The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Another enthralling AAA season comes and goes, with the Tucson Toros always looking the team to beat and - despite our Lincoln lads pushing them all the way in the LCS - fulfilling that prophecy with the club's first title, sweeping Madisonville in the WS.

[luckymann]

Apart from a couple strong bursts in May and July, this has been more of a grinding season than one containing consistent good form. As I have said previously, this group just doesn’t have that winning swagger about it. And so it proves down the stretch as we regress to inconsistent and middling performances, with the bats in particular looking impotent far too often and the group as a whole lacking any real vim or vigour. In one especially fruitless period, we get just 26 hits over a 5-game stretch. It’s a real concern. Or is it? Maybe they are just playing doggo, working up to peaking just at the right time. If so, then well played lads because you’ve got me completely fooled.

Despite continuing right through to the end of the season, this perceived listlessness has no material effect other than on my psyche as we do it pretty easy and clinch in mid-September before finishing at 97-65 and 12 games clear. We are lucky to secure home-field advantage for the LCS as we lose our final three and only a better H2H record against the Jints earns us this key advantage.





We've regressed this year with our conversion and efficiency, as evidenced by the low run total compared with the other hitting metrics.




Another stellar Stargell season, with Sangy and Bobs T (who also swipes a career-high 61 bases) and B offering good support.

Sadly, in the shadows of the post we lose Davey Johnson for a fortnight to a foot contusion. That means he’ll definitely miss the LCS. From there, it’s wait and see but we aren’t counting on having him back again this year.




Poor run support and a couple BP meltdowns cost Joe Coleman a much-deserved 20-win season. All the same, his is one of the best pitching performances in franchise history, recording new club bests in ERA, Win% and OAV, second of all-time in WHIP and the 9th-best rWAR.


The Giants make heavy weather of the AL West, only clinching on the next-to-last day. The others are each fairly decisive.



Batting titles to Tony Oliva and Ted Simmons, with Stretch McCovey recording the league's best HR (38) and RBI (118) totals. No AL player drives in 100.

Only Nolan Ryan's strong arm keeps Vida Blue from the AL pitching Triple Crown. The Express's 311 K are a clear league leader, with Vida and Hoot Gibson's 22 Wins the high mark this year. Vida just pips Joe Coleman for the low ERA, while Tom Hall's 40 Saves are the most of any pitcher.


Final Top 20s and Leaders








Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

• Batter – Rick Reichardt (Tigers): 396 / 8 HR / 17 RBI
• Pitcher – Vida Blue (A’s): 3-1 / 1.89 / 44 K / 52.1 IP
• Rookie – Paul Pelz (Tigers): 3-1 / 2.43 / 25 K / 15 IP (Never made it to the bigs IRL)

National League

• Batter – Willie Montanez (Astros): 408 / 7 HR / 21 RBI
• Pitcher – Joe Coleman (Pirates): 5-0 / 1.32 / 35 K / 47.2 IP
• Rookie – Willie Montanez

September

American League

• Batter – Nate Colbert (Senators): 402 / 8 HR / 21 RBI
• Pitcher – Vida Blue (A’s): 5-0 / 0.85 / 40 K / 42.1 IP
• Rookie – Ross Grimsley (Red Sox): 4-0 / 1.25 / 15 K / 36 IP

National League

• Batter – Bobby Bonds (Giants): 309 / 8 HR / 22 RBI
• Pitcher – Ray Sadecki (Cardinals): 4-1 / 1.29 / 31 K / 42 IP
• Rookie – Monty Montgomery (Astros): 4-0 / 1.64 / 3 K / 11 IP

Milestones and Observations of Note

• 2500 Hits: Eddie Mathews
• 400 HR: Al Kaline
• Mickey Mantle had been having a great season before that trade from Montreal - where he was getting plenty of ABs - to Houston, where he only gets 32. This leaves him stranded on 598 career HR. Will he come back next year to try get those final two for 600?
• Royals OF Bernie Carbo misses 6 weeks with a torn quad and Twins youngster Bert Blyleven’s season finishes early thanks to a UCL tear.
• The Giants lose key 2B Dick Green for the year to a broken kneecap, as do the Braves Pitcher Dick Selma to a labrum tear.

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[luckymann]

American League
Oakland A’s (100-62) v Boston Red Sox (99-63)

The A’s barely raise a sweat in booking their WS spot to defend their title, keeping the Sox to just 5 runs in the three games, with Rollie Fingers named series MVP.




National League
Pittsburgh Pirates (97-65) v San Francisco Giants (97-65)

SOP for our lads as they look decidedly flat all the way through but win it in 4 with Bob Bailey taking out the MVP Award for the second year running. Pops gets us off the hook in Game 4, allowing us to avoid a decider with a 9th-inning solo shot to tie it and we go on to win it in 12.

