The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Los Angeles

Sandy Koufax (20-8, 1.86) v Jim Kaat (19-6, 3.16)

Could there be a better way to start off this 1966 World Series than with a matchup between two of the premiere southpaws in the game right now, with Sandy Koufax taking on Jim Kaat. Will this one live up to its pitchers’ duel billing or, as is so often the case, morph into something entirely different?

Most decidedly the former, as Koufax is almost unhittable and Kaat the unlucky 1-0 loser. The Twins do in fact get 3 hits off the great man - who goes the distance - but none lead to a run, and in the end it is Tommy Harper’s RBI double in the 6th that holds up as the game’s only score.

Game 2 in Los Angeles

Don Sutton (16-10, 2.49) v Stan Bahnsen (13-14, 3.34)

Dodgers lead series 1-0

Stan “Bahnsen Burner” Bahnsen kind of came out of nowhere in his fine rookie season, with little fanfare before or during. That wasn’t quite the case with Don “Black & Decker” Sutton, partially because of his Legacy Player status but also because of the club he plays for. This one should come down to which of these two tyros handles the occasion best.

In fact, both acquit themselves impressively but the Dodgers extend their series lead thanks to a 7th-inning rally in which they score both their runs in a 2-1 win. Just six hits apiece and 10 combined LOB, so this was a really well-pitched game with few scoring chances. As is almost invariably how it works, the victors took more of theirs than the vanquished and now head to the twin cities in a strong position.

Game 3 in Minneapolis

Barry Moore (19-8, 2.74) v Dean Chance (12-10, 3.13)

Dodgers lead series 2-0

Barry Moore was actually a Dodger last year and showed plenty of promise, and he delivered on that for the Twins in a fine sophomore campaign. Meanwhile, the Dodgers are Dean Chance’s third club with him still only 25. Once again, this looks very evenly-matched on the mound. The Twins need Killebrew, Oliva and Allison to come to life here before this series slips from their grasp entirely.

No dice I’m afraid as the superlative pitching continues and Chance (with some help from Hal Reniff in the 9th) delivers the Dodgers another shutout win. Only 10 hits all up in this one as the purists are getting one for the ages and LA moves to within a win of their prize.

Game 4 in Minneapolis

Larry Jackson (12-15, 4.00) v Don Drysdale (18-11, 3.19)

Dodgers lead series 3-0

Talk about daunting and imposing challenges as the Twins have to get past man-mountain Don Drysdale if they want to keep the series alive. They could do worse than have Larry Jackson on the mound for them, with three Championship rings including a couple with us in the late 50s and the other with his current club a few years back. More guile needed now than back then for LJ, but still that experience is priceless with the pressure as high as it is here.

And so it proves to be as he keeps the Dodgers in check and the Twins bats finally come alive with a strong rally over the late frames as Drysdale flags to lock down a 6-1 win and avoid the sweep. Jackson allows just one run on 7 hits over 7 and Ruben Amaro and Ed Charles each knock in a pair for the winners.

Game 5 in Cincinnati

Jim Kaat (0-1, 1.12) v Sandy Koufax (1-0, 0.00)

Dodgers lead series 3-1

Much easier said than done, but you’d have to think that if they can get the win here against Koufax then at least the Twins will have made the Dodgers work for this and perhaps even just send a little shiver of panic down their collective spine. It would certainly set up a big finish back in LA.

In the end, however, Sandy is almost a non-factor as the Dodger bats get to Kaat early and eventually score in five of the first six innings en route to a cruisy 7-1 clinching win. All the same, "The Left Arm of God goes" all nine again and deservedly takes home the MVP Award. A fitting end to a season that has seen some outstanding pitching from go to whoa.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

INS & OUTS

Just one Manager - Atlanta's Lloyd Christopher - along with Cards GM Joey Landers are out of a job.


ROSTER MOVES

More dead weight cut loose with Bob Friend, Al Jackson, Bill Virdon and Dick Schofield let walk, while Al Luplow, Bo Belinsky and Al McBean all off to arbitration.


SIM ACCURACY





HANGIN' THEM UP

A fairly low-key bunch of retirees with Robin Roberts the only outside chance of getting a call from the Hall.

