Post by Sha-Le Unique on Sept 5, 2014 16:12:35 GMT -5
As the title states, this in a way is a two-part article that can be combined into one article. It really just depends how each reader looks at it. Here we go!
It had been 32 seasons since the Pirates' last postseason appearance back in 1927, but all the recent patience with the Pirates' rebuild has paid off with a division title this season! Current GM Shale Briskin came in before the start of the 1953 season and quickly went to work with rebuilding the Pirates' minor league system while knowing that it would be some time before they would compete again.
But now in 1959, all the pieces have finally come together and the patience and hard work have paid off now. Success in baseball of course starts with pitching and the Pirates now have plenty of arms that have contributed this season. Veteran ace Robin Roberts missed some time with injuries, but went 13-8 with a 3.46 ERA, a team best 1.05 WHIP and a spectacular 137/23 strikeout/walk ratio.
But it was George Spencer more than anyone on the pitching staff that put the team on his back over a very dominant stretch in July (0.82 ERA in five starts) and August (2.85 ERA in eight starts). And this was when the Pirates really made their move to rise up in the NL East standings with Spencer leading the way. Despite a few poor starts at the very end of the season, Spencer finished the season with an 18-11 record and a 3.27 ERA, which led the rotation. He also led the team with 291.1 innings pitched, 22 complete games and four shutouts.
The George Spencer trade with the Giants became quite a steal for the Pirates.
Not to be forgotten, Don Drysdale has had a breakout season this year. The 23 year-old flamethrower won a career high and team leading 20 games and had a 3.54 ERA in 274.2 innings pitched. He led the team in strikeouts too with 186. Rounding out the rotation is "The Deacon" himself, Vern Law. Law went 18-12 and set a career high in wins. He also had a respectable 3.64 ERA in 269.1 innings pitched.
Despite the fact that everyone in the Pirates' rotation threw a lot of innings in almost every start, the Pirates have had a very good bullpen as well. The unit is led by closer Ike Delock, who saved 40 games this season (second in the NL) with a 2.87 ERA. He was successful in over 85% of his save attempts and has done very well in his only second full season as a closer.
Ron Kline split time between the rotation and being the setup man to Delock, but was solid in both roles with a 6-5 record and a 3.40 ERA. Dick Hall, Humberto Robinson and rookie Ernie Broglio were solid relievers as well.
The Pirates also had a very good offense. It started at the top with the bats and speed of center fielder Bob Skinner and second baseman Gene Freese. Skinner has had a career season with career highs in average (.308), doubles (31), runs scored (107), OPS (.794) and stolen bases (69), which he led the National League in. Freese in only his second season got off to a red hot start and was the starting second baseman for the National League All-Star team. Although he cooled off down the stretch, he still led the team with a .313 average, and contributed 11 home runs, 71 RBI, 97 runs, a .797 OPS and 62 stolen bases, which were good for third in the NL.
Gene Freese had a breakout season that included a red hot first half.
While Skinner and Freese were busy getting on base and creating runs, it was the bats of third baseman Gail Harris and left fielder Dick Stuart that were driving them in. Harris put together another very solid season and set a career high with 93 RBI. He also hit .289 (.328 vs right-handed pitchers) with 19 home runs, 80 runs scored and a .794 OPS. The slugging Stuart once again led the Bucs with 25 home runs and 102 RBI. Ironically, he had those exact same numbers in 1958 as well. He also had 28 doubles and a .790 OPS.
Dick Stuart has become the feared slugger the Pirates hoped he would turn into.
First baseman Roy Sievers overcame a very slow start and finished the season with 18 home runs and 84 RBI. His .238 average and .683 OPS though were very disappointing. Shortstop Clete Boyer was having a breakout season with a .277 average, 21 home runs and 72 RBI before an unfortunate season-ending injury midway through September. Veteran catcher Elston Howard had a somewhat disappointing season with a .253 average and .670 OPS, but still added 14 home runs and 62 RBI.