[luckymann]

Oakland A’s v Pittsburgh Pirates
Best-of-seven, A's with the home-field advantage.


OAKLAND A’S S+ PAGE

PITTSBURGH PIRATES S+ PAGE

Look to be quite honest, I have little to say here. The lads are doing what needs to be done and while I might think they'll need to be greatly improved to beat this fantastic A's squad, I could just as easily be as wrong as I have been to this point.

We shall see. As anticipated, Johnson is unable to make it back for this series and we'll have to do it without him. They have the home advantage this year, so we'll need to get at them from the off to shift the pressure their way.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Oakland

Vida Blue (22-5, 1.79) v Dock Ellis (12-11, 3.77)

A tentative start to this series sees us grab the early advantage in a low-scoring affair. Ellis is fantastic, allowing just a run on three over 6+ to win a tight points decision over Blue. Gibbon wobbles a bit but we scrape home by a run in the end.

Game 2 in Oakland

Catfish Hunter (14-12, 3.73) v Joe Coleman (17-3, 1.83)

Pirates lead series 1-0

Just goes to show how much different these post-season games can be to those in the regular season, as Joe Coleman struggles again and they beat us fairly handily. We score late to make the 6-3 final look closer than it ever is in reality, with Bert Campaneris leading their offence with a jack and 4 RBI.

Game 3 in Pittsburgh

Woodie Fryman (13-6, 2.24) v Rick Wise (14-7, 2.92)

Series tied 1-1

We look cooked for 25 outs in this one, but thankfully they never get the 26th as a 3-run walkoff double by Manny Sanguillen saves our bacon. Woodie Fryman has some radar calibration issues, walking 5 over his 6, but showing true grit to keep them to just the pair of runs. These guys are looking to send me to an early grave with all this, but if they can pull the magic trick just twice more then I doubt I’ll have too much of a problem with it.

Game 4 in Pittsburgh

Bill Singer (11-12, 4.03) v Ernie McAnally (10-5, 4.14)

Pirates lead series 2-1

A dominant and controlled performance with both bat and ball earns us a 7-1 victory in this one and leaves us needing just one more win to take the prize. Bill Singer has been better of late and is fantastic here over 7, while Rose has 4 hits and Pops pops out a 3-run special to keep the scorers busy.

Game 5 in Pittsburgh

Dock Ellis (2-0, 1.46) v Vida Blue (1-1, 3.31)

Pirates lead series 3-1

A huge ask up against one of the game’s best right now, but to get it done here in Pittsburgh tonight is so much preferable to the alternative. Sadly, it’s not to be as Blue is simply magnificent in a shutout performance that takes us back to Oakland for the final game or games of the season.

Game 6 in Oakland

Woodie Fryman (1-0, 0.90) v Rick Wise (0-1, 6.30)

A's lead series 3-2

He neither pitches all that well nor gets the win, but it is most appropriate that Joe Coleman is our starter tonight as we grind out a dogged 5-4 win and lock down our club’s 25th Championship. The game ebbs and flows and the lead changes hands a number of times before a run-scoring triple by Roberto Clemente in the 9th – his 4th hit of the game to complete the cycle – gives us a 5-4 lead and Joe Gibbon closes it out without incident. Pete Rose is named MVP.

For all the kiddies out there, the lesson is this: never doubt your guys—there’s a reason they are called players. A superb effort from the group.

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[luckymann]

OUTS & OUTS

Ownership of the Atlanta Braves franchise changes hands, while the Senators - as of this moment, of course, the Texas Rangers - cut ties with Manager Harley Boss on the way out.


ROSTER MOVES

I won't lie to you, I wanted that title bad. When I started this save I wanted to at least win those years the club won it all IRL. We missed 1909 but followed suit in 1925, 1960 and now 1971. The next and final opportunity to do so is 1979. We'll obviously be trying to win a couple between now and then but that '79 title remains my number one longer-term priority. Some of my moves this offseason should make this abundantly clear.

Just Freddie Patek off to arb, as we non-tender John Gelnar and let Joe Gibbon and Bill Short walk.


SIM ACCURACY





HANGIN' THEM UP

Eddie Mathews should get some ballot love in five years' time, though even with the 544 career HR I don't see him as a lock to get in first go. He definitely deserves a plaque eventually, however. He's the only one of these with any chance at all.

[luckymann]

AL 1971 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1971 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Vida Blue doesn't just repeat his Johnson-Waddell of last year but in fact goes one better by winning the Wagner-Lajoie as well. Our boys take the two big awards in the NL, with first-time wins to Pops Stargell and Joe Coleman. RoYs to Carlton Fisk and Willie Montanez, Paige Plates to maiden winners Dave LaRoche and Ken Sanders.


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[Brad K]

Nice to win in 71.

