OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

luckymann · 03-05-2023, 07:02 AM

If, as it is often said, the greatest achievements are those you undergo the most to achieve, then this has to be one of our club's finest moments indeed.

All through August, ourselves and the Giants go win for win - our 17-9 record and their 18-11 mark putting us 6 1/2 games clear as September comes into being. 25 games remain. We feel anything but safe.

As the new month progresses, they keep winning. We do, too, albeit with less regularity. One week in and our lead is back to 4 1/2. We stabilize and still lead by the same margin a week later. Our magic number creeps into single figures, then stalls. We lose five on the trot and it stops altogether.

Then it disappears.

For the first time this season, we drop out of first place as the Giants pass us with back-to-back wins at Forbes Field. We have almost entirely stopped scoring runs. A gritty win gets us back level, which is how things sit as we head to the Polo Grounds for the final two games of the regular season.

A 4-1 win behind Camilo Pascual in the first of these gives us the one-game edge with one to play. A tiebreak looms. Johnny Podres, 17-5 for the season but 0-3 in his last 5 starts, faces their ace Johnny Antonelli. Frank Thomas's form down the stretch has been so wretched that I bench him for a banged-up Ralph Kiner.

Podres is magnificent, allowing just a run on 4 hits over 7+ as we take a 3-1 lead into the 9th. Thomas, in now as a defensive replacement at 1B, belts a 2-run homer to put them away and we clinch the pennant by two games to set up a rematch with the Red Sox, who see off a dogged Tigers outfit to book their spot in the Fall Classic.

Little time to analyse things just now, but we have learned a lot about ourselves these past few weeks - some good, some bad, all useful for future reference and planning purposes.

Clearly some firepower is needed for our offence. I still have my second trade ticket to use and will almost certainly do so as soon as I am permitted, rather than arb tender a couple guys we have no interest in keeping. Maz has a breakout year. Thomas hits 151 in September.

If we've had a better performance from our pitchers, it doesn't readily come to mind. Three starters with sub-3 ERAs and a BP that ends up with a collective mark of 1.79, led by Morehead's 3 pWAR showing and Aguirre's astonishing debut season.

A huge year for Mickey Mantle as he wins the AL batting title with a 371 mark and misses a Triple Crown by 6 RBI (to Roger Maris, of all people). Stan Musial wins his 5th batting title, while Ernie Banks leads both leagues with 45 HR and Ken Boyer's 119 RBI are the most of all. In a nice touch, Jackie Robinson steals the most bases of any player: 42 (nearly twice as many as our club's total of 22...).

Jim Bunning fades a bit but still finishes top 3 across the TC stat cats, while Johnny Podres leads the NL in both wins (18, one behind Bill Pierce's 19 across in the junior circuit) and ERA (2.67, tied with Milt Pappas for the low mark). Sandy Koufax leads the MLB with 214 strikeouts, likewise Seth Morehead with 35 saves - the third most in history.

Final Top 20s and Leaders

Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

Batter – Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 375 / 9 HR / 16 RBI
Pitcher – Frank Sullivan (Red Sox): 4-1 / 1.51 / 25 K / 47.2 IP
Rookie – Juan Pizarro (Indians): 3-1 / 3.64 / 33 K / 42 IP

National League

Batter – Stan Musial (Cardinals): 366 / 6 HR / 20 RBI
Pitcher – Johnny Podres (Pirates): 5-1 / 1.81 / 21 K / 44.2 IP
Rookie – Seth Morehead (Pirates): 1-0 / 0.96 / 7 SV / 17 K / 18.2 IP

September

American League

Batter – Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 355 / 7 HR / 16 RBI
Pitcher – Billy Pierce (White Sox): 6-0 / 1.47 / 34 K / 49 IP
Rookie – Milt Pappas (Orioles): 3-0 / 1.90 / 21 K / 42.2 IP

National League

Batter – Ken Boyer (Cardinals): 427 / 7 HR / 30 RBI
Pitcher – Sandy Koufax (Dodgers): 5-1 / 2.70 / 45 K / 43.1 IP
Rookie – Harry Anderson (Giants): 377 / 5 HR / 18 RBI

Milestones and Observations of Note

200 Wins: Early Wynn
The Giants lose Closer Red Witt for the season courtesy of biceps tendinitis, while a fractured elbow ends Bob Rush’s campaign early.
No good news for Clan Robinson, as both Brooks (PCL tear) and Frank (fractured wrist) have their seasons curtailed by injury.
Cardinals hurler Billy O’Dell goes down for the remainder with a torn labrum, as do Detroit Closer Don Kaiser with an elbow strain and Cleveland’s Mike Garcia with concussion after being beaned with a line drive.
A key loss for the BoSox with Don Buddin ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a severe hip strain.

