Anatomy of a Season

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by matttb324

I've been doing my historical simulations for some months now but just recently have really had time to look at some of the other ones in any depth. This one is fascinating to me from a personal standpoint. I grew up in West Roxbury, MA (part of Boston) and was 11 in 1985 and so these Red Sox players are the ones I grew up with and have a place in my heart for. I can remember imitating with friends the batting stances of guys like Dave Stapleton or Mike Easler or Rich Gedman or Glenn Hoffman. Not exactly household names but they were the guys on TV38 that I saw everyday. Hoffman was actually my favorite player because he was a SS like me. My Dad used to say, but the guy barely hits .200 but I didn't care. As a kid, I really loved Steve Lyons too as he was sort of an atypical Sox player of that era in that he could sorta run a little and he was a bit of a wild player as I remember. Sadly, I didn't really care for him as a broadcaster later. Rice, Evans, Boggs were like gods even if now I see some of their issues as players or as men. Anyway, I'll keep an eye on this progression, I'm curious to see if '86 was a fluke year or we should have won or what. As it was happening, I remember feeling like we had no business being there but probably because I was 12 and we had never won before. Uff but the name Calvin Schiraldi still makes my knees a little weak.

Love hearing these sorts of things from others - as a guy who has never even seen a live MLB game, they are just fascinating to me.

Sadly, however, this is a single-season sim, so it doesn't roll over into '86. Have a quick read if you get time of the very first post, which explains why I chose 1985 for the first of these and Billy Buck as my mouthpiece for it.

G

[matttb324]

Never seen a major league game? That is definitely a surprise
I reread the first post and see what you are going for...the one season format does make sense. Have you decided on what you are doing next?

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by matttb324

Never seen a major league game? That is definitely a surprise
I reread the first post and see what you are going for...the one season format does make sense. Have you decided on what you are doing next?

I live in Australia, and was out of town when Ship brought the MLB down under a few years' back. Hopefully they do so again before I'm dust.

I don't want to do another season not yet covered by my Bucs save, so '61 is the clear favourite with '51 also definitely in the mix.

[matttb324]

I am anxious to do 61 as well when my WBL gets that far and see how Marris and Mantle do. I guess the question is how did you get into baseball living in Australia. I just googled the top 10 sports in Australia and at least according to one source, American football popular but I did not see baseball in the top 10 lol.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by matttb324

I am anxious to do 61 as well when my WBL gets that far and see how Marris and Mantle do. I guess the question is how did you get into baseball living in Australia. I just googled the top 10 sports in Australia and at least according to one source, American football popular but I did not see baseball in the top 10 lol.

What version are you on? They'll tend to do better - or, rather, replicate the historical more accurately - on v23 and later. Those before that had real trouble replicating outlier seasons and performances.

I got into baseball from the numbers side, really. Not that I am a stats genius or anything, but I love the closed system in baseball that allows every factor to be assessed and given a value. Other than chess, no other sport allows that. Played a bit of amateur ball (our only kind, really) but was never much chop. This was all roughly at about the time of this sim, actually - the '86 playoffs were my true intro to the game. It's been all downhill from there...

Joined SABR almost immediately. Had been an A's fan since childhood after my dad bought me some merch. Only realised when I was in my 40s that he chose them and the Packers because our sporting teams wear the same colorway. That obviously hasn't gone so well for me...

No fan of the modern game in general, aside from a few players, and the PEDs disaster killed it for me for a while. OOTP brought me back into the fold about 5 years ago. I much prefer the simmed version and worlds I can create with this game than the live IRL nonsense with its screaming commentators and plastic gangster participants.

Must be getting old, I guess

G

[luckymann]

August 17, 1985: Boston Red Sox (61-52) @ New York Yankees (58-55)

Looking to follow up last night’s excellent showing with another strong game back here at Yankee Stadium tonight. We managed to handle Ron Guidry quite well the last time we faced him, and another dose along the same lines would go a long way to locking down the W. All good in theory, much more difficult in practice. Al Nipper going for us in a rematch of that 10-9 thriller.

