July 4, 1994                                                                 Volume 3 Issue 6

Just a quick note: This league began based on real players and their real historical stats. All embellishments about league events are about the simulation, not the actual people, and are the product of my imagination.

Standings

[Ed. Note: He's still working on it. It should be out soon or the little bugger's out on his arse.]

I'm not talking about the dirt that swirls up around a beautiful Joe Jackson hook slide, or the dirt of a Jackie Robinson leap into the hole to stop a scorching grounder, I'm talking about dirt kicked up from the back of 1972 Bluebird bus rolling down roads the government doesn't have on their maps. I spent the last 4 g*@ d%#$ weeks exploring the depths of minor league existence. My conclusion: they barely exist.

It's great for the fans who want to pay $2. That's about it.

Watching the (apply named) Terrible Twos a couple of weeks back, I saw a lame Bill Terry kick some serious butt. This man couldn't get his stick in front of a major league fastball when he was healthy, and now he's slapping the ball like it's coming from a pitching machine. Even Frank "I Believe Injuries Heal Themselves" Robinson cracked a few extra base hits without breaking a sweat.

And these wet-behind-the-ears just-finished-finals saps come in and act like cock of the walk. They've got the right to, too, some on them, throwing shutouts after posting ERAs in the 4's and 5's against kids. It's just a different brand of baseball.

Maybe it's the travel. I don't think I ever got a schedule more than a few days in advance. It seems like we sat around for weeks on end, then were hustled from place to place quicker than a Josh Gibson line drive. I watched Ernie Banks put a puzzle together for three whole days. I'm sitting there, shirt out, scratching my 3 day growth and wondering, "Am I big league reporter? Hell, am I a reporter at all?" My boredome and Coors Light induced stupor did not have an answer. I looked at my watch, the reflex of a man who has somewhere to be, and I could almost smell the ink rising off the presses as I dashed my story to the set up man. You know, I learned how to typeset so that I'd have a couple of more minutes to work a piece, to work the phones, looking for that last quote. Anything to be just an ounce better. Then Ernie realizes that the his two formations of edge pieces, top and bottom, go together. He's been looking for that last edge piece since yesterday.

Special: Aaron with the Tools

Forced to fill in at catcher, a position he hasn't played since junior varsity, Hank Aaron might force the Barristers to find a place for him with his bat. Aaron slugged 3 homers today from the #9 position to push the Barristers past the Collective 5-1 to sweep the series; the first two were line drives that left the park just after they left his bat. His third was more of a golf swing that landed a ball in the left center seats and probably went as high as it did far.

He chatted pleasantly with me after the game, but the look on his face after today's game says that his task is not done with one game, no matter how mighty the feats he performed. "I still have to prove I can hit this pitching every day," he started, "One day is good, and it's important to remind Mr. Mack of what I can do. He's a stern but fair man. He knows and I know that one game doesn't change the last couple of years, but it's a start."

Over the last couple of years Aaron has handled the tough road that isn't often covered in the media's incessant pursuit of the big names and bigger scandals. He has had a hard time staying in the line up because his average has consistently dropped since its watershed mark of .306 in 1990. He platooned with Yaz and others before winding up on the bench, and even spent part of last season in the minors. The uncertainty of his position seems to have etched its mark in the young man's otherwise placid face.

"I remember scouting him years ago," batting coach Davinda Ganesh told me later. "He wasn't much to look at at the plate, but he had some pop in his bat." In his youth, Aaron was known as a wiry slugger, his thin, vertical piece of Kentucky ash paralleling his own lanky frame in its comfortably erect stance. Though slight of build, there's no slight of hand in this man: one handshake and you feel like a child reaching for dad's huge mitt. "He's worked hard, and I'm happy for the day he had, but he's still a long way from Lou," Ganesh's voice trails off, speaking of one time Barrister Lou Gehrig.

