The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Most Wins over a 3 year span

[luckymann]

So, who is the leader in the MLB in career caught stealing?

• Eddie Collins, -, 541
• Wild Bill Wright, -, 529
• Ty Cobb, -, 515
• Willard Brown, -, 434
• Tris Speaker, -, 414

[luckymann]

3000 career Hits for the Hammer, and the question now is, Can he catch the Mick?




He's roughly 60 HR behind him at the moment, with Mick still likely around for two more years after this. That probably makes the final target 630-650, or 100 from where Aaron is now.

The thing against Henry in this is that the game doesn't treat early-to-mid-40s position players kindly as a rule. So I don't see Henry getting many extra seasons over his IRL, if in fact any at all.

Which means he has five seasons, tops, to overhaul the Comet. That means an average of 20 per season. From here thru end '76 IRL, Henry hit a few more than that. So the race in '75 and '76 could well prove just as nerve-racking (although thankfully without the racist overtones, hate mail and death threats) as IRL.

Keep you posted.

[luckymann]

A nice day down at AAA for career MiLBer David Breshears.

[luckymann]

It comes just under a year before the first of his seven (!) IRL, which occurred on 05/15/73.

[luckymann]

Who holds the single season record in the MLB for stolen bases?

• Maury Wills, LAD, 99, 1965
• Tommy Harper, SF, 97, 1969
• Bert Campaneris, OAK, 96, 1969
• Lou Brock, STL, 96, 1967
• Bert Campaneris, OAK, 94, 1967

[luckymann]

Four from our club get the nod, with first appearances for Dave Giusti and Manny Sanguillen.

American League

• SP Bert Blyleven (MIN) - 12-6, 2.25 ERA, 163.2 IP, 0.95 WHIP, 6.8 K/9, 3.7 WAR
• SP Reggie Cleveland (BOS)* - 8-5, 2.63 ERA, 161.0 IP, 1.13 WHIP, 4.9 K/9, 3.1 WAR
• SP Burt Hooton (CWS) - 11-4, 2.19 ERA, 168.2 IP, 1.07 WHIP, 5.1 K/9, 3.5 WAR
• SP Nolan Ryan (CAL) - 12-7, 2.51 ERA, 165.0 IP, 1.32 WHIP, 9.8 K/9, 2.9 WAR
• SP Ray Sadecki (MIN) - 10-5, 2.39 ERA, 143.0 IP, 1.03 WHIP, 6.2 K/9, 3.7 WAR
• SP Wilbur Wood (OAK) - 9-6, 2.49 ERA, 184.1 IP, 1.01 WHIP, 4.7 K/9, 4.3 WAR
• RP Jim Bethke (KC) - 6-1, 6 SV, 2.08 ERA, 56.1 IP, 1.14 WHIP, 6.4 K/9, 1.6 WAR
• RP Nelson Briles (BOS) - 3-1, 1.96 ERA, 64.1 IP, 1.13 WHIP, 4.3 K/9, 1.0 WAR
• CL Sparky Lyle (TEX)* - 8-3, 12 SV, 2.25 ERA, 68.0 IP, 1.24 WHIP, 5.8 K/9, 1.1 WAR
• CL Tug McGraw (OAK) - 1-1, 22 SV, 1.28 ERA, 42.1 IP, 0.92 WHIP, 4.7 K/9, 1.0 WAR
• C Carlton Fisk (CWS)* - .321/.386/.578, 287 AB, 18 HR, 1 SB, 191 wRC+, 4.1 WAR
• C Thurman Munson (NYY) - .270/.318/.374, 281 AB, 6 HR, 2 SB, 107 wRC+, 1.4 WAR
• 1B Nate Colbert (TEX)* - .244/.328/.433, 353 AB, 17 HR, 6 SB, 128 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
• 1B Mike Epstein (CAL) - .265/.375/.477, 298 AB, 16 HR, 161 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
• 1B John Mayberry Sr. (NYY) - .324/.392/.622, 188 AB, 16 HR, 206 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
• 2B Rod Carew (MIN)* - .323/.365/.439, 353 AB, 3 HR, 14 SB, 137 wRC+, 4.5 WAR
• 2B Dave Cash (ML4) - .293/.368/.429, 352 AB, 2 HR, 10 SB, 141 wRC+, 3.9 WAR
• 3B Earl Williams (TEX)* - .283/.383/.456, 318 AB, 15 HR, 159 wRC+, 3.9 WAR
• SS Juan Beniquez (CAL)* - .298/.363/.392, 309 AB, 3 HR, 6 SB, 124 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
• LF Bob Watson (MIN) - .343/.409/.526, 327 AB, 12 HR, 180 wRC+, 4.3 WAR
• LF Roy White (NYY)* - .290/.389/.444, 331 AB, 8 HR, 15 SB, 155 wRC+, 5.2 WAR
• CF Cesar Cedeno (CLE) - .302/.377/.449, 334 AB, 7 HR, 42 SB, 135 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
• CF Bobby Murcer (TEX)* - .329/.411/.492, 331 AB, 12 HR, 8 SB, 172 wRC+, 4.8 WAR
• RF Reggie Jackson (OAK)* - .253/.350/.446, 332 AB, 17 HR, 8 SB, 142 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
• RF Reggie Smith (BOS) - .296/.380/.448, 335 AB, 13 HR, 5 SB, 149 wRC+, 4.0 WAR