Regarding a win again in 79 remember the Bucs won the East several times in the 70s and probably the uncertainty of victory in a short series more than anything else kept them out of the World Series.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Nice to win in 71.

Regarding a win again in 79 remember the Bucs won the East several times in the 70s and probably the uncertainty of victory in a short series more than anything else kept them out of the World Series.

Not to mention the Big Red Machine...

[Brad K]

Its interesting how small market teams were the elite of both NL divisions in the 70s.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Its interesting how small market teams were the elite of both NL divisions in the 70s.

Interesting, yes. Surprising? Not so much. Remember FA hadn't fully kicked in yet. But more than that, in baseball it is virtually impossible to buy a title. Look at these morons this year with the Padres and Mets. Take a closer look even at the Yankees. If not for that great Jeter and the Fab 5 run - which was created while George was suspended - their success rate since Mantle retired is dreadful given how much money they've spent. The Braves are the best-run franchise ever in my books, all that sustained success these past three decades, and yet have what - two titles to show for it. The Astros had to tank for years on end then cheat just to win a couple. The Dodgers have just one in this century. The A's and Rays - for all their Moneyball magic - have zero between them.

You need to be incredibly smart about how you build and run your franchise. Then you need a whole truckload full of luck and things going your way. It really is one of the most amazing achievements in sport, winning an MLB title. As you see every year around the league, it is much easier to suck than succeed.

[Brad K]

I lived in Indianapolis at the time and could listen to the Reds games on WLW. KDKA from Pittsburgh came in decently an hour after sunset.

Talk about luck, Joe Morgan didn't look like a future HOFer when the Reds traded for him.

[luckymann]

Quality trumps quantity for this year’s newcomers, with the five incoming Legacies each of high quality, with two being Marquees.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1972 Season:

Baltimore Orioles: Al Bumbry (24.5 CONCEDED; 1428)
Boston Red Sox: Dwight Evans MARQUEE CONCEDED (67.2; 2505 (96%))
Chicago Cubs: Rick Reuschel (69.5; 343 GS)
Los Angeles Dodgers: Davey Lopes (42.3; 1207)
Philadelphia Phillies: Mike Schmidt ONE-CLUB MARQUEE (106.8; 2404)

Garry Maddox (36.8; 1328) was also eligible for the Phillies, but Schmidt’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Bob Boone (27.4; 1125) was also eligible for the Phillies, but Schmidt’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


There are 140 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1971 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):


Round 1

1. Philadelphia Phillies (414)
2. Boston Red Sox (525)
3. Chicago Cubs (512; dice roll)
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (549)
5. Baltimore Orioles (639)
6. Cleveland Indians (370)
7. San Diego Padres (379)
8. Texas Rangers (396)
9. Milwaukee Brewers (429)
10. Montreal Expos (441)
11. Minnesota Twins (463)
12. California Angels (469)
13. Houston Astros (488; dice roll)
14. Cincinnati Reds (488; dice roll)
15. Chicago White Sox (488; dice roll)
16. New York Yankees (506; dice roll)
17. Atlanta Braves (506; dice roll)
18. New York Mets (512; dice roll)
19. Kansas City Royals (528)
20. San Francisco Giants (556; dice roll)
21. St. Louis Cardinals (556; dice roll)
22. Detroit Tigers (562)
23. Pittsburgh Pirates (599)
24. Oakland Athletics (627)


Rounds 2 thru 12

1. Chicago White Sox (346)
2. San Diego Padres (389)
3. Milwaukee Brewers (401; dice roll)
4. Kansas City Royals (401; dice roll)
5. Washington Senators (432)
6. Montreal Expos (451)
7. Philadelphia Phillies (453)
8. Atlanta Braves (469; dice roll)
9. Cleveland Indians (469; dice roll)
10. St. Louis Cardinals (469; dice roll)
11. Detroit Tigers (488; dice roll)
12. Houston Astros (488; dice roll)
13. New York Mets (512)
14. Chicago Cubs (519)
15. California Angels (531; dice roll)
16. San Francisco Giants (531; dice roll)
17. Boston Red Sox (537)
18. Los Angeles Dodgers (540)
19. Pittsburgh Pirates (549; dice roll)
20. Oakland Athletics (549; dice roll)
21. New York Yankees (574)
22. Minnesota Twins (605)
23. Cincinnati Reds (630)
24. Baltimore Orioles (667)


Eligible PIT players: 7 position players + 4 pitchers = 11.


Given our first pick isn’t until 23rd overall and the small subset of eligible players available to us, we go into this Draft with very limited expectations of a meaningful return. That said, we know what we need and will apply the plan we have as much as we are able to.
These are the guys we end up taking:
1. P Rich Gossage, 20

• For the second straight year we are left with little choice but to take an RP because of his eligible status and the fact that there simply isn’t a good enough trade bait options left in the pool for any other decision to be made. In this case, there’s plenty of cachet attached to the guy we do select, with Rich obviously an IRL HoFer.

