Tag: Nixey Callahan

TWIWBL 5.3: Series IV Notes – Bill James Division

On May 13, 2021

At 12-6, the Wandering House of David lead the division, with only the Los Angeles Angels at 9-9 also at .500. Having lost 7 in a row, Memphis trails the division, already 8 games behind with a 4-14 record.

Leading SP: Harry Howell, LAA. 1-1, 3.18 ERA, 1.01 WHIP.
Leading RP: Chuck Finley, LAA. 1-0, 2H, 1.86 ERA, 0.83 WHIP in 5G.
Leading Batters: Buster Posey, NYG. 433/486/731; Pete Browning, HOD. 467/484/717, 9SB; Chili Davis, DET. 329/376/506, 20RBI.

#Detroit Wolverines

With very few rested arms, Detroit sacrificed some of its infield depth in preparation for its next series, sending Robbie Thompson to AAA and promoting Doyle Alexander. Alexander gave up 3 runs and 4 hits in his debut inning, so he may be heading back to AAA shortly.

#Los Angeles Angels

Highly touted closer Francisco Rodriguez was promoted from AA to AAA.

#Memphis Red Sox

There may be some hope for Memphis, as the combination of Roger Clemens (3.54 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 8.4 K/9) and Dean Chance (1.93 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) looks quite strong at the top of their rotation. With a 2-1 record, Chance has the only victories by a SP for the Red Sox (Clemens is 0-1 and fellow current rotation members Nixey Callahan, Sadie McMahon, and Jon Lester are a combined 0-9).

#New York Gothams

Willie McCovey led a 15-3 clobbering of Miami with a 4 hit, 2 HR, 4 RBI effort. SP Carson Smith began a rehab stint at AAA Hartford, hoping to rejoin New York in short order.

TWIWBL 4.0: Series III – Birmingham Black Barons @ Memphis Red Sox

By mknn

On September 29, 2020

In TWIWBL

Between them, Birmingham and Memphis had only managed 4 wins on the young season. Something had to give as they faced off for 5 games.

Behind a good start from Roger Clemens, Memphis carried a 5-2 lead into the 7th inning, but then it fell apart as the Black Barons put a crooked number on the scoreboard: Eddie Mathews led it off with a solo HR, and after 3 walks from Clemens, Billy Southworth sent a pitch deep into the night for a grand slam. Mookie Betts and George Scott hit HRs in the bottom of the 9th, but it wasn’t enough, and Birmingham held on for the 8-7 victory.

Dean Chance won game 2 for Memphis to tie the series at 1 game each, throwing 6.2 IP without allowing an earned run (Birmingham scored 3 times, helped by an error by Memphis SS Vern Stephens). Tim Wakefield and Jon Papelbon completed the game without allowing a hit. The final score was 4-3, with Chance moving to 2-0 on the year.

Game 3 was another 1 run affair, this one going to Birmingham by a score of 3-2. Alejandro Pena got his first win of the year, moving to 1-2 and hanging a tough loss on Memphis’ Nixey Callahan, who pitched well enough to win. Mathews’ 2nd HR of the series–a solo shot in the top of the 7th inning–proved the decider.

Birmingham’s Scott Baker allowed only 4 hits in 7 IP, and the Black Barons’ bats woke up in the 4th game of the series as they eased to a 9-2 win. Frank Isbell went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI’s and Chipper Jones and Hank Aaron went deep as both Sadie McMahon and Wakefield got hit hard, giving Birmingham a 3-1 edge in the series.

Warren Spahn came into the 5th and final game of the series with an ERA over 20. After allowing no runs over 7 inning of 5 hit ball, it had been cut nearly in half: still an embarrassing double-digit number, but a good sign for Birmingham fans. Memphis’ Jon Lester was nearly as good, allowing only 1 run in his 7 innings, but it was all the Black Barons needed, as Spahn was followed by Juan Rincon and Carlos Diaz in near-perfect relief. Birmingham won the game 1-0, taking 4 of 5 games in the series as well.

There wasn’t a ton of offense in the series: in fact, only 2 players really performed well at the plate across the 5 games. For Birmingham, Isbell was on fire, going 8-for-19 with 4 RBIs in his 4 games. Betts had 5 hits for Memphis, including 2 HRs, making an argument for additional playing time.

