Bumper crop of FA's
 

I am assuming many of these guys will re-sign, but if not, there could be a major power shift if a team were to grab a few of these guys


http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1349640502

12/1/77 update
 

Well things are getting a little bit crazy, let me know if this gets too unlikely to continue to follow.

The Philles were showing no interest in retaining the services of Mike Schmidt, so I offered him what he was looking for, simmed 3 days and BAM, he is mine.

Similar thing happened with Rick Reuschel, except Phillies were not involved, it was the Cubs.

The Pirates have kept Ben Oglivie, signed Jerry Koosman and Gaylord Perry
Joe Morgan stays in Houston and George Hendrick also stays put in Cincy

Jim Sundberg goes to the Cubs for reliever Buddy Schultz
Ray Knight heads to Oakland while the Reds receive Tug McGraw

will keep you posted with other FA activity, look for the Royals to deal an OF or Mike Ivie. As you may recall Ivie was brought in as Cooper protection mainly. The Royals now find themselves with a plethora of offensive talent. The Addition of Reuschel to Leonard and John will make this a very formidable rotation as well. This is in an attempt to dethrone the Angels from their perch atop the AL West, a spot they have enjoyed each of the last 2 seasons.

End of the year signings
 

Bruce Kison has signed with San Francisco
Dave Kingman has returned to the Yankees
Toby Harrah will join the Reds
Darrel Porter hooks up with the Angels
John Mayberry takes over 1B duties for the Red Sox

Pirates have made several moves
added Don Baylor, Jorge Orta, trade Ed Ott to the Cubs and get Dock Ellis back
waived Marty Perez who was then picked up by the Royals as a utility player

The Giants signed Dwight Evans
Reds sign Johnny Grubb and lose Andre Thornton for 5 months
Indians sign Dave Goltz and Richie Zisk
Astros sign Ray Corbin and JR Richard, replace Mayberry with the trade that lands them Steve Garvey for reliever Ray Greif. (???)
White Sox lose Rich Gossage for 8 months
Angels lose Soderholm for 5 weeks, re-sign Mickey Rivers
Larry Bowa is headed to Boston
Bill Russell signs with the Braves
Rollie Fingers is now a Met

Very interesting..To be honest what i was looking for..I m starting 1969 historical league with draft so you understand.

Two questions if i may: What about Steve Carlton career ? Can you please post his stats ? And Nolan Ryan remained fragile or did the injury rating changed over the years..?

Many thanks..& i will be following

Here is a look at lefty's career to date, and as far as Ryan he has 5 straight seasons with 40 or more starts his injury rating is "normal"

thanks for following along


http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1349904907

Ryan is really good with K's. I think he could make the hall.

yeah, he and lefty are on a very similar path as far as the strikeouts are concerned

With the Royals firing on all cylinders here are a few injury updates

Lyman Bostock (KC) out 4 months
Joe Morgan (HOU) 4-5 weeks
Jim Lonborg (BOS) 13 months, he has picked up 58 wins over the last 3 years
Rick Honeycutt (SEA) out 8 months
Gary Lavelle (SF) to miss 7 months

Rick Monday i headed to Toronto in exchange for Clay Carroll, who is on his way to Baltimore

Meanwhile the Royals are hitting with a vengeance, and flat shutting people down on the mound. This has them off to a torrid 14-3 start in their early attempts to get back to the postseason. Their signings of Schmidt and Reuschel were a sort of throwing down of the gauntlet to the 'halos of LA. While the Bostock injury will serve as a setback, the overall depth of the roster and the return of Al Cowens from the DL should make it fairly manageable.

5/1/78 update
 

Well the injury bug has bit the Royals again,

Tommy John (KC) will be lost for 3 months with an forearm strain
Here is a look at how April went for the club as well as a look at some key players from the month. I will also be taking a closer look at the careers of Willie Stargell and Joe Morgan in the coming days


http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1350219045

The Royals have dropped a series for the first time this season, maybe this little career checkup of a couple of HOFers will allow our bats to heat up again

Pops Stargell and Joe Morgan

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1350440026

injury updates
Reggie Smith (BOS) to miss 2 months
Rod Carew (MINN) out 6 weeks
Ellis Valentine (MON) out 3 months
Jerry Koosman (PITT) gone for 4-5 months
Larry Hisle (BALT) will miss 3 months
Dave Rozema (DET) out 8 weeks