2. P Dick Tidrow, 22 (ineligible)

• We do find a guy we think we’ll be able to flip and take him thinking our other option will likely last until our next pick. (He goes four picks later…)

3. IF Chuck Goggin, 26
4. OF Craig Settles, 19 (ineligible)
5. P Richard Burgoon, 20 (ineligible)

• AAA fodder. The Scouts must have misheard me when I told them to keep an eye out for a future Graig Nettles…

Barely worth the bus fare.


FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

A couple guys - most notably Snider and Berra - make moves in the right direction but ultimately come up short and there'll be no work for the Cooperstown sculptors this year.

[luckymann]

A delayed start due to a labour strike and the subsequent decision not to make up the lost games means some weird looking records are sent to posterity. When play does finally get underway, we see the further development of this era's great rivalry as the A's win it all by beating the Reds in an epic seven-game WS. In fact, all three post-season series go the distance. Not long after, the league takes two massive body blows when Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente die in quick succession. On a happier note, Philly’s Lefty Carlton wins the NL Pitching Triple Crown.


AL EAST / WEST CHAMPIONS: Detroit Tigers (86-70) / Oakland A’s (93-62)
NL EAST / WEST CHAMPIONS: Pittsburgh Pirates (96-59) / Cincinnati Reds (95-59)
ALCS: A’s 3, Tigers 2
NLCS: Reds 3, Pirates 2
WORLD SERIES: A’s 4, Reds 3

Pittsburgh Pirates: 96-59, 1st in NL East

AL MVP: Dick Allen (White Sox)
NL MVP: Johnny Bench (Reds)

AL CYA: Gaylord Perry (Indians)
NL CYA: Steve Carlton (Phillies)

AL RoY: Carlton Fisk (Red Sox)
NL RoY: John Matlack (Mets)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. BILLY WILLIAMS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .333 average, 95 runs, 191 hits, 34 doubles, 6 triples, 37 home runs, 122 RBIs, 20 intentional walks, .606 slugging percentage.
• Williams nabbed his only batting crown thanks in part to Wrigley Field, where he hit .371; he came tantalizingly close to a triple crown, but finished a close second to Johnny Bench in RBIs, and a close third to Bench and Nate Colbert in home runs. (Most puzzlingly, he finished second to Bench in the MVP vote.)

2. CESAR CEDENO, HOUSTON

• Key Numbers: 139 games, .320 average, 103 runs, 179 hits, 39 doubles, 8 triples, 22 home runs, 81 RBIs, 55 stolen bases, 21 caught stealing.
• It wasn’t all a loss for the Astros, who gave away Joe Morgan and John Mayberry during the offseason; they greatly profited from the smash upgrade provided by Cedeno, who put up Morgan-like numbers.

3. JOE MORGAN, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .292 average, 122 runs, 161 hits, 16 home runs, 73 RBIs, 115 walks, 58 stolen bases, .417 on-base percentage.
• In dealing away Morgan (and Mayberry), the Astros continued to not realize what kind of talent they had until it was gone.

4. JOHNNY BENCH, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .270 average, 87 runs, 40 home runs, 125 RBIs, 100 walks, 23 intentional walks, 12 sacrifice flies.
• The young Reds catcher won his second MVP in three years, sandwiching the honors around a ‘Bad Bench’ 1971 campaign that evoked memories of Roy Campanella’s yo-yo performances of the 1950s.

5. JIM WYNN, HOUSTON

• Key Numbers: .273 average, 117 runs, 29 doubles, 24 home runs, 90 RBIs, 103 walks, 17 stolen bases.
• It wouldn’t be long before Wynn would join the exodus of star Houston players from the Astrodome, but for now he remained a vital part of the Astros’ offense.

6. WILLIE STARGELL, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 138 games, .293 average, 28 doubles, 33 home runs, 112 RBIs.
• Stargell cleaned up on the two recent expansion franchises, hitting 14 home runs in 26 combined games against Montreal and San Diego.

7. BOBBY BONDS, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .259 average, 118 runs, 29 doubles, 5 triples, 26 home runs, 80 RBIs, 44 stolen bases, 6 caught stealing.
• Bonds was hitting a gaudy .304 on May 9—the day the Giants traded his mentor and teammate Willie Mays to the Mets. He hit only .251 for the rest of the year.

8. NATE COLBERT, SAN DIEGO

• Key Numbers: .250 average, 87 runs, 27 doubles, 38 home runs, 111 RBIs, 15 stolen bases.
• Colbert’s 111 RBIs made up one-quarter of San Diego’s team total; a quarter of those seemed to come on one day, an August 1 doubleheader at Atlanta (he actually had 13). Colbert’s 38 homers matched his 1970 total and remained the Padres’ high point until 1996.

