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Eugene Church · 04-28-2006, 11:49 PM

ALLTIME ALLSTAR ASSOCIATION

Friday, July 25, 1902

NATIONAL LEAGUE

NY GIANTS HAVE HUGE LEAD IN NATIONAL...TOP BRAVES BY 8 GAMES...THIRD PLACE CARDINALS BY 11.5 GAMES...PITTSBURGH AND BROOKLYN ARE TIED FOR FOURTH, TRAIL BY 12.5 GAMES...CHICUBS ARE SIXTH, 15 BEHIND...SEVENTH PLACE CINCINNATI 17.5 BACK...AND THE PHILLIES PULL UP THE REAR, 19 GAMES BEHIND.

Manager John McGraw is looking more and more like a prophet. In the preseason he went on record that his club would win both the NL championship and the Word Series, too. It looks like at least half of the prediction might come true. His Giants (66-42) won 22 of 32 contests in the last month and turn the National League pennant race into shambles. The runnerup Boston Braves are now a whopping 8 games behind. Simply put, New York has the best hitting (.279) and the best pitching (3.71) in the league. McGraw has a solid set of starters he can call on. Carl Hubbell (17-4 2.50) has been magnificent. And Christy Mathewson (11-4 3.76) and Juan Marichal (10-8 4.06) have come to life in the last month and pitched the way they did last year. Johnny Antonelli (8-4 3.15) and Jeff Tesreau (6-0) have been steady starters since being put in the pitching rotation. In the bullpen Dick Nen (2-7 4.40 13 saves) has made 46 appearances. It is hitting where the Giants really standout. Mel Ott (.318/24/81), Willie Mays (.276/14/69), Martin Dihigo (.288/19/58), Freddie Lindstrom (.286/5/51), Alvin Dark (.293/5/46), Bill Terry (.304/7/47) and Barry Bonds (306/15/40) are a very potent bunch of hitters, one of the prime reasons New York has such a big lead. Short of a complete collapse, it's looks like McGraw and Company are half way to the World Series.

The Braves (58-50) went 16-15 over the past month, but lost 5.5 games to the redhot Giants. They trail now by 8 games. They are still hitting homers with a 128 total, the best in both leagues, but the pitching has gone into decline. Greg Maddux (8-7 3.56) and Lew Burdette (8-10 4.58) have seen their ERAs shoot up. However Bobby Cox has been able to depend on Warren Spahn (10-6 3.24) and Tommy Glavine (9-5 3.48). John Smoltz (7-4 3.89) has come around in the bullpen and has 7 saves. Cox will have to get more out of his other pitchers to challenge New York. But other than these three, Boston's pitchers have been woeful. The hitters are still productive with Chipper Jones (.314/22/77), Buck Leonard (.288/23/75), Eddie Mathews (.248/26/64), Tommy Holmes (.322/8/36) and Joe Torre (.302/11/42) in the forefront. The Braves need a good, long winning streak and for the Giants to go into the tank to get back into the NL title chase.

The third place St. Louis Cardinals (54-53) are coming on strong again in the late season, just like they did last year, but it looks like they are only battling for second place. The first place Giants are just too far ahead. The rampaging Redbirds are 19-13 over the last 30 days and are hitting the cover off the ball, yet are 11.5 games out of first. At midseason Manager Tony Larussa went back to last year's regulars and it paid huge dividends. The Cardinal crew are now hitting .270 as a team. For most of the season, they were around the .240 mark. Heading the hit parade are Rogers Hornsby (.304/15/69), Stan Musial (.295/20/70) and Joe Medwick (.302/7/51). Johnny Mize (.290/13/44), Chick Hafey (.332/6/38), Frankie Frisch (.331/1/32) and Ozzie Smith (.272/0/23), all benched early in the season, got put back in the lineup and the club took off. Parttimer Jim Edmonds (.240/13/38) has supplied the longball on a platoon basis. As far as the mound staff, Larussa is still trying to find some stoppers. His aces are struggling. Bob Gibson (7-8 4.05), Dizzy Dean (8-8 4.02), Larry Jackson (9-7 4.04), Mort Cooper (7-11 3.81) and John Tudor 95-5 4.20) have been inconsistent this year. In the Cardinal bullpen, Todd Worrell (3-7 3.79/11 saves) has been off and on, too. Larussa is still looking for some dominant pitchers.

