Tag: Tony Phillips Page 2 of 5

As the series shifts to Detroit, Baltimore was down 3 games to 1 against Portland in the Division Series, so they know they can come back. But they need to be better in all phases: they need to score more than 2 runs a game, they need to allow fewer than 7, and they need to do so immediately.

#Detroit Wolverines v Baltimore Black Sox, Game III

Bill Byrd will take the mound for Baltimore in what is essentially a must-win game, while Detroit will turn to Gene Conley.

Baltimore scored first on an RBI single by Manny Machado and then a bases-loaded, 2 out double from Larry Gardner. Frank Robinson followed with a 2-run homerun and suddenly Baltimore had rediscovered its offense, leading 6-0. Conley didn’t make it out of the 3rd, when a Ken Singleton bloop increased the lead to 7-0. Singleton would add a 2-run shot in the 5th, extending the lead to 10-2.

Byrd was effective, but not great, giving up a solo shot to Al Kaline in the 3rd and RBI singles to Hank Greenberg and Tony Phillips in the 4th and 5th, and a solo shot to Oscar Gamble in the 6th. A solo shot by Paul Blair provided the final margin, as Baltimore strolled to an 11-4 victory, marking the third straight win for the visiting team.

Blair had 3 hits and Gardner drove in 4 for Baltimore.

BAL 11 (Byrd 3-1; Palmer 1 Sv) @ DET 4 (Conley 2-2)
HRs: BAL – Robinson (4), Singleton (3), Blair (2); DET – Kaline (3), Gamble (3).
Box Score

TWIWBL 50.1: THE WHIRLED SERIES! Detroit Wolverines v Baltimore Black Sox, Game I – October 3rd

By mknn

On October 10, 2023

In 2000 Playoffs, 2000 Whirled Series, Game Recaps, TWIWBL

And away we go!

#Detroit Wolverines v Baltimore Black Sox, Game I

Hal Newhouser, 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA in the postseason, gets the ball for Detroit with Dennis Martínez taking the mound for Baltimore. El Presidente has only 1 post season win, but has pitched well across his 3 starts, as his 2.55 ERA will attest.

Sometimes it feels like Detroit almost has a script for their opening innings: Tony Phillips walks, Bob Bailey bunts him to second, and Ty Cobb singles him home. Which is exactly how they opened the ballgame. A walk to Hank Greenberg and a soft single by Oscar Gamble loaded the bases for the Wolverines, but Baltimore turned a nifty 4-2-3 double play on a hard hit ball from Chili Davis to end the inning.

Phillips led off the 3rd with a single, but this time Bailey’s bunt was poor and Martínez whirled to catch the lead runner at second. Cobb singled and a 2-out error by Larry Gardner loaded the bases with 2 outs, bringing up Chili Davis again with the bases loaded. This time, he hit the ball far more weakly, and far more effectively, beating out an infield single that scored the Wolverines’ second run. Ed Bailey would single home 2, putting Detroit on top, 4-0.

Martínez recovered well, allowing only the single earned run through 5 innings. Meanwhile, Newhouser was absolutely dominant allowing only 1 hit (a Gardner double) and fanning 6 into the 5th. Back-to-back walks to Bryce Harper and Ken Singleton gave Baltimore their first real threat. Manny Machado blooped a single to right to load the bases, and Newhouser walked Paul Blair, putting Baltimore on the board and raising activity in the Wolverines’ bullpen. Newhouser struck out Bobby Wallace and got Gardner to groundout, ending the threat and leaving the score 4-1, Detroit.

Mike Mussina relieved Martínez and got 2 quick outs, but then surrendered 3 consecutive singles to George Davis, Phillips, and Bob Bailey, the last of which scored another run. The 5-1 lead gave Detroit some room to maneuver, and they brought in the struggling Johnny Marcum in relief, who promptly struggled, loading the bases with 1 out, but did not surrender a run.

Detroit added 2 in the top of the 9th, and Baltimore went gently in their half, giving the Wolverines a 1-0 leas in the series.

Cobb had 3 hits for Detroit and Chili Davis and Ed Bailey each drove in 2.

DET 7 (Newhouser 3-0) @ BAL 1 (Martínez 1-1)
HRs: None
Box Score

TWIWBL 50.0: THE WHIRLED SERIES, Preview Edition

By mknn

On October 9, 2023

In 2000 Playoffs, 2000 Whirled Series, Series Previews, TWIWBL

We have our matchup for the very first WHIRLED SERIES, the Detroit Wolverines against the Baltimore Black Sox. This was the matchup the numbers wanted from the beginning: Baltimore had the best record in the league during the regular season, finishing with 91 wins and a .591 winning percentage, but Detroit was right behind them with 89 wins and a .578 percentage.

As you would expect, both teams were solid all around, but the general theme is that the Black Sox rode a superior pitching staff while the Wolverines do a little more offensively.

Today we’ll do things a little differently, comparing the teams position by position as we get ready for the fall classic.

#Starting Pitching

The Wolverines starters have been excellent, led by Hal Newhouser. Their rotation has been transformed since opening day, with Gene Conley joining the staff from the bullpen and Charlie Root being obtained via midseason trade. Behind those three, Justin Verlander and lefty Hank Aguirre are most likely to get starts, with the struggling Johnny Marcum being moved to the bullpen.

Some questions have emerged during the postseason for Baltimore’s rotation. During the regular season, the trio of Bill Byrd, Dennis Martínez, and Connie Johnson (a mid-season acquisition) were spectacular, but in the postseason, only Martínez has really lived up to his billing, with Byrd alternating dominant starts with being hit pretty hard. Behind them, there is a bit of a logjam: Mike Mussina is struggling, as is Jim Palmer, so if a 4th starter is needed, look for Johnny Sain to get the opportunity.

