[Eugene Church]

ALLTIME ALLSTAR ASSOCIATION

Wednesday, April 9, 1905

NATIONAL LEAGUE

BWA SEE DOGFIGHT IN NL RACE...CARDS, CUBS, GIANTS AND DODGERS

There is no clear cut favorite in the National pennant chase this year according to the Baseball Writers of America preseason analysis. Four clubs are expected to fight it out for the 1905 league title. The scribes have given the St. Louis Cardinals a slight edge over the Chicago Cubs, New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers.

Rank Team (1904 record - Rank)

1. St. Louis Cardinals (87-67) (2nd)
2. Chicago Cubs (88-66) (1st)
3. New York Giants (82-72) (4th)
4. Brooklyn Dodgers (85-69) (3rd)
5. Boston Braves (69-85) (6th)
6. Philadelphia Phillies (73-81) (5th)
7. Pittsburgh Pirates (65-89) (8th)
8. Cincinnati Reds (67-87) (7th)

The St. Louis Cardinals are a blend of good pitching and good hitting. They are the number one choice to win the 1905 National League flag. They had the chance to win it last year, but missed several chances to win it in the last week of the season. They wilted badly, some say, choked, against the league's weak sisters, the Pirates and the Reds, and allowed the Cubs to back into the World Series against the Yankees. It seemed in the closing days of the season neither team wanted to win it.

Manager Tony Larussa has a solid ballclub with only one weakness -- in the bullpen. Otherwise he is happy with his team. Lefty Harry "The Cat" Brecheen (17-5) stepped it up last year and took over as the ace of the mound staff. He, Matt Morris (17-9), Larry Jackson (12-6) and John Tudor (14-12) form a fine nucleus to start the season. Larussa will have reliever John Worrell back from the minors and will give him a chance to nail down the closer spot. The Cards skipper said, "I think Worrell can handle the pressure better now. He did very well in the minors at Columbus and deserves a shot. We've tried Dean, Paige, Gibson...and none of them did the job. Harvey Haddix did a good job last year, except in the last week of the season." Rookie reliever Lindy McDaniel will get his opportunity in the middle innings and might move into the closer, if Worrell struggles.

Larussa bluntly added, "I'm hoping Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson and Satchel Paige can get their heads and arms straight this year. They have the talent to excell. How could Paige go from 19-6 to 4-10 in one season. He ain't hurt. I hope Gibby will revert to his rookie season form, when he went 16-8. And if Diz would start doin' instead of talkin', he would do better. I keep hearing how good he was in Houston. Well, this is St. Louis. If all of these guys lived up to their reputations, we would run away with the league title. They will be used as spot starters this year, but I'm hoping they will get regular spots in the rotation."

Next to the Cubs, the Redbirds are the second best hitting team in the National League. They hit .264 to Chicago's .268 and were second in homers, too. The Cubs outhomered them 181 to 166. St. Louis features a sweet swinging lineup of Stan "The Man" Musial (.306/35 HR), Johnny "Big Cat" Mize (.275/27 HR), Rogers Hornsby (.295/15 HR), Dobie Moore (.286/18 HR) and Jim Edmonds (.272/18 HR). Outfielder Willard Brown (.261/9 HR) impressed in the second half of the season last year and will be the starter in right field. He gives Larussa another good longball threat and an outstanding defensive outfielder.

It looks like the Cardinals are loaded again this season and may make a return trip to the World Series. They won it all in 1903 beating the Red Sox in seven games, 5 games to 2.