Willie Horton (ATL) smashes his 300th HR

Bostock and Tommy John still have about 3 months before their returns

Well it took 39 games, but the Royals have lost their 10th game

Don Sutton won his 200th game

Here is a look at his career, as well as a look at Willie McCovey

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1350477910

6/1/78 update
 

Here are the top hitters, pitcher and rookies for the month of May

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1350609183

Stay tuned to see if the Royals can remain this hot. Pennant races are interesting, but a laugher would be calming for the nerves every once in a while.

injuries and milestones
 

Don Sutton (LA) picks up win # 200
Gaylord Perry (PITT) to miss 4-5 months

just a little update on the affairs of the league

Joe Niekro (NYY) no-hits the Mariners
Paul Molitor (MIL) goes 6 for 6

Nolan Ryan (NYM) signs a 4 yr 400k per extension
Dennis Leonard, Paul Splittorff and George Brett all sign extensions

Al Oliver (KC) is headed to DL for 4 months, was leading the AL in hitting
Rangers acquire Bobby Murcer from the Yankees for Jerry White

The club has cooled off a great deal, playing 1 game below .500 in June. If Doug Bird cannot right the ship, he may lose his closers role

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1351118341

7/1/78 update
 

Well Doug Bird has probably pitched his last game for the Royals, he is now 0-6 with 3 blown saves. Team officials will most likely take anything they can get for him, as the fans have turned on him, and the clubhouse is not far behind. That concern was recently shared to the GM from manager Bubba Morton, Bird has really taken to the nightlife and is often late to team meetings and pregame workouts

Here is a look around the Royals stats, the league leaders and the top rookies for June.

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1351200215

Royals have dropped 18 of their last 30 games, OUCH

meanwhile the

Rangers have won 21 of their last 30, including 8 in a row

looks like we have a pennant race shaping up, stay tuned

8/1/78 update
 

Well many races have developed, and the Royals in particular are in a dogfight with the Rangers. We are due to get Tommy John back soon, and overall the offense has picked it up over the last week or two.

Here is a look at all of the usuals for the month. In the NL the hitter of the month and rookie of the month are the same.

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1351769368

News from around the league

Steve Garvey (HOU) signs a 4 year extension
Willie McCovey (SF) inks a 1 year extension
Tim McCarver (PITT) also signs a 1 year deal

Doug DeCinces (BAL) out for 5 weeks
Burt Hooton (CHC) is not so happy, out for 13 months
Lee Mazzilli (NYN) out for 9 months

The Astros send Cesar Cedeno across the state to the Rangers for Greg Pryor
The Mets have shipped Steve Henderson to the Orioles for Kiko Garcia
The Brewers received Pat Putnam from Texas for Bill Castro

Tommy John is back, maybe he will be the missing piece to stave off the Rangers

Tim Stoddard (CHW) is out for 11 months
Graig Nettles (MINN) is out for 6 weeks

and here is a quick look at the standingshttp://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/attachment.php?attachmentid=269300&stc=1&d=1351946 667

9/1/78 update
 

A look at the better performers for August

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1352040808

a couple of great rookies and a look at the pennant races



http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1352040882

and lastly a look at the Royals and an overview of Boog Powells career, he recently announced that this would be his last season

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1352041024

pennant race update
Some key injuries
Willie Randolph (PITT) out 5 weeks
Lou Whitaker (DET) out 6 weeks
Mike Schmidt (KC) out 4 weeks
Reggie Jackson (OAK) out 6 weeks

Standings with just a few days remaining


http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1352342145

Rangers go 7-18 down the stretch to allow Royals to win the division
Mets clinch the NL East

Red Sox have 2 game lead with 2 to play

Giants and Dodgers tied with 2 to play

Jim Rice likely to win triple crown

Tigers to host 1 game playoff for AL East supremacy

Dodgers will face the Mets in the NL

Royals await Det/Bos winner

Well the Patriots beat the Lions, oh wait, I mean the Red Sox beat the Tigers

17-3, making quite a statement on their way to the AL East title

Jim Rice locked up the AL MVP with a triple crown season
Bob Horner will be the NL ROY
JR Richard is the clear cut NL Cy Young winner

Here is a look at their stats

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1352379584

Tom Seaver outdueled Don Sutton as the Mets take a 1-0 lead in the NLCS, with a 3-2 victory.