The result leaves both teams at 4-10, tied for the worst record in the league.

Season Preview: Memphis Red Sox

By mknn

On August 23, 2020

In Team News

Memphis, like many teams, will go as far as their SP can carry them. There is great potential here, especially with 23 year old Roger Clemens at the back of the rotation. But all of their starters are under 25, and its not clear that Sadie McMahon, David Bush, or Nixey Callahan are really cut out for the WBL. The offense features 20 year old emerging star Ted Williams along with a host of talent in the OF. The key may be if Reggie Smith can produce enough to be respectable in CF, and if Dustin Pedroia and Vern Stephens can become a reliable combination in the middle infield.

Final Roster

SP: Sadie McMahon, David Bush, Jon Lester, Nixey Callahan, Roger Clemens.
RP: Dean Chance; Turk Farrell & Heath Bell; Jonathan Papelbon & Derek Lowe; Joe Beggs.

C: Bob Brenly; Jim Pagliaroni
1B: Bill White & George Scott
2B: Dustin Pedroia; Pete Runnels
3B: Wade Boggs
SS: Vern Stephens; Nomar Garciaparra
LF: Eddie Rosario
CF: Reggie Smith
RF: Ted Williams; Mookie Betts
DH: Manny Ramirez

Notes

The biggest news from the final week of Spring Training is a devastating injury to closer Eddie Watt that will cause him to miss the entire season. Joe Beggs slides into the closer role, with Jonathan Papelbon and Derek Lowe setting him up … the battle of young OFs between Manny Ramirez (24), Tony Conigliaro (21) and Mookie Betts (22) ended with Ramirez out-hitting the other 2 and Betts’ defensive versatility preserving his position and sending Conigliaro to AAA … the final cut is risky for Memphis, as the struggling Eddie Cicotte was sent down, leaving them with only 11 arms on the pitching staff … Boomer Scott and Bill White form a platoon at 1B, and essentially Eddie Rosario and Betts are platooning, although they are rotating with Ted Williams and Ramirez in LF, RF, and DH … Look for the Red Sox to find lots of ways to get Pete Runnels into the lineup v RHP and Nomar Garciaparra against LHP.

At 35, Nomar Garciaparra is the veteran of the roster, while 20 year old Ted Williams is the youngest of the Red Sox.

The scouts still hold high hopes for 20 year old RP Luiz Gohara, who flamed out during the Spring. 2B Claude Richey is also at AAA if reinforcements are needed. 17 year old OF Willie Crawford and 20 year old 2B Ozzie Albies are the most heralded prospects at AA.

This Week In Whirled Baseball: Spring Training Update I

By mknn

On June 30, 2020

In TWIWBL

Welcome to the very first installment of TWIWBL, 10 days into Spring Training. Each team’s individual Spring Training Preview page has been updated, and here are some highlights from around the league, focusing on injuries and performances that have shuffled depth charts.

#BALTIMORE BLACK SOX

When Bill Byrd went down, Mike Mussina was called up and his early performances have moved the 23 year old into the competition for the end of the rotation spots.

#BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

Closer Watty Clark has been nearly unhittable with 3 saves in 3 chances in the Spring.

#CLEVELAND SPIDERS

CF Tris Speaker is out for several months with a torn calf muscle, throwing the Spiders OF into some chaos, and opening the door for both Larry Doby and Kenny Lofton to see more playing time.

#HOMESTEAD GRAYS

C Josh Gibson will miss most of Spring Training, but should be back for Opening Day. His absence, however, has revealed a paucity of talent at C, both at the WBL level and throughout the organization. Hobie Landrith and Blake Swihart will see some time during the Spring in support of Peaches Graham and the GM has begun scouring the land to help fill up the Grays’ roster of minor league backstops.

#INDIANAPOLIS ABC’S

Some of the best battles of the Spring are in the infield in Indianapolis, where Jake Stenzel and Johnny Bench are both hitting incredibly well at C, and there’s barely a hair’s width difference between Joe Morgan and Miller Huggins at 2B and Piggy Ward and Ed Charles at 3B.

#MEMPHIS RED SOX

With projected front of rotation SPs Sadie McMahon, Roger Clemens, and Nixey Callahan all posting ERA’s over 8, and Jon Lester‘s 7.00 ERA the best of other options, the starting rotation is a mess in Kansas City. Luckily, they’re only 10 games in.

