The 1940 Brooklyn Dodgers (85-69, 2nd place)

[KG Erwin]

Chicago, Wednesday July 17. VanderMeer (4-8, 4.50) vs Passeau (8-9, 2.83). 63 degrees, with a 10 mph wind out to RF. The Dodgers erase a 4-1 deficit and come back to win 10-6. WP: Mills LP: Passeau

Casey returns to the rotation tomorrow.

Trade news: in a move that causes some grumbling amongst the fans, I conclude a major trade with the Cardinals. To St Louis goes RF Dixie Walker and P Lefty Hoerst. In return we get RF Enos Slaughter and minor-league P Max Lanier. Lanier goes to AAA, and we call up Boots Poffenberger. 30-year-old Walker is hitting .322, but is perhaps at the height of his trade value. Slaughter is 24 and has tremendous potential. He is already a good hitter (.272) and an excellent fielder.

As of now, 5 players in my lineup have a POT of 100 (DiMaggio, Doerr, Fletcher, Slaughter and Williams).

The trade deadline is July 25. Having drastically revamped my opening day lineup, I doubt if I will make any more moves.
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Thursday July 18. Casey (11-3, 3.39) vs Lee (3-10, 3.90). 82 degrees. The Cubs win 4-3. WP: Dean LP: Casey

The Giants now lead us by 4 games.
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Friday July 19. Hudson (8-8, 3.60) vs Gorsica (7-8, 4.63). 77 degrees, with a light breeze in from CF. Gorsica and Olsen combine for a 2-0 victory. Hudson loses.

[KG Erwin]

St. Louis Saturday July 20. Smith (7-7, 3.48) vs Davis (8-7, 3.33). 69 degrees. The Cardinals win 5-3. WP: Shoun LP: Smith
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Sunday July 21. Doubleheader.

Game 1. Casey (11-4, 3.44) vs Cooper (6-8, 3.65). 78 degrees. The Dodgers win 3-1. WP, CG: Casey LP: Raffensberger

Game 2. VanderMeer (4-8, 4.70) vs Warneke (6-10, 3.38). 77 degrees, with a light breeze in from LF. The Cardinals win 3-1. WP: Dean LP: Mills
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No games were played on Monday.

[KG Erwin]

Brooklyn, Tuesday July 23. We return home and host the Reds. Johnson (2-0, 0.53) vs Walters (10-9, 3.39). 80 degrees, wind swirling @13 mph. Walters pitches a 3-hitter as the Reds shut us out 4-0. Johnson loses.
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Wednesday July 24. Hudson (8-8, 3.42) vs Hamlin (9-6, 2.79). 74 degrees, wind swirling @15mph. The Reds win 9-2. WP, CG: Hamlin LP: Hudson
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We have Thursday off.

[KG Erwin]

Brooklyn, Friday July 26. A weekend series with the Cardinals. Casey (12-4, 3.30) vs Cooper (6-8, 3.56). 82 degrees, with a light swirling breeze. Cooper pitches a 6-hit shutout. The Cardinals win 6-0. Casey loses.
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Saturday July 27. Smith (7-8, 3.60) vs Warneke (6-10, 3.31). 82 degrees, with an 18 mph wind blowing in from LF. The Cardinals win 5-3. WP, CG: Warneke LP: Smith
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Sunday July 28. Doubleheader.

Game 1. VanderMeer (4-8, 4.58) vs Davis (8-8, 3.52). 83 degrees, with a 17 mph wind blowing in from RF. The Cardinals win 4-1. WP, CG: Davis LP: VanderMeer

Game 2. Hudson (8-9, 3.52) vs Raffensberger (6-4, 3.07). 81 degrees. The Dodgers snap the losing streak with a 5-3 win. WP: Hudson LP: Raffensberger SV: Strincevich
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We have Monday off. We are now in 3rd place, 6 games behind the Giants.

