Tag: Robin Ventura

TWIWBL 24.3: Mid Season Reviews – Chicago American Giants

On February 22, 2022

Summary

Given some injury issues (Eddie Collins‘ being the most impactful), the American Giants should be quite pleased to sit in 2nd place, only 2 games behind Baltimore. The team is an offensive powerhouse, trying to get enough pitching and defense to get by.

What’s Gone Right

The Big Five. This lineup is just a killer. No team in the league can match the top five batters: Collins, Joe Jackson, Frank Thomas, Duffy Lewis, and Dick Allen. The lowest slash line combined of the four is 296/353/543. All five are in double-digits in homeruns, led by Lewis’ 20.

Sheets & Nichols. Ben Sheets and Tricky Nichols have been very, very strong at the front of the rotation.

Backstops. Carlton Fisk and Dave Nilsson give the American Giants one of the better catching combinations in the league, at least offensively.

What’s Gone Wrong

Shortstop. Luke Appling‘s shortcomings are masked by the rest of the lineup, but he’s not a good enough fielder to compensate for a .550 OPS. Damian Jackson was offered every opportunity, but hit even worse than Appling.

Back of the Rotation. Mark Buehrle and Herb Pennock have been very mediocre, and the less said about the tryouts for the 5th spot, the better.

Help from Below. The AAA callups–Avisaíl García, Magglio Ordóñez, Adrián González–have done almost nothing to help. The only bright spot has been Rocky Colavito‘s power, but even he is struggling to bring his BA over .200.

Key Storylines

The big question here is just how far the offense can carry them, and how the Big Five continue to evolve.

Cristóbal Torriente has caught some eyes as an all-use OF, and, perhaps, on the mound as well.

Trading Outlook

BUYING.

3B Robin Ventura and 1B Bob Watson are blocked at the WBL level, and so could be on the move.

AAA Shuttle

It’s the same names. José Abreu, Kevin Mitchell, Ventura, and Watson have been the best performers at AAA, although each have struggled in the WBL.

Midseason Changes

Joe Lake and Fernando Rodney are back in the minors, with Frank Smith being recalled into the 5th rotation spot.

Awards

All Stars: Dick Allen (3B); Eddie Collins (2B); Joe Jackson (RF); Duffy Lewis (LF); AJ Minter (P); Tricky Nichols (P); Frank Thomas (DH).

Player of the Week: Duffy Lewis (5/8)

Offensive MVP: Frank Thomas (1B)
Pitching MVP: Tricky Nichols (SP)

Down on the Farm

AAA: Milwaukee Brewers

Next to the Show: 1B José Abreu, OF Minnie Miñoso, RP Nate Jones (30), RP Eddie Fisher (36).

Prospects: OF Minnie Miñoso (23), 3B Robin Ventura (23), 1B Bob Watson (22).

Projects: 1B José Abreu (30), P A. Rube Foster (22).

Suspects: P Buddy Black (33), Wally Moses (32), Steve Braun (36), Ozzie Guillén (33), P Lee Meadows (33).

AA: Madison Black Wolf

Prospects: RP Víctor Cruz (21), RP Scott Radinksy (23).

Projects: Melky Cabrera (22), P Harry Buckner (23), 3B Sibby Sisti (19), P Walt Craddock (23), P Sean Gallagher (21).

Suspects: 1B Mike Squires (26), 3B Danny Murtaugh (24), OF Henry Cotto (25), P Dick Erickson (28).

TWIWBL 11.2: Notes from Series IX – Cum Posey Division

By mknn

On July 11, 2021

In TWIWBL

#Baltimore Black Sox

Mark Baldwin has lost his spot in the starting rotation, with Ned Garvin taking his place.

#Chicago American Giants

Tricky Nichols is emerging as the ace of Chicago’s staff. He threw his second shutout of the season against Memphis, allowing only 4 hits in a 134 pitch effort. Frank Thomas went deep twice, and Mike Fiore and Duffy Lewis also homered, leading Chicago to a 5-0 victory. Nichols is now 4-0 on the season.

Two homeruns by Lewis were almost not enough, as Chicago gave up an early 5-0 lead to fall behind Memphis 6-5. But 4 runs in the bottom of the eighth, keyed by a pinch-hit double from Thomas, keyed a 9-5 American Giants victory. Sonny Dixon threw 2.1 scoreless innings of relief for the win, and AJ Minter picked up his 5th save with a perfect 9th inning.

Robin Ventura–whose OPS was under .400–was demoted to AAA, with Jim Davenport being promoted as Dick Allen‘s backup, and Kevin Mitchell went to the minors as Cristobal Torriente returned from injury.

#Houston Colt 45’s

Houston has been getting solid starts from surprising sources, the most recent being a 7 inning effort from Stubby Overmire where he only allowed 6 hits and 2 runs. Unfortunately, the Colt 45’s offense was totally shutdown, as they lost the game 3-0.

The performance moved Overmire into the rotation, despite Leon Day also making a case for regular starts. With Jeff Bagwell‘s production sky rocketing (he now leads the team in OPS), Paul Goldschmidt was demoted in hopes the big first baseman could find his stroke at AAA.