But it was right fielder Whitey Herzog that ended up leading the team with an .839 OPS. Herzog improved from his rookie season with a .299 average, 17 home runs and 67 RBI.
This is the team that the Pirates will feature in what should be an exciting NLCS against the mighty Dodgers. The Dodgers led the NL with 106 wins and arguably the best pitcher in the entire league, Mickey McDermott. The heavy NL Cy Young Award favorite, McDermott went 31-7 with a 1.78 ERA. He led the NL in both wins and ERA. He also led the NL with 24 complete games and a remarkable 12 shutouts. He was as dominant this season as any pitcher has ever been.
Mickey McDermott put together arguably the most dominant pitching season in HOFFBL history.
And despite losing rookie Sandy Koufax (20-7, 3.20 ERA, 209 strikeouts) for the postseason, the Dodgers still have veterans Carl Erskine (22-12, 4.23 ERA) and Chris Van Cuyk (18-9, 3.75 ERA), who are both very solid pitchers themselves. And in the bullpen, there is All-Star closer Sonny Dixon, whose 42 saves led the NL.
But it's the Dodgers' offense that might even more scary than McDermott. The Dodgers have the perfect blend of veteran dependability (Jim Gilliam, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges) and talented youth (Jim Gentile, Roberto Clemente, John Roseboro) in what has been one of, if not the very best lineup in all of HOFFBL. Gilliam has long been of the league's best base stealers and has some power as well, but those other five hitters can all change a game with one swing. It will be quite a task for the Pirates' pitching staff in the NLCS.
Age is only a number for Duke Snider and Gil Hodges. Both veteran sluggers are showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Over in the American League, the 10-time defending AL pennant winning Yankees (who have represented the AL in the World Series in every year since 1949) will look to extend their streak to 11 consecutive pennants against a very good White Sox team.
The Yankees still have a ton of talent both on the mound and at the plate. Whitey Ford (21-5, 2.83 ERA), Vinegar Bend Mizell (21-5, 3.01 ERA), Don Larsen (15-11, 4.36 ERA), Jim McDonald (13-9, 3.46 ERA) and Tex Clevenger (19-5, 3.73 ERA) led one of the most dominant rotations around, while Dick Hyde racked up 36 saves at a 1.09 ERA clip. Norm Siebern and Mickey Mantle have led the offense once again, while Yogi Berra, Wally Post, Gus Triandos and Gil MacDougald have been great contributors as well.
For years, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle have led the Yankees' dynasty.
As for the White Sox, they are built around their very dominant pitching, led by two of the AL's best arms in veteran Billy Pierce (26-6, 2.58 ERA) and the younger Mike Fornieles (17-13, 2.95 ERA). If the White Sox are going to have any shot to get past the Yankees in the ALCS, they will without question need dominant starts from both Pierce and Fornieles. Steve Ridzik (20-10, 3.62 ERA) and strikeout machine Mudcat Grant (17-15, 3.90 ERA) round out the White Sox' rotation and it will be interesting to see which of the two Mark selects as his third postseason starter. Lindy McDaniel has had a nice season as the White Sox' closer with 32 saves and a 3.88 ERA.
Billy Pierce seems like a sure bet to win his second AL Cy Young Award this season.
Offensively, the White Sox will miss right fielder Jim King, who is still on the disabled list, but feature a lineup led by first baseman Joe Cunningham and left fielder Don Robertson. Speedsters Minnie Minoso and Maury Wills, plus third baseman Woodie Held and catcher Earl Battey have all had good seasons of their own as well. The White Sox' offense is in better shape than ever before in HOFFBL and they'll need to hit in order to keep up with the Yankees' loaded lineup.
If the saying "history repeats itself" is true, then this season could end up with another Yankees vs Dodgers World Series match-up. But hopefully, at least one of the underdogs will find a way to defy the odds and get to the World Series. But nonetheless, it should be a fun postseason as the White Sox and Pirates aim to upset the Yankees and Dodgers respectively.
