The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

So, who is the active leader in the MLB in career slugging percentage?

• Mickey Mantle, NYY, .565
• Frank Robinson, CIN, .553
• Henry Aaron, ATL, .543
• Willie McCovey, SF, .542
• Willie Mays, SF, .538

All-time Leader: Lou Gehrig, .598

[luckymann]

While there are still too many Unknowns still required, that influx of minors guys seems to have greatly improved things at AAA, to the point where I'll start posting some significant news, game performances etc, starting with this no-hitter by Tucson's (the Astros' farm club) Alan Foster against Mount Vernon (Atlanta's).

The plan from here is to do one of these manual inductions every few years until I no longer need to, but to keep ahead of the curve we'll do another one for the 70/71 Draft with 240 added.

[luckymann]

Who has the richest contracts in the MLB?

• Harmon Killebrew, NYY, $580,000
• Frank Howard, LAD, $510,000
• Norm Cash, BOS, $476,000
• Denis Menke, LAD, $472,000
• Earl Battey, CHC, $416,000

[luckymann]

Ensconced in our sparkling new Three Rivers Stadium, we win our first seven games of the season. But BP woes resurface with Giusti just dreadful again early and others not much better as we blow a series of late leads. This, however, is the only blight on an outstanding first 20 games covering April in which we go 15-5.

It doesn’t stop there. In fact, we have strung 12 wins together and are 21-5 when we head to Houston for four against the Astros, whose record sits at an even more improbable 22-5 including an unbroken run of 8 wins. We end that there, then they end ours at 14 and we split a series in which every game is close and low-scoring. This should be quite a battle.

That swing ushers in the inevitable roundabout as we cool off dramatically, dropping six straight, only to turn it around again despite losing Bill Singer for three weeks to a hamstring strain. We put Juan Pizarro into the rotation and recall Flea Patek from Lincoln. This isn’t a particularly convincing stretch by our pitchers, but the bats keep giving them just enough runs as we eventually win another 9 straight.

We lose Pizarro after 1/3 of an inning pitched in his first start and call up Bob Johnson to make his debut in the big-time. Roberto Clemente is also starting to become ever more prone and we’ll really need to manage him so as to keep him active when it counts. It might even involve him working the soft side of a RF platoon with Scoop Oliver for a while.

We finish a most eventful first stanza at 35-14 and have skipped away to a handy if far from insurmountable 6 1/2-game lead over the Cubs in the NL East.





Great to see Bob Bailey coming on strong, it's been a long road. He, Tolan and Stargell are leading the way. Arriba is one notable underperformer, while Scoop has certainly embraced the system to this point.




Dock Ellis - who we lock down long-term by way of a 5+2 / $1.7m deal - and Singer, before going on the IL, the standouts here. Giusti better but still far too loose with runs for my liking.




A horror start sees the Expos’ record at 3-24 before they finally managed to put a few wins together. Entering June, they sit at 11-40, on pace for 127 losses. Both AL races remain tight - can the Sens orchestrate a fairytale finish either this season or next to their imminent departure to Texas?




Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

• Batter – Al Kaline (Tigers): 408 / 7 HR / 22 RBI
• Pitcher – Pat Jarvis (Orioles): 5-0 / 0.68 / 26 K / 40 IP
• Rookie – Don Gullett (Brewers): 4-0 / 2.13 / 24 K / 38 IP

National League

• Batter – Henry Aaron (Braves): 418 / 9 HR / 17 RBI
• Pitcher – Dock Ellis (Pirates): 5-0 / 1.67 / 19 K / 37.2 IP
• Rookie – Steve Kline (Cubs): 2-0 / 1.32 / 16 K / 34 IP

May

American League

• Batter – Al Kaline (Tigers): 414 / 9 HR / 25 RBI
• Pitcher – Fritz Peterson (Red Sox): 5-1 / 1.28 / 25 K / 49.1 IP
• Rookie – Cesar Cedeno (Indians): 340 / 2 HR / 28 RBI

National League

• Batter – Dick Allen (Phillies): 333 / 12 HR / 32 RBI
• Pitcher – Tom Hall (Astros): 3-0 / 0.63 / 6 SV / 27 K / 28.2 IP
• Rookie – Darrell Evans (Giants): 263 / 6 HR / 15 RBI

News and Leaders






Milestones and Observations of Note

• 2000 Hits: Vada Pinson, Luis Aparicio
• The Tigers lose OF Wayne Comer for at least 4 months to a labrum tear, while bone chips in the elbow derail Denny Lemaster’s 1971 campaign.
• We pick up Tommy Helms on a minor league deal, a potentially handy thing after having lost Maz in the R5 Draft.