National League

• SP Tom Bradley (NYM) - 11-5, 2.93 ERA, 166.0 IP, 1.13 WHIP, 6.1 K/9, 3.8 WAR
• SP Ray Corbin (STL) - 7-3, 1.24 ERA, 101.1 IP, 0.86 WHIP, 4.4 K/9, 2.1 WAR
• SP Bob Gibson (STL)* - 6-4, 2.02 ERA, 107.0 IP, 1.01 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 3.2 WAR
• SP Sandy Koufax (LAD) - 13-5, 2.61 ERA, 172.2 IP, 1.05 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, 6.2 WAR
• SP Bill Singer (PIT) - 14-2, 2.07 ERA, 134.2 IP, 1.07 WHIP, 6.2 K/9, 2.8 WAR
• SP Wayne Twitchell (CHC) - 9-4, 2.13 ERA, 139.1 IP, 1.15 WHIP, 6.8 K/9, 2.9 WAR
• RP Dave Giusti (PIT) - 12-2, 23 SV, 2.60 ERA, 83.0 IP, 1.24 WHIP, 5.0 K/9, 0.8 WAR
• RP Bill Gogolewski (MON) - 0-1, 4.09 ERA, 22.0 IP, 1.73 WHIP, 3.7 K/9, 0.1 WAR
• RP Monty Montgomery (HOU)* - 3-3, 3 SV, 6.08 ERA, 23.2 IP, 1.86 WHIP, 3.4 K/9, 0.2 WAR
• CL Al Hrabosky (HOU) - 7-5, 19 SV, 1.81 ERA, 64.2 IP, 1.11 WHIP, 6.8 K/9, 1.2 WAR
• C Johnny Bench (CIN)* - .241/.308/.391, 274 AB, 10 HR, 3 SB, 114 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
• C Manny Sanguillen (PIT) - .295/.311/.407, 275 AB, 5 HR, 111 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
• 1B Henry Aaron (ATL) - .277/.380/.467, 332 AB, 18 HR, 1 SB, 156 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
• 1B Greg Luzinski (PHI) - .303/.377/.521, 363 AB, 18 HR, 1 SB, 173 wRC+, 4.3 WAR
• 1B Willie Stargell (PIT)* - .308/.403/.596, 302 AB, 21 HR, 188 wRC+, 4.1 WAR
• 2B Joe Morgan (CIN)* - .251/.404/.359, 323 AB, 5 HR, 48 SB, 137 wRC+, 3.7 WAR
• 3B Darrell Evans (SF) - .261/.408/.436, 264 AB, 11 HR, 1 SB, 157 wRC+, 3.6 WAR
• 3B Joe Torre (ATL)* - .289/.343/.428, 360 AB, 9 HR, 132 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• SS Mark Belanger (HOU)* - .248/.316/.318, 314 AB, 1 HR, 12 SB, 87 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• LF Ike Brown (HOU) - .315/.416/.481, 241 AB, 10 HR, 2 SB, 173 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
• LF Billy Williams (CIN)* - .332/.406/.562, 331 AB, 17 HR, 189 wRC+, 6.1 WAR
• CF Dusty Baker (LAD)* - .325/.410/.485, 338 AB, 9 HR, 2 SB, 171 wRC+, 5.3 WAR
• RF Ron Blomberg (PHI) - .319/.389/.530, 332 AB, 16 HR, 2 SB, 179 wRC+, 3.9 WAR
• RF Bobby Bonds (SF) - .277/.365/.440, 332 AB, 11 HR, 27 SB, 146 wRC+, 4.1 WAR
• RF Rusty Staub (NYM)* - .320/.406/.495, 297 AB, 11 HR, 172 wRC+, 3.5 WAR

