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

luckymann · 09-28-2023, 01:21 AM

Plenty to report from a fairly frantic middle third. Oddly, little of it has to do with what's going on in the standings, which see three of the four races looking decidedly more clear-cut that at last report.

June begins poorly as we drop three of four at San Fran but eventually the bats start warming to the task. We lose Johnson for a minimum IL stint after he’s HBP and suffers a wrist injury but the very next day beat Koufax and the Dodgers 11-0 in LA.

Go figure.

That seems to take it out of us as we post a dreadful homestand against the West Coast clubs, losing 6 of 9 and just getting thumped. We finally right the ship but are hit with a series of niggles that just never allow us to get a roll on as first Tolan and then Oliver go down for a week. It’s a credit to the group that we even keep winning with the regularity that we do, a lot of which has to do with Pops Stargell and Dave Giusti. They are our rocks throughout June and rightly win the respective monthly award.

As June becomes July, we take 3 of 4 at home from the Cubs and hit the midpoint at 49-32 and a half-dozen games clear.

We lose Arriba early in the new month for a minimum IL stint that becomes a longer absence as the seemingly endless caravan of injuries continues, but nonetheless trundle along in the same fashion—ugly but, generally speaking, effective.

Case in point, this win over the Braves that sees Bill Singer give up an unearned run but no hits while walking 4 and we manage just 6 hits in a 5-1 final. Madcap hijinks abound.

Grant Jackson then suffers a season-ending RC tear, and with him wanting big $ to extend that’s him done with us—for now, at least. Terry Forster gets his long-awaited call-up in his stead.

By the ASB we have stretched our lead to 9.

A 15-3 win over the Mets in our first game after the break is marred by a finger injury to Tolan that will keep him out of action for up to 6 weeks. Fortunately Roberto is rehabbing at Lincoln and we call him back a few days later.

We keep our hands in our pockets as the Deadline passes and enter August with our destiny in our own hands.

Just a really strong and typically low-key passage from the lads, especially in a 20-8 July.

Aside from the obvious candidates, shout-outs to Kirkpatrick, Robinson and Foli for their contributions.

So close to trading Singer away last year - glad cooler heads prevailed given what he's doing this year.

News, Leaders and Top 20s

Monthly Award Winners

June

American League

Batter – Reggie Smith (Red Sox): 352 / 4 HR / 17 RBI
Pitcher – Vida Blue (A’s): 4-0 / 2.88 / 32 K / 40.2 IP
Rookie – Doc Medich (Rangers): 2-1 / 1.53 / 26 K / 47 IP

National League

Batter – Willie Stargell (Pirates): 341 / 10 HR / 26 RBI
Pitcher – Dave Giusti (Pirates): 5-1 / 1.71 / 6 SV / 18 K / 26.1 IP
Rookie – Jim Bibby (Cardinals): 3-0 / 1.15 / 28 K / 39 IP

July

American League

Batter – Al Kaline (Tigers): 378 / 5 HR / 17 RBI
Pitcher – Burt Hooton (White Sox): 5-0 / 1.65 / 31 K / 49 IP
Rookie – Steve Busby (Indians): 4-2 / 2.74 / 25 K / 46 IP

National League

Batter – Darrell Evans (Giants): 351 / 7 HR / 18 RBI
Pitcher – Larry Dierker (Astros): 4-0 / 0.97 / 30 K / 55.2 IP
Rookie – Rick Reuschel (Cubs): 3-2 / 3.16 / 32 K / 42.2 IP

Milestones and Observations of Note

A hamstring strain puts Cards legend Bob Gibson on the shelf for 5-6 weeks, while Yankees pitcher Jerry Koosman suffers a major elbow injury that will keep him out of the game until toward the end of 1973.
Ralph Terry of the Expos has his season cut short by a labrum tear and a UCL tear will sideline Dean Chance for at least a year.
A concussion spells Milwaukee OF Ken Henderson for 5-6 weeks, while a UCL tear puts paid to the 1972 season of reliever Bruce Dal Canton.
Veteran OF Gates Brown goes down with a season-ending concussion, while the Yanks lose boom young 1B John Mayberry for the remainder to an abdominal tear.
A’s put their foot down with a dozen straight wins to wrest control of the AL West.
Rangers hurler Bruce Kison throws back-to-back one-hitters.
Perhaps the biggest news is Henry Aaron being traded from the Braves to the Dodgers at the Deadline, which also features a couple other swaps of note:

