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It took five years, but Leicestershire will play meaningful October games here in 1925!
After winning the 1920 Midlands division title and advancing to the League Test, the Foxes spent the next four seasons around .500. 1924 was a disaster, with the Foxes finishing in last place.
But after a couple years or good drafts, as well as a blockbuster trade that brought George Brett and Dummy Taylor to Leicestershire, the Foxes hovered around the playoffs until mid-July, when a slew of trades improved the squad enough for a two-plus month run. What resulted was Leicestershire's second division title, edging out Warwickshire.
It appears that the Foxes will face off with the Kent Spitfires, the runner-up in the Coastal division.
On a personal note, this will be a bittersweet series for me as the Foxes take on my hometown team of Kent. It is one I will watch from the stands and not the pressbox, as I have resigned from the "Leicestershire Times." I hear a young scholar named Wystan Auden will be taking my place. Good luck to him. After my success with "Come Hither," I am off to expand on my poetry and prose. Thank you to all that read my work these past six years!
Leicestershire has pulled off a pair of trades this week in an attempt to strengthen their starting rotation.
The Foxes, looking for their first playoff berth since 1920, picked up a solid fourth or fifth starter in Victor Starffin and a nice two or three starter in Tim McNamara. The McNamara trade is still pending, contingent on his physical.
Starffin, who came over from Somerset cost the Foxes a net $2000 and disappointing shortstop Tony Phillips. Phillips hit .221 in two-plus seasons in Leicestershire. McNamara is set to be acquired for this year's second and fourth round picks plus an $1100 transfer fee.
Rumor has it that talks are ongoing with a number of clubs to help bolster Leicestershire's offense as well.
"We're pulling out all the stops this year," said GM Steve Harrell. "It's been years since we played October baseball, and we're going to pull out all the stops to assure our fans some playoff ball this year."
Two key parts to the Foxes' 33-30 start have been pitcher Dummy Taylor and 3B George Brett, both of whom came over in a trade with Clontarf this past winter. Taylor won May's Bowler of the Month award, while Brett leads the British League with a .384 average.
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For the first time since the birth of the HNBA the Northamptonshire Steelbacks will not play in the Test matches. The Steelbacks finished with a winning record at 84-78, but could not garner enough wins for a Wild Card slot. It was a disappointing season overall, but lets look both the Best and Worst of 1925.
BEST MOVE
Drafting Chick Stahl in the 1st round of the 1924 Amateur Draft. Stahl won Rookie of the Month honors in July, and was simply a force throughout the season.
WORST MOVE
Armando Marsans playing CF from the start of the season until the end of June. It hurt the lineup, the pitching, and the W column.
BEST STAT
46-34, the Northants home record.. The Northants always dominate at County Ground, and this season was no different.
WORST STAT
8-20 in June. June was the month that destroyed the Northants season the abysmal month is something Jack McKeon would love to forget.
BEST GAME
Juan Pizarro’s one-hit shutout of the Worcestershire Royals on August 10th, 1925. 11k’s no walk in a 4-0 win.
WORST GAME
An 8-0 loss to the Sussex Sharks on August 23, 1925. Sloppy Thurston throws a 4 hit shutout with 4 K’s and only 1 walk. This while giving up 4 unearned runs in the game.
MOST IMPRESSIVE PLAYER
Juan Pizarro was lights out all season long. There wasn’t a finer pitcher in the HNBA in 1925. A sub 2.00 ERA and 307 K’s. If he builds on this he could be devastating in 1926. Easily one of the finest pitching seasons in HNBA history.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER
Bob Watson has simply failed to recapture his early success for the Northants. After a stellar 1920 and respectable 1921 he has dropped off every season for the Northants.
MAJOR MILESTONES
Babe Ruth- 100th win.
Juan Pizarro- 1500 K’s.
Jimmy McAleer- 1000 hits.
Cupid Childs- 500 RS and 200 SB.
Today the Northaptonshire Steelbacks defeated the Middlesex Crusaders 4-1. The win keeps the Northants in the British League playoff picture. The win also marks a milestone for Northants' Bowler Babe Ruth who reached 100 career wins in the HNBA.
