OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Tell me about your favorite fictional team

Hozzie · 01-28-2011, 01:05 AM

I created the fictional Lone Star League (LSL), which consists of 20 LSL teams named after very small towns in Texas (I'm Australian, before anyone asks...)

I started the LSL in 1976. The league is now 95 games (of 150) into the 1977 season.

I am the GM of the Garrett Jacks. I am personally managing all of Garrett's 150 games per season. It's been a fun ride.

At the start of 1976 I assessed my team. The team's strongest asset was clearly its bullpen: Japanese CL Rohu Ine's ratings suggested a sub-2.00 ERA. I expected MRs Ralph Harper and Domingo Rodriguez to post sub-3.00's and work 60-75 IPs each.

After that… yikes. In the infield, only 2B Kyung-Hyung "Awesome" Tang looked any good. I judged he would be Korea's answer to Jeff Kent, and might put together something like .285/.350/.500 with 20 HRs, 85-100 RBI. Catcher combo Miguel Reyes and Kevin Morris could hold down the position, but neither was going to hit much better than .260/.325/.350. 1B Marty Watson looked good for .290/.360/.400, at best, and his defensive skills were suspect. Across the diamond was 3B Domingo Perez, a very slick fielder with some pop but no eye (.250/.325/.450, if I was lucky). His companion, SS Michael Martin, seemed like another 290/.360/.400 guy, with no speed and only adequate hands

Similarly, the only bright spark in the outfield was LF Yuji Saito, who seemed to promise .300/.385/.425. Both CF Robert Brewer and RF Russ Bowman could run and field, but would they hit? Was .260/.350/.350 with 30 SBs from each too much to ask?

As for the SPs: #1 Ken Brown looked like best case 10-10 / 3.50 ERA / 1.35 WHIP / 100 K; #2 Gabriel Sanchez seemed like a lock to issue 100 free passes en route to a 5.50 ERA (and losing record); and #3 Tyler Wright and #4 RJ Williams were fodder.

This team was destined for last.

I decided to try to get offense on the cheap, but invest in a good #1 SP. Before the start of spring training, I signed two free agents: RF Graham Dixon, a potential 30-30 candidate; and SP Arthur Wilson, a 38-year old veteran fireballer.

So how did it work out (in 1976)?

RF Dixon went down for four weeks on the last day of spring training; the regular season opened, and the Jacks played .400 ball for a month; 3B Domingo Perez didn't hit so I swapped him for 3B Sam White (he seemed better on paper but turned out to be much, much worse); Dixon returned and started to rake (.330 early on and threat to become LSL league HR leader); LF Saito wiped out running the bases and put himself in hospital for 7 months, re-opening a spot for young LF Russ Bowman; new #1 SP Wilson pitched well, recording a sub-3.00 ERA.

But the real stories were: 2B 'Awesome' Tang got depressed and didn't hit (.240/.325/.450), and by mid-June I was looking to ship him and his $2.8m/year contract; 1B Marty Wilson, SS Michael Martin and CF Robert Brewer proved 'scrappy' for computer-generated imaginings; #3 SP Gabriel Sanchez walked every guy other he saw, but got every guy he didn't walk to ground into a double play; and suddenly Garrett started to compete with singles and doubles and the occasional Dixon bomb. At last, the boys in that excellent Garrett bullpen had something to do: preserve ties and save 1-run games. And they did it very well.

The team was hovering at .500 at the trading deadline. Out of contention (that year), I gave Tang his wish, acquiring 22-year old 2B Angel Campos and some other prospects. Campos went on to hit .300/.365/425 for Garrett, and signed a 3-year contract totalling 1/5th of a single year of Tang's salary. Others cooled, then got hot again.

Garrett finished 1976 in 3rd place (of 5) with a record of 77-73, 12 GB of the eventual LSL Champions Quintana Braves. A great (and surprising) result.

Dixon and Wilson were bright sparks, of course (.260/.360/.500 with 20 HRs and 44 SBs in 117 games) and (14-9 / 2.97 / 150 K). But the best part was getting something out of the guys I didn't expect to: Watson hit .305; Martin had .380 OBP; C Reyes hit well, in the end; Brewer and Bowman DID swipe some bags and win some games; Sanchez walked more than 130 guys and won more games than he lost!

Now it's 1977: Record to date 50-45, after a terrible 4-and-15 slide (Garrett was 46-30 a month ago!). New division leaders Van Horn Rangers are still in reach (3 GB)…

… if only Dixon can hit (he's currently .220/.290!!!/.490!!! with 24 HRs)…
… if only Wilson, now a set piece of the bullpen, can keep his 39-year old arm together…
… if only free agent acquisition SP Manuel Delgado (10-3 / 1.75 / 150 Ks) stays healthy…
... if only…

[Garrett's rivals in the Republican League (RL) Hills Division (HD) are Quintana Braves (1976 LSL Champion), Van Horn Rangers (current 1977 HD leader), Longhorn Bucks and Copper Canyon Diggers.

Rivals in the Republican League, Gulf Division include Avinger Arsenal (1976 Division Winner), New Hope Mountaineers (the current GD leader in 1977), Indian Lake Pioneers, Estelline Chargers and Stagecoach Raiders. There are another 10 teams in the Confederate League.]

