Indianapolis missed the playoffs last year. This season, they are neck-and-neck with Kansas City to lead the Marvin Miller Division, sitting currently at 5 games over .500. So something’s gotten better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ABC’s inherit players from a franchise with a long history, but surprisingly little actual success, the Cincinnati Reds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HOME PAGE<\/a> | ROSTER<\/a> | POSITIONAL STRENGTH<\/a> | LEADERS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a pitching-and-defense kind of team, but honestly it feels like they are sort of doing it with mirrors right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ABC’s are fast, but really aren’t a terribly imposing offense. It’s a reasonably standard problem: there is a handful of excellence surrounded by a lot of mediocrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, the ABC’s–other than Oscar Charleston<\/strong> and Joe Morgan<\/strong>–just don’t hit very well, with only those two, Bob Bescher<\/strong> and Tommy Helms<\/strong> sporting batting averages over .260.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is some power, with 6 batters in double-digits for HR, led by Adam Dunn<\/strong>‘s 24, but the offense is just shut down far too often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oscar Charleston<\/strong> has blossomed, with the 20 year old OFer slashing 336\/386\/642 and leading the team in 2B, 3B, RBI, and R.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When healthy, Joe Morgan<\/strong> looks to have an argument to be the best 2B in the WBL, hitting over .300, drawing a ton of walks, and even flashing some power. But Little Joe has only played in roughly half Indianapolis’ games so far this season. So, we’ll see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adam Dunn<\/strong> and Joey Votto<\/strong> are eerie clones of each other, and they’re doing very well in terms of drawing walks and hitting for power (Dunn leads the ABC’s with 24 homers; Votto has added 16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n George Foster<\/strong> has hit for impressive power as a rookie, although the rest of his game needs some seasoning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Barry Larkin<\/strong>, who was essentially awful last year, has slowly extended his claim on the starting SS spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bob Bescher<\/strong> gets on base a lot and is very, very fast–a .359 OBP and 38 steals, with only 7 times being caught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Luis Padr\u00f3n<\/strong> has been something slightly above mediocre as a position player, allowing some roster flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest issue is Johnny Bench<\/strong> who, despite 21 dingers, is only slashing 2228\/290\/510. Now, he did hit 267\/371\/720 in June, so perhaps he is reverting to his form of last year, but overall it’s been a struggle, with Bench dropping down significantly in the lineup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rest of the roster–3B and all the reserves–have been quite poor with Robin Ventura<\/strong> being particularly disappointing to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ABC’s are the only team in the WBL committed to a 6-man rotation, and while the top 3 or 4 slots tend to stay somewhat stable, the rest is in somewhat constant flux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This year, it’s working more often than not, and the bullpen has been solid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, there are causes for concern all over the place, as most everyone’s secondary numbers are a little weak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Johnny Cueto<\/strong>, Rube Foster<\/strong>, and Luis Padr\u00f3n<\/strong> look set at the front of the rotation. Padr\u00f3n has the best record in the league at 11-2, and Cueto and Foster both have sub-4.00 ERA’s. All three have decent peripherals, but Cueto and Padr\u00f3n especially seem strong enough to carry a staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rob Dibble<\/strong> has 16 saves despite being torched occasionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jack Billingham<\/strong> has been excellent late in games, contributing across the board with a 4-1 record, 22 saves and 6 holds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rob Murphy<\/strong> is tied for the WBL lead with 11 holds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last year’s darlings, Doc White<\/strong> and Willie Mitchell<\/strong>, are a combined 5-11 with ERA’s around 6.00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Only Nolan<\/strong> has hit a rough patch, putting what looked like a promising debut season in doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dick Tidrow<\/strong> has been atrocious, and is most likely not long for the WBL roster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n TOP PROSPECTS<\/a> | MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n There is roster filler here, but little high end talent. 3B\/SS Oliver Marcell<\/strong> is the highest rated prospect, but 19 year old Tom Glavine<\/strong> may have a higher ceiling. On the IF, Donie Bush<\/strong> and Matt Chapman<\/strong> have some promise, but other than that … Bob Ewing<\/strong>? Jim Maloney<\/strong>? Chris Hammond<\/strong>? Yeah, roster filler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The top-end performers to keep doing their thing while everyone else takes small steps forward. That would be enough to at least keep Indianapolis in contention for the post-season, which would be a successful season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Key Questions from Spring Training<\/p>\n\n\n\n July starts with a four game series at Philadelphia, so that’s what we’ll focus on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indianapolis starter listed first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Luis Padr\u00f3n<\/strong> (11-2, 4.21) @ Charles Rogan<\/strong> (4-7, 4.68) Luis Padr\u00f3n<\/strong> has struggled at the plate, so the ABC’s decided he would just concentrate in his pitching in this one; the Stars had no such concerns, and Bullet Joe Rogan<\/strong> would take the mound and serve as DH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through 