Brooklyn Nets: Into the Bubble

From the desk of: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

SEASON RESTART

WELCOME BACK

FRIDAY

Magic   128

Nets      118

FINAL

With just eight games left in order to bring this wacky 2019-2020 regular season to its long overdue conclusion, Brooklyn enters Friday's reopening game sporting a sub par 30-34 record, good enough for seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.  Playing in their first official game since March 10th, the Nets lose by ten against the Orlando Magic.  Thus, they fall to 30-35 and essentially trade places with Orlando, whom now occupy seventh place, and the Nets eighth, six full games ahead of the Washington Wizards.  This now leaves Brooklyn with just seven games with which to defend their standing, and achieve back-to-back playoff appearances.

THE GAME:

I, like many others, am starting anew my familiarization with new head coach Jacque Vaughn.  I still wonder why the front office parted with Kenny Atkinson.  But the difference in floor style is measurably noticeable.  Friday evening, at least, the Nets seize on more mid-range opportunities as they present themselves rather than insisting on three's or bulling through jam packed paint.  Although, their interior size is still a problem.  It's not like Orlando kills them on boards - because they do not - just a mild 39-42 discrepancy.  However, of the Magic's 42 boards, 36 come on the defensive end, i.e., limited second shot opportunities for Brooklyn.  If anyone wrecked Brooklyn on the boards it was Aaron Gordon with a game high eleven.  Otherwise, ball distribution is relatively even.  But despite four more possessions, Brooklyn is 48.4% from the field, versus 52.9% for Orlando.  Thirteen Nets players clock at least ten minutes which is to be expected.  The unexpected comes in the form of Brooklyn's Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who with 24-points ties Orlando's Evan Fournier for game high.  Caris LeVert scores 17-points in 28-minutes with a game high seven assists.  Jarrett Allen and Joe Harris chip in 14-points apiece.

Everyone understands this team is still very far away from the one we still anticipate to come.  But they restart this season compromised as all hell.  Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are understood.  But the Nets are forced to press forward minus Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince, DeAndre Jordan, Wilson Chandler, and on Friday Jamal Crawford was likewise unavailable.

The million dollar question is: how far can/will Caris Levert and Jarrett Allen carry the Nets?  Caris LeVert is a burgeoning star, which I believe he's about to confirm to all.  Otherwise, into the bubble they go.

#WeGoHard

100 Years Ago Today 7/31/1920: Brooklyn Robins Defeat Cardinals in Series Opener

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #99: Saturday, July 31, 1920 - BR
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Brooklyn Holds Their Ground With Defeat of Cardinals

The Ebbets Field scoreboard keepers on Saturday are pressed into early action and stay busy throughout day.  The Robins build a 5-1 lead through the third.  When the Redbirds counter with three tallies in the sixth, the Brooks erupt for a pair of runs in the seventh, and another pair in the eighth en route to a 9-5 victory.  Starter Jeff Pfeffer surrenders four runs on eight hits and two walks, with five strikeouts through six innings of work.  He evens his record at 8-8 with a 2.98 ERA.  Sherry Smith allows a run on two hits and no walks over three innings in relief of Pfeffer.  Smith earns his third save of the season.  St. Louis yields three unearned runs.  Otherwise, Pete Kilduff and Rowdy Elliott both drive in two runs apiece, and Hi Myers and Ed Konetchy drive home one run each.  Cardinals second baseman extraordinaire Rogers Hornsby goes 4 for 4 with a double, two runs scored, and a run batted in.  Brooklyn gains no ground, though, as the Cincinnati Reds defeat the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds.

• RECORD: 56-42 (.571)
• First Place; 0.5 GA

N.Y. Mets: One of These Starters is Not Like the Others

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

One of these performances just wasn't the same...

With Jacob deGrom's second start of the season underway against the Red Sox at Boston, the Mets starting rotation officially begins its next go-around.

First Time Around:

• Game One vs. ATL: Jacob degrom throws 72 pitch gem through five scoreless innings of one-hit ball, with eight  strikeouts.

• Game Two vs. ATL: Steven Matz throws 93 pitches through six innings, while limiting the Braves to one run on just two hits, with one walk and seven strikeouts.

• Game Three vs. ATL: Rick Porcello does not make it out of the third.  He yields seven runs (six earned) on seven hits, with three walks, before manager Luis Rojas summons relief.

• Game Four vs. BOS: Michael Wacha faces twenty batters, allows one run on just five hits and one walk, with five strikeouts.  Unlike deGrom and Matz whom exit to no-decisions, Wacha earns his first victory of the season.

• Game Five vs. BOS: With injuries to Noah Syndergaard and Marcus Stroman, Dave Peterson is a victim of baptismal by fire.  The Mets 24-year old first round (20th overall) draft pick makes his major league debut on Tuesday.  He responds with two earned runs allowed on seven hits and just two walks, with three strikeouts over 5.2 innings pitched, to earn first major league victory.

All told the rotation's first five starters allow fourteen earned runs, on twenty-two hits and nine walks, with 23 strikeouts, through twenty innings pitched.  That equates to a 3.87 ERA, and 1.551 WHIP, and an average of four innings per start.

But we well realizes these stats are skewed because of what occurred on Sunday.  In truth there is no escaping that out of the aforementioned five starters, one respective performances didn't turn out like the others - one of those five starts just isn't the same (.. if that reference doesn't trigger a childhood memory, then too bad for you).  But the point remains: after a disappointing first start with the Mets, Rick Porcello will soon feel the heat of having all eyes beaming upon him.

100 Years Ago Today 7/30/1920: Cincinnati Reds Upend First Place Robins at Ebbets Field

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

EBBETS FIELD TURNSTILE

ROBINS EXPERIENCING RECORD SETTING TURNOUTS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS
1920 National league Champions

Game #98: Friday, July 30, 1920 - BR
Cincinnati Reds vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Reds Roll Robins in Series Finale; Take Three of Four at Ebbets Field and Close to Within Half-Game of First

The Reds make it crystal clear throughout the Borough just who the defending world champions are, with a methodical double-digit drubbing of the Robins in front a crowd upwards of 8,000 in attendance at Ebbets Field.  With Friday's victory Cincinnati takes the series from Brooklyn three games to one, and leave town back to within one-half game of first place.  After opening the scoring in the third, the Reds erupt for six runs in the fourth, then continue pouring it on throughout the later innings en route to an 11-0 whitewashing of the league leading Brooklyn Robins, whom suddenly appear under serious threat.  The Reds offer no quarter to starter Al Mamaux, and relievers Rube Marquard, and Clarence Mitchell; none escape unscathed.  Al Mamaux falls to 7-7 for the season with a modest 2.47 earned run average.  Reds right-hander Hod Eller stymies the Robins allowing just six scattered hits and three walks in a complete game shutout effort.  With two hits each, Ivy Olson and Hi Myers account two thirds of Brooklyn's hits.  The Robins are 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.  Cincinnati star Edd Roush is 3 for 4 with two runs scored and a run batted in, and  former long time Brooklyn Robin Jake Daubert goes 2 for 5 against his former team with a triple and two runs batted in.  The Reds muster sixteen hits in all.  Tomorrow the Robins welcome to town the sixth place St. Louis Cardinals, whom most recently suffer a four game sweep at the hands of the surging New York Giants at the Polo Grounds.  Meanwhile with a 47-44 record, and a 17-9 record to date in July, the Giants have supplanted the Pittsburgh Pirates in third place, and have quietly creeped 5.5 games behind the Robins.

