Tag: New York Gothams Page 6 of 9

TWIWBL 31.1: Series XXIV Notes – Bill James Division

On January 18, 2023

{ Yes, this is out of order–31.2 got published before 31.1 for those keeping score at home. }

#Detroit Wolverines

Six strong innings from Hal Newhouser led Detroit to a narrow 3-2 win over Chicago. 3 hits from Ty Cobb, including his 12th homerun of the year, helped Newhouser improve to 5-3, with John Hiller earning his 10th hold and Mike Henneman his 24th save.

Whitey Wilshire will miss a couple weeks with a shoulder injury. Mickey Lolich was recalled from AAA to take Wilshire’s place, while 20 year old Al Kaline will get his first taste of the big leagues as the Wolverines sent Greg Brock to AAA.

#Los Angeles Angels

Five RBIs on two doubles and a homerun from Bobby Grich weren’t enough, as the Angels fell to the House of David.

#New York Gothams

Don Sutton, impressive since his acquisition from Brooklyn at the all-star break, replaces the struggling Sad Sam Jones in the Gothams’ rotation.

#Wandering House of David

Jack Taylor evened his record at 8-8 with 7 innings of shutout ball, combining with Scott Downs and Kerry Wood on the 5-hit shutout of Los Angeles. George Stone drove in 3 with 2 hits, including his 22nd homerun of the year and Richie Hebner went deep for the 8th time this season in the 8-0 victory.

Anthony Rizzo continues to impress: 3 hits raised his average to .340 in a 9-7 victory over Los Angeles. Rizzo is now officially the fulltime 1B, with Mark Grace being sent to AAA and Jung Ho Kang being recalled for another stint with the big league club.

Series XXIV Best Games

By mknn

On January 11, 2023

In Featured Games, Game Recaps

The theme this time out is surprising bullpen collapses, as a range of usually dependable closers struggled to hold on to victories.

New York Black Yankees @ Homestead Grays, Game 2.

As the game began, the Black Yankees were encouraged by Ron Guidry‘s return to form, allowing only 3 hits–although 2 runs–in 5 innings of work. But Homestead‘s Stan Bahnsen was almost as good, settling down after giving up Mickey Mantle‘s 16th homerun of the year in the first inning. Bahnsen was chased from the game in the 6th, as consecutive singles from Mantle, Lou Gehrig, and Eric Davis put the Black Yankees up by 1. An inning later, a sacrifice fly by Don Mattingly made it 4-2, with the Black Yankees looking safe to take their expected victory … but then New York’s weakness showed up big time, as Sparky Lyle imploded in the 8th, giving up 2 run single to Pops Stargell (his 3rd hit of the day) to tie the game. Ralph Citarella pitched OK, but was saddled with the loss when midseason acquisition Gary Lavelle–sporting a gaudy 9.39 ERA since joining New York–gave up the game-winning single to Mike Epstein for a 5-4 win for the Grays.

NYY 4 (Citarella 2-5; Moyer 2 H; Lyle 4 B Sv) @ HOM 5 (Lindblom 2-4) [10 Innings]
HRs: NYY – Mantle (16).
Box Score

Los Angeles Angels @ Wandering House of David, Game 3

Tom Seaver had been rocked in his first few appearances, but here the 22 year old showed some of his promise, allowing 2 runs in the first and nothing thereafter over 5-plus innings. Doug Rader drove in 2 with a homerun in the 3rd and another with a single in the 5th as the Angels held a 4-2 lead. Solid relief work from Jonny Venters and Pud Galvin took the game to Los Angeles’ closer, Joe Nathan, who got 2 quick outs before a single from Richie Hebner setup a 2 run, game-tying homerun from Jim Edmonds. Hebner would win the game for the House of David in the bottom of the 11th with a solo shot, his 9th of the season. Mike Trout had 3 hits in the Angels’ losing effort.