The fourth place Pittsburgh Pirates (54-55) are a mystery. They are tied with the Giants with a .279 team batting average and are second to the them with a 3.85 ERA. Manager Danny Murtaugh doesn't understand why his team is 12.5 games off the pace and playing under .500 baseball. The Pirates are currently tied with the Brooklyn Dodgers (53-54). In the last month they have mediocre 12-16 mark. Sadaharu Oh (.311/34/101) has been outstanding in his first AAA season. Arky Vaughan (.306/6/57), Roberto Clemente (.284/10/75), Honus Wagner (.297/8/50), Paul Waner (.298/4/38) and Pie Traynor (.299/3/31) have had good seasons, too. On the hill, Murtaugh has a solid nucleus: Deacon Phillippe (11-9 3.01), Vic Willis (10-7 3.44) and Ray Kremer (9-8 3.29). But the Bucs could use one or two more consistent starters. Roy Face (5-3 2.80/8 saves) has done a fine job in the bullpen. They need one or two more starters to challenge the New York Giants. Like the Cardinals, Pittsburgh is playing for second this year. It looks like National clubs will have to wait for next year. It ain't over till it's over...but it looks like the fat lady is getting ready to sing.

The Brooklyn Dodgers (53-54) have pounded the ball this year, but so has the opposition. The Bums have a .270 team batting average with 114 home runs (third in the AAA), but the pitchers have ballooned to a 4.30 ERA, one of the worst in the NL. The fourth place Dodgers are 14-17 in the last month and are 12.5 games behind the leading Giants. Manager Tommy Lasorda has many fine hitters to call on. In fact, he can't get even get a .431 hitter in the lineup. There is no room in the outfield or at first base for rookie Babe Herman (.431/1/8). Here are the guys that make the Dodgers go: Zach Wheat (.329/13/83), Gil Hodges (.260/21/74), Duke Snider (.309/23/67), Cristobel Torriente (.344/9/58) and Jackie Robinson (.293/9/35). A big plus for Lasorda has been midseason draftee, rookie Yasumitsu Toyota (.284/6/15). The young Japanese shortstop has really impressed with his power in his 28 starts so far. Lasorda also found a brilliant pitcher in his minor league system, Nap Rucker (6-0 1.04). This talented lefty has really dazzled and befuddled National League batters in his 6 starts...all wins. Brooklyn has some good talent in their mound corps, but so far this year, Sandy Koufax (9-10 4.4), Dazzy Vance (5-7 3.74) and Don Newcombe (8-12 4.24) have been disappointing. What is really puzzling?...Vance won 19 games last season. In the off season, you can be sure the Ebbets Field bunch will be scouring the minors for more Napoleon Ruckers. This year no one expects the Dodgers to finish higher than fifth.

In the last month Cholly Jolly Grimm has not been so jolly! His Chicago Cubs (51-57) have fallen from third place and 2.5 games off the pace to sixth place and 15 games out. A terrible 9-22 record did it. The Chicubs have hit well, but are severely lacking in pitching. As a team, the Chicubs have put up a strong .270 batting average, while the pitchers have a lofty 4.33 ERA. Turkey Stearnes (.336/26/86) is putting up great numbers. Bill Dahlen (.316/8/49) and Ernie Banks (.272/12/68) have produced solid stats, too. Rookie centerfielder, Cool Papa Bell (.299/5/34), has done very well, but fractured a hand and has missed all of the last month. He has been greatly missed. Manager Grimm recently inserted Tetsuharu Kawakami (.429/2/5) at first base and the Japanese rookie draftee has looked impressive in his few starts. As far as the pitching department, only Mordecai Brown (13-6 3.53) and Ed Reulbach (9-6 3.62) have done the job. Everybody else on the staff has a 4.00 or higher ERA this season. With the return of Bell and some improvement in the pitching, the Cubs might climb up to fourth place.

