Mordecai Brown by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Mordecai Brown

Page 107

run, Chicago led the NL in fewest runs allowed, and did so by substantial margins. In 1906, the Cubs allowed only 381 runs, 89 fewer than the next club, Pittsburgh. In 1907, Chicago's 390 runs allowed were 86 fewer than the Philadelphia Phillies' second lowest total. In 1909, the Cubs allowed a mere 390 runs while the pennant-winning Pirates allowed the second fewest runs, 447. And in 1910, Chicago again led the league in fewest runs allowed with 499, New York coming in second with 567. These are big differences. Though they did not always put up the highest number of runs scored, their differential was always the best.

One reason the Cubs' pitching was so great was their team fielding. According to data available, Chicago led the league in defensive efficiency; making outs on balls put into play, every year of the five except 1908. Their rate of making outs on 72.6% of playable balls in 1906-10 was far better than the league average of 69.9%. In 1906 and 1907, the Cubs' defensive efficiency rated 4.2 and 3.0 percent better than the second best NL team. While the Cubs never led the league in double plays; thanks in large part to their stinginess in allowing base runners, "Tinker to Evers to Chance" deserved to have a poem written about them for their overall defensive prowess.