• RECORD: 55-42 (.567)
• First Place; 0.5 GA 

N.Y. Mets: Tip of the Cap to Dave Peterson

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

DO WE HAVE A NEW HURLER OF THE METROPOLIS?

Well done!  Well done, indeed.

Dave Peterson, the Mets first round selection (20th overall) of the 2017 amateur draft, on Tuesday makes his major league debut against the Red Sox at Boston's Fenway Park.  All it took was 46 minor league appearances, during which he posts a 3.63 ERA through 247.0 innings pitched, before being summoned to the show.  In 2018 he splits the season between Port St. Lucie and Columbia.  Last year he spends the entire season with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies where he posts a 4.19 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 116.0 innings pitched.  That said, with no triple-A experience, here he is.  Staked to an early 3-0 cushion, the 24-year old rookie southpaw faces 23 batters, throws 78 pitches, with 46 (59%) going for strikes, and averages roughly 15 pitches per inning.  For the night Peterson yields two earned runs on seven hits and two walks, with a trio of strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched.  I was pleased he lasted five innings, and rather happy he walked back out for the sixth.

Once again, well done, rook.  Congratulations on your first start, and your first ever major league victory.  He joins Michael Wacha in turning in a somewhat surprisingly effective performance at Fenway.

The Mets are 2-0 at Boston.

Thanks guys.

100 Years Ago Today 7/29/1920: Second Place Reds Outlast Brooklyn Robins

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #97: Thursday, July 29, 1920 - BR
Cincinnati Reds vs, Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Dolf Luque Outlasts Leon Cadore; Brooklyn Wilts in Ninth

Those resilient Reds, leave it up to the defending champs for snatching victory from seemingly certain defeat.  A late inning surge is just enough to get them passed Brooklyn for the second time in three games.  Zack Wheat's first inning triple and run batted in is promptly negated in the second inning by Reds right fielder Greasy Neale's two out base hit and run batted in.  The Robins and Reds once again trade runs, the Robins in the sixth on a Hi Myer's sac-fly scoring Tommy Griffith, and the Reds in the seventh on left fielder Pat Duncan's base hit scoring Jake Daubert.  This game ultimately gains resolution in the ninth.  With starter Leon Cadore still hurling for Brooklyn, Duncan strokes a one out triple, and scores on a Larry Kopf sac-fly to center field.  Reds starter Dolf Luque in the bottom of the ninth retires the Robins in order to close out his seventh victory for the season.  Leon Cadore, making his 19th start of the season, allows three runs, two earned, on eight hits and a walk, with one strikeout.  With the loss he falls to 7-9 with a 2.38 ERA.  The four game series concludes tomorrow.

• RECORD: 55-41 (.572)
• First Place; 1.5 GA

100 Years Ago Today 7/28/1920; Brooklyn Robins Even Series Against Reds at Ebbets Field

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #96: Wednesday, July 28, 1920 - BR
Cincinnati Reds vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Burleigh Grimes Whitewashes Defending Champs

Brooklyn counters Tuesday's opening defeat agains Reds with a strong performance both at the plate and on the mound in game two.  Burleigh Grimes gets the bats going with a one out double in the third, and scores on a hit to right from Ivy Olson, who winds up on third after a throwing error by catcher Ivey Wingo.  Jimmy Johnson follows with a hit that drives home Olson for a 2-0 Robins lead.  Brooklyn then erupts against Reds starter Jimmy Ring in the fifth with four runs on six hits, including triples by Pete Kilduff and Ivy Olson.  The Robins finally get their fill with three more runs in the seventh.  Burleigh Grimes, once again coming to his own aid, singles and drives in the Robins seventh run.  Jimmy Johnston drives in two more runs for a 9-0 final margin of victory.  The top of the Robins line-up is too much for Cincinnati to handle.  Lead-off batter Ivy Olson is 3 for 4 with three runs batted in; Jimmy Johnston is 2 for 5 also with three runs batted in; and batting third, Tommy Griffith drives in one.  Otto Miller with two hits also drives in his 19th run of the season.  With a bat in his hand Burleigh Grimes goes 3 for 4 with a double, three runs scored, and a run batted in.  In fact, Grimes is now batting .354 for the season, with thirteen runs batted in.  On the mound, Grimes hurls a gem too hot for Cincinnati to handle.  He allows just five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in a nine inning whitewashing of the defending champs.  Grimes improves to 15-6 with a 2.11 earned run average.  Elsewhere, the New York Giants defeat the Cardinals in extra innings at Sportsman's Park, and thus finally graduate into the first division with a modest 45-44 record.

• RECORD: 55-40 (.578)
• First Place; 2.5 GA

100 Years Ago Today 7/27/1920: Cincinnati Reds Invade Ebbets Field

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champion

Game #95: Tuesday, July 27, 1920 - BR
Cincinnati Reds vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Reds Route Rube Marquard; Brooklyn Lead Down to 1.5 Games

The mid-summer battle for first place is at hand.  Cincinnati, the defending champions, strike first and advance to victory in game one at Ebbets Field.  The Reds promptly plate three runs in the first inning, all unearned after Ivy Olson's failure to properly handle Jake Daubert's grounder to the left side.  Edd Roush plates a run and Larry Kopf plates two.  Cincinnati pours it on during the middle innings en route to an 8-3 final score.  Starter Rube Marquard allows seven runs, four earned, on seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts in only five innings pitched.  He incurs his fifth loss of the season against seven wins with a growing 3.34 ERA.  Getting a spot start in right field Bernie Neis is 1 for 4 with a triple and two runs batted in.  Ed Konetchy drives in his 41st run for the season.  A 19-game winner last season for the Reds, starter Dutch Ruether allows three earned runs on eleven hits and four walks with three strikeouts.  He improves to 16-7 with a 2.05 earned run average.  With Tuesday's opening victory the Reds close to within 1.5 games of the Robins.

• RECORD: 54-40 (.531)
• First Place; 1.5 GAs

N.Y. Mets: Sunday Night Blech Ball

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

THREE GAMES DOWN ~ FIFTY-SEVEN TO GO

WEEKEND OPENING SERIES REVIEW

I - STARTING PITCHING

Jacob deGrom opens the 2020 season with a gem.  Alas, his first start of the season only lasts five innings.  Luis Rojas sends in the relief corps after just 72 pitches.  However, I do not begrudge the freshman manager (better safe than sorry) as deGrom had in recent days experienced a small measure of back discomfort.  Otherwise, deGrom throws five scoreless innings of one-hit ball, with one walk and eight strikeouts.

On Saturday Steven Mats looks every bit like the mature 29-year old craftsman Mets fans have been hoping for.  The rotation, the team, needs him more than ever.  If the Mets are to achieve post-season contention, much less success, then Steven Matz - not Marcus Stroman - must step up alongside Jacob deGrom to form a formidable one-two punch.  Matz throws 98 pitches with 58 (62%) going for strikes.  He allows just one run on a mere two hits with one walk and seven strikeouts over six innings pitched.  But like deGrom, he exits to a no decision.

Atlanta takes out all their frustrations against Rick Porcello on Sunday.  The Mets off-season acquisition fails to make it out of the third inning, allowing seven runs (six earned), on seven hits and three walks in only two innings pitched.