Suddenly the seventh place Cincinnati Reds (48-59) have regained their early season form, when the were sitting atop the National League. In the last month, they have sizzled with a 18-12 record. Good pitching has been the reason. Manager Sparky Anderson promoted Pete Donahue (8-3 4.04), Jose Rijo (6-7 3.45) and Smokey Joe Williams (4-4 3.74) to starting assignments and this has paid off. Gary Nolan (11-7 3.87) has been his ace this year. On the offensive side, Tony Perez (.249/19/80), Frank Robinson (.282/18/60) and Ted Kluszewski (.322/22/58) have been Cincy's big bats. Recently Anderson has made some changes in his lineup and platooned Gus Bell (.280/3/15) and George Foster (.284/2/11) in centerfield and it has worked out well. Like almost every team, Cincinnati needs pitching. They have the hitters. They just need somebody to occasionally get the opposing batters out. Sixth place may be the best the Redlegs can do this season.

It has been a long, long season for Danny Ozark and the Philadelphia Phillies (44-64). Last year's Cinderella club almost took the National League pennant, but this year they have been a flop. During the month they finished at 13-18 and dropped into the cellar. A 4.64 ERA and a .253 BA says it all for the Phils. Lefty O'Doul (.328/11/49) and Chuck Klein (.307/18/68) are only regulars having a good season. Last year's leaders Mike Schmidt (.194/22/56), Dick Allen (.221/2/15), Del Ennis (.259/3/17) and Richie Ashburn (.250/1/22) have been abysmal. On the good side, rookie Jiro Noguchi (10-4 3.42), Pete Alexander (10-7 3.90) and Curt Schilling (8-7 3.60) usually keep the game close. Alexander, last year NL Golden Arm winner with a 19-8 and 2.27 ERA, has not been the same pitcher. Neither has Robin Roberts (2-9 7.23), who finished up last season with a sparkling 15-8 mark and a strong 3.30 ERA. In 1901 almost everyone produced for Ozark. It was a magical year. 1902 has been the exact opposite. Looks like Philly will finish in last place this season.

See Boxscores, Standings and League Reports are here:

