The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[Brad K]

Howie Haak didn't look at anything except contact. How else do you come up with player after player who doesn't walk and doesn't hit HRs.

If it has been up to him Milton Hite would never have gotten out of A Ball. Oh, wait... LOL.

Anyway you're doing real well. You're fighting what is almost a Kobayashi Maru Scenario.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Howie Haak didn't look at anything except contact. How else do you come up with player after player who doesn't walk and doesn't hit HRs.

If it has been up to him Milton Hite would never have gotten out of A Ball. Oh, wait... LOL.

Anyway you're doing real well. You're fighting what is almost a Kobayashi Maru Scenario.

I'd like to replicate the 1971 win...

[luckymann]

Game 1 in St. Louis

Bob Gibson (21-4, 1.85) v Gary Nolan (16-12, 2.66)

The Cards, with so little playoff experience, couldn’t ask for a steadier presence on the mound in this opener than the great Bob Gibson. But that will only get them so far, especially with the very handy Gary Nolan going for the BoSox.

The again, when he does this it’ll take you just as far as you need to go…

Game 2 in St. Louis

Luis Tiant (20-7, 2.28) v Dave McNally (21-6, 1.51)

Cardinals lead series 1-0

Not sure how one can follow up that performance from Hoot, but if anyone’s up for having a go at it then it is either of our two starters tonight, Dave McNally and Luis Tiant. There’s still a buzz in the air 24 hours later here at Busch Stadium.

And it stays buzzing when Dave McNally and Roger Nelson follow that up with a one-hitter as the Cards win it 2-0 and head to Boston with things just where they want them to be.

Game 3 in Boston

Ken Holtzman (15-10, 3.00) v Jim Perry (12-11, 3.00)

Cardinals lead series 2-0

I expect that being on the losing club this time last year will be an added incentive for Jim Perry in this one, and Holtzman has the tough assignment to try and halt the Cards’ march to the title. Still, we now how quickly momentum can shift in these short series. This is precisely where that lack of playoff experience can really come into play.

And so it comes to pass as the Sox get to Perry early and ram home the advantage with a comfortable 7-1 win. Catcher Randy Huntley goes 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and an RBI to power the home side’s offence, while Holtzman is fantastic with a complete game victory. It may come at a cost, however, as Reggie Smith picks up a hip knock that might limit his game time for the remainder.

Game 4 in Boston

Barry Moore (18-6, 2.77) v Joe Coleman (7-15, 3.68)

Cardinals lead series 2-1

On paper at least, it is definitely advantage Boston in this one with Barry Moore a real unheralded hero for them throughout the regular season. Joe Coleman can be great or ghastly, and the Cardinal bats will need to be at their most productive tonight, one would think.

Coleman actually goes pretty well, but the Cards can’t get much going against Moore as the Sox tie this series back up with a controlled 3-1 win. Davey Johnson mashes Boston’s first tater to this point and boy oh boy does this contest look interesting now.

Game 5 in Boston

Gary Nolan (0-1, 3.38) v Bob Gibson (1-0, 0.00)

Series tied 2-2

Well we all know how strong-willed Bob Gibson is, and it’ll take all of that profound conscientiousness he has to avoid suffering a comedown from that nonpareil opening game performance. In that regard, perhaps the series being back to 2-2 is a good thing because he’ll know everything is still very much in the balance and just how precious a win here would be.

Ahhh what a player he is. What a man. Not as good as (how could he be?) Game 1, but still he refuses to buckle over 8 scoreless and Nelson saves it for him in a 2-0 win that sends them back to the Lou needing just one from two.

Game 6 in St. Louis

Luis Tiant (0-1, 2.25) v Dave McNally (1-0, 0.00)

Cardinals lead series 3-2

Sixty-seven seasons of futility and the dreams of a bunch of Missourians rest on the sturdy left arm of David Arthur McNally today. No pressure, then…

Nope, none at all as he hurls the Cards to the ultimate prize with a one-hitter. What a display by these two magnificent ballplayers and it was telling that, when he went up to collect his Series MVP Award, Bob Gibson dragged Dave McNally up there with him. What a fitting end to the so-called Year of the Pitcher. Go crazy, St. Louis, it has been a long time coming!

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Clearly the main focus moves to the Expansion Draft, with four new clubs - the Royals and Pilots into the AL and the Expos and Padres into the NL - joining the league. I'll cover how this goes in a separate post.

