Some Obituaries of Recently Deceased Major Leaguers Part Two

[RED VAN HOT]

Beautiful article in the Athletic remembering Mike Bell as a compassionate, empathetic man.

https://theathletic.com/2485214/2021...rce=dailyemail

[50YrRedsFan]

3/31/2021...ex Cardinal, Giant, Cub, Pirate: Ken Reitz, age 69. https://www.mlb.com/news/ken-reitz-dies-at-age-69
Attachment 17095

[Big Klu]

The 2021 "Field of Dreams" Team signs a right-handed hitting former All-Star and Gold Glove winner at 3B.

Transactions
Signed 3B Ken Reitz.
Optioned 3B Mike Bell to AAA.


Lineup (8)
C Mike Sadek
1B Joe Cunningham
2B Wayne Terwilliger
3B Ken Reitz
SS Dr. Bobby Brown (primarily a 3B, but also played SS)
LF Billy Conigliaro
CF Angel Mangual
RF Henry Aaron

Bench (7)
C Norm Sherry
1B/OF Joe Altobelli
2B/1B/OF Pedro Gonzalez
SS/2B Ron Samford
SS Coot Veal (platoon starter with Brown)
OF Ed Armbrister
OF Stan Palys

Rotation (5)
RHP Don Sutton
LHP Juan Pizarro
RHP Stan Williams
RHP Paul Foytack
RHP Lew Krausse, Jr.

Bullpen (5)
LHP Grant Jackson (closer by default; was a good set-up man)
LHP Rheal Cormier
LHP Willard Hunter
RHP Tom Acker
RHP Wynn Hawkins


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
RHP Randy Tate
LHP Tommy Lasorda
RHP Duke Simpson
RHP Frankie De La Cruz
RHP Hy Cohen
LHP John LaRose
1B/C Don Gile
1B Ron Johnson
2B Don E. Leppert
2B Jim Snyder
3B Mike Bell
3B/SS Dick H. Smith
SS Al Naples


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Brown ss
Terwilliger 2b
Cunningham 1b
Aaron rf
Reitz 3b
Conigliaro lf
Mangual cf
Sadek c
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Terwilliger 2b
Cunningham 1b
Aaron rf
Reitz 3b
Conigliaro lf
Mangual cf
Sadek c
Veal ss
<pitcher>

The club adds a quality right-handed hitting 3B with doubles power and a defensive standout in Ken Reitz, which allows Bobby Brown to slide over to his secondary position at SS to improve the overall lineup. Brown, who started only 37 games vs. LHP in his entire career, will platoon with Coot Veal at SS.

[goreds2]

3/31/2021...ex Cardinal, Giant, Cub, Pirate: Ken Reitz, age 69. https://www.mlb.com/news/ken-reitz-dies-at-age-69
Attachment 17095

Baseball card memory. As a kid looking at his stats on the card, always thought he was a decent player.

[cumberlandreds]

Baseball card memory. As a kid looking at his stats on the card, always thought he was a decent player.

Yea I can remember Reitz coming up with the Cards. He was a pretty good player for a few seasons. Sounds like he truly loved the game. RIP Ken Reitz.

[50YrRedsFan]

3/30/2021...ex Red Sox: Chuck Schilling, age 83. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Schilling
Attachment 17115

[Tuff Nut]

3/31/2021...ex Cardinal, Giant, Cub, Pirate: Ken Reitz, age 69. https://www.mlb.com/news/ken-reitz-dies-at-age-69
Attachment 17095

wow...The Great Zamboni...RIP

[Big Klu]

The 2021 "Field of Dreams" Team signs another 2B to the roster.

Transactions
Signed 2B Chuck Schilling.
Optioned SS/2B Ron Samford to AAA.


Lineup (8)
C Mike Sadek
1B Joe Cunningham
2B Wayne Terwilliger
3B Ken Reitz
SS Dr. Bobby Brown (primarily a 3B, but also played SS)
LF Billy Conigliaro
CF Angel Mangual
RF Henry Aaron

Bench (7)
C Norm Sherry
1B/OF Joe Altobelli
2B/1B/OF Pedro Gonzalez
2B Chuck Schilling
SS Coot Veal (platoon starter with Brown)
OF Ed Armbrister
OF Stan Palys

Rotation (5)
RHP Don Sutton
LHP Juan Pizarro
RHP Stan Williams
RHP Paul Foytack
RHP Lew Krausse, Jr.