http://aaa.allsimbaseball.com/index....tpage&Itemid=1

04-28-2006, 11:49 PM	#432 (permalink)
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 17,079 Thanks: 100 Thanked 100x in 52 posts	ALLTIME ALLSTAR ASSOCIATION Friday, July 25, 1902 NATIONAL LEAGUE NY GIANTS HAVE HUGE LEAD IN NATIONAL...TOP BRAVES BY 8 GAMES...THIRD PLACE CARDINALS BY 11.5 GAMES...PITTSBURGH AND BROOKLYN ARE TIED FOR FOURTH, TRAIL BY 12.5 GAMES...CHICUBS ARE SIXTH, 15 BEHIND...SEVENTH PLACE CINCINNATI 17.5 BACK...AND THE PHILLIES PULL UP THE REAR, 19 GAMES BEHIND. Manager John McGraw is looking more and more like a prophet. In the preseason he went on record that his club would win both the NL championship and the Word Series, too. It looks like at least half of the prediction might come true. His Giants (66-42) won 22 of 32 contests in the last month and turn the National League pennant race into shambles. The runnerup Boston Braves are now a whopping 8 games behind. Simply put, New York has the best hitting (.279) and the best pitching (3.71) in the league. McGraw has a solid set of starters he can call on. Carl Hubbell (17-4 2.50) has been magnificent. And Christy Mathewson (11-4 3.76) and Juan Marichal (10-8 4.06) have come to life in the last month and pitched the way they did last year. Johnny Antonelli (8-4 3.15) and Jeff Tesreau (6-0) have been steady starters since being put in the pitching rotation. In the bullpen Dick Nen (2-7 4.40 13 saves) has made 46 appearances. It is hitting where the Giants really standout. Mel Ott (.318/24/81), Willie Mays (.276/14/69), Martin Dihigo (.288/19/58), Freddie Lindstrom (.286/5/51), Alvin Dark (.293/5/46), Bill Terry (.304/7/47) and Barry Bonds (306/15/40) are a very potent bunch of hitters, one of the prime reasons New York has such a big lead. Short of a complete collapse, it's looks like McGraw and Company are half way to the World Series. The Braves (58-50) went 16-15 over the past month, but lost 5.5 games to the redhot Giants. They trail now by 8 games. They are still hitting homers with a 128 total, the best in both leagues, but the pitching has gone into decline. Greg Maddux (8-7 3.56) and Lew Burdette (8-10 4.58) have seen their ERAs shoot up. However Bobby Cox has been able to depend on Warren Spahn (10-6 3.24) and Tommy Glavine (9-5 3.48). John Smoltz (7-4 3.89) has come around in the bullpen and has 7 saves. Cox will have to get more out of his other pitchers to challenge New York. But other than these three, Boston's pitchers have been woeful. The hitters are still productive with Chipper Jones (.314/22/77), Buck Leonard (.288/23/75), Eddie Mathews (.248/26/64), Tommy Holmes (.322/8/36) and Joe Torre (.302/11/42) in the forefront. The Braves need a good, long winning streak and for the Giants to go into the tank to get back into the NL title chase. The third place St. Louis Cardinals (54-53) are coming on strong again in the late season, just like they did last year, but it looks like they are only battling for second place. The first place Giants are just too far ahead. The rampaging Redbirds are 19-13 over the last 30 days and are hitting the cover off the ball, yet are 11.5 games out of first. At midseason Manager Tony Larussa went back to last year's regulars and it paid huge dividends. The Cardinal crew are now hitting .270 as a team. For most of the season, they were around the .240 mark. Heading the hit parade are Rogers Hornsby (.304/15/69), Stan Musial (.295/20/70) and Joe Medwick (.302/7/51). Johnny Mize (.290/13/44), Chick Hafey (.332/6/38), Frankie Frisch (.331/1/32) and Ozzie Smith (.272/0/23), all benched early in the season, got put back in the lineup and the club took off. Parttimer Jim Edmonds (.240/13/38) has supplied the longball on a platoon basis. As far as the mound staff, Larussa is still trying to find some stoppers. His aces are struggling. Bob Gibson (7-8 4.05), Dizzy Dean (8-8 4.02), Larry Jackson (9-7 4.04), Mort Cooper (7-11 3.81) and John Tudor 95-5 4.20) have been inconsistent this year. In the Cardinal bullpen, Todd Worrell (3-7 3.79/11 saves) has been off and on, too. Larussa is still looking for some dominant pitchers. The fourth place Pittsburgh Pirates (54-55) are a mystery. They are tied with the Giants with a .279 team batting average and are second to the them with a 3.85 ERA. Manager Danny Murtaugh doesn't understand why his team is 12.5 games off the pace and playing under .500 baseball. The Pirates are currently tied with the Brooklyn Dodgers (53-54). In the last month they have mediocre 12-16 mark. Sadaharu Oh (.311/34/101) has been outstanding in his first AAA season. Arky Vaughan (.306/6/57), Roberto Clemente (.284/10/75), Honus Wagner (.297/8/50), Paul Waner (.298/4/38) and Pie Traynor (.299/3/31) have had good seasons, too. On the hill, Murtaugh has a solid nucleus: Deacon Phillippe (11-9 3.01), Vic Willis (10-7 3.44) and Ray Kremer (9-8 3.29). But the Bucs could use one or two more consistent starters. Roy Face (5-3 2.80/8 saves) has done a fine job in the bullpen. They need one or