I wrote this three days ago:

I'm hopeful Rick Porcello will pitch effectively but I'm only somewhat confident he will.  I like Rick Porcello, I really do.  I'm (also) a Red Sox fan since the mid 1970's.  Back then outside of the World Series inter-league play is nonexistent.  Having a favorite American League team is a non-issue.  And the answer to your next question .. NO .. I was in no way conflicted in 1986, for I am an orange/blue bleeding Mets fan.  Back to the matter at hand: I have a lot of respect for Rick's body of work with Boston.  The man exuded cool, calm, and clutch.  I'm just not sure that success follows him to Flushing.  His best seasons are 2014 when he posts a 3.43 ERA and 1.231 WHiP, and his Cy Young award winning 2016 campaign when posts a league best 22-4 record, with a 3.15 ERA, and fine 1.001 WHiP.   But that's six and four years ago respectively.  Outside of a 3.96 ERA during his rookie season, at no other time during his eleven year career does his season ERA dip below four.  He also has yielded more hits than innings pitched in two of his last three seasons.  Essentially what Mets fans need most from Rick Porcello is a classic baseball comeback season.  To his credit he is a mature, poised, intelligent 30-year old craftsman.  If anyone can bounce back, he can.  However, anything resembling his last three seasons with Boston simply will not do.

II - THE BULLPEN

With regards to Edwin Diaz, I already made my opinion quite clear. 

At some point Luis Rojas (although we all know BVW won't have it..) needs to rethink the ninth inning.  Diaz has proven wholly ineffective given ninth inning responsibilities.  His resume since becoming a Met speaks for itself.  Rojas must open the ninth inning to other members of his bullpen, or continue being victimized by Edwin's 5.37 ERA and 1.379 WHiP in just 60 innings since his arrival in Flushing.

Through three games, the bullpen can be separated into two lists: the Good & the Bad.

• GOOD:  Seth Lugo; Jeurys Familia; Justin Wilson;Dellin betances; Drew Smith.
• BAD:  Edwin Diaz; Hunter Strickland; Corey Oswalt; Paul Sewald.

In three games against the Braves, the bullpen yields ten runs on sixteen hits and three walks, with sixteen strikeouts through twelve innings pitched.  With a 7.50 ERA, strikeouts mean nothing to me -not after witnessing so many hurlers through the years pitch to contact all the way to Cooperstown and the baseball Hall of Fame.


III - AT THE PLATE

The Braves out-hit the Mets by a 28-20 margin; they outscore the Mets by a troublesome 19-5 margin.  As a team the Mets are 21 for 98 for a .214 batting average.  They make Atlanta's triumvirate of Mike Soroka, Max Fried, and Sean Newcombe, look like the 1970 Baltimore Orioles rotation.  Twice they are limited to a single run.

*          *          *

Everything is fine on Friday.  Come Saturday in the ninth inning the continental plates beneath Queens shake and quake.  By Sunday a Flushing Bay tsunami inundates Citi Field.

Time to get on a bus and head to Boston.

The Good, Bad, and Ugly, of Opening Day Weekend on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

GUEST

John Strubel 

of METS REWIND

forty-seven minutes

OPENING DAY WEEKEND

"SUNDAY NIGHT BLECH BALL"

Complete breakdown of 

Braves versus Mets

Negro League Baseball 100th Anniversary: On William "Judy" Johnson

From the desk of: 100th Anniversary Negro League Baseball

DANIEL FRAWLEY STADIUM

Wilmington, Delaware

HOME of the BLUE ROCKS

William Julius "Judy" Johnson

1921 ~ Third Baseman ~ 1937

Hilldale Daisies ~ Pittsburgh Crawfords ~ Homestead Grays

HALL of FAME 

Passes Away June 15, 1989

Wilmington, Delaware

Johnson was well respected by his fellow players for his quiet, unassuming leadership and his grasp of the intricacies of the game.  He was quiet, shy, but mentally tough.  -  Negro League historian Leslie Heaphy.

Judy Johnson bats .300 or better six times and retires with a lifetime .298 average over a seventeen-year career.  In 1925 he bats a career-high .378, but his best season comes in 1929 when he wins the Negro League MVP after slashing .365/.404/.518, with seven home runs, 72 runs batted in, and 24 stolen bases through 84 independent circuit and Negro American League games.  He is best known for his twelve seasons with Hilldale, for whom he bats .309, with 208 extra-base hits, 427 runs batted in, and 65 stolen bases over 673 games and 2,477 at-bats.  He also spends five years with the Pittsburgh Crawfords and two seasons with the Homestead Grays, where he plays with an 18-year old rookie catcher named Josh Gibson.


FROM: Black Diamonds: Cool Papa Bell, Judy Johnson, Full Interviews on YouTube

On barnstorming versus white players, Judy Johnson recounts how one year the Negro Team defeated Team Dizzy Dean nine games to seven:


Interviewer Stephen Banker asks: "Did they try?"

"They always try.  They didn't like the negro to beat them doing anything.  It's ... if you're digging a cesspool he don't want you to do that, he don't want you to beat him doing that.  But they were all gentlemen as far as I know.  They all act very nicely - most all - I say most all.  Some people regardless what they are ... they're gonna have a chip on their shoulder about something.  You know that."  -  Judy Johnson.

On crowds, rooting, and partisanship:

"They were mixed ("integrated?"), yeah.  Of course the negro was gonna vote for the negro, and root for him, and the white would root for the white.  Between the two races it never got to the point that they would want to fight, cause, we would only have a losing cause ... you couldn't win them there (the south)."  -  Judy Johnson.

On playing Pepper, aka "Clowning":

"We would practice, we would always put a show on, (Stephen Banker interjects, "Clowning"..) ... yeah, fun!  Well the white people down there liked that because they'd call negros monkeys anyhow, with the tails cut off.  We'd pass the ball so fast you could hardly keep up with it, and they liked that.  But the thing that got me, in the grandstand,  they had cover over the white side, and the negros side didn't have anything to keep the sun off of them, but they paid the same price."  -  Judy Johnson. 

Starting in 1923, Judy Johnson and the Hilldale Club win three straight Eastern Colored League championships, and in 1925 go on to defeat the Kansas City Monarchs in the Colored World Series.  Johnson leads all hitters with a .364 average.  It is the first-ever World Series between respective Eastern Colored League and Negro National League champions.  Fifty years later, in 1975, William "Judy" Johnson becomes the sixth Negro League player selected to the Hall of Fame.


ICYMI:

• Brooklyn to Newark Part One: Negro National League Eagles Take Flight
• Brooklyn to Newark Part Two: Where Negro National League Eagles Dare

Sources:

• Judy Johnson BaseballHall.org
• Judy Johnson SABR
• Judy Johnson Seamheads.com

N.Y. Mets: Ongoing Ninth Inning Fire Rages On

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

WILL THE METS REAL FIREMAN PLEASE STEP UP

One strike away from their second straight victory to begin the season, and ...

 ( ( ( (    POOF!  ) ) ) )

... another Edwin Diaz pitch irretrievably disappears over the fence.

Manager Rojas spends the lead-up making timely substitutions and smartly reconfiguring his defense.  In fact, the freshman Rojas sets the stage rather well.  Starter Steven Matz exits on the winning side of a 2-1 contest after six innings and 93 pitches thrown, with 58 (62%) going for strikes.  After which the trio of Jeurys Familia, Dellin Betances, and Justin Wilson, join together for two scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and fanning a pair.