Ruth began the season like most of the Northants having a down year. He has picked it up along with the rest of the Northants since July began. Ruth has defered to Juan Pizarro this season as Ace of the staff, but in his career, as Ruth goes so go the Northants.
For his career Ruth has a record of 100-52 with an ERA 2.54. His career Whip is 1.17, and has 890 Ks to 515 BBs. Ruth is by far one of the quintessential Northants already in his career. Only time will tell how good he can be in the grander scheme.
One month ago they were sitting in the cellar, and pronounced dead by the commissioner of the Home Nations Baseball Association. Now the Northamptonshire Steelbacks sit one game out of playoff position. How did they do it?
The Northants simply refocused the team by changing a losing strategy. Coming into the 1925 season, the team was overly focused on finding offensive help for the pitching staff. The pitching staff suffered without the top notch defensive help of past seasons. Three major in house changes were made and committed to by Jack McKeon that improvrd the offense anyhow.
The team began 1925 with Jimmy McAleer not patroling CF for the first time in their history. Armando Marsans was handed CF with the hope that his bat would be a significant improvement over McAleer's -0.4 VORP in 1924. Marsans never found the handle in CF and never found his stroke. McAleer has responded to being re-inserted with a .766 OPS in July. His 2.25 range factor & perfect Fielding % in CF dwarfs Marsans' 1.75 and .983.
Armando Marsans time in the starting lineup was not over however. Bob Watson's bat has never regained the magic of his early time with the Northants. His glove was replaced with Marsans' at 1B. The improvement defensively was immediate, but Marsans has also responded with a .788 OPS in July, perhaps putting a nail in the coffin of Bob Watson as a Northant.
Finally, Bobby Reeves waited patiently after losing the starting SS job to Alan Trammel in the Spring. He watched as Dario Lodigiani struggled at the plate. Reeves was soon inserted for his superior glove at 3B. Reeves has been sensational at 3B and his bat has come to life. In July Reeves sports a .802 OPS.
The Northants are blessed to have cured most of their woes in house. They may still make moves at the deadline, but any move would be a luxury to the team playing the best baseball in the HNBA right now.
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Yorkshire (Times)- The never ending Shakesparean tragedy that is the Yorkshire squad added another act yesterday after embattled GM Sam Saunders refused to take any blame for his team's performance of late, turning the blame and his undying rage on the players.
Leaving aside the fact that many believe Saunders has no reason to be angry considering he is clearly the only man on the British Isles so daft as to consider his unit a legitimate contender, the outburst has sent shockwaves through the Phoenix community.
That Yorkshire is a contender or a
pretender is up for debate, what is not up for debate is the Phoenix
must be the most inconsistent baseball team in all the western world.
After a typically mediocre start, Yorkshire rallied to win 9 of their
next 10.
Then lost 7 of 8
Then won 5 of 6
Then lost 6 of 7, including a current 5 game losing streak.
Are there plenty of reasons for the inconsistency? Surely- a lousy bullpen, mediocre starting pithing, inconsistent defense and slow starts by Al Rosen and Minnie Minoso, who both tend to treat the first two months of the year in a very lax manner, are culprits.
At least that's what the rational fan would tell you- Saunders has other ideas.
"This is young team. I'm aware of that, I built it for the love of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I didn't even expect us to hit our stride until next year. But after challenging for the Wild Card into late September last year, I thought we could keep it going. Boy was I wrong. I have never seen a less focused group of players in my life. Who does Minoso think he is? That huge contract he got in arbitration was bad enough because it was so undeserved, but I thought at the very least it would give him some added maturity, maybe he'd want to try to live up to it. Again, boy, was I wrong! I stuck my neck out for that guy, traded away the farm for him- this is the thanks I get?"
Saunders was just getting started. "I don't mean to single out Minnie- Al Rosen, Gorman Thomas, every guy who's played at second base all year, all the bullpen guys (except for George Knight)- GARBAGE! I'd take all their uniforms away, but the owner won't let me. I'd trade them all, but who would want such crappy players? It's time to take some pride in performance around here and earn the wildly overpaid salaries being paid out every week. This division is not that great- the GM's in Derby and Worcestershire have the intellect of pre-school children and WE CAN'T WIN TWO GAMES IN A ROW????"