OUT & OUTS

Managers Lena Styles (Orioles), Joel Miller (Angels) and Red Marion (A's) all get the chop.


ROSTER MOVES

We void the final year of Jim Pagliaroni's contract. With Bob Miller, Don Cardwell and Dave Wickersham also being let walk, we once again have a bunch of payroll being freed up.

We non-tender pitchers Bo Belinsky and Al McBean, along with OF Ron Davis. None of these guys would make the protected list even if we did want to hang onto them, so we'll perhaps get them back as FAs on minors deals.


SIM ACCURACY





HANGIN' THEM UP

A pretty low-key retirement class this year indeed with no HoF chances among them.

[luckymann]

AL 1968 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1968 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Two first time Wagner-Lajoie Medal winners in Dick Allen and Reggie Smith, who edges out Reggie Jackson by just two votes and prevents a rare double with Reggie J a unanimous AL RoY recipient. Bobby Bonds wins it in the NL. Sam McDowell repeats as the AL Johnson-Waddell winner, making it three in total for him, while Dave McNally takes out the NL prize for the first time, capping off an incredible season. Paige Plates go to first-time winner Tom Burgmeier and now fourth-time winner Joe Gibbon.


S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

With the ED on tomorrow it has been a very cagey start to the trade market. While these new Draftees are obviously untouchable, there's still an added level of strategy required given each club is almost guaranteed to lose players and you need to somehow try to pre-empt the holes that will be left.

A nice class of Legacies among the new entrants with nine coming aboard.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1969 Season:

Baltimore Orioles: Rick Dempsey (25.1; 1245 GP)
Chicago White Sox: Carlton Fisk (68.4; 1421)
Cincinnati Reds: George Foster (44.1; 1253 GP)
Los Angeles Dodgers: Steve Garvey (38.0; 1727 GP)
Montreal Expos: Steve Renko (23.5; 196 GS conceded)
New York Yankees: Thurman Munson (46.1; 1423 one-club player)
Oakland Athletics: Vida Blue (45.1; 262 GS)
San Francisco Giants: Darrell Evans (58.7; 1094)
Washington Senators: Toby Harrah (51.4; 1355)


Carlton Fisk was also eligible for the Red Sox, but the White Sox get him with the higher pick.

Jerry Reuss (35.1; 201 GS) was also eligible for the Dodgers, but Garvey’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Bill Russell (31.4; 2181 GP one-club player) was also eligible for the Dodgers, but Garvey’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


There are 184 rookies for this season, and – remembering there are now 24 clubs – the Draft will consist of 7 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1968 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Chicago White Sox (414; dice roll)
2. San Francisco Giants (543)
3. Washington Senators (404)
4. New York Yankees (512; dice roll)
5. Oakland Athletics (506)
6. Cincinnati Reds (512; dice roll)
7. Los Angeles Dodgers (469; dice roll)
8. Baltimore Orioles (562)
9. Montreal Expos (dice roll)
10. San Diego Padres (dice roll)
11. Kansas City Royals (dice roll)
12. Seattle Pilots (dice roll)
13. California Angels (414; dice roll)
14. Houston Astros (444)
15. New York Mets (451)
16. Philadelphia Phillies (469; dice roll)
17. Minnesota Twins (488)
18. Pittsburgh Pirates (494)
19. Atlanta Braves (500)
20. Chicago Cubs (519)
21. Boston Red Sox (531)
22. Cleveland Indians (534)
23. St. Louis Cardinals (599)
24. Detroit Tigers (636)


Rounds 2 thru 7

1. San Diego Padres (dice roll)
2. Montreal Expos (dice roll)
3. Kansas City Royals (dice roll)
4. Seattle Pilots (dice roll)
5. Washington Senators (404)
6. Chicago White Sox (414; dice roll)
7. California Angels (414; dice roll)
8. Houston Astros (444)
9. New York Mets (451)
10. Philadelphia Phillies (469; dice roll)
11. Los Angeles Dodgers (469; dice roll)
12. Minnesota Twins (488)
13. Pittsburgh Pirates (494)
14. Atlanta Braves (500)
15. Oakland Athletics (506)
16. Cincinnati Reds (512; dice roll)
17. New York Yankees (512; dice roll)
18. Chicago Cubs (519)
19. Boston Red Sox (531)
20. Cleveland Indians (534)
21. San Francisco Giants (543)
22. Baltimore Orioles (562)
23. St. Louis Cardinals (599)
24. Detroit Tigers (636)


Eligible PIT players: 7 position players + 7 pitchers = 14.