01-28-2011, 01:05 AM	#3
Hozzie Bat Boy Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 3	The Garrett Jacks (LSL) I created the fictional Lone Star League (LSL), which consists of 20 LSL teams named after very small towns in Texas (I'm Australian, before anyone asks...) I started the LSL in 1976. The league is now 95 games (of 150) into the 1977 season. I am the GM of the Garrett Jacks. I am personally managing all of Garrett's 150 games per season. It's been a fun ride. At the start of 1976 I assessed my team. The team's strongest asset was clearly its bullpen: Japanese CL Rohu Ine's ratings suggested a sub-2.00 ERA. I expected MRs Ralph Harper and Domingo Rodriguez to post sub-3.00's and work 60-75 IPs each. After that… yikes. In the infield, only 2B Kyung-Hyung "Awesome" Tang looked any good. I judged he would be Korea's answer to Jeff Kent, and might put together something like .285/.350/.500 with 20 HRs, 85-100 RBI. Catcher combo Miguel Reyes and Kevin Morris could hold down the position, but neither was going to hit much better than .260/.325/.350. 1B Marty Watson looked good for .290/.360/.400, at best, and his defensive skills were suspect. Across the diamond was 3B Domingo Perez, a very slick fielder with some pop but no eye (.250/.325/.450, if I was lucky). His companion, SS Michael Martin, seemed like another 290/.360/.400 guy, with no speed and only adequate hands Similarly, the only bright spark in the outfield was LF Yuji Saito, who seemed to promise .300/.385/.425. Both CF Robert Brewer and RF Russ Bowman could run and field, but would they hit? Was .260/.350/.350 with 30 SBs from each too much to ask? As for the SPs: #1 Ken Brown looked like best case 10-10 / 3.50 ERA / 1.35 WHIP / 100 K; #2 Gabriel Sanchez seemed like a lock to issue 100 free passes en route to a 5.50 ERA (and losing record); and #3 Tyler Wright and #4 RJ Williams were fodder. This team was destined for last. I decided to try to get offense on the cheap, but invest in a good #1 SP. Before the start of spring training, I signed two free agents: RF Graham Dixon, a potential 30-30 candidate; and SP Arthur Wilson, a 38-year old veteran fireballer. So how did it work out (in 1976)? RF Dixon went down for four weeks on the last day of spring training; the regular season opened, and the Jacks played .400 ball for a month; 3B Domingo Perez didn't hit so I swapped him for 3B Sam White (he seemed better on paper but turned out to be much, much worse); Dixon returned and started to rake (.330 early on and threat to become LSL league HR leader); LF Saito wiped out running the bases and put himself in hospital for 7 months, re-opening a spot for young LF Russ Bowman; new #1 SP Wilson pitched well, recording a sub-3.00 ERA. But the real stories were: 2B 'Awesome' Tang got depressed and didn't hit (.240/.325/.450), and by mid-June I was looking to ship him and his $2.8m/year contract; 1B Marty Wilson, SS Michael Martin and CF Robert Brewer proved 'scrappy' for computer-generated imaginings; #3 SP Gabriel Sanchez walked every guy other he saw, but got every guy he didn't walk to ground into a double play; and suddenly Garrett started to compete with singles and doubles and the occasional Dixon bomb. At last, the boys in that excellent Garrett bullpen had something to do: preserve ties and save 1-run games. And they did it very well. The team was hovering at .500 at the trading deadline. Out of contention (that year), I gave Tang his wish, acquiring 22-year old 2B Angel Campos and some other prospects. Campos went on to hit .300/.365/425 for Garrett, and signed a 3-year contract totalling 1/5th of a single year of Tang's salary. Others cooled, then got hot again. Garrett finished 1976 in 3rd place (of 5) with a record of 77-73, 12 GB of the eventual LSL Champions Quintana Braves. A great (and surprising) result. Dixon and Wilson were bright sparks, of course (.260/.360/.500 with 20 HRs and 44 SBs in 117 games) and (14-9 / 2.97 / 150 K). But the best part was getting something out of the guys I didn't expect to: Watson hit .305; Martin had .380 OBP; C Reyes hit well, in the end; Brewer and Bowman DID swipe some bags and win some games; Sanchez walked more than 130 guys and won more games than he lost! Now it's 1977: Record to date 50-45, after a terrible 4-and-15 slide (Garrett was 46-30 a month ago!). New division leaders Van Horn Rangers are still in reach (3 GB)… … if only Dixon can hit (he's currently .220/.290!!!/.490!!! with 24 HRs)… … if only Wilson, now a set piece of the bullpen, can keep his 39-year old arm together… … if only free agent acquisition SP Manuel Delgado (10-3 / 1.75 / 150 Ks) stays healthy… ... if only… [Garrett's rivals in the Republican League (RL) Hills Division (HD) are Quintana Braves (1976 LSL Champion), Van Horn Rangers (current 1977 HD leader), Longhorn Bucks and Copper Canyon Diggers. Rivals in the Republican League, Gulf Division include Avinger Arsenal (1976 Division Winner), New Hope Mountaineers (the current GD leader in 1977), Indian Lake Pioneers, Estelline Chargers and Stagecoach Raiders. There are another 10 teams in the Confederate League.]