GMS/TEAMS
SEASONS
CAREER STATS
Dan and Kevin’s Fearless Forecasts-1935
Here we go again, another installment of the wonderful musings by Everything's better with Bacon Media Group' & freelance writer who has no regard for anyone's personal feelings; or the fact that this author may not really know a damn thing about baseball or DMB? What is that white powder on his face?
*Disclaimer* None of the musings and meanderings of an otherwise unorthodox left handed dreamer is based in reality or facts. ...or are they? *Is he a genius or a fat toad?*
MLB/NGL 1935 Season Averages
Batting .280/.343/.400/.743 ops
Pitching 4.35 era, 13.2 R/9
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
Gashouse Gorillas
Batting - Even though Ryan is more likely to be invited to a Graham family dinner than Adam, it's nice to see a downturn offensively for the Gorillas. (says everyone in the AL) They have some top tier talent but they are limited in playing ability this season. C+
Pitching - People say that like the cut of Dihigo's jib, I'm not into jib cutting but he will slice up some batters for sure! Davis is a quality SP leader, I expect he'll be quite successful this season. C+
Jersey City Skeeters
Batting - Cool Papa Bell is going to enjoy his last full dominant season until he comes back in 1942 (he's still here through 1937 but not what he has been). He'll retire in the 1940s as one of the best top of the order bats in SCL history, easily. B-
Pitching - Kevin has garnered the best pitching staff in the American League, on paper. The Skeeters have plenty of choice and mobility on the hill, they can move lots of stuff around throughout the season. A-/A
Mudville Nine
Batting - The Nine have some real HR power, they won't hit 200 or anything but they have plenty of double digit HR hitters which is a big deal. However as Dave would say, Mudville is a bit light in the loafers. B
Pitching - Paula Dean cooks some really good food, her husband Paul is hell of a pitcher, sadly the family line doesn't extend beyond that in baseball, neither does Mudville Nine's staff. I will make a note here, Bert Hunter will be better than advertised. C-
Georgia Pines
Batting - Babe Ruth cast off like a bad penny, didn't even play a full season last year as Joe left him to the homeless shelters that adorn the city. Gehrig & Ott are probably the best combo in the entire league this season, they will be in the running to repeat. B+
Pitching - Dean continues his high octane run and will win 25+ games, write that down. Derringer & Davis could also win 20+ games, damn. B+/A-
Vegas Vipers
Batting - Vipers have venom, this is the best offensive team in the AL, hands down, triple stamped. Berger, with all of that protection, is going to make a serious run for AL MVP. B/B+
Pitching - The $$ is on you Lefty, don't let this team down! Doug will be doing a bit of juggling but they have enough arms to remain successful. B-
Nova-Scotia Miners
Batting - They are still mining for Gold, give them a break, Rome wasn't built in a day. D
Pitching - Most teams would gladly take Gomez then the bargaining takes a steep turn to the abyss, the long dark black hole that Joe Clark often looks down in remembrance of Babe Ruth, with disdain, bad penny, be gone! D-
Indianapolis Racers
Batting - Foxx, that dude is loved by even his his bullies mother. Any idea who's playing 3B this season? B
Pitching - Harder, French pitching classes are available for advanced students, sadly nein have applied.. C
Garden State Greats
Batting - Solid offensive club will be right on Vipers heals most of the season while fending off Georgia. Buck Leonard stud of a career but in general a 60-70% season player, interesting dynamic to build around. B+
Pitching - Griffith is a quality SP thats something for the crowd to come to the ballpark for, only every 4th day though for 50% of the season, if their on sale. Keep Gardening folks, its sustainable living. D+
AL Standings Projection:
Jersey City Skeeters
Georgia Pines
Vegas Vipers
Gashouse Gorillas
Mudville Nine
Indianapolis Racers
Garden State Greats
Nova-Scotia Miners
*Notes* Any of the top 3 could take the 1st seed but the Skeeters seem to have the edge.