Once again there’s a decent array of eligible available to us, in theory at least. We go into this one with a fairly straightforward plan and, with no real curveballs (sorry), it comes off as expected:
We take the following players:
1. P Dave Roberts, 24
2. P Bob Johnson, 25

• We expect to lose at least one of our rotation in the ED and are already a bit thin in this department, so both Dave and Bob – each of whom comes fairly much fully-formed and ready to roll – are highly likely to be SP at the parent club from the off, or not long thereafter.

3. OF Johnny Jeter, 24

• No superstar but might slot in as a backup OF at some point.

4. P Bill Lee, 21 (ineligible)

• Trade fodder for a year’s time.

5. C Chuck Brinkman, 24
6. OF Scott Northey, 22 (ineligible)
7. P Frank Brousseau, 24

• AAA filler.

Served its purpose.


FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

OK, a slight change from the last one of these. Given we have quite a few new clubs and I don't want them backsliding too much, I have increased the Protection List for each club from 16 to 18 while reducing the maximum that can be taken from any one franchise from five to four.

Here are the abiding ED rules in full:




For our club, I have an additional House Rule I'm going to impose - we are only allowed to protect ELIGIBLE players in our squad, IE those who played for Pittsburgh IRL. That means the three CC members - Chuck Hinton, Bill Hands and Denny Lemaster - are fair game. A big call, if I do say so myself, seeing as Hands was set to be trade fodder.

BUT...

For each of these players that are taken, we get an additional FA / Trade ticket that is able to be used up to 31 December, 1969.

I've thought long and hard on this and believe this is about as fair as I can make it.

OK, so here's how it all plays out.

Firstly, our final Protected List:




We lose our maximum allowed, with the following guys taken:

• P Pete Mikkelsen (KCR)
• 3B Chuck Hinton (SDP)
• OF Al Luplow (SDP)
• P Bill Hands (SEA)

So pretty much no great surprises there. We lost two CC players and therefore get two tickets by way of compensation.


BTW No idea why there are only 20 Rounds in this rather than the 65 IRL, or at least partway closer to.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

Well this has without doubt and by far been the most bizarre offseason I have ever encountered. But then again, as you'll see, WORTH IT! as we take a couple huge steps towards hopefully being among the best clubs in the league once again.

Our selections in the Draft allowed us to take a risk or two and still seemingly be in a strong position, and that's what we did with this trade:




Our quest for a power right-hitting 2B pretty much began and ended with Davey, and when the Sox came back with terms that were most acceptable to us we pulled the trigger. He only plays 2B and can be a bit streaky, but if he gets hot (a la last year's 4.5 bWAR campaign) he can really gun it and that's what we are looking for from him. He's heading into his final arb year but we'll try extend him out into the mid-70s if we can.



It cost us a club legend, which is always a tough decision. We just feel that, as much as we love the guy and regard his talent, Bob Veale - at 33 and coming off a serious injury that kept him out for a whole year, on big $$ and with his historicals showing an imminent cliff - is high risk. High risk enough to accept the risk of not having him around, if that makes sense.


OK, so - SPOILER ALERT - that wasn't the bizarre part. This next bit is.


So with both Hinton and Hands gone we still have a spare CC slot after the above trade, and this time I'm really keen to use it on someone worth the hassle. We have a few options but go with just the one and start the negs.

Charles (I'll keep his real name out of it for now to build suspense) wants a 9-year deal with an opt out and a couple player options at the end, at a little under a half-mil per.

We crunch the numbers and it's doable. But I hate players having control to walk when they want, and so we counter with an 8-year + team option deal at about 85% of his asking price.

This goes to his agent in the first week of Jan.

Then, until mid-March, crickets.... Not a word.

Finally, two days before Spring Training begins he calls to tell us we've been outbid by the Mets. All our other options have by now worn in their new uniforms, placed their kids in their new schools and helped their wives furnish their new houses. So it's him or bust. In poker parlance, we are "committed to the pot". Or, in plainer terms, all in.

We go back with the same terms but now at about 90% of his original ask - roughly $4.2m all up including the oppy year.