[KG Erwin]

Tuesday July 30. We host the Pirates, who have lost 13 straight and are now in last place. Casey (12-5, 3.41) vs Tobin (5-10, 5.00). 83 degrees, with a 20 mph wind blowing in from RF. The Pirates win 8-4. WP: Tobin LP: Javery
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We thankfully have Wednesday off. July was a disastrous month, as we went 8-19.
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The standings:

[KG Erwin]

Thursday Aug 1. We again face the Pirates. Hudson (9-9, 3.54) vs Bowman (9-9, 3.87). 88 degrees. The Pirates win 5-2. WP: Bowman LP: Hudson SV: Heintzelman

[KG Erwin]

Friday Aug 2. The Cubs visit for the weekend. Smith (7-9, 3.70) vs Passeau (11-10, 3.01). 89 degrees, with a 9 mph breeze out to CF. The Dodgers win 9-7. WP: Smith LP: Passeau SV: Strincevich

We've dropped to 4th place, 7 GB the Reds. The Giants are in 2nd, and the Cardinals are 3rd.

Minor league news: P Clay Smith was signed and sent to the A level. P Max Lanier was released.
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Saturday Aug 3. VanderMeer (4-9, 4.67) vs Lee (4-10, 3.43). 86 degrees. The Cubs win 7-4 in 10 innings. WP, CG: Lee LP: Lamanna
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Sunday Aug 4. Casey (12-5, 3.50) vs French (7-5, 3.00). 78 degrees, with the wind swirling @18 mph. The Cubs win 10-3. WP, CG: French LP: Casey

[KG Erwin]

Monday, Aug 5. The Giants visit for a day. Hudson (9-10, 3.55) vs Lohrman (10-8, 4.58). 79 degrees, with an 11 mph wind out to RF. The Dodgers win 7-6. WP: Hudson LP: Lohrman SV: Mills
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We have Tuesday off. We prepare to head to the Polo Grounds.

[KG Erwin]

New York, Wednesday Aug 7. Smith (8-9, 3.84) vs Salvo (1-4, 3.99). 85 degrees, with a 9 mph breeze in from CF. The Giants win 4-1. WP, CG: Salvo LP: Smith

Minor league report: we have several developing players who could become stars. Given that our season is not turning out well, it is a temptation to bring up young talent too soon. No, I will not do that. We will nurture their potential and only bring them up when they are ready.
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Thursday Aug 8. VanderMeer (4-9, 4.63) vs Hubbell (10-6, 3.03). 84 degrees, with the wind out to LF @ 17 mph. Hubbell gets injured and Brown relieves. The Giants win 5-3. WP: Brown LP: VanderMeer SV: Lynn

[KG Erwin]

Boston, Friday Aug 9. Casey (12-6, 3.87) vs Posedel (7-12, 2.89). 78 degrees, with a 14 mph wind in from RF. Casey suffers a minor injury in the 1st. Strincevich relieves. The Dodgers win 4-2. WP: Strincevich LP: Posedel

Casey suffered an ankle injury and will be unavailable for 6 days.
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Saturday Aug 10. Hudson (10-10, 3.70) vs Lanning (0-1, 19.80). 66 degrees. The Dodgers win 9-6. WP, CG: Hudson LP: Lanning
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Sunday Aug 11. Smith (8-10, 3.89) vs Errickson (7-11, 4.58). 79 degrees, with a 9 mph breeze in from RF. The Dodgers win 6-3. WP: Smith LP: Hadley SV: Mills

We have Monday off. Despite having won 3 in a row, we are still in 4th place, 8.5 GB the Reds.

[KG Erwin]

Brooklyn, Tuesday Aug 13. We host the Phillies for a three game series. VanderMeer (4-10, 4.65) vs Higbe (8-11, 3.33). 75 degrees, with a 5 mph breeze out to RF. VanderMeer pitches a 5-hit shutout as the Dodgers win 5-0. Higbe loses.
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Wednesday Aug 14. Hudson (11-10, 3.82) vs Butcher (9-6, 2.66). 86 degrees. The Dodgers win 3-2. WP: Hudson LP: Butcher SV: Mills
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Thursday Aug 15. Smith (9-10, 3.86) vs Mulcahy (4-12, 3.72). 76 degrees, with an 11 mph wind in from RF. The Phillies win 4-1 in 13 innings. WP: Harrell LP: Strincevich

[KG Erwin]

Brooklyn, Friday Aug 16. The Braves visit. Johnson (2-1, 1.13) vs Errickson (7-11, 4.52). 81 degrees, with a 5 mph breeze in from LF. In the 1st inning, Errickson suffers a minor hip injury and is relieved by Hadley. The Braves win 3-2 in 11 innings. WP: Earley LP: Javery

The Braves put Errickson on the 15-day DL.