LAA 4 (Rodríguez 3-1; Nathan 7 B Sv; Galvin 2 H; Venters 13 H) @ HOD 5 (Rommel 2-0) [11 Innings]
HRs: LAA – Rader (14); HOD – Edmonds (3), Hebner (9).
Box Score

New York Gothams @ Houston Colt 45’s, Game 4

This one was a great pitching duel with the Gotham‘s Christy Mathewson and Houston‘s Stephen Strasburg matching arms through 6 innings. Before leaving with an injury, Strasburg’s only blemish was a solo homerun by Willie Mays in the 1st inning while Matty sailed along until the bottom of the 5th when Houston picked up 2 runs, one on a Craig Biggio double, the other an RBI groundout from HR Johnson. The Colt 45’s 2-1 lead held until the top of the 9th, when their closer, Billy Wagner, came in the game. Wagner gave up a 2-out double to Eugenio Suárez, scoring Yasiel Puig and tying the game. New York’s Mike Norris–fantastic all season–was asked to stretch beyond his usual single inning, allowing a leadoff triple to Johnson in the bottom of the 10th. After 2 intentional walks to load the bases, Norris gave up a single to George Brett (his 3rd hit of the day), winning the game for Houston. Jimmy Sheckard had 4 hits for New York in the contest.

NYG 2 (Norris 3-2) @ HOU 3 (Ely 1-0; Wagner 5 B Sv; Hoffman 5 H) [10 Innings]
HRs: NYG – Mays (16).
Box Score

Chicago American Giants @ Detroit Wolverines, Game 3

Eddie Collins and Shoeless Joe Jackson each had 3 hits for Chicago, with Jackson hitting his 21st long ball of the year, but it wasn’t enough as Detroit used Oscar Gamble‘s 21st dinger to stay in the game, winning it in the bottom of the 9th on a wild pitch from the usually reliable Hoyt Wilhelm.

CAG 4 (Wilhelm 2-2) @ DET 5 (Hart 3-3; Hiller 1 B Sv)
HRs: CAG – Jackson (21); DET – Gamble (21).
Box Score

TWIWBL 30.1: Series XXIII Notes – Bill James Division

By mknn

On December 13, 2022

In TWIWBL

#Detroit Wolverines

3 hits from Ty Cobb, including his 11th homerun of the year, led Detroit to a 4-0 win over Portland. Johnny Marcum and Mike Henneman combined on the 6-hit shutout, with Marcum moving to 8-2 on the year.

Another combined shutout would close out the series as Gene Conley continued his dominance, moving to 10-2 on the year with 7 strong innings. Buddy Napier and John Hiller helped to close out the 7-0 victory. Bill Carrigan had 3 hits and drove in 3 for the Wolverines and Robby Thompson added his 2nd homerun of the year.

#Los Angeles Angels

Anthony Young was sent to AAA, with Mike Smith being recalled for a start.

The Angels trailed 2-0 late, but a Mike Trout homerun in the 8th and George Wright‘s 12th of the year in the top of the 9th sent LA past the House of David 3-2. Pud Galvin got the win in a game that saw another impressive start–6 shutout innings–from Nolan Ryan.

#Memphis Red Sox

Francisco Lindor‘s first career homerun was one to remember: a walkoff blast in the bottom of the 11th, giving Memphis a 6-5 victory over the House of David. Wade Boggs had 3 hits for the Red Sox, including the game-tying single in the bottom of the 9th. Norwood Gibson and Heath Bell combined for 5 innings of scoreless relief, with Bell improving to 7-3 on the year.

#New York Gothams

Pete Donohue moved to 4-0 on the year with just over 7 scoreless innings in a 3-1 win over Houston. Mike Norris picked up his 10th hold and Brian Wilson closed with his 17th save despite giving up a run in the 9th. Buster Posey and Eugenio Suárez had 3 hits each for New York.

#Wandering House of David

The House of David has finally given up on Rollie Fingers for a while, sending the reliever to AAA and recalling Kerry Wood to the WBL for a debut start. In a somewhat surprising move, 27 year old Mark Grace was waived to make room for Wood. Grace, essentially the starting 1B for most of the season, managed only a 236/312/339 slash line. Fred Lynn was sent to AAA, with Jim Edmonds returning to the House of David, presumably because of his ability to also fill in at 1B behind the new starter, Anthony Rizzo.