Bullpen (5)
LHP Grant Jackson (closer by default; was a good set-up man)
LHP Rheal Cormier
LHP Willard Hunter
RHP Tom Acker
RHP Wynn Hawkins


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
RHP Randy Tate
LHP Tommy Lasorda
RHP Duke Simpson
RHP Frankie De La Cruz
RHP Hy Cohen
LHP John LaRose

1B/C Don Gile
1B Ron Johnson
2B Don E. Leppert
2B Jim Snyder
3B Mike Bell
3B/SS Dick H. Smith
SS Al Naples
SS/2B Ron Samford


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Brown ss
Terwilliger 2b
Cunningham 1b
Aaron rf
Reitz 3b
Conigliaro lf
Mangual cf
Sadek c
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Terwilliger 2b
Cunningham 1b
Aaron rf
Reitz 3b
Conigliaro lf
Mangual cf
Sadek c
Veal ss
<pitcher>


The club signs yet another middle infielder, though Schilling is a better hitter than most of them, so he is added to the active roster where he will compete with Wayne Terwilliger for the 2B position. (Schilling has the higher ceiling, though Terwilliger has the greater longevity and is more consistent and versatile.) Light-hitting SS/2B Ron Samford is optioned to AAA to make room for him.

Interestingly, on baseball-reference.com, Wayne Terwilliger is #2 on Chuck Schilling's "Most Similar" list, and Schilling is #3 on Terwilliger's list.

[50YrRedsFan]

4/7/2021...ex Dodger, Brave: Jack Smith, age 85. https://ripbaseball.com/2021/04/18/o...ith-1935-2021/
Attachment 17161

[Big Klu]

The 2021 "Field of Dreams" Team signs a hard-throwing right-handed reliever for organizational depth.

Transactions
Signed RHP Jack Smith, and optioned him to AAA.


Lineup (8)
C Mike Sadek
1B Joe Cunningham
2B Wayne Terwilliger
3B Ken Reitz
SS Dr. Bobby Brown (primarily a 3B, but also played SS)
LF Billy Conigliaro
CF Angel Mangual
RF Henry Aaron

Bench (7)
C Norm Sherry
1B/OF Joe Altobelli
2B/1B/OF Pedro Gonzalez
2B Chuck Schilling
SS Coot Veal (platoon starter with Brown)
OF Ed Armbrister
OF Stan Palys

Rotation (5)
RHP Don Sutton
LHP Juan Pizarro
RHP Stan Williams
RHP Paul Foytack
RHP Lew Krausse, Jr.

Bullpen (5)
LHP Grant Jackson (closer by default; was a good set-up man)
LHP Rheal Cormier
LHP Willard Hunter
RHP Tom Acker
RHP Wynn Hawkins


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
RHP Randy Tate
RHP Jack H. Smith
LHP Tommy Lasorda
RHP Duke Simpson
RHP Frankie De La Cruz
RHP Hy Cohen
LHP John LaRose

1B/C Don Gile
1B Ron Johnson
2B Don E. Leppert
2B Jim Snyder
3B Mike Bell
3B/SS Dick H. Smith
SS Al Naples
SS/2B Ron Samford


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Brown ss
Terwilliger 2b
Cunningham 1b
Aaron rf
Reitz 3b
Conigliaro lf
Mangual cf
Sadek c
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Terwilliger 2b
Cunningham 1b
Aaron rf
Reitz 3b
Conigliaro lf
Mangual cf
Sadek c
Veal ss
<pitcher>


The 2021 club fills the final spot on the 40-man roster with a hard-throwing right-handed reliever who will compete with LHP Willard Hunter for the final spot in the bullpen. As currently contructed, this 40-man roster is not a particularly good club. Strengths include: right field (+++!!), the infield (particularly the corner infield spots), the rotation (though not nearly to the level of the 2020 club), left-handed relief pitching, and backup OF depth. Weaknesses include: lack of depth in the rotation, lack of quality right-handed relief pitching, lack of frontline starters in the OF (except RF), and a small army of AAAA middle infielders and relief pitchers clogging the roster.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Yea I can remember Reitz coming up with the Cards. He was a pretty good player for a few seasons. Sounds like he truly loved the game. RIP Ken Reitz.

I traded away scores of cards for those of Reitz.

All-Stars got preference in my collection. So did guys who had a .300 BA (no matter how few ABs) or 20 HR (no matter how many K's). Big fan of Ron Kittle, for example.

That meant rookies were largely shipped off.

I was a dumb kid.

[50YrRedsFan]

4/20/2021...ex Ranger; Reds and Mets hitting coach: Tom Robson, age 75. Uncle of Mike Moustakas. https://www.myjournalcourier.com/spo...d-16117891.php
Attachment 17171

[Big Klu]

The 2021 "Field of Dreams" Team signs a slugging minor-league 1B for additional depth.

