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luckymann · 09-30-2023, 09:03 PM

Even with Pop out our lead is pretty much unassailable and we end up clinching the NL East in a canter with 101 wins. That said, signs abound that this long and challenging season has taken its toll. Whatever happens from here on in, I regard this performance as one of the club’s best given all of the various problems we’ve had to surmount.

Not hard to see from those metrics why we won 100+, with only the power end in both pitching and hitting not near the top.

That even spread of contributions really held us in good stead. Again, the input of the backup guys can not be overstated.

Another sterling performance from Joe Coleman - his third 5+ rWAR for us in as many seasons. He and Bill Singer have really led the way, but the other three starters have been solid and Reuss's second half shows why we want him at our club long-term. Dave Giusti has his second superlative season in a row leading our BP.

Everything changes in August across in the AL as both Boston and Oakland lose their mojo and allow the races to heat right back up again. The White Sox make a huge run at it as well with a superlative 15-game win streak, but in reality they start it from too far back to ever seriously be in contention.

Eventually the Sox and A’s regain at least some level of control in the standings without ever breaking free again and each clinches with a couple games to go, as does LA in the NL West, despite the best efforts for the Reds of a rampaging Billy Williams, who wins the batting award for both August and September.

Interestingly for those of you who follow the Python, both of the AL races would have finished differently had this been the final decider.

Williams wins the batting title in the NL (his first, at age-33) and leads all the league with 119 RBI, with Bob Watson the AL hitting champ this year. Despite that early end to his season, Pops is still tied with Dick Allen on 32 for most HR in either league. Joe Morgan edges out Lou Brock 77 to 76 for most SB on the year.

Another close-run thing for the low ERA, with Larry Dierker's 2.11 pipping Bill Singer (2.14) and Paul Splittorff (2.15). Singer is also tied with Joe Coleman and Sandy Koufax on a league-high 21 wins, while Nolan Ryan is the King of K this year with 292. Dave Giusti's 40 Saves are the most by any pitcher and he looks a lock for another Reliever nod come awards season. He also sets a new league record with 89 Games, while Dave Nicholson earns a more dubious honour by setting a new high-water mark for batter strikeouts with 212, becoming just the second player after Paul Journigan in 1961 to whiff 200 times or more in a season. Sandy K, meanwhile, overhauls Walter Johnson's seemingly unreachable all-time record for Shutouts, ending the season with 80.

Final Top 20s and Leaders

Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

Batter – George Scott (Twins): 324 / 7 HR / 21 RBI
Pitcher – Pat Dobson (Angels): 5-1 / 1.89 / 31 K / 57 IP
Rookie – Steve Busby (Indians): 4-2 / 2.59 / 31 K / 48.2 IP

National League

Batter – Billy Williams (Reds): 396 / 9 HR / 24 RBI
Pitcher – Jack Billingham (Reds): 6-0 / 1.85 / 30 K / 43.2 IP
Rookie – Richie Zisk (Expos): 354 / 2 HR / 12 RBI

September

American League

Batter – Al Kaline (Tigers): 356 / 6 HR / 19 RBI
Pitcher – Catfish Hunter (A’s): 4-0 / 1.11 / 41 K / 48.2 IP
Rookie – Lynn McGlothen (Twins): 5-1 / 2.93 / 27 K / 46 IP

National League

Batter – Billy Williams (Reds): 385 / 4 HR / 25 RBI
Pitcher – Sandy Koufax (Dodgers): 4-2 / 1.76 / 40 K / 46 IP
Rookie – Rick Reuschel (Cubs): 4-1 / 2.25 / 16 K / 40 IP

Milestones and Observations of Note

500 HR: Harmon Killebrew, Frank Robinson
2000 Hits: Billy Williams
200 Wins: Juan Marichal
200 Saves: Bob Locker
Minnesota’s Cesar Tovar suffers a knee injury that ends his season a fortnight prematurely; same deal for Royals Closer Dick Hughes courtesy of a torn labrum.
The Yanks lose gun OF Roy White right in the heat of their pennant race, no doubt a significant reason why they come up just short.
Bert Blyleven finishes third in each of the TC stat cats.