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[luckymann]

Most Seasons Between Stolen Bases

[Pelican]

That Senators team had Ted Williams as manager. A couple of years ago, at a Negro Leagues event, I met Pedro Sierra, who played in the late stages of the Negor Leagues as a teenager, and was the batting practice pitcher for those Senators. We had a laugh about him pitching for two of the greatest hitters of all time, Williams and Oscar Charleston, his manager at the Indianapolis ABC’s. In my 1971 sim, the Senators/Rangers have activated Sierra for their bullpen. (I thought of telling him about this plan, but figured he would think I was crazy….)

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Pelican

That Senators team had Ted Williams as manager. A couple of years ago, at a Negro Leagues event, I met Pedro Sierra, who played in the late stages of the Negor Leagues as a teenager, and was the batting practice pitcher for those Senators. We had a laugh about him pitching for two of the greatest hitters of all time, Williams and Oscar Charleston, his manager at the Indianapolis ABC’s. In my 1971 sim, the Senators/Rangers have activated Sierra for their bullpen. (I thought of telling him about this plan, but figured he would think I was crazy….)

Nice story, thanks for sharing. Despite my various efforts at keeping this timeline at least somewhat close to the historical, the Sens are a total anomaly - not one of the main guys from the 1970 squad is where they were IRL. Which is almost certainly why they are doing so much better than IRL, although I doubt they'll see this through.



SENATORS S+ PAGE

[luckymann]

Given the fact that Roberto's tragic demise happened right at the end of his magnificent career, the recalc gods should treat him relatively fairly over those bonus seasons, so I fully expect the great man to replicate and even eclipse his poignant hits total in this timeline, which would as IRL make him our club leader in that category. This is the final waypoint on the journey to that destination.

[luckymann]

Some of the biggest bats in the game today flashing their wares and flexing their muscles - the pitchers didn't stand a chance, really.

[luckymann]

Which pitchers are leading the MLB in career ERA?

• Rube Waddell, -, 2.08
• Andy Coakley, -, 2.33
• Jesse Tannehill, -, 2.36
• Jimmy Dygert, -, 2.43
• Christy Mathewson, -, 2.47

[luckymann]

Three-plus years on from his IRL retirement and Sandy K is still looking strong. MOV and CONT ratings have slipped a smidge but STUFF remains at the max and clearly he is still at or close enough to the top of his game.

That's win #223 in this timeline and he becomes the only player with three no-hitters to this point, leaving him needing one more to match his historical total.

[luckymann]

A first nod for Bobby Tolan, one of three for us this year.