Enter Edwin Diaz; it's the ninth inning.  With two outs and the Mets clinging to a slim 2-1 lead, he gets two strikes on Atlanta designated hitter Marcell Ozuna.  Then comes the fatal pitch, belt high and flat, on the outside portion of the plate, just begging to be hit the other way by a right handed batter.  And Ozuna does just that, sending Diaz' offering high beyond the reach of Michael Conforto, and over the right field fence - game tied.  The Mets eventually lose in the tenth inning, but the damage is already done (MLB's new extra inning rules be damned).

Diaz last year pitches 58 innings and yields fifteen home runs all in the ninth inning, which sets a new MLB record previously established by Francisco Rodriguez.  Now with the 2020 season underway, Edwin appears in each of the Mets first two games.  Therefore, since arriving at Flushing he has now pitched 60 innings, surrendered sixteen home runs, all in the ninth inning.  It bears repeating: eight blown saves; seven losses, sixteen home runs allowed in just 60 innings pitched, with a 5.37 ERA and 1.379 WHiP, over 68 overall appearances as a Met.  Edwin Diaz is 26-years old and a veteran of four full major league seasons, during which he's averaged 67 innings per season.  Therefore, his arm is far from approaching its expiration date.  His 103 strikeouts and 15.4 K/9 average are perhaps his best and only defense.  He strikes out two on Opening Day, and strikes out two more on Saturday before his run in with Ozuna.  But what good is that?

Granted this is only game two of the season, but - and it's a big but - there remains only 58 games left to play.  Therefore, one must question how much longer can the Mets afford to hand over ninth inning responsibilities to a consistently ineffective Edwin Diaz.

FIREMAN WANTED: INQUIRE WITHIN

In this compromised 60-game season, time is of the essence.  The responsibility of rethinking the ninth inning now falls on Luis Rojas.  Hunter Strickland raised some eyebrows during Summer Camp, but on Saturday had fans watching at home turning and looking the other way.  He incurs the loss upon yielding three runs, two earned, in just one-third of an inning pitched.  But the likes of Seth Lugo, Jeurys Familia, Justin Wilson, Dellin Betances, along with Edwin Diaz, should perhaps begin taking on a greater collective role insofar as closing out the ninth inning.

Steven Matz is the overlooked victim in all this.  He allows just one earned run on a mere two hits with one walk, and seven strikeouts, but for all his efforts unfortunately walks away with a no decision.

100 Years Ago Today 7/26/1920: Brooklyn Robins Salvage Ebbets Field Split with Pirates

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #94: Monday, July 26, 1920 - BR
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Uncle Robbie Gives Pfeffer Timely Hook; Sherry Smith Holds Pirates at Bay

Brooklyn gains a split with Pittsburgh at Ebbets Field, and at least for the next week or so finally rid themselves of those troublesome Pirates.  With a little help from their opponents, the Robins get most of their scoring done early.  A throwing error in the first inning by Bucs catcher Bill Haeffner leads to three unearned runs for Brooklyn.  Tommy Griffin, Zack Wheat, and Hi Myers, all score.  In the second inning with Jimmy Johnston at the plate, Pirates starter Hal Carlson unleashes a wild pitch allowing Rowdy Elliott to score all the way from second.  And in the third Pete Kilduff's base hit through the left side plates Myers giving the Robins a commanding 5-0 lead.  Or so they thought.  Facing Jeff Pfeffer in the fourth, the Pirates score four times on four hits and two walks, while getting two runs batted in each by shortstop Howdy Caton and Bill Haeffner.  When Max Carey doubles leading off the top of the fifth, Uncle Robbie gives Pfeffer the hook.  Sherry Smith goes on to pitch five scoreless innings allowing only three hits.  Brooklyn tallies some insurance in the sixth on Sherry Smith's two out triple to center scoring Elliott for a 6-4 final margin of victory.  Sherry Smith improves to 7-5 with a fine 1.98 ERA; for Jeff Pfeffer, a no decision.  Rowdy Elliott is 3 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.  Ed Konetchy (.324) goes 2 for 4 with a double and run batted in.  Meanwhile, the rest of the league is idle.  Therefore Brooklyn adds a half-game to their lead over the second place Reds, whom arrive at tomorrow for a four game showdown at Ebbets Field.  Getcha' tickets, gonna be fun.

• RECORD: 54-39 (.580)
• First Place; 2.5 GA

N.Y. Mets: La Potencia's Return is a Big Hit

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

OPENING DAY 

⇨ IN JULY ⇦

GAME ONE

BRAVES  0

METS       1

At the very least, with everything going on, Friday's game is historic.  Otherwise there's something about the Mets and Opening Day that always gets fans feeling all warm, orange, blue, and fuzzy.  However, it usually doesn't take long after that before we realize it's the hazy, hot, and humid, New York City summer that we're really experiencing.  Otherwise winning is really cool, especially on Opening Day.  It is an event unto itself, where on the one hand 50,000 fans assemble for a common cause, yet a given fan's individual experience is completely subjective.  Of course, you can say that about any games.  But in life they say be first or be the best.  Sometimes Opening Day is both.  Like Friday's opener against the rival Atlanta Braves ...

LED BY JACOB deGROM, METS WHITEWASH BRAVES

If you like pitching duels, you got treated to one on Opening Day.  Couldn't ask for more.  With the understanding Jacob deGrom recently experienced some back discomfort, I do not begrudge freshman manager Luis Rojas for taking deGrom out when he does.  The Grominator is dominant out of the gate throwing 100-mph fastballs en route to a scoreless one-hit effort through five innings with eight strikeouts.  He throws 72 pitches with 48 (66%) going for strikes.  But alas he is awarded the chronic no decision.  Seth Lugo pitches two scoreless innings of one-hit ball with three strikeouts for the victory.  After which Justin Wilson and Edwin Diaz preserve the shutout.  Edwin Diaz faces four batters in the ninth, throwing thirteen pitches with eight going for strikes.  He walks one and fans two en route to his first save.  The Mets four pitchers join together on a three-hit whitewashing of the Atlanta Braves with fifteen strikeouts and just two walks.

Outside of one errant pitch placed center mass of home plate, Atlanta pitching is no less effective.  Starter Mike Soroka and three relievers limit the Mets to just six hits and no walks with four strikeouts.  One pitch is all it takes.  The comeback kid himself, Yoenis Cespedes, deposits a Soroka offering deep into the empty left field seats.  It's Yo's first home run in over two years, and it makes all the difference in Friday afternoon's opener at Citi Field.

La Potencia is back!

Oh ... and so much for social distancing in the dugout.

100 Years Ago Today 7/25/1920: Pirates Continue Plaguing Brooklyn Robins

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

Game #93: Sunday, July 25, 1920 - BR
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Brooklyn Robins Return Home to Cheers But Ebbets Field Crowd Exit Beside Themselves

Sleeping in their own beds for the first time in over three weeks proves little relief nor remedy against the insurgent Pirates, whom seize their fourth game in five days from the Robins.  Upwards of 22,000 fans pack Ebbets Field showering their first place Robins with a heroes welcome upon returning from a triumphant 16-7 road trip, including an all important series victory at Cincinnati.  However the Borough's trolley dodging faithful are sent home in a somewhat despondent state after their team blows a 3-2 lead after seven.  After trading runs in the first inning, Brooklyn takes a 3-1 lead with a pair of runs in the fifth.  But the Pirates close to within a run in the top of the sixth.  Pittsburgh finally squares up starter Clarence Mitchell for three runs in the eighth for a late 5-3 lead.  The Robins score one run in the bottom of the ninth but ultimately fall short.  Clarence Mitchell loses his first game of the season against five victories and a climbing 2.98 earned run average.  He allows all five earned runs on eight hits and two walks through 7.1 innings.  Leon Cadore pitches 1.2 scoreless innings in relief of Mitchell.  Pittsburgh third baseman Possum Whitted is 2 for 4 with a triple and two runs batted in.  Notorious thief Max Carey steals his 34th base of the season, while going 2 for 3 with a walk, two runs scored, and one run batted in.  For Brooklyn Tommy Griffith is 2 for 4 with a run batted in, and Jimmy Johnston drives in his 27th run for the season.  Out in Cincinnati, the New York Giants defeat the Reds and claim victory in that series three games against two.  Meanwhile the Pirates now sit just five games out of first.