It was at this point Saunders grabbed his silver tray with his afternoon tea & crumpets, picked it up and slammed it against the wall, storming out of the room in the process. Comment from the coaches and players was not immediately available.
Will Saunders' tirade have an effect? Probably not, it has been well known for some time that most of the players find him to be a grandstanding phony who is too quick to lay the blame on everyone but himself. It appears the players in Yorkshire will have to find their motivation to improve elsewhere, before their season falls apart.
After years of hitting focus in drafts (former #1's RF Bobby Abreu, 2B Ed Delahanty, and LF Albert Belle), the Whalers 1924 was all about pitching, pitching, pitching
Drafted SP K. Nichols in the 1924
first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick 1, 1st overall Pick).
Drafted SP D. McBride in the 1924 first-year player draft (Round 1,
Pick 9, 9th overall Pick).
Drafted LF T. BESSHO in the 1924 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick
20, 20th overall Pick).
Drafted MR J. Britt in the 1924 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick
22, 22nd overall Pick).
Drafted MR E. Dugan in the 1924 first-year player draft (Round 2, Pick
1, 25th overall Pick).
Drafted MR B. Beck in the 1924 first-year player draft (Round 2, Pick
24, 48th overall Pick).
Drafted 1B R. Simon in the 1924 first-year player draft (Round 3, Pick
1, 49th overall Pick).
Drafted MR B. Smith in the 1924 first-year player draft (Round 4, Pick
1, 73rd overall Pick).
Drafted MR W. Davis in the 1924 first-year player draft (Round 5, Pick
1, 97th overall Pick).
Drafted MR H. Macpherson in the 1924 first-year player draft (Round 6,
Pick 1, 121st overall Pick).
Drafted CF D. Coleman in the 1924 first-year player draft (Round 7,
Pick 1, 145th overall Pick).
Nichols was the easy pick #1 overall, sliding into the Buckie ace spot in the rotation. He should be an anchor for years to come.
After watching McBride fall and fall and fall in the top 10, we finally managed to trade for the #9 overall pick, at the steep price of Buckie's 1925 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round draft picks. thingy will be our #2 SP, but is a legitimate 2nd ace.
Japanese sensation OF / P Takehiko Bessho fell to us at #20 overall, and we were thrilled to snag him there. He should improve mightily over the years.
At #22 overall, with our 4th selection of round 1, we took 15 year old MR Jim Britt. A 15 year old pitching in the majors, rumor has it he will be closing games in 1925. "He's too young to have any idea what pressure is. Throw him in the fire".
With the opening pick of round 2, we shored up our pen with another stellar reliever, in Ed Dugan.
Boom Boom Beck was taken with the final pick of round 2, and will slot into our #4 SP role behind veteran Bryn Smith.
1B Randall Simon was chosen to open round 3, and will provide a solid bat off the bench.
4th and 5th round pitchers B. Smith and W. Davis are long term developmental projects.
Clontarf’s loyal cranks finally were rewarded in 1925 with the team’s first World Test triumph. Despite winning a club-record 107 matches, the Bulls finished the County season trailing their divisional nemesis and three-time World Test champions, the Hamphire Hawks, by two games. Unlike previous seasons, however, the Bulls saved their best play for the Test season.
The Bulls opened their Test campaign with a 3-0 sweep of the Limavady Greyhounds. That was followed by a 4-1 drubbing of the Hawks, then a sweep of the Warwickshire Bears in four straight matches in the World Test. The Hawks won the first match of the series, but then the Bulls closed out the Test campaign with eight consecutive triumphs. Clontarf’s bowlers were dominant over that eight-match win streak, conceding a total of just 10 runs.