National League:
Wheaton Warbirds
Batting - Josh Gibson, he shouldn't be allowed in the league, Kevin can be bought! B-
Pitching - Hubbell is once again an ace that will challenge the league though he's prone to getting dates for the other teams best bopper. Figures Kevin could finally have a confident family gathering knowing Adams staff is not top notch but alas, the Holidays are over. C
Peoria Caterpillars
Batting - Averill is still going strong, they have a solid core in the lineup but the overall output will be right about par. C/C+
Pitching - No, the answer is no, there will not be caterpillar eating contests to pass the time while the other team bats around. D-
Queen City Baseball Club
Batting - Solid club, not the HR type of team, they are definitely walks & extra base hits, however they will be VERY good at it. They will tear apart many pitching staffs throughout the year. B+
Pitching - No means no, unless of course you're batting against QC, there are no mandated reporters in the room for these occasions. D+/C-
Baltimore Terrapins
Batting - Jimmy, if you walk into a room with plastic on the floor, say a quick prayer. D
Pitching - Tiant is a beast, I'd gladly trade for him, ah hum, Jimmy... The teams overall performance leans a bit on how well they will keep the ball in the park as they are one of the higher Hr/9 out there this season. B
Panhandle Artesian Wells
Batting - Enthusiasts of the fan club were overwhelmed with grief when they discovered it's Pete Fox not Jimmie double Xs.. C-
Pitching - They have improved this season but just not quite enough depth here for the long haul. C
Custers Crimson Tide
Batting - In the largest moves of 1935 the computer brought back Frank Grube & Bing Miller, solidifying the season. Collection put forth in Custer this season, should score runs in bunches. A-
Pitching - The Tide again lacks those 300 inning hurlers but our depth stretches a bit more soundly in 1935. Like Skeet Skeet, on paper it points to the Tide sporting the best staff in the National League, let us not fumble this burden. A-
Sunderland Storm
Batting - Tim, still indoors trying to avoid stiff breezes has led him to deep dive and create an offense his dog can be proud of. Well it turns out, he's actually a cat guy and he's not Tom, it's Tim. B
Pitching - The strikeouts on Paige are polarizing to look at, 14.7 K/9 in this ERA is astounding, even if he'll only start 14 games this season, let's be honest he's not averaging less than 8 innings a start. Stanley & Clark are solid Sps as well but we know who the star of the limited show is. C+/B-
Willoughby Starlings
Batting - Always finding himself in precarious situations positionally, pun intended. From position battles of 2 studs like Bottomley/Suttles to now Gehringer/Hughes, someone help this guy out, we're moving him to Bud Select 55's. C+/B-
Pitching - Matlock is a bonafide ace, no wait Blanton is, I'm not sure who will win more games between the 2 of them, idk who authorized Dave to get some pitching. Did the N/A Beer make him do it when he bought it by accident? It's a Christmas Miracle! B+
NL Standings Projection:
Willoughby Starlings
Custers Crimson Tide
Sunderland Storm
Wheaton Warbirds
Baltimore Terrapins
Panhandle Artesian Wells
Queen City Baseball Club
Peoria Caterpillars
*Notes* I have a rule, I don't pick my team even if the law of averages leans that way. This could be Dave's year but not if I have something to do with it. Also Satchel is a fancy word for Purse.
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1935 SCL Predictions
The Warbirds did not repeat as SCL champions, so that’s a good thing. The Skeeters got swept in the ALCS by the Pines for the 2nd time, so that’s a bad thing. The Caterpillars and QC made long overdue appearances in the playoffs, so that’s a good thing. And Dan is finally getting his breast implants removed, so that’s a good thing…I guess.
So what’s going to be good and bad in the upcoming season? Let’s do some predicting!
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Jersey City Skeeters- GM: Kevin G.
Growing up in the coal-scarred streets of Scranton Pa in the 60’s and 70’s it seemed like it snowed every day from Thanksgiving to May. Single digit temperatures every morning, combined with wind driven snow that made my walk to school a frozen nightmare. We were made of sterner stuff back then, so no snow days were to be had, just days and days of snow. I still remember walking to school every morning, the snow piling up on my hunchback, and icicles hanging from my ever present nose pimple. No fond memories of childhood for this guy.
Since global warming hit, the winters in the Northeast have been relatively snow free with single digit temperatures a rarity. Not this year. Snow, snow, snow and cold, cold temperatures. As I sit here rubbing ointment on my hunch, (I tend to chafe in the winter) I almost looked back fondly at my catholic school days, until I remembered the beatings.
