69 - 85, .448 pct. 4th in Effa Manley Division, 17 games behind.
Overall
With a .500 record predicted before the season, the Grays’ season is a bit of a disappointment: nobody could have seen the amount of talent they have on the mound performing so poorly.
This is a team building for 2, maybe 3 or 4, years down the road, so there a ton of unanswered questions that bear watching.
What Went Right
If you had Mike Epstein and Rick Reichardt on your bingo card for best players on the Grays before the season started, you’re a savant. But they were easily the best hitters over the course of the season (Epstein finished with an OPS just shy of .950; Reichardt just over .900).
Two players–OFs Andy Van Slyke and Owen “Don’t Call Me Chief” Wilson–were basically as good as those two in about a half season of work each.
Josh Gibson declared himself a superstar of the future, with an OPS of .833 as a 20 year old catcher. Davey Johnson was solid at 2B.
Rennie Stennett showed enough in 20 games to earn a look next year.
Willie Stargell has a ton of power.
Francisco Liriano was a good starter for most of the season, and Bob Friend was even better, but only put in 88 innings. Earl Hamilton was decent enough to warrant another look.
Josh Lindblom responded to losing the closer job excellently, earning it back and cementing his role for next season. Rick Ownbey and Dave Giusti surprised, pitching quite well in limited opportunities.
ALL STAR SELECTIONS 1B Mike Epstein; C Josh Gibson
What Went Wrong
The left side of the infield was a bit of a mess: Honus Wagner has all the talent in the world, and the Grays seem committed to him at SS long term, but he neither hit nor adapted to the position very well. And everyone else given a chance (other than Stennett) struggled mightily: Chris Sabo, Frank Taveras, Jack Wilson, Jeff Kent, and Pedro Feliz.
Roberto Clemente and Andrew McCutcheon were … fine. But the Grays really need one of them–if not both–to take a major step forward.
Willie Stargell only has a ton of power, and struck out nearly 200 times.
Nobody else that was given a chance to join the rotation was any good (Billy Pierce, Corey Kluber, Hal Carlson), and most were quite bad (Carlos Zambrano, Ray Brown, Cliff Lee, Babe Adams, John Candelaria).
Michael Jackson imploded entirely in the second half of the year.
Trade Evaluations
March
None
June
IF Phil Garner to San Francisco for IF Steve Hertz & 2nd Round Pick {Judy Johnson}
Given Garner’s age, getting anything for him seems fine.
July
P Vean Gregg & 5th Round Pick to New York Gothams for P Travis Bowyer, OF Mike Shannon & 4th Round Pick {Pink Hawley}
I mean … it’s weird for a team this desperate for pitching to trade away pitching.
IF Arky Vaughan & 3rd Round Pick to Cleveland for IF Nap Lajoie, P Arodys Vizcaíno & 1st Round Pick {Ralph Kiner}
An absolute win. Moving Vaughan clears the way for Wagner, the Grays hope Lajoie can move to 2B over time, plus the potential of Kiner.
Looking Forward
SP
So. Much. Need. Only Ray Brown looks to be around long term, and he needs to get much better. There are useful pieces here, and Cliff Lee has a very live arm, but this is the most pressing need for the Grays organization.
RP
Some talent in the minors, with Daniel Hudson and Mychal Givens standing out especially.
C
Josh Gibson has superstar written all over him.
1B
How much do you believe in Mike Epstein? Willie Stargell will see some time here as well.
2B
The Grays are hoping that Nap Lajoie can hold this down long term.
3B
Very unsure. Chris Sabo and Freddie Lindstrom are in the minors, but this looks to be pretty vacant.
SS
There is a lot of pressure on Honus Wagner to succeed at shortstop: he clearly has the athletic skill to make the transition.
LF
How much do you believe in Rick Reichardt?
CF
Andrew McCutchen and Max Carey each have shown some tools, but this could be an upgrade spot for the Grays.
RF
Roberto Clemente seems to have this locked down, but there are voices in the organization that think Paul Waner could unseat him.
The Rookie Draft
Rounds 1-4
With the 4th overall pick, the Grays took the highest ceiling pitcher available, Clayton Kershaw.
Their 2nd pick in the 1st round was a bit of a surprise, and may answer the question of how much do you believe in Rick Reichardt as the Grays took franchise player Ralph Kiner. Kiner will play LF, but is probably 2-3 years away from the majors, giving the organization time to sort out its OF. I would expect the rest of their draft to focus more on needs–pitching, pitching, pitching and perhaps a 3B.
In the 2nd Round, that began with Tim Lincecum and continued with franchise pick 3B Judy Johnson, who should only accelerate Wagner’s move to SS. Homestead had no picks in the 3rd round, but 2 in the 4th. The first of those went to 3B Howard Johnson. That should give them some pieces to work with at 3B, so look for Homestead to load up on pitching for most of the rest of the draft, beginning with their last pick of the 4th round, Pink Hawley.
Rounds 5-8
Pitchers beware, Homestead is coming for you: Ed Seward is the Grays’ final exemption, followed by Johnny Morrison and Ping Gardner.
Rounds 9-12
P Nip Winters, OF Dave Hoskins; P Gary Lucas; and IF Liover Peguero.