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Tag: Ray Collins

Previewing Series VI – Chicago American Giants @ Philadelphia Stars

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On May 27, 2021

In Series Previews

The featured matchup of Series VI will see the Philadelphia Stars (13-9) hosting the Chicago American Giants (12-10). Having the misfortune to be in the same division as the New York Black Yankees, the Stars are more games behind their division leaders (5) than the American Giants (3), despite having the better record.

Chicago comes in to the game having taken 3 out of 4 from Detroit, and 7-1 over their last 8 games. Philadelphia lost 3 out of 4 to Portland, and is playing .500 ball over their last eight.

Series pitching matchups (Chicago SP listed first) are currently Mark Buehrle (1-2, 3.20) v. Robin Roberts (2-1, 6.30); Joe Lake (0-1, 7.71) v. Ray Collins (3-0, 3.66); Tricky Nichols (3-0, 2.97) v. Steve Carlton (1-3, 3.72); and Ben Sheets (3-0, 4.11) v. Pete Alexander (1-4, 6.00). It should be an interesting series for the starters: three of the games pit someone pitching well against someone struggling in the start of the year, while the third game–Nichols versus Carlton–may be the best matchup of them all.

Chicago’s bullpen has been strong up to the very end of games, where A.J. Minter has struggled, allowing 9 hits in only 3 IP. But the trio of Ken Sanders, Akinori Otsuka, and Koji Uehara have been excellent in getting the ball to Minter. LHP Lee Meadows has struggled mightily, including taking losses in his last 3 appearances, and is likely to be sent to AAA after this series.

Philadelphia’s bullpen has been fantastic, top to bottom, led by closer Bob Howry‘s 7 saves along with excellent work from Pedro Feliciano (5 holds), Ron Reed, and Rheal Cormier. Feliciano’s 1.12 ERA is the worst of that bunch.

Offensively, though, Chicago hold the clear edge; indeed, short of the Black Yankees, no team in the league can match the trio of OF Shoeless Joe Jackson (353/446/624), 1B Frank Thomas (325/419/588), and 2B Eddie Collins (320/469/507). Those three have combined for 14 HRs and 56 RBIs. There are concerns about the starts of both 1B Adrian Gonzalez (176/232/284) and Luke Appling (169/219/220; .114 BA over his last 12 games), however.

Overall, Philadelphia’s offense has sputtered. Rico Carty (338/380/592) has been fantastic, and both Willie Davis (294/351/574) and Scott Rolen (275/338/580) solid, but 4 starters have failed to raise their OPS to .600 (OFers Sherry Magee and Al Smith, C Bill Dickey, and SS Mickey Doolin).

Chicago’s Dick Allen comes into the series having driven in a run in 5 consecutive games, and Shoeless Joe has been successful on his last 4 SB attempts

TWIWBL 5.5: Series IV Notes – Effa Manley Division

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On May 15, 2021

In TWIWBL

At 14-4, the New York Black Yankees lead Philadelphia by 2 games. Indianapolis is playing .500 ball, with Cleveland at the bottom of the division at 6-12.

Leading Starters: Ray Collins, PHI, 3-0, 3.96 ERA; Red Ruffing, NYY, 3-0, 4.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP; Vean Gregg, HOM, 1-1, 2.08 ERA; Ron Guidry, NYY, 2-1, 3.14 ERA, 0.98 WHIP.
Leading Relievers: Bob Howry, PHI, 7 SV, 1.08 ERA, 0.60 WHIP; Ron Reed, PHI, 2 SV, 6 H, 0.90 ERA, 1.00 WHIP.
Leading Batters: Lou Gehrig, NYY, 421/522/860, 6 HR; Babe Ruth, NYY, 440/517/853, 8 HR, 22 RBI; Rico Carty, PHI, 382/419/709; Eric Davis, NYY, 303/321/658, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 8 SB.

#Cleveland Spiders

Mel Harder‘s nagging shoulder forced him to the DL for 10 days, forcing a roster move for the Spiders, with Wilbur Cooper joining the ML staff after a good start to the season in AAA. Bill Steen will–for the moment–take Harder’s spot in the rotation.

#Homestead Grays

With Peaches Graham out for 10 days, Jim Hegan was recalled from AAA to serve as the backup C.