Many of the lads put in outstanding performances for Clontarf in 1925, but all were dwarfed by the slugging of Albert Pujols. During the County season, Pujols, the team’s key off-season acquisition, tallied 56 four-balls, a single-season HNBA record, and drove in 150 runs. He capped that record by winning the Medallion of the Tested with his seven four-ball, 18 RBI tally over 12 Test matches.
Gavvy Cravath (19/93/.311) had a career season batting in front of Pujols. Darren Daulton followed consecutive seasons in which he hit 24 boundaries in 1923 and 1924 with 25 four-balls in 1925.
Led by Pujols’s record-setting performance, the Bulls took full advantage of cozy Castle Grounds, clubbing an HNBA-leading 162 four-balls. Their bowlers were as stingy as the batters were prolific, limiting the opposition to just 41 boundaries.
The team’s rebuilt attack lowered its ERA from 3.01 in 1924 to an HNBA-best 2.52 in 1925. Joe Shaute again led the staff in wins, following up his 23-7 2.53 rookie season with a 21-4 2.38 mark in 1925. Veteran opener Art Nehf turned in another solid season, registering a 17-10 2.93 mark, and Dave Black, acquired with Pujols to replace Dummy Taylor, chipped in with a 16-7 2.43 record.
Charlie Guth, who replaced Tom Henke on the eve of Opening Day as closing bowler, tallied 31 saves with a 1.74 ERA. Unlike his predecessor, who was maddeningly prone to giving up crucial four-balls in the final over, Guth did not allow a single boundary the entire season.
Perhaps the biggest difference-maker, however, was opener Russ Ford, who was acquired early in the County season for colt Sloppy Thurston. Ford finished the County season with a 17-8 2.08 record, then went 3-0 1.04 in the Tests.
The 2nd IX also tasted success in 1925. After three consecutive second-place finishes, the reserves topped the Queen’s Competition in wins in 1925 and reached the Queen’s Cup, where they were defeated by the Hampshire Hawks' 2nd IX.
Openers Limb McKenry (14-3 2.81), Lou Polchow (13-7 2.58) and Jim Wright (13-7 3.54) were ably supported by closing bowler John Allen, who tallied 28 saves with a 1.59 ERA. (Allen, who has an aggregate 16-9 record with 84 saves and a 1.68 ERA over fours seasons closing for the 2nd IX, must be wondering if the selectors will ever call him up from reserve grade.) The batting was led by CF Jason Ellison (11/53/.298) (who must also be wondering if he will ever stick with the 1st IX) and C Mark Bailey, who returned to Clontarf in reserve grade and belted a team-leading 26 boundaries.
The Clontarf Bulls confirmed today that they have parted ways with fan favorite Tom (the Terminator) Henke. The Bulls shipped Henke to Middlesex for the Crusaders' 1926 first round draft choice and minor league SP Fred Frankhouse. The Bulls included $75,000 cash in the deal, offsetting the transfer fee paid by the Crusaders and covering most of Henke's salary in 1925.
The dominant Henke had been troubled periodically by the long ball during his stay in Clontarf and the club concluded that he was not an ideal fit for the cozy dimensions of Castle Grounds. Charlie Guth, acquired on transfer from Somerset, is currently on the DL with back spasms, but is slated to assume the closer's role when he recovers. In the meantime, rookie southpaw Jesse Baker will be handed the ball in the 9th inning.
Bulls GM Charles (Seawolf) Wolfson said, "First round draft choices are hard to come by. Once we reached a consensus to make a change at the closer position, we were pleased that we were able to acquire one. We wish Tom and the Crusaders every success, but nevertheless hope that the pick we acquired will net the Bulls a top prospect in 1926."
The Clontarf Bulls and Hampshire Hawks are two winningest franchises in the HNBA over the Association’s first half-decade, with identical aggregate County records of 505-305 .623. However, that similarity has not carried over to the Test season, with Hampshire having appeared in four World Tests, including wins in the last three, while Clontarf has yet to reach the World Test, and has been eliminated three times in the Pool matches. The question being asked by Bulls cranks is: has the team found a way to carry County success into the Test season in 1925?