Bill Buckner YTD stats entering the game




Game Recap

They open strongly with 2 on 3 in the 1st, with a leadoff homer by Dewey Evans in the 4th getting one of those back, only for Nipper to self-destruct in the home half as they chase him with a 3-spot including a 2-run homer by Dan Pasqua.

Just as it looks like we are toast, our bats come to life in the 7th, as Evans’ second dinger of the game caps a 5-run flourish that gives us an unlikely 6-5 lead.

Similarities abound with the game I mentioned earlier, as they respond in kind with 3 in the home half to go back in front and then add another pair in the 8th as our pitchers are once again ineffective.

That ends the scoring, putting it at a 10-6 final.

Best Performances, News & Highlights of the Day

The Real Deal

(click link for BBRef boxscore)

• MLB Debuts: NIL
• Daily Notes: IRL, Reggie Jackson hits his 522nd career home run to move past Ted Williams and Willie McCovey into eighth place on the all-time list.

[matttb324]

Interesting stuff. I am on V24 and actually when I set things up you helped me with the whole question of how accurate I wanted things to be...I chose to go with the 5 year evaluation or whatever as I was interested in more variance.

I totally agree about the awesomeness of numbers and stats in baseball. I get frustrated with other sports in that way. For instance, I watch the World Cup every 4 years but never much soccer beyond that, in part, because there seem to be virtually no statistics beyond goals. I'm sure that's not totally accurate but at least in the WC broadcasts I never get a sense of like what a good defender does or how to judge it. Basketball and hockey is similar. I have no idea how stats of an NHL non-scorer would be evaulated.

I hadn't watched much MLB since 2013 but I've gotten back into it thanks to OOTP. I looooove the new pitch clock, it seems like a tremendous success to me and the games are fun again. I have NESN and Dave O'Brien is not bad especially when paired with Youklis. I've always felt that who is broadcasting the game makes a tremendous difference in baseball. I grew up on Sean McDonough who was awesome and who I miss calling games.

My 5 year old daughter has gotten into it too and while she certainly does not understand the finer points of the game, she knows the main Sox players now and comes down regularly to check on the score...that feels like baseball at its best to me, it's all about the kids, right?

Originally Posted by luckymann

What version are you on? They'll tend to do better - or, rather, replicate the historical more accurately - on v23 and later. Those before that had real trouble replicating outlier seasons and performances.

I got into baseball from the numbers side, really. Not that I am a stats genius or anything, but I love the closed system in baseball that allows every factor to be assessed and given a value. Other than chess, no other sport allows that. Played a bit of amateur ball (our only kind, really) but was never much chop. This was all roughly at about the time of this sim, actually - the '86 playoffs were my true intro to the game. It's been all downhill from there...

Joined SABR almost immediately. Had been an A's fan since childhood after my dad bought me some merch. Only realised when I was in my 40s that he chose them and the Packers because our sporting teams wear the same colorway. That obviously hasn't gone so well for me...

No fan of the modern game in general, aside from a few players, and the PEDs disaster killed it for me for a while. OOTP brought me back into the fold about 5 years ago. I much prefer the simmed version and worlds I can create with this game than the live IRL nonsense with its screaming commentators and plastic gangster participants.

Must be getting old, I guess

G

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by matttb324

Interesting stuff. I am on V24 and actually when I set things up you helped me with the whole question of how accurate I wanted things to be...I chose to go with the 5 year evaluation or whatever as I was interested in more variance.

I totally agree about the awesomeness of numbers and stats in baseball. I get frustrated with other sports in that way. For instance, I watch the World Cup every 4 years but never much soccer beyond that, in part, because there seem to be virtually no statistics beyond goals. I'm sure that's not totally accurate but at least in the WC broadcasts I never get a sense of like what a good defender does or how to judge it. Basketball and hockey is similar. I have no idea how stats of an NHL non-scorer would be evaulated.

