baby

While the rest of the league is buzzing with trade talk, let’s take a look at what the game tells us about flashing the leather. We’ll go by position, trying to get a sense of the best fielders in the league so far.

C (500 IP min)

Thurman Munson of the New York Black Yankees has over 150 more total chances than Homestead‘s Josh Gibson, having started 86 games behind the plate. That has to count for something. Of starting catchers, Baltimore‘s Curt Blefary leads in cERA with 4.08, and Cleveland‘s Louis Santop–yet to turn 20–leads the league in framing runs–1.2 ahead of Gibson. In terms of gunning down base runners, everyone is clustered around 33% or so–Emil Gross (Ottawa) was way up at 46%, but couldn’t hit enough to stay in the league and Alan Ashby (Miami) has been excellent at 36% since taking over for Miami. Looking at all of that, it’s got to be Munson, Gibson, Blefary, or Santop, with apologies to Indianapolis‘ Johnny Bench and the House of David‘s Elrod Hendricks.

	IP	TC	E	RTO%	cERA	FRM
C. Blefary (BAL)	599	401	11	29.4	4.08	-1.2
J. Gibson (HOM)	718	559	14	27.2	5.77	1.5
T. Munson (NYY)	765	719	5	33.0	4.72	-1.3
L. Santop (CLE)	624	542	2	32.6	4.20	2.7

IP = Innings Played; TC = Total Chances; E = Errors; RTO% = Runners Thrown Out %; cERA = Catching ERA; FRM = Framing Runs Saved

I think Santop takes it, but I would be OK if Munson’s higher usage swung it to him.

1B (600 IP min)

Philadelphia‘s Ted Kluszewski has the best fielding percentage (.996), having committed only 3 errors, but trails well behind Dan McGann (BAL)’s league leading 10.20 Range Factor. Will Clark of the Miami Cuban Giants leads in Zone Rating at 3.3. So McGann makes the most plays overall, but Clark makes the most plays that other 1B miss.

	IP	TC	E	PCT	RNG	ZR
Will Clark (MCG)	791	818	5	.994	9.25	3.3
Ted Kluszewski (PHI)	676	711	3	.996	9.43	1.0
Dan McGann (BAL)	749	854	5	.994	10.20	2.5
Bill White (MEM)	788	814	4	.995	9.25	1.8

IP = Innings Played; TC = Total Chances; E = Errors; PCT = Fielding %; RNG = Range Factor; ZR = Zone Rating

It comes down to whether you think McGann’s RNG is more a product of his glovework or the superior Black Sox pitching staff. For me, Clark making plays nobody else in the league makes takes it.

2B (600 IP min)

Cleveland‘s Chuck Knoblauch and San Francisco‘s Jimmy Bloodworth each sport a .993 Fielding Percentage with only 3 errors each. The House of David’s Ryne Sandberg has, by a fair bit, played the most at 2B, making his leading the league in Range Factor more impressive. The New York Gotham‘s Cookie Rojas leads in ZR, trailed by Chicago‘s Eddie Collins. Those are the contenders.

	IP	TC	E	PCT	RNG	ZR
Jimmy Bloodworth (SFS)	753	423	3	.993	5.02	3.7
Eddie Collins (CAG)	715	390	5	.987	4.85	5.5
Chuck Knoblauch (CLE)	801	426	3	.993	4.75	-1.8
Cookie Rojas (NYG)	703	369	3	.992	4.68	6.5
Ryne Sandberg (HOD)	850	524	7	.987	5.48	0.8

IP = Innings Played; TC = Total Chances; E = Errors; PCT = Fielding %; RNG = Range Factor; ZR = Zone Rating

I can’t get away from Rojas. Behind him it’s rough: Collins makes some great plays, but Sandberg’s greater usage may give him the edge.

3B (600 IP min)

Mike Schmidt of the Black Yankees has the highest fielding percentage, Ottawa’s Anthony Rendon leads in Range Factor, and Philadelphia’s Scott Rolen has a massive edge in Zone Rating. It’s hard to put together.

	IP	TC	E	PCT	RNG	ZR
Ron Cey (BRK)	808	221	6	.973	2.39	5.4
Anthony Rendon (OTT)	853	266	7	.974	2.73	1.8
Scott Rolen (PHI)	813	240	5	.979	2.60	8.5
Mike Schmidt (NYY)	677	193	3	.984	2.53	6.3

IP = Innings Played; TC = Total Chances; E = Errors; PCT = Fielding %; RNG = Range Factor; ZR = Zone Rating

Rendon’s ZR confirms that his other stats are really a product of being on the field a lot. I think that leaves Rolen and Schmidt pretty much neck and neck.

SS (550 IP min)

The lower requirement is basically to allow Philadelphia’s Mickey Doolin to be listed. Homstead’s Arky Vaughan has played the most at SS, giving him roughly 20% more chances than the next few shortstops. Couple that with only 5 errors for a .990 PCT and Vaughan has to be in the argument. George Wright (Los Angeles) has a .995 PCT with only 2 errors, which is remarkable. Vaughan also leads in RNG, and is one of 3 SS with a ZR over 10, along with Detroit‘s George Davis and Kansas City‘s Ozzie Smith.

	IP	TC	E	PCT	RNG	ZR
George Davis (DET)	855	479	12	.975	4.91	13.0
Mickey Doolin (PHI)	597	343	5	.985	5.10	8.0
Ozzie Smith (KCM)	868	467	5	.989	4.79	12.5
Arky Vaughan (HOM)	884	520	5	.990	5.24	10.1
George Wright (LAA)	754	411	2	.995	4.88	9.8

IP = Innings Played; TC = Total Chances; E = Errors; PCT = Fielding %; RNG = Range Factor; ZR = Zone Rating

You gotta’ give it to Wright, right? But after that, how do you figure out the difference between Smith and Vaughan? Smith is more spectacular, Vaughan more steady … I’ve always been a sucker for the spectacular.

LF (500 IP min)

Homestead’s Rick Reichardt has spent the most time out there, has the best RNG among qualifiers, and leads LFers with 10 OF Kills. Los Angeles’ Don Buford and Ottawa’s Phil Bradley are second with 6, so that’s quite a gap. There are six–SIX–LFers who qualify who are yet to make an error. Of those, only Brooklyn‘s Roy White and Detroit’s Oscar Gamble have positive supporting metrics as well. White has routinely pulled of the spectacular, making roughly 4 additional plays in LF than the Gotham’s Jimmy Sheckard and San Francisco’s Rickey Henderson.

	IP	TC	A	E	PCT	RNG	ZR
Phil Bradley (OTT)	552	121	6	0	1.000	1.97	-1.9
Don Buford (LAA)	629	144	6	3	.979	2.02	1.0
Oscar Gamble (DET)	535	118	2	0	1.000	1.99	1.5
Rickey Henderson (SFS)	689	173	5	3	.983	2.22	2.7
Rick Reichardt (HOM)	799	211	10	2	.991	2.35	-1.2
Jimmy Sheckard (NYG)	865	207	5	4	.981	2.11	2.6
Roy White (BRK)	865	204	2	0	1.000	2.12	6.7

IP = Innings Played; TC = Total Chances; A = Assists; E = Errors; PCT = Fielding %; RNG = Range Factor; ZR = Zone Rating

I think White has to get the nod here, and behind him it’s a bit f a jumble. Reichardt is far from spectacular, but he’s added twice as many cold, hard outs than the next contenders without many miscues, so he gets a nod despite the negative ZR.