• RECORD: 53-39 (.576)
• First Place; 2.0 GA

100 Years Ago Today 7/24/1920: Brooklyn Robins Lose Third Game in Four Tries at Forbes Field

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #92: Saturday, July 24, 1920 - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Forbes Field

Pirates Continue Getting Best of Brooklyn Robins; Grimes Loses Sixth of the Season

ROBINS CONCLUDE ROAD TRIP WITH 16-7 RECORD

With Burleigh Grimes taking his turn on the bump, all seems fine when in the second inning Brooklyn takes a 1-0 lead as Grimes himself grounds into a fielder's choice scoring Ed Konetchy from third.  However, Pittsburgh starter Wilbur Cooper has other ideas, holding the Robins to just the lone run on five scattered hits, and two walks, with two strikeouts through a full nine innings of work.  Hi Myers accounts for two of Brooklyn's hits; Jimmy Johnston, Bernie Neis, and Ed Konetchy account for the others.  Meanwhile, Pittsburgh roughs up Grimes for five earned runs on seven hits and a walk in just six innings pitched.  Catcher Bill Haeffner is big man on campus going 2 for 3 with a triple and three runs batted in.  First baseman Charlie Grimm is 3 for 4 with two runs scored.  Jeff Pfeffer pitches two scoreless innings in relief of Burleigh Grimes who is now 14-6 on the season with a climbing 2.22 ERA.  Brooklyn' first place lead is reduced again to a pair of games as the Reds defeat the New York Giants out at Redland Field.  Despite today's loss the Robins today conclude a wildly successful 23-game road trip that sees them journey through Boston, St. Louis, Chicago, Cincinnati, and lastly, Pittsburgh.  They post a wondrous 16-7 record, and on June 8 seize first place which they're yet to relinquish.  The Robins and Pirates now travel to Brooklyn for two more games at Ebbets Field.  After which, another showdown against the Cincinnati Reds awaits.

• RECORD: 53-38 (.582)
• First Place; 2.0 GA

HOME PLATE

FORBES FIELD

N.Y. Mets: Welcome to Flushing's First Socially Distanced Opening Day in July

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

PLAY COVID BALL !!

Late Sunday afternoon; September 29, 2019; the Mets trail the Atlanta Braves 6-5 in the last game of the regular season; with two runners on base and two outs in the eleventh inning Dominic Smith deposits a Grant Dayton offering deep beyond the right field fence giving the Mets a dramatic walk-off 7-6 victory.  After which the off-season starts like any other.  However, with the onset of winter arrises news of a globe-trekking virus heading our way.  By the end of February and early March, the tristate area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, becomes America's epicenter of coronavirus.  By mid-March major league baseball shuts down all activities as state after state begins implementing COVID protocols.  Near 300 days have passed since Dominic Smith's season ending at-bat.  Today, after much haggling and public harangue, MLB is finally set to resume play, albeit operating under conditions and circumstances never before experienced by sports, barring the Spanish Flu of a century ago.  I am on record (Metsian Podcast) saying baseball should have cancelled the season outright, and I stand by it.  Nevertheless, here we are, time to play ball.  I bid health, safety, peace, and a measure of luck, to every player, coach, manager ... every single person involved with the execution of this upcoming season, and likewise to respective families.

deGROM AND MATZ, THEN PRAY FOR RAIN

Sadly, I do not foresee the Mets being top contenders in the absence of strong performances first and foremost from Steven Matz, and Marcus Stroman second.

Welcome to the 2020 season?  Or should I say welcome to the new, and still transient normal?

In any event, here's something you'll find quite familiar: The Mets have problems.

The much anticipated "Five Hurlers of the Metropolis" were never able to join forces and become the super heroes we thought they'd be.  Injury and overall front office negligence are largely to blame.  The dream rotation of Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, and Jacob deGrom, unfortunately fail to synchronize their talents for any substantial length of time.  Thus the opposition never fully experiences what fans imagine to be the rotation's full wrath.  Instead, the rotation frustratingly is a perpetual revolving door of those returning from surgery with those requiring surgery, and other like physical issues.  Jacob deGrom aside, you might loosely file what transpires since 2015 as a Generation-K type Redux.  But at least we get a National League pennant out of these guys - most of them - so there's that.

"FIVE HURLERS OF THE METROPOLIS"

Matt Harvey ~ Zack Wheeler ~ Jacob deGrom ~ Noah Syndergaard ~ Steven Matz

2012 - Harvey

2013 - Harvey; Wheeler

2014 - Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom

2015 - Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz

2016 - Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz

2017 - Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz

2018 - x-Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz

2019 - x-Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz; Stroman

2020 - x-Harvey; x-Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz; Stroman; Porcello; Wacha

I enter this COVIDIAN compromised 2020 regular season with only a small fraction of the confidence I once harbored regarding this team's rotational strength.  Of course Jacob deGrom is the great one, winner of back-to-back Cy Young awards.  He takes the ball on Friday for Game One of sixty.  But who and/or what follows deGrom is very troublesome for me.

I'm not at all pleased Zack Wheeler is a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.  Wheeler in March 2019 made it very clear he welcomed free agency and that the Mets would need to meet his price.  I was hoping against hope they would re-sign him.  Instead the front office let the regular season play out and apparently were dissatisfied with Wheeler's performance.  That's the soft core version of the story.  The harder, colder truth, as we well know, ownership is flat broke.  After all, Zack posted a fair 3.96 ERA and 1.259 WHiP through 195.1 innings pitched.  Now 30-years old, I believe Wheeler's arm is finally sound and that his best days are still ahead.  Over the last two seasons he's made 60 starts with 374 strikeouts through 377.2 innings pitched.  Fangraphs had his 2018 velocity pegged at 95-mph, while last year's velocity remained steady at 96-mph.  Be that as it may the Mets make him no offer.  Wheeler winds up signing with Philadelphia for $118 million over five seasons.  The inner general manager within me would have been agreeable to a $100 million offer, and chewing him down from the other $18 million.  But I certainly would not have let that stop me.  I also have a hunch Wheeler and his agent, just for sake of staying in NYC, would have been amenable to a small compromise.  Lastly, Zack Wheeler I feel is/was better than any of the available replacements, namely Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha.  For these reasons alone I believe the Mets enter 2020 with a weakened rotation - period, exclamation point.

Noah Syndergaard ((( 😔 ))) as we know is out due to Tommy John surgery/recovery.  Who didn't see that coming..?

But here's something whereon Brodie Van Wagenen needs to keep his eyes fixed.  Marcus Stroman, who talks a real good game, is presently out with a calf injury which is an ailment BVW must consider within the context of a 60-game season.  True calf injuries do not heal well; they're habitually time consuming; and without extensive rest they tend to nag for entire seasons.

