Baseball The Way It Never Was

Tag: Robby Thompson

TWIWBL 3.1: Notes from Series II

#Baltimore Black Sox

Frank Robinson went 9 for 19 with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs as Baltimore took 3 out of 4 from Chicago.

#Birmingham Black Barons

The Black Barons remain winless on the season after dropping 4 to the New York Black Yankees … Warren Spahn and Scott Baker have both been torched in their 2 starts. Both are 0-2, with Spahn’s ERA ballooning above 20 … Dale Murphy is hitless on the year, starting the season 0 for 14; while Eddie Mathews and Chipper Jones went hitless for the series … Gene Tenace at 286/400/714 is about the only bright spot for Birmingham offensively.

#Chicago American Giants

RP Ken Sanders has yet to allow a hit over 4 appearances … Shoeless Joe Jackson hit .500 in the 4 game series against Baltimore.

#Cleveland Spiders

The Spiders sent SP Hardie Henderson to AAA to make room for Bill Steen‘s return from the DL, but the injuries kept coming as OF Rowland Office will be unavailable for the next 2 weeks and SS Bill Dahlen was put on the 10 Day DL … Rick Burleson was recalled to take Dahlen’s place … Larry Doby–considered a key to the Spiders’ success this year–went 3 for 18 in the 4 game split with Los Angeles … looking for some more flexibility, the Spiders recalled Tom Brookens from AAA, sending down Robby Thompson.

#Houston Colt 45’s

3B George Brett went 9 for 19 with 5 RBIs in a 4 game series with Homestead, but Houston only managed a single victory.

#Indianapolis ABC’s

With Joe Morgan out for 10 days, the ABC’s recalled Lonny Frey from AAA … Hal Morris continued his hot start, going 7 for 15 with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs as Indianapolis swept a 4 game series from Memphis.

#Kansas City Monarchs

The Monarchs relievers have been fantastic, with Frank DiPino, Craig Kimbrel, and Adam Wianwright combining for 7 scoreless IP out of the pen and Jeff Pfeffer has 3 saves … Albert Pujols led the Monarchs to 3 victories in 4 games against Houston with 9 hits in 15 ABs, including 3 2Bs and a HR.

#Los Angeles Angels

Larry Anderson and Chuck Finley have been great out of the bullpen, each going 1-0 without giving up a run in a combined 10.2 IP, placing Finley in line for the next spot start … Don Buford had a rough series, going 1 for 14.

#Memphis Red Sox

When David Bush went on the DL, the Red Sox had to scramble a bit, resulting in Tim Wakefield and Eddie Cicotte joining the WBL roster and Derek Lowe being sent back down to AAA … Joe Beggs, Dean Chance, Turk Farrell, and Wakefield have combined for just shy of 20 bullpen innings, giving up a total of 8 hits and 0 runs, which you would think would result in better results than being swept in 4 games against Indianapolis … 3B Wade Boggs, Vern Stephens, and Ted Williams combined to go 5 for 46 (.109) in the 4 games.

#Miami Cuban Giants

Eustaquio Pedroso has been absolutely rocked in 2 starts, giving up 13 hits and 9 runs in only 4 IP and–not surprisingly–going 0-2.

#New York Black Yankees

The Black Yankees scored 42 runs in sweeping a 4 game series from Birmingham … Babe Ruth went 9 for 18 in the series, which is nothing compared to Eric Davis‘ 7 for 16 with 3 HRs and 12 RBIs.

#Ottawa Mounties

The injury to Gary Peters–and general overusage of the bullpen–led to the Mounties’ recalling Felix Hernandez for a start, then sending him down in exchange for Monk Dubiel. Hernandez did well, giving the Mounties 7 decent innings, keeping him in line for future promotions. Dubiel was better, keeping the Mounties in the final game of the series, allowing 3 runs in 7.2 IP … Old Hoss Radbourn has been spectacular in 3 relief appearances covering 8.2 IP, putting him in line for a start in the near future … there was plenty of blame to go around as Ottawa was swept by Philadelphia in a 4 game series, but much of it goes to 1B Carlos Delgado and OF Terry Puhl, who combined for only 4 hits in 25 ABs.

#San Francisco Sea Lions

Jack Clark struggled in a series against the Wandering House of David, managing only 2 hits in 17 ABs … at the other side of the spectrum, Bobby Bonds is on fire, going 8 for 13 with 5 RBIs in the same series.

#Wandering House of David

The House of David’s bullpen has been pretty fantastic, with Tom Niedenfuer, Joakim Soria, Bruce Sutter, and Dick Tidrow combining for 11 IP without giving up a run and Rollie Fingers managing a 1.69 ERA in 5.1 IP … Elrod Hendricks cooled off significantly as the House of David took 3 out of 4 games from San Francisco, managing only 1 hit in 12 ABs.

Season Preview: Detroit Wolverines

It’s hard to see the Wolverines making a lot of noise. The pitching staff-at least after Hal Newhouser–is pretty nondescript, and right now the offense is dependent on the Bailey Boys–Ed and Bob, that is. Still, if Jimmy Collins and Hank Greenberg can perform at their peak potential, and if Ty Cobb does anything at all, maybe there is something here.

