Richmond Rifles 1912 Season Preview
On the heels of a first-place finish followed by a disappointing sweep by Brooklyn, the Rifles head into 1912 with basically the same roster as last September.
There’s no real getting around the fact that Richmond hasn’t improved in 1912, showing signs of decline in some of their aging veteran players. For the first time in nearly a decade, pitching is a concern at Libby Hill; Garrett Dixon floundered in 1911 and Justin Little still needs development. Jacks isn’t getting any younger. Longtime offensive anchor Tennessee Mears seems to be giving up the ghost, and most are wondering if SS Scud Scranton is far behind.
With most of their minors depleted last year in their first-place divisional run, the general outlook at Libby Hill is gloomy; a long gaze is fixed northward on the rising teams across the EL. Brooklyn, with their explosive acquisitions last offseason, is no longer on the same planet as any other LBL team.
It’s an existential moment for the LBL’s only “southern” ballclub; do they embrace their demise, or sally forth to hold on to their half-decade run of postseason appearances? Most agree it was a miracle they even made it last season.
Richmond may not have the brass they grew accustomed to, but they are far from out of the fight. Jacks/Little is a fearsome 1-2 combo, and there’s plenty of young talent across their outfield. 3B Dwight Ford is among the best at his position. Does “Machine” Robley have one more great season in him? Will lady fortune remain in the south, or has she finally sailed down the James River?
PITCHERS
SP Chester “Jellybean” Jacks
A perennial 2nd place Golden Arm candidate, doomed to be born in the same universe as Robert Batkin, “Jellybean” may not have the institutional love of former Richmond great Ivy Maw, but he’s undeniably a better pitcher, and the best pitcher even to don a Rifles uniform.
With a high-quality three-pitch mix and elite control, the question on every Virginian’s mind is when the 34-year-old ace will begin his decline.
Jellybean returns from a quality season where he relegated his league-high win record (to teammate Just Little) for the first time in four years. There’s evidence his fastball lost some edge, but his sinker and cutter are still among the best in baseball. Expect another quality season from the Rifles.
SP Justin “Lizard” Little
The future Ace of Richmond, “Lizard” is basically a younger version of Jacks, with the same three pitches and a higher groundball tendency. He improved drastically in 1911, but (like all Richmond pitchers last year) he gave up too many hits.
The 24-year-old seems to be close to reaching his potential; his velocity probably isn’t getting much higher. Still, he’s an upper-tier EL Pitcher and should see another successful season. Little led the EL in Wins last year.
SP Garrett Dixon
The lone lefty of the Richmond lineup, Dixon had a subpar season, and at 26 years old has certainly fallen short of the ambitions scouts once had for him. He gave up the most runs in the EL last year—but more concerning is his middling control. Should his command suffer any further, he places the organization in a dangerous predicament, as there is no prospect in the Richmond system likely to take his place.
Dixon, however, is not without use; he can eat innings far better than his colleagues and still finished just below average for a EL pitcher. He is a serious weakness on the roster—with the sudden retooling of Boston and the rising capital in New York, Richmond’s long run of playoff berths may hinge on Dixon’s ability to shine this season.
RP Guadalup Bassick
A rookie last season, the hard-throwing Bassick had an abysmal season by all accounts, managing a 7.9 BB/9. The only thing surprising about the undrafted free agent from 1908 is that he didn’t suck worse.
Look for low leverage from Bassick; his control is simply not feasible for any workhorse duties from the bullpen.
RP Price Thompson
Thompson, 35 and in his third year in the majors, had a fantastic season in relief last year. He registered a 158 ERA+ and a 0.89 WHIP. He will likely be the go-to reliever for Jacks and Little for the L/R matchup and should continue to garnish his fair share of saves in a low-bullpen environment at Libby Hill.
RP Albert Willis
Willis, 40, has been with the Rifles for some time. Much like the 26-year-old Dixon, he’s a lefty with the stamina and repertoire to start, but never seemed to find his place as a front-man. After his disastrous chance in the 3-hole in 1910, he returned in ’11 to an admirable relief performance across 15 short innings. His control and movement are elite, and we’ll see what the old man can do behind Thompson. What could have been, Bert.
CATCHERS
C Celestin Robley
It’s uncertain when “The Machine” will call it quits, but when he does, it will be to the sound of a parade down Main Street.
At 38, Robley enjoyed an unexpected renaissance, rallying to hit .298 with 41 RBIs and 53 Runs. He earned his 8th Golden Bat at Catcher; he earned his first in 1897. The 13-year veteran is currently the greatest LBL Catcher of all time, and he doesn’t look ready to hang them up.
He’s lost some of his contact, and his arm isn’t what it used to be, but the “Machine” is true to his namesake, and the heart of the Rifles organization.
C James Bell
Joining the Rifles last year in a move that sent Okie “Bat Boy” Sibthorp to Cleveland, Bell proved he was ready stop step into Robley’s shoes–whenever the time comes. A superior defensive Catcher, Bell hit .33 in 96 plate appearances last year, driving in 21.
While he’s no spring chicken, and not a true replacement of the “Machine” (who is?), Bell is a much-needed stopgap for Robley and a welcome addition in Richmond.
INFIELDERS
1B Tennessee Mears
A veteran favorite at Libby Hill, Mears settled in to his new 1B role well in 1911, no longer roaming the outfield. He slashed .289/.376/.402 in 1911, driving in 55 and scoring 78 runs. However, the 38-year-old is showing signs of age; he had a horrible season in 1910, and despite his rebound last year, there is plenty of competition at First Base with a young, talented, and overcrowded outfield.
