The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Most Games out of First

[Pelican]

In a bizarre stat-within-a-stat, the 1916 Phillies were 47 games out, a year after winning the NL pennant. Hard to fathom.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Pelican

In a bizarre stat-within-a-stat, the 1916 Phillies were 47 games out, a year after winning the NL pennant. Hard to fathom.

Back then, yes. Now, not so much as clubs put everything they have into a stretch run if they are in the position to, sacrificing a few years of potential for that one big shot at the title.

[luckymann]

Given how we are playing this season, the only surprise I can express at just two of our guys being included in this year's squad is that any are in there at all.




The game keeps catching me out by cancelling the HR Derby, so it doesn't take place again this year. Meanwhile, the NL wins its 4th straight ASG to get the running score back to 16 apiece. Mets 2B Ken Hubbs wins the MVP.

[luckymann]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Time for some housekeeping. I use our two remaining trade tickets to move on some guys we won't be keeping next year.



George was seeking big bucks to stay and really hasn't shown anything to suggest he is worth it. So back comes Mudcat Grant, albeit with a nice chunk of his remaining sal this season and next now being covered by Philly.




Again, both Miller and Pagan were moving well above our valuation of them and so we wanted to at least salvage something. Belinsky (with Pittsburgh IRL in 1969) is a decent enough lefty we'll use in Brunet's place, while Mikkelsen (with us IRL in 1966) will start at AAA and we'll figure out what to do with him next year.

[luckymann]

More of the same as this horror season rolls on. 9-21 in June is about as nasty a month as I can remember.





As frustrating and unpleasant an experience this season has been in its entirety to date, I have already made my peace with it and moved on. This group has given so much over the past few seasons that the events since Opening Day don’t surprise me as much as you might think, nor as much as did each of the two Championships so recently won. We have had such a charmed run, not just lately but right through, that I don’t begrudge the baseball gods turning on us. I have gently reminded the lads that they are at risk of taking ownership of certain dubious club records they’d probably prefer not to and left it at that. My job from here is to ensure that this is a blip and not a bloop.



In a season with so little going for it, a quiet wrap for Gene Alley who has been one of our lower-key heroes and can hold his head high again here.




Camilo Pascual hasn't been at all low-key in his time with us, just brilliant for the most part - as is the case this year among a staff full of problem children.




It is almost impossible to fathom that, despite all his individual success, Mickey Mantle in this timeline has been to - and won - the World Series just once, in his rookie 1951 season. He may just get another go-around after the Pinstripers make a strong move and now head the AL by a small margin, although every club bar the White Sox still has a chance. Unless the Cards can get a hurry-on, the NL now looks between the Reds - looking for just their third WS appearance and first in nearly 30 years - and Dodgers.


News, Leaders and Top 20s










Monthly Award Winners

June

American League

• Batter – Dick Stuart (Indians): 356 / 11 HR / 23 RBI
• Pitcher – Tommy John (White Sox): 5-1 / 0.55 / 31 K / 49.1 IP
• Rookie – Catfish Hunter (Athletics): 4-1 / 2.08 / 33 K / 43.1 IP

National League

• Batter – Joe Morgan (Reds): 389 / 4 HR / 11 RBI
• Pitcher – Chris Short (Phillies): 6-0 / 1.96 / 32 K / 46 IP
• Rookie – Jim Merritt (Mets): 5-1 / 1.32 / 32 K / 54.2 IP

July

American League

• Batter – Rico Petrocelli (Red Sox): 309 / 9 HR / 21 RBI
• Pitcher – Sam McDowell (Indians): 5-1 / 1.55 / 55 K / 52.1 IP
• Rookie – Ken Holtzman (Red Sox): 3-2 / 2.86 / 37 K / 50.1 IP

National League

• Batter – Jimmie Hall (Cubs): 290 / 12 HR / 23 RBI
• Pitcher – Sandy Koufax (Dodgers): 5-1 / 1.75 / 59 K / 51.1 IP
• Rookie – Fergie Jenkins (Cubs): 3-2 / 2.94 / 37 K / 49 IP