I'm hopeful Rick Porcello will pitch effectively but I'm only somewhat confident he will.  I like Rick Porcello, I really do.  I'm (also) a Red Sox fan since the mid 1970's.  Back then outside of the World Series inter-league play is nonexistent.  Having a favorite American League team is a non-issue.  And the answer to your next question .. NO .. I was in no way conflicted in 1986, for I am an orange/blue bleeding Mets fan.  Back to the matter at hand: I have a lot of respect for Rick's body of work with Boston.  The man exuded cool, calm, and clutch.  I'm just not sure that success follows him to Flushing.  His best seasons are 2014 when he posts a 3.43 ERA and 1.231 WHiP, and his Cy Young award winning 2016 campaign when posts a league best 22-4 record, with a 3.15 ERA, and fine 1.001 WHiP.   But that's six and four years ago respectively.  Outside of a 3.96 ERA during his rookie season, at no other time during his eleven year career does his season ERA dip below four.  He also has yielded more hits than innings pitched in two of his last three seasons.  Essentially what Mets fans need most from Rick Porcello is a classic baseball comeback season.  To his credit he is a mature, poised, intelligent 30-year old craftsman.  If anyone can bounce back, he can.  However, anything resembling his last three seasons with Boston simply will not do.

I have much less, or little to no confidence in Michael Wacha as a starter.  He and Porcello during the off-season are originally signed to be complimentary depth pitchers, and now intense pressure is suddenly being pumped into both their respective right arms.  Cross your fingers in the hope all their gaskets are sealed tight.  Otherwise, this rotation is gonna leak hits, runs, deficits, and losses, all over the place.

Alas Steven Matz is the Mets X factor.  The day has come .. the hour is near .. this must be the season when Steven Matz seizes the role of Number Two behind Jacob deGrom.  The Mets situation necessitates it.  If they are to compete in a 60-game season against modified opponents such as the Yankees and Rays, along with fellow N.L. East members, they'll need an effective and reliable one-two punch.  The recently turned 29-year old Matz is due for a breakout season, or not.  A veteran of four full seasons in the majors, he owns a career 4.05 ERA through 103 appearances and 101 career starts.  He is coming off back to back seasons of at least thirty starts, while 2019 is the first time he achieves double digit wins.  However, since 2016 when he posts a 3.40 ERA in 132.1 innings pitched, his ERA has since failed to dip below four.  He additionally has yet to pitch 200 innings in a single season.  Therefore I say he needs to make this season his line of demarcation.  Will he mature and elevate as a pitcher and craftsman, or not?

THREE ALARM FIRE STILL RAGES

Edwin Diaz is 26-years old and a veteran of four full major league seasons, during which he's averaged 67 innings per season.  Therefore his shelf life is far from approaching its expiration date.  But 15 home runs in 58 innings pitched?  Not to mention all 15 home runs are surrendered in the ninth inning thus setting a new major league record.  His 99 strikeouts and 15.4 K/9 average are outstanding.  No arguing that.  But a 2-7 record, seven blown saves, a 5.59 ERA, 4.51 FIP, and 1.379 WHiP, are indefensible.  His fastball and change-up are not necessarily the issue.  His slider, however, often resembled a cement mixer, and it cost the Mets a huge price in the standings.

FLUSHING's CORE FOUR?

Pete Alonso; Michael Conforto; Amed Rosario; Jeff McNeil: is this a core four capable of elevating the Mets to higher ground?  Last season was certainly a good start.  Unfortunately, the upcoming 2020 season in and of itself still leaves us with too small a sample size.  And so the question remains to be answered; collective next level performance remains to be seen.  For now the best we can do is monitor the competition and paint a game by game picture until a clearer vision materializes.

LET'S GO METS

ICYMI

Wednesday, July 21, 2020

GUEST

Mets Beat Writer for NEWSDAY, 

Tim Healey

!!!!! WEAR A FREAKIN MASK !!!!!

100 Years Ago Today 7/23/1920: Brooklyn Robins Late Rally Repels Pirates

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #91: Friday, July 23, 1920 - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Forbes Field

Pirates Mistakes Clear Way For Robins Victory

The Pirates take Brooklyn's 4-2 lead after seven and throw it overboard with a three run burst in the bottom of the eighth.  Starter Al Mamaux is on the hook for all five Pittsburgh runs.  He exits on the losing side of a 5-2 score having allowed five earned runs on twelve hits and two walks through 7.1 innings pitched.  Pete Kilduff back in the second inning ties the game at one with a base hit to right scoring Hi Myers.  The Robins score twice more in the fourth on runs batted in from their battery, catcher Otto Miller and Mamaux.  Pittsburgh scores in the bottom half of the frame making the score 3-2 in Brooklyn's favor.  After which Right fielder Billy Southworth's mishandling of Al Mamaux's fly ball in the sixth - one of two outfield errors in the inning - permits Ed Konetchy to score from second base for a 4-2 Robins lead.  Mamaux then runs into trouble in the eighth.  After yielding four hits to five batters, Wilbert Robinson relieves his starter with Sherry Smith.  Pittsburgh takes a 5-4 lead into the ninth, but it's fleeting.  Brooklyn retakes the lead on runs batted in from Tommy Griffith and Bernie Neis.  Sherry Smith in the bottom of the ninth retires the Pirates in order to close out his sixth victory of the season.  Al Mamaux is taken off the hook with a no decision.  The first place Robins maintain their three game lead as the second place Reds whitewash the New York Giants at Redland Field.

• RECORD: 53-37 (.588)
• First Place; 3.0 GA

A Metsian Podcast 2020 Season Preview in July Special

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

THE NATIONAL PASTIME RETURNS

OPENING DAY IN JULY!?

GUEST 

  Mets Beat Writer 

NEWSDAY'S TIM HEALEY

2020 COVID NEW YORK METS

SEASON PREVIEW

seventy-minutes

100 Years Ago Today 7/22/1920: Pittsburgh Pirates Take Second Straight From Brooklyn Robins

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #90: Thursday, July 26, 1920 - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Forbes Field

Pirates Get to Leon Cadore Late; New York Giants At Last Reach .500?

With a late surge the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat Brooklyn a second time in two days at Forbes Field.  With one out in the Brooklyn second, Ed Konetchy triples and Pete Kilduff doubles him home.  Leading off the bottom of the third Pirates second baseman George Cutshaw doubles to center then scores, tying the game at one.  Brooklyn regains the lead in the fourth on Zack Wheat's triple and a Hi Myers double.  After which starter Leon Cadore yields two runs in the seventh, and two more in the eighth, including an inside the park home run from third baseman Bill McKechnie.  Over all Leon Cardore allows five earned runs on ten hits and four walks through nine leading to his eighth loss of the season against seven wins.  Pirates right-hander Hal Carlson limits Brooklyn to a pair of runs on seven hits and just one walk with three strikeouts through nine complete.  Zack Wheat and Ed Konetchy account for four of the Robins seven hits.  Brooklyn is nonetheless fortunate they do not lose ground, as the Reds fall to the New York Giants at Redland Field.  Speaking of which, the Giants (42-42) reach the elusive .500 mark for the first time this season.  Beware.