9. PETE ROSE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 154 games, .307 average, 645 at-bats, 107 runs, 198 hits, 31 doubles, 11 triples, 6 home runs, 57 RBIs, 73 walks, 10 stolen bases.
• Rose is currently tied with Ichiro Suzuki with 10 career 200-hit seasons; he likely would have had an 11th had eight games not been lost to the April work stoppage.

10. HANK AARON, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: 129 games, .265 average, 34 home runs, 77 RBIs, 92 walks.
• The sun was nearing the horizon on Aaron’s career as the 38-year old posted his worst batting average yet, but he still wielded enough pop to remain a big-time threat to Babe Ruth’s career home run record.

AL Hitters

1. DICK ALLEN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .308 average, 90 runs, 28 doubles, 5 triples, 37 home runs, 113 RBIs, 99 walks, 19 stolen bases, .420 on-base percentage, .603 slugging percentage.
• Allen got pretty much everything he wanted from the White Sox: A league-high $250k salary, a yes-man in manager Chuck Tanner, and the only MVP of his career.

2. BOBBY MURCER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .292 average, 102 runs, 171 hits, 30 doubles, 7 triples, 33 home runs, 96 RBIs, 11 stolen bases.
• Another superb effort for the underrated Yankees star, setting a personal best in home runs, RBIs and runs scored.

3. JOHN MAYBERRY, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: .298 average, 25 home runs, 100 RBIs, 78 walks.
• The first-year Royal arrived a little late to the party but ending up becoming the life of it—hitting .328 with 22 home runs after June 1.

4. CARLOS MAY, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .308 average, 83 runs, 26 doubles, 12 home runs, 68 RBIs, 79 walks, 23 stolen bases.
• Whether by intention or not, May wore his birthday (May 17) on the back of his uniform. Take away May and Dick Allen—both of whom hit .308 for Chicago—and the White Sox’ team batting average is .220.

5. CARLTON FISK, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 131 games, .293 average, 28 doubles, 9 triples, 22 home runs, 61 RBIs.
• After 70 years, the Red Sox finally had an All-Star-caliber catcher in Fisk, the unanimous choice for AL Rookie of the Year.

6. JOE RUDI, OAKLAND

• Key Numbers: .305 average, 94 runs, 181 hits, 32 doubles, 9 triples, 19 home runs, 75 RBIs.
• Quiet and business-like in a working-class manner, Rudi was the anti-Athletic in a clubhouse full of brash egos. “He doesn’t belong on this team; he gets along with everybody,” said Reggie Jackson. One MVP voter liked him enough to give him a first-place nod on the ballot.

7. REGGIE SMITH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 131 games, .270 average, 25 doubles, 21 home runs, 74 RBIs, 15 stolen bases.
• Smith absorbed through a more muted (yet still fairly potent) year statistically; rumor had it that he was not getting along with rookie Carlton Fisk.

8. MIKE EPSTEIN, OAKLAND

• Key Numbers: .270 average, 26 home runs, 70 RBIs, 11 hit-by-pitches.
• An early, almost forgotten component of the A’s championship run, Epstein surely made for more lasting memories upon teammates who remembered his superior clutch hitting in 1972.

9. LOU PINIELLA, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: .312 average, 179 hits, 33 doubles, 11 home runs, 72 RBIs, 25 grounded into double plays.
• Now in his fourth full year with the Royals, Piniella showed off the huff-and-puff that would define his future managerial years by leading the majors in ejections (with three).

10. ROY WHITE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .270 average, 76 runs, 29 doubles, 10 home runs, 54 RBIs, 99 walks, 23 stolen bases.
• The veteran outfielder’s power numbers, which were never very impressive to begin with, became even more boxed in—but he made it up by leading the AL in walks.

NL Pitchers

1. STEVE CARLTON, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 1.97 ERA, 27 wins, 10 losses, .730 win percentage, 41 starts, 30 complete games, 8 shutouts, 346.1 innings, 310 strikeouts, 22 stolen bases allowed, 23 grounded into double plays.
• The Cardinals turned down Carlton’s request for a $10,000 pay raise and traded him to the Phillies, who with the southpaw in 1972 became the tale of two teams; they were 27-10 with him, 32-87 without.

2. DON SUTTON, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.08 ERA, 19 wins, 9 losses, .679 win percentage, 33 starts, 9 shutouts, 272.2 innings, 63 walks.
• Sutton produced the two longest strings of consecutive scoreless innings (36 and 30.2) of his Hall-of-Fame career, resulting in a personal-best ERA.

3. BOB GIBSON, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.46 ERA, 19 wins, 11 losses, 34 starts, 23 complete games, 278 innings, 10 wild pitches.
• In his last dominant year at age 36, Gibson failed to win any of his first eight starts, with a 4.45 ERA—then won each of his next 11, with a 1.39 figure.