Early returns were positive: Wood threw a strong 6 innings, with the starter he replaced–Bob Rush–adding a scoreless final 3 for his first save of the year and Rizzo hit his 6th homerun (in 32 ABs) of the season in a 7-2 win for the House of David.

Phil Regan was waived, with Eddie Rommel being recalled for an emergency start, which went fantastically: Rommel allowed 4 hits and no earned runs in 6 innings in a 12 to 2 drubbing of Memphis. Dan Ford and Ron Santo each had 3 hits including a homerun with Santo driving in 4 on the day.

TWIWBL 29.1: Series XXII Notes – Bill James Division

By mknn

On August 10, 2022

In TWIWBL

#Detroit Wolverines

4 hits from Bob Bailey led the way as Detroit trounced Kansas City 10-4. Hank Greenberg drove in 3 runs and Justin Verlander earned the win with 3 innings of scoreless relief.

#Los Angeles Angels

Tom Seaver‘s WBL debut did not go as planned as the much-heralded 22 year old allowed 6 runs in just over 2 innings. But Nolan Ryan followed with near perfection, allowing only 2 hits the rest of the way and earning the win as the Angels scored 9 runs in the 6th en route to a 15-6 rout of Indianapolis. Elmer Valo had 4 hits, Carlos Delgado 3, and George Wright and Doug Rader drove in 3 each.

Gerrit Cole just keeps rolling: the WBL leader in victories improved to 12-3 on the year with a 4-hit shutout of Indianapolis (Denis Menke had 3 of the ABC’s 4 hits). Delgado–sporting an OPS well over 1.000 since he moved to Los Angeles–had 3 hits and 4 RBIs and Don Buford and Mike Trout also contributed 3 hits.

#New York Gothams

Behind a great start from Gaylord Perry (7 innings, 1 run), the Gothams topped Baltimore 4-1. Johnny Callison and Cookie Rojas combined for 5 hits and Robb Nen picked up his 7th save with 2 scoreless innings to close out the game.

#Wandering House of David

Five House of David pitchers combined on a 5-hit shutout, using a 1st inning homerun by Elrod Hendricks to beat the Black Yankees 2-0. Bob Rush allowed 3 hits in over 6 innings for the win, moving to 7-5 on the season, and Rollie Fingers, Scott Downs, Lee Smith, and Bruce Sutter combined for 2.1 innings of hitless relief with Sutter picking up his 12th save.

TWIWBL 27.1: Series XXI Notes – Bill James Division

By mknn

On July 6, 2022

In TWIWBL

{ There is no TWIWBL 27.0–the series overview post–so we’ll just dive into the Division by Division notes. }

#Detroit Wolverines

Jimmy Collins‘ two month slump has landed him in AAA, with Bill Carrigan‘s return from the DL. This means the Wolverines are carrying 3 catchers (Carrigan, Ed Bailey, and Ernie Lombardi), which is always a bit of a challenge.

#Los Angeles Angels

Mike Trout picked up his 100th hit of the season in a 12-2 mauling of Cleveland. Kal Daniels went 4-for-5 with 5 RBI’s and Trout scored 4 times in support of Chuck Finley, who evened his record at 4-4 with the victory.

Brett Anderson will be out for over a month, causing some shuffling in the Angels’ staff and a bunch of churn elsewhere. Harry Howell, OF Kole Calhoun, and 2B Mark Ellis head to AAA, Larry Anderson is recalled from his rehab assignment and both Pud Galvin and Tom Seaver join the staff, with the 22 year old Seaver moving into the rotation. IF Steve Garvey, who has torn up AAA since being acquired from Ottawa, is recalled to Los Angeles as well.

#Memphis Red Sox

Eddie Cicotte was sent to AAA with the Red Sox in need of a starter. IF Glenn Williams was released to make room for Norwood Gibson on the 40-man roster. Gibson was excellent, allowing only 2 runs on 4 hits in over 5 innings of work, and earning himself a bit of a stay at the big leagues, especially with Turk Farrell heading to the DL, with Cicotte making a quick return.

Len Barker replaces Nixey Callahan in the rotation.

#New York Gothams

The Gothams have finally pulled the plug on Willie McCovey, waiving the 32 year-old 1B and promoting 38 year-old Joe Adcock back to the WBL.