[luckymann]

AL 1966 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1966 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Wagner-Lajoie Medals to first-time winners Rico Petrocelli and Ron Santo. Another first-timer is AL Johnson-Waddell recipient Mike Cuellar while Sandy Koufax wins his 4th. The RoYs go to Jake Gibbs and Don Sutton, with Paige Plates handed out to two more maiden winners in Jim McGlothin and Jay Ritchie. And finally, our Gene Alley is rewarded for his nice run with the bat over recent years with the Ruth-Gibson at SS.


S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Still had a trade ticket up my sleeve for '66 (maybe even two, I can't remember now...) and have decided to use it to declutter our OF and earn back one of the three Cutlass Club slots with a trade that the fans are not fans of:




I understand their chagrin, but this is all about moving us toward where we need to be as a club and the two things we have an excess of are outfielders and swingmen.

This is the second or perhaps even third time I have traded Mudcat Grant away, and I do so reluctantly this time as he was great for us out of the BP last year. Felipe is a quality guy who deserves his popularity, but the fact that he never played for us IRL always was going to work against him at some point in time. That point in time is now, with a plan currently in the works that needs that slot as part of it.

For them we get a guy who is a plus glove around the diamond who doesn't have much pop but makes good clean and regular contact, and for now he'll be our primary UT infielder. Maz is in his walk year, so a decision on him will have to be made soon. Should that decision go against his being retained, then Helms would ostensibly be the prime candidate to replace him.


A few weeks later, we use our FA ticket to bring Joe Gibbon back into the Pirates fold on a 3/144 deal. He'll slot straight back into his previous role as Stopper.

[luckymann]

Seven new Legacy Players, with three of them Marquees. One of the best bunches we’ve seen for a while, and we get one of our We Are Family era cult heroes into the bargain.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1967 Season:

Cincinnati Reds: Johnny Bench (75.1; 2158 100% MARQUEE)
Minnesota Twins: Rod Carew (81.2; 1635 66% MARQUEE)
New York Mets: Tom Seaver (109.9; 395 GS 60% MARQUEE)
Houston Astros: Joe Niekro (29.7; 301)
Kansas City Athletics: Reggie Jackson (73.9; 1346)
New York Yankees: Graig Nettles (67.9; 1535)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Manny Sanguillen (27.6; 1296)


Jerry Koosman (53.7; 346 GS) was also eligible for the Mets, but Seaver’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Gary Nolan (25.9; 247 GS) was also eligible for the Reds, but Bench’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Amos Otis (42.8; 1891 GP) would have been eligible for the Royals, except they aren’t in the league yet. I did NOT see that one coming…


There are 115 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1966 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. New York Mets (410)
2. Minnesota Twins (549)
3. Cincinnati Reds (475)
4. Kansas City Athletics (463)
5. New York Yankees (440)
6. Houston Astros (444; dice roll)
7. Pittsburgh Pirates (568)
8. Chicago Cubs (364)
9. Boston Red Sox (444; dice roll)
10. Washington Senators (447)
11. California Angels (494)
12. Cleveland Indians (500)
13. St. Louis Cardinals (512; dice roll)
14. Chicago White Sox (512; dice roll)
15. Atlanta Braves (525)
16. Philadelphia Phillies (537)
17. Detroit Tigers (543)
18. San Francisco Giants (578)
19. Los Angeles Dodgers (586)
20. Baltimore Orioles (606)


Rounds 2 thru 5

1. Chicago Cubs (364)
2. New York Mets (410)
3. New York Yankees (440)
4. Boston Red Sox (444; dice roll)
5. Houston Astros (444; dice roll)
6. Washington Senators (447)
7. Kansas City Athletics (463)
8. Cincinnati Reds (475)
9. California Angels (494)
10. Cleveland Indians (500)
11. St. Louis Cardinals (512; dice roll)
12. Chicago White Sox (512; dice roll)
13. Atlanta Braves (525)
14. Philadelphia Phillies (537)
15. Detroit Tigers (543)
16. Minnesota Twins (549)
17. Pittsburgh Pirates (568)
18. San Francisco Giants (578)
19. Los Angeles Dodgers (586)
20. Baltimore Orioles (606)


Eligible PIT players: 6 position players + 4 pitchers = 10.