CF (600 IP min)

The Gothams’ Willie Mays has 15 OF kills to lead the way, but of note is Ottawa’s Ken Griffey, Jr., who has 13 in half the games. Griffey, currently at AAA, doesn’t qualify here, but what an arm! Baltimore’s Paul Blair has yet to make an error. Mays and Philadelphia’s Willie Davis make the most plays, with Blair, Mays, and Birmingham‘s Curtis Granderson leading in ZR.

There are others having strong years–Kansas City’s Willie McGee, Memphis’ Reggie Smith, and Detroit’s Chili Davis spring to mind–but it’s really between those initial four names.

	IP	TC	A	E	PCT	RNG	ZR
Paul Blair (BAL)	801	303	8	0	1.000	3.40	9.0
Willie Davis (PHI)	781	323	7	2	.994	3.70	5.2
Curtis Granderson (BBB)	631	247	10	3	.988	3.48	6.4
Willie Mays (NYG)	899	381	15	2	.995	3.79	7.7

IP = Innings Played; TC = Total Chances; A = Assists; E = Errors; PCT = Fielding %; RNG = Range Factor; ZR = Zone Rating

Mays and Blair seem the easy choices here.

RF (500 IP min)

RF is probably the most difficult of the OF spots to evaluate. The Gothams’ Johnny Callison leads in OF Kills, but with only 8. Callison is tied with Homestead’s Roberto Clemente in ZR, far, far ahead of the next cluster. Jeff Burroughs (POR) has yet to make an error, but the rest of his numbers aren’t terribly impressive. The House of David’s Dan Ford leads in RNG and is solid enough elsewhere.

The challenge is that several of the best in RF–Miami’s Alejandro Oms, Indianapolis’ Oscar Charleston, and Ottawa’s Larry Walker–don’t qualify here. Walker especially draws the eye, with 7 Kills and great peripheral numbers. But all of them are under 400 innings.

	IP	TC	A	E	PCT	RNG	ZR
Johnny Callison (NYG)	671	181	8	1	.994	2.41	6.2
Roberto Clemente (HOM)	747	194	4	2	.990	2.31	6.2
Dan Ford (HOD)	542	160	5	4	.975	2.59	1.2

IP = Innings Played; TC = Total Chances; A = Assists; E = Errors; PCT = Fielding %; RNG = Range Factor; ZR = Zone Rating

I think it’s pretty clear that Ford is in third place here and I think it’s hard to push Clemente above Callison.

SP (100 IP min)

Sample size is clearly an issue here, but the Gothams’ Gaylord Perry had handled the most chances and leads in RNG. Jack Taylor (HOD) and Dutch Leonard (BRK) lead in ZR. Unwinding a pitcher’s responsibility for controlling stolen bases is hard, but since we know that, on the whole, the league runs about 33% in terms of cutting them down, we can look for who is far above that: Leonard shows up, but if we look at those with at least 10 attempts against them, we are looking at San Francisco’s Eddie Plank, Taylor, and Portland‘s Jerry Koosman.

	IP	TC	RNG	ZR	RTO%
Jerry Koosman (POR)	119	12	0.83	2.2	46
Dutch Leonard (BRK)	139	18	1.17	2.4	67
Gaylord Perry (NYG)	117	27	1.92	-0.5	21
Eddie Plank (SFS)	116	13	0.93	1.8	64
Jack Taylor (HOD)	142	21	1.26	2.5	56

IP = Innings Played; TC = Total Chances; RNG = Range Factor; ZR = Zone Rating; RTO% = Runners Thrown Out %

I think this ends up going to Taylor and Leonard, but there will probably be more churn here than in other fielding evaluations between now and the end of the season.

Final Analysis

	Gold Glove	Silver Glove
C	Louis Santop (CLE)	Thurman Munson (NYY)
1B	Will Clark (MCG)	Dan McGann (BAL)
2B	Cookie Rojas (NYG)	Ryne Sandberg (HOD)
3B	Scott Rolen (PHI)	Mike Schmidt (NYY)
SS	George Wright (LAA)	Ozzie Smith (KCM)
LF	Roy White (BRK)	Rick Reichardt (HOM)
CF	Willie Mays (NYG)	Paul Blair (BAL)
RF	Johnny Callison (NYG)	Roberto Clemente (HOM)
SP	Jack Taylor (HOD)	Dutch Leonard (BRK)

Defense is so hard to evaluate, right? Despite being the only team with 3 players listed here, the Gothams aren’t at the top of any of the team fielding ratings.

Looking at overall mentions may be more interesting–here is the list of players considered above, by team.

5 – New York Gothams
4 – Homestead; Philadelphia
3 – Baltimore; Brooklyn; House of David; San Francisco
2 – Cleveland; Detroit; Los Angeles; New York Black Yankees; Ottawa
1 – Birmingham; Chicago; Kansas City; Memphis; Miami; Portland
0 – Houston

Yeah, not any better actually. The Gothams are among the best teams in the league, but both Homestead and Philadelphia are most decidedly not.

Defense. Shrug.

Performance

Batters

Top 2 in each stat, leader in bold.

Dick Allen (CAG). 310/380/544. 10 3B.
Johnny Bench (IND). 314/421/608. 5.2 WAR.
Ron Blomberg (CLE). 338/407/649. 31 HR.
Rico Carty (PHI). 285/356/460. 35 2B.
Ty Cobb (DET). 350/390/572. 134 H.
Eric Davis (NYY). 278/353/539. 81 R.
Bobby Grich (LAA). 284/370/474. 35 2B.
Rickey Henderson (SFS). 252/383/335. 76 BB, 72 SB.
Kent Hrbek (POR). 303/376/591. 31 HR.
Joe Jackson (CAG). 334/419/592. 81 R.
Reggie Jackson (SFS). 331/445/610.
Stan Musial (KCM). 332/391/594. 37 2B.
Doug Rader (LAA). 335/391/546. 135 H, 100 RBI.
Tim Raines (OTT). 299/371/449. 72 SB.
Babe Ruth (NYY). 312/429/643. 32 HR, 96 RBI, 85 R, 79 BB, 5.6 WAR.
Louis Santop (CLE). 304/336/468. 10 3B.

Pitchers

Starters

Top 2 in each stat (top 4 in ERA and WHIP), leader in bold.

17 pitchers have at least 10 wins, accounting for why we went deeper in ERA and WHIP this time. Have also included FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) for the first time, helping to unravel some of the mystery of Alejandro Peña.

Bill Byrd (BAL). 11-2, 3.09. 1.17 WHIP.
Gerrit Cole (LAA). 12-5, 4.07.
Don Drysedale (BRK). 7-4, 3.37. 1.15 WHIP.
Ned Garvin (BAL). 9-4, 2.80. 1.18 WHIP.
Lefty Grove (SFS). 11-7, 3.75. 160 K.
Ron Guidry (NYY). 6-9, 4.41. 155 K, 3.5 WAR.
Frank Knauss (BRK). 10-4, 3.07.
Alejandro Peña (BBB). 9-7, 3.54. 3.24 FIP, 4.2 WAR.
Gaylord Perry (NYG). 8-7, 3.92. 3.54 FIP.
Stephen Strasburg (HOU). 6-6, 3.27.
Jack Taylor (HOD). 10-8, 3.35. 1.18 WHIP.