We have a rare Saturday off. We are now in 4th place, 10 GB the Reds. We don't have a single .300 hitter, but our pitching is what's faltering (team ERA 4.06). Thankfully, Casey will return to the rotation tomorrow. It's gonna be a tough road to hoe for the next month and a half.
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Sunday Aug 18. Doubleheader.

Game 1. VanderMeer (5-10, 4.40) vs Posedel (7-14, 3.00). 80 degrees, with an 11 mph wind out to RF. The Dodgers win 7-3. WP: VanderMeer LP: Posedel SV: Mills

Game 2. Casey (12-6, 3.86) vs Lanning (0-3, 14.02). 87 degrees, with a 19 mph wind blowing out to CF. The Dodgers win 7-1. WP, CG: Casey LP: Lanning

Monday is a travel day to the west. We haven't gained any ground on the Reds, who have an incredible pitching staff (2.47 ERA). Collectively, they have pitched 17 (!) shutouts so far.

Minor league news: P Bill Hoffman was released. We signed P Johnny Podgajny and assigned him to the A level. P Mickey Harris was bumped up to AA.

[KG Erwin]

St. Louis, Tuesday Aug 20. Hudson (12-10, 3.70) vs Cooper (10-10, 3.10). 84 degrees. Cooper suffers a minor injury in the 2nd. Dickson relieves. We win 3-1. WP: Hudson LP: Dickson SV: Mills
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Wednesday Aug 21. Smith (9-10, 3.69) vs Warneke (10-11, 3.02). 85 degrees, with a swirling 7 mph breeze. The Cards win 4-3. WP, CG: Warneke LP: Smith

[KG Erwin]

Chicago, Thursday Aug 22. VanderMeer (6-10, 4.38) vs Gorsica (9-12, 3.97). 77 degrees, with a 9 mph breeze out to LF. Slaughter and Fletcher hit HRs and Williams goes 4 for 5 as the Dodgers defeat the Cubs 9-4. WP: VanderMeer LP: Gorsica SV: Lamanna

In the junior circuit, Cleveland's Bob Feller (21-5, 2.57) appears to be a shoo-in for the AL Cy Young award. The Indians are 3.5 GB the Yankees.
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Friday Aug 23. Casey (13-6, 3.73) vs French (8-6, 3.23). 77 degrees. After 17 innings, the Cubs win 7-6. WP: Olsen LP: Poffenberger
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Roster expansion has been triggered. I call up OF Stan Spence, IF Pete Coscarart and P Orval Grove.
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Saturday Aug 24. Hudson (13-10, 3.61) vs Passeau (12-13, 3.26) . 82 degrees, with a 12 mph wind out to RF. The Dodgers win 6-5. WP: Hudson LP: Root SV: Strincevich

[KG Erwin]

Pittsburgh, Sunday Aug 25. Smith (9-11, 3.79) vs Sewell (10-9, 3.02). 88 degrees, with a 19 mph wind blowing in from LF. In the 4th inning, Sewell suffers a neck cramp. Jeffcoat relieves. The Dodgers score 6 runs in the 11th and win it 7-2. WP: Mills LP: Swift

The Reds lose their 4th in a row, so we are now in 3rd place, just 7.5 GB them. The Giants are in 2nd place, 6 GB.

Injury note: Sewell will be out of the Pirates' rotation for 12 days, so he will miss 3 starts. They don't place him on the DL.
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Monday Aug 26. VanderMeer (7-10, 4.21) vs Bowman (12-10, 3.49). 77 degrees, with a 5 mph breeze in from RF. VanderMeer pitches a 6-hitter as the Dodgers win 7-0. Bowman loses.