That long gap between our first and second picks was always going to be problematic, but we didn’t anticipate 8 of the 9 eligible players being taken in that time, leaving us with little to do other than stock up on some trade bait and organisational filler.
Which we did, as follows:
1. C Manny Sanguillen, 22

• Sangy comes on board and with Brand not offering us much behind Pags, he should come in handy and be at the parent club in fairly quick time one would have thought.

2. C Ray Fosse, 19 (ineligible)

• Future trade bait.

3. P Mike Torrez, 20 (ineligible)

• No idea how Mike was still in the pool and I almost missed him as well. He might even be a keeper with Patata in his walk year and no chance of being retained, freeing up another CC slot. If not, he’ll be a nice trade piece this time next year.

4. SS Remy Hermoso, 20 (ineligible)
5. P Nestor Chavez, 19 (ineligible)

• AAA filler.

The Torrez get was the difference-maker here, otherwise it would have been another so-so Draft for us.


FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

Teddy Ballgame cruises in first go as expected, with Bob Feller making up about half of the necessary ground with three tries left.

[luckymann]

Truth be told, I was hoping this post would be to report the acquisition of someone else. All the same, we're very happy with the guy we end up with, even if he isn't our first choice.




Woodie played for our club IRL right at the very beginning of his MLB career in the season just past and the one to come. He's a really solid upper-mid rotational piece with plenty of TC years left who went 13-14 / 4.12 in his rookie year here, and will go at SP3 for us this season.

[luckymann]

The Red Sox’s Impossible Dream season sees the Bostonites, carried on Yaz’s Triple Crown-winning performance, charge home down the stretch, only to – as so many Red Sox challenges had over those drought-ridden years – come up one step shy of glory as the 101-game-winning Cards beat them in an excruciating seven-gamer.


AL CHAMPIONS: Boston Red Sox (92-70)
NL CHAMPIONS: St. Louis Cardinals (101-60)
WORLD SERIES: Cardinals 4, Red Sox 3

Pittsburgh Pirates: 81-81, 6th in NL

AL MVP: Carl Yastrzemski (Red Sox)
NL MVP: Orlando Cepeda (Cardinals)

AL CYA: Jim Lonborg (Red Sox)
NL CYA: Mike McCormick (Giants)

AL RoY: Rod Carew (Twins)
NL RoY: Tom Seaver (Mets)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. HANK AARON, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: .307 average, 113 runs, 184 hits, 37 doubles, 39 home runs, 109 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, .573 slugging percentage.
• Hammerin’ Hank was very much enjoying his new home in Atlanta; he hit .350 with 23 of his home runs at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

2. ROBERTO CLEMENTE, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .357 average, 103 runs, 209 hits, 26 doubles, 10 triples, 23 home runs, 110 RBIs.
• Clemente won his fourth and final batting title while, for the third of six straight years, he accrued baseball’s version of the triple-double: Double figures in doubles, triples and homers.

3. DICK ALLEN, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 122 games, .307 average, 89 runs, 31 doubles, 10 triples, 23 home runs, 77 RBIs, 75 walks, 20 stolen bases, .404 on-base percentage.
• Allen had his season cut short when he badly cut his hand on a broken headlight while pushing his car.

4. ORLANDO CEPEDA, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .325 average, 91 runs, 183 hits, 37 doubles, 25 home runs, 111 RBIs, 23 intentional walks, 12 hit-by-pitches, 11 stolen bases.
• No longer having to compete with Willie McCovey for the starting first-base job in San Francisco, Cepeda became the first unanimous choice for the NL MVP with St. Louis.

5. RON SANTO, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 107 runs, 176 hits, 31 home runs, 98 RBIs, 96 walks, 12 sacrifice flies.
• The perennial All-Star third baseman could have doubled as the Cubs’ most loyal lobbyist in keeping lights out of Wrigley Field; for the fourth straight year, he hit at least 30 homers, with 124 in total—103 during day games.

6. JIM WYNN, HOUSTON

• Key Numbers: .249 average, 102 runs, 29 doubles, 37 home runs, 107 RBIs, 74 walks, 137 strikeouts, 16 stolen bases.
• The Toy Cannon hit the most home runs by an Astro until Jeff Bagwell’s strike-year splurge of 1994; one of them cleared Cincinnati’s Crosley Field, landing on an off-ramp from Interstate 75 behind the ballpark.