Milestones and Observations of Note

• Al Kaline reaches 2000 career Hits.
• Harmon Killebrew re-ups with the Twins on a ginormous 7/2378 deal.
• Sandy Koufax is having a red-hot go at the NL pitching Triple Crown.
• Phillies ace Chris Short has a perfect season going into July, winning his first 13 decisions for the year before losing one, then two more after that to sit at 13-3. That sits in stark contrast to teammates Lee Stange (3-11) and the recently acquired from us George Brunet (1-11).
• And while on the Phils, they lose young gun Dick Allen for the rest of the year to a calf muscle tear. The Braves also lose a key guy when Joe Torre is sidelined for 6 weeks by a broken collarbone.
• The Braves and Cubs swap players, with P John Gabler and OF Jim Gosger headed to Chi-Town and 2B Elio Chacon and OF Alex Johnson off to Brew City.
• And finally, a number of Deadline trades of note:

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[luckymann]

Highest Career H/K ratio (Minimum 100 Hits)

[luckymann]

It has only ever happened twice in the IRL version of the MLB - on September 17, 1920 (Bobby Veach and George Burns) and September 1, 2008 (Stephen Drew and Adrián Beltré) - and this is the first time it has happened in this timeline, which I guess makes it something of a big deal.

Both Charlie Lau of the Yankees and Philly's Tommy Helms hit for the cycle today, which in game time is August 11, 1965.

History, folks.

[luckymann]

A late no-no from a highly unlikely source in age-40 veteran Hal Brown, who never threw one IRL.

[luckymann]

After scraping home to win the AAA NL Pennant, our Wilkes-Barre boys bring it home with a World Series sweep win over Beaumont.

[luckymann]

And finally, the curtain comes down on one of the worst seasons in club history. Our 86 losses are a club "record" and our 6th-place finish is the second-lowest in history. That despite a concerted effort by the group over the closing stages, which sees us go 31-26 since August 1.

I doubt the drama of last season will ever be replicated, and it certainly isn't this year. A monumental and, ultimately, catastrophic collapse by the Yankees sees them overhauled by the Tigers who go on to win the AL in a canter. A similar fate looks certain to befall the Reds, before they show plenty of grit to see off the Dodgers by 4 games for their first WS appearance since 1937 and just third overall.



This was a fascinating season for individual performances very much reflective of what was historically a mid-transition year from the hitting dominance of '61 to the pitching hegemony of the late '60s.

Batting titles to Don Buford and Frank Robinson, the latter of whom finishes podium across the Triple Crown stat cats and drives in a league-high 113. Tony Conigliaro leads the league with 43 HR, while Maury Wills sets a new stolen base record with 99 (the Devs will be pleased).

In the pitching, Bob Gibson wins 24 while Don Drysdale sets a new winning % mark with .880 by going 22-3. Sam McDowell is the King of K with 303, and he also etches a new low by only allowing a 178 BA against him. Jim Merritt's 2.41 was the lowest ERA for the season, and Billy McCool of the Halos led both leagues with 39 Saves.


Coming back to us for the briefest time possible, it's clear that our pitching has slipped from previous years and, without a commensurate jump in offensive productivity to help counteract it, the precariously-balanced gameplan that has brought us so much recent success was left vulnerable. It happens, we have a clear idea of what's necessary from here. Will almost certainly take a number of years to turn things around but we have been expecting this for a while and it hasn't materialised until now. It has been a grand run for this club and I doubt anyone can begrudge us a few fallow years to realign and prepare another assault on the top of the standings.







Final Top 20s and Leaders







Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

• Batter – Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 412 / 7 HR / 17 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim Palmer (Orioles): 5-1 / 1.73 / 45 K / 52 IP
• Rookie – Jim Palmer

National League

• Batter – Jimmie Hall (Cubs): 321 / 9 HR / 19 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim Maloney (Reds): 4-1 / 1.98 / 41 K / 50 IP
• Rookie – Fergie Jenkins (Cubs): 4-2 / 2.39 / 35 K / 49 IP

September

American League

• Batter – Boog Powell (Orioles): 312 / 11 HR / 20 RBI
• Pitcher – Luis Tiant (Red Sox): 4-1 / 2.23 / 34 K / 44.1 IP
• Rookie – Ken Holtzman (Red Sox): 3-0 / 2.00 / 29 K / 36 IP