Luck, or circumstance, are on Aaron's side. Manager Connie Mack might be more likely to make a move because his Walla Walla squad has not lived up to expectations, starting slowly and spending most of the season watching the pennant raced, saved from the cellar by the still expansion-esque Islanders. This series brings their record over .500 at home (13-11) and close to .500 for the season (3 games under). It also moves them to within 3 games of second place. Aaron, whose average soared to .280 as result of this series, hopes he figures prominently in the upcoming series at Renton. Pete Rose's .244 does not look invincible in right field, Aaron's natural position.

Leaders

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HOT
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Bill Foster (H), who went down this week against the Destroyers with an apparent back strain, remains the winningest pitcher at 9-1.

Dutch Leonard (D) continues to shine, undefeated, at 6-0. Although his ERA has crept up from 0.74 to 1.11 in the last few weeks, he has continued to win, going 3-0 in his last 4 starts. He gave up his first couple of home runs, too, but seems to have gotten past it. The man, one year away from the minors, and just three from college, lets it roll off his back. Interviewed recently, he said of his notoriety, "I don't see myself as a star in this league. I see myself as a person who goes out whenever called and does his best." The Destroyers concur; Leonard was not even in the starting rotation until the 4th week of the season.

Grover (E) continues to do well despite a lack of run support. He's gone 1-1 in his last 3 games as he lowered his ERA to a 3rd(?) best 2.52. He's only given up 3 home runs, including his first in over a month, despite playing in the lopsided confines of LA Coliseum.

Mantle bursts into tie for HRs with 4 over last 2 weeks, Teddy Ballgame also has 4 recently to join the leaders. Mantle also has the RBI lead, just barely, but Wells being overtaken by 2 as he rides the bench. Chance is back over .400, back in the lead as Bagwell slips slightly.

Turkey Stearnes holding the Frangos together, the new slugging leader will no doubt get a boost from Ruth's return this week. Gehrig takes the biggest dip, Lajoie (G) and Mantle (D) newcomers on leader board. Foxx and Cobb drop off a few lists as they don't qualify by plate appearances.

Good times for the thieves, especially Tim Raines, who has 8 stolen bases in the past 2 weeks without being nabbed. Both Jimmy Williams (I) and Paul Molitor (D) got caught for the first time, leaving no one among the qualifiers unblemished.

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Burnt Edge?
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Being constantly thrown in the fire seems to have honed the metal of a reliever for each expansion team. Alan Poole of the Islanders and Al Holland of the Jets are tied for appearances with 25 each, and both seem to be shining in relief roles that are more true to the firemen moniker than most. Both have maintained ERAs under 2, and Holland has yet to give up a dinger.

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... and NOT
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Chance and Speaker (C) are the only ones going up the OBA ladder as the season's grind gets to many. Notice the lack of lead off hitters on this list, none of the following: Joe Jackson (A, at bottom), Cobb or Henderson (B), Molitor (D), any Islander, Willie McGee (F), Joe Morgan (H).

Strikeouts do not seem to be very useful this year as Roger Clemens (5.5) and Vida Blue (4.7) lead the league in K/9 but have a combined record of 1-8. Blue might be spending some time with the Flicks 6 to get his rhythm back.

Pitching coach Sherm Lollar: "I think he's overthrowing, he's trying to strike everyone out. He sees how effective Williams is, and wants to be that. He can't be Joe Williams, he's gotta be Vida." Vida was a highly touted draft pick back in 1991, but has never been more than a hard throwing .500 pitcher. It looked like he was going somewhere in '92 when his ERA dipped to 2.70; he was the #2 man on a championship staff, but the runs rose last year, and some think he might be washed up.

A veteran scout of the league, Jane Tassaway, sums it up this way: "He was given too many innings and too much responsibility too early. 120 innings his first year, 130 his second. Vida's a guy who plays on emotion, who always seems to be reaching back for a little extra. I think that his reserve tank is empty."