#Wandering House of David

Ernie Banks and Pete Browning had 3 hits each, with Banks driving in 5 runs with 2 homeruns, including a grand slam, giving him 14 on the season. Wade Miley pitched well to go to 5-2, and the bullpen did enough to hold off the Sea Lions for an 8-5 victory.

CC Sabathia took a 2-hitter into the 9th inning in the series finale, but Reggie Jackson led off the frame with a homerun to make the score 4-1 in favor of the House of David. Bruce Sutter relieved Sabathia and retired the side in order for his 11th save, while Sabathia improved to 8-7 on the season.

Series XXI Best Games

By mknn

On June 29, 2022

In Featured Games, Game Recaps

Five games made the list for Series XXI. We’ll give the detailed treatment to a great comeback, but the others all have some noteworthy moments.

#Indianapolis @ Memphis, Game 2

Just another see-saw …

A solo homerun by Mookie Betts and a 2 run shot by Ted Williams were the key hits as the Red Sox jumped out to a 7-0 lead. A 2-run homerun by Danny Hoffman and a triple from Oscar Charleston made it 7-3, and then, in the 7th inning, another homerun from Hoffman and a key, 2-0ut, 2-run shot from Johnny Bench brought the ABC’s within 1 run at 7-6. Reggie Smith added a solo shot off Lefty James, making it 8-6 heading to the top of the 9th.

Memphis brought in Jonathan Papelbon to close it out, which was certainly a reasonable choice. Tommy Helms led off the inning with a single, but a groundout by Hoffman seemed to set Memphis on the road to victory.

And then, Edd Roush and Charleston singled to load the bases and Bench cleared them with a double. A single by Dave Henderson scored Bench, and another by Denis Menke chased Papelbon from the game with Indianapolis having come all the way back to take the lead 10-8. Rob Dibble dominated the bottom of the frame, and the ABC’s had a great comeback win under their belt.

IND 10 (James 5-1, Dibble 16 Sv) @ MEM 8 (Papelbon 0-4, 2 BSv; Cicotte 1 H; Farrell 3 H)
HRs: IND – Hoffman 2 (11), Bench (17); MEM – Betts (6), Williams (18), Smith (11).
Box Score

#Ottawa @ Philadelphia, Game 2

A mismatch on paper as a tough Philadelphia lineup faces Joe Mays in his WBL debut. Tim Raines opened the game with homerun for Ottawa, but after that it went pretty much according to form, with Mays surrendering back-to-back-to-back homeruns in the 1st (José Ramírez, Rico Carty, and Scott Rolen) and then being chased from the game by back-to-back doubles in the 4th. Ottawa turned to Randy Johnson in relief, and the Big Unit delivered with a couple effective innings. Ottawa scored 7 runs in 2 innings to take the lead in a game with decimated bullpens. It was dicey throughout–Greg Holland, just recalled from AAA, had been hammered at the WBL level earlier in the year. But he gave the Mounties a good inning, and was followed by Ryan Dempster, asked to close the game. Dempster did so, but only when Raines threw out J.M. Ward at home for the final out. Larry Walker finished with 3 hits including his 8th homerun for the Mounties.

OTT 8 (Johnson 2-4; Dempster 2 Sv; Holland 3 H) @ PHI 7 (Cormier 4-1, 3 BSv; Laskey 1 H)
HRs: OTT – Raines (10), Walker (8); Ramírez (4), Carty (9), Kluszewski (14), Davis (14).
Box Score

#New York Gothams @ Brooklyn, Game 2

A tight pitching duel: Brooklyn’s Dick Redding was as good as the Gotham’s Christy Mathewson, but New York managed a sacrifice fly and a well-timed single by Eugenio Suárez to lead, 2-0. It was enough: Mathewson allowed 7 hits through 7 innings, but was dominant, fanning 11 and allowing only a solo shot from Duke Snider. Robb Nen and Brian Wilson slammed the door in relief to preserve the narrow victory.

