In the same format as for the NY Lincoln Giants, here is a brief look at where we are after about a third of the Strat-o-Matic Negro League replay with the NNL leading...
Chicago American Giants
How the season went so far
Chicago opened the series with a 2-1 series win against their League rivals from Kansas City and a split 2-game series against St. Louis. They continued to inch towards a very close lead in the NNL with a 1-2 series loss against the current ECL leaders, the Lincoln Giants, and another 2-1 series win vs. St. Louis.
A two-game series split vs their NY namesakes gives them a 2-3 season total against the ECL leader. They have still to face the Daisies and Grays from the ECL for the first time later in the season.
Within the NNL, they are currently on top of KC 2-1 and of St. Louis 3-2.
Individual performances
Playing in a huge ballpark, the Giants roster emphasizes defense. This does reflect in the lower team averages for offensive stats (just .250/.285/.374, i.e. far behind the ECL leading Lincoln Giants).
Turkey Stearn (.373/.383/.661) is a worthy leadoff hitter, but behind him batting averages quickly fall below .300 with Wild Bill Wright (.250/.267/.364 in nine appearances) closes to the team average.
Given the dimensions of their home ballpark, it is no surprise that homeruns happen at a lower clip (less than one per game, i.e. less than half the Lincoln Giants' ratio) and that more than half of these come from Stearn (4) and Serell (3).
Other big name players sport rather disappointing batting results so far (we'll see whether some regression towards a better mean is in the books for the rest of the season), like Bruce Petway (.196/.260/.217), Martin Dihigo (.172/.226/.310) and Jose Mendez with a disappointing 5 hits (and, at least, 5 walks and 5 stolen bases) for an anemic .114/.204/.136.
Overall defense does prove to be good, with a total of only 19 errors so far and several players (Stearn, Serrell, Dandridge, Wright, Perkins) with nine more more games and only one or no error.
Starters Foster (2-0 in three starts) and Cooper (3-0 in two starts and a relief appearance) provide a solid core of the starting rotation, and a team ERA of 4.75 is not too bad in this high-scoring environment.
Verdell Mathis leads the bullpen with 8.1 innings pitched in 6 relief appearances and a mixed record of 1-1, a save and a team-worst ERA of 9.72.
The worst luck (or run support) award goes to Smokey Joe Williams, who has the second most innings (23.2) in three starts and one appearance out of the pen, with a remarkable 3.80 ERA but a 1-2 record so far.
He opened the season with a complete game shutout victory over the Monarchs (against Satchel Paige himself). But after that, most of his runs allowed, and one loss, came out of two games where he conceded five runs each, but his team mates only managed a total of 2 resp. 6 runs (for the no-result).
What's next
The Giants will next host the Kansas City Monarchs for a four game series. After that, the Grays and the Daisies will visit Chicago to represent the ECL. If current standings reflect the teams' overall quality, it should be possible for the Giants to maintain their lead in the NNL - we will see whether the first third of the season was a fluke or an indication of true strength.
Trading / acquisition needs
It would obviously help the Giants to increase their offensive power.
A strong batter who can play first base to take some pressure off Dihigo, and a 3B/SS to help or replace Dandridge at 5th and free Mendez to focus more on pitching would help.
On the other hand, two positions are possibly overstaffed: second base with the very successful Serrell who relegated Hughes to the role of bench player and occasional pinch hitter, and the outfield where White and Lyons are hardly getting any at bats.
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