Relievers

Top 2 in each stat (top 4 in ERA and WHIP), leader in bold. 25 IP for rate stats.

Terry Adams (CLE). 2-5, 3.09. 24 Sv.
Elmer Brown (POR). 3-4, 1.65. 7 Sv, 9 H.
Mike Henneman (DET). 1-4, 3.94. 28 Sv.
Trevor Hildenberger (BRK). 3-0, 2.45. 1 Sv, 3 H, 0.94 WHIP.
Ken Howell (SFS). 3-4, 2.17. 4 Sv, 7 H, 1.01 WHIP.
AJ Minter (CAG). 1-0, 2.81. 19 Sv, 0.97 WHIP.
Mike Norris (NYG). 4-3, 1.62. 3 Sv, 10 H.
Ron Reed (PHI/CLE). 0-5, 3.73. 16 H.
Ron Robinson (SFS). 4-3, 3.80. 14 H.
Carson Smith (NYG). 2-0, 1.80. 1 Sv, 8 H.
Brian Wilson (NYG). 1-0, 1.11. 21 Sv, 1.02 WHIP.

Series Results

Series XXVII Sweeps

Baltimore over Philadelphia

Taking 3 out of 4 in Series XXVII

Detroit over Miami
Kansas City over Los Angeles
Portland over Memphis
New York Gothams over San Francisco

Series XXVII Splits

House of David @ Birmingham
Houston @ Brooklyn
New York Black Yankees @ Chicago
Homestead @ Cleveland
Ottawa @ Indianapolis

Series XXVII Best Games

By mknn

On February 23, 2023

In Featured Games, Game Recaps

For Series XXVII, we’ll start with the ongoing miracle of the Birmingham Black Barons, touch on a couple of games with great starting pitching, and finish with an update to the saga of Greg Litton.

#House of David @ Birmingham, Game 2

The House of David scored 5 runs in the top of the first (2 on a Pete Browning triple, 2 more on a homerun from Dan Ford) to take an early 5-0 lead. Browning’s production has been expected, Ford has come out of nowhere to cement a starting spot in their OF. Anthony Rizzo (who has a similar narrative and an even more impressive start than Ford) drove in another, and even when Birmingham‘s Bob Nieman went deep with a man on in the 3rd, it was still 6-2 in favor of the House of David.

Birmingham kept edged closer in the bottom of the 4th on a 2 run shot from Gene Tenace, but the game seemed well out of reach when the House of David scored 3 more in the top of the 5th, pushing the lead to 10-4.

It was a 5 run lead–10-5–in the bottom of the 8th. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th. Then 4 consecutive singles off Kerry Wood resulted in 3 runs, making it 10-7. But it’s OK, right? The House of David still had its closer, Bruce Sutter, to handle the 9th, right?

Al Schweitzer walked, Hank Aaron singled, and Adrián González walked to load the bases, but Sutter got a double play from Pie Traynor. Tenace singled home Aaron, and Cupid Childs–who sure looks like a solution at 2B for Birmingham–singled. Sutter walked Frank McCormick, and that was all for him, bringing in Scott Downs … who promptly gave up a game-winning hit to Herman Long, capping Birmingham’s comeback.

Ryne Sandberg and Browning had 3 hits each for the House of David, with Browning driving in 4. McCormick had 4 hits for Birmingham, and Tenace and Childs had 3, with Childs scoring 4 times.

HOD 10 (Sutter 2-2; Smith 9 H; Downs 2 B Sv) @ BBB 11 (Young 2-4)
HRs: HOD – Ford (9); BBB – Nieman (8), Tenace (10).
Box Score

San Francisco Sea Lions @ New York Gothams, Game 1

A good old fashioned pitching duel. San Francisco‘s Eddie Plank and New York‘s Christy Mathewson each went 8 strong innings. Mathewson allowed only 3 hits and 2 runs and, if anything, Plank was even better, allowing a single run and fanning 9. That turned the game over to the bullpens with the Sea Lions up, 2-1. The Gothams’ Mike Norris pitched a perfect 9th, preserving his sub-2.00 ERA. San Francisco’s closer, Rod Beck, walked Jimmy Sheckard and gave up a single to Johnny Callison. That brought up John Kerins, who had doubled home the Gothams’ only run earlier in the game … he took Beck deep for a 3-run homer, and a walkoff win for New York.

SFS 2 (Beck 1-4, 5 B Sv) @ NYG 4 (Norris 4-3)
HRs: SFS – none; NYG – Kerins (4).
Box Score

#New York Black Yankees @ Chicago American Giants, Game 1

This one started with great pitching, as New York‘s Jack Scott and Chicago‘s Mark Buehrle locked horns through the early going. Solo homers by Joe Jackson and Derek Jeter left the game tied at 1 heading to the bttom of the 6th, when Frank Thomas took Lady Baldwin–on in relief of Scott–deep for a 2-run shot for a 3-1 lead for the American Giants.

We stayed that way until the top of the 9th, when Chicago’s closer, AJ Minter, took the mound. Singles from Albert Belle, Lou Gehrig, and Don Mattingly loaded the bases bringing up the person Chicago least wanted to see in this situation, the ever-dangerous Babe Ruth. Ruth singled in 2 runs to tie the game and, perhaps even worse for Chicago, Minter was forced out clutching his elbow.

New York had emptied the bench, and now had a purely makeshift infield: Manny Sanguillén at first, Mattingly at 3B, and Mike Schmidt at SS. But they survived the inning, which took us to the 10th. Again 3 singles loaded the bases (this time by Thurman Munson, Mickey Mantle, and Sanguillén). Munson scored on a passed ball, Mantle on a sacrifice fly, and Sanguillén on a single by Mattingly. New York now lead 6-3.

José Abreu singled to lead off the bottom of the frame and New York brought in Sparky Lyle, the poster child for their much maligned bullpen. Could Lyle redeem himself and, perhaps, his season?

You know the answer: he struck out the first two batters he faced, but walked Jackson and Thomas to load the bases, and then Mike Fiore to force in a run. Dick Allen singled and Cole Hamels replaced the clearly dejected Lyle … only to allow a game winning, walk-off single to Cristóbal Torriente.

Minter will head to the DL, with Ken Sanders being recalled to Chicago.

NYY 6 (Lyle 0-3; Hamels 1 B Sv) @ CAG 7 (Walsh 5-3; Dixon 8 H; Minter 2 B Sv) [10 Innings]
HRs: NYY – Jeter (8); CAG – Jackson (22), Thomas (20).
Box Score

Portland Sea Dogs @ Memphis Red Sox, Games 3 & 4

We close out with an update on Greg Litton, who has, somehow, someway, remained with Portland all year despite being perhaps the worst offensive regular in the league. Litton sticks around because he plays 6 positions, and most decently, allowing the Sea Dogs to conserve precious roster spots.