NYG 2 (Mathewson 9-6; Wilson 13 Sv; Nen 4 H) @ BRK 1 (Redding 0-3)
HRs: BRK – Snider (19).
Box Score

#Miami @ Portland, Game 2

Portland only managed 2 hits, but leveraged 3 Miami errors and 10 walks by Cuban Giant hurlers to score 5 runs. Four of the runs scored off a chain of 2 walks, a double by Rogers Hornsby, and then 2 more walks and a wild pitch. The winning run in the bottom of the 9th was scored on a sacrifice fly from Joe Mauer after Adrián Beltré delivered a pinch-hit single. Eustaquio Pedroso‘ pitching line wasn’t pretty, but he was really let down by Phenomenal Smith‘s wildness, and Pedroso’s start was actually a source of some encouragement for Miami.

MCG 4 (Bauta 1-4; Smith 1 BSv) @ POR 5 (Williams 2-1)
HRs: MCG – Braun (11), Sheffield (3).
Box Score

#Birmingham @ New York Black Yankees, Game 4

We had to put something in here for the shocking performance of the Black Yankees in this series, who came into the final game desperately trying to avoid a sweep by the Black Barons having only scored 3 runs total over the first 3 games.

New York took the lead in the bottom of the 1st on a 2-run shot by Don Mattingly and extended it to 3-0 on a solo shot by Manny Sanguillén in the 5th. And that seemed plenty as Ron Guidry was dominant in his best start since early in the season, allowing only 3 hits and 1 walk through 7 innings while striking out 7.

But then came the 8th. Guidry gave up back to back walks and a single to load the bases and was clearly out of gas, relieved by Ralph Citarella, who let the wheels fall of: an error and a wild pitch scored runs, and then RBI singles from Curtis Granderson, Bob Nieman, and Pie Traynor chased Citarella with Birmingham holding a 6-3 lead.

Granderson added a 2-run inside-the-park-homerun in the 9th, giving plenty of cushion even when Albert Belle got 2 runs back in the final frame with his 10th homerun of the year. Vic Willis continued the strong start to his career, striking out 9 in 6 innings despite not factoring in the decision and Bruce Chen was nearly perfect over 2 innings in relief for the win, sealing the most surprising series sweep of the season.

BBB 8 (Chen 1-0) @ NYY 5 (Citarella 1-4; 3 BSv)
HRs: BBB – Granderson (10); NYY – Mattingly (17), Sanguillén (2), Belle (10).
Box Score

Series XX Featured Matchup: Chicago American Giants @ New York Gothams

By mknn

On June 15, 2022

In Featured Series, Game Recaps

Series preview here.

#Game One: Don Newcombe @ Christy Mathewson

Chicago‘s recent acquisition, Don Newcombe, makes his first start for the American Giants. He’ll be facing Christy Mathewson, moving up a day to take the first game of the series for the New York Gothams.

A long homerun in the top of the 2nd by Dick Allen put Chicago up, 1-0.

And that was it for a while. Mathewson struggled with his control, walking 4 through 4 innings, but only giving up the homerun to Allen. Cristóbal Torriente led off the 5th with a single, but was stranded there as, reaching back for a little extra, Mathewson whiffed Duffy Lewis with his final pitch.

Newcombe, on the other hand, was giving up a hit per inning, but nothing else. Willie Mays led off the bottom of the 7th with a double and moved to 3rd on an infield hit by Johnny Callison. Mays would score to tie the game on a sacrifice fly from Willie McCovey.

The Gothams would take their first lead in the bottom of the 8th when Buster Posey singled home Jimmy Sheckard. Mike Norris gave up a 2-out single to Eddie Collins, but struck out Joe Jackson to end the game, earning his 2nd save in the process as the Gothams took the first of the four game series.

CAG 1 (Otsuka 3-5) @ NYG 2 (Smith 1-0; Norris 2 Sv)
HRs: CAG – Allen (14)
Box Score

#Game 2: Ben Sheets @ Sad Sam Jones

Duffy Lewis opened the scoring in the top of the first with an RBI single , but despite 2 hits and 2 walks, that was all Chicago could manage off of Sad Sam Jones in the frame.

Yasiel Puig doubled off Ben Sheets in the bottom of the 2nd, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on an RBI single by Wes Westrum to tie the game. Sheets would walk Pinky Higgins and give up a single to Brandon Crawford to load the bases, but a double play ball from Cookie Rojas left the game tied at 1.