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09-30-2023, 09:03 PM	#2315
luckymann Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 13,804	The View from the Gangplank: end of regular season, 1972 Even with Pop out our lead is pretty much unassailable and we end up clinching the NL East in a canter with 101 wins. That said, signs abound that this long and challenging season has taken its toll. Whatever happens from here on in, I regard this performance as one of the club’s best given all of the various problems we’ve had to surmount. Not hard to see from those metrics why we won 100+, with only the power end in both pitching and hitting not near the top. That even spread of contributions really held us in good stead. Again, the input of the backup guys can not be overstated. Another sterling performance from Joe Coleman - his third 5+ rWAR for us in as many seasons. He and Bill Singer have really led the way, but the other three starters have been solid and Reuss's second half shows why we want him at our club long-term. Dave Giusti has his second superlative season in a row leading our BP. Everything changes in August across in the AL as both Boston and Oakland lose their mojo and allow the races to heat right back up again. The White Sox make a huge run at it as well with a superlative 15-game win streak, but in reality they start it from too far back to ever seriously be in contention. Eventually the Sox and A’s regain at least some level of control in the standings without ever breaking free again and each clinches with a couple games to go, as does LA in the NL West, despite the best efforts for the Reds of a rampaging Billy Williams, who wins the batting award for both August and September. Interestingly for those of you who follow the Python, both of the AL races would have finished differently had this been the final decider. Williams wins the batting title in the NL (his first, at age-33) and leads all the league with 119 RBI, with Bob Watson the AL hitting champ this year. Despite that early end to his season, Pops is still tied with Dick Allen on 32 for most HR in either league. Joe Morgan edges out Lou Brock 77 to 76 for most SB on the year. Another close-run thing for the low ERA, with Larry Dierker's 2.11 pipping Bill Singer (2.14) and Paul Splittorff (2.15). Singer is also tied with Joe Coleman and Sandy Koufax on a league-high 21 wins, while Nolan Ryan is the King of K this year with 292. Dave Giusti's 40 Saves are the most by any pitcher and he looks a lock for another Reliever nod come awards season. He also sets a new league record with 89 Games, while Dave Nicholson earns a more dubious honour by setting a new high-water mark for batter strikeouts with 212, becoming just the second player after Paul Journigan in 1961 to whiff 200 times or more in a season. Sandy K, meanwhile, overhauls Walter Johnson's seemingly unreachable all-time record for Shutouts, ending the season with 80. Final Top 20s and Leaders Monthly Award Winners August *American League* Batter – George Scott (Twins): 324 / 7 HR / 21 RBI Pitcher – Pat Dobson (Angels): 5-1 / 1.89 / 31 K / 57 IP Rookie – Steve Busby (Indians): 4-2 / 2.59 / 31 K / 48.2 IP *National League* Batter – Billy Williams (Reds): 396 / 9 HR / 24 RBI Pitcher – Jack Billingham (Reds): 6-0 / 1.85 / 30 K / 43.2 IP Rookie – Richie Zisk (Expos): 354 / 2 HR / 12 RBI September *American League* Batter – Al Kaline (Tigers): 356 / 6 HR / 19 RBI Pitcher – Catfish Hunter (A’s): 4-0 / 1.11 / 41 K / 48.2 IP Rookie – Lynn McGlothen (Twins): 5-1 / 2.93 / 27 K / 46 IP *National League* Batter – Billy Williams (Reds): 385 / 4 HR / 25 RBI Pitcher – Sandy Koufax (Dodgers): 4-2 / 1.76 / 40 K / 46 IP Rookie – Rick Reuschel (Cubs): 4-1 / 2.25 / 16 K / 40 IP Milestones and Observations of Note 500 HR: Harmon Killebrew, Frank Robinson 2000 Hits: Billy Williams 200 Wins: Juan Marichal 200 Saves: Bob Locker Minnesota’s Cesar Tovar suffers a knee injury that ends his season a fortnight prematurely; same deal for Royals Closer Dick Hughes courtesy of a torn labrum. The Yanks lose gun OF Roy White right in the heat of their pennant race, no doubt a significant reason why they come up just short. Bert Blyleven finishes third in each of the TC stat cats. 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 09:16 PM.