Transactions
Signed 1B Tom Robson, and optioned him to AAA.
Designated LHP John LaRose for assignment.


Lineup (8)
C Mike Sadek
1B Joe Cunningham
2B Wayne Terwilliger
3B Ken Reitz
SS Dr. Bobby Brown (primarily a 3B, but also played SS)
LF Billy Conigliaro
CF Angel Mangual
RF Henry Aaron

Bench (7)
C Norm Sherry
1B/OF Joe Altobelli
2B/1B/OF Pedro Gonzalez
2B Chuck Schilling
SS Coot Veal (platoon starter with Brown)
OF Ed Armbrister
OF Stan Palys

Rotation (5)
RHP Don Sutton
LHP Juan Pizarro
RHP Stan Williams
RHP Paul Foytack
RHP Lew Krausse, Jr.

Bullpen (5)
LHP Grant Jackson (closer by default; was a good set-up man)
LHP Rheal Cormier
LHP Willard Hunter
RHP Tom Acker
RHP Wynn Hawkins


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
RHP Randy Tate
RHP Jack H. Smith
LHP Tommy Lasorda
RHP Duke Simpson
RHP Frankie De La Cruz
RHP Hy Cohen

1B/C Don Gile
1B Ron Johnson
1B Tom Robson
2B Don E. Leppert
2B Jim Snyder
3B Mike Bell
3B/SS Dick H. Smith
SS Al Naples
SS/2B Ron Samford


DFA
LHP John LaRose


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Brown ss
Terwilliger 2b
Cunningham 1b
Aaron rf
Reitz 3b
Conigliaro lf
Mangual cf
Sadek c
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Terwilliger 2b
Cunningham 1b
Aaron rf
Reitz 3b
Conigliaro lf
Mangual cf
Sadek c
Veal ss
<pitcher>


To make room for Tom Robson on the 40-man roster, the club designates left-handed relief pitcher John LaRose for assignment.

[50YrRedsFan]

4/22/2021...ex Brave, Cub, Athletic, Angel: Adrian Garrett, age 78. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...tt-dies-age-78Attachment 17189

[Big Klu]

The 2021 "Field of Dreams" Team signs a left-handed hitting catcher for additional organizational depth.

Transactions
Signed C/1B/OF Adrian Garrett, and optioned him to AAA.
Designated SS Al Naples for assignment.


Lineup (8)
C Mike Sadek
1B Joe Cunningham
2B Wayne Terwilliger
3B Ken Reitz
SS Dr. Bobby Brown (primarily a 3B, but also played SS)
LF Billy Conigliaro
CF Angel Mangual
RF Henry Aaron

Bench (7)
C Norm Sherry
1B/OF Joe Altobelli
2B/1B/OF Pedro Gonzalez
2B Chuck Schilling
SS Coot Veal (platoon starter with Brown)
OF Ed Armbrister
OF Stan Palys

Rotation (5)
RHP Don Sutton
LHP Juan Pizarro
RHP Stan Williams
RHP Paul Foytack
RHP Lew Krausse, Jr.

Bullpen (5)
LHP Grant Jackson (closer by default; was a good set-up man)
LHP Rheal Cormier
LHP Willard Hunter
RHP Tom Acker
RHP Wynn Hawkins


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
RHP Randy Tate
RHP Jack H. Smith
LHP Tommy Lasorda
RHP Duke Simpson
RHP Frankie De La Cruz
RHP Hy Cohen

C/1B/OF Adrian Garrett
1B/C Don Gile
1B Ron Johnson
1B Tom Robson
2B Don E. Leppert
2B Jim Snyder
3B Mike Bell
3B/SS Dick H. Smith
SS/2B Ron Samford


DFA
LHP John LaRose
SS Al Naples


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Brown ss
Terwilliger 2b
Cunningham 1b
Aaron rf
Reitz 3b
Conigliaro lf
Mangual cf
Sadek c
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Terwilliger 2b
Cunningham 1b
Aaron rf
Reitz 3b
Conigliaro lf
Mangual cf
Sadek c
Veal ss
<pitcher>


The club adds a much-needed left-handed bat to the organization, as they have only four other LH-hitting position players on the 40-man roster. Adrian Garrett also provides defensive versatility and depth to the organization, as he is able to play C, 1B, and both corner OF positions. To make room for Garrett, the club moves some of its excess middle INF depth off the 40-man roster, and designates SS Al Naples for assignment.