Mears has likely played his last full season, barring any catastrophic injuries in Richmond. The 3-time Golden Bat and 1909 MVP may be hanging up his cleats—only time will tell. But he’ll be remembered as the kings-ransom 1906 acquisition that propelled the Rifles into their mid-ought glory.
2B Emory Golafre
After tearing onto the scene during his 1910 callup, Golafre’s start at Second Base in 1911 was so abysmal he was temporarily benched. The kid got his act together, climbing back to a lukewarm 77 OPS+ and driving in 49. A suitable glove at Second Base, Golafre now must compete with young glove Merle Huskinson, an elite defensive Shortstop who took over for Scud Scranton for a couple weeks last season.
Golafre’s bat likely won’t win any medals, but when he’s consistent, he’s an above-average hitter from both sides of the plate. Management is confident his offense will improve in 1912—if it doesn’t, he’ll probably be near the top of a utility 2B and pinch hitting strategy.
SS Scud Scranton
Scud isn’t getting any younger, but the 38-year-old didn’t show many signs of slowing down last year. He’s not an elite shortstop, but he’s better than most, and his bat still has much of the strength it always has.
A fan favorite, Scud came into the game at 32 and hasn’t let the Rifles down. He hits over 4.0 WAR each year, and rooters are looking to 42-year-old Leo McKenzie as proof that batters can hang on—sometimes. However, teammate Tennesee Mears, also 38, had a nearly cliff’s-edge decline in his projected production, so many are obviously worried Scud could suffer the same fate. Like Mears, he’s done his time—but fans and the front office alike are hoping for at least one solid performance from the veteran in 1912.
Scud will probably start at shortstop, but could move to 2B to replace Golafre if rookie Merle Huskinson (a far superior glove) looks ready for Shortstop.
SS Mariano Letwin
A utility infielder for some time now in Richmond, the 31-year-old Letwin didn’t hit particularly well but gets the job done as a backup. Unlike Emory Golafre, he can play all across the infield, though he gives up more errors than an infielder should. His bat is decent, despite a notable slump as a backup last year. Still, 20 RBIs in 63 games is a commendable achievement for a backup, and he’s a reliable insurance glove for injuries.
SS Merle Huskinson
A 1908 first-round pick, Huskinson can’t hit much, but he has a great glove. Richmond desperately needs to keep groundballs as outs, and Huskinson can do it better than anyone else on the team.
A possible strategy for the Rifles is to move Scranton to second over Golafre and place Husk at SS. He hit admirably in his debut last year, averaging .266 in 20 games. He draws his fair share of walks and will foul off a lot of pitches—but his bat will be a liability in a full-time position against a lopsided EL pitching cadre.
SS George Singleton
If you’re wondering “George Who?”, then you’re not alone. You’re also not from Philadelphia.
Singleton, among the most loathed teammates in recent Brewer memory, was famously sacked by the Brewers in 1907 and signed a minor league deal in 1908. He hit very well as a backup for the Rifles in 1910, but was the worst hitter on the team in 1911. Essentially an older version of Mariano Letwin with less utility coverage, Singleton will likely be the first cut in consideration if another position player is ready for the bigs.
3B Dwight Ford
One of the higher-end Third Basemen in the EL, Ford drew some MVP attention in 1911 and was unanimously voted in as the EL Golden Bat at 3B. He drove in 71 and hit .307 last year, with a league-high 525 plate appearances. He’s the core of the Richmond lineup, and his bat may need some extra spruce in Richmond this year to make up for declines elsewhere. At 31, Ford is still in his prime, and draws among the most walks in the league.
OUTFIELDERS
CF Caleb Williamson
Williamson wasted no time racing through the minors and supplanting longtime starter Tennessee Mears at Center Field. He’s a fantastic hitter with elite defensive skills, and at 24, will likely hold down Richmond’s outfield for years to come. With plus-plus speed and superior contact, Williamson’s inferior eye is a minor liability but is more than compensated for elsewhere.
RF John Creighton
A third-round pick in 1909, Creighton (24) also surged through the minors and started between Right Field and First Base last year, hitting .285 with 46 RBIs. With a strong rookie season, Creighton lent Richmond some much-needed flexibility in their first-place finish and is nearly impossible to strike out. Unlikely to be a star, Creighton is still a great bat and another young, dependable player. He’ll likely start between Right, Left, and First all season long.
LF Owen Brown
The Rifles’ 1st-round pick in 1910, Brown has some more room to develop but came out swinging in his rookie season, hitting .291 with 34 RBIs and 39 Runs. He is an elite corner outfielder with above-average speed on the basepaths. He’s likely the year-long starter in Left Field if he can keep the bat warm.
LF Delmer Moore
A 4th-round 1909 pick, Moore is a middling corner outfielder with a pretty good bat and some speed. He hit well over 50 starts last year and should be the year-long utility outfielder for the Rifles. He has below-average agility for a corner guy, and hits better against right-handed pitching. He’ll back up Brown and Creighton this season.
CF Edward Beardsley
A longtime minor league veteran of the Rifles organization, Beardsley is essentially a fifth outfielder, and his spot in the majors is by no means guaranteed. He didn’t start much but hit abysmally when he did. Don’t expect much out of Richmond’s fifth outfielder this year.