I hadn't watched much MLB since 2013 but I've gotten back into it thanks to OOTP. I looooove the new pitch clock, it seems like a tremendous success to me and the games are fun again. I have NESN and Dave O'Brien is not bad especially when paired with Youklis. I've always felt that who is broadcasting the game makes a tremendous difference in baseball. I grew up on Sean McDonough who was awesome and who I miss calling games.

My 5 year old daughter has gotten into it too and while she certainly does not understand the finer points of the game, she knows the main Sox players now and comes down regularly to check on the score...that feels like baseball at its best to me, it's all about the kids, right?

I do remember that indeed and hope I set you on the right path.

I have Apple+ and their broadcasts are actually pretty good with regard to them being kind of minimalist, especially in between half-inning breaks. So I am watching one or two games a week this season and definitely like the pacier version of the game. I will, as is my usual habit, get into things more comprehensively down the late stretch and into the playoffs.

[luckymann]

August 18, 1985: Boston Red Sox (61-53) @ New York Yankees (59-55)

We continue this Yankees series with my old pal Knucksie Niekro on the mound for the Yanks. We’ve taken two from two against Phil this season, and it is Tim Lollar charged with the responsibility of keeping that streak going. Sunday afternoon baseball at its finest, with nigh on 40-thou in attendance at the Bronx once again.

Bill Buckner YTD stats entering the game




Game Recap

I knock one in with a single to open proceedings in the top 1st but they answer right back with one of their own, then rip into Lollar in the next, posting 4 more to go 5-1 up and give the big crowd plenty to holler about.

I manage to tag Niekro for a solo jack in the 4th and an RBI double later in the same frame by Gedman cuts the deficit to two. Make that three when they score again in the home half.

We close the scoreline to 6-5 in the next and feel that if our pitchers can just keep them quiet we’ll be able to chase them down. But that’s just not how things work for us right now, and Lollar’s poor game ends with him given the hook after conceding two more.

Stanley and then a couple others from the BP do hold them from then on but sadly the horse has bolted and we cannot respond as it ends up 8-5.

Best Performances, News & Highlights of the Day

The Real Deal

(click link for BBRef boxscore)

• MLB Debuts: NIL
• Daily Notes: NIL.

[luckymann]

[maximburt]

Originally Posted by matttb324

I am anxious to do 61 as well when my WBL gets that far and see how Marris and Mantle do. I guess the question is how did you get into baseball living in Australia. I just googled the top 10 sports in Australia and at least according to one source, American football popular but I did not see baseball in the top 10 lol.

I am also new to this one, can't wait to watch.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by maximburt

I am also new to this one, can't wait to watch.

Yeah, should be lots of fun. Just gotta figure out the best way to track it and present it.

[matttb324]

Good 'ol Bob Stanley, "the Steamer." He was a favorite of mine when I was a kid. Odd player, though. Did not look like a ballplayer and threw, was it a palmball I believe? I always felt bad that he like Schiraldi and Buckner, he had it go so badly in Game 6. Just looking at his career stats here...'78 was quite a season. 15-2 2.60 ERA, 140 IP, 10 saves. I'm not sure if that season holds up SABR-wise but at least those stats look pretty impressive.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by matttb324

Good 'ol Bob Stanley, "the Steamer." He was a favorite of mine when I was a kid. Odd player, though. Did not look like a ballplayer and threw, was it a palmball I believe? I always felt bad that he like Schiraldi and Buckner, he had it go so badly in Game 6. Just looking at his career stats here...'78 was quite a season. 15-2 2.60 ERA, 140 IP, 10 saves. I'm not sure if that season holds up SABR-wise but at least those stats look pretty impressive.

With that nickname I am so glad he never played for Cleveland...

[luckymann]

August 19, 1985: Boston Red Sox (61-54) @ New York Yankees (60-55)

The closer here in this series against the Bronx Bombers before we head home to face the Rangers and then the Twins. With Bruce Hirst going for us against righty Marty Bystrom. My history with Marty goes back to the start of the decade and we followed each other across to the AL last season. I’ve had some success against him so far, going 8-for-27 with 4 RBI, and will be looking for more of the same tonight as we try to earn a split with a win.

