Baseball The Way It Never Was

Tag: Richie Hebner

TWIWBL 20.1: Series XVII Notes – Bill James Division

#Los Angeles Angels

With an exhausted staff, Jeurys Familia was sent to AAA with Ron Romanick coming up to the big leagues to make a start. It didn’t go particularly well, as Romanick gave up 6 runs in 4 innings. But Kal Daniels hit 2 homeruns, and Doc Gooden continued his revival with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, picking up the win in the 8-6 victory over San Francisco.

#Memphis Red Sox

Young Roger Clemens clearly has talent. But a 1-5 with an ERA over 6, it’s time for him to get some seasoning at AAA before trying his stuff against WBL hitters once again. Joe Kelley was promoted to Memphis, with 35 year-old Nomar Garciaparra being released.

Kelly’s start was unsuccessful–8 hits and 5 runs in just over 3 innings–sending him right back to AAA, with Derek Lowe returning to Memphis. Still needing a starter, Memphis brought Clemens back with Wayne Causey moving down to AAA.

3 hits from Wade Boggs and a 3-run inside-the-park homerun from Claude Ritchey provided more than enough support as Jon Lester improved to 7-5 with 6 innings of 4-hit ball without allowing an earned run as the Red Sox beat the Black Yankees, 6-1. Len Barker was injured on the mound, and will spend 10 days on the DL. Sadie McMahon was released and Bill Doak promoted to the big leagues.

#Wandering House of David

The House of David are thrilled to have Pete Browning back. Their star OF went 2-for-4 with his 8th homerun to support nearly 7 strong innings by Jack Taylor, who improved his record to 5-6. Scott Downs and Rollie Fingers bridged the way to Bruce Sutter, who picked up his 5th save in the 3 to 1 victory over Miami.

Wade Miley allowed 3 hits and 1 run in 7.2 innings and Elrod Hendricks hit his 14th and 15th homeruns of the year, leading the House of David to a 9-1 victory over Miami. Ron Santo, Ryne Sandberg, and Richie Hebner went deep as well in the rout.

Ferguson Jenkins‘ continued ineffectiveness finally landed him in AAA, with Phil Regan coming back to the team after his rehab assignment.

Series V Featured Matchup – Wandering House of David @ Los Angeles Angels

Four games pitting the Wandering House of David against the Los Angeles Angels in a series between two of the better teams from the Bill James Division. See here for the series preview.

Game One: Jack W. Taylor v. Pud Galvin

Game one was dominated by Pud Galvin, who pitched 7 innings giving up only 1 run on 6 hits to lead the Angels to a 5-1 victory. Galvin’s opposite number, Jack W. Taylor, gave up 5 runs in 6 innings.

Both bullpens were stellar: Rollie Fingers threw 2 innings of scoreless relief for the House of David and Jeurys Familia, Larry Anderson, and Joe Nathan allowed only one hit behind Galvin.

Mike Trout and Doug Rader combined for 6 hits and all 5 RBIs for Los Angeles, with Trout hitting his second HR of the year. Don Buford added 2 hits and scored twice.

HOD 1 (Taylor 2-1) @ LAA 5 (Galvin 1-1)
HRs: Trout (LAA, 2)
Box Score

Game Two: Frank Sullivan v Harry Howell

The game itself was overshadowed by an injury to Pete Browning, who was put on the DL by the House of David, and is expected to miss between one and two weeks. Dan Ford was recalled from AAA after the game to take Browning’s spot on the roster.

That compounded a bad day, as Los Angeles moved to a 2-0 lead in the series with a walk-off victory. The House of David scored 4 times in the first two innings to take an early lead, led by HRs from Browning and Sammy Sosa, but a 3-run 6th inning keyed by a 2-run 2B from George Wright, tied the game at 5.

The score would stay that way until the bottom of the 9th, when Wright led off with a single against Joakim Soria. Kal Daniels followed with a single, with Wright heading to third, and Elmer Valo scored him with a hard single through the right side, sending the home crowd happy with a 6-5 walk-off win for Los Angeles.

Daniels and Wright had 3 hits each, with Wright scoring 3 times and driving in 2, and Derrek Lee looked to break out of his slump, going 2-for-2. For the House of David, both Ryne Sandberg and Mark Grace went 2 for 4.

Chuck Finley continued his strong start to the year for Los Angeles, with 3 innings of scoreless relief, while Aaron Heilman pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory, his first of the year. For the House of David, Dick Tidrow, who had been fantastic to date, was roughed up for 2 earned runs in 1.2 innings, earning his second blown save of the year.

HOD 5 (Soria 0-1) @ LAA 6 (Heilman 1-0)
HRs: Browning (HOD, 4); Sosa (HOD, 2)
Box Score

Game Three: CC Sabathia v Doc Gooden

The House of David look to get back into the series without their leading hitter, Pete Browning, who was placed on the DL.

Both CC Sabathia and Doc Gooden struggled early, but Sabathia got on track, allowing four hits over 7.1 innings to lead the House of David to a 4-1 victory. Gooden was not nearly as good, walking 5 and allowing 6 hits in 4.1 innings, giving up four runs in the process.

Both bullpens excelled: Nolan Ryan followed Gooden with 3.2 hitless innings while striking out four, while for the House of David, Bruce Sutter got his second hold of the year and Tom Niedenfuer pitched a scoreless 9th for his 4th save.