4. STEVE BLASS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.49 ERA, 19 wins, 8 losses, .704 win percentage, 32 starts, 249.2 innings, 84 walks, 32 grounded into double plays.
• Blass won a career-best 19 games one year before becoming inflicted with “Blass Disease”—a complete inability to find the strike zone.

5. CLAUDE OSTEEN, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.64 ERA, 20 wins, 11 losses, 33 starts, 252 innings, 22 grounded into double plays.
• Arguably the veteran southpaw’s best effort yet, winning 20 games for the second time while posting a career-low ERA; oddly, 14 of his 20 wins came away from pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium.

6. GARY NOLAN, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 1.99 ERA, 15 wins, 5 losses, .750 win percentage, 25 starts, 176 innings, 30 walks.
• Superb effort for the young (24) right-hander before succumbing to shoulder issues late in the year that would ultimately lead to surgery and a virtual absence from 1973-74 to recover.

7. DOCK ELLIS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.70 ERA, 15 wins, 7 losses, .682 win percentage, 25 starts, 163.1 innings, 33 walks.
• Two years to the day that Ellis famously achieved his LSD-influenced no-hitter at San Diego, Ellis returned to face the Padres and threw the second-best gem of his career—allowing two hits through nine shutout innings before exiting a 0-0 game won in 18 by the Pirates.

8. TOM SEAVER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.92 ERA, 21 wins, 12 losses, 35 starts, 262 innings, 15 caught stealing/picked off.
• Seaver never threw a no-hitter wearing the uniform of the Mets, but he came closest on the Fourth of July when, with one out in the ninth, the Padres’ Leron Lee spoiled it with a single.

9. JON MATLACK, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.32 ERA, 15 wins, 10 losses, 32 starts, 244 innings.
• After pitching eight no-hitters in high school, Matlack emerged to ease the Mets’ pain of losing Nolan Ryan by turning in a Rookie of the Year performance.

10. FERGUSON JENKINS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.20 ERA, 20 wins, 12 losses, 36 starts, 23 complete games, 289.1 innings, 62 walks.
• Jenkins won at least 20 for the Cubs for the sixth straight year, tying Three Finger Brown’s franchise record.

AL Pitchers

1. GAYLORD PERRY, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 1.92 ERA, 24 wins, 16 losses, 1 save, 41 appearances, 40 starts, 29 complete games, 342.2 innings, 16 intentional walks, 11 wild pitches, 12 hit-by-pitches, 27 grounded into double plays.
• The Astros (Joe Morgan, John Mayberry) and Mets (Nolan Ryan) weren’t the only teams mastering the brainless trade; the Giants would be kicking themselves for years after dealing Perry to the Indians for a washed-up (and, alas, liquored-up) Sam McDowell. Perry edged out Wilbur Wood for the Cy Young Award, two years after his brother Jim won the honor for the Twins.

2. CATFISH HUNTER, OAKLAND

• Key Numbers: 2.04 ERA, 21 wins, 7 losses, .750 win percentage, 37 starts, 295.1 innings.
• After losing a toe in a childhood hunting accident, Hunter got a foothold on the peak of his career following six years of evolution—winning at least 20 games for the first of five straight seasons.

3. WILBUR WOOD, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.51 ERA, 24 wins, 17 losses, 49 starts, 20 complete games, 8 shutouts, 376.2 innings, 74 walks, 20 stolen bases, 18 caught stealing/picked off, 33 grounded into double plays.
• Pitching often on three days’ rest and sometimes just two, Wood became Ed Walsh reincarnate. His 49 starts and 376.2 innings were the most since the White Sox ironman in, respectively, 1908 and 1912.

4. STEVE KLINE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.40 ERA, 16 wins, 9 losses, 32 starts, 236.1 innings, 44 walks, 26 grounded into double plays.
• A flash in the Yankee pan, Kline was in strong shape to win the AL ERA crown with a 1.71 figure in early September before a string of bad starts doomed his chances. Arm problems would ensue, and he’d never throw over 100 innings in a single season again.

5. JIM PALMER, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 2.07 ERA, 21 wins, 10 losses, 36 starts, 274.1 innings.
• The only one of Baltimore’s four 20-game winners from the year before who repeated the feat, Palmer began to show who the real Orioles ace was.

6. LUIS TIANT, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 1.91 ERA, 15 wins, 6 losses, .714 win percentage, 3 saves, 43 appearances, 19 starts, 179 innings.
• The re-awakening of El Tiante; the former 20-game winner, whose career plunged into disarray and minor league stints in 1971, game roaring back with a late-season charge in the rotation that barely netted him his second ERA crown. His streak of 40.1 consecutive scoreless innings is the third longest in Red Sox history, and along with a 42-inning run in 1968 made him only one of two pitchers (Walter Johnson being the other) with multiple streaks of 40 or more innings.