In the AL, Don Aase and Paul Splittorff took the hill. Jim Rice went 2-3 with a HR and George Brett went 4-5 as the Royals lost 9 to 8 in a game that they never led.

Fred Lynn and Carlton Fisk combine to go 5-6 with 3 rbi as Dennis Leonard drops the start to Mike Paxton.
Red Sox take a commanding 2-0 lead

Nolan Ryan strikes out 12, walks 1 and combines on a shutout with Rollie Fingers. Bump Wills hits his second NLCS homer to allow the Mets to win 1-0
Mets with 2-0 lead

Strong pitching prevailed as Nino Espinosa and Rollie Fingers shut down the Dodgers again.
The Mets complete the sweep and will represent the NL in the World Series

Carlton Fisk went 3-3 with 2 rbi and George Brett stayed hot, hitting .692 for the ALCS. But Brett was pretty much alone on offense as Mike Ivie hit .169.
The Red Sox swept the Royals

1978 World Series

New York Mets vs Boston Red Sox

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1352500791

New York Mets are the 1978 World Series Champions

It was the Mets 3rd division title and 1st WS appearance

Congratulations to the Mets

as we wind down the '78 season, I will take a look at each team and how they have performed over the 10 seasons that I have now completed. I will include overall record as well as team leaders in some key categories

Thanks to all that have been reading along with me as I have gone.

NL East 10 year review
 

NL West 10 year review
 

Carlton Fisk (BOS) has signed an extension, rumored to be a 6 year deal

Harmon Killebrew (MIN), Willie Mays (SF) and Frank Robinson (BALT) join the HOF

Royals send Ross Grimsley to Milwaukee for Lary Sorenson
Orioles trade Steve Henderson to the Astros for Greg Gross
Red Sox ship off Butch Hobson to the Yankees for Mike Caldwell, this was a bit of a surprise to me

AL West 10 year review
 

AL West 10 year review
 

Top Free Agents
 

offseason rundown (Hot Stove)
 

Several team acquired some big names

Pirates add Gaylord Perry
Phillies add Dave Concepcion
Cardinals add Dave Winfield
Mets pick up Graig Nettles
Cubs sign Dick Ruthven

Dodgers sign Gary Matthews and Rusty Staub
Giants add Randy Jones and Rod Carew
Padres add Ron Fairly, Dwight Evans and Lenny Randle
Astros sign Bobby Grich and Thurman Munson
Braves pick up Davey Lopes

Yankees sign Steve Rogers
Tigers sign Tony Perez
Indians pick up Brian Downing and Cesar Cedeno
Orioles add Tug McGraw and Rollie Fingers
Red Sox resign Carl Yastrzemski

Angels sign Jerry Koosman
White Sox add Greg Luzinski
Rangers add Bake McBride

Yankees trade Dave Kingman to Rangers for Roy Howell

Royals in a reaction to losing out on Steve Rogers and Randy Jones have reached an agreement with Frank Tanana

Here is also a look at the last 2 years of top 10 prospects with '78 first and then '79



http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1353167394


http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1353167394

5/1/79 update
 

As per the norm a monthly look at the best in each league, the standings and the Royals home page

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1353850945

Kind of jacked that up, but, you faithful followers understand, I am sure


http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1353851045http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1353851105

Willie Stargell (PITT) picked up his 2000th hit and then announced that 1979 would be his last season. We will undoubtedly see him in the HOF in a few years.

Rod Carew (SF) packed out Candlestick park as they came to see him gather his 2000th hit

The Red Sox have dealt John Mayberry Jr to the Indians for Jim Kern
The Tigers will receive Don Gullett in exchange for the Reds Bernie Carbo

Gaylord Perry (PITT) will be lost for 9 months
Rick Sutcliffe (LAN) will be out for 5 months
Carl Yastrzemski (BOS) out for 4 months, his move to first was what forced the Mayberry trade, they will now turn to the young Bill Buckner at first.

Where do you generate the 10 year review from? Not sure if I have ever seen that before - great read by the way!

I actually went through each team history and compiled that info

Thanks alot for reading along

6/1/79 update
 

It is time for our monthly look at who is hot, can Bob Horner really stay this hot???



http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1354367160