Cash and Foster launched Jet hopes as they rose in the RBI race a few weeks ago, but both cooled off at the same time Kirby Puckett goes on the DL from tripping over a pitching mound. Likewise, Islander centerpiece Lou Gehrig stays put at 18.

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..HOT in a Another Way
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Ray Brown continues to be a hard luck pitcher, leading the league in BR/9, yet even at 5-5. As usual, his walk total is high, but he's kept down the evil HRs that plagued him a couple of different years in the past. The lack of run support seems to be wearing on him, as he's lost his temper a few times this year. Teammate and friend Warren Spahn puts it this way, "The man's the best pitcher in the league, no doubt. When he's on, I've seen the opposing dugout go dark in the third inning. He dominates, doesn't give 'em a chance. It's a thing to behold. But he's felt he's had to do it every time he takes the hill. Since he's become ace we've never lived up to the expectations we created in 1990. It's been a strain for him, not having much support in the rotation, and the club's kept letting people go [e.g. Mays]. He pushes himself harder than anyone I've ever seen, and I he expects the same from everyone else. You can see it when he's out there in front of the crowd, but it never stops. He's just a winner." Other teammates, those on the wrong end of his barbs, are not so charitable.

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...and Just Plain Weird
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Who wins the pool? Whoever picked Allie Reynolds to be the one pitcher to survive the first half of the season without giving up the long ball must have made a fortune. The diminutive Reynolds has needed that blessing to counterbalance the 5 walks and 5 runs a game he gives up. Who knows how many of those free passes would've scored if he'd been a meatball pitcher. "It's not something I was shooting for directly," he says, "but with that chain link fence rattling your right ear, all of us have it on our minds."

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Minors
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Ed Delahanty (7), .465, Bill Terry (4) on the mend, .412, Glen Beckert (8), coming up, .381, Ken Boyer (2), not, .377, Chet Lemon (10), .377, savior? Conigs powering (1), 6 HRs, Eric Davis (2), Rocky (9) and Dick Allen (8) 5 each, but Eric's got 5 Ks for each dinger. Conigs (1) producing 16 RBIs, Davis (2) Frank Robby (1) and Terry Kennedy (5) also. Delahanty getting on over 1/2 the time. Eric Davis only one with double figure steals.

Don Newcombe is 6-11 with a HR; Jim Kaat 5-13 with a HR; Fergie Jenkins 10-30, and 10 Ks; Rube Foster 8-33. Herb Pennock has 6 RBIs. Wally Bunker (27 AB), Johnny VanderMeer (19), and Bret Saberhagen (15) all hitless.

All Star Spillover

The entire Hayseed team seems rejuvenated after Babe Herman's heroics in the All Star game, taking 3 good games from the Destroyers. Babe Herman himself continued the torrid hitting in the first game with 3 doubles, looking like he found the groove he had earlier in the season.

Co-holder of the #3 spot this season Ted Williams did not put much stock in this motivational theory of the Hayseed's success.

"I'd say it was seeing pitches well, as it always is with hitting. Some did like I did and use the break to look at my swing on video and correct some flaws. I saw that I was squatting a little more when I was behind in the count and expecting a fastball." Williams took All Star Dutch Leonard deep to right and left on Sunday and scored the winning run, thanks to his eagle eye.

On a different note, what are the Frangos to do with their left handed starters? Herb Score and Vida Blue combine to have the top 2 highest ERAs of those who qualify. They also beat out Nolan Ryan (C) for the highest rate of long balls given up, near 2 a game.

Ruth Back!

Babe Ruth's comeback from that serious thigh bruise brings hope to other stars out. Ruth seems ready to go, though he does look a tad more stout than the last time he doned a uniform. There's been a rash of pitchers, but luckily none look serious (Bill Foster (H), Bob Gibson (C), Mike Scott (G)). Kirby Puckett, the sole light of Jet fans' eyes, runs over a bullpen mound.