Bill Buckner YTD stats entering the game




Game Recap

We fall behind on a 2-run blast by Don Baylor in the opening frame but get one back in the 3rd when I single and eventually score on a Mike Easler single.

Rickey Henderson is giving us plenty of trouble, however, and he scores for the second time in the home 3rd to restore their 2-run lead, then all but put us away in a 4-run 6th that ends Hurst’s game.

No doubt the wind has really come out of our sails these past two series as we manage just 7 hits and lose an 8-1 laugher here to drop 6 ½ games behind the Tigers.

Best Performances, News & Highlights of the Day

The Real Deal

(click link for BBRef boxscore)

• MLB Debuts: NIL
• Daily Notes: On this day in 1951, forty-three-inch-tall Eddie Gaedel - wearing uniform number 1/8 - walks on four pitches from Bob Cain in his only major league appearance.

[luckymann]

August 20, 1985: Texas Rangers (52-64) @ Boston Red Sox (61-55)

Home’s certainly where the heart is when you hit a rough patch like we are currently in, and here’s hoping a return to the familiar Fenway confines sparks a much-needed turnaround. Still plenty of time to engineer a comeback but there is increasingly less room for error from here on in. That starts with three here against Texas, with Bob Ojeda taking on veteran righty Charlie Hough in the lidlifter.

Bill Buckner YTD stats entering the game




Game Recap

Jim Rice gets the scoring underway with an RBI triple in the 1st but it is an isolated bit of offence as the pitchers dominate the early going.

In fact, it isn’t until we extend our lead with a pair in the 6th that the scoreboard attendants have any work whatsoever to do, with one run of my doing via a long double that I must admit I thought was outta there.

We put two more on Hough before he leaves the game in the 8th and Bobby O goes the distance with a lovely 6-hitter in a 5-0 final. That’s a bit more like it.

Best Performances, News & Highlights of the Day

The Real Deal

(click link for BBRef boxscore)

• MLB Debuts: NIL
• Daily Notes: On this day in 1967, with the Impossible Dream season heating up, Reggie Smith joins the ranks of Mickey Mantle, Pete Rose, and others by hitting home runs left- and righthanded in a home game against California. IRL, Doc Gooden strikes out 16 Giants to become the first NL pitcher with 200 or more K in each of his first two seasons. In game, he only fans 7 in the corresponding game but that takes his season total to 233.

[luckymann]

August 21, 1985: Texas Rangers (52-65) @ Boston Red Sox (62-55)

Our homestand against the Rangers continues with Oil Can Boyd taking on young righty Jeff Russell, who I have not come up against before this. The scouting report says he’s quite lively but can tend to make the mistake so many guys do early on in their careers of grooving their pitches, meaning if you’re patient you might get a nice fat one to drive outta there. Duly noted, although there are plenty bigger bats in our lineup than mine for him to worry about - he tries that with Jim Rice up and, especially on a night like tonight with the wind blowing out - the ball's likely to finish up on the other side of the Pike! FORE LEFT!

Bill Buckner YTD stats entering the game




Game Recap

They give their boy two to work with in the 1st on a pair of solo shots and we return fire a couple frames later with 4 of our own, with Geds popping one out with one on and old Billy Buck singling one in as well.

The runs come in clumps as they chase Can with 3 in the 6th to take a 5-4 lead but Greenwell knots it back up again with a solo jack in the 7th.

Into extras it goes.

They go ahead yet again in the 11th with a deuce and this time we come up empty to take a messy 7-5 loss that sees us drop to 5th in the AL East. Oddibe McDowell paces their offence with 3 runs including one of those taters and 3 driven in.

Best Performances, News & Highlights of the Day

The Real Deal

(click link for BBRef boxscore)

• MLB Debuts: NIL
• Daily Notes: On this day in 1947, the first Little League World Series tournament is held in Williamsport PA and won by the Maynard Midgets of Williamsport.