#Indianapolis ABC’s

C Johnny Bench nudged his BA over .200 with a 2-HR game, leading the ABC’s to an 8-2 victory over Cleveland. But the ABC’s hit some injury snags during the series, with OF Oscar Charleston and 2B Joe Morgan both out. Morgan will miss about 2 weeks, and Indianapolis recalled OF Edd Roush from AAA to take his roster spot. Losing Charleston for any length of time would hurt, as the young OF is slashing 348/375/522 to date. Luckily, his wrist looks bruised, not broken, and should only keep him out for a few days.

There are questions about the pitching staff, with either Bronson Arroyo or Virgil Trucks facing demotion if fresh arms are needed.

#Philadelphia Stars

In an impressive 8-6 win over Kansas City, Willie Davis went 3-for-4 with 2 solo HRs and Rico Carty went 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs.

The Stars’ mound corps are heavily overused at the moment, necessitating some roster moves. Ted Kluszewski and Larry Jackson were both sent to AAA Norfolk, but they are both expected to return shortly. Despite not giving up a hit in a handful of AAA innings, Jerry Blevins was released to make room for Jaret Wright on the WBL roster. P Ken Forsch was also recalled.

TWIWBL 4.1: Notes from Series III

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On September 30, 2020

In TWIWBL

The New York Black Yankees saw their 10 game winning streak come to an end in a 4-2 loss to the Wandering House of David. The Black Yankees are tied with the Kansas City Monarchs for the best record in the league at 11-3, with the Brooklyn Royal Giants the only other team with double-digit victories. Those 4 teams–New York, Wandering, Kansas City, and Brooklyn–each lead their divisions.

Two decent hitting streaks are still intact: Babe Ruth has a 14 game streak (see below for a dramatic extension by Ruth) and the Baltimore Black Sox‘s Dan McGann has hit safely in 13 straight games.

Philadelphia‘s Ray Collins and Brooklyn‘s Don Drysedale are the only 3 game winners in the league (both are 3-0), and Portland‘s Johan Santana leads the league with 6 saves.

Houston‘s George Brett hit .538 with 2 HR’s and 7 RBIs to win the WBL Player of the Week.

#Brooklyn Royal Giants

Orel Hershiser (1-0) gave up only 5 hits while striking out 8 in a complete game victory over Cleveland. Hershiser’s only mistake of the day was a 2-run HR to Evan Longoria as the Royal Giants eased to a 6-2 win.

#Cleveland Spiders

Cleveland has basically created a fast shuttle between their AAA affiliate in Buffalo and the big leagues. Just across these five games, here’s who used it:

  • With John Ellis no longer carrying an injury, the Spiders demoted Harry Bemis.
  • Jim Gantner was called up from AAA to provide some depth at 2B behind Chuck Knoblauch.
  • Whit Wyatt returned from the DL, sending Sudden Sam McDowell down.
  • Yordano Ventura was put on the IL even though the Spiders were, at the time, unsure as the extent of his injuries (turns out to have been fine, Ventura is out for 4 months with bone spurs).
  • With the OF totally gassed and lacking depth, Peanuts Lowrey was called up.

Not all news for Cleveland was injury related: Bob Feller moved to 2-0 with 8 shutout innings against Brooklyn in a 9-1 Spiders’ victory.

#Detroit Wolverines

Phenom Ty Cobb continues to press for more playing time, going 3-for-4 with a HR in a start against Kansas City.

#Homestead Grays

With Corey Kluber still injured, Homestead recalled Cliff Lee for an emergency start. Lee was excellent, leading the Grays to keep him on the roster at the expense of Bill Fischer, who had struggled in a few early season appearances.

#Houston Colt 45’s

Bret Saberhagen was still not 100%, so the Colt 45’s did some roster juggling, sending Saberhagen to AAA for a day and recalling David Clyde. Clyde was lit on fire in his start, and sent right back to AAA after the game.

Roy Oswalt (2-1) combined with Trevor Hoffman for a 6 hit shutout against Portland.

#Kansas City Monarchs

The Monarchs’ Luke Hamlin–of all people–threw the best start of the year so far, allowing only 1 hit over 7 innings against Detroit while striking out 11. Neither Frank DiPino nor Jeff Pfeffer allowed a hit in closing the game out for a 1-0 Kansas city win.

#Miami Cuban Giants

Ramon Martinez tied the best game score of the year with a 5-hit complete game shutout of Chicago that took only 94 pitches, earning his first victory of the year.