7. JIM RAY HART, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .289 average, 98 runs, 167 hits, 26 doubles, 7 triples, 29 home runs, 99 RBIs, 77 walks.
• With Orlando Cepeda gone, Willie Mays in decline and Willie McCovey yet to peak, Jim Ray Hart finally got a healthy share of the Giants’ spotlight.

8. LOU BROCK, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .299 average, 689 at-bats, 113 runs, 206 hits, 32 doubles, 12 triples, 21 home runs, 76 RBIs, 52 stolen bases, 18 caught stealing.
• Once misdiagnosed as a power threat by his first team (the Cubs), Brock muscled up and hit a career-high 21 home runs to go with the more anticipated high numbers in runs, hits, triples and steals.

9. WILLIE MCCOVEY, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 135 games, .276 average, 31 home runs, 98 RBIs, 71 walks.
• Chronically sore knees didn’t keep McCovey from maintaining his standing as one of the NL’s most feared power threats.

10. BILLY WILLIAMS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .278 average, 92 runs, 176 hits, 21 doubles, 12 triples, 28 home runs, 84 RBIs.
• For the only time in a six-year stretch (from 1965-70), Williams did not lead or co-lead the NL in games played, because the Pirates’ Bill Mazeroski managed to squeeze in a 163rd game, one ahead of Williams.

AL Hitters

1. CARL YASTRZEMSKI, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .326 average, 112 runs, 189 hits, 31 doubles, 44 home runs, 121 RBIs, 91 walks, 10 stolen bases, .418 on-base percentage, .622 slugging percentage.
• Yastrzemski gave the AL its second triple crown hitter in as many years; there wouldn’t be another in either league until 2012.

2. HARMON KILLEBREW, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .269 average, 105 runs, 44 home runs, 111 RBIs, 131 walks, 15 intentional walks, 8 sacrifice flies.
• In a year of memorable long-distance homers—see Jim Wynn and Frank Howard, elsewhere on this list—Killebrew launched the longest in Metropolitan Stadium history, at 522 feet.

3. FRANK ROBINSON, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 129 games, .311 average, 83 runs, 23 doubles, 7 triples, 30 home runs, 94 RBIs, 71 walks.
• Following up on his triple-crown performance of 1966, Robinson was cruising along toward a potential second such effort—hitting .337 with 21 home runs and 59 RBIs at the end of June—when he suffered a concussion trying to break up a double play. He missed a month and later claimed he was never the same.

4. AL KALINE, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 131 games, .308 average, 94 runs, 28 doubles, 25 home runs, 78 RBIs, 83 walks.
• Kaline’s otherwise-superb season was cut short by a month when he broke his right hand trying to angrily jam a bat back into the batting rack.

5. TONY OLIVA, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .289 average, 76 runs, 161 hits, 34 doubles, 6 triples, 17 home runs, 83 RBIs, 11 stolen bases.
• The Twins star kicked into high gear down the stretch, batting .333 over his final 68 games—but it wasn’t enough to compensate for a slow start, leading him to finish below .300 for the first time in his four-year career to date.

6. GEORGE SCOTT, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .303 average, 75 runs, 171 hits, 21 doubles, 7 triples, 19 home runs, 82 RBIs, 10 stolen bases.
• The king-sized Scott left the power to Yastrzemski and sacrificed homers for batting average after a .245 rookie average in 1966, all while battling Dick Williams’ weight guidelines.

7. DON MINCHER, CALIFORNIA

• Key Numbers: .273 average, 81 runs, 25 home runs, 76 RBIs, 69 walks.
• Angels fans were focusing on Jimmie Hall as the prime catch in the trade that sent ace Dean Chance to Minnesota, but Mincher proved to be the deal’s most valuable asset in Anaheim.

8. BOB ALLISON, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .258 average, 21 doubles, 6 triples, 24 home runs, 75 RBIs, 74 walks.
• Good comeback effort for Allison, who hit just .220 with eight homers in limited action the year before.

9. BILL FREEHAN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .282 average, 20 home runs, 74 RBIs, 73 walks, 15 intentional walks, 20 hit-by-pitches.
• The evolving catcher led the AL in getting on base the easy way (intentional walks) and the hard way (hit batsmen).

