I am enjoying reading your updates. Lol I also see that we love the same team and user id.

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1972 Season: A Look Back
 

sorry Royalblue, that is pretty funny. I just noticed that you had posted, at a glance I did not think there had been any updates, bc I saw the Royalblue and assumed it was my last post

Anyhow, glad you are enjoying it

Royal review 72
 

Here is a look at the regulars for the Royals and the leaders in various stats

C-Tim McCarver
1B-Orlando Cepeda
2B-Felix Millan
3B-Richie Hebner .301 24HR, 90 RBI, 150hits
SS-Rich Severson
LF-Lou Piniella 26 2b
CF-Joe Keough
RF- Pat Kelly 10 3b, 90 bb, 39 sb, 95 k

Dick Drago 16 w, 2.45 era, 38 gs, 12 cg, 4 so, 294 ip, 1.11 whip
Paul Splittorff
Steve Busby 12cg, 176 k
Roger Nelson

Monty Montgomery 19 s

Not too hard to figure out the Royals offensive and defensive players of the year.

11 20 game winners, including 2 rookies, Doc Medich and Lynn McGlothen

2 for the 2nd straight year, Steve Blass and Don Sutton
Tom Seaver for the 3rd straight and most notably Dave McNally for the 5th straight season, WOW

Closer look at World Champs
 

The Dodgers

c-Tom Haller
1b-Joe Pepitone
2b-Billy Grabarkewitz
3b-Steve Garvey
ss-Bill Russell
LF-Rick Monday
cf-Willie Davis
rf-Bobby Darwin-since traded to the Cubs

Don Sutton
Bill Singer
Don Drysdale
Joe Moeller
Sandy Vance

Doyle Alexander
Joe Grzenda
Ray Lamb

It would take a lot more research to pull out individual stat leaders, amazingly only 1 or 2 had offensive stat lines that would crack the top 10 single season stats for the Dodgers. (My history goes back to 1960), I guess how I set it up.

Don Drysdale has retired
245-215 3.12 era 2870 k's (his stat line went back to 1956)

The Yankees have parted way with Fritz Peterson, Peterson had been very disappointed in the clubs use of him last season. By moving him to the bullpen they denied him a chance at a contract bonus for winning 20 games.
He was dealt to the KC Royals in exchange for oft injured Joe Foy and Mike Fiore.

in response to an earlier request, here is a bit of a preview of what the Dodgers will look like in the upcoming season

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1338212240

Steve Yeager was just traded to the Expos in exchange for Steve Renko

1973 preseason look by OOTP
 

Tom Seaver was lost for the season with an elbow injury

This season will also be the first in which the AL will be using the DH

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1338213150

early updates + prospects
 

Early milestone updates

Royals opened their new stadium with an impressive 16-4 win over Texas
Charlie Spikes (NYA) was the first DH, going 0-4
Garry Maddox (SF) goes for the cycle in a 14-13 loss to the Reds, pretty impressive considering he went 4-6 in a 9 inning game.

Boog Powell (Balt) hits HR #300

Ownership has set their expectation at playing over .500 ball
Joe Niekro was claimed off of waivers from the Giants

Top 10 prospects

Steve Rogers SP (Mont)
Frank Tanana SP (CAL)
Dick Ruthven SP (PHIL)
Randy Jones SP (SD)
George Brett 3B (KC)
Brian Downing C (CHW)
Bill Madlock 3B (TEX)
Ken Griffey Sr RF (CINC)
Otto Velez RF (NYA)
Dave Winfield RF (SD)

5/1/73 update
 

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1338293961

Bill Russell out of the Dodger lineup, also Willie Crawford has been dealt to the Yankees for Roy White

6/1/73 update
 

Nolan Ryan (NYN) impressive in 2-0 shutout, fanning 15
Harmon Killebrew (Tex) tags HR #500, he was picked up off waivers from MINN in early April
Jim Palmer (BAL) has been lost for the season with a torn rotator cuff
Bob Gibson (SL) picks up win #200
Oscar Gamble (CHN), early triple crown candidate, out for the season.

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1338728814

Here is a closer look at the troubles of the defending World Champs
http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1338728988

And lastly, a look at the 1973 Royals through June, 1st



http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1338729138

Need help
 

I know this is a no brainer question, but, for the integrity of the game I would like some help on something. Not sure if I can resist temptation regardless of your suggestions.

With the recent oncoming of 3B George Brett, my need for Richie Hebner is less and less. Therefore, I shop him around with some regularity, while he is at his peak. Today the Reds offered me Johnny Bench for Hebner, I would most likely include McCarver in the deal.

What do you think

Richie Hebner is a nice player, and has certainly started off well in your 1973 season. But in this trade proposal, for the long-term, the word "fleece" comes to mind ;-)

If you don't mind an iconic - one-team-for-his-career - kind of player moving to a different team in your sim, then I'd do the trade but also throw in (in addition to McCarver) a top prospect and/or another solid role player or two to approach some semblance of fairness...

Yes, I do agree. The word fleece is also what brought me to question the integrity of this deal. I have trades set to few/difficult or whatever, so I am kind of surprised this is even available.

Thanks for your feedback

Blockbuster
 

In a HUGE move the Royals and Reds have come to an agreement

The Royals have parted ways with
3B Richie Hebner
C Tim McCarver
RP Mark Littell

for
C Johnny Bench

Bench is off to a very slow start hitting only .189, which is a bit off of what Hebner has offered at .346

"At the end of the day, this was just too good of an opportunity to improve our club on defense. Pitching coach Michael Hilliard is ecstatic, Bench is such a quality leader, his game calling abilities are truly amazing."

Hebner will be missed, however, the emergence of George Brett certainly played a big role in this deal.

Willie McCovey (SF) out for 4 months with torn ankle ligaments
Paul Splittorff (KC) herniated disc out for 3 months
Amos Otis (KC) out for 1 month

Dick Allen (PHIL) hammers HR#300

As the second half of June unfolds the Royals have caught the A's, and begin a 3 game home stand against them.

Tony Oliva continues to hit .402, the latest (6/18) a player has been above that mark.

7/1/73
 

Reggie Jackson (OAK) has been lost for 3 weeks
Bob Oliver (KC) out for 6 weeks
Johnny Bench (KC) out 1 week

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1339382173

8/1/73
 

The Royals were an awful 6-21 for the month of July. They blew leads, blew opportunities with RISP, they just flat blew. In a public statement the teams GM said, "it was just really hard to watch, there was no bright spot, everyone played their part. We saw averages drop rapidly and era's rise like the temperature, this was a month we would all like to forget rather quickly."

around the league
Carl Yastrzemski (BOS) hammered out hit #2000
Jim Kaat (MINN) picked up win # 200

The Pirates lost Pops Stargell for 6 weeks

a look at the standings
http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1339749616

and a look at the Royals as well as last seasons champs


http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1339749616

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1339749616

Leaders for the division leaders