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1921 SCL Season Previews by Dan Bacon and Kevin Graham
Every season Dan and I go head to head with our pre-season predictions. Dan uses common sense, baseball logic, stats and a little bit of alcohol to make his predictions. I, on the other hand do not.
Please read with caution, and maybe a little bit of alcohol.
Another installment of the pure genius by 'Everything's better with Bacon Media Group'.
AL:
Gashouse Gorillas
Batting - Ken Williams is breaking out this year, you put ducks on the pond and this dog will hunt! . C+/B-
Pitching - They are still climbing the mountain but they continue to inch closer. With the offenses seriously charged up this year, this staff could allow 850+ runs. C-
Jersey City Skeeters
Batting - If you look at the MLB average for team batting lines Jersey City is it in 1921, eerily close to the exact numbers. Tullie Walker is back, he aint afraid of no girl/dude that goes by Ruthy. C+
Pitching - They are certainly top 3rd of the entire league in pitching talent. Bill Drake could challenge for the Cy this year if the offense will give him enough support. B+/A-
Shamokin Stogies
Batting - We have a contender to challenge Ruth for the RBI lead in the AL. Torriente could also challenge for MVP honors, should be a fun offense to watch in Stogie central this year. A-
Pitching - If only Morrison could pitch like 200+ innings, what could have been. They don't possess much for 'wow' factor but they will be good enough to be there in the end. B/B+
Georgia Pines
Batting - If you had a hitter that could sniff .400 and hit 60 HRs would that be reason enough to think you might lead the league in Runs Scored? That Hornsby kid aint bad either... A+
Pitching - I'd like to take you back to yesteryear when Georgia complained publicly they had no pitching this year. Fast forward to present state they have the best staff in the American League including 3 aces.....ho hum. #154-0 A
Vegas Vipers
Batting - Offenses this year have eye popping numbers from what I'm used to around here. This team is very talented, not the name value other teams have beyond Sisler but they'll be right with Georgia & Stogies. A-/A
Pitching - This team could use Red Ryan to pair with Gatewood, where does he play? They traded him to Georgia, quite a few murmurs and comments circulate still today of this scandalous affair. B-
Kenmore Miners
Batting - Golly Gee Wally! Do offenses stop being impressive this season? This team's OBP ability will drive opposing pitchers to drink (I'm looking at you Phil Douglas). With as many runners on base as this team's potential can muster Blackwell could beat Torriente & Ruth, crazy. A
Pitching - For the brief period that Nip Winters is out there, he will be a world beater. Given the season that it is Taylor should be bouncing around the conversation for Pitcher of the year at the end of the season. B/B+
Heartland Comets
Batting - The still boast one of the supreme infield talents in the league in Dobie Moore. They won't have a problem putting some runs up, the problem is other teams won't this year either. C-
Pitching - 'Ol Slim should turn in a fine season this year, just don't drink the Koolaid with the other Hale-Bopp followers or you'll be stuck somewhere worse than Hotel California. C/C+
Cooperstown Giants
Batting - Being the new guy is rough, especially when bats start to surge and your best hitter is George Shively. Better days are coming in Cooperstown they just haven't arrived quite yet. D
Pitching - Tough season to take some lumps in with a lackluster staff they'll challenge the Gorillas for the bottom of the heap. D
AL Standings Projection:
Georgia Pines
Kenmore Miners
Shamokin Stogies
Vegas Vipers
Jersey City Skeeters
Heartland Comets
Gashouse Gorillas
Cooperstown Giants
*Notes* I knew the roaring 20s had the offensive spike but man I didn't expect the uptick to be so swift from season to season. It's impressive how much better the offenses are going to be in 1921 compared to 1920 and vice versa on the pitching. The Pines could very well take the 2 big regular season awards home and end it with a 3-Peat. It's a long season gents but the playoffs are short. Aside from the bottom 3 teams I could literally see any combination of those 5 actually making the playoffs.