American League

• SP Vida Blue (OAK)* - 11-5, 2.68 ERA, 151.1 IP, 1.05 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 3.4 WAR
• SP Bert Blyleven (MIN) - 11-6, 2.87 ERA, 150.2 IP, 1.17 WHIP, 7.9 K/9, 3.9 WAR
• SP Catfish Hunter (OAK) - 10-5, 2.88 ERA, 143.2 IP, 1.11 WHIP, 5.6 K/9, 3.3 WAR
• SP Pat Jarvis (BAL) - 12-6, 2.68 ERA, 154.2 IP, 1.07 WHIP, 5.6 K/9, 3.2 WAR
• SP Fritz Peterson (BOS) - 12-4, 3.04 ERA, 148.0 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 3.6 K/9, 3.1 WAR
• SP Paul Splittorff (KC) - 8-9, 2.81 ERA, 144.1 IP, 1.23 WHIP, 5.5 K/9, 3.7 WAR
• RP Bob Hendley (WS2) - 3-1, 3.42 ERA, 50.0 IP, 1.30 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, 0.3 WAR
• RP Milt Pappas (BOS) - 1-4, 2.60 ERA, 52.0 IP, 1.29 WHIP, 4.5 K/9, 0.3 WAR
• RP Dale Willis (WS2)* - 4-3, 15 SV, 1.54 ERA, 46.2 IP, 1.11 WHIP, 7.1 K/9, 1.1 WAR
• CL Joe Hoerner (BOS) - 4-4, 9 SV, 2.32 ERA, 54.1 IP, 1.27 WHIP, 5.6 K/9, 0.8 WAR
• C Dick Dietz (CWS) - .262/.419/.452, 210 AB, 10 HR, 149 wRC+, 1.0 WAR
• C Bill Freehan (DET)* - .269/.362/.483, 234 AB, 13 HR, 139 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
• 1B Tony Horton (DET) - .316/.347/.540, 326 AB, 20 HR, 152 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
• 1B Harmon Killebrew (NYY) - .266/.407/.540, 289 AB, 22 HR, 166 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
• 1B Boog Powell (OAK)* - .291/.376/.544, 320 AB, 22 HR, 162 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
• 2B Rod Carew (MIN)* - .393/.419/.530, 300 AB, 2 HR, 15 SB, 169 wRC+, 3.8 WAR
• 2B Dave Cash (ML4) - .349/.417/.497, 312 AB, 2 HR, 8 SB, 152 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
• 2B Bill Russell (CLE) - .344/.402/.484, 308 AB, 4 HR, 12 SB, 149 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
• 3B Sal Bando (OAK)* - .275/.390/.505, 309 AB, 19 HR, 2 SB, 155 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
• SS Rico Petrocelli (BOS)* - .300/.387/.672, 287 AB, 28 HR, 191 wRC+, 4.5 WAR (Injured)
• LF Don Buford (MIN) - .329/.421/.479, 292 AB, 10 HR, 11 SB, 157 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
• LF Bernie Carbo (KC) - .273/.448/.488, 260 AB, 16 HR, 6 SB, 167 wRC+, 4.0 WAR
• LF Roy White (NYY)* - .305/.421/.488, 295 AB, 14 HR, 17 SB, 165 wRC+, 4.6 WAR
• CF Reggie Smith (BOS)* - .301/.382/.486, 296 AB, 12 HR, 2 SB, 140 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
• RF Reggie Jackson (OAK) - .251/.377/.509, 279 AB, 20 HR, 20 SB, 156 wRC+, 4.1 WAR
• RF Al Kaline (DET)* - .326/.400/.599, 304 AB, 21 HR, 179 wRC+, 4.0 WAR

