OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

firstbigweekend · 05-15-2004, 06:28 PM

Cleveland Blues Update — Aug./Sept./Oct. 1903
By Chauncey St. John, Associated Press

CLEVELAND — The Broncos entered the final two months of the season trying to knock last year's dramatic plunge in the standings completely out of their heads.

Cleveland succeeded in dramatic fashion, winning the American League with a 98-64 record, 11 games ahead of both New York and St. Louis.

"This team has made me incredibly proud," general manager Levi Chronister said. "They proved that last year's flop was a one-time event by bearing down and showing the league what they're truly capable of."

Cleveland's magic number was 20 going into September, but the Broncos cut it to six within a week, and seven days later they had dropped it all the way to five by winning nine of their first 11 games that month.

Fittingly, Cleveland clinched the AL title Sept. 14 with a 5-1 win over Boston (A), last year's AL champion.

The Bronco's league-champion season resulted in an increase of nearly 600,000 fans, as the team finished with a total attendance of 2,973,439, best in the American League and third best in baseball.

Cleveland will face Philadelphia (N) in the World Series beginning Sept. 4 in Cleveland. The Phillies, who won the first-ever World Series, led the National League with a record of 94-68, two games better than Pittsburgh.

Individual Achievements
• Rookie starter Mordecai Brown was named AL player of the week (2-0, 1.00 ERA, 1 five-hit SHO of Washington on Aug. 8, 2 CG) on Aug. 9.
• Mike Donlin was named AL player of the week (.520, 2 HR, 5 RBI) on Aug. 23.
• Frank Chance set a team record with 62 steals.
• George Mullin set the team record for walks allowed (117).
• Jeffrey Schank set the AL season record for homers (23).
• Brown set and American League record for rookie wins (27, which was also a team record for wins).
• Other team records included hits (198, Crawford); RBI (97, Crawford); walks (100, Topsy Hartsel); hitting streak (19, Crawford); strikeouts thrown (118, Wicker; also tops in American League).

In other news: Cleveland signed Chance to a four-year extension worth $5,261,000 a year Aug. 30. The Broncos tried to begin discussions with Harry Davis, but he wanted to test the market after being unhappy with his playing time.

Team hitting numbers/places: batting average (.279, 4th); home runs (57, 1st); walks (422, 2nd); stolen bases (420, 1st); runs (833, 1st).

Team pitching numbers/places: ERA (3.51, 11th); opponents average (.261, 5th); homers allowed (33, 7th); walks allowed (379, 13th); runs allowed (704, 10th).

Top 10s hitting: average (Crawford, .323, 3rd; Donlin, .319, 6th); HR (Hartsel, 9, T-5th) RBI (Crawford, 97, 6th; Schank, 92, 10th); runs (Schank, 101, 4th; Crawford 99, 5th); OPS (Donlin, .807, 4th); Schank, .781, 9th; Jimmy Williams, .779, 10th).

Top 10s pitching: wins (Wicker, 26, T-2nd; Mullin, 23, T-7th); strkeouts (Brown, 109, 3rd; Mullin, 82, 9th); opponents average (Gibson, .245, 3rd; Mullin, .256, T-7th; Wicker, .257, 9th); opponents OBP (Wicker, .294, 5th; Gibson, .307, 10th); opponents SLG (Wicker, .327, 5th; Mullin, .329, 7th)

In the minors: Robert "Black Hole" Hettinger was promoted to Double-A Akron on Aug. 23. Hettinger was 12-12 with a 3.94 ERA in 24 starts at Kinston, where he struck out 208 batters and walked just 61 in 192 IP. With the Aeros, Hettinger was 1-0 with a 5.63 ERA in one start, but he did strikeout 14 batters in eight innings.

Jake Dunleavy was demoted from Buffalo to Akron on Sept. 6 after hitting .252/.299/.409 with the Bisons. After a nice showing with the Aeros, he was promoted back to the Bisons three weeks later.

It was another year of ridiculous offensive numbers in the top two levels of the minors, as you can see by the following numbers:
Buffalo — Walter Sarratt (.347/.415/.971, 99 HR, 181 RBI), Julius Jefferson (.304/.370/.782, 75 HR, 141 RBI), and Gregory Vaughn (.349/.400/.721, 66 HR, 115 RBI).
Akron — Bill Morell (.362/.432/1.017, 103 HR, 186 RBI), Oliver Nyquist (.328/.385/.956, 107 HR, 188 RBI), Reed Sherrer (.353/.450/.858, 78 HR, 133 RBI), John Daniels (.358/.431/.802, 77 HR, 161 RBI, 28 SB in leadoff spot), Ralph Frisbie (.325/.401/.915, 96 HR, 162 RBI)

Buffalo finished 82-56, two games behind Boston; Akron finished 94-44, 16 games ahead of Chicago; and Kinston finished 76-62, seven games behind New York and Boston.