#New York Black Yankees

With a 12-game hitting streak on the line, Babe Ruth came to the plate as a pinch hitter with his team down 2 in the bottom of the 9th and a runner on first. Ruth deposited Tom Niedenfuer‘s pitch in the left field seats for his 4th HR of the year to tie the game, extending his streak to 13 (New York would lose the game 5-4 in 13 innings).

#San Francisco Sea Lions

Lefty Grove continued his dominant start to the year, pitching 8 innings of 3-hit, 1-run ball while striking out 11 against Ottawa to go 2-0 on the season. Grove’s game score of 80 was the best in the league to date (later surpassed by Hamlin).

#Wandering House of David

OF Pete Browning continued his torrid start with a 4-for-4 game against the Black Yankees with a 2B, a 3B, and 2 RBIs to key a 13 inning HoD victory.

Spring Training Preview: Philadelphia

By

On June 19, 2020

In 2000 Spring Training, Team News

  • The rotation is a little unsettled: Cole Hamels has rocketed up the depth chart, and while Ray Collins and Jack Katoll are highly rated by the internal scouting department, room may need to be made for some mixture of Steve Carlton, Robin Roberts, or Pete Alexander.
    • The unsettled nature of the rotation has resolved a little, both ways. Collins and Katoll have been solid, and Roberts has been excellent. Monte Ward and Jack Easton have made a case for a role as well. Carlton, Hamels, Edwin Jackson, and Moose are probably out of the picture, with Hamels being sent down to AAA.
      • The top 3 slots are still filled, but little has clarified beyond that. Or, at least, little for the good: Kelleher, Jackson, and Moose were all sent to AAA. That leaves Larry Jackson (who has pitched well enough to deserve a start), Ward, Alexander, Easton, and Carlton fighting over the final 2 slots.
  • The relief roles are similarly up for grabs: the only job that seems set is Jack Meyer to eat some innings. Other than that, somewhere between Jerry Blevins, Hal Kelleher, Bob Moose, Brad Kilby, Ron Reed, Larry Jackson, and Bob Howry, some hierarchy needs to emerge.
    • Reed, Meyer, and Howry have been quite good; Blevins, Kelleher, and Kilby quite bad. So somethings have emerged.
      • Howry will close, setup by Reed. Claude Jonnard and Rheal Cormier were recalled.
  • The starters at C (Mike Scioscia or Sherm Lollar), 1B (Ted Kluszewski or Cecil Cooper), and 2B (Chase Utley or Juan Samuel) are up in the air, but the roster talent is pretty set.
    • Kluszewski and Utley have edged ahead in their respective contests.
      • Lollar is well ahead of Scioscia at this point.
  • It’s not clear if both Riggs Stephenson and Bobby Abreu will make the team, but 1 should.
    • It could be hard for Abreu and Stephenson: they are behind 5 players who are having great Springs (Gavvy Cravath, Buck Freeman, Sherry Magee, George Hendrick, and Rico Carty) and well ahead of Dusty Baker, Willie Davis, and Richie Ashburn, who are all scuffling.
      • Ashburn has moved to AAA.
  • Scott Rolen is pressuring Mike Schmidt for the starting job at 3B. He and Al Smith have both moved ahead of Jose Ramirez.
    • Ramirez has moved to AAA, and the Stars are still waiting for Schmidt to start hitting.
  • Mickey Doolin‘s injury has opened the door for both Roger Peckinpaugh and Pat Meares (called up from AAA) to compete for the starting job. Veteran Larry Bowa has also been added to the Spring roster.
    • Right now, it’s Peckinpaugh. But they’ve all been pretty miserable: Gene Demontreville has been recalled until Doolin is back, and could even force himself into the conversation.
Near DefiniteLikelyPossibleLong Shot
Starting PitchersRay Collins
Jack Katoll
Robin Roberts		Jack Easton
Monte Ward
Steve Carlton
Pete Alexander
Larry Jackson
Middle RelieversJerry Blevins
Brad Kilby		Claude Jonnard
Rheal Cormier
SetupRon Reed
Jack Meyer
CloserBob Howry
CSherm LollarMike SciosciaButch Wynegar
1BTed KluszewskiCecil Cooper
2BChase UtleyJuan Samuel
Gene Demontreville
3BScott RolenAl Smith
Mike Schmidt
SSMickey DoolinRoger PeckinpaughPat Meares
Larry Bowa
OFGavvy CravathBuck Freeman
Sherry Magee
Rico Carty		George Hendrick
Riggs Stephenson
Bobby Abreu		Dusty Baker
Willie Davis

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