injury bug update
 

Paul Splittorff is due back in a week or two, this should provide a lift in the rotation. A rotation that has held up pretty strong in the Royals recent offensive ineptitude. They just broke out of a 31 inning scoreless drought to beat the Twins in the 10th. The two shutouts in the middle of the streak were at the hands of the Yankees, Doc Medich and Luis Tiant.

Joe Foy has been lost for 4 months, which forces Mazeroski into a daily job. Rich Severson has played fairly well and displayed enough better range than Maury Wills that manager Smith now has him inserted as the everyday SS.

The Royals were able to pick up Jesus Alou off of the minor league scrap heap in Houston, the move cost them Fred Lasher as well as young backstop Ellie Rodriguez.

With all of these injuries it would seem to be a miracle for the Royals to stay around .500

Favorite team or player???
 

If any of you that are following this would like any updates on a favorite team or player, just let me know. I do not have the time to allow it to "overrun" what I am doing, but, if it would make things more interesting for you I can give it a try

Looks like 1972 is shaping up to be THE YEAR OF DICK DRAGO ;-)

When you have time, how are some Dodgers - such as Willie Davis, Tommy Davis, Don Sutton, Claude Osteen - doing? Will probably ask about Garvey-Lopes-Russell-Cey later, after your sim has progressed a few years.

7/1/72 update
 

Well I will try not to whine too much about the injury bug that has afflicted this years Royals club.

AL East
Yankees up by 6 gms over the Tigers and the Red Sox

AL West
Athletics up .5 gm over the White Sox, 3.5 ahead of the Twins and Royals

NL East
Mets .5 gm lead over the Pirates

NL West
Dodger (52-26) 7.5 gm lead over the Giants, Dodgers have best record in baseball

Avg
Tommy Hutton (NYA) .338 Al Oliver (PITT) .364
Joe Keough .270

HR
R Jackson (OAK) 19 Bobby Bonds (SF) 17
Richie Hebner 6 Rick Monday (LA) 17

RBI
R Jackson (OAK) 51 Bobby Bonds (SF) 54
Richie Hebner 38

SB
B Campaneris (OAK) 28 Joe Morgan (HOU) 34
Pat Kelly 17

W
J Lonborg (BOS), D Medich (NYA) 12 Tom Seaver (NYN) 12
Dick Drago 8

ERA
Lynn McGlothen (BOS) 1.49 Tom Seaver (NYN) 1.97
Dick Drago 2.45

K
Vida Blue (OAK) 115 Tom Seaver (NYN) 156
Dick Drago 79

Willie Mays was lost for 5 weeks with a broken hand, it occurred when he punched a fire extinguisher after a frustrating loss, just kidding Knicks fans

Don Sutton (LA) 11-6 2.06 ERA
Claude Osteen (LA) 2-0 4.91 ERA in 17 appearances
Willie Davis (LA) hitting .315 in only 89 AB's, loss of playing time to Rick Monday
Tommy Davis (NYA) .251 in 161 AB's after coming over from the Brewers

So I take it you have players importing to their original teams but the AI can trade them... How did Rick Monday end up on the Dodgers in '72? Who were the players involved in that trade?

In July of 71, just prior to the trade deadline he was dealt to LA in exchange for Wes Parker, who is currently battling for the AL hitting crown.

Yes, they are starting with the original teams, you are correct, and AI from there. I have trades set to difficult and reserve era clause, FA to begin prior to 1976

8/1/71 update
 

Dick Drago, Roger Nelson and Richie Hebner are all selected to the AS Game.

Frank Robinson has clobbered his 500th HR

The Royals closeout July with a 53-52 record trailing the A's by 4 games, however, they are headed to Oakland for a brief 2 game set.