Cleveland's minor leagues dropped to next to last in ranks, but far ahead of last-place Washington. Only three Broncos prospects (C Reid Goza, 2B Mark Johnson and Dunleavy) were ranked in top 65.

"We're not too worried about the minor-league rankings," Chronister said. "Most of our top young talent is already in Cleveland. Besides, with the numbers some of our guys are putting up, especially in Buffalo and Akron, we're having no problems getting fans to come to games."

AROUND THE LEAGUE
Boston (N)'s Togie Pittinger one-hit Philadelphia (N) on Aug. 5 in a 4-0 Beaneaters victory.

Philadelphia (N)'s Clarence Currie shutout Brooklyn on two hits Aug. 16.

New York (N)'s Roger Denzer one-hit Boston (N) on Aug. 30, and blanked the Beaneaters with a two-hitter Sept. 26.

Just a day after Denzer's first shutout of the month, teammate Oscar Jones one-hit Boston (N).

New York (A)'s Joe McGinnity shutout Detroit on two hits Sept. 9.

August batters of the month: Washington's Sam Dugan (.369, .385 OBP, 15 RBI) and Philadelphia (N)'s Harry Wolverton (.320, 22 RBI).

August pitchers of the month: Philadelphia (A)'s Wish Egan (6-0, 1.65 ERA) and Philadelphia (N)'s Clarence Currie (5-0, 0.75 ERA, 1 SHO).

September batters of the month: New York (A)'s Bill Keister (.414, .453 OBP, 18 RBI) and Pittsburgh's Claude Ritchey (.367, 3 HR, 21 RBI).

September pitchers of the month: New York (A)'s Harry Howell (5-2, 1.89) and St. Louis (N)'s Jesse Tannehill (5-1, 1.02).

