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1971 Royals
The Plan
Same as before, with less attractions to dangle but also less needs to fill. I’m sure that the pitching will straighten out. With Allen as an anchor, the corner infield and outfield should be okay leaving me to concentrate on the up-the-middle positions. I think I should have enough offense so will look to improve the defense there. This year’s newcomers are pitchers Splittorff (again), Lance Clemens and Monty Montgomery, 3 decent but not great prospects. Winter trades sent Hernandez, Nelson and Pascual for stopgaps Johnny Edwards and Cookie Rojas.
What Happened to the Plan
The bar was set high as the actual Royals burst though .500 and into 2nd place in 1971. I wasn’t expecting to do the same, but there we were at 16-6 and up by 3 games on May 1! What to do? Forsake the plan and try to win now or stay the course? I was able to delay that decision since I needed to look for a shortstop to replace an injured Thompson, getting good-field, no-hit Dal Maxvill for Morales. At 26-21, down to 4th but only 2 ½ out on June 1. I decided to test the trade waters. I sent Severson off
for Diego Segui and then looked to Pittsburgh, who in real life did trade Freddie Patek to the Royals, but my offers for him insulted the Pirate GM’s (artificial) intelligence. I looked over the rest of their roster and saw 2 good, young second basemen in Dave Cash and Rennie Stennett so thought that Bill Mazeroski might be available. He was, along with starter Bob Veale, for Kosco who by now was my sub corner IF-OF. I also sent Clemens for reliever Clay Carroll. At the halfway point the team was at 41-35 and back in 2nd place, -5½ out but I could smell first division money. I sent off youngsters Jim York and Pat Kelly to different teams for Johnny “Blue Moon” Odom and Mel Stottlemyre, sure that at least third place, maybe more, was mine…
The Results
…it wasn’t. We were in 3rd place, 1 game in front of fourth on August 22 when sparkplug Rojas was lost for the year. We did finish (barely) over .500 at 82-80, but in 4th and out of the money. Palmer (3.89) disappointed, Allen never seemed to hit when needed as evidenced by only 84 RBI and Thompson was only able to play 44 games and hit just .149 when he did. Only Garr (.309 for 4th with 30 SBs for 5th) and Splittorff (2.46 for 3rd but only 175 IP) appeared on the leader boards. Actual Royal Amos Otis stayed in New York....and won the OOTP MVP.
RF Garr also 64 RBI in the top spot
2B Rojas 304, followed by Mazeroski after injury (.213 with KC)
1B Allen also .272, 25 HRs
CF May 15 HRs and steady centerfield play
3B Evans 15 HRS in 109 games
LF McRae .310
C Rodriguez .238, partial platoon with Edwards at .237
SS Maxvill .55, .284 with KC
Cruz hit 10 HRs as an outfield sub.
S1 Stottlemyre 9-6/2.36 with KC, 19-10/2.61 overall
S2 Palmer also 14-18
S3 Splittorff also 11-7
S4 Hedlund 4.32
RP Carroll 2.73 overall
RP Lee 3.25, 12 Saves
RP Burgmeier ERA went up to 4.30
Next, the 1972 Royals
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