• Foster, Bill Hayseeds
  7/1/94: Thought he was hurt, but looks like some stretching and he'll be OK.

• CharlestonOscar Collective
  6/23/94: He continues to run to quickly, doesn't want to wait. It's a hamstring, at least, but the strain of going full speed has brought to surface what were probably otherwise minor ailments - a few bone spurs, a sore quad. They'll probably scope the spurs tomorrow, as long as he's out. It'll be a while, but he'll be back if he can just stick to the schedule.

• MaysWillie Collective
  Wow. Tried too hard, re-tore knee. Doesn't look good at all.

• Robinson, Frank Allouets
  Wow. No new injury, but it looks like he is going to need lots of bedrest. Some insiders speculate that he has not been taking care of himself.

• CuylerKiki Barristers
  6/24/94: It's not looking good, his shoulder seems to have a more severe rotator cuff tear than previously thought. It's not a complete cut, though, so he is expected back this season.
  GibsonBob Collective
  Strained back, probably. He's got such a long motion, and he was really working hard, was getting worked over pretty good. He's such a competitor, he didn't want to come out of the game, but couldn't get himself off the trainer's table once on it.

• Scott, Mike Granolas
  Must have pulled a muscle or something - he seemed to be holding his elbow as he walked off.

• Lofton, Kenny Frangos
  7/3/94: Unfortunately, it seems to be a tear rather than a strain in the bicep...prospects don't look great. He's been going to the doctor a lot. Either he is very careful or a hypochondriac.

• KalineAl Hayseeds
  6/26/94: There's discussion about moving back wall at LA Coliseum.

• McCormick, Buck Hayseeds
  Chance dove back to first, right into McCormick's knee, just after he planted it firmly.

Game Notes

7/1/94 Granolas 1 Frangos 3	7/2/94 Granolas 6 Frangos 1	7/3/94 Granolas 4 Frangos 6
6th: Greenberg singles in run with 2 out. Rosen ties with blast to left center in 8th. Chance thrown out twice by Gabby. Carew 's drive follows the path of Rosen's to end the game.	Musial hits 2 HRs, Singer throws 4 hitter, early dinger by Stearnes only run. Lajoie gets 3 hits, squeezes in Parker.	Scott rocked hard in the first. Bad no-call by the scorer gives him 2 earned runs as Lajoie mishandles Ripken's throw, allowing Turkey Stearnes to score. Parker responded by golfing one over the LC fence in the second. Bagwell's hit stems the tide of his recent slump. Herb Score seems to brush back, or at least pitch tight to, Frank Chance in one of his bunt situations. Lajoie makes a nice play to keep the game close in the 7th, but then Al Rosen and McCovey knock in 4 runs as Joe Rogan gets truly rocked. Lots of 2 out hits get the Granolas close, and Greenberg misses tying it by going to deep center.

7/1/94 Jets 3 Egrets 6	7/2/94 Jets 3 Egrets 2	7/3/94 Jets 3 Egrets 4
Dihigo brought in to play the tricky left field wall. Campy 3-4, 2b, 3 run HR. Elliot goes yard.	Gary Carter continues to sizzle for the Jets, but it's defensive replacement Marty Dihigo's RBI single that gives the Jets the rare win over the Egrets. Viola and Holland impressive.	Puckett, moved to right to avoid the treacherous wall, nevertheless stumbles on a bullpen mound along the right field sideline, possibly an ankle, probably a knee. As for the scoring, the Jets surprised with a 1st inning rally, taking advantage of what little speed they have. Campanella continues to be clutch for the Egrets, and shoddy play (what's new?) in the Jet infield combined to put yet another game just out of the Jets' reach.