Chicago would take the lead back in the top of the 4th on an RBI single by Freddy Parent. In the next inning, Dick Allen would triple in 2 more runs, extending the lead to 4-1. Allen would score on a single by Mike Fiore, chasing Jones and bringing in Don Sutton for the Gothams.

Johnny Callison made it 5-3 in the bottom of the 8th with a 2-run homerun off Herb Pennock.

Chicago would add a run in the top of the 9th, and their closer, AJ Minter, would work around an error to close it out in the bottom of the frame.

CAG 6 (Sheets 7-4; Minter 12 Sv; Condrey 1 H) @ NYG 3 (Jones 6-6)
HRs: NYG – Callison (10)
Box Score

#Game 3: Tricky Nichols @ Pete Donohue

Pete Donohue got himself into a bases loaded jam in the top of the 2nd, and got Dave Nilsson to hit a groundball. But New York only got one out, and a run crossed the plate for an early 1-0 lead for Chicago. They would double it in the 4th, taking advantage of a Carl Furillo error and a Magglio Ordóñez double to make it 2-0.

Meanwhile, Tricky Nichols was sailing along with a 3-hit shutout through five innings.

Donohue, who had only allowed 2 hits to that point, took a line drive off the leg in the top of the 5th and had to leave the game, replaced by Mike Norris.

The wheels came off for Nichols in the bottom of the 6th, when the home crowd’s fan favorite, Wes Westrum, took him deep with 2 men on, giving the Gothams a 3-2 lead.

Nichols was chased from the game by hits from John Kerins and Cookie Rojas in the bottom of the 7th, bringing Hoyt Wilhelm in from the bullpen to face the pinch-hitting Willie Mays. Mays singled, bringing in a run and extending the lead to 4-2, but Wilhelm got out of the inning without further damage.

The American Giants made a stand in the top of the 8th, first with an RBI single from Frank Thomas, and back-to-back doubles from Dick Allen and Mike Fiore and a pinch-hit single from Duffy Lewis that gave Chicago the lead again, 7-4.

Akinori Otsuka and AJ Minter would close out the game for Chicago with 2 perfect innings of relief.

CAG 7 (Wilhelm 1-0; Minter 13 Sv; Otsuka 2 H) @ NYG 4 (Nen 2-4, 1 BSv)
HRs: NYG – Westrum (5)
Box Score

#Game 4: Mark Buehrle @ Juan Marichal

Up 2 games to 1, Chicago opened game 4 of the series with a double from Eddie Collins, who scored on a single from Joe Jackson. Jackson would score on a single by Dick Allen, and Duffy Lewis would come home on a soft single from Cristóbal Torriente. Allen would score on a wild pitch as Chicago tagged Juan Marichal for 4 runs in the top of the first.

The Gothams would get one back in the bottom of the 2nd, when a Mark Buehrle wild pitch allowed Yasiel Puig to score.

Marichal would give up 2 more runs, giving Chicago the 6-1 lead heading to the bottom of the 5th. New York closed to 6-2 in the bottom of the frame, but Buehrle escaped a bases-loaded jam to maintain a 4-run cushion.

A 2-run homerun from Jackson extended Chicago’s lead to 8-3 in the top of the 7th.

The Gothams’ most pleasant surprise of the year has been Wes Westrum, who continues to just mash the ball. Westrum doubled in 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th, closing the score to 8-5.

Chicago would add one more run on a double play in the top of the 9th for the final tally.

CAG 9 (Buehrle 6-7; Dixon 1 Sv; Pennock 1H) @ NYG 5 (Marichal 7-4)
HRs: CAG – Jackson (17)
Box Score

#Series Notes

These are two excellent teams, each leaving this series in 2nd place in their divisions. But the edge shown by Chicago does reflect a true difference in the two, and the 3-1 series result is well deserved.

Dick Allen, Joe Jackson, and Eddie Collins each had 5 hits for the American Giants and Cristóbal Torriente went 7-for-16 to lead their offense. For the Gothams, Buster Posey went 6-for-15, Cookie Rojas added 5 hits, and Wes Westrum had 4 in 3 games.

