20th Century Replay (Current Season: 1908)

[Orcin]

This is a really interesting way of handling the historical movement of key players. There could be some challenges, such as trying to get Babe Ruth away from the Red Sox and sending him to the Yankees for nothing (an extreme case to be sure). As you say, it is an alternative history, so not everything has to go according to reality.
 
For me personally, I am really bothered when the players are not where they are "supposed to be". I can see why people want to play pure fictional leagues to avoid this. My way of dealing with it is to develop some sort of fantasy around why my league ended up the way that it did.
 
(I know, I need to get out more.  [:D] )
 
Sorry, I don't mean to derail your thread with this discussion, which is moving farther off-topic post by post. So back on topic, Pittsburgh was indeed a powerhouse franchise throughout the early part of the century. In the 13 years between 1900 and 1912, they finished first or second 9 times. Fred Clarke, player/manager, had a winning percentage of .595 over his 16-year tenure with the club.
 
So it is realistic to see them dominate your league's early history in this manner.
 
 

[Wrathchild]

Don't worry about derailing. These reports go on for a long time so it's not like the focus of the topic is going to get lost. I really find this time period interesting and enjoy hearing about it and learning more about the players. Being anal retentive like I am, it's sometimes difficult for me to reconcile my alternate history here with my bit of a desire for purism, but I'm still enjoying it. In this world, Babe Ruth may actually spend his whole career as a pitcher for the Red Sox. He definitely won't be traded before he was historically, and, even then, only I can initiate a trade for him and only with a player that belongs on the Bosox roster. But that still doesn't solve the issue of him becoming a pitcher, as the game does not support that type of change. I'm not sure how other people have handled the Babe in their replays. After thinking about the various positions that Honus Wagner played, I'm thinking that I might institute some new house rules, such as maybe making sure the defending World Champs have their players playing the correct historical positions (that way I don't have to check every team), and checking playing position for any player that gets traded to his historical team. 

[Orcin]

ORIGINAL: Wrathchild
I'm not sure how other people have handled the Babe in their replays. 

Maybe it is possible to force retire Babe Ruth, the pitcher, and import Babe Ruth, the hitter, at the appropriate time.

[Wrathchild]

I thought about that, but I'm still torn as to whether I want to do that or not. Maybe I'll compromise: if he stays with Boston he'll stay a pitcher, but if he makes his way to New York he'll become an outfielder. In fact, if I get my grubby little hands on him from Boston I really don't think he'll be making it to New York. He'll miraculously find his way to my outfield.

[Wrathchild]

[center]......................... 1907 Association News ......................... [/center]

Sept. 26th - The St. Louis Cardinals' Bob Harmon {9-17, 4.15 ERA} pitched a 1-0 no-hitter over the New York Giants.



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[Wrathchild]

[center]......................... 1907 Association News ......................... [/center]

Sept. 28th - The Detroit Tigers capture the American League pennant with a 3-2 victory over the 2nd place Philadelphia Athletics. This is Detroit's first trip to the World Series.



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[Wrathchild]

[center] Monthly Report - September/October 1907 [/center]

National League

Not only are the the Pittsburgh Pirates {107-47} going to the World Series for the 4th time, but they have shattered their own record for most wins in a season. They shared the previous record of 99 with the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs {71-83}, who finished the season in a disappointing 6th place, 36 games behind Pittsburgh and one spot lower than they finished in August. The 2nd place finish goes to the Cincinnati Reds {83-71}, who both started September and ended October in the same spot, 24 games behind Pittsburgh, despite winning 2/3 of their September road games. Our Brooklyn Superbas {72-82} climbed from dead last to finish the season in 5th place. We had an excellent September, going 18-9, including an 8-2 home record. The Boston Doves {65-89} finished the last weeks of the season 10-21, dropping them to 7th place. They had a dismal 4-9 home record and a 6-12 road record. The St. Louis Cardinals {63-91} continue their tradition of finishing last, winning only 11 games in September and October while losing 21. Their home record for this time period was 8-19.


American League

The Detroit Tigers {90-64} are going to their first World Series. They have led the American League since May. The Cleveland Blues {83-71} went 8-2 at home in September to attempt to push their way to the top from 4th place, but only succeeded in making it to the number 2 spot.

