Baseball The Way It Never Was

Tag: Rico Carty

TWIWBL 5.5: Series IV Notes – Effa Manley Division

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.

Season Preview: Philadelphia Stars

The pitching staff looks good, but struggled all Spring. The performances of Steve Carlton and Pete Alexander at the back of the rotation will tell a lot about how far Philadelphia can go. Mike Schmidt‘s demotion to AAA may be the absolute shock of the Spring: he was expected to pair with Gavvy Cravath and Buck Freeman to anchor the Stars’ offense. The team is especially light up the middle, and could try to engineer a trade.

Final Roster

SP: Robin Roberts, Ray Collins, Larry Jackson, Steve Carlton, Pete Alexander.
RP: Monte Ward; Pedro Feliciano & Jack Meyer; Rheal Cormier & Ron Reed; Bob Howry.

C: Mike Scioscia & Sherm Lollar
1BTed Kluszewski
2B: Chase Utley & Gene DeMontreville
3BScott Rolen; Al Smith
SSLarry Bowa
LFRico Carty; Sherry Magee
CFWillie Davis & George Hendrick
RFBuck Freeman
DH: Gavvy Cravath

Notes

All of the rotation starters for the Stars can through a ton of innings, allowing Philadelphia to enter the season with 11 pitchers, sending both Brad Kilby and Jack Katoll to the minors … there are questions about Jack Meyer‘s control in pressure situations, leading to him and Rheal Cormier trading roles, but aside from that the staff looks solid … opening with 1 less arm wasn’t enough to save Mike Schmidt‘s roster spot as the 27 year old 3B struggled through a miserable Spring, although he did show some power. Instead, 3B will fall to a mixture of Scott Rolen and Al Smith to start the season … SS Mickey Doolin‘s return from injury will probably shake things up a bit … the Stars’ lineup will probably change: the platoons between Mike Scioscia and Sherm Lollar at C, Chase Utley and Gene DeMontreville at 2B, and Willie Davis and George Hendrick in CF could resolve if either player really seizes the opportunity.

36 year old professional hitter Rico Carty is the oldest player on the roster while a pair of 19 year olds–OF Sherry Magee and P Monte Ward–are the youngest.

It’s hard to see either 1B Cecil Cooper or 3B Mike Schmidt staying at AAA for long, but there’s not a lot of help on the mound there. LF Dan Pasqua and 3B Jose Ramirez are the brightest prospects at AA.

Spring Training Preview: Philadelphia

  • 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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