Reggie Jackson beats Jim Breazeale in the HR Derby, 5 to 4, and Billy Williams wins his second ASG most Valuable Player award as the NL wins 5-2.

[luckymann]

Which active pitchers are leading the MLB in career wins?

• Sandy Koufax, LAD, 257
• Don Drysdale, LAD, 256
• Bob Gibson, STL, 214
• Jim O'Toole, NYY, 207
• Juan Marichal, CHC, 199

Not within cooee of Big Train's 500.

[luckymann]

Plenty to report from a fairly frantic middle third. Oddly, little of it has to do with what's going on in the standings, which see three of the four races looking decidedly more clear-cut that at last report.




June begins poorly as we drop three of four at San Fran but eventually the bats start warming to the task. We lose Johnson for a minimum IL stint after he’s HBP and suffers a wrist injury but the very next day beat Koufax and the Dodgers 11-0 in LA.

Go figure.

That seems to take it out of us as we post a dreadful homestand against the West Coast clubs, losing 6 of 9 and just getting thumped. We finally right the ship but are hit with a series of niggles that just never allow us to get a roll on as first Tolan and then Oliver go down for a week. It’s a credit to the group that we even keep winning with the regularity that we do, a lot of which has to do with Pops Stargell and Dave Giusti. They are our rocks throughout June and rightly win the respective monthly award.

As June becomes July, we take 3 of 4 at home from the Cubs and hit the midpoint at 49-32 and a half-dozen games clear.

We lose Arriba early in the new month for a minimum IL stint that becomes a longer absence as the seemingly endless caravan of injuries continues, but nonetheless trundle along in the same fashion—ugly but, generally speaking, effective.

Case in point, this win over the Braves that sees Bill Singer give up an unearned run but no hits while walking 4 and we manage just 6 hits in a 5-1 final. Madcap hijinks abound.





Grant Jackson then suffers a season-ending RC tear, and with him wanting big $ to extend that’s him done with us—for now, at least. Terry Forster gets his long-awaited call-up in his stead.

By the ASB we have stretched our lead to 9.

A 15-3 win over the Mets in our first game after the break is marred by a finger injury to Tolan that will keep him out of action for up to 6 weeks. Fortunately Roberto is rehabbing at Lincoln and we call him back a few days later.

We keep our hands in our pockets as the Deadline passes and enter August with our destiny in our own hands.





Just a really strong and typically low-key passage from the lads, especially in a 20-8 July.




Aside from the obvious candidates, shout-outs to Kirkpatrick, Robinson and Foli for their contributions.




So close to trading Singer away last year - glad cooler heads prevailed given what he's doing this year.


News, Leaders and Top 20s











Monthly Award Winners

June

American League

• Batter – Reggie Smith (Red Sox): 352 / 4 HR / 17 RBI
• Pitcher – Vida Blue (A’s): 4-0 / 2.88 / 32 K / 40.2 IP
• Rookie – Doc Medich (Rangers): 2-1 / 1.53 / 26 K / 47 IP

National League

• Batter – Willie Stargell (Pirates): 341 / 10 HR / 26 RBI
• Pitcher – Dave Giusti (Pirates): 5-1 / 1.71 / 6 SV / 18 K / 26.1 IP
• Rookie – Jim Bibby (Cardinals): 3-0 / 1.15 / 28 K / 39 IP

July

American League

• Batter – Al Kaline (Tigers): 378 / 5 HR / 17 RBI
• Pitcher – Burt Hooton (White Sox): 5-0 / 1.65 / 31 K / 49 IP
• Rookie – Steve Busby (Indians): 4-2 / 2.74 / 25 K / 46 IP