36 hours later, the signed contract turns up at my office, delivered by courier - that we have to pay for!

I love this guy already.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the new starting CF and leadoff hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates...




This, it is fair to say, could get interesting...

[luckymann]

Some sense of pitcher-hitter equilibrium returns to the game but all that is overshadowed by arguably the greatest story the game has known, as the erstwhile hapless fools in orange and blue miraculously transform themselves into World Champions. Four new clubs! Divisions! This year certainly had it all.


AL CHAMPIONS: Baltimore Orioles (109-53) / Minnesota Twins (97-65)
NL CHAMPIONS: New York Mets (100-62) / Atlanta Braves (93-69)
ALCS: Orioles 3, Twins 0
NLCS: Mets 3, Braves 0
WORLD SERIES: Mets 4, Orioles 1

Pittsburgh Pirates: 88-74, 3rd in NL East

AL MVP: Harmon Killebrew (Twins)
NL MVP: Willie McCovey (Giants)

AL CYA: Denny McLain (Tigers) / Mike Cuellar (Orioles) tied
NL CYA: Tom Seaver (Mets)

AL RoY: Lou Piniella (Royals)
NL RoY: Ted Sizemore (Dodgers)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. WILLIE MCCOVEY, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .320 average, 101 runs, 26 doubles, 45 home runs, 126 RBIs, 121 walks, 45 intentional walks, .453 on-base percentage, .656 slugging percentage.
• Stretch received long overdue respect—first from pitchers who granted him a then-record 45 intentional walks, followed by writers who voted him the NL MVP—and the MVP of the All-Star Game to boot.

2. JIM WYNN, HOUSTON

• Key Numbers: .269 average, 113 runs, 33 home runs, 87 RBIs, 148 walks, 23 stolen bases.
• The diminutive but muscular “Toy Cannon” certainly saw the benefits of talent-diluted expansion and the elimination of the high strike zone that led to a 22% surge in walks, as his major league-leading pass total represented a career high.

3. HANK AARON, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 100 runs, 30 doubles, 44 home runs, 97 RBIs, 87 walks.
• For the fourth and last time in his distinguished career, Aaron’s home run total matched his uniform number.

4. PETE ROSE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .348 average, 120 runs, 218 hits, 33 doubles, 11 triples, 16 home runs, 82 RBIs, 88 walks.
• Rose captured his second straight batting crown and hit for a career-high average, thanks to a .383 home figure produced in the Reds’ last full year at Crosley Field.

5. BOBBY BONDS, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .259 average, 120 runs, 25 doubles, 6 triples, 32 home runs, 90 RBIs, 81 walks, 187 strikeouts, 45 stolen bases, 4 caught stealing.
• A combination of blazing speed and bruising power left Bonds, in his first full season, poised to successfully follow on the coattails of a fading Willie Mays.

6. TONY PEREZ, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .294 average, 103 runs, 185 hits, 31 doubles, 37 home runs, 122 RBIs.
• For a guy who would unfairly gain the tag of a “supporting” star throughout his career, Perez but up some nifty marquee numbers.

7. DICK ALLEN, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 118 games, .288 average, 79 runs, 32 home runs, 89 RBIs.
• After forming a band called Rich Allen and the Ebonistics, Allen performed his swan song for the Phillies with a turbulent campaign that might have had him joining seven other players hitting 40-plus homers—had he not kept missing games and getting suspended for it.

8. WILLIE STARGELL, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .307 average, 89 runs, 31 doubles, 6 triples, 29 home runs, 92 RBIs.
• Among Stargell’s 29 home runs was the first completely hit out of Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium; he’d hit the second, four years later.

9. ROBERTO CLEMENTE, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 138 games, .345 average, 87 runs, 175 hits, 20 doubles, 12 triples, 19 home runs, 91 RBIs.
• Less known for his muscular theatrics than his hit-machine output and remarkable throwing arm, Clemente clubbed three home runs in a game for the second time in three years.

10. RUSTY STAUB, MONTREAL

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 89 runs, 166 hits, 26 doubles, 5 triples, 29 home runs, 79 RBIs, 110 walks.
• After seven years in Houston, Staub relocated to Quebec and became an instant folk hero in Montreal, where the redhead was given the sobriquet Le Grand Orange.