Final Standings



Highlights

Monday, September 2nd, Walter Johnson {13-6} - 1 Hit Allowed in 3-0 shutout over the St. Louis Browns

Monday, September 2nd, Elmer Flick - 5 Hits in a 7-0 victory at Boston

Saturday, September 7th, Sherry Magee - 4 Stolen Bases in a 5-3 victory at New York

Monday, September 9th, Jimmy Dygert {21-15} - 9 Strikeouts in a 5-2 win at Boston

Tuesday, September 10th, Homer Smoot - 5 Hits in a 4-1 victory at Chicago

Tuesday, September 10th, Otis Clymer - 4 Stolen Bases 6-3 victory Cleveland

Saturday, September 14th, Jimmy Sheckard - 4 Stolen Bases in a 3-2 win versus the New York Giants

Wednesday, September 25th, Ty Cobb - 5 Hits in a 3-5 loss to the Brooklyn Superbas

Thursday, September 26th, Bobby Wallace - 5 Hits in a 12-1 victory at Washington

Thursday, September 26th, Vic Willis {19-13} - 9 Strikeouts in a 7-2 win at Pittsburgh

Thursday, September 26th, Bob Harmon {9-18} - No Hitter in a 1-0 win over the New York Giants

Friday, September 27th, Case Patten {6-7} - 1 Hit Allowed in a 2-0 win over the Detroit Tigers

Saturday, October 5th, Carl Lundgren {12-17} - 10 Strikeouts in a 2-0 win at St. Louis


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[Orcin]

You have to feel good about Brooklyn's September performance. It's something to build on going into next season.



"The St. Louis Cardinals {63-91} continue their tradition of finishing last"


This just stings...  [:D]


Of course, I probably deserve this for calling Brooklyn "hapless" in an earlier post.

[Wrathchild]

I do feel good about the September surge. I just have to make sure I know how to take advantage of it. I'm already excited to get through all the offseason stuff to get the next season started, but then I've been here before and my bubble quickly gets burst.

As far as St. Louis, I did manage them to a couple of close 2nd place finishes but then it just seemed to go downhill for me from there. I'm not going to let the same thing happen with Brooklyn. You can take solace in knowing that the Cardinals had the only no hitter of the season, but unfortunately it just wasn't enough to do anything for them. They do have Ty Cobb, though, and I'm hoping to see him do something good.

[Wrathchild]

[center] Final Report 1907 [/center]

Pittsburgh Pirates - 1907 World Champions (3rd Championship){defeated  the Detroit Tigers ~ 4 to 3}


Award Winners

Best Pitcher
Jimmy Dygert {21-15/1.85}, 3 time winner, repeat winner from last year
Rube Waddell {26-8/2.28}, 3 time winner



Most Valuable Player
Rabbit Robinson {.286/1 HR/30 RBI}
Honus Wagner {.338/9 HR/94 RBI}


Best Rookie Pitcher
Ray Collins {16-14/1.86}
Bob Harmon {9-18/4.06}


Best Rookie Player
Tim Jordan {.279/3 HR/45 RBI}

Note: I am not sure that Jordan qualifies as he had already accumulated 288 AB in 6 major league seasons, including 2 full seasons on Cleveland's
25 man roster.

Art Devlin {.281/10 HR/63 RBI}

Note: I think there is a problem with Devlin, as well. He has played in the major leagues since 1901 and has 967 career AB at the end of the 1907
season.


New Records
Pittsburgh Pirates break single season wins record held by Pittsburgh and the Chicago Cubs (99) {107}
Walter Johnson breaks Ed Walsh's single season ERA record (1.75) {1.39}
Rube Waddell ties Jimmy Dygert's single season Wins record (26) (Jimmy Dygert broke Rube's previous record of 24 last year.)
Harry Ables ties Chappie McFarland's single season Saves record (38)
Jimmy Dygert breaks his own single season Innings Pitched record (327.1) {340}
Ed Siever breaks Bill Bernhard's single season Appearances record (98) {108}
Ralph Glaze breaks Mike Lynch's and Bill Hogg's single season Games Started record (45) {46}




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[Wrathchild]

[center]......................... 1908 Association News ......................... [/center]

Boston Americans owner John Taylor has announced that the team is changing its to 'Red Sox' for the upcoming season. The team will be wearing red stockings to coincide with this change. Will the name stick or will it be just another one of many designations for the Boston team from the American League? Only time will tell. Skeptics feel that the name is too similar to the names of both the Chicago White Sox and the veteran Cincinnati Reds.



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[Wrathchild]

Does anyone know if there are better formatting options with this forum software? I'd like a way to wrap the text around inserted images but I'm not sure if that can be done.

[Wrathchild]

[center] Brooklyn Baseball Monthly [/center]
[center]SPECIAL EDITION[/center]
[center]Brooklyn Superbas 1908 Draft Picks[/center]


ROUND 1 - Zack "Buck" Wheat, 20 year old outfielder from Hamilton, Missouri
ROUND 2 - Maury Kent, 23 year old relief pitcher from Marshalltown, Iowa
ROUND 3 - Benny "Earache" Meyer, 23 year old outfielder from Hematite, Missouri
ROUND 4 - Bert Tooley, 22 year old shortstop from Howell, Michigan
ROUND 5 - "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, 19 year old outfielder from Pickens County, South Carolina

29 year old catcher John Butler has been released to make room for the new players. John came to Brooklyn at the beginning of the 1907 season from Cleveland and was used primarily as a backup catcher and infielder. He was sent down to AAA at the beginning of July and didn't return until the end of season call ups. He ended the season with a .219 batting average, with 3 home runs and 9 RBI.


