8/1/75 update
 

Willie Stargell (PITT) hit HR #300
In a couple of surprising trade deadline deals:
Minnesota dealt Chris Chambliss to Atlanta for SP George Stone and
the Dodgers dealt Ron Cey to Milwaukee for Jim Slaton.
I find it interesting how Chambliss, who has put up good numbers, is now on his 4th team in 3 seasons. At least he is on a team that he actually did play for in real life. Which I cannot say about Ron Cey, this move will probably play out much like Bando in Milwaukee, it does make a pretty strong left side along with Yount. However, when Molitor comes around things could get interesting.

The Royals were quiet at the trade deadline, they attempted on several occasions to move pitchers, Al Fitzmorris and Carl Morton. Both of which have decent upsides but no room in our current rotation. A rotation that is plugging along quite nicely, the Royals have won 7 in a row and 9 of their last 11. Many of those games have been of the CG variety. They have welcomed back Amos Otis and Tom Poquette from the DL and the offense seems to be clicking on all cylinders.

Now for a look at the best of the month that was:

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1342269438

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1342269438

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1342269438

Drago and Bird strong out of the pen.

I always liked Dick Drago...always felt he was under-appreciated...

Royals actually pushed their winning streak out to 14 before splitting their last 6 games. They have pushed their lead out to 4.5 over the Angels

Bird has been very solid and Drago is definitely settling into the setup role. I was thinking of trying to move him since he was no longer a starter, but may hold onto him for awhile now.

btw, will be heading to Chicago for a week, therefore, there will be a lull in updates

Will be at Wrigley on Tuesday night as they host the fish

9/1/75 update
 

Boog Powell (Balt) hits HR #400
Dave Winfield (SD) has 33 game hit streak ended

Mike Torrez has been awful of late, therefore, the Royals have inserted Carl Morton into his rotation slot. Morton has been very successful winning 3 straight starts.

Also, Richie Hebner, went nuts in August with 12 hr's

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1342322044

What a season by Rimp Lanier, a guy who I think had less than 10 real life at-bats.

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1342322262

here is a quick look at the standings before I head off to the Windy City
Pirates have already clinched, good thing they have lost Richie Zisk for 2 weeks and Bruce Kison for 12 months

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1342360160

Cabell's .279 OBP.....yikes...

Yeah not so good, his ab's will be reduced by Poquette and Bostock and Otis all being healthy, however, he is a pretty good bet on the basepaths. When he gets there. Should be interesting to see if the Royals can hang on, the A's will be tough as will the Angels. Need to capitalize on the big season from Poquette and Quirk has been a help at SS as has Alley

Pennant race update
 

The Royals and A's are set to hook up over the next 3 nights
Gura (14-15 3.54) v Blue (22-9 2.58)
Busby (20-10 3.16) v Hunter (19-11 2.61)
Morton (8-3 3.22) v Wood (21-14 3.58)

The series should also allow the Royals to push their all-time high attendance to over 1.75 m.
Bruce Kison (Pitt) and Don Gullett (CIN) have both been lost for 11-12 months with arm injuries.
Willie Davis (Clev) picked up hit # 2000

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1343081038

Game 1 of the crucial 3 game set pitted Larry Gura vs Vida Blue, the two southpaws were both fairly sharp in the early going.
The A's scored first on Paul Blair's sac fly in the 2nd, a runner that was allowed by a George Brett throwing error. In the bottom of the frame the Royals lost a runner on a close play at the plate as Reggie Jackson threw out Johhny Bench at the plate as he tried to score on a double by Al Cowens. To the 9th it would remain 1-0 when Gene Tenace followed a 2 out Sal Bando single with a homer to make it 3-0. That would prove to be enough as Vida Blue capped off a 93 pitch, 5 hit shutout.