7/1/94 Islanders 5 Allouets 8	7/2/94 Islanders 2 Allouets 1	7/3/94 Islanders 2 Allouets 5
Chants of "You the man" rose from the Polo Grounds as Heinie Manush circled the bases, 2 runners ahead of him to finish the game. Since being inserted into the #3 spot a couple of weeks ago, Manush has been on an absolute tear, delivering in almost every clutch situation. It was his second of the day over the short right field fence, and capped a heroic and absurd 8-RBI game. In the fourth and fifth innings he came up with runners on, and each time errors let it in runs he was credited with. The first was an easy fly to John Stone in right, whose misplay cost dearly as the ball casually rolled toward the clubhouses a couple hundred yards away. The next time was a sharp grounder to Fox, who, doing his best Steve Sax, plain missed the first baseman. Overshadowed in all this was rookie of the year candidate Mike Piazza's blast to LC, a towering shot that perhaps equaled both of Heinie's pokes put together. The dinger was one of three off Catfish, who had been consistently effective this season in his slow ascension to ace of the Allouet staff. Manush's last swing was made easier by the fact that he was facing Alan "pseudo-closer" Poole, who did not do too much damage to his scant ERA, letting in 2 of Pop's runs, only one of his. Didn't even pick up the loss for his pathetic effort.	Today's game should have made both managers question their choice of aces for the second half of the season as former #1 man Maddux spun a sweet victory, using less than 100 pitches to still the volatile Allouet bats. He scattered seven hits, whereas Feller allowed only 5, but San Juan bunched enough of them for 2 runs.	Allouets are slow out of the gate, but crank up the machine as they explode for 5 in the 4th and 5th. Runs in the 4th came Allouet style, doubles and singles, Heinie Manush in the midst. Luke Appling uncharacteristically goes long for 2 in the 5th. Islanders cut their own rallies short with poor base running by slow players, including Evans being cut down at the plate. Eddie Murray continues to surprise with 2 doubles, one to the wall in center field. Alan Poole strong in relief - could he do it if it mattered? Probably not. Guidry goes the distance.

Your Choices

Footnotes

Lou Gehrig, ex-Barrister

Well, the Barristers always had a problem with Gehrig and Norm Cash, two firstbasemen on a team that could really have used putting one of its older stars, Rogers Hornsby, or Ty Cobb, neither of whom cared for the modern, larger mitts, into a DH position where their "preference" would not have hurt the team. So they had been trying to move Cash for some time, to no avail. He just had too many strikes against him for a 1B: he was slow and struke out a lot. But Walla Walla general manager Pete Sheehan couldn't part with a high average slugger who also walked a good deal for what he was offered, utility infielders and Gorman Thomas incarnations.

In 1992, when Gehrig and most of the league struggled, Cash managed 12 HRs and 33 RBIs, finishing 5th and 6th in the league, respectively. This disparity in performance, coupled with tight financial times, gave Sheehan the idea to let Gehrig go and keep Cash, slimming the buldge at first base and the budget at the same time.

In the back of his mind, I'm sure, Sheehan thought he might get Gehrig back on the cheap. Who would risk huge money for Gehrig's paltry stats? Had it not been an expansion year he might have been right. The San Juan Islanders chose to gamble to bring name in, and they had the cash to do it. They signed Gehrig for over $1 million and planted him in front of one of those Gorman Thomas incarnations, Kevin Mitchell.

Cash's overlooked .180 average in 1992 served as a hint of things to come. Gehrig rebounded to anchor the young lineup, hitting .308 with 13 HRs and 35 RBIs and 30 Runs Scored. Many experts credit Gehrig's stability to emergence of youngsters Clyde Milan (.343, 6th best), Ozzie Smith (.287, 87 points higher than anyone expected), Lloyd Waner (.305) and Kevin Mitchell (22 HRs, 56 RBIs, tying the all time mark for HRs in a season). Although a week 5 and 6 slide (0-10) took them out of the race, their initial efforts and the competitiveness of their games enabled them to establish strong fan support and propell them into respectability.

Cash hit around .200 with a couple of HRs