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JerryShoe · 05-02-2023, 07:48 PM

The 1972 Royals

The Plan
Satisfied with the corner infield and outfield, I spent the offseason looking to improve up-the middle. Position by position, I traded last year’s catching corps for Ray Fosse, Jerry Grote and Gene Tenace, my 2 shortstop candidates (including last year’s starter) for no-longer good Luis Aparicio, before-he-was good Dave Concepcion and never-was-real-good Gene Michael, and top prospects Steve Busby and Monty Montgomery for wily vet Luis Tiant along with Bob Johnson. The only CF I could pick up was Jimmy Lyttle. Once more, I’m banking on the pitching will coming through on its own.

What Happened to the Plan
Again, the Royals were unexpectedly in the race, in first place after the first month and a comfortable lead in mid-June when Evans and Aparicio were injured. The lead shrunk from 5½ games to as low as 1½ on their return, but the Twins and Athletics were held at bay. After not securing a centerfielder before the season start and now being happy with May’s play, Ken Berry was offered for Johnson. I bit only because pitching was so good that there was actually an overabundance of arms.

The Results
Good news and bad news. The good news is that the Royals go into the postseason 4 years ahead of history. The bad news is that I don’t get to manage George Brett. Although things got tight at times with Minnesota and later Oakland and there were some weak spots in the offense, the Royals went 95-67 and clinched with a week to go. Dick Allen put the team on his shoulders and carried them with a leading .416 OB along with .523 SA (3rd), 98 RBI (5th); 99 Runs (2nd), 119 Walks (2nd), 279 TB (5th), 171 OPS+ (2nd). Garr came in 4th with 35 steals and Evans walked 103 times (4th).

RF Garr also .294 and .341 OB
2B Rojas .239
CF May 32 2Bs
1B Allen also .281, 27 HRs, 12 3Bs (2nd), 24 SBs
3B Evans 18 HRs, .371 OB
LF Cruz .267/.342, 16 2Bs in part-time play
C Fosse .243
SS Concepcion .227

McRae (.328/.381/.607), Baylor (7 HRs), Aparicio (.261), Muser (.280) and Michael (.267) did well off the bench. Berry slashed .331/.393/.457 in 47 games with KC, (.291/358 overall) and took over CF and leadoff spots by the playoffs.

S1 Tiant 14-7, 2.12 (3rd), 157 ERA+ (2nd)
S2 Palmer 13-12, 2.62
S3 Stottlemyre 15-12, 2.67, 29 QS (2nd)
S4 Splittorff 18 (5th) -7, 2.73

RP Segui 1.71
RP Burgmeier 2.20
RP Carroll 2.75
RP Rooker 2.85

Next, the 1972 Postseason and season awards.

05-02-2023, 07:48 PM	#5
JerryShoe Minors (Double A) Join Date: Aug 2021 Posts: 122	The 1972 Royals The Plan Satisfied with the corner infield and outfield, I spent the offseason looking to improve up-the middle. Position by position, I traded last year’s catching corps for Ray Fosse, Jerry Grote and Gene Tenace, my 2 shortstop candidates (including last year’s starter) for no-longer good Luis Aparicio, before-he-was good Dave Concepcion and never-was-real-good Gene Michael, and top prospects Steve Busby and Monty Montgomery for wily vet Luis Tiant along with Bob Johnson. The only CF I could pick up was Jimmy Lyttle. Once more, I’m banking on the pitching will coming through on its own. What Happened to the Plan Again, the Royals were unexpectedly in the race, in first place after the first month and a comfortable lead in mid-June when Evans and Aparicio were injured. The lead shrunk from 5½ games to as low as 1½ on their return, but the Twins and Athletics were held at bay. After not securing a centerfielder before the season start and now being happy with May’s play, Ken Berry was offered for Johnson. I bit only because pitching was so good that there was actually an overabundance of arms. The Results Good news and bad news. The good news is that the Royals go into the postseason 4 years ahead of history. The bad news is that I don’t get to manage George Brett. Although things got tight at times with Minnesota and later Oakland and there were some weak spots in the offense, the Royals went 95-67 and clinched with a week to go. Dick Allen put the team on his shoulders and carried them with a leading .416 OB along with .523 SA (3rd), 98 RBI (5th); 99 Runs (2nd), 119 Walks (2nd), 279 TB (5th), 171 OPS+ (2nd). Garr came in 4th with 35 steals and Evans walked 103 times (4th). RF Garr also .294 and .341 OB 2B Rojas .239 CF May 32 2Bs 1B Allen also .281, 27 HRs, 12 3Bs (2nd), 24 SBs 3B Evans 18 HRs, .371 OB LF Cruz .267/.342, 16 2Bs in part-time play C Fosse .243 SS Concepcion .227 McRae (.328/.381/.607), Baylor (7 HRs), Aparicio (.261), Muser (.280) and Michael (.267) did well off the bench. Berry slashed .331/.393/.457 in 47 games with KC, (.291/358 overall) and took over CF and leadoff spots by the playoffs. S1 Tiant 14-7, 2.12 (3rd), 157 ERA+ (2nd) S2 Palmer 13-12, 2.62 S3 Stottlemyre 15-12, 2.67, 29 QS (2nd) S4 Splittorff 18 (5th) -7, 2.73 RP Segui 1.71 RP Burgmeier 2.20 RP Carroll 2.75 RP Rooker 2.85 Next, the 1972 Postseason and season awards.