Series XX Preview: Chicago American Giants @ New York Gothams

By mknn

On June 13, 2022

In Featured Series, Series Previews

For Series XX, we’ll see the Chicago American Giants (featured in Series VI) visit the New York Gothams (Series II and Series XIV).

#Chicago American Giants

Chicago comes into Series XX 10 games over .500, but 4 games behind Baltimore, who lead the Cum Posey Division. The story for the American Giants remains the same: one of the best and deepest offenses in the league trying to carry a thoroughly mediocre pitching staff.

New additions Hoyt Wilhelm and Don Newcombe are trying to help with the latter, while Freddy Parent was brought in to address the one weakness–SS–in the starting lineup. Their best two starters–Ben Sheets and Tricky Nichols–will see action in the series, so Chicago needs to capitalize to hold pace with the Black Sox.

Chicago has juggled much of its bench, and early returns are not encouraging: the quartet of Jackie Hayes, José Abreu, Magglio Ordóñez, and Tom Brookens needs to do more to hold onto their roster spots, although none of them have more than 38 PA’s (Ordóñez).

#New York Gothams

The Gothams continue to cling to a slim lead–one game–over Detroit in the Bill James Division. They’re doing it with offense and their bullpen: like Chicago, the starters have been sufficient, but little more than that.

Willie Mays and Buster Posey continue to lead the way for the Gothams, and Wes Westrum has yet to cool off, slashing an impressive 327/410/654 and earning some more regular playing time in the process. The Gothams largely stood pat at the break, adding Don Sutton to their staff, initially in a long relief role, but clearly Sutton is on hand should one of the current starters falter.

#Pitching Matchups

Don Newcombe (2-9, 6.15) @ Pete Donohue (2-0, 4.11)
Ben Sheets (6-4, 3.66) @ Christy Mathewson (8-6, 4.82)
Mark Buehrle (5-7, 4.46) @ Sad Sam Jones (6-5, 4.20)
Tricky Nichols (8-3, 3.71) @ Juan Marichal (7-3, 4.99)

Clearly the Sheets v Mathewson matchup stands out.

#Predictions

It’s a close series. When in doubt, side with the offense. Chicago, 3-1.

TWIWBL 25.1: Series XIX Notes – Bill James Division

By mknn

On June 7, 2022

In TWIWBL

#Detroit Wolverines

Detroit loses a key contributor to their bullpen, as Matt Anderson will miss about a month. Doyle Alexander was recalled from AAA.

#Los Angeles Angels

The Angels are hoping some small tweaks bring big impacts: Carlos Delgado joins, initially in a platoon at 1B with Derrek Lee, and Wally Moon adds some OF flexibility. Kole Calhoun was also recalled to the WBL.

Kal Daniels drove in 5 runs to lead the Angels in a 16-2 route of Memphis, a game that got so out of hand the Red Sox sent Ted Williams to the mound. Daniels and Doug Rader had 2 hits each and Elmer Valo scored 3 times to support 6 strong innings from Chuck Finley.

#Memphis Red Sox

Memphis actually has a pretty complicated roster situation, as they have more than 40 players who need to be on the secondary roster. As such, some more small trades may emerge.

While that works out, Stubby Overmire joins their rotation and Sammy Sosa hops into the OF mix.

#New York Gothams

Don Sutton stays with the WBL club, with Mat Latos heading to AAA.

#Wandering House of David

Newcomer Fred Lynn joins the big league club, and will see some time at RF and DH.

Elrod Hendricks had 3 hits and drove in 4 runs to lead the House of David in a 16-3 drubbing of the Detroit Wolverines. Dan Ford, Ernie Banks, and Mark Grace drove in 3, and CC Sabathia pitched a strong 8 innings for his 6th win.

TWIWBL 24.20: The All Star Trades

By mknn

On May 10, 2022

In TWIWBL

{The day after the All Star break is the first major trading period of the season, followed by the day before the trade deadline. Trades are somewhat randomized and limited in a variety of ways, basically an effort to ensure that, over time, they are at least approximately even in value.}

Portland signaled their commitment to this year, sending prized P prospect Smokey Joe Wood and Devin Mesoraco to Kansas City for all-star 2B Rogers Hornsby, OF Vince Coleman, and a 4th round draft pick.

