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April 1 1963
Donn Clendenon is a 1B only. OOTP dropped his LF rating from 11 to 1. I just don't see this. True in RL he only briefly played OF but to take it all away and all at once is wrong. He's not the only one. The same happens to Robin Yount. OOTP is a plausible could have been game and so with a RL drastic change in position the player should retain his skills at the old one subject to normal aging declines. OK, enough of that.
Stargell is the LF and he is implausibly over rated against LHP. Real life he didn't break .200 against LHP until something like 1969. In the mid 60s at least once Harry Walker sent up Jose Pagan to pinch hit for him. OK, enough gripes.
Four more exhibition games before the final cuts. 3B Don Hoak has fallen to 1.5 stars. Never played in the majors 3B Gilbert Watts is two stars. I think 20 year old 2.5 star Bob Bailey gets the 3B job. I can't send Hoak down and probably can't trade him ($155k salary) and have to consider he puts fans in the stands ("very popular" local rating).
Last year's bullpen stopper Earl Frances has fallen to 2.0 stars while last year's bullpen disappointment Bobby Shantz is up to 2.5 with stuff of 10 after it fell to 4. Bob Veale is now the #2 starter. The bullpen looked OK before spring training but now it's clear help is needed.
April 8 1963
Experts predict third place two games out. First is well within reach.
My ticket prices have exceeded interest. Season ticket sales are down and also predicted total season sales. Under the hood interest shows 97 with a +6 modifier. The chance of becoming America's Team is fading.
I'm going to try a platoon where 1B Dick Stuart gets all the away starts and 1B Donn Clendenon gets some of the home starts. I think Clendenon's superor gap power is better suited to Forbes Field than Stuart's superior HR power. Mighty tough to put a platoon on a guy who tied last year for the most HRs in the NL.
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