10. FRANK HOWARD, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .256 average, 20 doubles, 6 triples, 36 home runs, 89 RBIs, 155 strikeouts.
• Senators manager (and former Brooklyn Dodgers slugger) Gil Hodges suggested that Howard use more an upper-cut in his swing. The advice made Howard a monster, nearly doubling his home run count from the year before—with one of his blasts measured at 535 feet, the longest in RFK Stadium history.

NL Pitchers

1. GAYLORD PERRY, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 2.61 ERA, 15 wins, 17 losses, 37 starts, 293 innings, 84 walks, 13 wild pitches, 28 grounded into double plays.
• In one stretch, Perry racked up 40 straight consecutive scoreless innings—third longest in Giants history, and a streak he would match in 1970—but despite a better ERA than teammate Mike McCormick, he was the one who ended up with the losing record an no Cy Young Award plaque. (The Giants supported him with only 3.4 runs per start, so there’s your big clue.)

2. JIM BUNNING, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.29 ERA, 17 wins, 15 losses, 40 starts, 6 shutouts, 302.1 innings, 73 walks, 20 intentional walks, 253 strikeouts, 13 hit-by-pitches, 23 stolen bases allowed.
• Bunning lost five 1-0 decisions—hence, great ERA, modest record.

3. PHIL NIEKRO, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: 1.87 ERA, 11 wins, 9 losses, 9 saves, 46 appearances, 20 starts, 207 innings, 19 wild pitches, 21 stolen bases allowed.
• Niekro and his knuckleball came into their own, though the joke in Atlanta was that his beleaguered catchers, not he, needed four days’ rest between his starts.

4. FERGUSON JENKINS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.80 ERA, 20 wins, 13 losses, 38 starts, 20 complete games, 289.1 innings, 15 caught stealing/picked off.
• Memo to the Phillies, who traded away the future in Ferguson Jenkins to win “now” in 1966: In 1967, the future was now in Chicago.

5. CLAUDE OSTEEN, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 3.22 ERA, 17 wins, 17 losses, 39 starts, 288.1 innings, 52 walks, 15 caught stealing/picked off, 32 grounded into double plays.
• A lot of opponents were sacrificing themselves against Osteen; no National League pitcher gave up more sac bunts and sac flies.

6. BILL SINGER, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.64 ERA, 12 wins, 8 losses, 32 appearances, 29 starts, 204.1 innings.
• The 23-year-old rookie righty did well enough in an impossible mission: To fill the void left behind by the retired Sandy Koufax.

7. MIKE MCCORMICK, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 2.85 ERA, 22 wins, 10 losses, .688 win percentage, 40 appearances, 35 starts, 262.1 innings, 81 walks.
• It seemed just a matter of time before Juan Marichal won a Cy Young Award, but as he slumped in 1967, McCormick—back with the Giants after an unsuccessful four-year tour of the American League—ended up grabbing the honor.

8. BOB GIBSON, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.98 ERA, 13 wins, 7 losses, 24 starts, 175.1 innings, 40 walks.
• Only once between 1965-70 did Gibson fail to win 20 games—and that one time came in 1967 when a broken leg in mid-July ruined what looked to be solid momentum toward reaching the milestone. However, he did begin a record run of 26 straight quality starts (six or more innings, three or fewer earned runs allowed).

9. CHRIS SHORT, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.39 ERA, 9 wins, 11 losses, 29 appearances, 26 starts, 199.1 innings.
• Short began a streak of 25 straight starts in which he gave up three or fewer runs—and yet he still won just nine games.

10. DICK HUGHES, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.67 ERA, 16 wins, 6 losses, .727 win percentage, 3 saves, 37 appearances, 27 starts, 222.1 innings, 48 walks.
• Hughes’ standout substitution for Bob Gibson wasn’t bad for a guy who would win four total games over two other major league seasons.

AL Pitchers

1. JOE HORLEN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.06 ERA, 19 wins, 7 losses, .731 win percentage, 35 starts, 6 shutouts, 258 innings, 58 walks.
• Pitchers pined to emulate Horlen’s success—including a September 10 no-hitter against the Tigers—but not his habit of chewing on tissues (tobacco made him sick).