But the Chicago Cubs will have a lot say about who goes to the World Series, despite losing their ace, Moe Brown (19-8), for the whole season due to injury. Manager Charlie Grimm is blessed with an array of talent, mainly hitters. Turkey Stearnes (.331/45 HR), Ernie Banks (.234/37 HR) and Cool Papa Bell (.315/14 HR) bring a smile to Cholly Jolly's face. And the Cubs don't stop there -- Hack Wilson (.235/21 HR), Tetsuharu Kawakami (.308/11 HR), Billy Herman (.314/4 HR) and Bad Bill Dahlen (.286/12 HR) add even more offensive punch to the lineup. A new rookie outfielder, Riggs Stephenson, is up from Triple A. He is regarded as quite a contact hitter, but may have trouble getting playing time with the likes of Wilson and Hank Sauer ahead of him.

To make up for the devastating loss of Brown, Chicago signed free agent Rube Foster, who had a run with the New York Yankees in 1901 and 1902, going 9-6 and 1-6 in those respective seasons. Foster is a pitcher of immense talent and could fill the bill, if he can come close to his Negro League numbers. Grimm will also use journeyman Larry French and second year man Orval Overall (10-3) to try and make up for the drastic loss of Brown. French was 14-12 and 10-6 in two seasons of starting, 1902-03. Last year he was used mainly in relief and logged a 0-0 mark in 44 innings, 20 games and 4 starts. French might prove to be Grimm's "ace in the hole".

Chicago still has starters Big Ed Reulbach (13-11), Bill Lee (14-12) and Ferguson Jenkins (14-12) to anchor the pitching corps, along with relief ace, Bruce Sutter. Sutter was 11-5 with 21 saves in 77 appearances in an outstanding performance last year. Ready for middle relief is Lee Smith, who sparkled in the World Series against the Yankees. He stoodout with a 1-0 record, 5 games, 7 innings and a brilliant 1.23 ERA. Grimm thinks Smith may be ready to take an active role this year and continue his great postseason performance.

If Foster, French and Overall falter, rookie Claude Passeau and third-year man, Carlos Zambrano, might be thrown to the wolves, so to speak. If Foster, French and Overall do well -- Look out New York Yankees! The Cubs are coming back for another try!

Things are not happy at the Polo Grounds...but then again, John McGraw is not even happy when when he wins the National League championship, like he did in 1902. The Philadelphia A's spoiled his happiness that season in the World Series. And he has been grousing ever since.

Last year the Giants were only six games out of first place. All they need is one more consistent starter to go with Christy Mathewson (17-11) and Johnny Antonelli (13-8)...or more consistent hitters like Martin Dihigo (.309/28 HR). As a team New York hit for only a .251 batting average. They do hit homers (162 - 3rd), but not for average. "We lose too many close ballgames because we just don't hit anything but home runs," McGraw told the press. "I am going back and get me some guys who will get me some base hits and manufacture some runs. I'm tired of finishing third and fourth with the sluggers." This year Ross Youngs (.297/3 HR), Freddie Lindstrom (.294/1 HR) and Travis Jackson (.222/3 HR) are going to play and get me some base hits. Rookie George Burns may even crack the lineup if the big bats don't produce. I may recall Bill Terry from the minors, too. I won a pennant when he was my first baseman. He don't hit homers, but he produces runs and wins." The big bats are Barry Bonds (.262/32 HR), Mel Ott (.261/24 HR) and Willie McCovey (.258/25 HR).

On the pitching side McGraw expressed dismay with Carl Hubbell, saying, "There is no reason he and Christy shouldn't both win 20 games a year. Carl's 15-15 last year is not what I want. He was 16-10 in 1901 and 22-6 in 1902. That's what I expect from someone with his talent. And by golly, I'm gonna get it this year. I am sick and tired of losing." McGraw has some choice words for another underachiever, Juan Marichal, but they were not printable. Sufficient to say, he has higher expectations from the Dominican Dandy this season. The disgruntled Giants manager wants Marichal to pitch like he did in 1901, when he posted a 15-9 record. He was 8-6 with a dismal 4.47 ERA last year.