National League

• Batter – Darrell Evans (Giants): 351 / 7 HR / 18 RBI
• Pitcher – Larry Dierker (Astros): 4-0 / 0.97 / 30 K / 55.2 IP
• Rookie – Rick Reuschel (Cubs): 3-2 / 3.16 / 32 K / 42.2 IP

Milestones and Observations of Note

• A hamstring strain puts Cards legend Bob Gibson on the shelf for 5-6 weeks, while Yankees pitcher Jerry Koosman suffers a major elbow injury that will keep him out of the game until toward the end of 1973.
• Ralph Terry of the Expos has his season cut short by a labrum tear and a UCL tear will sideline Dean Chance for at least a year.
• A concussion spells Milwaukee OF Ken Henderson for 5-6 weeks, while a UCL tear puts paid to the 1972 season of reliever Bruce Dal Canton.
• Veteran OF Gates Brown goes down with a season-ending concussion, while the Yanks lose boom young 1B John Mayberry for the remainder to an abdominal tear.
• A’s put their foot down with a dozen straight wins to wrest control of the AL West.
• Rangers hurler Bruce Kison throws back-to-back one-hitters.
• Perhaps the biggest news is Henry Aaron being traded from the Braves to the Dodgers at the Deadline, which also features a couple other swaps of note:

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Most Wins without Starting a Game

[luckymann]

Which pitchers are leading the MLB in career WHIP?

• Rube Waddell, -, 1.05
• Sandy Koufax, LAD, 1.06
• Jesse Tannehill, -, 1.09
• Fergie Jenkins, CHC, 1.11
• Ed Walsh, -, 1.12

[luckymann]

MLB's 500 Home Run Club now has 10 members, as Harmon Killebrew and then Frank Robinson reach this milestone in quick succession.




Stretch should join them at some point but then I think that'll be it for a wee while.

[luckymann]

And things were going so swimmingly…

11 games ahead, playing well enough to feel confident about our chances of holding that advantage while taking the foot off the pedal just a bit to stay fresh - in other words, not a care in the world…

…until Pops Stargell goes down injured with an ankle sprain severe enough that he’ll be lucky to get back on the field this season. Prognosis is he should be right for the WS but we'll have to navigate the NLCS without him.

At least by this time we have Bobby Tolan back from the IL rehabbing at Lincoln and can call him up, but Pop has hit 20-odd more HR for us than anyone else so to call this a setback is an Olympic-grade understatement.

[luckymann]

Drama aplenty in the AAA comp this year, with tiebreakers needed in both NL divisions. Eugene survives that, then a riveting 3-game League Series with Medford, and finally a 4-game Championship Series against Rocky Mount to make it four titles from as many playoff appearances - with this being the first since the club's move to Eugene.

[luckymann]

Even with Pop out our lead is pretty much unassailable and we end up clinching the NL East in a canter with 101 wins. That said, signs abound that this long and challenging season has taken its toll. Whatever happens from here on in, I regard this performance as one of the club’s best given all of the various problems we’ve had to surmount.




Not hard to see from those metrics why we won 100+, with only the power end in both pitching and hitting not near the top.




That even spread of contributions really held us in good stead. Again, the input of the backup guys can not be overstated.




Another sterling performance from Joe Coleman - his third 5+ rWAR for us in as many seasons. He and Bill Singer have really led the way, but the other three starters have been solid and Reuss's second half shows why we want him at our club long-term. Dave Giusti has his second superlative season in a row leading our BP.


Everything changes in August across in the AL as both Boston and Oakland lose their mojo and allow the races to heat right back up again. The White Sox make a huge run at it as well with a superlative 15-game win streak, but in reality they start it from too far back to ever seriously be in contention.

Eventually the Sox and A’s regain at least some level of control in the standings without ever breaking free again and each clinches with a couple games to go, as does LA in the NL West, despite the best efforts for the Reds of a rampaging Billy Williams, who wins the batting award for both August and September.

Interestingly for those of you who follow the Python, both of the AL races would have finished differently had this been the final decider.




Williams wins the batting title in the NL (his first, at age-33) and leads all the league with 119 RBI, with Bob Watson the AL hitting champ this year. Despite that early end to his season, Pops is still tied with Dick Allen on 32 for most HR in either league. Joe Morgan edges out Lou Brock 77 to 76 for most SB on the year.