The Reds lose their 5th straight, so we gain a game on them.
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Tuesday Aug 27. Casey (13-6, 3.79) vs Tobin (7-13, 4.49). 77 degrees, with a 14 mph wind blowing in from LF. The Pirates win 2-1. WP: Tobin LP: Casey

[KG Erwin]

Cincinnati, Wednesday Aug 28. Hudson (14-10, 3.69) vs Thompson (10-5, 1.67). 89 degrees, with a 3 mph breeze in from CF. The Dodgers win 8-4. WP: Hudson LP: Riddle SV: Mills

We hand the Reds their 7th consecutive loss, and we pull to within 5.5 games of them.
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Thursday Aug 29. Smith (9-11, 3.74) vs Walters (16-10, 2.76). 88 degrees. The Dodgers win 3-1. WP, CG: Smith LP: Walters
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Friday is a travel day as we head back to Brooklyn.

The standings:

[KG Erwin]

Brooklyn, Saturday Aug 31. The Giants come to town. Casey (13-7, 3.67) vs Lohrman ( 10-12, 4.58). 88 degrees, with a 5 mph breeze out to LF. The Dodgers win 6-4. WP: Casey LP: Lohrman SV: Mills
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Sunday Sept 1. Hudson (15-10, 3.74) vs Gumbert (12-6, 3.42). A hint of autumn, as it is much cooler today: 68 degrees, with an 8 mph breeze in from CF. The Dodgers win 3-1. WP: Hudson LP: Gumbert SV: Lamanna

The Cubs defeat the Reds, and we are now just 3.5 GB Cincinnati.

[KG Erwin]

Boston, Monday Sept 2. A Labor Day doubleheader with the 7th place Braves. At this point, every game is critical, and I remind the team of this in our morning meeting.

Game 1. VanderMeer (8-10, 4.01) vs Hadley (3-6, 3.88). 78 degrees, with a mild breeze out to LF. In the 2nd, Hadley suffers a shoulder injury. Milt Shoffner relieves. We rack up 15 hits in a 13-2 victory. WP: VanderMeer LP: Shoffner

Game 2. Smith (10-11, 3.61) vs Errickson (7-11, 4.49). 70 degrees, with a 6 mph breeze in from CF. The Dodgers win 9-6. WP, CG: Smith LP: Errickson
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We have Tuesday off, but on this day the Cardinals defeat the Reds, and we close to within 2 games of catching Cincinnati.

Magic numbers: Yankees (20) Reds (23)

[KG Erwin]

Philadelphia, Wednesday Sept 4. Casey (14-7, 3.74) vs Higbe (9-15, 3.64). 75 degrees at Shibe Park, with a 15 mph wind blowing out to CF. I deploy the second team for the last three innings as we rout the Phillies 14-1. Casey gives up 4 hits in his CG victory. Higbe takes the loss.

We remain 2 GB the Reds.
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We have Thursday off. The Reds win, so we are now 2.5 GB them. Magic numbers: Reds (21) Yankees (19)
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Friday Sept 6. VanderMeer (9-10, 3.96) vs Al Smith (1-5, 3.25). 82 degrees, with an 8 mph breeze out to RF. The Phillies win 5-4 in 10 innings. WP: Head LP: Mills

We drop to 3 GB the Reds.

[KG Erwin]

New York, Saturday Sept 7. Hudson (16-10, 3.63) vs Melton (13-4, 1.98). 82 degrees at the Polo Grounds, with a 16 mph wind blowing in from LF. Sellout crowd. Giant C Ken O'Dea is injured, so weak-armed Johnny Mccarthy starts behind the plate. The Giants win 6-3. WP, CG: Melton LP: Hudson

We lose no ground as the Cubs defeat the Reds.
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Sunday Sept 8. Doubleheader.

Game 1. Smith (11-11, 3.72) vs Gumbert (13-7, 3.35). 77 degrees, with a 3 mph breeze out to LF. The Dodgers win 10-7. WP: Strincevich LP: Gumbert SV: Javery

Game 2. Casey (15-7, 3.63) vs Salvo (6-4, 2.48). 74 degrees. The Giants win it 6-4. WP, CG: Salvo LP: Casey

The Reds lose and the Cardinals win, so both Brooklyn and St Louis are 2.5 GB Cincinnati.
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Monday Sept 9. Johnson (2-1, 1.20) vs Hubbell (10-9, 3.21). 81 degrees, with a 5 mph breeze out to CF. Hubbell pitches a 2-hitter in the Giants' 4-1 victory. Johnson takes the loss.