2. GARY PETERS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.28 ERA, 16 wins, 11 losses, 36 starts, 260 innings.
• In a superb follow-up to his ERA-winning campaign of 1966, Peters’ most curious outing of 1967 was an 11-inning stint against Cleveland in which he allowed no runs, just one hit—and 10 walks—while getting no decision in the White Sox’ 1-0, 17-inning victory.

3. DEAN CHANCE, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 2.73 ERA, 20 wins, 14 losses, 39 starts, 18 complete games, 283.2 innings, 22 stolen bases allowed, 23 grounded into double plays.
• Exiled from Anaheim, Dean Chance’s career got a second wind in Minnesota with two irregular no-hitters (one a shortened five-inning mini-gem, the other a non-shutout) and a one-hitter.

4. STEVE HARGAN, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.62 ERA, 14 wins, 13 losses, 29 starts, 6 shutouts, 223 innings, 25 grounded into double plays.
• Five of the right-hander’s AL-leading six shutouts came at home, where he posted an overall 1.93 ERA (as opposed to 3.70 on the road).

5. JIM LONBORG, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 3.16 ERA, 22 wins, 9 losses, .710 win percentage, 39 starts, 273.1 innings, 246 strikeouts, 12 wild pitches, 19 hit-by-pitches.
• Carl Yastrzemski’s triple crown wasn’t the only one related to the Red Sox; the team claimed the AL MVP, AL Manager of the Year (Dick Williams) and AL Cy Young winner in Lonborg, turning it around after a 19-27 record over his previous (and first) two seasons.

6. TOMMY JOHN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.47 ERA, 10 wins, 13 losses, 29 starts, 6 shutouts, 178.1 innings, 47 walks.
• The White Sox’ Hitless Blunders offense did no favor for John, supporting him with a measly 2.7 runs per start.

7. EARL WILSON, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 3.27 ERA, 22 wins, 11 losses, 38 starts, 264 innings.
• A kinder, gentler Wilson stopped tearing apart clubhouses and tore down opponents with league-leading consistency.

8. AL DOWNING, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.63 ERA, 14 wins, 10 losses, 31 appearances, 28 starts, 201.2 innings.
• Amid the Yankees’ continued existence within the depths of the AL standings, Downing did his best to raise the team’s fortunes with a steady and sure performance.

9. MINNIE ROJAS, CALIFORNIA

• Key Numbers: 2.52 ERA, 12 wins, 9 losses, 27 saves, 72 appearances, 0 starts, 121.2 innings, 17 intentional walks.
• Rojas enjoyed a taste of success in the second of his three big league years, before a tragic 1968 car accident paralyzed him and killed two of his daughters.

10. JIM MERRITT, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 2.53 ERA, 13 wins, 7 losses, 37 appearances, 28 starts, 227.2 innings, 30 walks.
• Promoted from the bullpen in late May, Merritt didn’t lose his first game until July.

[luckymann]

One of the busier offseason trade markets in some time, with players and cash flying all over the joint.

Here’s where they all landed:

• P Gary Peters: Yankees, 7 years / $2596000
• 3B Clete Boyer: Phillies, 7 years / $2538000
• C Rico Carty: Cubs, 5 years / $1270000 (extension)
• P Jim Bunning: Cubs, 3 years / $1140000 (extension)
• OF Rusty Staub: Orioles, 5 years / $975000 (extension)
• P Denny Lemaster: Red Sox, 5 years / $966000 (extension)
• 3B Ken Boyer: Red Sox, 3 years / $936000
• C Tim McCarver: Cardinals, 4 years / $932000 (extension)
• SS Denis Menke: Mets, 3 years / $882000
• OF Manny Mota: Astros, 4 years / $856000
• P Joe Horlen: Reds, 4 years / $642000 (extension)
• OF Frank Howard: White Sox, 2 years / $620000
• P Stan Williams: Astros, 3 years / $546000
• 2B Julio Gotay: Cardinals, 3 years / $522000
• 3B Jose Pagan: Dodgers, 3 years / $450000
• P Mike McCormick: Dodgers, 3 years / $408000