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Commentary: The draft seemed a little different this year, as it appeared that all the players that had been mass dropped at the end of the last season were included in it. I thought it was supposed to be only amateurs. I really am quite content with my starting players and was not looking for anyone to replace them. I had 4 retirements at the end of 1907, but they were all older players who had been relegated to the minors to finish out their careers. I based my picks on historical Brooklyn players who looked like they really would be able to do something for me in the upcoming years. With one exception. As far as I'm concerned, the highlight of this season's candidates was Shoeless Joe Jackson. Here's what he looks like:

[center][/center]

The problem is that he's not a Brooklyn player so my own rules prevent me from drafting him. However, I also have a rule that if there is a superstar that I would personally have a desire to have on my team, and no one picks him in the first 4 rounds then I am free to take him. That is why how Ty Cobb ended up with the Cardinals when I was managing them. Anyway, this commentary has become longer than the news report so it's time to close it!

[Orcin]

This commentary... long? Nonsense!  [:D]
 
 
Zach Wheat is a great player. I love this guy. You should put him in left field and leave him there for the next 20 years. Trust me on this one.
 
Shoeless Joe... what to do with him? If it were me, I would first look to trade him to the White Sox for their best pitcher. You can never have too much pitching. Or you could play him in right, and have the best pair of corner outfielders (along with Wheat) in the association for a decade. Nice problem to have.
 
Great draft!
 
I have the same rule about HOF'ers in the draft. I will take all-stars earlier than round 5, but HOF'ers... it's just too easy if you allow yourself to cherry-pick the draft. If I follow this rule strictly, I can still end up drafting a HOF'er almost every year, sometimes two if my team has one up for selection. Pretty soon you can't afford to pay them all anyway!
 
 
 
 

[Wrathchild]

One thing I want to mention before I forget: Puresim imported Shoeless Joe as a right fielder. What I read said that he played left field so I added LF as his primary position.

My tentative plan for both Wheat and Jackson is to let them spend at least one year in AAA. The problem right now is that I am very happy with my current outfield of Lumley, Keeler, and Sheckard. I have no complaints about any of them. But there was no way I was going to leave Wheat, and then Jackson, unselected. In fact, I'm even thinking of signing Cy Young who is sitting in the Free Agent pool right now after being released by the Cardinals at the end of last season. He's 41 years old but still has a 99 Control and a 92 Stuff. He doesn't have the greatest endurance any more, but he would make a great reliever or closer. I hate to see him put out to pasture when he is still better than many of the other pitchers in the association. The more I think about it the more I think I'm going to sign up, as I have plenty of extra players I can release to make room for him.

As far as trading Shoeless Joe, based on my house rules I could only trade him to the Athletics for a player that doesn't belong on their roster. The following are the pitchers that would qualify as of this point:

Ray Collins
Mike O'Neill
Frank Owen
Charlie Smith
Hippo Vaughn
Walter Clarkson
Claude Elliott
Ollie Johns
Louis Leroy
Harry McNeal
Case Patten
Jack Sutthoff
Cy Ferry
Charlie Fritz
Sam Hope

I don't know who any of these guys are, but I'm feeling that none of them are worth Joe Jackson. I also kind of like the idea of having Shoeless Joe on the team, though I'm going to have to make some hard decisions about my outfield over the next season or two.

[Wrathchild]

[center] Brooklyn Baseball Monthly [/center]
[center]SPECIAL EDITION[/center]


Brooklyn has signed veteran pitcher Cy Young. The 41 year old 4 time All Star was released by the St. Louis Cardinals at the end of last season. Cy was signed by St. Louis in 1900 and has twice led the National League in shutouts. Through 8 seasons he has accumulated a win-loss record of 92-71, with 21 shutouts, 601 strikeouts, and a career ERA of 3.18. Extraneous catcher Mike Heydon was released to make room on the roster for Cy.


Commentary: Here's what I've just taken on:

[center][/center]

I'm not sure if what I've done is a good idea, but there's no way I could leave Cy Young just sitting there in the discarded pool. I admit that I'm playing from looking back through history, but being able to 'interact' with these historical players is part of the fun for me. I'm going to put him in the starting rotation, though maybe even as far back as the 4th position. St. Louis was using him as their closer so he should be happy to get back into a starting role. I think he's probably still got at least 6 innings a game in him, but if I'm wrong I haven't really lost anything. However, I already do have a full starting staff so someone's going to get bumped.