AL Hitters

1. REGGIE JACKSON, OAKLAND

• Key Numbers: .275 average, 123 runs, 36 doubles, 47 home runs, 118 RBIs, 114 walks, 20 intentional walks, 142 strikeouts, 13 stolen bases, .608 slugging percentage.
• Jackson exploded onto the scene by hammering 37 homers before the All-Star break; he was the first player to knock in 10 runs in a game since 1955.

2. HARMON KILLEBREW, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 162 games, .276 average, 106 runs, 49 home runs, 140 RBIs, 145 walks, 20 intentional walks, .427 on-base percentage.
• Killer’s marginal batting average was offset with a slew of walks that gave him a higher on-base percentage than first-time AL batting champ (and fellow Twin) Rod Carew; it was all enough to be granted with his only MVP.

3. FRANK ROBINSON, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: .308 average, 111 runs, 19 doubles, 5 triples, 32 home runs, 100 RBIs, 88 walks, 13 hit-by-pitches.
• Robinson returned to stellar, everyday form in arguably his best year since his triple-crown effort of 1966.

4. FRANK HOWARD, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 111 runs, 175 hits, 48 home runs, 111 RBIs, 102 walks, 29 grounded into double plays.
• Under the first-year guidance of Senators manager Ted Williams, Howard was taught the Splendid Splinter Method of being patient at the plate; it resulted in nearly double the walks and two-thirds the strikeouts from the year before, while maintaining his power.

5. RICO PETROCELLI, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .297 average, 92 runs, 32 doubles, 40 home runs, 97 RBIs, 98 walks.
• The sixth-year Red Sock, father of future O.J. Simpson prosecutor Daniel Petrocelli, found the real killer instinct as he became the first AL shortstop ever to hit 40 homers—this, after never hitting more than 18 in any other season.

6. SAL BANDO, OAKLAND

• Key Numbers: 162 games, .281 average, 106 runs, 171 hits, 25 doubles, 31 home runs, 113 RBIs, 111 walks, 11 hit-by-pitches.
• Lost in the Reggie Jackson hoopla in Oakland was the sudden advancement of Bando, who for the second straight year played all 162 games but greatly enhanced his output from the nine homers, 67 RBIs and 51 walks accrued in 1968.

7. BOOG POWELL, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: .304 average, 83 runs, 25 doubles, 37 home runs, 121 RBIs.
• In a career that fluctuated back-and-forth between good Boog and bad Boog, the former showed up with what could have earned him a third Comeback of the Year award (Tony Conigliaro won it instead).

8. MIKE EPSTEIN, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .131 games, .278 average, 30 home runs, 85 RBIs, 85 walks, 10 hit-by-pitches.
• Like Frank Howard above, Epstein greatly benefitted from the presence of Ted Williams, putting together a career-year effort.

9. CARL YASTRZEMSKI, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 162 games, .255 average, 96 runs, 28 doubles, 40 home runs, 111 RBIs, 101 walks, 15 stolen bases.
• Yaz was rewarded with a then-AL record $130,000 contract—but lost $500 of that late in the season when manager Dick Williams fined him for not hustling. Still, he paired with Rico Petrocelli to become the first pair of Red Sox hitters to each belt 40 homers in a season—reaching the milestone with a last-game round-tripper.

10. TONY OLIVA, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .309 average, 97 runs, 197 hits, 39 doubles, 24 home runs, 101 RBIs, 10 stolen bases.
• Oliva’s bid for a third batting title to close out the 1960s was spoiled when he leveled off over the last month-plus of the season. He finished third below teammate Rod Carew.

NL Pitchers

1. JUAN MARICHAL, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 2.10 ERA, 21 wins, 11 losses, 36 starts, 27 complete games, 8 shutouts, 299.2 innings, 54 walks, 15 caught stealing/picked off.
• Marichal’s continued greatness finally nabbed him his one and only ERA title—but not the Cy, as he didn’t even get a single vote. (Full disclosure: Voters only had one a first-choice option.)

2. BOB GIBSON, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.18 ERA, 20 wins, 13 losses, 35 starts, 28 complete games, 314 innings, 269 strikeouts.
• Gibson was no longer superhuman as he fumed over the loss of the high strike, but his ERA was still the majors’ third best; six times he continued into extra innings—four of those over his last five starts.

3. BILL SINGER, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.34 ERA, 20 wins, 12 losses, 40 starts, 315.2 innings.
• Singer set himself a goal to win 18 games—or three a month; the man who never won more than 13 sold himself short.