Another close-run thing for the low ERA, with Larry Dierker's 2.11 pipping Bill Singer (2.14) and Paul Splittorff (2.15). Singer is also tied with Joe Coleman and Sandy Koufax on a league-high 21 wins, while Nolan Ryan is the King of K this year with 292. Dave Giusti's 40 Saves are the most by any pitcher and he looks a lock for another Reliever nod come awards season. He also sets a new league record with 89 Games, while Dave Nicholson earns a more dubious honour by setting a new high-water mark for batter strikeouts with 212, becoming just the second player after Paul Journigan in 1961 to whiff 200 times or more in a season. Sandy K, meanwhile, overhauls Walter Johnson's seemingly unreachable all-time record for Shutouts, ending the season with 80.


Final Top 20s and Leaders








Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

• Batter – George Scott (Twins): 324 / 7 HR / 21 RBI
• Pitcher – Pat Dobson (Angels): 5-1 / 1.89 / 31 K / 57 IP
• Rookie – Steve Busby (Indians): 4-2 / 2.59 / 31 K / 48.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Billy Williams (Reds): 396 / 9 HR / 24 RBI
• Pitcher – Jack Billingham (Reds): 6-0 / 1.85 / 30 K / 43.2 IP
• Rookie – Richie Zisk (Expos): 354 / 2 HR / 12 RBI

September

American League

• Batter – Al Kaline (Tigers): 356 / 6 HR / 19 RBI
• Pitcher – Catfish Hunter (A’s): 4-0 / 1.11 / 41 K / 48.2 IP
• Rookie – Lynn McGlothen (Twins): 5-1 / 2.93 / 27 K / 46 IP

National League

• Batter – Billy Williams (Reds): 385 / 4 HR / 25 RBI
• Pitcher – Sandy Koufax (Dodgers): 4-2 / 1.76 / 40 K / 46 IP
• Rookie – Rick Reuschel (Cubs): 4-1 / 2.25 / 16 K / 40 IP

Milestones and Observations of Note

• 500 HR: Harmon Killebrew, Frank Robinson
• 2000 Hits: Billy Williams
• 200 Wins: Juan Marichal
• 200 Saves: Bob Locker
• Minnesota’s Cesar Tovar suffers a knee injury that ends his season a fortnight prematurely; same deal for Royals Closer Dick Hughes courtesy of a torn labrum.
• The Yanks lose gun OF Roy White right in the heat of their pennant race, no doubt a significant reason why they come up just short.
• Bert Blyleven finishes third in each of the TC stat cats.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

American League
Oakland A’s (97-65) v Boston Red Sox (85-77)

Boston with a mild upset, knocking off an unusually clumsy A’s outfit in four tight games to at least partway avenge the losses in ’70 and ’71. It is the Oakland BP that lets them down here as the Sox win two of the three late. Norm Cash is named MVP.




National League
Pittsburgh Pirates (101-61) v Los Angeles Dodgers (97-65)

With Koufax, Drysdale, Sutton and Bryant going for them, the Dodgers are an especially tricky prospect in these short series, but the boys pull out all the stops in a riveting four-game series to keep the title defence dream alive. It looks like the series will be going the distance as Dave Giusti has a rare (these days) implosion and we trail by one entering the 9th in Game 4, but we manufacture the tying run and then score 3 in the top 11th to lock it down. Roberto Clemente goes 7-for-19 with 2 homers and 5 ribbies to take the MVP.

[luckymann]

Pittsburgh Pirates v Boston Red Sox
Best-of-seven, Pirates with the home-field advantage.


PITTSBURGH PIRATES S+ PAGE

BOSTON RED SOX S+ PAGE

Oakland’s recent stranglehold on the AL has kept this great Red-Sox / Buccos rivalry on ice for a wee while, but it gets another go-around here - their 9th World Series meeting - in what should prove a real arm-wrestle between two sets of gamers and grinders.