The Giants will try to contend this year with rookies Hal Schumacher and Fred Toney, two portsiders. McGraw will use them as spot starters and middle relief. In the closer department Robb Nen seems to be headed in the right direction after a stint in the minors last year. He was recalled late in the season and was 3-0 with 3 saves and a very impressive 2.11 ERA in 24 appearances. He will get first call on that assignment this year.

In closing, McGraw said he guaranteed New York would win the pennant in 1905.

If Christy, King Carl and the Dominican Dandy do their job on the mound, McGraw may be right...even if the big bats only hit home runs.

Brooklyn had strong starting pitching last year, finishing second to the Cubs with a 3.64 ERA. Chicago was first with a 3.62 ERA. That is what Manager Tommy Lasorda is pining his hopes on this year. The Dodgers only came up three games short in the NL race. It wouldn't take too much for them to win it all this season. Lasorda has the brilliant lefty Sandy Koufax (20-9), the Golden Arm Award winner. In fact, he has won it two years in a row. That is a great starting point. In addition he has proven pitchers in Dazzy Vance (14-12), Don Sutton (13-11) and Don Drysdale (14-15). Toss in second-year man, Claude Osteen (6-1) and Fernando Valenzuela (1-1) in the spot starters slots, and you have an excellent staff. Relievers will be the key for Brooklyn. Eric Gagne, Ron Perranoski, Burt Hooton and Kevin Brown have got to step it up a notch for the Dodgers to surpass the Redbirds, Chicubs and Giants.

The Dodgers just need to hit better. They were next-to-last in runs scored, just barely outdoing the pathetic Pittsburgh Pirates, 633 to 632. Lasorda has added power-hitting Eric Karros at first base to his lineup to go with Adrian Beltre (.280/32 HR), Jackie Robinson (.308/11 HR), Pee Wee Reese (.301/10 HR) and Mike Piazza (.269/23 HR). Lasorda indicated that he has to get more out of Duke Snider (.221/12 HR) and Cristobel Torriente (.285/9 HR). "Duke needs to get his average way up. He's not going to be a regular hitting in the low .200s and Cristobel needs to get up around .300, too. They are lucky the guys on the bench aren't hitting, too."

The Dodgers could very easily move up past the other three contenders. It wouldn't take too much to do so. All four teams are tightly bunched. They all could finish anywhere from first to fourth place in the standings.

Expected to come in fifth are the Boston Braves, managed by Bobby Cox. Pitching is his greatest need, especially relief pitching. Starters Greg Maddux (12-9), Warren Spahn (12-16) and John Smoltz (12-15) might be 20-game winners with a contending team. Kid Nichols (7-10) will be the other starter. Cox has added two rookies to his staff, Pat Jarvis and Carl Morton, both will be used as spot starters. Reliever Steve Bedrosian is back for another try and will battle Don McMahon (4-4) for the fireman's role. Lou Burdette (5-5) and Tom Glavine (7-7) will be in long relief this season.

The offensive leaders on the Braves are Chipper Jones (.280/30 HR), Buck Leonard (.281/25 HR) and Tommy Holmes (.301/14 HR). To kickstart the attack Cox will put rookie slugger Dale Murphy and vet Hank Aaron in the outfield with Holmes. Cox told reporters, "Aaron has never played the whole season to show what he can do. It's time he got the chance. This year he will get it. I'm gonna sink or swim with him this year. I think he can do it. I'm excited about the kid Murphy, too. He can hit the ball a long way and he can go get 'em in the outfield, too."

Fifth place is about the best Boston can do. The teams above them are just better and more talented than the Braves.

Manager Danny Ozark has done a fine job with the Philadelphia Phillies with two third place finishes in four years. That is remarkable considering his talent pool. The Phils strong point is their starters. Pete Alexander, one of the league's best, has a career record of 62-36 with a 3.13 ERA. He is the ace of the staff and was 16-7 last year. Steve Carlton (14-6) stepped it up last season and pitched the way Ozark thought he could. Two fine Japanese imports round out the starting rotation, Jiro Noguchi (14-10) and Ahiro Bessho (9-18). Don't let Bessho's record fool you. He lost a lot of heartbreakers. Robin Roberts (4-7) and Curt Schilling (5-9) will vie for the #5 slot in the rotation.