National League

• Batter – Frank Robinson (Reds): 333 / 9 HR / 27 RBI
• Pitcher – Don Drysdale (Dodgers): 5-0 / 1.59 / 33 K / 51 IP
• Rookie – Curt Blefary (Dodgers): 350 / 7 HR / 20 RBI

Milestones and Observations of Note

• 300 HR: Frank Robinson
• 2000 Hits: Henry Aaron, Eddie Mathews
• 300 Saves: Hoyt Wilhelm
• The Halos lose promising young OF Tommy McCraw for the remainder after a beaning leaves him deeply concussed, while gun Phillies rookie Steve Carlton has his season ended early by an elbow injury.
• Chris Zachary, acquired from us by the Sens in the Giusti trade, will be out until 1967 after tearing his UCL late in the season.

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[luckymann]

Cincinnati Reds (99-63) v Detroit Tigers (93-69)
Best-of-seven, Tigers with the home-field advantage.


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Such a shame it seems like injuries are going to greatly impinge upon Cincy's title tilt, with Joe Nuxhall, Bill Hands and Ken Berry all sure to be missed by the Reds. With them all in, this would have been a really close-fought thing. With them absent, I do feel that this might be a bridge too far, especially given the Reds' dearth of playoff experience.

Still, with such quality in their ranks as Frank Robinson, Joe Morgan, Vada Pinson and Tony Perez - one of the most fearsome top fours in the league right now - Cincy cannot be ruled out altogether, and the Tigers pitchers best be on their game or things could get out of hand, and fast.

Still, sorry Reds fans but I see the Tigers taking this in six.

[Brad K]

Did you decide to hit Alley third? I suppose at the peak of his career and with Clemente moved to second it might be reasonable. My AI manager will often hit Clendenon first but I have to force Clemente to second.

I was surprised when I checked to find Alley in real life started seven games hitting third. I haven't looked for the lineups to see what was going on. (Might take forever.)

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Did you decide to hit Alley third? I suppose at the peak of his career and with Clemente moved to second it might be reasonable. My AI manager will often hit Clendenon first but I have to force Clemente to second.

I was surprised when I checked to find Alley in real life started seven games hitting third. I haven't looked for the lineups to see what was going on. (Might take forever.)

Yeah, it was either him or Felipe there but I'm reading The Book and they advocate third as a bit of a weak spot in the lineup, so I elected for him there and Felipe at 5 to give Pops a bit of cover.

Alley is highly underrated, or at least has been for me. 289/6/53 down at 7 last year and then 287/8/44 this year while also giving +4 ZR.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Detroit

Jim Bunning (20-6, 2.57) v Jim Maloney (21-7, 2.83)

These first two games should give us a fairly good indication of just how strong Cincy is shaping up to be in this contest, and you’d love to see them go out and make a strong early statement of intent. Two of the absolute best facing off on the mound tonight in Jim Bunning and Jim Maloney, 20-game winners the pair of them.

And it is Detroit who get a win on the board as Bunning gives them 6 scoreless and the pen hangs on for a relatively comfortable 4-1 win. A nasty beaning knocks Frank Robinson out of the game but reports are he’s fine and will be available tomorrow.

Game 2 in Detroit

Mickey Lolich (14-10, 3.34) v Tony Cloninger (15-6, 3.94)

Tigers lead series 1-0

Another quality pitching match-up in this one with Lolich and Cloninger going head-to-head. No doubt the young Reds bats got a touch of the old stagefright yesterday and they really can’t afford to do so again here today.

Cincy responds well but are lucky to get two bites at the cherry after blowing a 9th-inning lead as they go ahead again in the 10th on a run-scoring double by George Thomas and this time hang on for a 3-2 win. Both pitchers do as is expected of them and this is the sort of gritty win that can really instil self-confidence in a young group like this Reds one, who now head home with an outside chance of clinching in front of their long-suffering fans. Frank Robinson shows no ill-effects from his Game 1 injury, cracking the first home run of the series.

