Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )

[petrel]

:kicks Coach Owens:

I'm just kicking him because it seems like the fun thing to do.

[RedsoxRockies]

:Puts an Angels hat on Coach Owens:

[PotatoOfCouch13]

Coach Owens: Yes, I am a widdle sad about the series. It has not gone well, and I'm angry. I feel that I have every right to be, as my team has scored 1 FREAKIN' RUN!!!

CatKnight: Thanks, I appreciate the help. And the sympathy helps too. At least I know I have backup in case I ever get into a war with Coach

Coach Owens: Awesome movie. I'm so glad I paid to see it.

filihok: Actually, I think it's a little of both. Of course, we actually have to be close in the 9th inning to use him, but yeah.

RedsoxRockies, petrel: Ahhh, mob mentality at it's finest!

RedsoxRockies: the lowest form of humiliation...

SEPTEMBER 30, 1945
1945 WORLD SERIES
GAME 4

With the Phillies’ collective backs against the wall, manager Bucky Harris turns to 40-year-old Red Ruffing to force a 5th game tomorrow. With Red’s contract expiring at the end of the season, Bucky figured that it would be a fitting gesture to send the old man out at Yankee Stadium, where he earned the majority of his 309 career wins. He would square off against the winner of Game 1, Tiny Bonham.

It turned out to be a day to forget. The Yankees explode for 12 runs, as Tiny Bonham tosses a 4-hit shutout, his 2nd shutout of the series.

Yankees 12, Phillies 0
Yankees win series, 4-0
W: Tiny Bonham L: Red Ruffing

*

Wow.

I did not expect to get completely dominated by the Yankees.

Needless to say, I want to win, and that may lead to some changes around here...

[RedsoxRockies]

Ooooh changes, I know, GET TED WILLIAMS

[PotatoOfCouch13]

You know, his contract with the Red Sox does expire at the end of the season...

[PotatoOfCouch13]

1945 SEASON AWARDS

NL MVP: Reds LF Stan Musial - .318, 34 HR, 127 RBI
Stan the Man makes it 4 MVP awards in 4 full seasons.

NL CY: Phillies SP Robin Roberts – 25-6, 2.39 ERA, 130 K
NL ROY: Phillies SP Robin Roberts – 25-6, 2.39 ERA, 130 K
The 2nd consecutive year that a rookie pitcher for the Phillies has doubled up these awards. This also makes 3 straight ROY awards for Philadelphia

NL GG:
SP Bob Chesnes – Pirates (1)
C Hank Camelli – Pirates (1)
1B Jack Graham – Dodgers (1)
2B Jackie Robinson – Dodgers (2)
3B Bobby Rhawn – Giants (2)
SS Phil Rizzuto – Phillies (1)
OF Stan Musial – Reds (3)
OF Monte Irvin – Giants (1)
OF Andy Pafko – Cubs (2)

AL MVP: Red Sox LF Ted Williams - .340, 48 HR, 127 RBI
After setting new career highs in HR and RBI, what’s next for Ted? The single-season home run record, perhaps?

AL CY: Yankees SP Tiny Bonham – 24-4, 2.14 ERA, 80 K
The ace on the most dominant team in baseball was the most deserving candidate.

AL ROY: Athletics 3B George Kell - .318, 5 HR, 65 RBI
Finally! A choice I can agree with!

AL GG:
SP Tex Hughson – Red Sox (1)
C Clyde McCullough – Red Sox (1)
1B Elbie Fletcher – Athletics (2)
2B Don Kolloway – White Sox (1)
3B Ellis Clary – Tigers (3)
SS Pee Wee Reese – Yankees (3)
OF Stan Spence – Senators (2)
OF Bob Elliott – Tigers (3)
OF Danny Litwhiler – Athletics (1)

Chuck Klein Award for Best Major League Hitter
CF Larry Doby

Grover Alexander Award for Best Major League Pitcher
SP Robin Roberts

Crash Davis Award for Best Minor League Hitter
LF Ed Sanicki - .353, 7 HR, 76 RBI, 15 SB for AAA Utica

Ron Necciai Award for Best Minor League Pitcher
SP Eric Whelan – 14-2, 3.39 ERA for AA Wilmington/AAA Utica

*

ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS

Rumor has it that Robert Quinn is looking to sell the Boston Braves. Manager Bob Coleman’s contract was not renewed, leaving many to speculate that a new owner will appoint a new manager.

*

After a disappointing finish (19 games behind the Yankees), Boston Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey ultimately decided that Eddie Collins is more suited to a front office role. Collins has been stripped of his managerial duties, and will fully concentrate on his role as General Manager.

*

Cleveland Indians owner Alva Bradley was in the same position as Yawkey, agreeing that GM/Manger Roger Peckinpaugh was not the man for both jobs.

*

The Chicago White Sox have fired GM Harry Grabiner, replacing him with Leslie O’Connor.

*

After a “disagreement in principles” with co-owner Larry MacPhail, New York Yankees manager Joe McCarty resigned. No word on if he will manage again, but he is the unquestioned ‘big fish’ of the available managers.

*

Philadelphia Phillies manager Bucky Harris has resigned after a confrontation with owner Andrew Walsh. Harris will be another hot commodity this offseason.

*

Although team representatives are denying the rumors, sources have found that Pittsburgh Pirates owner Florence Dreyfuss is looking to sell the team. No word on potential buyers.

*

St. Louis Cardinals manager Billy Southworth’s contract was not renewed, leaving the manager free to sign with any team.

