Despite falling apart against the eventual world champion Giants, 2010 has to be considered a successful season for Charlie Manuel's charges. Given the many injuries and the relatively poor offensive performance, Charlie was able to lead the Phillies to 97 victories and another post season appearance. Now with 2010 all but over and with pitchers and catchers scheduled to report in 43 days I thought it would a good time to talk about the prospects for the '11 season.
We have become accustomed to the Phillies being able to put up runs in bunches which made last year so hard to deal with. The team is aging and has had to deal with injuries to many of the key players. This season it will be about pitching, and you have to adore the starting rotation. I have no idea how the 2011 edition of the Phillies will perform, and I won't be drinking red kool-aid anytime soon - even though they have to be the favorites to win the NL going in to the season. You will be able to read in many mags and listen to many pundits predict the candystripers season so I thought I would warm up the Wayback Machine and take a trip to North Philadelphia setting the controls for Dec. 31, 1910. Come along for the ride and listen in as I interview A's manager Connie Mack about his teams chance for the upcoming '11 season.
Sorry for the turbulance, but at last we appear at the Broad Street Station and can go streetside to meet the driver that Mr. Mack has arranged to take us to his office at Shibe Park. Given that we had landed on a gray chilly day and that our car did not have windows, the ride north to Lehigh Avenue was not a pleasant one, but I was anxious to see the ballpark which had opened on Easter Sunday just two years ago in 1909. My driver was a pro and was able to negotiate the trip in about 20 minutes. Broad Street is a magnificent thouroughfare - tree lined and home to many mansions occupied by the movers and shakers of this booming industrial giant of a city. When the driver made the left turn onto 21st St, I got goosebumps knowing that I was just moments away from interviewing the man behind the team some were calling the best team of the day.
Here we are! Wow, even in the gray of winter the park looks awesome. We entered through the turreted main gate and I was escorted to Mr. Mack's second floor office by a security guard wearing a service medal from the Spanish-American War. I wonder if he had been at San Juan Hill.
When I walked into Mr. Macks office I saw a decor that seemed to come right out of Antiques Roadshow. The Keno brothers would be all over his Victorian desk, and would absolutely pass out at the sight of Mack's rolltop desk tucked in a corner. This is where he sat when he needed to get some real work done. Mack was a tall lanky man wearing a three buttoned pin stripe suit, a beautiful shirt with the detachable collar. He graciously offered me a seat, and after the obligatory questions about my trip we got down to basics.
LSF: Thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I know you are busy getting ready for the upcoming season.
Mack: Your welcome young man....now who did you say you wrote for?
LSF: Well, I am sort of an independent writer looking for a story about your champion A's.
Mack: We are indeed the defending world champions.
LSF: Last season your team won 102 games and beat the Cubs 4-1 in the series. Can your 1911 edition top that.
Mack: The core of last years team is back, so I am confident that we will be competitive. Young man, the game is about pitching and I'll put my staff against any. I've got Coombs coming back and you know he won 30 last year. Chief Bender is back coming off a 23 win season, and don't forget Eddie Plank who I think can be as good as anyone.
LSF: 102 is a lot of wins to try and duplicate - you'll need some hitting to go along with your stellar pitching.
Mack: We're gonna have a real good line-up, not too different from last year's. I have Frank Baker playing third, and with his power he might be able to hit 10 or more home runs. The college boy, Eddie Collins - he went to Columbia, has 2nd base covered, and even though the other guys think he is an overeducated snob, he'll do just fine. Stuffy McGinnis is one of the best 1st baseman in the league, and Jack Barry patrols SS as well as anyone, including that guy from the Cubs. We'll hit the ball well, and I expect big things from my outfield trio of Lord, Murphy, and Oldring. We've got two decent catchers in Ira Thomas and Jack Lapp, and my son Earle could provide decent play from the bench.
LSF: Given your success last year won't other teams be gunning for you - making it that much harder to repeat?