The biggest change by far for the Bulls in 1925 is the addition of 1B Albert Pujols. With 1924 midseason acquisition Randy Jackson now the full-time 3B, and the keystone combo of Eddie Joost and Juan Samuel, the Bulls man the circle with superlative fielders and batsmen capable of boosting the team’s league-leading four-ball total even higher.
In the deep, the Bulls return their crack outfield of Gavvy Cravath, Happy Felsch and Rich Becker. Cravath particularly looks primed for a big season in 1925. Darren Daulton and Tommy Clarke again will share the wicket keeping, with Clarke slated to see extra duty against the running Hawks.
There has been substantial turnover in the attack, after the team ERA increased from a Celtic-best 2.52 in 1923 to 3.01 in 1924. First round draft choice Sloppy Thurston and trade acquisition Dave Black joining outstanding 1924 colt Joe Shaute, Art Nehf and Johnny Enzmann as openers. New relief bowlers are Charlie Guth, acquired on transfer from Somerset for Nick Strincevich; Jesse Baker, selected in the first year player draft; and Don Schwall, signed as a free agent after having been released by Buckie.
Clontarf completed spring training healthy and with an HNBA equal-best 17-7 record, but there were troubling signs. Celtic rivals Lurgan (17-7) and Hampshire (16-8) played equally well, and each won both games they played against the Bulls. Tom Henke was troubled by the four-ball, blowing two saves in the final over, leading to speculation that Charlie Guth could assume closer’s duties.
Following three consecutive 2nd IX second place finishes, the Bulls have assembled a solid 2nd IX for 1925. The attack is led by holdover SP’s Jim Wright and Lou Polchow and CL John Allen, along with trade acquisition SP Emilio Palmero, free agent MR Jeff Wallace and colt MR Glenn Leibhardt. The lineup includes switch-hitting 2B Jimmy Smith, acquired on transfer for last year’s colt 1B Jack Burns; colt 3B Eddie Kazak; free agent C and original Bull Mark Bailey, 1B Felipe Crespo and OF’s Walton Cruise and Grover Gilmore; and returning fielding specialists CF Jason Ellison and SS Lennie Merullo.
After selling out cozy Castle Grounds in 1924, the club added 700 seats to the ladies’ grandstand for 1925. With the club’s finances secure, it is still looking for opportunities to strengthen the 1st IX for a run in 1925 at a World Test appearance.
After the Bulls fell short of reaching the World Test for the fifth time in five HNBA seasons, management set about looking for ways to push the team to the next level, and hope they found one, named Pujols.
Clontarf's big moves came before the 1924 first year player draft, trading 2nd IX 2B Don Blasingame and MR Eddie Watt for George Brett, then packaging Brett with Dummy Taylor to land Albert Pujols along with swingman Dave Black.
Successive scouting downgrades saw two members of the 1924 Bulls staff - Ben Harris and Bill Morrisette - outrighted at season's end to the 2nd IX. Black was acquired to replace Harris in the 5th spot in the rotation, but with Taylor and Watt traded away, and Morrisette written off, the Bulls entered the draft with a big hole to fill in the rotation and a bullpen in need of rebuilding.
Mission accomplished. The Bulls snared Sloppy Thurston with their first round choice (no. 15 overall); traded Charlie Pick for the Pheonix's 2nd round choice, with which they drafted southpaw reliever Jesse Baker; and then used their own 2nd round choice for righty reliever Glenn Leibhardt.
Clontarf's cranks practically sold out cozy 13,000 seat Castle Grounds in 1924, leading to the addition of 700 seats for the 1925 season. And the front office continues to look for opportunities to strengthen the roster and plan for the future, with rumors that top young catcher Tommy Clarke and closer Tom Henke both have been offered to other clubs for players and/or 1st round draft picks in 1925.
With flash 1924 rookies 1B Jack Burns promoted to the big club in midseason and 2B Don Blasingame traded away, the front office also will be looking to strengthen its 2nd IX over the rest of the offseason.
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HAMPSHIRE (Times) - For the first time in four years, the Hawks are not going to be competing in the World Test. Despite the best record in the HNBA for the second straight year, the Hawks were humbled by the Clontarf Bulls.
