Chasing the White Elephants
Plus Day in Review, May 4, 1908
Chasing the White Elephants
It’s early, but the Philadelphia Athletics are clearly on top in the American League.
It’s not hard to see why. They’ve been playing very well.
They scored a run early in this game, but it looked like the Red Sox might come back. Heinie Wagner came up with a runner on first and only one out in the top of the 9th inning:
Jack Coombs had made it this far without giving up more than a single walk — a rare feat for a starting pitcher with that dreaded “W” rating.
Up next was Gavvy Cravath. Cravath was 2 for 3, but I decided the most realistic thing would be to bunt with him:
And that left it up to Harry Lord, with two on and two out:
Well, that was the end of that.
That’s the trick with managing games in 1908. On the one hand, you can see the need to bunt guys over. On the other hand, there’s always a chance that bunting too much will cause you to run out of outs too quickly.
Cy Young has an ERA of only 0.71, and yet has a mere 2 wins against 4 losses.
Jack Coombs, meanwhile, looks more like Cy Young than Cy Young.
Other Action
Doves 1, Superbas 0: At Brooklyn, Harry Pattee missed a chance to win it. Read the summary here.
Cubs 6, Cardinals 2: At Chicago, the Cubs win yet another game. Watch the game here.
Reds 2, Pirates 0: At Pittsburgh, the Pirates have now lost 4 in a row to the Reds — the worst team in the National League. Watch the game here.
Giants 8, Phillies 7: At New York, both teams put on an absolutely amazing offensive display. Watch the game here. Read the summary here.
Athletics 1, Red Sox 0: At Philadelphia, see above.
Tigers 9, Browns 4: At St. Louis, the Detroit bats come alive. Both teams combine for 22 hits. Watch the game here.
Senators 6, Highlanders 2: At Washington, Burt Keeley strikes out 6 in a complete game victory. Watch the game here.
Standings
The Pirates are sinking like a rock. The American League, meanwhile, is just as tight as ever.