National League

• SP Bob Gibson (STL) - 6-7, 2.83 ERA, 149.1 IP, 1.21 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, 3.6 WAR
• SP Sandy Koufax (LAD)* - 13-5, 2.44 ERA, 165.2 IP, 0.91 WHIP, 9.6 K/9, 5.2 WAR
• SP Andy Messersmith (NYM) - 7-7, 2.26 ERA, 135.1 IP, 1.21 WHIP, 7.0 K/9, 1.9 WAR
• SP Phil Niekro (ATL) - 8-6, 2.55 ERA, 151.2 IP, 1.03 WHIP, 5.5 K/9, 2.8 WAR
• SP Tom Seaver (NYM) - 10-8, 2.93 ERA, 156.2 IP, 1.21 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 4.7 WAR
• SP Don Sutton (LAD) - 10-5, 3.42 ERA, 139.1 IP, 1.15 WHIP, 6.7 K/9, 3.3 WAR
• RP Charlie Beamon (HOU)* - 2-1, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 24.2 IP, 1.14 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 0.8 WAR
• RP Pete Richert (HOU) - 5-2, 1.88 ERA, 71.2 IP, 0.96 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 1.1 WAR
• CL Danny Frisella (LAD) - 2-6, 16 SV, 1.74 ERA, 51.2 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 5.4 K/9, 0.6 WAR
• CL Tom Hall (HOU) - 9-2, 13 SV, 3.42 ERA, 68.1 IP, 1.24 WHIP, 8.8 K/9, 1.2 WAR
• C Johnny Bench (CIN)* - .300/.345/.615, 257 AB, 22 HR, 2 SB, 166 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
• C Joe Torre (ATL) - .292/.355/.444, 250 AB, 8 HR, 130 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
• 1B Dick Allen (PHI)* - .268/.369/.550, 298 AB, 25 HR, 4 SB, 156 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
• 1B Willie McCovey (SF) - .273/.389/.524, 315 AB, 21 HR, 1 SB, 156 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
• 1B Willie Stargell (PIT) - .306/.395/.536, 291 AB, 14 HR, 1 SB, 154 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• 2B Dave Campbell (NYM) - .296/.363/.473, 294 AB, 9 HR, 14 SB, 138 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
• 2B Denis Menke (LAD)* - .291/.363/.418, 292 AB, 8 HR, 5 SB, 124 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• 3B Steve Garvey (LAD) - .326/.391/.470, 270 AB, 8 HR, 2 SB, 145 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
• 3B Ron Santo (CHC)* - .259/.392/.468, 278 AB, 16 HR, 1 SB, 146 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
• SS Gene Alley (PIT)* - .264/.319/.385, 239 AB, 6 HR, 2 SB, 95 wRC+, 2.0 WAR (Injured)
• LF Rico Carty (HOU)* - .367/.439/.579, 316 AB, 15 HR, 1 SB, 181 wRC+, 4.5 WAR
• LF Billy Williams (CHC) - .358/.431/.582, 299 AB, 13 HR, 6 SB, 184 wRC+, 4.4 WAR
• CF Bobby Tolan (PIT) - .326/.381/.502, 313 AB, 9 HR, 34 SB, 152 wRC+, 4.6 WAR
• CF Fred Valentine (CHC) - .292/.386/.495, 277 AB, 12 HR, 2 SB, 146 wRC+, 3.7 WAR
• CF Jim Wynn (HOU)* - .282/.420/.477, 298 AB, 16 HR, 9 SB, 155 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
• RF Henry Aaron (ATL)* - .356/.415/.654, 309 AB, 23 HR, 1 SB, 199 wRC+, 4.9 WAR (Injured)
• RF Bobby Bonds (SF) - .289/.377/.537, 287 AB, 15 HR, 27 SB, 161 wRC+, 4.6 WAR

Al Kaline beats Killer Killebrew in the HR Derby and, despite being on the losing side with the AL winning 7-3, Steve Garvey is named MVP of the big game itself.

[luckymann]

A messy start to June sees the pop come out of our cork a bit as we struggle to get it right on a consistent basis and only a dogged 7-6 walkoff win in 10 gets us off a home sweep at the hands of the Dodgers.

Consistent niggles don’t help and then we lose Bob Bailey for a more substantial duration as a knee sprain sidelines him for six weeks. Flea has played strongly since his recall and will take over while he’s out but it isn’t ideal by any stretch.

As this is panning out, the Cubs go on a tear, winning 11 on the trot and closing in on our lead with gusto. Glass half-full says this will at least chase away any complacency among the group. If not, we’ll get what we deserve.

Nevertheless, when both Singer and Pizarro come off the IL, we play it safe and rehab both as the guys dig in and grind out some good wins despite playing well beneath our capabilities, particularly on offence.

The lads respond, and by the time we go to Chicago and take 3 of 4 from the Cubbies our lead is back out to 9. We have 57 wins at the midpoint of the season.

We lose Gene Alley for six weeks to a knee strain to really test our IF depth and put on ice any thoughts of rehabbing Bailey when he is activated.

The closing part of this stanza highlights all of our shortcomings in the most vivid terms as we lose a bunch of games just as the Cubs heat up again. While we enter August still some way clear, there’s no doubt that, rather than slamming the door shut we have unlocked it and left it a sliver ajar for our rivals.

What a white-knuckle ride!





While our batting metrics might pass the basic eyeball test, they don't show some of the negatives. We are still too slappy for my liking on occasion and continue to have protracted fallow periods where runs dry right up.




The BP is still giving away runs like candidate’s promises on the eve of a key primary. To be totally honest, I don’t see us winning squat with the relief corps we have at present. I go shopping but the stores are either closed or have pushed their prices up to unfeasibly high levels and we end up sitting pat. Guess we’re goin’ home with the girls we came with.