Royals now trail by 2 full games

In game 3 Steve Busby, the Royals only 20 game winner, would toe the slab against Catfish Hunter. Johnny Bench got things started with a solo shot to left, which certainly rattled Hunter who then allowed 2 more hits before escaping the inning with 2 men in scoring position. Busby proved to be equally elusive in the 3rd when he coaxed former Royal Richie Hebner into a groundout with the bases loaded. In the bottom of the 5th Frank White would crack a 1 out double, followed by a Pat Kelly walk, however, Hunter struck out Bostock. Leaving Brett at the plate with 2 on and 2 out, Brett singled to right scoring White. Cecil Cooper would also walk but Bench was unable to come through in the clutch stranding all 3 runners.
After 5, KC 2- Oak 0
to the 6th, back to back singles by Poquette and Otis would allow Quirk the opportunity to sacrifice both men into scoring position. However, White and Kelly could not plate either runner, to the 7th we go.
Busby would remain strong thru 7. Bottom of 7 would find Bostock and Brett offering back to back doubles to stretch the lead. Hunter then intentionally walked Cooper, struck out Bench, and lost Poquette on a very close full count pitch. Setting up a bases loaded situation for oft injured Amos Otis who doubled to seemingly blow the game wide open. Quirk would then walk, which brought on Glen Abbott in relief a sac fly by White would end the scoring.

Royals lead 6-0 heading to the 8th
There would be no more scoring as Busby finished off his own shutout allowing only 6 hits.

A's lead back down to 1

Rubber match pits Carl Morton against rubber armed Wilbur Wood, the Royals have a tougher schedule over the last week of the season, therefore, if the Royals could exit the series tied they might have a slight edge. Johnny Bench would once again get things going with a solo shot to left, his 24th of the season. The score would remain that way as Wood and Morton kept putting up zeroes until Bench would come up with 2 down in the bottom of the 8th, Bostock who had doubled to start the frame was chased home as Bench planted a Wood knuckleball on the grassy hill in left. Morton would not be able to go the distance as manager Morton would bring on his closer Doug Bird with 2 on and 2 out and Sal Bando representing the tying run, Bird was able to pick up his 34th save as the Royals finish off the shutout 3-0

Now a dead heat for the division.

As the series ended the KC faithful were informed that manager Bubba Morton had accepted a 4 year extension.

Here is how the schedule plays out for the Royals and the A's

KC will host the Rangers for 2 and the Twins for 2, before finishing up with 3 in Texas

Oakland returns to the bay to host the Twins for 2, White Sox for 2 and will finish by hosting the Angels for 3

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1343083547

With one game to play the Royals maintain a 1 game lead over the A's, therefore, the Royals do control their own destiny with team ace Steve Busby on the hill.

The Red Sox and Indians are now tied after the Sox have swept 3 straight from the Indians at Fenway. Eric Haich of the tribe will face Jim Lonborg in the division deciding game.

In the NL the Astros have clinched and will now prepare their staff for a matchup agains the Pirates for the 1975 NL WS representative.

Steve Busby tosses a 1 hit shutout to guide the Royals into their first ever playoff appearance. They actually embarrassed the Rangers with an 11-0 thrashing.

The Red Sox would complete an unlikely sweep of the Indians to capture the AL East crown

The Royals and Red Sox will face off for the AL and
as the Pirates and Astros will face off in the NL

Once again there were plenty of 20 game winners

17 to be exact
10 of which were first timers
4 became 2 time offenders (Wilbur Wood (OAK), Steve Busby (KC), Jim Lonborg (BOS), Vida Blue (OAK))
3 for their 3rd time (Don Sutton (LA), Lynn McGlothen (BOS) and Jon Matlack (NYN))

McGlothen and Matlack are back to back and Matlack is three years straight.

Playoff preview
 

The Red Sox appear in their 3rd ALCS, having made it to the WS in 72
The Royals are newbies

The Pirates are in their 4th NLCS and 3rd in a row, having appeared in the WS 2 times winning it all in 71
The Astros appear in their 4th NLCS as well, they are 0 for 2 in WS appearances.

These 2 teams also locked horns in the 71 NLCS.

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1343174831

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1343174831

Pirates take a 1-0 lead
as do the Royals in a commanding fashion

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1343176911

Astros tie up the NLCS

Royals stay HOT

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1343179532

Houston takes a 2-1 lead over the Pirates

Manager Bubba Morton, in an attempt to have a rested Steve Busby, ran Larry Gura out for game 3 and the Royals trailed all the way to shorten their lead, 2-1. Busby will be on the bump as they try to claim the AL title at Royals Stadium

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1343181676

Both series will go the distance

Busby was chased in the 2nd after a Steve Dillard grannie, Bench homered to try to keep it close, but they fell short.

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...1&d=1343182073