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[Orcin]

Hippo Vaughn was a top pitcher for the Cubs in the 'teens. He might be a fair trade for Joe Jackson. None of the rest of that list are. It's probably more fun to keep Joe.

Zach Wheat is a waaaay better player than Harry Lumley... just saying... ok, I'll get out of your head now.  [:D]

Great call on Cy Young. He looks to have a lot left but we never know when that "sharp decline" is coming. It's worth the risk IMO.

P.S. Baseball-Reference.com says Joe Jackson played right field for several years when he came up with Cleveland, and then switched to left when he went to the White Sox. I'd say he could play either.

[Wrathchild]

I'm glad you're here, as the tidbits you bring me about this era are not only endlessly fascinating but educational. This stuff will help me going forward with this association.

ORIGINAL: Orcin

Hippo Vaughn was a top pitcher for the Cubs in the 'teens. He might be a fair trade for Joe Jackson. None of the rest of that list are. It's probably more fun to keep Joe.

I took a look at Vaughn and he definitely is a good pitcher. Just out of curiosity I asked the Athletics who they wanted for Vaughn. They wouldn't take any single player of mine. Joe Jackson is not even close to what they are looking for and is a poor offer. Looks like he's staying with me! [:D]

Zach Wheat is a waaaay better player than Harry Lumley... just saying... ok, I'll get out of your head now.  [:D]

Don't you dare! I want to make this team a winning team and am not too proud to take suggestions! Here's the comparison of the two players:




Lumley is my starting left fielder, even though I only just now realized that he's not even listed as a left fielder. Hm. I often take him out when I need a defensive sub, as well. Maybe it is time for a change, even though Lumley did hit .321 last season and has been completely reliable. He's going to be in left field for at least one more season, I think.

Great call on Cy Young. He looks to have a lot left but we never know when that "sharp decline" is coming. It's worth the risk IMO.

I agree. I've got so many players that I consider good right now that I'm actually going to make a spreadsheet with my lineups and depth charts so I can figure out where to put everyone.

P.S. Baseball-Reference.com says Joe Jackson played right field for several years when he came up with Cleveland, and then switched to left when he went to the White Sox. I'd say he could play either.

I see that now. I'm removing the primary left field and leaving it the way it was imported for now.

[Wrathchild]

[center] Brooklyn Baseball Monthly [/center]
[center]SPECIAL EDITION[/center]


The Superbas have acquired 3 new players through trades, just in time for Spring Training.
Pitcher Harry Howell was traded to the St. Louis Browns for third baseman Simmy Murch. Brooklyn has an excess of pitchers and Murch can be used as a backup infielder.

Shortstop Tommy Sheehan comes to Brooklyn as pitcher Bill Donovan goes to Detroit. Donovan is another pitcher that Brookly no longer needs, whereas Sheehan will make a nice defensive substitution for Bill Dahlen.

Pitcher Kaiser Wilhelm has been acquired from the Philadelpia Phillies in exchange for second baseman Dutch Jordan. This trade is basically to smooth out the roster after the previous two trades. Wilhelm will be used as a reliever.

Rumor is that Brooklyn is still considering releasing some of their current players in order to be able to sign some free agents.


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[Wrathchild]

[center] Brooklyn Baseball Monthly [/center]
[center]SPECIAL EDITION[/center]


As speculated previously, Brooklyn has signed a couple new players in an effort to bring in some new utility players while getting rid of some of the excess players that were not being used. The first to be signed is 24 year old outfielder Tom Catterson from Warwick, Rhode Island. Tom is a great fielder though not a good batter, and will be used in a late-game defensive role. The other player added is 23 year old catcher Joe Dunn, from Springfield, Ohio. He has been brought aboard for the same purpose as Catterson, and it is highly unlikely that anyone will be stealing any bases from this bullet armed young man. There were considerations with regard to signing a couple of additional late-game pitchers, but it was decided that the pitching staff is already as full as it should be, so these ideas were canceled.

To make room for these 2 additional players the team needed to release 2 players from the current roster. After much deliberation it was decided to release 32 year old pitcher Gene 'Mike' McCann and 33 year old infielder John Gochnauer. McCann was drafted by Brooklyn in 1900 and brought up to the majors in 1901, where he pitched only 9.1 innings as an autumn call-up. He has spent the rest of his career in AAA and AA ball and never realized any great potential. Gochnauer, on the other hand, has been an on and off major league utility player and played 46 games for the Superbas in 1907, hitting .204 with 2 homeruns and 9 RBI. We wish both of these gentlemen the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Our team now has its final roster with which it will enter Spring Training.


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