• P Mike Hedlund, C Jerry Grote and SS Sandy Alomar from Mets to Orioles for C Don Pavletich
• P Jim Ray from Tigers to Red Sox for P Jack Lamabe and OF Rick Reichardt
• P Dick Calmus from Red Sox to Athletics for 1B Ed Kranepool and C John Romano
• OF Ed Kirkpatrick, 3B Ken McMullen and OF Lou Piniella from Mets to Astros for OF Jim Wynn
• P Dick Selma, OF Bobby Darwin and P Billy McCool from Angels to Reds for P Bill Henry and OF Ken Henderson
• 1B Norm Siebern (retaining 80%) from Braves to Indians for P Dennis Ribant and 2B Dalton Jones
• 2B Jerry Buchek, P Chuck Hartenstein and OF Jose Cardenal from Angels to Senators for C Buck Rodgers
• OF Ron Swoboda and SS Ed Brinkman from Yankees to Athletics for 3B Mike Shannon
• OF Gates Brown and OF Walt Williams from Phillies to Angels for P Jack Cullen and OF Cleon Jones
• P Jay Ritchie and 3B Paul Schaal from Mets to Tigers for SS Leo Cardenas
• P Joe Verbanic from Astros to Athletics for OF Tommy Davis
• OF Floyd Robinson and 2B Mike Andrews from Giants to Dodgers for P Dean Chance
• 1B Bill White, 2B Bob Schroder and OF Willie Crawford from Philles to Red Sox for P Denny Lemaster

We go 11-7 in ST with reliever Grant Jackson a short-term casualty.

ALL TRANSACTIONS


It's odd, I really like some of the moves the Mets have been making but the BNN boys have picked them last - we'll see who got that one right. They have us pegged in mid-standings mediocrity due mainly once again to some ordinary pitching, with the Giants and Red Sox their favoured clubs this time around.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

A reminder that our team page can be accessed HERE.

I'm pleased with the progress we have made over the break and feel we are on the way to getting our legs back underneath us. Still, we've taken necessary steps back in certain areas as well that mean we'll be happy to hit 500 or thereabouts this season.

We pick up Dave Wickersham (and a few others) on cheap MILB options deals, as well as a couple more on the Waiver Wire. He'll get a chance to strut his stuff at SP5 with Camilo Pascual relegated to the pen for now. We are keen to move on wherever we can, as will likely be the case here and I wouldn't be surprised to see the mighty Patata spending a fair chunk of his final season with us down at AAA.

We've also called up Paul Popovich for his first go around in The Show, with his positional coverage and switch-hitting making him slightly preferable to Dal Maxvill at this stage.

[luckymann]

We'll be looking to tighten this right up with a few multi-year deals for some of the guys, while others will walk. As mentioned earlier, we will have two CC slots free as of next year, intervening roster moves notwithstanding.

[Brad K]

Draft... five historical Pirates went to other teams, four who broke in with the Bucs. I'd be going crazy.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Draft... five historical Pirates went to other teams, four who broke in with the Bucs. I'd be going crazy.

We had 10 eligible players. After we took Manny 7th overall, our next pick was at number 37 - by which time 8 of the remaining 9 eligible players had been taken, leaving just Charlie Sands. Perhaps if I had my time again, I'd have taken him over Fosse, but hopefully we get a decent return from Ray.

It's all part of the challenge I have set myself. But it is far from perfect, and will need some tinkering in the not-too-distant future. The big issue here is an unfair inability under the current rules for us to enjoy early career league-min and arb years because we have to trade so many ineligible players away. That will really start being overly onerous as Free-Agency really comes alive and salaries start to spiral in the next decade or so.

I have toyed with the idea of replicating MLB historical Drafts but that won't work with the Legacy / Marquee Players feature, which I want to keep. I think in the end, the simplest and most effective way is simply to increase the Cutlass Club membership to four or five from its current three. That'll allow me to at least keep some of the guys we draft past the first non-trade year.

Anyhow, I'm enjoying trying to jump these hurdles and I hope it is making for some interesting reading for those along for the ride.

G

[luckymann]

In stark contrast to his controversial trade across to Baltimore, the AI GM in this timeline has no problem with Frank Robinson at 31 and the Reds sign him on for an additional stretch at big moolah.

