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Eckstein 4 Prez · 07-11-2005, 11:17 AM

June 15, 1878 Report

Chicago is continuing its surprising dominance, and with the season nearly one-third complete, there is a real danger that even if they cool off, the other teams will be too far behind to mount any kind of run against them. Amanzingly, they are currently the only team over .500 in the entire league:

Chicago White Stockings 16-4
Providence Grays 8-8
Milwaukee Cream Citys 10-10
Boston Red Caps 7-9
Cincinnati Reds 8-12
Indianapolis Blues 7-13

The real questions thus far are: with their enormous payroll, why is Boston only 7-9, and what happened to the 1877 champion Cincinnati Reds?

With Boston, here are the men getting paid the lion's share of their astronomical $735,000 payroll:

P Jim Britt ($110,000/yr.) - 3 GS, 2-1, 3.38 ERA
P Terry Larkin ($85,000/yr.) - 9 GS, 2-4, 4.06 ERA
RF Orator Shaffer ($80,000/yr.) - 0 HR, 7 RBI, .345 AVG, 0 SB
3B Ezra Sutton ($59,000/yr.) - 1 HR, 12 RBI, .329 AVG, 5 SB

These guys are at least being used by the Red Caps, but they are also paying large sums to men such as Bill Parks, Dick Higham and Bill Craver, who are not even used as everyday players. While the plan may have been to try buying a championship, it's clearly not working in Boston.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati's championship was a direct result of their superstar infield of 1877: 1B Tim Murnane, 2B Ross Barnes, SS George Wright and 3B Bob "Death to Flying Things" Ferguson. This season, Murnane is plying his trade in Milwaukee, Ross Barnes has been either injured or ineffective all season, and Wright and Ferguson's averages have dropped from .339 and .335 to .212 and .188. In addition, center fielder Lip Pike, brought in from Hartford to add some pop to the top of the lineup, broke his knee on May 16 and will miss at least the rest of 1878. Because of the slumps and injuries, it's actually rather amazing that Cincinnati has stayed as close to the rest of the league as they have.

The league leaders:

Batting - Joe Doyle, Providence Grays, .431
Home Runs - 8 tied with 1 each
Runs Batted In - Joe Start, Chicago White Stockings, 18
Runs Scored - Andy Leonard, Chicago White Stockings, 19
Hits - Abner Dalrymple, Milwaukee Cream Citys, 34
Doubles - John Bass, Boston and Abner Dalrymple, Milwaukee, 8 each
Triples - Charley Jones, Chicago White Stockings, 3
Stolen Bases - Dickie Flowers, Indianapolis Blues, 6

Wins - Al Spalding, Chicago White Stockings, 7
ERA - Dory Dean, Cincinnati Reds, 1.33
Strikeouts - J. O'Neill, Indianapolis Blues, 36
Opponent Average - Joe Borden, Milwaukee Cream Citys, .175

I'll switch over to pitcher Al Spalding for the new avatar, since he's not only got as many wins as some entire teams, but also has vaulted into first all-time in victories for a pitcher, with a lifetime 108-62 mark. Remember also that he is still only 27 years old, and may have many more excellent years ahead of him.

07-11-2005, 11:17 AM	#133 (permalink)
Eckstein 4 Prez Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The OC Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 21 Thanked 45x in 33 posts	June 15, 1878 Report Chicago is continuing its surprising dominance, and with the season nearly one-third complete, there is a real danger that even if they cool off, the other teams will be too far behind to mount any kind of run against them. Amanzingly, they are currently the only team over .500 in the entire league: Chicago White Stockings 16-4 Providence Grays 8-8 Milwaukee Cream Citys 10-10 Boston Red Caps 7-9 Cincinnati Reds 8-12 Indianapolis Blues 7-13 The real questions thus far are: with their enormous payroll, why is Boston only 7-9, and what happened to the 1877 champion Cincinnati Reds? With Boston, here are the men getting paid the lion's share of their astronomical $735,000 payroll: P Jim Britt ($110,000/yr.) - 3 GS, 2-1, 3.38 ERA P Terry Larkin ($85,000/yr.) - 9 GS, 2-4, 4.06 ERA RF Orator Shaffer ($80,000/yr.) - 0 HR, 7 RBI, .345 AVG, 0 SB 3B Ezra Sutton ($59,000/yr.) - 1 HR, 12 RBI, .329 AVG, 5 SB These guys are at least being used by the Red Caps, but they are also paying large sums to men such as Bill Parks, Dick Higham and Bill Craver, who are not even used as everyday players. While the plan may have been to try buying a championship, it's clearly not working in Boston. Meanwhile, Cincinnati's championship was a direct result of their superstar infield of 1877: 1B Tim Murnane, 2B Ross Barnes, SS George Wright and 3B Bob "Death to Flying Things" Ferguson. This season, Murnane is plying his trade in Milwaukee, Ross Barnes has been either injured or ineffective all season, and Wright and Ferguson's averages have dropped from .339 and .335 to .212 and .188. In addition, center fielder Lip Pike, brought in from Hartford to add some pop to the top of the lineup, broke his knee on May 16 and will miss at least the rest of 1878. Because of the slumps and injuries, it's actually rather amazing that Cincinnati has stayed as close to the rest of the league as they have. The league leaders: Batting - Joe Doyle, Providence Grays, .431 Home Runs - 8 tied with 1 each Runs Batted In - Joe Start, Chicago White Stockings, 18 Runs Scored - Andy Leonard, Chicago White Stockings, 19 Hits - Abner Dalrymple, Milwaukee Cream Citys, 34 Doubles - John Bass, Boston and Abner Dalrymple, Milwaukee, 8 each Triples - Charley Jones, Chicago White Stockings, 3 Stolen Bases - Dickie Flowers, Indianapolis Blues, 6 Wins - Al Spalding, Chicago White Stockings, 7 ERA - Dory Dean, Cincinnati Reds, 1.33 Strikeouts - J. O'Neill, Indianapolis Blues, 36 Opponent Average - Joe Borden, Milwaukee Cream Citys, .175 I'll switch over to pitcher Al Spalding for the new avatar, since he's not only got as many wins as some entire teams, but also has vaulted into first all-time in victories for a pitcher, with a lifetime 108-62 mark. Remember also that he is still only 27 years old, and may have many more excellent years ahead of him. __________________ Looking for an insomnia cure? Check out The Olde Tyme Base Ball Simulator!