C Jason Castro has been the best player at AAA San Antonio, but the Colt 45’s already have three catchers on the roster, if you count Craig Biggio. As such, OF Felipe Alou was recalled to the big league club.

#Ottawa Mounties

With Steve Garvey out for at least a week with the flu, the Mounties recalled Josh Donaldson from AAA, a move designed both to add some depth at 3B behind Anthony Rendon and clear room for the impressive Larry Parrish to get more playing time with AAA Montreal.

Roy Halladay got his first win of the year with 8 strong innings, allowing 1 earned run. The Mounties hit 6 homeruns in a 14-2 rout of Birmingham, with Emil Gross hitting 2 and Tim Raines, Roy Sievers, Carlos Delgado, and Rendon all going deep as well.

The Mounties may have found something in thirty-five year old Jamie Moyer. Helped by three hits from Alex Rodriguez, Moyer allowed only 1 run in 8 innings for his first victory of the year, lowering his ERA to 2.08 as Ottawa won 5-1.

Getting to 30: Cum Posey Division

By mknn

On August 6, 2020

In 2000 Spring Training, Team News

#Baltimore Black Sox

John Wetteland and BJ Ryan have been miserable, and are on their way to AAA. That hurts, as Ryan was the predicted closer for the Black Sox. That leaves the team really without a closer, with Don Bessent and Bob Miller most likely to get the initial opportunities. Rafael Betancourt looked like a contender, but he couldn’t stop tossing gopher balls, leading him to AAA to see if he can keep the ball in the park.

Ned Garvin and Rube Foster are still battling for the final rotation slot. It’s not clear if Bill Byrd‘s return from injury will impact the situation or not.

The biggest surprise may be the failure of 21 year old Eddie Murray to make the roster. On the other hand, teenage phenom Bryce Harper has earned a chance to prove his worth over the final week of Spring Training, costing Baby Doll Jacobsen a spot.

Ramon Hernandez and Curt Blefary look set to platoon behind the plate. Final distribution of playing time between Merv Rettenmud, Ken Singleton, and Alex Johnson is yet to be figured out.

3B continues to be a cloudy position, as Harlond Clift and Bill Sweeney have hit the best, but Brooks Robinson continues to show power and the best defense of the trio.

#Chicago American Giants

The front end of the pitching staff is pretty settled, but the back end is a mess. Mark Buehrle has nailed down the #4 starting spot, but the final spot is a toss-up between Ed Walsh, Herb Pennock, and Tricky Nichols. The challenge is only 2 of those make the opening day roster at all. Rube Foster will start the year at AAA, but should be back in the big leagues relatively quickly.

Ultimately, Rickie Weeks‘ bat doesn’t outweigh Nellie Fox‘s glove to backup Eddie Collins at 2B, so Weeks joins Minnie Minoso and Chico Carrasquel in AAA.

Frank Thomas has shown signs of emerging from his struggles, sending Jose Abreu to the minors, but the final cut is quite difficult for the American Giants. Ultimately, Robin Ventura‘s glove gave him the edge over Joe Crede.

#Houston Colt 45s

Billy Wagner has been historically bad, punching his ticket for AAA, where he’ll be joined by Dan Quisenberry. Both of them showed some potential, and may be back up quickly.

Scott Erickson, Bret Saberhagen, and Dock Ellis are battling for the final starting spot, with the other 2 likely to still make the opening day roster.

The rest of the cuts were really quite simple: the gap between Morgan Ensberg, Gorman Thomas, Shawon Dunston, Pete Hill, Felipe Alou, and Lance Blankenship and the rest of the roster was significant, so all 6 of them head to AAA. At 17, Hill should be back, while at 36, Alou may be done.

#Kansas City Monarchs

In one of the biggest surprises of the Spring, Bob Gibson heads to AAA. Walking 15 batters in 17 innings will do that. He’ll be back as soon as his command returns. Connie Johnson takes one long relief role, with Adam Wainwright edging out Jock Menefee for the other.

Jeff Pfeffer and Trevor Rosenthal will split the closing duties, but the middle of the bullpen remains a bit of a mystery.

Ted Simmons and Ducky Medwick were lucky to stay in camp, and have about a week to show they belong. Frankie Frisch, surprisingly, has headed back to AAA, along with Cool Papa Bell and Steve Evans, to try to get something going. All of these moves are related to Gene Freese, Ken Oberkfell, and Salvador Perez absolutely pounding the ball all Spring.

#Ottawa Mounties

Either Old Hoss Radbourn or Randy Johnson will be the 5th starter with Felix Hernandez heading to AAA, but neither have pitched well at all. Nor, honestly, has Ted Bowsfield, yet he retains his position as closer.

The other cuts should have been easy. Jackie Jensen, and Brant Alyea have done virtually nothing all Spring. George Van Haltren and John Olerud belong in that group as well, but are needed for depth at 1B and in the OF, especially with Larry Walker out injured for a couple more weeks.

The real challenge is at 2B, where all 4 contenders have played well, led by Tim Raines. George Cutshaw provides decent defense, so he’s in. Kirt Manwaring–yet to find a single hit–should really be the final cut, but he has to be kept to maintain 3 C’s on the roster. That leaves Bernie Allen and Roberto Alomar. Right now, Allen is the better player, so despite Alomar’s much higher upside, he goes to AAA.