AL East
Yankees (67-39), mlb best lead the Tigers by 5, Red Sox by 6

AL West
A's lead KC by 4, Twins by 8.5

NL East
Mets lead the Pirates by 10

NL West
Dodger with a 7 game lead over the Giants, 7.5 over the Reds

AVG
Tommy Hutton (NYY) .351 Ralph Garr (ATL) .333
Richie hebner .318

HR
Norm Cash (DET) 25 Bobby Bonds (SF) 24
Richie Hebner 11

RBI
Sal Bando, Reggie Jackson (OAK) 64 John Mayberry (HOU) 71
Richie Hebner 56

SB
S Alomar (CHW), Campaneris (OAK) 35 Joe Morgan (HOU) 45
Pat Kelly 27

W
Sonny Siebert (CLEV) 17 Jon Matlack (NYN) 16
Dick Drago 12

ERA
Lynn McGlothen (BOS) 1.34 Tom Seaver (NYN) 1.78
Dick Drago 2.26

K
Vida Blue (OAK) 157 Tom Seaver (NYN) 206
Steve Busby 111

Several pitchers (5) have 15 wins or more, be interesting to see if anyone can reach 30. Also, how many of our many repeat 20 game winners will return to that form.
Al Oliver (PITT) was lost for the season with an arm injury
Tommy John (CHW), interestingly enough, was lost for the season with an elbow injury
Last seasons AL MVP, Bill melton was dealt to the Pirates after a postgame tirade. In which he spoke very poorly of White Sox ownership and management.
In return the Pirates send over Bruce Dal Canton

Injury nails the youngsters
 

Mike Schmidt (PHI) lost for 6 weeks
Don Baylor (BAL) lost for 8 months
Buddy Bell (CLEV) lost for 10 months

meanwhile the Royals have realized that they have been playing over their heads, reality has set in and they are now 3-12 in August. Will Smith has indicated he may not be interested in returning, stating "the stress is more than I could have imagined".

Ownership and upper management did not indicate what plans they may have for the managerial position.

9/1/71 update
 

Well management has spoken. Will Smith has been given the month of September to prove himself, granted the lineup is greatly decimated by injuries, but the lackluster efforts of giving up early leads, losing 1 run and extra inning games is not acceptable.

Ron Santo (CHC) gets hit #2000
Ralph Garr (ATL) lost for the season, Garr was last years leader in avg, and is currently leading by a large margin, the shortage of ab's will probably cost him a second title
Vida Blue (OAK) out for season with a torn meniscus

AL East
Yankees 83-52
Red Sox -3

AL West
A's 71-61
Twins -8.5
Royals -9

NL East
Mets 80-50
Cubs -8

NL West
Dodgers 78-53
Giants -4.5

will keep an eye on the pennant races, will update if races get tight

AVG
Tommy Hutton (NYA) .338 Ralph Garr (ATL) .338
Richie Hebner .303

HR
Norm Cash (DET) 32 Bobby Bonds (SF) 30
Richie Hebner 16

RBI
Sal Bando (OAK) 79 John Mayberry (HOU) 87
Richie Hebner 66

SB
Campaneris (OAK) 42 Joe Morgan (HOU) 60
Pat Kelly 36

W
Doc Medich (NYA) 22 Jon Matlack (NYN) 17
Dick Drago 13

ERA
Lynn McGlothen (BOS) 1.58 Larry Dierker (HOU) 2.10
Dick Drago 2.44

K
Andy Messersmith (CAL) 197 Tom Seaver (NYN) 253
Steve Busby 150

The wins pace of the starters has slowed greatly with only 6 at 17 or more

Don Sutton is now 16-13 2.44 era
Claude Osteen is 2-1 with 5s and a 4.15 era

Willie Davis is hitting .277 6hr 29rbi
Rick Monday .287 24hr 53rbi
Tommy Davis .273 3hr 22rbi, but with a good chance at getting a ring, however the Dodgers have an equally good chance.

of note
 

Nolan Ryan, Jon Matlack and Tom Seaver all have ERA's below 2.40

Joe Morgan MVP frontrunner .297 19hr 70rbi 60sb 95r

Doc Medich CY Young leader 2.03era 22-6 1.01 whip

Pete Rose on pace to eclipse 150 hits for 8th straight season

Reggie Jackson to surpass 30 hr for 4th straight season

Dave McNally with 17 wins looking for 5 straight 20 win seasons
Jim Palmer with 14 chasing 4 straight
Fritz Peterson moved to bullpen, to make room for Doc Medich, Peterson has only 1 start
Tom Seaver 16 wins loooking for 3 straight years
will tracke those looking for 2 straight and report at seasons end

playoff update

Yankees and Mets leads are down to 4 over the Red Sox and the Pirates
While the Dodger lead is down to 3.5 over the Giants