NL:
Wheaton Warbirds
Batting - The on base dymanic on this team coupled with Veach's desire to drive runs in should have Bobby in the MVP discussion at seasons end. B+
Pitching - Warbirds are wearing war paint! The mound will be home to the best staff from top to bottom the SCL will see this season. I'm not certain who their best SP will be but they'll have a few to pick from. A
Peoria Caterpillars
Batting - Fournier could take the best bat award away from Speaker in Peoria. You could say they are not flashy but this is the exact type of offense that could sneakily lead the league in wins & runs scored even if they are long ball deprived. A
Pitching - Not the rotation talent that Peoria is used to running out there but all these things run in cycles. Considering the year it's not 'bad' it's just not the Cat's strength this season. Boada with that offense will almost surely win 20+ games. C+/B-
Arklatex Robins
Batting - Power, Home runs, Robins don't need that, they excel in the arena of small ball. They will walk and double you into oblivion! C+/B-
Pitching - Holland & Whitworth are an extremely talented 1-2 in this season, you add Flournoy & Redding and you have the serious makings of the best rotation in the National League. B+/A-
Baltimore Terrapins
Batting - Mackey is so incredibly talented, the best C in our league hands down. Terrapins actually showcase some good depth they just lack the big numbers that league average showcase. C+-
Pitching - If their doing a 4 man they have a above average group this season. Curry has a chance to force his way into Pitcher of the Year conversation. B
Pilot Point Aggies
Batting - Meusel is a fine player in his own right, it's just now the offenses year to be so manly. Does Eddie Collins ever slow down the guy is a perennial leadoff powerhouse! C+
Pitching - It seems Ryan will be their best chance to win when on the mound but he won't make it long past the All Star break until he burns out. The Aggies are just not quite yet ready for the limelight. C-
Custers Crimson Tide
Batting - I don't see 190 runs or rbi on Oscar's horizon regardless what the file says. The Tide will be surging and taking out bystanders when it rips in fur sure. McHenry finally stands tall on his own, will be the top scoring National League offense. A
Pitching - As in 2020 the Crimson Tide season will weigh heavily on the arms of a Negro League quartet, this one has 1 less ace as well. We yet again put our faith in our beloved Tom Williams, bless you sir. B+
Sunderland Storm
Batting - Walked right into a good offense did the Newb. Heilmann is an absolute beast, He's like a poor man's Babe Ruth. B+/A-
Pitching - Considering what has plagued this roster in the past for now it continues, pitching continues to be the Achilles heel. This new management will figure this code out, it's the mans first season to get his feet wet and plan. D
Dyersville Dreamers
Batting - The Dreamers are very close to contention it's just not quite sunrise on their chosen destination. Dyersville offense is clearly trending in the correct direction, what a difference a season makes. Blue & Grimes at the same position, what luck. C-/C
Pitching - I could see this team pitching a bit better than their numbers suggest but not quite to the contending level yet. I like where they are heading towards... C+
NL Standings Projection:
Wheaton Warbirds
Custers Crimson Tide
Arklatex Robins
Peoria Caterpillars
Baltimore Terrapins
Pilot Point Aggies
Dyersville Dreamers
Sunderland Storm
*Notes* I think Wheaton is a potential 100+ win team, there aren't many of these each season. It seems Custer should potentially leave a bit of a gap from 2nd to 3rd, I see the Robins in 3rd but that could be a potential race between Robins, Cats, & Baltimore. The pitcher of the year race in the NL could be a thing to watch, though Wheaton is the best overall in that category there are enough wildcards onesies to put heat on that award.
Kevin’s 1921 SCL Season Preview
When I was in the 5th Grade at St Patrick’s Elementary I had a teacher named Sister Mary Joseph Cor Immaculata O’Reilly. She insisted that whenever we addressed her, that we utilized her full name. So when you raised your hand to ask permission to use the restroom, by the time you finished rattling off her name, I had already peed myself. I mean…..one of my friends did…I didn’t pee myself….no sir…I did not.
She was also the 5th grade gym teacher, and one day it happened that we all had to CLIMB THE ROPE! I watched several of my fellow classmates all climb the rope with some measure of ease, and then it was my turn. I tried to grip the rope but my hands were just too small. I was at the time a tiny little toe-headed Irish boy with tiny little hands. I was not able to climb the rope. When I failed, Sister Mary Joseph etc, smacked my hands with a ruler and said, “You will climb that rope MR Graham or suffer the eternal damnation of Hell!” I tried once more but by tiny hands would not allow me to grip the rope. Sister Mary Joseph etc, smacked my hands once again with the ruler and said, “Satan is waiting for you Mr Graham, climb that rope or sleep in the pits of hell tonight.” It was then that I noticed that my hands had swelled to 3x their size. It was either a miracle or I needed to seek immediate medical attention. Either way, I was now able to grip the rope.
I struggled with all my might to climb that rope. Inch by inch I moved up that rope, and 20 minutes later, at the brink of total exhaustion I had reached the top of the rope. I looked down at Sister Mary Joseph etc. standing 3 feet below me ( I never said it was a long rope!!) and proceeded to puke all over her.
The non-disclosure that the Catholic Church made me sign precludes me from discussing what happened next, but needless to say, I had conquered the rope. Satan was not getting that little Irish boy that day.
Now, you might be saying to yourself, “Kevin, What does any of that have to do with the 1921 SCL Season?”
It’s an analogy?…an allegory?....a metaphor?….a simile?……I’m not sure what.
But that rope is the Georgia Pines. Unconquerable, intimidating, frightening, menacing, and all around bad.
We’ve all had our metaphorical rope to climb. We have all failed at beating the rope. We have all given up on the rope, walked away from the challenge of the rope, and puked on a nun. (Well, some of us.)
It is time for all GMs in the SCL to conquer the SCL rope. The Georgia Pines have Ruth, Hornsby, LeBlanc, Roush, and Red Ryan. No single one of us can hope to stop them from winning their 3rd straight SCL Championship, but together we can climb that rope together, we can beat the Pines, together we can do anything.
When you are setting your line-ups send your best against the Pines. When you set your line-ups think of 10 year old Kevin puking on a nun, and yet still coming out on top. This is our time, this is our mission, are you with me?
American League:
Jersey City Skeeters- In an offensive year the Skeeters are at best average. Babe Adams, Bill Drake and Jesse Barnes make up a strong top 3 starters. After that the cupboard is bare. I have a relief pitcher, I forget his name, but does it really matter.