And in these two games against Memphis, miraculously, he found a way to hit the ball, going 7 for 9 across the 2 contests, both of which were won by Portland in 10 innings. That raised Litton’s average for the year to a whopping .230.

All four games went to extra innings, and by the time the 2nd two games rolled around, both bullpens were pretty much shredded.

In game 3, Portland was forced to throw the (so far) thoroughly ineffective Hal Griggs out for the start. He struggled as expected, but so did Mike Cuellar in relief, which was a bit of a surprise. However, nobody for Memphis could get consistent outs: not Len Barker, who started and gave up 4 runs in 6 IP, not Bill Doak, who was hit hard for 3 runs in his 2.2 IP, and not Nixey Callahan, who ultimately took the loss. Memphis outhit Portland, 16 to 11, with Claude Ritchey, Ted Williams, and Bill White each knocking out 3 in the loss.

The final game of the series saw Portland’s Walter Johnson and Memphis’ Jon Lester each throw 7 strong innings, but the Sea Dogs’ bullpen was a notch better. Both teams asked their closers to stretch out, and Portland’s Elmer Brown didn’t give up a hit in his 2 innings, while Jonathan Papelbon hit a batter and gave up 2 hits–the last an RBI single by Adrián Beltré–to take the loss.

POR 8 (Trout 6-3) @ MEM 7 (Callahan 5-8; Doak 1 B Sv) [10 Innings]
HRs: POR – Lee (1); Fregosi (12); MEM – Williams (20).
Box Score

POR 4 (Brown 3-4; Hammaker 1 B Sv) @ MEM 3 (Papelbon 0-6) [10 Innings]
HRs: POR – none; MEM – White (14).
Box Score

TWIWBL 31.3: Series XXIV Notes – Effa Manley Division

By mknn

On January 19, 2023

In TWIWBL

#Cleveland Spiders

Pat Malone improved to 10-5 on the year, allowing 3 runs in just over 7 innings in a 4-3 win over Birmingham. Terry Adams earned his 23rd save in a game where Lance Berkman and Evan Longoria had 2 hits.

Longoria plays reasonable defense, but his struggles at the plate earned him a trip back to AAA, with Tris Speaker–injured since Spring Training, but slashing 295/392/636 at AAA on a rehab assignment–being recalled to backup Kenny Lofton in CF. There’s more help at AAA, with both Larry Doby and Nap Lajoie blossoming since their early-season major league struggles.

#Homestead Grays

The Grays roared out to a 9-0 lead over the Black Yankees, then held on for dear life for a 12-9 victory. Andrew McCutcheon had 3 hits, including his 12th homerun of the year, and scored 4 runs. Rick Reichardt had 3 RBI’s and Josh Gibson 3 hits in support of Vean Gregg, who pitched 6 solid innings for his 8th win of the year.

Hal Carlson and Frank Linzy combined to allow only 3 hits and 1 run in a 5-1 victory over the Black Yankees. Andy Van Slyke and Willie Stargell had 3 hits each, with Stargell and Chief Wilson driving in two in the Grays’ victory.

Earl Hamilton was placed on the DL, and isn’t expected back until late August. Bob Friend will move into the rotation as the Grays shake up a lot of their pitching, with Ray Brown and Linzy heading to AAA, replaced by Billy Pierce, Dave Giusti, and–after some waiver wire activity–Rick Ownbey.

#Indianapolis ABC’s

Red Faber was sent down to AAA, with Virgil Trucks being recalled to the WBL. Trucks’ stay lasted one poor start, replaced by Eppa Rixey, who was also immediately returned to AA with Paul Derringer coming up for a start.

Even with all that, the ABC’s stick with a 6-man rotation–which boils down to a search each day for the most rested arm out of Dolf Luque, Rube Foster, Doc White, Johnny Cueto, David Price, and Willie Mitchell.

While Barry Larkin and Pete Rose are both struggling–neither have an OPS over .600–for now they both retain their MLB spots, although that should change when Oscar Charleston and Joe Morgan return from the injured list.

#New York Black Yankees

Babe Ruth closed out the series against Homestead with his league-leading 30th homerun of the year, as the Black Yankees hammered the Grays, 13-3. Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Mike Schmidt had 3 hits each as Jack Scott improved to 10-4 with 7 solid innings of work.

The Black Yankees continue to struggle with their middle infield. Derek Jeter and Tom Herr are established as the starters, but the experiment of the two Reds seems over, as Red Schoendienst, hitless in 10 ABs at the WBL level, was returned to AAA, giving Hardy Richardson a crack at the backup role. Red Rolfe remains with the Black Yankees. For now: Pee Wee Reese, picked up after being cut by Brooklyn, has been playing decently at AAA, and may replace Rolfe soon.

#Philadelphia Stars

Scott Rolen went 4-for-5, tying the WBL record for a single game with 3 doubles, but it wasn’t enough as the Stars fell to the Sea Dogs, 3-2 in extra innings as closer Bobby Howry was unable to hold a late lead.

Needing a spot starter, the Stars sent 1B Cecil Cooper back to AAA in exchange for Bill Laskey. Laskey was pretty rough, and sent back after the start, with Bobby Abreu being recalled. In the game itself, Willie Davis (who led off the game with his 16th homerun), Gavvy Cravath, and Rolen combined to go 8-for-11 in the game itself, scoring 7 runs and driving in 6 as the Stars prevailed, 9 to 7.

The shuttle got busier after their series, as, in search of some relief on the mound, Fred Talbot was sent to AAA and Don Carman was placed on waivers with an eye toward doing the same. Larry Jackson was recalled, as was, once Carman cleared waivers, Tom Sturdivant.

Series XX Best Game: New York Black Yankees @ Indianapolis ABC’s

By mknn

On June 16, 2022

In Featured Games, Game Recaps

The New York Black Yankees opened their series in Indianapolis with Jack Scott taking the mound while the ABC’s countered with David Price.

Indianapolis took the lead in the bottom of the first, with doubles from Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, and Jake Stenzel (one run scored on Stenzel’s double, the other on a double-play ball from Oscar Charleston).

The 2-0 lead lasted until the top of the 3rd when Babe Ruth launched his 26th homerun of the year, and Mike Schmidt followed with a moon shot of his own. Both homers were 2-run jobs, moving New York ahead, 4-2.

Danny Hoffman scored on an unlikely event–a Hal Morris triple–in the bottom of the 4th, closing the game to 4-3.

Both starting pitchers left after 5 innings, but Schmidt greeted Price’s replacement, Clay Carroll, with his 2nd homerun of the day (an inside-the-park job at that!), re-establishing a 2-run lead for the Black Yankees.

Scott would likely have stayed in the game, but rain began to fall, delaying the bottom of the 5th nearly 90 minutes. This is an issue for New York, as their bullpen has struggled all year. Goose Gossage replaced Scott, giving up a homerun to Joey Votto (the first of his career) in the bottom of the 7th. Gary Lavelle–brought in specifically to help their bullpen–relieved Gossage and immediately got into trouble, walking 2 and giving up a single to Charleston to load the bases. Bench singled, driving in 2, giving Indianapolis their first lead and chasing Lavelle.

Willie Mitchell–stellar so far this season–shut down the Black Yankees while Ralph Citarella didn’t do much better than Gossage and Lavelle, giving up a 2-RBI double to Edd Roush in the bottom of the 8th to push the score to 8-5.