4. LARRY DIERKER, HOUSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.33 ERA, 20 wins, 13 losses, 37 starts, 305.1 innings, 24 grounded into double plays.
• Amid the Astro workhorses of the 1970-80s (Don Wilson, J.R. Richard, Nolan Ryan, Mike Scott), no one threw for more innings in one year than Dierker in 1969. He was the Astros’ first 20-game winner on a team with its best record yet, at 81-81.

5. TOM SEAVER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.21 ERA, 25 wins, 7 losses, .781 win percentage, 35 starts, 273.1 innings.
• Seaver won each of his last eight starts—all of them complete games—while opponents went 0-for-13 with no walks when the bases were loaded against him.

6. CLAUDE OSTEEN, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.66 ERA, 20 wins, 15 losses, 41 starts, 7 shutouts, 321 innings, 37 grounded into double plays.
• Osteen set a career mark with 20 wins, once more proving that the 1964 trade sending him from Washington to Los Angeles for Frank Howard continued to work out well for both teams.

7. JERRY KOOSMAN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.28 ERA, 17 wins, 9 losses, 32 starts, 241 innings, 25 grounded into double plays.
• Like his ace-in-arms Tom Seaver, Koosman thrived down the stretch, winning eight of his last nine decisions—followed by both of his World Series starts.

8. STEVE CARLTON, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.17 ERA, 17 wins, 11 losses, 31 starts, 236.1 innings.
• The young Lefty’s shot at an ERA title blew up when he entered his final start with a 1.98 figure—then gave up five runs in just a third of an inning at New York against the Mets.

9. BILL HANDS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.49 ERA, 20 wins, 14 losses, 41 starts, 300 innings, 23 grounded into double plays.
• Along with Ferguson Jenkins, Hands became part of the first 20-win Cubs duo since Lou Warneke and Bill Lee in 1935.

10. PHIL NIEKRO, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: 2.56 ERA, 23 wins, 13 losses, 40 appearances, 35 starts, 284.1 innings, 57 walks, 15 wild pitches.
• Always worthy but sometimes wacky; Niekro twice threw four wild pitches in a game. No other pitcher threw more than three in any 1969 appearance.

AL Pitchers

1. MIKE CUELLAR, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 2.38 ERA, 23 wins, 11 losses, .676 win percentage, 39 starts, 290.2 innings, 27 grounded into double plays.
• Another one that got away from the Astros (along with Rusty Staub and, eventually, Joe Morgan and Jim Wynn), Cuellar took his best-of-era screwball to Baltimore and began a six-year period averaging 21 wins a season.

2. FRITZ PETERSON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.55 ERA, 17 wins, 16 losses, 37 starts, 272 innings, 43 walks, 28 grounded into double plays.
• The majors’ overall upsurge in offense didn’t help Peterson’s prospects to win 20 games, as the Yankees supported him to the tune of just 2.95 runs per start.

3. MEL STOTTLEMYRE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.82 ERA, 20 wins, 14 losses, 39 starts, 24 complete games, 303 innings, 39 grounded into double plays.
• The current Yankees ace (and their future pitching coach) had better luck getting offensive backing than Peterson, reaching the 20-win mark for the second straight year and third time overall.

4. JIM PERRY, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 2.82 ERA, 20 wins, 6 losses, .769 win percentage, 46 appearances, 36 starts, 261.2 innings, 26 grounded into double plays.
• Perry re-emerged after a series of frustrating years trying to break back into the Twins’ rotation on a full-time basis, even out-winning his brother Gaylord by one. He was 14-1 at Metropolitan Stadium.

5. DENNY MCLAIN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.80 ERA, 24 wins, 9 losses, .727 win percentage, 41 starts, 23 complete games, 9 shutouts, 325 innings, 67 walks, 24 stolen bases allowed.
• A 24-9 record seems rather banal after winning 31 the year before, but McLain was still acknowledged as one of the best, earning AL Cy co-honors with Mike Cuellar.

6. DICK BOSMAN, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.19 ERA, 14 wins, 5 losses, .737 win percentage, 31 appearances, 26 starts, 193 innings, 39 walks.
• One of the primary reasons the Senators finished above .500 for the only time within the franchise’s first 13 years of existence was Bosman, who graduated to the rotation in 1969 and became the first ERA champ wearing a Senators/Rangers jersey.