• RECORD: 52-37 (.584)
• First Place: 3.0 GA

Forbes Field

Brooklyn to Newark Part Two: Where Negro National League Eagles Dare

From the desk of: 100th Anniversary of Negro League Baseball

EFFA MANLEY

MATRIARCH OF THE NEWARK EAGLES

Brooklyn to Newark Part One: 

Negro National League Eagles Take Flight

Part Two: Where Eagles Dare   

Born December 22, 1885, in Herford, North Carolina, Abe Manley eventually makes his way up the east coast with stops at Norfolk, and Camden, until finally arriving in Brooklyn, New York.  Along the way, Abe creates a living in real estate and running numbers (not uncommon for the time) through which he becomes a familiar figure within Negro League circles.  Effa Manley, born in 1897 and raised in Philadelphia, relocates after graduating high school to New York City, where she takes up residence in Harlem.  A fervent baseball fan and particularly fond of watching Babe Ruth play, she is often in attendance at Yankee Stadium.  Effa Manley recounts meeting Abe there during the 1932 World Series pitting the Yankees against the Chicago Cubs.  In June of 1933, the two baseball fans are married, and by November 1934, the Negro National League owners grant Abe Manley's years' long request for a franchise.

Abe and Effa Manley together establish the Brooklyn Eagles with home games slated for play at Ebbets Field.  The inaugural 1935 Eagles finish fifth, one game above par with a 32-31 record.  Out in Pittsburgh, the Crawfords cruise to the pennant finishing ten games ahead of the Columbus Elite Giants, New York Cubans, and Philadelphia Stars.  Finishing behind Brooklyn is the Chicago American Giants and Homestead Grays, while the Newark Dodgers finish in last place, 25-games out of first.  After the season, Abe Manley purchases the struggling Newark Dodgers club, merges them together with the Brooklyn Eagles, and transfers team operations to New Jersey, giving rise in 1936 to the fabled Newark Eagles Baseball Club.  


Abe is responsible mainly for scouting, drafting, and acquiring personnel.  He is the one who scouts Monte Irvin coming out of high school and from the sandlots of New Jersey.  He also acquires future Hall of Famer Willie Wells from the Chicago American Giants.  In fact, Ray Dandridge becomes a member of the Eagles through Abe Manley's purchase of the Newark Dodgers.  Otherwise, Abe plays a significant role in procuring many higher-profile players to ever don the iconic Newark Eagles uniform.  But that's where his team responsibilities unofficially stop, and those of Effa Manley officially begin.  

Mrs. Manley does not procure talent, but you answer to her once in the Newark Eagles fold.  Effa does not just step into the role of tireless chief executive and nurturing matriarch of the Eagles.   She assumes full responsibility for all team administration and baseball operations - handling the media, attending to marketing and promotion, ticket sales, travel arrangements, and accommodations, down to player contracts, and attending league meetings.  Effa Manley handles all of this with dignity, and grace, and professionalism, even when confronted by overt male sexism practiced by, among others, fellow league owners.

From 1936 through 1948, the Newark Eagles play at Ruppert Stadium, where they author one of the more legendary narratives in Negro National League and baseball history.  In thirteen seasons, they fall under par just five times. Otherwise, they register six third-place finishes, three second-place finishes, and one first-place finish culminating in a Negro League World Series championship.

Today there are 41 members from the various Negro Leagues enshrined into baseball's Hall of Fame.  Eight hail from the Newark Eagles: Effa Manley; Monte Irvin; Ray Dandridge; Leon Day; Willie Wells; Mule Suttles; Biz Mackey; and Larry Doby.

Other Newark greats and team standouts include future Brooklyn Dodgers hero Don Newcombe; Jimmy Hills; Max Manning; George Giles; Ed Stone; Fats Jenkins; Harry Williams; Terris McDuffie; Fred Wilson; Jimmy Hill; Bus Clarkson; Lennie Pearson; Johnny Davis; Rufus Lewis; Pat Patterson; Leniel Hooker; among others.

After a 27-31 finish in 1936, the Eagles of 1937 are led on the mound by Leon Day and Terris McDuffie, who join together for eight victories in eleven combined starts.  McDuffie leads Brooklyn starting pitchers with a 3.12 earned run average.  First baseman Mule Suttles bats .318 and leads the team with seven home runs and 32 RBI.  Twenty-three old third baseman Ray Dandridge leads the Eagles with 45 hits, twelve doubles, and a .375 batting average, with shortstop Willie Wells right behind Dandridge boasting a .369 average.  The team finishes in second place with a 36-22 record, just 6.5 games out of first.

The Eagles of 1939 finish second behind the Homestead Grays, but their 37-21 record qualifies them for post-season play.  During the season, a 22-year old Leon Day posts a 7-3 record with a 3.41 ERA.  James Brown authors a fine 1.89 ERA through eight appearances and 38 innings pitched, and Jimmy Hill goes 5-1 with an even 3.00 earned run average.  At the plate, Fred Wilson leads the team with a .368 average.  Ed Stone bats .342 with a team-leading seven home runs and 31 runs batted in.  At 38-years of age Mule Suttles has another big season batting .351 while tying for the team lead in home runs and finishing second with 25 runs batted in.  However, the Eagles place fourth with a 1-3 record in a four-team round-robin playoff against the victorious Baltimore Elite Giants, the Homestead Grays, and Philadelphia Stars.

In 1940 the Eagles posted a 26-21 record good for third place, only five games out of first.  One game in the final standings separates the second-place Baltimore Elite Giants from Homestead Grays, who capture yet another pennant.  Meanwhile, the Eagles are led by Biz Mackey, Fred Matthews, Bus Clarkson, Lennie Pearson, and Monte Irvin, whom all bat over .300 for the season.  Center fielder Lennie Pearce boasts a .347 average, drives in 33 runs, and ties Bus Clarkson for the team lead with eight home runs.  Monte Irvin leads the team with a .371 average and posts a team-high 39 runs batted in.  Pitchers Jimmy Hill and Max Manning join together for 32 appearances and combine for 182.1 innings pitched in which they post a joint 18-6 record with a 3.65 earned run average.

Now 22-years old, Monte Irvin highlights the 1941 regular season by slashing an exceptional  .395/.442/.645, with 60 hits, twelve doubles, eight home runs, 48 runs batted in, and eight stolen bases - all team highs.  Leon Day bats .316, with four home runs, and finishes right behind Irvin with 32 runs batted in.  On the mound, Day is limited to 27.1 innings with a 3.95 ERA.  However, with a 27-23 record, the Eagles again finish third, a distant 12.5 games back of the Homestead Grays.

Six future Hall of Famers characterizes the 1942 Newark Eagles: Ray Dandridge; Willie Wells; Leon Day; Monte Irvin; Mule Suttles, and newcomer Larry Doby.  Rookie second baseman Larry Doby joins the fold as an 18-year old.  Five years later, on July 5, 1947, Larry Doby breaks the American League color barrier as a member of the American League Cleveland Indians.  Two-way threat Leon Day, now 25-years old, posts a 7-2 record with a 1.82 earned run average and a .344 batting average in 128 at-bats.  Lennie Pearson edges Day with a team-leading .346 average while smashing eleven home runs with 56 RBI.  And lest we forget 37-year old player/manager Willie Wells who bats .343 in 181 at-bats.

After back to back sub-par seasons, Newark in 1945 finishes third with a slightly improved 27-25 record.  Center fielder Johnny Davis leads the Eagles with a .321 batting average, four home runs, and 21 runs batted in.  Monte Irvin appears in just five games due to military service.  Meanwhile, a 19-year old rookie pitcher named Don Newcombe bursts onto the scene with a 4-3 record and a 2.38 ERA, with 36 strikeouts through eight appearances and 64.1 innings pitched.