Rob Dibble closed it out, making the game really a battle of the bullpens: New York’s gave up 5 runs in 3 innings while Indianapolis’ only 1 run on 2 hits in 4.

NYY 5 (Lavelle 0-1, 1 BSv; Gossage 5 H) @ IND 8 (Mitchell 4-2; Dibble 14 Sv)
HRs: NYY – Schmidt 2 (12), Ruth (26); IND – Votto (1).
Box Score

#Other Games of Note

In the second game of the series between Portland and Baltimore, the Sea Dogs scored 5 runs in the last 2 innings to grab a come-from-behind 7-4 victory. Kent Hrbek hit 2 homeruns, giving him 25 for the season (2nd in the league), and Bobby Murcer hit a 3-run pinch-hit HR in the 9th to fuel the comeback. Baltimore’s Baby Doll Jacobson is slowly adjusting to WBL pitching after dominated AAA, homering twice and driving in 4 in the game in the losing effort.
POR 7 (Cuellar 6-4; Santana 23 Sv) @ BAL 4 (Miller 2-1; Bessent 2 BSv; Marshall 6 H)
HRs: POR – Hrbek 2 (25), Murcer (14); BAL – Jacobson 2 (4).
Box Score

Gary Peters, recalled from AAA earlier in the day, gave Ottawa 5 shutout innings in their series finale with Detroit, leaving with the Mounties up 5-0 thanks to 3 homeruns in the 3rd inning (Carlos Beltrán, Larry Walker, and Anthony Rendon). It didn’t last, as Detroit scored 4 times in the 7th and twice in the bottom of the 9th to send the game into extra innings tied at 6. In the top of the 11th, George Van Haltren (0-15 at that point), hit a game-winning homerun, and two starters–the much maligned Randy Johnson and the surprisingly effective Jim Clancy–closed it out in the bottom of the frame. Detroit’s Chili Davis tied a league record with 5 hits.

OTT 8 (Dempster 1-0, 1 B Sv; Clancy 1 Sv; Bowsfield 6 H; Johnson H 1) 8 @ DET 6 (Wilshere 6-6) [11 Innings]
HRs: Beltrán (1), Walker (7), Rendon (6), Van Haltren (1).
Box Score

Series XIX Featured Matchup: Cleveland Spiders @ New York Black Yankees

By mknn

On June 2, 2022

In Featured Series

Series preview here.

#Game One: Whit Wyatt @ Waite Hoyt

The Black Yankees took the lead in the bottom of the first on a three run HR from Mickey Mantle, followed immediately by a solo shot from Eric Davis. The Spiders got one back in the third on a bases loaded groundout from Johnny Bates, but Waite Hoyt induced a double play ball from Chuck Knoblauch, keeping the score 4-1 in favor of New York.

Solo shots from Thurman Munson in the 4th and Davis in the 5th chased Whit Wyatt from the game, with the Black Yankees now up 6-1.

The Spiders put a few runners on base, especially after a rain delay led to Hoyt leaving the game, but nobody else scored.

Davis is now tied with Babe Ruth for the WBL league in homeruns with 24.

CLE 1 (Wyatt 3-5) @ NYY 6 (Hoyt 6-1)
HRs: NYY – Mantle (10), Davis 2 (24), Munson (9)
Box Score

#Game Two: Cy Young @ Ron Guidry

Ron Guidry gave up back-to-back hits to Peanuts Lowery and Jake Stahl to start the game, but a double play and a weak flyball to right got him out of the inning without a score.

Stahl would open the scoring in the top of the fourth with his 14th homerun of the year. The Spiders would add 2 more in the fifth, on a double by Louis Santop, a triple from Jim Gantner, and a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0. Cy Young, meanwhile, had a 2-hit shutout through 5 innings.

The shutout lasted until the bottom of the 9th, when Don Mattingly led off with a pinch-hit homerun. That brought in Terry Adams, who fanned Derek Jeter and Eric Davis before getting Babe Ruth to groundout weakly to 2B to end the game.

CLE 3 (Young 7-3; Adams 17 Sv) @ NYY 1 (Guidry 5-7)
HRs: CLE – Stahl (14); NYY – Mattingly (15)
Box Score

#Game 3: Pat Malone @ Red Ruffing

Cleveland sends Pat Malone to the mound as they try to get ahead in the series against New York’s all-star, Red Ruffing.

The Spiders would strike first, with Ron Blomberg hitting his 20th homerun of the year with a runner on for a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. In the bottom of the second, Albert Belle would cut the lead in half with a solo shot, and Babe Ruth would send the Black Yankees in front 3-2 with a a long homerun in the bottom of the third inning.

Ruffing and Malone would trade blanks after that until Goose Gossage took the mound for New York in the top of the 7th. The big righthander continued to struggle: Bill Dahlen walked and stole second, Kenny Lofton singled him to third, and then Chuck Knoblauch sent an 0-1 pitch into the seats for a 5-3 Cleveland lead.

That was it for Gossage, who was replaced by Cole Hamels, who gave up a pinch-hit 2 run shot to Evan Longoria, increasing the lead to 7-3.

Meanwhile, Malone was masterful, allowing only 4 hits over a complete game, 108 pitch performance, putting the Spiders in position to overtake New York in the division if they can win the final game.

Thurman Munson‘s wild 43 game streak of getting base ended in this contest.

CLE 7 (Malone 7-4) @ NYY 3 (Gossage 4-4, 5 B Sv)
HRs: CLE – Blomberg (20), Knoblauch (5), Longoria (6); NYY – Belle (9), Ruth (25)
Box Score

#Game 4: Bill Steen @ Jamie Moyer

If Bill Steen can pull a win out for Cleveland, they will take over first place from the Black Yankees, who will counter with recently acquired Jamie Moyer‘s first start for the club.

Moyer would struggle early, with Cleveland loading the bases twice in the first three innings. But the Spiders were unable to push a run across the plate in either frame. They did score first when John Ellis took Moyer deep in the top of the 5th with a runner on base. Peanuts Lowery added an RBI single, and the Spiders took the lead, 3-0.

Steen was sailing along until the bottom of the 5th, when Mike Schmidt led off with a walk and Tom Herr–who had struggled a bit in his first few days for the Black Yankees–ripped a double to right, putting New York on the board. Herr scored on a single by Derek Jeter. Singles by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig chased Steen from the game in favor of Mel Harder. Harder was greeted by an RBI single by Mickey Mantle, and we exited the 5th inning tied at 3.

It’s not clear which is more surprising, that Cole Hamels would strike out the side in the top of the 6th or that Thurman Munson, after being hit by a pitch, would steal second base. He would score on a double from Jeter, putting the Black Yankees up, 4-3.

Hamels finished with 7 strikeouts in 3 innings before giving way to Ralph Citarella with a runner on first and 2 outs. Citarella–the most dependable arm in New York’s beleaguered bullpen–hit Chuck Knoblauch and gave up a long shot into the left field stands by Ron Blomberg. That made it 6-4, and an RBI double from Ellis made it 7-4.

Cory Gearrin struggled in the bottom of the frame, giving up 3 hits, but retiring Jeter with 2 runners on to close the frame and preserve the lead.