[luckymann]

August 22, 1985: Texas Rangers (53-65) @ Boston Red Sox (62-56)

The closing game in this Rangers series ahead of the Twins’ arrival for two tomorrow sees Mike Trujillo up against Dickie Noles and you’d have to think this’ll be a bit of a slugfest even though Mike is sitting pretty at 5-0 with a 2.60 ERA. The wind is howling out toward the Monster and the fact that the Fen is barely half-full tells you all you need to know about the prevailing conditions.

Bill Buckner YTD stats entering the game




Game Recap

As if on script, we break this one open early with a 5-run 2nd as Dewey puts one into the bleachers with a man aboard, but things then go very quiet until the middle-innings with the next run another one by us – another tater by Mr Evans, in fact – to make it 6-0 after 5.

It looks to be all over in the next as we provide a 5-run encore including Dwight’s third longball in a memorable evening, but then the game takes an unexpected twist as they rip into Trujillo and then Woodward even more so in the 7th and when the dust has settled they’ve laid 7 on us and we are anything but home and hosed.

That, however, proves to be the end of the scoring in one of the more bizarre games I’ve played, especially seeing that, in all that offence I have somehow managed to take an ohfer.

Best Performances, News & Highlights of the Day

The Real Deal

(click link for BBRef boxscore)

• MLB Debuts: Chuck Cary
• Daily Notes: On this day in 1951, Browns pitcher Tommy Byrne walks 16 Red Sox batters, tying the American League walk record set by Bruno Haas in 1915, as St. Louis and Boston battle for 13 innings before the Sox win 3 - 1. Boston strands 22 runners, the Browns 14.

[luckymann]

August 23, 1985: Minnesota Twins (55-64) @ Boston Red Sox (63-56)

Southpaw central to kick off this two-gamer against the Twinkies before we hit the road for a wee while. It’s Tim Lollar up once again for us and Frank Viola going for our visitors. Time’s a ticking and we really need a big push if we are any hope of chasing down the Tigers, currently 6 ½ games to the good of us. Last night’s gale-force winds have dissipated somewhat, and a few more have come out to watch us do our thing in this one.

Bill Buckner YTD stats entering the game




Game Recap

A Boggs double knocks one in for us in the opening frame and we get another guy thrown out at home.

Lollar is perfect through 3 and then anything but as they smack him all over the place in the 4th and put 5 on the board quick as a flash, 4 on a Dave Engle slam.

Viola is on song tonight allowing just 6 hits in the end and they put us away with 2 more in the 8th for a really disappointing 7-1 final.

Best Performances, News & Highlights of the Day

The Real Deal

(click link for BBRef boxscore)

• MLB Debuts: Andres Galarraga
• Daily Notes: IRL, Joaquin Andujar becomes baseball's first 20-game winner this season and the first NL pitcher to post consecutive 20-win seasons since Joe Niekro in 1979-1980. He's not been able to replicate this in-game, falling to 11-10 today with a 3-1 loss to the Braves.

[luckymann]

August 24, 1985: Minnesota Twins (56-64) @ Boston Red Sox (63-57)

And so our final night at the Fen for a while sees us close out this short Twins series. That being the case and it being a Saturday night, I thought there’d be a few more in attendance than there are—perhaps interest is waning as our playoff hopes fade, who knows? Bruce Hurst has really struggled his past few starts so hopefully he can get things back on track in this one, where he faces tricky righty Mike Smithson.

Bill Buckner YTD stats entering the game




Game Recap

We fall behind early as they put one in the frame in the 1st, but an RBI double by Geds in the 4th gets it back to 1-1.

Armas then puts us ahead in the next with a run-scoring single and we hang on for grim life with Hurst looking much sharper over his 8 and Crawford closing it out with a 1-2-3 9th for the win. After something of a dry spell I manage to get a couple hits tonight.

Best Performances, News & Highlights of the Day

The Real Deal

(click link for BBRef boxscore)

• MLB Debuts: NIL
• Daily Notes: IRL, three outs away from a no-hitter against the White Sox, Toronto's Dave Stieb surrenders consecutive home runs to Rudy Law and Bryan Little and is driven from the game, which finishes 6-3.