05-15-2004, 06:28 PM	#26 (permalink)
firstbigweekend Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 43 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	Cleveland Blues Update — Aug./Sept./Oct. 1903 By Chauncey St. John, Associated Press CLEVELAND — The Broncos entered the final two months of the season trying to knock last year's dramatic plunge in the standings completely out of their heads. Cleveland succeeded in dramatic fashion, winning the American League with a 98-64 record, 11 games ahead of both New York and St. Louis. "This team has made me incredibly proud," general manager Levi Chronister said. "They proved that last year's flop was a one-time event by bearing down and showing the league what they're truly capable of." Cleveland's magic number was 20 going into September, but the Broncos cut it to six within a week, and seven days later they had dropped it all the way to five by winning nine of their first 11 games that month. Fittingly, Cleveland clinched the AL title Sept. 14 with a 5-1 win over Boston (A), last year's AL champion. The Bronco's league-champion season resulted in an increase of nearly 600,000 fans, as the team finished with a total attendance of 2,973,439, best in the American League and third best in baseball. Cleveland will face Philadelphia (N) in the World Series beginning Sept. 4 in Cleveland. The Phillies, who won the first-ever World Series, led the National League with a record of 94-68, two games better than Pittsburgh. Individual Achievements • Rookie starter Mordecai Brown was named AL player of the week (2-0, 1.00 ERA, 1 five-hit SHO of Washington on Aug. 8, 2 CG) on Aug. 9. • Mike Donlin was named AL player of the week (.520, 2 HR, 5 RBI) on Aug. 23. • Frank Chance set a team record with 62 steals. • George Mullin set the team record for walks allowed (117). • Jeffrey Schank set the AL season record for homers (23). • Brown set and American League record for rookie wins (27, which was also a team record for wins). • Other team records included hits (198, Crawford); RBI (97, Crawford); walks (100, Topsy Hartsel); hitting streak (19, Crawford); strikeouts thrown (118, Wicker; also tops in American League). In other news: Cleveland signed Chance to a four-year extension worth $5,261,000 a year Aug. 30. The Broncos tried to begin discussions with Harry Davis, but he wanted to test the market after being unhappy with his playing time. Team hitting numbers/places: batting average (.279, 4th); home runs (57, 1st); walks (422, 2nd); stolen bases (420, 1st); runs (833, 1st). Team pitching numbers/places: ERA (3.51, 11th); opponents average (.261, 5th); homers allowed (33, 7th); walks allowed (379, 13th); runs allowed (704, 10th). Top 10s hitting: average (Crawford, .323, 3rd; Donlin, .319, 6th); HR (Hartsel, 9, T-5th) RBI (Crawford, 97, 6th; Schank, 92, 10th); runs (Schank, 101, 4th; Crawford 99, 5th); OPS (Donlin, .807, 4th); Schank, .781, 9th; Jimmy Williams, .779, 10th). Top 10s pitching: wins (Wicker, 26, T-2nd; Mullin, 23, T-7th); strkeouts (Brown, 109, 3rd; Mullin, 82, 9th); opponents average (Gibson, .245, 3rd; Mullin, .256, T-7th; Wicker, .257, 9th); opponents OBP (Wicker, .294, 5th; Gibson, .307, 10th); opponents SLG (Wicker, .327, 5th; Mullin, .329, 7th) In the minors: Robert "Black Hole" Hettinger was promoted to Double-A Akron on Aug. 23. Hettinger was 12-12 with a 3.94 ERA in 24 starts at Kinston, where he struck out 208 batters and walked just 61 in 192 IP. With the Aeros, Hettinger was 1-0 with a 5.63 ERA in one start, but he did strikeout 14 batters in eight innings. Jake Dunleavy was demoted from Buffalo to Akron on Sept. 6 after hitting .252/.299/.409 with the Bisons. After a nice showing with the Aeros, he was promoted back to the Bisons three weeks later. It was another year of ridiculous offensive numbers in the top two levels of the minors, as you can see by the following numbers: Buffalo — Walter Sarratt (.347/.415/.971, 99 HR, 181 RBI), Julius Jefferson (.304/.370/.782, 75 HR, 141 RBI), and Gregory Vaughn (.349/.400/.721, 66 HR, 115 RBI). Akron — Bill Morell (.362/.432/1.017, 103 HR, 186 RBI), Oliver Nyquist (.328/.385/.956, 107 HR, 188 RBI), Reed Sherrer (.353/.450/.858, 78 HR, 133 RBI), John Daniels (.358/.431/.802, 77 HR, 161 RBI, 28 SB in leadoff spot), Ralph Frisbie (.325/.401/.915, 96 HR, 162 RBI) Buffalo finished 82-56, two games behind Boston; Akron finished 94-44, 16 games ahead of Chicago; and Kinston finished 76-62, seven games behind New York and Boston. Cleveland's minor leagues dropped to next to last in ranks, but far ahead of last-place Washington. Only three Broncos prospects (C Reid Goza, 2B Mark Johnson and Dunleavy) were ranked in top 65. "We're not too worried about the minor-league rankings," Chronister said. "Most of our top young talent is already in Cleveland. Besides, with the numbers some of our guys are putting up, especially in Buffalo and Akron, we're having no problems getting fans to come to games." AROUND THE LEAGUE Boston (N)'s Togie Pittinger one-hit Philadelphia (N) on Aug. 5 in a 4-0 Beaneaters victory. Philadelphia (N)'s Clarence Currie shutout Brooklyn on two hits Aug. 16. New York (N)'s Roger Denzer one-hit Boston (N) on Aug. 30, and blanked the Beaneaters with a two-hitter Sept. 26. Just a day after Denzer's first shutout of the month, teammate Oscar Jones one-hit Boston (N). New York (A)'s Joe McGinnity shutout Detroit on two hits Sept. 9. August batters of the month: Washington's Sam Dugan (.369, .385 OBP, 15 RBI) and Philadelphia (N)'s Harry Wolverton (.320, 22 RBI). August pitchers of the month: Philadelphia (A)'s Wish Egan (6-0, 1.65 ERA) and Philadelphia (N)'s Clarence Currie (5-0, 0.75 ERA, 1 SHO). September batters of the month: New York (A)'s Bill Keister (.414, .453 OBP, 18 RBI) and Pittsburgh's Claude Ritchey (.367, 3 HR, 21 RBI). September pitchers of the month: New York (A)'s Harry Howell (5-2, 1.89) and St. Louis (N)'s Jesse Tannehill (5-1, 1.02). __________________ -- Life, its beauty, is all bound up in the fact it can surprise you.