Mack: I'll take my chances with a team that beat the Cubs. They did all the talking about how good they were last year, and my boys beat the snot out of them. I worry about that gang from Detroit and Mr. Cobb, however. He is the meanest nastiest guy on the planet, and he likes to hurt opposing players when he slides into a base. Collins will have to be alert because he will be a target of Cobb's. Boston has a decent team with a good young left-hander -- what's his name, oh yes, Ruth. He'll be tough, and he isn't an automatic out when he bats. The New Yorkers aren't quite ready for prime time, and the Browns, White Sox, and Indians should be easy for our boys to beat. We may not win 102 this year, but I like our chances.
LSF: The ballpark is awesome, and has to be a big improvement over Recreation Park.
Mack: Yes it is, would you like a tour?
LSF: Please.
We walked down a flight of steps and soon were on the field. Though the grass was brown and the bases had been removed for the off-season I was impressed. Mack had spared no expense in building Shibe Park even though he could hardly afford this modern temple to the game. I was standing where home plate would be in a few months in what was then the grandest stadium of them all. Yankee Stadium wouldn't open for several years, and until it did this was the standard. As I looked around I saw the seats that many years later my father and I would sit in. (Always the third base side.) I have to admit that I was in awe of this palace and so many memories rushed at me from all sides. There out in center field I would watch a kid from Tilden Nebraska patrol his area with an aplomb he didn't get credit for. If a ball was hit hit to deep center (408) Whitey would more often than not get credit for a put-out. And looking out towards the 335 sign in left I could see Philly native Del Ennis making it look easy. So many memories.
Mack: Are you okay son, you look like you are in a trance.
LSF: I'm fine sir, I was just dreaming about the good times I am going to have in your ballpark when I am a kid.
Mack: What do you mean.
LSF: I thought you knew that I have traveled from the future to see you today. I came here on the Wayback Machine from 2010.
Mack: So, you know how this season turns out.
LSF: Yes sir, I do, but I'm not sure I'm supposed to tell you.
Mack: Well, maybe you could answer one question for me. Am I still the manager in 2010.
LSF: No sir, you are not, but your legend and accomplishments are still held in high esteem.
Mack: You aren't going to tell me about the '11 season are you?
LSF: I can't do that sir, but I'll leave you with this. The fans will have another year of great baseball here at Shibe Park. Mr. Mack, my time here is drawing to a close and I have to get back to my time, or I might get stuck here. I wouldn't want to stay here and end up in a trench somewhere in Europe in a few years. So let me thank you for your time and wish you a successful 1911 campaign.
Mack: Thanks for coming young man, I'll have my driver take you to your Wayback train, but if you want he'll stop at the Automat on the way.
They serve a great cup of coffee at the Automat, and a cup only costs a nickle.
LSF: I'll take a raincheck on the Automat, and thanks again for your time.
There is always Wayback lag when I travel back to our time, but before I take a well deserved nap I'll tell you what I wasn't allowed to tell Mr. Mack. His 1911 A's didn't equal their 102 wins of '10, but did come in with a record of 101-50 finishing 13 1/2 games over the second place Tigers.
Jack Coombs fell three short of his 1910 win totals but managed to bring home 28 victories. Bender had an off year only winning 17, but Eddie Plank won 23. These guys could pitch.
Home Run Baker managed to hit 11 home runs on top of hitting .334. College boy Eddie Collins came in at .365 and a .451 OBP, with McGinnis, Lord, Murphy, and catcher Jack Lapp all hitting well north of .300. The team batting average was a very lusty .296, a number unheard of in this era where .265 is considered a good year.
In the 1911 series, the A's dispatched the John McGraw-led NY Giants four games to two, including two wins over Christie Mathewson. Yessir, our home town heroes brought home the championship flag for the second year in a row. Maybe our current heroes can do it again. The Wayback machine only goes back in time so we'll have to tune in when the candystripers take the field on April 1 against the Houston Astros.
I hope you've enjoyed the trip back and that you will all have a happy and healthy new year. (Now about right field!)
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