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03-05-2023, 07:02 AM	#1764
luckymann Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 12,749	The View from the Gangplank: end of regular season, 1957 If, as it is often said, the greatest achievements are those you undergo the most to achieve, then this has to be one of our club's finest moments indeed. All through August, ourselves and the Giants go win for win - our 17-9 record and their 18-11 mark putting us 6 1/2 games clear as September comes into being. 25 games remain. We feel anything but safe. As the new month progresses, they keep winning. We do, too, albeit with less regularity. One week in and our lead is back to 4 1/2. We stabilize and still lead by the same margin a week later. Our magic number creeps into single figures, then stalls. We lose five on the trot and it stops altogether. Then it disappears. For the first time this season, we drop out of first place as the Giants pass us with back-to-back wins at Forbes Field. We have almost entirely stopped scoring runs. A gritty win gets us back level, which is how things sit as we head to the Polo Grounds for the final two games of the regular season. A 4-1 win behind Camilo Pascual in the first of these gives us the one-game edge with one to play. A tiebreak looms. Johnny Podres, 17-5 for the season but 0-3 in his last 5 starts, faces their ace Johnny Antonelli. Frank Thomas's form down the stretch has been so wretched that I bench him for a banged-up Ralph Kiner. Podres is magnificent, allowing just a run on 4 hits over 7+ as we take a 3-1 lead into the 9th. Thomas, in now as a defensive replacement at 1B, belts a 2-run homer to put them away and we clinch the pennant by two games to set up a rematch with the Red Sox, who see off a dogged Tigers outfit to book their spot in the Fall Classic. Little time to analyse things just now, but we have learned a lot about ourselves these past few weeks - some good, some bad, all useful for future reference and planning purposes. Clearly some firepower is needed for our offence. I still have my second trade ticket to use and will almost certainly do so as soon as I am permitted, rather than arb tender a couple guys we have no interest in keeping. Maz has a breakout year. Thomas hits 151 in September. If we've had a better performance from our pitchers, it doesn't readily come to mind. Three starters with sub-3 ERAs and a BP that ends up with a collective mark of 1.79, led by Morehead's 3 pWAR showing and Aguirre's astonishing debut season. A huge year for Mickey Mantle as he wins the AL batting title with a 371 mark and misses a Triple Crown by 6 RBI (to Roger Maris, of all people). Stan Musial wins his 5th batting title, while Ernie Banks leads both leagues with 45 HR and Ken Boyer's 119 RBI are the most of all. In a nice touch, Jackie Robinson steals the most bases of any player: 42 (nearly twice as many as our club's total of 22...). Jim Bunning fades a bit but still finishes top 3 across the TC stat cats, while Johnny Podres leads the NL in both wins (18, one behind Bill Pierce's 19 across in the junior circuit) and ERA (2.67, tied with Milt Pappas for the low mark). Sandy Koufax leads the MLB with 214 strikeouts, likewise Seth Morehead with 35 saves - the third most in history. Final Top 20s and Leaders Monthly Award Winners August *American League* Batter – Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 375 / 9 HR / 16 RBI Pitcher – Frank Sullivan (Red Sox): 4-1 / 1.51 / 25 K / 47.2 IP Rookie – Juan Pizarro (Indians): 3-1 / 3.64 / 33 K / 42 IP *National League* Batter – Stan Musial (Cardinals): 366 / 6 HR / 20 RBI Pitcher – Johnny Podres (Pirates): 5-1 / 1.81 / 21 K / 44.2 IP Rookie – Seth Morehead (Pirates): 1-0 / 0.96 / 7 SV / 17 K / 18.2 IP September *American League* Batter – Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 355 / 7 HR / 16 RBI Pitcher – Billy Pierce (White Sox): 6-0 / 1.47 / 34 K / 49 IP Rookie – Milt Pappas (Orioles): 3-0 / 1.90 / 21 K / 42.2 IP *National League* Batter – Ken Boyer (Cardinals): 427 / 7 HR / 30 RBI Pitcher – Sandy Koufax (Dodgers): 5-1 / 2.70 / 45 K / 43.1 IP Rookie – Harry Anderson (Giants): 377 / 5 HR / 18 RBI Milestones and Observations of Note 200 Wins: Early Wynn The Giants lose Closer Red Witt for the season courtesy of biceps tendinitis, while a fractured elbow ends Bob Rush’s campaign early. No good news for Clan Robinson, as both Brooks (PCL tear) and Frank (fractured wrist) have their seasons curtailed by injury. Cardinals hurler Billy O’Dell goes down for the remainder with a torn labrum, as do Detroit Closer Don Kaiser with an elbow strain and Cleveland’s Mike Garcia with concussion after being beaned with a line drive. A key loss for the BoSox with Don Buddin ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a severe hip strain. S+ HOME REPORTS HOME PIRATES HOME __________________ HISTORICAL DO-OVERS PIRATES A'S RED SOX DODGERS CUSTOM SAVES ECLIPSE LEAGUE MOON SHOT LEAGUE EVERYMAN LEAGUE GULF LEAGUE Last edited by luckymann; 03-05-2023 at 07:03 AM.