7. PAT DOBSON, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 2.65 ERA, 16 wins, 18 losses, 36 starts, 268.1 innings, 30 grounded into double plays.
• Despite throwing better than during his 20-9 ledger of the year before, Dobson was robbed of another 20-win effort—and came perilously close to 20 losses—thanks to a suddenly DOA Orioles offense.

8. ROGER NELSON, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: 2.08 ERA, 11 wins, 6 losses, 2 saves, 34 appearances, 19 losses, 173.1 innings, 31 walks.
• The fleeting hybrid starter/reliever recorded a 0.871 WHIP (walks/hits allowed per inning)—the lowest ever recorded by a Royals pitcher.

9. MICKEY LOLICH, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.50 ERA, 22 wins, 14 losses, 41 starts, 23 complete games, 327.1 innings.
• Lolich had 18 wins at the end of July and there were whispers that maybe, just maybe, he could get to 30—but he only won four of his remaining 15 starts.

10. NOLAN RYAN, CALIFORNIA

• Key Numbers: 2.28 ERA, 19 wins, 16 losses, 39 starts, 20 complete games, 9 shutouts, 284 innings, 157 walks, 329 strikeouts, 18 wild pitches, 10 hit-by-pitches, 40 stolen bases allowed.
• After five somewhat frustrating years with the Mets, the Ryan Express found high-gear bliss in Anaheim as the Angels unleashed him upon a higher strike zone than he experienced in the NL. Ryan particularly loved Anaheim Stadium, where he authored a 1.07 ERA with 220 of his strikeouts.

[luckymann]

The newbies from the Lone Star State make what is from memory a record splash in an otherwise relatively quiet FA market (although the Davis deal has an even higher AAV) , with the Yanks, Red Sox and Cards also throwing around plenty of dollars. Rusty Staub is headed to the Mets, while Mickey Mantle is indeed back for a tilt at 600 career HR.

• OF Bobby Murcer: Rangers, 8 years / $5134000
• OF Willie Davis: Red Sox, 6 years / $4080000
• OF Ken Berry: Cardinals, 6 years / $3652000
• OF Rusty Staub: Mets, 4 years / $2224000
• P Jerry Koosman: Yankees, 6 years / $2100000
• OF Rico Carty: Cubs, 5 years / $1910000
• P Roger Nelson: Yankees, 5 years / $1810000
• OF Jim Hickman: White Sox, 4 years / $1208000
• 1B Mickey Mantle: Cardinals, 3 years / $1116000
• 2B Ted Sizemore: Red Sox, 4 years / $841000 (extension)
• 1B George Scott: Twins, 3 years / $730000

• OF Don Buford and OF Mike Jorgensen from Twins to Cardinals for P Ray Sadecki and P Dick Baney
• OF Ron Woods from Giants to Royals for P Paul Edmonson, SS Marty Perez and OF Leron Lee
• 1B Frank Howard (retaining 75%) from Dodgers to Indians for OF Carl Taylor
• P Wilbur Wood from White Sox to A’s for SS Gil Garrido and OF Oscar Gamble
• OF William Butts and P Rich Hand from Yankees to Expos for OF Vada Pinson
• OF Angel Mangual and OF Elliott Maddox from A’s to Orioles for P Jim Kaat
• OF Joe Lahoud, P Milt Wilcox and cash from White Sox to Indians for P Sam McDowell
• 3B Don Money, P Ken Reynolds and P Bob Reynolds from Cardinals to A’s for P Rick Wise (retaining 10%)
• P Dick Rustek and P Charlie Hough from Rangers to Red Sox for 1B Earl Williams and P John Gaylord
• P Miguel Fuentes and 1B Chris Chambliss from Orioles to Padres for P Bill Parsons
• 3B Curt Blefary and P Jim Slaton from Reds to Padres for P Ken Forsch and 3B Steve Braun

We go 10-8 in ST with only a couple minor niggles to come from it.

ALL TRANSACTIONS


As was the case last year, the BNN crew is seeing repeats in all but the NL West, where they fancy the Reds. I’m shocked that they think we’ll win the NL East by 15 games. I guess we’ll know soon enough if they are on the money.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

One can, as always, deep dive at one’s leisure HERE.


Well we certainly didn't plan for it to be as uneventful an offseason as it has turned out to be. In fact we quite aggressively looked to move a couple of high-profile guys but the returns being offered were such that they convinced us to commit to the status quo and have a serious go at repeating.

