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Mattymo · 10-11-2008, 09:41 AM

1909 World Cup Participants and Preview

Pool A

Cuba

Highest finish: 2nd place in 1904
Most recent: 0-3 in pool play in 1907

Top Pitcher: *Jose Rivera (Rookie League player in Philadelphia Phillies org.)
Top Hitter: *Francisco Garcia (played in 129 games with Brooklyn Superbas in 1909)

Outlook: Cuba has two Major League players, Garcia and *Miguel Angel Costello. Unfortunately they are both catchers, so Costello doesn’t get a lot of opportunity to play. 1B *Alfredo Hernandez returns, as well as SS *German Vigueras. The pitching remains slim with Rivera joining *Manny Vazquez and *Juan Mateo as starters. All three started in the ’07 Cup.

Expectation: After performing well in the Qualifier and finishing 3-2, including a win over Canada, Cuba can erase a 7-game losing streak in the World Cup. They are stuck in Pool A with the United States, but will compete with the Netherlands for a semi-final berth.

Japan

Most Recent: Lost in Qualifying round in 1904

Top Pitcher: SP *Yoshi Murakawa (Amateur)
Top Hitter: LF *Oniji Nakamura (33 ABs w/ New York Giants in 1909)

Outlook: This club is led by major leaguers Nakamura and SS
*Rikiya Hirano (New York Giants), as well as minor leaguers RF *Sadatake Kawashima and C *Tokimasa Onishi. While they do have firepower offensively, the pitching is very young and inexperienced. Murakawa, *Terui Ikeda and *Taisuke Hamada are all amateurs, and all very young.

Expectation: The world was shocked with Japan advanced out of the Inter-Continental Qualifier. The offense is as good as anyone’s but the pitching is very poor. They’ll be lucky to get a win.

Netherlands

Top Pitcher: SP *Bjorn Berendsen (Amateur)
Top Hitter: LF *Isaak van der Dusse (.265, 15 RBI w/St. Louis Cardinals in 1909)

Outlook: Amateurs *Jonas van Veldhuizen and *Dicky Goor join Berendsen in the rotation, but all three have International experience after last year’s qualifier. Van der Dusse is a legit Major Leaguer and will have to carry the offense. Minor Leaguers 1B *Bertil Muelmeester and CF *Kenny de Jager are solid players as well.

Expectation: The Dutch team was arguably the best team in the European Qualifier last year. They could give Cuba a run for their money for advancement out of Pool A.

United States

Titles: 3 (1902-1906)
Most Recent: Lost 1907 Title Game.

Top Pitcher: SP Slow Joe Doyle (20-13, 1.80 ERA with New York Highlanders in 1909)
Top Hitter: CF Tris Speaker (.334, 79 RBI w/Boston Americans in 1909)

Outlook: The Americans arrive in Santo Domingo with a huge chip on their shoulder. They will turn to young pitchers Doyle, Elmer Steele (Boston Americans) and Jack Coombs (Philadelphia Athletics) to return the World Cup Title to the U.S. While most of their problems in 1907 were offensively, they really broke out in the NAQ of 1908, scoring 46 runs in 5 games. They bring possibly their most potent lineup yet, with Speaker, Frank Chance (Chicago Cubs) and newcomer RF Beals Becker (Pittsburgh Pirates) ready to drive in runs. Veterans Honus Wagner (Pirates) and LF Mike Donlin (New York Highlanders) will look to set the table.

Expectation: Finish undefeated and avenge their loss in 1907. It’s what these guys have worked toward.

Pool B

Canada

Highest finish: Won Title in 1907

Top Pitcher: Russ Ford (New York Highlanders AAA player)
Top Hitter: C Nig Clarke (Cleveland Indians; .261 w/24 RBI in 1909)

Outlook: Canada’s defense of its title rests in the hands of its solid, but unspectacular, pitching staff. Win Kellum (Cleveland Indians AAA) is back but is coming off a season that saw no Major League starts. Rookie Russ Ford is the new ace while Alex Hardy returns to round out the staff. Offensively, all the usual suspects are back for Canada. Nig Clarke (Cleveland Indians) missed 1907 with an injury but is back behind the plate, teaming up with Bunk Congalton (St. Louis Browns) to form a strong middle of the lineup. 1907 hero *Tom Joly is back as well. Rookie CF Bill O’Hara will bat leadoff in his first World Cup.

Expectation: Canada is the class of Pool B and should advance to the semifinals no problem. There’s no reason why they can’t do the unthinkable and win the Title yet again, but don’t count on it. However, anything less than second would be disappointing.

