Quote:
Originally Posted by captaincarl
Gads!! The Grays just can't seem to get going but those guys in Boston are doing pretty good.
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They certainly are a snakebit franchise at this point. Of course, they still have four more seasons to get it together, but at the moment Providence looks like they'll be one of those perennially bad teams.
June 12, 1881 - Sunday Base Ball Report
Boston Red Caps 15-8
Cleveland Blues 15-9
Troy Trojans 14-9
Detroit Wolverines 14-10
Buffalo Bisons 11-13
Providence Grays 9-14
Worcester Ruby Legs 8-15
Chicago White Stockings 8-16
In a week that saw Boston star Cap Anson join his two teammates in the 1,000 hits club, the top four teams in the NL continued to separate themselves from the pack. Interestingly, each of the four teams is succeeding with a different method:
Boston is using a balanced attack. Their 150 runs scored ranks third in the National League, which is low by their standards but still very respectable. Meanwhile, their pitching has surrendered only 113 runs, second in the league. A good portion of this is due to their excellent defense.
Speaking of excellent defense, it's what is keeping the Cleveland Blues in the hunt. Cleveland is last in the league in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage, but they have allowed only 106 runs. Pitcher George Bradley would no doubt like the credit for this success, but in reality it appears to be mostly due to strong defense at basically every position.
Troy is basically using the opposite approach: they have the highest batting average and on-base percentage in the league, and are using it to make up for a relatively weak defensive unit. In addition, pitcher Pud Galvin is one of the best starters in base ball.
Finally, Detroit's success appears to be due to a lineup that is fundamentally consistent from top to bottom. Their only star is (currently injured) shortstop King Kelly, but their lineup is very good at every spot; only catcher Barney Gilligan is an easy out in the bunch.
The current league leaders:
Batting Average - .386, Levi Meyerle, Chicago White Stockings
On-Base Percentage - .408, Lip Pike, Buffalo Bisons
Slugging Percentage - .522, Lip Pike, Buffalo Bisons
OPS - .930, Lip Pike, Buffalo Bisons
Hits - 44, Levi Meyerle, Chicago White Stockings
Doubles - 9, Steve Bellan, Detroit and "Orator Jim" O'Rourke, Chicago
Triples - 5, Dude Esterbrook, Buffalo Bisons
Home Runs - 2, 5 players tied
Extra Base Hits - 12, Dude Esterbrook, Buffalo and Lip Pike, Buffalo
Total Bases - 51, Levi Meyerle, Chicago White Stockings
Runs Batted In - 23, Deacon White, Buffalo Bisons
Runs Scored - 29, Arlie Latham, Buffalo Bisons
Stolen Bases - 6, Cap Anson, Boston Red Caps
Walks - 12, Jimmy Wood, Troy Trojans
Strikeouts - 18, John Morrill, Boston Red Caps
RC/27 - 8.46, Lip Pike, Buffalo Bisons
ISO - .209, Dude Esterbrook, Buffalo Bisons
VORP (Batting) - 10.3, Levi Meyerle, Chicago White Stockings
Earned Run Average - 1.13, Terry Larkin, Boston Red Caps
Wins - 10, Pud Galvin, Troy Trojans
Losses - 11, Bobby Mitchell, Worcester Ruby Legs
Saves - 2, John "Lefty" McMullin, Chicago White Stockings
Innings Pitched - 140, Pud Galvin, Troy Trojans
Shutouts - 2, George Bradley, Cleveland Blues
Walks - 33, George Bradley, Cleveland Blues
Strikeouts - 68, Larry Corcoran, Chicago White Stockings
H/9IP - 6.75, Terry Larkin, Boston Red Caps
HR/9IP - 0.00, 7 players tied
BB/9IP - 0.75, Terry Larkin, Boston Red Caps
K/9IP - 5.66, Harry Salisbury, Troy Trojans
K/BB Ratio - 4.14, George Derby, Detroit Wolverines
Opp. Avg. - .186, Terry Larkin, Boston Red Caps
WHIP - 0.83, Terry Larkin, Boston Red Caps
VORP (Pitching) - 29.7, Tommy Bond, Detroit Wolverines