Edge: I’ve got to go with Baltimore, with an expectation that their top three bounce back to their level of performance during the regular season. But Newhouser has been the most dominant pitcher left in the postseason, which can always count for something.

#Relief Pitching

This gets interesting. Baltimore’s bullpen has suffered injuries all year, and has just kept rolling along. Ned Garvin was here before spending a few weeks as the best starter in the league, before getting injured. Don Bessent and Bob Miller were co-closers for a time, before getting injured. Sean Marshall was among the most dominant bullpen arms in the league, before getting injured. Sense a theme?

Now, midseason acquisition Joe Beggs and Buddy Groom form the back end. Groom has been especially dominant, with a 1.96 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP over 51 games. John Wetteland has been excellent since being recalled from the minors, and Bessent and Miller join him in handling the middle innnings.

For the Wolverines, the bullpen has been a bit of an oddity. Mike Henneman ended the season tied for the season league in saves, but he certainly had his struggles, exemplified by his 4.60 ERA and 6 blown saves. John Hiller and Buddy Napier were excellent getting the ball to Henneman, but Hiller is out injured, meaning Detroit will be leaning heavily on Matt Anderson and Chad Bradford, both of whom were solid in the regular season. Either Aguirre or Mickey Lolich may be called on for key outs against lefties in Hiller’s absence. Finally, there is Verlander, who was on the verge of moving into the rotation all season, but never quite made it. He is the most reliable option in the early or middle innings, if needed.

Edge: Solidly in favor of Baltimore. That said, Verlander, Henneman, Napier, and Anderson have combined to allow 3 runs in 17 innings this postseason, so the gap may be narrower than it appears from the regular season performances.

#C

In the regular season, Detroit split its duties behind the plate between Bill Carrigan, Ed Bailey, and Ernie Lombardi with Carrigan and Bailey in a rough platoon until Lombardi came over from Indianapolis. Bailey is one of the hottest hitters around these days, so look for him to get most of the starts, but Carrigan was the best of them in the regular season, slashing 316/369/477.

Curt Blefary had a spectacular year for Baltimore, with a 280/392/549 slash line and 29 homeruns. He has struggled mightily in the postseason, but showed signs of coming out of it against Portland.

Edge: Even with Detroit’s far greater depth, you have to give the edge here to Baltimore and Blefary.

#1B

Baltimore’s Dan McGann may be 37, but sure plays like he has a lot left in the tank, racking up a 282/388/445 slash line for the Black Sox.

It’s all about Hank Greenberg for Detroit, one of the Wolverines’ two elite players. Greenberg finished the regular season at 317/374/595 with 31 homeruns and 113 RBI’s.

Edge: McGann had a great year. Greenberg is in the second tier of the MVP conversation. Edge, Detroit.

#2B

Detroit is thrilled to have their 38 year old sparkplug, Tony Phillips, back from injury. Phillips is a nuisance at the top of the batting order, with an OBP just shy of .400. He is not very good defensively, as Sparky Adams will often replace him late in the game, earning him the nickname The Old Man’s Glove.

Larry Gardner‘s 318/393/471 slash line is fantastic for anywhere, let alone a middle infielder. Gardner looks like he is fully recovered from a chest contusion suffered in the first round of the playoffs.

Edge: Baltimore.

#SS

Bobby Wallace is one of the better offensive shortstops in the WBL, slashing 302/396/418, drawing lots of walks and hitting 40 doubles in the regular season. He’s not bad defensively.

Detroit’s George Davis is a whiz defensively, and his .662 OPS, while well under league average, isn’t awful for a middle infielder.

Edge: Baltimore, although Davis’ defense does close the gap a bit.

#3B

When Bob Bailey was injured, Olmedo Sáenz filled in admirably, earning a spot on the playoff roster over Jimmy Collins, by far the better fielder. But he was no replacement for Bailey, who slashed 277/364/462 in the regular season. Sáenz remains a threat off the bench.

Manny Machado hit better for Baltimore than he did for Miami at the start of the year, but is still seen as a bit of a disappointment overall, with a .729 OPS for the year. Brooks Robinson hasn’t shown anything offensively, but is a whiz defensively, providing essentially the same role at 3B as Adams does for Detroit at 2B, but without the cool nickname.

Edge: Detroit

#LF

Frank Robinson is the most feared hitter on the Black Sox, with 37 homeruns, 111 RBIs, and a 302/383/539 slash line. Truly elite.

For Detroit, this is usually the provenance of Oscar Gamble, whose 28 homeruns were second on the team. Gamble was the emotional heart of the Wolverines, and should stay out there despite some late season struggles. Gamble is the best fielder of the group here.

Edge: I love Gamble, too, but the edge here goes clearly to Baltimore.

#CF

Detroit’s Chili Davis is fairly significantly under appreciated, both in Detroit and across the WBL. But Davis is a solid performer out there, slashing 273/328/443 while playing solid defense. The Wolverines are a bit thin here, with Cobb the presumed backup should Davis go down.

Paul Blair could barely make contact for the first third of the season. The fact that he got his OPS to .700 is a strong accomplishment, and, combined with his elite level defense, makes Blair a solid contributor for Baltimore. Baby Doll Jacobsen, who has a fair bit of pop, is the usual reserve here, although Harper can slide over as well.

Edge: Detroit

#RF

The Black Sox stuck with Bryce Harper through his early season struggles, and it paid off as the nineteen year old settled into the league. He has a great eye, a bit of power, and ended up slashing 259/360/403 on the year.

The other legitimate elite player for the Wolverines is the batting champion, Ty Cobb, whose 352/391/557 slash line and 52 SB’s combine to form a truly fantastic offensive player.

Edge: Detroit.

#DH

Al Klaine has 34 games under his belt at the WBL, and has slashed 301/374/573 in that span. That performance has generally left Detroit without a spot for Geoff Jenkins, who was the usual DH, especially against right-handers.