Philadelphia needs bullpen help. Ozark has recalled Tug McGraw from the minors to take over the closer position, saying, "Tug has the talent to do the job. He does it superbly in the minors and he can do it here, too. This year he will be my closer. I think our new rookies Ron Reed and Vicente Padilla will give us some good relief innings as well."

So goes Dick Allen (.267/27 HR), Mike Schmidt (.267/27 HR) and Chuck Klein (.262/27 HR), so goes the Phillies. This year Ozark hopes to get them some help. Gavvy Cravath will get the start in left field. He really shined in the late season last year, hitting .315 in 17 games with 7 homers and 21 RBIs. The Phils hope he picks up where he left off and picks them up this year. Fifth place may be the best Philadelphia can hope for.

But Ozark and Company have made us very wrong before.

Pittsburgh and Cincinnati will battle it out for seventh place. It is not likely either will get any higher. They just can't play with the other six clubs in the league.

The Pirates, managed by Danny Murtaugh, will beat out the Reds for seventh place in the National League standings. Pittsburgh has better pitching, led by the real fine righthander, Deacon Phillippe (9-19), who pitched quite well last season as evidenced by his 3.13 ERA, he just got no run support. The Bucs were last in hitting, batting only .247 and were last in runs scored, too. Sam Leever (10-5) and rookie Bob Friend (9-5) did very well last year. Leever was injured in August and missed the last two months. He will not come back until June or July. Other starters Bob Veale (12-13) and John Candelaria (6-17) also pitched better than records show.

Newcomers to the Pittsburgh roster are pitchers Murry Dickson and Rip Sewell. Dickson will be the #4 man in the rotation, Sewell will split starts with the veteran Vic Willis (6-11).

Murtaugh is hoping that his young Japanese slugger, Sadaharu Oh, will get back his swing and hit like he did his first two years in the league, when he hit .285 with 83 homers and 243 RBIs. Last year he tailed off miserably to .219 with just 22 home runs and only 60 RBIs. He was benched in mid-August. Ralph Kiner (.245/30 HR), Paul Waner (.303/1 HR) and Roberto Clemente (.270/12 HR) were the only shining lights in the lineup. Murtaugh is looking for a good year from shortstop Glenn Wright, who hit .285 with 5 home runs and 24 RBIs in 35 starts after being inserted into the lineup late last season.

Cincy skipper Sparky Anderson has never finished higher than seventh, ending up last twice in four years. This year it looks like last place again. Terrible pitching is the Reds main problem. The team ERA was a sky-high 4.59 last year, the worst in the National League and the worst in the Alltime Allstar Association. Anderson reported this year, "I am going with my most talented players this year. Joe Morgan (.295/5 HR) and Tony Perez are winners and make things happen. They will play the whole season at second and third base. Paul O'Neill (.299/15 HR) will also be in the right field fulltime...no more platooning."

Ted Kluszewski (.273/29 HR) was a workhorse last season with 113 RBIs. He and the NL top hitter, Ed Roush (.335/1 HR), along with Frank Robinson (.250/28 HR) were the few bright spots on the team. Roush kept Chicago's Turkey Stearnes from winning the Triple Crown by taking the batting title from him.

Newcomers to the pitching staff include two righthanders, Mario Soto and Ewell Blackwell, and a lefty, Jim O'Toole. Anderson told the press corps, "They all could be starters very soon, if my other guys don't produce. We can't continue to stay at the bottom of the league. I am desparate to find some pitching."

Pete Donahue was 16-10 last season, but sported a 5.00 ERA. Rookie Bob Purkey was the only pitcher on the staff with an ERA under 4.00. He was 5-4 with a 3.78 ERA.