Annual Analysis
Posted 08-04-2017 at 10:30 PM by bjohn13
I have to admit, these short 132 game seasons go by way too fast. I love the drama of a season, and 132 games just doesn't cut it. The season ends just when things are getting good.
I really did try to acquire a center fielder in the off season. I went after pretty much everyone in the league who had a defensive rating over 60, and everyone wanted Duke Farrell in return. I wasn't quite ready to part with Farrell because even in a situation where he is no longer my starting center fielder, he still provides a ton of versatility being a switch hitter and a very good defender behind the plate and in the outfield. I would anticipate him still getting in 100 games.
I also tried to find a third baseman, but I didn't try nearly as hard for that. Even in that case, everyone wanted Duke Farrell in return.
So I ended up making no deals, and I was still very confident in this teams abilities going into the 1896 season. For two straight seasons, I was destroyed by injuries in the midst of pennant season. I fired my trainer in the off season and hired someone with similar ability. We'll see how that goes.
This team is mostly how I envision most of my teams to be at this point. I'm pretty sure I have my dream rotation on my roster. I just need to figure out who they are. I have solid defensive replacements at every position. The only part of this team that really aren't up-to-snuff by my standards is the defense in the outfield. Keeler is rated high in left field, but his numbers are about mid-level for the league's left fielders. Farrell in center field is actually playing a position where there isn't much depth defensively across the league, so his defensive rating is actually near the top of the league. Meanwhile, Billy Hamilton is in right field because he is a defensive liability. I think I may have damaged his defensive skills with my failed experiment in trying to turn him into a center fielder. However, since he has an MVP under his belt and is easily my most valuable offensive player, he stays on the roster.
Tommy Corcoran at shortstop has been a pleasant surprise for me. It's interesting how this team has come together given the fact that neither of my exceptional infielders were drafted with the intention of becoming starters. But here they are, and I honestly feel that I have the best middle infield in the league between Lou Bierbauer and Tommy Corcoran.
Given my abysmal showing at the end of 1895, I have a feeling that the press would be crucifying me for not making any offseason moves, but I'm confident that this team is one of the front-runners for the NL pennant in 1896. It's going to be a fun and interesting season.
I really did try to acquire a center fielder in the off season. I went after pretty much everyone in the league who had a defensive rating over 60, and everyone wanted Duke Farrell in return. I wasn't quite ready to part with Farrell because even in a situation where he is no longer my starting center fielder, he still provides a ton of versatility being a switch hitter and a very good defender behind the plate and in the outfield. I would anticipate him still getting in 100 games.
I also tried to find a third baseman, but I didn't try nearly as hard for that. Even in that case, everyone wanted Duke Farrell in return.
So I ended up making no deals, and I was still very confident in this teams abilities going into the 1896 season. For two straight seasons, I was destroyed by injuries in the midst of pennant season. I fired my trainer in the off season and hired someone with similar ability. We'll see how that goes.
This team is mostly how I envision most of my teams to be at this point. I'm pretty sure I have my dream rotation on my roster. I just need to figure out who they are. I have solid defensive replacements at every position. The only part of this team that really aren't up-to-snuff by my standards is the defense in the outfield. Keeler is rated high in left field, but his numbers are about mid-level for the league's left fielders. Farrell in center field is actually playing a position where there isn't much depth defensively across the league, so his defensive rating is actually near the top of the league. Meanwhile, Billy Hamilton is in right field because he is a defensive liability. I think I may have damaged his defensive skills with my failed experiment in trying to turn him into a center fielder. However, since he has an MVP under his belt and is easily my most valuable offensive player, he stays on the roster.
Tommy Corcoran at shortstop has been a pleasant surprise for me. It's interesting how this team has come together given the fact that neither of my exceptional infielders were drafted with the intention of becoming starters. But here they are, and I honestly feel that I have the best middle infield in the league between Lou Bierbauer and Tommy Corcoran.
Given my abysmal showing at the end of 1895, I have a feeling that the press would be crucifying me for not making any offseason moves, but I'm confident that this team is one of the front-runners for the NL pennant in 1896. It's going to be a fun and interesting season.
Total Comments 0
