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firstbigweekend · 05-10-2004, 04:43 PM

Cleveland Blues Updates — April 1901
By Chauncey St. John, AP Writer

CLEVELAND — The Blues made numerous moves before the season started, and so far none of them have paid off.

Cleveland sits at 9-19 after a month, dead last in the American League and nine games behind first-place Boston. The Blues are in the bottom half of the major leagues in every major statistical category other than home runs allowed (third). Don't let that stat fool you, though, as Cleveland is in the bottom three in every other pitching category, including dead last in both walks and runs allowed.

The Blues' hitting isn't much better. The team is ninth in batting average, 10th in runs scored, 14th in both walks and stolen bases, and next-to-last in home runs.

"I have to take full responsibility for the lack of success following my moves," Cleveland general manager Levi Chronister said. "I'd love to use the 'It's early' excuse, but it's far more than that. We have a lot of young guys who have a chance to be great in a few years, but we don't have many guys who are star in the bigs right now, and we're probably playing a few who could use a bit more time in the minors."

Only one of Chronister's preseason acquisitions is hitting above .300 — catcher Roger Bresnahan at .316. Four other newcomers (Harry Davis, Watty Lee, George Rohe and Matty McIntyre) are hitting better than .275, but leadoff man Sam Crawford is hitting just .257, though he has stolen 12 bases.

Cleveland's three new starting pitchers had rough first months with the team, especially Jerry Nops, who went 0-6 with a 7.55 ERA. Doc Newton won three games, but lost five and finished April with a 4.83 ERA. John Dunn finished 2-4 with a 4.13 ERA, the lowest among Blues starters.

Earl Moore was the lone bright spot among the starters, picking up four wins despite an ERA of 4.22. Jack Bracken (1.50 ERA) and Bill Cristall (0.96 ERA) pitched well out of the bullpen.

In other news around the league, Philadelphia Athletic's second baseman Nap Lajoie (.411, 2 HR, 31 RBI) and Pittsburgh first baseman Kitty Bransfield (.368, 0, 18) were named batters of the month. Boston's Cy Young (7-1, 3.68 ERA) and Philadelphia's Bill Duggleby (7-0, 2.00) were named pitchers of the month.

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05-10-2004, 04:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
firstbigweekend Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 42 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	Cleveland Blues Updates — April 1901 By Chauncey St. John, AP Writer CLEVELAND — The Blues made numerous moves before the season started, and so far none of them have paid off. Cleveland sits at 9-19 after a month, dead last in the American League and nine games behind first-place Boston. The Blues are in the bottom half of the major leagues in every major statistical category other than home runs allowed (third). Don't let that stat fool you, though, as Cleveland is in the bottom three in every other pitching category, including dead last in both walks and runs allowed. The Blues' hitting isn't much better. The team is ninth in batting average, 10th in runs scored, 14th in both walks and stolen bases, and next-to-last in home runs. "I have to take full responsibility for the lack of success following my moves," Cleveland general manager Levi Chronister said. "I'd love to use the 'It's early' excuse, but it's far more than that. We have a lot of young guys who have a chance to be great in a few years, but we don't have many guys who are star in the bigs right now, and we're probably playing a few who could use a bit more time in the minors." Only one of Chronister's preseason acquisitions is hitting above .300 — catcher Roger Bresnahan at .316. Four other newcomers (Harry Davis, Watty Lee, George Rohe and Matty McIntyre) are hitting better than .275, but leadoff man Sam Crawford is hitting just .257, though he has stolen 12 bases. Cleveland's three new starting pitchers had rough first months with the team, especially Jerry Nops, who went 0-6 with a 7.55 ERA. Doc Newton won three games, but lost five and finished April with a 4.83 ERA. John Dunn finished 2-4 with a 4.13 ERA, the lowest among Blues starters. Earl Moore was the lone bright spot among the starters, picking up four wins despite an ERA of 4.22. Jack Bracken (1.50 ERA) and Bill Cristall (0.96 ERA) pitched well out of the bullpen. In other news around the league, Philadelphia Athletic's second baseman Nap Lajoie (.411, 2 HR, 31 RBI) and Pittsburgh first baseman Kitty Bransfield (.368, 0, 18) were named batters of the month. Boston's Cy Young (7-1, 3.68 ERA) and Philadelphia's Bill Duggleby (7-0, 2.00) were named pitchers of the month. Click here for more league news __________________ -- Life, its beauty, is all bound up in the fact it can surprise you.