Kenmore Miners- These guys look like rope climbers. Beckwith, Kennard, the Taylor brothers, Hooper and Blackwell will light up the league. Their pitching will not. It’s dark in that bullpen. Mike Murphy will need to light some pitching asses on fire. I see some high scoring games coming their way.
Shamokin Stogies- A nice mix of starters, and relievers. Torriente is looking to have a strong season, with 7 other players capable of hitting double digits in HRs. Dave Nemec has conquered many a rope, he’s ready to climb.
Vegas Vipers- George Sisler, Pete Hill, and Zack Wheat will have strong seasons. Burleigh Grimes, Bill Gatewood, and George Mogridge could all win 20. The bull pen is a poor example of a bull pen. CGs will serve this team well. On the bright side, nobody climbs a better rope than a snake.
Cooperstown Giants- Not a lot of offense. Not a lot of pitching. Not a lot of wins.
Gashouse Gorillas- Ken Williams will shine, the rest of the offense is OK. Earl Hamilton and Bob Uhle are a decent 1-2 punch. The rest of the pitching should get the crap beaten out of them.
Georgia Pines- 4 guys that could win 20. Ryan, LeBlanc, Brown and Toney should rack up the wins. Except for Smokey Joe Williams there is no bull pen. Offensively they will score a lot of runs. A formidable rope to climb, but not impossible.
Heartland Comets- Baby Doll Jacobson, Dobie Moore, and Highpockets Kelly will get their hits, but I don’t see a lot of baserunners for them to drive home. Waite Hoyt, Slim Branham, and Bill Pertica will eat up innings and win some games. No bullpen strength will hurt them.
1. Pines- Where else do you put them.
2. Stogies- always competitive
3. Miners- Always the best man, never the groom. Can they turn that around?
4. Vipers- Better than the Skeeters.
5. Skeeters- Worse than the Vipers.
6. Comets- not quite .500
7. Gorillas- Lack of pitching will hurt.
8. Giants- 2nd year franchise with 2nd year talent.
Stogies beat the Pines for the AL pennant.
National League
Peoria Caterpillars-When Jack Fournier is your power guy, you might want to rethink your life choices. Actually with Speaker, Tobin, Pratt, Gardner and Country Brown banging out extra base hits, maybe they’ll do just fine. Coveleski and Alexander are shadows of their former selves but still not bad. In the pitching strapped SCL, the Caterpillars are more strapped than others. Or are they less strapped? Which one is better? Either way they are better than the Skeeters.
Pilot Point Aggies- If I had Shocker, Shawkey, Bush and Bell I’d run a 4 man rotation and have them pitch every game of the season. Of course if I had 6-pack abs I’d mow the lawn without my shirt on. For now it’s just best to keep my abs covered. Eddie Collins, Bob and Irish Meusel are most of this team’s offense. The rest of the offense needs to over perform for this team to succeed.
Sunderland Storm- Welcome to the league Tim. Heilmann, Baro, Santop, Lloyd, and Cy Williams lead a very nice offense. Eppa Rixey can’t pitch every game. But that may be their only hope.
Wheaton Warbirds- Walter Johnson is their #4 starter. Bullet Joe Rogan, Wilbur Cooper, and Red Faber are the best starting 4 in the league. Bobby Veach, and Jimmie Lyons are the power guys. Joe Judge and Walter Cannady need to get on base for these guys.
ArkLaTex Robins- Sam Rice, Charlie Jamieson, and Riggs Stephenson can hit. But HR Baker may lead the team in HRS. Not much pop in this lineup. V will need to be very active with his line up moves this season for the Robins to win. Cannonball Redding, Bill Holland, Willis Flournoy, and Dick Whitworth will all amass 250+ innings, and that aint a bad thing.
Baltimore Terrapins-Carl Mays, Reuben Curry, Jack Marshal and Leroy Roberts could all win 25 games with a team that could score some runs. Biz Mackey and Ross Youngs will need some help if this team is going to score enough runs for this strong 4 man rotation.
Custers Crimson Tide- Oscar Charleston could out legend Ruth this season. Ty Cobb will help him do this. Dick Lundy and Frankie Frisch join in the fun. This offense is gooood. Tom Williams, Jim Jeffries, Dicta Johnson and Jimmy Oldham should thrive with this offense.
Dyersville Dreamers- This team is built on hitting singles. A lot of singles. This is the embodiment of a team filled with Punch and Judy hitters. Whitey Glazner and Dutch Leonard will try their best to win with this puppet show, but it won’t be pretty.
1. Crimson Tide- they have it all.
2. Warbirds- No, they have it all
3. Robins- could sneak into the playoffs
4. Terrapins- my sleeper pick for playoff contention
5. Caterpillars- Once more unto the breach for these guys?
6. Storm- not that far off
7. Aggies -ditto
8. Dreamers- better, but still 100 losses
The Crimson Tide and Wheaton Warbirds will go all Rocky vs Drago against each other. One will lose, and the other will suffer brain trauma.
The Stogies will feast on the remains. Go Stogies.