As both Harper and Jacobson established themselves throughout the season, DH duties for Baltimore fell more and more often to Ken Singleton, who was … fine. Singleton was almost the picture of a useful hitter, slashing 266/352/407 with 17 homeruns and 88 RBIs. Nothing to complain about, but nothing to love, either. He’s been excellent so far in the postseason.

Edge: Toss up, although if Kaline maintains his level of performance, slides to Detroit.

#Overall

Quantitatively, 6-4 in favor of Baltimore, with one tie. So, very close.

I have to go with Baltimore: they are so good at getting on base, and their pitching is just better. But Detroit really has no weak spots offensively (maybe SS with Davis), and if they can get enough from their pitching staff, they certainly have a shot.

Prediction: Black Sox in 6.

TWIWBL 49.6: The Playoffs! Division Round, Day VI– September 30

By mknn

On October 4, 2023

In 2000 Playoffs, Featured Games, TWIWBL

Two game six’s on tap …

#Detroit Wolverines v New York Gothams, Game 6

Detroit leads, 3-2.

The news on John Hiller was not good, as he will be sidelined for about 5 months with a torn pectoral muscle. Mickey Lolich was added to the playoff roster as Hiller’s replacement.

New York would turn to Gaylord Perry for this must-win contest while Detroit would counter with Gene Conley in their attempt to clinch.

Hank Greenberg would open up the scoring for Detroit in the bottom of the 3rd, singling home Tony Phillips, who had doubled to lead off the inning. Perry would lose the strike zone, walking in not one, but two runs before getting out of the inning. Detroit was up 3-0, one-third of the way through the game.

Perry would last into the 4th, when a 2-out double by Ty Cobb would bring in Juan Marichal from the Gothams bullpen, who was able to end the inning without any damage.

The problem for New York was Conley, who was in full control, scattering 5 hits over 6 innings of work. Conley was relieved after the 7th, and the game remained 3-0 Wolverines as we entered the top of the 9th, with Mike Henneman on the mound to close it out.

Benny Kauff–2-for-3 today and hitting .500 in the postseason–led it off, but whiffed on a pitch on the inside corner. Will Clark foulded out to Oscar Gamble in left. Which meant the Gothams’ season was down to Carl Furillo. A lazy fly ball to Cobb in right later, and we knew the first team to the Whirled Series, the Detroit Wolverines!

Cobb went 4-for-4, but the plaudits need to go to Conley, Lolich, Buddy Napier, and Henneman, who combined on a 6 hit shutout to clinch the series. Mention should also be made of the Gotham’s Marichal, who was roughed up in his first start, but delivered 3 scoreless innings here to keep the game seemingly within reach.

NYG 0 (Perry 0-1) @ DET 3 (Conley 2-1; Henneman 2 Sv; Lolich 1 H; Napier 2 H)
HRs: None.
Box Score

Cobb’s .538 average earned him the MVP award, although a strong argument could made for Hal Newhouser, who finished the series 2-0 with a 0.57 ERA.

#Portland Sea Dogs v Baltimore Black Sox, Game 6

Pascual Pérez‘ recent struggles led Portland to offer Mike Cuellar his first start of the playoffs as they try to finish off Baltimore, whose season rests on the capable right arm of Connie Johnson, 2-0 so far in the postseason.

A bloop single, a walk, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly from Kent Hrbek led to Portland’s first run and an RBI double from Gavvy Cravath doubled their lead. Rogers Hornsby singled home Cravath, and the Sea Dogs had staked Cuellar to a 3-0 lead before his first pitch.

Baltimore would come back in the bottom of the 3rd, on RBI singles by Larry Gardner and Curt Blefary and a sacrifice fly from Dan McGann. That tied the game at 3, and got the Sea Dogs’ bullpen up and working. A leadoff double from Bryce Harper chased Cuellar, but Pérez was able to close out the inning cleanly.

Gardner took Pérez deep in the 5th to give the Black Sox a one run lead, but Hornsby sent a pitch from Johnny Sain deep into the night with a runner on, putting Portland back on top.

Mark Melancon came in for the bottom of the 7th and walked pinch-hitter Baby Doll Jacobson and, after a Bobby Wallace sacrifice bunt, retired Gardner. Frank Robinson singled home Jacobson to tie the game and bring in Atlee Hammaker to face Blefary, who fanned. Wade Miller relieved Hammaker and got McGann to ground out to Hornsby at second.

So: 7 innings played, and we are tied at 5 runs each with Baltimore’s season on the line.

Manny Machado has struggled all postseason, but he now has a chance to go down as Black Sox hero, as his homerun in the bottom of the 8th off Miller gave Baltimore a slim advantage.

Joe Beggs was perfect in the 9th, and we were heading to a game seven!

Machado, Gardner, Robinson, and Blefary each had 2 hits for Baltimore, but it will be Machado’s key blast that is most remembered.

POR 5 (Miller 0-1; Melancon 1 B Sv) @ BAL 6 (Beggs 1-0; Sain 1 B Sv)
HRs: POR – Hornsby (3); BAL – Gardner (2), Machado (2).
Box Score

TWIWBL 49.5: The Playoffs! Division Round, Day V– September 28

By mknn

On October 3, 2023

In 2000 Playoffs, Game Recaps, TWIWBL

One series could end today, the other will swing to one of the teams having a strong advantage.

#Detroit Wolverines v New York Gothams, Game 5

Series tied, 2-2.

After Christy Mathewson kept them in the series, the Gothams turn to the newly recalled Vean Gregg for easily the most important start of his year, if not his career. It wasn’t an easy choice for the Gothams: they could have promoted lefty closer Aaron Loup, who had not pitched at the WBL level all season, or Mat Latos, who, while more effective than Gregg, had far less experience. So, Gregg.