On that happy note, how will the Skeeters do this season?
Offensively they’ll get their hits, no real power threat after Rip Collins, but they should find the gap in the outfield with plenty of doubles and triples. Any Skeeter team with Cool Papa Bell will steal some bases and take the extra base at any opportunity.
Pitching looks good on paper. Root, Rowe, and Allen are pretty good, and virtually every pitcher on the staff gives up less hits than IPs, with some pretty good control. The Skeeters need them to perform for any success this season.
Gashouse Gorillas- GM: Ryan Buckley
Ryan got into a really bad car accident several years ago, and was pronounced legally dead at the site. Lucky for Ryan he was pronounced dead by a homeless guy just looking for some spare change. Turns out, Ryan is ticklish and started to giggle, just as the EMTs were zipping up the body bag. They apologized for the mistake. Ryan wasn’t that upset, he really enjoys a good tickle.
Dan has been brain dead since 2002. No one has noticed.
It’s surprising to see a Gorillas’ team that could struggle on offense. Jud Wilson is an SCL HOY candidate, while Paul Waner and Martin Dihigo have All-star potential. Dihigo is also their #3 pitcher, behind Red Ruffing, and Roosevelt Davis. The rest of the staff may struggle for wins, unless the offense steps up.
Indianapolis Racers- GM: Terry Baxter
Terry used to work for the Chicago Transit Authority. His job was to hose down the train cars every morning. Sounds horrible, but Terry loved the smell of warm piss in the morning. Still does to this day.
Dan agrees.
You can’t spell Racers without Foxx, …metaphorically. The Beast will have another All-Star/ SCL HOY type of season, supplying almost all the power on this team. Ival Goodman might hit double-digit HRs, the rest of the line-up will bore you with singles.
Larry French is the Ace, Mel Harder is the deuce, and Wes Ferrell is the Jack. The rest of the staff are a bunch of wild cards in a game of straight poker,….virtually useless.
Garden City Greats- GM: Mark Stewart
Welcome to the SCL Mark.
Mark’s wedding videos from his 1st of many weddings, showed up on a recent True Crime Series on Netflix. It started with the narrator saying, “It seemed like they had it all.” I immediately turned it off. I didn’t want to know the real Mark Stewart.
Dan has his own IMDB page of all the True Crime Series that he’s been in.
Buck Leonard has arrived. It’s going to be tough for him break the Gehrig/Foxx stranglehold they have at 1st base in the AL All-Star game, but his time will come. Ducky Medwick. Woody Jensen, Lloyd Waner, and Jo-Jo-Moore lead an overabundance of outfield offense, but they will be instrumental in helping this team score what should be an abundance of runs, and they will need every single one of those runs.
Their pitching is an issue. 8 different starters will have to be used to get through this season. Add a bullpen full of not-so-greats struggling to get late inning outs, and the Greats are looking at some high scoring losses.
Vegas Vipers- GM: Doug Slothower
Doug is a busy man. He’s a teacher, a father, an active GM in the SCL, and is in the middle of writing his memoirs……check that…his manifesto. Either way, I can’t wait to read it.
Dan will wait for the comic book version.
Offensively the Vipers look pretty good. Shortstop Willie Wells is back with some solid All-Star numbers, as is Gabby Hartnett at catcher. Wally Berger and Zeke Bonura provide some much needed power.
Pitching aint too shabby either. Lefty Grove could be looking at 25 wins. Spoon Carter is very good, but with limited IPs. The rest of the staff is above average, but also lacking a lot of IPs. Chet Brewer arguably the best closer in the SCL could rack up record saves.
Nova Scotia Miners- GM: Matthew Schultz
When Matt was 8 years old he used to play doctor with the little girl next door. It seemed harmless until he removed her appendix. Turns out Matt was not so harmless.
Dan couldn’t get any little girls to play with him, so he played with himself. Still does. Sometimes while riding the bus.
Everything points to a long season for the Miners. Lonnie Frey is your power guy? Fats Jenkins, Ethan Allen, Jimmie Williams, and Sam Leslie need to step up big time for this team to score runs.