Game 3 in Cincinnati

Joe Horlen (14-14, 3.76) v Jim O’Toole (12-13, 2.84)

Series tied 1-1

Feels like Jim O’Toole has been around forever, but he’s only 28—all the same, he’s been a great pitcher (118-76, 3.08 career) and it’s nice to see him get a chance to strut his stuff on the big stage after all those fruitless years with the Cubbies. Joe Horlen’s no busher himself, having won 29 games the past two years and this shapes up as another quality contest.

It’s no contest at all in fact, as the Tiger bats flex their muscles and tear Horlen apart in a 9-2 laugher. 15 hits all told including 3 each to Wert and McAuliffe, the latter of whom also goes yard. A poor showing by the Reds that undoes all their good work in Game 2 and at worst guarantees the Tigers another home game.

Game 4 in Cincinnati

Jim Archer (7-3, 2.67) v Bob Shaw (12-15, 4.42)

Tigers lead series 2-1

These Game 4s can often be the most entertaining as we get down to the weaker end of the rotations. Still, these are two wily vets on the hill tonight who’ll be using every trick at their disposal in this absolutely key game.

Which is precisely what happens as Archer pitches a 7-inning scoreless gem and the Reds finish it off for a 4-0 win to get it back to 2-2. The Judge pops another one into the seats in the 1st and that seems to settle them down, before 2 more in the 7th pretty much seal the deal with the Tigers only managing 3 hits all game. This series is certainly delivering on its promise.

Game 5 in Cincinnati

Jim Maloney (0-1, 4.55) v Jim Bunning (1-0, 0.00)

Series tied 2-2

Maloney will be dead keen to reverse the Game 1 result here and bring Cincy within a win of that dream maiden title. The Reds have got four games under their belts now, which means no excuses for them to not be ready to play here. Especially with so much on the line.

This ends up being a straight-up dogfight with the Tigers getting on Maloney early but the Reds hitting back with the game tied at 4 heading into the 7th. From there, however, it is all Detroit as, led by Flood's 3-hit game, they add 4 unanswered runs to take it out 8-4 and head home now being the team needing just the one win.

Game 6 in Detroit

Mickey Lolich (14-10, 3.34) v Tony Cloninger (15-6, 3.94)

Tigers lead series 3-2

It was a pretty dejected-looking Reds squad that walked out of Crosley Field after Game 5 and you just hope they have managed to get their heads right in the time since, because they are still very much in this. Cloninger can, on his day, be unhittable or close thereto and if he can pull one of those games out then everything will come down to a winner-takes-all decider. But Lolich is a tough nut and will take a ton of beating with the title on the line.

No dice I’m afraid, Reds fans, but your boys can hold their heads aloft as they really had a good old-fashioned go in this series and will be much better for the experience. That said, in the end the Tigers are too strong, too composed and too classy for them, shaking off a couple of Reds comebacks here to take the club’s 5th Championship with a 6-3 win in what is a most suitable finale to a classic series. Norm Cash wins the MVP.

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[luckymann]

INS & OUTS

A bit of blood on the floor in Chicago, with the White Sox chopping Manager Ray Cunningham and the Cubs offing Eddie Lake, while the Giants are also looking for a new skipper after letting Alex Hooks go.

And of course, the Braves have upped stumps and moved to Atlanta.


ROSTER MOVES

Time to bite some bullets and cut bait on a few guys here. We void the final contract years of Juan Pizarro, Don Demeter and Andre Rodgers - freeing up not just 300k in payroll but a Cutlass Club slot as well.

We also non-tender Ron Kline and send Tommie Sisk to arb. We've got a bunch of young guys at AAA, let's throw them in at the deep end and see which of them are worth keeping.


SIM ACCURACY





HANGIN' THEM UP

Three big names at the top of this list but in this timeline I really only see Duke (mainly by dint of his 407 HR) with a strong chance for the HoF.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by luckymann

Yeah, it was either him or Felipe there but I'm reading The Book and they advocate third as a bit of a weak spot in the lineup, so I elected for him there and Felipe at 5 to give Pops a bit of cover.

Alley is highly underrated, or at least has been for me. 289/6/53 down at 7 last year and then 287/8/44 this year while also giving +4 ZR.