7. SAM MCDOWELL, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.94 ERA, 18 wins, 14 losses, 38 starts, 285 innings, 279 strikeouts, 14 wild pitches, 24 grounded into double plays.
• The Indians’ ace held the fort as best he could as the team around him collapsed to a 99-loss record; after him, the Cleveland rotation combined for a 27-58 record.

8. JIM PALMER, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 2.34 ERA, 16 wins, 4 losses, .800 win percentage, 26 appearances, 23 starts, 6 shutouts, 181 innings.
• Palmer proved his worth following two injury-riddled campaigns that actually left him unprotected—and untaken—in the expansion draft. After missing six weeks due to a torn back muscle in July, Palmer threw his lone career no-hitter in his second start back, against Oakland.

9. ANDY MESSERSMITH, CALIFORNIA

• Key Numbers: 2.52 ERA, 16 wins, 11 losses, 40 appearances, 33 starts, 250 innings, 100 walks, 16 wild pitches.
• Winless with five losses through the end of May, the right-handed sophomore refreshed and shined the rest of the way, going 16-6 with a 2.14 ERA.

10. DAVE MCNALLY, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 3.22 ERA, 20 wins, 7 losses, .741 win percentage, 40 starts, 268.2 innings, 26 grounded into double plays.
• McNally didn’t lose his first game until August 3—ending an impressive stretch of 45 starts in which he won 29 games and lost only two.

[luckymann]

The ED absolutely cruelled the trade and FA markets, with only 4 deals above a million transacted:

• 1B Harmon Killebrew: Yankees, 5 years / $2900000
• OF Frank Howard: Dodgers, 5 years / $2550000
• C Tom Haller: Astros, 4 years / $1154000
• P Dave Boswell: Indians, 4 years / $972000
• P Sonny Siebert: Royals, 3 years / $870000
• 3B Joe Foy: Braves, 5 years / $746000 (extension)
• C Duke Sims: Giants, 4 years / $697000 (extension)
• C Jim Pagliaroni: Phillies, 3 years / $600000
• P Ray Culp: Tigers, 3 years / $492000
• P Milt Pappas: Red Sox, 3 years / $480000
• OF Felipe Alou: A’s, 3 years / $450000

• P Bill Pleis and OF John Briggs from Braves to Giants for OF Curt Motton
• 2B Tito Fuentes and P Jim Ollom from Reds to Yankees 3B Graig Nettles and P Jack Baldschun
• OF Mike Lum from Cubs to Senators for 2B Glenn Beckert
• OF Tony Conigliaro from Angels to Reds for OF Pat Kelly
• P Alan Foster from Dodgers to Astros for P Dick Hughes and P Ron Bryant
• P Roger Nelson, P Jim Ellis and SS Bob Heise from Cardinals to Phillies for P Chris Short
• OF Dave May from Phillies to Mets for SS Denis Menke
• OF Mike Jorgensen from Braves to Twins for P Jim Kaat
• C Ellie Rodriguez, P Jim Ray and P Wally Bunker from Red Sox to Orioles for P Mike Cuellar

ALL TRANSACTIONS


We go 12-6 in ST and thankfully suffer no major injuries this time around.

It is of course the first year of the new divisional alignment, and BNN are picking us to narrowly win the new NL East, with the Yanks, Halos and Astros to join us in the playoffs.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

A reminder that our team page can be accessed HERE.

It almost goes without saying that we have made a strong move this offseason. Now we have to see if our finagling has the desired result.

For the moment we have a surplus of players, but the structure of their salaries means we don't have to offload any of them just yet and can actually run things the way they are for the entirety of the season if needs be. We're only on the hook for 107k of Mota's salary, and just for this season. Likewise Bunning's 190k goes off the books this year, and Helms is in his walk year as well. So there's Rose's salary covered already. For once I'm not so bothered about the opportunity cost of having them walk; I'm more bothered about being caught short because I really want to make a run at this.

Tolan is a luxury I want to keep as a quality "third-an-a-half" OF in the longer-term, and I think we'll be able to do so. There's also some action on the Waiver Wire that may end up being a real score for us and offer an alternative strategy but I'll only speak of it once it has happened.

