Baseball’s first drug controversy and offseason quiz highlight March meeting

Learning about baseball’s first drug controversy and prepping for the Hornsby Chapter’s Predictatron contest were the highlights in yesterday’s March meeting.

Seventeen chapter members and guests were treated to a presentation by SABR Halsey Hall Chapter member Dan Levitt (pictured above), who told us about Hal Newhouser’s use of Novocaine injections (relatively new at the time for ballplayers) to help pitch during the 1945 World Series in which he won two games, including a complete-game win in the clincher.

Levitt shared news articles that suggested a range of reactions when use of the drug was widely reported. Some headlines included the word “drug” and credited it with giving Newhouser an advantage, while other headlines focused on the medicinal use of the injection for recovery and prevention of injuries.

Newhouser himself said in sports articles of the day that he wouldn’t have been able to pitch with his sore shoulder without the injections. The controversy about the injections was short lived, according to Levitt.

Levitt also gave this presentation earlier this month at the 28th Annual NINE Spring Training Conference. Many thanks to Dan for visiting virtually with us to share his very interesting presentation.

In addition to Levitt’s presentation, we also discussed some of the experimental rules MLB is trying out in minor league baseball, such as adding larger bases, limiting pick-off throws to two per at-bat, using a “Robo-Ump” making balls and strikes calls, adding a 15-second pitch clock, and requiring all infielders to remain on the infield dirt prior to pitches. Monte Cely noted our discussion at the last in-person winter meeting in 2020 in which he presented information about the use of the Robo-Ump – strikes were more often called at the top and bottom of the zone while the edges were tighter.

Also, Michael Bass, winner of last month’s trivia quiz, helped us get ready for the upcoming season – and for Jim Baker’s Predictatron contest in which we try to guess the season standings and playoff winners – with a nifty quiz about offseason signings and trades.

Tad Myre, commissioner of the SABR Pee Wee Reese Chapter in Louisville, Kentucky, racked up 9 points to win our trivia quiz. I came in second with 7 points, Jan Larson with 6 and Dan Walsh with 4. Try your hand on the quiz at the end of this post (answers come after the questions). Tad Myre said he’ll provide a trivia quiz for our April monthly meeting.

This was the 171st consecutive month in which the chapter has met, with the last 12 meetings by Zoom.

Prepping for Predictatron

By Michael Bass

  1. Aside from signing Jackie Bradley Jr., the Milwaukee Brewers also signed Kolten Wong, statistically the best second baseman in 2019. Who will Wong replace, statistically the worst defense second baseman of 2020?
  2. The Los Angeles Angels are trying to improve their rotation with some mediocre or just plain “bad” arms. Perhaps the best is Jose Quintana. They have also added outfield Dexter Fowler. Of the $14.5 million he will be paid, within $250,000, how much will St. Louis have to pay?
  3. The Chicago White Sox added a quality pitcher who was in the top six in Cy Young voting each of the last two years in the American League. He’s never had a losing record in nine years in the MLB. Who is he?
  4. The Chicago Cubs added an effective starter who had his best year in 2020 statistically. He was with the San Diego Padres last year. Who is he? The Cubs also added a .230 lifetime hitter who has an OPS of .806 in his career (due to his 259 extra-base hits in 2,500 career at-bats). Who is he? Hint: He came from a far more difficult hitting park.
  5. This solid left fielder went from a division rival to Cleveland. His OPS is always around .800. He would rank far higher if he drew some walks and wouldn’t try to steal (39 steals in 59 attempts). Who is he?
  6. Outside of some bullpen additions, Houston has been quiet this off-season. Who did they recently sign to shore up their rotation now that Verlander is on the 60-day IL?
  7. San Diego added three potentially very good/middle-to-front rotation guys. One, Yu Darvish, was from the Chicago Cubs, another from Tampa Bay and a third from Pittsburgh. Who were the latter two?
  8. The New York Yankees added two starters. One is a former two-time Cy Young winner. The other is a promising fifth-year hurler from Pittsburgh. Who are they?
  9. The Washington Nationals added a number of players: 1) A three-time All-Star reliever who pitched for Cleveland last year; 2) A five-time All-Star starter from the Cubs; 3) A former Cub who in his career has hit 121 home runs in 1,806 official at-bats; and 4) An ex-Pirate who had 77 extra-base hits in 2019 and has a career OPS greater than .800. Who are they?
  10. Andrelton Simmons is with Minnesota now. According to Baseball Reference, he has 42.7 points of oWAR (offensive Wins Above Replacement) and dWAR (defensive Wins Above Replacement). Within two points, what is his dWar?
  11. The Blue Jays have vastly improved themselves in the rotation, infield and outfield. One was second in Cy Young in 2019 with a 4.6 WAR. The infielder was third in MVP voting with 8.9 WAR. The outfield was seventh in MVP with 6.4 WAR. These players combined for nearly 20 total WAR in 2019. Who are they?

12.Within 50 points, what was St. Louis’ new third baseman Nolan Arenado’s 2019 OPS?

  1. We know the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Trevor Bauer. What will he earn in his combined 2021 and 2022 seasons (within $2 million)?
  2. Chris Archer is returning to the Tampa Bay Rays from Pittsburgh. Who did Tampa get when they originally traded him? Name two of the three players.
  3. Kansas City added Andrew Benintendi, Mike Minor and one other player. This third player is the only major leaguer batter to have walked more than he struck out over the past five seasons. Who is he?
  4. The Oakland Athletics got Elvis Andrus for Khris Davis, but they also got a reliever who didn’t allow an earned run for San Diego in the 10 innings he pitched with the Padres. He also has struck out 490 over 364 career innings. Who is Oakland’s new closer?
  5. Seattle added a starter and reliever. In their last full season (2019), they were both excellent; one as a starter for the Yankees and the other as a Blue Jays reliever. Who are they?
  6. Aside from the additions of Trevor May and Francisco Lindor, what three potentially frontline to mid-rotation starters will the Mets have who didn’t pitch for them in 2020?

Answers

  1. Keston Hiura
  2. $12,750,000
  3. Lance Lynn
  4. Zach Davies and Joc Pederson
  5. Eddie Rosario
  6. Jake Odorizzi
  7. Blake Snell and Joe Musgrove
  8. Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon
  9. Brad Hand, Jon Lester, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Bell
  10. 26.6
  11. Hyun-jin Ryu, Marcus Semien and George Springer
  12. .738
  13. $40 million and $45 million
  14. Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows and Shane Baz
  15. Carlos Santana
  16. Trevor Rosenthal
  17. James Paxton and Ken Giles
  18. Carlos Carrasco, Taijuan Walker and Marcus Stroman