two more starters to challenge the New York Giants. Like the Cardinals, Pittsburgh is playing for second this year. It looks like National clubs will have to wait for next year. It ain't over till it's over...but it looks like the fat lady is getting ready to sing. The Brooklyn Dodgers (53-54) have pounded the ball this year, but so has the opposition. The Bums have a .270 team batting average with 114 home runs (third in the AAA), but the pitchers have ballooned to a 4.30 ERA, one of the worst in the NL. The fourth place Dodgers are 14-17 in the last month and are 12.5 games behind the leading Giants. Manager Tommy Lasorda has many fine hitters to call on. In fact, he can't get even get a .431 hitter in the lineup. There is no room in the outfield or at first base for rookie Babe Herman (.431/1/8). Here are the guys that make the Dodgers go: Zach Wheat (.329/13/83), Gil Hodges (.260/21/74), Duke Snider (.309/23/67), Cristobel Torriente (.344/9/58) and Jackie Robinson (.293/9/35). A big plus for Lasorda has been midseason draftee, rookie Yasumitsu Toyota (.284/6/15). The young Japanese shortstop has really impressed with his power in his 28 starts so far. Lasorda also found a brilliant pitcher in his minor league system, Nap Rucker (6-0 1.04). This talented lefty has really dazzled and befuddled National League batters in his 6 starts...all wins. Brooklyn has some good talent in their mound corps, but so far this year, Sandy Koufax (9-10 4.4), Dazzy Vance (5-7 3.74) and Don Newcombe (8-12 4.24) have been disappointing. What is really puzzling?...Vance won 19 games last season. In the off season, you can be sure the Ebbets Field bunch will be scouring the minors for more Napoleon Ruckers. This year no one expects the Dodgers to finish higher than fifth. In the last month Cholly Jolly Grimm has not been so jolly! His Chicago Cubs (51-57) have fallen from third place and 2.5 games off the pace to sixth place and 15 games out. A terrible 9-22 record did it. The Chicubs have hit well, but are severely lacking in pitching. As a team, the Chicubs have put up a strong .270 batting average, while the pitchers have a lofty 4.33 ERA. Turkey Stearnes (.336/26/86) is putting up great numbers. Bill Dahlen (.316/8/49) and Ernie Banks (.272/12/68) have produced solid stats, too. Rookie centerfielder, Cool Papa Bell (.299/5/34), has done very well, but fractured a hand and has missed all of the last month. He has been greatly missed. Manager Grimm recently inserted Tetsuharu Kawakami (.429/2/5) at first base and the Japanese rookie draftee has looked impressive in his few starts. As far as the pitching department, only Mordecai Brown (13-6 3.53) and Ed Reulbach (9-6 3.62) have done the job. Everybody else on the staff has a 4.00 or higher ERA this season. With the return of Bell and some improvement in the pitching, the Cubs might climb up to fourth place. Suddenly the seventh place Cincinnati Reds (48-59) have regained their early season form, when the were sitting atop the National League. In the last month, they have sizzled with a 18-12 record. Good pitching has been the reason. Manager Sparky Anderson promoted Pete Donahue (8-3 4.04), Jose Rijo (6-7 3.45) and Smokey Joe Williams (4-4 3.74) to starting assignments and this has paid off. Gary Nolan (11-7 3.87) has been his ace this year. On the offensive side, Tony Perez (.249/19/80), Frank Robinson (.282/18/60) and Ted Kluszewski (.322/22/58) have been Cincy's big bats. Recently Anderson has made some changes in his lineup and platooned Gus Bell (.280/3/15) and George Foster (.284/2/11) in centerfield and it has worked out well. Like almost every team, Cincinnati needs pitching. They have the hitters. They just need somebody to occasionally get the opposing batters out. Sixth place may be the best the Redlegs can do this season. It has been a long, long season for Danny Ozark and the Philadelphia Phillies (44-64). Last year's Cinderella club almost took the National League pennant, but this year they have been a flop. During the month they finished at 13-18 and dropped into the cellar. A 4.64 ERA and a .253 BA says it all for the Phils. Lefty O'Doul (.328/11/49) and Chuck Klein (.307/18/68) are only regulars having a good season. Last year's leaders Mike Schmidt (.194/22/56), Dick Allen (.221/2/15), Del Ennis (.259/3/17) and Richie Ashburn (.250/1/22) have been abysmal. On the good side, rookie Jiro Noguchi (10-4 3.42), Pete Alexander (10-7 3.90) and Curt Schilling (8-7 3.60) usually keep the game close. Alexander, last year NL Golden Arm winner with a 19-8 and 2.27 ERA, has not been the same pitcher. Neither has Robin Roberts (2-9 7.23), who finished up last season with a sparkling 15-8 mark and a strong 3.30 ERA. In 1901 almost everyone produced for Ozark. It was a magical year. 1902 has been the exact opposite. Looks like Philly will finish in last place this season. See Boxscores, Standings and League Reports are here: http://aaa.allsimbaseball.com/index....tpage&Itemid=1 Last edited by Eugene Church; 04-29-2006 at 08:26 PM.