The 1946 Newark Eagles are heralded as one of the greatest Negro League teams ever.  As well they should be.  Second baseman Larry Doby and shortstop Monte Irvin must be considered one of the best double-play combinations of the day, if not all of baseball.  Irvin hits five home runs and leads the team with a .363 average and 53 runs batted in.  Larry Doby hits a team-leading seven home runs while batting .339, with 47 runs batted in.  First baseman Lennie Pearson drives in 50 runs with a .310 average and amasses a team-leading 17 stolen bases.  Left fielder Johnny Davis bats .319 and is the third Newark Eagle to drive home 50 runs or better.  Catcher Leon Ruffin, third baseman Pat Patterson, center fielder Jimmy Wilkes, and right fielder Bob Harvey round out the field.  On the mound, the Eagles boast an exceptional pair of double-digit winners.  Leon Day is 11-2 with a 2.41 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 123 innings pitched; Max Manning is 10-2 with a 2.80 ERA, with 63 strikeouts over 109.1 innings pitched.  Complimenting the duo is pitching mate Rufus Lewis who goes 7-2 with a 2.73 ERA and 49 strikeouts in thirteen appearances, and 82.1 innings pitched.

Propelled by their depth of elite talent, Newark dominates the Negro National League season, soaring to a 50-20 (.714) record en route to a perch atop the league standings.  As well, they post an expanded 54-24 record against all comers.  Newark dethrones the Homestead Grays as Negro National League champions, snapping the former champion's historic string of nine consecutive pennants.  That bears repeating: the mighty Homestead Grays, who still feature Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Cool Papa Bell, et al.  The second place Grays finish 1946 with a 36-34 record, a distant 14.0 games back of Newark.  The Baltimore Elite Giants, New York Cubans, and Philadelphia Stars fare no worse, but the New York Black Yankees finish dead last with a 12-45 record, a distant 31.5 games out of first.

Having unseated the mighty Homestead Grays, Newark turns its attention towards the Negro American League champion Kansas City Monarchs - transcendently famous and favored to win the 1946 Negro League World Series.  The Monarchs finish their NAL regular season with a similar 50-16-2 record, outpacing the second-place Birmingham Black Barrons by a 14.0 game margin.  And they own a 56-26 overall record in all contests.  Kansas City on the mound features the great Satchel Paige, Hilton Smith, Ford Smith, Steve Wylie, and Jim LaMarque.  In the field, the Eagles are opposed by Buck O'Neil, Willard Brown, Ted Strong, Herb Souell, and Hank Thompson.  And guiding Kansas City from the dugout is long-time Monarchs player and manager Frank Duncan.

1946 Negro League World Series
BASEBALL REFERENCE

Newark Eagles (4) defeat Kansas City Monarchs (3)

Kansas City takes Game One played at the Polo Grounds by a slim 2-1 margin.  Satchel Paige earns the victory in relief of Hilton Smith, while Newark's Rufus Lewis suffers a tough luck loss in relief of Leon Day.   

Newark wins Game Two by a 7-4 final at Ruppert Stadium.  Trailing 4-1 after six, Newark erupts for six runs in the bottom half of the seventh.  Despite yielding four runs winning pitcher Max Manning allows just two hits through nine innings pitched.  Ford Smith takes the loss for Kansas City, while Satchel Paige appears in relief. 

Game Three shifts to Blues Stadium at Kansas City where the Monarchs march to a commanding 15-5 victory.  Jim LaMarque goes the distance for Kansas City.  Newark's Cotton Williams takes the loss. 

Newark evens the series with an 8-1 victory in Game Four at Blues Stadium.  Rufus Lewis goes the distance, allowing just one run and limiting the Monarchs to a mere four hits.  Satchel Paige proves ineffective in relief for a second straight game.  Monte Irvin hits a three run home run, and Larry Doby connects for a double and triple. 

Game Five is played at Chicago's Comiskey Park.  Newark manufactures ten hits against Monarchs starter Hilton Smith, but only push across one run.  Max Manning suffers the loss upon yielding five runs on nine hits through nine innings.  Kansas City leads the series three games against two. 

Facing elimination, Leon Day and the Newark Eagles withstand a first inning barrage - five runs by the Monarchs.  The Eagles regroup by the second, and hold on for a 9-7 Game Six victory at Ruppert Stadium.  Monte Irvin hits his second and third home runs; Willard Brown likewise hits his third homer for the series; and Lennie Pearson also connects for a pair of home runs.  Leniel Hooker earns the victory in relief of Leon Day.

Game Seven: With two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Newark Eagles achieve a come from behind 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Monarchs at Ruppert Stadium, to capture the 1946 Negro League World Series championship.  The Eagles jump out to a first inning lead.  But Buck O'Neil ties the game in the sixth with his second home run for the series.  With Larry Doby and Monte Irvin on base in the Newark eighth, Johnny Davis doubles plating the tying and go ahead runs. 

SERIES NOTES: The now 27-year old Monte Irvin makes the 1946 series his personal showcase.  He leads all batters with a .462 batting average, a .533 OBP, three home runs, and an .885 slugging average, while his eight runs batted in rank second behind Kansas City center fielder Willard Brown's ten.  Rufus Lewis carries the pitching load for Newark going 2-1 with a 1.23 eared run average and a series leading 15 strikeouts.  Rufus also leads the series with a stellar 0.95 WHiP.  Max Manning ranks second with a 1.27 WHiP.  Manning is 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA, and matches Lewis with 15 strikeouts.  Although largely ineffective as a reliever Satchel Paige fans 13 batters.

Despite achieving a second straight 50-plus win season, the New York Cubans clinch the 1947 pennant by six games over the Eagles.  Larry Doby and Monte Irvin once again lead the team.  Doby posts a team-leading .354 average, eight home runs, and 41 runs batted in.  Monte Irvin hits .304 with a team-high eleven home runs and 47 runs batted in.  Max Manning leads the pitching staff with one of his best seasons, going 12-4 with a 2.77 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 130 innings pitched.

The Eagles of 1948 finish third with a 33-32 record in what turns out being their last season at Newark and being the team's final season affiliated with the Negro National League.  Times are changing; major league integration is taking hold; the subsequent impact is transforming business conditions throughout Negro League baseball.  Abe and Effa Manley elect to sell the Newark Eagles, who are relocated to Houston and incorporated into the Negro American League.  A year later, the team again moves, this time to New Orleans.  Finally, after the 1951 season, the team folds operations for good.

• Monte Irvin makes his major league debut on July 8, 1949, with the New York Giants, two years before the arrival of Willie Mays.  After an eight-year career, Monte is inducted in 1973 into baseball's Hall of Fame.

The storied franchise founded in 1935 by Abe and Effa Manley ceases to exist - now relegated to history and lore.  Abe Manley passes away in 1952, thus sadly missing his wife's enshrinement as the only woman, to date, into Cooperstown's Museum and Baseball Hall of Fame.

"The Eagles were to (black) Newark 
what the Dodgers were to Brooklyn" - 

Newark Eagles pitcher Max Manning (aka Dr. Cyclops)

Effa Manley Society American Baseball Research   1946 Negro Leagues World Series Seamheads  

Kansas City Monarchs SeamHeads   Newark Eagles Seamheads    NegroLeagueBaseballPlayersAssociation  NegroLeagueBaseballMuseum.com   BOOK: The Most Famous Woman in Baseball, Effa Manley and the Negro Leagues by Bob Luke