[luckymann]

Things were going OK for a while there...




In the end we decide to give Patata first crack.

[luckymann]

Not something he ever managed IRL, but in this timeline Jim Lefebvre hits for the cycle against the Halos in a 7-4 Red Sox victory.

[luckymann]

A nice strong start from the lads although I'm not sure how much petrol we've used up in the process, with a host of close and late and walkoff wins among our 28 to this point. Still, we'll take it.




You can see those nailbiters among the stats: 19 of 47 decided by one run, with another 6 needing spares and our record in the two a fortuitous 16-9.




Arriba has flown out the gate and must consider himself unlucky not to win one of the two monthly awards from this first stanza (both go to rampaging Frank Robinson, with Rico Petrocelli doing likewise in the AL). Maz is on the cusp of being sent down to AAA with only injuries to Dal Maxvill down there and Bob Bailey at the big club saving his bacon for now.




We know that this season is mainly going to be about avoiding a total meltdown on the pitching side of things - and, so far, so good in that regard.


Both sets of standings remain relatively cluttered entering June.




Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

• Batter – Rico Petrocelli (Red Sox): 413 / 4 HR / 18 RBI
• Pitcher – Mickey Lolich (Tigers): 3-0 / 1.17 / 17 K / 30.2 IP
• Rookie – Nolan Ryan (Angels): 2-1 / 2.45 / 32 K / 29.1 IP

National League

• Batter – Frank Robinson (Reds): 382 / 7 HR / 19 RBI
• Pitcher – Dean Chance (Giants): 4-0 / 1.17 / 32 K / 30.2 IP
• Rookie – George Stone (Braves): 1-1 / 1.64 / 13 K / 33 IP

May

American League

• Batter – Rico Petrocelli (Red Sox): 367 / 6 HR / 23 RBI
• Pitcher – Sonny Siebert (Tigers): 5-2 / 2.12 / 33 K / 51 IP
• Rookie – Tony Pierce (Indians): 1-1 / 1.52 / 5 SV / 11 K / 23.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Frank Robinson (Reds): 355 / 8 HR / 26 RBI
• Pitcher – Earl Wilson (Phillies): 5-0 / 1.61 / 32 K / 50.1 IP
• Rookie – Luke Walker (Braves): 3-3 / 2.77 / 40 K / 39 IP

News and Leaders






Milestones and Observations of Note

• 300 HR: Al Kaline
• The Yanks lose their first eight games before bashing the Red Sox 11-0 to open their account. Both the Tigers in April and Red Sox in May enjoy long win streaks.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Highest Batting WAR in Final Season

[luckymann]

As reality starts to nibble and we drop off the pace again, I feel it is the right time to pull the trigger on a trade I was always convinced I'd end up making this year. About the outgoing part of the transaction, at any rate; the incoming took plenty of thought plus a bunch of negotiation (loving that hard mode for trading, it is a winner) before we ended up settling on this swap:




We have committed to Bobby Tolan as our CF of the future and Matty was looking for upward of $200k p.a - way too much for what moving forward would be a fourth OF / injury replacement role. At the same time, our pitching is dire again and I really wanted to try get an affordable guy with plenty of talent into our staff. To wit, Denny was our second preference, and when we ran the deal including Bob Miller past the Phils and they only asked for Schwall to get it done, we bit.




Denny of course won the 1962 Johnson-Waddell and posted an excellent 4 WAR last season. He never played for us IRL, so he'll fill the vacant CC3 spot. He's signed on a fairly friendly deal thru 1971.




This will be Bob's second go-around for us after being a Bucco from 1960-65. He played for us IRL in 1971/2. His current contract runs thru 1968.


Ted Savage, who we claimed off waivers earlier in the season, comes up. When Bob Bailey returns from the IL in a month or so, the plan is to shift Helms to the everyday 2B role, send Maz to AAA and keep Freese up to be the backup corner IF until we sort out something better. Patata also goes to Wilkes-Barre. Hey, it's not show friends, you know...

Oh, and this trade reunites two of the Alou brothers after we of course traded Moises there previously.

[luckymann]

What a season Roberto Clemente is having for us - still above 400 almost at the halfway point with nigh on 5 bWAR to his credit already, and this is another happy memory for the year added by the great man.