On the bright side if the Miners go with a 4 man rotation, Lefty Gomez could be the 1st 20-20 pitcher in the SCL. Heck, Leon Day could join him.
Georgia Pines- GM: Joe Clark
Joe just recently retired, so to keep busy he adopted a rescue dog. The dog has no legs, but Joe makes the best of it. Every morning he takes him out for a drag.
Someone explain that joke to Dan.
The Pines have always been about offense, while pitching has been iffy. This season looks to put a Pines team on the field with a pitching staff that is better than the offense.
Lou Gehrig and Mel Ott are 2 of the premiere power guys in the SCL. Toss in……looking…..looking…..looking? That’s it for the Pines. They could be the only double-digit HR hitters on the Pines? That’s unusual.
Dizzy Dean leads a pitching staff that gives up some hits, but doesn’t walk a lot of people. They all need to perform to expectation, because the offense might not be able to bail them out like previous Pines teams have done.
Mudville Nine- GM: Brent Porter
Brent thinks that Abraham Lincoln was our 1st African American president because he’s brown on the penny.
Dan doesn’t know who Lincoln is.
This is the season Brent has been planning for. Unfortunately his offense doesn’t stack up well against the rest of the American League, and his pitching just doesn’t stack up.
Arky Vaughan, Rap Dixon, Ernie Lombardi, Goose Goslin, and Hal Trosky are pretty good. The remaining offense is only fair. If the aforementioned 5 players meet or exceed expectations they may be competitive, just not in the AL.
Ted Lyons, Paul Dean, and Monte Weaver are pretty good. The rest of the staff is pretty bad.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Custer’s Crimson Tide- GM: Dan Bacon
Dan thinks he’s a great poet. He calls his imagination, his best friend. That’s because you have no other friends. You are alone with your imagination, and don’t try to blame this on poor parenting Dan. This is all on you.
I pick on Dan’s mental acuity all the time, but when it comes to putting together a strong team in the SCL, he’s like Einstein. That would be Mel Einstein by barber, he knows a lot about baseball. Albert Einstein? Not even close Dan.
Hank Greenberg is the man, he should wreck the NL pitchers all season. Moose Solters will help with the wreckoning. My spell check says that wreckoning isn’t a word, but it should be. Backed up by some pretty good players at every position, this team can score some runs.
Bill Lee and Ray Brown (a very good 2-way player this season) and Jim Willis make for a very good starting 3. Dutch Leiber and Andy Porter make for a couple of good relievers as well. I worry about the starting depth of the Tide, and about the voices in my head. Dan’s baseball acumen should help with the pitching staff depth, and my medication should help with the voices.
Sunderland Storm- GM: Tim Deale
Tim was a roadie for Heart. He didn’t score with either Ann or Nancy Wilson, but he did have a “special” relationship with Steve Fossen, the bassist. When you’re on the road for 30 straight weeks, can you blame the guy?
Dan had a special relationship with a bass.
Pat Patterson is an All-Star at 2nd base. Tommie Dukes still rakes at catcher, and Doc Cramer has his career year. Vic Harris and Ed Coleman provide the home run power.
The pitching staff is questionable. Satchel Paige will dominate, but Tim may use him in the bullpen for much of the season, and we can be sure he will squeeze every drop of the 110% burnout rule out of Ol’ Satch, to try to extend his 102 IPs. Neck Stanley and Watty Clark are pretty good, but Webster McDonald might prove to be a heavy anchor around the Storm’s starting rotation.
Wheaton Warbirds- GM: Adam Graham
Adam is unsure if he wants to be buried or cremated when he dies. So he’s going to have his top half buried, and his bottom half cremated. I’m not sure what that says about my son.
Dan wants to be cremated and have his ashes sprinkled in the back alley where his dad conceived him. Next to the dumpster, by the Chinese restaurant.
Josh Gibson should have his best SCL season so far. Johnny Moore and Chuck Klein will join him as the power guys, and Harry Williams could be an All-Star at 2nd. Not much else is happening with the Warbirds’ offense.
Carl Hubbell is pretty good, Ted Trent is not as pretty. The Warbirds’ pitching takes 2 huge steps back from last season, and the rest of the staff looks to be thin on IPs and talent.