Detroit counters with its ace, Hal Newhouser, 1-0 with an ERA under 2.00 in the postseason so far.

Gregg showed his nerves, walking in a run and then surrendering a 2-run single to Al Kaline in the top of the first for a 3-0 Detroit lead–but he calmed down after that and New York loaded the bases with 2 outs against Newhouser in the 3rd. Willie Mays beat out an infield hit to plate a run, closing the gap to 3-1.

Gregg was lifted after his 6th walk of the day, but getting into the 5th after his start was certainly a decent accomplishment. Sergio Romo gave up two more runs on a sacrifice fly from Tony Phillips and an RBI single from Ty Cobb, making it 5-1 as we headed to the Gothams’ half of the sixth.

Newhouser lasted into the 7th with another strong start, and about the most troubling thing for Detroit the rest of the way was an injury to John Hiller. Cobb finished the day with 3 hits for Detroit, Buster Posey likewise for New York, who now face an uphill climb, down 3-2 in the series.

DET 6 (Newhouser 2-0; Anderson 2 H) @ NYG 2 (Gregg 0-1)
HRs: None.
Box Score Unavailable

#Baltimore Black Sox v Portland Sea Dogs, Game 5

Portland is looking to clinch behind Dizzy Trout, who has done well in the postseason so far. Baltimore will turn to one of their two 14 game winners, Dennis Martínez, to extend their season. The Black Sox benched the slumping Manny Machado, moving Larry Gardner to third and giving Brian Roberts another start at 2B.

Curt Blefary doubled home Bobby Wallace in the top of the first for an early 1-0 lead for Baltimore, and hit a 2-run shot for his second homerun in as many games in the 3rd: 3-0 Black Sox. Blefary’s third hit–a double in the fifth–chased Trout from the game.

Martínez was sailing along until Rogers Hornsby took him deep with a runner on in the bottom of the fifth, making it a one run game, 3-2. But Ken Singleton drove in run and Blair doubled home 2 in the top of the 7th, pushing the lead to 6-2.

Back-to-back singles to start the 7th by Bobby Murcer and Kent Hrbek prompted the Black Sox to reach into their bullpen for John Wetteland, who gave up one run on a groundout, but that was all. Buddy Groom and Joe Beggs closed it out for Baltimore, who kept their season alive with the 6-3 victory.

BAL 6 (Martínez 1-0; Beggs 1 Sv; Wetteland 1 H; Groom 1 H) @ POR 3 (Trout 0-1)
HRs: BAL – Blefary (2); POR – Hornsby (2).
Box Score Unavailable

TWIWBL 49.4: The Playoffs! Division Round, Day IV– September 27

By mknn

On September 29, 2023

In 2000 Playoffs, Game Recaps, TWIWBL

From the obvious department: game four’s are important. Detroit and Portland have a chance to take commanding leads; New York and Baltimore look to overcome a 2-1 deficit and reset their series to best of 3’s.

#Detroit Wolverines v New York Gothams, Game 4

Detroit leads, 2-1.

Detroit didn’t announce their starter until the last minute, finally settling on Hank Aguirre over Justin Verlander. Part of the reason is a desire to neutralize the Gothams’ left-handed bats–the trio of Jimmy Sheckard, Geroge Van Haltren, and Johnny Callison are all far more effective against righties, and only Sheckard will be in the starting lineup, as will Johan Camargo, replacing the struggling Pinky Higgins at 3B.

New York is coming back with Christy Mathewson on shortish rest–if they can get 4 or 5 good innings out of Matty, it will be a success.

Pete Runnels and Willie Mays doubled in the first inning, giving the Gothams a 1-0 lead.

Mathewson was his worst enemy and then his savior in the third: George Davis singled and Tony Phillips was safe on a sacrifice bunt attempt putting runners at first and second with no outs. Bob Bailey tapped it back to the mound and Mathewson’s throw was wild, allowing Davis to score. Mathewson was visibly upset, and responded by striking out Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, and Oscar Gamble in order. Matty did what he was asked to do: 5 innings, 5 hits, 1 run.

Buster Posey doubled home Runnels in the bottom of the 5th giving New York a 2-1 lead which increased to 3-1 on a Benny Kauff pinch-hit single in the 6th. RBI’s from Mays and Wes Westrum made it 5-1.

The Gothams bullpen continues to be magnificent: Steve Howe, Carson Smith, Mike Norris, and Brian Wilson each pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Mathewson.

Cobb had 3 hits, but the rest of the the Wolverines’ offense struggled. Runnels had 3 hits for the Gothams as he, Posey, and Mays combined for 7 hits, 4 runs, and 3 RBIs from the first 3 positions of their order.

DET 1 (Aguirre 1-1) @ NYG 5 (Mathewson 2-1; Howe 1 H; Smith 1 H)
HRs: None.
Box Score

There was some bad news after the game for the Gothams: Howe, who has been quite effective in the postseason, strained his hamstring and will be out for the rest of the playoffs, meaning a roster change will be needed before game 5.

#Baltimore Black Sox v Portland Sea Dogs

Portland leads, 2-1.

A matchup of two hurlers who have struggled mightily in the postseason: Portland’s Bert Blyleven and Baltimore’s Mike Mussina.

Blyleven didn’t look very good initially, surrendering 4 hits and 2 runs in the top of the first (Bobby Wallace scored on a Curt Blefary sacrifice fly and Bryce Harper singled home the second run). Mussina was equally rough, though: Bobby Murcer, Rogers Hornsby, Buddy Bell, and Joe Mauer all had RBI doubles in an inning helped by two Baltimore errors. By the end of it, 12 Sea Dogs had come to the plate, and Portland had an 8-2 lead.