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

09-28-2023, 01:21 AM	#2309
luckymann Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 13,791	The View from the Gangplank August 1, 1972 Plenty to report from a fairly frantic middle third. Oddly, little of it has to do with what's going on in the standings, which see three of the four races looking decidedly more clear-cut that at last report. June begins poorly as we drop three of four at San Fran but eventually the bats start warming to the task. We lose Johnson for a minimum IL stint after he’s HBP and suffers a wrist injury but the very next day beat Koufax and the Dodgers 11-0 in LA. Go figure. That seems to take it out of us as we post a dreadful homestand against the West Coast clubs, losing 6 of 9 and just getting thumped. We finally right the ship but are hit with a series of niggles that just never allow us to get a roll on as first Tolan and then Oliver go down for a week. It’s a credit to the group that we even keep winning with the regularity that we do, a lot of which has to do with Pops Stargell and Dave Giusti. They are our rocks throughout June and rightly win the respective monthly award. As June becomes July, we take 3 of 4 at home from the Cubs and hit the midpoint at 49-32 and a half-dozen games clear. We lose Arriba early in the new month for a minimum IL stint that becomes a longer absence as the seemingly endless caravan of injuries continues, but nonetheless trundle along in the same fashion—ugly but, generally speaking, effective. Case in point, this win over the Braves that sees Bill Singer give up an unearned run but no hits while walking 4 and we manage just 6 hits in a 5-1 final. Madcap hijinks abound. Grant Jackson then suffers a season-ending RC tear, and with him wanting big $ to extend that’s him done with us—for now, at least. Terry Forster gets his long-awaited call-up in his stead. By the ASB we have stretched our lead to 9. A 15-3 win over the Mets in our first game after the break is marred by a finger injury to Tolan that will keep him out of action for up to 6 weeks. Fortunately Roberto is rehabbing at Lincoln and we call him back a few days later. We keep our hands in our pockets as the Deadline passes and enter August with our destiny in our own hands. Just a really strong and typically low-key passage from the lads, especially in a 20-8 July. Aside from the obvious candidates, shout-outs to Kirkpatrick, Robinson and Foli for their contributions. So close to trading Singer away last year - glad cooler heads prevailed given what he's doing this year. News, Leaders and Top 20s Monthly Award Winners June *American League* Batter – Reggie Smith (Red Sox): 352 / 4 HR / 17 RBI Pitcher – Vida Blue (A’s): 4-0 / 2.88 / 32 K / 40.2 IP Rookie – Doc Medich (Rangers): 2-1 / 1.53 / 26 K / 47 IP *National League* Batter – Willie Stargell (Pirates): 341 / 10 HR / 26 RBI Pitcher – Dave Giusti (Pirates): 5-1 / 1.71 / 6 SV / 18 K / 26.1 IP Rookie – Jim Bibby (Cardinals): 3-0 / 1.15 / 28 K / 39 IP July *American League* Batter – Al Kaline (Tigers): 378 / 5 HR / 17 RBI Pitcher – Burt Hooton (White Sox): 5-0 / 1.65 / 31 K / 49 IP Rookie – Steve Busby (Indians): 4-2 / 2.74 / 25 K / 46 IP *National League* Batter – Darrell Evans (Giants): 351 / 7 HR / 18 RBI Pitcher – Larry Dierker (Astros): 4-0 / 0.97 / 30 K / 55.2 IP Rookie – Rick Reuschel (Cubs): 3-2 / 3.16 / 32 K / 42.2 IP Milestones and Observations of Note A hamstring strain puts Cards legend Bob Gibson on the shelf for 5-6 weeks, while Yankees pitcher Jerry Koosman suffers a major elbow injury that will keep him out of the game until toward the end of 1973. Ralph Terry of the Expos has his season cut short by a labrum tear and a UCL tear will sideline Dean Chance for at least a year. A concussion spells Milwaukee OF Ken Henderson for 5-6 weeks, while a UCL tear puts paid to the 1972 season of reliever Bruce Dal Canton. Veteran OF Gates Brown goes down with a season-ending concussion, while the Yanks lose boom young 1B John Mayberry for the remainder to an abdominal tear. A’s put their foot down with a dozen straight wins to wrest control of the AL West. Rangers hurler Bruce Kison throws back-to-back one-hitters. Perhaps the biggest news is Henry Aaron being traded from the Braves to the Dodgers at the Deadline, which also features a couple other swaps of note: S+ HOME REPORTS HOME PIRATES HOME __________________ HISTORICAL DO-OVERS A'S RED SOX DODGERS PIRATES 2.0 & MARINERS COMING SOON! CUSTOM SAVES ECLIPSE LEAGUE MOON SHOT LEAGUE EVERYMAN LEAGUE LGB Last edited by luckymann; 09-30-2023 at 07:46 PM.