"You have to give the Bulls all the credit", stated Sir William. "Their bowlers simply overpowered us. We hit a league best .281 all season and were held to .190 in the Test matches. You won't win games hitting .190!"
In reference to the two blown leads, Sir William seemed less concerned.
"Certainly in tight matches there are a couple of key situations that you would like to be different. I'm sure the lads are upset having let the team down. But in the larger perspective, you simply must look at the complete lack of offense as the main reason for the defeat. As the adage goes, 'Good pitching stops good hitting.' That was certainly the case for us".
So what's next?
"It will be be business as usual. You are not going to make major changes to a squad that won 109 games. We will be looking to upgrade in areas. We will try to stregthen our 2nd-IX squad. Salary negotiations will play an important part of it as well. We hope to get Sam Rice back by mid-season and we expect to win the World Test next year. The supporters would expect nothing less."
HAMPSHIRE (Times) - As we prepare for the 1925 season, we thought we would sit down with the gaffer of the three time defending World test champions, Sir William, to see what he sees as the Hawks chances this season.
Sir William, last year you set an HNBA record with 112 wins and carried on to your third consecutive World Test Cup. What do you see you chances for 1925.
1924 was a record setting year for the Hampshire Hawks. Despite our success we continued to look to improve the squad in 1925 and I believe we have achieved that objective.
First of all, with the exception of Jack Tobin who should return after the break, we have our entire offense back. Our team batting average was .291, the best in league history. We set a new league mark with 337 stolen bases. That was 150 better than the next best team. We were second in the league in runs scored. So I am confident that this team will put a lot of pressure on opposing defences.
But the real improvement has been our bowlers. We are extremely deep with quality here. I expect there should be some very spirited competitions during the spring. We could see as many as five new faces on the staff, which means some pretty good talent, may not make the squad.
We have three bowlers who have won "Bowler of the Year" awards. Jack Taylor is a two time winner of the Celtic Bowler of the Year Award. Glendon Rusch won the award last year. Also last year, Lefty Stewart won the Lakes Bowler of the year award. It will be hard to leave him on the 2nd-IX squad as there is little left for him to prove there. The acquisition we are most excited about is Josh Towers from Lancashire. Josh was third last year in quality stats ratio at 78%. He has also been among the 10 top WHIP leaders all four years he's pitched in the HNBA. He has led the HNBA 3 of the 4 years in walks allowed per 9 innings. He has a chance to be special for us.
When you add to the mix, Joe Coleman who in the last two years is 33-10 and then last year's rookies, Carlos Hernandez (20-9), who led the league in strikeouts, strikeouts per 9 innings and hits allowed per nine innings, 2nd in the league in WHIP, John Halama, 11-5, 2.70 ERA and Kris Wilson, who was 5-2, 2.81 in a brief call up. There just isn't enough innings to have all the players in our rotation.
And the substitutes bench is just as competitive. We normally don't put drafted players in our first team squad, but Bruce Sutter looks to be so dominating, that Barney Schultz, our closer for the past 2 years, may be moved to set up. Mike Trombley and Joe Roa also had great seasons in the 2nd-IX squad, and could well make this year's first team.
We have been looking to move some of this quality, but the transfer market has been quiet of late. I would not rule out moves later in the spring however. We won a record 112 matches last year. While the increase in competitive balance will probably preclude our improving on that number, I do believe a fourth consecutive World Test Cup is achievable.
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The Somerset Sabres have lost 9 of their last 10 games, including the last 6 straight. This is leading into the toughest stretch of their season schedule as they spend most of August on the road. There are rumblings about too many injuries and potential over-engineering of the roster by the GM.
It seems unfathomable that the with the acquisition of a premier relivier like Trevor Hoffman, we'd lose 3 straight 1-run games to Buckie which include 2 blown saves and a 3rd straight poor start by re-acquisition, SP Pink Hawley who now has 3 starts totalling 10 innings and giving up 20 hits and 18 runs.
A closed door meeting of the players and coaches resulted in several immediate outcomes.