Dominican Republic

Highest finish: 4th place in 1902
Most recent: 0-2 in 1906

Top Pitcher: SP *Antonio Rivera (minor league in Brooklyn Superbas org.)
Top Hitter: CF *Claudio Garcia (78 ABs w/Detroit Tigers in 1909, .192 average)

Outlook: Garcia will have to lead this team as the only Major Leaguer on the roster. RF *Carlos Rodriguez and 1B *Arturo Martinez are solid players who will have to step up. The pitching is young and thin, with 21-year old *Adrian Correa and 18 year-old Jose Zamora joining Rivera in the rotation.

Expectation: After missing the World Cup twice in a row, the Dominicans return after a great comeback in the Inter-Continental Qualifier of 1908, winning their final 2 games to qualify. The main goal is to gain some experience and sneak out with a win. Don’t expect this team to advance.

England

Top Pitcher: SP *Kieron Mounfield (Amateur)
Top Hitter: 1B Dave Brain (131 ABs, 14 RBI w/Chicago White Sox in 1909)

Outlook: Brain, LF Ned Crompton (St. Louis Browns), C Al Shaw and 3B Hobe Ferris (Boston Red Sox) are all Major League caliber players and make this lineup very solid. The pitching was great in the European Qualifier in 1908 with Mounfield and *Lester Challand gaining valuable experience. 23-year old *Mason Rabjohns gets the call as the #3 starter.

Expectation: With so many good hitters, England’s window of opportunity is now. They could give Canada a run for their money in Pool B and they are expected to advance.

Germany

Top Pitcher: SP Jack Katoll (former Major Leaguer, 52 career ML wins)
Top Hitter: CF Ben Koehler (Chicago Cuba AAA player, 67 career ML hits)

Outlook: Big Jack Katoll won two games in the European Qualifier as Germany was lucky to advance. They’re going to need *Harvey Stoffler and *Hunfried Braunsteiner to step up if they have any hope of advancing. Ben Koehler anchors a lineup full of amateurs. Watch for LF *Andreas Jerratsch, he’s a solid player.

Expectation: The Germans have limited talent but a guy like Katoll could bring them a long way. Don’t expect them to advance, but don’t be surprised if they do.