That left Cleveland’s closer, Terry Adams, to close out the victory … if he could get through Don Mattingly, Ruth, and Gehrig. Mattingly led off with a hit, and Ruth got on with an infield squib. Gehrig followed with a double, putting runners on second and third and closing the gap to 7-5. Another infield hit, this one by Mantle, scored the runner from third, but Adams whiffed Albert Belle for the first out. Munson would send a ball deep into the night, but it would stay in the ballpark. Still, it was more than enough to score Gehrig from third.

And Herr would win the game with another infield dribbler. This one hurts the Spiders, who had a solid chance to move into first place and, instead, leave New York in the same position they were when they arrived.

Mantle had 4 hits and Herr 3 for New York while both Blomberg and Ellis drove in 3 for Cleveland.

CLE 7 (Adams 0-4, 5 Bsv; Gearrin 7 H) @ NYY 8 (Baldwin 4-0; Citrarella 2 B Sv)
HRs: CLE – Ellis (17), Blomberg (21)
Box Score

#Series Summary

For Cleveland, Ron Blomberg finished on fire, with 5 hits and 2 homeruns in the final 2 games of the series. Kenny Lofton and Bill Dahlen also had 5 hits, and John Ellis went 6-for-18 in the four games.

Mickey Mantle was 7-for-16 and Don Mattingly continued to push for more time, going 5-for-11 in the four games. Eric Davis only had 2 hits in the series, but both were homeruns.

TWIWBL 24.16: Mid-Season Reviews – Philadelphia Stars

By mknn

On April 27, 2022

In Team News, TWIWBL

Summary

Meh. It feels like they Stars have underperformed all year, yet they set basically at .500, although with little chance to catch the Black Yankees in the Effa Manley Division.

If you believe that numbers don’t lie, the Stars should be in selling mode, as they rank in the bottom 25% in most categories.

What’s Gone Right

Setups. Ron Reed and Rheal Cormier have been spectacular out of the pen for the stars, with Reed probably the most effective reliever in the league.

The Outfield. Willie Davis has been fantastic in CF, and George Hendrick, Gavvy Cravath, and Rico Carty have been good around him. Cravath and Carty (and solid contributor Buck Freeman) are in their mid-30’s and may be attractive trade bait.

Rolen Along. The decision to trade Mike Schmidt in the preseason cleared the way for Scott Rolen, a decision that looks good right now, with Rolen posting an OPS in the mid .800s with great defense at 3B.

What’s Gone Wrong

The Final Two. The number 4 and 5 starters have been miserable all year. John Montgomery Ward has shown signs of turning it around, but Larry Jackson is really just a shot in the dark after the failures of Don Carman and, most disappointingly, Robin Roberts.

Catching. Bill Dickey was supposed to be the answer behind the plate. He’s at AAA now, and Sherm Lollar is barely acceptable as the full-time backstop.

MI, Oh My. Chase Utley at 2B has been in a mammoth slump, putting his position in doubt. Over at SS, it’s just not possible to field well enough to justify Mickey Doolin‘s offense, and Jimmy Rollins has been even worse as a potential replacement.

Key Storylines

This team is likely to look quite different after the early trades, so the storylines are likely to shift as well. But the pieces–Davis, Hendrick, Cravath, Rolen–are there.

Trading Outlook

SELLING.

This is more because the team feels like it wants a shakeup and there are enough veterans they could get some good talent in return. Just at the big league level, they could be looking to move Carty, Cravath, Cormier, Ron Reed, and Bob Howry.

AAA Shuttle

José Ramírez has done well since his callup, so that’s something. Dickey, Gene Demontreville, and Al Smith have all been sent down, with others to follow soon.

Midseason Changes

Larry Jackson moves into the rotation. OF Sherry Magee and IF Jimmy Rollins head to AAA with Roger Peckinpaugh coming all the way from AA.

Awards

All Stars: Ron Reed (P); Scott Rolen (3B).

Offensive MVP: Willie Davis (CF)
Pitching MVP: Ron Reed (RP)

Down on the Farm

AAA: Norfolk Tides

Next to the Show: RPs Claude Jonnard & Minnie Rojas, 1B Cecil Cooper, OF Aaron Judge, 3B Pinky Whitney

Prospects: OF Bobby Abreu (24)

Projects: 1B Cecil Cooper (31), OF Aaron Judge (26)

Suspects: P Tim Belcher (27), SS Johnny Mitchell (27), P Bronson Arroyo (31).

AA: Atlantic City Bacharach Giants

Prospects: P Ron Tompkins (20), P Scott Garrelts (22), 1B Prince Fielder (21), OF Richie Ashburn (21), SS Roger Peckinpaugh (22)

Projects: C Tom Egan (20).

Suspects: P Pete Mikkelsen (29), OF Earl McNeely (28)

Series XVIII: Featured Game – New York Black Yankees @ Los Angeles Angels

By mknn

On January 20, 2022

In Featured Games, Game Recaps

Series XVIII was a little light on compelling games. The best of the series was the second game of the New York Black Yankees visit to the Los Angeles Angels.

The Yankees’ Jack Scott would get the start with Ron Romanick making his WBL debut for the Angels. Not a lot is expected of Romanick–Los Angeles would be thrilled to get 5 decent innings from him before he heads back to AAA.

Romanick got through the top of the first without incident, and when Doug Rader took Scott deep with Don Buford and Mike Trout on base for a 3-0 lead, the Angels could begin to feel a little optimistic. Romanick got the first two batters in the second, but RBIs from Doug DeCinces and Willie Randolph made it 3-2, and then homeruns by Don Mattingly and Eric Davis in the 3rd but New York ahead, 5-3.

It turns out Scott was the first starter to leave, as 6 hits and a walk in the bottom of the 3rd chased him from the mound. The innings started with doubles by Buford and Kal Daniels. Rader, Elmer Valo, and Ron Hassey singled in runs, bringing in Cole Hamels from the Yankees’ bullpen.

Hamels gave up hits to Tim Wallach and Buford, and the inning ended with Los Angeles putting up 6, and now leading 9-5.

Babe Ruth would take Romanick deep in the 4th for a 2-run shot, and Romanick would finally leave the game in the top of the 5th after giving up a leadoff single to Davis. He stole second and third, and scored on a wild pitch by Romanick’s replacement, Doc Gooden. That reduce the league to a single run, 9-8.

Davis would tie it in the top of the 7th with his second homerun of the game.

And we would stay that way until the top of the 12th inning, when Mike Schmidt would take Pud Galvin deep for an 11-9 lead for the Black Yankees.

Note that we haven’t mentioned any offense for Los Angeles after their 6 run burst. That’s because New York’s bullpen provided over 9 innings of scoreless relief, with Hamels, Dellin Betances, Ralph Citarella, and Goose Gossage combining to allow only 4 hits for the rest of the game.

It’s not like the Angels’ pen was bad: Gooden, Francisco Rodríguez, and Joe Nathan allowed one run in 7 innings before handing it over to Galvin in the 12th.

Davis scored 3 times and drove in 3 to lead New York. Trout and Buford had 3 hits each and Rader had 4 RBIs for Los Angeles.