[filihok]

After a “disagreement in principles” with co-owner Larry MacPhail, New York Yankees manager Joe McCarty resigned. No word on if he will manage again, but he is the unquestioned ‘big fish’ of the available managers.

*

Philadelphia Phillies manager Bucky Harris has resigned after a confrontation with owner Andrew Walsh. Harris will be another hot commodity this offseason.

If you can't beat them, have them join you?

[CatKnight]

Now that would be amusing. Have McCarthy and Harris switch teams

[RedsoxRockies]

You should buy the Braves, and do liek the Yankees did with the Royals Trade all the Phillies to Boston!

[PotatoOfCouch13]

filihok: Exactly!

CatKnight: As awesome as that would be, a pesky (yet awesome) team from New England beat me to the punch.

RedsoxRockies: Imagine Warren Spahn and Robin Roberts on the same team...

START FREE AGENCY 1945

The biggest fish by far is 2B Bobby Doerr, who was too expensive for the Red Sox at this time. I’ll definitely have my eye on Bobby, as our 2nd baseman was a point of weakness for us this season.

BEST HITTERS
01. 2B Bobby Doerr (94)[27] - 5Y/$43,100
	1945 BOS - .305, 25 HR, 117 RBI
02. RF Tommy Holmes (94)[28] - 4Y/$34,200
	1945 BSN - .292, 10 HR, 61 RBI
03. 3B Bob Kennedy (93)[25] - 5Y/$30,300
	1945 PIT - .287, 5 HR, 68 RBI
04. RF Augie Bergamo (93)[28] - 4Y/$35,700
	1945 CIN - .309, 15 HR, 73 RBI
05. RF Hank Edwards (90)[25] - 4Y/$28,500
	1945 CLE - .270, 15 HR, 63 RBI
06. LF Culley Rikard (88)[31] - 3Y/$26,000
	1945 PIT - .282, 6 HR, 61 RBI
07. CF Sid Gordon (87)[28] - 3Y/$22,600
	1945 NYG - .243, 2 HR, 31 RBI
08. 1B Babe Young (87)[30] - 4Y/$20,700
	1945 CIN - .284, 3 HR, 17 RBI
09. 1B Luke Easter (86)[30] - 4Y/$34,300
	1945 CLE - .254, 19 HR, 80 RBI
10. LF George Case (85)[29] - 4Y/$25,600
	1945 CHW - .298, 3 HR, 47 RBI, 42 SB

BEST PITCHERS
01. SP Johnny Podgajny - 4Y/$27,900
	1945 CHC - 8-15, 3.46 ERA, 90 K
02. RP Steve Gromek - 3Y/$25,800
	1945 CLE - 6-4, 2.61 ERA, 8 SV
03. SP Joe Haynes - 4Y/$18,000
	1945 BOS - 3-0, 2.95 ERA, 24 K
04. SP Gene Lambert - 3Y/$26,800
	1945 PHI - 6-9, 3.86 ERA, 76 K
05. SP Phil Marchildon - 3Y/$19,000
	1945 CHC - 2-4, 5.80 ERA, 29 K
06. RP Joe Page - 2Y/$12,400
	1945 PHI - 1-0, 3.63 ERA, 0 SV
07. SP Red Ruffing - 2Y/$29,370
	1945 PHI - 11-11, 3.61 ERA, 105 K

[RedsoxRockies]

Get Doerr and Johnny Pod!

[CatKnight]

You should buy the Braves, and do liek the Yankees did with the Royals Trade all the Phillies to Boston!

Uhm...you're referring to the 50s KC Athletics, right?

[RedsoxRockies]

Uhm...you're referring to the 50s KC Athletics, right?

Yea, oops lol. I have made a lot of errors today lol.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

RedsoxRockies: Yeah right! I kinda want to get back under budget! Besides, remember what happened last time Johnny Pod was on this team?

MANAGER UPDATE

The Boston Red Sox pounced first, signing former Yankees skipper Joe McCarthy to be their new manager.

*

The New York Yankees reacted quickly, signing former Phillies manager Bucky Harris to the same position.

*

The Cleveland Indians, reacting to the managerial ‘musical chairs’, signed former Indians player and ex-Browns manager Luke Sewell.

*

The Boston Braves gobbled up former Cardinals skipper Billy Southworth.

*

The St. Louis Cardinals hired former pitcher Eddie Dyer to be their new manager.

*

With all the other clubs acting quickly, I knew I was in deep trouble. Without a manager, there was really not a whole lot I could do with this club. Yes, we had the talent already in place for next season, but we don’t have anyone to put it all together. However, I did have my eye on a minor-league manager. He was a player back when I was just beginning my love for the game, but even back then he was a bit of a goof. He already had 2 stints as a Major League manager, but after guiding the minor league Milwaukee Brewers to 2 straight American Association titles, I felt that he deserved a 3rd shot.

Problem is, he’s a hands-on manager, and I’m a hands-on owner.

I ultimately decided to keep looking for a manager. I guess I have a lot more work to do…

[PotatoOfCouch13]

WINTER MEETINGS
DECEMBER 6, 1945

Ah, sunny Miami. I’m so glad we agreed to hold the Winter Meetings here. While Elizabeth is up in Philadelphia taking care of Sam, I’m here for the weekend. Lucky me.

I threw Vince DiMaggio’s name around the room on Thursday night. Not surprisingly, people were hesitant to inquire more. I also mentioned Hugh Casey to a few other owners. Again, there were no takers. People must be getting wise to my shrewd trades…