And so, the only addition to the squad other than the Draftees is a very small FA acquisition, signing Ron Brand on a 2+1/165 deal. He'll be Sangy's main backup at C and Spanky Kirkpatrick will now see more OF action than behind the dish, although he will still catch some innings. Ron also plays 3B and SS which really helps us with our shape. That means Paul Popovich will start the year at AAA. The only other changes of note from '71 are the promotion of Scoop Oliver into the everyday CF position at the expense of Bobby Tolan, who'll now be the 4th OF, and the flipping of the SS platoon to make Flea Patek the strong side and Gene Alley the weak. Gene's a Legacy and therefore can't be traded but is also cheap over the final three years of his contract and so we'll keep him either at the big club or AAA over that time.

Still a bit of tinkering to do with the BP with Terry Forster to come up at some point and we'll keep Gene Garber at Pittsburgh even though he's still raw just so as not to waste OYs unnecessarily. Dave Giusti (gulp...) gets the Stopper role back but eventually it is Gossage's for the taking as it morphs into a Closer role.

We are thin in several areas and my trade tickets are ready to be deployed as needed should injuries hit, form desert, or both. I love the season after you win it all. The pressure is off and you can just be fearless, go with the flow and strip it all back to the bare essentials. Good for the soul, good for the franchise. A win-win!

[luckymann]

A few decisions to make over the next year or two. For now, little of note.

[luckymann]

An early rush of major milestones to report as the Mick finally puts a 6 in front of it and Messrs Mays and Kaline enter the ever-growing but still exclusive 3000 Hit Club.

[luckymann]

Look, I ain't gonna complain about us being 31-18 entering June, but there's no doubt a bit of a title hangover abides at the club.




The guys showed last year that this is just kind of how they do things and, as I said, they are getting the wins so all power to them.




An observation, not a criticism: it takes both Rose and Clemente 40 games to hit their first dinger; Johnson needs 46. None have since added to that total.




What a turnaround by The Singer Throwing Machine. Pitching has held it together for us, no doubt. Dave Giusti wins the April award. I'm not far off switching out Marone for young Terry Forster to see what he's got. We'll hold Gossage back a year if possible.


Freddie Patek wants in the vicinity of $300k per and we just don't see him as being worth anything near that. So we'll arb him and look to offload him at some point. We're constantly looking for the right deal but simply haven't been able to swing one yet. We have a long-term offer (5+1/755) out to Bill Robinson and a 1/105 offer out to Jerry Reuss. We'll re-up with Grant Jackson and Ramon Hernandez at some point, while Marone can have one more year via arb and then we'll look to shift him. That's it for roster management other than the purported trade, should it ever materialise.




Ooooooweeee - even though it's only early, it looks a really tight comp this year. Look at those AL races!


Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

• Batter – Roy White (Yankees): 365 / 2 HR / 7 RBI
• Pitcher – Catfish Hunter (A’s): 4-1 / 1.80 / 19 K / 40 IP
• Rookie – Ed Goodson (Orioles): 347 / 4 HR / 17 RBI

National League

• Batter – Rusty Staub (Mets): 386 / 4 HR / 13 RBI
• Pitcher – Dave Giusti (Pirates): 4-0 / 3.00 / 5 SV / 10 K / 18 IP
• Rookie – Dave Goltz (Reds): 4-1 / 3.10 / 25 K / 40.2 IP

May

American League

• Batter – Rick Monday (White Sox): 337 / 5 HR / 14 RBI
• Pitcher – Ray Sadecki (Twins): 5-0 / 0.21 / 34 K / 42.1 IP
• Rookie – Doc Medich (Rangers): 3-3 / 3.59 / 19 K / 42.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Willie McCovey (Giants): 302 / 11 HR / 25 RBI
• Pitcher – Sandy Koufax (Dodgers): 5-1 / 0.69 / 54 K / 52 IP
• Rookie – Rick Reuschel (Cubs): 2-1 / 1.93 / 29 K / 42 IP

News and Leaders






Milestones and Observations of Note

• 2500 Hits: Frank Robinson
• 250 Wins: Don Drysdale
• 200 Wins: Jim O’Toole (98-84 IRL)
• Fate continues her mistreatment of poor old Steve Renko, who is knocked out for most of what’s left of the season with a torn back muscle.
• I forgot to mention that Camilo Pascual suffered another serious injury in ST and has taken his leave of the game permanently, while young OFs Elliott Maddox and Bernie Carbo will both also miss time after being hurt early in the season.
• Another young gun goes down, this time Dodger Ron Cey, who is done for the season after an Achilles tear. In this case, the Legacy maximum of 90 days does not apply because he only played sparingly in ’72 IRL.
• The seasons of Phillies Catcher Johnny Edwards and Cubs pitcher Bob Moose end early—Edwards thanks to a PCL tear, Moose due to a labrum tear.
• The Koufax Karnival rolls on - not only does he earn his 250th career victory but is smoking hot again - can he possibly make it Triple Crown number three?

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