NYY 11 (Gossage 4-3) @ LAA 9 (Galvin 2-5) [12 innings]
HRs: NYY – Mattingly (12), Davis 2 (22), Ruth (24); LAA – Rader (11)
Box Score

Other Games of Note

Both Diego Seguí of the San Francisco Sea Lions and the Cleveland Spiders‘ Pat Malone came into the game pitching well. Instead, the offenses dominated with the Spiders’ Johnny Bates driving in the winning run–his 3rd RBI on the day–in the bottom of the 9th for an 8-7 victory for Cleveland. The Sea Lions’ John Beckwith went 3-for-3 with a homerun in the losing cause.

SFS 7 (Bradford 1-5, 4 BSv; Devlin 1 BSv) @ CLE 8 (Gearrin 1-4)
HRs: SFS – Beckwith (5); CLE – Knoblauch (4)
Box Score

TWIWBL 18.3: Series XV Notes – Effa Manley Division

By mknn

On November 9, 2021

In TWIWBL

#Cleveland Spiders

John Ellis drove in 5 runs with 4 hits and 2 homeruns, leading the Spiders to a 10-3 victory over Houston. Stan Coveleski threw 7 solid innings, improving his record to 4-1.

Hardie Henderson was sent to AAA to make room for Bill Steen‘s return from injury. Despite a good recent start, Bob Feller moved to the bullpen, with Steen stepping back into the rotation. Rowland Office–he of the very early season heroics–was sent down as well, with Evan Longoria coming back to Cleveland. Larry Doby remains on the roster, but will see his playing time decrease significantly.

#Homestead Grays

Homestead shook up its pitching staff, demoting Frank Linzy and Billy Pierce to AAA, naming Stan Bahnsen as their #5 starter, and moving Michael Jackson into the closer role. Babe Adams and Cliff Lee were recalled. Peaches Graham was demoted to AAA, with Rick Ferrell being recalled and Jim Hegan released.

#Indianapolis ABC’s

Down a run in the top of the 9th and facing Miami’s Aroldis Chapman, things looked bleak for the ABC’s. But consecutive pinch hits from Dave Henderson and Johnny Bench tied the game and Oscar Charleston delivered the go-ahead run with a clean single to center. The comeback vindicated a strong start from David Price, who allowed 4 hits and 2 runs in 8 innings, moving to 2-4 on the year. Rob Dibble picked up his 9th save with a perfect bottom of the 9th.

Doc White has replaced Red Faber in the starting rotation for Indianapolis.

#Philadelphia Stars

Steve Carlton heads to the DL after being pulled having only thrown 2 innings against Memphis. He’ll miss 2 starts, at least. Fred Talbot was recalled from AAA.

Bob McClure was returned to AAA as the Stars continue to struggle to find both a couple more starters and a bridge to the excellent back end of their bullpen. In the meantime, John Montgomery Ward returns to the rotation, and Jack Easton was recalled. The Stars would be willing to ship Bill Dickey, Jimmy Rollins, and Mickey Doolin to AAA, but there just aren’t enough options. Dickey was moved down (making the preseason trade of, essentially, him for Mike Schmidt, look like a total fleecing), with Mike Scioscia moving up to the majors.

Series XV Featured Matchup: New York Black Yankees @ San Francisco Sea Lions

By mknn

On October 12, 2021

In Featured Series, Game Recaps

Preview here.

#Game One: Dave Righetti @ Lefty Grove

Despite a few superb outings, New York‘s Dave Righetti comes into this game with a losing record (3-4) and a poor ERA (5.43). San Francisco will start one of the more dependable arms so far in the league, Lefty Grove, who sits at 5-2 with a sparkling 3.23 ERA.

Derek Jeter led off the game against Grove with a grounds-rule double, but was left stranded at 2B. San Francisco’s leadoff hitter, Rickey Henderson, walked and, as he is wont to do, stole second while Bobby Bonds and Reggie Jackson were striking out. But Pedro Guerrero singled to left, and Henderson scored easily, putting the Sea Lions up, 1-0.

It didn’t last long: Lou Gehrig took Grove deep in the top of the 2nd to tie the game. Willie Randolph–continuing to keep his average over .200–added an RBI single to give the Black Yankees the lead, but it could have been much worse for Grove, as Bonds caught a fly ball by Don Mattingly in shallow centerfield for the 2nd out and nailed Thurman Munson, trying to score from 3rd, to end the inning.

Again the lead barely lasted: Jimmy Bloodworth took Righetti deep to lead off the bottom of the 2nd. Later in the inning, a Henderson single scored Cy Perkins to edge San Francisco in front, 3-2.

It was a sloppy game through 3 innings with each team committing 2 errors (Randolph and Babe Ruth for New York, Dick Lundy and Jack Clark for the Sea Lions), Righetti walking 2 and Grove walking 3.

Mattingly would tie the game with homerun in the top of the 4th, and Jeter would drive in a run in the top of the 6th, giving the lead back to New York, 4-3. Again though: a lead with a short life. Perkins chased Righetti from the game with a 3-run shot in the bottom of the frame, with the Black Yankees bringing in Dellin Betances who got out of the inning without any further damage and a 6-4 lead for San Francisco.

The Black Yankees got one run back when Eric Davis singled, stole second and third, and scored on a base hit by Albert Belle.

San Francisco added 2 in the bottom of the 7th on Randolph’s second error of the game, an errant throw that allowed both Henderson and Bonds to score.

But this New York team is hard to put away: Davis led off the top of the 9th with a single against Ron Robinson, and after Gehrig whiffed, Belle walked and Munson doubled, scoring Davis to make it a 2-run game, 8-6. Ken Howell relieved Robinson and promptly fanned Doug DeCinces and got pinch-hitter Mike Schmidt to groundout weakly in front of the plate to end the game.

NYY 6 (Righetti 3-5) @ SFS 8 (Grove 6-2; Howell 3 Sv; Street 1 H; Devlin 2 H; Robinson 8 H)
HRs: NYY – Gehrig (14), Mattingly (10); SFS – Perkins (3), Bloodworth (10)
Box Score

#Game Two: Waite Hoyt @ Eddie Plank

This one started out as a pitching duel, with New York’s Waite Hoyt and San Francisco’s Eddie Plank each only allowing a single hit through 4 innings.

New York added 2 hits in the 5th–a double by Mike Schmidt and a single by Willie Randolph–but Plank fanned Derek Jeter and Don Mattingly to get out of the inning.

Dick Lundy opened the scoring in the bottom of the 5th when Lundy singled home Bob Cerv. Lundy would score in a hit by Rickey Henderson, and the Sea Lions took the lead, 2-0.

Plank held the shutout through the 6th, then gave up a single to Thurman Munson and a walk to Schmidt to lead off the 7th. That was it for him, as San Francisco brought in Chad Bradford from the pen with 2 on and no outs. New York would counter by bringing Lou Gehrig out to pinch-hit for Randolph. Gehrig was retired, but Bradford allowed one run before getting Babe Ruth to end the inning on a flay to deep center.

That narrowed the game to a 2-1 lead for San Francisco, which is where it stayed heading to the top of the 9th, where the Sea Lions turned to their closer Rod Beck.