Richie Hebner drove in 2 runs with a bases loaded single in the top of the 2nd, and Mark McGwire and Mark Grace drove in runs with walks in the top of the 5th.

For Los Angeles, the offense was highly concentrated in two batters: Mike Trout went 3-for-4 and Bobby Grich 2-for-4.

HOD 4 (Sabathia 3-2; Niedenfuer 4 Sv) – LAA 1 (Gooden 1-3)
HRs – None.
Box Score

Game Four: Fergie Jenkins v Gerrit Cole

Sabathia and Gooden were a good matchup, but this one was even better. Fergie Jenkins comes into the game with a 2-1 record and a 4.50 ERA and Cole with an identical record and a 3.90 ERA. Both have shown flashes of brilliance, however, Cole especially, whose year started with 3 consecutive solid starts before being roughed up by Kansas City his last time out. Jenkins was masterful his last time out, allowing only 3 hits and 1 run over 7 innings in a victory over Memphis.

Sometimes, though, a game just comes down to a single swing. With the House of David up 2-0 in the bottom of the 5th, singles by George Wright and Don Buford scored the Angels’ first runs. Mike Trout walked to load the bases, and Doug Rader deposited a Jenkins fastball into the left field seats for a grand slam. That put the Angels up, 6-2.

The House of David closed the gap to 6-5, but the Angels’ Joe Nathan pitched a perfect 9th for his 3rd save, preserving the win for Cole, who struck out 10 in 7 strong innings.

HOD 5 (Jenkins 2-2) – LAA 6 (Cole 3-1; Nathan 3 Sv)
HRs: Rader (LAA, 3)
Box Score

Series Notes

Rader had 6 RBIs in the 4 games, but the hitting star was Trout, who went 8 for 14 in the four games, effectively breaking out of his early season slump. Richie Hebner and George Stone had 5 hits each for the House of David.

The Angels took 3 of the 4 games, but they still trail the House of David by 1 game in the Bill James Division.

The key storylines were Browning’s injury and Trout’s emergence–the former a significant challenge for a suddenly struggling House of David; the latter a ray of hope for the Angels.

Spring Training Preview: House of David

  • The pitching staff is relatively set, although there is competition between Nick Altrock, Lynn Brenton, Wade Miley, and Lee Smith for some bullpen roles.
    • Rick Reuschel has been poor and Frank Sullivan, Bob Rush, Fergie Jenkins, and Jack Taylor have been no better than acceptable. So the rotation, other than C.C. Sabathia, is a lot more open now. Altrock has been quite good and should get a shot, as will Kerry Wood, who was called up when Pedro Strop went down injured.
      • Sabathia, Altrock, and Miley seem to have settled rotation spots, with Jenkins and Sullivan a little ahead of Taylor and Rush. Reuschel has been sent to AAA with 15 year old Joe Nuxhall recalled to get a taste of big league camp.
    • In the bullpen, Jeff Heathcock, Brenton, and Smith have all suffered, while Joakim Soria and Bruce Sutter have moved up the depth chart.
      • The back 3 of Sutter, Soria, and Tom Niedenfuer has been spectacular. Heathcock, Wood, and Smith are all in danger of missing the opening day roster at this point. Brenton has been sent to AAA with Dick Tidrow and Hector Rondon being called into camp.
  • C is pretty wide open, with Gabby Hartnett and Elrod Hendricks competing for the starting job. Frank Chance could force himself into the picture as well, although it is doubtful his future is behind the plate.
    • So far, Hendricks has been crushing the ball, while Hartnett is yet to really get going.
  • Anthony Rizzo, Mark Grace, and Dave Altizer are in open competition at 1B, as are Dick Lundy and Ernie Banks at SS.
    • Banks has moved well ahead of Lundy at SS.
    • Altizer and Cap Anson are struggling mightily to contribute, and may miss the roster.
  • Dan Ford, Danny Green, or Sammy Sosa need a great Spring to force themselves into the OF picture.
    • The Philadelphia OF has been on fire all Spring, but Ford is certainly in the conversation, and Green has played himself back to AAA.
      • Patsy Dougherty is struggling, but overall this group is smashing the ball. Olaf Henriksen has been recalled for some more OF flexibility.
  • Robinson Cano and Frank Grant have been crushing the ball at 2B, casting doubts on Ryne Sandberg as the starter. Similarly, Richie Hebner and Jung Ho Kang are outperforming Ron Santo at 3B.
    • Competition at 2B has tightened up between the 3 of them.
    • Kang has gone ice cold, earning himself a trip to AAA.
Near DefiniteLikelyPossibleLong Shot
Starting PitchersCC SabathiaNick Altrock
Wade Miley
Ferguson Jenkins
Bob Rush
Frank Sullivan
Jack Taylor
Kerry Wood
Middle RelieversLee Smith
Jeff Heathcock
Pedro Stroup
Hector Rondon
Dick Tidrow
Joe Nuxhall
SetupJoakim Soria
Bruce Sutter
CloserTom Niedenfuer
CGabby Hartnett
Elrod Hendricks
Frank Chance
1BAnthony Rizzo
Mark Grace
Dave Altizer
Cap Anson
2BRyne Sandberg
Robinson Cano
Frank Grant
3BRon Santo
Richie Hebner
SSErnie BanksDick Lundy
OFPatsy Dougherty
George Gore
Bobby Bonds
Jerry Mumphrey
Dan Ford
George StoneSammy Sosa
Olaf Henriksen

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