Blefary–in a massive slump all postseason–took Blyleven deep in the 3rd, cutting the lead to 8-4 and Larry Gardner hit a solo shot just inside the right field foul pole in the 5th to make it 8-5. Meanwhile, Mussina was literally perfect until a Gavvy Cravath double in the bottom of the 5th. Jim Fregosi took him deep two batters later, ending Mussina’s day and restoring a 5 run edge for Portland.

Homeruns from Paul Blair and Harper brought Baltimore closer, but Portland’s Elmer Brown was efficient and able to shut the door. Portland was now 1 game away from the Whirled Series!

Frank Robinson had 3 hits for Baltimore in the loss.

BAL 7 (Mussina 0-2) @ POR 10 (Blyleven 2-0; Brown 1 Sv)
HRs: BAL – Blefary (1), Gardner (1), Blair (1), Harper (3); POR – Fregosi (3).
Box Score

With Howe out, the Gothams were caught between needing a lefty from the pen and an additional starting pitcher. The settled on Vean Gregg, despite his struggles since his arrival from Homestead in a midseason trade.

TWIWBL 49.3: The Playoffs! Division Round, Day III– September 26

By mknn

On September 28, 2023

In 2000 Playoffs, Game Recaps, TWIWBL

Both series are tied at 1, giving us a best of five situation in each of them.

#Detroit Wolverines v New York Gothams

Charlie Root will get the ball for Detroit; he’ll be opposed by Don Sutton, making his first start of the postseason for the Gothams. Al Kaline will get a start at DH for the Wolverines, with Oscar Gamble starting the game on the bench.

The top of Detroit’s lineup has been key for them. Here, Tony Phillips led off the game with an infield hit and Bob Bailey followed with a long drive into the right field seats for an early 2-0 Wolverines lead. Sutton gave up two more hits and a wild pitch, but no more runs.

The Gothams loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, and Benny Kauff got one run back with a single, but Root got a double play ball from Carl Furillo to end the inning with the score 2-1. Root again loaded the bases in the bottom of the second, and this time Buster Posey drove in 2 with a single, putting the Gothams up, 3-2.

Hank Greenberg sent an offering from Sutton into the seats in the 3rd, resetting the game in a 3-3 tie, and then RBI singles from Bob Bailey and Ty Cobb drove in 3 more runs and chased Sutton from the mound. Detroit poured it on, keyed by a triple from Ed Bailey, and built an 8-run lead.

That made Posey’s grand slam in the 9th a moot point, although perhaps New York putting up a fight means something for the Gothams’ fan base.

Bob Bailey had 3 hits and 5 RBI, and Chili Davis, George Davis, and Kaline each added 3 hits for Detroit. Posey had a good day, with 3 hits and 6 RBIs in the losing cause.

DET 12 (Root 2-0) @ NYG 8 (Sutton 0-1)
HRs: DET – B. Bailey (3), Greenberg (3), C. Davis (3); NYG – Posey (1).
Box Score

#Baltimore Black Sox v Portland Sea Dogs, Game 3

With the series reduced to a best-of-five, we have the matchup everyone wanted: Baltimore’s Bill Byrd against Portland’s Walter Johnson. Both hurlers are 2-0 in the postseason.

Although perhaps not 100%, Larry Gardner returns to Baltimore’s starting lineup after missing a few postseason came through a chest injury.

Byrd struggled mightily: 5 hits and an error in the bottom of the first led to a 6-0 lead for Portland, with Jim Fregosi blasting a 3-run homerun. Johnson struggled in the top of the first, walking two, but the lead seemed to energize him, and he struck out the side in the second.

Byrd settled down, keeping Portland scoreless into the fifth when he tired, but Johnny Sain got the final out of the inning in relief, preserving the score. Fregosi’s 4th hit of the night was a double in the bottom of the 8th, and he scored when Gil Hodges followed with a two-bagger of his own, making it 7-0.

The challenge for Baltimore was finding some traction against the Big Train, who had allowed 3 hits and whiffed 5 through five shutout innings. Gardner picked up the Black Sox’s 4th hit in the 8th, but that was it as Johnson picked up his second shutout of the postseason and the Sea Dogs took a 2-1 lead.

Gardner had 2 hits in his return and Fregosi drove in 3 to go with his 4 hits. Johnson ended the day with 7 strikeouts, giving up only 4 hits and 2 walks in another dominant performance for the Sea Dogs.

BAL 0 (Byrd 2-1) @ POR 7 (Johnson 3-0)
HRs: BAL – none; POR – Fregosi (2).
Box Score

TWIWBL 49.1: The Playoffs! Division Round, Day I– September 23

By mknn

On September 25, 2023

In 2000 Playoffs, Series Previews, TWIWBL

And away we go with the Divisional Round!

#New York Gothams v Detroit Wolverines, Game One

A very different start for Christy Mathewson in this one: Tony Phillips led off with a double and Bob Bailey followed with a homerun, giving Detroit an early 2-0 lead. Ty Cobb and Hank Greenberg followed with singles, but Matty recovered, retiring the next 3 batters. He gave up 2 more hits–but no runs–in the second, but his pitch count was skyrocketing.

He never settled down: a hit and a walk in the third were followed by a 3-run homerun by Chili Davis, extending Detroit’s lead to 5-0.

Meanwhile, Hal Newhouser was perfect through 3 innings.

Matty didn’t make it through the 4th, having thrown 91 pitches, and surrendered 9 hits and 3 walks. Sergio Romo put in a yeoman’s effort: 1 hit in over 2 innings in relief of Matty, helping prevent the Gothams’ bullpen from becoming too worn.

Newhouser surrendered his first hit in the top of the 6th, a leadoff single by Carl Furillo, and took a 2-hit shutout into the top of the 9th. And that’s all he allowed: what a performance! 2 hits, 7 strikeouts, and no runs allowed.