1) Pink Hawley was sent to the minors to work out his delivery kink and hopefully get back on track. The red hot, Sergio Mitre, was recalled to take his rotation spot. Mitre was 7-0 in 7 starts in the 2nd IX with a 1.80 ERA.
2) Somerset will use a set lineup and won't be juggling players up and down the lineup position. Buck Freeman is the starting 1B, and we'll keep 2 platoons LF (Chavez/Kittle) and 2B (Cora/Kibbie).
3) Trevor Hoffman will take over the closer spot and Ron Taylor will grab the set-up role. With Rhodes now out for the season, Stan Baumgartner has been called up to handle lefty duties out of the pen.
We'll be looking to get back on the winning side of the standings and not blow our wild card lead as we tackle 2 more at home vs. Lancashire and then travel to Lurgan for 3.
The Somerset Sabres had lofty expectations for the 1925 season and they appear to be on the right track to meeting them despite some serious injury issues this season.
Our Sabres currently sit at 54-34, the third best record in all of the HNBA, which in the very competetive Celtic division leaves us 6 games out of first and 1 game out of 2nd.
We came into the season with Dan Driessen out until the all-star break (he plays his first game of 1925 tonight against the rival Hampshire Hawks). We then lost young phenom LF Sherry Magee who was displaying both the offense and defense that drove Somerset to go out and get him in 1924. Add to that injuries to CF George Gore, RF Ike Boone, CF John Cooney, SP Sergio Mitre, RP Nick Strinevich, and we feel like we overcame some tough obstacles thus far.
Biggest surprises of 1925:
1) Who is Alex Voss?
Alex Voss was acquired in a pre-season trade along with Greg Mathews
from Worchestershire for C Brent mayne and SS Ramon Martinez. Voss had
reputation for having a live arm and came to camp with a shot at making
the bullpen. He had an up and down spring, but showed the abililty to
throw a high number of pitches. After the spring, he asked management
to give him a shot as a starter. He struggled in his first start and
was sent back to the pen, but with an injury to Mitre and a poor
performance from Darrell May, he got another shot as he threw 5 shutout
innings against Hampshire and never looked back. He's now started 18
games with a WHIP of 1.03 and an ERA of 2.05. Many on the team argue
that Voss has become our #1 starter.
2) The Castoff named Jack Knott:
Management put in a waiver claim for former Yorkshire starter, Jack
Knott, without reading the fine print that he was on irrevocable
waivers and would thus also need to stay on our HNBA roster. Whoops!
Although Knott had posted a 2.06 WHIP and 7.00+ ERA for Yorkshire in
1925, we gave him a shot and WOW, did he deliver. Knott has started 11
games for Somerset to the tune of a 6-5 record, a 3.07 ERA, and 1.20
WHIP. He has yet to go less than 7 innings and he gave up 2 runs or
less in his first 4 starts.
3) Is Killebrew ready for the big
time?:
First round pick, Harmon Killebrew, batted .106 in the spring, but led
the team in HR (3) and RBIs (10) and since nobody else stood out, he
was thrown into the fire and became the starting 3B-man for the Sabres.
He's fared much better than anticipated; while his average stands only
at .247, his OBP is .391 and he has cranked 16 HRs with 62 RBIs as the
Sabres' cleanup hitter, earning an all-star spot in his rookie year. I
think we've found thirdbaseman.
4) Offensive Outfield:
While not a total suprise as we expected that Sherry Magee, George
Gore, and Ike Boone, would be the core of our offense in 1925, we
didn't expect the injuries and to still be able to produce the way we
have (leading the Celtic league in runs scored). Ike Boone leads many
of the Celtic batting categories as he has shown that there is no
sophmore slump for him. He's hitting .397 (.470 OBP) with 7 HR, 61
RBIs, and 49 runs scored. Gore has been putting up gaudy numbers as
well, as he's posted a .338 average and .411 OBP with 54 runs scored.
Magee was hitting .395 after 10 games before he went down for the
season and the Sabres went and acquired veteran Jim Kelly to man LF.