Perhaps the prize pitching performer on the market, Birmingham‘s Tim Hudson, went to San Francisco in exchange for Rube Melton, Derrick May, and a 3rd round pick.

Brooklyn sends P Don Sutton to the New York Gothams for Ps Ray Lamb, Gil Heredia, and Lew Krausse, Jr., OF Don Mueller, and both a 1st and 8th round draft pick.

Cleveland made a clear sign of intent to compete this year, sending four players (P Hardie Henderson and OFs Jap Payne, Darrell Miller, and Gibby Brack) to Philadelphia for all-star reliever Ron Reed.

The Spiders also picked up Houston‘s struggling OF Lance Berkman to add more pop to their lineup, sending OF Harry Stovey, IF Charlie Grimm, P Chad Qualls, and a 3rd round pick to the Colt 45’s.

Media darling Tom Herr has a shot at a championship after Birmingham shipped the all-star 2B to the New York Black Yankees in exchange for a haul of talent, including IFs Moose Skowron and Reddy Mack, OFs Bill Buckner and Charlie Keller, P Heathcliff Slocumb, and a 10th round draft pick.

The Black Yankees also picked up some help on the mound, sending IF Dick Bartell, OF Sam Thompson, and a 4th round pick to Ottawa for Gary Lavelle and Jamie Moyer.

Addressing an area of clear need, Baltimore traded for Miami‘s everyday 3B, Manny Machado. The Black Sox sent a package of P Mike Morgan, 1B Richie Sexson, 3B Joe Dugan, and C Chris Hoiles to the Cuban Giants.

The Black Sox also shored up their bullpen, bringing in Memphis‘ closer, Joe Beggs, in exchange for P Willie Sudhoff, OF Alex Johnson, and a 4th round pick.

Ottawa and Los Angeles pulled off a complicated deal, with the Angels receiving 1B Carlos Delgado, IF Steve Garvey and OF Spud Johnson, sending OF Rusty Staub and Carlos Beltrán, C Jim Stephens, and Ps Dave Bennett and Sean O’Sullivan to the Mounties.

The Chicago American Giants added two of the better starting pitchers on the market, acquiring Don Newcombe from Miami and Dick Rudolph from Birmingham. The American Giants also received RP Clay Condrey and a 4th round draft pick for Minnie Miñoso from Miami, and sent Melky Cabrera, A. Rube Foster, Adrián González, and a 2nd round pick to Birmingham for Rudolph and Hoyt Wilhelm.

The American Giants also brought in SS Freddy Parent, who is expected to step right into the starting lineup. To do so, they sent IFs Sibby Sisti and Rickie Weeks and OF Bob Watson to Ottawa.

Miami’s other significant trade piece, Tommy Bridges, heads to San Francisco for two minor league pitchers, Shawn Estes and Turk Wendell, and a 5th round draft pick.

Los Angeles picked up some outfield help in the form of San Francisco’s Wally Moon. Moon heads south along with OF Dwayne Murphy and 2 draft picks (one 4th round, one 6th) in exchange for C Brian Downing, IF Kurt Stillwell, and P Dave LaRoche.

Detroit looked to improve their position behind the plate, obtaining Ernie Lombardi from Indianapolis for IFs Donie Bush and Jorge Orta, OF Gene Martin, P Brandon League, and a 2nd round pick.

Brooklyn added another versatile piece, sending OF Curt Flood, IF Manny Trillo, and a 6th round pick to Birmingham for IF Frank Isbell.

Two clubs looking towards the future made a big move, with Houston sending a 5th round pick, P Stubby Overmire, 2B DJ LeMahieu, P Jim Kaat, and OF Hack Wilson to Memphis for P Roger Clemens.

Sammy Sosa struggled so much for the House of David, it was decided the young OF could do with a change of scenery, going (along with a 5th round draft pick) to Memphis in exchange for OFs Fred Lynn and Tony Conigliaro and a 2nd round pick.

Finally, in easily the most minor deal of the day, Homestead picked up a 2nd round pick and IF Steve Hertz from San Francisco in exchange for Phil Garner.