Look, you can blame Matty all you want for this one, but the Gothams weren’t touching Newhouser today.

NYG 0 (Mathewson 1-1) @ DET 5 (Newhouser 1-0)
HRs: NYG – none; DET – B. Bailey (2), C. Davis (2).
Box Score

#Portland Sea Dogs v Baltimore Black Sox, Game One

Neither team are set for their optimal rotations here, but Baltimore has an edge, sending Dennis Martínez against Portland’s Dizzy Trout.

Both pitchers were strong early, throwing shutouts through 3 innings. Baltimore struck first, with Frank Robinson doubling home Dan McGann in the top of the 4th. Bobby Murcer cut down Robinson trying to score on a fly to deep center to end the inning, leaving the score 1-0, Baltimore.

The throw fired Murcer up: he led off the Portland 6th with a homerun to tie the game. Martínez walked Kent Hrbek, and that was it, with El Presidente being pulled despite only throwing 75 pitches. It looked smart in the immediate: Johnny Sain came in and retired the side in order to end the inning.

Trout was removed with one out in the 7th, with Portland turning to a surprise reliever: Atlee Hammaker, despite his struggles during the regular season, was called in to face a string of lefties. Hammaker gave up a double to Curt Blefary, but got out of the inning unscathed, preserving the 1-1 tie.

Rogers Hornsby led off the top of the 9th with a double. He was replaced on the basepaths by Gary Pettis, who moved to third on a bunt by Buddy Bell and scored on a single from Jim Fregosi.

That gave Portland a chance to steal a game in Baltimore, taking a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the 9th. The Sea Dogs’ two acquisitions from Houston–Mark Melancon and Trevor Hoffman–combined to finish it off, as the Black Sox were unable to score, giving Portland a 1-0 lead in the series.

Murcer had 3 hits for Portland.

POR 2 (Melancon 1-0; Hoffman 1 Sv) @ BAL 1 (Wetteland 0-1)
HRs: POR – Murcer (4); BAL – none.
Box Score

TWIWBL 48.5: The Playoffs! Wild Card Round, Day II – September 16

By mknn

On September 14, 2023

In 2000 Playoffs, Featured Games, TWIWBL

#Birmingham Black Barons v Detroit Wolverines, Game II

Game two would see Birmingham send its second ace–Alejandro Peña–to the mound against perhaps Detroit’s most effective pitcher all season, Gene Conley, who started out in the bullpen, but has made 16 starts since moving into the rotation.

Peña seemed to have a hard time settling, and in the bottom of the 3rd, Detroit finally broke through: a single from Tony Phillips, who moved to second on Bob Bailey‘s sacrifice bunt, and came around to score on a single from Hank Greenberg. It continued in the 4th: 4 more hits brought in 2 more runs (one on a single from Ed Bailey and the other on a sacrifice fly from Bob), making it 3-0 in favor of the Wolverines.

Meanwhile, Conley had allowed 2 hits through 7 innings, but was showing signs of fatigue, prompting the Wolverines to bring in Matt Anderson for the 8th. Anderson got 2 outs, then had to leave with some sort of leg injury.

The Wolverines added a run in the bottom of the 8th, which looked like it could be important when Cupid Childs greeted Mike Henneman with a leadoff triple. Henneman got two quick outs, but Curtis Granderson brought home Childs, and when Adrián González walked, Herman Long stepped up as the potential tying run. Long singled to load the bases, but Henneman got Jim Pagliaroni to fly out to end the game. So, a typical Mike Henneman save.

Phillips had 3 hits for Detroit, but the star was Conley, who struck out 8 in his 7 scoreless innings.

Two close games, but 2 wins for Detroit to open the series at home.

BBB 1 (Peña 0-1) @ DET 4 (Conley 1-0; Anderson 1 H; Hiller 1 H)
HRs: None.
Box Score

#Chicago American Giants v Portland Sea Dogs, Game 2

Chicago decided to go with the hot hand to try to even up the series, sending out David Price to face Bert Blyleven. Price is 4-0 with a 2.44 ERA since coming over from Indianapolis, making him preferred over Dick Rudolph and Ed Walsh (the likely game 3 starter).

Chicago came out firing after their game one loss: Eddie Collins and Frank Thomas walked, both scored on Duffy Lewis‘ double, and Lewis came home on a groundout by Dick Allen. But a shot from Bobby Murcer with 2 on board in the bottom of the inning reset us in a tie. Game one hero Gil Hodges–the 9th Sea Dog to bat in the inning–hit a 2-run single before Price could finally get the final out in an inning that saw 2 Chicago errors, a walk, and 4 hits.

Portland scored again in the 2nd, but the lead was short lived as Carlton Fisk took Blyleven deep in the 3rd with the bases loaded, putting Chicago back in front, 7-6.

Price didn’t make it out of the 4th, as a leadoff single from Kent Hrbek brought in Ben Sheets from the Chicago bullpen. Likewise, Blyleven was relieved by Wade Miller to start the 5th.

And suddenly the offenses were held in check: Chicago preserved its one run lead through the 5th, through the 6th, through the 7th. But in the 8th, Hoyt Wilhelm surrendered an RBI single to Hrbek and then, after Thomas dropped a throw for the American Giants’ 3rd error of the day, Rogers Hornsby laced a 2-run double down the left field line. A single from Buddy Bell scored Hornsby and chased Wilhelm.

That gave the Sea Dogs a 10-7 lead heading to the 9th. Singles from Thomas and Lewis brought the tying run to the plate, but Bob Porterfield induced a double play from Allen, leaving Chicago’s hopes up to Mike Fiore … who grounded out weakly to first, giving Portland a 2-0 edge in the series.

It’s hard to overcome 3 errors, even harder in the post season.