Final Roster

SP: Hal Newhouser, Whitey Wilshere, Si Johnson, Tom Hughes, Hank Aguirre.
RP: Johnny Marcum & Gene Conley; John Hiller & Jason Schmidt; Kevin Hart & Justin Verlander; Mike Henneman.

C: Ed Bailey; Bill Carrigan
1BHank Greenberg
2B: Tony Phillips; Robby Thompson
3BJimmy Collins
SSGeorge Davis; Sparky Adams
LFOscar Gamble
CFChili Davis
RFGeoff Jenkins; Ty Cobb
DH: Bob Bailey

Notes

Mark Dewey was set down, which juggled the bullpen quite a bit, and allowed John Hiller–despite only 2 IP on the Spring–to make the opening day roster … it’s unclear if Si Johnson will be healthy in time for his first start; if not look for Justin Verlander or Johnny Marcum to get the ball … despite a horrid Spring slump, the Wolverines maintain faith in Ty Cobb, although the 20 year old has slid down the depth chart. Still, he is retained on the roster over Jody GerutHank Greenberg finally showed signs of recovery this Spring, retaining the starting role at 1B … while the Wolverines don’t have any true platoons, Tony Phillips will move between 2B and LF, allowing Robby Thompson and Geoff Jenkins to play.

37 year old 2B/LF Tony Phillips came out of nowhere to earn a starting spot. Two 20 year olds made the roster in rotation ace Hal Newhouser and OF Ty Cobb.

1B Nate Colbert and P Clyde Passeau are most likely to help from AAA. There’s not a lot at AA: perhaps 2 of the young SS, 20 year old Donie Bush or 18 year old Alfredo Griffin will turn into something.

Spring Training Preview: Detroit

  • Spring training will determine if Whitey Wilshere ends up in the rotation or the bullpen, but either way he’ll probably make the roster. Gene Conley, Hank Aguirre, Tom Hughes, Si Johnson, and Johnny Marcum are also in the race for the back-end of the rotation.
    • Jason Schmidt and Claude Passeau have struggled mightily (Passeau especially has put himself in danger of not making the team at all), opening up more competition for starting spots. Wilshere is almost guaranteed one, and Marcum has impressed as well.
      • Passeau has moved down to AAA. Newhouser and Wilshere have spots in the rotation, but the rest is unsettled. If Johnson has a decent 2nd start, he is in, but nobody else has shown enough, leaving eight pitchers vying for the final 2 spots.
    • Wilshere moving to the rotation opens up a lot of room in the bullpen, with Mike Henneman joining Buddy Napier as candidates to close.
      • Napier has been rocked hard, moving him to the edge of the roster entirely. Henneman is the closer, with Mark Dewey the only other decent bullpen performer so far.
  • Robby Thompson and Charlie Gehringer are competing to start at 2B, and Ray Chapman and Sparky Adams to backup George Davis at SS.
    • Thompson is far ahead of Gehringer at this point, and Chapman is even outperforming Davis at SS so far.
      • It’s all so confusing. Phillips was brought in just for flexibility, and he’s outperforming everyone. Thompson and Adams continue to impress, while both Davis and Gehringer are edging towards demotion. Jorge Orta has been recalled.
  • Only 2 of Al Kaline, Wes Covington, and Jody Gerut will make the roster in all likelihood.
    • Right now, it’s Covington and Gerut, as Kaline–along with Ty Cobb–are the worst performing OFers of the Spring. Veteran utility player Tony Phillips has been called up to add some roster flexibility as well.
      • Cobb has recovered slightly, but Kaline has just about lost his roster slot. Geoff Jenkins has been recalled to add some competition here as well.
  • Ed Bailey has closed the gap with Bill Carrigan at C, and Phil Roof has been added as a 3rd option.
    • Bailey is hitting better than Carrigan, leaving open the possibility of a platoon situation.
  • Hank Greenberg is struggling, opening the door for Nate Colbert to push him at 1B and Bob Bailey has hit enough to make a strong case for a roster spot.
    • Even Greg Brock is outhitting Greenberg at this point.
Near DefiniteLikelyPossibleLong Shot
Starting PitchersHal Newhouser
Whitey Wilshere
Si JohnsonJason Schmidt
Johnny Marcum
Gene Conley
Hank Aguirre
Tom Hughes
Red Ehret
Justin Verlander
Mickey Lolich
Middle RelieversKevin Hart
SetupMark DeweyBuddy Napier
Roberto Hernandez
CloserMike Henneman
CEd Bailey
Bill Carrigan
Phil Roof
1BHank GreenbergNate Colbert
Greg Brock
2BRobby ThompsonTony Phillips
Charlie Gehringer
Jorge Orta
3BJimmy CollinsBob Bailey
SSGeorge DavisRay Chapman
Sparky Adams
OFTy Cobb
Chili Davis
Wes Covington
Oscar Gamble
Jody Gerut
Al Kaline
Geoff Jenkins

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