#NEW YORK BLACK YANKEES

One thing is constant in the WBL: Babe Ruth leads the league in HR, with 5 in 9 games. He, Mickey Mantle, Eric Davis, and Aaron Judge may be the best 4 man OF in the league.

#NEW YORK GOTHAMS

The trio of Christy Mathewson, Gaylord Perry, and Mickey Welch are having a remarkable Spring, with 5 wins and only 5 ER in over 30 IP between them.

#SAN FRANCISCO SEA LIONS

The Sea Lions are committed to the running game, with Pete Browning and Rickey Henderson tied for the Spring league with 5.

Spring Training Preview: Memphis

By mknn

On June 21, 2020

In 2000 Spring Training, Team News

The back of the rotation is pretty open, with 2 spots up for grabs and a competition between Len Barker, Dean Chance, and Jon Lester.
- With Barker out for quite some time, and with literally no SP performing even adequately, this is wide open. Look for David Bush to be considered as well.
  - Bush and McMahon are the only SPs showing much promise. Assuming they make it, the other 3 slots are between Chance, Nixey Callahan, Eddie Cicotte, Roger Clemens, and Lester (all of whom have had highly mediocre Springs). The shock here is Clemens, who came in as the presumed #1 starter. Tim Wakefield has been sent back to AAA.
Luiz Gohara looks to be the closer, with Heath Bell and Derek Lowe behind him. It’s not clear beyond that, with Joe Beggs, Jonathan Papelbon, and Eddie Watt all in the running.
- Gohara has lost the inside track on the closer job, with Papelbon and Watt now competing for it.
  - Watt–yet to allow an earned run–will close for now, with Papelbon and Beggs setting things up for him.
  - Ellis Kinder has been called up for some bullpen depth.
None of the IF jobs are up for grabs, although it’s not clear if Dustin Pedroia or Pete Runnels will backup Claude Richey at 2B, and Vern Stephens, Wayne Causey, and Nomar Garciaparra are all trying to make case to be Francisco Lindor‘s backup at SS.
- 2B got more interesting, as Ritchey is mired in a horrible slump while Pedroia is hitting .500. Lindor is playing fine, but Causey, Stepehns, and Garciaparra are all playing better at this point. Something has to give here, with 3B Bill Melton the odd man out right now.
  - Pedroia has earned the starting nod right now, but none of the 2B are performing terribly.
  - Bill White would be the starter at 1B right now, with George Scott struggling to stay on the roster, given the other players who could fill in at 1B.
  - The SS situation hasn’t really changed. Stephens is doing best right now, and Lindor has to improve quite a bit to make the roster at all.
There may be 2 roster spots open for David Justice, Eddie Rosario, Joe Kelley, Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans, and Manny Ramirez to compete over.
- Kelly, Ramirez, Mookie Betts, and Lynn are playing themsleves out of consideration while Tony Conigliaro and Rosario are moving up the chart.
  - The OF is pretty dire. Conigliaro and Rosario are hitting best. The assumption is that Ted Williams will come around, but aside from that it’s wide open. Right now, Lynn has been sent to AAA, and Justice is in danger of missing the roster cut for sure.
Jim Pagliaroni is hitting well enough to lay claim to the starting C job, with Bob Brenly‘s defense giving him the edge over Billy Bryan as the reserve.

	Near Definite	Likely	Possible	Long Shot
Starting Pitchers	Sadie McMahon	David Bush	~~Len Barker~~ Nixey Callahan Roger Clemens Dean Chance Jon Lester Eddie Ciccotte
Middle Relievers			Heath Bell Derek Lowe Luiz Gohara Turk Farrell	Ellis Kinder
Setup		Jonathan Papelbon Joe Beggs
Closer		Eddie Watt
C			Jim Pagliaroni Bob Brenly Billy Bryan
1B	Bill White		George Scott
2B		Dustin Pedroia Pete Runnels	Claude Richey
3B	Wade Boggs		Bill Melton
SS		Vern Stephens	Wayne Causey Francisco Lindor Nomar Garciaparra
OF	Ted Williams	Eddie Rosario Tony Conigliaro	Reggie Smith David Justice Dwight Evans Mookie Betts Joe Kelley Manny Ramirez