Thomas had 3 hits for Chicago, and Hrbek 3 for Portland, who got 3 RBIs each from Murcer and Hornsby.

CAG 7 (Wilhelm 0-1, 1 B Sv) @ POR 10 (Hoffman 1-0; Porterfield 1 Sv)
HRs: CAG – Fisk (1); POR – Murcer (1).
Box Score

#New York Gothams v Cleveland Spiders, Game 2

Cleveland would send out Bill Steen to face the Gothams’ Gaylord Perry.

Cleveland sat Johnny Bates in favor of getting both Kenny Lofton and Tris Speaker in the lineup, and it paid dividends early against Perry. Lofton singled, stole second, and scored on a homerun from Speaker that curled just around the right field foul pole. Cleveland would bat around, but score only one more run, on an RBI single by Chuck Knoblauch, giving the Spiders a 3-0 lead after one inning.

New York clawed one back in the 3rd on an RBI single from Pete Runnels. But that was really it, as Steen allowed only 3 hits through 6 innings.

Sergio Romo relieved Perry, but had to leave with injury after the first two outs.

New York had a chance in the bottom of the 8th, as Pinky Higgins led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on Jimmy Sheckard‘s single. That brought in Chuck Porter, who got Runnels to hit into a double play, ending the threat and the inning, and preserving the Spider’s 3-1 lead.

Terry Adams came in for Cleveland to close it out, but promptly gave up singles to Buster Posey and Willie Mays and, after an out, a game-tying single from Johnny Callison. Carl Furillo delivered a pinch-hit single, plating Callison and giving the Gothams a 4-3 lead.

That brought Brian Wilson in to seal the deal, with the unusual move of Posey playing third. Kenny Lofton singled, setting up a 2-out confrontation with Ron Blomberg. Wilson got him to fly out to center, giving the Gothams a dramatic victory and a 2-0 series lead.

This one will hurt: the Spiders out-hit the Gothams 10-8 and left 9 runners on base. The victory went to Mike Norris, who pitched 1.1 scoreless innings despite giving up 2 hits.

NYG 4 (Norris 1-0; Wilson 2 Sv) @ CLE 3 (Adams 0-1, 1 B Sv; Porter H 1)
HRs: NYG – none; CLE – Speaker (1).
Box Score

The news was encouraging on Romo, who will only miss a day or two of action with a stiff back.

#Wandering House of David v Baltimore Black Sox, Game 2

The House of David will try to even the series behind Bob Rush while Baltimore will counter with Dennis Martínez.

A solo shot by Ernie Banks put the House of David in front in the top of the 3rd. That was all the offense through five innings, with Martínez actually pitching better than Rush, despite the 1-0 deficit for Baltimore.

In the bottom of the 6th, Bryce Harper tied the game with a solo shot that barely cleared the right field wall. Two hits in the top of the 7th chased Martínez, but John Wetteland caught George Stone looking to end the inning, leaving the game tied, 1-1.

This is the kind of situation for which the House of David brought Ed Bauta over from. Here, the reliever gave up a leadoff single to Paul Blair, who stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Bobby Wallace. But Ryne Sandberg cut down Blair at the plate on a slow ground ball, and Bauta got a groundout from Frank Robinson to end the threat. So, onto the 8th, still tied.

Pete Browning‘s end of season struggles have been well documented, but he had two sharply hit singles today before facing Wetteland in the 8th, when he drove a pitch deep to straight away center for his first post-season homerun, and a 2-1 edge for the House of David.

Harper would strike again with a triple, scoring Brian Roberts (who had pinch run for Curt Blefary, who singled to lead off the frame) to tie the game. Ken Singleton followed with a soft single to right for a 3-2 lead. Lee Smith struggled some more, and the House of David had to turn to Wade Miley to get the final out of the inning. But, he did, sending us to the top of the 9th with Baltimore having seized a 1 run edge.

Buddy Groom gave up a leadoff single to Dan Ford, but Banks bounced into a tailor made 6-4-3 double play, leaving the House of David’s hopes on pinch hitter Ron Santo, who lined a ball hard to the left side, caught by Bobby Wallace, putting the Black Sox up in the series, 2-0.

Browning had 3 hits–a welcome sign for House of David fans, and a requirement if they are to make a comeback. For Baltimore, 3 players–Harper, Singleton, and Manny Machado–had 2 hits each, with Harper the clear hitting star.

HOD 2 (Smith 0-1, 1 B Sv) @ BAL 3 (Miller 1-0; Groom 1 Sv)
HRs: HOD – Banks (1), Browning (1); BAL – Harper (1).
Box Score

TWIWBL 48.4: The Playoffs! Wild Card Round, Day I – September 15

By mknn

On September 13, 2023

In 2000 Playoffs, Featured Games, TWIWBL

We’ll be going day by day here as the playoff series evolve.

#Birmingham Black Barons v Detroit Wolverines, Game I

Series preview here.

With Alejandro Peña not fully rested, Birmingham turns to ERA champ Andy Pettitte in Game 1 with Detroit countering with Hal Newhouser in a lefty v lefty matchup.

A walk, a sacrifice bunt, an infield hit, and a long 3-run homer: just like that, Detroit took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first as a Hank Greenberg longball scored Tony Phillips and Ty Cobb. Birmingham would scratch a run back in the 3rd on an RBI single by Frank McCormick, another in the 4th on an RBI double from Cupid Childs, and another in the 5th to tie the game, this one an RBI single from Hank Aaron.

Greenberg gave the Wolverines the lead again in the bottom of the 5th with a single scoring Bob Bailey, but Birmingham would tie it up in the top of the 7th as McCormick brought home Bob Nieman.

It would stay that way until the top of the 9th, when Detroit left John Hiller in one batter too long, and Pie Traynor–much maligned after a hot start earlier in the year–took him deep with Al Schweitzer on base, putting the Black Barons up, 6-4.