Real life he hit .299 one year and .287 another. I don't remember the years but they're in this era. In America's Team he's 13 contact in 1965.

I understand the idea of putting the best hitter second which I often follow when the best hitter isn't the team's best power guy. It follows that once that's done and then power guys are put 4th and 5th then there might not be a super strong hitter for 3rd.

Regarding protection for Stargell, do you think OOTP looks at the next batter when deciding about pitch around and IBB?

[luckymann]

AL 1965 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1965 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Second career Wagner-Lajoies to both Al Kaline and Frank Robinson. Jim Bunning wins his third Johnson-Waddell, Bob Gibson his first. RoYs to Ken Holtzman and Curt Blefary; Paige Plates to first-time winners Masanori Murakami and Dennis Musgraves.


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[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Regarding protection for Stargell, do you think OOTP looks at the next batter when deciding about pitch around and IBB?

Not really sure, but I play it as if it does.

[luckymann]

Definitely a “quality over quantity” vibe to this year’s Legacy Players, with just five added but some beauties among them.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1966 Season:

Boston Red Sox: Reggie Smith (64.6; 1014 GP)
California Angels: Nolan Ryan (81.3; 288 GS)
Houston Astros: Don Wilson (27.7; 245 GS – one-club player)
Kansas City Athletics: Sal Bando (61.5; 1468 GP)
Los Angeles Dodgers: Don Sutton (66.7; 533 GS)


George Scott (36.6; 1192) was also eligible for the Red Sox, but Smith’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Bob Watson (28.3; 1381) was also eligible for the Astros, but Wilson’s almost exact same WAR and one-club player status makes him the selection.

Nolan Ryan was also eligible for the Astros, but given Wilson’s presence I decided to give him to the Angels, for whom he played slightly more games.


There are 108 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1965 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. California Angels (463)
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (599)
3. Boston Red Sox (383)
4. Kansas City Athletics (364)
5. Houston Astros (401)
6. New York Mets (309)
7. Washington Senators (432)
8. Chicago Cubs (444)
9. New York Yankees (475)
10. St. Louis Cardinals (497)
11. Philadelphia Phillies (528)
12. Atlanta Braves (531)
13. Cleveland Indians (539)
14. Detroit Tigers (549; dice roll)
15. Cincinnati Reds (549; dice roll)
16. Pittsburgh Pirates (556)
17. Baltimore Orioles (580)
18. San Francisco Giants (586; dice roll)
19. Chicago White Sox (586; dice roll)
20. Minnesota Twins (630)


Rounds 2 thru 5

1. New York Mets (309)
2. Kansas City Athletics (364)
3. Boston Red Sox (383)
4. Houston Astros (401)
5. Washington Senators (432)
6. Chicago Cubs (444)
7. California Angels (463)
8. New York Yankees (475)
9. St. Louis Cardinals (497)
10. Philadelphia Phillies (528)
11. Atlanta Braves (531)
12. Cleveland Indians (539)
13. Detroit Tigers (549; dice roll)
14. Cincinnati Reds (549; dice roll)
15. Pittsburgh Pirates (556)
16. Baltimore Orioles (580)
17. San Francisco Giants (586; dice roll)
18. Chicago White Sox (586; dice roll)
19. Los Angeles Dodgers (599)
20. Minnesota Twins (630)


Eligible PIT players: 6 position players + 2 pitchers = 8.

Pretty much handcuffed here by a combination of the few quality eligible players being too good and out pick being too low. We never take into calculations that we’ll be getting one of the eligible we want, and instead focus on a useful trade flip for a year’s time.

It pans out as follows, with us making the following selections:

1. OF Rick Monday (ineligible), 20

• By far and away the best player still available but I doubt he’ll ever see the sleeve-holes of a Pirates jersey.

2. P Jim Shellenback, 22

• As an LHRP he might come in handy some time, but nobody will ever mistake Jim for Sandy Koufax.

3. IF Tim Cullen (ineligible), 24
4. C Jim Campanis, 21
5. 1B George Kopacz, 24

• AAA filler.

Barely worth the bus fare.


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