Savage is out of OYs so I've sent Mota to AAA, along with Helms so as not to waste one of Flea's options. Ducky Schofield has made an amazing comeback to get back into the big time as part of our IF setup.

We're going to start with Bunning as our SP1 and hope he goes better than last year. Roberts does get the call up and slots into the SP5 role. Giusti moves to Stopper with Gibbon back to Setup. A few different BP guys will no doubt see action over the course of the season.

Let's go Buccos!

[luckymann]

I'll be the first to admit there was something of a devil-may-care attitude on my part with the Rose signing. It hasn't taken long for the reality of such cavalier profligacy to come home to roost. With each year that passes, the exponential rise in salaries narrows the gap we have enjoyed with regard to profitability and the ability to manoeuvre payroll fairly easily. So, while it all looks peachy keen with those big green numbers for next year, when we dig a bit deeper things tend toward the murky.

Our big-ticket items for 1970 and beyond are as follows:

• Fryman (final arb year, c $150k per at best estimate)
• Tolan (final arb year, c $175k per at best estimate)
• Johnson (final arb year, c $200k per at best estimate)
• Blass (final arb year, c $125k per at best estimate)

That's $650k right there. Which skinnies up the fat pretty quick. Throw in smaller-cost guys like Popovich, Jackson and the like and we are going to have to be real smart these next few seasons in the decisions we make because we can't afford all of them. Gotta love the champagne taste on the beer salary equation... NOT.

No buyer's remorse whatsoever, it all adds to the challenge I seek and if we get a ring or two then it's a job well done.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by luckymann

I'll be the first to admit there was something of a devil-may-care attitude on my part with the Rose signing.

Good luck. I stay away from Rose because I expect that every Fall when the new ratings hit there's a scramble to move players around to accommodate Rose's new position. Besides I don't like him.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Good luck. I stay away from Rose because I expect that every Fall when the new ratings hit there's a scramble to move players around to accommodate Rose's new position. Besides I don't like him.

Well, he really only plays corner IF / OF for the most part from here, which gels with Oliver moving to CF whenever that happens. Aside from the betting (which he allegedly only did as a Manager and never against his team), I have no problem with him. If I was a BBWAA, I'd vote to put him in the HoF.

[luckymann]

We continue with our countdown as the great man strolls toward history.

569 down, 3 to go!

#569 v Washington 04/16 a GRAND SLAM in the 8th off Ron Reed.

[luckymann]

I set my lineups each day and just let the game sim rather than get involved myself. Part of my fairly rigorous setup includes pitch count limits for all of our guys, which I invariably set at a conservative number, rarely >100; never >110. Thus the importance of a strong BP for any of my clubs.

Works a treat most of the time, except for occasions like this one with rookie Dave Roberts getting Snelled after 6.2 no-hit innings because of a rain delay presumably combined with the fact that he was at 82 pitches to that point, close to his limit of 90.




I doubt it would be possible, but I'd love to see the game stop and notify you in this sort of situation so you can take over the reins if so desired, or change his pitch limit and send it back to the engine to sim out.

[luckymann]

While all the attention is rightly focused on the Mick's drive, the player so closely associated with him and who joined the league in the same season is still doing his thing.

Unlike the historical, however, it seems Mick is going to outshine the Say Hey Kid, statistically speaking. Willie has belted dinger number 500 today, so he's roughly 100 in back of Mick and still 160 shy of his IRL total. Even with the recalc padding, I don't see Willie making it past Gehrig and the Babe into the 600s. I think he'll be lucky to make 550, which is about in line with what we're seeing for most players who were granted full careers in the historical. Mickey is a rarity in this save - a position player who has greatly outperformed his real self. Gehrig did it as well, but is obviously a special case, as is Koufax on the pitching side.



A week or so later, Eddie Mathews - currently with Seattle - joins the club as well.

[Pelican]

IRL Rose took the Phillies from a very good team to World Champs in 1980 - and that was late in his career. He’s no prize as a human being (there is the revelation of an underage girlfriend early in his career); but the HOF is not sainthood but baseball talent. If I were Commissioner, I would clear Rose and Shoeless Joe for the HOF.

[luckymann]

Slow going for Mick, as the acquisition of Killer Killebrew has relegated him to the bench. Suddenly 600 looks a stretch, but with this one he pulls within one of the tie with Gehrig.

570 down, 2 to go!

#569 v Baltimore 05/02 in the 4th off Jim Palmer.