10-11-2008, 09:41 AM	#37 (permalink)
Mattymo All Star Starter Join Date: May 2002 Location: Colchester, CT Posts: 1,443 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5x in 4 posts	1909 World Cup Participants and Preview Pool A Cuba Highest finish: 2nd place in 1904 Most recent: 0-3 in pool play in 1907 Top Pitcher: Jose Rivera (Rookie League player in Philadelphia Phillies org.) Top Hitter:* Francisco Garcia (played in 129 games with Brooklyn Superbas in 1909) Outlook:* Cuba has two Major League players, Garcia and Miguel Angel Costello. Unfortunately they are both catchers, so Costello doesn’t get a lot of opportunity to play. 1B Alfredo Hernandez returns, as well as SS German Vigueras. The pitching remains slim with Rivera joining Manny Vazquez and Juan Mateo as starters. All three started in the ’07 Cup. Expectation:* After performing well in the Qualifier and finishing 3-2, including a win over Canada, Cuba can erase a 7-game losing streak in the World Cup. They are stuck in Pool A with the United States, but will compete with the Netherlands for a semi-final berth. Japan Most Recent: Lost in Qualifying round in 1904 Top Pitcher: SP Yoshi Murakawa (Amateur) Top Hitter:* LF Oniji Nakamura (33 ABs w/ New York Giants in 1909) Outlook:* This club is led by major leaguers Nakamura and SS Rikiya Hirano (New York Giants), as well as minor leaguers RF Sadatake Kawashima and C Tokimasa Onishi. While they do have firepower offensively, the pitching is very young and inexperienced. Murakawa, Terui Ikeda and Taisuke Hamada are all amateurs, and all very young. Expectation:* The world was shocked with Japan advanced out of the Inter-Continental Qualifier. The offense is as good as anyone’s but the pitching is very poor. They’ll be lucky to get a win. Netherlands Top Pitcher: SP Bjorn Berendsen (Amateur) Top Hitter:* LF Isaak van der Dusse (.265, 15 RBI w/St. Louis Cardinals in 1909) Outlook:* Amateurs Jonas van Veldhuizen and Dicky Goor join Berendsen in the rotation, but all three have International experience after last year’s qualifier. Van der Dusse is a legit Major Leaguer and will have to carry the offense. Minor Leaguers 1B Bertil Muelmeester and CF Kenny de Jager are solid players as well. Expectation: The Dutch team was arguably the best team in the European Qualifier last year. They could give Cuba a run for their money for advancement out of Pool A. United States Titles: 3 (1902-1906) Most Recent: Lost 1907 Title Game. Top Pitcher: SP Slow Joe Doyle (20-13, 1.80 ERA with New York Highlanders in 1909) Top Hitter: CF Tris Speaker (.334, 79 RBI w/Boston Americans in 1909) Outlook: The Americans arrive in Santo Domingo with a huge chip on their shoulder. They will turn to young pitchers Doyle, Elmer Steele (Boston Americans) and Jack Coombs (Philadelphia Athletics) to return the World Cup Title to the U.S. While most of their problems in 1907 were offensively, they really broke out in the NAQ of 1908, scoring 46 runs in 5 games. They bring possibly their most potent lineup yet, with Speaker, Frank Chance (Chicago Cubs) and newcomer RF Beals Becker (Pittsburgh Pirates) ready to drive in runs. Veterans Honus Wagner (Pirates) and LF Mike Donlin (New York Highlanders) will look to set the table. Expectation: Finish undefeated and avenge their loss in 1907. It’s what these guys have worked toward. Pool B Canada Highest finish: Won Title in 1907 Top Pitcher: Russ Ford (New York Highlanders AAA player) Top Hitter: C Nig Clarke (Cleveland Indians; .261 w/24 RBI in 1909) Outlook: Canada’s defense of its title rests in the hands of its solid, but unspectacular, pitching staff. Win Kellum (Cleveland Indians AAA) is back but is coming off a season that saw no Major League starts. Rookie Russ Ford is the new ace while Alex Hardy returns to round out the staff. Offensively, all the usual suspects are back for Canada. Nig Clarke (Cleveland Indians) missed 1907 with an injury but is back behind the plate, teaming up with Bunk Congalton (St. Louis Browns) to form a strong middle of the lineup. 1907 hero Tom Joly is back as well. Rookie CF Bill O’Hara will bat leadoff in his first World Cup. Expectation:* Canada is the class of Pool B and should advance to the semifinals no problem. There’s no reason why they can’t do the unthinkable and win the Title yet again, but don’t count on it. However, anything less than second would be disappointing. Dominican Republic Highest finish: 4th place in 1902 Most recent: 0-2 in 1906 Top Pitcher: SP Antonio Rivera (minor league in Brooklyn Superbas org.) Top Hitter:* CF Claudio Garcia (78 ABs w/Detroit Tigers in 1909, .192 average) Outlook:* Garcia will have to lead this team as the only Major Leaguer on the roster. RF Carlos Rodriguez and 1B Arturo Martinez are solid players who will have to step up. The pitching is young and thin, with 21-year old Adrian Correa and 18 year-old Jose Zamora joining Rivera in the rotation. Expectation:* After missing the World Cup twice in a row, the Dominicans return after a great comeback in the Inter-Continental Qualifier of 1908, winning their final 2 games to qualify. The main goal is to gain some experience and sneak out with a win. Don’t expect this team to advance. England Top Pitcher: SP Kieron Mounfield (Amateur) Top Hitter:* 1B Dave Brain (131 ABs, 14 RBI w/Chicago White Sox in 1909) Outlook: Brain, LF Ned Crompton (St. Louis Browns), C Al Shaw and 3B Hobe Ferris (Boston Red Sox) are all Major League caliber players and make this lineup very solid. The pitching was great in the European Qualifier in 1908 with Mounfield and Lester Challand gaining valuable experience. 23-year old Mason Rabjohns gets the call as the #3 starter. Expectation: With so many good hitters, England’s window of opportunity is now. They could give Canada a run for their money in Pool B and they are expected to advance. Germany Top Pitcher: SP Jack Katoll (former Major Leaguer, 52 career ML wins) Top Hitter: CF Ben Koehler (Chicago Cuba AAA player, 67 career ML hits) Outlook: Big Jack Katoll won two games in the European Qualifier as Germany was lucky to advance. They’re going to need Harvey Stoffler and Hunfried Braunsteiner to step up if they have any hope of advancing. Ben Koehler anchors a lineup full of amateurs. Watch for LF Andreas Jerratsch, he’s a solid player. Expectation:* The Germans have limited talent but a guy like Katoll could bring them a long way. Don’t expect them to advance, but don’t be surprised if they do. Last edited by Mattymo; 10-11-2008 at 03:06 PM.