The first batter was Munson, who immediately added to his incredible few weeks by taking Beck into the left field seats to tie the game. Schmidt would walk, followed by an infield single from Gehrig, and it suddenly felt like New York might blow the game open. Instead, Jeter grounded into a double play, and with the hugely ineffective Craig Counsell up, San Francisco seemed in decent shape … until Beck’s 2-2 pitch was wild, bouncing past Mickey Cochrane and allowing Schmidt to score. Counsell flew out to left, but the Black Yankees were ahead, 3-2.

They brought in their closer, Sparky Lyle, who set the side down in order, striking out Bobby Bonds to end the game.

Munson ended the day 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored as all 6 of the Black Yankees’ hits came from the bottom 3 slots in their lineup.

NYY 3 (Hoyt 5-1; Lyle 7 Sv) @ SFS 2 (Beck 0-1, 1 B Sv; Bradford 2 H)
HRs: Munson (7)
Box Score

#Game 3: Ron Guidry @ Cy Falkenberg

Rickey Henderson led off the bottom of the first with a long fly that sliced down the right field line, and barely stayed fair for a leadoff homerun off Ron Guidry and a 1-0 Sea Lions lead.

Leading off the bottom of the 3rd, it was Henderson again, this time with a double. He scored on an RBI single from Pedro Guerrero, making it 2-0. And, while Henderson led off the bottom of the 5th with a strikeout, the Sea Lions did add to their league on singles from Guerrero, Bobby Bonds, and Jimmy Bloodworth.

Through 5 innings, Cy Falkenberg had easily outmatched Guidry, allowing only 1 hit and 2 walks while strikeout out 5. But the top of the 6th began with a leadoff walk to Mickey Mantle, followed by Babe Ruth‘s 20th homerun of the year, cutting the lead to 3-2. Falkenberg walked Lou Gehrig and Albert Belle, and Thurman Munson dinked a little looper into right to load the bases. Don Mattingly tied the game with a sacrifice fly, but Falkenberg was able to escape the inning without further damage.

So, Guidry got a reprieve, having given up 8 hits through 5 innings while striking out 6. He struck out John Beckwith and Eddie Joost to lead off the 6th, but Dick Lundy doubled to deep left-center, chasing Guidry from the game in favor of Cole Hamels, who was able to retire Henderson to maintain the tied score.

Rick Langford may have pitched himself to AAA, allowing homeruns to Mantle and Gehrig, giving the Black Yankees a 6-3 lead.

Henderson would plate 2 in the bottom of the 8th with a double, scoring Beckwith and Lundy, and pulling San Francisco to within 1 run.

Ralph Citarella relieved Hamels, and promptly surrendered a ground-rule double to Guerrero, tying the game once more. Left in to pitch the bottom of the 9th, Bloodworth took Citarella deep to win the game for San Francisco.

Guerrero had 4 hits in the victory and Henderson 3 hits, driving in 3 and scoring 3 times.

NYY 6 (Citarella 1-3, 1 B Sv) @ SFS (Howell 3-2)
HRs: NYY – Ruth (20), Mantle (8), Gehrig (15); SFS – Henderson (3), Bloodworth (11)
Box Score

#Game 4: Jack Scott @ Diego Segui

Ah, the pitching duel we all expected … Diego Segui has been one of the shocks of the season, with an ERA near 2.00 since being recalled from AAA. He delivered here, allowing only 1 hit through 5 innings while the Black Yankees’ Jack Scott did him one better, with a no-hitter through 5.

Manny Sanguillen took Segui deep for his first homerun of the year in the top of the 6th and from there the wheels sort of fell off: Mickey Mantle drove in 1 run, then Babe Ruth hit his 21st homerun of the year with a couple runners on, making it 5-0 New York.

A single by John Beckwith broke up the no-no, but Scott kept the shutout intact for another inning, until Reggie Jackson sent a line drive into the rightfield stands, cutting the lead to 5-1.

An Eddie Joost homerun closed it to 5-2, and Sparky Lyle seemed to close the door, easily retiring the first 2 Sea Lions in the bottom of the 9th. But singles by Jimmy Bloodworth and Wally Moon were followed by a pinch-hit double from Bob Cerv, bringing the winning run to the plate in the form of the conundrum that is Joost.

Lyle struck him out on a slider, preserving the win for New York and splitting the series at 2.

Derek Jeter was 3-for-4 for New York.

NYY 5 (Scott 6-3; Lyle 8 Sv; Gossage 4 H) @ SFS (Segui 2-3)
HRs: NYY – Sanguillen (1), Ruth (21); SFS – Jackson (11), Joost (6)
Box Score

#Series Notes

So, a split in a close series with some excellent baseball on both sides.

Babe Ruth hit 2 homeruns, driving in 5 for New York, but those were his only 2 hits in the series. Other than the unstoppable Thurman Munson–who went 6-for-11, lifting his average to .320 on the year– and Derek Jeter (6-for-18) the Black Yankees offense was kept largely in check.

For San Francisco, Jimmy Bloodworth went 6-for-17 with 2 homeruns and Pedro Guerrero 5-for-17. Perhaps more importantly for the Sea Lions, Rickey Henderson showed signs of breaking out of his slump, going 5-for-10 while scoring 5 runs and driving in 5.

TWIWBL Special Edition: All Star Previews II – Third Basemen

By mknn

On October 4, 2021

In All Star Games

{ With under three weeks until the All Star Teams are announced, we’re looking at what’s changed since our original previews. }

Preview I here.

#AL – Bill James and Cum Posey Divisions

Original selections: Doug Rader, Dick Allen, Pinky Higgins.

It’s a pretty clear top three right now, with one change from the above. Not only has Kansas City’s Albert Pujols forced himself into the conversation, he may be the starter for the AL, with a 303/365/514 line.

Chicago’s Allen and Los Angeles’ Rader are holding steady, Allen at 278/335/512 and Rader at 306/362/505. Each of them match Pujols’ 9 homeruns, and Rader has 54 RBIs.

Higgins of the New York Gothams is still in the conversation, he’s just fallen a bit off the pace with an OPS of .830.

None of the contenders are very good with the glove, with Higgins especially not showing much skill with the leather at the hot corner. But the best gloves in the league–Detroit’s Jimmy Collins and Baltimore’s Harlond Clift–aren’t hitting anywhere near enough to make it.

The AI picks Rader and Detroit’s Bob Bailey, but Bailey has spent only 44 innings at 3B, playing most of the time as a DH.

So, Pujols, Rader, and Allen it is.

#NL – Effa Manley and Marvin Miller Divisions

Original selections: Scott Rolen, Buddy Bell, Mike Schmidt.

Not much has changed in the NL: Portland’s Bell (312/382/540 with 10 homeruns) is head and shoulders above the rest, and Philadelphia’s Rolen (279/353/492) solidly behind him. But after that, it gets difficult.

Brooklyn’s Ron Cey, with an OPS just over .800, is the next best hitter. But Miami’s Manny Machado and the New York Black Yankees’ Schmidt are contributing a lot more defensively. Machado and Schmidt’s OPS’ are roughly equal, in the .780 range.

I continue to just have more faith that Schmidt will get hot, so we’ll keep going with him, but it really is likely to come down to which of those has a good rest of the month.

The AI shares the dilemma, picking only Bell and Rolen.