Sadly for us, Pops hasn’t come up in time but we have kept a slot open for him just in case he gets the medical clearance (and we get the league’s approval) over the next week or so. That certainly evens this contest right up and I believe it will all come down to whichever pitching staff acquits itself better. Expect low-scoring smallball affairs as the default setup. Should be a beauty.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Pittsburgh

Dock Ellis (15-12, 2.93) v Gary Nolan (15-15, 3.32)

A truly epic win by this unbelievable bunch who somehow drag themselves off the canvas trailing 3-5 in the middle 9th to score a pair on a homer by Bob Bailey – who has 4 hits and 4 RBI on the night – that sends the game into spares. It eventually takes 13 before we earn the 6-5 walkoff on a Manny Sanguillen sac fly. A game at the very topmost of what baseball can offer.

Game 2 in Pittsburgh

Woodie Fryman (10-8, 2.98) v Reggie Cleveland (17-8, 2.76)

Pirates lead series 1-0

No magic tricks for us in this one as the previous game’s efforts look to take their toll and Reggie Cleveland pounces with a fantastic performance, allowing just 4 hits over 6 scoreless. The Sox BP does the rest for a 4-0 final to level the series heading to Boston.

Game 3 in Boston

Bill Stoneman (8-11, 3.47) v Joe Coleman (21-8, 2.47)

Series tied 1-1

We cop a real shellacking as Joe Coleman does his reputation as something of a big-game choker no favours with another terrible WS performance. It is tied at 2 after 3, but thereafter it is one-way traffic as the Sox bad shell first Coleman and then young Gene Garber who gets the mop-up duties in a 10-2 rout. We appear to be out on our feet but you can never write this bunch off.

Game 4 in Boston

Luis Tiant (15-10, 3.09) v Bill Singer (21-6, 2.14)

Red Sox lead series 2-1

Like I said… One of the wilder games in WS history sees us get it back on level terms with a 14-6 win. Bill Singer and Luis Tiant are both ineffective but our BP holds them tight while we tack on a bunch of late runs, with Tolan knocking in 5 of them and Rose having 2 walks, 2 triples and a double with 3 RBI. My prediction of low-scoring smallball games is looking especially prescient right now...

Game 5 in Boston

Gary Nolan (0-0, 4.50) v Dock Ellis (0-0, 3.29)

Series tied 2-2

An absolute peach from Doc Ellis, who pitches 7 innings for just a run on 3 hits, sends us back home needing just one win for a famous Championship. We score 3 early – 2 on a Clemente longball – and hang on for grim life with Giusti making no mistake this time.

Game 6 in Pittsburgh

Woodie Fryman (1-1, 1.23) v Reggie Cleveland (2-0, 0.00)

A's lead series 3-2

Tim Foli gets a ring and a great story for the grandkids as his 9th-inning pinch single with one out and the bases loaded gives us a walkoff 4-3 win and a title that for mine ranks right up there with our best triumphs. To have achieved it without being able to call upon our team leader and best player over the playoffs just adds a little extra sugar to an already sweet treat indeed. Roberto Clemente – who now has 7 Championship rings – also makes it 3 WS MVPs to cap off an outstanding playoffs campaign for the great man.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

OUTS & OUTS

Rivers of blood with no fewer than six GMs and Managers now in the unemployment line.


ROSTER MOVES

Second straight title, new 3-year contract - yeah, I guess I feel a tad bullet-proof right now. Comfortable enough at any rate to effect a fairly major restructure of our squad.

Step 1 of this process is the following blockbuster trade:



The Pete Rose acquisition turned out to be a mutually beneficial one with three WS appearances and 2 titles in the four years he's been here. But at $500k per and taking up a CC slot he doesn't really gel with the next phase for our franchise. I could have kept Flea on until Gene Alley is done and just platooned them but he wants way more than our valuation of him even if we were aggressively competing, which clearly we are not looking to be for the next couple seasons. So I'll run a similar pattern using Gene and Tim Foli instead, with Kurt Bevacqua the main utility IF for the time being, in concert with a few other bit players around the diamond.

Last season's RoY, Willie is a fantastic young (read: cheap for now) 1B / CF / RF. His acquisition will perhaps make more sense in a wee while.




We'll be implementing the remainder of this program after the Draft when the '71 Draftees become trade-eligible.

So that just leaves Lou Marone off to arb, with Grant Jackson, Paul Popovich and Bob Miller walking.


SIM ACCURACY





HANGIN' THEM UP

A few fine careers among this year's retirees, but no HoFers as far as I can see.