It had been 32 seasons since the Pirates' last postseason appearance back in 1927, but all the recent patience with the Pirates' rebuild has paid off with a division title this season! Current GM Shale Briskin came in before the start of the 1953 season and quickly went to work with rebuilding the Pirates' minor league system while knowing that it would be some time before they would compete again.
But now in 1959, all the pieces have finally come together and the patience and hard work have paid off now. Success in baseball of course starts with pitching and the Pirates now have plenty of arms that have contributed this season. Veteran ace Robin Roberts missed some time with injuries, but went 13-8 with a 3.46 ERA, a team best 1.05 WHIP and a spectacular 137/23 strikeout/walk ratio.
But it was George Spencer more than anyone on the pitching staff that put the team on his back over a very dominant stretch in July (0.82 ERA in five starts) and August (2.85 ERA in eight starts). And this was when the Pirates really made their move to rise up in the NL East standings with Spencer leading the way. Despite a few poor starts at the very end of the season, Spencer finished the season with an 18-11 record and a 3.27 ERA, which led the rotation. He also led the team with 291.1 innings pitched, 22 complete games and four shutouts.
The George Spencer trade with the Giants became quite a steal for the Pirates.
Not to be forgotten, Don Drysdale has had a breakout season this year. The 23 year-old flamethrower won a career high and team leading 20 games and had a 3.54 ERA in 274.2 innings pitched. He led the team in strikeouts too with 186. Rounding out the rotation is "The Deacon" himself, Vern Law. Law went 18-12 and set a career high in wins. He also had a respectable 3.64 ERA in 269.1 innings pitched.
Despite the fact that everyone in the Pirates' rotation threw a lot of innings in almost every start, the Pirates have had a very good bullpen as well. The unit is led by closer Ike Delock, who saved 40 games this season (second in the NL) with a 2.87 ERA. He was successful in over 85% of his save attempts and has done very well in his only second full season as a closer.
Ron Kline split time between the rotation and being the setup man to Delock, but was solid in both roles with a 6-5 record and a 3.40 ERA. Dick Hall, Humberto Robinson and rookie Ernie Broglio were solid relievers as well.
The Pirates also had a very good offense. It started at the top with the bats and speed of center fielder Bob Skinner and second baseman Gene Freese. Skinner has had a career season with career highs in average (.308), doubles (31), runs scored (107), OPS (.794) and stolen bases (69), which he led the National League in. Freese in only his second season got off to a red hot start and was the starting second baseman for the National League All-Star team. Although he cooled off down the stretch, he still led the team with a .313 average, and contributed 11 home runs, 71 RBI, 97 runs, a .797 OPS and 62 stolen bases, which were good for third in the NL.
Gene Freese had a breakout season that included a red hot first half.
While Skinner and Freese were busy getting on base and creating runs, it was the bats of third baseman Gail Harris and left fielder Dick Stuart that were driving them in. Harris put together another very solid season and set a career high with 93 RBI. He also hit .289 (.328 vs right-handed pitchers) with 19 home runs, 80 runs scored and a .794 OPS. The slugging Stuart once again led the Bucs with 25 home runs and 102 RBI. Ironically, he had those exact same numbers in 1958 as well. He also had 28 doubles and a .790 OPS.
Dick Stuart has become the feared slugger the Pirates hoped he would turn into.
First baseman Roy Sievers overcame a very slow start and finished the season with 18 home runs and 84 RBI. His .238 average and .683 OPS though were very disappointing. Shortstop Clete Boyer was having a breakout season with a .277 average, 21 home runs and 72 RBI before an unfortunate season-ending injury midway through September. Veteran catcher Elston Howard had a somewhat disappointing season with a .253 average and .670 OPS, but still added 14 home runs and 62 RBI.