Juan Rincón was called in to close it out, but couldn’t, eventually surrendering a 2 out, bases loaded single to Bill Carrigan to tie the game. Rincón walked Al Kaline to load the bases again, and was relieved by Steve Bedrosian … who promptly walked Chili Davis, forcing in the winning run.

McCormick and Nieman had 3 hits each for Birmingham, while Bob Bailey had 3 for the Wolverines.

This one could hurt: with neither Pettitte or Newhouser really pitching as expected, the Black Barons had done well to come back to tie the game, and then Traynor’s shot in the 9th seemed to have the victory stolen. Instead, Detroit takes the first game in an improbable fashion.

BBB 6 (Rincón 0-1, 1 B Sv) @ DET 7 (Anderson 1-0; Bradford 1 B Sv)
HRs: BBB – Traynor (1); DET – Greenberg (1).
Box Score

#Chicago American Giants v Portland Sea Dogs, Game 1

Series preview here.

Game one is a matchup of each team’s ace, which also reveals the gap in pitching between the sides. For Chicago, Tricky Nichols takes the mound with a record of 15-9 and a 4.14 ERA. Nichols has been good all year, clearly a top of rotation type starter. But Portland gets to run out The Big Train, with Walter Johnson ending the season 14-5 with a 3.50 ERA in a season punctuated by a few spells of absolute dominance.

Gil Hodges launched an offering from Nichols into the stands in the bottom of the 3rd for a 1-0 Portland lead, and Gavvy Cravath doubled it later in the inning with an RBI single. Hodges would do it again in the 4th, sending his 2nd home of the game over the wall for a 3-0 lead.

On the other side, Johnson had faced 9 batters through 3 innings (an HBP and a caught stealing were in there, so not a perfect 3 innings). Eddie Collins walked to leadoff the third, but he was caught leaning the wrong way on a snap throw by Portland catcher Joe Mauer. Dick Allen finally notched Chicago’s first hit of the game, a single in the top of the 5th.

Nichols was left in one batter too long, and again it was Hodges, whose third homerun of the day put Portland up, 6-0. Hodges, who finished with 5 RBIs, didn’t get a chance to hit a 4th, as Portland cruised to the win. This performance makes Hodges the first player in WBL history to hit 3 homeruns in a game on 2 separate occasions.

Cravath had 3 hits for the Sea Dogs. Johnson finished with 7 scoreless, allowing only 3 hits.

CAG 0 (Nichols 0-1) @ POR 7 (Johnson 1-0)
HRs: CAG – none; POR – Hodges 3 (3).
Box Score

#New York Gothams v Cleveland Spiders, Game 1

Series preview here.

The WBL’s only 2 17 game winners are matched in the opening game of the series (New York’s Christy Mathewson and Cleveland’s Pat Malone), with the only real question being how Cleveland would work wunderkind Tris Speaker into its lineup (Speaker was called up when Johnny Callison hit the DL, Callison is back now). Today, it’s Kenny Lofton as the odd man out, with Speaker starting in centerfield–essentially the Spiders deciding to keep MPV candidate Ron Blomberg, John Ellis, and Jake Stahl all in the lineup.

In the top of the 3rd, New York’s Jimmy Sheckard singled and stole second, and then scored on a 2-out singly by Buster Posey. Willie Mays plated Posey with a double, and the Gothams took a 2-0 lead.

It took until the fifth inning for the Spiders to get their first hit: a single from Ellis, who was left stranded at second. Cleveland had some more base runners–Matty hit 2 batters in the 6th and gave up a walk in the 7th–but no further hits through 7 innings.

With Mathewson on 109 pitches, New York had him on a short leash in the 9th. He got the first 2 outs easily, but a Jake Stahl single brought in the Gothams’ dominant closer, Brian Wilson, to face Chuck Knoblauch. An easy pop fly to right later, and the Gothams were up, 1-0 in the series.

Mays had 2 hits, but the real story was Matthewson, who allowed 2 hits through 8 2/3, striking out 8 and walking 2.

NYG 2 (Mathewson 1-0; Wilson 1 Sv) @ CLE 0 (Malone 0-1)
HRs: None.
Box Score

#Wandering House of David v Baltimore Black Sox, Game 1

Series preview here.

Some may have been surprised that Baltimore turned to Bill Byrd instead of Dennis Martínez for game one, but Byrd has been on fire lately and certainly deserves the recognition as the Black Sox’s best. The House of David’s choice was more obvious, with Jack Taylor–despite a bit of a late season fade–being their clear ace.

A Frank Robinson double plated Bobby Wallace in the bottom of the first for an early 1-0 lead for Baltimore. Manny Machado made it 3-0 with a 2 run shot in the second.

Taylor settled down, but in the bottom of the fifth, gave up 2 singles before plonking Robinson, loading the bases with 1 out. But Taylor emerged unscathed, with the score still 3-0. The problem for the House of David was that Byrd was pitching excellently, allowing only a single hit through his 5 innings of work.

Jim Edmonds led off the 8th with the House of David’s second hit, a double to centerfield. A Richie Hebner single chased Byrd in favor of Gregg Olson, who emerged from the inning unscathed.

Kerry Wood‘s playoff debut was much rougher, as he gave up a wind aided grand slam to Ken Singleton, pushing the Black Sox ahead, 7-0.

And so we have our third shutout of the opening day of the playoffs–and the second that finished 7-0. Wallace had 3 hits, but the star was Byrd, striking out 4 and yielding only 3 hits in just over 7 innings.

HOD 0 (Taylor 0-1) @ BAL 7 (Byrd 1-0; Olson 1 Sv)
HRs: HOD – none; BAL – Machado (1), Singleton (1).
Box Score