Peoria Caterpillars- GM: John Momberg
John is kind of a cheapskate. To save money, when the time comes, he’s just going to quietly lay himself to rest inside a coffin at a local funeral home.
That’s just another Friday night for Dan.
Buddy Myer is strong at 2nd. Billy Terry is strong at 1st. Babe Herman is OK, and Earl Averill takes a nosedive from his 1934 season. 2 strongs + an OK – a nose dive = trouble for the Caterpillar offense.
Willie Foster and Johnny Broaca lead a very weak pitching staff.
Willoughby Starlings- GM David Kuehn
Dave has a reputation as a drinker. His New Year’s resolution is to continue drinking until he passes out, just in a more festive manner. I admire your commitment Dave.
Dan has been committed many times.
I think the Starlings are looking at a rebound season. OFer Fred Leiber is their best player?
No problem. He’s joined by 5 other guys with double digit home run numbers. Charlie Gehringer, Alex and Rip Radcliff (no relation), Mule Suttles, and Oscar Charleston.
Leroy Matlock has POY written all over him. Cy Blanton should join him in the 20 win club. That could be enough to get the Starlings back into the playoff.
Special request to Dave: Use Babe Ruth strictly as a pinch hitter. After he hits his 1st, or 2nd or even 3rd home run of the season, deactivate him immediately. That way his last hit in his last at bat in the SCL is a dinger.
Baltimore Terrapins- GM: Jimmy Keenan
Jimmy knows his baseball and he knows the Civil War, but he doesn’t know squat about cooking. He was making instant mashed potatoes and the recipe called for him to mix it with 3 cups of water. He eventually gave up because the water kept leaking through the box.
Dan doesn’t peel his banana before eating it.
Dolph Camilli and George Watkins could combine to hit over 40 home runs, while batting just .265. This offense is not that imposing.
Lon Warneke, Van Lingle Mungo, and Bill Swift are quality starters. They will still struggle to get wins this season.
Panhandle Artesian Wells- GM: V
V worked at a munitions plant during the Viet Nam war. It seems V was very good at his job. His missiles were voted “most explodable” 3 years in a row. V brings that same passion to the SCL.
Dan frequently experiences award winning explosive diarrhea.
Pete Fox, George Selkirk, Bob Johnson, and perennial All-Star Bill Dickey lead a below average offense.
Hal Schumacher will toss another no-hitter, and Bill Hallahan, and Tommy Bridges may join him. With no bullpen arms to speak of, they may need to pitch a lot of complete games.
Queen City Baseball Club- GM: Joe Coombs
Like me, Joe doesn’t like cats, and he’s not afraid to say so. His grandson asked him why he doesn’t like cats. He said because cats are like strippers. They’ll both sit on your lap and pretend to love you.
Dan will sit on anyone’s lap, at the bus station.
Turkey Stearnes, Billy Herman, Mickey Cochrane, Cecil Travis, Ed Stone, and even Augie Galan lead a very nice looking offense.
Johnny Marcum, Guy Bush, and John Whitehead are the best of a bad looking pitching staff. Kind of like being the tallest kids at dwarf camp.
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
1. Vipers- Best pitching and hitting combo in the AL
2. Skeeters- Surprising control from a wild staff in 34
3. Pines- Pitching is the key
4. Racers- Foxx will not be enough
5. Greats- Not a bad rookie start for the new GM
6. Nine-Nein! Pitching will hurt them
7. Gorillas-Not enough offense
8. Miners- no place to go but up
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
1. Crimson Tide- no excuses this season
2. Starlings- a great bounce back season
3. Storm- Just enough pitching and hitting
4. QC- A step back from 34
5. Warbirds- no playoffs for Josh
6. PAWS- slightly better than 1934.
7. Caterpillars- 20 less wins this season
8. Terrapins-No offense, no runs, no wins
The Skeeters finally beat the Pines in the playoffs. The Vipers will be too much for the Skeeters.
Tim will use Paige to the max to beat the Starlings. The Crimson Tide will overcome Paige.
The Vipers and Crimson Tide will meet for the 2nd time in the SCL World Series