But it was right fielder Whitey Herzog that ended up leading the team with an .839 OPS. Herzog improved from his rookie season with a .299 average, 17 home runs and 67 RBI.
This is the team that the Pirates will feature in what should be an exciting NLCS against the mighty Dodgers. The Dodgers led the NL with 106 wins and arguably the best pitcher in the entire league, Mickey McDermott. The heavy NL Cy Young Award favorite, McDermott went 31-7 with a 1.78 ERA. He led the NL in both wins and ERA. He also led the NL with 24 complete games and a remarkable 12 shutouts. He was as dominant this season as any pitcher has ever been.
Mickey McDermott put together arguably the most dominant pitching season in HOFFBL history.
And despite losing rookie Sandy Koufax (20-7, 3.20 ERA, 209 strikeouts) for the postseason, the Dodgers still have veterans Carl Erskine (22-12, 4.23 ERA) and Chris Van Cuyk (18-9, 3.75 ERA), who are both very solid pitchers themselves. And in the bullpen, there is All-Star closer Sonny Dixon, whose 42 saves led the NL.
But it's the Dodgers' offense that might even more scary than McDermott. The Dodgers have the perfect blend of veteran dependability (Jim Gilliam, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges) and talented youth (Jim Gentile, Roberto Clemente, John Roseboro) in what has been one of, if not the very best lineup in all of HOFFBL. Gilliam has long been of the league's best base stealers and has some power as well, but those other five hitters can all change a game with one swing. It will be quite a task for the Pirates' pitching staff in the NLCS.
Age is only a number for Duke Snider and Gil Hodges. Both veteran sluggers are showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Over in the American League, the 10-time defending AL pennant winning Yankees (who have represented the AL in the World Series in every year since 1949) will look to extend their streak to 11 consecutive pennants against a very good White Sox team.
The Yankees still have a ton of talent both on the mound and at the plate. Whitey Ford (21-5, 2.83 ERA), Vinegar Bend Mizell (21-5, 3.01 ERA), Don Larsen (15-11, 4.36 ERA), Jim McDonald (13-9, 3.46 ERA) and Tex Clevenger (19-5, 3.73 ERA) led one of the most dominant rotations around, while Dick Hyde racked up 36 saves at a 1.09 ERA clip. Norm Siebern and Mickey Mantle have led the offense once again, while Yogi Berra, Wally Post, Gus Triandos and Gil MacDougald have been great contributors as well.
For years, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle have led the Yankees' dynasty.
As for the White Sox, they are built around their very dominant pitching, led by two of the AL's best arms in veteran Billy Pierce (26-6, 2.58 ERA) and the younger Mike Fornieles (17-13, 2.95 ERA). If the White Sox are going to have any shot to get past the Yankees in the ALCS, they will without question need dominant starts from both Pierce and Fornieles. Steve Ridzik (20-10, 3.62 ERA) and strikeout machine Mudcat Grant (17-15, 3.90 ERA) round out the White Sox' rotation and it will be interesting to see which of the two Mark selects as his third postseason starter. Lindy McDaniel has had a nice season as the White Sox' closer with 32 saves and a 3.88 ERA.
Billy Pierce seems like a sure bet to win his second AL Cy Young Award this season.
Offensively, the White Sox will miss right fielder Jim King, who is still on the disabled list, but feature a lineup led by first baseman Joe Cunningham and left fielder Don Robertson. Speedsters Minnie Minoso and Maury Wills, plus third baseman Woodie Held and catcher Earl Battey have all had good seasons of their own as well. The White Sox' offense is in better shape than ever before in HOFFBL and they'll need to hit in order to keep up with the Yankees' loaded lineup.
If the saying "history repeats itself" is true, then this season could end up with another Yankees vs Dodgers World Series match-up. But hopefully, at least one of the underdogs will find a way to defy the odds and get to the World Series. But nonetheless, it should be a fun postseason as the White Sox and Pirates aim to upset the Yankees and Dodgers respectively.