4 innings, Rogan had allowed only 2 hits, but they were both solo homeruns (1 to Emil Frisk<\/strong>, the other to Joey Votto<\/strong>) while Padr\u00f3n had kept the Stars hitless. So, 2-0 Indianapolis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Frisk went deep again in the 5th, and Oscar Charleston<\/strong> drove in a run to extend the lead to 5-0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chase Utley<\/strong> broke up the no-hitter in the bottom of the frame, but that was really it: the Stars bullpen held until the 9th, but Padr\u00f3n was just too good, dominating Philadelphia in a 2-hit shutout. He improved to 12-2 on the year, dropped his ERA below 4.00, and most likely cemented his position as the starting pitcher in the all-star game for the NL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IND 6 (Padr\u00f3n 12-2) @ PHI 0 (Rogan 4-8) The ABC’s would face John M0ntgomery Ward<\/strong> in the middle game, which is sort of a mixed bag: Ward’s peripheral numbers are great, but his record is only 3-4 and he’s struggled to get his ERA below the magical 4.00 mark. Indianapolis would counter with Rube Foster<\/strong>, whose 3.80 ERA makes an argument for his inclusion in the all-star game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then game the first inning: Philadelphia batted around, scored 6 runs, and Foster’s ERA ballooned to 4.35. He settled down after that and–surprisingly–made it through 5 innings, bringing his ERA back down to 4.17. Still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ward was dealing, making much of the rest of the game moot. He was finally chased by a moonshot from Joe Morgan<\/strong>, which closed the score to 8-2. He was relieved by Brad Kilby<\/strong>, who promptly gave up a homerun to Emil Frisk<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the game was over, ending up 9-3 behind Ward’s fine outing. Willie Davis<\/strong> and Chase Utley<\/strong> had 3 hits each for the Stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IND 3 (Foster 6-5) @ PHI 9 (Ward 4-4)<\/em> With the series tied at 1 each, game 3 would see The Only Nolan<\/strong> take the mound for Indianapolis, opposed by Philadelphia’s Steve Carlton<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ABC’s took the early lead on a 2-run shot by Joey Votto<\/strong> in the top of the first, but RBI singles from Butch Wynegar<\/strong> and Jimmy Rollins<\/strong> tied it up in the bottom of the 2nd. Philadelphia then took the lead on Aaron Judge<\/strong>‘s 25th homer of the year in the following inning, making it 3-2 in favor of the Stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indianapolis rebounded on George Foster<\/strong>‘s 15 homer of the year, a 2-run shot making it 4-3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nolan couldn’t get an out in the 6th, allowing a double to Rico Carty<\/strong> and a walk to to Ted Kluszewski<\/strong> before being replaced by Willie Mitchell<\/strong>. Mitchell got 2 outs, but then surrendered a game-tying single to Rollins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carlton lasted a little longer, but departed in the top of the 8th after surrendering a single to Luis Padr\u00f3n<\/strong> and hitting Joe Morgan<\/strong> with a pitch. After a walk, Oscar Charleston<\/strong> and Joey Votto<\/strong> singled and eventually Ed Charles<\/strong> doubled, making the score 10-4 in favor of the ABC’s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That’s how it would end, with Votto finishing the game with 4 RBI’s as Indianapolis took a 2-1 lead in the series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IND 10<\/strong> (Mitchell 2-5, 1 BSv) @ PHI 4<\/strong> (Carlton 7-9)<\/em> The series would end with Indianapolis’ Doc White<\/strong> taking on Ray Collins<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n George Foster<\/strong> opened the scoring in the 2nd with a solo shot, but Joe Rogan<\/strong> put Philadelphia on top an inning later, launching his 15th of the year with 2 runners on base. White would give up 2 more in the 4th on RBI hits from Chase Utley<\/strong> and Sherry Magee<\/strong>. Singles to open up the 6th by Ted Kluszewski<\/strong> and Mike Scioscia<\/strong> finally chased White and brought Mike LaCoss<\/strong> in for his WBL debut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Collins was finally touched for another run in the 7th, but Fred Cambria<\/strong> was able to work out of a jam, preserving the Stars’ 5-2 lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Joey Votto<\/strong> launched his 19th of the year in the top of the 9th off Stars’ closer Bob Howry<\/strong> to close it to 5-4, but that was all the ABC’s could muster.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTHE OFFENSE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#What’s Going Right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#What’s Not Going Right<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
THE PITCHING<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#What’s Going Right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#What’s Not Going Right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
THE FARM SYSTEM<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
WHAT’S NEEDED<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Storylines to Watch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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FEATURED SERIES<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Projected Starters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Rube Foster<\/strong> (6-4, 3.80) @ J.M. Ward<\/strong> (3-4, 4.11)
Edward Nolan<\/strong> (3-4, 5.32) @ Steve Carlton<\/strong> (7-8, 5.47)
Willie Mitchell<\/strong> (1-5, 5.89) @ Ray Collins<\/strong> (1-4, 5.40)<\/p>\n\n\n\nGame One<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/em>HRs<\/strong>: IND – Votto (17), Frisk 2 (3); PHI – none.
Box Score<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nGame Two<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
HRs<\/strong>: IND – Morgan (15), Frisk (4); PHI – none.
Box Score<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nGame Three<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
HRs<\/strong>: IND – Votto (18), Foster (15); PHI – Judge (25).
Box Score<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nGame Four<\/h3>\n\n\n\n