The SP Notebook

Number 2

PB 2-5 Relievers

Seasons one and four of the 5Y League, which covered the years 1998 and 2001, respectively, used Statis-Pro with home brewed cards. Same with the current Retro 5Y League season. As such, it is a sure bet that on those previous seasons, a number of PB 2-5 relievers were used. For the uninitiated, this type of relief pitcher denotes the worst batch in the league. You can bet that once I get off my behind to do some serious research on this topic, all three seasons will be analyzed. For now, this article will look at the performances as of the 70 game mark of all pitchers who are rated PB 2-5 for season III of Retro 5Y.

In Statis-Pro, a card is flipped to determine who will have 'control' in a plate appearance- the pitcher or the batter (P= pitcher, B= batter...PB...get it?). The bigger the range, the better the pitcher. PB 2-8 and 2-9 pitchers are prized. Once it is determined that the pitcher has control, chances are the batter will be out, and at any rate, there are no opportunities for a batter to get an extra base hit. Advantage pitcher. Conversely when the batter has 'control,' watch out! In this season, having a PB 2-7 or higher reliever is a big help, and most teams have at least one. But a couple of teams have no PB 2-7, and worse, have two or more PB 2-5 relievers in their pen and they can't leave 'till they've put in some innings. Yuck!! Let's take a look at all the PB 2-5 pitchers in the league and see how they're doing 70 games into the season!

<Real Life IP and ERA in Red>

Division One

Cuddles Marshall (Bitters 53.2, 7.88) Cuddles was brought up at game fifty to replace reliever Dick Rozek. In three games for the Bitters, he has tossed 2.2 IP and allowed three earned runs for a 10.11 ERA. He's alowed seven hits and walked one.

Vic Lombardi (Red Kegs 76.1, 6.60) Vic has made his way to the hill fifteen times this year and has a record of 0-2. He's allowed 23 earned runs in fifteen and a third innings. He's given up 31 hits, struck out four and walked 16. His ERA is 13.5

Charley Schanz (Red Kegs 22.2, 8.34) If you are looking for an exceptional PB 2-5 reliever, a true exception to the rule, a guy playing way beyond his rating to the point where he is putting up decent numbers, look no further than Mr. Schanz. Called up by the Red Kegs immediately after the thirty five game stat break, Schanz has tossed 14.2 innings in twelve visits to the mound. He's allowed five earned runs on ten hits, struck out nine and walked seven, for an ERA of 3.07. He's got eight innings to implode...

Hank Borowy (Tri-Town 57, 6.39) Hank opened the season as a power reliever, rated PB 2-8 for 32 innings. When he reached this milestone, his second card came into play (Borowy played for two clubs in 1950). His second card of course is rated PB 2-5. His total innings pitched for the year was 57, and thus far he has thrown 39.1 innings with a nice 2.97 ERA, so we'll see how he does over his last eighteen innings or so. He's allowed thirteen earned runs on forty hits. He's struck out eight and walked fifteen, and has a record of 5-3 with three saves.

Carl Scheib (Tri-Town 106, 7.22) Scheib is Tri-Town's most recent call-up, joining the club in time for game 62. He's appeared in five games and in six innings has not allowed any earned runs. He's given up five hits, struck out four and walked two. Superb numbers, and where there's life, there's hope, but keep in mind he has another hundred innings to go before he can be replaced, and he is one of three PB 2-5 relievers lurking in Tri-Town's bullpen; a huge factor as they sit in first, a mere two games ahead of the Bitters.

Bill Voiselle (Tri-Town 51.1, 5.79) Bill came up in game 49 to replace Moe Burtschy (we'll get to him a little later), making him the first call-up of the season for Tri-Town. Like Charley Schanz, he is having an unusually good year, allowing six earned runs in fifteen and a third innings pitched. He's given up sixteen hits, struck out nine and walked ten, sporting a 3.52 ERA. He was given a start (he lost), and was roughed up for five earned runs in three and two thirds. He is 0-1 with two saves on the year, and Tri-Town better hope he has some good innings in his tank for the second half of the season.

Division Two

Al Papai (Lecheros 50.2, 6.75) Papai is getting a lot of work, appearing in seventeen games in which he has pitched 26.2 innings and has allowed twenty four earned runs for an ERA of 8.10. He's given up forty one hits and has struck out ten while walking twenty four. He has a record of 0-1, and is about halfway done with his stint with the surging Lecheros.

Bob Hall (Mutuals 50.1, 6.97) Bob has put in his hours, and has the bruises to show for it, appearing in nineteen games, two of them starts. He's tossed 29.1 innings and allowed thirty nine earned runs on fifty seven hits. He's struck out twelve and walked thirty three, and his ERA is 11.97. He went five innings in his first start, and allowed five earned runs on seven hits. In his second start he could only manage four innings, but he gave up four earned runs to stay consistent! Mutuals fans take heart...he's got twenty one innings left- they should go like that! (snaps his fingers).

==HONORABLE MENTION==

Two PB 2-5 pitchers have used up their allotted innings this year. Here's how they did:

Moe Burtschy (Tri-Town 19, 7.11) Moe actually did better than expected, finishing with a 5.85 ERA. He was 1-0 with one save for Tri-Town, allowing thirteen earned runs in twenty innings. He gave up thirty three hits, struck out nine and walked nineteen.

Dick Fowler (Bitters 66.2, 6.48) Dick pitched sixty eight innings, had thirteen starts, and finished with a record of 3-6, 9.93. He had one complete game. He allowed seventy five earned runs on 101 hits. He struck out fifteen and walked sixty two. He had 163 men reach base in his sixty eight innings pitched. Phew, ma'am!!