The A's and Astros look home. That AL East race is set to be worth the price of admission alone. Heat up the popcorn!


News, Leaders and Top 20s











Monthly Award Winners

June

American League

• Batter – Rico Petrocelli (Red Sox): 412 / 12 HR / 32 RBI
• Pitcher – Vida Blue (A’s): 5-0 / 2.70 / 44 K / 46.2 IP
• Rookie – Reggie Cleveland (Red Sox): 5-0 / 2.62 / 27 K / 48 IP

National League

• Batter – Tony Taylor (Astros): 407 / 5 HR / 17 RBI
• Pitcher – Fergie Jenkins (Cubs): 5-1 / 2.29 / 41 K / 51 IP
• Rookie – George Foster (Reds): 364 / 9 HR / 24 RBI

July

American League

• Batter – Harmon Killebrew (Yankees): 301 / 12 HR / 23 RBI
• Pitcher – Clay Kirby (Brewers): 4-1 / 1.32 / 44 K / 47.2 IP
• Rookie – Ken Singleton (Orioles): 391 / 4 HR / 27 RBI

National League

• Batter – Jim Wynn (Astros): 361 / 7 HR / 17 RBI
• Pitcher – Sandy Koufax (Dodgers): 5-1 / 2.16 / 62 K / 50 IP
• Rookie – Wayne Simpson (Braves): 3-1 / 3.45 / 35 K / 47 IP

Milestones and Observations of Note

• 2000 Hits: Curt Flood
• Vida Blue is some chance of taking the AL Pitching Triple Crown, as is Sandy K in the NL.
• Atlanta’s Luke Walker, who we very nearly acquired in the offseason, has his season cut short by a labrum tear.
• The Red Sox re-up with pitcher Gary Nolan for 4 years at a cost to them of a little shy of $1.2m and we make a few more integral extensions, with Davey Johnson retained with a 3+1/1200 deal and John Gelnar, Clay Carroll and Bob Miller also re-signed.
• Some trades of note from a very quiet Deadline:

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[luckymann]

Players with Win and Save and no Losses or Blown Saves

[luckymann]

Which active pitchers are leading the MLB in career innings pitched?

• Sandy Koufax, LAD, 3769.0
• Don Drysdale, LAD, 3719.1
• Jim Bunning, CWS, 3674.0
• Larry Jackson, MIN, 3200.2
• Jim O'Toole, PHI, 2962.0

All-time Leader: Walter Johnson, 7887

[luckymann]

Houston's Rico Carty puts together a 32-game hitting streak that is the 7th-longest of all time and just the 13th of 30 or more games. He is the first player to achieve this feat since Andy Pafko in '46.




Over the course of the streak, his AVG jumps from 363 to 380.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by Pelican

That Senators team had Ted Williams as manager. A couple of years ago, at a Negro Leagues event, I met Pedro Sierra, who played in the late stages of the Negor Leagues as a teenager, and was the batting practice pitcher for those Senators. We had a laugh about him pitching for two of the greatest hitters of all time, Williams and Oscar Charleston, his manager at the Indianapolis ABC’s. In my 1971 sim, the Senators/Rangers have activated Sierra for their bullpen. (I thought of telling him about this plan, but figured he would think I was crazy….)

Very cool.

[Makonnen]

Rico could rake.

I was surprised to learn that he and Kent Hrbek had the same number of IRL all star games. 1B has pretty much always been a deep position.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Makonnen

Rico could rake.

I was surprised to learn that he and Kent Hrbek had the same number of IRL all star games. 1B has pretty much always been a deep position.

He's not alone on the Astros team in this timeline. They are killing it this season.

[luckymann]

Henry Aaron is the newest member of the 500 HR Club and a clear threat to take the top spot over the next few seasons. The blast that did it gives him 40 for the season, equalling his career high with a handful of games to play.

He's an interesting one given his late-ish finish at age 42 IRL, which is usually about as old as the game likes to let them get in this timeline, so I don't see him getting as much benefit as Mantle et al from the relaxed settings. Still, with the Mick pretty much done at roughly 580, Henry should overhaul him and even found the 600 Club before he is done.