Good pennant races shaping up... I'd be interested in a few more Dodgers players' stats, if/when you have time. Thanks

I will try to post team leaders for each of the playoff teams this year, in case any of you are curious as to how they got where they are


Red Sox 98-62
Yankees 96-64

Oakland A's have clinched

New York Mets have clinched

Dodgers 91-66
Astros 89-71 -2
Reds 89-71 -2

updated

Playoff matchups
 

Dodger vs Mets
A's vs Red Sox

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1337625223

World Series set
 

The Dodgers sweep the Mets as the Red Sox win in 5 over the A's

Dodgers have lost Don Sutton for 1 week

The Royals were offered an opportunity today by the Baltimore Orioles. Davey Johnson went to management and indicated he was no longer happy in an Oriole uniform. After a few hours of negotiating, the Royals offered 28 yr old SS Rich Severson and Bill Mazeroski for the 29 yr old 2B.

Severson performed well this season for the Royals hitting .267 while driving in 35 runs and playing in 96 games. Sadly, Mazeroski has seen such a decline in his skills that the Orioles GM was not interested in taking on his contract.

Sorry I forgot an important tidbit


This was somewhat eerie, in the last series of the season
Roberto Clemente collected his 3000th hit

In another weird stat Dave Kingman actually hit over .300 for the Giants, but, only in 82 AB's, he also managed 53 HR in 474 AB's in AAA

Dodgers crowned champs
 

The Dodgers have ousted the Red Sox in 5 games to capture the 1972 WS

Dodger pitcher Bill Singer was crowned MVP of the series

Singer hurled 2 complete game shutouts along the way to earning this award

He allowed 5 hits, 3 bb and fanned 10 over his 18 innings of domination, he also threw a CG shutout vs the Mets in the NLCS. Pretty incredible stuff from the 28 yr old starter

Singer has been a very consistent starter for the Dodgers, in fact his record has been 16-15, in each of the last 3 seasons.

In other news,
Royals manager Will Smith has stepped down, the team was in hopes of extending his contract, amid health related concerns brought on by the stress.
In a press conference at the construction site of Royals Stadium, to be completed in a few months, GM Lasher said, "Will has done a wonderful job for this organization, and the ownership down to the front office will sorely miss him. We respect and honor his decision, wishing him the best with all future endeavors."

A few hours later the team announced that Bubba Morton would become the teams 3rd manager in only 3 seasons. Morton, fresh off a career in the California Angels system, brings no experience, but, plans on picking up where Smith left off. Morton was considered a wonderful clubhouse influence in LA, and at the age of 40 is still a good fit for the younger Royals organization. Morton has agreed to a 3 yr deal, also the club has signed a new hitting coach, Larry Walden brings 25 years of experience with him. Most recently serving as the Pirates hitting coach.

With these new additions, along with the development of a large crop of rookies, the Royals are excited about the upcoming season. Come on out and welcome the Boys in Blue at the new, state of the art, Royals Stadium.

Rookies of note
Doug Bird, Frank White, Tom Poquette, Mark Littell
oh and some guy named Brett

Did Sutton recover in time to pitch in the World Series? Who else started on the mound for LA - Big D? Joe-Moe? - and how did they do? From the leaders a few posts above, I'm guessing LA's starting lineup was:

C - Haller
1b - Joe Pep
2b - Billy Grabs
ss - Russell
3b - Garvey
of -
of - Monday
of - Crawford

Who am I missing and what might be incorrect? Maybe Russell or Garvey is in the OF and Jim Lefebre or Ted Sizemore in the infield? What of Willie Davis & Billy Buck... I assume they were on the team in semi-key roles unless the AI traded them... Maybe Bobby V, Joe Ferguson, Von Joshua, Ron Cey, Lee Lacy? Is Davey Lopes still in the minors?

Which Dodger hitters stood out in the Series? ... Thanks!

Not AWOL, just really busy right now, will return shortly