Kelly brougt a great glove and apparently has been borrowing Boone and
Gore's bats as he has hit .314 with a .378 OBP while leading off,
stealing 20 bases, and scoring 43 runs in 65 games.
Disappointments:
With a season like this, there haven't been too many disappointments
outside of the injuries.
1) Will Chapman ever come around?:
Ray Chapman was expected to finally live up to the hype, but even in
the league leading offense of the Sabres, he has still only hit .255
with a .356 OBP and has stolen only 11 bases while getting caught 7
times. He has reputation for a phenomenal glove at SS (10 rating), but
he is near the bottom of the league in range factor.
2nd Half:
We start the 2nd half with a 4 game series in Somerset against our division leading foes, the Hampshire Hawks. We know both teams will be coming to play.
Pink Hawley will be joining the team and will slot in as the 4th or 5th starter as we hope his 2nd tour of duty in Somerset is more productive.
The Sabres will be tested by the schedule makers as they play 8 games at home and 20 on the road in August. The upside is that the balance is flipped in September/October as we play 9 on the road and 22 at home to finish the season.
The lineup will look different in the 2nd half as Dan Driessen takes over the job at 1B, sending Wes Parker to the bench, and Endy Chavez joins as a versatile back up OF (Langerhans will be sent to minors).
We'll see how the 2nd half plays out, but Sabres fans are crossing their fingers that things hold up and that there may be some postseason magic in Somerset!
The Somerset Sabres had a roller coaster ride in 1924, but look to bounce back in 1925. Expectations are temperate, but there is definitely a possibility of a competitive season in 1925 as we transition for a potential breakout in 1926.
A few recent trades and a strong draft have changed the shape of the Sabres.
With John Mayberry dealt late last year and Dan Driessen tearing his ankle ligaments (with an early July return predicted), Wes Parker and Wally Pipp have been brought in to compete with Roberto Petagine and Johnny Cooney for the first base job. Parker would seem to have the early edge with his bat while Pipp appears to be a better defensive option.
Outside of SS Ray Chapman (who reported have said is having a great offseason and is working into the best shape of his career, while dedicated to improving his offensive numbers from the prior years), the rest of the infield is a question mark. Bill Hall was dealt to Middlesex, thus paving the way for some pure competition for the starting 2B and 3B jobs. #4 overall pick, Harmon Killebrew will likely spend a year or two in the minors before taking the 3B job, but could surprise and expedite that move depending on his spring performance. More likely is 2nd round pick, Dave Cash nabbing the starting 2B job and gloveman, Bob Ferguson grabbing the 3B job. Other possibilities would include utility men Eric Yelding or Ramon Martinez making a strong showing in the spring to grab a starting spot.
The outfield is all but set with Magee, Gore, and Boone well entrenched in their starting positions from left to right. Johnny Cooney and Ernie Koy sport strong bats and equally strong gloves and will back up defensively and provide solid options off the bench (although one could be dealt in the offseason if the right deal comes along).
At catcher, the veteran, Charlie Bennett will continue to start and provide sparkling defense to combine with his rapidly improving offense. We expect to see a .300+ hitter behind the plate this season and the next few to come. Competition to back Bennet up will come from Brent Mayne, Tom Wilson, and recent draftee Yank Robinson.
The pitching staff sports an incredibly strong (but crowded) bullpen with Enrique Romo, Harry Salisbury, Charlie Guth, Ron Taylor, Darrell May, and Arthur Rhodes. Andy Dunning and Will Ohman will compete for a spot as well. It is also possible that one of the veterans (Guth, Romo, Taylor) may be traded prior to the season as we can't have 3-4 closers on the team.
When looking at the rotation, it is also incredibly crowded, especially with the new addition of young veteran Victor Starffin to the mix. Holdovers, Cliff Lee, Dustin Hermanson, and Sergio Mitre are all but assured of starting spots, but the last spot will likely be determined through a strong competition from Dennis Rasmussen, rookie Socks Seibold, Wade Blasingame, Dan Smith, or others.
Our pitching pipeline (starting and relief) is incredibly deep and thus any teams searching for help may want to pick up the phone and place a call to Someset.
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